LONELY FURROWS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 140, 10 December 1929, Page 16

LONELY FURROWS

HERMIT-LIKE DOCTORS

CONCORD AND RESEARCH

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 4th Octobu. Rivalry in the medical profession was one of the subjects dealt with by Sir Humphry Eolleston, one of-the King's Physicians-in-Ordinary, ia an address to the Guy's Hospital Medical School. "In the past/ he said, "great advances in medicine have largely been due to individual effort, without collaboration or much encouragement, or financial assistance, from outside sources; .they have not come in a continuous stream, but in an interrupted fashion, depending on the irregular appearanc.e of men with tho necessary outstanding ability.

"The attitude of the solitary worker is part of the individuality and independence of the members of our profession; unfortunately the accompanying lack of combination for mutual advantage, and, on occasion, for concerted action, has handicapped not only the profession as a whole, but its constituent members, who are thus .apt to plough their lonely furrov/s while glancing askance at others as rivals rather than as familiar friends and helpful colleagues. "It is perhaps not surprising that, accustomed to fight disease singlehanded, the hermit-like doctor may not bo devoid of antagonism to his professional brethren. It is, however, hardly necessary to labour the obvious importance and value in the prae- I tice of our art, and in' the advance of our science that may be given by the human touch and the atmosphere of unity, peace, and concord which medical clubs, societies, and associations should foster and perpetuate. "It is difficult to exaggerate the value of such clubs in multiplying enthusiasm and thus stimulating research work, in bringing men together in originating and maintaining friendly relations, and so obviating the risks and minimising jealousies among men who are rivals in climbing the ladder of scientific and professional success."