medical essays-第75章
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person inoculated in the New World。
A little before the first half of this century was completed； in the autumn of 1846； the great discovery went forth from the Massachusetts General Hospital； which repaid the debt of America to the science of the Old World； and gave immortality to the place of its origin in the memory and the heart of mankind。 The production of temporary insensibility at willtuto； cito； jucunde； safely； quickly； pleasantlyis one of those triumphs over the infirmities of our mortal condition which change the aspect of life ever afterwards。 Rhetoric can add nothing to its glory； gratitude； and the pride permitted to human weakness； that our Bethlehem should have been chosen as the birthplace of this new embodiment of the divine mercy； are all we can yet find room for。
The present century has seen the establishment of all those great charitable institutions for the cure of diseases of the body and of the mind； which our State and our city have a right to consider as among the chief ornaments of their civilization。
The last century had very little to show； in our State； in the way of medical literature。 The worthies who took care of our grandfathers and great…grandfathers； like the Revolutionary heroes； fought （with disease） and bled （their patients） and died （in spite of their own remedies）； but their names； once familiar； are heard only at rare intervals。 Honored in their day； not unremembered by a few solitary students of the past； their memories are going sweetly to sleep in the arms of the patient old dry…nurse； whose 〃blackdrop〃 is the never…failing anodyne of the restless generations of men。 Except the lively controversy on inoculation； and floating papers in journals； we have not much of value for that long period； in the shape of medical records。
But while the trouble with the last century is to find authors to mention； the trouble of this would be to name all that we find。 Of these； a very few claim unquestioned preeminence。
Nathan Smith； born in Rehoboth； Mass。； a graduate of the Medical School of our University； did a great work for the advancement of medicine and surgery in New England； by his labors as teacher and author； greater； it is claimed by some； than was ever done by any other man。 The two Warrens； of our time； each left a large and permanent record of a most extended surgical practice。 James Jackson not only educated a whole generation by his lessons of wisdom； but bequeathed some of the most valuable results of his experience to those who came after him； in a series of letters singularly pleasant and kindly as well as instructive。 John Ware； keen and cautious； earnest and deliberate； wrote the two remarkable essays which have identified his name； for all time； with two important diseases； on which he has shed new light by his original observations。
I must do violence to the modesty of the living by referring to the many important contributions to medical science by Dr。 Jacob Bigelow； and especially to his discourse on 〃Self…limited Diseases；〃 an address which can be read in a single hour； but the influence of which will be felt for a century。
Nor would the profession forgive me if I forgot to mention the admirable museum of pathological anatomy； created almost entirely by the hands of Dr。 John Barnard Swett Jackson； and illustrated by his own printed descriptive catalogue； justly spoken of by a distinguished professor in the University of Pennsylvania as the most important contribution which had ever been made in this country to the branch to which it relates。
When we look at the literature of mental disease； as seen in hospital reports and special treatises； we can mention the names of Wyman； Woodward； Brigham； Bell； and Ray； all either natives of Massachusetts or placed at the head of her institutions for the treatment of the insane。
We have a right to claim also one who is known all over the civilized world as a philanthropist； to us as a townsman and a graduate of our own Medical School； Dr。 Samuel Gridley Howe； the guide and benefactor of a great multitude who were born to a world of inward or of outward darkness。
I cannot pass over in silence the part taken by our own physicians in those sanitary movements which are assuming every year greater importance。 Two diseases especially have attracted attention； above all others； with reference to their causes and prevention； cholera； the 〃black death〃 of the nineteenth century； and consumption； the white plague of the North； both of which have been faithfully studied and reported on by physicians of our own State and city。 The cultivation of medical and surgical specialties； which is fast becoming prevalent； is beginning to show its effects in the literature of the profession； which is every year growing richer in original observations and investigations。
To these benefactors who have labored for us in their peaceful vocation； we must add the noble army of surgeons； who went with the soldiers who fought the battles of their country； sharing many of their dangers； not rarely falling victims to fatigue； disease； or the deadly volleys to which they often exposed themselves in the discharge of their duties。
The pleasant biographies of the venerable Dr。 Thacher； and the worthy and kind…hearted gleaner； Dr。 Stephen W。 Williams； who came after him； are filled with the names of men who served their generation well； and rest from their labors； followed by the blessing of those for whom they endured the toils and fatigues inseparable from their calling。 The hardworking； intelligent country physician more especially deserves the gratitude of his own generation； for he rarely leaves any permanent record in the literature of his profession。 Books are hard to obtain； hospitals； which are always centres of intelligence； are remote； thoroughly educated and superior men are separated by wide intervals； and long rides； though favorable to reflection； take up much of the time which might otherwise be given to the labors of the study。 So it is that men of ability and vast experience； like the late Dr。 Twitchell； for instance； make a great and deserved reputation； become the oracles of large districts； and yet leave nothing； or next to nothing； by which their names shall be preserved from blank oblivion。
One or two other facts deserve mention； as showing the readiness of our medical community to receive and adopt any important idea or discovery。 The new science of Histology； as it is now called； was first brought fully before the profession of this country by the translation of Bichat's great work； 〃Anatomie Generale；〃 by the late Dr。 George Hayward。
The first work printed in this country on Auscultation；that wonderful art of discovering disease； which； as it were； puts a window in the breast； through which the vital organs can be seen； to all intents and purposes； was the manual published anonymously by 〃A Member of the Massachusetts Medical Society。〃
We are now in some slight measure prepared to weigh the record of the medical profession in Massachusetts； and pass our judgment upon it。 But in…order to do justice to the first generation of practitioners； we must compare what we know of their treatment of disease with the state of the art in England； and the superstitions which they saw all around them in other departments of knowledge or belief。
English medical literature must have been at a pretty low ebb when Sydenham recommended Don Quixote to Sir Richard Blackmore for professional reading。 The College Pharmacopoeia was loaded with the most absurd compound mixtures； one of the most complex of which （the same which the Reverend Mr。 Harward； 〃Lecturer at the Royal Chappel in Boston；〃 tried to simplify； was not dropped until the year 1801。 Sir Kenelm Digby was playing his fantastic tricks with the Sympathetic powder； and teaching Governor Winthrop； the second； how to cure fever and ague； which some may like to know。 〃Pare the patient's nails； put the parings in a little bag； and hang the bag round the neck of a live eel； and put him in a tub of water。 The eel will die； and the patient will recover。〃
Wiseman； the great surgeon； was discoursing eloquently on the efficacy of the royal touch in scroful
