260 Medicine, [Chap. IV. 



To understand the history of medicine at any pe- 

 riod, it is necessary to trace the progress and mark 

 the affinities of all the sciences which are contempo- 

 rarily cultivated. Not only the reign of fashion, but 

 the peculiar acquirements and taste of individuals 

 are often to be considered in an estimate of their 

 medical principles. " La Philosophic," says M. 

 d'Alembert, " La Philosophic prend, pour ainsi dire, 

 *• la teinture des esprits ou elle se trouve, Chez un 

 '' metaphysicien, elle est ordinairement toute syst6- 

 " matique; chez un geometre, elle est souvent toute 

 "decalcul.'* The application of this remark, if 

 possible, is more eminently verified in respect to 

 medicine than to philosophy in general. This pro* 

 pensity of the human mind is productive both of 

 good and ill elfects. If it be easy to show example* 

 of injury sustained by the precipitancy of mathe- 

 maticians, chemists, and metaphysicians, in apply- 

 ing their doctrines to medical science, which can- 

 not indeed be reasonably doubted 5 it is equally easy 

 to prove that great benefit has arisen from iiuch 

 applications. 



But notwithstanding the advantages and improve- 

 ments which the eighteenth century has bestowed 

 upon medicine, it must still be admitted that its pro- 

 gress has never equalled the sanguine expectations 

 formed by many. Although nearly coeval with the 

 existence of mankind, and demanding attention in 

 every stage and condition of human life, the art of 

 healing maintains a struggle with difficulties at 

 every step. Like all other knowledge derived from 

 observation and experience, that of medicine, though 

 continually progressive, is subject to perpetual re- 

 volution. This tardiness, therefore, in the career of 



