be found in times
corresponding to the formation of the ancient period, and from those far distant ages up to the present, we can trace a gradually ascending series of animals, almost to the highest vertebrata; but whether man is to be included in this continuous chain of creatures, being the latest and highest, form assumed by organized matter, is a question which is far from having been settled. Although we can dimly trace the evidences of what we may suppose to be the action of a peculiar or vital principle on matter from the remotest ages, we are utterly at a loss to comprehend what becomes of this principle 011 the death of any one living creature. If there be a vital force it must be indestructible, but science fails to demonstrate to us the path it takes after leaving the animated body. Those who believe in the physical basis of life, maintain that death is simply an alteration or change in a mode of motion?that the physical forces which acted on the body during life, being manifested as thought, volition and so on, are merely changed in their mode of action at the time of death : they are the same forces which affected the body, and in their manifestations produced the phenomena we designate life, and at death are apparent as chemical action or disintegration. We are all deeply interested in studying the arguments of those who hold views such as these; it is absolute folly to discard them as flights of imagination?the fancies of men swallowed up in the conceit of their own learning, being contrary to the dictates of religion or science. No doubt the doctrine is a startling one rocks of the Pre-Cambrian
JhtlJian jHflcfctcal ?a;cttc. JANUARY 1, 1872.
RELIGION, SCIENCE The nbove is
AND MEDICINE.
subject with which to open the editorial columns of a journal like this, on the first day of the new year, nevertheless it seems appropriate to the season for several reasons; and the bearing of science on the one hand to religion, and on the other to medicine, lias been prominently brought to our notice, in several of the admirable introductory a
somewhat vague
lectures delivered by medical men in various parts of the United Kingdom, at the commencement of the present session; the
is
exciting no small interest at the present time in our London and provincial schools. There can be little doubt that the study of medicine in its various branches engenders materialistic views, in consequence of the necessity which exists for our dealing with material objects in connection with physiology, pathology and therapeutics, rendering us liable to look on the human body as simply a machine, which it is our office to keep in working order during life, and after death to examine, so that we may ascertain the cause which has stopped its motion. But it is evident this is an imperfect idea to take of the matter; our efforts should rather be turned towards unravelling the secrets of that mysterious power, property, or whatever we pleaso to call it, which is generally known as the vital force, in its normal and abnormal manifestations in the human body. If we enquire into the matter we find that almost all organic lesions are subject
evidently
one
which is
preceded by functional derangements, or abnormal indications of this life force in the body. Dr. Meudows remarks :?" For as
the force
or
agency which is inherent in the the normal growth and development of the
dynamical
life-germ, secures body of which it is the germ, so deviations from that force necessarily lead to abnormal tissue changes?in other words, to disease." The question naturally arises what is this force ??Can science teach us anything of its laws ??We know something regarding light, heat and electricity, have we similar data to direct us to the properties of the vital force ? There is no doubt that science, as yet, is absolutely silent on this most interesting subject?we cannot even be sure that any such power as the vital force exists. The earliest trace of life in our world, is to
which attributes all the working of mind, memory, and the highest attributes of man to the physical forces acting on the
marvellously complex machinery
of
our
bodies ; and that it is in
consequence of the wonderful complexity of its parts that we are unable to trace the influences of the physical forces through
it, these being nevertheless manifested in modes of motion,
constituting the
could, by acting
sun
construct
a
precisely in infinitely greater degree, it savage to comprehend how the heat
whole the so-called vital actions ;
way,
would be of the
as a
although impossible for a
same
to
on
an
various mechanical contrivances,
beautiful fabric out of
lump
a
of
raw
cotton
or
silk. It
to us, however, that the idea of the physical basis of fault, when we come to apply it to the phenomenon of
seems
life is
at
growth
and
reproduction.
We have
a
right
to
ask those who
incline to this doctrine, to demonstrate the fact, that tion of the physical forces can produce any thing
a
combina-
having
the
powers of
reproduction and growth ; these, as far as we can judge, absolutely necessitate the existence of a principle differing from those recognised as the physical forces; and if we admit this much, we have advanced far towards recognising the existence of a special property inherent in every living thing. From considerations such as these, we perceire that we have need for great humility regarding our knowledge upon matters forming the foundation of our art. Science has indeed much to teach us on these matters, and we cannot too sedulously cultivate her in all her branches, in the hopes that we may arrive at conclusions which will make those who follow wiser and
better for
our
sojourn
in the world.
accomplish a service of the kind, however, possible to base our conclusions on facts, such in the power of each one of us to collect; nevertheless
us
to
bound if
11s
the
To enable we as
are
it ia
we'can-
January 1,
afford to work without the aid of
not
speculations
theory;
well considered
often of immense benefit towards the attain-
are
knowledge, in that they group together, and have frequently been
of sound
ment
isolated facts
a
number of
the
which practical results have been attained. With reference to the last part of our subject,
means
by
can
we
look
place, as Dr. Meadows observes, carefully refrain from dogmatizing " on the connection of science with Christianity in such a manner as to make the one depend upon the other," for, as he remarks?" it matters nothing to me whether the functions of my body or the growth of a tree are performed in obedience to what is called a physical or a vital law ; neither am I concerned to know whether I sprang from a marine ascidian or from nothing, for I know that all laws and all matter, whether in the animal or the vegetable kingdom, the organic or the inorganic world, must have originated from the great Lawgiver, and that He saw that they were good." The least reflection will convince
us
how uncertain the teach-
ing of science is; doctrines held as invulnerable to-day are not uncommonly demolished in the course of a few years, and it us worse
convictions
ous
according on
to
the
the nature of
the other hand,
attempting to defend our religisupposed attacks of science, which, things, is unstable in the extreme;
than useless
against
nothing that science can teach will refute regarding Christianity, nor in the least reponsibilities to our own consciences and
the historical evidence
degree
affect
our
to God. In connection with the
subject,
Dr. Clifford Albutt remarks
in his lecture delivered at the Leeds School of Medicine, that "
changed, and will change onward, but the claim sympathy has always remained the same; and may we ever remember with pride that, more than two thousand years ago, on the shores of the JEgean Sea, there flourished a glorious people, and that the bright Mediterranean sun shone doctrines have
for man's
of
man
on
the face of
of the greatest of them,
one
venerable father of
Hippocrates, the our truest pride
on
our
the noble face of
art.
And is it not
in this great ancestor of ours, that, with an intellect as vast and as brilliant as any of those who lived in that glorious age, in him was found not only this, but also a
great heart, and
measurably one
had
a
deep human compassion which lifted him imthem all. Firm and energetic in action, no sense of the duties and awful responsibilities
a
above
keener
profession ; no one had a more bitter aversion for those unworthy persons who would taint or degrade it by quackery or self-conceit, and most of all no one has spoken more touchingly, and with so pious a care for those afflicted fellow-creaof his
sures,
whom he
was
called to heal
or
to console.
He knew well
that the keenest eye may fail when not guided by human sympathy; that no diagnosis, however acute, and no system of
treatment, however elaborate,
can
be
perfect
unless the heart
goes with it. And in our own lives, let simplicity and moderation be our guides to happines. Happiness does not depend upon worldly success, but he is happy who can gather flowers in every pasture, and who does not trample on those simple pleasures which lie at his feet in his feverish yearning for things which are far off.
lean,
and
we
are,
Remember that the envious
nowadays,
too
ambitious for
so
that
man
place
waxeth
and money,
we
foolishly
throw back all
blessings
but
in the face
gold
of God." On this the first wishes for all
good many
with any confidence to the teaching of modern science to illuminate the circumstances of religion? We iflust in the first
seems to
15
MEDICAL METEOROLOGY.
1872.]
more
who
we
but there is
journal; heartily
trust
done
may be able
we
and the
of the
new
year,
we
have
a
thousand
readers, for those who have assisted, and
hope no
will assist
reward
we
us
would
in so
carrying on this gladly win, or so
friends may secure, as that when our work is through God's blessing to look back on it
days we have spent in India, with a cheerful aud spirit, arising from the earnest conviction that we tried to do our duty regarding Religion, Science aud
contented have
our
day
our
Medicine.
corresponding to the formation of the ancient period, and from those far distant ages up to the present, we can trace a gradually ascending series of animals, almost to the highest vertebrata; but whether man is to be included in this continuous chain of creatures, being the latest and highest, form assumed by organized matter, is a question which is far from having been settled. Although we can dimly trace the evidences of what we may suppose to be the action of a peculiar or vital principle on matter from the remotest ages, we are utterly at a loss to comprehend what becomes of this principle 011 the death of any one living creature. If there be a vital force it must be indestructible, but science fails to demonstrate to us the path it takes after leaving the animated body. Those who believe in the physical basis of life, maintain that death is simply an alteration or change in a mode of motion?that the physical forces which acted on the body during life, being manifested as thought, volition and so on, are merely changed in their mode of action at the time of death : they are the same forces which affected the body, and in their manifestations produced the phenomena we designate life, and at death are apparent as chemical action or disintegration. We are all deeply interested in studying the arguments of those who hold views such as these; it is absolute folly to discard them as flights of imagination?the fancies of men swallowed up in the conceit of their own learning, being contrary to the dictates of religion or science. No doubt the doctrine is a startling one rocks of the Pre-Cambrian
JhtlJian jHflcfctcal ?a;cttc. JANUARY 1, 1872.
RELIGION, SCIENCE The nbove is
AND MEDICINE.
subject with which to open the editorial columns of a journal like this, on the first day of the new year, nevertheless it seems appropriate to the season for several reasons; and the bearing of science on the one hand to religion, and on the other to medicine, lias been prominently brought to our notice, in several of the admirable introductory a
somewhat vague
lectures delivered by medical men in various parts of the United Kingdom, at the commencement of the present session; the
is
exciting no small interest at the present time in our London and provincial schools. There can be little doubt that the study of medicine in its various branches engenders materialistic views, in consequence of the necessity which exists for our dealing with material objects in connection with physiology, pathology and therapeutics, rendering us liable to look on the human body as simply a machine, which it is our office to keep in working order during life, and after death to examine, so that we may ascertain the cause which has stopped its motion. But it is evident this is an imperfect idea to take of the matter; our efforts should rather be turned towards unravelling the secrets of that mysterious power, property, or whatever we pleaso to call it, which is generally known as the vital force, in its normal and abnormal manifestations in the human body. If we enquire into the matter we find that almost all organic lesions are subject
evidently
one
which is
preceded by functional derangements, or abnormal indications of this life force in the body. Dr. Meudows remarks :?" For as
the force
or
agency which is inherent in the the normal growth and development of the
dynamical
life-germ, secures body of which it is the germ, so deviations from that force necessarily lead to abnormal tissue changes?in other words, to disease." The question naturally arises what is this force ??Can science teach us anything of its laws ??We know something regarding light, heat and electricity, have we similar data to direct us to the properties of the vital force ? There is no doubt that science, as yet, is absolutely silent on this most interesting subject?we cannot even be sure that any such power as the vital force exists. The earliest trace of life in our world, is to
which attributes all the working of mind, memory, and the highest attributes of man to the physical forces acting on the
marvellously complex machinery
of
our
bodies ; and that it is in
consequence of the wonderful complexity of its parts that we are unable to trace the influences of the physical forces through
it, these being nevertheless manifested in modes of motion,
constituting the
could, by acting
sun
construct
a
precisely in infinitely greater degree, it savage to comprehend how the heat
whole the so-called vital actions ;
way,
would be of the
as a
although impossible for a
same
to
on
an
various mechanical contrivances,
beautiful fabric out of
lump
a
of
raw
cotton
or
silk. It
to us, however, that the idea of the physical basis of fault, when we come to apply it to the phenomenon of
seems
life is
at
growth
and
reproduction.
We have
a
right
to
ask those who
incline to this doctrine, to demonstrate the fact, that tion of the physical forces can produce any thing
a
combina-
having
the
powers of
reproduction and growth ; these, as far as we can judge, absolutely necessitate the existence of a principle differing from those recognised as the physical forces; and if we admit this much, we have advanced far towards recognising the existence of a special property inherent in every living thing. From considerations such as these, we perceire that we have need for great humility regarding our knowledge upon matters forming the foundation of our art. Science has indeed much to teach us on these matters, and we cannot too sedulously cultivate her in all her branches, in the hopes that we may arrive at conclusions which will make those who follow wiser and
better for
our
sojourn
in the world.
accomplish a service of the kind, however, possible to base our conclusions on facts, such in the power of each one of us to collect; nevertheless
us
to
bound if
11s
the
To enable we as
are
it ia
we'can-
January 1,
afford to work without the aid of
not
speculations
theory;
well considered
often of immense benefit towards the attain-
are
knowledge, in that they group together, and have frequently been
of sound
ment
isolated facts
a
number of
the
which practical results have been attained. With reference to the last part of our subject,
means
by
can
we
look
place, as Dr. Meadows observes, carefully refrain from dogmatizing " on the connection of science with Christianity in such a manner as to make the one depend upon the other," for, as he remarks?" it matters nothing to me whether the functions of my body or the growth of a tree are performed in obedience to what is called a physical or a vital law ; neither am I concerned to know whether I sprang from a marine ascidian or from nothing, for I know that all laws and all matter, whether in the animal or the vegetable kingdom, the organic or the inorganic world, must have originated from the great Lawgiver, and that He saw that they were good." The least reflection will convince
us
how uncertain the teach-
ing of science is; doctrines held as invulnerable to-day are not uncommonly demolished in the course of a few years, and it us worse
convictions
ous
according on
to
the
the nature of
the other hand,
attempting to defend our religisupposed attacks of science, which, things, is unstable in the extreme;
than useless
against
nothing that science can teach will refute regarding Christianity, nor in the least reponsibilities to our own consciences and
the historical evidence
degree
affect
our
to God. In connection with the
subject,
Dr. Clifford Albutt remarks
in his lecture delivered at the Leeds School of Medicine, that "
changed, and will change onward, but the claim sympathy has always remained the same; and may we ever remember with pride that, more than two thousand years ago, on the shores of the JEgean Sea, there flourished a glorious people, and that the bright Mediterranean sun shone doctrines have
for man's
of
man
on
the face of
of the greatest of them,
one
venerable father of
Hippocrates, the our truest pride
on
our
the noble face of
art.
And is it not
in this great ancestor of ours, that, with an intellect as vast and as brilliant as any of those who lived in that glorious age, in him was found not only this, but also a
great heart, and
measurably one
had
a
deep human compassion which lifted him imthem all. Firm and energetic in action, no sense of the duties and awful responsibilities
a
above
keener
profession ; no one had a more bitter aversion for those unworthy persons who would taint or degrade it by quackery or self-conceit, and most of all no one has spoken more touchingly, and with so pious a care for those afflicted fellow-creaof his
sures,
whom he
was
called to heal
or
to console.
He knew well
that the keenest eye may fail when not guided by human sympathy; that no diagnosis, however acute, and no system of
treatment, however elaborate,
can
be
perfect
unless the heart
goes with it. And in our own lives, let simplicity and moderation be our guides to happines. Happiness does not depend upon worldly success, but he is happy who can gather flowers in every pasture, and who does not trample on those simple pleasures which lie at his feet in his feverish yearning for things which are far off.
lean,
and
we
are,
Remember that the envious
nowadays,
too
ambitious for
so
that
man
place
waxeth
and money,
we
foolishly
throw back all
blessings
but
in the face
gold
of God." On this the first wishes for all
good many
with any confidence to the teaching of modern science to illuminate the circumstances of religion? We iflust in the first
seems to
15
MEDICAL METEOROLOGY.
1872.]
more
who
we
but there is
journal; heartily
trust
done
may be able
we
and the
of the
new
year,
we
have
a
thousand
readers, for those who have assisted, and
hope no
will assist
reward
we
us
would
in so
carrying on this gladly win, or so
friends may secure, as that when our work is through God's blessing to look back on it
days we have spent in India, with a cheerful aud spirit, arising from the earnest conviction that we tried to do our duty regarding Religion, Science aud
contented have
our
day
our
Medicine.
