Proceedings of the general meeting of the medical profession in relation to the deaths of Charles Frick, M.D. and Berwick B. Smith, M.D : held Thursday, March 29th, 1860.

Date:
1860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Proceedings of the general meeting of the medical profession in relation to the deaths of Charles Frick, M.D. and Berwick B. Smith, M.D : held Thursday, March 29th, 1860. 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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    that, in an experience of thirty years, Cliarles Frick was the smartest boy he had ever had charge of,—in one word, the child was father to the man. When we were at the Alms- house as students, his enthusiasm was infectious in its char- acter, and his promise there for eminence was unmistakable. I saw and admired Dr. Feick at that most trying period of every professional man's career, for I witnessed his patient waiting for practice. No temporary want of success could divert him from his determination to follow the profession of his choice. And now, when he appeared about to reap the fruits of all his study and unremitting labor, he has been cut down in the prime of his manhood. To us he seemed at the commencement of a long life of great prosperity and usefulness, in which he was to benefit the science he had loved with so ardent an affection. I had figured him as the future Todd of America, not inferior to the Englishman either in reputation or in brilliancy. His was a kindred spirit, and in his fine analytical mind and originality he unquestionably resembled him. We, in our poor human blindness, thought he had but begun his noble work,—to the eye of Infinite Wisdom it had been com- pleted :—a warning, gentlemen, to teach us to be less confi- dent in our contracted, mortal judgments, and to be more patient of results we cannot control. Ought we to let pass unimproved the example his active and useful life has set us of devotion in furthering, in every way in our power, the best interests of the noblest of avocations ? Shall I speak of the still higher lesson the circumstances of his death have taught us ? On Wednesday morning he was attending to the active discharge of his duties in the full vigor of his matured mind, and healthy, handsome frame, buoyant with bright hopes of the future,—the pride of his friends, and the ornament of his profession. On Sunday, at half-past twelve, he was numbered with the dead.