Presidential address at the Epidemiological Society, delivered on November 5th, 1879 / by Joseph Fayrer.

  • Joseph Fayrer
Date:
[1879]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Presidential address at the Epidemiological Society, delivered on November 5th, 1879 / by Joseph Fayrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Is just one of those subjects that should come within the seope of our inquiry. A remarkable instance occurred near London lately, where an epidemic of typhoid was traced to its origin along the track of a particular water-supply by a distinguished member of our Society. Our lamented colleague, Murchison, also traced a similar outbreak to contamination of milk by polluted water. The explanations of these outbreaks were exactly in accordance with these views, no doubt, rightly held in Europe. Typhoid in India, however, would not always be similarly explained. Questions of this nature are, I think, such as might be advantageously discussed here. I am aware that great differences of opinion exist among those whose views command the highest respect; now, to com- pare ideas, to discuss, and, it may be, to reconcile differences, to clear up doubts for ourselves and others, to confirm or refute, seems to me to be our legitimate work. Our views on a particular subject may be unsettled; they may be influenced by preconceived theory, and alto- gether far from confirmed. One can understand that a cautious and reflecting mind may desire more evidence before accepting either view presented as the correct one, or before admitting that it has been convinced. In regard to some questions of etiology such, I believe, is far from an uncommon frame of mind. The consideration of such vexed questions is most desirable. Let us hope that free expression of opinion, and temperate discussion of views, however opposite, will here be at- tended by good results. The late Mr. Bedford, whose comparatively early death was deplored by the Bengal Medical Service, of which he was a brilliant ornament, said in a letter to the President of the Society in the year 1850 : “ Epidemic diffusion is the most important medical question of the day, and can only be studied through systematic and parallel observations conducted by a number of intelligent men working under one head. India, from its cli- matic peculiarities and the nature of the service, offers, I hesitate not to affirm, the most magnificent field in the world for carrying out such a series of connected observations as may tend to elucidate the laws of the most terrible disease which flesh is heir to, and it will redound to her eternal honour to be in advance of such inquiries.” Whether these aspi- rations have in any way been fulfilled will appear from what I have to say; it will, I think, be seen that India has contributed in no small degree towards the attainment of the end so much desired; and that we owe much to the labours of those distinguished men whose writings, published in monographs, in reports, and official returns, afford ample proof how earnestly they have laboured to advance our knowledge of disease. The names of Jameson, Scott, Annesley, Twining, Martin, Mackinnon, More- head in earlier times ; of Goodeve, Chevers, Mouat, M‘Lean, Bedford, Ewart, Bryden, Murray (our late distinguished president), the Cunning- hams, Payne, Lewis, Macpherson, Cornish, Macnamara, Hewlatt, Town- send, Coates, Planck, and many others subsequently, to say nothing of the numerous valuable medico-topographical reports by the medical service generally, represent a literature of epidemiology that is unsurpassed in richness of its material, and affords evidence that the subject has received and is receiving elucidation that bids fair in time to throw such a flood of light on the natural history of epidemics as will reduce our knowledge to> a state of exactitude hitherto unknown. They have, it is true, taught us
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