Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/157

 Physicians. This Instance is applicable to the present Question: Galen often mentions Egyptian Remedies in his Treatises of Medicines, which are numerous and large, yet he seldom mentions any of their Hypotheses, from which only a Man can judge whether the Egyptians were well-grounded Physicians, or Empiricks. This is the more remarkable, because Galen had lived long at Alexandria, and commends the Industry of the Alexandrians in cultivating Anatomy, which is so necessary a Part of a Physician's Business.

In general therefore we may find, that all the Egyptian Notions of Physical Matters were built upon Astrological and Magical Grounds: Either the Influence of a particular Planet, or of some tutelar Daemon were still considered. These Foundations are precarious and impious, and they put a Stop to any Increase of real Knowledge, which might be made upon other Principles. He that minds the Position of the Stars, or invokes the Aid of a Dæmon will rarely be sollicitous to examine nicely into the Nature of his Remedies, or the Constitution of his Patients, without which none of the ancient rational Physicians believed that any Man could arrive at a perfect Knowledge of their