184 UK. BEALE_, ON THE TISSUES. 



by flattering the conceit and fostering the ignorance of people 

 who have never learned to think. By encouraging to the 

 utmost of our power the study of physical science, we shall 

 be more serWceable in protecting the public (since every man 

 acquainted with the elements of physical science would pro- 

 tect himself) from imposition, than by endeavouring to in- 

 crease the stringency of our laws. 



Advance in medicine has at all times been so intimately 

 associated with, if wot absolutely dependent upon, the progress 

 of certain collateral sciences, especially anatomy and animal 

 chemistry, that it is to be regretted that these pursuits are 

 not more generally prosecuted by physicians in this country. 

 That scientific investigation in connection with medicine is 

 not carried on under the superintendence of the physician to 

 a much greater extent is, in a great measure, to be attributed 

 to a serious defect in all our hospitals. !Many physicians 

 must have felt the want of well arranged scientific work- 

 rooms, where various microscopical and chemical investiga- 

 tions could be carefully carried out under their direction. 

 It was to be hoped that the time is not very far distant when 

 this defect Avill be remedied. In the minds of some persons 

 there is undoubtedly an impression that such inquiries cannot 

 be conducted without disadvantage to the patient ; and there 

 is a tendency in the public mind to draw a distinction between 

 the so-called " practical ^^ doctor and the scientific man who 

 thinks and theorises, but is not up to the direct means of 

 giving relief to a patient in pain. We are, however, all aware 

 how much we have learnt during the last few Tears from the 

 investigations into the secretions in health and disease, which 

 have been lately carried on both in this country and on the 

 continent. We should make every effort to establish such a 

 department in connection with our large hospitals ; for surely 

 a very important part of our duty is to work out and seek to 

 establish principles wliich, when acted upon, may increase 

 the physical development and mental A"igour of those who 

 come after ns. 



During the last few years, the love for such work seems to 

 have revived ; and if the taste be as widely diflfused and en- 

 couraged as this College desires, the position which we shall 

 occupy in Europe and America, as prosecutors of scientific 

 medical inquiry, will not be inferior to that Avhich is generally 

 accorded to us in questions relating to the practical treatment 

 of disease. 



Terms employed. — The only terms which are not generally 

 used in quite the same sense in which they will be employed 

 in these lectures, are the following : — 



