Glossology, or the additional means of diagnosis of disease to be derived from indications and appearances of the tongue : read before the Senior Physical Society of Guy's Hospital, 4th November, 1843 / by Benjamin Ridge.

  • Ridge, Benjamin.
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Glossology, or the additional means of diagnosis of disease to be derived from indications and appearances of the tongue : read before the Senior Physical Society of Guy's Hospital, 4th November, 1843 / by Benjamin Ridge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    responsibility then first falls upon them. In their hands the dearest and tenderest interests are placed. Are they to leave off study because they hold these diplomas for having studied ? This were unreasonable. Then the thought haunts them, on what foundation does the art of medicine rest, if it be not built on truths which cannot be overturned? Why do men differ in looking at the same fact; and see it in so many ways, yet all the wThile it is the same fact? If the foundation of the practice of medicine was laid on the knowledge of certain laws based on truth all would agree, but we find all are differing and dis- puting. I once made this remark to a keen Northern physician, whose answer was, u There was the advantage of calling in a second opinion; an admirable manner of settling a doubt truly, but expensive: for I presume the public do not think it always an advantage to have to pay two doctors instead of one. Knowledge is only to be found by diligently seeking after it. If we would find gold in the ore in its native mines and sands, we must dig for it, or wash the sands with which it is commingled. If we would fish up pearls from the bottom of the sea, we must dive for them. I trust that I have not been idle and undiligent in my vocation. I have sought for and found an immense array of facts ; but medical facts are, not unfrequently, sounphi- losophical, that they seem no facts at all. On what, then, are these effects or facts founded, if they cannot be referred to the causes which produced them ? I wandered through reams of paper recording effects, but nowhere could I