An introductory lecture delivered in the hall of the medical department of the St. Louis University, November 4th, 1845 / by M.L. Linton.
- Linton, M. L. (Moses L.), 1808-1872.
- Date:
- 1845
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: An introductory lecture delivered in the hall of the medical department of the St. Louis University, November 4th, 1845 / by M.L. Linton. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![[10] of Nature— Go to, put money in thy purse! Of course, it is under- stood that it is to he done honestly! ; _ It is on the ground of its utility then, that I would insist on the es- talishment of a school of chemistry in St. Louis ; though I know that her citizens are not insensihle or unmindful of her reputation as a seat of learning. They would like to see her ranking with Edinburgh, Paris, and Giessen, in art and science. A little pecuniary encouragement would do a great deal to effect so desirable an object. We have spoken hitherto of matter in general. But our business is with that particular portion of matter and spirit called man. Chemistry teaches his composition and has gone very far in unravelling the mys- teries of his functions. It has explained the digestive process almost to perfection. It teaches how that highly compound fluid, the blood, is vivified in respiration, and carbonized in nourishing the tissues. It an- alyses the secretions, and points to the source of many diseases, and no physician will say that its study has not contributed to a better under- standing of the functions of the nervous system. I will not attempt to say how much of the philosophy of man it has explained, much less to say how much it has yet to explain. Until it advances further, phys- iology will constitute a branch of our profession separate from chemical science, but for that very reason, imperfectly understood. What is physiology 1 It is the science of organized or living beings. It teaches what are the functions of these beings, and so far as it can the modus in quo of their performance. It tells the of- fices of the parts and organs. It teaches that the bones are the frame work and support of the system ; that the muscles are defined to move the bones ; the nerves for putting the muscles in motion ; the brain for sensation, volition and thought, &c, &c. It tells what the organs do, without being able to tell how they do it. When will physiology be able to do this ? When chemistry shall have opened a few more of its yet unopened seals, and poured its blazing lights into these darkest and most inaccessible recesses of nature's labyrinth. Chemistry is the ora- cle that is to respond to the spirit of philosophy, in its demand lor a ra- tionale of these occult and wonderful processes. Those who are about to devote their attention to the study of physiology will see how much chemistry has done for it; that most of its explanations arc founded on principles which will be taught in the laboratory. If physiology is a sublime and interesting study when limited to the announcement of mere general I'aets it is tenfold more so with the ex- planations. Even in its Imperfect state physiology i» so important as to be indispensably necessary to the practitioner of medicine. In disease the functions are perverted. How could we estimate the perversion unless we previously knew well their healthy and natural action. How could we know that a clock was acting wrong unless we first knew how il. acted, when all was right. It is plain enough that it is necessary to be acquainted with the heal-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21137146_0012.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
