Pathological and practical researches on diseases of the brain and the spinal cord / by John Abercrombie.

Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pathological and practical researches on diseases of the brain and the spinal cord / by John Abercrombie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    In the I’evolutions of medical science there has been, for some years, a progressive and remarkahle change of opinion, in regard to tlie mode of con- ducting medical investigations. There appears to have been a tacit hut very general admission of the fallacy of medical hypotheses, and the precarious nature of general principles in medicine ; and there seems to be an increasing conviction of the indis- pensable necessity, of founding all our conclusions in medical science, upon an extensive and accurate acquaintance v\’ith the pathology of disease. The facts Avhich are required for this purpose can he derived only from the contributions ofpracticalmen; and it is of the utmost consccjuence that such per- sons should extensively record their observations, as these must form the only basis on -ndiich can he founded any legitimate principles in medical science. General principles in physical science are no- thing more than general facts, or facts •which are common to all the individuals of a particidar class ; and it is only when they are deduced from a correct examination of all these individuals, that tlioy can ]:>osscss either truth or utility. When they have been framed from a limited observation, they are, in general science, useless, and in medi- cine, dangerous; and in regard to medical science ■we may ])erha])s venture to assert, that the pur- ])oses of practical utility arc promoted in almost an equal degree, Avhen a principle -^vliich has been proposed is confirmed by the progress of obser- vation, and •when one Avhich has been received up- on inadequate grounds is sho-wn to be fallacious. Influenced by these considerations, the author of the following treatise has, from time to time, sub- PBtriCE' IBl prai MdandioreestcDdedfo' bsnojvstemtosqiport' Mil to prOpOJf. 111! I‘iy ■Ml'*;' tkelie trill hop ('t■■'l‘ll i^'** upon itWcli thy are fomidcil faci«,ttttai[ra(:t\ce of eons hotiAtmdeikkricr.aiiJli or merit, tlian to coiitrikte ojl^oiiraqiiaiDtaiico it tl ■00 clases ms fe,,; f i'et