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THE KNOWLEDGE, CURE, AND

follow and forbidding nothing but what is incompatible with real hap-piness. Here the votaries of fashion and folly may learn to correcttheir own mistaken ideas of enjoyment ; the epicure may acquirea relish for rational gratification ; and the man of pleasure may betaught the economy of love.

PART II.

CHAP. I.

THE KNOWLEDGE AND CURE OF DISEASE-.

The cure of diseases does not depend so much upon scientificprinciples as many imagine. It is chiefly the result of experienceand observation. By attending the sick, and carefully observingthe various occurrences in diseases, a great degree of accuracymay be acquired, both in distinguishing their symptoms, and inthe application of medicines. Hence sensible nurses, and otherpersons who wait upon the sick, often foresee the patient's fatesooner than many who have been bred to physic* We do not,however, mean to insinuate that a medical education is of no use :it is doubtless of the greatest importance, but it never can supplythe place of observation and experience.

! Definition or diseases, &c. — Every disease may be consideredas an assemblage of symptoms, and must be distinguished by thosewhich are most obvious and permanent. Instead, therefore, ofgiving a classical arrangement of diseases, according to the sys-tematic method, it will be more suitable, in a performance of thisnature, to give a full and accurate description of each particulardisease as it occurs ; and, where any of the symptoms of one dis-ease have a near resemblance to those of another,t to take noticeof that circumstance, and at the same time to point out the pecul-iar or characteristic symptoms by which it may be distinguished.By a due attention to these, the investigation of disoases will befound to be a less difficult matter than most people would at firstbe ready to imagine.

1 A proper attention to the patient's age, sex, temper of mind¿constitution, and manner of life, will likewise greatly assist, bothin the investigation and treatment of diseases.

In childhood the fibres are lax and soft, the nerves extremelyirritable, and the fluids thin : whereas in old age the fibres arerigid, the nerves become almost insensible, and many of the vessels

* Physicians express this prescience by the term Prognosis, or the art of predictingttie er«nt of diseases from particular symptoms.

t Physicians express these symptomatic characters by the word Diagnosis ; vizthe signa by which one disease may be distinguished from another disease. Hencethose symptoms which distinguish such affections are termed diagnostic signs.