R E F A G E* 



AF T E R the medical fociety of Edinburgh hacj 

 publiflied thofe volumes of Effays, which have 

 met vi^ith fo favourable a reception from the public, a 

 propofal was made them to enlarge their plan, and to 

 carry their difquifitions into other parts of nature, be- 

 fules fuch as more immediately relate to the branches of 

 hiedicine. All the fciences are remarked to have a clofe 

 connexion together ; but none more than thofe of me- 

 dicine and natural philofophy : And the fociety fOon 

 obfcrved, that, fhould it turn its inquiries into more ge- 

 neral knowledge, it could reap the advantage of prefer- 

 ving all its old merrbers, and needed but open its door 

 to gentlemen of other profelTions, who might enrich it 

 with their obfervations and difcoveries. 



So DM after the fociety had received a new form, feveral 

 misfortunes happened, which retarded its progrefs, and 

 liave hitherto prevented it from communicating any thing 

 to the public. The rebellion broke out in this country j 

 and both fcattered the members for fome time, and en- 

 gaged their attention to fubje£ls lefs agreeable, and more 

 interefting, than general difquifitions into nature. No 

 fooner were public affairs compofed, than we met with 



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