New-York tribune., 1880-09-29
MEDICAL PROGRESS.
IrcTI-pE Ey pROTFssOP LOOMS

A LECTURE B1 INOfESSOR LOOMlS.
| THE IMPORTANCE OF CLINICAL sTUDY-wHAr HAS
PLACED MEDICINE on AHIGHrR FLAME OF DLyEL-
OpMEST.
The Introductory lecture of the Medical
Department University of the City OF Newl ork
delivered by Professor Alfred L. LoomiS. NJ D. last
Ing in the Lecture Room at No 40 East Twenysxh-
All OF the seats were occupied and some OF the
students compelled TO stand. The lecture was
preceded by the reading OF the 125h Psalm and by
short prayer 10y the Rev. Dr. Howard Crosby, Chancel
lor Of the University Among those present were Dr.
c. T. Pardee, d.. John C. Draper. DR.. William Darling,
Dr. william II. Thompson DR.. j. W 5. Arnold, Dr. j.
Wlston Wright. DR.. William NJ Polk Dr. f. d. Wcisse,
Dr. d. H. ST. John ROosa, DR.. Henry G. Pfdrd, Dr. A. L.
Macdonald DR.. James l.. Little, Dr.. Frederick r. Sur-
gs and DR. Joseph l.. Winter
Professor discussed the relation of clinicaI
study to medical progress. He stated that the old
and tree sred traditions II the past in medicine, in
other branches Of ply sca science were giving way
to the aud progressive ideas OF the present. The
progress which medicine has made during the present
century Is not confined TO single department. The
statistics different hospitals in Europe well
in this country show nat human life has been prolonged
more than % per during the past seventy years
and that Cf diseases has been shortened
than onetlrd. The causes which have led to this
are: FIRST discoveries wbich have given chemistry
q controlling influence over al medical theories. Sec
ond the RAPID progress that has been made in chemical
increased attention paid 10 microscopy, by which the
mode of development OF ces the arrangement OF thor
nuclei and nuCeO, the organization and growth OF the
diff rent tissues ard the processes of repair and decay
have been investigated Fourth the study OF morbid
pai biological development and the relation they bear To
each other, but ther connection with disease Lastly
the ne" nbd more perfect nouts u citlCti sludy,W
which discoveries have been made which nave
changed ana entirely reyolutionized ths s branch
Of medical science, giving II dcgree OF
certainty which at one time seemed hopeless. No one
VIII question ih@ advance ~ pacci meaee resi-
means which cna,le one to become more exact
In clinical investigation are especially Important
The Professor showed hat during me OF the
Asclepedean school with Hppocratcs a. lis head clni-
II during this period that medicine was established
on scicnhc basis bnt aiter me dissolution "i tnis
gether and medical progress was airestsd
and began systematic clinical study but at his death II
declined, and medicine was again Glle with super
st'ous vagaTies There Is no advance in
medicine until the close OF the eg@teenth century.
when Bocrhavc pracliced again the methods Of Hippo
crates ana established his cline I'm tle SNAIL hospital at
Leyden. and clinical chairs were established In the Cnl
Coryso who occupied the chair Of clinical medicine IN
Paris. by ms successful tcarnng. gained for Paris
reputation which sic enjoyed as thc centre ol clinical
study Europe. Thus the careful student or ancient
medical history cannot fail to ooserve the close con
necticn between med cal progress ana clinical
study. One OF the most Important discoveries
tie OF investigating disease. was taot OF auscu
alton, 10y Lauencc. The labor necessary TO perfect
was aIduous each step carefully taSen, aud ~
system o investigation or series OF clinical observations
has been presented To the profession that has
thoroughly stood the test OF other investigators. To
day Cquivocal answer which the skilled auscult1
gives the lroubc0 inquirer TO the condition OF his
ness IN our OF thoracic dieeasc aud To- detail
from day to day the changes winch these organs un
dcrgO during the proaress Of The disease.
place medicine on a higher plane Of development. Dr.
Bright opened wide 6e IN the discovery Of those
diseased conditions OF tAe kldneys which to-day bear
bis lie emnery distinguished for his phii-
os0phc utnfuncss, and wonld never permit the slight
est bias to te given 20 any clinical observation III order
10 favor pretended view or opinion, and there have
been few If any. who have observed and recorded
much AMI nave reas ned 80 extensively upon thtf ob-
RerystiOnS who have been required TO reirac 50 tte
Tue GROWING work of Marshall Hall his discoveries
Ia The diagnosis OF nervous Diseases lie overturned
all the cxsdng theories III regard 10 the pathology ANA
yit nyiNo hrinro ,Ge lime Of his ds,oyerIes lie
eA,a5sHed the reflex Junction Of tn spinal cord and
first demonstrated the three great classes into winch
the parts or the nervous system resolves them
selves Since the primo pie OF achromatic correction
was first brought into efficient operation In thc cOnstruc
tou OF The microsclpe has become practically new
instrument Among the most important changes
wrought by 1t he complete revolution IN the Ideas
previously entertained regarding vital action.
II had been based on the crculato. OF the
blood but 1t now became evident that IN animals a. in
plants, each integrdl part possesses an independent
he OF III own. aud performs Of actions peculiar
to Itself, aud that the lite of e body Whole consis
IN the HARMONIOUS coIh'.ailoh ~ hs hePWrac lsFu
mental The effect Of the Introduction II such an
instrument into the clinical study Of disease cabn3 be
estimated and wien we ad 10 thls me opihaimascope
the aryngnscope and The lone Est OF ply sicn aids that
ecd to The clinical stuOtn ot Tue present
We find explanation of the Iapd advance made
in practical incidence and it could be shown that
clinical education has been The cJmpanCn II not the
source OF the wonder upiOIess that has been made In
the otncr departments of medical science.
The lecturer impressed upon tie students the
fact that most important aud growing WORK
OF their medical IupaGc was their clinical
cducati0n An important principle in clinical |
study is TO CLASSIFY clinical facts according
10 their importance Tie student must he fascinated
with The study of disease hc must feel an almost ire
attraction TO The bedside o the ck The special
senses must he cultivated to the highest degree, aud
skill only acqur by constant and unVearIed |
exercise; by carefully watching the methods OF "A
skilled teacher over and over again. The eye the ear
the touch, however sharp and delicate they may be-
rcGuigc q special o! training before their |
evidence in the investigation Of disease be |
trusted. The student must bo impressed with |
the that work The first and greatest eemenr Of
success all departments. The professor advised the
stud, ut TO work al difficult things easy things would
fake OF themselves. Bcgin to-day he SAID to work
with tine clear convection that human 1T" Will depend
upon what yen do aud how you do II. Work as you |
would another work. II your life depended upon ms
excriiOns IL requires go less courage. endurance or
scfsHcri6ce to an0fhes life by means oi knOwl
edge than Ia case of tre or any sach danger