i THE EMANCIPATION OF THOUGHT 3 



Harvey and Sydenham in the previous age was carried 

 steadily forward, under leaders of whom Boerhaave 

 and the brothers Hunter were some of the chief. It is 

 true that the new knowledge, following the genius of 

 the time, was cast into systems : these had their day 

 and passed, but the knowledge remained. If we contrast 

 the teaching of the best physicians and surgeons at the 

 beginning of the century let us say of Boerhaave and 

 Cheselden with the teaching of Baillie and Abernethy 

 one hundied years later, the change seems indeed to be 

 far less than that which followed in the next age. Yet 

 it was great, and greater in the science than in the art 

 which is its outcome : true foundations had been laid, 

 and a noble structure was to be reared upon them. 



Dr. John Fothergill and his friends took a worthy 

 part in the advances of the eighteenth century. Fother- 

 gill touched life at many points. As a physician, he 

 helped to bring into English medical practice the new 

 spirit of natural medicine. As a man of science, he 

 extended the boundaries of knowledge, and brought the 

 riches of the animal, and even more of the vegetable 

 world to light. As a lover of justice and of liberty, he 

 had strong sympathy with the American people : he 

 did what he could to aid their growth, and he essayed to 

 stand with Franklin in the breach, to stay the onset of 

 the war of separation. As a philanthropist and a social 

 reformer, and as a pioneer in education, he was a shining 

 example to his age. Lastly, as a member of the Friends, 

 during the Quietist phase of the Society, he took a leading 

 part in shaping its policy and influence on both sides of 

 the Atlantic. 



