Report of the fourteenth anniversary meeting of the P.M.S.A. held at Norwich, Aug. 19 and 20, 1846. President John Green Crosse.

  • British Medical Association
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the fourteenth anniversary meeting of the P.M.S.A. held at Norwich, Aug. 19 and 20, 1846. President John Green Crosse. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1] the sarcasm of the greatest of English satirists, who has hinted that there are some to be found who attend— Not for the sickly patient's sake, Nor what to give—but what to take; To feel the pulses of their fees, More wise than fumbling arteries; Prolong the lamp of life in pain, And from the grave recover—gain ! Perhaps Plato had such in view, when he stated it to be a sign of a bad commonwealth, if physicians were very numerous; it would certainly be a bad commonwealth to the physician, unless diseases were numerous also. That our ancestors knew a great deal is un- questionable, even much that has been forgotten and passed away; but it was known to very few. The striking characteristic of the present day is, that what is worth knowing is known to a great many, and is accessible to the whole profession. It is on this' more extensive diffusion of knowledge, that we may justly claim superiority over our ancestors; the increased and yearly increasing proportion of well- educated members of our profession, and the diminished numbers of the grossly ignorant, are indications of our improved condition, quite as much as the advanced degree of our science. New and brilliant discoveries, often more imaginary than real, more vaunted than prized, are as the pinnacle or spire of a fine edifice, attracting much attention, whilst its basement and interior correspond to that wel'-diffused sound practical knowledge, which is of eveiy day's application, and can now be found in every part of our favoured counti). That the diffusion of such useful knowledge is pro- moted yearly by the meetings of this Association can scarcely be denied; let us endeavour that this, and every future occasion, shall be an improvement upon