HISTORY OF MEDICINE. 409 



most neglected by the restorers of anatomy, and by almost all 

 the anatomists who followed, till the middle of the last century. 

 About that time Dr. Willis, with the assistance of Lower, ap- 

 plied more earnestly to the dissection of the brain and nerves; 

 and, perhaps from thence, was led to study the pathology of the 

 nervous system. He accordingly made a beginning on this sub- 

 ject ; but his labours generally were so unsuitable to the taste 

 then arising in philosophy, that he was not likely to become a 

 leader, and his doctrine of the nerves made no progress. The 

 doctrine, however, was in general of such importance, that it could 

 not fail to be cultivated ; and accordingly, soon after, it was so 

 by Baglivi in Italy, and by Hoffmann in Germany. Baglivi 

 gave his excellent specimen dejibra motrici et morbosa; but al- 

 though possessed of a theoretical genius, he was much attached 

 to observation, and his practical labour occupied so entirely 

 the short life he enjoyed, that he could not complete his theoreti- 

 cal system; this, with some considerable errors in anatomy which 

 he had committed, prevented his making any party beyond the 

 bounds of Italy at least Hecquet is the only one I know of 

 elsewhere, who followed him. It is true, that Dr. Willis had 

 laid a foundation for this doctrine, in his Pathologia Cerebri et 

 Nervorum ; but by him as well as Baglivi, it was either not 

 extensively applied to diseases, or was still so involved in many 

 physiological errors, that it had attracted little attention ; and 

 Dr. Hoffmann was the first who gave any tolerably simple and 

 clear system on the subject, or pointed out any extensive appli- 

 cation of it to the explanation of diseases. 



By these, and many other means, the doctrine of the nerves 

 has now a full share in our general system. And as it appears 

 to me certain, that the human system can only be viewed in 

 these three respects, that is, as a chemical mixt, as a hydraulic 

 machine, and as an animated nervous frame, I consider our 

 system of physic to be now complete as to the parts which it 

 ought to comprehend. 



There can be no sort of doubt, that the phenomena of the 

 animal economy in health and in sickness, can only be explain- 

 ed by considering the state and affections of the primary moving 

 powers in it. It is to me surprising, that physicians were so 

 long of perceiving this, and I think we are therefore particularly 



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