Strictures on some of the defects and infirmities of intellectual and moral character in students of medicine : an introductory lecture, delivered in the University of Louisville, November 1st, 1847 / by Daniel Drake.

  • Drake, Daniel, 1785-1852.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Strictures on some of the defects and infirmities of intellectual and moral character in students of medicine : an introductory lecture, delivered in the University of Louisville, November 1st, 1847 / by Daniel Drake. 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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    mind as they entered it, and, therefore, lazily, turn their wavering atten tion towards practical matters; thus, to speak figuratively, filling the pockets of their minds with small change, which, on returning home, they can jingle in the cars of the people, who sagely judge, that so much could not appear on the outside, if the inside were not filled to overflowing. The advice appropriate to the two divisions of this group, must be differ- ent. To the former I would say,—seek to find a reason for all you under- take, and in proportion to its correctness will be your success in practice: To the latter,—seek some other employment, and when you have found one in which mental indolence is no obstacle to success, you will not dis- appoint your destiny. The annunciation of the seventh group will, perhaps, startle you. It comprises those who have unfortunately engaged in the study of medicine, without possessing powers of mind adequate to that extruded and difficult undertaking. Every memory is not retentive, every judgment is not ac- curate, every understanding is not analytical—I mean, sufficiently so to enable the individual, successfully, to grasp the principles of the several sciences, which the physician should learn. But what criterion shall I offer ? Who can give the diagnosis of that feebleness of intellect, which renders the task of the medical student hopeless ? Must it be left to the decision of the ballot box, or to the more fatal veto of society ? These are the common tribunals, but DO medical student should allow his fate to be thus postponed and pronounced. He should carefully and candidly study his own intellectual character, and compare himself with his fellow-stu- dents,—selecting those above and not those below him. He should frame an answer to every question propounded in the lecture room, and bring it to the touchstone of what the professor shall declare to be the truth. He should, from time to time, write down his knowledge of particular sub- jects, and examine his compositions, or submit them to the criticism of candid and qualified friends: finally, he should review his medical knowledge, as it exists, unuttcred, in his own mind, and ascertain whether his views are as clear and his conclusions as satisfactory, as they are on common topics. By these methods, and a confiding reliance on the opin- ions of those who understand both his own character and that of his un- dertaking, he may, almost infallibly, arrive at a correct decision. When this decision is unfavorable to his aspirations, it will present at least two degrees. It will either declare ultimate success impossible, or improbable. In the former case, I take it for granted, he will retire from the study at the end of the session ; but should he not do the same in the latter case ? My deliberate judgment is, that he should. I admit that some would thus be diverted from the profesion, who might at last become as respectable as many now in it: and, even, that a few would be turned off, in whom th-9