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THE HOSPITAL BULLETIN
THE ETHICS OF THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER.
A celebrated divine once said that the mostdifficult part of a sermon was the selection of aproper text. I must thank the President ofthis society for saving me this trouble. When,however, Webster's is consulted for a properdefinition of the word "Ethics," and it is foundto mean "The science of human duty," itwould seem that he has chosen a text almosttoo comprehensive for the limits of a shortpaper, even when restricted to the "ethics ofthe medical profession." It may not be out ofplace to thank him for the honor he has conferredupon me by deeming one whose studentdays are scarce twelve years behind himworthy of presenting this subject to you, for apaper on this topic is almost of itself a sermon,and we naturally look up to those, whose manyyears of experience and works have broughtthem prominence, for instruction in morals andduty. Still, I take it, whether young or old, allof us like to preach on fitting occasions, andnot the least part of the inspiration to effort isthe character of the audience. My invitationwas to read a paper before the Clinical Society,and incidentally I was told that some of thestudents had expressed a desire to be present.Little, however, did I anticipate such a flatteringattendance from them when examinationtime so nearly approached, and it is evidence ofa most commendable spirit when they canbring themselves to take even an hour of theirmost valuable time from study to devote to aconsideration of the moral duties and responsibilitieswhich shall be theirs when they shallhave passed through the April ordeal. Muchthat I have to say tonight will be directed especiallyto them, and if they or their elders inIIIthe profession may in the years to come look backupon this night with the recollection that Ihave more forcibly brought to mind some ofthe old and half-forgotten maxims and axiomsthat make for a better and purer professionallife, I will have been more than repaid for thetime I have expended in the preparation of thispaper.
In discussing the ethics of the general practitionertowards his patient, I would have youremember that your first and most importantduty is to give to those who trust you the verybest that is in you.
To you young men, full of enthusiasm foryour new profession, and imbued with Utopianideas