Lecture, introductory to a course on the principles and practice of surgery in the Jefferson Medical College : delivered November 1st, 1847 / by Thomas D. Mütter.

  • Mütter, Thomas D. (Thomas Dent), 1811-1859.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Lecture, introductory to a course on the principles and practice of surgery in the Jefferson Medical College : delivered November 1st, 1847 / by Thomas D. Mütter. 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.)

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    Bar, what did he say ? Did he cite, high birth, or family influence, or wealth? No, but declared that the great cause of success was the possession of poverty and parts / And who was Andrew Jackson, that man of iron nerve and inflexi- ble resolution?—the son of a poor Irish peasant. Who was Daniel Webster, the orator, the statesman, the leviathan in in- tellect?—the son of a small farmer. And who was Henry Clay, that glorious man, whose name shall be no transient meteor, that for a moment illumined our sphere, and then passed away for ever, but rather a calm, serene, abiding star! Who was this gifted, this virtuous man ?—The Mill-boy of the slashes of Virginia! But let me hold up to your view a few of those in our own profession, who, though poor in this world's goods, have yet found time and opportunity for the cultivation of not only our own science, but also to distinguish themselves in almost every department of literature and art. Who was John Hunter?—a cabinet maker. Who was Charles Bell?—a watch- maker. Who was Dupuytren?—an apothecary's assistant in the army. Who was Velpeau?—a working blacksmith. And among us, one of the purest, and best of men, while at the same time, one of the best surgeons,—the late Dr. Parrish,— was a hatter. Let it never be said that the emergencies of a professional life, will leave no time for literary pursuits, or the attainment of literary excellence. To whom, for example, is practical philosophy indebted for the first great work explanatory of the influence of the external physical agents, called climate, upon the bodily structure, dispositions and intellectual aptitude of mankind? The Sage of Cos; and his work, to use the language of another, remains to this day a fit reference for the statesman and legislator, who never can discharge with ability their high trusts, if ignorant of the problem which he so instructively solves! WTho follows next on the list of those to whom philosophy is so deeply indebted ?—Aristotle, the physician, the natural- ist, the dialectitian, the profound critic, the successful opponent of the vague and wild imaginings of the schools of Athens and of Alexandria. Ages passed away, and the philosophy of this great physician was that of nearly the whole world, when behold another luminary, equal if not surpassing in brilliancy