Clinton's introductory discourse. 31 



Cession, must be universally acknowledged. " It is certain, however," 

 says that distinguished writer, " that the study of physic is not achieved 

 in any eminent degree without very great advancements in the sciences ; 

 so that, whatever the profession is, the professors have been generally 

 very much esteemed on that account as well as of their own art, as the 

 most learned men of their ages, and thereby shared with the two other 

 great professions in those advantages most commonly valued, and most 

 eagerly pursued; whereof the divines seem to have had the most honour 

 — the lawyers the most money — and the physicians the most learning." 



Hippocrates was profoundly skilled in natural knowledge before he 

 commenced the study of medicine ; and it has become a common saying 

 that, where the natural philosopher ends the physician begins. The 

 laws which regulate other material substances, apply to the human body. 

 Chemistry is all essential to a physician. " I do not hesitate to pro- 

 nounce," said Fourcroy, " that modern chemistry has done more, in 

 twenty years, for medicine, than all the united labours of preceding 

 ages." The materia medica is supplied from the three kingdoms of 

 nature. Without a knowledge of botany, mineralogy, and zoology, a 

 physician cannot understand the medicines he prescribes; and as the 

 nomenclature of his profession is derived from the learned languages, 

 and principally from the Greek, he ought to be a classical scholar. In 

 a word, he should have a general acquaintance with all the depart- 

 ments of human knowledge, in order to compose that learned man which 

 is expected from an able and accomplished physician. 



With this elevated idea of the medical character, how must we be 

 mortified to find the low state of the profession during the greater 

 period of the colonial government. It was totally unregulated; and 

 the apothecary, physician, and surgeon, were united in the same indi- 

 vidual. " Quacks," said the colonial historian, " abound like locusts in 

 Egypt." A periodical writer, who published in 1752, estimated the 



