Muneris eft ejus, quod magna volumina parvo Hac arte excufus forte libellus erit, &e. Our Author appears very much concerned for the wrong Education of young Gentlemen, and having fhewed the great Danger of Ignorance goes on thus: Hoc inde eft, patribus quod res jam nulla minoris Ut cantent, faltent, quid non impenditur auri? Dum fine cultura mens prope cuique jacet. Mr. Nicols complains, That the imperfect Tranflations of the Ancient Authors are more read than the Originals, and deplores the Decay of Learning in the following Lines, Dii prohibete boni, ne tanta infcitia lingua Et Et prope ubiq; fuos, populo ridente, recenfent Si fic fcripfiffes, potuiffes forte videri ; This Book may be confulted upon feveral Occafions; and therefore to render it more useful to the Readers, the Author has added to it Three Indexes. The First is a Chronogical Table of the Ancient Authors quoted in this Volume. The Second contains an Alphabetical Lift of the Ancient and Modern Writers. The Third, which is very large and Methodical, concerns the Matters treated of in the Poem, and in the Notes. Whoever perufes this laft Index, will be fenfible of. the Merit and Uiefulness of the Author's Performance. ARTICLE ARTICLE LXXI. An ESS AT concerning the Growth of Empiricifm, or the Encouragement of Quacks. Wherein the prefent State of Phyfick in this Kingdom is fairly reprefented; with Some Reafons for the Neceflity of a Regulation in the Practice of it. Humbly offer'd to the Confideration of the QUEEN'S MAJESTY, and the PARLIAMENT of Great-Britain. By FRANCIS GuyBON, M. D. London: Printed for R. Parker, at the Unicorn under the Royal-Exchange; and Sold by J. Morphew, near Stationers-Hall. 1712. In 8vo. Pagg. 84. BY a Quack or an Empirick Dr. Guybon means any one, who undertakes to practice Phyfick, without having a previous Knowledge of feveral Things requifite to fucceed in the Profeffion of that ufeful Art. I. A Phyfician (fays the Author) ought to be skill'd in the Learned Languages, that he may understand the Writings of the Ancients and Moderns, which contain the Obfervations that have been made in former Ages. Such a Knowledge is the more ne ceffary, ceffary, because the Art of Phyfick is delivered in Greek and Latin Books, and because the Terms of Art can hardly be understood without the Help of thofe two Languages. II. Natural Philofophy is the next Thing requifite in a Man, who defigns to be a Physician. For the Art of Phyfick being only Natural Knowledge applied to the Prefervation of Health and Life; whoever intends to profefs that Art, will find it neceffary to confider the Human Body as a mere natural Substance, before he proceeds to confider it as an animated Being. Tho the Human Body, as an animated Being, is (ftrictly fpeaking) the immediate Subject of his Cure; yer he cannot well diftinguish or understand the peculiag Properties of animated Subftances, unless he knows the common Affections of Matter, that are to be found in human as well as other animated Bodies. From whence it follows, that a Physician ought to understand the general Properties and Affections of Matter, the Origin and tranfitory Nature of Forms and Qualities, and how the Parts of a Human Body, confidered as a natural Subftance, may be moved; before he enquires into the Affections obfervable in a Human Body, as endued with Life. This feems to have been the Method, by which Novices were for merly initiated into the Art of Phyfick, as it appears from the Inftitutes of Galen, Rbafes, Sennertus, Fuch fius, &c. and from this proverbial Saying, Ubi definit Phyficus, ibi incipit Medicus. The Author adds, That Natural Philofophy is not only neceffary to have a right Apprehenfion of the human Body, as a Portion of Matter, but also to frame a true Idea of Medicines and their Operati ons, as he makes it appear in the Sequel of this Difcourse. III. The next Thing requifite in a Physician, is the Knowledge of the Animal Oeconomy, or the Confi deration deration of the human Body, as endued with Life; The Animal Body is a Machine; and as its Actions and Motions are the neceffary Confequences of its Strulure; fo Difeafes, aud all their Symptoms, are nothing but Alterations and Disorders in it. From whence it plain'y follows, that a Physician ignorant of the Animal Oeconomy, is altogether unqualified to fet right the Machine which he undertakes to regulate. Dr. Guybon adds, That Anatomy, and the DoAtrine of Fluids, are abfolute'y neceffary to understand the Animal Oeconomy, and takes notice of feve ral other Things included in that Knowledge. IV. Our Author proceeds to the fourth Thing, which he requires in a Man that will practise Physick, viz. Pharmacology. 1. The firft Branch of it is, the Knowledge of fimple natural Medicines, that is, of the Subftances themselves. Without fuch a Knowledge, a Man in his Practice muft wholly rely upon thofe, who ga ther and fell Medicines; which is a thing of a ve ry dangerous Confequence. 2. The fecond Part of Pharmacy, which a Phyfician cught to understand, is, the Preparation of Medicines, both Galenic and Chymical. 3. He ought to know the Nature, Virtues, and Operations of Medicines; but he cannot attain to that Knowledge without the Help of Natural Philo fophy. Befides, unlefs he be well skill'd in the Ani. mal Oeconomy, and understands the Ufes of the feveral Parts of the Body, it is impoffible for him to know how, or by what Organs, or in what Regions, Parts or Juices, Medicines perform their Operations. V. Dr. Guybon maintains, That none can be truly qualified to profefs the Medical Art, but those who underftand the general Nature, Signs, Causes, &c. of Difeafes. 1. Whoever has not a clear Notion of the general Nature of Diseases, muft needs fall into great Errors, and mifcarry in the Practice of Phyfick. Whereupon the Author obferves, That one would be tempted to be |