HISTORY OF MEDICINE. 403 



ciple with them that, whatever theories they form, they are al - 

 ways ready to allow experience to correct every part of their 

 system. Thus it is, that, from the example of Sydenham, and 

 the general mode of philosophizing now established, the practice 

 of physic is now, for the most part, cultivated free from the at- 

 tachments or prejudices of any sect. Even our systems are 

 much enlarged in their general plan; and however they may 

 differ from each other in particulars, this affects only weak minds 

 with the spirit of a sect. 



In pursuing, with wonderful steadiness and sagacity, the 

 scheme of studying medicine which he had adopted, Sydenham 

 has given us a work that is allowed, so far as it goes, to be more 

 useful in the practice of physic, than any that had ever appeared 

 before ; and certainly it was more valuable than any that we 

 know to have been produced by a single person. It was the 

 result of experience and observation alone ; and though on many 

 occasions he had a theory in view, it was without ever admitti ng 

 its undue influence. He was, perhaps, the first that shewed us 

 that there might be a great deal of theory in a man's head with- 

 out its affecting his practice. Dr. Sydenham's countrymen 

 and contemporaries, Willis, Morton, and Lister, who were in 

 the old way of philosophizing, and very much in the Chemical 

 and Cartesian systems, neglected and opposed him ; while 

 the mechanical physicians, Pitcairn and Boerhaave, received his 

 facts themselves, and first recommended them to the attention of 

 others. 



It is proper now, however, to observe, that about the begin- 

 ning of the present (eighteenth) century, when every part of 

 science came to be on a more improved and correct footing, 

 there appeared in the writings of Stahl, of Hoffmann, and of 

 Boerhaave, three new and considerably different systems of 

 physic, which have ever since had a great share in directing 

 the practice of it. In order, therefore, to give a nearer view of 

 the present state of physic, I shall offer some remarks upon 

 these different systems, endeavouring to point out the advan- 

 tages as well as the disadvantages of each, and how far they still 

 prevail, or, according to my judgment, deserve to do so. 

 I shall begin with consid.ering that of Dr. Stahl, which I 



