Undercurrents of modern medicine : the annual discourse delivered before the Massachusetts Medical Society, June 9, 1886 / by Richard M. Hodges.

  • Hodges, Richard M. (Richard Manning), 1827-1896.
Date:
[1886]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Undercurrents of modern medicine : the annual discourse delivered before the Massachusetts Medical Society, June 9, 1886 / by Richard M. Hodges. 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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    UNDERCURRENTS OF MODERN MEDICINE Til K ANN!'A I. IMSCOl'KSB DKUVKBk.D BKKOKK T11K M ASS ACtl rSKTTS HKiUCAL SOCIKTV. JINK 9, BV Bt< II*Kl? M. HOWIM, HA*,* Not longer ago than when this Society wu* founded, the element of mystery, ami the spirit of credulity, pervaded medical knowledge so intimately, that eacttpc from their sinister influences r eined almost hopeless. From that day to the present time, however, there has been a perpetual, and still tmcttwing effort, to enlighten ignorance, and to interpret obscurity. Science has sorely shaken the foundations of ntanv time-honored • » delusions. The complex causes and entangled results, which medicine attempts to regulate, have been so un- ravelled, analysed, and illumined, that we already look lack on an era of unexpected progress. Exact observation has taken the place of speculation and pseudo-philosophic discussion. Prediction* can be made, without the shadow of doubt, that definite con- seijtiences will follow a given lesion. There are mal- adies which can be prevented, or stamped out, as surely a* the waters of a stream can be dammed by the en- gineer. Apparent inconsistences. — such as the good health of persons who work in the midst of tilth and offensive effluvia, and the impunity with which diluted sewage may be drunk, — are accepted as illustrations of our ignorance, rather than of the variability of natural law*. Theories which art* only probable, and opinion* ' Tttf following prepwsd to be n-wd aloud, must not i*a»u«w :« |»rtiite,l form without an of the writor'ii tn-lrbtednen* a gmater nanber of artiola* lad iwlividuatft, than the ataeurw of quo. tation mark*, or r«*ferwu*ea, might Imply. An endeavor to ackm.w lod^r (hi* obit^atiou tew l«-en atU mpl-st In an \)>j»n<liv.