Page:The healing art in its historic and prophetic aspects - the Harveian oration delivered before the Royal College of Physicians, Oct. 19, 1885 (IA b21908199).pdf/15

 Evidence of the existence of such doubt, both in the Extrinsic past and in the present, is to be found in the judg- discredit ments of men of science, not excluding indeed members on our pro. of our own profession; in the sarcasms of dramatists and satirists, and still more in the daily action and behaviour of many amongst the sick, who, by submitting themselves to the treatment and by accepting the nostrums of char- latans and quacks, in the same spirit in which they would have recourse to the aid of the rational physician, manifest the like esteem in which they hold us all.

I can best address myself to my argument by recall- Expres- sions of, ing to your memory some of the oft-quoted sentiments, adverse which, in the half-truths they have expressed, indicate opinion. the aspect in which our art has appeared to thoughtful minds.

Quot Themison ægros autumno occiderit uno? asks Juvenal satirically, in reference to the leading practi- tioner of his day-an expression which has been parodied in our own times by an eminent statesman who asked his friend and physician how many deer he had killed during his autumnal holiday; and, on being told a dozen or more, exclaimed, 'I congratulate you: you could not have had more success amongst your patients!' Turning to our profession, we find Celsus asserting that 'optima medicina est non uti medicinâ.' Even Hoffmann exclaimed Fuge medicos et medicamenta si vis esse salvus.' Dr. Gregory half a century ago expressed a remarkable opinion, not more discouraging to his profession as a physician than damaging to his reputation as a prophet, when he said, 'I think it more than possible that in fifty or a hundred years the business of physician will not be regarded even in England as either a learned or a liberal profession.' Ma- jendie once stated that the doctor is often superfluous, sometimes mischievous, and occasionally fatal.'

It was not likely we should escape from Shakespeare's