Copy 1, Volume 1

The works of Thomas Sydenham, M.D / Translated from the Latin edition of Dr. Greenhill, with a life of the author, by R.G. Latham.

  • Sydenham, Thomas, 1624-1689.
Date:
1848-1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The works of Thomas Sydenham, M.D / Translated from the Latin edition of Dr. Greenhill, with a life of the author, by R.G. Latham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    116/390 (page 6)
    And these are the grounds upon which I have been induced to conceive that this book should be published. That so dear a friend as yourself should be the one to whom it was dedicated I desired, both on the grounds of our mutual affection and good-will, and for the reason that no one better than yourself could form a judgment as to the value and esti- mation of the Observations which I purpose to record. During the last seven years you have seen with your own eyes many of the leading and most important cases that will occur in the forthcoming pages. But as your known probity and integrity make it a point of conscience with you to draw no man into error under false pretences, (especially in matters of life and death,) so also would your learning and wisdom ensure you thoroughly against any deception on my part, were I foolish enough to contemplate it. Least of all would you deceive yourself in testing (as you have sometimes done in the cases of your own patients) the truth of any point asserted by me here, or stated before you elsewhere. You know also how thoroughly an intimate and common friend, and one who has closely and exhaustively examined the question, agrees with me as to the method that I am speaking of; a man who, in the acuteness of his intellect, in the steadi- ness of his judgment, in the simplicity (and by simplicity I mean excellence) of his manners, has, amongst the present generation, few equals and no superiors. This praise I may confidently attach to the name of Joun Locks. There is no occasion, however, to go further in soliciting your confidence: I have long felt assured of it. In respect to the rest, I must cast the die. Fall as it may, I shall bear my chance with equanimity. lI am now old. By the kindness of Providence, I have the wherewithal for the remainder of life. I aim only at the measure of happiness so beautifully described by Politian :! * Felix ille animi, Divisque simillimus ipsis, Quem non mendaci resplendens gloria fuco Sollicitat, non fastosi mala gaudia luxus. Sed tacitos sinit ire dies, et paupere cultu Exigit innocuz tranquilla silentia vitz. May I do this without vexing either myself or my neighbour ! t Rustic. 17, sq. [G.]