PARRY, 281 This excellent advice had the best effect on Dr. Parry's conduct. There were, however, still many points connected with the practice of medicine which, while they materially interfered with his wish to improve the science, and confer all the benefits of which he was capable, excited his sur- prise, and, at the same time, offended his integrity. " A great part," he says, " of the obstacles to the improvement of the science of medicine originates in the habit of self-indulgence, leading persons to the gratification of present ar ^)etite, or the re- moval of present suftering with httle or no consi- deration of the future. Hence the whole wretched system of temporizing which flatters the patient, and is a disgrace to the profession. A man shall be grossly ignorant of the whole c ience of medi- cine, yet if he has a certain degree of assurance, aided by an adequate number of fashionable phrases, some speciousness in decorating mystery, with a determined resolution of flattering his patients by an appearance of great zeal and attachment, and by confirming the good opinion which they enter- tain of their own discernment in the choice of the medicine and diet which they most like, that man shall grow popular and rich under the hourly dere- liction of every principle of truth, honour, and conscience, and become accessory to the daily de- struction of his fellow-creatures. This is the reason why a large party of all ranks is always inclined to favour the most uneducated of the medical pro- fession ; and why the subordinate branches are often preferred, even at an equal expense, to the higher." Notwithstanding these discouraging sentiments,
