The difficulties, duties, and rewards of the physician : an address to the graduating class of the fifth session of the University of Nashville, February 28th, 1856 / by John P. Ford.

  • Ford, John P. (Physician)
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The difficulties, duties, and rewards of the physician : an address to the graduating class of the fifth session of the University of Nashville, February 28th, 1856 / by John P. Ford. 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.)

    3/16
    ADDRESS. Gentlemen Graduates: —■ By appointment of the Medical Faculty, I am here this evening to address you. It is an occasion full of thrilling interest, long to be remembered by every graduate present, as the termination of a routine of arduous study, and as the com- mencement of an era bright with buoyant hope. All of you, no doubt, have looked forward to this time, as the terminus of your labors. You have seen as yet, no mountain height to climb, higher than the point you have reached. And would that I were able, consistently with the truth, and consistently with the duty I have assumed towards you, to leave undisturbed, that state of repose, and happiness even, which the sturdy realities before you will but too surely destroy. I would not wantonty undertake this part of my task; nor are the remarks which I shall make, applicable to any young gentleman, who, having put his hand to the plough in this work, is willing to look back, or who vainly supposes, that having gained the honors of his institution, there is nothing left for him to do. but idly sleep and dream. Far be it from me ever to place an obstacle in the pathway of that young man, who, with steady eye and well strung nerve is pressing on to the topmost points of science. For such an