Treatise on the Venereal Disease

I have not listed medical and surgical dictionaries. It is self-evident that they contain articles relevant to this subject. However, who expects to find new observations or important truths in this class of writing—with the exception of the Encyclopedia? Girtanner likely refers to the Encyclopédie edited by Diderot and d’Alembert, which was prized for its original intellectual contributions, unlike standard reference works.

I have sought to judge the cited authors—and especially their opinions—with fairness and modesty. It seemed my duty to correct glaring errors and refute obvious falsehoods. This latter task has perhaps not always been carried out with the necessary moderation. But how could one remain indifferent when dealing with quacksQuaksalbern and secret-mongersGeheimniskrämern In the 18th century, "secret-mongers" were those who sold "secret remedies" or nostrums, refusing to share their formulas with the medical community for peer review. who make a business of enriching themselves at the expense of their fellow man? It is my firm conviction that an author who possesses a remedy capable of lessening human suffering has no excuse, under any pretext, for refusing to make such a remedy public. This belief inspires in me an irresistible revulsion toward all quacks and those who trade in medical secrets. Therefore, in addition to what I say of their writings, I have granted these individuals a specific section within the systematic index, and