Annual address delivered before the Medical Society of the State of New York : February 6, 1839 / by Laurens Hull.

  • Hull, Laurens, 1779-1865.
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual address delivered before the Medical Society of the State of New York : February 6, 1839 / by Laurens Hull. 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.)

    3/14
    ADDRESS Gentlemen, Called to preside over this society, I do not forget, that I am more indebted to your partiality than to my own de- serts, ibr this distinguished honor. This station has been filled by men wiser, and better than myself, and while I am very willing to acknowledge their claims to superior wisdom and experience, I hope that I may claim for my- self, and it is all that I shall ask, the character which 1 trust is common to us all, viz : devotion to the interests of the profession, and a jealous regard for its respectability. To this we are bound as much by the laws of conscience, as of professional duty ; and since from the very nature of our profession, it is more exposed to the inroads of impos- ture and ignorance than any other, we are bound with unceasing diligence, to endeavor to prevent the spread of the popular delusions which threaten to destroy all the distinctions between virtue and vice, ignorance and intel- ligence, ingenuousness and cunning, and to aim at those qualifications which mark, and indeed form the character of the high minded, the learned, and the moral physician. As it is usual on occasions of our meeting for the presi- ding officer to address you on some subject connected with our professional duty, or medical practice, I have thought proper to call your attention to a matter, which, although it has been frequently canvassed, remains at this day as destitute of remedy as if none had ever been suggested. You will readily anticipate me, I mean the subject of quackery. It would seem almost superfluous at this day, to call up and discuss what has been long known as the opprobrium of our profession.