prove any allegations against his character or professional competency.

On this subject, Doctor Flint, who thought the mere statement of loss of confidence to be sufficient in any case, said:

"Patients who have lost confidence in their physicians should request discontinuance of their services. So essential is full confidence in the treatment of cases of disease that it is a false delicacy to conceal the want of it. It is best for both the patient and the physician that there be a change. . . The loss of confidence is in itself .

a sufficient reason, no matter how unreasonable. A high-minded physician cannot wish to continue in charge if he cannot have the confidence of the patient. He should take the initiative in the relinquishment of the case whenever he is satisfied that confidence is lost."

It must here be said that the physician too, should have confidence in his patient's loyalty, obedience and readiness to follow directions, otherwise he would be justified to cease attendance.

The wisdom and justice of the provisions of this, the ninth section are evident to all.

"Patients should always, when practicable, send for their physician in the morning, before his usual hour for going out; for by being early aware of the visits he has to pay during the day, the physician is able to apportion his time in such a manner as to prevent an interference of engagements. Patients should also avoid calling on their medical adviser unnecessarily during the hours devoted

to meals or sleep. They should always be in readiness to receive the visits of their physician, as the detention of a few minutes is often of serious inconvenience to him."

These injunctions will be fully appreciated by all who have a proper regard for their medical adviser and are mindful of his comfort, and anxious for the maintenance of the integrity of his physical condition so necessary to the efficient exercise of his laborious duties. In reference to the last sentence of this section enjoining readiness to receive the visits of the physician, the special attention of clients should be called to the fact that detention in the antechamber even for a few minutes is not only a vexatious loss of time to the medical attendant, but an injustice to another patient who, perhaps in great suffering, may be anxiously awaiting the tardy arrival of the physician.

The tenth is the last section of this article. "A patient should, after his recovery, entertain a just and enduring sense of the value of the services rendered him by his physician; for these are of such a character that no mere pecuniary acknowledgment can repay or cancel them."

It is an appropriate reminder of that last-which should be lasting obligation, gratitude, ever dearer to the physician than all prior acknowledgments. Grateful recognition of faithful services, not being the most common of human traits, when warmly expressed by the few, is always a sweet compensation for the want of appreciation of the many.

SUMMARY

What the patient shall do and what he shall not do for his own good.

1. Bear in mind that your first duty to yourself and family is to select a physician who is known to have received a proper medical education and whose habits are good.

2. Follow implicitly the advice of your physician toward the prevention of sickness.

3. Obey promptly the directions of your physician in case of sickness, and thus help to hasten your recovery. 4. Always apply for the physician's advice at the earliest manifestation of sickness.

5. Do not hesitate to communicate, to your physician, without reservation, the supposed cause of your sickness.

6. Do not fear to make your physician a friend and adviser, for he is bound by oath to keep secret all communications you make to him.

7. Do not weary your physician with tedious or irrelevant details, or with things which do not pertain to your sickness.

8. Do not defer carrying out the prescriptions and directions of your physician.

9. Do not disregard any of the rules directed to be observed during convalescence.

10. Do not be persuaded to take any medicine whatever that is not prescribed by your physician.

11. Do not receive even friendly visits from a physician who is not attending you professionally.

12. Do not speak of your sickness to a strange physician whom you may be obliged to receive on some particular business not connected with your sickness.

13. Do not, except in an emergency, send for your physician during his hours of refection or rest.

14. Always be in readiness to receive the visits of your physician.

15. Do not keep him waiting in the antechamber, since such a detention would perhaps be injurious to another patient who, in great suffering, might be anxiously awaiting the tardy arrival of the physician.

Patients endowed with good sense who have a just appreciation of their physician do not hesitate to obey these wise injunctions.

XII

THE PHYSICIAN, PROFESSION, AND PUBLIC

Obligations of physicians to the profession and to each other— Maintenance of the dignity and honor of the professionExtension of the bounds of its usefulness-Contributions of lore to enrich the science of medicine-Criterion of the true physician-Temperance in all things-The physician's medical adviser-Vicarious offices-Duties in consultations and in cases of interference-Differences between physiciansPecuniary acknowledgment and compensation-Relations of the profession and the public.

SINCE the postulant, on entering the medical profession becomes entitled to all its privileges and immunities, he is under obligation to exert his best abilities to maintain its dignity and honor; to exalt its standing; to extend the bounds of its usefulness; to contribute such material as will enrich the science; to entertain a due respect for his seniors who, by their labors, have brought it to the high position it occupies; and to obey all laws instituted for the government of its members.

Such, in substance, are some of the injunctions of the National System (in the first article of its second chapter), as relate to duties for the support of professional character. Nothing need be added to these noble precepts which have done so much to inspire all true men of the profession with the right spirit of the grand corps of faithful laborers