Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-20

there bursts upon our view, the saL.
| lime spectacle of the great anatomist
Andrew Vesalius, scalpel in hand
nlnging wide open the portals of ana
tomical knowledge permitting the med
( zeal fraternity to look upon the wonder.
ful mechanism, the perfect adjustment
the marvellous anatomical arrange.
| ment, to meet the physiological neces.
| sites of this Harp of a Thousand
strings bearing on its every part TIL,
lndelible stamp of Infinite wisdom
| In that hour was laid the chief cor
ner stone of our noble profession On
that foundation as firm and abiding a.
the eternal hills. was begun the cree
ton of our medical temple, which. fol-
beauty, correctness of alignments and
symmetry of form, has challenged the
| admiration of the world. Thus secure
| ly founded it has withstood the shock
| of centuries, the cyclones of persecu-
! ton, and the whirlwinds of adverse
criticism and will continue to grow in
| beauty, usefulness, and fullness of
strength, till the angel, with one foot
on the land and the other on the sea
shall declare time to be no longer. Let
us hasten on, pausing for just a mo-
ment to glance at the picture of the
immortal Harvey, standing with the
shadow of the guillotine hanging over
his defenseless head demonstrating
the circulation of the blood before the
king. Having thus far glanced at the
origin of our science, noted briefly its
slow labored progress through sue
ceeding centuries, and having perform
n6 ,arfr OF ha u.I,, of.
ius, as exemplified by our ancient
brethren: let us proceed to consider
the present status of medicine, as re-
Elected by the light of today; neither
shall the comparison reflect discredit
upon the intelligence of the past but
rather increase our admiration for
those whose patient perseverance, and
heroic devotion to the profession. have
accomplished so much for suffering
humanity. Let us just briefly inquire
into the means for acquiring anatomi-
cal knowledge. In connection with this
thought, the first fact that impresses
itself on the thinking mind, is, that the
medical student of today, must study
from the same great book of nature
as did the anatomiSt of old, viz: the
human form Divine. In no other way
can man become proficient in his
knowledge of human anatomy. but by
studying it as God made it. Our
knowledge may be further enriched
and enlarged by studying comparative
anatomy, as found in the lower order
of animals. This is indeed legiti-
mate source of knowledge as the ami
NAL kingdom is mans by heritage to
ues but not to abuse. So important is
a thorough and comprehensive knowl-
edge of the intimate relations and
functions of the many parts of this ten
ement of clay that it becomes the
solemn duty of every lover of the pro-
fession to use every lawful means in
his power to have such laws enacted as
shall give the medical student the nee
essary material for dissection. The
microscope is another powerful aux
Hilary in the modern research for
anatomical truths. Its magical power
enables us to examine infinitely the
cell formation of every tissue OF the
human organism. and to become ia
mliar with natures process of repair.
Having made a careful and exhaustive
study of the various tissues and organs
of the body. the logical transition IS 10
the study of the changes wrought py as
ease technically known as pathology.
This branch of our science has for ages
been obliged to stem the adverse TIDE OF
public sentiment. And not until the
present century has it been possible TO
roll away the stone from the door OF the
sepulchre and eXpel the pseudo-pnliah-
thropists and twaddling sentimentalists
by the Cod-gven light of common sense
Yet the study of pathology has not
reached its proper level; neither, indeed,
shall it reach the exalted position that
it is destined to occupy. until autopsies
are held in every case where there is the
least question as to the cause of death
And the medical man who shrlnks from
the effect of IA post-mortem on his repI-
tation as a dagnostician. is disgrace
to his profession. However. my personal
acquaintance with members of the pro-
fession leads me to believe that lew
might not be over enthusiastic yet the
great rank and file would be only TOO
glad to study pathology in practicai
way that would lead them to the seat
of the lesion. Public sentiment, alsp,
many times. puts a veto on our efforts
by refusing the necessary means TO MAKE
personal observations in this important
branch of medicine. Let it not be inferred
that in no place can adequate means for
the study of pathology be found; on the
contrary the great medical centers con-
tain abundant facilities and a wealth OF
material for the prosecution OF the
study. Volumes have been written. care
fully and clearly giving the observations
of eminent men, and yet inasmuch as
thorough knowledge of anatomy can only
b, Obtained by personal dissection. the
same is true of pathology, closely allled
science.
But. to pass on. the study of physiology
is but a natural sequence to the study OF
ana tony. Having become acquainted