should be able always to effect a cure; they will not exercise that charity and forbearance towards physicians which is usually accorded to all other men.
The doctor must forego every enjoyment of his own, and sacrifice every earthly comfort, upon the shortest notice; his services are demanded in an imperious tone that is never used towards any other profession; and if he cannot instantly unravel the darkest mystery, and make a perfect diagnosis and prognosis in every case to which his attention is called, he is thought to be culpably deficient. No such unreasonable demands are made of any other class of men. The attorney is allowed days, and perhaps weeks, to consult his authorities before giving an opinion upon some settled point of law. He may hesitate, or even give a wrong opinion at first, and if he correct it afterwards it will be no disparagement to him. But the physician is required to be prompt and positive in his decisions;—his doubts, honestly expressed, are taken to be confessions of unpardonable ignorance. The public require merits in him which they expect to find nowhere
