One of the first essentials, now that we are convinced of his unselfish desire to serve, is to determine whether he has stability. If he is mercurial in temperament, easily influenced, and finds it difficult to hold a straight course, always seeking the easiest way, do not encourage him to study homoeopathy.
Homoeopathy is founded upon principles that are in turn founded upon natural laws. If homoeopathy is founded upon natural laws, it is as basic and eternal as the hills; more, natural laws were formulated before the hills came into being. If a man follows where homoeopathy leads, he must be able to follow those laws and to hold close to them regardless of the pressure of influence.
Stability of character must have with it, and in equal measure, the quality of patience. In ordinary medicine the quality of patience seemingly is not so necessary, since we too frequently find that in extreme cases where things have taken an undesirable course the physician comforts himself that " everything possible has been done for the patient." In homoeopathy, one of our greatest axioms is: When in doubt, don't. The homoeopathic physician must be able to plan his course, and once having determined upon it, to stick to it until he finds good reason for changing his course; he must be able to wait.
The man who considers homoeopathy as a possible future must be a student of people and willing to become a student of philosophy. He must be able to read between the true and the false in any symptoms the patient may give; he must possess a sense of values. He must train himself to observe all those signs which the vital energy writes upon the human face, and he must be able to interpret all the signs, which show through habits and circumstances, into indications for the health-restoring medicines which he has at his command.
Hours must be spent in patient study, tracing the course of the disturbance and the remedy to fit it, always basing the process upon the sound rock of natural law.
To the young man who is equipped, and willing to undergo the training for this lifelong task, homoeopathy has everything to offer.
