XVIII

L'ENVOI1

Mr. Chairman and friends:

Overwhelmed and bewildered by the evidences of affection showered upon me this evening, I scarcely know in what vein to respond, whether to laugh or to cry. A little of both would perhaps best convey my feelings, constituting the effervescence of my gratitude which lies deeper than either. Of one thing there can be no doubt, namely, that my reply must include something about myself even though it be regarded as scant taste and contrary to Montaigne's dictum that one who speaks of himself is apt to do so to the detriment of the person spoken of. In this respect, however, I do not differ from others who have preceded me under like conditions.

The wherefore of my being with you here in Philadelphia rather than in some other large city is not far to seek. Native and to the manor born, I am proud to be a Philadelphian and although for a few years after my appearance on the stage of life, a nonresident, I returned at a comparatively early age to finish my school days and prepare for Haverford College at which I was entered in 1857 in the sophomore class and was graduated in 1860. To my college I owe much. Indeed to the training and habit of study there acquired I feel I owe largely what I am. Certain it is that after such a training I found the course as con

1 Remarks at the dinner given Dr. Tyson, May 5, 1910, by his friends in the profession on his retirement from the Chair of Medicine.

stituted at that day in my medical alma mater, the University of Penna., to be very easy of mastery.

Graduating in Medicine in 1863 I availed myself for a few months of the opportunity then everywhere offered of service in military hospitals, because of the civil war then prevailing, serving in Harrisburg during and after the battle of Gettysburg. It was while in Harrisburg in July that I was elected resident physician at the Pennsylvania Hospital to which I hastened to assume my duties. Then followed a period of my life which I regard as its happiest. Resident in a delightful home, with congenial colleagues, in a hospital rich in traditions most satisfying to an ambitious young graduate, splendid chances to learn, with no responsibility except to my chiefs, I was truly content and sorry to leave at the end of my altogether too short term.

Beginning private practice in 1864 I again availed myself of military hospital appointments and served for a short time at Winchester in the valley of Virginia. Returning to Philadelphia in the autumn I began at once teaching medicine by quizzing students and lecturing on the microscope to private classes, soon supplemented by my first appointment in the University as lecturer on microscopy, and later on urinary chemistry and as chief of the medical clinic. I will not detain you long with the earlier steps of my career. Suffice it that I became one of a group of young teachers including Horatio Wood, Edward Rhoads, the Peppers, George and William, Harrison Allen and later W. W. Keen, Frank Maury and Sam Gross, all of whom became prominent. Of these alas there remain only my friends Keen and Horatio Wood. The newer pathology then coming into notice was one of the fields of my interest and in 1870 I was appointed pathologist to the Philadelphia Hospital, Blockley,

thus paving the way for my first professorship that of general pathology and morbid anatomy in 1876. Clinical medicine also assumed larger proportions by an appointment as visiting physician to this great hospital. Later my transfer to the chair of clinical medicine and then to that of theory and practice furnished the climax of opportunity to meet men as teacher and practitioner. To these opportunities were added for a number of years those of dean of the Medical School which brought me into closer intimacy with many students. In these relations however I was not aggressive, and I cannot be said to have originated any policy. I simply did my work as best I could, without much thought of approval or disapproval. I was not demonstrative or winning in my manners, especially had no personal magnetism. On the other hand a certain reserve, born of extreme shyness in youth has at times, I fear, been repelling rather than winning. Yet gradually I grew into favor, I often wondered why. It is true my students of whom some 6000 were graduated from the medical school, during my connection with it, constitute a small army of loyal sons. Yet even these seemed insufficient to account for the many evidences of confidence, of respect and affection received beyond my deserts. Casting about me for further reasons I recognize two or three personal qualities which may have found favor with those who have been pleased to regard me with approval.

The first of these qualities to which I lay claim is a spirit of "fair play," or a "chance for all," irrespective of race, or sect, of country or of school. The world has always seemed to me big enough for each one who desires to work in it and succeed in it without crowding out another, and in my relations with professional friends I have endeavored to live up to the spirit of this

thought, and to extend a welcome to any one who might come my way. This I have tried to do in my position as a teacher of Medicine, a hospital physician and in my relations with the profession as a practitioner and consultant. In consultations of which I have been favored with many from scores of you, while seeking to do my best for our patient, I have sought also to protect the physician in attendance and secure for him as large a share of credit and as little of blame as I could, and if I have ever seemed to do else, it has been without intention.

A second attribute to which I lay claim and which I think I may say has influenced my conduct of life, is a firm belief in eternal justice, by which I mean that there will be meted out to each of us somewhere between the present and eternity, and I am inclined to believe on this side of the dark river, a full measure of his deserts, that to every one who seems to have been illy requited for his fair play and on whom misfortune has seemed to fall too heavily, an equalizing reward shall be ultimately awarded, while to him who has been unfair and selfish there will come a corresponding requital which will make seeming success and apparent prosperity a bizarre frame for the dismal picture of self and egotism. There is great comfort in such a belief and he who accepts it is helped to bear with equanimity many trials and disappointments since it places his happiness in his own hands.

As a corollary to this belief is another to the effect that it rarely happens that disappointment is not followed sooner or later by some more happy turn of the wheel of fortune, in a word that misfortune has become good fortune.

Another quality which may have had to do with such success as I have attained is my faith in my profession, for I am a firm believer in the profession of medicine,