MEDICAL EXTRACTS:

ON THE

NATURE OF HEALTH,

WITH

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS:

AND
THE LAWS

OF THE
NERVOUS AND FIBROUS SYSTEMS;

BY

A FRIEND TO IMPROVEMENTS.

VOL. IV.

How charming is divine Philosophy!
Not harsh, and crabbed, as dull fools suppose ;
But musical as is Apollo's lute,
And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets,
Where no crude surfeit reigns.

MILTON.

LONDON:
Printed for J. Johnson, St. Paul's Church-yard ; and

ROBINSONS, Paternoster-Row :
And sold by them, and RichaRDSON, Cornhill; DILLY in the Poultry;
MURRAY and Highley, Fleet-itreet; Besley, Lisle-street;
Becker, and MANSON, Pall Mall ;/ HOOKHAM,
Bond-street; CutHELL, Middle Row, Holborn;

and Cox, St. Thomas's-street, Borough.

TO

THE REV. DR. BLAIR,

PROFESSOR OF RHETORIC AND BELLES

LETTRES IN EDINBURGH.

SIR,

Religion seems so naturally to flow from the Study of Medicine, that among the Ancients Galen wrote on the Uses of the Parts in the human Body as a Hymn to the Creator. In the Supplement to HOFFMAN we find a regular Confession of Faith; and the illustrious Baron Haller has left behind him several valuable Difa sertations, with some Poems on religious Subjects. The Religio Medici of Dr. Brown, acquired and maintains the highest Reputation; and the Medical Works of the late Dr. GREGORY abound with pious Reflections. The present Age can boast of a Fothergili, a Percival, a Lettsom, and a Townsend. After the mention of such illuftri

DEDICATION:

ous Names, we trust that, in Conformity to their Example, the frequent Introduction of religious Reflestions throughout this Work, whose professed Object it is “ UT SIT MENS SANA IN “ CORPORE SANO,” will not be deemed incongruous by any one. The late Dr. Brown mentions, in his Elements of Physic, “ that he " was acquainted with a Work, whence abundant “ Proof might be drawn to sew that the Laws of “ Morality and Physic rest on the same broad Basis.” It is much to be regretted, that this great Genius did not live to execute his Intention ; but to supply this Want, I have assumed the Pen, yet with timid Steps, I venture to tread the Path he has marked out. I follow " haud Paflibus æquis;” and, in the Execution of my Plan, it is with Gratitude I embrace this opportunity of publicly acknowledging my Obligations to You, Sir, and the Veneration with which I fubscribe myself

Your obliged and faithful Servant,

&c. &c.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV*..

PART IV.

THE LAWS

OF THE

NERVOUS SYSTEM.

PAGI

DEDICATION TO THE REV. DR. BLAIR.

OF THE BRAIN AND Nervous System, - - i

Plan of the WORK, - - - - -. xxxi

Sect. LV. Law I. A DUE EXCITEMENT

of THE NERVES IS NECESSARY

FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF VI-

GOUR OF BOTH BODY AND MIND, 659

Sect. LVI. ON THE PLEASURES OF THE

Poor Man, - - - - 661

Sect. LVII. ON THE PLEASURES OF A

CULTIVATED MIND, - - 662

* Formerly we presented the reader with an ANALYTICAL Table of
CONTENTS prefixed to each volume, with a view to separate the useful, from
the ornamental, part of the work ; but as here the IMPROVEMENT of the
TASTE and heart is the prominent feature, we have waved this dry and un-
pleasant talk, and allow the utile to remain in proper association with the dulci.