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the true Theory, without which, there is neither art nor method in the treatment of diseases. But how great is the force of prejudice, that practitioners, who affect a seducing kind of simplicity, should look upon those persons with disdain, who divide their application between study and practice; they inspire a contempt for Theory, whereby they impose on the public who are no judges of its usefulness. Thus the most gross ignorance finds, in credulity, a too sure means of decrying that knowledge which can alone direst our steps with certainty. Ought we then to endeavour to render the art compleat, by attending only to the progress of that experience which is acquired by practice, which frequently begets so much vanity and seduces the vulgar?"[1] Let us rather commend those who would be afraid of making no further advance in the healing arts, if they were compelled to abandon study and to give themselves up wholly to practice; and who examine themselves every year, to know what progress they have made in the knowledge of diseases. The great Boerhaave, whose
- ↑ Mais telle est la force de Prèjugès: Ces Praticiens, dis je, qui se parent d'une simplicitè sèduisante, regardent avec dèdain ceux qui partagent leur application entre l'etude et la pratique; ils inspirent dú mèpris pour la theorie, et en imposent au public, qui n'en sçauroit connoître l'utilitè. C'est ainsi que l'ignorance la plus grossière troupe dans la credulitè un moyen toujours trop sur pour flètrir le sçavoir, qui peut seul assurer nos pas.
Doit on en attendre les progrès de cette experience qui s’acquiert par la seule pratique, qui inspire si souvent tant de vanitè et qui seduit le vulgaire? &c. &c.
Vid. mem. de l’Acad: royal: de Chirurg: de Paris.
