CALVIN ELLIS. 497 



case. Having gone through this course, and eliminated one disease 

 after another, he would finally, by physical exploration, be able, not 

 only to say what the disease is, but also, if need be, to declare what 

 it cannot be. Dr. Ellis claimed that a thorough drilling in this way, 

 in a method for exact diagnosis, would better prepare the pupil for 

 future prompt performance of duty as a practitioner of medicine. 

 For even if, perchance, the physician could not make a perfect, un- 

 doubted diagnosis in any special case, he would be better able to 

 administer for temporary relief than one with a less drilled mind' 

 would be. 



It may be a. question with some, whether there ever has been any- 

 thing that can be legitimately called a " scientific method," which 

 every one could pursue in teaching clinical medicine. There have 

 been famous " clinical teachers " ; but each one has had " his own 

 method," by which he doubtless gave much special instruction, but 

 a method such as suggested by Dr. Ellis,* whereby knowledge, that 

 has been posilively proved to be true by the best experts, would be 

 given to the pupil, and then his mind drilled in the use of all of these 

 proved facts, in order to the perfect elucidation of a case before him, 

 has not, I think, existed ; certainly not since modern modes of scien- 

 tific research have dawned upon us. 



But can one hope that, with our present teachers and pupils. Dr. 

 Ellis's plan will be immediately adopted ? The teachers are unpre- 

 pared for it ; and many would probably sneer at it as too fatiguing for 

 common minds, and as a very dull and " slow " method for pupils. It 

 is to be feared that many pujiils would agree to this decision. Dr. 

 Ellis's views may well wait for a century before being duly appre- 

 ciated ; but that, within that time, his views, or something like them, 

 something more accurately scientific than the present method of clini- 

 cal teaching, will be demanded of clinical instructors, seems to me 

 as certain as we are now certain that modern science, when applied 

 to medical and surgical studies and practice, throws aside, as utterly 

 worthless, many of the well-fought-for theories of our fathers. We can 

 only regret that death prevented Dr. Ellis from giving to the world 

 this matured work of his life. 



These reforms have been very great during the last ten or twelve 

 years. The Faculty, in spite of constant opposition from a small but 



* In a conversation I held with Dr. Ellis only a few weeks before his death, 

 he said to me, " I am preparing a work in which I shall give a method for 

 clinical instruction, such as they [referring to clinical teachers] have never 

 used before." 



VOL. XIX. (n. s. XI.) 32 



