Sect. III.] Tlieory and Practice of Physic. 3 J 1 



the decline. The ever-varying furnis of diseases 

 are so dissimilar to the steady and lixod character 

 of the objects belonging to the tliree kingdoms of 

 natm-e, that it is diflicuit to accoinit for \\\v. con- 

 fidence and zeal v^ith uhich tiiis subject lias Wcw 

 cultivated by some disthiguislied naim s. It can- 

 not, however, be denied, that nosological in<|uiriu{s 

 have produced many good elfccts : tlicy doubtless 

 promote the discrimination of diseases ; and many 

 of the questions they involve are extremely in- 

 teresting to the practical physician. An undue 

 reliance upon nosology, and allowing it to substi- 

 tute names for realities, seem to have produced tlio 

 mischief which has thrown it into discredit. 



, The cool regimen in fevers constitutes one of the 

 most universally acknowledged improvements in 

 the practice of physic of the eigliteenth centurv. 

 A revolution on this point was begun by the new 

 and interesting doctrines, which the sagacity of 

 Sydenham had enabled him to develop towards 

 the latter part of the preceding age. Every day's 

 additional experience gave some new confirmation 

 of this important practice. A further acquaint- 

 ance with the diseases of hot climates, where thti 

 pleasantness as well as the efficacy of coolness in 

 fevers had overcome the opposition both of theory 

 and prejudice, gave a deep blow to the alexiphar- 

 mic and heating system. The good effects of 

 coolness in the small-pox, and more especially in 

 the improved stages of the inoculation of that dl>- 

 ease, seem to have settled the detenni nation of 

 physicians to extend the same remedy to the treat- 

 ment of fevers. And the conviction since wrought 

 by experience and observation, both on the public 



