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.