The Popes and Science

The Popes and Science is by James J. Walsh, and is described as the story of the Papal Relations to Science from the Middle Ages down to the Nineteenth Century. According to Professor Allbutt, William of Salicet taught that dropsy was due to a hardening of the kidneys, and he also taught the suture of divided nerves and gave explicit directions how to find the severed ends. The text says William substituted the use of the knife for the abuse of the cautery, which had been introduced by the Arabs because they feared hemorrhage.

The text says that most of our greatest investigators even in nineteenth century science have been faithful believers not only in the ordinary religious truths, in a Providence, in a hereafter, and that most of the men who did the great original work in last century medicine were Catholics. The text says there are more Indians alive in Mexico and in South America to-day than there were when Columbus landed.