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Herbert Spencer.
HERBERT SPENCER.
1738
proportion of recoveries is increasing, for of the first ten has as yet reaped benefits which were hardly comparcases only three patients recovered, while of the seven able with those which he has conferred on kindred branches patients admitted during 1903 six have recovered. We hope of science ; indeed, the full significance of his definitions of that when the number of cases at St. George’s Hospital life and death and disease are by no means to-day as fully reaches 100 we may have the statistics brought up to date, valued by those who attempt to unravel the problems of for the larger the number of cases in a series the more pathology as they undoubtedly deserve to be. The conception of disease as a "disturbance of organic equilibrium,a trustworthy are the conclusions to be drawn therefrom. I perverted manifestation of energy, and an uneconomical redistributing force, is one which has only found expression
of evolution, laid the foundations, and completed the mighty edifice. We do not attempt to appraise the size or the value
medical writers who have come under the influence of his genius. But pathological manifestation?, like all other natural phenomena, are subject to immutable laws, and as medicine becomes more and more an exact science we may expect to see among its practitioners a wider appreciation of HERBERT SPENCER’S
of the
synthetic work.
Herbert
in
Spencer.
THE hand of death has removed from the ranks of the
living
another of the triumvirate who conceived the
part which
theory
each artificer contributed to the
com-
of the whole. It must be remembered, however, that HERBERT SPENCER’S achievement was unique in the annals of literature; with a limited scientific equipment,
pletion
some
few of
our
HERBERT SPENCER
of
was
himself little interested in the generalisations as he occa-
but such
problems pathology, sionally ventured to form had an illuminating influence with no classical training, and with, at first, no conspicuous on the conception of morbid processes. It has been a loss to literary gifts he imposed upon himself, the task of sys- medical progress that his philosophy extended so little in tematising all knowledge and of symbolising in concrete this direction. Up to the end of his illustrious career he ideas the processes whereby organic and inorganic nature fought with all the energy and the sincerity of which his had arrived at the stages of development at which he found profound mind was capable for the principle that acquired them. He assumed at the commencement of his task that there were certain immutable laws which were responsible for all conditions of change, and as a sequence he laid it down that in all the phenomena of the material world there was a gradual passage of matter from an incoherent homogeneity to a definite coherent heterogeneity, during which the retained motion undergoes a parallel transformation." Applying and extending this general formula to the interpretation of particular phenomena he sketched in his First Principles " the outline of a philosophy which covered the entire ground of biology, psychology, sociology, and ethics. At the time that he moulded the skeleton of the system which he ultimately clothed with adequate tissues his knowledge of biology, psychology, sociology, and ethics was admittedly small. He was, as he described himself, 11 merely a synthetic philosopher," a systematiser of the work of others. His knowledge of the completed anatomy of his skeleton, with its nerves, its muscles, and its integuments, was still to be acquired, and was acquired as he proceeded with his task and then published for the benefit of the world in the volumes which unfolded the details of his many-faceted philosophy. The real greatness of the man is not least revealed in the fact that never, or practically never, was he compelled by force of evidence to abandon any of the original propositions which he laid down in his "First Principles," or, with maturer experience and knowledge of the subject, to modify any of the important views which he therein enunciated. Guided entirely by first principles and laws which were universally applicable he seldom fell into gross error, and by reason of the exactness of his methods few could criticise or find fault with his less important observations. The principles which HERBERT SPENCER enunciated are to-day accepted all the world over as the basis of an exact philosophical reascning and his conceptions have influenced the directions of progress of almost every science. Biology has by no means been the least to profit by his work. Medicine
characteristics were, or falseness of this utmost
and must be, inherited. The truth postulate was, he contended, of the
importance to the
progress of mankind, for according regard this question so are
to the manner in which men
determined their actions in politics, ethics, education, and sociology. In the appendix of the last edition of his "Principles of Biology," which was written only a few years before his death, and which therefore may be accepted as representing his final word on this subject, he expresses the depth of his feeling in the follow-
ing that
words :
of the
"And
now
I must
once
more
point
out
in
respect biologists grave responsibility general question (inheritance), since wrong answers rests
a
on
among other effects, to wrong beliefs about social In me this affairs and to disastrous social actions.
lead,
conviction is increasingly strengthened. Though the ’ Origin of Species ’ proved to me that the transmission of acquired characters cannot be the sole factor in organic evolution, yet I have never wavered in the belief that it is a factor and an all-important factor. And I have felt more
and
more
that since all the
higher
sciences
are
the science of life and must have their condependent clusions vitiated if a fundamental datum given to them by on
the teachers of this science is erroneous, it behoves these teachers not to let an erroneous datum pass current ; they
called on to settle this vexed question one way or other." The truth or the reverse of his views on the inheritable qualities of acquired characteristics is of universal importance, but more especially so in medical science ; and although his proposition is by no means opposed to the accumulated evidence of clinical experience, nevertheless deductions from morphology, laboratory experiments, and microscopic investigation at least lay it open to serious doubts. As we have already said, HERBERT SPENCER’S views have seldom proved wrong. His purview of organic evolution was so far-reaching in extent that we must hesitate many times before we reject on grounds of detail are
THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON AND MEDICAL EDUCATION.
proposition in which he firmly believed and which was material to the stability of his great argument. "Every change," wrote HERBERT SPENCER in his " Principles of Biology," " is towards equilibrium, and that change And again can never cease until equilibrium is reached." is matter and "Evolution an integration of he postulated : In his own powers concomitant dissipation of motion." of mental cerebration he provided one of those great climaxes of intellectual evolution which at times anticipate, perhaps by generations, the progress of knowledge. The integrated forces from which proceeded this intellectual outflow have now found their equilibrium and that life which was devoted to the fathoming of the knowable has passed to the regions of the unknowable. The influence of his intellect will persist, permeating men’s minds and
the
a
University
commends to the attention of
1739 a
generous
impossible to find features which fail to command universal approval. Fortunately, while recognising the impossibility of pleasing all parties the authorities move forward, doubtless carefully considering the criticisms, and taking every precaution to avoid the pitfalls pointed
public,
’,
it is not
Mr. T. BAILEY SAUNDERS, whose work as secretary of the Statutory Commission gives his opinion on university matters weight, has lately indicated the difficulties that will have to be overcome, if I the scheme, which is usually called Lord ROSEBERY’S Charlottenburg scheme, is to achieve the good results hoped for by its promoters. Sir ARTHUR RuCKER’s reply to these criticisms makes it clear that most of Mr. SAUNDERS’S objections have already been noted by the authorities. It ! remains to be seen with what success the substantiating his conceptions in psychology. powerful and committee the details of now representative considering devise a scheme Lord ROSEBERY’S proposal will be able to which, while filling vacant educational spaces, will not The of London and unduly interfere with existing institutions. Difficult as is Medical Education. the problem it certainly should not prove insoluble. Almost WE publish in another column a thoroughly well- immediately after it had been officially announced that an justified appeal made by the University of London for funds additional amount of .E 100,000 would enable the incorto support an adequate system of medical education in the poration of University College with the University of London metropolis. The appeal takes the form of a letter signed to be carried into effect the satisfactory news came to by the Earl of ROSEBERY, the Chancellor of the University ; hand that the College had received an anonymous donation Dr. P. H. PYE SMITH, the Vice-Chancellor; Sir ARTHUR of one-half the needed sum. We offer our hearty conRÜCKER, the Principal; Mr. H. T. BUTLIN, the Dean ; and gratulations to the authorities of University College upon Dr. J, KINGSTON Fowr.ER, a member of the Senate ; and in this latest indication of the public appreciation of the this document all the arguments for the foundation of a good work which they have done in the past under difficult central institute for the preliminary scientific education of conditions. the medical student are succinctly set forth. A Royal ComThe last of the three aims of the University which the mission has recommended that the teaching of such subjects Principal linked together as requiring and deserving the as physics, chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, and immediate support of the public purse is that in which the or two should be concentrated into one medical profession is most interested-namely, the proposal pharmacology central institutions. The recommendation was adopted by to build and to endow an institute of medical sciences in the the Statutory Commission responsible for the statutes of the near neighbourhood of the University. The Principal stated reconstituted University and has since been endorsed by the that this scheme was well in hand and that the profaculty of medicine, which has urged upon the Senate the posal was receiving the warm support of the Senate, and advisability of carrying out a project so importantly brought now the letter, which we publish to-day in our columns, to its notice. Lord ROSEBERY and his co-signatories have, shows that it is intended to make an immediate attempt therefore, behind them an enormous weight of deliberate towards its realisation. We understand that promises and authoritative opinion when they appeal to the public of pecuniary help towards this object are somewhat diffifor funds to establish in connexion with the University of cult to obtain. London has not been accustomed to London a central school for the teaching of subjects find money to promote medical education, and it will ancillary to the acquisition of medical science or preliminary require much eloquence on the part of those who recoto the practice of medical doctrines. We trust that the gnise the value of concentration to persuade the wealthy appeal will be generously responded to. public to subscribe the considerable sum required to build The affairs of the University of London have lately been and to endow the institute. Nevertheless, we are conmuch in evidence. The address recently delivered by fident that the example that has been set in provincial Sir ARTHUR RÜCKER on the work and aims of the universities and colleges will shortly be followed by University of London marked a distinct forward step wealthy citizens of London. Sir TREVOR LAWRENCE, in the organisation of education in the metropolis. It in defending the original determination of the governors is not a matter for surprise that some considerable of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital to rebuild their charity time should have elapsed before the Senate of the reconwhat is now allowed to be an inadequate site, alluded stituted University was able to announce to what small to the subject in a suggestive way. He pointed out that portions of its mighty task united effort would first be the taking over by the University of the teaching of directed. The irresponsible critic has frequently in the last certain subjects of medical education now taught at three years grumbled at the apparent absence of immediate the hospitals will provide, in hospitals having medical results from the work of the Statutory Commission, and even schools attached, an automatic extension of their sites. in the three important schemes which the Principal of This is no doubt true and is not the least of the out to them.
University
Ion
1738
proportion of recoveries is increasing, for of the first ten has as yet reaped benefits which were hardly comparcases only three patients recovered, while of the seven able with those which he has conferred on kindred branches patients admitted during 1903 six have recovered. We hope of science ; indeed, the full significance of his definitions of that when the number of cases at St. George’s Hospital life and death and disease are by no means to-day as fully reaches 100 we may have the statistics brought up to date, valued by those who attempt to unravel the problems of for the larger the number of cases in a series the more pathology as they undoubtedly deserve to be. The conception of disease as a "disturbance of organic equilibrium,a trustworthy are the conclusions to be drawn therefrom. I perverted manifestation of energy, and an uneconomical redistributing force, is one which has only found expression
of evolution, laid the foundations, and completed the mighty edifice. We do not attempt to appraise the size or the value
medical writers who have come under the influence of his genius. But pathological manifestation?, like all other natural phenomena, are subject to immutable laws, and as medicine becomes more and more an exact science we may expect to see among its practitioners a wider appreciation of HERBERT SPENCER’S
of the
synthetic work.
Herbert
in
Spencer.
THE hand of death has removed from the ranks of the
living
another of the triumvirate who conceived the
part which
theory
each artificer contributed to the
com-
of the whole. It must be remembered, however, that HERBERT SPENCER’S achievement was unique in the annals of literature; with a limited scientific equipment,
pletion
some
few of
our
HERBERT SPENCER
of
was
himself little interested in the generalisations as he occa-
but such
problems pathology, sionally ventured to form had an illuminating influence with no classical training, and with, at first, no conspicuous on the conception of morbid processes. It has been a loss to literary gifts he imposed upon himself, the task of sys- medical progress that his philosophy extended so little in tematising all knowledge and of symbolising in concrete this direction. Up to the end of his illustrious career he ideas the processes whereby organic and inorganic nature fought with all the energy and the sincerity of which his had arrived at the stages of development at which he found profound mind was capable for the principle that acquired them. He assumed at the commencement of his task that there were certain immutable laws which were responsible for all conditions of change, and as a sequence he laid it down that in all the phenomena of the material world there was a gradual passage of matter from an incoherent homogeneity to a definite coherent heterogeneity, during which the retained motion undergoes a parallel transformation." Applying and extending this general formula to the interpretation of particular phenomena he sketched in his First Principles " the outline of a philosophy which covered the entire ground of biology, psychology, sociology, and ethics. At the time that he moulded the skeleton of the system which he ultimately clothed with adequate tissues his knowledge of biology, psychology, sociology, and ethics was admittedly small. He was, as he described himself, 11 merely a synthetic philosopher," a systematiser of the work of others. His knowledge of the completed anatomy of his skeleton, with its nerves, its muscles, and its integuments, was still to be acquired, and was acquired as he proceeded with his task and then published for the benefit of the world in the volumes which unfolded the details of his many-faceted philosophy. The real greatness of the man is not least revealed in the fact that never, or practically never, was he compelled by force of evidence to abandon any of the original propositions which he laid down in his "First Principles," or, with maturer experience and knowledge of the subject, to modify any of the important views which he therein enunciated. Guided entirely by first principles and laws which were universally applicable he seldom fell into gross error, and by reason of the exactness of his methods few could criticise or find fault with his less important observations. The principles which HERBERT SPENCER enunciated are to-day accepted all the world over as the basis of an exact philosophical reascning and his conceptions have influenced the directions of progress of almost every science. Biology has by no means been the least to profit by his work. Medicine
characteristics were, or falseness of this utmost
and must be, inherited. The truth postulate was, he contended, of the
importance to the
progress of mankind, for according regard this question so are
to the manner in which men
determined their actions in politics, ethics, education, and sociology. In the appendix of the last edition of his "Principles of Biology," which was written only a few years before his death, and which therefore may be accepted as representing his final word on this subject, he expresses the depth of his feeling in the follow-
ing that
words :
of the
"And
now
I must
once
more
point
out
in
respect biologists grave responsibility general question (inheritance), since wrong answers rests
a
on
among other effects, to wrong beliefs about social In me this affairs and to disastrous social actions.
lead,
conviction is increasingly strengthened. Though the ’ Origin of Species ’ proved to me that the transmission of acquired characters cannot be the sole factor in organic evolution, yet I have never wavered in the belief that it is a factor and an all-important factor. And I have felt more
and
more
that since all the
higher
sciences
are
the science of life and must have their condependent clusions vitiated if a fundamental datum given to them by on
the teachers of this science is erroneous, it behoves these teachers not to let an erroneous datum pass current ; they
called on to settle this vexed question one way or other." The truth or the reverse of his views on the inheritable qualities of acquired characteristics is of universal importance, but more especially so in medical science ; and although his proposition is by no means opposed to the accumulated evidence of clinical experience, nevertheless deductions from morphology, laboratory experiments, and microscopic investigation at least lay it open to serious doubts. As we have already said, HERBERT SPENCER’S views have seldom proved wrong. His purview of organic evolution was so far-reaching in extent that we must hesitate many times before we reject on grounds of detail are
THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON AND MEDICAL EDUCATION.
proposition in which he firmly believed and which was material to the stability of his great argument. "Every change," wrote HERBERT SPENCER in his " Principles of Biology," " is towards equilibrium, and that change And again can never cease until equilibrium is reached." is matter and "Evolution an integration of he postulated : In his own powers concomitant dissipation of motion." of mental cerebration he provided one of those great climaxes of intellectual evolution which at times anticipate, perhaps by generations, the progress of knowledge. The integrated forces from which proceeded this intellectual outflow have now found their equilibrium and that life which was devoted to the fathoming of the knowable has passed to the regions of the unknowable. The influence of his intellect will persist, permeating men’s minds and
the
a
University
commends to the attention of
1739 a
generous
impossible to find features which fail to command universal approval. Fortunately, while recognising the impossibility of pleasing all parties the authorities move forward, doubtless carefully considering the criticisms, and taking every precaution to avoid the pitfalls pointed
public,
’,
it is not
Mr. T. BAILEY SAUNDERS, whose work as secretary of the Statutory Commission gives his opinion on university matters weight, has lately indicated the difficulties that will have to be overcome, if I the scheme, which is usually called Lord ROSEBERY’S Charlottenburg scheme, is to achieve the good results hoped for by its promoters. Sir ARTHUR RuCKER’s reply to these criticisms makes it clear that most of Mr. SAUNDERS’S objections have already been noted by the authorities. It ! remains to be seen with what success the substantiating his conceptions in psychology. powerful and committee the details of now representative considering devise a scheme Lord ROSEBERY’S proposal will be able to which, while filling vacant educational spaces, will not The of London and unduly interfere with existing institutions. Difficult as is Medical Education. the problem it certainly should not prove insoluble. Almost WE publish in another column a thoroughly well- immediately after it had been officially announced that an justified appeal made by the University of London for funds additional amount of .E 100,000 would enable the incorto support an adequate system of medical education in the poration of University College with the University of London metropolis. The appeal takes the form of a letter signed to be carried into effect the satisfactory news came to by the Earl of ROSEBERY, the Chancellor of the University ; hand that the College had received an anonymous donation Dr. P. H. PYE SMITH, the Vice-Chancellor; Sir ARTHUR of one-half the needed sum. We offer our hearty conRÜCKER, the Principal; Mr. H. T. BUTLIN, the Dean ; and gratulations to the authorities of University College upon Dr. J, KINGSTON Fowr.ER, a member of the Senate ; and in this latest indication of the public appreciation of the this document all the arguments for the foundation of a good work which they have done in the past under difficult central institute for the preliminary scientific education of conditions. the medical student are succinctly set forth. A Royal ComThe last of the three aims of the University which the mission has recommended that the teaching of such subjects Principal linked together as requiring and deserving the as physics, chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, and immediate support of the public purse is that in which the or two should be concentrated into one medical profession is most interested-namely, the proposal pharmacology central institutions. The recommendation was adopted by to build and to endow an institute of medical sciences in the the Statutory Commission responsible for the statutes of the near neighbourhood of the University. The Principal stated reconstituted University and has since been endorsed by the that this scheme was well in hand and that the profaculty of medicine, which has urged upon the Senate the posal was receiving the warm support of the Senate, and advisability of carrying out a project so importantly brought now the letter, which we publish to-day in our columns, to its notice. Lord ROSEBERY and his co-signatories have, shows that it is intended to make an immediate attempt therefore, behind them an enormous weight of deliberate towards its realisation. We understand that promises and authoritative opinion when they appeal to the public of pecuniary help towards this object are somewhat diffifor funds to establish in connexion with the University of cult to obtain. London has not been accustomed to London a central school for the teaching of subjects find money to promote medical education, and it will ancillary to the acquisition of medical science or preliminary require much eloquence on the part of those who recoto the practice of medical doctrines. We trust that the gnise the value of concentration to persuade the wealthy appeal will be generously responded to. public to subscribe the considerable sum required to build The affairs of the University of London have lately been and to endow the institute. Nevertheless, we are conmuch in evidence. The address recently delivered by fident that the example that has been set in provincial Sir ARTHUR RÜCKER on the work and aims of the universities and colleges will shortly be followed by University of London marked a distinct forward step wealthy citizens of London. Sir TREVOR LAWRENCE, in the organisation of education in the metropolis. It in defending the original determination of the governors is not a matter for surprise that some considerable of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital to rebuild their charity time should have elapsed before the Senate of the reconwhat is now allowed to be an inadequate site, alluded stituted University was able to announce to what small to the subject in a suggestive way. He pointed out that portions of its mighty task united effort would first be the taking over by the University of the teaching of directed. The irresponsible critic has frequently in the last certain subjects of medical education now taught at three years grumbled at the apparent absence of immediate the hospitals will provide, in hospitals having medical results from the work of the Statutory Commission, and even schools attached, an automatic extension of their sites. in the three important schemes which the Principal of This is no doubt true and is not the least of the out to them.
University
Ion