_It is very evident, that all other Methods of Improving Medicine have been found Ineffectual, by the Stand it has been at these two or three Thousand Years; and that since of late 〈Mathematicians〉 have set Themselves to the Study of it, Men do already begin to Talk so Intelligibly and Comprehensibly, even about abstruse Matters, that it may be hop’d in a short time, if Those who are Design’d for this 〈Profession〉, are early, while their Minds and Bodies are Patient of Labour and Toil, Initiated in the Knowledge of 〈Numbers〉 and 〈Geometry〉, that 〈Mathematical〉 Learning will be the Distinguishing Mark of a Physician from a Quack; and that He who wants this necessary Qualification, will be as Ridiculous as one without 〈Greek〉 or 〈Latin〉._ _I have, as to what regards the 〈Animal Oeconomy〉, Referr’d as much as I could to the Works of 〈Bellini〉, which have brought great Light into the Dark Regions of Physick, and Taught Us to argue clearly and consistently, instead of Amusing our selves with Unintelligible Words or Precarious 〈Hypotheses〉. The 〈Dissertations〉 of Dr. 〈Pitcarne〉, who is the Honour of his Profession in 〈Scotland〉, are a Convincing Proof of the Advantage of such a Mechanical Way of Reasoning; nor could 〈Malice〉 it self deny This, were not 〈Ignorance〉 in Confederacy with it, which will secure any One from being Benefitted by the most useful Demonstrations._ _Notwithstanding This, I have been forced now and then to make Digressions from my Subject, to clear some Doctrines necessary to be known which have not been Explained by others. For indeed the 〈Data〉 from which We argue in these Matters are by many too few. Dr. 〈Cheyne〉, the Author of the 〈New Theory of Fevers〉, has enumerated several Particulars in which the 〈Theoretic〉 Part of Medicine still wants Improvement. If these 〈Deficiencies〉 were made good, We might with more Ease Proceed in our Enquiries into Human Nature, and should soon Convince the World, that the most useful of Arts, if duly Cultivated, is more than meer 〈Conjecture〉, or base 〈Empiricism〉._ _As to the Authors I have made use of, who have Treated of 〈Poisons〉, I have Quoted only those who Furnished me with Matter of Fact; For there are but few 〈Originals〉; and very large Volumes on this Subject do many times contain little more than a Collection of 〈Vulgar Errors〉._