Introductory Address on the Study of Medicine
Authors: W. W. Gull
Journal: BMJ (1874)

TREASURER AND GENTLEAMEN,-I feel honour to be in this place to-day.The occasion gether recalls vividly to my mind the time xvhen theatre.Though many years have passed, I feel with those whom I have nowv to address, the dread as to the future wxhich I felt so keenly then.to combine to depress and to bewilder me.weighs upon the minds of many of you now here is natural that it should; for, however full of hope be, the uncertainty and extent of the future cannot gloom upon the present.If it be so, it is my duty to and kindly welcome, and to give you, if I can, such you in making the journey of your life successful, prosperity, or chilled by disappointment and true success is not so much dependent upon accident truth you xwill confidently set before you foremost, circumstances deprive you of the assurance that the name of success is attainable under all more certainly under those which seem the most true, you must have already abundantly learned mnony of history, and, what is better still, may of your ovn conscience.You xill bear in mind manhood are supreme; that, if you become world's esteem, and fail of becoming true men, a cheat upon yourselves and a stumbling-stone Though it xould not become me on this occasion upon personal and sacred subjects, still I would honest work is a high and true service; that every means of moral and intellectual enlightenment duty, and especially imperious upon you, xho look fidence of society in its highest interests.The study of medicine is liberal and unfettered.through human nature and into nature in general.aspect, and has this great collateral advantage pursuing it, they are learning something advantage may be to you as medical students lated, if it duly impress you xvith the fact health in its widest signification are part of lectual life; that indulgence, sloth, and lower nature as they are to the higher laws within well said by Sir Thomas Broxvne, that "there from which we may gather our divinity; beside another by His servant Nature, that broad which lies expansed to the eyes of all".medical student has peculiar advantages; and his studies to limit and contract his feelings to make him take a lov and unxorthy view but, on the contrary, as a learned divine this hospital used to remark, he who is and death will have the truest idea of life to it.Your studies require constant mental direction.ordera correct image from a mirror, it must be object, so you must be careful that your minds your work, but freely and openly directed common with young students to think that it is only effort that good work can be done; whereas, through patient and well directed labour.advantageously recall the fable of the hare and study of medicine, you will soon be convinced the swift.If the first lesson be patience-a hoxw to work and wait, undismayed by wlhat seems to patienice as even Newton required ancl practised wvhen he that he learned to keep a subject befor-e him, and wait slow degrees light dawned upon it-the next lesson is (locility, learn at any source, not fastidiously or delicately, wlhere please us, but wherever the facts lie hid pure all things are pure; and that, in the investigation no high nor low, no great nor small; that, to use