Public opinion being unenlightened in medicine, physicians should not be influenced by it : an address to the graduating class of the Medical Department of the University of Nashville / by Paul F. Eve.

  • Paul F. Eve
Date:
1855
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Public opinion being unenlightened in medicine, physicians should not be influenced by it : an address to the graduating class of the Medical Department of the University of Nashville / by Paul F. Eve. 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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    I 20] has nevertheless been liberal and honorable. Hippocrates, the lather of medicine, cultivated it more than two thousand years ago, not for filthy lucre, or vain glory, but from the real love of the healing art, and a pure spirit of humanity, llarvey, when he discovered the true circulation of the blood, at once promulgated the fact. Jenner, after proving by numerous ex- periments that vaccination would prevent the small-pox, imme- diately announced it to the world. Quinine, ergot, chloroform, and many other new agents for the treatment of diseases, have been as freely communicated, after their effects were fully ascer- tained. And as an indication how jealously the profession watches over her honor in this respect, and its strong oppo- sition to proprietory medicine, may be stated the well known fact, that when a dentist in connection with a physician (I am sorry to add,) attempted to conceal by a patent the prop- erty of ether to prevent pain during surgical operations, it rose as one man throughout the length and breadth of the land, and in honest indignation, ''drove the money changers from the tewplc oj humanity.'1'' * Such, then, my friends and brothers, is that profession into which you have been initiated by these'public ceremonies, and whose honor is now committed to your keeping. For three long years you have diligently applied yourselves to its acqui- sition, have attended two full courses of lectures, written a thesis, sustained a rigid examination, and have just been crowned with its honors. Kemember that a diploma does not now, as it once did, make the distinction between the physician and quack, since our title of M. D. is granted by all sorts of colleges, and for the express purpose of deceiving the people, and we have no special legal protection. You are required to exhibit other * Prof. Stevens' Address to the New York Legislature.
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