The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-20

the mother babe the angel approach
and kiss her babe.
"All Of us have visions such as
these recalled in the story. We may
spend our lives seeking pleasure, and
! like the prodigal son Of old, find 1t
not. We may spend our hours In
boarding money and accommodating
| fortunes, but when we die we find
that shrouds have no pockets. Or we
may turn our lives to useful channels
and make them an inspiration to
| those with whom we come in contact.
1t matters not whether the channel of
| influence be wide or narrow, but 1t
does matter much as to the influence
we exert while using the few years al
lotted to us.
Ready to Dedicate Lives.
"The young ladies of this class have
completed the course Of studies and
the practical work assigned them,
and are now ready to dedicate their
| lives. Those who are here tonight
are largely those who have made q
similar dedication in years gone by.
The dedication of their lives is that
| they may be OF service to humanity,
that they may alleviate pain and that
they may lessen suffering. Can any
one dedicate his or her life to a more
noble calling? Is it not an inspiration
! to all with whom he or she may come
in contact?
"The profession Of nursing IS very
closely related to the profession Of
medicine, and while I do not know
that there will ever be regarded
father for the profession as there is
i of medicine, yet it is not inapproprf-
ate that those who engage in this pro-
| fession may have a like reverence to
the father Of medicine as do those
| who have dedicated their lives profess
sionallv to the practice Of medicine.
Hippocrates and His Oath.
MANY, many years ago in the early
days Of history, there was one who
lived and was known as the father
Of medicine and while his life is
Swallowed in much mystery, yet his
| influence has made him a celebrity,
and his life has been an inspiration to
untold thousands who have adopted
| his calling for their ideal and en-
gagged in the service of humanity.
81 refer to Hippocrates, the ancient
Greek physician. 1t seems that accord
ing to the way history runs, that early
in his life, he adopted and took an
oath which has been known since as
the 'Hippocratic OATH In this oath he
says:
"I swear by Apollo, the physician,
and Esculapius and Health. and ALL
heal, and all the gods and goddesses,
that, according to my ability and judy
ment, I will keep this oath and this
stipula ticn--to reckon him who taught
me this art equally dear to me as my
parents, to share my substance with
him, and relieve his necessities if re-
CURED: to look upon his offspring in
the same footing as my own brothers,
and to teach them this art, if they
shall wish to learn it, without fee or
stipulation; I will follow that
system Of regime which, according to
my ability and judgment, I consider
for the benefit of my patients, and abb
stain from whatever Is deleterious and
mischevious. I will give no deadly
medicine to anyone If asked, nor sug-
gest any such counsel: With
purity and with holiness I will pass
my life and practice my art.
Into whatever houses I enter, I will
go into them LOT the benefit OIL lHe
sick, and will abstain from every vol
untary act of mischief and corruption.
- Whatever, in connection with
my professional practice or not in
connection with it, l see or hear. in
the life Of men, which ought not to
be spoken Of abroad, I will not d.
yulge, as reckoning that all such
should be kept secret. While I con-
tinue to keep this oath unviolated,
may it be granted to me to enjoy life
and the practice of the art, respected
by all men, in all times. But should I
trespass and violate this oath, may
the reverse be my lot
This Oath for Nurses.
This oath taken by Hippocrates
might well be taken by the nurses
who graduate here tonight. 1t would
not be amiss for them to chart their
future life by it.
1.-The progress Of the race has very
largely been determined by the prog