and of its application to our necessities： I very well see that pikes and
swallows live by her laws； but I mistrust the inventions of our mind； our
knowledge and art； to countenance which； we have abandoned Nature and her
rules； and wherein we keep no bounds nor moderation。 As we call the
piling up of the first laws that fall into our hands justice； and their
practice and dispensation very often foolish and very unjust； and as
those who scoff at and accuse it； do not； nevertheless； blame that noble
virtue itself； but only condemn the abuse and profanation of that sacred
title； so in physic I very much honour that glorious name； its
propositions； its promises； so useful for the service of mankind； but the
ordinances it foists upon us； betwixt ourselves； I neither honour nor
esteem。
In the first place； experience makes me dread it； for amongst all my
acquaintance； I see no people so soon sick； and so long before they are
well； as those who take much physic； their very health is altered and
corrupted by their frequent prescriptions。 Physicians are not content to
deal only with the sick； but they will moreover corrupt health itself；
for fear men should at any time escape their authority。 Do they not；
from a continual and perfect health； draw the argument of some great
sickness to ensue？ I have been sick often enough； and have always found
my sicknesses easy enough to be supported （though I have made trial of
almost all sorts）； and as short as those of any other； without their
help； or without swallowing their ill…tasting doses。 The health I have
is full and free； without other rule or discipline than my own custom and
pleasure。 Every place serves me well enough to stay in； for I need no
other conveniences； when I am sick； than what I must have when I am well。
I never disturb myself that I have no physician； no apothecary； nor any
other assistance； which I see most other sick men more afflicted at than
they are with their disease。 What！ Do the doctors themselves show us
more felicity and duration in their own lives； that may manifest to us
some apparent effect of their skill？
There is not a nation in the world that has not been many ages without
physic； and these the first ages； that is to say； the best and most
happy； and the tenth part of the world knows nothing of it yet； many
nations are ignorant of it to this day； where men live more healthful and
longer than we do here； and even amongst us the common people live well
enough without it。 The Romans were six hundred years before they
received it； and after having made trial of it； banished it from the city
at the instance of Cato the Censor； who made it appear how easy it was to
live without it； having himself lived fourscore and five years； and kept
his wife alive to an extreme old age； not without physic； but without a
physician： for everything that we find to be healthful to life may be
called physic。 He kept his family in health； as Plutarch says if I
mistake not； with hare's milk； as Pliny reports； that the Arcadians
cured all manner of diseases with that of a cow； and Herodotus says； the
Lybians generally enjoy rare health； by a custom they have； after their
children are arrived to four years of age； to burn and cauterise the
veins of their head and temples； by which means they cut off all
defluxions of rheum for their whole lives。 And the country people of our
province make use of nothing； in all sorts of distempers； but the
strongest wine they can get； mixed with a great deal of saffron and
spice； and always with the same success。
And to say the truth； of all this diversity and confusion of
prescriptions； what other end and effect is there after all； but to purge
the belly？ which a thousand ordinary simples will do as well； and I do
not know whether such evacuations be so much to our advantage as they
pretend； and whether nature does not require a residence of her
excrements to a certain proportion； as wine does of its lees to keep it
alive： you often see healthful men fall into vomitings and fluxes of the
belly by some extrinsic accident； and make a great evacuation of
excrements； without any preceding need； or any following benefit； but
rather with hurt to their constitution。 'Tis from the great Plato； that
I lately learned； that of three sorts of motions which are natural to us；
purging is the worst； and that no man； unless he be a fool； ought to take
anything to that purpose but in the extremest necessity。 Men disturb and
irritate the disease by contrary oppositions； it must be the way of
living that must gently dissolve； and bring it to its end。 The violent
gripings and contest betwixt the drug and the disease are ever to our
loss； since the combat is fought within ourselves； and that the drug is
an assistant not to be trusted； being in its own nature an enemy to our
health； and by trouble having only access into our condition。 Let it
alone a little； the general order of things that takes care of fleas and
moles； also takes care of men； if they will have the same patience that
fleas and moles have； to leave it to itself。 'Tis to much purpose we cry
out 〃Bihore；〃 ＇A term used by the Languedoc waggoners to hasten their
horses＇ 'tis a way to make us hoarse； but not to hasten the matter。
'Tis a proud and uncompassionate order： our fears； our despair displease
and stop it from； instead of inviting it to； our relief； it owes its
course to the disease； as well as to health； and will not suffer itself
to be corrupted in favour of the one to the prejudice of the other's
right； for it would then fall into disorder。 Let us； in God's name；
follow it； it leads those that follow； and those who will not follow； it
drags along； both their fury and physic together。 Order a purge for your
brain； it will there be much better employed than upon your stomach。
One asking a Lacedaemonian what had made him live so long； he made
answer； 〃the ignorance of physic〃； and the Emperor Adrian continually
exclaimed as he was dying； that the crowd of physicians had killed him。
A bad wrestler turned physician： 〃Courage；〃 says Diogenes to him； 〃thou
hast done well； for now thou will throw those who have formerly thrown
thee。〃 But they have this advantage； according to Nicocles； that the sun
gives light to their success and the earth covers their failures。 And；
besides； they have a very advantageous way of making use of all sorts of
events： for what fortune； nature； or any other cause （of which the number
is infinite）； products of good and healthful in us； it is the privilege
of physic to attribute to itself； all the happy successes that happen to
the patient； must be thence derived； the accidents that have cured me；
and a thousand others； who do not employ physicians； physicians usurp to
themselves： and as to ill accidents； they either absolutely disown them；
in laying the fault upon the patient； by such frivolous reasons as they
are never at a loss for； as 〃he lay with his arms out of bed；〃 or 〃he was
disturbed with the rattling of a coach：〃
〃Rhedarum transitus arcto
Vicorum inflexu：〃
＇〃The passage of the wheels in the narrow
turning of the street〃Juvenal； iii。 236。＇
or 〃somebody had set open the casement；〃 or 〃he had lain upon his left
side；〃 or 〃he had some disagreeable fancies in his head〃： in sum； a word；
a dream； or a look； seems to them excuse sufficient wherewith to palliate
their own errors： or； if they so please； they even make use of our
growing worse； and do their business in this way which can never fail
them： which is by buzzing us in the ear； when the disease is more
inflamed by their medicaments； that it had been much worse but for those
remedies； he； whom from an ordinary cold they have thrown into a double
tertian…ague； had but for them been in a continued fever。 They do not
much care what mischief they do； since it turns to their own profit。
In earnest； they have reason to require a very favourable belief from
their patients； and； indeed； it ought to be a very easy one； to swallow
things so hard to be believed。 Plato said very well； that physicians
were the only men who might lie at pleasure； since our health depends
upon the vanity and falsity of their promises。
AEsop； a most excellent author； and of whom few men discover all the
graces； pleasantly represents to us the tyrannical authority physicians
usurp over poor creatures； weakened and subdued by sickness and fear；
when he tells us； that a sick person； being asked by his physician what
operation he found of the potion he had given him： 〃I have sweated very
much；〃 says the sick man。 〃That's good；〃 says the physician。 Another
time； having asked how he felt himself after his physic： 〃I have been
very cold； and have had a great shivering upon me；〃 said he。 〃That is
good；〃 replied the physician。 After the third potion； he asked him again
how he did： 〃Why； I find myself swollen and puffed up；〃 said he； 〃as if
I had a dropsy。〃 That is very well；〃 said the physician。 One of his
servants coming presently after to inquire how he felt himself； 〃Truly；
friend；〃 said he； 〃with being too well I am abo