XIV PREFACE. 



grand eminence, aided by those wise reflections 

 suggested by Nicotiana in our griefs and troubles 

 — a consummation most devoutly to be wished ; 

 and we congratulate you, Mr. Solly, on the 

 thought of having already attained it. 



I am quite sure that Dean Swift or Hamlet 

 would "smell a rat" on this occasion in the dark 

 chamber of the medical mind. 



" I declare mj conscientious opinion," says Dr. James 

 Johnson, " founded on long observation and reflection, that, 

 if there were not a single physician, surgeon, apothecary, 

 man-midwife, chemist, druggist, or drug on the face of the 

 earth, there would be less sickness and less mortahty than 

 now prevail." * 



Perhaps this opinion may be shared by others 

 in and out of the profession ; whilst, if I frankly 

 admit my misgivings of the medical body in 

 general, I cannot but feel and express high es- 

 teem of many amongst them, who in all times 

 have deserved well of mankind by their labours. 

 Instructed at an early age for the healing art, I 

 learnt to venerate the function — as high as any 



* Quoted from ' Medical Confessions of Medical Murder,' 

 published by the " British College of Health," the dissenting 

 branch of the Faculty. 



