MEANING OF THE WORD NATURE. 1065 



which is also frequently produced in other parts 

 of the body by the loss of blood, without tending 

 in the slightest degree to remove the proximate 

 cause of the congestion. But in all cases of 

 apoplexy and concussion of the brain, the powers 

 of life are reduced below par, and require the 

 use of remedies adapted to arouse the nearly 

 suspended circulation ; such as hot brandy, wine, 

 or some other stimulating cordial, hot applications, 

 alternated with cold affusions and fresh air, with 

 a view of augmenting respiration. 



It was again observed by Hippocrates, that 

 " nature is the best physician in disease, that un- 

 taught and unlearned, she knows and does what 

 is best." But it is worthy of special notice, that 

 by nature he meant the principle which animates 

 the universe, and performs all the operations of 

 the living body. He also maintained that the 

 whole art of medicine consists in knowing how and 

 when to remove what is superfluous, and to add 

 what is deficient : or, in the version of Vander- 

 linden, " Medicina nihil aliud est nisi adpositio 

 et ablatio ablatio quidern eorum quae excedunt 

 adpositio vero eorum quse deficiunt." (De Fla- 

 tibus, s. iii. et Omnia Opera Hippocratis.) 



Bacon also observes, that " man whilst ope- 

 rating, can only apply or withdraw natural bodies ; 

 whilst nature internally performs the rest." (No- 

 vum Organum.) 



Again, says Godfrey Herder, " in what does 



