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〃science〃 out of place。 By far the larger part of the facts of
structure and function you find in the books of anatomy and
physiology have no immediate application to the daily duties of the
practitioner。 You must learn systematically； for all that； it is the
easiest way and the only way that takes hold of the memory； except
mere empirical repetition； like that of the handicraftsman。 Did you
ever see one of those Japanese figures with the points for
acupuncture marked upon it？
I had to own that my schooling had left out that piece of
information。
Well； I 'll tell you about it。 You see they have a way of pushing
long； slender needles into you for the cure of rheumatism and other
complaints； and it seems there is a choice of spots for the
operation； though it is very strange how little mischief it does in a
good many places one would think unsafe to meddle with。 So they had
a doll made； and marked the spots where they had put in needles
without doing any harm。 They must have had accidents from sticking
the needles into the wrong places now and then； but I suppose they
did n't say a great deal about those。 After a time； say a few
centuries of experience； they had their doll all spotted over with
safe places for sticking in the needles。 That is their way of
registering practical knowledge： We； on the other hand； study the
structure of the body as a whole； systematically； and have no
difficulty at all in remembering the track of the great vessels and
nerves； and knowing just what tracks will be safe and what unsafe。
It is just the same thing with the geologists。 Here is a man close
by us boring for water through one of our ledges； because somebody
else got water somewhere else in that way； and a person who knows
geology or ought to know it； because he has given his life to it；
tells me he might as well bore there for lager…beer as for water。
I thought we had had enough of this particular matter； and that I
should like to hear what the Master had to say about the three
professions he knew something about； each compared with the others。
What is your general estimate of doctors； lawyers； and ministers？
said I。
Wait a minute； till I have got through with your first question；
said the Master。…One thing at a time。 You asked me about the young
doctors； and about our young doctor。 They come home tres biens
chausses； as a Frenchman would say； mighty well shod with
professional knowledge。 But when they begin walking round among
their poor patients； they don't commonly start with millionnaires；
they find that their new shoes of scientific acquirements have got to
be broken in just like a pair of boots or brogans。 I don't know that
I have put it quite strong enough。 Let me try again。 You've seen
those fellows at the circus that get up on horseback so big that you
wonder how they could climb into the saddle。 But pretty soon they
throw off their outside coat； and the next minute another one； and
then the one under that； and so they keep peeling off one garment
after another till people begin to look queer and think they are
going too far for strict propriety。 Well； that is the way a fellow
with a real practical turn serves a good many of his scientific
wrappers； flings 'em off for other people to pick up； and goes right
at the work of curing stomach…aches and all the other little mean
unscientific complaints that make up the larger part of every
doctor's business。 I think our Dr。 Benjamin is a worthy young man；
and if you are in need of a doctor at any time I hope you will go to
him； and if you come off without harm； I will recommend some other
friend to try him。
I thought he was going to say he would try him in his own person；
but the Master is not fond of committing himself。
Now； I will answer your other question； he said。 The lawyers are the
cleverest men； the ministers are the most learned； and the doctors
are the most sensible。
The lawyers are a picked lot； 〃first scholars〃 and the like； but
their business is as unsympathetic as Jack Ketch's。 There is nothing
humanizing in their relations with their fellow…creatures。 They go
for the side that retains them。 They defend the man they know to be
a rogue； and not very rarely throw suspicion on the man they know to
be innocent。 Mind you； I am not finding fault with them； every side
of a case has a right to the best statement it admits of； but I say
it does not tend to make them sympathetic。 Suppose in a case of
Fever vs。 Patient； the doctor should side with either party according
to whether the old miser or his expectant heir was his employer。
Suppose the minister should side with the Lord or the Devil；
according to the salary offered and other incidental advantages；
where the soul of a sinner was in question。 You can see what a piece
of work it would make of their sympathies。 But the lawyers are
quicker witted than either of the other professions； and abler men
generally。 They are good…natured； or； if they quarrel； their
quarrels are above…board。 I don't think they are as accomplished as
the ministers； but they have a way of cramming with special knowledge
for a case which leaves a certain shallow sediment of intelligence in
their memories about a good many things。 They are apt to talk law in
mixed company； and they have a way of looking round when they make a
point； as if they were addressing a jury； that is mighty aggravating；
as I once had occasion to see when one of 'em； and a pretty famous
one； put me on the witness…stand at a dinner…party once。
The ministers come next in point of talent。 They are far more
curious and widely interested outside of their own calling than
either of the other professions。 I like to talk with 'em。 They are
interesting men； full of good feelings； hard workers； always foremost
in good deeds； and on the whole the most efficient civilizing class；
working downwards from knowledge to ignorance； that is；not so much
upwards； perhaps；that we have。 The trouble is； that so many of 'em
work in harness； and it is pretty sure to chafe somewhere。 They feed
us on canned meats mostly。 They cripple our instincts and reason；
and give us a crutch of doctrine。 I have talked with a great many of
'em of all sorts of belief； and I don't think they are quite so easy
in their minds； the greater number of them； nor so clear in their
convictions； as one would think to hear 'em lay down the law in the
pulpit。 They used to lead the intelligence of their parishes； now
they do pretty well if they keep up with it； and they are very apt to
lag behind it。 Then they must have a colleague。 The old minister
thinks he can hold to his old course； sailing right into the wind's
eye of human nature； as straight as that famous old skipper John
Bunyan； the young minister falls off three or four points and catches
the breeze that left the old man's sails all shivering。 By and by
the congregation will get ahead of him； and then it must； have
another new skipper。 The priest holds his own pretty well； the
minister is coming down every generation nearer and nearer to the
common level of the useful citizen；no oracle at all； but a man of
more than av