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as long as his Doctor allows him any hopes of life; for, in case they should both be deceived, it would be much easier for the mistaken Physician to save his credit, than for the unprepared sinner to save his soul.- THE HON. R. BOYLE, Occasional Reflections, Sect. 2, Med. vii.

The final period of the worldly man at length arrives; but he will not believe his danger. Even if he fearfully glance around for an intimation of it in every surrounding face, every face, it is too probable, is in a league to deceive him. What a noble opportunity is now offered to the Christian Physician to show a kindness as far superior to any he has ever shown, as the concerns of the soul are superior to those of the body! Oh let him not fear prudently to reveal a truth for which the Patient may bless him in eternity! Is it not sometimes to be feared that in the hope of prolonging for a little while the existence of the perishing body, he robs the never-dying soul of its last chance of pardon? Does not the concern for the immortal part united with his care of the afflicted body, bring the Medical Profession to a nearer imitation than any other supposable situation can do, of that Divine Physician who never healed the one without manifesting a tender concern for the other?- HANNAH MORE, Practical Piety, Ch. xviii.

You will forgive me, perhaps, if I presume to state what appears to me to be the conduct proper to be observed by a Physician in withholding, or

making his Patient acquainted with, his opinion of the probable issue of his malady manifesting mortal symptoms. I own I think it my first duty to protract his life by all practicable means, and to interpose myself between him and everything which may possibly aggravate his danger : and unless I shall have found him averse from doing what was necessary in aid of my remedies, from a want of a proper sense of his perilous situation, I forbear to step out of the bounds of my province in order to offer any advice which is not necessary to promote his cure. At the same time, I think it indispensable to let his friends know the danger of his case the instant I discover it. * * If friends can do their good offices at a proper time, and under the suggestions of the Physician, it is far better that they should undertake them than the Medical Adviser. They do so without destroying his hopes; for the Patient will still believe that he has an appeal to his Physician beyond their fears; whereas if the Physician lay open his danger to him, however delicately he may do this, he runs a risk of appearing to pronounce a sentence of condemnation to death, against which there is no appeal,- no hope; and, on that account, what is more awful to think of, perhaps the sick man's repentance may be less available.- SIR H. HALFORD, Essays, V.

How blameable is the conduct of those Physicians, who do not hesitate to announce to the Sick the danger, even fatality of their situation; and how injudiciously those relatives act, who

desire the Physician to do so. To announce death is to give death, which is never the business of him, who is employed to save life.-W. C. HUFELAND, Manual of the Practice of Medicine, 1843, p. 9.

The Comforter's head never aches.- HERBERT, Facula Prudentum.

He that would soothe sorrow must not argue on the vanity of the most deceitful hopes.— SIR W. SCOTT, The Monastery, ch. xviii.

Everybody desires to smoothe the bed of death; but unreflecting feeling,-worse than the want of it in the result,- turns it often to a bed of thorns. - Quarterly Review, vol. lxxxv, p. 384.

He that stays by his friend to the last minute, if he have no power to assist him, is only a spectator, not a reliever of his sufferings.- The Gentleman's Calling, sect. v.

'Few people,' said I, 'are fit to be in a sickroom.'-'They come to see the last,' said Mr. *****, ‘and stay too long.'

S***

Yet love, if love in such an hour

could nobly check its useless sighs, might yet exert its latest power,

in her who lives and him who dies.LORD BYRON, Euthanasia.

Oh, lovers' eyes are sharp to see,

and lovers' ears in hearing;

and love in life's extremity

can lend an hour of cheering.

F

SIR W. SCOTT.

The Inspectorial Office is a difficult and delicate one; and much discretion is required in the discharge of the Inspector's duties. In common with the whole class of Literary men, Medical men are jealous of their attainments, skill and experience. The charge of deficiency in either, or the expression even of a doubt of them, gives more or less of offence or uneasiness to the individual, according to his temperament; but the abrupt expression of censure, or doubt of qualification, is sure to do mischief. SIR JAMES McGRIGOR, Autobiography,

ch. x.

... And this I have evermore observed, that never any yet entered the lists with an ignorant bugbear, but he lost much by the encounter. J. BROWNE, Charadelogia, 1684.

This made me reflect, how vain an attempt it is for a man to endeavor doing himself honor among those who are out of all degree of equality or comparison with him. - SWIFT, Voyage to Brobdingnag, ch. v.

This declaration introduced a dispute, which was unanimously determined in favor of our adventurer. On all such occasions the stream of prejudice runs against the Physician; even though his antagonist has nothing to recommend himself to the favor of the spectators; and this decision depends upon divers considerations. In the first place there is a continual war carried on against the learned Professions, by all those who, conscious of their own ignorance, seek to level the

reputation of their superiors with their own. Secondly, in all disputes upon Physic that happen betwixt a person who really understands the Art, and an illiterate pretender, the arguments of the first will seem obscure and unintelligible to those who are unacquainted with the previous systems on which they are built; while the other's theory, derived from common notions, and superficial observation, will be more agreeable, because better adapted to the comprehension of the hearers. Thirdly, the judgement of the multitude is apt to be biassed by that surprize, which is the effect of seeing an Artist foiled at his own weapons, by one who engages him only for amusement. SMOLLETT, Count Fathom, chap. xxxv.

It is always a matter of difficulty to argue on a Medical subject with a non-professional person; for it is quite impossible for a man uninstructed in Anatomy, Physiology, Medicine and Surgery to be convinced of his error, to form an opinion of the merits of a cure, or the causes of a failure. Such discussions with non-medical persons should be avoided as much as possible: they tend to no good. SIR W. R. WILDE,

Aural Surgery, 1853, ch. i.

With respect to the great majority of Society, whose minds are not accustomed to these investigations, and who do not know the difficulty of obtaining exact evidence as to the operation even of the remedies in common use, I feel that it will be almost a waste of time to endeavor to

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