An address delivered at the first medical commencement of the Massachusetts Medical College, March 7, 1855 / by D. Humphreys Storer.

  • Storer, David Humphreys, 1804-1891.
Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An address delivered at the first medical commencement of the Massachusetts Medical College, March 7, 1855 / by D. Humphreys Storer. 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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    meters and peculiarities of the inmates, and their local history. You will be expected never to betray the confidence entrusted in you, but religiously to keep within your own bosom what your peculiar relation has enabled you to learn. Never converse of your patients' derangements, unless they are of such a nature as may be referred to without any impropriety. Nothing is more injurious to the standing of a physi- cian, than a knowledge that he is addicted to such a course. It is a breach of a sacred trust, unbecoming a member of a liberal profession, unbecoming a true man. Should you be so unfortunate as to become conversant professionally with any circumstances implicating the character of an individual, let no other consideration induce you to reveal it, than the laws of the land which you have tacitly pledged yourselves to obey. Form for yourselves a professional standard: keep constantly before your minds some of the distin- guished men who by their characters have elevated the reputation, or by their talents have advanced the boundaries, of our science. Do not fix your attention upon a point which can be readily attained; which a short period, however great the exertion used, will enable you to acquire.v But let the eminence be so lofty as to require the effort of your lifetime to reach its summit. You cannot perhaps arrive at the dis- tinction for which you strive; you may fall far short of your expectation: but, if you faithfully exert your-