PREFACE. 4,69 



While I thus deliver my work in its now more improved 

 state, with the hopes that it may be of use to others as well as 

 to those who hear my lectures, I must, at the same time, ob- 

 serve, that it presents a system which is in many respects new ; 

 and, therefore, I apprehend it to be not only proper but neces- 

 sary, that I should explain here upon what grounds, and from 

 what considerations this has been attempted. 



I apprehend that in every branch of science with respect to 

 which new facts are daily acquired, and these consequently 

 giving occasion to new reflections, which correct the principles 

 formerly adopted, it is necessary, from time to time, to reform 

 and renew the whole system, with all the additions and amend- 

 ments which it has received and is then capable of. That at 

 present this is requisite with regard to the science of medicine, 

 will, I believe, readily occur to every person who at all thinks 

 for himself, and is acquainted with the systems which have 

 hitherto prevailed. 



In the following treatise I have endeavoured to collect 

 the facts relative to the diseases of the human body, as 

 fully as the nature of the work, and the bounds necessar- 

 ily prescribed to it would admit ; but I have not been sa- 

 tisfied with giving the facts, without endeavouring to apply 

 them to the investigation of proximate causes, and upon these 

 to establish a more scientific and decided method of cure. In 

 aiming at this, I flatter myself that I have avoided hypoth- 

 eses, and what have been called theories. I have, indeed, 

 endeavoured to establish many general doctrines, both phy- 

 siological and pathological ; but I trust that these are only a 

 generalization of facts, or conclusions from a cautious and full 

 induction : and if any one shall refuse to admit, or directly shall 

 oppose my general doctrines, he must do it by shewing that I 

 have been deficient or mistaken in assuming or applying facts, 

 I have, myself, been jealous of my being sometimes imperfect 

 in these respects ; but I have generally endeavoured to obviate 

 the consequences of this, by proving that the proximate causes 

 which I have assigned are true in fact, as well as deductions 

 from any reasoning that I may seem to have employed. Fur- 

 ther, to obviate any dangerous fallacy in proposing a method of 

 cure, I have always been anxious to suggest that, which, to the 



