340 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



we should re<rarcl almost as false what is ouly probable and not founded 

 on fact," * These and other works of Louis were received everywhere 

 with delight, except by those who could not tolerate, or at least could 

 not appreciate, the beauty of strict deductions from facts. 



On the continent of Europe, in England and in America, Broussaism 

 struggled hard, but finally succumbed under the influence of modern 

 science. Louis, a direct scientific descendant, if I may use that ex- 

 pression, of the great John Hunter, of England, was the file leader 

 in medicine, of this great change. He counted his cases and the symp- 

 toms in each, and stated the results in a definite manner. These facts 

 must always remain true, although different interpretations may here- 

 after be made of some of them. 



His pupils were not numerous ; for he had no grace of speech like 

 his friend Chomel, no fiery eloquence like Broussais, no brilliant powers 

 of classification as shown by Andral. On the contrary, he was severely 

 risfid in his strict deductions from data collected without bias. More- 

 over, to the majority he seemed rather severe in manner; but his 

 works had no mannerism. They carried conviction to the minds of 

 readers in all countries, from the very sternness with which their author 

 rested on the firm foundation of fact. Each book carried with it, and 

 always will carry with it, its own proof. 



The future liistorian of medicine, when he seeks for the guiding 

 medical minds of this century, will find Louis in the foremost rank. 

 This method of writing medical books had been tried imperfectly 

 before. The fame of Morgani, and that of some others, rests upon it; 

 but never before had the medical profession seen it so clearly exhibited 

 as in the Numerical Method pursued by Louis. By his works, and still 

 more by his living examjDle, he founded a School of Observation, which 

 spread in Europe and America. Even his opponents were finally com- 

 pelled to cite their facts, and, to a certain extent at least, to give 

 numerical results, in order to win a belief in their statements. 



In 1828 Louis was chosen by the French government to go on a 

 commission with two others to Spain, to study the Yellow Fever. 

 While there he was seized with the disease, but escaped fortunately 

 without injury. His report in manuscript remained unpublished, until 

 Dr. Shattuck, of Boston, was allowed to publish a translation of it. 

 The original was finally published, with an edition of Louis' works, in 

 Paris. Having finished the analysis of his cases, he resumed practice. 



* While preparing these works, he spent a year at Brussels in quietly tabulat- 

 ing his cases. 



