CHAPTER IX.THEORY AND OBSERVATION.

All real knowledge is based upon observation; and it is the facts discovered by observation, which, accumulating from age to age, constitute thestoreof human knowledge. Not a single grain has ever been added to this store, in all the ages of the world, through the instrumentality of theory alone. Theory, or hypothesis, has often suggested the existence of facts, and has directed in the pursuit after them, but observation after all is the only agent that has discovered them.

Facts are of two kinds—particular and general. General facts are discovered by a careful observation of a great number of particular facts. Thus Newton, by observing many particular or individual facts, established the general fact, which is called gravitation, viz., that all bodies are attracted towards each other, or have a tendency to come together. So in medical science, by an observation of many facts in individual cases, it has been discovered, that there is a tendency in the human system to restoration to health, whenever it is attacked with disease—a tendency, existing as a general fact, to which has been given the name,vis medicatrix naturæ.

These general facts are sometimes termed principles or laws, and are sometimes spoken of as the relationships of facts. A theory, or hypothesis, consists in a supposition of relationships which have not yet been ascertained. Thus Newton, after discovering the great general fact of gravitation, supposed that there might be a sort of ether connecting bodies together, and acting as the medium of their attraction. This supposition of a relationship, or general fact, not yet ascertained, is a theory or hypothesis. So when Stahl supposed the principle called thevis medicatrix naturæto be in the soul, and when Cullen supposed that it exists in the nerves and produces in fever a spasm of the extreme vessels, they both put forth a mere theory. Cullen speaks of Stahl’s theory as being fanciful. It is so. But Cullen’s is just as fanciful, if by this word it is meant that it is unsubstantiated by fact. Cullen’s supposition is more plausible, it is true, than Stahl’s; but it is no nearer being a proved fact.

There is often much indefiniteness in the use of the wordtheory. Thus the doctrine, or law of gravitation, as discovered by Newton is sometimes spoken of as histheoryof gravitation. It wasoncehis theory; that is, when it was a mere supposition in his mind. But when, by a series of observations it came to be a proved fact, it was no longer a theory. So the laws of the circulation of the blood, as discovered by Harvey, are sometimes erroneously spoken of as his theory of the circulation.

Some theories are said to be founded on facts, while others are deemed to be very fanciful. But theory can never be said, strictly speaking, to be founded on facts. It has relation to facts, it is true, but in the attempt to explain their nature, it goesbeyondthem over into the domain of conjecture.

Every one who puts forth a theory, is apt to think that all previous theories are false, while his is proved to be conformable to facts. Dr. Cullen, in announcing his theory, or doctrine (as he styles it) of fever, which is from beginning to end a series of unproved assertions, says, “I flatter myself that I have avoided hypothesis, and what have been called theories.” So Dr. Rush, after framing a theory even more palpably fanciful, says, that he conceives the doctrine of fever that he has aimed to establish rests upon facts only.

There is no science, in which there has been so much theorizing, as there has been in that of medicine. Its history seems to be almost altogether a history of untenable theories. These theories are at least the prominent objects that present themselves to view. Every period has had its favorite theory, which has exerted its influence upon the general medical mind. Almost every great name in medical history is associated with some celebrated hypothesis. And it would seem that sometimes the attention of the whole profession has been almost exclusively directed to the strife between the advocates of opposing theories. This overweening attachment to theories has been a very great obstacle to the advancement of medicine as a science. It has turned the medical mind away from the legitimate pathway of discovery, and the strict observation of facts has been neglected in the contemplation of mere fancies.

It is true of medicine, as it is of every other science, that every advance which has been made has been effected by observation, and by observation alone. It is the good observer, and not the mere ingenious theorizer, who has made these advances. And if the theorizer has added anything to the store of knowledge, it is only when he has come down from his airy flight of fancy to the drudgery of humblecommon observation. He has for the time forgotten his favorite theory, and has subjected hypothesis to its proper subserviency to observation, in suggesting the points to which that observation may be directed. It is in this way, and in this alone, that many of the authors of theories, escaping occasionally from the domination of a theorizing spirit, have added rich treasures to the storehouse of medical science. Even before the discovery of the circulation of the blood, though medical theories necessarily contained many absurdities, yet many of their advocates were acute and accurate observers; and their facts are valuable, though the theories, which they framed to account for these facts, may appear to us even ridiculous. They collected a great amount of good materials; but instead of erecting with them a structure full of beauty and symmetry, capable of resisting the commotions of ages, they reared a motley pile which easily tumbled into ruins. They were men of the most persevering industry. They seemed to forget entirely that “of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” Quartos and folios were produced in abundance, full of mixtures of wisdom and folly, as incongruous as were some of the old prescriptions with their hundred or more ingredients. And as some of the articles, which composed these hundred-headed enemies of disease, are now among our most valuable remedies, so there are portions of those strange compounds of fact and speculation, which will always stand as monuments of genius and industry. They are among the principles which form the basis of medicine. The student, as he now reads the older works in medical science, regards but as matters of curiosity the theories of lentor and viscosity, acrimony, &c.; and picks out from the mass of rubbish the pearls and precious stones, which are almost concealed beneath it.

The reader cannot fail to have seen, in the course of my remarks, what I deem to be the province of theory, or hypothesis. It is simply suggestive. This is its true vocation. Itestablishesno fact, and no principle. It should be the mere handmaid of observation, and should be kept in perfect subjection to her control. It never should be a rival, much less should it have supremacy, as it has too often done, in the domains of science.

Thus restricted to its proper sphere, theory is of essential service in extending the boundaries of science. It often suggests the line of discovery. It constantly reaches beyond present knowledge. We theorize, that is, we suppose; then by observation we discover. If we find our hypothesis or supposition to be correct, we discover a positive fact. If we find it not to be, we discover a negative fact, and not valueless because negative—some of our negative facts are worth quite as much as positive ones.

The abuse of theory consists in the obliteration of the distinction between what is known, and what is merely supposed. So long as this distinction is carefully preserved, no harm is done by theory. No man was ever more thorough, in maintaining this line of separation between the known and the supposed, than was Newton. “I shall not mingle conjectures with certainties,” a passage in a letter announcing his great discovery of the compound nature of light, is a maxim which always governed him, and should govern every searcher after truth in every branch of science.

This maxim has evidently been little regarded by the great majority of theorizers in medicine. They have exalted mere conjectures into the same rank with facts; and so far as they have done this, just so far have they exerted an influence to retard the progress of medicalscience. If all the energy and talent, which have been expended upon theories, could have been directed to the observation of facts, what a mass of rubbish, which now encumbers the science of medicine, would have remained uncollected, and what an amount of pure unadulterated facts, which as yet are undiscovered, would have been garnered into the storehouse of knowledge!

As observation then is the only source of improvement in medical science, it is important to inquire what influences are adverse toskillin the observer. The influence of an overweening fondness for theory has already been sufficiently pointed out. I will pass therefore to the consideration of some other circumstances which tend to impair skill in observation.

Every physician can add much to his stock of knowledge by a proper review of cases which have come under his care. But a faulty mode of doing this will lead him into error. For example, one physician is so exceedingly fearful that in those cases, in which death has occurred, something which he did or left undone was the cause of the fatal event that he sees nothing clearly, and arrives at no definite and available conclusions; and he ends every review with nothing but unavailing regrets. Another, on the contrary, is too self-confident, scarcely harboring the idea that he could have ever committed any error. This notion of infallibility, though not distinctly avowed, is indulged to a greater or less extent by many physicians. If they do not think that theynevererr, they at least think that it is very uncommon for them to do so. To such the past is worth nothing as corrective. They add from it nothing to their stock of ascertained facts, though they may add to their medley of true and false inferences. Both of these extremes should be avoided. The physician, in reviewinghis cases, should not fear to find errors; for if he investigated them properly at the time with the best lights which he could command, and acted in good faith, he is not to be blamed if he did err. But, on the other hand, he should not pronounce any measure which he has adopted to be an error without substantial evidence.

The disposition to form conclusions from a limited number of facts is a fertile source of error in medical observation. This has already been alluded to in previous chapters.

This disposition is very common among young physicians. A small number of cases is often sufficient to lead them to adopt conclusions, which a larger number of cases would show to be false. The fact that their experience has been limited should teach them to be cautious in their inferences; but very often this caution is never learned, till a larger experience has revealed to them their errors. The disposition under consideration is often increased, and sometimes rendered inveterate, by the practice, so common especially among young aspirants for medical fame, of speaking quite freely in non-professional circles of the results of their experience. This practice is not only disgusting, but it contributes essentially to the establishment of a habit of loose observation and reasoning.

But the disposition to adopt conclusions from a limited observation is by no means confined to young practitioners. It is a very common error in the profession at large; and the annals of medical experience are loaded down with errors, which come from this source. A few illustrations will suffice.

A few years ago a pamphlet appeared from the pen of Dr. Sewall of Washington, on the pathology of drunkenness, with plates exhibiting the state of the drunkard’sstomach in different stages of disease. Among others is a plate representing the appearance of the stomach of a man who died of delirium tremens; and Dr. Sewall says, that it is a true representation of the state of the stomach in all these who die of this malady. This sweeping assertion is based upon nothing but his personal observation, which, it seems from his own account, was very limited. He speaks of having hadseveralopportunities of inspecting the stomach after death in such cases, and says that the appearances on dissection have been extremely uniform. How many he meant by the word ‘several’ I know not; but one thing is certain—that nothing short ofmanyobservations could establish the fact, that the plate in question exhibits the true state of the stomach inallcases of death by delirium tremens.

Now what is the truth on this point? This question is not to be answered by what anyoneman has found in ‘several,’ or even in many cases. It can be properly answered, only by taking the observations of many different physicians, who have had extensive opportunities of making examinations after death in this disease. The uniformity of appearances, spoken of by Dr. Sewall, we find, has not been observed by others; but the stomach has been found in various states in the different cases.

Dr. Sewall infers from the appearances in his cases, that the opinion advocated by some, that delirium tremens has its seat in the stomach is correct. Even if such appearances were competent proof in regard to this point, which is by no means true, it would require a larger number of cases than can properly be included under the term ‘several,’ to establish the correctness of such a conclusion. It is worthy of remark here, that others, taking, like Dr. Sewall, the partial view of facts presented by a limitedexperience, but having their attention directed to another quarter, have located this disease in some other organ. Thus some have supposed its seat to be in the brain, and have based this opinion, as Dr. Sewall did his, upon what they found in examinations after death. The truth is that all the phenomena of this disease show, that is a peculiar affection of the nervous system, and not a local disease of any one organ. Now in the general disordered condition of the drunkard’s organs, this affection is of course liable to be complicated with various local diseases. And delirium tremens of itself alone is not apt to end fatally; but when death occurs, it is ordinarily the result of some local complaint united with this disease. Wherever this complaint happens to be,—in the stomach, or the liver, or the brain, or some other organ,—therewill be found on examination after death the greatest amount of disease. And a partial view of facts has often led physicians to mistake these local complications of delirium tremens for the disease itself.

Another error, of a more directly practical character, which existed for a long time in relation to this same disease, will serve as another illustration of the influence of a partial view of facts, in leading to wrong conclusions. Dr. Sutton, one of the early authors on delirium tremens, asserted as the result of his observation, that the patient must sleep or die, and that opium inlargedoses was the proper remedy to produce the sleep. This opinion was for a long time almost universally adopted, and practised upon. But the compared experience ofmanyobservers has demonstrated this practice to be erroneous, and it is now very commonly given up by the profession.

In examining disease, whether in a single case, or in groups of cases, it is essential to the formation of correctconclusions, thatallthe symptoms be observed, and that their relative importance be duly estimated. Much error has arisen from a disregard of this plain truth. Take for example the observations of different individuals in regard to fever. Boerhaave, looking mainly at one class of symptoms, taught that fever was caused by a bad state of the blood; Cullen looking at another class of symptoms, considered fever to be an affection of the nervous system; Clutterbuck, fixing his eye upon another class of facts, was very sure that the cause of fever is always to be found in the brain; Broussais, directing his attention to the symptoms developed in another quarter of the system, asserted, that all fever arises from an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and of the upper portion of the intestines; Dr. Cooke of this country, narrowing his vision down to a certain set of symptoms, proclaimed that the primary cause of fever is a weakened action of the heart, producing an accumulation of blood in the venous system; and Samuel Thompson, following in his rude way the example of all previous theorizers on this subject, in taking into view but a part of the facts in the case, declared that fever is a battle between the cold and the heat, and that, if the cold conquer, the patient dies, and if the heat gain the victory, the patient lives.[29]

It is thus that a disposition to form conclusions from a limited experience, and to take partial views of facts, leads to errors of opinion, and consequently errors of practice.I might multiply illustrations on this point, but it is not necessary.

Allied to the influence just mentioned is another, to which I will give a passing notice. I refer to the hobby-riding which is so common in the medical profession. Every good thing seems to be destined to this use till it loses its novelty; and therefore its real value can never be accurately ascertained, till it has passed what may be called thehobby-periodof its existence. No careful discriminations are made to any extent until this period is finished. Even the experience, which is recorded in journals of medicine during its continuance, needs to be thoroughly sifted by after observation. The influence of this hobby-riding is therefore a great hindrance to the progress of medical science. And this influence is not confined to the particular subjects to which it is applied. It does not merely throw obstacles in the way oftheirinvestigation. It is not thus limited and evanescent, for it is counter to the truespirit of observation, and impairs its hold upon the profession as a whole.

The riding of hobbies is very much regulated by fashion. For there is a fashion in medicine as well as in everything else; and it not only bears rule in the community at large, but it exercises no inconsiderable authority in the medical profession itself. Some particular diseases and modes of treatment, are ever, sometimes one, and sometimes another, uppermost in the popular mind.

When anything new comes up in regard to disease or its treatment, which attracts considerable attention, there is a strong temptation to make a hobby of it. Multitudes suppose that they have the disease, and need the treatment. This may be really true of but few of them, but such is their belief. There is no time for accurate discrimination if the object be to make fame and money. If a physicianhonestly undertakes to decide what cases need the treatment, and what do not, he will not be as successful in gaining eclat, and in getting the people’s money, as his neighbor will be, who catches the popular breeze with all his sails, knowing that it is not wont to blow in one direction for any length of time.

A few years ago dyspepsia was very fashionable; but now it is so old-fashioned, that we hear but little about it, and no hobby-rider thinks at the present day of setting up any pretensions to great skill in the treatment of this complaint. Diseases of the throat have taken its place in the public mind, and multitudes are running to those, who are reputed to have peculiar skill in clipping off tonsils and palates, and swabbing out windpipes. The new treatment, as it is called, is good practice in some cases; but the almost indiscriminate application which some hobby-doctors make of it is ridiculous and contemptible. The confirmed consumptive, who has his palate clipped, or his throat or windpipe swabbed, and because he fancies that he feels better, revives for a time the delusive hope of recovery, and cheerfully pays the doctor his fee, has a most unjustifiable cheat practised upon him. And such fees! From five to twenty dollars, according to the circumstances of the patient, is asked by some of these doctors for clipping the palate, one of the most trifling operations in surgery.[30]

When this fashion shall have passed by, as pass it will, like all other fashions before it, and this hobby shall have ceased to be ridden, how little will be the actual knowledge of diseases of the throat and windpipe, which will be foundto be added to the stock of information in the possession of the profession by those, who have now the reputation in the community of being very skilful in the treatment of these complaints! Some, who have had less eclat, and have therefore reaped less pecuniary benefit, will have made the proper discriminations; and to them will the profession be indebted for all that has been really discovered in relation to the nature and treatment of these diseases.

A habit of making loose and exaggerated statements has become so common in the medical profession, that it is really no small obstacle in the way of the accumulation of accurate observations in medicine. The credulity of the public tempts to an indulgence in such statements, in the common intercourse of physicians with those who are around them, and to whom they relate their cases, and state the results of their experience. If they yield to the temptation, the habit grows, and it inevitably begets and fosters another habit—that of loose observation. The statements of such physicians are not to be relied upon, even when they appear on the pages of some medical journal. Much of the recorded experience of the profession is undoubtedly from this cause worse than valueless.

I mention as another very common cause of inaccurate observation in medicine, an easy credulity, and a consequent fondness for novelty and change. It is a very prevalent opinion that the medical profession is opposed, as a general thing, to anything which is new, and that it really thus stands in the way of the march of improvement. This may have been true once, when the authority of antiquity held an almost undisputed supremacy over all the votaries of learning and science. But it is far from being true now. One of the prominent faults of the medical profession in the nineteenth century is, on the other hand, that it is as abody too fond of new things, and too much disposed to receive them upon doubtful evidence. There is a great disposition to hail every new remedy with enthusiasm. The annals of medicine are therefore burdened with false statements in regard to the effects of remedies. Though the public think that there have been of late many discoveries of new medicines of great value, there really have been but few. There have been many improvements in theformsof medicines. I mention as examples, quinine and morphine, the active principles of bark and opium. But there have been but few absolutely new medicines introduced which are of any importance. Many have been announced with much flourish, and have been extensively used for a time, but the confidence which has been put in them has in most cases been found to be misplaced. And it may be remarked, that physicians, who try all the new remedies recommended from time to time in medical journals, do not add so much to their stock of available experience, as those do who are more cautious, and less ready to adopt everything which is new.

The science of medicine, in all its departments, is in a very changeable state. The discoveries, which are made from time to time in anatomy, physiology, and pathology, the theories which are put forth, and the new remedies, and modes of treatment which are continually proposed, keep up a constant excitement in the profession. In this unsettled state of things, with so many novelties to attract the attention, the temptation is so strong to act as a mere gazer, and, setting aside the labor of investigation, to adopt what is asserted upon deficient evidence, that there is the more need of maintaining that cautious observation, which is the only preventive of error.

I cannot forbear to notice here one circumstance, whichexerts a great influence in favoring the unsettled state of medicine, and consequently in encouraging the fondness for new things. I refer to the fact, that there are no authorities, properly so called in medicine. The theologian has his standard authors, who are a kind of authority to which he appeals, and above all, he has the Bible as an unerring standard, and every opinion which is advanced he can bring to this test. The lawyer also has his standard works, in which are embodied the principles of law, and they are settled authorities to which he can appeal. In medicine, on the other hand, though there are works which contain the principles of the science, they have none of that fixed and undisputed authority, which standard works on other subjects are apt to have. There is therefore a contempt of authority in matters of opinion in medicine tolerated by the community, and even by the profession, which is not tolerated in regard to any other subject. While the lawyer appeals to ‘the law,’ and the divine to ‘the law and the testimony,’ the doctor often assumes the right of disputing all authorities from Hippocrates down to the present time. If a lawyer should, with bold and thoughtless assurance, call in question a decision of Chief Justice Marshall, he would be treated with contempt by both the bar and the community. But the most ignorant pretender in medicine may even gain credit, and what is of more importance to him, money too, by setting up a bold front against the whole faculty, and declaring, as Hahneman and Thompson each has done, that the medical world was in total darkness till he arose to enlighten it. So in theology, such gross delusions as Mormonism and Millerism are looked upon with mingled pity and contempt by the public, and yet that same public will patronize delusions in medicine which are not a whit less fanciful and ridiculous.[31]

One more cause of inaccurate observation remains to be noticed. It is one, however, which, at the present time at least, is so uncommon, that it cannot have any extensive influence. I refer to scepticism. When it does exist, it not only narrows the limits of knowledge, but actually leads to positive error. The sceptic, in his demand for stern, fixed facts, rejects some facts, which are established by evidence that is sufficient to satisfy any mind possessed of candor and common sense; and the rejection of a well-proved fact, being itself an error, must necessarily lead to other errors. The sceptic too, with all his doubting, is always, to some extent, and on some points, a credulous man. As he doubts on some points against clear evidence, so he will assuredly believe on others against evidence just as clear. His beliefs are no more worthy of confidence than his doubts. The sceptic is therefore disqualified by his scepticism for accurate observation. This is especially true in the practice of medicine, because, as you have seen, there is so much uncertainty in it, and the physician is obliged to base so much of his treatment upon probabilities. Some one has said, that the best guesser is the best practitioner. There is some truth in this remark, though it is of course by no means strictly true. It is well for the physician to guess when facts are wanting, but he must be careful not to esteem his guesses to be facts, as is too often done.

In medicine, as well as in every other science, but little mental effort is required to frame theories. All the hard workwhich is done—the work by which all knowledge is accumulated—is the work ofobservation. It therefore needs a higher order of mind to ascertain facts and their relationships, than it does to theorize. “Any man,” says Pott, an eminent English surgeon, “may give an opinion, but it is not every mind that is qualified to collect and arrange important facts.”

It is important that the physician should have at the outset good habits of observation. If he does, every day’s experience will add to his store of facts, and at the same time relieve it from some of the chaff of error which has been brought in unawares.He will be all the time becoming a better practitioner.But, on the other hand, if he start with a loose habit of observation, experience will be to him a source of error. He will have noclean storeof facts, but he will garner in a strange mixture of facts, and suppositions, and errors; and every day’s experience will add to the difficulty of separating the good grain from the mass of refuse, with which it is mingled.He will be all the time becoming a poorer practitioner.

The idea then that experience willat any rateconfer knowledge is a false idea. It is not true, that the old physician,as a matter of course, knows more than he did when he was young. If he has observed well, he does know more; but if he has not observed well, he not only does not know more, but he knows less. In the latter case, he may indeed have more ideas and opinions than he had when he began his practice, but he does not know as many real ascertained facts, and those which he does know are so encumbered with the long accumulating rubbish of error, that they are of little use to him.

It is easier to adopt a theory with a corresponding system of remedial means, or even to originate one, than itis to encounter the labor of strict daily observation at the bedside of the sick. Many physicians pursue the former course, and go through with a routine of practice from year to year. If they have some tact in managing the capricious credulity of the public, they succeed in attaining the object at which they aim. These followers of asystemare generally considered by the community as very rational and scientific men. Some of them, though they live on the opinions advanced, and the facts discovered by others, contrive to get up quite a reputation for originality, by making so much account of these opinions and facts, that the public awards to them, in part at least, the credit of their discovery. It gives them a sort of eclat to stand out from their medical brethren, as the advocates of some peculiarity of doctrine or practice.

The medical profession has had too much to do with theories, and modes, and systems. Every prominent theory can be shown to be unsubstantiated by facts, and is therefore valueless. Every mode, or system of practice, however numerous are the facts which are adduced for its support, can be shown to exclude many facts of a valuable character; and being thus exclusive, it must lead to practical error.All these systems therefore should be discarded.A true eclecticism should be introduced into medicine, and it should have relation not to opinions and theories, but to facts only. Whenever a fact is really ascertained, it should be treasured up in the storehouse, ready for practical use. If it be apparently inconsistent with other facts, this is no reason for rejecting it. If it be really proved, it should be received, and its consistency with other facts may afterward be discovered. Indeed, quite a large proportion of the facts practically applied in medicine, areindependentfacts, neither explained themselves, nor capable as yet ofbeing used in the explanation of other facts. I have alluded to this point before. A single example here will suffice. No fact in medicine is better established than that arsenic in almost all cases cures hemicrania, or periodical neuralgia on one side of the head. How or why it does this no one knows. The bare fact is known.

In this connexion I will make a remark or two upon a subject which is often the topic of conversation in common as well as professional circles, viz., the modus operandi of medicines, or the mode by which they cure disease. It is a common, but a very erroneous idea, that this subject is easily understood, and much reproach is cast upon physicians for their differences of opinion in relation to it. The modus operandi of many remedies is, as I have already said, wholly unknown, and the knowledge which we have of it in any case is more or less imperfect. And after all, though it may gratify curiosity to knowhowa medicine cures disease, it is comparatively a matter of little importance. The fact that it does so is the material fact. The knowledge, which it is practically important to obtain in relation to any remedy, is a knowledge of its effects, and of the circumstances which modify them. And physicians, however much they may speculate about the modus operandi of medicines, commonly view this subject in this practical light at the bedside of the sick. The question whether opium is essentially a sedative or a stimulant is forgotten, when a patient suffering the tortures of spasmodic colic is to be relieved. The material fact is, that it can relieve the pain—howit will do it is not just then a subject of consideration.

A reform is now in progress in the medical profession. The struggle to break loose from theory is fairly begun. A deep consciousness, that the science of medicine is cumberedby a mass of rubbish, has awakened a disposition to a more careful and rigid observation. TheMateria Medicaof the profession is especially burdened in this way. The virtues which are attributed to a large portion of the remedies in use require to be tested in order to strip the statements which are made in regard to them of all that is inaccurate and false. Much of the positive medication of the present day will probably be proved by the tests of a rigid observation to beaimless, but by no means harmless. The over-dosing, which has been so much in vogue both with the community and the profession, is already fast losing its popularity. Heretofore the great object of the physician has been to dopositive goodto the patient—to overcome disease by a well-directed onset ofheroicremedies—and it has been a secondary object altogether to guard against doing him harm. But medical practice is becoming reversed in this respect. It may at the present time be said of quite a large proportion of the profession, that it is the principal object of the physician to avoid doing harm to the patient, and to prevent harm from being done to him by himself and by his friends: and then, after looking well to this object, he is ready to do whatever positive good he sees can be done in the case. Accordingly, cautionary and quieting measures, intended to remove the obstacles which may hinder the operation of the curative power of nature, are getting to predominate in medical treatment over the more active and direct measures for overcoming disease. ‘The golden axiom of Chomel, that it is only thesecondlaw of therapeuticsto do good, itsfirstlaw being this—not to do harm—is gradually finding its way into the medical mind, preventing an incalculable amount of positive ill.’ So remarks Dr. Bartlett in a work,[32]which I deem to beone of the best and most effectual efforts, which have been made in promoting the revolution, which is now taking place in the practice of medicine. It is a work which, if I mistake not, is to exert a thorough and extensive influence upon the interests of medical science.

I cannot conclude this chapter without paying a passing tribute to the memory of one, my preceptor and friend, who stood among the foremost in the work of reform now going on in the medical profession. I refer to the late Dr. Hale,[33]of Boston. He was eminently a man of accurate observation. His enquiry always was after thefacts. He askednot what a mansupposed, but what he hadobserved—not what hethought, but what he hadfound to be true. His valuable contributions to the recorded experience, and the literature of the profession, bear him witness on this point. His labors, so deservedly prized by his brethren, are ended, but we have reason to rejoice, that he has left behind him so many of a like spirit, who are endeavoring to redeem our science from the dominion of fanciful theory and loose reasoning, and to place it under the control of a true and rigidOBSERVATION.

FOOTNOTES:[29]Hunter in one of his lectures thus speaks playfully, but most truthfully of the varioustheoriesof digestion, which have arisen from exclusive views of different sets of facts. “Some physiologists will have it that the stomach is a mill;—others, that it is a fermenting vat;—others again, that it is a stew-pan; but in my view of the matter, it is neither a mill, a fermenting vat, nor a stew-pan—but aStomach, gentleman, astomach.”[30]If this be a suitable charge for this operation, it would be proper to ask at least an hundred dollars for extracting a tooth, if the prices of operations are to be regulated by their magnitude, or by the amount of skill required in performing them.[31]‘Have you ever looked into Homœopathy,—have you ever read Hahneman’s Organon?’ said an eminent divine to an equally eminent physician. ‘No,’ replied the physician, ‘and let me ask you, in return, if you have read the Mormon Bible?’ The clergyman of course answered in the negative, and his medical friend said to him very properly, ‘when you take the trouble to examine Joe Smith’s Bible, I will take the trouble to examine Hahneman’s Organon.’[32]An Essay on the Philosophy of Medical Science.[33]The reader will permit the author to gratify his own feelings of regard for Dr. Hale as aman, as well as a physician, by inserting here the following extract from the memoir of him, from the pen of Dr. Channing. “Dr. Hale was an honest man. He was honest in sentiment and in purpose. He had little or no tolerance for what he thought unfair; and any believed misuse or abuse of trusts he resolutely opposed, however active or however strong was the agency by which the wrong was attempted to be consummated. These were not the elements of popularity. You could hardly make a very popular man out of such. But for the honor and exceeding praise of humanity, there are men who have found something better worth living for than the present fame—men who are happy and satisfied to do that which may live after them, and the memory and the use of which can only be for good. Dr. Hale enjoyed life—the best thank-offering for living. He was social and hospitable, for he would contribute to the pleasure of others, as well as his own. He was always cheerful, because he was truly hopeful. He looked on the bright side of disease in himself and in others; and if he labored so well for their recovery, he never questioned his own.Dr. Hale was a religious man. In the development of the religious sentiment was his power. It was kept active by habitual, daily devotion. It influenced his whole life, making him an earnest student and a faithful practitioner—giving him strong interest in all wise effort to extend Christianity in distant lands, and by his example recommending to others the religious life. In his religion was his benevolence, which with very narrow fortune led him to attempt and to accomplish most important objects. In this was his cheerfulness in suffering and all trial; and out of his religion came the peace and the hope of his death hour.”

[29]Hunter in one of his lectures thus speaks playfully, but most truthfully of the varioustheoriesof digestion, which have arisen from exclusive views of different sets of facts. “Some physiologists will have it that the stomach is a mill;—others, that it is a fermenting vat;—others again, that it is a stew-pan; but in my view of the matter, it is neither a mill, a fermenting vat, nor a stew-pan—but aStomach, gentleman, astomach.”

[30]If this be a suitable charge for this operation, it would be proper to ask at least an hundred dollars for extracting a tooth, if the prices of operations are to be regulated by their magnitude, or by the amount of skill required in performing them.

[31]‘Have you ever looked into Homœopathy,—have you ever read Hahneman’s Organon?’ said an eminent divine to an equally eminent physician. ‘No,’ replied the physician, ‘and let me ask you, in return, if you have read the Mormon Bible?’ The clergyman of course answered in the negative, and his medical friend said to him very properly, ‘when you take the trouble to examine Joe Smith’s Bible, I will take the trouble to examine Hahneman’s Organon.’

[32]An Essay on the Philosophy of Medical Science.

[33]The reader will permit the author to gratify his own feelings of regard for Dr. Hale as aman, as well as a physician, by inserting here the following extract from the memoir of him, from the pen of Dr. Channing. “Dr. Hale was an honest man. He was honest in sentiment and in purpose. He had little or no tolerance for what he thought unfair; and any believed misuse or abuse of trusts he resolutely opposed, however active or however strong was the agency by which the wrong was attempted to be consummated. These were not the elements of popularity. You could hardly make a very popular man out of such. But for the honor and exceeding praise of humanity, there are men who have found something better worth living for than the present fame—men who are happy and satisfied to do that which may live after them, and the memory and the use of which can only be for good. Dr. Hale enjoyed life—the best thank-offering for living. He was social and hospitable, for he would contribute to the pleasure of others, as well as his own. He was always cheerful, because he was truly hopeful. He looked on the bright side of disease in himself and in others; and if he labored so well for their recovery, he never questioned his own.Dr. Hale was a religious man. In the development of the religious sentiment was his power. It was kept active by habitual, daily devotion. It influenced his whole life, making him an earnest student and a faithful practitioner—giving him strong interest in all wise effort to extend Christianity in distant lands, and by his example recommending to others the religious life. In his religion was his benevolence, which with very narrow fortune led him to attempt and to accomplish most important objects. In this was his cheerfulness in suffering and all trial; and out of his religion came the peace and the hope of his death hour.”

Dr. Hale was a religious man. In the development of the religious sentiment was his power. It was kept active by habitual, daily devotion. It influenced his whole life, making him an earnest student and a faithful practitioner—giving him strong interest in all wise effort to extend Christianity in distant lands, and by his example recommending to others the religious life. In his religion was his benevolence, which with very narrow fortune led him to attempt and to accomplish most important objects. In this was his cheerfulness in suffering and all trial; and out of his religion came the peace and the hope of his death hour.”

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