The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-11
Eminence in the Profession Attained
Only by Perseverance, and
Hard Work.
Surgeon John Hunter the Only
Apparent Exception to This
Infexible Rule.
The 4uslity of sympathy Demanded in
the Physicians ture-Man
in Northumberland.

Sir Morel Mackenzie. writing in Youths
Companion, says that it the lives of dis
guished doctors are studied with attention
it will be found that one feature is common
to them ali. by whatever way success has
been reached at last. they have all worked
resolutely and unremittingly during thei1
early years.
John Hunter is the only apparent excep.
ton to this rule. 1t is true that he wasted
a good deal of time in his youth, and was
never able in after life to make up for his
want of what in his day wal called ''polite
learning;" but from the time his brother
William took him i'll land and gave him al
arm to dissect, till his death in the board
room of st. Georges hospital, his Life was
ono of constant work.
Ricord, who had to teach English for a
living while studying medicine, by perse-
vering efforts reduced his allowance OF
sleep to five hours out of the twenty-four.
Nelaton was accustomed to read lying on
a narrow board placed between two chairs.
When drowsiness overlook him he fell off
his voluntary plank bed and awoke to fresh
struggles with his task.
Velpeau, who was tho son of a farrjer md
whose early education had been entirely
neglected. had to study his own language,
besides Latin, Greek, history, geography.
physics. chemistry, botany and other pre-
siminRry subjects dnling his first year of
medical study, and successfully passed ex-
Rminations in them MI.
A still more marvellous feat ia recorded of
a young Japanese student. whose name [
have unfortunately forgotten. He entered
the university of Berlin some years ago as
a medical student, being then entirely ic-
nOrpnH OF ffpfmDn. ma wall no IF o,.,,,n..
yet in three months he passed an examina-
ton conducted i'll German, and including
several branches of the medical curriculum.
1t is needless to multiply instances, for
however easily tue physician or surgeon in
after life may seem to earn his fee, his sue
cess is the result of extremely hard work in
his youth,
With regard to the second qualification,
the sympathetic nature, some one NAV saw
that one cannot synlpathize with every
stranger that comes to HIM for advice.
Nevertheless, that stranger expects sympa-
thy AZ we'll as advice, and il he does not get
1t his faith in the doctor is considerably di-
unfinished, and faith is. in many instances.
a factor that must be reckoned with in the
working of n cure.
DEM Mnnsel once said: affection ia part
OF insight; IL IL wanted for gaining due nc
quaintance with the facts OF the case" II
We substitute for affection the word ,sym-
pathy' the maxim applies to the DOCTORS
position.
Every doctor who is conscientiously de-
sirous of doing his patient good must enter
into that patients feeling, or he will not
attain to n full knowledge OF hia case. and
consequently will not be able to afford
him all the relief in his power. | believe
that tho best, and indeed only, valuable
manner for n doctor is one that impresses
the patient with the notion that his adviser
takes a real interest in him, and is thor
oughly in earnest.
Next to solid knowledge and skill, which,