The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-05 00:00:00

.ROY.4L FREE HOSPITAL, GRAY S-INN

ROAD.

Mr. J. F. Gant, one of the surgeons and patho-
logical anatomist to this hospital, delivered the in-
troduction to his lectures " On the Application of
Pathological Anatomy to Surgical Diagnosis and
Operations," in the theatre of the hospital, yester-
day, to a numerous audience.

After a few preliminary remarks,
Mr. GANT proceeded to observe that the great
end or object of medicine is the cure of disease. To
accomplish this object it is necessary to acquire a
preliminary knowledge of many branches of
science ; but the medical importance of each
department of such knowledge should be esti-
mated by its more or less direct applicability to the
art of curing disease. Anatomy may invite by its
matchless demonstrations of constructive skill and
perfect mechanism—by the endless gradations of
structure which the animal kingdom presents, and
by the sublime laws of comparative anatomy. Can
these dry bones live ? Yes, and physiology may
captivate by the history of living beings—by the
history of ourselves before birth, through infancy,
childhood, adolescence, decripitude, and death.
The beauties of botany and the marvels of
chemistry may each engage our attention ;
and pathology, the science most akin to
therapeutics, may claim our special study ; but
we are not anatomists or physiologists, or botanists
or chemists ; no, nor pathologists alone. We are
somewhat of all these professions, and something
more—we seek to remove disease. We are physi-
cians and surgeons, or general practitioners, as the
case may be. This object obviously implies the
previous detection and discrimination of disease,
or the art of diagnosis, which thus lies at the
root of practical medicine. It has been said of the
practice of medicine without this perceptive power,
that nature is fighting with a disease. A blind
man armed with a club, that is the physician, comes
to settle the difference. He first tries to make peace.
When he cannot accomplish this, h 9 lifts his club and
strikes at random. If he strikes the disease, he
kills the disease. If he strikes nature, he kills na-
ture. The fundamental importance of a correct
diagnosis being settled, Mr. Gant proceeded to
compare the var'o-ts methods of detecting and dis-
ingumiling ditimes, and showed that the know-
ledge of pathological anatomy applied daring life
was the surest and safest guide to thig" end. This
position was illustrated more especially by a re-
view of certain diseases of the joints, and by a ge-
neral survey of medicine and surgery. This method
of applying pathological anatomy during life is a
new feature in the history of medicine. In con-
clusion, the lecturer dealt with much warmth and
energy on the intellectual and moral aspects of the
medical profession, and on its political, social, and
domestic relations. The health of nations (he said
is the chief source of national wealth. If the hand
be feeble, or the mind subdued by disease, we may
perchance hold our own, but can scarcely hope to
stand in the front rank of the great battle of life.
But for mental and physical vigour combined, the
very hospital in which we are assembled would long
since have been subverted, when its invincible
founder went forth with a trowel in one hand and
a spear in the other. And as with an indivi-
dual, so with a nation. The question of progress
is very much one of health, and the history of
nations is but a chapter in the physiology and
pathology of man. Need I say more for the poli-
tical influence of medicine ? And yet, so regardless
has the state hitherto been of her own interests,
that only within the last three days in the history
of England have we been recognised and protected.
I may take this opportunity of recording the fact
that much of the reform we now enjoy is due to
the untiring exertions of my colleague, Dr. O'Connor.
Meanwhile it has been our privilege to see and to
relieve more of the sufferings and sorrows
of the human race than fall to the lot of
any other order of men to witness or remove. In
almost the language of Seneca, we invite all, we
command all, we recognise neither wealth nor
patronage, but accept the man and the slave, the
cottager and his lord, the sovereign and the exile.
Let us hold fast to our distinctive privilege of detect-
ing and relieving disease. To this end the resources
of pathological anatomy will prove sure and faith-
ful guides. They will give you confidence, for they
will confirm your judgment, they will give you
composure and a steady hand ; they will make you
happy, for they will make you safe.
The lecturer was listened to with marked atten-
tion, and concluded kis discourse amidst rounds of
applause.