DURING THE MIDDLE AGE. 145 



Tilius Vaientinus, and J. Hollandus, were the 

 moft remarkable. . Hence aroie the abfurd and 

 dangerous notion, that, all difeafcs could be cu- 

 red by one medicine, health preferred without 

 interruption, and old age protect cti from infir- 

 mity unto the Jail hour of cxiilcnce. In thn 

 manner, though the practice of medicine was 

 icndcred exceedingly fimple, yet it was erro- 

 neous and inconliilent with its true principles : 

 For phyilcians neglecting the ncceflkry invcili- 

 gation of laufcs, milled entirely to the gene- 

 ral virtues of their fpcciiics, and rendered their 

 art dependent uponchemiflry ; which Bocrhaavc 

 lays, " Egregiu illiu:; ancilla eft, non alia pcjor 

 " dominu." But of all thofe who were remark- 

 able for fupporting this opinion, thc-moil extra- 

 vagant were Theophraftiib Paracelfus, and Joh. 

 JJ Helmont ; wlio not .futisficd with having by 

 means of their remedies protiacled the term of 

 life to a good old ngc, carried their folly fo far, 

 as to infill it might be extended conlidcrably 

 beyond the limits affigned by nature. They 

 indeed performed feveral cures by their violent 

 ..Micdicines. But neither could Paracclfus, with 

 Iiis " Elixirum Proprictads," defend himfelf 

 againll the king of terrors ; uur Hclmont, 

 with his Alkahcft, difarm the fury of that fub- 

 Uc fpirit, to which he attributed every difeafc : 

 .For both dying before they were old men, af- 

 ibrdcd a ftrong inilancc of the vanity of their 

 K doctrine 



