Address delivered at the annual meeting of the South Midland Branch of the British Medical Association, June 29th 1869 / by William Newman.

Newman, William, active 1861.

Date:: 1869

Credit: Address delivered at the annual meeting of the South Midland Branch of the British Medical Association, June 29th 1869 / by William Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$whether they have or have not even a fragment of actuai basis, still put into circulation, take away from the respect which is surely merited by honest though unsuccessful effort. More however of misapprehension and distrust, is earned by the conduct of men in our own ranks, than can be fairly attributed to conditions which are inseparable from professional exertions—and if I may formularize the thought, I would say that in strict proportion to the observance of Truth, and its wide requirements, so is appreciation as a rule deserved. Thus we neglect Truth when we n claim too much—for example, when yield¬ ing to the temptation, tacitly if not directly to assume in some given instance, that medical art has brought about the desired result, though such happy ending be really beyond the reasonable powers of medicine. Further also it is surely little short of an infraction of truthful speak- ing to adopt the phrase “ curing ” a disease: the old phrase has much of weight and depth, 4 Medicus curat, natura sanat morbum.’ To imply the possession of an active agency for good in any sense, other than as acting as directors and pilots, may lead to an ephemeral exaltation, but cannot pave the way to permanent advance in knowledge or position. The pendulum unduly drawn over, swings even further in the opposite direction, and to claim excessive credit in one instance, is to lose in some other the due acknowledgment we have earned. Again, we profess and practise arts of high value, and the profession may with full justice ask a fitting re¬ muneration for services rendered. This question as it affects the physicians and surgeons of larger and smaller Hospitals, has not unfrequently been discussed in the columns of the medical press. I believe that honoraria ought to be afforded to all such officers, not in direct proportion to the time expended or to the patients$