Dr Cooks message on George III's illness makes two assumptions which may
not be valid:
First that modern diagnoses are inevitable correct.
Second that Historians like doctors are trying to cure people.
Biographers--even psychobiograpers--are mere trying to understand their
subjects better. And unlike doctors, or analysts, if they get it wrong
their is no chance that the subject will get sicker, die, or even kill
him or herself.
If we should--as Dr Cook seems to imply--be held to the same standards as
the medical profession, surely we should be paid at the same level?
If that were to be the case I would be more than happy to agree with Dr Cook.
Charles Carlton,
NC State,
chchi@unity.ncsu.edu