2 RELATION BETWEEN PATHOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS. 
hy the words ^ excess/ ^ defect/ perversion.^ Of this much 
' the student may assure himself when setting to work assidu¬ 
ously to think out some, to him, obscure point in pathology. 
Many facts are patent to his observation at once; the 
animal which is the subject of his solicitude is suffering; 
there is obviously want of ease—^ disease the order which 
obtained a few hours ago is now disturbed; there is disorder 
in its stead. What is the significance to be attached to the 
several manifestations of disorder ? If he is a wise student, 
and not a shallow empiric, or a slave to formularies, he will 
seek to resolve the difficuly by patient inquiry; if, instead, 
he is indifferent about the truth, he will smother his 
awakened curiosity by an effort, not always painless, and 
content himself with the saying, “The horse is out of health, 
give him a little medicine.^’ In taking this last course, he 
does himself an almost irreparable wrong, certainly confers 
no benefit on his patient, and * inflicts an insult upon the 
science he professes to expound. 
The relation between pathology and therapeutics is posi¬ 
tively established in the rational mind; the honest physician 
will not apply a remedy of the action of which he is ignorant, 
to a disease the nature of which he does hot comprehend. 
It is well known to him, of all men, that his duty is to set 
ill order what he finds to be deranged; but he is well aware 
that he must find out first in what the disorder consists, or 
his attempt to rectify may, who shall say how often the 
attempt does, lead to more hopeless perplexity. 
The knowledge of therapeutics has not advanced to the same 
extent as the knowledge of the elements of disease; it is 
easier even now to decide upon the nature of the derange¬ 
ment, than to determine upon the best plan of reparation; 
but notwithstanding the subordinate position of the healing 
art, it is noticeable that whatever progress has been made, is 
in the direction of simplicity as opposed to complexity. The 
combinations of incompatibles which at one time were made 
with scrupulous exactness and often superstitious care, have 
all given place to simple mixtures; and as the formulae have 
been rendered less elaborate, so the discrimination which 
regulates their employment has become more precise. As the 
knowledge of medicinal properties of drugs has increased, so 
has the caution which regulates their use; and it may 
be truly said, that those who know most of pathology, are 
the least anxious to interfere unwisely with the restorative 
power of the organism, and until they have ascertained 
its dominant direction, they are often content to remain 
passive. In many cases doubts may arise; then the pro- 
