Valedictory address to the class of medical graduates of the University of Pennsylvania : delivered at the public commencement, March 27th, 1858 / by Joseph Leidy.

  • Leidy, Joseph, 1823-1891.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Valedictory address to the class of medical graduates of the University of Pennsylvania : delivered at the public commencement, March 27th, 1858 / by Joseph Leidy. 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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    Some countenance, indeed, has been given to these popular errors by a phraseology which is not seldom employed by the members of our profession; one which, properly interpreted, means only that we should regard our duty as unperformed while any important problem remains unsolved. In this sense, the opprobria of medicine, are severe tasks which are set for us, and without the accomplishment of which we cannot obtain the highest distinction in the school of nature, our great mistress. To the popular mind, however, these oppro- bria are indicative of personal unfitness on our own part; as proofs, indeed, that either ourselves or our pro- fessed science must be unworthy of the public confidence. In natural connection with such a conclusion, you may observe a forwardness and assumption of knowledge on the part of your patient. That which you are presumed unable to ascertain by years of special study of the sub- ject, he ventures to settle for you; and he asks you to take the responsibility of acting upon his judgment instead of your own. Formerly, more than now, when people were ill, they intrusted themselves to the charge of a physician just as we place a time-piece in the hands of a watch-maker to be repaired—without troubling ourselves as to the means to be employed for the purpose. In the present age, almost every one thinks he has some knowledge of medi- cine ; and if he does not actually attempt to treat his own case, yet, when placing himself under professional treat- ment, he begins by a kind of stipulating statement that he is opposed to dieting, to the use of calomel, to quinine,