In dealing with problems that depend for their solution upon varied, fluctuating & so necessarily uncertain data, there is always abundant scope for plausible speculation. Ingenious hypotheses thus become formed, which curious & earnest minds, seizing upon partial & one-sided materials, ultimately work up into a dogma; a process which is constantly seen to be going on in the domain of political economy … & in an especial manner in that division of human enquiry which comprises theories of disease.That was written in 1859 by Daniel Noble MD, President Manchester Statistical Society in a book on Epidemic Diseases.
It is interesting to see that the kind of opprobrium which has recently been reserved for bankers & economists was around 150 years ago, & linked so directly with wrong headed theories of disease
Dr Noble was not just interested in epidemics – he also produced several publications on phrenology.
