What to observe in medicine, or the means of improving it, as a science and an art : with the duties of the medical profession to their patients, the public, and themselves : an introductory address to the Harveian Medical Society, delivered at the commencement of its twenty-second session, October 7, 1852 / by James Bird.

  • James Bird
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: What to observe in medicine, or the means of improving it, as a science and an art : with the duties of the medical profession to their patients, the public, and themselves : an introductory address to the Harveian Medical Society, delivered at the commencement of its twenty-second session, October 7, 1852 / by James Bird. 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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    reciprocal relations and connexions ; in short, clinical studies minutely carried out and systematically ar- ranged. The main objects of our investigations here should be, first, the study of particular facts, or of isolated diseases; and, second, the inquiry into general facts, to become the foundation of rational medicine as a science. A^^e shall thus be able to determine what is common and what is peculiar to diseases, and to remedies. With a view of improving medicine as a science, what is common in the greater number of diseases, and in the greater number of cases of the same disease, must be ascertained, so as to determine what that may be in which the community and similarity consist. The peculiarity of different diseases, and Avherein this peculiarity consists, should also be made tlie great object of scientific medical research; so that the enlightened physician and surgeon may be able to folloAV the indications of cure, based on a know- ledge of the peculiar element of difference in special diseases. Before Ave can arrive, hoAVCver, by the inductive method, at such a generalized knoAAdedge of diseases, and of the common elements of morbid changes in the living system, or of the conditions on Avhich such changes depend, Ave must clinically examine the particular facts, Avhich are the objects of observation, in connexion Avith the manifestation, origin, and pro- gress of special and isolated disease. Several proposed systems of ])hilosophical medicine have Aariously enumerated these facts; but, for all the purposes of obtaining a more correct clinical registry of the essential fealuies of disease in most cases, 1 am dis-