Looking Backward for Profit and Pleasure

Abstract

To Editor.–The fine editorial page of September 1978 issue of theArchives(113:1033, 1978) is worthy of complimentary comment. Properly, author thereof brought into focus dearth of knowledge rising young professional men and women possess concerning medical history. This younger medicosurgical generation is losing one of intellectual, pleasurable rewards that is a supplement and intrinsic corollary to medical discipline. Medical history not only gives perspective to performance, as stated in editorial, but it has been appropriately stated by Goethe that the history of science is science itself. Although historical medicine is not essentially a contribution to medical science, it is nevertheless a didactic warning beacon in medical practice. That modern physician and surgeon should be a cultured person is a foregone conclusion. The basis for all culture is a knowledge of history. Thus, cultured people of medicine can combine a