bear him out? Is it any Wonder that one that reads that Greek Author should be mistaken, and think that he had found out in him, what was never there and so deceive himself and afterwards lead others into the same Error? By no means; for I am well assured that a late learned Commentator has published several Discoveries, which no doubt he believes are contained in that Author, which others of as clear a Sight will never be able to find there without Van Helmont's Vision, or some other necessary Machine: And I am ready to make this Assertion good in several Instances; but this is not a proper Place for such a Dissertation; and besides it would swell this Preface, which is too large already, to a yet more immoderate Bulk.
By what I have said, it will appear that the Study and Knowledge of the old Fathers of Physick, can serve no other valuable purpose, than to gratify the Curious with a Narrative of the low State of the healing Art in antient Times. As for Mathematical Science, which some have endeavoured to interest in the Improvement of Physick, my Judgment is, that as a pro-
