Sketches on animal life : an inaugural essay, submitted to the consideration of the Honourable Robert Smith, provost ; and of the regents of the University of Maryland / by John Cromwell, of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, member of the Baltimore Medical Society.

  • Cromwell, John, 1794-
Date:
1814
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sketches on animal life : an inaugural essay, submitted to the consideration of the Honourable Robert Smith, provost ; and of the regents of the University of Maryland / by John Cromwell, of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, member of the Baltimore Medical Society. 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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    tual and moral refinement, appears to be one connected chain, the links of which, with few exceptions, have for- tunately become more polished, as they were added. The history of particular sciences, also, will afford us a proof how generally their cultivation and enlargement, has de- pended upon the advantages derived from the attention previously bestowed upon' the same subjects. A few of the most candid among the distinguished cultivators of knowledge, have left us a voluntary record, that they were indebted for their important discoveries to the sug- gestions of others, some even to accident and casualty. It is also true that individuals have lived at different periods, and under various circumstances, to whom the foregoing remarks, would not intirely apply ; those men have di- rected their view upon particular subjects, beyond the ob- scurity of the present, and embraced so much in their comprehension, as to leave scarcely any thing, for suc- ceeding inference. But, such men as Bacon, Euclid, and Newton, exhibit phenomena rather than establish pre- cedent. It will not be necessary to prefer an apology, for the freedom with which I have noticed the sentiments of men occupying a more than ordinary elevation in publick regard. Names may become venerable, but cannot consecrate opi- nions, and those opinions when communicated, become publick property ; for every important truth which such men have planted in the fair field of science, they have conferred an obligation, which merits our gratitude ; but that truth requires culture, and if they have unfortunately scattered useless, or noxious weeds around it, general good demands, that the latter should be cleared away. But I contend for freedom of examination, I do not promise correction. It is much easier to detect the errours of others, than to avoid them ourselves.