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第52章

  YouyoungmenwhoarefollowingthehospitalshardlyknowhowmuchyouareindebtedtoLouis。IsaynothingofhisResearchesonPhthisisorhisgreatworkonTyphoidFever。ButIconsiderhismodestandbriefEssayonBleedinginsomeInflammatoryDiseases,basedoncasescarefullyobservedandnumericallyanalyzed,oneofthemostimportantwrittencontributionstopracticalmedicine,tothetreatmentofinternaldisease,ofthiscentury,ifnotsincethedaysofSydenham。Thelancetwasthemagician’swandofthedarkagesofmedicine。Theoldphysiciansnotonlybelievedinitsgeneralefficacyasawonder-workerindisease,buttheybelievedthateachmaladycouldbesuccessfullyattackedfromsomespecialpartofthebody,——thestrategicpointwhichcommandedtheseatofthemorbidaffection。OnafiguregiveninthecuriousoldworkofJohndeKetam,nolessthanthirty-eightseparateplacesaremarkedastheproperonestobleedfrom,indifferentdiseases。EvenLouis,whohadnotwhollygivenupvenesection,usednowandthentoorderthatapatientsufferingfromheadacheshouldbebledinthefoot,inpreferencetoanyotherpart。
  ButwhatLouisdidwasthis:heshowedbyastrictanalysisofnumerouscasesthatbleedingdidnotstrangle,——jugulatewasthewordthenused,——acutediseases,moreespeciallypneumonia。Thiswasnotareform,——itwasarevolution。ItwasfollowedupinthiscountrybytheremarkableDiscourseofDr。JacobBigelowuponSelf-LimitedDiseases,whichhas,Ibelieve,donemorethananyotherworkoressayinourownlanguagetorescuethepracticeofmedicinefromtheslaverytothedruggingsystemwhichwasapartoftheinheritanceoftheprofession。
  Yes,Isay,asIlookbackonthelonghoursofthemanydaysIspentinthewardsandintheautopsyroomofLaPitie,whereLouiswasoneoftheattendingphysicians,——yes,Louisdidagreatworkforpracticalmedicine。Modestinthepresenceofnature,fearlessinthefaceofauthority,unwearyinginthepursuitoftruth,hewasamanwhomanystudentmightbehappyandproudtoclaimashisteacherandhisfriend,andyet,asIlookbackonthedayswhenIfollowedhisteachings,IfeelthatIgavemyselfuptooexclusivelytohismethodsofthoughtandstudy。
  Thereisonepartoftheirbusinesswhichcertainmedicalpractitionersaretooapttoforget;namely,thatwhattheyshouldmostofalltrytodoistowardoffdisease,toalleviatesuffering,topreservelife,oratleasttoprolongitifpossible。Itisnotoftheslightestinteresttothepatienttoknowwhetherthreeorthreeandaquartercubicinchesofhislungarehepatized。Hismindisnotoccupiedwiththinkingofthecuriousproblemswhicharetobesolvedbyhisownautopsy,——whetherthisorthatstrandofthespinalmarrowistheseatofthisorthatformofdegeneration。Hewantssomethingtorelievehispain,tomitigatetheanguishofdyspnea,tobringbackmotionandsensibilitytothedeadlimb,tostillthetorturesofneuralgia。Whatisittohimthatyoucanlocalizeandnamebysomeuncouthtermthediseasewhichyoucouldnotpreventandwhichyoucannotcure?Anoldwomanwhoknowshowtomakeapoulticeandhowtoputiton,anddoesittuto,eito,jucunde,justwhenandwhereitiswanted,isbetter,——athousandtimesbetterinmanycases,——thanastaringpathologist,whoexploresandthumpsanddoubtsandguesses,andtellshispatientbewillbebettertomorrow,andsogoeshometotumblehisbooksoverandmakeoutadiagnosis。
  Butinthosedays,I,likemostofmyfellowstudents,wasthinkingmuchmoreof“science“thanofpracticalmedicine,andIbelieveifwehadnotclungsocloselytotheskirtsofLouisandhadfollowedsomeofthecoursesofmenlikeTrousseau,——therapeutists,whogavespecialattentiontocurativemethods,andnotchieflytodiagnosis,——itwouldhavebeenbetterformeandothers。Onething,atanyrate,wedidlearninthewardsofLouis。Welearnedthataverylargeproportionofdiseasesgetwellofthemselves,withoutanyspecialmedication,——thegreatfactformulated,enforced,andpopularizedbyDr。JacobBigelowintheDiscoursereferredto。Weunlearnedthehabitofdruggingforitsownsake。Thisdetestablepractice,whichIwasalmostproscribedforcondemningsomewhattooepigrammaticallyalittlemorethantwentyyearsago,cametous,I
  suspect,inaconsiderablemeasurefromtheEnglish“generalpractitioners,“asortofprescribingapothecaries。Yourememberhow,whenthecitywasbesieged,eachartisanwhowascalleduponincounciltosuggestthebestmeansofdefencerecommendedthearticleshedealtin:thecarpenter,wood;theblacksmith,iron;themason,brick;untilitcametobeapuzzletoknowwhichtoadopt。Thentheshoemakersaid,“Hangyourwallswithnewboots,“andgavegoodreasonswhytheseshouldbethebestofallpossibledefences。Nowthe“generalpractitioner“charged,asIunderstand,forhismedicine,andinthatwaygotpaidforhisvisit。Whereverthisisthepractice,medicineissuretobecomeatrade,andthepeoplelearntoexpectdrugging,andtoconsideritnecessary,becausedrugsaresouniversallygiventothepatientsofthemanwhogetshislivingbythem。
  Itwassomethingtohaveunlearnedthepernicioushabitofconstantlygivingpoisonstoapatient,asiftheyweregoodinthemselves,ofdrawingoffthebloodwhichhewouldwantinhisstrugglewithdisease,ofmakinghimsoreandwretchedwithneedlessblisters,ofturninghisstomachwithunnecessarynauseousdraughtandmixtures,——onlybecausehewassickandsomethingmustbedone。Buttherewerepositiveaswellasnegativefactstobelearned,andsomeofus,Ifear,camehomerichinthenegativesoftheexpectantpractice,poorintheresourceswhichmanyaplaincountrypractitionerhadreadyinabundanceforthereliefandthecureofdisease。Nooneinstructorcanbeexpectedtodoallforastudentwhichherequires。Louistaughtuswhofollowedhimtheloveoftruth,thehabitofpassionlesslisteningtotheteachingsofnature,themostcarefulandsearchingmethodsofobservation,andthesuremeansofgettingattheresultstobeobtainedfromthemintheconstantemploymentofaccuratetabulation。Hewasnotashowy,oreloquent,or,Ishouldsay,averygenerallypopularman,thoughthefavorite,almosttheidol,ofmanystudents,especiallyGeneveseandBostonians。Buthewasamanofloftyandadmirablescientificcharacter,andhisworkwillendureinitsinfluenceslongafterhisnameislostsightofsavetothefadedeyesofthestudentofmedicalliterature。
  Manyothernamesofmenmoreorlessfamousintheirday,andwhowereteachingwhileIwasinParis,comeupbeforeme。Theyarebutemptysoundsforthemostpartintheearsofpersonsofnotmorethanmiddleage。WhoofyouknowsanythingofRicherand,authorofaverypopularworkonPhysiology,commonlyputintothestudent’shandswhenIfirstbegantoaskformedicaltext-books?Iheardhimlectureonce,andhavehadhisimagewithmeeversinceasthatofanold,worn-outman,——avenerablebutdilapidatedrelicofaneffeteantiquity。ToverifythisimpressionIhavejustlookedoutthedatesofhisbirthanddeath,andfindthathewaseighteenyearsyoungerthanthespeakerwhoisnowaddressingyou。Thereisaterribleparallaxbetweentheperiodbeforethirtyandthatafterthreescoreandten,astwomenofthoseageslook,onewithnakedeyes,onethroughhisspectacles,atthemanoffiftyandthereabout。
  Magendie,Idoubtnotyouhaveallheardof。Iattendedbutoneofhislectures。Iquestionifonehere,unlesssomecontemporaryofmyownhasstrayedintotheamphitheatre,——knowsanythingaboutMarjolin。Iremembertwothingsabouthislecturesonsurgery,thedeeptonesofhisvoiceashereferredtohisoracle,——theearlierwriter,JeanLouisPetit,——andhisformidablesnuffbox。Whathetaughtmeliesfardown,Idoubtnot,amongtherootsofmyknowledge,butitdoesnotfloweroutinanynoticeableblossoms,oroffermeanyveryobviousfruits。WherenowisthefameofBouillaud,ProfessorandDeputy,theSangradoofhistime?WhereistherenownofPiorry,percussionistandpoet,expertalikeintheresonancesofthethoraciccavityandthoseoftherhymingvocabulary?——IthinklifehasnotyetdonewiththevivaciousRicord,whomIremembercallingtheVoltaireofpelvicliterature,——ascepticastothemoralityoftheraceingeneral,whowouldhavesubmittedDianatotreatmentwithhismineralspecifics,andorderedacourseofbluepillsforthevestalvirgins。
  Ricordwasbornatthebeginningofthecentury,andPiorrysomeyearsearlier。Cruveilhier,whodiedin1874,isstillrememberedbyhisgreatworkonpathologicalanatomy;hisworkondescriptiveanatomyhassomethingswhichIlookinvainforelsewhere。ButwhereisCiviale,——whereareOrfila,Gendrin,Rostan,Biett,Alibert,——jollyoldBaronAlibert,whomIremembersowellinhisbroad-
  brimmedhat,wornalittlejauntilyononeside,callingouttothestudentsinthecourt-yardoftheHospitalSt。Louis,“Enfansdelamethodenaturelle,etes-voustousici?““Childrenofthenaturalmethod[hisownmethodofclassificationofskindiseases,]areyouallhere?“Allhere,then,perhaps;allwhere,now?
  Myshowofghostsisover。Itisalwaysthesamestorythatoldmentelltoyoungerones,somefewofwhomwillintheirturnrepeatthetale,onlywithalterednames,totheirchildren’schildren。
  Likephantomspaintedonthemagicslide,Forthfromthedarknessofthepastweglide,AslivingshadowsforamomentseenInairypageantontheeternalscreen,Tracedbyarayfromoneunchangingflame,Thenseekthedustandstillnesswhencewecame。
  Dr。BenjaminWaterhouse,whomIwellremember,camebackfromLeyden,wherehehadwrittenhisLatingraduatingthesis,talkingofthelearnedGaubiusandthelateillustriousBoerhaaveandotherdeadDutchmen,ofwhomyouknowasmuch,mostofyou,asyoudoofNoah’sapothecaryandthefamilyphysicianofMethuselah,whoseprescriptionsseemtohavebeenlosttoposterity。Dr。LloydcamebacktoBostonfulloftheteachingsofCheseldenandSharpe,WilliamHunter,Smellie,andWarner;Dr。JamesJacksonlovedtotellofMr。
  ClineandtotalkofMr。JohnHunter;Dr。ReynoldswouldgiveyouhisrecollectionsofSirAstleyCooperandMr。Abernethy;IhavenamedthefamousFrenchmenofmystudentdays;Leyden,Edinburgh,London,Paris,wereeachinturntheMeccaofmedicalstudents,justasatthepresentdayViennaandBerlinarethecentreswhereouryoungmencrowdforinstruction。Thesealsomustsoonerorlateryieldtheirprecedenceandpassthetorchtheyholdtootherhands。Whereshallitnextflameattheheadofthelongprocession?ShallitfinditsoldplaceontheshoresoftheGulfofSalerno,orshallitmingleitsrayswiththenorthernauroraupamongthefiordsofNorway,——orshallitbeborneacrosstheAtlanticandreachthebanksoftheCharles,whereAgassizandWymanhavetaught,whereHagenstillteaches,glowinglikehisownLampyrissplendidula,withenthusiasm,wherethefirstofAmericanbotanistsandtheablestofAmericansurgeonsarestillcountedintherollofhonorofourgreatUniversity?
  Letmeaddafewwordswhichshallnotbeotherthancheerful,asI
  bidfarewelltothisedificewhichIhaveknownsolong。Iamgratefultotheroofwhichhasshelteredme,tothefloorswhichhavesustainedme,thoughIhavethoughtitsafestalwaystoabstainfromanythinglikeeloquence,lestaburstoftooemphaticapplausemightlandmyclassandmyselfinthecellarofthecollapsingstructure,andburyusinthefateofKorah,Dathan,andAbiram。Ihavehelpedtowearthesestairsintohollows,——stairswhichItrodwhentheyweresmoothandlevel,freshfromtheplane。Therearejustthirty-
  twoofthem,astherewerefiveandthirtyyearsago,buttheyaresteeperandhardertoclimb,itseemstome,thantheywerethen。I
  rememberthatintheearlyyouthofthisbuilding,thelateDr。JohnK。Mitchell,fatherofourfamousDr。WeirMitchell,saidtomeaswecameoutoftheDemonstrator’sroom,thatsomedayorotherawholeclasswouldgoheelsoverheaddownthisgradedprecipice,liketheherdtoldofinScripturestory。Thishasneverhappenedasyet;
  Itrustitneverwill。Ihaveneverbeenproudoftheapartmentbeneaththeseats,inwhichmypreparationsforlectureweremade。
  ButIchoseitbecauseIcouldhaveittomyself,andIresignit,withawishthatitweremoreworthyofregret,intothehandsofmysuccessor,withmypartingbenediction。WithinitstwilightprecinctsIhaveoftenprayedforlight,likeAjax,forthedaylightfoundscantyentrance,andthegaslightneverilluminateditsdarkrecesses。MayitprovetohimwhocomesaftermelikethecaveoftheSibyl,outofthegloomydepthsofwhichcametheoracleswhichshonewiththeraysoftruthandwisdom!
  Thistempleoflearningisnotsurroundedbythemansionsofthegreatandthewealthy。Nostatelyavenuesleaduptoitsfacadesandporticoes。Ihavesometimesfelt,whenconvoyingadistinguishedstrangerthroughitsprecinctstoitsdoor,thathemightquestionwhetherstar-eyedSciencehadnotmissedherwaywhenshefoundherselfinthisnottooattractivelocality。Icannotregretthatwe——you,Ishouldsay——aresoontomigratetoamorefavoredregion,andcarryonyourworkasteachersandaslearnersinamplerhallsandunderfarmorefavorableconditions。
  IhopethatImayhavetheprivilegeofmeetingyouthere,possiblymaybeallowedtoaddmywordsofwelcometothoseofmyformercolleagues,andinthatpleasinganticipationIbidgood-bytothissceneofmylonglabors,and,forthepresentatleast,tothefriendswithwhomIhavebeenassociated。
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