Outlines of medical proof : revised and corrected, with remarks on its application to certain forms of irregular medicine / by Thomas Mayo.

  • Mayo, Thomas, 1790-1871.
Date:
1850
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Outlines of medical proof : revised and corrected, with remarks on its application to certain forms of irregular medicine / by Thomas Mayo. 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.

    18/88 (page 14)
    the “ cogitata et visa” of microscopical physiologists, either to themselves or others, unless they had gratuitously as- sumed a dynamical theory with respect to them. And it is to be observed that a plausible hypothesis thus originated may ultimately turn out the true one, as harmonising with all the phenomena; though it may rarely be susceptible of so di- rect a clinical application as t hat of hepatic venous, and portal congestion, brought out by the researches of Mr. Kiernan. Irrespectively of such good fortune, the tendency of theories such as we arc considering, to afford light and to open out prospects, is of immense value. They are “ luciferous,” if not immediately “ fructiferous.” The sense in which 1 have discussed inductive proof through experiment and observation, has been in substance that which Lord Bacon has laid down as characterising “ true induction.” 1 am unable entirely to subscribe to the depreciatory distinction which he makes between this and another process, having, as it appears to me, many claims to attention. On this process he makes the following remarks. “ Inductio, quse procedit per enumerationem simplicem, res puerilis est et precurib concludit, et periculo exponitur ab instantia contradictoria, et plerumque secundum paunora quam par est, et ex his tantuminodb quse prsesto sunt, pro- nunciat.” Now, I will venture to suggest, that if Lord Bacon’s far-darting eye had reached the present age he would have seen this “euumeratio simplex” applicable to the most important uses. He wisely, indeed, suggests the defect to which it is most obnoxious—that, namely, of insuf- ficient number of instances; but he would have recognised the fact, that where the enumeration is sufficiently extensive, the danger from a “contradictory instance” is averted or ceases. The existence, indeed, of contradictory instances is so far from endangering the argument, that it is implied in its construction, as must be observed in the calculations of our insurance offices. Now, from this source many valuable conclusions are obtained in the science of medicine; the