Education, Medical -- Massachusetts -- 19th century; Homeopathy; Libraries, Medical -- Massachusetts -- 19th century; Medicine
The same zeal made him always ready to listen to any new suggestion
which promised to be useful, at a period of life when many men find
it hard to learn new methods and accept new doctrines. Few of
his generation became so accomplished as he in the arts of direct
exploration; coming straight from the Parisian experts, I have examined
many patients with him, and have had frequent opportunities of observing
his skill in percussion and auscultation.
One element in his success, a trivial one compared with others, but not
to be despised, was his punctuality. He always carried two watches,--I
doubt if he told why, any more than Dr. Johnson told what he did with
the orange-peel,--but probably with reference to this virtue. He was as
much to be depended upon at the appointed time as the solstice or
the equinox. There was another point I have heard him speak of as an
important rule with him; to come at the hour when he was expected; if
he had made his visit for several days successively at ten o'clock, for
instance, not to put it off, if he could possibly help it, until eleven,
and so keep a nervous patient and an anxious family waiting for him
through a long, weary hour.
If I should attempt to characterize his teaching, I should say that
while it conveyed the best results of his sagacious and extended
observation, it was singularly modest, cautious, simple, sincere.
Nothing was for show, for self-love; there was no rhetoric, no
declamation, no triumphant “I told you so,” but the plain statement of
a clear-headed honest man, who knows that he is handling one of the
gravest subjects that interest humanity. His positive instructions were
full of value, but the spirit in which he taught inspired that loyal
love of truth which lies at the bottom of all real excellence.
I will not say that, during his long career, Dr. Jackson never made
an enemy. I have heard him tell how, in his very early days, old Dr.
Danforth got into a towering passion with him about some professional
consultation, and exploded a monosyllable or two of the more energetic
kind on the occasion. I remember that that somewhat peculiar personage,
Dr. Waterhouse, took it hardly when Dr. Jackson succeeded to his place
as Professor of Theory and Practice. A young man of Dr. Jackson's talent
and energy could hardly take the position that belonged to him without
crowding somebody in a profession where three in a bed is the common
rule of the household. But he was a peaceful man and a peace-maker all
his days. No man ever did more, if so much, to produce and maintain
the spirit of harmony for which we consider our medical community as
somewhat exceptionally distinguished.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account