432 INTRODUCTORY LECTURES. 



Magistralia his doses are generally such as the most timid 

 practitioner of this country would hardly descend to, and such 

 as none of our practitioners of experience would depend upon. 

 In short, the whole of the work, both with respect to the theories 

 with which it abounds, and to the facts which it gives, will not, 

 in my apprehension, bear any serious criticism. But I must 

 conclude, and shall only say further, that such as I have repre- 

 sented it, is this work, executed by a man of the first rank in 

 the profession. It is indeed for that reason I have chosen it as 

 the example of a work, upon the plan of giving facts only, and 

 of avoiding the study, or even the notice of the proximate causes 

 of diseases : and with what advantage such a plan is pursued, I 

 shall leave you to consider. 



These are the arguments I would employ to prove that an 

 empirical system is at present impossible, and that a dogmatical 

 plan in the study of physic is absolutely necessary. I could 

 employ many more to the same purpose, but I hope they are 

 not necessary at present ; and I shall conclude the subject with 

 obviating one argument that is often produced on the other side 

 of the question. It has been said that physicians not only of 

 the same time, but even those of different ages, however widely 

 they may differ in their theoretical systems and modes of rea- 

 soning, have very often come to the same conclusion, and agreed 

 in the same rules and modes of practice ; it is, therefore, they 

 would say, very superfluous to discuss the questions about 

 proximate causes, it is enough to deliver the established prac- 

 tice ; but I presume the fact is false, and therefore the conclu- 

 sion. 



It is indeed true that at one time, and in one country, one 

 particular system of physic generally prevails, and therefore a 

 mode or fashion of practice ; but as at all times there are few 

 persons who think for themselves, it is no wonder that all those 

 who have learned that theory from the same master, should 

 seem to agree and establish the same practice. I remember 

 since there was hardly any practitioner in this country, but who 

 had been bred in the school of Boerhaave, and all of them who 

 understood their system were wonderfully uniform both in their 

 theory and practice ; but there are always a great number in- 

 capable of any theory, and who can therefore follow no other 



