On the comparative Excelknce, &c. 241 



In the courfe of this paper, I have uniformly 

 confidered the adion of the mind and brain 

 on the body as identical, without reference to 

 the queftion of materialifm, becaufe with refped 

 to our fads, and indeed to all medical fads, 

 this notion is fufficiently complete. I have alfo 

 avoided all difquifitions refpeding the peculiar 

 nature of the nervous energy, convinced, that in 

 the prefentftate of our knowledge it is of more 

 confequence to examine one opinion, which is 

 faid to be fupported by fads, than either to re- 

 jed or advance many plaufible hypothefes. I 

 have purpofely omitted to confider the applica- 

 tion of the dodrine of a vital principle to patho- 

 logy, as the fubjed would lead to difquifitions 

 inadmiffible by the rules of the Society. 



TT-P 



0« /^^ COMPARATIVE EXCELLENCE <?/ /;&f SCIENCES 



and Arts ^ ly Mr, William Roscoe. Com-, 

 mmicated ly Mr. M. Ticholson. 



READ MARCH 28, I787. 



' I ^HERE is perhaps no circumftance more 



X injurious both to our improvement and 



happinefs, than a propenfity to engage, and per- 



fevere, in the ftudy of particular branches of 



^°^- "J- R fcience, 



