I have long been impressed with the importance of studying and clearly comprehending in the application of our therapeutic agents, the positive or negative, the certain or uncertain action of our remedies. It may be said now that this is a question duly considered by every intelligent physician. I think that I can demonstrate to you during the course of this paper that this question, even at the hands of intelligent, competent physicians, does not always receive the consideration that it merits.
This question of the positive and negative results of medical action is eminently a practical one. The more closely one may calculate upon and approach certainty of results in medical action the better will be our results in the treatment of disease.
On the contrary, the less attention we pay this important question, the less weight we attach to the character and action of our remedies, the more