MEDICAL APHORISMS, ETC. To the Editor of DOMINION MEDICAL MONTHLY: 1. "Jucundem nihil est, nisi quod reficit varietas." 2. The first step in wisdom is to be exempt from folly.Horace. 3. The saddest consideration among doctors is that by the time they have accumulated knowledge, verified by experience, and which can be utilized to the greatest advantage of their patients, old age prevents them from the exercise of such wisdom. 4. All physicians are supposed to be very familiar with the code of ethics; yet such is evidently not so. However, it is pleasing to note that the teaching of ethics will soon be established in our universities. 5. "Etiam capillus unus habet umbram suam." 6. "True medicine," says Sydenham, "consists in the discovery of real indications rather than the excogitation of remedies. Those who have neglected these have put arins into the hands of the empiric, and taught him to imitate the physicians.” 7. "Inter homines sapiens, inter sapientes medicino" is the demand. 8. To the young doctor who is the possessor of unblemished character; who is honest, just, humble, generous, persevering, and full of ambition in his studies and for his success; who has the personal appearance and manners of the real gentleman; who is clean, both morally and bodily, true success is assured. False success is won by the most cunning and astute knavery. 9. It is better to be ambitious to serve and obtain good results than to seek the crown and applause. To prevent disease, to comfort your patients, to afford them relief is the true ambition. 10. "The human race," says Dr. Holmes, "is divided into two classes; those who go ahead and do something, and those who sit still and inquire.' 11. Dr. Austin Flint says: "We should be content with doing nothing when ignorant how to do good." THE NURSE. 12. "Blue-eyed and bright of face, but waning fast into the sere of virginal decay," is Henley's description of the nurse, of whom Shakespeare would have said: "Lady, you are the cruelest she alive if you will lead these graces to the grave and leave the world no copy.' 13. I am of the opinion we have in every locality a sufficient number of intelligent widows and aged spinsters who have had sufficient experience, and possess natural qualifications for the position of nurse. They should be the ones whom we had better select for nursing. The trained nurse of the "new woman ”’ order no doubt has her place, but I believe her noblest mission on earth one for which Providence designed her-is that of motherhood. The nursing of her own babies and her husband, and that before the fountains of her youth are dried up, even desire fail. 14. Dr. Shrady says: "The great doctor is greater than ever, especially in the field of research and discovery; but the average doctor is a smaller personage than he was ever before, and that is why the profession seems to have declined, and lost. many of its old time attractions for educated men." Success consists in doing one's best without thought of fame. "Tis not in mortals to command success, but we'll do more, Sempronius, we'll deserve it." 15. Some one has said: "A man may be a fool to choose a profession, but he is an idiot to give it up." However, it is well to consider that "he who knows not that he knows not is a fool therefore shun him. He who knows not and knows that he knows not is humble-help him. He who knows and knows that he knows is wise-follow him. 16. Some doctors persist in putting thermometers in the hands of families and patients, because of which they get less practice, and the families, with the aid of a doctor book, treat themselves until the undertaker gets them. 17. Our profession demands of its members brotherly love, peace, co-operation and fidelity, and able advocates for its rights. In the festivities of Piræus in honor of the Thracian Diana, the equestrian celebrants, swinging fire-brands, handed them to one another. (Lampadia exontes allelois diadinsonsin.-Plato.) What is the deduction ? 18. No other profession has more members than those which are held as binding ties among its sacred by the true and faithful disciples of Esculapius. These ties outshine those of all lodges; even those of the brethren of the mystic tie and "hieroglyphic bright," which none but craftsmen ever saw. 19. No man of honor, says Am. Med., advertises himself who only has his abilities, intellect, or skill to sell. Would an engineer come out in a newspaper and by long articles say directly or by implication that he has more knowledge and skill than his professional brethren? Would a lawyer, a preacher, even a newspaper editor? It would be rank egotism and ridiculous. To do so would at once disclass and degrade him in the minds of his colleagues. One's reputation with one's own fellows, and especially with those best fitted to know, is the condition of honor, of self-respect, and even of business success. 20. It is well to be a good listener, but far better to know how to answer cautiously and when to decide promptly; use other men's brains, but exercise not too much servitude, for now and then the world wants the man with a mission to come out from the crowd. However, it is better to remain in the ranks. 21. Physic requires more industry, pains and labor, and, indeed, more learning, a more extended knowledge of the auxiliary sciences to carry it to perfection than any other profession." Such was said more than one hundred years ago. 22. It is said of Goldsmith that when he entered professional work he appeared in "a professional wig, a cane, purple small clothes, and a scarlet roquelaure buttoned to the chin." The profession in his time had eminent scholars, and was highly esteemed. Will history repeat itself? 23. Our profession is, and has ever been overcrowded, and as regards money making, many of the mechanical trades surpass it in such respects. About one per cent. of those who are engaged in the profession become moderately rich. It has been estimated by Dr. C. Henri Leonard, of Detroit, that 50,000 M.D.'s of the United States make $1,000 or less, and that 50,000 do not reach a yearly income of more than $500. However, Dr. Taylor says of the 135,000 United States physicians, that 100,000 make yearly $100,000,000, i.e., $1,000 each; that each of 20,000 make $2,000; of 5,000, each is making $5,000; 200 are each realizing $10,000. 24. Very few continue in practice for more than ten years unless aided by some "side line" business; or marry "rich." 25. Being the possessor of knowledge of or familiarity with hydrotherapy, massage and all that anatomy and physiology teaches you will be enabled to silence the arrogance of osteopathy, Christian Science and other wild delusions which exist and are constantly being formed. 26. "More men of ordinary than extraordinary abilities possess common sense," and without this rare gift of common sense a man, although thoroughly informed in all abstract information, will never become a reliable physician. 27. There are too many in our profession who are mere medicine men, who are egotistical, incompetent, presumptuous, superficial, boastful, unscrupulous, real Shylocks; who neither read nor take medical journals of any merit; whose only book of study is the price list of some pharmacal company and its "journal." "Ever thy credit keep-'tis quickly gone; Obtained by many actions, lost by one." 28. Self-respect, self-control and self-sacrifice are always to be maintained, as such are the Trinity in medicine. Stirling, Ont., Feb., 1905. J. S. SPRAGUE. Why Prescribe Pepsin Read the Verdict of Authority. Hemmeter: Diseases of the Stomach. 3d Ed., 1902, p. 345. Einhorn: Diseases of the Stomach. 3d. Ed., 1903, p. 204. personally, while I do not "I have entirely abandoned the use of pepsin which must be The Modern Treatment of Dyspepsia due to deficient gastric secretion demands the stimulation of the appetite, the excitation of the gastric functions, a proper diet, and-no pepsin. Ext. carnis fl. comp. (Colden) contains three of the most potent excitants of the gastric glands. It will stimulate the appetite, increase the quantity and quality of the gastric juice, and promote nutrition generally. Sold by druggists. Write for literature. THE CHARLES N. CRITTENTON CO., Sole Agents, Emulsified cod liver oil as contained in Scott's Emulsion appears in a form so closely resembling the product of natural digestion—as it occurs within the body-that it may well be administered as an artificially digested fat food of the very highest type. In combination with the other ingredients involved-glycerine being an emollient of inestimable value-Scott's Emulsion offers to the physician a valuable, exquisite and rare accession to his prescription list. Samples Free. SCOTT & BOWNE, Chemists, Toronto, Ont. |