For the Monthly Magazine. 
On the Improvement of Mepicau and 
Surcicat Science, 
ESSAY I. 
HE progress and improvements of 
Science is one of the most inte- 
“resting subjects which can engage the 
“industry and intellect of man. To trace 
‘the rude inventions of earlier ages to 
the splendid perfection to which they 
have subsequently risen, is an occupa- 
tion in which every reflecting mind will 
delight to’ indulge, and it is difficult to 
' point out a more advantageous method 
‘of demonstrating the power, the capa- 
bility, and the wonderful ingenuity of 
the human mind. It is a proud thing 
' for'us, that we live in an age which is 
so particularly signalized as'an age of 
science—that is, as an age in which 
science, in general, has made such 
“rapid progress towards perfection. It 
‘is a blessed thing, also, to see that rea- 
son and knowledge—those two enemies 
' to corruption and debasement—are dis- 
seminating their beneficial influence 
among those whose minds have hitherto 
been shrouded in ignorance and pre- 
judice. 
It is no less curious than instructive 
to compare the obstinate superstition 
of by-gone times with the enlightened 
condition of ‘the present pefiod. To 
those who havé paid no attention to 
- such a theme, the réady credulity with 
which the designing efforts of the learn- 
ed were received by the vulgar is really 
incredible. This may be, in some de- 
gree, illustrated by a succinct epitome 
of the history of the medical science. 
In its beginnings, medicine was, of 
necessity, a superstitious and an em- 
pirical art. While nature held on her 
course with uniform regularity, men 
enjoyed the benefits which she be- 
stowed, without seeking to ascertain 
their cause and origin; but any devia- 
~ tion from this course was calculated to 
rouse their curiosity and-astonish their 
minds; and their understandings. being 
unable immediately to comprehend 
- them, imagination referred them to 
some supernatural power, and they 
sought for the cure and prevention of 
diseases from their deities, agreeably to 
the observation of ‘Celsus—‘‘ Morbos 
vero ad iram Deorum immortalium re- 
latos, et ab iisdem opem posci solitam.” 
This superstition was, also, consider- 
ably influenced by the two principles 
Improvement of Medical and Surgical Science. 
which operate so strongly upon all rude 
natures, namely, a fond desire to pry 
into futurity, and an eager anxiety to 
avert impending evils. Among rude 
nations, observes Robertson, who pay 
no veneration to .any superintending 
power, and who have no established 
rites or ministers of religion,* curiosity 
to discover what is future or unknown 
is cherished by a different principle, and 
derives strength from another alliance. 
As the diseases of men in a savage state 
are, like those of the animal creation, 
few, but extremely violent; their impa- 
tience under what they suffer, and their 
solicitude for the recovery of health, 
soon inspired them with an extraordi- 
nary reverence for those who pretended 
to understand the nature of their mala- 
dies, or to preserve them from their 
sudden and fatal effects. Those igno- 
rant pretenders, however, were such 
utter strangers to the structure of the 
human frame, as to be equally unac- 
quainted with the causes of its disor- 
ders, and the manner in which they 
would terminate. Enthusiasm, mingled 
frequently with some portion of craft, 
supplied what they wanted in science. 
They imputed the origin of diseases 
to supernatural influence; and pre- 
scribed or performed a variety of myste-~ 
rious rites, which they gave out to be 
of power sufficient to remove them. 
The credulity and love of the mar- 
vellous, natural to uninformed minds, 
favoured the deception, and prepared 
them to be the dupes of the imposture. 
Among sayages, their first physicians 
are a kind of conjurors, or wizards, who 
boast that they know what is past, and 
can foretel that which is to come. In- 
cantations, sorcery, and mummeries of 
divers kinds, were the means which 
they employed to expel the imaginary 
causes of malignity; and, relying upon 
the efficacy of these, they predicted, 
with confidence, the fate of their de- 
luded 
* The total absence of religion is a very 
uncommon circumstance. Of course, by 
religion, I mean some idea of a superin- 
tending power, with a mode of worshipping 
such power. Frezier says, that the Indians 
of Chili have no religion, no temples or 
idols having been found among them—but 
divination is very common with them. 
Hennepin, the first discoverer of the Mis- 
sissippi, and who was long resident among 
the North American Indians, declares that 
several tribes seemed to have no, religion 
whatever. 
