New theory and old practice in relation to medicine and certain industries : being an analysis of current literature of these subjects / by C.A. Gordon.

Gordon, Charles Alexander, 1821-1899.

Date:: 1886

Credit: New theory and old practice in relation to medicine and certain industries : being an analysis of current literature of these subjects / by C.A. Gordon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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$human diseases which can alone enable ns to understand, alleviate, or remove them. (Literary Characters, ed. iv. p. 196). Our security is in the recognition of indications at the bedside. (Harveian Oration, 1880 p. 176). Medicine is not a science, and never can be ; it is the practi- cal application of experience, and the best physician is he who to the largest experience adds the most extended knowledge of the experience of others, with the highest faculty of deducing therefrom rational in- ferences, and the skill to put them into practice. {British Medical Journal^ Oct. 25, 1884.) In our eagerness to reach an ideal standard of perfection, we are too apt to forget that the medical art is much older than what we call the science, and of independent origin. Medicines and cures, says Celsus, were first found out, and then, after, the means and causes were discovered; and not the causes first found out, and by light from them the medicines and cures discovered. This distinction still holds good. In ultimate result it is upon intuition, rather than upon syllogism that the solution of many medical problems depends. The great variety of subjects, and the immense number of empirical facts, which the present system of medical education demands, is to be regretted, because this state of things tends, with increasing force, to the study of isolated phenomena, and small and narrow domains. It causes the knowledge of Nature, as a great and comprehensive whole to be sadly neglected. Nearly all the subjects that medical examinations embrace may be dis- carded immediately the ordeal is over, without detriment to any future professional prospects. {British Medical Journal, August 8th, 1885, p. 282). The separation between (experimental) .scientific physiology and the practical work of mp.dicine is illustrated by the advice reported to have been given by a professor of physiology to medical students namely, that they should reside for a time in ho.spital, With refer- ence to that remark the observation occurs that it is most unlikely that any considerable number of men will deprive the practice of the pro- fession of brilliant guides by espousing the cause of pure science. (Medical Press and Circular, October 21, 1885). It is thus made evident that brilliant guides of the practical parts of the profession need not scientific men, otherwise experimenters. Dr. Chapman, in alluding to the numerous and opposing theories which exist in reference to every point connected with the etiology of cholera (notwithstanding the numnrous experiments performed on animals with the bac//./ii:i, &c., writes :—Con- sidering the divergent views of the delegates (to the International (!om- mi.=!sion) an impartial ()')S(a'vcr would probably conclude that the several$