Introductory lecture delivered before the class of the Medical Department of the St. Louis University : session of 1847-8 / by Charles A. Pope.

  • Pope, Charles A. (Charles Alexander), 1818-1870.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Introductory lecture delivered before the class of the Medical Department of the St. Louis University : session of 1847-8 / by Charles A. Pope. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    May it be the proud lot of some of you gentlemen, to illumine these obscure points, and to extort from nature a knowledge of her secret processes—and thus entwine for your own brows a wreath of unlading glory. But the admirable machinery of man's organism, constantly exposed, as it is, to numerous and varied baneful influences, is liable both to de- rangement and disorder. Heat, cold, miasm and accidents innumerable, are so many causes of disturbance; while dire poison of whatever king- dom, may be mingled with the current of the life's blood, which thus infected, spreads havoc throughout the system, dealing death and de- struction in every pulsation. To note the cause, origin, course and termination of these derange- ments and disorders, constitutes Pathology. It teaches the laws of diseased action, and consequently forms a large and important part of medical science. Without Pathology, in fact, or disease, there would be little practical benefit derived from the cultivation of medicine, and the studies of the physician would be considered as among the curiosi- ties of knowledge. But embracing, as it does, a vast sphere, compre- hending the simplest elements and highest philosophy of medicine, and involving problems of the deepest interest to humanity in the depart- ment of medical and surgical practice, its importance can scarcely be exaggerated. Fully appreciated in this respect by Morgagni and oth- ers, it was not until the immortal labors of the illustrious Bichat, that Pathology found its legitimate basis. The discovery of General Anat- omy by the great Frenchman paved the only true way for the proper study of the ravages and modifications of disease, as it affects particular structures or tissues. Profiting by his labors, and toiling with a zeal and devotion, challenging our praise and admiration, the galaxy of dis- tinguished pathologists of the present day have shed around their own and their country's name a halo of undying glory. It was the dawn of a new era, and its light has been shed abroad not only over all Europe, but its effulgent beams shooting athwart the broad Atlantic, have been reflected back from the Western Hemisphere. Honor then to Andral, Louis, Chomel, Carswell and Cruveilhier. It is not the mere study of the various alterations and changes wrought by disease in the several tissues of the organism, in their more visible and palpable characters—nor of the difference of form, color or consistence of the structural lesions and noxious growths which occur in the body, that constitutes the end and aim of Pathology. This has a more difficult and higher aim. The knowledge of these obvious lesions is indeed important, but they are only the mere results, and as it were the last expression of morbid action. It is these results, in fact, which in numberless instances kill; and as they constitute a large proportion of the cases which fall to the care of the physician, he should of course be intimately acquainted with them. But there are anterior and deeper, though invisible changes, with which it imports still more to be familiar —those primitive and often slight and insidious alterations, which form the first departure from health—which constitute the first link in the chain of deranged function, and whose effects on the blood and sentient nervous extremities, though faint at first, gradually increase in strength,