HUNTERIAN ORATION. S 



them that bias, by which they have been 

 directed to their present situation. 



Medicine^ or the science which has for 

 its object the prevention and cure of diseases, 

 was held in the highest respect by ancient 

 nations, and its most eminent professors 

 were even venerated. But, surely, it was 

 the beneficent object only of the science that 

 attracted their applause and gratitude ; for 

 the means by which the object was to be 

 accomplished were either not contemplated, 

 or were merely supposed to be known. 

 Various sovereigns have, doubtless, greatly 

 promoted this science by their patronage, 

 and encouragement ought to be given to it, 

 as I shall afterwards show, not only by the 

 government of countries, but also by the 

 people in general. The successors of Alex- 

 ander of Macedon first resolutely opposed 

 the natural feelings and prejudices of man- 

 kind, by patronising the dissection of human 

 bodies at Alexandria ; which city they had 

 made the great depository of knowledge, by 

 the collection of an immense library, and 

 which they also strove to make a splendid 

 seat of science, and source of instruction, 



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