(715)
stay for the Judgment of the Doctors of Paris, to enable them to prescribe an Operation oi this nature. Doubtless we shall in a short time have this point determin'd and regulated by a higher Jurisdiction. And I have now before me a paralytick Woman (a neighbour and friend to her, that was cured of the Palsey this way) who is resolved to present a Petition to the Magistrate, and therein to desire, the Transfusion maybe allowed her.
Mean time, if ever the Faculty of the Parisian Physitians meet upon this business, I do not believe, that they will act with that precipitancy, as some fancy. And as to the Parliament, I do not see, that those, who compose it, are of a revolution to strike at this Operation, unless it should happen, that the Experiments, that maybe made before them, should not succeed as those have done, that have been made hitherto. 'Tis well known to that Court, that the Faculty made a decree, an hundred years since, against Antimony, which was then used by the Physitians of Montpelier, and that, after they had given it a place among Poysons, they obtain'd a sentence, prohibiting the use thereof: yet notwithstanding these Physitians not having forborne to use it under another name, the effects thereof proved so advantagious, and the recovery of our Great Monarch thereby so famous, that the same Faculty of Paris was constrain'd, two years agoe, by a decree to approve what before they had forbidden, and even demanded an other sentence for permitting the use of the same.
This Example alone will not let them go so fadt for the future upon the like Occasions: besides that the time, wherein we are, seemes to be much more favourable for New Discoveries, than it was an Age agoe. His Majesty, how much soever taken up in the Government of his Kingdome, and in his Victories and Triumphs, is not wanting to give a very particular encouragement and protection to Learned and Inquisitive Men: And at a time, when his said Majesty sends all over the World recompenses and gratifications to those, that cultivate Sciences, I cannot believe, that in his Dominions there will be found Magistrates, resolved to condemne persons, that have no other Crime than that of consecrating all their interest and labour to the Progress and Advancement of Knowledge and New Discoveries. I shall not faile, punctually to impart to you the issue of this affaire, in the meane time believe me,
An Account of two Books.
THe chiefe design of the Discourse in this Book is, to encourage more and more the free and better disposed spirits to a vigorous endeavour in the pursuits of such knowledge, as may really enrich the understanding of Man, and more amply provide for the Necessities and Accemmodati-
ons
