Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-01
MEDICAL PROGRESS.
A New Method of Investigating
Disease-Summing Up the Elk.
uerience Of Physicians.
An English Movement which
American Physicians Will
Watch with Interest.
New York sua.:

New York SUM-:
The movement lately begun in Eng
land, and described as the collective
investigation Of disease" is likely
should its design become fully devel
oped, to have very important bear,
ing upon the welfare of the human
race.
The study of vital statistics, mis-.
leading as they often are, has no doubt
advanced indirectly the art of proven.
tive medicine, particularly in its by.
glenic aspects, yet it has ELECTED but
little knowledge of the real causes Of
disease, and none whatever as to the
methods Of treatment. Morbid anat
omy, though of the highest value in
verifying diagnosis and showing the
seat of disease and the organic changes
produced by it, cannot tell us of its
causes, course, or amenability to treat
ment in its earlier stages. The records
OF hospital observation indeed furnish
invaluable studies OF disease as seen
in life, yet the great facts concerning
Its origin and its course, and particu
larly the after results of the hospital
treatment bestowed, are, for the most
part. extremely meagre and untrusts
worthy, or are wholly wanting.
These indispensable missing facts,
which, supplemented by post norton
studies, would be of the utmost i'm,
pOrtance to the ,cierce of medicine, it
is the object of the collective" move
ment to obtain. The promoters of
that movement aim to bring together
the scattered fragments of medical
knowledge, to condense, digest and
analyse them, and to make the facts Of
disease, as observed by medical pracs
ticioners in all parts of the British
empire, basis from which to encour-
age thorough, complete, and rational
study Of medical science.
The plan adopted by the commit
tees in charge is. as stated by Sir Will
liam w. Gull, to draw up a memo>
randa of the several subjects ofinquiry
and to issue cards Of questions con-
corning particular diseases. These
cards are to be answered by the physi-
clans to whom they are sent and re.
turned to the committee for classified
tion and record.
The immediate result of this com
prehensive method of inquiry will be,
of course, to place considerable DOR.
ton of the enormous accumulations OF
pathological knowledge, now hidden
in private practice, within the reach
of exhaustive investigation.
In its present form the movement
is due to the suggestions OF DR.. Ma
homed, ably advocated by Professor
Humphreys at Cambridge. Itreceived
the strong impulse which gives it its
present hopeful status from recent
conference OF physicians at Birming.
ham. Already fifty-four committees
have been organized, and nearly one
thousand of the chief practitioners Of
Great Britain are pledged to the work.
Memoranda have thus far been issued
upon pneumonia. rheumatism, con~
sumption and diphtheria, and other
cards Of inquiry will follow as soon as
advisable.
This movement places medical in
vestigation directly and finally under
the searching light of modern scien
tifc methods. It's scope is broad and
comprehensive, aud it not only has
the support OF such men as Sir James
Paget, Sir William w. Gull and other
physicians of equal eminence, but it
is sustained by the entire British Med.
ical Association, with its 10000 mem
bers. The bringing to bear of SO ire
mendous force upon a single object
must, sooner or later, exert power
tul influence upon the future Of
medicine.
DR.. Gull, in recent address before
the Metropolitan oounty's branch OF
the British Medical Association, said
as follows:
"The whole sympathies Of my life
are with this movement. ~ To
rightly ask questions OF nature is the
highest science Of the intellect.
1.-THE committee issue tor any inquiry
definite question, and that being
settled, follow it up by another, nature
must at last be driven into a corner.
and be obliged to say Yes or No
DR.. Paget said;
AS the chief design of this colleo.
tive inquiry is TO bring into the fields
OF knowledge all that may be gained
10 practice by family and general prac
titioners, | would not hesitate to
name the knowledge, which may be so
joined as likely to lead to the very
highest knowledge, and even to lead
to the solution Of the most difficult
problems in pathology that can be set
before US.
Epoch has been said to show the
weight and significance Of this move
ment. Its many relations to modern
science aud human happiness, and
the solid benefits likely to accrue
from it, will readily suggest them>
selves, and will cause thoughtful
mindG to watch the progress 81 the
investigation With lively interest
Much depends, Of course, upon the
use to be made Of the knowledge
which will thus be accumulated.
But in the modern condition Of the
mental digestive force, facts easily fall