An address delivered before the Suffolk District Medical Society, Boston, April 30, 1853.

  • Williams, Henry W. (Henry Willard), 1821-1895.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An address delivered before the Suffolk District Medical Society, Boston, April 30, 1853. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    becomes evident to all. For the sake of his pro- fession, as well as of his patients, it is important that he should neither manifest nor feel any incom- petence in regard to their management. In these days, when the conceit of ignorance asserts its opin- ions with an assurance which contemns authority and is proof against conviction; — when those, who urge the necessity for intelligence and education as qualifications for another profession, too often en- courage the uninstructed pretender in his assump- tion of functions not less sacred than their own; — when the diffusion of useful knowledge has been even surpassed by its dilution, and infant minds divide their attention between viscera and verbs ; — it is of the highest consequence that the physician should be no less accomplished in practical know- ledge of every department of his Art, than familiar with the principles of his Science. There are no diseases in regard to which popular errors are more common or more mischievous than those of the organ of vision. On the other hand, there are none which offer a better opportunity (in a double sense) for ocular demonstration of the benefits of skilful treatment. The public will not understand that it is unsafe to gratify their penchant