| dc.description.abstract | Abstract The 17th century was the historical transient period of knowledge regimes. The empirical approach, which originated from craftsmen and artisans, gained a more important position in knowledge production. The traditional scholarly book-learning was in the process of combined with the rising empirical method. As a doctor who was dedicated to medical observation and recording, Sydenham attempted to make his empirical knowledge of Peruvian bark professional, accountable, and credible among the learned physicians. First and foremost, in order to be acknowledged as a professional physician, Sydenham fulfilled the conventional demands of the learning tradition by demonstrating Latin competence, academic written style, and scholarly virtues. Moreover, Sydenham applied traditional and rational theories to explain and defend his empirical knowledge. These theories allowed the empirical knowledge to be articulated accountably and legitimately. In addition, Sydenham created the new concept—“the History of Diseases” and new examples—“a good Physician” and the “specific” Peruvian bark. These new narrative constructions respectively expanded Sydenham’s authority over the ongoing discourse about the medical method, doctors, and Peruvian bark. At the same time, an excellent physician who adopted the authoritative method of “the History Diseases” would guarantee the credibility of the knowledge of Peruvian bark. Through these mentioned metadiscursive strategies, Sydenham successfully established his authority over the knowledge of the bark. Keywords: Thomas Sydenham, Peruvian bark, Knowledge authority, Metadiscursive strategies | eng |