John Morgan

“ No wonder that the impatient ardor of youth, who cannot brook delay, or always take the necessary time to distinguish truth from falsehood, aspiring to reach the top of science by a rapid flight, hurries them on in a too unguarded manner, when left to themselves, and thus precipitates them into the grossest errors. In medicine, as in other sciences, if they do not set out on sound principles, they pass on from error to error and multiply mistakes, unable to divest themselves of their first prejudices, which, being confirmed by habit, become a second nature. ”

“ Should we for a moment turn our eyes upon the man, who dares to enter upon the practice of Physic, without being properly initiated in the science, or instructed in the important duties of the profession, he would soon present us with a melancholy prospect. If not past all feelings of humanity, what compunctions of conscience, what remorse would not fill his breast from practising at random and in the dark ”

“ That is to teach them how to philosophize justly in medicine.
The greatest genius left to itself is like the earth, when destitute of the fun, incapable of bringing its productions to a perfect maturity. A course of regular instruction is to the mind like the rays of light darting through the obscurity of Chaos. It dispells the clouds that envelope the understanding, and enables the diligent student to penetrate into the secret recesses of nature ”

“ A knowledge of the duties which we owe to society, resulting from the relation in which we stand to one another, is an object of the next importance. After this, whatever relates to the welfare of the body deserves our most immediate concern.—Life, when burdened with disease, is but a complication of woes. Health is that choice seasoning which gives a relish to all our enjoyments. As the end of medical science is to restore and preserve health, the welfare of every individual, of whatever age or sex, is concerned in the improvement of it amongst them. ”

“ Destitute of culture, the imagination of youth shoots wild and unprofitable; but, directed by art and improved by science, a natural genius is like a rich soil, the fruitful source of many benefits to a country.
Whilst the studies of youth are prosecuted under the encouragement and patronage of men distinguished by their literature and worth, they have the highest motives that can animate the pursuits of a generous mind. They consider themselves as under the notice of the public, to which every ingenious person labours to approve himself. ”

“ I am not urging these as arguments for a more expensive practice, but for an improvement of it, by separating physic from surgery and pharmacy, which I think incompatible with them, at least according to the plan of education I have followed, by the advice of some of the most eminent and skillful judges of medical science of any in Great Britain.
What reasonable objection can be then offered against an improvement in the present method of the practice of physic, which, to a man in great business, is by every one allowed to be the most slavish profession known in this part of the world. ”

“ Medical Science is one whole, of which all the branches I have enumerated are the several parts. They may be considered as the links of a chain that have a mutual connection with one another. Anatomy, Materia Medica, Botany, Chymistry, and the Institutions, are only the ladder by which we are to mount up to practice. A general knowledge, at least, in each one of them, is useful to both Physician and Surgeon; particularly to the former, who in proportion as he is more intimately acquainted with them all, will become more skillful in the healing science. ”

“ Was there no difficulty remaining, you would have less scope for a genius of investigation; less honour in being barely followers of others. Both science and honour offer one fate to their votaries. They reward the courage of the brave and of the steady, and repell the faint hearted and irresolute. You have an ample field before you to cultivate. Inspired by a love of science, your diligent inquiry into natural causes and effects must produce discoveries; and these discoveries prompt you with fresh alacrity to new researches; an employment as delightful and honourable as it is advantageous. ”

“ The wisdom of ages approved by experience, the most certain test of knowledge, has taught us the necessity and utility of appointing different persons for these so different employments, and accordingly, we find them prosecuted separately in every wise and polished country, to the great advantage of each, and to the unspeakable emolument of the community. Indeed the benefits which these preservers of the human race, improving each his profession apart, have shed abroad in the world, somewhat resemble the great blessings of nature, the light and air ”

“ For a man of the most finished genius to enter upon practice, having only that stock of knowledge with which his own observation and experience could supply him, unenlightened by those discoveries which others have made, would be an act of presumption. Had this been sufficient to conduct us to the summit of our art, it would have been in a state of perfection many ages ago.
Observation and physical experiments should blend their light to dissipate obscurity from medicine. ”

“ The application of many, amongst the greatest of men, has hitherto been in-insufficient to clear up all our doubts in medicine. How then can it be supposed that any one, untutored in this art, can by his own natural abilities ever reach the bounds of what is already known in it? The great multiplicity of diseases, which beset the human race, present us with a field too vast and unknown for individuals to cultivate by themselves. ”

“ What indeed is all science, but the accumulated observations and discoveries of a succession of many people, framed into a system? When this is once accomplished, every individual may then avail himself of the labours of others, and thus arrive, in a compendious manner, at a competent knowledge of any art. This is happy for us, seeing life is short, and the human mind necessarily occupied with a great number of pursuits, very different from our particular professions, which would not allow us otherwise to go any great lengths. ”

“ Anatomy, in a more limited view, considers the structure of the dead body only; but Physiology teaches the functions of the living body. The distinction will he more easily apprehended from observing, that a person may be a good practical Anatomist, and yet be ignorant of Physiology; but it is impossible to be a good Physiologist, without being an able Anatomist.
The great stock of literature, as well as genius, which is requisite to become an adept in this science, and the important nature of the subject it treats of, point out its dignity and excellency. ”

“ Surgery calls for different powers and qualifications rarely uniting in one man. Are these then all to be blended with the apothecary, the botanist, and chymist, which ought to be, and are each of them separate and distinct in their very nature? Whilst we labour amidst such a variety of pursuits, all improvement must be at a stand. Whereas, let each cultivate his respective branch apart, the physician, surgeon, apothecary &c. the knowledge of medicine will be then daily improved, and it may be practiced with greater accuracy and skill as well as a less expence. ”

“ Whatever anatomical skill a man may boast, yet if he is ignorant of the virtues of Medicines, or of their changes from differently compounding them together, or knows not what are the true indications in the cure, or relief of diseases, he may value himself for expertness in dissection, but every sensible man will hold him cheap as a physician.
Nobody, who is anxious to be skillful in the divine art of healing, will be a niggard of the necessary trouble and expence of rendering himself intelligent in every thing his profession requires he should know. ”

“ The Materia Medica and Botany may very properly be termed the natural history of medicine, as from these branches of science we derive our knowledge of that part of natural history, which more immediately relates to the health giving arts. How worthy of a Physician, a Philosopher or a Gentleman, is the knowledge of the different productions of nature taken in its full extent? I cannot too earnestly recommend this study to young men, to qualify them for every useful profession that is conversant about natural objects, and especially for the study of medicine. ”

“ Destitute of that general knowledge which unveils to us the operations of nature, we cannot penetrate into those truths, that form the rules by which we ought to conduct ourselves, in the cure of diseases.
There is no art yet known which may not contribute somewhat to the improvement of Medicine; nor is there any one which requires more assistance than that of Physic from every other science. Let young men therefore, who would engage in the pursuit of Medicine or Surgery, make use of all their industry, to possess themselves in good time of these acquisitions. ”

“ I am very happy that my country has always discovered too much of a laudable ambition to excell in every branch of polite literature, and has taken too much pleasure in the reputation of her sons, to fill me with apprehension that an education in physic will be accounted too expensive, such as I have thought necessary to qualify myself for practicing my profession with ease of mind to myself and with benefit to the community. ”

“ A thirst of knowledge and a spirit of inquiry are natural to man. It merits our endeavours to direct these to worthy objects. Whilst we are anxious to inform ourselves what were the customs of former ages, by what boundaries distant kingdoms are limited, what were the rites and ceremonies of barbarous nations, or what flowers bloom in the remote Indies;—shall we have no desire of studying what more immediately relates to ourselves? shall we neglect to examine into the divinely curious and amazing structure of our own bodies? ”

“ A very judicious person [3] has remarked, that Medicine is the science concerning which people in common take upon them to reason most, without having the least notion.—Who, that has not made Mathematics his study, will presume to argue upon any of the difficult calculations of Algebra? But when medical subjects are the topic, doubtless we are masters of them without study. It must be confessed indeed, if we know much about medicine without being educated in it, that our ideas of it are truly innate. ”

“ The great extent of medical science, which comprehends under it so many different branches, makes it impossible to learn it thoroughly without we follow a certain order. Whilst we neglect this, all our ideas are but crude conceptions, a rope of sand, without any firm connection. Should the student, as chance or whim might direst, sometimes apply himself to one branch, sometimes to another; or read indiscriminately even the best authors on the different parts of Medicine ”

“ Sure I am that a person of your amiable disposition, whose heart glows with the utmost warmth of social affection, whose mind is enriched with the treasures of ancient and modern learning, and whose taste has been improved and refined, by an acquaintance and conversation with men of the first rank in life and of the greatest abilities in the learned world, must be eminently useful to mankind, and particularly adorn and bless the land wherein providence calls him to reside. ”

“ He confirms his steps, smooths the rugged path he has to tread, assists him in climbing the steep ascent, and, before dismission, informs him how he is to conduct himself, in order to reach at length to the summit of his profession. Having a plan before him, a fixed end in view, and the means of attaining it within his reach, the student, impelled on with irresistable ardor, presses forward, eager to reach the goal of knowledge and the height of all medical attainments; and since he is so well instructed in his career, has the apparent prospect of wished for success. ”

“ They seem to imagine if they hear lectures upon Anatomy only, the branch which I have first mentioned in my discourse, that they can easily make themselves masters of all the other branches of medicine by reading. I blush for those who thus expose either their ignorance or their avarice. Why are they not equally contented with such a share of knowledge in anatomy, as they can gain from books, since this science can be better painted to the eye, than some of the other branches of medicine, which are altogether as necessary to be known by a physician? ”

“ The almost infinite number of objects, to which he ought to be no stranger, pass before him so very slowly, that the longest life would offer to his contemplation but a very inconsiderable share of those, with which he may be made acquainted, in the several branches of his profession, by the instruction of able matters. Shall a novice then hope, merely by his own abilities, to raise a superstructure comparable to that already built up to his hands, which has exhausted the ingenuity and invention, and employed the industry of some thousand years? ”

“ The great Boerhaave, whose example is worthy of imitation, laid it down to himself, as an inviolable law, to divide his time between study and practice.
Where abilities and the love of a profession unite, there is the surest preface of success. But unhappy is the Physician, who has a soul turned to philosophical inquiries, who loves to search into the causes, and investigate the phœnomena of diseases; and yet is at the same time diverted from these useful researches, by other occupations to which he has an aversion. ”