How did debates end

, and how did this one end? Broca rephrased the original question to suit the needs of the microscopists, echoing a point Velpeau had made earlier. The question asked was

Is the microscope useful for diagnosing cancer? The consensus among the surgeons participating in the debate was ‘no.’ But if the question was restated as ‘is the microscope useful for pathology?’ then the answer was ‘yes.’ For Broca, the utility of the instrument was confirmed . . .” (La Berge II, 448).