The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-20

munities to the acceptance of advanced Ideas. He has popularized science by simplifying its terms. He has created that attitude of hopeful expectancy with which tha<Publio now regards with an atmosphere of hope and confidence so favorable to the fruitful efforts"
 pr. McWhorter's advice to the students was as follows:
 Advice to Students.
 The Birmingham Medical college Is preparing to send out a large and well equipped reinforcement to the great army of practlcing physicians who are Engaged in the age-long conflict with the forces of disease. As one who has long been engaged in that warfare l may be per mitted to offer a word of friendly ad- monition and encouragement to these re- cruits. The bonds of sympathy that unite me to the student body are as tender and sacred as the memories that bind me to the past. Across the chasm of the buried years that intervene between my student days and yourself extend you to- night, gentlemen of the class, the right hand of student fellowship with the as- surance, on my part, of the interest un- abated and affection undiminished.
 'I would advise you at the outset to carry with you through life the student habit you have acquired at this insti- tuition. Man, like the incinsistant moon, waxes and wanes, physically and intel- lectually This is law of his nature from which there is no escape. The long CT you maintain the period of intellectual activity and growth the longer will the period of power be maintained and the period of decay deferred. Arrest of de- velopment will surely follow abandonment of effort on your part.
 "Familiarize yourselves with the cur rent literature of your procession ana keep in touch with the most advanced thought on every medical subject. You owe this to your patients and to your selves. To do this you must be student and worker. There is no place in med icine for the idler and the trifler.
 Carry the best methods of hospital practice as fully as possible into your private practice. Asepsis is one leg of the tripod on which modern medicine rests You will, of course, be hampered for lack of hospital facilities. This will enable you to develop ingenuity and to exercise common sense.
 Madison defined statesmanship as the science of circumstances. The dennl- tion applies well to country practice or medicine It applies that you should reach the bounds of yaur limitations in your ef- forts to benefit your patients.
 Do not misapprehend the dignity ana importance of your efforts because of the
  The country doctor whose homely science restored Abraham Lincoln to health In boyhood days probably made larger contribution to the needs of humanity than did the brilliant surgeons who op- erated upon Napolean III, or the Emperor Frederick. It might be well to remember this, gentlemen, as you sit at the ped- side of some bare ankled girl or some freckled faced boy Only large perspec- tive reveals the true relations or things.
 Every human being who trusts to your integrity or relies on your sKill IS entitled to the best that Is in you
 Cultivate Business Habits.
 "Cultivate business habits. Remember that you owe something to yourselves as well as very much to your patients. It Is no credit to the rnembery of a physician who had attained to professional emi- hence, to have 1t said of him that he died with 60OOO due him without leaving 50 cents to his widow. It may be dis- grace. as Andrew Carnegie has declared. for any man to die rich The doctor who should die rich would be guilty or an anomally as well as crime.
 The danger of this double disaster to you, gentlemen, is however so remote that you may safely regard it as negligible quantity. As scientific distractions do not pass current with the butcher and the grocer, you would do we'll to present your bills at regular stated intervals. You must decline to accept the status of the mendi- cath classes.
 'sThe lack of laboratory facilities will discouraae many of you from developing