A treatise, on the mineral waters, of Harrogate : containing the history of these waters, their chemical analysis, medicinal properties, and plain directions for their use / by Thomas Garnett.

Thomas Garnett

Date:: 1799

Credit: A treatise, on the mineral waters, of Harrogate : containing the history of these waters, their chemical analysis, medicinal properties, and plain directions for their use / by Thomas Garnett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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$Xit. PREFACE. it would bo rash to attempt without a previous know- ledge of their properties and composition. Mere expe- rience •will never make a phyfician; and a perjon who plumes himjelf upon the experience of a century, if he be not guided by the torch of fcience, is in the fame fit nation as a blind man, who is acquainted with one track, which, by long habit, he can walk over with eafe, nay, perhaps with the fame bcldnefs and affur- ance as a man who can fee; but he is incapable of avoiding the obftacles which chance may throw in his way \ he is unable to for ten his journey, or to take a better road, let the old one be ever Jo much about or inconvenient ; and fhould it be necejfary for him to go out of the 'accuftomed path, he cannot proceed a ftep injafety, unlefs conducted by oue who can fee. Toe phyfician who has nothing but experience to boafi of muft be often at a lofs, when it is necefary to purjue a different method, in almoft every cafe he meets ■with. I do not mean to deny the utility of experience, ■when directed and enlightened by fcience, but muft main- tain that without thefe helps, experience is worth no- thing. I fall here take the liberty of introducing the Jentiments of the ingenious Chaptal, concei ning the utility of a knowledge of chemiftry to a phyfician. “ II ne faut pas cependant regarder la chimie comme etrangere a 1’ etude et a la pratique de la medicine; elle seule peut nous apprendre 1’ art fi necessaire de combiner les remedes; el.e seule$

A treatise, on the mineral waters, of Harrogate : containing the history of these waters, their chemical analysis, medicinal properties, and plain directions for their use / by Thomas Garnett.

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