The history of past and present medical delusions is also most instructive. We need not go to the Sangrados of a past generation, who treated every disease by blood-letting, or the search for the elixir of life in illustration; the contagion of false hopes in relation to consumption, which upset the judgment of two hemispheres, cannot yet be forgotten. Thoughtful physicians possess abundant warning against being carried away by new theories which violate the moral sense or the Law of Unity, even when such theories are supported by distinguished names.
Experience proves the potent character of mental stimuli in moulding practical action. Fear or hope, curiosity, vanity, cupidity, when regardless of the Law of Unity, seize upon isolated phenomena removed from their natural connection, and distort them by creating morbid conditions, thus viewing facts out of proportion. Statistics thus formed become fallacious, and serve as the bases of dangerous theories—theories which, unless checked by popular common-sense from being put into practice, would cause the moral and physical degradation of the race. I need only refer to the folly of injustice embodied in certain medical acts lately abolished and to the present theory of inoculation, as noteworthy instances of dangerous mental delusion desiring to shape itself into action.
Materialism, which is blind to other than sensuous life, which insists upon reducing every phenomenon to the limits of the senses, which refuses to be enlightened by any higher reality, or sneers at the term ‘vitality,’ neglects a great range of positive facts, and has no right to the noble name of science. Reflection, therefore, shows that the moulding and guiding power of mental action in shaping physical results being a fact of the most far-reaching character and of permanent operation in sentient creation, its omission in a Congress of Health was a serious injury to the results of the Congress. It was a sufficient reason for that sterility of result which has been publicly and privately expressed.
The error of not recognising mental as well as physical forces, or the Law of Unity, in relation to health, and the tyranny that may result from such imperfect method in the study and application of sanitation and medicine, may be illustrated by an interesting incident of the Congress.
An important joint meeting of two sections took place in order to listen to the discourse of one of our ablest investigators—a man in high position, and one who wields a powerful influence on the rising generation of medical students. This gentleman early in his discourse made the following noteworthy announcement: ‘I claim the right of science to dictate’—and as if to strengthen this claim by the authority of our French brethren he added ‘conformément à la logique’—‘I claim the right of science to dictate in accordance with logic.’
The bold demand for absolute obedience thus authoritatively made by a professor at the head of biological research demands careful consideration. It is the announcement of a new priesthood or esoteric sect of physical science. In the mind of the speaker it means that his science is identical with truth. If that be admitted, it is the highest wisdom of the human being to obey gladly and unhesitatingly, and the teacher thus inspired with truth rightfully commands our grateful and profound reverence. But this claim may also mean the unconscious arrogance of a mind taking too narrow a view of science—a mind which, whilst earnest and laborious in investigating partial phenomena, is intoxicated by the discovery of new facts with the theories which can be built upon them, and at once announces himself as one of the priests of a new religion demanding absolute obedience; for the temptation of all priesthoods is to form an esoteric sect.
In this second case it is the bounden duty of every truthful mind to refuse obedience. For until the claim is fully examined in all its aspects, in both its physical and mental relations, and sustained by the deliberate and hearty assent of all intelligent minds and the instinctive accord of the people generally, this demand for absolute obedience to the theories of so-called science must be resolutely withstood as a reintroduction of mischievous and degrading superstition.
The special occasion which led to this unfortunate claim for dictation, or the compulsory regulation of disease by specialists, was the subject of tuberculosis and the exaggerated claim of the modern bacteriologist that the tubercle bacillus is the sole primary cause of consumption, with the logical claim that, as only the thoroughly-trained specialist can detect this bacillus, consumption should be scheduled as a contagious disease, and subjected to the rigorous regulations of the specialist and his board of advisers.
As our largest item in annual mortality is death from tuberculosis—about 14 per cent. with us—and as food and air may introduce a bacillus into the system, we can dimly imagine the extent to which the claim for dictation may grow in ‘accordance with logic.’
Many striking instances of crude official tyranny were revealed by our Canadian and other foreign delegates. Thus, railway passengers from Montreal to Ontario were compulsorily revaccinated on the train before being allowed to enter Ontario.[5] The foolish and fallacious system of attempting to regulate special vice was seen to prevail largely in the inexperienced civilizations of Canada and Western United States.