The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-11-14

woeful waste of zeal and energy.
 Among the subjects of general educa-
 ton mentioned as of special importance
 is an acquaintance with the modern
 languages Such a knowledge opens
 to the student sources of medical infor-
 nation not available to one who knows
 only his native tongue. and although
 translations and extracts or articles
 from foreign periodicals give glimpse
 of this great literature only a small
 portion is thus rendered accessible to
 English speaking students in compari-
 son with what remains behind In ad-
 dition to this we would suggest the im-
 portance of early instruction in the
 atural sciences, for they are the best
 training for the powers of observation,
 and they tend to develop the habit of
 reasoning and forming correct judg-
 ments from such observation.
 The second desideratum mentioned
 is an absolute need of accuracy. Mo-
 mentous issues in medical practice
 hang upon proper appreciation of facts and accuracy in acting upon the knowl- edge of such facts. The subject of an- atomy is mentioned as one of great im- portance in developing an accurate mind. Accurate in observation and &C., curacy in remembering facts observed are important, if the student is to make the best advantage of his dissecting- room experience. Without such an ac- curate knowledge of anatomy trust worthy diagnoses in clinical medicine and certainty in operative procedure can never be obtained
 sympathetic nature is an absolute necessity. The sick feel a need for sympathy, and the judicious expression of sympathy shown not only in words but in manner, tone of voice and action will exert a favorable influence, not on- ly upon the mind but upon the general condition and the diseased process it. self. There is perhaps a tendency for the student to become a little careless of the feeling of his patients in his hospital work, due not to lack of kind- ness of his nature, but in great part to the fact that many patients have to be seen in a short time, many of whom are intellectually slow. Sympathy should be tempered with discretion and should not degenerate into mere hu- moring of fads and fancies. Judicious f1rmness in insisting upon those mat ters which are important, while, mat ters of no importance are yielded, go far to assist the patient in his strug- gle with disease. A medical man must be sympathetic friend as well as scientific adviser.
 Bodily strength is also needed. It is not necessary that as has been sug- sested, every student should be so many feet in height, measure so many inches around the chest, and weigh so many pounds, for such measurements are poor criterion of good health: but good physical health and reason able strength are most essential. The strain of arduous study in medical | college is severe, and disturbed nights | add their depressing effects to the ex- haustion of laborous days, and nothing but strong constitution can withstand | the strain.
 While we cannot say that any par tcular cast of mind or build of body | specially fits a man for the duties of | medical practice, there are certain | qualities which render his success or failure in medicine probable, and these mentioned in the Lancet's editorial de- serve the attention of thoughtful med- lcal men who are consulted by those |. who have in mind the possibility of un- dertaklng medical studies If practi- tioners of medicine were more judicious | In the advice given those of this class no doubt it might help prevent a little of the overcrowding in the profession, and avert some of the misf1ts which are often seen in the medical profession- From American Medicine.)