On the methods of acquiring knowledge : an introductory lecture to the course of institutes of medicine, for the session 1838-9 : delivered in the University of Pennsylvania, November 6, 1838 / by Samuel Jackson.

  • Jackson, Samuel, 1787-1872.
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the methods of acquiring knowledge : an introductory lecture to the course of institutes of medicine, for the session 1838-9 : delivered in the University of Pennsylvania, November 6, 1838 / by Samuel Jackson. 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.)

    17/34
    sured him he was mistaken; and enumerated six or seven pa- tients he had lost since the late epidemic had commenced. His surprise was great. The facts had completely escaped his memory. Deception was out of the question. This gentleman was well known for his rigid regard for truth, and to be inca- pablc of deliberate misrepresentation. Now, his supposed ex- perience, on which he relied, in this instance, with so vague a recollection of cases, was evidently fallacious. Yet the expe- rience of most persons, is of this indefinite character. Another instance of erroneous experience, founded on vague recollection, is furnished by Bouillaud. He asserts that the most frequent alteration of the heart is dilatation, with thinning of the walls of the ventricles. He repeats this assertion after Corvi- sart; and yet, when an examination was made of cases on re- cord, amounting to one hundred and twenty-five, Bouillaud's and others, but one was found of this character. Another illustration has lately been furnished, by the statisti- cal results of the mortality of amputations of the extremities. The general impression—that is, experience, on this subject- was, that the mortality was very inconsiderable. But it turns out, when tested by figures, that this operation is attended with the fearful mortality of from twenty-three to twenty-seven per cent. What becomes of the boasted certainty of surgery! Another erroneous impression, or false experience is corrected by these tables. The English surgeons were accustomed to boast how much more successful they were, in amputations, than the French surgeons; and in this country, it was the general opinion, that amputations were less frequently fatal, than in Europe. Now, if these tables are accurate, it appears, that the advantage in favour of the English operators, is little more than one per cent.; while from one to two per cent, is against the surgery of the United States. I may here remark, however, that amputations are less frequently resorted to in this country, than in Europe, and only in cases in which the opera- tion is absolutely indispensable. If the mortality of the opera- tion be greater, yet more limbs are saved in our hospitals, by the perseverance of our surgeons in the treatment of the patients. c