I hope the Reflexions every Reader will make on these Causes of our ill Conduct on this important Head, may contribute to correct or diminish it; and to destroy those Prejudices whose fatal Effects we may continually observe.
[N. B. The Multitude of all the Objects of this excellent Chapter in this Metropolis, and doubtless throughout England, were strong Inducements to have taken a little wholesome Notice of the Impostures of a few of the most pernicious. But on a second Perusal of this Part of the Original and its Translation, I thought it impossible (without descending to personal, nominal Anecdotes about the Vermin) to add any Thing material upon a Subject, which the Author has with such Energy exhausted. He even seems, by some of his Descriptions, to have taken Cognizance of a few of our most self-dignified itinerant Empirics; as these Genius's find it necessary sometimes to treat themselves with a little Transportation. In reality Dr. Tissot has, in a very masterly Way, thoroughly dissected and displayed the whole Genus, every Species of Quacks. And when he comes to account for that Facility, with which Persons of very different Principles from them, and of better Intellects, first listen to, and finally countenance such Caitiffs, he penetrates into some of the most latent Weaknesses of the human Mind; even such as are often Secrets to their Owners. It is difficult, throughout this Disquisition, not to admire the Writer; but impossible not to love the Man, the ardent Philanthropist. His Sentiment that—“A Man of real Merit cannot connect himself with those who are addicted to caballing,”—is exquisitely just, and so liberal, that it never entered into the Mind of any disingenuous Man, however dignified, in any Profession. Persons of the simplest Hearts and purest Reflections must shrink at every Consciousness of Artifice; and secretly reproach themselves for each Success, that has redounded to them at the Expence of Truth.] K.
Chapter XXXIV.
Containing Questions absolutely necessary to be answered exactly by the Patient, who consults a Physician.
Sect. 588.
reat Consideration and Experience are necessary to form a right Judgment of the State of a Patient, whom the Physician has not personally seen; even though he should receive the best Information it is possible to give him, at a Distance from the Patient. But this Difficulty is greatly augmented, or rather changed into an Impossibility, when his Information is not exact and sufficient. It has frequently happened to myself, that after having examined Peasants who came to get Advice for others, I did not venture to prescribe, because they were not able to give me a sufficient Information, in order to my being certain of the Distemper. To prevent this great Inconvenience, I subjoin a List of such Questions, as indispensably require clear and direct Answers.
General Questions.
What is the Patient's Age?