That part of this science, which considers body merely as body, has retain’d the name of natural philosophy: others went by various names, according to the different sorts of bodies of which they treated. The human body is the object of physick, which without natural philosophy is lame; for he is but a dunce in the art of healing, who is not acquainted with the forces of bodies, and the laws of motion: nor do professors of physick care to undertake the education of those, who are ignorant of natural philosophy. But if physick is greatly indebted to this science, it can in some respects return the favour, and physicians have return’d it in many instances: for GILBERT, who first satisfactorily explain’d the phænomena of electricity, was a physician, as was likewise BOYLE, who promoted natural knowledge more than any other philosopher; and BOERHAAVE, whose experiments upon the elements have given a new face to this science; and to pass over many others in silence, the illustrious MUSCHEMBROEK, who is universally allow’d to surpass all others in this article. And there is some connexion, though perhaps not so close, between your studies and physick, illustrious professors of history and languages; for what physician would not be asham’d to be ignorant of history and the humanities? Who would not be desirous of consulting the Arabian physicians in the originals, as none of them has hitherto been faithfully translated? Are there not likewise certain parts of history, which physick alone can throw proper lights upon? Is not CELSUS a physician, whose works all that are desirous of speaking Latin in perfection, study night and day? PLINY, in whom we meet not merely with helps for acquiring the Latin language, but with the purest Latinity, though he did not practise physic, understood it perfectly, and is entirely taken up in explaining it. ARETEUS, whom we respect as a master of the healing art, is conspicuous for the elegance of his Greek. GALEN has an eloquence peculiar to himself. So has ALEXANDER. And those who cultivate the Arabic language, boast that it is no where to be found in greater purity than in the writings of physicians. It appear’d to me at first sight, that on so copious a subject it would be easy to make an oration; but upon maturer deliberation I began to think quite otherwise; and so, having laid down a burthen too heavy for my shoulders, and left it to more sublime geniuses, I kept to my practice, _my labour is here engaged, and not my eloquence_; and, having resigned the hopes of declaiming like an able orator, or soothing your ears with the allurement of words, I have chosen this subject, as capable of pleasing you by its own force; and as it is sufficient barely to lay it before you, it requires no ornaments: _De tauris dicit arator, navita de ventis._ _Quod medicorum est promittunt medici._ _The plowman talks of oxen, the sailor of the wind._ _Physicians offer what belongs to their profession._