An inquiry into the pathological importance of ulceration of the os uteri : being the Croonian lectures for the year 1854 / by Charles West.

  • West, Charles, 1816-1898.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry into the pathological importance of ulceration of the os uteri : being the Croonian lectures for the year 1854 / by Charles West. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    anxiety; but it is, that I am here to-day in some sort as the representative of those who follow a department of medical practice which, till but recently, this College scarcely countenanced—to whom it has but lately extended honorable distinctions—on whom it has now for the first time imposed a still more honorable duty. While I rejoice, Sir, in the full recognition by this College, of the fact that all departments of our profession, by which suffering can be assuaged, disease arrested, or life prolonged, are alike honorable,—that none are alien from the paths of scientific enquiry, nor unfriendly to that culture of the mind which confers distinction more precious far than any worldly honors,—I dread lest anything that comes from me should seem unworthy of this body, undeserving of that liberality of sentiment and enlargement of view to which I owe it that I have now the opportunity of addressing you. Never, Sir, have I wished so much as I do now for that insight into Nature's ways, which might enable me to justify your appointment of me as Croonian Lecturer for this year, by bringing before this assembly some new truth, or by throwing fresh light on some great principle but dimly seen, or partially understood before ; or at least for those rare gifts of speech which can impart interest and freshness even to subjects trite and commonplace. But, while to such endow- ments I have no pretensions, my need of your indulgence is all the greater, since I have had most to do with small com- plaints and every-day diseases; and if from them I select a subject for these Lectures, though obscure, it still must seem familiar, and, with all the disadvantages of novelty, yet have none of its charms. Frequent as is their occurrence, it must nevertheless be confessed that the Diseases of Women are those concerning which our knowledge is most defective. And yet there seems, at first sight, to be but little reason for these