Sayings of the Great

Both Hamilton Bailey and McNeill Love, when medical students, served as clerks to Sir Robert Hutchison, 1871-1960, who was Consulting Physician to the London Hospital and President of the Royal College of Physicians. They never tired of quoting his Medical Litany', which is appropriate for all clinicians, and, perhaps especially, to those who are surgically minded.

        From inability to leave well alone;

        From too much zeal for what is new and 

             contempt for what is old;

        From putting knowledge before wisdom, 

             science before art, cleverness before 

             common sense;

          From treating patients as cases; and

          From making the cure of a disease more  

                grievous than its endurance

          Good Lord, deliver.'

 

    To which may be added.

            The patient is the centre of the medical universe around which all our works revolve and towards which all our efforts trend.' J.B. MURPHY, 1857-19 16, Professor of Surgery Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

            To study the phenomenon of disease without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study books without patients is not to go to sea at all.' SIR WILLIAM OSLER, 1849-1919, Professor of Medicine, Oxford.

            A knowledge of healthy and diseased actions is not less necessary to he understood than the principles of other sciences. By an acquaintance with principles we learn the cause of disease. Without this knowledge a man cannot be a surgeon. ... The last part of surgery, namely operations, is a reflection on the healing art; it is a tacit acknowledgement of the insufficiency of surgery. It is like an armed savage who attempts to get that by force which a civilised man would by stratagem. JOHN HUNTER, 1728-93, Surgeon, St George's Hospital, London.

            In investigating Nature you will do well to hear ever in mind that in every question there is the truth, whatever our notions may be. This seems perhaps a very simple consideration; yet it is strange how often it seems to he disregarded. If we had nothing but pecuniary rewards and worldly honours to look to, our profession would not he ofle to he desired. But in its practice you will find it to he attended with peculiar privileges; second to none in intense interest and pure pleasures. It is our proud office to tend the fleshy tabernacle of the immortal spirit, and our path, if rightly followed, will be guided by unfettered truth and love unfeigned. In the pursuit of this noble and holy calling wish you all God- speed.' Promotor s address, Graduation in Medicine, University of Edinburgh, August, 1876' by LORD LISTER, the Founder of Modern Surgery.