160 AOVAKCEME^fT 0^ LEARNlKa [ftOOK IV. 



to think it 110 capital part of medicine, but coiifoiind it with 

 the othef two ; as supposing, that if diseases be prevented, 

 Or cured after invasion, long life must follow of course. But, 

 then, they do not consider that both preservation and cure 

 regard only diseases, and such prolongation of life as is inter- 

 cepted by them : whence the means of spinning out the fall 

 thread of life, or preventing, for a season, that kind of death 

 which gradually steals upon the body by simple resolution, 

 and the wasting of age, is a subject that no physician haa 

 treated suitably to its merit. Let none imagine we are here 

 repealing the decrees of fate and Providence, by establishing 

 a new office of medicine ; for, doubtless, Providence alike 

 dispenses all kinds of deaths, whether they proceed from 

 violence, diseases, or the course and period of age ; yet 

 without excluding the use of remedies and preventions, for 

 art and industry do not here overrule, but administer to 

 nature and fate. 



Many have unskilfully written upon the preservation of 

 health, particularly by attributing too much to the choice, 

 and too little to the quantity of meats. As to quantity, 

 they, like the moral philosophers, highly commend mode- 

 ration ; whereas, both fasting changed to custom, and full 

 feeding, where a man is used to it, are better preservatives 

 of health than those mediocrities they recommend, which 

 commonly dispirit nature, and unfit her to bear excess, or 

 want, upon occasion. And for the several exercises, which 

 greatly conduce to the preservation of health, no physician 

 has well distinguished cr observed them, though there be 

 scarce any tendency to a disease, that may not be corrected 

 by some appropriate exercise. Thus bowling is suited to 

 the diseases of the kidneys, shooting with the long bow to 

 those of the lungs, walking and riding to those of the 

 Btomach, &c. 



Great pains have been bestowed upon the cure of diseases, 

 but to small purpose. This part comprehends the know- 

 ledge of the diseases incident to the human body, together 

 with their causes, symptoms, and cures. In this second 

 office of medicine there are many deficiencies. And first, wo 

 may note the discontinuance of that useful method of Hip- 

 pocrateSj^ in writing narratives of particular cuit.*s with 

 ' Narrationea Medioales. 



