CHAPTER III.

POPULAR ERRORS, 63

False estimate of the importance of positive medication. This error appears in various ways. Healing of wounds—anointed axe. Attributing effects to agencies just preceding them—post hoc propter hoc mode of reasoning. Referring the cure of a case to some one remedy or measure, when commonly the result of many. Disposition to have something done all the time. Disease considered often as a palpable thing—a humor—a poison—medicines supposed to neutralize it. Specifics. Supposed to be many—really few, if any. Definition. Inadequate ideas of the community of the necessity for discrimination in medical practice. Propensity to look for some universal catholicon. Disease supposed by some to be an unit. A sort of universality of operation attributed to favorite remedies, even sometimes among physicians. Dr. Beddoes’ gases. Physicians correct their errors by experience—the public only exchange one error for another in medicine. Changes in popular opinion in regard to quack remedies.