The friends of the sick often put the consulting physician in an awkward position, by the inquiries which they make of him in regard to the measures which have been pursued. If he really approves of them all, of course there is no difficulty. But suppose that he does not—that he cannot say with truth, that if he had been called to the case at the first he should have adopted precisely the same course. What answer shall he make then to the inquiries put to him? Shall he reply to them fully and frankly? By no means. It would be cruel both to the friends of the patient and to the physician to do so. He has no right to take such a course, unless there be gross and palpable mal-practice, which the good of the patient and of the community requires should be exposed. This is the only case which can justify such a measure. Where there exists merely that difference of opinion, which results from the various individual notions and preferences and doctrines of physicians, all such inquiries of the friends of the sick should not be replied to. There are also some exceptions to the rule in its application to expressions of approbation. If for example an older and well-established physician, on being called in to the patient of a junior member of the profession, sees that the propriety of the course, which has been pursued, has been called in question by some of the friends or by busy bodies, it is his duty to volunteer in the defence of that course if he can conscientiously do it. Older physicians often have such opportunities of doing essential service to meritorious young men. It is only such cases as I have mentioned, which form the exceptions to the rule laid down. The general practice of remarking upon what has been done cannot be too severely reprobated, as opening a wide door for cunning intrigue and ungenerous insinuation. The honorable physician desires no such privilege, but the dishonorable prize it highly, as one of the means of inflicting their base wounds upon the reputation of their competitors. Such physicians are ever ready to answer the inquiries of friends and neighbors, about the previous treatment, in every case to which they are called. They commonly prefer to do this in a corner, rather than openly. Whenever they see that a stab can be given to the professional character of any competitor they do it, and often so stealthily, that it is not seen. A word, a look, a mere movement of the head may do it, and perhaps oftener does it than any tangible expression of opinion. An open show of the weapon that inflicts the wound the cunning and dishonorable physician most studiously avoids.