THE LIMITATIONS OF THE HEALING ART. 77 



of human types, leading up to races of which our existing sav- 

 ages are the descendants. Physically, man of the present time is a 

 most composite being, the result of crossings which began to take 

 place long before the dawn of history. And, finally, it has been 

 left for the geologists and archaeologists, of whom Lyell, Lartet, 

 Mortillet, and others, are types, to point out the overlapping of 

 prehistoric upon historic times, and thus to bring to light the 

 lost ages, filling up the abyss in our knowledge formerly existing 

 between the dawn of human history and the close of geological 

 history. 



Such is the light which geology has already thrown upon the 

 origin of man, and of the world in which he lives. Who can 

 deny the utility and importance of a study which bears such 

 fruits? How can a person be regarded as liberally educated 

 who has not been brought in contact with these facts? And 

 yet there are still hundreds and thousands of our college grad- 

 uates who have neither had careful training in the principles, nor 

 have been brought into contact with the grand results of modern 

 geology ; whose minds have not felt the inspiration and mental 

 tension resulting from contact with these wonderful discoveries 

 and conclusions. Is there not every reason why geology should 

 be taught, provided the facts and principles be imparted in a way 

 to stimulate, quicken, and expand the mind? 

 Brown University. 



THE LIMITATIONS OF THE HEALING ART. 



Br Prof. Dr. HERRMANN NOTHNAGEL, of Vienna.* 



rpHE fact is very evident that the practical art of healing has 

 -L made great advances during the past century, especially 

 during the last half of it. The progress of dermatology, the 

 brilliant career of ophthalmology, the new creation of laryngology, 

 the wonderful development of operative surgery and gynaecology, 

 and, in the line of internal curatives, the introduction of a series 

 of effective remedial substances and physical methods of healing, 

 and, further, the greater importance attached to physiological, 

 dietetical, and hygienic factors of the most diversified sorts have 

 all taken place during this period, and in part in the very pres- 

 ence of our contemporaries. And when we add to Lister's anti- 

 septic process Pasteur's discovery of the antidote for rabies, and 

 Koch's communication of a cure for consumption, which was 

 received a year ago with such unbounded enthusiasm, the ques- 

 tion may well force itself upon us, Where are the limits of the 



* From an address before the Association of German Naturalists and Physicians at 

 Halle. 



