46 A HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHPORT. 



reason so far as to substitute a semblance for a reality, and, 

 having minutely subdivided the "dummy," swallow it with 

 the greatest possible gravity. Prove to them, if they will 

 listen, which they will seldom consent to do, that their 

 fundamental principle is a falsehood ; remind them that for 

 the production of every positive effect there is required an 

 exactly adequate cause; show them that their great conclusive 

 arguments, their reputed cures, are but prime examples of the 

 logic of post hoc, ergo propter hoc, and that the same syllogism 

 would equally establish all the competing systems of quackery 

 that now exist, or have ever existed ; do all this, and more, 

 yet they fall back upon their first strong persuasion, and 

 behind that entrenchment stand till events prove to them the 

 fallacy into which a partial truth has led them. 



There is one point, not bearing exclusively upon the con- 

 dition of the actual invalid, but of more general interest, to 

 which allusion may be made, that is the subject of prophylactic 

 medicine, or the department which has reference to the pre- 

 vention of disease. That this department should have received 

 so little attention is indeed surprising. It is a popular saying 

 that " prevention is better than cure," but patients and physi- 

 cians have alike been content to leave the matter in its 

 proverbial form, so far as any systematic carrying out of the 

 principle is concerned. Very scanty notices of this subject are 

 to be found, and those are widely dispersed, in medical 

 writings. It is so much the custom virtually to limit the duty 

 of the physician to the cure of disease that this noble sphere 

 for the exercise of his skill and ingenuity is practically 

 ignored. And yet it is probable that, in a large proportion of 

 those who die of chronic disease, the seeds of such disease have 



