326  Latent  Power  in  the  Laboratory.  {AmjJu°iy%££arir' 
for  exact  knowledge.  Laboratories,  such  as  we  see  before  us  to- 
day, testify  in  no  uncertain  language  to  the  development  of  methods 
of  exact  study,  and  the  fact  that  there  is  need  of  such  facilities  as  a 
part  of  the  equipment  by  which  students  are  to  be  trained  in  the 
science  and  art  of  medicine  testifies  more  fully  than  any  words  can 
do  to  the  enormous  advance  that  has  taken  place  in  the  evolution  of 
scientific  medicine  and  in  the  consequent  development  of  medical 
education.  To  pass  through  these  laboratories,  which  are  to-day 
thrown  open  for  inspection,  inspires  one  not  only  with  admiration, 
but  also  with  a  full  appreciation  of  the  increased  facilities  for 
scientific  work  afforded,  and  with  the  fact  that  our  knowledge  has 
grown  to  such  proportions  that  there  is  need  of  this  practical  exposi- 
tion in  teaching.  In  other  words,  we  see  in  these  commodious 
laboratories  clear  demonstration  that  medicine  has  truly  become  an 
exact  science. 
The  laboratory  is  the  foundation  stone  upon  which  is  to  be  reared 
our  temple  of  knowledge,  and  we  do  wisely  when  we  build  this 
foundation  large  and  broad,  a  fitting  support  for  a  structure  that 
shall  tower  aloft,  casting  abroad  over  the  land  a  light  bright  enough 
to  pierce  the  darkness  of  superstition  and  ignorance,  and  shedding 
a  ray  of  hope  for  the  relief  of  the  afflicted  and  for  the  betterment 
of  mankind.  The  laboratory,  when  under  the  supervision  of  a  wise 
leader,  properly  trained  and  alive  to  the  importance  of  what  a  true 
laboratory  should  provide,  becomes  to  the  student  a  revelation  and 
an  inspiration.  Here  he  sees,  perhaps  for  the  first  time,  how  true 
knowledge  is  gained,  how  facts  are  acquired,  and  he  learns  to  observe, 
to  see  for  himself  those  mysteries  which,  when  described  even  by 
the  words  of  a  master,  appear  vague  and  indefinite.  In  the  labora- 
tory, however,  he  is  brought  face  to  face  with  nature,  and  not  only 
does  he  acquire  knowledge  of  nature's  ways,  but,  what  is  of  even 
greater  importance,  he  begins  to  learn  something  of  himself,  of  his 
own  powers  of  observation,  of  his  own  ability  as  an  observer  and 
interpreter  of  what  nature  has  to  show  him.  Gradually  there  creeps 
over  him  a  confidence  in  himself ;  he  begins  to  feel  free  and  inde- 
pendent ;  he  is  no  longer  a  slave  to  his  text-book,  no  longer  an 
unreasoning  believer  in  the  printed  statement  of  the  highest  author- 
ity. Like  Vesalius  of  old,  who,  following  venerated  custom,  tried  to 
believe  Galen  rather  than  his  own  eyes,  he  is  ready  to  throw  to  the 
winds  the  writings  of  others  and  to  believe  what  he  has  himself  seen. 
