A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE Venereal Disease. WITH Observations on the Nature, Symptoms, and Cure; and the bad Consequences that at- tend by ill Management; with proper Ad- monitions to such as do, or may labour un- der this Misfortune. Together with some Hints on the Practical Scheme; his Methods and Medicines exposed; and the gross Impositions therein detected. To which is added, A short Account of old Gleets, and other Weak- nesses; and the Reason why they are so seldom cured; with the Author's Method of Cure. As also an Account Specificks; the Use and Abuse of the Name, and now it covers Ignorance and a Cheat. The Whole design'd for Publick Good By JOSEPH CAM, M. D. LONDON: Printed for, and Sold by G. Strahan against the Royal- Exchange; W. Mears without Temple-Bar; C. King in Westminster-Hall; T. Norris on London-Bridge; and J. Baker against Hatton-Garden in Holborn, 1717. Price stitch'd 6d. TO THE READER. It may justly be expected, that I shou'd inform my Perusers what Title I claim to follow the Business I now profess; this I shall do with so much more Inclina- tion, as I have had Provocations given me by vile and designing Reptiles: I must then inform you, that about 30 Years a- go I was bound Apprentice to Mr. Bal- lard an Apothecary in the City of Wor- cester, where having improved myself for some Years, I was willing to endea- vour at farther Advancement, and there- fore took a Journey to London, and had the opportunity of seeing a Gentleman of the Faculty's private Practice for some A2 Years: To the Reader. Years: The Misfortunes my Family (which is not, I thank God, a mean one) then groan'd under, gave me too many Discouragements to struggle withall; and I am not asham'd to confess, that the Supplies I might have reasonably expected for setting up withall, were on a sudden despair'd of: Thus disappointed, I be- gan to advertise, in order to support my- self, by vending Remedies I was well assured would answer the Ends of the Patients who were pleased to apply: In some time, I began to be able to support myself, and got my Degree of Dr. of Physick; and altho' the Busi- ness I follow seems not to square with that Dignity, I begin to think it better to have rose from so low a Station to the Cap, than to dwindle from the Cap to that Station, as Tanner's Voucher has done: And since I have mentioned this Eternal Drum, give me Leave to re- late to you what a Gentleman of my Ac- quaintance was pleased smilingly to say of To the Reader. of this Person; Sir, says he, this Tan- ner is, according to his own Account, the brightest Man of the Age; he gives us Anatomical Accounts, without so much as having ever read any thing of the Matter; he discovers Secrets in Chy- mistry without End, without so much as having burnt one Coal in pursuit of that Science ; But I believe after all, as a certain Monk (really skilful in this Pyrosophical Art) after search of somewhat, found out a Secret, which has since made the whole World groan under it (vulgarly called Gun-powder) so does this Pretender make Miscreants pay for being blown up: And Sir, after all, I am fully persuaded a Library may be deem'd a Complete one, tho' it did not harbour this most Excellent Practical Scheme, nor the most Learned New System. This Gentleman in short will, in a small time, make the World think very well of Physick. I would advise him to give us some Learned Pieces upon Con- To the Reader. Consumptions, Dropsies, Barrenness, and some other very Common Diseases, and then Specificks and Non-pareils, will go off apace; I the rather advise this, because he has in some measure pav'd the Road for that Project already; for at the Seneca's-Head you have his Onania, with his Sugar Plums, which he first began with; at Wheat-Sheaf you have his Blisters, and his low pric'd Electuary, or rather his Guinea Spe- cifick here for a Crown; at Garway’s, you have his Necklace, and his most Excellent Philosophical Essay; at Mr. Cooper’s in the Strand you have his most Excellent New System; at the Rose Tavern you have his most: Excellent Lip Salve, and Saffron Drops; in Kingstreet, Westmin- ster, you have his most Excellent Beautifying Cream; now three or four Distempers more, may perhaps build him up a most excellent Purse; and I desire he will not fail to give the World to To the Reader. to understand, that they are enter'd in the Hall Book; and one Word of Ad- vice I shall give him for his Favours to- wards me, that is, let him stick to his Function, or let him teach Short-Hand and breed up Canary-Birds, which are innocent Diversions, and will do no harm, (as may be perceived by his most excel- lent Treatises on Short-Hand and Ca- nary-Birds,) but Physick is an edge Tool. Thus the many and dismal Disasters, I have for upwards of twenty Years Pra- ctice, observ'd to attend the Unfortunate labouring under this Disease, occasion'd by ignorant and designing Men, has been the only Inducement to the following Sheets, in which I have given what Cau- tion I can to my Readers to avoid for the future such gilded Baits, and duly con- sider with themselves before they trifle with so precious a thing as their Lives and Health, by dealing with these Toy Drugsters, And To the Reader And if any Person of Common Sense would but consider well with himself; his own Reason must inform him, 'tis im- possible for any one Medicine in the World to answer the Character giv'n to this pretended Specifick; and if it wou'd, no need for hir'd Certificates, nor for the Author to conceal himself under the pretence of a Great Man, and spoil- ing his other Business; for the best Physician in the whole World, would not be backwards in owning himself the Author, nor value his other Practice, who would undoubtedly get the greatest Estate ever got by Physick. A A Short ACCOUNT OF THE Venereal Disease, &c. CHAP. I. Of the Disease in general. THE Value each Person ought to put upon himself, shou'd make him so industrious, as to discover Fraud from Sin- cerity, Chicane from Truths and Collusion from Good-will. I say, each Person ought to labour from his B Infancy (2) Infancy to extricate himself from the De- signs and Traps laid for him: But alas! we come to Maturity, we grow Old, and in some Affairs we are Blind, and continue so for ever. I know not, whe- ther this Blindness be in any Concern more common, than it is in the Art of Physick; in this, Men pass Judgment by the Force of their Affections, and not their Judging Faculty; This Man we like, his Conversation is agreeable, his Comport- ment is genteel, his Air is modish, he is obliging, and in short we love the Per- son; but let him be throughly search'd, his Business has been to study Men, not the dead Letter. Thus sometimes so high runs Affection, we even believe the Per- son Ignorant, but Charity and Love cover his Defects: I crave no Man's Affection, in order to entrap him; this little Paper- Book I have design'd as a Present, is the Result of a continued Success for near a quarter of a Century in the Cure of the Ve- nereal Disease, in its whole Extent. I fancy, it may be no great Honour to assume to myself an Air of Knowledge in this Distemper, because the Weakest of Mortals may in that time acquire to him- self a competent Observation on the com- mon (3) mon Symptoms, when his Application has been bounded and limited to that Di- stemper chiefly. Let my Knowledge be to what Degree it can; such has been my Case, that I have confined myself to the Consideration of this Disease mostly, have made Observations suitable to the time I have practised; and I think I have built upon what I have read, a large Stru- cture, and will be bold to say, (without a Breach of Modesty) If Authors have dis- covered no more of this Disease than what they have publish'd, I can range somewhat farther than they have, and without much Trouble to myself. By the Word Authors, I abstract from Bills of Fare, such as the Practical Scheme, a Rhapsody of bold Pro- mises, incoherent (and sandy) Matter, mask’d under the fulsome Pretext of fol- lowing a Philosophy, I am well apprized, the Scribbler has never entered the Thre- shold of. The Publick may here expect I should descend to Particulars they have never been told of; so I could; but my Affair at present is, an Appeal to the World how fairly I have dealt with them in the Publications I have made; and whether I am under the Incapacity some vile de- B2 signing (4) signing Empiricks (for so I must call such of my Adversaries, as I have hitherto spurn'd, who have never been dignified with the Cap) have branded all their Fel- low-Advertisers with, for the sake of Grist. I think it will be needless to let the World into the Secret of the Manner of Infection; this would be to trifle like the Scheme-maker; who, in his Pamphlet, pretends to clinch that Nail, which others had but touch'd. My Design is to relate Facts I am well assured of, confirm'd with Truth, ripen'd by Experience into a cer- tain Method, which I am sure is far from smelling of the Quack. I need no Atte- station to what I shall advance, nor is it necessary ro court any Chamberlen for what I affirm; nor do I think it reasonable, any Gentleman of a Faculty should pro- stitute his Name to my Account; nor do I design to work by Collusion: No Sirs, I know no Necessity I am under for such Craft. As soon then as a Persoq has convers'd with any one Infected, they commence also Unfortunate, the Infection being Local, the Part of Contact is the Seat of (5) of the Disease at first, and by Neglect is daily more propagated; —Unless strong Nature still Exerts itself, and then throws off the Ill. But how seldom this happens in our Isle, I leave it to any indifferently skill'd to pronounce for me. The Combatants untainted suffer by the Friction; the Torch is kindled at the Fire, which costs must Pains to extin- guish. If the Vagina is infected with Ulcers, their Linnen must be stained Greenish or Yellowish; and they scarce can bear the Coition without a wry Brow; as for the Males, they also are easily discover’d if warily ey'd; and 'twould be amazing to me, to find so many sad Examples, if Passion did not blind our Conscience and our Reason. I cou'd give Instances how to discover any Degree of Infection, and consequently how to guard Mortals from it; Nay, how to know whether Artifice were not used, to patch up a Mi- stris for the Battle; and I do promise it to my Patients, but think not fit to pub- lish it here. I shall in short give a De- scription (6) scription how a Patient may know his Degree of Infection, and how reasonable it may be for him to make a serious Ap- plication in Season. A Clap is discover'd from the following Signs; a Pain and Scalding whilst they make Water; Matter of various Colours runs out continually; there is a Pain up- on squeezing the Part; there’s an Erection often in a Day; Ulcers in the Urethra; the Penis swells, is crooked especially upon Erection; they cannot stand close with their Thighs, because of the Pain of the Penis; Ulcers often seize on the Glans or Prepuce; all these Symptoms are Attendants upon an infectious Copu- lation: But whether this Matter Infecting be an Acid or an Alcali, I think is scarce worth while to enquire into, much less is it to the Purpose to affirm with the Garway Scheme-Maker, Mr, Tanner, that an Alcali has changed its Nature into Acid, which is a Leap Principles (if he thinks them such) never take, and a Piece of Philo- sophy, which is neither new nor old, and consequently not learnt Abroad nor at Home: I look upon this Quality to be Acrimonious, because we do indeed find many convincing Proofs of its; but to what (7) what Species of Acrimony 'tis referrible, I can tell this Divine ’tis not his Province to enquire into; nor is it known, but from sobme Consequences, which are best judged of, from an Experience he is not Matter of. When the Infected has sat patiently down under his Misfortune for some time, which they often do, if their Scalding of Urine or Dysury be moderate; the In- fection steals upon them, and produces other Symptoms about the Parts first charged with the venomous Particles; so that now not only the Urethra, the Glans, the Prepuce, and the Penis, are affected, but also the Prostate Glands, the Gallus Gallinaceus, the Testicles, the preparing Vessels, the Groin, and the Anus, begin to suffer by their Proximity or Nearness, as will appear anon; For how otherwise happens it, that the Patients by a supine Neglect sometimes never recover from a Gleet all their Lives after? I have endea- vour’d in vain to cure Gleets of 20 Years standing, which I am now wiser than to attempt when I have examin'd them, as Experience has taught me to do; and know them by a certain Rule I have, to distin- guish, whether they are really incurable; which (8) which however, in others, I can cure, tho’ of any Date. A Phymosis and Pararephymosis Sym- ptoms on the Prepuce; in the first, the Fore-Skin is so tumid, that it won't be brought behind the Nut; in the latter, it can’t be brought forwards to cover the Nut; they are mostly watery Tumours, and called Crystallines, tho’ I have seen them of another Species, and inclinable to a Scirrhus, particularly by Mismanage- ment. I think no one need be told, that the Testicles are swell'd; but for their Inflam- mation we know it by a Tumour there, and a throbbing Pain, daily increasing till it turns into an Imposthume (if the Pa- tient be foolish and wilful.) The Anus is often beset with Warts or other Scirrhous or Cancerous Tu- mours, as well as the Glans is with Shankers, and which are equally trouble- some and dangerous. The Groin is attack'd with Buboes which are a Critical Tumour and Inflam- mation, which tends often, or ought so to do, to an Abscess, and by breaking, car- ries off Part of the Venom out of the Body, and sometimes the Whole, if art- fully managed. We (9) We have seen the Patients troubled with the Hernia Varicosa, where the Ves- sels are crowded with Humours, and their Substance is thicken'd and hardened some- times so much, that there is no possibility of reducing them to their usual size by the nicest Management; for they will, all their Life after, have these Vessels more turgid than usual. As soon as the Venom has left the Se- cret Parts, and is lick'd up into the Blood- Vessels, then it Circulates along with the Blood into all the Parts of the Body, and produces every Symptom producible by a vitiated Blood, such are Pains, Pustules, Ulcers, Itchings, Tetters, &c. for as the Acrimony, the Blood is tainted withall, makes the Globules of a size, which do not, in circulating, yield as it ought to do, for want of a due Elasticity, they are apt to stick close to the little Arteries or Fi- bres, which they cannot pass thro’; and thus, according to their degree of Acri- mony, they either give us troublesome Sensations, which are often, in the begin- ning, not lasting; or at other times they are deeply engaged in the Capillaries, and the Blood being very much tainted or C charged (10) charged with Salts, Ulcers and such Sym- ptoms are produced. At last, when the Venom has been a long Sojourner in the Fluids, it begins to affect the Solids, and particularly the Nerves and Bones. This is a dismal Scene indeed, and many a Bill of Mor- tality is hid under the Name of a gentle Decay, and a Consumption, which had its Beginning in the Stews. Now Con- vulsion, Consumptions, Palsies, Apoplexies, then Nodes, Caries, Spine Ventosœ, the Fal- ling of the Os Palati, and the Nose, and such melancholy Scenes are carried on; and why all these and more, but because now we are crush'd with the Quantity of the Poison, as well as the Quality of it? for there is as much difference between this last Stage and the first, as there is be- tween the Effects of a Pound of diluted Aqua-fortis, and two Pounds of the most concentred Spirit of this same Acid, where the first may even be brought down to a degree of being swallowd, whereas the latter destroys in a small Quantity: I say not this to declare my Sentiments on the Species of Acrimony, but on the dif- ference of Quantity and Quality. To set about to explain to my Reader, the manner (11) manner how those Accidents come on; would be perhaps to talk like a Scholar more than a Practitioner; but my Aim is rather to be accounted the latter, and I cannot tell whether any one who follows this Business, has better Pretensions to it than myself, because the Numbers I have had under my Care, have made me en- deavour at proper Methods to relieve them and support myself, and I thank God I have effected Both: I am sure then, I have no occasion, like the Scheme-Maker, in his Directions, to desire any to draw up an Advertisement, and say unknown to the Author, and they shall be refunded the Price of the Advertisement, and shall have a Guinea given for a Pair of Gloves for so doing, because this is an Effrontery not to be equall'd: For what poor Wretch having bought a dear Remedy, would not be glad to be refunded his lost Money at any rate? And this is the Reason why so many Certificates appear in favour (as one would imagine) of the Specifick Remedy, when in Truth they are only Claims put in, to recover their Money sunk in an useless Remedy, so that these Poor Miscreants (for such these Claimants ge- nerally are) are repaid for Hush-Money and C2 gross (12) gross Impositions: Nay, we have known it advertised, that such an one (who had been as dead as Julius Cesar for above half a Year before) was recover'd by, &c. Populus vult Decipi, Decipiatur. But the Readers will be pleas'd to find here in the following Chapter, most of the Symptoms in such Order as they invade them, that they may at one View know their Condition, and apply seri- ously for their Recovery. CHAP. II. Of the Symptoms. FIRST then, A Clap or Gonorrhœa Virulenta, which the French call Chaude-pisse, has generally the vast Heat of Urine attending it: I need not tell my Reader, that Ulcers in the whole Pas- sage sometimes cannot bear the sharp Urine gliding over it, and grating it, and therefore till these Ulcers are some way benumm’d or cur'd, we find this Symptom seldom ceases entirely. Shankers are hard and callous Ulcers on the Glans, or Prepuce, or both; which are sometimes so large as to equal a Chesnut, and (13) and give the Operator and Patient much Trouble, for that they must sometime be even cut away; I shall not say more here, only referr you to what I shall say below on them. Bubo's, they are inflammations on the Groin; ’tis a sort of an After-game, and a piece of Good-luck; for 'tis much better this Part should be seized than the Internal ones, because by Impostumating the Hu- mour is in great Measure thrown out this way, which it could not, if it seiz'd on the Viscera. Inflam'd Testicles; all Tumours are raised, because more is brought to a Part than can be reconvey'd, and therefore when I name an Inflammation, I suppose some sort of Obstruction; and if any one throws into a Distractile Syphon a quantity of Liquor by a Syringe, you will see it rise and settle; Why swells it, but because the Part is drawn up by the quantity not passing on hastily enough? And why set- tles it, but because now it passes freely on? Caruncles are known by pissing in a double or an Obstruction of ma- king (14) king Water; they are fleshy Excrescences in the Urethra (I have sometimes known them at the Neck of the Bladder, and this is dangerous) arising from the ulcerated Parts turning Fungous, and at last this Fungus (from a peculiar Acrimony in the Humours) becomes even Scirrhous or Cancerous. Stranguries are occasion'd by the Salts of the Urine pricking the ulcerated Parts, and thus corrugating them, and exaspe- rating them; and as a sharp instrument fails not to gall and irritate the Part ’tis fixt in; this Humour, in like manner, ac- cording to its Figure and Durity, fixes in some Corner of the ulcerated Part, and there galls till it is obtunded by the Mucus spew'd out of the Glands of the Urinary Passage. Dysuries and Stranguries differ by Degrees only, but both are a Sharpness and Heat of Urine. Nocturnal Pains arise from the Heat of the Bed, which occasions a brisker Mo- tion of the Fluids around the Body, and particularly on the Surface; if the Salts (which by this Heat are melted) be gentle, then such only feel a Tingling and Uneasi- ness (15) ness on the Surface of the Skin; but if they are very Sharp and Corrosive, instead of Tingling, they Pinch us prodigiousty, and bring on Pains. Erosions of the Bones of the Palate; when the Humours have been suffer'd to lodge for a long space of time, without due Care, what Wonder if they Corrode the Parts? for as this Ferment is of such a Na- ture, as every Day to grow more Corro- sive than other, we must naturally con- clude, the longer it lodges on any Part, the more Mischief it does; why then should we wonder at such a Disfigura- tion? Nodes are hard Tumours on the Bones; however, there are degrees of them; for when they begin, they are softish, and are then termed Gumma's; and, in the Head, Talpa's or Topinaria's; but when confirm'd, they are Nodes and Exostoses; they arise from the Lodgment of Hu- mours on the Bones or near them, be- cause some of these Tumours seem at first to be Cystical, and others seem to, and really do? grow on the Bones. Phy- (16) Phymosis, Paraphymosis; I have already taken Notice, that these are Faults on the Prepuce, and if the Patient’s Penis is so fram'd, as always to be cover'd or unco- vered, these Accidents seize them, for the Symptom is but a Tumour diversify'd by this Structure. Cordee, is a French Word, signifying a String or Cord; and this which they call Chaude-pisse Cordee, is a Clap with an In- flammation on the Penis; but we never take it in any other Sense, than when the Frœnum is drawn downwards, and the Erection, which is Troublesome at this time. Cords the Penis around, and on the side of the Frœmum, with exquisite Pain; so that as Erection is unavoidable, from numerous Causes and Irritations, therefore is also the Pain following it. Scabs or Blotches; these Eruptions come about from the Humours stopt somewhere; and as an Acrimony may be wrapt up in gross Particles, so this Viscidity occasions an Impediment to the Circulation in the small Vessels (which we call Capillaries); when they have rested here some time, then their Acrimony begins to exert itself, and (17) and gradually inflames, throbs, and at last throws itself into the Surface of the Skin, in Blotches and Scabs. Disorders from the Blood, and nervous Disorders; when the Venom has deserred the Genitalia, it creeps gradually and insensibly into our Vessels, and then cor- rupts all our Juices, and changes them into Caustical ones; and as the Blood soon corrupts the Spirits, so bad Blood soon hurries on bad Spirits; therefore when the Blood is tainted, Crowds of Diseases attend a Patient thus unfortunate, and they every Day more than other begin to look Pale and grow Lean, because Nu- trition is not rightly perform’d; for how shou’d a Body be nourish’d with Particles so keen-edg'd? How can they be apply’d with Advantage, when they are utter Enemies to it? How can they grow with- out Lodging there firmly? and if they do lodge, instead of nourishing, they pare them off, and even grate the very Bowels unmercifully. Thus Diseases grow up instead of Nutriment, and at last, jam seges est ubi Troja fuit; nothing but Destruction and Death attend them: I shrink at the Thoughts of the innume- D rable (18) rable Disasters springing up from the Blood tainted; but when I consider the Venom deeper sunk, and into the Nerves, I am yet more in Concern for such Neglects; nay, and I must here acquaint my Reader that ’tis not the poor Patients are always only to be blam’d for these disastrous Cases; for I have known many who have run the Gauntlet of Physick under Igno- rant Hands, who have locked the Door, and have suffer’d the Thief to ravage within; or even have sometimes over- done the Matter, and ignorantly thrown their Patients into Nervous Distempers; Lastly, I must observe to you, that tho’ these are the Common Symptoms, yet they are far from being the Complement, since Defluxions on the Throat, Coughs, Night- sweats, Lassitudes, Pains of the Back, Lean- ness, Consumptions, Fissures any where. Falling off of the Nails, Crustiness on the Skin, Polypus's, Piles, a cancerous Thrush, Tetters on the Privities, Melancholies, Madnesses; the Alopecia or Falling off of the Hair, Ficus, Condylomata, Mariscœ on the Anus and its Verge; nay, we have seen some Hypochondriacal, others Phre- netick, we have often observ’d Hecticks, Vertigo's, (19) Vertigo's, Dropsies, Deafness, Blindness, Palsies, Epilepsies, all sorts of Breakings out, Dysenteries, Fluxes, Diabetes; and in short there is hardly any Distemper, which this malignant and acrimonious Humour does not bring on; and the Reason I think is pretty plain, because all these Di- stempers are only some Share or Parcel of this Humour, fixt on some one or more of the Viscera or Parts, which settling there, frets and exasperates the Parenchyma of the Part seized, and either raises Exul- cerations, Evacuations, Commotions, Tu- mours, Eruptions, Caries, and many such Disorders; or its Tenacity blocks up the Passages, and then it raises all Disorders which take their Rise from Obstructions; and then the Parts are not irradiated by the Spirits, and then follow Fallings off of the Hair, Palsies, Gutta Serena's, and thousands of other Distempers, which I neither am at Leisure to nominate, nor cou’d they be comprehended within a moderate Compass, Mille modis morimur, D2 CHAP. (20) CHAP. III. Of the Prognosticks, THAT such whose Hands this little Pamphlet may fall into, may con- ceive their Disorder somewhat more rea- dily, I shall annex some short Progno- sticks on their Condition. As to such who are seiz’d with the va- rious Symptoms of a Gonorrhœa, or other Disorders about the Genitals; unless their Blood have been violently tainted before with Sharp Humours; if the Disorder be fresh and newly received, they recover with good Management very readily; and I cannot but be surprized to meet with so many in this City, who have la- bour’d under common Symptoms, easily to be remedied; and yet such have been their Misfortune, that they have stalk’d thro’ some Courses of Physick, they have taken pills, Bolus's and Electuarys, Elixirs, Specificks, and the Lord knows what, to no manner of purpose, but to flounder them deeper in the Mud; and in short, they have by these promising Medicines, been seemingly cured of their Clap, and have (21) have barter’d it for a Pox. This I speak upon Experience; and I must frankly own, I know not how it should fall out otherwise, if we speak of such Medicines as are commonly disposed of at Toyshops; because the Patient is given to understand his Case by a false Glimmer, he proceeds by stated Directions, the Boot it ready made, and it must fit every Man’s Leg; now how Ridiculous this Procedure is, will be evident upon taking a View of one Case I shall remark: Some People will have Shankers in a confirm’d Pox, and which the common Methods of Tur- pentine and Mercury mention’d by Doctor Cockhurn, will relieve indeed, but your Case becomes Desperate thereby; for the common Operator (I talk not of Artists) will glory of a Victory, when his Ene- my has retreated; whereas in Truth his Disappearance is for no other End but to proceed by Sap, and Undermine the Foundation; for the Blood being charg’d with a large stock of Sharp and Corroding Humours, enters the Bones, and lurks in them, and either produces Caries, Spinœ Ventosœ, or Nodes: and then to their Cost, they take hasty Measures, and come to the Grand Cure; However, if it be an old (22) old Gonorrhœa, or the Blood be much tainted, ( as it is in some Scorbutick Per- sons) then indeed more than ordinary Care is required, and the Patient must be narrowly look’d after, and the Cure varies according to the Degree; which it is impossible to describe, and as impos- sible to be relieved by Medicines prepa- red by Bopeep Doctors, who never ap- pear, nor are Solicitous about the Mat- ter, so long as their Specificks sell well; and who, if they did appear, know no- thing of the Case, unless perhaps what is in their Pamphlets, which they have rifled Blegny, Cockburn, or some Writer or Pamphleteer for; such are the Reverse of what is requir’d, for instead of knowing more than their Writings contain, they know less, and even nothing of the Mat- ter and therefore lie conceal’d; such Pa- tients then must appear at the Bar, must take the Physician or Surgeon as Judges in the Case, must by their Assistance prove the Degree of Damages, and the Assailant must be oblig’d to quit Costs; in short, they must apply to their Deliverer seriously, and must follow his Directions obsequi- ously. If (23) If the first Degree of this Venom re- quires such an exquisite Care, what must the more rooted Degrees of it demand? Surely double and treble. I don’t know that the Husbandman wou’d trust his Brutes to the Hazard of a Receipt, but the Experienc’d Cow-Doctor must be call’d in to remedy the Disease; and how it comes that we trust to those Toy- shop Medicasters, who pretend to Receipts only (as many there be in this City) is amazing! I must then observe to you, that if in this degree the Excretory Ducts of the Prostatœ (or Glands in the Urinary Passage which spew out upon Occasion, a glutinous, colourless Substance) are Eroded or Eaten away by the Acrimony of the Humours; or also, if farther, the Mouths of the Vesicule Seminales (or long Tortuous Membranes which hold the true Seed) are gnawn by this same Hu- mour; then there remains a perpetual Flux, and sometimes ’tis so large as to evacuate large Quantities, and emaciate the Patient, and brings on the Tabes Dor- salis, and kills them. However, we know not how to remedy these Evils, and therefore they lead an uncomfortable Life, because they are incurable; we have (24) have seen such a Case in the Dissection of an executed Person: In the same man- ner is it with Women whose Lacunæ are eroded; for then whatever Ichor arrives at their Mouths, is thrown out, and this cannot be remedied, as we have known some who have undergone several Saliva- tions for this purpose, without any Ad- vantage; and if the Undertaker had been skilful or honest, there wou’d have been no need to have treated these unhappy Mortals so roughly, since the Disorder was Local, and if Application wou’d not succeed, nothing wou’d. Some Symptoms indeed are wholsome; so a Bubo appearing, if it suppurate, the Venom is eradicated, and the Patient recovers with little ado; nay, and some times a Gonorrhœa runs off in warmer Climes, but seldom or never with us in these cold Climates. Where the Blood is tainted, more Care is to be taken of this Leaven; for if neg- lected, the Desease grows apace, and en- ters the solid Parts, and destroys us: Hence due Regard had to the Taint (of what Species cannot be determin’d, but by Sight of the Patient, by proper and Specifical Remedies, the Humour is either X corrected (25) corrected, or else thrown off by proper Emunctories, and the Patieat may be re- lieved in a Month’s time with Safety, Pri- vacy and Pleasure. Where the last Degree is, then any one; the leaft skill’d, may know the Fate of these Unfortunates; for what Trouble attends not rotten Bones, some of which are Curable, others not at all? For such, which are hollow, and contain a Medul- lar Substance, will, with Time and Care, exfoliate and be cured; but if the porous Bones are tainted (unless very superfici- ally so) such as the Rotula, the Patella, the Articulations, the Os Calcaneum, and those Spungy Bones there-abouts, the Skull, and in short such Bones as are Cellular; How can we remedy them ? No, ye Unfortunate, deceive not your selves with vain and promising Airs, the Operators statter ye with; all this is Gri- mace, and poor Policy, levell’d at enrich- ing themselves with your Spoil; but if you applied in Rags to them, their true Judgment (if they have any) wou’d ap- pear. E CHAP. (26) CHAP. III. Of the Cure IT would be in vain to split this Disease into so many trifling Divisions, and thus to make the Cure of it appear intri- cate; for in Truth, the Parts are only affected around the Genitals, or the Juices and the Solids are also tainted; so that whoever considers what I have said, will soon be Master of the Methods. When it seizes in the form of a Gonor- rhœa, the Methods of Cure are the follow- ing; the Ulcer of the Urethra indicates Detersion, and Cleaning; when this is suffi- ciently done, we must incarn; or if this be look’d on as too tedious, we must ci- catrize: But I look upon it as necessary to be somewhat flow in this last Indica- tion; and tho’ this Caution has been flighted by many here, yet how many Complaints do we daily meet with in this City, for want of such a piece of Justice? I can’t but acknowledge there are short Methods of Curing, and easier than what we ordinarily find used by many (27) many unskilful Men; but as each Man seems to glory in his own Skill in this Point, I believe it wou’d be in vain to endeavour to persuade some Men to pro- ceed in a manner more Christian than they do: If they wou’d obey me, I do assure them, I wou’d avoid all dangerous Proceedings; I wou’d not with one use Sublimate Water internally, and chouse the too Credulous out of their Money, (for so I must call selling a Pint of this Water for a Guinea) and at the same time endanger their Persons; for who does not know that Sublimate is rank Poison? I only desire the Reader wou’d consult the most learned Dr. Mead on Poisons upon this Head, and see what Consequences attend the giving of it in- ternally; and I believe I shall terrifie all honest Men from administering it, and such as value their Lives from taking it; and that what is advanced by me here, is not said Gratis, or out of Envy, the Rea- der shall be convinc’d of, by his Senses, before I leave this Discourse. Nor wou’d I with others give Mercurius Vitæ, Green Precipitate, and many more such dange- rous Medicines daily too much used in this Town; for in Truth, there is no E2 Necessity, (28) Necessity, that Persons to be cured of one Evil should be thrown headlong into others, equally hazardous; and there- fore I avoid (as much as in me lies) all such Devious Methods: These are the Harsh Methods use in Town: and I should be sorry that Men of Learning, and supposed Knowledge should be found Guilty of what I condemn; I wish they may not, for their Patients sakes as well as their own; they must expect the fatal Consequences which follow such Usage, and which they need not be adverti- sed of, as knowing them as well as my self. It would be too frivolous to tell the World of giving Catharticks such as Ro- sin of Jalaps, Mercurius Dulcis, Pilulœ Cochiœ, Rudii, Ruffi, Rosin of Scam- tnony, or Guaiacum, and such like; it would be trifling to tell you, that Bal- sams of Capivi, Peru, of Chili, of Gilead, are usesul to cleanse the ulcerated Part, or that Tinctures made of these Rosins or Balsams, are much used by some as wonderful Secrets to cure and chouse the Vulgar withall; I shall not trouble my Reader to descant upon Os Sepiœ, Crocus Martis astringens, Sal Martis, Saccharum Saturni, (29) Saturni, Oleum Martis per deliquium, boil'd Turpentine, some fashionable Jellies, which are fam’d for the compleating the Cure; nor shall I mention the Injections of Mer- curius Dulcis,with Mel Rosarum and Plan- tane Water, nor of Decoctions of Roses, Balaustines, Vitriol, Saccharum Saturni, nor such like; because they are to be met with in every Writer on this Distemper: But I shali frankly own some have been modest, but many more have exceeded all Bounds on this Head; I shall for my part study to say so little on this Point, that may offend Modesty, or prove an Incentive, that I hope I shall have nothing to answer for, either to a Superior Being, or to any Court of Judicature; and I wish some, who otherwise want not Parts enough to distinguish themselves, wou’d avoid this Ungentleman, as well as Unchristian Demeanour. But Quo semel est imbuta Recens servabit odorem Testa diu. As for Shankers, I shall not mention how some use Cathereticks in order to eradicate them along with the general Methods to keep us safe. I know in Ca- runcles, the common Methods arc Era- dication by Catherecicks on Candles; Bubo's (30) Bubo's we all know are treated with Sup- purative Pultises or Plaisters, or the Lan- cet is at last made use of: We know that Heat of Urine is allay’d by Mucilages, by Sal Prunellœ, by Opiates, and other Methods of Cure. I need not trouble my Reader to inculcate to him, that Cor- dees are alleviated by Anodyne Fotus's or Cataplasms: I shall, I say, lay aside all these Considerations, they having been canvassed by all Writers even to a Loath- ing: But I shall make the Reader observe, that my Method is easie and safe, quick and certain; and though I can brag as well as others of my Electuary and its Saluriferous Effects; bccause I have try’d it above these twenty Years successfully; yet I am not altogether so vain nor em- pirical as to tell the World this Medicine does never fail; only I shall inform you and desire you to give an attentive Ear to what I am about to say, That if I manage this Electuarium Mirabile myself, I will give any Person who tries it, double the Value, if it ever fail to cure the first De- gree of Infection: And as for the rest, I do suppose they will apply, otherwise I do faithfully assure them, ’tis hardly pos- sible for them to recover truly; for some unfor- (31) unfortunate Reliques will sooner or later grasp them too close ever to be rid of their Misfortune, unless by a skilful Hand. I would then have my Readers to observe, that what is possible to be done by one Medicine, this Electuary will ef- fect; it evacuates the Humours gently; it revulses from the Part affected, and draws it off; it obtunds the acrimonious Humour; it destroys the Venom in Bud, and all this with Ease and Safety. But as every one cries up his own Secret and Nostrum, ’tis natural for them to decry other Mens, and therefore has this under- gone that Fate; but how unjustly, ap- pears, because it has surviv’d all Envy, and will continue so to do; and so it is with all excellent things: If they are Good nothing will sink their Credit; if they are Bad, nothing will make them continue. In case the Venom has tainted the Blood, and begins to produce such Symp- toms as I have already nam’d; an easy Matter will not complete the Cure; for then we must have Recourse to more po- tent Remedies, either to evacuate roundly, or to alter strongly; and even this Method will not answer, without regard had to X the (32) the Parts too much injur’d by the Venom deep sunk into them. However, my Reader must not misap- prehend me by saying we must cure by strong Remedies; for I can understand the Word strong in no other Sense than this, to wit, that the Cure must be propor- tion’d to the quantity of Poison in our Veins, and Strength in our Patients; and if the former be in such a Quantity as can- not be eradicated without exhausting the latter; who does not see the Danger? However, even then, there are certain Ways and Means unknown to common Managers, to be made use of, in order to retrieve the Patients, as I may say Invitâ Minervâ; which I know myself under no Obligation to discover; only such as fall into my Management, and under my Care, will experience even in this Despe- rate Case, Safety and Comfort, not to be met with from many. Some will expect me in this Place to make Excursions, and to discourse to them of the Method of Cure by Diaphoreticks; I know in Foreign Countries, they are very fond of this Me- thod of Cure; and in the Indies from whence we received this venomous Dis- ease, they entirely depend on this Method; nay, (33) nay, and even in this Town some boast of their Royal Decoctions, or Diet Drinks, and order them to be taken plentifully, and religiously confine you to Roast Meat and dry Victuals, and poor Fare at Night, and order their Drinks to be swallow’d down in such a plentiful Manner, that they either evaporate your Blood to a Cinder and a Caput Mortuum, or at least endanger a Fever; we hear of all that have the good hap to escape; but who sink? they are perfectly hush in that. Others believe it necessary in these last Extremities, to have recourse to violent Vomits, and never think the Diseas’d can be too roughly treated for the sake of the Disease; Festina lentè is nmy Motto, I am for making no more haste than good Speed; for ’tis very usual to hear these Sparks murder at once the Disease and the Diseased; I wou’d indeed murder the Disease, and can do’t, but they kill two Birds with one Stone. I am not a little surprized to find some of Opinion, that Salivations are little to the purpose, unless rais’d by Unction, and unless they spit two or three Quarts in a Day! Quisque sensu suo abundet; I shall not endeavour to disposses these F Gentle- (34) Gentlemen of the good Opinion they have of themselves, for I know no body that loves to be contradicted; but I shall only say, I act otherwise, and gain my point, and if they always do so, I wish them much Joy; I shou'd not submit my- self to such a rude Management, neither shall my Patients be treated so roughly. The Disease does not vanish, nor is it re- puted to do so, unless the Symptoms dis- appeary and whenever they do, for a small space of time, we need go no farther; (what is done over and above, is at the Expence of their Lives or Spirits); for what will do this, will leave a small Re- lique at most, which may be otherwise handled by a Person moderately skill’d; and in this I appeal to all such as practise Physick or Surgery. I don’t know that Diureticks will avail at all in this rooted Degree, because they are too weak for the Disease, and besides, Dr. Friend has lately observ'd in his Trea- tise of Fevers, that they seldom answer our Ends, saying, p. 154. Ita ut hodie hœc Medicinœ pars quœ ad urinas provo- candas pertinet, sit omnium maxime man- ca. Some (35) Some I know there are, that pretend to evaluate by Saliva for two or three Hours in a Day, and no more; and thus are for carrying off, by Degrees, the ve- nomous Particles out of the Blood; and if so, why may not this be done by To- bacco as well as Mercury? For in such a Case these enter not the Blood: But this is bare Shuffle and Pretence, and if they neglect at the same time other advanta- geous Methods, ’tis a Bite upon their Patients. In short, I shall only add this one Ob- servation, which may lead a skilful Per- son through the whole Range of the Dis- ease, and it is this, That in what manner soever the Disease has been found to be cri- tically carried off in warmer Countries, we may lawfully conclude that Medicines which are found by Experience to force this same Separation by Art, will do the same Feats; and as it has been found that the Indians did it by Sweating (in the Sun, Bagnio’s, or by any other means) so we find in England that Sweating goes a great way to compleat the Work; as it has been found that Stools do carry off this Di- stemper, so may we imitate and ape Na- ture, and order Catharticks to carry off F2 the (36) the Load; after which, however a te- dious Course ought no back this Method in order to correct the Relicks, left it sprout again. How the Salivation was found ro cure this Disease, is too late an Invention to be forgot, and therefore I shall proceed. as for the Symptoms which retain to the several Degrees of this virulent Des- ease, it behoves a Physician to follow the easiest and surest Methods to root them soon out; and as I have acquired by Ex- perience several short Methods to effect this, I shall give my Reader to under- stand their Names and Uses; and I shall leave it to the Patient to let the World know, how truly they are Nostrums and Specificks in their kind. Electuarium Mirabile; or, the Admira- ble Electuary. I have already spoke of the Vertues of this Electuary; and as too much cannot be said in its Praise, the Reader must excuse a little Excursion on a favourite Medicine; Favourite, because I admire its Efficacy and Palatableness; To be pleasant and grateful to the Taste only, wou’d be a small Recommenda- tion indeed; but when I say ’tis success- ful (37) ful in the first Degree of this Disease, and seldom, if ever, fails of answering its Ends, as thousands can sufficiently testify; I think I need not add much farther, than to advise the Unfortunate to consult their Safety, in having speedy recourse to such an admirable Remedy in time. Pilulœ Antivenereœ, or my Antivenereal Pills. I never found it adviseable to pro- ceed to stronger Medicines, when I was sure weaker wou’d serve the turn; nor vice versa, is it convenient to dally with weak ones, where stronger are plainly required; when therefore People have neglected themselves, or have been trea- ted ignorantly till their Case becomes Desperate, I have recourse to these admi- rable Pills and Powder following, which together will not fail to root out the very minutest Atoms of the Poison with cer- tainty and safety, the Truth of which (upon Trial) the afflicted will soon be convinced of; asmany I have already had under my Hands, have largely experi- enced. Pulvis Specificus; or, my Specifick Pow- der. This Powder is an Alterative, and great (38) great Sweetner of the Blood and Juices, corrects efficaciously and suddenly all Taints proceeding from this Poison, and indeed is almost universal in its Venues, as several Physicians, who however use it too sparingly, can testify in their Pra- ctice; but my Method of using it being different to theirs, I reap greater Benefit by it in proportion; as daily Experience sufficiently proves. Electuarium Balsamicum; or my Bal- samick Electuary. This is a Medicine which is extreamly cleansing and healing; therefore particularly adapted to Gleets, after the Cure of the Venom; for it often happens, that after all the Venom is car- ried off, yet the Vessels are not closed, tho' good and wholsome Methods have been used; then this Electuary, with my Balsa- mick Pills, will effectually succeed; as al- so in all Gleets and Seminal Weaknesses, whether occasion’d from ill cured Claps, Self-Pollutions or other Disorders; if nei- ther the Veru montanum, or the Mouths of the Excretory Ducts of the Parastatœ be quite eaten away; for then 'tis im- possible to be done, because ’tis impossi- ble to frame new Parts; Experto Crede, Aqua (39) Aqua Carcinomatosa; or, the Wal- ter for Shankers; this Water is design’d chiefly for Shankers, to eradicate them gently, and yet not in such a manner that they shall retreat into the Blood, as is the misfortune of many Medicines of this kind; as for Directions for its Use, I must beg that the Parties who may be concern'd, will not expect any here, for I don't think it safe to give general Directions, but will expect to see and then direct; and indeed I would be glad to know, how any Patient can be Judge of the Degree of his Misfor- tune; for this is the result of Experience and Practice only; how many young Physicians are there, that know very well what is to be done with a Patient; that is, they know what Remedy is to be used; but how many of them are at a stand to give the sufficient Quantity, and to time it? This is too evident, and is in Practice granted by the whole World, when they reject young Physicians (tho’ Relations) for old ones, who they trust with their Lives, by reason of their Experience. Emplastrum Bubonicum; or, the Plaister for Bubo's; the Part is shav’d, and this is applied, (40) applied, it draws the Part to a Head in a little time; so that ’tis easy to digest add perform all other Intentions afterwards; I need not cry this Plaister up, because I am sure of its Effects, which are quick, and certain, for orherwise the Venom might retreat into the Blood, and give the Operator a great deal of trouble, in ob- liging him to a long Course, which this Method wou’d soon accomplish. Pulvis Anti-Dysuricus; or, the Powder against Heat of Urine, (or Spirit.) I have contrived this Medicine for the Palate, so that it may be given in Powder or Drops; 'tis one of the best Remedies known for this sharpness of Water, which is one of the most troublesome Symptoms that reigns in this Disease, it relieves it by a sort of Inchantment, by allaying the Pun- gency of the Humour, and correcting it specifically; it may be taken in Wine, or any other Liquor which pleases the Patient best. Emplastrum, and Unguentum Anti-To- phicum; or, the Plaister and Unguent for Nodes; these two Medicines will utterly extirpate or dissipate these Nodes which, X if (41) if they be suffer’d to continue, they at last produce Caries of the Bones, and endanger loss of Life; the one is milder than the other, that if one should not o- perate the other will effectually do it; because as it is sometimes more rooted than at another, weaker or stronger Re- medies are required. When Patients have neglected themselves till Nodes seize them, they must apply seriously for their Re- covery, or they are in the high Road to be lost. Pulvis Extirpans; or, the Powder a- gainst a Caruncle; whatever is used against a Caruncle, ought so to be moderated, as not to inflame the Urethra; for so ma- ny fatal Symptoms might be brought on, that a total Suppression of Urine might en- sue; this Powder is exactly proportion’d, and performs its Work gently, yet cer- tainly. Many other Medicines I have for other Symptoms, which are experienced over and over successfully, which I will not trouble my Reader withall at this Jun- cture; only I shall add, that Method is the true Secret in Physick; and whoever does G not (42) not study it, can have no Glory due to him; for nothing of Invention can issue from Ignorance, and Chance will never make a Man wise, no more than a World will be fram’d out of Atoms jumbled to- gether by the same Chance. It might be easy for me to proceed the ordinary Road, and bring in my Vouchers for the Cures I have done; but in the first place, I find none save poor and worth- less Folks, who are willing to subscribe to this Method, and such I don’t value; for depend upon it, I will not (like the Scheme-Maker.) hire any to own the Favours I have done them; and for the Better sort, they hate even the Sight of a Person who has done them Service in this kind, left they shou’d discover, to their Prejudice, what they have too much in their Power; and indeed I should be of the same Opinion myself. And in the next place, this is done to persuade the World of the Goodness of a Medicine which they have good Reason to doubt of; and last- ly, when these Gentlemen do us the fa- vour to balance the Account of such as Live and Die under their Methods, then would it be reasonable for the World to follow them, according to their Deserts; but (43) but they foist an Advertisement now and then, what vast Advantage such and such have received by their Specificks and E- lixirs; but not one Word of who died by the Neglect of better Remedies; Cul- pas eorum tegit terra. I shall then super- sede all Discoveries of this kind, they be- ing odious and fit for nothing but to bring Reproach upon the Physician and the poor Patient; and shall proceed to a short Account of Specificks, as they are called, and demonstrate to Mankind the Extortion and Folly of these Pretenders and Pretences; indeed I must own, they are properly Specificks in their Sense; for as each Remedy is worth what it brings in of Profit, so they who get the most Money for their Specificks, fancy themselves the wisest Men, and their Specificks must be very Valuable; but I can’t stoop to this Sense of the Word, as will appear anon in the next Chapter. G2 CHAP. (44) CHAP. V. Of Specificks, and the Abuse of the Name, and how it covers Ignorance and a Cheat, I Can’t but admire at the Assurance of some Men, who adapt the Significa- tion of Specificks to their own Remedies, and who cry up a paltry Mixture for the finest Invention in the World; but my Wonder ceases, when I consider the Mat- ter in a different Light, for Profit will make a Man of no Honour say and do any thing; and as Mr. Dryden says, there is a certain sort of Impudence in Want, An Assertion or Authority in Phyfick, is like the Quotient in Division, no one is sure 'its true, till it is proved; and I must in a particular manner let the World know, that as no Person who is a Party concern’d, ought to be admitted as a Wit- ness in any Case, therefore Dr. Ch-b-l-n sharing in the Profits, is an improper Judge of the Vertues of his Specifick, because the World can expect nothing from him but Elogiums, and extravagant Expressions to cry (45) cry up this Specifick; Panacœa: (as he terms it, a learned Blunder!) But I may be an- swer'd, Why then so many Advertise- ments, if this were not a Real Specifick? In the first place, too much is proved by these Advertisers for by them, it must be the Dew of Heaven! and this Gentle- man has been stamp’d on purpose by the Almighty Power, to find out a Secret in a Profession he is entirely Ignorant of; (as a Reward, think we, for having dropt his Priestly Function?) In the next place, I have already told my Reader that these Advertisements are hired at the Expence of a Guinea to the Advertiser, and at the Price of the Ad- vertisement also, as his printed Directions, which I have by me, do testify. As for a Specifick, I must acquaint may Reader, that I own no infinite Power in any natural Body, and therefore I cannot suppose any material Acts beyond its Sphere; and particularly an Evacuating Remedy has little Leisure to correct any Humours, but hurries them off in the Position they are under, and what comes first to the Glands of the Guts, is first evacuated, and according to the Violence more or less is emptied; therefore if this wonder- (46) wonderful Specifick stays in the Guts some few Hours, it is soon carried off again; and I must observe that it is Phyfically impossible, that five or six Grains of any Medicine can produce those Wonderful Alterations in a Blood and Juices so tained; and therefore this is a ridicu- lous, and an absolute Chouse, to delude poor Unfortunate People, and at once to empty their Bodies and their Purses. But this Gentleman returns to his Ar- gument, and tells me, Sir! Remark this Necklace! ’tis but a sorry one to look at! Nothing better for Teeth and Childbed- women! Sir, ’tis an appended Remedy! only acts by Effluvia! weighs but a few Grains itself, and yet. Sir, take my Word for’t, it makes such Alterations in the Fluids, and such Impressions on the Solids, that as the worthy Dr.Ch—l—n says again, ’tis surprizing; I shall not now give myself any Trouble about this Affair, only if its Effluvia were so strong as to make a Wind-Mill go, I cou’d tell him how to make it turn to good Advan- tage; and I can, in the mean while, tell the World, that if he pleases to affirm it will do so, he has a Father to cite for his Assertion. But (47) But I have design'd this Chapter to con- vince the World how they are imposed on by some designing Men. First then I must inform you, that there is a Specifick Water made use of in Town for a Gonorrhœa: I had the Op- portunity of some brought to me by a Patient, to make Trial of it; and ac- cordingly, upon dropping the common Fluids into it, it plainly appear’d by the Precipitates to be Mercury Sublimat, dis- solved in Water, the Danger of which (given internally) I have hinted at be- fore. Some time after, the Scheme-Maker's Specifick Elixir came to my Hands, in the same Manner (as it often has since, together with his Specifick Electuary;) I judged it by the Taste to be some Gum Guaiacum and Turpentine, dissolv’d in Spirit of Wine; and accordingly I eva- porated the Spirit of Wine by Flame, and found the Spirit to be strongly Rectify’d, for it evaporated entirely; and in the Spoon I found a Gum of the Colour of Gum Guaiacum, which, upon Taste, I found to be the very Gum; but, upon farther Trial, I believed I tasted Camphire X in (48) in it; upon which I poured some of the Tincture into Water, and, upon pouring in of Oil of Vitriol, the Water grew ter- ribly hot, and immediately at the top swam the Camphire, which tasted and smelt very strong. The other Grand Specifick which he has made such a Noise about also, and to so little Purpose, (unless to chouse Peo- ple out of their Money and Health) is nothing but some of the common Purga- tives; such as Rosin of Jalap, Coloquin- tida; and Scammony, together with Mer. Dud. made up with Balsam of Capi- vi; and the Danger of giving Balsam Capivi in the beginning of the Cure of Claps, thousands, in this City, have ex- perienc'd to their Ruin. But my Aim here is this; Is it not a vile Imposition in these Men, to dispose of such common, useless, and dangerous Medicines at so extravagant a Rate? For neither of these can cost above 6d. or 8d. at most, and a Guinea is paid for them at Toy-Shops or elsewhere; upon which I say again, with the worthy Dr. Chamberlen, 'tis very sur- prizing. But what is most surprizing to me, is, that Men of Sense and Worth should hazard (49) hazard their Lives and Fortunes, by buy- ing Medicines at such Places and taking them, without knowing the Author, or where to apply to him upon the greatest Emergency? Besides, is Gum Guaiacum, Camphire and Spirit of Wine, such a mighty Se- cret? or the Purgative, before hinted, with Balsam Capivi? no, they are such common things, that a Boy of twelve Months Skill in Pharmacy, wou'd be a- sham's to boast of. As to my own Nostrums, I will give them up to any one that please to make what Trials they are minded to do upon them; they cannot find them out; but what is it to the purpose, if they shou'd? I can only say, I depen upon Judgment, and will not scruple to alter my medi- cines as I see occasion; for no Medicine can fit every Age and Constitution, nor is evey person that applies, alike affected; some have a Bubo, and a Running at the same time; others a Bubo only; some have a Sharpness of Water, and some have none; some have watty Gleets, others a Ropy one; some have Shankers, other a Caruncle; some have Strength enough, and Venom enough, to bear and require H strong (50) strong and potent Remedies; others have a great deal of Poison in their Veins, and little Strength; and therefore I say ’tis Ridiculous and Preposterous to ex- pose to sale an universal Remedy, which is supposed to be adjusted to every one’s Age and Constitution; or to pretend to cure this Disease by a Dose or two of any Medicine; (tho’ with a Chymical Bolus) as some who have more Assurance than Skill, frequently do. Thus, my dear Reader, have I for thy sake, said much in a little Compass; I have, it is true, decry’d some Mens Practices; but I hope I have done it with good Manners and Decency; and as Mens Lives and Health lie at Stake, I could hardly say less: I am not however saying, that I alone possess Secrets for this Disease, which other Men have not; no, I admire and kiss the Feet of the Learned Body of Physick in this City; I cannot enough praise the Industry of our Body of Surgeons, in this great Metropolis, who of late Years have outdone those Monsieurs who carry too much Sway even yet; but how deservedly they only know, who are skill’d in this Noble Art: Those Gentlemen being Regular in their Pro- (51) Proceedings, I allow them all that they can request of me; and I hope they will also allow me some competency of Know- ledge in this one Point; in which I have laboured so long with Success, as will ap- pear to any considering Person; for ’tis odds, but he that applies to one Distem- per only, shall discover somewhat Par- ticular, which another who has not a Pa- tient in a quarter of a Year, has no op- portunity to do; and this, Dear Reader, I hope, to your Comfort, is my Case. From my House at the Golden-Ball and Lamp in Bow-Church- yard in Cheapside. POST- X (52) POSTSCRIPT. IF after all that hath been said, there be any who thro' Bashfulness, or any other Reason, will not appear themselves, let such send a true State of their Case in Writing, and they shall have proper Re- medies sent them; but no Letters will be answer’d, either in Town, or from the Country, unless such as bring Orders for Medicines; and Money is expected on the delivery of them. FINIS.