THE many and great Advantages ariſing to Society, from the Inſtitution of publick SEMINARIES of LEARNING, were ſo early apparent to the illuſtrious Sages and venerable Legiſlators of Antiquity; that we find ſuch SCHOOLS nearly coeval with the Dawnings of Science itſelf. The Hiſtories of the moſt remote Ages inform us, that particular Claſſes of Men, under various Denominations in different Countries, were employed and ſet apart as the Depoſitaries or Preſervers of all the Learning then known; whoſe Duty it was by further Obſervations of their own, to rectify or improve whatever had been communicated to them; and afterwards to tranſmit the whole, without reſerve, to their Succeſſors. Theſe Men from their retired Life, reputed Sanctity, and Knowledge of the Powers of natural Bodies, and when Patriarchal Authority had now for ſome Time been ſunk in that of riſing States and Empires, would naturally be conſidered in Days of Ignorance and Simplicity, as a ſuperior Order of Beings, and as holding immediate Converſe with Heaven; and therefore they were uſually entruſted at the ſame Time, with the Direction of all the religious Rites and Ceremonies practiſed among them, in the Worſhip of their ſeveral local Divinities: But that their Attention might not be taken off from theſe different Taſks or Studies, by the Neceſſity of providing themſelves with Food and Raiment, they were for the moſt Part maintained at the publick Expence. So profuſely liberal had the Kings of EGYPT been to their Seminaries or Colleges of learned Men, that as Diodorus Siculus tells us, one third Part of the whole Country was anciently allotted for the Support of the Prieſts; who, he adds, were alſo all Phyſicians, or ſkilled in the Art of Healing. Theſe Prieſts, by ſome called Hierophantes, or Expounders of ſacred Things, derived the Origin of their Inſtitution from the earlieſt Ages; and were reputedly the moſt learned Body of Men then known in the World, wherever Policy and good Government had been eſtabliſhed. For it may be affirmed from natural Reaſon, as well as from all the credible Hiſtories of ancient Nations, that none of the liberal Arts or Sciences ever made any conſiderable Progreſs, but where good Order and Government had been firſt introduced and properly maintained. LAWS are neceſſary both for the Security of the Perſons and Properties of Men, and from that Eaſe and Happineſs which are the neceſſary Conſequences of ſuch Security, proceeds Curioſity, and an emulous Deſire of diſtinguiſhing themſelves either by ſucceſsful Reſearches into the Nature and Uſes of the Objects around them; or by ſuch other Inventions and Diſcoveries as are advantageous to themſelves, or Neighbours: The happy Reſult of all which is SCIENCE or Knowledge.

Beſides the EGYPTIAN COLLEGES already mentioned, we find ſimilar Inſtitutions among ſeveral other Nations of Antiquity; ſome of which I ſhall give a ſummary Account of.

Among the moſt ancient of theſe are the CHALDAEANS: They are noticed by that Name in Scripture, ſo early as in the Days of Abraham, who is there ſaid to have been born in their Country. Tho' the CHALDAEANS are frequently ſpoken of as a Nation of ASSYRIA, the Name is now moſt generally underſtood of a certain Body of learned Men diſtinct from the Reſt of the Citizens; whoſe ſole Buſineſs was Study; who lived in and about Babylon; and were famous for their Knowledge of Aſtronomy. The Philoſopher Calliſthen • s, who attended Alexander on his Expedition againſt Darius, ſent Ariſtotle an Account of Aſtronomical Obſervations made by the Chaldaeans, from nearly the Time of the Moſaical Deluge. They firſt invented Judicial Aſtrology, or pretended to foretel Events from the Influence and relative Aſpects of the Stars and Conſtellations. They were much conſulted in Diſeaſes, which they pretended to cure by Charms, and the Agency of inviſible Powers, more than by the Medicinal Herbs they uſed on theſe Occaſions.

The CABEIRI was an Appellation ſometimes uſed by the Ancients for their Great Gods, ſo called; but moſt generally for the Prieſts, who performed their ſacred Rites, and taught their Manner of Worſhip. They firſt came from Phoenicia, and ſettled in Samothrace: They affected great Secrecy in their Ceremonies; and uſed certain Forms of Initiation into their Myſteries, by placing their Pupils upon a Throne, and dancing round them; after which they put a Girdle about them, which was thought to poſſeſs great Virtues.

The CURETES, ſo called from keeping their Hair ſhort, and the CORYBANTES, were different Names for the Prieſts of Cybele or Rhea, the fabled Mother of the Gods. They were ſometimes called Idaei Dactyli, from their Number; and from Mount Ida near Troy, where Cybele was held in particular Veneration. Theſe Prieſts went from Phrygia, and took up their Reſidence in the Iſland of Crete; where they were ſaid to have been intruſted with the Education of JUPITER; when to prevent the Cries of the young God from being heard by his Father Saturn, they invented the noiſy and warlike Dances in Armour, to the Sound of Drums and Flutes, which afterwards became Part of their eſtabliſhed Worſhip. They were expert in the Science of Augury and Divination. They applied themſelves much to Aſtronomy, to Phyſiology or the Study of Nature, and to Poetry. They are ſaid to have firſt inſtructed the Cretans to build Cities, and to live in Societies; to manage Flocks and Bees; and to make and uſe Armour. STRABO mentions this Order of Prieſts by the Name of the COLLEGE of the CURETES; and as performing yearly Sacrifices in Honour of the Birth of Apollo and Diana.

The TELCHINES came firſt to Greece from the Iſland of Rhodes, whither they had removed from Egypt: They were undoubtedly of the Tribe of the Prieſts in Egypt, the Inventors or Preſervers of the ſacred Hieroglyphick Characters, and of the other Methods by which they concealed their Learning from the Vulgar; for they were very ſcrupulous and reſerved in communicating their Knowledge. The Greeks ſpeak of them as the Inventors of Arts; who firſt taught them to rear Temples, to carve Images, and to practiſe regular Ceremonies in the Worſhip of their Deities. They were alſo great Magicians, and pretended to work Wonders by Charms, Incantations, and certain Drugs, whoſe Qualities they were acquainted with. They were probably the ſame as Pharoah's Sorcerers or wiſe Men; who are ſaid in Scripture to have done ſuch ſupernatural Feats, in Imitation of the Miracles performed by Moſes in Egypt. They were alſo much given to Proceſſions and Shows; and to all the other Arts by which they could excite Admiration in Mankind, and Reverence for themſelves, and their Profeſſion.

In the Book of JOSHUA we read of a City of Paleſtine or Canaan called Ciriath-Sepher, which literally ſignifies the City of Books or of Letters; as the Canaanites and eſpecially the Sidonians are known to have even then made great Progreſs in Arts and Learning, it is generally believed that they had in thoſe Times, publick Schools or Colleges in Ciriath-Sepher, in which were taught the Sciences or Philoſophy of thoſe Ages; and that this City had its Name from theſe Circumſtances, and the Number of learned Men who uſed to aſſemble in it, for Study, or mutual Improvement.

It is certain that there were COLLEGES among the JEWS, in the Time of SAMUEL, even for the Inſtruction of their Prophets in the Rites and Ceremonies of their Religion; and other Myſteries of that important Profeſſion. Here is ſuch an Encomium upon Learning, as exceeds all the Powers of Man to equal: By this we are given to underſtand that Learning was conducive to Inſpiration, and a more familiar Intercourſe with the Deity; and was the eligible Vehicle of his revealed Will to that favourite People. Accordingly in the prophetic Writings we find many beautiful Deſcriptions, ingenious Allegories, and inſtructive moral Truths, delivered in a Stile truly Poetical and Sublime. We are alſo told in the Jewiſh Hiſtory, that HULDAH, the Propheteſs, dwelt in the COLLEGE at Jeruſalem.

The SALII or Prieſts of MARS, were inſtituted at ROME by Numa, for keeping the Aneilia or ſacred Bucklers: They had a PRAESU • or chief Director; and they were called the COLLEGE of the SALII. This Name was given them, becauſe they danced in Armour thro' the Streets in their Proceſſions, in a certain Cadence, continually beating upon their Bucklers; on which Occaſion they were accompanied with a Number of young Virgins in particular Habits, ſinging the Saliare Carmen, or Song of their Order.

Beſides theſe, we read that there were anciently COLLEGES of the Perſian Magi, and of the Indian Gymnoſophiſts or Bramins; which Inſtitutions exiſt in the Eaſt at this Day: And the COLLEGES of the Druids, or Semnotheans both in Gaul and Britain, are frequently mentioned in the Roman and other Hiſtories. Theſe Colleges were inferior to none of the others, either in Antiquity, Regularity, or popular Influence. Their Learning and Opinions ſhall be more particularly conſidered hereafter.

It may be obſerved in general of all theſe INSTITUTIONS or publick SEMINARIES; that they were uſually compoſed of Men diſtinguiſhed by their Birth, Learning, and Abilities, ſet apart for the Care of their religious Tenets and Ceremonies; and that they were the eſtabliſh'd SCHOOLS for the Inſtruction of Youth.

Theſe Outlines or imperfect Models of PUBLICK ACADEMIES or SCHOOLS, whether derived from the Inſtitutions above-mentioned, or from ſome other Denomination of learned Men, among Nations, whoſe Hiſtories have not reached our Times, were warmly adopted and greatly improved by the Greeks: Among them we find the fine Arts more generally diffuſed and cultivated, than among the other Nations of Antiquity. This indeed might naturally be expected from the inquiſitive Genius and liberal Sentiments of the free born. Sons of Greece; whoſe unwearied Diligence in the Purſuit of, and inextinguiſhable Avidity for Knowledge, often prompted them to explore diſtant Lands, to viſit many and Strange Nations, and to brave all oppoſing Difficulties and Dangers, in Order to participate of every Treaſure of Learning, wherever it could be found. Of this there are many Inſtances in Hiſtory; and it has been obſerved, that one of the greateſt Encomiums beſtowed upon the ſagacious ULYSSES is, that he

Nor was this Cuſtom of Travelling confined to the Greeks. The famed ZOROASTER travelled over Indoſtan, as far as the Ganges, to be inſtructed in the ancient Philoſophy of the Bramins, who, even in his Time, were celebrated for the Innocence of their Lives, and Purity of their Doctrines; and the Gentoo Annals, ſtill preſerved in India, mention both him and PYTHAGORAS, as Travellers into that Country, in Search of Knowledge. The Hyperborean Philoſopher and Britiſh Druid ABARIS, is mentioned by ſeveral Greek Writers, as travelling over the Continent of Europe to Athens and Delos, and from thence into Italy. ANACHARSIS was a noble Scythian who came to Greece for Improvement; from thence he viſited CROESUS in Lydia; and afterwards was killed in his own Country, for endeavouring to introduce the Grecian Cuſtoms. ERILLUS, and CLITOMACHUS, otherwiſe called ASDRUBAL, were Carthaginians who came to Greece, for Inſtruction; as did MENIPPUS from Phoenicia.

We read of many more inquiſitive Sages of Old, who quitted their native Countries to viſit diſtant Regions, in Queſt of Learning. From theſe renowned Travellers of Antiquity, is derived the modern faſhionable Practice, of viſiting foreign Countries for Improvement; which was adopted ſoon after the Revival of Learning in Europe; and is ſtill conſidered, by Men of generous Minds and enlarged Underſtandings, not only as a genteel and uſeful Accompliſhment, but as the finiſhing Part of Polite Education.

Since thoſe more remote Times, Learning has been ſo extenſively branched out into various Arts, Sciences, or Profeſſions; by the many curious and amazing Diſcoveries communicated to the World, within theſe few laſt Centuries; and by the innumerable uſeful and intereſting Improvements made in all its ſeveral Departments; that the munificent Founders, and generous Benefactors of modern UNIVERSITIES have been thereby induced to aſſign competent Allowances, for the Support of particular Profeſſors or Teachers in each neceſſary Branch▪ Who with Abilities not inferior, tho' with Aſſiſtances and Advantages infinitely ſuperior to the Antients, are nevertheleſs conſidered as both uſefully and neceſſarily employed for themſelves, and the Public, in attending to, and improving the ſingle Part alloted them.

By the Example of theſe European Nations, who have diſtinguiſhed themſelves as Encouragers of Learning and Patrons of Science; and more particularly by the Example, and with the Countenance and Aſſiſtance of thoſe Countries, which, with that affectionate Reſpect due to the Birth Place of our Fathers, and thoſe Sentiments of Gratitude we ſo juſtly owe for their generous Protection and Aid in that Undertaking, we more emphatically call the MOTHER COUNTRIES; a Seminary of Learning, has for ſome Time paſt been eſtabliſhed and endowed in this City, with a public Spiritedneſs and Liberality worthy of its Founders; and which will, we hope, reflect Honour upon their Memories, and thoſe of its kind Benefactors, while lives the Love of Letters,—while Merit meets Reward.

To render the Influence of this COLLEGE more extenſive and beneficial to Mankind, the reſpectable Governors have, with their uſual Benevolence, been pleaſed to countenance and cheriſh the infant and well-meant Endeavours of a few Gentlemen of the Medical Profeſſion here, to erect a SCHOOL of PHYSICK; by beſtowing upon each of them the Titles, Privileges, and Immunities of PROFESSORS in it, of ſuch ſeparate Branches of Medicine as they have ſeverally engaged to teach. For theſe diſtinguiſhed Marks of Favour, it is with the greateſt Alacrity and Pleaſure, that I embrace this firſt Opportunity, in my own Name, and in the Names of my Brother Profeſſors, of making our ſincere Acknowledgements to the worthy and patriotic GOVERNORS, for that Protection and Encouragement they have ſo chearfully afforded to our Undertaking, and the Honours they have been pleaſed to confer upon us: And in a particular Manner we return our unfeigned and moſt cordial Thanks to the THREE GENTLEMEN of the COMMITTEEDR. S. AUCHMUTY, Rector of Trinity Church DR. M. COOPER, Preſident of King's College, and J. T. KEMPE, Eſq his Majeſty's Attorney Ge▪ appointed to confer with us; whoſe great Good-Senſe and Politeneſs were not only uſeful, but neceſſary in removing many Obſtacles which occured to the Execution of our intended Plan; and whoſe ſteady and unwearied Attention to the Reputation and Intereſt of this COLLEGE, are only ſurpaſſed by their Humanity and general Good-Will to Mankind, ſo conſpicuous in their Endeavours to promote and improve the great ART of HEALING.

When we conſider that the moſt civilized and polite Nations on Earth, have formerly at ſome Period lived as the moſt Savage and Ignorant do at this Day; we have great Reaſon to extol the Sagacity and Addreſs of our Anceſtors, for inventing, cultivating, and improving the Arts and Sciences. To enumerate the Benefits we derive from their Induſtry; the many Conveniencies and Pleaſures of Life which their Diſcernment and Good Senſe have put us in Poſſeſſion of; or the Labours and Inquietudes we have been delivered from, by their profitable and ſucceſsful Endeavours; would be a Taſk not more difficult than unneceſſary; as it would be doubting the Judgment of this learned AUDIENCE; as well as their Knowledge of Men and Books: I ſhall therefore confine my ſubſequent Diſcourſe to the preſent Occaſion of bringing together this reſpectable and polite Company; and to what is properly the Subject of this preſent Inſtitution.

The ART of HEALING, as is obſerved by the learned Dr. PITCAIRN, muſt certainly be of greater Antiquity than the Study of PHILOSOPHY; becauſe in the Beginning of the World, every one would be determined to thoſe Studies of PHYSICK or PHILOSOPHY, according as the Feelings of Man's Body, or the Amuſements of his Mind firſt excited his Attention. Now it is moſt probable, that the Reaſons for PHILOSOPHY were only accidental or caſual; for Men then only addicted themſelves to philoſophiſing, when, after experiencing the Efficacy of Remedies, they could in ſome Security and at Leizure conſider the Qualities of Natural Bodies, and think of excelling the Reſt of Mankind in the Powers of the Underſtanding: Whereas the Reaſons for PHYSICK, or the Preſervation of Health, were perpetual; and, from the earlieſt Uſe of Man's Faculties, naturally connected with his Well-being and Exiſtence. The SCIENCE of MEDICINE is alſo more uſeful, more honourable than that of PHILOSOPHY; by how much the more reaſonable it is, that our Care for the Life of Man, ſhould exceed that of gratifying his Curioſity.

By the Word MEDICINE, the Ancients underſtood every Thing which related to the Art of Healing; as by the Appellation of PHYSICIAN 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Medicus,—a Healer., they meant every one who practiſed that Art, whether the preſcriptive, or manual Parts of it.

MAN, from the Beginning, ſeems to have been formed by his CREATOR, ſubject to Changes, and even to Death itſelf; equally with all the other living Productions of Nature. The Structure of his Body, the Functions neceſſary to the Preſervation of Life, Motion and Reſt, Watching and Sleep, and even Health itſelf, are ultimately productive of Infirmities and Sickneſs: The daily Neceſſity of freſh Supplies of Meat and Drink, to recruit the continual Waſte of the Body, by the Actions of Life; the Air he breathes, filled with Exhalations of very different Properties, according as they aſcend from the Earth in the Day, or deſcend from the ſurrounding Atmoſphere in the Night; the various and ſudden Changes of the Weather, from hot, cold, moiſt, dry, to their ſeveral Oppoſites; or the long and uninterrupted Cold and Heat of ſucceſſive Days and Nights; the Influence of the Sun and Moon upon our Bodies, thro' the Medium of the Atmoſphere; and the varying Seaſons of the Year; all muſt occaſion ſuch Alterations in his Conſtitution, and State of Health, as are the neceſſary Conditions of his Exiſtence; and finally muſt become the Source of his total Diſſolution. From all this may we not conclude, that before that myſterious Fall of ADAM, the Structure of the human Body muſt have been very different from what it now is; or that it was not liable to the ſame Inconveniencies, Neceſſities, and Accidents, as at preſent; or otherwiſe, that even in EDEN'S Garden, and while poſſeſſed of that ſo celebrated and golden State of Innocence, nothing leſs than a Tree of Life, or ſome ſuch ſingular and perpetual Exertion of Omnipotence, could preſerve to him, the full and undiminiſhed Enjoyment of all thoſe various Powers and Faculties, depending upon the Health and Well-being of a Machine, ſo mutable, ſo weak, and complicated?

The firſt Race of Mankind, expoſed in the Forreſts or open Fields, to the ſudden Changes and Inclemencies of the Weather, muſt have maintained their Life in no very comfortable Condition. Unacquainted with thoſe Luxuries and Abuſes of natural Benefits, which have ſince their Time been ſo much followed and refined upon, it is agreed among all the antient Writers of every Country and Denomination, who have treated that Subject, and Reaſon itſelf confirms it to us, that their whole Suſtenance conſiſted in the Seeds, Herbs, and Roots of their own and Nature's Tillage, juſt as they grew and preſented themſelves to their Hand; joined with the ſucculent Fruits of Shrubs and Trees; and diluted with the cool and refreſhing Draughts from the pure Stream or Fountain. This Diet of the primitive Ages would vary, according to the different Productions of their reſpective Countries; whence many Nations were anciently diſtinguiſhed by Names expreſſive of that particular Food moſt generally uſed among them, or with which their Country chicſty abounded: Thus we are told that the Arcadians lived in former Times upon Acorns; the Argives on Pears; the Athenians on Figgs; other Nations are ſaid to have fed chie •• y on Beech Maſt; and to keep up the Remembrance of theſe Days of Innocence and Frugality, it was cuſtomary at Athens, to preſent the new married Pair on the Day of their Nuptials, with a Baſket of Acorns mixed with Bread. However, let us obſerve by the by, that probably the Acorns in theſe ſouthern Latitudes differed in Quality, from thoſe known to us; and that other Kinds of Shell Fruits might be comprehended under that Name. But when we conſider the Nature of this Diet, we muſt allow that, tho' it is very proper for Cattle and the feathered Tribes, whoſe Organs are adapted to ſuch Aliment, it could not be ſo fit for or agreeable to MAN, who is of a more delicate Texture: For the moſt delicious Fruits are cold, and afford but little Nouriſhment; Seeds, without previous Dreſſing, are flatulent, and hard to digeſt; and Herbs and Roots are ſtill more harſh and crude. This is the uncontroverted Opinion of Phyſicians in all Ages and Climates. HIPPOCRATES ſays, that in the Beginning Men uſed the ſame Food as the Beaſts; and that the many Diſtempers, brought upon them by ſuch indigeſtible Aliment, taught them in Length of Time to find out a different Diet, better ſuited to their Conſtitutions: And the ſame Reaſons no doubt, ſuggeſted the firſt Eſſays of improving the Taſte, and meliorating the Nature of ſuch ungrateful Food, by Means of Fire.

The Uſe of MILK was probably an early Acquiſition to the Diet of the primitive Ages. This being a ready Article of Food, more palatable, and better ſuited to their Powers of Digeſtion, than any other then known, will eaſily account for that Attention and Care with which the Men of thoſe Times preſerved and multiplied their Herds and Flocks, in which conſiſted all their Riches; and for that perpetual Deſire they had to roam and change their Places of Abode, in their Function of Shepherds, for the Convenience of finding freſh Paſture and Water. Thus the SCYTHIANS were ſometimes called GALACTOPHAGI, or MILK-EATERS, by the Greeks, from their feeding much upon that nutritious Fluid.

The Simplicity of their Diet could only be equaled by that of their Cloathing and Habitations. The Skin of ſome Animal, accidentally found dead, or of ſome devouring Beaſt of Prey, killed perhaps in Self-defence, was probably the firſt Covering that was wore, either for Uſe or Ornament: As their Canopy was the Sky; a natural Grotto; or ſome temporary Shelter of Branches and Leaves; agreeable to their Neceſſities, and ſuited to their Circumſtances.

At what Time the Uſe of ANIMAL FOOD was firſt introduced, is not eaſily aſcertained. PLUTARCH wonders what Soul or Sentiments the Man had, who firſt with his Mouth touched Blood, or the Fleſh of ſlaughtered Animals; and thinks that nothing but extreme Neceſſity could have introduced ſuch a Practice. When we conſider the helpleſs Condition of Man, in his State of Nature; how he is comparatively unprovided with Weapons of Offence or Defence; and if we reflect that there is in every Man, unpractiſed in the Ways of Blood, an innate Abhorrence to deprive of Life, or diſpaſſionately to butcher an inoffenſive Brute, from a preconceived Deſire of eating its Body; we cannot believe that he was originally formed by his CREATOR for an Animal of Prey. This is further confirmed from comparative Anatomy; by which it is evident, that his Inſtruments of Manducation and Digeſtion more nearly reſemble thoſe of Graminivorous, than of Carnivorous Animals. Thus ADAM, among other Injunctions given him, is told; That every Herb bearing Seed, and every Tree in which is the Fruit of a Tree yielding Seed, ſhall be to him for Meat: But, tho' Dominion is expreſsly given him over all living Creatures, in every Element, he is no where told that he might kill, or eat of them: And it is as true as remarkable, that excepting thoſe human Figures which inhabit near the frozen Seas to the North of Europe, and who from Neceſſity live almoſt entirely upon Fiſh and Sea Fowls; the principal Part of Man's Food in all other known Regions of the World, from the fierce Savages of AMERICA, to the wandering Hordes of TARTARY, and the ſooty Tribes of AFRICA, has ever been, and ſtill continues to be Vegetable. But by whatever Means Man was firſt tempted to act ſo contrary to the Feelings of Humanity, as to deſtroy Animals for Food; whether from the Example of Savage Beaſts, the grateful Odour of Burnt-Offerings, Curioſity, dire Neceſſity, a Spirit of Revenge, or by whatever Motive he was induced to make the bold Eſſay; the firſt Account we have of Animals being the deſtined Prey of Man, is in that formal Permiſſion addreſſed to NOAH, immediately after the Flood, in theſe Words; Every moving Thing that liveth, ſhall be Meat for you; even as the green Herb have I given you all Things: And it is the general Opinion of Eccleſiaſtical Writers, that no ſuch Food was uſed, till after the Deluge. This Permiſſion to eat Meat, when conſidered ſimply and in itſelf, will appear to have been only a partial Favour: For crude Fleſh quickly putrifies, more eſpecially when aſſiſted by the natural Heat of the Body; while notwithſtanding, the human Stomach and Bowels, from the Delicacy of their Structure and Length of their Tube, are unable to diſcharge the putrid Faeces ſo expeditiouſly as is done by Beaſts by Nature formed for Prey, and whoſe Inteſtines are not only ſhorter, but alſo more firm and muſcular: Wherefore it is obvious that the Eating of raw Meat muſt have been attended with very pernicious Conſequences, before the various Methods of dreſſing it by Fire, and other Contrivances for preſerving it, were found out; in order to retard its Tendency to Putrefaction, and accommodate this Diſpoſition to the Powers of Digeſtion in Man, and to the Length of Time it muſt neceſſarily remain in his Body. Thus the ART of COOKERY, however it may have adminiſtred to the Folly or Luxury of later Times, was undoubtedly, in its Origin, not more ſimple than proper and neceſſary; and like other prophylactick Remedies or Preſervatives, was at firſt practiſed for the ſole Purpoſes of Health and Convenience. Phyſicians often form very juſt Opinions reſpecting the Nature of the humane Juices, and the general State of Health, from that particular Kind of Food chiefly uſed, whether it be Animal or Vegetable; and ſome have even pretended to judge of Men's Tempers and Diſpoſition, from eating their animal Food much dreſſed, crude, or nearly ſo. There are however many Examples of a voluntary Abſtinence from all Fleſh. both in antient and modern Times; partly from Motives of Humanity to Brutes, and partly from thoſe of Self-Mortification: For not to mention the Auſterities and frugal Life of ANCHORETS in different Parts of the World, it is well known that, of the preſent religious Orders amongſt the Roman Catholicks, the CARTHUSIANS and MINIMS never eat Meat: and the rigid Order of LA TRAPPE, never eat any Thing which has ever had Life in it; They live entirely on Vegetables, cultivated by their own Hands. The COLLOYERS, a Sect of Greek Monks, never eat Meat; and on Faſt Days they uſe Vegetables only. There is another Sect of Greek Devotees called ASCETAI, who live recluſe in the Mountains upon Vegetables alone: Many Religious among the Armenians never eat Meat; and among the Japaneſe we are told, that many of their Prieſts and other Devotees are no leſs abſtemious in that Article of Food. That ſmall Society of induſtrious inoffenſive People, who have lately ſettled in a neighbouring Province, and are commonly known by the Name of DUNKARDS, live for the moſt Part upon Vegetable Productions; and tho' they do not refrain altogether from Meat, they profeſſedly uſe it very ſparingly, from a Principle of Self-Denial. They are moreover very frugal in their Dreſs, Sleep upon Boards, and are extremely hoſpitable: They have a Mo • e of Worſhip, and ſome Tenets peculiar to themſelves; and with Reſpect to their public OEconomy, they live under Regulations ſomewhat reſembling the antient Spartans, or their modern Imitators the Moravians.

This natural Averſion in Man to kill Animals for Food, if it did not give Riſe to, was certainly much hightened by, the Belief of the METEMPSYCHOSIS, or TRANSMIGRATION of Souls; which PYTHAGORAS having been inſtructed in by the AEgyptian HIEROPHANTES, and BRAMINS of the Eaſt, is falſly ſuppos'd to have been the Author of, becauſe he firſt publicly taught it in Greece. For it is certain that all of this Perſuaſion, abſtain more or leſs from Animal Food; either from Motives of Religion, or Humanity.

As this Doctrine of the METEMPSYCHOSIS is very ancient, and conſtitutes the very Eſſence of the Gentoo Religion at this Day; and as the Account of their original Tenets, lately publiſh'd by MR. HOLWELL, who reſided ſeveral Years amongſt them, is in very few Hands here; I ſhall ſubjoin an Abſtract of their Opinions, chiefly from him, for the Amuſement of the Curious, tho' ſomewhat foreign to the preſent Subject.

The BRAMINS, or GENTOO PRIESTS, by the Ancients called GYMNOSOPHISTS, have ever invariably profeſſed, as fundamental Articles of their Creed, the three grand Principles uſually taught to thoſe initiated into the celebrated ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES; to wit, The Unity of the God-Head; his Providence over all Creation; and a future State of Rewards and Puniſhments. They believe that the Hoſt of Angels was called into Exiſtence long before the Creation of this World; and that long before this latter Event, there was an Apoſtacy or Rebellion of the Angels in Heaven, who, with their Chief, MOISASOOR, were baniſh'd thence by the ETERNAL ONE, into utter Darkneſs: That after ſome Time, at the Interceſſion of the good Angels, ſeveral Worlds were created as Places of Puniſhment and Probation for ſuch of the DEBTAH, or fallen Angels, as were penitent and deſirous of regaining their loſt Eſtate, where they were doom'd to animate the Bodies of different Animals, even to the ſmalleſt Reptile and Infect, according to the Nature and Degree of their Crimes; till by Obedience, Perſeverance, and a Series of Tranſmigrations thro' different Species of Animals in all theſe ſeveral Worlds, they ſhould have totally expiate • their Guilt, and be again admitted into the DIVINE PRESENCE. They believe that every Animal Form is endow'd with COGITATION, MEMORY, and REFLECTION; that each Species has a comprehenſive Mode of communicating their Ideas, peculiar to themſelves; and that the delinquent Spirits are conſcious of their own Situation, thro' all theſe different Tranſmigrations and Animal Forms. They believe that MOISASOOR, or the Arch Rebel, and his impenitent Followers, are continually endeavouring to bring back the Penitent Angels to their Apoſtacy, and to render ineffectual their Atonements, in the different Forms they animate: That the good Angels have alſo, from Time to Time, by the Permiſſion of GOD, voluntarily ſubjected themſelves to the Feelings of Natural and Moral Evil, and undergone the whole Series of Tranſmigrations; for the Sake of inſtructing and encouraging their Penitent Brethren: That theſe benevolent Spirits have appear'd at different Periods, in the various Characters of KINGS, LAWGIVERS, PHILOSOPHERS, or TEACHERS; as ſhining Examples to them of Courage, Piety, Benevolence, and of every other ſocial Virtue; and that theſe Viſitations were more frequent formerly than now: That in all the inferior Orders of Beings, theſe Spirits are in a State of Puniſhment; but that in MAN, commences their State of Probation; becauſe in this Form only, they become abſolute and free Agents: Whereas in other Forms, they believe that the intellectual Powers of the Criminal Spirits are circumſcribed, by the varied Structure of the Bodies they inhabit; and in this principally conſiſts, ſay they, the Difference between MAN and other ANIMALS. That the moſt Malignant of the Apoſtate Spirits are doom'd to inhabit the voracious Claſſes of Animals, whither of the EARTH, AIR, or WATERS, and Men whoſe Lives and Actions are atrociouſly or publicly wicked: Whereas the leaſt Guilty tranſmigrate only thro' thoſe Forms, which by Nature are deſtined to feed on Vegetables; among which they particularly venerate the Cow, as holding, according to their Belief, the next Rank to MAN in the Chain of Beings, as being by its Milk the moſt uſeful of all Animals to Men forbid the Uſe of Meat, and as aſſiſting them in the Cultivation of their Lands, upon which depends their vegetable Subſiſtence. They believe that the FEMALES of all animated Forms, and in a more eminent Degree, that WOMEN are highly favour'd of GOD, and are inhabited by the leaſt culpable of the apoſtate Angels: That, when a Spirit is diſpoſſeſſed of its Dwelling before the Time allotted, however far advanced it might be in Number of Tranſmigrations towards its State of Probation, it was obliged to begin them all a-new from the loweſt Claſs: Wherefore the rigid BRAMINS execrate with Bitterneſs all thoſe who kill, or eat ſuch belov'd Animals of GOD, as feed intirely upon Vegetables, eſpecially the Cow; SHEEP, and GOAT; contrary, ſay they, not only to the expreſs Prohibition of GOD, but to the natural and obvious Conſtruction of the Mouth, and digeſtive Faculties of MAN; which mark him as deſtin'd, with the other moſt favour'd Forms, to ſubſiſt upon the Produce of the Earth, with the additional Bleſſing of Milk. They dread to deſtroy, even by Accident, any Thing which has Life in it; leſt they ſhould thereby diſpoſſeſs a Kindred Spirit; or any of thoſe other Celeſtial Beings, who are working for their Redemption. For the ſame Reaſon • they are anxious to purchaſe the life of any of the favour'd Animals deſtin'd for Slaughter; and they have Hoſpitals for the maimed and infirm of ſuch Claſſes, where they are fed and attended with great Aſſiduity and Care, by their Devotees. They moſt religiouſly abſtain from every Kind of Animal Food, or from feeding upon any Thing which has ever breath'd the Breath of Life. There is not in all their Books, the ſmalleſt Alluſion to that Mode of Worſhip among other ancient Nations, by Sacrifices and Bur •• Offerings; ſuch a cruel Inſtitution, ſo repugnant to the true Spirit of Devotion, and ſo abhorrent from the Benevolence and paternal Love of the Deity, could only, ſay they, be contriv'd by the evil Spirit. With Reſpect to the Antiquity of the SHASTAH, or Gentoo Scriptures, MR. HOLWELL obſerves, that the firſt Conquerors, who invaded their Country, found them a potent, learn'd, and civilized People, united under one Head, and profeſſing one uniform Worſhip: That their Annals, tho' ſilent as to the fabled Conqueſts of BACCHUS, and SESOSTRIS, yet make particular mention of the Expedition of ALEXANDER the GREAT into India, by the Epithets of a mighty Robber and Murderer: That the Sancrit Language and Character, in which their Doctrines were originally written, are not now any where uſed or underſtood, exce ••• by a few learned of the BRAMINS: That as their Records make mention of the famous Perſian Philoſopher ZOROASTER, and of PYTHAGORAS from Greece, as Travellers into India in Queſt of Knowledge; it is highly probable, that the Fame of their Learning and Purity of Manners, may have induced many other inquiſitive Sages of Antiquity to viſit their Country: That as the GENTOOS are by the fundamental Principles of their Religion forbid all Intercourſe with other Nations; and as they cannot even admit of Converts to their Faith, or receive them into the Pale of their Communion, without the loſs of their Caſt or Tribe, which is a Diſgrace every GENTOO would rather ſuffer Death than incur; therefore that their Nation has not only remain'd unmix'd with any other Race of People to this Day, but their Theological Dogmas have alſo ſubſiſted unchanged and unmix'd, ever ſince they were firſt taught to them by BRAMAH; which according to their Accounts, was near 4900 Years ago; excepting ſome Mythological Interpolations of a later Date: And that the Chaldaeans, Perſians, and AEgyptians, ſo celebrated for their Wiſdom, and who were not under the like religious Reſtraints from leaving their Country, or from having Communication with the Reſt of Mankind, moſt probably borrowed great Part of their Knowledge and Opinions from the BRAMINS; and not they from the Egyptians, Perſians, or Chaldaeans. From all which MR. HOLWELL concludes, that tho' many Theological Syſtems have in all Appearance been built upon the religious Tenets of the GENTOO'S, yet they have copied from none: And that therefore their Doctrines are moſt ancient, and truly Original; as much ſo at leaſt, as any written Body of Divinity whatever.

It is worthy of a Remark, that if Firmneſs of Mind, a ſteady Adherence to avow'd Opinions, a philoſophic Indifference to every Object of Pride and Senſuality, and a cool and determined Contempt of Death, are the natural Reſult of Integrity of Heart, and conſcious Rectitude; none have given greater or more voluntary Proofs of theſe, than the BRAMINS and their Diſciples, for ſucceſſive Ages. The Bramin DANDAMIS, tho' ſent for by ALEXANDER the GREAT to viſit him, was equally unmoved by his Sollicitations and Threats; declaring that he had nothing to aſk of ALEXANDER, and that if the King had any Thing to aſk of him, he might come to him: This magnanimous Prince however condeſcended to viſit him firſt; after which the Philoſopher was prevailed upon to come to Court. There is ſtill extant a Letter from this DANDAMIS to ALEXANDER, giving him ſome Account of the Sentiments of his Sect; and in which he draws a Compariſon between his own Principles and Morals, and thoſe of ALEXANDER, not much to the Advantage of the latter. The deliberate and eaſy Manner in which the Bramin CALANUS, when ſick of a Dyſentery, burnt himſelf at Paſargadae, before ALEXANDER and his whole Court, upon a Pile of Wood erected for the Purpoſe, is a Story equally well known and atteſted; and notwithſtanding all Arguments, and even Intreaties were uſed by ALEXANDER, to diſſuade him from his Purpoſe, he perſiſted in his Reſolution to die, for this ſole Reaſon, becauſe he was tired of Life. But ZARMANOCHAGAS, another Bramin, who came in the Train of Ambaſſadors ſent from the Indies to AUGUSTUS, when on his return from Rome, burnt himſelf in like Manner publicly at ATHENS; profeſſing on the contrary, that he did this in the Height of his Proſperity and Happineſs, leſt he ſhould afterwards meet with Chagrin and Misfortunes; and he ordered it to be engraved upon his Tomb, that he did thus, in Conformity to the Cuſtom of his Country. When Teachers Seal their Doctrines with ſuch palpable Proofs of Conviction and Sincerity, it is not to be wondered at, if we meet with ſimilar Inſtances of Fortitude and Enthuſiaſm even among their modern female Diſciples; who glory in aſcending the funeral Pile, and in ſetting Fire to it, like CALANUS, with their own Hands; in order to mix their Aſhes with thoſe of their deceaſed Huſbands. We have a very particular Account of ſuch a free Will Offering, told us by MR. HOLWELL, in his Hiſtorical Events.

STRABO tell us, that Phyſic was in his Time the favourite Study of the INDIANS; that they did not however deal ſo much in Pharmacy, as in the Diaetetick Part of Medicine; that they made great Uſe of external Applications in all Diſeaſes; that they were well acquainted with natural Philoſophy, and knew the ſalutary and noxious Qualities 〈…〉 Herbs. We are further told that this Profeſſion is chiefly followed by the BRAMINS; that it is very ancient among them; and that their Rules and Method of Practice, particularly in Malabar, are recorded in Books, in like Manner as among the Egyptians. The Indians derive the Origin of PHYSICK from the Supreme Being, to their Prophets; by whom, they ſay, it was firſt communicated to Mankind.

When we conſider the Primitive State of Man, according to the View already exhibited, we can not doubt that, being unaided by ſupernatural Powers, unprompted by Inſtinct, and without Experience, he firſt felt the Inconveniencies of his Situation, before he thought of the Means for Relief. His ſlow REASON muſt often have been indebted to the more unerring INSTINCT of the Brute Creation, for the Election of his daily Food; and often, no Doubt, his late but woeful Experience taught him to diſtinguiſh the noxious, from the wholſome Vegetable, the nutritious and ſalutary Fruit, from ſuch as he had found to be deleterious or hurtful. Thus it is cuſtomary with Sailors, or ſuch as are forced upon an uninhabited Coaſt, where they meet with unknown Fruits or Plants, to obſerve with great Attention, ſuch as are eat or taſted by Birds or other Animals, before they themſelves venture to feed upon them.

But it may be preſumed that their Acquaintance with, and Obſervations upon the various Productions of the Earth, were not confined to ſuch only as they uſed for Food: They undoubtedly made Trials of thoſe alſo that attracted their Notice by their Colour, Smell, or other ſenſible Qualities: From repeated Experiments of this Kind, they could not help obſerving the powerful Effects of ſome of theſe Productions, in exciting and promoting the more obvious and grand Evacuations of the Body; and having perceived that whatever was hurtful or nauſeous to the Stomach, was ejected by Vomit; and that every Thing offenſive to the Bowels, was carried off by the foeculent Diſcharges; it is reaſonable to conclude, that the moſt efficacious Simples or Remedies for promoting theſe capital Evacuations, were carefully conſidered and diſtinguiſhedSic Medicinam ortam, ſubinde aliorum Salute, aliorum Interitu, pernicios a diſcernentem a Salutaribus. CELS.. Such were probably the firſt MEDICAL FACTS adverted to; their Knowledge of which might ariſe, either from their own Experience, or that of others, or from their Obſervations upon Brutes: For tho' many Remedies have been found out by Accident, many by Inſtinct, or particular Longings, and many by rational Enquiry and Analogy; it is well known that many have been diſcovered by attending to the Effects of Subſtances upon Brutes: Thus HERODOTUS tells us, that the purgative Qualities of Hellebore were firſt diſcovered by the ancient Phyſician MELAMPUS; from obſerving that his Goats always purged, after browſing upon that Plant. According to PLINY, the HIPPOPOTAMOS firſt ſuggeſted Blood-letting; and the firſt 〈◊〉 of giving Enemata or Injections, was taken from the Egyptian Bird IBISThe famous Tyrian Purple Dye, was firſt diſcovered by a Shepherd's DOG, which being preſſed by Hunger, had broke that Shell-Fiſh on the Shore, when the Shepherd wiping the Blood, as he thought, from the Dog's Mouth with ſome Wool, perceived it ſoon • inged with a beautiful purple Colour.. Cretan Dittany became the celebrated Vulnerary of the Antients, from obſerving that DEER and GOATS, whenever they were wounded, had Recourſe to it. The Cathartic and Alterative Qualities of ſome Preparations of Antimony were firſt obſerved by that ingenious Chymiſt Baſil Valentine; he having thrown away ſome Antimony, which had been uſed in the Fuſion of Metals, perceived that ſome Swine, which had accidentally eaten of it, purged conſiderably, and afterwards that they ſoon became ſleek and fat: From this, he firſt uſed Antimony and its Preparations internally; whereas it had formerly been ranked among the Poiſons. In theſe later Times it has been ſaid, that the febrifuge Virtues of the Qunra Quina, or Peruvian Bark, were firſt noticed from ſome wild APES having Recourſe to it in the Ague, which theſe Animals are ſubject to: But GEOFFROI, with more Probability, ſays it was firſt diſcovered by an Indian under that Diſorder, accidentally drinking of a Pond, into which ſome of the Trees had fallen, and had imparted their Properties and bitter Taſte to the Water; by which he was cured. We may further ſuppoſe that the ſenſible Savage, from repeated Trials, obſerving that the Succeſs of this Remedy, was always proportioned to the Degree of Bitterneſs in the Water, would naturally be led to make Uſe of the Bark itſelf. But the uſeful Diſcoveries which have been made in PHYSIOLOGY, and in the Nature and Effects of various and active Drugs, ſince the Begginning of the laſt Century, by Experiments upon different living Animals, from the ſtately HORSE, to that MEDICAL MARTYR the FROG, are ſo numerous, that the Catalogue of them alone would fill a Volume: Let it ſuffice to obſerve, that by ſuch Experiments, the grand Diſcovery of the CIRCULATION of the BLOOD was perfected by the immortal HARVEY, and the Progreſs of CONCEPTION explained; by ſuch Experiments, the Uſes and Influence of the NERVES have been traced; the PERISTALTIC, o •• undulatory Motion of the INTESTINES expoſed to View; and the Courſe of the CHYLE, or digeſted ALIMENT from the Bowels, to its mixing with the Venous Blood under the left Collar Bone, were firſt demonſtrated: Not to mention many other valuable Acquiſitions to Natural Hiſtory, as well as to Medicine, from this inexhauſtible Source of Knowledge.

The SCIENCE of MEDICINE, in this its Dawning or Infancy, was uſually with the other Learning of the Times, preſerved by the Fathers or Heads of Families: But the Number of Obſervations and Remedies, becoming too great to be retained in the Memory of Men, otherwiſe occupied with the Concerns of their own little States or Tribes; and the Sacerdotal Function, for the like Reaſons of Convenience, being now ſeparated from the temporal Authority, it was long engroſſed by the Prieſts; becauſe internal Diſeaſes were then conſidered as Puniſhments immediately inflicted by the Gods, for Crimes; and were therefore to be cured ſolely by prieſtly Arts and Invocations: And ſuch is the State of Phyſic among ſome Superſtitious and Pagan Nations, at this Day. Afterwards, as Mankind advanced in the Knowledge of Nature, MEDICINE became the Study and Occupation of thoſe inquiſitive Geniuſes of Antiquity, diſtinguiſhed by the Name of PHILOSOPHERS; who having more Leiſure and Curioſity to proſecute Experiments, and to collect or mark down the Cures performed by themſelves, or communicated by others, became uſeful to Society, not more by their learned Diſquiſitions, than by viſiting the Sick, and imparting their Advice to ſuch as aſked it: So that the ſame SAGES, who ſo uſefully applied themſelves to the Study of Nature, were in their Day no leſs famous for the Cure of 〈◊〉 . It • ut Morborum Curatio, & Rerum Naturae Contemplatio ſub 〈◊〉 Autoribus nata fit. CELSUS. In Proof of this, AELIAN relates that PYTHAGORAS was ſaid to have gone from Place to Place, not ſo much to teach his Doctrines, as to practiſe Phyſick. Many ſimilar Inſtances might be given, till HYPOCRATES, emphatically called the Divine old Man, Divinus Senex. firſt ſeparated this Profeſſion from the Philoſophy and ſpeculative Learning of his Time, and gave it the Form and Stability of a liberal and diſtinct SCIENCE. Thus Remedies, handed down from Father to Son, were continually improved and multiplied, by ſucceeding Generations.

The primitive Phyſicians moſt probably began their Inquiries into the Nature of Diſeaſes, with thoſe which were moſt generally obſerved to attend upon the Changes of the Seaſons: And as ASTRONOMY was the firſt Science cultivated by the ancient Philoſophers, they would naturally impute theſe Diſtempers to the angry Influence of the Stars and Conſtellations, which were ſuppoſed to rule at ſuch Seaſons; hence aroſe a different Mode of treating Diſeaſes, by Charms and Incantations, in order to appeaſe theſe preſiding Powers: Theſe medical Charms continued long in Uſe among the Antients, and are ſtill devoutly con • ided in, by many ſuperſtitious and ignorant Nations at this Day.

All the Progreſs made in the Art of Healing at, or before the Flood, may well be imagined to have been very inconſiderable. The infant State of the World makes it probable, that as ANIMAL FOOD and FERMENTED LIQUORS were then little uſed, or altogether unknown, there were but few Diſeaſes exiſting; and that the Extent of Medical Skill then conſiſted, in the ſucceſsful Exhibition of ſome Simples internally or externally uſed; in Frictions, Bathing, and Sweating in the Sun or Sand. Immediately after that Period, the making of WINE was found out, and communicated to Mankind. This was probably the Effect of Accident; for NOAH had certainly taſted of the Grape, before he expreſſed or fermented the Juice; and he could not poſſibly know, that the Effects of Fermentation were to give an inebriating Quality, to a Liquor he had ſo frequently experienced to be pleaſing and harmleſs, and to produce a Spirit in the expreſſed Juice, which it did not contain before; till he diſcovered it, by that memorable Incident recorded in Sacred Writ. Not long afterwards was probably diſcovered the Method of making of BEER; for HERODOTUS tell us, that in thoſe Provinces of Egypt where no Vines were cultivated, the People drank a Sort of Wine made of BARLEY: This ſeems to have been the STRONG DRINK mentioned in ſeveral Places of the Old Teſtament, as diſtinct from Wine: Thus it is ſaid, "Give STRONG DRINK to him that is ready to periſh, and WINE to thoſe that be of heavy Hearts:—Thou ſhalt beſtow that Money for Oxen, or for Sheep, or for WINE, or for STRONG DRINK: AARON and his Sons were forbid to drink WINES, or STRONG DRINK, when they went into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, under the Penalty of Death: And MOSES tells the Iſraelites, that in all their 40 Years Journey thro' the Wilderneſs, they neither drank WINE, nor STRONG DRINK: Which proves, that they were both at that Time known and uſed, in the Country whence they had ſo lately emigrated. The Uſe of BEER among the Germans, and ſome other northern Nations, is as ancient as any Accounts we have of thoſe People, or their Cuſtoms. DIOSCORIDES informs us, that the antient Britons uſed an intoxicating Drink made of Barley, or ſometimes of Wheat, called in their Language CURMI; and this Liquor is ſtill highly celebrated in the old feſtival Songs of the ancient Scots, by the ſame Name; tho' the Method of making it is now loſt. This CURMI ſeems to have been different in its Qualities, and in the Manner of preparing it, from any BEERS now known; if we may credit their Traditions concerning this famed BEVERAGE. We are told that the Mexicans alſo uſed a BEER, or intoxicating Liquor made of MAIZ, or INDIAN CORN, when the Spaniards firſt came amongſt them: This muſt have been an Invention intirely their own. The ſame Fact is alſo told us of the Peruvians, in the Hiſtory of their Incas.

As Vice and Debauchery, by ſuch Means prevailed in the World, Infirmities and Diſeaſes muſt have become more frequent; Remedies muſt conſequently have been more ſought after, and valued; and the Art itſelf more cultivated and eſteemed, as it became more uſeful or neceſſary to Mankind.

We ſhall now more particularly conſider the STATE of PHYSICK, among the moſt celebrated Nations of Antiquity; and the Reputation it was held in by them, from the Times it began to be followed as a Profeſſion.

ASIA, without Doubt, was civilized before any other Part of the World. Accordingly we find that moſt of the ARTS and SCIENCES, the ſure Concomitants and Conſequences of the Eſtabliſhment of SOCIETIES, PROPERTY, and LAWS, had their firſt Riſe in the Eaſt. Here too were made the firſt Obſervations upon Diſeaſes and Remedies, which were ſoon communicated to Egypt; but it was in Egypt itſelf, that MEDICINE was firſt followed as a SCIENCE. In Egypt it is to be obſerved, that however the Hiſtory of their firſt Kings has been concealed under Allegories and Fables, it is greatly for the Honour of this Profeſſion, that of thoſe who have been deified by their ſuperſtitious Country-Men, for inventing or communicating uſeful Knowledge to Manking; ſome as HERMES, OSYRIS, ISIS, and HORUS have been deified, more particularly for inventing and improving of PHYSIC. It is in Egypt we have the firſt authentick Account upon Record, of PHYSICIANS by Profeſſion: For in the Book of Geneſis we are told, that JOSEPH ordered the Phyſicians to embalm the Body of his Father JACOB. MEDICINE is ſaid to have been firſt reduced to a Syſtem there, by THONIS; but after him, ſeveral Kings are reported, not only to have ſtudied, but alſo to have practiſed it. The Egyptian Writer MANETHO, according to Euſebius, relates that ATHOTIS wrote a Treatiſe upon Anatomy; and HERMES, a King of Thebes, wrote upon the ſame Subject, for, adds our Author, he was a Phyſician.— Whatever Credit may be given 〈◊〉 thoſe Accounts, they at leaſt prove the great Anti •• ity of the SCIENCE, as well as the great Veneration it was held in, at the Time when thoſe Authors wrote. Their Practice was much ſubdivided; for ſome undertook to cure one Diſtemper only, and others to cure others: So •• practiſed only upon Diſeaſes of the HEAD; others only upon Diſeaſes of the EYES; of which laſt Claſs, CYRUS ſent for one from Egypt. Others again practiſed upon Diſeaſes of the BOWELS; ſome Studied thoſe Diſtempers incident to WOMEN only; others applied themſelves to cure OCCULT MALADIES incident to both Sexes: And none were allowed to practiſe out of their own Branch. The Profeſſion among them was hereditary, and the Science tranſmitted from Father to Son. They had Salaries and Mantainance allowed from the Public; and they practiſed Gratis. The Egyptian Phyſicians were particularly ſtudious of Cleanlineſs. The Books containing their Rules and Method of Practice were depoſited in their Temples, along with thoſe of their Religion and Learning. If by following the Directions of this their ſacred Code, they could not cure or relieve the Patient, they were held blameleſs; but if they attempted any Thing not warranted by this Rule of Practice, and without Succeſs, it was deemed a capital Crime. None, under a ſevere Penalty, was permitted to adminiſter Medicine, without being firſt received a Member of their COLLEGE, and being licenſed by their Authority. In all that Country, we are told, that MEDICINE was a favourite ſtudy, and that they particularly revered the Profeſſion and Character of a PHYSICIAN: Wherefore, as Egypt abounds with all Sorts of Plants, both Medicinal and Poiſonous, HOMER, after enumerating the pleaſing Effects of HELEN'S Anodyne Draught of NEPENTHE, communicated to her by POLYDAMNE, the Wife of THON Prince of CANOPUS, ſubjoins, "From PAEON ſprung, the Patron GOD imparts, "To all the Pharian Race, his HEALING ARTS." POPE's ODYS.

It ſhould be remarked here for the Honour of Egypt, that we have the firſt Account of a PUBLIC LIBRARY, in that Country; over the Doors of which was written, in golden Letters, 〈◊◊〉 , or MEDICINE FOR THE SOUL. The Egyptians were wont to hang up the Hiſtories of extraordinary Cures in the Temple of VULCAN at Memphis. The Art of Embalming, for which they were ſo famed, is a Proof of their being early acquainted with the general Properties of Spiceries, Roſin, Balm, Myrrh, and other Gums, uſually imported by the Iſhmaelites, and employed in that Proceſs.

The PHAENICIANS are among the firſt Nations that make any Figure in Hiſtory, for Learning and Arts; and who are ſaid to have ſtudied and cultivated phyſic very early. But as we have only general Aſſertions to conduct us in our Inquiries here; and as all Obſervations upon Medicinal Facts, were in theſe Times neceſſarily interwoven with their other philoſophic Studies; we are obliged to form our Opinions reſpecting their Skill in the HEALING ART, from the Advances we find they had made in the other Branches of USEFUL KNOWLEDGE. It is uncertain whence they derived their Origin. Some think that they were the Poſterity of the Inhabitants of Canaan, who eſcaped the devouring Sword of the Jews; and this Opinion ſeems countenanced by the Etymology of the Word Canaan, which, in the Language of the Eaſt, means a Merchant. The AUTHOR of the Inquiry into the Life and Writings of HOMER obſerves, That they retained much of the Manners of the Eaſtern Nations; that their Language was a Branch of the old Aramaean; that their Policy, both civil and religious, their Temples, their Records preſerved in Temples, and the Order of their Prieſts exempted from Taxes, are very like the Inſtitutions that prevailed over the Eaſt: To which may be added, that the Tyrians worſhipped the Fire. They were the Authors of the nobler Kinds of ARCHITECTURE, of NAVIGATION, and GEOGRAPHY; the Improvers of ASTRONOMY; the Inventors of the HELIOTROPE or Sun-Dial, and of GLASS; and the Rivals of the Egyptians for the Invention of LETTERS and ARITHMETICK. They were alſo the Parent of MECHANICS, and the firſt Workers in Metals, Wood, and Stone: So that what is ſaid of HIRAM, the Widow's Son from Tyre, and the Maſter Workman to King SOLOMON, was truly characteriſtic of the Nation,—he was ſkilful to work in GOLD and in SILVER, in BRASS, in IRON, in STONE, and in TIMBER; in PURPLE, in BLUE, in fine LINNEN, and in CRIMSON: Alſo to grave every Manner of Graving, and to find out every DEVICE which ſhould be put to him. In ſhort they excelled in all Works of Taſte. By their frequent Voyages over the Euxine, and Red Seas to all the different Parts of the Mediterranean, and into the Atlantic Ocean, as far as the Gum Coaſt on one Hand, and to Britain on the other; we may reaſonably ſuppoſe that they greatly improved the HEALING ART, and inriched the MATERIA MEDICA: For it is well known that the Communication of Diſeaſes from one Country to another, as well as of Remedies and Operations uſed in different Countries for the ſame Diſeaſes, is the Effect of Commerce. From the Phaenicians, HOMER firſt learned the noted Story of the SIRENS; and of that dangerous Dame Circe, who with the intoxicating Juice of Herbs, could transform Men into Brutes. From the ſame People he probably firſt heard of the Inchantments of MEDEA in Colchis, and of her wonderful Skill in the Virtues of Herbs. If moreover we conſider their daily Intercourſe with, and Vicinity to Egypt, where Medicine was always particularly cultivated and reſpected, and that even then, this Profeſſion was a profitable Branch of Buſineſs; we can not doubt that they, whoſe Merchants were Princes, and whoſe Traſſickers the Honourable of the Earth, were alſo well acquainted with the Nature and Cure of Diſeaſes. The Knowledge of Medicine conſtituted in thoſe Days Part of their Philoſophic Studies; and Phaenicia has given Birth to many celebrated Names of Antiquity. ANCEUS, the only Argonaut upon that Expedition who underſtood Aſtronomy, was a Phoenician: MOSCHUS, who lived ſome Time before the Trojan War, and firſt taught the famous Atomical Philoſophy, was a Sido • ian; DEMOCRITUS afterwards brought this Philoſophy from the Eaſt, and communicated it to EPICURUS, by whoſe Name it has been uſually diſtinguiſhed ever ſince; and the Principles of which became, as ST. EVEREMOND ſays, the faſhionable Opinions of all the fine Gentlemen of Antiquity▪ THALES, commonly called the Mileſian, and one of the Seven Wiſe Men, according to DIOGENES LAERTIUS, was a noble Phaenician; And •• NO, the Founder of the S • oic Philoſophy, was originally a Tyrian Merchant ſhipwrecked upon the Coaſt of Attica, near Athens. It ought not to be omitted that PHERECYDES, who is conſidered as the Father of the Graecian Philoſophy, and as the firſt who ſpake of the Metempſychoſis, and who was alſo Maſter to PYTHAGORAS; without any one to lead him in the Way to Science, obtained all his Knowledge from ſome Volumes of the ſublime Philoſophy of the Phaenicians, which he had fortunately purchaſed from their Merchants; whereby he acquired a great Name for Learning among the Greeks: Now PHERECYDES is expreſsly ſaid to have been ſkilful in Phyſic.

It was cuſtomary with the BABYLONIANS to bring out their Sick into the Streets, and moſt frequented Places; and to inquire of Spectators or Paſſengers how they might obtain Relief: And it was conſidered as wicked or criminal to paſs the •• without inquiring into the Nature of their Diſtemper, and giving ſome Advice, either from their own Experience, or from what they had learned of others. From this Cuſtom HERODOTUS imagines; that there were no profeſſed PHYSICIANS among the Babylonians: But we know that the ſame Practice prevailed in Egypt, long after PHYSICK had been reduced to ſome Rules in that Country; and alſo in Greece they expoſed their Sick in like Manner, after MEDICINE is well known to have made Part of their national Learning.

The ancient SCYTHIANS, according to PLINY, were very expert in poiſoning their Arrows; and were well acquainted with the Medicinal Qualities o • many Herbs.

In the Countries bordering upon India, they had the Art of preparing Poiſons in early Times; for STRABO mentions a Law, to deter them from the Practice of poiſoning one another, even in the ſame Family. When we have ſuch Authority for believing them experienced in the Powers of noxious Plants, we can't doubt of their being alſo well acquainted with thoſe of many ſalutary ones; and with the moſt ſucceſsful Methods of uſing them.

In the ſacred Hiſtory of the JEWS, there is frequent Mention made of PHYSICIANS, and of MEDICINES. The high Price which RACHEL offered to LEAH for her Sons Mandrakes, proves their early Acquaintance with the real or ſuppoſe • Virtues of Plants. Their great Law-Giver MOSES, tis ſaid, was learned in all the Wiſdom of the Egyptians; among whom we have obſerved that the Study of Phyſick was particularly followed▪ The Symptoms or diſtinguiſhing Marks he has left us, of the different Degrees of Malignancy in the Leproſy, and of other cutaneous Diſtempers incident to that People; his Obſervations upon various other Maladies, claſſed under the Denomination of Unclean; his Prohibitions with Reſpect to ſome particular Kinds of Meats; all teſtify his judicious Attention as a PHYSICIAN, to the prevailing Temperament and Diſeaſes of his Country-Men; and to the DIAETETICK Part of MEDICINE comprehending Food and Cleanlineſs. We are told that by GOD's Direction, he cured the Bitterneſs of the Waters at MARAH, and rendered them ſweet and potable, by caſting a Tree into them; upon which it is elſewhere obſerved "Was not the Water made ſweet with Wood, that the VIRTUE thereof might be known?" He is the firſt who ſpeaks of the particular MYSTERY or ART of the APOTHECARIES, and mentions their compound Ointments and Confections. His grinding the golden Calf to Powder, and giving it to the People to drink, is an Inſtance of his great Skill in CHYMISTRY, which has puzzled all the Adepts in that ART ever ſince, to imitate. By the Moſaical Law, whoever hurt or maimed another, was obliged "to cauſe him to be thoroughly healed, and to be at the Expence of his Cure.Mercedem Medici ſolvet. Of all SOLOMON's divinely inſpired Wiſdom, his Knowledge in BOTANY muſt have been none of the leaſt conſpicuous; for he is ſaid to have wrote upon Trees, from the CEDAR that is in Lebanon, even to the HYSSOP that ſpringeth out of the Wall: And himſelf aſſures us, that he knew the Operation of the Elements, the Poſition of the Stars, the Nature of living Creatures, the Diverſities of Plants, and the Virtues of Roots: It is a Saying of the ſame WISE KING, that a merry Heart doth good like a MEDICINE. It is remarkable that King AS A being diſeaſed in his Feet, is reproached for ſeeking to the PHYSICIANS (I 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ) rather than to GOD; and that the ſweet Odours and Spices in which his Body was depoſited after Death, were prepared by the Apothecaries Art (M 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ): T •• s ſeems to prove that in his Time, if not before, theſe two profeſſions were diſtinct. Aſa lived about 450 Years before Hippocrates. — Is there no Balm in GILIAD, ſays JEREMIAH, is there no PHYSICIAN there? Why then is not the HEALTH of the Daughter of my People recovered? ST. LUKE the Evangeliſt, is called the beloved PHYSICIAN; and from many Medical Expreſſions uſed by him in his Greek Original, is with good Reaſon b • lieved to have been of this Profeſſion. For further Proof of the high Eſtimation in which the MEDICAL CHARACTER was held by the JEWS, take their own Words,— Honour a PHYSICIAN with the Honour due unto him, for the Uſes which you may have of him; for the Lord hath created him.—The Skill of the PHYSICIAN ſhall liſt up his Head; and in the Sight of Great Men, he ſhall be in Admiration. The LORD hath created MEDICINES out of the Earth; and he that is wiſe will not abhor them:—With ſuch doth • e HEAL Men, and taketh away their Pains; of ſuch doth the APOTHECARY make a CONFECTION, and of his Works there is no End. And again, Give Place to the PHYSICIAN—he ſhall receive Honour of the King—and from him is Peace over all the Earth. What deſerves Notice here, and ſhows us from ſacred Writ, both the moral and religious Obligations we are under, to uſe the neceſſary Means for the Recovery of Health, is, that beſides the above-mentioned Cure of the Waters at MARAH; the Prophet ELISHA cured the unwholſome Waters of Jericho, by throwing SALT into them; and ISAIAH, tho' he had Divine Authority to aſſure HEZEKIAH, of his Recovery from a perilous Diſeaſe in three Days, yet viſibly contributed thereto, by the judicious Application of a Poultice of Figs to his Boil: And that even our SAVIOUR himſelf deigned to uſe external Means in the Cure of a blind Man, by anointing his Eyes with Clay, made of Earth and Spittle; when in all theſe Caſes, the FIAT or COMMAND alone had ſufficed.

In PERSIA we find that PHYSIC was early cultivated, and held in high Eſteem. XE • OPHON tells us, that the GREAT CYRUS never failed to take a Number of PHYSICIANS along with him in his Army; rewarding them very liberally, and ſhewing for them a particular Regard. He farther remarks, that CYRUS in this only followed a Cuſto • , anciently eſtabliſhed among the Perſian Generals: And we are aſſured that the YOUNGER CYRUS kept up the ſame Cuſtom in his Army.

Perhaps it may not be diſpleaſing to the Curious, to have ſome Account here of the antient Perſian MAGI; and of their modern Deſcendants the PARSSES, or Guebres, ſo called from their worſhiping the Fire.

The Doctrines of the Perſian MAGI, are very ancient. Their Name, in that Language, means the ſame as PHILOSOPHERS among the Greeks, or SAPIENTES (Wiſemen) among the Latins; and from their extraordinary Learning, and Knowledge of the Operations of natural Bodies, they were believ'd to have ſecret Communication with, or Power over, inviſible Spirits. We are told that they believed the Tranſmigration of Souls; and DIOGENES LAERTIUS aſſures us, that they lived intirely upon Milk and Vegetables. They were the ſole Guardians and Superintendants of RELIGION, and of the LAWS: No publick Worſhip could be perform'd but by them; and no Law could be enacted or abrogated without their Concurrence. They allowed of no Images, nor uſed bloody Sacrifices in their Worſhip; which was always in ancient Times, perform'd by them in the open Air, or in Groves, but never in covered Temples: For as the SUN was the great Object of their Adoration, they ſaid that the whole World was the Temple of the SUN. However, Temples were afterwards permitted, for the Preſervation of their Holy Fire, which was always kept burning; tho' even then their Temples were open at the Top. Their Doctrines are believed to be older than ZOROASTER, and he lived about the Time of ROMULUS. They were equally revered by Princes and People; and ſeem'd to have had the ſame Power and Influence, as the PROPHETS among the Jews. They were famed for their Knowledge in the Arts of Divination and Augury; and made great Uſe of Charms. The Scripture bears Teſtimony of their Skill in Aſtronomy, by the Obſervations they made upon that STAR which appeared at the Birth of CHRIST. The Poſterity of theſe MAGI are ſtill extant in the Eaſt-Indies; and are diſtinguiſhed by the Name of PARSSES. They call themſelves FOLLOWERS of ZOROASTER; and have preſerved the Religion and Belief of the ancient MAGI, with little Alteration, to this Day. We are indebted to the Induſtry and laudable Curioſity of MR. DU PERRON, for the beſt and moſt genuine Account we have, of the Rites and Opinions of theſe PARSSES. This Gentleman, a few Years ago, voluntarily undertook a Voyage to the Eaſt-Indies, in order to learn the Language and Religion of the PARSSES, from the PARSSES themſelves; and to diſcover and tranſlate at the Fountain Head, the ZENDOVESTA, or Writings generally attributed to ZOROASTER. After travelling ſome Time over Indoſtan, for Information, and in Order to collect Materials, he fixed his Reſidence at Surat, where he continued three Years, ſtudying thoſe Languages in which their Sacred Books are written, and which are now no more ſpoken or underſtood, except by a few of their LEARNED. At Surat he purchaſed a great many of their Original Manuſcripts, which he partly copied, and partly tranſlated. Here too he had an Opportunity of converſing with their Doctors, or Teachers; as there is a large Body of theſe PARSSES, who have been eſtabliſhed in Guz •• atte, ever ſince the Year 767, to which Place they fled from Kirman, a Province of Perſia, on Account of the Perſecutions of the Mahometan Follow •• of OMAR. Theſe▪ original Manuſcripts, with Copies and Tranſlations of ſeveral others, reſpecting both the Religion of the PARSSES and BRAMINS, and which were collected from different Parts of India, have been brought to France, and depoſited by DU PERRON in the King's Library there: The Genuineſs of which is ſupported, by the univerſal Belief of the People themſelves, and of the Country they reſide in; by an uninterrupted Tradition down from ZOROASTER himſelf; by the evident Antiquity of the Character and Languages in which they are written, and which are now no longer uſed, and almoſt intirely forgot; and by the Aſſent of the Mahometans themſelves, their declared Enemies. Tho' their Laws and Opinions are allowed to be much older than ZOROASTER, yet as he new modelled and reduced them to a regular Syſtem, he is conſidered by them, not only as having been their PRINCE and LAWGIVER, but alſo as an i • ſpired PROPHET and PHILOSOPHER: His Body of Laws is divided into 21 Books, ſome of which are now loſt; 7 of them treated of the Creation, and Hiſtory of the World; 7 of Morality, and of all Duties civil and religious; and 7, of PHYSICK and Aſtronomy. In one of his Chapters, he treats particularly of the DIGNITY and USEFULNESS of the MEDICAL PROFESSION; and of the great Merit of him who has cured many Sick▪ promiſing that he ſhall be rewarded with a long and happy Life. He forbids them uſing Remedies to his beloved PARSSES, without having firſt experienced their Efficacy on others: And he then fixes the Fees, which the different Claſſes among the PARSSES are to give to the PHYSICIAN. He alſo treats, in different Places, of ſeveral Diſorders incident to Women, under various Circumſtance • of Life. Whence we may reaſonably conclude, that before ZOROASTER compoſed his ZENDOVESTA, the SCIENCE of PHYSICK, muſt have been for ſome Time followed as a learned and reſpectable Profeſſion, either in his own Country, or in Indoſtan, the Place of his Travels and Studies; or in both. Our Author was often in the Temples of the PARSSES, and obſerved their Mode of worſhipping the Holy Fire▪ according to the Uſages of the Ancient MAGI. They conſider the Fire as a ſenſible Emanation of that Fountain of uncreated Light, which in the Beginning contain'd the Prototype of all Beings; or as an Emanation of the Principle of Life and Action, which reſides in the SUPREME BEING, and which ZOROASTER calls the Son of GOD, or the created of GOD. Their Devotion to the SUN, is rather that of Praiſe, than Adoration; 'tis he, ſay they That diffuſes Light thro' all Nature; he purifies the Earth and the Waters; he is the Fountain of Abundance to the World: From Methrim, the Name of the Angel who, they believe, preſides over Farms and Villages, and is the Companion of the Angel who preſides over the SUN, comes the Met •• a of the Ancients, ſuppos'd by them • o be the SUN itſelf, becauſe Methrim is often mentioned in Praiſes addreſſed to that Planet; tho' he only ſeconds the SUN in his Functions. The PARSSES are forbidden to ſwear, even in Favour of the Truth. They believe that there are two primary and powerful Angels; the one the Author of all Good, called MYTHRAS; and the other the Author of all Evil, called ARIMANIUS; who are for ever at Variance: But that both are ſubject to one uncreated Supreme RULER of the Univerſe, by them called OROMAZES.

The GREEKS derived almoſt all their Theology, and the greateſt Part of their other Learning from the AEgyptians, and Aſiaticks: And as the Travellers of both Nations frequently took Phaenicia in their Way, the AEgyptian Doctrines, and Phaenician Arts, paſſed into Greece about the ſame Time: Thus DANAUS the AEgyptian, the Phrygian PELOPS, and CADMUS the Phaenician, tho' by Deſcent an AEgyptian, are acknowledged to have been the firſt Planters and Improvers o • Greece. By CADMUS particularly, the Greeks were firſt taught the Uſe of Letters, and the Myſteries of the CABEIRI, or Great Gods. In Crete, a Colony from AEgypt, they learned the Inſtitution of ORACLES; with the other neceſſary ſubſervient Arts. The STUDY of MEDICINE was as early cultivated in Greece, as any other Branch of Science whatever.

Before the Trojan War, MELAMPUS, already mentioned, cured the Daughters of PRAETUS King of Argos, of a particular Species of Madneſs or Hyſterick Phrenſy; for which he was rewarded with one of them in Marriage, and a third Part of the Kingdom as her Portion: He is alſo •• e firſt who preſcribed the Cold Bath as a MEDICINE; by Means of which, and other Preſcriptions▪ he cured IPHICLUS of Impotency. MEDFA, ſo celebrated in the Expedition of the ARGONAUTS to Colchis, firſt invented the Medicated Warm BATH; which was attended with ſuch ſalutary Effects, that ſhe was feigned, not only to have thereby reſtored her Huſband JASON's Father, the aged AESON, to Youth; but alſo to have preſerved by the ſame Means, an unfaded Youth in herſelf. In the Trojan War, HOMER celebrates the Medical Abilities of many of his Chiefs; and even gives them a Preference to the Military Proweſs of his braveſt Warriors. In the Battle where MACHAON is wounded by PARIS, he tell us, In his right Shoulder the broad Shaft appeared, And trembling Greece for her PHYSICIAN • eared." POPE's Iliad.

And IDOMENEUS, h ••• ing requeſted the aged NESTOR, to convey the wounded Her • off with Speed to the Ships, adds, as an ••• ument for his Tenderneſs and Care, that, A Wiſe PHYSICIAN ſkill'd our Wounds to heal, Is more than Armies to the Public Weal." POPE.

Tho' the Greek Poet, here in the Original,O' 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 paſſes a very ſignal Commendation upon PHYSICIANS, and inſinuates that the Grecian Army was not ſo much diſpirited at the Wounds of their braveſt Heroes, as at the ſingle Danger of MACHAON, whom in another Place he calls the Preſerver of the Greeks, yet it muſt be owned that POPE, probably in Gratitude to his learned Friend and Phyſician DOCTOR ARBUTHNOT, has very much heightened the Compliment in his Tranſlation. However, it will be allowed to HOMER, that he at leaſt ſpeaks the Sentiments of the Times he wrote in. HOMER further informs us, that even the inexorable ACHILLES, while His feaſted Eyes beheld around the Plain, The GRAECIAN Rout; the Slaying, and the Slain; His Friend MACHAON, ſingled from the • eſt, A tranſient Pity touch'd his vengeful Breaſt."

And the Diſtreſs of the bleeding EURYPYLUS is greatly aggravated with this Reflection, that The great MACHAON, wounded in his Tent, Now wants that Succour, which ſo oft he lent.

BOTANY, or the Knowledge of Plants, muſt even then have been in the higheſt Repute amongſt them; and they believed that the moſt wonderful and ſupernatural • ffects, could be produced by Means of Herbs: The Stories of MEDEA and CIRCE are well known; and HOMER in the Iliad diſtinguiſhes AGAMEDE by this Character; She that all Simples healing Virtues knew, And every Herb that drinks the Morning Dew.

It ſhould be obſerved too, in juſtice to HOMER himſelf, that in many Parts of his Poems, he ſhews no inconſiderable knowledge of Anatomy, Surgery, and Botany, conſidering the Age he lived in.

Of PODALIRIUS, we are told, that on his Return from the Deſtruction of Troy, being fortunately driven upon the Coaſt of Caria, he cured the Daughter of DAMAETHUS, King of th •• Country, who had fallen from the Top of a Houſe; by bleeding her in both Arms: And that ſhe was afterwards given by her Father to PODALIRIUS in Marriage, with Half of the Kingdom, as a Reward for his Skill and Services. This is the firſt Inſtance on Record of Venoeſection, or Bleeding with a medicinal Intention.

The Greeks in early Times imitated the Babylonians and Egyptians, in bringing their Sick into the moſt public Places, for Advice. They carried them ſometimes too into their Temples, to be there directed to a Cure, by the ſuppoſed Influence of their Deities in Dreams, or by the Management and Attendance of their Prieſts or Devotees who came to worſhip: And when a Cure was effected, the Hiſtory of the Caſe, and the particular Method of Treatment by which the Sick recovered, were engraved o • written upon Tables, and hung up againſt the Walls and Pillars of the Temple; both as a Memorial of the Patients Gratitude; and to inſtruct others, who might thereafter labour under the ſame Complaints. From theſe Tables it is ſaid that HIPPOCRATES afterwards acquired great Knowledge, by collecting them from different Places, and with the Aſſiſtance of his own Obſervations and Practice, digeſting them into that Regularity and Order ſo juſtly admired in his Writings.

Many Medical Schools were erected at different Times in Greece, and alſo by her Colonies, in various Parts of the World. From that of Crotone, the celebrated DAMOCEDES, had the good Fortune to cure DARIUS King of Perſia, of an obſtinate Diſorder▪ which had baffled the Endeavours of his own Phyſicians; for which he was loaded by that Prince with great Wealth and Honors, and was poſſeſſed ever afterwards of his Confidence and Friendſhip. But that of Coos excelled all others in Fame, by giving to the World the immortal HIPPOCRATES; whoſe Reputation was ſo great, that not only his own Countrymen, the Coans, impreſſed▪ his Image upon their public Coins; but all Greece, by common Suffrage decreed him the ſame Honours as were paid to Hercules. The Athenians, the politeſt and moſt learned of all the Graecian States, made him free of their City, voted him a Crown of Gold, and Maintenance to him and his Poſterity, at the public Expence. And in ſuch Repute was the Profeſſion in his Time, that, when taught to a Pupil, a more than filial Gratitude and •• rpetual Obedience were required from him to his Maſter or Teacher; inaſmuch as his Birth or Initiation into thoſe learned and uſeful Myſteries, was thought of ſuperior Import to that of Nature: The Oath exacted by HIPPOCRATES from his Pupils, is a Proof of this; and has ſerved as a Model for thoſe ſolemn Obligations uſually adminiſtred to GRADUATES in Medicine, in all regular Univerſities, ever ſince. The Athenians held the HEALING ART of ſuch Conſequence to the Public, that they paſſed a Law forbidding all Women, and ſuch 〈◊〉 were not free, to learn any Part of Medicine; and not only they, but ſeveral other Grecian States alſo decreed public Honours and diſtinguiſhed Privileges to PHYSICIANS.

Thus we find the greateſt PHILOSOPHERS of Antiquity, were proud of the Name and Reputation of being ſkilled in Medicine. PYTHAGORAS, who has been already mentioned, erected a Medical School in Italy, 550 Years before CHRIST; and both he, and DEMOCRITUS wrote upon the Virtues of Herbs. The divine PLATO wrote upon the Theory of Medicine, and particularly Phyſiology, or the OEconomy of the human Body. ARISTOTLE being deſcended from AESCULAPIUS, conſidered the SCIENCE as his Birth-right; he therefore not only ſtudied, but practiſed it with ſuch Succeſs, that having recovered his Pupil the great ALEXANDER from a Pit of Sickneſs, this Monarch, ever ambitious of excelling, prevailed with his Matter to inſtruct him too in that uſeful SCIENCE; and which PLUTARCH tells us, the King afterwards thought not unbecoming his Dignity to communicate to others: When this Prince was ſick at Tarſus, in Conſequence of unſeaſonably bathing in the River Cydnus, the noble and generous Confidence with which he treated his Phyſician PHILIP, notwithſtanding he had received Notice from PARMENIO to beware of him as a Traitor, is not more a Proof of his own Magnanimity, than of the high Opinion he entertained of his Phyſicians Skill and Integrity. ALEXANDER's Situation here was critical, himſelf unable to act; DARIUS advancing faſt upon him; being therefore equally impatient of Doubts as of Delay, he preſented PARMENIO's Letter with one Hand to PHILIP, while with the other he took down the medicated Potion prepared for him: Nor was he deceived in the Event. THEOPHRASTUS alſo, and many other Philoſophers of Antiquity, both practiſed and wrote upon Phyſick. At Smyrna, another Graecian Colony in the leſſer Aſia, PHYSICIANS were held in ſuch Repute and public Eſtimation, that, as we are informed by the learned DOCTOR MEAD, their Names were impreſſed upon their public Coins, with thoſe of their Praetors or chief Magiſtrates; they were even frequently joined in their Medals, with their tutelar Deities: Nor did they confine 〈◊〉 Honours to their own Phyſicians; for we know, from the ſame Authority, that they beſtow'd them alſo upon others eminent in this Profeſſion; tho' belonging to another celebrated School in a remote Country, and at that Time their Rival in medical Fame.

In ſhort, the medical Abilities of the Greeks continued unequalled, during the whole Courſe of the Roman Sovereignty; and even after its Declenſion: And the learned FREIND obſerves, that if we compare any of the Greek medical Writers, from HIPPOCRATES to PAULUS AEGINETA of the 7th Century, with the very beſt of their Cotemporaries in any Art or Profeſſion whatever, we ſhall find them not at all inferior, either in the Diſpoſition of their Matter, the Clearneſs of their Reaſoning, or the Propriety of their Language. Some have written above the Standard of the Age they lived in; and many have done great Honour to this Profeſſion, by their extenſive Knowledge in other Arts and Sciences, as well as their own. The Integrity of the Ancients was ſuch, that altho' their Credulity was ſometimes an Impeachment to their Underſtandings, yet, being above the little Views of private Intereſt, and acting up to the Character of their Profeſſion; whatever they could 〈◊〉 out by their own Experience, or from the Obſervations of others, which might relieve their Fellow Creatures, they candidly and generouſly made it public. This was the Practice of the Antients, and ought to be a perpetual Model for ſuch of their Succeſſors, as would imitate them, either in their Knowledge, or their Virtues. Their medical Writings were evidently the Reſult of long Practice, accurate Obſervation, and ſolid judgement. Hence an univerſal and deſerved Deference is paid to their A • thority, by every Practitioner, who deſires to comprehend the whole Circle of this Science, or to diſtinguiſh himſelf by Abilities in his Profeſſion.

The CARTHAGINIANS were a Colony of the Phaenicians; and as there was an uninterrupted Amity and Correſpondence kept up between theſe Republicks, while either could be of Uſe to the other, we cannot doubt that they were well acquainted with all the Learning and Arts of the Country they came from. They had alſo frequent Intercourſe with the Greeks, while at the Summit of their Glory for Arts and Arms; and while MEDICINE was both a faſhionable Part of Philoſophy, and followed as a Profeſſion: For we find that their Lacedemon • an Allies under XANTIPPUS, defeated the Roman Conſul REGULUS in Africa, and took him Priſoner, 499 Years after the Building of Rome, and 255 Years before CHRIST; whereas HIPPOCRATES lived about 500 Years before this laſt Event. What Progreſs the Carthaginians themſelves had made in the HEALING ART, cannot now be aſcertained; by Reaſon of the barbarous Policy of the Romans, in deſtroying their hiſtorical Monuments and Records. We know, however, that there was a Temple in th •• Part of Carthage called Byrſa, dedicated to ESCULAPIUS; and DIODORUS SICULUS, in his Account of the Plague which raged amongſt the Troops under HAMILCO, at the Siege of Syracuſe, gives us to underſtand, that they had at that Time profeſſed PHYSICIANS in their Army.

The ROMANS are the only Nation of Antiquity who enjoy'd a Form of Government, for ſeveral Centuries, without any Knowledge of MEDICINE. This is the more ſurprizing, as they appear from their Origin to have been a reſtleſs, quarrelſome People, perpetually embroiled in bloody Diſſenſions at Home, or in cruel Wars abroad; when the Healing Art, particularly CHIRURGEY, muſt have been extremely neceſſary. In the 350th Year of their City, there was certainly no Practitioner, at leaſt of Merit, amongſt them; for being them grievouſly afflicted with the Plague, they, by the Advice of the Oracle at Delphi, ſent ten Deputies to the Temple of AESCULAPIUS at Epidaurus, to bring the God to Rome. His Godſhip, as we are told, was pleaſed to go along with them, in the Shape of a Serpent; and having quitted the Veſſel and gone aſhore on an Iſland in the Tyber, near the City, a Temple was there erected to 〈◊〉 upon which the Plague ceaſed. Hither the Sick from all Parts of Italy reſorted, or ſent for Relief. The Method of recording Cures, according to the Cuſtom of the Greeks, was long practiſed here too, as PLINY teſtifies: And HIERONYMUS MERCURIALIS has preſerved to us ſome Inſcriptions written in the Reign of ANTONINUS, and found in this Temple of ESCULAPIUS; where not only the Cures effected, but alſo the Remedies preſcribed by the Oracle are recorded. In the Ruins of this Temple, not long ago, was diſcovered one of the Marble Tables which had been conſecrated to this Deity; upon which are ingraved in Greek Characters, ſeveral Cures performed by his Advice; and which is ſtill preſerved as a great Curioſity, in the Palace of MAPHEO at Rome. 'Tis indeed allow'd that, for nearly the firſt five hundred Years of their City, few or no Veſtiges of any Kind of polite Literature, are to be found amongſt them. Before this Period, they ſeem to have reſembled rather a turbulent, licentious, and ill aſſociated Community, with reſpect to themſelves; and a vindictive, haughty, and unrelenting Band of Deſtroyers, with reſpect to the neighbouring Nations; than the Progenitors of thoſe, who were one Day to give Law to, and diffuſe the Polite Arts with new Luſtre over the World. The Accounts of their Tranſactions, as related by their own Hiſtorians, ſufficiently countenance this Opinion; which might probably have been the general Belief at this Day concerning them, if their rival States had been equally fortunate, in tranſmitting to us their own Hiſtories, together with their Sentiments and Portrait, of the Policy, and leading Characters of that imperious and proud Republic; ſo as that Poſterity, unbiaſſed by partial Evidence, might have judged for themſelves▪ However, we are aſſured that this SCIENCE was encouraged, as early as any Kind of Learning was taught amongſt them: For about, or a few Years after the AEra abovementioned, we have an Account of one ARCHAGATHUS, a Phyſician of great Reputation, who came from Greece to Rome; where he was honoured with the Freedom of the City, and a Houſe given him to dwell in. Some Time after him, lived ASCLEPIADES the Bithynian, Phyſician to CRASSUS; no leſs reſpected by the Great for his Eloquence, than for his Skill in PHYSIC. It is very remarkable, that from the firſt Introduction of public Schools at Rome, to the Subverſion of this unweildly and corrupted Republic, by the ſuperior Fortunes of the great CAESAR, almoſt every Profeſſion or Art then ſtudied or practiſed amongſt them, except that of War, was chiefly taught by ſuch Greeks, as had emigrated thither for the Sake of Curioſity or Gain; or by ſuch as the Fate of Arms had reduced to Servitude: For the fierce and warlike Temper of her own Citizens, unlike the more extenſive and elevated Genius of the Greeks, deigned not as yet to profeſs any Science, except ſuch as tended to gratify their Ambition for Conqueſt, or to lead and rule the People. While the Romans thus had little other Knowledge of PHYSIC, than what was practiſed by Captives and Foreigners, or ſerved only to enhance the Price of a Slave, we cannot wonder that it ſhould ſometimes be ſpoke of by their Learned, in very inadequate Terms: VIRGIL at one Time ſeems to conſider it as a mere manual OccupationMutas agitare, inglorius, Artes.; yet this great POET tells us, that his Hero's Phyſician JAPIS, preferred the Knowledge of Medicine, to that of Divination, Archery, or Muſic; all which APOLLO had put equally in his Election—Scire Poteſtates Herbarum, uſumque medendi Maluit. VIRG. But the wiſe and politic CAESAR, who was alſo the moſt accompliſhed Scholar of the Age, made all who practiſed Phyſic, Freemen of the City. AUGUSTUS confirm'd to them theſe Honours; and particularly indulged his own Phyſician, ANTONIUS MUSA, the Privilege of wearing a golden Ring, which among them was the uſual Badge of Knight-hood. To this MUSA the Romans alſo erected a brazen Statue, as a grateful Acknowledgment of his Services and Skill, in curing AUGUSTUS of an obſtinate Diſorder. Theſe encouraging Marks of public Favour, could not but recommend ſo uſeful an Art, to the Study of the Romans themſelves. Accordingly the elegant and learned CELSUSLatini •• imus CELSUS. ſoon after this Period, exhibited to the World a laſting Specimen of his Proficiency in that comprehenſive Science: Yet PLINY, who lived about 120 Years after CELSUS, ſays, that even in his Time the Romans had not much applied themſelves to MEDICINE, tho' then a profitable Employment; but that it was chiefly in the Hands of the Greeks.

VALENTINIAN ordained that there ſhould be a PHYSICIAN for each of the 14 Wards into which Rome was divided, to take Care of the Poor; and who ſhould be paid at the Public Expence. This ſeems to have been the firſt Eſſay towards a Public HOSPITAL. We ſhall here in general obſerve, that many of the Faculty lived in the ſtricteſt Intimacy and Friendſhip with the ROMAN Emperors; that many had ample Salaries allow'd them by thoſe Princes; that many, by the liberal Gratuities given them for their Services, acquired great Riches, and were the Authors of many public Benefactions in the Places where they lived; and laſtly, that many, from the Reputation of their univerſal Learning and great Abilities, were employed as Embaſſadors to foreign Potentates, and in the other higheſt Offices of State. But beſides the many and diſtinguiſh'd Honours and Privileges from Time to Time conferred upon Individuals, the whole Profeſſion was held in ſuch Eſteem, that great Immunities were alſo granted to their Schools or COLLEGES, as well as to themſelves. They were by the public Edicts of ANTONINUS, CONSTANTINE the GREAT, and JULIAN, exempted from all the uſual Duties of Citizens, or Soldiers, from attending Courts, or entertaining public Officers and Strangers; and every one was forbid to moleſt them, under the Penalty of being puniſhed at the Will of the Judge: And a Participation of theſe public Indulgences was extended, even to the Wives and Children of ſuch uſeful Members to the Common-Weal. Nor was the Fame of their PPYSICIANS always confined to the Limits even of this vaſt Empire; for when a Peace was negotiating between the Emperor JUSTINIAN, and CHOSROES King of Perſia; this laſt would not even agree to a Truce, but upon this expreſs Condition, that the Phyſician TRIBUNUS, whoſe Aſſiſtance he wanted, and whoſe Skill he was acquainted with, ſhould be ſent to him; which JUSTINIAN having comply'd with, a Truce was granted for 5 Years. CHOSROES, being reſtored to Health by the Care of TRIBUNUS, offered to give him whatever he demanded: But the generous Phyſician only deſired that ſome Roman Captives, his Countrymen, ſhould be ſet at Liberty: That gallant PRINCE not only releaſed the Perſons required, and 3000 Priſoners beſides, but alſo rewarded him with great Preſents; and ſent him back in Safety to his own Country.

About this Time the MEDICAL SCHOOL of Alexandria, was ſo celebrated thro' the learned World, that to have been educated there, was alone ſufficient to give the Reputation of great Skill in PHYSIC. The Fame of this Place for MEDICINE, had been long before this AE • a eſtabliſh'd in the Eaſt; and it continu'd undiminiſhed for many Years, even after the City had been, in the 7th Century, ſacked by the Saracens. HEROPHILUS, Phyſician to PTOLOMY LATHYRUS, is ſaid to have been the Founder, as well as the great Ornament of this School: He is ſaid alſo to have been the firſt who diſſected Human Bodies, for the Purpoſes of Medical Inſtruction; by the Countenance and Encouragement of that Prince.

Before I diſmiſs this Enquiry into the State of PHYSIC among the Antient Nations; I muſt requeſt the Reader's Attention to one more Seminary of learned Men, not leſs remarkable for their Antiquity, the Regularity of their COLLEGES, the Singularity of their Doctrines, their Learning, and popular Influence, than any yet ſpoken of: I mean the BRITISH DRUIDS. As theſe Men, beſides their other Functions, were alſo in their Day, the ſole Practitioners of PHYSIC; and from Circumſtances of Place, ſeem to hold ſome diſtant Connection with ourſelves; I hope I ſhall be indulged in being ſomewhat particular in the following Account of them: As indeed the Advances made by them in the other Branches of Literature, are the only Rule we have, whereby to judge of their Progreſs in MEDICINE.

The DRUIDS, by ſome called SEMNOTHEANS, i. e. ſuch as reverence the GODS, were poſſeſſed of the ſame Influence and Authority among the Celtes, and other Gallic Tribes, as the Perſian Magi; or as the Prophets among the JEWS; who are well known to have been often too powerful, for Royalty itſelf. The firſt Account we have of them by that Name, is from CAESAR, who in his Commentaries deſcribes them as a COLLEGE, or ſelect Claſs of religious Philoſophers, and Prieſts, having fix'd Places of Worſhip; as governed by particular and eſtabliſhed Regulations, and ſubjected to one certain Head or ARCHDRUID, who reſided in Britain: To which Place, he ſays, all the Noble Youth of the Continental Gauls, were uſually ſent for their Education. As they knew not the Uſe of Letters, before their Intercourſe with the Romans, they committed all their Learning to Memory, and delivered it to their Pupils in Verſe. They were ſo called from DERU, which in the old Britiſh Language ſignifies an OAK; becauſe the OAK was always held ſacred by them; becauſe they always worſhiped in Groves of OAK, upon gently elevated Places; and becauſe they never perform'd any of their religious Functions without it. The MISLETOE of the OAK was in a particular Manner revered by them, and gathered at certain Seaſons, with great Parade and Ceremony: They believed this to be an infallible Cure for Barrenneſs; an Antidote to Poiſons; a Preſervative againſt Witchcraft; and a powerful Remedy in all Diſeaſes whatever. In ſome old Britiſh Books ſtill extant, are to be found many of the Medical Secrets, uſually practiſed by the DRUIDS, in their Treatment of various Maladies; and it need not be doubted, that many of the ſtrange Cures and Charms recommended at this Day, for different Complaints, by the common People of the HEBRIDES or Weſtern Iſlands, and elſewhere in Britain, and Ireland, are from the ſame Origin. They were experienced in the Powers of natural Bodies, and particularly in the Properties of Plants, and gave great Application to ſuch Studies; whence they were conſtantly conſulted in all bodily Infirmities and Sickneſs, by all Ranks of People: The SILAGO, a Species of Moſs which grows upon Trees, was alſo a ſovereign Remedy with them, eſpecially for Diſeaſes of the Eyes; as was alſo the Samolus, a Species of the Water-Brook-Lime. They were much addicted to Magick, Incantations, and Charms; and were highly eſteem'd, even by the Romans, for their Skill in Divination and Augury. They were great Aſtronomers, and 'tis ſaid, could calculate Eclipſes. They were indeed well verſed in all thoſe Arts, by which the Terror and Amazement of the Vulgar are uſually excited; and by which the beneficial Belief, of their being poſſeſſed of Supernatural Powers, could be kept up. The Learned have found much Reſemblance between the Britiſh DRUIDS, and the Perſian MAGI, in their religious Te •• ets, Modes of Worſhip, Learning, and Dreſs. The DRUIDS acknowledged the Exiſtence of one Supreme God, uncreated, and unconfined; whom they therefore adored in the open Air, in conſecrated Groves, but never in covered Temples. They admitted however of inferior Deities: Thus, TARANUS was their Jupiter, having Power over the Heavens: HAESUS was their Mars, or God of War: TEUTATES was their Mercury, who preſided over Arts and Commerc • e, and was the Guide of Travellers. But their principal Adoration was directed to APOLLO, or the SUN; as the God of Light, Heat, and PHYSIC. To the SUN they offered grand yearly Sacrifices on the firſt Day of May; at which Time all domeſtic Fires were every where extinguiſhed, and the People went to receive holy Fire from the DRUIDS, at their Temples, or Places of Worſhip; to rekindle their houſehold Fires. This Deity or God-like Luminary, was by the DRUIDS of S. Britain, called BELIN; and the principal Seat of his Worſhip, was in the Iſle of Angleſey: But the Caledonian DRUIDS gave him the Name of GRIAN, ſignifying the Eſſence, or Source of Fire and Heat; and worſhipped him at particular Seaſons, by making large Fires upon the Tops of Hills. There are many Remains of the Druidical Temples, ſtill to be ſeen in Angleſey, in the Weſtern Iſles of Scotland, and in ſeveral other Places; conſiſting of long, large, and rude ſingle Stones placed on End in the Ground, at regular Diſtances, and in a circular Form; with an Avenue of the ſame Contrivance, leading up to it. They alſo paid great Veneration to the MOON; whoſe Temples were conſtructed in like Manner, but of a ſemicircular Form; as appears by the Veſtiges of ſome of them, ſtill obſervable in the North of Scotland. Muſic, both Vocal and Inſtrumental, was a conſtant Attendant upon all their religious Rites; and their Inſtruments were Pipes, Flutes, and Harps. It does not appear that they ever uſed any Images in their Worſhip: From which and other Circumſtances, it ſeems evident, that they borrow'd nothing from the Greeks; tho' it may be reaſonably ſuſpected, that the Greeks have been indebted for ſome things to the DRUIDS. Their Authority was ſo great, and ſo devoutly ſupported, that their Excommunications were terrible, even to their Princes; ſo that the Nobles, generally from Prudence as well as Inclination, procured themſelves to be initiated into their Myſteries, and frequently, to be enroll'd among them. As they had the ſole Direction in all religious Matters, no Sacrifice, whether Public or Private, could be perform'd but by a DRUID. They were alſo the ſole Judges in all Controverſies reſpecting Property: No Law could be enacted without their Approbation: They had the greateſt Influence in all public Councils: And, like the Spartan Ephori, they could controul the chief Rulers of the Nation. They offered up human Sacrifices in Times of imminent Danger, or great Diſtreſs; for which Reaſon it is ſaid, that SUETONIUS PAULINUS under NERO, utterly deſtroyed their Groves and Temples in South-Britain: But the true Reaſon ſeems to have been, their great Influence with the People, in ſpiriting them up to defend their Liberties, againſt the unmerited Incroachments and arbitrary Sway of the Romans: For ſuch Sacrifices could be no more reproachful in the DRUIDS, than in the Romans themſelves; who, in no very diſtant Period, had countenanced the like Cruelties: It was only in the 657th Year of the City, and in the Conſulate of LENTULUS and CRASSUS, that human Sacrifices were forbidden at Rome: Till then they had been occaſionally authoriſed there; and we meet with ſeveral Inſtances of the like Practices among the Romans, long after that Period, in different Parts of the Empire. Indeed we find frequent Examples of this barbarous Cuſtom, among moſt Nations, in their Infant State; from the choſen People of God, to the profeſſed Objects of his Vengeance in Canaan; and from the more enlightened Greeks, to the more ignorant and ill fated Mexicans. The Deſtruction of the DRUIDS in North-Britain, was more gradual, owing to civil Broils, and the Reſentment of Parties contending for Power; they having eſpous'd the weaker Side. Tradition informs us, that there were ſome Remains of them in Scotland, at that Time when the firſt Chriſtians fled thither, from the Roman Perſecutions: Where theſe pious Fugitives, from their ſequeſtered Life in Caves, and other hidden Places, were called CULDEES; and from the Similiarity of their Circumſtances, being not eaſily diſtinguiſh'd by the Natives from the proſcribed DRUIDS, they have been frequently confounded by Poſterity. They believed the Immortalily of the Soul; and the Metempſychoſis from one human Body to another, under certain Circumſtances: And they allowed of a future State of Rewards and Puniſhments. They uſually burnt the dead Bodies of their Friends, and preſerv'd their Aſhes in earthen Pots, buried under great CAIRNS, or Heaps of Stones: Some of theſe Pots or Urns have lately been dug up, from under theſe CAIRNS, in the Weſt Highlands of Scotland. The Druidical Functions were often hereditary; and their Females, called DRUIDESSES, were no leſs famous for Divination, than the DRUIDS themſelves.

The pious and peaceful HYPERBORAEANS, ſo often mentioned by the old Greek Writers, were undoubtedly the Celtic or Britiſh DRUIDS; for as what they tell us of theſe HYPERBORAEANS, cannot be apply'd with any Juſtice, either to the Scythians, or Scandinavians, there is no other Claſs of Men yet known, who agree with their Deſcription and Situation, but the DRUIDS. They tell us, that the HYPERBORAEANS inhabited a large I • land, with many leſſer Iſlands about it, lying to the N. W. of Europe, beyond Gaul, and in the great Atlantic Ocean; and that LATONA, the Mother of APOLLO, was born there: That APOLLO was the great Object of their Worſhip; ſo that after having finiſh'd the Building of the Walls of Troy, he is ſaid by PINDAR, to have haſtened to the HYPERBORAEANS: That theſe Iſlands were frequented by the Ghoſts of departed Heroes, and by friendly GENII, who revealed future Events in Dreams; and that one of theſe ſmaller Iſlands, was the peaceful Retreat of old CRONUS or SATURN, after he had been deprived of his Sovereignty by JUPITER: Perhaps the preſent Notion, that ſome People in thoſe remote Parts, are poſſeſſed of what is called the SECOND SIGHT, or a Power of predicting certain diſaſtrous Events, is a Remnant of the old Druidical Doctrines and Superſtitions, and of this Belief in friendly GENII, or guardian Spirits. The Fertility of the Soil, Temperature of the Climate, and happy Situation of the Inhabitants of theſe Hyperboraean Iſlands, were highly celebrated by many ancient Writers. They ſay that they were a religious, temperate, long lived, hoſpitable, hardy, and vigorous Race of People; that they were ſubject to few Diſeaſes; that they lived chiefly on Vegetabl •• ; and were infeſted with no Wars: That frequent Embaſſies of Young Men and Virgins, crowned with Laurel, and cloathed in White, had from Time to Time been ſent from theſe ISLANDS, with Offerings of FIRST FRUITS, wrapped in Wheat Straw, and having their Inſtruments of Muſick, to the Temple of APOLLO, in the Iſland of Delos; where LATONA is fabled to have been delivered of him, and his Siſter DIANA. Now ANACHARSIS ſays, that his Country-Men the Scythians deteſted the Uſe of Inſtruments of Muſic in their Religion; and Laurel was not then known to exiſt in Ruſſia, or Scandinavia: Beſides, when Rome was ſacked by the Gauls under BRENNUS, it was the general Report in Greece, that this City had been taken by an Army of Foreigners, from the Country of the HYPERBORAEANS.

This Intercourſe between Greece, and the Country of the HYPERBORAEANS, has been traced up to about the Time of the Trojan War: So that ABARIS, the celebrated HYPERBORAEAN PHILOSOPHER, and PRIEST of APOLLO, who came to Athens about 550 Years before CHRIST, to renew this Correſpondence, and to viſit Delos, could be none other than a DRUID, and probably too from the Weſtern Iſles of Britain. DIOCENES LAERTIUS obſerves, that it was the Opinion of many learned Men, that the Greeks acquired their Philoſophy from the BARBARIANS; among whom he names the DRUIDS: And it is allow'd, that the HYPERBORAEANS firſt taught the Greeks, that the Earth was Spherical, and ſituated in the Center of the World; whence it is conjectured, that what they called the SPHAERE of the Barbarians, was a Form or Machine contrived by the HYPERBORAEANS, for the eaſier Inſtruction of their Pupils in Aſtronomy. Beſides, as the Images uſed by moſt Nations, to repreſent the happy State of Souls departed, are uſually drawn from Subjects which were the principal Part of their Delights in this World; ſo the HYPERBORAEANS, according to PLATO, among other Things, promiſed in their PARADISE or ELYSIUM, the fineſt Fruits of every Seaſon, Choirs of Dancers, Theatres of Poets, vocal and inſtrumental Muſic, public Feſtivals, Banquets, and SCHOOLS of PHILOSOPHERS: All which are in every Reſpect conformable to the known Rites, Uſages, and Belief of the DRUIDS. Thus, the DRUIDS being generally deſcended of the beſt Families, the Honours of their Birth, joined with thoſe of their Functions, and the Opinion of their great Learning, procured them the higheſt Veneration and Authority, among all the Gallic Nations: And it is natural to believe, that ſuch a Set of Men, under ſuch a regular Inſtitution, continually employ'd in the Search of Knowledge, and communicating their Diſcoveries from Age to Age, muſt have made great Improvements in PHYSIC, ASTRONOMY, MATHEMATICS, PHILOSOPHY, and the other SCIENCES; according as their Studies or Reſearches were directed.

There was alſo another Order of Prieſt among them, but ſuppoſed to be inferior to the DRUIDS; called EUBATES, or FAIDS; whence the VATES of the Latins. Theſe likewiſe ſtudied the ſublime Myſteries of Nature, and pretended to be inſpired: There are ſome Veſtiges of their Name, among the Highland Scot • , and native Iriſh at this Day.

The BARDS were a Set of Men, inferior to both DRUIDS, and FAIDS: They were the Diſciples of the DRUIDS; but they were no Prieſts, nor interfered with religious Matters: Their Perſons however were every where ſacred, among the old German and Gallic Nations, and they were the uſual HERALDS of State, between contending Chiefs. They were by Profeſſion POETS, employ'd on Subjects merely mortal; and who celebrated in Songs, the Genealogies of the Great, and the Gallant Deeds of departed Warriors: Nor were the ſofter Paſſions forgot in their Compoſitions, as is evident from theſe genuine and invaluable Remains of ancient Poetry, aſcribed to OSSIAN: They were exempt from Taxes, and all public Duties, both Civil and Military: They frequently went from Place to Place, repeating their Songs for Hire, like the Scandinavian SCALDS; or rather like the AOIDOI 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of the Greeks, among whom ſome have claſſed the immortal HOMER himſelf. The BARDS at laſt came to be retained in the Families of the Great, as Implements of State: Their Function became hereditary; Lands were aſſigned to their Office in Perpetuity; and they continued in the higheſt Eſtimation with the antient Natives, for many Ages after the Extirpation of the DRUIDS; as appears from OSSIAN'S Poems, and the Traces of that Profeſſion ſtill extant, in ſome remote Parts of Britain.

It is worthy of Remark, that all the ancient Nations, who firſt cultivated or made any conſiderable Improvements in MEDICINE, have either attributed the firſt Diſcovery of it to their GODS; or have deified the Inventors. Such Sentiments at leaſt ſhow the high Veneration they had for this uſeful Profeſſion; and how beneficial and neceſſary they believed it to be, for the Preſervation and Happineſs of Mankind. HIPPOCRATES obſerves, that this Belief of the divine Origin of PHYSIC, was not only conſonant to the general Opinions of the World in his Time; but alſo, he thinks, agreeable to Reaſon. In ſhort, all Nations, as they emerged from Barbariſm and Ignorance, and improved in civil Polity and Knowledge, have encouraged and reſpected the Learned in the HEALING ART; as the Friends and Benefactors of Society, and of Mankind. They rewarded their Services while living, with a Liberality almoſt beyond Belief; and revered their Memories after Death, not more honourably by monumental Inſcriptions, Medals, and Statues; than gratefully, by continuing their public Benefactio •• , even to their Poſterity.

Let us next view the State of the MEDICINAL PROFESSION, among certain foreign Nations, who, tho' Ancient as to their Origin and Government, may yet be conſidered as Modern, with Reſpect to our Acquaintance with them.

The CHINESE have applied themſelves to the Study of MEDICINE, from the very Infancy of their Empire; and they have a great Number of ancient Authors, upon that Subject. The Profeſſion is not only much reſpected among them; but their own Phyſicians alſo are juſtly eſteemed, for their Sagacity and ſingular Acuteneſs in diſtinguiſhing Diſeaſes, and forming Prognoſticks by the Pulſe; tho' they pay great Attention to the Tongue, Eyes, Voice, and Complexion of the Patient, at the ſame Time, in forming their Opinions: From the Manners of the Country, they are ſometimes obliged to find out Diſtempers by the Pulſe alone; for many of the great Men will not permit their Wives to be ſeen or ſpoke to, but only to put their Arms thro' a Curtain, in Order for the Phyſician to feel the Pulſe. DU HALDE has given us a particular Account of their Method of judging by the Pulſe, with their various Obſervations and Diſtinctions concerning it. Their Herbal is very copious, and contains many Simples not known in Europe; from which they form a Variety of Compoſitions. The ſame Author gives us ſeveral Specimens of their Preſcriptions, both ſimple and compound; and aſſures us, that they are as expert in curing Diſeaſes with their Medicine • , as the Europaeans are with-theirs. The Profeſſion of the PHYSICIAN among them, is diſtinct from that of the DRUGGIST, or APOTHECARY; and he is paid for his Viſits. They have alſo their Quacks; ſome of whom pretend to be poſſeſſed of a Medicine, which will render thoſe who take it, immortal. They are circumſtantial in their Manner of collecting and curing their Drugs; minute in diſtinguiſhing Diſeaſes; and attentive to every Conſideration ſuggeſted by Difference of Age, Sex, Temperament, Climate, Diet, or Occupation, or by the various Conditions of Women. Every Part of the Elephant is uſed by them in Medicine, in ſome Form or other; and the Ginſ • ng Root is a ſovereign Remedy, for numberleſs D • ſorders. They are however very ſuperficial Anatomiſts; and have therefore made little Progreſs in Medicine as a SCIENCE: And they are very whimſical in their Theories. Before their Acquaintance with the Europeans, they knew little of CHYMISTRY, and nothing of the CIRCURLATION of the BLOOD; whatever they may pretend to the contrary: Yet they knew the Method of opening a Vein, tho' they ſeldom practiſed it. The Uſe of Enemata or Injections, they learned from the Europaeans; and therefore call them, the Remedy of the Barbarians; for ſuch they account all Nations, beſides themſelves. Several of their Monarchs are believed to have both practiſed, and improved MEDICINE; and if we believe their Accounts, there were Imperial ACADEMIES anciently eſtabliſhed, for that Purpoſe: Nankin is p • rticularly famous at this Day, for the Cultivation of the Arts and Sciences; and has the greateſt Number of Libraries, of any City in China.

There is an Anecdote mentioned in the Chineſe Hiſtories, which, while it proves their high Eſtimation of the HEALING ART, yet greatly invalidates the boaſted Antiquity of their Chronology: They tell us that CHI-HOAM-TI, acknowledged to be one of their greateſt Monarchs, being intereſted in the Deſtruction of all the ancient hiſtorical Records, and of thoſe who preſerved the Memory of them, cauſed all Books to be burnt, except ſuch as treated of AGRICULTURE, and MEDICINE; in Hopes that his own Actions might eclipſe all thoſe of his Predeceſſors in the Empire. This happened about 213 Years before CHRIST. As the Uſe of Paper was not known, the Chineſe then wrote their Characters upon wooden Tablets, or little Plates of Bamboo, which could not eaſily be ſecreted or concealed; and therefore it is imagined, that this Deſtruction of their hiſtorical Monuments, muſt have been pretty complete: And that they can have few if any authentick Records, anterior to that Period. This Emperor built the famous WALL, ſo much admired by Travellers; to defend his Dominions from the Incurſions of the Tartars.

We have alſo in DU HALDE, an Account of a Chineſe Treatiſe, on the Subject of Preſerving HEALTH, divided into theſe 4 Heads; 1ſt, of the Heart and its Actions; 2dly, of Diet; 3dly, of the Actions of the Day; and 4thly, of Reſt at Night: Wherein ſeem to be contain'd, moſt of the Modern Rules reſpecting Air, Aliments, Motion an • Reſt, Paſſions of the Mind, things retain'd or diſcharged, and Sleep and Watching; which in the Medical Stile are called the SIX NON NATURALS. In violent Pains, particularly of the Gout, the Chineſe burn MOXA upon the Parts affected. This Remedy, upon the Recommendation of SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE, was for ſome Time the faſhionable Application for the Gout, in England; but is now laid aſide.

Among the People of JAPAN, the Antiquity and Eſtimation of this Art, are carried as high as with the Chineſe. They aſcribe the Inven • ion and firſt Practice of it, to their KINGS; who, by their Computation, lived long before the Moſaic Deluge. Their PHYSICIANS have the Reputation of great Skill and Abilities; and it is remarked that they moſt commonly preſcribe their Medicines in a ſolid Form; and make very frequent Uſe of Rhubarb and Caſſia; But the ART of SURGERY is very little practiſed among them, and leſs underſtood. The Japaneſe are groſs Pagans, or rather have little real Religion of any kind; for they treat their Idols with great Contempt and Freedom, whenever they are diſpleaſed with them. As to their National Character, they are juſt in their Dealings; faithful to their Promiſes; civil to Strangers admitted among them; and of ſtrict Veracity: They have but one Language, and one Meaſure over all the Empire: Their Laws are every where uniform, and duely executed: Property is well ſecured, and generally hereditary; Perjury, Theft, and Gaming for Money, are puniſhed with Death: They are remarkably fond of Muſic, and admit it to all their Entertainments. They are not permitted to leave their Country, on any Pretence; and if they do, they can never return. In State Offences, the Emperor generally orders the Nobleman in Diſgrace, to be his own Executioner, on an appointed Day: This is accounted an Indulgence, and always complied with: But the Kindred and Friends of the Criminal, are frequently involved in his Fate. It is faſhionable with the Japaneſe Noblem • n, among other Branches of their polite Learning, to apply themſelves to the STUDY of PHYSIC; in Order to recommend themſelves more effectually to the Emperor's Favour. None however are allowed to write or publiſh Books, but their DAIRO, or Chief Prieſt, with his Family, and Deſcendants, who for this Reaſon, are particularly induced to apply themſelves to Learning. The Japaneſe PHYSICIANS make very little Uſe of Bleeding: And in violent Pains, or Spaſmodic Affections, they uſe Acupuncture; or burn MOXA upon the Parts affected: This Practice is alſo followed by the Chineſe in the like Complaints, as well as in the Gout.

The State of Phyſic among the BRAMINS, and Inhabitants of Indoſtan, has been already taken Notice of. We ſhall only add here, that they uſually divide Diſeaſes into certain Claſſes; and that their PHYSICIANS confine themſelves to one or two of ſuch Claſſes, that they may excell in thoſe they particularly profeſs. They are very exact and punctilious with Regard to Regimen; and have a particular Regimen for moſt Diſeaſes. They have ſome Knowledge of CHYMISTRY; and make frequent Uſe of Medicines prepared by Fire. They have a Book of Inſtitutes, in which is contained all their Medicinal Knowledge. Their PROGNOSTICKS are much influenced, by ſuperſtitious Obſervations. They are very nice in their Choice of Medicines, and Method of preſerving them. They carefully conſider both the Pulſe and Excretions, in order to form juſt Notions of Diſeaſes; but they were ignorant of ANATOMY, or the CIRCULATION of the BLOOD, when firſt viſited by the Europeans.

In the Iſland of CEYLON, the Practice of PHYSIC, as well as their Modes of Worſhip, and religious Tenets, are very ſimilar to thoſe of the MOGUL Nations, and Bramins. They make frequent Uſe of ſtrongly purgative Simples; and apply ſteeped Pepper outwardly, in all Complaints of the Bowels. The Elephant is alſo much uſed here in Medicine; and the Iſland abounds with various Drugs, and valuable Spiceries.

In the Iſland of AMBOYNA, they are remarkably expert in the Knowlege of poiſonous Plants; and not leſs ſo, in the Application of their Antidotes. The Natives of the Eaſt-Indies in general, particularly of the Iſlands, are chiefly ſtudious of the noxious Properties of Vegetables; tho' it muſt be owned, that they are alſo well acquainted with many ſalutary and Medicinal Productions.

In SIAM, the Practice of MEDICINE conſiſts in adminiſtering a certain Number of Receits, which have been handed down from their Anceſtors; and which, like our modern Quacks, they apply at Random, without Regard to the different Cauſes, or diſtinguiſhing Symptoms of Diſeaſes.

Among the TARTARS of THIBET, the LAMAS or Prieſts are their only PHYSICIANS. They preſcribe the moſt common Simples, and chiefly ſuch as are uſed in China. We are aſſured, that ſome of them are well acquainted with the Methods of curing moſt Diſeaſes, incident to theſe Countries. The Tartars believe their chief LAMA, to be a living Deity ever preſent with them; and accordingly worſhip him ſeated upon an Altar in their Temple, whenever he pleaſes to ſhow himſelf for that Purpoſe: They believe that he never dies, but only changes his Perſon, or the Body the chooſes to inhabit, as ſuits his Inclination: The Vulgar have the ſame Notions, with Reſpect to their ſubordinate Lamas. The LAMA of Thibet, like the Roman Pontif, is Supreme both in Spiritual and Temporal Affairs; and is often viſited by diſtant Princes, to receive his Bleſſing, and Remiſſion of their Sins.

The ARABIANS were long acquainted with the Practical Part of MEDICINE, before the Foundation of the Saracen Empire: 'Tis believed, that their Prophet MAHOMET had ſome Knowledge of MEDICINE himſelf; and that therefore it was ever afterwards highly eſteemed, by his Succeſſors in the Caliphat. The Saracens, in the beginning of Mahometaniſm, ſcarce applied themſelves to any Study, beſides that of cultivating their own Language, and underſtanding their own Laws, except PHYSIC; but this Profeſſion was generally eſteemed among them, as being of univerſal Advantage to Mankind. It was the barbarous Policy of this People, to deſtroy all Books, and other Veſtiges of Literature wherever they carried their Conqueſts: Accordingly, AMROU, having made himſelf Maſter of Alexandria, and being loath to deſtroy ſo famous and valuable a LIBRARY as he found in that City, ſent to the CALIPH OMAR, to know his Pleaſure; he received for Anſwer, that if theſe Books contained the ſame as the CORAN, they could be of no Uſe; and if they advanced any thing contrary to it, they ſhould therefore be burnt. This was accordingly executed, excepting ſuch as treated of MEDICINE; theſe were carefully preſerved from the Conflagration. The Quantity of Volumes which had been collected there, at an immenſe Expence, for a Series of • ges, was ſo great, that it ſupplied Fuel to the Bagnios, for the Space of ſix Months; tho' there were no leſs than 4000 at that Time in Alexandria. Thus the Remains of the PTOLOMEAN LIBRARY, which had ſurvived the calamitous Accidents of CAESAR's Wars, were now intentionally and almoſt intirely conſumed by the • e Votaries to Superſtition and Enthuſiaſm. It has been remarked that Arts and Sciences have undergone Revolutions, ſomewhat ſimilar to thoſe of States and Empires. The Irruptions of the Goths, and other Northern Nations into the Roman Empire, in the 5th Century, was attended with the Deſtruction of almoſt every Monument of Learning, in the Weſtern World: And about two Centuries afterwards, the Saracens and Followers of Mahomet in the Eaſt laid the Foundation of an Empire, which in the Space of abo •• 80 Years, extended its Dominion with amazing Rapidity, more Kingdoms and Territories, than the Romans had ever been able to do in 800; and laboured but too ſucceſsfully, to ſubſtitute ARABIC and the KORAN, in the Place of every other Language and Book, thro' great Part of Aſia, and Africa. This Difference however is obſervable in theſe literary Events, that what was done by the Northern Swarms, thro' brutal Ferocity and Ignorance, was perpetrated by theſe Apoſtles of MAHOMET, under the ſpecious Pretence of ſerving GOD and his PROPHET▪ We read, it is true, of ſome few Inſtances, both in Sacred and Profane Hiſtory, where a Difference in Religious Doctrines, has occaſioned the Demolition of States, or Extirpation of Nations: even the Followers of the meek and peaceful JESUS, tho' ſhameful to relate,—had already ſet that execrable Example of killing, or otherwiſe perſecuting one another for the Sake of GOD; which has been ſo piouſly and induſtriouſly followed, by overheated and factious Enthuſiaſts, thro' ſucceſſive Ages, to theſe preſent Times: But on ſuch Pretences to deſtroy Books, and the uſeful Labours of the Learned, is ſuch a Proſtitution of Reaſon and Religion, as no Age, no Nation, before the Sarace • s, had ever avowed. Such Feats of Bigotry and Ignorance, were reſerved for the Sons of ISHMAEL; and for ſome Chriſtian ZEALOTS of more modern Days, who with more than Turkiſh Barbarity, indulged their religious Phrenzy, in deſtroying both Books; and many ſtately Edi • ices, the very Ruins of which are at this Day the Admiration of Strangers. Notwithſtanding this Havoc among the Records of Antiquity, the FATHERS of PHYSIC, as has been ſaid above, found an Aſylum with theſe religious Conquerors. Afterwards, when Spain, in the 9th Century, was reduced to the Mooriſh Yoke, they began to attend to the Arts of Peace, and founded COLLEGES there; to which there was a great Reſort of Students, from all Parts of Europe, particularly to learn the HEALING ART. The many voluminous Publications of the Arabian PHYSICIANS, which for many Years were almoſt the only Books conſulted upon the Subject of Medicine; the liberal Rewards and Salaries beſtowed upon them, by their CALIPHS and Princes; the many valuable Additions they have made to the MATERIA MEDICA; and the accurate Deſcriptions they have left us, of ſeveral new Diſeaſes, unknown to former Authors; are not only Teſtimonies of the great Eſteem the Science was held in, by that People, but alſo of the extenſive Knowledge and Abilities of their Practitioners. We are aſſured, that the HAKIMM, or DOCTOR, is always treated with uncommon Reſpect among the Arabians, and other Nations 〈◊〉 the Eaſt: That he may uninvited enter any Houſe, where he never fails of a cordial Welcome: That even in their hoſtile Incurſions and Depredations, his Perſon and Effects are unmoleſted, and held ſacred; for, ſay they, it would be barbarous and unjuſt, to involve thoſe in the Calamities of War, who by their Profeſſion and Employment are FRIENDS to MANKIND; And by this diſtinguiſhed Apellation, we are told by Travellers, they are characterized in theſe Countries, at this Day.

The TURKS are now, with Reſpect to Learning, nearly what the Romans were, during their Regal, and a great Part of their Conſular State; a warlike, proud, and illiterate People: But where the other liberal Sciences are not permitted to take Root, the ART of HEALING has never bee • •• ſerved to flouriſh. The TURKS have ſome Family Receipts, which they make Uſe of when ſick; and when theſe fail, they then have Recourſe to ſome profeſſed PHYSICIAN. The Practice among them, is generally carried on by Armenians, Greek • or Jews; or by Chriſtian Renagado's: But they muſt all be licenſed by the ECHIM-PASCHI, or chief PHYSICIAN to the GRAND SEIGNIOR, before they dare open Shop. This Licence, which is obtained at no great Expence, is conſidered as their DIPLOMA. They have the ſame Chief of the Faculty, with the ſame Powers of licenſing Practitioners, at Cairo in Egypt. The TURKS, being forbid the Uſe of Wine, very temperate in their Diet, and making frequent Uſe of Bathing, are in general very healthy. But what principally diſcourages the ART here, and prevents Me • of Skill from ſettling among them, is, that the TURKS are extremely covetous and fond of Money; that they make great Promiſſes, but after the Service is done, are bad Pay-Maſters; and that they are apt to impute the Death of a Patient, to the Ignorance of the DOCTOR, whoever he is, from mere Caprice and a gratuitous Inclination for Abuſe or Plunder. They have a particular INFIRMARY belonging to the SERAGLIO. The Sultan's PHYSICIAN is greatly reſpected, and always eats in the Palace, with the CA • EE AGA, or Chamberlain in greateſt Authority; and for whom there is allowed a ſeparate Table and Attendance. They make great Uſe of Scarifications and Burning for Head-Aches, or local Pains, and are very patient under ſuch Operations. The Commonalty conſult, for the moſt Part, ſome Jew or Renagado Chriſtian, or whoever will ſerve them cheapeſt; but if theſe Medical Adventurers are convicted of Mal-Practice, they are ſeverely puniſhed in their Perſons or Effects, and moſt frequently in both. When their Great-Men are Sick, they generally apply to ſome Ambaſſador, for the Advice of his PHYSICIAN, who nevertheleſs is ſeldom well paid for his Aſſiſtance. When a Phyſician is applied to, they will not follow his Directions, till he firſt has told them, what the Patient's Diſorder is: This is not only an Argument of their extreme Caution and Diffidence, but alſo of the Experience and Ability that they require in the Practitioner, to whom they entruſt the Care of their Health. They have ſome few Books of Phyſic among them, as well as of Hiſtory, Poetry, and other Subjects. Their Inſtitutes, and Practice of PHYSICK, are chi • ſ • y taken from GALEN. The Arabian Writer AVICENNA, whom they call E ••• -ZINA, is alſo greatly admired, and much conſulted wherever the Mahometan Religion has prevailed. MATHIOLUS is another Medical Writer known to them: But as their ſole Aim and Study is to get Money, there is no Emulation any where among them, in any Branch of true or uſeful Knowledge.

DI SOLIS informs us, that MONTEZUMA, EMPEROR of Mexico, had tranſplanted into his Gardens, for the Purpoſes of MEDICINE, all the choice Simples that benign Climate produced; where his Phyſicians had an Opportunity of ſtudying their Properties. By long Experience, they had found out various Herbs and Plants, proper for all kinds of Pains and Diſeaſes; and with which they often effected ſurprizing Cures. The Emperor himſelf not only diſtributed ſuch Plants from his Collection, as had been preſcribed by the Phyſicians, or deſired by the Sick; but would alſo inquire after the Succeſs of the Medicines given; thus, either gratifying his Vanity, or believing that he thereby fulfilled the Obligations of a Sovereign, in taking ſuch Care of the Health of his Subjects. The ſame Author tells us, that CORTES having been ſeized with a violent Fever, and Diſorder in his Brain, at Tlaſcala, in Conſequence of a Wound of the Head, which he had received a few Days before, in an Engagement with the Mexicans; the Senate of that Republic, ſent for the beſt PHYSICIANS in the Country to his Aſſiſtance: Who, by a wonderful Diſcernment in the Virtues of their Medicinal Herbs, and by varying their Applications, according to the different Turns and Appearances of the Diſtemper, at laſt reſtored him to Health.

Mr. WAFFER, who was himſelf bred to Phyſic, •• lls us in his Travels, that being accidentally wounded in croſſing the Iſthmus of Darien, he was neceſſarily left behind among the Indians of that Country; that being unable to aſſiſt himſelf, theſe Savages, tho' not remarkably kind to him in other Reſpects, took Compaſſion upon his Wounds, and by applying certain ſalutiferous Herbs chewed to a Conſiſtence, and ſpread upon Plantane Leaves, they effected a compleat Cure, in a ſhort Time. Theſe Indians he tells us, had a very ſingular Method of Bleeding; the Patient was ſeated on a Stone, in the River which flowed near their Habitation, and a Perſon ſkilled in that Exerciſe, ſhot ſeveral little Arrows at the Body, which pierced no deeper than the Skin: And that when they brought Blood, the Spectators were greatly rejoyced. The Wife of the Indian Chief LACENTA, being ſick, MR. WAFFER, to relieve her, opened a Vein of the Arm, with a Lancet; when the Spouting of the Blood ſo alarmed the Indian, that he was with Difficulty withheld from killing him: But the Woman ſoon recovering, LACENTA, with all his Followers, kiſſed Mr. Waffer's Hands, in Reverence to his Skill; and they ever afterwards treated him with ſingular Reſpect. He was carried about in a Hammock, from Plantation to Plantation, adminiſtring Advice, Phlebotomy, and Phyſic, for he had preſerved ſome Inſtruments and Medicines; and he became the Object of almoſt general Adoration with thoſe grateful Savages. It was with Difficulty that at laſt, when an Opportunity offered of getting back to Europe, they conſented to part with him, upon his Promiſe of a ſpeedy Return.

The PERUVIANS, as we are told in the Hiſtory of their INCAS, had ſeveral Medical Secrets and Operations, for various Diſeaſes, which had been tranſmitted from Father to Son; and which they had learned from long Experience: Tho' they had a pretty extenſive Knowlege of Remedies, they had not advanced ſo far in that Branch of Learning, as to have any regular Theory reſpecing Diſeaſes, or to have reduced their Practice to a SYSTEM. That they had profeſſed Practitioners among them ſeems evident, from reading in the Hiſtory of the Conqueſt of PERU, that ATAUCHI, Brother to the murdered INCA ATABALIBA, having taken ſome Spaniſh Priſoners, would have ſacrificed them all to his Revenge; but he was afterwards prevailed upon, not only to give them their Lives, in Conſideration of two among them, who had warmly proteſted againſt the INCA'S Murder: But alſo he took Care, ſays our Author, that ſuch as were wounded, ſhould be cured: And then he diſmiſſed them with Preſents. By Means of the Peruvians, we are become acquainted with ſeveral powerful Drugs, particularly Jeſuits Bark, and Ipecacoan; which are ſtrong Proofs of their Knowledge in the Virtues and Properties of various Plants.

The warlike Savages of NORTH-AMERICA, particularly the Iroquois, or five confederate Nations, where they are untainted with the Vices and cozening Arts of the more civilized Europaeans, exhibit the moſt ſtriking and genuine Picture of the primitive World, or ſuppoſed State of Nature, to be met with upon the known Face of the Globe. They have no eſtabliſhed Authority among them, hereditary or elective, but ſuch only as is acquired by approved Bravery and Succeſs in War, or by Eloquence in Council: And even this Obedience or Submiſſion to ſuperior Merit, is altogether voluntary; for their SACHEMS o • Chiefs, when acknowledged ſuch, are mere Adviſers or Counſellors, they never have any coercive Powers. They have no national Tenets of Religion; no eſtabliſhed Modes, or public Places of Worſhip; no Order of Prieſts, or Diſtinction of Days: Every Man frames his own CREED, according to his Fancy; and many of them have none at all. The only Article of Belief in which they ſeem generally to agree, is i • ſome vague and obſcure Notions of a future Exiſtence; But with the ancient Mexicans, and the more humanized Natives of Peru, this Opinion was ſtill more prevalent.

The following Lines of MR. POPE, may be, with ſome Indulgence, applied to all, or moſt of the known Tribes in this Weſtern World: Lo, the Poor INDIAN! whoſe untutor'd Mind Sees GOD in Clouds, or hears him in the Wind; His Soul, proud SCIENCE never taught to ſtray Far as the SOLAR WALK, or MILKY WAY; Yet ſimple Nature to his Hope has giv'n, Behind the cloud-topt Hill, an humbler HEAV'N; Some ſafer World in Depth of Woods embrac'd, Some happier Iſland in the watry Waſte; Where Slaves once more their native La • d behold, N •• Fiends torment, no CHRISTIANS thirſt for Gold. TO 'BE, Contents his natural Deſire, He aſks no Angels Wing, no Seraphs Fire; But thinks, admitted to that equal SKY, His FAITHFUL DOG ſhall bear him Company.

Some diſtant Nations about the upper Lakes, pay Reverence to the SUN: And ſome alſo to the MOON. Some have MANITOOS, or ſmall tutelar Divinities of their own Compoſition, which they carry to War with them in Boxes, and conſult upon particular Emergencies, with ſtrange Ceremonies, and always in the Dark; upon which Occaſions, the War Captain generally acts the Conjurer. War and Hunting are the ſole Occupations of the Men; and almoſt every menial Office at Home, or in the Field, is performed by the Women. Whoever firſt Plants a Spot of Land with Maize or Indian Corn, poſſeſſes it undiſturbed, as long as he pleaſes; and when he leaves it, which is frequently the Caſe, the next Comer occupies it by the ſame indiſputed Right, Poſſeſſion. Whence the Migration of Families is both eaſy and frequent among them; and even whole Tribes or Nations, from various Motives, will ſometimes change their Habitations. Their Wants are few: Their Houſhold Furniture and Riches are eaſily tranſported: They know not the Uſe of Locks or Bars to their Houſes; yet Theft is ſcarcely ever heard of among themſelves, tho' they will all take or ſteal from Europaeans: Every Wood affords them a Shelter; and there too they can generally ſupply themſelves with both Food and Cloathing. Their Medicinal Remedies are few, and generally adminiſtred by their Squaas or Women: They conſiſt in various Methods of Sweating; in certain Drinks made with Simples, which operate by Stool or Vomit; and in cold Bathing. They have ſome Notions of Bleeding, by Scarifications for local Pains: They treat with particular Reſpect, upon all Occaſions, ſuch Europaeans as poſſeſs any Knowledge of MEDICINE: And they obey their Directions, when ailing, with the greateſt Deference and Punctuality.

Among the Negro Tribes of AFRICA, we are told, that the Practice of MEDICINE conſiſts in the outward Application of certain Herbs or Roots, or Infuſions and Decoctions of them given inwardly: But the REMEDIES they chiefly depend upon, are the Charms, and other Tricks of their Conjurers. They are all believed to be ſo very miſchievous, and with all ſo expert in the Uſe of vegetable Poiſons, that every obſtinate and uncommon Ailment among them, is uſually ſuppoſed to be the Effect of Poiſon adminiſtred by ſome envious or revengeful Negro: 'Tis true, ſuch Accidents too frequently happen; but this Belief is ſo prevalent among the African Slaves, that when once a ſick Negro is fully impreſſed with ſuch a Notion, he ſeldom recovers. Tho' the extenſive Countries of the Negroes are generally, for obvious Reaſons very unhealthy, yet we do not find any where a fixt or uniform Practice in their Cure of Diſeaſes; nor do we know any remarkable Remedies or Drugs which are peculiar to their Climates. It is however worthy of Remark, that, from undoubted Accounts both of Traders and intelligent Natives, ſome of the inland Nations of Africa have long had the Practice of INOCULATION for the SMALL POX; but whether this is a Diſcovery of their own, or derived from the more intelligent Nations of ASIA, we know not.

The Revival of Learning in EUROPE, is in nothing more diſtinguiſhable, than by that ardent Attention, and early Encouragement given for improving all the various Branches of the HEALING ART. Many Medical COLLEGES were ſoon after this Period endowed, and Lecturers appointed, by different Princes in their reſpective Dominions; to which there was a great Reſort of Students, from many diſtant Countries; according as the Reputation of the Profeſſors attracted them. From theſe firſt Eſtabliſhments in Spain and Italy, already mentioned, as we approach our own Times, we find the PROFESSION riſing more and more into Fame and Eſtimation, thro' France, Germany, and other Parts of Europe; in Proportion as Diſcoveries and Improvements were made, in ANATOMY, CHYMISTRY, BOTANY, and PHYSIOLOGY: Till the immortal HARVEY, Phyſician to that great Patron of Learning CHARLES THE FIRST, by his Diſcovery of the CIRCULATION OF THE BLOOD, caſt ſuch an inextinguiſhable Light upon this Science, as fixes HERE, the moſt memorable AEra in the Hiſtory of PHYSIC, ſince it firſt exiſted as a Profeſſion. From that Time, MEDICINE has continued to flouriſh, among the Britiſh Nations, with unequalled Luſtre. In no Country is this Profeſſion more honourable, more reſpected, or more bounteouſly cheriſhed; and no Profeſſion has more amply repaid this benign Influence, and public Favour, or reflected more Honour upon their Country, by ſuch a Number of eminent Writers, than this has; Whether we conſider them with Reſpect to their Merit and Abilities; in Subjects merely medical; or their great Reputation in foreign Kingdoms, for Compoſitions of Genius and Taſte; or their acknowledged Proficiency; in all other Parts of uſeful and polite Literature: It is u • neceſſary to give Inſtances here, or to enumerate a long Train of MEDICAL WORTHIES ſo well known to every GENTLEMAN of Reading. To juſtify my Aſſertion, permit me to appeal to the Sentiments of that Ornament of human Nature, Mr. POPE; who, in one of his familiar Epiſtles, ſpeaking of his Obligations to Dr. MEAD, and others of the Faculty, adds, they are in general the moſt amiable Companions, and the beſt Friends, as well as the moſt learned Men I know: And the ingenious Dr. BLACKSTONE, in his Lecture upon the Study of the LAW, recommends ſome Acquaintance with this neceſſary Science to the FACULTY of PHYSIC, in common with other Gentlemen, to compleat the Character of general and extenſive Knowledge; a CHARACTER, ſays he, which their Profeſſion, beyond others, has remarkably deſerved. Nor is it our leaſt Happineſs and Boaſt, that there are now living, many Gentlemen deſervedly celebrated both at Home and Abroad; not more for their medical • alents in particular, than for their extenſive Knowledge of LETTERS in general. But when we turn our Reſearches from theſe glorious Fields of SCIENCE, to the preſent obſcure and illiterate Scenes before us; when we lift our Eyes to theſe towering and enlightened Geniuſes of ancient and modern Days, and afterwards look down to the favourite Wonder-working Doctors of this Place, how wide is the Diſtance between ſuch contraſted Objects? How numerous the Links which connect the Extremes of ſuch a lengthened Chain? The Compariſon, with all Reſpect to thoſe who think differently be it ſaid, is too unequal, abſurd, and ridiculous to be ſupported.

I cannot conclude this Inquiry into the ancient and preſent State of PHYSIC, without acknowledging, in Juſtice to the MEDICAL FACULTY of Philadelphia, that THEY firſt ſet us the laudable Example of this Inſtitution in America; tho' the practicability of inſtructing Youth in this uſeful and learned Profeſſion, among ourſelves, has for many Years been an Object of Speculation here: Whereby we may in a great Meaſure prevent the future Neceſſity of long and perilous Voyages to EUROPE; as well as large Remittances of Money, which never more returns: Nor indeed is this the only Inſtance of the wiſe Police and public Spirit of that flouriſhing and well regulated CITY, which deſerves our Imitation.

The ART of PHYSIC inſtructs us in the Method of preſerving Health when preſent; and in the Means of reſtoring it when loſt; or how to alleviate the Inconveniencies conſequent upon Health impaired, when a total Cure cannot be effected. This Art is by HIPPOCRATES called the NOBLEST of all ARTS; which heals, by adding that which was wanting, and taking away what is ſupper • luous. And PLUTARCH ſays, that MEDICINE contains as large and fruitful a Field for Pleaſure, as any other of all the LIBERAL ARTS.

The whole Syſtem of PHYSIC is comprehended under theſe two Denominations, the THEORY, and the PRACTICE. The Nature a • d Meaning of the latter is pretty generally underſtood: But the THEORY of PHYSIC, tho' the Foundation of all rational PRACTICE, being very little underſtood or attended to here, and conſequently its Advantages not ſo obvious, a particular Explication of the Nature and Uſefulneſs of it, will now the more readily be indulged me, as it will ſerve at the ſame Time to convey a more adequate Idea of the Importance of this preſent INSTITUTION.

There is but too frequent Occaſion to remark, that we are apt to undervalue in others, what we ourſelves do not poſſeſs, or deſpair of ever attaining; eſpecially when the Subject of our Envy gives any Pre-eminence to the Poſſeſſor! This is in no Caſe more applicable, than with Reſpect to the Uſefulneſs of THEORY in PHYSIC; and will fully account for that Obloquy and Ridicule with which the Self-taught Doctors of this City, affect to treat a Plan of MEDICAL Education, which they either have not Senſe to comprehend, or Honeſty and Candour enough to regret the Want of. Such little Foes are pardonable; they indeed claim our Pity; becauſe they know no better. But when an intelligent Head, is totally guided by an unfeeling and malevolent Heart: When the Want of academical Inſtruction in his Profeſſion, is artfully concealed under many real and more ſtudied Oddities of Behaviour; by ſhunning every Occaſion of Medical Converſe with ſuch as can judge of his Skill, or cenſure his Practice; by amuſing his credulous Hearers with vulgar Jeſts, or the too generally delectable Arts of Defamation, and illiberal Abuſe of thoſe, who have been more fortunate in Opportunities of Improvement than himſelf: When a Spirit of Rapacity is gloſſed over by boaſted Noſtrums, and fictitious Cures; or otherwiſe, by himſelf, or his Emiſſaries, practiſing upon the diſtempered Imaginations of the ſick; and by every other mean and reproachful Artifice; it might well excite the Amaze and Regret of every Friend to Learning, and of every good Member of Society, ſhould he find that the inſidious Opinions of ſuch a Medical Phaenomenon, who reflects ſo little Honour upon the City he lives in, and much leſs upon the Profeſſion he follows, were ſtill, as heretofore, not only liſtened to, but applauded. However I would willingly hope, that this reſpectable Community will, for the future, form their Opinions of this Profeſſion, and of this preſent Undertaking, from their own Underſtanding and Obſervation; and that Strangers, who ſhall henceforth viſit theſe hoſpitable Regio •• , for the Sake of Health, will not too haſtily judge of the whole FACULTY here, from the ungracious Practiſes of a HETEROCLITE DOCTOR, or the relentleſs Cravings of an inſatiable LEECH.

Before we proceed, let us here conſider ſuch common Objections made to the Uſefulneſs of THEORY, as carry with them any Appearance of Reaſon or Plauſibility.

It ſeems to be univerſally allowed, that Experience alone can never form a rational PHYSICIAN: Yet ſome decry THEORY, as of no Uſe in explaining Diſeaſes, becauſe, ſay they, it cannot be accommodated to all of them. But ſuch Diſputants may as well contend, that becauſe THEORY cannot obtain in all Diſeaſes, it therefore does in none; which would be to contradict all Senſe and Obſervation. Others, becauſe they are not accuſtomed, or not willing, or perhaps not able to inveſtigate the Cauſes of Diſeaſes, reckon Theory not only as uſeleſs, but would inſinuate alſo, that it may ſometimes be dangerous in Practice. Now, what can be more abſurd, than to imagine that a PHYSICIAN will be the more unſucceſsful, the better he underſtands the Diſtemper? Or that he who ſees clearly into the Origin and Cauſe of an Indiſpoſition, ſhould therefore be the more incapable of rightly applying a Remedy? Or on the contrary, that he ſhould be the moſt happy in his Cures, who is altogether ignorant why one Method ſhould be purſued rather than another? The Futility of ſuch Objections is obvious to every Capacity. Others again ſay, that Diſeaſes have been cured by Perſons ignorant of all THEORY; who neither underſtood ANATOMY, the ANIMAL OECONOMY, nor the Manner in which Remedies operate! This has ſometimes undoubtedly been the Caſe; and happy are they who have eſcaped, to tell the Tidings! But were we to examine the Practice of ſuch Perſons, and obſerve how unſeaſonably moſt Medicines are applied; how many and how contrary Things are given; we muſt acknowledge that their Apothecaries are much obliged to them, but their Patients not at all: For being unacquainted with the Nature of the Diſtemper, or any certain Method of Cure, they range thro' the whole MATERIA MEDICA, in Hopes that they may fortunately hit upon a Remedy at laſt. There are ſome too who object to the Uſefulneſs of THEORY; That there are Perſons who, tho' intirely ignorant of any rational Scheme of Practice, yet by being much employed, have acquired ſuch a Degree of Knowledge, as to ſucceed in the Cure of ſome particular Diſeaſes! This Obſervation will hold equally good of every ſagacious and attentive old Woman, or Nurſe; nor, if true, is it ſo very ſurprizing, when it is conſidered, that ſome Diſeaſes recur as it were in a Circle. But ſhould any new Diſtemper ariſe, and ſuch as this Practitioner never ſaw before, our Champion of Experience would then be much at a L • ſs, and turn over his muſty Receipts and Commentaries long in vain, 'ere he could diſcover any Light to guide him to a proper Treatment. Whereas the judicious and rational PHYSICIAN, who is intimately acquainted with the Powers of the human Body, and the Nature of the Fluids; without being alarmed at any unuſual Caſe; applies the Ideas he had already formed in his Mind, about the Nature of Diſeaſes in general, to this particular Caſe; by which he eaſily diſcerns the Genius of the Diſeaſe; whence it ariſes; the true Indications of Cure; and what Method ought chiefly to be purſued: Amidſt the Variety of Drugs, he has no Difficulty in chooſing immediately ſuch as are moſt proper for his Purpoſe, and in fixing upon that Order he ought to follow in preſcribing them. EMPYRICS do not ſo much diſtinguiſh between Diſeaſes themſelves, as the Names of Diſeaſes: For Inſtance in Fevers, the ſame ſymptoms frequently occur, where the Cauſe of the Diſeaſe and State of the Humours, are very different. Thus ſome Fevers ariſe from a Redundancy, ſome from a Rarefaction, others from a Lentor, and others again from a putrid Diſſolution of the Blood; all which require a different Treatment, according to their ſeveral Cauſes. Suppoſe now this Nominal Phyſician to be ſent for; he would immediately form his Diſtinctions, or Diagnoſis, as it is called, from the moſt obvious Symptoms attending Fevers in general; and without further Inquiry, pronouncing the Diſtemper to be a Fever, would boldly purſue the ſame Method of Cure in all! On the contrary, the rational PHYSICIAN explores not ſo much the Name, as the Nature of the Diſeaſe: He endeavours to find out its immediate and remote Cauſe • , with the State of the circulating Fluids; and from theſe is directed in his Application of Remedies: And often too, by a judicious ANALOGY, extends thoſe Medicines to many Diſeaſes, which Uſe had perhaps too arbitrarily determined as SPECIFICS in one. How can he apply a proper Remedy to a Diſeaſe, ſays CELSUS, who knows not whence it ariſes, what Parts are affected, how they are connected, where they are ſeated, or what are their Functions? And tho' it is undeniable that Experience is abſolutely neceſſary to a Phyſician; yet even this Experience can neither be purſued, nor ſafely applied, without Reaſoning upon it; or without forming ſome Theory from his own Obſervations. Whence it may be fairly concluded, that THEORY and PRACTICE ſo much require each others Aſſiſtance, that no one can ever deſerve greatly of PHYSIC, who does not unite them: And let us add, that the beſt Collection of Medical Receipts or Preſcriptions which ever was, or will be made, can no more make a complete PHYSICIAN, than good Colours and Pencils alone, can make a fine PAINTER.—Thus then the Knowledge of the THEORY of PHYSIC, regularly acquired as a SCIENCE, according to the beſt and moſt approved Methods of Study, is the ſureſt Guide to a ſafe and judicious Practice; and diſtinguiſhes the rational PHYSICIAN, from the daring EMPYRICK, and other trammel'd Labourers in this Profeſſion.

We ſhall now conſider the Nature of THEORY, and what it particularly teaches us. It is well known, that all other SCIENCES have their PRAECOGNITA, or Introductory Parts; and that no one can arrive at their Summit, without aſcending by ſuch regular Steps, as Reaſon and Experience inform us are neceſſary to conduct him. The PRAECOGNITA, or THEORY of PHYSIC, comprehends ſeveral curious, and intricate Subjects of Study; each of which alone is ſufficient to employ the Attention of a Student, for a long Time, before he can acquire ſuch a competent Knowledge therein, as will intitle him to practiſe with Safety to his Patient, or Honour to himſelf.

The Foundation of all true and rational Medical Knowledge, is ANATOMY; or that dextro • s, nice, and methodical Diſſection of the human Body, which diſcovers to us its various component Parts, together with their Figure, Arrangement, Situation, and Connections. ANATOMY gives us the Mechaniſm and Uſes of the Bones, and of the Muſcles; it deſcribes the Contents of the different Cavities of the Trunk of the Body: It teaches alſo, the particular Courſe of the Nerves, and Blood Veſſels; and how we may often diſcover the Origin or Seat of an Injury, when perhaps the Part affected or complained of, is very diſtant from it. The Demonſtrations in this Polar Branch of MEDICINE, are ſo palpably neceſſary and inſtructive, that they can never be too often repeated by every Denomination of the FACULTY, whether Pupils or Practitioners; for it is ſelf evident, that they ought to know intimately and minutely the Compoſition and Frame of the Body, in the natural and ſound State, before they attempt to remedy its Infirmities or Ailments.—To uſe a familiar Compariſon—would not a Man deſerve to be laughed at, who ſhould undertake to regulate or repair any valuable or curious Piece of Machinery, (ſuppoſe a Watch,) without underſtanding its Principles and Mechaniſm? Yet how many are guilty of a greater Abſurdity, by truſting their own moſt curious ANIMAL MACHINE, which itſelf alone is a WORLD of WONDERS, in the Hands of thoſe, who are ignorant of the Structure and Uſes even of ſuch Parts, as admit of equal demonſtrative Certainty, with any Contrivance of Man's Invention?

Beſides what we are inſtructed in by ANATOMY, which is principally concerned in deſcribing the human Body after Death; there are other Parts of Knowledge, reſpecting our preſent Wellbeing and Exiſtence, which are properly the Subjects of PHYSIOLOGY.—This Branch of THEORY conſiders Man progreſſively, from his earlieſt Exiſtence, before he has yet breathed the Breath of Life; before he is even faſhioned in his Mother's Womb; and while all the boaſted Pre-eminence of this future Image of Divinity, of this Deputy Ruler of the World, is that of a locomotive Vegetable, a mere automatous Machine, an almoſt imperceptible Worm; to his Decay, or natural Death. PHYSIOLOGY treats of the Animalization of our Food; of the Properties and Uſes of our various Fluids; of the Nature and Circulation of the Blood; of Reſpiration; of the Senſes; and, in ſhort, of every Function, whither Vital, Animal, or Natural, which is, or ought to be performed by the Body, while in Health: All which are comprehended under the Appellation of,—the ANIMAL OECONOMY. By PHYSIOLOGY, we are enabled to form a juſt Idea of Health, and wherein it conſiſts: As from the total, or partial Depravation of any of the various Functions, which are or ought to be performed in HEALTH, we form the Idea of SICKNESS, in all its different Stages and Degrees. ANATOMY may be conſidered as the Topography of the Body; and PHYSIOLOGY as its natural Hiſtory. ANATOMY is the guiding Star to the SURGEON; but both are alike eſſential to the PHYSICIAN. We have already obſerved, what great Improvements have from Time to Time been made, in PHYSIOLOGY, by opening and inſpecting the Bodies of different Animals alive; and otherwiſe making Experiments upon them. How far ſuch Practices, tho' influenced by ſuch good Motives, are reconcileable to Humanity, I will not pretend to determine: But when it is conſidered what important, what uſeful Diſcoveries have been made in that Way; the Inquiſitive both in PHYSIC and PHYLOSOPHY, will always congratulate themſelves upon every Acquiſition of KNOWLEDGE, however abhorrent they may be from ſuch Means of obtaining it. We find too, that ſuch practical Curioſity prevailed in a very early Period of this Profeſſion; and was even carried to great Lengths, if what ſome affirm of ERASISTRATUS, the ſagacious PHYSICIAN to the firſt SELEUCUS, and of HEROPHILUS above mentioned, be true. From what is already ſaid, it muſt be evident to every Man of Senſe or Reflection, how prepoſterous it is, to attempt to remedy the Alterations and Changes produced in the Body by SICKNESS, without a previous particular Knowledge of its State in HEALTH.

But theſe Studies of ANATOMY, and PHYSIOLOGY, beſides being conſidered as neceſſary Qualifications for the Practice of PHYSIC, may moreover be looked upon as Branches of NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, both pleaſing and inſtructive to Men of Speculation and Letters; and no leſs amuſing to ſuch as carry their Reſearches, no farther than the immediate Objects of their Senſes. If our Curioſity receives ſuch exquiſite Gratification, in contemplating the immenſe VARIETY, which Nature has diſplayed in her inferior Productions; why ſhould we not in like Manner take Pleaſure in purſuing her, in her more complete and noble Work, the HUMAN FRAME? When we examine the various component Parts of the Body, with their different Combinations and Uſes, how are we amazed, to find all the Motions of this moſt complicated Machine performed, according to the well known and immutable Powers of MECHANICS? How are our moſt warm and Heart-felt Emotions of Gratitude called up, when we perceive, that every minute diſcernible Atom is formed, and placed, according to the moſt juſt Weight, and ſtricteſt Menſuration? That the Diſtribution of our Veſſels, and Courſe of the Fluids thro' them, are all conformable to the ever permanent Laws of HYDRAULICS; and that all theſe are diſpoſed of, with ſuch Symmetry and benevolent Care, as are moſt conducive to the Preſervation, and preſent Happineſs of BEINGS, whoſe Duration is ſo ſhort and limited?—The Articulations of the SPINE, or Back-Bone, moving over their liquid Axle, and reſting upon the Incompreſſibility of Water, at leaſt incompreſſible by any natural Force of the Body: The aſtoniſhing Mechaniſm of the EYE, and EAR, ſo beautifully contrived, and carefully adapted to the Nature and Properties of LIGHT, and SOUND; ALL muſt excite the moſt profound Reſpect, and awful Veneration in every attentive Obſerver of NATURE, for HIM who has thus faſhioned us. In ſhort, what more rational Entertainment can be found; what Subject of Admiration, more grand or noble; what more convincing Proofs can be given, of the ſuperlative and paternal GOODNESS of the DEITY, than ſuch an Hiſtorical Survey of this little WORLD of MAN? Who, agreeable to that juſt, and emphatical Exclamation of the Hebrew POET, is ſo "fearfully and wonderfully made!"

PATHOLOGY neceſſarily depends upon the previous Knowledge of PHYSIOLOGY, and is naturally connected with it; it is uſual therefore to teach both, in the ſame Courſe of LECTURES: Theſe two Branches together are more particularly, and in a limited Senſe, called the THEORY of PHYSIC. The Subject of PATHOLOGY conſiſts, in the general Inveſtigation of the various Cauſes of Diſeaſes, whether adventitious or natural; with their conſequent Symptoms, and Effects. PHYSIOLOGY conſiders the Human Body, in its ſound and healthy State: But PATHOLOGY conſiders it, in its preternatural and morbid State.

A familiar Acquaintance with the MATERIA MEDICA, and PHARMACY, or at leaſt with the Nature and Effects of all ſuch Simple and Compound Medicines, as are generally uſed in Preſcriptions, together with the moſt proper Methods of compounding them, is another Acquiſition in this Science, extremely neceſſary to a Student, before he engages in Practice. MEDICINES are the Inſtruments in the Hands of the PHYSICIAN, with which he is to ſubdue Diſeaſes: it would therefore be not only dangerous for the Patient, but abſurd and wicked in a Practitioner, ſhould he be ignorant of the Strength and Qualities of thoſe Weapons, he employs for accompliſhing his Purpoſe: It is indeed his Duty to know, not only the ſeveral Virtues of Drugs; what Diſeaſes they are proper for; in what Quantities they ought to be given 〈◊〉 and in what Forms they can be moſt commodiouſly exhibited: But he ſhould alſo be able to diſtinguiſh what are genuine, from what are ſophiſticated; and what are freſh and • ound, from what are old and uſeleſs.

CHYMISTRY, and BOTANY, with Reſpect to Medicine, may in ſome Senſe be conſidered, as Subdiviſions of the MATERIA MEDICA; with which they both ſerve to make us more intimately acquainted. By CHYMISTRY, the Nature and Properties of all ſuch Subſtances as are uſed in Medicine, are explored; and various powerful Remedies are thereby prepared from the VEGETABLE, FOSSILE, and ANIMAL Kingdoms, by Means of Fire, and Solv • nts▪ By CHYMISTRY, many curious Diſcoveries, and uſeful Improvements are made in NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. It is a Study, no leſs pleaſing than advantageous to the PHYSICIAN; and an Amuſement equally curious and entertaining to the GENTLEMAN and SCHOLAR.

By BOTANY we are inſtructed in the Natural Hiſtory, and diſtinguiſhing Characters of PLANTS. This purſued as a Science, or Branch of Medical Study, preſents to us a Fund of Knowledge, both valuable and ornamental. As this CONTINENT yields moſt of the Medical PLANTS now in Uſe, and abounds alſo with a Variety of others, whoſe Virtues we are as yet but little acquainted with, or intire Strangers to; may we not hope, that among the future literary Inſtitutions in this Place, a TEACHER of BOTANY will ſoon be appointed; and a Botanical Garden laid out, and properly furniſhed? This would open an extenſive Field for further Diſcoveries in, and for large Acquiſitions to the MATERIA MEDICA: And this City might yet have the Honour, of the firſt Appointment of that Kind in America.

The principal and moſt intereſting Part of MEDICINE, and to which all thoſe other foregoing Studies, or Branches of THEORY are ſubſervient▪ is PRACTICE; or the Knowledge and Cure of Diſeaſes. The PRACTICE of PHYSIC is founded on repeated Experiments, and Obſervations of Facts, made by our Predeceſſors in the HEALING▪ ART, upon Diſeaſes and Remedies; and compared with thoſe made by ourſelves: And thence, from what uſually has happened, we collect what may again happen, and what we ought to do in ſimilar Caſes. As all the Proficiency made in the other preparatory CLASSES, with every Aſſiſtance which can be derived from Memory, or the Powers of Underſtanding, is neceſſarily exerted here; it has always been cuſtomary for Students, to embrace the earlieſt Opportunities of being converſant in it; by attending, from their firſt Entrance upon their Studies, the Practice of ſome Gentleman, eminent for Buſineſs and Abilities; or by viſiting the Sick in HOSPITALS, where the ſame Opportunities of Inſtruction uſually occur.—Permit me to obſerve here, that, in this wealthy and populous CITY, which from its extenſive Trade and commodious Situation, is ſo much the Reſort of Strangers, and to which, as the METROPOLIS and Seat of Government, there is ſuch a Concourſe of People from the inland Settlem •• ts; the want of a proper •• d well regulated INFIRMARY, is greatly to be lamented. When we look round, and ſee how many Objects of Diſtreſs, are every where ſuffering under the accumulated Woes of Poverty Sickneſs, and bodily Infirmities; only becauſe they cannot have the Conveniencies neceſſary for their being benefited by that Aſſiſtance, which many Gentlemen of this Profeſſion daily do, and would ſtill moſt cheerfully give them; it is a Matter of ſincere Regret, that neither the Motives of Humanity, nor the laudable Example of a neighbouring COLONY, have yet been able to give Being, to ſo deſirable a Place of Refuge, from ſuch complicated Miſery. An Eſtabliſhment, ſo beneficial to the whole PROVINCE, and to this CITY in particular, well deſerves the Attention of a PUBLIC SPIRITED LEGISLATURE; as well as the united Influence of every FRIEND to the Country, and of every compaſſionate and good MAN: But the Manifold Advantages, which would hence ariſe to the Young Student, and Practitioner, in the Profeſſion both of PHYSIC and SURGERY, are ſo very palpable and obvious, that it in a particular Manner claims the Countenance of every FRIEND to the ART of HEALING. I am not ignorant, that there has been for many Years in this CITY, a public Receptacle for poor INVALIDS; but the intentional Plan and Oeconomy of that Houſe, render it undeſerving of the Name of an HOSPITAL. From the known Humanity of the Magiſtrates and Managers, it cannot be doubted that the Sick are there at all Times ſupplied with decent, and ſuitable Entertainment: But their Medical Treatment has hitherto been ſo ſtudiouſly conceal'd, that as yet it is inſcrutable; and therefore it remains a Doubt, whether it be a Reproach to the Community, or a Benefit to the PatientSince this Lecture was read in the College Hall, the Neceſſity and Uſefulneſs of a PUBLIC INFIRMARY has been ſo warmly and pathetically ſet forth, in a Diſcourſe delivered by DR. SAMUEL BARD, at the Commencement, in May laſt; that his Excellency SIR HENRY MOORE▪ immediately ſet on Foot a Subſcription for that Purpoſe; to which himſelf, and moſt of the Gentlemen then preſent liberally contributed. His Excellency alſo recommended it in the moſt preſſing Manner to the ASSEMBLY of the Province, as an Object worthy of the • r Attention; and the CORPORATION of the CITY have given us Aſſurances of granting a very valuable and commodious Lot of Ground, for erecting the Building upon So that there is now almoſt a certain Proſpect of this benevolent and • umane FOUNDATION ſoon taking Place. And as it is to be upon the moſt catholic and unexceptionable PLAN, it is hoped that it will meet with the Countenance and Encouragement of every compaſſionate and good Member of Society; whatever Party or Denomination he may chooſe to be diſtinguiſhed by, on other Occaſions.—DR. BARD'S Diſcourſe, by particular Deſire, has ſince been publiſhed.

Every Thing which can poſſibly affect the Body, or influence its State of HEALTH, whether it be done by us, or ſuffered by us, comes under the Conſideration of PRACTICE. Thus, as the Body is greatly influenced by the general • Climate of the Country, as well as by the particular Air, Soil, S • tuation, &c. of the Places we live in; and by the Diet, Cloathing, Occupation, and Exerciſe peculiar to each Individual; they are all Objects of PRACTICE. Hence it is not to be wondered at, if the Alterations made in our State of HEALTH, ſhould be as different, as are the Cauſes they may ariſe from; or that the ſame Diſeaſes ſhould be more or leſs frequent in ſome Places, than they are in others; and even that they ſhould be ſometimes widely different in the ſame Places, according to their various Cauſes, and the Conſtitutions they affect. This Diverſity in the Symptoms, and Degrees of Violence, by which Diſeaſes are diſtinguiſhed, muſt neceſſarily require the utmoſt Attention of the PHYSICIAN, in his Management of them; and it muſt be very evident, from theſe Conſiderations, that no one Method of CURE can poſſibly be framed, ſo general or comprehenſive, as to ſuit every Climate; nor even the ſame Diſeaſe in every CASE, in the ſame Climate. We ſhall in general obſerve upon this Head, that a thorough Knowledge of ANATOMY; and of the ANIMAL OECONOMY, according to the lateſt Diſcoveries, and moſt approved THEORIES; a competent Acquaintance with the Powers and Effects of DRUGS; and a diligent Study of the beſt ancient and modern MEDICAL WRITERS, improv'd by his own Experience and Obſervations, ſhould be the Buſineſs of every PHYSICIAN; and are the eſſential Requiſites, to a ſafe and happy Practice.

A PHYSICIAN ought alſo to be well acquainted with the Operations of SURGERY: And to underſtand both the THEORY and MANUAL PART of MIDWIFRY; tho' he may not incline to practice either the one, or the other. How neceſſary ſuch Accompliſhments are every where, eſpecially in this infant Country; how conducive they are to the Increaſe and Welfare of our fellow Citizens; and how imprudent it is, to permit any one to practice theſe Arts of SURGERY and MIDWIFRY, without previous Examinations, or having public Teſtimonials of their Abilities, muſt be obvious to every one. A Practitioner ought to know how to act, as well as to adviſe: And in Caſe of Neceſſity, to aſſiſt in, or even perform every Operation needful for the Relief, or Preſervation of thoſe who have placed their whole Confidence in him; or are otherwiſe committed to his Care.

From this general View of the Profeſſion of MEDICINE; how amazing and unaccountable is it, that Men of Senſe and Reflection, ſhould truſt that greateſt of all Bleſſings, HEALTH, in the Hands of Preſumptuous and daring Empyrics; who not only are ignorant, of the above mention'd moſt eſſential Principles to a conſcientious Practitioner; but even of the particular Qualities of thoſe very Noſtrums, they vaunt of? The Learned ROLLIN obſerves, that judicious and experienced PHYSICIANS deſerve to be highly recompenſed and diſtinguiſhed; ſince all their Labours, Lucubrations, and Watchings, are devoted to Peoples HEALTH; which of all human Bleſſings, is the deareſt and moſt valuable; And yet, ſays he, ſo careleſs are Mankind of this Bleſſing, that thro' a blind Credulity, they fooliſhly entruſt it with Perſons of no Skill, or Experience, who im • oſe upon them by their Impudence and Preſumption, or ſeduce them by their flattering Aſſurances of an infallible Recovery.Palam eſt, ut quiſque inter iſtos loquendo polleat, Imperator • m illico VITAE noſtrae, N • CIS que fieri.

The State of HEALTH, was by the Ancients believed to have ſuch Influence, upon the Faculties of the Mind, that according to PLATO'S Opinion, an infirm Conſtitution is an Obſtacle to the Practice of Virtue; becauſe it makes People imagine themſelves always • ick, and to mind nothing but their own frail Carcaſes. When the Body is in Pain, ſays another PHILOSOPHER, the Mind has no Reliſh for the Exerciſe of Virtue; But HEALTH enlarges the Soul. We are told in the Book of JOB, that all which a Man hath will • e give for his Life; but it might with equal Juſtice be ſaid, that all which a Man hath, will he give for HEALTH: For many are the Inſtances, in all Ages, and in all Countries, of Men who have ſacrificed LIFE itſelf, at the Shrine of HEALTH, and anticipated the Time of their Departure for that "Peaceful SHORE, Where Billows never break, nor Tempeſts rore." GARTH. rather than p • otract it, without HEALTH. Should the Proffer be made to us, of long LIFE loaded with Infirmities, and the perpetually devoted Prey to painful, and loathſome Diſeaſes: Who is that Mortal ſo timid, or ſuch an abject Slave to the Fears of Death, as to make the Purchaſe by a ſingle Wiſh, upon ſuch humiliating Terms? Who would not rather ardently ſupplicate, a Releaſe from ſuch a wretched Exiſtence, than thus drag out a Being, tireſome to himſelf, burthenſome to his Friends, and nauſeous to his Family? While perhaps his ſingle Petition for Length of Days, is oppoſed by the fervent Prayers of Multitudes, for his ſpeedy Exit, and their happy Deliverance from ſuch a diſguſting Maſs of Miſery? Let thoſe, whoſe Patience has been tried by Sickneſs, whoſe Bodies have felt the rude Attacks of that MONITOR of MORTALITY, recall to Mind, the high Valuation they put upon HEALTH, and their eager Longings after it, while the Scourge of Diſeaſe, or Rage of Pain was upon them. Let them reflect, how much they prized that firm Friend in Adverſity, that faithful Comforter in every Calamity, whenever it has been loſt to them. How feelingly will they then acknowledge, that the Bleſſings of HEALTH are indeed ineſtimable! —QUEEN OF EVERY JOY! Says ARMSTRONG. Without thy cheerful, active ENERGY, No Rapture ſwells the Breaſt, no POET ſings; No more the MAIDS of HELICON delight. Who would not rather embrace Poverty, with HEALTH; than either Grandeur or Riches with DISEASE? Every Enjoyment of Life, is inſipid, without HEALTH. It may be added, that every Man, beſides the Motives which particularly reſpect himſelf, is concerned as a Member of Society, to take Care of his HEALTH; to enable him to diſcharge the Duties of his Station. If HEALTH then is ſo much preferable to every other earthly Bleſſing, and gives the only true Reliſh, for every ſocial Enjoyment; how ought we to prize that ART, by Means of which this invaluable BOON is preſerved; or recovered to us, when injured, or deſtroyed?

I ſhall conclude this Argument with the ingenious DR. GARTH'S Addreſs to HEALTH.

When it is conſidered, how extenſive this SCIENCE is, how many, and how various are its Objects; can we poſſibly imagine it to be ſuch a mean Acquiſition, ſuch an eaſy Attainment, as to be within the Reach of every needy Trader in PHYSIC, or mercenary Patcher of Cures? Can we ſuppoſe, that a Releaſe from the Importunities of Pain; a Reprieve from the Horrors of the Grave; and a Reſtitution to the Bleſſings of HEALTH, are ſuch contemptible Endowments, as to be in the Gift of every Adventurer, who takes upon himſelf to preſcribe Medicines, or to tamper with the Lives of Citizens, as uſeful to the Community, as his own is perhaps baneful and pernicious? Equally preſumptuous would it be in any one, to charge himſelf with the Guidance of a Ship in a Storm, while he wa • ignorant of the Uſe of the Mariner's Compaſs, and of all her other neceſſary Apparel, for the Purpoſes of Navigation. Yet ſuch too often is the Infatuation of Mankind, that tho' they ſee, and even acknowlege the Inconſiſtency of this Conduct, they indolently ſubmit to the Deceit; and continue to truſt their ALL to ſuch Pilots. The vulgar Excuſe for the whole Tribe of IMPOSTORS, whether Medical, or of any other Denomination, is well known;—if People will be deceived, ſay they, let them Si Populus v • lt decipi, decipiatur.: Such TENETS very o • viouſly ſuit ſome Characters amongſt us; and while the Cheat is confined to our Money, we may pay that, and perhaps the additional Tribute of being laughed at: But when LIFE comes to be the Object at Stake; and perhaps the Well-being, or Exiſtence of a Family dependant upon that LIEE, the Scene then becomes ſerious; Impoſition here is horrible; and no Neceſſity, however painful, can palliate, under theſe Circumſtances, ſo illiberal and diſhoneſt a Maxim. Yet many, too many, are the Inſtances, even in this Place, of Men otherwiſe valuable for their Penetration and Good Senſe, who have given up their own Judgments, to the Opinions of the credulous Vulgar; and joining in the Belief of Noſtrums or ſecret Cures, have countenanced, and even employed the moſt obſcure and ſuperficial Traders in PHYSIC: While the Practitioner of Modeſty and real Merit, conſcious of his own Integrity and Knowledge, and ſcorning the little Arts of ſuch licenſed Free-booters, and ſecret Homicides, or to ſtoop to the unreaſonable Humours or Petulance of every Employer, has often ha • very circumſcribed Practice; or has been abandoned, in Favour of ſome ignorant or mercenary Sycophant. This Conduct in ſuch Men, will ever diſcourage genuine Worth, and the Purſuit of farther Diſcoveries in that uſeful Profeſſion; which in all Times, and among all polite Nations, has ever been eſteemed HONOURABLE, and worthy of Men of the firſt Rank and Learning.

Such being the State of PHYSIC here, what Wonder is it that this CITY ſhould be peſtered in ſo remarkable a Manner, with the needy Outcaſts of other Places, in the Character of Doctors; or that this Profeſſion, of all others, ſhould be the Receptacle and Common Reſource for the Refuſe of every other Trade and Employment? The Wonder indeed is, that we ſhould be ſuch Dupes to their Effrontery, as to employ them, or buy their pernicious Compoſitions; not that they ſhould frequent ſo beneficial a Market. So amazingly eaſy of Belief are ſome People in theſe Miracle-Mongers, that, as if there was ſomething creative in the Name of DOCTOR, ſeldom any other Teſt of their Skill is required, than their aſſuming that Title: So that this Appellation, with a competent Preſence of Mind, and a String of ready coined • ures, carefully propagated by ſuch as find their Account in carrying on the Cheat, have ſeldom failed of procuring Traffic in NEW-YORK. We are told that the Univerſity of TURIN forbids Itinerant Doctors, to vend Medicines, without a LICENCE from the PROFESSORS of PHYSIC, under Pain of Death.

We here acknowledge with grateful Reſpect to the LEGISLATURE of this Province, that in Conſequence of an Application ſome few Years ago made to them for that Purpoſe, they readily paſſed an ACT for preventing the pernicious, and often fatal Practices of itinerant Quacks in this CITY! But this ACT, tho' well meant, and truly commendable ſo far as it operates, is evidently inadequate to remedy all the Miſchiefs then complain'd of; and much leſs is it calculated to remove the many others Diſadvantages, which the Profeſſion ſtill labours under, from other Sources. However, from theſe Beginnings, let us hope that this infant INSTITUTION, once raiſed by the kind and foſtering Hands of the g • nerous FRIENDS of SCIENCE; eſpecially ſuch GENTLEMEN as happily have experienced in themſelves, the Benefit and Uſefulneſs of a liberal Education; and cheriſh'd by the more benign Rays of public Favour, will ſoon be the happy Means of obviating all ſuch Reproaches for the future, both againſt this CITY, and the GENTLEMEN of this FACULTY who ſhall practiſe in it. The Uncertainty of forming an adequate Opinion, of the Abilities and Judgment of ſuch as ſhall henceforth practiſe the HEALING ART among • us, and which has been ſo frequently and juſtly complained of, will now be effectually removed. Every Honour, every Mark or Title of Diſtinction, every Reward of Merit which the moſt celebrated UNIVERSITIES or COLLEGES in Europe can beſtow, may be obtain'd alſo in this COLLEGE; by ſuch Candidates as, by a profitable Application to their Studies, a diligent Attendance upon the Lectures in the different Branches of Medicine and a due Proficiency in Medical Knowledge; ſhall, upon proper and public Examinations, appear to deſerve them.

Before I diſmiſs this Subject, permit me to add ſome few Thoughts upon the relative Duties of PUPILS, PATIENTS, and PHYSICIANS.

No PUPIL ought to apply himſelf to the Study of PHYSIC, till he has previouſly laid the Foundation, in a competent Knowledge of CLASSICAL LEARNING, and ſome general Acquaintance with the MATHEMATICKS, and NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. No Expence ought to be put in Balance with the Acquiſition of every neceſſary Branch of Inſtruction, to inſure a ſucceſsful Practice. He, who conſiders how he may go the cheapeſt Way to Work, too often purchaſes the Name, for the Reality; the Shadow for the Subſt • nce: A candid and curſory View of the eſtabliſhed Practitioners here, and in the Country around, will ſoon convince the moſt incredulous, of the Truth of this Obſervation. As it may be preſumed that no PUPIL puts himſelf under the Tuition of a Maſter, but from a Conviction of his Experience and ſuperior Underſtanding; he ought therefore to conſider himſelf as at all Times accountable to his TUTOR in this SCIENCE, not only for the Progreſs he makes in his Studies; but alſo for every other Part of his Conduct, that can influence his Morals, or affect his Reputation: And to behave to him on all Occaſions, with that Attention and Deference due to a temporary FATHER. He ought indeed to extend this Reſpect and Obſervance, to all in the Character of MEDICAL MASTERS, tho' not immediately his own; in Order to conciliate to himſelf the Friendſhip and good Offices of every eſtabliſhed Practitioner, who can any Way contribute to his Inſtruction and Improvement, by Precept or Example.

It may appear oſtentatious, to give Inſtructions how a PATIENT ought to behave, with Reſpect to his PHYSICIAN: But when it is conſidered, that both are only as Aſſiſtants, contributing their mutual Endeavours to relieve or ſupport Nature, as the Principal; and that the Reputation of the PHYSICIAN often ſuffers by the Indiſcretion or Obſtinacy of the PATIENT; ſome Advice on that Head may not be altogether improper. I ſhall now only obſerve, that a PATIENT ought to be extremely cautious to whom he commits the Care of his HEALTH; but when he has once fix'd upon this his Friend and Counſellor in Diſtreſs, he ought to receive his Viſits with that warm Welcome, and his Advice with that Deference and implicit Obedience, becoming the Importance of the Truſt repoſed in him. A Want of Confidence in the PATIENT, naturally begets Diſguſt or Neglect in the PHYSICIAN; and it muſt ever be diſadvantageous, and ſometimes hazardous for Valetudinarians to change the PHYSICIAN, who has ſtudied their Conſtitutions, in all their Peculiarities; for one who is an intire Stranger to them. It is for this Reaſon, that among PHYSICIANS of equal Merit, CELSUS adviſes to prefer the FRIENDIdeo-qu • cum par Scientia fit, utiliorem, tam • n MEDICUM e •• e AMICUM, q • am Extraneum. . A PHYSICIAN cannot be ſp • nſible either for his Advice or Preſcriptions, unleſs, not only the Patient, but the Perſons alſo about him, religiouſly obſerve his Directions. Tho' the Lot of Mortality is ſuch, that the beſt PHYSICIAN cannot always be ſucceſsful; yet even when he fails of his Expectations, his Care and aſſiduous Endeavours to reſtore Health, ought at leaſt to be remembered with Gratitude. But when he happily obtains his Purpoſe; when the late languiſhing Patient, is at laſt ſnatched from the Graſp of the Grim Tyrant, and relieved from the Loathſomeneſs of a Sick Bed; a Retroſpect of that dreary and perillous Gulp • he has juſt paſſed, compared with the joyous Senſations of HEALTH regained, ſhould be the Meaſure of his Return for Services performed, and now no longer wanted.

Manifold and important are the Duties of the PHYSICIAN. Every PRACTITIONER who charges himſelf with the Inſtruction of Youth, ſhould be cautious of ſetting them any Example, he would not wiſh them to follow. He ought to conceal Nothing from them in the Way of his Buſineſs, which it imports them to know; unleſs where his own Honour is engaged to keep it ſecret. He ſhould always readily and with Complacence anſwer their Queſtions, and ſolve ſuch Doubts as occur in their Reading, or in the Courſe of his Practice; and in Terms ſuited to their Underſtandings. He ought ſo to watch over their Studies and Conduct, as well knowing that the Succeſs or Reputation of the Pupil in Life, may ultimately reflect Honour or Reproach upon the MASTER. A PHYSICIAN ought to viſit his Patients frequently; and to be minutely attentive to every Thing reſpecting them, by which their HEALTH may be affected. He ought to be patient to bear; and never aſhamed of informing himſelf, even by the meaneſt People, of Remedies confirmed by Experience. Let it be remembered alſo by the PHYSICIAN who does not adminiſter his own Medicines, that according to the STATUTES of the COLLEGE of SALERNUM, he ought to be obliged to ſwear, that he ſhall have no Share of Gains with the Apothecary; as the Apothecary, by the ſame STATUTES, was to take an Oath, that he would make up his Medicines faithfully, according to the Preſcriptions given him. A prudent PHYSICIAN will never preſumptuouſly warrant the Succeſs of his Preſcriptions; as Experience muſt have taught him, that the minuteſt Circumſtances will cauſe a Variation in the Diſtemper, either as to Danger or Duration. He ought to be decent in his Appearance; diſcreet in his Manners; cautious in his Expreſſions; modeſt and circumſpect in his Queſtions to his Patients; many of which may often with greater Propriety be propoſed to their Attendants. He ſhould be moderate in all his Actions; yet always ready to do his Duty, without diſconcerting himſelf. He ought to be humane, and compaſſionate; no Talebearer, but ſecret; no rude Dogmatiſt, but affable and polite: In ſhort, all the Qualifications of the HEAD and HEART, becoming the Character of a GENTLEMAN, are indiſpenſably required to conſtitute the PHYSICIAN of Merit, who would ſecure the Eſteem of his Patients, do Honour to himſelf, or Support the Dignity of his Profeſſion. If it is commendable in him to collect Information from every one; he cannot ſurely, when conſiſtent with the Duty he owes himſelf, refuſe to conſult with other reſpectable Practitioners, in every Caſe of Sickneſs, upon what can be done for the Benefit of the Patient. As the humane PHYSICIAN prefers the Welfare of his Patient, and his own Succeſs in Practice, to every Conſideration which Pride or Avarice can ſuggeſt; he will not only with Alacrity join in ſuch CONSULTATIONS, when requeſted to it, but ſolicit them occaſionally, as an Indulgence and Relief to himſelf: Whereas a contrary Conduct can only proceed from ſordid Motives, or the Dread of having his Ignorance or Mal-Practice expoſed, to thoſe who only can judge of them. He ought to be extremely cautious of decrying the Advice or Opinions of others, either by open Cenſure, or private Innuend • s: The former too often proceeds from Ruſticity of Manners; the latter always from intereſted Views, or a diſhoneſt Heart. But the ſignificant Shrug, the ſolemn Shake of the H • ad, the affected Stare of Surprize, the ſtudied Silence of ill diſſembled Doubts; in ſhort, the inſidious Show of good Nature, the ſubtle and deſigning Delicacy of thoſe, who— Willing to wound, but yet afraid to ſtrike, Juſt hint a Fault, and heſitate Diſlike; POPE. are the mean ARTS of needy Pilferers of Fame, and of Spirits poor indeed. To vaunt of extraordinary Cures, before ſuch as are not competent Judges, or incapable of inquiring into the Circumſtances of them, may juſtly render the Belief of them at leaſt doubtful. An Oſtentation of LEARNING in common Diſcourſe, even when his Profeſſion is the Subject, is not always a Proof of it; on the contrary, to be unable to convey his Sentiments, without having Recourſe to numerous Terms of Art, is generally a Proof of contracted Ideas, and a narrow Underſtanding. The Man of real Knowledge is generally modeſt, often diffident, always eaſy and happy in his Choice of Words, and never loquacious: While the ſelf-ſufficient Pretender, like the babbling ſhallow STREAM, is ever noiſy, froward, and petulant. A PHYSICIAN ought frequently to reviſe the different Subjects even of his youthful STUDIES, in order to run off the Ruſt of Memory, and render him more habile in Argument, as well as clear and diſtinct in Conſultations. Every Book upon the Subject of Medicine, which affords good Obſervations in Practice, which gives a Deſcription of any new Diſtemper, or a new Method of Cure in an old One, or ſome remarkable Caſe, deſerves to be looked into, by thoſe who would make the proper Advantage of other Men's Experience. Perhaps it would be no abſolute Paradox, to ſay with the learned DR. FRIEND, that a very indifferent Performance in PHYSIC, may now and then at leaſt be worth the cur ••• y Peruſal of a PHYSICIAN; both as it employs his Thoughts his own Way; and as it muſt, in the Courſe of Reading, give him conſtant Hints, how far, and in what Manner, this or that Particular relating to THEORY or MEDICINE may be improved: And even ſometimes might ſtart an Occaſion, of ſtriking out Something new of his own.

One Thing more is ſeriouſly recommended to thoſe Gentlemen in Practice, whoſe Judgment and Experience in the Diſeaſes of this Country, may have enabled them to undertake the Taſk: That they would not only ſtudy and improve upon the Obſervations of thoſe who have gone before them, but alſo collect others for their own Uſe, and the Benefit of their Succeſſors. The various Changes which are continually happening in the State of PHYSICK, make this neceſſary. For there are many Diſeaſes now exiſting, which were intirely unknown to the Ancients: The Names both of Diſeaſes and Drugs, by Cuſtom, are differently applied; Improvements and Diſcoveries are daily made; Medicines in the higheſt Reputation at one Time, are laid aſide, and other ſubſtituted in their Place; and the Forms and Manners of uſing thoſe retained, are perpetually diverſified. Beſides, the PHYSICIANS of this Country have ſtill more forcible Reaſons, for imparting to the World, ſuch Medical Remarks as may ſeem inſtructive or uncommon: For our Climate, Way of Living, and other Circumſtances, which ought always to be regarded in the Treatment of Diſeaſes, are ſo very different from thoſe of the Countries, whence the moſt uſeful and judicious Obſervations are tranſmitte • to us; that the young Practitioners of this Continent muſt be under the greateſt Difficulties, to accommodate thoſe foreign Obſervations, by which they muſt neceſſarily at firſt be directed, to the Conſtitutions and Complaints of their Country Men. Such a Collection would not only tend to the Benefit of Mankind in general, but would greatly redound alſo to the Honour of the Profeſſion in America.

As there are many ingenious Men, who may have neither Leiſure nor Inclination to appear in Print, and much leſs to write a Volume, who yet could communicate very uſeful Obſervations, if they had an Opportunity of doing it in a conciſe Treatiſe, and without Trouble; therefore it is juſtly remarked, that Nothing has of late Years ſo much contributed to the Advancement of Learning in general, and to the Improving of this Profeſſion in particular, as the Inſtitution of SOCIETIES, or thoſe well regulated ASSOCIATIONS of GENTLEMEN, who collect, examine, and publiſh whatever inſtructive Remarks or Eſſays are laid before them, according to their ſeveral Merits. Beſides, there are ſome other particular Advantages, reſulting from MEDICAL SOCIETIES to PRACTITIONERS themſelves, as well as to young STUDENTS, and the PUBLIC. For there, different Opinions and Modes of Practice are examined; Experiments are there directed, or critically weighed, and applied: Dangerous and extraordinary Caſes are frequently ſtated and conſidered, in ſuch SOCIETIES: And there Advice is aſked and given, with that Openeſs and mutual Confidence becoming FRIENDS, not leſs zealous for the Honour of their Profeſſion, than attentive to the Reputation of each other: While every Member chearfully contributes his Aſſiſtance, to the Recovery or Relief of ſuch Patients, as are the Subjects of theſe CONSULTATIONS. And permit me to add, as one of many Inſtances of the Utility of theſe SOCIETIES, that whatever Merit there is in this preſent INSTITUTION, it was firſt planned and concluded upon, in a MEDICAL SOCIETY now ſubſiſting in this Place; and MAY IT LONG SUBSIST.

The following Anecdotes were inadvertently omitted, till that Part of the Impreſſion, which treats of the State of MEDICINE among the Romans, was caſt off. But as I cannot in Juſtice to my Subject, paſs over a Piece of Hiſtory, which does ſo much Honour to the PROFESSION, I muſt beg Leave to give it here more at large, though it has already in Part been noticed.

Whatever Diſcouragements this SCIENCE laboured under, in the Time of the Roman Republick; they were amply compenſated by the Honours conferred upon the FACULTY, by moſt of their Emperors. The Title of ARCHIATER is found in ſeveral Roman Laws, and in old Authors: Some interpret it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Princeps Medicorum, or CHIEF of PHYSICIANS: Others explain it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Imperatoris Medicus, or PHYSICIAN to the PRINCE; becauſe we read of no ARCHIATRI before the Days of the Roman Emperors: The firſt Interpretation is preferable, becauſe we read of Theon and Glaucus, ARCHIATRI of Alexandria; and of Cyrus ARCHIATER of Edeſſa, tho' there were then no Sovereign Princes in theſe Cities. We find ARCHIATRI alſo in Conſtantinople, and in their Provinces of the Eaſt, as well as at Rome; for Oribaſius tells us, that Julian aſſembled all the ARCHIATRI of the Country, and ſelected 72 of thoſe he thought moſt learned; of which Number Oribaſius himſelf was one. The 14 PHYSICIANS appointed to attend the Sick, in the 14 different Wards of Rome, were called ARCHIATRI: They had Salaries from the Prince, and viſited all Roman Subjects, whither Rich or Poor, without Fees; except what the Patient's Generoſity ſhould prompt him to beſtow, after he was cured: They enjoyed certain Immunities, which could not be claimed by other Subjects; as, that they, with their Wives and Children, were exempted from all the Taxes and Burdens of the State; that ſuch as reſided in the Provinces were not obliged to quarter Soldiers, or any other Perſons; that they could not be taken Priſoners, or dragged to the Bar; nor obliged to make a perſonal Appearance before the Judge; and that none might inſult them, without incurring the ſevereſt Penalties. The LAW which ordains this, ſeems to extend theſe Privileges to all the PHYSICIANS of the Empire; but a ſubſequent LAW reſtrains them to the ARCHIATRI of Rome.

The ARCHIATRI both of Rome and Conſtantinople were divided into two Claſſes: The Firſt were called ARCHIATRI SACRI PALATII INTRA PENETRALIA REGALIS AULAE FLORENTES, or CHIEF PHYSICIANS who compoſed Part of the Princes private Family; and who were always employed about his Perſon and Court. The others were thoſe of the City and Country, called ARCHIATRI POPULARES; who attended the Inhabitants in general, or whoever would employ them. The ARCHIATRI of the PALACE were again divided into two Ranks, called COMITES ARCHIATRORUM SACRI PALATII of the firſt or ſecond Rank; according to the Degree of Confidence repoſed by the Prince in their Skill and Abilities. Thoſe of the firſt Rank were equal in Dignity to their Vicarii and Duces, and addreſſed by the Epithet (ſpectabilis) RESPECTABLE; they were by their Office, COMITES CONSISTORII, or COUNSELLORS of STATE; and were next in Honour to the (illuſtres) ILLUSTRIOUS, or firſt Officers of the Empire. Theſe COMITES always attended the Emperor's Perſon, whence is derived the NameCOMES, a comm • ando, or comitando; and is the Latin Word to expreſs • he Title of EAR • in Britain, of COUN • in Italy and France, and of GRA •• 〈◊〉 Germany. ; and being intruſted with the Care of his Health, they had Acceſs to him at all Times. The ARCHIATRI POPULARES were alſo divided into two Claſſes: The firſt was of thoſe appointed to reſide in provincial Cities and Towns, in Proportion to their Extent, and Number of Inhabitants: The other Claſs was of ſuch, as having been examined agreeable to the LAWS, had been newly admitted into that Order.

This Office of SOVEREIGN PHYSICIAN muſt have been inſtituted under the firſt Emperors: The Title of ARCHIATER, firſt uſed by Andromachus, PHYSICIAN to Nero, is of the ſame Import. An ancient Inſcription mentions a PRESIDENT of PHYSICIANS (Superpoſitus Medicorum) in the Time of Veſpaſian. We read of ſeveral ARCHIATR • in the ſucceeding Reigns: And in the 4th Century, Vindicianus, in a Letter to Valentinian, ſtiles himſelf COMES ARCHIATRORUM. We find in Galen, that the Temple of P •••• was at firſt, the uſual Place of Reſort for all the STUDIOUS and LEARNED, where PHYSICIANS too depoſited their Books, as in a Place of Safety; till it was deſtroyed by Fire. In the Atheneum, a COLLEGE built by Adrian expreſsly for the Advancement of the ARTS and SCIENCES, PHYSICIANS had their Places of Meeting: The Emperor Severus alſo aſſigned them particular Chambers or Apartments; after which, we read of their SECRETARIES and LIBRARIANS. But under the later Emperors, there was a COLLEGE of ARCHIATRI, compoſed of a certain Number of PHYSICIANS, who took their Places, according to the Dates of their Admiſſion; ſo that when any of them died, the Perſon choſen to ſucceed, was loweſt of all. This COLLEGE judged of the Capacity of Candidates, and choſe, or rejected them accordingly; and the Emperors always confirmed thoſe who were elected. This is probably that SCHOOL of PHYSICIANS, in the Quarter of Rome called Eſquilia, which according to Mercurialis, was ornamented with many fine Statues.

After the Subverſion of the Roman Empire in Italy, the Gothic Kings introduced a great Change in this MEDICAL DIGNITY; for inſtead of ſeveral COMITES, they appointed one COMES ARCHIATRORUM, or SOVEREIGN PHYSICIAN, who had a certain Juriſdiction over all of that Denomination, and over all the PHYSICIANS of the State. The Powers of this NOBLE ARCHIATER were very extenſive; as we learn from a Clauſe in the FORMULA of his Inſtallment; preſerved by Caſſiodorus, Secretary to Theodoric in the 6th Century, viz. Henceforth we confer upon you, the Dignity of COMES of the ARCHIATRI, that you may ALONE be diſtinguiſhed among the GUARDIANS of HEALTH; and that all who ſhall have Diſputes reſpecting MEDICINE, may ſubmit to your Determination. Be thou the ARBITER of this SACRED ART, and the ſole JUDGE of thoſe Controverſies, which were formerly decided by Caprice or Prejudice. You will in Effect cure the Sick, by putting an End to thoſe Conteſts, which are injurious to them. GREAT is your DIGNITY, to rule and direct Men of Learning and Skill; and to be HONOURED by thoſe, who themſelves are HONOURABLE in the Eyes of all. After the 6th Century, the Deſtruction of BOOKS by the northern Barbarians, involved MEDICINE and the other SCIENCES in the ſame Fate. Some Veſtiges of them, during this Eclipſe of Learning, were probably preſerved at Salernum; for we find different Praeceptors eſtabliſhed there, about the End of the 8th Century. May not the illuſtrious and noble NAME of DE MEDICIS, be originally derived from the DIGNIFIED PHYSICIANS above mentioned; or from ſuch as had formerly followed this PROFESSION? We find James de Medicis PRESIDENT of a Council at Orvietto, in the Year 1030: Anſelmo de Medicis defended Alexandria againſt the Emperor Friderick ••• baroſſa, in 1162: And there is a Marble Monument erected in a Church of Florence, to Anthony de Medicis, ſecond Son of the Grand Duke, who in the 17th Century practiſed PHYSICK there, with great Reputation.

With Reſpect to this OFFICE of ARCHIATER, we ſhall farther obſerve, that it was an early Inſtitution among the Franks; for we find in a cotemporary Author, that Marileifus was CHIEF of PHYCIANS to Chilperic, in the 6th Century: And other Writers tell us, that it thereafter was endowed with great Privileges; as, that he had Acceſs to the KING at all Times, even when in Bed; that he ranked with, and wore the ſame Robes as a COUNSELLOR of STATE; that he ſuperintended the King's Baths, and licenſed all Mineral Springs; that he had 8 Subſtitutes who attended the Court by Turns, and who viſited thoſe who had been, or were to be touched for the King's Evil; and that he was every where treated by all of the FACULTY, with the Reſpect due to a SUPERIOR. Monſ. Bourdelot is deſigned COUNSELLOR and PHYSICIAN in ORDINARY to Lewis the GREAT.

Both the Office and Title of ARCHIATER have been inſtituted • n Muſcovy: He is CHIEF PHYSICIAN to the Court, and of all the Ruſſia's; with the Powers of conferring Degrees in MEDICINE, and of licenſing APOTHECARIES. This DIGNITY was very lately enjoyed by a Native of Great Britain, who reſided long in Ruſſia.

It would be unneceſſary to enlarge upon the many HONOURS and REWARDS beſtowed upon MEDICAL MERIT, in the other Kingdoms of Europe. The ESTIMATION this SCIENCE is every where held in, may generally be judged of, by that of the other Branches of USEFUL and POLITE LEARNING.

I ſhall now conclude, with my warmeſt and moſt ſincere Wiſhes for the laſting Proſperity of this COLLEGE; for the Happineſs of all who are any Ways intereſted in its Welfare and Reputation, whether diſtinguiſh'd as GOVERNORS, TEACHERS, PUPILS, or FRIENDS: And more particularly for the Succeſs of this preſent INSTITUTION; that it may prove an ORNAMENT to this CITY, an HONOUR to the COUNTRY, and the NURSERY of MEN of GENIUS, whoſe Labours, ever uſeful, ſhall be tranſmitted with undiminiſhed Praiſe, to the lateſt Times, in the Records of LITERATURE, and Annals of PHYSICK: Whoſe Pride it ſhall be, to have been formed to SCIENCE within theſe WALLS; and whoſe Names ſhall receive additional Luſtre, from the wide—extended Fame, and merited Renown of this UNIVERSITY.