An introductory discourse, to a course of lectures on the theory and practice of physic : containing observations on the inductive system of prosecuting medical inquiries ; and a tribute to the memory of the late Dr. Benjamin Rush ; delivered at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, on the third of November, 1813 / by David Hosack.

  • Hosack, David, 1769-1835.
Date:
1813
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introductory discourse, to a course of lectures on the theory and practice of physic : containing observations on the inductive system of prosecuting medical inquiries ; and a tribute to the memory of the late Dr. Benjamin Rush ; delivered at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, on the third of November, 1813 / by David Hosack. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    with which the Aristotelian philosophy had enveloped the world, and which both philosophers and physicians, Ixion- like, had embraced for nearly fourteen hundred years : You will anticipate me in the names of Bacon, Boyle, Galileo, Locke, and Newton. It was not until this period that phi- losophers and physicians emancipated themselves from their vassalage to Aristotle and Galen. It was not until this pe- riod that the human mind again recovered its freedom and dignity, and genuine science began to develope what had re- mained involved in the deepest obscurity. To commence this illustrious work was reserved for Lord Bacon, a man in every respect qualified for so great an undertaking. By the publication of his Instauration of the Sciences, he rescued reason and truth from the slavery in which they so long had been held; he effected a total revolution in the empire of science, and laid the foundation of the inductive system of philosophizing, or rather, as we have already attempted to show, he revived the Hippocratic mode of acquiring know- ledge. Nearly cotemporary with those distinguished characters was Thomas Sydenham. As he possessed a strength of un- derstanding, an accuracy of discernment, and an ardour of cu- riosity no less rare than desirable, he soon perceived the ab- surdity and pernicious effects of the visionary theories which had preceded. He accordingly devoted the most indefatiga- ble attention to the study of nature, and what he considered of nearly the same importance, the aphorisms and other writings o( Hippocrates. He caught the true spirit of phi-