PREFACE. ti 



''Medico'* is instantly procured; anc^ as rcputa- 

 iion must be supported^ so ''kill or cure'* (time out 

 of mind the ancient and modern medical motto) is 

 compulsively adopted^ and the whole arcana of 

 equestrian knowledge is let loose, from the very 

 simple preparation oi" sugar sops/' to the more 

 remote^ active^, and dangerous mercury, till relief is 

 fortunately obtained^, or the failing favourite ex- 

 pires^ in tortures, a martyr to the ignorance of the 

 practitioner, and the credulity of its owner ! 



To corroboratcthis fact, one self-evident observa- 

 tion only is necessary to give it due weight, in op- 

 position to a mind ever prejudiced against the in* 

 NOVATIONS of improvement in practice, or rectifi- 

 cation in judgment. For instance — is it possible 

 —can it (after a moment's reflection) be supposed^ 

 that these men, totally uncultivated in understand- 

 ing and the most common occurrences in life, whose 

 minds are as rude and uncivilized as their manners^ 

 can be at all conversant or acquainted with the dif- 

 ferent properties, qualities, operations, or effects, of 

 a lon^ list of medicines, to all of which they are 

 strangers even in appearance, possessing no other 

 knowledge of the very articles specified but what 

 they have ^acquired from books and prescriptions, 

 long since become obsolete and useless from their in- 

 efficacy ? Can they be expected to understand the 

 chemical processes o^merciiry, aiitimonij, and other 

 «lsi,ngerous medicines they constantly put into use. 



