Page:Introductory lecture delivered in the Adelaide Hospital, Dublin, at the commencement of the clinical course, October 31, 1864 (IA b21916433).pdf/5

5 a man of science, and the confidence reposed in him by his professional brethren, all establish this point beyond the possibility of contradiction. But if the question be asked, to what special cause was he indebted for his success? I think it may fairly be said that it was not so much to the eminent abilities he possessed as to the energy with which he cultivated his profession, and applied himself to the pursuit of everything having even an indirect bearing on the one great object of his life. It would be easy to point to other names in the catalogue of eminent men, alas! too numerous, recently removed from the profession in this city, more distinguished for brilliancy of genius, for originality of conception, for fertility of resource; but it would be impossible to name any one more distinguished for practical sagacity unci sound judgment, as well as for all those sterling qualities of mind which combine to form the safe and successful practitioner. It is no disparagement to Dr. Mayne to say that his abilities, great as they were, were not of that pre-eminent kind occasionally met with, which seem to grasp by a sort of ready intuition at the results of learning without the labour of acquiring them; whatever he learned, he learned in the ordinary way, with all the toil and self-denial and perseverance that other men have to use in doing so. It is this that makes him so peculiarly a model for young men to study. Had his success in life been due to his great talents mainly, it could have furnished no encouragement to others not similarly endowed. But owing it to what is equally within the reach of all, it becomes a matter of some moment to dwell upon those features of his character which led to such results, that you may the better profit by his example. In the first place, then, I would say he was distinguished pre-eminently for the earnestness of his character. He did nothing by halves. Whatever he thought worthy of being done at all, he thought worthy of being done well. This led him, in the investigation of disease, to take the greatest pains to find out its true nature. He took nothing for granted, he jumped to no hasty conclusion, he was never in a hurry. Not that he spent much time in the process, or fell into tediousness.