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The freedom with which each of us speaks his thought in this presence； belongs in part to the assured position of the Profession in our Commonwealth； to the attitude of Science； which is always fearless； and to the genius of the soil on which we stand； from which Nature withheld the fatal gift of malaria only to fill it with exhalations that breed the fever of inquiry in our blood and in our brain。 But mainly we owe the large license of speech we enjoy to those influences and privileges common to us all as self…governing Americans。
This Republic is the chosen home of minorities； of the less power in the presence of the greater。 It is a common error to speak of our distinction as consisting in the rule of the majority。 Majorities； the greater material powers； have always ruled before。 The history of most countries has been that of majorities； mounted majorities； clad in iron； armed with death treading down the tenfold more numerous minorities。 In the old civilizations they root themselves like oaks in the soil； men must live in their shadow or cut them down。 With us the majority is only the flower of the passing noon； and the minority is the bud which may open in the next morning's sun。 We must be tolerant； for the thought which stammers on a single tongue today may organize itself in the growing consciousness of the time； and come back to us like the voice of the multitudinous waves of the ocean on the morrow。
Twenty…five years have passed since one of your honored Presidents spoke to this Society of certain limitations to the power of our Art； now very generally conceded。 Some were troubled； some were almost angry； thinking the Profession might suffer from such concessions。 It has certainly not suffered here； if； as some affirm； it has lost respect anywhere； it was probably for other； and no doubt sufficient reasons。
Since that time the civilization of this planet has changed hands。 Strike out of existence at this moment every person who was breathing on that day； May 27； 1835； and every institution of society； every art and every science would remain intact and complete in the living that would be left。 Every idea the world then held has been since dissolved and recrystallized。
We are repeating the same process。 Not to make silver shrines for our old divinities； even though by this craft we should have our wealth； was this Society organized and carried on by the good men and true who went before us。 Not for this； but to melt the gold out of the past； though its dross should fly in dust to all the winds of heaven； to save all our old treasures of knowledge and mine deeply for new； to cultivate that mutual respect of which outward courtesy is the sign； to work together； to feel together； to take counsel together； and to stand together for the truth； now； always； here； everywhere； for this our fathers instituted； and we accept； the offices and duties of this time…honored Society。
BORDER LINES OF KNOWLEDGE IN SOME PROVINCES OF MEDICAL SCIENCE。
An Introductory Lecture delivered before the Medical Class of Harvard University； November 6； 1861。
＇This Lecture appears as it would have been delivered had the time allowed been less strictly； limited。 Passages necessarily omitted have been restored； and points briefly touched have been more fully considered。 A few notes have been added for the benefit of that limited class of students who care to track an author through the highways and by…ways of his reading。 I owe my thanks to several of my professional brethren who have communicated with me on subjects with which they are familiar； especially to Dr。 John Dean； for the opportunity of profiting by his unpublished labors； and to Dr。 Hasket Derby； for information and references to recent authorities relating to the anatomy and physiology of the eye。＇
The entrance upon a new course of Lectures is always a period of interest to instructors and pupils。 As the birth of a child to a parent； so is the advent of a new class to a teacher。 As the light of the untried world to the infant； so is the dawning of the light resting over the unexplored realms of science to the student。 In the name of the Faculty I welcome you； Gentlemen of the Medical Class； new…born babes of science； or lustier nurslings； to this morning of your medical life； and to the arms and the bosom of this ancient University。 Fourteen years ago I stood in this place for the first time to address those who occupied these benches。 As I recall these past seasons of our joint labors； I feel that they have been on the whole prosperous； and not undeserving of their prosperity。
For it has been my privilege to be associated with a body of true and faithful workers； I cannot praise them freely to their faces； or I should be proud to discourse of the harmonious diligence and the noble spirit in which they have toiled together； not merely to teach their several branches； but to elevate the whole standard of teaching。
I may speak with less restraint of those gentlemen who have aided me in the most laborious part of my daily duties； the Demonstrators； to whom the successive classes have owed so much of their instruction。 They rise before me； the dead and the living； in the midst of the most grateful recollections。 The fair； manly face and stately figure of my friend； Dr。 Samuel Parkman； himself fit for the highest offices of teaching； yet willing to be my faithful assistant in the time of need； come back to me with the long sigh of regret for his early loss to our earthly companionship。 Every year I speak the eulogy of Dr。 Ainsworth's patient toil as I show his elaborate preparations： When I take down my 〃American Cyclopaedia〃 and borrow instruction from the learned articles of Dr。 Kneeland； I cease to regret that his indefatigable and intelligent industry was turned into a broader channel。 And what can I say too cordial of my long associated companion and friend； Dr。 Hodges； whose admirable skill； working through the swiftest and surest fingers that ever held a scalpel among us； has delighted class after class； and filled our Museum with monuments which will convey his name to unborn generations？
This day belongs； however； not to myself and my recollections； but to all of us who teach and all of you who listen； whether experts in our specialties or aliens to their mysteries； or timid neophytes just entering the portals of the hall of science。 Look in with me； then； while I attempt to throw some rays into its interior； which shall illuminate a few of its pillars and cornices； and show at the same time how many niches and alcoves remain in darkness。
SCIENCE is the topography of ignorance。 From a few elevated points we triangulate vast spaces； inclosing infinite unknown details。 We cast the lead； and draw up a little sand from abysses we may never reach with our dredges。
The best part of our knowledge is that which teaches us where knowledge leaves off and ignorance begins。 Nothing more clearly separates a vulgar from a superior mind； than the confusion in the first between the little that it truly knows； on the one hand； and what it half knows and what it thinks it knows on the other。
That which is true of every subject is especially true of the branch of knowledge which deals with living beings。 Their existence is a perpetual death and reanimation。 Their identity is only an idea； for we put off our bodies many times during our lives； and dress in new suits of bones and muscles。
〃Thou art not thyself； For thou exist'st on many a thousand grains That issue out of dust。〃
If it is true that we understand ourselves but imperfectly in health； this truth is more signally manifested in disease； where natural actions imperfectly understood； disturbed in an obscure way by half… seen causes； are creeping and winding along in the dark toward their destined issue； sometimes using our remedies as safe stepping…stones； occasionally； it may be； stumbling over them as obstacles。
I propose in this lecture to show you some points of contact between our ignorance and our knowledge in several of the branches upon the study of which you are entering。 I may teach you a very little directly； but I hop