THOMAS SYDENHAM

THOMAS SYDENHAM

But while the Continent was struggling with these illusive

"systems," and dabbling in mystic theories that were to scarcely

outlive the men who conceived

them, there appeared in England--the "land of common-sense," as a 16516i821q

German scientist has called it--"a cool, clear, and unprejudiced

spirit," who in the golden age of systems declined "to be like

the man who builds the chambers of the upper story of his house

before he had laid securely the foundation walls."[1] This man

was Thomas Sydenham (1624-1689), who, while the great Harvey was

serving the king as surgeon, was fighting as a captain in the

parliamentary army. Sydenham took for his guide the teachings of

Hippocrates, modified to suit the advances that had been made in

scientific knowledge since the days of the great Greek, and

established, as a standard, observation and experience. He cared

little for theory unless confirmed by practice, but took the

Hippocratic view that nature cured diseases, assisted by the

physician. He gave due credit, however, to the importance of the

part played by the assistant. As he saw it, medicine could be

advanced in three ways: (1) "By accurate descriptions or natural

histories of diseases; (2) by establishing a fixed principle or

method of treatment, founded upon experience; (3) by searching

for specific remedies, which he believes must exist in

considerable numbers, though he admits that the only one yet

discovered is Peruvian bark."[2] As it happened, another equally

specific remedy, mercury, when used in certain diseases, was

already known to him, but he evidently did not recognize it as

such.

The influence on future medicine of Sydenham's teachings was most

pronounced, due mostly to his teaching of careful observation. To

most physicians, however, he is now remembered chiefly for his

introduction of the use of laudanum, still considered one of the

most valuable remedies of modern pharmacopoeias. The German gives

the honor of introducing this preparation to Paracelsus, but the

English-speaking world will always believe that the credit should

be given to Sydenham.