Southern Practitioner Volume 20; An Independent Monthly Journal Devoted to Medicine and Surgery (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 Excerpt: ...I have ten millions of nerves, and that each one is a sentinel to tell of approaching danger, and I will show you a man, if he is conscientious, if he is honorable, if he understands the real ethics of his profession, who stands above the f g, a true man, a tall man, suncrowned. But he must have skill, and skill comes with study and experience. He must have patience, and tenderness, and sympathy, and gentleness, and if his touch is as soft as that of a woman, all the better and all the easier will the bitter medicine glide down the throat of his patient. And if he uses a knife, let him understand also the employment of anaesthetics, and be careful that his own nerves are as steel, not to vary the hundredth of an inch. Honorable profession You will pardon me for saying, possibly you know, that of the thirty-three recorded miracles of the great Physician of Nazareth, twenty-four, sir, were for the relief of human suffering, thus honoring your calling, thus honoring your profession. Then I simply want to say that I thank you for your patience in listening to me so long. Your profession is regarded as a blessing by the people at large, and it is a blessing to the race, one of the greatest known. Why, who discovered the circulation of the blood? Who was it but Jenner, among the milkmaids, that brought something of great benefit to mankind? You know what has become of Pasteur's epoch-making discovery. Years and years ago a man was laid on a table and his leg sawed off while his friends held him there. Now he is rendered unconscious and the operation done without pain. Is there nothing in this? You have courage and knowledge and self-sacrifice and self-denial. You practice much that you teach in your self-sacrifice and in your toil. But lastly (as the preacher wo...