Address to the physicians of Philadelphia : on the present decline of the medical character, and the means of advancing professional respectability.

  • Whilldin, John Galloway, 1791-1824
Date:
[1823?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Address to the physicians of Philadelphia : on the present decline of the medical character, and the means of advancing professional respectability. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    own, but strives too often to elevate himself on its ruins, and by undervaluing the services of others, to magnify his own. Rudeness takes place of courtesy, condescension degenerates into meanness, politeness into sycophancy, senseless vacancy is mistaken for silent thoughtfulness, and upstart garrulity usurps the authority of hard-earned experience. Discord prevails, and unless we speedily harmonize, the title of phy- sician will cease to be a promise of respect. Shall it be thus? Shall the proud column raised in this western hemisphere by our illus- trious predecessors be allowed to crumble ? Shall we in our blind confusion squander their noble legacy? Hope whispers no. Your feelings an- swer no. Let us then, I beseech you, consider the ul- timate tendency of our present career, redeem, if possible, our sinking character, and by a well ordered course adorn our profession. Perhaps the first step in the accomplishment of this end, would be a right understanding among us of the conduct proper under circum- stances likely to occur. Unless the moral faculty of some be sadly depraved, we can easily agree on all points involving principle, but there are minor ones, to which universal consent, though desirable, can scarcely be expected. I shall.