MOLIERE IN SCIENTIFIC ROLE

M. Abel Lefranc, one of the most distinguished French scholars living, who was exchange Professor to the University in 1909, yesterday delivered an address on "Moliere et les Medecins de son Temps."

In the last generation or so there has been an increased desire to examine literary masterpieces and through them to derive a concise and accurate knowledge of the authors. The French writers especially, put themselves into their works and it has been found that Mollere's personality is usually closely reflected in all his writings, as is the true spirit of his times. Of the four categories into which his writings seem to fall, women, Le Misanthrope, doctors, and the nobility, the third is today the subject of much comment.

That Moliere disliked doctors is only too evident. He criticised the false elements of the contemporary science of medicine and, being a realist, he urged that the doctors were merely theorists, basing their cures on material found in books rather than on actual experience. He also had a number of personal reasons for his dislike of the medical profession and unprejudiced investigation only tends to show how Moliere's overwhelming charges undershot the mark. In the 17th century doctors were profoundly ignorant of many basic principles of their science and not only this, but they also were indignant if any one opposed them, as did Moliere.

Nevertheless Moliere's writings had a far-reaching influence upon the doctrines of contemporary medical men, and all his ideas in this respect have triumphed. Moliere dared to attack, even the most famous doctors and in almost all cases he showed that with perfect reasoning they were apt to base their theories on false diagnoses. Moliere knew human nature and depicted it truthfully and it was through this power combined with his hatred of the doctors and their methods, that Moliere did so much to raise the science of medicine and save humanity from contemporary abuses.