OCR Text |
Show Conclusion. Relative to morbid anatomy. At the close, I presume to offer a few ideas tending to the furtherance of our imperfect art. Scotch authority, an article rated 50 high, is 9.28 To these, the consideration of the same subject had given rise. Reconsideration has served only to corroborate them. The general history of useful plans shews that they must for some time lie upon the table. They are discussed. Imaginary difficulties vanish. The living force of reason overcomes the vis inertiae of habit. And the measure is executed, just as if it were the original instinctive dictate of common sense-The following instance is so nearly, though not precisely, in point, that the author will venture to quote it. He had, a few years ago, ventured to proposea periodical change in the medical attendants of hospitals in large cities as a thing equally advantageous to the sick and to the healing art. Bristol was certainly not the place, where he flattered himself that theidea would be entertained. Neverthe- less, had people fully understood that the big book ofa certain professor (styled by himself a memorial) failed to persuade his townsmen to elect surgeons to theEdinburgh Hospital for life, it might have been realized here. For the mea ; sure was actually carried at one meeting, and lost but by an inconsiderable majority at ancther. Let but a few efforts be made, and the corporation-spirit of the medical' attendants, every where the chief source of opposition to the improvement, will find itself defeatedScotch 29.9 strongly in favour of the measure. At Glass gow, the physicians and surgeons go out in rotation. At Edinburgh, the surgeons; and in winter, the clinical physicians every three months; of which mutable appointment that. same Dr. Gregory, who now rages withhis pen against all periodical succession in hospitals as inexorably as Achilles of yore raged with his lance, for many years enjoyed the emoluments. What then? Will any one assert or believe that the clinical patients are sacrificed to the medical school F' PIA VOTA. 1. Relative to morbid anatomy. 0f the steady progress of the healing art by far the largest share is owing to our advancing knowledge of the changes, wrought by disease. To the same are we chiefly to look for future improvements. Unless the practitioner be aware to what a disorder is tending, how can the patient expect preservative measures to be planted in the exact place between himself and danger? Is it not too absurd that enquiry into the state of dead bodies should be carried on almost always |