, 1891-02-25

Ifofnthe formation OfthiSB Branch OftheBrltiSh
MEDICAL Association it twill stimulate an in
terchange 0fthouglit bpi wten its members IN
thediftrent islands; it will promote greater
interest among them inthpir profession, and
IL Viii form q hond Ut ul,i0R between hem
That viii strengthen their hands in the
carrying ont of any general Obj ct fot the
uehrht of INC profession or the conImu'I-
Ties NJ which they may reside. | do not
anticipate rs much ON our connection
WIKI the parent society as some may he
disposed to do = be that us il may-~we
email be prepared to accept whatever al.
vantage that may give us. But | hold that
our first and great aim should D. bY every
reasonable means in our power, u make
tins Leeward Islands Branch an institI l.
tlon which shat he . credit to it~ members,
ana q real beittt 10 The profession and 10
the public,
For this our first meeting rhave chosen
Medical Ethics as ali appropriate suhitcton
which to offer g very IL W remarks. This il
q very wide subject and comprises the re-
IAtions existing between the public and
the medical profession as well as the rela-
tons existing between the members Of tho
profession itself, but time vii! not permit
me to do more than merely to touch on
NC or three Of The nos, prominent land
marks.
One would naturally suppose that the
moht pleasing and happy relations should
exis' between The profession ard The pub.
lie, srtiug that ;Lcy are So dependent
the one on the other. And individually these
relations ore very %oo,l, it may i,e, until lla
time comes for The mpdiCa. man - o. t.
mnneratcd fer his services anti even then
they aIt not always dist y! bed, iDy often
with the h0n0larIu.n comes y Hnte fl !rl
with expressions az ,tlaut fumes and grA.
titude for kind affection Z @"me dcar one
"a note which touches The duC;urs heart
and which Ne tltd, uleS up mUci' more than
its accompaniment, and which cheers him in
the round OF niA ardlouS duties. THIS E0w.
ever is unhappi!y not always tbs case.
Though it cannot be gdinSaid tiat here il
no class more essential to The %rll-heiDg of
O community han The medical profession,
leading, as its mcmt erS must do, ii tiua
physicians, in al matters relating r. l&b.
lie health and sanitary Improvements, and
holding, rs they do, tho lives OF 80 many in
their hands, and by their SeIf-denyiug and
unwearying efforts relieving HE suffering,
cheering the Responding, and, nnder the
blessing of Almighty God, restoring the
SICK to health and comfort.
DR.. McHattie then addressing himself
specially to the memberS OF the Association
dwelt on the subject of Medical Ethics as
they affected medical men themselves, and
pointed out several instances of unprofBA-
sionsl conduct he knew OF. Continuing. llotI
said -
1t must not however be supposed for a
moment that my remarks refer 10 the Whole
medical profession; on the contrary d 3
but a small minority who act unprofession-
ally, while the great majority are hopora-
ble high minded men, and are indy idtn;Iy
highly esteemed in the communities in
which they live, but they are esteemed only
rs individuals. for their individual quail.
ties of head and heart, qualities which The
public do no recognize, as part of their
professional character, but which belong to
them as gentlemen consequently the pro-
frssion is not judged from these men, but
from the small minority whose crooked
ways come so frequently and prominently
before them in their professional conduct
that it appears to an undiScerning public
that this must be the general character of
the profession as "a whole. For this evil
and a very great evil it is to be held in low
estimation-the medical profession has the
remedy iB it's own hands, ~ Every eommu-
nifty I hold is Capable of appIeciating hon
durable conduct from high and pure mo.
tiyes. If therefore the medical profession,
the minority as we'll as the majority would
accepttbs golden rnle and follow il to the
letter in their deaiifgiwith ssacho other and
always under tvety eitcumstauc e do tootbers