[Pathology and clinical medicine. An introduction].

In the introduction the author presents a review of themes connected with the autopsy and some problems of pathology which are not discussed in further detail during the course of the symposium. Thus, the signification and influence of religious, metaphysical, legal, socioeconomical and certain technical factors of the autopsy practice are briefly described, followed by a synopsis of the situation of the pathologist facing the demands of medicine, science, education, and administration. As a conclusion, follows a survey of the history and the activities of the Neuchâtel Institute of pathological anatomy.