The progress and the spirit of medical science : an anniversary discourse, delivered before the New York Academy of Medicine, November 25, 1858 / by E.R. Peaslee.

  • Peaslee, E. R. (Edmund Randolph), 1814-1878.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The progress and the spirit of medical science : an anniversary discourse, delivered before the New York Academy of Medicine, November 25, 1858 / by E.R. Peaslee. 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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    diseases as there are individuals—deduce the general conclusion that this class of people is liable to colic, typhus fever, or pleurisy. Evidently, if we are to deduce any general conclusion in regard to a particu- lar disease, the instances compared must all be in- stances of the disease in question. On the other hand, if we are to draw any general conclusion as to the effect of a particular calling or avocation, the instances adduced must all be examples of the same avocation. Still, no one but an adept in the particular depart- ment of science can judge accurately of the precise nature and comparability of the facts pertaining to it. A physiologist alone can rightly collate physio- logical facts, preparatory to making a logical deduc- tion therefrom ; and the chemist has the same exclu- sive judgment in regard to chemical facts. And neither can assume the place of the other without some risk to the science on which he trespasses, un- less he at the same time thoroughly understands the latter also. 3. But the probability of a conclusion obtained by the inductive method also depends much upon the number of similar facts adduced. In general, we may say the number must be sufficient to warrant the conclusion. We must have enough instances to serve as a sample. But different minds will require different numbers to satisfy them as a basis for de- duction ; and different departments of science are very diverse in this respect. In physics or natural philosophy, a single instance will sometimes (though rarely.) warrant a conclusion; in physiology and