MEDICAL SCIENCE IN ONTARIO. 211 



inquiry, and the general attainments of physicians, make them con- 

 sidered to be, in a high degree, available to fill positions of the greatest 

 honor, and the highest public trust. And here, in our own fair Ontario, 

 the sprinkling of able medical men, in our Legislative Assembly, is 

 conclusive proof that, the people of this country are not backward to 

 recognize true merit, though it may not obtrude itself, by noisy demon- 

 strations on their notice at every turn.'' 



"It is no vain boast, to claim that the healing art has, in all ages, 

 embraced within its circle, men of culture and of thought, and that, 

 science, in the broadest sense, has been much enriched by the research 

 and learning of the medical profession. The close of the last century, 

 and the beginning of the present, produced discoverers, in the domain 

 of medical science, who may fairly take rank with Newton or Columbus ; 

 and the professsion now claims, among its votaries, men of whom the 

 world may well be proud. It is true that, the seeming diversity in the 

 medical theories of the day, has given rise, in the public mind, to the 

 idea of a diversity of schools ; and we have, in medicine, numerous 

 off-shoots and excrescences from the parent stock, just as we have, in 

 religion, diversity of creeds. Probably, however, in regard to both 

 cases, these diversities arise from superficial examination of the subjects, 

 and inaptitude, or inability, to grasp and apprehend the truth. For, 

 doubtless, in each, there is but one legitimate school, and that one 

 must be founded on truth, which is immutable." 



" But, returning to the subject in hand, it is impossible, I think, 

 to over-estimate the value to the profession, of the Canadian Medical 

 Association. The leading medical men of the Dominion will be 

 brought together, annually, for the reading of papers, and the discus- 

 sion of questions of interest to the profession. Such meetings, while 

 they may be expected to disseminate a vast amount of useful informa- 

 tion, and give the profession the valuable experience, gathered year by 

 year, by practical observation, in regard to the character and treatment 

 of prevailing diseases, will, at the same time, serve as a most whole- 

 some and needed incentive to studious, systematic reading. It has 

 been, probably, too much the habit of the profession, in this country, 

 to consider the goal as having been reached when a ' license to prac- 

 tice ' was secured. Human nature is the same in medical men as in 

 other mortals, and, it seems to be the tendency of human nature to 

 fold hands, and indulge in relaxation, whenever the spur of emulation 

 or self-interest is laid aside. The field is as open to original observers, 

 in the wide Dominion of Canada, as in any other part of the world ; 



