Clinical Society Of London epub Transactions, Vol. 05 (Classic Reprint)

Sir WILLIAM GULL, Bart., M.D., D.C.L. Oxon., F.R.S. GENTLEMEN, I shall have to-night to throw myself verj much upon the indulgence of the Society in any remarks I may have to make, because I have not had time to dress them in such words as I should desire in order to place them properly before you. Many circumstances, which I need not dwell upon, have prevented my better intention ;but I could not be satisfied to take the chair and assume the honour which you have conferred upon me a second time without some observations. It would not be becoming that I should do so either in respect of the honour you have bestowed upon me or of the work in which we have to engage, since, as president of this Society, I am in some sense your spokesman to the world concerning the objects we set before us. Our position is a somewhat peculiar one. We are partially antagonistic to the theologic and the scientific aspects of the world as generally presented to us. We differ in opinion in one sense, and, I think, in a very serious sense, from that section of theologians who regard the world as a decaying world as a world that was once better than it now is ;A vho believe there was a past, however limited, without disease or death; who regard the troubles and perils which now exist as the result of antecedents which I shall not now discuss, and which evils we must bear as best we can, with but little hope they will be better, and with the fear that they may be worse. This is, I think, entirely opposed to the views which, as students of nature, we are obliged to entertain. Whoever will take the least pains to look over the facts of creation may see that this world has always been evolving into that VOL. V.(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklo