former health。 How often do we see physicians impute the death of their
patients to one another？ I remember that some years ago there was an
epidemical disease； very dangerous and for the most part mortal； that
raged in the towns about us： the storm being over which had swept away an
infinite number of men； one of the most famous physicians of all the
country； presently after published a book upon that subject； wherein；
upon better thoughts； he confesses that the letting blood in that disease
was the principal cause of so many mishaps。 Moreover； their authors hold
that there is no physic that has not something hurtful in it。 And if
even those of the best operation in some measure offend us； what must
those do that are totally misapplied？ For my own part； though there were
nothing else in the case； I am of opinion； that to those who loathe the
taste of physic； it must needs be a dangerous and prejudicial endeavour
to force it down at so incommodious a time； and with so much aversion；
and believe that it marvellously distempers a sick person at a time when
he has so much need of repose。 And more over； if we but consider the
occasions upon which they usually ground the cause of our diseases； they
are so light and nice； that I thence conclude a very little error in the
dispensation of their drugs may do a great deal of mischief。 Now； if the
mistake of a physician be so dangerous； we are in but a scurvy condition；
for it is almost impossible but he must often fall into those mistakes：
he had need of too many parts； considerations； and circumstances； rightly
to level his design： he must know the sick person's complexion； his
temperament； his humours； inclinations； actions； nay； his very thoughts
and imaginations； he must be assured of the external circumstances； of
the nature of the place； the quality of the air and season； the situation
of the planets； and their influences： he must know in the disease； the
causes； prognostics； affections； and critical days； in the drugs； the
weight； the power of working； the country； figure； age； and dispensation；
and he must know how rightly to proportion and mix them together； to
beget a just and perfect symmetry； wherein if there be the least error；
if amongst so many springs there be but any one out of order； 'tis enough
to destroy us。 God knows with how great difficulty most of these things
are to be understood： for （for example） how shall the physician find out
the true sign of the disease； every disease being capable of an infinite
number of indications？ How many doubts and controversies have they
amongst themselves upon the interpretation of urines？ otherwise； whence
should the continual debates we see amongst them about the knowledge of
the disease proceed？ how could we excuse the error they so oft fall into；
of taking fox for marten？ In the diseases I have had； though there were
ever so little difficulty in the case； I never found three of one
opinion： which I instance； because I love to introduce examples wherein I
am myself concerned。
A gentleman at Paris was lately cut for the stone by order of the
physicians； in whose bladder； being accordingly so cut； there was found
no more stone than in the palm of his hand； and in the same place a
bishop； who was my particular friend； having been earnestly pressed by
the majority of the physicians whom he consulted； to suffer himself to be
cut； to which also； upon their word； I used my interest to persuade him；
when he was dead and opened； it appeared that he had no malady but in the
kidneys。 They are least excusable for any error in this disease； by
reason that it is in some sort palpable； and 'tis thence that I conclude
surgery to be much more certain； by reason that it sees and feels what it
does； and so goes less upon conjecture； whereas the physicians have no
'speculum matricis'； by which to examine our brains； lungs； and liver。
Even the very promises of physic are incredible in themselves； for；
having to provide against divers and contrary accidents that often
afflict us at one and the same time； and that have almost a necessary
relation； as the heat of the liver and the coldness of the stomach； they
will needs persuade us； that of their ingredients one will heat the
stomach and the other will cool the liver： one has its commission to go
directly to the kidneys； nay； even to the bladder； without scattering its
operations by the way； and is to retain its power and virtue through all
those turns and meanders； even to the place to the service of which it is
designed； by its own occult property this will dry…the brain； that will
moisten the lungs。 Of all this bundle of things having mixed up a
potion； is it not a kind of madness to imagine or to hope that these
differing virtues should separate themselves from one another in this
mixture and confusion； to perform so many various errands？ I should very
much fear that they would either lose or change their tickets； and
disturb one another's quarters。 And who can imagine but that； in this
liquid confusion； these faculties must corrupt； confound； and spoil one
another？ And is not the danger still more when the making up of this
medicine is entrusted to the skill and fidelity of still another； to
whose mercy we again abandon our lives？
As we have doublet and breeches…makers； distinct trades； to clothe us；
and are so much the better fitted； seeing that each of them meddles only
with his own business； and has less to trouble his head with than the
tailor who undertakes all； and as in matter of diet； great persons； for
their better convenience； and to the end they may be better served； have
cooks for the different offices； this for soups and potages； that for
roasting； instead of which if one cook should undertake the whole
service； he could not so well perform it； so also as to the cure of our
maladies。 The Egyptians had reason to reject this general trade of
physician； and to divide the profession： to each disease； to each part of
the body； its particular workman； for that part was more properly and
with less confusion cared for； seeing the person looked to nothing else。
Ours are not aware that he who provides for all； provides for nothing；
and that the entire government of this microcosm is more than they are
able to undertake。 Whilst they were afraid of stopping a dysentery； lest
they should put the patient into a fever； they killed me a friend；
＇Estienne de la Boetie。＇ who was worth more than the whole of them。
They counterpoise their own divinations with the present evils； and
because they will not cure the brain to the prejudice of the stomach；
they injure both with their dissentient and tumultuary drugs。
As to the variety and weakness of the rationale of this art； they are
more manifest in it than in any other art； aperitive medicines are proper
for a man subject to the stone； by reason that opening and dilating the
passages they help forward the slimy matter whereof gravel and stone are
engendered； and convey that downward which begins to harden and gather in
the reins； aperitive things are dangerous for a man subject to the stone；
by reason that； opening and dilating the passages； they help forward the
matter proper to create the gravel toward the reins； which by their own
propension being apt to seize it； 'tis not to be imagined but that a
great deal of what has been conveyed thither must remain behind；
moreover； if the medicine happen to meet with anything too large to be
carried through all the narrow passages it must pass to be expelled； that
obstruction； whatever it is； being stirred by these aperitive things and
thrown into those narrow passages； coming to stop them； will occasion a
certain and most painful death。 They have the like uniformity in the
counsels they give us for the regimen of life： it is good to make water
often； for we experimentally see that； in letting it lie long in the
bladder； we give it time to settle the sediment； which will concrete into
a stone； it is good not to make water often； for the heavy excrements it
carries along with it will not be voided without violence； as we see by
experience that a torrent that runs with force washes the ground it rolls
over much cleaner than the course of a slow and tardy stream； so； it is
good to have often to do with women； for that opens the passages and
helps to evacuate gravel； it is also very ill to have often to do with
women； because it heats； tires； and weakens the reins。 It is good to
bathe frequently in hot water； forasmuch as that relaxes and mollifies
the places where the gravel and stone lie； it is also ill by reason that
this application of external heat helps the reins to bake； harden； and
petrify the matter so disposed。 For those who are taking baths it is
most healthful。 To eat little at night； to the end that the waters they
are to drink the next morning may have a better operation upon an empty
stomach； on the other hand； it is better to eat little at dinner； that it
hinder not the operation of the waters； while it is not yet perfect； and
not to oppress the stomach so soon after the other labour； but leave the
office of digestion to the night； which will much better p