40 INTRODUCTION. 



built upon the most secure foundation in Science. "It is the office of science," 

 says Bacon, " to shorten the long turnings and windings of experience ;" and 

 in proportion as Medical Science becomes so perfect, that it can not only say 

 what is, or what happens, in the human body, in the state of health or disease, 

 but also what will happen when the conditions are altered, in that proportion, 

 it is evident, will it be possible to frame rules or directions for conduct express- 

 ing "do this/' "avoid that" from the practice of which a certain result may 

 be predicted. And if, at the present time, there should be more doubt than 

 perhaps ever previously existed in the minds of the Profession at large, with 

 regard to the efficacy of many plans of medical treatment, in spite of the strong 

 testimony as to their value which has been traditionally handed down, it is 

 because, for the most part, the confidence which has been felt in them has 

 rested upon too narrow a foundation of imperfectly- scrutinized experience, and 

 a definite scientific rationale has been either found wanting altogether, or, if it 

 had a supposed existence, has been shown to have been fallacious. But, on the 

 other hand, whilst many time-honored traditions have thus been overthrown, 

 new doctrines have been advanced with all that assurance of value which is 

 afforded by the clear and positive direction which Science affords ; and to these 

 the intelligent practitioner will attach himself as his securest guides, confident 

 that, even if the practice they inculcate may not lead him to the success he 

 desires, they will not antagonize the efforts which Nature may be making to 

 effect a cure in her own way. 



Whilst it will be the special object of the following Treatise, therefore, to show 

 in what that normal activity of the human body, which we call Health, consists, 

 and to explain the conditions upon which its continuance is dependent, the 

 reader's attention will be directed from time to time to the practical rules which 

 arise out of the application of Physiological Science to the Art of Hygiene ; 

 and in like manner, when speaking of the most frequent of those perversions 

 of normal activity, in which Disease consists, some of the most important of 

 those principles of treatment will be laid down, which constitute the application 

 of Pathological Science to the Art of Therapeutics. 



In proportion as the treatment of disease shall be thus withdrawn from the 

 domain of empiricism, and be founded on scientific principles, in that proportion 

 will the Medical Profession acquire that dignified confidence in itself, which 

 shall keep it steady to its high and noble aims ; and will attain that general esti- 

 mation, which will be freely accorded to its enlightened and disinterested pursuit 

 of them. 



