Page:The Harveian oration, 1893.djvu/69

45 made the discoveries of Laennec and of Bright really fruitful. Without these autopsies, clinical medicine is but an empirical art, diagnosis a sham, and treatment little better than quackery. Exclusive attention to Therapeutics is apt to bring a man dangerously near to Homoeopathy and other pretended Systems of treatment, but sound pathology, and diagnosis controlled by post-mortem inspection, give positive knowledge and that union of modest self-confidence and prudent enterprise which become the physician.

Lastly. I have to fulfil the duty of exhorting the Fellows of this ancient College “to continue in mutual love and affection;” and this is the easiest task of all. For, if we must admit that Experimental Science in England, and particularly Scientific Pathology, is not surpassing our byegone achievements as it ought to surpass them, considering the increased number of competent labourers and the vastly improved methods