Experience Vs. Evidence

Dr. S K Rajan, a leading doctor and former Dean of the Stanley Medical College, spoke at our Rotary meeting today. I lked some of the quotes the good doctor used in his speech which was basically on early detection of Asthma, titled, "Sneezing and Wheezing."
He began by saying that he would prefer not to use a Audio Visual Presentation as he would then be speaking on what he knows, unmindful of what we, the audience needed. I liked this usage.
He also said that Asthma may be inherited through parents, inevitable due to pollution and finally invitable through smoking and excessive perfume use!
He had a lot to say about the advantages of experience in the practice of medicine. He said most experiential approaches used by Indian physicians have been confirmed by western research. Unfortunately in India no one can pursue research work. Privately funded research is rare in India. He also pointed out that western books on medicine may not be relevant to Indian contexts. To use his words, "whatever signs and symptoms are present at the bedside of Indian patients is no found in western journals."
His quote, "Experience is Permanent, Evidence temporary," was thought provoking. (In fact I used it to quote my own favourite verse from Kannadasan on experience.