Page:Lives of British Physicians.djvu/310

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288 BRITISH PHYSICIANS. gave to the world an epitome of his opinions in a first volume of " Elements of Pathology and Therapeutics ; or the Outlines of a Work intended to ascertain the Nature, Causes, and most Effi- cacious Modes of Prevention and Cure of the ^Teater number of the Diseases incidental to the Human Frame, illustrated by numerous Cases and Dissections." This first volume contained the ge- neral pathology. In the preftice. Dr. Parry says, " The author of the following work has long been in the habit of recording such facts, conneced with the profession of medicine as have occurred to his own observation, and have appeared to him calcu- lated to amend received errors, or to suggest new truths. These facts it has been his intention to arrange, as soon as a sufficient number should be collected to admit of being disposed in a distinct and consistent form. The immediate exigencies of his profession have, however, so retarded the accomplishment of this design, that he every day sees announced, as novelties, opinions, which for thirty years have formed the basis of his practice. If, however, this anticipation may have occasioned him some loss of credit, it has been fully compen- sated by the advantage which the delay has af- forded, of scrutinizing specious hypotheses, and correcting hasty misconceptions. Sufficient time has now been allowed for ail the purposes of ob- servation which the author can reasonably expect to accomplish during what may remain to him of physical and mental capacity : and he thinks that he cannot employ his leisure better, than in giving an epitome of his pathological and practical prin- ciples ; reserving the recital of the very numerous