SUPPLEMENT. 451 



contrariety of opinion (fomething fimilar to the 

 frequent oppofition between dodlor and nurfe) 

 foon efredted the entire abdication of the fupe- 

 rior, and left the groom to an uninterrupted 

 exertion of his own judgment and medical abi- 

 lities. To prove the extent of which, he pre- 

 pared an artificial probe, and continued its con- 

 ftant introduction, for two inches or more^ 

 diredlly upon the tendon, thereby abraiding and 

 rendering more irritable a part already injured, 

 and confequently fufceptible of additional pain 

 upon every erroneous application. His mailer 

 was ftill abfent (in a diftant part of the king- 

 dom) and the cafe became every day more 

 alarming, not only in its conftantly increafing 

 enlargement of the joint, but perpetual and 

 inceflant pain, from which he had no relief. 

 Nature had, in oppofition to the interpofitions 

 of art, clofed the orifice and healed the wound ; 

 notwithftanding which, the lamenefs was 

 greater than before. This was matter of ad- 

 ditional perplexity to \h& fcientific fuperinten- 

 dent, who was now convinced nothing but a 

 pradice entirely new could fucceed. 



The better to eftablifli which (upon a Vulgar 



and generally received opinion, that mercury is a 



G g 2 fpecifis 



