Compassionate Counsel to All Young Men, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Counsel to Young Students in Physick.
SUpposing what is said to others, which equally concerneth you, I briefly add.
I. Make not the getting of Money, and your own worldly prosperity, so much of your end as the doing good in the world, by the preservation of mens health and lives, and the pleasing of God thereby. Selfish low ends shew a selfish mind, that liveth not to God or publick good.
II. Undertake not the practice of Physick without all these qualifications.
1. A special sagacity, or natural searching conjecturing judgment. For almost all your work lyeth in the dark, and is manageed by Conjecture.
2. Much Reading, especially of Observators, that you may know what hath been the experience of all ages, and eminent men before you.
3. The experience of other mens practice: And therefore if possible, stay some time first in the house with some eminent Practitioner, whose experiences you may see, and hear his counsel.
III. Begin with plain and easy cases, and meddle only with safe and harmless remedies; And think not your selves Physicians indeed, till you have got considerable experience your selves, there is no satisfactory trusting to other mens experiences alone.
IV. In cases too hard for you, send your Patients to abler Physicians, and prefer not your reputation or gain before their lives.
V. Study simples throughly, especially the most powerful; and affect not such compositions, as by the mixture of the less powerful, do frustrate the ingredients, which would else be more effectual.
VI. Forget not the Poverty of most Patients, who have not Money to pay large chargeable Bills of the Apothecary, nor give large Fees to a Physician; multitudes neglect Physick and venture without it, because Physicians require so much, and are so much for their Apothecaries gain, that they have it not to pay.
VII. Take heed of self conceitedness and rash confidence, and too hasty judging. Most of your work is hard; many things, which you think not on, may occasion your mistake. Causes and Diseases have marvellous diversities. Most that are quick judges, and suddenly confident that all their first apprehensions are true, do prove but proud self-ignorant fools, and kill more by ignorances and temerity, than high-way robbers or designing Murderers do. And though the Grave hide you mistakes, they are known to God.
VIII. Give not too much Physick nor too often, or without need, nor venture on things dangerous; Mans life is precious, and nature is the chief Physician, which Art must but help. The Body is tender and easily distempered, rather do too little than too much. Oft tampering useth to kill at last. As he that dayly washeth a glass, at last breaketh it; and as Seamen are bold because they have oft escaped, but many, if not most, are drown'd at last; and as Soldiers that have oft escaped are bold to venture, but kill'd at last. Its usually so with them that oft take Physick except from a very cautelous skillful man. Therefore were I a Woman I would not marry a Physitian, lest his nearness and kindness should cause him to be tampering with me so oft, till a mistake did kill me: All your Neighbours may mistake your Disease without your hurt, but your Physitians mistake may be your present Death.
IX. Direct men first as faithful Friends, to the things which may prevent the need of Physick. viz.
1. A temperate and wholesome Diet, avoiding fullness and hurtful things.
2. Sufficient labour to suscitate natural heat, keep pure the humors, and expell excrements; avoiding Idleness.
3. Keeping warm, and avoiding occasions of Cold, especially cold Drink, cold Places, and cold Cloathing, either when they are hot, or in Winter when nature needeth help.
4. Contentedness and quietness of mind, and chearful converse.
5. Direct them to such familiar remedies at home, in their Drinks and Diet as is suitable to their distempers, for preservation, and are safe and harmless, and put them not to a needless dependance on your frequent help, make not use of weak Womens fears, to make them miserable by needless Medicining, and so to make them as Tenants to you, to pay you a constant Rent to quiet them.
X. Give them good Counsel for their Souls that need it; flatter them not with false hopes of life, when it tendeth to hinder their preparations for Death. They and you are hasting to so great a change, as requireth great and careful forethoughts: Its sad to go out of the World, and not at all to know whither, and what will be their next habitation; much more to be in a certain state of misery. Those will hear a Physitian that will not send for a Divine, and it is not a work unbeseeming your Profession, but such as Christian Faith and Charity bespeaks.