unchecked their selfish desires and inclinations, and to ignore every law of health. I fear too that in our own profession there is a tendency sometimes to take up any vaunted new treatment or remedy, without due consideration or investigation, and to employ powerful and dangerous drugs which act upon the cardio-vascular system, as well as methods of treatment of a special kind, in a somewhat casual way, and without adequate regard to the actual conditions with which they have to deal, or to the individual whom they have to treat. In this way immediately serious consequences may ensue; or habits are established which ultimately lead to more or less disastrous results. I have been impelled to offer these remarks on the present occasion by a strong feeling that it is by no means the least important function of the Fellows and Members of this College, collectively and individually, to do their utmost to influence and guide modern therapeutics on rational and honourable lines; to refuse to give the least countenance to any vaunted remedy or method of treatment obviously savouring of charlatanism or quackery; and to exercise the greatest caution in accepting the alleged favourable results of any therapeutic measure, however scientific it may be, founded on inadequate or premature data, and unless they are supported and established by unimpeachable authority, after adequate inquiry and experience on the part of those who are competent to judge.
