Excerpt from Introductory Lecture, Addressed to the Medical Class of Transylvania University: Session of 1849-50

There is nothing which the student of medicine so much needs, at the outset of his career, as a plain and simple exposition of the nature and purposes of his profession; an exposition which not only exhibits to him what he has to do, but at the same time presents the motives, encouragements, and incentives to do it with suitable ear nestness. Such an exposition it would not be practicable to condense into the narrow compass of an introductory lecture; but I trust I shall be able to Offer some hints and suggestions, which may aid you in realizing the dignity and importance of your undertaking.

Man never labors well without some adequate inducement. To some men the strongest incentives to exertion are found in the pros pect of private gain; others are urged to effort by the thirst for fame; and others again by the higher motive of serving their fellow men. Any one of these inducements - interest, ambition, or philanthropy may urge men on to respectable and successful effort; but it is un questionably true, that human labor is most earnest and most honor able, when the laborer aims to promote his own private interest, by endeavoring to accomplish that which may not only commend him to the admiration of the world, but, at the same time, minister to the good of his fellow men generally. It would be calculating too largely upon human disinterestedness to expect men to labor in any of the various pursuits of life purely for the public good, and yet it cannot be doubted that most men are so constituted by nature, as to require higher and purer inducements, to sustain them in protracted exer tion, than such as are afforded by purely selfish and sordid considera tions. The man who labors merely for money, may delve on, day after day, and week after week, but if his mind contemplates nothing beyond the prospect of accumulation, his labor will be cheerless and without zest, for it will be truly Work without hope and Hope without an Object. Let, however, the desire to attract the attention and elicit the admiration of men be added to his inducements, and he is inspired with new zeal and increased energy; and if, in addition to these inducements, he gets to be imbued with the nobler and more elevated ambition, to become the benefactor of his race, he is render ed equal to the most glorious achievements.

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