CHAPTER XVIII.

MORAL INFLUENCE OF PHYSICIANS, 383

Intimate relation of physician to his patients. Mutual confidence. Abuse of confidence. Guilt of it, especially in case of females. Sympathy of the physician—active—grows constantly stronger and more tender. Self-control mistaken for want of feeling. Manifestations of feeling—surgical operation. Certain nervous effects erroneously supposed to be evidences of feeling. Sympathy of the physician a means of influence. Physician at home everywhere. Opportunity of studying every variety of character. Physicians often fail to exert the influence which these advantages enable them to do. Influence on moral questions. Temperance. Acting as a peace-maker. Influence of daily conduct—little hourly acts. Physician in sick room. Communion with the spirit in its most momentous hours. Physician’s great object to cure the patient—nothing should interfere with it. Cordial influence of hope. Little confidence to be placed in death-bed repentance and reformation. Opportunities of doing good in lingering chronic cases. Mode of doing it. Injudicious intercourse with the sick. In some cases duty clear—in others, doubtful. Conference between physician, clergyman, and friends. Opportunity of doing good in convalescence. Moral influence of the physician in his strictly-professional character.