Medicine and surgery one inductive science : being an attempt to improve its study and practice, on a plan in closer alliance with inductive philosophy, and offering, as first fruits, the law of inflammation : addressed particularly to the medical student and the profession, but easy and intelligible to the public also, the whole being the introduction and first part of a system of surgery / by George Macilwain.

  • Macilwain, George, 1797-1882.
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medicine and surgery one inductive science : being an attempt to improve its study and practice, on a plan in closer alliance with inductive philosophy, and offering, as first fruits, the law of inflammation : addressed particularly to the medical student and the profession, but easy and intelligible to the public also, the whole being the introduction and first part of a system of surgery / by George Macilwain. 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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    merous and dissimilar family ; whilst the very diversity of cha- racter which they present produce this remarkable result—that those characters which they have in common (in all matters the most essential to know) stand out in stronger relief from the very diversities by which they are in different examples accompanied. My first object has been to point out some of the causes which have impeded the progress of medical science, and to expose some of the more prevaiUng errors ; then to collect a certain number of facts, and to conduct the consideration of them more in the spirit of common sense or inductive philosophy ; and to offer, as the first fruits of this mode of study, what appears to me to be nothing less than the law of inflammation. I have here been, in one sense, breaking a new soil, and I am aware how poor the first harvest often is to those who do so : but the nature of the soil may be determined, its capabilities even as- certained ; although the more abundant produce may be reserved to future husbandmen, who, profiting aUke by the knowledge and mistakes of former cultivators, often discover improved modes of cul- ture, and derive more abundant crops with diminished labour. The task of improving any science is difficult; but I am strongly impressed with the idea that truth has no character more striking than its simplicity ; that the discovery of it requires not extra- ordinary talent, so much as a'plaiu, unfettered, and properly di- rected understanding ; and that, although the diffusion of truth varies in its progress, being always slow, yet in time it becomes es- tablished. Like hardy plants, it may thrive best in genial soils, but it will live in any. The motives with which I have put forth the work will ensure me from any severity of disappointment. The size of the edition, and the price of the work, are such as render any pecuniary object out of the question ; whilst, had reputation, in any sense of the word, been my leading object, I should have pursued it much more auspiciously by the pubHcation of various matters more in conformity with prevailing opinions, and (with the materials around me) requiring scarcely a tithe of the labour. T address myself chiefly to the medical student ; because it is to him that we must look for the advantages which any improved mode of study may be ultimately calculated to produce; in that, his faculties are less encumbered by preconceived errors—in the devotion of his time to the science—and in the longer period for observation which he will probably enjoy. I have thrown the