THE PROGRESS OF PHYSIC: A POEM. WITH NOTES and OBSERVATIONS from antient AUTHORS. By a PHYSICIAN. Tantœ molis erat—VIRG. —operosa parvus Carmina fingo. HOR. LONDON: Printed for C. CORBET, at Addison's Head, opposite St. Dunstan's Church, Fleet-Street. MDCCL. [Price One Shilling.] (5) THE ARGUMENT. MEDICINE artless and simple, much older than Physic exercis'd as an Art.—That and a new Train of Diseases introduc’d after the Flood, by Luxury.—Its Beginning rude.—Sprung up in the Eastern Nations.— Grounded upon the suppos'd Influence of the Stars.— Studied and practis’d by the Magi.—Hence it pass'd into Ægypt, where the Priests still had the chief Exercise of it.—Their Cures, &c. inscrib'd on the Pillars and Walls of their Temples.—Particular Branches of the Science studied by particular Persons.—Hence trans- planted into Greece, but not brought to any great Degree of Perfection till Hippocrates’s Time, who first made Physic rational.—A short Digression, by way of Encomium on J. B—ll—e, M. D.—Physic next travels into Italy, brought into Disgrace by Quackery, &c. Galen, at B length, (6) length, explains every thing by the rigid Doctrines of the Peripateticks.—Did a great deal of Mischief, as well as Service, to this noble Art.—Much blam’d for This, but commended for the Pains he took with a View of im- proving Medicine.—Physic lost with other Arts and Sciences when the Goths, &c. over-ran Europe, but re- vives amongst the Arabs, after some Ages, tho’ Galen’s Errors still predominant.—Chymistry, the first great Improver of this Science.—Distinguish'd from Alchymy, an Art as old as Tubal Cain.—Another short Digres- sion on the Vanity of hunting after the Philosopher’s Stone.—The Discovery, or Demonstration of the Circu- lation of the Blood, by our Countryman Harvey, fixes Physic on a more certain Basis than ever.—That, and Experimental Philosophy, afterwards carried to so great Lengths by Mr. Boyle, brought the Art nearer to Perfec- tion in this Island than can be boasted of by any other Na- tion.—Physic, at length, fixes her Empire in Britain.— Which concludes the Whole. THE (7) THE PROGRESS OF PHYSIC. LONG ere Physicians knew the Healing Art, Disease to quell—or ease the aching Heart— *Med’cine arose—at first by Heav’n design’d With balmy Wing to shield, and bless Mankind: In * THE Injuries and Vicissitudes of the Air—The Nature and Qualities of Foods— the Violence of external Bodies—the Actions of Life—and lastly, the Structure of the Human Frame, must have render’d some Diseases, and consequently Medicine, al- most as old as Mankind, tho’ much chang’d and complicated in After-Ages. (8) In ev’ry Field some wholsom Simple grew. Its Use each ruder Clown and Peasant knew; Which, cull’d with Care, the wish’d Assistance gave; Not prompt to kill—if impotent, to save— From Trees-from Plants-the easy Cure was sought And from the murm’ring Rill Health flow’d unbought. The friendly, limpid Draught—the temp’rate Meal, Ne’er ask’d the Aid of Bolus—or of Pill— With equal Force their vig’rous Pulses beat, No Cordials, then, to raise the extinguishd Heat; No frantic Mirth—nor Melancholly, then— Heav’n’s sharpest Curse upon the Sons of Men! To calm a Fever's Rage no Arts were try’d, Till, haply, of the *Doctor—Patients dy'd— Feebly, the Limbs no slacken’d Nerves sustain’d, Hereditary Health—and Vigour reign’d. BUT say, my Muse! these happier Ages past, How Sickness and Disease broke in at last— From * ’TIS hop’d the Faculty will not resent this little Stroke of Satyr, and one that follows, since they are not levell’d at the Science Itself, but the Abuse of it.—At Quacks, nor Regular Practisers. (9) From Man to Man how Plagues unnumber’d spread, When Physic rear’d her Scientific Head. Such Ills combin’d, what Mortal can endure? How Few out-live the Sickness—and the Cure? NOT long the Flood had left the Face of Earth, And lost Mankind receiv’d a Second-Birth, Ere Lux’ry rose—with Sickness in her Train— And all the frightful Family of Pain: Nature's spare Wants forsook the homely Board, With mad Profusion see each Table stor’d! Invention labour’d to debauch the Treat, And whet the jaded Appetite to eat: Intoxicating Wines, henceforth, began T’ inflame the Blood—not chear the Heart of Man: Hence Gout and Stone afflict the Human Race; Hence lazy Jaundice—with her Saffron Face— Palsy, with shaking Head, and tott’ring Knees, And bloated Dropsy—the stanch Sot’s Disease! Consumption pale, with keen, but hollow Eye, And sharpen’d Feature, shew’d that Death was nigh— The feeble Offspring curse their crazy Sires, And, tainted from his Birth, the Youth expires. C FIRST, (10) FIRST,thro’the East, in social League, we find The sage Physician to the Priesthood join’d— Physic, alone, the Rev’rend Magi knew; Its first Inventors—and Corruptors too— On Stars, and Planets, the rude Art they found, And tread, inglorious! on inchanted Ground; Nor dar’d the healing Med’cine to apply, If *Saturn glanc’d with a malignant Eye. To Ægypt next Physic directs her Flight, There prun’d her Wing, and bless’d a clearer Light; O’er her fair Face no artful Veil was thrown, Nor only from huge Volumes was she known, On †Marble sculptur’d—and the faithful Stone: Recording Temples did at once insure The Leech’s Fame—and propagate the Cure. Nor Each to ev’ry Branch as yet applies— But This the Heart could cure, and That the Eyes; The * THE Chaldœans were the first Astronomical Observators, and are suppos’d to have built their Notions of Physical Matters upon Astrological Grounds-either the In- fluence of a particular Planet, or of some Tutelar Dœmon, were still consider’d.— Hence this Superstitious Practice, with the Science Itself, was deriv’d to the Ægyptians.— † SEE Wotton on Ancient and Modern Learning, P. 107, (11) The ulcer’d Limb some only knew to heal, While Female Patients bless’d another's Skill. HERE flourish’d long the Pharmaceutic Art; Whence Commerce, next, the Science did impart To ancient Greece—but flow its Progress still— Rude and imperfect yet the Medicinal Skill: When, lo! Apollo’s fav’rite arose, The Depths of Physic studious to disclose; *Hippocrates—who with a purer Ray Beam’d on his Followers a brighter Day. By simplest Methods, flow indeed, but sure, Who first prescrib’d the Diœtetic Cure: Hence stubborn Chronics dwindled by Degrees, And Food grew Health—that late was the Disease; The Fever’s Rage, obedient to subside, Life’s purple Current pour’d a gentler Tide! Honey * BEING a Master of Experience as well as of Analogy and Reason, and withal vers’d in pure Philosophy, he first made Physic rational, and laid the Foundation of the Dogmatic Medicine which has since obtain’d.—He press’d no Hypothesis into his Service, as may be seen in his Book of Diseases, Affections, &c.—He first started the Doctrine of Critical Days in Diseases; for which, when Polytheism was in vogue, they were ready to take him for a God.—’Tis certain none of the Physicians of Old Greece follow’d any Theory—Of whom Baglivi says:—Quod nos per Leges Theoriæ, id Illi solâ mentis perspicacitate, longo Usu corfirmatâ peragebant.— (12) Honey and Milk the sole Specifics, then The mild Decoction—and the cool Ptisan— From Nature’s Source he drew unerring Law; Such B—ll—e’s Practice now—such *Syd’nham’s was.— O B—ll—e! if these Numbers reach thine Ear, Accept this Tribute—as Thyself sincere— Forgive the Muse officious thus t'employ Those Hours of Health you help her to enjoy: How Few, like Thee, such diff’rent Virtues blend, And mix the True Physician with the Friend? In whom thy Classic Taste and Learning join, T’ instruct, t’adorn—to polish and refine— How Few like Thee, with kindred Sorrow melt, And weep those Evils which they never felt? Balm to my Woe—and Comfort in Distress! Living I'll love Thee—and shall, Dying, bless. SUCH was the Medic Art—O shame to tell What yet the Faithful Muse must now reveal! Nurs’d * ARTIS nostrœ Ornator & Ornamentum, qui se positis Opinionum Commentis ad Observationes prorsus se dedit, & a primâ Ætate ad Extremum usque senium cum Na- turâ cohabitavit—says a learned Foreigner.— (13) Nurs’d long in Grœcian Climes with tend’rest Care, She Westward fled—and breath’d a *Roman Air— But soon, alass! her new-blown Honours fade, Her rising Lustre base Impostors shade, By Roman M—s—b—ns and W—ds betray’d. Rome had her Quacks—for such all Climes produce— The Bane of Science—and its worst Abuse— No Mead—no Hulse was then—the Art to save— It sunk—detested by the Wife and Brave. GALEN, at length, review’d the sacred Plan, And to collect its scatter’d Parts began; Greedy of Fame, digested ’em with Care— Well were it, had his Labours ended there— But boasting clearer Lights, he tack’d to These Strange Humours—Elements—and Qualities— * PLINY says the Romans had an Aversion to Physicians, and their Art, till Ar- chagatus came from Greece to Rome, where he practis’d Physic and Surgery with Re- putation—in the Year of Rome 535.—However, ’tis certain the Art was sunk very low in the Opinion of the Romans before that Time, by the Roguery and Ignorance of Quacks.—None but Freed-Men, &c. practis’d for a long Course of Years.— D Con- (14) Confounding, thus, the †Coan Master's Rule, With the rude Cant of Aristotle's School; Of Observation left the fruitful Fields, For the wild Waste that *Speculation yields: A Fairy-Land—and a neglected Shore— No Æsculapian Sage ere trod before— Experience now held but the second Place, And Truths, best founded on her solid Base. No more—O sad Reverse! in one we view The watchful ‡Nurse, and wise Physician too— Subtle t’ explode—as artful to invent— By Midnight Lamps a Galen’s Hours were spent, Some fav’rite System anxious to maintain, The monstrous Child of his prolific Brain— By dark Solutions to out-strip the Wise, And ere the Race was run—to snatch the Prize. THUS † Cos, or Coos, an Island in the Archipelago, where Hippocrates was born.— Hence so called.— * SI excipias (says a learned Author) Paucos illos Observatores, qui Casus & Hi- storias Medicas ad vivum prout, ab ipsâ Rei Naturâ procedebant, describendo, Medi- cinœ pomœria summopere ampliarunt; ea quœ Reliqui adjecere, falsam Theoriam, & hujusmodi Ineptias spectlantia, turbarunt potius, impediveruntque illius Progressus, quam indicarunt aut promoverunt.— ‡ IN Hippocrates's Time, and after, the most eminent Physicians watch’d almost Day and Night by their Patients Bed-Sides, and stuck close to Observation.— Whence called the Clinic Sect.— (15) THUS far the Muse, reluctant, dares to blame Whom †sixteen Hundred Years have giv’n to Fame; Pleas’d she proceeds—still ardent to commend— Foe to his Faults—but to his Worth a Friend. IF unknown Worlds of Med’cine to explore, T’ expound their Virtues, and increase their Store; In search of Truth, if any Praise it be, To drain the Mines of deep Philosophy; Of known Effects to trace the hidden Cause, And scan by Rules of Art wise Nature’s Laws; By Envy’s self the Debt shall sure be paid, And latest Honours dignify his Shade. WHAT Time the *Gothic Swarms forsook their Hive, Learning no longer cou’d the Shock survive; Of † GALEN flourish'd in the Time of Trajan, and three succeeding Emperors.—He wrote 15 Volumes, besides Notes, on Hippocrates—and died at Rome, Anno Dom. 140.— * AFTER the sixth Century, the Arts were not only extinguish'd, but almost all Memory of them lost till the Ninth, from which to the Thirteenth Medicine was vi- gorously cultivated by the Arabs in Asia, Africa, and Spain: Who applying Themselves particularly to the Study of the Materia Medica, and its Preparations, and to the Ope- rations of Chirurgery, render’d both more just and copious at the same time—and yet Galen's Errors became now more predominant than ever.— (16) Of Human Art no Traces we descry, Art’s fairest Fruit, and Learning wither’d lie: Defac’d—o’erthrown—and mingled with the Dust— The labour’d Column—and the breathing Bust.— Chaos return’d—all Peace and Order fled— O’er Customs, Language, Laws, thick Night was spread. ’Till—as some long-lost Stream renews its Source, Which under-ground pursu’d its mazy Course— Science, again, to happier Climes restor’d, Unveil’d her Charms—and was again ador’d. THE sable Night of Ignorance withdrawn, From bless’d Arabia broke the chearful Dawn; Of Med’cine, lo! the long uncultur’d Field Began to smile, and a new Harvest yield; On Afric’s settled, and Iberia’s Shore, The Saracens reviv’d the Art once more: But Galen’s Errors chose the wholesome Soil, Obstruct its Progress—and confound their Toil. NEXT Chymistry, which long in Embrio lay, Started new Lights—and smooth’d the thorny Way; Not, (17) Not, as of Old, to *Alchymy confin’d, Nor knew t'enrich, alone, but bless Mankind. Long had she learnt t’ extract the shining Ore, But Med'cine now confess’d her healing Pow'r. A new Creation open’d to the View, And old Discov'ries were confirm’d by new. SEE by his Fires the footy Artist sweat, To pass th’ eternal Bound by Nature set! Mis-led by Aristotle's dazzling Light, For †Transmutation labours Day and Night! In quest of Mountains of imagin’d Wealth, His Fortune ruin—and destroy his Health— * ALCHYMY, as contra-distinguish’d by some Writers from Chymistry, consisted in refining Metals, and extracting them from their Ores.—This Art, older than the Flood, is ascrib’d to Tubal Cain—Gen. iv. 22.—It is but of late that Chymistry has been applied to the Preparations of Medicines, and extended to Plants, Animals, Minerals, &c.— Paracelsus and Van Helmont carried it to such a length, as to ren- der Medicine almost wholly Chymical.— † ACCORDING to Aristotle, Epicurus, &c. Gold and Sand are at bottom but one and the same Matter.—The Chymists thought they had found out that Salt—Sulphur— and Mercury— with a few other Ingredients, (about which they are not as yet agreed) were the immediate Elements of all Bodies; but that there was in reality a primitive Matter which took all sorts of Forms—that consequently, nothing remain’d to be done, but to work upon that primitive Matter, to present it with fit Moulds, and to give it a certain Turn to have Gold—Jewels—and the Elixir Salutis.—This Study has been well defin’d to be— Ars sine Arte, cujus Principium est mentiri, medium la- borare, & Finis mendicare.— E From (18) From Motion, Matter, taught that all Things grew, What cannot Motion, giv’n to Matter, do? Vain Reas’ner! the fantastic Search give o’er. Or first—go—analyze the painted Flow'r— If long intent to sep’rate and compound— To pay thy Toil a gen'ral Flow'r be found, The Grand Elixir Thou mayst hope to boast, Nor find, in search of Gold, thy Labour lost. THE Triumph, still, is o’er Effects alone, Nor were Diseases in their Causes known, Till first Immortal Harvey led the way, And pointed where their secret Sources lay; All that the Wise had sketch'd in distant Thought, The Godlike Harvey saw—and prov'd—and taught— While others, dubious, hint the Blood to flow, ’T was his, *alone, to trace the Manner, how, And in what Time, its rapid Journey done, Fresh from the Heart, again its Race is run. Hence * THE Circulation of the Blood has been generally allow’d to have been found out in the Year 1628, by Harvey, a Physician of our own Country; tho’ there are several who dispute that Honour with him, such as Vander Linden, in Holland— Realdus Columbus, of Cremona; and Andreas Cœsalpinus, at Venice.—This Notion has, indeed, been occasionally, and slightly treated by Them, as an Hypothesis but never demonstrated till Harvey's Time. (19) Hence Physic, to no slavish Sect confin’d. Gave all her Bigot-Systems to the Wind: To nobler Heights her tow’ring Head she rears; The growing Labour of Three Thousand Years! The Queen of Science rival Nations great, And lay their fairest Trophies at her Feet: The *Tubes—the Glands-These foremost to explain The Muscles, These expound—and Those the Brain.— While others pore thro’ Microscopic Glass, And see the †Lymph thro’ subtle Strainers pass— From Sense, not wild Hypothesis, deduce The Structure of each Vessel-and its Use. ‡Mechanic and Botanic Science join Their wond’rous Aids to make the Art Divine; From * THESE several Discoveries in Anatomy are owing to Wharton—Willis—Brown, and others, since Harvey's Time.— † MALPHIGI was the first Discoverer of the Lymphatic Vessels, which, accord- ing to Dr. Arbuthnot, are one hundred times finer than a Hair—He died Anno 1694.— ‡ MEDICINE, by late Improvements in Philosophy, is become all Mechanical, and Corpuscular; instead of Galen's Qualities and Degrees, every thing is now re- duc’d to Mechanical Affections; to the Figures, Bulks, Gravities, &c. of the compo nent Particles, and to the great Principle of Attraction.— (20) From East to West, hence Physic boasts her Sway— And darts on all a more propitious Ray; But fix’d her Throne in fair Britannia's Isle, To whom she owes a Harvey—and a *Boyle. * THE Honourable Mr. Boyle rescued Chymistry from the Censures it had long lain under from the Enthusiasm of Helmont and Paracelsus, and has shewn of what in- finite Use it is to Philosophy and Medicine, when kept within its proper Bounds.—He first discover’d, or, at least, brought the Pneumatic Engine to Perfection, which soon demonstrated the Absurdity of that common Notion, that Nature abhorr’d a Vacuum— Since he has shewn us the true Origin of Qualities in Bodies, nobody has dar’d to ad- vance the Chimærical Notion of Substantial Forms.—By the Help of these, and other valuable Discoveries, many others have been made since his Death, and many more, probably, will be; and his Reputation rather increase than diminish in future Ages.— He died Anno 1691.— N. B. IF it should be ask’d why I have made no ho- nourable Mention of the Royal Society—I have This to answer—That the Subject has been too copiously and elegantly treated by †another Hand, for me to add any thing but my Wishes for their Prosperity. † SPRAT’S History of the Royal Society. FINIS.