184 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



to secrete bile may make a Plato into an Orestes, or an Epictetus into a misanthrope. 

 Here is the moral of it which you must keep in mind, that spite of all that the faddists of 

 the age may say, the wise man has nevertheless much the advantage of the fool, were it 

 only in being able by his wisdom to prevent many of the physical derangements which 

 overthrow or destroy moral nature: and it is just herein that the triumph of temperance 

 consists, which moving on like Justice, with scales in hand, counts as true pleasures only 

 those which are free from penalties. 



There is no confusion here, or muddling of psychical with functional 

 disorders: only the calm judgment of a sober mind well grounded in 

 the knowledge of the facts of anatomy and physiology. In the higher 

 realm, too, of spiritual and religious influences as aids to the restoration 

 of normal health of body and mind, there is evidence in all his letters 

 of clear thinking and just evaluations. 



You tell me that your situation is terrible. Allow me, in turn, to ask you a question. 

 Have you any religion ? If you have not, I pity you from the bottom of my heart. Can 

 any situation whatsoever be terrible when you have confidence in God ? I can see horror 

 only in the situation of those who lack this confidence, and can faith in God exist without 

 submission to his will? .... The truly religious man does not complain, because he 

 knows that the trials come from God. He puts his finger to his lips and says as his last 

 word — "Thy will be done." 



Such in briefest outline was the life and practice of this remarkable 

 man. Six feet tall, of well-filled stature, he was always a handsome 

 man. His face was full and even-featured, with a firm chin and mouth 

 softened by a graceful gentleness — rosy lips, black eyes, and a Roman 

 nose. Calm and poised in manner, he commanded the instant con- 

 fidence of his patients, with an authority which was speedily strengthened 

 by the enthusiastic and friendly affection of all who came under its 

 sway. The secret of his lasting success lay in this quiet force of char- 

 acter. Holding always the highest ideals of his profession, he was wont 

 nevertheless to say, "The first requisite for a physician is that he be an 

 honest man. Science comes after that." 



The remaining years of his life were spent in busy professional and 

 social life. His letters are full of interesting gossip of the court and 

 intellectual circles of Paris from 1766 to 1781: little stories of the ducal 

 card-parties lasting all night, "from which I came home played out. 

 The ladies can sleep till noon; but such hours are not for one who has 

 work to do." His own hospitality was generous, but of a soberer type — 



