Observations on the history and cause of asthma : and a review of A practical enquiry on disordered respiration, in a letter to Robert Bree, M.D., the author of that work / by George Lipscomb.

  • Lipscomb, George, 1773-1846.
Date:
1800
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the history and cause of asthma : and a review of A practical enquiry on disordered respiration, in a letter to Robert Bree, M.D., the author of that work / by George Lipscomb. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    difleftion, from the creation of the world to the prefent day, tended to countenance even the fha- dow of fuch a theory? and yet, do we find our anceftors the more inclined to part with their favourite opinion? This obftinate adherence to erroneous doc- trines is not, perhaps, to be urged in objection to the weight of their authority, as clinical hiftoriansj but,^as that obftinacy refuited, in a great meafure, ' from the inaccurate knowledge v/hich they had, of the ftrudure and natural hiftory of the bodyj I am myfelf fo much a modern, that I will fome- times venture to doubt the corredtnefs of their ftatements refpefting the appearances after death. Nor, do I conceive, that I am unworthily detrading from the merit of the ancients, when I endeavour to place them in the fituation, to which their induf- try and exertions have really entitled them; al- though in a niche fomewhat lower than that to which they have been undefervedly raifed, by the devotion of their fuperftitious admirers. What is it ? but to offer the refped of rational and deliberate opinion, inftead of blind and incon- fiderate adulation, I regard the writings of the ancients, as objeds of criticifrn, rather than of delight; and although I endeavour to ftudy them without prejudice, I am cautious not to fuffer the garb* which envelopes them, to awe me into vene- ration. * The eye of phllofophy fhould penetrate the covering which time has woven to conceal the errors of ancient writers 5 and, I hope.