Page:New observations on inoculation - Angelo Gatti.djvu/13

Rh and as quicksilver and antimony, so much commended, and so indiscriminately given, by some, are not less warmly condemned, or at least slighted, by others, our author may perhaps trust his apology with the ingenious writer thereof the Trial of Mr. Daniel Sutton, for the high crime of preserving the lives of his majesty's liege subjects, by means of inoculation. He only exclaims against empiric or other medicines, when the subject is in full health; and expresly avers that, if he is not well, his cure ought to precede inoculation.

I am well aware that some other notions of Dr. Gatti may be objected to; but they seem to be of little importance to, and not intimately connected with, the main subject. Hypotheses, I know, are almost universally exploded; but few are the men, who do not except their own from this proscription. It is a matter of some difficulty to destroy old theories, without substituting new ones; to tread upon inchanted ground, and not be tempted to build, and to indulge and leave to posterity no visions of our own.

In translating this work, I allowed myself the liberty of abridging it in some parts, of supplying some things from the preceding treatise of our author referred to by himself, and of adding a few notes. In doing this, I had the advice of some of Dr. Gatti's friends, together with his leave; I followed my own taste, and hope to obtain the approbation of those who may compare the original with this copy.