Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

140 THE CHARLOTTE MEDICAL JOURNAL.
hands of him who had promised to protect cess. A genius without energj' or moral
and defend her. character scales no altitudes and reaches
The code of ethics is a marvelous pro- no preeminence, and misdirected energy,
duct of mind and heart, superb in literary however much it toils, or suffers, or hopes,
design, ideal in conception of human love fails of fjrogress and languishes in defeat,
and human duty, touching only the high ^fen may be born equal but if so they fail
places of conscious virtue with the wooing to maintain this equality. Success may be
influence of poetry and song. I have heard possible unto all men but facts prove not
and read many tender and touching tributes along the same line nor of the same kind,
from divers sources extolling the virtues We need no historian, nor biographer nor
and prophesying the rewards of our beloved philosopher to tell us these facts, for we
profession, and I have been made to feel have only to look about us and behold for
glad that I was a comrade and could claim ourselves. Who among you does not refellowship
with that noble band of men who spect the life and memory, the mind and
go about on earth doing good and hoping character of those wise, kind-hearted and
to receive their crown of reward in the life courtly gentlemen in medicine who helped
ev^erlasting; but so far as I now recall I ta initiate this Society and gave it their
have neither seen nor heard any suggestion support and encouragement and walked
devising ways and means looking to the among us as our counselors and our friends?
promotion and betterment of their material Who did more to up-lift the high character
comfort and prosperity. So long neglected of our profession by precept and example
this maj' yet be one of the triumphs of the than the courtly and chivalric Dr. Ruffin,
twentieth century, and it may be possible and who did more of kindly deeds of charthat
at some distant day medical colleges ity and bestowed more of generous labor
to meet the growing demands of the profes- than the genial and kind-hearted Dr, King?
sion and the public will establish a chair of Each a striking individuality, yet above all
bi-metalism and economics, and State ex- a gentleman. Who among our citizenship
amining boards will require a suiBcient does not feel a sense of pardonable pride
evidence of proficiency in this branch or that Wilson county had the material and
department of knowledge that will at least the man who, irrespective of conditions and
give assurance of the candidate not becom- circumstances, could measure up to the
ing a subject of poverty or a charge of standard requirements and the crowned
charity. heights of a Federal Judgeship? Do you
The subject which your Society has as- tell me this is luck, or, if you please, an
signed me— "The Business Methods of the accident? I could not, and would not, be-
Profession"— I hardly know whether to lieve it if you did. I answer it is but antreat
seriously or in a lighter vein. I am other proof of the reward that grows out of
not sufficiently advised if the profession has that trinity of virtues—intellect, energy and
any "business methods." Those of you character. Without assuming further conwho
are so informed will have the oppor- troversy, and to be more concrete in extunity
to enlighten me, and while I have pression, I would propound the query,
walked only the beaten path of a country "Why do we practice medicine?" Are we
doctor, moving in silence and oftentimes in actuated by a distinct mercenary spirit, or
darkness, yet would I welcome the light are we missiona ies in the field of philanand
rejoice in its gladness. I have often thropy? Are we engaged as a matter of
felt impressed that of all professions it was livelihood, a bread winning proposition for
the least business-like, and had perhaps ourselves and dependents, or as a sportive
less of method and business direction. I recreation for pleasure or pastime? If either
will not be going very far wrong to state proposition be accepted, then I would in
that every trade, profession, or vocation is humility, yet in truthfulness, suggest that
either a question of choice or a matter of lawn-tennis, golf or membership on a baseenvironment,
a volition of purpose or a ball team would afford' more merriment and
coercion of circumstances, and in either possibly more money; certainly an easier
event it is the individual fitness or adapta- job with more reputation, though fleeting
tion that qualifies or disqualifies the meas- and ephemeral.
ured terms of success. Barring a few cases I am strongly persuaded that he who enof
accidents, success in any line, without ters this profession with the view of moneyexception
to medicine, is dependent more making or money- getting has not only
upon the eternal fitness of the individual missed his calling but his election also,
than to any co-existence of circumstances. The indifferent, the indolent, the lazy fel-
Tiie intellectual, moral, and industrial ele- low in search of an easy task where he may
ments or attributes of character must be find delight in the rose garden or rest under
blended and harmonized before the world the shade of the trees, had best seek him
can stand up and count him worthy of sue- another job. The ambitious seeker for dis-