Volume 1

An address to the publick: containing narratives of the effects of certain chemical remedies in most diseases. Particularly exemplified in the histories of various cases, both medical and chirurgical; attested by the patients themselves, or by their friends ... To which is prefixed, a preface, giving an account of the uses and operations of these particular remedies ... / By Cromwell Mortimer, M.D.

  • Mortimer, Cromwell, -1752.
Date:
1745
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An address to the publick: containing narratives of the effects of certain chemical remedies in most diseases. Particularly exemplified in the histories of various cases, both medical and chirurgical; attested by the patients themselves, or by their friends ... To which is prefixed, a preface, giving an account of the uses and operations of these particular remedies ... / By Cromwell Mortimer, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/142
    ingenious Mr. Chambers too frequently takes Place ,* Thofe of the Phyfcians (fays he) [I fhouid rather have faid, the Pra¬ ctitioners above-mentioned] fervilely attached to the Train and Methods [in Vogue]-voe allknowy have been ever forward to treat thofe, who think more freely, and are lefs fiifly devoted to Cuflom-y and the reigning Practice or Mode, as Em pi ricks, Charletans, and Quacks (a). The introducing new Medicines has always met with Oppofition: How remarkable an Inftance of this was the Peruvian Barky which is now become one of the main Pillars of our modern PraCtice. Whatever others may think of the State of Medical Learn- ingy I am perfuaded there is a large Field of Knowlege ft ill undifcovered. Who can fay, that Phyfick is yet brought to Perfection ? The moft skilful Phyficians muft own how often the Medicines now in Ufe fail of their defired EffeCt; and that the Science and Art of Phyfick is capable of being daily im¬ proved by new Difcoveries, either in the Animal Oeconomy, the Nature of Difempers, or the Effects of Medicines. Hip¬ pocrates gives us an Hint which may be aptly taken in this Senfe, That our Art is fo long or extenfive, that Life is too foort to attain to Perfection in it (b) : And elfewhere he tells us. He was not yet arrived to the End of Phyficky altho he was an old Man} neither was .CEsculapius, the very Inventor of it (c). I think it therefore incumbent on every Phyfician, to endeavour to augment his own Skill, either by Obfervation, by Reading, or by the InftruCtions of others j and if by any means he is fo happy, as to acquire the Knowledge of any Medicines more efficacious than thofe in common Ufe, it is his Duty to recommend them to fuch, as intruft the Prefer- vation or Recovery of their Health to his Care. I am thoroughly aware of the general Exclamation in this prefent Age againft Arcana or Secrets; but let me ask the Queffion, Would any prudent Man refufe the Knowledge of a thing, which might be of Service to himfelf, or his Neigh¬ bour, merely becaufe the Perfon, who communicates it, thinks proper to do it on the Condition of Secrecy ? Or fhouid any good Man rejedt the Means of doing Good, becaufe he has not Commiffion to make that Difcovery of his Methods, which publick Curiofity or Cenfure may expeCt ? (a) Chambers's Di£tionary under the Word Empiriak, (b) Hipp. Aph. I. (cj In Epift, ad Denucrit, In