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The Wars between Chymists, and Galenists, very fierce for some time; but end at last in a Peace. The Design opened. Hip∣pocrates, and Galen, wise, and excellent, but not infallible. A slavish Expression of a Venetian.
WHen Chymistry began to sound its Alarm, under the Banner of Paracelsus, and the noise be∣came so great, as to shake the Founda∣tions of Physick, divers eminent Physici∣ans took their Weapons in their hands, and with a learned Pen, did sufficiently
vindicate the Honour of Physick, from the bold attempts of their declared Ene∣mies. But this angry Invader of the Ga∣lenick Art, did soon strengthen himself by a great many Followers, who all con∣spired together to carry Fire and Destru∣ction whithersoever they went. Chymi∣stry must be all with them, or nothing. And all the contemptible scandals, and marks of Ignominy, that Malice could invent, were very liberally bestowed on all that favoured Learning, or asserted the Ancient Principles of Physick.
So that there was no Parley between the two Parties, in order to a Peaceable and right understanding; the Chymists, if it had been possible, would have mas∣sacred, and utterly cut off all the Galenick Professors, and the Galenists with the ut∣most indignation of injur'd Persons, de∣cried and condemned all Chymical preten∣ces; and many Acts of Hostility and open War, were for a long time carried on be∣tween them. Insomuch, that there was no hopes of an Accommodation, no signs of Moderation, or Peace, till both Par∣ties had sufficiently worried one another, till their Weapons were blunted with frequent Skirmishes, and both grew wea∣ry of their unreasonable Contentions.
And then the Foundations of Physick appeared firmer than was thought, and Chymistry was found to contain some Ad∣vantages, that were not to be despised. The Anger and Venom was pretty well spent on both sides, and after the violent Storms had continued as long as the Na∣ture of Violent things would suffer, the Weather cleared up again, and every man leasurely considered what was the real Matter.
The Physicians of those dayes did not at last scorn to foul their Fingers with Coals, as well as Ink. They built them Laboratories, procured Vessels of all sorts, and were as busie at Chymical preparations, as the first Operators themselves. In the mean time the passionate Assertors of Chymistry took Books into their hands a∣gain, read, and leasurely considered, and at last found, those I mean that grew Sober, that a Judicious Administration of Medicines, would do the best no harm at all, that there was as much dexterity and Art, in the right use of Chymical Reme∣dies, as in the very Preparations they so much delighted in. And thus by degrees the Physicians grew Chymists, and the Chymists became Physicians.
Great Beginnings are naturally imper∣fect, and attended with Faults; and though the first undertakers are impati∣ent of Contradiction, yet generally their Successors make Additions that were not at first thought of. We all know, that the first Projectors of any thing do seldom thrive, or perfectly attain their end, but the second Undertakers do often grow rich upon it, and avoid those manifold Inconveniencies that were not foreseen by the first.
Chymistry is now one necessary part of Physick, and a man can no more pretend to be a Physician without a competent knowledg in it, than a Mechanick work without his Tools. If it be not eleva∣ted beyond all degrees of Modesty, and arrogantly buoyed up above Sense and Reason, it will be found excellent in some no mean respects, and add both Plea∣santness and Efficacy to some Medicines, that were more loathsom to the Palate, and more ineffectual in their Operation before. Out Modern Physicians are now the only Chymists in reality, and all other small dealers or ignorant Retainers to that Art, will prove Impostors and Pseu∣do-Chymists.
The Design therefore of this follow∣ing Treatise is not to bid defiance to Chymistry, right or wrong, but to offer a fair Representation of things as they are in themselves, to give a check to all malapert Pretenders, and to vindi∣cate Natural Remedies, that are very good as Nature provides them, from be∣ing swallowed up, or over-powred with a Scenical Parade, as if nothing were good for any thing that had not un∣dergone the Test of Chymical Prepara∣tion.
And indeed Chymistry is so bewitch∣ing an Art, and so suits with the natu∣ral Fondness of Mankind, who are too apt to admire themselves, and the Works of their own Hands, that sometimes In∣genuous, and otherwise understanding men, run farther in it than they ought, and their Reason is often blinded, with giving too much way to their Affections.
The Subject therefore that I have un∣dertaken, is so Noble, and really useful, that I wish with all my Heart, some a∣bler Pen would have done it better. I have rather but hinted at what might have been well performed, than fully decided the Subjects of this Discourse. And I hope it will be no Disservice to
my Faculty, to do the best that my small Capacity can for them, and to shew how much more is requisite to the con∣stituting a good Physician, besides being conversant among Fires and Furnaces, besides the best Preparation of Remedies.
Hippocrates, and Galen, will be ever famous to after-ages, because their Works are full of sound sense, well digested Principles, and undeniable Truths. And those who keenly speak against them, and rail at their Labours with much earnestness, either do not understand them, or are very morose in their natural Tempers.
And yet I am not of Macrobius his mind, who in a fond rant brake out into this hearty expression concerning our great Hippocrates, Quòd tàm fallere, quàm falli nesciat, that he was neither capable of teaching an Error, nor of being in an Error himself. And so Massarias passes the same Complement upon Galen, and Aristotle, Quòd nunquam, si rectè intelli∣gantur, fallere, vel falli possint.
'Twould be exceeding happy for the World, if it could have been furnished with such infallible Dictators in Physick. All Doubts and Questions would then have been laid aside, and an Ipse Dixit
would have easily decided all Controver∣sies that rise in our way. But though Quacks and Idiots can see so far into the Virtues of a Pill or Powder, that it shall infallibly do every thing they would have it, and can never be directed to a wrong Intention, yet Physicians we find, who ought in reason to be presumed to have as good Eyes and Brains, as con¦ceited Fools, and illiterate Pretenders, are very unhappy men, that all their Knowledg and Observation should only serve to hinder them from discovering the Panacea's, and mighty Catholicon's, that lye open to every careless eye; that they only should continue Pro-ing and Con-ing, whilst every Blockhead never fails to be in the right.
No, 'tis the unavoidable condition of Humane Nature, of the wisest men, as well as Ignorant, to be often subject to Mistake, and much Care, Pains, and Ap∣plication, if not Good Fortune too, are requisite to free the very best of us from being too too prone to our Common Fate.
And therefore that Noble Venetian de∣serves to be pitied for a poor-spirited man, who being shewed by an expert Anatomist, that the Nerves had their O∣rigine
from the Brain, and not from the Heart, as the great Philosopher Aristo∣tle had maintained, brake out into that weak, and slavish Expression, If Ari∣stotle had not said the contrary, I would have believed my own eyes.
In Somn. Scipion. lib. 1. c. 6.
Apol. 3. l. 3. disp. 3. cap. ult.