The Wilmingtonian., 1888-07-28
Thoughts ON the Mission Of Medi-
cine.

i
| cine.
ln an oft quoted passage, the philosopher
Descartes wrote, some two and half cen
turies ago: "If it is possible for the human
race to attain perfect condition, the means
must be looked for in Medical Science"
There is a certain obscurity in this famous
saying, and that is in the meaning attached
to the words ''to make perfect perfection
ner). The religious enthusiast of one way
Of thinking will say that the condition of
perfection is the complete subjugation Of the
physical wants to the mental control; while
those Of another school, preach that it is
the temperate enjoyment of all pleasant
If it is expected of our profession that the
perfeoting of the race is one of Its ever
present. and, on the whole, its most I'M
portant duty, then it behooves all of us who
have entered its sanctuary to get some def
mite, aud if possible, some correct notion,
of what this condition of perfection is, to-
ward which we should be guiding or push
ing of our fellow beings.
When we seek for some gauge or criterion
of an advance toward perfect condition, it
appears to be tolerably we'll agreed upon
among philosophers and political economists,
and such like deep thinkers, tuat this gauge
or measure is to be found in the emotion or
mental conditions of Happiness. Thus. the
most famous of the political schools of this
century took for its maxim, ''The greatest
happiness Of the greatest number" This
aphorism has been attacked with great
vigor, and its completeness shown, but as a
broad statement it is still valid, and, for that
matter the Golden Rule itself may be twisted
into the form of cruel and unjust law of
action.
To lead men toward perfection, therefore,
is accomplished by rendering them more
happy. Let us assume tbs as granted, and
pass to the next inquiry as to v hat are the
conditions Of happiness. Here, an interest
ing diversity of opinion presents itself. The
anoients did not generally explain happiness
as closely related to the physical life, but
rather to the mental Thus Aristotle iaid
down the celebrated definition: "Bene Uiuer,
ct bene 0gers"-,that to live we'll e. 9. virtu
! ously) and to act well, is synonymous will
/ being happy. This was the summon b0num
| which expression is not to be understood al
the "highest good" but as the 'greates
happiness" 1t is, and always has been til,
aim of religions happiness to teach this bu
unfortunately for the votaries, the religion
philosophers seem to have found thei
greatest delight in falling foul of each other
rather in pursuing this goal of their theories
A learned modern writer Prof. Whewell
makes a nice distinction. He says, ga
pleasure is the aim Of mere desire, so happi
ness is the aim of wisdom" After readin,
this taking phrase over several times, W
remain in doubt whether it is anything NOR
than a playing with words. 1t is distinct
contrary to the modern view. The latter
well and tersely put by Alexander Balm
Happiness is the surplus of Pleasure owe
Pain" Here, 1t seems to us, we get dow
to "bed rock" to a practical workiu
formula. Remove or diminish pain, and W
thereby increase pleasure, and thus confe
happiness. This puts the matter in such
shape, that we can work at it with chee
ing signs OF visible progress, and with reasol
able hope of great future attainments.
this means perfectiDg the human race, ii
task, though arduous, is not impossible
Thoughtful physicians have recognized thi
Thus DR. Martin, in his book on the Diseast
of Tropical Climates, made the remark: &c
may reasonably be supposed that by re-
hNh LhOlC hCoiphJ buCJ VIII btGOu
more happy" N
Security from accidents from epidemic
from painful or dangerous complaint
could it be had, would remove sour
of intense anxiety and unhappinCs
Coleridge expresses this in punning r
mark: Happiness is state, the perfe
ton of which consists in the exclusi,
of all hap, that is, chance" There
sagscity in this, and it disoloses to us wi
there is 80 much more solid happiness in
we'll ordered state, one of settled COVER
me t, than in condition of anarchy.
hints, too, at how much we further Il
object in removing apprehensions abo
health, by lessening the avoidable causes
diseas'.
What They Did when Young.