The introductory lecture delivered at King's College, London, on opening the medical session of 1848-49 / by William Fergusson.

  • William Fergusson
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The introductory lecture delivered at King's College, London, on opening the medical session of 1848-49 / by William Fergusson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of mind is such a man in! He must feel that he is a sort of impostor, and if possessed at all of honourable feelings, must be aware that he has en¬ deavoured to push himself into a profession — an honourable community—to enter which he had no just pretensions. It is, I am afraid, too much the custom among young aspirants to the profession to fancy that their principal duty as pupils is to fulfil the regulations of such public bodies as they may wish to attach them¬ selves to, and that the summit of their ambition is to acquire the diploma or licence of such body. How, I believe that this is a most erroneous and pernicious view for a young man to entertain, and I trust, gentlemen, that your aspirations will be of a far higher character. I have not hesitated to state what we expect of you as regards this College. It is as much from personal motives towards you, as from selfishness towards ourselves or this College, that I have, on my own part and for my colleagues, insisted upon one of the essential advantages to be derived from your proper attendance to duties here. Rest assured, gentlemen, that these various public bodies entertain an equally strong impression on such sub¬ jects. As great corporations they may be supposed to legislate for the profession and for the community, and do not, I beseech you, suppose that such bodies demand of you certificates of attendance upon lectures, the passing of certain forms and years of your life in specified modes, merely as a sort of purgatory before you are permitted to enter the profession! The
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