A defence of the medical profession of the United States : being a valedictory address to the graduating class at the medical commencement of the University of New York, delivered March 11, 1846 / by Martyn Paine.

  • Paine, Martyn, 1794-1877.
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A defence of the medical profession of the United States : being a valedictory address to the graduating class at the medical commencement of the University of New York, delivered March 11, 1846 / by Martyn Paine. 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.)

    17/28
    exist in the shape of Censors of State and County Medical Societies. Not a word, gentlemen ; for that would be the outs against themselves,—against the aspirations of a noisy few, and against that plentiful toll which is deducted from every licentiate before he is allowed to run through the accommodation hopper. And now, perhaps, we shall have no difficulty in under- standing why it is so earnestly desired to extend the term of instruction in our Medical Colleges and also as a preliminary requisite to admission into these institutions. There is an aristocratic feature in this movement of the worst omen, how- ever the spirit by which it is prompted may belong to the Agra- rian policy. It is oppression towards the poor, for the sake of crippling the Medical Colleges. You, and all of us know, as I have already-said, that the great mass of professional men in this country, Lawyers, Divines, and Physicians, belong to the poorer class of society ; and should the wire-pullers effect an extended term of education it must exclude a large proportion of the great mass from the advantages of collegiate instruc- tion ; whilst the aristocratic feature will be rendered still more offensive by limiting the attendants at Medical Colleges to the few who may spring from families of wealth. If such be the principles of republicans, if such the basis of our institutions of learning, their founders were less conscious of their objects than they who would degrade the poor by oppressive exactions. I shall not, gentlemen, discuss this small affair any farther with the State Medical Society, who speak to us through their organ, the Chairman of their Committee ; but I will read to you a paragraph which occurs in the same number of the Journal of Medicine, from which I have made a quotation from one of the Chairman's animadversions upon his profession, and which has the merit of following, almost immediately, the article contribu- ted by the Chairman. It is an extract from Percival's Medical Ethics ; and, gentlemen, whether you remain members of the profession, or seek other employment, I trust the sentiment will be forever the foremost amongst your hallowed obligations. Here it is, brief, as it is sacred :— Every man, says Percival, who enters into a fraternity engages, by tacit compact, not only to submit to the laws, but to promote the honor and the interest of the association, so far as they are consistent with morality, and the general good of mankind. A physician, there- fore, should cautiously guard against whatever may injure the general respectability of his profession; and should avoid all contumelious representations of the faculty. I say, gentlemen, that I trust,—I have no doubt, that that sen- timent has become as intimately incorporated with your very nature as is your soul with your organic fabric.