ox VETEilIXARY CONSULTATIONS. 433 
general terms where there may be slight shades of difference, and 
entering more, yet very cautiously, and never to any great extent, 
into particulars where your sentiments appear to coincide, will be 
all that you should ever venture to give; and sacredly should you 
refrain from every syllable indicative of your own peculiar 
theories on the disease. Your objects are, to save the life of 
your patient and the professional reputation of your coadjutor. 
In the circumstances in which you are then placed, you have 
nothing to do with any thing beyond this; and however disposed 
you may be to act honourably, you will not quite do so, if you 
advance a step beyond this limit. The very feeling that your 
brother is to a certaint}^ in your power, will make you exquisitely 
sensitive to every thing that can by possibility injure him. 
The repetition of visits should never be proposed by you. 
There is somethino' disgraceful about this ;—it savours at once of 
suspicion, or imagined superiority of tact and knowledge: but 
there is no reason that you should not readily accede to the 
wishes of the owner or the attending surgeon if a continuance 
of your attendance is desired. 
• And, last of all, the consultation being over, there is an im¬ 
perative duty too often forgotten, yet that can never be so without 
loss of honour. You have been peculiarly situated with respect 
to the attending surgeon. To enable you to perform your duty, 
he has not scrupled to expose to you his errors, perchance his 
ignorance on certain points. You have obtained that with regard 
to him, which you could not have gained except you had met in 
the discharge of an important duty. What is the inevitable 
consequence ?—not only that you were bound to protect his pro¬ 
fessional reputation in the estimation of his employer, and which 
yon have done, but that all that passed between you is sacred; 
and that the man who would divulge, to the prejudice of hi§i 
brother, secrets thus obtained, has forfeited all claim to respect, 
and should be hooted from society. The breach of such a com¬ 
pact shews a despicable, yet fearful, recklessness of heart and of 
conduct. 
There are some minor points connected with this subject 
which may afford matter for future consideration. 
VOL. vi. 
