The annual address to the candidates for degrees and licences, in the Medical Institution of Yale College, January 21, 1840 / [Dyar T. Brainard].

  • Dyar T. Brainard
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The annual address to the candidates for degrees and licences, in the Medical Institution of Yale College, January 21, 1840 / [Dyar T. Brainard]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a scene of confusion and fear! and how often is it in his power to establish order, and allay all their apprehensions at once, by calmly examining into the extent of the mischief, and showing how easily it may be remedied ; and doing it too in such a way, that the very sound of his voice, and ex¬ pression of his countenance, will be received as good indor¬ sers for the correctness of his opinions! As you are now about to establish yourselves in your pro¬ fession, the relation in which you will stand to various mem¬ bers of the community, will be a peculiar one. Numerous good services are constantly interchanged by all; but as physicians, your duties and services will be rendered when they are most wanted, and, of course, when they are most felt. Prom, time to time, one individual of a family, and then another, will be sick, and require your attendance. In the natural course of things, and by judicious manage¬ ment, they will recover, or, if occasionally one dies, and you have been faithful and attentive, and have done all in your power to afford relief, you will have father, mother, and chil¬ dren, all looking to you for protection in sickness, and im¬ plicitly obeying your directions. This confidence will be ex¬ tended to other things, and you will be their adviser in other matters, and will often become acquainted with their pro¬ jects and misfortunes, their failings and their faults. But it is when people are reduced by sickness, and irrita¬ ted and almost exhausted by pain, weakened in mind as well as body, that you will most observe them to say and do a thousand things, of but little consequence in themselves, which should not be repeated. It is here, too, where the physician sees and learns many trifling incidents, which, if generally known, might mortify the inmates of the family. He should, therefore, be a man of the strictest honor and prudence, and if affectation be ever admissible, he should pretend not to observe trifles, which, if it was thought he perceived, might wound the feelings of others. His position gives him great opportunities, either accidentally or confiden¬ tially, of observing and learning much, which, under all or¬ dinary circumstances, he should keep to himself. He should
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