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time to bring you。 In the meanwhile （if we will let the lion be uppermost for a moment）； the young man's senses are quicker than those of his older rival。 His education in all the accessory branches is more recent； and therefore nearer the existing condition of knowledge。 He finds it easier than his seniors to accept the improvements which every year is bringing forward。 New ideas build their nests in young men's brains。 〃Revolutions are not made by men in spectacles；〃 as I once heard it remarked； and the first whispers of a new truth are not caught by those who begin to feel the need of an ear…trumpet。 Granting all these advantages to the young man； he ought； nevertheless； to go on improving； on the whole； as a medical practitioner； with every year； until he has ripened into a well… mellowed maturity。 But； to improve； he must be good for something at the start。 If you ship a poor cask of wine to India and back； if you keep it a half a century； it only grows thinner and sharper。
You are soon to enter into relations with the public； to expend your skill and knowledge for its benefit； and find your support in the rewards of your labor。 What kind of a constituency is this which is to look to you as its authorized champions in the struggle of life against its numerous enemies？
In the first place； the persons who seek the aid of the physician are very honest and sincere in their wish to get rid of their complaints； and； generally speaking； to live as long as they can。 However attractively the future is painted to them； they are attached to the planet with which they are already acquainted。 They are addicted to the daily use of this empirical and unchemical mixture which we call air； and would hold on to it as a tippler does to his alcoholic drinks。 There is nothing men will not do； there is nothing they have not done； to recover their health and save their lives。 They have submitted to be half…drowned in water； and half…choked with gases； to be buried up to their chins in earth； to be seared with hot irons like galley…slaves； to be crimped with knives； like cod…fish； to have needles thrust into their flesh； and bonfires kindled on their skin； to swallow all sorts of abominations； and to pay for all this； as if to be singed and scalded were a costly privilege； as if blisters were a blessing； and leeches were a luxury。 What more can be asked to prove their honesty and sincerity？
This same community is very intelligent with respect to a great many subjects…commerce； mechanics； manufactures； politics。 But with regard to medicine it is hopelessly ignorant and never finds it out。 I do not know that it is any worse in this country than in Great Britain； where Mr。 Huxley speaks very freely of 〃the utter ignorance of the simplest laws of their own animal life； which prevails among even the most highly educated persons。〃 And Cullen said before him 〃Neither the acutest genius nor the soundest judgment will avail in judging of a particular science； in regard to which they have not been exercised。 I have been obliged to please my patients sometimes with reasons； and I have found that any will pass； even with able divines and acute lawyers； the same will pass with the husbands as with the wives。〃 If the community could only be made aware of its own utter ignorance； and incompetence to form opinions on medical subjects； difficult enough to those who give their lives to the study of them； the practitioner would have an easier task。 But it will form opinions of its own； it cannot help it； and we cannot blame it； even though we know how slight and deceptive are their foundations。
This is the way it happens： Every grown…up person has either been ill himself or had a friend suffer from illness； from which he has recovered。 Every sick person has done something or other by somebody's advice； or of his own accord； a little before getting better。 There is an irresistible tendency to associate the thing done； and the improvement which followed it； as cause and effect。 This is the great source of fallacy in medical practice。 But the physician has some chance of correcting his hasty inference。 He thinks his prescription cured a single case of a particular complaint； he tries it in twenty similar cases without effect； and sets down the first as probably nothing more than a coincidence。 The unprofessional experimenter or observer has no large experience to correct his hasty generalization。 He wants to believe that the means he employed effected his cure。 He feels grateful to the person who advised it； he loves to praise the pill or potion which helped him； and he has a kind of monumental pride in himself as a living testimony to its efficacy。 So it is that you will find the community in which you live； be it in town or country； full of brands plucked from the burning； as they believe； by some agency which； with your better training； you feel reasonably confident had nothing to do with it。 Their disease went out of itself； and the stream from the medical fire…annihilator had never even touched it。
You cannot and need not expect to disturb the public in the possession of its medical superstitions。 A man's ignorance is as much his private property； and as precious in his own eyes； as his family Bible。 You have only to open your own Bible at the ninth chapter of St。 John's Gospel； and you will find that the logic of a restored patient was very simple then； as it is now； and very hard to deal with。 My clerical friends will forgive me for poaching on their sacred territory； in return for an occasional raid upon the medical domain of which they have now and then been accused。
A blind man was said to have been restored to sight by a young person whom the learned doctors of the Jewish law considered a sinner； and； as such； very unlikely to have been endowed with a divine gift of healing。 They visited the patient repeatedly； and evidently teased him with their questions about the treatment； and their insinuations about the young man； until he lost his temper。 At last he turned sharply upon them： 〃Whether he be a sinner or no； I know not： one thing I know； that； whereas I was blind； now I see。〃
This is the answer that always has been and always will be given by most persons when they find themselves getting well after doing anything； no matter what；recommended by anybody； no matter whom。 Lord Bacon； Robert Boyle； Bishop Berkeley； all put their faith in panaceas which we should laugh to scorn。 They had seen people get well after using them。 Are we any wiser than those great men？ Two years ago； in a lecture before the Massachusetts Historical Society； I mentioned this recipe of Sir Kenelm Digby for fever and ague： Pare the patient's nails； put the parings in a little bag； and hang the bag round the neck of a live eel； and place him in a tub of water。 The eel will die； and the patient will recover。
Referring to this prescription in the course of the same lecture； I said： 〃You smiled when I related Sir Kenehn Digby's prescription； with the live eel in it； but if each of you were to empty his or her pockets； would there not roll out； from more than one of them； a horse…chestnut； carried about as a cure for rheumatism？