Although in the Preface which immediately follows, and which is reprinted
with slight alterations from the former edition, I have entered, at
some length, upon the subject of the following translation, I felt it
necessary, in the circumstances under which my work now appears, to
premise a few additional remarks.
It is now many years since I undertook and completed a translation of
the whole works of Paulus Ægineta. In the year 1834 I published the
first three books, with a commentary, having for its object to embody
the most important opinions of the Greek, Roman, and Arabian writers,
on all subjects treated of by the original author. Notwithstanding the
very favorable reception which that volume obtained from many of the
most eminent members of the medical profession, as well as from scholars
both at home and abroad, I was under the necessity—from circumstances
which I need not here detail—of deviating from my original intention
of completing the publication of the work in the same form and at my
own risk. After an interval of ten years the proposition was made to me
by the Council of the SYDENHAM SOCIETY to prepare a new edition of the
volume already published, and to complete the remaining two on the same
general plan. This proposition was too gratifying to my feelings not to
be immediately assented to; and it is with unfeigned satisfaction that
I have now the honour to submit the first volume of the work to the
members of so distinguished and important a Society.
In preparing this volume for the press, knowing that it will now be
subjected to the criticisms of a very numerous and intelligent body of my
professional brethren, I have been anxious to render it worthy of their
approbation as far as lay in my power. At the request of the Council I
have made considerable omissions in my commentary as formerly printed,
more especially in regard to modern authorities; it being thought
advisable not to bring the annotations further down than the period of
the Arabian writers. I have also made not a few additions and alterations
which I hope will be considered as improvements. In performing this part
of my task I have greatly profited by the aid and valuable criticisms
of two esteemed friends, Sir William Hamilton of Edinburgh, and Dr.
Greenhill of Oxford.
I am sensible that it is to the growing conviction in the profession,
of the value of the ancient authorities, that I owe the very flattering
distinction which my work has now obtained; and I shall have great
satisfaction in reverting to the labours of former years if they should
now prove instrumental in increasing the desire of becoming acquainted
with the views and practice of our forefathers. That the ancient
literature of medicine has been too much neglected in this country is not
disputed by any competent judge; and it would appear from the remarks
of M. Hecker, in his address to the physicians of Germany, given in his
admirable work on Epidemics,[1] that the profession on the Continent is
not much in advance of us in this respect.
[1] Dr. Babington’s Translation; Sydenham edition, p. xv.
The time, however, it is to be hoped, is not far distant when the medical
profession will everywhere be impressed with the importance of becoming
properly acquainted with the views of the animal economy and of its
derangements, entertained by three of the most intellectual nations of
mankind; and when every newly-broached hypothesis will be tested by a
comparison with doctrines of a similar nature advanced in former days,
and every newly-proposed remedy will be subjected to a like ordeal.
Surely every age ought to endeavour to benefit by the experiments,
whether successful or otherwise, of all preceding ones; instead of every
generation commencing a new series of trials, and wandering over the same
ground in search of truths which had been long ago discovered; or in
stumbling through the mazes of error without regarding the beacons set
up by their forefathers to direct the footsteps of their descendants. If
the wisdom of antiquity be entitled to high reverence in any case, it
surely is so in medicine, founded as this art especially is on general
observation and experience.
What renders ancient medical literature of the more importance at the
present day, is the circumstance that it is almost our only source of
information with regard to the diseases prevalent in several extensive
countries bordering upon the Mediterranean Sea. It is well known that
the inhabitants of Greece, of Asia Minor, and of the north coast of
Africa have been long sunk into such a state of intellectual decrepitude
as renders them incapable of making and recording original observation;
consequently, for information in regard to the phenomena of disease, as
manifested in these regions, we are almost entirely thrown back upon the
literature of their ancestors.
I take the present opportunity of adverting to one or two circumstances
which I omitted to notice in my original preface.
An objection, I am well aware, will be made by some scholars to the
manner in which I have executed one part of my task. It is this:—that the
references to ancient authors are often so vague, as to make it a matter
of considerable difficulty to find the passages in the originals. It must
be admitted that there are grounds for this objection; and if I had the
work to do over again, I should most probably take pains to obviate it,
in some degree, at least. But to remedy the omission, after the work
was completed on its present plan, would have been a task of immense
labour to me, without bringing a correspondent advantage to my readers.
Moreover, I am convinced that, even as they stand, the references will,
in general, be found sufficient to guide those who have an acquaintance
with the originals to the places indicated; and to those who are
unacquainted with them, this strict system of quotation would be of no
use, further than to inspire them with a greater degree of confidence in
the accuracy and pains-taking research of the Editor. It may be proper
for me, then, to state that I have made it an invariable rule never to
quote at second-hand, nor to make any reference to the opinions of an
author whose works I have not myself carefully examined.
Many readers, I fear, will find considerable difficulty with the names
of the Compound Medicines which occur throughout this volume; and may
be disposed to think it was the duty of the Commentator to explain them
as they occur. In answer to this objection, I beg to state, that these
compositions will be fully described in the third and last volume, which
treats of the Materia Medica and Pharmacy; and on this account I thought
it unnecessary to notice them elsewhere. The GENERAL INDEX, which will
be given at the end of the work, will also facilitate reference in such
cases.