DOCTORS [Illustration] MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED LONDON . BOMBAY . CALCUTTA MELBOURNE THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW YORK . BOSTON . CHICAGO ATLANTA . SAN FRANCISCO THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. TORONTO [Illustration: Rudyard Kipling _Photograph by Reginald Haines, 4, Southampton Row, W.C._] DOCTORS _An Address delivered to the Students of the Medical School of the Middlesex Hospital, 1st October, 1908_ BY RUDYARD KIPLING WITH A PREFACE _Sold for the benefit of the Middlesex Hospital_ MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON 1908 RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED, BREAD STREET HILL, E.C., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK. THE MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL MORTIMER STREET, W. Patrons: H.M. THE KING H.M. QUEEN ALEXANDRA President: H.G. THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, K.G. _Chairman of the Board of Management_: MAJOR-GENERAL LORD CHEYLESMORE, C.V.O. _Deputy-Chairman_: H.S.H. PRINCE FRANCIS OF TECK, G.C.V.O., D.S.O. _Treasurers_: G. J. MARJORIBANKS, ESQ. HON. WALTER ROTHSCHILD, M.P. C. H. BURNAND, ESQ. _Secretary-Superintendent_: F. CLARE MELHADO, ESQ. [Illustration: A WARD IN THE MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL, CANCER WING. _Photograph by Elliott & Fry, 55, Baker Street, W._] PREFACE On October 1st, 1908, Mr. Rudyard Kipling was kind enough to distribute the prizes at the opening of the new session of the Medical School of the Middlesex Hospital. The address which he then delivered was deemed by those who heard it so admirable, both in form and substance, that there arose a desire to preserve it. The object of this little book is to satisfy that wish. It has been suggested that its publication might be appreciated by others, who were neither concerned with the particular occasion, nor are personally connected with the medical profession. This being so, there is no need for an elaborate preface. Readers would derive no added pleasure from a detailed history of the hospital: Mr. Kipling’s speech requires no elucidation.