The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-06-12

streets, and then call on GOQ 1Or nelp-
See what this profession has done
for human longevity. There was such
n fearful subtraction from human life
that there was a prospect that within
a few centuries this world would be
left almost inhabitantless. Adam
started with n whole eternity of earth
ly existence before him; but he cut off
the most of it and only comparatively
few years were left-only 700 years OF
life, and then 500, and then 400, and
then 200, and then 100, and then so,
and then the average of human life
came to 40, and then it dropped to IS.
But medical science came in, and since
the 10th century the average of human
life has risen from IS years to A; and
it will continue to rise until the aver
age of human life will be so, and it
will be 60, and it will be 20, and a man
will have no right to die before 80, and
the prophecy of Isaiah will be literally
fulfilled: "And the child shall die a
hundred years old" The millennium
for the souls of men will be the mil
lennium for the bodies of men. Sin
done, disease will be done-the clergy
man and the physician getting through
with their work at the same time.
But it seems to me hat the most
beautiful benediction of the medical
profession has been dropped upon the
poor. No III now for any ones
not having scientific attendance. Dis
pensaries and infirmaries everywhere
under the control of the best doctors,
some of them poorly paid, some of
them not paid at all. A h~alf-starved
woman comes out from the low tene-
ment house into the dispensary, and
unwraps the rags from her babe, n bum
die of ulcers, and rheum, and pustules,
and over hat little sufferer bends the
accumulated wisdom of the ages, from
Escalapius down to last weeks au-
topsy. In one dispensary, in n year,
$50, 900 prescriptions were issued. Why
do 1 show you what God has allowed
this profession to do? Is it to stir up
your vanityP Oh, nc. The day has
gone by for pompous doctors,
with conspicuous gold-headed canes
and powdered wigs, which were
the accomplishments in the days when
the barber used to carry through the
streets of London DIR. Brocklesby's
wig, to the admiration and awe of the
people, saying: snake way, here
DR.. Brocklesby's wig" No, 1
these things not only to in
crease the appreciation of laymen in
to the work of physicians, but
to stir in the hearts of the men of the
medical profession a feeling of graft
to God that they have been al
to put their hand to such a mag
nificent work, and that they have been
into such illustrious company.
Have you never felt a spirit of graft
tude for this opportunity? Do you not
feel thankful now? Then 1 am afraid,
you r not a Christian, and
the old proverb which Christ
quoted in his sermon may be appropri-
ate t. you: physician, heal thyself."
Another reason why 1 think the med
Ical profession ought to be Christians
is because there are SC many trials
md annoyances in that profession that
need positive Christian solace. Iknow
you have the gratitude of agreat many
rood people, and / know it must be a
grand thing to walk intelligently
through the of human life,
with anatomic skill poise yourself
IN the nerves and fbers which cross
recross this wonderful physical
oDCAhs Il oaPPOoC - CJS S6a
more beauty even in malformation
han an architect can point out in any
# his structures, though it be the very
of arch, and plinth, and aba
But how many annoyances and
the medical profession have.
Dr.. Rush used to say. in his valedic-
DRY address to the students of the
college: young gentlemen,
AVE two pockets, a small pocket and
big pocket; a small pocket in which
put your fees, a large pocket in
which to put your annoyances."
In the first place, the physician has
10 Sabbath. Busy merchants, and
awyers, and mechanics, cannot afford
be sick during the secular week,
so they nurse themselves along
With lozenges and horehound candy
until Sabbath morning comes, and
hen they say: ~ must have a DOCTOR"
Ind that spoils the Sabbath morning
!hurch service for the physician. Be.
ide that, there are a great many men
yho dine but nee a week with their
antilles. During the secular days they
AXE a hasty lunch at arestaurant, and
n the Sabbath they make up for their
TX days abstinence by especial gor-
which before night makes
heir amazed digestive organs cry out
Or a doctor. And that spoils the
church service for the physi-
Then they are annoyed by people
oming too late. Men wait until the
asst fortress of physical strength is
AIKEN, and death has dug around it the
renoh of the grave, and then they run
Or the doctor, The slight fever which
have been cured with a foot
ath, has become v~irulent typhus. and
he hacking cough, killing pneumonia
s though a captain hould sink his
off Amagansett, and then put
shore in a yawl, and then come to
lew York to the marine office, and
ant to get his vessel insured. Too
tie for the ship, too late for the pa
emit.
Then there are many who always
the doctor because the people
lie, forgetting the divine enactment;
1t is appointed unto all men onoe to
ie." The father in medicine who an
the fact that he had discov-
the art by which to make men in
IFS world immortal, himself died at
! years of age, showing that immor-
llity was less than half a century for
inn. Oh, how easy it is when people
to cry ont malpractice" Then
lie physician must bear with ali the
hims, and the sophistries, and the
e~ceptions, and the strhtagems, and
lie irritations of the shattered nerves
I'D the beclouded brain of women,
Id more especially of men, who
know how gracefully to be
ok, and who with their sali-
tied mouths curse the doctor, Civ
g him his dues, as they say
D0ut the only dues he will in that
Use collect. The last bill that is paid
the doctors bill. 1t seems SO ipco-
srent for a restored patient, with
Idly cheeks and rotund form to be
,thered with a bill charging him with
d calomel and jalap. The physicians
this country do more missionary
ork without charge than all the
her professions put together. From
concert room, from the merry j
Lrty, from the comfortable couch on /:
cold night, the thermQmeter Is five I
,grees below zero, the doctor must ]
right away; he always must go right
way. To ssep UP under this nervous s
to go through this night work. {