METHOD OF STUDY. 439 



dogmatist takes every advantage he can possibly derive from an 

 empiric plan, but endeavours to render the analogy more cer- 

 tain, to catch the view of it more quickly, and determine his 

 practice more firmly, by all the lights he can draw from ana- 

 tomy, chemistry, mechanics, and the general study of nature. 

 We conclude, therefore, that medicine is to be studied upon a 

 dogmatic plan that will also comprehend the whole of the em- 

 piric. I propose to teach it upon this footing ; and I have no 

 doubt of forming, thereby, not only more ornate, but also more 

 skilful physicians. 



I presume you are now well persuaded of the propriety, and 

 even necessity of studying physic upon a dogmatic plan, and 

 that therefore you will patiently follow me while I endeavour to 

 deliver a course on such a plan. 



* But I cannot enter upon it without saying, that, when I thus 

 argue for the propriety and necessity of a dogmatic plan, I 

 must, at the same time, own that it is pursued with difficulty, 

 and exposed to fallacy. I am very desirous that you should be 

 aware of the last, and that you should receive with diffidence, 

 and examine rigorously every piece of reasoning that is not of 

 the most clear and simple kind. I am sufficiently sensible, that 

 in attempting a system it is extremely difficult to avoid, on 

 some occasions, reasonings that are subtle, incomplete in their 

 parts, and therefore fallacious and hazardous in their applica- 

 tion ; but, as well as I can, I shall always give you warning of 

 such. I shall myself direct your doubts, and, on some occa- 

 sions, I shall tell you candidly that our system is entirely de- 

 fective, and must remain so till further experience and reflec- 

 tion shall enable us to supply it. In this way I expect to ren- 

 der my theoretical labours absolutely safe ; and that, upon the 

 whole, we may depend upon theory no more than is absolutely 

 necessary, I shall endeavour to order my plan so as to collect 

 and communicate to you every fact in physic which experience 

 has afforded, and take care that no conclusion I form shall be 

 contradicted by any known fact or experienced rule in practice. 

 I should be ashamed if any course gave you more facts or re- 

 sults of experience than I shall do. But by giving them, on a 

 dogmatic plan, I hope I shall give you them so much general- 

 ized as to be more applicable, and so arranged as to be more 



