CHAP. II.] PHIMCIASS NEGLECT OF ANATOMY. 161 



diligence and exactness, containing the nature, the cure, and 

 event of the distemper. And this remarkable precedent of 

 one accounted the father of his art, need not to be backed 

 with examples derived from other arts, as from the prudent 

 practice of the lawyers, who religiously enter down the more 

 eminent cases and new decisions, the better to prepare and 

 direct themselves in future. This continuation, therefore, of 

 medicinal reports we find deficient, especially in form of an 

 ?ntire body, digested with proper care and judgment. But 

 we do not mean, that this work should extend to every com 

 mon case that happens every day, which were an infinite 

 labour, and to little purpose ; nor yet to exclude all but pro 

 digies and wonders, as several have done : for many things 

 are new in their manner and circumstances, which are not 

 new in their kind ; and he who looks attentively will find 

 many particulars worthy of observation, in what seem* 

 vulgar. 



So in anatomy, the general parts of the human body are 

 diligently observed, and even to niceness : but as to the 

 variety found in different bodies, here the diligence of phy 

 sicians fails. And, therefore, though simple anatomy has 

 been fully and clearly handled, yet comparative anatomy is 

 deficient. For anatomists have carefully examined into all 

 the parts, their consistencies, figures, and situations ; but 

 pass over the different figure and state of those parts in 

 different persons. The reason of this defect I take to be, 

 that the former inquiry may terminate upon seeing two or 

 three bodies dissected ; but the other being comparative, and 

 casual, requires attentive and strict application to many 

 different dissections : besides, the first is a subject wherein 

 learned anatomists may show themselves to their audience ; 

 but the other a rigorous knowledge, to be acquired only by 

 silent and long experience. And no doubt but the internal 

 parts, for variety and proportions, are little inferior to the 

 external ; and that hearts, livers, and stomachs, are as dif 

 ferent in men, as foreheads, noses, and ears. And in these 

 differences of the internal parts are often found the imme 

 diate causes of many diseases, which physicians not observing, 

 sometimes unjustly accuse the humours, when the fault Hea 

 only in the mechanic structure of a part. And in such dis 

 eases it is in vain to use alteratives, as the case admits not 

 * M 



