Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/61

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THE HARVEIAN ORATION.
57

lutely no foundation. They are either the outcome of a too vivid and irrational imagination, or the cruel and malignant invention of ignorant and irresponsible persons whose chief aim in life seems to be to damage the reputation of certain of these institutions, and to create a feeling of distrust against them, and who care not what means they resort to in order to accomplish this end. It has been recently stated by a well-known member of our profession that among the poor a real fear of the hospitals threatens to override the sufferer's need. Personally I have never seen any reason to believe this statement; but if it is true, the significance of the tendency can thus be readily explained.

The establishment of independent laboratories for pathological work and research, which are now met with all over the world, is another comparatively modern advance by which great results have already been achieved, and from which we may anticipate incalculable benefits in the future. Among the most conspicuous and remarkable of these institutions, and one which commands our highest admiration and reverence, stands the Pasteur Institute in Paris, where those of us who recently visited that city, in connection with the entente medicale, were so kindly received by Madame Pasteur, Dr. Martin, Dr. Roux, Dr. Metchnikonn and many others, and where we took part in the interesting ceremony carried out on that occasion. The chief proceedings were conducted at the truly