The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-27
MEDICAL.
Meeting OF the Alumni OF the Medical
College OF Indiana.
The Address Of DR.. Charles z. Wright
70 the Graduating Glass and the
Misunderstanding
Exercises.

a the college nall yesterday morning ~ ~
O'Clock. The attendance was the largest
ever present and was represented by ply
Hicisus from ali parts OF the State and from
Illinois. The membership OF the ASCOT
alton amounting to nearly LEGO, makes it
Dne Of the largest medical bodies in the State.
Dr. B. n. Perce. OF Mooresville, Presi-
dent AID Professor c. E. Wright, on bshalf
OF the faculty. made the addresses. d..
Perez. speaking extemperaueouslg made an
excellent and superior address upon Logic
5n Medicine" DR.. Wrighfs address was Of
both popular and medical character Sc
rous ard good teaching to both "a lent ana
physician and ine humor ma ie Il d0uoly
entertaining. The following Is q brief sum-
mary of the address Directing his remarks
10 the graduates he said:
il - customary upon such occasions to rehash
musiy historical allusion and questions which
generally more sOp0rihe than sensible. Life Is
fhcrt: tie art Is long aud the occasion fleeing.
Sly desire is 70 tell you something that viii be Of
practical importance % you personally, some.
thing which concerns your own lives. and l shall
draw upon the common fund Of knowledge as
Hufeiand says OF physicians who ought T. live
1eng. that Mortality Is greater among practical
az profession. They have the least opportunity
al observing those fundamental rules and precau-
lions Tor preserving nealth when they lay down
which the powers both OF tie body aud mind are
exposed to 50 much consumption as in TINS.
But the greatest mortality prevails during the
ms! ten years OF their practice physician who
HISS fortunately witbstood that period sstains TO
a certain strength Of constitution a kind % in
seusi0i!ity 20 fatigue and the causes OF disease "
He bec0mes so tough that disease Is afraid 10
his time OF probation may come an old man.
believe the average physician altslns the age oil
Its yoar duty TO endeavor to proIong your own
lives as wen as the lives oil you patients. Il is
likewise your duty 10 change. il possible, the
own lie, well as in the lives OF others. Do not
Jet any one have any more innocent fun than 5Ou
have IL this world.
GIutiony and intSnrperanee can not be excused
IN a physician. for ne OF all others should free
himself frcm Injurious habits. One under the in-
duence OF LIQUOR Is not qualified to decide matters
of life and death, and has no right in the SICK
room, excepting as patient. The use OF tobacco
health and wsstefui OF wealth the delicate. me-.
yOus se1sibfites of the sick should not be shocked
by the filthy smell or disagreeable sight OF
drunken doctor or tobacco deDauchee. A foul
breath, of all things earth, is the most disgust
5ng-thOugh sometimes unavoidable. But when
abstinence from the use OF the tooth brush and
nail brush Is supplemented by the use OF whisky
aud tobacco. the subject becomes an aoOminatiOn
IN the sight and smelling powers Of all decent
psople. Such an one should be avoided. for lack
ing iudemeDt and resolution to control his own
Sppetite, knowing that qualification Is Injurious,
ne Is not the proper one 10 advise others.
Moderate use Of stimuients is a matter for your
same articles concerns not only you, but your
patrons and society at large. Exhaustion from
rf Or &c 20 I ana pam wa soeoe;
opium, but resistance becomes less difficult with
each ssccesding trial. None appreciate more
freedom from pain. None prize more highly the
value OF rest alter the exhausting labors OF pro-
ice Of self for the good OF others But these
boona should not bspuTchssed by the habitnsl
rSe or the fatal drug. opium. which has cured
more and killed more than any other article OF
1he Uateria medica.
CutyouT hair short. ouackery and long hair
seem 10 be almost inseparaoly connected, and
there IS hardly corn doctor or an advertising
specialist In tbs land who does MOI maze more
espitai OF what Is on his head than OF what
il IN &c.
Use plain English Language in addressing your
patients concerning their ailments They viii
not understand technical terms aud If YOU use
them without explanation Interpretation they
VII De Jutuhed IN thinking you deficient IN con-
Dress neatly sud in good taste. Avoid every
.hing loud and fashy Sase yocTseli appear the
fecent, respectable gentleman you should be aud
what you would have Others believe you 70 be.
lou can not appear TO good advantage in ga Ill
6naPSd garment or one that IS greasy and worn
out lou are TO your patients what you appear
Dress comfortably. II you are termeuted With
pair OF tight fitting boots. you not patiently
llsien 70 the details OF another's misfortunes.
" you are stupehed with cold You may shrink
Sron duty and your patient suffer from the neg
Be economical and at the same time enjoy the
blessings Win which You may De surrounded.
save portion OF your earnings. Never live be.
yond your means. Pay casn for everything. and
do rot buy until you can Equldate the debt.
When you Can support yours Elf BEGIN to think
OF getting married. The married slate viii give
you greater weight and stsucfng in the comm uni
". When you are able 70 support q vile and
fEnlly &C married. Two can not live on what
viii support one unless fool holds the o1rse and
only fools VIII believe The saying which mas
wrecked mang couple.
IL you have family live Tor Il and give its
ms ullels everything you can afford without in
curing oeat Let your homes be models Of com
Tort and good cheer. 1Cu are entitled % al the
VIII be heightened
You Elay refuse TO undertake case, but IL you
co uu2 sriake Il you are not TO negec IT, whether
or rot Son receive peeunlary compensation for
Your services. ContriDutOry negligence upOn the
damsges- The law recognizes graoatiens OF nesli-
zence, ard punishment IN the way of damages Is
sauged by the degree OF negligence aud gross
study works OF medical jurisprudence; they are
mines OF knowledge and the quintescence Of
medical literature, which has ceen tried By tie
iron \ former occasion nsd the honor OF pre-
senting this epitome of the code OF ethics which
brother practitioner hatteringly pronounced "the
aCde IN nutshell You are now called upon 20
decide whether or not you will enlist under the
code OF ethics. about which so many have sad so
much and know so little And let me assure you
that misinterpretation Of the LANGUAGE and mis-
construction OF the spirit OF the code are account
able for much in IL that may seem oppressive.
The code of ethics certainly requires YOU % be
gentlemen-tO follow the precepts OF the golden
rule. Doubtless IL does seem severe in some OF
its restrictions. but it has gO0d we'll as bad
features. and IS most ro1led az Oy those who least
understand II The code teaches you to be kind
and cOnsidcrate TO your patients: TO regulate your
visits - they are required and avoid NEGLECT
that ycu must give your patient timely notice
of approaching danger: that there
Is professional ireemasonry understood
between patient aud physician that warrants the
nokt implicit confidence and demands the most
profound secrecys thai you must treat orothe;
practitioner respectfully uf ne allows you to-, and
that you must tell the truth. II y0u would not
DO these things you should not entangle yourself
Nth the code.
A thorough system Of study should be adopted
bvall medical men. In addition 20 studying YOU
x-fsee as they occur or epidemic and endemic dis
Eases, or ailments Of season, yen viii do well 4
undertake q course Of reading OF the diferen
<recfslties r. succession. study the specialtie'
81 first with reference TO their use II
general prsctice: aiterEsrd you may Adop
1tst for which yon seem lest lifted
Trest doctors of all schools courteously. The.