A discourse addressed to the Kentucky State Medical Society at its annual meeting : held in Lebanon, April 18, 1859 / by Joshua B. Flint.

  • Flint, Joshua B. (Joshua Barker), 1801-1864.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A discourse addressed to the Kentucky State Medical Society at its annual meeting : held in Lebanon, April 18, 1859 / by Joshua B. Flint. 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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    [*] which sober experience-proves to be untenable, and, in dis- heartening retreat, lose spirit and courage, as well as the actual fruits we might have secured by more patient and conservative labor. The great problem at such times, should be the fusion or amalgamation of the two great elements of all existence, stability and progress — the great desideratum, fidelity to our inheritances from the past, and a cordial welcome to the invi- tations of the future. Let us apply these thoughts to the subject of professional reform and improvement, under the three-fold aspect of medi- cal doctrines, medical practice, and medical education. Admirably in point, as illustrative of our tendency to ultra- isms in doctrinal matters, is the late and present state of medi- cal thought in regard to the venerable controversy between solidism and humoralism. Fifty years ago, the professional mind seemed to be settled down into exclusive and absolute solidism. It had reached this position after a contest of centuries, and was in none too good humor with an adversary that had held out so long, and whose fascinations had been so hard to withstand. We not only disowned humoralism, but scouted and ridiculed it. The phi- losophical determinations of Bichat and Cullen, had found lively and effective co-operators in the pasquinades of Moliere and Peter Pindar. Presently, however, some of the interesting results of the application of chemistry to the organic fluids, tempted the pathologists of the day to employ them for the elucidation of essential fever. The results of this experiment were received with favor, and thus was re-introduced this discarded but seductive species of medical philosophy. How rapidly it has recovered its lost favoritism, I need not say, to hearers so familiar with current professional ideas as those I now address. Blood diseases, uremic affections, depraved and poisonous humors, and similar terms and expressions may be said to have become rather characteristic of modern nosological essays. As was to have been expected, along with the phrase- ology of the old fashioned humoralism, are returning the extravagances and absurdities of its practice. Already we have an author referring hysteria to uremic depravity, and we shall presently be for eliminating the peccant humors, in a 4