Impediments to the study of medicine : a lecture, introductory to the course of practice of medicine / by J.K. Mitchell ... ; delivered on the 18th of November, 1850.

  • Mitchell, John Kearsley, 1798-1858.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Impediments to the study of medicine : a lecture, introductory to the course of practice of medicine / by J.K. Mitchell ... ; delivered on the 18th of November, 1850. 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.)

    11/32
    posed to be able to disentangle the complicated elements of an obscure and multiform case. Yet, as you well know, there exists a very general impression that of all the departments of learning, that of medicine exacts the least amount either of education or capacity. When myself a student, I had cause to ride through a part of the professional district of my preceptor in Virginia, and visited among others a widow lady of estimable character and respectable position in society, when the following conversation occurred. So you are a student of medicine ? Yes ma'am.' *' I am glad of that, for I am about to send a son of mine to the doctor's to get his profession, and I wish you to give him a little help. He's mighty dull at learning, and not too ready to take up a book; but I think he'll make a fine doctor. He sets the chickens' legs now ! and only the other day he mended the spoke of a cart-wheel, just as I once saw the doctor set my man Hominy's arm ; two sticks and a rope did the business. He'll make a good doctor, rely on it, Has he been well educated, madam ? Does he read Latin and Greek ? Is he master of mechanics, and chemistry, and ^' Stop, stop a little; you put me in a fright! Why, I tell you he is just able to read and write, and as to ciphering, the master said he always found tit tut too and never any sum on his slate —he never did a sum ; but you know, doctors don't Avant figures except for their accounts, and somehow or other I find they all manage that part. But, madam, medicine is a very comprehensive and difficult science, demanding— Oh, as for that, it's just the degree, and calomel and a blister or two ! Why, I think myself a very good doctor, and I know nothing about Latin and Greek, and mathe- matics. I know a doctor or two hereabouts who can't sign their - own names—and one of them kept me waiting a whole day for a remedy, which should have been given immediately, because he couldn't go home himself for it, and he didn't know how to write for it to his student. The man got well, after the medicine did come, and what more do you want ? My eldest son is a shrewd fellow, speaks fluently, and argues ably; he is to be a lawyer. My second son is industrious and careful; he'll take care of the