This is evident enough to all who have examined the early Pharmacopœias, which are full of heterogeneous compounds, the inventions of interested, and the imaginations of ignorant men. The liberal and enlightened Physicians of the last and present century have gradually expunged most of these, and made the science of Medicine sufficiently intelligible to those whose business it is to learn it--if Medicine be entirely divested of its Mystery, its power over the Mind, which in most cases forms its main strength, will no longer exist. It was a favourite remark of the celebrated Dr. John Brown[2], that "if a student in Physic employed seven years in storing his memory with the accepted, but,--unfortunately, in nine cases out of ten,--imaginary powers of Medicine, he would, if he did not possess very extraordinary sagacity, lose a much longer time in discovering the multiform delusions his medical oracles had imposed upon him--before he ascertains that, with the exception of _Mercury_ for the Lues,--_Bark_ for Intermittents,--and _Sulphur_ for Psora--the _Materia Medica_ does not furnish many Specifics--and may be almost reduced to Evacuants and Stimuli:"--However, these, skilfully administered, afford all the assistance to Nature, that can be obtained from Art! Let not the uninitiated in Medical Mysteries imagine for a moment, that the Editor desires to depreciate their Importance--but observe once for all--that he has only one reason for writing this Book--which is, to warn you against the ordinary causes of Disorder--and to teach you the easiest and most salutary method of preventing or subduing it, and of recovering and preserving Health and Strength, when, in spite of all your prudence, you are overtaken by sickness, and have no Medical Friend ready to defend you. Experience has so long proved the actual importance of TRAINING--that Pugilists will not willingly engage without such preparation. The principal rules for which are,--to go to Bed early--to Rise early--to take as much _Exercise_ as you can in the open air, without fatigue--to _Eat and Drink_ moderately of plain nourishing Food--and especially,--to keep _the Mind_ diverted[3], and in as easy and cheerful a state as possible. Somewhat such a system is followed at the fashionable watering places--and great would be the improvement of Health that would result from it,--if it was not continually counteracted, by visits to the Ball Room[4] and the Card Table. A residence in the Country will avail little, if you carry with you there, the irregular habits, and late hours of fashionable Life. Do not expect much benefit from mere change of _Air_--the purest breezes of the country will produce very little effect, unless accompanied by plenty of regular _Exercise_[5]--_Temperance_--and, above all, _Tranquillity of Mind_.--See _Obs. on_ "AIR" and "EXERCISE." The following is a brief sketch of the usual METHOD OF TRAINING PERSONS FOR ATHLETIC EXERCISES.