DIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 99 



larvae or maggots. And when Galen prescribed a re- 

 medy for ulcers inhabited by Scoleches, observing that 

 animals similar to those generated by putrid substances 

 are often found in abscesses, he probably meant the same 

 thing. The proper appellation of this genus of diseases 

 would be Scolcchiasis. 



This dissertation may perhaps appear to you rather 

 prolix and tedious : yet to settle the meaning of terms is 

 of the first importance. To inquire what ancient writers 

 intended by the words which they employ, and whether 

 such as have been usually regarded as synonymous are 

 really so, may often furnish us with a clue to some useful 

 or interesting truth ; and not seldom enable us to rescue 

 their reputation from much of the censure which has been 

 inconsiderately cast upon it Because they did not know 

 every thing, or so much as we do, we are too apt to think 

 that they knew nothing. That they fell into very con- 

 siderable errors, especially in subjects connected with 

 Natural History, cannot be denied ; but then it ought 

 to be considered that they possessed scarcely any of 

 those advantages by which we are enabled to penetrate 

 into nature's secrets. The want of the microscope alone 

 was an effectual bar to their progress in this branch of 

 science. Yet, in some instances, when they took a ge- 

 neral view of a subject, they appear to have had very 

 correct ideas. This observation particularly applies to 

 the philosopher of Stagyra, whose mighty mind and 

 lyncean eye, in spite of those mists of prejudice and fable 

 that enveloped the age in which he lived, enabled him in 

 part to pierce through the gloom, and comprehend and 

 behold the fair outline that gives symmetry, grace and 

 beauty to the whole of nature's form, though he mistook, 



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