In this enlightening lecture, Samuel Henry Dickson outlines his vision for medical education and reform in mid-19th century America. He argues that medical science must be grounded in both practical experience and theoretical knowledge, and that the best doctors must be both skilled practitioners and conscientious scholars. Dickson also addresses contemporary issues such as medical ethics, public health, and the role of government in medical education. A fascinating look at the history of medicine and medical education in the United States. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.