25& 



CHAPTER IV. 



MEDICINE. 



1 HE profession, whose department of knowledge 

 now comes mider consideration, occupies an immense 

 field of science, and by its number constitutes a 

 larcje class of the learned world. In addition to the 

 incentives of philanthropy and fame, which equally 

 actuate the exertions of others, physicians are com- 

 bined into a corps of observers and practical inqui- 

 rers by the nature of the employment and duties 

 they assume, and by the connexion which the usages 

 of society establish between their duties and emo- 

 lument. In discharging their professional labours, 

 they incessantly fmd observations and facts obtruded 

 on their attention; and by combining these into 

 hypotheses, theories, and systems, they only indulge 

 a favourite and almost irresistible propensity of the 

 human mind. Hence arises the vast mass of writings 

 which fill medical libraries, constantly accumulating, 

 and too numerous, extensive, and diversified, to come 

 within the comprehension of an individual inquirer. 

 Whoever duly considers these things will perceive 

 the necessity of resting satisfied on this occasion with 

 a transient retrospect. To attempt any minuteness 

 of detail would be to travel far beyond the limits 

 assigned to this work, and to engross the pages 

 which are destined to the examination of other 

 subjects. All that can be aimed at is briefly to no- 

 tice some of the more important revolutions and 

 improvements which distinguish the last age and 



