ON THE "VIS MEDIC ATRIX NATURE" 103 



closely-contested combat is being waged between the vis 

 medicatrix nature and a very obscurely visible and subtile 

 morbid foe, at a time of crisis, or when the palm of victory 

 is on the point of being awarded, perchance, to the 

 beneficent combatant, lest the tide of battle should be 

 turned in favour of the malevolent combatant, and the 

 efforts of the beneficent undone. Be that as it may, 

 however, we firmly believe that, ' ' given a fair field and 

 no favour," the vis medicatrix naturae will, in the great 

 majority of its contests with disease, be found the van- 

 quisher, and that it is alone in those cases where the 

 position of the opposing forces can be descried that medical 

 and surgical relief can be most successfully offered, and 

 where the results, if good, can be claimed as well won 

 victories, and added to the undoubted and properly con- 

 ferred laurels of applied medicine and surgery. 



We must, therefore, at all times ally ourselves with the 

 vis medicatrix nature , seeking light and guidance from 

 the arrangements made for the conduct of its engagements 

 with the enemy disease, and the disposition of its forces, 

 so as to be able to assist it where weak and liable to suc- 

 cessful attack, and to guard it when and where possible 

 from defeat. Doing this, and using aright our medical 

 and surgical armamentaria, we may, and will, do great 

 things in the limitation of mortality and the prevalence of 

 disease, besides adding greatly to the sum of human happi- 

 ness and longevity, or to the extent attainable under the 

 present life conditions in their relationship to the competi- 

 tion and battle which must ever be waged, and, if possible, 

 won, individually and communally. 



A word of confession may also sometimes be made, and 

 that is when we at first sight feel inclined to credit our- 

 selves with the recovery of a certain patient, and begin to 

 analyse it in all its details, we discover that the patient 

 has recovered, not in virtue, but in spite of our best 

 directed efforts. We, therefore, hold that, from whatever 

 point we view the subject, we are fully entitled to mete 

 out to the vis medicatrix nature the major share of the 

 credit in the work of successful treatment of disease and 

 amelioration of suffering : nevertheless, we are far from 

 decrying or pooh-poohing the magnificent work done by, 



