Syllabus of the course of lectures on medical logic, delivered in the University of Aberdeen / by Francis Ogden.

  • Francis Ogston
Date:
1860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Syllabus of the course of lectures on medical logic, delivered in the University of Aberdeen / by Francis Ogden. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    or incomplete Sciences general!}^. While claiming to be a true, Medicine not entitled to be considered as a complete or perfect Science. LECTURE VI. - s'L DETAILED CONSIDERATION OF THE INDUCTIVE METHOD. V Ohservation.—Observation defined. Common and Scientific observation contrasted. Circumstances favourable or the reverse to the acquirement of skill in observation. Origi¬ nation of Medicine and other Sciences in observed facts. Subsequent undue neglect of these. Renewed attention to facts, in consequence of the writings of Bacon : followed by a reaction in the opposite direction. Alleged plethora of facts in certain departments of Medicine, and paucity of these in others. Extension of the field of Observation from the dis¬ covery and improvement of material aids to the senses. The acquisition of these not an unmixed gain in our own Science. Degree of perfection to which the Observing faculties may be brought by assiduous culture. Such culture the more demanded, the more the field of observation is ex¬ tended, and the more numerous and complicated the instru¬ ments which we call to our aid. Facts and phenomena as they usually present themselves to the observer : Apparent unity and simplicity, but virtual complexity and diversity of these ; calling thus for their decomposition or analysis, to render them available for the purposes of accurate Science. Obser¬ vation a mental act; and apt, in consequence, to be mixed up with other mental actions. Difficulty of keeping Percep¬ tion and Inference properly apart in this process. Admix¬ tures of fancy and feeling with our observation of facts and phenomena. Effects of prejudice and preconceived opinion in giving a colour to our observations. The Imaginative Faculty, in its proper place, and under due subordination, useful in Observation. Its absence occasionally as hurtful as its excesses. Extent to which the decomposition of facts usually requires to be carried in practice. Ultimate analyses not always called for. Process of decomposition as usually attempted.