478 SUPPLEMENT. 



I have obferved in the body of the work, per- 

 fift ' in a maxim, never to be obhterated, that 

 * old la--ivsy old times, and old books, are be ft.' 

 Among thefe, none are more deftrudive in 

 their perfeverance than thofe v^ho, in oppo^ 

 fition to every judicious opinion, every en- 

 lightened refinement, and experimental con- 

 vidion of the certain danger (and often fatal 

 confequence), continue to give cold water, 

 during the procefs of purging medicines, 

 under the contemptible ajfertion and pretended 

 beliefy that it adds to the eafe and certainty of 

 the operation. 



That this is a deceptive cuftom, fhamefuily 

 perfevered in by numbers of the ilHterate and 

 confident, without the knowledge, and againil 

 the decided opinion, of their employers, is a 

 fa6t too notorious with me to admit of contra- 

 didion ; and one of thofe, upon the ill eifeels 

 of which has been founded objections to phyjicj 

 though in many inftances the danger has been 

 attributed to more remote caufes, and the truth 

 (from fatal confequences) has never been 

 afcertained. 



Cafes 



