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shrewd charlatan； and as impudent a varlet as ever prescribed for a colic； but knew very well what he was about； and badgers the College with great vigor。 A copy of Spigelius's famous Anatomy； in the Boston Athenaeum； has the names of Increase and Samuel Mather written in it； and was doubtless early overhauled by the youthful Cotton； who refers to the great anatomist's singular death； among his curious stories in the 〃Magnalia；〃 and quotes him among nearly a hundred authors whom he cites in his manuscript 〃The Angel of Bethesda。〃 Dr。 John Clark's 〃books and instruments； with several chirurgery materials in the closet；〃 a were valued in his inventory at sixty pounds； Dr。 Matthew Fuller； who died in 1678； left a library valued at ten pounds； and a surgeon's chest and drugs valued at sixteen pounds。'
Here we leave the first century and all attempts at any further detailed accounts of medicine and its practitioners。 It is necessary to show in a brief glance what had been going on in Europe during the latter part of that century； the first quarter of which had been made illustrious in the history of medical science by the discovery of the circulation。
Charles Barbeyrac； a Protestant in his religion； was a practitioner and teacher of medicine at Montpellier。 His creed was in the way of his obtaining office； but the young men followed his instructions with enthusiasm。 Religious and scientific freedom breed in and in； until it becomes hard to tell the family of one from that of the other。 Barbeyrac threw overboard the old complex medical farragos of the pharmacopoeias； as his church had disburdened itself of the popish ceremonies。
Among the students who followed his instructions were two Englishmen： one of them； John Locke； afterwards author of an 〃Essay on the Human Understanding；〃 three years younger than his teacher； the other； Thomas Sydenham； five years older。 Both returned to England。 Locke； whose medical knowledge is borne witness to by Sydenham； had the good fortune to form a correct opinion on a disease from which the Earl of Shaftesbury was suffering； which led to an operation that saved his life。 Less felicitous was his experience with a certain ancilla culinaria virgo；which I am afraid would in those days have been translated kitchen…wench； instead of lady of the culinary department；who turned him off after she had got tired of him； and called in another practitioner。 ＇Locke and Sydenham； p。 124。 By John Brown； M。 D。 Edinburgh； 1866。＇ This helped； perhaps； to spoil a promising doctor； and make an immortal metaphysician。 At any rate； Locke laid down the professional wig and cane； and took to other studies。
The name of Thomas Sydenham is as distinguished in the history of medicine as that of John Locke in philosophy。 As Barbeyrac was found in opposition to the established religion； as Locke took the rational side against orthodox Bishop Stillingfleet； so Sydenham went with Parliament against Charles； and was never admitted a Fellow by the College of Physicians； which； after he was dead； placed his bust in their hall by the side of that of Harvey。
What Sydenham did for medicine was briefly this he studied the course of diseases carefully； and especially as affected by the particular season； to patients with fever he gave air and cooling drinks； instead of smothering and heating them； with the idea of sweating out their disease； he ordered horseback exercise to consumptives； he； like his teacher； used few and comparatively simple remedies； he did not give any drug at all； if he thought none was needed； but let well enough alone。 He was a sensible man； in short； who applied his common sense to diseases which he had studied with the best light of science that he could obtain。
The influence of the reform he introduced must have been more or less felt in this country； but not much before the beginning of the eighteenth century； as his great work was not published until 1675； and then in Latin。 I very strongly suspect that there was not so much to reform in the simple practice of the physicians of the new community； as there was in that of the learned big…wigs of the 〃College；〃 who valued their remedies too much in proportion to their complexity； and the extravagant and fantastic ingredients which went to their making。
During the memorable century which bred and bore the Revolution； the medical profession gave great names to our history。 But John Brooks belonged to the State； and Joseph Warren belongs to the country and mankind； and to speak of them would lead me beyond my limited subject。 There would be little pleasure in dwelling on the name of Benjamin Church； and as for the medical politicians； like Elisha Cooke in the early part of the century； or Charles Jarvis； the bald eagle of Boston； in its later years； whether their practice was heroic or not； their patients were； for he is a bold man who trusts one that is making speeches and coaxing voters； to meddle with the internal politics of his corporeal republic。
One great event stands out in the medical history of this eighteenth century； namely； the introduction of the practice of inoculation for small…pox。 Six epidemics of this complaint had visited Boston in the course of a hundred years。〃 Prayers had been asked in the churches for more than a hundred sick in a single day； and this many times。 About a thousand persons had died in a twelvemonth； we are told； and； as we may infer； chiefly from this cause。
In 1721； this disease； after a respite of nineteen years； again appeared as an epidemic。 In that year it was that Cotton Mather； browsing； as was his wont； on all the printed fodder that came within reach of his ever…grinding mandibles； came upon an account of inoculation as practised in Turkey； contained in the 〃Philosophical Transactions。〃 He spoke of it to several physicians； who paid little heed to his story； for they knew his medical whims； and had probably been bored； as we say now…a…days； many of them； with listening to his 〃Angel of Bethesda；〃 and satiated with his speculations on the Nishmath Chajim。
The Reverend Mather；I use a mode of expression he often employed when speaking of his honored brethren；the Reverend Mather was right this time； and the irreverent doctors who laughed at him were wrong。 One only of their number disputes his claim to giving the first impulse to the practice； in Boston。 This is what that person says： 〃The Small…Pox spread in Boston； New England； A。1721； and the Reverend Dr。 Cotton Mather； having had the use of these Communications from Dr。 William Douglass 〃 （that is； the writer of these words）； surreptitiously； without the knowledge of his Informer； that he might have the honour of a New fangled notion； sets an Undaunted Operator to work； and in this Country about 290 were inoculated。〃
All this has not deprived Cotton Mather of the credit of suggesting； and a bold and intelligent physician of the honor of carrying out； the new practice。 On the twenty…seventh day of June； 1721； Zabdiel Boylston of Boston inoculated his only son for smallpox；the first person ever submitted to the operation in the New World。 The story of the fierce resistance to the introduction of the practice； of how