National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-10
DO DRUGS CURE DlsEAsEs
A Question Afirmutivoiy Answered in DIR.
Morgnn,s Lecture Last Night.


The lecture of Dr. James +. Morgan, de-
livorcd before the Medical Society of the Dis
trict last night ut its hall. corner of Sixth
aud streets, was listened to by q large
number of physicians, who were drawn
thither by the announcement Of tho lecture.
The lecturer, before aluding 10 the topic
under consideration, made few predatory
remarks, thanking tho members for the honor
conferred upon him. He felt the duty of the
occasion to be to set forth as we'll as he could
to declare his faith in tho Science of medicine
as the greatest blessing bestowed
by God on man. He regretted
that this faith was often lost
by men who had grown old in tho profession
as to the efficacy of medicine to control dis
eases, thus dcpriving men Of their faith in
medicine, and putting weapons in the hands
of charlataus and skeptic5. He showed with
logical force the reasons that impelled him to
place confidence in judiciOus md intelli-
gent duplication Of the science Of therapeutics.
To show that he did not oxaggorate the i'm
portRnco of his theme, he read u few extracts
from authors who were enemies to their school
OF practice, among them y. Mason Good. Sir
Ashley Cooper, NJ. D., DR.. Daily, Of London
Dr. Frank, and Prof Evans, of Edinburg. He
did not assert that medicines have the
direct power TO cure diseases, but
indirectly they had it in their power
to modify the vital functions. This
point he demonstrated by acute reasoning
showing that certain medicines did effect
certain remedial influences which were
clearly proven by test observation, and
effects, As examples he stated that heat
warmed the body, that rhubarb will purge,
that quinine will cure intermittent fever
that mercury will cure syphilis, and that
opium will allay pain; hence the faith in the
curative power of medicine by inductve
60 nhgnr Ion IF hn lam Of
nature proves that things will happen in the
future as we have observed them to happen
in the past. He spoke of the frequent
announcements made by physicians of cures
made by certain medicine in a specified
disease followed by a general use of it by the
profession and the resulting loss of faith in
its efficacy by many of the profession. He
declared many diseases to be self limited, and
patient with a good constitution would in
time recover his health without dose of
medicine.
1t required great mass of accumulative
facts to establish the truths of medical
science, and the experience and observation
of no one man are equal to the task. He
admitted that q plausible argument had
been brought against the profession with
great effect, mainly its want of stability, and
that the science of medicine is changeable,
but he did not admit that the fundamental
principle upon which it rests was a chang
ing one. The science OF medicine did not
claim perfection and was not to be condemned
for instability any more than the professions
of divinity and law. He cited instances of
instability of tenets in both these callings
which redounded to the credit of the greater
stcadfastness OF medical theories Nothing,
said he, harms medicine more than the
authority of great Names in which assertion
DIR. Dunglison and DIR. Abercrombie
sustained him. There were stated
circumstances which made men prom-
nent who before were unknown,
and whose boosted achievement time proved
to be as illusory as bubbles On the other
hand, he produced evidences from the wisest
men among the learned professions honoring
the physicians calling. The lecturer entered
upon discussion of the physiological action
of medicine, new field which seems destined
to become q useful acquisition to the profess
sion. The lecturer at great length spoke of
the action of medicine and the circumstances
modifying its action. The tests made on
animals, to discover the relative action and
value of medicinal remedies, were commented
on at length. He concluded his paper with
statistics showing that at the present time
the diminution Of mortality in certain dis
eases was great as compared with the past A
beautiful tribute to the medical profession
ended the lecture and the eloquent speaker
was warmly applaudod for the interesting
and instructive discourse delivered.