Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-06-01
MEDICAL SCIENCE.
The Marvellous Progress OF the Science Of
Medicine During the Past Fifty Years.

The Marvellous Progress Of the Science Of
Medicine During the Past Fifty Years.
In II remarkable address recently de-
livered, an eminent European physi-
clan gave a statement OF the progress
which has been made in the science of
medicine during the past fifty years.
1t is often said, even at the present
day, that the progress of medicine is
provokingly slow, and that the doctors
seem still to do much of their work by.
experimenting and guessing; while
their labOrs in searching out remedies
forgrave andwidely-prevalent maladics
do not appear to have valuable results.
But in the address spoken of, it is made
clear that this science. which is so vital
to the health and happiness of human
beings everywhere, has really made
astonishing advances during the past
half century.
In the first place, physicians have,
during that period, learned far better
methods Of studying their science than
they used before, they have become
more cautious in making experiments,
and their ways of going to work have
been more nearly in accordance with
the great scientific laws. Direct and
exhausting experiments have been sub
stituted for narrow and imperfect tests
and hasty conclusions. Another ad-
vance is seen in the success with which
physicians, in these days, prevent the
spread of contagious diseases by care
full measures; illustrating in their pfac-
tice the proverb that prevention is
better than cure" Such diseases as
cholera, typhoid and scarlet fever and
diphthcria are not only niore frequently
cured in these days, but their ravages
are much more narrowly confined than
formerly by careful preventive meas
ures.
: Countries like America and England,
where the cholera used to rage with re-
sistless fury, are now saved from it by
scientific precautions on the part of
doctors, and the civil authorities acting
on doctors advice. During the period
of fifty years, vaccination has come
into universal use, and its value as a
preventive of smallpox has been proved
beyond all possible doubt. Ireland,
which is said to be ''the best vacci-
mated country in the world" is en-
tirely free from smallpox; while in
Montreal, where people were not eX-
tensively vaccinated, smallpox has re-
Gently made deadly havoc among their
poorer classes.
"Thcre is no organ, no structure, no
function of the body" says the address,
(which has not received the stamp OF
improved knowledge during the period
referred to. The progress of our art
has been greater during the past half a
century than during all the preceding
centuries"
Many new and important drugs have
been discovered, and come in use.
Among these may be mentioned the
alkalohs, of which the first to be EN-,
ployed was morphine; the bromides,
which were formerly thought TO be ut
terly useless; and ether, used as dead
ener of pain. Remedies for the quick
healing of wounds, called "antiseptics, '
anu lOT COHtIOllillS lcNcIs, Cullcu All
tipyretic," and chloral, for inducing
sleep in the sick, have come into genera
practice. The best proof of the ad
vance of the healers' art lies in the dc
crease of the number of deaths, wher
ever that art has had fullest play. 1t il
certain that, in the highly civilized
countries, there are far fewer deaths il
proportion to the population than ther,
were fifty years ago; and the creates
Improvement in this respect is seen il
children under five years of age. i
has been shown that in England during
the past thirty-iive years, the average
of the life of men has been raised two
years, and that of women nearly three
and half years. Medical science is
certainly making rapid progress every
year. Some diseases are dying out, al
well as their victims; and while sucl
scourges as consumption and cancer
still defy the healer's art, we may no
despair that even deadly maladies lik,
them may sooner or later become sub
ject to the powers of science Youth
Companion.