The profession of medicine, its study, and practice; its duties, and rewards : an address delivered at Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, on the opening of the medical session of 1850-51 / by Charles West, M.D.

  • West, Charles, 1816-1898.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The profession of medicine, its study, and practice; its duties, and rewards : an address delivered at Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, on the opening of the medical session of 1850-51 / by Charles West, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    world sets most store by, or which the same amount of intellect, and the same persevering industry, directed into any different channel, would almost certainly command. It would, however, be any thing but a healthy state of mind in which you should see, at the outset of your journey, all its difficulties and dangers as clearly as you will perceive them hereafter; and I shall have failed sadly of my object, if any thing I say to-night should make you repent of your choice, and desire to retrace your steps. My only wish is, to guard you against some misapprehensions that may dishearten you at the outset of your course, and against others which at a later period may cause you to miss of being either as useful to your fellows, or as happy in yourselves as I sincerely trust you will be. Three years, to be given up to the undisturbed pursuit of knowledge,—of knowledge most varied in its kind, and each kind of such high interest, that men have willingly devoted their whole lives to its pursuit, and have founded a readily-admitted claim to undying reputation, upon excellence achieved in it,— and this knowledge not merely to be stored up as intellectual sustenance during the busy scenes of your after life, but by its liberal use to prove the source of health and happiness, and life to thousands, such is your present position, — such are your future prospects. Three years,—it seems a long time to look forward to ; but it is a short time for all the work you have to do in it; and many, alas! make it still shorter by