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inside the cobalt pool of its cytoplasm, the thunder blue of the | inside the cobalt pool of its cytoplasm, the thunder blue of the | ||
nucleus. And close beside the nucleus lay the crooked crimson rod | nucleus. And close beside the nucleus lay the crooked crimson rod | ||
of | of tubercle bacillus, that same Roch's baccillus that Dr. Berven | ||
had described. Remembering the | had described. Remembering the armies of the human beings who were | ||
destroyed by that organism, all the tragedies and the wrecked lives, I stared | destroyed by that organism, all the tragedies and the wrecked lives, I stared | ||
down that microscope with the impression that it was the very principle of | down that microscope with the impression that it was the very principle of | ||
evil itself [[crossed out | evil itself [[crossed out: which]] that I was observing, embedded in that summer pool beside the | ||
thunder of the nucleus. Impressive also was the ingenuity of the bacteriologists | thunder of the nucleus. Impressive also was the ingenuity of the bacteriologists | ||
who devised the differential staining which leaves the baccillus | who devised the differential staining which leaves the baccillus | ||
crimson against the blue background of the cell." | crimson against the blue background of the cell." | ||
"Sounds like another parable, Doctor." | "Sounds like another parable, Doctor." | ||
"I suppose it does. I didn't see it as such at the time, however I | "I suppose it does. I didn't see it as such at the time, however I | ||
saw it as some ancient work of art, like the wall paintings of ancient | saw it as some ancient work of art, like the wall paintings of ancient | ||
caves. But I am relating the incident to you now because I don't think | caves. But I am relating the incident to you now because I don't think | ||
you will take it for sentimental philosophizing. I hope you may | you will take it for sentimental philosophizing. I hope you may | ||
see in it glimpses of what medical training | see in it glimpses of what medical training could impart." | ||
"Good and evil as viewed by science." | "Good and evil as viewed by science." | ||
"At least a foundation which would maintain a high tradition | "At least a foundation which would maintain a high tradition | ||
and would tend to protect its disciples against serious mischief | and would tend to protect its disciples against serious mischief- | ||
making. And in connection with mischief, I might mention | making. And in connection with mischief, I might mention | ||
that the really | that the really fine teachers in medicine twenty or more | ||
years ago were evidently keenly aware of that possibility, | years ago were evidently keenly aware of that possibility, | ||
since ^'an' injunction heard many times from at least one | since ^'an' injunction heard many times from at least one | ||
surgeon of international reputation was: "Nihil | surgeon of international reputation was: "Nihil nocere" - | ||
"damage nothing." Even though I went into medicine and not | "damage nothing." Even though I went into medicine and not | ||
surgery, I found that there were many opportunities for doing | surgery, I found that there were many opportunities for doing | ||
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that all I had to do to create a little damage was to drift a bit with | that all I had to do to create a little damage was to drift a bit with | ||
what seems to be the demands of the moment. Say what the patient | what seems to be the demands of the moment. Say what the patient | ||
wants to hear, | wants to hear, cut some corner or flatter someone. Falsification again, | ||
Inspector. It's really surprising how hard it is for a young doctor | Inspector. It's really surprising how hard it is for a young doctor | ||
beginning practice to form a reasonably honest method of practice | beginning practice to form a reasonably honest method of practice | ||
and to avoid the doing of damage." | and to avoid the doing of damage." | ||
"Maybe I don't understand you here, Doctor. You don't mean | "Maybe I don't understand you here, Doctor. You don't mean | ||
damage like prescribing the wrong medicine, do you? You were all | damage like prescribing the wrong medicine, do you? You were all | ||
Latest revision as of 01:28, 15 August 2021
38
inside the cobalt pool of its cytoplasm, the thunder blue of the nucleus. And close beside the nucleus lay the crooked crimson rod of tubercle bacillus, that same Roch's baccillus that Dr. Berven had described. Remembering the armies of the human beings who were destroyed by that organism, all the tragedies and the wrecked lives, I stared down that microscope with the impression that it was the very principle of evil itself crossed out: which that I was observing, embedded in that summer pool beside the thunder of the nucleus. Impressive also was the ingenuity of the bacteriologists who devised the differential staining which leaves the baccillus crimson against the blue background of the cell."
"Sounds like another parable, Doctor." "I suppose it does. I didn't see it as such at the time, however I
saw it as some ancient work of art, like the wall paintings of ancient caves. But I am relating the incident to you now because I don't think you will take it for sentimental philosophizing. I hope you may see in it glimpses of what medical training could impart."
"Good and evil as viewed by science." "At least a foundation which would maintain a high tradition
and would tend to protect its disciples against serious mischief- making. And in connection with mischief, I might mention that the really fine teachers in medicine twenty or more years ago were evidently keenly aware of that possibility, since ^'an' injunction heard many times from at least one surgeon of international reputation was: "Nihil nocere" - "damage nothing." Even though I went into medicine and not surgery, I found that there were many opportunities for doing damage which did not require the scalpel and forceps and that all I had to do to create a little damage was to drift a bit with what seems to be the demands of the moment. Say what the patient wants to hear, cut some corner or flatter someone. Falsification again, Inspector. It's really surprising how hard it is for a young doctor beginning practice to form a reasonably honest method of practice and to avoid the doing of damage."
"Maybe I don't understand you here, Doctor. You don't mean
damage like prescribing the wrong medicine, do you? You were all