National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-10-09

The following Introductory lecture Of the
thirty eighth annual course Of Georgetown
Medical College was delivered by John b.
Hamilton, NJ. ID professor Of surgery, last
Monday night at the new college building
before a large assemblage of ladies and
gentlemen
LADIES AM GENTLEMEN; That distln-
guished physician whom we all admire aud
love, DR.. Oliver Wendell Holmes, once
compared the ceremonies ut the com.
menCcmcnt exercises Of u medical college
to that other ceremony which united a
man and woman for life; on the one hand
he pictured the bride aud the bridegroom,
the bridal veil, the orange Hover garland,
the giving and the receiving Of the ring, the
mysterious whisper VI the clergyman In the
ear OF the maiden, the curious look Of the
spectators; and on tine other, the simple
ceremony that united his young friends to
the profession OF their choice. So now, In
giving a variation to the keynote so well
sounded 10y the venerable uutOcrat we
might easily say that as the ceremonies at
tending the graduation Of our young men
reminded us ola wedding. so those attend.
ing the Introductory exercises remind us of
a betrothal: We see here the young men
full OF love for their chosen profession,
burning with laudable sentiments
OF faith In mankind, hope for
the future, and boundless enthusiasm.
plight their trOth. That they are
IN earnest is manifest from the public char.
acter OF the ceremony, and the invitation
they have extended to you to he witnesses
But we must not he unminhfu Of the real
nature of this occasion. This is no time
Tor mere speculation, for stage whispers
among ourselves, as to the character and
VNhN val ul al Gle r.
This lecture Is Introductory to the general
course Of lectures for this thirty eighth
annual session, and In order to comply with
the terms of the aute-uuptial contract IL
must have some connection, direct or in.
direct, with the subject matter of the
course, or consist Of preliminary hints for
their future guidance During the Courtship
they frequently need guidance, for not
every one that signs the betrothal papers
finally wins the bride. She is a bit OF a
Jade at times, aud If the young lover devote
the passing hour TO pool rooms and billiards
aud politics, instead Of paying her his undi
vlded attention, the wedding may never
take place. Gou will then, / am sure, eX-
cuse me II the remaining portion of the
hour Is devoted exclusively TO them.
Young gentlemen; on behalf of the col
lege bid you welcome to these halls, for
ever dedicated to the search for and the
PRONUNCIATION Of truth aud to the cause of
humanity. We shall try to guide your
pathway to the medical profession so that
you Will be shining eNemplar aud a credit
10 the school when you leave US, but there
must be active, hearty, sincere cooperation
on your part. The most brilliant teacher
In the world can only place treasures in
your hands; he cannot show you how to
Keep them or to multiply them You must
work aud think, study aud think. be sincere
and earnest, aud, II you feel your mind is
not clear on subject laid before you, try
TO master IL. Ask your professor If YOU
cannot master IL alone, but master IL before !
you let 90. Do not attempt too many
things at once. Keep on at what is once 1
begun until you shall have finished, and (
finally, gentlemen, when you are studying |
medicine study medicine. DO not run after .
strange gods Keep to your books, and do .
not fall in love with anybody or anything
but truth and medicine, A medical student
IN love is not only usually a very foolish
lover, but very rldicul Gus one. lie can
indite II "wuful ballad to his mis-
stress eyebrow but anatomy, chemistry,
and physiology combine against cupid, and |
the combination, as our sporting friends !
would say, is "a hard one to beat, and the ,
medical student gets laughed at for his |
pains. Few people are enamored of ledg- |
lings.
"Be lovers indeed" says Bruno, "but
love in subordination TO IA celestial love,
The only affection worthy of the complete |
Of a human soul The love for !
ruth, the search for what is true In all |
he domains OF thought and life is the
glory OF existence W. u. u Coauor; liam |
cts note hoax.
Now let us turn seriously to the business
n hand take 1t you wish to know some.
ming OF the past history of the healing art
Its Importance has doubtless already en-.
gagged you, an importance second only to
life and strength itself, for these frequently
depend upon the fathfuluess with which
he maXims Of the art are adhered TO-.
ina present iluurIshing state Of the
medical art was not reached In day. On
the contrary, centuries have come and gone
since the first man began the study of
nediciue, and the antiquity Of the study Is
mus added TO its other attractions. The
Mosaic writings, commonly placed at about
800 years before the Christian era, CON
aimed the earliest doctrines Of sanitary
aw known TO European civilization until
ecently. The recent researches that have
zen made in Hindu lore place the medical
tudy IN India at Il much earlier period.
CENTURIES before Homer wrote, and even
nat period Is so thckly enveloped In the
lists Of time ms TO be predetermined as to
ate, the Brahmins taught medicine with I
heir mystic mythology, their books on
Medicine; the Shastres were held sacred, {
nd were mot allowed to be read at uu- !
times or unlucky days, as on the I
wO first days of new moon, or when the
un is obscured by clouds; when It thun. I
ers atthe morning dawn or evening twi-
ght. The student must not study on holt Q
avs, or on the day on which he touches n {
orpse until purified, or when the gov I
rnor OF his province is sick, when lighting s
ccnrs, or when war approaches"
"Ihe pupils usually remained live or six {
ears reading the Shastrcs, attending oral {
llstrucuons, which were delivered in open q
lhCes, under the shade Of a sacred tree. j. q
lItSCl. Although the lIinluo thus helt
ledicine so high, 1t must he confessed, that +
hen the Aryan raGe finally overrun a
lstern Europe their successors still fur. a
Ter exalted the opinion held of medicine n
enrolling their favorite practitioners I
nong the gods. I
The worship of Hsculapius as god is /
I'D to date back about fifty years before n
le destruction of Troy lie was alleged n
have been the pupil Of Chlron the Cen /,
'ur who was taught by Apollo. Homer, s,
gu Will remember, makes many illusions O
} the surgeons, and especially to the sons q
culaplus-PodalrIus and Machaou: q
T two great surgeons Podalirus stands c
ms hour surrounded 10y the Trojan bands, I
nd great MnChuOn, wounded IN MS tent !
DIV wants the succpur Whcn 80 Oft he lent.
I'd again TO Patroclus. b
Itroclus cut the lorky steel away, .
nd In his hand Il bitter root he pressed: q
le wound he wa,hodand styptlc Juice infused; u
10 closing Acsh that instant ceased to glow, II
&c wound to torture aud the blood to How. Il
In all ages the surgeon has been highly !
tolled in his military capacity. Thus e I
omer makes Ncstor say y
I
more than armies to the public veal, ci
And this sentiment was manifested in a d.
peculiar way when Alexander was OF
India. TaXiles endeavored 10
nclliate the Greek envoy by presents. lie hi
ID, ~ shall send to the great cOnuueror A
ur master, my beautiful daughter; a COB III
made of ruby that repenishes itself fl