2. The Microscopic Nature of Modern Western Medical Diagnosis and Treatment

2. The Microscopic Nature of Modern Western Medical Diagnosis and Treatment

In modern times, the development of large-scale industry and natural science have complemented and promoted each other. With the aid of new theories provided by natural science and advanced tools produced by large-scale industry, humanity's understanding of disease has gradually become more microscopic. At the end of the 17th century, following the Industrial Revolution in Britain, modern Western medicine emerged under these circumstances. Experimental research replaced traditional logical preaching, and microscopic understanding supplemented the macroscopic reasoning of the Middle Ages—this was the hallmark of that early stage. As a result, Western medicine stood out with a brand-new appearance, forming a microscopic system based on physiological and pathological changes in organs, tissues, cells, body fluids, and nerves. Every component of this system, as well as the corresponding therapeutic measures and prescriptions used in clinical practice, is closely related to advances in modern natural science. This transformation in the field of Western medicine has made it an important link in the modern scientific and technological network system, where it interpenetrates and mutually benefits with other branches of modern natural science, such as physics, chemistry, microbiology, meteorology, and geology, advancing in tandem. Examination methods and microscopic data used in diagnosing liver diseases—such as liver function tests, protein electrophoresis, alpha-fetoprotein, and three-system testing—as well as those used in diagnosing stomach diseases—such as fiberoptic gastroscopy and tissue biopsy—and those used in diagnosing heart diseases—such as electrocardiography, vectorcardiography, and echocardiography—are all products of experimental research and outcomes of mutual penetration among various fields of modern natural science.