The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-27


the science, and that by perseverance
in reading, observation, reflection and
comparison, you are prepared to ap-
preciate Natures lessons at tie bed
side. Your diploma gives the COM
munity no assurances for the future.
Your alma mater is responsible alone
for your past history and your present
proficiency. The domain of medicine
is 30 vast, it's interests and relations 60
far.reaching and important, that il
will be difficult for you, in your early
professional career, TO comprehend its
immensely The broad field, how
ever, is before you. Should you sue
cessfully cultivate it you will do honor
TO the calling OF your choice and
prove blessing 20 your Iace, but
ALTERING you may, with diplomas in
your hands, become a curse
to the community in which you
locate. Resolve, therefore, to
continue throughout your en-
tire professional life, the studious
habits you have here acquired; they
are cardinal, not alone to perfect your
selves in the studies over which you
have Just passed, but that you may, as
near as possible, hold pace with the
rapid advances OF the science. For
even with constant application it is
practically impossible for any one,
however gifted or active he may be, to
keep fully converant with the hourly
contributions to medical literature.
Indeed, medicine has, within the last
few decades, grown to such proper
tions as to merit recognition as the
most exacting of all sciences. y
Success In the professional life is
rarely miraculous in character; on
the contrary, 1t is usually the result Of
plodding industry and careful, earnest
observation. The young men Of the
profession are often called upon first,
TO do the practice of those who are
unable to remunerate them for their
services, and II they fill the lower
walks OF the profession creditably
they gradually rise to the higher, by
increasing reputation for ability and
industry. Boerhave said, "the poor
were the best patients, for God was
their Iaymaster." This is GER
tainly gracious view Of an
often irksome duty; but one that
is we'll calculated 10 inspire faithful
ness and encourage the undertaking OF
even loathsome tasks; one that has
without doubt furnished oil for the
lamp in many of the darkest hours Of
my professional career. Aside, how
ever, from the gratuitous aspect Of
practice for the poor, it is with this
class more than any other that the
young practitioner derives the expert
rience that enables him bette to main
tain himself with more desirable cli-
entage in a pecuniary sense, when
such shall demand his services.
would charge on, gentlemen, TO
maintain a high standard OF medical
ethics in the profession you represent.
Physicians have as a class, like every
other class of men, what has become
10 them co lie OF manners-a system
OF medical ethics. You can no more
violate these regulations with impunity
than you can trample upon the
rules of society. 1t is true that there
are some dissensions in the ranks OF
the profession upon the subject Of
ethics, but only in regard TO certain
modifit atoms, and the means adopted
in bringing these about. All appre-
ciate code.
Iwould urge upon you the desiIa.
bility OF maintaining the present rep
utation OF the profession for loyalty
and heroism. Medicine has a noble
army OF martyrs, embalmed In the
perpetual remembrance Of the broth
erhood. The deeds OF heroism per-
formed by the physician may not have
elected the enthusiastic admiration
accorded TO the warrior, yet they no
less evidence his noble qualities of
head and heart. Doctors face the
stealthy foe in the silent bedchamber,
in the infectious atmosphere Of
the hospital and in the raw
ishing Epidemic Of the city. Med
ical history is full of instances
Ct geli-abneRa'ion upon the part o. its
followers, two of which / will here
place on record When, during the
lste war, the Alabama was hopelessly
disabled by the well directed shots of
the KeaHarge, the gallant Surgeon
Lewellin got his wounded men into
the only two boats left, but, though
urged to do go, refused to enter either,
lest by overlooking the safety Of his
patients might be imperiled, and went
Down with the i'll fated ship to sudden
death, but to an immortal memory.
An elderly physician of our neigh
boring State, Arkansas, fell in an at
tack OF apoplexy when entering the
apartment Of dangerously i'll pa
tent. His son, physician, an alum
nus OF this institution, was hurriedly
summoned, TO find the father lying
upon the floor where he had fallen,
but sufficiently recovered to urge him
first to save, II possible, the patient,
The father lived just long enough TO
learn that the effort, in obedience to
his command, had proven success ful.
During the prevalence of the dread
full scourge OF 1873, in this city, our
medical director was compelled 10 ask
the profession abroad 10 fill up the
decimst ID ranks Of our over-worked
home force, but in doing 30 it WAS ex-
pected that those who were protected,
by reason Of having had yellow
fever, would alone respond 10
the call. The result, however,
proved that doctors from all parts OF the
country, regardless Of such protection,
appeared to hail with delight the priv
ilege OF risking their lives in minister
ing to the wants Of their fellow men
/ in distress.
Finally, gentlemen, permit me to
say that you are bound by every Sd
cred and moral obligation to devote
YOUR best energies to your profession.
You shou,d regard human life in all
conditions and aspects as sacred. You
will oi.en witness occurrences talcu-
lated 10 touch the deepest and most
deliCately strung cords OF the human
heart-sobs OF agony and sighs Of an
guish bursting from broken hearts.
Fair hopes and confiding affections
scattered to the ever changing winds
by the freezing breath Of the destroyer
are among the melancholy associations
that strew themselves in somber per-
spsctiye along the physicians path
way.
And now | will say the vale-dictum