An hour for my thoughts

Abstract

This is a slightly abridged version of the St. Luke's Day Lecture delivered to the Malta Branch of the British Medical Association on the 18th October 1974 at the Medical School of the Royal University. Inspired by the title “A shilling for my Thoughts” a book of essays written by G.K. Chesterton, the author named this lecture “An hour for my thoughts”, setting off his lecture by presenting his first personal thought: that of paying tribute to St. Luke, who being a physician he also managed to attain sanctification. Furthermore, the moral and ethical values are highlighted especially when it comes to medical students` outlook, emphasizing the need for the right principles and seriousness in one`s work. Admiration is shown towards the British Medical Journal, specifically towards the relative accurate reports, as well as the gratitude which should be shown to the British physicians who had shared their knowledge with the Maltese physicians. The emphasis is also placed on the valuable link between Malta and the British Medicine, for which the author sustains that the language question of that time, should not have hindered this process. Another thought underlines the importance for a physician to enrich his knowledge on some other subjects apart from medicine. The final thoughts go for the need of cleanliness in Malta and the praise in favour of microbiologists, who after bringing about antiseptic surgery, they created public health.