402 INTRODUCTORY LECTURES. 



markable event in the history of modern physic. Soon after 

 the middle of the last century, when the cultivation of the mod- 

 ern philosophy was begun, but had made little progress, Syden- 

 ham appeared. 



Dr. Sydenham was bred in physic rather by his own industry 

 than by any instruction, and therefore entered upon it free from 

 the attachments and prejudices of any sect. He certainly looked 

 into the writings of many, but, imbued with the taste of philo- 

 sophy then prevailing, he could not be satisfied with any of the 

 theories he met with. Setting out, therefore, with the doctrine 

 of the Autocrateia, he proposed upon that plan, by his own ob- 

 servation alone, to form a system of practice for himself. On 

 this account he was more employed in observation, than any 

 person had been that we know of from the time of Hippocrates ; 

 and though he had always some theory in view, he was less 

 governed by it than any of his predecessors. This is the pecu- 

 liarity of his conduct, that he sought rather for theory to unite 

 his observations under some general heads, than for facts to 

 confirm his theory. (See the Dissert, de Hydrope, p. 493.J He 

 had also this particular advantage, that he had no general Pa- 

 thology, but endeavoured to form a particular one for every par- 

 ticular disease, or at least for every genus of disease. It is thus 

 that Sydenham has given a model for the cultivation of the prac- 

 tice of physic, which has been followed by every good practi- 

 tioner since. Every one nowadays pretends to neglect theory, 

 and to stick to observation. But the first is in talk only, for every 

 man has his theory, good or bad, which he occasionally employs; 

 and the only difference is, that weak men wljo have little extent 

 of ability for, or have had little experience in reasoning, are 

 most liable to be attached to frivolous theories; but the truly ju- 

 dicious practitioners, and good observers, are such as have the 

 most extensive views of the animal economy, and know best the 

 true account of the present state of theory, and therefore know 

 best where to stop in the application of it. Such persons may have 

 formed to themselves a general scheme of Pathology ; but ad- 

 mitting it as general only, they are never so much attached to 

 it, but that they can form one for a particular disease by itself, 

 as they may be directed by observation. It is a leading prin- 



