PLAN OF COURSE. 443 



may be able to correct and improve what I have attempted 

 under many disadvantages, and with several imperfections. 



In the fourth place, we shall proceed to the consideration of 

 the remote causes, upon which the prevention of diseases chiefly 

 depends. To this subject all sects of physicians, except some 

 of the M ethodici, have attended. While the proximate causes 

 were considered as obscure or latent, the remote causes being 

 those most evident, have been very much valued. These 

 causes, however, such as they generally appear in medical 

 writings, are far from being simple, and, in some cases, un- 

 avoidably lead to reasoning ; and I am sorry that physicians 

 have too often delivered them upon that footing. It shall be 

 my business to ascertain the matters of fact with clearness and 

 certainty, and to avoid the inferences of reasoning, which are to 

 be found in most works on this subject. At the same time I 

 shall keep in view the proximate causes, and endeavour to esta- 

 blish a connexion between them and the remote. This will 

 often lead us to correct the doctrine of the proximate causes ; 

 as, by shewing that many of the remote causes are doubtful 

 facts, we will raise doubts with respect to the proximate cause. 



Fifthly, We shall proceed to the Prognostic. I should have re- 

 marked before, that what is called the Diagnostic will be deliver- 

 ed by us under the third article, where we point out the means 

 not only of determining the place of each disease, but also those 

 of distinguishing it from all others. The Prognostic I shall 

 also deliver upon a dogmatical plan, and as connected with the 

 doctrine of the proximate cause ; but as a great part of what 

 has been delivered upon this subject may not be capable of be- 

 ing rendered consistent with the proximate cause, I shall also 

 mention that Prognostic which has been alleged from experience. 

 The ancients have been more full upon this than upon any 

 other part of medicine. 



The sixth and last article is that for which all the others are 

 intended, viz. the method of cure, commonly termed methodus 

 medendi. Here also I shall follow the dogmatic plan, forming 

 the indications from the proximate cause. I hope to persuade 

 you, that a Practice of physic formed upon any other footing, 

 stands upon the most uncertain grounds, and is the most incon- 

 venient for use. At the same time, however, I shall use the 



2x2 





