[ 398 3 
HI. A Letter from ©/-.William Mufgrave to 
2)r. Sloane, hein^ an Argument for the more 
frequent ufe of Laryngotomy, ur£d from a 
remarkable Cure in Chirurgtry ; performed by 
Mr. John Keen of Roch in Gornwal. 
SIR, 
IT cannot pafs your Obfervation, that the erroneous 
Opinions, and unhappy Prejudices ; entertained by 
Mankind, in matters of Phyfic ; have occafioned great 
Calamities, and been of Pernicious Confequence to 
tliem. 
It was no fmall number of Men, that fome years 
fince, loft their'Lives, from an Averfion to the Jefuits- 
Bark : depriving themfelves of the Uft and Advantage 
of that excellent Drug, from a Reafon merely no- 
minal. 
The like unaccountable Humour obtained a long 
rime againft the ufe of Opiates, and a Temperate Regi- 
men in the Small Pox ; by which fingle Method, the 
famous Dr. Sydenham has in all probability already 
preferv'd more of his Countrymen, than in the laft 
ten years fell by the Sword, in Ireland and Flanders. 
Of fuch deftrudivc Confequence are Errors of this 
kind, whea they become Fafliionable and Eftablifht ; 
and of fuch Public Advantage is it to hinder their 
Growth, and taking Root in the minds of Men. 
We are ftill Labouring under many Prejudices of 
this Nature; fome quite excluding, others rarely ad- 
mitting, even in the utmoft extremity, moft advanta- 
geous Methods of Phyfic. I will at prefent mention 
©nly one; that is L^;')';^-^/^^?^?^, and fet forth the ground- 
lefs 
