20 CHAPTERS. 
could be derived from tlie Arabian moilu- 
merits of fcience in this, than iii the other 
departments of phyfic. In their beft au- 
thors, e\^en the Greek names of plants are 
fo grofsly perverted, that they are fcarcely 
to be known. 
The Grecian authors having been inac- 
curately tranflated at firft, and the language 
neglefted afterwards, phyfic loft much un- 
der the dominion of the Arabians. It was, 
in the end, a corrupt Galenic theory, with 
an admixture of ajlrohgy and fiiperftition. 
In this frate the learned of Europe found 
it, in the celebrated Mooriih imiverfities of 
Spain, In the weflem parts of Chriflen- 
dom, efpecially after the lapfe of the Latin 
tongue in Italy ^ it was fcarcely lefs obfcured 
by the ignorance of the Monks, by v/hom,, 
almoft folely, the practice of it was en- 
grolTed. 
Even the firft univeriity in Chriflendom, 
therenovirned fchooi of Saiernum^ founded by 
Charlemagne in the beginning of the ninth 
century, received its didlates from the cor- 
rupt foui-ces of the Arabians s whofe works 
are faid to have been at length tranilatcd 
into 
