the evolution of modern medicine(现代医药的演变)-第2节
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in vogue contains little of which the utility is remarkable； but； without
having any intention of decrying it； I am sure that there is no one； even
among those who make its study a profession； who does not confess that
all that men know is almost nothing in comparison with what remains to
be known； and that we could be free of an infinitude of maladies both of
body and mind； and even also possibly of the infirmities of age； if we had
sufficient knowledge of their causes； and of all the remedies with which
nature has provided us。 （Descartes： Discourse on the Method；
Philosophical Works。 Translated by E。 S。 Haldane and G。 R。 T。 Ross。 Vol。 I；
Cam。 Univ。 Press； 1911； p。 120。）
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THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN MEDICINE
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
SAIL to the Pacific with some Ancient Mariner； and traverse day by
day that silent sea until you reach a region never before furrowed by keel
where a tiny island； a mere speck on the vast ocean； has just risen from the
depths； a little coral reef capped with green； an atoll； a mimic earth；
fringed with life； built up through countless ages by life on the remains of
life that has passed away。 And now； with wings of fancy； join Ianthe in the
magic car of Shelley； pass the eternal gates of the flaming ramparts of the
world and see his vision：
Below lay stretched the boundless Universe！ There； far as the
remotest line That limits swift imagination's flight； Unending orbs mingled
in mazy motion； Immutably fulfilling Eternal Nature's law。 Above； below；
around； The circling systems formed A wilderness of harmony。 （Daemon
of the World； Pt。 I。）
And somewhere； 〃as fast and far the chariot flew；〃 amid the mighty
globes would be seen a tiny speck； 〃earth's distant orb；〃 one of 〃the
smallest lights that twinkle in the heavens。〃 Alighting； Ianthe would find
something she had probably not seen elsewhere in her magic flightlife；
everywhere encircling the sphere。 And as the little coral reef out of a vast
depth had been built up by generations of polyzoa； so she would see that
on the earth； through illimitable ages； successive generations of animals
and plants had left in stone their imperishable records： and at the top of the
series she would meet the thinking； breathing creature known as man。
Infinitely little as is the architect of the atoll in proportion to the earth on
which it rests； the polyzoon； I doubt not； is much larger relatively than is
man in proportion to the vast systems of the Universe； in which he
represents an ultra…microscopic atom less ten thousand times than the
tiniest of the 〃gay motes that people the sunbeams。〃 Yet； with colossal
audacity； this thinking atom regards himself as the anthropocentric pivot
around which revolve the eternal purposes of the Universe。 Knowing not
whence he came； why he is here； or whither he is going； man feels himself
of supreme importance； and certainly is of interestto himself。 Let us hope
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that he has indeed a potency and importance out of all proportion to his
somatic insignificance。 We know of toxins of such strength that an amount
too infinitesimal to be gauged may kill； and we know that 〃the unit
adopted in certain scientific work is the amount of emanation produced by
one million…millionth of a grain of radium； a quantity which itself has a
volume of less than a million…millionth of a cubic millimetre and weighs a
million million times less than an exceptionally delicate chemical balance
will turn to〃 （Soddy； 1912）。 May not man be the radium of the Universe？
At any rate let us not worry about his size。 For us he is a very potent
creature； full of interest； whose mundane story we are only beginning to
unravel。
Civilization is but a filmy fringe on the history of man。 Go back as far
as his records carry us and the story written on stone is of yesterday in
comparison with the vast epochs of time which modern studies demand
for his life on the earth。 For two millions （some hold even three millions）
of years man lived and moved and had his being in a world very different
from that upon which we look out。 There appear； indeed； to have been
various types of man； some as different from us as we are from the
anthropoid apes。 What upstarts of yesterday are the Pharaohs in
comparison with the men who survived the tragedy of the glacial period！
The ancient history of manonly now beginning to be studied dates from
the Pliocene or Miocene period； the modern history； as we know it；
embraces that brief space of time that has elapsed since the earliest
Egyptian and Babylonian records were made。 This has to be borne in mind
in connection with the present mental status of man； particularly in his
outlook upon nature。 In his thoughts and in his attributes； mankind at large
is controlled by inherited beliefs and impulses； which countless thousands
of years have ingrained like instinct。 Over vast regions of the earth today；
magic； amulets； charms； incantations are the chief weapons of defense
against a malignant nature； and in disease； the practice of Asa＇*＇ is
comparatively novel and unusual； in days of illness many millions more
still seek their gods rather than the physicians。 In an upward path man has
had to work out for himself a relationship with his fellows and with nature。
He sought in the supernatural an explanation of the pressing phenomena of
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life； peopling the world with spiritual beings； deifying objects of nature；
and assigning to them benign or malign influences； which might be
invoked or propitiated。 Primitive priest； physician and philosopher were
one； and struggled； on the one hand； for the recognition of certain
practices forced on him by experience； and on the other； for the
recognition of mystical agencies which control the dark； 〃uncharted
region〃 about himto use Prof。 Gilbert Murray's phrase and were
responsible for everything he could not understand； and particularly for
the mysteries of disease。 Pliny remarks that physic 〃was early fathered
upon the gods〃； and to the ordinary non…medical mind； there is still
something mysterious about sickness； something outside the ordinary
standard。
＇*＇ II Chronicles xvi； 12。
Modern anthropologists claim that both religion and medicine took
origin in magic； 〃that spiritual protoplasm；〃 as Miss Jane Harrison calls it。
To primitive man； magic was the setting in motion of a spiritual power to
help or to hurt the individual； and early forms may still be studied in the
native races。 This power； or 〃mana；〃 as it is called； while possessed in a
certain degree by all； may be increased by practice。 Certain individuals
come to possess it very strongly： among native Australians today it is still
deliberately cultivated。 Magic in healing seeks to control the demons； or
forces； causing disease； and in a way it may be thus regarded as a 〃lineal
ancestor of modern science〃 （Whetham）； which； too； seeks to control
certain forces； no longer； however； regarded as supernatural。
Primitive man recognized many of these superhuman agencies relating
to disease； such as the spirits of the dead； either human or animal；
independent disease demons； or individuals who might act by controlling
the spirits or agencies of disease。 We see this today among the negroes of
the Southern States。 A Hoodoo put upon a negro may； if he knows of it；
work upon him so powerfully through the imagination that he becomes
very ill indeed； and only through a more powerful magic exercised by
someone else can the Hoodoo be taken off。
To primitive man life seemed 〃full of sacred pre
