In order to render the book as useful as my zeal has intended, I recommend it a fair perusal, from the first page to the last; a book of this nature is apt to be looked into, only when advice is wanted: that method is wrong; and in such a case, the best book in the world is apt to mislead. It is not enough that we know what we are to do with such and such disorders, but we should previously know what the disorder is; and how shall we know that, without having some idea of the evil before it comes on?
A book of this size is soon perused; taking a lecture or a section at a leisure time on board, will soon send the reader through the whole; and I flatter myself, that one perusal will lead to the second, when then it may be referred to for advice with safety; and I hope a study so essential to self-preservation, will be viewed in a more agreeable light, than it has hitherto been.
To compleat the whole, a copper-plate is annexed, wherein the most material utensils are exhibited, which was scarce capable to be explained by bare description, to men unacquainted with surgery.
To conclude, I must beg leave to observe, that the respect and esteem, with which I have been constantly honoured by every worthy seaman, whose life and health were committed to my care, have I confess, stimulated my endeavours, to offer them this book as a grateful return. And I am happy to reflect, that my experience in life enables me to make it worth their acceptance. May they reap that benefit from it, which my heart has intended them; and this is all the reward I wish to obtain.
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Page 5. line 22. for cataplexy, read apoplexy. Page 6. line 16. read, that a pressure on that part, not only occasions an apoplexy, but even stops life itself. Page 26. line 17. for theirs, read thus. Page 35. for Sect. vii. read viii. and following ix. x. Page 61. line 4. for five or six, read about four or five. Line 21. for iniform, read inform. Page 91. line 18. read, in order to get into. Page 131. line 29. for purify, read putrefy. Page 135. line 12. delete them. Page 142. line 2. from the bottom, read, and is a sufficient. Page 158. line 6. for malignitus, read malignities. Page 239. line 7. read, the patient when not able to crawl to the tub, so revived &c.