Moment the Diſeaſe is entered at one Door, the Phyſician ſhould be introduced at the other; what elſe is meant by that old Adage: Venienti occurrite Morbo? “Oppoſe a Diſtemper at its firſt Approach.” Thus the Doctor and the Diſeaſe meet in a fair and equal Conflict; whereas, by giving Time to the latter, we often ſuffer him to fortify and entrench himſelf, like a French Army; ſo that the learned Gentleman finds it very difficult, and ſometimes impoſſible to come at the Enemy. Nay ſometimes by gaining Time, the Diſeaſe applies to the French military Politics, and corrupts Nature over to his Side, and then all the Powers of Phyſick muſt arrive too late. Agreeable to theſe Obſervations was, I remember, the Complaint of the great Doctor Miſaubin, who uſed very pathetically to lament the late Applications which were made to his Skill: Saying, ‘Bygar, me believe my Pation take me for de Undertaker: For dey never ſend for me till de Phyſicion have kill dem.’
Mr. Allworthy’s Diſtemper, by Means of this Neglect, gained ſuch Ground, that when the Increaſe of his Fever obliged him to ſend for Aſſiſtance, the Doctor at his firſt Arrival ſhook his Head, wiſhed he hadbeen
