There are others also, who seem to think it honorable to be eccentric; and, to increase the anomaly, have chosen an eccentricity, which ordinarily is esteemed disgusting. Abruptness, rudeness, insensibility, coarseness of manner, vulgarity, or obsequiousness, may be found in men, whose minds are far superior to mediocrity; and although nature or education might have been somewhat defective, it is not difficult to recognise the features of some pernicious habit. We have seen striking indications of disregard to human suffering in our hospitals; and often has it called forth a disgusting expression of risibility amongst the students. Painful, indeed, is it to observe the mistaken excellence attached to an apparent disregard of human suffering: it seems to be thought, that there is something philosophical in conquering the common sympathies of human life, although it is by them society is cemented. Although no personal graces―no urbanity―no kindness, can be substituted for unremitting study, and discriminating observation, yet it is practicable to adopt a deportment equally remote from pliancy and barbarity. For what beneficial end, many will exclaim, are these observations made? and had I not drawn for myself the line of demarcation, I would gladly meet the inquiry in an attempt to prove that some men of superior knowledge, and of eminent rank, would have greatly extended their benefits to human nature had not their manners been repulsive:―that the extraneous habits of these men are borrowed, by an aspiring race of students, who appear in plumes of fancied beauty; whose affected air justifies the suspicion that the art of medicine is not _merely_ conjectural:―and that by ingenuousness, candour, kindness, and an attentive regard to mental phenomena, united certainly with a competency of knowledge, not only the honor of the profession is enhanced, but its utility promoted. If there are no diseases of mind independently of body, which we are willing to admit, the influence of mind on body must be allowed. The popular belief in the salutary influence of _faith_, is well founded―the opposite feeling of _distrust_, will act perniciously. The man whose mind is properly furnished will dexterously seize occasions of alleviating distress, which another, who may be almost exclusively watching for diseased structure, would not easily comprehend.[2] An attempt to make chronic cases of disease subservient to any mercenary purpose, is an entire perversion of the liberal dictates of science; and often renders the most assiduous exertions unavailing. Where there is scarcely sufficient disease to impose bodily restriction, it cannot be expected that protracted courses of medicine can be endured, unless it be administered in the most simple and unobjectionable form. Nevertheless, it is a duty to subdue chronic diseases; and often it can only be done by a persevering management of diet, aided by medicine.