Page:The Hunterian Oration 1839.djvu/44

THE HUNTERIAN ORATION. 37 gence it must be to those who desire the welfare of our profession, to know that the eminence of a departed associate was deserved, that it was attained solely through the legitimate means of science and skill, pro- bity, and the most active exercise of benevolence.— “ Who,” says Hippocrates, “is the physician honour- ing his profession, the man who merits public esteem by his knowledge and experience, strict probity and spotless life—the man who in the ministrations of his art, recognises no distinction of persons,—who, with the same interest and attention, listens to the com- plaints of the poor as of the rich—who besides, imparts cheerfulness and confidence to the depressed spirit— who occupies his time in the investigation of disease for the discovery of the means of its cure, and is never disturbed by the occurrence of unforeseen events, who is moreover, ever ready to aid his brethren in their difficulties ;—in conclusion, the man who having ob- tained, by his skill and knowledge, the mastery over disease, feels happy, but modest in his success, and who, with a less degree of success, can at least com- fort himself in the reflection that he has alleviated suf- ferings which he could not remove.* ‘The few there may be of my audience who were, in any way asso- ciated with Mr. Thomas Blizard in the ministrations of his knowledge and skill as one of the surgeons of the London Hospital, will sustain me, I am confident

�
 * Tracts in the works of Hippocrates.