. A doctor's experiences in three continents. rsons succumbed to the malady ; theirpeople, utterly panic-stricken, fled in every possi-ble direction ; all business was suspended, and onlya voice of wailing was heard in the deserted streets ;and yet not a physician proved recreant or showeda craven spirit, but, on the contrary, each deter-mined deliberately to die rather than to leave hispost, to do his duty without hesitancy and mur-muring, and to let the result take care of itself. Itwas in response to the suggestions of such a spiritas this that a committee of relief was organ-ized, having f
. A doctor's experiences in three continents. rsons succumbed to the malady ; theirpeople, utterly panic-stricken, fled in every possi-ble direction ; all business was suspended, and onlya voice of wailing was heard in the deserted streets ;and yet not a physician proved recreant or showeda craven spirit, but, on the contrary, each deter-mined deliberately to die rather than to leave hispost, to do his duty without hesitancy and mur-muring, and to let the result take care of itself. Itwas in response to the suggestions of such a spiritas this that a committee of relief was organ-ized, having for its objects the nursing of the sick,the burial of the dead, the care of the homelessorphans^ the collection of funds and provisions forthe destitute, and the supply of additional physi-cians to take the place of those who fell victims tothe disease. Upon the list of those who responded to this ap-23eal for assistance I am proud to find your hon-ored name; and, in mj judgment, in exposingyourself to the terrors of this virulent JOHN MORRIS, M. I). IN THREE CONTINENTS. 185 in raising aloft the banner of the profession andcarrying it into the very jaws of death, you deservea meed of praise compared with which the VictoriaCross and ribbon of the Legion of Honor shouldcount as empty baubles. When a soldier takes hislife in his hands and charges with the forlorn hopeinto the deadly breach, enthused by the gaudiacertaminis and all the inspiring entourage of thebattle-field, he is crowned with laurels, surfeitedwith praise, and chronicled as a hero and a mar-tyr. But how much more deserving of honor andremembrance is the physician who, having nothingto inspire or to sustain him but a sense of dutyand the approval of his conscience—without theexpectation of reward, and with the prospect of aninevitable death—delii3erately surrenders his prac-tice, bids adieu to his friends^ and takes his placein the already decimated ranks of those who arefighting some death-dealing
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectgenera, booksubjectvoyagesandtravels
