His temper was naturally that of a trimmer; and he had thus many qualifications for the writing of well-informed and unbiassed history.
His main avowed principle was to do without hypothesis, and study the actual diseases in an unbiassed manner.
The reform of practical medicine was effected by men who aimed at, and partly succeeded in, rejecting all hypothesis and returning to the unbiassed study of natural processes, as shown in health and disease.
Unfortunately the political condition of Germany was unfavourable to the formation of an unbiassed opinion on the great movement.
Gifted with a great capacity for work, a remarkable memory and an unbiassed and critical mind, he produced without great effort a number of learned pamphlets and books on the most varied subjects.