A plea of humanity in behalf of medical education : the annual address delivered before the New-York State Medical Society and members of the legislature at the capitol, February 6, 1849 / by Alexander H. Stevens.

  • Stevens, Alexander H. (Alexander Hodgdon), 1789-1869.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A plea of humanity in behalf of medical education : the annual address delivered before the New-York State Medical Society and members of the legislature at the capitol, February 6, 1849 / by Alexander H. Stevens. 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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    istics of our nature, the nearest approach to its only perfect type, consists in the tenderest regard for the welfare of others. Military success and skill pale be- fore the brighter glories of humanity. In the decla- ration of the commander of our army at Buena Vista: I will never leave behind me my sick and wound- ed, we recognise the true hero. Washington him- self, had he uttered such a sentiment, could have had no more honourable epitaph.* It was my happiness to know, as a humble student might be supposed to know, and to visit, an illustri- ous professor, the great Pinel; he who first freed the insane from their manacles. Long afterwards, Es- quirol, his successor, pointed out to me the very hall where Pinel, having first ordered the keepers to un- bind the infuriated demoniacs, boldly went in among them and said in effect, Peace, be still, and they obeyed the voice of kindness and intrepidity. Thus began a new era in the treatment of the insane. It was this same Pinel, who, when the people of Paris were worshipping the Goddess of Reason, was accosted by a celebrated literary man, who said to him, I am writing an Encyclopedia of Atheists, and intend to give you a place that shall be worthy of you. I thank you, replied Pinel, for the honour you design for me, and in return, let me say, * Another declaration of a far different kind has been imputed to the commander of our army at Buena Vista ; the tendency of which is rather to encourage what much less needs encouragement among the rising generation ; and this sublime sentiment, of which so happy a use might be made, has been comparatively over- looked.