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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    age, as well as the fresh feelings of your youth, to the practice of medicine. Happily I shall be able to offer to your notice some compensations for the harassing nature of your profes- sion ; but before doing this, I must here, first and above all else, say to you that no external support, or consola- tion, or safeguard, can equal, or serve as a substitute for, the simple principles of manly integrity. In the sin- cerity of these you may walk the world, with firm heart, with head erect, conscious of a pure intent to do your duty, and trustfully awaiting, never rashly seeking, whatever conflicts are in the route of your profession. Thus fortified, no detractions of an undiscerning crowd; no distrust on the part of those who reap the benefit of your daily toils ; no interference of the rash and conceited; no competitions unworthily conducted against you by lying pretenders; no examples of ingra- titude where you look for friendly recognition of your services; no mean jealousies or endeavors to supplant you on the part of false brethren of the profession; not even the strivings of your own sensitive hearts in the presence of suffering, and woe, and death, will be able to shake your solid minds, and unfit you for the per- formance of your duty in a becoming manner. Against such temptations you will be provided with both cautions and aids; and when they come to you in doubtful guise, and the bias of interest or passion may incline you too much towards their entertainment, you will have, in the little code of professional ethics which the com- bined wisdom of the profession has constructed, ready criteria by which to rectify the undue proneness of your