The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-29

no doubt that he is free to choose, but
there is also a thoroughly established
rule, that a mans personal equation
can be quite easily learned from these
voluntary evidences of his nature. A
celebrated humorist has said that If
he had n mule that wouldn't kick.
bite nor strike, he would watch him
closely TO see where the devil did work
out. and the very fact that all must
have a change, and enjoy "A daily re-
creation, Is quite safe basis for the
effort of learning a mans individuality.
The community is watching their ply
clans and they are pretty apt and fair
judges of character.
Let the physician study himself, and
If he finds that any element of his
personal equation is detracting from
his fulfllment Of that which he desires
TO be. let him abandon it ut once.
Whatever is detrimental must be given
up, whether it be manner habit, mat
ters of dress, or hobbies or fads. Cut
them all off, as a cancer is excised from
the human body.
If there is a special love for some
branch or department Of medicine or
surgery, make a speciality of it. The
skillful physician spends a goodly
amount of time with himself and puts
himself in the patients place" and SO
learns to correct his own peculiaritcs
to become at length "teres atuuC ro-
tundus."
AVOID CONCEIT
No profession conduces so much to
ConCeit, to arbitrariness and to- dicta-
torial ways as the practice of medi-
cine. As soon as the front door Of
the patrons house is shut behind him,
the physician becomes the autocrat of
the house his will is law. his every
request is compiled with. his slightest
suggestion Is noticed ana obeyed. This
all tends TO make him insufferably
! concetcd and we'll nigh unbearablc.
What is the remedy for correcting
this Objectionable part of the personal
! equation? The answer is not far to
| seek. Attend medical societies, and ad-
vance your own opinions. If one gets
| the worst of a discussion it will show
! him his error; if he is right, it will
| but benefit the rest of the profession.
| At all events 1t will bring about a
| salutary meekness. and to a certain
! extent, reduce ones opinions Of him
| self and his attainments to a correct
and wholesome minimum. Incidental
! ly. but of far more importance is the
! amount of knowledge and the new
! ideas and methods that may be CLEAN
| ed from the papers and discussions of
a given session.
PUBLIC HEALTH.
| Medicine is a liberal profession. and
the practitioner thereof should never
/ forget to make study OF public health
"A part of his personal equation. He
! should look to the sanitary condition of
! his town, he should be foremost in hav-
! ing properly built school houses. he
should not neglect the prevention OF
crime as well as disease. He should
! have an eye to the testimony of eX.
pcrts in the courts Of his immediate
| vicinity. He should see to it that the
! weak and feeble are not oppressed in
| that section of the country which 1.
blessed by his ministrations. He should
be foremost in fostering and promoting
all kinds of moral reform.
Another barnacle that fastcns itsel
to the hull of his professional snip :,
carelessness in collecting his accounts
! The physician is public benefactor
whether he will. or no, yet he SHOULD
do one of two things, make good rount
| charges. and collect them, or give his
services. He puts the value on his cf.
forts when he makes the charge. Il
his patron cannot pay. have it under.
| stood that the account is wholly re-
mitted-no halfway work.
THE PATIENTS FRIEND.
The physicians personal equation /.
large enough to allow of his attainment
of the friendship of his patients. y,
one likes to be treated in purely pro
fessional way. \ little care given {,
the surroundings of the case, a few
| well-Chosen questions as to the dali,
life and circumstances soon nut tn
tactful man in possession of data sur
ficient to permit him to obtain an in
tellgent and helpful influence over tn
sick person. which not only conduce
to immediate recovery, but laws tn
foundation for continued association il
the days Of health, and suhsequen
mutual labor, in good ways. and 70
good works.
For all the foregoing, the write
claims no patient, no position of origi
nality, and he disclaims any intention
to pedantic instruction. He would no
dare. even to seem to lecture this bod,
Of able men.
Standing before a body of persona
friends, like those assembled here, tn
writer il always impressed with tn
thought that none OF us are at on
best, that much that is high, noble an,
grand lies dormant in the hearts an
souls Of these friends, and he is eve
on the alert to help to bring il out. {
have his trusted and loved brethre
take the place they deserve. and whicl
is often usurped by inferior minds, be
cause of their better understanding O
themselves.
This paper, then, is simply suggest
i've, a bare and bald outline to be file
in and amplifed by each one for him
self. Just a puff of powder, and a littI
snap to jog the nerves of anyone VIII
may be good enough to receive It /
the spirit in which it is uttered, hopiu
that we may all become like the Grea
Physician. who not only event ahou
doing good" but who also Spoke a
one having authority, and not as tn
Scribes."
LAUGHED TO THE LAST.
A Nurses Story of a Soldier VIII