Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-03


they have been ashamed Of their sue
cessorxs
| The present faculty and trustees are
! 70 be congratulated upon the present
prosperity Of the college. In time Of
severe trial, recently passed through,
they had the courage to stand up for
| their rights, and their just and manly
efforts were crowned with success
another proof that fortuna facet for
tibas.
| This large audience. which is but a
repetition Of what has occurred year
after year, gives unmistakable evidence
Of the deep interest which the people
Of Richmond feel in this institution.
And well may they and al other
people be deeply interested hi an insti-
tuition which year after year sends out
mcn who in a great degree have the
health and lives Of the people in their
hands.
The profession Of medicine is grand
profession. The practice Of medicine
is high calling.
| You are 10 train men to alleviate the
sufferings and heal the diseases Of men,
women, and children.
More than that, they are to be the
family confidants and the keepers OF
| family secrets. No man is so con6ded
in as the family physician. No men
should be more faithful. None are
more faithful.
The greatest man that ever lived on
earth Bas not = banker, not lawyer
not politician but physician. He
| was called the Great Physician. He
not only healed mems souls, but he
gave hearing 10 the deaf, sight to the
blind, and made the lame TO walk. i
/ would not disparage or bslittle my
own profession, but from schools like
this the dirloma of the graduate in
medicine is Of greater value than the
license Of the lawyer.
The medical student applicant for
graduation is subjected to the examina-
ton Of his teachers, who Are always
and everywhere the NEST rigid and Sc
we're examiners.
In Virginia the man who desires TO
practice law gets his license signed by
two formerly three judges. He goes
to the first judge and introduces him
self as the son Of Colonel Jones, and
tells him that he desires to be exam
ined, and, if found qualified, to have
his license signed by the Judge. The
examination begins and ends with this
question /" Are you the son Of my old
friend Jones who now represents the
Fifteenth district in Congress The
young man answers, /" Yes, SIR"
Thereupon the Judge, taking him by
both hands, says why, your father
has been my lifelong friend. We served
in the Legislature together, and he
voted for me for judge. I will sign your
license with pleasure. He signs it
without ascertaining whether the young
man knows the difference between Coke
and Blackstone, OF the difference be-
tween Minors Institutes and the Vir-
ginia Military.
lie then applies to the second judge,
who is just about to start to his court
house. With some impatience he asks
to be excused, and tells the young man
to cali some other day; but thinking a
moment, he asks, " Has any Judge signed
your license2'' Being answered in the
affirmative, he, too, signs it. The young
man is sent forth a lawyer.
it has been said that man at forty
is a fool or physician. am over forty
years of age and am not physician
ergo / must be -. However this
may be, my observation teaches me that
he who is his own physician has a fool
for p patient.
And now, my young friend, il is my
pleasant duty, in the name Of DR..
Tompkins, your accomplished profess
sor, TO deliver to you this case of sur
gical instruments as prize for your
eminent success in your class. No
doubt you have fairly won it, and let
it ever remind you that every true man
should be inspired with a laudable
emulation TO excel in whatever is wor-
thy Of true mans efforts.
have not opened this case. never
saw its contents. could not explain
them if would. and il could the time
required for one lecture would not suf-
fee to explain them TO this audience.
To you they need no explanation and
so | hand them to you sealed, un-
opened.
trust that, though your practice
may be large and continue through
many years, you may never have occa-
sion to open this case for use.
In the language Of one Of your most
distinguished men, The surgeon
should never use the knife till the els
medicofrir nature has failed toperform
its labor"
One word Of sdvice-perhaps ought
TO call it prescription. You will nat
urally cultivate kindly relations with
your patients. Let me urge you to
keep on terms Of friendship with your
brother physicians. They can help
you you can help them. Should the
idea enter your mind that you are the
best doctor in the community Danish il
at once. Some Of your patients win
tell you that. your equal is not TO be
found, especially when they want you
to lessen your bill or postpone its col
lection.