THE PHYSICIAN MUST BE A CHARITABLE MAN

Every practitioner will tell you that he daily gives up a large portion of his time to cases from which he cannot possibly derive the slightest pecuniary reward.

But I would not confine the charity of a physician to the mere giving of alms; no, there is a charity far more precious than this, the charity of the heart.

The kind expression, the sympathizing tear, will often convey more solace, more heartfelt and permanent satisfaction, than if we poured all the gold of Ophir into the lap of our suffering patient.

It is this charity which “covereth a multitude of ills,” which will secure to him the widow’s love, the orphan’s prayer, the poor man’s blessing, that the physician should chiefly cultivate.

THOMAS DENT MÜTTER