BY A PHYSICIAN FOR PHYSICIANS

It is a good thing for a physician to have prematurely gray hair and itching piles. The first makes him appear to know more than he does, and the second gives him an expression of concern, which the patient interprets as being on his behalf.

A doctor who cannot take a good history and a patient who cannot give one are in danger of giving and receiving bad treatment.

Formerly, when religion was strong and science weak, men mistook magic for medicine; now, when science is strong and religion weak, men mistake medicine for magic.

One has a greater sense of intellectual degradation after an interview with a doctor than from any human experience.

Let’s not kid ourselves. Whatever we diagnose, most patients, if they don’t die, get well by themselves. Our job is mainly to try to make them feel better; do no harm.

Half of the modern drugs could well be thrown out of the window, except that the birds might eat them.