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51.The following appeared in a medical newsletter.
"Doctors have long suspected that secondary infections may keep some patients from healing quickly after severe muscle strain. This hypothesis has now been proved by preliminary results of a study of two groups of patients. The first group of patients, all being treated for muscle injuries by Dr. Newland, a doctor who specializes in sports medicine, took antibiotics regularly throughout their treatment. Their recuperation time was, on average, 40 percent quicker than typically expected. Patients in the second group, all being treated by Dr. Alton, a general physician, were given sugar pills, although the patients believed they were taking antibiotics. Their average recuperation time was not significantly reduced. Therefore, all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would be well advised to take antibiotics as part of their treatment."
---正文
The argument is well-presented, but not completely well-justified. By making a study of two groups, the author advices all muscle strain patients to take antibiotics as part of their treatment. This argument is not sufficiently supported by the evidence given.
To begin with, the study objects, the two groups of patients in this argument, are quite problematic. The author fails to present the details about the two groups of patients, such as the age, the body conditions, and the extent of their muscle strains. These aspects are so crucial that anyone of them may affect the results of the study. Without the exact information, we may assume that most of patients in the first group are athletes whose ages are from20-30, while the second ones are the old with other illness. If these are in the case, we may draw a conclusion that it is the patients’ reason that is conducive to the quicker healing.
Obviating the factors of the patients, there may be difference between the two doctors. Firstly, Dr. Newland, the specialist of sports medicine, perhaps is more effective and efficient than Dr. Alton in curing muscle strain with accomplished skills. Even if Dr. Newland is not so efficient, the patients may think so just because they hear that the doctor specializes in sports medicine, which will undoubtedly affect the cure effect. Thirdly, we do not know whether Dr. Newland gives other medicine to the patients besides the antibiotics because it is impossible to use only one kind of medicine for the patients with serious ill. Maybe it is not the antibiotics but this “other medicine” does the work for the cure. Without ruling out the information about the two doctors and what they have done, the argument can be rejected out of hand.
Even if the factor of patients and doctors in the study is sound enough, there are some other problems in this argument. Firstly, the average recuperation is doubtable because it is possible the cure time of one or two patients in the second group are much slower than others, which affects the ultimate results. Actually, these two groups’ patients have not the obvious difference in the course of the recuperation. Secondly, not all patients with severe muscle strain will be infectious, not mention to the second infectious. In this argument, the author fails to provide the exact data to tell us how many patients may be infectious due to the muscle strain. Thirdly, some of patients’ recuperation is quicker than typically expected, while the arguer advises all the patients diagnosed with muscle strain to take antibiotics as part of their treatment. These are all logic holes in this argument.
In sum, the reasoning behind the advice is illogical. Unless more accurate study and factual information are presented, it would be too rush to make such a suggestion. |
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