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BIRMINGHAM LIBRARY
Margaret Sire
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ADVICE
T O T H E
PEOPLE in GENERAL,
WITH
^
Regard to their HEALTH:
But more particularly calculated for thofe, who*
by their Diftance from regular Phyiicians, or
other very experienced Practitioners, are the
moft unlikely to be feafonably provided with
the beft Advice and Afiiftance, in acute
Difeafes, or upon any fudden inward or out
ward Accident.
WITH
A Table of the moft cheap, yet effectual Reme
dies, and the plained Directions for preparing
them readily.
Tranflated from the FRENCH Edition of
Dr. T i s s o T S Avis an Peuple^ &c.
Printed at Lyons , with all his own Notes -, a few of
his medical Editor s at Lyons \ and feveral occa
fional Notes, adapted to this Engli/h Tranflation,
By J. KIRKPATRICK, M. D.
In the Multitude of the People is the Honour of a King - } and fir
the Want of People cometh the Dejlruffion of the Prince.
Proverbs xiv, 2&.
LONDON: i,
A|
Printed for T. BECKET aad P. A. DE HONDT, at
Tutly s Head, near Surry -Street ^ in the Strand,
M DCC IX V.
THE
TRANSLATOR S PREFACE.
the great Utility of thofe
medical Directions, \vith\vhichthe
followin g Treatife is thoroughly
replenifhed, will be diffidently evi-
dent to every plain and fcnfible
Peruler of it ; and the extraordinary Reception
of it on the Continent is recited in the very wor
thy Author s Preface ; yet fomething, it (ho
feem, may be pertinently added, with Reg-
to this Tranilation of it, by a Perfbn who has
been ftridly attentive to the Original : a Work,
whofe Purpofe was truly neceffary and benevo
lent ; as the Execution of it, altogether, is very
happily accomplifhed.
It will be felf evident, I apprehend, to every
excellent Phyiician, that a radical Knowledge of
the Principles, and much Experience in the Ex-
ercife, of their Profellion, were necellary to ac
commodate fuch a Work to the Comprehenfion
of thofe, for whom it was more particularly cal
culated. Such Gentlemen muft obferve, that
the certain Axiom of Nature s cur big Difeafes,
which is equally true in our Day, as it was in
* 2 that
Tranjlatof-s Preface.
that of HIPPOCRATES, fo habitually animates
this Treatife, as not to require the lead particular
Preference. This Hippocratic Truth as certain
(though much lefs fubject to general Obferva-
tion) as that Difeafe, or Age, is Finally prevalent
over all fublunary Life, the mod attentive Phy-
ficians dilcern the fooneft, the mod ingenuous
dilycofuLis: and henxe fprings that whole-
feme Zeal and Severity, with which Dr. TISSOT
encounters iuch Prejudices of poor illiterate Per-
fons, as either oppofe, or very ignorantiy precipi
tate, her Operations, in her Attainment of Health.
Thefe Prejudices indeed may ieem, from this
Work, to be dill greater, and perhaps groffer too,
in SwiJJerland than among ourfelves ; though it
is certain there is but too much Room for the
Application of his falutary Cautions and Direc
tions, even in this Capital ; and doubtlefs abun
dantly more at great Didances from it. It may
be very juftly fuppofed, for one Inftance, that in.
moil of thoie Cafes in the Small Pocks, in which
the Mother undertakes the Cure of her Child,
or confides it to a Nurie, that Saffron, in a
greater or lefs Quantity, and Sack or Mountain
Whey, are generally Rill ufed in the Sickening
before Eruption 3 to accelerate that very Erup
tion, whole gradual Appearance, about the
fourth] from that of Seizure inclufive, is
favourable and promifing to the Patient; and the
Precipitation of which is often fo highly perni
cious to them. Mod of, or rather all, his other
Cautions and Corrections feem equally necei.
hei
*fhe Tranflators Preface. V
here, as often as the Sick are fimilarly circum-
ftanced, under the different acute Dileafes in
which he enjoins them.
Without the lead Detraction however from
this excellent Phyfician, it may be admitted th it
a few others, in many other Countries, might
have fufficient Abilities and Experience for the
Production of a like Work, on the fame good
Plan. This, we find, Dr. HIRZEL, principal
Phyikian of Zurich, had in Meditation, wi
the prefent Treatite appeared, which he thought
had fo thoroughly fulfilled his own Intention,
that it prevented his attempting to execute it.
But the great Difficulty confided in difcovering, a
Phyfician, who, with equal Abilities, Repi !
tion and Practice, fhould be qualified with that
much rarer Qualification of caring ib much more
for the Health of thole, who could never j
him for it, than for his own Profit or Eafe, .
to determine him to project and to accompliili fo
neceffary, and yet fo (elf-denying, a Work. For
as the Simplicity he propoied in the Style and
Manner of it, by condefcending, in the plained
Terms, to the humbled Capacities, obliged him
to deprels himfelf, by writing rather beneath the
former Treaties, which had acquired him the
Reputation of medical Erudition, Reafoninp- and
Elegance we find that the Love of Fame itfelf,
fo Stimulating even to many ingenuous Mil;
was as impotent as that of Wealth, to fed,
him from fo benign, ib generous a Purpofe.
Though, upon Reflection, it is by no Mean;
a 3 ftrange
vi Tke TranJIators Preface.
ftrange to fee wife Men found their Happineis,
which all [however varioufly and even oppofite-
]y] purfue, rather in Conference, than on Ap-
plaufe -, and this naturally reminds us of that
celebrated Expreflion of CATO, or fome other
excellent Ancient, " that he had rather be good,
than be refuted fo."
However fingular fiich a Determination may
now appear, the Number of reputable medical
Tranfktors into different Languages, which this
original Work has employed on the Continent,
makes it evident, that real Merit will, fooner or
later, have a pretty general Influence ; and induce
many to imitate that Example, which they either
could not, or did not, propofe. As the truly
podeft Author has proferTedly difclaimed all
Applaufe on the Performance, and contented
himfelf with hoping an Exemption from Cen-
fure, through his Readers Reflection on the pe
culiar Circumftances and Addrefs of it ; well
may his beft, his faithful] eft Tranilators, whofe
Merit and Pains muft be of a very fecondary De
gree to his own, be fatisfied with a fimilar Ex
emption : efpecially when joined to the Pleafnre,
that mult refult from a Confcioufnefs of having
o
endeavoured to extend the Benefits of their Au
thor s Treatife, to Multitudes of their own Coun
try and Language.
For my own Particular, when after reading
the Introduction to the Work, and much of the
Sequel, I had determined to tranflate it - y to be
as jujft as pcfiible to the Author, and to his En-
Tranflcitors Preface. vii
glifo Readers, I determined not to interpolate
any Sentiment of my own into the Text, nor to
omit one Sentence of the Original, which, he-
fides its being Detraction in its literal Senfe, I
thought might imply it in its worft, its figurative
one ; for which there was no Room. To con
form as fully as poffible to the Plainnefs and Per-
ipicuity he propofed, I have been pretty often
obliged in the anatomical Names of fome Parts,
and fometimes/of the Symptoms, as well as in
fome pretty familiar, though not entirely popular
Words, to explain all fuch by the mod common
Words I have heard ufed for them j as after
mentioning the Diaphragm, to add, or Midriff
the Trach&a or Windpipe acrimonious,
or very foarp, and fo of many others. This may
a little, though but a little, have extended the
Tranflation beyond the Original ; as the oreat
Affinity between the French and Latin, and be
tween the former and many Latin Words bor
rowed from the Greek, generally makes the
fame anatomical or medical Term, that is tech
nical with us, vernacular or common with them.
< this unavoidable Tautology, which may be
irkfome to many Ears, thofe medical Readers,
for whom it was not intended, will readily for
give, from a Confideration of the general Ad-
drefs of the Work: while they reflecl that meer
Style, if thoroughly intelligible, is leaft effential
to thoie Books, which wholly con fill of very
ufeful, and generally inter efting:, Matter.
As
viii *The franjlators Preface.
As many of the Notes of the Editor of Lyons.,
as I have retained in this Verfion (having tranfla-
ted from the Edition of Lyons) are fubfcribed
E. L. I have difpenfed with feverai, fome, as
evidently lefs within Dr. TISSOT S Plan, from
tending to theorize, however juftly or practically,
where he muft have had his own Reafons for
omitting to theorize : a few others, as manifefl-
ly needlefs, from what the Author had either
premifed, or fpeedily fubjoined, on the very
lame Circumftance : befides a very few, from
their local Confinement to the Practice at Lyons,
which lies in a Climate fomewhat more diffe
rent from our own than that of Laufannt. It is
probable neverthelefs, I have retained a few
more than were neceffary in a profeiTed Tranfla-
tion of the original Work : but wherever I have
done this, I have generally fubjoined my Motive
for it ; of whatever CV nfequence that may appear
to the Reader. I have retained all the Author s
own Notes, with his Name annexed to them j
or if ever the Annotator was uncertain to me, I
have declared vvhofe Note I fuppofed it to be.
Such as I have added from my own Experi
ence or Obiervation are fubfcribed A", to difiin-
guifh them from the others ; and that the De
merit of any of them may neither be imputed to
the learned Author, nor to his Editor. Their
principal Recommendation, or Apology is, that
whatever Facts I have mentioned are certainly
true. I have endeavoured to be temperate in
their Number and Length, and to imitate that
ftrift
T ranflator s Preface.
Iirict Pertinence, which prevails throughout the
Author s Work. If any may have ever conde-
fcended to confider my Way of writing, they
will conceive this Reftraipt has coft me at lead as
much Fains, as a further Indulgence qf my own
Conceptions could have done. The few Pre-
fcriptions I have included in fome of them, have
been fo conducted, as not to give the Reader the
leaft Confufion with Relpect to thofe, which the
Author has given in his Tabje of Remedies, and
which are referred to by numerical Figures,
throughout the Courfe of Jiis Book.
The moderate Number of Dr. TISSOT S Pre-
fcriptions, in his Table of Remedies, amounting
but to leventy-one, and the apparent Simplicity
of many of them, may poilibly difguft fome
Admirers of pompous and compound Prefcrip-
tion. But his Referve, in this important Re-
fpect, has been thoroughly confident with his
Notion of Nature s curing Difeafcs ; which fug-
gefted to him the firft, the eflential Neceflity of
cautioning his Readers againfl doing, giving, or
applying any thing, that might oppofe her heal
ing Operations (a mod capital Purpofe of his
Work) which important Point being gained, the
inildeft, fimpleft and leaft hazardous Remedies
would often prove fufficient Afliftants to her.
Neverthelefs, under more fevere and tedious
Conflicts, he is not wanting to direct the moft
potent and efficacious ones. The Circumftances
of the poor Subjects of his medical Confideration,
became alfo a very natural Object to him, and
was
X *fhe Tranflators Preface.
was in no wife unworthy the Regard of the
humane Tranflator of BILGUER ON AMPUTA
TIONS, or rather againft the crying Abufe of
them 5 an excellent Work, that does real Ho-
jiour to them both ; and which can be difap-
proved by none, who do not prefer the frequent
ly unneceflary Mutilation of the afflicted, to the
Confumption of their own Time, or the Con
traction of their Employment.
Some Perfons may imagine that a Treatife of
this Kind, compofed for the Benefit of labouring
People in Swijfirland, may be little applicable to
thofe of the Britift Wands : and this, in a very
few Particulars, and in a fmall Degree, may
reafonably be admitted. But as we find their
common Prejudices are often the very fame ; as
the Swifs are the Inhabitants of a colder Climate
than France^ and generally, as Dr. Tis SOT often
obferves, accuftomed to drink (like ourfelves)
more ftrong Drink than the French Peafantry ;
and to indulge more in eating Fleih too, which
the Religion of Berne ^ like our own, does not re
train ; the Application of his Advice to them v/ill
pretty generally hold good here. Where he for
bids them Wine and Fleih, all Butchers Meat,
and in moft Cafes all Fiefh, and all ftrong Drink
fhould be prohibited here : efpecially when we
confider, that all his Directions are confined to
the Treatment of acute Diieafes, of which the
very young, the youthful, and frequently even
the robufl are more generally the Subjects. Be-
fides, in fome few of the Englijh Tranllator s
Notes ?
The franjlators Preface.
Notes, he has taken the Liberty of moderating
the Coolers, or the Quantities of them (which
may be well adapted to the great Heats and vio
lent Swift Summers he talks of) according to the
Temperature of our own Climate, and the gene,
ral Habitudes of our own People. It may be
obferved too, that from the fame Motive, I have
ibmetimes afTumed the Liberty of difTenting from
the Text in a very few Notes, as for In (lance, on
the Article of Paftry, which perhaps is generally
better here than in Swt/er/and (where it may be
no better than the coarfe vile Tram that is hawk
ed about and fold to meer Children) as I have fre
quently, in preparing for Inoculation, admitted
the belt Paftry (but not of Meat) into the limited
Diet of the Subjects of Inoculation, and con-
ftantly without the lead ill Coniequence. Thus
alfo in Note * Page 287, 288, I have prefumed
to affirm the Fact, that a ftrong fpirituous Infu-
licn of the Bark has fucceeded more fpeedily in
fome Intermittents, in particular Habits, than
the Bark in Subftance. This I humbly conceive
may be owing to fuch a Mcnjlruums extracting
the Refin of the Bark more effectually (and fo
conveying it into the Blood) than the Juices of
the Stomach and of the alimentary Canal did, or
could. For it is very conceivable that theCr^/fr,
the Confiftence, of the fibrous Blood may fome-
times be affected with a morbid Laxity or Weak-
nefs, as well as the general Syftem of the muf-
cular Fibres.
Thefe
xii fbe Tranjlators Preface.
Thefe and any other like Freedoms, I am
certain the Author s Candour will abundantly
pardon ; fi nee I have never diiTented for Differ
tion s Sake, to the beft of my Recollection j and
have the Honour of harmonizing very generally
in Judgment with him. If one ufeful Hint or
Obfervation occurs throughout my Notes, his
Benevolence will exult in that effential Adhe
rence to his Plan, which fuggefted it to me :
While an invariable ecchoing AfTentation through
out fuch Notes, when there really was any falu-
tary Room for doubting, or for adding (with
Refpedt to ourfelves) would difcover a Servility,
that muft have dilgufted a liberal manly Writer.
One common good Purpofe certainly fprings from
the generous Source, and replenishes the many
Canals into which it is derived ; all the Variety
and little Deviations of which may be confidered
as more expanfive Diftributions of its Benefits.
Since the natural Feelings of Humanity gene
rally difpofe us, but efpecially the more tender
and compaffionate Sex, to advife Remedies to
the poor Sick ; fuch a Knowledge of their real
Difeafe, as would prevent their Patrons, Neigh
bours and Affiftants from adviiing a wrong Re
gimen, or an improper or ill-timed Medicine, is
truly efTential to relieving them : and fuch we
ferioufly think the prefent Work is capable of
imparting, to all commonly fenfible and confe
derate Perufers of it. A Vein of unaffected Pro
bity, of manly Senfe, and of great Philanthropy,
concur to fuftain the Work : And whenever the
Prejudices
The Tranjlator s Preface. xiil
Prejudices of the Ignorant require a forcible Era
dication ; or the crude Temerity and Impudence
of Knaves and Impoftors cry out for their own
Extermination, a happy Mixture of flrong Ar
gument, juft Ridicule, and honed Severity, give
a poignant and pleafant Seafoning to the Work,
which renders it occafionally entertaining, as it is
continually inftrucYive.
A general Reader may he fometimes diverted
with fuch Cuftoms and Notions of the Sivifs Pea-
fants, as are occafionally mentioned here : and
poflibly our rneereft Ruftics may laugh at the
brave fimple Swiff, on his introducing a Sheep
into the Chamber of a very fick Perfon, to lave
the Life of the Patient, by catching its own
Death. But the humbled Peaiantry of both
Nations are agreed in fuch a Number of their
abfiird unhealthy Prejudices, in the Treatment
of Difeafes, that it really feemed necedary to
offer our own the Cautions and Counfels of this
principal Phyfician, in a very refpeclable Protef-
tant Republick, in Order to prevent their Conti
nuance. Nor is it unreafonable to prefume, that
under fuch a Form of Government, if honeftlv
j
adminiftered upon its juftcft Principles, the Peo
ple may be rather more tenderly regarded, than
under the Pomp and Rage of Defpotiim, or the
OppreiTion of fome Ariftocracies.
Befides the different Conditions of Perfoas,
to whom our Author recommends the Patronage
O
and
Of all thefe the Schoolmafters, w tb us, may feem tha
moft reafonably exempted from this Duty.
xiv The franjlators Preface.
and Execution of his Scheme, in his Introductions
it is conceived this Book muft be ferviceable to
many young Country Practitioners, and to great
Numbers of Apothecaries, by furniihing theni
with fuch exact and ftriking Defcriptions of each
acute Difeafe and its Symptoms, as may prevent
their mifbking it for any other; a Deception
which has certainly often been injurious, and
fometimes even fatal : for it is dreadful but to
contemplate the Deftruction or Mifery, with
which Temerity and Ignorance, Ib frequently
combined, overwhelm the Sick. Thus more
Succefs and Reputation, with the Enjoyment of
a better Confcience, would crown their Endea
vours, by a more general Recovery of, or Relief
to, their Patients. To effect this, to improve
every Opportunity of efchewing medical Evil;
and of doing medical Good, was the Author s
avowed Intention ; which he informs us in his
Preface, he has heard, from fome intelligent and
charitable Perfons, his Treatife had effected, even
in fome violent Difeafes. That the fame good
Confequences may every where attend the nume
rous Tranflations of it, muft be the fervent Wifh
of all, except the Quacks and Impoftors he fo juft-
3y characterizes in his thirty-third Chapter ! and
particularly of all, who may be diftinguifhably
qualified, like himfelf, to,
Look through Nature up to Natures GOD !
The
The AUTHOR S
DEDICATION.
To the moft Illuftrious, the mofl
Noble and Magnificent Lords^
the Lords Prejidcnt and Coun-
fellors of the Chamber of
Health, of the City and Re-
publick of Berne.
Mofl honourable Lords y
N I firft publilhed
w JB!^ t ie f^ ow ^ n g Work,
my utmoft Partiality to
it was not fufficient to
allov/ me the Confidence of ad-
dreffina
xvi The Author s
drefling it to Your Lordfhips,
But Your continual Attention
to all the Obje&s, which have
any Relation to that important
Part of the Adminiftration of the
State, which has been fo wifely
committed to Your Care, has
induced You to take Notice of
it. You have been pleafed to
judge it might prove ufeful, and
that an Attempt muft be lauda
ble, which tends to the Exter
mination of erroneous and inve
terate Prejudices, thofe cruel
Tyrants, that are continually op-
pofing the Happinefs of the Peo
ple, even under that Form and
Conftitution of Government,
which is the bed adapted to eftab-
liih and to increafe it.
Your
DEDICATION, xvii
Your Lordfhips Approbation,
and the fplendid Marks of * Be
nevolence, with which You have
honoured me, have afforded me
a jufter Difcernment of the Im
portance of this Treatife, and
have inclined me to hope, MOST
ILLUSTRIOUS, MOST NOBLE,
AND MAGNIFICENT LORDS, that
You will permit this new Edition
of it to appear under the Sanction
of your Aufpices ; that while the
Publick is allured of Your o-ene-
o
ral Goodnefs and Beneficence, it
may alfo be informed of my pro
foundly grateful Senfe of them,
on the fame Occafion.
May the prefent Endeavour
then, in fully correfponding to my
b Wifties,
See the Author s Preface, immediately following this
Dedication.
xviii %S Author* s,
Wifhes, effectually realize Your
Lordihips utmoft Expectations
from it $ while You condefcend
to accept this fmall Oblation, as
a very unequal Expreffion of that
profound Refpecft, with which I
have the Honour to be,
MOST ILLUSTRIOUS, MOST
NOBLE, AND MAGNIFICENT
LORDS,
Tour mofl humble
And mofl
Obedient Servant
LAUSANNE, np T C C C\ HP
Dx. 3, 1762. A rV ^-. V *>
-
^"" "
THE
A U T H O R s
R E F A C E.
to IP ea ^ f thenijehes, there arc
on which a totdl
^<? Jul<P fJ fed to rejult
from a ft ill higher Degree of it :
And the very general Reception of the Advice
to the People has been fucb, that there would
be Room to Jujpeft me of that mojl flocking
Kind of Pride^ which receives Applaufe with
Indifference (as deeming its own Merit fuperior
to the great eft) if I did not appear to be
ftrongly imprejjed with a juft Senje of that
great Favour of the Publick^ which has ban
Jo Very obliging^ and is fo highly agreable, to me.
Unfeignedly affected with the unhappy Situa
tion of the poor Sick in Country Places in
b 2 SvvifTcrland,
.vx "The Authors Preface.
Svviflerland, inhere they arc loft from a Scarcity of
the left sljjiftance, and from a fatal Superflui
ty of tbe iuor/} 9 my /ok Purpofe in writing this
Trcatife has been to ferve, and to comfort them.
I bad intended it only for a fmall Extent of
Country ) with a moderate Number of Inhabi
tants - y and was greatly furprized to find, tbat
within free or fix Months after its Publication y
it was become one of the mojl extenfruely pub-
I ficd Booh in Europe ; and one of thoje frea-
tijes, on a fcientific Subject^ which has been
pen (fed by the great eft Number of Readers of
all Ranks and Conditions. "To confider fuch
Succc jS with Indifference, were to have been
unworthy cf it, which Demerit,, at leajl on
this Account, I cannot jufily be charged with;
fincc Indifference has not been my Cafe, who have
felt, as 1 ought, this Gratification of Seff-lvyc - t
and which, under jujl and prudent Reftritfions,
may perhaps be e-i en politically cbcrificd ; as the
Delight naturally arijing Jrom having been ap
proved, is a Source of that laudable Emulation,
: ch has fometimes .produced the mojl ejjential
nd Confcquences to Society itfelf. For my own
particular, I can truly aver, that my Satisfac
tion has been cxquifitely heightened on this Qcca-
* [ion, as a Lover of my Species: f.nce judging
from the Succefs of this Work (a Succejs which
has exceeded my utmoft Expeaations) of the
Effects that may reafonably be expetfed from it-.
1 am happily cunfdous of that Satisfaction t or
eV(
The Autters Preface. xxi
even Joy, which every truly hone ft Man mujl
receive, from rendering ejjential good Offices to
others. Be/ides which, I have enjoyed, in its
utmofi Extent, that Satisfaction which every
grateful Man mujl receive from the Approba
tion and Beneficence of his Sovereign^ when I
was dijlinguijlxd with the precious Medal,
which the illuftrious Chamber of Health of the
Republick of Berne honoured me with, a jew
Months after the Publication of this Treatijc j
together with a Letter ft ill more ejlluhible, as
it afjured me of the extraordinary Satisfaction
the Republkk had teftijicd on the Imprefjlon of
it ; a Circumjlancc, which I could not avoid
this pubiick Acknowledgement of, without tie
greatejl Vanity and Ingratitude. This has a I jo
been a very influencing Motive Kith me y to ex
ert my utrdoft Abilities in perfeftitjg this //.
Edition, in which I have mad? many Altera
tions, that render it greatly frejerable to the
jirft ; and of which Amendments I JLall give a
brtej Account, after faying fomewhat of the
JLditions, which have appeared elfcwhcre.
The fir ft is that, which Mefjrs. Heidegger,
the Bookjellers publijhed in the German Lan
guage at Zurich, about a Tear Jince. Ijhould
have been highly delighted with the meer Ap
probation of M. HIRZEL, firft Ph\ /;cian of the
Canton of Zurich, &c. whofe fuperior and uni-
ver/al Talents -, whofe profound Knowledge in the
Theory of Phyfick ; and the Extent and Sitcafs
l>3 If
xxii Ibe Author s Preface.
of whofe Practice have juftly elevated him among
the fmall Number of extraordinary Men of our
own Times \ he having lately obtained the JLjlccm
and the Thanh of all Europe, for the Hifto-
ry of one of her * Stfges. But 1 little expected
the Honour this Gentleman has done me, in
tranjlating the Advice to the People into his
own Language. Highly fenfible nevertheless as
I am of this Honour, I muft always reflect
with Regret, that he has confumed that impor
tant Time, in rendering my Directions intelligi
ble to his Countrymen, which he might have
employed much more ufe/ully, in obliging the
World with his own.
He has enriched his Tranjlation with an ex
cellent Preface, which is chiefly employed in a,
juft and beautiful Portrait and Contrajl of
the true, and of the falfe Phyjician ; with
which I fhould have done myfelf the Pleasure
to have adorned the prejent -f*- Edition j if the
Size of this Volume, already too large, had not
proved fin Ob/lack to fo considerable an .Addi
tion ; and if the Manner, tn which. Mr. Hi RZEL
j peaks of its Author, had permitted me with De
cency to pubtifi his Preface. I have been in
formed by fome Letter s^ that there have been two
other
* Le Socrs.te mftinue, a Work, which every Perfon (hou!4
read.
t This Preface is indeed premifcd to this Ftrncb Edition,
but a Tranflation of it was omitted, to avoid extending the Bulk.
and Price of the Work. Dr. TISSOT mufc then have been igno
rant of this Addition, when firft publifhed at Lyons.
The Author s Preface. xxiii
ether German 1r (inflation of it j but 1 am not
informed by wljom . However, M. H i R z F L s Pre-
jace, his own Notes , and feme Additions with
which I have furniJJjed him, renders his Edition
preferable to the fir ft in French, and to the
other German T*ranjlations already made.
The fecond Edition is that, which the younger
DIDOT, the Bookjeller, publijhcd towards the
End of the Winter at Paris. He had requejl-
ed me to furnijh him with fome Additions to
it, which I could not readily comply with.
f Tbe Third Edition is a Dutch *fr (inflation of
it, which will be very foeedily pHoIifoed />v M.
RENTER AREMBERG, Bookfeller qt Rotterd-m.-
He had begun the l Tr an flat ion from my fir ft
Edition ; but having wrote to know whether
I had not fome Additions to make, I dc fired
him to wait for the Publication of this. I
have the good Fortune to be very happy in .v/v
yranftdton\ it being hi. BIKKER, a celebrated
Phyfician at Rotterdam (fo very advantagioufy
bwu n in other Countriss y by his beautiful
Diflertation on Human Nature, throughout which
Genius and Knowledge proceed Hand in Hand)
who will prefent his Countrymen with the Ad
vice to the People, in their own Language :
and who will improve it with [ttch Notes t as
are neceffary for a /life and proper Application
of its Contents, in a Climate, different from
that in which it was wrote. I have alfo beard,
there has been an Italian Tranjlatio/i of it.
b 4 After
xxiv fhe Author s Preface.
After this Account of the foreign Editions^
I return to the prefent one, which is the fe-
cond of the original French Treatife. I Jhall
not affirm it is greatly corrected, with Re/peel
to fundamental Points: for as I had advan
ced nothing in the firfl, that was not eftab-
lifted on Truth and Demon ft ration^ there was
no Room for Corrcclion, with Regard to any
effential Matters. Never thelefs, in this I have
made, \ , a great Number of fmall Altera
tions in the Diction, and added federal Words,
to render the Work ftill more fimplc and per-
fpicuous. 2, The typographical Execution of this
is con fider ably improved in the Type, the Pa
per and Ink, the Spelling, Pointing, and Ar
rangement of the Work. 3 , / have made fome
confiderable Additions, which are of three Kinds.
Not a Jew of them are new Articles on fome
of the Siily eels formerly treated of; fuch as
the Articles concerning "Tarts and other Paflry
Ware ; the Addition concerning the Regimen
Jor Per/ons, in a State of Recovery from
Difeafes ; the Preparation for the Small Pocks ;
a long Note on the Je/uits Bark ; another
on acid Spirits ; one on the Extract of Hem
lock: bejides fome new Matter which I have
infer t ed ; fuch as an Article with Regard to
proper Drinks ; one on the Convuljions of In
fants ; one on Chilblains -, another on Punftures
from Thorns-, one upon the Reafon of the
Confidence rrpcfed in Quacks, and the thirt\-
The Author s Preface.
Jirft Chapter entirely : in.wbicb 1 have extended
the Confederation of feme former Articles, that
fee me d to me a little too Juccintt and foort.
T^here are fome Alterations of this hifl^ this
additional^ Kind, interfperfed tilnioft throughout
the whole Subflance of this Edition ; but ejptci-
ally in the two Chapters relating to Women and
Children.
The Objects of the XXXI Chapter are fuel
as require immediate AJjiftance, viz. Swcon-
ings, Hemorrhages, that is, large /pontaneous
Bleedings-, the Attacks of Convulfions, and of
Suffocations ; the Confequences of Fright and
terror ; Difordtrs occajioned by un-ivholejomc
or deadly Vapours ; the EffeEis of Poifon, and
the jlidden Invafions of excej/iiie Pain.
The Omiffion of this Chapter was a very
material Defetf in the original Plan of this
Work. The Editor of it at Paris was vcrv
fenjible of this Chafm, or Blank, as it ma\
be called, and has filled it up vrry properly :
and if I have not made U/e of his Supple
ment, inftead of enlarging mvjelf upon the
Articles of which he has treated, it has on
ly been from a Purpofe of rendering the whole
Work more uniform ; and to avoid that odd
Diverfity, which /terns fcarcely to be avoided
in a Treatije compofcd by two Perfons. Be-
fides which, that Gentleman has /aid nothing
of the Articles, which employ the great eft Part
of that Chapter, viz. the Swoon ings t t fa-
Con-
xx vi Tbe Author s Preface.
Confluences of great Fsar, and the noxious
Vapours.
Before I conclude, I ought to juftify myfelf\
as well as pojjible, to a great Number of very
refpectable Perfons both here and abroad, (to
ivhom I can refufe nothing without great Cha-
grlne and Reluctance) for my not having made
jitch Additions as they defired of me. This
however was impoffibie, as the Objects, in
which they concurred, were fome chronical Dif-
tempers, that are entirely out of the Plan, to
which I was Jlriftly attached^ for many Rea~
fhns. The firft is, that it was mv original
Purpofe to oppofe the Errors incurred in Coun
try Places* in the friatmcnt of acute Difeafes - y
and to difplay the be ft Method of conducting fitch,
as do not admit of waiting for the Arrival
cf dijlant Sitccour ; or of removing the Pati
ents to Cities, or large I owns, It is but too
true indeed, tbat chronical Difeafes are al/b
liable to Improper Treatment in fmall Country
Places : but then there are both fime and Con
venience to convey the Patients within the Reach
of better Advice ; or for procuring them the
Attendance of the befl Advifers, at their own
riaces of Refuience. Besides which, /uch Dij-
tempers are confuierablj Icfe common than tbofe
to which I had reji rained my Views : and
they will become /?; // lefs frequent, whenever acute
Dij cales, of which they are frequently the
fequences, flail be more rationally and
. "The
Toe Authors Preface. xxvii
The jecond Reafon, which, if alone, would
have been a [ufficient one, is, that it is iwpojfible
to fubjecl the "Treatment of chronical Diftcmfcrs
to the Capacity and Conduct ofPerfoin, who are
not Phyficians. Each acute uijlemper generally
arifi s from one Caufe -, and the Treatment of it is
fimplc and uniform \ Jince thofe Symptoms, which
manijejl the Malady, point out its Cauje and
Treatment. But the Cafe is very differently cir-
cumftanccd in tedious and languid Difeafes ; each
of which may defend on fo many and various
Caufes (and it is only the real, the true Caufe,
which ought to determine us in [electing its proper
Remedies) that though the Di /temper and its Ap
pellation are evidently known, a nicer By-Jlander
may be very remote from penetrating into its true
Caufe and consequently be incapable of chufmg
the bejl Medicines for it. It is this precife and
diftinguijlnng Discernment of the real particular
Cauje [or of the contingent Concurrence of more
than one] that neceffarily requires the Pretence of
Per Jons converfa?it in the Study and the Practice
of all the Parts of Phyfick ; and which Know
ledge it is iwpojjiblefor People, who are Strangers
to fuch Studies, to arrive (it. Moreover, their
frequent Co???plexnefs ; the Variety of their Symp
toms; the different Stages of the/e tedious Difeafes
[not exac-lly attended to even by many competent
Phy/icians\ the Difficulty of ascertaining the diffe
rent Dofes of Medicines, whofe Activity may
make the frialleft Error highly dangerous, &c.
xxviii 77je Author s Preface.
&c. are really fuch trying Circumftances, as ren
der the Jit t eft Treatment ofthefe Difcafes fufficient-
ly difficult and embarrajjing to the moft experienced
Pbv/icians, and unattainable by thofe who are not
Pbyfoiam.
. A third Reafon is, that, even fttppoftng all
thcfe Circumflanccs might be made fo plain and
eafy, as to be comprehended by every Reader^ they
would require a Work of an excejfive Length ; and
thence be d! [proportioned to the Faculties of thofe \
for whom it was intended. One fmgle chronical
Dijeafe might require as large a Volume as the
prejent one.
But finally^ were I to acknowledge, that this
Compliance was both ncccJJTary and practicable^ I
declare I find it exceeds my Abilities ; and that I
am alfo far from having fufficient Lei jure for the
Execution of it. It is my Wijh that others would
attempt / /, and may fucceed in accomplishing it ;
but I hope thefe truly worthy Per fans, who have
honoured me by propofmg the Atchievement of it to
myjelf, will perceive the Reafons for my not com
plying with it, in all their Force , and ?wt ajcribe
a Refufal, which arifes Jrom the very Nature of
the tiring^ either to Obftinacy, or to any Want of
an Inclination to oblige them.
I have been informed my Citations, or rather
References^ have puzzled fome Readers. If was
difficult to forejee this, but is eafy to prevent it
for the future. The Work contains Citations only
of two Sorts ; one, that points to the Re?nedies
prc-
The Author s Preface. xxix
prescribed ; and the other, which refers to feme
Pa I] age in the Book itj elf, that Jerves to illujlrate
thoje Ptfjfeges in which I cite. Neither of theft
References could have been omitted. The jirft is
marked thus, N. with the proper Figure to it,
as i, 2, &c. This fignijies, that the Medicine 1
direct is dejcribed in the Table of Remedies, ac
cording to the Number annexed to that Character.
Thus when we Jind directed, in any Page oj the
Book, the warm Infujion N I ; in fame other,
the Ptij tin N. 2 ; or in a third, the Almond
Milk, or Emul/ion N. 4, itfignifies, that fuch
Prescriptions will be found at the Numbers 1 . 2 ,
and 4 ; and this Table is printed at the End of
the Book.
If, in/lead of forming this Table, and thus re-
jerring to the Prefcnptions by their Numbers, 1
had repeated each Prcjcription as often as I di
rected it, this Treatife mufl have been doubled in
Bulk, and injitjf erably tirefome to pcritfe. I mufl
repeat here, what 1 have already faid in the for
mer Edition, that the * Prices of the Medicines^
or of a great Number of them, are thofe at which
the Apothecaries may afford them, without any
Lofs, to a Peafant in humble Circumjlances. But
itjhoutdbe remembered, they are not fet down at
the full Prices which they may honejily demand ;
fuice that would be wijuft for Jome to injijl on
them
* The Reafons for omitting the Prices here, may be Teen
.23 of this Tranilatien.
*:-. f/je Author s Preface.
than at. Eejides, there is no Kind of Tax in
SwifTerland, and I have no Right to impofe one.
The Citations of the fecond Kind are v-:ry
plain and fi/nple. The <whole Work is divided
into numbered Paragraphs dijl ingui/hed by the
Mark . And not to five II it with needlejs
Repetitions, when in one Place I might have
even pertinently repeated jomething already ob-
ferved, in/lead of fiich Repetition at Length,
I have only referred to the Paragraph^ where
it had been obferved. Thus, for Example when
we read Page 81, 50 When the Difeafe is fo
cfrcuntftanced as we have defcribed, 46, this
imports that, not to repeat the Defcription already
given, I refer the Reader to that laji ^jor it.
The Ufe of thej e Citations is nut the leaji Inno
vation, and extremely commodious and eaf\ : but
V
were there only a jingle Reader likely to be puzzled
by them, 1 ought not to omit this Explanation of
them, as I can expetf to be generally useful, o?i/y
in Proportion as 1 am clear : and it nuiji be obvi
ous, that a Defire of being extenjfoely ufeful is the
Jole Motive of this Work. I have long fine e had
the Happinejs of knowing, that fome charitable
and intelligent Perjbns have applied the Directions
it contains, ivitb extraordinary Succefi, even in
violent Dijeajes : And I Jha/I arrive at the
Height of my Ib lfijes, if I continue to be inform
ed, that it contributes to alleviate the Suffer
ings, and to prolong the Days, of my rational
Fellow Creatures.
N.B.
( xxxi )
N. B. A Small Blank occurring conveniently
here in the Impreilion, the Tranilator of this
Work has employed it to infert the following
proper Remark, viz.
Whenever the Tea or Infufion of the Lime-
tree is directed in the Body of the Book, which
it often is, the Flowers are always meant, and
not the Leaves ; though by an Error of the Prefs,
or perhaps rather by an Overfight of the Tran-
fcribers of this Verfion, it is printed Leaves in-
ftead of Flowers P. 392, as noted and corrected
in the Errata. Thefe Flowers are eafily pro
curable here, meerly for gathering, in moil
Country Places in Ju/y, as few Walks, Viftas,
&c. are without theie Trees, planted for the
pleafant Shade they afford, and to keep off the
Dull in Summer, though the Leaf drops rather
too early for this Purpoie. Their Flowers have
an agreeable Flavour, which is communicated to
Water by Infufion, and riles with it in Diftilla-
tion. They were, to the bell of my Recollec
tion, an Ingredient in the antiepileptic Water of
LangiiiSj omitted in our late Diipeniatories of the
College. They are an Ingredient in the antiepi
leptic Powder, in the Lift of Medicines in the
prefent Practice of the Hotel Dieu at Paris : and
we think were in a former Prefcription of our
Pufois de Gutteta^ or Powder againfl Convul-
lions. Indeed they are coniidered, by many
medical Writers, as a Specific in all Kinds of
Spafms and Pains -, and HOFFMAN affirms, he
knew
( xxxii )
knew a very tedious Epileply cured by the Ufe
of an Infufion ofthefe Flowers.
I alib take this Opportunity of adding, that as
this Translation is intended for the Attention and
the Benefit of the Bulk of the Inhabitants of the
Britijh Empire, I have been careful not to ad
mit -any Gallicifms into it; as fuch might render
it either leis intelligible, or lefs agreeable to its
Readers. If but a fmgle one occurs, I either
have printed it, or did intend it fhould be print
ed, diftinguifhably in Italics. A .
INTRO-
INTRODUCTION.
E Decreafe of the Number of In-
habitants in moft of the States of
Europe, is a Fad:, which imprefles
every reflecting Perfon, and is be-
come fuch a general Complaint,
is but too well eftabliihed on plain Calculations.
This Decreafe is moft remarkable in Country
Places. It is owing to many Caufes ; and I
ihall think myfelf happy, if I can contribute to
remove one of the greatefl of them, which is
the pernicious Manner of treating fick People
in Country Places. This is my fole Object,
tho I may be excufed perhaps for pointing out
the other concurring Caufes, which may be all
included within thefe two general Affirmations ;
That greater Numbers than ufual emigrate from
the Country; and that the People increafe 1
every where.
There are many Sorts of Emigration. Some
leave their Country to enlifl in the Service of
different States by Sea and Land ; or to be dif-
A ferently
2 INTRODUCTION.
ferently employ d abroad, fome as Traders, o-
thers as Domeftics, &c.
Military Service, by Land or Sea, prevents
Population in various Refpecls. In the firil
Place, the Numbers going abroad are always
lefs, often much lefs, than thofe who return.
General Battles, with all the Hazards and Fa
tigues of War ; detached Encounters, bad Pro-
viiions, Excels in drinking and eating, Difeafes
that are the Confequences of Debauches, the Dif-
orders that arc peculiar to the Country ; epide
mical, pem lential or contagious Diftempers, cau-
fed by the unwholfome Air of Flanders, Holland,
Italy and Hungary ; long Cruifes, Voyages to
the En.fr, or Weil Indies, to Guinea, &c. deflroy
a great Number of Men. The Article of Defcr-
tion allbj the Confequences of which they dread
on returning home, difpofes many to abandon
their Country for ever. Others, on quitting the
Service, take up with fuch Eftablimments, as it
lias occafionally thrown in their Way ; and which
necellarily prevent their Return. But in the
fecond Place, fuppofing they were all to come
back, their Country fufFers equally from their
Abfencej as this very generally happens during
that Period of Life, when they are beft adapted
for Propagation ; fince that Qualification on their
Return is impaired by Age, by Infirmities and
bauches: and even when they do marry, the/
Children often periih as Victims to the Excefies.
and Irregularities of their Fathers : they are we
-iiiming, diilcmpered, and either die young,
or
INTRO DUCTIO A,
6r live incapable of being ufeful to Society. 13.
fides, that the prevailing Habit of Libertinag
\vhich many have contracted, prevent 1 /eral of
them from marrying at all. But notwithftanding
alhthefe inconvenient Cortfequences are real and
notorious ; yet as the Number of thofe, who
leave their Country on theie Accounts, is limit
ed, and indeed rather inconsiderable, if compared
with the Number of Inhabitants which muffc re
main at home : as it may be affirmed too, that
this relinquishing of their Country, may hu\
been even neceffary at fome Times, and may
become fo again, if the Caufes of Depopulation
mould ceafe, this kind of Emigration is doubtlefs
the lead grievous of any, and the lad which may
require a flridt Confederation.
But that abandoning of their Country, or Ex
patriation, as it may be termed, the Objeft of
which is a Change of the Emigrants Condition,
is more to be confidered, beino; more numerous.
it is attended with many and peculiar Inconve-
niencies, and is unhappily become an epidemical
Evil, the Ravages of which are ftill increaiing ,
and that from one fimple ridiculous Sourc
which is this; that the Succeis of one Individual
determines a hundred to run the fume Rifque,
ninety and nine of whom may probably be dif-
appointecl. They are ftruck with the apparent
vSuccefs of one, and are ignorant of the Mile
riage of others. Suppofe a hundred Perlbns
might have let out ten Years ago* to jcek their
Fortune, as the faying is, at the End of fix Months
A 2 they
4 INTRODUCTION.
they are all forgotten, except by their Relations 5
but if one (hould return the fame Year, with
more Money than his own Fortune, more than
he let out with ; or if one of them has got a
.oderate Place with little Work, the whole
Country rings with it, as a Subject of general En
tertainment. A Croud of young People are fe-
duced by this and fally forth, becaufe not one re
flects, that of the ninety nine, who fet out with
the hundredth Perfon, one half has periihed, ma
ny are miferable, and the Remainder come back,
without having gained any thing, but an Inca
pacity to employ themielves uiefully at home,
and in their former Occupations : and having
deprived their Country of a great many Cultiva-
ters, who, from the Produce of the Lands, would
have attracted confiderable Sums of Money, and
many comfortable Advantages to it. In ihort,
the very fmall Proportion who fucceed, are con
tinually talked of ; the Croud that fink are per
petually forgot. This is a very great and real
Evil, and how ihall it be prevented ? It would
be fufficient perhaps to publifh the extraordinary
Rifque, which may be eafily demonfh ated : It
would require nothing more than to keep an ex-
adt yearly Regifler of all thefe Adventurers, and,
at the Expiration of fix, eight, or ten Years, to
publifli the Lift, with the Fate, of every Emi
grant. I am greatly deceived, or at the End
a certain Number of Years, we fhould not fee
fuch Multitudes forfake their native Soil, in which
they might live comfortably by working, to go
in
1 JfT RODUCriON. 5
in Search of Eftablifliments in others ; the Un
certainty of which, fuch Lifts \vould demon-
frrate to them ; and alfo prove, how preferable
their Condition in their own Country would have
been, to that they have been reduced to. Peo
ple would no longer fet out, but on almoft cer
tain Advantages : fewer would undoubtedly
emigrate, more of whom, from that very Cir-
cumftance, muft fucceed. Meeting with fewer
of their Country-men abroad, thefe fortunate
few would oftner return. By this Means more
Inhabitants would remain in the Country, more
would return again, and bring with them m<
Money to it. The State would be more popu
lous, more rich and happy ; as the Happipefs of
a People, who live on a fruitful Soil, -ids
efTentially on a great Number of Inhabitants,
with a moderate Quantity of pecuniary Richc
But the Population of the Country is not only
necelTarily leffened, in Confequence of the Num
bers that leave it ; but even tlv ho remain
increafe lefs, than an equal Number formerly
did. Or, which amounts to the fatfce Thhi
amons the fame Number of Perfons, there are
o
fewer Marriages than formerly ; and the fame
Number of Marriages produce fewer Chriften-
ings. I do not enter upon a Detail of the Proofs,
iince merely looking about us muft furnifh a fur-
ficient Conviclion of the Truth of them. What
then are the Caufes of this ? There are two capi
tal ones, Luxury and Debauchery, which are
Enemies to Population on many Accounts.
A 3 Luxury
|6 1 N ? R O D U C T I O N.
Luxury compells the wealthy Man, who
would make a Figure - 3 and the Man of a mode
rate Income, but who is his equal in every
other Refpecl:, and who will imitate him, to be
afraid of a numerous Family ; the Education
of which mud greatly contrail that Expence he
had devoted to Parade and Odentation : And be-
fides, if he mud: divide his Edate among a great
many Children, each of them would have but a
little, and be unable to keep up the State and the
Train of the Father s. Since Merit is unjudly
edimattd by exterior Shew and Expence, one
mud of Courfe endeavour to attain for himfelf,
and to leave his Children in, a Situation capable
of fupporting that Expence. Hence the fewer
Marriages oi People who are not opulent, and
the iewer Children among People who marry.
Luxury is further prejudicial to the Increafe
of the People, in another Refpect. The irregu
lar Manner of Life which it introduces,, de-
prefTes Health ; it ruins the Conditutions, and
thus fenfibly affects Procreation. The preceding
Generation counted fome Families with more
than twenty Children : the living one lefs than
c?
twenty Couiins. Very unfortunately this Way
of thinking and acting, fo preventive of Increafe,
has extended itfelf even into Villages : and they
are no longer convinced there, that the Number
of Children makes the Riches of the Country
man. Perhaps the next Generation will fcarcely
be acquainted with the Relation of Brotherhood.
A
INTRODUCTION. 7
A third Inconvenience of Luxury is, that the
Rich retreat from the Country to live in Cities ;
and by multiplying their Domeftics there, they
drain the former. This augmented Train is pre
judicial to the Country, by depriving it of Culti
vators, and by diminjfhing Population. Thefe
Domeftics, being feldom fufficiently employed,
contract the Habit of Lazinefs ; and they
prove incapable of returning to that Country La
bour, for which Nature intended them. Being
deprived of this Refource they fcarcelyever mar
ry, either from apprehending the Charge of Chil
dren, or from their becoming Libertines; and
fometimes, becaufc many Mailers will not cm-
ploy married Servants. Or ihould any of them
marry, it is often in the Decline of Life, whence
the State muft have the fewer Citizens.
Idlenefs of itfelf weakens them, and difpofes
them to thole Debauches, which enfeeble them
ftill more. They never have more than a few
Children, and thefe ficklyj fuch as have not
Strength to cultivate the Ground , or who, be
ing brought up in Cities, have an Averiion to
the Country,
Even thofe among them who arc more pru
dent, who preferve their Morals, and make fome
Savings, being accuflomed to a City Life, and
.dreading the Labour of a Country one (of die
Regulation of which they are alfo ignorant)
chufeto become little Merchants, or Tradefmen ;
and this muft be a Drawback from Population, as
any Number of Labourers beget more Children
A 4 th
8 INTRODUCTION.
than an equal Number of Citizens ; and alfo by
Reafon, that out of any given Number, more
Children die in Cities, than in the Country.
The feme Evils alfo prevail, with Regard to
female Servants. After ten or twelve Years
Servitude, the Maid-Servants in Cities cannot
acquit themfelves as good Country Servants : and
fuch of them as chufe this Condition, quickly
fail under that Kind or Quantity of Work, for
which they are no longer conftituted. Should
we fee a Woman married in the Country, a
Year after leaving Town, it is eafy to obfervc,
how much that Way of living in the Country
has broke her. Frequently their firfl Child-bed,
in which Term they have not all the Attendance
their Delicacy demands, proves the Lofs of their
Health 5 they remain in a State of Languor, of
Feeblenefs, and of Decay: they have no more
Children ; and this renders their Huibands un-
iifeful towards the Population of the State.
Abortions, Infants carried out of their Country
after a concealed Pregnancy, and the ImporTibili-
ty of their getting Hufbands afterwards, are fre
quently the Erfedts of their Libertinage.
It is to be apprehended too thefe bad Effects
are rather increafmg with us -, fince, either for
want of fufricient Numbers, or from oeconomi-
cal Views, it has become a Cuftom, inflead of
Women Servants, to employ Children, whofe
Manners and whofe Conftitutions are not yet
formed j and who are ruined in the fame Man
ner,
INTRODUCTION. g
7
ner, by their Refidence in Town, by their Lazi-
jiefs, by bad Examples, and bad Company.
Doubtlefs much remains ftill unfaid on thefe
important Heads ; but befides my Intention
not to fwell this Treatife immoderately, and the
many Avocations, which prevent me from launch
ing too far into what may be lefs within the
Bounds of Medicine, I fhould be fearful of di-
greiling too far from my Subject. What I have
hitherto faid however, I think cannot be imper
tinent to it ; iince in giving Advice to the People,
with Regard to their Health, it was neceflary to
difplay to them the Caufes that impaired it :
thoug-h what I mi^ht be able to add further on
O O
this Head, would probably be thought more re
mote from the Subject.
I fhall add then but a fmgle Hint on the Oc-
cafion. Is it not practicable, in Order to remedy
thofe Evils which we cannot prevent, to felecl
fome particular Part or Canton of the Country,
wherein we mould endeavour by Rewards, ijL
Irremoveably to fix all the Inhabitants, idly. To
encourage them by other Rewards to a plentiful
and legitimate Increaie. They mould not be per
mitted to go out of it, which mufb prevent them
from being expoied to the Evils I have mentioned.
They fhould by no means intermarry with any
Strangers, who m<ght introduce fuch Diforders
among them. Thus very probably this Canton,
after a certain Time, would become even over
peopled, and might fend out Colonies to the
others.
One
ip INTRODUCTION.
One Caufe, dill more considerable than thofe
we have already mention d, has, to this very Mo
ment, prevented the Increafe of the People in
France. This is the Decay of Agriculture. The
Inhabitants of the Country, to avoid ferving in the
Militia; to elude the Days-Service impos d by
their Lords, and the Taxes ; and being attracted
to the City by the Hopes of Intereft, by Lazineis
and Libertinage, have left the Country nearly de-
ferted. Thofe who remain behind, either not
being encouraged to work, or not being fufncient
for what there is to do, content them (elves with
cultivating juft as much as is abiblutely neceflary
for their Subfiilence. They have either lived
fmgle, or married but late ; or perhaps, after the
Example of the Inhabitants of the Cities, they
have refufed to fulfil their Duty to Nature, to the
State, and to a Wife. The Country deprived of
Tillers, by this Expatriation and Inactivity, has
yielded nothing j and the Depopulation of the
State has daily increafed, from the reciprocal
and neceflary Proportion between Subfiftence and
Population, and becaufe Agriculture alone can
increafe Subfiftence. A fingle Companion will
fufficiently evince the Truth and the Importance
of thefe Principles, to thole who have not feen
them already divulged and demonftrated in the
Works of the * Friend of Man.
" An old Roman, who was always ready to
" return to the Cultivation of his Field, fubfifted
" himfelf
* The Marquis of Mirabeaiu /
cc
(C
cc
CC
.
cc
cc
cc
INTRODUCTION. n
" himfelf and his Family from one Acre of Land.
^ A Savage, who neither fows nor cultivates,
cc con fumes, in his fingle Perfon, as much Game
as requires fifty Acres to feed them. Confe-
quently fullus HoJliHus, on a thoufand Acres,
might have five thoufand Subjects : while a
l( Savage Chief, limited to the fame Extent of
o
Territory, could fcarcely have twenty : fuch
an immenfe Difproportion does Agriculture
furniih, in Favour of Population. Obferve
thefe two great Extremes. A State becomes
difpeopled or peopled in that Proportion, by
<c which it recedes from one of thefe Methods,
" and approaches to the other." Indeed it is
evident, that wherever there is an Augmentation
of Subfiflence, an Increafe of Population will foon
follow ; which again will Hill further facilitate
the Increafe of Provifions. In a State thus cir-
curnftanced Men will abound, who, after they
have furnifhed fufficient Numbers for the Service
of War, of Commerce, of Religion, and for Arts
and Profeilions of every kind, will further alfb
furnifh a Source for Colonies, who will extend
the Name and the Profperity of their Nation to
diftant Regions. There will enfue a Plenty of
Commodities, the Superfluity of which will be
exported to other Countries, to exchange for other
Commodities, that are not produced at home ;
and the Balance, being received in Money, will
make the Nation rich, reipeclable by its Neigh
bours, and happy. Agriculture, vigoroufly pur-
fued, is equal to the Produ&ion of all thefe Bene
fits ;
12 INTRODUCTION.
fits ; and the prefent Age will enjoy the Glory of
reftoring it, by favouring and encouraging Culti-
vaters, and by forming Societies for the Promo
tion of Agriculture.
I proceed at length to the fourth Caufe of De
population, which is the Manner of treating fick
People in the Country. This has often afrecled
me with the deepeft Concern. I have been ;i
Witnefs, that Maladies, which, in themfelves,
would have been gentle, have proved mortal from
a pernicious Treatment : I am convinced that
this Caufe alone makes as great a Havock as the
former ; and certainly it requires the utmoft At
tention of Phyficians, whofe Duty it is to labour
for the Prefervation of Mankind. While we are
employing our afliduous Cares on the more polifh-
ed and falhionable Part of them in Cities, the
larger and more ufeful Moiety perifh in the
Country ; either by particular, or by highly epi
demical, Difeafes, which, within a few Years
paft, have appeared in different Villages, and made
no fmall Ravages. This afflicting Consideration
has determined me to publifh this little Work,
which is folely intended for thofe Patients, who,
by their Diftance from Phyficians, are deprived of
their Affiftance. I mall not give a Detail of my
Plan, which is very fimple, in this Part ; but
content myfelf with affirming, I have ufed my
utmoft Care to render it the moft ufeful I poifibly
could : and I dare hope, that if I have not fully
difplayed its utmoft Advantages, I have at leaft
fufficiently fhewn thofe pernicious Methods of
treating
J N T R D U C f I
treating Difeafes, that mould inconteftably be
avoided. I am thoroughly convinced, the De-
lion mio-ht be accomplished more compleatly
than I have done it $ but thole who are ib ca
pable of, do not attempt, it : I happen to be
lefs timid ; and I hope that thinking 1 erfons will
rather take it in good part of me, to have pub-
liihed a Book, the compofing of which is rather
difagreeable from its very Facility -, from the mi
nute Details, which however are indifpenfable;
and from the ImpoiTibility of difcufling any Part
of it (confidently with the Plan) to the Bottom of
the Subject ; or of difplaying any new and ufeful
Profpect. It may be compared, in fome Rc-
fpects, to the Works of a fpiritual Guide, who
was to write a Catechifm for little Children.
At the fame time I am not ignorant there have
already been a few Books calculated for Country
Patients, who are remote from Succour : but
fome of thefe, tho published with a very good
Purpofe, produce a bad Effect. Of this kind are
all Collections of Receipts or Remedies, without
the leaft Defcription of the Difeafe ; and of Courle
without juft Directions for the Exhibition,
or Application, of them. Such, for Exam
ple, is the famous Collection of Madam Fou-
QJJET, and fome more in the fame manner.
Some others approach towards my Plan ;
but many of them have taken in too many
Diftempers, whence they are become too volu
minous. Befides, they have not dwelt fufficiently
upon the Signs of the Difeafes ; upon their Cir.i-
fesj the general Regimen in them, and the IViii-
man. 1
i4 INTRODUCTION.
management of them. Their Receipts are not
generally as fimple, and as ealy to prepare, as 1
they ought to be, In fhort, the greater Part of
their Writers feem, as they advanced, to have
grown tired of their melancholy Talk, and to
have hurried them out too expeditioufjy. There
are but two of them, which I muft name with
RefpecT:, and wliich being propofed on a Plan
very like my own, are executed in a fuperior Man
ner, that merits the higher! Acknowlegements
of the Publick. One of thefe Writers is M.
ROSEN, firft Phyfician of the Kingdom of Swe
den ; who, fome Years fince, employed his jufi
Reputation to render the beft Services to his
Country Men. He has made them retrench from
the Almanacs thole ridiculous Tales ; thofe ex
traordinary Adventures ; thofe pernicious aftro-
logical Injunctions, which there, as well as here;
aniwer no End, but that of keeping up Ignorance,
Credulity, Superftition, and the failed: Prejudices
on the interelting Articles of Health, of Difeafes,
and of Remedies. He has alfo taken Care to
publifh fimple plain Treatiles on the moft popu
lar Diftempers; which he has fubftitnted in the
Place of the former Heap of Abfurdities. Thefe
concife Works however, which appear annually
in their Almanacs, are not yet tranilated from the
Swedtft, fo that I was unqualified to make any
Extracts from them. The other is the Baron
VAN SWIETEN, firft Phyiician to their Imperial
Majefties, who, about two Years fince, has effect
ed for the Ufe of the Army, what I now attempt
for
INTRODUCTION.
for lick People in the Country. Though my
Work was greatly advanced, when I firil faw
his, I have taken Ibme Paflages from it : *and had
our Plans been exactly alike, I ihould imagine I
had done the Publick more Service by endeavour
ing to extend the Reading of his Book, than by
publiihing a new one. Neverthejefs, as he is
iilent on many Articles, of which I have treated
dirluiively ; as he has treated of many Diftempers,
which did not come within my Plan ; and has
faid nothing of Ibme others which I could not
o
omit ; our two Works, without entering into the
Particulars of the fuperior Merit of the Baron s,
are very different, with Regard to the Subject of
the Difeafcs ; tho in fuch as we have both con-
fidered, I account it an Honour to me to find, we
have aimoit conftantly proceeded upon the fame
Principles.
The prefent Work is by no means addredcd
to fuch Phyficians, as are thoroughly accomplish
ed in their Profeffion ; yet poffibly, bcfides my
particular medical Friends, fome others may read
it. I beg the Favour of all fuch fully to coniider
the Intention, the Spirit, of the Author, and not
to cenfure him, as a Phyfician, from the Com-
pofition of this Book. I even advife them here
rather to forbear peruling it j as a Production,
that can teach them nothing. Such as read, in
order to criticize, will find a much greater Scope
for exercifing that Talent on the other Pamphlets
I have ptibliihed. It were certainly unjuft that a
Performance, whofe ible abstracted Object is the
Health
j6 INTRODUCTION.
Health and Service of my Countrymen, il) ouk(
fubjedt me to any difagreeable Conlequences :
and a Writer may fairly plead an Exemption
from any Seventy of Cenfure, who has had the
Courage to execute a Work, which cannot pre
tend to. a Panegyric.
Having premifed thus, much in, general, I
muft enter into fome Detail of thole Means, thai
feem the molt likely to me, to facilitate the be
neficial Confequences, which, I hope, may re-
fult to others, from my prefent Endeavours. I
ihall afterwards give an Explanation of fome
Terms which I could not avoid uilng, and which,
perhaps, are not generally underftood.
The Title of Advice to the People^ was not
fuggefted to be by an Illufion, which might per-,
iuade me, this Book would become a Piece of
Furniture, as it were, in the Houfe of every Pea-
fan t. Nineteen out of twenty will probably
never know of its Existence. Many may be un
able to 1 read, and Hill more unable to under-
iland, it, plain and fimple as it is. I have prin
cipally calculated it for the Perufal of intelligent
and charitable Perfons, who live in the Country ;
and who feem to have, as it were, a Call from
Providence, to affift their lefs intelligent poor
Neighbours with their Advice.
It is obvious, that the firft Gentlemen I have
my Eye upon, are the Clergy. There is not a
iingle Village, a Hamlet, nor even the Houfe of
an Alien in the Country, that has not a Right
to the good Offices of fome one of this Order :
And
INTRODUCTION* 17
And I aflure myfelf there are a great Number of
them, who, heartily affected with the Diftrefs
of their ailing Flocks, have wiihed many hundred
Times, that it were in their Power to give their
Parifhioners fome bodily Help, at the very Time
they were difpofing them to prepare for Death ;
or fo far to delay the Fatality of the Diftemper,
that the Sick might have an Opportunity of liv
ing more religioufly afterwards. I /hall think
myfelf happy, if fuch truly refpectable Ecclefi-
aftics mall find any Refources in this Perform-
ance^ that may conduce to the Accomplifhment
of their beneficent Intentions. Their Regard,
their Love for their People; their frequent Invi
tations to vifit their principal Neighbours > their
Duty to root out all unreaionable Prejudices, and
Superftition ; their Charity, their Learning ; the
Facility, with which, their general Knowlege in
Phyfics, qualifies them to comprehend thorough
ly all the medical Truths, and Contents of this
Piece, are fo many Arguments to convince me,
that they will have the greateft Influence to pro
cure that Reformation, in the Admin iilration of
Phyfick to poor Country People, which is fo ne-
cefTary, fo defirable, an Object,
In the next Place, I dare allure myfelf of the
Concurrence of Gentlemen of Quality and Opu
lence, in their different Parimes and Eftates, whole
Advice is highly regarded by their Inferiors j who
are fo powerfully adapted to diicourage a wrong,
and to promote a right Practice, of which they
will eafily difcern all the Advantages. The many
B In-
i8 INTRODUCTION.
Inftances I have feen of their entering, with
great Facility, into all the Plan and Conduct of
a Cure ; their Readinefs and even Earnednefs to
comfort the Sick in their Villages ; and the Ge-
nerofity with which they prevent their Necefli-
ties, induce me to hope, from judging of thefe I
have not the Pleafure to know, by thofe whom I
have, that they will eagerly embrace an Oppor
tunity of promoting a new Method of doing good
m their Neighbourhood. Real Charity will ap
prehend the great Probability there is of doing
Miichief, tho with the bed Intention, for want
i proper Knowledge of material Circumdan-
ces j and the very Fear of that Miichief may
fometimes fufpend the Exercife of fuch Charity ;
notwithstanding it mull feize, with the mod
o \
humane Avidity, every Light that can contribute
to its own beneficent Exertion.
Thirdly, Peribns who are rich, or at lead in
eafy Circumdances, whom their Difpofition, their
Employments, or the Nature of their Property,
fixes in the Country, where they are happy in
doing good, mud be delighted to have fome pro
per Directions for the Conduct and Effectuation
of their charitable Intentions.
In every Village, where there are any Perfons,
of thefe three Conditions, they are always readily
apprized of the Didempers in it, by their poor
Neighbours coming to intreat a little Soup, Venice
Treacie, Wines, Bifcuits, or any thing they ima
gine necefiary for their fick Folks. In Confe-
qiience of fome Quedions to the Bydanders, or
of
INTRODUCTION. 19
of a Vifit to the Tick Perfon, they will judge at
leaft of what kind the Difeafe is -, and by their pru
dent Advice they may be able to prevent a Mul
titude of Evils. They will give them ibme Ni
tre inftead of Venice Treacle ; Barley, or fweet
Whey, in lieu of Soup. They will advife them
to have Recourfe to Glyfters, or Bathings of their
Feet, rather than to Wine; and order them Gru
el rather than Bifcuits. A man would fcarcely
believe, till after the Expiration of a few Years,
how much Good might be effected by fuch pro
per Regards, fo eafily comprehended, and often
repeated. At firfl indeed there may be fomo
Difficulty in eradicating old Prejudices, and in-
veterately bad Cuftoms ; but whenever thefe were
removed, good Habits would flrike forth full
as ftrong Roots, and I hope that no Perfon would
be inclined to deftroy them.
It may be unnecellary to declare, that I have
more Expectation from the Care and Goodnefs
of the Ladies, than from thole of their Spoufes,
their Fathers, or Brothers. A more adive Cha
rity, a more durable Patience, a more domeftic
Life ; a Sagacity, which I have greatly admired
in many Ladies both in Town and Country, that
difpofes them to obferve, with great Exaftnefs :
and to unravel, as it were, the lecret Cauies of
the Symptoms, with a Facility that would do*
Honour to very good Pradhoners^and with a Talent
adapted. to engage the Confidence of the Patient:
All theie, I lay, are fo many characleriftical
Marks of their Vocation in this important and
B 2 ami-
20
amicable Duty; nor are there a few, who fulfil
it with a Zeal, that merits the higheft Commen
dation, and renders them excellent Models for
the Imitation of others.
Thofe who are intruded with the Education of
Youth, may allb be fnppofed fufficiently intelli
gent to take fome Part in this Work j and I am
Satisfied that much Good might refult from their
undertaking it. I heartily wifh, they would not
only ftudy to diftixgtiifh the Dijlemper (in which
the principal, but by no means an i nib per able
Difficulty confiits ; and to which 1 hope I have
coniiderably put them in the Way) but I would
have them learn alfo the Manner of applying Re
medies. Many of them fhave ; 1 have known
fome who bleed, and who have given Glvfters
very expertly. This however all may eafily
learn ; and perhaps it would not be imprudent,
if the Art of bleeding well and fafely were reck -
oned a neceilary Qualification, when they are
examined for their Employment. Thefe Facul
ties, that of eftimating the Degree of a Fever,
and how to apply and to drefs Slitters, may be
of great Ufe within the Neighbourhood of their
Refidence. Their Schools, which are not fre
quently over-crouded, employ but a few of their
daily Hours ; the greater part of them have no
Land to cultivate ; and to what better Ufe can
they apply their Leifure, than to the Afliftance
and Comfort of the Sick ? The moderate Price
of their Sen ice may be fo afcertained, as to in
commode no Perfon ; and this little Emolument
might
INTRODUCTION. 21
might render their own Situation the more agree
able : befides which, thefe little Avocations might
prevent their being drawn aiide fometimes, by
Reafon of their Facility and frequent Leilure, fo
as to contract a Habit of drinking too often,
o^
Another Benefit would alfo accrue from accuf-
toming them to this kind of Practice, which
is, that being habituated to the Care of lick Peo
ple, and having frequent Occalions to write, they
would be the better qualify d, in difficult Ca
to advife with thole, who were thought further
necefTary to be con fu I ted.
Doubtlefs, even among Labourers, there may
be many, for fomc fuch J have known, who 1
ing endued with good natural Senfe and Judg
ment, and abounding with Benevolence, will
read this Book with Attention, and eagerly ex
tend the Maxims and the Methods it recom
mends.
And finally I hope that many Surgeons, who
are ipread about the Country, and who practice
Fhyfic in their Neighbourhood, will perule it;
will carefully enter into the Principles effoblilh-
ed in it, and will conform to its Directions ; t.
a little different perhaps from iuch as they may
have hitherto pradiied. They will pc j a
Man may learn at any Age, and of any Perlon ;
and it may be hoped they will not think it too
much Trouble to reform fome of their
in a Science, which is not properly within their
Profeffion (and to the Study of which they w>
never instituted) by thofe of a Perion, vvho is
B -; ioklv
22 INTRODUCTION.
folely employed in it, and who has had many
AiMances of which they are deprived.
Midwives may alfo find their Attendance more
efficacious, as foon as they are thoroughly dif-
pofed to be better informed.
It were heartily to be wiilied, that the greater
Part of them had been better inftructed in the
Art they profefs. The Inftances of Mifchief
that might have been avoided, by their being
better qualify d, are frequent enough to make us
wilh there may be no Repetition of them, which
it may be poffible to prevent. Nothing feems
impoffible,vvhen Perfons in Authority are zealouf-
ly inclined to prevent every fuch Evil ; and it is
time they fhould be properly informed of one
fo effentially hurtful to Society.
The Prefcriptions I have given confift of the
mod fimple Remedies, and I have adjoined the
Manner of preparing them fo fully, that I hope
no Perfon can be at any Lofs in that Reipect.
At the fame time, that no one may imagine they
are the lefs ufeful and efficacious for their Sim
plicity, I declare, they are the fame I order in the
City for the moft opulent Patients. This Simpli
city is founded in Nature : the Mixture, or rather
the Confunon, of a Multitude of Drugs is ridi
culous. If they have the very fame Virtues, for
what Purpofe are they blended ? It were more
judicious to confine ourfelves to that, which is the
moil effectual. If their Virtues are different,
the Effect of one deftroys, or leflens, the Effect of
the
INTRODUCTION. 23
the other; and the Medicine ccafes to prove a
Remedy.
I have given no Direction, which is not very
practicable and eafy to execute ; neverthelefs it
will be dilcernible, that fome few are not calcu
lated for the Multitude, which I readily grant.
However I have given them, becauie I did not
lofe Sight of fome Perfons; who, tho not itncTiy
of the Multitude, or Peaiantry, do live in the
Country, and cannot always procure a Phyiician
as foon, or for as long a Time, as they gladiy
would.
A great Number of the Remedies are entirely
of the Country Growth, and may be prcpa;
there ; but there are others, which muft be had
from the Apothecaries. 1 have let down the
Price * at which I am perfuaded ail the Country
Apothecaries will retail them to a Peafant, who
is not eflcemed a rich one. I have marked the
Price, not from any Apprehenfion of their being
E 4 impofed
This oeconomical Information was doubtlefi very proper,
where our judicious and humane Author publifhed it; b
vvithftanding his excellent Motives for giving it, we think it
neceflary here, where many Country Gentlci;icn furnilh
themfdves with larger or fmaller Medicine Che;: , for the
nefit of their poor fick Neighbours ; and in a Country, \\
the iettled paiochial Poor arc provided with Al oil
as other NcccfTaries, at a parochial Expence. BcfuJi" .
would not fuppofe our Country Apothecaries lefs con^derrite or
kind than others, we acknowledge our Apprehenfion, I a a
Valuation of their Dru^gs (fome of which often vary ;
Price) might difpofe a few of them, rather to nifcoun;
the f.xteniion of a Work, fo well in. and ex as
Dr. TJSSOT S ; a Work, which may not be wholly unufcful to
fome of the moft judicious among them., and will be really ne-
ceffary for the reft. A ,
24 INTRODUCTION.
impofed on in the Purchafe, for this I do not ap
prehend ; bat, that feeing the Cheapnefs of the
Prefcription, they may not be afraid to buy it.
The neceflary Dofe of the Medicine, for each
Difeafe, may generally be purchafed for lefs Mo
ney than would be expended on Meat, Wine,
Bifcuits, and other improper things. But fhould
the Price of the Medicine, however moderate,
exceed the Circumftances of the Sick, doubtlefs
the Common Purfe, or the Poors-Box will defray
it : moreover there are in many Country Places
Noblemens Houfes, fome of whom charitably
contribute an annual Sum towards buying of
Medicines for poor Patients. Without adding
to which Sum, I would only intreat the Favour
of each of them to alter the Objects of it, and
to allow their fick Neighbours the Remedies and
the Regimen directed here, inftead of fuch as
they formerly diftributed among them.
It may ilill be objected, that many Country
Places are very diftant from large Towns j
from which Circumftance a poor Peafant is inca
pable of procuring himfelf a feafonable and necef-
fary Supply in his Illnefs. I readily admit, that,
in Fact, there are many Villages very remote
from fuch Places as Apothecaries refide in. Yet,
if we except a few among the Mountains, there
are hut veiy few of them above three or four
Leagues from fome little Town, where there al
ways lives fome Surgeon, or fome Vender of Drugs.
Perhaps however, even at this Time, indeed,
there may not be many thus provided ; but they
will
INTRODUCTION. 25
will take care to furnifti themlclves with fuch
Materials, as foon as they have a good ProfpecT:
of felling them, which may conftitute a fmall,
but new, Branch of Commerce for them. I have
carefully fetdown the Time, for which each Me
dicine will keep, without fpoiling. There is -,t
very frequent Occafion for fome particular one:-,
and of inch the School-matters may lay in a
Stock. I alfo imagine, if they heartily enter into
my Views, they will furnifh themfelves with
fuch Implements, as may be necefTary in the
Courfe of their Attendance. If any of them
were unable to provide themfelves with a fufri-
cient Number of good Lancets, an Apparatus
for Cupping, and a Glyiler Syringe (for want of
which laft a Pipe and Bladder may be occafion-
ally fubdituted) the Parifli might purchafe them,
and the fame Instruments miabt do for the fuc-
o
ceeding School- mailer. Jt is hardly to be ex-
peeled, that all Perfons in that Employment:
would be able, or even inclined, to learn the
Way of ufmg them with Addrefs but one Per-
lon who did, might be fufficient for whatever
Occafions fhould occur in this Way in fome con
tiguous Villages; with very litle Neglect of
their Functions among their bcholars.
Daily IP, (lances of Perfons, who come from
different Parts to conluk me, without being ca
pable of anfwering the Queihons 1 afk them, and
the like Complaints of many other Phyiicians on
the fame Account, engaged me to write the laft
Chapter of this Work. 1 (hall conclude this In-
troduc-
26 INTRODUCTION.
trodulion with fome Remarks, neceffary to faci
litate the Knowledge of a few Terms, which
were unavoidable in the Courfe of it.
The Pulfe commonly beats in a Perfon in
good Health, from the Age of eighteen or twen
ty to about iixty fix Years, between fixty and
feventy Times in a Minute. It fometimes comes
fhort of this in old Perfons, and in very young
Children it beats quicker ; until the Age of three
or four Years the Difference amounts at leaft to
a third ; after which it diminifhes by Degrees.
An intelligent Perfon, who mall often touch
and attend to his own Pulfe, and frequently to
other Peoples, will be able to judge, with iuffi-
clent Exadnefs, of the Degree of a Fever in a fick
Perfon. If the Strokes are but one third above
their Number in a healthy State, the Fever is
not very violent : which it is, as often as it a-
mounts to half as many more as in Health. It
is very highly dangerous, and may be generally
pronounced mortal, when there are two Strokes
in the Time of one. We muft not however
judge of the Pulfe, folely by its Quickneis, but
by its Strength or Weakness ; its Hardnefs or
Softnefsj and the Regularity or Irregularity of
it.
There is no Occafion to define the ilrong and
the feeble Pulfe. The Strength of it generally
affords a good PrognofHc, and, fuppoiing it too
ftrong, it may eaiily be lowered. The weak
is often very menacing.
If
INTRODUCTION. 27
If the Pulfe, in meeting the Touch, excites
the Notion of a dry Stroke, as though the Artery
confifted of Wood, or of fome Metal, we term it
hard; theoppolite to which is called/?/?, and ge
nerally promifes better. If it be ftrong and yet
ibft, even though it be quick, it may be confider-
ed as a very hopeful Circumfrance. But if it is
ftrong and hard, that commonly is a Token of
an Inflammation, and indicates Bleeding and the
cooling Regimen. Should it be, at the fame
time, fmall, quick and hard, the Danger is in
deed very preifing.
We call that Pulfe regular, a continued Suc-
jceffion of whofe Strokes are made in equal In
tervals of Time ; and in which Intervals, not a
fingle Stroke is wanting (fince if that is its State,
it is called an intermitting Pulfe.) The Beats or
Pulfations are alfo fuppofed to refemble each other
ib -exactly in Quality too, that one is not ftrong,
and the next alternately feeble.
As long as the State of the Pulfe is promising ;
Refpiration or Breathing is free ; the Brain does
not feem to be greatly affected ; while the Pati
ent takes his Medicines, and they are attended
with the Confequence that was expected ; and
he both prelerves his S ciength pretty well, and
continues fenfible of his Situation, we may rea-
ibnably hope for his Cure. As often as all, or
the greater Number of thefe characterizing Cir-
cumftances are wanting, he is in very coniider-
able Danger.
The
I-N PRODUCTION.
The Stoppage of Perfpi ration is often mention
ed in the Courfe of this Work. We call the
Difcharge of that Fluid which continually paffes
off through the Pores of the Skin, Tranfpiration ;
and which, though invifible, is very confiderable.
For if a Perfon in Health eats and drinks to the
Weight of eight Pounds daily, he does not dif-
charge four of them hy Stool and Urine together,
the Remainder pafTing off by infenfible Tranfpi-
ration. It may ealily be conceived, that if ib
confiderable a Discharge is ftopt, or confiderably
leffened; and if this Fluid, which ought to tran-
fpire through the Skin, mould be transfered to
any inward Part, it mufl occaiion fome danger
ous Complaint. In fact this is one of the moft
frequent Caufes of Diieafes.
To conclude very briefly All the Directions
in the following Treatife are folely deligned for
fuch Patients, as cannot have the Attendance of
a Phyfician. I am far from fuppofing, they
ought to do inftead of one, even in thofe Diiea
fes, of which I have treated, in the fulled Man
ner : and the Moment a Phyfician arrives, they
ought to be laid aiide. The Confidence repoled
in him mould be entire, or there mould be none.
The Succefs of the Event is founded in that. It
is his Province to judge of the Difeafe, to feletr.
Medicines againft it j and it is eafy to foreiee
the Inconveniences that may follow, from propo-
fmg to him to confult with any others, preferably
to thofe he may chufe to coniu.lt with ; only be-
caufe they have fucceeded in the Treatment of
another
INTRODUCTION, 29
another Patient, whofe Cafe they fuppofe to have
been nearly the fame with the prefent Cafe.
This were much the fame, as to order a Shoe
maker to make a Shoe for one Foot by the Pat
tern of another Shoe, rather than by the Meafure
he has jufl taken.
N. B. Though a great Part of this judicious Introduction is
lefs applicable to the political Circumfhinccs of the Britilh Km-
pire, than to thofe of the Government for which it was calcu
lated ; we think the good Senfe and the unatfeclcd Patriotifm
which animate it, will fuperfede any Apology for our tran da
ting it The ferious Truth is this, that a thorough Atten-
tention to Population feems never to have been more expedient
for ourfelves, than after fo bloody and expenfive, though fuch a
oloriousand fuccefsful War: whileour cnterprizing Neighbours,
who will never be our Frieads, are fo earned to recruit their
Numbers ; to increafc their Agriculture; and to force a Vent
for their Manufactures, which cannot be conliderably effected,
without a fenfible Detriment to our own. Be/ides which, the
unavoidable Drain from the People here, towards an effectual
Cultivation, Improvement, and Security of our Con.quefts, de
mands a further Confideration. K.
x
ADVICE
ADVICE
TO THE
PEOPLE,
Witli Refpeft to their HEALTH.
CHAPTER I.
Of the mojl nfualCaufes of popular M aladies.
SECT. i.
E mod frequent Caufes of Difeafes
, *. ., ^>
commonly incident to Country
r> T? n- T
reople are, i. bxceilive Labour,
continued for a very coniiderable
Time. Sometimes they fink down
at once in a State of Exhauftion and Faintnefs,
from which they feldom recover : but they are
oftener attacked with fome inflammatory Difeafe,
as a Quinfey, a Pleuriiy, or an Inflammation of
the Breaft.
There are two Methods of preventing thefc
Evils : one is, to avoid the Cauie which pro
duces
Of the moft ufual Caujes
duces them > but this is frequently impofrjl
Another is, when fuch exceffive Labour has been
unavoidable, to allay their Fatigue, by a free
Ufe of fome temperate refreihing Drink ; efpe-
cially by fweet Whey, by Butter-milk, or by
* Water, to a Quart of which a Wine-glafs of
Vinegar may be added ; or, inftead of that, the
exprelTed Juice of Grapes not fully ripe, or even
of Gonfberries or Cherries : which wholefome
and agreeable Liquors are refreshing and cordial.
I fliali treat, a little lower, of inflammatory Dif-
orders. The Inanition or Emptinefs, though ac
companied with Symptoms different from the
former, have yet fome Affinity to them with
Refpect to their Caufe, which is a kind of gene
ral Exficcation or Drynefs. I have known fome
cured from this Caufe by Whey, fucceeded by
tepid Baths, and afterwards by Cow s Milk : for
in fuch Cafes hot^ Medicines and high Nourim-
ment are fatal. i
2. There is another Kind of Exhauftion or
Emptinefs, which may be termed real Empti
nefs,
This fuppofes they are not greatly heated, as well as fa
tigued, by their Labour or Exercife, in which Circumftance
free and fudden Draughts of cooling Liquors might be very
pernicious : and it evidently alfo fuppofes tj>efe Drinks to be
thus given, rather in Summer, than in very cold Weather, as
the Juice of the unripe Crapes, and the other frefh. Fruits fut-
fkicntly afcertain the Seafon of the Year. We think the Ad
dition of Vinegar to their Water will fcarcely ever be necefiary
in this or the adjoining lflanJ, on fuch Occafions. TheCau-
, recommended in this Note is abundantly enforced by Dr.
., 4: but cunfidering the Pejious, to whom this Work
ore particularly addrelfed, we were willing to prevent
Poffibility of a Miltake, in fo necefiary, and fometiraes
.tal a Point.
Of popular Maladies. 33
nefs, and is the Confequcnce of great Poverty,
the Want of fufficient Nourifhment, bad Food,
linwholefome Drink, and exceffive Labour. Li
Cafes thus circumflanced, good Soups and a little
Wine are very proper. Such happen however
very fcldom in this Country : I believe they are
frequent in fome others, efpecially in many Pro
vinces of France.
3. A fccond and very common Source of
Diibrders arifes, from Peoples lying down and
repofing, when very hot, in a cold Place. This
at once Hops Perfpiration, the Matter of which
being thrown upon fome internal Part, proves:
(he Caufe of many violent Difeafes, particularly
of Quinfcys, Inflammations of the Bread, Pieu-
rifies, and inflammatory Cholics. Thefe Evils,
from this Caufe, may always be avoided by av,
ing the Caufe, which is one of thofe that deftrov
a great Number of People. However, when it
has occurred, as foon as the firfl Symptoms of
the Malady are perceiveable, which fometimes
does not happen till fevefal Days after, the Pati
ent mould immediately be bled j his LcgsHioiild
be put into Water moderately hot, and he mould
drink plentifully of the tepid Infution marked
No. i. Such Affiftances frequently prevent the
Increafe of thefe Diforders ; whiqh, on the corn
trary, are greatly aggravated, if hot Medicines are
given to fweat the Patient.
4. A third Caufe is drinking cold Water,
when a Perfon is extremely hot. Vhis acts in
the fame Manner with the fecond j but its Con-
C fequences
34 Of the mo ft ufual Caufcs
fequences are commonly more fudden and vio
lent. I have feen moil terrible Examples of it,
in Quinfeys, Inflammations of the Bread, Cholics,
Inflammations of the Liver, and all the Parts of
the Belly, with prodigious Swellings, Vomitings,
Suppreflions of Urine, and inexpreilible Anguilh.
The mod available Remedies in llich Cafes, from
this Caufe, are, a plentiful Bleeding at the Onfet,
a very copious Drinking of warm Water, to
which one fifth Part of Whey Ihould be added j
or of the Ptiihn No. 2, or of an Emulfion of
Almonds, all taken warm. Fomentations of
warm Water mould alfo be applied to the Throat,
the Bread and Belly, with Glyders of the fame,
ar.d a little Milk. In this Cafe, as well as in the
r receding one, ( 3.) a Semicupliim^ or Half-
bath of warm Water has fometimes been attend
ed with immediate Relief. It feems really aflo-
nifhing, that labouring People mould fo often
habituate themfe ves to this pernicious Cudom,
which they know to be fo very dangerous to
their very Beads. There are none of them, who
will not prevent their Hories from drinking
while they are hot, efpecially if they arejud go
ing to put them up. Each of them knows, that
if he lets them drink in that State, they might
pofjibly burfl with it; neverthelefs he is not
afraid of incurring the like Danger himfelf. How
ever, this is not the only Cafe, in which the
Peafant feems to have more Attention to the
Health of his Cattle, than to his own.
5- The
Of popular MiiLiJics. 35
5. The fourth Cauie, which indeed affects
every Body, but more particularly the Labour
er, is, the Inconftancy of the Weather. We
fhift all at once, many times a Day, from Hot
to Cold, and from Cold to Hot, in a more re
markable Manner, and more fuddenly, than in
moil other Countries. This makes Diftempers
from Defluxion and Cold ib common with us :
and it mould make us careful to go rather a
little more warmly cloathed, than the Seafon may
feem to require ; to have Recourfe to our Winter-
cloathing early in Autumn, and not to part with
it too early in the Spring. Prudent Labour
ers, who ftrip while they are at Work, take care
to put on their deaths in the Evening when
they return home.* Thofe, who from Negli
gence, are fatisfied with hanging them upon their
Country Tools, frequently experience, on their
Return, the very unhappy Effects of it. There
are fome, tho not many Places, where the Air
itielf is unwholfome, more from its particular
Quality, than from its Changes of Temperature,
as at ViUenewit^ and ftiil more at Noville, and
in ibme other Villages iituated amon^r the Marm-
i
es which border on the Rhone. Theie Countries
C 2 are
This good Advice is enforced in a Note, by the Editor of
/, who bbfervcs, it fhouldbe ftill more cloftly attended to,
in Places, where Rivers, Woods or Mountains retain, as it
were, a confiderable Humidity ; ami . the Ever. re,
in every Seafon, cold and moill. It is a very proper Caution
too in our own variable Climate; and in many of our Colo:
in North America. K.
Of tic moft iffual Ginfcs
are particularly fubjecl to intermitting Fevers, of
which I mall treat briefly hereafter.
J
6. Such fudden Changes are often attend
ed with great Showers of Rain, and even cold
Rain, in the Middle of a very hot Day; when
the Labourer who was bathed, as it were, in a
hot Sweat, is at once moiftencd in cold Water ;
which occafions the fame Difternpers, as the fud
den Tranfiticn from Heat to Cold, and requires
the fame Remedies. If the Sun or a hot Air
fucceed immediately to fuch a Shower, the Ev r il
is coniiderably lighter : but if the Cold continues,
many are oltcn greatly incommoded by it.
A Traveller is iometimes thoroughly and un
avoidably wet with Mud ; the ill Confequcncc
of which is often inconfiderable, providv d he
changes his Cloaths immediately, when he fets
up. I have known fatal Pleurilies enfue from
omitting this Caution. Whenever the Body or
the Limbs are wet, nothing can be more ufeful
than bathing them in warm Water. If the Legs
only have been wet, it may be fumcient to bath
them. I have radically, thoroughly, cured Per-
fons fubjec~L to violent Cholics, as often as their
Feet were wet, by perfuading them to purfue this
Advice. The Bath proves fliil more effectual,
if a little Soap be dilTolved in it.
7. A fifth Caufe, which is feldom attended
to, probably indeed becaufe it produces lei s vio
lent Confequences, and yet is certainly hurtiul,
is the common Cuftom in all Villages, of having
their Ditches or Dunghills diredtly under their
Windows.
Of popular Maladies. 37
Windows. Corrupted Vapours are continually
exhaling from them, which in Time cannot fail
of being prejudicial, and muil contribute to pro
duce putrid Dileafcs. Thofe who are accuftom-
ed to the Smell, become infenfible of it: but the
Caufe, neverthelefs, does not ceai e to be un-
wholefomly active ; and fuch as are unufed to it
perceive the Impreffion in all its Force.
8. There are fome Villages, in which, after
the Curtain Lines are erafed, watery marihy Places
remain in the Room of them. The Effect of this
is ftill more dangerous, becaufe that putrily d
Water, which itagnates during the hot Scat- ;n,
fuffers its Vapours to exhale more eafily, and m
abundantly, than that in the Curtain Line,-; did.
Having fet out for Pully k Grand, in 1759, on
Account of an epidemical putrid Fever which
raged there, J was lenfible, on travelling the
Vi:lage, of the Infedlion from thofe Marfhes \ nor
could I doubt of their bein? the Caute of this
* O
Dileafe, as well as of another like it, which had
prevailed there five Years before. In other Rc-
fpedis the Village is wholefomly lituated. It
were to be wimed fuch Accidents were obviated
.by avoiding thefe Stagnated Places ; or, at lead-,
by removing them and the Dunghils, as tar.
pOiTible from the Spot, where we live and lod
9. To this Caufe may allb be added the
Neglecl of the Peafants to air their Lodgings. It
is well known that too cloie an Air occaiions the
mod perplexing malignant Fevers ; and the poor
Country People refpire no other in their own,
C Houf*s.
3 S Of the mojl ufnal Caufes
Houfes. Their Lodgings, which are very final 1.
and which notwithstanding inclofe, (both Day and
Night) the Father, Mother, and feven or eight
Children, befides iome Animals, are never kept
open during fix Months in the Year, and very
leldom during the other fix. I have found the
Air fo bad in many of thefe Houfes, that I am
perfuaded, if their Inhabitants did not often go
out into the free open Air, they muft all periih
in a little Time. It is eafy, however, to prevent
all the Evils arifing from this Source, by opening
the Windows daily : fo very practicable a Precau
tion muft be followed with the happieft Confe-
quences.
i b. I confider Drunken nefs as a fixth Caufe,
not indeed as producing epidemical Difeafcs, but
\vhich deftroys, as it were, by Retail, at all
times, and every where. The poor Wretches,
who abandon thcmfclves to it, are i lbject to
frequent Inflammations of the Breaft, and to
PleuriHeSj which often carry them off in the
Flower of their Age. If they fometimes efcape
through thefe violent Maladies, they fink, a long
Time before the ordinary Approach of old Age,
into all its Infirmities, and efpecially into an
Afthma, which terminates in a Dropfy of the
Ereaii. Their Bodies, worn out by Excefs, do
not comply and concur, as they ought, with the
Force or Operation of Remedies ; and Difeafes
of Weakneis, refulting from this Caufe, are al-
rnoft al arable. It feems happy enough,
that Society lofes nothing in parting with thefe
Subjects,
Oj tar Maladies. 39
Subjects, who are a Dishonour to it ; and vvhofe
btutal Souls are, in fome Meafure, dead, long
before their Carcafe,-.
11. The Provifions of the common People
are alfo frequently one Caufe of popular Mala
dies. Tliis happens ift, whenever the Corn,
not well ripened, or not well got in, in bad
Harvelhi has contracted an unvvholefome Qua
lity. Fortunately however this is (eld i the
Cafe ; and the Danger attending the Uie of it,
may be leffened by fome Precautions, fuel)
thole of wafhing and drying the Grain compi
ly; of mixing a little Wine with the D^u^h, in
kneading it; by allowing it a little more Time to
(well or rife, and by baking it a little more. 2-.,
The fairer and better laved Part of the Whea
fometimes damaged in the Farmers Houfe j cl
ther becaufe he does not take due Care of it,
bccauie he has no convenient P]ace to pr. : it,
only from one Summer to the next. It ha-;, o:
happened to me, on entering one of thefe 1
Houfes, to be ftruck with the Smell of Wh
that has been fpoilcd. Neverthelefs, there are
known and eafy Methods to provide againft this
by a little Care ; though I /hall not enter into a
Detail of them. It is fufficient to make the Peo
ple feniible, that lince their chief Sulienance cc -
Ms of Corn, their Health mail rjecefTirily be
C 4 impaired
* Thus I have ventured to tranfiate Eti s (Summers} to ap
ply it to this and the neighbouring I (lands. Taen Har^
in S id perhaps are earlier, and may occur in. t:.d
that of fome particular Grain, probably ihii earlier.
40 Of the mo ft ufual Caufes
impaired by what is bad. 3dly, That Wheat,
which is good, is often made into bad Bread, by
net letting it rife fufficiently ; by baking it too
little, and by keeping it too long. All theie Er
rors have their troubiefome Coniequenceo on thofe
who eat it; but in a greater Degree on Children
and Valetudinarians, or weakly People.
Tarts or Cakes may be coniidered as an Abufe
of Bread, and this in fome Villages is increafed
to a very pernicious Height. The Douc h is al-
moft conftantly bad, and often unleavened, ill
baked, greaiy, and fluffed with either fat or four
Ingredients, which compound one of the moftin-
digeftible Aliments imaginable. Women and
Children confume. the mofl of this Food, and
are the very Subjects for whom it is the moft
improper : little Children efpecially, who live
fometimes for many fucceflive Days on thefe
Tarts, are, for the greater Part, unable to digell
them perfectly. Hence they receive a * Source
of
* The Abufe jc/l rrentioncd c.in fcarrely be intended to for
th e rnodcraix Ufc c f good l^iirry, the Dough of which is
-.veil raifed and well baked, the Flower and other Ingredients
found, anc! the F:; overcharged with Butter, even though
it were fweet and frefh. But the Abufe of Alum and other
pernicious Material? introduced by our Bakers, may too juftfy
K- coniidered a? one horrible Source of thofe Difeales of Chil
dren, &c. which our humane and judicious Author mentions
hrrt. What he add. , concerning the Paibies being rendered
j^ill more unwholcfome by the lour Fruits fometimes baked in
it, is true with Refpedt to thofe Children and others, who are
!e to Complaints from Acidities abounding in the Bowels ;
and for all thofe who are ricketty or fcrophulous, from a cold
And vifcid State of iheir Humours. But as to healthy fanguine
Children
Ofpcjular Miiladu . . 41
of Obflrudions in the Bowels of" the 13elly, and
of a (limy Vifcidity or Thickifhneis, throughout
the Mais of Humours, which throws them into
various Difeafes from Weaknefs ; How Fevers, a
He&ic, the Rickets, the King s Evil, and Feeble-
nefs, for the miferable Remainder of their Days.
Probably indeed there is nothing more unwhole-
fome than Dough not fufficiently leavened, ill-
baked, greaiy, and foured by the Addition of
Fruits. Befides, if we coniider thefe Tarts in an
oeconomical View, they mud be found incon
venient alib for the Peafant on that Account.
Some other Caufes of Maladies may alib be
referred to the Article of Food, tho lefs grievous
and lefs frequent, into a full Detail of which it is
very difficult to enter : I fhall therefore conclude
that Article with this general Remark ; that it
is the Care which Peafants ufually take in eating
flowly, and in chewing very well, that very
greatly leflens the Dangers from a bad Regimen :
and I am convinced they conftitute one of the
greateft Caules of that Health they enjoy. We
may further add indeed the Exercile which
the Peafant ufes, his long abiding in the open Air,
where he pafles three fourths of his Life ; befides
(which
Child ren, who are advanced and lively, and others of a fanrv
or bilious Temperament, we are not to fuppofe a moderate Va
riety of this Food injurious to them ; when we coniider, that
the Sharpnefs and Crudity of the Fruit is considerably cor
ed by the long Application of Fire ; and that they arc the Pro
duce of Summer, when bilious Difeafes are rnofc frequent.
This fuggefts however no bad Hint again ft miking them im
moderately f \veet. K.
42 Of the mo ft nfual Caufcs
(which are alfo confuicrable Advantages) his
happy Cuftom of going Toon to Bed, and of rifing
very early. Jt were to be wilhed, that in theie
Reipects, and perhaps on many other Accounts,
the Inhabitants of the Country were effectually
propofed as Models for reforming the Citizens.
12. We mould not ornit, in enumerating
the Cauies of Maladies among Country People,
the Conftruction of their Houfes, a great many
of which either lean, as it were, cloie to a
higher Ground, or are funk a little in the Earth.
Each of thefe Situations fubjects them to conli-
derable Humidity ; which is certain greatly to
incommode the Inhabitants, and to ipoil their
Provifions, if they have any Quantity in Store ;
which, as we have obierved, is another, and
not the leaft important, Source of their Difeales.
A hardy Labourer is not immediately ieniible of
the bad influence of this moift and mar thy Ha
bitation ; but they operate at the long Run, and
I have abundantly obierved their moft evident
bad Effects, efpecially on Women in Child- bed,
on Children, and in Perfons recovering of a pre
ceding Dileafe. it would be eafy to prevent
this Inconvenience, by railing the Ground on
which the Houfe ilood, fome, or feveral, In
ches above the Level of the adjacent Soil, by a
Bed of Gravel, of I m all Flints, pounded Bricks,
Coals, or fuch other Materials ; and by avoiding
to build immediately clofe to, or, as it were,
under a much higher Soil. This Obje^, per-
Of popular Maladies. 4 .-
haps, may well deferve the Attention of the
Publick ; and I earneftly advife as many as do
build, to obferve the neccilary Precautions on
this Head. Another, which would coft ftilf
lefs Trouble, is to give the Front of their
Houfes an Expofure to the South-Baft. This
Expofure, fuppofing all other Circumftances of
the Building and its Situation to be alike, is
both the moil wholefome and advantageous. 1
have feen it, notwithftanding, very often neg
lected, without the leaft Reafon being aligned
for not preferring it.
Theie Admonitions may poflibly be thought
of little Confequence by three fourths of the Peo
ple. I take the Liberty of reminding them,
however, that they are more important than they
may be fuppofed ; and fo many Caufes concur to
the Deftrudtion of Men, that none of the Means
mould be neglecled, which may contribute to
their Prcfervation.
13. The Country People in Sfvijjertarid
drink, either i, pure Water, 2, fome Wine, 3,
Perry, made from wild Pears, or fometimes Cy
der from Appies, and, 4, a fmall Liquor which
they call Piqttette, that is Water, which has
fermented with the Cake or Hufks of the
Grapes, after their Juice has been exprefled.
Water however is their moft general Drink ;
Wine rarely falling in their Way, but when
they are employed by rich Folks ; or when thc\
can fpare Money enough for a Debauch. Fruit-
\\ i
44 Of the mojl ufnal Caufcs
Wines and the * Pianettes are not ufed in all
Parts of the Country ; they are not made in all
Years ; and keep but for fome Months.
Our Waters in general, are pretty good ; fo
that we have little Occaficn to trouble ourfelves
about purifying them ; and they are well known
in thofe Provinces where they are chiefly and
neceflarily ufed. (i) The pernicious Methods
taken
* This Word s occurring in the plural Number will proba
bly imply, the S-idjs make more than one Species of this finnl!
Drink, by pouring Water on the Cake or Remainder of their
other Fruits, after they have been exprefTed ; as our People in
the Cyder, and perhaps in the Perry, Counties make wha,t
they call ( :, &c. It fhould feem too from this
ofction, that the laborious Countrymen in S<i<j>Jjericnd drink.no
Malt Liquor, though the Ingredients may be fuppoied to grow
in their Climate. Now Bi-er, of different Strength, n..>.r
the greater Part of our mod common Drink, it mr:y be proper
to obferve here, that when it is not ttrcng and heady, but a
middling well-brewed Small-beer, neither too new, nor hard
vr fear, it is full as wholefome a Drink for laborious People in
Health as any other, and perhaps generally preferable to Wa
ter for fuch ; which may be too thin and light for thoie u ho are
unuccuftcmed to it ; and more dangerous too, when the la
bouring Man is very hot, as well as thirfty. The holding a
Mouthful of any weak cold Liquor in the IViouih withoqt
fwallowiug till it becomes warm there, ar:J fpurting it out
h .-ti.re a Draught is taken down would be prudent; and in
Cafe of great Hr.it, to take the rcquifite Quantity rather ac
tw.o Draughts, with a little Interval between them, than to
fwallow the Whole precipitately at one, would be more fi
and equally lefrefhim?, though perhaps lefs grateful. A .
(i) The bad Quality of Water i; another common Caufe of
Country Difeafes ; either where the Waters are unwholcfcme,
from the Soils in which they are found, as when they flow
T~n;v!gri, or fettle, on Banks of Shells ; or where they become
, from the Neighbourhood of, or Draining.s from Dung-
hi!i5 and Marfhes.
When Water is unclear and turbid, it is generally fufiicient
: it icttle in order to clear itfelf, by dropping its Sedi
ment.
Of popular Maladies
taken to improve or meliorate, as it is falfely
called, bad Wines, are not as yet fufficiently
practiced among us, for me to treat of them here :
and as our Wines are not hurtful, of themfelves,
they become hurtful only from their Quantity*
The Confumption of made Wines and Pjquettes
is but inconiiderable, and I have not hitherto
known
ment. But if that is not efFeiFled, or if it he flimy or muddy,
it need only be poured into a large VelTel, half filled with fine
Sand, or, for want of that, with Chalk ; and then to make
and ilir it about heartily for fome Minutes. When this Agita
tion is over, the Sand, in falling to the Bottom of the Vefiel,
\vill attract fome of the Foulnefs fufpended in the Waten
Or, which is ftill better, and very eafy to do, two large VVl-
fels may be fet near together, one of which fhould ceci
confiderably higher than the other. The higheft fhould In; half
filled with Sand. Jnto this the turbid, or ilimy muddy ^
is to be poured ; whence it will filter itfelf through the Body of
Sand, and pafs off clear by an Opening or Orifice made at the
Bottom of the Veffel ; and fail from thence into tbe lower one,
which ferves as a Refervoir. When the Water is impregnated
with Particles from the Beds of Selenitcs, or of any Spar (which
Water we call hard, becaufe Soap will not eafily diliblve in it,
nnd Puls and other farinaceous Subltant.es grow hard initcad of
foft, after boiling in it) fuch Water fhould be expofcd to the
Sun, or boiled with the Addition of fame Puls, or leguminous
Vegetables, or Bread toafted, or untoallcd. When Water u
in its putrid State, it may be kept till it recovers its natural
Aveet one : but if this cannot be waited fur, a little Sea Salt
fhould be diflblved in it, or fome Vinegar may be added, iu
which fome grateful aromatic Plant has been infufed. It
quently happens, that the publick Wells are corrupted by
Mud at the Bottom, and by different Animals which tumble iu
and putrify there. Drinking Snow-water fhould be avoided,
when the Snow is but lately fallen, as it feems to be the Caul ?
of thofe fwelling wenny Throats in the Inhabitant-* of loir,?
Mountains; and of endemic Cholics in many Perfons. A-,
Water is fo continually ufcd, great Care- fhould be taken to
have what is good. Cad Water, like lv , ib oncufth*
moil general Caufes of Difeafes ; that which pioJuces the
greater Number of them, the moll grieveous hen
introduces fuch as are epidemical. ..;./.(
46 Of lie mofl nfual Caufes, 6cc.
known of any ill Effects from them, fo that
Liquors cannot be conhdered as Cauics of Dii-
tempers in our Country ; but in Proportion to
our Abufe of them by Excefs. The Cafe is dif
ferently circumfhinced in fome (i) other Coun
tries j and it is the Province of Phyiicians who
refide in them, to point out to their Country-
Men the Methods of preferving their Health ; as
\vell as the proper and necellary Remedies in
iheir Sicknefs.
(i) Many Perfcns, with a Defign to prefer ve their Wines,
add Shot to them, or Preparations, of Lead, Alum, &c. The
.it ihouid forbid, nuclei- the molt fevere Penalties, all
fuch Adul: . .nd to introduce the moil painful Cho-
Oblb , :ir.d a long Train of Evils, which it fome-
cult to tiace to this peculiar Caufe ; U hile
(i the Live.; or", or cruelly torment, inch Over credu-
is lay in a Stock of bad Wines, or drink of
n, -.vithout diilinCtion, from every Wine Merchant or
TCP c-iii. E. L
fi-oL the Editor t-it Lyons, .tjf.dint Rznjln
.
: A P T E
The Canfes which aggravate Difeafes. 47
CHAPTER II.
Of the Gu /ft s which aggravate the Difeafes of the
People. General Corifideration?.
SECT. 14.
i
H E Caufes already enumerated in
" *
the firft Chapter occaiion Difeafes ;
and the had Regimen, or Conduct of
the People, on the Invafion of them,
render them m ll more perplexing, and very oi.
mortal .
Thtre is a prevailing Prejudice among them,
which is every Year attended with the Death of
fomc Hundreds in this Country, and it is this
That all Difternpers are cured by Sweat ; and
that to procure Sweat, they muft take Abundance
of hot and heating things, and keep themfelves
very hot. This is a Miftake in both Reipe&s,
very fatal to the Population of the State ; and it
cannot be too much inculcated into Country
People; that by thus endeavouring to force Swc.
ing, at the very Beginning of a Difeaie, they at\:
with great Probability, taking Pains to kill them
felves. I have feen fome Cafes, in which tlu
continual Care to provoke this Sweating,
manifeftly killed the Patient, as if a Ball had
been mot through his Brains ; as fuch a precipitate
and
The Caufes which aggregate
and untimely Difcharge carries off the thinner Part
of the Blood, leaving theMafs moredry, more vifcid
and inflamed. Now as in all acute Difeafes ( if we
except a very few, and thofe too much lefs fre
quent) the Blood is already too thick; fuch a
Discharge muft evidently increafe the Diforder,
by co-operating with its Caufe. Inftead of .for
cing out the watery, the thinner Part of the
Blood, we mould rather endeavour to increafe it.
There is not a fingle Peafant perhaps, who does
rot fay, when he has a Pleuriiy, or an Inflamma
tion of his Breaft, that his Blood is too thick, and
and that it cannot circulate. On feeing it in the
Bafon after Bleeding, he finds it black, dry, burnt ;
thefe are his very Words. How ftrange is it
then, that common Senfe fhould not afTure him,
that, far from forcing out the Serum, the watery
Part, of iuch a Blood by fweating, there is a Ne-
ceflity to increafe it ?
1 5. But fuppofmg it were as certain, as it is
erroneous, that Sweating was beneficial at the
Beginning of Diieafes, the Means which they
ufe to excite it would not prove the lefs fatal.
The firit Endeavour is, to ftifle the Patient with
the Heat of a dole Apartment, and a Load of
Covering. Extraordinary Care is taken to prevent
a Breath of freih Air s fqueezing into the Room ;
from which Circumflance, the Air already in it
is fpeedily and extremely corrupted : and fuch a
Degree of Heat is procured by the Weight of the
Putient s Bed-cloatns, that thefe two Caufes alone
arc iufficient to excite a moft ardent Fever, and
an
The Caufes which aggravate Difeafes. 49
an Inflammation of the Bread, even in a healthy
Man. More than once have I found myfclf
feized with a Difficulty of breathing, on entering
fuch Chambers, from which I have been imme
diately relieved, on obliging them to open all
the Windows. Perfons of Education mufl find
a Pleafurc, I conceive, in making People tin-
deriland, on thefe Occafions, which are ib fre
quent, that the Air being more indifpenlably ne-
Ceflary to us, if pofiible, than Water is to a Fiih,
our Health mull: immediately fuller, whenever
that ceafes to be pure ; and in alluring them
alfoj that nothing corrupts it fo oner than thofe
Vapours, which continually fleam from the Bo
dies of many Pcribns incloled within a little
Chamber, from which the Air is excluded.
The Abfurdity of fuch Conduct is a felf-evident
Certainty. Let in a little freih Air on thefc
miferable Patients, and leffen the opprefling Bur
then of their Coverings, and you genera} 1
upon the Spot, their Fever and OpprefBon, their
Anguifh and Raving, to abate.
1 6. The fecond Method taken to raife a
Sweat in thefe Patients is, to ?ive them nothi
o
but hot things, efpecially Venice Treacle, Wine,
or fome*Faltranc, the greater Part of the Ingredi-
D ents
This Word, which mutt be of German, not of French Ev-
traction, ftridtly fignifies, Drink for a Fall, as we fay Pufots td
Cafunt, &c. Powder for a Fall, or a fuppofed inward Bruife.
j)r. TiJ/bt informs me, it is otherwife called the vulnerary Herb?,
or the Swits Tea; and that it is an injudicious Farrago or Med
ley
50 f/je Caufcs which aggravate Dij cafes.
ents of which are dangerous, whenever there is
an evident Fever; belides Saffron, which is ftill
more pernicious. In all feveriili Diforders we
fbould gently cool, and keep the Be.ly mode
rately open ; while the Medicines juft mentioned
both heat and hind ; and hence we may eafily
judge of their inevitable ill Confequences. A
healthy Perlbn would certainly be ieized with an
inflammatory Fever, on taking the lame Quan
tity of \Yinc, of Venice Treacic, or of Ftikranc,
which tlie Peafant takes now and then, when he
is attacked by one of thefe Diforders. How
then iliould a lick Peribn efcape dying by them ?
Die indeed he generally does, and ibrne times with
ailonilhing Speed. I have publifhedfome dread
ful Inilanccs of fuch Fatality fome Years fince,
in another Trcatile. In fact they fr.il! daily oc
cur, and unhappily every Perlbn may obierve
fome of them in his own Neighbourhood.
o
1 7. But I mall be told perhaps, that Difeafes
are often carried off by Sweat, and that we ought
to be guided by Experience. To this I aniwer,
it is very true, that Sweating cures foine particu
lar Diforders, as it were, at their very Onfet, for
Inflance, thofe Stitches that are called fpurious
or falfe Pleurifies, fome rheumatic Pains, and
fome Colds or Defluxions. But this only hap
pens when the Diforders depend folely and lim
ply
Icy of Kerbs and Flowers, blended with Bitters, withftimula-
thig, h;:rfli and ailringent Jjigredients, being employed inuif-
criminately in all their Diltempers by the Country People in
Swierland* K.
The Caufss which figgm-vate Difcd/es: 5 r
ply on ftopt or abated Per fpi ration, to which fuch
Pain inftantly fucceeds; and where immediately,
before the Fever has thickened the Blood, and
inflamed the Humours , and where before any
internal Infarction, any Load, is formed, fome
warm Drinks are given, fuch as Faltranc and
Honey ; and which, by reftoring Tranfpiration,
remove the verv Caufe of the Dilbrder. Never-
t
thelefs, even in fuch a Cafe, great Care iLould
be had not to raife too violent a Commotion in
the Blood, which would rather retrain, than pro
mote, Sweat, to effecl: which Elder-flowers are
in my Opinion preferable to Faltranc. Sweating
is alfo of Service in Difeafes, when their Caufes
are extinguished, as it were, by plentiful Dilu
tion : then indeed it relieves, by drawing off,
with itfelf, fome Part of the diftempcred Hu
mours ; after which their groffer Parts have pafled
off by Stool and by Urine: befides which, the
Sweat has alfo ferved to carry off that extraor
dinary Quantity of Water, we were obliged to
convey into the Blood, and which was become
fuperfluous there. Under fuch Circumftanc.
and at fuch a Juncture, it is of the utmoft Im
portance indeed, not to check the Sweat, whether
by Choice, or for Want of Care. There might
often be as much Danger in doing this, as there
would have been in endeavouring to force a
\^3
Sweat, immediately upon the Invalion of the
Diforder ; fmce the arreitmg of this Difcharge,
under the preceding Circumstances, might fre
quently occafion a more dangerous Diftemper, by
D 2 repelling
52 The Cfiufes which aggravate D if cafes.
repelling the Humour on fome inward vital
Part. As much Care therefore mould be taken
not to check, imprudently, that Evacuation by
the Skin, which naturally occurs towards the
Conclufion of Diieafes, as not to force it at their
Beginning j the former being almofl constantly
beneficial, the latter as constantly pernicious.
Be, were it even necefTary, it might be very
dangerous to force it violently ; fince by heating
the Patients greatly, a vehement Fever is excited -,
they become fcorched up in a Manner, and the
Skin proves extremely dry. Warm Water 3 in
fhort, is the beft of Sudorifics.
If the Sick are fweated very plentifully for a
Day or two, which may make them eafier for
fome Hours ; thefe Sweats foon terminate, and
cannot be excited again by the fame Medicines.
The Dole thence is doubled, the Inflammation is
increafed, and the Patient expires in terrible An-
guifh, with all the Marks of a general Inflamma
tion. His Death is afcribed to his Want of
Sweating ; when it really was the Confequence
of his Sweating too much at fir/I 3 and of his
taking Wine and hot Sudorifics. An able Swifs
jO
Phyiician had long fince allured his Country
men, that Wine was fatal to them in Fevers ; I
take leave to repeat it again and again, and wifh it
may not be with as little Succefs.
Our Country Folks, who in Health, natu
rally diflike red Wine, prefer it when Sick ;
which is wrong, as it binds them up more than
white Wine. It does not promote Urine as well -,
but
The Caufes which aggravate DifciT/es. 53
but increafes the Force of the circulating Arte
ries, and the Thicknefs of the Blood, which
were already too confiderable.
1 8. Their Difeafes are alfo further aggrava
ted by the Food that is generally given them.
They mud undoubtedly prove weak, in Confe-
quence of their being fick; and the ridiculous Fear
of the Patients dying of Weaknefs, difpofes their
Friends to force them to eat ; which, increasing
their Diforder, renders the Fever mortal. This
Fear is abfolutcly chimerical ; never yet di<
Perfon in a Fever die merely from Weaknefs.
They may be fupported, even for fome Weeks,
by Water onjy ; and are ftrongcr at the End of
that Time, than if they had taken more folid
Nourishment ; fince, far from ftrengthening
them, their Food increafes their Difeaie, and
thence increafes their Weaknefs,
19. From the firfl Invaiion of a Fever, Di-
geilion ceales. Whatever folid Food is ta!
corrupts, and proves a Source of Putridity, which
adds nothing to the Strength of the Sick, but
greatly to that of the Diftemper. There are in
fact a thoufand Examples to prove, that it be
comes a real Poifon : and we may fenfibly per
ceive thefe poor Creatures, who are thus com
pelled to eat, lofe their Strength, and full into
Anxiety and Ravings, in Proportion as they fv^ al
low.
20. They are alfo further injured by the
Quality, as well as the Quantity, of their Food.
They are forced to iup iirong Gravey Soups,
D-i
3 ^
*T ke Cwtfes which aggravate Dijcafes.
Eggs, Bifcuits, and even Flefh, if they have but
juft Strength and Refolution to chew it. It feems
abfolutely impoffible for them to furvive all this
Trafli. Should a Man in perfect Health he
compelled to eat (linking Meat, rotten Eggs,
ffole ibur Broth, he is attacked with as violent
Symptoms, as if he had taken real Poiibn, which,
in Effect, he has. He is feized with Vomitine,
O
Anguiih, a violent Purging, and a Fever, with
Raving, and eruptive Spots, which we call the
Purple Fever. Now when the very fame Arti
cles of Food, in their ibundeft State, are given
to a Perfon in c Fever, the Heat, and the mor
bid Matter already in his Stomach, quickly pu-
trify them ; and after a few Hours produce all
the abovementioned Effects. Let any Man judge
then, if the leaii Service can be expected from
them.
21. It is a Truth eftablilhed by the firft of
Phyfkians, above two thoufand Years pail, and
ftill further ratified by his Succeffors, that as long
as a fick Perfon lias a bad Humour or Ferment
in his Stomach, his Weaknefs increaies, in Pro
portion to the Food he receives. For this being
corrupted by the infected Matter it meets there,
proves incapable of nourishing, and becomes a
conjunct or additional Caufe of the Diftemper.
The moflobierving Perfons conftantly remark,
it whenever a feverifh Patient fups, what is
commonly called feme good Broth, the Fever ga
thers Strength and the Patient Weaknefs. The giv
ing fuch a Soup or Broth, though of the frelheft
foundeft
*fhe Cattfes which aggravate Difeafes. 55
foundeft Meat, to a Man who has a high Fever,
or putrid Humours in his Stomach, is to do him
exactly the lame Service, as if you had given him,
two or three Hours later, ftale putrid Soup.
22. I mild alfo affirm, that this fatal Pre
judice, of keeping up the Patients Strength by
Food, is ftill too much propagated, even among
thofe very Peribns, whofe Talents and whole
Education might be expeded to exempt them
from any fuch grofs Error. It were happy for
Mankind, and the Duration of their Lives would
generally be more extended, if they could bo
thoroughly perfuaded of this medical, and fo
very demonftrable, Truth ; That the only
things which can ftrengthen lick Peribns are
thole, which are able to weaken their Difeale ;
but their Obftinacy in this Refpecl is inconceiv
able : it is another Evil fuperadded to that of the
Dileale, and fometimes the more grievous one.
Out of twenty fick Perfons, who are loft in the
Country, more than two Thirds might often have
J O
been cured, if being only lodged in a Place de
fended Irom the Injuries of the Air, they were
fupplied with Abundance of good Water. But
that moft miftaken Care and Regimen I have
(^
been treating of, fcarcely fuffersoneof the twenty
tofurvive them.
23. What further increafes our Horrour at
this enormous Propenfity to heat, dry up, and
cram the fick is, that it is totally oppolite to what
Nature herfelf indicates in Judi Circumftances,
The burning Heat of which they complain ; the
D 4 Drynels
56 *Tke Catfjes which aggravate Difctifes.
Prynefs of the Lips, Tongue and Throat ; the
ilaming high Colour of their Urine j the great
Longing they have for cooling things ; the Plea-
lure and fenlible Benefit they enjoy from frefh
Air, are ib many Signs, or rather Proofs, which
cry cut with a loud Voice, that we ought to at-
temperrite and cool them moderately, by all
means. Their foul Tongues, which mew the
Stomach to be in the like Condition -, their Loath
ing, their Propenfity to vomit, their utter Aver-
fion to all folid Food, and efpecially to Flefh ; the
difagreeable Stench of their Breath ; their Dif-
charge of fetid Wind upwards and downwards,
and frequently the extraordinary OfFeniivenefs of
their Excrements, demonilrate, that their Bowels
are full of putrid Contents, which mud corrupt
all the Aliments fuperadded to them ; and that
j *
the only thing, which can prudently be done, is
to dilute and attemper them by plentiful Draughts
of refreshing cooling Drinks, which may pro
mote an eafy Dilcharge of them, 1 affirm it
pgain, and I heartily wiih it may be thoroughly
nded to, that as long as there is any Tafte of
Bitternefs, or of Putreicence; as long as there is
a Nau/ca or Loathing, a bad Breath, Heat and
Feverifhnefs with fetid Stools, and little and high-
coloured Urine ; fo long all Flefh, and Flelh-Soup,
Eggs, and all kind of Food compofed of them,
or of any of them, and all Venice Treacle, Wine,
and all heating things are fo many abiblute Poi-
fons.
24. I may poilibly be ccnfured as extrava
gant and exceffive oivthefe Heads by the Pub-
lick
CauJ es which aggravate Dijeafes.
lick, and even by fome Phyfkians : but the true
and enlightened Phyiicians, thoic who attend to
the Effeds of every Particular, will find on the
contrary, that far from exceeding in this Refpecl:,
I have rather feebly expreffed their own Judg
ment, in which they agree with that of all the
good ones, who have exifted within more than
two thoufand Years ; that very Judgment which
Pveafon approves, and continual Experience con-
iirms. The Prejudices I have been contending
againil have coft Europe fome Millions of Lives.
25. Neither mould it be omitted, that even
when a Patient has very fortunately efcaped
Death, notwithftanding all this Care to obtain it,
the Mifchief is not ended ; the Confequences of
the high Aliments and heating Medicines being,
to leave behind the Seed, the Principle, of fome
low and chronical Difeafe ; which increafing in-
fenfibly, burfts out at length, and finally procures
him the Death he has even wifhed for, to put an
End to his tedious Sufferings.
26. I muft ailo take Notice of anothendange-
rous common Practice ; which is that of p argi
or vomiting a Patient, at the very Beginning of a
Diflemper. Infinite Mil chiefs are occasioned by
it. There are fome Cafes indeed, in which eva
cuating Medicines, at the Beginning of a Diteafe,
are convenient and even neceffary. Such Cales
(hall be particulaiiy mentioned in fome other
Chapters : bat as lor. c are unacquainted
with them, it fhould be confidcred as a general
Rule, that .re hurtful at the Beginning ; this
ing
58 f/je Cfinfes which aggravate Difeafes.
being true very often ; and always, when the Dif-
eafes are ftrictly inflammatory.
27. It is hoped by their Afliftance,- at that
Time, to remove the Load and Opprefiion of the
Stomach, the Caufeofa Difpofition to vomit, of
a dry Mouth, of Thirft, and of much Uneaiineis ;
and to Jeffen the Leaven or Ferment of the Fever.
But in this Hope they are very often deceived ;
iince the Caufes of thefe Symptoms are feldom
of a Nature to yield to thefe Evacuation?. By the
extraordinary Vifciditv or Thicknefs of the Hu-
.
mours, that foul the Tongue, we fhould form our
Notions of thofe, which line the Stomach and
the Bowels. It may be warned, gargled and
even fcraped to very little good Purpofe. It docs
not happen, until the Patient has drank for many
Days, and the Heat, the Fever and the great Si-
zinefsof the Humours are abated, that this Filth
can be thoroughly removed, which bv Degrees
feparates of itftlf. The State of the Stomach
being conformable to that of the Tongue, no
Method can effecluallv fcour and clean it at the
Beginning: but by giving refreshing and diluting
Remedies plentifully, it gradually frees itfelfj and
the Propenfity to vomit, with its other Effects and
Uneafinefles, go off naturally, and without Pur
ges.
28. Neither are thefe Evacuations only ne
gatively wrong, merely from doing no Good ;
for confiderable Evil pofitively enfues from the
Application of thofe acrid irritating Medicines,
which increafethe Pain and Inflammation ; draw-*
ing
Caufes <ulich aggravate Difcajls. 59
ing the Humours upon thofc Parts that were al
ready overloaded with them ; which by no means
expel the Caufe of the Difeafe, that not being at this
time fitted for Expulfion, as not fufficiently con-
cocled or ripe : and yet which, at the fame Time,
jdifcharge the thinned Part of the Blood, whence
the Remainder becomes more thick; in fhort
which carry off the ufeful, and leave the hurtful
Humours behind.
29. The Vomit especially, being given in
an inflammatory Difeafe, and even without any
Diftindion in all acute ones, before the Humours
have been diminiihedby Bleeding, and diluted by
plentiful fmall Drinks, is productive of the great-
eft Evils; of Inflammations of the Stomach, of
the Lungs and Liver, of Suffocations and Fren
zies. Purges fometimes occafion a general In
flammation of the Guts, which * terminates in
Death. Some Inftances of each of thcfe terrible
Confe-
* It is pretty common to hear of Perfons recovering from
Inflammations of the Bowels, or Guts, which our Author more
iuftly and ingenuoufly confiders as general PafTports to Death :
for it is difficult to conceive, that a real and con fid(r able In
flammation of fuch thin, membranous, irritable Parts, lined
with fuch putrefcent Humours and Contents, and in fo hot and
clofe a Situation, could be reftored to a found and healthy State
fo ofrey as Rumour affirms it. This makes it fo important a
Point, to avert every Tendency to an Inflammation of thefe
feculent Parts, as to juftify a Bleeding directed, folely, from
this Precaution, and which might have been no otherwife indi
cated by a Difeafe, attended with any Symptom, that threatened
fuch an Inflammation. But when a Perfon recovers, there can
be no anatomical Search for fuch Inflammations, or its KH
the real or imaginary Cure of which may well amar.e the Pa
tient, and muft greatly redound to the Honour of his Pielcri-
ber ; fo that there may be Policy fometimes in giving a mode
rate Difeafe a very bad Name. K.
<6o Jbe Caufes which aggravate Difeafes.
Confequences have I leen, from blundering Te
merity, Imprudence and Ignorance. The Effect
of fuch Medicines, in thefe Circumftances, are
much the fame with thofe we might reafonably
expect, from the Application of Salt and Pepper
to a dry, inflamed and foul Tongue, in Order to
moiften and clean it.
30. Every Perfon of found plain Senfe is
capable of perceiving the Truth of whatever I
ha*ve advanced in this Chapter : and there would
be feme Degree of Prudence, even in thofe who
do not perceive the real good Tendency of my
Advice, not to defy nor oppofe it too hardily.
The Queftion relates to a very important Ob
ject j and in a Matter quite foreign to themfelves,
they undoubtedly owe fome Deference to the
Judgment of Pcrfons, who have made it the
"
Study and Bufmefs of their whole Lives. It is
not to myfelf that I hope tor their Attention, but
to the greateil Phyiicians, whole feeble Inftru-
ment and Eccho I am. What In lereil have any
of us in forbidding fick People to eat, to beftified,
or to drink fuch heating thines as heighten their
o o o
Fever ? What Advantage can accrue to us from
o
oppofmg the fatal Torrent, which fweeps them
off? What Arguments can perfuade People, that
fome thoufand Men of Genius, of Knowledge,
and of Experience, who pals their Lives among
a Croud and Succeffion of Patients ; who are en
tirely employed to take Care of them, and to ob-
ferve all that paffes, have been only amufing and
deceiving themfelves, on the Effects of Food, of
Regimen
*fhe Caufe* which aggravate Difcajes. 6 1
Regimeil and of Remedies ? Can it enter into
any fenfible Head, that a Nurfe, who advifes
Soup, an Egg, or a Biicuit, deferves a Patients
Confidence, better than a Phylician who forbids
them ? Nothing can be more difagreeable to the
latter, than his being obliged to difpute continu
ally in Behalf of the poor Patients , and to be in
conftant Terror, left this mortally officious At
tendance, by giving luch Food as augments all
the Caufes of the Difeafe, mould defeat the Effi
cacy of all the Remedies he adminifters to remove
it j and mould fefler and aggravate the Wound,
in Proportion to the Pains he takes to drefs it.
The more luch abfurd People love a Patient, the
more they urge him to eat, which, in Effect, ve
rifies the Proverb of killing one with Kindncfs.
cfcx^C^C^C^
CHAPTER III.
Of the Mcam tlat ought to be ufid, at the
Beginning of Difeajes ; and of the Diet in
acute Difcafes.
SECT. 31.
Have clearly iLewn the great Dan-
J O
gers of the Regimen, or Diet, and of
^^ ^
the principal IVledicines too generally
made Ufe of by the Bulk of the Peo
ple, on thele Occafions. I muft now point cut
the
62 The Means and Diet to be wed
fc/
the actual Method they may purfue, without any
Rifque, on the Invalion of fome acute Difeafes,
and the general Diet which agrees with them all.
As many as are defirous of reaping any Benefit
from this Treatife, mould attend particularly to
this Chapter ; fince, throughout the other Parts
of it, in Order to avoid Repetitions, I (hall lay
nothing of the Diet, except the particular Dif-
temper mall require a different one, from that of
which I am now to give an exat Detail. And
whenever I (hall fay in general, that a Patient
* <^
is to be put upon a Regimen, it will fignify, that
he is to be treated according to the Method pre-
fcribed in this Chapter 5 and all fuch Directions
are to he obferved, with Regard to Air, Food,
Drink and Glifters ; c .\cept when I exprefsly or
der fomething elie, as different Ptifans, Glyf-
tcrs, &c.
32. The greater Part of Difeafes (by which
I always underiland acute and feverim. ones) of
ten give ibnie Notice of their Approach a few
Weeks, and, very commonly, fome Days be
fore their actual Invalion ; fuch as a li^ht Lafli-
* o
tude, or Wearinefs, Stiffnefs or Numbnefs ; lefs
Activity than ufual, lefs Appetite, a fmall Load
or Heavinefs at Stomach ; fome Complaint in
the Head ; a profounder Degree of Sleep, yet
lefs compofed, and I els refrefhing than ufual 3
lefs Gayety and Livelinefs ; fometimes a light
Oppreliion of the Bread, a lefs regular Pulle j
a Propeniity to be Cold ; an Aptnefs to fvveat ;
and (bmetimcs a Suppreffion of a former Difpo-
fition
in acute Dijcafcs. 63
tition to fweat. At fuch a Term it may be prac
ticable to prevent, or at leaft coniideriibly to miti
gate, the mod: perplexing Diforderg, by carefully
obierving the four following Points.
1 . To omit all violent Work or Labour, but
yet not fo, as to difcontinue a gentle caiy Degree
of Exerciie.
2. To bring the Complainant to content him-
felf without any, or with very liiile, folid Food ;
and eipecially to renounce ail Fleih, Fleih-broth,
Eg^ T s and Wine.
3. To drink plentifully, that is to lay, at leaft
three Pints, or even four Pints daily, by fmall
GlafTes at a Time, from half hour to half hour,
of the Ptiians N i and 2, or even of warm Wa
ter, to each Quart of which may be added half a
Glafs of Vinegar. No Perfon can be deilitute of
this very attainable Afliftance. l>ut ihculd there
be a Want even of Vinegar, a few Grains of
common * Salt may be added to a Qua; t < nil
Water for Drink. Thofe who have Honey will
do well to add two or three Spoonfuls of it to the
Water. A light Infulion of Elder Fluv/crs, or
of thofe of the Linden, the Lime-tree, may alfo
be advantageouily ufed, and even well fettled
and clear iweet Whey.
4. Let
This Direction of our Author s, which may furprize fome,
probably arifes from his preferring a fmall Quantity of the
rine Acid to no Acid at all : For though a .on of
Salt, in faving and feaibning Fleih .md other Food, gem; .IK
excites Thirit, yet a little of it fecrns to have rather a di til-rent
Effed, by gently Simulating the i Gl: iu! -
find that Nature very feldom K-aves the great diluting Klement
wholly void of this quickening, antiputrefcent i mKipic. A .
64 The Means and Diet to he nfcd
4. Let the Perform affected with fuch previ
ous Complaints, receive GJyfbrs of warm Wa
ter, or the Glyiler N. 5. By purfuing thefe
Precautions fome grievous Diibrdcrs have often
been happily rooted out : and although they
mould not prove fo thoroughly efficacious, as to
prevent their Appearance, they may -at lead be
rendered more gentle, and much lefs dangerous.
33. Very unhappily People have taken the
directly contrary Method. From the Moment
thefe previous, thefe forerunning Complaints are
perceived, they allow themfelves to eat nothing
but grois Meat, Eggs, or ftrong Meat-Soups.
They leave off Garden-Stuff and Fruits, which
would be fo proper for them ; and they drink
heartily (under a Notion of ilrengthening the
Stomach and expelling Wind) of Wine and
other Liquors, which flrengthen nothing but the
Fever, and expel what Degree of Health might
ilill remain. Hence all the Evacuations are re-
ftrained ; the Humours caufmg and nourifhing
the Difeafes are not at all attempered, diluted,
nor rendered proper for Evacuation. Nay, on the
very contrary, they become more fharp, and
more difficult to be difcharged : while a fuffici-
ent Quantity of diluting refrefbing Liquor, affwa-
ges and feparates all Matters foreign to the Blood,
which it purifies ; and, at the Expiration of fome
Days, all that was noxious in it is carried off by
Stool, by Urine, or by Sweat.
34. When the Diflemper is further advan
ced, and the Patient is already feized with that
Coldnefs
in acute Dijcajes: 65
Coldnefs or Shuddering, in a greater or leis De
gree, which u fliers in all Diieaies ; and which is
commonly attended with an univerfal OpprefTi-
bn, and Pains over all the Surface of the Body;
the Patient, thus circumflanced, mould be put to
Bed, if he cannot keep up ; or mould lit down
as quietly as poflible, with a little more Cover
ing than ufuai : he mould drink every Quarter
of an Hour a fmall Glafs of the Ptifan, N. I or
2, warm; or, if that is not at Hand, of fome
one of thofe Liquids I have recommended 32.
35. Thefe Patients earneflly covet a great
Load of covering, during the Cold or Shivering;
but we mould be very careful to lighten them as
foon as it abates ; fo that when the fucceeding
Heat begins, they may have no more than their
ufual Weight of Covering. It were to be wiihed
perhaps^ they had rather leis. The Country
People lie upon a Feather-bed, and under a dow
ny Coverlet, or Quilt, that is commonly extreme
ly heavy ; and the Heat which is heightened and
retained by Feathers, is particularly troublefome
to Perfons in a Fever. Neverthelefs, as it is
what they are accuftomed to, this Cuftom may
be complied with for one Seafon of the Year :
but during our Heats, or whenever the Fever is
very violent, they mould lie on a Pallet (which
will be infinitely better for them) and iliould
throw away their Coverings of Down, ib as to
remain covered only with Sheets, or fomething
elfe, Jefs injurious than Feather-Coverings. A
Perfon could Scarcely believe, who had not been,
E as
66 Ihe Means and Diet to be u
as I have, a Witneis of it, how much Comfort
a Patient is fcnfible of, in being: eafed of his for-
y o
mer Coverings. The Diiiemper immediately
puts on a different Appearance.
36. As foon as the Heat after the Rigcr, or
Coldnefs and Shuddering, approaches, and the
Fever is manifeftly advanced, we mould provide
for the Patient s Regimen. And
i , Care mould be taken that the Air, in the
Room where he lies, mould not be too hot, the
mildeft Degree of Warmth being very fufficient ;
that there be as little Noiie as poflible, and that
no Perfon fpeak to the Sick, without a Neceffity
for it. No external Circum fiance heightens the
Fever more, nor inclines the Patient more to a
DC 7 or Raving, than the Perfons in the
Chamber, and efpecially about the Bed. They
leflen the Spring, the elaftic and refreshing Pow
er, of the Air , they prevent a Succeffion of freih^
Air ; and the Variety of Objects occupies the
Brain too much. Whenever the Patient has
been at Stool, or has made Urine, thefe Excre
ments mould be removed immediately. The
Windows mould certainly be opened Night and
Morning, at lean: for a Quarter of an Hour each
Time - 3 when allb a Door mould be opened, to
promote an entire Renovation or Change of the
Air in the Room. Neverthelefs, as the Patient
fhould not be expofed at any Time to a Stream
or Current of Air, the Curtains of his Bed mould
be drawn on fuch Occalions ; and, if he lay
without any, Chairs, with Blankets or Cloaths
hung
in acute Difea/es.
hung upon them, fhould be fubflituted in the
Place of Curtains, and furround the Bed ; while
the Windows continued open, in Order to defend
the Patient from the Force of the rufhing Air.
If the Seafon, however, be rigidly cold, it will be
fufficient to keep the Windows open, but for a
few Minutes, each Time. Jn Summer, at leail
one Window mould be fet open Day and Night.
The pouring a little Vinegar upon a red-hot
Shovel alfo greatly conduces to reftore the
Spring, and correct the Putridity, of the Air.
In our greatefl Heats, when that in the Room
feems nearly fcorching, and the fick Perlbn
is fenfibly and greatly incommoded by it, the
Floor may be fprinkled now and then ; and
Branches of Willow or Adi-trees dipt a little in
Pails of Waters ay /e>fi/at^> +.>*/%** /#^/*<*r7~ r
37. 2. With Refpect to the Patient s Noti-
rimment, he muft entirely abftain from all Food j
but he may always be allowed, and have daily
prepared, the following Suftenance, which is one
of the wholefomefl, and mdiinutably the fimpleft
one. Take half a Pound of Bread, a Morfel of
the frefheft Butter about the Size only of a Hazel
Nut (which may even be omitted too) thr
Pints and one quarter of a Pint of Water. Boll
them till the Bread be entirely reduced to a ti .
Confidence. Then drain it, and give the Patient
one eighth Part of it every three, or every lour,
Hours -, but ftill more rarely, if the Fever be ve
hemently high. Thoie who have Groats, j
E 2 ley,
68 The Means and Diet to be ufed
ley, Oatmeal, or Rice, may builand prepare them
in the fame Manner, with fome Grains of Salt.
38. The Sick may alfo be fometimes in
dulged, in lieu of thefe different Spoon-Meats,
with raw Fruits in Summer, or in Winter with
Apples baked or boiled, or Plumbs and Cherries
dried and boiled. Peribns of Knowledge and
Experience will be very little, or rather not at all,
furprized to fee various Kinds of Fruit directed
in acute Difeaies; the Benefit of which they may
here have frequently feen. Such Advice can
only difguft thofe, who remain ftill obfVmately at
tached to old Piejudiccs. But could they prevail
on themfelves to reflect a little, they muft per
ceive, that thefe Fruits which all ay Thirfl; which
cool raid abate the Fever ; which correct and at
temper the putrid and heated Bile; which gently
difpofe the Belly to be rather open, and promote
the Secretion and Difcharge of the Urine, muft
prove the propereft Nourishment for Perfons in
scute Fevers. Hence we fee, as it were by a
ftrong Admonition from Nature herfelf, they ex-
prefs an ardent Longing for them ; and I have
known feveral, who would not have recovered,
but for their eating fecretly large Quantities of
thofe Fruits they fo pafTicnately defired, and were
refuted. As many however, as are not convinced
by my Reafoning in this Reipect, may at leaft
make a Tryal of my Advice, on my Affirmation
and Experience ; when I have no doubt but their
own will fpeedily convince them of the real Be
nefit received from this Sort of Nourifhrnent. It
will
in acute Di lea fas. 60
J <J X
will then be evident, that we may fafely and
boldly allow, in all continual Fevers, Cherries
red and black, Strawberries, the beft cured Rai-
fms, Rafpberries, and Mulberries; provided that
all of them be perfectly ripe. Apples, Pears and
Plumbs are lefs melting and diluting, lefs iu >
culent, and rather lefs proper. Some kinds of
Pears however are extremely juicy, and even
watery alrnoft, fuch as the Dean or Valentia
Pear, different Kinds of the Buree Pear ; the St.
Germain, the Virgoleufe, the green fiigary Pear,
and the Summer Royal, which may all be allow
ed ; as well as a little Juice of very ripe Plumbs,
with the Addition of Water to it. This hit I
have known to an 7 wage Third in a Fever, be
yond any other Liquor. Care mould be taken,
at the fame Time, that the Sick mould never be
indulged in a great Quantity of any of them at
once, which would overload the Stomach, and
be injurious to them \ but if they are given a little
at a Time and often, nothing can be more falu-
tary. Thole whofe Circumstances will afford
them China Oranges, or Lemons, maybe regaled
with the Pulp and Juice as fuccefsfully ; but
without eating any of their Peel, which is hot and
inflaming.
39. 3. Their Drink mould be fuch as allays
Thirll, and abates the Fever ; fuch as dilutes, re
laxes, and promotes the Evacuations by Stoo ,
Urine and Perfpiration. All thefe which I h<v.e
recommended in the preceding Chapters, jointly
and fcverally poffefs thefe Qualities. A Glafs or
3 a Gluis
70 The Means and Diet to be it fed
i j
a Glais and a half of the Juice of fuch Fruits as I
have juft mentioned, may alfo be added to three
full Pints of Water.
40. The Sick fhould drink atleaft twice or
thrice that Quantity daily, often, and a little
at once, between three or four Ounces, every
Quarter of an Hour. The Coldnefs of the
Drink mould juft be taken off.
41. 4. If the Patient has not two Motions
in the 24 Hours ; if the Urine be in fmall Quan
tity and high coloured ; if he rave, the Fever
rage, the Pain of the Head and of the Loins be
ccnfiderable, with a Pain in the Belly, and aPro-
penfity to vomit, the Glyfter N. 5 fliould be
given at lead once a Day. The People have
generally an Averfion to this kind of Remedy ;
notwithstanding there is not any more ufeful in
feverifh Diforders, efpecially in thofe I have juft
recounted ; and one Glyfter commonly gives
more Relief, than if the Patient had drank four
or five Times the Quantity of his Drinks. The
Ufe of Glyfters, in different Difeafes, will be pro
perly afcertained in the different Chapters, which
treat of them. But it may be obferved in this
Place, that they are never to be given at the very
Time the Patient is in a Sweat, which feems to
relieve him.
42. 5. As long as the Patient has fufficient
Strength for it, he mould fit up out of Bed one
Hour daily, and longer if he can bear it ; but at
leaft half an Hour. It has a Tendency to lefTen
the Fever., the PIcad-ach, and a Light-headinefs,
or
;;/ acute Dijeafts. 7 1
or Raving. But he fhould not be raifed, while
he has a hopeful Sweating ; though fuch Sweats
hardly ever occur, but at the Conclufion of Difea-
fes, and after the Sick has had feveral other Eva
cuations.
$43. 6. His Bed fhould be made daily wl
lie fits up ; and the Sheets of the Bed, as well as
the Patient s Linen, fhould be changed every
two Days, if it can be done with Safety. An un
happy Prejudice has eftablifhed a contrary,
a really dangerous, Practice. The People about
the Patient dread the very Thought of his rifing
out of Bed ; they let him continue there in nafty
Linen loaden with putrid Steams and Humours j
which contribute, not only to keep, up the Dif-
temper, but even to heighten it into fome Degree
of Malignity. I do again repeat it here, that
nothing conduces more to continue the Fever
and Raving, than confining the Sick conftantly
to Bed, and witholding him from changing his
foul Linen : by relieving him from both of
which Circumftances I have, without the Afijft-
ance of any other Remedy, put a Stop to a con
tinual Delirium of twelve Days uninterrupted
Duration. It is ufually faid, the Patient is too
weak, but this is a very weak Reafcn. He mult
be in very nearly a dying Condition, not to be
able to bear thefe fmall Commotions, which, in
the very Moment when he permits them, in-
creafe his Strength, and immediately after abate
his Complaints. One Advantage the Sick gain
by fitting up a little out of Bed, is the inci
E 4 Quantity
72 TZ/f Me am and Diet to be ufed
Quantity of their Urine, with greater Facility in
pafiirig it. Some have been obferved to make
none at al!, if they did not rile out of Bed.
A very confider^ble Number of acute Difea-
fes have been radical^, effectually, cured by this
Method, which mitigates them all. Where it
o
is not tiled, as an Affiftance at leaft, Medicines
are very often of no Advantage. It were to be
wifhed the Patient and his Friends were made to
understand, that Diftempers were not to be ex
pelled at onco with rough and precipitate Ufage ;
that they mud have their certain Career or
Courfe ; and that the Ufe of the violent Methods
and Medicines they chufe to employ, might in
deed abridge the Courfe of them, by killing the
Patient ; yet never otherwife fhortened the Difeafe ;
but, on the contrary, rendered it more perplexing,
tedious and obilinate; and often entailed fuch
unhappy Confequences on the Sufferer, as left
him feeble and lano-uid for the reft of his Life.
\j
44. But it is not fufticient to treat, and, as
it were, to condudl the Diftemper properly.
The Term of Recovery from a Difeafe requires
confiderable Vigilance and Attention, as it is al
ways a State of Feeblenefs, and, thence, of
Deprefiion and Faintnefs. The fame Kind of
Prejudice which deftroys the Sick, by compelling
them to ear, during the Violence of the Diieafe,
is extended alfo into the Stage of Convalescence,
or Recovery and either renders it troublefome
and tedious ; or produces fatal Relapfes, and of
ten chronical Diilempers. In Proportion to the.
Abatement, and in the Decline, of the Fever, the
Quantity
in acute Difeajes. 73
Quantity of Nourishment may be gradually in-
creafed : but as long as there are any Remains of
it, their Qualities fliould be thofe I have already
recommended. Whenever the Fever is com-
pleatly terminated, fome different Foods may be
entered upon ; fo that the Patient may venture
upon a little white Meat, provided it be tender;
fome * Fim ; a little Flem-Soup, a few Eggs at
times, with Wine properly diluted. It mull be
obferved at the fame Time, that thofe very proper
Aliments which reilore the Strength, when taken
moderately, delay the perfect Cure, if they ex
ceed in Quantity, tho but a little ; becaufe the
Action of the Stomach being extremely weaken
ed by the Difeafe and the Remedies, is capable
only, as yet, of a fmall Degree of Digeflion ; and
if the Quantity of its Extents exceed its Powers,
they do not digeft, but become putrid. Frequent
Returns of the Fever fupervene ; a continual
Fnintifhnefs ; Head-achs ; a heavy Drowfinefs
without a Power of Sleeping comfortably ; flying
Pains and Heats in the Arms and Legs ; Inquie
tude; Peeviihnefs; Propenfhy to Vomit; Loofe-
nefs ; Obstructions, and fometimes a flow Fever,
with a Collection of Humours, that cornes to
Suppuration.
All thefe bad Confequences are prevented, by
the recovering Sick contenting themfelves, for
fome
* The moft allowable of thefe are Whitings, Flounders,
Plaice, Dabbs, or Gudgeons ; efpecialJy fuch of the Jaft as are
taken out of clear current Streams with gravelly Bottoms.
Salmon, Eels, Carp, all the Skate kind, Haddock. and the like,
fliould not be permitted, before the Sick return to their ufual
Diet when in Health. K,
74 ^Tbc Means and Diet to be itfcd
fome Time, with a very moderate Share of proper
Food. We are not nourished in Proportion to
the Quantity we fwallow, but to that we digeft.
A Perlbn on die mending Hand, who eats mo
derately, digefts it and grows ftrong from it.
He who fwallows abundantly does not digeft it,
and inflead of being nourifhed and ftrengthened,
he withers infeniibly away.
45. We may reduce, within the few fol
lowing Rules, all that is moft especially to be
obferved, in Order to procure a compleat, a per
fect Termination of acute Difeafes ; and to pre
vent their leaving behind them any Impedi
ments to Health.
1. Let thele who are recovering, as well as
thole who are actually fick, take very little
Nourishment at a time, and take it often.
2. Let them take but one fort of Food at
each Meal, and not change their Food too often.
3. Let them chew whatever folid Victuals they
eat, very carefully.
4. Let th-< -i diminish their Quantity of Drink.
The belt for them in general is Water, * with
a fourth or third Part of white Wine. Too great
a Quantity of Liquids at this time prevents the
Stomach
* We have known many who had an Averfion to Wnter, and
with whom, on that very Account, it might probably agree Id s,
find Water very grateful, in which a thoroughly baked "and hot,
not burnt, Slice of Bread hnd been infufed. untill it attained the
Colour ot fine clear Small-beer, or light Amber coloured
and w6 never law any Inconvenience reiult from it. Doubtlds
pure, untoailed elemental Water may be preferable for thofe who
;ike, and have been accullomed to it. K.
in create Difeafcs
Stomach from recovering its Tone and Strength }
impairs Digeftion; keeps up Weakness , in-
creafes the Tendency to a Swelling of the Legs;
fometimes even occaiions a flow Fever ; and
throws back the Perfon recovering into a lan
guid State.
5. Let them go abroad as often as they are
able, whether on Foot, in a Carriage, or on
Horfeback. This laft Exercife is the healthieft
of all, and three fourths of the labouring People
in this Country, who have it in their Power to
procure it without Expence, are in the wrong to
neglect it. They, who would practice it, fhould
mount before their principal Meal, which fhould
be about Noon, and never ride after it. Exer
cife taken before a Meal ftrengthens the Organs
ofDigeftion, which is promoted by it. If the
Exercife is taken foon after the Meal, it im
pairs it.
6. As People in this State are feldo.m quite as
well towards Night, in the Evening they fbould
take very little Food. Their Sleep will be the
lefs diflnrbed for this, and repair them the more,
and fooner.
7. They mould not remain i:i Bed above fcven,
or eis nt Hours.
o
8. The Swelling of the Legs and Ancle?,
which happens to moft Perfons at this t ; me, is
not dangerous, and generally difappea r s ofitfelf;
it they live foberly and regularly, and take mo
derate Exercife.
9. It
76 7/je means and "Diet to be ufed. Sec.
9. It is not neceffary, in this State, that they
fhould go conftantly every Day to Stool; though
they {liould not be without one above two or
three. If their Coftivenefs exceeds this Term,
they fhould receive a Giyfter the third Day, and
even fooner, k they are heated by it, if they
feel puffed up, are refllefs, and have any Pains
in the Head.
10. Should they, after fome time, ilill con
tinue very weak , if their Stomach is difordered ;
if they have, from time to time, a little irregular
Fever, they mould take three Dofes daily of the
Prefcription N. 14. which fortifies the Digef-
tions, recovers the ilrength, and drives away the
Fever.
1 1. They mud by no means return to their La
bour too foon. This erroneousHabit daily prevent^
many Peafants from ever getting perfectly well,
and recovering their former Strength. From
not having been able to confine themfelves to
Repoi e and Indolence for fbrr.e Days, they never
become as hearty hardy Workmen as they had
been : and this premature hafty Labour makes
them lofe in the Coniequence, every following
Week of their Lives, more tim? than they ever
gained, by their over-early reluming of their La
bour. I fee every Day weakly Labourers, Vi-
neroons, and other Workmen, who date the
Commencement of their Weaknefs from that of
ibme acute Diieafe, which, for want of proper
Management through the Term of their Reco
very, was never perfectly cured. A Repofe of
feven
Of an Inflammation of tie Ere aft 77
feven or eight Days, more than they allowed
themfelves, would have prevented all theie In
firmities ; notwithftanding it is very difficult to
make them Icnlible of this. The Bulk, the
Body of the People, in this and in many other
Cafes, look no further than the preient Day ;
and never extend their Views to the following
one. They are for making; no Sacrifice to Futu
rity j which neverthelefs muft be done, to ren
der it favourable to us.
CHAPTER IV.
Of an Inflammation cf the Ereajl.
SECT. 46.
|HOeQB(~l HE Inflammation of the Breaft, or
Peripneumony, or a Fluxion upon the
^ rea ^> i an Inflammation of the Lungs,
and mod commonly of one only, and
confequently on one Side. The Signs by which
it is evident, are a Shivering, of more or lefs
Duration, during which the Perfon affected is
fometimes very reftlefs and in great Anguilb, an
effential and infeparable fcymptom ; and which
has helped me more than once to didinguilh
this Difeafe certainly, at the very Inftant of its
Invafion. Befides this, a conliderable Degree of
Heat fucceeds the Shivering, which Heat, for a
few
Of an Inflammation of the Bre aft.
few enfuing Hours, is often blended as it were,
with fome Returns of Chillinefs. The Pulfe is
quick, pretty flrong, moderately full, hard and
regular, when the .Diftemper is not very vio
lent ; but fmall, foft and irregular, when it is
very dangerous. There is alfo a Senfation of
Pain, but rather light and tolerable, in one Side
of the Breaft ; fometimes a kind of ftraitning or
Preffure on the Heart ; at other times Pains
through the whole Body, efpecially along the
Reins j -and fome Degree of Oppreflion, at
leaft very often ; for fometimes it is but very in-
coniiderable. The Patient finds a Neceffity of
lying almoft continually upon his Back, being
able to lie but very rarely upon either of his
Sides. Sometimes his Cough is dry, and then
attended with the mod Pain ; at other times it is
accompanied with a Spitting or Hawking up,
blended with more or lefs Blood, and fome
times with pure fheer Blood. There is alfo fome
Pain, or at lead a Senfation of Weight and
Heavinefs in the Head : and frequently a Pro-
penfity to rave. The Face is almoft continually
flufhed and red : though fometimes there is a
Degree of Palenefs and an Air of Aftonimment,
at the Beginning of the Difeafe, which portend
no little Danger. The Lips, the Tongue, the
Palate, the Skin are all dry; the Breath hot;
the Urine little and high coloured in the firft
Stage : but more plentiful, lefs flaming, and
letting fall much Sediment afterwards. There
o
is a frequent Thirft, and fometimes an Inclina
tion
Of an Inflammation of the Breaft. 79
tion to vomit j which impaling on the ignorant
AfTiftants, have often inclined them to give the
Patient a Vomit, which is mortal, efpcciaiiy at
this Juncture. The Heat becomes univeriaL
The Symptoms are heightened almoft every Night,
during v/hich the Cough is more exafperated,
and the b pitting or Expectoration in Icfs Quan
tity. The heft Expectoration is of a middling
Confidence, neither too thin, nor too hard and
tough, like thofe which are brought up at ,
Termination of a Cold ; but rather more yellow,
and mixed with a litde Blood, which gradually
becomes diil lefs, and commonly disappears en
tirely, before the feventh Day. Sometimes the
Inflammation afcends along the Wind-pipe, and in
fome Meafure funbcates the Patient, pair
him confiderably in Swallowing, which makes
him think he has a fore Throat.
47. Whenever the Difeafe is very violent at
fird, or increafes to be fuch, the Patient cannot
draw his Breath, but when he fits up. The
Puife becomes very fmall and very quick ; the
Countenance livid, the Tongue black ; the Eyes
flare wildly ; and he fuffers inexpreffible An-
attended with inceflant ReJllefsnefs and
, .
Agitation in his Bed. One of his Arms is fome-
times affected with a fort of Pally ; he raves with
out Intermifiion j can neither thoroughly wake
nor fleep. The Skin of his Bread and of his
Neck is covered (efpecially in clofe iultry
Weather, and when the Didemper is extremely
violent) with livid Spots, more or lefs remarkable,
which
80 Of an Inflammation of the Breaft.
which fhould be called fetechial ones, but are im
properly termed the pourpre^ or purple. The
natural Strength becomes exhaufted ; the Diffi
culty of breathing increafes every Moment ; he
finks into a Lethargy, and foon dies a terrible
Death in Country Places, by the very Effects of
the inflaming Medicines they employ on fuch
Occasions. It has been known in Fat, that the
Ufe of them has raifed the Diftemper to fuch a
Height, that the very Heart has been rent open,
which the Difledtion of the Body has demonftra-
ted.
48. If the Difeafe rufhes on at once, with
a fudden and violent Attack ; if the Horror, the
Cold and Shivering laft many Hours, and are fol
lowed with a nearly {torching Degree of Heat ;
if the Brain is affected from the very Onfet ; if
the Patient has a fmall Purging, attended with a
Tenefmus, or ftraining to Stool, often termed a
Needy j if he abhors the Bed ; if he either fweat
excellively, or if his Skin be extremely dry; if
his natural Manner and Look are conliderably
changed; and if he fpits up with much Difficulty,
the Difeafe is extremely dangerous.
49. He mult directly, from the firft Seizure
in this State, be put upon a Regimen, and his
Drink muft never be given cold. It mould
either be the Barley Water N. 2, the Almond
Emulfion N. 4, or that of N. 7. The Juices
of the Plants, which enter into the lafl of theie
Drinks, are excellent Remedies in this Cafe ; as
they
Of an Inflammation of the Brcajl. .81
they powerfully attenuate,or melt down,the vifcid
thick Blood, which caufes the Inflammation.
As long as the Fever keeps up extremely vio
lent ; while the Patient does not expcdorate fuffi-
ciently -, continues raving ; has a violent Head-
ach, or railes up pure Blood, tlie Glyiler N. 5
muft be given thrice, or at lead twice, in twenty
four Hours. However the principal Remedy is
Bleeding. As foon as ever the preceding cold
AiTault is over, twelve Ounces of Blood mult be
taken away at once ; and, if the Patient be young
and flrong, fourteen or even fixteen. This plen
tiful Bleeding gives him more Eafe, than if twenty
four Ounces had been drawn, at three different
Times.
50. When the Difeale is circumitancecl as
deicribed ( 46) that firft Bleeding makes the
Patient eafy for fome Hours ; but the Complaint
returns j and to obviate its Violence, as much as
poffible, we muft, except things promife ex
tremely well, repeat the Bleeding four Hours
after the firft, taking again twelve Ounces of
Blood, which pretty often proves fufficient. But
if, about the Expiration of eight or ten Flours, it
appears to kindle up again, it mm! be repeated a
third, or even a fourth Time. Yet, with the Af-
iiflance of other proper Remedies, I h .idom
been obliged to bleed a fourth Time, d have
_ ,
fometimes found the two firft Bleed: uffici-
o
ent.
If the Difeafe has been of feveral Days Durati
on, when I have firft been called > if the Fever
F is
Of an Inflammation of the Brcqft.
is ftill very high ; if there be a Difficulty of
Breathing ; if the Patient does not expectorate at
all, or brings up too much Blood ; without being
too felicitous about the Day of the Difeafe, the
Patient mould be bled, though it were on the
tenth. ( a )
51. In this, and in all other inflammatory
Dileafes, the Blood is in a very thick viicid State:
>d aimed immediately on its being drawn, a
white tough Skin, fomewhat like Leather, is
formed on its Top, which moil People have feen,
and which is called the pleuritic Crujl. It is
thought a promiiing Appearance, when at each
Bleeding it icems lefshard, and lefs thick, than it
s at the preceding ones: andthisis very generally
true, if the Sick feels himfelf, at the fame Time,
fenfibly better : but whoever mail attend Jb/efy
to the Appearance of the Blood, will find him
felf often deceived. It will happen, even in the
mod violent Inflammation of the Bread, that
this Crud is not formed, which is fuppofed to be
a very unpromifing Sign. There are alfo, in
this RefpecT:, many odd Appearances, which
aiife
( a ) We mould however, with the greater CircumfpedHon (of
how much the longer Handing the Difeafe has been, and by
how much the more difficult the vifcous Humours are to be
melted down and diflodged) attend to the Coclion of the Mat
ter of Expectoration ; which Nature does not often eafily ef
fect, and which me effects the more imperfectly and ilowly, the
weaker (he is. Her lait Efforts have oiten been attended with
fuch high Paroxyfms, as have iinpofed even upon very compe
tent Phyiicians, and have made them open a Vein a few Hours
before the Patients Death, from their Pulfes being tfrong, hard
and fiequent. Exceffive Weaknefs is the Sign, by which we
may diicover iuch unavailing Efforts to be the laft. . L.
Of an Inflammation of the Ere aft,. 83
arife from the fmalleft Circumftances ; fo that we
rnuft not regulate the Repetitions of our bleed
ing, folely by this Cruft : and in general we mufl
not be over credulous in fuppofihg, that the Ap
pearances in the Blood, received into the Bafon,
can enable us to determine, with Certainty, of
its real State in the Body.
52. When the lick Perfon is in the Condi
tion defcribed ( 47) the Bleeding is not only un
attended with Eafe ; but fometimes it is alfo per
nicious, by the fudden Weaknels to which it re
duces him. Generally in fuch a Cafe all Medi
cines and Means are iniignifkant : and it is a very
bad Sign in this Difeafe, when this Difcharge is
not attended with Eafe and Benefit to the Sick ;
or when there are fome Circumftances, which
oblige us to be fparing of it.
53. The Patient s Legs mould every Day,
for one half Hour, be put into a Bath of warm
Water, wrapping him up clofely ; that the Cold
may not check that Perfpiration, which the
Bath promotes.
54. Every two Hours he fhould take two
Spoonfuls of the Mixture N. 8, which promotes
all the Difcharges, and chiefly that of Expectora
tion.
55- When the Oppreffion and Straitnefs are
considerable, and the Cough dry, the Patient
may receive the Vapour of boiling Water, to which
a little Vinegar has been added. There are two
ways of effecting this j either by placing below
his Face, after letting him up, a VeiTel filled with
F 2 fuch
84 Of an Inflammation of the Brca/l.
fuch boiling hot Water, and covering the Pati*
cnt s Head and the VefTel with a Linen Cloth,
that may inclofe the Steam ; or elfe by holding
before his Mouth a Spunge dipped in the fame
boiling Liquor. Tins laft Method is the leaft
effectual, but it fatigues the Patient confiderably
Ids. When this bad Symptom is extremely
preiling, Vinegar alone mould be ufcd without
Water j and the Vapour of it has often faved
Patients, who feemed to have one Foot in the.
Grave : but it mould be continued for feveral.
Hours.
56. The outward Remedies directed in N.
9. are alfo applied with Succefs to the Breail,
and to the Throat.
57- When the Fever is extremely high,
the Sick mould take every Hour, a Spoonful oi
the Mixture N. 10. in a Cup of the Ptifan (a)
but
* The Ufe of Acids, in Inflammations of the Bread, requires
no little Consideration. Whenever the fick Perfon has an
Averfion to them ; when the Tongue is moiil, the Stomach is
heavy and difordered, and the Habit ^nd Temperament of the
Patient is mild and foft; when the Cough is very iharp with
out great Thirft, we. ought to abftain from them. But when
the Inflammation is joined to a dry Tongue, to great Thirft,
Heat and Fever, they are of great Service. Slices of China
Oranges fprin kled with Sugar may be given firft ; a light Li-
monade may be allowed afterwards ; and at laftfmall Dofes of
the Mixture, N 10. if it becomes necefTary. E. L. I have
chofen to retain this Note of the Editor of Lyons, from having
frequently feen the Inefficacy, and fometimes, I have even
thought, the ill Effects of Acids in Peripneumonies and Pleu-
rifies, in a Country far South of S tviJJerlaufi ; and where thefe
Difeafes are very frequent, acute and fatal. On the other hand I
fhall add the Subftance of what Dr. Tiflot fays on this Head in
a Note$.
Of an Inflammation of the Ereaft. 8 5
but without dimini/hing on this Account the
uiual Quantity of his other Drinks, which may
be taken immediately after it.
58. As long as the Patient mall grow worfe,
or only continue equally bad, the fame Medicines
are to be repeated. But if on the third Day
(tho it rarely happens Ib foon) or fourth, or
fifth, the Difeafe takes a more favourable Turn ;
if the Exafperation returns with lefs Violence ; the
Cough be lefs fevere ; the Matter coughed up
lefs bloody : if Refpiration becomes eaiier ; the
Head be lefs affected; the Tongue not quite io
dry ; if the high Colour of the Urine abates, and
its Quantity be increafed, it may be fuilicient
F 3 then
a Note to his Table of Remedies, wherein he aflirms, that he
has given in this Difeafe very large Dofes of them, riling gra
dually from fmall ones, and always with gi IM treat
ing other Phylicians to order this Acid (the Spirit of Sulphur)
in the lame large Dofes which he directs in this Chapter, and
alluring himfelf of their thanks, for its good Confequences
Now the only ill Effect I can furmize here, from Ihewing this
Diverfity of Opinion in thefe two learned Phyficians, and my
own Doubts, is, that the Subjects of this Difeafe in Country
Places may prove fomewhat confufed and indblute by it, in
their Conduct in fuch Cafes. But as all of us certainly con
cur in the great Intention of doing all pofiible Good, by the
extenfive Publication of this Treatiie, 1 mall take leave to obleive
that in this Difeafe, and in Pleurifies, more folid Benefit has been
received in Carolina, Virginia, &c. from the Ufe of the Seneka
Rattle -fnake Root, than from any other Medicine whatever.
Bleeding indeed is neceffarily premifed to it; but it has often
faved the Neceffity of many repeated Bleedings. This Medicine,
which is termed in Latin, the Polygala Virginiana, is certainly
rather of a faponaceous attenuating Quality, and betrays not any
Marks of Acidity, being rather moderately acrid. There will
be Occafion to mention it more particularly in the fubiequ^rt
Chapter, as fuch a Liberty can need no Apology to any philoior
phical Phyfician. AT.
86 Of an Inflammation of the Breajl.
then to keep the Patient carefully to his Regi
men, and to give him a Glyfter every Evening.
The Exaiperation that occurs the fourth Day is
often the hmheft.
o
59. This Diftemper is moft commonly ter
minated and carried off by Expectoration, and
often hy Urine, which on the feventh, the ninth,
or the eleventh Day, and fometimes on the Days
between them, begins to let fall a plentiful Sedi
ment, or Settling, of a pale red Colour, and fome
times real Pus or ripe Matter. Thefe Difcharges
are fucceeded by Sweats, which are as ferviceable
then, as they were injurious at the Beginning of
the Difeafe.
60. Some Hours before thefe Evacuations
appear, there come on, and not feldom, fome
very alarming Symptoms, fuch as great Anguiflij
Palpitations, fome Irregularity in the Pulfe; an
increafed Oppreffion ; convulfive Motions (this
being what is called the Cn/is, the Height, or
Turn of the Diilemper) but they are no ways
dangerous, provided they do not occafion any im
proper Treatment. Thefe Symptoms depend on
the morbid and purulent Matter, which, be
ing dillodged, circulates with the Humours,
and irritates different Parts, until the Difcharge
of it has fairly begun j after which all fuch Symp
toms difappear, and Sleep generally enfues. How
ever I cannot too ftrongly inlift on the Neceflity
of great Prudence in fuch Circumftances. Some
times it is the Weaknefs of the Patient, and at
other times Convulfions, or fome other Symp
toms
Of an Inflammation of the Breaft. 87
toms, that terrify the By-flanders. If, which is
mod generally the Cafe, the abfurd Practice of
directing particular Remedies for fuch Accidents
takes place, fuch as fpirituous Cordials, Venice
Treacle, Confections, Caftor and Rue ; the Gm-
fequence is, that Nature being difturbed in her
Operations, the Crifis or Turn is not effected ;
the Matter which ihould be dilcharged by Stool,
by Urine, or by Sweat, is not dilcharged out of
the Body ; but is thrown upon fome internal or
external part of it. Should it be on fome in
ward part, the Patient either dies at once ; or
another Diftemper fucceeds, more troublefome
and incurable than the firft. Should it be ex
pelled to fome outward part, the Danger indeed
is lefs j and as foon as ever fuch a Tumour ap
pears, ripening Pultices fhould be apply d to
brin^ it to a Head, after which it ihould imms-
o *
diately be opened.
61. In order to prevent fuch unhappy Con-
fequences, great Care muft be taken, whenever
fuch terrifying Symptoms come on, [about the
Time of the Cnfe] to make no Change in the
Diet, nor in the Treatment of the Patient ; ex
cept in giving him the loofening Glyfter No. 5 ;
and applying every two Hours a Flannel, fqueezed
out of warm Water, which may cover all the
Bel]y, and in a Manner go round the Body be^
hind the Reins. The Quantity of his Drink
may alfo be increafed a little ; and that of his
Nourishment leilened, as long as this high and
violent State continues.
F 4 62. J
Of an Inflammation of the Breafi.
62.1 have not fpoken of Vomits or Purges, as
being directly contrary to the Nature of this Difeafe,
Anodynes, or Opiates, to procure Sleep are alfo,
in general, very improper. In a few Cafes, how-
ihey may poffibly be ufefulj but thefe
Cafes arc fo very difficult to be fufficiently diftin-
guilhed, that Opjates fhould never be admitted
in this Difeafe, without the Prefence and Advice
of a Phyfician. I have feen many Patients, who
have been thrown into an incurable Hectic, by
taking them improperly. When the Difeafe is
not received in a mortal Degree, nor has been in-
judicioufly treated, and proceeds in a benign re
gular Manner, the Patient may be called very
well and fafe by the fourteenth Day ; when he
y, if he has an Appetite, be put upon the
Diet of People who are recovering. But if he
frill retains an Averfion to Food ; if his Mouth is
ioul and furred, and he is fenfible of feme Heavi-
nefs in his Head, he fhould take the purging
Potion N n.
63. Bleedings from theNofe occur fometirnes
naturally in this Difeafe, even after repeated
Bleedings by Art ; thefe are very benign and ia-
vcurable, and are commonly attended with more
Eafe and Relief than artificial Bleedings. Such
voluntary Difcharges may fometimes be expected,
when the Patient is fenfibly mended in many
Refpects after the Ufe of the Lancet ; and yet
complains of a great Pain in his Plead, accom
panied with quick fparkling Eyes, and a Rednefs
of the Nofe. Nothing fhould be done to ftpp
this
Of an Inflammation of the Breaft, 89
ihefe voluntary Bleedings, fince it would be very
dangerous : For when Nature has fulfilled her
o
Intention by them, they ceaie of themfelves.
At other times, but more rarely, the Diliemper
is carried off by a natural Purging, attended with
moderate Pain, and the Difcharge of bilious
Matter.
64. If the Expectoration, or hawking up
of Matter, Hops very fuddenly, and is not
fpeedily attended with Tome other Evacuation ;
the Opprellion aud Anguiih of the Patient im
mediately return, and the Danger is great and
preffing. If the Diftemper, at this Juncture,
is not of many Days {landing ; if the Patient is
a ftrong Perfon ; if he has not as yet been plen
tifully bled ; if there be flill iome Blood mixed
with the Humour he expectorates ; or if the Pulfe
be flrong and hard, he ihoulil be bled imme
diately in the Arm j :r.;d conftantly receive the
Steam of hot Wat :r and Vinegar by the Mouth,
and drink plentifully of the Ptifan N 2, fome-
thing hotter than ordinary. But if his Circum-
ilances, after this Suppreilion, are different from
thefe juft mentioned ; inflead of bleeding him,
two Biifters ihould be applied to the Legs ; and
he fhould drink plentifully of the Ptifan N 12.
The Caufes which ofteneft produce this Sup-
preilion of his Expectoration are, i, a (harp and
fudden cold Air. 2, too hot a one. 3, over
hot Medicines. 4, exceffive Sweating. 5, a
Purge prematurely and injudiciously timed, and 6,
ibme immoderate PafTion of the Mind.
65. When
90 Of an Inflammation of the Breaft.
65. When the Sick has not been fufficiently
bled, or not foon enough ; and even fometimes,
which I have feen, when he has been greatly
weakened by exceffive Bleeding ; ib that the
Difcharges by Stool, Urine, Expectoration and
Perfpiration, have not been fufficiently made ;
when thefe Difcharges have been confufed by
fome other Caufcs ; or the Difeafe has been in-
iudicioufly treated ; then the Veffels that have
been inflamed, do not unload themfelves of the
Humours, which fluff up and opprefs them: but
there happens in the Subftance of the affected
Lung, the fame Circumflance we fee daily occur
i the Surface of the Body. If an inflammatory
Tumour or Swelling does not diiperfe itfelf, and
diiappears infenfibly, it forms an Impofthume or
Abie . Thus exactly alfo in the inflamed
Lung, if the Inflammation is not diffipated, it
forms an Abfcefs, which^ in that part, is called a
Vomica : and the Matter of that Abfcefs, like
the external ones, remains often long inclofed in
its Sac or Bay*, without burflins: open its Mem-
O O
brane or Caie, and difcharging the Matter it con
tains.
66. If the Inflammation was not very deeply
feated in the inward Subftance of the dileafed
Lung ; but was extended to its Surface, that is,
very near the Ribs, the Sac will burfl on the
Surface of the Lung ; and the Matter contained
in it mud be difcharged into the Cavity, or Hol-
lovvnefs of the Breali:, between the Lung, the
Ribs, and the Diaphragm or Midriff, which is
the
Of an Inflammation of the Brcajl. 91
the Membrane that divides the Breaft and the
Belly. But when the Inflammation is confide-
rably deeper, the Impofthume burits withinfide
of the Lung itfelf. If its Orifice, or Opening is
fo fmall, that but little can get out at once ; if
the Quantity of all the Matter be inconfiderable,
and the Patient is at the fame Time pretty ftrong,
he coughs up the Matter, and is very leniibly re
lieved. But if this Vomica be large, or if its Ori
fice is wide, and it throw-out a great Quantity of
Matter at once; or if the Patient is very weak,
he dies the Moment it burlfo, and that fometimes
when it is leal! expeded. I have feen one Pati
ent fo circumitanced expire, as be was conveying
a Spoonful of Soup to his Mouth ; and another,
while he was wiping his Noll-. There was
no prefent Symptom in either of thefe Cafes,
whence a Phyfician might fuppofe them likelier
to die at that Infbnt, than for ibme Hours be
fore. The Pus, or Matter, is commonly dif-
charged through the Mouth after Death, and
the Bodies very loon become putrified.
67. We call that Vomica which is not burfl,
an occult or hidden, and that which is, an evident
or open one. It is of conliderable Importance
to treat exadly and clearly of this Topic ; as a
great Number of Country People die of thefe
Impofthumes, even without a Sufpicion of the
Caufe of their Death. I had an Infbnce of it
fome Days iince, in the School -mailer of a Vil
lage. He had an occult and very coniiderable
Vomica in the left Lung, which was the Con Se
quence
92 Of an Inflammation of the Brcaft.
quence of an Inflammation of the Breaft, that
had been treated improperly at the Beginning.
He feemed to me not likely to live twenty four
Hours ; and really died in the Night, after inex-
preiTible Anguifh.
68. Whatever Diftemper is included within
the Breaft of a living Patient, is neither an Ob
ject of the Sight or Touch ; whence thefe Vo-
mzcas, the .e inward Tumours, are fo often un
known, and indeed unfufpected. The Evacua
tions that were neceflary for the Cure, or fome-
times for the Prevention, of them, have not
taken place, during the firft fourteen Days. At
the End of this Term, the Patient, far from be
ing cured, is not very considerably relieved; but,
on the contrary, the Fever continues to be pretty
high, with a Pulie continually quick ; in ge
neral fort and weak; though fometimes pretty
hard, and often fluctuating, or, as it were, wa
ving. His Breathing is itill difficult and op-
preffed ; with fmall cold Shudderings from Time
to Time ; an Exafperation of the Eever ; rluihed
Cheeks, dry Lips, and Thirft.
The Increafe of thefe Symptoms declare, that
Pus or Matter is thoroughly formed : the Cough
then becomes more continual ; being exafpera-
tcd with the leafl Motion ; or as foon as ever the
Patient has taken any Nouriihment. He can
repofe only on the Side affected. It often hap
pens indeed, that he cannot lie down at all ;
but is obliged to be fet up all Day ; fometimes
even without daring to lean a little upon his
Loins,
Of fin Inflammation of the Brcrf. 93
Loins, for fear of increafing the Cough and Op-
preflion. He is unable to ileep ; has a continual
Fever, and his Pulfe frequently intermits.
The Fever is not only heightened every Even
ing; but the fmallefl Quantity of Food, the
^entleft Motion, a little Coughing, the lighted
Agitation of the Mind, a little more than uilial
Heat in the Chamber, Soup either a little too
flrong, or a little too fait, increafe the Quicknels
of his Pulie the Moment they occur, or are given.
He is quite reftlefs, has fome fhort Attacks of
the mod terrible Anguifh, accompanied and
fucceeded by Sweatings on his Bread, and from
his whole Countenance. He fvveats fometimes
the whole Night ; his Urine is reddiih, now
frothy, and at other times oily, as it were. Sud
den Fludiings, hot as Flames, rife into his whole
Viiage. The greater Number of the Sick are
commonly fenfible of a mod difagreeablc Tatle
in their Mouth ; fome of old flrong Cheefe ;
others of rotten Eggs ; and others again of dink-
ing Meat, and fall greatly away. The Third of
fome is unquenchable ; their Mouths and Lips
are parched ; their Voice weak and hoarfe ;
their Eyes hollow, with a kind of Wildnefs in
their Looks. They have a general Difguft to all
Food ; and if they mould afk for fome particular
Nourifhment without feeing it, they reject it the
Moment it is brought them ; and their Strength
at length feems wholly exhaufted.
Befides thefo Symptoms, a little Inflation, or
Bloatednefij as it were, is fometimes obferved on
the
94 Of an Inflammation of the Breast.
the Breaft, towards the Side aflfeded ; with afi
almoft infeniible Change of Colour. If the Vo
mica be fituated at the Bottom of the affected
Lobe of the Lungs, and in its internal Part, that is,
nearly in the Middle of the Breaft, fome Puffi-
7?efs or light Sxvelling may be perceived in fome
Bodies, by gently p reding the Pit of the Sto
mach j efpecially when the Patient coughs. In
ihort, according to the Obfervations of a Ger
man Phyiician, if one ftrike the open Hand on
the Breaft, covered only with a Shirt, it retains
in the Spot, which is directly oppofite to the Vo-
Mi cii, a flat heavy Sound, as if one ftruck a Piece
of Flefh ; while in ftriking on the other Side it
gives a clear loud Sound, as from a Drum. I
ftill doubt however, whether this Obfervation
will generally hold true ; and it would be hazar
dous to affirm there is no Abfceis in a Breaft,
which does not return this heavy Sound.
69. When a Vomica is formed, as long as
it is not emptied, all the Symptoms I have al
ready enumerated increafe, and the Vomica grows
in Size : the whole Side of the Lung affected
lometimes becomes a Bag or Sac of Matter.
The found Side is compreiTed ; and the Patient
dies after dreadful Anguifh, with the Lung full of
PitSy and without having ever brought up any.
To avoid iuch fatal Coniequences, it is necef-
fary to procure the Rupture and Diicharge of
this inward Abfceis, as foon as we are certain of
its Exiftence : And as it is fafer it mould break
within the Lobe affected, from whence it may
be
Of an Inflammation of the Ereafl. 9 5
be difcharged by hawking up - y than that it mould
burft and void itfelf into the Cavity of the Breaft,
for Reafons I fhall give hereafter, we muft en
deavour, that this Rupture may be effected with
in the internal Subftance of the Lungs.
70. The moil effectual Methods to procure
this are, i. To make the Patient continually
receive, by his Mouth, the Vapour of warm Wa
ter. 2. When by this Means that part of the
Sac or Abfccfs is ibftened, where we could wifh
the Rupture of it to happen, the Patient is to
fwaliow a large Quantity of the mod: emollient
Liquid ; fuch as Barley Water, Almond Milk,
light Veal Broth, or Milk and Water. By this
Means the Stomach is kept always full : fo that
the Refinance to the Lungs being coniiderable
on that Side, the Abfcefs and its Contents will
naturally be prcfTed towards the Side of the
Wind-pipe, as it will meet with lefs Refinance
there. This Fulnefs of the Stomach will alib
incline the Patient to cough, which may concur
to produce a good Event. Hence, 3, we mould
endeavour to make the Patient cough, by making
him fmell to fome Vinegar, or even fnuff up a
little ; or by injecting into his Throat, by the
Means of a i mall Syringe or Pipe, fuch as Chil
dren make out of fhort Pieces of Elder- Boughs,
a little Water or Vinegar. 4. He fliould be ad-
vifed to bawl out aloud, to read loud, or to laugh
heartily j all which Means contribute to burft
open the Abfcefs, as well as thofe two following
ones. 5. Let him take every two Hours a Soup-
Ladle
96 Of an inflammation of the Qreaft,
Ladle of the Potion N. 8. 6. He fhould be put
into a Cart, or fome other Carriage; but not be
fore he has drank plentifully of iuch Liquors as
I have juft mentioned : after which the Shaking
and Jolting in the Carriage have fometimes imme
diately procured that Rupture, or breaking of the
Ba or Abfcefs, we wimed for.
c>
71. Some Years fmce I law a Country Maid
Servant, who was left in a languishing Condition
after an Inflammation of the Breaft ; without any
Perfon s fufpedting her Ailment. This Woman
being put into a Cart, that was lent for a Load of
Hay ; one of the Wheels run violently againft a
Tree : (lie fwooned away, and at the fame Time
brought up a great Quantity of digefted Matter.
She continued to bring up more ; during which
I was informed of her Cafe, and of the Accident,
which effectually cured her.
A Swift Officer, who ferved in Piedmont ; , had
been in a languid State of Health for fome
Months ; and returned home to fet himfelf
down as eafily as he could, without conceiv
ing any considerable Hopes of Recovery.
Upon entering into his own Country, by the
Way of Mount Bernard ; and being obliged to
go fome Paces on Foot, he fell down ; and re
mained in a Swoon above a Quarter of an Hour:
during which Time he threw up a large Quantity
of Matter, and found himfelf that very Moment
very greatly relieved. 1 ordered him a proper
Diet, and fuitable Medicines : his Health became
perfectly
* ,
Of an Inflammation of the Breajl. 97
perfectly eftablifhed ; and the Prefervation of his
Life was principally owing to this lucky Fall.
Many Perfons afflicled with a Vomica y faint
away the very Inftant it breaks. Some fharp
Vinegar fhould be directly held to their Nofe.
\3 *
This fmall Affiftance is generally iufficient,
where the burfting of it is not attended with
fuch Appearances as {hew it to be mortal, in
which Cafe every Application is infignificant.
72. If the lick Peribn was not extremely
weak before the Burfting of the Abfcefs ; if the
Matter Was white, and well conditioned ; if the
Fever abates after it ; if the Anguifh, Oppreflion
and Sweats terminate;- if the Cough is 1 els violent ;
if the Patient is ienlibly eafier in his Situation or
Pofture ; if he recovers his Sleep and Appetite ;
if his ufual Strength returns ; if the Quantity he
expectorates, or brings up, becomes daily and
gradually lefs ; and if his Urine is apparently
better, we may have Room to hope, that by the
Affiftance of thefe Remedies I mall immediately
diredt, he may be radically, complcatly cured.
73. But if on the contrary; when his
Strength is exhaufled before the burfting of the
Abfcefs ; when the Matter is too thin and tranf-
parent, brown, green, yellow, bloody and of an
offenrive Smell ; if the Pulfe continues quick
and weak; if the Patient s Appetite, Strength
and Sleep do not improve, there remains no hope
of a Cure, and the beft Medicines are ineffectu
al : Neverthelefs we ought to make fome Tryal <}
of them. _
<* 74-
98 O/ \m Inflammation oftJx Ere aft.
74. They confift of the following Medicines
r.nd Regulations, i. Give every four Hours a
little Barley or Rice Cream. 2. If the Matter
brought up is thick and glewy, fo that it is very
difficult to be loofcned and difcharged, give every
two Hours a Soup-ladle of the Potion N. 8 ;
and between the giving thefe two, let the Patient
take every half Hour a Cup of the Drink N. 13.
3. When the Confidence of the Matter is fuch,
that there is no Occafion for thefe Medicines to
promote the Difcharge of it, they muft be omit
ted j tho the fame Sort and Quantity ot Food are
to be continued ; but with the Addition of an
equal Quantity of Milk; or, which would be
ftill more beneficial, inftead of this Mixture, we
fliould give an equal Quantity of fweet Milk, ta
ken from a good Cow, which, in iuch a Cafe,
may compofe the whole Nourifhment of the
Patient. 4. He fhould take four Times a Day,
beginning early in the Morning, and at the Dif-
tance of two Hours, a Dofe of the Powder N.
14, diluted in a little Water, or made into a Bo-
/us, or Morfel, with a little Syrup or Honey.
His common Drink mould be Almond Emulfi-
on, commonly called Almond Milk, or Barley
Water, or freili Water with a fourth part Milk.
5. He mould air and exercife every Day on
Horfeback, or in a Carriage, according as his
Strength and his Circumflances will allow him.
But of all Sorts of Exercife, that upon a trotting
Horfe is, beyond all Compnrifon, the very beft,
the eafiefl to be procured by every Body ;
provided
Of an Inflammation of the Breafl. fyg
provided the Difeafe be not too far advanced \
fince in fuch a Situation, any Exercife, that was
only a little violent, might prove pernicious.
75. The Multitude, who are generally illi
terate, feldom confider any thing as a Remedy,
except they fwallow it. They have but little
Confidence in Regimen, or any Affiftance in the
Wav of Diet, and confider Riding on Horfeback
as wholly ufelefs to them. This is a dangerous
Miftake, of which I mould be glad to undeceive
them : fince this AfTiftance, which appears fo
infignificant to them, is probably the mod effec
tual of any : it is that in Fact, without which
they can fcarcely expert a Cure, in the highelt
Pegrees of this Difeafe : it is that, which perhaps
aloiie may recover them, provided they take no
improper Food. In brief it is coniidered, and
with Reafon, as the real Specific for this Difeafe.
76. The Influence of the Air is of more
Importance in this Diforder, than in any others ,
for which Reafon great Care fliould be taken to
o
procure the bed, in the Patient s Chamber.
For this Purpofe it fliould often be ventilated, or
have an Admiffion of frefh Air, and be fvveetened
from Time to Time, tho very lightly, with a
little good Vinegar ; and in the Seaibn it mould
be plentifully fupplied with agreeable Herbs,
Flowers and Fruits. Should the Sick be un
fortunately fituated, and confined in an uavyhol*
fome Air, there can be but little Profped of
curing him, without altering it.
G 2 77 .
loo Of an Inflammation oftht Ere aft.
77. Out of many Perfons affected with thefe
Diforders, fome have been cured by taking no
thing whatfbever but Butter-milk ; others by
Melons and Cucumbers only; and others again
by Summer Fruits of every Sort. Neverthelefs,
as fuch Cafes are iingular, and have been but
few, I advife the Patient to obferve the Method I
have directed here, as the fureft.
78. It is lufficient if he have a Stool once
in two, or even in three, Days. Hence, there
is no Reafon for him, in this Cafe, to accuftoin
himfelf to Glyfters : they might excite a Loofe-
nefs, which may be very dangerous.
79. When the Diichargeof the Matter from
the Breaft diminifhes, nnd the Patient is per-
ccivably mended in every Refpect, it is a Proof
that the Wound in the Abfcefs is deterged, or
clean, and that it is difpofcd to heal up gradually.
If the Suppuration, or Difcharge, continues in
great Quantity ; if it feems but of an indifferent
Confidence ; if the Fever returns every Evening,
it may be apprehended, that the Wound, inftead
of healing, may degenerate into an Ulcer, which
rnuft prove a mofi embarraffing Confequence.
Under fuch a Circum.fr.ance, the Patient would
fall into a confirmed Hectic, and die after fome
Months Sicknefs.
80. I am not acquainted with any better
Remedy, in fuch a dangerous Cafe, than a Per-
ieverance in thefe already directed, and efpecially
in moderate Exercife on Horieback. In ibme of
them indeed Recourfe may be had to the fweet
Vapours
Of an Inflammation of the Ereaft. 101
Vapours of fome vulnerary Herbs in hot Water,
with a little Oil of Turpentine, as directed N. 1 5.
I have feen them fucceed ; hut the fafeft Way is
to confult a Phyfician, who may examine and
coniider, if there is not fome particular Circum-
flance combined v/ith the Difeafe, that proves an
Obftacle to the Cure of it. If the Cough pre
vents the Patient from Sleeping, he may take in
the Evening two or three Table Spoonfuls of the
Prefcription N. 16, in a Glafs of Almond Milk
or Barley Water.
8 1 . The very fame Caufes which fuddenly
fupprefs the Expectoration, in an Inflammation of
the JBreaft, may alfo check the Expectoration
from a Vomica already begun : in which Cir-
cumftancc the Patient is fpeedily afflicted with an
Oppreffion and Anguifh, a Fever and evident
Eeeblenefs. We mould immediately endeavour
to remove this Stoppage, by the Vapour of hot
Water ; by giving a Spoonful of the Mixture
N. 3 every Hour ; by a large Quantity of the
Ptiian N. 12, and by a proper Degree of Motion
or Exercife. As foon as ever the Expectoration
returns, the Fever and the other Symptoms dif-
appear. I have feen this SuppreiTion in flrong
Habits quickly followed with an Inflammation
about the Seat of the Vomica^ which has obliged
me to bleed, after which the Expectoration im
mediately returned.
82. It happens fometimes, that the Vomica
}s entirely cleanfcd ; the Expectoration is entirely
G 7 finifhed,
j
TG2 Of an Inflammation of the Jlreaft.
finished, or drained off, the Patient fcems well,
and thinks himfelf compleatly cured : but foon
after, the Uneafinefs, Oppreffion, Cough an4
Fever are renewed, becaufe the Membrane or
Bag of the I omica fills again : again it empties
itfelf, the Patient expectorates for ibme Days,
and feems to recover. After fome Time how
ever, the fame Scene is repeated ; and this VicifTi-
tudc, or Succeffion, of moderate and of bad
Health, often continues for fome Months and
even fome Years. This happens when the Vo-
mlca is emptied, and is gradually deterged ; fo
that its Membranes, or Sides touch or approach
each other ; but without cicatrizing or healing
firmly ; and then there drops or leaks in very
gradually frefh Matter. For a few Days this
feems no ways to incommode the Patient; hut
as foon as a certain Quantity is accumulated, he
is vifited again with fome of the former Symp
toms, till another Evacuation enfues. People
thus circumftanced, in this Difeaf> fometimes
appear to enjoy a tolerable Share of Health. It
may be considered as a kind of internal liTue,
which empties and cleanfcs itfelf from Time to.
Time ; pretty frequently in fome Confritution?,
more flowly in others j a,nd under which fome
may attain a good middling Age. When it ar
rives however at a very confiderable Duration,
j .
it proves incurable. In its carlieft State, it gives
way fometimes to a Milk-diet, to riding on
Horfebackj and to the Medicine N. 14.
83.
Of fin Inflammation of the Breaft. 1 03
83. Some may be fill-prized, that in treating
of an Abfcefs of the Lungs, and of the Hectic,
which is a Confequence of it, I fay nothing of
thofe Remedies, commonly termed Ba/famics,
and fo frequently employed in them, for Inflance,
Turpentines, Baliam of Peru, of Mecca, Frank-
incenle, Maftich, Myrrh, Storax and Baliam
of Sulphur. I fhall however fay briefly here
(becaufe it is equally my Deiign to deftroy the
Prejudice of the People, in favour of improper
Medicines, and to eftablifh the Reputation of
good ones) that I never in luch Cafes made life
of thefe Medicines; became I am convinced,
that their Operation is generally hurtful in fuch
Cafes j becaufe I fee them daily productive of
real Mifchief ; that they protract the Cure, and
often change a ilight Diforder inro an incurable
Difeafe. They are incapable of perfect Digef-
tion, they obftruct the rmcft Vefiels of the Lur
whofe Obstructions we fhould endeavour to r j-
move j and evidently occalion, except their Dole
be extremely fmall, Heat and Oppreilion. I
have very often feen to a Demonftration, that
Pills compounded of Myrrh, Turpentine and
Balfam of Peru, have, an Hour after they were
fwallowcd, occaiioned a Tumult and Agitation
in the Pulfe, high Flumings, Thirft and Op-
prefTion. In fhort it is demonitrable to every
unprejudiced Perfon, that thefe Remedies, as
they have been called, are truly prejudicial in
this Cafe ; and I heartily wim People may be
difabufcd with Refpeft to them, and that they
G 4 may
ip 4 Of an Inflammation of the Ereafl.
rnay lofe that Reputation fo unhappily afcribed
to them.
I know that many Perfons, very capable in
other Refpeds, daily make ufe of them in thefe
Diitempers: fuch however cannot fail of difufing
them, as loon as they mall have obierved their
Effeds, abflraded from the Virtues of the other
Medicines to which they add them, and which
mitigate the Danger of them. 1 law a Patient,
\vhom a foreign Surgeon, who lived at Qrbe, at
tempted to cure of a Hedic with melted Bacon,
which aggravated the Difeafe. This Advice feem-
cd, and certainly was, abfurd; neverthelefs the
Balfamics ordered in fuch Cafes are probably not
more digeftible than fat Bacon. The Powder
I\ . 14 poiTeiVes whatever thefe Balfamics pretend
to : it is attended with none of the Inconvenien-
cies they produce ; and has all the good Quali
ties afcribed to them. Notwithftanding which,
it mutt not be given while the Inflammation
exifts; nor when it may revive again; and no
other Aliment fhould be mixed with the Milk.
The famous Medicine called the Antibc5lic^
(AniikeEiicum Pctcrii) ha? not, any more than
thefe Balfamics, the Virtues afcribed to it in
jiich Cafes. I very often give it in forne obfti-
ji ate Coughs to Infants with their Milk, and
o
then it is very ufeful : but I have feldom feen it
K/
attended with considerable Effects in grown Per-
v^ns; and in the prefent Cafes I ihould be fear
ful of its doing Mifchicf.
If the Vomictiy inflead of breaking with-
^ . o
in
Of an Inflammation of the Bmft. 105
in the Subftance of the Lungs affe&ed, fhould
break without it, the Pus mull be received into
the Cavity of the Bread:. \Ve know when that
has happened, by the Senfation or Feeling of the
Patient; who perceives an uncommon, a iingu-
kr kind of Movement, pretty generally accom
panied with a Fainting. The Oppreffion and
Anguifh ceafe at once j the Fever abates ; the
Cough however commonly continues, tho with
lefs Violence, and without any Expectoration.
But this feeming Amendment is of a fhort Dura
tion, fince from the daily Augmentation of the
Matter, and its becoming more acrid or fharp, the
Lun^s become opprefled, irritated and eroded.
The Difficulty of Breathing, Heat, Thirft, Wake-
fulneis, Diftafte, and Deafneis, return, with many
other Symptoms unneceiTary to be enumerated,
and efpecially with frequent Sinkings and Weak-
nefs. The Patient mould be confined to his
Regimen, to retard the Increafe of the Difeale as
much as poiTible ; notwithstanding no other ef
fectual Remedy remains, except that of opening
the Breaft between two of the Ribs, to diicharge
the Matter, and to flop the Diforder it occalions.
This is called the Operation for the JLmpyema. I
fliall not defcribe it here, as it fliould not be un
dertaken but by Perfons of Capacity and Expc--
rience, for whom this Treatife was not intended.
J would only obferve, it is lefs painful than terri
fying ; and that if it is delayed too Ions , it proves
yields, and the Patient dies miferably*
85. We may daily fee external Inflamma
tions
io6 Of an Inflammation of the Breaft.
mations turn gangrenous, or mortify. The fame
Thing occurs in the Lungs, when the Fever is
exceJlive, the Inflammation either in its own
Nature, extremely violent, or railed to fuch a
Height by hot Medicines. Intolerable Anguifh.
extreme Weaknefs, frequent Paintings, Coldnels
of the Extremities, a livid and foetid thin Hu
mour brought up inftead of conceded Spitting,
and iorne times blackiih Stripes on the Brcaft,
fufficiently diftinguim this miJerable State. I
have fmelt in one Cafe of this Kind, where the
Patient had been attacked with this Difeafe (after
a forced March on Foot, having taken ibme Wine
with Spices to force a Sweat) his Breath Jo horri
bly {linking, that his Wife had many Sinkings
from attending him. When 1 faw him, I could
difcern neither Pulfe nor Intellect, and ordered
him nothing. He died an Hour afterwards,
about the Beginning of the third Hour.
86. An Inflammation mayallb become hard,
when it forms what we call a Srirrhus, which is
a very hird Tumour, indolent, or unpainful.
This is known to occur, when the Difeafe -ia^not
terminated in any of thofe Manners I have repre-
fented -, and where, tho the Fever and the other
Symptoms difappear, the Refpiration, or Breath
ing, remains always a little opprefled ; the Pa
tient frill retains a troublefome Senfation in one
Side of his Breaft j and has from Time to Time
a dry Cough, which increafes after Exercife, and
after eating. This Malady is but feldom cured 3
though feme Perfons attacked with it laft many
Years,
Of an Inflammation of the Breaft. 107
Years, without any other confiderable Complaint,
They fhould avoid all Occafions of over-heating
themfelves ; which might readily produce a new
Inflammation about this Tumour, the Confe-
quences of which would be highly dangerous.
87. The beft Remedies againfl this Difor-
der, and from which I have feen fome good Ef
fects, are the medicated Whey N. 17, and the
Pills N. 1 8. The Patient may take twenty Pills,
and a Pint and a half of the Whey every Morn
ing for a long Continuance j and receive inwardly,
now and then, the Vapour of hot Water.
88. Each Lung, in a perfect State of Health,
touches the Pleura^ the Membrane, that lines
the Inlide of the Bread ; though it is not con
nected to it. But it often happens, after an In
flammation of the Breaft, after the Pleurify, and
in fome other Cafes, that thefe two Parts adhere
clofely to each other, and are never afterwards
feparated. However this is fcarcely to be confi-
dered as. a Difeafe ; and remains commonly un
known, as the Health is not impaired by it, and
nothing is ever prefcribed to remove it. Never-
thelefs I have feen a few Cafes, in which this Ad-
helion was manifeftly prejudicial.
;o8 Of the Pleurify,
CHAPTER V.
Of the Pleurify.
SECT. 89.
Pleurify, which is chiefly known by
T thefe four Symptoms, aftrong Fever, a
Difficulty of Breathing, a Cough, and
an acute Pain about the Breaft ; the
Pleurify, I fay, is not a different Malady from
the Peripneumony, or Inflammation of the Breaft,
the Subject of the preceding Chapter; fo that
I have very little to fay of it, particularly, or
apart.
90. The Caufe of this Difeafe then is ex-
aclly the fame with that of the former, that is,
an Inflammation of the Lungs ; but an Inflam
mation, that feems rather a little more external.
The only confiderable Difference in the Symp-t
toms is, that the Pleurify is accompanied with a.
molt acute Pain under the Ribs, and which is
commonly termed a Stitch. This Pain is felt in
differently over every Part of the Breaft ; though
more commonly about the Sides, under the more
flefhy Parts of the Breaft, and ofteneft on the
right Side. The Pain is greatly increafed when
ever the Patient coughs or draws in the Air in
breathing ; and hence a Fear of mcrealing it,
by
Of tie Pkurijy-. 109
by making fome Patients forbear to cough or re-
Ipire, as much as they poflibly can ; and that
aggravates the Difeafe, by flopping the Courfe of
the Blood in the Lungs, which are foon over
charged with it. Hence the Inflammation of
this Bowel becomes general ; the Blood mounts
up to the Head ; the Countenance looks deeply
red, or as it were livid; the Patient becomes
nearly fuffocated, and fails into the State defcrib-
ed 47.
Sometimes the Pain is fo extremely violent,
that if the Cough is very urgent at the iame
Time, and the Sick cannot fupprefs or reftrain
it, they are feized with Convuliions, of which I
have feen many Instances, but thefe occur almoft
always to Women ; though they are much lefs
fubjec~t than Men to this Difeale, and indeed to
all inflammatory ones. It may be proper how
ever to obferve here, that if Women mould be
attacked with it, during their monthly Diicharges,
that Circumitance mould not prevent the repeat
ed and necelTary Bleedings, nor occaiion any Al
teration in the Treatment of the Difeafe. And
hence it appears, that the Pleurify is really an
Inflammation of the Lungs, accompanied with
acute Pain.
91.1 am fenlible that fometimes an Inflam
mation of the Lungs is communicated alto to that
Membrane, which lines the Infide of the Breads
and which is called the Pleura - y and from thence
to the Mufcles, the flefliy Parts, over and between
the
lio Of the Pkunfy.
the Ribs. This however is not very frequently
the Cafe.
92. Spring is commonly the Seafon moft
productive of Pleurifies: in general there are few
in Summer : notwithftanding that in the Year
o
1762, there were a great many during the hotteft
Sealon, which then was excelTively fo. The
Difeafe ufually begins with a violent Shivering,
fucceeded by coniiderable Heat, with a Cough,
an Opprefiion, and fometimes with a fenfible
Straitning, or Contraction, as it were, all ovn-
the Breaft ; and alfo with a Head-ach, a Rednefs of
the Cheeks, and with R cachings to vomit. The
Stitch does not always happen at the very iirft
Onfet ; often not till after fcveral Hours from
the firil Complaint ; fometimes not before the
fecond, or even the third Day. Sometimes the
Patient feels two Stitches, in different Parts of
the Side ; though it feldom happens that they are
equally (harp, and the lighted loon ceaies. Some
times alio the Stitch fhifts its Place, which pro-
mifes well, if the Part firft attacked by it conti-
3 ^
nues perfectly free from Pain : but it has a bad
Appearance, if, while the firfl is prefent, another
alfo fupervenes, and both continue. The Piilfc
is ufually very hard in this Diftemper j but in the
dreadful Cales defcribed 47 and 90, it becomes
loft and fmall. There often occur at, or very
quickly after, the Invafion, fuch an Expectoration,
or hawking up, as happens in an Inflammation
of the Bread -> at other Times there is not the
leaft
Of the Pleurify. HI
leaft Appearance of it, whence fuch are named
dry Pleurifies, which happen pretty often. Some
times the Sick cough but little, or not at all.
They often lie more at Eafe upon the Side af
fected, than on the found one. The Progrefs
of this Difeafe advances exactly like that de-
fcribed in the preceding Chapter : for how can
they differ coniiderably ? and the Treatment of
both is the fame. Large Hemorrhages, or Bleed
ings from the Noie, frequently happen, to the
great Relief of the Patient ; but fometimes fuch
Difcharges confift of a kind of corrupted Blood,
when the Patient is very ill, and thcfe portend
Death.
93. This Diftemper is often produced by
drinking cold Water, while a perfon is hot;
from which Caufe it is fometimes fo violent, as
to kill the Patient in three Hours. A young
Man was found dead at the Side of the Sprim;,
from which he had quenched his Third : nei
ther indeed is it uncommon for Pleurifies to prove
mortal within three Days.
Sometimes the Stitch difappears, whence the
Patient complains lefs ; but at the fame Time
his Countenance changes ; IK grows pale and
fad ; his Eyes look dull and heavy, and hisPulfe
grows feeble. This iignifies a Tranilation of the
Difeafe to the Brain, a Cafe which is almoil: con-
flan tly fatal.
There is no Difeafe in which the critical
Symptoms are more violent, and more flrongly
marked, than in this. It is proper this fhould
be
112 Of tie Pleunjy.
be known, as it may prevent or lefTen our ex-
ceifive Terror. A perfect Cure fupervenes fome-
times, at the very Moment when Death was
expected.
94. This Malady is one of the rnoft com
mon and the moft deftroying kind, as well from
its own violent Nature, as through the pernici
ous Treatment of it in Country Places. That
Prejudice, which infills on curing all Difeales
by Sweating, entirely regulates their Conduct in
treating a Pleurify ; and as foon as a Perfon is
afflicted with a Stitch, all the hot Medicines are
immediately fet to Work. This mortal Error
deftroys more People than Gunpowder; and it
is by fo much the more hurtful, as the Diftem-
per is of the moft violent kind j and hecaufe,
as there is commonly not a Moment to be loft,
the whole depends on the Method immediately
recurred to.
95. The proper Manner of treating this
Difeafe, is exactly the fame in all Refpects, with
that of the Peripneumony ; becaufe, I again af
firm, it is the very fame Difeafe. Hence the
Bleedings, the ibftening and diluting Drinks, the
Steams, the Glyiters, the Potion N. 8, and the
emollient Poultices are the real Remedies. Thefe
lad perhaps are ilill more effectual in the Pleu
rify; and therefore they fliould be continually
applied over the very Stitch.
The rlrll Bleeding, efpecially if there has been
a coniiderable Difcharge, almoit conftantly abated
the Stitch, and often entirely removes it : though
it
I
OfthePlcuriJy. il^
it more commonly returns, after an IntermiiTion of
fome Hours, either in the fame Spot, or fome-
times in another. This ihifting of it is rather fa
vourable, efpecially if the Pain, that was firfl
felt under the Bread, fhifts into the Shoulders,
to the Back, the Shoulder-blade,, or the Nape of
the Neck.
When the Stitch is not at all abated, or only
a little ; or if, after having abated, it returns as
Violently as at firft, and efpecially if it returns ia
the fame Spot, and the Height of the other Symp
toms continue, Bleeding mud be repeated. But
if a fenfible Abatement of the Stitch continues ;
and if, though it returns, it fhould be in a fmaller
Degree, and by Intervals, or in thefe Places I
have mentioned above ; if the Quicknefs, or the
Hardnefs of the Pulfe, and all the other Symp
toms are feniibiy diminiihed, this repeated Bleed
ing may fometimes be omitted. Neverthelefs, in
a very flrong Subject, it feems rather prudent not
to omit it, lince in iuch Circumftances it can do
no Mifchief ; and a confiderable Hazard may
fometimes be incurred by the Omiliion. In very
high and dangerous Pleurifies a frequent Repe
tition of bleeding is neceflary ; except fome Im
pediment to it fhould arife from the particular
Conftitution of the Patient, or from his Age, or
fome other Cii cumftances.
If, from the Beginning of the Difeafe, the
Pulfe is but a little quicker and harder than in a
healthy State j if it is not manifeftly ftrong ; if
the Head-ach and the Stitch are fo moderate as
H to
ii4 Of the Pleitrify.
to prove fupportable; if the Cough is not too
violent ; if there is no fen lib] e Oppreffion or
Straitnefs, and the Patient expectorate, or cough
up, Bleeding may be omitted.
With Refpedt to the adminiftering of other
Remedks, the fame Directions are to be exactly
followed, which have been already given in the
preceding Chapter, to which the Reader is re
ferred from 53 to 66.
96. When the Difeafe is not very acute and
preiling, I have often cured it in a very few Days
by a fingle Bleeding, and a large Quantity of a
Tea or Infufion of Elder- flowers, fweetened with
Honey. It is in fome Cafes of this kind, that
\ve often find the Water Faltranc fucceed, with
the Addition of fome Honey, and even of Oil :
though the Drink I have ju(l directed is confide-
rably preferable. That Drink which is com
pounded of equal Quantities of Wine and Water,
with the Addition of much Venice Treacle, an
nually deftroys a great Number of People in the
Country.
97. In thofe dry Pleurifies, in which the
Stitch, the Fever, and the Head-ach are frrcng
and violent ; and where the Pulfe is very hard
and very full, with an excerTive Drynefs of the
in and of the Tongue, Bleeding fhould be fre
quently repeated, and at fmall Intervals from
each other. This Method frequently cures the
Difeale effectually, without uling any other Eva-
cuation.
98.
Of the Pleurify. 115
98. The Pleurify terminates, like any other
inward Inflammation, either by fome Evacuation;
by an Abfcefs , in a Mortification ; or in a Scirrhofity
or hard Tumour ; and it often leaves Adheiions in
the Breaft.
The Gangrene or Mortification fometimes ap
pears on the third Day, without having been pre
ceded by very vehement Pains. In iuch Cafes
the dead Body often looks very black, eipecially
in the Parts near the tieat of the Difeafe : and in
iuch the more fuperfiitious afcribe it to fome fu-
pernatural Caufe ; or draw fome unhappy Pre-
iage from it, with Refpcct to thofe who are yet
Unattacked by it. This Appearance however is
purely a natural Confequence, quite fimple, and
cannot be otherwife ; and the hot Regimen and
Medicines are the moil: prevailing Caufes of it.
I have feen it thus circumftanced in a Man in the
Flower cf his Age, who had taken Venice Trea
cle in Cherry Water, and the Ingredients of
Fahranc infuied in Wine.
99. Vomicas are fometimes the Confequen-
ces of Pleurifies; but their particular Situation
difpofes them more to break * outwardly - y which
is the moft frequent Caufe of an Empycma 84.
To prevent this, it is highly proper to apply,
at the firft Invafion of the Difeafe, to the Spot
where the Pain chiefly rages, a imall Piaifter,
which may exadly fit it; fince if the Pleurify
" ihould terminate in an Abfcefs or Impofthume,
H 2 " the
That is, into the Cavity cf the Breafl, rather than within
tke Subftance of the Lungs.
<c
(C
1C
1 1 6 Of the Pleurify.
the purulent Matter will be determined to that
cc
" Side.
tc
II
<c
If
cc
(C
" As foon then as it is forefeen that an Abfcefs
is forming (fee 68) we fbould erode, by a
light Cauftic, the Place where it is expected ;
" and as foon as it is removed, Care fhould be
11 taken to promote Suppuration there. By this
" Means we may entertain a reaibnable Hope,
<c that the Mais of Matter will incline its Courfe
to that Spot, where it will meet with the leaft
Refinance, and be difcharged from thence.
For this Heap of Matter is often accumulated
between the Pleura, and the Parts which ad-
<( here to it."
This is the Advice of a very * great Phyfician j
but I mull inform the Reader, there are many
C. fes, in which it can be of no Service; neither
ought it to be attempted, but by Perfons of un
doubted Abilities.
With Regard to the Scirrhofity, or JIardnefs,
and to the Circumftances of Adhelions, I can add
nothing to what I have faid in P6 and 87.
100. It has been obferved that fome Per
fons, who have been once attacked by this Dii-
eafe, are often liable to Relapfes of it, efpecially
fuch as drink hard. I knew one Man, who
reckoned up his Pleuriiies by Dozens, A few
Bleedings, at certain proper Intervals, might pre
vent theie frequent Returns of it ; which, joined
to
* This is, undoubtedly, Baron Fan Swiften, with whom he
had pretrifed, he agreed con/iderably, in all the Difeafes they
had both treated of. K.
Of tie Pleurify. I j ~
to their exceflive Drinking, make them languid
and ftupid, in the very Flower of their Age.
They generally fall into fome Species of an Afth-
ma, and from that into a Dropfy, which proves
the melancholy, though not an improper, Con-
clufionof their Lives. Such as can confine them-
felves to fome proper Precautions, may alfo pre
vent thefe frequent Returns of this Diieaie, even
without bleeding ; by a temperate Regimen ; by
abftaining from Time to Time, from eating Flcfh
and drinking Wine ; at which Times they fliould
drink Whey, or fome of thole Diet-Drinks N. I .
2. 4; and by bathing their Legs fomctimes in
warm Water ; efpecially in thole Scaibns, when
this Difeafe is the moft likely to return.
10 1. Two Medicines greatly efteemed in
this Difeafe among the Peafantry, and even ex
tolled by fome Phylicians, are the Blood of a
wild He Goat, and the * Soot in an Egg. I do
not conteft the Cure or Recovery of many Per-
fons, who have taken thele Remedies ; notwith-
ftanding it is not Ids true, that both of them, as
well as the Egg in which the Soot is taken, are
dangerous: For which Reafon it is prudent, at
leaft, never to make ufe of them ; as there is
great Probability, they may do a little Mifchief ;
and a Certainty that they can do no Good. The
H 3 Geni 2
* This, with great Probability, means that fmall black Sub-
fiance often vilible in a rotten Egg, which is undoubtedly of a
violent, or even poifonous Quality. Dr, Tffit terms it exprelsly
*~W<7 fait dam an (Jt-uf. Jv.
n8 Of the Pieurijy.
Gcntpi, or -J- Wormwood of the Alps, has ajfq
acquired great Reputation in this Difeafe, and oc-
cafioned many Difputes between fome very zeal
ous Ecclefiaftics, and a juftly celebrated Phy-
fician. It feems not difficult however to afcer-
tain the proper Ufe of it. This Plant is a power
ful Bitter ; it heats and excites Sweat : it feems
clear, that, from fuch Confequences, it fhould
never be employed in a Pleurify, while the Vef-
fels are full, the Pulfe hard, the Fever high, and
the Blood inflamed. In all fuch Circumftances
it mutt aggravate the Difeafe ; but towards the
Conclufion of it, when the Veflels are confidera-
bly emptied, the Blood is diluted, and the Fever
abated, it may then be recurred to ; but with a
conftant Recollection that it is hot, and not to be
employed without Reflection and Prudence. (
t Dr. lewis, who has not taken Notice of this Species of
Wormwood in his Improvement of >itirrcy s Difpenfatory, has
mentioned it in his late ."7<j,Vr:<a Medicti. K
(a) This being a proper Place for directing the Seneka Rattle
Snake Root, I (hall obferve, that the bed Way of exhibiting it is
in Decoction, by gradually fhnmering and boiling two Ounces of
it in grois Powder, in two Pint? nnd a half of Water, to a Pint and
a quarter ; and then giving three Spoonfuls of it to a grown Per-
fon, every fix Hours. If the Stitch fhould continue, or return,
after taking it, Bleeding, which fhoufd be premifed to it, mufr. be
occafionaliy repeated ; though it feldom proves r.eceflary, after
:\ few Dofes of it. If greatly promotes Expectoration, keeps the
Focjy ovntly open, and fometinies operates by Urine and by
Sweat ; very feJdom proving at al! emetic in Decoclion. The
Kegimcn of Drinks directed here in Pleurifies are to be given as
ufual. .IV. "T. \ . ", ,./, tlic Introducer of this valuable Medicine,
confided folely in it, in Bafbrd Perjpneumonies, without Bleed-
irg, Bliftering, or any other J\^ed:cine3. K.
CHAP-
Of the Difeafes of the ^Throat. 1 1 9
CHAPTER VI.
Of the Difeq/es of tbc throat.
SECT. 102.
Throat is fubjecl: to many Difcafcs:
T One of the moft frequent and the moil:
dangerous, * s tnat Inflammation of it,
commonly termed a Qiuntly. This
in Effect is a Diftemper of the fame Nature with
an Infiammation of the Breaft ; but as it occurs
in a different Part, the Symptoms, of Courfe,
are very different. They alib vary, not a very
little, according to the different Parts of the
Throat which are inflamed.
103. The general Symptoms of an Inflam
mation of the Throat are, the Shivering, the
fubiequent Heat, the Fever, the Head-ach, red
high-coloured Urine, a confiderable Difficulty,
and fometimes even an Impoffibility, of fwailow-
ing any thing whatever. But if the neareit Parts
to the Glottis, that is, of the Entrance into the
Windpipe, or Conduit through which we breathe,
are attacked, Breathing becomes exceflively diffi
cult , the Patient is fenfible of extreme Anguii
and great Approaches to Suffocation j the DiftM.
is then extended to the Glottis, to the Body of
.H 4 the
120 Of tie Dif cafes of the Throat.
the Wind-pipe, and even to the Subftance of the
Lungs, whence it becomes fpeedily fatal.
The Inflammation of the other Parts is at
tended with lefs Danger ; and this Danger be
comes flill lefs, as the Difeafe is more extended
to the outward and fuperficial Parts. When the
Inflammation is general, and feizes all the inter
nal Parts of the Throat, and particularly the
Tonfils or Almonds, as they are called, the
Uvufa, or Procefs of the Palate, and the Bafts,
or remoteft deepeft Part of the Tongue, it is one
of the moft dangerous and dreadful Maladies.
The Face is then fwelled up and inflamed ; the
whole Infide of the Throat is in the fame Con
dition ; the Patient can get nothing down j he
breathes with a Fain and Anguilh, which con
cur, with a Stuffing or Obftruclion in his Brains,
to throw him into a kind of furious Delirium,
or Raving. His Tongue is bloated up, and is
extended out of his Mouth ; his Noftrils are di
lated, as tho it were to afUft him in his Breathing ;
the whole Neck, even to the Beginning of the
Brcaft, is exceffively tumined or fwelled up ;
the Pulfe is very quick, very weak, and often in
termits ; the mikrable Patient is deprived of all
his Strength, and commonly dies the fecond or
third Day. Very fortunate \y this Kind, or De
gree of it, which I have o/ten feen in Langucdoc^
happens very rarely in Sivijjerland, where the
)ifeafe is lefs violent ; and where I have only
feen People die of it, in Confequence of its be
ing
Of the Dijeafes of the Throat. 121
ing pernicioufly treated ; or by Roafon of lome
accidental Circumftances, which were foreign to
the Difeafe itfelf. Of tlie Multitude of Patients
I have attended in this Diforder, I have known
but one to fail under it, whofe Cafe I lhall men
tion towards the Clofe of this Chapter.
1 04. Sometimes the Difeafe ihifts from the
internal to the external Parts : the Skin of the
Neck and Breaft grows very red, and becomes pain
ful, but the Patient finds himfelf better.
At other Times the Diforder quits the Throat ;
but is transferred to the Brain, or upon the Lungs.
Both theie Tranflations of it are mortal, when
the beffc Advice and Affiftance cannot be imme
diately procured ; and it mud be acknowledged,
that even the beft are often ineffectual.
105. The moil ufual kind of this Drfeafe is
that which affects only the Toniils (the Almonds)
and the Palate, or rather its Procefs, commonly
called the Palate. It generally firft invades one
of the Tonfils, which becomes enlarged, red and
painful, and does not allow the afflicted to fwal-
low, but with great Pain. Sometimes the Dif
order is confined to one Side ; but moft com
monly it is extended to the Uvula, (the Palate)
from whence it is extended to the other Tonlil.
If it be of a mild kind, the Tonfil firft affected
is generally better, when the fecond is attacked.
Whenever they are both affected at once, the
Pain and the Anguifh of the Patient are very con Ji-
derable ; he cannot fwallow, but with great
Difficulty and Complaint; and the Torment of
this
I 22 Of the Dif cafes of the Throat.
this is fo vehement, that I have feen Women af-
fecled with Convulfions, as often as they endea
voured to fwallow their Spittle, or any other Li
quid. They continue, even for feveral Hours
fometimes, unable to take any thing whatever ;
all the upper inward Part of the Mouth, the
Bottom of the Palate, and the defcending Part
of the Tongue become lightly red, or inflamed.
A confiderable Proportion of Peribns under
this Difeaie fwallow Liquids more difficultly than
Solids ; by Reafon that Liquids require a greater
Adtion of fome Part of the Mufcles, in order to
their being properly directed into their Conduit
or Chanel. The Deglutition (the Swallowing)
of the Spittle is attended with ftill more Uneaii-
nefs than that of other Liquids, bccaufe it is a
little more thick and vifcid, and flows down with
lefs Eafe. This Difficulty of fw allowing, joined
to the Quantity thence accumulated, produces
that almoft continual hawking up, which op-
prefTes fome Patients fo much the more, as the
Jnfide of their Cheeks, their whole Tomme, and
o
their Lips are often galled, and even flead as it
were. This alfo prevents their Sleeping, which
however feems no considerable Evil ; Sleep be-
mjr fometimes but of little Service in Difeafes at
tended with a Fever ; and I have often feen thofe,
who thought their Throats almoft entirely well
in the Evening, and yet found them very bad after
fome Hours Sleep.
The Fever, in this Species of the Difeafe, is
fometimes, very high j and the Shivering often
endures
Of the Difeafe s of the "Throat. 123
.endures for many Hours. It is iucceeded by con-
fiderable Heat, and a violent Head-ach, which
yet is fometimes attended with a Drowiinefs.
The Fever is commonly pretty high in the Even
ing, though fometim.es but inconfiderable, and
by the Morning perhaps there is none at all.
A light Invaiion of this Difeafe of the Throat
often precedes the Shivering j though moft com
monly it does not become manifeft till after it,
and at the fame Time when the Heat comes
on.
The Neck is fometimes a little inflated, or
puffed up ; and many of the Sick complain of
a pretty iinart Pain In the Ear of that Side, which
is moft affected. I have but very feldom obfer-
ved that they had it in both.
1 06. The Inflammation either difappcars by
Decrees, or an Abfcefs is formed in the Part
o
which was chiefly affected. It has never hap
pened, at leaft within my Knowledge, that this
Sort of the Difeafe, prudently treated, has ever
terminated either in a Mortification, or a Scirrhus:
but I have been a Witnefs to cither of tliefe fu-
pervening, when Sweating was extorted in the
Beginning of it, by hot Medicines.
it is alib very rare to meet with thofe highly
dangerous Translations of this Difeafe upon the
Lungs, iuch as are defcribed in that Species ot
it from 103, 104. It is true indeed it does
not occur more frequently, even in that Species,
whenever the Difeafe is thrown out upon the
more external Parts.
I0 7-
124 Of the Difeafes of the Throat.
107. The Treatment of the Qmnfey, as
well as of all other inflammatory Difeafes, is the
fame with that of an Inflammation of the Breaft.
The Sick is immediately to be put upon a Re
gimen; and in that Sort defcrihed 103, Bleed
ing muft be repeated four or five Times within
a few Hours ; and fomethnes there is a Neceifity
to recur flill oftner to it. When it aflaults the
Patient in the moft vehement Degree, all Medi
cines, all Means, are very generally ineffectual ;
they {hould be tried however. We {hould give
as much as can be taken of the Drinks N. 2 and
4. But as the Quantity they are able to fwallow
is often very inconfiderablc ; the Glyfter N g . 5
fhould be repeated every three Hours ; and their
Legs {hould be put into a Bath of warm Water,
thrice a Day.
1 08. Cupping GlaiTes, with Scarification,
applied about the Neck, after bleeding twice or
thrice, have often been experienced to be highly
ufeful. In the moil: deiperate Cafes, when the
Neck is exceffively fwelled, one or two deep In-
cifions made with a Razor, on this external Tu
mour, have fometimes faved a Patient s Life.
109. In that kind, and thofe Circumftances,
of this Difeafe defcribed 105 we muft have
very frequent Recourfe to Bleeding ; and it mould
never be omitted, when the Pulfe is very perceiv-
ably hard and full. It is of the utmoft Conle-
quence to do it inftantaneoufly ; fince it is the
only Means to prevent the Ablcefs, which forms
very readily, if Bleeding has been neglected, only
fur
Of the Difeafes cf the Throat. 1 2 5
for a few Hours. Sometimes it is neceflary to
icpeat it a fecond Time, but very rarely a third.
This Diieaie is frequently ib gentle and mild,
as to be cured without Bleeding, by the Means
of much good Management. But as many as
are not M afters of their own Time, nor in fuch
an eafy Situation, as to be properly attended,
ought, without the lead Hefitation, to be bled
diredly, which is fometimes fufficient to remove
the Complaint 5 eipecially if, after Bleeding, the
Patient drinks plentifully of the Ptifan N. 2.
In this light Degree of the Difeafe, it may fuf-
fice to bathe the Legs, and to receive a Glyiter,
once a Day each ; the nrft to be ufed in the
Morning, and the laft in the Evening. Befides
O O
the general Remedies againft Inflammations, a
few particular ones, calculated prccifely for this
Diieaie, may be applied in each kind or Degree
of it. The beft are, iirft the emollient Poultices,
N. 9, laid over the whole Neck, (j) Some have
highly extolled the Application of Swallows
Nefts in this, Difeafe ; and though I make no
Objection to it, I think it certainly Ids efficaci
ous than any cf thole which I direct.
m
2. Of the Gargarifms (N. 19) a great Vari
ety may be prepared, of pretty much the fame
Properties, and of equal Efficacy. Thofe I di-
red:
(i) The Englljh avail themfelves confiderably, in this Difeafe,
of a Mixture of equal Parts or" Sallad O:l, and Spirit of Gal Am
moniac ; or of Oil and Spirit of Harrihorn, as a Liniment and
Application round the Neck. This Ilemedy corresponds with
many Indications ; and dderves, perhaps, the fi.ft Place smongft
local Applications againll the inflammatory Quinfey. E. L.
1 26 Of tie Di fares of the Throat.
*J //-
rect here are what have fucceeded beft with me,-
and they are very fimple. (2)
3. The Steam of hot Water, as directed 55,
mould be repeated five or fix Times a Day ; ;>
Poultice fliould be conftantly kept on, and often
renewed; and the Patient fliould often gargle.
There are feme Perfons, befides Children,
who cannot gargle themfelves : and in fact the
Pain occasioned by it makes it the more difficult.
In fuch a Cafe, inftead of gargling, the fame
Gargarifm (N. 19) may be injected with a fmall
Syringe. The Injection reaches further than Garg
ling, and often caufes the Patient to hawk up a
coniiderable Quantity of glarey Matter (which
has grown itill thicker towards the Bottom of the
Throat) to his fenfible Relief. This Injection
Ihould be often repeated. The little hollowed
Pipes of Elder Wood, which all the Children in
the Country can make, may be conveniently
employed for this Purpoie. The Patient mould
breatitfout, rather than infpire, during the In
jection.
1 10. Whenever the Difeafe terminates with
out Suppuration, the Fever, the Head-ach, the
Heat in the Throat, and the Pain in fwallow-
ing, begin to abate from the fourth Day, fome-
times from the third, often only from the fifth ;
and from iiich Period that Abatement increafes at
a great
(2) Dr. Tr mvle is apprehenfive of-fome ill Effefts from Acids
in ims [-u /v i/) it probably from ilrir fiippfjeel repelling Proper-
cfers a Decodlion of Figs in Milk and Water, to \vhich.
.nail Quantity of Spirit of Sal Ammoniac. E. L.
.
Of the Dlfeafes of the Throat. ilf
a great Rate ; fo that at the End of two, three,
or four Days, on the fixth, ieventh, or eighth,
the Patient is entirely well, borne few however
continue to feel a light Degree of Pain, and that
only on one Side, four or live Days longer, but
without a Fever, or any confiderablc Uneafim
Hi. Sometimes the Fever and the other
Symptoms abate, after the Bleeding and other
Remedies; without any fu ofequent Amendment
in the Throat, or any Signs of Suppuration. In
fuch Cafes we muft chiefly periiil in the G".r-
garifms and the Steams - y and where an experi
enced and dexterous Surgeon can be procured, it
were proper he fhould fcarify the inflamed
Tonfils. Thefe difcharge, in fuch Cafes, a mo
derate Quantity of Blood; and this Evacuation
relieves, very readily, as many as make ufe of
it.
112. If the Inflammation is no ways dif-
poied to difperfe, fo that an Abfcefs is forming,
which almoft ever happens, if it has not been
obviated at the Invalion of the Difeafe ; then the
Symptoms attending the Fever continue, though
raging a little lefs after the fourth Day : the Throat
continues red, but of a lefs florid and lively Red-
nefs: a Painalfo continues, though lef; acute, ac-
>
companied fometimes with Pulfations, and at other
Times intirely without any ; of which it is pro
per to take Notice : the Pulfe commonly gn
a little Ibfter ; and on the fifth or lixth Day, and
fometimes fooner, the Abfcefs is ready to break.
This may be discovered by the Appearance of a
imall
12$ Of the Difeafes of the
imall white and foft Tumour, when the Mouth
is open, which commonly appears about the
Centre or Middle of the Inflammation. It burffo
of itfelfj or, mould it not, it mutt he opened,
This is effected by flrongly fecuring a Lancet to
one End of a fmall Stick or Handle, and enve
loping, or wrapping up the whole Blade of it>
except the Point and the Length of one fourth or
a third of an Inch, in fome Folds of foft Linnen;
alter which the Abfceis is pierced with the Point
of this Lancet. The Inftant it is opened, the
Mouth is rilled with the Difcharge of a Quantity
of Pus, of the moil: intolerable Savour and Smell.
The Patient ihould gan-le himfelf after the Dif
charge of it with the deterfive, or cleaning Gar-
garilin N". 19. It is furprifing fometimes to iee
the Quantity ot Matter difcharged from this Im-
pofthumation. In general therein but one; though
iometimes I have leen two of them.
113. It happens, and not feldom, that the
Matter is not collected exadtly in the Place, where
the Inflammation appeared, but in fome lefs cx-
pofcd and leii viable Place-: whence a Facility of
fwallowing is almoft entirely redored ; the Fever
abates ; the Patient lleeps 5 he imagines he is
cured, and that no Inconvenience remains, but
luch as ordinarily occurs in the earlleft Stage of
Recovery. A Perfon who is neither a Phyiician,
nor a Surgeon, may eafily deceive himfelf, when
in this State. But the following Signs may enable
him to difcover that there is an Abfce/s, viz*
A certain Inquietude and general Uneailnefs ; a
Pain
Of the Difiafes of the Throat. 129
Baiti throughout the Mouth; ibme Shiverings
from Time to Time ; frequently lharp, but fhort
and tranfient, Heat : a Pulfe moderately loft,
but not in a natural State ; a Senfation ol Thick-
neis and Heavinefs in the Tongue; imall white
Eruptions on the Gums, on the Infide of the
Cheek, on the Infide and Outfide of the Lips,
and a difagreeable Tafte and Odour.
. 114. In fuch. Cafes Milk or warm Water
mould frequently be retained in the Mouth ; the
Vapour of hot Water mould be conveyed into
it ; and emollient Cataplafms may be applied
about the Neck. All thefe Means concur to the
ibftening and breaking of the Abfcefs. The
Finger may alfo be introduced to feel for its Si
tuation, 1 and when difcovered, the Surgeon may
eafily open it. I happened once to break one
under my Finger, without having made the l^ail
Effort to do it. . Warm Water . may be injected
pretty forcibly, either by the Mouth o the Nof-
trils : this io me times occalions a kind of Cou^ii,
o
or certain Efforts which tend to break it. I have
ieen this happen even from laughing. As to the
reft, the Patient mould not be too anxious or un-
eafy about the Event. I never faw a fingle In-
ftance of a Perion s dying of a Qmnfey of this
kind, after the Suppuration is truly effected ; nei
ther has it happened perhaps after the Time it is
forming for Suppuration.
115. The glairy Matter with which the
Throat is over-charged, and tae very Inflamma
tion of that Part, which, from its Irritation, pro-
I d vices
1*0 Of the Difeafis of the throat.
ibices the fame Effect, as the Introduction of a
Finger into it, occafions fome Patients to com-
>n of inceflant Propenfities to vomit. We
mull be upon our Guard here, and not fuppcfe
that this Heart-Sicknefs, as fome have called it,
refults from a Diibrder of, or a Load within, the
Stomach, and that it requires a Vomit for its Re
moval. The giving one here would often prove
a very unfortunate Miffoke. It might, in a high
Inflammation, further aggravate it; or we might
he obliged (even during the Operation of the
Vomit) to bleed, in order to leflen the Violence of
the Inflammation. Such Imprudence with its
had Confequences, often leaves the Patient, even
after the Diieaie is cured, in a State of Languor
and Weakncls for a coniiderable Time. Never -
thelefs, there are fome particular Diforders of
the Throat, attended with a Fever, in which
a Vomit may be prudently given. But this can
only be, when there is no Inflammation, or af
ter it is difper-fed ; and there ftill remains fome
putrid Matter in the firfl PafTages. Of fuch Cafes
I (hall fpeak hereafter, (a)
1 1 6. We often fee in Swifferland a Diforder
different from thefe of the Throat, of which we
have
In Difeafes of the Throat, which have been preceded by
fiKJ> ood or flrong Drink, as occur too often in many
Countries, when the Patient has very flrong Reachings to vomit,
and the Tongue is moid at the fame Time ; we fhould not hcii-
r.fing the firft Symptoms of the Inflammation [by
cvc.] to afiift the Efforts of Nature, and
to give a fmall Dofe of Tartar emetic, diiTolved in fome Spoon-
Water. Thii Remedy in this Cafe, promotes the Difper-
:he Inflammation, beyond any othe.r. E L.
Of the Difeafes of the ^Throat. I 3 1
have juft treated ; though, like thefe, attended
with a Difficulty of fwallowing. It is termed in
French the Orel/fans, and often the Ourles, or
fwelled Ears. It is an Overfulnefs and Obftruc-
tion of thofe Glands and their Tubes, which are
to furnifh the Saliva or Spittle ; and particularly
of the two lanje Glands which lie between the
o
Ear and the Jaw, which are called the Parotides-,
and of two under the Jaw, called the Maxillares.
All thefe being contiderably fwelled in this Dif-
eafe, do not only produce a great Difficulty of
fwallowing } but alfo prevent the Mouth from
opening ; as an Attempt to do it is attended with
violent Pain. Young Children are much more
liable to this Difeaie than grown Perfons. . Beinp-
feldorn attended with a Fever, there is no Occa-
fion for Medicines : It is fufficient to defend the
Parts affedted from the external Air; to apply fome
proper Poultice over them ; to lefTen the Quantity
of their Food confiderably, denying them Flefh
and Wine ; but indulging them plentifully in
fome light warm Liquid, to dilute their Hu
mours and reftore Perfpiration. I cured myfelf
of this Diforder in 1754, by drinking nothing,
for four Days, but Balm Tea, to which I added
one fourth part Milk, and a little Bread. The
fame Regimen has often cured me of other light
Complaints of the Throat.
117. In the Spring of 1761, there were an
aftonifhin Number of Perfons attacked with
o i
Diforders of the Throat, of two different Kinds.
Some of them were feized with that common
I 2 Sort
I
Of the I) if cafes of the throat
Sort which I have already defended. Without
adding any *.hing more particularly, in Refpect
to this Species, it happened frequently to grown
Perfons, who were perfectly cured by the Method
already recited. The other Species, on which I
fhall be more particular in this Place (becaufe I
know they have abounded in ibme Villages, and
:e very fatal) invaded Adults, or grown Per-
Ibns alfo, but efpecialiy Children, from the Age
of one Year, and even under that, to the Age of
twelve or thirteen.
The firfl Symptoms were the fame with thofe
of the common Quinfey, fuch as the Shivering,
the enfuing Heat or Fever, Dejection, and a
Complaint of the Throat : but the following
Symptoms difh nguiihed thefe from the common
inflammatory Quinfeys.
1 . The Sick had often fomething of a Cough,
and a little Oppreffion.
2. The Pulie was quicker, but lefs hard, and
lei s ftrong, than generally happens in Difeafes of
the Throat.
3. The Patients were afflicled with a fharp,
flinging and dry Heat, and with great Refllels-
neis.
4. They fpat lefs than is ufual in a common
Quinfey ; and their Tongues were extremely
dry.
5. Though they had ibme Pain in Avallow-
ing, this was not their principal Complaint, and
they could drink furriciently.
6, The
Of the Dife fifes of the Throat. 133
6. The Swelling and Rednefs of the Tonfiis,
of the Palate, and of its Proceis were not conii-
derable ; but the parotid and maxillary Glands,
and efpecially the former, being extremely Avai
led and inflamed, the Pain they chiefly a
plained of, was this outward one.
7. When the Difeafe proved considerably dan
gerous, the whole Neck (welled j and ibme.imes
even the Veins, which return the Blood from the
Brain, being overladen, as it were, the Sic!;
fbme Degree of Drowfincfs, and of a Diliriu,..
or Raving.
8. The Paroxyfms, or Returns, of the Fever
were considerably irregular.
i O
9. The Urine appeared to be lefs inflamed,
than in other Difeafes of the Throat.
10. Bleeding and other Medicines did not re
lieve them, as foon as in the other kind ; and the
Difeafe itfelf continued a longer Time.
1 1. It did not terminate in a Suppuration like
other Quinfies, but fometimcs the Tonfiis V/U-Q
ulcerated.
12. * Aimed every Child, and indeed a great
many of the grown Perfbns allaulted with this
Difeafe, threw out, either on the firft Day, or on
iome fucceeding one, within the fiift iix Days, A
certain ErHorefcence, or Eruptions, refemblins:
o
the Meafles coniiderably in fome, but of a lels
lively Colour, and without any Elevation, or ri-
I 3 ling
This feems to have been the fame kind ofQuninfey, of which,
Drs. Huxbam,Fotbergi!, Cotton and others wrote, though under difio-
rent Appellations. K.
1 34 Of the Difeafes of the T hroat.
ling above the Skin. It appeared firft in the
Face, next in the Arms, and defcended to the
Legs, Thighs and Trunk ; disappearing gra
dually at the End of two or three Days, in the
fame Order it had obferved in breaking out. A
few others (I have feen but five Inftances of it)
fufTercd the moft grievous Symptoms before the
Eruption; and thiew out the genuine purpura y
or white miliary Eruption.
13. As foon as thefe EfHprefcences or Erupti
ons appeared, the Sick generally found them-
ielves better. That, laft mentioned, continued
four, five, or fix Days, and frequently went off
by Sweats. Such as had not thefe Ebullitions,
which was the Cafe of many Adults, were not
cured without very plentiful Sweats towards the
Termination of the Difeafe: thofe which occurred
at the Invafion of it being certainly unprofitable,
nnd always hurtful.
14. I have feen fome Patients, in whom the
Complaint of the Throat disappeared entirely,
without either Eruptions or Sweats: but fuch
iUll remained in very great Inquietude and An-
gui/h, with a quick and fmall Pulfe. J ordered
them a fudoriric Drink, which being Succeeded
by the Eruption, or by Sweating, they found
themfelves icnfibiv relieved.
*
i 5. But whether the Sick had, or had not,
thefe external Rednefit-s or Eruptions, every one
}\ them parted with their Cuticle or Scarf Skin,
\vhich fell off, in large Scales, from the whole
urfacc of the Body : fo great was the Acrimony
or
o
Of the Difeafes of the Throat. 1 3 5
or Sharpnefs of that Matter, which was to be
difcharged through the Skin.
16. A great Number fuffered a fingular Alte
ration in their Voice, different from that which
occurs in common Quinfies, the Irilide of their
Noftrils being extremely dry.
17. The Sick recovered with more Difficulty
after this, than after the common Quinfieo : and
if they were negligent or irregular, during tl.
Recovery ; particularly, if they expofed them-
felves too loon to the Cold, a Relapie enfued, or
fome different Symptoms ; fuch as a Stuffing
with OpprelTion, a Swelling of the Belly, windy
Swellings in different Parts : Weaknefs, Loath-
. . *
ings, Ulcerations behind the Ears, and Something
of a Cough and Hoarfenefs.
1 8. 1 have been lent for to Children, and alib
to fome young Folks, who, at the End of feveral
Weeks, had been taken with a general Inflam
mation of the whole Body, attended with great
Oppreffion, and a considerable Abatement of
their Urine, which was alib high-coloured and tur
bid, or without Separation. They fcerned alfo
in a very fingular State of Indifference, or Difre-
gard, with Reipect to any Object, or Circum-
itance. I recovered every one of them entirely
by Blifters, and the Powder N. 25. The firft
Operation of this Medicine was to vomit them :
to this fucceeded a Difcharge by Urine, and at
laft very plentiful Sweating, which compleated
the Cure. Two Patients only, of a bad ConiK-
tution, who were a little ricketty, and difpofed to
I 4 glandular
136 Of the Difeafes of the throat.
glandular Scirrhoiity or Knottinefs, relapfed and
died, after being recovered of the Difeafe itieif
for fome Days.
1 1 8. I have bled fbme adult Perfons, and
made Ufe of the cooling Regimen, as long as
there was an evident Inflammation : it was ne-
ceflary after this to unload the firft Pafiages ; and
at laft to excite moderate Sweats. The fame
Powders N. 25 have often effected both thefe
Difcharges, and with entire Succefs. In other
Cafes I have made Ufe of Ipecacuanha, as di-
rcdcdN . 35.
In feme Subjects there did not appear any in
flammatory Symptom ; and the Diftemper re-
fulted folely from a Load of putrid Matter in the
firft Paffages. Some Patients allo difchar^ed
, o
Worms. In fuch Cafes I never,, bled; but the
Vomit had an excellent Eftecb, at the very Onfet
of the Difeafe; it produced a perceivable Abate
ment of all the Symptoms ; Sweating enfued
very kindly and naturally, and the Patient re
covered entirely a lew Hours after.
1 19. There were fome Places, in which no
Symptom or Character of Inflammation appear
ed ; and in which it was neceilary to omit Bleed
ing, which was attended with bad Confequen-
I never directed Infants to be bled. After
opening the firfl Paflages, Blifters and diluting
Drinks proved their only Remedies. A fimple
Jnftifion of Elder Flowers, and thofe of the Lime
Tree,
Of the Difeafcs of the Throat. 137
Tree, has done great Service to thofe who drank
plentifully of it.
120. I am fenfible that in many Villages ;t
great Number of Perlbns have died, with a pro-
; digious Inflation or Swelling of the Neck. Some
have alib died in the City, and among others a
young Woman of twenty Years of Age, who had
taken nothing but hot fweating Medicines and
o c?
red Wine, and died the fourth Day, with violent
Suffocations, and a large Difcharge of Blood from
the Nofe. Of the great Number I have feen in
Perlbn, only two died. One was a little Girl of
ten Months old. She had an Efflorefcenefwhich
very fuddenly diiappcared : at this Time I was
called in ; but the Humour had retreated to the
Breaft, and rendered her Death inevitable. The
other was a ftrong Youth from fixteen to feven-
teen Years old, whole fudden Attack from the
Difeafe manifested, from the very Beginning, a
violent Degree of it. Neverthelefs, the Symp
toms fubfiding, and the Fever nearly terminating,
the Sweats which approached would probably
have faved him. But he would not fuffer them
to have their Courfe, continually ftripping him-
fclf quite naked. The Inflammation was imme
diately repelled upon the Lungs, and deftroyed
him within the Space of thirty Hours. I never
law a Perfon die with fo very dry a Skin. The
Vomit afrecled him very little upwards, and
brought on a purging. His own bad Conduct
feems to have been the Occafion of his Death ;
and may this ferve as one Example of it.
121
138 Of the Difeajes of tic Throat.
121. I chofe to expatiate on this Difeafe, as
it may happen to reach other Places, where it
may be ufeful to have been apprized of its Marks,
and of its Treatment, which agrees as much
with that of putrid Fevers, of which I (hall fpeak
hereafter, as with that of the inflammatory Di (ca
fes I have already confidered : fince in fome Sub-
jeuj the Complaint of the Throat has evidently
been a Symptom of a putrid Fever, rather than
of the chiefly apparent Difeafe, a Qumfey. (a)
122. Dilorders of the Throat are, with
Reipect to particular Perfons, an habitual Difeafe
returning every Year, and ibmetimes oftner than
once a Year. They may be prevented by the
fame Means, which 1 have directed for the
Prefervation from habitual Pleurilies 100; and
by defending the Head and the Neck from the
Cold ; efpecially after being heated by Hunting,
or any violent Exercife, or even by iinging long
and loud, which may be confidered as an extra
ordinary Exercife of fome of the Parts affected in
this Difeafe.
( a ) I referve fome other interefting Reflections en this Difeafe,
for the fecond Edition of my Treatife on Fevers ; and the Editor
at Pat-is has very well obferved, that it has fome Relation to the
gangrenous fore Throat, which has been epidemical thefe twenty
Years part, in many Parts of Europe. This Note is from Dr.
TJSSOT hhnfelf.
CHAPTER
Of Cold*. 139
CHAPTER VII.
Of Colds.
SECT. 123.
RE are many erroneous Prejudices,
with- Regard to Golds, all of which
ma y ^ e amended with pernicious Con-
fequences. The firft is, that a Cold is
never dangerous ; an Error which daily deftroys
the Lives of many. J have already complained
of it for many Years part -, and I have iince be
held a Multitude of fuch Examples of it, as have
but too fafficiently warranted my Complaints.
No Perfon however, it is certain, dies merely
of a Cold, as loiig as it is nothing but a Cold
limply ; but when, from Inattention and Neglect,
it is thrown upon, and occaiions Diftempers of
the Breaft, it may, and often does, prove mortal.
Colds deftroy more than Plagues, was ihe Anfwer
of a very iagacious and experienced Physician to
one of his Friends, who, being afked, how he
was in Health, replied, Very well, I have nothing
but a Cold.
A fecond erroneous Prejudice is, that Colds
require no Means, no Medicines, and that they
laft the longer for being nurfed, or tampered
with. The laft Article may be true indeed, with
Refpect
1 40 Of Colds.
Refpect to the Method, in which the Ferfon af
fected with them treats them ; but the Principle
itfelf is falfe. Colds, like other Disorders, have
their proper Remedies ; and are removed with
more or lefs Facility, as they are conducted better
or worfe.
124. A third Miftake is, that they are not
only coniidered as not dangerous, but are even
fuppofed wholefome too. Doubtlefs a Man had
better have a Cold than a more grievous Diieale;
though it muft be ftill better to have neither of
o
them. The moft that can reafonably be faid and
admitted on this Point, is, that when a checked,
or an ohftructed Perfpiration becomes the Caufe
of a Diftemper, it is fortunate that it produces
rather a Cold, than any very dreadful Difeafe,
which it frequently does : though it were to be
\vifhed, that neither the Caufe, nor its Effect ex-
Ifted. A Cold conftantly produces fome Diforder
or Defect in the Functions of fome Part or Parts
of the Body, and thus becomes the Caufe of a
Difeafe. It is indeed a real Di/brder itfelf, and
which, when in a violent Degree, makes a very
perceivable AfTault upon our whole Machine.
Colds, with their Defltixions, considerably wea
ken the Bread, and fooner or later confiderably
impair the Health. Perfons fubject to frequent
Colds are never robuft or ftrong ; they often fink
into languid Diforders ; and a frequent Aptitude
to take Cold is a Proof, that their Perfpiration may
be eafily checked and retrained ; whence the
Lungs become oppreffed and obstructed, which
rnufl
Of Cold*. 141
mud always be attended with confiderable Dan
ger.
125. We may be convinced of the Weak-
neis and Fallacy of theie Prejudices, by confider-
ing attentively the Nature of Colds ; which are
nothing elfe than the very Difeafes already de-
fcribed in the three preceding Chapters, though
in their greateft Degree only.
A Cold in Truth is almoft conilantly an in
flammatory Difeafe ; a light Inflammation of the
Lungs, or of the Throat ; of the Membrane or
very thin Skin, which lines the Noflrills, and
the Iniide of certain Cavities in the Bones of the
Cheeks and Forehead. Thefe Cavities commu
nicate with the Nofe, in fuch a Manner, that
when one Part of this Membrane is affedled with
an Inflammation, it is eafily communicated to
the other Parts.
126 It is fcarcely neceflary to defcribe the
Symptoms of a Cold, and it may be fufficient to
remark, i. That their chief Caufe is the fame
with that, which moft commonly produces the
Difeafes already treated of, that is, an obftrucled
Perfpiration, and a Blood iomewhat inflamed.
2. That whenever theie Difeafes affect great
Numbers, many Colds prevail at the fame Time.
3. That the Symptoms which manifeft a vio
lent Cold, greatly refemble thofe which precede
or ufher in theie Difeafes. People are rarely at
tacked by great Colds, without a mivering and
Fever ; which laft fometimes continues for many
Days. There is a Cough, a dry Cough, for fome
nr 1
Time;
OfCohls.
Time j after which ibrne Expectoration enf.
which allays the Cough, and lightens the Op-
preifion 5 at which Time the Cold may be faid
to be maturated, or ripe. There are pretty often
ilight Stitches, but unfixed or flying about, with
a little Complaint of the Throat. When the
Noftrills happen to be the Seat of the Diforder,
which is then very improperly termed a Cold of
the Brain, it is often attended with a vehement
Head-ach ; which fometimes depends on an Irri
tation of the Membrane, that lines the Cavities
in the Bone of the Forehead, or the maxillary
Sinufles, that is, the Cavities in the Jaws: At
firft the Running from the Note is very denn
thin and lharp ; afterwards, in Proportion to
the Abatement of the Inflammation, it becomes
thicker j and the Coniiftenee and Colour of it re-
iemble thofe of what others cough up. The
Smell, the Tafle and the Appetite are commonly
impaired by it.
127. Colds feem to be of no certain Dura
tion or Continuance. Thofe of the Head or
JBrain generally laft but a few Days ; of the
Breaft longer. Some Colds neverthelefs termi
nate in four or five Days. If they extend be
yond this Term they prove really hurtfuL i. Be-
caufe the Violence of the Cough diforders the
whole Machine ; and particularly, by forcing up
the Blood to the Head. 2. By depriving the
Perfon afflicted of his ufual Sleep, which is al-
moft conftantly diminifhed by it. 3. By im
pairing the Appetite, and confuting the Digeftion,
whit b
Of Cotis. 143
which is unavoidably leiTened by it. 4. By weak
ening the very Lungs, by the continual Agita
tions from Coughing ; whence all the Humours
beih j gradually determined towards them, as the
weaken Part, a continual Cough fubfiils. Hence
alfo they become overcharged with Humoiu
which grow vifcid there ; the Refpiration is over
loaded and oppreffed ; a ilovv Fever appears ;
Nutrition almoll ceafes ; the Patient becomes
very weak ; finks into a Wafting ; an obitinate
Wakefulnefs and Anguiih, and often dies in a
mort Time. 5. By Reafon that the Fever,
which almoir, conitantly.accompanies great Cold,
concurs to wear the body down.
128. Wherefore, lince a Cold is a Difeafe
j
of the lame kind with Quinfies, Peripneumonies
and Inflammations of the Breaft, it ought to be
treated in the fame Manner. If it is a violent
one, Blood fhould be taken from the Arm, which
may considerably fliorten its Duration : and this
becomes moil effentially neceifary, whenever the
Patient is of a fanguineous ruddy Complexion,
abounds with Blood, and has a lirong Cough,.
and great Head-ach. The Drinks 3N . 1,2, 3, 4,
ihould be very plentifully uled. It is advantap-
ous to bathe the Feet in warm Water every Night
at going to Bed. (a) In a Word, if the Patient
(a"! It frequently happens, that the Bathings alone remove the
Head-ach, and the Cough too, by relaxing the lower Part.-, and
the entire Surface of the Body. If the Patient is coltive, he
fhould receive Glyfters of warm Water, in which fome l:< ,ui h
been boiled, with the Addition of a liulc cor.:nion Soao 01 B
L
1 44 Of Colds.
is put into a Regimen, the Cure is very fpeedify
effefted.
129. The Diiorder indeed, however, is of
ten fo very flight, that it may be thought to re
quire very little, if any, medical Treatment, and
may be eafily cured without Phylick, byiabftafning
from Fieih, Eggs, Broth, and Wine f , from all
Food that is fharp; fat and heavy ; and by diet
ing upon Bread, Pulie, Fruit, and Water; par
ticularly by eating little or no Supper; and drink
ing, ifthirfty, a fimple Ptiian of Barley; or an
Infuiion of Elder Flowers, with the Addition of
a third or fourth Part of Milk. Bathin? the
o
Feet, and the Powder N. 20 contribute to dif-
pofe the Patient to fleep. Five Tea-Cups of an
Infuiion of the Red, or wild Poppy Leaves m ay
alfo be ventured on fafcly.
i ;o. When the Fever, Heat and Inflamma
tion wholly difappear; when the Patient has kept
to his Regimen for fome Days, and his Blood is
well diluted, if the Cough and Want of Sleep
flill continues, he may take in the Evening a
Dole of Storax * Pill, or of Venice Treacle with
Elder
Under thefe Circumftances of a tickling Cough from a Cold,
without a Fever, and with very little Inflammation, I have known
great and very frequent Succefs, from a Dofe of Elixir pare*oricum,
taken at Bed- time, afor a very light thin Supper. If the Patient
be fanguine, ftrong and coftive, Bleeding in a fuitable Quantity,
and a gently opening Potion, or purging Glyfter, may be pru
dently premifed to it. Grown Perfons may take from 50 to 80,
or even 100 Drops of it, in Barley Water, or any other pcftoral
Drink ; and Children in the Chincough from five to twenty
Drops j half an Ounce of it by Meafure containing about one
>
of Colds: 145
fekler Flower Watef^ after bathing his Feet.
Thefe Remedies by frilling the Cough, and re-
ftoring Perforation, frequently cure the Cold in
the Space of one Night. I confefs at the lame
Time, I have feeli bad Corifequences from fuch
Opiates, when given too early in the Complaint.
It is alfo neceflary, when they are given, that the
Patient (hould have fupt but very moderately,
and that his Supper mould be digefted.
131. An immenfe Number of Remedies
are cried up for the Cure of Colds ; fuch as Pti-
fans of Apples or Pippins, of Liquorice, of dry
Raifins, of Figs, of Borage, of Ground-Ivy, of
Veronica or Speedwell, of Hyfop, of Nettles,
?r . &c. I have no Defign to depreciate them - f
as all of them may pofilbly be uieful : But un
fortunately, thofe who have leen any particular
one of them fucceed in one Cafe, readily con
clude it to be the moft excellent of them all ;
which is a dangerous Error, becaufe no one Cafe
is a fufficient Foundation to decide upon : which
befides none are qualified to do, who have not
often feen a preat Number of fuch Cafes : and
o
who do not fo attentively obferve the Effects of
different Medicines, as to determine on thofe
which moft frequently agree with the Diforder ;
R and
Grain of Opium, wtich is the Quantity contained in lefs than
quite fix Grains of the Storax Pill j this laft being a very available
peftoral Opiate too in Coughs from a Diftillation, in more adult
Bodies, who may alfo prefer a Medicine in that fmall Size, ard
Form, K.
146 Of Colds.
and which, in my Judgment, are thofe I have juil
enumerated. I have known a Tea or Infuiion of
Cherry Stalks, which is not a difagreeable Drink,
to cure a very inveterate Cold.
172. In Colds of the Head or Brain, the
1 T
.\m of warm Water alone, or that in which
Klder Flower:;, or fbme other mild aromatic
Herbs, have been boiled, commonly afford a
>ccdy Relief. Thefc are alfo ferviccable
in Colds fallen on the Bieaft. See 55.
It has been a Practice, though of no very long
fbnding, to give the Fat cf a Whale in theie
Cafes ; but this is a very crude indigeftible kind
of Fat, :md greafy oily Medicines icldom agree
with Colds. Befidcs, this Whaled Fat is very dii-
.nd rancid, that is rank; fo that it were
r to forbear uiing it : I have fcmeiimes feen
ill E. from it, and rarely any good OIK
133. Such Perfons as abate nothing of the
ufual Quantity of their Food, when feized with
a Cold, and who fwallow down large Quantities
of hot Water, ruin their Health. Their. Di-
geftion ccafes -, the Cough begins to affect the
Stomach, without ceafing to afflict the Bread; ;
and they incur a Chance of finking into the
Condition dcfcribed 127, N. 4.
Burnt Brandy and Ipiced Wine are very per
nicious
* This lecms but too applicable to the very popular Ufe of
Spertnaceti, &c. in fuch Caies, which can only greafe the Paf-
fagc to the Stomach ; mufl impair its digcilive Faculty, and can
not operate againft the Caufe of a Cold ; though that Cure of it,
which is effected by the Oeconomy of Nature in due Time, is of
ten afcribed to fuch Medicines, as may rather have retarded it. K.
Of Colds. 147
Jiicious in the Beginning of Colds, and the Omif-
fion of them muft be a very prudent Omiflion.
If any good EfFecls have ever been known to at
tend the Ufc of them, it has been towards the
going off of the Cold j when the Dilbrder main
tained its Ground, folely from the Weakriefs cf
the Patient. Whenever this is the Cafe, there is
not the leaft Room for farther Relaxation ; but
the Powders N. 14, fhould be taken every Day
in a little Wine ; and mould the Humours feem
likely to be thrown upon the Lungs, Biifters
ought to be applied to the flefhy P^rt ( f the Le^s.
134. Drams, or Liqueurs, as they are called
in French^ agree fo very little in this laft State,
that frequently a very fmall Quantity of them
revives a Cold that was juft expiring. There
really are fome Perfons who never drink them
without taking Cold, which is not to be wondered
at, as they occafion a light Inflammation in the
Breaft, which is equivalent to a Cold or Diflil-
lation.
Neverthdefs, People in this Diforder mould net
expofe them (elves to violent cold Weather, if
there is a Poffibiiity of avoiding it : though they
fhould equa ly guard too againft exceffive Heat.
Thofe, who inclole themfelves in very hot Rooms,
never get quite cured ; and how is it poilihle they
/hould be cured in fuch a Situation ? Such Rooms,
abfcracled from the Danger of coming out of
them, produce Colds in the fame Manner that
Drams do, by producing a light Inflammation in
the Breaft.
K * J 35-
i 4 B Of Colds.
135. Perfons fubje6t to frequent Colds, which
Habits are fometimes termed Jiuxionary, or liable
to Diftillations, imagine, they ought to keep them-
ielves very hot. This is an Error which tho
roughly deftroys their Health. Such a Difpofition
to take Cold arifes from two Caufes ; either be-
caufe their Perfpiration is eaiily impaired ; or
fometimes from the Weakneis of the Stomach or
the Lun^s, which require particular Remedies.
When the Complaint ariies from the Perfpira-
tion s being eafily difturbed and leflened, the hot
ter they keep themfelves, the more they fweat,
and increafe their Complaint the more. This
incefiantly warm Air lets down and weakens the
whole Machine, and more particularly the Lungs;
where the Humours finding lefs Refinance, are
continually derived, and are accumulated there.
The Skin, being conflantly bathed in a fmall Sweat,
b^pmes relaxed, foft, and incapable of compleat*
ing its Functions: from which Failure the flighted:
Caufe produces a total Obftruclion of Perfpira-
ration; and a Multitude of languid Diforders
cnfue.
Thefe Patients thus circumdanced, redouble
their Precautions againft the Cold, or even the
Coolnefs of the Air, while their utmoft Cautions
are but fo many effectual Means to lower their
.>
Health ; and this the more certainly, as their
Dread of the free Air neceflarily fubjeds them to
a fedentary Life, which increafes all their Symp
toms ; while the hot Drinks they indulge in,
compleat their Seventy. There is but one Me
thod
Of Colds. 149
thod to cure People thus fituated ; that is, by ac-
cuftoming them gradually to the Air ; to keep
them out of hot Chambers ; to Icilen their
Cloathing by Degrees j to make then) flecp cool j
and to let them eat or drink nothing but what
is cold, Ice itfelf being wholefome in their Drink :
to make them ufe much Exercife ; and finally,
if the Diforder be inveterate, to give them for a
considerable Time the Powder N. 14, and make
them ufe the cold Bath. This Method fucceeds
equally too with thofe, in whom the Dileafe ori
ginally depended on a Weaknefs of the Sto
mach, or of the Lungs : and in fa (It, at the End
of a certain Period, thefe three Caufes are always
combined. Some Peribns who have been fub-
ject, for many Years, to catch Colds throughout
the Winter ; and who, during that Seafon, never
went out, and drank every thing warm, have
been evidently the better, during the Winter of
1761, and 1762, for the Directions I have given
here. They now walk out every Day ; drink
their Liquids cold ; and by this Means entirely
efcape Colds, and enjoy perfect Health.
136. It is more cuftomary indeed in Town,
n in the Country, to have different Troches,
and Competitions in the Mouth. I am not for
excluding this Habit ; though I think nothing is
fo efficacious as Jnice of Liquorice ; and provi
ded a fufficient Dole be taken, it affords certain
Relief. I have taken an Ounce and a half in
one Day, and have felt the good Confequenx
of it very remarkably.
K3 CHAPTER
150 Of Difeafes of the Teeth.
*
CHAPTER VIII.
OfDifeafes of the Teeth.
SECT. 137.
H E Difeafes of the Teeth, which are
T fometimts fo tedious and fo violent, as
to caufe obflinate Wakefulnefs, a con-
fiderable Degree of Fever, Raving, In
flammations, Abfceffes, Rottennefs of the Bones,
Convulfions and Paintings, depend on three prin
cipal Caufes. i . On a Caries or Rottennefs of
the Teeth. 2. On an Inflammation of the
Nerves of the Teeth, or of the Membrane which
invefls and covers them ; and which affects the
Membrane of the Gums. 3. A cold Humour
or Deiiiixion that is determined to the Teeth,
and to their Nerves and Membrane.
138. In the firft of thcfe Cafes, the Caries
having eat down to, and expofed the naked
Nerve, the Air, Food and Drink irritate, or, as
it were fting it ; and this Irritation is attended
vith Pain more or lefs violent. Every thing
that increafes the Motion or Action of the affect
ed Part, as Exercife, Heat or Food, will be at
tended with the fame Confequence.
When the Tooth is greatly decayed, there is
no ether Cure.befides that by extracting it, with
out
Of the Difeafes of the Teeth. 1 5 1
out which the Pain continues ; the Breath be
comes very ofFenfive ; the Gum is eat down ;
the other Teeth, and fometimes even the Jaw
bone, are infedted with the Rotten nefs : beiides,
that it prevents the Uie of the other Teeth, which
are infcfted with a kind of tartarous Matter, and
decay.
But when the Diforder is lefs confiderable, the
Progrefs of it may fometimes be reilrained, by
burning the Tooth with a hot Iron, or by filling
it with Lead, if it is fitted to receive and to retain
it. Different corroding Liquids arc fometimes
ufed on thele Occasions, Aqua, forth iti Jf, and
Spirit of Vitriol : but fuch Applications are highly
dangerous, and ought to be excluded. When
the Patients, from Dread, reject the Operations
juft mentioned, a little Oyl of Cloves may be appli
ed, by introducing a fmall Pellet of Cotton, dipt in
it, to the rotten hollow Tooth ; which often af
fords confiderable Eafe, and Refpite. Some
make ufe of a Tinclure of Opium, or Laud::-
num, after the fame Manner; and indeed thefe
two Medicines may be ufed together in equal
Quantities. I have often iucceeded with He,
mans mineral anodyne Liquor ; which feemcd
indeed, for a few Moments, to increaie the Pain ;
but Eafe generally enfues after fpitting a little
Time. A Gargarifrn made of the Herb y/ -
tuia-y that is Silver-weed or wild Tan icy, ^
Water, frequently appeafes the Pain that reiults
from a Caries of the Teeth : and in inch Cafes
many People have found themfdves at Eu ! c % , un-
K 4 der
152 Of the Difeafes of the Teeth.
der a conftant Ufeof it. It certainly is an Appli
cation that cannot hurt, and is even beneficial to
the Gums. Others have been relieved by rub
bing their Faces over with Honey.
139. The lecond Caufe is the Inflammation
of -the Nerve within the Subftance, or of the
Membrane on the Outfide, of the Tooth. This
is difcovered by the Patient s Temperament, Age
and Manner of living. They who are young,
fanguine, who heat themfelves much, whether
by Labour, by their Food, their Drink, by fitting
up late, or by any other Excefs : they who have
been accuftomed to any Difcharges or Eruptions
of Blood, whether natural or artificial, and who
ceafe to have them as ufual, are much cxpofed to
the Tooth-ach, from this Caufe.
This Pain, or rather Torment, if in an acute
Decree, commonly happens very fuddenly, and
ofrcn after fome heating Caufe. The Pulfe is
ftroug and full; the Countenance considerably
red ; the Mouth extremely hot : there is often a
pretty high Fever, and a violent Head-ach. The
Gums, or iome Part of them, become inflamed,
iVvelled, and fometimes an Abfcefs appears. At 1
other times the Humours throw themfelves upon
the more external Parts; the Cheek i wells, and
the Pain abates. When the Cheek i wells, but
without any Diminution of the Pain, it then be-
j
comes an Augmentation, but no eflential Change,
he Diibrder.
in this Species of the Difeafe, we mull
have Recourfe to the general Method of treating
inflan
Of the Difeafes of the Teeth. j 5
inflammatory Diforders, and direct Bleeding,
which often produces immediate Eafe, if per
formed early. After Bleeding, the Patient fhould
gargle with Barley Water, or Milk and Water \
and apply an emollient Cataplafm to the Cheek.
If an Abfcefs or little Impofthume appears, the
Suppuration or ripening of it is to be promoted,
by holding continually in the Mouth fome hot
Milk, or Figs boiled in fome Milk : and as foon
as ever it feems ripe, it fhould be opened, which
may be done eafily, and without any Pain. The
Diibrder, when depending on this Caufe, is fome-
times not fo violent, but of a longer Duration,
and returns whenever the Patient heats himfelf ;
when he goes to Bed ; when he eats any heating
Food, or Drink, Wine or Coffee. In this Cafe
he mould be bled, without which his other Me
dicines will have little Effect; and he fhould
bathe his Feet in warm Water for fome Evenings
fiicceffively, taking one Dole of the Powder N.
20. Entire Abftincnce from Wine and Meat,
especially at Night, has cured feveral Perfons of
Inveterate and obftinate Maladies of the Teeth.
In this Species of Tooth-ach, all hot Remedies
i;re pernicious; and it often happens that Opium,
Venice Treacle, and Storax Pills, are fo far from
producing the Relief expected from them, that
they have aggravated the Pain.
141. When the Difeafe arifes from a cold
Diflillation, or Humour, tending to thefe Parts,
it is commonly (though equally painful) attend
ed v/ith lefs violent Symptoms The Pulfc is
HC
154 Of the D if cafes of the Teeth.
neither ftrong, full nor quick ; the Mouth is lefs
heated, and lefs fwellcd. In fuch Cafes, the af
flicted ihould be purged with the Powder N. 21,
which has fometimes perfectly cured very ohfti*
nate Complaints of this Sort. After purging
they fhould make Ufe of the Diet Drink of the
Woods N. 22. This has cured Tooth-achs,
which have baffled other Attempts for many
Years ; but it muft be added, this Drink would
be hurtful in the Dileafe from a different Caufe.
Blifters to the Nape of the Neck, or * eliewhere,
it matters not greatly where, have often extraor
dinary good Effects, by diverting the Humour,
and redo ring a compleat Perfpiration. In fhort
in this Species, we may employ, not only with.
Safety, but with Succefs (efpecialiy after due
purging) Pills of Storax, Opium and Venice
Treacle. Acrid (harp Remedies, fuch as hard-
fpun * Tobacco, Root of Pdlitory of Spcin, &c.
by exciting much Spitting, difcharge part of the
Humour
* * A fmall Blifler behind the Ear of the affefted Side, or both
Ears, has very often removed the Pain, when from a Defluxion.
Jt is pretty common tor the Subjects of this Difeafe to be very
ccilive, during the Exacerbations of it, which I have fometimes ex
perienced to be pretty regularly nnd feverely quotidian, for a Week
T tu o. The Cuftom offrnokmg Tobacco very often, which the
ncc nf this Pain has fometimes introduced, often dilpoies
to a ];!ackncf., and premature Decay of the Teeth, to which the
\vers of it feem lefb obnoxious : and this Difference may re-
iult from feme Particles of its chemical Oil rifmg by Fumigation,
and being retained in the Teeth, which Particles are not cxtracled
imti. n. But with Regard to the habitual Ufe of this very
acrid and internally violent Herb, for, but chiefly after, this Difeafe,
it mould be confidcred well, \\hether in fome Conftitutions itm.iy
nr-t pave the Way to a more dangerous one, than it was introdu
ced :o remove. A".
Of Difciifis of the Teeth . 155
Humour which caufes the Difeafe, and hence
diminifh the Pain. The Smoke of Tobacco alib
fucceeds now and then in this Diibrder, whether
this happens from the Difcharge of the Rheum
or Spittle it occasions ; or whether it is owing to
any anodyne Efficacy of this Plant, in which it
refembles Opium.
142. As this lad Caufe is often the Confe-
quence of a Weaknefs in the Stomach, it daily
happens that we fee fome People, whole Difor-
der from this Caufe is augmented, in Proportion
as they indulge in a cooling, refreshing Way of
living. The Increafe of the Diibrder difpofes
them to increafe the Dofe of what they miftake
for its Remedy, in Proportion to which their
Pain only increafes. There is a^Neceflity that
fuch Perfons fhould alter this Method ; and
:e ufe of fuch Medicines as are proper to
flrengthen the Stomach, and to reilore Perfpi-
ration. The Powder N\ 14 has often produced
the heft Confequences, when I have ordered it
in thefe Cafes ; and it never fails to diflipate the
Tooth-ach very fpeedily, which returns periodi
cally at ftated Days and Hours. I ha<-e alfo
cured fome Perfons who never -drank Wine, by
advifmg them to the Ufe of it.
143. But befides the Difedcs of the Teeth,
that are owing to thefe three principal Caufes,
which are the mod common ones - } there are
fome very tedious and moft tormenting Diforders
of them, that are occaiioned by a general Acri
mony, or great Sharpncfs, of the Mafs of Blood,
and
156 Of Difeajcs of the Teeth.
and which are never cured by any other Medi
cines but fuch, as are proper to correct that Acri
mony. When it is of a fcorbutic Nature, the
wild Horfe-radiih (Pepper wort) Water Creffes,
Brooklime, Sorrel, and Wood-forrell correct and
cure it. If it is of a different Nature, it requires
different Remedies. But very particular Details
do not come within the Plan of this Work. As
the Makdy is of the chronical or tedious kind,
it allows Time to confider and confult more par
ticularly about it.
The Gout and the Rheumatiim are fometimes
transferred to the Teeth, and give Rile to the
moft excruciating Pains ; which mufl be treated
Jike the Difeafes from which they arife.
144. From what has been laid on this Difor-
der, the Reader will difcern, in what that imagi
nary Oddnefs may confift, which has been afcri-
bed to it, from the fame Application s relieving
one Perfon in it, and not affording the lean 1 Re
lief to another. Now the plain Reaibn of this
is, that thefe Applications are always directed,
without an exact Knowledge of the particular
Caufe of the Dileafe, in different Subjects and
Circum fiances ; whence the Pain from a rotten
Tooth, is treated like that from an Inflammation ;
that from an Inflammation, like the Pain from a
cold Humour or Fluxion ; and this laft like a
Pain cauled by a fcorbutic Acrimony : ib that
the Difappointment is not in the leaft iurprizing.
Perhaps Phyficians themfelves do not always at-
i distinctly enough to the Nature of each
particular
OfDifcafes of the Teeth.
particular Diforder : and even when they do,
they content themfelves with directing fome of
the lefs potent Medicines, which may he inade
quate to accomplish the neceffary Effect. If the
Diftemper truly be of an inflammatory Difpo-
fition, Bleeding is indifpeniihle to the Cure.
It happens in Fact, with Regard to the Dif-
eafes of the Teeth, as well as to all other Dilcafes,
that they arife from different Caufes ; and if thefe
Caufes are not oppofed hy Medicines iuited to
them, the Difeafe, far from being cured, is ag
gravated.
I have cured violent Tooth-achs, of the lower
Jaw, by applying a Plaifter of Meal, the White of
an Egg, Brandy and Maftich, at the Corner of that
Jaw, over the Spot where the Pulfation of the
Artery may be perceived : and I have alia miti
gated the moft excruciating Pains of the Head,
by applying the lame Plaifter upon the temporal
Artery.
*
CHAPTER
158 Of the Apcplefy.
C5DC$OC^O
CHAPTER I
Of ib: Apoplexy.
SECT. 145.
F": .VERY Perfon has Ibme Idea of the
E 8 Difeafe termed aa Apoplexy, which is
a fudden Privation or Lois of all Senfe,
and of all voluntary Motion ; the Pulfe
at the fame Time being kept up, but Refpiration
or Breathing, being opprefied. I mall treat of
this Difeafe only in a brief Manner, as it is not
common in our Country Villages -, and as I have
expatiated on it in a different Manner in a Letter
to Dr. HALLER, publiihed in 1761.
146. This Difeafe is generally diftinguifhed
into two Kinds, the fangtiineous and ferous Apo
plexy. Each of them refults from an Overiul-
nefs of the Blood VeiTels of the Brain, which preffes
upon, and prevents or impairs the Functions of
the Nerves. The whole Difference between thefe
two Species confifts in this, that the fanguineous
Apoplexy prevails among ftrong robufl Perfons,
who have a ricb, heavy, thick and inflammable
Blood, and that in a large Quantity ; in which
Circumfhmce it becomes a genuine inflammatory
Diftempcr. The ferous, or humoral Apoplexy
invades
Of tie Apoplx\\ 159
invades Perfons of a lefs robull: Conftitution ;
whofe Blood is more dilute or watery ; and rather
vifcid, or lightly gelatinous, than heavy or rich;
whole Veflels are in a more relaxed State ; and
who abound more in other Humours than in red
Blood.
147. When the firfl Kind of this Difeafe
exiits in its moil violent Degree, it is then fjme-
times termed, an apoplectic Stroke, or thunder
ing Apoplexy, which kills in a Moment or inftan-
taneoufly, and admits of no Remedies. When
the Affault is lefs violent, and we find the Pa
tent with a ftrong,- full and raifed Pulfe, his Vi-
iage red and bloated, and his Neck fwelled up ;
with an oppreiTed and loud hoarfe Refpiration ;
being feniible of nothing, and capable of no
other Motions, except fame Efforts to vomit, the
Cafe is not always equally delperate. We mufl
therefore immediately,
1. Entirely uncover the Patient s Head, cover
ing the reft of his Body but very lightly ; procure
him inftantly very frdh free Air, and leave his
Neck quite unbound and open.
2. His Head fhould be placed as high as may
be, with his Feet hanging down.
o o
3. He mufl lofe from twelve to fixteen Ounces
of Blood, from a free open Orifice in the Arm :
the Strength or Violence with which the Blood
fallies out, fhould determine the Surgeon to take
a few Ounces more or lefs. It ihouid be repeat
ed to the third or fourth Time, within the Space
of
Of tbc Atopies.
of three or four Hours; if the Symptoms feerr
require it, either in the Arm, or in the Foot.
4. A Glyfter mould be given of a Decocli
of the firft emollient opening Herbs that can be
got, with four Spoonfuls of Oil, one Spoonful
of Salt : and this fhould be repeated every three
Hour?
5. If it is pofiible, he mould be made to fwnl-
low Water plentifully, in each Pot of which
three Drams of Nitre are to be diiTolved.
6. As foon as the Height and Violence of the
Pulfe abates; when his Breathing becomes lefs
opprefled and difficult, and his Countenance lefs
inrlamed, he ihould take the Deco6tiori N. 23;
or, if it cannot be got ready in Time, he ihould
take three Quarters of an Ounce of Cream of
Tartar, and drink Whey plentifully after it. This
Medicine fucceeded extremely well with me in a
Cafe, \vhere I could not readily procure any
other.
7. He mould avoid all itrong Liquor, Wine,
diililled Spirit, whether inwardly or by outward
Application, and mould even be prevented from
fmelling them.
8. The Patient mould be ftirred, moved, or
even touched, as little as it is poffible : in a Word
every Thing muft be avoided that can give him
the
* I have been very authentically afibred of the Death of a
hale Man, which happened in the very Ad of pouring out a large
Quantity of diftilied Spirits, by Gallons or Bucketfulls, from one
.1 into another.. K.
Of the Apoplexy* 161
the leaft Agitation. This Advice, I am fenfible*.
is directly contrary to the common Practice; not-
withftanding which it is founded in Reafon, ap
proved by Experience, and ablblutely necefTary,
In Facl, the whole Evil reiults from the Blood
being forced up with too much Force, and in
too great a Quantity, to the Brain* which being
thence in a State of ComprefTion, prevents every
Movement and every Influence of the Nerves.
In Order, therefore, to re-erlablim thefe Move
ments, the Brain muft be unloaded, by dimi-
nifhing the Force of the Blood. But ftrong Li
quors, Wines, Spirits, volatile Salts, all Agita
tion and Frictions augment it, and by that very
Means increafe the Load, the EmbarraiTment of
the Brain, and thus heighten the Difeafe itfelf.
On the contrary, every Thing that calms the Cir
culation, contributes to recall Senfation and vo
luntary Motion the fooner.
9. Strong Ligatures mould be made about the
Thighs under the Ham : By this Means the
Blood is prevented in its Afcent from the Legs,
and lefs is carried up to the Head.
If the Patient feems gradually, and in Propor
tion as he takes proper Medicines, to advance into a
lefs violent State>. there may be fome Hopes. But
if he rather grows" \vorfe after bis earlieft Evacu
ations, the Cafe is defperate.
148. When Nature and Art effet his Re
covery, his Senles return: though there frequent
ly remains a little Delirium or Wandering for
L ibme
1 62 Of the Apvplexy.
fome Time ; and almoft always a paralytic De
fect, more or lefs, of the Tongue, the Arm, the
Leg, and the Mufcles of the fame Side of the
Face. This Palfy fometimes goes off gradually,
by the Help of cooling Purges from Time to
Time, and a Diet that is but very moderately and
lightly nourifhing. All hot Medicines are ex
tremely hurtful in this Cafe, and may pave the
Way to a repeated Attack. A Vomit might be
even fatal, and has been more than once ib. It
fliould be absolutely forbidden ; nor mould we
even promote, by Draughts of vtarm Water, the
Efforts of the Patient to vomit. They do not
any ways depend on any Humour or Mafs in the
Stomach ; but on the Oppreffion and Embarrafs-
ment of the Brain : and the more confiderable
fuch Efforts are, the more fuch Oppreffion is in-
creafed: by Reafon that as long as they continue,
the Blood cannot return from the Head, by which
Means the Brain remains overcharged.
149. The other Species of Apoplexy is at
tended with the like Symptoms, excepting the
Pulfe not being fo high nor ftrong; the Counte
nance being alib leis red, fometimes even pale ;
the Breathing feems leis oppreffed ; and fome
times the Sick have a greater Facility to vomit,
and difcharge more upwards.
As this Kind of the Difeafe attacks Perfons
who abound lefs in Blood ; who are lefs ftrong,
and lefs heated or inflamed, Bleeding is not of
ten at all neceffary : at leaft the Repetition of it
is
Of the Apoplexy. 163
is fcarcely ever fo : and fliould the Pulfe have but
a linall Fulnefs, and not the leaf! unnatural Hard-
nefs, Bleeding might even be pernicious*
1. The Patient however mould be placed as
Was directed in the former Mode of this Difeafe;
though it feems not equally neceffary here.
2. He mould receive a Glyiler, but without
Oil, with double the Quantity of Salt, and a Bit
of Soap of the Size of a fmall Egg ; or wulrfour
or five Sprigs of Hedge HyfTop. It may be re
peated twice a Day.
3. He fliould be pureed with the Powder
W. 4- ()
4. His common Drink may be a flrong Infu-
fion of Leaves of Balm.
L 2 5. The
( a ) Vomits which are fo pernicious in the fanguinsotis Apoplexy,
where the Patient s Countenance and Eyes are inflamed ; and
which are alfo dangerous or ufelefs, when a Perion h;is been >
moderate in his Meals, or is weakened by Age or other Circum-
fiances, and whofe Stomach is far from being overloaded with
Aliment, are neverthelefs very proper for grofs Feeders, who are
accuftomed to exceed at Table, who have Indigefticns, and have
a Mafs of vifcid glairy Humours in their Stomachs ; more efpe-
cially, if fuch a one ha 6 a little while before indulged himfelfex-
ceffively, whence he has vomited without any other evident Cauie,
or at leafthad very ftrong N-.uit eas, or Loathings. In brief, Vomits
arethetiue Specific for /\p< piexics, occtfioned by any narcotic
or ftupifying Poifons, the pernicious EfFecls of which tx?ie, the
Moment the Peribns lo poiioned vomit them up. An attentive
Confideration of what has occured to the Patient before hi? Sei
zure; his fmall natural Propenfuy to thi.^ Difeafe, and great and
inceffant Loathings, render u manifeft, whether it has beun canted
by fuch Poiions, or fuch poilonous Excellcs. In thc-fc two l^ft
Cafes a double ;)ofe of Tartar emetic ihould be diffolved in a
Goblet cr Cup of Water, of which the Patu.-nt fliould immediately
tajke a large Spoonful ,- which mould be repeated every Quarter
of an Hour, till it operates, E.L.
164 Of the Apoplexy.
5. The Purge mould be repeated the third
Day.
6. Blifters mould immediately be applied to
the flefhy Part of the .Legs, or between the
Shoulder Blades. ( a )
7. Should Nature feem difpofed to relieve her-
felf by Sweatings, it mould be encouraged ; and I
have often known an Infufion of the Carduus bene-
diftus, or bleffed Thiftle, produce this Effect very
fuccefsfully. If this Method be entered upon,
the Sweat ought to be kept up (without ftirring
if pollible) for many Days. It has then fome-
times happened, that at the End of nine Days,
the Patient has been tota!ly freed from the Pally,
which commonly fucceeds this Species of the
Apoplexy, juft as it does the other.
150. Perfons who have been attacked with
either kinds of this Difeafe are liable to fubfe-
quent ones ; each of which is more dangerous
than that preceding : w hence an Endeavour
to obviate or prevent fuch Relapfes becomes of
the utmoft Importance. This is to be effected in
each Sort by a very exact, and rather fevere Diet,
even to diminishing the ufual Quantity of the
Patient s Food ; the moil effential Precaution, to
be obferved by any who have been once affaulted
with it, being entirely to leave off Suppers. In
deed
Thele Bliilcrs may be preceded by Cupping with Scarifica
tion on the Nape of the Neck. This Remedy, often ufed by the
ancient Phyficians, but too little practiced in France, is one of
the moil ipecdy, and not the leaft efficacious, Applications in both
uinc and icrous Apoplexies. . L.
Of the Apoplexy. j 6 $
deed thofe, who have been once Attacked with
they?///, ti\t fanguineous Apoplexies^ mould be ftill
more exacl, more upon their Guard, than the
others. They {hould deny themfelves whatever
is rich and juicy, hot or aromatic, fharp, Wine,
difrjlled Liquors and Coffee. They mould chiefly
confine themfelves to Garden-Stuff, Fruits and
Acids ; fuch ihould eat but little Fleili, and only
thofe called white ; taking every Week two
or three Dofes of the Powder N. 24, in a
Morning fafting, in a Glafs of Water. They
mould be purged twice or thrice a Year with
the Draught N. 23 ; ufe daily Exercile j avoid
very hot Rooms, and the violent Heat of t. ; c
Sun. They mould go to Bed betimes, rife early,
never lie in Bed above ei^ht Hours: and if it is
O
obferved that their Blood increaies confiderably,
and has a Tendency towards the Head, they
ihould be bled without Hefitation : and for fome
Days reftrain themfelves entirely to a thin and low
Regimen, without taking any lolid Food. In thele
Circumftances warm Bathings are hurtful. In
the oiher, the ferous, Apoplexy, inftead of purg
ing with N. 23, the Patient fhould take the
Purge N. 21.
151. The fame Means, that are proper to
prevent a Relnpfe, might alib obviate or keep off
a primary or firft Aflault, if employed in Time :
for notwithfranding it may happen very fudden-
ly, yet this Difeafe forefhews itielf many Weeks,
fometimes many Months, nay even Years before
hand, by Vertigos, Heavinefs of the Head ; fmall
L 3 Defcds
166 Of the Apoplexy.
Defects of the Tongue or Speech ; mort and
momentary Palfies, fometimes of one, fometimes
another, Part : fometimes by Loathings and
teachings to vomit ; without (uppofing any Ob-
fbudion or Load in the firft i ; alTagcs, or any
other Caufe in the Stomach, or the adjoining
Parts. There happens allb fome particular
Change in the Looks and Vifage not cafy to be de-
fcribcd : marp and mort Pains about the PvCgion
of the Heait; an Abatement of the Strength,
without any difcerniblc Caufe of it. Eefides there
are flill fome other Signs, which fignify the
Afcent of the Humours too much to the Head,
and mew, that the Functions of the Brain are
pmbarraffed.
Some Peribns are liable to certain Symptoms
and Appearances, which arife frcm the fame Caufe
as an Apoplexy ; and which indeed may be con-
fidered as very Hght benign Apoplexies, of which
they fuilain many Attacks, and yet without sny
confiderable Annoyance of their Health. The
Blood, all at once as it were, rlumes up to their
Heads : they appear heedlefs or blundering ; and
have fometimes Difguils and Naujeas y and yet
without any Abatement of their Undemanding,
their Senfes, or Motion of any Sort. Tranquillity
of Mind and-^cdy, once Bleeding, and a few
Glyiiers ufually c,arry it off icon after its Invafion.
The Returns of it may be prevented by the Re
gimen Directed 1505 snd efpecially by a fre
quent life of the Powder N. 24. At the long
Run however, one of thefe Attacks commonly
degene-
Of Strokes of the Sun. 167
degenerates into a mortal Apoplexy : though this
may be retarded for a very long Time by an ex-
ad: Regimen, and by avoiding all ftrong Com
motions of the Mind, but efpecially that of An
ger or violent Rage.
CHAPTER X.
Of the violent Influence^ or Strokes, of the Sun.
SECT. 152.
H I S Appellation is applied to thofe
T 3* Diforders, which ariie from too violent
UlJ an Influence of the Heat of the Sun,
Js .. , . ,
immediately upon the Head ; and
which in one Word may be termed Inflation.
If we confider that Wood, Stone and Metals,
when long expoied to the Sun, become very hot,
and that even in temperate Climates, to fuch a
Degree, that they can fcarcely be touched with
out fome Seniation of burning, we may ealily
conceive the Rifk a Perfon undergoes, in having
his Head cxpcfed to the fame Degree of Heat.
The Blood-VefTels grow dry, the Blood itfelf
becomes condenfed or thickened, and a real In
flammation is formed, which has proved mortal
in a very little Time. It was this Diftemper, a
Stroke of the Sun, which killed Manajjes the
Hullband of Juditb. * For as he was among the
L 4 Labourers
1 68 Of Strokes of the Sun.
f Labourers who bound up the Sheafs in tha
1 Fields, the Heat flruck upon his Head, and
* he was taken ill j he went to Bed and he died.
The Signs which precede and attend this Difeafe
are, being expofed in a Place where the Sun
fhines forth with great Force and Ardour ; a vi
olent Head-aoh, attended with a very hot and
extremely dry Skin : the Eyes are alfo dry and
red, being neither able to remain open, nor yet
to beer the Liqht; and fometimes there is a kind
O
of continual and involuntary Motion in the Eye
lid ; while fome Degree of Relief is perceivable
from the Application of any cooling Liquor. It
often happens that fome cannot poffibly fleep;
and at other times they have a great Drowfinefs,
but attended with outrageous Wakenings : there
is a very ftrong Fever ; a great Faintnefs, and a
total Difrelifh and Loathing. Sometimes the
L_ . . .
Patient is very thirfty, apd at other times not at
all : and the Skin of his Face often looks as
t
though it were burnt.
153. People may be affected with the Dif-
eale from this Cauie, at two different Seafons of
the Year; that is, either in the Spring, or during
the very raging Heats ; but their Events are very
different. Country People and Labourers are
but little liable to the former. They chiefly af
fect the Inhabitants of Cities, and delicate Per-
Ibns, who have uied very lutle Exercife in the
Winter, and abound with Superfluous Humours.
If thus circumflanced they expofe themfelves to
the Sun, as even in the Spring he attains a con-
fid er able
Of Strokes cf the Sun. 169
fiderable Force; and, by the CouiTe of Life
they have led, their Humours are already much
difpoied to mount to the Head ; while the Cool-
nefs of the Soil, efpecially when it has rained,
prevents their Feet from being fo eafily warmed ;
the Power of the Sun acts upon their Head like
a Blifter, attracting a great Quantity of Humours
to it. This produces excruciating Pains of the
Head, frequently accompanied with quick and
violent Shootings, and with Pain in the Eyes ;
notwithstanding this Degree of the Malady is
feldom dangerous. Country People, and even,
fuch Inhabitants of Cities and Towns, as have not
forbore to exercife themfclvcs in Winter, have
no Sort of Dread of thefe Strokes of the Sun, in
the Spring of the Year. Its Summer Strokes are
much more vehement and troublefome, and af-
fault Labourers and Travellers, who are for a
long Time expofed to the Fervour of it. Then
it is that the Diieaie is aggravated to its higheffc
Pitch, thofe who are thus ftruck often dying
upon the Spot. In the hot Climates this Cauie
dcftroys many in the very Streets, and makes
dreadful Havock among Armies on the March,
and at Sieges. Some tragical Effects of it, on
fuch Occaiions, are leen even in the temperate
Countries. After having marched a whole Day
in the Sun, a Man lha l fall into a Lethargy, and
die within fome Hours, with the Symptoms of
raving Madnefs. I have feen a Tyler in a very
hot Day, complaining to his Comrade of a violent
Pain in his Head, which increafed every Moment
almoft 3
170 Of Strokes of the Sun.
almoft y and at the very Inftant when he purpofed
to retire out of the Sun, he funk down dead, and
fell down from the Houfe he was Hating. This
o
fame Caufe produces very often in the Country
forne mod dangerous Phrenzies, which are called
there hot or burning Fevers. Every Year fur-
nifhes but too many of them.
i ^4. The Vehemence of the Sun is dill
more dangerous to thofe, who venture to fleep
expofed to it. Two Mowers who fell aileep on a
Haycock, being wakened by fome others, im
mediately on waking, ilagsjered, and pronouncing
a few incoherent unmeaning Words, died. When
the Violence of Wine and that of the Sun are
combined, they kill very fuddenly : nor is there
a fingle Year in which Feafants are not found
dead on the Highroads : who being drunk en-
o o
deavoured to lie down in fome Corner, where
they perifhed by an Apoplexy, from the Heat of
the Sun and of llrong Drink. Thofe of them who
cfcape fo fpeedy and premature a Death, are fubjeft
for the Remainder of their Lives, to chronical, or
tedious Head-achs; nnd to fufler fome little Dil-
order and Confution in their Ideas. I have feen
fome Cafes, when after violent Head-achs of
fome Davs Continuance, the Diieafe has been
4
transferred to the Eyelids, which continued a
long Time red and diftended, fo that they could
not be kept afunder or open. It has alio
been known, that fome Perfcns have been flruck
by the Sun into a Delirium or Raving, without
a Fever, and without complaining of a Head-
ach.
Of Strokes of the Sun. 1 7 1
, Sometimes a Gutta Serena has been its Con-
fequence ; and it is very common to fee People,
whofe Ions; Continuance under the ftrong Light
and Influence of the Sun, has made fuch an Im-
preflion upon the Eyes, as prefents them with dif
ferent Bodies flying about in the Air, which dif-
tracl and confute their Sight.
A Man of forty two Years of Age, having
been expofed for feveral Hours to the violent
Heat of the Sun, with a very fmall Cap or Bon
net ; and having part the following Night in the
open Air, was attacked the next Day with a mod
fevere Head-ach, a burning Fever, Reachings to
vomit, creat Anguifh, and red and fparkling
* O O 1 O
Eyes. Notwithstanding the bed Affiftance of
feveral Phyficians, he became phrenitic on the
fifth Day, and died on the ninth. Suppurated
Matter was difcharged from his Mouth, one of
his Noftrils, and his right Ear, a few Hours be
fore his Death ; and upon Direction a fmall Ab-
fcefs was found within the Skull ; and the whole
Brain, as \vell as all the Membranes inclofmg it,
were entirely corrupted.
155. In very young Children, who are not,
or never mould be, expoied for any long Time
to fuch exceffive Pleat (and whom a iiight Caufe
will often affect) this Malady difcdvcrs itfelf by a
heavy deep Drowiinefs, which lafts for feveral
Days ; allb by mediant Ravings mingled with
Rage and Terror, much the fame as when they
are affected with violent Fear : and fometimes
by convuliive Twitchings j by Head-achs which
returned
172 Of Strokes of lie Sun.
returned at certain Periods, and continual Vomit
ings. J have feen Children, who, after a Stroke
of the Sun, have been harraffed a long Time with
a little Cough.
156. Old Men who often expofe themfelves
imprudently to the Sun, are little apprized of all
the Danger they incur by it. A certain Perfon,
who purpofely funned himfelf for a conliderable
Time, in the clear Day of an intermitting tertian
Fever, underwent the Affault of an Apoplexy,
which carried him off the following Day. And
even when the Difeafe may not be fo fpeedy and
violent, yet this Cuftom (of funning in hot Wea
ther) certainly difpofes to an Apoplexy, and to
Diforders of the Head. One of the flighted Ef
fects of much iolar Heat upon the Head is, to
caufe a Derluxion from the Brain, a Swelling of
c*
the Glands of the Neck, and a Drynefs of the
Eyes, which fometimes continues for a confider-
able Term after it.
157. The Effect of too much culinary, or
common Fire, is of the fame Quality with that of
the Sun. A Man who fell afleep with his Head
directly oppofite, and probably, very near to the
Fire, went off in an Apoplexy, during his Nap.
158. The Action of too violent a Sun is
not only pernicious, when it falls upon the Head ;
but it is alfo hurtful to other Parts ; and thole
who continue long expofed to it, though their
Heads mould not be affected, experience violent
Pains, a difagreeabie Senfation of Heat, and a
conliderable Stiffncfs in the Parts that have been,
in
Of Strokes of the Sun. 173
in fome Manner, parched by it; as in the Legs,
the Knees, the Thighs, Reins and Arms ; and
ibmetimes they prove feverifh.
1 59. In contemplating the Cafe of a Patient,
ucky as we may term it, we muft endea
vour to diitinguiih, whether there may not be alib
fome other joint Caufes concurring to the Erf!
A Traveller, a labouring Man, is often as much
affected by the Fatigue of his Journey, or of his
Labour, as he is by the Influence of iolar Heat.
1 60. It is neceffary to let about the Cure of
this Difeafe, as foon as ever we are fatisfied of its
Exigence : for fuch as might have been eafily
preferved by an early Application, are coniidera-
bly endangered by a Neglect of it. The Method
of treating this is very much the fame, with that
of the inflammatory Difeafes already mentioned ;
that is, by Bleeding, and cooling Medicines of
various Kinds in their Drinks, by Bathings, and
by Glyfters. And i. If the Difeafe be very high
and urgent, a large Quantity of Blood mould be
taken away, and occaiionally repeated. LEWIS
the XIV. was bled nine Times to prevent the
Fatality of a Stroke of the Sun, which he re
ceived in Hunting in 1658.,
2. After Bleeding, the Patient s Legs ihould
be plunged into warm Water. This is one of the
nujji Applications that affords the mod fpeedy Relief;
and I have ieen the Head-ach go off and return
again, in Proportion to the Repetition, and the
Duration, of theie Bathings of the Legs. When
th Diforder is highly dangerous, it will be ne-
oeflary
174 Of Strokes of the Sun.
ccflary to treat the Patient with Semicupid, or
warm Baths, in which he may lit up to his Hipsj
and in the moft dangerous Degrees of it, even to
bathe the whole Body : but the Water in this
*
Cafe, as well as in Bathings of the Feet, mould
be only fenfibly warm : the Ufe of hot would
be highly pernicious.
3. Glyilers made from a Decoction of any of
the emollient Herbs are alib very effectual.
4. The Patient fhould drink plentifully of Al
mond Emuliion N. 4 ; of Limonade, which is a
Mixture of the Juice of Lemons and Water, (and
is the bed Drink in this Difeale) of Water and
Vinegar, which is a very good Substitute for Li
monade ; and of, what is ftill more efficacious,
very clear Whey, with the Addition of a little
Vinegar. Thefe various Drinks may all be taken
cold ; Linen Cloths dipt in cold Water and Vi
negar of Rofes may be applied to the Forehead,
the Temples, or all over the Head, which is
equivalent to every other Application ufed upon
fuch Occaiions. Thofe which are the moft cried
up, are the Juice of Purilain, of Lettuce, of
Houieleek, and of Vervain. The Drink N. 32
js alfo ferviceable, taken every Morning fading.
161. Cold Baths have fometimes recovered
Perfons out of fuch violent Symptoms, from this
Caufe, as have been almofl quite defpaired of.
A Man twenty Years of Age, having been a
very long Time expofed to the fcorching Sun,
became violently delirious, without a Fever, and
proved really mad. After repeated Bleedings,
he
Of Strokes of the Sun.
he was thrown into a cold Bath, which was alib
frequently repeated ; pouring cold Water, at the
fame Time, upon his Head. With fuch Afiift-
ance he recovered, though very gradually.
An Officer who had rode Poll for feveral Days
fuccerlively, in very hot Weather, fwooned away,
immediately on dismounting j from which he
could not be recovered by the ordinary Afiiftance
in fuch Cafes. He was laved however, in Con-
lequence of being plunged into a Bath of freez
ing Water. It fhould be obferved however, that
in thefe Cafes the cold Bath ihould never be re
curred to, without previous Bleeding.
162. Jt is part Doubt, that if a Perfon flands
ftill in the violent Heat of the Sun, he is moie
liable to be ftruck with it, than if he walks about ;
and the Ufe of white Hats, or of fome Folds of
clean white Paper under a black one, may fen-
fibly contribute to prevent any Injury from the
ccnfiderable Heat of the Sun; though it is a very
incompetent Defence againft a violent Degree
of it.
The natural Conilitution, or even that Confti-
tution, which has been formed from long Cuf-
tom and Habit, make a very great Difference be
tween the ErTedts of folar Heat on different Per-
fons. People infeniihly acCttftotti themfelves to
the Impreffions of it, as they do to tho e of all the
other Bodies and Elements, which are continually
afting upon us ; and by Degrees we arrive at a
Power of fuilaining his violent Heat with Impu
nity : juft as others arrive at the Hardinefs of
bearing
176 Of Strokes of the Sun.
bearing the moft rigid Colds, with very little
Complaint or Inconvenience. The human Body
is capable of fupporting many more Violences
and Extremes, than it commonly does. Its na
tural Force is icarce y e ver afcertained among ci
vilized Nations ; hecaufe their Education gene
rally tends to impair and lefTen it, and always fuc-
ceeds in this Refpeft. If we were inclined
to coniider a purely natural, a limply phyiical
Man, we muft look for him among lavage Na
tions ; where only we can difcover what we are
able to be, and to bear. We certainly could not
fail of being Gainers, by adopting their corporal
Education ; neither does it feem as yet to have
been infallibly demonftrated, that we fhould be
great Lofers in commuting our moral Education
lor theirs.
CHAPTER.
* As fome may think an Apology necelTary for a Tranflation of
this Chapter on a Difeafe, which never, or very feldom, exifts in this
or the adjacent I Hand, I ihall obferve here, that, abrtrafted from
the Immorality of a narrow and local Solicitude only for ourielves,
we are politically interested as a Nation always in Trade, and of
ten at War (and whofe Subjects are extended into very diftant
and different Climates) to provide againit a fudden and acute Dif-
rempcr, to which our Armies, our Sailors and Colonies are cer
tainly often expofed. A Fatality from this Caufe.is not reftrain-
ed to our Iflands within the Tropic, where feveral Inftances of it
have occurred during the late War : but it has alfo been known to
prevail as far Northward as Penjylvania t in their Summers, and
even in their Harvefts. I once received a fenfib!e Scald on the
Back of my Thumb, from the Sun fuddenly darting out through a
clear Hole, as it were, in a Cloud, after a Ihort and impetuous
Shower in Summer; which Scald manifeftly bliftered within
i~ me Minutes after. Had this concentered Ray been darted on
my bare Head, the Confequence might have been rm.re danger
ous ; or peihaps as fatal as fome of the Cafes recorded by Dr.
Tisfor, in this Chapter, K.
Of the Rheumatiftti.
CHAPTER XI.
Of the Rheumatifm i
SECT. 163.
-{ E Rheumatifm may exifl either with
5 T S or without a Fever. The firfl of thefe
may be clailed among the Difeafes, of
which I have already treated) being an
Inflammation which is manifefled by a violent
Fever, preceded by Shivering, a fublequent Heat,
hard Pulfe, and a Head-ach. Sometimes indeed
an extraordinary Coldnefs, with general Uneafi-
nefs and Inquietude, exifts feveral Days before
the Fever is perceived. On the fecond or third
Day, and fometimes even on the firfl, the Pa
tient is feized with a violent Pain in fome Part of
his Body, but efpecially about the Joints, which
entirely prevents their Motion, and which is of
ten accompanied with Heat, Rednefs and a Swel
ling of the Part. The Knee is often the firfl
Part attacked, and fometimes both the Knees at
once. When the Pain is fixed, an Abatement
of the Fever frequently hap pens ; though in feme
other Perfons it continues for ieveral Days, and
increafes every Evening. The Pain diminimes
in one Part after a Duration of fome Days, and
then invades fome other. From the Knee it de-
M fcends
178 Of the
fccnis to the Fuot, or mounts to the Hip, to the
Loins, the Shoulder- blades, Elbow, Wrifr, the
Nape of the Neck, and frequently is felt in the
intermediate Parts. Sometimes one Part is quite
free from Iain, when another is attacked ; ?.t
other Times many Farts are leizecl nearly at the
lame Inilant ; and I have fofnetimes feen every
Joint orlliclcd at once. In this Cafe the Patient
is in a very terrible Situ-.iUun, bt:ing incapable of
any Motion, and even dreading the AiTiftance of
his Attendants, as he can fcarceJy admit of touch
ing, without a fenfible Aggravation of his Fain;.
He is unable to bear even the Weigh;: of the
Bed-cloths, which nmic be, as it were, arched
over his Limbs by a proper Contrivance, to pre-
Vent their Preflure : and the very walking acrofs
the Chamber increafes his Torments. The Parts
in which they are the moil: excruciating, and ob-
fHnat . e the Region of the Loins, the Hips,
and the Nape or hinder Part of the Neck.
164. This Difeafe is alfo often extended
over the Scalp and the Surface of the Head ; and
there the Pains are exceflive. I have feen them
affect the Eyelids and the Teeth with inexpref-
iible Torment. As long as the Diflemper is
fituated in the more external Parts, the Patient,
however painful his Situation may prove, is in no
great Danger, if he be properly treated : but if
by fome Accident, fome Error, or by any latent
Caufe, the Dileafe be repelled upon an internal
Part or Organ, his Cafe is extremely dangerous.
If the Brain is attacked, a frantic raffing Delirium
o o
Of the Rheumatifm. 179
is the Confequence ; if it falls upon the Lungs,
the Patient is fuffocated : and if it attacks the
Stomach or the Bowels, it is attended with the
moft aftonifhing Pains, which are caufc-d by the
Inflammation of thofe Parts, and which Inflamma
tion, if violent, is * fpeedily fatal. About two
Years fince I was called to a robuft Man, whofe
Guts were already in a gangrenous State, wl
was the Confequence of a Rheumatifm, that
firft attacked one Arm and one Knee ; the Cure
of which had been attempted by fweating the
Patient with fome hot Remedies. Thefe indeed
brought on a plentiful Sweat ; but the inflamma
tory Humour feized the Interlines, whole In
flammation degenerated into a Gangrene, after a
Duration of the moft acute Pain for thirtv-fix
.
Hours; his Torments terminating in Death two
Hours after I law him.
165. This Malady however is often in a lefs
violent Degree ; the Fever is but moderate, and
ceafes entirely when the Pain begins ; which is
alfo confined to one, or not more than two
Parts.
1 66. If the Difeafe continues fixed, for a
confiderable Time, in one Joint, the Mji:ion of
it is impaired for Life. I have leen a Perion,
who has now a wry Neck, of twenty Years (land
ing, in Confequence of a Rheumatifm in the
Nape of the Neck ; and I alfo fow a poor young
Man from yurat, who was Bed-ridden, and who
had left the Motion of one Hip and both Knees.
M 2 He
* See Note * to Page 59.
i8o Of the Rbcumatifm.
He could neither ftand nor fit, and there were
but a few Poftures in which he could even lie in
Bed.
167. An obftructed Perfpiration ; an inflam
matory Thicknefs of the Blood, constitute the
mod general Cauie of the Rheum atifm. This
lail concurring Cauie is that we mud immediate
ly encounter^ lince, as long as that iubfifts, Per-
ipiration cannot be perfectly re-edabliihed, which
follows of Courfe, when the Inflammation is
cured. For which Reafon this Diftemper muft
be conducted like the other inflammatory ones,
of which I have already treated.
1 68. As foon as it is fufficiently manifeft,
the Glyder N. 5, fhould be injeded; and twelve
Ounces of Blood be taken from the Arm an Hour
after. The Patient is to enter upon a Regimen,
and drink plentifully of the Ptifan N. 2, and of
Almond Milk or Emulfion N. 4. As this lad
.Medicine may be too codiy in Country Places
.for the poor Peasantry ; they may drink, in Lieu
of it, very clear Whey, fweetened with a little
Honey. I have known a very fevere Rheuma-
tifm cured, after twice bleeding, without any
other Food or Medicine, for the Space of thirteen
Days. The Whey alfo may be happily ufed by
Way of Glyder.
: 169. If the Diftemper is not coniiderably
affwaged by the fird Bleeding, it lliould be re
peated fome Hours after. 1 have ordered it four
Times within the firft two Days ; and fome
Days after I have even directed a fifth Bleeding.
But
Of tie Rhcumalifm. 1 S 1
But in general the Hardnefs of the Pulie becomes
kfs after the fecond : and notwithstanding the
Pains may continue as fevere as before, yet the
Patient is fenfible of lefs Inquietude. The Glyf-
ter mull be repeated every Day, and even twice
a Day, if each of them is attended only with a
fmall Difcharge ; and particularly if there be a
violent Head-ach. In fuch Gales as are excel-
lively painful, the Patient can fcarcely diipofe
himielf into a proper Attitude or Poflure to re
ceive Giyilers : and in fuch Circumftances his
Drinks mould be made as opening as poflibie ;
and a Dofe of the Cream of Tartar N. 24 mould
be given Night and Morning. This very Medi
cine, with the Afiiftance of Whey, cured two
Perlons I advifed it to, of rheumatic Pains, of
which they had been infefted with frequent Re
turns for many Years, and which were attended
with a fmall Fever.
Apples coddled, Prunes fcewed, and well ri
pened Summer Fruits are the propereft Noui Iili-
inent in this Difeafe.
We may fave the Sick a good deal of Pain,
by putting one ftrong Towel always under their
Back, and another under their Thighs, in order
o
to move them the more eafily. When their
Hands are without Pain, a third Towel hung
upon a Cord, which is fattened acrofs the Bed,
muft confiderably affift them in moving them-
fclves.
170. When the Fever entirely di&ppears,
and the Hardnefs of the Pulie is removed, I have
M 3 ordered
1 8 2 Of tie Rheumatijm.
ordered the Purge N. 23 with a very good Ef-
fed j and if it is attended with five or fix Moti
ons, the Patient is very fenfibly relieved. The
Day but one after it may be repeated fuccefs-
fulfy, and a third Time, after an Interval of a
greater Number of Days.
171. Whep, the Pains are extremely violent,
they admit of no Application : Vapour-Baths
however may be employed, and provided they
are often ufed, and for a confiderable Time, they
prove very efficacious. The Purpofe of thefe
Baths is only to convey the Steam of boiling Wa
ter to the Parts arleded ; which may always ea-
fily be effected, by a Variety of iimple and eafy
Contrivances ; the Choice of which muft depend
on the different Circumflances and Situation of
the Sick.
\Vhcncverit is pofljble, fome of the emollient
Applications N . 9, inould be continually em-
>yed. A half Bath, or an entire Bath of warm
Water, in which the Patient mould remain an
Hour, after fufficient Bleedings and many Glyi-
, affords the greateft Relief. I have feen a
Patient, under the moft acute Pains of the Loins,
of the Hips, and of one Knee, put into one. He
continued ftill under extreme Torment in the
Bath, and on being taken out of it : but an Hour
after he had been put to Bed, he fweated, to an
incredible Quantity, for thirty iix Hours, and
was cured. The Bath mould never be made uie
of, until after repeated Bleedings, or at leafl other
cqui-
Of tic Rheumatifm. 183
equivalent Evacuations : for otherwife timed, it
would aggravate the Difeafe.
oo
172. The Pains are generally moft fevere in
the Night ; whence it has been ufual to give
compofmg foporific Medicines. This however
has been very erroneous, as Opiates really aug
ment the Caufe of the Difeafe, and deftroy the
Efficacy of the proper Remedies : and, even not
leldom, far from ailwaging the Pains, they mere
them. Indeed they agree ib little in this Difeafe,
that even the Patient s natural Sleep at the In-
vaiion of this Complaint, is rather to his Detri
ment. They feel, the very Moment they arc
dropping alleep, fuch violent Jirks as awaken
them with f>reat Pain : or if they do ilcep a few
Minutes, the Pains are llroDger when they a-
wake.
173. The Rheumatifm goes off either by
Stool, by turbid thick Urine which drops a great
Proportion ofayellowifh Sediment, or by Sweats:
and it generally happens that this laft Difchai
prevails towards the Conclufion of the Dife
It may be kept up by drinking an Irtfufion of
Elder Flowers. At the Beginning; howcx :r
o ^
Sweating is pernicious.
174. It happens alfo, though but very fel-
domi that Rheumatifms determine by d ing
a (harp Humour upon the Legs; where it fLi
Veiications, or a kind of Bliilerings ; which buril
open and form Ulcers, that ought not to
healed and dried up too haftily ; as this wou.d
occalion a ipeedy Return of the rheumatic Pains,
M 4 They
i?4 Of the Rheumatifm.
They are difpofed to heal naturally of thernfelves,
by the Affi (lance of a temperate regular Diet,
and a few gentle Purges.
175. Sometimes again, an Abfcefs is formed
either in the affefted Part, or in fome neighbour
ing one. I have feen a Vineyard Dreffer, who
after violent Pains of the Loins, had an Abfcefs
in the upper Part of the Thigh, which he neg
lected for a long Time. When I faw him, it
was of a monftrous Size. I ordered it to be open
ed, when at once above three Pots of * Matter
rufhed out of it : but the Patient, being exhauft-
ed, died fome Time after it.
Another Crifis of the Rheumatifm has hap
pened by a kind of Itch, which breaks out upon
jll the Parts adjacent to the Seat of this Difeafe.
Immediately after this Eruption the Pains vaniih ;
but the Pudules fometimes continue for ieveral
Weeks.
176. I have never obferved the Pains to laft,
with confiderable Violence, above fourteen Days,
in this Species of the Rheumatifm ; though there
remains a Weaknefs, Numbnefs, and fome In
flation, or Puffing, of the adjoining Parts : and
it will alfo be many W eeks, and fometimes even
Months,
* This, according to our Author s Eftimation of the Pot-Mea-
fure at Berne, which is> that he always means, and which he fays
contains exactly (of Water we fuppoie) fifty one Ounces and a
Quarter (though without a material Error it may be computed
;it three Founds and a Quarter) will amount atleaft to nine Pounds
and three Quarters of Matter, fuppofing this no heavier than Wa
ter. By Meafure it will want but little of five of our Quarts : a
very extraordinary Difcharge indeed of Pus at once, and not un
likely to be attended by the Event which foon followed. K,
Of the Rheumatifm. 185
Months ; efpecially if the Diftemper attacked
them in the Fall, before the Sick recover their
ufual Strength. I have known fome Perfons.
o
who, after a very painful Rheumatilm, have been
troubled with a very ditagreeable Scnfation of
Latitude ; which did not go off till after a great
Eruption, all over the Body, of little Velkations
or Blifierings, full of a watery Humour ; many
of them burft open, and others withered and
clried up without burfiing.
1 77. The Return of Strength into the Parts
affected may be promoted by Frictions Night and
Morning, with Flannel or any other woollen
Stuff; by ufing Exercife j and by conforming
exactly to the Directions given in the Chapter on
ponvalefcence, or Recovery from acute Difeafes.
The Rheumatifm may alib be prevented by the
Means I have pointed out, in treating of Pleuri-
fies and Quiniies.
178. Sometimes the Rheumatifm, with a
Fever, invades Perfons who arc not fo fanguine,
or abounding in Blood ; or whofe Blood is not fo
much difpoied to Inflammation ; thofe whofe
Flefh and Fibres are fofter ; and in whofe Hu
mours there is more Thinnefs and Sharpnefs,
than Viicidity and Thicknefs. Bleeding proves
Jefs necefiary for Perfons fo conftituted, notwith-
{randing the Fever fhouk! be very flrong. Some
Conftitutions require more Difcharges by Stool ;
and after they are properly evacuated, fome Blif-
ters mould be applied, which often afford them
a feniible Relief as foon as ever thev begin to
* c 1
operate -,
io Of the Rheumatism;
operate. Neverthelefs they mould never be ufed
where the Pulfe is hard. The Powder N. 25
anfwers very well in thefe Cafes,
179. There is another Kind of Rheum atifm,
called chronical, or lading. It is known by the
following Characters or Marks, i. It is com
monly unattended with a Fever. 2. It continues
a very long Time. 3. It feldom attacks fo many
Parts at once as the former. 4. Frequently no
v.iiible Alteration apppears in the affected Part,
which is neither more hot, red, or (welled than
in its healthy State j though fomctimes one or
other of theie Symptoms is evident. 5. The v
mer, the inflammatory, Rheumatifm allaults
Itron^, vip-orous, robuft Peribns : but tiiis rather
O O
invades People arrived at a certain Period of Life,
or fuch as are weak and languishing.
1 80. The Pain of the chronical Rheuma
tifm, when left to itfe .f, or injudicioufly treated,
lafls fometimes many Months, and even Years.
It is particularly nnd extremely obftinate, v. hen it
is exerted on the Head, the Loins, or on the Hip,
and alon the Thighs, when it is called the Set-
o o
atica. There is no Part indeed which this Pain
may not invade ; fometimes it fixes itfelf in a
fmall Spot, as in one Corner of the Plead j the
Angle of the Jaw ; the Extremity of a Finger;
in one Knee ; on one Rib, or on the Bread,
where it often excites Pains, which make the Pa
tient apprehenfive of a Cancer. It penetrates
alfo to the internal Parts. When it affects the
Lungs, a moil obftinate Cough is the Confe-
quence;
Of the Rhcumatifn.
quencej which degenerates at length into very
dangerous Diforders of the Breaft. In the Sto
mach and Bowels it excites moft violent Pains
like a Cholic ; and in the Bladder, Symptoms fo
greatly refembling thofe of the Stone, that Per-
ions, who are neither deficient in Knowlege nor
Experience, have been more than once deceived
by them.
1 8 1 . The Treatment of this chronical Rheu-
matifm does not vary confiderably from that of
the former. Neverthelefs, in the firft Place, if
the Pain is very acute, and the Patient robuft, a
ilngle Bleeding at the Onfet is very proper and
efficacious. 2. The Humours ought to be diluted,
ami their Acrimony orSharpnefs mould be dimi-
niihed, by a very plentiful Ufe of a Ptifan of ( a )
Burdock Roots N. 26. 3. Four or five Days after
drinking abundantly of this, the purging ( h )
Powder
( a ) Haifa Pint of a pretty flrong Infufion of the Leaves of
Buckbenn, which grows wild here, taken once a Day rather
re Noon, has alfo been found very ferviceable in that
Species of a chronical Rheuniatifrr, which confiderably refults
from a fcorbutic State of trie Constitution. K.
( b ) Another very good Purge, in this Kind of Rheumatifm,
may alfo be compounded of the bell Gum Guiacum in Powder
from 50 to 40 Grains ; diflblved in a httie Yolk of a frefh Egg ;
adding from 6 to 10 Grains of Jallap powdered, and from ^ to
5 Grains of powdered Ginger, with as much plain or forfeit
Water, as will make a purging Draught fora itronger or weaker
grown Patient. Should the Pains frequently infeft the Sto
mach, while the Patient continues coftive, and there is no
other Fever than fuch a fmall fymptoniatic one, as may arife
folely from Pain, he may fafely take, if grown up, from 30 to
>rops of the volatile Tincture of Gum Guiacum, in any
diluting Infufion, that may not coagulate or feparate the Gum.
It generally difpofes at firft to a gentle Diap :c,rejts or Sweat,
feveral Hours after to one, and loin crimes to a fccond
Stool, with little or no Griping. A .
1 88 Of the Rheumatifm.
Powder N. 2 1 may be taken with Succefs. In
this Species of the Rheumatifm, a certain Medi
cine is fometimes found ferviceable. This has
acquired fome Reputation, particularly in the
Country, where they bring it from, Geneva - y under
the Title of the Opiate for the Rheumatifm, tho
I cannot fay for what Reafon ; as it is indeed
neither more nor lefs than the Electuary Caryo-,
cojlinum^ which may be procured at our Apothe
caries. I mail obierve however, that this Medi
cine has done Mifchief in the inflammatory
Rheumatifm, and even in this, as often as the
Perions afflicted with it are feeble, thin and of
a hot Temperament ; and either when they have
not previoufly taken diluting Drinks, or when it
has been ufed too long. For, in iuch a Circum-
ftance, it is apt to throw the Patient into an ir
recoverable Weaknefs. The Compofition con-
fills of the hotteii Spices, and of very fharp Pur
gatives.
182. When general Remedies have been
ufed, and the Diiorder dill continues, Recourie
mould be had to fuch Medicines, as are available
to reflore Perfpiration ; and thefe mould be per-
iifted in for a considerable Time. The Pills N.
j 8, with a ftrong Infulion of Elder Flowers, have
often fucceeded in this Refpecl : and then after
a long Continuance of diluting Drinks, if the
Fever is entirely fubdued; if the Stomach exerts
its Functions well - y the Patient is no ways cof-
tive ; if he is not of a dry Habit of Body ; and
the Part afTecled remains without Inflammation,
the
Of the Rheiimatij m. 189
the Patient may fafely take the Powder No. 29,
at Night going to Bed, with a Cup or two of an
Infufion of Lardttits benedifltts, or the bleffed
Thiftle, and a Morfel of Venice Treacle of the*
Size of a Hazel Nut, or a Filberd. This Re
medy brings on a very copious Sweating, which
often expells the ( a ; Difeafe. Thefe Sweats may
be rendered mil more effectual, by wrapping up
the affected Part in a Flanel dipt in the Decoc
tion N. 27.
183. But of all thefe Pains, the Sciatica is
one of the mod: tedious and obftinate. Never-
thelefs I have feen the greatefl Success, from the
Application of feven or eight Cupping-GiaiTes
on the tormented Part ; by which, without the
Ailifbnce of any other Remedy, I have cured,
in a few Hours, Sciaticas of many Years ftand-
ing, which had baffled other Remedies. Blif-
ters, or any fuch Simulating Plaifters, as bring
on a Suppuration and Dilcharge from the afflicted
Part, contribute alib frequently to the Cure ; tho
lefs effectually than Cupping, which mould be
repeated ieveral Times. Green Cere-cloth, com
monly called Oil-cloth, (whether the Ingredients
be fpread on Taffety or on Linen being applied to
the difeafed Part, clifpofes it to fweat abundantly,
and thus to difcharge the fharp Humour which
occafions the Pain. Sometimes both of thefe
Appli-
( a ) Gum Guaiacum, given from fiv to ten Grains Morning
and Night, is often very fuccefsfi.il in thefe Cafes. It may be n
into Pills or CoJuiles wich c!u Rob of Elder, or vvirh cJis .\-;rait
oi Juniper. E. L.
196 Of the Rheumatif,
Applications, but efpecially that fpread on Silk
(which may be applied more exactly and clofely
to the Part, and which is alfo ipread with a dif
ferent Compofition) raife a little Vefication on
the Part as Blifters do. A Plainer of Quicklime
and Honey blended together has cured invete
rate Sciaticas. Oil of Eggs has fometimes fuc-
ceeded in fuch Cafes. A Seton has alio been fuc-
cefsfully made in the lower Part of the Thigh.
Finally feme Pains, which have not yielded to any of
thefe Applications, have been cured by actual burn
ing, inflicted on the very Spot, where the moft
violent Pain has been felt 5 except feme particular
Reafon, drawn from an anatomical Knowlege
of the Part, ihould determine the Surgeon not to
apply it there. The Scull or Head mould never
be cauterized with a burning Iron.
1 84. The hot Baths of Bourboft> Plombiers,
Aix-ta-Ckapelk and many others are often very
efficacious in thefe chronical Pains : notwith-
ftanding I really think, there is no rheumatic
Pain that may not be cured without them. The
common People fubftitute to thefe a Bath made
of the Hufk of Grapes, after their Juice is ex-
prefled, which cures fome by making them fweat
abundantly. Cold Baths however are the bell to
keep off this Difeafe j but then they cannot al
ways be fafely ventured on. Many Circum-
ftances render the Ufe of them impracticable to
particular Perfons. Such as are fubject to this
chronical Rheumatifm, would do very well to
rub their whole Bodies every Morning if they
ij
COUld,
Of tie Rhewnatifm. 1 9 1
could, but especially the affli&ed Parts, with
,ic . This Habit keeps up Perfpkation beyond
any ether Atliftance ; and indeed ibmetimes even
incivaies it too much* It would be Serviceable
too, if fuch Subjects of this cruel Difeale wore
Fianel all ov~r t: i, during the Wint.
^?
After a violent Rheumatifm, People mpuld
long be car :o avoid that cold and n, iir,
which dirj i hem to relaplc.
181;. Rheumatic People have too frequent a
Recourie to v.ery improper and hurtful Medi
cines, in this Diftemper, which daily produce very
badConfequences. Such are jpirituousM- ics,
Brandy, and Arqu-bufade \Vater. They either
render the Pain more obftinate and iixed, by
hardening the Skin ; or they repell the JItinv
to iome inward Part. And Inftances are not wr.
ing of Perfons who have iucldenly, from
Application of Spirit oi Wine upon the P; !vat
\vere violently aiilicled with the Rheumatifm. It
alto happens fometimes that the Humour, hav
ing no Outlet through the Skin, is thrown inter
nally on the Bone and affects it. A very iingu-
lar Facl occurred in this Refpedt, an Account of
which may be ferviceable to fome Per Jons afflic
ted with the Difeale. A Woman at Ni as
chaffing the Arm of her Huiband, wiio ii^d tl:c
Rheumatifm there, with Spirit of Wine; when
a very lucky Accident prevented the Machicf {he
might have occafioned by it. The Spirit of Wine
took Fire from the Flame of the Candle ihe.mj.de
ufe of, and burned the diicaied Part. It was
dreft
192 Of the Rhewnatifm.
dreft of Courfe, arid the Suppuration that attend
ed it, entirely cured the Rheumatifm.
Sharp and greafy Unclions or Ointments pro
duce very bad Effects, and are equally danger
ous. A Caries, a Rottenncfs of the Bones, has
enfued upon the Ufe of a Medicine called. The
Balfam of Sulphur with Turpentine. I was con-
fulted in 1750, three Days before her Deceafe,
about a Woman, who had long endured acute
rheumatic Pains. She had taken various Medi
cines, and, among the reft, a conliderable Quari-
C^ ^^
tity of a Ptifan, in which Antimony was blended
with fome purging Medicines, and a grealy fpi-
rituous Balfam had been rubbed into the Part.
The Fever, the Pains, and the Drynefs of the
Skin foon incrcafed ; the Bones of the Thighs and
Arms became carious : and in moving the Pa-
O
tient no more than was neceflary for her Relief
and Convenience, without taking her gut of her
Bed, both Thighs and one Arm broke. So
dreadful an Example mould make People cau
tious of giving or applying Medicines inconfide-
rately, even in fuch Difeafes, as appear but tri
fling in themfelves. I mufl alfo inform the Rea-
o
ders, there are fome rheumatic Pains, which ad
mit of no Application ; and that almoft every
Medicine aggravates them. In fuch Cafes the af-
oo
flidled muft content themfelves with keeping the
Parts affected from the Impreflions of the Air, by
a Flanel, or the Skin of fome Animal with the
Fur on.
It
Of the Rbcumatifw. 193
It is alfo more advisable fbmetimes to leave a
fufferable and inveterate Pain to itfejf, efpecially
iri old or weakly People, than to employ too
many Medicines, or fuch violent ones, as ihould
afFedt them more importantly than the Pains
did.
1 86. If the Duration of the Pains fixed in
the fame Place, fhould caufe fome Degree of
Stiffnefs in the Joint affected, it fhould be ex-
pofed twice a Day to the Vapour of warm Wa
ter, and dried well afterwards with hot Linen :
then it fhould be well chaffed, and laftiy touch
ed over with Ointment of Mar fl> mallows. Pump
ing, if fuperadded to this Vapour, considerably
increafes its Efficacy. I directed, for a Cafe of this
Sort, a very fimple Machine of white Tin, or
Lattin, which combined the Application of the
Steam and the Pump.
187. Very young Children are fometimes
fubje6t to fuch violent and extended Pains, that
they cannot bear touching in any Part, without
exceflive Crying. We mufl be careful tc avoid
miftaking thefe Cafes, and not to treat than like
Rheumatifms. They fometimes are owing to
Worms, and go off when thefe have been dif-
charged.
CHAPTER
1 94 Of tke Bite of a mad Dog.
CHAPTER XII.
Of tbe Bite cf a mad Dcg.
SECT. 188.
E N mr.y contract the particular and
M < gi n g Symptom, which is very gene-
" rally peculiar to this Difeafe from this
^ " r 1 TV i
Caule, and even without any Bite j but
this happens \ ei y rarely indeed. It is properly a Dif-
temper belonging to the canine Genus, confiding
of the three Species of Dogs, Wolves, and Foxes,
to whom only it feems inherent and natural ;
fcarcely ever arifing in other Animals, without
its beii;g inflicted by them. Whenever there oc
curs one cf them who breeds it, he bites others,
and thus the Poifon, the Caule of this terrible
Difeaie, is diffuied. Other Animals bcfides the
canine Species, and Men themfelves being ex-
poled to this Accident, do fometimes contract
the Difeafe in all its Rage and Horror : though it
n. t to be fuppofed, that this is always an un-
Confequence.
1^9. If a Dog who ufed to be lively and ac
tive, becomes all at once moapifh and morofe j if he
b*s an Averfion to eat^ a particular and unufual
Look about his Eyes ; a Reftleisnefs, which ap
pears from his continually running to and fro, \ve
may
Of the Bite of a mad Dog. 195
may be apprehenfive he is likely to prove mad ;
at which very Inftant he ought to be tied up fe-
curely, that it may be in our Power todeftroy him
as fbon as the Diftetiiper is evident. Perhaps
it might be even flill fafer to kill him at once.
Whenever the Malady is certain, the Symp
toms heighten pretty foon. His Averiion to Food,
but efpecially to Drink, grows flronger. He no
longer feems to know his Mafter, the Sound of
his Voice changes ; he fti tiers no Perlba to handle
or approach him ; and bites thofe who attempt it.
He quits his ordinary Habitation, marching on
with his Head and his Tail hanging downwards j
his Tongue lolling hait out, and covered with
Foam or Slaver, which indeed not tcldom hao-
s
pens indifferently to all Dogs. Other Dogs Icent
him, not ieldom at a contiderable Diilance,
and fly him with an Air or" Horror, which
is a certain Indication of his Dueafe. Sometimes
he contents himicif with biting only thole who
happen to be near him : while at other Times
becoming more enraged, he fprings to the rhjht
and left on all Men and Animals about him.
He hurries away with manifeft Dread from what
ever Waters occur to him: at length he falls
down as fpent and exhausted ; fbmetimcs he riles
up again, and drags himfelf on for a little
Time, commonly dying the third, or, at the
lateft, on the fourth Day after the manifeft Ap
pearance of the Difeafe, and fornctimes even.
iboner.
N 2 190-
196 Of tie Bite of a mad Dog.
190. When a Peribn is bit by fuch a Dog,
the Wound commonly heals up as readily, as if
it was not in the lead poifonous : but after the
Expiration of a longer or (hotter Term, from
three Weeks to three Months \ but mod com
monly in about fix Weeks, the Peribn bitten be
gins to perceive, in the Spot that was bit, a cer
tain dull pbtufe Pain. The Scar of it fwells, in
flames, burils open, and weeps out a fharp, fo>
tid, and fanious, or fomewhat bloody Humour.
At the fame Time the Patient becomes fad and
melancholy : he feels a kind of Indifference,
Infenfibility, and general Numbnefs ; an almoii
inceflant Coldnefs ; a Difficulty of breathing ; a
continual Anguifh, and Pains in his Bo\v\
His Puile is weak and irregular, his Sleep reillefs,
turbid, and confufed with Ravings ; with flart-
ing up in Surprize, and with terrible Frights.
His Difcharges by Stool are often much altered
and irregular, and fmall cold Sweats appear at
very fliort Intervals. Sometimes there is alfo a
flight Pain or Uneafmefs in the Throat. Such is
the fun: Degree of this Difeaib, and it is called
by fome Phyficians the dumb Rage, or Mad-
nefs.
191. Its fecond Degree, the confirmed or
downright Madnefs, is attended with the follow
ing Symptoms. The Patient is afftidted with a
violent Thirft, and a Pain in drinking. Socn
after this he avoids all Drink, but particularly
Water, and within fome Hours after, he even
abhors it. This Horror becomes fo violent, that
the
Of the Bite of a mad Dog. 1 97
the bringing Water near his Lips, or into his
Sight, the very Name of it, or of any other Drink ;
the Sight of Objects, which, from their Tranfpa-
rence, have any Refemblance of Water, as a
Looking Glafs, &c. afflicts him with extreme
Aneuim, and fometimes even with Convulfions.
o
They continue however flill to fwallow (though
^ C?
not without violent Difficulty) a little Meat or
Bread, and fometimes a little Soup. Some ev^n
get down the liquid Medicines that are prefcribed
them, pro.ided there be no Appearance of Water
in them -, or that Water is not mentioned to them,
at the lame Time. Their Urine becomes thick and
high-col ottred, and fometimes there is aSuppreffion
or Stoppage of it. The Voice either grows hoarfe,
or is almofl entirely aboliflied : but the Reports
of the bitten barking like Dogs, are ridiculous
and fuperftittous Fictions, void of any Foundati
on ; as well as many other Fable-, that have been
blended with the Hiftory of this Difternper. The
Barking of Dogs however is very disagreeable to
them. They are troubled with fhort Deliriums
cr Ravines, which are fometimes mixed with
O
Fury. It b at fuch times that they fpit ail around
them ; that they attempt alfo to bite, and fome
times unhappily effect it. Their Looks are fix
ed, as it were, and fojnewhat furious, and tl.
Vifage frequently red. It is pretty common fur
thefe miferable Patients to be leniible of the Ap
proach of their raging Fit, and to conjure the By-
{landers to be upon t^eir Guard. Many ci th
never have an Inclination to bite. The increa-
N 3 fing
198 Of the Bite of a mad Dog.
{ing Anguim and Pain they feel become inex-
preiTihle : they earneftly wifh for Death ; and
ibme of them have even deftroyed themfelves,
when they had the Means of effecting it.
192. It is with the Spittle, and the Spittle
only, that this dreadful Poifon unites itfelf. And
here it may be obfened, i, That if the Wounds
have been made through any of the Patient s
Cloaths, they are lefs dangerous than thofe in
flicted immediately on the naked Skin. 2, That
Animals who abound in Wool, or have very
thick Hair, are often preferved from the mortal
Impreffion of the Poifon ; becaufe in thefe vari
ous Circumftances, the Cloaths, the Hair, or the
Wool have wiped, or even dried up, the Slaver
of their Teeth. 3. The Bites inflicted by an in-
jfcctcd Animal, very foon after he has bitten
many others, are lefs dangerous than the former
Bites, becaufe their Slaver is leflened or exhauft-
cd. 4, If the Bite happens in the Face, or in
the Neck, the Danger is greater, and the Opera
tion of the Venom is quicker too -, by Reafon the
Spittle of the Peribn fo bit is fooner infected. 5,
The higher the Degree of the Difeafe is advan
ced, the Bites become proportionably more dan
gerous. From what I have jufl mentioned here
it may be difcerned, why, of many who have
been bitten by the fame Sufferer, iome have been
infected with this dreadful Difeafe, and others
not.
193. A great Number of Remedies have
been highly cried up, as famous in the Cure of
this
Of the Bite of a mad Dog. 1 99
this Difeafe; and, in SwiJJcrland \ articularly, the
Root of the Eglantine or wild Role, gathered .it
fome particular times, under tue tavoiuble Af-
peels of the Moon, and dried with ibme extraot-
dinary^RT -Cjjutions. There is alib the Pow ! r
of Pdiifmfer^di calcined Egg Shells, that oi ho
Lichen terreftri$i or Ground Liverwort, with one
third Part of Pepper, a Remedy long celebrated
in England; Powder of Oyftcr-Shells; of Ver
vain , bathing in Salt Water ; St. Hubert s Key,
&c. &c. But the Death of a Multitude of th
who have been bitten, notwithstanding tncir ta
king the greatell Part of all thefe boaftcd Anti
dotes j and the Certainty of no oneV
,
who had been attacked with the hip-h raei
O O c "*
Symptom, the Hydrophobia^ have demonftrate
the Jn efficacy of them all, to all E-. It is
incpnteftable that to the Year 1730, not a fmg e
Patient efcaped, in whom the Difeafe was indi -
putably maniieft ; and that every Medicine ^h* a
employed againft it was uiel icn Medi
cines had been given before the great oym^r a
appeared, in fome of thole who ^uok them, it
ter wards appeared, in others not. The i
ferent Events occurred aLo to other- who \, c
bitten, and who took not the Icaft M, -ej fo
that upon the whole, beiore mat Dire, no
cine feemed to be of any Co; .nee.
that Time, we have had the HappinelL u; b: m-
formed of a certain Remedy, which is Me -\y,
joined to a few others.
N 4 -94*
/ t t <
200 Of the Bite of a mad Dog.
1 94. In fhort there is a Necefllty for defhoy-
ing or expelling the Poifon itfelf, which Mercury
effedls, and is ccnfequently the Counter-poifon of
it. That Poifon produces a general Irritation of
the Nerves ; this is to be removed or aiTwaged
by Antifpafmodics : fo that in Mercury, or
Qiiickfilver, joined to Antifpafmodics, coniiils
the whole that is indicated in the Cure of this
Difeaie. There really have been many Inftan-
ces of Perfons cured by thefe Medicines, in whom
the Diflcmpei had been manifeft in its Rage and
Violence; and as many as have unfortunately re-
ceived the C anie of it in a Bite, fhould be firmly
perfuaded, that in taking thefe Medicines, and
uling all other proper Precautions, they {hall be
er/ iecured from all its ill Confequences.
Th ); .- aifo in whom the Pvage and Fury of this
Diflemper is tnanifeft, ought to uie the fame
Medicines, with entire * Hope and Confidence,
which may juftly be founded on the many Cures
effected by them. It is acknowledged however,
that they have proved ineffectual in a few Cafes ;
but what Dileafe is there, which does not fome-
times prove incurable ?
195-
* This AJ"ice is truly prudent and judicious ; Hope, as I have
obferved on a different Occafiori, being a powerful, though im
palpable, Cordial : and ,n fuch perilous Situations, we fhould ex
cite the moil aore^able Expectations we poffibly can in the Pati
ent ; that Nature, being undeprefled by any defpondirg melan
choly I.T.^S, may exert her Functions the more firmly, and co-ope-
: eiTediuaily with the Medicines, againft her internal Enemy.
Of tbc Bite of a mad Dog. 201
195. The very Moment after receiving the
Bite, if it happens to be in the Flefli, and if it
can fafely be effected, all the Part affected (liould
be cut -f away. The Ancients directed it to be
cauterized, or burnt with a red hot Iron (meer
Scarification being of very little Effect) and this
Method would very probably prove effectual. It
requires more Resolution, however, than every
Patient is endued with. The Wound mould be
warned and cleanfed a considerable Time with
warm Water, with a little Sea-Salt diffolved in it.
After this into the Lips and Edges of the Wound,
and into the Surface of the Part all about it,
fhould
t I knew a brave worthy Gentleman abroad, who above forty
Years pait thus preferved his Life, after receiving; the Pite of a
large Rattle-Snake, by refoliKely curting it and the Flefh fur-
rounding it cut, with a m.irp pointed Penknife. Perhaps thofe
who would not fuffcr the Application of the aftual Cautery, that
is, of a red hot Iron (winch certainly promi .o well for a Cure)
might be per!u;:ded to admit of" a potential Cautery, where the
Bite was inflicted on a flelhy Part. Though even this is far from
being unpainful, yet the Pain coming on more gradually, is lefs
terrifying and horrid. And when ii had been applied quickly
after, and upon the Bite, and kept on for 3 or 4 Hours, the Dif-
chur. e, after cutting the Ejchar, would fooner er.fue, and in more
Abundance, than that from the aclual Cautery ; the only Prefer
ence of which kerns to confilt in its being capable perhaps of ab-
foibing, or otherwife conluming, all thepoilonous Saliva at once.
This Ili ue mouid be drefied afterwards according to our Author s
Direclion ; and in the gradual healing of the Ulcer, it may be
properly deterged by adding a little Precipitate to the Digeftive.
;u!d this interfere with the Exhibition of the fonquin
Powder N. 30, nor the antifpaimodic Bolus^ . 31, if they mould
be judged necelTary. And thefe perhaps might prove the moil
certain Means of preventing the mortal Effects of this Angular
animal Poifon, which it is fo impoftible to analyze, and fo ex
treme]} difficult to furm any material Idea of; but which is not
the Cafe of fome other Poifons. A .
202 Of the Bite of a mad Dog.
iLould be rubbed a Quarter of an Ounce of the
Ointment N. 28 ; and the Wound mould be
drefTed twice daily, with the foft lenient Oint
ment N 8 . 29, to promote Suppuration ; but that
of N. 28 is to be ufed only once a Day.
In point of Regimen, the Quantity of Nourifh-
ment fhould be lefs than ufual, particularly in the
Article of * Flefli : he fhould abftain from Wine,
fpirituous Liquors, all Sorts of Spices and hot in
flaming Food. He mould drink only Barley-
Water, or an Infufion of the Flowers of the
Lime-tree. He mould be guarded againil Coi-
tivenefs by a foft relaxing Diet, or by Glyfters,
and bathe his Legs once a Day in warm Water.
Every third Day one Dofeof the Medicine N. 30
fhould be taken ; which is compounded of Mer
cury, that counterworks the Poifon, and of Mulk
which prevents the Spafms, or convulsive Moti
ons. I confefs at the lame Time that I have lefs
Dependance on the Mercury given in this Form,
and think the rubbinp- in of its Ointment conii-
O
derably more efficacious, which I fhould hope
may
* It feems not amifs to try the Effecls of a fotely vegetable
Diet (and that perhaps confifting more of the accfcent than alca-
Jefcent Herbs and Roots) in this Dileaie, commencing immedi
ately from the Bite of a known mad Cog. Thefe carnivorous
Animals, who naturally rejuft all vegetable Food, are the only
primary Harbingers or Breeders of it ; though they are capable
of tranfmitting it by a Bite to graminivorous and granivorous
ones. The Virtue of Vinegar in this Difeafe, {aid to have been
accidentally difcovered on the Continent, feems not to have been
hitherto experienced amongil: us ; yet in Cafe of fuch a morbid
Accident it may require a Tryal ; tho not fo far, as to occafien
the Omiffion of more certainly experienced Remedies, with fome
of which it might be improper. K.
Of the Bite of a mad Dog. 203
rnay always prevent the Fatality of this dreadful,
fur prizing Difeafe. ( a )
196. If the raging Symptom, the Dread of
Water, has already appeared, and the Patient is
flrong, and abounds with Blood, he ihould, i, be
bled to a confiderable Quantity, and this may be
repeated twice, thrice, or even a fourth Time, if
Circumftances require it.
2, The Patient fhould be put, if pofllble, into
a warm Bath; and this fhould be ufed twice
daily.
3, He mould every Day receive two, or even
three of the emollient Glyftcrs N. 5.
4, The Wound and the Parts adjoining to it
fhould be rubbed with the Ointment N. 28,
twice a Day.
5, The whole Limb which contains the Wound
fhould be rubbed with Oil, and be wrapped up
in an oily Flanel.
6, Every
( a ) The great Ufefulncfs of mercurial Friftions, we may even
fay, the certain Security which they procure for the Patients, in
thefe Cafes, provided they are applied very foon after the Bite,
have been demonftrated by their Succefs in Provence, at Lyons, at
pettier, at Pond. cherry, and in many other Places Neither
have thefc happy Events been invalidated by any Obfervations or
Inftances to the contrary. It cannot therefore be too ftrongly in
culcated to thole who have been bitten by venomous Animals, to
comply with the Ufe of them. They ought to be ufed in fuch a
Quantity, and after fuch a Manner, as to excite a moderate Sali
vation, for fifteen, twenty, or even thirty Days. E. L. Though
thib Practice may juttly be purfued from great Caution, when no
Cautery had been fpecdily applied to, and no fuch Difcharge had
been >btamed frnm, the bitten Pa<t; yet wherever it had, this
l"ng and depreflmg Salivation, I conceive, would be very feldom
neceffary ; and might be hurtful to weak Confutations. K.
04 Of the Bite of a me d Dog.
6, Every three Hours a Dofe of the Powder
N. 30, mould be taken in a Cup of the Infu-
fion of Lime-tree and Elder Flowers.
7, The Prefcription N. 31, is to be given
every Night, and to be repeated in the Morning,
if the Patient is not eafy, warning it down with
the fame Infufion.
8, If there be a great Naufeoufnefs at Stomach,
with a Bitternefs in the Mouth, give the Powder
N. 35, which brings up a copious Difcharge of
glevvy and bilious Humours.
9, There is very little Occafion to fay any thing
relating to the Patient s Food, in iuch a Situation.
Should he aik for any, he may be allowed Pa
nada, light Soup, Bread, Soups made of farina
ceous or mealy Vegetables, or a little Miik.
197. By the Ufe of thefe Remedies the
Symptoms will be obferved to lef en, and to dif-
appear by Degrees; and finally Health will be
re-eft-ublimed. But if the Patient mould long
continue weak, and fubjedt to Terrors, he may
take a Dofe of the Powder K. 14, thrice a
Day.
198. It is certain that a Boy, in whom the
raging Symptom of this Difeafe had juft ap
peared, was perfectly cured, by bathing all about
the wounded Part with Sallad-Oil, in which
fome Camphire and Opium were diiTo-ved ; with
the Addition of repeated Frictions of the Oint
ment N. 28, and making him take fome Enu de
luce with a little Wine. This Medicine, a Cof
fee-Cup of which may be given every four Hours,
allayed
Of the Bite of a mad Dog. 20;
allayed the great Inquietude and Agitation of the
Patient; and brought on a very plentiful Sweat,
on which all the Symptoms vanilhed.
199. Dogs may be cured by rubbing in a
triple Quantity of the fame Ointment directed for
Men, and by giving them the Bolus N. 33. But
both theie Meuis fhould be uied as loon as ever
they are bit. When the great Symptom is mani-
fcft, thv iuld be too much Danger in attempt
ing to apply one, or to give the other ; and they
fhould be immediately killed. It might be well
however to try if they would fwallow down the
Bolus, on its being thrown to them.
As foon as ever Dogs are bit, they fhoukl be
fafely tied up, and not let looie again, before
the Expiration of three or four Months.
200. A fali e and dangerous Prejudice has
prevailed with Regard to the Bites from Di
and it is this Tint if a Dog who had bit any
Perfon, without being mad at the Time of his
biting, fliould become mad afterwards, the Per
fon lo formerly bitten, would prove mad too at
the fame Time. Such a Notion is full as abfurd,
as it would be to affirm, that if two Perfons had
llept in the fame Bed, and that one of them
mould take the Itch, the Small-Pocks, or any
other contagious Difeafe, ten or twe vc Years af
terwards, that the other fhou. d aifo be infected
with that he took, and at the lame Time to >.
Of two Circvim (lances, whenever a Perfon is
bit, one muft certainly be. Either the Dog which
gives the Bite, is about to be mad himielf, in
which
206 Of t foe Bite of a mad Dog.
which Cafe this would be evident in a few Days;
and then it muft be faid the Perfon was bitten by
a mad Dog : Or elfe, that the Dog was abfolute-
ly found, having neither conceived, or bred in
himfelf, nor received from without the Caufe,
the Principle, of Madncfs : in which lafl Cafe I
afk any Man in his Senfes, if he could commu
nicate it. No Perfon, no Thing imparts what
it has not. This falfe and crude Notion ex
cites thofe who are pofleffed with it to a danger
ous Adlion : they exercife that Liberty the Laws
unhappily allow them of killing the Dog by
which Means they are left uncertain of his State,
and of their own Chance. This is a dreadful
Uncertainty, and may be attended with embar-
raffing and troublefome Confequences, inde-
pendant of the Poifon itfelf. The reafonable
Conduct would be to fecure and obferve the Dog
very clofely, in Order to know certainly whether
he is, or is not, mad.
201. It is no longer necelTary to reprefent
the Horror, the Barbarity and Guilt of that cruel
Praclice, which prevailed, not very long fmce, of
fuffocating Perfons in the Height of this Difeafe,
with the Bed-cloaths, or between Matrafles. It
is now prohibited in moft Countries ; and doubt-
lefs will be punimed, or, at leaft ought to be,
even in thofe where as yet it is not.
Another Cruelty, of which we hone to fee no
repeated Infhnce, is that of abandoning thofe
miferable Patients to themfelves, without the
leafl Refource or AfMance: a moil deferable
Cuftom
Of the Bite of a mad Dog. 207
Cuftom even in thofe Times, when there was
not the lead Hope of faving them; and dill more
criminal in our Days, when they may be reco
vered effectually. 1 do again affirm, that it is
not very often thefe afflicted Patients are dif-
pofed to bite ; and that even when they are,
they are afraid of doing it -, and requed the By-
danders to keep out of their Reach : So that no
Danger is incurred ; or where there is any, it
may eaiily be avoided by a few Precautions.
HAPTER XIII.
Of the Small-Pocks.
SECT. 202.
Small-Pocks is the mod frequent,
T the mod extenfive of all Difeafcs j fince
out ^ a burred Perlbns there are not
more than * four or five exempted from
it. It is equally true however, that if it attacks al-
mod every Perfon, it attacks them but once, fa
that having efcaped through it, they are always
fee ure
* As far as the Number of inoculated Perfons, who remained
entirely uninfeclcd (fome very few after a fecond Inoculation) has
enabled me, I have calculated the Proportion naturally exempted
from this Dileafe, though relidmg within the Influence ol it> to
be full 25 in 1000. See Analylis of inoculation, Ed. 2d. P. 157.
Note *. A .
208 Of the Small-Pocks.
fecure from (a) it. It muft be acknowleged, at
the fame Time, to be one of the moft deftruc-
tive DHeafes ; for if in fome Years or Seafons, it
proves to be of a very mild and gentle Sort, in
others it is almofl: as fatal as the Plague : it being
demonftrated, by calculating the Confeqnencesof
its moft raging, and its gentieft Prevalence, that
it kills one feventh of the Number it attacks.
203. People generally take the Small-Pocks
in their Infancy, or in their Childhood. It is
very feldorn known to attack only one Perfon in
one Place : its Invafions being very generally epi
demical, and feizing a large Proportion of thole
who
( a ) It has fomctimes been obfjrved (and the Obfervation has
been fuch, as not to be doubted) t l iat a very mild diftinct Small-
Pocks has fometimes invaded the fame Perfon twice : But fuch Jn-
ftanccs are fo very rare, that we may very generally affirm, thofe
who have once had it, will never have it again. E. L. In
Deference to a few particular Authorities, I hare a!fo fup-
pofed fuch a repeated Infection, (Analyfis of Inoculation, Ed.
2d. P. 45.) though I have really never feen any fuch my-
felf; nor ever heard more than two Phyficinns affirm it, one at
FerJaiUes, and another in London ; the lalt of whom declared, he
took it upon the Credit of a Country Phyfician, thoroughly ac
quainted with this Difeafe, and a Witnefs to the Repetition of it.
Hence we imagine the Editor of this Work at Lyons might have
juftly termed this Re-infection extremely rare, which would have
a Tendency to reconcile the Subjects of the Small -Pocks, more ge
nerally, to the moft falutary Practice of Inoculation. Doubilefs
fome other eruptive Fevers, particularly, the Chicken Pocks,
Cryftals, ts c. have been often miftaken for the real Small Pocks by
incompetent Judges, and fometimes even by Perfons better quali
fied, yet who were lefs attentive to the Symptoms and Progrds of
the former. But whoever will be at the Pains to u ad Dr. Yaux*
Parallels fie la petite e verolc naturalle avcc P artificielle^ or a practi
cal Abftraft of Part of it in the Monthly Review. Vol. XXV.
P. 307 to 311, will find fuch a juft, clear and ufeful Diftinftion of
them, as nr.iy prevent many future Deceptions on this frequently
interefting Subject. K.
Of tbe Small-Pocks. 20$
Who have not fufFered it. It commonly ceaies
s
at the End of fome Weeks, or of fome Months,
and rarely ever appears again in the fame Place,
imtil four, five or fix Years after.
204. This Malady often gives fome Intima
tion of its Approach, three or four Days before
the Appearance of the Fever, by a little Dejec
tion ; lefs Vivacity and Gaiety than uiual ; a great
Propenfity to fweat; lefs Appetite j a flight Alte
ration of the Countenance, and a kind of pale
livid Colour about the Eves : Notwithftanding
. O
which, in Children of a lax and phlegmatic Con-
flituriojij I have known a moderate Agitation of
their Blood, (before their Shivering Approached)
give them a ; Vivacity, Gaiety, and a rofy Im
provement of their Complexion, beyond whatN.i-
ture had given them.
o
Certain fhort Viciilitudes of Heat or Cdldnefs
fucceed the former introductory Appearances, u -1
at length a confiderabie Shivering, of the Dura
tion of one, two, three or four Hours: This is
fucceeded by violent Heat, accompanied with.
Pains of the Head, Loins, Vomiting, or at lead
with a frequent Propenfity to vomit.
This State continues for fome Hours, at the
Expiration of which the Fever abates a little in a
Sweat, which is fometimes a very large one:
the Patient then finds himfelf better, but is not-
withflanding can: down, torpid or heavy, very
O fqueamilh,
The fame Appearances very often occur in fuch Sabje&s by
Inoculation, before actual Sic;-:enin j-, as I have obfcrved and in
Jbnccd,Ed. ilU J . 6i, Ed. 2. P. 75 , 76. K.
2io Of the S mail-Pocks.
fqueamiili, with a Head-ach and Pain in the Back,
and a Difpofition to be drowfy. The laft Symp
tom indeed is not very common, except in Chil
dren, lefs than feven or eight Years of Age.
The Abatement of the Fever is of final 1 Du
ration j and fome Hours after, commonly to-
i ds the Evening, it returns with all its Atten
dants, and terminates again by Sweats, as be
fore.
This State of the Difeafe lafts three or four
Days ; at the End of which Term, and feldom
later, the firft Eruptions appear among the Sweat,
which terminates the Paroxylrn or Return of the
Fever. I have generally obierved the earlieft
Eruption to appear in the Face, next to that on
the Hands, on the fore Part of the Arms j on
the Neck, and on the upper Part of the Bread.
As loon as this Eruption appears, if the Diftem-
per is of a gentle Kind and Difpofition, the Fever
almoil entirely vanimes : the Patient continues to
fweat a little, or tranfpire; the Number of Erup
tions increafes, others coming out on the Back,
the Sides, the Belly, the Thighs, the Legs, and
the Feet. Sometimes they are pufhed out very
numeroufly even to the Soles of the Feet j where,
as they increafe in Size, they often excite very
fharp Pain, by Reafon of the great Thickneis
and Hardnefs of the Skin in thefe Parts.
Frequently on the firfr, and fecond Day of E-
ruption (fpeaking hitherto always of the mild
Kind and Degree of the Difeafe) there returns
again a very gentle Revival of the Fever about
the
Of the Small-Pocks. 2 1 1
the Evening, which, about the Termination of
it, is attended with a confiderable and final Erup
tion : though as often as the Fever terminates per
fectly after the earlieft Eruption, a very diftincl and
very fmall one is a pretty certain Confequence.
For though the Eruption is already, or mould
prove only moderate, the Fever, as I have be
fore faid, does not totally difappearj a fmall De
gree of it {till remaining, and heightening a little
every Evening.
Thefe Puftules, or EfHorefcences, on their
firft Appearance, are only fo many very little red
Spots, confiderably refembling a Flea-bite , but
diftinguifhable by a fmall white Point in the
Middle, a little raifed above the red:, which gra
dually increafes in Size, with the Rednefs ex
tended about it. They become whiter, in Propor
tion as they grow larger; and generally upon the
fixth Day, including that of their firft Eruption,
they attain their utmoft Magnitude, and are full
of Pus or Matter. S -me of them grow to the
Size of a Pea, and fome ftill a little larger ; but
this never happens to the greateft Number of
them. From this Time they begin to look yel-
lowifli, they gradually become dry, and fall off
in brown Scales, in ten or eleven Days from their
firft Appearance. As their Eruption occurred en
different Days> they alfo wither and fall off fuc-
cevlively. The Face is fometimes clear of them,
while Puftules ftill are feen upon the Legs, r\jt
fully ripe, or fuppurated : and thofe in the Soles
of the Feet often remain much longer.
O 2 205,
212 Of the Swall-Pocks.
05. The Skin is of Courfe extended or
-ul out by the Puftules ; and after the Ap-
nce ci a certain Quantity, all the Inter-
01 Parts between the Puftules, are red and
e, with a proportionable Inflation
or Swelling of the Skin. The Face is the firft
Part that appears bloated, from the Puftules there
.heir utmoft Size: and this inflation
is lomuimcs lo confiderable, as to look mon-
ftrous ; the like happens alfo to the Neck, and
the Eyes are entity clofed up by it. The Swel-
lirjj; of the Face abates in Proportion to the (cab
bing and drying up of the Puftules ; and then the
Hands are puffed up prodigioufly. This happens
-ly to the Legs, the Tumour or Swel-
Jpg the Confequence of the Puftules at
taining their utmoft Size, which happens by Suc-
n, in thele different Parts.
206. Whenever there is a very confiderable
ion, the Fever is heightened at the Time of
Duration, which is not to be wondered at;
one lingle Boil excites a Fever : How is it pof-
fiblc then that feme hundred, nay fome thou-
^
fand of thefe little AbfcelTes mould not excite
one ? This Fever is the moft dangerous Period,
i r Time of the Difeafe, and occurs between the
th and the thirteenth Days ; as many Cir-
--iftances vary the Term of Suppuration, two
or ihjec Doys. At this painful and perilous Sea-
ic,n then, the Patient becomes very hot, and
j
thirfly: he is harrailed with Pain; and rinds it
.cult to difco\er a favourable eafy Pofture.
If
Of the Swat!- Pocks. 2 1 3
If the Malady runs very high, he has no Sleep;
he raves, becomes greatly opprerTed, is
with a heavy DroWfinefs ; and when he dies, he
dies either luftbcated or lethargic, and fometimes
in a State compounded of both thefe Symptoms.
The Pulfe, during this Fever of Supj
is fbmetimes of an atloniming Quicknefs, - .
the Swelling of the Wnfts makes it iccm,
O
fome Subjects, to be very fmall. The moil ,
tical and dangerous Time is, when the Swell]
o
of the Face, Head and Neck are in their h
Degree. Whenever the Swelling begins to 1
the Scabs on the Face to dry \fuppo/ing /v
J *. / J. M. \.
of thefe to be too juddcn andpn , for . .
jible Quantity of the Pu/tui, 5] and th :
ihrivel, as it were, the Quicknefs of the Pui.e
abates a little, and the Du diminifhes. When
the Puftules are very few, this fecond Fever is
fo moderate, that it requires fome Attention tu
difcern it, Ib that the Danger is next to i
207. Beilues thole Symptoms, thu -ire
fome others, which require conlideFable AM
on and Vigilance. One of thele is the So. ^ j
of the Throat, with which many Perions in t.
Small-Pocks are afflicted, as focn a^ the ,r
grows pretty itrong. It continues tor two or
three Days ; feels very (trait and t in
the Action of Swallowing; an 1 vv il";
Difeaic is extremely acvite, it -ntireiy
Swallowing. It is commonly a c eel to uie
Eruption ofPulluies in the Throat ; bu a
O * ] ,c
2 J 4 Of the Small- Pocks .
Miftake, fuch Puftules being almoft conftantly *
imaginary. It begins, moft frequently, before
the Eruption appears ; if this Complaint is
in a light Degree, it terminates upon the Erup
tion ; and whenever it revives again in theCourfe
of the Difeafe, it is always in Proportion to the
Degree of the Fever. Hence we may infer it
does not arife from the Puftules, but is owing to
the Inflammation ; and as often a:; it is of any
confiderablc Duration, it is almoft ever attended
with another Symptom, the Salivation, or a Dif-
charge of a great Quantity of Spittle. This Sali
vation rarely exifts, where the Difeafe is very
gentle, or the Patient very young ; and is full as,
rarely abfent, where it is fevere, and the Patient
is paft feven or eight Years old : but when the
Eruption is very confluent, and the Patient adult,
or grown up, the Difcharge is furprizing. Under
theie Circumftances it flows out inceffantly, al
lowing the afflicted Paiient no Reft or Refpite ;
and often incommodes him more than any other
Symptom of the Diftemper ; and fo much the
more, as after its Continuance for fome Days,
the
* As Puftules. are, and not very fcldom, vifible on the Tongue,
: fcmetimes on the Roof, even to its Procefs called the Palate,
/;h I have plainly feen ; it feems not very eafy to affip;n any
^nuiperable Obitacie to the Exiftence of a few within the Throat;
< this icarcely ever occurs, in the diftincl Small-Pocks.
! ;efs however, a cor.fiderable Inflammation of that Part
Will be as likely to produce the great Difficulty of Swallowing,
as the Exiftence of Puftules there ; which our learned Author does
not abfoluteiy rejeft, and confequently \vill forgive this Sup-
pofition of them ; efpecially it" he credits the ocular Teftimony of
"Dr. 1 iolante, cited in the Analyfis, Ed. 2d. p. 71. K.
Of the Small-Pocks. 2 1 5
the Lips, the Iniide of the Cheeks, the Tongue,
and the Roof of the Mouth are entirely peeled
or flead, as it were. Neverthelefs, however
painful and embarraffing this Difcharge may
prove, it is very important and falu:ary. Meer
Infants are lefs fubjeft to it, fome of them hav
ing a Loofenefs, in Lieu of it : and yet I have
obferved even this lad Difcharge to be confidera-
bly lefs frequent in them, than a Salivation is in
grown People.
20 S. Children, to the Age of five or fix
Years, are liable to Convuliions, before Erupti
on: theie however are not dangerous, if they
are not accompanied with other grievous and
violent Symptoms. But fuch Convuliions as fti-
pervene, either when Eruption having already
occurred, fuddenly retreats, orjtri&es /;/, accord
ing to the common Phrafe ; or during the Courfe
of the Fever of Suppuration, are greatly more
terrifying.
Involuntary Difcharges of Blood from the
Nofe often occur, in the firft Stage of this Dii-
temper, which are extremely iervicen.blc, a;ul
commonly leffen, or carry off, the Kead-ach.
Meer Infants are lefs fubjecT: to this Diicharge ;
though they have fometimes a little of it: and I
have known a confiderable Sfitfor or Drowfinefs, .
vanim immediately after this Breeding.
209. The Small-Pocks is commonly dif-
tinguifhed into two Kinds, the confluent and the
diilincl:, fuch a Diftinclion really exiiling in Na
ture : but as the Treatment of each of them is
4 the
2 1 6 Of the Small-Pocks.
the fame ; and as the Quantity or Dofe of the
Medicines is only to be varied, in Proportion to
the Danger of the Patient (not to enter here into
very tedious Details, and fuch as might exceed
the Cornpreheniion of many of our Readers ;
as well as whatever plight relate particularly
to the malignant Small-Pocks ) I mall limit
myfelf within the Defcription I have premifed,
which includes all the Symptoms common to
both thele Kinds of the Small-Pocks. I content
myiclf with adding here, that we may expect a
very confluent and dangerous Pock, if, at the very
Time of otizure, the ratient is immediately at
tacked with many violent Symptoms ; mere elpe-
cially if his Eyes are extremely quick, lively, and
even gliftening, as it were; if he vomits almoft
continually ; if the Pain of his Loins be violent ;
and if he fuffers at the lame Time great Anguiih.
and Inquietude : If in Infants there is ^rtat Stupor
or Heavinefs ; if Eruption appears on the third
Day, and fometimes even on the fecond : as the
haffier Eruptions in this Difeafe iignify the moft
dangerous Kind and Degree of it ; and on the
contrary, the flower Eruption is, it is the fafer
too; fuppoiing this Slownefs of the Eruption net
to have been the Coniequence of great Weak-
nefs, or of forne violent inward Pain.
210. The Diforder is fometimes fo very
Id and flight, that Eruption appears with
fl arcely any Sufpicion of the Child s having the
leaft Ailment, and the Event is as favourable as
e Invajion. The Puftules appear, grow large,
fuppu-
Of the Small-Pocks. 217
Uppurate and attain their Maturity, without con-
facing the Patient to his Bed, or leflening ei
ther his Sleep, or Appetite.
It is very common to fee Children in the Coun
try (and they are feldom more than Children who
have it ib very gently) run about in the open Air,
through the whole Courfe of this Difeafe, and
feeding juft as they do in Health. Even thofe
who take it in a fomewhat higher Degree, com
monly go out when Eruption is iinifhed, and
give themfelves up, without Referve, to the Vo
racity of their Hunger. Notwithftanding all this
Neglect, many get perfectly cured ; though fuch
a Conduct fhould never be propofed for Imita
tion, fince Numbers have experienced its pernicious
Confequences, and feveral of thefe Children have
been brought to me, efpecially from Jurat, who
after fuch Neglect, in the Courfe of the mild
and kindly Sort of this Diftemper, have con
tracted Complaints and Infirmities of different
i
Kinds, which have been found very difficult to
fubdue.
21 1. This ftill continues to be one of thefe
Dirtempers, whole Danger has long been increafed
by . its improper Treatment, and cfpecially by
forcing th j Patients into Sweats ; and it ftill con-
tin be increafed, particularly among Coun-
ti le. They have feen Eruption appear,
\\ . o t he Patient iweats, and obferved he found
himleli better after its Appearance : and hence
they conclude that, by quickening and forcing
put this Eruption, they contribute to his Relief;
and
2 1 8 Of the Small-Pocks.
and fuppofe, that by increafing the Quantity of his
Sweats, and the Number of his Eruptions, the
Blood is the better cleared and purified from the
Poifon. Thefe are mortal Errors, which daily
Experience has demonffrated, by their tragical
Conlequences.
When the Contagion or Poifon, which gene
rates thisDifeafe, has been admitted into the Blood,
it requires a certain Term to produce its ufual
Effects : at which Time the Blood being tainted
by the Venom it has received, and by that which
luch Venom has formed or afiimilated from it,
Nature makes an Effort to free herfelf of it, and
to expell it by the Skin, precifely at the Time
when every Thing is predifpofed for that Pur-
pofe. This Effort pretty generally fucceeds, be
ing very often rather too rapid and violent, and
very feldom too weak. Hence it is evident, that
whenever this Effort is deficient, it ought not to
be heightened by hot Medicines or Means, which
make it too violent and dangerous : for when it
already exceeds in this Reipedt, a further Increafe
of fuch Violence muff render it mortal. There
are but few Gales in which the Efforts of Nature,
on this Occafion, are too languid and feeble, ef-
pecially in the Country j and whenever fuch rare
Cafes do occur, it is very difficult to form a juft
and proper Eftimationof them: for which Reafon
we mould be very referved and cautious in the
Ufe of heating Medicines, which are fo mortally
pernicious in this Difeafe.
Wine, Venice Treacle, cordial Confections,
hot
Of the Small-Pocks. 2 1 9
hot Air, and Loads of Bed-cloths, annually
jfweep off Thoufands of Children, who might
have recovered, if they had taken nothing but
warm Water : and every Perfon who is intereft-
ed in the Recovery of Patients in this Diftemper,
ought carefully to prevent the fmalleil Ufe of
fuch Drugs j which, if they mould not imme
diately aggravate it to a fatal Degree, yet will
certainly increafe the Severity and Torment of it,
and annex the moil unhappy and tragical Confe-
quences to it.
The Prejudice in this Point is fo ftrongly root
ed, that a total Eradication of it muit be very dif
ficult : but i only defire People would be con
vinced by their own Eyes, of the different Suc-
cefs of the hot Regimen, and of that I (hall pro-
pole. And here indeed I mull confefs, I found .
more Attention and Docility, on this Point, among
the Inhabitants of the City, and efpecially in the
hit epidemical fpreading of the Small-Pocks, than
1 prefumed to hope for. Not only as many as
confulted me on the Invafion of it, complied ex
actly with the cooling Regimen I advifed them ;
but their Neighbours alfo had Recourfe to it,
when their Children fickened : and beinjr often
o
called in when it had been many Days advanced,
I obferved with great Pleafure, that in many
Houfes, not one heating Medicine had been gi
ven ; and great Care had been taken to keep the
Air of the Patient s Chamber refreshingly cool
and temperate. This encourages me to expect,
that this Method hereafter will become general
here.
220 Of the Small-Pocks.
here. What certainly ought moil eflentially to
conduce to this is, that notwithstanding the Dif-
fufion or Spreading of this Difeafe was as numer
ous and extenfive as any of the former, the Mor
tality, in Confequence of it, was evidently lefs.
212. At the very Beginning of the Small-
Pocks (which may be reaionabiy fufpected, from
the Presence of the Symptoms I have already de-
fcribed ; fuppofmg the Perfon complaining never
to have had it, and the Difeafe to prevail near
his Refidencc) the Patient is immediately to be
put on a {Inct Regimen, and to have his Legs
bathed Night and Morning in warm Water.
This is the moil proper and promifing Method to
leffen the Quantity of Eruption in the Face and
Head, and to facilitate it every where elfe on the
Surface. Glyilers alfo greatly contribute to
abate the Head-ach, and to diminiiTi the Reach-
ings to vomit, and the actual Vomitings, which
greatly diilrefs the Patient ; but which however
it is highly abfurd and pernicious to flop by any
ilomachic cordial Confection, or by Venice Trea
cle ; and dill more dangerous to attempt remov
ing the Caufe of them, by a Vomit or Purge,
which are hurtful in the be^tnninp- of the Small-
o o
Pocks.
If the Fever be moderate, the Bathings of the
Legs on the firil Day of iickening, and one Glyf-
ter may fuffice then. The Patient mufl be re
trained to his Regimen j and inflead of the
Ptifan N. i, 2, 4, a very young Child ihould
drink nothing but Milk diluted with two thirds
o
of Elder Flower or Lime-tree Tea, or with Balm
Tea,
Of the Small-Pucks. i? 2 i
Tea, if there be no perceivable Fever ; and in
fhort, if they have an Averfion to the Tafte of
them all, with only the lame Quantity of good
clear * Water. An Apple coddled or baked
may be added to it ; and if they complain of
Hunger, a little Bread may be allowed ; but they
muft be denied any Meat, or Meat Broth, Eggs and
ftrong Drink ; iince it has appeared fromObferva-
tions frequently repeated, that Children who had
been induced with fuch Diet proved the worle
r
for it, and recovered more ilowly than others.
In this early Stage too, clear Whey alone m v
ferve them inftead of every other Drink, thv:
good Effects of which I have frequently been a
Witnefs to > or fome Buttermilk may be allowed.
When the Diftemper is of a mild Species, a per
fect Cure en (lies, without any other Afliftance or
Medicine : but we (hould not neglect to purge
the Patient as ioon as the Puftules are perfectly
fcabbed
* A Negro Girl, about five or fix Years old, under a cohe
rent Pock, Hole by Night out of the Garret where fhe J:iy, into
a Kitchen out of Doors, where fhe drank plentifully of c >ld
Water. How often fhe repeated thefe rightly cooling Poi
I never could certainly learn, though they occuned in my own
Houfe in South-Carolina in Summer. But it is certain the Child
recovered as fpeedily as other5, whofe Eruption was more dif-
tinc~l, and who drank Barley-Water, very thin Rice or Indian
Corn Gruel, Balm Tea, or the like In fait, throu the
Courfe of this Vifitation from t le Small Pocks in i .-/ in
1738, we had but too many Demonftrations of the fatal Co
operation of violent Heat with their Contagion ;
few furprizing Inftances -.f the falutary EfFecls of being n-.
farily and involuntarily expofed to fomc very tu :
after Infection, and in feme ttter Eruption t o : \ . iich i
then more particularJy mentioned in a fmall contj .
printed there. K.
222 Of the Small-Peek.
fcabbed on the greater Part of his Face, with the
Prefcription N. 1 i, which mud be repeated fix-
Days after. He mould not be allowed Flelh till
after this fecond Purge \ though after the firft he
may be allowed fome well-boiled Pulfe, or Gar
den-duff and Bread, and in fuch a Quantity, as
not to be pinched with Hunger, while he reco
vers from the Difeafe.
213. But if the Fever fhould be ftrong, the
Pulfe hard, and the Pain of the Head and Loins
mould be violent, he mud, i. immediately lofe
Blood from the Arm ; receive a Glyfter two
Hours after ; and, if the Fever continues, the
Bleeding muft be repeated. I have directed a
Repetition of it even to the fourth Time, within
the two firft Days, to young People under the
Age of eighteen ; and it is more especially necef-
fary in fuch Perfons as, with a hard and full
Pulfe, are alfo affected with a heavy Drowfinefs
and a Delirium, or Raving.
2. As long as the Fever continues violently,
two, three, and even four Glyfters fhould be
given in the 24 Hours ; and the Legs fhould be
bathed twice.
3. The Patient is to be taken out of Bed, and
fupported in a Chair as long as he can tolerably
bear it.
4. The Air of his Chamber mould frequently
be renewed, and if it be too hot, which it often is
in Summer, in Order to refrefh it, and the Pati
ent, the Means muil be employed which are di
rected 76.
5- He
Of the Small-Pocks. 223
5. He is to be retrained to the Ptifans N. 2
or 4 ; and if that does not fufficiently moderate the
Fever, he mould take every Hour, or every two
Hours, according to the Urgency of the Cafe, a
Spoonful of the Mixture N. 10 ; mixed with a
Cup of Ptifan. After the Eruption, the Fever
beinir then abated, there is lefs Occafion tor Me-
O *
dicine ; and fhould it even entirely difappear,
the Patient may be regulated, as direcled, 212.
214. When, after a Calm, a Remiflion or
Intermiffion of fome Days, the Procefs of Sup
puration revives the Fever, we ought firil, and
elpecially, to keep the * Body very open. For
this
* We muft remember that Dr. TISSOT is treating here of the
higher or confluent Degrees of this Difeafe ; for in the dilHnft
Small-Pocks, it is common to find Peribns for fcveral Days
without a Stool, and without the leaf! peceiveable Diforder for
Want of one (their whole Nouriihrnent being very light and
liquid) in which Cafes, while Matters proceeded well in all
other Refpeds, there feems little Occafion for a ^reat Solici
tude about Stools : But if one mould be judged necetfary after
four or five Days Coftivenefs, accompanied with a Tightnefs
or Hardnefs of the Belly, doubtlefs the Glyftcr fliould be of
the lenient Kind (as thofe directed by our Author are) and not
calculated to produce more than a fecond Stool at the very
molt. Indeed, where there is Rcafon to apprehend a ftrong
fecondary Fever, from the Quantity of Eruption, and a previ-
oufly high Inflammation, it is more prudent to provide for a
Mitigation of it, by a moderately open Belly, than to differ a
long Coftivenefs ; yet fo as to incur very little Hazard of aba
ting the .Salivation, or retarding the Growth or Suppuration of
thePuiules, by a Superpurgation, uhich it may be too eafy
to excite in fome Habits. If the Difcharge by fpitting, and
the Brightnefs and Quantity of Suppuration, have been in Pro
portion to the Number of Eruptions ; though the Conflict from
the fecondary Fever, where thefe have been numerous, is of
ten acute and high ; and the Patient, who is in great Anguifli,
224 Of the Small-Pot ksl
this Purpofe, a an Ounce of CatMicon fhoulcf be
added to the Glyfters ; or they might be (imply
rnade of Whey, with Honey, Oil and Salt.
Give the Patient three times every Morning, at
the Interval of two Hours between- each, three
Glalles of the Ptifan N: 32. y Purge him a;
two Days, with the Potion N. 23, but on that
Day he mutt not take the Ptihm N. 32.
2. He muit, if the Dillemper be very violent,
take a double Dofe of the Mixture N. 10.
3. The Patient fhould be taken out of Bed,
and kept up in a Room well aired Day and
Night, until the Fever has abated. Many Perlbns
will probably be furprized at this Advice ; ne-
vertheleis it is that which I have often experien
ced to be the moft efficacious, and without which
the others are ineffectual. They will fay, how
fhall the Patient ileep at this Rate ? To which it
may be anfwered, Sleep is not necefTury, nay, it
is hurtiul in this State and Stage of the Difeafe.
Befides, he is really unable to fleep : the con
tinual Salivation prevents it, and it is very necef-
fary to keep up the Salivation ; which is facili
tated by often injecting warm Water and Honey
into his Throat. It is alfo of considerable Service
to throw fome up his Noftrils, and often thus to
cleanfe
is far from being out of Danger, yet Nature pretty generally
proves llronger than the Diicalc, in fuch Circuir.rtances. As
the j/t\f7. C. ., is little ufed, or made here, the lenitive Elec
tuary of our Difpenfatory may be fubilituted for it, or that of
the Edinburgh Diipcniii .ory, which \vas calculated particularly
Ib; Givilers. K.
Of the Small-Foci. 2
cleahfe the Scabs which form within them. A
due Regard to thefe Circumftances not only con
tributes to lefTen the Patient s Urieafinefs, but very
effectually alfo to his Cure.
4. If the Face and Neck arc greatly fwelled,
emollient Cataplafms are to be applied to the
Soles of the Feet ; and if thefe fhould have very
little Effect, Sinapifms fhould be applied. Thefe
are a kind of Plaifter or Application compofed of
Yeaft, Muftard-flower, and fome Vinegar. They
fometimes occalion fharp and almoft burning Pain ,
but in Proportion to the Sharpnefs and Increafe
of thefe PainSj the Head and Neck are remark
ably relieved.
2 1 5. The Eyelids are puffed up and fwelled
\#hen the Difeafe runs high, ib as to conceal the
Eyes, which are clofed up fall for feveral Days.
Nothing further mould be attempted, with Rc-
fpect to this Circumftance, but the frequent
moiftening of them with a little warm Milk and
Water. The Precautions which fome take to
frroke them with Saffron, a gold Ducat, or Rofe-
water are equally childifh and infignificant.
What chiefly conduces to preverit the Rednefs
or Inflammation of the Eyes after the Difeafe,
and in general all its other bad Confequences, i >
to be content for a confiderable Time, with a
very moderate Quantity of Food, and particu
larly to abftain from Flefh and Wine. In the
Very bad Small Pocks, and in little Children, the
Eyes are clofed up from the Beginning of the
Eruption,
P 216,
226 Of the Small-Pocks.
216. One extremely ferviceable Affiilance,
and which has not been made ufe of for a
g Time pail, except as a Means to preferve
the Smoothnels and Beauty of the Face ; but yet
\vhich has the greateft Tendency to preferve Life
itfelf, is the Opening of the Puilules > not only
u on the Face, but all over the Body. In the
firll: Place, by opening them, the Lodgment or
Retention of Pus is prevented, which may be
fuppofed to prevent any Erofion, or eating down,
from it j whence Scars, deep Pitts and other De
formities are obviated. Secondly, in giving a
Vent to the Poiibn, the Retreat of it into the
Blood is cut off, which removes a principal
Caufe of the Danger of the Small-Pocks. Third
ly, tl n is rel 1; the Tumour of the Face
am" k diminish in Proportion to that Relax-
tion ; and thence the Return of the Blood from
the Brain is facilitated, which mutt prove a great
Advantage. The Puftules mould be opened
every where, fucceffively as they ripen. The
precife Time of doing it is when they are en
tirely white ; when they juft begin to turn
hut a very little yellowiih ; and when the red
Circle furrounding them is quite pale. They
mould be opened with very line iharp-point-
SciiTars ; this does not give the Patient the
lead Pain; and when a certain Number of them
are opened, a Spunge dipt in a little warm Wa
ter is to be repeatedly applied to fuck up and
remove that Pus, which would loon be dried
up
Of tie Small-Pocks; 227
tip Into Scabs. But as the Pufluies, when emp
tied thus, loon fill again, a Difcharge of this freih
Matter mud he obtained in the fa trie Manner
fome Hours alter ; and this mud fbmetimes be
repeated five or even fix Times fucceflively.
Such extraordinary Attention in this Point m
probably be confidered as minute, and even tri
vial, by fome ; and is very unlikely to become a
* general Practice : but 1 do again affirm it to be
of much more Importance than many may ima
gine j and that as often as the Fever attendir.
Suppuration is violent and menacing, a very
general, exadt and repeated opening, emptying,
and ablorbing of the ripened Puftules, irj a Re
medy of the utmoft Importance and Efficacy ; as
it removes two very coniiderable Caufes of the
Danger of this Difeafe, which are the Mar or
P 2
* This Practice which I had heard of, and cvei, tof
inyfelf, but never feen actually enterpi: cm^ fo very r.itir.iK.l
as highly to deferve a fair Trial in iir- uu-jfiaent Degrees
Small Pocks [for in the diflinft it . ]
wherein every probable Amilauce lliould be employed, and in
which the mod potent Medicines arc very often uniuccdsiul. V>
have but too many Opportunities of trying it fuf ncienily ; an
certainly has a more promifing Afpect than a Pra-fticc- ib h
recommended many Years ago, of coveiiug al.
is fometimes the whole Surface of ti> .lot, or iup-
pofe any other iuppu, i- ktilk 1 ;- ; wh
vent all Perfpifatipn, and greatly ire the Pain
and Embarraffment of the Patient, at the Height of 10.
lean conceive but one badConfeqiu nee ti -it mighi j . me-
times rcfult from the former ; In.,
be ufed to avert it) is rather JYI
Trial is repeatedly made, that J think it o J,
in Competition with the Ben, , . in.iy n;
as fcem, oiherwilV, ioo general!
228 Of the Small-Pocks.
itfelf, and the great Tenfion and Stiffneis of the
Skin.
$ 217. In the Treatment of this Difeafe, I
faid nothing with Refpect to Anodynes, or
iuth Medicines as procure Sleep, which I am
fenllble are pretty generally employed in it, but
which I fcarceiy ever direct in this violent De
gree of the Dileafe, and the Dangers of which
Medicine in it I have demonftrated in the Letter to
Baron HALLER, which I have already mention
ed. For which Pveafon, wherever the Patient is
not under the Care and Direction of a Phyfician,
they mould very carefully abttain from the Ufe of
Venice Treacle, Laudanum, Diacodium^ that is
the Syrup of white Poppies, or even of the wild
red Poppy ; Syrup of Amber, Pills of Storax, of
or Hounds-tongue, and, in oneWord,
of every Medicine which produces Sleep. But full
more efpecially mould their Ufe be entirely ba-
niihed, throughout the Duration of the fecondary
Fever, when even natural Sleep itielf is danger
ous. One Circumftance in which their Ufe may
fometimes be permitted, is in the Cafe of weakly
Children, or iuch as are liable to Convulfions,
where Eruption is effected not without Difficul
ty. But I muft again inculcate the greateft Cir-
cumfpeclion, in the Ufe of fuch Medicine*,
whole Effects are fatal, * when the Blood-veiTels
arc
* The Ufe of Opiates in this Difeafe undoubtedly requires no
frnall Cnniideration, the great SYDENHAM himfelf not feei:,
always fuflciently guarded in the Exhibition of th/jni ; as f.:r as
Experience fince his Day has enabled Phyficians to judge of tliis
Matter.
Of tbe Small- Pocks. 229
are turbid or full ; whenever there is Inflamma
tion, Fever, .a great Diflenfion of the Skin ; wl-
ever the Patient raves, or complains of He
and OpprefTion ; and when it is neceflary that
the Belly mould be open ; the Urine plentifully
difcharged ; and the Salivation be freely pro
moted.
218. If Eruption mould fuddcnly retreat,
or ilrike in, heating, foporific, fpirkuous and vo
latile Remedies mould carefully be avoided : but
the Patient may drink plentifully of the Infuiion
N. 12 pretty hot, and mould be bliftered on
the flefhy Part of the Legs. This is a very em-
P 3 barraffing
Matter. In general OIK Author s Limitations of them fecm very
juft ; though we have feen a few clear Inltances, in which a light
Raving, which evidently arofe from Want of Sleep (joined to fomc
Dread ot the Event of thcOifeafe by Inoculation }\\:v \\ ippily remov
ed, with every other confidcrable Complaint, by a moderate Opiate.
In fore and fretful Children too, under a large or middling Erup
tion, as the Time gained to Reft is taken from i ain, and from
walling their Spirits in Crying and Clamour, I have feen Su;
ration v..ry benignly promoted by Diacodmm. But in the C>-iJls
of the fecondary Fever in the confluent or coherent Pock, when
there is a morbid pulnefs, and Nature i.s itruggling to unl
hcrlelf by fouie other Outlets than thole of the Skin, which now
are totally obftrufted (and which feenis the only Evacuation, that
i:> not reftrained by Opiates) the giving and repeating them r
as has too often been pradifed, feems importantly erronecK,
I think Dr. SWAN has taken a judicious Liberty of dii
from the greru Author he translates, in forbidding an Opiate, if
rhc Spitting abates, or grows fo tough and ropy, as to endai
Suffocation. As the Difference or our Oeconomy in the Ad-
miniftration cf Phyfic from that in Swfoi-landi ar;d Dr.
TJSSOT S juft Reputation may dlfpofe many Country Pra^liik , .-is
to perufe this Trcatife, I take the Liberty of referring fuch i
ders, for a Recollection of fome of my Sentiments of C tea,
long before the Appearance of this Work in French, to the ie-
cond Kdi;ion of the Analyfis from P. 9^ to 97, oV. K.
o Of the Small-Pocks.
barrafling and difficult Cafe, and the different
Circumftances attending it may require different
Means and Applications, the Detail and Difcuffion
of which are beyond iny Plan here. Sometimes
a fmgle Bleeding has effectually recalled Erup
tion at once.
2 1 9. The only certain Method of furmount-
ing all the Danger of this Malady, is to inoculate.
L-Lit this moll lalutary Method, which ought to
be regarded as a particular and gracious Difpen-
iation or Providence, can fcarcely be attainable
by, or ferviceable tv\ the Bulk of the People, ex
cept in tViofe Countries, where Hofpitals * are
dcftincd particularly for Inoculation. In theie
where as yet there are none, the only Reiburce
that is left for Children w ; ho cannot be inoculated
at home, is to difpofe them happily for the Dif-
tcmper, by a fimple eaiy Preparation.
220. This Preparation conilfts, upon the
whole, in removing all Want of, and all Ob-
ftrnc tions to, the Health of the Perfon fiibject to
this Difeafe, if he have any fuch , and in bring
ing him into a mild and healthy, but not into
a very robuir. and vigorous, State ; as this Dif-
tcmper is often exceedingly violent in this left.
It is evident, that iince the Defects of Health
. very different in different Bodies, the Prepa-
ts of them mud .is often vary ; and that a
Child
Tbnt I < long finre bad tiie Honour of agreeing
"i our learned Author, in this Confideration for the Benefit ot
uy of the Pcrrle, xvhich is the Benefit of the State, will ap-
, iVoni p. :?S of Aral} !". Ed. ift. and from p. 371, 372 of the
<;nci. K,
Of the ShiU-Pcch. 23 I
Child fubject to fome habitual Diforder, cannot
be prepared in the fame Method with another
ho has a very oppofite one. The Dr ul
and Distinctions which are neceflary on this j
portant Head, would be improper here, whether
it might be owing to their unavoidable Ltr
or to the Imporlibility of giving Perfons, who
are not Phyficians, fufficient Knowlege and In
formation to qualify them for determining on,
and preferring, the moft proper Preparation
various Cafes. Neverthelefs I will point <
fome fuch as may be very likely to agree, pretty
nerally, with Re/peel to ftrong and healthy Ciu.-
dren.
The firft Step then is an Abatement of their
ufual Quantity of Food. Children commonly
eat too much. Their Limitation fhould be in
Proportion to their Size and Giowth, where we
could exactly aicertain them : but with R
to all, or to much the greater Number of them,
we may be allowed to make their Supper very
light, and very fmall.
P 4 Their
* The Sublhnce.of this SecVion flow the Co:
of an excellent Underitanding with gicat F.
fleftion. aud venl Probity ; and fundar,.
A b fnrdhy of i uch as univedally decry any IV p Ab
ject previous to Inoculation, (which is laid to I
preL-nt very p,-jpul;;r Inoculat^r in / .- is) and ;
dity of giving one and the very lame I
without Dillindion ; though this -wed to
fully pradiled in F :<a, fome Yi-trs fince ; vv.iici:
may fe AnpJyf. d. 2d, from p. 3^9 to 331 and the N-
Of the Small-Pocks.
Their fecond Advantage will confift in the,
(Choice of their Food. This Circumflance is lefs
within the Attainment of, and indeed lefs necef-
faiy fur, the common People, who are of Cpurfe
limited to a very few, than to the Rich, who
have Room to make great Retrenchments on this
Account. The Diet of Country People being of
th~ iimpleft Kind, and almoft folely confirming of
Vegetables and of Milk- meats, is the rnoft pro
per Diet towards preparing for this Difeafe. For
this Rcafon, fuch Perfons have little more to at
tend to in this Refpecl, but that iuch Aliments
be found and good in their Kind j that their
Bread be well baked ; their Pulfe drefled with
out Bacon, or rancid flrong Fat of any fort ; that
their Fruits fhould be well ripened ; that their
Children mould have no Cakes or Tarts, [But
fee Nrte *, P. 40, 41.] and but little Cheefe.
Thefe limple Regulations may be fufficient, with
Regard to this Article of their Preparation.
Some Judgment may be formed of the good
Coi Sequences of their Care on thefe two Points,
concerning the Quantity and Quality of the Chil-
drens Diet, by the moderate Shrinking of their
:!ies as they will be rendered more lively
I active by this Alteration in their living ; and
<:, notwithftanding a little lefs Ruddinefs in
their Complexion, and fome Abatement of their
.nmon Plight of Body, their Countenances,
upon the whole, will feem improved.
The third Article I would recommend, is to
bathe their Legs now and then in warm Water,
before
Of the Small-Pocks. 233
before they go to Bed. This promotes Perfpi-
ration, cools, dilutes the Blood, and allays the
fharpnefs of it, as often as it is properly timed.
The fourth Precaution, is the frequent Uie of
yery clear Whey. This agreeable Remedy,
which confitls of the Juices of Herbs riltred
through, and concocted, or as it were, fweet-
ened by the Organs of a healthy Animal, anfwers
every vifible Indication (I am ftill fpeaking here
of found and hearty Children) It imparts a Flex
ibility, or Soupleneis to the VeiTels ; it abates the
Deniity, the heavy Conliftence and Thicknefs of
the Blood ; which being augmented by the Ac
tion of the poifonous Caufe of the Small-Pocks,
would degenerate into a moil: dangerous inflam
matory * Vifcidity or Thicknefs. It removes all
Obftrudtions in the I ifcera, or Bowels of the
lower Caxity, the Belly. It opens the PaiTages
which ftrain off the Bile ; fheaths, or blunts, its
Sharpnefs, gives it a proper Fluidity, prevents its
Putridity, and f -eetens whatever excefiive Acri
mony may refidc throughout the ML!S of Hu
mours. It likewife promotes Stools, Urine and
Perforation j and, in a Word, it communicates
the moil fa curable Difpofition to the Body, not
t,o be top violently impreffed and agitated by the
Opera-
There may certainly be an inflammatory Acrimony or Thin -
nefs, as well as Thicknefs of the Blood : and many medical Rea
ders may think a morbid Fufion of the red Globules to be a more
frequent Effect of this Contagion, than an increafed Vifcidity ol
them. Se: Analyf. Ed. zd. p. 75 to 83. But this Tranflatson,
conforming to the Spirit of its Original, admits very littleTheory,
and llill lets Contvoverfy, into its Plan. K.
234 Of the Small-Pocks.
Operation of an inflammatory Poifon : And with
Regard to fuch Children as I have mentioned,
for thofe who are either fanguine or bilious, it is
beyond all Contradiction, the moft effectual pre
paratory Drink, and the mod proper to make
them amends for the Want of Inoculation.
I have already obferved, that it may alfo he
ufed to great Advantage, during the Courfe of
the Difeafe : but I muft alfo obferve, that how
ever falutary it is, in the Cafes for which I have
directed it, there are many others in which it
would be hurtful. It would be extremely per
nicious to order it to weak, languishing, fcirrhous,
pale Children, fubject to Vomitings, Purgings,
Acidities, and to all Difeafes which prove their
Bowels to be weak, their Humours to be fharp:
ib that People mull be very cautious not to re
gard it as an univerfal and infallible Remedy,
towards preparing for the Small-Pocks. Thofe
to whom it is advifed, may take a few Glaffes
every Morning, and even drink it daily, for their
common Drink ; they may alfo lup it with Bread
foi Breakfafr, for Supper, and indeed at any
Time.
If Country People will purfue thcfe Directi
ons, which are very eafy to obferve and to com
prehend, whenever the Small-Pocks rages, I am
perfuaded it muft leffen the Mortality attending
it. Some will certainly experience the Benefit
of them ; fuch 1 mean as are very fenfible and
dilcreet, and ftrongly influenced by -the trueft
Love
OftbeMi/les. 235
Love of their Children. Others there are Alas!
who are too ftupid to difcern the Advantage of
them, and too unnatural to take any juil Care of
their. Families.
CHAPTER XIV.
Of the Meajles.
SECT. 221.
H E Meaflcs, to which the human Spe-
""
cies are as generally liable, as to the
Small-Pocks, is a Diftemper conlider-
ably related to it ; though, generally
{peaking, it is lefs fatal ; notwithstanding which,
it is not a little deftrudttve in fomc Countries. In
Svotflerkind we lofe much fewer, immediately in
the Diieafe, than from the Confequences of it.
It happens now and then that the Small-
Pocks and the Mealies rage at the fame Time,
and in the fame Place ; though I have more fre
quently obierved, that each of them was epide
mical in different Years. Sometimes it alfo hap
pens that both thefe Difeafes are combined at
once in the fame Perfon ; and that one iuper-
venes be: ;re the other has finifhed ii:s Courfe,
which makes the Cafe very perilous.
.222. In iorne Conflitutions the Mcailes
gives Notice of its Approach many Days before
its
OftbeMeafles.
its evident Invafion, by a fmall, frequent and dry
Congh, without any other fenfible Complaint:
though more frequently by a general Uneafinefs - t
by Succeffions of Shivering and of Heat; by a fe-
vere Head-ach in grown Perfons ; a Heavinefs in
Children ; a considerable Complaint of the
"hroat ; and, by what particularly characterizes
this Diftemper, an Inflammation and a confider-
able Heat in the Eyes, attended with a Swelling
pf the Eye-lids, with a Derluxion of lharp Tears,
and ib acute a Senfation, or Feeling of the Eyes,
that they cannot bear the Light; by very fre
quent Sneezings, and a Dripping from the Nofe
of the lame Humour with that, which trickles
from the Eyes.
*
The Heat and the Fever increafes with Rapidi
ty ; the Patient is afflicted with a Cough, a Stuf
fing, with Anguifh, and continual Reachings to
vomit ; with violent Pains in the Loins ; nnd
fometimes with a Loofenefs, under which Cir-
cumftance he is lefs periecuted with Vomiting.
At other times, and in other Subjects, Sweating
chiefly prevails, though in lefs Abundance than
in the Small-Pocks. The Tongue is foul and
white ; the Thirft is often very high ; and the
Symptoms are generally more violent than in the
xnild Small-Pocks.
At length, on the fourth or fifth Day, and
fometimes about the End of the third, a fudden
Eruption appears and in a very great Quantity,
efpcdally about the Face ; which in a few Hours
is covered with Spots, each of which rcfembles i\
Flea-,.
Of the Mea/lcs. 237
Flea-bite; many of them foon joining form red
Streakes or Suffufions larger or fmaller, which
inflame the Skin, and produce a very perceivable
Swelling of the Face ; whence the very Eyes are
fometimes doled. Each fmail Spot or SufFulion
is raifed a little above the Surface, efpecially in
the Face, where they are manifeft both to the
Sight and the Touch. In the other Parts of the
Body, this Elevation or Rifing is fcarcely perceiv
able by any Circumftance, but the Roughnefs of
the Skin.
The Eruption, having firft appeared in the
Face, is afterwards extended to the Bread, the
Back, the Arms, the Thighs and Legs. It ge
nerally fpreads very plentifully over the Breaft
and the Back, and fometimes red SufFuiions are
found upon the Breaft, before any Eruption has
appeared in the Face.
The Patient is often relieved, as in the Small-
Pocks, by plentiful Difcharges of Blood from
the Nofe, which carry off the Complaints of the
Head, of the Eyes, and of the Throat.
Whenever this Diftemper appears in its mild-
eft Character, almoft every Symptom abates after
Eruption, as it happens in the Small-Pocks ;
though, in general, the Change for the better is
not as thoroughly perceivable, as it is in the
Small-Pocks. It is certain the Reachings and
Vomitings ceafe almoft entirely ; but the Fever,
the Cough, the Head-ach continue ; and I have
fometimes obierved that a bilious Vomiting, a
Day or two after the Eruption, proved a more
confide-
3 Of the Mcajlcs.
confiderable Relief to the Patient than the En
tion had. On the third or fourth Day of the Erup
tion, the Rednefs diminishes ; the Spots, or very
fmall Puftules, dry up and fall off in very little
branny Scales ; the Cuticle, or fuperficial Skirt
alfo fhrivels ofTj and is replaced by one fuccced-
ing beneath it. On the ninth Day, when the
Progrefs of the Malady has been fpeedy, and on
the eleventh, when it has been very flow, no
Trace of the Rednefs is to be found ; and the
Surface immediately relumes its ufual Appear
ance.
223. Notwithstanding all which the Pati
ent is not fafe, except, during the Courfe of the
Difr,emper, or immediately after it, he has had
Ibme confiderable Evacuation , fuch as the Vo
miting I have juft mentioned ; or a bilious Loofe-
neis ; or confiderable Difcharges by Urine j or
very plentiful Sweating. For when any of thele
Evacuations fupervene, the Fever vaniihes ; the
Patient refumes his Strength, and perfectly re
covers. It happens fometimcs too, and even
without any of thele perceivable Difcharges, that
infenfible Perfpiration expels the Relics of the
poifonous Caufe of this Difeafe, and the Patient
recovers his Health. Yet it occurs too often,
that this Venom not having been entirely expcll
(or its internal Effects not having been thoroughly
effaced) it is repelled upon the Lurig^ where it
produces a flight Inflammation. In Coniequence
of this the Oppreffion, the Cough, the Anguim,
and Fever return, and the Patient s Situation be-
Of the Meaflcs. 239
conies very dangerous. This Outrage is frequent
ly lefs vehement, but it proves tedious and chro
nical, leaving a very obftinate Cough behind it,
with many Refemblances of the Whooping-
Cough. In 175^ there was an epidemic State of
the Mealies here extremely numerous, which af-
ed great Numbers : A! mod all who had it,
and who v/ere not very carefully and judicioufly
attended, were feized in Confequence of it with
that Cough, which proved very violent and obili-
nate.
224. However, notwithftanding this be the
Client Progrcfs and Confequence of this Dii-
eale, when left entirely to itielf, or erroneouily
treated, and more particularly when treated with
a hot Regimen ; yet when proper Care was taken
to moderate the Fever at the Beginning, to di
lute, and to keep up the Evacuations, inch un
happy Confequences have been very rare.
225. T;*e proper Method of conducting
this Diftemper is much the fame with that of
the Small-tocks.
1, If the Fever be high, the Pulfe hard, the
Load and Oppreffion heavy, and all the Symp
toms violent, the Patient inufi be bled once ur
twice.
2, His Legs mud: be bathed, and he mud
take fome Glyfters: the Vehemence of the Symp
toms muft regulate the Number of each.
3, The Ptifans N. 3 or 4 muft be taken, or
a Tea of Elder and Lime-tree Flowers, to which
a fifth Part Milk may be added.
4, The
24 Qf tb? Meajtes.
4, Tlie Vapour, the Steam of warm Water
fhould alfo be employed, as very conducive to
aflwage the Cough, the Sortnefs of the Throat,
and the Oppremon the Patient labours under.
5, As foon as the Efflorefcence, the Rednefs
becomes pale, the Patient is to be purged with
the Draught N- 2 3 .
6, He is ftill to be kept ftriclly to his Regi
men, for two Days after this Purge; after which
he is to be put upon the Diet of thofe who are
in a State of Recovery.
7, If during the Eruption fuch Symptoms
fupervene as occur [at the fame Term] in the
Small-Pocks, they are to be treated in the Man
ner alreadv directed there.
.
226. Whenever this Method has not been ob-
ferved, and the Accidents detcribed 223 fuper
vene, the Diftemper muft be treated like an In
flammation in its hrft State, and all mufr, be done
as directed 225. If the Difeafe is not vehe
ment, + Bleeding mav be omitted. If it is of
I O ^
fome
t Our Author very prudently limits this Difcharge, and the
Repetition of it, in this Diieafe ;.25) as an erroneous Excefs of
it has fometimes prevailed. I have feen a very epiderhical Sea-
Ion of the Meafles, where Bleeding was not indicated in one
third of the infected. And yet I have known fiich an Abufe of
Bleeding in it, that being repeated inuic than once in a Cafe be
fore Eruption (the Meafles probably not being fufpefted) the
Eruption was retarded feveral Days ; and the Patient, a young
Lady of Condition, remained exceeding low, taint and fickifh ; till
after recruiting a very JittJe, trie Meailts appeared, and fhe reco
vered. In a Youth of a lax Fibre, where the Meafles had ap
peared, a fevemh or eighth Bleeding was ordered on a Stitch in
chtf
Of the Meafles. 241
ibme {landing in grofs Children, loaded with
Humours, inactive, and pale, we mult add to
the Medicines already prefcribed the Potion
N. 8, and Blifters to the Legs.
227. It often happens from the Diftance of
proper Advice, that the Relics, the Dregs as it
were, of theDifeafe have been too little regarded,
efpecially the Cough ; in which Circumftance it
forms a real Suppuration in the Lungs, attended
with a flow Fever. I have feen many Children
in Country Villages deftroyed by this Neglect
Their Cafe is then of the fame Nature with that
defcribed 68 and 82, and terminates in i
fame Manner in a Loofenefs, (attended with very
little Pain) and fometimes a very foetid one, which
carries off the Patient. In fuch Cafes we mufl
recur to the Remedies prefcribed 74, Article 3,
4, 5 ; to the Powder N. 14 j and to Milk and
Exercile. But it is fo very difficult to make
Children take the Powder, that it may be fome
times necelTary to truft to the Milk without it,
which I have often Jeen in fuch Situations accorn-
plifh a very difficult Cure. I muft advife the
Reader at the fame Time, that it has not fo com-
pleat an Effeft, as when it is taken folely un-
joined
the Side, fupervening fiom their too e?rly Difappearance, and the
Cafe feemed very doubtful. But re continued very obili-
nately favourable in this Youth, who at length, but very flovvly,
recovered. His Circulation remained fo languid, his Stren.
with his Juices, fo exhauiled, that he was many V/ceks b-iore
he could fit upright in a C being obliged to maks Die of a
Cord depending from the Ceiling, to raife himfelf ere^tJy iu l::s
Seat. K.
242 Of the Mca/Jcs.
joined by any other Aliment j and that it is of the*
hft Importance not to join it with any, which has
the leaft Acidity or Sharpnefs. Perfons in eafy
Cir cum dances may fuccefsfully take, at the fame
Time, Pfejjcr^ * Seltzer^ Peter /id!, or fome other
lit Waters, which are but moderately load
with mineral Ingredients. Theie arc alfo fuc-
o
cefsfully employed in all the Cafes, in which the
Cure I have mentioned is necefiary.
220. Sometimes there remains, after the
Courfe of the Meafles, a frrong dry Cough, with
great Heat in the Brcafr, and throughout the
whole Body, with Thirft, an exceffive Drynefs
of the Tongue, and of the whole Surface of the
Body. I have cured Perfons thus indifpofed after
this Diftemper, by making them breathe in the
Vapour of warm Water ; by the repeated Ufe of
:rm Baths ; and by allowing them to take no
thing for feveral Days but Water and Milk.
Before I take leave of this Subject, I affure the
Reader again, that the contagious Cauie of the
Meafles is of an extremely (harp and acrid Na
ture. It appears to have lome Refemblance to
the bilious Humour, which produces the Erijipc-
las, or St. Anthony s Fire 3 and thence it demands
our particular Attention and Vigilance j without
which very troublefcme and dangerous Confe-
quences may be apprehended. I have feen, not
very long fince, a young Girl, who was in a very
languid
* Briftol Water will be no bad Subilitute for any of thefe, in
fuch Caies. K.
Of the Meafles. 243
languid State after the Meafles, which /he had
undergone three Years before : It was at length
attended with an Ulceration in her Neck, which
was cured, and her Health finally rcflored by
Sarfaparilla with Milk and Water.
220. The Meafles have been communicated
i
by * Inoculation in forrie Countries, where jt is
of a very malignant Dilpofition , and that Me
thod might alfo be very advantageous in this.
But what we have already obferved, with Refpect
to the Inoculation of the Small-Pocks, viz. That
It cannot be extended to the general Benefit of the
People, without the Foundation of Hoipitals for
that very Purpofe, is equally applicable to the
Inoculation of the Meafles.
CHAPTER.
* The only Account I have read of this Prattle*, is in the
>ed Dr. HOME S Medical Fa:~is tvid Experiments, published in
1759, which admits, that but nine out of fifteen of the Sul>
: is Practice cook. Cotton dipt in the Blood of a Patient in the
Meafles was inks-ted into the Arms of twelve ; and three received
the Cotton into their Noflrils, afier the Chinefe Manner of in-
fufing the Small -Pocks ; but of thefe laft not one took, and one of
thofe who had taken, had the Meafles again two Months after.
We think the fliarp hot Lymph difulling from the inflamed Eyes
of Perfons in this Difeafe, a likelier Vehicle to communicate it
than the Blood, efpecially the dry Blood, which was fometimes
tried ; fince the human Scrum feems the Fluid more particularly af
fected by it ; and this muft have been evaporated when the Blood
grew dry. A few practical Strictures on this Work, and par
ticularly on this Practice defcribed in it, appeared in the Monthly
Review Vol. XXI. P. 68 to 75. K.
244 Qf tf je ardent or burning Fever.
CHAPTER XV.
Of the ardent or burning
ECT. 230.
H E much greater Number of the Dif-
g^ T ^ feaies I have hitherto coniidered, refult
Sf*. ]> JH? ^ iom an Inflammation of the Blood,
combined with the particular Inflamma
tion of feme Part, or occasioned by fome Conta
gion or Poiibn, which mutt be evacuated. But
when the Blood is lolely and ftrongly inflamed,
without an Attack on any particular Part, this
Fever, which we term hot or burning, is the
Confequence.
2^1. The Signs which make it evident are,
a Hardnefs and Fulnefs of the Pulfe in a higher
Degree than happens in any oilier Malady ; an
effive Heat ; great Third ; with an extraor
dinary Drynefs of the Eyes, Noftrils, Lips, of
the Tongue, and of the Throat j a violent Head-
ach ; and fomctimes a Raving at the Height of
the Paroxyfm, or Increafe of the Fever, which
rifcs confiderably every Evening. The Refpira-
tion is alfo fomewhat opprefied, but efpecially
at the Return of this Paroxyfm, with a Cough
now and then ; though without any Pain in the
Bread, and without any Expectoration, or cough
ing
Of tie ardent or burning Fei\ 245
ing up. The Body is coftive ; the Urine very
high coloured, hot, and in a mull Quantity.
The Sick are alfo liable to ftart fometimes, but
efpecially when they feem tolleep; for they have
little found refrefhing Sleep, but rather a kind of
Drowfinefs, that makes them very little attentive
to, or fenfible of, whatever happens about them,
or even of their own Condition. They have
f
fometimes a little Sweat or Moiilure - 3 though
commonly a very dry Skin ; they are manifestly
weak, and have either little or no Smell or Tafte.
232. This Difeafe, like all other inflamma
tory ones, is produced by the Caufes which
thicken the Blood, and incrcafe its Motion ; fuch
as excefiive Labour, violent Heat, Want of Sleep,
the Abufe of Wine or other Strong Liquors; the
long Continuance of a dry Conftitution of the
Air, Excefs of everv kind, and heating inflaming
T- J 05
Food.
233. The Patient, under thcfe Circumftan-
ces, ought, i, immediately to be put upon a Re
gimen ; to have the Food allowed him given
only every eight Hours, and, in fome Cafes, only
twice a Day : and indeed, when the Attack is
extremely violent, Nourishment may be wholly
omitted.
2, Bleeding fhould be performed and repeated,
till the Hardnefs of the Pulfe is fenfibly abated.
The firft Difcharge fhould be conliderable, the
fecond fliould be made four Hours after. If the
Pulfe is foftened by the firft, the fecond may be
fulpended, and not repeated before it becomes
iufricientiy
246 Of the ardent or burning Fever.
Sufficiently hard again, to make us apprehend ve
of Danger : but ihould it continue itrong and
hard, the Bleeding may be repeated on the fame
Day to a third Time, which often happens to
be all the Repetitions that are neceffary.
3, The Glyfter N. 5 mould be given twice,
or even thrice, daily.
4, His Legs are to be bathed twice a Day in
warm Water : his Hands may be bathed in the
fame Water. Linen or Flanel Cloths dipt in
warm Water may be applied over the Breaft,
and upon the Belly; and he fhould regularly
drink the Almond Milk N. 4 and the Ptifan
7. The pooreft Patients may content them-
ieives with the laft, but mould drink very plenti
fully of it; and after the Bleeding properly re
peated, frefh Air and the plentiful Continuance
of fmsll diluting Liquors generally eilabliih the
Health of the Patient.
5, If notwithftanding the repeated Bleedings,
the Fever Hill rages highly, it may be leflened by
giving a Spoonful of the Potion N. i o every Hour,
till it abates ; and afterwards every three Hours,
until it becomes very moderate.
234. Haemorrhages, or Bleedings, from the
Nole frequently occur in this Fever, greatly to the
Relief and Security of the Patient.
The firft Appearances of Amendment are a
foftening of the Pulfe, (which however does not
wholly lofe all its Hardnefs, before the Difeafe
. terminates) a feniible Abatement of the
Head-ach , a greater Quantity of Urine, and that
lefs
Of the ardent or burning 7v-;\ 247
lefs high coloured -, and a manifeftly approach
ing Moifture of the Tongue. Thefe favourable
O t-
Signs keep increasing in their Degree, and there
frequently cniuc between the ninth and the four
teenth Day, and often after a Flurry of fbme
Hours Continuance, very large Evacuations by
Stool 5 a great Quantity of Urine, which lets fall
a palely reddifh Sediment j the Urine above it
being very clear, and of a natural Colour - y and
thefe accompanied with Sweats in a lefs or greater
Quantity. At the fame Time the Noftrils and
the Mouth grow moid: the brown and dry Cruft
which covered the Ton?ue, and which was hi-
o
therto infeparable from it, peels offof itieJf; the
Thirft is diminished ; the Ciearnefs of the Facul
ties riles 5 the Drowfmefs goes off, it is fucceed-
ed by comfortable Sleep, and the natural Strength
is reltored. When Things are evident y in tnis
Way, the Patient mould take the Potion N. 23,
and be put upon the Regimen of thole who a^e
in a State of Recovery. It mould be repeated at
the End of eight or ten Days. Some Patients
have perfectly recovered from this Fever, with
out the lead Sediment in their Urine.
235. The augmenting Danger of this Fever
may be difcerned, from the continued EL fs
of the Pulfe, though with an Abatement its
Strength ; if the Brain becomes more confufed ;
the Breathing more difficult ; if the Eyes, No.e,
Lips and Tongue become ftill more dry, and ti
Voice more altered. If to thefe Symptoms ihere
be alfo added a Swelling of the Belly j a Dimi-
nution
248 Of putrid Fevers.
riution of the Quantity of Urine ; a conftant Rav
ing ; great Anxiety, and a certain Wildnefs of
the Eyes, the Cafe is in a manner defperate ; and
the Patient cannot furvive many Hours. The
Hands and Fingers at this Period are inceflantly
in Motion, as if feeling for fomething upon the
Bed-Cloths, which is commonly termed, their
hunting for Flies.
CHAPTER XVI.
Of putrid Fevers.
SECT. 236.
AVING treated of fuch feverifli Dif-
tempers, as arife from an Inflammation
of the Blood, I (hall here treat of thofe
produced by corrupt Humours, which
Magnate in the Stomach, the Guts, or other Bow
els of the lower Cavity, the Belly j or which
have already pafled from them into the Blood.
Thefe are called putrid Fevers, or ibmetimes bi
lious Fevers, when a certain Degeneracy or Cor
ruption of the Bile feems chiefly to prevail in the
Difeafe.
237. This Diftemper frequently gives No
tice of its Approach, feveral Days before its ma-
nifeft Attack ; by a great Dejedtion, a Heavinefs
pf the Head j Pains of the Loins and Knees j a
Foulnefs
Of putrid Fevers. 249
Foulnefs of the Mouth in the Morning ; little Appe
tite ; broken Slumber; and fometimes by an excef-
iive Head-ach for many Days, without any other
Symptom. After this, or thele Diforders, a Shiver-
ino- comes on, followed by a iharp and dry Heat :
the Pulie, which was fmall and quick during the
Shivering, is raifed during the Heat, and is often
very ftrong, though it is not attended with the
fame Hardnefs, as in the preceding Fever ; ex
cept the putrid Fever be combined with an in
flammatory one, which it fometimes is. During
this Time, that is the Duration of the Heat, the
Head-ach is commonly extremely violent; the
Patient is alrnofl conflantly affected with Loath
ings, and fometimes even with Vomiting ; with
Thirft, difagreeable Rifings, a Bitternefs in the
Mouth ; and very little Urine. This Heat conti
nues for many Hours, frequently the whole
Night; it abates a little in the Morning, and the
Pulie, though always feverifh, is then fomething
lefs fo, while the Patient fuffers lefs, though flill
greatly dejected.
The Tongue is white and furred, the Teeth
are Foul, and the Breath frnells very difagreeably.
The Colour, Quantity and Confidence of the
Urine, are very various and changeable. Some
Patients are coftive, others frequently have fmall
Stools, without the leaft P^elief accruing from
them. The Skin is fometimes dry, and at other
Times there is fome fenfible Perfpiration, but
without any Benefit attending it. The Fever
augments every Day, and frequently at unex
pected
,o Of putrid Fevers.
pected irregular Periods. Befides that great Par-
roxyfrn or Increafe, which is perceivable in all
the Subjects of this Fever, fome have aiib other
Icfs intervening ones.
.13 8. When the Difeafe is left to itfelf, or in-
jpdidouHy treated ; or when it proves more power
ful than the Remedies againft it, which is by no
Means feldcrn the Cafe, the Aggravations of it
become longer, more frequent and irregular.
There is fcarcely an Interval of Eafe. The Pa
tient s Belly is Iwell d out like a Foot-ball ; a De-
hnum or Raving comes on ; he proves infenlible
ot his own Evacuations, which come away in
voluntarily ; he rejects Afliftance, and keeps mut
tering continually, with a quick, final!, irregu
lar Pulfe. Sometimes little Spots of a brown, or
of a livid Colour appear on the Surface, but par
ticularly about the Neck, Back and Bread. All
the Difcharges from his Body have a moft foetid
Smell : convi. Motions alfo fupervene, efpe-
cially in the Fc-.ce ; he lies down only on his
Back, finks dovn infenfibly towards the Feet
of the Bed, and picks about, as if catching
Flics; his Pulfe becomes fo quick and fo frriall,
that it cannot be perceived without Difficulty,
and . >t be counted. Kis Anguim feems
inexpreffible : his Sweats ilream down from
Agony : his Brcaft fwells out as if diflended by
Fullnefs, and he dies miferably.
239. When this Diflemper is lefs violent, or
more judicioufly treated, and the Medicines fuc-
cecd well, it continues for fome Days in the State
defcribed
Of putrid Fevers. 251
defcribed 237, without growing worfe, though
without abating. None of thefe Symptoms how
ever appear, defcribed 238 ; but, on the contrary,
all the Symptoms become milder, the Paroxyfms,
or Aggravations, are fhorter and lefs violent, the
Head-ach more fupportable ; the Difcharges by
Stool are lefs frequent, but more at once, and at
tended with Relief to the Patient. The Quantity
of Urine is very confiderable, though it varies at
different Times in Colour and Confidence, as be
fore. The Patient foon begins to get a little
Sleep, and grows more compofed and ealy. The
Tongue difeno^es itfelf from its Filth and Fur-
O c_>
rinefs, and Health gradually, yet daily, advances.
240. This Fever feems to have no critical
Time, either for its Termination in Recovery, or
in Death. When it is very violent, or very
badly conducted, it proves fornetimes fatal on the
ninth Day. Perfons often die of it from the
eighteenth to the twentieth ; fometimes only
about the fortieth ; after having been alternately
better and worfe.
When it happens but in a light Degree, it is
fometimes cured within a few Days, after the
earlieft Evacuations. When it is of a very different
Character, fome Patients are not out of Danger
before the End of fix Weeks, and even ftill later.
Never ihelefs it is certain, that thefe Fevers, ex
tended to this Length of Duration, often depend
in a great Meafure on the Manner of treating
them j and that in general their Courfe mufl be
deter-
Of putrid Fevers.
determined, fome time from the fourteenth to the
thirtieth Day.
241. The Treatment of this Species of Fe
vers is comprized in the following Method and
Medicines.
1, The Patient muft be put into a Regimen-,
and notwithstanding he is far from coftive, and
fpmetimes has even a fmall Purging, he fhould
receive one Glyfter daily. His common Drink
fhould be Lemonade, (which is made of the
Juice of Lemons, Sugar and Water) or the Ptiian
N. 3. Inftead of Juice of Lemons, Vinegar
may be occafionally fubftituted, which, with
Sugar and Water, makes an agreeable and very
wholefome Drink in thefe Fevers.
2, If there be an Inflammation alfo, which
may be difcovered by the Strength and the Hard-
nefs of the Pulfe, and by the Temperament and
Complexion of the Patient; if he is naturally
robufr, and has heated himfelf by any of the
Caufes delcribed, 232, he mould be bled once,
and even a fecond Time, if neceffary, fome
Hours after. I mud obferve however, that very
frequently there is no fuch Inflammation, and
that in flich a Cafe, Bleeding would be hurtful.
3, When the Patient has drank very plenti
fully for two Days of thefe Liquids, if his Mouth
flill continues in a very foul State, and he has
violent Reachings to vomit, he muft take the
Powder N. 34, difTolved in half a -f- Pot of
warm
t That is about t\vo Ounces more than a Pint and a half of OUT
Meafure.
Of putrid Fevers. 253
warm Water, a || Glafs of it being to be drank
every half Quarter of an Hour. But as this Me
dicine vomits, it muft not be taken, except we
are certain the Patient is not under any Circurn-
fhnce, which forbids the Ufe of a Vomit : all
which Circumftances fhall be particularly men
tioned in the Chapter, refpecting the Ufe of fuch
Medicines, as are taken by way of Precaution, or
Prevention. If the rirft Glaffes excite a plentiful
Vomiting, we muft forbear giving another, and
be content with obliging the Patient to drink a
confiderable Quantity of warm Water. But if
the former Claries do not occaflon Vomiting 1 ,
o
they muft be repeated, as already directed until
they do. Thole who are afraid of taking this
Medicine, which is ufually called, the Emetic,
may take that of N. 35, alfo drinking warm
W r ater plentifully during its Operation ; but the
former is preferable, as more prevalent, in dan
gerous Caies. We muft caution our Readers at
the fame Time, that wherever there is an Inflam
mation of any Part, neither of thefe Medicines
muft l)e given, which might prove a real Poifon
in fuch a Circumftance; and even if the Fever is
extremely violent, though there mould be no
particular Inflammation, they fhould not be
given.
The Time of giving them is foon after the End of
the Paroxyim, when the Fever is at the loweft. The
Medicine N. 34 generally purges, after it ceafes
to
jj About three Ounces,
254 Of putrid Few.
to make the Patient vomit : But N. 3 5 is feldotn
attended with the fame Effedt.
When the Operation of the Vomit is entirely
over, the Sick mould return to the Ufe of the
Ptiian , and great Care muft be taken to prohibit
them from the Ufe of Flefh Broth, under the
Pretext of working off a Purging with it. The
fame Method is to be continued on the fol
lowing Days as on the firft ; but as it is of Im
portance to keep the Body open, he fliould t.
every Morning fome of the Ptiian N. 32, Such,
as this would be tooexpeniive for, may fubflitute,
in the room of it, a fourth Part of the Powder
!N. 34 in five or fix dalles of Water, of which
they are to take a Cup every two Hours, begin
ning early in the Morning. Neverthelefs, if the
Fever be very high, N. 32 fhould be preferred
to it.
4, After the Operation of the Vomit, if the
Fever flill continue, if the Stools are remarkably
fcutid, and if the Belly is tenfe and diftended as it
were, and the Quantity of Urine is fmall, a
Spoonful of the Potion N. 10 mould be given
every two Hours, which checks the Putridity
and abates the Fever. Should the Diftemper be
come violent, and very preffing, it ought to be
taken every Hour.
5, Whenever, notwithftanding the giving all
thefe Medicines as directed, the Fever continues
obftinate ; the Brain is manifestly disordered ;
there is a violent Head-ach, or very great Reft-
lefsnefsj two blustering Pi-aiders N. 36 muft be
applied
Of putrid Fevers.
applied to the infide and flefliy Part of the Legs,
and their Suppuration and Discharge Ihould be
continued as long as pollible.
6, If the Fever is extremely violent indeed,
there is a NecefTity abfolutely to prohibit the Pa
tient from receiving the leal) Nourifhmc
7, When it is thought improper, or unfafe, to
rive the Vomit, the Patient mould take in the
c?
Morning, for two iucceMive Days, three Doles
of the Powder N. 24, at the Interval of one
Hour between each : This Medicine produces
lome bilious Stools, which greatly abate the Fever,
and coniiderably IcfTen the Violence of all the
other Symptoms of the Difeaie. Ti -y be
done with Succefs, when the exo. -ht
O
of the Fever prevents us from giving the Vomit :
and we mould limit ourfelves to tl icine,
as often as we are uncertain, whetl ir-
cumftances of the Difeafe and the Patient . ,:d-
mit of the Vomiting ; which may e dif-
penfed with, in many Cafes.
8, When the Diftemper has manifeftly and
considerably declined ; the Paroxyfms are more
flight i and the Patient continues without any
Fever for feveral Hours, the daii ; of
purging opening Drinks iliould be difcontinued.
The common Ptilans however fhould bj Hill
made Ule of; and it will be proper to give every
other Dav two Doles of the Pc-v.-.ler N. 24.,
j i *
which lurliciently obviates every ill Confequence
from this Difeaie.
9, If the Fev^r has been clearly off for a lon>
Part of the Day ; if the Tongue appears in a
good
2 5 6 Of putrid Fevers .
good healthy State ; if the Patient has been well
purged j and yet one moderate Paroxyfm of the
Fever returns every Day, he mould take four
Dofes of the Powder N. 14 between the End of
one Return and the Beginning of the next, and
continue this Repetition fome Days. People who
cannot eafily procure th*s Medicine, may fubfti-
tute, inftead of it, the bitter Decoction N. 37.
four dalles of which may be taken at equal In
tervals, between the two Paroxyfms or Returns
of the Fever.
10, As the Organs of Diireiiion have been
O O
considerably weakened through the Gourfe of
this Fever, there is a Neceility for the Patient s
conducting himfelf very prudently and regularly
long after it, with Regard both to the Quantity
and Quality of his Food. He ihould allb ufe
due Exercife as foon as his Strength will permit,
without which he may be liable to fall into
fome chronical and languiihin^ Diforder, produc
tive of considerable Languor and Weakneis.
As our Jail, Hofpital, and &* Camp Fevers may often
be ranged in this Clafs, as of the moft putrid Kind, and nor
fcldoin occafioned by bad Food, bad Air, unclean, unwhole-
fome Lodging, t3\. a judicious Ufe may certainly be made of
a fmall Quantity of genuine, and not ungenerous, Wine in fuch
of them, as are not blended with an inflammatory Caufe, or
inflammable ConfHtution, or which do not greatly refuh from a
bilious Caufe ; though in \,1r, where theie is manifeft
Lownef:. and Dejection, perhaf ttle Rbcnilh might be pro
perly interpofed between theL ;eand other Drinks direc-
ted24i. Doubtlefs Dr. T I 01 is perfedlly apprized of this
falutary Ufe of it in fome low Fevers ; but the Neceffity of its
being regulated by the Prefence of a Phyfician has probably
difpoied him rather to omit mentioning it, than to leave the Al
lowance of it to the Difcreiion. of a Jknpls CounLry Patient, or
his ignorant Ainitanu. A*.
CHAPTER
Of indignant Fevers. 257
CHAPTER XVIL
Of malignant Fevers.
SECT. 242.
HOSE Fevers are termed malignant,
T a in which the Danger is more than the
*" ^
Symptoms would make us apprehenr
i x / i 1 i* i
five oi : tncy have frequently a fatal
Event without appearing ib very perilous ; on
which Account it has been well faid of this Fever,
that it is a Dog which bites without barking.
S 24^. The diftinsuifhing Criterion or Mark
O 1 .. v_> O
of malignant Fevers is a total Lofs of the Patient s
Strength, immediately on their firft Attack. They
arife irorn a Corruption of the Humours, which
is noxious to ths very Source and Principle of
Strength, the Impairing or Deflrudion of which
is the Caufe of the Feehlenefs of the Symptoms ;
by Pveafon none of the Organs are ftrong enough
to exert an Oppofition fufBciently vigorous, to
fubdue the Cauie of the Diilemper.
If, for Inftance or Illustration, we were to
fuppofe, that when two Armies were on the Point
of engaging, one of them mould be nearly de
prived of all their Weapons, the Conteil would
not appear very violent, nor attended with great
Noiie or Tumult, though with a horrible MafTa-
R ere.
258 Of malignant Fevers.
ere. The Spectator, who, from being ignorant
of one of the Armies being, difarmed, would
not be able to calculate the Carnage of the Battle,
but in Proportion to its Noife and Tumu.c, rnuft
be extremely deceived in his Conception of it.
The Number of the Slain would be aftonifhing,
which might have been much lefs (though the
Noife and Clangor of it had been greater) if
each Army had been equally provided for the
Combat.
244. The Caufes of this Difeafe are a long
Ufe of animal Food or Flefh alone, without
Pulfe, Fruits or AcidG 3 the continued Ufe of
other bad Provisions, fuch as Bread made of da
maged Corn or Grain, or very flale Meat. Eight
Perlons, who dined together on corrupt Fifh,
were all feized with a malignant Fever, which
killed five of them, notwithftandins the Endea-
-. ^
vours of the moft able Phyficians. Thefe Fevers are
alfo frequently the Confequence of a great Dearth
or Famine; of too hot and moid an Air, or an Air,
Vv hich highly partakes of thefe two Qualities; fo
that they happen to fpread moft in hot Years, in
Places abounding with Marfhes and ftanding
Waters. They are alfo the Effect of a very clofe
and llagnant Air, efpecially if many Perfons are
crouded together in it, this being a Caufe that
particularly tends to corrupt the Air. Tedious
Grief and Vexation alfo contribute to generate
thefe Fevers.
245. The Symptoms of malignant Fevers
are, as I have already obferved, a total and fud-
den
Of malignant fevers. 259
of Strength, without any evident preced
ing Caufe, fufficient to produce iuch a Privation
ofStreneth: at the lame Time the.- h alfo an
o
utter Dejection of the Mind, which becomes al-
moil: infenfible and inattentive to every Thing,
and even to the Diieafe itfclf ; a iiidden Altera
tion in the Countenance, especially in the Eyes:
fome fmall Shiverinp-s, which are varied through-
o ] o
but the Space of twenty-four Hours, with little
Paroxyfms or Viciilitudes of Heat -, fometimes
there is a great Head-ach and a Pain in the
Loins j at other Times there is no perceivable
Pain in any Part; a kind of Sinki, r Faint-
ings, immediately from the Invaiion of the Dif-
eafe, which is always very unpromifing -, not the
leafl refrefhing Sleep; frequently a kind of half
Sleep, or Drowlineis ; a light and filent or in
ward Raving, which difcovers itfelf in the un-
ufual and aftonimed Look of the Patient, who
feems profoundly employed in meditating on
fomething, but really thinks of nothing, or not
at all : Some Patients have, however, violent
Ravings ; mod have a Senfation of Weight or
Oppreilion, and at other Times of a Binding or
Tightnefs about, or around, the Pit of the S te
rn ach.
The fick Perfon feems to labour under great
Anguifh : he has fometimes flight convulfive Mo
tions and Twitchings in his Face and hie Hands,
as well as in his Arms and Legs. His Senles
feem torpid, or as it were benumbed. I have
ieen many who had loft, to ail Appearance, the
R 2 whole
260 Of malignant Fevers.
whole five, and yet fome of them recover. It is
not uncommon to meet with feme, who neither
fee, underftand, nor fpeak. Their Voices change,
bccunc weak, and are fometimes quite loft.
Sciiie of them have a fixed Pain in iome Part
of" i lly : this arifes from a Stuffing or Ob-
ftrudlion, and often ends in a Gangrene, whence
this Symptom is highly dangerous and per-
ig.
The Ton sue is fometimes very little altered
v_- j
from its Appearance in Health ; at other Times
covered over with a yellowifh brown Humour ;
but it is more rarely dry in this Fever than in the
others ; and yet it fometimes does refemble a
Tongue that has been Ion? fmoaked.
o % o
The Belly is fometimes very loft, and at other
Times tcnfe and hard. The Pulfc is weak, feme-
times p. cgular, but always more quick than
in a natural Sta,te, and at fome Times even very
quick ; and fuch I have always found it, when
the Belly has been diftended.
The Skin is often neither hot, dry, nor moid :
h is frequently overfpread with petechial or erup
tive Spots (which are little Spots of a reddiili
livid Colour) cfpecially on the Neck, about th*
Shoulders, and upon the Back. At other Times
the Spots are larger and brown, like the Colour
^f Wheals frcm the Strokes of a Stick.
The Urine of the Sick is almoft conftantly
crude, that ii *-.f a lighter Colour than ordinary.
I have feen feme, which could not be diilin-
gniihed, merely by the Eye, from Milk. A
black
Of malignant Fsvjrs. 261
black and ftinking Purging fbmetimes attends
this Fever, which is mortal, except the Sick be
evidently relieved by the Difchargc.
Some of the Patients are infefled with li.-id
Ulcers on the Infide of the Mouth, and on the
Palate. At other Times AbfcefTes are formed in
the Glands of the Groin/ of the Arm-pit, in tL
between the Ears and the Jaw; or a Gaiijr.
may appear in fome Part, as on the Feet, the
Hands, or the Back. The Strength proves en
tirely fpent, the Brain is wholly confufed: :!ic
miferable Patient ftretched out on his Back, 1
quently expires under Convulfions, an enorm
Sweat, and an oppreffed Bread and Refpiration.
Haemmorrhages alfo happen! fometimes and
mortal, being almoft unexceptionably fuch in
this Fever. There is alfo in this, as in all other
Fevers, an Aggravation of the Fever in the
Evening.
246. The Duration and Crijis of thefe ma
lignant, as well as thofe of putrid Fevers, are
very irregular. Sometimes the Sick die c
feventh or eighth Day, more commonly I
the twelfth and the fifteenth, and not imYeq;
at the End of live or fix Weeks. The.b d.;. .
Durations refuk from the different Degre.
O
Strength of the Difeafe. Some of
at their firft Invafion are very flow ; and
few of the full Days, the l } atient, thougi-
weak, and with a very different Look and M
ner, fcarcely thinks himfeJf fick.
R 3- The
262 Of malignant Fevers.
The Term or Period of the Cure or the Recq-
very, is as uncertain as that of Death in this Dif-
temper. Some are out of Danger at the End of
fifteen D.TVS, and even fooner ; others not be
fore the Expiration of feveral Weeks.
The Signs which portend a Recovery are, a
little more Strength in the Pulfe j a more con
cocted Urine -, lefs Dejection and Difcourage-
ment ; a lefs confufed Brain ; an equal kindly
Heat ; a pretty warm or hot Sweat in a mode
rate Quantity, without Inquietude or Anguiih ;
the Revival of the different Senfes that were ex-
tinguifhcd, or greatly fufpended in the Progrefs
of the Difeafe ; though the Deafnefs is not a very
threatening Symptom, if the others amend while
it endures.
This Malady commonly leaves the Patient in
a very weak Condition ; and a long Interval will
enfue between the End of it, and their recover
ing their full Strength.
247. It is, in the firft place, of greater Im
portance in this Diflemper than in any other, both
for the Benefit of the Patients, and thofe who at
tend them, that the Air mould be renewed and
purified. Vinegar fhould often be evaporated
from a hot Tile or Iron in the Chamber, and
one Window kept a! mod conftantly open.
2, The Diet fhould be light; and the Juice of
Sorrel may be mixed with their Waters the Juice
of Lemons may be added to Soups prepared from
different Grains and Pulfe ; the Patient may eat
{harp
Of malignant Fevers. 263
iliarp acid Fruits, fuch as tart juicy * Cherries,
Goofeberries, fmall black Cherries ; and thole
who can afford them, may be allowed Lemons,
Oranges and Pomgranates.
3, The Patient s Linen mould be changed
every two Days.
4, Bleeding is very rarely necefTary, or even
proper, in this Fever j the Exceptions to which
are very fe^> , and cannot be thoroughly afcer-
tained, as. fit and proper Exceptions to the Omif-
fion of Bleeding, without a Phyfician, or fome
other very fkilful Perfon s feeing the Patient.
5, There is often very little Occafion forGlyf-
ters, which are fomctimes dangerous in this Fever.
6, The Patient s common Drink mould be
Barley Water made acid with the Spirit N. 10,
at the Rate of one Quarter of an Ounce to at lead
full three Pints of the Water, or acidulated agree
ably to his Tafte. He may allb drink Lemonade.
7, It is necdlarytoopen and evacuate the Bow
els, where a great Quantity of corrupt Hu
mours is generally lodged. The Powder N. 35
may be given for this Purpofe, after the Opera
tion of which the Patient generally finds himfelf
better, at leaft for fome Hours. It is of Impor
tance not to omit this at the Beginning of the
Difeafe ; though if it has been omitted at firft, it
R 4 were
* The French Word is Gricttes, which Beyer englim.es, the
Agrlot, the red or four Cherry \ and Cbfunbaiid, the fivecfer I;
black Cherry cr M^zxard But as Dr. TISSCT was rcccirmend-
ing the Uie of Acids, it is more probably tl.e firil of thefe : fo
that our Morellas, which make a pleafant Preierve, may be a
^ood Subftitute to them, fuppofing them not to be the fa 1
Berbery Jam, and Jelly of Red Currants, may be alfo em
ployed to anfwer the fame Indication. K.
264 Of : v$.
v/ere bed to give it even later, provided no par
ticular Inflammation has vened, and the
Patient has ftiil feme Strergth. I have given it,
and with remarkable Succefs, en the twentieth
Day.
8, Having by this Medicine expelled a confi-
ble Portion of the bad Rumours, which
. .tribute to feed and keep up the Fever, the
Patient iLould take every other Day, during the
Continuance of the Difeale, and fometimes
n every Day, one Dole of the Cream of
Tartar and Rhubarb N. 38. This P.emedy
,-cuates the corrupt Humours, prevents the
Corruption of the others; expells the Worms
are very common in thefe Fevers, which
the Patient fometimes difcharges upwards and
vnwiipJs ; and which frequently conduce to
many of the odd and extraordinary Symptoms,
that are obierved in malignant Fevers. In mort
it ftrengthens the Bowels, and, without checking
.-iFary Evacuations, it moderates the Loofe-
ieii it is hurtful.
9, It the Skin be dry, with a Loofenefs, and
that by checking it, we defign to increafe Perfpi-
ration, inftcad of the Rhubarb, the Cream of
Tartar may be blended with the Ipecacuana,
N. 39, which, being given in fmall and frequent
Doles, reftrains the Purging, and promotes Per-
fpiraticn. This Medicine, as the former, is to
be taken in the Morning; two Hours after, the
Sick muft bee in with the Potion N. 40, and re-
o r
peat it regularly every three Flours; until it be
inter-
*
Of malignant Fevers. 265
interrupted by giving one of the Medicines N. 38
or 39: After which the Potion is to be repeated
iicrain, as already directed, till the Patient STOWS
O J O
conliderably better.
10, If the Strength of the Sick be very con
siderably deprelTed, and he is in great Dejeclion
and Anguiih, he Ihpuld take, with every Draught
of the Potion, the Bolus, or Morfel N. 41. If
the Diarrbaa^ the Purging is violent^ there fhould
lie added, once or twice a Day to the Bolus, the
Weight of twenty Grains, or the Size of a very
Cj * -
imall Bean, of Diafwraium ; or if that is r
readily to be got, as much Venice Treacle.
n, Whenever, notwithstanding all this Af-
fiftance, the Patient continues in a State of Weak-
ncfs and Inlenfibility, two large Blifters fhould
be applied to the tielhy Iniides of the Legs, or a
large one to the Nape of the Neck : and fome-
times, if there be a great Drowiinefs, with a
mamfeft Embarraffmcnt of-- the Brain, they may
be applied with great Succefs over the whole
Head. Their Suppuration and Difcharge is to
be promoted abundantly ; and, if they dry up
within a fe.v Days, others are to be applied, and
their E /r.cuation is to be kept up for a confider-
able Time.
12. As foon as the Diftemper is fufficiently
abated, for the Patient to remain ibme Hours
with very little or no Fever, we mud avail our-
felves of this Interval, to give him fix, or at lead-
five Dofes of the Medicine N. 14, and repeat
the fame the next Day, which may prevent the
Return
266 Of malignant Fevers.
Return of the Fever : * after which it may be
iufficient to give daily only two Dofes for a few
Days.
13, When ihe Sick continue entirely clear of
a Fever, or any Return, they are to be put into
the Regimen of Perfons in a State of Recovery.
Bat if his Strength returns very ilouly, or not at
all ; in Order to the fpeedier Eftablifliment and
Confirmation of it, he may take three Doles a
Day of the *Tberiaca Pan- , - Man s
Treacle N. 42, the riril of them tailing, and
the orh-.T twelve Hours after. It were to be
wimed indeed, this Medicine was introduced into
all the Apothecaries Shops, as an excellent Sto
machic, in which Refpecl it is much preferable
to Venice Treacle, winch is an abfurd Compo-
fition, dear and often dangerous. It is true it
does not difpofe the Patients to Sleep ; but when
we would procure them Sleep, there are bet
ter Medicines than the Treacle to anfwer that
Purpofe. Such as may not think the Expence
of the Medicine N. 14, too much, may take
three Dofes of it daily for lome Weeks, inftead
of the Medicine N. 42, already directed.
248. It is neceflary to eradicate a Prejudice
that prevails among Country People, with Re
gard
* Obfervation and Experience have demonstrated the Advan
tage of the Rark, to obviate a Gangrene, and prevent the Putrc-
faftion of animal Subitances. We therefore conclude it may be
ufefully employed in malignant Fevers, as foon as the previous
and neceflary Evacuations mail have taken Place. E. L. Pro
vided there be very clear and regular Remiffi jns at leait. K.
Of malignant Fevers. 267
gard to the Treatment of thefe Fevers ; not only
becauie it is falfe and ridiculous, but even dan
gerous too. They imagine that the Application
of Animals can draw out the Poifon of the Dif-
eafe ; in Confequence of which they apply Poul
try, or Pigeons, Cats or fucking Pigs to the Feet,
or upon the Head of the Patient, having firft
iplit the living Animals open. Some Hours af
ter they remove their ftrange Applications, cor
rupted, and {linking very offensively ; and then
afcribe fuch Corruption and horrid Stink to the
Poifon they iuppofe their Application to be charg
ed with ; and which they fuppole to be the Ca
pf this Fever. But in this fuppofcd Extraction
of Poifon, they are grofly rmihken, lince the
Flefh does not ftink in Confequence of any fuch
Extraction, but from its being corrupted through
Moifture and Heat : and they contract no other
Smell but what they would have got, if they had
been put in any other Place, as well as on the Pa
tient s Body, that was equally hot and moift.
Very far from drawing out the Poifon, they aug
ment the Corruption of the Difeafe ; and it would
be fufiicient to communicate it to a found Perfon,
if he was to fuffer many of thefe animal Bodies,
thus abfurdly and ufeleily butchered, to be ap
plied to various Parts of his Body in Bed ; and to
iie ftill a long Time with their putrified Carcaies
fattened about him, and corrupting whatever Air
he breathed there.
With the fame Intention they fatten a living
Sheep to the Bed s-foot for feveral Hours; which,
though
268 Of malignant Fevers.
though not equally dangerous, is in fome Meafure
hurtful , fincethe more Animals there are in a Cham
ber, the Air of it is proportion-ably corrupted, or
altered at leaft from its natural Simplicity, bytheir
Refpiration and Exhalations : but admitting this
to be lefs pernicious, it is equally abfurd. Jt is
certain indeed, the Animals who are kept very
near the lick Feribn breathe in the poifonous, or
noxious Vapours \vhich exhale from his Body,
and may be incommoded with them, as well as
his Attendants : But it is ridiculous to fuppofe
their being kept near the Sick caufc-s fuch Poiibn
to come out cf their Bodies. On the very con
trary, in contributing fti!l further to the Corrup
tion of the Air, they increale the Difeafe, They
draw a falie Confequence, and no Wonder, from
a falfe Principle ; faying, if the Sheep dies, the
Sick will recover. Now, mod frequently the
Sheep does not die j notwithstanding which the
Sick fometimes recover j and fometimes they
both die.
249. The Caufe of rhalignant Fevers is, not
infrequently, combined with other Difeafes, whofe
Danger it extremely increafes. It is blended for
Inftance, with the Poifon of the Small-Pocks,
or of the Meafles. This may be known by the
Union of thpfe Symptoms, which carry the Marks
of Malignity, with the Symptoms of the other
Difeafes. Such combined Cafes are extremely
dancrerous ; they demand the utmoft Attention of
w^ 1 "
the Phyfician j nor is it poffible to prefcribe their
exacl:
Of intermitting Fevers. 269
exact Treatment here ; fince it conftfts in general
of a Mixture of the Treatment of each Difeafe ;
though the Malignity commonly demands the
greateft Attention.
; x<*c
CHAPTER XVIII.
Of intermitting Fevers.
SECT. 250.
}O6O(NTERMiTTiNG Fever;, commonly cal-
* I <f) led here, Fevers and Agues, are thofe,
which after an Invalion and Continu-
/^v/f\/t\?f\ r r T T i
ance tor lome Hours, abate very per-
ccivably, as well as all the Symptoms attendi
them, and then entirely ceafe ; neverthelefs, not
without fome periodical or ftated Return of
them.
They were very frequent with us fome Years
fince : and indeed might even be called enidemi-
*~ L
cal : but for the five or iix lad Years, they have
j
been much lefs frequent throughout the greater
Part of Swijjerland : notwithftanding they ilill
continue in no linall Number in all Places, where
the Inhabitants breathe the Air that prevails in all
the marfhy Borders of the Rhone, and in fome
other Situations that are expofed to much the
lame humid Air and Exhalations.
25 1 -
~o Of intermitting Fevers,
2ci. There are feveral Kinds of intermit-
w/
ting Fevers, which take their different Names
from the Interval or different Space of Time, in
which the Fits return.
If the Paroxyfm or Fit returns every Day, it
is either a true Quotidian, or a double Tertian
Fever : The firfl of thcie may be diftinguifLed
from the laft by this Circumilance, that in the
Quotidian, or one Day Fever, the Fits are long ;
and correfpond pretty regularly to each other in
Degree and Duration. This however is Id s fre
quent in Switzerland. In the double Tertian,
the Fits are fhorter, and one is alternately light,
and the other more fevere.
In the iimple Tertian, or third Day s Fever,
the Fits return every other Day ; fo that three
Days include one Paroxyfm, and the Return of
another.
In a Quartan, the Fit returns every fourth
Day, including the Day of the firft and that of
the fecond Attack : fo that the Patient enjoys
two clear Days between the two iick ones.
The other kinds of Intermittent are much
rarer. I have feen however one true Quintan,
or fifth Day Ague, the Patient having three clear
Days between two Fits ; and one regularly week
ly Ague, as it may be called, the Vifnation of
every Return happening every Sunday.
$ 2C2. The iirft Attack of an intermittent
i 1
Fever often happens, when the Patient thought
himfelf in perfect Health. Sometimes however
it is preceded by a Senfation of Cold and a kind^
of
Of intermitting Fevers. 2jl
ofNumbnefs, which continue lome Days before
the manifeft Invaiion of the Fit. It begins with
o
frequent Yawnings, a LalTimde, or S >n of
V/carincis, \vii:h a general Weaknels, with Cold-
nefs, Shivering and Shaking : There is alfo a
o o
Palenefs of the extreme Parts of the Body, at
tended with Loathings, and fometimes an actual
\ omitii: The Pulie is quick, weak, and final!,
and there is a coniiderabie Degree of Thiril.
At the End of an Hour or two, and but fel-
dom ib longfcs three or four Flours, a Heat ilic-
ceeds, which increafes infenfiblv, and becomes
/ . *
violent at its Height. At this Period the whole
Body grows red, the Anxiety of the Patient
abates ; the Pulfe is very i: .d large, and
his Thiift proves exceilive. He complains of n
violent Head-ach, and of a Pain in all his Limbs,
but of a different fort of Pain from that he \
ienfible of, while his Coldncfs continued. Fi
nally, having endured this hot State, four, five
or fix Flours, he falls into a general Sweat for a
few more: upon which all the Symptoms already
mentioned abate, and fometimes Sleep fuper-
venes.
At the Conclufion of this Nap the Patient of
ten wakes without any fcnfiblc Fever j complain
ing only of Laflitude and Weaknels. Sometimes
his Pulfe returns entirely to its natural State be
tween the two Fits ; though it often continues
a little quicker than in perfecl Health ; and does
not recover its firft Diilinclnefs and Slownel*, till
fome Days after the laft Fit.
One
Of intermitting Fevers.
One Symptom, which moft particularly cha-
raderifes thefe leveral Species of intermitting
Fevers, is the Quality of the Urines which the
Sick pafs after the Fit. They arc of a reddith
Colour,- and let fall a Sediment, or Settli.
which exadly rcfembles Brick-daft. They are
fometimes frothy too, and a Pellicle, or thin tilmy
Skin, appears on the Top, and adheres to the
js of the Glafs that contains them.
2^3. The Duration of each Fit is of no
fixed Time or Extent, being various according
o o
to the particular ibrt of Intermittents, and through
many other Circumftances. Sometimes they return
j-i .cifely at the very fame Hour ; at other Times
they come one, two, or three Hours fooner, and
in other Inftances as much Lucr than the for
mer. It has Icen imagined that thofe Fevers,
whole \ us returned fooner than uibal,
were fooner finally tenriin:Ued : but there feems
>
to he no general Rule in this Gale.
254. intermitting Fevers are diftinguifhed
into thofe of Spring and Autumn. The former
lerally prevail from February to June : the
latter are thofe which reign from July to January.
Their efientiaj Nature and Characters are the
very fame, as they are riot different Diflempers;
though the va.ious Circumftances attending
O O
deferve our Confederation. Thefe Circumftances
depend on the Seafon itfelf, and the Conflitu-
tidn of the Patients, during fuch Seaibns. The
Spring Intermittents are fometimes blended with
an inflammatory Dilpofition, as that is the D! (pe
tition-
Of intermitting Fevers. 273
fition of Bodies in that Seafon ; but as the Wea
ther then advances daily into an improving State,
the Spring Fevers are commonly of a fhorter Du
ration. The autumnal Fevers are frequently
combined and aggravated with a Principle of Pu-
trefaclion ; and as the Air of that Seaibn rather
degenerates, they are more tedious and obili-
nate.
255. The autumnal Fevers feldom begin
quite io early as July, but much oftner in An-
guft: and the Duration to which they are often
extended, has increased the Terror which the
People entertain of Fevers that begin in that
Month. But that Prejudice which alcribes their
Danger to the Influence of Auguft, is a very
abfurd Error ; fmce it is better they mould fet in
then than in the following Months ; becaufe
O
they are obftinate in Proportion to the Tardinels,
the Slownefs of their Approach. They fome-
times appear at firft confiderably in the Form of
putrid Fevers, not afTuming that of Intermittents
till fome Days aftec their Appearance : but very
happily there is little or no Danger in miftaking
them for putrid Fevers, or in treating them like
fuch. The Brick-coloured Sediment, and parti
cularly the Pellicle or Film on the Surface of the
Urine, are very common in autumnal Intermit-
4ents, and are often wanting in the Urine of pu
trid Fevers. In thefe latter, it is generally lefs
high coloured, and leaning rather to a yellow, a
kind of Cloudinefs is fufpended in the Middle of
S it.
2 74 Qf intermitting Fivers.
it. Theie alib depofite a white Sediment, which
affords no bad Prognoftic.
256. Generally fpeaking, intermitting Fe
vers are not mortal j often terminating in Health
of their own Accord (without the Uie of any
Medicine) after ibme Fits. In this lail Refpec"t
Intermittents in the Spring differ confiderably
from thofe in the Fall, which continue a lon-
Time, and fometimes even until Spring, if they
are not removed by Art, or if they have been
improperly treated.
Quartan Fevers are always more obftinate and
inveterate than Tertians ; the former fometimes
pcrfevering in certain Conftitutions for whole
Ye When thefe Sorts of Fevers occur in
boggy marmy Countries, they are not only very
chronical or tedious, but Perfons infefted with
them are liable to frequent Relaples.
257. A few Fits of an Intermittent are not
very injurious, and it happens fometimes, that
they are attended with a favourable Alteration of
the Habit in Point of Health ; by their extermi
nating the Caufe or Principle of ibme languid and
tedious Diforder j though it is erroneous to con-
iider them as falutary. If they prove tedious
and obflinate, and the Fits are long and violent,
they weaken the whole Body, impairing all its
Functions, and particularly the Digellions : They
make the Humours iharp and unbalmy, and in
troduce feveral other Maladies, iuch as the Jaun
dice, Dropfy, Afthma .and How wailing Fevers.
Nay fometimes old Perfons, and thofe v> ho are
very
Of intermitting Fevers.
tj O / J
very weak, expire in the Fit; though fuch an
Event never happens hut in the cold Fit.
258. Very happily Nature has afforded us
a Medicine, that infallibly cures thefe Fevers;
this, is the Kinkina, or Jefuits Bark j and as
we are poifeifed of this certain Remedy, the only
remaining Difficulty is to difcover, if there be
not fome other Difeafe combined with thefe
Fevers, which Difeaie might be aggravated by
the Bark. Should any fuch exift, it mud: be re
moved by Medicines adapted to it, before the
Bark is given. *
82 259.
* This admirable Medicine was unknown in Europe, till about
one hundred and twenty Years part; we are obliged to the Spa
niards for it, who found it in the Province of Quito in Peru ;
the Countefs of Chinchon being t!\e firft European who ufed it in
America, whence it was brought to Spain, under the Name of
the Counteffes Powder. The Jefuits having foon difpenfed and
diftributed it abroad, it became ftill more publick by the Name
of the Jefuits Powder: and fince it has been known by that of Kin-
kina or the Peruvian Bark. It met with great Opposition at firft ;
fome deeming it a Poifon, while others confidered it as a divine
Remedy : fo that the Prejudices of many being heightened In-
their Animofity, it was nearly a full Century, before its true Vir
tue and its Ufe were agreed to : and about twenty Years fince the
moft unfavourable Prejudices againft it pretty generally iubfided.
The Infufficience of other Medicines in feveral Cafes; its great Efti-
cacioufnefs; and the many and furprizingCures which it did, and
daily doeseffeft; theNumber of Diftempers ; the different kinds of
Fevers, in which it proves the fovereign P.emedy ; its Effccls in
the moft difficult chirurgical Cafes; the Comfort, the Strength and
Sprits it gives thofe who need and take it, have at length opened
every Perfons Byes ; Ib that it has almoft unanimoufly obtained
the firft Reputation, among the moft efficacious Medicines. The
World is no longer arnufed with Appreheniions of its injuring the
Stomach ; of its fixing, wfitttting up the Fever v as the Phraic has
been)
V
2 7 & O/ intermitting Fevers.
259. In the vernal, or Spring-Fevers, if
the Fits are not very fevcre ; if the Patient is evi
dently well in their Intervals ; if his Appetite, his
Strength, and his Sleep continue as hi Plealth,
no Medicine mould he given, nor any other Me
thod he taken, hut thot of putting the Perlbn, un
der fuch a gentle Intermittent, upon the Regimen
directed for Peribns in a State of Recovery. This
J
is fuch a Regimen as pretty generally agrees with
all the Subjects of theie Fevers : for if they
mould he reduced to the Regimen proper in acute
Difeaics, they would be weakened to no Purpofe,
and perhaps be the worfe for it. But at the lame
Time if we were not to retrench from the Quan
tity, nor iomcwhat to vary the Quality of their
ufual Food in a State of Health ; as there is not
the lead Digeftion made in the Stomach, during
the whole Term of the Fit; and as the Stomach
is always weakened a little by the Difeafe, crude
and indigefted Humours would be produced,
which misrht afford a Fuel to the Difeafe. Not
o
the leaft folid Food mould be allowed, for at
lead two Hours before the ufual Approach of the
Fit.
260.
been) without curing it ; that it (huts up the Wolf in the Sheep-
fold ; that it throws theft: who take it into che Scurvy, the Alth-
ina, the Dropfy, the Jaundice. On the contrary they are per-
fuaded it prevents thefe very Difeafes ; and, that if it is ever
hurtful, it is only when it is eituer adulterated, as mofc great Re
medies have been ; or has been wrongly prefcribcd, or improperly
taken : or laftly when it meets with lome latent, fome unknown
Particularities in a Conftitution, which Phyficians term an laiofw-
fra/}, ;iud \vincii pi event or pervert its very general Efforts TISSOT,
Of intermitting Ft vcrs. 2 77
260. If the Fever extends boyond the fixth,
or the feventh Fit ; and the Patient feems to
havenoOccafion for a Purge j which may be learn
ed by attending to the Chapter, which treats of
Remedies to be taken by Way of Precaution ; *
he may take the Bark, that is the Powder N.
14. If it is a Quotidian, a daily Fever, or a
double Tertian, fixDofes, containing three Quar
ters of an Ounce, fhould be taken between the
two Fits ; and as thefe IntermiiTions commonly
confift of but ten or twelve, or at the mod: of
fourteen or fifteen Hours, there fhould be an In
terval of only one Hour and a half between each
Dole. During this Interval the Sick may take
two of his ufuul Refreshments or Suppings.
When the Fever is a Tertian, an Ounce Ihould
be given between the two Fits : which makes
o
eight Doles, one of which is to be taken every
three Hours.
In a Quartan I direct one Ounce and a half,
to be taken in the fame Manner. It is meer
trilling to attempt preventing the Returns with
imaller Doles. The frequent Failures of the
S 3 Bark
It happens very feldrm that intermitting Fevers require f no
Purge towards their Cure, cipecially in Places,*which are difp
to generate Putridity. There is always Come material Caul^ ef-
ilntial to thefe Fevers, of which Nature difembarrafies her-
:nore eafily by Stools, than by any other Discharge : And as
there is not the lealt Danger to be apprehended from a tr
Purge, fuch at thofe of N^. 1 1 or 23, we think it would t..j pru
dent always to premife a Dole or two of either to the B.irk. I
f Yet I have kiK>v. nmany in \\i>on> no Pur^e was nccefiary, and huve feen
fi me rendered more obftinate and chronical by erroneous Purging. liut a \
if, very g,enua!!/ nuc-ifory b-^toi t the Baik is given. K.
2 y 8 Of intermitting Fevers.
Bark are owing to over fmall Dofes. On fuch
Occafions the Medicine is cried down, and cen-
jured as ufelefs, when the Difappointment is
iblely the Fault of thole who do not employ it
properly. The laft Dofe is to he given two
Hours before the uiual Return of the Fit.
The Dofes, juft mentioned, frequently pre
vent the Return of the Fit ; hut whether it re
turns or not, after the Time of its ufual Dura
tion is paft, repeat the fame Quantity, in the
fame Number of Doles, and Intervals, which
certainly keeps off another. For fix Days fol
lowing, half the fame Qujantity muft be continued,
in the Intervals that would have occurred between
the Fits, if they had returned : and during all
this Time the Patient fhould inure himfelf to as
much Exercife, as he can well bear.
261. Should the Fits be very ftrong, the
Pain of the Head violent, the Vifage red, the
Pulle full and hard; if there is any Cough; if,
even after the Fit js over, the Pulfe flill is per-
ceivably hard ; if the Urine is inflamed, hot and
high-coloured, and the Tongue very dry, the
Patient muft be bled, and drink plentifully of
Barley Water N. 3. Thefe two Remedies ge
nerally bring the Patient into the State defcribed
2^9: in which State he may take on a Day,
when the Fever is entirely off, three or four
Dofes of the Powder N. 24, and then leave the
Fever to puriue its own Courfe for the Space of a
few Fits. But Should it not then terminate of
itlelh the Bark mail be recurred to.
If
Of intermitting Fevers. 279
If the Patient, even in the Interval of the
Returns, has a foetid, furred Mouth, a Loath
ing, Pains in the Loins, or in the Knees, much
Anxiety, and bad Nights, he ihould be purged
with the Powder N. 2 1 or the Potion N. 23, be
fore he takes the Bark.
262. If Fevers in Autumn appear to be of
the continual kind, and very like putrid Fevers,
the Patients mould drink abundantly of Barley
Water ; and if at the Expiration of two or three
Days, there m ll appears to be a Load or Opprei-
fion at the Stomach, the Powder N. 34 or that of
35 is to be given (but fee 241): and if, after the
Operation of this, the Signs of Putridity continue,
the Body is to be opened with repeated Doles of
the Powder N. 24 ; or, where the Patients are
very robuft, with N. 21 ; and when the Fever
becomes quite regular, with diftinct Remiffiom at
Jeaflj the Bark is to be given as directed 260.
But as autumnal Fevers are more obftinate ;
after having diicontinued the Bark for eight Daysj
ani notwithstanding there has been no Return
of the Fever, it is proper to relume the Bark, and
.to give three Doles of it daily for the fucceeding
eight Days, more especially if it was a Quartan ;
in which Species I have ordered it to be repeated,
every other eight Days, for fix Times.
Many People may find it difficult to comply
with this Method of Cure, which is unavoidably
expenfive, through the Price of the Bark. I
thought however this ought not to prevent me
S 4 from
280 Of intermitting Fevers.
from averring it to be the only certain one j fince
nothing can be an equivalent Succ. daneum or Sub-
flitute to this Remedy, which is the only fare
and fafe one in all thefe Cafes. The World had
long been prepoiTeffed with Prejudices to the con
trary : it was fuppofed to be hurtful to the Sto
mach ; to prevent whu ch it has been ufual to
make tie Sick eat (bmething an Hour after it.
Neverthelefs, very far from injuring the Stomach,
it is the heft Medicine in theUniverie to ftren^thcn
o
it; and it is a pernicious Cuftom, when a Patient
is obliged to take it often, to eat an Hour after it.
It had alfo been imagined to caufe Obftrudions,
and that it lubjeCted Patients to a Dropfy: but at
prefent we are convinced, it is the obftinate and
inveterate Duration of the Intermittent, that
Caufes Obftruclions, and paves the Way to a Drop-
jy. The Bark, hi Confequence of its fpeedily
curing the Fever, decs not only prevent the for
mer Difcufc ; but when it continues, through an
injudicious Omifiion of the Bark, a proper Ufe of
it is ierviceable in the Dropfy. In a Word, if
there is any other Malady combined with the
Fever, fometimes that indeed prevents the Suc-
ccis of the Bark, yet without rendering it hurt
ful. But whenever the intermitting Fever is
iimpje and uncoinbined, it ever has, and ever
1 render the Patient all poffible Service. In
another Place I ihall mention fuch Means and
Methods as rnsv in fome Decree, though but
o o
be fubilituted inftead of it.
Aft
Of intermitting Fcws. 281
After the Patient has begun with the Bark, he
mufUake no purging Medicine, as that Evacua
tion would, with the greateft Probability, occa-
fion a Return of the Fever.
263. Bleeding is never, or extremely feldom
indeed necelTary in a Quartan Ague, which oc
curs in the Fall oftner than in the Spring ; and
with the Symptoms of Putridity rather than of
Inflammation.
264. The Patient ought, two Hours before
the Invaiion of the Fit, to drink a fmall Glafs of
warm Elder Flower Tea, fweetened with Honey,
every Quarter of an Hour, and to walk about mo
derately ; this difpofes him to a very gentle Sweat,
and thence renders die enfuing Coldnefs and the
whole Fit milder. He is to continue the fame
Drink throughout the Duration of the cold Fit 3
and when the hot one approaches, he may either
continue the fame, or fubm tute that of N. 2,
which is more cooling. It is not necefTary how
ever, in this State, to drink it warm, it is fuf-
fkient that it be not over cold. When the Sweat,
at the Termination of the hot Fit, is concluded,
the Patient ihould be well wiped and dried, and
may get up. If the Fit was very long, he may
be allowed a little Gruel, or ibme other fuch
Nouriihment during the Sweat.
265. Sometimes the firft, and a few fuccef-
five Doles of the Bark purge the Patient. Thi-.
is no otherwife an ill Conlequence, than by its
retarding the Cure ; iince, when it purges, it
cloes not commonly prevent the Return of the
Fever - s
282 Of intermitting Fevers.
Fever ; fo that thefe Dofes may be confidered as
to no Purpoie, and others ftiould be repeated,
which, ceafing to purge, do prevent it. Should
the Loofenefs notwithstanding continue, the Bark
muft be difcontinued for one entire Day, in order
to give the Patient half a Quarter of an Ounce of
Rhubarb : after which the Bark is to be refumed
again, and if the Loofenefs ilill perfeveres, fifteen
Grains of Venice Treacle fhould be added to each
Dole, but not otherwife. All other Medicines
which are fuperadded, very generally ierve only
to incrcafe the Bulk of the Dole, while they leffen
its Virtue.
266. Before our thorough Experience of
the Bark, other bitter Medicines were ufed for the
lame Purpoie : thefe indeed were not deftitute of
Virtue in fuch Cafes, though they were con-
fiderably lefs available than the Bark. Under
N. 43, fome valuable Prefcriptions of that kind
may be feen, whole Efficacy I have often expe
rienced : though at other Times J have been
obliged to leave them off, and recur to the Bark
more fuccefsfully; Filings of Iron, which enters
into the third Prefcription, arc an excellent Fe
brifuge in particular Cafes and Circumftances.
In the Middle of the Winter 1753, I cured a
Patient of a Quartan Ague with it, who would
not be prevailed on to take the Bark. It muft be
confeffed he was perfectly regular in obferving
the Regimen directed for him ; and that, during
the mod rigid Severity of the Winter, he got
every Day on Horfeback, and took fuch a De
gree
Of intermitting Fevers. 283
gree of other Exercife in the open Air, as dif-
pofed him to perfpire abundantly.
267. Another very practicable eafy Method,
pf which I have often availed my Patients, under
tertian Fevers (but which lucceeded with me
only twice in Quartans) was to procure the Suf
ferer a very plentiful Sweat, at the very Time
when the Fit was to return, in its ufual CourK-.
To effect this he is to drink, three or four Hours
before it is expected, an Infuiion of Elder Flowers
fweetened with Honey, which I have already
recommended 264 ; and one Hour before the
ufual Invafion of the Shivering, he is to go into
Bed, and take, as hot as he can drink it, the Pre-
Precription N. 44.
I have alfo cured fome Tertians and even
Quartans, in 1751 and 1752, by giving them,
every four Hours between the Fits, the Powder
N. 45. But I mull acknowledge that, beiides
its having often failed me, and its never fucceed-
ing ib fpeedily as the Bark, I have found it weak
en fome Patients j it diforders, or difagrees with,
their Stomach : and in two Cafes, where it had
removed the Fever, I was obliged to call in the
Bark for a thorough Eflablilhment of the Pa
tient s Health. Nevertheless as theie Medicines
are very cheap and attainable, and often do fuc-
ceed, I thought I could not properly omit them.
268. A Multitude of other Remedies are
cried up for the Cure of Fevers : though none
of them are equally efficacious with thofe I have
directed : and as many of them are even dan
gerous,
284 Of intermitting Freer ^
gerous, it is prudent to abftain from them. Some
Years iince certain Powders were ibid here, un
der the Name of the Berlin Powders ; thefe are
nothing but the Bark maiqucd or difgnifed (which
has f;metimes been publickly difcovered) and
have always been fold very dear : though the
J , O
Bark w v ell choien, and frcfhly powdered when
v.anted, is greatly preferable.
269. I have often known Peafants, who had
laboured for feveral Months under intermitting
Fevers -, having made Ufc of many bad Medi
cines and Mixtures for ^ and obferved no Man
ner of Regimen. Such I have happily treated
by giving them the Remedies N. 34, or 3 5; ;
and afterwards, for fome Days, that of N. 38 ;
at the End of which Time, 1 have ordered them
the Bark (See 260) or other Febrifuges, as at
266, 267 ; and then finally ordered them
for fome Days, to take Models of the poor Man s
Treacle (See i^-^Art. 13) to ftrengthen and
confirm their Digeftions, which I have iound very
vAeak and irregular.
o
270. Some Intermittents are diftinguiihed as
pernicious or malignant, from every Fit s being at
tended \vith the moft violent Symptoms. The
Fulfe is fmall and irregular, the Patient exceed
ingly deiecled, and frequently fwoonir.-g ; afflic
ted with inexprefiible Anguifh, Convuliions, a
deep Drowfinefs, and continual Efforts to go to
Stocl, or make Urine, but inefFec-lually. This
Difeafe is highly preffing and dangerous ; the Pa
tient may die in the third Fit, and rarely furvivcs
the
Of intermitting Fevers. 285
the fixth, if he is not very judicioufly treated.
Not a Moment mould be loft, and there is no
other Step to be taken, but that of giving the
Bark continually, as directed 260, to prevent
the fucceeding Fits. Theie worft Kinds of In-
o
termittents are often combined with a great Load
of putrid Humours in the rft Pal};, arid .
often as fuch an aggravating Combination is very .
evident, we mould immediately after the End of
one Fit, give a Dofe of Ipecacuana N c . 35, and,
when its Operation is rimmed, give the Bark.
But I chtife to enter into very few Details on this
Species of Intermittents, both as they occur but
feldom, and as the Treatment of them is too dif
ficult and important, to bs fubmitted to the Con-
dud: of any one but aPhyiician. My Intention has
only been to reprefent them furliciently, that they
may be fo diftinguimed when they do occur, as
to apprize the People of their great Danger.
271. -The fame Caufe which produces thefe
intermitting Fevers, frequently allo occalions Dil-
orders, which return periodically at the fame
Hour, without Shivering, without Heat, and of
ten without any Qiucknefs of the Pulie. Such
Diibrders generally preferve the Intermiffions of
quotidian or tertian Fevers, but much feldomer
thofe of Quartans. I have feen violent Vomit-
tings, and Reachings to vomit, with inexpreifible
Anxiety ; the fevereft Opprefiions, the moil: rack
ing Cholics; dreadful Palpitations and exceilive
Tooth-achs: Pains in the Head, and verv often
j
an unaccountable Pain over one Eve, the Evelid,
^ J
Eyebrow,
j *
286 Of intermitting Fevers >
Eyebrow and Temple, on the fame Side of the
Face ; with a Rednefs of that Eye, and a conti
nual, involuntary trickling of Tears. I have alfo
ieen inch a prodigious Swelling of the affected
Part, that the Eye projected, or ftood out, above
an Inch from the Head, covered by the Eyelid,
which was alfo extremely inflated or puffed up.
All theie Maladies begin precifely at a certain
Hour ; lalt about the ulual Time of a Fit ; and
terminating without any fenfible Evacuation, re
turn exactly at the fame Hour, the next Day, or
the next but one.
There is but one known Medicine that canef-
fectually oppofe this Sort, which is the Bark, given
as directed 260. Nothing affords Relief in the
Fit, and no other Medicine ever fufpends or puts
it off. But I have cured fome of thefe Diibrders
with the Bark, and efpecially thofe affecting the
Eyes, which happen oftner than the other Symp
toms, after their Duration for many Weeks, and
after the ineffectual Ufe of Bleeding, Purging,
Baths, Waters, Blifters, and a great Number of
other Medicines. If a lufficient Dole of it be gi
ven, the next Fit is very mild ; the fecond is
prevented ; and I never faw a Relapfe in theie
Cafes, which fometimes happens after the Fits of
common Intermittents feemed cured.
272. In Situations where the Conftitution of
the Air renders thefe Fevers very common, the
Inhabitants ihould frequently burn in their Rooms,
at leait in their lodging Rooms, fome aromatic
Wood or Plerbs. They ihould daily chew fome
Juniper
Of Intermitting Fevers. 287
Juniper Berries, and drink a fermented Infufion
of them. Thefe two Remedies are very effec
tual to fortify the weakeft Stomachs, to prevent
Obftrudions, and to promote Perlpiration. And
as thefe are the Caufes which prolong thefe Fe
vers the moft obftinately ; nothing is a more cer
tain Preferva r ion from them than thefe cheap and
obvious Affiftances. *
CHAPTER
* t have fecn feveral Cafes in very marfhy maritime Countries
\vi:h little good drinking Water, and far South of S^iJJfr.
whore intermitting Fevers, with Agues at different Intervals, are
annually endemic, very popular, and often lo obftinate as to re
turn repeatedly, whenever the weekly precautionary Dofes of the
Bark have been omitted (through the Patient s naufestfing the fre
quent Swallowing of it) fo that the Difeafe has fometimes been
extended beyond the Term of a full Year, and even far into a fg-
cond, including the temporary Removals of it by the Bark. Ne-
verthelefs, in lome fuch obftinate Intermittent:?, and particularly
Quartans there, wherein the Bark alone has had but a fhort cir.d
imperfect Effeft, I have known the following Compofition, after a.
good Vomit, attended with fpecdy and final Succefs, viz. Take
of frelh Sail afras Bark, of Virginia Snake-root, of Roch-Allom,
of Nutmeg, of diaphoretic Antimony, and of Salt of Wormwood
of each one Drachm. To thefe well rubbed together into fine
Powder, add the Weight of the whole, of the bell and frefheit
Bark ; then drop in three Drops of the chemical Oil of Mint,
and with Syrup of Cloves make it into the Confidence of an Elec
tuary orBolus, for 12 Dofes for a grown Perfon, to be taken at
the Diilance of three or four Hours from each other, while the
Patient is awake, according to the longer or fhorter Interrnifiion
of the Fever.
I have alfo known, particularly in obftinate autumnal Agues
there, an In.ufion of two Ounces of the beft Bark in fine Powder,
or two Ounces and a half in grofs Powder, in a Quart of the
Brandy, for three or four Days (a fmall Wine Glafs to be taken
by grown Perfons at the Diftance of from four to fix Hours) ef
fectually and fpeedily terminate fuch invetei-tte Ap;ues, as hud gi
ven but little Way to the n Subftance. This was certainly
rnoft fuitable for thole who were mi of a light delicate Hnb>
1 emperament, and who had not be; j n remarkable for their Ab-
itincnce
288 Of tie Erifipcltis, ana
CHAPTER XIX.
Of the Erifpchis, and the Biles of Amnuils.
ECT. 373.
Eriiipelas, commonly called in
T *$ Englifh, St. Anthony s Fire, and in
3 Swifferland the Violet, is fometimes but
a very flight Indifpofition which ap
pears on the Skin, without the Perfon s being fen-
iible of any other Diforder j and it fnoil com
monly breaks out either in the Face, or on the
Legs. The Skin becomes tenfe, or ftiff, rough
and red ; but this Rednefs diiappears on preffing
the Spot with a Finger, and returns on removing
it. The Patient feels in the Part affected a burn
ing Heat, which makes him uneafy, and fome
times hinders him from fleeping. The Diforder
increafes for the Space of two or three Days ;
continues at its Height one or two, and then
abates. Soon after this, that Part of the Skin
that was affected, falls ofF in pretty large Scales,
and the Diforder entirely terminates.
2 74-
(linence from ftrong Liquors : the inebriating Force of the Brandy
being remarkably leilened, by the Addition and long Infaiion of
the Bark. Thefe Fads which I law, are the lefs to be wondered
as in fych inveterate, but perfectly clear and diftinft Intermit-
tents lA>th the State of the Fluids and Solids feem vtry oppofiw
to their Sute in an acutely inflammatory Difeaic. A .
e J5//w vf Animahi 280
** s
274. But fometimes this Malady is con-
iiderably more fevere, beginning with a violent
Shivering, which is fucceeded by a burning Heat,
a vehement Head-ach, a Sicknefs at Heart, as it is
commonly termed, or Reacnings to vomit, which
continue till the Erifipehu appears, which fome
times does not happen before the fecond, or even
the third Day. The Fever then abates, and the
Sicknefs goes off, though frequently a lefs De
gree of Fever, and of Sicknefs or Loathing re
main, during the whole Time, in which the
Difeafe is in its increasing State. When the
Eruption and Inflammation happen in the Face,
the Head-ach continues, until the Decline, or
going off, of the Difeafe. The Eyelid fwells,
the Eye is clofed, and the Patient has not the
leaf! Eafc or Tranquillity. It often paries from
one Cheek to the other, and extends fuccefnvely
over the Forehead, the Neck, and the Nape of
the Neck ; under which Circumftance the Dif
eafe is of a more than ordinary Duration. Some
times alfo when it exifls in a very high Degree,
the Fever continues, the Brain is obilrudted and
oppreffed ; the Patient raves ; his Cafe becomes
extremely dangerous ; whence fonietimes, if he ;s?
nut very judiciouily aflifted, he dies, efpecially if
of an advanced As;e. A violent iLri/ipelas on the
*J / J.
Neck brings on a Qumfey, which may prove very
grievous, or even fatal.
When it attacks the Leg, the whole Leg
fwells up ; and the Heat and Irritation from it is
extended up to the Thigh.
Whenever
290 Of the Ertfipelas, and
Whenever this Tumour is confiderable, thc s
Part it feizes is covered with fmall Puftules filled
with a clear watery Humour, refembling thofe
which appear after a Burn, and drying afcer-
wards and leal ing off. I have fornetimes ob-
ferved, efpecially when this Diftemper affected
the Face, that the Humour, which iflued from
thefe little Puftules, was extremely thick or
glewy, and formed a thick Scurf, or Scabs nearly
refembling thofe of fucking Children : they have
continued fail on the Face many Days before they
fell off.
When the Difeafe may be termed violent, it
fometimes continues eight, -ten, twelve Days at
the fame Height ; and is at laft terminated by a
very plentiful Sweat, that may fometimes be pre
dicted by a RefllefTnefs attended with Shiverings,
and a little Anxiety of fome Hours Duration.
Throughout the Progrefs of the Difeafe, the
whole Skin is very dry, and even the Inlide of
the Mouth.
275. An Erijjfelas rarely comes to Suppu
ration, and when it does, the Suppuration is al
ways unkindly, and much difpofed to degene
rate into an Ulcer. Sometimes a malignant kind
o
of Erijipelas is epidemical, feizing a great Num
ber of Perfons, and frequently terminating in
Gangrenes.
276. This Diftemper often fhifts its Situa
tion ; it fometimes retires fuddenly ; but the Pa
tient is uneafy and disordered ; he has a Propen-
fity to vomit, with a fenfible Anxiety and Heat :
the Erifefelas appears again in a different Part,
and
the Bites of Aninuih* 291
and he feels himfelf quite relieved from the pre
ceding Symptoms. But if inftead of re-appear
ing on fome other Part of the Surface, the Hu
mour is thrown upon the Brain, or the Bread,
he dies within a few Hours; and thefe fatal
Changes and Tranflaticns fometimes occur, with
out the leafl Reafon or Colour fora/bribing them
either to any Error of the Patient, or of his
Phyfician.
If the Humour has been transferred to the
Brain, the Patient immediately becomes delirious,
with a highly liufhed Vifage, and very quick
fparkling Eyes : very foon ai:er he proves down
right frantic, and goes off in a Lethargy.
If the Luhgs are attacked, tb;; Opprefilon,
Anxiety, and Heat are inexpreffible.
277. There arc fome Cc -is fubjcdt
to a very frequent, and, as it wei , to 11:1 habi
tual Erifpelas. If it oflen aiiects the Face,
is generally repeated on the fame Side of it ; and
that Eye is, at length, confiderably weakened
by it.
278. This Diftemper refults from tv/o
Caules ; the one, an acrid fharp Humour, which
is commonly bilious, diffufed through the Mafs
of Blood; the other confifts in that Humour s
not being fufficiently difcharged by Perfpiration.
279. When this Difeafe is of a gen tie Na
ture, fuch as it is defcribed 273, it will be fuf-
ficient to keep up a very free Perfpiration, hut
without heating the Patient; and the beil Me
thod to anfvver this Purpofe is putting him upon
T 2 the
Of the Erijipclas, and
the Regimen fo often already referred to, with a
itul Ufe of Nitre in Elder Tea. Flefh,
and Wine are prohibited of Courfe, allow
ing rhe Patient a little Pulfe and ripe Fruits, He
fhould drink Elder Flower Tea abundantly, and
take half a Drachm of Nitre every three Hours ;
or, which amounts to the fame Thing, let three
Drachms ofNitrc be diffolvcd in as much Infufion
of Elder Flowers, as he can drink in twenty-four
Hours. Nitre may be given too in a Bolus with
Confcrve of Elder-berries. Thefe Medicines keep
the Body open, and increafe Urine and Perfpi-
280. When the Diflcmper prevails in a fe-
. er Degree, if the Fever is very high, and the
Pulfe, at the fame Time, ftrong or hard, it may
be neceflary to bleed once : but this mould never
be permitted in a large Quantity at a Time in this
Diicafe ; it being more advifeable, if a diffident
Quantity has not been taken at once, to bleed a
fccond Time, and even a third, if the Fever mould
prove very high, as it often does, and that fome-
times in fo violent a Degree, as to render it ex-
mely dangerous : and in fome fuch Cafes Na
ture has ibmetimes faved the Patients by effecting
a large Haemorrhage, or Bleeding, to the Quan-
titv of four or five Pounds. This Conduct a
^
very intelligent and prudent Phyfician may pre-
fume to imitate but J dare not advife the fame
Conduct to that Ciais of Phyiicians, for which
only I write: it being fafer for them to ufe re-
.;ted Bleedings in fuch Cafes, than one in, an
.ceflive Quantity. Thefe erifipelatous Fevers
are
the Bites of Animals. 293
are often excited by a Perfon s being too long
over-heated.
After Bleeding the Patient is to be retrained to
his Regimen j Glyfters are to be given until th
is a fenfible Abatement of the Fever ; and he
Ihould drink the Barley Water freely, N. 3.
When the Fever is fomewhat diminiflied, ei
ther the Purge N. 23 mould be given, or :i
Dofes every Morning of Cream of Tartar N. 24.
Purging is abfolutely neceffary to carry off ti
flagnant Bile, which is generally the firft Caufc
of the violent Degrees of this Diftemper. It may
fometimes be really neceflluy too, if the Dife:.
very tedious ; if the Loathing and Sicknefs at
mach is obftinate; the Mouth ill-favoured, and
the Tongue foul, (provided there be only . it
Fever, and no Fear of an Inflammation) to
the Medicines N. 34 or 35, which, in Cu.i;
quence of the Agitation, the Shaking they ccca-
lion, remove thefe Impediments ftiil better than
Purges.
It commonly happens that this Diieafe is more
favourable after thefe Evacuations j ncverth
it is fometimes necefTary to repeat them the next
Day, or the next but one ; efpecially if the >
lady affects the Head. Purging is the true Eva
cuation for curing it, whenever it attacks this
Part. By carrying off the Caufe of the :
they diminim it, and prevent its worft
Whenever, even after thefe Evacuation
Fever {1111 continues to be very fevc
tient fliould take eveiy two Hours, or (
T 3 al -
294 Of tf }C EriJipelaS) mid
ally, oftner, two Spoonfuls of the Prefcriptioa
N. 10, added to a Glafs of Ptifan.
It will be very ufeful, when this Difeafe is
feated in the Head or Face, to bathe the Legs
frequently in warm Water; and where it is vio
lent there, alfo to apply Sinapifms to the Soles
of the Feet. I have feen this Application, in
about four Hours attract, or draw down an Erifi-
pelas to the Legs, which had fpread over the Nofe,
and both the Eyes. When the Difternper once
begins to go off by Sweating, this fhould be pro
moted by Elder-flower Tea and Nitre (See
279) and the Sweating may be encouraged to
Advantage for fome Hours.
. The heft Applications that can be made
to the affected Part are id, The Herb Robert, a
Kind ofG vw, or Crane s-Bill ; or Chervil,
or Parfley, or Elder Flowers : and if the Com-
iint be of a very mild Difpofition, it may be
fufficicnt to apply a very foft fmooth Linen over
it, which fome People dufb over with a little dry
Meal.
2, If there is a very ccnfiderable Inflammation,
and the Patient is fo circumffonced as to be very
tractable and regularly attended, Flanels wrung
out of a ftrong Decoction of Elder-flowers and
applied warm, afford him the fpeedieft Eafe and
RL! ; < By this fimple Application I have ap
pealed the moft violent Pains of a St. Anthony s
Fire, which is the mod cruel Species of an Eri-
iipelas, and has fome peculiar Marks or Symp
toms extraordinary.
3. The
Bites of Animals . 295
3, The Plainer of Smalt, and Smalt itfelf
N. 46, are alfo very fuccefsfully employed in
this Difeafe. This Powder, the farinaceous, or
mealy ones, or others cried up for it, agree beft
when a thin watery Humour diftiils or weeps
from the little Vefications attending it, which it
is convenient to abforb by fuch Applications j with
out which Precaution it might gall, or e- cn ul
cerate the Part.
All other Plaifters, which are partly compound
ed of greafy, or of refinous Subftances, are very
dangerous: they often repel, or flrike in the Eri-
JipetaS) occafioning it to ulcerate, or even to gan
grene. If People who are naturally fubjecl to
this Difeafe mould apply any fuch Plaiiler to
their Skin, even in its founded State, an Er
pelas is the fpeedy Confequence.
282. Whenever the Humour occafionin
o o
the Diflemper is repelled, and thrown upon the
Brain, the Throat, the Lungs, or any internal
Part, the Patient fhould be bled ; Blifters muft
be applied to the Legsj and Elder Tea, v ,
Nitre diiTolved in it, mould be plentifully drank.
283. People who are liable to frequent Re
turns of an Erifipelas, mould very carefully avoid
tiling Milk, Cream, and all fat and vifcid, or
clammy Food, Pies, brown Meat, Spices, thick
and heady Liquors, a fedentary Life, the more
aclive Paillons, efpecially Rage, and, if pofuble,
all Chagrin too. Their Food mould chiefly
confift of Herbage, Fruits, of Subftances inclin
ing to Acidity, and which tend to keep the Body
T 4 open ;
;6 Of the Ertfipelas, and
open ; they fhould drink Water, and fome of the
light white Wines; by no Means omitting the
frequent Ufe of. Cream of Tartar. A careful
Conformity to thefe Regulations is of real Im
portance, as, befides the Danger of the frequent
Vifitations of this Difeafe, they denote fome
flight Indifpofitions of the Liver and the Gall
bladder ; which, if too little attended to, might in
Time prove very troubleibme and pernicious.
Such mineral Waters as are gently opening are
very proper for thefe Confutations, as well as
the Juice of Succory, and clarified Whey, of
which they fhould take about three Pints every
Morning, during the five or fix Summer Month?.
This becomes {till more efficacious, if a little
Cream of Tartar and Honey be added to it.
Of the Stings, or little Wounds, by Animals.
284. The Stings or little Bites of Animals,
frequently producing a kind of Enfipelas^ I fhall
add a very few Words concerning them in this
Place.
Of the Serpents in this Country none but the
Vipers are poifbnous , and none of thefe are
md except at Baume, where there is a Vtpcrary,
if we may be allowed that Word. We have no
Scorpions, which are fomewhat poilbnous -> our
Toads are not in the leaft ib : whence the only
Stings we are expofe d to, are thole of Bees, Wafps,
Hornets, Mufkitos or Gnats, and Dragon * Flies:
* Thefe, in fome Parts of America, are called Mulkito Hawks;
but we do not recoiled their biting there. K,
the Bites of Animals. 297
all of which are fometimes attended with fevere
Pain, a Swelling, and a very confiderable eri-
fipelatous Rednefs ; which, if it happens in the
Face, fometimes entirely clofes the Eyes up; oc-
caiioning alfo a Fever, Pains of the Head, Reft-
leilhefs, and Sicknefs at Heart ; and, when the
Pains are in a violent Degree, Paintings and Con-
vul lions, though always without any mortal Con-
fequence. Thefe Symptoms go off naturally
within a few Days, without any Afiiftance : Ne-
verthelefs they may either be prevented, dimi-
nifhed in Degree, or fhortned in Duration.
1, By extracting the Sting of the Animal, if it
is left behind.
2, By a continual Application of one of the
Remedies directed 281, Article i and 2, par
ticularly the Infufion of Elder-flowers, to which a
little Venice Treacle is added ; or by covering the
Part affected with a Pultice, made of Crum of
Bread, Milk, Ploney, and a little Venice Treacle.*
3, By bathing the Legs of the Perfon ftung
repeatedly in warm Water.
4, By retrenching a little of their cuftomary
Food, efpecially at Night, and by making them
drink an Infufion of Elder-flowers, with the
Addition of a little Nitre. Oil, if applied very
quickly after the Sting, fometimes prevents the
Appearance of any Swelling, and from thejice the
Pains that attend it.
CHAPTER
* Founded Parfley is one cf the moil availing Applications in
fuch Accidents. E. L.
298 Offpurious, orfaljc Inflammations , 6cc.
CHAPTER XX.
Of fptij ious, or fa/fe Inflammations of the Ere q/t y
and of fpuriom, bilious y Pkitrifies.
SECT. 285.
^OJOSOKHE Inflammation of the Bread and that
<5 T i leurify, which is called billon^ are the
SCOOOiOR f ame Pifeafe- It is properly a putrid
Fever, attended with an Infarction or
Stuffing of the Lungs, though without Pain ; in
which Circumftance it is called a putrid or bi
lious Peripneumony : but when attended with
a Pain of the Side, a Stitch, it is called a fpuri-
ous or baftard Pleuriiy.
286. The Signs which diftinguifh theie Dif-
eafes from the inflammatory ones ot the fame
Name, defcribed Chap. IV and V, are a lefs
hard and lefs flrong, but a quicker Pulfe, though
unaccompanied with the fame Symptoms which
conflitute the inflammatory ones (See 47 and
90). The Mouth is foul, and has a Senfation
of Bitterncfs ; the Patient is infefted with a fharp
and dry Heat; he has a Feeling of Heavinefs and
Anxiety all about his Stomach, with Loathings:
he is lefs flumed and red in thefe, than in the in
flammatory Difeafes, but rather a little yellow.
He has a dejecled wan Look; his Urine re-
fembles
QfJpuriouSi orfalfe Inflammations ; &c. 299
iernbles that in putrid Fevers, and not that of in-
flanimatory ones ; and he has very often a fmall
bilious Loofenefs, which is extremely offensive.
The Skin is commonly very dry in this Difeafe ;
the Humour fpit up is lefs thick, lefs reddifh,
and rather more yellow than in the inflammatory
Difeafes of the fame Names.
287. They muft he treated after the man
ner of putrid Fevers, as in 241. Suppofing
ifome little Degree of Inflammation to be com
bined with the Difeafe, it may be removed by a
fingle Bleeding. After this the Patient is to
drink Barley Water N. 3, to make Ufe of Glyf-
ters ; and as foon as all Symptoms of any Inflam
mation wholly difappear, he is to take the vomit
ing and purging Draught N. 34. But the ut-
mofl: Caution muft be taken not to give it, before
every Appearance of any Inflammation is totally
removed ; as giving it fooner would be certain
Death to the Sick : and it is dreadful but to think
of agitating, by a Vomit, Lungs that are inflamed,
and overloaded with Blood, whofe VefTels burfl
and difcharge themfelves, only from the Force
of Expectoration. After an Interval of fome
Days, he may b^ purged again with the Medicine
N. 23. The Prefcription N. 25 fucceeds alfo
very well as a Vomit. If the Fever is violent, he
mult drink plentifully of the Potion N. 10.
Biifters to the Legs are very fervjceable, when
the Load and Oppreffion are not confiderably
abated after general Evacuations.
288.
300 Of fpurlous, orfalfe Inflammations, &c.
288. The falfe Inflammation of the Bread is
an Overfulnefs or Obfbu&ioh in the Lungs, ac
companied with a Fever ; and it is caufed by ex
tremely thick and tenacious Humours ; and not
by a really inflammatory Blood, or by any pu
trid or bilious Humour.
289. This Diftemper happens more frequent
ly in the Spring, than in any other Sealbn. Old Men,
puny, ill-conititutioned Children, languid Wo
men, feeble young Men, and particularly fuch as
have worn their Con dilutions out by drinking,
are the Subjects moil frequently attacked by it ;
efpecially if they have ufed but little Exercife
throughout the Winter : if they have fed on vif-
cid, mealy and fat Aliments, as Paflry, Chef-
nuts, thick Milk or Pap, and Cheefe. All their
Humours have contracted a thick glutinous Qua
lity ; they are circulated with Difficulty, and
when Heat or Exercife in the Spring increafes
their Motion at once, the Humours, already fluf
fing up the Lungs, flill more augment that Pleni
tude, whence thefe vital Organs are fatally ex-
_ _ O rf
tended, and the Patient dies.
290. This Diftemper is known to cxiil,
1 , By the previous Exiflence of the Caufes al
ready mentioned.
2, By the Symptoms which precede and uflier
it in. For Example, the Patient many Days
before-hand has a flight Cough ; a fmall Oppref-
iion when he moves about; a little Reftieflnefs,
and is fometimes a little choleric or fretful. His
Countenance is higher coloured than in Health;
he
Offpurioits, or falfe Infltunmatiohs, &c. ^01
he has a Propentity to ileep, but attended with
Confufion and without Refrefhment, and has
fometimes an extraordinary Appetite.
3, When this State has continued for fonie
Days, there comes on a cold Shivering, though
more coniiderable for its Duration than its Vio
lence j it is fucceeded by a moderate Degree of
Pleat, but that attended with much Inquietude
and OpprefTion. The lick Perfon cannot confine
himfelf to the Bed ; but walks to and fro in his
Chamber, and is greatly dejected. The Pulfe is
weak and pretty quick ; the Urine is fometimes
"but little changed from that in Health ; at other
Times it is diicharged but in a fmall Quantity,
and is higher coloured : he coughs but mode
rately, and does not expectorate, or cough up,
"but with Difficulty. The Vifage becomes very
red, and even almoft livid -, he can neither keep
awake, nor ileep well ; he raves for fome Mo
ments, and then his Head grows clear again.
Sometimes it happens, especially to Perfon s of
advanced Age, that this State fuddenly termi
nates in a mortal Swoon or Fainting; : at other
o
Times and in other Caies, the Opprefiion and
Anguiih increafe j the Patient cannot breathe but
when fitting up, and that with great Diuici-
and Agony : the Brain is utterly diflurbed and
embarraifed ; this State lafts for fome liourc,
and then terminates of a fudden.
291. This is a very dangerous Diftemper;
becaufe, in the firft Place, it chiefly attacks thole
Perfons whofe Temperament -and Corn!
302 Offpurious, orfolfe Inflammations , &c.
are deprived of the ordinary Resources for Health
and Recovery : in the fecond Place, becaufe it is
of a precipitate Nature, the Patient ibmetimes
dying on the third Day, and but feldcm furviving
the feventh ; while the Caufe of it requires a
more confiderable Term for its Removal or Miti
gation. Befides which, if fome Indications pre-
lent for the Employment of a Remedy, there are
frequently others which forbid it j and all that
feems to be done is, as follows ;
1, If the Patient has ftill a pretty good Share
of Health ; if he is not of too advanced an Age ;
if the Pulfe has a perceivable Hardnefs, and yet
at the fame Time fome Strength ; if the Wea
ther is dry, and the Wind blows from the North,
he fhould be bled once, to a moderate Quantity.
But if the greater Part of thefe Circumfbnces are
wanting, Bleeding would be very prejudicial.
Were we obliged to eftablifli fome general and
pofitive Rule in this Cafe, it were better to ex
clude Bleeding, than to admit it.
2, The Stomach and the Bowels mould be
unloaded from their vifcid glutinous Contents ;
and the Medicines which fucceed the beft in this
Refpect are N. 35, when the Symptoms mew
there is a great Neceffity for vomiting, and there
is no Inflammation ; or the Prefcription N. 25,
which after vomiting, purges by Stool, promotes
Urine, breaks down and divides the vifcid Hu
mours that occafion the Difeafe, and increafe
Perfpiration. When we are afraid of hazarding
the Agitation of a Vomit and its Confequences,
the
Offpiirious, or f a1fe Inflammations, &c. 303
the Potion, N. J i may be given ; but we mud
be very cautious, in Regard to old Men, even
with this j as fuch may expire* during the Opera
tion of it.
3, They fliould, from the Beginning of the
Diieafe, drink plentifully of the Ptiian N. 26,
which is the belt Drink in this Diieafe; or that of
N*. 12, adding half a Dram of Nitre to every
Pint of it.
4, A Cup of the Mixture N. 8 mutt be taken
every two Hours.
, 5. Bliilers are to be applied to the Infides of
the Le?s.
o
When the Cafe is very doubtful and perpK
ing, it were beft to confine ourfelves to the three
\ aft-mentioned Remedies, which have often been
fuccefsful in ievere Degrees of this Difeafe ; and
which can occafion no ill Confequence.
292. When this Malady invades old People,
though they partly recover, they never recover
perfectly, entirely, from it : and if due Precaution
is not taken, they are very liable to fall into a Dropiy
of the Breaft after it.
293. The fpurious or falle Pleurify is a Dif-
temper that does not affedl the Lungs, but only
the Teguments, the Skin, and the Mufcles
which cover the Ribs. It is the Effect of a rheu
matic Humour thrown upon thefe Parts, in which,
as it produces very {harp Pains refembling that
which is called a Stitch, it has from this Cir-
cumftancej been termed a Pleurify.
If
304 Offpurhus, crfalfe Inflammations y &c.
It is generally fuppofed by the meer Multf-.
tude, and even by iome of a different Rank,
that a falfe Pleurilv is more dangerous than a ee-
O o
nuine, a true one $ but this is a Miftake. Jt
often ufhered in by a Shivering, and almoft ever
attended with a little Fever, a fmall Cough, and
a flight Difficulty of breathing ; which, as well
as the Cough, is occafioned from the Circum-
ilance of a Patient s (who feels Pain in Refpira-
tion, or Breathing) checking Breathing as much
as he can ; this accumulates a little too much
Blood in the Lungs ; but yet he has no Anguifh,
nor the other Symptoms of acute true Pleurifies.
In fome Patients this Pain is extended, almoft
over the whole Bread:, and to the Nape of the
Neck. The fick Perfon cannot repole himielf
on the Side affected.
This Diforder is not more dangerous than a
Rheumatifm, except in two Cafes; i, When
the Pain is fo very fe vere, that the Patient ftrong-
ly endeavours not to breathe at all, which brings
on a great Infarction or Stoppage in the Lungs.
2, When this Humour, like any other rheuma
tic one, is transferred to fome internal Part.
294. It muft be treated exactly like a Rheu
matifm. See 1 68 and 169.
After bleeding once or more, a Blifter applied
to the affected Part is often attended with a very
good Effect : This being indeed the Kind of
Pleurify, in which it particularly agrees.
295-
* The Seneka Rattle-Snake-root, already recommended in true
Pleurifie?, will, with the greateft Probability, be found not Ids
effc&ual
Offpitrious, or f alfe Inflammations , 6cc. 305
295. This Malady fometimes gives Way to
the firft Bleeding ; often terminating on the third,
fourth or fifth Day, by a very plentiful Sweat,
and rarely lafting beyond the feventh. Some
times it attacks a Perlbn very fuddenly, after a
Stoppage of Perfpiration ; and then, if at once be
fore the Fever commences, and has had Time to
inrlame the Blood,the Patient takes fome Tahrank,
it effects a fpeedy Cure by reftoring Perfpiration.
They are fuch Cafes as thefe, or that mentioned
96, which have given this Compofition the
Reputation it has obtained in this Difeafe : a Re
putation neverthelefs, which has every Year prov
ed tragical in its Confequences to many Peafants,
who being deceived by ibme mifleading Rcfem-
blances in this Diflemper, have rafhly and igno-
rantly made Ufe of it in true inflammatory Pleii-
rifies.
U CHAPTER.
tffuftual in thefe falfe ones, in which the Inflammation of the
Blood is Itfs. The Method of giving it may be ft-en P. 118, N. ( a j
By Dr. TISSOT S having never mentioned this valuable Simple
throughout his Work, it may be prefumed, that when he wrote it,
this Remedy had not been admitted into the Apothecaries Shops ifl
K,
^"wJrTt
06 Of the Cbotic and Its different Kinds.
CHAPTER XXI.
Of tie Cholic and its different Kinds.
SECT. 296.
Appellation of a Cholic is com-
\ fi
T ff monly given to all Pains of the Belly
indiscriminately j but I apply it in this
Place only to fuchtfas attack the Sto
mach, or the Inteftines, the Guts.
Cholics may and do refult from very many
Cauies ; and the greater Number of Cholics are
chronical or tedious Complaints, being more com
mon among the inactive Inhabitants of Cities,
and Workmen in fedentary Trades, than among
Country People. Hence I mall treat here only
of the fmall Variety of Cholics, which happen the
moft ufually. in Villages. I have already proved
that the fatal Events of fome Diflempers were oc-
cafioned by endeavouring to force the Patients into
Sweats ; and the fame unhappy Confequences
have attended Cholics, from accuftoming the
Subjects of this Difeafe to Drams, and hot in
flaming fpirituous Liquors, with an Intention to ex
pel the Wind.
Of
Of the Choi ic and its different Kinds. 307
Of the inflammatory Chotic.
297. The moft violent and dangerous kind
of Cholic is that, which arifes from an Inflamma
tion of the Stomach, or of the Interlines. It
begins moft commonly without any Shivering, by
a vehement Pain in the Belly, which gradually
becomes flill more fo. The Pulfe grows quick
and hard ; a burning Pain is felt through the
whole Region of the Belly j fometimes there is
a watery Diarrhoea, or Purging ; at other Times
the Belly is rather coftive, which is attended with
Vomiting, a very embarralling and dangerous
Symptom : the Countenance becomes highly
flufhed ; the Belly tenle and hard ; neither can it
be touched fcarcely without a cruel Augmenta
tion of the Patient s Pain, who is alfo afflicted
with extreme ReftlelTnefs; his Third is very great,
being unquenchable by Drink j the Pain often
extends to the Loins, where it proves very {harp,
and fevere j little Urine is made, and that very
red, and with a kind of burning Heat. The
tormented Patient has not a Moment s Reft, and
now and then raves a little. If the Diieafe is not
removed or moderated, before the Pains rife to their
utmofl Height and Violence, the Patient begins
at length to complain lefs j the Pulfe becomes lefs
ftrong and lefs hard than before, but quicker :
his Face firft abates of its Flufh and Rednefs,
and foon after looks pale -, the Parts under the
Eyes become livid ; the Patient finks into a low
U 2 ftupid
308 Of the Cholic and its different Kinds.
itupid Kind of Delirium^ or Raving ; his Strength
entirely deferts him ; the Face, Hands, Feet, and
the whole Body, the Belly only excepted, become
cold: the Surface of the Belly appears bluiih;
extreme Weakncfs follows, and the Patient dies.
There frequently occurs, juft a Moment before
he expires, an abundant Dilcharge of executively
foetid Matter by Stool ; and during this Evacua
tion he dies with his Inteftines quite gangrened,
or mortified.
When the Diftemper afTuults the Stomach, the
Symptoms are the very fame, but the Pain is felt
higher up, at the Pit of the Stomach. Almoft
every thing that is fvvallowed is caft up again ;
the Anguiih of the tortured Patient is terrible,
and the Raving comes on very fpeedily. This
Difeafe proves mortal in a few Hours.
298. The only Method of fucceedingin the
Cure of it is as follows :
j, Take a very large Quantity of Blood
from the Arm ; this almofl immediately dimi-
nifhes the Violence of the Pains, and allays the
Vomiting : befides its contributing to the greater
Succefs of the other Remedies. It is often ne-
ceilary to repeat this Bleeding within the Space of
two Hours.
2, Whether the Patient has a Loofenefs, or
has not, a Glyfter of a Decoction of Mallows, or
of Barley Water and Oil, mould be given every
two Hours.
3, The Patient mould drink very plentifully
of Almond MilkN . 4; or a Ptifan of Mallow
Flowers)
Of the Cholic and its different Kinds. 309
Flowers, or of Barley, all which fhould be
warm.
4, Flanels dipt in hot, or very warm Water
fhould be continually applied over the Belly,
fhifting them every Hour, or rather oftner; for
in this Cafe they very quickly grow dry.
5, If the Difeafe, notwithftanding all this,
continues very obflinate and violent, the Patient
ihould be put into a warm Water Bath, the ex
traordinary Succefs of which 1 have obierved.
When the Diflemper is over, that is to fay,
when the Pains have terminated, and the Fever
has ceafed, fo that the Patient recovers a little
Strength, and gets a little Sleep, it will be pro
per to give him a Purge, but a very gentle one.
Two Ounces of Manna, and a Quarter of an
Ounce of Sedlitz * Salt diflblved in a Glafs of
clear Whey is generally fufficient, at this Period,
to purge the moft robufl and hardy Bodies. Man
na alone may fuffice for more delicate Conftitu-
tions : as all acrid fharp Purges would be high
ly dangerous, with Regard to the great Senii-
bility and tender Condition of the Stomach, and
of the Intem nes after this Difeafe.
299. It is fometimes the Effect of a general
Inflammation of the Blood ; and is produced,
like other inflammatory Difeafes, by extraordi
nary Labour, very great Heat, heating Meats
Drinks, &V. It is often the Cohfequence of
U 3 other
* Glauber or Fpfom Salt may be fubilituted, where thv
not to be readily procured. K.
3 1 o Of the Cholic and its different Kinds.
other Cholics which have been injudiciouily treated;
and which otherwife would not have degenerated
into inflammatory ones ; as I have many Times
ieen thefe Cholics introduced after theUfe of heat
ing Medicines ; one Inftance of which may be
ieen 164.
300. Ten Days after I had recovered a Wo
man out of a fevere Cholic, the Pains returned
violently in the Night. She, fuppofing them to
arife only from Wind, hoped to appeale them by
drinking a deal of diftilled Walnut Water; which,
far from producing any fuch Effect, rendered
them more outrageous. They foon were height
ened to a furprifing Degree, which might reafon-
ably be expected. Being fent for very early in
the Morning, I found her Pulfe hard, quick,
fhort ; her Belly was tenfe and hard ; fhe com
plained greatly of her Loins : her Urine was al-
moft entirely ftopt. She paft but a few Drops,
which felt as it were fcalding hot, and thefe with
exceiTive Pain. She went very frequently to the
Clofe-ftool, with fcarcely any Effect ; her An-
guifh, Heat, Thirft, and the Drynefs of her
Tongue were even terrifying : and her wretched
State, the Eftedt of the ftrong hot Liquor (he
had taken, made me very apprehenfive for her.
One Bleeding, to the Quantity of fourteen Ounces,
fomewhat abated all the Pains 3 (he took feveral
Glyfters, and drank off a few Pots of Orgeat in
a few Hours. By thefe Means the Difeafe was a
little mitigated ; by continuing the fame Drink
1 the Glvfters the Loofenefs abated ; the Pain
: of
Of the Cbolic and its different Kinds. 3 i j
of the Loins went off, and me palled a confider-
able Quantity of Urine, which proved turbid, and
then let fall a Sediment, and the F atient recovered.
Neverthelefs I verily believe, if the Bleeding had
been delayed two Hours longer, this Ipirituous
Walnut Water would have been the Death of
her. During the Progrefs of this violent Difeafe,
no Food is to be allowed ; and we fhould never
be too inattentive to fuch Degrees of Pain, as fome-
times remain after their Severity is over; left a
Scirrfays, an inward hard Tumour, fhould be ge
nerated, which may occaiion the moil: inveterate
and tedious Maladies.
301. An Inflammation of the Inteftines, and
one of the Stomach, may alfo terminate in an
Abfcefs, like an Inflammation of any other Part;
and it may be apprehended that one is forming,
when, though the Violence of the Pains i bate,
there ftill remains a flow, obtuie, heavy Pain,
with general Inquietude, little Appetite, frequent
Shivering ; the Patient at the fame Time not re-
o
covering any Strength. In fuch Cafes the Pa
tient mould be allowed no other Drinks, but
what are already directed in this Chapter, and
fome Soops made of Pulfe, or other farinaceous
Food.
The Breaking of the Abfcefs may fometimes
be difcovered by a flight Swoon or fainting Fit ;
attended with a perceivable CefFation of a Weight
or Heavinefs in the Part, where it was lately
felt: and when the Pus, or ripe Matter, is ef-
fufed into the Gut, the Patient fometiines has
U 4 Reachings
3 J 2 Of the Cholic and its different Kinds.
Reachings to vomit, a Vertigo^ or Swimming in
the Head, and the Matter appears in the next
Stools. In this Cafe there remains an Ulcer
within the Gut, which, if either neglected, or 1
improperly treated, may pave the Way to a
ilow wafting Fever, and even to Death. Yet
this I have cured by making the Patient live
folely upon fkimmed Milk, diluted with one
third Part Water, and by giving every other Day
a Glyfter, confiding of equal Parts of Milk and
Water, with the Addition of a little Honey.
When the Abfcefs breaks on the Outfide of the
Gut, and dilcharges its Contents into the Cavity
of the Belly, it becomes a very mifcrable Cafe,
and demands fuch further AfiiftariCe as cannot be
particularized here.
Of the bilious Cholic.
302. The bilious Cholic difcovers itfelf by
very acute Pains, but is feldom accompanied with
a Fever; at leaft not until it has lafted a Day or
two. And even if there mould be fome Degree
of a Fever, yet the Pulie, though quick, is nei
ther fhong nor hard : the Belly is neither tenfe
or flretched as it were, nor burning hot, as in
the former Cholic : the Urine comes away with
more Eafe, and is lefs high-coloured : Neverthe-
lefs the inward Heat and Third are confiderable ;
the Mouth is bitter^ the Vomiting or Purging,
when either of them attend it, diJcharge a yel-
lowifli
Of the Chollc and its different Kinds. 3 1 3
lowifh Humour or Excrement ; and the Patient s
Head is often vertiginous or dizzy.
303. The Method of curing this is,
1, By injecting Glyfters of Whey and Honey ;
or, if Whey is not readily procurable, by re
peating the Glyfter, N. 5.
2, By making the Sick drink confiderably of
the fame Whey, or of a Ptifan made of the Root
of Dog s-Grafs (the common Grafs) and a little
Juice of Lemon, for want of which, a little Vi
negar and Honey may be fubftituted inflead of
it. *
3, By giving every Hour one Cup of the Me
dicine N c . 32 , or where this is not to be had,
half a Drachm of Cream of Tartar at the fame
mort Intervals.
4, Fomentations of warm Water and Half-
baths are alfo very proper.
5, If the Pains are {harp and violent, in a ro-
buft ftrong Perfon, and the Pulfe is ftrong and
ife, Bleeding mould be uled to prevent an In
flammation.
6, No other Nouriihment mould be given,
except fome maigre Soops, made from Vegetables,
and particularly of Sorrel.
7, After plentiful Dilution with the proper
Drink, if no Fever fupervenes ; if the Pains Hill
continue, and the Patient difcharges but little by
Stool, he fhould take a moderate Purge. That
directed N. 47 is a very proper one.
34-
* Pallet, or rather Chicken Water, but very weak, may often
do inftead of Ptifan, or ferve for a little Variety of Drink to
fome Patients. E. L. K.
3 1 4 Of the Cbolic and its different Kinds.
304. This bilious Cholic is habitual to many
Perfons and may be prevented or greatly miti
gated by an habitual Uie of the Powder N. 24;
by fubmitting to a moderate Retrenchment in the
Article of Flefh-meat ; and by avoiding heatin^-
and greafy Food, and the Ufe of Milk.
Of Cholics from Lidigeftion^ and of Indigeflion.
305. Under this Appellation I comprehend
all thofe Cholics, which are either owing to any
overloading Quantity of Food taken at once ; or
to a Mais or Accumulation of Aliments formed by
Degrees in fuch Stomachs, as digcil but very
imperfectly ; or which refult from noxious Mix
tures of Aliment in the Stomach, ll:ch as that
of Milk and Acids ; or from Food either not
wholefome in its felf, or degenerated into an un-
wholefome Condition.
This kind of Cholic may be known from any
of thefe Caufes having preceded it ; by its Pains,
which are accompanied with great Reilleffneis,
and come on by Degrees, being lefs fixed than in
the Cholics before treated of. Thefe Cholics
are alfo without any Fever, Heat or Thirfl, but
accompanied with a Giddinefs of the Head, and
Efforts to vomit, and rather with a pale, than a
high-coloured Vifage.
306. Thefe Dilbrders, from thefe laft Caufes,
are fcarcely ever dangerous in themfelves j but
may be made fuch by injudicious Management,
and doing more than is neceflary or proper : as
the
Of the Chile and its different Kinds. 3
the only Thing to be done is to promote the Dil-
jcharges by warm Drinks. There are a confider-
able Variety of them, which feem equally good,
fuch as warm Water, or even cold Water with a
Toaft, with the Addition either of a little Sugar,
or a little Salt : a light Infufion of Chamomile,
or of Eider-flowers, common Tea, or Baum,
it imports little which, provided the Patient drink
plentifully of them : in Coniequence of which
the offending Matter is difcharged, either by vo
miting, or a coniiderable purging; and theipeedier
and more in Quantity thefe Difcharges are, the
fooner the Patient is relieved.
If the Belly is remarkably full and coftive,
Glyfters of warm Water and Salt mould be in
jected.
The Expulfion of the obftrucling Matter is
allb facilitated, by rubbing the Belly heartily
with hot Cloths.
Sometimes the Humours, or other retained
Contents of the Belly, are more pernicious from
their Quality, than their Quantity ; and then the
Malady may be dirTipated without the former
Difcharges, by the irritating liiarp Humour being
diluted, or even drowned, as it were, in the
Abundance of imall watery Drinks. When the
Pains invade firft in the Stomach, they become
lefs fharp, and the Patient feels lefs Inquietude, as
foon as the Caufe of the Pain has defcended out
of the Stomach into the Interlines, whofe Sen-
fations are fomething lefs acute than, or ibmc-
what different from, thofe of the Stomach.
It
3 1 6 Of the Cbolic and its different Kinds.
It is often found that after thefe plentiful Dif-
charges, and when the Pains are over, there re
mains a very difagreeable Tafle in the Mouth,
refembling the Savour of rotten Eggs. This
may be removed by giving fome Doles of the
Powder N. 24, and drinking largely of good
Water :
It is an eflential Point in thefe Cafes, to take no
Food before a perfect Recovery.
307. Some have been abfurd enough in
them, to fly at once to fome heating Cordial
Confection, to Venice Treacle, Anifeed Water,
Geneva, or red Wine to (lop thefe Evacuations ;
but there cannot be a more fatal Practice : fmce
thefe Evacuations are the only Thing which can
cure the Complaint, and to flop them is to de
prive the Perfon, who was in Danger of drown
ing, of the Plank which might fave him. Nay
fliould this Endeavour of flopping them unhap
pily fucceed, the Patient is either thrown into a
putrid Fever, or iome chronical tedious Malady j
unlefs Nature, much wifer than fuch a mitera-
ble Afliflant, fhould prevail over the Obflacles
oppofed to her Recovery, and reilore the ob-
irructed Evacuations by her own Oeconomy, in
the Space of a few Days.
308. Sometimes an Indigeftion happens,
with very little Pain or Cholic, but with violent
Reachings to vomit, inexpreffible Anguilh, Faint-
ings, and cold Sweats : and not feldom alfo the
Malady begins, only withavery fudden and unex
pected Fainting : the Patient immediately lofes
all
Of the CboHc and its different Kinds. 3 1 7
all his Senfes, his Face is pale and wan : he has
ibme Hickups rather than Reachings to vomit,
which joined to the Smallnefs of his Puife, to the
Eafmels of his refpiring, or breathing, and to the
Circumftance of his being attacked immediately,
or very foon, after a Meal, makes this Diibrder
diftinguilhable from a real Apoplexy. Never-
theleis, when it riles to this Height, with thefe
terrible Symptoms, it fometimes kills in a few
Hours. The firft thing to be done is to throw
up a (harp Glyfter, in which Salt and Soap are to
be diflblved ; next to get down as much Salt and
Water as he can fwallow ; and if that is ineffec
tual, the Powder N. 34 is to be dillblved in
three Cups of Water ; one half of which is to be
given directly; and, if it doe? not operate in a
Quarter of an Hour, the other half. Gene
rally fpeaking the Patient s Senfe begins to return,
as foon as he begins to vomit.
Of the flatulent or windy Cholic.
309. Every Particular which conftitutes our
Food, whether foiid or liquid, contains much
Air, but fome of them more than others. If
they do not digeft foon enough, or but badly,
which occaiions a feniible Elcape of fuch Air ; if
they are fuch as contain an extraordinary Quan
tity of Air; or if the Guts being ftraitened or
comprefTed any where in the Courle of their Ex
tent, prevent that Air from being equally
difTufed (which mud occafion a greater Propor
tion
3 1 8 Of the Chollc cuid its different Kinds.
tion of it in ibme Places) then the Stomach aira
the Guts are diftended by this Wind ; and this
Diflention occafions thefe Pains, which are called
flatulent, or windy.
This Sort of Cholic rarely appears alone and
fimplej but is often complicated with, or added, as
it were, to the other Sort?, of which it is a Confe-
quence; and is more efpecially joined with the
Cholic from Indigeftions, whole Symptoms it
multiplies and heightens. It may be known,
like that, by the Cauies which have preceded it,
by its not being accompanied either with Fever,
Heat, or Thifftj the Belly s being large and full,
though without Hardnefs, being unequal in its
Largenefs, which prevails more in one Part of
it than in another, forming fomething like Poc
kets of Wind, fometimes in one Part, fometimes
in another j and by the Patient s feeling fome
Eafe merely from the rubbing of his Belly, as it
moves the Wind about ; which efcaping either
upwards or downwards affords him Hill a greater
Relief.
310. W T hen it is combined with any diffe
rent Species of the Cholic, it requires no diftincl:
Treatment from that Species j and it is removed
or difTipated by the Medicines which cure the
principal Difeale.
Sometimes however it does happen to exifl
alone, and then it depends on the Windinefs of
the folid and liquid Food of the Perfon affected
with it, fuch as the Muft or new Wine, Beer, ef
pecially very new Beer, certain Fruits and Gar
den-
Of the ChoHc and its different Kinds. 3 1 9
den-ftuff. It may be cured by a Glyfter ; by
chaffing the Belly with hot Cloths ; by the Ufe
of Drink moderately fpiced j and elpecially by
Camomile Tea, to which a little cordial Confec
tion, or even Venice Treacle, may be added.
When the Pains are almoil entirely vaniihed,
and there is no Fever, nor any unhealthy Degree
of Heat j and if the Patient is ieniible of a Weak-
Deis at Stomach, he may take a little aromatic,
or fpiced Wine, or even a fmall cordial ftomachic
Dram. It mould be obferved, that theie are not to
be allowed in any other Kind of Cholic.
311. When any Perfon is frequently fubjecl:
to cholic-like Pains, it is a Proof that the digef-
tive Faculty is impaired ; the restoring of which
fhould be carefully attended to; without which
the Health of the Patient muft fuffer considera
bly, and he mull be very likely to contract many
tedious and troublefome Diforders.
Of Choltcs from Cold. .
312. When any Perfon has been very cold,
and efpecially in his Feet, it is not uncommon
for him to be attacked, within a few Hours after
it, with violent Cholic Pains, in which heating
and fpirituous Medicines are very pernicious : but
which are eafily cured by rubbing the Legs well
with hot Cloths ; and keeping them afterwards
for a confidcrable Time in warm Water ; ad-
vifing them at the fame Time to drink ircjly of
a light Inf ulion of Chamomile or Elder- flowers.
The
320 Of the Gbotic and its different Kinds.
The Cure will be effected the fooner, if the Pa-
tient is put to Bed and fvveats a little, efpecially
in the Legs and Feet.
A Woman who had put her Legs into a pretty
cool Spring, after travelling in the Height of Sum
mer, was very quickly after attacked with a moft
violent Cholic. She took different hot Medi
cines ; me became frill worfe ; Ihe was purged,
but the Diftemper was ilill further aggravated.
I was called in on the third Day, a few Hours
before her Deceafe.
In fuch Cafes, if the Pain be exceflive, it may
be necelTary to bleed ; * to give a Glyfter of warm
Water ; to keep the Legs ieveral Hours over the
Steam of hot Water, and afterwards in the Wa-
U-r ; to drink plentifully of an Jnfufion of the
I lowcrs of the Lime-tree, with a little Milk ;
and if the Diftemper is not fuhdued by thefe
Means, Blifcers ihould be applied to the Legs,
which I have known to be highly efficacious.
3 i 3. It appears, through the Courfe of this
Chapter, that it is neceflary to be extremely on
our Guard, againft permitting the Ufe of heating
and fpirituous Medicines in Cholics, as they may
not only aggravate, but even render them mortal.
In
* Bleeding fhould not be determined on too haltily in this Sort
of Cholic, but rather be omitted, or deferred at leaft, till there
be an evident Tendency to an JnHnmmation. E. L
The Propriety or Impropriety of Bleeding in a Cholic from
this Caufe fhould be determined, I think, from the State of the
Pcrion u happens to: So that Bleeding a llrong Perfon with a
iirm Fibre, and a hard Pulfe, may be very prudent and precautiona
ry : But if it be a weakly lax Siibj-jit with a loft and low Pulie,
there may be Room either for omitting, or for fufpending it. A
Of the Cbolic and its different Kinds. 321
In ihort they fhould never be given, and when it
is difficult to difcover the real Caufe of the Cho-
lic, I advife Country People to confine themfelves
to the three following Remedies, which cannot
be hurtful in any Sort of Cholic, and may re
move as many as are not of a violent Nature.
Firfl then, let Glyfters be frequently repeated.
2, Let the Patient drink warm Water plenti-
Mfty, or Elder Tea. 3, Let the Belly be of
ten fomented in pretty warm Water, which is
the mofl: preferable Fomentation of any.
3 14. I have faid nothing here of the Ufe of
any Oils in this Difeafe, as they agree but in
very few Species of Cholics, and not at all in thofe
of which I have been treating. For this Reafon
o
I adviie a total Difufe of them, fince they may
be of bad Coniequence in many Refpeds.
3 i 5. Chronical Difeafes not coining within
the Plan of this Work, I purpofely forbear treat
ing of any Kind of thofe tedious Cholics, which
afflict fome People for many Years : but I think
it my Duty to admoniili fuch , that their Tor
ments being very generally occafioned by Ob-
ftruclions in the Ftjcera, or different Bowels of
the Belly, or by fome other Fault, and more
particularly in thofe Organs, which are intended
Jl J O J
to prepare the Bile, they mould, I, avoid with the
greatcft Care, the Ufe of iharp, hot, violent Me
dicines, Vomits, itrong Purges, Elixirs, &c. 2,
They fhould be thoroughly on their Guard againft
all thofe, who promife them a very fpeedy Cure,
by the Affiilance of fome ipecirk Remedy ; and
X ought
2 Of the Iliac raffion, and
ought to look upon them as Mountebanks, into
whole Hands it is highly dangerous to trufl them-
f elves. -3, They fhould be perfuaded, or rather
convinced, that they can entertain no reafonable
Hope of being cured, without an exact Confor-
*y to a proper and judicious Regimen, and a
Ion? Perieverance in a Courfe of mild and fafe
O
Remedies. 4, They fliould continually reflect
with themfelves, that there is little Difficulty in
doing them great Mifchief; and that their Com
plaints are of that Sort, which require the greatefl
Knowledge and Prudence in thofe Perfons, to
whom the Treatment and Cure of them are
confided.
CHAPTER XXII.
Of the Iliac PciJ/ion, and of the Cholera-morbus.
SECT. 316.
SOOOSC HE S E violent Dileafes are fatal to many
> T S Country People, while their Neigh-
bours are frequently fo ignorant of the
r i r> i 10 n-
Cauie or their Death, that ouperitition-
has afcribed it to Poifon, or to Witchcraft.
317. The firft of thefe, the Mijerere, or
Iliac Pailion, is one of the moil: excruciating
Diftempers. If any Part of the Inteftines, the
Cavity of the Guts is doled up, whatever may
have
of the Cbolera-morbu;. ^i^
have occafioned it, the Courfe or Defcent of the
Food they contain is neeeffarily flopped ; in which
Cafe it frequently happens, that that continual
Motion obferved in the Guts of a living Animal
difTecled, and which was intended to detrude, or
force their Contents downwards, is propagated
in a direcYiy contrary Manner, from the Guts
towards the Mouth.
This Difeafe fometimes begins after a Con-
flipation, or Coftivenefs, of fome Days; at other
Times without that Coftivenefs having been pre
ceded by Pains in any Part of the Belly, efpe-
cially around the Navel ; but which Pains, gra
dually increafing after their Commencement, at
length become extremely violent, and throw the
Patient into excefiive Angui/h* In fome of th
O
Cafes a hard Tumour may be felt, which iur-
rounds the Belly like a Cord. The Flatulcr -
within become very audible, fome of them are
difcharged upwards ; in a little Time after, Vo
mitings come on, which increafe till the Pa
tient has thrown up all he had taken in, with a
itill further Augmentation of the exceffive Pain.
With the firft of his Vomitings he only brings
up the laft Food he had taken, with his Drink
and fome yellowiih Humour : but what comes
up afterwards proves ftinking ; and when the
Difeafe is greatly heightened, they have what is
called the Smell of Excrement or Dung ; but
which rather refembles that of a putrid d
Body. It happens too fometimes, that if the
Sick have taken Glyfters competed of Mater.
X 2 Of
324 Of the Iliac Paffion.
of a ftrpng Smell, the fame Smell is difcermblc
in the Matter they vomit up. I confefs however
I never faw either real Excrements, or the Sub-
flance of their Giyfters, brought up, much
kfs the Supppfitories that were introduced into
the Fundament : and were it credible that Jn-
.ices of this Kind had occurred, they muft be
allowed very difficult to account for. Through
out this whole Term of the Difeafe, the Patient
has not a fingle Difcharge by Stool ; the Belly is
greatly diftended ; the Urine not feldom iup-
prefTed, and at other Times thick and foetid. The
rulfe, which at firft was pretty hard, becomes
quick and fmall ; the Strength entirely vanimes ;
a Raving comes on ; a Hiccup almofl conflantly
fupervenes, and ibmetimcs general Convulfions ;
the Extremities grow cold, the Pulte fcarcely per
ceivable ; the Pain and the Vomiting ceafe, and
the Patient dies very quickly after.
318. As this Difeafe is highly dangerous,
the Moment it is ftrongly apprehended, it is ne-
ceiTary to oppofe it by proper Means and Reme
dies : the fmallefl: Error may be of fatal Confe-
quence, and hot inflaming Liquids have been
known to kill the Patient in a few Hours. I
was called in the fecond Day of the Difeafe to a
young Perfon, who had taken a good deal of Ve
nice Treacie : Nothing could afford her any Re
lief, and flie died eany on the third Day.
This Difeaie mould be treated precifely in the
fame Manner as an inflammatory Cholic ; the
. pal Difference being, that in the former
th:rc are no Stools, but continual Vomitings.
Firfi
Of the Iliac Paflion. 325
i, Firil of all then the Patient fliould be plen
tifully bled, if the Phyfician has been called in
early enough, and before the Sick has !<;
Strength.
2, He fhould receive opening Glyflers made
of a Decoction of Barley Water, with five or fix
Ounces of Oil in each.
7, We mould endeavour to allav the violent
^J *
Efforts to vomit, by giving every two Hours a
Spoonful of the Mixture N. 48.
4, The Sick mould drink plentifully, in very
fmall Quantities, very often repeated, of an ap
pearing, diluting, refreshing Drink, which tends
at the lame Time to promote both Stools and
Urine. Nothing is preferable to the Whey N.
49, if it can be had immediately: if not, give
fimple clear Whey fweetened with Honey, and
the Drinks prefcribed 298, Art. 3,
5, The Patient is to be put into a warm Bath,
and kept as long as he can bear it, repeating it
as often daily too, as his Strength will permit.
6, After Bleeding, warm Bathing, repeated
Glyflers and Fomentations, if each and all of
theie have availed nothing ; the Fume or Smoak
of Tobacco may be introduced in the Manner of
a Glyfter, of which I (hall fpeak further, in the
Chapter on Perfons drowned.
I cured a Perfon of this Difeafe, by convey
ing him into a Bath, immediately after bleeding
him, and giving him a Purge on his L,uing into
the Bath.
326 Of the Iliac Pajjlon.
319. If the Pain abates before the Patient
has quite lofl his Strength ; if the Pulfe improves
at the fame Time - 3 if the Vomitings are lefs in
Number, and in the Quantity of the Matter
brought up j if that Matter feems in a lefs pu
trid offeniive State ; if he feels fome Commotion
and Rumbling in his Bowels ; if he has fome
little Diicharge by Stool ; and if at the fame
Time he feels himfelf a little ilronger than be
fore, his Cure may reafonably be expected ; but
if he is othcrwife circumstanced he will foon de-
pait. It frequently happens, a fmglc Hour, be
fore Deuh, that the Pain feems to vanifh, and a
furprifing Quantity of extremely foetid Matter is
diicharged by Stool : the Patient is fuddenly feiz-
ed with a great Weaknefs and Sinking, falls into
- old Sweat, and immediately expires.
-). This is the Difeafe which the com
mon People attribute to, and term, the Twijiing
I be Guts ; and in which they make the Pa
rts fwallow Bullets, or large Quantities of
Quick-filver. This twilling, tangling, or Knot-
ing of the Guts is an utter, an impoffible Chi
mera ; for how can they admit of iuch a Circum-
ftance, as one of their Extremities, their Ends,
is conrecled to the Stomach, and the other irre-
moveably fattened to the Skin of the Fork or
Cleft of the Buttocks? In Fact this Difeafe reiults
from a Variety of Caufes, which have been difco-
vered on a Diiicction of thole who have died of it.
It were to be wifhed indeed this prudent Cuilom,
j c :;tremcly conducive to enrich 3 and to perfect,
the
Of the Cholera-morbus. 327
the Art of Phyfick, were to prevail more gene
rally ; and which we ought rather to confider as
a Duty to comply with, than a Difficulty to fub-
mit to j as it is our Duty to contribute to the Per
fection of a Science, on which the Happinefs of
Mankind fo confiderably depends. I (hall not
enter into a Detail of theie Caufes ; but \
they are, the Practice of fwalldwing Bullets in
the Difeafe is always pernicious, and the like Life
of Mercury muft be often fo. Each of thefe
pretended Remedies may aggravate the Dill:
and contribute an insurmountable Obftacle to the
Cure- Of that Iliac Paffion, which is fometimos
a Confequence of Ruptures, I ihall treat in ano
ther Place.
Of the Cbolera-morbw*
321. This Difeafe is a fndden, abundant,
and . painful Evacuation by vomiting and by
Stool.
It begins with much Flatulence, or Wind,
with Swelling and flight Pains in the Belly, ac
companied with great Dejection ; and followed
with large Evacuations either by Stool or by Vo
mit at firft, but whenever either of them has
begun, the other quickly follows. The Matter
evacuated is either yellowim, green, brown,
whitifh, or black; the Pains in the Belly violent;
the Pulfe, almoft conftantly feverifh, is fometimes
ilrong at firil, but foon links into Weaknefs, in
Confequence of the prodigious Difcharge. Some
Patients purge a hundred Times in the Compais
X 4 of
.3 Of the Gbolera-ntorbus.
of a few Hours : they may even be feen to fall
away ; and if the Difeafe exifts in a violent De
gree, they are fcarcely to he known within three
/
or four Hours from the Commencement of thefe
Difcharges. After a great Number of them they
are afrlicled with Spafms, or Cramps, in their
Legs, Thighs, and Arms, which torment them
as much as the Fains in the Belly. When the
Difeafe rages too highly to be affwaged, Hiccups,
Convulfions and a Coldnefs of the Extremities
approach ; there is a fcarcely intermitting Succef-
iion of fainting, or fwooning Fits, the Patient dy
ing either in one of them, or in Convulfions.
322. This Difeafe, which constantly depends
on a Bile railed to the higheft Acrimony, com
monly prevails towards the End of July and in
Auguft : efpecially if the Heats have been very
violent, and there have been little or no Summer
Fruits, which greatly conduce to attempt: and
allay the putreicent Acrimony of the Bile.
323. Neverthelels, however violent thisDif-
temper may be, it is lefs dangerous, and alfo leis
tormenting than the former, manv Peribns reco-
o j
verine from it.
o
i, Our firft Endeavour ihould be to dilute, or
even to drown this acrid Bile, by Draughts, by
Deluges, of the mofl mitigating Drinks ; the Irri
tation being io very great, that every Thing hav
ing the kail Sharpnefs is injurious. Wherefore
the Patient Ihould continually take in, by Drink,
and by Way of Glyfter, cither Barley- Water,
Almond-Milk, or pure Water, with one eighth
Part
Of the Cbolera-morbm , 329
Part Milk, which has fucceeded very well in mV
Practice. Or he may ufe a very light Decoc
tion, or Ptifan, as it were, of Bread, which is
made by gently boiling a Pound of toaited Bread>
in three or four Pots of Water for half an Hour-
In Swifferland we prefer Oat- bread. We alfo
fuccefsfully ufe pounded Rye, making a light
Ptiian of it.
A very light thin Soup made of a Pullet, a
Chicken, or of one Pound of lean Veal, in three
Pots of Water, is very proper too in this Difeafe.
Whey is alfo employed to good Purpofe; and in
thole Places, where it can eaiily be had, Butter
milk is the beft Drink of any. But, whichever
of thefe Drinks fhall be thought preferable, it is
a neceffary Point to drink very plentifully of it;
and the Giyflers fhould be given every two
Hours.
2, If the Patient is of a robuft Conftitution,
and fanguine Complexion, with a ftrong Pulfe
at the Time of the Attack, and the Pains are
very fevere, a firfl:, and in fome Cafes, a fecond
Bleeding, very early in the Invafion, aflwages
the Violence of the Malady, and allows more
Leifure for the Affiftance of other Remedies.
I have feen the Vomiting ceafe almoft entirely,
O *
after the firii Bleedin^.
o
The Rage of this Difeafe abates a little af
ter a Duration of five or fix Hours : we muft
not however, during this RemuTion or A-
batement, forbear to throw in proper Reme
dies j fince it returns foon after with great Force,
which
33 Of tf }C Cholcra-morbus.
which Return however indicates no Alteration of
the Method already entered upon.
3, In general the warm Bath refrefhes the Pa
tient while he continues in it j but the Pains fre
quently return foon after he is taken out, which,
however, is no Reafon for omitting it, fince it
has frequently been found to give a more durable
Relief. The Patient mould continue in it a con-
fiderable Time, and, during that Time, he
mould take fix or feven dalles of the Potion
N*. 32, which has been very efficacious in this
Dileafc. By thefe Means the Vomiting has been
ftopt ; and the Patient, upon going out of the
Bath, has had feveral large Stools, which very
confiderably diminifhed the Violence of the Dil
eafc.
4, If the Patient s Attendants are terrified by
thefe great Evacuations, and determine to check
them (however prematurely) by Venice Treacle,
Mint Water, Syrup of white Poppies, called Dia-
codium, by Opium or Mithridate, it either hap
pens, that the Dileafc and all its Symptoms are
heightened, to which I have been a Witnefs ; or,
if the Evacuations fbould adualiv be ftopt, the
Patient, in Confequence of it, is thrown into a
more dangerous Condition. I have been obliged
to give a Purge, in order to renew the Difcharges,
to a Man, who had been thrown into a vio
lent Fever, attended with a raging Delirium, by
a Medicine compofed of Venice Treacle, Mith
ridate and Oil. Such Medicines ought not to be
employed, until the imiallrjefs of the Pulfe, great
Weaknefs,
Of the Choiera-morbui* 331
Weaknefs, violent and alraoA continual Cramps,
and even the Iniufficience of the Patient s Efforts
to vomit, make us appreheniive of his finking
irrecoverably. In fuch Circumftances indeed he
mould take, every Quarter or half Quarter of
an Hour, a Spoonful of the Mixture N. 50, flill
continuing the diluting Drinks. After the firfr.
Hour, they mould only he given every Hour,
and that only to the Extent of eight Doles. But
I defire to infift upon it here, that this Medicine
mould not be given too early in this Diflemper.
324. If the Patient is likely to recover, the
Pains and the Evacuations gradually abate; the
Thirft is lefs ; the Pulfe continues very quick, but
it becomes regular. There have been Instances
of their Propeniity to a heavy kind of Drowfi-
nefs at this Time ; for perfeoft refrefhing Sleep
advances but (lowly after this Difeafe. It will
*
ilill be proper to perievere in die Medicines al
ready directed, though fo me what lefs frequently.
And now we mav begin to allow the Patient a
j O
few Soups from farinaceous mealy Subflances ;
and as foon as the Evacuations accompanying
this Difeafe are evidently ceafed, and the Pains
are vanimed ; though an acute Senfibility and
great Weaknefs continues, befide fuch Soups, he
may be allowed ibme new-laid Eggs, very light
ly boiled, or even raw, for ibme Days. After
this he mull be referred to the Regimen fo fre
quently recommended to Peribns in a State of
Recovery : when the concurring Ufe of the Pow
der
3 3 2 Qf a Diarrhaa, or Loofenefs.
der N. 24, taken twice a Day, will greatly aflift
to haflen and to eftablifh his Health.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Of a Diarrhafly or Loofenefs.
SECT. 325.
one knows what is meant by a
Loofenefs or Purging, which the Po-
k sL*i! P u ^ ace frequently call a Flux, and fome-
times a Cholic.
There are certain very chronical, or tedious
and obftinate ones, which arife from fome effen-
tial Fault in the ConftitUtion. Of inch, as fo
reign to my Plan, I (hall fay nothiqg.
Thofe which come on fuddenly, without any
preceding Diforder, except fometimes a flight
Qualm or fhort Loathing, and a Pain in the Loins
and Knees ; which are not attended with fmart
Pains nor a Fever (and frequently without any
Pain, or any other Complaint) are often er of Ser
vice than prejudicial. They carry off a Heap of
Matter that mav have been Ions; amaffed and cor-
rupted in the Body ; which, if not difcharged,
might have produced fome Diilemper ; and, far
from weakening the Body, fuch Purgings as
thefe render it more ftrong, li^ht and aclive.
Of a Diarrhqa, or Loofenefs. 333
326. Such therefore ought by no Means to
be flopped, nor even fpeedily checked : they ge
nerally ceafe of themfelves, as foon as all the
noxious Matter is discharged ; and as they re
quire no Medicine, it is only necefTary to retrench
considerably from the ordinary Quantity of Nou-
fifliment ; to abftain from Flefh, Eggs and Wine
or other llrong Drink; to live only on ibme Soups,
on Pulfe, or on a little Fruit, whether raw or
baked, and to drink rather Ids than ufual. A
fimple Ptifan with a little Syrup of Capillaire y or
Maiden-hair, is fufficient in theie Purgings, which
require no Venice Treacle, Confection, nor any
Drug whatever.
327. But fhould it continue more than five
or fix Days, and manifeftly weaken the Patient;
if the Pain attending it grows a little fevere;
and elpecially if the Irritation, the urging to
Stool, proves more frequent, it becomes leaibn-
able to check, or to ftop, it. For this Purpofe
the Patient is to be put into a Regimen ; and if
the Looieneis has been accompanied with a great
Loathing, with Pvilings or Wambiings at Sto
mach, with a foul furred Tongue, and a bad
Tafte in the Mouth, he muft take the Powder
N. 35. But if theie Symptpms do riot appear,
give him that of N. 51 : and during the three*
following Hours, let him take, every half Hour,
a Cup of weak light Broth, without any Fat
on it.
If the Purging, after being reftralned by this
Medicine, fhould return within a few Days, it
would
334 P/* a foiarrhcea^ or LoofeneJ} .
would ftrongly infer, there was ftill fome tough
vifcid Matter within, that required Evacuation.
To effect this he fhould take the Medicines N.
21, 25 or 27 ; and afterwards take failing, for
two fuccefTive Mornings, half the Powder, N.5i.
On the Evening of that Day when the Patient
took N. 35, or N*. 51, or any other Purge, he
may take a fmall Dole of Venice Treacle.
328. A Purging is often neglected for a loir*
Time, without obferving theleaft Regimen, from
which Neglect they degenerate into tedious andasit
Were habitual, perpetual ones, and entirely weaken
the Patient. In fuch Cafes, the Medicine N. 35
fhould be given firft ; then, every other Day for
four Times fucceflively, he mould take N. 51 :
during all which Time he mould live on nothin?
but Panada (See 57) or on Rice boiled in weak
Chicken-broth. A ftrenething ftomachic Phi-
o o
fter has fometimes been fuccefsfully applied, which
may be often moiftened in a Decoction of Herbs
boiled in Wine. Cold and Moiflure fliould be
carefully avoided in thefe Cafes, which frequent
ly occalion immediate Relapfes, even after the
Loofenefs had ceafed for many Days.
W -;r tKttr -w
.
>^. JH*
w * W
- a-**
CHAPTER
Of tie Dyfentery, or Bloody -fux. 3
J A r V -N i/ Alt \t -Ify J Mf \J. Als A/ ol/ \i K!!/ .!/ Of/ 5/.J Ali V* 1
CHAPTER XXIV.
O/* the Dyji ntery, or Bloody-fax.
SECT. 329.
Dyfentery is a Flux or Loofenefs of
T H the Belly, attended with great Reftlefs-
^^5 ne ^ s anc ^ Anguifh, with levere Gripings,
and frequent Propenfities to go to Stool,
There is generally a little Blood in the Stoolsj
though this is not a conftant Symptom, -and is
not eifential to the Exigence of a Dyfentery s
notwithstanding it may not be much lels danger
ous, for the Abfence of this Symptom.
33- Th e Dyfentery is often epidemical ;
beginning fomerimes at the End of July, though
oftner in Auguft, and going off when the Frofh
fet in. The great preceding Heats render the
Blood and the Bile acrid or iliarp ; and though,
during the Continuance of the Heat, Peripiration
is kept up (See Introdudt. P. 28) yet as loon as
the Heat abates, efpecially in the Mornings and
Evenings, that Difcharge is diminifhed ; and by
how much the more Vifcidity or Thicknefs thtr
Humours have acquired, in Confequence of the
violent Heats, the Difcharge of the iharp Humour
by Peripiration being now checked, it is thrown
upon
3 3 6 Of the Dyfentery > or Bloody - flu v .
upon the Bowels which it irritates, producing
Pains in, and Evacuations from them.
This Kind of Dyfentery may happen at all
Times, and in all Countries ; but if other Caufes,
capable of producing a Putridity of the Humours,
be complicated with it ; fuch as the crouding up
a great Number of People into very little Room,
and very clofe Quarters, as in Hofpitals, Camps,
or Prifons, this introduces a malignant Principle
into the Humours, which, co-operating with the
Jimpler Caufe of the Dyfentery, renders it the
more difficult and dangerous.
331. This Difeafe begins with a general
Coldnefs rather than a Shivering, which lafts
fome Hours ; the Patient s Strength foon abates,
and he feels {harp Pains in his Belly, which
fometimes continue for feveral Hours, before the
Flux begins. He is affected with Ferligos, or
Swimmings in the Head, with Reachings to
vomit, and grows pale ; his Pulfe at the lame
Time being very little, if at all, feveriih, but
commonly imall, and at length the Purging be
gins. The firft Stools are often thin, and yel-
lowilh ; but in a little Time they are mixt with a
vifcid ropy Matter, which is often tinged with
Elood. Their Colour and Confidence are vari
ous too, being either brown, greenilh or black,
thinner or thicker, and foetid : The Pains in-
creafe before each of the Difcharges, which grow
very frequent, to the Number of eight, ten,
twelve or fifteen in an Hour : then the Funda
ment
Of the Dyfentery, or Bloody-flux. 337
rnent becomes confiderably irritated, and the fcnefi
mm (which is a great Urgency to go to Stool,
though without any Effect) is joined to the Dy-
fentery or Flux, and often brings on a Protru-
iion or falling down of the Fundament, the Pa
tient being now mdft feverely afflicted. Worms
are fometimes voided, and glary hairy Humours,
refembling Pieces or Peelings of Guts, and fome
times Clots of Blood.
If the Diftemper rifes to a violent Height, the
Guts become inflamed, which terminates either
in Suppuration or in Mortification; themiferable
Patient difcharges Pus, or black and foetid wa
tery Stools : the Hiccup fupervenes j he grows
delirious ; his Pulfe finks > and he falls into cold
Sweats and Paintings which terminate in Death.
A kind of Phrenzy, or raging Delirium, feme-
times comes on before the Minute of Expira
tion. I have feen a very unufual Symptom ac
company this Difeafe in two Perfons, which was
an Impoffibility of fwallowing, for three Days
before Death,
But in general this Diftemper is not fo ex
tremely violent ; the Difcharges are lefs frequent,
being from twenty-five to forty within a Day and
Night. Their Contents are lefs various and un
common, and mixed with very little Blood ; the
Patient retains more Strength ; the Number of
Stools gradually decreafe , the Blood difappears j
the Confidence of the Difcharges improves j Sleep
and Appetite return, and the Sick recovers.
Y Many
33 8 Of the Dyfentcry, or Bloody-fux.
Many of the Sick have not the leaft Degree of
Fever, nor of Thirft, which perhaps is lefs com
mon in this Difeafe, than in a fimple Purging or
Loofenefs.
"heir Urine fometimes is but in a fmall Quan
tity j and many Patients have ineffectual Endea
vours to pals it, to their no fmall Affliction and
Reftleffnefs.
332. The moil efficacious Remedy for this
3ifeafe is a Vomit. That of N. 34, (when
there is no prefent Circumflance that forhids the
giving a Vomit) if taken immediately on the firft
Invalion of it, often removes it at once ; and al
ways ihortens its Duration. That of N. 35 is
not K octual ; it has been confidered for a
long Time, even as a certain Specific, which it
;iot, though a very ufeful Medicine. If the
Stools prove lefs frequent after the Operation of
either of them, it is a good Sign ; if they are no
Ways diminiflied, we may apprehend the Dif
eafe is like to be tedious and obftinate.
The Patient is to be ordered to a Regimen, ab-
flaining from all Flem-meat with the flricteft
Attention, until the perfect Cure of the Difeafe.
The Ptifan N. 3 is the beft Drink for him.
The Day after the Vomit, he muft take the
Powder N. 51 divided into two Dofes : the
next Day he mould take no other Medicine but
his Ptifan ; on the fourth the Rhubarb mutt be
repeated ; after which the Violence of the Dil-
eafe commonly abates : His Diet during the Dii-
cale is neverthelefs to be continued exactly for
fome
Of the Dyfentety, or Btoody-ftux. 339
fbmeDays; after whicl\ he may be allowed to
enter upon that of Peribns in a State of Re
covery.
333. The Dyfentery fometimes commences
with an inflammatory Fever; a feverim, hard,
full Pulfe, with a violent Pain in the Head and
Loins, and a ftiff diftended Belly. In fuch a
Cafe the Patient muft be bled once ; and daily
receive three or even four of the^Glyfters N. 6,
drinking plentifully of the Drink N. 3.
When all Dread of an Inflammation is en
tirely over, the Patient is to be treated in the
Manner jufl related ; though often there is no
NeoeiTity lor the Vomit : and if the inflamma
tory Symptoms have run high, his fir ft Pur.^e
fhould be that of N*. n, and the Uie of the
Rhubarb may be poftponed, till about the mani-
feft Conclufion of the Difeaie.
I have cured many Dyfenteries, by ordering
the Sick no other Remedy, but a Cup of warm
Water every Quarter of an Hour ; and it were
better to rely only on this fimple Remedy, which
muft be of fome Utility, than to employ thoie,
of whofe Effedts Country People are ignorant,
and which are often productive of very danger
ous ones.
334. It fometimes happens that the Dyicn-
tery is combined with a putrid Fever, which
makes it neceffary, after the Vomit, to give ihe
Purges N. 23 or 47, and feveral D
24, before the Rhubarb is given. N. 32 is excel
lent in this combined Cafe.
Y ? There
34 Of the Dyfentery, or
There was in Siviflerland in the Autumn
1755, after a very numerous Prevalence of epi
demical putrid Fevers had ceafed, a Multitude of
Dyfenteries, which had no fmall Affinity with,
or Relation to, fuch Fevers. I treated them firft,
with the Prefcription N. 34, giving afterwards
N. 32 j and I directed the Rhubarb only to very
few, and that towards the Conclufion of the Dif-
eafe. By much the greater Number of them
were cured at the End of four or five Davs. A
*
fmall Proportion of them, to whom I could not
give the Vomit, or whole Cafes were more com
plicated, remained languid a coniiderable Time,
though without Fatality or Danger.
335- When the Dyfentery is blended with
Symptoms of Malignity (See 245) after pre-
n.ifing the Preicription N. 35, thofe of N. 38
and 39 may be called in fuccefsfully.
336. When the Difeafe has already been of
many Days (landing, without the Patient s hav
ing taken any Medicines, or only fuch as were in
jurious to him, he muft be treated as if the Dif-
temper had but juft commenced ; unlefs fome
Symptoms, foreign to the Nature of the Dyfen
tery, had fupervened upon it.
337. Relapfes fometimes occur in Dyfente
ries, fome few Days after the Patients appeared
well ; much the greater Number of which are
occaiioned either by fome Error in Diet, by cold
Air, or by being confiderably over-heated. They
are to be prevented by avoiding thefe Caufes of
them j and may be removed by putting the Pa
tient
Of the Dyfentery, or Bloody-flux. 34 i
tient on his Regimen, and giving him one Dofe
of the Prefcription N. 51. Should it return
even without any fuch difcoverable Caufes, and if
it manifefts itfelf to be the fame Diltemper re
newed, it muft be treated as fuch.
(J 338. This Difeaie is fometimes combined
too with an intermitting Fever ; in which Cafe the
Dyfentery mud be removed firft, and the in ef-
mittent afterwards. Neverthelefs if the Accefs,
the Fits of the Fever have been very ftrong, the
Bark mufl be given as directed 259.
339. One pernicious Prejudice, which ftill
generally prevails is, that Fruits are noxious in
a Dyfentery, that they even give it, and aggrava;e
it; and this perhaps is an extremely ill-ground
ed one. In truth bad Fruits, and fuch as have
not ripened well, in unfeafonable Years, may
really occafion Cholics, a Loofenefs (though
oftner a Coilivenefs) and Diforders of the Nerves,
and of the Skin ; but never can occafion an epi
demical Dyfentery or Flux. Ripe Fruits, of what
ever Species, and efpecially Summer Fruits, are
the real Prefervattves from this Difeafe. r i he
greateft Mifchief they can effect, muft refult from
their thinning and warning down the Hu
mours, efpecially the thick glutinous Bile, if
they are in fuch a State ; good ripe Fruits being
the true Diffolvents of fuch ; by which indeed
they may bring on a Purging, but fuch a one, as
is rather a Guard againft a Dyfentery.
We had a great, an extraordinary Abundance
of Fruit in 1759 and 1760, but fcarcely any
Y 3 Dyfcn-
342 Of the Dyfentery, or Bloody -jinx.
Dyfenteries. It has been even obferved to be
more rare, and lefs dangerous than formerly;
and if the Fact is certain, it cannot be attributed
to any thing more probably, than to the very nu
merous Plantations of Trees, which have ren
dered Fruit very plenty, cheap and common.
Whenever I have obferved Dyfenteries to prevail,
I made it a Rule to eat lefs Flefh, and Plenty of
Fruit ; I have never had the flighteft Attack of
one ; and feveral Phyficians uie the fame Caution
with the fame Succefs,
1 have feen eleven Patients in a Dyfentery in
one Houfe, of whom nine were very tractable ;
they cat Fruit and recovered. The Grandmo
ther and one Child, whom fhe loved more than
the reft, were carried off. She managed the
Child after her own Faihion, with burnt Wine,
Oil, and fome Spices, but no Fruit. She con-
dueled herfelf in the very fame Manner, and both
died.
In a Country Seat near Berne, in the Year
1751, when thefe Fluxes made great Havock,
and People were feverely warned againft the Ufe
pf Fruits, out of eleven Perfons in the Family,
ten eat plentifully of Prunes, and not one of them
was feized with it : The poor Coachman alone
rigidly obferved that Abftinence from Fruit in-
joined by this Prejudice, and took a terrible Dy
fentery.
This fame Diftemper had nearly deftroyed a
Swifs Regiment in Garrifon in the South of
franct\ the Captains pyrchaied the whole Crop of
feveral
Of the Dyjentery, or Bloody-flux. 343
feveral Acres of Vineyard ; there they carried the
fick Soldiers, and gathered the Grapes for fuch as
could not bear being carried into the Vineyard ;
thofe who were well eating nothing elfe : after
this not one more died, nor were any more even
attacked with the Dyfentery.
A Clergyman was feized with a Dyfentery,
which was not in the lead mitigated by any Me
dicines he had taken. By meer Chance he faw
fome red Currans; he longed for them, and eat
three Pounds of them between feven and nine
o Clock in the Morning ; that very Day he be
came better, and was entirely well on the next.
I could greatly enlarge the Number of fuch
Inftances ; but thcfe may fuffice to convince the
moft incredulous, whom I thought it might be
of fome Importance to convince. Far from for
bidding good Fruit, when Dyfenteries rage, the
Patients mould be encouraged to eat them freely ;
and the Directors of the Police, inftead of pro
hibiting them, ought to fee the Markets well
o o
provided with them. It is a Fadt of which Per-
fons, who have carefully informed themfelves, do
not in the leaft doubt. Experience demonftrates
it, and it is founded in Reafon, as good Fruit
counter- operates all the Caufes of Dyfenteries. *
Y 4 340.
The Experience of all Countries and Times fottrongly con
firms thefe important Truths, that they cannot be too often re
peated, too generally publifhed, whenevei and wherever this Dif-
eafe rages. The Succeffion of cold Showers to violent Heats ;
too moift a Confutation of the Air; an F.xcefs of animal Fc>
Uncleanlinefs and Contagion, are the frequent Caufes of epidemi
cal Fluxes, E, L.
I have
344 "Q/~ the Byfentery, or Bloody-flux.
340. It is important and even necefTary, that
each Subject of this Difeafe fhould have a Clofe-
flcol or Convenience apart to himfelf, as the
Matter difcharged is extremely infectious : and if
they make Ufe of Bed-pans, they fhould be car
ried immediately out of the Chamber, the Air of
which fliould be continually renewed, burning
Vinegar frequently in it.
It is alfo very necefTary to change the Pa
tient s Linen frequently ; without all which Pre
cautions the Diftemper becomes more violent,
and attacks others who Jive in the fame Houfe.
Hence it is greatly to be wifhed the People in ge
neral were convinced of thefe Truths.
It was BOERHAAVE S Opinion, that all the
Water which was diank, while Dyfenteries were
epidemical, fhould be flummed^ as we term it,
or fuiphurized. "j-
34 -
I have retained the preceding Note, abridged from this Gen
tleman, as it contains the Suffrage of another experienced Phyfi-
cian, againft that Prejudice of ripe Fruits occafioning Fluxes,
which is too popular among ourfelves, and probably more fo in
the Country than in London. \ have been alfo very credibly ai-
fured, that the Son of a learned Phyfician was perfectly cured of
a very obftinate Purging, of a Year s Continuance (in Spite of all
the ufual officinal Remedies) by his devouring large Quantities of
ripe Mulberries, for which he ardently longed, and drinking ve
ry freely of their exprefled Juice. The Fail occurred after his
Father s Deccafe, and was affirmed to me by a Gentleman inti
mately acquainted with them both. K.
I Our learned Author, or his medical Editor at Lyons t obferves
here, that in the Edition of this Treatife at Paris, there was an
cfiential Miitake, by making Boerhati vc recommend the Addition
of Brandy, Eau de <vie, inftead of ilumming or fulphorizing it, for
tvhich this Note, and the Text wo ufe the Verb tranter, which
Word
Of the Dyfentery, or Bloody -flux.
341. It has happened, by fome unaccount
able Fatality, that there is no Difcafe, for which
a greater Number of Remedies are advifed, than
for the Dyfentery. There is fcarcely any Perfon
but what boafts of his o\vn Prefcription, in Pre
ference to all the reft, and who does not boldly
engage to cure, and that within a few Hours, a
tedious fevere Difeafe, of which he has formed
no juil Notion, with fome Medicine or Compo-
fition, of whofe Operation he is totally ignorant :
while the poor Sufferer, reftlefs and impatient,
fwallows every Body s Recommendation, and
gets poifoned either through Fear, downright
Difguft or Wearinefs, or through entire Complai-
iance. Of thefe many boaited Compofitions,
fome are only indifferent, but others pernicious.
I ihall not pretend to detail all I know myfelf,
but after repeatedly affirming, that the only true
Method of Cure is that I have advifed here, the
Purpofe of which is evacuating the offending Mat
ter; I alfo affirm that all thofe Methods, which
have a different Scope or Drift, are pernicious ;
but mall particularly obfen e, that the Method
moft generally followed, which is that of flop
ping the Stools by Aftringents, or by Opiates,
is the worft of all, and even fo mortal a one, as
to deflroy a Multitude of People annually, and
which
Word \ve do not find in any Dictionary. We are told however,
it means to impregnate the Cafks in which the Water is referred,
w ; th the Vapour of Sulphur, and then flopping them ; in the
fame Manner that Veffels are in fome Countries, for the keeping
of Wine. He observes the Purpofe of this is to oppofe Corruptioft
by the acid Steams of the Sulphur. K.
346 Of the Dyfentery, or Bloody-fux.
which throws others into incurable Difeafes. By
preventing the Difcharge of thefe Stools, and in-
clofing the Wolf in the Fold, it either follows, i,
that this * retained Matter irritates and inflames
the Bowels^ifom which Inflammation excruci
ating Pains ariie, an acute inflammatory Cholic,
and finally a Mortification and Death ; ot&Schir-
rbitSy which degenerates into a Cancer, (of which
I have leen a dreadful Iniiance) or elfe an Abfcefs,
Suppuration and Ulcer. Or 2, this arrefted Hu
mour is repelled elfewhere, producing a Scirrhus
in the Liver, or Afthmas, Apoplexy, Epilepfy,
or Falling Sicknefs j horrible rheumatic Pains, or
incurable Diibrders of the Eyes, or of the Tegu
ments, the Skin and Surface.
Such are the Coniequences of all the aftringent
Medicines, and of thofe which are given to pro
cure Sleep in this Difeafe, as Venice Treacle,
Mithridate and Diaicordiurn, when given two
early in Dyfenteries.
I have been consulted on Account of a terrible
Rheumatifrn, which enlued immediately after
taking a Mixture of Venice Treacle and Plan
tain, on the iecond Day of a Dyfentery.
As thole who adviie luch Medicines, are cer
tainly unaware of their Confequences, I hope
this
* A firft or fecond Dofe of Glauber Salt has been known to
fuccced in the epidemical Summer Fluxes of the hotter Climates,
when repeated Dofes of Rhubarb and Opiates had failed. Such
Jnflances feems a collateral Confirmation of Dr. TISSOT S rational
and fuccefsful Ufe of cooling opening Fruits in them. K,
Of the Itch. 347
this Account of them will be fufficient, to pre
vent their Repetition.
342. Neither are Purges without their Abufe
and Danger ; they determine the Courfe of all
the Humours more violently to the tender afflic
ted Parts ; the Body becomes exhaufted ; the Di-
geilions fail j the Bowels are weakened, and
fometimes even lightly ulcerated, whence in
curable Diarrheas or Purgings enfue, and prove
fatal after many Years Affliction.
343. If the Evacuations prove exceffive, and
the Diilemper tedious, the Patient is likely to
fall into a Dropfy ; but if this is immediately
oppofed, it may be removed by a regular and
drying Diet, by Strengthners, by Friction and
proper Exercife.
e^ojfcq^cfcoo^ojfcog^
CHAPTER XXV.
Of the Itch.
SECT. 344.
yr^lHE Itch is an infectious Diibrder con-
T vfj traded by touching infected Peribns or
Cloaths, but not imbibed from the Air :
So that by carefully avoiding the Me-
dhim, or Means of Contagion, the Diiorder may
be certainly eicaped.
Though
348 Of the Itch.
Though any Part of the Body may be infefted
with the Itch, it commonly ihews itfelf on the
Hands, and chiefly between the Fingers. At
hrft one or two little Pimples or Puftules appear,
tilled with a kind of clear Water, and excite a
very difagreeable Itching. If thefe Puftules are
broke by fcratching them, the Water oozin^-
from them infects the neighbouring Parts. At
the Beginning of this Infection it can fcarcely be
diftinguiihed, if a Perlon is not well apprized of
its Nature ; but in the Progrefs of it, the little
Puflules increafe both in Number and Size; and
when they are opened by fcratching, a loath-
ibme kind of Scab is formed, and the Malady
extends over the whole Surface. Where they
continue long, they produce fmall Ulcers, and
are at that Time highly contagious.
345. Bad Diet, particularly the Ufe of Salt
Meat, bad unripe Fruit, and Undeanlinefs oc-
calion this Dili ale j though it is oftneft taken by
Contagion. Some very good Phyficians fuppole
it is never contracted otherwife ; but I muft take
Leave to diiTent, as I have certainly feen it exift
without Contagion.
When it happens to a Perfon, who cannot fuf-
pect he has received it by Contact, his Cure Ihould
commence with a total Abflinence from all Salt,
four, fat and fpicy Food. He mould drink a
Ptifan of wild and bitter Succory, or that of N.
26, five or fix Claries of which may be daily
taken ; at the End of four or five Days, he may
be purged with N. 21, or with an Ounce of
Sedlitz
Of the Itch. 349
Sedlitz [or Epfom~\ Salt. His Abftinence, his
Regimen is to be continued ; the Purge to be re
peated after fix or feven Days ; and then all the
Parts affected, and thole very near them, are to be
rubbed in the Morning failing, with a fourth
Part of the Ointment N c . 52. The three fol
lowing Days the iame Friction is to be repeated,
after which the fame Quantity of Ointment is to
be procured, and uied in the fame Proportion -,
but only every other Day. It happens but feldom
that this Method fails to remove this difagreeable
o
Malady ; Ibtnetimes however it will return, in
which Cafe, the Patient mud be pprged again,
and then recur to the Ointment, whofe good
Effects I have experienced, and continually do.
If the Difeafe has been very lately contracted,
and molt certainly by Contact, the Ointment
may be fearlefsly employed, as foon as it is dif-
covered, without taking any Purge before it. But
if, on the contrary, the Difeaie has been long
neglected, and hac rofe to a high Degree, it will
be neceflary to reftrain the Patient a long Time
to the Regimen I have directed ; he muil be re
peatedly purged, and then drink plentifully of the
Ptifan N. 26, before the Ointment is rubbed in.
When the Malady is thus circumfcanced, I have
always begun with the Ointment N. 28, half a
Quarter of which is to be uied every Morning.
I have alfo frequently omitted the Ufe of that
N. 52, having always found the former as cer
tain, b ;t a itile ilcwcr in its Effects.
346. vVi^ic thefe Medicine s are employed,
the
35 Of the ItcL
the Patient muft avoid all Cold and Wet, efpe-
cially if he makes Ufe of N. 28, * in which
there is Quick-ii iver ; which, if fuch Precautions
were neglected, might bring on a Swelling of the
Throat and Gums, and even rife to a Salivation.
Yet this Ointment has one Advantage in its hav
ing no Smell, and being fufceptible of an agree
able one ; while it is very difficult to difguife the
difaoreeable Odour of the other.
o
The Linen of a Perfon in this Difeafe ought to
be often changed j but his upper Cloaths muft not
be changed : becaufe thefe having been infeded,
might, when worn again, communicate the Itch
to the Wearer a<rain, after he had been cured.
O
Shirts, Breeches and Stockings may be fumi
gated with Sulphur, before they are put on ; and
this Fumigation mould be made in the open Air.
347-
* I have feen a pretty fingular Confeqaence from the Abufe of
mercurial Unftion tor the Itch ; whether it happened from the
Strength or Quantity of the Continent, or from taking Cold after
applying it, as this Subject, a hjalthy Youth of about fixtcen, pro
bably did, by riding three or four Miles through the Rain. But
without any other previous Complaint, he awoke quite blind one
Morning, wondering, as he faid, when it would be Day. His
Eyes were very clear, and free from Inflammation, but the Pupil
was wholly immoveable, as in a Guttaferer.a, \ effected the Cure
by feme moderate Purges repeated a lew Times ; by difpoiing him
to fweat by lying pretty much in Bed (it being towards Winter)
and by promoting his Perfpiration, chiefly with Sulphur : after
which the (haved Scalp was embrocated with a warm nervous
Mixture, in which Balfzm of Peru was a confiderable Ingredient.
In fomething lefs than three Weeks he could difcern a glowing
Fire, or the bright Flame of a Candle. As his Sight increafed,
he difcerned other Objects, which appeared for fome Days in
verted to him, with their Colours confufed ; but Red was moil
diftinguimable. He difcovered the Aces fooner than other Cards ;
and in about fix or feven Weeks recovered his full Sight in all its
natural Strength, which he now enjoys. A".
Of the Itch. 351
347. If this Diforder becomes very invete
rate and tedious, it exhaufts the Patient, in Con-
iequence of its not fufrering him to fleep at
Nights, as well as by his rcftlefs Irritation -, and
fometimes even brings on a Fever, ib that he falls
away in Flem, and his Strength abates.
In fuch a^Cafe he muft take, i , a gentle Purge.
2, Make Uie frequently of warm Baths.
3, He muft be put on the Regimen of Per-
fons in a State of Recovery.
4, He mutt take Morning and Evening, fifteen
Days fucceilively, the Powder N. 53, with the
PtilanN . 26.
This Malady is often very obftinate, and then
the Medicines mull be varied according to the
Circumftances, the Detail of which I avoid here.
348. After giving repeated Purges in fuch
pbftinate Cafes, mineral Waters abounding with
Sulphur, fuch as * thole of T c oeniun^ &c. often
effect a Cure j and fimple cold Bathings in Ri
vers or Lakes have fometimes iucceeded in very
inveterate Cafes of this Diforder.
Nothing conduces more to the long Continu
ance of this Malady, than the Abufe of hot
Water Sii/VtX: ^ i*tA*dl<rn^ ?f -&&gt;-<* &c .
349. I mall conclude this Chapter, with a
repeated Injunction not to be too free or raih in the
Uie of the Ointment N. 52, and other outward
Remedies for extinguifhing the Itch. There is
hardly any Complaint, but what has been found
to
* Sea Water, and thofe of Ditlivich, Harrigate, Sladitjel!, Sec.
\vill be full as effectual. X.
3 5 2 *Tbe Treatment of Difeafes
to be the Coniequence of too fudden a Re
moval of this Diforder by outward Application?,
before due Evacuations have been made, and a
moderate Abatement of the Sharpnefs of the Hu
mours has been effected.
><#>{*K*>*<* >#<*>*{ *>
CHAPTER XXVI.
"The Treatment of Difeafes peculiar to Women.
SECT. 350.
&af^E SIDES all the preceding Difeafes, to
B ^> which Women are liable in common
*
with Men, their Sex aifo expofes them
to others peculiar to it, and which de
pend upon four principal Sources j which are their
monthly Difcharges, their Pregnancy, their La
bours in Child-birth, and the Coniequences of
their Labours. It is not my prefent Defign to
treat profefledly on each of the Diieaies arifing
from thefe Caufes, which would require a larger
Volume than I have propoied ; but I fhall con
fine myfelf to certain general Directions on theie
four Heads.
351. Nature, who intended Women for the
Increaie, and the Nourifhment of the human
Race at the Bread:, has fubjedted them to a peri
odical Efflux, or Diicharge, of Bleed : which
Circura-
peculiar to Women. 35^
ftarice conftitutes the Source, from whence the
Infant is afterwards to receive his Nutrition and
Growth.
This Discharge generally commences, with us,
between the Age of fixteen and eighteen. Young
Maidens, before the Appearance of this Dif-
charge, are frequently, and many for a long Time,
in aStateofWeaknefs, attended with variousCom-
plaints, which is termed the Cblorofis^ or Green
Sicknefs, and Obftru&ions : and when their Ap
pearance is extremely flow and backward, it oc-
calions very grievous, and iometimes even mor
tal Difeales. Neverthelefs it is too ufual, though
very improper, to afcribe all the Evils, to which
they are iubjedt at this Term of Life, folely to
this Caufe ; while they really often refult from a
different Caufe, of which the Obftruclions them-
felves are fometimes only the Effect ; and this is
the natural, and, in forne Degree, even necel-
fary Feeblenefs of the Sex. The Fibres of Wo
men which are intended to be relaxed, and to
give Way, when they are unavoidably extended
by the Growth of the Child, and its incloiing
Membranes (which frequently arife to a very
confiderable Size) /hould neceifarily be lefs fliff
and rigid, lefs ftrong, and more lax and yielding
than the Fibres of Men. Hence the Circula
tion of their Blood is more flow and languid than
in Males ; their Blood is lefs compadt and denfe,
and more watery j their Fluids are more liable to
flagnate in their different Bowels, and to form
Infarctions and Obftrudtions.
z 352-
354 The Treatment of Dij cafes
352. The Diforders to which fuch a Con-
ftitution fubjects them might, in fome Meafure,
be prevented, by aflifting that Languor or Feeble-
fs of their natural Movements, by fuch an In-
creafe of their Force, asExercife might contribute
to : But this Ailifhnce, which in Tome Manner
more neceffary for Females than Males, they
are partly deprived of, by the general Education
and Habitude of the Sex ; as they are utually
employed in managing Houfehold Bufmefs, and
fuch light fedentary Work, as afford them Ids
Exerc ile and Motion, than the more active Occu
pations of Men. They iiir about but little,
whence their natural Tendency to Weakneis in-
CR from Habit, and thence becomes morbid
and iickiy. Their Blood circulates imperfectly;
its Qualities become impaired ; the Humours tend
to a pretty general Stagnation -, and none of the
vital Functions are completely discharged.
From fuch Caufes and Circumftances they be
gin to fink into a State of Weakneis, fometimes
while they are very young, and many Years be
fore this periodical Difcharge could be expected.
This State of Languor difpofes them to be inac
tive; a little Exercile foon fatigues them, whence
they take none at all. It might prove a Remedy,
i even effect a Cure, at the Beginning of their
Complaint; but as it is a Remedy, that is pain
ful and diiagreeableto them, they reject it, and
thus increafe their Dilbrders.
Their Appetite declines with the other vital
Functions, and gradually becomes ftill lefs ; the
/ 1
ufual
peculiar to Jl r omcn.
lifual falutary Kinds of Food never exciting it j
inflead of which they indulge themklves in whim-
fical Cravings, and often of the oddcfl and moft
improper Subfbnces for Nutrition, which entire
ly impair the Stomach with ks digeflive Func
tions, and confequently Health itfelf.
But fometimes after the Duration of this State
for a few Years, the ordinary Time of their
monthly Evacuations approaches, which how
ever make not the leall Appearance, for two Reg
ions. The firft is, that their Health is too much
impaired to accomplifh this new Function, at a
Time when all the others are ib languid : and
CJ
the fecond is, that under fuch Circumftances,
the Evacuations themfelves are unneceflary ; fini
their final Purpofe is to difcharge (when the >*
are not pregant) that Superfluous Blood, whicli
they were intended to produce, and whofe Re
tention would be unhealthy, when not applied
to the Growth of the Foetus, or Nourishment of
the Child : and this Superfluity of Blood does
not exift in Women, who huve been long in a.
very low and languishing State.
353. Their Dilbrder however continues to
increafe, as every one daily mull, which does
not terminate. This Increafe of it is attributed
to the Supprefilon or Non-appearance of their
monthly Efflux, which is often erroneous \ fmce
the Diforder is not always owing to that Supprel-
iion, which is often the Effect of their Diilem-
perature. This is ib true, that even when the
Efflux happens, if their Wcaknefs Aill continues,
Z 2
356 /:e Treatment of D if cafes
the Patients are far from being the better for It,
but the reverfe. Neither is it unufual to fee
young Lads, who have received from Nature,
and from their Parents, a fort of feminine Con-
ttitution, Education and Habitude, infciled with
much the fame Symptoms, as obftrucled youn^
Women.
Country Girls, who are generally more accu-
ilomed to luch hardy Work and Exercife as
Country Men, are lefs fubjecl: to thefe Com
plaints, than W T omcn who live in Cities.
3 ^4. Let People then be careful not to de
ceive themlelves on this important Account ;
fmce all the Complaints of young Maidens are
not ov ing to the Want of their Cuiloms. Never-
thelefs it is certain there are fome of them, who
are really affiided from this Cauie. For Inffarice,
when a flrong young Virgin in full Health, who
is nearly arrived to her full Growth, and who
manifcitly abounds with Blood, does not obtain
this Difcharge at the ufual Time of Life, then in
deed this fuperfluous Blood is the Fountain of very
many Difbrders, and greatly more violent ones
than thofe, which reiult from the contrary Caufcs
already mentioned.
If the lazy inactive City Girls are more fubjecl:
to the Obftruclions, which either arife from
the Weakneis and Languor I have formerly taken
Notice of, or which accompany it ; Country
Girls are more fubjecl to Complaints from this
latter Caufe (too great a. Retention of fuperflgous
Blood) than Women who live in Cities : and it is
this
peculiar to Women. 357
this laft Caufe that excites thofe fingular Diforders,
which appear fo fupernatural to the common
People, that they afcribe them to Sorcery.
355. And even after thefe periodical Dif-
charges have appeared, it is known that they
have often been fupprelled, without the leaf! un
healthy Confequence refulting from thatSuppreA
lion. They are often fuppreiled, in the Circum-
ilnnces mentioned 351, by a Continuance of
the Difeafe, which was nrft an Obftacle or Re
tardment to their Appearance; and in other Giles,
they have been fupprefled by other Caufes, fuch
as Cold, Moifture, violent Fear, any very ftrong
ParTion ; by too chilly a Courfe of Diet, with In-
digeftion ; nr too hot and irritating Diet ; by
Drinks cooled with Ice, by Exerciie too long
continued, and by unufual Watching. The
Symptoms, occaiioned by fuch S LI pp re (lions, are
fometimes more violent than thole, which pre
ceded the firft Appearance of the Difcharge.
356. The great Facility with which this
Evacuation may be fupprefTed, diminifhed, or
dilbrdered, by the Caufes already uffigned; the
terrible Evils which are the Confequences of luch
Interruptions and Irregularities of them, leem to
me very cogent Reafons to engage the Sex toufe
all poffible Care, in every Refpecl:, to preferve
the Regularity of them ; by avoiding, during
their Approach and Continuance, every Caule
that may prevent or leiTen them. Would they
be thoroughly perfuaded, not folely by my Ad
vice, but by that of their Mothers, their Rela-
Z 3 tions,
- 8 The Treatment of Difeafis
tions, their Friends, and by their own Experi
ence, of what great Importance it is to be very
attentive to themfelves, at thofe critical Times,
I think there is not one Woman, who from the
firft, to the very lafl Appearance of them, woulcj
not conduct herfelf with the moil fcrupulous Re
gularity.
Their Demeanour, in theie Circum fiances,
very fundamentally interefls their own Health,
as well as that of their Children ; and confe-
quently their own Happinefs, as well as that of
their Hulbands and Families.
The younger and more delicate they are, Cau
tion becomes the more necefTary for them. I am
ry fenfible a ftrong Country Girl is too negli-
:it in regulating herfelf at thofe critical Sea-
is, and fometimes without any ill Confequence ;
but at another Time me may fufTer feverely for
it: and 1 could produce a long Lift of many, who,
by their Imprudence on fuch Occafions, have
thrown themfelves into the moil terrible Con
dition.
Befides the Caution with which Females ihould
avoid thefe general Caufes, jufl mentioned in the
preceding Section, every Perfon ought to remem
ber what has mofl particularly difagreed with her
during that Term, and for ever conflantly to re
ject it.
^57. There are many Women whofe Cuf-
toms viiit them without the flighted Impeach
ment of their Health : others are fenfibly difor-
dered on every Return of them ; and to others
again they are very tormenting, by the violent
Cholics,
peculiar to Women. 359
Cholics, of a longer or a fhorter Duration, which
precede or accompany them. I have known
ibme of thefe violent Attacks laft but fome Mi
nutes, and others which continued a few Hours.
Nay fome indeed have perilled for many Day?,
attended with Vomiting, Fainting, with Convul-
fions from exceffivePain, with Vomiting of Blood,
Bleedings from the Nofe, &c. which, in fhort,
have brought them to the very Jaws of Death.
So very dangerous a Situation requires the clofdt
Attention ; though, as it refults from feveral and fre
quently very oppofite Cauies, it is impoffible
within the prefent Plan, to direct the Treatment
that may he proper for each Individual. Some
Women have the Unhappineis to be Jiibjecl to
thefe Symptoms every Month, from the firft Ap
pearance, to the final Termination, of thefe Dif-
charges -, except proper Remedies and Regimen,
and lorrietimes a happy Child-birth, remove them.
Others complain but now and then, every le-
cond, third, or fourth Month ; and there are
fome again, who having fuffered very fevercly
during the firft Months, or Years, after their
firft Eruptions, fufFer no more afterwards. A
fourth Number, after having had their Cuftoms for
. ^
a long Time, without the lead Complaint, find
themlelves afflicted with cruel Pains, at every
Return of them ; if by Imprudence, or fome in
evitable Fatality, they have incurred any Caufe,
that has fupprerled, diminished, or delayed them.
This Consideration ought to fugged a proper
Caution even to fuch, as generally undergo thefe
Z 4 Discharges
360 #be Treatment cf Difeafes
Difcharges, without Pain or Complaint: finceall
may be allured, that though they fuffer no fen-
iible Diiorder at that Time, they are neverthe-
lefs more delicate, more impreffible by extra
neous Subftances, more eaiily affected by the
Paflions of the Mind, and have alib weaker Sto
machs at thefe particular Periods.
358. Thefe Difcharges may alfo be fome-
timcs too profufe in Quantity, in which Cafe the
Patients become obnoxious to very grievous Ma-
kdicsj into the Difcufiion of which however I
/hall not enter here, a^s they are much 3efs fre
quent than thoie, nrifing from a Supprefiion of
them. Befides which, in fuch Caies, Recourfe
mny be had to the Directions I ihall give here
after, v-hcn I treat of that Lofs of Blood, which
may < pcdient, during the Courfe of Gravi-
dation or Pregnancy. See 365.
359. Finally, even when they are the moil
ular, afier their Continuance for a pretty cer
tain Number of Years (rarely exceeding thirty-
tivc) they go off of their own Accord, and he-
cefiarily, between the Age of forty-five and fifty ;
Ibmetimes even fooner, but feldom continuing
longer : and this Cri/is of their ceaiing is gene
rally a very troublefome, and often a very dan
gerous, one for the Sex.
360. The Evils mentioned 352 maybe
prevented, by avoiding the Caufes producing
them ; and, J , by obliging young Maidens to
ule confiderablc Kxerciibj eipecially as foon as
there
peculiar to Women. 361
ttiere is the leaft Reafon to fufpect the Approach
cf this Diforder, the Chlorofis, or Greftn Sicknefs.
2, By watching them carefully, that they eat
nothing unwholfome or improper ; as there are
fcarcely any natural Subffonces, even among fuch
as are moft improper for them, and the moft dii-
taiteful, which have not fometimes been the Ob
jects of their fickly, their unaccountable Cravings.
Fat Aliments, Paftry, farinaceous or mealy, and
four and watery Foods are pernicious to them.
Herb-Teas, which are frequently directed as a
Medicine for them, are fufficient to throw them
into the Diforder, by increaiing that Relaxation
of their Fibres, which is a principal Caufe of it.
If they muft drink any luch Infuiions, as medi
cated Drinks, let them be taken cold : but the
bcfl Drink for them is Water, in which red hot
Iron has been extinguished.
3, They muft avoid hot fharp Medicines, and
fuch as are folely intended to force down their
Terms, which are frequently attended with very
pernicious Confequences, aud never do any good :
and they are Itill the more hurtful, as the Patient
is the younger.
4, If the Malady increafes, it will be neceflary
to give them feme Remedies ; but thefe fliould
not be Purges, nor confift of Diluters, and De
coctions of Herbs, of Salts, and a Heap of other
uielefs and noxious Ingredients ; but they fliould
take Filings of Iron, which is the mod: certain
Remedy in fuch Cafes. Thefe Filings Ihould be
562 *fbe Treatment of Difeafes
of true fimple Iron, and not from Steel ; and Care
/hould be taken that it be not rufty, in which
State it has very little Effect.
At the Beginning of this Diftemper, and to
young Girls, it is fufficient to give twenty Grains
daily, enjoining due Exercife and a fuitabie Diet.
When it prevails in a icverer Degree, and the
Patient is not ib young, a Quarter of an Ounce
may be Ihfely ventured on : Certain Bitters or
Aromatics may be advantageoufly joined to the
Filings, which are numbered in the Appendix,
54, 55, 56, and conftitute the moft effectual
Remedies in this Diftemper, to he taken in the
Form of Powder, of vinous Infufion, orofElec-
tary.* When there is a juft Indication to bring
down the Discharge, the vinous Infufion N. 55
muft be given, and generally fucceeds : but I
muft again repeat it (as it Ihould carefully be
confidered) that the Stoppage or Obftruction of
this Difcharge is frequently the Effect, not the
Caufe, of this Difeafe ; and that there ihould be
no Attempt to force it down, which in fuch a
Cafe, may fometimes prove more hurtful than
beneficial ; fmce it would naturally return of its
own Accord, on the Recovery, and with the
Strength, of the Patient : as their Return ihould
follow that of perfect Health, and neither can
precede Health, nor introduce it. There are
fome
* The French Word here, Ofiaf, i? fomctimes ufed by them for
a compound Medicine of the Confiilence of an Elect a ry ; and
cannot be foppofed, in tins Place, to mean any Preparation, into
which Ofiuw enters. K.
peculiar to Women. 3
forne Cafes particularly, in which it would be
highly dangerous to ufe hot and active Medicir
fuch Cafes for Inftance, as are attended with fome
Degree of Fever, a frequent Coughing, a Haemor
rhage, or Bleeding, with great Leannefs and con-
fiderable Thirft : all which Complaints fhould
be removed, before any hot Medicines are given
to force this Evacuation, which many very igno-
rantly. imagine cures all other female Disorders -, an.
Error, that has prematurely occafioned the Lofs
of many Womens Lives.
361. While the Patient is under a Courfe
of thefe Medicines, (he fhould not take any of
thofe I have forbidden in the preceding Sections ;
and the Efficacy of thefe fhould alfo be furthered-
with proper Exercife. That in a Carnage is ve
ry healthy ; Dancing is fo too, provided it be not
extended to an Excefs. In Caie of a Relapfe in
thefe Diforders, the Patient is to be treated, as if
it were an original Attack.
362. The other Sort of Obftructions defcri-
bed 354 requires a very different Treatment.
Bleeding, which is hurtful in the former Sort,
and the Ufe, or rather Abufe, of which has
thrown feveral young Women into irrecoverable
WeakneiTes, has often removed this latter Spe
cies, as it were, in a Moment. Bathing of the
Feet, the Powders N. 20, and Whey have fre
quently fucceeded : but at other Times it is ne~
cefTary to accommodate the Remedies and the
Method to each particular Cafe, and to judge of it
from
364 *f/je treatment of Dlfeafcs
from its own peculiar Circumftances and Ap
pearances.
363. When thefe Evacuations naturally
ceafe through Age (See 359) if they flop
iuddenly and all at once, and had formerly flow
ed very largely, Bleeding mull:, I, neceilarily be
directed, and repeated every fix, every four, or
even every three Months,
2, The ufual Quantity of Food fhould be
fomewhat diminiflied, especially of Fleih, of
Eggs and of ftrong Drink.
3, Exercife ihould be increafed.
4, The Patient fhould frequently take, in a
Morning fading, the Powder N. 24, \\hich is
very beneficial in fuch Cafes ; as it moderately
increalcs the natural Excretions by Stool, Urine
and Perfpiration ; and thence lellens that Quanti
ty of Blood, whicn would otherwife fupera-
bound.
Ncverthelefs, fliould this total CefTation of the
monthly Difcharge be preceded by, or attended
with, any extraordinary Lofs of B.ood, which is
frequently the Cafe, Bleeding is not fo necefTary ;
but the Regimen and Powder jufl directed are
very much fo ; to which the Purge N. 23 fhould
now and then be joined, at moderate Intervals.
The Ufe of aftringent Medicines at this critical
Time might difpote the Patient to a Cancer of the
Womb.
Many Women die about this Age, as it is but
too cafy a Matter to injure them then j a Cir*
cumflance
peculiar to Women.
cumftance that fhould make them very cautious
and prudent in the Medicines they recur to. On
the other Hand it alfo frequently happens, that
their Conftitutions alter for the better, after this
critical Time of Life ; their Fibres grow ftrnnger;
they find themfelves leniibly more hearty and
hardy -, many former flight Infirmities difappear,
and they enjoy a healthy and happy old Age. I
have known feveral who threw away their Spec
tacles at the Age of fifty-two, or fifty-three,
which they had ufed five or fix Years before.
The Regimen I have juit directed, the Powder
N. 24, ami the Potion N. 32, agree very well
in almoft all inveterate Difcharges (I fpeak of
the female Pedantry) at whatever Time of Life.
Of Difordcrs attending Grdvidationy or the T cnn
of going with Child.
364. Gravidation is generally a lefs ailing or
unhealthy State in the Country, than in very po
pulous Towns. Nevertheleis Country Women
are fubjecl:, as well as Citizens, to Pains of the
Stomach, to vomiting in a Morning, to Head-
ach and Tooth-ach ; but thefe Complaints very
commonly yield to Bleeding, which is almoft the
only Remedy necefTary * for pregnant Women.
3 6 5>
* Too great a Fulnefs of Blood is undoubtedly the Caufe of all
the e Complaints ; but as there are different Methods of oppoftng
thL v- iUi?, the gentleft fhould always be preferred ;" nor Ihould the
Confhtution become habituated to iuch Remedies, as might cither
impair the Strength of the Mother, or of her Fruit. Some Expe
dients
366 The Treatment of En
365. Sometimes after carrying too heavy
Burthens ; after too much or too violent Work ;
after receiving excefTive Jolts, or having had a
Fall, they are fubject to violent Pains of the
Loins, which extend down to their Thighs, and
terminate quite at the Bottom of the Belly; and
which commonly import, that they are in Danger
of an Abortion, or Mifcarrying.
To prevent this Confequence, which is always
dangerous, they mould, i, immediately go to
Bed; and if they have not a Mattrafs, they
ihould lie upon a Bed fluffed with Straw, a Fea
ther-bed being very improper in flich Cafes.
They fliould repole, or keep themfelves quite
ftill in this Situation for feveral Days, not ftirring,
and ipeaking as little as poiTible.
2, They mould directly lofe eight or nine
Ounces of Blood from the Arm.
3, They mould not eat Flefli, Flefh-broth,
nor Eggs ; but live folely on Soups made of fa
rinaceous or mealy Subfhmces.
client? therefore fliould be thought of, that may compenfate for the
Want of Bleeding, by enjoining proper Exercife in a clear Air,
with a lefs nouriiliing, and a lefs juicy Diet. E. L.
This Note might have its Ufe Ibmetimes, in the Cafes of fuch
delicate and hyfterical, yet pregnant Women, as are apt to fufFer
from Bleeding, or any other Evacuation, though no ways immode
rate. But it mould have been confidered, that Dr. TJSSOT waspro-
fefledly writing here to hearty aftive Country Wives, who are very
rarely thus conftituted ; and whom he might be unwilling to con-
fufe with fuch multiplied Dirtinctions and Directions, as would
very feldom be neceffary, and might fometimes prevent them fiom
doing what was ib. Befides which, this Editor might have fcen,
our Author has hinted at fuch Cafes very foon after. K.
peculiar to Women. 367
4, They fhould take every two Hours half a
} aper of the Powder N. 20 ; and fliould drink
lothing but the Ptiian N. 2.
Some fanguine robuft Women are very liable
o miicarry at a certain Time, or Stage, of their
D regnancy. This may be obviated by their
deeding ibme Days before hat Time approaches,
md bv their obfervins the Regimen 1 have ad-
j
/iled. But this Method would avail very little
for delicate Citizens, who miicarry from a very
different Caufe ; and whofe Abortions are to be
prevented by a very different Treatment.
Of Delivery, or Cbild-birtb.
i
366. It has been obfcrved that a greater
Proportion of Women die in the Country in, or
very fpeedily after, their Delivery, and that from
the Scarcity of good Affiftance, and the great
Plenty of what is bad; and that a greater Propor
tion of (hole in Cities die after their Labours are
effected, by a Continuance of their former bai
Health.
The Neceffity there is for better inftrudted, bet
ter qualified Midwives, through a great Part of
Swjjerland) is but too manifeft an Unhappinefr,
which is attended with the moft fatal Confe-
quences, and which merits the utmoft Attention
of the Government.
The Errors which are incurred, during adlual
o
Labour, are numberlefs, and too often indeed
are alfo irremediable. Jt would require a whole
Book,
3 6 S TXv Treatment of Dsfcafes
Book, exprefsly for that Purpofe (and in 1-
Countries there are fuch) to give all the Direc
tions that are nccefTary, to prevent ib many Fatali
ties: and it would be as neceffary to form a iui-
ficient Number of well-qualified Midwives to
comprehend, and to obferve them ; which ex
ceeds the Plan of the Work I have propoied. I
ihall only mark out one of the Caufes, and the
mod injurious one on this Occafion : This is the <
Cuftom ot giving hot irritating Things, when
ever the Labour is very painful, or is flow ; fuch
as Caftor, or its Tincture, Saffron, Sage, Rue,
Savin, Oil of Amber, Wine, Venice Treacle,
Wine burnt with Spices, Coffee, Brandy, Ani-
feed- Water, Wai nut- Water, Fennel- Water, and
other Drams or flrong Liquors. All thefe Things
are ib many Poiibns in this Refpect, which, very
far from promoting the Woman s Delivery, ren
der it more difficult by inflaming the Womb
(which cannot then ib well contract itfelf) and
the Parts, through which the Birth is to pafs, in
Confequence of which they fwell, become more
ilraitened, and cannot yield or be dilated. Some
times thcfe Simulating hot Medicines alfo bring
on Haemorrhages, which prove mortal in a tew
Hours.
367. A confiderable Number, both of Mo
thers and Infants, might be preferved by the di
rectly oppoiite Method. As foon as a Woman
who was in very good Health, juft before the Ap
proach of her Labour, being robufi and well
made, finds her Travail come on, and that it is
painful
peculiar to Women. 369*
painful and difficult; far from encouraging thofe
premature Efforts, which are always deftruclive ;
and from furthering them by the pernicious Me
dicines I have juft enumerated, the Patient ihould
he bled in the Arm, which will prevent the Swel
ling and Inflammation ; aiTWage the Pains ; re
lax the Parts, and dilboic every thing to a fa
vourable I flue.
During actual Labour no other Nourifhment
ihould be allowed, except a little Panada every
three Hour; , and as much Toaft and Water, as
the Woman chufes.
Every fourth Hour a Glyfler ihould be given,
confiding of a Decoction of Mallows and a little
Oil. In the Intervals between tliefc Glyiters fh?
ihould be Jet over a kind of Stove, or in a p-crced
eafy Chair, containing a Vcffel in which there :
fome ho: Water : the PafTage fLould be gently
rubbed with a little Butter j and Stupes wrung
out of a Fomentation of iimple hot Water, which
is the moft efficacious of any, fhould be applied
over the Belly.
The Midwives, by taking this Method, are
not only certain of doing no Mifchief, but they
alfo allow Nature an Opportunity of doing Good:
as a great many Labours, which feem difficult at
firfr, terminate happily ; and this lafe and unpre-
cipitate Manner of proceeding at lead afford b Time
to call in further Allifbnce. Beiides, the Confe-
quences of fuch Deliveries are healthy and happy ;
when by purfuing the heating opprelling Prac
tice, even though the Delivery be effected, both
A a the
37 Of the Treatment of Dift fifes
Mother and Infant have been fo cruelly, though
undefignedly, tormented, that both of them fre
quently peri ill.
368. I acknowledge thefe Means are infuf-
ficient, when the Child is unhappily fituated in
the Womb ; or when there is an embarraifing
Conformation in the Mother : though at Icaft
they prevent the Cafe from proving worfe, and leave
Time for calling in Men-Mid wives, or other fe
male ones, who may be better qualified.
I beg leave again to remind the Midwives,
that they fhould be very cautious of urging their
Women to make any forced Efforts to forward the
Birth, which are extremely injurious to them, and
which may render a Delivery very dangerous
and embarrafling, that might otherwife have
been happily effected : and I iniift the more
freely on the Danger attending thefe unfeafon-
able Efforts, and on the very great Importance of
Patience, as the other very pernicious Practice is
become next to univerfal amongft us.
The Weaknefs, in which the labouring Wo
man appears, makes the By-ftanders fearful that
he will not have Strength enough to be deliver
ed ; which they think abundantly juftines them
in giving her Cordials ; but this Way of Reafon-
ing is very weak and chimerical. Their Strength,
on fuch Occaiions, is not fo very fpeedily difii-
pated : the fmall light Pains link them, but in
Proportion as the Pains become ftronger,. their
Strength arifes ; being never deficient, when there
is no extraordinary and uncommon Symptom ;
and
peculiar to Women. 371
and we may reasonably be allured, that in a
healthy, well formed Woman, meer Weaknefs
never prevents a Delivery.
Of the Conferences of Labour, or Child-birth.
369. The mod ufual Confequences of Child
birth in the Country are, i , An exceilive Hae
morrhage. 2. An Inflammation of the Womb,
3, A fudden Supprefllon of the Locbia, or ufual
Difcharges after Delivery. And, 4, the Fever
and other Accidents, relulting from the Milk.
Exceilive Bleedings or Floodings, ihould be
treated according to the Manner directed 365 :
and if they are very exceffive, Folds of Linen,
which have been wruns; out of a Mixture of
<^t
equal Parts of Water and Vinegar, mould be ap
plied to the Belly, the Loins, and the Thighs :
thefc mould be changed for frefh moift ones, as
they dry ; and mould be omitted, as foon as the
Bleeding abates.
370. The Inflammation of the Womb is
difcoverable by Pains in all the lower Parts of the
Belly ; by a Tenfion or Tightnefs of the whole >
by a lenfible Increafe of Pain upon touching it ; a
kind of red Stain or Spot, that mounts to the
Middle of the Belly, as high as the Navel i
which Spot, as the Diieafe increafes, turns black,
and then is always a mortal Symptom ; by a very
extraordinary Degree of Weakneis ; an aitonifh-
ing Change of Countenance ; a light Delirium or
Raving ; a continual Fever with a weak and hard
A a 2 Pulfe >
372 Of the Treatment of Difeafes
Pulfe j fometimes mediant Vomitings ; a fre
quent Hiccup ; a moderate Difcharge of a reddifh,
dinking, iharp Water ; frequent Urgings to go
to Stool ; a burning kind of Heat of Urine ; and
fbmetimes an entire Suppreflion of it.
371. This mod dangerous and frequently
mortal Diieafe mould be treated like inflam
matory ones. After Bleeding, frequent Giyfters
of warm Water mud by no Means be omitted ;
fwme mould alib be injected into the Womb, and
applied continually over the Belly. The Patient
may allo drink continually, either of iimple Bar
ley- Water, with a Quarter of an Ounce of Nitre
in every Pot of it, or of Almond Milk N. 4.
372. The total Suppreflion of the Locbhi,
the Difcharges after Labour, which proves a Cauie
of the mod violent Diforders, mould be treated
exactly in the fame Manner : but if unhappily
hot Medicines have been given, in order to force
them down, the Cafe will very generally prove a
mod hopelefs one.
373. If the Milk-fever run very high, the
Barley Ptifan direded 371, and Glyfters, with
a very light Diet, confiding only of Panada, or
made of fome other farinaceous Subdances, and
very thin, very generally remove it.
374. Delicate infirm Women, who have
not all the requiiite and necefiary Attendance
they want j and fuch as from Indigence are
obliged to work too foon, are expofed to many
Accidents, which frequently ariie from a Want
of
peculiar to Women. 37^
of due Perfpiration, and an insufficient Diicharge
of the Lochia ; and hence, the Separation of the
Milk in their Breads being diflurbed, there are
milky Congestions, or Knots as it were, which
are always very painful and troubleiome, and
efpecially when they are formed more inwardly.
They often happen on the Thighs, in which
Cafe the Ptifan N. 58 is to be drank, and ihe
Pultices N. 59 muft be applied. Thefe two
Remedies gradually diilipate and remove the
Tumour, if that may be effected without Suppu
ration. But if that proves impoflible, and Pus^
or Matter, is actually formed, a Surgeon mufl
open the Abfcefs, and treat it like any other.
375. Should the Milk coagulate, or curdle
as it were, in the Breait, it is of the utmoft Im
portance immediately to attenuate or diiTo ve
that Thicknefs, which would otherwife de-enc-
s^_>
rate into a Hardnefs and prove a Scirrhus; and
from a Scirrbus in Procefs of Time a Cancer,
that moll: tormenting and cruel Diftemper.
This horrible Evil however may be prevented
by an Application to thefe fmall Tumours, as
foon as ever they appear. For this Purpole no
thing is more effectual than the Prefcriptions N.
57 and 60 ; but under fuch menacing Circirn-
ilances, it is always prudent to take the bcPc Ad
vice, as early as poilible.
From the Moment thefe hard Tumours be -
come excefftvely and obftinately fo, ana yrt
without any Pain, we iliould abftain from every
Application, all are injurious 5 and greafy, ihaip,
A a 3
374 Of the Treatment cf Difeajes, &c.
refmous and fpirituous ones fpeedily change the
Scirrhus into a Cancer. Whenever it becomes
manifeftly fuch, all Applications are alfb equally
pernicious, except that of N. 60. Cancers have
long been thought and found incurable ; but
within a few Years paft fome have been cured by
the Remedy N. 57 ; which neverthelefs is not
infallible, though it ihould always be tried.*
376- The Nipples of Women, who give
Milk, are often fretted or excoriated, which proves
very feverely painful to them. One of the befb
Applications is the mofl: fimple Ointment, being
a Mixture of Oil and Wax melted together ; or
the Ointment N. 66. Should the Complaint
prove very obftinate, the Nurie ought to be
purged, which generally removes it.
CHAPTER
* The Ufe of Hemlock, which has been tried at Lyons, by all
who have had cancerous Patients, having been given in very Jarge
Dofes, has been attended with no Effect there, that merited the
ferious Attention of Practitioners. Many were careful to obtain
the Extract from Vienna, and even to procure it from Dr. Storck
himfelf. Put now it appears to have had fo little Succcfs, as to
become entirely neglected. E. L.
Having exactly translated in this Place, and in the Table of
Remedies, our learned Author s confiderable Recommendation of
the Extracl of Hemlock in Cancers, we think it but fair, on the
other Hand, to publifti this Note of his Editor s againft it ; that
the real Efhcacy or Inefficacy of this Medicine may at length be
afcertained, on the moft extenfive Evidence and Experience. As
Jar as my own Opportunities and Reflections, and the Experience
of many others, have inllrufted me on this Subjefl, it appears clear
to mylelf, that though the Consequences of it have not beencon-
Jlantly unfuccebful with us, yet its Succefles have come very fhort
of its Failures. Neverthelefs, as in all fuch Cancers, every other
internal Medicine almoft univerfally fails, we think with Dr.
TISSOT, it ihould always be tried (from the meer Pofiibility of its
fucceeding in fome particular Habit and Circumftances) at leaft
till longer Experience ihall finally determine againft it. K.
Medical Directions concerning Children. 375
CHAPTER XXVII.
Medical Directions concerning Children.
SECT. 377.
Diieafes of Children, and every
T Thing relating to their Health, are Ob-
je&s which generally feein to have been
two much neglected by Phyficians ;
and have been too long confided to the Conduct
of the mod improper Perfons for iuch a Char
At the fame Time it muft be admitted their
Health is of no little Importance - f their Prefcr-
vation is as neceflary as the Continuance 01 me
human Race ; and the Application of the Prac
tice of Phyiick to their Disorders is fufceptible of
nearer Approaches to Perfection , than is general
ly conceived. It feems to have even fome Ad
vantage over that Practice which regards grown
Perfons ; and it coniifls in this, that the Difea.es
of Children are more iimple, and lefs frequently
complicated than thofe of Adults.
It may be faid indeed, they cannot make
themfelves fo well underftood, and meer In* mts
certainly not at all. This is true in Fact to a
certain Degree, but not rigidly true ; for ihoi.
they do not Ipeak our Language, they hive one
; ?ich \ye fhould contrive to understand. Nay
A a 4 every
3 7 6 Medical Directions concerning Children .
every Diftempcr may be laid, in Ibme Senfe, to
have a Language of its own, which an attentive
Phyfician will learn. He mould therefore ufe
his utmoft Care to underftand that of Infants, and
avail himfelf of it, to increafe the Means of ren
dering them healthy and vigorous, and to cure
the. 11 of the different Diftempers to which they
are liable. 1 do not propofe actually to com-
pleat this Tafk myielf, in all that Extent it may
juftly demand-, but I ihall fet forth the principal
Cauies of taeir Diftempers, and the general Me
thod of treating them. By this Means I mall at
leaft prefervc them from feme of the Mifchiefs
which are. too frequently done them ; and the
leflening iuch Evils as Ignorance, or erroneous
Practice, cccaficns, is one cf the moft important
Purposes cf the prefent Work.
378. Nearly all the Children who die be
fore they are one Year, and even two Years.
old, die with Convulfions : People fay they died
e/them, which is partly true, as it is in Effect,
the Convulfions that have destroyed them. But
then thefe very Convuliions are the Confe-
quences, the Effects, of other Difeales, which
require the utmofl Attention of thofe, who are
entruited with the Care and Health of the little
Innocents : as an effectual Oppolition to thefe
Difcafts, thefe morbid Caufes, is the only Means
of removing the Convuliions. The four princi
pal known Caufes are, the Mcconium - 9 the Excre
ments contained in the Body of the Infant, at
the Birth j Acidities., or fharp and four Humours ;
the
Medical D iretfions concerning Children . 377
the Cutting of the Teeth, and Worms. I fliall
treat briefly of each.
Of the Mcconium.
3
79. The Stomach and Guts of the Infant,
at iti Entrance into the World, are filled with a
black Sort of Matter, of a middling Confidence,
and very vifcid or glutinous, which is called the
Meconium. It is neceflary this Matter Ihould be
difcharged before the Infant fucks, fmce it would
otherwiie corrupt the Milk, and, becoming ex
tremely (harp itielf, there would refult from their
Mixture a double Source of Evils, to the Deflruc-
tion of the Infant.
The Evacuation of this Excrement is procured,
i, By giving them no Milk at all for the firft
twenty-four Hours of their Lives. 2, By making
them drink during that Time fome Water, to
which a little Sugar or Honey muft be added,
which will dilute this Meconium^ and promote
the Difcharge of it by Stool, and fometimes by
vomiting.
o
To be the more certain of expelling all this
Matter, they fhould take one Ounce of Com
pound Syrup * of Succory, which mould be di
luted
* This Method (fays the Editor and Annotator of Lyons] is
ufeful, whenever the Mother does not fuckle her Child. Art is
then obliged to prove a Kind of Subltuute to Nature, though al-
\vav3 a very imperfect one. But when a Mother, attentive to her
own true Inrereft, as well as her Infant s, and, liftening to the
of Nature and her Duty, fucklcs u kerklf, thefe Remedies
[he
378 Mcillcal Directions concerning CIrildren.
luted with a little Water, drinking up this Quan
tity within the Space of four or five Hours.
This Practice is a very beneficial one, and it is
to be wifhed it were to become general. This
Syrup is greatly preferable to all others, given in
fuch Cafes, and efpecially to Oil of Almonds.
Should the great Weakness of the Child feem
to call for fome Nourishment, there would he
no Inconvenience in allowing a little Biicuit well
o
boiled in Water, which is pretty commonly
done, or a little very thin light Panada.
Of
[he adds] fccm hurtful, or at lead, ufelefs. The Mother fliouM
give her Child the Breaft as foon as (he can. The firft Milk, the
Colojirurn, or Stripping!, as it is called in Quadrupeds, which is
very ferous or watery, will be fcrviceable as a Purgative; it will
forward the Expulfion of the Meconium, prove gradually nourilh-
ing, and is better than Bilcuits, or Panada, which (he thinks) are
dangerous in the fir ft Days after the Binh. E. L.
This Syrup of Succory being icarccly ever prepared with us,
though fufficiently proper for the Ufe afUgned it here, I have re
tained the preceding Note, as the Author of it directs thefe Strip,
pings, for the fame Purpofe, with an Air of certain Experience ; and
as thisEffed of them feems no Ways repugnant to the phyficalWil-
dom and Oeconomy of Nature, on fuch important Points. Should
it in facl be their very general Operation, it cannot be unknown to
any Male or Female Practitioner in Midwifery, and may fave
poor People a little Expence, which was one OLjeft of our humane
Author s Plan. The Oil of Ricifi/ , corruptly called Cajior Oil (be-
inq cxpreficd from the Berries of the Palma Chrifti] is particularly
recommended by fome late medical Writers from Jamaica, C3V. for
this Purpofe of expelling the Meconium, to the. Quantity of a fmall
Spoonful. Thefe Gentlemen alfo confider it as the moft proper,
and almoft fpecific Opener, in the dry Belly- ach of that torrid
Climate, which tormenting Diieafe has the clofeft Affinity to the
Mtjerere, or Iliac Paffion, of any I have feen. The Annotator s
Objection to our Author s very thin light Panada, feems to be of
little Weight. A .
ical Directions concerning Children, 379
-
Of Acidities^ orjlwrp Humours.
380. Notwithftanding the Bodies of Cliil-
dren have been properly emptied fpeedily after
their Birth, yet the Milk very often turns four
in their Stomachs, producing Vomitings, violent
Cholics, Convulfions, a Loofenefs, and even ter
minating in Death. There are but two Purpofes
to be purfued in fuch Cafes, which are to carry
off the four or (harp Humours, and to prevent
the Generation of more. The rirfi: of thefe In
tentions is beft effected by the Syrup of Succory*
juft mentioned.
The Generation of further Acidities is prevent
ed, by giving three Dofes daily, if the Symptoms
are violent, and but two, or even one only, if
they are very moderate, of the Powder N. 6 1 ,
drinking after it Bawm Tea, or a Tea of Lime-
tree Leaves.
381. It has been a Cuftom to load Children
with Oil of Almonds, -f- as foon as ever they are in-
fefted with Gripes : but it is a pernicious Cuftom,
and attended with very dangerous Confequences.
It it very true that this Oil fometimes immediate
ly allays the Gripes, by involving, or fheathing
up, as it were, the acid Humours, and fome-
what blunting the Senfibility of the Nerves. But
it proves only a palliative Remedy, or affwaging
for a Time, which, far from removing, increafes
the
* Or, for Want of it, the folutive Syrup of Rofcs. K.
t The Magnefia is an excellent Substitute in Children, for thefe
Oils Dr. TISSOT fo juftly condemns here. K.
380 Medical Directions concerning Children.
the Caufe, fince it becomes fharp and rancid it-
felf ; whence the Di (order fpeedily returns, and
the more Oil the Infant takes, it is griped the
inore. I have cured lome Children of fuch Dif-
orders, without any other Remedy, except ab-
ilainingfrom Oi), which weakens their Stomachs,
whence their Milk is lefs perfectly, and more
ilowly digefted, and becomes more eafily foured.
Befides this Weaknels of the Stomach, which
thus commences at that very early Age, has
fometimes an unhealthy Influence on the Con-
flitution of the Child, throughout the Remainder
of his Life.
A free and open Belly is beneficial to Children;
now it is certain that the Oil very often binds
them, in Confequence of its diminifhing the
Force and Action of the Bowels. There is
fcarcely any Perfon, who cannot oblerve this
Inconvenience attending it ; riolwithftandjng they
all continue to ad\ ife and to give it, to obtain a
very different Purpofe : But iuch is the Power
of Prejudice in this Cafe, and in fo many others ;
People are fb firongly pre-pofTclTed with a Notion,
that fuch a Medicine muft produce fuch an Ef
fect ; th:it its never having produced it avails no
thing with them, their Prejudice ftill prevails ;
they afcribe its Want of Efficacy to the Smallnefs
of the Doles ; thefe are doubled then, and not-
withftanding its had Effects are augmented, their
obftinate BlindneJs continues.
This Abufe of the Oil alfo difpofes the* Child
to knotty hard Tumours, and at length oiten
proves
Medical Directions concerning Children. 3 8 t
proves the nrfl Caufe of fome Difeaies of the
Skin, whofe Cure is extremely difficult.
Hence it is evident, this Oil (hould be ufed on
fuch Occafions but very feldorn ; and that it is
always very injudicious to give it in Cholics,
which a rile from (harp and four Humours in the
Stomach, or in the Bowels.
382 Infants are commonly mod fubject to
fuch Cholics during their earlieft Months ; after
o
which they abate, in Proportion as their Sto
machs grow ftronger. They may be relieved in
the Fit by Glyfters of a Decoction of Chamomile
Flowers, in which a Bit of Soap of the Size of a
Hazel Nut is dillblved. A Piece of Flanel wrung
out of a Decoction of Chamomile Flowers, with
the Addition of fomc Venice Treacle, and applied
hot over the Stomach and on the Belly, is alfo
very beneficial, and relieving.
Children cannot always take Glyfters, the Con
tinuance of which Circumflance might be dan
gerous to them ; and every one is acquainted with
the common Method of fubfdtuting Suppofitories
to them, whether they are formed of the frhcoth
and iupple Stacks of Vines, &c. of Soap, or of
Honey boiled up to a proper Confidence.
But one of the moft certain Means to pre
vent thcie Cholics, which are owing to Children s
not digesting their Milk, is to move and exercife
them as much as poilible ; having a due Regard
however to their tender Time of Life.
303. Before I proceed to the third Caufe
of the Difeaies of Children, which is, the Cut
ting
382 Medical DlreSilons concerning Children.
ting of their Teeth, I muft take Notice of
the firft Cares their Birth immediately requires,
that is the Warning of them the firft Time,
meerly to cleanle, and afterwards, to ftrengthen
them,
Of wafting Children.
384. The whole Body of an Infant juft born
te covered with a grofs Humour, which is occa-
fioned by the Fluids, in which it was fufpended
in the Womb. There is a Neceflity to cleanfe
it direclly from this, for which nothing is fo pro
per as a Mixture of one third Wine, and two
thirds Water ; Wine alone would he dangerous.
This Warning may be repeated fome Days fuc-
ceflively j but it is a bad Cuftom to continue to
warn them thus warm, the Danger of which is
o
augmented by adding fome Butter to the Wine
and Water, which is done too often. If this
grofs Humour, that covers the Child, feems
more thick and glutinous than ordinary, a Decoc
tion of Chamomile Flowers, with a little Bit of
Soap, may be ufed to remove it. The Regula
rity of Perforation is the great Foundation of
Health ; to procure this Regularity the Tegu
ments, the Skin, muft beftrengtbenedj but warm
Warning tends to weaken it. When it is of a pro
per Strength it always performs its Functions;
nor is Peripiration difordcred fenfibly by the Alte
ration of the Weather. For this Realbn nothing
ihould be omitted, that may fix it in this State ;
and to attain fo important an Advantage, Chil
dren
Medical. ;om concerning Children. 383
dren fliould be ed, ibme few Days after
their Birth, with cold Water, in the State it
is brought from the Spring.
For this Purpofe a Spunge is employed, with
which they begin, by wafting firft the Face, the
Ears, the back Bart of the Head (carefully
avoiding the * Fofitanelle, or Mould of the Head )
the Neck, the Loins, the Trunck of the Body,
the Thighs, Legs and Arms, and in fhort every
Spot. This Alethod which has obtained for fo
many Ages, and which is praclift-d at prefent by
many People, who prove very healthy, will ap
pear (hocking to feveral Mothers ; they would be
afraid of killing their Children by it ; and would
particularly fail of Courage enough to endure
the Cries, which Children often make, the firlT:
Time they are warned. Yet if their Mothers
truly love them, they cannot give a more fub-
ftantial Mark of their Tendernefs to them, than
by fubduing their Fears and their Repugnance,
on this important Head.
Weakly Infants f are thofe who have the great-
eft Need of being warned : f uch as are remarkably
ilrong may be excuied from it ; and it feems
Icarcely credible (before a Perfon has frequently
feen
* That Part of the Head where a Pulfation may be very plainly
felt, where the Bones are lefs hard, and not as yet firmly joined
\vith thofe about them.
t There is however a certain Degree of Weaknefs, which
may very reafonabiy deter us from this Warning; a< when the
Infant manifcftly wants Heat, and needs forne Cordial and fre-
quent-Friftions, to prevent us expiring from dou nri^lit l \-v-blenels;
in which Circumftanccs Waihing mult be hurtful to it. TJSSOT.
3 4 Medical DtreSftens concerning Children.
feen the Confequences of it) how greatly this Me
thod conduces to give, and to batten on, their
Strength. I have had the Pleafure to obferve,
fince I firfl: endeavoured to introduce the Cuftcm
among us, that feveral of the moft affectionate
and mod ienfible Mothers, have ufed it with the
greateft Succefs. The Midwives, who have been
WkncfFes of it ; the Nurfes and the Servants of
the Children, whom they have warned, publjfii
it abroad ; and fhould the Cuflom become as
general, as every thing fecms to promife it will, I
am fully perfuaded, that by preierving the Lives
of a great Number of Children, it will certainly
contribute to check the Progress of Depopula
tion.
They mould be warned very regularly every
Day, in every Seafon, and every Sort of Wea
ther j and in the line warm Seaibn they mould be
plunged into a large Pail of Water, into the Baiins
around Fountains, in a Brook, a River, or a
Lake.
After a few Days crying, they grow fo well
accuftomed to this Exercife, that it becomes one
of their Pleafures; fo that they laugh all the Time
of their going through it.
The firft Benefit of this Pradice is, as I have
already laid, the keeping up their Perfpiration,
and rendering them lefs obnoxious to the Imprel-
fions of the Air and Weather : and it is alio in
Confequence of this fit ft Benefit, that they are
preferved from a great Number of Maladies,
efpeciallv from knotty Tumours, often called
r * T^ i
Kernels i
Medical Directions concerning Children. 385
Kernels; from Obftrudions; from Difeafes of
the Skin, and from Convulfions, its general Con-
fequence being to infure them firm, and even ro-
buft Health.
385. But Care mould be taken not to pre
vent, or, as it were to undo, the Benefit this
Wafhing procures them, by the bad Cuftom of
keeping them too hot. There is not a more
pernicious one than this, nor one that destroys
more Children. They mould be accuftomed to
light Cloathing by Day, and light Covering by
Night, to go with their Heads very thinly cover
ed, and not at all in the Day-time, after their
attaining the Age of two Years. They ihould
avoid deeping in Chambers that are too hot, and
ihould live in the open Air, both in Summer and
Winter, as much as poffible. Children who
have been kept too hot in fuch Refpedls, are very
often liable to Colds j they are weakly, pale,
languifhing, bloated and melancholy. They
are fubjecl: to hard knotty Swellings, a Confump-
tion, all Sorts of languid Diforders, and either die
in their Infancy, or only grow up into a milera-
ble valetudinary Life ; while thole who are
waihed or plunged into cold Water, and habitu
ally exposed to the open Air, are juft in the op-
pofite Circumftances.
386. I muft further add here, that Infancy
is not the only Stage of Life, in which cold
Bathine is advantagious. I have advifed it with
o o
remarkable Succeis to Perfons of every Age,
even to that of feventy : and there arc two Kinds
Bb
6 Medical Directions concerning Child/*
of Difeafes, more frequent indeed in Cities than
in the Country, in which cold Baths fucceed very
greatly ; that is, in Debility, or Weaknefs of
the Nerves ; and when Perfpiration is diibrdered,
\vhcn Perfons are fearful of every Breath of Air,
liable to Defluxions or Colds, feeble and lan-
guiihing, the cold Bath re-ettabliihes Perfpira-
tion y rcfiores Strength to the Nerves ; and by
that Means difpels all the Diibrders, which arife
from thefe two Caufes, in the animal Oeconomy.
They mould be ufed before Dinner. But in the
fame Proportion that cold Bathing is beneficial,
the habitual Uie, or rather Abufe, of warm Bath
ing is pernicious ; they difpoie the Perfons ad
dicted to them to the Apoplexy ; to the Dropfy ;
to Vapours, and to the hypochondriacai Difeafe :
and Cities, in which they are too frequently ufed,
become, in lome Mealure, defolate from itich
Diftempers.
Of the Cutting of the Teeth.
387. Cutting of the Teeth is often very tor
menting to Children, feme dying under the fevere
Symptoms attending it. If it proves very pain
ful, we mould during that Period, I, Keep
their Bellies open by Glytters confifting only of
a fimple Decoction of Mallows : butGlyfters are
not neceffary, if the Child, as it fometimes hap
pens then, has a Purging.
2, Their ordinary Quantity of Food ihould be
leilened for two Reafons ; firll:, becaufe the Sto
mach
Medical Directions concerning Children. 3
mach is then weaker than ufual ; and next, be-
caufe a fmall Fever fometimes accompanies the
Cutting.
3, Their ufual Quantity of Drink fhould be
increafed a little ; the heft for them certainly is
an Infufion of the Leaves or Flowers, of the
Lime or Linden-tree, to which a little Milk may
be added.
4, Their Gums mould frequently be rubbed
with a Mixture of equal Parts of Honey, and
Mucilage of Quince-feeds 5 and a Root of March-
Mallows, or of Liquorice, may be given them to
chew.
It frequently happens, that during Dentition,
or the Time of their toothing, Children prove
fubjedt to Knots or Kernels.
Of Worms.
388. The Mcconium, the Acidity of the
Milk, and Cutting of the Teeth are the three
great Caufes of the Diieafes of Children. There
is alib a fourth, Worms, which is likewife very
often pernicious to them ; but which, neverthe-
lefs, is not, at leaft not near fo much, a general
Caufe of their Diforders, as it is generally fuppo-
fed, when a Child exceeding; two Years of Ase
O O
proves lick. There are a great Variety of Symp
toms, which difpofe People to think a Child has
Worms , though there is but one that demon-
ftrates it, w&ich is discharging them upwards or
downwards. There is great Difference among
B b 2 Children
388 Medical Directions concerning Children.
Children too in this Refpeft, fome remaining
healthy, though having feveral Worms, and others
being really lick with a few.
They prove hurtful, i, by obftruding the
Guts, and comprefling the neighbouring Bowels
by their Size. 2, By fucking up the Chyle in
tended to nouriili the Patient, and thus depriving
him of his very Subftance as well as Subfiilence:
and, 3, by irritating the Guts and even * gnaw
ing them.
389. The Symptoms which make it proba
ble they are infefted with Worms, are flight,
* .
frequent and irregular Cholics j a great Quantity
of Spittle running off while they are fafting; a
difagreeable Smell of their Breath, of a particular
Kind, efpecially in the Morning; a frequent
Itchinefs of their Nofes which makes them
fcratch or rub them often ; a very irregular Ap
petite, being fometimes voracious, and at other
Times having none at all : Pains at Stomach and
Vomitings : fometimes a coiiive Belly ; but more
frequently looie Stools of indigefted Matter; the
Belly rather larger than ordinary, the reft of the
Body
* I have feen a Child about three Years old, whofeNavel>
after fwelling and inflaming, fuppurated, and through a fmall Ori-
iice (which muft have communicated with the Cavity of the Gut
or the Belly) difcharged one of thefe Worms \ve call teretes, about
three Inches long. He had voided feveral by Stool, after taking
fome vermifuge iviedicines. The Fad I perfectly remember ; ana
to the bell of my Recollection, the- Ulcer healed fome Time after,
and the Orifice clofed : but the Child died the following Year of a
:id Fever, which might be caufed, or was aggravated, by
Worms. A.
Medical Directions concerning Children. 389
Body meagre ; a Thirft which no Drink allays ;
often great Weakneis, and fome Degree of Me-
lanchol The Countenance has generally an
odd unhealthy Look, and varies every Quarter of
an Hour ; the Eyes often look dull, and are fur-
rounded with a Kind of livid Circle : the White
of the Eye is fometimes vifible while they ileep,
their Sleep being often attended with terrifying
Dreams or Deliriums^ and with continual Start
ing, and Grindings of their Teeth. Some Chil
dren find it impoflible to be at Reft for a fingle
Moment. Their Urine is often whitim, 1 have
feen it from fome as white as Milk. They are
afflicted with Palpitations, Swoonings, Convul-
fions, long and profound Drowfinefs ; cold
Sweats which come on fuddcnly ; Fevers which
have the Appearances of Malignity; Obfcurities
ana even Lois of Sight and of Speech, which con
tinue for a considerable Time; Palfies either of
their Hands, their Arms, or their Legs, and
NumbnelTes. Their Gums are in a bad State,
and as though they had been gnawed or corro
ded : they have often the Hickup, a fmall
and irregular Pulfe, Ravings, and, what is one
of the leaft doubtful Symptoms, frequently a
fmall dry Cough ; and not leldom a Mucofity or
Sliminefs in their Stools: fometimes very long
and violent Cholic?, which terminate in an Ab-
fcefs on the Outfide of the Belly, from whence
Worms iffue. (See Note * p. 3 88.)
Bb 3 390. There
39 Medical Directions concerning Children,
390. There are a great Multitude of Medi
cines againft Worms. The * Grenette or Worm-
fee- !, which is one of the commoneft, is a very
good one. The Prefcription N. 62, is alfo a
very fucccisful one ; and the Powder N. 14 is
cne of the belt. Flower of Brimftone, the Juice
of Nafturtiuttt, or CrefTes, Acids and Honey Wa
ter have often been very ferviceable ; but the firft
three I have mentioned, fucceeded by a Purge,
are the bcft. N. 63 is a purging Medicine, that
the rnoft averie and difficult Children may eafily
e. But when, notwithftanding thefe Medicines,
the Worms are not expelled, it is necefTary to
take Advice of fome Perfon qualified to prefcribe
more efficacious ones. This is of considerable
Importance, becaufe, notwithftanding a great
Proportion of Children may probably have
Worms, and yet many of them continue in
good Health, there are, neverthelefs, fome who
are really killed by Worms, after having been
cruelly tormented by them for feveral Years.
A Difppfitipn to breed Worms always (hews
the Digeftions are weak and imperfect; for
which Reafon Children liable to Worms fhould
not be ncurifhed with Food difficult to digeft.
We fhould be particularly careful not to iluff
them with Oils, which, admitting fuch Oils
fhould immediately kill fome of their Worms,
do
* This Word occurs in none of the common Dictionaries ; but
fufpeftinp it lor the^JWJ Samonici of the Shops, I iind the learn
ed Dr. BIKKER has rendered it Co, in his very well received
Tranflation of this valuable Work into Low Dutch. K*
Medical Directions concerning Children. 391
do yet increafe that Caufe, which di/pofes them to
generate others. A long continued Ufe of Fi
lings of Iron is the Remedy, that moft effectually
deftroys this Difpofition to generate Worms.
Of Consul/ions*
391. I have already laid, 378, that the
Convulfions of Children are almoft confbntly the
Effecl of fome other Difeafe, and efpecially of
fome of the four I have mentioned. Some
other, though lefs frequent Caufes, fometimes
occaiion them, and theie may be reduced to tlu j
following.
The firft of them is the corrupted Humour?,
that often abound in their Stomachs and In-
teftines ; and which, by their Irritation, produce
irregular Motions throughout the whole Syilem
of the Nerves, or at lead through fome Parts of
o
them ; whence theie Convulfions arife, which
are merely involuntary Motions of the Mufcles.
Thefe putrid Humours are the Confequence of
too great a Load of Aliments, of unfound ones,
or of fuch, as the Stomachs of Children are in
capable of digefting. Thefe Humours are alfo
fometimes the Effect of a Mixture and Confufion
of different Aliments, and of a bad Distribution
of their Nourishment.
It may be known that the Convulfions of a
Child are owing to this Caufe, by the Circum-
ihnces that have preceded them, by a difgufled
loathing Stomach ; by a certain Heavinefs and
B b 4 Load
39 2 Medical Bire&iom concerning Children.
Load at it ; by a foul Tongue ; a great Belly
by its bad Complexion, and its difturbed unre-
ireming Sleep.
The Child s proper Diet, that is, a certain
Diminution of the Quantity of its Food - y fome
Glyflers of warm Water, and one Purge of N.
63, very generally remove fuch Convuliions.
392. The lecond Caufe is the bad Quality
of their Milk. Whether it be that the Nurfe has
fallen into a violent Pailion, fome confiderable
Difguft, great Fright or frequent Fear : whether
fhe has eat unwholefome Food, drank too much
Wine, fpirhuous Liquors, or any ilrong Drink :
whether lite is feized with a Defcent of her
monthly Difcharges, and that has greatly difor-
dered her Health ; or finally whether flie prove
really fick : In all thefe Cafes the Milk is vitia
te J, and expofes the Infant to violent Symptoms,
which ibmetimes fpeedily deftroy it.
The Remedies for Convuliions, from this
Caufe, coniift, i, In letting the Child ah/lain
from this corrupted Milk, until the Nurfe mall
have recovered her State of Health and Tranquil
lity, the fpeedy Attainment of which may be for
warded by a lew Glyiters ; by gentle pacific Me
dicines ; by an entire Abience of whatever cauied
or conduced to her bad Health ; and by drawing
off all the Milk that had been fo vitiated.
2, In giving the Child itfelf fome Glyfters :
in making it a ink plentifully of a light Infufion
. . T . T Sjf&,<*,&Ys. J . . 9
of the Lime-tree jLufl.-^ in giving it no other
Nourifhment
Medical Directions concerning Children. 393
Nourishment for a Day or two, except Panada
and other light Spoon-meat, without Milk.
3, In purging the Child (fuppofing what has
been juft directed to have been unavailable)
with an Ounce, or an Ounce and a Half, of com
pound Syrup of Succory, or as much Manna.
Thele lenient gentle Purges carry off the Re
mainder of the corrupted Milk, and remove the
Diforders occafioned by it.
393. A third Caufe which alfo produces
Convulfions, is the feverifh Diftempers which
attack Children, efpecially the Small-pocks and
the Mealies ; but in general fuch Convulfions re
quire no other Treatment, but that proper for
the Difeafe, which has introduced them.
394. It is evident from what has been faid
in the Courfe of this Chapter, and it delerves to
be attended to, that Convulfions are commonly a
Symptom attending feme other Difeafe, rather
than an original Difeafe themfelves : that they
depend on many different Caufcs ; that from this
Confideration there can be no general Remedy
for removing or checking them ; and that the
only Means and Medicines which are fuitable in
each Cafe, are thofe, which are proper to oppofe
the particular Caufe producing them, which I
have already pointed out in treating of each
Caufe.
The greater Part of the pretended Specifics,
which are mciifcriminately and ignoiantly em
ployed in all Sorts of Convulfions, are often ufe-
lefs,
3 94 Medical Directions concerning Children.
lefs, and ftill oftner prejudicial. Of this i aft Sort
and Character are,
1, All lliarp and hot Medicines, fpirituous
Liquors, Oil of Amber, other hot Oils and
EiTences, volatile Salts, and fuch other Medi
cines, as, by the Violence of their Adion on
the irritable Organs of Children, are likelier to
produce Convuliions, than to allay them.
2, Aftringent Medicines, which are highly
pernicious, whenever the Convuliions are cauled
by any (harp Humour, that ought to be difcharg-
ed from the Body by Stool ; or when fuch Con
vuliions are the Confequences of an -j- Effort of
Nature, in Order to effect a Crijis : And as they
a! moil ever depend on one or the other of theie
Caufes, it follows that Aftringents can very rarely,
if ever, be beneficial. Befides that there is al
ways feme Danger in giving them to Children
without a mature, a thorough Couiideration of
their particular Cafe and Situation, as they often
difpofc them to Obstructions.
3, The over early, and too conliderable Ufe
of Opiates, either net properly indicated, or con
tinued too long, fuch as Venice Treacle, Mi-
thridate, Syrup of Poppies (and it ib very ealy to
run upon feme of thefe Sholes) are alfo attended
with the mofr. embarraiilng Events, in Regard to
Convulfions ; and it may be affirmed they are
improper, for nine Tenths of thole they are advi-
led
t This vry important Confiderntion, nn which I have treat
ed pretty largely, in the . /;/;/./?., leems not to be attended to in
1 ruclice, ai irequently as it ot.-gh\ K.
Medical Directions concerning Children. 39;
fed to. It is true they often produce an apparent
Eafe and Tranquillity for fome Minutes, and
fometimes for fome Hours too ; but the Diforder
returns even with greater Violence for this
Sufpenfion, by Reafon they have augmented all
the Cauies producing it; they impair the Sto
mach; they bind up the Belly; they leifen the
ufual Quantity of Urine ; and befides, by their
abating the Seniibility of the Nerves, which
ought to be confidered as one of the chief Centi-
nels appointed by Nature, for the Difcovery of any
approaching Danger, they difpofe the Patient
inlenfibly to fudi Infarctions and Obftructions,
as tend fpcedily to produce fome violent and mor
tal Event, or which generate a Difpoiition to lan
guid and tedious Difeafes : and I do again repeat
it, that notwithstanding there are fome Cafes, in
which they are abfolutely necefTary, they ought
in general to be employed with great Precaution
and Prudence. To mention the principal Indi
cations for them in convuliive Cafes, they are
proper,
1, When the Convulfions ftill continue, after
the original Caufe of them is removed.
o
2, When they are fo extremely violent, as to
threaten a great and very fpeedy Danger of Life ;
and when they prove an Obflacle to the taking
Remedies calculated to extinguiih their Caufe ;
and,
3, When the Caufe producing them is of fuch
a Nature, as is apt to yield to the Force of Ano
dynes :
396 Medical Directions concerning Children.
dynes ; as when, for Infbance, they have been
the immediate Coniequence of a Fright.
395. There is a very great Difference in
different Children, in Refpect to their being
more or lets liable to Convulfions. There are
fomc, in whom very ftrong and irritating Caufes
cannot excite them ; not even excruciating Gripes
and Cholics; the moil painful Cutting of their
Teeth ; violent Fevers ; the Small Pocks ; Mea-
iles ; and though they are, as it were, continu
ally corroded by Worms, they have not the
flighted: Tendency to be convulfed. On the
other Hand, ibme are fo very obnoxious to Con
vulfions, or fo eafily comwljible , if that Exprei-
fion may be allowed, that they are very often
feized with them from inch very flight Canfe?,
that the mo ft attentive Consideration cannot in-
veftigate them. This Sort of Constitution, which
is extremely dangerous, and expofes the unhap
py Subject of it, either to a very ipeedy Death,
or to a very low and languid State of Life, re
quires fome peculiar Coniiderations \ the Detail
of which would be the more foreign to the De-
fign of this Treatile, as they are pretty common
in Cities, but much lefs fo in Country Places.
In general cold Bathing and the Powder N. 14
are ferviceable in luch Circumftances.
General Dire&ions^ with Rc-fea to Children.
. ^96. I fhall conclude this Chapter by fuch
farther Advice, as may contribute to give Chil
dren
Medical Dir eft ions concerning Children 397
dren a more vigorous Conftitution and Temper
rament, and to preferve them from many Dif-
orders.
Fir ft then, we mould be careful not to cram
them too much, and to regulate both the Quan
tity and the let Time of their Meals, which is a
very practicable Thing, even in the very ear-
licit Days of their Life j when the Woman who
n-uries them, will. l>c careful to do it regularly.
Perhaps indeed this is the very Age, when luch a
Regulation may be the mod: eafily attempted and
effected ; becaufe it is that Stage, when die con-
itant Uniformity of their Way of living mould
incline us to fuppofe, that what they have Occa-
fion for is moil conftantly very much the fame.
A Child who has already attained to a few
j
Years, and who is Surrendered up more to his
own Exerciie and Vivacity, feels other Calls; his
Way of Life is become a little more various and
J
irregular, whence his Appetite mu(t prove ib too.
Hence it would be inconvenient to fubjecl him
over exactly to one certain Rule, in the Quantity
of his Nouriihmerit, or the Diilance of his
Meals. The Diflipation or palling off of his
Nutrition being unequal, the Occafions he has
for repairing it cannot be precifely ftated and re
gular. But with Helped: to very little Children
in Arms, or on the Lap, a Uniformity in the
firli.0- h u. .-edls, the Quantity of their rood,
very confidently conduces :u a ufeful Regularity
with Refpcil to the fecond, the Tiroes of fec j.ng
them, bicknefs is probably the only Circum-
ftance,
398 Medical Directions concerning Children,
fiance, that can warrant any Alteration in the
Order and Intervals of their Meals ; and then
lis Change fhould eonfift in a Diminution of
their ufual Quantity, notwithftlnding a general
and fatal Conduct ieems to eftablifh the very Re-
verfe ; and this pernicious Fafhion authorizes the
Nurfes to cram thefe poor little Creatures the
more, in Proportion as they have real Need of
lefs feeding. They conclude of Courfe, that all
their Cries are the Effects of Hunger, and the
Moment an Infant begins, then they immediate
ly flop his Mouth with his Food 5 without once
fufpeciing, that thefe Wailings may he occafioned
by the Uneafinels an over- loaded Stomach may
have introduced ; or by Pains whofe Caufe is nei
ther removed nor mitigated, by making the
Children eat ; though the meer Action of eating
may render them inienfible to flight Pains, for a
j O
very few Minutes ; in the firft Place, by calling off
their Attention ; and fecondly, by htifhing them
to fleep, a common Effect of feeding in Children,
being in fact, a very general and conftant one,
and depending on the fame Caufes, which difpofe
fb many grown Perfons to fleep after Meals.
A Detail of the many Evils Children are expo-
fed to, by thus forcing too much Food upon them,
at the veiy Time when their Complaints are ow
ing to Caufes, very different from Hunger, might
appear incredible. They are however fo nume
rous and certain, that I ferioufly wifli fcnfible
Mothers would open their Eyes to the Confide-
ration
Medical Directions concerning Children.
ration of this Abufe, and agree to put an End
to it,
Thofe who overload them with Victuals, in
Hopes of fcrengthening them, are extremely de
ceived j there being no one Prejudice equally fa-
tJ to fuch a Number of them. Whatever unnecef-
1 ary Aliment a Child receives, weakens, inttead of
lengthening him. The Stomach, when over-
diftended, lurFers in its Force and Functions, and
becomes lels able to digeft thoroughly. The
Excels oi he Food lad received impairs the Con
coction of the Quantity, that was really necefTary :
which, being baaly digefted, is Ib far from yield
ing any Nouriihment to the Infant, that it
weakens it, and proves a Source of Difeafes, and
concurs to produce Qbftru&iont, Rickets, the
Evil, flow Fevers, a Confumption and Death.
Another unhappy Cuftom prevails > with Re
gard to the Diet of Children, when they beeiri
.- o
to receive any other Food befides their Nui
Milk, and that is, to give them linn as exceeds
the digeftive Power of their Stomachs ; and to
indulge them in a Mixture of iuch Things \\\
their Meals, as are hurtful in themfelvco, and
more particularly fo, with Regard to their feeble
and delicate Organs.
To juilify this pernicious Indulgence, they af-
iirm it is neceilary to accuitom their Stomachs t.*
every Kind of Food; but this Notion is highly
* *
abiurd, fince their Stomachs fhould firii b^
ftrcngthened, in Order to nu ke them capable oi;
digeiling every Food; and crouding indigcftiUe,
or
400 Medical Directions concerning Children.
or very difficultly digeftible Materials into it, is not
the Way to Strengthen it. To make a Foal fuffi-
ciently ftrong for future Labour, he is exempted
from any, till he is four Years old ; which ena
bles him to fubmit to confiderable Work, without
being the worfe for it. But if, to inure him to
Fatigue, he fiiould be accuftomed, immediately
from his Birth, to fubmit to Burthens above his
Strength, he could never prove any Thing but
an utter Jade, incapable of real Service. The
Application of this to the Stomach of a Child is
very obvious.
I (hall add another very important Remark,
and it is this, that the too early Work to which
the Children of Peafants are forced, becomes of
real Prejudice to the Publick. Hence Families
themfelves are lefs numerous, and the more Chil
dren that are removed from thrir Parents, while
they are very young, thofe who are left are the
more obliged to Work, and very often even at
hard Labour, at an Age \vhen they mould ex-
crcile themfelves in the ufual Diverfions and
Sports of Children. Hence they wear out in a
Manner, before they attain the ordinary Term of
Manhood ; they never arrive at their utmoil
Strength, nor reach their full Stature ; and it is
too common to lee a Countenance with the Look
of twenty Years, joined to a Stature of twelve or
thirteen. In fadt, they often fink under the
Weight of inch hard involuntary Labour, and
fall into a mortal Degree of Wading and Ex-
hauftion.
397-
Medical Directions concerning Children* 40 1
397. Secondly, which indeed is but a Re
petition of the Advice I have already given, and
upon which I cannot infill too much, they mull
be frequently wafhed or bathed in cold Water.
398. Thirdly, they fhould be moved about
and exercifed as much as they can bear, uitcr
they are fome Weeks oM : the earlier Days of
their tender Life feeming confccrated, by Nature
herfelf, to a nearly total Repofe, and to fleeping,
which feems not to determine, until they have
Need of Nourifhment : fo that, during this very
tender Term of Life, too much Agitation or Ex-
ercife might be attended with mortal Confe-
quences. But as foon as their Organs have at
tained a little more Solidity and Firmnefs, the
more they are danced about (provided it is not
done about their ufual Time of Repofe, which
ought ftill to be very considerable) they are fo
much the better for it ; and by increasing it gra
dually, they may be accr.ftomed to a very quick
Movement, and at length very lately to filch, as
may be called hard and hearty Exercife. That
Sort of Motion they receive inGo-Carts, or other
Vehicles, particularly contrived for their Ufe, i
more beneficial to them, than what they have
from their Nurfes Arms, becaufe they are in a
better Attitude in the former : and it heats them
lefs in Summer, which is a Circumftance of no
fmall Importance to them ; confiderable Heat
and Sweat dilpofing them to be ricketcy.
399. Fourthly, they mould be accuftomed
to breathe in the free open Air as much as poffible.
Cc If
402 Medical Directions concerning Children.
If Children have unhappily been lefs attended
to \ they ought, whence they are evidently
feebk \ languid, obftrucled, and liable to
Scirrhofities (which constitute what is termed a
ricketty or confumptive State) theie four Direc
tions duly obferved retrieve them from that un
happy State ; provided the Execution of them
has not been too long delayed.
400. Fifthly, If they have any natural Dif-
charge of a Humour by the Skin, which is very
common with them, or any Eruption, fuch as
Tetters, white Scurf, a Rame, or the like, Care
mud be taken not to check or repel them, by
any grcaiy or reftringent Applications. Not \
Year pafles without Numbers of Children having
been deftroyed by Imprudence in this Refpecl: ;
while others have been reduced to a deplorable
and weakly Habit.
I have been a Witnefs to the moft unhappy
Confequences of external Medicines applied for
the Rame and white Scurf; which, however
frightful they may appear, are never dangerous ;
provided nothing at all is applied to them, with
out the Advice and Confideration of a truly fkil-
ful Peribn.
When fuch external Diforders prove very ob-
fKnate, it is reafonable to fufpect ibme Fault or
Disagreement in the Milk the Child fucks - y in
which Cafe it mould immediately be difconti-
nued, corrected, or changed. But I cannot en
ter here into a particular Detail of all the Treat
ment neceffary in fuch Cafes.
CHAPTER
Direftions concerning dr mimed Perfons. 403
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Bire&ions with Refpeff to drowned Perfons. *
SECT. 4.01.
: HE NEVER a Perfon who has been
dro wn ed, has remained a Quarter of
an Hour under Water, there can be
no confiderable Hopes of his Recovery:
the Space of two or three Minutes in fuch a Si
tuation being often fufficient to kill a Man irreco
verably. Neverthelefs, as feveral Circumstances
may happen to have continued Life, in fuch an
unfortunate Situation, beyond the ordinary Term,
we fhould always endeavour tu afford them the
moft effectual Relief, and not give them up as
irrecoverable too loon : fince it has often been
known, that until the Expiration of two, and
fomecirnes even of three Hours, fuch Bodies have
exhibited fome apparent Tokens of Life.
C c 2 Water
The Misfortune of a young Man drowned in bathing him-
felf, at the Beginning or" the Seafon, occafioned the Publication
of thib Chapter by \uS.t in June, 1761. A few Days after, the
Misfortune happened to a labouring Man ; but he was hap
pily taken out of the Water fooner than the firft k who had re
mained about halt an H ur under it) and he was recovered by
ebferving Part of the Advice this Chapter contains ; or which.
Chapter federal Byftand.jii had Copies. This Note iVenii to be
from the Author himfelf.
404 Directions concerning drowned Per fins.
Water has fometimes been found in the Sto
mach of drowned Perions ; at other times none
at all. Befidcs, the greater! Quantity which li^as
ever been found in it has not exceeded that,
which may be drank without any Inconvenience ;
whence we may conclude, the meer Quantity
was not mortal j neither is it very eafy to con
ceive how drowned Peribns can fwallow Water.
What really kills them is meer Suffocation, or
the Interception of Air, of the Action of breath
ing; and the Water which defcends into the
Lungs, and which is determined there, by the Ef
forts they necelTarily, though involuntarily make,
to draw Breath, after they are under Water : for
there abfolutely does not any Water defcend, either
into the Stomach or the Lungs of Bodies plunged
into Water, after they are dead; a Circumftance,
which ferves to efiablifh a le^al Sentence and
O
Judgment in fome criminal Cafes, and Trials :
This Water intimately blending itfelf with the
Air in the Lungs, forms a vifcid inactive Kind
of Froth, which entirely deflroys the Functions
of the Lungs ; whence the milerable Sufferer is
not only furTocated, but the Return of the Blood
from the Head being alib intercepted, the Blood
Veffels of the Brain are overcharged, and an
Apoplexy is combined with the Suffocation.
This iecond Caufe, that is, the Deicent of the
Water into the Lungs, is far from being general,
it having been evident from the DiiTection of fe-
veral drowned Bodies, that it really never had
exifted in them.
402.
concerning drowned Pcrfons. 405
402. The Intention that fhould be purfued,
is that of unloading the Lungs and the Brain, and
of reviving the extinguifhcd Circulation. For
which Purpofe we fhould, i, immediately ftrip
the Sufferer of all his wet Cloaths ; rub him
ftrongly with dry coarfe Linnen ; put him, as
foon as poflible, into a well heated Bed, and con
tinue to rub him well a very confiderable Time
together.
2, A ftrong and healthy Perfon mould force
his own warm Breath into the Patient s Lungs j
.and the Smoke of Tobacco, if feme was at
Hand, by Means of fome Pipe, Chanel, Funnel
or the like, that may be introduced into the
Mouth. This Air or Fume, being forcibly
blown in, by (lopping the Sufferer s Noftrils dole
at the fame Time, penetrates into the Lungs,
and there rarities by its Heat that Air, which
blended with the Water, compofed the vifcid
Spume or Froth. Hence that Air becomes dif-
engaged from the Water, recovers its Spring, di~
lates the Lungs; and, if there ftill remains with
in any Principle of Life, the Circulation is re-*
newed again that Inftant.
3, If a moderately expert Surgeon is at Hand,
he muft open the jugular Vein, or any large
Vein in the Neck, and let out ten or twelve
Ounces of Blood. Such a Bleeding is ferviceable
on many Accounts. Firfl, merely as Bleeding,
it renews the Circulation, which is the cohftant
EfFett of Bleeding in fuch Swoonings, as ariie
from an intercepted or fuftbcated Circulation.
C c 3 Secondly,
406 "Direct Ions concerning drowned Perfons.
Secondly, it is that particular Bleeding, which,
moft fuddenly removes, in fuch Cafes, the In
farction or Obftruftion of the Head and Lungs ;
and, thirdly, it is fometimes the only VeiTel,
whence Blood will iffue under fuch Circum-
ftances. The Veins of the Feet then afford none ;
and thofe of the Arms feldom ; but the Jugulars
almoft confbntly furnifh it.
Fourthly, the Fume of Tobacco mould be
thrown up, as fpeedily and plentifully as poiTible,
into the Inteftines by the Fundament. There
are very commodious Contrivances devifed for
thisPurpofe; but as they are not common, it
may be effected by many fpeedy Means. One,
by which a Woman s Life was preferved, confid
ed only in introducing the fmall Tube of a To
bacco Pipe well lighted up : the Head or Bowl
of it was wrapped up in a Paper, in which feve-
ral Holes were pricked, and through thefe the
Breath was ftrongly forced. At the fifth Blafi a
considerable Rumbling was heard in the Wo
man s Belly ; flie threw up a little Water, and a
Moment afterwards came to her Senies. Two
Pipes may be thus lighted and applied, with their
Bowls covered over ; the Extremity of one is to
be introduced into the Fundament ; and the other
may be blown through into the Lungs.
Anv other Vapour may alfo be conveyed up,
by introducing a Canula^ or any other Pipe, with
a Bladder rirmly fixed to it. This Bladder is
fattened at its other End to a large Tin Funnel,
under which Tobacco is to be lighted. This
Con-
Directions concerning droivned Perjons. 407
Contrivance has fucceeded with me upon other
Occafions, in which Necefiity compelled me to
invent and apply it.
Fifthly, the flrongeit Volatiles mould he ap
plied to the Patient s Noflrils. The Powder of
ibme ftrong dry Herb mould be blown up his
Noie, iuch as Sage, Rofemary, Rue, Mint, and
efpecially Marjoram, or very well dried Tobacco;
or even the Fume, the Smoke of theie Herbs.
But all thefe Means are moil properly employed
after Bleeding, when they are moil efficacious
and certain.
Sixthly, as long as the Patient (hews no Signs
of Life, he will be unable to fwallow, and it is
then ufelefs, and even dangerous, to pour much
Liquid of any kind into his Mouth, which could
do nothing but keep up, or increafe Suffocation.
It is iufficient, in fuch Circumftances, to inibl a
few Drops of fome irritating Liquor, which
might alib be cordial and reviving. But as foon
as ever he dilcovers any Motion, he mouid take,
within the Space of one Hour, five or iix com
mon Spoonfuls of Oxymel of Squills diluted with
warm Water : or if that Medicine was not to be
had very fpeedily, a flrong Inftiiion of the blefled
Thiitle, or Car dims knediffus, of Sage, or of Cha-
momile Flowers fweetened with Honey, might do
inflead of it : and iuppoiing nothing elle to be had,
ibme warm Water, with the Addition of a little
common Salt, mould be given. Some Perfons
are bold enough to recommend Vomits in iuch
Cafes ; but they are not without their Inconveni-
C c 4 ece j
408 Directions concerning drowned Perf&ns.
ence ; and it is not as a Vomit that I recommend
the Oxymel of Squills in them.
Seventhly, Notwithflanding the Sick difcover
ibme Tokens of Life, we fhould not ceafe to
continue our AiTiftance ; iince they ibmetimes
irrecoverably expire, after thefe firft Appearances
of rt coven!
And laftly, though they mould be manifeftly
re-animated, there, fometimes remains an Op-
preffon, a Coughing and Feverifhnefs, which
effcdlually conftitute a Difeafe : and then it be
comes neceflary fometimes to bleed them in the
Arms ; to give them Barley Water, plentifully,
or Elder-flower Tea.
403. Having thus pointed out fuch Means
as arc neceffary, and truly effectual, in fuch unfor
tunate Accidents, I fhall very briefly mention
i^me others, which it is the general Cuftam to
ufe and apply in the firft Hurry.
1 , Thefe unhappy People are fometimes
wrapped up in a Sheep s, or a Calf s, or a Dog s
Skin, immediately flead from the Animal : thefe
Applications have fometimes indeed revived the
Heat of the Drowned ; but their Operations are
more flow, and lefs efficacious, than the Heat of
a well- warmed Bed; with the additional Vapour
of burnt Sugar, and long continued Frictions with
hot Flanels.
2, The Method of rolling them in an empty
Hcgfhead is dangerous, and mifpends a o*eal of
important Time.
3, That
concerning drowned Perfons. 409
3, That allb of hanging them up by the Feet
js attended with Danger, and ought to be wholly
difcontinued. The Froth or Foarji, which is
one of the Caufes of their Death, is too thick and
tough to difcharge itielf, in Confequence of its
own Weight. Neverthelefs, this is the only
Effect that can be expedted, from this Cuftoin
of fufpending them by the Feet ; which muft al-
fo be hurtful, by its tending to increafe the Over-
fulnefs of the Head and of the Lun^s.
o
404. It is iome Years fince a Girl of eighteen
Years old was recovered [though it is unknown
whether fhe remained under Water only a little
Time or fbme Hours^ who was motionlefs, fro
zen as it were, infenfible, with her Eyes doled,
her Mouth wide open, a livid Colour, a ivvoln Vi-
fage, a Tumour or bloating of the whole Body,
which was overladen as it were, or Water-foaked.
This miierable Object was extended on a Kind
of Bed, of hot or very warm Alhes, quickly
heated in great Kettles ; and by laying her quite
naked on thefe Afhes ; by covering her with
others equally hot; by putting a Bonnet round
her Head, with a Stocking round her Neck
fluffed with the fame, and heaping Coverings
over all this, at the End of half an Hour her
Pulle returned, me recovered her Speech, and
cried out, 1 freeze, I freeze: A little Cherry-
Brandy was given her, and then me remained
buried, as it were, eight Hours undei {ie Afhe^j
being taken out of them afterwards whi c/at any
other Complaint, except that of great Luil^urV
or
4 1 o BireSfiom concerning drowned Perfons
or Wearinefs, which went entirely off the third
Day. This Method was undoubtedly ib effectual,
that it well deferves Imitation ; but it fhould not
make us inattentive to the others. Heated Gra
vel or Sand mixed with Salt, or hot Salt alone,
would have been equally efficacious, and they
have been found ib.
At the very Time of writing this, two youn
Ducks, who were drowned, have been revived
by a dry Bath of hot Afhes. The Heat of a,
Dung-heap may alfo be beneficial ; and I have
juli been informed, by a very creditable and fen-
iible Spectator of it, that it effectually contributed
to reftore Life to a Man, who had certainly re
mained fix Hours under Water.
405. I fhall conclude thefe Directions with
an Article printed in a little Work at Paris, about
twenty Years fince, by Order of the King, to
which there is not the lead Doubt, but that any
other Sovereign will readily accede.
" Notwithstanding the common People are
<f very generally diipofcd to be compaiiionate,
and may wifh to give all Affirmance to drown
ed Perfons, it frequently happens they do not,
only becaufe they dart not; imagining they
" expole themfelves by it to Proiecutions. It
" is therefore neceilary, that they fhould know,
" and it cannot be too often repeated, in order
tc to eradicate fuch a pernicious Prejudice, that
tc the Magiflrates have never interpoied to pre-
vent People from trying every poilible Means
" to recover fuch unfortunate Perfons, as fhall
" be
tt
cc
Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach .411
c < be drowned and taken out of the Water. It is
* c only in thofe Cafes, when the Perfons are
<c known to be absolutely and irrecoverably dead,
u that Juftice renders it neceiTary to feize their
. Bodies."
CHAPTER XXIX.
Of Subjlances jlopt between the Mouth and the
Stomach.
SECT. 406.
Food we take in defcendsfrom the
Mouth through a very it i ait PafTage
or Chanel, called the Oejfof&agus, the
Gullet, which, going parallel wuh the
Spine or Backbone, joins to, or terminates at, the
Stomach.
It happens fometimes that different Bodies are
ftopt in this Chanel, without bc::v. r able either to
deicend or to return up again ; whether this Dif
ficulty arifes from their being too large ; or whe
ther it be owing to their having inch Angles or
Points, as by penetrating into, and adhering to
the Sides of this membranous Canal, abfolutely
prevent the ufual Ad, on and Motion of it.
407. Vciy dangerous Symptoms ar fe from
this Stoppage, which are frequently attended with
a mod acute Pain in the Part; and at other
Times,
4 1 2 Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.
Times, with a very incommodious, rather than
painful, Senfation ; lometimes a very ineffectual
Commotion at, or riling of, the Stomach, at
tended with great Anguiili j and if the Stoppage
*be fo circumftanced, that the Glottis is clofed,
or the Wind-pipe comprelTed, a dreadful Suf
focation is the Confequence : the Patient cannot
breathe, the Lungs are quite diftended ; and the
Blood being unable to return from the Head,
the Countenance becomes red, then livid ; the
Neck 1 wells ; the Opprcflion increafes, and the
poor Sufferer fpeedily dies.
When the Patient s Breathing is not ftopt, nor
greatly opprefTed ; if the Paflage is not entirely
blocked up, and he can fwallow fomething, he
lives very eafily for a few Days, and then his
Cafe becomes a particular Disorder of the Oc/b-
phagvs, or Gullet. But if the ParTage is af>-
folutely clofed, and the Obftruction cannot be re
moved for many Days, a terrible Deatji is the
Confequence.
408. The Danger of fuch Cafes does not
depend fo much on the Nature of the obftructing
Subflance, as on its Size, with Regard to that of
the Paflage of the Part where it flops, and of the
Manner in which it forms the Obftruction ; and
frequently the very Food may occafion Death ;
while Subftances Ids adapted to he fwallowed are
not attended with any violent Coniequences,
though fwallowed.
Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach. 4 1 3
A Child of fix Days old fwallowed a Comfit
or Sugar Plumb, which {tuck in the Paflage,
and inftantly killed it.
A grown Peribn perceived that a Bit of Mut
ton had itopt in the Paflage , not to alarm any
Body he arcie from Table ; a Moment after
wards, on looking where he might be gone, lie
was found dead. Another was chcaked by a Bit
of Cake; a third by a Piece of the Skin of a Ham -,
and a fourth by an Egg, which he fwallowed
whole in a Bravo.
A Child was killed by a Chefnut fwallowed
whole. Another died fuddenly, choaked (which
is always the Circumitance, when they die in-
ftantly after fuch Accidents) by a Pear which he
had toiled up, and catched in his Mouth. A
Woman was choaked with another Pear. A
Piece of a Sinew continued eight Days in the
Paffage, fo that it prevented the Patient from
getting down any Thing elfe ; at the Expiration
of that Time it fell into the snaJi, being
loofened by its Putridity : The Patient notwith-
ftanding died foon after, f being killed/ the In
flammation, Gangrene and Weakness it had oc-
cafioned. Unhappily there occur but too many
Inftances of this Sort, of which it is unn^ceflary
to cite more.
409. Whenever any Subftanee is thus de
tained in the Gullet, there are two Ways of re
moving it ; that is either by extracting st, or
pufhing it down. The fafeft and molt certain
Way is always to extract or draw it out, but c^is
is
4 1 4 Of Stoppages between the Mouth and ] Stomach ,
is not always the eaiieft : and as the Efforts made
for this Purpofe greatly fatigue the Patient, and
are fometimes attended with grievous Confc-
quences; and yet if theOccafion is extremely urg
ing, it may be eligible to thruft it down, if that is
eatier ; and if there is no Danger from the ob-
ftru6ting Bodies Reception into the Stomach.
The Subftances which may be pufhed down
without Danger, are all common nou riming ones,
as Bread, Meat, Cakes, Fruits, Pulfe, Morfels
of Tripe, and even Skin of Bacon. It is only
very large Morfels of particular Aliments, that
prove very difficult to digeft ; yet even fuch are
rarely attended with any Fatality.
410. The Subftances we mould endeavour
to extract or draw out, though it be more pain
ful and lefs eafy than to puih them down, are
all thofe, whole Confequences might be highly
dangeroqs, or even mortal, iffwallowed. Such
are all totally indigeftible Bodies, as Cork, Linen-
Rags, large Fruit Stones, Bones, Wood, Glafs,
Stones, Metals ; and more efpecially if any fur
ther Danger may be fuperadded to that of itslndi-
geftibility, from the Shape, whether rough, fharp,
pointed, or angular, of the Subftance i wallowed.
Wherefore we ihould chiefly endeavour to extract
Pins, Needles, Fifh-bones, other pointed Frag
ments of Bones, Bits of Glafs, ScifTars, Rings,
or Buckles.
Neverthelefs it has happened, that every one
of thefe Subftances have at one Time or another
been iwallowcd, and the mcfl ufual Confe
quences
Of Stoppages between tbe Month and Stomach. 4 1 3"
quences of rh :m are violent Pains of the Stomach,
and in the r Guts j Inflammations, Suppurations,
Abfceflcs a flow Fever, Gangrene, \hcMiffrere
or Iliac Pallion ; external Abiccffes, through
which the Border, fwallowed down have been
difcharged j and frequently, after a long Train
of Maladies, a dread ail Death.
^411. When iiich S abftances have not pafied
in too deep, we mould endeavour to extract them
with our Fingers, vvh .1 often lucceeds. If they
are lower, we fhoulri make ufe of Nippers or a
fmall Forceps ; of whijh Surgeons are provJed
with different Sorts. Thole which feme ik-
ers carry about them mighc be very conv. nient
for fuch Purpofes ; and in Cafe of NeceiThy they
might be made very readily out of two Bits of
Wood. But this Attempt to extract rareiy fuc
ceeds, if the Subflance has delcended far into the
Oefafbagus, and if the Subftance be of a flexible
Nature, which exaclly applies itfelf to, and falls
up the Cavity or Chanel of it.
412. If the Fingers and the Nippers fail,
or cannot be duly applied, Crotchets, a Kind of
Hooks, mufc be employed.
Thefe may be made at once with a pretty
ftrcmg iron Wire, crooked at the ] J. It rnuft
be introduced in the flat Way, and for the bet
ter conducing of it, there a be a^-her
Curve o- Hook at the End if r ^elu by, ro .~rve
as a Kir.; of Handle to it, \ ..s tl.is further
, tijat it may be fecir a String tied to
it; a Circumitance not to be omitted in any In-
llrument
4 1 6 Of Stoppages between the Mouth
ilrument employed on fuch Oecafions, to avoid
luch ill Accidents as have fometimes enfued, from
thefe Inftruments flipping out of the Operators
Hold. Aiter the Crotchet has palled beyond and
belovy the Subftance, that obftructs the PafTage,
it is drawn up again, and hooks up with it and
extracts that Impediment to iwallowing.
This Crotchet is alfo very convenient, when
ever a Subftance fomewhat flexible, as a Pin or
.1 Filhbonc flick, as it were, acrofs the Gullet:
the Crotchet in fuch Cafes feizino: them about
o
their middle Part, crooks and thus difengages
them. Jf they are very brittle Subflances, it
j
ierves to break them ; and if any Fragments ilill
flick wi thir>, fome other Means mufl be ufed to
extract them.
413. When the obflrucYmg Bodies are fmall,
and only flop up Part of the Pailage; and which
may either eafily elude the Hook, or flraiten
it by their Refinance, a Kind of Rings may be
ufed, and made either folid or flexible.
The folid ones are made of iron Wire, or of
a String of very fine brafs Wire. For this Pur-
pofe the Wire is bent into a Circle about the
middle Part of its Length, the Sides of which
Circle do not touch each other, but leave a Ring,
or hollow Cavity, of about an Inch Diameter.
Then the Ion? unbent Sides of the Wire are
o
brought near each other ; the circular Psrt or
Ring is introduced into the Gullet, in order to be
.iJucted about the obftrudting Body, and fo
to CA i act it. Very flexible Rings may be madti
of
Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach. 4 i
of Wool, Thread, Silk, or fmall Packthread*
which may be waxed, for their greater Strength
and Confiitencc. Then they are to be tied fail
to a Handle of Iron- Wire, or Whale-bone, or of
any flexible Wood -, after which the Ring is to
be introduced to furround the obftruclins: Sub-
o
fiance, and to draw it out.
Several of thefe Rings pafTed through one ano
ther are often made ufe of, the more certainly to
lay hold of the obftructing Body, which may be
involved by one, if another mould mils it. This
Sort of Rings has one Advantage, which is, that
when the Subftance to be extracted is once laid
hold of, it may then, by turning the Handle, be
retained fo ftrongly in the Ring thus twifted, as
to be moved every Way ; which muft be a
considerable Advantage in many fuch Cafes.
414. A fourth Material employed on thefe
unhappy Occalions is the Spongo. Its Property
of fwelling confiderably, on being wet, is the
Foundation of its Ufefulnefs here.
If any Subftance is ftopt in the Gullet, but
without filling up the whole Paiiage, a Bit of
Sponge is introduced, into that Part that is un-
ftopt, and beyond the Subftance. The Sponge
foon dilates, and grows larger in this moift Situa
tion, and indeed the En cment of it may be
forwarded, by making me Patient fwallow a few
Drops of Water ; and then drawing back the
Sponge by the Handle it is faftcned to, as it is
now too large to return through the fmall Cavity,
by which it was conveyed in, it draws out the
D d obftruding
4 1 8 Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.
obftrucling Body with it, and thus unplugs, as
it were, and opens the Gullet.
As dry Sponge may ihrink or he contracted,
this Circumftance has proved the Means of
fqueezing a pretty large Piece of it into a very
final! Space. It becomes greatly comprelTed by
winding a String or Tape very clofcly about it,
\vhich Tape may be eafily unwound and with-
:wn, after the Sponge has been introduced. It
may. ->e inclofed in a Piece of Whalebone,
iplit into four Sticks at one End, and which, be
ing endued with a considerable Spring, contracts
upon the Sponge. The Whalebone is fo fmooth-
ed and accommodated, as not to wound ; and
the Sponge is alfo to be fafely tied to a ftrong
Thread ; that after having difengaged the Whale
bone from it, the Surgeon may alfo draw out
the Sponge at Pleafure.
Sponge is alfo applied on thefe Occafions in
another Manner. When there is no Room ro
convey it into the Gullet,, becaufe the obftrucYmg
Subflance ingroffes its whole Cavity ; and fuppo-
fing it not hooked into the Part, but folely de
tained by the Straitnefs of the PalTage, a pretty
.large Bit of Sponge is to be introduced towards
the GuL et, and clofe to the obftrucling Sub-
tance : Thus applied, the Sponge fwelis, and
thence dilates that Part of the Paflage that is
above this Subfhmce. The Sponge is then with
drawn a little, and but a very little, and this
Subftance i lefs preiled upon above than be
low, it fomeurnes happens, that the greater
Straitnefs
Of Stoppage* between tic Mouth and Stomach. 4 1 9
Staitnefs and Con trad ion of the lower Part of
the PafTage, than of its upper Part, caufes that
Subflance to afcend ; and as foon as this firft
Loofening or Difengagemcnt of it has happened,
the total Difengagement of it eafily follows.
, 415. Finally, when ail thefe Methods prove
unavailable, there remains one moie, which is
to make the Patient vomit j but this can Icarcely
be of any Service, but when fuch obftru&ing Bo
dies are limply engaged in, and not hooked or
ftuck into the Sides of the Qejopbagns ; iince un
der this latter Circum {lance vomiting might oc-
Cafion further Mifchief.
Jf the Patient can fwallow, a Vomiting may
be excited with the Prefcription N. 8, or with
N. 34, or 35. By this Operation a Bone was
thrown out, which had ftopt in the PafTage four
and twenty Hours.
When the Patient cannot fwallow, an At
tempt fhould be made to excite him to vomit by
introducing: imo. and twirling about the fea-
o o
thery End of a Quill in, the Bottom of the Throat,
which the Feather however will not effecl, if
the obftru<fting Body ftrongly comprefies the
whole Circumference of the Gullet ; and then no
other Reiburce is kit, but giving a Glyiler of To
bacco. A certain Perfon iwaliowed a large Mor-
fel of Calf s Lights, which ftopt in the Middle
of the Gullet, and exaftly filled up the Paffage,
A Surgeon unfuccefsfully attempted various Me
thods to extract it ; but another feeing how una-
available all of them v\ r ere ; and the Patient s
Dd 2 Viiage
42 o Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.
Vifage becoming black and fwelled ; his Eye$
ready to dart, as it were, out of his Head j and
falling into frequent Swoonings, attended with
Convulfions too, he caufed a Glyfter of an
Ounce of Tobacco boilea to be thrown up j the
Confequence of which was a violent Vomiting,
which threw up the Subftance that was fo very
near killing him.
416. A fixth Method, which I believe has
never hitherto been attempted, bat which may
prove very uleful in many Cafes, when the Sub-
Itances in the Pafiage are not too hard, and
are very large, would be to fix a Worm (ufed
for withdrawing the Charge of Guns that have
been loaded) fail to a flexible Handle, with a
waxed Thread fattened to the Handle, in Order
to withdraw it, if the Handle dipt from the
Worm ; and by this Contrivance it might be ve
ry practicable, if the obftrucTmg Subftance was
not too deep in the Pailage of the Gullet, to ex
tract it It has been known that a Thorn fatten
ed in the Throat, has been thrown out by
laughing.
4 1 7. In the Circumftances mentioned 409,
when it is more eafy and convenient to puih the
obttrudting Body downwards, it has been ufuai
to make Uie of Leeks, which may generally be
had any where (but which indeed are very fubject
to break) or of a Wax-candle oiled, and but a.
very little heated, fo as to make it flexible ; or
of a Piece of Whale-bone ; or of Iron-Wire ;
one Extremity of which may be thickened and
blunted
Of Stoppages between the Mo utb and Stomach. 421
blunted in a Minute with a little melted Lead
Small Sticks of fome flexible Wood may be as
convenient for the fame Ufe, fuch as the Birch-
tree, the Hazel, the Am, the Willow, a flexi
ble Plummet, or a leaden Ring. All thefe Sub-
fiances mould be very fmooth, that they nuy not
give the leaft Irritation ; for which Reafon they
are fometimes covered over with a thin Bit of
Sheep s Gut. Sometimes a Sponge is fattened
to one End of them, which, completely filling
up the whole PaiTage, pufhes down whatever
Obftacle it meets with.
In fuch Cafes too, the Patient may be prompt
ed to attempt fwallowing down large Morfels of
fome unhurtful Subftance, fuch as a Cruft of
Bread, a fmall Turnep, a Lettuce Stalk, or a
Bullet, in Hopes of their carrying down the ob-
flruftinff Caufe with them. It muft be acknow-
o
ledged, however, that thefe afford but a feeble
Affiftance ; and if they are fwallowed without
being well fecured to a Thread, it may be ap
prehended they may even increafe the Obftruc-
tion, by their own Stoppage.
It has fometimes very happily, though rarely,
occurred, that thofe Subftances attempted to be
detruded or thruft downwards, have ftuck in the
Wax-Candle, or the Leek, and fprung up and
out with them : but this can never happen except
in the Cafe of pointed Subftances.
418. Should it be impoflible to extract the
Bodies mentioned 410, and all fuch as it mull
be dangerous to admit into the Stomach, we muft
D d 3 then
422 Of Stoppages between the Month and Stomach.
then prefer the lead of two Evils, and rather run
the Hazard of pufhing them down, than fuffer
the Patient to perifh dreadfully in a few Moments.
And we ought to fcruple this Refolution the lefs,
as a great many Inftances^have demonstrated,
that notwithstanding feveral^^Confequences, and
even a tormenting Death, have often followed
the fwallowing of fuch hurtful or indigeftible
Subftances j yet at other times they have been
attended with little or no Diforder.
41 9. One of thefe four Events is always the .
Cafe, after fwaliowing fuch Things. They
either, i, go off by Stool ; or, 2, they are not
difcharged and kill the Patient. Or elfe, 3,
they are difcharged by Urine ; or, 4, are vifibiy
extruded to the Skin. I fhall give fome In-
flances of each of thefe Events.
420. When they are voided by Stool, they
are either voided foon after they have been fwal-
lowed, and that without having occalioned fcarce
?ny troublefome Symptom ; or the voiding of!
them has not happened till a long Time after
fwallowing, and is preceded with very conlidera-
ble P; It has been feen that a Bone of the
Leg of a Fowl, a Peach-ftone, the Cover of a
frnall Box of Venice Treacle, Pins, Needles,
;ind Coins of different Sorts, have been voided
xvithin a few Days alter they had ilipt down into
the Stomach ; and that with little or no Com
plaint. A fmall Flute, or Pipe alib, four Inches
long, which occafioned acute Pains for three
Days, has been voided happily afterwards, be-
fides,
Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach. 423
fides, Knives, Razors, andoneShoe-buckle. I have
feen hut a few Days fince a Child between two
and three Years old, who fwallowed a Nail
above an Inch long, the Head of which was
more than three Tenths of an Inch broad : it
flopt a few Moments about the Neck, but de-
fcended while its Friends were looking to
and was voided with a Stool that Night, without
any bad Confequence. And {till more lately I
have known the entire Bone of a Chicken s
Wing thus fwallowed, which only occaiioned a
flight Pain in the Stomach for three or four
Days.
Sometimes luch Subitances are retained within
for a long Time, not being voided till ai"
ral Months, and even Years, without the leafl
ill Erkcl : and fome of them have never either
appeared, nor been complained of.
421. But the Event is not always fo happy ;
and lometimes though they are difcharged through
the natural Pailages, the Discharges have been
preceded by very acute Pains in the Stomach,
and in the Bowels. A Girl fwallowed down
fome Pins, which afflicted her with violent Pains
for the Space of fix Years; at the Expiration of
which Term ihe voided them and recovered.
Three Needles being fwallowed brought on Cho-
lics, Svvoonings and Convulfions for a Year after :
and then being voided by Stool, the Patient re
covered. Another Perfon who fwallowed two,
was much happier in fuftering but fix Hours
D d from
2 4 Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach ,
from them ; when they were voided, by Stool,
and he did well.
It fometimes happens that fuch indigeftible
Subftances, after having paft all the Meanders,
the whole Courfe of the Interlines, have been
ftopt in the Fundament, and brought on very
troublefome Symptoms ; but fuch however, as
an expert Surgeon may very generally remove.
If it is practicable to cut them, as it is when they
happen to be thin Bones, the Jaw-bones of Fifh,
or Pins, they are then very ealily extracted.
422. The fecond Event is, when thefe fatal
Subftances are never voided, but caufe very em-
barratiing Symptoms which finally kill the Pati
ent; and of thefe Cafes there have been but too
many Examples.
A young Girl having fwallowed fomc Pins,
which (he held in her Mouth, fome of them were
voided by Stool ; but others of them pricked and
pierced into- her Guts, and even into the Mufcles
of her Belly, with the fevereft Pain ; and killed
her at the End of three Weeks.
A Man fwallowed a Needle, which pierced
through his Stomach, and into his Liver,* and
ended in a mortal Confumption.
A Plummet
* T fhw a very fnnilar Tnftance and Event in a Lady s little
favourite Bitch, whofe Body fhe deiired to be opened, from ful-
j teHimj; her to have been poifoned. But it appeared that a fmall
Needle with h-:e Thread, whjch (he had fwallowed, had pafied
out of the Stomach into the Duodenum (one of the Guts) through
\yhich the Point had pieiced, and pricked and corroded the con-
; Part of the Liver, \\hich .v;is all rough arid putrid. The
whole
Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach. 425
A Plummet which flipt down, while the
Throat of a Patient was fearching, killed him at
the End of two Years.
It is very common for different Coins, and of
different Metals, to be {wallowed without any
fatal or troublefome Effecls, Even a hundred
Luidores * have been iwallowed, and all voided.
Ncverthelefs theie fortunate Efcapes ought not
to make People too iecure and incautious on
fuch Occafions, fince fuch melancholy Confe-
quences have happened, as may very juftly alarm
them. One lingle Piece of Money that was
fwallowed, entirely obftructed the Communica
tion between the Stomach and the Iriteftines,
and killed the Patient. Whole Nuts have often
been inadvertently fwallowed ; but there have
been fome Inihnces of Perfons in whom a
Heap-J~ of them has been formed, which proved
the Caufe of Death, after producing much Pain
and Inquietude.
whole Carcafe was greatly bloated and extremely offenfive, very-
Toon after the poor Animal s Death, which happened two or three
Months after the Accident, and was preceded by a great Whee
ling, Reftlcfsnefs nnd Lofs of Appetite. The Needle was rufiy,
but the Thread entire, ?.nd very little altered. K.
* I knew a Man of the Name of Poo/e, who being taken in
the fame Ship with me, 1717 or 1 8, by Pirates, had fwallowed
four Ginueas, and a gold Ring, all which he voided fome
Days after without any Jnjury or Complain:, and faved them.
1 lorget the exact Number of Days he retained them, but the
Pirates ftaid with us from Saturday Night to Thurfday Noon. K.
t Many fatal Examples of this Kind may be ften in the Pbilo-
fopbicalTranfaslions ; and they I hould caution People againtt fwal-
lowing Cherr. -i\one?, and ftill more againft tho e of Prunes, of
fuch as are pointed, though not very acutely. K.
426 Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.
423. The third IlTue or Event is, when
thefe Subftances, thus fwallowed down, have
been difcharged by Urine : but thefe Cafes are
very rare.
A Pin of a middling Size has been difcharged
by Urine, three Days after it flipt down ; and a
little Bone has been expelled the fame Way, be-
fides Cherry-flones, I lumb-ftones, and even one
Peach-ftone.
424. Finally, the fourth Confequence or
Event is, when the indigeflible Subftances thus
fwallowed, have pierced through the Stomach
or IntefHnes, and even to the Skin itfclf ; and oc-
cafioning an Abfceis, have made an Outlet for
themfelves, or have been taken out of the Abfcefs.
A long Time is often required to effect this ex
traordinary Ti ajedion and .Appearance of them ;
fometimes the Pains they occafion are continual ;
in other Cafes the Patient complains for a Time,
after which the Pain ccaies, and then returns
again. The Impoflhume, or Gathering, is form
ed in the Stomach, or in fome other Part of the
Belly : and fometimes thefe very Subilances, after
having pierced through the Guts, make veryfin-
eular Routs, and are diichar^ed very remotely
O *? *
from the Belly. One Needle that had been
fw allowed found its Way out, at the End of
four Years, through the Leg ; another at the
Shoulder.
425.- All thefe Examples, and many others
of cruel Death c , from {wallowing noxious Sub-
fiances, demonftrate the great NecefTity of an
habitual
Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach. 427
habitual Caution in this Refpect ; and give in
their Teflimony againft the horrid, I had almoft
faid, the criminal Imprudence, of People s amu-
ling themfelves with fuch Tricks as may lead to
fuch terrible Accidents; or even holding any
fuch Subfcance in their Mouths, as by flipping
down through Imprudence or Accident, may
prove the Occafion of their Death. Is it poflible
that any one, without fhuddering, can hokl
Fins or Needles in their Mouths, after reflecting,
on the dreadful Accidents, and cruel Deaths, that
Inve thus been caufed by them.
426. It has been (hewn already, that Sub-
fiances obftrucling the Pafiiige of the Gullet
fometimes fuffocate the Patient ; that at other
Times they can neither be extracted nor thruft
down ; but that they itop in the Paflage, without
killing the Patient, at lead not immediately and
at once. This is the Cafe when they are fo
circumftanced, as not to comprefs the T rffchaa,
the Wind-pipe, and not totally to prevent the
fwallowing of Food; which lail Circumftance
can fcarcely happen, except the Obftruclion has
been formed by angular or pointed Bodies. The
Stoppage of fuch Bodies is fometimes attended,
and that without much Violence, with a fmall
Suppuration, which Icofens them ; and then they
are either returned upwards through the Mouth,
or defcend into tie Stomach. But at other
Times an extraordinary Inflammation is pro
duced, which kills the Patient. Or if the Con
tents of the Abicefs attending the Inflammation
tend
428 Of Stoppages between tie Mouth and Stomach.
tend outwardly, a Tumour is formed on the ex
ternal Part of the Neck, which is to be opened,
and through whofe Orifice the obftrucling Body
is difcharged. In other Infhnces again they take
a different Courfe, attended with little or no Pain,
and are at length difcharged by a Gathering be
hind the Neck, on the Bread, the Shoulder, or
various other Parts.
427. Some Perfons, aftonifhed at the extra
ordinary Courfe and Progreilion of fuch Sub-
itances, which, from their Size, and eipecially
from their Shape, leem to them incapable of be
ing introduced into, and in fome Sort, circulating
through the human Body, without deftroying it,
are very deiirous of having the Rout and Pro-
greffion of fuch intruding Subflances explained
to them. To gratify fuch Inquirers, I may be
indulged in a fhort DigrefFion, which perhaps is
the lefs foreign to my Plan ; as in diiiipating
what feems marvelous, and has been thought
fupernatural in fuch Cafes, I may demolifh that
fuperftitious Prejudice, which has often afcribed
EfFecls of this Sort to Witchcraft ; but which
admit of an eafy Explanation. This very Reaion
is the Motive that has determined me to give a
further Extent to this Chapter.
Wherever an Incifion is made through the
t .,
Skin, a certain Membrane appears, which con-
fifh of two Coats or Lamina, feparated from
each other by fmall Cells or Cavities, which all
communicate together ; and which are furnifhed,
more or lefs, with Fat. There is not any Fat
throughout
Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach. 429
throughout the human Body, which is not inclo-
ied in, or enveloped with, this Coat, which is
called the adipofe, fatty, or cellular Membrane.
This Membrane is not only found under the
Skin, but further paying and insinuating itfelf in
various Manners, it is extended throughout the
whole Body. It diftinguifhes and feparates all
the Mufcles ; it constitutes a Part of the Stomach,
of the Guts, of the Bladder, and of all the Fif-
ccra or Bowels. It is this which forms what is
called the Cawl, and which allb furnifhes a
Sheath or Envelopement to the Veins, Arteries,
and Nerves. In fome Parts it is very thick, and
is abundantly replenifhed with Fat ; in others it is
very thin and unprovided with any ; but wherever
it extends, it is wholly infenlible, or void of all
Senfation, all Feeling.
It may be compared to a quilted Coverlet, the
Cotton, or other Stuffing of which, is unequally
diftributed ; greatly abounding in fome Places,
with none at all in others, fo that in thefe the Stuff
above and below touch each other. Within this
Membrane, or Coverlet, as it were, fuch extra
neous or foreign Subftances are moved about - y
and as there is a general Communication through
out the whole Extent of the Membrane, it is no
ways lurprizing, that they are moved from one-
Part to another very diftant, in a long Courfe and
Duration of Movement. Officers and Soldiers
very often expericr/ .:, that Buliets which do not
pafs through the PV. > \/h re they have entered,
are transferred to very different and remote ones.
The
43 Of Stoppages between the Month d
The general Communication throughout this
Membrane is daily demonftrated by Fads, which
the Law prohibits ; this is the Butchers inflating,
or blowing up, the cellular Membrane through
out the whole Carcafe of a Calf, by a fmall Inci-
fion in the Skin, into which they introduce a Pipe
or the Nozzle of a fmall Bellows; and then,
blowing forcibly, the Air evidently puffs up the
whole Body of the Calf into this artificial Tu
mour or Swelling.
Some very criminal Impofrcrs have availed
themfelves of this wicked Contrivance, thus to
bloat up Children into a Kind of Monfters, which
they afterwards expofe to View for Money.
In this cellular Membrane the extravafated
Waters of hydropic Patients are commonly diffu-
fed ; and here they give Way to that Motion, to
which their own Weight difpofcs them, But
here I may be alked As this Membrane is
croiTed and interfered in different Parts of it, by
Nerves, Veins, Arteries, &c. the wounding of
which unavoidably occafions grievous Symptoms,
how comes it, that fuch do not enfue upon the
Intruficn of fuch noxious Subftances? To this I
anfwer, i, that fuch Symptoms do fometimes
really eniue ; and 2, that neverthelefs they muft
happen but feldom, by Reafon that ail the afore-
laid Parts, which traverfe and interfecl: this Mem
brane, being harder than the Fat it contains ;
fuch foreign Subilances muft almoft neceilanly,
whenever they rencounter thofe Parts, be turned
ufide towards the Fat which furrounds them,
whole
Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach. 4 3 I
whofe Refinance is very considerably leis; and
this the more certainly fo, as thefe Nerves, &c.
are always of a cylindrical Form. But to
return from this neceilary Digreffion.
428. To all theie Methods and Expedients
I have already recommended on the important
Subject of thJs Chapter, I mail further add ibrne
general Directions.
1. It is often ufeful, and even neceffary, to
take a confiderable Quantity of Blood from the
Arm; but efpecially ir the Patient s Relpiration,
or Breathing, is extremely opprefTed ; or when
we cannot ipeedily iitcceed in our Efforts to re
move the obitructing Subftance ; as the Bleeding
is adapted to prevent the Inflammation, which
the frequent Irritations from fuch Subftances oc-
calion ; and as by its difpofing the whole Body
into a State of Relaxation, it might poffibly pro
cure an immediate Difcharge of the offending
Subftance.
2. Whenever it is manifeft that all Endeavours,
either to extract, or to pufh down the Subftance
ftopt in the PafTage, are ineffectual, they fliould
be dilcontinued ; becaufe the Inflammation occa-
iioned by perfifting in them, would . as dan
gerous as the Obftrudion itielfj ,as there have
been Infbances of People s dying in Confequencc
ot the Inflammation ; notwithftanding the Body,
which caufed the Obftrudtion, had been entirely
removed.
3. Whi]e the Means already advifed are mak
ing Uie of, the Patient mould often iw.tiiov/, or
if
432 Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach,
if he cannot, he mould frequently receive by In
jection through a crooked Tube or Pipe, that
may reach lower down than the Glottis, foms
very emollient Liquor, as warm Water, either
alone or mixed with Milk, or a Decoction of
Barley, of Mallows, or of Bran. A two-fold
Advantage may arife from this j the firfl: is, that
thefe foftening Liquors frnooth and iboth the irri
tated Parts; and iecondly, an Injection, flrong-
ly thrown in, has often been more fuccefsful in
loofening the obftructing Body, than all Attempts
with Instruments,
4. When after all we are obliged to leave this
in the Part, the Patient mutt be treated as if he
had an inflammatory Difeafe ; he murt be bled,
ordered to a Regimen, and have his whole Neck
furrounded with emollient Pultices. The like
Treatment muft alib be ufed, though the ob-
flructing Subitance be removed ; if there is Room
to fuppoie any Inflammation left in the Paffage.
5. A proper Degree of Agitation has ibmetimes
loolened the inhering Body, more effectually than
Jnftruments. It has been experienced that a
Blow with the Fift on the Spine, the Middle of
the Back, has often diiengaged iucli obftruded
and obftr acting Bodies ; and I have known two In-
itances of Patients who had Pins itopt in thePaf-
lage; and who getting on Horfcback to ride out in
Search of Relief at a neighbouring Village, found
DO
each of them the Pin aiiciv i after an Hour s
riding : One fpat it out, and the other fwallowed
it, without any ill Coniequence.
6. When
Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach. 43 3
6. When there is an immediate Apprehenfion
of the Patient s being fuffccated; when bleeding
him has been of no Service; when all Hope of
freeing the Pailage in time is vanimed, and Death
feems at Hand, if Refpiration be not reftored ;
the Operation of Bronchotomy, or opening of the
Wind-pipe, mult be directly performed ; an
Operation neither difficult to a tolerably knowing
and expert Surgeon, nor very painful to the Pa
tient.
7. When the Subftance that was flopt paries
into the Stomach, the Patient mutt immediately
be put into a very mild and fmoath Regimen.
He mould avoid all fharp, irritating, inflaming
Food; Wine, fpirituous Liquors, all ilrong
Drink, and Coffee ; taking but little Nouriih-
ment at once, and no Solids, without their hav
ing been thoroughly well chewed. The heft
Diet would be that of farinaceous mealy Soups,
made of various leguminous Grains, and of Milk
and Water, which is much better than the ufual
Cuflom of {wallowing different Oils.
429. The Author of Nature has provided,
that in ec.ti.ig, nothing fhould pals by the Glott n
into the Wind-pipe. This Misfortune neverthe-
lefs does fometimes happen ; at which very In-
ftant there enfues an inceilant ana violent Cough,
an acute Pain, with Suffocation ; all the Blood
being forced up into the Head, the Patient is in.
extreme An^ullL. bein^ agitated with violent
O C> O
and involuntary Motion^, and fometimes dying
on the Spot. A Hungarian Grenadier, by Trade
E e a
434 Of Stoppages between the Month and Stomach.
a Shoemakef, was eating and working at the
lame time. He tumbled at once from his Seat,
without uttering a fmgle Word. His Comrades
called out for Afliftancc ; fome Surgeons fpeedily
arrived, but after all their Endeavours he difco-
vered no Token of Life. On opening the Body,
they found a Lump, or large Model, of Beef,
weighing two Ounces, forced into the Wind
pipe, which it plugged up fo exactly, that not
the leaft Air could pafs through it into the Lungs.
430. In a Cafe fo circumflanced, the Pa
tient fhould be frruck often on the Middle of the
Back ; fome Efforts to vomit fhould be excited;
he lliould be prompted to iheeze with Powder of
Lilly of the Valley, Sage, or any cephalic Snuffs,
which mould be blown ftrongly up his Nofe.
A Pea, pitched into the Mouth in playing, en
tered into the Wind-pipe, and fprung out again
by vomiting the Patient with Oil. A little Bone
was brought up by making another fheeze, with
powdered Lilly of the Valley.
In fhort, if all thele Means of aiTilling, or fav-
ing the Patient are evidently ineffectual, Broncho-
tomy muft be fpeedily performed (See N. 6, of
the preceding Section.) By this Operation, fome
Bones, a Bean, and a Fifh-bone have been ex
tracted, and the Patient has been delivered from
approaching Death.
431. Nothing fhould be left untried, when
the Prefervation of human Life is the Object. In
thofe Cafes, when an obftructing Body can nei
ther be difengaged from the Throat, the PafTage
to
Of external Difoi -fkrs . 435
to the Stomach, nor be fuffercd to remain there
without fpeedily killing the Patient, it has been
propofed to make an Incifion info this Pafft^e,
the Oefopbagus, through which fuch a Body is to
be extracted ; and to employ the like Means,
when a Subftance which had flipt even into the
Stomach itlelf, was of a Nature to excite iuch
Symptoms, as muft fpeedily deflroy the Patient.
When the Oefophagus is fo fully and ftrongly
doled, that the Patient can receive no Food by
the Mouth, he is to be nourished by Glyfters of
Soup, Gelly, and the like.
CHAPTER XXX.
Of external Diforders, and fuch as require chinir-
gtcal Application. Of Burns, Wounds, Con-
tufions or Bruijes : Of Sprains ^ Ulcers, froft-
hitten Limbs, Chilblains, R . s, Boils :
Of FeJlons, Thorns or Splinters in the Fingers or
Flffh} of Warts, and oj Corns.
SECT. 432.
ring Countrymen are expofed in
the Courfe of their daily Work, to ma-
n y outward Atcidents, fuch as Cuts,
Contuiions, oV. which, however con-
fiderable in themielves, very generally end hap
pily ; and that ehierly in Conlequence of the piuc
E e 2 and
436 Of external Disorders .
and fimple Nature of their Blood, which is ge
nerally much lefs acrimonious, or (harp, in the
Country, than in great Towns or Cities. Never-
thelefs, the very improper Treatment of iuch
Accidents, in the Country, frequently renders
them, however light in thernfelves, very trouble-
iome -, and indeed, J have feen fo many Instances
of this, that I have thought it neceflary to mark
out here the proper Treatment of Inch Accidents,
as may not necefTarily require the Hand or At
tendance of a Surgeon. I (hall allb add fome-
thing very briefly, concerning fome external Dil-
orders, which at the fame Time refult from an
inward Caufe.
Of Burns.
433- When a Burn is very trifling and fii-
perncial, and occafions no Vefication or Blifter,
it is fufficient to clap a" Comprefs of feveral Folds
of loft Linen upon it, dipt in cold Water, and to
renew it every Quarter of an Hour, till the Pain
is entirely removed. But when the Burn has
bliflered, a Comprefs of very fine Linen, fpread
over with the Pomatum, N. 64, mould be ap
plied over it, and changed twice a Day.
If the true Skin is burnt, and even the Muicies,
theFlefh under it, be injured, the fame Pomatum
may be applied j but inflead of a Comprefs, it
mould be fpread upon a Pledget of loft Lint, to
bs applied very exactly over it, and over the
Pledget again, a Slip of the fimple PJaifter N. 65,
which
Of external Di for den. 4-37
which every Body may eafily prepare; or, if they
fhould prefer it, the Plaifter N. 66.
But, independently of thefe external Applica
tions, which are the moft effectual ones, when
they are direftly to be had ; whenever the Burn
has been very violent, is highly inflamed, snd we
are apprehenlive of the Progrefs and the Confe-
quences of the Inflammation, the fame Means
and Remedies mud be recurred to, which are
ufed in violent Inflammations : the Patient mould
be bled, and, if it is necdlary, it mould be repeat
ed more than once, and he mould be put into a
Regimen ; orink nothing but the Ptifans N. 2
and 4, and receive daily two iimple Glyilcrs.
If the Ingredients for the Ointment, cal ed
NutritHm, are not at Hand to make the Poma
tum N. 64 ; one Part of Wax mould be melted
in eight fuch Parts of Oil, to two Ounces of
which Mixture the Yolk of an Egg fhould be
added. A (till more iimple and fooner prepared
Application, is that of one Egg, both the Yo k
and the White, beat up with two common
Spoonfuls of the fweeteft Oil, without any ?
nefs. When the Pain of the Burn, and all
other Symptoms have very nearly difappeared, it
is fufficient to apply the Sparadrap, or (.. -
cloth N. 66.
Of Wounds.
\
434. If a Wound has penetrated into
the Cavities and has wounded any Part cc.
E e 3 ed
4 3 8 Of external Diforders.
ed in the Breaft, or in the Belly : Or if, without
having entered into one of the Cavities, it has
opened fome great Blood-verTel ; or if it has
wounded a coniuicrable Nerve, which -occafions
Symptoms much more violent, than would other-
wife have happened ; if it has penetrated even to
and injured the Bone : in ihort, if any great and
fcvere Symptom fupervenes, there is an ahfolute
Neceifity for calling in a Surgeon. But when
ever the Wound is not attended with any of thefe
Circumftances ; when it affects only the Skin,
the fat Membrane beneath it, the flemy Parts and
the fmall Veffels, it may be eifily and (imply
dreficd widioutfuch Ailiilance; fince, in general,
a!l that is truly neceflary in fuch Cafes is, to de
fend the Wound from the ImpretTions of the Air;
and yet not fo, as to give any material Obfrruc-
tion to the Di (charge of the Matter, that is to if-
fue from the Wound.
435. If the Blood does not particularly flow
out of any coniiderable VelTel, but trickles almoft
equally from every Spot of the Wound, it may
very iafely be permitted to bleed, while fome
Lint is fpeedily preparing. As foon as the Lint
is ready, fo much of it may be introduced into
the Wound as will nearly rill it, without being
forced in; which is highly improper, and would
be attended with the fame Inconveniences as
Tents and DofTils. It mould be covered over
with a Cornprefs dipt in fweet Oil, or with the
Cerecloth N. 65 ; though I prefer the Com-
prefc for the earlieil Dreiiings : and the whole
Drefling
Of external D tforders . 439
Drafting mould be kept on, with a Bandage of
two Fingers Breadth, and of a Length propor
tioned to the Size of the Part it is to furround :
This mould be rolled on tight enough to fecure
the Dreffings, and yet io moderately, as to bring
on no Inflammation.
This Bandage with thefe Dreffings are to re
main on twenty-four or forty-eight Hours j
Wounds being healed the fooner, for being iefs
frequently clreft. At the fecond Dreiling all the
Lint naufl be removed, which can be done with
Eafe, and with reafonable Speed, to the Wound
ed ; and if any of it mould (tick clofe, in Confe-
quence of the clogged and dried Blood, it mould
be left behind, adding a little frem Lint to it ;
this Dreiling in other Refpedls exactly refembling
the firft.
W r hen, from the Continuance of this fimple
Drefllng, the Wound is become very iiiperfkial,
it is fufficient to apply the Cerecloth, or Plaifter,
without any Lint.
Such as have conceived an extraordinary Opi
nion of any medical Oils, impregnated with the
Virtues of particular Plants, may, if that will in-
creafe their Satisfaction, make uie of the common
Oil of Yarrow, of Trefoil, of Lilies, ofChamo-
mile, of Baliamines, or oi red Rofes ; only being
very careful, that fuch Oils are not become ftaie
and rank.
436. When the Wound is confiderable, it
muil be expeded to inflame before Suppuration
(which, in fuch a Cafe, advances more ilovvly)
E e 4 can
44 Of external Disorders.
can enfue ; which Inflammation will neceilurily
be attended with Pain, with a Fever, and fome-
times with a Raving, or Wandeiing, too. In
iuch a Situation, a Pultice of Bread and Milk,
\\\.\\ the Addition of a little Oil, that it may not
flick too clofe, mull be applied inltead of the
Comprels or the Plaifter : which Pultice is to be
changed, but without uncovering the Wound,
thrice and even lour times every Day.
437. Should fome pretty conliderable Blood-
vcffel be opened by the Wound, there muft be
applied over it, a Piece of Agaric of the Oak,
N. 67, with which no Country Place ought to
be unprovided. It is to be kept on, by applying
a good deal of Lint over it ; covering the whole
with a thick Comprefs, and then with a Bandage
a little tighter than ufual. It this mould not be
fufHcient to prevent the Bleeding from the large
YuTel, and the Wound be in the Leg or Arm, a
ftrong Ligature mud he made above the Wound
with a furniqueti which is made in a Moment
with a Skain of Thread, or of Hemp, that is
puffed round the Arm circularly, into the Mid
dle of which is inferred a Piece of Wood or Stick
of an Inch Thicknefs, and four or five Inches
long ; lo that by turning round this Piece of
W^ood, any Tightnefs or Compreffion may be
effected at Pleaiure ; exactly as a Country-man
fecures a Hog/head, or a Piece of Timber on his
Cart, with a Chain and Ring. But Care muft
be taken, i, to difpofe the Skain in fuch a Man
ner, that it mult always be f.vo inches wider
than
Of external Diford.rs. 44 1
than the Part it {unrounds : and, 2, not to ftrain
jt fo tight as to bring on an Inflammation, which
might terminate in a Gangrene.
438. All the boafted Virtues of a Multitude
of Ointments are downright Nonfenie orQ^acke-
ry. Art, flridly confidered, does not in the lead
contribute to the healing of Wounds ; the ut-
mod we can do amounting only to our removing
thofe Accidents, which are fo many Obffocles to
their Re-union. On this Account, if there is
any extraneous Body in the Wound, fuch as
Iron, Lead, Wood, Glafs, Bits of Cloth or
Linen, they mull: be extracted, if that can be
very eafily done ; but if not, Application muft
be made to a good Surgeon, who considers what
Meafures are to be taken, and then drelles the
Wound, as I have already advifcd.
Very far from being ufeful, there are many
Ointments that are pernicious on thele Occasions ;
and the only Cafes in which they (Lould be ufed,
are thofe in which the Wounds are diftinguifhed
with fume particular Appearances, which ought
to be removed by particular Applications : But a
fimple recent V J, in a healthy Man, re
quires no other Treatment but what I have al
ready directed, bdides that of the general Re
gimen.
Spirituous Applications are commonly hurtful,
and can be fuitable and proper but in a few Cafes,
which Phyficians and Surgeons only can diftin-
guifh.
When
4 4 2 Of external Diforders.
When Wounds occur in the Head, inftead of
the Cornprefs dipt in Oil, or of the Cerecloth,
the Wound mould be covered with a Berony
Plaifter i or, when none is to be had in time,
with a Comprefs fqueezed out of hot Wine.
439. As the following Symptoms, of which
we mould be moft appreheniive, are fuch as at
tend on Inflammations, the Means we ought to
have Recourfe to are thole which are moft likely
to prevent them; luch as Bleeding, the ufual
Regimen, moderate Coolers and Glyfters.
Should the Wound be very inconfiderable in
its Degree, and in its Situation, it may be fuffi-
cient to avoid taking any Thing heating; and
above all Things to retrench the Ufe of any ftrong
Drink, and of Flefh-meat.
But when it is confiderable, and an Inflam
mation mult be expected, there is aNcceiTity for
Bleeding; the Patient fhould be kept in the mod
quiet and eaiy Situation ; he (hould be ordered
immediately to a Regimen ; and fometimes the
B ceding; alfo mull be repeated. Now all theie
Means are the moreindifpenlably neceffary, when
the Wound has penetrated to fome internal Part ;
in which Situation, no Remedy is more certain
j
than tbat of an extremely light Diet. Such
wounded Perfbns as have been fuppofed incapa-
.ble of Jiving many Hours, after Wounds in the
Breaft, in the Belly, or in the Kidnies, have
been completely recovered, by living for the
Courfe of Jeveral Weeks, on nothing but a Bar
ley, or other farinaceous mealy, Ptifans, with
out
Of external Diforden. 44.
.out Salt, without Soup, without any Medicine j
and efpecially without the Ufe of, any Oint
ments.
440. In the fame Proportion that Bleeding,
moderately and juclicioufly employed, is fervicea-
ble, in that very fame an Excels of it hecomes
pernicious. Great Wounds are generally attend
ed with a considerable Lofs of Blood, which has
already exhaufled the wounded Peribn ; and the
Fever is often- a Conlequence of this copious Lois
of Blood. Now if under fuch a Circumftance,
Bleeding mould be ordered and performed, the
Patient s Strength is totally funk ; the Humours
fhgnate and corrupt ; a Gangrene fupervenes,
and he dies miferably, at the End of two or three
Days, of SL Series of repeated Bleedings, but not
of the Wound. Notwithflanding the Certainty
of this, the Surgeon frequently boafls of his ten,
twelve, or even his fifteen Bleedings ; alluring
his Hearers of the infuperable Mortality of the
Wound, fince the letting out fuch a Quantity of
Blood could not recover the Patient; when it
really was that exceliive artificial Profufion of it,
that downright difpatched him. The
Pleafures of Love are very mortal ones to the
Wounded.
441. The Balfams and vulnerary Plants,
which have often been fo highly celebrated for the
Cure of Wounds, are very noxious, when taken
in.vardly; becaufe the Introduction of them gives
or heightens the Fever, which ou^ht to have been
O O
abated.
444 Q/ external Dijbrden.
Of ContufionSy or Bruijes.
442. A Contufion, which is commonly
called a Bruife/is the Effecl: of the forcible Im-
preflion or Stroke of a Subftance not fharp or
cutting, on the Body of a Man, or any Animal;
whether fuch an Imprefiion be violently made
on the Man, as when he is (truck by a Stick, or
by a Stone thrown at him; or whether the Man
be involuntarily forced againft a Poft, a Stone,
or any hard Subftance by a Fall ; or whether, in
ihort, he is fqueezed and opprefTed betwixt two
hard Bodies, as when his Finger is fqueezed be
twixt the Door and the Door-Poft, or the whole
Body jammed in betwixt any Carriage and the
Wall. Thefe Bruifes, however, are (till more
frequent in the Country than Wounds, and com
monly more dangerous too; and indeed the more
fo, as we cannot judge fo exactly, and to foon,
of the whole Injury that has been incurred ; and
becaufe ail that is immediately viiible of it is often
but a fmall Part of the real Damage attending it:
fince it frequently happens that no Hurt appears
for a few iucceffive Days; nor does it become
manifefl, until it is too late to admit of an effec
tual Cure.
443. It is but a few Weeks flnce a Cooper
came to afk my Advice. His Manner of breath
ing, his Afpecl, the Qnicknefs, Smallnefs, and.
Irregularity of hisPulfe, made me apprehenfive at
once, that feme Matter was formed within hisBreaft.
Never-
Of external Diforders . 445
Neverthelefs he frill kept up, and went about,
working alfo at ibme Part of his Trade. He
haclfaLcn in removing ibme Cafks or Hogfheads;
and the whole Weight of his Body had been
violently impreffed upon the right Side of his
Bread:. Notwithstanding this, he wa r > fenfible
of no Hurt at firft; but ibme Days afterwards he
began to feel a dull heavy Pain in that Part,
which continued and brought on a Difficulty of
Breathing, Weaknefs, broken Sleep and Lois of
Appetite. I ordered him immediately to Stilncis
and Repofe, and 1 advifcd him to drink a Pti/un
of Barley fweetened with Honey, in a plentiful
Quantity. He regularly obeyed only the latter
Part of my Directions : yet on meeting him a
few Days after, he told me he was better. The
very fame Week, however, I was informed he
had been found dead in his Bed. The Impoft-
hume had undoubtedly broke, and fuifucated
him.
444. A young Man, run away with by his
Horfe, was forced with Violence again ft a Sta
ble- Dcor, without being fenlible of any Damage
at the Time. But at the Expiration of twelve
Days, he found himfelf attacked by fome iuch
Complaints, as generally occur at the Beginning
of a Fever. This Fever was miftaken for a pu
trid one, and he was very improperly treated, for
the Fever it really was, above a Month. In
jhort, it was agreed at a Confultation, that fvlat-
tcr was collected in the Breaft. In Confequence
of this, he was more properly attended, and at
length
446 Of external Dlfirders.
length happily cured by the Operation for a ri
Empyema, after languilhing a whole Year. I
have publifhed thefe two Instances, to demon-
ftrate the great Danger of neglecting violent
Strokes or Bruiies ; fmce the firft of thefe Pati
ents might have efcaped Death ; and the fecond
a tedious and afflicting Diforder, if they had
taken, immediately after each Accident, the ne-
celTary Precautions againft its Confequences.
445. Whenever any Part is bruifed, one of
two Things always enfues, and commonly both
happen together ; efpeci Jily if the Contufion is
pretty considerable : Either the fmall Blood-vef-
fcls or. the contufed Part are broken, and the
Blood they contained is fpread about in the ad
joining Parts ; or elfe, without fuch an EfTufion
of it, thefe Veffels have loft their Tone, their
active Force, and no longer contributing to the
Circulation, their Contents ftagnate. In each of
thefe Cafes, if Nature, either without or with
the Afliftance of Art, does not remove the Im
pediment, an Inflammation comes on, attended
with an imperfect, unkindly Suppuration, v.ith
Putrefaction and a Gangrene ; without mention
ing the Symptoms that arife from the Contufion
of fome particular Subflance, as a Nerve, a large
Velfel, a Bone, ?r. Hence we may alfo con
ceive the Danger of a Contufion, happening to
any inward Part, from which the Blood is ^ther
internally efTufed, or the Circulation who!y ob-
fbructed in fome vital Organ. This is the Caule
of the fudden Death of Perfons after a violent
Fall;
Of external Diforders. 447
Fall ; or of thofe who have received the violent
Force oi heavy defcending Bodies on their Heads ;
or of ibme violent Strokes, without any evident
external- Hurt or Mark.
There have been many Inflances of fudden
Deaths after one Blow on the Pit of the Stomach,
which has occafioned a Rupture of the Sp een.
It is in Confequence of Falls occasioning a ge
neral flight Contufion, as well internal as exter-
o
nal, that they are fornetimes attended with fuch
grievous Confequences, efpecially in old Men,
where Nature, already enfeebled, is lefs able to
redrefs fuch Diforders. And thus in Fact has it
been, that many fuch, who had before enjoyed
a firm State of Health, have immediately loll it
after a Fall (which feemed at fir ft to have affec
ted them iittle or not at all) and Janguiftied foon
after to the Moment of their Death, v, hich fuch
Accidents very generally accelerate..
446. Different external and internal Reme
dies are applicable in Contufipns. When the
Accident has occurred in a ilight Degree, and
there has been no great nor general She <cb.
might produce an internal Sorenefs or Contulion.,
external Applications may be fufficient. They
ihould confift of fuch Things as are adavted
o
tirft, to attenuate and refolve the cfFufed and
Itagnant Blood, which (hews itielf fo apparently;
and which, from its manifeft Blacknefs very
loon after the Contufion, becomes fuccefiively
brown, yellow, and greyifh, in Proportion as the
Magnitude of the SufFuiion or Settling dec;
O d
till
44$ Of external Diforders.
till at laft it difappears entirely, and the Skin ft?-
covers its Colour, without the Blood s having beert
difcharged through the external Surface, as it
has been infenfibly and gradually dhTolved, and
been taken in again by the Veflels : And fecondly,
the Medicines fhould be fuch as are qualified to
refcore the Tone, and to recover the Strength of
the affected VeiTels.
The belt Application is Vinegar, diluted, if
very (harp, with twice as much warm Water;
in which Mixture Folds of Linnen are to be
dipt, within which the contufed Parts are to be
involved ; and thefe Folds are to be remoiftened
and re-applied every two Hours on the firft
Day.
Parfley, Chervil, and Houfeleek Leaves, light
ly pounded, have alfo been fuccefsfully employ
ed; and thefe Applications are preferable to
Vinegar, when a Wound is joined to the Bruife.
The Pultices, N. 68, may alfo be ufed with
Advantage.
447. It has been a common Practice imme
diately to apply fpirituous Liquors, fuch as Bran
dy, Arquebuffade and * Alibour Water, and the
like : but a lone Abufe ouojit not to be efhblilh-
ed by Prefcription. Theie Liquids which coagu
late the Blood, inftead of refolving it, are truly per
nicious -, notwithftanding they are fometimes em
ployed
* This, Dr.Tissor informs me, is a Solution of white Vitriol
and fome other Diugs in Spirit of Wine, and is never ufed in re-
o-ular Pradice now. It jbas its Name from the Author of the
&
Solution. K.
Of external Diforders. 449
ployed without any vilible Difadvantage on very
flight Occafions. Frequently by determining
the fettled Blood towards the Inilerftices of the
Muicles, the flefhy Parts ; or ibmetimes even by
preventing the Effuiion, or vilible Settling of
the Blood, and fixing it, as it were, within the
bruifcd Veflels, they feem to be well ; though
this only arifes from their concentring and con
cealing the Evil, which, at the End of a few
Months, breaks forth again in a very troublelcme
Shape. Of this I have ieen Ibme miferable Ex
amples, whence it has been abundantly evinced,
that Applications of this Sort mould never be ad
mitted ; and that Vinegar fhould be uied inftead
of them. At the utmoft it mould only be allow
ed, (after there is Reafcn to fuppofe all the ftag-
nant Blood reiolved and reforbed into the Circu
lation) to add a third Part of Arquebufade Water
to the Vinegar -, with an Intention to reftore fome
Strength to the relaxed and weakened Parts.
448. It is dill a more pernicious Practice to
apply, in Bruiles, Plaifters compofed of greafy
Subiiances, Rofins, Gums, Earths, &c. The
moll boafted of thefe is always hurtful, and there
have been many Inftances of very flight Contu-
fions being aggravated into Gangrenes by fuch
Plaifters ignorantly applied ; which Bruifes \vould
have been entirely iubdued by the Oeconomy of
Nature, if left to herfelf, in the Space of four
Days.
Thofe Sacs or Suffufions of coagulated Blood,
which are viiible under the Skin, fhould never
Ff be
45 Of external Diforcters.
he opened, except for fome urgent Reafon ; iince
however large they may be, they infenfibly dif-
appear and diiTipate ; inftead of which Termina
tion, by opening them, they fometimes terminate
in a dangerous Ulceration.
449. The internal Treatment of Contufions
is exactly the fame with that of Wounds j only
that in thefe Cafes the beft Drink is the Prefcrip-
tion, N. i, to each Pot of which a Drachm oi
Nitre muft be added.
When any Pcrfon has got a violent Fall ; has
his Scnfes, or is become very ftupid ; when
the Blood ftaits out of his Noftnls, or his Ears ;
\.hcn he is greatly opprefTed, or his Belly feels
very tight and tenfe, which import an Effufion
of Blood cither into the Head, the Bread or the
Belly, he muft, firft of all, be bled upon the
Sj. ot, and all the Means muft be recurred to,
which have been mentioned 439, giving the
\vreiched Patient the lead poilible Difturbance
or Motion ; and by all means avoiding to jog or
make him, with a Dellgn to bring him to his
Senfes ; which would be diredly and effectually
killing him, by caufing a further EfTufion of
Blood. Inilead of this the whole Body ihould
be fomented, with fome one of the Decoctions
ali.-idy memioned: and when the Violence
has been chiefly imprelled on the Head, Wine
and Water fhould be prefered to Vinegar,
Fails attended with Wounds, and even a
Fracture of the Skull, and with the moft alarm
ing Symptoms, have been cured by thefe internal
Remedies,
Of external Dzfjrders
Remedies, and without any other external Aflif-
tance, except the Ufe of the aromatic Fomenta
tion, N. 68.
A Man from Putty-petit came to confult me
fome Months ago, concerning his Father, who
had a high Fall out of a Tree. He had been
twenty-four Hours without Feeling or Senfe, and
without any other Motion than frequent Efforts
to vomit j and Blood had ilTued both from his
Noie and Ears. He had no vifible outward Hurt
neither on his Head, nor any other Part ; and,
very fortunately for him, they had not as yet ex
erted the leaft Effort to relieve him. 1 immedi
ately directed a plentiful Bleeding in the Arm ;
and a large Quantity of Whey fweetened with
Honey to be drank, and to be alfo injected by
Way of Glyfter. This Advice was very punctu
ally obferved ; and fift een Days after the Father
came to Laujanne y which is four Leagues from
Putty-petit, and told me he was very well. It is
proper, in all condderable Bruifes, to open the
Patient s Belly with a mild cooling Purge, fuch
as N. 11, 23, 32, 49. The Prefcriptiori
N. 24, and the honyed Whey are excellent Re
medies, from the fame Reafon.
450. In theie Circumftances, Wine, diftil-
cd Spirits, and whatever has been fuppofed to re
vive and to roufe, is mortal. For this Reafon
People fhould not be too impatient, becaufe the
Patients remain fome Time without Senfe or
Feeling. The giving of Turpentine is more
likely to do Mifciiief than Good -, and if it has
F f 2 been
4 5 2 Of external Diforaers .
n fcmetimes ferviceable, it muft have been in
Confequence cf its purging the Patient, who pro
bably then needed to be purged. The Fat of a
Whale, (Sperma can) Dragons Blood, Crabs-
Eyes, and Ointments of whatfoever Sort are at
Icaft ufelefs and dangerous Medicines if the Cafe
be very hazardous ; either by the Mifchief they
do, or the Good they prevent from being done.
The proper Indication is to dilute the Blood, to
der it more fluid and difpofed to circulate;
and the Medicines juft- mentioned produce a very
contrary Effect.
451. When an aged Perfon gets a Fall,
which is the more dangerous in Proportion to his
Age and C t efs ; notwithftanding he ihould
not fccm in the leait incommoded by it, if he is
;id ilill fomevvhat vigorous, he mould
with three or four Ounces of Blood. He
(hould take immediately a few fucceffive Cups of
a lightly aromatic Drink, which fhoiild be given
him hot ; luch, for Inftance, as an Infuiion of
Tea fweetened with Honey, and he fhould be
adviied to move gently about. He muft retrench
a little from the uiual Quantity of his Food, and
accuftom himfelf to very gentle, but very fre
quent, Exercife.
452. Sprains or Wrenches, which very of
ten happen, produce a Kind of Contufion, in the
Parts adjoining to the iprained Joint. This Con
tufion is cau ecl by the violent Friction of the.
ne againft the neighbouring Parts; and as foon
as the Bones are immediately returned into their
proper
Of external Di for den.
proper Situation, the Diforder fhould be treated
as a Contufion. Indeed if the Bones fhould not
of themfelves return into their proper natural
Pofition, Recourfe muft be had to the Hand of
a Surgeon.
o
The befl Remedy in this Cafe is abfolute Reft
and Repofe, atter applying a Comprefs moiilened
in Vinegar and Water, which is to be rcnev.
and continued, till the Marks of the Contufion
entirely disappear ; and there remains not the
fmallefi Apprehenfion of an Inflammation. Then
indeed, and not before, a little Brandy or Ar-
quebufade Water may be added to the Yin
and the Part (which is aim oft conftantly the
Foot) fhould be ftrengthened and iecurcd for a
considerable Time with a Bandage : as it mi<
o *
otherwife be liable to frefh Sprains, which would
daily more and more enfeeble it : and if this Evil
is overlooked too much in its Infancy, the Part
never recovers its full Strength ; and a fnvall
Swelling often remains to the End of the Patient s
Life.
If the Sprain is very flight and moderate, a
Plunging or the Part into cold Water is excel
lent ; but if this is not done at once immediately,
after the Sprain, or if the Contufion is violent,
it is even hurtful.
The Cuftom of rolling the naked Foot upon
fome round Body is inefficient, when the Bones
are not: perfectly replaced; and hurtful, when
the Sprain is accompanied with a Contufion.
F f 3 It
454 Of external Diforders.
It happens continually almoft that Country
People, who encounter fuch Accidents, apply
thexnfeives either to ignorant or knaviih Impof-
ters, who find, or are determined to find, aDif-
order or Difiocation of the Bones, where there is
none; and \\ho, by their violent Manner of
handling the Parts, or by the Plaifters they fur-
round them with, bring on a dangerous Inflam
mation, and change the Patient s Dread of a fmall
Dilorder, into a very grievous Malady.
Thefe are the very Perfons who have created,
or indeed rather imagined, feme impofLhle Dif-
eafes, fuch as the Opening, the Splitting of the
Stomach, and of the Kidnies. But thefe big
Words terrify the poor Country People, and
difpoie them to be more eafily and effectually
duped.
Of Ulcers.
453- Whenever Ulcers arife from a general
Fault of the Blood, it is impoiiible to cure them,
without deftroying the Caufe and Fuel of them.
It is in Fact imprudent to attempt to heal them
up by outward Remedies ; and a real Misfortune
to the Patient, if his AfTiflant effectually heals
and clofes them.
But, for the greater Part, Ulcers in the Coun
try are the Confequence of fome Wound, Bruife,
or Tumour improperly treated j and efpecially
of fuch as have been drefied with too (harp, or
tco ibirituous Applications. Rancid Oils are aL o
one
Of external Diforders. 455
one of the Caufes, which change the moft fnn-
ple Wounds into obftinate Ulcers, for which
Reafon they fhould be avoided; and A\ ja-
ries (hould he careful, when they compound
iy Ointments, to make but little at a Time, and
the oftner, as a very considerable Quantity of
any of them becomes rank before it is all ioid j
notwithftanding fwcet freili Oil may have been
employed in preparing them.
454. What fefves to diftinguifh Ulcers from
Wounds, is the Dryneis and Hardnefs of the
Sides or Borders of Ulcers, and the Quality of
the Humour difcharged from them ; which, ir-
ilead of being ripe Confident Matter, is a Liquid
more thin, lefs white, fometimes yielding a di:a-
greable Scent, and fo very lharp, that if it touch
the adjoining Skin, it produces Rednefs, In
flammation, or Puftules there ; ibmetimes a fer-
pigmous, or Ring-worm like Eruption, and even
a further Ulceration.
455. Such Ulcers as are of a long Duration,
which fpread wide, and difcharge mu.h, prey
upon the Patient, and throw him into a flow
Fever, which melts and confumes him. Be-
fules, when an Ulcer is of a long Standing, it is
dangerous to dry it up ; and indeed this never
ihould be done, but by fubiiituting in the Place
of one Difcharge that is become as moil natural,
fome other Evacuation, fuch as Purging from
Time to Time.
We may daily fee fudden Deaths, or very tor
menting Difeafes, eniue the fudden drying up
F f 4
4 5 6 Of external Dijorden.
fucli Humours and Drains as have been of a long
Continuance: and whenever any Quack (and as
many as promife the fpe.edy Cure of fuch, de-
icrve that Title) allures the Patient of his curing
an inveterate Ulcer in a few Days, he demon-
itratcs himfdf to be a very dangerous and igno
rant Intermeddler, who muft kill the Patient, if
he keeps his Word. Some of theie impudent
Impoflors make uie of the mod corrrufive Appli
cations, and even arfenical ones ; notwithftand-
ing the moft violent Death is generally the Con-
fequence of them.
456. The utmoft that Art can effect, with
Regard to Ulcers, which do not arile from any
Fault in the Humours, is to change them into
Wounds. To this End, the Hardneis and Dry-
nefs of the Edges of the Ulcer, and indeed of
the whole r, mud: be diminished, ana its
Inflammation removed. But fometimes the
Hardnefs is fo obftinate, that this cannot he
j pny other Way, than hy fcarifying the
_s with a Lancet. But when it may be
eel by other Means, let a Pledget fpread
\vith the Ointment, N. 69, be applied all over
the Ulcer ; and this Pledget be covered again
\vith a Comprefs of.feveral Folds, moiilened in
the Liquid, N. 70, which fhoujd be renewed
three times daily ; though it is fufficient to apply
Veili Pledget only twice.
As I have already affirmed that Ulcers were of-
i the Coniequence of (harp and ipirituous Drei-
L r 3, it is evident fuch iLould be abstained from,
1
with-
Of external Diforden.
without which Abftinence they will prove incu
rable.
To forward the Cure, faked Food, Spices, and
ftrong Drink fhouid be avoided ; the Quantity of
Flefh-meat fhoald he kflened ; and the Body be
kept open by a Regimen of Pulie, of Vegetables,
and by the habitual Uie of Whey fweetened
with Honey.
If the Ulcers are in the Legs, a very common
Situation of them, it is of great Importance, as
well as in Wounds of the fame Parts, that the
Patient mould walkabout but little; and yet
never Hand up without walking. This indeed is
one of thcfc Cafes, in which thofe, who have
feme Credit and Influence in the Eftimation of
the People, fhouid omit nothing to make them
thoroughly comprehend the Neceility of confi
ning themfelves, ibmeDays, to undiitui bed Tran
quillity and Reft ; and they fhouid alib convince
them, that this Term of Reft is io far from be
ing loft Time, that it is likely to prove their mod
profitable Time of Lifer. Negligence, in this ma
terial Point, ch;, 1 the flighteft Wounds into
Ulcers, and the moft trifling Ulcers into obfti-
nate and incurable ones : iniomuch that there is
fcarcely any Man, who may not onferve fome
Family in his Neighbourhood, reduced to the
KoJpital,* from their having been too inatten
tive
* This feems jufi the fame as cowing on the Parijh, or being re
ceived into an Aims houk here ; in Confequence of fuch an in-
curablo Difability happening to the poor working Father of a
.Family. A .
4 5 & Of external Diforders .
tive to the due Care of fome Complaint of this
Sort.
I conclude this Article on Ulcers with re
peating, that thole which are owing to fome in
ternal Caufe ; or even fuch as happen from an
external one, in Peribns of a bad Habit of Body,
frequently require a more particular Treatment.
Of Frozen Limbs.
457. It is but too common, in very rigorous
Winters, for fome Perfons to be pierced with fo
violent a Degree of Cold, that their Hands or
Feet, or fometimes both together are frozen at
once> juft like a Piece of Flem-meat expoied to
the Air.
If a Pcrfon thus pierced with the Cold, difpofe
himfelf to walk about, which feems fo natural
and obvious a Means to get warm ; and eipecially,
if he attempts to * warm the Parts that have
been frozen, his Cafe proves irrecoverable. In
tolerable Pains .ire the Confequence, which
Pains are fpecdi!y attended with an incurable
Gangrene j and there is no Means left to fave
the
* The Reafon of the Fatality of Heat, in thefe Cafes, and of
the Sueceis of anoppofite Application, (See 459) feems firiclly and
even beautifully analogous to what Utppocratts has obferved of
the Dar,:yr, and even Fatality, of all {M eat and ludden Changes
jn the human Body, whether from the Weather or otherwife.
Whence this truly great Founder of Ph) fick, when he obferves
elfewhtTC, that Dileaies are to be cured by fomething contrary to
their Caufes, very confillently advifes, not a dired and violent
Contrariety, but a gradual and regulated one, a Sub-wntraricty. K*
Of external D iforders . 4 5 <\
the Patient s Life, but by cutting off the gangre
ned Limbs.
There was a very late and terrible Example of
this, in the Cafe of an Inhabitant at Cojjonay,.
who had both his Hands frozen. Some grealy
Ointments were applied hot to them, the Con-
fequence of which was, the Neceflity of cutting
off fix of his Fingers.
450. In ihort, there is but one certain Re
medy in fuch Cafes, and this is to convey the
Perfon affedted into fome Place where it does not
freeze, but where, however, it is but very mo
derately hot, and there continually to apply, to
the frozen Parts, Snow, if it be at hand ; and if
not, to keep wafhing them inceflantly, but very
gently (iince all Friction would at this Juncture
prove dangerous) in Ice-water, as the Ice-thaws
in the Chamber. By this Application the Pati
ents will be fenfible of their Feeling s returning
\ay gradually to the Part, and that they begin to
recover their Motion. In this State they may
fafely be moved into a Place a little warmer, and
drink fome Cups of the Potion N. 13, or of
another of the like Quality.
459. Every Perfon may be a competent
Judge of the manifeft Danger of attempting to
relieve fuch Parts by heating them, and of the
Ufe of Ice-water, by a common, a daily Expe
rience. Frozen Pears, Apples, and Radifhes,
being put into Water juu about to freeze, reco
ver their former State, and prove quickly eatable.
But if they are put into xvunii Water, or into a
hot
460 Of external Difordcrs.
hot Place, Rottennefs, which is one Sort of
Gangrene, is the immediate Effect. The fol
lowing Cafe will make this right Method of
treating them ftill more intelligible, and demon-
ilrate its Efficacy.
A Man was travelling to the Diftance of fix
Leagues in very cold Weather ; the Road being
covered with Snow and Ice. His Shoes, not
being very good, failed him on his March, fo
that he walked the three laft Leagues bare-foot
ed , and felt, immediately after the firft Half
League, fliarp Pains in his Legs and Feet, which
increafed as he proceeded. He arrived at his
journey s End in a Manner nearly deprived of
his lower Extremities. They fet him before a
great Fire, heated a Bed well, and put him into
it. His Pains immediately became intolerable :
he was incefiantly in the moil violent Agitations,
and cried out in the moil piercing and affecting
Manner. A Phyfician, being lent for in the
Night, found his Toes of a bhickifh Colour, and
. .
beginning to lofe their Feeling. His Legs and
the upper Part of his Feet, which were exceinve-
Jy iwelled, of a purpihh Red, and varied with
8pots of a violet Colour, were flill icnfible of
the mod excruciating Pains. The Fhviician or-
O . . .
dered in a Pail of Water from the adjoining Ri
ver, adding more to it, and fome Ice withal. In
this he obliged the Patient to plunge his Legs;
i
they were kept in near an Hour, and within
that Time, the I became lefs violent. After
another Hour he ordered a fecond cold Bath,
from
Of external Difordtn. 461
from which the Patient perceiving ftill further
Pvdief, prolonged it to the Extent of two Hours.
During that Time, fome Water was taken out
of the Pail, and lome Ice and Snow were put
into it. Now his Toes, which had been black,
grew red ; the violet Spots in his Legs difap-
peared ; the Swelling abated ; the Pains became
moderate, and intermitted. The Bath was never-
thelefs repeated fix times ; after which there re
mained no other Complaint, but that of a great
Tendernefs or extraordinary Senfibility in the
Soles of his Feet, which hindered him from
walking. ^The Parts were afterwards bathed
with fome aromatic Fomentations ; and he drank
a Ptifan of Sarfaparilla [one of Elder Flowers
would have anfwered the Tame Purpoie, and have
been lefs expenfive. j On the eighth Day from
his Seizure he was perfectly recovered, and
returned home on Foot on the fifteenth.
460. When coM Weather is extremely fe-
vere, and a Pcifon is expofed to it for a long
Time at once, ic proves mortal, in Confequence
of its congealing the Blood, and becaufe it lorces
too great a Proportion of Blood up to the Brain ;
fo that the Patient dies of a Kind of Apoplexy,
which is preceded by a Sleepinefs. In this Cir-
cumflance the Traveller, who finds himfelf
drowfy, fliould redouble his Efforts to extricate
himfelf from the tminent Danger he is expofed
to. This Sleep, \*V.ch he might consider as
iome Alleviation of his Sufferings, if indulged,
would prove his kit.
461.
Of external
461. The Remedies in fuch. Cafes are the
fame with thofe directed in frozen Limbs. The
Patient muft be conducted to an Apartment
rather cold than hot, and be rubbed with Snow
or with Ice- water. There have been many well
attefled Inftances of this Method ; and as fuch
Cafes are ftill more frequent in more northern
Climates, a Bath of the veiy coldeft Water has
been found the iurctl Remedy.
Since it is known that many People have been
revived, who had remained in the Snow, or
had been cxpofed to the freezing Air during rive,
o
or even iix iuccemve Days, and who had diico-
vered no one Mark of Life for feveral Hours,
the utmoft Endeavours (hould he ufed for the Re
covery of Pcrfons in the like Circumftances and
Sftuation.
Of KibcS) or Chilblains.
5 462. Thefe troublefome and fmarting Com
plaints attack the Hands, Feet, Heels, Ears, Nofe
and Lips, thofe of Children efpecially, and moftly
in Winter; when thefe Extremities are expofed to
the fudden Changes from hot to cold, and from
cold to hot Weather. They begin with an In
flation or kind of Swelling, which, at firfi, oc-
cafions but little Heat, Pain or Itching. Some
times they do not exceed this iirft State, and go
off fpontaneouflv without any Application : But
at other Times (which may be termed the fecond
Degree of the Diforder, whether it happens from
their
Of external Difordcrs.
their being negleded, or improperly treated)
their Heat, Rednefs, Itching and Fain increafe
confiderably ; fo that the Patient is often deprived
of the free Ufe of his Fingers by the Pain,
Swelling and Numbnefs : in which Cafe the
Malady is flill aggravated, if effectual Means are
not uied.
Whenever the Inflammation mounts to a frill
higher Degree, fmali Veiications or Bliiters are
f rmed, which are not long without burning;
vvhen they leave a flight Excoriation, or Raw-
nefs, as it were, which fptedily ulcerates, and
frequently proves a very deep and obftinate
Ulcer, difcharging a lliarp and ill-conditioned
Matter.
The lad and mod virulent Degree of Chil-
O
blains, which is not infrequent in the very coldeft
Countries, though very rare in the temperate"
ones, is, when the Inflammation degenerates
\^>
into a Gangrene.
463. Thefe Tumours are owing to a Ful-
nefs and Obflrudion of the VefTels of the Skin,
which occurs from this Circumftance, that the
Veins, which are more fuperfkial than the Ar
teries, being proportionally more aflected and
itraitened by the Cold, do not carry off all the
Blood communicated to them by the Arteries ;
and perhaps alib the Particles or Atoms of Cold,
which are admitted through the Pores of the
Skin, may ad: upon our Fluids, as it does upon
Water, and occaiion a Congelation of them, or
a considerable Approach towards it.
If
464 Of external Di/ orders.
If thefe Complaints are chiefly felt, which iri
Fact is the Cafe, rather on the extreme Part?
than on others, it arifes from two Ginks, the
principal one being, that the Circulation s bein?
weaker at the Extremities than eliewhere, the
Effedt ofthofeCauies, that may impair it, muft be
more confiderably felt there. The fecond Rea-
fon is* becaufe thefe Parts are more cxpofed to
the Impreffions from without than the others.
They occur mol\ frequently to Children, from
their Wcaknefs and the greater Tendernefs and
o
Senfibility of their Organs, which neceffarily in-
.ifes the Effect of external Impreilions. It
is the frequent and ftrong Alteration from Heat
to Cold, that feems to contribute the moil
powerfully to the Production of Chilblains ; and
this Effect of it is mod considerable, when the
Heat of the Air is at the lame Time blended with
Moifture ; \\hence the extreme and fuperficial
I .irts pals fuddenly as it were, out of a hot, into
a cold, Bath. A Man fixty Years of Age, who
never before was troubled with Kibes, having
worn, for iome Hours on a Journey, a Pair ot
furred Glove?, in which his Hands fvveated, felt
them very tender, and found them fwelled up
with Blood : as the common Effect of the warm
Bath is to foften and relax, and to draw Blood
abundantly to the bathed Parts, whence it ren
ders them more fenfible.
This Man, I fay, thus circumftanced, was at
that Age firft attacked v/ith Chilblains, which
proved extremely troublefome ; and he was eve
ry
Of external Di for den. 465
fy fucceecling Winter as certainly infefted with
them, within Half an Hour after he left off his
Gloves, and was expofed to a very cold Air.
It is for this Reaibn, that feveral Perfons are
never infefted with Chilblains, hut when they
ufe themfelves to Muffs, which are fcarcelv
known in hot Countries ; nor are they very com
mon among the more northern ones, in which
the extraordinary Changes from Cold to Heat are
Very rare and unufual.
Some People are fabjecl to this trouble-
fome Complaint in the Fall ; while others have
it only in the Spring. The Child of a labouring
Peafant, who has a hard Skin, and one inured
to all the Impreffions of the Seafons and of the
Elements, is, and indeed rieceffarily muft be,
lefs liable to Kibes, than the Child of a rich Ci
tizen, whofe Skin is often cherifhed, at the Ex-
pence of his Conflitution. But even among
Children of the fame Rank in Life and Circum-
ftanceSj who feem pretty much of the fame
Complexion, and live touch in the lame Manner;
whence they might of Courfe be fuppofed equally
liable to the fame Impreffions, and to the like
Effects of them, there is, neverthelefs, a very
great Difference with Refpect to their conftitu-
tional Propenfity to contract Chilblains. Some
are very cruelly tormented withthem, from the
fetting in of Autumn, to the very End of the
Spring : others have either none at all, or have
them but very (lightly, and for a very fhort
Time. This Difference undoubtedly arifes from
Gg the
466 Of external Diforders.
the different Quality of their Humours, and the?
Texture of their whole Surface, but particularly
from that of the Skin of their Hands ; though
we readily confefs it is by no Means eafy to deter
mine, with Certainty and Precilion, in what this
Difference eflentially confifts.
Children of a fanguine Complexion and deli
cate Skin are pretty generally fubject to this Dtf-
order, which is often regarded much too .(lightly,
though it is really fevere enough to engage our
Attention more j fmce, even abstracted from the
lharp Pains which fmart theie unhappy Children
for feveral Months ; it fbmetimes gives them a
Fever, hinders them from fleeping, and yet con
fines them to their Bed, which is very prejudicial
to their Conftitution. It alfo breaks in upon the
Order of their different Duties and Employments ;
it interrupts their innocent falutary Pleafures ;
and fometimes, when they are obliged to earn
their daily Bread by doing forne Work or other,
it finks them down to Miiery. I knew a young
Man, who from being rendered incapable by
Chilblains, of ferving out his Apprenticeship to a
Watch-maker, is become a lazy Beggar.
Chilblains which attack the Nofe, often leave
a Mark diat alters the Phyriognomy, the Afpect
of the Patient, for the Remainder of his Life : and
the Hands of fuch as have fuffered irom very o o-
J
fiinate ones, are commonly ever feniibie of their
Confequences.
464. With Refpect, therefore, to thefe af
flicting Tumours and Ulcerations, we iliould,
^^
in
Of external Di for den. 4 f . 7
irt the firft Place, do our utmoft to prevent
them ; and next exert our bed: Endeavours to
cure fuch as we could not prevent.
465. Since they manifcftly depend on the
Senfibility of the Skin, the Nature of the Hu
mours, and the Changes of the Weather from
Heat to Cold, in Order to prevent them, in the
firfr. Place, the Skin mutt be rendered firmer or
lefs tender. 2, That vicious Quality of the
Temperament, which contributes to their Ex-
iftence, mud be corrected ; and, 3, the Perfons
fo liable muft guard themfelves as well as poffi-
ble, againft thefe Changes of the Weather.
Now the Skin of the Hands, as well as that
of the whole Body, may be ftrengthened by that
Habit of warning or bathing in cold Water,
which I have defcribed at large, 384 ; and in
Fact I have never feen Children, who had been
early accullomed and inured to this Habit, as
much afflicted with Chilblains as others. But
ftill a more particular Regard fliould be had to
fortify the Skin of the Hands, which are more
obnoxious to this Diforder than the Feet, by
making Children dip them in cold Water, and
keep them for fome Moments together in it
every Morning, and every Evening too before Sr
per, from the very Beginning of the Fall. It
will give the Children no Sort of Pain, during
that Seafon, to contract this Habit; and when
it is once contracted, it will give them no Trou
ble to continue it throughout the Winter, even
when the Water is ready to freeze, every where.
G g 2 They
4^ Of external Difordtrs.
They may alfo be habituated to plunge their
Feet into cold Water twice or thrice a Week :
and this Method, which might be lefs adapted for
grown Pei ions, who had not been accuftomed to
it, muft be without Objection with Refpect to
fuch Children, as have been accuftomed to it ;
to whom all its Conlequences mufl be uieful and
falutary.
At the ft me Time Care mult be taken not to
defeat or leileR the Effect of the cold bathing
o
by fufferine the Bather or Wafber, to prow too
JO O
warm between two Baths or Dippings j which
is alib avoiding the too fpeedy SuccefTions of Pleat
and Cold. For this Purpofe, i, the Children
mud be taught never to warm their Hands be
fore the Fire at fuch Times, and ftill leis before
the Stoves, which very probably are one of the
principal Caufes of Chilblains, that are lefs ufual
in Countries which ufe no fuch Stoves, and among
thofe Individuals who make the IcaftUfe of them,
where they are. Above all, the Ufe of Cavettes
(that is, of Seats or little Stairs, as it were, con
trived between the Stove and the Wall) is preju
dicial to Children, and even to grown People,
upon feveral Accounts. 2, They mould never ac-
cuftom themfelves to wear Muffs. 3, It would
be alfo proper they mould never ufe Gloves, un-
lefs fomeparticularCircumftances require it; and I
recommend this Abilinence from Gloves, efpe-
cially to young Boys : but if any fliould be allow
ed them, let the Gloves be thin and fmooth.
4 66 -
Of external Di for tiers. 469
466. When Chilblains feem to be nouriihcd
by fome Fault in the Temperament or Humours,
the Confederation of a Phyfician becomes necef-
iary, to direct a proper Method of removing or
alterinp- it. I have ieen Children from the Ajre
o o
of three, to that of twelve or thirteen Years, in
whom their Chilblains, raw and flead, as it
were, for eight Months of the Year, feemed to
be a particular Kind of liliie, by which Nature
freed herfelf of an inconvenient Superfluity of
Humours, when the Perfpiration was diminished
by the Abatement of the violent Heats. In fuch
Cafes I have been obliged to carry them throu
a pretty long Courfe of Regimen and Remedies;
which, however, being necefTarily various from
a Variety of Circumilances, cannot be detailed
here. The milder Preparations ot Antimony are
often necefTary in fuch Cafes ; and fome Purges
conduce in particular ones to allay and to ah
the Diforder.
467. The firft Degree of this Complaint
goes off, as I have already faid, without the Aid
of Medicine ; or mould it prove fomewhat more
obflinate, it may cafily be diffipated by fome
ot the following Remedies. But when they ri e
to the fecond Degree, they muft be treated like
other Complaints from Congelation, or Froft-bi-
ting (of which they are the nril Degree) with
cold Water, Ice-water and Snow.
No other Method or Medicine is nearly as
efficacious as very cold Water, fo as to be ready
to freeze, in which the Hands are to be dipt and
G g 3 retained
47 Of external Disorders.
retained for fbme Minutes together, and feveral
Times daily. In fhort it is the only Remedy
which ought to be applied, when the Hands are
the Parts affected; when the Patient has the Cou
rage to bear this Degree of Cold ; and when he i
under no Circumflance which may render it pre
judicial. It is the only Application I have ufed
for myfelf, after having been attacked with Chil
blains for lome Years paft, from having accuf-
tomed myfelf to too warm a Muff.
There enfues a flight Degree of Pain for fome
Moments after plunging the Hand into Water,
but it diminishes gradually* On taking the Hand
put, the F ; are numbed with the Cold, but
they prefently grow warm again j and within a
Quarter of an Hour, it is entirely over.
The Hands, on being taken out of the Water,
are to be well dried, and put into Skin Gloves ;
after bathing three or four Times, their Swelling
fubfides, fo that the Skin WTinkles : but by con
tinuing the cold Bathing, it grows tight "and
fmcGih again ; the Cure is compleated after ufing
it three or four Days; and, in general, theDii-
order never returns again the fame Winter.
The moft troublefome raging Itching is cer
tainly afTuaged by plunging the Hands into cold
Water.
The Efted: of Snow is, perhaps, frill more
ipeedy : the Hands are to be gently and often
rubbed with it for a conliderable Time ; they
grow ho^ and are of a very high Red for
fome
Of external Diforder s. 471
ibme Moments, but entire Eafe very quickly
fucceeds.
Ncverthelefs, a very fmall Number of Per-
fons, who muft have extremely delicate and fen-
fible Skins, do not experience the Efiicacy or this
Application. It feems too active for them ; it
affects the Skin much like a common bliftering
Plaifterj and by brineSris on a larcre rlow of I -In-
O O O
mours there, it increafes, inftead of leffening
O
the Complaint.
468. When this laft Reafon indeed, or fome
other Circumftance exifts ; fuchasthe Child s W:mt
of Courage, or its Affliction ; the month-
charges in a Woman ; a violent Coug:h ; habitual
O O
Colics ; and fome other Maladies, which have
been obierved to be renewed or aggravated by the
Influence of Cold at the Extremities, <*. -> rea ly
forbid this very cold Application, ibme others
muft be fubftituted.
One of the bed is to wear Day and Night,
without ever putting it off, a Glove made of
fome fmooth bkin, fuch as that of a DC
which feldom fails to extinguifh the Diforder in
fome Days time.
When the Feet are affected with Chilblai
Socks of the fame Skin mould be worn; and
the Patient keep clofe to his Bed for fome Days.
469. When the Diforder is violent, the Ufe
of cold Water prohibited, and the Gloves juft re
commended have but a flow Effect, the difeafcd
Parts fhould be gently fomented or moiftened
fcveral times a Day, with fome Decoction,
Gg 4 rather
47 2 Qf external Di [orders .
rather more than warm ; which at the fame time
fbould be dilTolving and emollient. Such is that
celebrated Decoction of the Scrapings, the Feel
of Radifhes, whole Efficacy is itill further in-
creafed, by adding one fixth Part pf Vinegar to
the Deception.
Another Decoction, of whofe great Efficacy J
have been a Wheels, but which dies the Hands
yellow for a few Days, is the Prescription N.7i.
Many others may be made, of nearly the fame
Virtues, with all the vulnerary Herbs, and even
with the Fait nine.
Urine, which forne boiift of in thefe Cafes,
from their having ufed it with Succefs; and the
Mixture of Urine and Lime-water have the like
Virtues with the former Decoctions.*
As foon as the Hands affected are taken out
of thefe Deco6tions, they mud be defended from
the Air by Gloves.
470. Vapours or Steams are often more effi
cacious thnn Decoctions; whence inftead of dip
ping the Hands into thefe already mentioned, we
may expofe them to their Vapours, with (till
more Succefs. That of hot Vinegar is one of
the moil powerful Remedies ; thole vt^Afybalti
or
Chilblains may alfo be advantageoufly waflied with Water
and F16\ver of Muftard. which will concur, in a certain and eafy
Manner, b-th to cleanfe and to cure them. E. L.
f This is or Ihould be, the fame with the Bitumen Judaicutn t
formerly kept in the Shops ; but \vhich is never directed, except
in th.it rtrange Medley the Venice Treacle, according to the old
Prefcriprion. The beft is found in Egypt, and on the Red Sea:
but a different Sort, from German-^ France, and SnvJjferhaitt t is
now generally fubftituted here. A".
Of external Di/br tiers. 473
pr of Turpentine have frequently fucceeded too.
It may be needlefs to add that the affected Parts
J
inuft be defended from the Air, as well after the
Steams as the Deceptions ; fmce it is from this
Caufe of keeping off the Air, that the Cerecloths
are of Service ; and hence alfo the Application of
Suet has fornetimes anfwered.
When the Diftemper is fubdued by the Ufe of
Pathings or Steams, which make the Skin fup-
ple and foft, then it mould be ftrengthened by
warning the Parts with a little camphorated Bran
dy, diluted with an equal Quantity of Water.
47 1 . When the Noie is affected with a
Chilblain, the Steam of Vinegar, and an artificial
Nofe, or Covering for it, made of Dop-fkin, are
o o
the moil effectual Applications. The lame Treat
ment is equally proper for the Ears and the Chin,
when iniefted with them. Frequently warning
thefe Parts in cold Water is a good Prelervative
from their beinLT attacked.
o
472. Whenever the Inflammation rifes very
high, and brings on fome Degree of a Fever, he Pa
tient s ufual Quantity of ftrong Drink and of Flem-
meat mud be leffencd ; his Body fhould be kept
open by a few Glyilers ; he mould take every
Evening a Dofe of Nitre as prelcribed, N. 20 ;
and if the Fe er proved fcrong, he fhould lofe
fome Blood too.
As many as are troubled with obftinate Chil
blains, mould always be denied the Ufe of ftrong
Liquor and Fleih.
475-
474 Of external Diforders.
473. When this Diftemper prevails in its
third Degree, and the Parts are ulcerated ; be-
iides keeping the Patients ftridtly to the Regimen
of Perfons in a Way of Pvecovery, and giving
them a Purge of Manna, the fwelled Parts ihould
be expofed to the Steams of Vinegar ; the Ulce-
rations fhould be covered with a Diapalma Plaii-
ter ; and the whole Part fhould be enveloped in
a fmooth foft Skin, or in thin Cerecloths.
474. The fourth Degree of this Difeafe, in
which the Parts become gangrenous, mutt be
prevented by the Method anr Medicines which
remove an Inflammation ; but if unhappily a
Gangrene has already appeared, the AiMancc
of a Surgeon proves indifpen&bly neceffary.
Of Ruptures,
475. Hernias or Ruptures, which Country-
People term being burficn, are a Diforder which
fometimes occurs at the very Birth ; though more
frequently they are the Effects of violent crying,
of a ftrong forcing Cough, or of repeated Efforts
to vomit, in the firft Months of Infancy.
They may happen afterwards indifcriminately
at every Age, either as Confequences of particu
lar Maladies, or Accidents, or from Peoples vio
lent Exertions of their Strength. They happen
much oftner to Men than Women ; and the mod
common Sort, indeed the only one of which I
propoie to treat, and that but briefly, is that
which confifls in the Defcent of a Part of
the
Of external Disorders.
the Guts, or of the Cawl, into the Bag or
Cod-piece.
It is not difficult to diftinguim this Rupture.
When it occurs in little Children, it is almoil
ever cured by making them conftantly wear a
Bandage which fhould be made only of Fuflian,
with a little Pillow or Pincuihion, fluffed with
Linen Rags, Hair or Bran. There mould be at
lead two of thefe Bandages, to change them al
ternately j nor mould it ever be applied, but
when the Child is laid down on its Back, and af
ter being well affured that the Gut or Cawl,
which had fallen down, has been fafely returned
into the Cavity of the Belly; fince without this
Precaution it mi^ht occaiion the worfl Confe-
G
quences.
The good Effect of the Bandage may be flill
further promoted, by applying upon the Skin,
and within the Plait or Fold of the Groin (under
which Place the Rings, or Paffage out of the
Belly into the Bag lie) forne pretty aftringent or
ftrengthening Plaifter, fuch as that commonly
ufed for Fractures, or that I have already men
tioned, 144. Here we may obferve by the
Way, that ruptured Children mould never be fet
on a Horfe, nor be carried by any Perfon on
Horfeback, before t the Rupture is perfectly
cured.
476. In a more advanced Age, a Bandage
only of Fuftian is not iufficient ; one muft be
procured with a Plate of Steel, even fo as to
conftrain and incommode the Wearer a little at
firft:
47 6 Of external Disorders.
Jrirft: neverthelefs it foon becomes habitual, and
is then no longer inconvenient to them.
477. Ruptures fometimes attain a monftrous
Size j and a great Part of the Guts fall down in
to the Scrotum or Bag, without any Symptom
of an actual Difeafe. ThisCircumffcance, never
thelefs, is accompanied with very great Incon
venience, which difables Perfons affected with
it to work - y and whenever the Malady is fo con-
iiderable, and of a long Standing too, there are
commonly fome Obftacles that prevent a com-
pleat Return of the Guts into the Belly. In this
State indeed, the Application of the Bandage or
Truis is impracticable, and the miserable Patients
are condemned to carry their grievous Burthen
for the Remainder of their Lives j which may
however, be palliated a little by the Ufe of a
Sufpenfory and Bag, adapted to the Size of the
Rupture. This Dread of its increasing Magni
tude is a ftrong Motive for checking the Progrefs
of it, when it iirir, appears. But there is another
frjll ftronger, which is, that Ruptures cxpofe the
Patient to a Symptom frequently mortal. This
occurs when that Part of the Inteftines fallen into
the Scrotum inflames ; when iliil Lncreafing in
its Bulk, and being extremely comprerTed,
acute Pains come on : for now from the Increafe
of the Rupture s Extent, the PafTage which gave
Way to its Deiccnt, cannot admit of its Return
or Afcentj the Blood- veikls themfelves being
oppreiled, the Inflammation increafes every Mo
ment 3 the Communication between the Stomach
and
Of external Diforders. 477
and the Fundament is often entirely cut off; ib
that nothing paiTes through, but inceflant Vomi
tings come on [this being the Kind of Mifcrcre,
or Iliac Paffion I have mentioned, 320] which
are fucceeded by the Hickup, Raving, Swoon
ing, cold Sweats, and Death.
478. This Symptom iupervenes in Rup
tures, when the Excrements become hard in that
Part of the Guts fallen into the Scrotum; when
the Patient is overheated with Wine, Drams,
an inflammatory Diet, &c. or when he has re
ceived a Stroke en the ailing Part, or had a
Fall.
479. The beft Means and Remedies are, i,
as loon as ever this Symptom or Accident is ma-
nifeft, to bleed the Patient very plentifully, as
he lies down in his Bed and upon his Back,
with his Head a little raifed, and his Legs fome-
what bent, ib that his Knees may be erect.
This is the Attitude or Poiture they fhould al
ways preserve as much as poilible. When the
Malady is not too far advanced, the firft Bleed
ing often makes a compleat Cure ; and the Guts
return up as foon as it is over. At other Times
this Bleeding is lefs fuccefsful, and leaves a No-
o *
ceffity for its Repetition.
2, A Glyfter muft be thrown up confifting of
a ftrorig Decoction of the large white Beet Lea->
with a imall Spoonful or Pinch of common Salt,
and a Bit of frelh Butter of the Size of an Egg.
3, Folds of Linen dipt in Ice- water muil be
app led all over the Tumour, and conftantly re
newed
47 8 Of external Dtjorders.
newed every Quarter of an Hour. This
Remedy, when immediately applied, has pro
duced the moft happy Effects ; but if the Symp
tom has endured violently more than ten or
twelve Hours, it is often too late to apply it ; and
then it is better to make Uie of Flanels dipt in a
warm Decoction of Mallow and Elder Flowers,
fhifting them frequently, It has been known
however, that Ice-water, or Ice itfelf has fuc-
ceeded as late as the third Day.*
4, When thefe Endeavours are infufficient,
Glyflers of Tobacco Smoke muft be tried, which
has often redreffed and returned Ruptures, when
every Thing elie had failed.
5, And billy, if all thefe Attempts are fruit-
lefs, theOpeiation muft be refolved on, without
lofmg a Moment s Time ; as this local Difeafe
proves fometimes mortal in the Space of two
Days ; but for this Operation an excellent Sur
geon is indifpenfably neceflary. The happy Con-
iequence with which I have ordered it, in a moil
delperate Cafe fince the firft Edition of this Work,
on the fixth Day after a Labour, has convinced
me, ftill more than any former Observation I
had
* Pieces of Ice applied between two Pieces of Linen, direclly
upon the Rupture, as foon as poflihle after its firir Appearance, is
one of thofe extraordinary Remedies which we mould never hefi-
tate to make immediate Ufe of. We may he certain by this Ap
plication, if the Rupture is fimple, nr.d not complicated from feme
s^o;ravating Caufe, to remove fpecciily, and with very little Pain,
a Diforder, that might be attended with the moft dreadful Co-,
quences. But the Continuance of this Application mull be pro
portioned to the Strength of the Person ruptured, which rr.ay be
iufikicmly eftimated by the Pulfe. E. L.
Of external Disorders.
had made, that the Trial of it ought never to be
omitted, when other Attempts have been una
vailing. It cannot even haften the Patient s
Death, which muft be inevitable without it, but
it rather renders that more gentle, where it might
fail to prevent it. When it is performed as Mr.
LEVADE effected, it, in the Caie I have jufl re
ferred to, the Pain attending it is very tolerable
and ioon over.
I mall not attempt to defcribe the Operation,
as 1 could not explain mylelf furnciently to in-
ftruct an ignorant Surgeon in it ; and an excellent
and experienced one rnufl be lufficiently apprized
of all I could fay concerning it.
A certain Woman in this Place, but now
dead, had the great and impudent Temerity to
attempt this Operation, and killed her Patients
after the moft excruciating Torments, and an
Extirpation, or cutting away of the Tefticle ;
which Quacks and ignorant Surgeons always do,
but which a p-ood Surgeon never docs in this
o
Operation. This is often the Cuftom too (in
Country Places) of thole Caitiffs, who perform
this Operation without the lead Neceffity ; and
mercilefsly emafculate a Multitude of Infar
whom Nature, if left to her own Conduct, or
airjfted only by a iimple Bandage, would have
perfectly cured j inftead of which, they -abfblutely
kill a great many, and deprive thole of their Vi
rility, who furvive their Robbery an lence.
It were religioufly to be wifhed fuch Caitiffs were
to be duly, that is, feverely puniiiied ; and it
cannot
480 Of external Dijbrdersi
cannot be too much inculcated into the People.
that this Operation (termed the Bubonocele) in the
Manner it is performed by the beft Surgeons, is
not neceffary ; except in the Symptoms and Cir-
cumftances I have mentioned, and that the cut
ting off the Tefticle never is io.
Of Phlegmons or Boils.
480. Every Perfon knows what Boils are
at Sight, which are coniiderably painful when
large, highly inflamed, or fo fituated as to in
commode the Motions, or different Pofitions of
the Body. Whenever their Inflammation is very
confiderable ; when there are a great many of
them at once, and they prevent the Patients
from fleeping, it becomes neceffary to enter them
into a cooling Regimen ; to throw up fome
opening Glyfters ; and to make them drink plen
tifully of the Ptifan, N. 2. Sometimes it is alfo
neceffary to bleed the Patient.
j
Should the Inflammation be very high indeed,
a Pultice of Bread and Milk, or of Sorrel a little
boiled and bruifed, muft be applied to it. But
if the Inflammation is only moderate, a Muci*
]age Plaifter, or one of the fimple Diachylon,
may be fufficient. Diachylon with the Gums is
more active and efficacious ; but it fo greatly
augments the Pain of fome Perfon s afHided with
o
Boils, that they cannot bear it.
Boils, which often return, fignify fome Fault
in the Temperament, and frequently one fo con
fiderable,
Of external Eiforders* 481
fiderable, that might difpofe a Phyfician to be fa
far apprehenfive of its Confequences, as to in
quire into the Caufe, and to attempt the Extinc
tion of it. But the Detail of this is no Part nor
Purpofe of the prefent Work.
481. The Phlegmon, or Boil, commonly
terminates in Suppuration, but a Suppuration of
a fmgular Kind. It breaks open at firft on its
Top, or the moil pointed Part, when ibme
Drops of a Pus like that of an Abfcefs comes out,
after which the Germ, or what is called the Core
of it may be difcerned. This is a purulent Mat
ter or Subftance, but fo thick and tenacious, that
it appears like a folid Body ; which may be drawn
out entirely in the Shape of a fmall Cylinder,
like the Pith of Elder, to the Length of fome
Lines of an Inch ; fometimes to the Length of a
full Inch, and even more. The Emiffion of this
Core is commonly followed by the Difcharge of
a certain Quantity, according to the Size of the
Tumour, of liquid Matter, fpread throughout
the Bottom of it. As foon as ever this Difcharge
is made, the Pain goes entirely off; and the
Swelling difappears at the End of a few Days,
by continuing to apply the fimple Diachylon, or
the Ointment N. 66.
OfFellons or Whitlows.
482. The Danger of thefe fmall Tumours-
is much greater than is generally fuppofed. It
is an Inflammation at the Extremity or End of a
H h
482 Of -external Dijontet s.
Finger, which is often the Effect of a fmall
Quantity of Humour extravafated, or ilagnant,
in that Part -, whether this has happened in Con-
iequence of a Bruife, a Sting, or a Bite. At
other times it is evident that it has refill ted from
no external Caufe, but is the Effect of fome in
ward one.
It is diflinguimed into many Kinds, according
to the Place in which the Inflammation begins ;
O
but the elfential Nature of the Malady is always
the fame, and requires the fame Sort of Reme
dies. Hence fuch as are neither Phyiicians nor
Surgeons, may fparc themfelves the Trouble of
enquiring into the Diviiions of this Diflemper -,
which, though they vary the Danger of it, and
diverfify the Manner of the Surgeons Operation,
yet have no Relation to the general Treatment
of it ; the Power and Activity of which muft be
regulated by the Violence of the Symptoms.
483. This Diforder begins with a flow hea
vy Pain, attended by a.ilight Pulfation, without
Swelling, without Rednefs, and without Heat ;
but in a little Time the Pain, Heat, and Pulfa
tion or Throbbing becomes intolerable. The Part
o
grows very large and red; the adjoining Fingers
and the whole Hand fwelling up. In fome Cafes
a Kind of red and inflated Fufe or Streak may be
obferved, which, beginning at the affected Part,
is continued aimed to the Elbow ; neither is it
unufual for the Patients to complain of a very
fharp Pain under the Shoulder ; and fometimes
the whole Arm is exceffiyely inflamed and fwel-
kd.
Of exte) mil Df fir den. 483
led. The Sick have not a Wink of Sleep, the
Fever and other Symptoms quickly increafing.
If the Diftemper rifes to a violent Degree indeed,
a Delirium and Convulfions fupervene.
This Inflammation of the Finger determines,
either in Suppuration, or in a Gangrene. When
the laft of thefe occurs, the Patient is in very
great Danger, if he is not very fpeedily relieved j
and it has proved necellary more than once to
cut off the Arm, for the Prefervation of his Life.
When Suppuration is effeded, if the Matter lies
very deep and (harp, or if the Affiftance of a Sur
geon has arrived too late, the Bone of the laft
Phalanx, or Row of Bones of the Finger, is ge
nerally carious and loft. But how gentle foever
the Complaint has been, the Nail is very general
ly feparated and fails off.
484. The internal Treatment in Whitlows,
is the fame with that in other inflammatory Dif-
tempers. The Patient muft enter upon a Regi
men more or lefs ftrift, in Proportion to the De^
gree of the Fever ; and if this runs very high, and
the Inflammation be very conliderable, there
may be a Neceffity for feveral Bleedings.
The external Treatment ccnfifts in allaying
the Inflammation ; in foftening the Skin ; and in
procuring a Dilcharge of the Matter, as foon as
it is formed. For this Purpoie,
j , The Finger affecled is to be plunged, as
foon as the Diibrder is manifeft, in Water a little
more than warm : the Steam of boiling Water
may alfo be admitted into it ; and by doing thefe
II h 2 Tilings
484 Of external Disorders.
Things almoft conftantly for the firft Day, a
total Diffipation of the Malady has often been
obtained. But unhappily it has been generally
fuppofed, that iuch flight Attacks could have but
very (light Confequences, whence they have been
neglected until the Dilbrder has greatly advanced ;
in which State Suppuration becomes abfolutely
iaeceilary.
2, This Suppuration therefore may be for
warded, by continually involving the Finger, as
it were, in a Decoclion of Mallow Flowers boil
ed in Milk, or with a Cataplafm of Bread and
Milk. This may be rendered (till more active
and ripening, by adding a few white Lilly Roots,
or a little Honey. But this laft maft not be ap
plied before the Inflammation is iomewhat abated,
and Suppuration begins ; before which Term, all
iharp Applications are very dangerous. At this
Time, Yeail: or Leaven may be advantagiouily
uied, which powerfully promotes Suppuration.
The Sorrel Pultice, mentioned 480, is allo a
very efficacious one.
485. A fpeedy Difcharge of the ripe Matter
is of coniiderable Importance, but this particu
larly requires the Attention of the Surgeon ; as
it is not proper to wait till the Tumour breaks
and difcharges of itfelf ; and this the rather, as
from the Skin s proving fometimes extremely
hard, the Matter might be inwardly efFufed be
tween the Mufcles, and upon their Membranes,
before it could penetrate through the Skin. For
this Reafon, as foon as Matter is fufpeded to be
furmcd,
Of external Drforders. 485
formed, a Surgeon fhould be called in, to deter
mine exactly on the Time, when an Opening
mould be made ; which had better be performed
a little too foon than too late ; and a little too
deep, than not deep enough.
When the Orifice has been made, and the
Difcharge is effected, it is to be d relied up with
the Piaiiter N. 66, fpread upon Linen, or with
the Cerecloth j and thefe Drellings are to be re
peated daily.
486. When the Whitlow is caufed by a
Humour cxtravafated very near the Nail, an ex
pert Surgeon fpeedily checks it Progrefs, anil
cures it effectually by an Incifion which lets out
the Humour. Yet, notwithstanding this Ope
ration is in no wife difficult, all Surgeons are not
qualified to perform it, and but too many have
no Idea at all of it.
487. Fungous, or, as it is commonly called,
proud Flem fometimes appears during the incarn-
ing or healing of the Incifion. Such may be kept
down with fprinkling a little Minium (red Lead)
or burnt Alum over it.
488. If a Caries, a Rottennefs of the Bone,
fhould be a Confequence, there is a NecerTity
for a Surgeon s Attendance, as much as if there
was a Gangrene ; for which Reafon, I fhall add
nothing with Refpedl to either of thefe Symp
toms ; only obferving, there are three very
eilential Remedies againft the lad; r ciz. the
Bark, N. 14, a Drachm of which muft be
taken every two Hours , Scarifications through-
H h 3 out
Of external Diforders .
out the whole gangrened Part ; and Fomenta
tions with a Decodion of the Bark, and the Ad
dition of Spirit of Sulphur. This Medicine is
certainly no cheap one; but a Decoction of other
bitter Plants, with the Addition of Spirit of Salt,
may fometimcs do inflead of it. And here I
take leave to infill again upon it, that in moft
Cafes of gangrened Limbs, it is judicious not to
proceed to an Amputation of the mortified Part,
till the Gangrene ftops, which may be known by
a very perceivable Circle, (and eafily diftinguim-
ed by the moft ignorant Perfons) that marks
the Bounds of the Gangrene, and feparates the
living from the mortified Parts.
Of Thorns, Splinters, or other pointed Sub/lances
piercing into the Skin, Or Flejh.
48 p. It is very common for the Hands,
Feet or Legs, to be pierced by the forcible Intru-
iion of frnall pointed Subftances, fuch as Thorns
or Prickles, whether of Pvofes, Thirties orCheft-
nuts, or little Splinters of Wood, Bone, &c.
If fuch Subftances are immediately and entire
ly extracted, the Accident is generally attended
with no bad Confequences; though more certain
ly to obviate any fuch, Comprefies of Linen dipt
in warm V/ater rnav be applied to the Part, or
J * T1 1
it may be kept a little while in a warm Bath.
But if any fuch pointed penetrating Body cannot
be dircclly extracled, orfa Part of it be left
\vithin, it cauies an Inflammation^ which, in its
Pro^refs,
Of external Di for den . 487
Progrefs, foon produces the fame Symptoms as a
Whitlow : or if it happens in the Leg, it in
flames and forms a coniiderable Abicefs there.
490. To prevent fuch Confequences, if the
penetrating Subftance is ftill near the Surface,
and an expert Surgeon is at Hand, he mufl im
mediately make a fmall Incifion, and thence ex
tract it. But if the Inflammation were already
formed, this would be ufelefs, and even dan
gerous.
When the Incifion, therefore, is improper ;
there fhould be applied to the affected Parts, (af
ter conveying the Steam of fome hot Water in
to it) either fome very emollient Pultices of the
Crumb of Bread, Milk and Oil, or fome very
emollient unctuous Matter alone, the Fat of a
c Hare being generally employed in fuch Cafes,
and being indeed very effectual to relax and fiip-
ple the Skin ; and, by thus diminishing its Re-
fiftance, to afford the ofTenfive penetrating Body
an Opportunity of fpringing forth. Nothing
however, bur the grofleft Prejudice, could make
any one imagine, that this Fat attracted the
Splinter, Th-jrn, or any other intruded Subftance
by any fympathetic Virtue ; no other Sympathy
in Nature being clearly demonftrated, except
that very common one between wrong Heads,
and abfurd extravagant Opinions.
It is abfolutely neceilary that the injured Part
H h 4 fhould
* Thefe Creatures perhaps are fatter in SwiJ/erland, than w?
pften fee them here. A .
488 Of external Diforders,
ihould be kept in the eafieft Pofture, and as i
rpoveable as poffible.
If Suppuration has not been prevented by an
immediate Extraction of the offending Subftance,
the Abfcefs mould be opened as foon as ever
Matter is formed. I have known very trouble-
fome Events from its being too long delayed.
491. Sometimes the Thorn, after having
very painfully penetrated through the Tegu
ments, the Skin, enters directly into the Fat;
upon which the Pain ceafes, and the Patient be
gins to conclude no fliarp prickling Subflance had
ever been introduced into the Part} and of
Courfe fuppofes none can remain there. Never-
thelefs fpme Days after, or, in other Inftances,
fome Weeks, freih Pains are excited, to which
an Inflammation and Abicefs fucceed, which are
to be treated as ufual, with Emollients, and fea-
fonably opened.
A Patient has been reduced to lofe his Hand,
in Confequence of a (harp Thorn s piercing into
his Finger; from its having been neglected at
firfr, and improperly treated afterwards.
Of Warts.
492. Warts are fometimes the Effects of a
particular Fault in the Blood, which feeds and
extrudes a furprizing Quantity of them. This
happens to fome Children, from four to ten Years
, and efpecially to thofe who feed moil plen
tifully on Milk or Milk-meats. They may be
removed
Of external Diforders . 4 ft 9
removed by a moderate Change of their Diet,
and the Pills prefcribed N. 18.
But they are more frequently an accidental
Diiorder of the Skin, arifmg from fome external
Cauie.
In this lafl Cafe, if they are very troublefomc
in Confequence of their great Size, their Situa
tion or their long Standing, they may be deftroy-
ed, i, by tying them clolely with a Silk Thread,
or with a ftrong flaxen one waxed. 2, By cut
ting them off with a fharp Sciffars or a Biftory,
and applying a Plaifter of Diachylon, with the
pums, over the cut Wart, which brings on a
fmall Suppuration that may deftroy or dilTolve the
Root of the Wart : and, 3, By drying, or, as it
were, withering them up by fome moderately corro
ding Application, fuch as that of the milky Juice
of -j~ Purflain, of Fig-leaves, of Chelidonium
(Swallow- wort) or of Spurge. But beiides thefe
corroding vegetable Milks being procurable only
in Summer, People who have very delicate thin
Skins ihould not make Ufe of them, as they may
occafion a conficlerabie and painful Swelling.
Strong
t Our Garden Purflain, though a very juicy Herb, cannot ftricl-
]y be termed milky. In the hotter Climates where it is wild, and
grows very rankly, they fometimes boil the Leaves and Stalks
(befides eating them as a cooling Salad) and find the whole an
infipid mucilaginous Pot-herb. But Dr. TISSOT obferves to me,
that its Juice will inflame the Skin ; and that fome Writers on
Diet, wko difapprove it internally, affirm they have known it
productive of bad Effects. Yet none fuch have ever happened to
myfelf, nor to many others, who have frequently eaten of ic- Its
Seeds have fometimes been directed in cooling Emulfions. The
Wart Spurge is a very milky and common Herb, which flowers
in Summer here. K,
4 9 Qf external Diforders.
Strong Vinegar, charged with as much common
Salt as it will dirTolve, is a very proper Applica
tion to them. A Plaifter may alfo be compofed
from Sal Ammoniac and fome Galbanum, which
being kneaded up well together and applied, fel-
dom fails of defiroying them.
The moil powerful Corrofives fhould never be
ufed, without the Direction of a Surgeon ; and
even then it is full as prudent not to meddle with
them, any more than with actual Cauteries. I
have lately feen fome very tedious and trouble-
lome Diforders and Ulcerations of the Kidnies,
enfue the Application of a corrofive Water, by
the Advice of a Quack. Cutting them away is a
more certain, a lefs painful, and a lefs dangerous
Way of removing them.
Wens, if of a pretty confiderable Size, and
Duration, are incurable by any other Remedy,
except Amputation.
Of Corns.
493, The very general or only Caufes of
Corns, are Shoes either too hard and ilifF, or too
fmall.
The whole Cure confifts in foftening the Corns
by repeated Warnings and Soakings of the Feet
in pretty hot Water ; then in cutting them, when
ibftened, with a Penknife or Sciflars, without
wounding the found Parts (which are the more
feniible, in Proportion as they are more extended
than ufual) and next in applying a Leaf of
Houfe^
Of Cafes which require immediate dflijlance. 49 r
Houfe-leek, of Ground-ivy, or of Purllain dipt
in Vinegar, upon the Part. Inftead of thele
Leaves, if any Peribn will give himfelf the little
Trouble of dreiTing them every Day, he may
opply a Plaifter of fimple Diachylon, or of Gum
Ammoniacum Ibftened in Vinegar,
The Increafe or Return of Corns can only be
prevented, by avoiding the Caufes that produce
them.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Offome Cafes which require immediate AJjiftance;
J uch as Siooonings ; Hemorrhages, or involun
tary Lofs of Blood ; Cowuuifion Fitts, and Suffo
cations; the fuddcn Effects of great Fear; of
Diforders caufed by noxious Vapours tyPoi/ons,
arid cf acute Pains.
Of Swooning*.
SECT. 494.
HERE are many Degrees of Swoon-
T ing, or fainting away: the flighted is
^ lat ^ n w ^^ l ^ e P at i ent conftantly
perceives and underftands, yet without
the Power of fpeaking. This is called a Faint
ing, which happens very often to vapoutilli Per-
fons,
49 2 OfCaJes which require immediate
ions, and without any remarkable Alteration of
the Pulfc.
If the Patient entirely lofes Senfation, or Feel-
ins;, and Under/landing, with a very conlidera-
ble Sinking of the Pulfe, this is called a Syncope,
and is the fecond Degree of Swooning.
But if this Syncope is fo violent, that the Pulfe
feems totally extinguished ; without any difcerni-
ble Breathing; with a manifefl Coldnefs of the
whole Body ; and a wanly livid Countenance, it
conftitutes a third and lafi Degree, which is the
true Image of Death, that in Effect fometimes
attends it, and it is called an Afphlxv> which
may fignify a total Refolution.
Swoonings refult from many different Caufes,
of which I fhall only enumerate the principal;
and thefe are, I, Too large a Quantity of Blood.
2, A Defeat or insufficient Proportion of it, and
a general Weaknefs. 3, A Load at and violent
Diibrders of the Stomach. 4, Nervous Mala
dies. 5, The Pafiions ; and, 6, fome Kinds of
Difeafes.
Of Swooning* occafioned by Excefs of Blood.
495. An cxceflive Quantity of Blood is fre
quently a Caufe of Swooning ; and it may be in
ferred that it is owing to this Caufe, when it at
tacks fanguine, hearty and robuft Perfons^ and
more efpecially when it attacks them, after being
combined with any additional or fupervening
Caufe, that fuddenly increafed the Motion of the
Blood s
Of Cafes which require immediate Affiftance. 493
Blood ; fuch as heating Meats or Drinks, Wine,
ipirituous Liquors : (mailer Drinks, if taken very
hot and plentifully, fuch as Coffee, Indian Tea,
Bawm Tea and the like ; a longExpofure to the
hot Sun, or being detained in a very hot Place ;
much and violent Exercife ; an over intenfe and
ailiduous Study or Application, or fome excef-
iive Paffion.
In fuch Cafes, firft of all the Patient fhould
be made to fmell to, or even to muff up, fome
Vinegar ; and his Forehead, his Temples and his
Wrifts mould be bathed with it ; adding an equal
Quantity of warm Water, if at Hand. Bathing
them with diftilled or ipirituous Liquids would
be prejudicial in this Kind of Swooning.
2, The Patient fliould be made, if poffible,
to fwallow two or three Spoonfuls of Vinegar,
with four or five Times as much Water,
3, The Patient s Garters fhould be tied very
tightly above his Knees ; as by this Means a
greater Quantity of Blood is retained in the Legs,
whence the Heart may be lefs overladen with
it.
4, If the Fainting proves obftinate, that is, if
it continues longer than a Quarter of an Hour, or
degenerates into a Syncope , an Abolition of Feel
ing and Underftanding, he mult be bled in the
Arm, which quickly revives him.
5, After the Bleeding, the Injection of a
Glyfter will be highly proper ; and then the Pa
tient fhould be kept ftill and cairn, only letting
him drink, every half Hour, fome Cups of Eider
Flower
494 Of Cafes which require immediate Affijlancc,
Flower Tea, with the Addition of a little Sugar
and Vinegar.
When Swoonings which refult from this Caufe
occur frequently in the lame Peribn, he fhould,
in Order to efcape them, purfue the Directions
I fhail hereafter mention, 544, when treating
of Peribn s who fuperabound with Blood.
The very fame Caufe, or Caufes, which occa-
fion thefc Swoonings, alfo frequently produce
violent Palpitations, under the lame Circum-
ftances ; the Palpitation often preceding or fol
lowing the Deliquii .m, or Swooning.
Of Swooning* occafioncd fy Weakriefi.
496. If too great a Quantity of Blood,
which may be confidered as fome Excels of
Health, is fometimes the Caufe of Swooning,
this laft is oftener the Effect of a very contrary
Caufe, that is, of a Want of Blood, or an Ex-
hauftion of too much.
This Sort of Swooning happens after great
Hxmorrhages, or Difcharges of Blood ; after
fudden or exceflive Evacuations, fuch as one of
fome Hours Continuance in a Cholera Morbm
( 321) or fuch as are more flow, but of longer
Duration, as for Inftance, after an inveterate
Diarrhea, or Purging ; exceilive Sweats ; a
Flood of Urine ; fuch Excefies as tend to exhauft
Nature; ohflinate Wakeful nefs; a long Jnappe-
cvj which, by depriving the Body of its ne-
cefTary
Of Cafes which require immediate sljjiftance. 495
celiary Suftenance, is attended with the fame
Confequence as profufe Evacuations.
Thefe different Guiles of Swooning fhould be
oppoied by the Means and Remedies adapted to
each of them. A Detail of all theie would be
improper here ; buttheAfliftances that are riecef-
fary at the Time of Swooning, are nearly the
lame for all Cafes of this Clais; excepting for that
attending a great Lofs of Biood, of which I ihall
treat hereafter : firft of all, the Patients mould be
kid down on a Bed, and being covered, ihould
have their Legs and Thighs, their Arms, and
their whole Bodies rubbed pretty ftrongly with
hot Flanels ; and no Ligature ihould remain on
any Part of them.
2, They fhould have very fpirituous Things to
fmell or fnuff up, fuch as the Carmelite Water,
Hungary Water, the *EngliJh Salt, Spirit of Sal
Ammoniac, ftrong fwellins; Herbs, fuch as Rue,
Sage, Rofemary, Mint, Wormwood, and the
like.
3, Thefe Ihould be conveyed into their
Mouths ; and they ihould be forced, if poffible,
to iV/allow fome Drops of Carmelite Water, or
of Brandy, or of fome other potable Liquor,
mixed
Dr. TISSOT informs me, that in Sw^rrAw/, they call a
volatile Salt of Vipers, or*ihe volatile Silt of raw Silk, Set.
< Anghterre, of which one Gad.iard rnnce a Secret, and which lia
brought into Vogue the latter End of the lait Century. But he
jultly obferves at the fame Time, that on the prcfent Occafion
every other volatile Alkali will equally- aniwer the Purpofe j and
indeed the Smell of fome of them, as the Spirit of Sal Ammon
v\ith Quicklime, EMI de Luce, &c. llem more penetrating. K.
496 Of Cafes which require immediate Afftftantii
inixed with a little Water ; while fome hot Wine
mixed with Sugar and Cinnamon, which make:
one of the heft Cordials, is getting ready.
4, A Comprefs of Flanel, or of fome other
woollen Stuff, dipt in hot Wine, in which fome
aromatic Herb has been fteeped, muflbe applied
to the Pit of the Stomach.
5, If the Swooning feems likely to continue,
the Patient muft be put into a well heated Bed,
which has before been perfumed with burning
Sugar and Cinnamon ; the Friclions of the whole
Body with hot Flanels being ftill continued.
6, As foon as the Patient can fwallow, he
mould take fome Soup or Broth, with the Yolk
of an Egg j or a little Bread or Bifcuit^ foaked in
the hot Ipiced Wine.
7, Laftly, during the whole Time that all
other Precautions are taken to oppofe the Caufe
of the Swooning, Care mull be had for fome
Days to prevent any Ddiquium or Fainting, by
giving them often, and but little at a time, fome
light yet ftrengthening Nouriihment, fuch as
Panacea made with Soup inftead of Water, new
laid Eggs very lightly poached, light roaft Meats
with fweet Sauce, Chocolate, Soups of the moft
nourishing Meats, Jellies, Milk, Gfr.
497. ThofeSwoonings, which are the Effect
of Bleeding, or of the violent Operation of fome
Purge, are to be ranged in this Clafs.
Such as happen after artificial Bleeding, are
generally very moderate, commonly terminating
as foon as the Patient is laid upon the Bed : and
Peribns
Of Cafes which require immediate Affiflance. 497
Perlbns fubjedl to this Kind, mould be bled lying
down, in Order to prevent it. But fhould the
Fainting continue longer than ufual, fome Vine
gar fmelt to, and a little fwallowed with feme
Water, is a very good Remedy.
The Treatment of fuch Paintings or Swoon-
ings, as are the Confequences of too violent Vo~
mits or Purges, may be feen hereafter 552.
Of Paintings occajioned by a Load, or Uneajinefs,
at Stomach.
498. It has been already obferved, 308,
that Indisjeftions were fometimes attended with
o
Swoonings, and indeed fuch vehement ones, as
required fpeedy and very active Succour too,
fuch as that of a Vomit. The Indigeftion is
fometimes lefs the Effect of the Quantity, than
of the Quality, or the Corruption of the Food,
contained in the Stomach. Thus we fee there
are fome Perfons, who are difordered by eating
Eggs, Fiih, Craw Fifh, or any fat Meat ; being
thrown by them into inexprefTible Anguifh attend
ed with Swooning too. It may be fuppofed to
depend on this Caufe, when thele very Aliments
have been lately eaten ; and when it evidently
neither depends on the other Caufes I have men
tioned ; nor on fuch as I fhall foon proceed to
enumerate.
We mould in Cafes of this Sort, excite and
revive the Patients as in the former, by making
them receive fome very ftrong Smell, of whatever
I i Kind
49 8 Of Cafes which require immediate Ajjijlance*
Kind is at hand ; but the moil eflential Point is to
make them iwallow down a large Quantity of
light ,arm Fluid ; which may ferve to drown,
as it were, the indigefted Matter ; which may
foften its Acrimony ; and either effect the Dif-
charge of it by vomiting, or force it down into
the Chanel of the Inteftines.
A li^ht Infufiqn of Chamomile Flowers, of
Tea, ot Sa^c, of Elder Flowers, or of Car duns
BencdiEtus, operate with much the fame Effica
cy; though the Chamomile and Carduus pro
mote the Operation of vomiting rather more
powerfully ; which warm Water alone will
ibmetimes fufficieiitly do.
The Swooning ceafes, or at leaft, confidera-
bly abates in thefe Cafes, as loon as ever the
Vomiting commences. It frequently happens
too, that, during the Swooning, Nature herfelf
brings on certain Naufea, a Wambling and
fickiih Commotion of the Stomach, that revives
or roufes the Patient for a Moment ; but yet not
being fufficient to excite an actual Vomiting,
lets him icon fink down again into this tempora
ry Diflblution, which often continues a pretty
confiderable Time 3 leaving behind it a Sickneis
at Stomach, Vertigos, and a Depreffion and
Anxiety, which do not occur in the former Spe
cies of this Malady.
Whenever thefe Swoonings from this Caufe are
entirely terminated, the Patient mufl be kept for
fome Days to a very light Diet, and take, at
die fame Time, every Morning failing, a Dole
of
Of Cafes which require immediate Affiance -. 499
of the Powder, N. 38, which relieves and exo
nerates the Stomach of whatever noxious Con
tents might remain in it; and then reftores its
natural Strength and Functions.
499. There is another Kind of Swooning,
which alfo refill ts from a Caufe in the Stomach ;
but which is, nevertheleis, very different from
this we have juft been treating of; and which re
quires a very different Kind of Afliftance. It
arifes from an extraordinary Senfibility of this
important Organ, and from a general Weaknefs
of the Patient.
Thofe fubject to this Malady are valetudinary
weakly Perfons, who are diibrdered from many
flight Caufes, and whofe Stomachs are at once very
feeble and extremely fenfible. They have almoil
continually a little Uneafmefs after a Meal,
though they mould indulge but a little more than
ulual ; or if they eat of any Food not quite fo
eaiy of Digeftion, they have fome Qualm or
Commotion after it : Nay, mould the Weather
only be unfavourable, and fometimes without any
perceivable ailignable Caufe, their Uneaiinefs
terminates in a Swoon.
Patients fwooning, from thefe Caufes, have a
greater Neceffity for great Tranquillity and Re-
pofe, than for any other Remedy ; and it might
be fufficient to lay them down on the Bed : But
as the Byftanders in fuch Cafes find it difficult to
remain inactive Spectators of Perfons in a Swoon,
fome fpirituous Liquid may be held to their Nofe,
while their -Temples and Wrifts are rubbed with
I i 2 it j
500 Oj Cafes which require immediate AJJiftance.
it ; and at the fame Time a little Wine mould
be given them. Frictions are alfo uieful in thefe
Cafes.
This Species of Swooning is oftener attended
with a little Feverifhnefs than the others.
Of tboj e Swooning*, which arife from nervous
Difonlcrs.
500. This Species of Swooning is almoft
wholely unknown to thofe Perfons, for whom
this Treatife is chiefly intended. Yet as there
are fome Citizens who pafs a Part of their Lives
in the Country ; and fome Country People who
are unhappily afflicted with the Ailments of the
Inhabitants of large Towns and Cities, it feemed
necellary to treat briefly of them.
By Diforders of the Nerves, I under/land in
*
this Place, only that Fault or Defect in them,
which is the Caufe of their exciting in the Body,
either irregular Motions, that is, Motions with
out any external Caufe, at lead any perceivable
one j and without our Will s confenting to the
Production of them : or fuch Motions, as are
greatly more confiderable than they mould be,
if they had been proportioned to the Force of the
Impreffion from without. This is very exactly
that State, or Affection termed the Vapours ; and
by the common People, the Mother : And as
there is no Organ unprovided with Nerves ; and
none, or hardly any Function, in which the
Nerves have not their Influence ; it may be eafi-
iy
Of Cafes which require immediate Affiftance. 50 1
ly comprehended, that the Vapours being a
State or Condition, which arifes from the Nerves
exerting irregular involuntary Motions, without
any evident Caufe, and all the Functions of the
Body depending partly on the Nerves ; there is
no one Symptom of other Difeafes which the Va
pours may not produce or imitate , and that thefe
Symptoms, for the fame Reafon, muft vary infi
nitely, according to thofe Branches of the
Nerves which are difordered. It may alfo hence
be conceived, why the Vapours of one Peribn
have frequently no Refemblance to thofe of ano
ther : and why the Vapours of the very fame
Perfon, in one Day, are fo very different from
thofe in the next. It is alib very conceivable
that the Vapours are a certain, a real Malady;
and that Oddity of the Symptoms, which cannot
be accounted for, by People unacquainted with
the animal Oeconomy, has been the Caufe of
their being confidered rather as the Effect of a
depraved Imagination, than as a real Difeafe. It is
very conceivenble, I fay, that this furprizing Od
dity of the Symptoms is a neceffary Effedt of the
Cauie of the Vapours ; and that no Perfon can
any more prevent his being invaded by the Va
pours, than he can prevent the Attack of a Fe
ver, or of the Tooth-ach.
501. A few plain Inftances will furniih out
a more compleat Notion of the Mechanifm, or
Nature, of Vapours. An Emetic, a vomiting
Medicine, excites the Act, or rather the Paffion,
the Convulfion of Vomiting, chiefly by the Ir-ri-
li 3 tation
502 Of Cafes which require immediate
tation it gives to the Nerves of the Stomach ; which
Irritation produces a Spafm, a Contraction of this
Organ. Now if in Confequence of this morhid
or defective Texture of the Nerves, which con-
liitutes the Vapours, thofe of the Stomach are
excited to act wifh the fame Violence, as in
Confequence of taking a Vomit, the Patient will
be agitated and worked by violent Efforts to
vomir, as much as it he had really taken one.
If an involuntary unuiual Motion in the Nerves,
that arc diftributed through the Lungs, fhould
conitrain and ftiaiten the very little Veiicles, or
Bladders, as it were, which admit the frefh Air
at every Respiration, the Patient will feel a De
gree of Suffocation ; juft as if that Straitening or
Contraction of the Veficles were occafioned by
feme noxious Steam or Vapour.
Should the Nerves which are diftributed
throughout the whole Skin, by a Succeffion of
thefe irregular morbid Motions, contract them-
felves, as they may from external Cold, or by
fome Simulating Application, Peripifation by the
Pores will be prevented or checked ; whence the
Humours, which fhould be evacuated through
the Pores of the Skin, will be thrown upon the
Kidnies, and the Patient will make a great
Quantity of thin clear Urine, a Symptom very
common to vapouriih People; or it may be di
verted to the Glands of the Inteftines, the Guts,
and terminate in a wateiy Diarrbaa, or Loole-
nefs, which frequently proves a very obiiinate
one,
5 02 -
Of Cafes which require immediate AJjlftance. 503
502. Neither are Swoonings the leart ufual
Symptoms attending the Vapours : and we may
be certain they fpring from this Source, when
they happen to a Peribn fubjecl: to the Vapours j
and none of the other Cauies producing them
are evident, or have lately preceded them.
Such Swoonings, however, are indeed very
rarely dangerous, and fcarcely require any medi
cal ArMance. The Patient ihould be laid upon
a Bed ; the frem Air mould be very freely ad
mitted to him and he mould be made fo iindl
rather to fome diiagreeable and fetid, than to any
fragrant, Subflance. It is in fuch Paintings as
thefe that the Smell of burnt Leather, of Fea
thers, or of Paper, have often proved of great
Service.
503. Patients alfo frequently faint away, in
Coniequence of failing too long ; or from having
eat a little too much ; from being confined in too
hot a Chamber; from having fcen too much
Company ; from fmelling too over-powering a
Scent ; from being too coftive ; from being too
forcibly aftedted with fome Difcourie or Senti
ments ; and, in a Word, from a great Variety
of Caufes, which might not make the lead: Im-
preflion on Pcrfons in perfect Health ; but which
violently operate upon thole vapourifh People, be-
cauie, as I have laid, the Fault of their Nerves
confiils in their being too vividly, too acutely at-
fedled ; the Force of their Senfation being nowife
proportioned to the external Caule of it.
li 4 As
504 Of Cafes which require immediate dffiftancc.
As foon as that particular Caufe is diftinguifhed
from all the reft, which has occafioned the prefent
Swoqning ; it is manifeft that this Swooning is to
be remedied by removing that particular Caufe
of it.
Of Swooning* cccafioned by the Pajfions.
504. There have been fome Inftances of
perfons dying within a Moment, through exc,ef-
five Joy. But fuch Inftances are fo very rare and
fudden, that AfTiftance has feldom been fought
for on this Occafion. The Cafe is othetwife
with Refpect to thole produced from Rage,
Vexation, and Dread or Horror. I fliall treat in
a feparate Article of thofe refulting from great
Fear ; and (hall briefly conlider here uicn as en-
fue from Rage, and vehement Grief or Difappoint-
ment.
505. Exceilwe Rage and violent Affliction
are fometimes fatal in the Twinkling of an Eye ;
though they oftener terminate in fainting only.
Exccflive Grief or Chagrine is eipecially -accom
panied with this Confequence ; and it is very
common to fee Perfons thus affected, fink into
fucceffive Faintfngs for feveral Hours. It is
o
plainly obvious that very little Affiftance can Lc
given in inch Cafes : it is proper, however, they
ihould fmell to ftrong Vinegar; and frequently
take a few Cups of fome hot and temperately
cordial Drink, fuch as Bawm Tea, or Lemonade
with a little Orange or Lemon-peel.
The calming affwaging Cordial, that has feem-
ed
Of Cafes which require immediate Affijlance. 505
ed the moft efficacious to me, is one fmall Coffee
Spoonful of a Mixture of three Parts of the Mi
neral Anodyne Liquor of HOFFMAN,* and one
Part of the fpirituous Tincture of Amber, which
fhould be (wallowed in a Spoonful of Water ;
taking after it a few Cups of iuch Drinks as I
fhall prefently direct.
It is not to be fuppofed that Svvoonings or
Paintings, from exceflive Paflions, can be cured
by Nourishment. The physical State or Condi-
fion, into which vehement Grief throws the Bo
dy, is that, of all others, in which Nourimment
would be mod injurious to it : and as long as
the Vehemence of the Affliction endures, the
Sufferer mould take nothing but fome Spoon
fuls of Soup or Broth, or a few Morfels of fome
light Meat roafled.
506. When Wrath or Rage has rifen to fb
high a Pitch, that the human Machine, the
Body, entirely exhauiled, as it were, by that
violent Effort, finks down at once into exceffive
Relaxation, a Fainting fometimes fucceeds, and
even the moft perilous Degree of it, a Syncope.
It is fufficient, or rather the moft that can be
done, here, to let the Patient be perfectly ftill a
while in this State; only making him fmell to fome
Vinegar. But when he is come to himfelf, he
fhould drink plentifully of hot Lemonade, and
take one or more of the Glvfters N c . c.
* *-/
Sometimes there remain in thefe Cafes Sick-
neffes at Stomach, Reachings to vomit, a Bitter-
nefs
* Our fweet Spirit of Vitriol is a fimilar, and as effeftual a
Medicine. K.
506 Of Cafes which require immediate Afliftance.
nefs in the Mouth, and fome vertiginous Symp
toms which feem to require a Vomit. But fuch
a Medicine muft be very carefully avoided, fmce
it may be attended with the rnoii fatal Confe-
quence ; and Lemonade with Glyfters generally
and gradually remove theie Swoonings. If the
Nauj ea and Sicknefs at Stomach continue, the
utmoit Medicine we fhould allow befides, would
be that of N. 23, or a few Doles of N. 24.
Of Jymplomatlcal Stortings, or fuch as happen in
the Progrcfs of other Difetifes.
507. Swoonings, which fupervene in the
Courfe of other Difeafes, never afford a favoura
ble Prognoftic j as they denote Weaknefs, and
Weaknefs is an Obftable to Recovery.
In the Beginning of putrid Difeafes, they alfo
denote an Oppreifion at Stomach, or a Mais of
corrupt Humours; and they ceafe as foon as
an Evacution fupervenes, whether by Vomit or
Stool.
When they occur at the Beginning of malig
nant Fevers, they declare the high Degree of
their Malignancy, and the great Diminution of
the Patient s natural Strength.
o
In each of theie Cafes Vinegar, ufed externally
and internally, is the beft Remedy during the Ex
acerbation or Height of the Pardxyfm ; and
O *
Plenty of Lemon Juice and Water after it.
508. Swoonings which fupervene in Dif
eafes, accompanied with great Evacuations, are
cured
Of Cafes which require immediate Ajjifiancc .
like thofe which are owing to Weaknefs;
and Endeavours fhould be ufed to reflrain or mo-
derate the Evacuations.
509. Thofe who have any inward Abfcefs
or Impofthume are apt to iwoon frequently.
They may ibmetimes be revived a little by Vine-
but they prove too frequently mortal.
510. Many Perfons have a flighter or a
eeper Swooning, at the End of a violent Fit of
an intermitting Fever, or at that of each Exacerba
tion of a continual Fever; this constantly (hews the
Fever has run very high, the Swooning having
been the Confequence of that great Relaxation,
which has fucceeded to a very high Tenlion. A
Spoonful or two of light white Wine, with an
equal Quantity of Water, affords all the Succour
proper in fuch a Cafe.
51 1. Perfons fubjecl to frequent Swoonings,
hould neglecl: nothing that may enable them to re
move them when known ; fince the Confequences
of them are always detrimental, except in fome
Fevers, in which they feem to mark the Crifis.
Every iwooning Fit leaves the Patient in De-
jedion and Weakness ; the Secretions from the
Blood are fufpended; the Humours diipofed to
Stagnation ; Grumofities, or Coagulations, and
Obilructions are formed ; and if the Motion of
the Blood is totally intercepted, or coniiderably
checked, Polypus V, and theie often incurable,
are formed in the Fleart, or in the larger VefTels j
the Confequences of which are dreadful, and
give Rife to internal Aneunfms,
which
508 Of Cafes which require Immediate AJJiftance.
which always prove mortal, after long Anxiety
and Oppreflion.
Swoonings which attack old People, without
any manifeft Caule, always afford an unfavoura
ble Prognom c.
Of Hemorrhages , or tin involuntary Lofs of Blood.
5 1 2. Hemorrhages of theNofe, fupervenin-
in inflammatory Fevers, commonly prove a
favourable Crt/is-, which Bleeding we mould
carefully avoid flopping ; except it becomes ex-
ceifive, and feems to threaten the Patient s Life.
As they fcarcely ever happen in very healthy
Subjects, but from a fuperfiuous Abundance of
Blood, it is very improper to check them too
foon ; left fome internal Stuffings and Obllruc-
tions mould prove the Confequence.
A Swooning fometimes enfues after the Lofs
of only a moderate Quantity of Blood. This
Swooning flops the Haemorrhage, and goes off
without any further Afliftance, except the fmel-
Jing to Vinegar. But in other Cafes there is a
Succeffion of fainting Fits, without the Blood s
flopping; while at the fame time flight convul-
five Motions and Twitchings enfue, attended
*. *
with a Raving, when it becomes really neceffary
to flop the Bleeding : and indeed, without wait
ing till thcfc violent Symptoms appear, the fol
lowing Signs will fufficiently direct us, when it
is right to Hop the Flux of Blood, or to permit
its Continuance As long as the Pulfe is frill
pretty
Of Cafes which require Immediate Ajjiftance. 509
pretty full ; while the Heat of the Body is equal
ly extended to the very Extremities j and the
Countenance and Lips preferve their natural
Rednefs, no ill Confequence is to be apprehend
ed from the Haemorrhage, though it has been
very copious, and even Ibmewhat profufe.
But whenever the Pulfe begins to faulter and
tremble ; when the Countenance and the Lips
grow pale, and the Patient complains of a Sick-
neis at Stomach, it is abiblutely neceffary to ftop
the Difcharge of Blood. And considering that
the Operation of Remedies does not immediately
follow the Exhibition or Application of them, it
is fafer to begin a little too early with them,
than to delay them, though ever fo little too
long.
513. Firftofall then, tight Bandages, or
Ligatures, ihould be applied round both Arms,
on the Part they are applied over in order to
Bleeding; and round the lower Part of both
Thighs, on the gartering Place ; and all thefe
are to be drawn very tight, with an Intention to
detain and accumulate the Blood in the Extre
mities.
2, In Order to increafe this Effect, the Legs
are to be plunged in warm Water up to the
Knees ; for by relaxing the Blood-velTels of the
Legs and Feet, they are dilated at the fame time,
and thence receive, and in Confequence of the
Ligatures above the Knees, retain the more
Blood. If the Water were cold, it would repel
the Blood to the Heads if hot, it would increafe
ths
5 1 o Of Cafes which require immediate Affiftanti*
the Motion of it; and, by giving a greater
Qmcknefs to the Pulfe, would even contribute to
increafe the Haemorrhage.
As foon however, as the Haemorrhage is
ftopt, thefe Ligatures [on the Thighs] may be
relaxed a little, or one of them be entirely re
moved j allowing the others to continue on an
Hour or two longer without touching them : but
C? 7
great Precaution mould be taken not to flacken
them entirely, nor all at once.
3, Seven or eight Grains of Nitre, and a
Spoonful of Vinegar, in half a Glais of cool Wa
ter, fhould be given the Patient every half
Hour.
4, One Drachm of white Vitriol mud be dif-
folved in two common Spoonfuls of Spring Wa
ter ; and a Tent of Lint, or Bits of foft fine
Linen dipt in this Solution, are to be introduced
into the Noftrils, horizontally at firft, but after-
-vards to be intruded upwards, and as high as
may be, by the Alliftance of a flexible Bit of
Wood or Whale-bone. But mould this Appli
cation be ineffectual, the Mineral Anodyne Li
quor of HOFFMAN is certain to fucceed : and in
the Country, where it often happens that neither
of thefe Applications are to be had fpeedily,
Brandy, and even Spirit of Wine, mixt with a
third Part Vinegar, have anfwered entirely well,
of which I have been a Witnefs.
The Prefcription N. 67, which I have already
referred to, on the Article of Wounds, may
alfo be ferviceable on this Occaiion. It muft be
reduced
Of Cafes which require immediate Jlffijlance. 511
reduced to Powder, and conveyed up the Nof-
trils as high as may be, on the Point or Extre
mity of a Tent of Lint, which may eafily be
covered with it. Or a Quill, well charged with
the Powder, may be introduced high into the
Noftrils, and its Countents be itrongly blown up
from its other Extremity : though after all the
former Method is preferable.
5, When the Flux of Blood is totally ftopt,
the Patient is to be kept as flill and quiet as pofli-
ble j taking great Care not to extract the Tent
^-* ^-^ ^I ^7 2.
which remains in the Nofej Bt;to remove the
Clots of coagulated Blood which fill up the Pal--
fage. The loofening and removing of thefe
lliould be effected very gradually and cautioufly j
and frequently the Tent does not fpring out fpon-
taneoufly, till after many Days.
514. I have not, hitherto, faid any thing
of artificial Bleeding in thefe Cafes> as I think it
at beft unferviccable j iince, though it may fome-
times have ftopt the morbid Lofs of Blood, it has
at other times increafed it. Neither have I men
tioned Anodynes here, whofe confbnt Effect is
to determine a larger Quantity of Blood to the
Head.
Applications of cold Water to the Nape of the
Neck ought to be wholly difuied, having fome-
times been attended with the moll embarrailing
Confequences.
In all Haemorrhages, all Fluxes of Blood,
great Tranquillity, Ligatures, and the Ufe of the
Drinks N. 2 or 4, are very ufeful.
1 2 Of Cafes which require immediate Affiftance.
515. People who are very liable to frequent
Haemorrhages, ought to manage themfelves con
formably to the Dire6tions contained in the next
Chapter, 544: They mould take very little
Supper ; avoid all iharp and fpirituous Liquors ;
Apartments that are over hot, and cover their
Heads but very lightly.
When a Patient has for a long time been fub-
jec~t to Haemorrhages, if they ceafe, he (hould
retrench from his ufiml Quantity of Food ; ac-
cuftom himielf to artificial Bleedings at proper
Intervals ; and take fome gentle opening Purges,
efpedally that of N. 24, and frequently a little
Nitre in an Evening.
OfCbnvuIfion Fits.
516. Convullions are, in general, more ter
rifying than dangerous j they refult from many
and various Caufes ; and on the Removal or
Extirpation of theie, their Cure depends.
In the very Fit itfelf very little is to be done or
attempted.
As nothing does morten the Duration, nor
even leffen the Violence, of an epileptic Fit, ib
nothing at all mould be attempted in it ; and the
rather, becaufe Means and Medicines often ag
gravate the Difeafe. We mould confine our En
deavours folely to the Security of the Patient, by
preventing him from giving himfelf any violent
Strokes; by getting fomething, ifpoffible, between
his Teeth, fuch as a final) Roller of Linen to
pre-
VfCafe* which require immediate Ajfiflance. 5 1 3
prevent his Tongue from being hurt, or very
dangeroufly fqueezed and bruiied, in a ftrong
Convulfion.
The only Cafe which requires immediate Af*
fiftance in the Fit, is, when it is fo extremely
violent j the Neck fo fwelled; and the Face fo
very red, that there is Room to be apprehenfive
of an Apoplexy, which we mould endeavour to
obviate, by drawing eight or ten Ounces of Blood
from the Arm.
As this terrible Difeafe is common in the
Country, it is doing a real Service to the unfor^
tunatc Vidims of it, to inform them how very
dangerous it is to give themfelves blindly up to
take all the Medicines, which are cried up to
them in fuch Cafes. If there be any one Dif
eafe, which requires a more attentive, delicate,
and exquifite Kind of Treatment, it is this very
Difeafe. Some Species of it are wholly incurable:
and fuch as may be fufceptible of a Cure, require
the utmoft Care and Confideration of the moll:
enlightned and moil experienced Phyficians : while
thofe who pretend to cure all epileptic Patients,
with one invariable Medicine, are either Igno-
rants, or Importers, and fometimes both in one.
517. Simple Convulfion Fits, which are not
epileptic, are frequently of a long Continuance,
perfeveiing, with very few and mort Intervals,
for Days and even for Weeks.
The true genuine Caufe mould be inveftigated
as ftrictly as poflible, though nothing fhould be
attempted in the Fit. The Nerves are, during
K k that
5 1 4 O/ Cafes which require immediate Affiftance.
that Term, in fo high a Degree of Tenfion
and Senfibility, that the very Medicines, fuppo-
fed to be flrongly indicated, often redouble the
Storm they were intended to appeafe.
Thin watery Liquors, moderately imbued
with Aromatics, are the lead hurtful, the mod
innocent Things that can be given - 3 fuch as
Bawm, Lime-tree, and Elder Flower Tea. A
Ptifan of Liquorice Root only has ibmetim-es an-
fwered better than any other.
Of fuffoc citing^ or ftr angling Fits.
518. Thefe Fits (by whatever other Name
they may be called) whenever they very fuddenly
attack a Perfon, whole Breathing was eafy and
natural juft before, depend almolt constantly on
a Spafm or Contraction of the Nerves, in the
Vehicles of the Lungs ; or upon an Infarction, a
Stuffing of the fame Parts, produced by vifcid
clammy Humours.
That Suffocation which arifes from a Spafm is
not dangerous, it goes off of itfelf, or it may
be treated like Swoonings owing to the fame
Caufe. See 502.
510. That Suffocation, which is the Effed;
of a fanguineous F\ilnefs and Obftrucl:ion, may
be diftinguifhed by its attacking ftrong, vigorous,
fanguine Perfons, who are great Eaters, uling
much juicy nutritious Food, and ftrong Wine
and Liquors, and who frequently eat and in
flame themfelves ; and when the Fit has come on
after
Cafes which require immediate Afjtfauce. 5 1 5
after any inflaming Caufe -, v/hen the Pulfe is full
and ftrongj and the Countenance red.
Such are cured, i, by a very plentiful Dif-
charge of Blood from the Arm, which is to be
repeated, ifneceffary.
2, By the Uie of Glyfters.
3, By drinking plentifully of the Ptifan N. i ;
to each Pot of which, a Drachm of Nitre is to be
added ; and,
4, By the Vapour of hot Vinegar, continu
ally received by Refpiration or Breathing. See
55-
520. There is Reafon to think that one of
thefe Fits is owing to a Quantity of tough viicid
Humours in the Lungs, when it attacks Perfons,
whole Temperament, and whofe Manner of
Jiving are oppolite to thofe I have juft defcribed ;
fuch as valetudinary, weakly, phlegmatic, pitui-
tous, inactive, and fqueamifh Perfons, who feed
badly, or on fat, vifcid, and inlipid Diet, and
who drink much hot Water, either alone, or in
Tea-like Infufions. And thefe Signs of Suffoca
tion, refulting from fuch Caufes, are ftill more
probable, if the Fit came on in rainy Weather,
and during a foutherly V/ind 5 and when the
Pulfe is foft and fmall, the Vifage pale and
hollow.
The moft efficacious Treatment we can advife,
is, i, To give every half Hour half a Cup of
the Potion, N. 8, if it can be .readily had. 2,
To make the Patient drink very plentifully of the
K k 2 Drink
516 Of Cafes which require immediate Ajjiftance.
Drink N. 12 ; and, 3, to apply two ftrong
Blifters to the flefhy Parts of his Legs.
If he was ftrong and hearty before the Fit,
and the Pulle ftill continues vigorous, and feels
fomewhat full withall, the Lofs of feven or eight
Ounces of Blood is fometimes indifpenfably ne-
ceflary. A Glyfter has alfo frequently been at
tended with extraordinary good Effects.
Thole afflicted with this oppreffing Malady
are commonly relieved, as foon as they expecto
rate, and fometimes even by vomiting a little.
The Medicine N. 25, a Dofe of which may
be taken every two Hours, with a Cup of the
Ptifan N. 12, often fucceeds very well.
But if neither this Medicine, nor the Prefcrip-
tion of N. 8 are at Hand, which may be the
Cafe in Country Places ; an Onion of a moderate
Size mould be pounded in an Iron or Marble
Mortar j upon this, a Glafs of Vinegar is to be
poured, and then ftfongly fqueezed out again
through a Piece of Linen. An equal Quantity
of Honey is then to be added to it. A Spoonful
of this Mixture, whole remarkable Efficacy I
have been a Witnefs of, is to be given every half
Hour.
Of the violent Effetfs of Fear.
521. Here I {hall infert fome Directions to
prevent the ill Ccnfequences of great Fear or Ter
ror, which are very prejudicial at every Term of
Life, but chiefly during Infancy.
The
Of Cafes which require immediate Ajjijlance. 517
The general Effe&s of Terror, are a great
Straitening or Contraction of all the fmall Vdfels,
and a Repulfion of the Blood into the large and
internal ones. Hence follows the Suppreffion of
Perfpiration, the general Seizure or Opprefiion,
the Trembling, the Palpitations and Anguifh,
from the Heart and the Lungs being overcharged
with Blood-, and ibmetimes attended with
Swoonings, irremediable Diforders of the Heart,
and Death iffelf. A heavy Drowfmefs, Raving,
and a Kind of furious or raging Delirium happen
in other Cafes, which I have frequently oblcrved
in Children, when the Blood-veffels of the Neck
were fwel led and fluffed up; and Convulfions,
and even the Epilepfy have come on, all which
have proved the horrible Coniequence of a mod
lenfelefs and wicked Foolery or Sporting. One
half of thofe Epilepfies which do not depend on
fuch Caufes, as might exift before the ChiUi s
Birth, are owing to this deteitable Cuftorn ;
and it cannot be too much inculcated into CL
dren, never to frighten one another; a Po.nt
which Perlbns intruded with their Education,
ought to have the ilricteft Regard to.
When the Humours thatihould have palled off
by Perfpiration, are repelled to the Inteftines, a
tedious and very obftinate Loofeneisisthe frequent
Confequence.
522. Our Endeavours ihould be direcled,
to re-e(labliOi the difordered Circulation; to re-
ftore the obftru&ed Perfpiration ; and to aliay
the Agitation of the Nerves.
K k 3 The
5 1 8 OfCaJes which require immediate
The popular Cuftom in thefe Cafes has been
to give the terrified Patient fome cold Water
diredly j but when the Fright has been conii-
derable, this is a very pernicious cuftom, and I
have feen fome terrible Confequences from it.
They (hould, on the contrary, be conveyed
into fome very quiet Situation, leaving there but
very few Perfons, and fuch only as they are
thoroughly familiar with. They ihould take a
few Cups of pretty warm Drink, particularly of
an Infufion of Lime-tree Flowers and Bavvm.
Their Legs fhould be put into warm W^ater, and
remain there an Hour, if they will patiently per
mit it, rubbing them gently now and then, and
giving them every half-quarter of an Hour, a
imnll Cup of the faid Drink. When their Com-
pofure and Tranquillity are returned a little, and
their Skin feems to have recovered its wonted
and general Warmth, Care fhould he taken to
difpole them to deep, and to perfpire plentifully.
P ar this Purpofe they may be allowed a few
Spoonfuls of Wine, on putting them into Bed,
with one Cup of the former Infufion ; or, which
is more certain and effectual, a few Drops of
SYDENHAM S Liquid Laudanum, N J . 44 ; but
/hould that not be near at Hand, a fmall Dofe
of Venice Treacle.
523. It fpmetimes happens that Children do
not feern at firft extremely terrified ; but the
Fright is renewed while they ileep, and with no
fmall Violence. The Di recYions I have juft
eiven
Of Cafes which require immediate AJjiJlance. 5 1 9
given mud then be obferved, for fome fuccefiive
Evenings, before they are put to Bed.
Their Fright frequently returns about the lat
ter End of the Night, and agitates them violently
every Day. The fame Treatment fhould be
continued in fuch Cafes ; and we fhould endea
vour to difpofe them to be a-ileep at the ufual
Hour of its Return.
By this very Method, I have diffipated the
difmal Confequcnces of Fear of Women in
Child-bed, which is fo commonly, and often
fpeedily, mortal.
If a Suffocation from this Caufe is violent,
there is fometimes a Neceffity for opening a Vein
in the Arm.
Thefe Patients mould gradually be inured
to an almoft continual, but gentle, Kind of
Exercife.
All violent Medicines render thofe Difeafes,
which are the Coniequences of great Fear, in
curable. A pretty common one is that of an
Obllruction of the Liver, which has been pro-
duclive of a Jaundice,*
Of Accidents or Symptoms produced by the Vapours
of Coal y and of Wine.
524. Not a fingle Year pafles over here,
without the Deftruclion of many People by the
K k 4 Vapour
* I have feen this actually verified by great and difagreeable
Surprize, attended indeed with much Concern, in a Perfon of
Senfations. &.
5 2o Of Cafes which require Immediate dffiftance.
Vapour of Charcoal, or of ("mall Coal, and by
the Steam or Vapour of Wine.
The Symptoms by Coal occur, when * fmall
Coal, and efpecially when -\ Charcoal is burnt in
, a Chamber clofe flint, which is direct Poifon to
a Peribn (hut up in it. The fulphureous Oil,
which is fet at Liberty and diffufed by the Adion
of Fire, expands itielf through the Chamber;
while thole who are in it perceive a Dilbrder and
Confuflon in their Heads ; contract Vertigos,
Sicknefs at Stomach, a Weakneis, and very un-
uiual Kind of Numbnefs ; become raving, con-
vulfed and trembling ; and if they fail of Prefence
of Mind, or of Strength, to get out of the Cham
ber, they die within a iliort Time.
I have .teen a Woman who had vertiginous
Commotions in her Head for two Days, and al-
rnoft continual Vomitings, from her having been
confined lefs than fix Minutes in a Chamber
(and that notwithftanding, both one Window
and one Door were open) in which there was a
Chafing-dilh with fome burning Coals. Had
the Room, been quite clofe, ihe muil have
j erifhcd by it.
This Vapour is narcotic or (lupefying, and
proves mortal in Cpniequence of its producing a
lleepy
* la Breife.
\ Charkott. pr, TICSOT informs me, their Difference confifts
in this, that the Charcoal is prepared from Wood burnt in a clofe
or ftified Fire ; and that the fmall Coal is made of Wood (and of
fmaller Wood) burnt in an open Fjre, and extinguifhed before it
is reduced to the State of a Cinder. He fays the latter is fmaHer,
fofrer, lefs durable in the Fire, and the Vapour of it lefs dan*
.:ous chaa that of Charcoal.
Of Cafes which require Immediate Affiftance. 5 2 r
fieepy or apoplectic Diibrder, though blended,
at the fame time, with fomething convulfive ;
which fufficiently appears from the Cloiure of
the Mouth, and the ilrift Contraction or Lock-
ins; of the Taws.
> **
The Condition of the Brain, in the dilleded
Bodies of Perfons thus deftroyed, proves thaf
they die of an Apoplexy : notwithstanding it is
very probable that Suffocation is alfo partly the
Cauie of their Deaths ; as the Lungs have been
found fluffed up with Blood and livid.
It has alib been oblerved in fome other fuch
Bodies, that Patients killed by the Vapour of
burning Coals, have commonly their whole Bo
dy (welled out to one third more than their Mag
nitude, when living. The Face, Neck, and
Arms are fwelled out, as if they had been blown
up ; and the whole human Machine appears in
fuch a State, as the dead Body of a Peribn would,
who had been violently ftrangled ; and who had
made all poflible Refinance for a long time, be
fore he was overpowered.
52 ^. Such as are feniible of the great Danger
they are in, and retreat feafonably from it, are gene
rally relieved as loon as they get into the open Air ;
or if they have any remaining Uneafinefs, a little
Water and Vinegar, or Lemonade, drank hot.
affords them Iptedy Relief. But when they are
fo far poiibred, as to have loft their Feeling and
Underftanding, if there be any Means of reviving
them, fuch Means coniift,
I, In
522 Of Cafes which require immediate A ffi fiance.
j , In expofing them to a very pure, frefli and
open Air.
2, In making them fmell to ibme very pene
trating Odour, which is fomewhat ftimulating
ojad reviving, fuch as the volatile Spirit of Sal
Ammoniac, the ^Englijb Salt ; and afterwards to
iurround them, as it were, with the Steam of
Vinegar.
3, In taking Ibme Blood from their Arm.
4, In putting their Legs into warm or hot
Water, and chafing them well.
5, In making them fwaliow, if practicable,
much Lemonade, or Water and Vinegar, with
the Addition of Nitre : and,
6, In throwing up ibme iharp Glyfters.
As it is man if eft there is ibmething fpafmo-
dic in theie Cafes, it were proper to be provided
with fome antifpaimodic Remedies, Inch as the
Mineral Anodyne Liquid of HOFFMAN. Even
Opium has fometlmes been luccefsfully given
here, but it mould be allowed to Phyficians only
to direct it in fuch Cafes.
A Vomit would be hurtful; and the Reach-
ings to vomit arife only from the Oppreilion on
the Brain.
It is a common but erroneous Opinion, that
if the Coal be luffered to burn for a Minute or fo
in the open Air, or in a Chimney, it is futTicient
to prevent any Danger from the Vapour of it.
Hence it amounts even to a criminal Degree
of Imprudence, to deep in a Chamber while
Charcoal
f See Note * Page 495.
Of Cafes which require immediate AJjijlanca. 523
Charcoal or fmall Coal is burning in it j and the
Number of fuch imprudent Peribns, as have
never awaked after it, is fo considerable, and fo
generally known too, that the Continuance of
this unhappy Cuftorn is ailoniihing.
526. The Bakers, who make Ule of much
fmall Coal, often keep great Quantities of it in
their Cellars, which frequently abound fo much
with the Vapour of it, that it feizes them violent
ly the Moment they enter into the Cellar. They
link down at once deprived of all Senfation, and
die if they are not drawn out of it foon enough
to be afTirted, according to the Directions I have
juft given.
One certain Means of preventing fuoh fatal
Accidents is, upon going into the Cellar to throw
fome flaming Paper or Straw into it, and if
theie continue to flame out and conlume, there
is no Reafon for dreading the Vapour: but if
they fhould be extinguished, no rerion fhould
venture in. But after opening the Vent-hole, a
Bundle of flaming Straw muit be let at the Door,
which ferves to attracl the external Air flrongly.
Soon after the Experiment of the flaming Paper
mutt be repealed, and if it goes out, more Straw
is to be fet on Fire before the Cellar Door.
527. Small Coal, burnt in an openFire, isnot
near fo dangerous as Charcoal^ properly fo called,
the Danger of which arifes from this, that in ex-
tinguifhing it by the ufual Methods, all thofe
fulphureous Particles of it, in which its Danger
coniifts, are concentred. Neverthelefs, fmall
Coal
: 4 OfCaJh which require immediate AJJiftance.
Coal is not entirely deprived of all its noxious
Quality, without fome of which it could not
(hiftly he Coal.
The common Method of throwing fome Salt
on live Coals, before they are conveyed into
a Chamber ; or of carting a Piece of Iron amona
them to imbibe fome Part of their deadly narcotic
Sulphur> is not without its Utility ; though by no
means fufficient to prevent all Danger from
them.
528. When the moil: dangerous Symptoms
from this Caufe dilappear, and there remains
only fome Degree of Weaknefs, of Numbnefs,
and a little Inappetency, or Loathing at Stomach,
nothing is better than Lemonade with one fourth
Part Wine, half a Cup of which Should fre
quently be taken, with a fmall Cruft of Bread.
529. The Vapour which exhales from
Wine, and in general from all fermenting Li
quors, fuch as Beer, Cyder, fcV. contains fome-
thing poifonous, which kills in the like Manner
with the Vapour of Coal ; and there is always
fome Danger in going into a Cellar, where there
is much Wine in the State of Fermentation ; if it
has been fhut up cioie for feveral Hours. There
have been many Examples of Perfons {truck
dead on entering one, and of others who have
efcaped out of it with Difficulty.
When fuch unhappy Accidents occur, Men
fhould not be fucceffively expofed, one after
another, to perifh, by endeavouring to fetch out
the firft who funk down upon his Entrance -, but
the
Of Cafes which require immediate Ajjiftanc?. 525
the Air fhould immediately be purified by the
Method already directed, or by difcharging fome
Guns into the Cellar , after which People may
venture in with Precaution. And when the
Perfons unfortunately affected are brought out,
they are to be treated like thofe, who were
affected with the Coal-Vapour.
I faw a Man> about eight Years fince, who was
not fenfible of the Application of Spirit of Sal Am
moniac, till about an Hour after he was (truck
down, and who was entirely freed at laft by a
plentiful Bleeding ; though he had been fo in-
fenfible, that it was feveral Hours before he dif-
covered a very great Wound he had, which ex
tended from the Middle of his Arm to his Arm
pit, and which was made by a Hook intended
to be ufed, in Cafe of a Houfe catching Fire,
to aiiift Perfons in efcaping from the Flames.
53- When fubterraneous Caves that have
been very long (hut are opened -, or when deep
Wells are cleaned, that have not been emptied
for feveral Years, the Vapours arifing from them
produce the fame Symptoms I have mentioned,
and require the fame Affiftance. They are to be
cleanfed and purified by burning Sulphur and
Salt Petre in them, or Gunpowder, as compound
ed of both.
531. The often five Stink of Lamps and of
Candles, efpecially when their Flames are extin-
guiibed, operate like other Vapours, though
with lefs Violence, and lefs fuddenly. Never-
verthelefs there have been Inftances of People
killed
526 Of Cafes which require immediate jijjiftance.
killed by the Fumes of Lamps fed with Nut
Oil, which had been extinguished in a clofe
Room. Thefe la(l Smells or Fumes prove noxi
ous alfo, in Coniequence of their Greafinels,
which being conveyed, together with the Air,
into the Lungs, prevent their Refpiration : And
hence we may obferve, that Perlbns of weak de
licate Breafts find themfelves quickly opprefled in
Chambers or Apartments, illuminated with ma
ny Candles.
The proper Remedies have been already di
rected, 525. The Steam of Vinegar is very
ferviceable in fuch Cafes.
Of Poifons,.
532. There are a great Number of Poifons,
whofe Manner of acting is not alike j and whole
ill Effects are to be oppofed by different Reme
dies : But Arfenic, or Ratlbane, and fome parti
cular Plants are the Poifons which are the moll
frequently productive of Mifchief, in Country
Places.
533- ft * s * n Coniequence of its exceffive
Acrimony, or violent Heat and Sharpnefs, which
corrodes or gnaws, that Arfenic deftroys by an
cxccffive Inflammation, with a burning Fire as
it were, moil torturing Pains in the Mouth,
Throat, Stomach, Guts ; with rending and often
bloody Vomitings, and Stools, Convulfions,
Faintings, &c.
The
Of Cafes which require immediate AJjij. 527
The befl Remedy of all is pouring down
whole Torrents of Milk, or, where there is not
Milk, of warm Water. Nothing but a prodigi
ous Quantity of fuch weak Liquids can avail fuch
a miferable Patient. If the Cauie of the Diiorder
is immediately known, after having very fpeedily
taken down a large Quantity of warm Water,
Vomiting may be excited with Oil, or with
melted Butter, and by tickling the Infide of the
Throat with a Feather. Biit when the Poifon
has already inflamed the Stomach and the Guts,
we muft not expect to dixharge it by vomiting.
Whatever is healing or emollient, Decoctions of
mealy Pulfe, of Barley, of Oatmeal, of Marm-
mallows, and Butter and Oil are the moil iuit-
able.
As foon as ever the tormenting Pains are felt
in the Belly, and the Inteftines ieern attacked,
Glyilers of Milk mull: be very frequently thrown
up.
If at the very Beginning of the Attack, the Pati
ent has a ftrong Pulfe, a very large Bleeding may
be conliderably ferviceable by its delaying thePro-
<2reis, and diminimin^ the Decree of Inflamma-
o o o
tion.
And even though it mould, happen that a Pati
ent overcomes the firft Violence of this dreadful
Accident, it is too common for him to continue
in a languid State for a long Time, and fome-
times for all the Remainder of his Life. The
moil certain Method of preventing this Milcry,
is to live for ibme Months folely upon Milk,
and
528 Of Cafes witch require immediate Aflifiancc,
and fome very new laid Eggs, juft received from
the Hen, and diflblved or blended in the Milk,
without boiling them.
534. The Plants which chiefly produce
thefe unhappy Accidents are fome Kinds of Hem
lock, whether it be the Leaf or the Root, the
Berries of the Bella Donna, or deadly Night-
ihade, which Children eat by miftake for Cher
ries ; fome Kind ofMufhrootris, the Seed of the
Datura, or the {linking Thorn-Apple.
All the Poifons of this Clafs prove mortal
rather from a narcotic, or ftupefying, than from
an acrid, or very iharp Quality; Vertigos,
Paintings, Reachings to vomit, and aclual Vomi
tings are the firft Symptoms produced by them.
The Patient mould immediately 1 wallow down
a large Quantity of Water, moderately feafoned
with Salt or with Sugar; and then a Vomiting
fhould be excited as foon as poffible by the Pre-
fcription N. 34 or 35 : or, if neither of thefe is
very readily procurable, with Radiih-feed pound
ed, to the Quantity of a Coffee Spoonful, Kval-
lowed in warm Water, foon after forcing a Fea
ther or a Finger into the Patient s Throat, to ex
pedite the Vomiting.
After the Operation of the Vomit, he muft con
tinue to take a large Quantity of Water, fweeten-
ed with Honey or Sugar, together with a confi-
derable Quantity of Vinegar, which is the true
Specific, or Antidote, as it were, againil thofe
Poifons: the Inteftines muft alib be emptied by a
few Glyflcrs.
Thirty
t s which require immediate Aflifiahce. ^2
Thirty-feven Soldiers having unhappily eaten,
inftead of Carrots, of the Roots of the Qenanthc^
or Water-hemlock, became all extremely fick ;
when the Emetic, N. 34, with the Aififtance
of Glyfters, and very plentiful drinking of warm
Water, faved all but one of them, who died be
fore he could be atlifted.
535. If a Perfon has taken too much Opi
um, or any Medicine into which it enters, as
Venice Treacle, Mithridate, Diafcordium, &c.
whether by Imprudence, Miftake, Ignorance,
or through any bad Defign, he mult be bled
upon the Spot, and treated as if he had a fan-
guine Apoplexy, (See 147) by Reafbn that
Opium in Effect produces fuch a one. He fhould
fnuffup and inhale the Vapour of Vinegar plen
tifully, adding it alfo liberally to the Water he
is to drink.
Of acute Patris.
536. It is not my Intention to treat here of
thofe Pains, that accompany any evident known
Difeafe, and which mould be conducted as rela
ting to fuch Diieafes ; nor of fuch Pains as infirm
valetudinary Perfons are habitually fubject to;
fince Experience has informed fuch of the moft
effectual Relief for them : But when a Perfon.
found and hale, finds himfelf fuddenly attacked
with fome exceflive Pain, in whatever Part it
occurs, without knowing either the Nature, or
LI the
53 Of Cirjcs which require immediate
the Caufe of it, they may, till proper Advice can
be procured,
1, Part with fome Blood, which, by abating
the Fulnefs and Tenlion, almofl conftantly
ailwages the Pains, at leafr. for fome Time : and
it may even be repeated, if, without weakening
the Patient much, it has lellened the Violence of
the Pain.
2, The Patient fhould drink abundantly of
fome very mild temperate Drink, fuch as the
ptifan N. 2, the Almond Emulfion N. 4, or
\varm Water with a fourth or fifth Part Milk.
3, Several emollient Glyiters fhould be given.
4, The whole Part that is affected, and the
adjoining Parts fhould be covered with Cata-
plafms, or foothed with the emollient Fomenta
tion, N. 9.
5, The warm Bath may alfo be advantagioufly
u fed.
6, If notwithftanding all thefe Affiilances, the
Pain fhould ftill continue violent, and the Pulie
is neither full nor hard, the grown Patient rnay
take an Ounce of Syrup of Diacodium, or fixteen
Drops of liquid Laudanum ; and when neither
of thefe are to be had,* an Englifi Pint of boil
ing Water mufl be poured upon three or four
Poppy-heads with their Seeds, but without the
Leaves, and this Decodion is to be drank like
Tea.
^37. Perfons very fubjecl: to frequent Pains,
and eJpecially to violent Head-achs, mould ab/tain
from
* line
Of Medicines taken /)> /K/y, &V. 53 1
from all ftrong Drink; fuch Abftinence being often
the only Means of curing them : And People are
Very often mrftaken in fuppofing Wine necellary
for as many as feem to have a weak Stomach.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Of Medicines taken by Way of * Precaution , or
Prevention.
SECT. 538.
Have pointed out, in fome Parts of
this Work, the Means of preventing
the bad Effects of feveral Caufes of Dif-
eafes ; and of prohibiting the Return of
fome habitual Diforders. In the prefent Qhapter
I mall adjoin fome Observations, on the Ufe of
the principal Remedies, which are employed as
general Prefervatives j pretty regularly too at cer
tain ilated Times, and almoft always from meer
Cuftom only, without knowing, and often with
very little Confideration, whether they are right
or wrong
Neverthelefs, the Ufe, the Habit of taking
Medicines, is certainly no indifferent Matter : it
is ridiculous, dangerous, and even criminal to
omit them, when they are neceilary, but not lefs
Jo to take them when they are not wanted. A
L 1 2 jd
532 Of Medicines taken by Way
good Medicine taken feafonably, when there is
lome Diforder, fome Disarrangement in the Bo
dy, which would in a fhort time occafion a Dii-
temper, has often prevented it. But yet the ve
ry lame Medicine, if given to a Perfon in perfect
Heql h, if it does not directly make him fick,
leaves him at the beft in a greater Propenfity to
the ImprefTions ofDifeafes: and there are but
too many Examples of People, who having very
unhapj ily contracted a Habit, a Difpofition to
take Phyfick, have really injured their Health,
and impaired their Conftitution, however natu
rally ftrong, by an Abufe of thole Materials
which Providence has given for the Recovery
and Re-eftablimment of it; an Abufe which,
though it ihould not injure the Health of the
Perfon, would occafion thofe Remedies, when
he fhould be really lick, to be lefs efficacious and
ferviceable to him, from their having been fami
liar to his Conftitution ; and thus he becomes
deprived of the Afliftance he would have receiv
ed from them, if taken only in thofe Times
and Circumftances, in which they were neceila-
ry for him.
Of Bleeding.
^39. Bleeding is .neceilary only in thelc
fourCaies. I, When there is too great a Quan
tity of Blood in the Body. 2, When there is
any Inflammation, or an inflammatory Difeafe.
3, When iome Caufe fupervenes, or is about to
fuper-
of Precaution > or Prevention. 533
fnpervene, in the Constitution, which would
fpeedily produce an Inflammation, or ibrne other
dangerous Symptom, if the Veflels were not re
laxed hy Bleeding. It is upon this Principle
that Patients are bled after Wounds, and after
Bruiles; that Bleeding is directed for a pregnant
Woman, ifihe has a violent Cough; and that
Bleeding is performed, by Way of Precaution,
in feveral other Cafes. 4, We alfo advife Ble
ing ibmetirnes to aiTvvage an excefiive Pain,
though fuch Pain is not owine to Excefs of
cl / t/-?f . -
Blood, nor A .amses from an inflamed Blood ; but
in Order to appeafe and moderate the Pain by
Bleeding ; and thereby to obtain Time for de-
ftroying the Caufe of it by other Remedies.
But as thefe two laft Reafons are in Effect invol
ved or implied in the two firft; it may be very
generally concluded, that an Excefs of Blood,
and an inflamed State of it, are the only two
neceiTary Motives for Bleeding.
540. An Inflammation of the Blood is
known by the Symptoms accompanying thofe
Difeafes, which that Caufe produces. Of thefe
I have already fpoken, and I have at the fame
time regulated the Practice of Bleedin? in fuch
o <->
Cafes. Here I /hall point out thofe Symptoms
and Circumflances, which manifeft an Excels of
Blood.
The firft, then, is the general Courfe and
Manner of the Patient s living, while in HeaHi.
If he is a great Eater, and indulges in juicy nu
tritious Food, and efpecially on much Flefh*-
L 1 3 meat 5
534 Of Medicines taken by W-ay
meat; if he drinks rich and nouriftiing Wine, or
other ftrong Drink, and at the fame time enjoys
a good Dig eftion ; if he takes but little Exercife,
ileeps much, and has not been fubject to any
very considerable Evacuation, he may well be
fuppofcd to abound in Blood. It is very obvious
that all thefe Caufes rarely occur in Country
People ; if we except only the Abatement of their
Exercife, during fome Weeks in Winter, which
indeed may contribute to their generating more
Blood than they commonly do.
The labouring Country-man, for much the
greater Part of his Time, lives only on Bread,
Water and Vegetables ; Materials but very mode
rately nouri filing, as one Pound of Bread probably
does not make, in the fame Body, more Blood
than one Ounce of Fleih ; though a general Preju
dice feems to have eftablifhed a contrary Opinion.
2, The total Stopping or long Interruption of
fome involuntary Bleeding or Haemorrhage, to
which he had been accuftomed. 3, A full and
ftrong Pulfe, and Veins viiibly filled with Blood,
in a Body that is not lean and thin, and when he
is not heated. 4, A florid lively Ruddinefs.
^, A confiderable andunufualNumbnefs ; Sleep
more profound, of more Duration, and yet Ids
tranquil and calm, than at other times ; a greater
Propenfity than ordinary to be fatigued after mo
derate Exercife or Work ; and a little Oppreilion
and Heavinefs from walking. 6, Palpitations,
accompanied fometimes with very great Dejection,
and even with a flight fainting Fit 5 eipecially on
being
of Precaution, or Prevention. 535
being in any hot Place, or after moving about
considerably. 7, Vertigos, or Swimmings of the
Head, efpecially on bowing down and railing it
up at once, and after ileeping. 8, Frequent
Pains of the Head, to which the Perfon vas riot
formerly fubject; and which feem not to arile
j j *
from any Defect in the Diiredions. o, An evi-
J O 7
dent Seniation of Heat, pretty generally diffufed
over the whole Body- JO, A Imartins: Sort of
* ^j
Itching all over, from a very little more Heat
than ufual. And lafUy, frequent Hemorrhages,
and thefe attended with manifeil Relief, and
more Vivacity.
People fliould, notwithftanding, be cautious
of fuppofmg an unhealthy Excefs of Blood, from
any one of thefe Symptoms only. Many of
them muft concur ; and they mould endeavour
to be certain that even fuch a Concurrence of
them does not refult from a very different Caufe,
and wholly oppofite in Effect to that of an Ex
cels of Blood.
But when it is certain, from the whole Ap
pearance, that fuch an Excefs doth really exift,
then a fingle, or even a fecond Bleeding is at
tended with very good Effects. Nor is it mate
rial, in fuch Cafes, from what Part the Blood is
taken.
^41. On the other Hand, when thefe Cir-
cumilances do not exift, Bleeding is in no wife
neceflary : nor mould it ever be practifed in thefe
following Conditions and Circumftances ; except
tor lome particular and very flrong Reaibnsj of
L 1 4 the
536 Of Medicines taken by Way
the due Force of which none but Phyficians can
.judge.
Firft, when the Perfon is in a very advanced
Age, or in very early Infancy. 2, When he is
cither naturally of a weakly Confr.itution, or it
lias been rendered fuch by Sicknefs, or by feme
other Accident. 3, When the Pulfe is frnall,
loft, feeble, and intermits, and the Skin is ma-
nifeftly pale. 4, When the Limbs, the Extre
mities of the Body, are often colcj, puffed up
and foft. 5, When their Appetite has been yery
fmall for a long time ; their Food but little nou-
rifhing, and their Perfpiration too plentiful, from
great Exercife. 6, When the Stomach has long
been difordered, and the Digeftion bad, whence
very little Blood could be generated- 7, When
the Patient has been confiderably emptied, whe
ther by Hemorrhages, a Loofenefs, profufe
Urine or Sweat : or when the Crijis of fome Dif-
tcmper has been effeded by any one of thefe
Evacuations. 8, When the Patient has long
been afflicted with fome depreiTing Difeafe ; and
troubled with many fuch Qftrudtions as prevent
the Formation of Blood. 9, Whenever a Perfon
is exhawded, from whatever Caufe. 10, When
the Blood is in a thin, pale, and difTolved State.
542, In all thefe Cafes, and in fome others
lefs frequent, a fingle Bleeding often precipitates
the Patient into an abfolutely incurable State, an
irreparable Train of Evils. Many difmal Exam
ples of it are but too obvious.
What-
of Precaution^ or Prevention.
Whatever, therefore, be the Situation of the
Patient, and however naturally robuft, that
Bleeding, which is unneceffary, is noxious. Re
peated, re-iterated Bleedings, weaken and ener
vate, haften old Age, diminifli the Force of the
Circulation, thence fatten and puff up the Bo
dy ; and next by weakening, and laftly by de-
ftroying, the Digeilioris, they lead to a fatal
Dropiy. They diibrder the Perfpiration by the
Skin, and leave the Patient liable to Colds and
Defluxions : They v/eaken the nervous Syflem,
and render them jfubjedt to Vapours, to the
hypochondriac Diforders, and to all nervon;
Maladies.
The ill Confequence of a (ingle, though erro
neous Bleeding is not immediately difcernible :
on the contrary, when it was not performed in
iuch a Quantity, as to weaken the Patient per-
ceivably, it appears to have been rather beneficial.
Yet I ftill here inlift upon it, that it is not the
lefs true that, when unneceiTary, it is prejudicial;
and that People ihould never ble^d, as fome-
times has been done, for meer Whim, or, as
it were, for Diversion. It avails nothing to af
firm, that within a few Days alter it, they have
got more Blood than they had before it, that is,
that they weigh more than at firfr., whence they
infer the Lofs of Blood very fbeedily repaired.
The Fad: of their augmented Weight is admit
ted 3 but this very Fad: teftii ninil the real
Benefit of that Bleeding ; fmce it is a Proof,
that the natural Evacuations of die Body are lefs
com-
53 S Of Medicines taken by Way
compleatly made; and that Humours, which
ought to be expelled, are retained in it. There
remains the fame Quantity of Blood, and per
haps a little more; but it is not a Blood fo well
made, ib perfectly elaborated; and this is fo
very true, that if the thing were otherwife; if
fome Days after the Bleeding they had a greater
Quantity of the fame Kind of Blood, it would
amount to a Demonftration, that more re-ite
rated Bleedings muft neceiTarily have brought
on an inflammatory Difcafc, in a Man of a robuft
Habit of Body.
543. The Quantity of Blood, which a
grown Man may Part with, by Way of Precau
tion, is about ten Ounces.
544. Peribns fo conftituted as to breed much
Blood, mould carefully avoid all thofe Caufes
which tend to augment it, (See 540, N.i)
and when they are fenfible of the Quantity aug
mented, they mould confine themfelves to a
light frugal Diet, on Pulfe, Fruits, Bread and
Water ; they mould often bathe their Feet in
warm Water, taking Night and Morning the
Powder N 20 ; drink of the Ptifan N.i ; ileep
but very moderately, and take much Exercife.
By ufing theie Precautions they may either pre
vent any Occailon for Bleeding, or mould they
rdally be obliged to admit of it, they would in-
cieafe and prolong its good Effects. Thefe are
alfo the very Means, which may remove all the
Danger that might enfue from a Peribn s omit-
O &
ting to bleed, at the ufual Seafcn or Interval,
when
iff Precaution, or Prevents
;ien the Habit, the Faihion of Bleeding had
been inveterately eftabiifhed in him.
545. We learn with Horror and Afloniih-
ment, that fome have been bled eighteen, twen
ty and even twenty-four times in two Days ; and
iome others, fome * hundred times, in the
Courfe of fome Months. Such Inftances irrefra-
gably demonstrate the continual Ignorance of
their Phyiician or Surgeon ; and mould the Pa
tient efcape, we ought to admire the inexhaufti-
ble Refources of Nature, that furvived fo many
nuirdeious Incifions.
546. The People entertain a common No
tion, which is, that the firft Time of bleeding
certainly faves the Life of the Patient ; but to
convince them of the Faliity of this filly Notion,
they need only open their Eyes, and fee the very
contrary Fad: to this occur but too unhappily
every Day ; many People dying foon after their
firft Bleeding. Were their Opinion right, it
would be impoffible that any Perfon mould die
of the firft Difeafe that fei/ed him, which yet
daily happens. Now the Extirpation of this ab-
furd Opinion is really become important, as the
Con-
* How fnocking is this ! and yet how true in fome Countries!
J have been moft certainly allured, that Bleeding has been inflic
ted and repeated in the laft finking and totally relaxing Stage of
a Sea-Scurvy, whofe fatal Termination it doubtlefs accelerated.
This did not happen in our own Fleet; yet we are not as yet
wholly exempt on Shore, from fome Abufe of Bleeding, which a
few raw unthinking Operators are apt to conftder as a meer Mat
ter of Courfe. I have in fome other Place iligmatized the Mad-
nefs of Bleeding in Convuliions, from mamfeft Exhauftion and
jimptinefs, with the Abhorrence it deferves. K.
54 Of Medicines taken by Way
Continuance of it is attended with fome unhap
py Confequences : their Faith in, their great De~
pendance on, the extraordinary Virtue of this
firft Bleeding makes them willing to omit it,
that is, to treafure it np again ft a Diftemper,
from which they (hall he in the greateft Danger;
and thus it is deferred as long as the Patient is
not extremely had, in Hopes that if they can do
without it then, they fhall keep it for another
and more prelTing Occafion. Their preient Dif-
eafe in the mean time riles to a violent Height ;
and then they bleed, but when it is too late, and
I have feen Inftances of many Patients, who
were permitted to die, that the firft Bleeding
might be relerved for a more important Occa
fion. The only Difference between the firft
Bleeding, and any fubfequent one is, that the
firft commonly gives the Patient an Emotion,
that is rather hurtful than falutary.
Of Purges.
547. The Stomach and Bowels are emptied
either by Vomiting, or by Stools, the latter Dif-
charge being much more natural than the firfr,
which is not effected without a violent Motion,
and one indeed to which Nature is repugnant.
Neverthelefs, there are fome Cafes, which really
require this artificial Vomiting ; butthefe except-
ed (fome of which I have already pointed out)
we fbould rather prefer thofe Remedies, which
empty the Belly by Stool.
548.
of Precaution y or Prevention. 541
548. The Signs, which indicate a Neceffity
for Purging, are, I , a difagreeable Tad or Sa
vour of the Mouth in a Morning, and efpecial-
ly a bitter Taft ; a foul, furred Tongue and
Teeth, difagreable Eruditions or Belchings,
Windineis and Diftenfion.
2, A Want of Appetite which increafes very
gradually, without any Fever, which degenerates
into a Diigult or total Averiion to Food ; and
fometimes communicates a bad Taft to the very
little iuch Perfons do eat.
3, Reachings to vomit in a Morning fading,
and fometimes throughout the Day ; fuppofmg
iuch not to depend on a Woman s Pregnancy, or
lome other Diforder, in which Purges would
be either ufelefs or hurtful.
4, A vomiting up of bitter, or corrupted,
Humours.
5, A manifeft Senfation of a Weight, or
Heavinefs in the Stomach, the Loins, or the
Knees.
6, A Want of Strength fometimes attended
v/ith ReftlefTnefs, ill Humour, or Peevifhnefs,
and Melancholy.
7, Pains of the Stomach, frequent Pains of
the Head, or Vertigos ; fometimes a Drowfinefs,
which increafes after Meals.
8, Some Species- of Cholics ; irregular Stools
which are fometimes very great in Quantity, and
too liquid for many Days together 3 after which
an obilinate Coftivenefs enfues.
9, A
542 t)f Medicines taken by II
9, A Pulfe lefs regular, and lefs ftrong, thai!
what is natural to the Patient, and which fome-
times intermits.
549. When thefe Symptoms, or fome of
them, afcertain the Neceffity of purging a Per-
fon, not then attacked hy any manifeft Difeafe
(for I am not fpeaking here of Purges in fuch
Cafes) a proper purging Medicine may be given
him. The bad Taft in his Mouth ; the conti
nual Belchings ; the frequent Reachings to vo
mit > the adlual Vomitings and Melancholy dif-
cover, that the Caufe of his Difordcr refides in
the Stomach, and [hew that a Vomit will be of
Service to him. But when fuch Signs or Symp
toms are not evident, the Patient mould take
fuch purging or opening Remedies, as are parti
cularly indicated by the Pains, whether of the
Loins -, from the Cholic j or by a Senfation of
Weight or Heavinefs in the Knee?.
550. But we mould abftam from either
vomiting or purging, i, Whenever the Com
plaints of the Patient are founded in their Weak-
nefs, and their being already exhaufted. 2,
When there is a general Drynefs of the Habit, a
very confiderabie Degree of Heat, fome Inflam
mation, or a flrong Fever. 3, Whenever Nature
is exerting herfelf in fome other falutary Evacua
tion y whence purging muft never be attempted
in critical Sweats, during the monthly Dif-
charges, nor during a Fit of the Gout. 4, Nor
in fuch inveterate Obstructions as Purges cannot
remove, and really do augment. 5, Neither
when
of Precaution , or Prevention.
when the nervous Syftem is coniiderably weak
ened.
551. There are other Cafes again, in which
it may be proper to purge, but not to give a Vo
mit. Thefe Cafes are, i, When the Patient
abounds too much with Blood, (See 540) fincc
the Efforts which attend vomiting, greatly aug
ment the Force of the Circulation - y whence the
Blood-veTeIs of the Head and of the Breafc, be
ing extremely diftended with Blood, might burft,
which mufl prove fatal on the Spot, and has
repeatedly proved ib. 2, For the fame Reafon
they mould not be given to Perfons, who are
fubject to frequent Bleeding from the Noie, or
to coughing up or vomiting of Blood ; to Wo
men who are fubjecl: to exceflive or unfeaibnabk
Diicharges of Blood, &c. from the Vagina, the
Neck of the Womb; nor to thofe who are with
Child. 3, Vomits are improper for ruptured
Peribns.
552. When any Perfon has taken too acr-id,
too (harp, a Vomit, or a Purge, which operates
with exceflive Violence ; whether this conlifls in
the mod vehement Efforts and Agitations, the
Pains, Convulfions, or Swoonings, which are
their frequent Conlequences ; or whether that
prodigious Evacuation and Emptinefs their Ope
ration cauies, (^ which is commonly termed a Su
per-purgation) and which may hurry the Patient
off; Inftances of which are but too common
among the lower Clafs of the People, who much
too frequently confide themfelves to the Conduct
of
544 Of Medicines taken by H .
of ignorant Men-flayers : In all fuch unhappy
Accidents, I lay, we mould treat thefe unfortu
nate Perfons, as if they had been actually poifon-
ed, by violent corroding Poilbns, (See 533)
that is, we fhould fill them, as it were, with
Draughts of warm Water, Milk, Oil, Barley-
water, Almond Milk, emollient Glyfters with
Milk, and the Yolks of Eggs ; and alfo bleed
them plentifully, if their Pains are excefiive, and
their Pulies ftrong and feverim.
The Super-purgation, the exceffive Difcharge,
is to be ilopt, after having plied the Patient
plentifully with diluting Drinks, by giving the
calming Anodyne Medicines directed in the Re
moval of acute Pains, 536, N. 6.
Flanels dipt in hot Water, in which fome Ve
nice Treacle is diffolved, are very ferviceable :
and fhould the Evacuations by Stool be cxceffive,
and the Patient has not a high Fever, and a
parching Kind of Heat, a Model of the fame
Treacle, as large as a Nutmeg, may be dhTolved
in his Glyfter.
But mould the Vomiting folely be exceffive,
without any Purging, the Number of the emol
lient Glyfters with Oil and the Yolk of an Egg
muft be increafed ; and the Patient mould be
placed in a warm Bath.
553- Purges frequently repeated, without
juft and neceffary Indications, are attended with
much the fame ill Effects as frequent Bleedings.
They deftroy the Digeftions ; the Stomach no
longer, or very languidly, exerts its Functions;
the
of Precaution > or Prevention.
the Inteflines prove inactive ; the Patient becomes
liable to very levere Cholics ; the Plight of the
Body, deprived of its falutary Nutrition, falls off;
Perfpiration is difordered j Defluxions enfue ;
nervous Maladies come on, with a general Lan
guor j and the Patient proves old, long before
the Number of his Years have made him fo.
Much irreparable Mifchief has been done to
the Health of Children, by Purges injudicioufly
given and repeated. They prevent them from,
attaining their utmoft natural Strength, and fre
quently contract their due Growth. They ruin
their Teeth ; difpofe young Girls to future Ob-
ftrudtions ; and when they have been already
affected by them, they render them ftill more
obm nate.
It is a Prejudice too generally received, that
Perfons who have little or no Appetite need
purging j iince this is often very falfe, and mod
of thole Caufes, which leiTen or deftroy the Ap~
petite> cannot be removed by purging ; though
many of them may be increafed by it.
Perfons vvhofe Stomachs contain much glairy
vifcid Matter fuppofe, they may be cured by
Purges, which feem indeed at firft to relieve
them : but this proves a very flight and deceitful
Relief. Thefe Humours are owing to that
Weaknefs and Laxity of the Stomach, which
Purges augment ; fince notwithstanding they car
ry off Part of thefe vifcid Humours generated in
it, at the Expiration of a few Days there is a
greater Accumulation of them than before -, and
M m thus,
546 Of Medicines taken by Way
thus, by a Re-iteration of purging Medicine 1
Malady foon becomes incurable, and Health
i ;coverably loft. The real Cure of fuch Cafes.
Reeled by directly oppoiite Medicines. Thole
referred to, or mentioned, 272, are highly
conducive to it.
554. The Cuftom of taking ftomachic Me
dicines infufecl in Brandy, Spirit of Wine, Cher
ry Water, GV. is always dangerous ; for not-
withftanding the prefent immediate Relief fuch
Infufiorts afford in fome Diforders of the Sto
mach, they really by How Degrees impair and
ruin that Organ ; and it may be obferved, that
as many as accuftom themlelves to Drams, go
off, juft like excefTive Drinkers, in Confequence
<>: their having no Digeftion ; whence they link
into a State of Depreflion and Languor, and die
droplical.
5^5. Either Vomits or Purges may be of
ten beneficially omitted, even when they have
fome Appearance of feeming necellary, by aba
ting one Meal a Day for fome time ; by abftain-
ing from the moft nourishing Sorts of Food ; and
efpecially from thole which are fat ; by drinking
freely of cool Water, and taking extraordinary
Exerciie. The fame Regimen alfo ferves to
fubclue, without the Ufe of Purges, the various
Complaints which often invade thole, who omit
taking purging Medicines, at thofe Seafons and
Intervals, in which they have made it a Cuftom
to take them.
i
of Precaution, or Prevention. 547
556. The Medicines, N. 34 and 35, a:^
the moft certain Vomits. The Powder, N. 21,
is a good Purge, when the Patient is in no wife
ieverifh.
The Dofes recommended in the Table of Re
medies arc thofe, which aie proper for a grown
Man, of a vigorous Conftitution* Neverihelefs
there are fome few, for whom they may be too
weak in fuch Circumftances they may be in-
creafed by the Addition of a third or fourth Part
of the Dole prefcribed. But mould they not
operate in that Quantity, we mutt be careful
not to double the Dofe, much lefs to give a
three-fold Quantity, which has fometimes been
done, and that even without its Operation, and at
the Rifque of killing the Patient, which has not
feldom been the Confequence. In Cafe of fuch
purging not enfuing, we fliould rather give large
Draughts of Whey fweetened with Honey, or of
warm Water, in a Pot of which an Ounce, or
an Ounce and a half of common Salt muil be
diilblved j and this Quantity is to be taken from
time to time in fmall Cups, moving about with
it.
The Fibres of Country People who inhabit
the Mountains, and live almoft folely on Milk,
are fo little fufceptible of Senfation, that they
muft take fuch large Dofes to purge them, as
would kill all the Peafantry in the Vallies. In
the Mountains of Falais there are Men who take
twenty, and even twenty-four Grains of Glafs of
M m 2 Ami-
54-3 Of Medicines taken fa Way
Antimony for a fingle Dole ; a Grain or two of
which were futiicient to poilbn ordinary Men.
557. Notwithftandiiig our Cautions on this
important Head, whenever an urgent Neceffity
.iimands it, Purging muft he recurred to at all
Times and Seafons : but when the Seafon may
be iafely feleded, it were right to decline Purg
ing in the Extremities of either Heat or Cold ;
and to take the Purge early in the Morning, that
the Medicines may find leis Obftruclion or Em-
barraflment from the Contents of the Stomach.
Every other Confideration, with Relation to the
Stars and the Moon, is ridiculous, and void of
any Foundation. The People are particularly
averfe to purging in the Dog-days ; and if this
were only on Account of the great Heat, it would
be very pardonable : but it is from an aftrological
Prejudice, which is fo much the more abfurd, as
the real Dog-days are at thirty-iix Days Diftance
from thole commonly reckoned fuch ; and it is a
melancholy Reflection, that the Ignorance of the
J O
People fhould be fo grofs, in this RefpecT:, in our
enlightened Age ; and that they mould (till imagine
the Virtue and Efficacy of Medicines to depend on
what Sign of the Zodiac the Sun is in, or in any
particular Quarter of the Moon. Yet it is cer
tain in this Point, they are fo inveterately at
tached to this Prejudice, that it is but too com
mon to fee Country -People die, in waiting for
the Sign or Quarter molt favourable to the Ope
ration and Effedt of a Medicine, which was truly
necelTary five or fix Days before either of them.
Some
of Precaution, cr Prevention. 549
Sometimes too that particular Medicine is given,
to which a certain Day is fuppofed to be aufpici-
ous and favourable, in Preference to that which
is moft prevalent againft the Diicafe. And thus
it is, than an ignorant Almanack Maker deter
mines on the Lives of the human Race ; and
contracts the Duration of them with Impunity.
558. When a Vomit or a Purge is to be
taken, the Patient s Body fhould be prepared for
the Reception of it twenty-four Hours before
hand; by taking very little Food, and drinking
fome dalles of warm Water, or of a light Tea
of fome Herbs.
He fhould not drink after a Vomit, until it
begins to work ; but then he fhould drink very
plentifully of warm Water, or a light Infufion
of Chamomile Flowers, which is preferable.
It is ulual, after Purges, to take fome thin
Broth or Soup during their Operation ; but warm
Water fweetened with Sugar or Honey, or an
Infuiion of Succory Flowers, would fometimes be
more fuitable,
559. As the Stomach fufTers, in fome De
gree, as often as either a Vomit, or a Purge, is
taken, the Patient fhould be careful how he lives
and orders himfelf for fome Days after taking
them, as well in Regard to the Quantity as Qua
lity of his Food.
$ c6o. I fhall fay nothing of other Articles
J *J C?
taken by \Vay of Precaution, men as boi.
Whey, Waters, &c. which are but little uled
among the People ; but confine myfeif to
M m 3 general
55 Of Medicines taken by Way,
general Remark, that when they take any of
thefe precautionary Things, they fhould enter on
a Regimen or Way of living, that may co-ope
rate with them, and contribute to the fame Pur-
pofc. Whey is commonly taken to refrefli and
cool the Body j and while they drink it, they
deny themfdves Pulfe, Fruits, and Sallads.
They eat nothing then, but the befi and heartieft
Flefh-meaiS they can come at ; fuch Vegetables
are ufed in good Soups, Eggs, and good
Wine; notwithitarrding this is to deflroy, by
high and heating Aliments, all the attempera-
ting cooling Effects expected from the Whey.
:ic Pcrlbns propc lb to cool and attemperate
their Blood by Soups and a thin Diet, into which
they cram Craw-rim, that heat confiderably, or
Naflnrtiujii, Creiics which alfo heat, and thus
defeat their own Purpoie. Happily, in fuch a
Cafe, the Error in one Refpeft often cures that
in the other ; and thefe Kinds of Soup, which
are in no wife cooling, prove very ferviceable, in
Confequence of the Caufe of the Symptoms,
which they were intended to remove, not re
quiring any Coolers at all.
The general phyfical Practice of the Commu
nity, which unhappily is but too much in Fa-
ihion, abounds with iimil a r Errors. I wiHjuft
eke one, becaufe I have feen its difmal Eifecls.
Mai;y People fuppofe Pepper cooling, though
their Smell, Tafte, and common Senfe concur
to inform them of the contrary. It is the very
hotteft of Spices.
5 6l
Of Mount c banks, Qitacks, and Conjurers. 551
561. The moft certain PreftTvative, and
the moil attainable too by every Man, is to
avoid all Excels, and efpccially Excels in eating
and in drinking. People generally eat more than
thoroughly con-lifts with Health, or permits tb
to attain the utmoft Vigour, of which their natu
ral CJonftitutions are capable. The Cuftonvis
eftabliilied, and it is difficult to eradicate it :
notwithftandin^ we iliould at kaft reiblve not
o
to eat, but through Hunger, and always under
a Subjeclion to Reafon ; becaufe, except in a
very few Cafes, Reafon conflantly fuggefts to us
not to eat, when the Stomach has an Averfion
to Food. A iober moderate Perfon is capable of
Labour, I may fay, even of exceflive Labour of
fome Kinds ; of which greater Eaters are abfo-
Jutely incapable. Sobriety of itfelf cures fuch
Maladies as are otherwife incurable, and may
recover die moft fliattered and unhealthy Per
fon s.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.
SECT. 562.
dreadful Scourge ftill remains to be
O (f* treated of, which occafions a greater
Mortality, than all the Diftempers I
have hitherto defcribed j and which, as
as it continues, will defeat our utmoft Pre-
M m 4 cautions
55- Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers,
cautions to prefcrve the Healths and Lives of the
common People. This, or rather, thefe Scourges,
ior they are very numerous, are Qu_acks j of which
there are two Species: The Mountebanks OF
travelling Quacks, and thole pretended Phyfi-
cians in Villages and Country-Places, both male
and female, known in Swiflerland by the Name
of Conjurers, and who very effectually unpeople
The firft of thefe, the Mountebanks, without
vifiting the Sick, or thinking of their Diftem-
pers, fell different Medicines, fome of which
are fpr external Ufc, and thefe often do lit
tle or no Mifchief -, but their internal ones are
imich oftcner pernicious. I have been a Witnefs
of their dreadful Effects, and we are not vifited
by one of thefe wandering Caitiffs, whofe Ad-
mifllon into our Country is not mortally fatal to
fome of its Inhabitants. They are injurious alfo
5n another Refpect, as they carry off great Sums
of Money with them, and levy annually forne
thouiands of Livres, amongft that Order of the
People, who have the lealt to fpare. I have feen,
and with a very painful Concern, the poor La
bourer and the Artifan, who have fcarcely poifef-
fed the common Neceflaries of Life, borrow
wherewithal to purchafe, and at a dear Price,
the Poifon that was to compleat their Milery, by
increaling their Maladies -, and which, where
they efcapcd with their Lives, has left them in
iuch a languid and inactive State, as has reduced
their whole Family to Beggary.
563-
Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers. 553
563. An ignorant, knavifh, lying and im
pudent Fellow will always feduce the grofs and
credulous Ma Is of People, incapable to judge of
and eftimate any thing rightly; and adapted to
be the eternal Dupes of fuch, as are bafe enough
to endeavour todazzle their weak Underftandings ;
by which Method thefe vile Quacks will certainly
defraud them, as long as they are tolerated. But
plight not the Magiftrates, the Guardians, the
Protectors, the political Fathers of the People in-
terpofe, and defend them from this Danger, by
feverely prohibiting the Entrance of fuch perni
cious Fellows into a Country, where Mens
Lives are very eftimable, and where Money is
fcarce ; ilnce they extinguiih the firft, and carry
off the laft, without the leaft PolTibility of their
being in anywife ufeful to it. Can fuch forcible
Motives as thefe fuffer our Magiftrates to de.ay
their Expulfion any longer, whom there never
was the lead Reafon for admitting ?
564. It is acknowledged the Conjurers, the
refiding Conjurers, do not carry out the current
Money of the Country, like the itinerant Quacks ;
but the Havock they make among their Fellow
Subjects is without Intermiffion, whence it mud:
be very great, as every Day in the Year is mark
ed with many of their Victims. Without the
leaft Knowledge or Experience, and ofTenfively
armed with three or four Medicines, whole Na
ture they are as thoroughly ignorant or, as of
their unhappy Patients Difeafes ; and < hich Me
dicines, being almofl al violent ones, are very cer
tainly
554 Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.
tainly fo many Swords in the Hands of raging
Madmen. Thus armed and qualified, I lay,
they aggravate the flighteft Diforders, and make
thofe that are a little more coniiderable, mortal ;
but from which the Patients would have reco
vered, if left folely to the Conduct of Nature ;
and, for a ftill ftronger Reafon, if they had con
fided to the Guidance of her experienced Ob-
fervers and AflHlants.
565. The Robber who aflafiinates on the
High- way, leaves the Traveller the Refource of
defending himfelf, and the Chance of being aid
ed by the Arrival of other Travellers : But the
Poiioner, who forces himfelf into the Confidence
of a lick Perfon, is a hundred times more dan
gerous, and as juft an Objeci of Punilhment.
The Bands of Highwaymen, and their Indi
viduals, that enter into any Country or Diilricl,
are described as particularly as poffible to the
Publick. It were equally to be wiihed, we had
alfo a Lift of thefe phyfical Importers and Igno-
rints male and female ; and that a moil exact
Defcription of them, with the Number, and a
brief Summary of their murderous Exploits,
were faithfully published. By this Means the
Populace might probably be infpired with fuch a
\vholeiome Dread of them, that they would no
longer expofe their Lives to the Mercy of fuch
Executioners.
566. But their Blindnefs, with Refpea to
thefe two Sorts of maleficent Beings, is incon
ceivable. That indeed in Favour of the Moun
tebank
Of Mountebank^ Quacks , and Conjiosrs,
tebank is fomewhat lefs grofs, becaufeas they
not peribnally acquainted with him, they may
the more eafily credit him with fome Part of
the Talents and the Knowledge he arrogates. J
fhall therefore inform them, and it cannot be re
peated too often, that whatever oflentatious Drefs
and Figure fome of thefe Importers make, they
are conftantly vile Wretches, who, incapable of
earning a Livelyhdod in any honcft Way, have
laid the Foundation of their Subfiilence on their
own amazing Stock of Impudence, and that of
the weak Credulity of the People ; that they have
no fcientific Knowledge ; that their Titles and
Patents are fo muuy Impofitions, and inauthen-
tic j lince by a ihameful Abufe, fuch Patents and
Titles are become Articles of Commerce, which
are to be obtained at very low Prices; jiift like the
fecond-hand laced Cloaks which they purchafe
at the Brokers. That their Certificates of Cures
are fo many Chimeras or Forgeries ; and that in
fhort, if among the prodigious Multitudes of
People who take their Medicines, fome of them
fhould recover, which it is almoft phyfically im-
poffible muft not fometimes be the Cafe, yet it
would not be the lefs certain, that they are a per
nicious deftruclive Set of Men. A Thruft of a
Rapier into the Bread has faved a Man s Life by
feafonably opening an Impofthume in it, which
might otherwife have killed him : and yet inter
nal penetrating Wounds, with a frmll Sword,
are not the lefs mortal for one fuch extraordinary
fonfequence. Nor- is it even fiirprizing that
thefe
55^ Of Mountebank^ Quacks, find Conjurers.
thefe Mountebanks, which is equally applicable
to Conjurers, who kill thoulands of People,
whom Nature a:one, or affifted by a Phyfician,
would have laved, fhould now and then cure a
Patient, who had been treated before by the
ablcfl Phyiicians. Frequently Patients of that
Clafs, who apply to thefe Mountebanks and
Conjurers (whether it has been, that they would
not lubmit to the Treatment proper for their
Diilempers ; or whether the real Phyfician tired
of the intractable Creatures lus difcohtinued his
Advice and Attendance) look out for ilich Doc
tors, as allure them of a fpeedy Cure, and venture
to give them fuch Medicines as kill many, and
cure one (who has had Confutation enough to
overcome them) a little fooner than a juftly re
putable Pbyfician would have done. It is but
too eafy to procure, in every Pariih, fuch Lifts
ot their Patients, and of their Feats, as would
clearly evince the Truth of whatever has been
faid here relating to them.
567. The Credit of this Market, this Fair-
hunting Doctor, furrounded by five or fix hun
dred 1 eafants, flaring and gaping at him, and
counting themfelves happy in his condefcending
to cheat them of their very fcarce and necefTary
Cadi, by felling them, for twenty times more
than its real Worth, a Medicine whole heft Qua
lity were to be only a ufelefs one ; the Credit,
I fay, of this vile yet tolerated Cheat, would
quickly vanifh, could each of his Auditors be
perfuaded, of what is ftri&ly true, that except a
little
Of Mountebank^ Quacks, and Conjurers. 5^7
little more Tenderneis and Agility of Hand, he
knows full as much as .his Doctor; and that if
he could alTume as much Impudence, he would
immediately have as much Ability, would equal
ly deferve the lame Reputation, and to have the
lame Confidence rcpoied in him.
568. Were the Populace capable of reafon-
ing, it were eafy to difabu-fe them in thefe Re-
fpects ; but as it is, their Guardians and Conductors
Ihoulii realbn for them. I have already proved
the Abfurdity of rcpofing any Confidence in
Mountebanks, properly fo called ; and that Re
liance fome have on the Conjurers is dill more
ftupid and ridiculous.
The very meaneft Trade requires fome In-
ftruction : A Man does not commence even a
Cobler, a Botcher of old Leather, without ferv-
ing an Apprenficefhip to it ; and yet no Time
has been ierved, no Infraction has been attend
ed to, by thefe Pretenders to the molt neceiTary,
ufeful and elegant ProfeiTion. We do not con
fide the mending, the cleaning of a Watch to
any, who have not fpent feveral Years in confider-
ing how a Watch is made ; what are the
Requilites ilnd Caufes of its going right ; and the
Detects or Impediments that make it go wrong :
and yet the preferving and rectifying the Move
ments of the moit complex, the mod delicate
and exquifite, and the moft eftimable Machine
upon Earth, is entrulted to People who have not
the leaft Notion of its Structure ; of the Caufes
of
s Of Mountebanks^ Quacks, andConjt.
of its Motions; nor of the Indruments proper tcJ
redify their Deviations.
Let a Soldier difcarded from his Regiment for
t^^
his roguilh Tricks, or who is a Deferter from it,
a Bankrupt, a difreputable Ecclefiadic, a drunken
Barber, or a Multitude of fuch other vvorthlefs
People, advertize that they mount, let and fit
up all Kinds of Jewels and Trinkets in Perfection ;
if any of thefe are not known ; if no Peribn in
the Place has ever feen any of their Work ; or if
they cannot produce authentic Tcdimonials of
their Honeftv, and their Ability in their Bufmefs,
* *
not a fingle Individual will trull them with two
Pennyworth of falfe Stones to work upon \ in
ihort they mud be famiihed. But if inftead of
preferring themfelves Jewellers, they poft them
felves up as Phyficians, the Croud purchafe, at a
high Rate, the Pleafure of trading them with
the Care of their Lives, the remaining Part of
o
which they rarely fail to empoifcn.
569. The molt genuine and excellent Phy
ficians, thcie extraordinary Men, who, born
with the happielt Talents, have began to inform
their Underilandings from their earlieft Youth 5
who have afterwards carefully qualified them
felves by cultivating every Branch of Phyfic j
who have facrificed the belt and mod pleafura-
ble Days of their Lives, to a regular and affidu-
* ^-
ous Invedi^ation of the human Body ; of its va
rious Funclions j of the Caufes that may impair
embarrafs them, and informed themfelves of
the Qualities and Virtues of every fimple and
com-
Of Mount ebcinks, Quacks, and Conjurers. 559
compound Medicine ; who have furmounted
the Difficulty and Loath fomnefs of living in
Hofpitals among thoufands of Patients; and who
have added the medical Obfervations of all Ages
and Places to their own ; thele few and extraor
dinary Men, I fay, fiill confider themielves as
ihort of that perfect Ability and confummate
Knowledge, which they contemplate and wiih
for, as neccfTary to guarding the precious De-
fofitum oi human Life and Health, confided to
their Charge. Nevertheleis we fee the fame in-
eitimable Treafures, intruded to grofs and ftupid
Men, born without Talents ; brought up with
out Education or Culture ; who frequently can
fcarcely read ; who are as profoundly ignorant of
every Subject that has any Relation to Phyiic, as
the Savages of Afia -, who awake only to drink
away; whooften exercife their horridTrade mere
ly to rind themielves in ftrong Liquor, and execute
it chiefly when they are drunk : who, in hort r
became Phyiicians, only from their Incapacity to
arrive at any Trade or Attainment! Certainly
* "
fuch a Conduct in Creatures of the human Spe
cies muft appear very aftonifhing, and even me
lancholy, to every fenfible thinking Man ; and
conftitute the higheft Degree of Abfurdity and
Extravagance.
Should any Perfon duly qualified enter into
an Examination of the Medicines they ufe, and
compare them with the Situation and Symptoms
of the Patients to whom they give them, he muft
be ftruck with Horror ; and heartily deplore the
Fate
560 Of Mountebank^ Slacks , and Conjurers.
Fate of that unfortunate Part of the human Race,
whole Lives, fo important to the Community,
are committed to the Charge of the moil mur*
derous Set of Beings.
570. Some of thefe Caitiffs however, ap*
prehending the Force and Danger of that Ob-
jedion, founded on their Want of Study and
Education, have endeavoured to elude it, by in-
fufing and fpreading a falfe, and indeed, an im
pudent impious Prejudice among the People,
which prevails too much at prefent ; and this is,
that their Talents for Phyiic are a fupernatural
Gift, and, of Courfe, greatly fuperior to all
human Knowledge. It were going out of my
Province to expatiate on the Indecency, the Sin,
and the Irreligion of luch Knavery, and in-
croaching upon the Rights and perhaps the Du
ty of the Clergy ; but I intreat the Liberty of
obferving to this refpeclable Order of Men, that
this Superstition, which is attended with dread
ful Confequences, feems to call for their utmofl
Attention : and in general the Expullion of Su-
perftition is the more to be wimed, as a Mind,
imbued with falie Prejudices, is lefs adapted to
imbibe a true and valuable Doclrine. There are
fome very callous hardened Villians among this
murdering Band, who, with a View to eftablifh
their Influence and Revenue as well upon Fear
as upon Hope, have horridly ventured ib far as
to incline the Populace to doubt, whether they
received their boailed Gift and Power from Hea
ven or from Hell ! And yet thefe are the Men
who
Of Mountebanks , Quacks, and Conjurers. 561
who are trufted with the Health and the Lives
df many others.
571. One Fact which I have already men
tioned, and which it feems impoffible to ac
count for is, that great Esrneftnefs of the Pea-
fant to procure the heft Affiftance he can for his
lick Cattle. At whatever Diftance the Farrier
lives, or fome Perlbn who is fuppoied qualified
to he one (for unfortunately there is not one in
Swijferland) if he has considerable Reputation in
this Way, the Country-man goes to confult him>
or purchafes his Vifit at any Price. However ex-
pen five the Medicines arc, which the Horfe-
doctor directs, if they are accounted the bed;, he
procures them for his poor Bead. But if him-
felf, his Wife or Children fall lick, he either
calls in noAffiftance nor Medicines; or contents
himfelf with fuch as are next at Hand, however
pernicious they may be, though nothing the
cheaper on that account : for certainly the Mo
ney, extorted by fome of thefc phyiical Conju
rers from their Patients, but oftner from their
Pleirs, is a very ihameful Injuftice, and calls
loudly for Reformation.
572. In an excellent Memoir or Tract,
which will ihortly be published, on the Popu
lation of SwiJ/erJand, we mall find an important
and very affecting Remark, which ftrictiy de-
monftrates the Havock made by thefe immedical
Magicians or Conjurers ; and which is this : That
in the common Courfe of Years, the Proportion
between the Numbers and Deaths of the Inhabi-
N n tants
562 Of Mountebanks , Qyacks, and Conjurers
tants of any one Place, is not extremely different
in City and Country : but when the very fame
epidemical Difeafe attacks the City and the Vil
lages, the Difference is enormous j and the
Number of Deaths of the former compared with
that of the Inhabitants of the Villages, where
the Conjurer exerciies his bloody Dominion, is
infinitely more than the Deaths in the City.
I find in the fecond Volume of the Memoirs
of the oeconomical Society of Berne, for the
Year 1762, another Fact equally interesting,,
which is related by one of the moll: intelligent
and fagacious Obfervers, concerned in that Work.
" Pleuriiies and Peripneumonies (he fays) pre
vailed at Ccttcns a la Cote ; and fome Peafants
ciied under them, who had confulted the Con
jurers and taken their heating Medicines ; while
thole, who purfued a directly oppofite Method,
almoil: every one- recovered."
57-}. But I fhall employ myfelf no longer
en this Topic, on which the Love of my Spe
cies alone has prompted me to fay thus much ;
though it deferves to be coniidered more in De
tail, and is, in Reality, of the greateil Confe-
quence. None methinks could make themfelves
eafy with Rcfpect to it fo much as Phyficians,
if they were conducted only by lucrative Views ^
fmce thefe Conjurers diminim the Number of
thofe poor People, who fometimes confult the
real Phyficians, and with fome Care and Trou
ble, but without the leaft Profit, to thofe Gen
tlemen. But what good Phyfician is mean and
vile
Of Mountebanks^ Quacks^ and Conjurers. 563
vile enough to purchafe a few Hours of Eafe and
Tranquillity at fo high, fo very odious a Price ?
574. Having thus clearly (hewn the Evils
attending this crying Nufance, I wifli I were
able to prefcribe an effectual Remedy againft it,
which I acknowledge is far from being eafy to
do.
The firfl neceflary Point probably was to have
demonftrated the great and public Danger, and
to difpofe the State to employ their Attention on
this fatal, this mortal Abufe ; which, joined to
the other Caufes of Depopulation, has a manifeft
Tendency to render SwJJfirlaHd a Defert.
575. The fecond, and doubtlefs the mod
effectual Means, which I had already mentioned
is, not to admit any travelling Mountebank to
enter this Country ; and to fet a Mark on all the
Conjurers : It may probably alib be found con
venient, to inflict corporal Punifnment on them;
as it has been already adjudged in different Coun
tries by fovereign Edicts. At the very leaft they
mould be marked with public Infamy, accord
ing to the following Cuftom pradliled in a great
City in France. " When any Mountebanks
appeared in Mont pettier, the Magiftrates had a
Power to mount each of them upon a meagre
miierable Afs, with his Head to the Afs s Tail.
In this Condition they were led throughout the
whole City, attended with the Shouts and Hoot
ing of the Children and the Mob, beating them,
throwing Filth and Ordure at them, reviling
them, and dragging them all about."
N n 2 576.
564 Of Mountebanks, Quacks y and Conjurer $.
576. A third conducive Means would be
the Inftru6tions and Admonition of the Clergy
on this Subject, to the Peaiants in their feveral
Parishes. For this Conduct of the common
People amounting, in Effect, to Suicide, to
Self-murder, it mud be important to convince
them of it. But the little Efficacy of the flrongeit
and repeated Exhortations on fo many other Ar
ticles, may caufe us to entertain a very reasonable
Doubt of their Succefs on this. Cuftom feems
to have determined, that there is nothing in our
Day, which excludes a Perfon from the Title
and Appellation of an honeit or honourable Man,
except it be meer and convicted Theft > and
that for this ilmple and obvious Reafon, that we
attach ourfclves more ftiongly to our Property,
than to any Thing eLc. Even Homicide is
cilccmed and reputed honourable in many Cafes.
Can we reafonably then expect to convince the
Multitude, that it is criminal to confide the Care
of their Health to thefe Poifoners, in Hopes of a
Cure of their Diforders ? A much likelier Me
thod of fucceding on this Point would certainly
be, to convince the deluded People, that it will
coft them leis to be horieftly and judicioufly
treated, than to fuffer under the Hands of theie
Executioners. The Expectation of a good and
cheap Health-market will be apt to influence
them more, than their Dread of a Crime would.
577. A fourth Means of removing or re
training this Nufance would be to expunge,
from the Almanacs, all the altrological Rules re
lating
Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers. 565
lating to Phyfick j as they continually conduce
to preferve and increafe fome dangerous Preju
dices and Notions in a Science, the /mailed Er
rors in which are fometimes fatal. I had alrea
dy reflected on the Multitude of Peafmts that
have been loft, from poftponing, or miftiming a
Bleeding, only becauie the fovereign Decifion < f
an Almanac had directed it at fome other Time.
May it not alfo be dreaded, to mention it by the
Way, that the fame Caufe, the Almanacs, may
prove injurious to their rural Oeconomy and Ma
nagement; and that by advifing with the Moon,
\vho has no Influence, and is of no Confequence
in Vegetation or other Country Eufincfs, they
may be wanting in a due Attention to inch other
Clrcumftances and Regulations, as are of real
Importance in them ?
578. A fifth concurring Remedy againft
this popular Evil would be the Eftabliihment of
Hofpitals, for the Reception of poor Patients, in
the different Cities and Towns of Swijjcrhmd.
There may be a great many cafy and concur
ring Means of creeling and endowing inch, with
very little new Expence; and immenfe Advan
tages might refult from them : befides, however
conflderable the Expences might prose, is not
the Object of them of the mod intcrefling, the
moil important Nature ? It is inconteftably our
ferious Duty ; and it would foon be manifeft,
that the Performance of it would be attended
with more effential intrinfic Benefit to the Com
munity, than any other Application of Money
N n 3 could
566 Of Mountebanks, Attacks, and Conjurers.
could produce. We muft either admit, that
the Multitude, the Body of the People is ufelefs
to the State, or agree, that Care fhould be taken
to preferve and continue them. A very refpeda-
blc Enghjh Man, who, after a previous and
thorough Confideration of this Subject, had ap
plied himfelf very afiiduoufly and uiefully on the
Means of increafmg the Riches and the Happi-
nefs of his Country-men, complains that in En~
gland, the very Country in which there are the
mod Hofpitals, the Poor who are fick are not
fufficiently afTifted. What a deplorable Defici-
ence of the neceflary Affiftance for fuch muft
then be in a Country, that is not provided with
a fmgle Hofpital ? Thlat Aid from Surgery and
Phyfic, which abounds in Cities, is not fuffici
ently diffufed into Country-places : and the Pea-
fa nts are liable to fome iimple and moderate
Difcafes, which, for Want of proper Care, de
generate into a State of Infirmity, that finks
ihcin into premature Death.
579. Jn fine, if it be found impoflible to
tinguiih thefe Abuies (for thofe arifing from
Quacks are not the only ones, nor is that Title
applied to as mr.nv as really deferve it) beyond all
Doubt it would be for the Benefit and Safety of
the Public, upon the whole, entirely to prohibit
the Art, the Practice of Phyfic itielf. When
real and good Phyficians cannot effect as much
Good, as ignorant ones and Importers can do
Miichief, fome real Advantage muft accrue to
the State, and to the whole Species, from em
ploying
Of Mount clanks y Qu ticks, and Conjurers. 567
ploying none of either. I affirm it, after much
Reflection, and from thorough Conviction, that
Anarchy in Medicine is the moft dangerous
Anarchy. For this Profeilion, when loofed
from every Reftraint, and fubjected to no Regu
lations, no Laws, is the more cruel Scourge and
^j
Affliction, from the inceflant Exercife of it ; and
mould its Anarchy, its Diforders prove irremedia
ble, the Practice of an Art, become fo very noxi
ous, mould be prohibited under the fevered Penal
ties : Or, if the Conm tution of any Goverment was
inconfiftent with the Application of fo violent a
Remedy, they fhould order public Prayers againft
the Mortality of it, to be offered up in all the
Churches; as theCuftom has been in other great
and general Calamities.
580. Another Abufe, lefs fatal indeed than
thole already mentioned (but which, however,
has real ill Confequences, and at the bed, car
ries out a great deal of Money from us, though
lets at the Expence of the common People, than
of thofe of eafy Circumftanccs) ir. that Blindnefs
j /
and Facility, with which many fuffer themlelves
to be impofed upon, by the pompous Adveitife-
ments of ibme Catholicon^ fome univerfal Reme
dy, which they purchafe at a high Rate, from
fome foreign Pretender to a mighty Secret or
Nojirum. Perfons of a Clafs or two above the
Populace do not care to run after a Mountebank,
from fuppoiing they fhould depretiate themfelves
by mixing with the Herd. Yet if that very
Quack, inflcad of coming among us, were to
N n 4 refide
568 Of Mountebanks ^ Attach ^ and Conjurers.
refide in fome foreign City ; if, inftead of polling
up his lying Puffs and Pretentions at the Cor
ners of the Streets, he would get them inferted
in the Gazettes, and News-papers; if, inftead of
ielling his boafted Remedies in Perfon, he fhould
eftablifh Shops or Offices for thatPurpofe in eve
ry City; and finally, if inflead of felling them
twenty times above their real Value, he would
ftill double that Price ; inftead of having the
common People for his Cuftomers, he would
take in the wealthy Citizen, Perlbns of all
Ranks, and from aimed every Country. For
flrange as it feems, it is certain, that a Perfon of
fuch a Condition, who is fenfible in every other
Refpedt ; and who will fcruple to confide his
Health to the Con duel: of fuch Phyficians as
J
would be the juflcft Subjects of his Confidence,
will venture to take, through a very unaccount
able Infatuation, the moil: dangerous Medicine,
upon the Credit of an impofing Acivertifement,
publiihed by as worth efs and ignorant a Fellow
as the Mountebank whom he defpifes, becaufe
the latter blows a Horn under his Window; and
yet who differs from the former in no other Re-
ipects except thofe I have juft pointed out.
581. Scarcely a Year pailes, without one
or another fuch advertized and vaunted Medicine s
getri?i^ into high Credit; the Ravages of which
are more or lefs, in Proportion to its being more
or lefs in Vogue. Fortunately, for the human
Species, but tew of thefe Noftrums have attained
an equal Reputation with AilbautTs Powders, an
Jnhabi-
Of Mountebanks^ Quacks y and Conjurers. 569
Inhabitant of Aix in Provence , and unworthy the
Name of a Phyfician ; who has over- run Europe
for ibme Years, with a violent Purge, the Pve-
rnembrance of which will not be eftaced before
the Extinction of all its Victims. I attend now,
and for 2 long time paft, feveral Patients, whofe
Diibrders I palliate without Hopes of ever curing
them ; and who owe their prefent melancholy
State of Body to nothing but the manifeft Confe-
quences of thefe Powders ; and I have actually
ieen, very lately, two Perfons who have been
cruelly poifoned by this boafted Remedy of his.
A French Phyfician, as eminent for his Talents
and his Science, as eftimable from his perfonal
Character in other Refpefts, has published fome
of the unhappy and tragical Confequences which
the Ufe of them has occafioned ; and were a
Collection publimed of the fame Events from
them, in every Place where they have been intro
duced, the Size and the Contents of the Volume
would make a very terrible one.
582. It is fome Comfort however, that all
the other Medicines thus puffed and vended have
not been altogether fo fafhionable, nor yet quite
fo dangerous : but all polled and advertized
Medicines ihould be judged of upon this Princi
ple (and I do not know a more infallible one in
Phyfics, nor in the Practice of Phyiic), that
whoever advertifes any Medicine, as a univerfal
Remedy for all Difeafes, is an abfolute Impoftor,
fuch a Remedy being impoflible and contradicto
ry. I (hull net here offer to detail fuch Proofs
as
57 Of Mo wit e banks > {Quacks, and Conjurers.
as may be given of the Verity of this Proportion :
but I freely appeal for it to every fenfible Man,
who will reflect a little on the different Caufes of
Diieaies ; on the Oppofition of thefe Caufes ;
and on the Abfurdity of attempting to oppofe
fuch various Difeafes, and their Cauies, by one
and the fame Remedy.
As many as mall fettle their Judgments pro
perly on this Principle, will never be impofed
upon by the fuperticial Glofs of thefe Sophilm-;
contrived to prove, that all Difeafes proceed
from one Caufe ; and that this Caufe is fo very
tractable, as to yield to one boafted Remedy.
They will perceive at once, that fuch an Alfertion
mutt be founded in the utmoft Knavery or Igno
rance ; and they will readily diicover where the
Fallacy lies. Can any one expect to cure a
Dropiy, which a riles from too great a Laxity of
the Fibres, and too great an Attenuation or
Thinnefs of the Blood, by the fame Medicines
that are ufed to cure an inflammatory Difeafe, in
which the Fibres are too ftuT and tenfe, and the
Blood too thick and denfe ? Yet confult the
News-papers and the Poffo, and you will fee
publiihed in and on all of them, Virtues juft as
contradictory ; and certainly the Authors of fuch
poifonous Contradictions ought to be legally
punifhed for them.
583. I heartily wifh the Publick would at
tend here to a very natural and obvious Reflec
tion. 1 have treated in this Book, but of a fmall
Number of Difeafes, moft of them acute ones ;
and
Of Mountebank^ Quacks, and Conjurers. 571
and I am pofitive that no competent well quali
fied Phyfician has ever employed fewer Medi
cines, in the Treatment of the Difeafes themfelves.
Neverthelefs I have prefcribed feventy-one, and
I do not fee which of them I could retrench, or
difpenfe with the Want of, if I were obliged to
ufe one lefs. Can it be fuppofed then, that any
one tingle Medicine, compound or fimple, ihatl
cure thirty times as many Difeafes as thofe I have
treated of?
584. I lhall add another very important Ob-
fervation, which doubtlefs may have occurred to
many of my Readers; and it is this, that the diffe
rent Caufes of Difeafes, their different Characters j
the Differences which arife from the neceffary
Alterations that happen throughout their Progrefs
and Duration -, the Complications of which they
are fufceptible ; the Varieties which refult from
the State of different Epidemics, of Seafons, of
Sexes, and of many other Circumftances ; that
thefe Diversities, I fay, oblige us very often to
vary and change the Medicines ; which proves
how very ticklifli and dangerous it is to have
them directed by Perfons, who have fuch an im
perfect Knowledge of them, as thofe who are
not Phyficians muft be fuppofed to have. And
the Circumfpedion to be ufed in fuch Cafes
ought to be proportioned to the Interefl the
Affiftant takes in the Prefervation of the Patient ;
and that Love of his Neighbour with which he
> O
js animated.
5-85-
57 2 Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.
585. Mud not the fame Arguments and
Reflections unavoidably fugged the Neceffity of
an entire Tra&ability on the Part of the Patient,
and his Friends and Afiiftants ? The Hiftory of
Diieafes which have their dated Times of Beo-in-
o
r.ing, of manifefting and difplaying themfelves ;
of arriving at, and continuing in their Height,
and of decreafmg ; do not all thefe demondrate
the Necedity of continuing the fame Medicines,
as long as the Character of the Didemper is the
lame ; and the Danger of changing them often,
only bccaufc what has been given has not afford
ed immediate Relief? Nothing can injure the
Patient more than this Instability and Caprice.
After the Indication which his Didemper fug-
gefts, appears to be well deduced, the Medicine
mud be chofen that is likelied to refid the
Caufe of it ; and it mud be continued as long as
no new Symptom or Circumitance fupervenes,
which requires an Alteration of it; except it
fhouid be evident, that an Error had been incur
red in giving it. But to conclude that a Medicine
is ufelefs or infignificant, becaufe it does not re
move or abate the DiRemper as fpeedily, as the
Impatience of the Sick would naturally deiire it;
and to change it for another, is as unreafonable,
as it would be for a Man to break his Watch,
becaufe the Hand takes twelve Hours, to make
a Revolution round the Dial-plate.
586. Phyficians have ibme Regard to the
State of the Uririe of lick Perfbns, efpecially in
inflammatory Fevers -, as the Alterations occur
ring
Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers. 573
ring in it help them to judge of the Changes that
may have been made in the Character and Con-
liftence of the Humours in the Mafs of Blood j
and thence may conduce to determine the Time,-
in which it will be proper to difpofe them to
ibme Evacution. But it is grois Ignorance to
imagine, and utter Knavery and Impoilure to
perfuade the Sick, that the meer Inspection of
their Urine folely, furliciently enables others to
judge of the Symptoms and Caufe, of the Dif-
eafe, and to direct the heft Remedies for it.
This Infpection of the Urine can only be of Uie
when it is duly infpected ; when we coniider at
the fame time the exad State and the very
Looks of the Patient ; when thefe are compared
with the Degree of the Symptoms of the Malady ;
with the other Evacuations ; and when the Phyii-
cian is ftrictly informed of all external Circum-
ftances, which may be confidered as foreign to
the Malady; which may alter or affect the Eva
cuations, iuch as particular Articles of Food,
particular Drinks, different Medicines, or the
very Quantity of Drink. Where a Per ion is not
furniihed with an exact Account of thefe Cir-
cumfbnces, the meer Infpection of the Urine is
of no Service, it fuggefls no Indication, nor any
Expedient ; and meer common Senle fufficiently
proves, and it may be boldly affirmed, that who
ever orders any Medicine, without any other
Knowledge of the Difeafe, than what an In-
fpedion of the Urine affords, is a rank Knave,
and the Patient who takes them is a Dupe.
587-
574 Of Mountebanks, Quacks y and Conjurers.
587. And here now any Reader may vert
naturally afk, whence can fuch a ridiculous Cre
dulity proceed, upon a Subject io effentially in-
tereftin? to us as our own Health ?
^J
In Anfwcr to this it (hould be obferved, that
ibme Sources, fome Caufes of it feem appropria
ted merely to the People, the Multitude. The
firft of thefe is, the mechanical Impreffion of
Parade and Shew upon the Senfes. 2, The
Prejudice they have conceived, as I faid before,
of the Conjurers curing by a iupernatural Gift.
3, The Notion the Country People entertain,
that their Diftemper and Diforders are of a Cha-
racler and Species peculiar to thcmfelves, and
that the Phyficians, attending the Rich, know
nothing concerning them. 4, The general Mif-
take that their employing the Conjurer is much
cheaper. 5, Perhaps a iheepiih ihame-faccd
Timidity may be one Motive, at leaft with fome
of them. 6, A Kind of Fear too, that Phyii-
cians will confider their Cafes with lefs Care and
Concern, and be likely to treat them more cava
lierly ; a Fear which increaies that Confidence
which the Peaiant, and which indeed every
Man has in his Equal, being founded in Equali
ty itfelf. And 7, the Difcourfe and Converfa-
tion of fuch illiterate Empirics being more to
their Tad, and more adapted to their Appre-
henfion.
But it is lefs eafy to account for this blind
Confidence, which Perfons of a fuperior Clafs
(whole Education being confidered as much bet
ter
Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers. 575
ter are regarded as better Reafoners) repofe in
thefe boaftcd Remedies ; and even for fome Con
jurer in Vogue. Neverthelefs even ibme of their
Motives may be probably affigned.
The firft is that great Principle of Seify, or
Selfnefs, as it may be called, innate to Man,
which attaching him to the Prolongation of his
own Exiilence more than to any other thing in
the Univerfe, keeps his Eyes, his utmofl Atten
tion, continually fixed upon this Object ; and
compels him to make it the very Point, the Pur-
pofe of all his Advances and Proceedings ; not-
withftanding it does not permit him to diftinguilh
the fafeft Paths to it from the dangerous ones.
This is the fureft and fhorteft Way fays ibme
Collector at the Turnpike, he pays, pa(Tes, and
periihes from the Precipices that occur in his
Route.
This very Principle is the Source of another
Error, which confifts in repofing, involuntarily >
a greater Degree of Confidence in thofe, who flat
ter and fall in the moll: with us in our favourite
Opinions. The well apprifed Phylician, who
forefees the Length and the Danger of a Dif-
o o
cafe ; and who is a Man of too much Integrity to
affirm what he does not think, muft, from a
neceffary Conftruction of the human Frame and
Mind, be liflened to lefs favourably, than he who
flatters us by faying what we wiih. We endea
vour to elongate, to abfent ourfelves, from the
Sentiments, the Judgment of the firft; we fmile,
from Self-complacency, at thole of the lalt,
which
576 Of Mountebanks, Quacks > dndConjuren.
which in a very little time are fure of obtaining
our Preference.
A thi.d Caufe, which refults from the fame
Principle is, that we give ourfdves up the moft
readily to his Conduct, whole Method feems the
leaft difagreeable, and flatters our Inclinations
the moft. The Phyficiafi v/ho enjoins a Uriel:
Regimen ; who infifts upon fome Reftraints and
Self-denials j who intimates the Neceffity of
Time and Patience for the Accomplishment of
the Cure, and who expects a thorough Regula
rity through the Cotirfe of it, difgufts a Patient
who has heen accuftomed to indulge his own
Taft and Humour ; the Quack, who never hefi-
tates at complying with it, charms him. The
Idea of a long and fomewhat diftant Cure, to be
obtained at the End of an unpleafant and unrelax-
ing Regimen, fuppofes a very perilous Dikafe ;
rhis Idea difpofes the Patient to Diiguft and Me
lancholy, he cannot fubmit to it without Pain >
and he embraces, almofl unconfciouily, merely
to avoid this, an oppolire Syftem which prefents
him only with the Idea of iuch a Diftemper, as
will give Way to a few Doles of Simples.
That Propenlity to the New and Marvellous,
which tyrannizes over Ib large a Proportion of
our Species, and which has advanced lo many
abfurd Perfons and Things into Reputation, is a
fourth and a very powerful Motive. An irk-
ibme Satiety, and a Tireiomenefs, as it were,
from the lame Objects, is what our Nature is
apt to be very apprehcafive of ; though we are
inceffantly
Of Mountebank^ Quacks ^ and Conjurers. 577
IncefFantly conducted towards it, by a Perception
of fbme Void, ibme Ernptinefs in ourfelves, and
even in Society too : But new and extraordinary
Senfations foufmg us from this dilagreeable State,
more effectually than any Thing elfe, we un
thinkingly abandon ourfelves to them, without
forefeeing their Confequences.
A fifth Caufe arifes from feven Eighths of
Mankind being managed by, or following, the
other Eighth ; and, generally fpeaking, the
Eighth that is fo very forward to manage them,
are the leaft fit and worthy to do it ; whence all
muft go amifs, and abfurd and embarraffing
Confequences enfue from the Condition of Socie
ty. A Man of excellent Senfe frequently fees
only through the Eyes of a Fool, of an intriguing
Fellow, or of a Cheat ; in this he judges wrong,
and his Conduct muft be fo too. A man of real
Merit cannot connect himfelf with thofe who are
addicted to caballing $ and yet fuch are the Per-
fons, who frequently conduct others.
Some other Caufes might be annexed to thefe,
but I fhall mention only one of them, which I
have already hinted, and the Truth of which I
am confirmed in from feveral Years Experience 5
which is, that we generally love thofe who rea-
fon more abfurdly than ourfelves, better than
thofe who convince us of our own weak Reafon-
ing.
I hope the Reflexions every Reader will make
on thefe Caufes of our ill Conduct on this impor
tant Head, may contribute to correct or diminim
Go it ;
578 Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers
it ; and to deftroy thofe Prejudices whofe fata!
Effects we may continually oblerve.
[N. B. The Multitude of all the Objects of this
excellent Chapter in this Metropolis, and doubtlejs
throughout England, were ftrong Inducements to
have taken a little whole fome Notice of the Impof-
t rtres of a few ef the mojl pernicious. But on a
fecond Ptrujal of this Part of the Original and its
Trauflation^ 1 thought it impoffible (without defcend-
ing to perfonal, mr.iinal Anecdotes about the Vermin)
to add any T*hing material upon a Subject , which the
Author has with fuch Energy exhaufted. He even
frems, by fome of his Dejcriptions, to have taken
Cognizance of a few of our moft felf- dignified itine
rant Empirics ; as theje Genius s find it neceffary
fometimes to treat themjehes with a little franjfor-
1 at ion. In reality Dr. TISSOT has, in a very
frtaflerfy Way^ thoroughly dijjected and di /played the
while Genus, every Species of Quacks. And when
he comes to account jor that Facility, with which
Per] on s of very different Pri?iciplesfrom them., and
~cf better Intellects, firjl lift en to, and finally coun-
teiii U.c Jiich Caitiffs, he penetrates into feme of the
akneffes of the human Mind ; even
fuch as are often Secrets to their Owners. It is diffi
cult, throughout this Difquifitio?i, not to admire the
Writer-, but impofjible not to love the Man, the
ardent Philanthrope ft. His Sentiment that " A
Man of rcm Merit cannot connect bimjclf with
thole who are addicted to caballing" is exquifitely
juji, and fo liberal, that it never entered into the
Mind
Queftions necejfary to be angered a Pkyfiaan. 579
MindofanydifingenuousMan^ however dignified^
in any Profeffion. Perjbns of tbefmpleft Hearts
and pur eft Reflections muft firink at every Conj ci-
oufnefs of Artifice ; andfecretly reproach thejnfefoes
for each Succejs, that has redounded to them at the
Expence of^ruth. ] K.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Containing ^ue ft ions abfohitely neccj ary to be an-
fwered exactly by the Patient, ivbo confutes a
Phyfician.
SECT. 588.
*jy~^REAT Confideration and Experience
^g G g^ are necefTary to form a .right Judg-
ment f ^ e State of a Patient, whom
the Phyfician has not personally feen ;
even though he fhould receive the heft Infor
mation it is poiTible to give him, at a Diftance
from the Patient. But this Difficulty is greatly
augmented, or rather changed into an Impom-
bility, when his Information is not exact and
fufficient. It has frequently happened to myielf,
that after having examined Peafants who came
to get Advice for others, I did not venture to
preicribe, becaufe they were not able to give me
a fufficient Information, in order to m^ being
O o 2 certain
580 Queftiom necefl ary to be anfwercda Pbyfician,
certain of the Diftemper. To prevent this great
Inconvenience, I fubjoin a Lift of fuch Queftions,
as indifpenlably require clear and direct An-
fwers.
General Queftiom.
What is the Patient s Age ?
Is he generally a healthy Perfon ?
What is his general Courie of Life ?
How long has he been fick ?
In what Manner did his prefent Sicknefs be
gin, or appear ?
Has he any Fever ?
Is his Pulie hard or foft ?
Has he ftill tolerable Strength, or is he weak ?
Does he keep his Bed in the Day Time, or
quit it ?
Is he in the fame Condition throughout the
whole Day ?
Is he ftill, or reftlefs ?
Is he hot, or cold ?
Has he Pains in the Head, the Throat, the
Breaft, the Stomach, the Belly, the Loins, or in
the Limbs, the Extremities of the Body ?
Is his Tongue dry ? does he complain of
Third ? of an ill Taft in his Mouth ? of Reach*
ings to vomit, or of an Averfion to Food ?
Does he go to ftool often or feldom ?
What Appearance have his Stools, and what
is their ufual Quantity ?
Does
Qucjtioris necejjary to be anfwereda Pbyftcian. 581
Does he make much Urine ? What Appear
ance has his Urine, as to Colour and Contents ?
Are they generally much alike, or do they
change often ?
Does he fweat ?
Does he expectorate, or cough up ?
Does he get Sleep ?
Does he draw his Breath eafily ?
What Regimen does he obierve in his Si
nefs ?
V/hat Medicines has he taken ?
What Effects have they produced :
Has he never had the fame Difcemper bef
589. TheDifeafes of Women and Chil
are attended with peculiar Circumitana
lhat when Advice is afked for them, Anfwerc
mud be given, not only to the preceding Q
tions, which relate to fick Peribns in >e Tal
D
but ajfo to the following, which regani tl
particularly.
Quejlions with Refpefl to Women.
Have they arrived at their monthly Dilch " :>
and are thefe regular ?
Are they pregnant ? If fo, how long iince
Are they in Child-bed ?
Has their Delivery been happily accomplished?
Has the Mother cleanfed fufficiently i
Has her Milk come in due Time and Quan
tity ?
003
5 S 2 Qyeftiote neceJJ ary to beanfwereda Phyfidan.
Does (he fuckle the Infant herfelf ?
Is (he fubjed to the Whites ?
Queftions relating to Children.
What is the Child s ex ad Age ?
How many Teeth has he cut ?
Does he cut them painfully ?
Is he any-wife ritketty, or fubjed to Knots or
Kernels ?
Has he had the Small Pocks?
Does the Child void Worms, upwards or
downwards ?
Is his Belly large, fwelled, or hard ?
Is his Sleep quiet, or otherwife ?
590. Befides thefe general Queftions, com
mon in all the Difeafes of the different Sexes and
Ages, the Perfon confulting muft alfo anfwer to
thofe, which have a dole and direct Relation to
the Difeafe, at that very Time affeding the
Sick.
For Example, in the Quinfey, the Condition
the Throat mud be exadly inquired into. In
Difeafes of the Bread, an Account muft be given
of the Patient s Pains ; of his Cough ; of the Op-
preflion, and of his Breathing, and Expedora-
tion. I ihall not enter upon a more particular
Detail ; common Senfe will fufficiently extend
this Plan or Specimen to other Difeales -, and
though thefe Questions may feem numerous, it
will always be eaiy to write down their Anfwers
Qucftians neceffary to be anfwcreda Ptyficiqn . 583
in as little Room, as the Queftions take up here.
It were even to be wifhed that Perfons of every
Rank, who occasionally write for medical Ad
vice and Directions, would obferve fuxh a Plan
or Succellion, in the Body of their Letters. By
this Means they would frequently procure the
rnoft fatisfadory Anfwers ; and fave themfelves
the Trouble of writing fecond Letters, to give a
neceiTary Explanation of the fird.
The Succcfs of Remedies depends, in a very
great Mcafure, on a very exadt Knowledge ot
the Difeafe 5 and that Knowledge on the p e-
cife Information of it, \vhich is laid before tho
Phv/lcian.
FINIS.
( 54 )
TABLE
OJ the Prescriptions and Medicines, referred to in
the foregoing Treatije: Which, with the Notes
beneath them, are to be read before the taking,
or Application, of any of the faid Medicines.
in Order to afcertain the Dofes of
Medicines, I have generally done it by
P un ds, Ounces, Half-Ounces, &c.
&c. and as this Method, efpecially to
the common People, might prove a little too ob-
fcure and embarraflmg, I have fpecified here the
txadt Weight of Water, contained in fuch Vef-
fels or liquid Meafures, as are moft commonly
ufed in the Country.
The Pound which I mean, throughout all
thefe Prefcriptions, is that confifting of fixteen
Ounces. Thefe Ounces contain eight Drachms,
each Drachm coniifling of three Scruples, and
each Scruple of twenty Grains; the ^edical
Scruple of Paris folely containing twenty-four
Grains.
The liquid Meafure, the Pot ufed at Berne,
being that I always fpeak of, may be eftimated,
without any material Error, to contain three
Pounds and a Quarter, which is equal to three
Pints, and eight common Spoonfuls Englim
Meafure.
Table of Remedies . 585
Meafure. But the exact Weight of the Water,
contained in the Pot of Ecrne^ being fifty-one
Ounces and a Quarter only, it is ftridly equal
but to three Pints and fix common Spoonfuls
Eriglifb. This however is a Difference of no
Importance, in the ufual Drinks or Aliments of
the Sick.
The fmall drinking Glafs we talk of, rilled fo
as not to run over, contains three Ounces and
three Quarters. But rilled, as we propofe it
fhould for the Sick, it is to be eflimatcd only at
three Ounces.
The common middle fized Cup, though ra
ther large than little, contains three Ounces and
a Quarter. But as dealt out to the Sick, it
fhould not be eftimated, at the utmoft, above
three Ounces.
The fmall Glafs contains feven common
Spoonfuls ; fo that a Spoonful is fuppofed to
contain half an Ounce.
The fmall Spoon, or Coffee Spoon, when of
its ufual Size and Cavity, may contain thirty
Drops, or a few more j but, in the Exhibition
of Medicines, it may be reckoned at thirty Drops.
Five or fix of thde are deemed equal in Meafure,
to a common Soup-Spoon.
The Baion or Porrenger, mentioned in the
prefent Treatife, holds, without running over,
the Quantity of .five Glaffes, which is equivalent
to eighteen Ounces and three Quarters. It may
be eitimated however, without a Fraction, at
eighteen Ounces : and a lick Perfon fhould
never
586 Talk of Remedies.
never be allowed to take more than a third Part
of this Quantity of Nourifhment, at any one
Time.
The Dofes in all the following Prefcriptions
are adjufted to the Age of an Adult or grown
Man, from the Age of eighteen to that of fixty
Years. From the Age of twelve to eighteen,
two thirds of that Dole will generally be iuffici-
ent : and from twelve down to feven Years one
half, diminifhing this ftill lower, in Proportion
to the greater Youth of the Patient : fo that not
mere than one eighth of the Dole prelcribed
mould be given to an Infant of fome Months old,
or under one Year. But it muft al-fo be confi-
dered, that their different Conftitutions will make
a considerable Difference in adjufling their diffe
rent Dofes. It were to be wiihed, on this Ac
count, that every Perfon would carefully obierve
whether a ftrong Dole is neceiiary to purge him,
or if a fmall one is iurlicient j as Exaclnefs is
moft important in adjufting the Doles of fuch
Medicines, as are intended to purge, or to eva
cuate in any other Manner.
N. i.
Take a Pu^il or large Pinch between the
Thumb and Fingers of Elder Flowers > put
them into an earthen-ware Mug or Porrenger,
with two Ounces of Honey, and an Ounce and
a half of good Vinegar. Pour upon them three
Pints and one Quarter of boiling Water. Stir it
about a little with a Spoon to mix and diflblve the
} loney ; then cover up the Mug j and, when
the
of Remedies. 587
the Liquor is cold, ftrain it through a Linen
Cloth.
2.
Take two Ounces of whole Barley, cleanfe
and warn it well in hot Water, throwing away
this Water afterwards. Then boil it in five
Chopins or Englijh Pints of Water, till the Bar
ley burfts and opens. Towards the End of the
boiling, throw in one Drachm and a half of
Nitre [Salt Petre] ftrain it through a Linen
Cloth, and then add to it one Ounce and a half
of Honey, and one Ounce of Vinegar.*
N\ 3 .
Take the fame Quantity of Barley as before,
and inflead of Nitre, boil in it, as foon as the
Barley is put in to boil, a Quarter of an Ounce
of Cream of Tartar. Strain it, and add nothing
elfe f to it.
N. 4.
Take three Ounces of the frefheft fweet Al
monds, and one Ounce of Gourd or Melon
Seed ; bruife them in a Mortar, adding to them
by a little at a time, one Pint of Water, then
{train it through Linen. Bruife what remains
again, adding gradually to it another Pint of
Water, then draining ; and adding Water to the
Refi-
* This makes an agreeable Drink ; and the Notion of its
being windy is idle; ilnce it is fo only to thofe, with whom
Barley does not agree. It may, where Barley is not procura
ble, be made from Oats.
f In thofe Cafes mentioned 241, 262, 280, in Head of the
Barley, four Ounces of Grafs Roots may be boiled in the
fame Quantity of Water for half an Hour, with the Cream of
Tartar.
5 8 8 !Kz/<? ^ Remedies.
Refidue, till full three Pints at lead of Water
are thus uled : after which it may again be
poured upon the bruifed Mafs, ftirred well
about, and then be finally drained off. Half an
Ounce of Sugar may fafely be bruifed with the
Almonds and Seeds at firft, though fome weak
ly imagine it too heating ; and delicate Perfons
may be allowed a little Orange Flower Water
with it.
N. 5.
Take two Pugils of Mallow Leaves and
Flowers, cut them fmall, and pour a Pint of
boiling Water upon them. After {landing fome
time ftrain it, adding one Ounce of Honey to it.
For Want of Mallows, which is preferable, a
limilar Glyfter may be made of the Leaves of
Mercury, Pellitory of the Wall, the.Marfh-
Mallows, the greater Mallows, from Lettuce,
or from Spinagc. A few very particular Con-
liitutions are not to be purged by any Glyfter but
warm Water alone , fuch mould receive no other,
and the Water fhould not be very hot.
N. 6.
Boil a Pugil of Mallow Flowers, in a Pint of
Barley Water for a Glyfter.
N. 7.
Take three Pints of fimple Barley Water, add
to it three Ounces of the Juice of Sow-thiftle, or
ofGroundfel, or of the greater Houfeleek, or of
Borage.*
6 To
Theft- Juices are to be procured from the Herbs when
frefli and very young, if pcffible, by beating them in a Mar.
bl e
fabk of Remedies. 589
N. 8.
To one Ounce of Oxymel of Squills, add
five Ounces of a ftrong Infufion of Elder
Flowers.
N. 9.
There are many different emollient Applica
tions, which have very nearly the fame Virtues.
The following are the moft efficacious.
1, Flanels wrung out of a hot Deception of
Mallow Flowers.
2, Small Bags filled with Mallow Flowers, or
with thofe of Mullein, of Elder, of Camomile,
of wild Corn Poppy, and boiled either in Milk
or Water.
3, Pultices of the fame Flowers boiled in Milk
and Water.
4, Bladders half filled with hot Milk and
Water, or with fome emollient Decoclion.
5, A Pultice of boiled Bread and Milk, or of
Barley or Rice boiled till thoroughly foft and
tender.
6, In the Pleurify (See 89) the affedted Part
may be rubbed fometimes with Ointment of
Marfli-mallows.
N. 10. ,
To one Ounce of Spirit of Sulphur, add fix
Ounces of Syrup of Violets, or for want of
the
ble Mortar, or for Want of fuch [or a wooden Mortar] in an
Iron one, and then fqueezing out the Juice through a Linea
Bag. It mull be left to fettle a little in an earthen Veflel,
after which the clear Juice muft be decanted gently off, and
die Sediment be left behind.
59 Table of Remedies.
the latter, as much Barley Water, of a thicker
Confidence than ordinary.*
N. ii.
Take two Ounces of Manna, and half an
Ounce of Sedlitz Salt, or for want of it, as
much Epfom Salt -, diflblving them in four
Ounces of hot Water, and {training them.
N c . 12.
Take of Elder Flowers one Pugil, of Hy/Top
Leaves half as much. Pour three Pints of boil
ing Water upon them. After infulin^ fome
time, Arain, and difiblve three Ounces of Honey
in the Infufion.
N . 13!
Some Friends, fays Dr. TISSOT, whofe Judgment I
itly refpecl, have thought the Dofes of acid Spirit which.
J direct extremely fhong ; and doubtlefs they are fo, if com
pared with the IJofes generally prefcribed, and to which I
ihould have limited myfelf, if I had not frequently feen their
Infufficience. Experience has taught me to increafe them
confiderably ; and, augmenting the Dofe gradually, I now ven
ture to give larger Dofes of them than have ever been done be-
iore, and always with much Succefs ; the fame Dofes which I
have advifed in this Work not being fo large as rhofe J fre
quently prefcribe. For this Reafon J intreat thofe Phyficians,
who have thought them exceffive, to try the acid Spirits in
.larger Dofes than thofe commonly ordered; and I am per-
iuaded they will fee Reafon to coneratulate themfelves upon
the Effeft.f
f Our Author s Frtncb Annotator has a Note agoinft this Acid, which I
have omitted j for though I have given his Note Page 84 [with the Subftance of
the immediately preceding one] to which I hjve allo added fome Doub .s of my
O .vn, from Fa&s, concerning the Benefit of Acids in inflammatory Diforders of
the Breaft; yet v.ith Regard to the ardent, the putrid, the malignant Fever,
and Eriftpflas, in which Dr. TISSOT directs this, 1 have no Doubt of its Pro
priety (luppofing no infuperablc Difagrcement to Acids in the Conftittttion) and
svith Refpeit to their Uofcs, I think we may faa-Jy rely on our honeft Author s
Veracity. Dr. FULLER allures us, a Gentleman s Coachman w^s recovered
from the Bleeding Small Pocks, by large and repeated Dofes VI ike Oil ot Vi
triol, in considerable Draughts of cold Vv ter, K,
aik of Remedies.
N. 13-
Is only the lame Kind of Drink made by
omitting the Kyflbp, and adding inflead of it as
much more Elder Flowers.
N. 14.
Let one Ounce of the heft Jefuits Bark in fine
Powder be divided into fixteen equal Portions.
N. 15.
Take of the Flowers of St. Johns Wort, of
Elder, and of Melilot, of each a few Pinches;
put them into the Bottom of an Ewer or Vefifel
containing five or fix Rnglt/h Pints, with half an
Ounce of Oil of Turpentine, and fill it up with
boiling Water.
N. 1 6.
Is only the Syrup of the Flowers of the wild
ped Corn Poppy.
N. 17.
Is only very clear fweet Whey, in every Pint
of which one Ounce of Honey is to be difTolved.
N. 18.
Take of Caftile or hard white Soap fix
Drachms; of Extract of Dandelion one Drachm
and a half; of Gum Arnmoniacum half a Drachm,
and with Syrup of Maidenhair make a Mafs of
Pills, to be formed into Pills, weighing three
Grains each.
N 19.
Garganfms may be prepared from aDecodtion,
or rather an Infufion, of the Leaves of Periwinkle,
or of Red Role-Leaves, or of Mallows. Two
Ounces of Vinegar and as much Honey muft be
added
59 2 Table ofRemalu;.
added to every Pint of it, and the Patient fhould
gargle with it pretty hot. The deterging, clean-
ling Gargarilm referred to 1 12, is a light Infu-
iion of the Tops of Sage, adding two Ounces of
Honey to each Pint of it.
N. 20.
Is only one Ounce of powdered Nitre, divided
into lixteen equal Doles.
N*. 21.
Take of Jalap, of Senna, and of Cream of
Tartar of each thirty Grains finely powdered,
and let them be very well mixed.*
N. 22.
Take of China Root, and of Sarfaparilla of
each one Ounce and a half, of SarTafras Rooty
and of the Shavings of Guiacum, otherwife
called Lignum vita, of each one Ounce. Let the
\\hole be cut very fine. Then put them into a
glazed earthen VefTel ; pouring upon them about
five pints of boiling Water. Let them boil gent
ly for an Hour ; then take it from the Fire, and
iirain it off through Linen. This is called the
Deception of the Woods, and is often of different
Proportions of thefe Ingredients, or with the Ad
dition of a few others. More Water may, after
the firft boiling, be poured on the fame Ingredi
ents, and be boiled up into a fmall Decoction for
common Drink.
. 23.
* This, our Author obferves, will work a ilrong Country
man very well : by which however he does not ieem to mean
an Inhabitant of the Mountains in Valah. See P. 547.
zle of Remedies.
< ,
Lake one Ounce of the Pulp of Tamarinds*
half a Drachm of Nitre, and four Ounces of
Water ; let them boil not more than one Mi
nute, then add two Ounces of Manna, and
when diffolved ftrain the Mixture off.
N. 24.
Is only an Ounce of Cream of Tartar, divided
into eight equal Parts.
N - 2 5-
This Prefcription is only the Preparation of
Kermes mineral, otherwife called the Chartreu-
lian Powder. Dr. TISSOT orders but one Grain
for a Dofe. It has been directed from one to three,
N. 26.
Take three Ounces of the common Burdock
Root ; boil it for half an Hour, with half a
Drachm of Nitre, in three full Pints of Water.
N. 27.
Take half a Pinch of the Herbs prefcribed N*. 9,
Article 2, and half an Ounce of hard white
Soap fhaved thin. Pour on thefe one Pint and a
half of boiling Water, and one Glafs of Wine.
Strain the Liquor and fqueeze it ftrongly out.
N. 28.
Take of the pureft Quickfilver one Ounce j
of Venice Turpentine half a Drachm, of the
frefhefi Hog s Lard two Ounces, and let the
whole be very well rubbed together into an
Ointment.*
P p N. 29.
* This Ointment (hould be prepared at the Apothecaries ; the
Receipt of it being given here, only becaufe the Proportions of
the
594 TaUe of Remedies.
N. 29.
This Preicription is nothing but the yellow
Bafilicon .
N*. 30.;; r
Take of natural and factitious, or artificial
Cinnabar, twenty-four Grains each^ of Mufk
fixteen Grains, and let the whole be reduced
into fine Powder, and very well mixed .
*-
Take one Drachm of Virginia Snake Root in
Powder ; of Camphor and of AfTa-fcetida ten
Grains each ; of Opium one Grain, and with a
fufricient Quantity of Conierve, or Rob of Elder>
make a Bolus. J
N. 32.
the Quick filver and the Lard are not always the fame in diffe
rent PJ;u\
f This Medicine is known by the Name of Cot s Powder;
and as its Reputation is very confiderable, I did not chufe to
omit it ; though I mulr repeat here what I have faid 195
That the Cinnabar is probably of little or no Efficacy ; and
there aj:e other Medicines that have alfo much more than the
AJuik ; which be/idcs is extremely dear for poor People, as the
requifite Dofes of it, in very dangerous Cafes, would coft
ten or twelve Shillings daily. The Prefcription, N. 31, is
more effectual than the Itfuflc; and inftead of the ufelefs Cin-
nabn.r, the powerful Quickfilver may be given to the Quanti
ty of forty-five Grains. J have faid nothing hitherto in this
Work of the red blo/Tomed Mulberry Tree, which pa/Tes for a
real Specific, among fome Perfons, in this dreadful Malady.
Account of it may be feen in the firft Volume of the
Oeconomkal journal of Berne. It is my Opinion however,
that none of the Inllances related there are fatistaclory and de-
its Efficacy ftill appearing to me very doubtful.
I When this is preferred to N. 30, of which Mufk is an
Ingredient, the Grain of Opium Ihould be omitted, except
once or at mod twice in the twenty-four Hours. Two Dofes
of Quickfilver, of fifteen Grains each, ihould be given dair-
ifl the Morning, in the Interval between the other JJoJu
fable of Remedies.
N a -2
i % h
Take three Ounces of Tamarinds. Pour on
them one Pint of boiling Water, and after letting
them boil a Minute or two, rtrain the Liquor
through a Linen Cloth.
Take feven Grains of Turbith Mineral ; and
make it into a Pill or Bolus with a little Crumb
of Bread. ||
N - 34- .
This is nothing but a Prefcription of fix Grains
of Tartar * emetic.
Take thirty-five Grains of Ipecacuanna, which,
in the very ftrongeft Conftitutions, may be aug
mented to forty-five, or even to fifty Grains.
N. 3 6.
Prefcribes only the common bliftering Plaifter;
and the Note obferves that very young Infants
who have delicate Skins may have Sinapifms ap
plied inftead of BMers; and made of a little old
Leaven, kneaded up with a few Drops of fharp
Vinegar.
P p 2 N. 37.
|| This Medicine makes the Dogs vomit and flaver abun
dantly. It has effected many Cures after the Hydrophobia, the
Dread of Water, was manifeft. It mull be given three Days
fucceffively, and afterwards twice a Week, for fifteen Days.
* When People are ignorant of the Strength of the Tartar
emetic (which is often various) or of the Patient s being eafy
or hard to vomit, a Dofe and a half may be difTblved in a
Quart of warm Water, of which he may take a Glafs every
Quarter of an Hour, whence the Operation may be forwarded*
or otherwife regulated, according to the Number of Vomits
or Stools. This Method, much ufed in Paris, feems a fafe
and eligible one.
596 *f able of Remedies.
N-. 37.
Take of the Tops oi Chamaedrys or Ground 1
Oak, or, the leffer Centaury, of Wormwood and
of Came mile, of each one Pugil. Pour on them
three Pints of boiling Water; and fuffering them
to infufe until it is cold, {"train the Liquor
through a Linen Cloth, prcfling it out ftrongly.
N. 38.
Take forty Grains of Rhubarb, and as much
Cream of Tartar in Powder, mixing them well
together.
N-. 39.
Take three Drachms of Cream of Tartar, and
one Drachm of Ipecacuanna finely powdered.
Rub them well together, and divide them into
fix equal Parts.
N 4 o.
Take of the fjmple Mixture one Ounce, of
Spirit of Vitriol half an Ounce, and mix them,
The Dole is one or two Tea Spoonfuls in a Cup
of the Patient s common Drink. The firnple
Mixture is compoied of five Ounces of Treacle
Water camphorated, of three Ounces of Spirit of
Tartar rectified, and one Ounce of Spirit of Vi
triol. If the Patient has an infuperable Averfion
to the Camphor, it muft be omitted, though
the Medicine is leis efficacious without it. And
if his Third is not very confiderable, the flmple
Mixture may be given alone, without any further
Addition of Spirit of Vitriol.
N. 41.
Take half a Drachm of Virginia Snake-root,
ten
Table of Remedies. 597
ten Grains of Camphor, and make them Into a
Bolus with Rob of Elder-Berries. If the Patient s
Stomach cannot bear fo large a Dofe of Cam
phor, he may take it in fmaller Dofes and oftner,
vtz. three Grains, every two Hours. If there
is a violent Looienefs, Diafcordium muft be
fubftituted inftead of the Rob of Elder-berries.
N. 42.
Prefcribes only the Tberiaca pauferutn, or poor
Man s Treacle, in the Dofe of a Quarter of an
Ounce. The following Compofition of it is that
chiefly preferred by our Author. Take equal
Parts of round Birthwort Roots, of Elecampane,
of Myrrh, and of Rob or Conferve of Juniper-
berries, and make them into an Electuary of a
rather thin, than very ftiff Confidence, with
Syrup of Orange-peel.
N. 43-
The firft of the three Medicines referre J
this Number, is that already directed, I
The fecond is as follows.
Take equal Parts of the lefler Centaury,
Wormwood, of Myrrh, all powdered, and
Conferve of Juniper-berries, making them
into a pretty thick Confidence with Syrup .
Wormwood. The Dole is a Quarter of ai.
Ounce ; to be taken at the fame Intervals as the
Bark.
For the third Compofition Take of the Roots
of Calamus Aromaticus and Elecampane well
bruited, two Ounces ; of the Tops of the leflcr
Centaury cut fmall, a Pugil; of Filings of un-
P p 3 rafted
table of Remedies.
rufted Iron two Ounces, of old white Wine ?
three Pints. Put them all into a wide necked
Bottle, and fet it upon Embers, or on a Stove,
or by the Chimney, that it may be always kept
hot. Let them infufe twenty-four Hours,
fhaking them well five or fix Times ; then let the
Infuiion fettle, and {train it. The Dofe is a
common Cup every four Hours, four Times
daily, and timing it one Hour before Dinner.
N c . 44.
Take a Quarter of an Ounce of Cream of
Tartar, a Pugil of common Camomile; boil
them in twelve Ounces of Water for half an
Hour, and ftrain it off.
N. 45-
Directs only the common Sal Ammoniac,
from two Scruples to one Drachm for a Dofe.
The Note to it adds, that it may be made into a
Bolus with Rob of Elder; and obferves, that
thole feverifli Patients, who have a weak delicate
iStomach, do not well admit of this Salt ; no more
than of feveral others, which affed them with
great Diforder and Anxiety.
N. 46.
The Powder. Take one Pugil of Camomile
Flowers, and as much Elder Flowers, bruifing
them well ; of fine Flour or Starch three Ounces ;
of Cerufs and of blue Smalt each half an Ounce.
Rub the whole, and mix them well. This
Powder may be applied immediately to the Part.
The Plaiiter. Take of the Ointment called
Nutrituw, made with the neweit fvveet Oil, two
Ounces ;
Table vf Remedies. 599
Ounces; of white Wax three Quarters of an
Ounce, and one Quarter of an Ounce of blue
Smalt. Melt the Wax, then add the Nutritum
to it, after the Smalt finely powdered has been
exactly incorporated with it; ftirring it about
with an Iron Spatula or Rod, till the whole is
well mixed and cold. This is to be fmoothly
fpread on Linen Cloth.
A Quarter of an Ounce of Smalt may al:b
be mixed exactly with two Ounces of Butter or
Ointment of Lead, to be ufed occafionalJy inftead
of the Plaifter.
.
Take one Ounce of Sedlitz, or for want of
that, as much Epfom Salt, and two Ounces of
Tamarinds : pour upon them eight Ounces of
boiling Water, flirring them about to diflblve
the Tamarinds. Strain it off, and divide it into
two equal Draughts, to be given at the Interval
of Half an Hour between the firft and lafl.
N. 48.
Take of Sydenhams Liquid Laudanum eighty
Drops ; of Bawm Water two Ounces and a half.
Jfthe firft, or the fecond, Dofe (lops or con ii-
derably leiTens the Vomiting, this -j- Medicine
fliould not be further repeated.
P p 4 N. 49.
f The medical Editor at Zycwjuftly notes here, that thefe
eighty Drops are a very itrong Dofe of liquid Laudanum ;
adding that it is fcarcely ever given at Lyons in a greater Dofe
than thirty Drops ; and recommending a Spoonful of Syrup
of Lemon-peel to be given with it But we rnufu obferve In. re
3p ja.nfwer to this Note, that when Dr. TiJJot direfts this Mix
ture
6 oo Table of Remedies.
. 49.
Difiblve three Ounces of Manna and twenty
Grains of Nitre in twenty Ounces, or fix Glares ,
of iweet Whey.
N . 5 o.
To two Ounces of Syrup of Diacodiurn, or
white Poppy Heads, add an equal Weight of
Elder Flower Water, or, for want of it, of
Spring Water.
N. 5 i.
Directs nothing but a Drachm of Rhubarb in
Powder.
N. 52.
Take of Sulpbur vivuni, or of Flower of
Brimftone, one Ounce ; of Sal Ammoniac, one
Drachm ; of fre/h Hogs Lard, two Ounces ;
and mix the whole very well in a Mortar.
N . 53-
Take two Drachms of crude Antimony and
af- much Nitre, both finely powdered and very
well mixed -, dividing the whole into eight equal
Dofes.J
N. 54-
ture in the Iliac Paflion 318, to appeafe the Vomitings, Art.
3, he orders but one fpoonful of this Mixture to be taken at
once, and an Interval of two Hours to be obferved between
the firft and fecond Repetition, which reduces each Dofe to
fixteen Drops, and which is not to be repeated without Neceflity.
$ This Medicine, which often occafions Cholics in fome
Perfons of a weakly Stomach, is attended with no fuch In
convenience in ftrong Country People; and has been effeflu-
al in fome Diforders of the Skin, which have baffled other
Medicines The Remainder of this Note obferves the great
Efficacy of Antimony in promoting Perfpiration, and the ex
traordinary Benefit it is of to Horfes in different Cafes.
of Remedies . 6 o I
N. 54.
J Take of Filings of Iron, not the lead rutty,
and of Sugar, each one Ounce; of Anifeeds
powdered, half an Ounce. After rubbing them
very well together, divide the Powder into twen
ty-four equal Portions ; one of which is to be
taken three times a Day an Hour before eating.
N - 55-
Take of Filings of found Iron two Ounces ; of
Leaves of Rue, and of white Hoar-hound one
Pugil each ; of black Hellebore Root, one
Quarter of an Ounce, and infufe the whole in
three Pints of Wine in the Manner already di
rected, N. 43. The Dole of this is one fmall
Cup three times a Day, an Hour before eating. *
N. 56.
Take two Ounces of Filings of Iron; of Rue
Leaves and Anifeed powdered, each half an
Ounce.
I The Piefcriptions N 54. 55. 56, are calculated againft
Diftempers~which arife from Obstructions, and a Stoppage of
the monthly Difcharges; which N. 55 is more particularly
intended to remove; thole of 54 and 56 are moft convenient,
either when the Suppreflion does not exiil, or is not to be
much regarded, if it does. This Medicine may be rendered
lefs unpalatable for Perfons in eafy Circumftancec, by adding-
as much Cinamon initead of Anifeeds; and though the Quan
tity of Iron be fmall, it may be furh cient, if given early in
the Complaint ; one, or at the moft, two of thele Dofes daily,
being fufficient for a very young Maiden.
* 1 chufe to repeat here, the more fcrongly to inculcate fo
important a Point, that in Women who have long been ill and
languid, our Endeavours mult be directed towards the reftoring
of the Patient s Health and Strength, and not to forcing down
the monthly Difcharges, which is a very pernicious Praftice.
Thefe will return of Courfe, if the Patient is of a proper Age,
as (he grows better. Their P^eturn fucceeds the Return of he:
Health, and fhould not, very often cannot, precede it>
6 o 2 Table of Remedies.
Ounce. Add to them a fufficient Quantity of
Honey to make an Electuary of a good Con-
fiflence. The Dofe is a Quarter of an Ounce
three times daily,
N-. 57-
Take of the Extract of the linking Hem
lock, with the purple fpotted Stalk, one Ounce.
Form it into Pills weighing two Grains each ;
adding as much of the Powder of dry Hemlock
Leaves, as the Pills will eafily take up. Begin the
Ufeofthis Medicine by giving one Pill Night
and Morning. Some Patients have been ib fa
miliarized to it, as to take at length Half an
Ounce daily.f
N. 58.
f Our learned and candid Author has a very long Note in
this Place, ftrongly in -Favour of Stores Extract of Hemlock,
in which it is evident he credits the greater Part of the Cures
affirmed by Dr. STORCK to have been effected by it. He fays
he made fome himfelf, but not of the right Hemlock, which
\ve think it very difficult to miftake, from its peculiar rank
fetid Smell, and its purple fpotted Stalk. After firil taking
this himfelf, he found it mitigated the Pain of Cancers, but
did not cure them. But then addrefiing himfelf to Dr. StorcA,
and exactly following his Directions in making it, he took of
Dr. Storc& s Ext raft, and of his own, which exactly refembled
f ach other, to the Quantity of a Drachm and a half daily ; and
Ending his Health not in the leaft impaired by it, he then
gave it to feveral Patients, curing many fcrophulous and can
cerous Cafes, and mitigating others, which he fuppofes were
incurable. So that he feems fully perfuaded Dr. STORCK S
Extract is always innocent [which in Fact, except in a very
few Inftances, none of which were fatal, it has been] and he
thinks it a Specific in many Cafes, to which nothing can be
fubftituted as an equivalent Remedy ; that it fhould be
taken with entire Confidence, and that it would be abfurd to
neglect its Continuance.
The Translator of this Work of Dr. TISSOT S has thought
it but fair to give all the Force of this Note here, which muil
be
of Remedies . 603
N-. 58. "
Take of the Roots of Grafs and of Succory
well wafhed, each one Ounce. Boil them a
Quarter of an Hour in a Pint of Water. Then
difTolve in it Half an Ounce of Sedlitz, or of
Epjbm Salt, and two Ounces of Manna* and
ftrain it off to drink one Glafs of it from Half
Hour, to Half Hour, till its Effects are fuffici-
ent. It is to be repeated at the Interval of two
or three Days.
N- 59-
Is a Cataplafm or Pultice made of Crumb of
Bread, with Camomile Flowers boiled in Milk,
with the Addition of fome Soap, fo that each
Pultice may contain half a Quarter of an Ounce
of this laft Ingredient. And when the Circum-
ftances of female Patients have not afforded them
that regular Attendance, which the Repetition
of the Pultice requires, as it mould be renewed
every three Hours, I have fuccefsfully directed
the Hemlock Plaifter of the Shops.
N. 60.
Take a fufHcient Quantity of dry Hemlock
Leaves. Secure them properly between two
Pieces of thin Linen Cloth, fo as. to make a very
flexible Sort of frnall Matrafs, letting it boil a
few Moments in Water, then fqueeze it out and
apply it to the affected Par.. It mud thus be
moiftened
be his own, as his Editor at Lyons feems to entertain a very
different Opinion of the Efficacy of this Medicine ; for which
Opinion we refer back to his Note, 375, of this Treatife,
uch the Reader may compare with this of our Author s. A",
604 Table of Remedies.
moiftened and heated afrefh, and re-applied eve
ry two Hours.
N.6i.
Take of the Eyes of the Craw-fifh, or of the
true white Magnefia, two Drachms; of Cinna
mon powdered four Grains. Rub them very
well together, and divide the whole into eight
Doles. One of thefe is to be given in a Spoon
ful of Milk, or of Water, before the Infant
lucks.
N. 62.
Take of an Extract of Walnuts, made in Wa
ter, two Drachms ; and diflblve it in half an
Ounce of Cinnamon Water. Fifty Drops a
Day of this Solution is to be given to a Child
of two Years old ; and after the whole has been
taken, the Child fhould be purged. This Ex
tract is to be made of the unripe Nuts, when
they are of a proper Growth and Confidence for
pickling.
N. 63.
Take of Rezin of Jalap two Grains. Rub it
a confiderable time with twelve or fifteen Grains
of Sugar, and afterwards with three or four fweet
D
Almonds ; adding, very gradually, two com
mon Spoonfuls of Water. Then ftrain it through
dear thin Linen, as the Emulfion of Almonds
was ordered to be. Laftly, add a Tea Spoonful
of Syrup of Capillaire to it. This is no difagrea-
ble Draught, and may be given to a Child of two
Years old : and if they are older, a Grain or two
more of the Rezin may be allowed. But under
two
of Remedies,- 605
two Years old, it is prudent to purge Children
rather with Syrup of Succory, or with Manna.
1ST. 64.
Take of the Ointment called Nutrrtwn one
Ounce ; the entire Yolk of one fmall Egg, or
the Half of a large one, and mix them well
together. This Nutritum may be readily made
by rubbing very well together, and for fome
time, two Drachms of Cerufs [white Lead")
half an Ounce of Vinegar, and three Ounces of
common Oil.
N. 65.
Melt four Ounces of white Wax ; add to it,
if made in Winter two Spoonfuls of Oil ; if in
Summer none at all, or at moft, not above a
Spoonful. Dip in this Slips of Linen Cloth not
worn too thin, and let them dry : or ipread it
thin and evenly over them.
N. 66.
Take of Oil of Rofes one Pound ; of red Lead
half a Pound ; of Vinegar four Ounces. Boil them
together nearly to the Confidence of a Plaifter ,
then diffolve in the liquid Mafs an Ounce and a
Half of yellow Wax, and two Drachms of Cam
phor, {Hiring the whole about well. Remove it
then from the Fire, and fpread it on Sheets or
Slips of Paper, of what Size you think moft
convenient. The Ointment of Chambauderie^ fo
famous in many Families on the Continent, is
made of a Quarter of a Pound* of yellow Wax,
of the Plaifter of three Ingredients (very nearly
the fame with N. 66; of compound Diachylon
and
606 Table of Remedies.
and of common Oil, of each the fame Quantity,
all melted together, and then flirred about well,
after it is removed from the Fire, till it grows
cold. To make a Sparadrap, or Oil Cloth,
which is Linen, covered with, or dipt in an
emplaflic Subftance or Ointment, it muft be
melted over again with the Addition of a little
Oil, and applied to the Linen as directed at
N.6 5 .
N. 67;
Gather in Autumn, while the fine Weather
lafts, the Agaric of the Oak, which is a Kind of
Fungus or Excrefcence, ifluing from the Wood
of that Tree.
It confifts at firft of four Parts, which prefent
themfelves lucceflively, i, The outward Rind or
Skin, which may be thrown away. 2, That Part
immediately under this Rind, which is the beft
of all. This is to be beat well with a Hammer,
till it becomes foft and very pliable. This is
the only Preparation it requires, and a Slice of
it of a proper Size is to be applied direclly over
the burfting, open Blood- veflels. It conftringes
and brings them dole together ; flops the Bleed
ings ; and generally falls off at the End of two
Days. 3, The third Part, adhering to the fe-
cond may ferve to flop the Bleeding from the
fmaller Vefiels ; and the fourth and lail Part may
be reduced to Powder, as conducing to the fame
Purpofe.-f
N. 68.
f Our Author attefts his feeing the happiefl Gonfequences
from, this Application, which M. BROSSARD, a very eminent
French
Table of Remedies. 607
N. 68.
Take four Ounces of Crumbs of Bread, a
Pugil of Elder Flowers, and the fame Quantity
of thofe of Camomile, and of St. John s Wort.
Boil them into a Pultice in equal Quantities of
Vinegar and Water.
If Fomentations fliould be thought preferable,
take the fame Herbs, or forne Pugils of the In
gredients for Faltranh : throw them into a Pint
and a Half of boiling Water: and let them in-
fuie fome Minutes. Then a Pint of Vinegar is
O
to be added, and Flanels or other woollen Cloths
dipt in the Fomentation, and wrung out, are to
be applied to the Part affected.
For the aromatic Fomentations recommended
449, take Leaves of Betony and of Rue,
Flowers of Rofemary or Lavender, and redRofes,
of each a Pugil and a Half. Boil them for a
Quarter of an Hour in a Pot with a Cover, with
three Pints of old white Wine. Then ftrain off,
fqueezing the Liquor ilrongly from the Herbs,
and apply it as alreadv directed.
N. 69.
Directs only the Plaifter of Diapalma.*
N. 70.
Directs only a Mixture of two Parts Water,
and one Part of Vinegar of Litharge.
: 71
French Surgeon, firft publifhcd; and declared his Preference of
chat Agaric which fprung from thofe Parts of the Tree, from
whence large Boughs had been lopped.
* To fpread this upon Lint as diredcd, 456, it muft be
melted down again with a little Oil.
6oS
N. 71.
Take of the Leaves of Sow-bread, and of Ca
momile Tops, of each one Pugil. Put them into
an earthen Vefiel with half an Ounce of Soap,
and as much Sal Ammoniac, and pour upon
them three Pints of boiling Water;
N. B. I conceive all the Notes to this Table, in which I have
not mentioned the Editor at Lyons, nor fubfcribed with ray ini
tial Letter K, to come from the Author, hanng omitted no
thing of them, but the Trices.
TABLE
ERRATA.
4, Line 6, for of read of. p. 16, 1. 16, for be read me. p. 29, I. n,
after it add . p. 48, 1. 12, dek- and at the End of it. p. 51, in the running
Title, for Caafss read Ctiufes. ib. 1. 2, dele awl. ib. 1. 7, dele and. p. 57,
iaft line, fcr hurtful read hurtful, p. 67, 1. 17, after Water> add, may bt placed
tvithin tie Room. p. 74, line Lift but two, after wwr, dele , p. 96, 1. u,
for A u mint read Ailmtnt. p. 106, 1. 23, for the fecond read <. p. 126,
i. at, for breath read breathe. p. 137, 1. 13, for EjflorcJ cene read Efflorescence.
p. 145, 1. , * f }> ii:cr read jTia. p. 148, J. 19, for bcomes read becw:,
p. 1631 1. 30 in the Note, for cccurtd read occurred, p. 171, 1. 20, dele j-J.
p. l8q, 1. 2-S, Jcle of. p. 199, 1. 6, for Paulrr.ier read Palrr.ariuf, being the
a:inixtd K- me of that Pbyjinan ; as we fay for Feme! Fertielius, Holler H Merrus,
&t. N. b. His Powder for the Bite of a mad Dog confilled of equal Farts of
Rue, Vervain, Plantain, Polypody, common Wormwood, Mugwort, Baftard
Baum, Betony, St. jfcbn s Wort, and lefler Centaury Tops, to which Default
adds Coraline. p. 237, 1. 2, for Sfreakes read Streaks. p. 256, firft line
of the Note * dilt the firft often, p. 261, 1. 15, for bafpem read happen.
p. 470, 1. u, dele t in Sivitjferland. p. 282, 1. 23, tor enters read enter.
p. 283, 1. 23, f r Stcnnicb read Stomachs, p. 284, 1. 12, for ;> read them.
p. 287, Note * 1. 25, for here read there, p. 303, 1. 14, for daubtju! read doi?-
/!/. p. 311, 1. 18, for abate read abates, p. 337, 1.7, for /rfr} read glairy.
A*. B. In the firft Page that is folio d 445 read 3415. p. 346, 1. 19, for two read
rcr. p. 3^1, 1. ^5> after Wutcrs add, futon hfufimi ofTcj, &c. p. 375, 1. 7,
tor tti 3 rend /oo. p. 392, laft line, for Lea-vet read Floii-trs. p. 393, 1 26,
after fctin, infcrt atai. p- 397, J. f ?.nd 2, for Temparramtr.t m& e fttnptramnt.
p. 42 2, 1 6, between fcvcral and ConjifMCN infert iiit/ p. 454, 1. 5, for
Dfociititn read Dijlt^tion. p. 459, 1. 17, in Ice-thaivs dele - p. 466, 1. j(i,
to Ccnftitvticti add i. p. 486, ]. 29, after or aJd ./. p. 487, 1. 12, for Parts
read Far.*, p. 511, 1. ^ for not read wor. p. 533, 1. 12, for .7r/-/T read
p. 54ijl- 22 > f r /*< " vead Patients, p, 562, J. i^> l"yryyi read
p. 573, J. jo, after Ca:tje> dde
TAB L E of tb? feu* nil Chapter > , and tbt ir principal
Contents.
Page i The Danger of hot Chambers
INtrodudtion
The firft Caufe of Depo
pulation, Emigrations ib.
The ifcond Cauie, Luxury 6
Third Caufe, Decay of Agri-
cultilre 10
Fourth Caufe, the pernicious
Treatment ofDifeafes 12
Means for rendering this Trea-
tife ufeful 15
Explanation of certain phyfi-
cal Terms, and Phrafes 26
CHAPTER I .
9 r be mojl common Ca-ijcs vf popular
Sicknejs 3 1
Firft Caufe, excefllvc Labour if/.
Second Caufe, the Effect of cold
Air, v/hen a Pcrfon is hot 33
Third Caufe, taking cold
Drink, when in a 1
it. fc? 34
Fourth Caufe, the laconftancy
and fudden Change of the
Weather 3$
I- i:th Caufe, the Situation of
Dun^hiils, and Marines,
near inhabited Houies, and
the bad confined Air in the
Hoi. 37
Sixth Caufe, Drunkennefs 38
Seventh Caufe, the Food of
Country People 39
Eighth Caufe, the Situation,
or Expofure of Houfcs 42
Concerning the Drink of
Country People 43
CHAP. II.
Of Caufes <vchick increafe tic Dif-
49
The Danger of hot Drinks and
heating Medicines 50
Second Caufe, the Quantity
and Quality of the Food
given fick Perfons c;^
Third Caufe, the giving Vo
mits and Purges at the Be
ginning of the Difeafe 57
CHAP. III.
Concerning <vehcti jbould be done in
the Beg:nn:ng of Di/eajt s, and
the Diet in acute Dijenje; 6 1
Signs which indicateapproach-
ing Difeafe^ ; with Means
to prevent them ( j
The common ReginteiT, or
Regulations, for the Sick 64.
The Benefits of ripe found
Fruits - r>S v
Cautions and Means to be
ufed, on Recovery 73, 74
CHAP. IV.
Of the IrtflaMtrutticn of the Brett!?
" 7
Difeaic-
The Signs of this
The Advantage of
t_j r>
81
Signs of Recover i - 85
Of Crijes, and the Symptoms
that precede them 86
The Danger of Vomits, of
Purges, and of Anodynes 88
Of the Suppreffion of Expec
toration, and the Means to
reftore it. 89
cafes of tbt People, <T.utih general Of the Formation of Vomit as,
CoH/ideratioti s
Firit Cauie, the great Care
employed to force the Sick
to fweat, and the Methods
u :er. for that Purpofe
orlmpofthumcsin the Lungs,
and theTreatmentof theniQO
Of the Danger of Remedies,
termed Baliamics 10^
The Ineirlc.icy of the Anti-
hcdic of Pottrius 104
of
C O N T N T
Ot an Emf ffma tor
Ot a Gangrene of the Lungs
1 06
Of a Scirrbus of the Lungs ib.
CHAP. V.
OftlicPteurijy 108
The Danger of heating Reme
dies 112 to 1 15
Of frequent, or habitual, Pleu-
rifies 116
Of Goats Blood ; the Soot of
a ftale Kg .;, and of the
rnnvood ot the Alps, in
Pleurji 117, 118
ClT A ! . \\.
Of Difcafts of the Tbrom \ 19
; i prop, i i li. -Uinent 124
the Formation of an Ab-
127
Ot 1 \vclK- -. hom the Ob-
ilruvhon ff the patotid and
maxii > 1 .ds 131
Ot the t I lilfiinc ami puti id
Of th<- 1 In
which t-rcvailcd :n 1761 at
1^2
CHAP. VII.
. . - ,
Prejudices crnctrn-
ds A & 140
Danger of drin Icing miuh
hot Water, and of ftrong
Liquors, rs c. 146
for flrengthening and
curing Pejforii very i
to Colds
CHAF. VIII.
Of Dutf/a of the 7 ecih
CHAP. IX.
/"" V ,//3.VAV
L>f fanr-uinc Ap"
150
CHAT. X
Of morbid Strokes of :>
/""> \. T
CHAP. XI.
Of tie Rhnunatifm - 177
Of the acute Rheumatifra, at
tended with a Fever i?r.
Of the flow, or chronical,
without a Fever
The Danger of fpirituous and
greaiy Remedies iyi, 192
CHAP. XII.
Of the Bite of a mad Dog 104
CHAP. XIII.
Of tie Small PC 207
Of the preceding Symptoms of
this Difeafe 209
The Danger of fweating
Medicines - 217
The Treatment of the be-
,11 diilinc t Small Pocks 2 2^
The I 1 It- of Bleeding 222
11) r of Suppuration
22}
The rv-.iiiuy of opening
the ripe I uftules 22^
rofAnodynes 228
< >i lru- !i./K.<;.g in of the Krup-
us 229
Frejiarations for receiving it
favorably -
CHAP. XIV.
Of_tfa M(. -
<Ji theii Treatment and the
Means to prevent any ot
their bad Confluences, to
?43
CHAP. XV.
Of the :or, or burning* Fc-i cr 244
://. ^
\ ;o
Of.iferous or watery, A po-
ple
vrentrel in-
. roth em i
Of pnlnJ Ft-vcrs 24^
CHAP. XVII.
Of mat ;. ../?/ Fi-i: 2^j
i iie Danger of applying living
:m;iis in them 267
CHAP.XVIIL
Ofi>it:f>int!u; fa 269
Spring
CONTENTS.
Spring and Autumn Inter-
mittents 272
Method of Cure by the Bark
Metho. i treating the Patient
in the Fit 277
Of other Febrifuges, befides
the Bark 278
The Treatment of long and
obftinate Intermittent^ 279
Of fome very dangerous Inter-
mitttnts 284.
Of fome periodical Diforders,
which may be termed, Fe-
VITS difguifed 285
Of Preservatives from un-
wliolefome Air
CHAP. XIX.
Qf an Erifipelas, or St. Anri.o-
ny j Fire.
Of a frequent or habitual Eri-
The Miferere ib. & 323
The Cholera Mcrlus -127
CHAP. XXIU.
Of a Diarrhea, or Lw/tnefi -i-iz
CHAP. XXIV,
Of a Dvjenttiy, or Bloody-Flux
The Symptoms of the Difeaie
The Remedies again ft it 338
Of the beneficial Ufe of ripe
J 7 ruits 3^1
Of the Danger of taking a
great Number of popular
Remedies in it
C\* \S 1 T
HAP. XXV.
Of the /. </
CHAT. XXVI.
Directions fn\uliar to tl>e Sex 302
Of the monthly Cuftoms 353
Of (jravidation, or goine with
Child
Of the Stings or Bites of Ani
mals 296
CHAP. XX.
Of Inflammations of the Breajt,
and of Baftard and bilious
Plcurifies 298
* Of th.e falfe Inflammation of
the Bread
Of Labours or Deliveries,
Of their Confequences
Of a Cancer
CHAP. XXVII.
Dirtfliant with Regard to Chil
dren -
365
367
371
3- -
The falfe Pleurify
CHAP. X . I .
QfCholics
Of the inflammatory
3 CO
33
306
Cholic
37
the bilious Cholic ^ i z
the Cholic from Indigefcion,
and of Indigeitions 314
1 the flatulent, or windy,
Cholic
the Cholic, from
Cold
3 7
taking
3*9
CHAP. XXII.
Cf the Miferere, cr Iliac Paf-
fion, and cftke Cholera Mor-
bus 322
Of the firfl Cnufe of their f>[f,
orders, the Mt:onhtm 277
the fecond, the iburing of
their Mill; ^79
th^ Danger of giving tliem
Oil - #.
Diforders from their Want
of rerfpi ration, the Means
of keeping it up, and of
walhing them in cold Water
381 & 382
the third Caufc, the cutting
of their Teeth 386
the fourth Caufe, Worms
387
Of Convulfions - ;QI
Methods ncceilary to make
them llrong and hardy, with
general
C O N T E
N
T S.
general Directions about
them
i
CHAP. XXVIII.
IT Aronmrii Pfrfoni
405
CHAP. XXIX.
flrff /Cfll ,-- t!
Mouth ami /A" $1om,< 411
C H A I X X X .
Of Difcrders requiring th" Jjjij-
tuncf cf a iVv (/(- / .1
Of Burns
Of Wounds
Of Pruiles, and of Falls 4 ; \.
Ot"l" ! t -U f
Ot froiLcn Limb:, or joint. .
45$
Of Chilblains 462
Ruptures 474
Phlegmons or Boils 480
Of Fdltnis, or Whitlow^ 4^1
Of Thmn , Spli in
the Skin o; Flclli
W.irtb ~
Corns
CHAP. XXXI.
Of /on: eh require ii-
mcdiai. -\<)\
Of Sivooiuii ; , from Excels of
Jilood 492
Of Swonnings, from great
Wen k nefs ^94
Of Swoonings, occafioued by
a Load on the Stomach 497
Of Swoonings, refuhing from
Difordcrs of the Nerves 500
Of Swooning*, occafioneci
the P:\lfions 504
Of the Swooning*, which oc-
C ir in Difrafrs 506
Of Haemorrhages, or Fluxc?
of Bit - 508
Of Cottvulfion Fits c;u
Of fufrodtting, cr ftran^l
Fits _: -, 4
Of Uie violent KJiedts of great
Fear - -if-
("U /^ccidenfs produced by the
of Charcoal, anc
e 5 if;
5 2f
Of C if and violent Pain
CHAP. XXXII.
b\
O/
/ ; -
Of Bleeding
Of Purges
Remedies to be ufed after
cefTire Purging
Reflections on fome other
medies - 546,
CHAP. XXXIII.
Of Quacks, Mountebanks,
Conjurers -
CHAP.XXX1V.
QIC ft ions nfceffary to be a
by any Perjon", njcbo gee s to
juh a Phyjtaan.
The Table of Remedies
y c,
^ 3 l
53:
54C
ex
54.
He
5 5
con
58 .
