The annual address delivered to the graduates of the Atlanta Medical College at the commencement : September 2, 1858 / by Custis B. Nottingham.

  • Nottingham, Custis B. (Custis Bell), -1875.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The annual address delivered to the graduates of the Atlanta Medical College at the commencement : September 2, 1858 / by Custis B. Nottingham. 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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    scenes that shut off' the gaze of the world from the weakness and frailties of poor human nature when shorn of its mask of conventionality, diplomacy and disguise ; the besought counsellor and only hope of man in his affliction, and wo- man in her peril; sharing, unreservedly, communications in- volving interests the most sacred, the tales of suffering and anguish, sorrow and woe, mental and physical, of all ages, sexes and conditions; the lone invited guest to the sacred apartment ot innocence, beauty and loveliness, where the foot of sterner mortal, save that of father or husband, never trod before ; enjoying indeed a confidence and toleration within his sphere of action possessed by no other member of community; the safet}'' of society, the very instincts of na- ture, require that the physician should be a man eminently good and true—that he should be distinguished for upright- ness of purpose, sincerity of heart, candor, prudence, truth- fulness, integrity, a nice sense of high-toned honor, and a generous cultivation of the social graces, humane, kind and sympathizing in his intercourse with his patients ; his char- acter should be adorned in all its aspects, professional, moral and social, in the rich garniture of practical virtue, refine- ment and sublime philosophy, generous in his impulses, be- nevolent in his feelings, liberal io his sentiments ; he should be chaste In his thoughts; pure and temperate in his habits, circumspect in his demeanor, discreet in conversation, wise in counsel, hopeful in temperament, cheerful in manners, self-sacrificing in devotion, true in his fidelity to confidence reposed, patient in giving attention to the long catalogue of sorrows, that may at times appear to him trifling, that over- run the hearts of those who narrate them, kind and philan- thropic to the destitute, making a voluntary and free offer- ing of much of his time and skill to the demands of charity, as presented in the persons of the sick poor wbo are to be found in every town and neighborhood. Perhaps there is no pursuit in which such unlimited and constant demands are made upon the benevolent feelings and charitable labors of its members, as are constantly pressed upon the medical profession. And whilst talent and industry should, in all the walks of life, command fair pecuniary remuneration,