124 Of the Advancement of Learning. Lib. IV. 



curate obfervations, as well of all kind ofhumourSj asof the faotfteps 

 and impreffions of difeafes in divers bodies diflefted : for the Humours 

 in Anatomies are commonly paft by, as if they were fuperHuousPurga- 

 ments and Excrements j whereas it is a point very ufeful and necefla- 

 ry, to note of what nature, and of how various kinds there be of dif- 

 ferent humours (not relying herein too much upon the received. divifi- 

 ons,) which fometimes may be found in the body of Man , and in what 

 Cavities and Receptacles, every humour ufeth for moft part to lodge 

 and neftlcjand with what advantage or prejodrcu^and the like. In like 

 manner the Footjieps and Imprejjions of DJJeafes, and the lefions and de- 

 vaftations of the inward parts by them, are to be obferved with dili- 

 gence in divers Atiatomies j as impofthumes, ulcerations, fblutions of 

 continuity, putrefadions, corrotions, confumptions, luxations, diiloca- 

 tions, obftruftions, repletions, tumors 5 together with ail perttrnatural 

 excrefcencies, found in mans body (as ftones, carnolities, wen^j worms, 

 and the like 5) I fay all thele, and fuch other, iViouId be with great di- 

 ligence inquired, and dx^tiktAhyxh^t Comparative Anatv//i)^ whereof 

 wefpeak, and the experiments of many Phyficians collefted and col- 

 lated together. But this variety of Accidents^ is by Anatomifts, either 

 handled perfunftorily,oreire paft over in (ilence. 



§ Touching that other defeB in Anatomy^ (niir/iely^ that it hath not been 

 hfed to be pracfifed upcn living bodies^') to what endlhould we fpeak of 

 it ? for this is an odious and an inhumane experiment , and by Celfuf 

 De Re juftly condemned ; yet notwithftanding, that obfervation of the Anci- 

 Mcdica. ents is true. That many Pores, Paflages and Pertufions, which are more 

 fubtile than the reft, appear not in Anatomical dijJeBiotis^ becaufe they 

 are (hut and latent in Dead Bodies 5 whereas they are open and mani- 

 feft in Live. Wherefore to eonfult both for ufe and humanity, this A- 

 natomia vivontntj is not altogether to be relinquifht, or referred (as 

 Celjusdixd) to the cafual infpeftions of Surgions, feeing this may well 

 be performed , being diverted upon the DiJJeBion of Beajij a- 

 livcj which , notwithftanding the diffirailitude of their parts with 

 mans, may ifufficiently fatisfie this enquiry, being done with judge- 

 ment. 

 * ^ Likevpife in their inquiry of Difeafes, they fii\d tniny Difeafes ivhich 



DEciiPvA- ff}gy decern and judge to be incurable 5 fome, from thefirft accels of the 

 MoRBo- Difeafe, others, after (uch a certain period : fothat the Prolcriptions of 

 BiVoRaM L. Scylla^ and the Triumvirs^ were qothing to the ProfcnptioKs of Phyftci- 

 SA vab'i-" '^'"ri ^y which, by their moft unjuft Edi(3:3 5 they deliver over fo many 

 u-Mi. men to death 5 whereof numbers do efcape with Icfs difficulty, than 

 they did in the Roman Profcriptions. Therefore I will not doubt 

 to fet downzmong Deficient s a tPork,of the cures of Difeafes held incur a- 

 ble 5 that fo fome excellent Generous Profefl'ors in that faculty, may be 

 avvaktand ftirred up.tofet tothisvvork(rofar as the latent operations oi 

 Nature, by mans induftry, may be dilclofed) feeing this very (en- 

 tence of Pronouncing Difeafes to be incurable, enaftsa Law, as it were, 

 forOoath and negligence, and redeems ignorance from Discredit and 

 Infomy. 

 * § Nayfarjher, to inffi a little upon this Point, lefieem it the office of 



THANA * Phjfician, not only to rejiore health, but to mitigate dolours, and tor- 

 ?i\ FXTE- ments of Difeafes j and not only when fuch mitigation of pain, asof a 



dangerous 



