Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-29
JOINT EXERCISES
Of the Birmingham Medical and
 Dental Colleges.
Delightful Programme of Ex- erclses-Presentation of
 Diplomas and Medals.

I A very lhTB6 duu TcpTcbcuJublfo dudiOuNS | assem- bled at Seals music hall last night to | witness the commencement exercises of the | Birmingham Medical and Dental colleges. 1 The stage was we'll filled with the leading | physicians and dentists of the city, and l many others were noticed in the large audience. While several of the doctors
 were called out during the exercises they
 did not sensibly diminish the numbers
 present.
 The following interesting programme was presented:
 Overture, "American Press March''- | Gramb's orchestra.
 Prayer-Rev. o. P. Fiizsimmons. | Music, "Morceaux Migonette, o (Mosesl. | Address to graduates-Capt. Joseph r. | Johnston.
 Cornet solo, "Three Stars Polka''-Mr. | George B. Jackson, with orchestra. | Conferring degrees and awarding diplo- | mas to the medical class by the dean, w. l II. Johnston, M. D.
 | Music, march from Victor Herbert's new | opera, "Princs Ananias." | Confirming degrees and awarding diplo- mas to the dental class by the dean, T. M. 1 Allen, D. D. s.
 | Music, "Dance of the Swans' (Eilen- | berg).
 Awarding medals by Hon. Rufus N. 1 Rhodes.
 Music, march, "Milwaukee Sentinel" l (Loeder).
 The address of Capt. Joseph F. Johnston | WAS full of wit and good advice. He told the students what grand opportunities
 they had in Alabama Ho predicted that 1 the state would have 12, COG, ,000 population l some day. and each would have liver and l teeth to work on. He contrasted the op- portuuities of the young men of the pres | eDt day with those of war times. He paid 1 handsome tribute to the fair women of 1 Alabama, which was heartily applauded. J. A. B. Lovett, the master of ceremo- | nies, then presented Dr. w. II. Johnston, l who presented a diploma to MT. w. J. | Clark, the graduate of the medical college, l in the following address:
 A few words to the first graduate of the Birmingham Medical college before we l part to- night:
 You have chosen profession which, to l be eminent in, requires more brain, judg. ment, nerve, celerity of action, rapid | thought, than any other. If you have se- lected this profession with the sole idea of getting money, then would advise you to stop now while you are on the threshhold. The model physician is man who loves his kind, who loves his profession, who is gentle, honest, truthful, and pure; who is conscientious in all his acts, who will be guilty of no act that would lessen his self
 esteem, who lives up to the golden rule-so far as any human can. The man who can face malignant epidemic without in the least shirking, from a sense of duty alone,
 possesses the highest type of courage. He | indeed can be truly called brave. The soldier iu battle has ambition, glory, | honor, love of countryside excitement of | the moment to spur him on. Again let me | say to you, If you do net love your profess | sion, if y1n do not love your kind, quit now and choose anything else in order to
 make your living.
 You go out from us as the first fruit of
 the Birmiu gham Medical college. You are the pioneer. You hew the path through I |, s1L. f., .t,tlI INa
 able to those who may follow you to emu-
 late. Every member of this faculty will rejoice at your success. But this depends
 upon individually. Your days of study have, just begun. Take at least one good
 medical journal and keep up with all the
 advances in your profession. That you owe to those who have trusted you with the lives of their families. As a rule your first patients will be amongst the poor and children. Treat them with the same gen. tleness and scrupulous attention that you would give to the most exalted. Children are closer observers than most people sus-
 pect, and recognize quite readily the good heart in the face. Never deceive them. Don't tell them any lies. Get their confi- dence, but do it by being gentle and kind. Never be rough or harsh to a child. When
 you once have their confidence they will do almost anything you want them to do.
 The poor are the young doctors' friends if he treats them right. Gratitude and love he will get in place of money, and they are
 good things to go to bed with. And they will neglect no opportunity to sing his praises.
 Never decline to make call when you
 are well and have the time, because you know there is no money in it. The ex- perience you gain may be of vast benefit to | you at some future day. Even if you are | actuated only by mercenary motives you | have no idea what benefit the poorest and humblest may be to you in return for your kindneS5S.
 The eminent Alonzo Clark of New York 1 was accustomed to tell his class that the | pockets of the wealthy were reached on the backs of the poor.- Don't, under any cir cumstances, be fool enough 10 believe any II individual family belongs specially to you | because they have employed you for some
 time. They. have right to change if they | want to, andiyou show want of sense and ! litteness of mind by becoming offended. | Whenever you have patient who is dan | gerously ill do not fail to have coneulta- I ton if possible.
 | If there is county medical society where | you reside, be regular in your attendance
 It will pay you. When you are called to Il see patient and have gotten the clinical I history of the case, and are in doubt as to I the diagnosis, do not fail to give them | thorough physical examination, and when | you have made your diagnosis make up I your mind what treatment is appropriate, I and do not give it up until you have gotten Il the physiological action of your remedies. Il w nen go 10 pauienL ana see Cue mautel Il piece covered with bottles I conclude at l once that the doctor who preceded me did l not know the trouble. Cultivats your l powers of observation. Ziemssen, in his | Cyclopedia of the Practice of Medicine, l says: "The successful doctor knows what | he wants and is not afraid to do it. Dss- l perate cases sometimes require desperate or 1 dangerous remedies, and If by those means ] there is chance to save life, 1t is your l duty to assume the responsibility. Don't l look out for yourself first and then your