The opening of Preface
When I first signified my intention of publishing the following sheets, I was told by my friends it would draw on me the resentment of the whole Faculty. As I never could entertain such an unfavourable idea, I was resolved to make the experiment, which indeed came out pretty much as might have been expected. Many whose learning and liberality of sentiments do honour to medicine received the book in a manner which at once shewed their indulgence, and the falsity of the opinion that every physician wishes to conceal his art; while the more selfish and narrow-minded, generally the most numerous in every profession, have not failed to persecute both the book and its author.
The reception, however, which this work has met with from the Public merits my most grateful acknowledgments. As the best way of expressing these, I have endeavoured to render it more generally useful, by enlarging the prophylaxis, or that part which treats of preventing diseases; and by adding many articles which had been entirely omitted in the former impressions. It is needless to enumerate these additions; I shall only say, that I hope they will be found real improvements.