INTRODUCTION. ill 



human beings ? Accurately expressed, my System 

 can scarcely be called a 7iezv one ; it is, more 

 properly, a medium between two extremes ; a 

 system grounded on experiments, which I advisedly 

 adopted, and which success impelled me to pursue. 

 I am persuaded, that any one who may be guided 

 by the instructions I now give, and who may follow a 

 like course, cannot fail to obtain similarly happy 

 results. 



Notwithstanding I spared no pains, endured much 

 fatigue, and deemed not any sacrifice too great, par- 

 ticularly during the last ten years I abode at Lahore, 

 to accomplish my object, I am far from supposing 

 the subject to be exhausted. On the contrary, I feel, 

 that though much has been done, much remains still 

 to be done ; and I trust that others may assist in 

 bringing the work which I have commenced, to that 

 degree of perfection, of which I am convinced it is 

 susceptible. 



It is impossible to entertain any high opinion of 

 the healing-art of the Mahomedan doctors, derived 

 from the ancient Greeks and Egyptians ( Hiababet- 

 junany of the Hakims) or, of that of the Hindoos ; 

 for, they have made but little progress beyond that 

 defective medical science which is found in their old 

 manuscripts. Their directions for the treatment of 

 patients, contain little else than extravagances and 

 superstitions — to which the Hindoos, whose system 

 is the most ancient, add astrology. As their religion 

 stands in the way of every attempt at improvement, 

 there is but little hope that they will ever make much 

 progress in medicine, or, relinquish their absurd the- 

 ories ; and nothing remains for us, but to pity those 

 who are doomed still to continue in darkness. Yet, 



