The oration in commemoration of the ninety-first anniversary of the Medical Society of London, delivered at Willis's Rooms, St. James's, on March 8, 1864 / by J.L.W. Thudichum.

  • Thudichum, J. L. W. (John Louis William), 1829-1901
Date:
[1864?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The oration in commemoration of the ninety-first anniversary of the Medical Society of London, delivered at Willis's Rooms, St. James's, on March 8, 1864 / by J.L.W. Thudichum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and conciliates antagonistic elements. But it has never com¬ promised its essential principles by coquetting with tenden¬ cies in vogue or fallacies in favour. It has found strength in consistency, and its adhesion to an unchangeable principle will secure to it not only the gratitude of those who have been benefited directly, but also the regard of that wider circle who have been and are the ultimate recipients of the benefits that accrue from its transactions. But above all, this adhesion will be its safe-guard in the times of storms of opinion, and the guarantee of its continuance in the future, until such a time when the purposes for which it was esta¬ blished shall either have been fully attained, or have lost their meaning. The direct usefulness of every society, for whatever laud¬ able purpose, does not admit of any exact account. It is so, manifold that several of its effects may escape observation. Of every medical society almost, it may be said that its mem¬ bers increase the store of human knowledge by contributions, which have the effect of teaching not only, but of encouraging their compeers. Things and opinions then pass the ordeal of the critical minds, which operate behind placid faces and high- drawn eyebrows. The ordeal over, every one relaxes into the intention to contract friendly relations ; and as before, in the discussion-combat at respectful distance, so now, when the antagonist is held fast by the button-hole, men apply a training to the mind which has the object and effect of per¬ petuating habits of politeness. In the bosom of our society we have effected all these things, and a few mere. Altogether, it is only our principles and our actions, shaped in accordance with them which have preserved our good ship, and brought her safe over shoals and sandbanks to the open sea, on which she is now steering. There was at the beginning of this century a great exodus of hands, who said: We do not like the steering of the ship, or me rule of the captain. So they went and had a ship of their own. And proudly they sailed past their old ship, and considered her no more than a useless hulk. And there came other ships and made competition, and some had steam, and cast away the tackle. But the time arrived when those in the proud ship called out for coals, and they could not get any ; and then they called out to the small ships: Haul us through the region of the calms. But those in the small ships would not. So the proud ship remained becalmed. Only the “ Old Medical” prudently kept her tackle as suitable to her construc¬ tion, put on subsidiary steam power, and is to the present day the safest vessel afloat. Let us lay aside the mask of metaphor, and show our