THE GOLDEN RULE.

Do unto others as you would that others should do unto you, is ethics enough for the grandest and the highest civilization on earth. It knows no school, medical or religious. It is broad enough to include all the activities of both heart and head. It is a divine mixture of sentiment and judgment, and when animated by the electric current of will power, they solidify into a combination called Ethics.

If, now, we have a rule of such far-reaching influence; one so frequently and imperatively in demand, so reciprocal in action, why not use it? It doesn't cost anything-except perhaps a little effort to do the right thing at the right time. Nobody ever regretted doing right; but we have heard that now and then a doctor even has regretted doing the other thing. I once heard a clergyman say - he was lecturing, not preaching-that if a man would spend a few minutes each evening reviewing his conduct during the day just passed and then point out to himself how he might have improved his course, he would preach himself seven of the most practical sermons his mind could formulate. He thus hinted at ethics and sound doctrine and the sermon on the mount all in a nutshell.

OUR IDEALS.

Whatever the congenital quality and the acquired furniture of a man's mind may be, he can never map out for himself a course of life that will enable him to fully reach the high-water mark of his ideals. They are like his shadow with the sun at his back-however fast he may run he can never overtake his double.

The more nearly one approaches his present ideals, the more he cultivates his mind to appreciate still higher aims; and hence there is ever an object of attainment still in advance.

This means that the man-including woman, of course- who enters the medical profession with prospects of success must take a broad view of what lies before him-he must not limit his horizon to a narrow circle and imagine he can reach professional eminence by a few strokes of his recent attainments. If a man of this caliber appears in the arena as your competitor you may be excused for diagnosing in him a case of auto-intoxication-a case of ptomaine poisoning; and what is more, a case that the profession can well afford to do without; for it is the man with ideals, the man with a spirit and a power to achieve, who commands the confidence and the support of his colleagues and of the laity and we hope also of the angels above.

We do not, however, have to go far afield in the medical world to find numerous examples of profound study and industry, of self

sacrifice out of all proportion to the remuneration received; examples of exposures to deadly diseases; in short, to find the spirit and the deed marking true heroism in the prosecution of professional duty. The past is full of such records; and we need not go outside of current history to find lives in our midst which are thus devoted. And still our ideals are not reached; still each person of whatever calling, intuitively feels this to be true, and feels too that it gives an earnest of the possibilities wrapped up within the confines of mental attainment. However long man may live here or hereafter, present experience gives the assurance that there will always be a goal unreached,—there will always be an object worthy of the highest ambition,-an object in view to sustain enthusiasm and a hope to identify himself with the noblest aspirations of professional life.

MEDICAL ACQUIREMENTS.

In regard to acquirements imagine Hippocrates-and by the way, this good old "father of medicine" unfortunately missed the oppor tunity of his life: he struck the key that like cures like, and had he followed up the striking to the tune of similia with its variations of provings and attenuations he might have rolled down the eternal page of history as the Hahnemann of the ages.

Imagine, if you will, Hippocrates and Celsus and Galen and Avicenna and John Brown, the founder of the Brunonian system, and even Hahnemann himself, standing paralyzed, as well they might be, before the array of examination papers you have paralyzed during the "finals"! If they could come forth in all their ancient glory and attempt to "qualify" they would be astounded to learn that they would have first to brush up and pass a preliminary State examination; attend four courses of lectures in a reputable college; be in at the finals; and at the last have to go before a State medical board of examiners to get a license. And all this in addition to a diploma before they would be allowed to prescribe even catnip tea for a baby with a pain somewhere. We can fairly hear them roar with astonishment to learn that they who were the "whole thing" in their day and generation must be subjected to a protracted course of instruction of this scope.

But medicine is not the only department of the body politic demanding requirements. You recollect what a generous old bachelor said about the accomplishments of a lady suitable to be his wife: all he asked was that she should have a good temper, good health, good understanding, agreeable physiognomy, domestic habits, resources of amusement, good spirits, conversational talents, elegant manners and a pot of money.

Senator Depew was once asked by a young man, "What, Mr. Depew, is the secret of success?"

The Senator answered, "There is no secret of success-success is dig, dig, dig!"

Mr. Edison, the wizard of electricity, was asked if he did not think that "genius is a stroke of inspiration?"

"No," he said, "genius is perspiration!"

WORK.

This means, gentlemen, with all your genius that you must work -work early and late-and through your work see the genius of your efforts reflected in the results you will be able to accomplish. Work with an earnest, generous impulse, an intelligent aim. Work as though work is exclusively what you are made for. Work and you will never be obliged to take to the tall timber-for you will be equipped to operate in the open. I know with what avidity some young doctors, and some other young people as well take advice of this sort. They rush for it as they would rush to grab a redhot poker. But, gentlemen, if you can't find anything better to grab, grab a hot poker. You can make it hot for somebody if for nobody but yourselves. The whole universe is in motion-doing work. Why should anyone of you be an exception?

There are too many willing hands and capable brains in the field to-day to permit indolence or inability to win in the great struggle for signal success. Work is man's normal element. Well-directed activity is the fundamental principle of both happiness and usefulness.

Many a successful man has assured the public that he has found his chief happiness in the pursuance of his occupation. And why not? A man who has congenial work and ability successfully to accomplish his aim-why shouldn't he be happy and through his occupation become at the same time a worthy acquisition to the community in which he lives? But not all the work compatible with the life of a physician is made up of dispensing powders and pills, taking the rate of the pulse, and the degree of temperature, or thumping a man's chest to find out whether he has tuberculosis or spondulicks. There are some things to learn yet. There is a broad field for investigation in nearly every department of medicine. Witness the institutions established throughout the land for original research. Continued study must still be a goodly part of your life work. Suppose, for instance, that early in your experience, say the very next day after you hang out your shingle, not the kind your mother used-but your professional shingle, and you should be called into court to give expert testimony: we may reasonably assume that you would acquit yourselves with

credit; but, would you be as likely to do so as you would one or more years later, having in the interim spent a certain amount of time each day in additional study? A witness-box is not always an easy box to get out of with a reputation for learning hanging to your locks. You not only have sharp lawyers to contend with, but they are reinforced by doctors who can suggest knotty questions which may tax your ability to answer beyond your power to make a good impression upon the judge and the jury. The judge wants something more than "fizz" to charge the jury with as though they were so many bottles of soda

water.

Study will enable you always to be prepared for the worst that can happen; and whatever less than that confronts you, will be easy of accomplishment because provided for. When the time comes for action you cannot run to the library in your office and look the case up, you must use the library you have in your head. If this is large enough and well enough digested to serve you a good turn, it may be for you the initial step of a successful record as a physician or surgeon. I could give you no end of pertinent examples. Let us instead make a few figures and see what a systematic course of post-study will accomplish :

Suppose you read twenty pages a day three hundred days of the year. This is no great task and should be a great pleasure. This would amount to twelve volumes of five hundred pages each. Suppose now you read fifty pages a day: this amounts to thirty volumes a year of the same size.

Within these limits by a judicious selection of subjects you should in a very few years become a particularly well-read citizen in every department of literature that can aid in your advancement as a physician and as a man. It is unfortunately the case that physicians as a class neglect general reading.

You already know that you cannot be thoroughly well-informed concerning one subject without knowing something of many subjects. The professions of to-day have a more extended grasp than in the days of first experience in collegiate training. The world moves. The systematic arrangement of facts upon which to base broad principles has been especially characteristic of the age in which we live, and no one can keep abreast of the times without a more or less elaborate course of reading. Herein lies the most valuable educational hint that can be extended to you as a supplement to the technical course you have already enjoyed.

In parting be assured, gentlemen, that we individually and as a faculty extend to you our sincere wishes for your good fortune in life.

Let us urge that the moving purpose of your lives be an ever present effort to make the most of your ability, to dispense a wholesome influence, to forward the best interests of the profession; and in all the relations of public and private duties, to be always mindful of the graceful saying that "Handsome is that handsome does."

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES, CLEVELAND HOMEOPATHIC
MEDICAL COLLEGE.

The Commencement exercises marking the end of the fifty-fifth session of the College took place in the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church Wednesday evening, May 17th, 1905. The program was one of exceeding interest, and there was a large audience present, filling almost the entire auditorium of the church, who in many ways showed their appreciation of the good things spread before them.

The twenty-two graduates made a fine appearance as they came in to the music of an inspiring march from the orchestra, creating in their audience a most favorable impression. They looked as they were -scholarly, dignified, and thoroughly impressed with the importance to them of the evening's exercises, marking as they did the close of four years of hard work in College life. In their academic caps and gowns they presented a very fine appearance.

Hon. Harvey D. Goulder, acting for the Board of Trustees, presented to each student a diploma and conferred upon that student the degree of Doctor of Medicine in a solemnly impressive manner. Following this in a few well-chosen words he wished them success and prosperity in the future. Very gracefully he referred to the great loss fallen upon the College since the close of last year in the death of the President of the Board of Trustees-Hon. Henry Clay White. He paid to Judge White a beautiful tribute of honor and respect, according to him a full measure of praise for the splendid work he had done. for the College during the ten years or more he had been its leader.

Following Mr. Goulder the Dean of the College, Gaius J. Jones. M. D., delivered the annual address. We have the pleasure of printing this in the present number of the REPORTER.

Prof. W. A. Phillips delivered the valedictory for the faculty, proving himself fully equal to the occasion. We commend its careful perusal to each one of our readers, knowing that it will appeal to them as being a production showing dignified, scholarly attainments, and appreciation of the surrounding situation.

The full register of the graduating class is as follows: Fridolin Aeberli, B. Sc.; Aretas Earl Biddinger; John Clayton Brisbine;