The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1896-12-24
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
How Doctors and Lawyers Appear to
Give Secrets AEaY.
TRIUMPH or SLEIGHT OF TONGUE
Report From she state Officers Re-
garding the Handling OF Public
Lands and Disposition of Moneys
MISUNDERSTANDING fer Orchards.

Our own opinion is that doctors and
lawyers do keep professional secrets most
rigidly, aud that IL is the rarest thing in
the world for any matter OF importance
to leak out. II is curious but fact, that
the maintenance Of honor in the matter
OF condolences, strictly and regularly con-
fided, is one OF the commonest of virtues.
A man may be selfish, corrupt, cynical,
cruel, hard and in every way what the
world calls "a pretty bad man" but It is
10 to against his not admitting the obli-
cation upon him to keep secrets confided
to him in the belief that he will keep
them. A man may be capable Of killing
you to get your money, or OF doing you
out OF your whole fortune, and yet not
wantonly betray your secrets. .s
But though we do not believe that
there is any real need for fear in regard
to the disclosure of professional secrets
We cannot disguise from ourselves two
facts 10 connection with the subject. The
first is that there is a good deal Of I'M
easiness in regard to the want Of care in
guarding secrets by the two great pro-
fessions. The second ia that the doctors
and lawyers by their manner OF talking
do great deal to encourage the vague
and general dread to which we have al
luded. The members OF the two profess
sions do not betray the confidence con-
fided in them, but they do sometimes
talk in a way which might lead timid
and sensitive people to think that they
90. It is not unknown to see doctor or
q lawyer in after dinner talk dancing on
the edge Of the precipice Of professional
secrecy. For q man Of strong nerves
the spectacle is interesting and divert
ing.
One knows that the dancer is perfectly
safe, and thst in spite OF his nearness to
the abyss there is not the slightest fear
of his toppling over. He seems to be
telling great deal, to be perfectly open
and frank about the strange experiences
which he has come across in his practice,
and the odd people who have consulted
him, but in reality he has told You moth.
ing whatever.
1t 10 oil triumph of that sleight Of
tongue which Lord Palmerston is said to
have practiced to perfection. He would
talk to man for an hour on high politics,
and appear to be letting out Cabinet Sc
crets by the bagfuI, and the listener felt
half flattered, half.horrified, at hearing
30 many things which ought never to
have been told outside the big drawing.
room in Downing street. When, however,
the talk was over, and the recipient OF
the ministerial condolences tried in cold
blood to remember the secrets confided,
be found to bis establishment that he had
heard nothing which was not to be found
In that mornings Times. The condolences
were all matter of manner-stage ef.
fects. and nothing more. But, though
the experienced man OF the world may
realize that this professional dancing on
the edge Of the prscipice is merely q
game, and in general perfectly safe one,
the ordinary person is apt to be made ex.
tremely nervous by the display. "He1l
be over as sure AZ fate," is the thought,
and he reflects with horror that II these
things were said about his case or the
curious clauses In his will. he could te
identified by anyone. And in one case
in q thousand accidental identification
may take place. Everyone remembers
the venerable chestnut" Of the Cardinal
who told an admiring circle OF ladies
that the first confession he ever heard
was one Of murder, and how his remark
was interrupted by the entry OF prince
who at once proceeded TO remind his old
friend the Cardinals II was your first
penitent." Az matter OF fact confess
sions are very seldom accidentally be
trayed In that manner; but people inn
agine they are, and that is enough to
make general professional talk give sense
of insecurity London Spectator.