and some one came and told me that the cook had found two or three great
balls in his paunch； that rattled against one another amongst what he had
eaten。 I was curious to have all his entrails brought before me； where；
having caused the skin that enclosed them to be cut； there tumbled out
three great lumps； as light as sponges； so that they appeared to be
hollow； but as to the rest； hard and firm without； and spotted and mixed
all over with various dead colours； one was perfectly round； and of the
bigness of an ordinary ball； the other two something less； of an
imperfect roundness； as seeming not to be arrived at their； full growth。
I find； by inquiry of people accustomed to open these animals； that it is
a rare and unusual accident。 'Tis likely these are stones of the same
nature with ours and if so； it must needs be a very vain hope in
those who have the stone； to extract their cure from the blood of a beast
that was himself about to die of the same disease。 For to say that the
blood does not participate of this contagion； and does not thence alter
its wonted virtue； it is rather to be believed that nothing is engendered
in a body but by the conspiracy and communication of all the parts： the
whole mass works together； though one part contributes more to the work
than another； according to the diversity of operations； wherefore it is
very likely that there was some petrifying quality in all the parts of
this goat。 It was not so much for fear of the future； and for myself；
that I was curious in this experiment； but because it falls out in mine；
as it does in many other families； that the women store up such little
trumperies for the service of the people； using the same recipe in fifty
several diseases； and such a recipe as they will not take themselves； and
yet triumph when they happen to be successful。
As to what remains； I honour physicians； not according to the precept
for their necessity （for to this passage may be opposed another of the
prophet reproving King Asa for having recourse to a physician）； but for
themselves； having known many very good men of that profession； and most
worthy to be beloved。 I do not attack them； 'tis their art I inveigh
against； and do not much blame them for making their advantage of our
folly； for most men do the same。 Many callings； both of greater and of
less dignity than theirs； have no other foundation or support than public
abuse。 When I am sick I send for them if they be near； only to have
their company； and pay them as others do。 I give them leave to command
me to keep myself warm； because I naturally love to do it； and to appoint
leeks or lettuce for my broth； to order me white wine or claret； and so
as to all other things； which are indifferent to my palate and custom。
I know very well that I do nothing for them in so doing； because
sharpness and strangeness are incidents of the very essence of physic。
Lycurgus ordered wine for the sick Spartans。 Why？ because they
abominated the drinking it when they were well； as a gentleman； a
neighbour of mine； takes it as an excellent medicine in his fever；
because naturally he mortally hates the taste of it。 How many do we see
amongst them of my humour； who despise taking physic themselves； are men
of a liberal diet； and live a quite contrary sort of life to what they
prescribe others？ What is this but flatly to abuse our simplicity？ for
their own lives and health are no less dear to them than ours are to us；
and consequently they would accommodate their practice to their rules； if
they did not themselves know how false these are。
'Tis the fear of death and of pain； impatience of disease； and a violent
and indiscreet desire of a present cure； that so blind us： 'tis pure
cowardice that makes our belief so pliable and easy to be imposed upon：
and yet most men do not so much believe as they acquiesce and permit； for
I hear them find fault and complain as well as we； but they resolve at
last； 〃What should I do then？〃 As if impatience were of itself a better
remedy than patience。 Is there any one of those who have suffered
themselves to be persuaded into this miserable subjection； who does not
equally surrender himself to all sorts of impostures？ who does not give
up himself to the mercy of whoever has the impudence to promise him a
cure？ The Babylonians carried their sick into the public square； the
physician was the people： every one who passed by being in humanity and
civility obliged to inquire of their condition； gave some advice
according to his own experience。〃 We do little better； there is not so
simple a woman； whose gossips and drenches we do not make use of： and
according to my humour； if I were to take physic； I would sooner choose
to take theirs than any other； because at least； if they do no good； they
will do no harm。 What Homer and Plato said of the Egyptians； that they
were all physicians； may be said of all nations； there is not a man
amongst any of them who does not boast of some rare recipe； and who will
not venture it upon his neighbour； if he will let him。 I was the other
day in a company where one； I know not who； of my fraternity brought us
intelligence of a new sort of pills made up of a hundred and odd
ingredients： it made us very merry； and was a singular consolation； for
what rock could withstand so great a battery？ And yet I hear from those
who have made trial of it； that the least atom of gravel deigned not to
stir fort。
I cannot take my hand from the paper before I have added a word
concerning the assurance they give us of the certainty of their drugs；
from the experiments they have made。
The greatest part； I should say above two…thirds of the medicinal
virtues； consist in the quintessence or occult property of simples；
of which we can have no other instruction than use and custom； for
quintessence is no other than a quality of which we cannot by our reason
find out the cause。 In such proofs； those they pretend to have acquired
by the inspiration of some daemon； I am content to receive （for I meddle
not with miracles）； and also the proofs which are drawn from things that；
upon some other account； often fall into use amongst us； as if in the
wool； wherewith we are wont to clothe ourselves； there has accidentally
some occult desiccative property been found out of curing kibed heels； or
as if in the radish we eat for food there has been found out some
aperitive operation。 Galen reports； that a man happened to be cured of a
leprosy by drinking wine out of a vessel into which a viper had crept by
chance。 In this example we find the means and a very likely guide and
conduct to this experience； as we also do in those that physicians
pretend to have been directed to by the example of some beasts。 But in
most of their other experiments wherein they affirm they have been
conducted by fortune； and to have had no other guide than chance； I find
the progress of this information incredible。 Suppose man looking round
about him upon the infinite number of things； plants； animals； metals；
I do not know where he would begin his trial； and though his first fancy
should fix him upon an elk's horn； wherein there must be a very pliant
and easy belief； he will yet find himself as perplexed in his second
operation。 There are so many maladies and so many circumstances
presented to him； that before he can attain the certainty of the point to
which the perfection of his experience should arrive； human sense will be
at the end of its lesson： and before he can； amongst this infinity of
things； find out what this horn is； amongst so many diseases； what is
epilepsy； the many complexions in a melancholy person； the many seasons
in winter； the many nations in the French； the many ages in age； the many
celestial mutations in the conjunction of Venus and Saturn； the many
parts in man's body； nay； in a finger； and being； in all this； directed
neither by argument； conjecture； example； nor divine inspirations； but
merely by the sole motion of fortune； it must be by a perfectly
artificial； regular and methodical fortune。 And after the cure is
performed； how can he assure himself that it was not because the disease
had arrived at its period or an effect of chance？ or the operation of
something else that he had eaten； drunk； or touched that day？ or by
virtue of his grandmother's prayers？ And； moreover； had this experiment
been perfect； how many times was it repeated； and this long bead…roll of
haps； and concurrences strung anew by chance to conclude a certain rule？
And when the rule is concluded； by whom； I pray you？ Of so many
millions； there are but three men who take upon them to record their
experiments： must fortune needs just hit one of these？ What if another；
and a hundred others； have made contrary experiments？ We might；
peradventure； have some light in this； were all the judgments and
arguments of men known to us； but that three witnesses； three doctors；
should lord it over all mankind； is against reason： it were necessary
that human nature should have deputed and chosen them out； and that they
were declared our comptrollers by express procuration：
〃TO MADAME DE DURAS。
＇Marguerite d