Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/183

 cian Masters taught them to make; which, to give them their due, Dr. Bernard commends, as much more valuable than is commonly believed, in a Letter to Dr. Huntingdon, printed in the Philosophical Transactions, containing their Observations of the Latitudes of Twenty of the most eminent of the Fixed Stars. We owe, indeed, to them alone the Way of Counting by Ten Cyphers, ascending beyond Ten in a Decuple Proportion; which is of unspeakable Use in Astronomical and Algebraical Calculations, and, indeed, in all Parts of Arithmetick. The Use of Chymistry in Physick, together with some of the most considerable Chymical Preparations, which have led the Way to most of the late Discoveries that have been made in that Art, and in Natural Philosophy by its Means, have been unanimously ascribed to the Arabs by those Physicians that have studied their Books (y). Though, in Strictness, the whole Arabian Learning, with all their Inventions, what, and how great soever they were, may be reckoned as Modern, according to Sir William Temple's Computation. But I am willing to give it up, and content my self with what has been done by the learned Men of these two last Ages, since the Greeks brought their