Tabular observations recommended as the plainest and surest way of improving physick. In a letter to a friend / by Francis Clifton.

  • Francis Clifton
Date:
1731
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Tabular observations recommended as the plainest and surest way of improving physick. In a letter to a friend / by Francis Clifton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    R P': t s ] a nor yet exclude all but Prodigies: For ma- a ny Things are new in their manner and cir- u cumftances, which are not new in their kind: a and he who looks attentively, will find ma- a ny Matters worthy of Obfervation in what a leems vulgar. By following this method, Dr. Sydenham feems to have done more real fervice, than all the reft of the English Phyficians together. And had there been but a few fuch men, fince Harvey’s time, I make no doubt, but Thyfick wou'd have been quite another thing to what it is now. However, 'tis never too late to mend ; and for ought I know, the proofs we have had of the infufficiency of Theories, may the eafier bring us to a juft Efteem for the Ant lentsy and make us more judicious in our Obfervations and Conduct for the time to come. I hope we are all at prefent convinc'd, that Thyfick is im- proveable only by Obfervation. The Theo¬ ries of late have wanted no Ingenuity to frame 'em, or Authority to lupport 'em; but for want of a good foundation in Nature, the very beft of 'em have many flaws; and the Art that was intended to be illuftrated by 'em, is thereby made fo much the more obfcure and contemp¬ tible: and indeed this muft always be the cafe, whenever men allow themfelves to de- ipife that, which is the only means of coming at the Truth. He wou'd be a Phyficianof im¬ mortal honour, who cou'd cure Difeafes with as much eafe, as others have fancied they cou’d explain
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