64 THE CAUSATION OF DISEASE. 



the ridiculous theories, which, starting, as he does, in utter 

 ignorance of the subject, the poor lad is unable "to see in all 

 their naked absurdity. But what happens ? He acquires a 

 morbid thirst for them, and while cramming himself with this 

 trash, he is apt to make one slight error — to entirely lose sight 

 of the fact that he is supposed to be studying Physiology. 

 Every principle of physiology, as known and proven, could be 

 put down within a very narrow compass : I am not talking of 

 isolated and disconnected facts which, as such, are not embodied 

 in the science of physiology, but of facts which have been in- 

 telligibly connected into principles. These main principles 

 should be taught thoroughly, and nothing else. The student 

 should know something about blood-pressure, which he does 

 not, and something about the nervous paths in brain and 

 cord, of which he is equally ignorant. 'But it may be argued, 

 and I have no doubt will be, that- this worrying out of 

 complex theories is good intellectual exercise. Yes, but so is 

 studying a disease at the bedside ! It is surely more important 

 to know the treatment of iritis, than the size and weight of a 

 red corpuscle. Yet the one is as easy to learn as the other. It is 

 surely more important to know how to treat the alimentary canal 

 in the child, than to be acquainted with the complex chemistry 

 of digestion. Yet brand-new practitioners are yearly turned 

 out by the hundred who know nothing at all about these 

 subjects. It may be said, " These things can be learned in 

 practice." But are they always so learned ? Certainly by 

 some, but not by all ; and, even when thus learned, at 

 what expense to the patients! Think what great good can 

 be done by the knowledge of a few simple facts which could 

 be, but often enough are not, taught at hospitals ; and let us 

 remember that, as the vessel is launched so will it sail. An 

 important fact, properly taught, clings to the memory with 

 wonderful tenacity, and it is surprising what good fruit it will 

 yield through the course of a long life. Without the know- 

 ledge of such a fact, a man may go on blundering in ignorance, 

 for many years, allowing much abateable suffering to go on 

 unrelieved, or, perhaps, even adding to his patient's misery. 

 This may very easily be done in some diseases, as, for 

 example, those of the eye — and behold the strange incon- 



