28 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 



kept in subjection throughout a long period of ex- 

 istence. 



The general diffusion of a knowledge of physiol- 

 ogy among the intelligent classes of society will be 

 attended with this great advantage, that more atten- 

 tion will be paid to the preservation of health and 

 the prevention of disease than is at present practica- 

 ble. The medical man will then be able to advise 

 with increased effect, because he will be propor- 

 tionally well understood. It is a very different 

 thing to comply blindly with the directions which 

 come to us simply on the authority of a man like 

 ourselves, and to comply intelligently with those 

 which claim our obedience on the authority of the 

 Creator. 



It cannot be top constantly kept in view by medi- 

 cal men, that their true province is to preserve as 

 well as restore the health of those who intrust 

 themselves and their families to their care ; and that 

 it behooves them to turn their knowledge to account, 

 in giving the greatest degree of security to their 

 employers which their circumstances and situation 

 in life will admit of, as well as in prescribing for 

 actual disease. The day is, perhaps, not very far 

 distant, when, in consequence of the improvements 

 both in professional and in general education now in 

 progress, a degree of importance will become at- 

 tached to this application of medical science, far 

 surpassing what those who have not reflected on the 

 subject will be able to imagine as justly belonging 

 to it, but by no means exceeding that which it trul> 

 deserves. 



Some professional men are of opinion, that it is 

 best, in all cases, to leave the patient in ignorance 

 of his own structure and functions, and to assign no 

 reasons for any thing recommended ; while others 

 maintain, that advice is never so .willingly attended 

 to as when the reason of th patient is addressed 

 and a general explanation of the case given, so far 



