The trials and rewards of the medical profession : an introductory lecture, delivered at the opening of the first session of the Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, October 3d, 1852 / by R.D. Mussey.

  • Mussey, R. D. (Reuben Dimond), 1780-1866.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The trials and rewards of the medical profession : an introductory lecture, delivered at the opening of the first session of the Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, October 3d, 1852 / by R.D. Mussey. 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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    berately to the determination to abandon medicine, and to turn his thoughts in another direction. Indeed, he had al- ready begun to move in a new path, when he was brought back, and saved to the pursuit of his early choice through the influence of friends chiefly professional; and although he has passed from his earthly labors, his memory is embalmed in many a heart, and his rich and matchless teachings, listened to by medical classes year after year with breathless interest, have now become widely operative, through their ministra- tions for the relief of human suffering, scattered, as they are, upon the length and breadth of our land. His eloquent and classically written work on physiology has assigned to Daniel Oliver a niche in the temple of our profession, which he will continue to occupy so long as medicine shall endure. The celebrated Dr. Cullen was an obscure practitioner in a country village in Scotland, and so unsatisfactory was his progress, that he thought seriously of leaving the profession for the church; but before he had taken the decisive step, chance brought him acquainted with the Duke of Argyle, when on a visit to his neighborhood. The Duke was fond of chemistry, and during this visit, not having apparatus for some experiments he wished to make at that time, had the suggestion from his friend, that Mr. Cullen could probably furnish him with what he needed. Cullen was accordingly introduced to the Duke, who was so well pleased with him, that he introduced him to influential friends. In this way he was brought before the public, and afterwards became an eminent teacher and practitioner of medicine. Dr. Baillie is an example of an individual rising to emi- nence by dint of application and perseverence. It was not until he was forty years old, that his reputation was fully established. From that period he became completely en- gaged in practice, and in a very few years rose to great emi- nence in his profession, in the metropolis of England. It is not, however, the lot of the physician, who has strug- gled through early discouragements, and to whom the public