medical essays-第23章
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In 1628； Harvey published his first work upon the circulation。 His doctrines were a complete revolution of the prevailing opinions of all antiquity。 They immediately found both champions and opponents； of which last； one only； Riolanus； seemed to Harvey worthy of an answer； on account of his 〃rank； fame； and learning。〃 Controversy in science； as in religion； was not； in those days； carried on with all the courtesy which our present habits demand； and it is possible that some hard words may have been applied to Harvey； as it is very certain that he used the most contemptuous expressions towards others。
Harvey declares in his second letter to Riolanus； 〃Since the first discovery of the circulation； hardly a day； or a moment； has passed without my hearing it both well and ill spoken of； some attack it with great hostility； others defend it with high encomiums； one party believe that I have abundantly proved the truth of the doctrine against all the weight of opposing arguments； by experiments； observations； and dissections； others think it not yet sufficiently cleared up； and free from objections。〃 Two really eminent Professors； Plempius of Louvain； and Walaeus of Leyden； were among its early advocates。
The opinions sanctioned by the authority of long ages； and the names of Hippocrates and Galen； dissolved away； gradually； but certainly； before the demonstrations of Harvey。 Twenty…four years after the publication of his first work； and six years before his death； his bust in marble was placed in the Hall of the College of Physicians； with a suitable inscription recording his discoveries。
Two years after this he was unanimously invited to accept the Presidency of that body； and he lived to see his doctrine established； and all reputable opposition withdrawn。
There were many circumstances connected with the discovery of Dr。 Jenner which were of a nature to excite repugnance and opposition。 The practice of inoculation for the small…pox had already disarmed that disease of many of its terrors。 The introduction of a contagious disease from a brute creature into the human system naturally struck the public mind with a sensation of disgust and apprehension； and a part of the medical public may have shared these feelings。 I find that Jenner's discovery of vaccination was made public in June； 1798。 In July of the same year the celebrated surgeon； Mr。 Cline； vaccinated a child with virus received from Dr。 Jenner； and in communicating the success of this experiment； he mentions that Dr。 Lister； formerly of the Small…Pox Hospital； and himself； are convinced of the efficacy of the cow…pox。 In November of the same year； Dr。 Pearson published his 〃Inquiry；〃 containing the testimony of numerous practitioners in different parts of the kingdom； to the efficacy of the practice。 Dr。 HAYGARTH； who was so conspicuous in exposing the follies of Perkinism； was among the very earliest to express his opinion in favor of vaccination。 In 1801； Dr。 Lettsom mentions the circumstance 〃as being to the honor of the medical professors； that they have very generally encouraged this salutary practice； although it is certainly calculated to lessen their pecuniary advantages by its tendency to extirpate a fertile source of professional practice。〃
In the same year the Medical Committee of Paris spoke of vaccination in a public letter； as 〃the most brilliant and most important discovery of the eighteenth century。〃 The Directors of a Society for the Extermination of the Small…Pox； in a Report dated October 1st； 1807； 〃congratulate the public on the very favorable opinion which the Royal College of Physicians of London； after a most minute and laborious investigation made by the command of his Majesty； have a second time expressed on the subject of vaccination； in their Report laid before the House of Commons； in the last session of Parliament； in consequence of which the sum of twenty thousand pounds was voted to Dr。 Jenner； as a remuneration for his discovery； in addition to ten thousand pounds before granted。〃 （In June； 1802。）
These and similar accusations； so often brought up against the Medical Profession； are only one mode in which is manifested a spirit of opposition not merely to medical science； but to all science； and to all sound knowledge。 It is a spirit which neither understands itself nor the object at which it is aiming。 It gropes among the loose records of the past； and the floating fables of the moment； to glean a few truths or falsehoods tending to prove； if they prove anything； that the persons who have passed their lives in the study of a branch of knowledge the very essence of which must always consist in long and accurate observation； are less competent to judge of new doctrines in their own department than the rest of the community。 It belongs to the clown in society； the destructive in politics； and the rogue in practice。
The name of Harvey； whose great discovery was the legitimate result of his severe training and patient study； should be mentioned only to check the pretensions of presumptuous ignorance。 The example of Jenner； who gave his inestimable secret； the result of twenty…two years of experiment and researches； unpurchased； to the public； when； as was said in Parliament； he might have made a hundred thousand pounds by it as well as any smaller sum；should be referred to only to rebuke the selfish venders of secret remedies； among whom his early history obliges us reluctantly to record Samuel Hahnemann。 Those who speak of the great body of physicians as if they were united in a league to support the superannuated notions of the past against the progress of improvement； have read the history of medicine to little purpose。 The prevalent failing of this profession has been； on the contrary； to lend a too credulous ear to ambitious and plausible innovators。 If at the present time ten years of public notoriety have passed over any doctrine professing to be of importance in medical science； and if it has not succeeded in raising up a powerful body of able； learned； and ingenious advocates for its claims； the fault must be in the doctrine and not in the medical profession。
Homoeopathy has had a still more extended period of trial than this； and we have seen with what results。 It only remains to throw out a few conjectures as to the particular manner in which it is to break up and disappear。
1。 The confidence of the few believers in this delusion will never survive the loss of friends who may die of any acute disease； under a treatment such as that prescribed by Homoeopathy。 It is doubtful how far cases of this kind will be trusted to its tender mercies； but wherever it acquires any considerable foothold； such cases must come； and with them the ruin of those who practise it； should any highly valued life be thus sacrificed。
2。 After its novelty has worn out； the ardent and capricious individuals who constitute the most prominent class of its patrons will return to visible doses； were it only for the sake of a change。
3。 The Semi…Homoeopathic practitioner will gradually withdraw from the rotten half of his business and try to make the public forget his connection with it。
4。 The ultra Homoeopathist will either recant and try to rejoin the medical profession； or he will embrace some newer and if possible equally extravagant doctrine； or he will stick to his colors and go down with his sinking doctrine。 Very few will pursue the course last mentioned。
A single fact may serve to point out in what direction there will probably be a movement of the dissolving atoms of Homoeopathy。 On the 13th page of the too frequently cited Manifesto of the 〃Examiner〃 I read the following stately paragraph：
〃Bigelius； M。 D。； physician to the Emperor of Russia； whose elevated reputation is well known in Europe； has been an acknowledged advocate of Hahnemann's doctrines for several years。 He abandoned Allopathia for Homoeopathia。〃 The date of this statement is January； 1840。 I find on looking at the booksellers' catalogues that one Bigel； or Bigelius； to speak more classically； has been at various times publishing Homoeopathic books for some years。
Again； on looking into the 〃 Encyclographie des Sciences
