444 INTRODUCTORY LECTURES. 



greatest caution, which indeed is here especially necessary. I 

 shall then deliver the remedies adapted to our several indica- 

 tions; and from the Materia medica I shall show how the reme- 

 dies are adapted to produce these effects. I hope to be able to 

 say, that these indications, although taken from the proximate 

 cause, are also approved of by experience. In many cases in- 

 deed, I will not be able to assign the method of cure upon this 

 dogmatical foundation, and then it must rest entirely upon ex- 

 perience. Remedies of this kind have been proposed, and in 

 some measure vouched for, by persons of great credit. Thus, 

 Dr. Gilchrist has ascertained the use of warm bathing in many 

 cases of fever ; and I think Dr. Hahn has ascertained with as 

 much certainty the use of cold bathing. I know not whether 

 I shall be able to reconcile either the one or the other of these 

 remedies with my idea of the proximate cause of fever ; but I 

 shall always tell you that such modes of practice have been 

 established by persons of credit. And even if a secret remedy 

 is alleged, such as James's Powder ; supposing that I should 

 not know its nature and therefore cannot adapt it to my theo- 

 retical doctrine, I should think myself not to be excused, if I 

 did not tell you what has been learned by experience with re- 

 gard to it. 



You have thus, gentlemen, my plan for treating the seve- 

 ral heads the several genera of diseases which are to enter 

 hito my course ; and I have only to add, that though every 

 genus that might be assigned will not enter into it, I hope to 

 comprehend all that are necessary as a foundation for your 

 study, and all those that will be the chief objects of your 

 practice. 



We have attempted an arrangement of diseases according to 

 their genera and species, founded on their obvious symptoms, 

 or a Methodical Nosology; and as we shall have frequent occasion 

 to refer to this work, and as the several diseases to be treated 

 of are determined by it, I think it necessary to give you a short 

 introduction to the Nosology. 



I wish to make you critics in Nosology ; but this I shall per- 

 haps find a difficult task. Perfect division and definition is 



