An address on the value of pathological experiments

R Virchow - British medical journal, 1881 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
R Virchow
British medical journal, 1881ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
198 THE BRITISH MEDICAL YOURNAL(August 6, I88I. of those three qualities which have
the greatest chanr for pure and active minds-novelty, utility, and charity. These three, which
are sometimes in so lamentable disunion, as in the attractions of novelty without either utility
or charity, are in our researches so combined that, unless by force or wilful wrong, they
hardly can be put asunder. And each of them is admirable inits kind. For in every search for
truth we can not only exercise curiosity, and have the delight-the really elemental happiness …
198 THE BRITISH MEDICAL YOURNAL(August 6, I88I. of those three qualities which have the greatest chanr for pure and active minds-novelty, utility, and charity. These three, which are sometimes in so lamentable disunion, as in the attractions of novelty without either utility or charity, are in our researches so combined that, unless by force or wilful wrong, they hardly can be put asunder. And each of them is admirable inits kind. For in every search for truth we can not only exercise curiosity, and have the delight-the really elemental happiness-of watching the unveiling of a mystery, but, on the way to truth, if we look well round us, we shall see that we are passing among wonders more than the eye or mind can fully appre. hend. And as one of the perfections of nature is that, in all her works, wonder is harnmonised with utility, so is it with our science. In every truth attained there is utility either at hand or among the certainties of the future. And this utility is not selfish: it is not in any degree cor-relative with money-making; it may generally be estimated in the welfare of others better than in our own. Some of us may, indeed, make money and grow rich; but many of those that minister evento the follies and vices of mankind can make much more money than we. In all things costly and vainglorious they would far surpass us if we would compete with them. WVe had better not compete where wealth is the highest evidence of success; we can compete with the world in the nobler ambition of being counted among the learned and the good who strive to make the future better and happier than the past. And to this we shall attain if we willremind ourselves that, as in every pur-suit of knowledge there is the charm of novelty, and in every attain-ment of truth utility, so in everyuse of it there may be charity. I do not mean only the charity which is in hospitals or in the service of the poor, great as is the privilege of our calling in that we may be its chief ministers; but that wider charity which is practised in a constant sym-pathy and gentleness, in patience and self-devotion. And it is surely fair to hold that, as in every search for knowledge we may strengthen our intellectual power, so in every practical employment of it we may, if we will, improve our moral nature; we may obey the whole law of Christian love; we may illustrate the highest induction of scientific philanthropy. Let us, then, resolve to devote ourselves to the promotion of the whole science, art, andcharity of medicine. Let this resolve be to us as a vow of brotherhood; and may God help us in our work.
To-rrENsITA.-There is especial need for sanitary activity in this very large and rapidly growing London suburb. Although there have been many improvements effected, yet the new buildings need to be very rigidly looked after, for, in the words of Dr. Watson," sone can-not but see, looking round on every side, that there are very many houses inhabited, and ready to be inhabited, that are not such as are likely to improve the health of the community at large. With the increase of houses, there is an increase of the sources of contamination, and too much attention cannot be paid to the manner in which houses are built, the drains connected with them, and the water-supply." Duringg rSSo, plans for as many as 3, ooo houses were approved, the greater number of these being of a poor character. A total of 1,657 births and 727 deaths were registered last year, 249 of the latter beina children under one year, and 117 between the ages of one and five years. The general death rate was t6. 5 per i, ooo, against 17.6 in 1879 and 17.3 in i878. Zymotic diseases caused I12 deaths, 20 of which were from measles and 47 from diarrhoea. In speaking …
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