Advertisement to the Reader.
The occasion of this discourse, and the choice of the materials, will sufficiently appear from the discourse itself: therefore, courteous reader, I shall not trespass upon thy patience by a long preface.
I have long since read many treatises and dissertations concerning the health of the studious; but of all the authors, who have treated this subject, the only one who has acquitted himself to my satisfaction isBernard Ramazini: for I have not yet had an opportunity of reading the work of the celebratedPujatus, a man who in other respects has deserved highly of the medicinal science; but whose treatise upon this subject is, I find, neither praised by the journals nor by his friends. Nor is the work ofRamazinicompleat; since he has left more topicks untouched than he has elucidated. I have therefore undertaken an important, an agreeable, and even a new subject; and I hope I shall not appear unequal to it; but it will be sufficient to have pointed out the road at a distance to learned travellers; they will soon be able of themselves to shew the unknown paths; which is my earnest wish and desire. In this treatise there will occur many passages transcribed verbatim fromCelsus,Gaubius, and other eminent men, and that even without distinguishing them by quotation. This plagiarism will, I hope, be excused, because I looked upon it as a sort of profanation to alter their words, as they were extreamly eloquent, and admirably adapted to my purpose: besides, it was improper to disgust the reader by too great a number of quotations.