On the functions of a medical society / by James W. Allan.

  • Allan, James Watson, 1846-1925.
Date:
[1897]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the functions of a medical society / by James W. Allan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    training m medicine and surgery, and a subsequent prolonged experience of general 'practice, tlieir position is perfectly justifiable and legitimate. They have come to occupy their position by a process of exclusion. Beginning with a thorough practical study of the whole field of disease, they finally devote themselves to that class of disease in which they have acquired a special interest, and for the treatment of which they have developed a special aptitude. Such an one in a large centre occupies a well recognised position, and his services m difficult cases, especially those demanding operative dexterity or special instruments, are alike welcomed by the profession and the public. _ But when we see young members of the profession skip- ping the absolutely essential training of the general prac- titioner (which is regarded by them as a sort of drudgery), and immediately after graduation setting up as specialists in this, that, and t'other thing, it makes one smile—sadly. A man cannot know the diseases of the eye or diseases of the throat unless he has honestly studied, observed, and treated the whole register of the ills which flesh is heir to. Special organic diseases often have, generally have, their explanation in a constitutional affection. And so it comes about that the young graduate who forthwith sets up as a specialist may be less reliable, less helpful, than the old jog-trot family physician who knows by heart the whole gamut of human misery, and at once recognises the sign manual of disease. _ This tendency to belittle the general practitioner, to regard his work as drudgery which should be avoided by those who can afford to do so, is a mistake. Gentlemen, some of the brightest stars of our profession have been general practi- tioners, and most of those who subsequently attained to high eminence in special walks commenced their careers as general practitioners. And by such men many of the most brilliant advances of medicine have been made. I cannot resist the temptation of touching on another point connected with the tendency to differentiation of the branches of the service in our profession. The division into phj^sician and surgeon has many conveniertces, and, indeed, in a large city with a consultant class it is evidently a sort of necessity. But it is a great evil if physician and surgeon lose touch Math each other in their work. After all, both are the humble servants of Mother Nature, and she does not trouble herself to give sign or warning of the line of demarcation which separates their respective fields of action. It therefore follows that if these fellow-workers do not keep in touch, the patient suffers; and that is, of all things, the thing to be avoided.