The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-24
Medical Notes.

4
!, There are many medical fallacies rife
in the public mind and unfortunately en-
tertained by some physicians. Withou,
adducing proof in each case it may pc
broadly stated that the following ideas
are fallacious,z proved SO by experience
and observation.
The idea that disease is an entity, an
evil spirit that can be driven out by ex-
orcism or drugs Disease is not a spe-
cifc morbid entity that, like some pee
pies spirits, takes possession OF TIE
body, but a condition of degeneration
from healthy life" CDR. Maudesley.1
Disease is a disturbance of the vital func.
tions, consequent to. the irregular action
of one or more organs, or their failure 10
act on account of eXtraneous factors
Disease is not a positive something, but
a negative of something, and disease
means certain symptoms caused by mega
ton or deficiency of vitality; that is, par
ttal death" CDR. Chalmers) Disease
has no Independent existence, but only
means disordered machinery ON. Lit
tre.) Disease used to be considered an
entity, whereas it only means deranged
action of the bodily functions. Oh.
Oliver Wendell Holmes)
The idea that the name of a disease IS
all important. An accurate diagnosis
must be made, then the diseased con-
dition is to be treated, call it by what
name you will. Consumption is as fatal
as phthisis or pulmonary tuberculosis.
The idea that symptoms are synony-
NOUS with disease and correlatively that
alienation or absence of symptoms is
equivalent to cure or absence Of dis
ease.
The idea that each case of a given dis
ease is the same. As there are many
men, so there are many varieties of ols-
ease: and typical cases are as rare as
typical beauties and seldom seen outside
of books.
The idea that symptoms appear in
stereotyped form that ne who runs may
read Each case is one of analysis and
syntheSis; to make diagnosis is like de-
ciphering hieroglyphics and easy only to
him to whom experience and observation
have given the key, but ineXplicabe 10
others. Every case of fever has fea-
lures of its own; there never was and
never viii be another case exactly like
it, If a doctor has science, but not
common sense. he treats a fever, but not
this mans fever" (Dr. Holmes) THE
power of seeing distinction is common,
while the power of seeing resemblance
is rare" (Bacon)
The idea that there is specific medi-
cine for each specific disease. Medicine
is at best alienation or palliation, and
thus indirectly curative, if at all. Nature
alone cures; medicine is the bridge over
the gulf of disease leading from death
to life. Medicine is the ferryboat, but
nature runs the ferry.
The idea that the absolute temperature
of the body is fixed and an unvaryfng
factor in every disease. The clinical
thermometers shows the amount of dis
turbance and violence of the disease by
the relative rise and fall of the tempera
ture rather than by the absolute degree
of temperature.
The idea that what cures one viii cure
another. Different constitutions and va
rying symptoms call for a variety OF
remedies, and one mans cure is another
mans death.
The idea of post hoe propter hoe. That
because one gets well on a certain line
Of treatment recovery is Que to that
treatment. out Of a hundred sick peo-
Ile ninety would probably get well with
out medicine, and of the others five per-
hars might be benefited by medicine,
and five would die anyway
The idea that all gases that smell bad
are Injurious and that all injurious gases
smell bad. The sense of smell is o pooc
diagnostician, for some Of tire most dead