The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-11
Impresses Upon the Medical Graduates Their Duty to
 the Profession
GIVES SKETCH OF THE
 HISTORY OF MEDICINE
Exercises of Birmingham Institution Were Held at Jefferson Theatre Last Night and Attended by
 Large Audience

Beautiful and impressive were the serv- ices held at the annual commencement of the Birmingham College of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry last night at the Jefferson theatre. Fifty students, wear ing the black cap and gowns, were as- sembled upon the platform. The faculty of the college were also seated on the stage.
 The programme opened with music by large orchestra. The Rev. E. H. Sholl de- livered the invocation, and then the Rev. sDr. J. T. Plunket was introduced, who de- livered one of the best addresses ever heard in the city. Dr. Plunket said in part:
 "The science of medicine is as old as human society; and the application of remedies for the relief of suffering dates back to prehistoric times when man first knew pain. No people, however ignorant or debased, have been without the kindly offices and benevolent hand of the physi- cian Disease, suffering and death have with iron heel, marched through all the ages down to the present, the unrelenting and uncompromising enemies of our race. But all praise to the physicians, who, un- daunted fearless and equally uncompro- missing, has met them on every field;- and face to face, and steel to steel, has con- tended for every victim.
 'The historian has divided the chrono- logy of medicine inte three ages viz.: The foundation age,' dating from pre- historic times to Galen, the anatomist A D., 200
 l.' ,rhe second age,' or Age of Transition,' covering that period between Galen and the Revival of Learning A. D., HOO.
 The third age, or the Age of Reno yation,' reaching from A. D.,s l4o0, to the eighteenth century.
 "A few glances at the contents of these ages may serve to make you appreciate more fully the advanced day in which you have the good fortune to live.
 "A roll of papyrus acquired by Dr. George A. Ebers in the vicinity Of Thebes, Egypt, in the winter of 1872, from an Arab who made ancient grave robbing business, after investigation and trans lation was deposited in the library of the University of Leipsic. The date of 1t IS said to be over 1000 years ago It IS comprehensive treatise on medicine. DIS eases of the abdomen, the chest the heart the eyes and the ear are carefully arranged and described in a manner that would command respect at the present day. For instance, of the heart the papyrus classihes the troubles as fatty degeneration, dilation, carditis, angina, hypertrophy, thrombosis and dropsy. Of medicine, over TOO different substances are enumerated, and they are prescribed in pills in tablets, in capsules, in decoc- tions, powders, inhalations, lotions, oint- ments and plasters
 First Physician in History
 "The first physician of history, so far as have learned was d priest; and the first hospital was a temple in sacred grove. The earliest school of medicine was founded by the Pastophori, Sacer- dotal order of ancient Egypt; and the last six volumes of their sacred book ot Her mes were devoted to the curative art. civilization descended the Nile and the dawn of medical science broke over the Nubian plains from beyond the syrian Hills. And strange, young gentlemen, It was an Egyptian woman, Polydamna, wife of Thonis who is celebrated in song as one of the first greatest in your pro- fession. Homer tells us she treated, with medicinal herbs, the famous Helen or Troy With the meagre knowledge we possess of these ancient Egyptian doc tors, we find that they were far enough advanced to hold autopsis and to dis cover, if possible the cause of death. They practiced dissection of the human body; and no one can tell just how far their science would have advanced among them but for their superstitions, which prevented them from experimenting upon animals. Nearly all the animals, birds and even insects and reptiles were heo sacred. and were objects of worship. They . might mutilate a human body but dared not touch these sacred tenements of gods and departed spirits Thanks to the theo- sophy of that age.
 .'Besides these things they held the secret of embalming the bodies of the dead to a degree that not even modern scienpa < ablp re-QiScONpr. The doctors Of these ancient people were priests.
 Turning to India and Greece, we find The Brahmins. the priest-physicians of ancient India, compiled the Azur Neda, the holy book of the Hindus, containing perhaps the earliest recorded system oi inateria mediea. They taught and pre- scribed n rigid regimen of dietetcs, and transmitted rhnoplasty to modern sur gerv. The Brahmins belonged to the highest social and religious caste and were licensed to practice, after years ot careful training, and after most satis- factory proofs of personal decornm and personal piety. Aesculapus, the Grecian god of medicine, is still revered as the great prototype of the healing art: and his face and form are yet preserved in the symbols and traditions of your pro- fession. Grecian priests were the phy- sicians in charge of the ancient temples of health and it was in the famous Asclepion on the Island of Cos that Hip pocrates. the father and founder Of ra- tional medicine, devoted the many years of his life to the relief of suffering hu- mnnity. It was an order of Nestorar monks who discovered in the desert wastes of Arabia the therapeutic quail ties of camphor. senna, mama and cassia With the earliest traditions of your pro