PERCIVAL’S MEDICAL ETHICS. 
‘represénted,to be remarkably under‘the 
influence of the moon, and hence any at- 
tempts to cure should be made three 
ays previous, to every new or. full 
moon. We are very much inclined to 
suspect, that the author speaks with too 
much confidence, on the facility ~with 
719 
which the former disease may always be 
cured in young people, and, that. bark, 
steel, oil of amber, .misletoe, and vale- 
rian, even when employed at the periods 
mentioned by him, . will often be found 
inefficacious, z 
Arr. IV. Medical Ethics ; or a Code of Institutes and Precepts adapted to the profes 
sional Conduct of Physicians and Surgeons. 
on Hospital Duties; also Notes and Illustrations. By Tuomas Peresvar, M.D. 
£.R.S. and A. §, Lond. F. R. 8. and R. M.S. Edinb, Sc, Sc. 8y0. pp. 246, 
vs 
mix 
_|A VERY important part of the 
_ knowledge which a_ liberal _ practi- 
tioner in medicine ought to possess, re- 
lates to;the conduct to, be pursued in his 
intercourse with the world, and with his 
brethren in the profession. The medical 
art in this country has long maintaineda 
very elevated rank, as well on account 
of its acknowledged utility, as the learn- 
ing and abilities of its professors. The 
qualifications necessary to make a physi- 
cian serviceable in his profession, are not 
of a nature to be duly estimated by the 
public. It is naturally however expect- 
ed as a criterion, and in general not an 
unfair one, of his medical skill, that he 
should possess general learning and in- 
formation, with a refinement of manner, 
and a liberality of conduct, which be- 
speak the well educated gentleman. A 
certain degree of acquaintance with the 
world is necessary to furnish that know- 
ledge of mind and manners which are 
essential to a respectable advancement, 
and we doubt not that the work now be- 
fore us, will prove extremely useful to 
the young and ingenuous practitioner, 
by furnishing him with the rules of pro- 
fessional conduct which have been laid 
down by a learned and liberal minded 
physician, after a long life of reputation 
and utility. 
The present work originated in a code 
of laws which the author was requested 
to draw up in the year 1792, for the use 
of the infirmary of Manchester. He 
was afterwards induced to extend his 
plan, but various circumstances, for 
some years interrupted it, particularly 
the death of a very promising son for 
whose particular use his labours were in- 
‘tended. 
‘The Ist chapter contains the code of 
laws above mentioned, and treats of pro- 
fessional conduct, relative to hospitals 
and other medical charities. It is not to 
‘be expected that much novelty should 
be here introduced. Theauthorhas given 
‘a summary of the mode of conducting 
public business, in a way the most satis- 
With an Appendix ; containing a Discourse 
factory and useful to the practitioner, 
and the most agreeable and beneficial to 
the patient.. The principal objects which 
he inculcates are, tender and delicate 
attentions to the patient, and a liberal 
and unrestrained intercourse among the 
medical attendants... \he advantage of 
the sick must necessarily be the first 
point of attention, but with this he al- 
ways wishes to connect the improvement 
of the profession. Most of the ijunc- 
tions which are laid down for the conduct 
of the practitioner to the patient, are 
highly proper, but feelings of delicacy 
may perhaps be carried too far, when it 
is said, that they should always be inter- 
rogated concerning their complaints in 
atone of voice which cannot be over- 
heard. Circumstances may certainly 
occur, particularly with females,,when 
such an injunction is proper ;;but as a 
general-rule, it seems to us very unneces- 
sary,.and will frequently deprive the at- 
tending pupils of very desireable infor- 
mation. Many important remarks. oc- 
cur in this chapter, on the utility, and 
management of dispensaries, lunatic 
hospitals, and lock hospitals, which are 
equally creditable to) the author’s judg- 
ment as a physician, and to his feelings 
asa man. The two next chapters treat 
of professional conduct in private and 
general practice, and of .the behaviour 
of physicians to apothecaries. . The lead- 
ing circumstances inculcated are, libera- 
lity of conduct to the patient, and medi- 
cal brethren, anda strict regard to mora 
lity in general behaviour. - Viewing me- 
dicine as a profession by which a man is 
to be supported, a certain attention to 
personal interest is necessarily required. 
The respectability of “the profession 
should never, however, be sacrificed to 
motives of private interest, and it \al- 
ways becomes the practitioner to exercise 
a great liberality cf conduct to those pas 
tients, whose situation in life may) not 
make it.convenient; to obey their own 
feelings in.tae acknowledgment. made. 
It is proper however to do our prefe> 
