... Theses de pleuritide

TO THE MOST DISTINGUISHED AND MOST PRUDENT MEN, THE CONSULS AND THE REST OF THE SENATORS OF THE REPUBLIC OF OPPAVA, my masters to be honored with observance.

A decorative drop cap letter G featuring floral scrollwork.It is a sign of a grateful spirit, most distinguished men, not only to remember a kindness received, but also to either proclaim it with words or, if granted, to show by deed that it was pleasing to one. If I were to deny that I received a kindness from your authority, I would justly be accused of ingratitude. For I laid the foundation of the liberal arts in your school, without which it is permitted to no one to penetrate into the knowledge of other studies. Since I have always held this as a great gift, I grieve vehemently that my condition has been so meager until now that I could not demonstrate my grateful spirit toward your authority with any service sufficiently worthy of you. Thus, I have not hesitated to use the present occasion to publicly provide a testimony of my gratitude toward your authority. Therefore, I offer and dedicate to your authority a nearly complete treatise on pleurisy, contracted by me into certain themes, so that it may be discussed more conveniently in a public debate. And although this gift is not of the sort that was suitable to be inscribed to the name of your authority, I am nevertheless fully persuaded that you will consider the spirit of the one offering it, rather than the gift itself. Although, if we examine the matter a little more accurately, this work, whatever it is, might not seem entirely to be scorned. For no one who acknowledges that the explanation of this most grave disease is necessary would disagree, especially since, besides the fact that it is very frequent, it also carries a man away most swiftly in the manner of many acute diseases, unless it is relieved in time. It is therefore useful to know the causes from which it is usually produced, in order to guard against it; or, if