An introductory discourse, to a course of lectures on the theory and practice of physic : containing observations on the inductive system of prosecuting medical inquiries ; and a tribute to the memory of the late Dr. Benjamin Rush ; delivered at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, on the third of November, 1813 / by David Hosack.

  • Hosack, David, 1769-1835.
Date:
1813
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introductory discourse, to a course of lectures on the theory and practice of physic : containing observations on the inductive system of prosecuting medical inquiries ; and a tribute to the memory of the late Dr. Benjamin Rush ; delivered at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, on the third of November, 1813 / by David Hosack. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    uncut of our profession and of classical literature, causa proxinia est, qua; presens, niorbum facit, sublata tollit, muta- ta mutat.* The theory of physic, therefore, may be defined to be, that system of principles which is deduced from a knowledge of the human structure, and of the predisposing, exciting, and proximate causes of disease, and by which the practice of me- dicine is to be directed. By many, however, the term theory has been abused, by considering it as synonymous with every hypothesis that has been promulgated for the purpose of ex- plaining the phenomena of diseases, and with which medicine, like every other branch of philosophj', has in all ages been corrupted. The question then presents itself, by what pro- cess are we to attain to those principles so necessary as sub- servient to practice ? I answer, by accurate observation, judicious experiment, and cautious induction from the facts which they present. These are the sources whence was deduced that luminous system of philosophical in- vestigation introduced into physics by Lord Bacon, Robert Boyle, and Sir Isaac Newton. They are the same sources whence those celebrated metaphysicians, Reid, Gerard> Campbell, and Stewart, have drawn those principles which have recently been applied, with so much success, in explain- ing the phenomena of mind. And from the same sources, as ex emplified in the pages of Hippocrates, Sydenham, and Boer- haave, are to be derived those principles in medicine which * Conspectus medicirice.