other fellow as he would do unto you and do it first," if we were all perfect we would need no rules to govern us. "But there is so much bad in the best of us, although so much good in the worst of us, that some of us will speak ill of the rest of us," and so it has become necessary since the time of Hippocrates to adopt certain rules of conduct, the violation of which renders one subject to criticism, and to the charge of unprofessional conduct. Hippocrates in ancient days found it necessary to establish certain rules of conduct, and require his students and followers to take the following:

HIPPOCRATIC OATH.

"I swear by Appollo, the physician, and Aesculapius, and all the gods and godesses, that according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this oath and this stipulation, to reckon him who taught me this art equally dear to me as my own parents, to share my substance with him and relieve his necessities if required to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers and to teach them this art, if they will wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulated oath, according to the law of medicine, but to none others. I will follow that system of regimen which according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious, and mischievious. I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such council; and in like manner I will not give a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and holiness, will pass my life and practice my art. I will not cut persons laboring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. In whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief, and corruption; and further, from the seduction of females, or males, of free men and slaves. Whatever, in connection with my professional practice, or not in connection with, I hear or see, in the life of men which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not indulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I continue to keep this oath unviolated, may it be granted unto me to enjoy life, and the practice of the art, respected by all men in all times; but should I trespass, and violate this oath may the reverse be my lot."

In modern times it has been found that humanity remains about the same as in ancient days, and that certain rules of conduct were quite as necessary. The code of ethics that I have the pleasure of presenting you is the Medical Code adopted by the American Medical Association.

ARTICLE 1, should be carefully read and considered. It pertains to the duties of the physician to his patients and needs but little comment.

Every physician should give to his patients the very best service that can be given, not only in skill, but also in gentlemanly sympathy, and kindness of heart. Avoid extremes of conduct; neither enter the sick room with a funeral expression, and the exhibition of great and profound wisdom, nor with undue levity, but come like a ray of sunshine, and of hope, and with gentlemanly reserve and kindness of heart, inspire the sick at each visit with renewed patience and courage. One can be cheerful without being flippant, and one can give confidence without manifestations of great wisdom. As a rule the exhibition of great wisdom is for the purpose of concealing the lack of it. Almost invariably the greatest physician is the simplest, and the least assuming. When attending the sick the physician should give his whole thought and attention to the case in hand; absent-mindedness in the sick room destroys all confidence, and is unworthy the faithful physician. I recall the case of the doctor who owned a farm, and one day while examining a patient he was surprised, while holding the pulse an inordinately long time, by the patient asking, "Well, doctor, how does it go." In an absent minded way he replied "at least three hundred and fifty." He was thinking of a fat pig he was to market the next day. It is needless to say that he was discharged.

SECTION II.

This section requires that every case committed to the charge of the physician should be treated with attention, steadiness and humanity, and I may add that a careful, thorough and complete examination of the patient is an essential duty that the physician owes not only to the patient, but to himself, and his reputation as well. Most of our mistakes are made not from ignorance, but as a result of incomplete or imperfect examinations. This section also refers to the obligation of secrecy regarding the private affairs of a patient, or the nature of the illness, a knowledge of which has been obtained during the attendance upon the sick.

SECTION III.

This section refers to unnecessary visits and I may say that it is as dishonorable for the physician to obtain money in this way from his patients as for the footpad to take it from the pockets of his victim. The latter requiring more courage would appeal to one as being even more honorable.

SECTION IV.

This section warns against too gloomy prognostications, but advises that friends should be informed of danger should it occur, and when absolutely necessary, even the patient. To make capital however, by exagerating the gravity of the disease is reprehensible. A physician should be the personification of strength, and hope, and cheer, and any weak

ening on his part not infrequently will be quickly appreciated by the patient and may turn the scales in favor of the grim messenger. Steadfast hope, and confidence not only on the part of the physician, but the attendants as well, will as frequently turn tide in favor of recovery. If we only knew how every look and word is weighed by the patient after each visit, we would be far more careful with our looks and words.

SECTION V.

Requires that a physician should not abandon his patient in an incurable disease, but to stay with him to the end, giving moral strength, alleviating pain, and soothing mental anguish. The ministrations of the good physician in the last days, and hours of a fatal illness will never be forgotten by grateful friends, and relatives, for no one is closer to the hearts of sufferers than he.

SECTION VI.

Favors consultations in prolonged or difficult cases, and Section VII urges the physician to take advantage of his opportunities, when attending those suffering from the results of vice, to inspire them with moral courage, and to strengthen and encourage good resolutions in the desire to lead a better life. It is equally appropriate that the physician should take advantage of his position in society to teach the young men, and boys of his community of the dangers, moral, and physical dangers, that beset the path of every young man. Most young men commit their early sins through the influence of evil companionship, and ignorance of results. Point out to them the dangers, and the awful results of an impure life, instill into them if necessary, a holy fear, and the great majority of them will be saved.

ARTICLE II.

In this article reference is made to the obligations of the public to their physicians, and needs little comment. It is unfortunate that this article of the code could not be widely distributed among the laity, for the public, as a rule, has very little conception of its duty to the faithful physician, either as to his comfort, his health, or to his remuneration. In these days of commercialism, where every one is striving to get all they can for as little or for nothing, this is becoming more true. The laity needs to be educated regarding fees for great diagnostic, medical, and surgical skill. While no one should be oppressed, and while our services should be given as freely to the poor as to the rich, yet I believe that those abundantly able to pay well for life saving procedures, should be expected to do so. I do not refer to ordinary services, but to those requiring the height of medical, or surgical skill, and long training to acquire it.

I am here reminded of an old country doctor living in a district

occupied almost entirely by poor people. These people he served faithfully at all hours of the night, and day, in fair weather, and foul. Fortunately for the old doctor, there was one very wealthy man residing in the neighborhood. The doctor in making out his yearly bills sent him one for five hundred dollars, although he had not been sick, and and not needed his services. The rich man, in great indignation, and wrath, sent post haste for the doctor and wanted to know why he had sent him such a statement, when he had not been in the house even during the year. It was simply an outrage and he would not stand for it. The good old doctor waited until the rich man's wrath was exhausted, and then proceeded to educate him; saying, we have a great many poor people in this region who are unable to pay me, and who are often sick. Yes, assented the rich man. Would you wish me to let them suffer and die without medical aid or comfort? Oh! No! No! It would be shameful. Then said the doctor, you must help me to take care of them. While you are in your library, on stormy days and nights, I am on the road on some errand of mercy. While you are peacefully sleeping at night, enjoying your rest, I am watching the ebbing away of some mortal life, or ushering in a new one. Your days are passed in peace, and comfort, and mine in weary, anxious toil. You have not been sick during the past year, that is true, and it is worth five hundred dollars to you; but Sir! How can I live to take care of you, when your time comes, if you do not help me to take care of these poor in the mean time. The rich man heard, understood and relented, and the good doctor went away not unrewarded. I well know that I am treading on dangerous and treacherous ground. I well know, that there are many men in the profession who would not countenance my teaching when I would advise that a medical man's fees should be governed largely by his patient's ability to pay. There are many men who believe that the fees should be the same for the rich man, as for the poor man. No more, and no less, and that anything less is rank dishonesty; but I am quite persuaded to the old country doctor's way of thinking, especially in life saving work requiring great skill, or responsibility. If we charge the poor man one dollar a visit, and twenty-five dollars for a life saving operation, should we charge the rich man no more? If this is right, and just, then if we render our best services to the poor for nothing we should do likewise to the rich, but our good friends will say make a fair and a uniform price for services, and hold every one to it, rich and poor alike. Well, suppose we make a uniform price of three dollars per visit for medical visits, and two hundred dollars for life saving operations. The rich would pay these fees, but how about the poor? I would suggest if this plan were followed that a uniform price be made of five or ten dollars a visit, and two thousand for life saving procedures, for the poor could pay these prices just as comfortably, and as promptly as the former ones, while the rich would pay

something commensurate with the services rendered. Our friends cry out, "Commercialism! Commercialism!" I deny the charge, and claim that the man who gets the largest fees is always the man who is the most willing to give his skill and services to the poor without charge. I would ask, what incentive is there for a man to strive for pre-eminence in any line of work, either medical or surgical, of what use to strive for unusual skill dexterity, and ability if there is no reward for so doing? Pre-eminence in every other profession is recognized, and paid for at unusual and sometimes at remarkable rates. Why not in ours? What incentive to acquire greatness, if greatness can not be rewarded? I believe that not only the laity, but the profession as well, needs educating along these lines. I have noticed that when a life is saved by marvelous skill, that a fee of five hundred or a thousand dollars sometimes very much less, is objected to, but when a mal-practice suit is begun against a physician, for some fancied wrong, neglect, or bad, or unexpected result, it is never for so small an amount, but for ten to fifty thousand dollars. If the result is good, the smallest possible sum is enough, but if bad, the life or limb of the patient is worth many thousand times more than when it is saved. Again, I hear the cry, "Commercialism! Commercialism!" I again deny the charge, and claim that no one on the face of the earth is more willing to give his time and skill to the poor and needy without price or charge, than is the good, and faithful physician. Should he charge the rich, or the well-to-do, a little more than the poor, that he may educate his children, live in a fair degree of comfort, and perhaps to lay by a little for the rainy day, or for old age, should he be discredited for so doing? I say, No! No! I wish that I might inspire you with an enthusiasm, and an ambition that would last long after my voice is silent, and I would take this occasion to advise you all to do some one thing a little better than any one else can do it, for the words of Emerson are true when he says, "If a man can write a better book, or make a better mouse trap than his neighbor, though he build his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door." This is as true in medicine as in any other line of work, and is well exemplified in the case of the Mayo Brothers in the little town of Rochester, Minn., which has become the Mecca of thousands of people, not only in this country but from abroad as well.

ARTICLE I, ON THE DUTIES OF THE PHYSICIANS TO EACH OTHER, AND TO THE PROFESSION, should be most carefully read, studied and practiced. This article should be strictly adhered to not only literaly, but in spirit as well. When in doubt, practice the "Golden Rule," and you will not be far out of the way. According to the code, you must not speak ill of another physician. You may without violating the letter of the code, do very much worse by a wise look, an expression of the face, a laugh, or a shrug of the shoulders. So I say to