[Domestic medicine].

  • Buchan William, 1729-1805.
Date:
[1786+]
    i * INTRODUCTION. nnawcd by authority, and unbiafled by intereft., they would canvafs with freedom the moft uni-- verfally received principles in Medicine, and ex.- pofe the uncertainty of many of thofe doctrines, o i which a phyfician dares not fo much as feem tc. doubt. No argument, continues he, can be brough againft laying open Medicine, which does no apply with equal, if not greater force, to religion yet experience has fliewn, that fince the laity hav.. afferted their right of enquiry into thefe fubjeds^ Theology, conlidered as a fcience, has been im proved, the interefts of real religion have been promoted, and the clergy have become a mor learned, a more ufeful, and a more refpeflabl body of men, than they ever were in the days co their greateft power and fplendor. Had other medical writers been as honed as this gentleman, the art had been upon a ver: different footing at this day. Moft of them extc the merit of thofe men who brought Philofoph. out of the fchools, and made it the fcience of mar. kind. But they never confider that Medicine prelent is in nearly the fame lituation as Philofc. phy was at that time, and that it might be as muc improved by being treated in the fame mannet Indeed, no fcience can either be rendered ration or ufeful, but by being fubmkted to the commco fenfe and reafon of mankind. Thefe alone ftam a value upon fcience; and what will not bear tl tsft of thefe, ought to be rejeded. I KNOT 2
    i-' \ \ I KNOW it will be faid, that difFufing medical knowledge among the people, might induce them to tamper with medicine, and to trufl: to their own Ikill inftead of calling a phyfician. The reverfe of this, however, is true. Perfons who have moft knowledge in thefe matters, are commonly moft ready both to alk and follow advice, when it is neceflary. The ignorant are always moft apt to tamper with Medicine, and have the leaft confi- dence in phyficians. Inftances of this are daily to be met with among' the ignorant peafants, who, while they ablblutely refufe to take a medi- cine which has been prefcribed by a phyfician, will fwallow, with greedinefs, any thing that is recommended to them by their credulous neigh- bours. Where men will aft even without know- ledge, it is certainly more rational to afford them all the light we can, than to leave them intirely in the dark. It will alfo be alledged, that laying Medicine more open to mankind would leffen their faith in it. This would indeed be the cafe with reg-ard to fome ? O individuals j but it would have a quite contrary effeft upon others. I know many people who have the utmoft dread and horror of every thing prefcribed by a phyfician, but who will, neverthe- lefs, very readily take a medicine which they know, and whofe qualities they are in fome mea- fure acquainted with. Hence it is evident, that the dread arifes from the doftor, not from the b 2 drug.
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image