X PREFACE. 



provement muft be confidered a misfortune, not a 

 crinme ; but in whofe deficiency of profeflional know- 

 ledge confifts the danger which fo often occurs, and 

 expofes him to that labyrinth of perplexity, that di- 

 lemma of diflrefs, from which no brilliant fertility of 

 genius, no idea of the ftru6ture of parts, no corre- 

 fponding knowledge of medicines, or their effeds, can 

 poffibly arife to extricate him, whilft the fuffering 

 animal (in perhaps the mod excruciating agonies) 

 expires at the feet of this ^^ learned judge ^'^ jury, and 

 txecutioner. 



Experience juftifies the alTertion, that nine times 

 out often the complaint (if internal) remains a mat- 

 ter of hypo the fis and conjedure, without one expla- 

 natory notey Jentence, Jhrug, or ejaculation^ by which 

 v/e may be led to underftand or difcover the caufe : 

 but, as profeffional flupidity muft be defended, we 

 are at laft told (with a fyftematic fimplicity and vacu- 

 ity of countenance) " the horje is in a great deal of 

 fain,** 



Tills firft point being (not without fome difficulty 

 and Teeming depth of thought) at length difcovered, 

 the remedy is then to be obtained ; and as, in gene- 

 ral, cowards once puihed on become bold in propor- 

 tion to the danger, fo, according to the exigency, 

 fome powerful! ^^ Mandr agora'' of the ^* Materia 

 '^ Mediea'' is inftantly procured ^ and, as reputation 

 muft be fupported, fo ^^ kill or cur ey' (time out of 

 7 mind 



