Address in refutation of the Thomsonian system of medical practice : delivered in the lecture room of the Chester Co. Cabinet of Natural Science, West Chester, Pa., on December 31, 1836 / by Sumner Stebbins.

  • Stebbins, Sumner.
Date:
1837
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Address in refutation of the Thomsonian system of medical practice : delivered in the lecture room of the Chester Co. Cabinet of Natural Science, West Chester, Pa., on December 31, 1836 / by Sumner Stebbins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    ant! lamented by oil, but by none more so than tb« en- lightened physician. The perfection attainable by med- icine (says Professor Jackson) is that which belongs to those sciences whose principles are demonstrated, but whose practical application is frequently defeated by de- fectiveness in its instruments, or by the force of uncon- trollable accidents. Medicine, in this respect, will com- pare with navigation. The principles or theory of na?i- gation have received an improvement that may be regard- ed as complete; but how numerous are the circumstances that render them useless, and their assistance unavailing. The skilful navigator, instructed in every branch of his profession, may conduct with safety his bark over the trackless deep, and through many a tempestuous gale and threatening storm ; but in the tornado, the hurricane, the dread typhon, when the embattled elements pour forth their fury and exhaust their rage; or when adverse cur- rents and resistless winds drive on a lee shore and rock- bound coast;—opposed to these, what is human power— what the skill, the knowledge of man t A strict analogy prevails in medicine. In the fatal derangements, conjes- tions, and effusions, that so often are rapidly induced in the rital organs and centres of life, the instructed physician thoroughly understands the nature of the lesions, and the means by which relief could be procured. But where are they to be found r They exist not in nature, and his skill and knowledge remain impotent. The perfection of med- icine will consist in the complete cultivation of the depart- ments of which it is composed; but however far it may be carried, there will always be diseases that will prove fatal. Lesion of structure is an elfiment of disease. When of intense violence, disorganization rapidly, sometimes in- stantly ensues—or a total denaturalization of the solids is gradually produced. These states once induced, the pow- er to heal must be able to create—the attribute and prerog- ative of Deity. The catalogue of the opprobrium medico- rum may be reduced by the improvement of the science, but it will never cease to exist. But will the casting away the recorded experience—the well attested facte—