PRAYERS

FOR

THE USE OF

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

LONDON,

RIVINGTONS; CHURCHILL:

OXFORD, PARKER.

MDCCCXLII.

DEDICATION.

LORD, [our] first fruits present themselves to Thee; Yet not [ours] neither; for from Thee they came; And must return. Accept of them and [us.]

Herbert's Poems.

PREFACE.

It is not necessary here to dwell on the Apostle's command to pray at all times and in all places, and to shew how it applies to the Medical Profession; for those, who do not feel how great is the privilege of being allowed thus to draw near unto God, are not likely to take up this little book. These few words of Preface will be better employed in explaining its history and object.

The greater part of the Prayers are freely translated, with some alterations, from a collection entitled Precationes Medicorum Piae, published by James Horsta,

a James Horst, or Horstius, was born at Torgau in Prussian Saxony, May 1, 1537. He took his degree of M.A. in 1556, and that of Doctor of Medicine in 1562, at the University of Frankfort on the Oder. He held in various places the office of Public Physician till the year 1580, when he received a similar appointment for the Archduchy of Austria, which he held for four years. He was then made Professor of Medicine at Helmstadt, where he afterwards became Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Vice-Rector of the University. He was twice married, and died May 21, 1600. He was a good and religious man, and is said to have been accustomed to implore God's blessing upon the remedies he prescribed. He wrote several medical works, which are not of much value, the greatest literary service that he rendered to his profession being the accompanying Prayers. Biograph. Medic.; Bayle, Dict. Hist. et Crit.