Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-07-26
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
THE OATH or HIPPOCRA TIES
some Interesting Things from Dr.
Draper'a Paper

sight and clearness oil vision 10 sum up IN
his teaching the essence Of everything that
2OOO years have established rs the underlying
principles and code of ethics of the medical
profession, while today's outlook shows lit
tie or nothing to be added to the declara-
tion laid down by the father Of medicine.
DR.. Draper said
"Hippocrates is not, like Hscuapius,
mythical character. The latter, living in
the shadowy age of history, is deifled be
ing. Hippocrates was one Of those who
stand out in the light of ages as an embOdi-
ment Of the possibilities Of which man is
capable Few there are in any age who
are thus endowed but few as they are,
they stand as witnesses to human capabili
ties that the world as yet is far from real
izing. The aphorisms of this father of our
profession still cover in their scope all that
the intervening 22O0 years have developed,
and likewise project their author to the ex
treme limit of our present professional hori
zon. In evidence Of this far sightedness it
is sufficient to note one or two Of those con
centrated maxims which show him 10 have
been no empiric, but the true hand-maid Of
nature as the true physician Of modern times
is proId TO acknowledge himself to be-
"1he oath Of Hippocrates let's us more
deeply into the man and the physician than
even his aphorisms. The first fact to be
noted in this ancient oath is that our art at
its birth was wrapped in blanket Of Sc
crecy, to wit
al swear by Apollo, the physician, and
| Ksculap US, and Health and All heal, Tor in
some renderings Hygiea) and all the gods
and goddesses that, according to my ability
and judgment, will keep this oath and
stipulation, to reckon him who taught me
this art equally deer to me as my parents
to share my substance with him and relieve
his necessities If required To look upon his
offspring in the same footing as my own
brothers, and 10 teach them this art if they
81 all wish to learn it, without fee or stipu
lat on and that by precept, lecture, and
every other mode of instruction, will i'm
part a knowledge of the art 10 my own
sons and those Of my teachers, aud to dis
ciples bound by a stipulation and oath ac
cordng to the law Of medicine, but to none
others
The second point, always to be remem-
bered, but too often forgotten or unheeded, ,
| is the obligation to preserve a consistent cor
respondence between preaching and prac-
| tice, to wit i will follow that system Of
regimen which, according TO my ability and
| Judgment, consider for the benefit Of my
patients, and abstain from whatever is de
leterious and mischevous'
"a third clause interdcts the prostitution
of the art 10 other purposes than those for
which it was instituted viz, the healing
Of the sick and the proonging Of human life
to wit Il will give no deadly medicine to
any one if asked nor suggest any such
counsel and in like manner will not give
% woman pessary To produce abortion
"The fourth general declaration binds
the subscriber to the most rigid observation
of the rules Of morality, to wit With
| purity and with holiness | will pass my life
and will practice my art. Into whatever
houses enter. | will 90 into them for the
benefit Of the sick, and will abstain from
every voluntary act Of mischief and cor
ruption and further, from the seduction of
| females or males. Of freemen or slaves
Whatever, in connection with my profes
sional practice or not IN connection WIN
-, VI i'Io' -" W. ~ '' NV W., -
| d;ynlge ne rnckdning all snch should he
kept secret The final clause calls down.
after the Tanne: Of ancient oaths, dire
evils upon the head OF HIM who violates It,
70 VIZ nue. commune 70 keep this oa'h
;o,. Gfa ond ,b: ,ract;ca ~ tbo or, r.s,,ac,
ed hy all men in all times But should |
trespass and violate this oath, may the
reverse be my lot =
1--WE must not forget that since that early
time all art has been exalted into a profes
sion. With this change secrecy has been
expanded into general knowledge. Today
he who has acquired highest wisdom in his
| profession is highest esteemed while he
who conceals, or attemps to conceal, what
he may claim to be secret in his art, is
justly viewed with suspicion and distrust.
The time has come when the liberal profes
sions have no secrets and he who claims
such is an imposter. Still, in looking back
to the days Of Hppocrates, the medical art