Book Description

Excerpt from Outlines of the History of Medicine and the Medical Profession To attain both the objects thus indicated, by bringing to the notice of his colleagues, the practitioners of medicine, the history of their depart ment and their profession, was the original design of the author in the publication of the present work. For those who are interested solely in literary aims his book was not written, and accordingly he has omitted extended bibliographical notices, preferring to refer the reader for these to the larger manuals on this subject.' His plan has been to consider first the genetic side of the subject, introducing for this purpose a sketch of even prehistoric medicine, and next to set forth the history of the medical pro fession in considerable detail. In both departments he has striven to present the subject in such a manner as should awaken and maintain the interest of the reader. Whether he has failed in his purpose or fallen behind the aims which he had set before him it is not for him to decide. No man is perfect; neither is any book. But in so weighty an undertaking as the publication of a work on general history the author hopes for that indulgence which may be claimed, indeed, by every man who has done his work honestly. According to the measure of his strength, and who seeks to appear no greater than he really is. Of course. For most of the facts recorded in the present work the author is indebted to others. Still he has everywhere preserved the right of inde pendent examination and judgment as to who, among the often conflicting authorities, seems, on the whole, the most reliable. Many things, however, he has proved by reference to the original authorities, and thus made them, as it were, his own. The conception of the history of medicine as a branch of the general history of civilization, a large portion of the history of the profession and his account of the most ancient and most recent develop ments of medical art, he believes he may also justly claim as original. That the book has found so conscientious a collaborator, to whom it is indebted for considerable amplification particularly in the sections on English and American medicine, with which he was, of course, better acquainted than the author - and numerous corrections, is an advantage which no one can better appreciate than the author himself. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.