The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-06-03

the spirit OF Sclentl1lc inquiry.
The 18th century is distinguished by the
labors of such men as Sydenham. Boerhaave
and Van Halleand Bichat, the great histolog-
ist Among all the names of that brilliant
era that of John Hunter stands forth prom
inent, peerless in the history of English
surgery.
What an impress this distinguished an
atomist, Psychologist and surgeon left upon
British medicine, is apparent from the words
of fellow countryman who said that in
tracing the progress of modern surgery to
its true source, we cannot fail to discover in
the principles which Hunter established, the
true germ of nearly all the improvements
which have been introduced"
The wonderful discovery of Jenner which
has saved thousands of lives from the raw
ages Of smallpox, the introduction OF per
cussion in the diagnosis OF pulmonary
diseases, by Corvisant, and that of ausculta-
ton by Laennecwith, the inventor of the
stethoscope, combined with the study of
practical anatomy, produced an entire re-
volution in the knowledge of this class of
disease and had great effect in the develop
ment of modern medicine. Chomel, Louis,
Cruveilheir, Andral and Trousseau in France,
Robert Graves and William Stokes in Ire
land, Richard Bright and Addison in Eng
land, gave to the study of symptoms the
same precision as was given to anatomical
observation, thereby creating a new depar-
ture in clinical medicine. The discoveries OF
Sir Charles Bell and Marshall Hall is neurol-
0gy, mark an epoch and establish an era In
the diagnosis and treatment of nervous
diseases. The labors of Schwann, Muffef
and Virchow in misroscopical research have
given impetus in a remarkable degree to the
onward progress of medical science. lt mas
been possible for such science as Hygiene
to exist, only by the requirement OF more
extended knowledge of the cause of disease
and its mode of propagation.
An historical review of medicine III our
own country will show that there have been
many and varied contributions to medical
knowledge, second to none recorded IN the
old world. The Inauguration OF 0varlotomy,
MOrton's discovery of the an8Sthetic proper
ties of sulphuric ether, of thoracic aspiration
for removal of e1fusions are among them. 1t
was by the genius, daring and intrepid skill
of our own beloved and lamented Green,
that the operation for the removal of the dis
ceased thyroid gland became legitimate
and recognized procedure in surgery. The
names and labors of Rush, Alonzo, Clark,
Flint and DaCosta in medicine, Physic, War
ner, Mott, Pancoast, Gross, Blgelow and
Sayre in surgery, Mcdowell, Meigs, .Atlee,
Peaslee, Hodge, Simms, Thomas and En-
NETT in Obstetrics anc Gynaecology,. are i'm
perishable, for in the whole range Of medical
history no more honorable and illustrious
names are to be found, or who have contri-
buted more to the advancement Of the art
and the alienation of human suffering.
From this brief review, looking back
through the vista of centuries, we see how
the little of medical knowledge which exist
ed before the pyramids were built, before
history began, has been nurtured, cultivated
and developed by the efforts of honest sin
cere and earnest men in all ages, under every
phase of civilization, speaking all languages,
of every shade of political and religious opin-
ion, under every sun, amid all the changes
attending the birth and dissolution of ma
lions, inventing the appliances the growth OF
the art demanded, taking advantage of the
horrible carnage of the battle field, as well as
the quiet of the study, fearless and undaunt-
ed in Drawing personal danger, until 1t buds,
blossoms and fruits in the medical science of
to-day. In all ages the medical art has been
based upon, and medical opinien been mould
ed by one of the following methods: The
attributiye, the empirical and the rational.
They still exercise an influence on medical
opinion.
The first named has been repeatedly re-
fashioned and presented in new garb. and
to-day commands as faithful devotees as
when it flourished under the direction of
Egyptian priests more than forty centuries
ago, as witness the most popular deluslon of
our time. Its cardinal idea is the devel-
opment Of dynamic power not resident in
matter itself, by the process of dllution.
The empirical method, although for time
its dominion was almost absolute, failed alb
solutely in its purpose and has been found
incompetent to accomplish its purpose, and
its inquiries have been altogether in the di-
rection of what" rather than ''why" and
chow
The rational method has broken the bends
of superstition, pierced the clouds of prsju
dice and advanced the science of medicine to
as digniied a position as that occupied by
any other science, and has given to the world
some of the grandest achievements of mod
ern civilization.
Following the Grafton the Association adj
journed to the Falmouth Hotel, where the
members were elegantly entertained by the
physie ians of Portland by general recep-
ton, with music and a banquet served in the
dining room. The entertainment reflected
great credit upon the committee in charge
and the service of the hotel 1t is hoped the
visitors who were present in large numbers
will carry away none but the pleasantest
memories at this session.