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of health。 It is a mistake to suppose that the normal state of
health is represented by a straight horizontal line。 Independently
of the well…known causes which raise or depress the standard of
vitality； there seems to be；I think I may venture to say there is；
a rhythmic undulation in the flow of the vital force。 The 〃dynamo〃
which furnishes the working powers of consciousness and action has
its annual； its monthly； its diurnal waves； even its momentary
ripples； in the current it furnishes。 There are greater and lesser
curves in the movement of every day's life；a series of ascending
and descending movements； a periodicity depending on the very nature
of the force at work in the living organism。 Thus we have our good
seasons and our bad seasons； our good days and our bad days； life
climbing and descending in long or short undulations； which I have
called the curve of health。
》From this fact spring a great proportion of the errors of medical
practice。 On it are based the delusions of the various shadowy
systems which impose themselves on the ignorant and half…learned
public as branches or 〃schools〃 of science。 A remedy taken at the
time of the ascent in the curve of health is found successful。 The
same remedy taken while the curve is in its downward movement proves
a failure。
So long as this biological law exists； so long the charlatan will
keep his hold on the ignorant public。 So long as it exists； the
wisest practitioner will be liable to deceive himself about the
effect of what he calls and loves to think are his remedies。 Long…
continued and sagacious observation will to some extent undeceive
him； but were it not for the happy illusion that his useless or even
deleterious drugs were doing good service； many a practitioner would
give up his calling for one in which he could be more certain that he
was really being useful to the subjects of his professional dealings。
For myself； I should prefer a physician of a sanguine temperament；
who had a firm belief in himself and his methods。 I do not wonder at
all that the public support a whole community of pretenders who show
the portraits of the patients they have 〃cured。〃 The best physicians
will tell you that； though many patients get well under their
treatment； they rarely cure anybody。 If you are told also that the
best physician has many more patients die on his hands than the worst
of his fellow…practitioners； you may add these two statements to your
bundle of paradoxes； and if they puzzle you I will explain them at
some future time。
＇I take this opportunity of correcting a statement now going the
rounds of the medical and probably other periodicals。 In 〃The
Journal of the American Medical Association；〃 dated April 26；1890；
published at Chicago； I am reported； in quotation marks； as saying；
〃Give me opium； wine； and milk； and I will cure all diseases to which
flesh is heir。〃
In the first place； I never said I will cure； or can cure； or would
or could cure； or had cured any disease。 My venerated instructor；
Dr。 James Jackson； taught me never to use that expression。 Curo
means； I take care of； he used to say； and in that sense； if you mean
nothing more； it is properly employed。 So； in the amphitheatre of
the Ecole de Medecine； I used to read the words of Ambroise Pare； Je
le pansay； Dieu le guarist。〃 （I dressed his wound； and God cured
him。） Next； I am not in the habit of talking about 〃the diseases to
which flesh is heir。〃 The expression has become rather too familiar
for repetition； and belongs to the rhetoric of other latitudes。 And；
lastly； I have said some plain things； perhaps some sharp ones； about
the abuse of drugs and the limited number of vitally important
remedies； but I am not so ignorantly presumptuous as to make the
foolish statement falsely attributed to me。＇
I paused a minute or two； and as no one spoke out； I put a question
to the Counsellor。
Are you quite sure that you wish to live to be threescore and twenty
years old？
〃Most certainly I do。 Don't they say that Theophrastus lived to his
hundred and seventh year； and did n't he complain of the shortness of
life？ At eighty a man has had just about time to get warmly settled
in his nest。 Do you suppose he doesn't enjoy the quiet of that
resting…place？ No more haggard responsibility to keep him awake
nights；unless he prefers to retain his hold on offices and duties
from which he can be excused if be chooses。 No more goading
ambitions；he knows he has done his best。 No more jealousies； if he
were weak enough to feel such ignoble stirrings in his more active
season。 An octogenarian with a good record； and free from annoying
or distressing infirmities； ought to be the happiest of men。
Everybody treats him with deference。 Everybody wants to help him。
He is the ward of the generations that have grown up since he was in
the vigor of maturity。 Yes； let me live to be fourscore years； and
then I will tell you whether I should like a few more years or not。〃
You carry the feelings of middle age； I said； in imagination； over
into the period of senility； and then reason and dream about it as if
its whole mode of being were like that of the earlier period of life。
But how many things there are in old age which you must live into if
you would expect to have any 〃realizing sense〃 of their significance！
In the first place； you have no coevals； or next to none。 At fifty；
your vessel is stanch； and you are on deck with the rest； in all
weathers。 At sixty； the vessel still floats； and you are in the
cabin。 At seventy； you； with a few fellow…passengers； are on a raft。
At eighty； you are on a spars to which； possibly； one； or two； or
three friends of about your own age are still clinging。 After that；
you must expect soon to find yourself alone； if you are still
floating； with only a life…preserver to keep your old white…bearded
chin above the water。
Kindness？ Yes； pitying kindness； which is a bitter sweet in which
the amiable ingredient can hardly be said to predominate。 How
pleasant do you think it is to have an arm offered to you when you
are walking on a level surface； where there is no chance to trip？
How agreeable do you suppose it is to have your well…meaning friends
shout and screech at you； as if you were deaf as an adder； instead of
only being； as you insist； somewhat hard of hearing？ I was a little
over twenty years old when I wrote the lines which some of you may
have met with； for they have been often reprinted ：
The mossy marbles rest
On the lips that he has prest
In their bloom；
And the names he loved to hear
Have been carved for many a year
On the tomb。
The world was a garden to me then； it is a churchyard now。
〃I thought you were one of those who looked upon old age cheerfully；
and welcomed it as a season of peace and contented enjoyment。〃
I