A view of the prevailing theories of inflammation : submitted to the consideration of the Honourable Robert Smith, provost, and the regents of the University of Maryland / by Philip R. Edelen, of St. Mary's County, Maryland ; honorary member of the Baltimore Medical Society.

  • Edelen, Philip R.
Date:
1815
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A view of the prevailing theories of inflammation : submitted to the consideration of the Honourable Robert Smith, provost, and the regents of the University of Maryland / by Philip R. Edelen, of St. Mary's County, Maryland ; honorary member of the Baltimore Medical Society. 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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    IV Though the mists of obscurity are becoming every day more dense around the errors of past time; and we look in vain for more than casual truth, through a mass of opinion which has been rapidly increasing since man possessed the instru- ments for its record, it is pleasant and not use- less, to review the various modes which ingenui- ty has devised for the accomplishment of this great aim. For that truth was the object of our predecessors in this walk, we cannot doubt; and when we assert, that but a casual ray lighted their footsteps, we do not mean to plunder them of the merit to which they have a claim. On the score of industry in research, a more enlightened age must yield them the palm. It is rather with the interest of the advocate than the austerity of the judge, we revert to their pretensions. While they were ignorant of principles, they v* ere not inobservant of facts, and noted correctly, what they erred in explaining. Had they not failed here, they would have effected what is rarely ac- complished. They would have outstripped the science of the period in which they lived. We must look to the subsequent discovery of the cir- culation, and the astonishing progress of chemis- try, for the improvement of our science. As it is to them we are indebted for our only true knowledge of the relation between the agency of natural laws, and the phenomena of animal life. The sole source of correct opinion in physic. From the first we derive our acquaintance with natural powers; from the latter our chief know- ledge of natural agents. It is not then from feelings of unmanly hostili- ty to opinions which we consider fairly contro- verted, and holding no longer a ground of de-