■ -l.lVj* cl h-. ^ ..■■■;■' •«, . ■ ■■:. v... '1 - -. ■ r -\ * , -:* -i-u ^ *,-*'' ' * •.* ^-. I. i ^f *' * . V » i- > . \ - A • : '■ / , .": 1 S # •*•■&... ) ARMED FORCES MEDICAL LIBRARY Washington, D. C. 'Nr ^' rc'N, o. 7^r Vx t , JVo, 7c? THE NATURAL PHYSICIAN'S BOOR OF REMEDIES CONTAINING A PATENT RIGHT FOR <£<]>(BV(i>!B!i£t(B BY JOSEPH BAKER. Orihtzd for the dxtthor—ChWicoth?: Oh' DrsiRtcv of oino, ib wit BE it remembered, that on the 2bJ day of May, Anno Do- mini, 1831, JOSEPH BAKER, of the said district, hath de- posited in the office, the title of a book, the title of which is in the words following, to wit: " The Natural Physicians Book of Remedies, containing a Patent Right for Doctoring. By Joseph Baker." The right whereof he claims as Author, in conformity with an act of Congress, entitled " An Act to amend the several acts re- jecting Copy Rights." WILLIAM MINER, Clerk 4tf the District-. Iii writing the following piece, I shall try to comprehend asmucji. as I c4n within a few words, so as to give some leading traits of my experience in Medicine; and of the cause of Diseases, with the me- dicine and management—with a few of the outlines of our bodies; its organization with the state of the blood, under different circum- stances—and shall try to be as plaia as possible, and avoid repeti- tion : I was born in the state of New York, July 10th, 1788; and was brought to Virginia at 5 years old, and continued there till I was T6, and then removed to the state of Ohio. My father was gene- rally known to be a hard working, honest, poor man. And the second season that I lived in Ohio, I had a severe spell of the fevers, and in a short time it turned to the ague and lasted near three months; and 1 discovered that it was quite common for people in this country to have the ague or fever in the fall of the year. And I had an attack of it for near every year for seven years, till the war; and I felt a perfect dread of mind as the fall of the yeai: come round, for fear of the ague. The fall after the war was de- clared, I went out as a spy, and continued there about six months. And a great deal of the time was in company with some Indians, and spent a number of nights in free conversation with, them on different subjects. I could see their management both in cold and wet, as well as dry weather; and their form of cookery, as well as that of eating and sleeping, with their common deport- ment in life. But very little was said about Doctering, except thai of sweating for fevers, with some simple roots made use of, and a, few remarks on the subject of, wounds—particularly that of Capt. John Tittle, who said that' White man cut his head open with a big knife, in the battle with Anthony Wayne.' They had healed up the wound, but the scar was extremely large. I suppose thai the man that struck him with his sword, thought he was dead, and had rode on and left him. Captain John 'said that when he came , to himself, White man was almost out of sight, and that he rose up and took back.' Though it is possible that the scull had not been opened, but jarred very much. When our tour was out, my brother, Jacob Baker and mysel/ started for home. And hehad the Typhus Fever, or what wascalled\, »he Cold Plague; and I had him hauled to the settlement of Urban-' na, and he lived till the fifth day after he reached there, and died. This took place, to the best of my recollection, about the first of 'ody, that a free discharge may be obtained, and also Mower the fountain, that,is the stomach, of solid food, so that it shall 'net throw out as much matter from it as usual. An hour or so be- fore the time of day that this revolution must be performed, or in other words, that the ague or chill comes on, give a dose of No. l,and then take the patient through a sweat, and keep the sweat up till the time of day is passed for the ague or chill to come on. This both discharges the matter, in a degree, and warms the blood to supply the claims of nature, as the blood in its thick state cannot pass this revolution till it is wanned; and this discharge ought to be kept up in some degree till the disease abates; and during the time the patient might drink freely of weak lie, made as is described in taking of No. 3, or an emetic. If the patient should feel very weak, and the chill and fever are gone, so as to have no symptoms of them, you can partly stop giving the medicine above named, and give two doses a * Thisicater maybe impregnated with tea, so as to remove the siclcishncss ef the taste; for the real claims of nature and the ap- vctile frequently differ, for there is many a thing that is palatable that is poison, and nature wars aith it as soon as it lights o.\ theslo- ir.ach. 33 day of No. 5. And in any disease, if the patient becomes so costfvc that there is no passage in three or four days, you can give an injec- tion, or administer No. 4, a dose every hour, with chicken or squir- ril broth, till it operates, or till you give seven or eight doses, or give castor oil. But it should be remembered, that people living on low diet and sweating, will not have frequent discharges by stool; and we need not be uneasy if they have one discharge every three or four days. I will remark here that out of near seven hundred cases that I have attended for the fevers of different kinds, I do not recol- lect of ever giving more than three or four purges. The above re- marks may be applied either to the typhus fever or ague, or any complaint that is attended with a chill or shake. Bold hives, or what some call the croop, is the second disease wo will make mention of here. The cause of this disease is too large a quantity of humor and matter in the blood; and in connection with these, the person takes cold in the department of the heart and lights, which swells the lights often to an inordinate size, so that they fill the department; and the pores being shut, it forms a stagnation of blood all over the system, and the lights and heart not having room to work, is at length forced to stop, and the person looks strangled. The symptoms of this disease are as follows: The countenance of the person looks flush, and as they become bad, they look more purple, and their voice is shrill and sharp, with hard work to breath, like a person having the phthisic in a wheezing posture. For a cure, give a dose or two of No. 1, mixed with one third sulphur; or if they cannot swallow the powders, make tea of them, and either sweat them regularly, or bathe their feet and legs in warm water, and give warm teas and cover them over till you get them in a sweat, and keep up the sweat till they are well; keep the blood circulating by rubbing and bathing during the time, which is not likely to be long, and the child should be kept on light diet for a while, to keep them from having another attack. Costiveness is our next complaint. This generally comes on old people, and more apt on women than on men; but some- times on all ages and classes of people. There are several causes that it proceeds from: one is, for want of a stronger moticn in the bowels; another is inward fevers, that dries the water, or forces it out of the bowels through the small vents into the body, as there are small vents through which the water soaks, not only in the stomach, but bowels. Sometimes these vents are too liberal, and diain the water off too close, and leave the morbid substance too dry to be comfortable. When this is the case, when the patient can bear it, and not be obliged to fly to some remedy, it is generally indicative of a strong constitution, and on': ivhich is 34 For a cure, the best rule is to change your diej. to a fresh, wale.;. diet, and use vegetables as much as is convenient. This rule is preferable to that of purging, for purging frequently makes it worse, except that of castor oil, which generally has been for the better, be- cause it renders the bowels more pliable and rather strengthens the motions in them. Corn bread is preferable to that of wheat in this disease; sour milk is preferable to that of sweet—salt meat should be avoided. Cholic is our next disease. There are various species of this dis- ease : one species comes from what I have last mentioned—that is sometimes casting up a sourness in the mouth. The next fever I will call a stagnated complaint, because it comes 6 42 from a stagnation of blood. I expect to cope under tins head whai is called the cold plague or typhus fever, stagnated fits, nervous fe- ver, the third day" ague, the slow fevers, bold hives, the spotted fever, bilious fever, common ague, rheumatisms, &c. I will refer my reader to my general remarks on stagnations of blood as the cause of these complaints in a greater or less degree, and the reason why it throws people into so many kinds of fevers with other complaints, is in proportion to the stagnation, and where it lodges in the body. When it lodges near the nerves, it becomes nervous; when it-stagnates generally, it become typhus or a cold plague; when it settles hear the skin, it becomes dropsycal; when it does not settle at -all, but occasionally thrown off by fever, it be- comes aparoxism or an ague j when it lodges in the limbs, it be- comes rhuematic. I have stated in my general remarks that therft is too much matter in the blood, that causes this stagnation of blood. In a stagnation Of blood, it is entirely too dangerous to bleed the per- son ; and when we do tiy to bleed, the lancets frequently strike on the matter part of the blood, and if so, the blood does not run free, and often whea it does run, it chokes in the vent with the same matter. The symptoms of those complaints which come from one general cause, are so various, that it would take too much room to describe' them completely, but I will hint at the substance. The first is the common typhus fever. The patient is frequently attacked With a chill, and some have several chills a day, and some- times one pait is warm and another cold at the same time; though there are some who never have a chill perceptible, they are apt to feel a swimming in the head or head-ache. Sometimes before they are attacked, and sometimes afterwards, even during sickness, ano- ther symptom still more common, is a heavy feeling all over, and sometimes pains in the limbs and sore all over; sometimes fevers by spells—this is worse than if they had a steady fever. If the blood stagnates very bad, their feet will get cold; sometimes the part they lie on becomes numb, and when it works on still worse, the cold still pursues up the legs, and as it passes above the knees,' it commences on the ends of the fingers; and as it improves,it draws more on to the body, on the arms and legs, and soon it invades the whole system; and while it is stagnating, sometimes they get spotted'' in the face^ that is, one spot of the face will be red and another pale, and some- times there will be purple spots. This is what some would call a spotted fever, but while the patient complains very much, there is not so much danger; but as the blood stagnates worse, they com plain less till at length they appeareasy. Now is the height of danger, though they may lie sometimes for days in this way, and the first Complaint of any notice is likely to be the agonies of death. But when 43 this stagnation strikes the nerves, there is a jerking or twitching in the flesh, and sometimes even the cramp in the limbs or, body. There are other symptoms that some people feel in the early part of this disease, such as a pain in the breast, that strikes through be- tween the shoulders, and sometimes stiffens the back of the neck and works up to the back of the head. When, this disease comes on slow, sometimes for months, and I have known some coming on for several years, it is still nearly ther sains symptoms, which some would call a slow fever; but some- times nature resists the complaint, and warms part or all of the body—if so, they feel hot flashes, aud sometimes there is a numb feeling either in part or all over the body, though this com- plaint most commonly comes on speedy, and takes a turn in nine days. A cure—When this disease varies to the head, you must leave sassafras out of No. 2, and put in place of it black snake root; but if it does not cause a head ache, just follow the patent,and keep up a sweat day and night as. steady as possible till the disease very much abates. Yellcw fever.—I have doctored but one case of this complaint, but I conclude that I know the cause of the yellow fever. I sup- pose as it generally prevails most in warm climates, that it is the gatt of the stomach with the filth of the blood in a state of discharge ^ets choaked in the pores either by cold or too great a quantity of matter in the blood, or some other cause; and as the natural color of this substance is yellow, it turns the person's skin the same color. 1 have known a number of persons whose skin was turned yellow by the jaundice, and some by fevers, and I have opened a free dis- charge from the pores of the skin and giving them diet No. 1, and the color has been altered in three days. So I suppose that a regular course of medicine would cure this complaint, and we might follow the directions of the patent. Scarlet fever comes from humor in the blood, and nature aims to throw it off by the glands of the throat, and the worst danger ir while the throat is swelled, before the humor comes out so as to be- seem The symptoms of this complaint are a sore throat, and at length they break out with a red humor like scarlet, and it goes off fre- quently by the patient pealing all over or in part. For a cure, make use of No. 2, of sulphur and elder bark, and take a course of medicine agreeable to the patent. Convulsion fits—If the patient is dangerous, bleed in the foot, and after frequently bathing the feet in warm water, take a regular course of medicine hv leaving out No. 2. and "i^ three doseeada^. of No. I. 44 Stagnated fits.—The cause of this disease 1 will sciie the reader to my remarks onastagnation of blood; and the reason that itoperates differently on these people, is the formation of the head, the blood has not the same room to circulate round the brains as it has in others when there is an over stock of blood in the head, as is the case in such stagnated complaints; because it stagnates in the feet first, and the heart throws it up to the head, because it cannot flow freely to the feet. Although the fit itself baffles the stagnation in part, for nature takes this way to force a circulation of blood, but as there is too greet a quantity of surplus matter in the blood, it stagnates again, and so continues as long as the blood is in this state. The symptoms of this complaint is in a great degree like all other stagnations of blood. At the time when the blood stagnates in the feet, and the feet gets cold, then thi heart throws blood up to the head with too great a rapidity, and thus overcomes the brain, and a fit is the consequence; the person feels heavy cold chills, sometimes numb and streachy, with other symptoms of stagnation of blood ; and the plainest evidence of a stagnated fit is, that the feet are cold in the time of the fit. This disease, when it is old, is very hard to cure, and needs pa- tience and attention both of the physician and patient. If it was not that some will look for something to be said on this subject, I should leave this disease out of my list; but as the public know that I have cured a few of this disease, and others frequently applying, I hereby give my views in a short manner, for the want of room to pursue the subject further. I am perfectly satisfied that if this dis- ease is taken while young, there will be no difficulty in curing by a regular course of medicine according to the patent; but it is the age of the complaint that makes it constitutional, and that makes it hard to cure. If this disease attacks a young person any time before they get their growth, they ought to try to have it removed before they get their set, lest it be interwoven in their constitutioh, which will make it hard to cure. I find it very hard with some to throw off a stagnation of blood without bringing on them a convulsion fit, which may be said to be opposite of the other. Yet I have found it no serious point to stop the blood from stagnating in any person. But whenever it circulates freely in some, they take a con- vulsion fit, and to strike the centre ground between these I find it to be'difficult. For a cure, make your No. 2 principally of sulphur and sassa- fras ; take a regular course of medicine; let your diet begin with No. 1, and after three days No. 2 for at least two weeks. If the stagnated fits continue, you can repeat your regular courses of me- dicine, and add a small portion of prickly ash bark or ginsen°- with 4j your No. 2; and if your patient's blood quits stagnating, and they continue to have fits, you must stop your medicines, except one dose a day of No. 1, and give two doses a day of No. 5, and the diet should not exceed No. 4 till the disease wears out, which may bo a long time. The patient should exercise themselves as steadily, but not to extremes, especially if they are subject to convulsion fits. Let the patient wear flannel, if convenient, next to the skin, and dtess warm and lie warm of nights, and ger into a free sweat once a. clay. By sonie means tiieir diet should be veiy fresh, and not much animal food, with a watery diet, which might be sweetened as much as they please. They might make a free use of hickory bark lie during the whole time; and after they have done their courses of medicine,leave No. 1 out, and use no other medicine only one or two doses a day of No. 5 with the he, except the stagnation should re- turn, and if so, t>y regular courses of medicine at intervals. Gravel.—This disease conies from two causes; one is, too much matter in the blood. This comes on people who use a great deal of salt and meat in their diet—that creates matter in their blood. These lumps of matter sometimes have lodged in the arteries, and have become stones, (if accounts be true, which looks proba- ble,) which have been found both in men and beasts,as well as in the bladder, and they have a growing tendency; the other cause is^con- taming the water in the bladder too long at a time at different times, while the thick part gathers into bodies, and so congeals into a hard substance, and remaining in the water, at length becomes a stone, and has also a growing tendency. There are other causes that create matter in the blood, such as hard drink, for one evidence is that it improves the flesh on them; another is, that spots and cloudy appearances is seen in their face. I have not named these things as the cause of this disease, because I thought I could cure it, but more to keep people from bringing the diseases on them; for with me this is one of the incurable complaints, though sometimes it may be abated so that the patient can have some ease for a while. Symptoms are as follows:—If it has come from too much matter in the blood, there will be symptoms of stagnation as have been de- scribed ; but the common symptoms are sometimes that the patient feels a kind of grinding in that part of the body and a stoppage in the water, either in the commencement or towards the close of mak- ing water, and sometimes during the whole time, which makes,it quite difficult to make water, and their calls to make water are oftenerthan usual, and sometimes tinctured with blood. The way to abate this complaint—Give a dose of No. 1, and ,take a sweat, and then give No. 2, made of sulphur, elder, and an- igelico, two doses a day for two days, without any other medicine, ■and let the diet be No. 2 for two days, and then No. 3 for several "fays, with one dose a day of No. 2; this will sometimes abate it, 40 • The sick headache.—There are several causes that produce this Complaint; one is an over sour in the stomach; another is, some- thing that we eat stops up the canals or the vents of the stomach, so that the watery substance that ought to pass out into the blood is now thrown up to the mouth. These, with other causes throw the blood up to the head. I have been plagued with this disease from a child ; then I was attacked once or twice a week on an average, and it has followed me all my life, and I have, been always trying new cures till four years ago. I have not room in this work to men- tion the cures and their effects. Between three and four years ago, I took a severe cough and spit blood with abundance of matter, and had other symptoms of a consumption, and I took a regular course of medicine and regulated my diet with a great deal of pie- cisicn; and after this it was near six months at one time that I wis without a headache, and since that time I have regulated my diet in) some degree at times, and found it was the best remedy for the hea,-j ache. I have been from one week to three months at a time wild out it since, and would have been longer, but circumstances ban called me to changes of business and also changes of diet, whid have brought it on me at times, though the cough did not last twi months, and I have had no symptoms of it since, which has tea near four years. The gout might be mentioned here, but I will scite my readerlo my remarks on a stagnation of blood for the symptoms and cure, ex.- t cept the swelling of the feet and legs. King's evil comes from nearly the same cause of the gout, though ■ it may come from less excess in drink and diet. I do not know that it can be cured, though it may be eased by living on light diet and taking some doses of No. 1. ' Measles.—For the want of managing this complaint right, it fre- quently brings on the consumption and a number of other complaints; sometimes takes the person off immediately, and others cany b effect with them as long as they live. It creates humor in the blood, and does not discharge it like the small pox by means of sores, twi the humor strikes back into the body or else settles in the inside very little medicine and management taken in time will answer tl; purpose. When you first discover that any person has the coir, plaint, give some doses of No. 1, and get then* into a moist swea once a day if convenient; let them take two doses a day of No. 2 according to the patent, and let their diet be No. 2; but if th»Js ease is unwilling to come out, or has b(en out and got struck ii again, you may sweat them freely. Mumps.—Let the patient be dressed warm and lie warm, ai exercise <\£ much as convenient; take two doses of No. 1 a ril 47 drink smartly of spice bush tea; let the diet be No. 2'till they gej better, and then No. 3, &c. Dropsy in the blood—There are two causes, one is the stagnation nf the blood, which weakens the motion of the heart as well as ob- structs the pores of the body with what is called thecrassamentumor matter of the blood ; another cause is a loss of .blood by bleeding or wounds, which not only draws the red part of the blood off faster than the matter part, but weakens the force of the heart, so that it is not able to open the pores and discharge the water from the blood. These remarks may suffice, as I have already mentioned a stagna- tion of blood. For a cure, take a regular course of medicine, give a few doses of No. 5 in the course of the time. I have cured several, and found it no difficulty. I have concluded that a dropsy in the body some- times originated from the same cause, and will be cured by the same means. A dropsy in the head.—The cause of this disease is as follows: It comes from living on strong diet, with too free a use of salt, or hard drink, or any cause that raises the blood to the head too long at a time with too much severity, till the organs get habitually prone to leaking water or matter. The diet should be regulated to No. 3, or, at furthest, to No. 4; make a free use of snuffing tobacco, and get into a moist sweat once a day by some means, and take a few doses of No. 2 during the time. By continuing this course a long time, the disease will be apt to wear away. Rheumatism.—The cause of this complaint I will cite the reader to a stagnation of blood in a general point of view; but though the blood is too thick, yet the person is not sure to feel the complaint till. they take cold ; and so it is with certain species of typhus fever. When' the rheumatism settles all over the body, it acts very much like the typhus fever; when it settles in parts of the body, it has smaller symptoms of the typhus fever. When the matter of the blood shuts the pores in certain limbs or parts, they swell by the wa- ter coming against the skin and having no vent. This species of iheumatism is easier cured by a regular course of medicine tnan the other, that is, where the matter settles on the cords or joints, it then is harder to remove. Relief may be given, and sometimes cured, by applying a plaster of No. 6 to the place, but the surest way of curing is a regular course of medicine. The flying rheumatism is produced by a stagnation of blood, and is cured in the way we cure all stagnations. Pleurisy.—The cause of this disease is a cold in the lights., When people have been breathing in warm air, or receiving warm steam into the heart from drinking warm teas, or any other means, 48 and then immediately receiving cold air to extremes, these some- times contract cold in that department of the body which often swells the lights, and sometimes affects the pleura, that is the flesh that is joining to the ribs in the hollow part of the body near the point of the shoulder, where the pain is most apt to be felt, though sometimes it affects other parts in the same department; and at other times cold is carried into the blood, and so affects the whole system ; or the cold may impress on the outside of the body and shut the pores till it may be called a pleurisy. The symptoms of this disease ate as follows: If the lights are' swelled, they generally breath hard ; sometimes a pain every breath, either in the breast or shoots toward the point of the shoulder— sometimes all over. The symptoms of a pleurisy and atyphus fever are very nigh alike; the most sensible difference is, the typhus fever may be felt days before it comes on or lays the person up; and the ple,urisy comes more sudden. The heavy weight that is felt in the typhus is not so sensibly felt in the pleurisy, and the typhus is not so apt to swell the lights or cause the person to breathe hard ai. the pleurisy. ' For acure.—Thisisone'of thecomplaints that is easier cured than any other, or done sooner by giving a dose of No. 1 and No. 2 in the course of half an hour of each other, and then take the person through a regular sweat for about thiity minutes, generally cures by putting them to bed and covering them, so that the sweat does not stop too sudden, or any way so that the sweat ceases moderately— if they set by the fire or stir about, provided they are warm enough, To continue the sweat a short time, I have generally cured people of this complaint in the course of an hour from the time I commence to sweat them. If the practitioner should find that his patient was not cured in the above time, he may just conclude that the complaint is typhus, and he has lost no lime, he can continue on according to. the rule laid down for that complaint. Stone bruise and felons.—These complaints come from a bruise that stops the blood vessel next to the bone, and as the water part of the blood is confined, and all the time increasing, it must have vent; and as it raises from next the bone, it sometimes injures the bone before it gets vent. The best means is to lance the place as soon as we find it out, and let the water out, and it commonly gives relief by-lancing to the bone, Lockjaw comes from thick blood, in a general point of view. When a person whose blood is thick receives a wound which affects some cord that has access to the jaws, then it takes a set, by th» blood being thick that surrounds it. ' For a cure, put the person all over in warm water till it comes up Jb the mouth, for not ?£■" ' Jing five minutes at any one time; tub 43 and bathe them in the mean time all over, and particularly the jaw^.. These processes may be repeated several times, or take them through a regular sweat by giving a dose of No. 1. Cramps is another disease that takes place from the same cause of the blood being thick, and may be cured by the same means for a present cure; but to remove the cause, you must thin the blood for either of these diseases. Piles is a disease that I am not confident can be cured; yet I sup- pose they may be relieved for a time. For to relieve a person in this disease, make a medicine of elder bark leaves or flowers, with one-third sulphur, and let them take repeated portions for a day or two, and at the same time inject a salution of it up in their bodies several times; this will commonly relieve them for a while, and to keep as clear of it as possible, let them live on a weak, watery diet or a vegetable food. A consumption sirup.—Take medicine Nos. 1 and 2, with one- fourth spiknard powders, and put them in a bottle and sweeten them with sugar till it is a weak sirup, and shake your bottle before you drink each time; drink of it three or four times a day; throw your- self into a sweat once a day by some means; dress warm, and lie warm of nights, and live on diet No. 3. These simple means will generally have a good effect, and some- times remove the whole disease. Scald head.—This disease comes from humor in the blood, which sometimes cOmes into the world with a child. This humor settles on this part of the body*, and is easy removed if taken in time, but is like all other diseases; if it is not removed it becomes constitutional, and age makes it hard to cure. For a cure, make a salution of two-thirds elder bark, flowers, or leaves, powdered, and one-third sulphur, put but a small quantity of water with them, so as to leave them as strong as possible; make a cap of thin leather, or any other thing thatwill keep the air partly out, and wet the inside of the cap with this solution three times a day, with a small portion of the spirits of turpentine, enough to scent the cap, and let the patient wear this cap till well; let their diet be No. 2 for two or three weeks, and then No. 3 till well. The, patient should take one or two doses of No. 4 a day, and get into a moist sweat once a day by some means. c They ought to dress warm and lie warm of nights. I have cured but few cases of this dis- ease, but what trials I have made has had the effect to convince me that the disease is curable. But after a person is cured of this dis- ease they ought to live on a light, fresh, vegetable diet for a season, to keep' the disease from returning. When people commence this pro- cess, it would be as well to cut their hair off or clip it, and during the time it would be proper to wash the cap once or twice a week. 50 Humors in the feet.—When I was from fifteen to twenty years old, I had humors in the feet towards the fall of the year, for every year till I was twenty-one, and I was told to wrap up my feet in green elder leaves, and as fast as they dried, apply new ones; and I did so, and found relief immediately. Since that I have told others of this way of curing, and they have done so and have generally been cured. The patient should have a pair of stockings on and stuff the leaves in them round the feet. Soar eyes.—For a cure, make powders of elder, a half ounce; sulphur, a quarter of an ounce; copperas, a half-quarter of an ounce; mix these together, and put them in a bottle, and put a small "quantity of water to them, so as to leave them strong, and let the patient wash their eyes with this water two or three times a day. If the eyes have been a long time soar, and appears to be hard to cure, you may give them diet No. 2, or at most No. 3, during the time. These means will generally cure without fail. Flooding.—This disease comes from two or three causes, but most generally from a stagnated blood. If it is produced from this cause, the person will feel symptoms .of stagnation, and the blood, when it flows will be unmixt in a degree, and have the appearance of other stagnated blood that is drawn from the body by bleeding any other way; the other cause is, the blood is unusually thin, or perhaps a soar or ulcer in that part of the body. For a cure, take two or three doses a day of No. 5, and let the diet be No. 3; and at the proper time, when this disease has gorie off, or between the natural courses, then take them through a regu- lar sweat for the purpose of mixing the blooJl; one or two sweats at an interval of a day apart, will be found essential when it is caused by a stagnant blood: but if it is produced from the blood being too thin, it is only necessary to give the above quantity of No. 5, and re- gulate the diet to No. 3, and place a larger plaster oF No. 6 be- tween the shoulders, which ought to be done in each case to draw the disease from that part of the body. I have attended to a number of persons who were afflicted with this disease, and it has generally had a good effect, though the subject is too delicate to pursue it in this piece as far as it ought to be done. I have wrote a piece on, the subject of midwifery, but it is bor- rowed from other books, and corresponds with the balance of this work; but as these books may be used by people who would not make good use of that part, I have concluded not to publish that part at this time—but if it is thought necessary, against I shall pub- lish a second edition, it can be inserted. Worms.—There are three or four species of worms, and what will cure one will make another worse. I will name the two com- monest species: one is the leng, red worm that is frequently in the 51 iiumacn and bowels, not only of children but also in grown per- sons. The way to kill these worms: These worms may be taken off sometimes by large doses of castor oil or a quantity of weak lie, to be taken repeatedly for some days, and use diet No. 2. I have thought that if poison was ever of any use as a medicine, it is to poison these worms to death, as there is a probability of poisoning -them, and not injuring the person much, though it will leave some poison in the blood. The way to poison these worms is to give some sugar, about twenty or thirty minutes before you give the dose of poison ; your dose of poison may be cartina pink root, a common dose of it, or an even teaspoonful of copperas for a child three years old, and more if the person is older, or less if they are younger. Some make use of a small quantity of Mayapple root; but whatever poison is used, mix it with sugar—these ought to be worked off with fresh broths. But these worms are not very dangerous, only when they choke the person by getting in bunches and getting in the pipes. But these means makes the little stomach worms worse, and this species of worms are more dangerous than the others, and they arc apt to improve with bad blood, and get better as the blood is cleansed. For this species of worms give two or three doses of No. 4 a day, by putting them in warm water or tea about fifteen minutes before they are taken, and sweeten them as mentioned before, and the die? ought to be lowered if convenient, and get the person into a moist sweat once a day, if possible. White swellings may be cured, either altogether or for a while, by applying No. 6 t#the place till it gets well, and regulate the diet to No. 2 for a week, and then No. 3 till well. A cold bath may be applied to advantage in a great number of low stagnated complain^ as it seldom has a bad effect when ap- plied right. The way to apply a cold bath is, either emerse the person in cold water, or pore it on them, they being naked or near so; then put them to bed, cover them warm, and also cover their breath a short time; give some warm teas, which generally produces a sweat. then gradually take the clothes off them, and have them dressed warm between these processes, which may be as often as once a day, or to suit the circumstances: it is entirely a safe operation.. A simple wet fire or costic to burn out cancers and the like, or to destroy proud flesh:—Take pearlash and dissolve it with the oil of vitriol, or mix the oil of vitriol with pearlash till it is soft enough to run in the place so as to penetrate to the bottom of the sore or can- cer, and when you wish to stop it, fill the place with sweet oil. As the medicine No. 1 is somewhat difficult to take, and some people are fond of taking medicine, in spirits, you can give it i^ 52 foench brandy, by putting it or No, 2, or both together, in a bottler of brandy, and shake it well each time before you drink, will answer as good a purpose this way as to take the powders dry and wash them down with tea. SURGERY. Broken bones or limbs.—As I do not profess surgery, I will make but a few remarks on that suoject. I have discovered a great lack in surgery, in giving directions and medicine to their patients in such cases. It should be strictly understood, that nature is the grand phy- sician to cure bones as well as the flesh, that when a bone is broken Si set by any person, the diet should be regulated and the blood calm- ed by proper means to keep the wound from inflaming qr getting hu- morish, which will be a means of preventing mortification with other consequences. This great lack may not be universal, but it prevails to a great extent. I would rather venture a common skil- ful person to set a bone by feeling round the limb to place the bones together, and give proper directions for medicines and diet, than to venture a professed doctor to do it, and give no directions to regu- late the blood.—Directions for broken bones. Give three doses a day of No. 1, and see that the patient has got into a moist sweat once a day. If you undertake to set a bone or a joint that has slipped, first apply warm water around the place to loosen the cords, then place your bones by feeling around; give diet No. 2 during the whole time till the difficulty or danger is over; then rise to No. 3 till well. Apply medicine No. 6 to the place, or as near it as possible, during the time. A bone ought to be kept very still till it has time to knit together. If the wound should be such as to confine the patient so that they cannot exercise, they ought to ,have a dose or two of cas- tor oil to keep the bowels regular in their discharge. These direc- tions may be applied to all the receipts for wounds that are in sub- stance. The following are taken in part from M'Kenzie's Receipts. " Whenever a blow has been inflicted, whether by being thrown from a horse, out of a carriage, by falling from a height, or in any other way, bleed the patient to the amount of twelve or fourteen ounces, on the spot, if practicable, if not, as soon after the accident as possible. This rule admits of but one exception, and that is, when the violence has been so great as nearly to extinguish all the powers of life, in which case it is proper to wait for symptoms of re- turning animation. u If, in consequence of a broken bone or other injury, the patient is unable to walk, take a door from its hinges, lay him carefully on it, and have him carried by assistants to the nearest house. If no door or sofa can be procured, two boards, sufficiently long and broad, should be nailed to two cross pieces, the ends of which must pro- d3 ject about a foot, so as to form handles. If in the woods, or wherr* no boards can be procured, a litter may be formed from the branches of trees. In this way a hand-barrow may be constructed in a few minutes, on which the sufferer may be properly carried. " If he has been wounded and bleeds, the bleeding must be stop- ped before he is removed. " Having reached a house, lay him on a bed, and undress him with care and gentleness. If any difficulty arises in getting off his coat or pantaloons, rip up the seams, rather than use force. This being done, proceed to ascertain the nature of the injury. "This may beeithersimple or compound; that is, it may be a con- tusion or bruise, a wound, fracture, or dislocation, or it may be two or all of them united in one or several parts. " A contusion is the necessary consequence of every blow, and is known by the swelling and discoloiationof the skin. " Wounds are self-evident. " Fractures are known by the sudden and severe pain, by the mis- shapen appearance of the limb, sometimes by its being shortened, by the patient being unable to move it without excruciating pain, but most certainly, by grasping the limb above and below the spot where the fracture is supposed to exist, and twisting it different ways, when a grating will be felt, occasioned by the broken ends of the bone rubbing against each other. If the swelling, however, is very great, this experiment should not be made until it is reduced. " Dislocations, or bones being out of joint, are known by the de- formity of the joint when compared with its fellow, by the pain and inability to move the limb, by its being longer or shorter than usual, and by the impossibility of moving it in particular directions." " Of Contusion. " If slight, bathe the part frequently with cold vinegar and water for a few hours, and then rub it well with brandy, or spirits of any kind. Should it be very great, or so as hi have affected the whole body, which may be known by a general soreness, bleed and purge the patient. If fever comes on, repeat the bleeding and purging. In all cases of this nature, be sure the water is regularly evacuated, for it sometimes happens that in consequence of the nerves of the bladder being palsied by the blow, the patient feels no desire to pass it, though the bladder be full. If a suppression ensues, pass a ca- theter, if possible, or procure assistance for that purpose." " Of Sprains. " Plunge the part sprained into very cold water, and hold it there as long at a time as you can bear it—for several hours—then rub it well with camphorated spirits. If the accident has happened to a joint, as in the ankle, and it remains weak, pour cold water on it from the spout of a tea-kettle, held at a distance, several times in j4 tut day. The most serious effects, however, resulting from contu- sion, are when the blow is applied to the bead, producing either concussion or compression of the brain." " Concussion of the Brain. " Symptoms.—The patient is stunned, his breathing slow, drow- siness, stupidity, the pupil of the eye lather contracted, vomiting. After a time he recovers. " Treatment.—Apply cloths dipped in cold vinegar and water to hii head, and when the stupor is gone, bleed him and open his bowels with epsom salts. He should be confined to bed, in a quiet situa- tion, and every measure taken to prevent an inflammation of the brain, which, if it comes on, must be treated by copious bleeding, blis- ters, &c." " Compression of the Brain. " Symptoms.—Loss of sense and motion, slow, noisy and labor- ious breathing, pulse slow and irregular, the muscles relaxed, as in a pSrson just dead, the pupil of the eye enlarged and will not contract even by a strong light, the patient lies like one in an apoplectic fit, and cannot be roused. " Treatment.—Open a vein and draw off sixteen or twenty ounces of blood, shave the head, and if possible, procure surgical assist- ance without delay, as there is nothing but an operation that can be of any avail." '• Of Wounds. " Wounds are of three kinds, viz. incised, punctured and con- tused; among the latter are included gun-shot wounds. The first step in all wounds, is " To stop the bleeding.—If the flow of blood is but triffling, draw the edges of the wound together with your hand, and hold them in that position some time, when it will frequently stop. If, on the contrary, it is large, of a bright red color, flowing in spirits or with a jerk, clap your finger on the spot it springs from, and hold it there with a firm pressure, while you direct some one to pass a handker- chief round the limb (supposing the wound to be in one) above the cut, and to tie its two ends together in a hard knot. A cane, whip- handle, or stick of any kind, must now be passed under the knot, (between the upper surface of the limb and the handkerchief) and turned round and round until the stick is brought down to the thigh, so as to make the handkerchief encircle it with considerable light- ness. You may then take off your finger; if the blood still flow?, tighten the handkerchief by a turn or two of the stick, until it ceases. The patient may now be removed (taking care to secure the stick in its position) without running any risk of bleeding to death by the way. " As this apparatus cannot be left on for any length of time with- 55 out destroying the life of the parts, endeavor as soon as possible ta secure the bleeding vessels, and take it off. Having waxed together three or four threads of a sufficient length, cut the ligature they form, into as many pieces as you think there are vessels to be taken up, each piece being about a foot long. Wash the parts with warm water, and then with a sharp hook, or a slender pair of pincers in your hand, fix your eye steadfastly upon the wound, and direct the handkerchief to be relaxed by a turn or two of the stick; you will now see the mouth of the artery from which the blood springs, seize it with your hook or pincers, draw it a little out, while some one passes a ligature round it, and ties it up tight with a double knot. In this way take up in succession every bleeding vessel you can see or get hold of. " If the wound is too high up in a limb to apply the handkerchief, don't lose youi presence of mind, the bleeding can still be com- manded. If it is the thigh, press firmly in the groin ; if in the arm, with the hand end or ring of a common door key, make pressure above the collar bone, and about its middle against the first rib which lies under it. The pressure is to be continued until assistance is procured, and the vessel tied up. " If the wound is on the head, press your finger firmly on it, until a compress can be brought, which must be bound firmly over the arteiy by a bandage. If the wound is in the face, or so situated that pressure cannot be effectually made, or you cannot get hold of the vessel, and the blood flows fast, place a piece of ice directly over the wound, and let it remain there till the blood coagulates, when it may be removed, and a compress and a bandage applied. Incised Wounds. By an incised wound is meant a clean cut. Having stopped the bleeding, wash away all the dirt, &c. that may be in it with a sponge and warm water, then draw the sides of the wound together, and keep them in that position by narrow strips of sticking plaster, placed on at regular distances, or from one to two inches apart. A soft compress of old linen or lint may be laid over the whole. " Should much inflammation follow, remove the strips, bleed and purge the patient (who should live very low, and be kept perfectly quiet) according to the exigency of the case. If it is plain that mat- ter must form before the wound will heal, apply a soft poultice until that event takes place, when dressings of some simple ointment may be substituted for it. " Although narrow strips of linen, spread with slicking plaster, form the best means of keeping the sides of a wound together, when they can be applied, yet in the ear, nose, tongue, lips, and eye-lids, it is necessary to use stiches, which are made in the following man- ner : Having armed a common needle with a double waxed thread, 56 yass the point of it through the skin, at a little distance from tLe edge of the cut, and bring it out of the opposite one ai the same dis- tance. If more than one stitch is required, cutoff the needle, thread it again, and proceed as before, until a sufficient number are taken, leaving the threads loose until all the stitches are passed, when the respective ends of each thread must be tied in a hard double knot, drawn in such a way that it bears a little on the side of the cut. When the edges of the wound are partly united by inflammation, cut the knots carefully, and withdraw the threads. From what has been said, it must be evident that in all wounds, after arresting the flow of blood, and cleansing the parts, if necessa- ry, the great indication is to bring their;sides into contact throughout their whole depth, in order that they may grow together as quickly a*s possible, and without the intervention of matter. To obtain this very desirable result, in addition to the means already mentioned, there are two things to be attended to, the position of the patient and the application of the bandage. The position of the patient should be such as will relax the skin and muscles of the part wounded, thereby diminishing their tendency to separate. " A common bandage of a proper width, passed over the com. presses moderately tight, not only serves to keep them in their place, but also tends by its pressure, to forward the great object already mentioned. If, however, the wound is so extensive and painful that the limb or body of the patient cannot be raised for the purpose of applying or removing it, the best way is to spread the two ends of one or two strips of linen or leather with sticking plaster, which may be applied in place of the bandage, as follows: attach one end of a strip to the sound skin, at a short distance from the edge of the com- press, over which it is to be drawn with moderate firmness, and se- cured in a similar manner on its opposite side. A second or third may, if necessary, be added in the same way. In all wounds, if violent inflammation come on, reduce it by bleeding, purging, &c.; but if there is reason to fear locked-jaw, give wine, porter, brandy, opium, and a generous diet." Punctured Wounds. " These are caused by sharp pointed instruments, as needles, awls, nails, &c. Having stopped the bleeding, withdraw any foreign body, as part of a needle, splinters, bit of glass, &c. that may be in it, provided it can be done easily; and if enlarging the wound a lit- tle will enable you to succeed in this, do so. Though it is not al- ways necessary to enlarge wounds of this nature, yet in hot weather it is a n'ark of'precaution, which should never be omitted. As soon as this is done, pour a little turpentine into the wound, or touch it with caustic, aud then cover it with a poultice, moistened with faudanum. This practice*n}ay prevent locked-jaw, which is but te» 57 frequent a consequence of wounds of this description. When mat ter forms, cover the part with mild dressings, as a common sore. Laudanum may be given in large doses, to relieve pain, and should the inflammation be excessive, bleed and purge. In hot weather, however, bleeding should be employed in great moderation. " Contused Wounds. " Wounds of tiiis nature are caused by round or blunt bodies, as musket balls, clubs, stones, &e. They are in general attended but by little bleeding; if, however, there should be any, it must be stop- ped. If it arises from a ball which can be easily found and with- drawn, it is proper to do so, as well as any piece of the clothing, &c. that may be in it; or if the ball can be distinctly felt directly under the skin, make an incision across it and take it out, but never allow of any poking in the wound to search for such things; the best ex- tractor of them, as well as the first, and best application in contused wounds, proceed from what they may, being a soft bread and milk poultice. " Should the inflammation be great, bleed and purge. Pain may be relieved by laudanum, and if the parts assume a dark look, threatening a mortification, cover them with a blister. " If the wound is much torn, wash the parts very nicely with warm water, and then (having secured every bleeding vessel) lay them all down in as natural a position as you can, drawing their edges gently together, or as much so as possible, by strips of sticking plaster, oi stitches if necessary. A soft poultice is to be applied over the whole." " Poisoned Wounds from bites of Mad Dogs, Rattlesnakes, &c. "The instant a person is bitten eitherby a mad dog, rattle-snake, or any rabid animal or reptile, he should apply a ligature by means of the stick, above the wound, as tightly as he can well bear it, and without hesitation or delay, cut out the parts bitten, taking along with them a portion of the surrounding sound flesh. The wound should then be freely touched with caustic, or have turpentine pour- ed into it. A decoction of Spanish flies in turpentine, may also be applied to the skin surrounding the wound. By these means inflam- mation will be excited, and suppuration follow, which may prevent the usual dreadful consequences of such accidents. As soon as the parts are cut out, take off the ligature. "Should the patient be too timid to allow the use of the knife, burn the wound veiy freely with caustic, and place in it a tuft of tow or cotton, well moistened with the above decoction. The discharge of matter that follows should be kept up for some time. The only reasonable chance for safety, is found in the above plan, all the ve- getable and mineral productions that have been hitherto recommendr od as internal remedies, being of very doubtful, if of any efficacy. 8 58 " The use of the chlorurets, however, in treating wounds from j abid animals, is now becoming general in France and Germany. and many satisfactory cases are recorded. M. Schoenberg, a Ger- man surgeon, states, that of three persons who were bitten by a dog, two used the chloruret of lime, and recovered from their wounds, whilst the third, who refused to submit to the treatment, died raving mad. This gentleman applies to the wounds, twice a day, a piece of lint dipped in the solution of the chloruret, and orders his patients to take, three times a day, from two drachms to one ounce of the chloruret in water." " Stings of Bees and Wasps, Bites of Musquitoes, &c. " Nothing relieves the pain arising from the sting of a hornet, bee. or wasp, so soon as plunging the part in extremely cold water, and holding it there for some time. A cold lead-water poultice is also a very soothing application. If a number of these insects have at- tacked you at once, and the parts stung are much swollen, lose gome blood, and take a dose of salts. " Musquito-bites may be treated in the same manner, although I have founi a solution of common salt arid water, made very strong, speedy and effectual in relieving the pain. Camphorated spirits, vinegar, &c. may also be used for the same purpose. A solution of Prussian blue in soft water, with which the parts are to be kept con- stantly moist, is a highly celebrated remedy for the stings of bees, wa'sps, &c." " Wounds of the Ear, Nose, &c. " Wash the parts clean, and draw the edges of the wound together by as many stitches as are necessary. If the part is even complete- ly separated, and has been trodden under feet, by washing it in warm water, and placing it accurately in the proper place, by the saoie means, it will adhere." " Wounds of the Scalp. " In all wounds of the scalp it is necessary to shave off the hair. When this is done, wash the >arts well, and draw the edges of the wound together with sticking plaster. If it has been violently torn up in several pieces, wash and lay them all down on the skull again, drawing their edges as nearly together as possible by sticking plas- ter, or, if necessaiy, by stitches. Cover the whole with a soft com- press, smeared with some simple ointment." " Wounds of the Throat. " Seize and tie up every bleeding vessel you can get hold of. Ii the wind-pipe is cut only partly thrpugh, secure it with sticking plaster. If it is completely divided, bring its edges together by stitches, taking care to pass the needle through the loose membrane that covers the wind-pipe, and not through the wind-pipe itself. The head should be bent on the breast, and secured by bolsters and baaf*- 5^ ages in that position, to favor the approximation of the edgrs of t'rvi wound." " Wounds of the Chest. " If it is a simple incised wound, draw the edges of it together by sticking plaster, cover it with a compress of linen, and pass a band- age round the chest. The patient is to be confined to his bed, and to be bled and purged, in order to prevent inflammation. If the lat- ter comes on, reduce it by copious and frequent bleedings. " Should it be occasioned by a bullet, extract it, and any pieces of cloth, &c. that may be lodged in it, if possible, and r^over thr wound with a piece of linen smeared with some simple ointment, taking care that it is not drawn into the chest. If a portion of thn lung protrudes, return it without any delay, but as gently as pos sible." " Wounds of Hue Belly. " Close the wound by strips of sticking plaster, and stitches pass- ed through the skin, about half an inch from, its edges, and cover th* whole with soft compress, secured by a bandage. Any inflamma tion that may arise is to be reduced by bleeding, purging, and a blis- ter over the whole belly. " Should any part of the bowels come out at the wound, if clean and uninjured, return it as quickly as possible; if covered with dirt, clots of blood, &c. wash it carelully in warm water previous to s^ doing. If the gut is wounded, and only cut partly through, draw the two edges of it together by a stitch, and return it; if completely divfded, connect the edges by four stitches at equal distances, and replace it in the belly, always leaving the end of the ligature project from the external wound, which must be closed by sticking plaster In five or six days, if the threads are loose, withdraw them gently and carefully. " Wounds of Joints. " Bring the edges of the wound together by sticking plaster, with- out any delay, keep the pait perfectly at rest, bleed and purge, to prevent inflammation. Should it come on, it must be met at its fir*' approach by bleeding to as great an extent as the condition of th^ patient will warrant, and by a olister covering the whole joint. If a. permanent stiftening of the jo;nt seems likely to ensue, keep the limb in that position which will prove most useful; that is, the leg should be extended, and the arm bent at the elbow. Wounds of joints are always highly dangerous, and frequently terminate in death." " Wounds of Tendons. " Tendons, or sinews, are frequently wounded and ruptured. They are to be treated precisely like any other wound, by keeping their di- vided parts together. The tendon which connects the great musclf i'n-mingthe calf of the leg, with the heel, called the tendon of Achil- «?0 if?, is frequently cut with the adze, and rupture 1 in jumping from heights. This accident is to be remedied by drawing up the heel, extending the foot, and placing a splint on the fore part of the leg, extending from the knee to beyond the toes, which being secured in that position by a bandage, keep the foot in the position just men- tioned. The hollows under the splint must be filled up with tow or cotton. If the skin falls into the space betweeen the ends of the ten- don, apply a piece of sticking plaster, so as to draw it out of the Way. It takes five or six weeks to unite, but no weight should be laid on the limb for several months." " Of Fractures. "The signs by which fractures may be known, having been al- ready pointed out with sufficient minuteness, it will be unnecessary to dwell thereon; it will be well, however, to recollect this general rule: In cases, where, from the accompanying circumstances anil symptoms, a strong suspicion exists that the bone is fractured, it is proper to act as though it were positively ascertained to be so. " Fracture of the Bone of the Nose. " The bones of the nose from their exposed situation, are fre- quently forced in. Any smooth article that will pass into the nos- tril should be immediately introduced with one hand, to raise the depressed portions to the proper level, while the other is employed in moulding them into the required shape. If violent inflammation follows, bleed and purge." " Fracture of the Lower Jaw. " This accident is easily discovered by loooking into the mouth, and is to be remedied by keeping the lower jaw firmly pressed against the upper one, by means of a bandage passed under the chin and over the head. If it is broken near the angle, or that part nearest the ear, place a cushion or roll of linen in the hollow behind it, over which the bandage must puss, so as to make it push that part of the bone forward. The parts are to be confined in this way for twenty days, during which time, all the nourishment that is taken should be sucked between the teeth. If in consequence of the blow, a tooth is loosened, do not meddle with it, for if let alone, it will grow fast again." " Fracture of the Collar Bone. " This accident is a very common occurrence, and is known at once by passing the finger along it, and by the swelling, &c. To reduce it, seat me patient in a chair without any shirt, and place a pretty stout compress of linen, made in the shape of a wedge, under his arm, the thick end of which should press against the arm-pit. His arm, bent to a right angle at the elbow, is now to be brought down to his side, and secured in that position bv a loner bandase, which passes over the arjn of the affectetl side and round tfl i',;c i*iri. Tlir fore-arm is to be supported across the breast by a sling. It takes from four to five weeks to re-unite." " Fractures af the Arm. " Scat the patient on a chair, or the side of a bed, let one assist- ant hold the sound arm, while another grasps the wrist of the broken nne and steadily extends it in an opposite direction, bending the fore-arm a little, to serve as a lever. YTou can now place the bones in their proper situation. Two splints of shingle or stout paste board, long enough to reach from below the shoulder to near the elbow, must then be well covered with tow or cotton, and laid along each side of the arm, and kept in that position by a bandage. The fore- arm is to be supported in a sling. Two smaller splints may for bet- ter security be laid between the first ones, that is one on top, and the other underneath the arm. to be secured by the bandage in the same way as the others." " Fractures of Oie Bones of the Fore-Arm. " These are to be reduced precisely in the same way, excepting the mode of keeping the upper portion of it steady, whice is done by grasping the arm above the elbow. When the splints and bandage are applied, support it in a sling." " Fractures of the Wrist. " This accident is of rare, occurrence. When it does happen the injury is generally so great as to require amputation. If you think the hand can be saved, lay it on a splint well covered with tow ; this extends beyond the fingers ; place another splint opposite to it, lined with thasame soft material, and secure them by a bandage. The band is to be carried in a sling. " The bones of the hand arc sometimes broken. When this is the case, fill the palm with soft compresses or tow, and then lay a splint on it, long enough to extend from the elbow to beyond the ends of the fingers, to be secured by a bandage, as usual. " When a finger is broken, extend the end of it until it becomes straight, place the fractured portion in its place, and then apply two small pasteboard splints one below and the other above, to be secur- ed by a narrow bandage. The top splint should extend from the end of the finger over the back of the hand. It may sometimes be proper to have two additional splints for the sides of the finger." " Fractures of the Ribs.. "When, after a fall or blow, the patient complains of a pricking in his side, we may suspect a rib is broken. It is ascertained by placing the tips of two or three fingers on the spot where the pain is, and desiring the patient to cough, when the grating sensatiwn will be felt. All 'that is necessary, is to pass a broad bandage round^ the ichest, * ti^ht as to prevent the motion of the ribs in breathing.'' 1)2 " Fractures of the Thigh. " This bone is frequently broken, and hitherto has fceen consider-- ed the most difficult of all fractures to manage. To the ingenuity, however, of Dr. Hartshorne, the world is indebted for an apparatus which does away the greatest impediments that have been found to exist in treating it, so as to leave a straight limb, without lameness or deformity; nor is it the least of its merits, that any man of com- mon sense can apply it nearly as well as a surgeon.. " It consists of two splints made of half or three-quarter inch well seasoned stuff, from eight to ten inches wide, one of which should reach from a little above the hip, to fifteen or sixteen inches beyoud the foot, while the other extends the same length from the groin. The upper end of the inner splint is hollowed out and well padded or stuffed. Their lower ends are held together by a cross piece, hav- ing two tenons, which enter two vertical mortices, one in each splint, and secured there by pins, in the centre of this cross piece (which should be very solid) is a female screw. Immediately above the. vertical mortices, are two horizontal ones of considerable length, in which slides the tenons of a second cross piece, to the upper side of which is fastened a foot block, shaped like the sole of a shoe, while jn the other is a round hole for the reception of the head of the male screw, which passes through the female one just noticed. On the top of this cross piece, to which the foot block is attached, are two pins, which fall into grooves at the head of the screw, thereby firmly connecting them. The foot block, as before observed, is shaped liko the sole of a shoe. Near the toe is a slit, through which passes a strap and buckle. Near the heel are a couple of stiaps, with twu rings, arranged precisely lik those of a skate, of which, in fact, llit whole foot block is an exact resemblance. A long male screw, ol wood or other material, completes the apparatus. " To apply it, put a slipper on the loot of the broken limb, ami lay the apparatus over the leg. By turning the screw, the foot b ock will be forced up to the foot in the slipper, which is to be firmly strapped to it, as boys fasten their skates. By turning the screw the contrary way, the padded extremity of the inner splint presses against the groin, and the foot is gradually drawn down, until the broken limb becomes of its natural length and appearance, when any projection or little inequality that may remain, can be felt and reduced by a gentle pressure of the hand. "The great advantages of this apparatus, I again repeat, arr the ease with which it is applied and the certainty with which it acts. The foot once secured to the block, in a way that every school-boy understands, nothing more is required than to turn the screw until the broken limb is found to be of trn same length as the sound one. It is right to observe that tM> 63 should not be effected at once, it being better to turn the screw a lit- tle every day^ until the limb is sufficiently extended. "As this apparatus may not always be at hand, it is proper to mention the next best plan of treating the accident. It is found in ihe splints of Desault, improved by Dr. Physic, consisting of four pieces. The first has a crutch head, and extends from the arm-pit to six or eight inches beyond the foot. A little below the crutch ara two holes, and near the lower ead on the inside, is a block, below which there is also a hole. The second reaches from the groin, tha same length with the first, being about three inches wide abeve and two below. Two pieces of stout pasteboard, as many handkerchiefs or bands of muslin, with some tow, and a few pieces of tape, from the catalogue of the apparatus. " It is applied as follows: Four or five pieces of tape are to be laid across the bed, at equal distances from each other. Over the upper two, is placed one of the short pasteboard splints, well cover- ed with tow. The patient is now to be carefully and gently placed on his back, so that his thigh may rest on the splint. One of the handkerchiefs, or a strong*8oft band, is to be passed between the tes- ticle and thigh of the affected side, and its ends held by an assistant standing near the head of the bed. The second handkerchief is to be passed round the ankle, crossed on the instep and tied under the sole of the foot. By steadily pulling these two handkerchiefs, tire limb is to be extended, while with the hand, the broken bones are^" replaced in their natural position. The long splint is now to be placed by the side of thff-patient, the crutch in the arm-pit, (which is defended with tow,) while the short one is laid along the inside of ' the thigh and leg. The ends of the first handkerchief, being passed through the upper holes, are to be drawn tight and secured by a knot, while the -mds of the second one pass over the block before mention- ed, to be fastened in like manner at the lower one. All that re- mains is the short pasteboard splint, which being well covered with tow, is to be laid on the top of the thigh. The tapes being tied bo as to keep the four splints together, completes the operation. " Tow is to be eveiy where interposed between the splints and the limb, and a large handful of it placed in the groin, to prevent irrita- tion from the upper or counter extending band. It is necessary to be careful, while tying the two handkerchiefs, that they are not relax- ed, so that if the operation is properly performed, the two limbs will be nearly of an equal length. " The superior advantages of Hartshorne's apparatus over this, as well as all others, must be evident to every one acquainted with the difficulty of keeping up that constant extension which is so ab- solutjly necessary to avoid deformity and lameness, and which is so LTompletely effected by the screw. Next to that, however, stands tha 04 DBe just described, which can be made by any carpenter in a fen minutes, and which, if carefully applied, will be found to answer ex- tremely well. " Fractured thighs and legs generally re-unile in six or eight weeks; in old men, however, they require three or four months. " In cases of fracture of the thigh or leg, the patient should al- ways, if possible, be laid on a matrass, supported by boards instead of the sacking, which, from its elasticity and the yielding of the coids, is apt to derange the position of the limb." " Fractures of the Knee-Pan. " This accident is easily ascertained on inspection. It may be broken in any direction, but is most generally so across or transverse- ly. It is reduced by bringing the fragments together, and keeping them in that position by a long bandage passed carefully round the leg, from the ankle to the knee, then pressing the upper fragment down so as to meet its fellow, (the leg being extended,) and placing u thick compress of linen above it, over which the bandage is to bo continued. " The extended limb is now to be laid on a broad splint, extend- ing from the buttock to the heel, thickly covered with tow to fill up the inequalities of the leg. For additional security, two strips of muslin may be nailed to the middle of the splint, and one on each side, and passed about the joint, one below, the other above, so as to < form a figure of eight. In twenty or thirty days the limb should be moved a little to prevent stiffness. " If the fracture is through its length, bring the parts together, place a compress on each side, and keep them together witii a band- age, leaving the limb extended and at rest. Any inflammation in this, or other fracture, is to be combated by bleeding, &c." " Fracture of the Leg. " From the thinness of the parts covering the principal bone of ] the leg, it is easy to ascertain if it is broken obliquely. If, however, the fracture be directly across, no displacement will occur, but the pain, swelling, and the grating sensation, will sufficiently decide the ' nature of the accident. " If the fracture is oblique, let two assistants extend the limb, while the broken parts are placed by the hand in their natural posi- tion. Two splints, that reach from a little above the knee to nine j or ten inches below the foot, having near the upper end of each four holes, and a vertical mortice near the lower end, into which is fitted " a cross piece, are now to be applied as follows: Lay two pieces of tape about a foot long, on each side of the leg, just below the knee joint, and secure them there by several turns of a bandage; pass a silk handkerchief round the ankle, cross it on the instep, and tie it .snder the sole of the foot. The two splints arc now placed one on 65 each side of the leg, the four ends of the pieces of tape passed through the four holes and firmly tied, and the cross piece placed in the mortice. By tying the ends of the handkerchief to this cross piece the business is finished. " If the fracture is across, and no displacement exists, apply two splints of stout pasteboard, reaching from the heel to the kDee, and well covered with tow, one on each side of the leg, securing them by a bandage passing round the limb, and outside the splints. " In cases of oblique fractures of the leg close to the knee, Harts- horne's apparatus for fractured thighs should be applied, as already directed." " Fractures of the Bones of the Foot. " The bone of the heel is sometimes, th >ugh rarely, broken. It is known by a crack at the moment of the accident, a difficulty in standing, by the swelling, and by the grating noise on moving the heel. To reduce it, take a long bandage, lay the end of it on the top of the foot, carry it over the toes under the sole, and then by several turns secure it in that position. " The foot being extended as much as possible, carry the bandage along the back of the leg above the knee, where it is to be secured by several turns, and then brought down on the front of the leg, to which it is secured by circular turns. In this way the broken pieces will be kept in contact, and in the course of a month or six weeks will be united. " Fractures of the foot, toes, &c. are to be treated like those of the hand and fingers." " Of Dislocations. " The signs by which a dislocation may be known, have been al- ready mentioned. It is well to recollect that the sooner the attempt is made to reduce it, the easier it will be done. The strength of* one man, properly applied, at the moment of the accident, will often succeed in restoring the head of a bone to its place, which in a few days would have required the combined efforts of men and pulleys. If after several trials with the best apparatus that can be mustered, you find you cannot succeed, make the patient drink strong hot tod- dy of brandy or other spirits, until he is very drunk. In this way, owing to the relaxed state of the muscles, a very slight force will often be sufficient, where a very great one has been previously used without effect. " If any objections are made to this proceeding, or if the patient will not consent to it, having your apparatus (which is presently to be mentioned) all ready, make him stand up, and bleed him in that position until he faints; the moment this happens, apply your ex- tending and counter-extending forces. Another important rule is, to vary the direction of the extending force. A slight pull in one 66 way will often effect what has been in vain attempted by great force in another. " Dislocation of the Lower Jaw. " This accident, which is occasioned by blows, or yawning, is known by an inability to shut the mouth, and the projection of the chin. To reduce it, seat the patient in a chair with his head sup- ported by the breast of an assistant, who stands behind him. Your thumbs being covered with leather, are then to be pushed between the jaws, as far back as possible, while with the fingers, outside, you grasp the bone, which is to be pressed downwards, at the same time that the chin is raised. If this is properly done, the bone will be' found moving, when the chin is to be pushed backwards, and the thumbs slipped between the jaws and the cheeks. If this is not done, they will be bitten by the sudden snap of the teeth as they come together. The jaws should be kept closed by a bandage far a few days." " Dislocation of the Collar Bone. " This bone is rarely dislocated. Should it occur, apply the bandages, &c. directed for a fracture of the same part." " Dislocation of the Shoulder. " Dislocations of the shoulder are the most common of all acci- dents of the kind. It is very easily known by the deformity of the joint, and the head of the bone being found in some unnatural posi- tion. To reduce it, seat the patient in a chair, place one hand on the prominent part of the shoulder blade, just above the spot where the head of the bone should be, while with the other you grasp the arm above the elbow and pull it outwards. "Should this not succeed, lay the patient on the ground, place your heel in his arm-pit, and steadily and forcibly extend the arm, by grasping it at the wrist. The same thing may be tried in various positions, as placing yourself on the ground with him, laying him on alow bed, while you are standing near the foot of it, &c. " If this fails, pass a strong band over the shoulder, carry it across the breast, give the ends to assistants, or fasten them to a staple in the wall; the middle of a strong band or folded towel is now to be laid on the arm above the elbow, and secured there by numerous turns of the bandage. The two ends of the towel being then given to assistants, or connected with a pulley, a steady, continued, and forcible extension is to be made, while with your hands you endeav- or to push the head of the bone into its place." " Dislocation of the Elbow. " If the patient has fallen on his hands, or holds his arm bent at the elbow, and every endeavor to straighten it gives him pain, it is dislocated backwards. Seat him in a chair, let one person grasp the arm near the shoulder, and another the wrist, and forcibly extend it, 67 while you interlock the fingers of both hands just above the elbow,. and pull it backwards, remembering that under those circumstances, whatever degree of force is required, should be applied in this direc- tion. The elbow is sometimes dislocated sideways or laterally. To reduce it, make extension by pulling at the wrist, while some one se- cures the arm above, then push the bone into its place, eithei inwards or nutwarns, as may be required. After the reduction of a dislocat- ed elbow, keep the joint at perfect rest for rive or six days, and then move it gently. If inflammation comes on, bleed freely, purge, &c" " Dislocation of Vie Wrist, Fingers, &c. " Dislocation of the wrist, fingers, and thumb, are readily per- ceived on examination ; they are all to be reduced by forcibly ex- tending the lower extremity of the part, and pushing the bones into their place. If necessary, small bands may be secured to the fin- gers by a narrow bandage, to facilitate the extension. These acci- dents should be attended to without delay, for if neglected for a little time, they become irremediable." " Dislocation of the Thigh. " Notwithstanding, the hip joint is the strongest one in the body, it is sometimes dislocated. As a careful examination of the part, comparing the length and appearance of the limb with its fellow, &c. sufficiently mark the nature of the accident, we will proceed to state the remedy. " Place the patient on his back, upon a table covered with a blank- et. Two sheets, folded like cravats, are then to be passed between the thigh and testicle of each side, and their ends (one half of each sheet passing obliquely over the belly to the opposite shoulder, while the other half passes under the back in the same direction) given to several assistants, or what is much better, tied very firmly to a hook, staple, post, or some immoveable body. A large, very strong nap- kin, folded as before, like a cravat, is now to be laid along the top of the thigh, so that its middle will be just above the knee, where it is to be well secured by many turns of a bandage. The two ends are then to be knotted. If you have no pulleys, a twisted sheet or rope may he passed through the loop fonredby the napkin. If you can procure the former^ however, cast t.ie loop over the hook of the lower block, and secure the upper one to the wall, directly opposite to hooks or men that hold the sheets that pass between the thighs. A steadily increasing and forcible extension of the thigh is then to be made by the men whoare stationed at the pulleys or sheet, while you are turning and twisting the limb to assist in dislodging it from its un- natural situation. By these means, properly applied, the head of the bone will frequently slip into its socket with a loud noise. If, however, you are foiled, change the direction of the extending force, recollecting always, that it is not by sudden or violent jerk. 68 that any benefit can be attained, but by a steady increasing and long continued pull. Should all your efforts prove unavailing, (I whould not advise you to lose much time before you resort to it), make the patient, as before directed, excessively drunk, and when he cannot stand, apply the pulleys. If this fails, or is objected to, bleed him till he faints, and then try it again." " Dislocation of the Knee-Pan. " When this little bone is dislocated, it is evident on the slightest glance. To reduce it, lay the patient on his back, streighten the leg, lift it up to a right angle with his body, and in that position push the bone back to its place. The knee should be kept at rest for a few days." " Dislocation of the Leg. " As these accidents cannot happen without tearing and lacerat- ing the soft parts, but little force is required to place the bones in their natural situation. If the parts are so much torn that the bone slips again out of place, apply Hartshorne's orDessault's apparatus for a fractured thigh." " Dislocation of the Foot. " The foot is seldom dislocated. Should it happen, however, let one person secure the leg, and another draw the foot, while you push the bone in the contrary way to that in winch it was forced out. The part is then to be covered with compresses dipped in lead water, and a splint applied on each side of the leg, that reaches beiow the foot. Accidents of this nature are always dangerous; all that can be done to remedy them consists in the speedy reduction of the bone, keeping ■he parts at rest, and subduing the inflammation by bleeding, &c. ** Of Compound Accidents. H Having spoken of the treatment to be pursued for a bruise, wound, fracture, and dislocation, as happening singly, it remains to state what is to be done when they are united. " We will suppose that a man has been violently thrown from a carriage. On examination, a wound is found in his thigh, bleeding profusely, his ankle is out of joint, with a wound communicating with its cavity, and the leg broken. " In the first place, stop the bleeding from the wound in the thigh, reduce the dislocation next, draw the edges of the wounds togethet with sticking plaster, and lastly, apply Hartshorne's or Dessault's apparatus to renudy the fracture. " If, instead of a wound, fracture and dislocation, there is a con- cussion or compression of the brain, a dislocation and fracture, at- tend to the concussion first, the dislocation next, and the fracture the last." " Of Amputation. rt As accidents sometimes happen at sea, or in situations where it 69 is impossible to obtain a surgeon, and which require the immediate amputation of a limb, it is proper to say a few words on that sub- ject. To perform the operation is one thing, and to know when it ought to be performed is another. Any man of common dexterity and firmness can cut off a leg, but to decide upon the necessity of doing so, requires much judgment, instances having occurred where, under the most seemingly desperate circumstances, the patient through fear or obstinacy has refused to submit to the knife, and yet afterwards recovered. " Although in many cases much doubt may exist in determining whether it is proper to amputate or not, yet in others, all difficulty vanishes, as when a ball has carried away an arm. Suppose for a moment while rolling in a heavy sea, during a gale, the lashings of a gun give way, by which a man has his knee, leg, or ankle completely mashed, or that either of those parts are crushed by a fall from the topgallant yard, a falling tree, &c. The great laceration of blood vessels, nerves and tendons, the crushing and splintering of the bones, almost necessarily resulting from such accidents, render im- mediate amputation an unavoidable and imperious duty. " If there are none of the regular instruments at hand, you must provide the following, which are always to be had, and which ans- wer extremely well—being careful to have the knives as sharp and smooth as possible. " Instruments.—The handkerchief and stick, a carving or other large knife, with a straight blade, a penknife, a carpenter's tenon or mitre saw, a slip of leather or linen, three inches wide and eighteen or twenty long, slit up the middle to the half of its length, a dozen or more ligatures, each about a foot long, made of waxed thread, bobbin, or fine twine, a hook with a sharp point, a pair of slender pincers, several narrow strips of sticking plaster, dry lint, a piece of linen, large enough to cover the end of the stump, spread with sim- ple ointment or lard, a bandage three or four yards long, the width of your hand, sponges and warm water. " Amputation of the Arm. " Operation.—Give the patient sixty drops of laudanum, and seat him on a narrow and firm table or chest, of a convenient height, so that some one can support him, by clasping him round the body. If the handkerchief ?.nd stick have not been previously applied, place it as high up the arm as possible, (the stick being very short,) and so that the knot may pass on the inner third of it. Your instru- ments having been placed regularly on a table or waiter, and within reach of your hand, while some one supports the lower end of the arm, and at the same time draws down the skin, take the large knife and make one straight cut all round the limb, through the skin and fat only, then with the penknife separate as much of the skin front 70 tne flesh above the cut, and all round it, as will form a flap to cove* the face of the stump; when you think there is enough separated, turn it back, where it must be held by an assistant, while with the large knife you make a second straight incision round the arm and down to the bone, as close as you can to the double edge of the flap, but taking great care not to cut it. The bone is now to be passed through the slit in the piece of linen before mentioned, and pressed by its ends against the upper surface of the wound by the person who holds the flap, while you saw through the bone as near to it as you can. With the hooks or pincers, you then seize and tie up every vessel that bleeds, the largest first, and smaller ones next, until they are all secured. When this is done, relax the stick a little; if an artery springs, tie it as before. The wound is now to be gently cleansed with a sponge and warm water, and the stick to be relaxed, If it is evident that the arteries are all tied, bring the flap over the Ptump, draw its edges together with strips of sticking plaster, leaving the ligature hanging out at the angles, lay the piece of linen spread with ointment over the straps, a pledget of linen over that, and se- cure the whole by the bandage, when the patient may be carried to bed, and the stump laid on a pillow. " The handkerchief and stick are to be left loosely round the limb, so that if any bleeding happens to come on, it may be tightened in an instant by the person who watches by the patient, when the dressings must be taken off, the flap raised, and the vessel be sough! for and tied up, after which, every thing is to be placed as before. " It may be well to observe that in sawing through the bone, a long and free stroke should be used,to prevent any hitching, as an ad- ditional security against which, the teeth of the saw should be well sharpened and set wide. " There is also another circumstance, which it is essential to be aware of; the ends of divided arteries cannot at times be got hold of, or being diseased their coats give way under the hook, so that they cannot be drawn out; sometimes, also, they are found ossified or turned into bone. In all these cases, having armed a needle with a ligature, pass it through the flesh round the artery, so that when tied, there will be a portion of it included in the ligature along with the artery. When the ligature has been made to encircle the artery, cut off the needle and tie it firmly in the ordinary way. " The bandages, &c. should not be disturbed for five or six days, if the weather is cool; if it is very warm, they may be removed in three. This is to be done with the greatest care, soaking them well with warm water until they are quite soft, and can be taken away without sticking to the stump. A clean plaster, lint, and bandage are then to be applied as before, to be removed every two days. At the expiration of fourteen or fifteen days the ligatures ;-<-nerally 71 come away; and in three or four weeks, if every thing goes on well, the wound heals." " Amputation of the Thigh. " This is performed m precisely the same manner as that of the arm, with one exception, it being proper to interpose a piece of lint between the edges of the flap, to prevent them from uniting until the surface of the stump has adhered to it." " Amputation of the Leg. " As there are two bones in the leg which have a thin muscle be- tween, it is necessary to have an additional knife to those already mentioned, to divide it. It should have a long narrow blade, with a double cutting edge, and a sharp point; a carving or case knife may be ground down to answer the purpose, the blade being reduced to rather less than half an inch in width. The linen or leather strip should also have two slits in it instead of one. The patient is to be laid on his back, on a table covered with blankets or a matrass, with a sufficient number of assistants to secure him. The handkerchief and stick being applied on the upper part of the thigh, one person holds the knee, and another the fodt and leg as steadily as possible, while with the large knife the operator makes anoblique incision round the limb, through the skin, and beginning at five or six inches below the knee-pan, and carrying it regularly round in such manner that the cut will be lower down on the calf than in front of the leg, As much of the skin is then to be separated by the penknife as will, cover the stump. When this is turned back, a second cut is to be made all round the limb and down to the bones, when with the nar- row bladed knife, just mentioned, the flesh oetween them is to be divided. The middle piece of the leather strip is now to be pulled through between the bones, the whole being held back by the assist- ant, who supports the flap while the bones are sawed, which should be so managed that the smaller one is completely cut through by the time the other is only half so. The arteries are then to be taken up, the flap brought down and secured by adhesive plaster, &c. as alrea- dy directed." " Amputation of the Fore-Arm. " As the fore-arm has two bones in it, the narrow bladed knife, and the strip of linen with three tails, aie to be provided. The inci- sion should be straight round the part, as in the arm, with this ex- ception, complete it as directed for the preceding case." " Amputation of Fingers and Toes. " Draw the skin back, and make an incision round the finger, a little below the joint it is intended to remove, turn back a little flap to cover the stump, then cut down to the joint, bending it so that you can cut through the ligaments that connect the two bones, the under one first, then that on the side. The head of the bone is then to be 72 turned out, vihiie you cut through the remaining soft parts. If you see an artery spirt, tie it up, if not, bring down the flap and secure it by a strip of sticking plaster, and a narrow bandage over the whole. " Remarks.—To prevent the troublesome consequences ol se- condary bleeding, before the strips of plaster are applied over the edges of the flap,give the patient, if he is faint, a little wine and wa- ter, and wait a few minutes to see whether the increased force it givei to the circulation, will occasion a flow of blood ; if it does, secure the vessel it comes from. If there is a considerable flow of blood from the hollow of the bone, place a small cedar plug in it. Should violent spasms of the stump ensue, have it carefully held by assist- ants, and give the patient large doses of laudanum ; it may, in fact, be laid down as a general rule, that after every operation of the kind, laudanum should be given in greater or less doses, as the patient may be in more or less pain." I " Of Suspended Animation. " From Drowning.—The common methods of rolling the body of a drowned person on a barrel, or holding it up by the heels, &c. are full of danger, and should never be permitted. If a spark of life should happen to remain, this violence would extinguish it for ever, As soon, therefore, as the body is found, convey it as gently as posskj ble to the nearest house, strip it of the wet clothes, dry it vvell, anrrl place it on a bed between warm blankets, on the right side, with thM head elevated by pillows. Every part is to be now well rubbed with flannels dipped in warm brandy, or spirits of any kind, while a warming pan, hot bricks, or bottles or bladders filled with warm water, are applied to the stomach, back and soles of the feet. Dur- ing these operations a certain number of the assistants (no more > persons are to be allowed in the room than are absolutely necessa- ry) should try to inflate the lungs, by blowing through the nozzle of a common bellows, or a pipe of any kind, placed in one nostril, while thj other with the mouth are kept closed. If a warm bath can be procured, place the body in it. Clysters of warm brandy and water, salt and water, or peppermint water may be injected. " All these operations, particularly rubbing the body, and trying to inflate the lungs, should be continued for six or eight hours, and when the patient has come to himself, small quantities of warm wine, wine-whey, brandy and water, &c. may be given to him from time to time. If, after he has recovered, a stupor or drowsiness re- mains, (but not before,) bleed him veiy moderately. " Should the accident occur in winter, and the body feel cold, 85 if frozen, previously to applying warmth, rub it well with snow, ic«, or very cold water. Above all things remember that perseverance jbr many hours in the remedies pointed out, may give you the un- speakable pleasure of restoring a fellow creature to lite. 73 " From Cold.—Take the body into a room, the doors and windows of which are open, and where there is no fire, and rub it with snow or cold water, if this,can be procured in plenty, the patient, with the exception of his face, which should be left out, may be completely covered with it to the thickness of two feet. After a while, friction with flannels and hot spirits are to be used, as in the preceding case, and warmth very gradually applied. The lungs are to be inflated, as directed in cases of drowning, and when the patient is able to swallow, warm wine, &c. may be given in small quantities. " If a limb is frost-bitten, the cold applications used should be continued longer, and warmth be more gradually applied than when the whole body is frozen. Care should be taken to handle the parts carefully, so as not to break off the ear, tip of the nose, &c. " From Hanging.—The remedies for this accident are the same as in drowning, with the addition ef taking away a small quantity of blood, by cupping glasses, from the neck, or by opening the jugu- lar vien. " From Foul Air.—Throw open the doors and windows,or take the patient into the open air, and seat him, undressed, well wrapped in a blanket, in a chair, a little leaning to the right side, place his mfeet or whole body in a bath, and sprinkle his stomach with cold rvinegar or water, and rub it immediately with flannels dipped in oil. rdiysters of vinegar and water are to be injected, apd when anima- tion returns, continue the frictions, and give warm mint tea, &c." INDIAN CUSTOMS AND DOCTORINGS. From my acquaintance with the different plans of Indian doctor- ing, I shall try to select such parts as I consider most genuine and useful to lay before the readers; as there are several plans that go under this name, we are left to conjecture what is genuine and what is not. If any of my readers should haye a better knowledge of any particular point of this doctoring than I have, I shall feel very much obliged to them to let me know; and if it should be found to be an advantage, I will recompense them, for my object is to get as near the substance of the system as possible. But I have compiled this work from the various ones, according to the best of my know- ledge and ability. In poiut of customs, I have learned from Dr. B Rush's work on this subject, with my own acquaintance with them ; and in point of doctoring, I have leaned more on others. Dr. Richard Carter, of Kentucky, has givr-n his own views of doctoring, but has not been so careful to give the views of Indians as he ought to have done, provided he was acquainted with them as he professes to be; and his work appears to be a mixture of medical doctrine^ with his own inventions, and bordering in some degree on Indian doctoring. I have not learned from it as much as from =ome others 10 74 arid iii examining the different systems, to select that part which 1 supposed to be Indian doctoring and customs, I sometimes -j.udge from the appearance or manner of it, and other times from the title or manner of language made use of. Roots and herbs that had an Indian name to them, I took for granted that the Indians used them. As I do not suppose that mine is genuine in every point, I shall wish persons to assist me to correct it, wherein it is wrong, though I fancy that the reader will find it as near correct, if not more so, than any other that is now in vogue. A great deal of the future health of man depends on his origina- tion and rise in the world. A child born of healthy parents, and being exposed to the different elements, at or near its birth, that is, of cold water or sage to its neck. " To make a Sand-heat Furnace. " A furnace of this kind may be stationary, and built of brick* that will stand the fire: and in this case, the ash pit is built about 12 inches high, and has an ash-door opening into it about 6 inches square; a grate is then laid, and a fire-door 6 inches by c> opens im- mediately intothe fire-place, even with the grate. The fire-place is made cylindrical, 2 inches wider than the sand pot, and about 8 inches deeper; the grate being a square whose side is about two- thirds the internal diameter of the sand-pot. 1 his pot hangs by its border in an iron ring placed at the top of the furnace; we have not yet adopted Teichmeyer's method of sloping the pot. As stone coal is generally used in fixing furnaces, instead of the 4 register holes used as vents in the portable furnace, only one opening, about- as wide as the grate, and 3 inches high, either in the back or on one side, is msde to vent the burned air into the chimney. This, however, has the inconveniency of heating the pot unequally, the side next the vent becoming much the hottest, in spite of the en- deavor to equalize the heat by bringing the fire from under the cen- tre of the pot as forward as possible,.by raising the wall opposite to the vent perpendicularly, and enlarging it only on the other three. sides; sometimes with the same view, several small vents are made round the pot, leading into the chimney. A notch for the neck of the retort is generally made on one side. As much heat passes through the vent, it is usual to cause the heated air to pass under a large cast-iron plate, placed on a border of bricks surrounding a plat- form of the same materials, and leaving a cavity of about 2 inches and a half deep, at the further end of which, another opening leads into die chimney. On this iron plate, sand is laid to form a sand heat, and thus several operations are carried on at the same time. If that in the sand-pot is finished, and it is desired to keep on those in the sand-heat without interruption, the vessel may be drawn out of the sand, some warm sand may be thrown on that remaining in the pot, and a fresh vessel with materials introduced. But if this new operation should require the heat to be more gradually exhibit- ed, a pot of thin plate iron, filled with cold sand, containing the vessel, may be partly slid into the heated sand-pot, and, being sup- ported by pieces of brick placed under the edge or otherwise, kept there until it be necessary to increase the heat, when it may be slid down lower until at length it is permitted to.jeach the bottom of the sand-pot. " To make a Hot Still. " Portable hot stills should have an ash pit and fire-place exactly similar m dimensions to these used with the sand-pot, or. the samte 92 furnace may be used with a hot still, if economy and not conve- nience is the principal object. The copper or tin plate cucurbits will, of course, be 10 inches wide, and about 12 deep, and hang 7 inche.- within the fire-place. The mouth should be wide, that the water-bath to be occasionally hung within it so as to reach within 3 inches of the bottom may be the larger. Between this wide neck and the circumference there should be a short pipe, through which the liquor left after distillation may be drawn off by a crane without unluting the vessels; fresh liquor added; or, is distilling with the water-bath, the steam may escape. This pipe has a ring round it, that the cork with which it is stopped may be firmly tied dovn, and like the other joinings be luted ; for which purpose slips of paper smeared with flour and water, or common paste, are usually esteem- ed sufficient; but the best material is bladders n.tted in water until they smell extremely offensive and adhere to the fingers when touch- ed, and then worked between the hands into rolls, which are to be applied to the joinings. These small stills have usually a Moor's head that fits both the cucurbite and the water-bath, their necks be- ing of equal diameter, and is furnished with a groove round the low er part on the inside to direct the condensed vapor to the nose of the alembick; and this head is surrounded by a refrigeratory conta'mingcold 51 White swellings 51 Wounds 54 punctured wounds 56 contused °7 of the ear and nose 58 of the scalp «»8 of the throat 58 of the breast 59 of the belly 59 of the joints 59 of the tendons' 59 Yellow fever 43 ERRATA. Page 13, eighth line, it ought to read of one blood—Acts,xvii. 26- Page 33, first lipe, it ought to read No. 5, 1^* c X A. 1331 c|. ★ * ARMY * * MEDICAL LIBRARY Cleveland Branch gp.....T?.Z''- ■ ■V&y*>\- *&&'■' s c»";*? *-.,». 1 ' *. .-,**• ff»w ■»'*>■ <$»