argument51【0906G三月底AW“永不言弃”互改小组第一周第一次作业】by hidewild

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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." 

TS:两组病人情况一致 能代表全体病人 病人都会而二次感染

In this argument, the author recommends that all muscle strain patients should take antibiotics as part of their treatment. To substantiate the conclusion, the author cites a research and compare the recuperation time of the 2 groups of patients, indicating that the group taken regularly antibiotics will get well much faster. However, several critical flaws undermine the line of reasoning.
 
First of all, the argument rests on the dubious assumption that the conditions of these 2 groups of patients are the same. Common knowledge tells us that the more severe the symptom is, the more time needed for recovery. To this extent, if the group taking sugar pills are more injured than the other group, the difference of recuperation time can not be attributed to the use of different medicals. Additionally, if the patients' age structure varies from two groups treated by different doctors, their recuperation time would not the same when they treated equally. 
Secondly, the author fails to convince us that the sample used in the research can represents all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain. For example, if certain patient is sensitive to the antibiotics, then taking it as part of his treatment will not only make him better, but also may result in much severer symptoms. Without consideration of the individual differences, the sweeping generalization is unwarranted. no evidence supports that all muscle strain patients will get secondary infections.

Last but not least, It is entirely possible that some patients suffered from severe muscle will never be infected again, for that matter, giving antibiotics to them during the treatment is questionable.
 
In sum, the argument is not as persuasive as it stands. To bolster it, the author needs to control every factor that may flaw the result, including the initial health conditions, the psychological factors, and the skill of doctors. Finally, he needs to strengthen his recommendation by proving representative ness of the sample.