IIUNTERIAIS^ ORATION. 9 



Neither indeed can we wonder, that even 

 erring reason still found advocates in the 

 minds of men. Now you know, Gentlemen, 

 that not very long after the formation of the 

 Alexandrian school^ in the beginning of the 

 second century, before the Christian aera, 

 Serapion and Phillinus, pupils of Herophi- 

 lus, were the founders of a sect called 

 the empiric, which was numerous, highly 

 respectable, and which long continued to 

 flourish, whilst the remaining party of the 

 medical profession were distinguished b} 

 the appellation of the dogmatic or rational 

 sect. In the very feeble and almost blind 

 state attendant on the infancy of medical 

 science, a caution not to attempt to advance, 

 unless supported and conducted by an un- 

 erring guide, seemed really requisite, yet to 

 prohibit such endeavours in the present vi- 

 gorous and enlightened state of medical 

 science, would be as preposterous as to re- 

 commend the conduct proper to be pursued 

 in infancy, to be continued during the whole 

 state of manhood. Though much might be 

 said on this subject, it really seems unneces- 

 sary to do more than to remind you. Gentle- 

 men, that the sagacious Lord Bacon has, 



