Address delivered in the Masonic hall at the commencement of the first course of lectures of the Medical Institute of the State of Georgia / by Paul F. Eve.

  • Eve, Paul F. (Paul Fitzsimmons), 1806-1877.
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Address delivered in the Masonic hall at the commencement of the first course of lectures of the Medical Institute of the State of Georgia / by Paul F. Eve. 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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    diseases to the organs affected, of localizing the most of them to the alimentary canal, of referring symptoms to their true causes, of overthrowing nosology, of destroying confi- fnirr.ee in the idea of specific remedies, of exhibiting in their true light, the pretended properties of medicaments, of simpli- fying, treatment, and of mincing the practice of medicine to a titftato and positive science, based upon a few general, fixed and variable principles which are daily and hourly confirmed by reason and experience. Jt is too common to*hear theory denounced in medicine and experience declared to be the only guide to successful prac- tice. This, says an eminent physician, appears to be one of those maxims, uttered by some authority Without reflec- tion, and repeated by hundreds without examination. \Vhat, continues he. is there in theory, that renders it peculiarly hazardous and to be distrusted ? To theorise is to think; to exercise the noblest of our faculties, reason and judgment in the investigation of knowledge, and the pursuit of truth- Theory is no more than the evident logical inference of the intellect, from an examination and comparison of facts offered by observation, experiment, and enlightened experience Experience may enable an individual to observe better, to think better, to theorise better ; it may impart a tact in the detec- tion, discrimination, and treatment of diseases, but which cannot be imparted to another. It dies wiih himself. Expe- rience partakes of the character of the individual, and. de- serves confidence only as he is intelligent, well informed, free from credulity and prejudices, with a well-balanced mind, capable of clear conceptions, logical arrangements, and unem- barrassed deductions, the fruits of an exercised judgment. Experience and theory, are by nature, intimately connected : Jet none put them asunder, A circumstance peculiar to the members of the medical pro- fession operating to their disadvantage, to which I would call your attention before concluding this address, is, that after having offered their services to a community, it would be ofli- eious, intrude and beneata the proper dignity of our honora- ble avocation, tor any physician to pi—ribc voluntarily c.r interfere with a case of sickness withou a special invitation The lawyer, however, can at any time advocate the cause of the innocent and the wronged ; his reward and his reputation depend upon his own talent and his own exertions The Divine has almost daily opportunities of exhibiting his r ,i and his devotion in the holiest of causes. But the nhvsiri calling is to the lonely bed-side of the sick and the distre The midnight hour witnesses his privations and his Hbr-••' He does not d.splay the strength of his mind or the power .d is eloquence by addressing assemblies ; the means the/nstr ments, even the language he employs, is unknown to fi around him; and if coupon *%&£ ^o^^X