Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-08
The ply stefan Orthc Future.

Some time since Profess, II George H. Per
kins delivered an address before the medical
department of the University Of Vermont ON
"lhc Physician Of the future" which marks
a very d, lint" era in the progress of medical
science. Professor =, rkins stated that
changes had begun in the theories Of disease
that must profoundly affect the future work of
physiri;tns. Formerly disease was supposed
to have an independent existence, to he from
without rather ,han from Within and whose
expulsion must result from vigorous if not
violent remedies. Professor Perkins saws
that the remedies long ia Il among civilized
people were hardly less absurd ,lau the
leaplngS, bowling and rattle slmkings of
an Indian medicine man 1t is daring the
last nifty years that physiology has
developed and parlakcn of the sccnccl of
biology. The field Of medical study has
been enlarged from disease ard it; phc.
noncna TIL it includes the structure aud
action of the body in health. The great dis
covcry, however, is that of the importance
OF equilibrium between the body and cXlcr-
nails II was discovered. sivs Professor Per
klns, that there were forces that built up and
forces that pulled down: and that outside of
II There were also conservative and dcstruc-
tive forces. and it lccamc obvious that, un-
less these acted sn rs 10 preserve uquilib-
rum, disease ami finally death must cnsuc
Professor Perkins quotes Professor Huxley
as saying that 1.-THE search Tor the EXPLAIN.
ton Of diseased states in modified cell life
the discovery of the Important part played
ny parasitic organisms in the ctulogy of dis
ease. the clucdlli N If the acton OF mcdci-
ments by the methods of experimental
physiology, appear 10 me /, be the greatest
steps which have ever been made toward the
establishment of medicine on u scientific
basis" The insight into the truths of cvolu.
ton have done great things for medicine, and
have established forces that mayrcvo,uli uZc
medical science Sanitary science profound
~ Affects medical theories. In the opinion
OF PIot Perkins the most important effect
that has yet Appeared is the leading medicine
away from its uld, blind, absolute faith in
remedial agents III therapeutics toward
greater faith in ii llt living, proper diet, dress
and drainage. Not that remedies are 10 he
wholly laid aside, but they will he more spar
insly used aud more inlclIi.cntly, and often
not at all. Where formerly drugs, powerful
in quantity and quality, we've invariably Civ
en-. many of our best ply sicians prescribe
lew or none, depending, and with better re-
suits upon pune air simple food, and other
hygicnic means. believe that more would
thus treat the disease, continued the Proits.
sor, were they not prevented by the patients
themselves. So long MS men prefer swallow
ing drugs Ia ahstanirg from favOrite articles
OF food, or regulating personal habits so
long must the medical advisers of com.
munity find lhir best efforts to advance
sound sanitary science lhwartod. Ii will he
II long and lcdios task, tins clcvatng the
public mind ont of this strange passion for
dosing. Professor Perkins closed this able
paper by saying tina, while it is noble thing
to give time and strength to the discovery Of
means which may be used to heal disease or
alleviate pain, il i, Il far nohltr and grandrr
task to teach the people how To live 50 that
disease and pain viii not come upon them.