ADVANCEMENT OF. LEARNING 113 



ously considered, it turns rather to the reproach than the excuse 

 of physicians, who ought not hence to despair, but to use greater 

 diligence. For we see what a power the subtilty of the under- 

 standing has over the variety both of the matter and form of 

 things. There is nothing more variable than men's faces, yet 

 we can remember infinite distinctions of them ; and a painter 

 \vith a few colors, the practice of the hand and eye, and help of 

 the imagination, could imitate thousands if brought before him. 

 As variable as voices are, yet we can easily distinguish them in 

 different persons, and a mimic will express them to the life. 

 Though the sounds of words differ so greatly, yet men can re- 

 duce them to a few simple letters. And certainly it is not the 

 insufficiency or incapacity of the mind, but the remoteness of 

 the object that causes these perplexities and distrusts in the 

 sciences : for as the sense is apt to mistake at great distances, 

 but not near at hand, so is the understanding. Men commonly 

 take a view of nature as from a remote eminence, and are too 

 much amused with generalities : whereas, if they would descend, 

 and approach nearer to particulars, and more exactly and con- 

 siderately examine into things themselves, they might make 

 more solid and useful discoveries. The remedy of this error, 

 therefore, is to quicken or strengthen the organ, and thus to 

 approach the object. No doubt, therefore, if physicians, leav- 

 ing generalities for a while, and suspending their assent, would 

 advance towards nature, they might become masters of that 

 art of which the poet speaks : 



" Et quoniam variant morbi, variabimus artcs 



Mille mali species mille salutis erunt." Ovid.g 



They should the rather endeavor this, because the philosophies 

 whereon physicians, whether methodists or chemists, depend, 

 are trifling, and because medicine, not founded on philosophy, 

 is a weak thing. Therefore, as too extensive generals, though 

 true, do not bring men home to action, there is more danger in 

 such generals as are false in themselves, and seduce instead of 

 directing the mind. Medicine, therefore, has been rather pro- 

 fessed than labored, and yet more labored than advanced, as 

 the pains bestowed thereon were rather circular than progres- 

 sive; for I find great repetition, and but little new matter, in 

 the writers of physic. 



We divide medicine into three parts, or offices : viz., ist, the 



