PREFACE. Xlll 



them in such numbers, with such facility, and under 

 such unpremeditated circumstances, that he is filled 

 with admiration at his own abilities in such matters, 

 and at the ignorance and inattention *of his predeces- 

 sors and cotemporaries. In the ready communication 

 of the result of his labours, he is disposed to use the 

 language of high attainment and of advanced reputa- 

 tion. He hints at his anticipations of the jealousy and 

 malice which are known to follow greatness and excel- 

 lence; not considering that there is quite as much 

 proneness in an individual to overrate himself from 

 self-love, as there is in others to decry him unjustly. 

 He feels mortified at the supposed apathy of some per- 

 sons, and indignant at others for not placing him at 

 once, on the pinnacle of fame. After waiting in vain 

 for such homage, he, at length, finds out that the mat- 

 ters treated of have all the triteness of being very well 

 known; or, if they be novelties, they are the offspring 

 of hasty and imperfect observation, and were rather 

 leading into error than conducting to, the truth. An 

 inattention to the writings of others has also the incon- 

 venience of exposing us justly to the raillery and cri- 

 ticism of persons, who, not reflecting that it is scarcely 

 possible to bring new truths into vogue, much less er- 

 rors, and that such mistakes carry with them their own 

 seal of death, they drag them to the block, there to die 

 by the hand of the public executioner. Dr. W. Hun- 

 ter* has justly remarked, that " He that is in a hurry 

 to publish his discoveries, will often have occasion to 

 repent his haste. Reflection, and more favourable op- 



* Med. Comment, p. 57. Lond. 1777. 

 VOL. L 2 



