PREFACE. xi 



mind the ancient and nrvodern medical motto) is com- 

 pulfively adopted, and the whole arcana of equeflrian 

 knowledge is let loofe, from the very fimple prepara - 

 tion of ^^fugar/ops," to the more remote, a6i:ive, and 

 dangerous mercury y till relief is fortunately obtained, 

 or the falling favourite expires, in tortures, a martyr 

 to the ignorance of the pra5fitioner and the credulity of 

 its owner ! 



To corroborate this fadl, one felf- evident obferva- 

 tion only is necefTary to give it due weight, in oppo- 

 fition to a mind even prejudiced againft the innova- 

 tions of improvement in pradcice or rectification in 

 judgment. For inftance — Is it polTible — can it (after 

 a moment's refledtion) be fuppofed — that thefe men, 

 totally uncultivated in underflanding and the moft 

 common occurrences in life, whofe minds are as rude 

 and uncivilized as their manners, can be at all con- 

 verfant or acquainted with the different properties y 

 qualities, operations, or effe^s, of a long lift of medi- 

 cines, to all of which they are ftrangers even in ap- 

 pearance, pofTefllng no other knowledge of the very 

 articles fpecified but what they have acquired from 

 books and prefcriptions, long fmce become obfolete 

 and ufelefs from their inefficacy ? Can they be ex- 

 pedled to underftand the chemical proceffes of mer- 

 cury, antimc72y, and other dangerous medicines they 

 conftantly put into ufe, without knowing their ori- 

 gins, preparations, combination of principles, or t\ic, 



exact: 



