Universities and corporations under the new Medical Act : an address to the graduates in medicine at the conferring of degrees in the University of Edinburgh by the Vice-Chancellor and Senatus, August 1, 1860 / by John Hughes Bennett.

  • Bennett, John Hughes, 1812-1875.
Date:
1860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Universities and corporations under the new Medical Act : an address to the graduates in medicine at the conferring of degrees in the University of Edinburgh by the Vice-Chancellor and Senatus, August 1, 1860 / by John Hughes Bennett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and practice of medicine, prosecuted with a proper sense of re¬ sponsibility, and in a pure spirit of sincerity and of truth, will not merely enable you to arrive at this, but confer upon you that true respectability which all conscientious effort in doing good must ever impart. Although, as the result of a high and expensive education— tested by written, oral, and practical examinations—you have now reached what may appear to be the end of your labours, a moment’s consideration will convince you that this day only ushers in a new epoch of labour and anxiety. Indeed, I would strongly urge upon you the necessity of profiting more than ever at this time by active professional study and observation. Such as have made for themselves any name in medicine, and all those who have practised it with ability, will be ready to confess that, to the well-spent years which immediately followed leaving the schools, much of their success has been owing. It is, then, with preliminary knowledge acquired, with examinations passed, with an object in life obtained, and a future position to secure, that the conscientious young physician will seize upon every opportunity which presents itself of preparing for the responsibilities of his profession. Such opportunities he will find in continued attendance on hospitals for the sick, in becoming a resident medical officer in our public charities, in assisting some senior experienced practitioner, or in studying at the celebrated schools and universities of continental cities. Hitherto you have not so much acquired what there is to be known, as you have ascertained what there is to learn. And although a medical man must always be a student, the golden opportunity of making up past deficiencies, and adding to your stores of knowledge, is now arrived; and on the manner in which you employ it may mate¬ rially depend the success of your professional lives. It is, I trust, unnecessary that I should at present address you at length in regard to the moral principles of conduct which, incumbent as they are upon all men, are specially so on practi¬ tioners of medicine. Circumspection, prudence, sobriety, kind-