Medicine, 203 



To understand the history of medicine at any 

 period, it is necessary to trace the progress and mark 

 ihe affinities of all the sciences which are contem- 

 porarily cultivated. Not only the reign of fashion, 

 but the peculiar acquirements and taste of indivi- 

 duals are often to be considered in an estimate of 

 their medical principles. " La Philosophie," says 

 M. D'Alembert, '' La Philosophic prend, pour 

 ^^ ainsi dire, la teinture des esprits ou elle se trouve. 

 " Chez un metaphysiclen, elle est ordinairement 

 ^' toute systematique ; chez un geometre, elle est 

 ^' souvent toute de calcul." The application of this 

 remark, if possible, is more eminently verified in 

 respect to medicine than to philosophy in general. 

 This propensity of the human mind is productive 

 both of good and ill effects. If it be easy to shov/ 

 examples of injury sustained by the precipitancy of 

 mathematicians, chemists and metaphysicians, in 

 applying their doctrines to medical science, vv^hich 

 cannot indeed be reasonably doubted; it is equally 

 easy to prove that great benefit has arisen from 

 such applications. 



But notwithstanding the advantages and im- 

 provements which the eighteenth century has be- 

 stowed upon medicine, it must still be admitted 

 that its progress has never equalled the sanguine 

 expectations formed by many. Although nearly 

 coeval with the existence of mankind, and de- 

 manding attention in every stage and condition of 

 human life, the art of healing maintains a strug- 

 gle with difficulties at every step. Like all other 

 knowledge derived from observation and experi- 

 ence, that of medicine, though continually pro- 

 gressive, is subject to perpetual revolution. This 

 tardiness, therefore, In the career of improvement, 

 which all must admit and deplore, will excite no 

 surprize in such as consider the mystery which still 

 envelopes the principle of life, the laboin* of watch- 



