 Surate description of each particular disease as it occurs ; and w 
ART OF HEALING. | a 
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KNOWLEDGE AND CURE OF DISEASES. 
Tur knowledge and cure of diseases, do not depend so much upon 
scientific principles, as is professed in the prevailing dogmas « of the 
present day. It is chiefly the result of observation of the op ons 
of Nature, and of experience. We would not be understood, how- 
ever, as insinuating that a medical education is of no use: acorrect — 
knowledge of the human system, in all its parts and functions, and _ 
a thorough acquaintance with the symptoms of all diseases and dis- eS 
orders to which it is liable, are attainments indispensable to a good 
physician. But these can be acquired correctly only by blending the 
study with actual observation, as the student progresses. As well 
might a man learn the art of printing, or any other mechanical busi- — 
ness, by theory alone, and be as practically competent to the manual 
labor, as the upstart of mere book knowledge js to the management 
ofthe sick. By attending ata sick bed, and carefully observing the 
various occurrences in diseases, a great degree of accuracy may be 
acquired, both in distinguishing their symptoms, and in the applica- 
tion of medicine. This is the only way in which a sound medical 
knowledge can be obtained. All the books ever written Bag nedi- 
_ ¢al subjects, cannot supply the place of actual experience. ; 
sensible | nurses and others who wait upon the sick, often foresee ‘the 
patient’s fate sooner than many who have been bred to physic ; and 
requently p cures, where the man of theory has failed. 
DeFINITION OF DISEASES, &c.—Every disease may be Sotinid ete 3 
as an assemblage of symptoms, and must be distinguished by those _ 
which are most obvious and permanent. Instead, therefore, of giv- 
ing a classical arrangement of diseases, according to the systematic 
method, it will be more suitable to our purpose to give a full and ae- 
oka a 
Se 
ee 
the symptoms of one disease have a near resemblar ¢ 
r, to take notice of that circumstance, and at the 
