Doyle is telling about an old physician, and his troubles with young men more up to date:
"We made him president of our branch of the
British Medical Association, but he resigned after
the first meeting. "The young men are too much for
me," he said. "I don't understand what they are
talking about."

Reminds me of one of my profs who gave a lecture on cardiology at a medical society meeting out in the boonies. After the lecture and oldtimer patronizingly asked him: "Your talk was in the main very interesting. But what was this systole and diastole you kept mentioning?"

Well, at least I caught the reference. Why was the oldtimer being patronizing? I thought you would be patronizing if you believed you possessed more information that someone you were patronizing. Why did the oldtimer think he possessed information the professor didn't? Did the oldtimer simply believe his own was a more practical kind of knowledge?

There are many oldtimers lacking insight to realize their
failure to keep abreast of progress, and are openly contemptuous of new-fangled nonsense. And so able to patronise the young squirts.