Page:A Discourse upon the Institution of Medical Schools in America - John Morgan.djvu/52

 of strict reasoning. Medical truths rise out of one another, in some measure, like the propositions of Euclid. If we did not understand the demonstration of the first, we should not be able to percieveperceive [sic] the proof of the more intricate ones that follow, which can only be explained by means of them, as a certainty of the latter depends upon the evidence of the former. What would require years of study to gain a superficial acquaintance with, if we followed no just plan, may be attained within as few months, by pursuing a regular system; so much does method contribute to facilitate our progress.

order which I would recommend in the study of Medicine is to begin with Anatomy; then what I have called medical natural History, viz. The Materia Medica and Botany; Chymistry should follow; the Institutes come next; and the Study of Practice should compleat the work.

I have sketched out a general plan of studying Medicine, which it will be of the highest-consequence for students to observe. It belongs to the teachers of the several branches, to give more minute directions with regard to the particular conduct of each respective one. It will not be improper however to observe here, that young men ought to come well prepared for the study of Medicine, by having their minds enriched with all the aids