CHAPTER VII 



A LECTURE ON LIFE 1 



(1905, 1909) 



To all of us mortals presents itself the question, Why are we : 

 what is the meaning of this state of living : what is life ? to 

 none more often than to the physician. His duty it is to tend 

 the lamp of life. Time and again, as day follows after day, he 

 sees it burning low ; now in danger of being blown out rudely 

 by some all-unexpected gust ; now guttering down with weak 

 and weaker flame, flaring up momentarily, but it may be only 

 momentarily, until the cold blue flame, scarce giving light, 

 ushers in the darkness of death. His duty it is to keep the lamp 

 alight and burning brightly as long as possible to prevent that 

 darkness. Is it surprising that he asks himself, again and again, 

 What is life ? what is this flame to which we minister ? 



Think of it ! Think of the countless ages for we cannot 

 count them since man first became capable of abstract thought, 

 and so became truly man ! Think of the generations that have 

 come to life, have grown up, and had their day, and passed ! 

 To each in turn this question has presented itself to each. 

 And direct answer has been found by none of all of them. And 

 the generations have consoled themselves by the thought that 

 this infinite mystery of existence, abysmal, dark, is purposeful ; 

 that it is the God who has created life, that He knows, and 

 that suffices ; He knows and we, His creatures, cannot attain 

 unto His knowledge. The generations have had those of robust 

 mind, those whom this philosophy did not wholly satisfy, those 

 who have asked why this should be. Solomon has succeeded 



1 Delivered before the McGill Medical Students' Society in 1905, and 

 redelivered by request and with additions before the Ottawa Valley McGill 

 Graduates' Association in March 1909. 



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