From the result of this case, the gentlemen of the faculty were greatly divided in opinion, as to the rectitude of this practice, insomuch that Dr. _Friend_ thought himself under a necessity of vindicating it; and therefore sent to our author for the purport of their former conversation upon this topic, desiring it might be reduced into writing. Such was the friendship that mutually subsisted between these learned men, that this request was granted without hesitation, and Dr. _Mead_’s letter was shewn to Dr. _Radcliffe_, who prevailed upon our author to consent, that the same might be annexed to Dr. _Friend_’s intended _defence_; which, however he was advised by some friends, to drop at that time; whereby this letter lay by till the latter’s publication of _the first and third books of Hippocrates’s epidemics_, illustrated with _nine commentaries concerning fevers_. Of these the _seventh_ treats of _purging in the putrid fever, which follows upon the confluent small pox_: to which are annexed, in support of this opinion, letters from four physicians on that subject, and among them that from our author, which he had translated from the english into latin, enlarged and new modelled to serve this purpose. This work gave rise to a controversy, maintained with an unbecoming warmth on both sides: among Dr. _Friend_’s principal opponents, may be reckoned Dr. _Woodward_; who, not contented with condemning a practice, experience has since evinced not only salutary in general, but in many cases absolutely necessary; likewise treated its favourers with contempt and ill-manners, and more particularly our author;[21] whose resentment upon this occasion, appears to have been carried to a justly exceptionable length, seeing it had not subsided twenty years after the death of his antagonist.[22] [21] The state of physic, by _John Woodward_, M.D. printed in 1718. [22] “In the front of this band stood forth Dr. _John Woodward_, physic professor at _Gresham College_, a man equally ill-bred, vain, and ill-natured; who, after being for some time apprentice to a linnen-draper, took it into his head to make a collection of shells and fossils, in order to pass upon the world for a philosopher; thence getting admission into a physician’s family, at length, by dint of interest, obtained a doctor’s degree.” Preface to the discourse on the small pox, &c. p. 8, &c.