Laennec, his life, labours, and influence in medicine : being the address in medicine delivered at the annual meeting of the British Medical Association in Cork, August, 1879 / by Alfred Hudson.

  • Hudson, Alfred, 1808-1880.
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Laennec, his life, labours, and influence in medicine : being the address in medicine delivered at the annual meeting of the British Medical Association in Cork, August, 1879 / by Alfred Hudson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    I have quoted this passage at length, as showing the strictly inductive character of the process of this discovery. First the observed fact, followed immediately by the anticipation based on pre- vious knowledge of the pathological conditions of other diseases; then the repeated experimental trials, and the confirmation of the anticipation by repeated post mortem examinations. The narrative illustrates several important prin- ciples common to the histories of scientific dis- covery. First it was apparently, but only apparently, accidental. “ Men,” says Whewell, “ are fond of repeating that such discoveries are most com- monly the result of accident; and we have seen reason to regret this opinion, since that prepara- tion of thought by which the accident produces the discovery is the most important of the con- ditions on which the successful result depends.”10 Then, it conformed to the usual conditions, viz., distinct general notions, careful observation of many facts, and the mental act of bringing to- gether these elements of truth. Regarded as an epoch in scientific discovery, this, like other inductive epochs, had a prelude in the preceding period, which led immediately up to it, and to which I have already referred. It has also had a sequel of verification and correc- 10 History of Inductive Sciences.