An examination of the evidence in regard to infinitesimal doses / by W.W. Rodman.

  • Rodman, William Woodbridge, 1817-1900.
Date:
1851
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An examination of the evidence in regard to infinitesimal doses / by W.W. Rodman. 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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    It is not without Analogy. The argument from analogy, appears to furnish the strongest objections which are urged against infinitesi- mal doses. The efficacy imputed to them is commonly thought to be utterly unlike all the ascertained proper- ties of material agents. Language is said to be inade- quate to express the absurdity of believing in this efficacy. The claim in their favor is thought to be a gratuitous outrage to human reason. It is important to determine wherein the force of this argument consists, and how much weight is due to it. That the efficacy imputed to these doses is extremely improbable previous to evidence in their favor, no one denies. But we daily see extreme improbabilities give way to evidence, and what was regarded as impossi- ble, is often found to be true and rational. The opposers of infinitesimal doses do not, I think, usually state clearly why these should be an exception, and the evidence in their favor should not even be examined. So far as I can see, the argument would be thus stated : It is highly improbable because unlike all the ascertained phenom- ena of nature, that power sufficient to affect the vital functions can exist in quantities of matter, which are infinitesimal in weight and bulk. This improbability is increased, if appreciable quantities of the substance do not produce such overwhelming results as would be expected if the minute amount has any effect. The im- probability becomes moral certainty, if large quantities do not usually manifest any effect on the vital functions, or if we are familiar with the common properties of the substance without finding any thing in them to indicate such powers. If this is not a fair statement of the grounds on which the conclusion is based, I think the ar- gument needs re-investigation.