Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/225

 as he was pat all the Aitance of Phyic, o, in reality, he required none.

There is nothing more unjut, than the vulgar Opinion by which Phyicians are mirepreented, as Friends to Death. On the contrary, I believe, if the Number of thoe who recover by Phyic could be oppoed to that of the Martyrs to it, the former would rather exceed the latter. Nay, ome are o cautious on this Head, that, to avoid a Poibility of killing the Patient, they abtain from all Methods of curing, and precribe nothing but what can neither do good nor harm. I have heard ome of thee, with great Gravity, deliver it as a Maxim, That Nature hould be left to do her own Work, while the Phyician tands by, as it were to clap her on the Back, and encourage her when he doth well.

So little then did our Doctors delight in Death, that they dicharged the Corpe after a ingle Fee; but they were not o diguted with their living Patient; concerning whoe Cae they immediately agreed, and fell to prescribing with great Diligence.

Whether, as the Lady had at firt peruaded her Phyicians to believe her ill, they