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CHAP. XII.

ON THE DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS (a).

THE medical profeffion enjoys in Great Britain that degree of eftimation and credit, which a science, conferring on mankind the greatest of all comforts except those of religion, juftly deserves. Hence physicians in this kingdom are almost invariably men of liberal education and cultivated minds. Hence too the art of medicine is carried among us to a fingular height of excellence. In Spain, Physicians, unless the cafe be recently altered, are apparently not refpected much more than

(a) In fome parts of this chapter I am indebted for feveral important hints to Dr. Gregory's Preliminary Lecture on the duties and offices of a Physician: and for others to the first part of a treatife intitled "Medical "Jurifprudence, or a Code of Ethics and Inftitutes adapted "to the Profeffions of Phyfic and Surgery," by my excellent friend Dr. Percival of Manchefter; which, as far as it was then composed, was communicated to me by him in the kindeft manner.

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farriers are in England. "In point of ho"nour," fays a modern (6) traveller through. the former country, no clafs of citizens meets "with lefs refpect than the Phyficians." We are therefore not surprised to find the fame author observing in another (c) place that "the "science and practice of medicine are at the "loweft ebb in Spain.' "The emoluments "of the Spanish Physician are as low as the "rank in which he is held. Even in the "present day (d) the fee of the Phyfician is

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two-pence from the tradefman, ten-pence "from the man of fashion, and nothing from "the poor. Some of the noble families

agree with a physician by the year, pay"ing him annually four-fcore reals, that

(b) Townfend's Journey through Spain, 2d edit. vol. iii. p. 282; where the writer proceeds to inform us, that all Physicians and Surgeons are obliged to fwear, before they enter into their profeffion, that they will defend the doctrine of the Virgin Mary having been born without any taint of original fin. This obligation is the more ftrangely abfurd, because the truth of the doctrine in question is strongly contefted even among the Catholics themselves.

(c) Vol. ii. p. 37.

(d) Id. vol. iii. p. 282.

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"is fixteen fhillings, for his attendance on "them and their families."-" Of three"fcore Phyficians (e) fettled at Barcelona, the

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(e) Townfend's Journey through Spain, 2d edit. vol. iii. p. 340. The irrational interference of the Spanish Government in medical practice tends equally to deprefs the fcience and its profeffors. We learn from the writer already quoted, that in the year 1784, and again in the fubfequent year, a putrid fever raging in fome of the provinces, the Court iffued an order to the Phyficians, forbidding them to administer any medicine to the fick except Don Joseph Mafdeval's opiate. The Phyficians ftrongly remonitrated against the order; but were informed exprefsly from the King, that his Majefty would have it so; and that, in cafe of difobedience, the prifon doors ftood open to receive them. At Barcelona the Phyficians, highly to their honour, were firm; and the Court let the matter drop. At Carthagena they were intimidated; and not only confented to preferibe the opiate in all cafes, but meanly figned a certificate teftifying that no medicine was fo efficacious as the royal prefcription. The people of the city however were not fo fubmiflive; and conceiving that the application of Dr. Mafdeval's fpecific to every kind of difeafe left them a worfe chance of life than trufting to the unaided operations of nature, abfolutely refufed to fend for any medical affistance. The Court, hearing that the Phylicians were likely to be starved, at length agreed to a compromife; leaving them at liberty to follow their judgement in preferibing for the citizens at large, but compelling them to adminifter the opiate

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“two already named are most distinguish"ed, and have the most extenfive practice. "One of them favoured me with a fight of "his lift. He had vifited more than forty

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as many

patients in the morning, and he was to fee before he went to bed. Among "these were many merchants, manufacturers, "and officers; yet he did not expect to re"ceive a hundred reals, that is twenty fhil

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lings, for the whole practice of the day." In Great Britain, though the Medical Profeffion does not poffefs so many splendid prizes as the Church and the Bar; and on that account perhaps is rarely if ever purfued by young men of noble families; it is by no means barren of honours and attractions: it opens the way to reputation and wealth; and raifes the Physician to a level, in the intercourse of common life, with the highest claffes of fociety.

The method pursued in this chapter will be the following.

and that remedy alone, to all the patients in the Royal Hofpital. See Townfend's Journey, vol. iii. p. 137, 142.

and 341.

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The duties incumbent on the Medical Student during the course of his preparatory purfuits, will be considered in the first place.

In the fecond place will be stated some obfervations referring to the peculiar fituation of a Physician, when he commences the exercife of his profeffion.

The third head will be allotted to the general duties of the Physician in actual practice. Under this description is implied the conduct which he ought to adopt towards his patients, their families and friends; towards other Phyficians; and towards perfons who occupy the inferior departments of the medical profeffion.

Under the fourth head will be noticed the collateral studies and pursuits, to which his leifure may with peculiar propriety be devoted.

I. The primary object ever to be held in view by the youth deftined for the practice of phyfic, is to render himself capable of fule filling the duties of his profeffion by the attainment of the knowledge neceffary for that purpose.

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