Westminster Hospital Medical School : the introductory address (session 1874-75) / by John B. Potter.

  • Potter, John B. (John Baptiste), 1839-1900.
Date:
[1874?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Westminster Hospital Medical School : the introductory address (session 1874-75) / by John B. Potter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    drinking, opium-eating, immorality of all kinds, will come under your notice, and your power will be great to snatch these unfortunates from the misery into which they are fast sinking. What I said just now as to order in medical studies, applies with equal force to medical practice. You will find regularity and system greatly conducive to your keeping your time and your temper; it is surprising how much work you can get through in an orderly way, whereas in disorder it is only attained at a great expenditure of time and personal fatigue. Whilst speaking of fatigue let me not forget to advise you to take periodic rest—annual holiday that you have earned by the year’s work. The public are becoming much more sensible on this point now than they used to be. It was formerly quite the custom for the doctor to recommend change of air to his patients, which they were seldom loth to take, though never at the same time to take it himself, who stood so much more in need of it. I need not so much urge this upon you who are students, as on this point you are well able to take care of yourselves, and do not, as a rule, neglect any opportunity of taking a holiday when it presents itself. But to you in active practice I would say, Never omit to take a rest at least four weeks in the year, and take it as a duty ; you will return stronger and better able to do your work; and instead of the day coming when you are sent away ill, you may have the enjoyment and benefit of the holiday, when you are well and able to profit by it. The number of deaths that have occurred in our ranks during the last year from over¬ work ought to be a warning to us all. The rest of the year, however, must be devoted to hard work, if you wish for success, for this, though sometimes dependent upon accidental causes, in the majority of cases is the result of industry and honest work more than anything else. A word as to your relations to each other. Avoid as
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