Health Institute
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He should go out of Battle Creek occasionally and rest and visit, not
always making professional visits, but visiting where he can be free
and where his mind will not be anxious about the sick.
The privilege of getting away from the Health Institute should
occasionally be accorded to all the physicians, especially to those
who bear burdens and responsibilities. If there is such a scarcity of
help that this cannot be done, more help should be secured. To have
physicians overworked, and thus disqualified to perform the duties of
their profession, is a thing to be dreaded. It should be prevented if
possible, for its influence is against the interests of the Institute. The
physicians should keep well. They must not get sick by overlabor or
by any imprudence on their part.
I was shown that Dr. B is too easily discouraged. There will ever
be things arising to annoy, perplex, and try the patience of physicians
and helpers. They must be prepared for this and not become excited or
unbalanced. They must be calm and kind whatever may occur. They
are exerting an influence which will be reflected by the patients in
other states and which will be reflected again upon the Health Institute
for good or for evil. They should ever consider that they are dealing
with men and women of diseased minds, who frequently view things
in a perverted light and yet are confident that they understand matters
perfectly. Physicians should understand that a soft answer turneth
away wrath. Policy must be used in an institution where the sick are
treated, in order to successfully control diseased minds and benefit the
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sick. If physicians can remain calm amid a tempest of inconsiderate,
passionate words, if they can rule their own spirits when provoked and
abused, they are indeed conquerors. “He that ruleth his spirit [is better]
than he that taketh a city.” To subdue self, and bring the passions under
the control of the will, is the greatest conquest that men and women
can achieve.
Dr. B is not blind to his peculiar temperament. He sees his failings,
and when he feels the pressure upon him he is disposed to beat a
retreat and turn his back upon the battlefield. But he will gain nothing
by pursuing this course. He is situated where his surroundings and
the pressure of circumstances are developing the strong points in his
character, points from which the roughness needs to be removed, that
he may become refined and elevated. For him to flee from the contest
will not remove the defects in his character. Should he run away from