M> CLINTON'S 



Hippocrates was profoundly skilled iu natural knowledge before iH' 

 commenced the study of medicine ; and it has become a common saying 

 that, where the natural philosopher ends the physician begins. The 

 laws which regulate other material substances, apply to ilw human body. 

 Chemistry is all essential to a physician. * I do not hesitate to pronounce," 

 said Foureroy, " that modern chyraistry has done more, in twenty years, 

 for medicine, than all the united labours of preceding ages." The ma- 

 teria medica is supplied from the three kingdoms of nature. Without a 

 knowledge of botany, mineralogy, and zoology, a physician cannot under- 

 stand the medicines he prescribes ; and as the nomenclature of his pro- 

 fession is derived from the learned languages, and principally from the 

 greek, he ought to be a classical scholar : in a word, he should have a 

 general acquaintance with all the departments of human knowledge, in, 

 order to compose that learned man which is expected from an able and 

 accomplished physician. 



With this elevated idea of the medical character, how must we be 

 mortified to find the low state of the profession during the greater period 

 of the colonial government. It was totally unregulated ; and the apothe- 

 cary, physician, and surgeon, were united in the same individual* 

 " Quacks," said the colonial historian, " abound like locusts in Egypt." 

 A periodical writer, who published in 1752, estimated the number ol 

 families in this city to be two thousand, and the number of physicians to 

 be forty; which would make one physician for every fifty families; and 

 tie further stated that he could show, by " probable arguments, that more 

 lives are destroyed in this city by pretended physicians, than by all other 

 causes whatever."* Nor was the profession of the law on a more respect- 

 able footing. As there was no distinction of degrees, the attorney and' 

 the counsellor were blended together; and the profession was disgraced 

 by the admission of men not only of the meanest abilities, but of the- 

 lowest employments. 



While the theological profession exhibited a more respectable appear- 

 ance from the transatlantic education of many of our divines, the state of 

 our seminaries of learning displayed a most humiliating spectacle. " Our 

 schools," says the colonial historian, " are in the Jowes\ order. The 

 instructors want instruction ; and through a long, shameful, neglect of air 

 the arts and sciences, our common speech is extremely corrupt ; and the 

 evidences of a bad taste, both in thought and language, are visible in all 

 our proceedings, public and private." And, at that time, there were in- 

 ^ances of some magistrates who were totally ignorant of the first rudi- 

 ments of instruction. 



Amidst the intellectual darkness which covered the land, some corrus 

 rations of light were to be seen darting through the gloom. A 



t. Rr-flertor, 



