■ ^s-* ' Jfr~''^»> -»■..' - . 'gpuwi MB/9 '/j. s j>i, &'&«>■■* iQ(€^VMO€TQQ^GOQt:&'Q'Q'DQ''CQr0Q'D-^ Surgeon General's Office cfliV & h is aeggrJQCagQ.O' 'J-~QCQO Q(mu GGQQCXj c*£i VALUABLE VEGETABLE MEDICAL PRESCRIPTIONS, FOR THE CURE OF ALL NERVOUS AND PUTRID DISORDERS. ^ The fear of the Lord prolongeth days—but the years of shortened—l'rov. 10.27—not that we think to save life when death i^ts appointed all men once to die, and alter death the judgment. ■ BY DOCTOR RICHARD CARTER. PUBLISHED BY NATHANIEL LEVV13, j.odge, l'hommedieu, & hammond, printers—Cincinnati 1830. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, District of Kentucky, Set; BE IT REMEMBERED, that heretofore, to-wit; ontheSthday of October, A. I). 1815, and in the 40th year of the Independence of the United ttateJ of America, Richard Carter of the s;iid District, hath deposited in this office, the titl • of a book, ti>e right whereof he claims as author, in the words and figures following, to-wit: ., "Valuable Vegetable Medical Prescriptions, for the cure or all Nervous anoon came to m\ perfect health; then in the spring following, I was tiken with t'.e pleurisy, that my lite was doubted.— The doctor above mentioned, tended on me. I now recommendations. ix feel nearly as well as ever I was.—On the waters of Paint Lick, Garrard county, the 15th of June, 1812. JESSE KIRBY. Test, James Morrison, Rany Harris. I do certify, that I had a cancer about five or six years past, on my nose, it increased fast, and spread over my face in places, till I went to doctor Richard Car- ter, he began to doctor me, and I think it is now sound and well, from its appearance. Given under my hand. this 29th of September, 1812. WM. EMBRY* Test, Wm. Embry, Moses Swinney. t do certify, that I had as severe convulsion fits as ev- er a person had to live: I would be gone for the space of an hour and a half that they could not observe breath, and a half a dozen could not open my hands, without breaking them. Doctor Richard Carter tended on me, and from last fall till now, I have been clear of them. Given under my hand, the 30th of September, 1812.— Paint Lick, Garrard county. MARY ANN COY. Test, Jacob Maxey, Moses Swinney, Isaac Embry. Garrard county, at the mouth of Paint Lick. I do certify, that I had a negro fellow, that was down with the galloping consumption, that he was past all hopes, (apparently); he coughed and spit vastly, and had to be turned in bed. Doctor Richard Carter attended him, # RECOMMENDATIONS. he mended greatly in a short lime; and is now sound. and well. DAVID REYNOLDS. Test, Henry Reynolds, Sr. Henry Reynolds, Jr. I do certify, that I had a brother, that was down witii the fever, that he was so low, that he appeared to be past all hopes, until doctor Richard Carier attended on him; he mended directly,got fatter than he has been for a long time. Another brother was taken down with the same complaint, he attended on him, he soon got well: 1 then was taken down myself with the same complaint, he attended on me; in a short time I was able to do my business. My wife was also taken down very-severely with the fever, was pregnant at the same time: I ap- plied to the doctor above mentioned, when her appetite was entirely gone; the next day after she took the medi- cine, her appetite returned; soon got entirely well; brought forth a fine son, and thinks it no hardship to give him praise.—Garrard county, Harmon's-lick creek. EDWARD HOMES. Test, Joseph Homes, Sarah Homes, Nancy Homes. 1 do certify lhat my wife was down very low with (he flux: I applied to a doctor, he done her no good; she was given out by every body: then I applied to doctor Richard Carter, he gave her medicine; she mended from the lime she took it, till she got well. Also, five of my children took the flux, and they took of his medicine; they soon got well.—Garrard county, the mouth of Paint Lick—April 13th, 1813. Wm. lawless. Test. David Reynolds. recommendations. X; • Garrard county, Back creek.—I do certify, that my son was taken down with the fever, that I thought he would never recover. Doctor Richard Carter sent him medicine; he mended greatly to the surprise of all that saw him. Likewise, my wife was taken with the fever and approaching consumption; was at the puint of death; he applied medicine to her, she soon got well, and better than she has been for a long time. Wm. HURT. Test, Alexander M'Koy. I do certify, that I had the (ever, was so low that my friends all thought I would die. Doctor Richard Car- ter tended on me; I soon got well, &oc. ALEXANDER M'KOY, Test, ' Hector M'Koy, Kitty M'Koy, Benny M'Koy. January the 16th, 1815.—I, Nathaniel McClure, was taken with the King's Evil, about four yea is past; it grew very fast, about a year and a half be'ore I applied to a doctor. I was under him five months, he gave me ease; then it grew about a year, and was vo *y bad; then I applied to arother doctor, he done me no good, still grew worse; then 1 applied to doctor Richard Carter, since it !eeL as well as ever it did; and I believe it is a sound cure; since he quit me, it is about three months. Given under my hand. NATHANIEL M'CLURE. Test. John Wray, James Finnel. I do certify that my wife vas taken in child bed, about fourteen months past—fifteen days after deliver- Ill RECOMMENDATIONS. wi:ce, she was taken with an inflammation in the womb, and was at the point of death, (apparently)—she was so low, that if she was raised the least in the bed, she would faint a* if she was dying; or if the light came near to her, it would distract her, she was often deliri- ous; few or none, thought it would answer any purpose to aopiy medicine. Doctor Richard Carter attended her, she mended greatly to the surprise of all that saw her; and has been in general, better since, than she had been for many months before. I have reason to give him praise.—January 17th, 1815. Wm. RENFROE. Test, Jesse Hatter, JNancy Stephens. The 5th of October, 1815.—On the waters of Paint Lick, Garrard county.—I do certify, that my wife was taioung wife, with all we could conceive of sweetness, tenderness and truth, in an angel form; and his three beauteous babes were the three graces in smiling mfancv. But Oh! wretched man, havin.-. nothing to do, he "strolled to a tavern and card table, vhere he lost his all, five thousand pound-, lately settled on him bv a fond father. He awakes to horror unu"eri'-lcl what will become of my ruined wife, my in. oc-nt babes! Believing his torment I'Mile inferior to those of 'he dam; ed, he >ez . the fatal pistol, ai>d drives ♦he searching bullet through his brains, and flies a 2 XIV PREFACE. shrinking ghost, to join the mournful throng: A i>n<1 sight! See here a tall young man in powder and ruf- fles, standing before his judges, trembling like an aspen leaf, and pale as the picture of guilt, while the crowded Court-House, every countenance filled with pity or contempt, is fixed upon him. Alas! what could have brought him to this? Idleness. His father happening to possess five hundred acres of poor land, and a few negroes, thought it would be an eternal disgrace to his family, to bring up his son (though he had many) to be a mechanic, and having no profession, trade, or habit of industry to support him, he took to horse stealing. If we had time to write, we would presently see this un- happy youth, on receiving sentence of death, bur-ting into sobs and cries sufficient to make us wish we had never been born. But let us leave these accursed scenes of shame, mise- ry and death, into which idleness never fails to bring poor deluded 3Touths, and joyfully return to health, wealth and glory; giving good industry the praise that braces the nerves, purifies the blood, and hands down the flame of life, bright and sparkling to old age—what but rosy cheeked industry? Let us look at that gentleman that loves the propen- sity of his children to be in constant action. The expe- rience of mankind in all ages, sufficiently proves Ihe im- portance of exercise of body, for establishing ad preser- ving a good constitution; experience proves that exer- cise must, therefore, urge the necessity of using all proper means in forming industry, in the habits of your sons and daughters. Look around among your females and acquaintances, and see where is the greatest share of good health. Is it with the lot of the rich and luxu- rious, who spend much of their time in bed; who take no exercise, but that of an occasional flight in a chariot or coach? Let their pale countenance, their feeble arms and bloated flesh, answer for them. No madam, the God of nature has fixed his firm decrees, that idleness PREFACE. xv amd health shall not dwell together. Well Doctor, where are we to find health and industry? Go and see the blooming maids whirling the useful wheel, cleansing and adjusting the furniture, regulating the wardrobe, directing in the kitchen, superintending the dairy. How cheerfully does she spcud the day; how sweet is her food; how soft and pleasant is her bed, when at an ear- ly hour she reclines herself to rest, not tired of inaction; her time hangs not heavy on her hands, and she seeks no party to hide her from herself; conscious of having spent the day in useful employment, she feels a sweet composure, which the idler never knew. Let these re- flections suffice to prove, that industry best secures the greatest share of health. But how are you to establish this industrious disposition? It is not enough for you to say, in your daughters' hearing, industry is a fine thing; every body ought to work; idleness is shameful, and is justly followed by beggary; these are all true, but no- thing is more common with the idle, than to declaim in this way. Well doctor, how then? Madam, you must set the example yourself, and diligently be employed in some valuable business; and then encourage your daugh- ters to imitate you; how often have you been pleased to extacy, when "the little creatures, even at three years old, would set down patiently, endeavoring to handle your scissors, your eedle, and your thimble? how have you been amused to see her little fingers trying faith- fully to work up a bit of pastry? would not this betoken the truth of your duty? You may form in your child, what habit you please: have you never seen an instance, when this favorable time for instruction was lost through slothfuhie-s, or love of pleasure? Can you madam, lay your hand upon your breast, and in candor and truth. say you have not been remise? What followed? the lit- tle prattler, for want of proper employment, turned her attention wholly from the business of the house, to sport at large in the field, and to indulge her, she lost the foulness foreven thin?. XVI FKEFACE. I do not mean that misses >hould be constantly kej." in the Louse, nor too closely confined to the hou-e, (or same thing) nothing could be more pernicious to health; such conduct would subject them to vapours, hystericus, and all the train of hypochondriacal affections. The de- sign of the argument, is to urge the propriety of intro- ducing early into your family, habits of regularity. As soon as your daughter can perform any kind of business, fix for her regular times, and let her perform her task, duly and daily; and as often as you can'do it with any shadow of truth, you will find it beneficial to give her a certain degree of praise; it is highly imp i ope r to degrade her,cither publicly or privately; when exercise out of do. passion, ought to be cautiously avoided. Two things I will mention as being particularly pernici us: and first, idleness Every person who recollects his past conduct, may be satisfied, that the hours of idleness have always xviii ADDRESS, &c, proved the hours most dangerous to virtue; they pro- voke the rise of criminal passions: lead 10 the suggestion of guilty pursuits,and to the lormation ol designs, which, in themselves, are sure to bring disquiet and bitterness to the remainder of life. Sloth is like a slow flowing putrid stream, which stagnates in the marsh, breeds venfc omous animals, and poisonous plants, and infects with pestilential vapours, the whole country round it. Hav- ing once tainted the soul, it leaves no part of it sound. Idleness nourishes the passions, and it must be very diffi- cult, if not impossible, for her, who is pampered in idle luxury, to regulate that powerful propensity, of which this chapter treats. The importance of industry, for the preservation of health, has already been urged: I must, however,.again tpeak of it, as the greatest moment tor the government of passion, by forming those habits of order at which I have hinted: Every tiling may be met in its own places and your daughter may constantly find innocent and use- ful employ for her time; she will never be at a loss how to dispose of her hours, or to (ill up a life agreeably.— Secondly, Reading novels and romances. The unwar- rantable amusement and intrigues, which fill up most works of this kind, cannot fail to raise propensities, tbs most unfriendly lo virtuous continence. Evil communi- cations corrupt good manners, and to indulge the irnagN nation in contemplating such amours, cannot differ but in degree, from associating with thf hero, or heroine of the play—besides, the example of human excellence, as displayed in most of their fine characters, do no where exist; for relief of course, the unfortunate lover, from one of those highly coloured pictures, is at length disap- pointed, disgusted, and miserable. Better sentiments may be collected fiom those of old. Fuithermore, when you seriously consider, that it is possible your daughters should run away with some worthless fellow, if her in- clination should not accord with your judgment and ad- •*rC. you will see that every precaution ought to be ADDRESS. &C. XfX taken, to regulate her mind, on this important subject; begin in time to inculcate sentiments pn^or for her safe- ty ; teach her that it is impossible ha a)o\ir:g impas- sioned miss, to judge of man's merits; that it is far more properly, the province of the mother; make it a rule of your house, that no man shall pay addresses to your daughters, without firsi explicit!) obtaining permission from her father and yourself; impress on her mind the necessity and propriety of such a rule; that she may learn to consider any man an enemy who would pre- sume to speak on the subject of love, without Slaving regularly complied with the rules of the house. Young ladies by confiding in their acquaintances, receive bad advice; are led to adopt dangerous measures, a :d are involved in ruin. Sometimes by not having a confident acquaintance, and not; having or being disposed to con- fide in thi'ir mothers, they languish in secret to the de- struction of their health and happiness. Those evils might be prevented, if mothers would take the proper steps to gain such confidence with their daughters as lo know all their distresses, and hear all their secrets. It i^ furthermore possible, notwithstanding every precau- tion, that ;l voung lady should fix her affections upon some gentleman who has never thought proper to place himselt within her power; should this happen to your daughter, what could be done if she dare not trust yqu with a knowledge of her case? wherea«, if you knew he- inclination you might adopt measures, either to prevent or accomplish her wishes as might be thought most pru- dent. An instance oHhis sort may happen without dis- grace. In one of the lower counties of Virginia, a voung gentleman, of agreeable address, excellent morals, a.:d eharmirg disposition, happened lo reside in the fa- mily of a wealthv and reputable man, who was blessed with an amiable daughter. Although hfs great worth had secured to him the esteem to repose the utmost con- fidence in his friendship; vet as his fortune was very moderate, he dare not indulge a thought of gaining her %3. ADDRESS, &.C affections. Several gentlemen of the first distinction.. waited on her with offers of marriage. But she very politely dismissed them all; until at length her parents were anxiously apprehensive that she must have formed a resolution never to marry. This worthy young man was particularly solicitous on her account; for he had considered some of the offers to be very advantageous. At the request of her friends, he therefore, cheerfully undertook to enquire into the cause of her conduct, so apparently strange; with difficulty he extorted from her a confession that her love was fixed upon another per- son. It was then determined, that he should continue the negociation, and if possible, obtain a knowledge of the person; tor some da\s she persisted to withhold the desired information. But at length yielding to his soli- citude, she directed him to the 7th verse of the 12th chapter of the second book of Samuel, for a determinate answer: with haste he ran to his bible, and opened the place; to his astonishment and joy he read:" And Na- than said unto David, thou art the man." They were happily married a short time after the dis- covery, and perhaps to this day are living in harmony. Should the case occur in which the young gentleman is not so easily gained, the friends of the young lady might, by the influence of some worthy acquaintance, bring about a match, and there could be no impropriety in the measure. But if the object cannot be obtained, she will begin to fret and stud) ; and a violent kind of fever will take place. For the removal of this lever, blood-letting and blistering is advised; those remedies and travelling, generally carry it off. Grief indulged, spoils digestion, and destroys the appetite; hence for want of proper nourishment, the whole system is rel ixed, the spirits sink, the circulation becomes irregular, indu- cing a train of formidable diseases, as faintini;, s\\ ooning, falling sickness, appopkxy, pal-y.ai.d the whole train of hypochondriacal affections, madness, and death. I am, )Our humble servant. INTRODUCTION. Madam, YOU have happily joined yourself to the ir.atj for whom you leave your fathers house; for whom voir cheerfully forsake all the world beside; to live with him a.i your protector and bosom friend; you promise your- self many endearing pleasures; you perceive that inno- cence, candor, sincerity, modesty, generosity, and piety, express themselves with grace in every attitude; in eve- ry teature of the man you love: you are highly con- cerned how you may secure an equal share, and a per- manent continuance of his affections and esteem. On this point, turns your future happiness or misery; mutual love and tenderness properly preserved, secure to you the greatest earthly blessing. In proportion lo the want or loss of those, you are miserable for life. Although this consideration very much concerns your husband, as well as yourself; yet, I must be permitted to assure you, that you are deeply interested; his engagements as a man, will necessarily keep up his attention, he will have frequent occasions to mix with agreeable and interest- ing company; his acquaintance will be extended; his amusements multiplied; he of course will have an asy- lum, should home become tiresome or disagreeable. But your house, is your refuge; your husband, your only compani n; should he abandon you, solitude, anxiety, and tears, must be your unhappy lot; you cannot fly for amusement to the race ground, to the chace, to the card table, or to the tavern; you cannot look out for a gallant, to whom >ou may impart your slighted love. You must either languish in bitterness, or learn to com- pose feelings by stoical indifference. How wives ought to conduct themselves towards their husbands. As it is your great wish and interest to enjoy much of your hus- band's company and conversation; it will be important to acquaint yourself with his temper, his inclination and «i« manners: tint you may render your persoij and your Xxii iSiRODUCTlOX. disposition, quite agreeable to him; by observing with accuracy, and guarding your words and actions with prudence, you may quickly succeed according to your wishes. Here, perhaps, you ask, why so much pains necessary on my part? I will answer your question can- didly: Your choice in forming the connection, was at best a passive one: could you have acted the part of a courtier and made choice of a man whose disposition might have corresponded precisely with yours, there would have been less to do afterwards. But under present circum- stances, it is your interest to adopt yourself to your husband, whatever may be his peculiarities. Again, nature has made man the stronger. The consent of mankind has given him superiority over his wife; his inclination is to claim his natural and acquired rights; he, of course, expects from you a.degree of condescen- sion, and he feels himself the more confident of the propriety of his claim, when he is informed that St. Paul adds his authority to its support: "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife." In obedience, then, to this precept of the gospel, to the laws of cus- tom and of nature, you ought to cultivate a cheerful and happy submission. The way of virtue is the way of happiness; the truth of this maxim, will be verified to you in your conformity to your duty. By such sub- mission, you would secure to yourself the advantages of a willing obedience on the part of your husband, to the counter part of Paul's command: "husbands love your wives as your own flesh." The great attention and submission practised by most men, in time of court- ship are well calculated to raise in the female mind, false expectations of an uniform continuance of the same officiousness, after marriage. For the honey moon, you may not be disappointed; but the charge of a fam- ily, will soon teach any man that he has something more to do, than live a life of courtship. Th discharge of bis du'y as a father, a friend, and a citizen, will gradual- INTRODUCTION. XXll! ly divert him from that punctual ait-ntion to your per- son, with which you are so highly pleased. When you begin to discover this change, be careful to conduct yourself with discretion; by no means u;.)braid him, nor suffer jealousy to take possession of your breast; if you once admit this passion, it may terminate in ruin; it will lead you to consider every seeming inattention as a proof of his want of affection; you will conclu ;e he is tired of his toy, and is looking out for another. This thought once admitted, will have infatuating influence over your mind; not only your actions will express your s sMcion, but you will unguardedly speak it, per- haps in terms of reproach. Your good husband, stab- bed to the heart, may possibly, with eyes full of tears, clasp you in his arms and assure you of his love. But all in vain—jealousy once admitted to i .flame the soul, he will scarcely turn his back, before the old impression will revive; his tears and entreaties will'be considered as evidence of his guilt, and you will wretchedly settle upon this conclusion: I am disagreeable, he is gone to caress the happy fair one, whose compa iy is preferred. As you regard your own bliss, speedily check all thoughts of this kind; as soon as they arise in your mind, if in- dulged, they will have a baneful effect upon your tem- per, and spread a gloom over your countenance, so as to strip you of every charm; your husband, repeiled from time to time, will at length becone indifferent; and, leaving you to languish in your distress, he will seek for amusement where it may be found. And thus you will bring upon yourself the very evil, against which you would make your mistaken defence. If you have already proved the truth of these reflections by sad experience, I know you are ready to excuse your- self, because the whole proceeded from the most si. cere affection. But you should consider, that the anxiety and distress which are so often depicted ir your counte- nance, might with equal propriety, lead your companion (o doubt the sincerity of your love; and, for any thing ^XIV INTRODUCTION. you know to the contrary, a suspicion of this kind is at the bofiom of the whole mischief. Do not act like stubborn chillren; rejecting that happiness, which is entirely in your own power. If he does not come in the v ry hour or Jay that you expect him, instead of ac- cu-irg him with neglect, be the considerate woman, and taxe into view the various and unavoidable delays with which he must meet hi transacting that business which he. considers nece-sary for tie prc-ent time. He is bound to provide for you and your children. In easy circum- sta.e-es there is most satisfaction, and he fe« Is a strong desire to secure this foundation for your future happiness. •Receive him, then, with gladness"as- often as he comes in; show him you are happy in his company, a >d ft the preparations made for his reception, prove to him that he holds a considerable share in your thoughts and af- fections when he is absent. Such conduct will endear you to his heart, and secure to you all the attention and regard you deserve. D > not suppose that my plan im- plies, that the. husband a is nothing to do. So far from this, he is bound to love and cherish his wife as his own fle>h. But, I repeat it, this obligation seems, in a great degree, to rest on the condition of a loving and cheerful submission on the part of the wife. Here again, per hap-, you object and say, why not the husband first shew a little condescension as well as the wife? I answer— For these plain reasons: It is not his disposition; it is not the custom, but with the henpecked; it is not his duty; it is not implied in the marriage contract; it is not requi- red by law or gospel. I presume you are not one of tho.,e ladies who indulge a mean opinion of their com- panions, and are indeed ashamed of them; for this can happen in no case, where there is not a want of infor- mation and judgment. Do you, therefore think liberally and favourably of your companion; remember he is considered your head, and thai your digiiitv can:ot be superior to his. If you stooped in marrying him, do not indulge the thought INTRODUCTION. XXV that you added to his respectability. Never tell him you took him out of the ashes; for it will be hard for you to extricate yourself from this difficulty. If you stooped of necessity, because you could get no one eVe, the obligation is on your own side. If you stooped of choice, who ought to be blamed but yourself? Besides, it will be well to remember, that when you became his wife, he became your head, and your supposed superi- 0 ity was buried in that voluntary act. Now I have given you directions for securing to your -oris and daughters, a sound mind,, in a sound body, so far as it can be effected by management, &c. I now consider, that I must proceed on what condi- tion or accident, those bodies are liable to fall into, and then, on the other hand, what is to deliver those bodies from those accidents, &,c. ,-> THE DYSENTERY, OR BLOODY FlUX. THIS disease is defined by Doctor Cullen aa a conta- gious fever, attended with frequent slimy or bloody stools; while at the same tim , the usual contents of the intestines, are for the most part retained; and with a violent griping, painful, frequent urging to go to stool. If there be a frequent desire of going to «lool, especially alter eating or drinking it is considered a certain mark of this disease. It occurs in the same seasons that inter- mittent fevers do; and like them follows long dry. long moist and hot weather; sometimes it comes on with cold shiverings, and other marks of fever, and in some instan- ces, the fever attending is very violent and inflammatory: sometimes, though not so frequently, a diarrhea is the first symptom. There is commonly a loss of appetite, frequent cickness, nausea and vomiting; which are con- siderably proportioned to the violence of the disease. In every case where there is violent fever, the danger is considerable; when the patient stools, he seldom breaks wind. Now to prevent this disease from spreading, the patient should be kept very clean, his room should be well aired, and properly cleansed, and vinegar should be frequently poured upon a hot brick, stone or piece of hot iron. In places where this complaint prevails, the daily use of cold haths; the dress of children should be carefully changed to the state of the weather; salted meat, should be daily, but moderately used through the sickly season, and drink tar water, morning an ! evening; and when you go among the sick,take two or three drops of the spirits of turpentine on sugar, or get a handful of cucumber bark, a handful of dog-wood bark, a handful of yellow poplar bark; put them in spirits and drink as a bitter. For the cure of this disease, regard must be had lo the degree of fever present; for if there be great thirst, acute pains, and a tight though small pulse, the patien' iHE DYSENTERY. 2? should be bled, and if pains and other violent symptoms, continue the blood-letting, repeat it every twelve or twenty four hours, until they do yield. Pukes are some- times proper, but they shoulu be used only when there is great sickness at the stomach: and if the marks of fe- ver, as above, be present, a puke should not be adminis- tered, until after one or more bleedings. Purges should be frequently repeated, but they must be of the most gentle sort, as cream of tartar, purging salts, manna, castor oil, &c. physic grass, (which is called highland flags) take a handful and beat it, let it stand in a tum- bler of cold water the over night, drink it in the morning, and work it off with warm water, or water gruel. But let it be remembered, that jalap and rhubarb are not proper in this complaint; glys^ers of flaxseed tea, or mutton broth, with a little tincture of opium, should be injected, two, three, or four times, for every twenty-four hours. If there be great heat and pain in the bowels^ cold water might be injected in the form of a glyster; indeed it could do no injury, if there were no inflam- matory symptoms. Opium, a dose of the tincture, or a pill of the solid opium, should be given every night; and after sufficient evacuation-,, it might be used every six or eight hours if necessary: cooling drinks, such as whey, flax-seed tea, camomile tea, (not too strong) mallow tea, mullin tea, and barley water, are all proper for this pur- pose; and if there be much fever, cold water is a very proper drink—a decoction of gum arabic.,or shavings of hartshorn with spices, mutton suet boiled in milk—a de- coction of blackberry brier roots, or gruel made of a little flour, preparedaccording to doctor Buckhan, that is to say: take a few handfulls of fine flour, tie it up in a linnen cloth, and boil it in a pot, for six hours, until it becomes as hard as starch; afterwards grate it, and make it into gruel. Either of these will be very useful: when the patient is much spent, blisters may be applied to iie wri-ts and ancles, but not commonly, until after the fifth day. In the close of the disease, port wine'. 28 TUP. DYSENTERY,' madeira or cherry wines, are proper where the (eve- intermits, and ♦'specially where it assumes the shape of the third day fv.ver and ague; the bark is a very proper remedy to be given, chiefly in the fore part of the day; so is a spoonful of the juice of elder berries, two or three times a day; or take a new laid egg, and pour out the vrhite, and fill up the place with salt, and roast it hard; then beat it to a powder and take as much as will lay on the point of a case knife, every half hour; and let your drink be a tea of the root of black gum, or syca- more bark tea, or take the spirits of turpentine and put on burning coals, and receive the smoke. This will stop it: and if it stops too fast, work it off with salts or castor oil; or take dried hog dung and boil in sweet milk, and drink off that; it is a wonderful remedy; or take a large apple and fill it up with a piece of honey comb, roast the .apple in the embers and eat it; this will stop it; or take as much grated rhubarb as will lie on the point of a case Jcnife, with half as much grated nutmeg; put those in a glass of white wine, take this laying down; or take four drops of laudanum, and apply to the belly a poultice of worm-wood and red roses, boiled in milk, and feed on jrice, sirrup and beef; give a spoonful ©f sheep suet, melted on a slow fire, a spoonful of green plantain mixed together, and taken many times, sitting in a tub of warm water three inches deep; or take the maw of a rabbit dried to a powder, made up in doses, and taken in plantain juice; for a child, take the seed of green plan- tain, beat it to a powder, give a teaspoonful in red wine; or take the jaw-bone of a jack or pike, beat to a powder, take a half a drachm of the powder in red wine, morn- ing and evening; this has cured when nothing else would; or take the white ashes of white hickory, make a weak ley in spirits, and drink when it first comes; or take the back bone of a beef or hog, burn until they become white, then beat them fine, boil them in new milk, and give them to drink. THt CHOLERA MORBUS. c2[) THE CHOLERA MORBUS, OR PURGING AND VOMITING. This disorder makes its appearance in warm climates, as early in the season as April and May; but in colder climates, not until the middle of June, or first of July; tie danger attending it, is in proportion to the heat of the weather. Children are subject to it from one or two weeks, uritil two years oldi It sometimes begins with a diarrhoea, which will continue for several days without any other disorder; but most commonly violent vomiting and purging, and high fevers attend; the mat- ter discharged from the stomach and bowels is yellow or green, the stools are sometimes slimy and mixed with blood, without any appearance of bile; sometimes, too, the so)ols are thin as water; worms are frequently voided. Whether the evacuations be bilious or not^ the patient seems to suffer much pain, draws up the feet, is never easy in one posture; the pulse weak and quick, the head very warm, the hands and feet are cold; the fever remits and returns with greater violence every evening. The head is sometimes so much affected, that the pa- tient not only becomes delirious, but will rave and try to scratch or bite the parent or nurse. The belly, and sometimes the face and limbs swell—has great thirst in every stage—the eyes appear languid and hollow, sleeps with them half closed. So great is the insensibility of his eyes, that flics light upon them while open, and.do not excite the least motion in the eye-lids. Sometimes the vomiting continues without the purging, but more commonly the purging remains without the vomiting. Through the whole course of the disorder, the stools are sometimes large, emitting a very disagreeable smell; at other times there are scanty stools, without smell, like the food or drink taken in by the child. This disorder is sometimes fatal in a few days, and in some cases, even in twenty-four hours—much depends on the state of the weather, one cool day frequently abates; the lime or vio- 2,9 THE CHOLERA MORBUS, lence of its duration, varies frequently from a few day« to six weeks, or two months: when it is ol long stand ing, and tending to death, there is commonly great was- ting of the patieufs flesh; the bones will sometimes come through the skin. Towards the close of the disease^ there appears purple spots on the skin, with hickup, convulsions, ghastly countenance and soiemouih: when those last appearances come on, the cas-e generally be- comes incurable. The following remarks may help to guard against mistakes in this disorder: It is sometimes thought to be the effect of teething; but as it comes on at a particular season of the year, this mistake may be avoided. It is true, however, that it is rendered more violent, when it happens to seize on children in the time of teething. It is sometimes attributed to worms; but although worms are frequently voided in this lever, they are never the cause of it. It has been considered the effect of eating summer fruits; but where children can get ripe fruits at pleasure, it seldom occurs; and indeed ripe fruits taken moderately, have a considerable tend- ency to prevent it. On the whole, il may be considered a species of the bilious fever, and mav be cured as fol- lows. Give a puke to evacuate the bile from the sto- mach; this may be done by a dose of ipecacuanha or tartar emetic, and it should be repeated often, as often as there is vomiting of bile. In every stage of the disc der, the bowels should then be purged with manna, castor •il, or magnesia; but rhubarb is not a proper remedy until the fever is subdued in some considerable degree. If, however, the puking and purging have continued until there is gool reason to believe that the offending matter has been thrown off bv the natural efforts, the pukes and purges mu«,t be omitted, and instead of themr a few drops of the tincture of opium may be given in a chalk julep, say prepa ed chalk or crabs claws, eight grains to twenty tincture of opium, half a drop lo three or four cinnamon water or peppermint tea at discretion; syrup, as much as may be sufficient to make it pleasant. OR PURGING AND VOMITING* 31 to be given every three or four, or'.x urs: sometime* a few drops oi spirit of harshoni will a u-ed tothe region of Line stomach, or to the wri*-- ■< d ancles. Mint and mallow ltas,ora k-aof black berry briar loots, iniused in cold water; a decoction of shaving? of har's- horn or a solution of gum ara'iac, or a tea of the pith of sassafras-wood, steeped ia warm water, witli the addition of a lit:le mint or cinnamon. Either of these articles may be prepared and used as drink. To compose the stomach or bowels, glysters made of flax seed tea or mutton soup, or starch dissolved in water. Either of these, with the addition of a few drops of laudanum, may be trequently injected. Plaisters of venice trea- cle.' where it can be had, or flannels wetted with a strong infusion of bitter herbs, in warm spirits or ma- deira wiae, might be applied to the stomach; or what might be still more convenient, a cloth folded so as to be two or three inches square, might he wetted with the tincture of opium, and applied as before. As soon as the violent symptoms are subdued, give bark in the form of a decoction or in substance, to .which may be add< d a little nutmeg; or if bark be offensive to the patient, use port wine, or claret in its stead. At this stage it will be proper to indulge the child in any particular article of strong food.. The patient may happen to crave salted or dried fish, salt meat, butter or rich gra- vies, and even the strongest cheese. Another remedy when there is great pain is the. warm bath; and it would be still more effectual, if wine were used instead of wa- ter. It is also probable, that a cold bath, a lew times repeated, would be an excellent remedy in the recover- ing state of the disease; it will be found very beneficial, to carry the child out to breathe a fresh country air. In places where this complaint prevails, the following pre- cautions will probably prevent the daily use ot the cold bath- The dress of children should be carefully accom- modated to the state and changes of the weather; salted $2 rvTVRWL DROPSY OP THE BRAIN. meat should be daily but moderately used through the sickly seasons; good sound wine may be given them in portions adapted to their age; from a tea spoonful to half a wine glass full, at the discretion of their parents: particular regard should be had to cleanliness, both with respect to their skin and clothing. Lastly. Per- sons living in sickly towns ought to be specially attentive lo all these dangerous complaints; and where it can be done, they ?hould remove their children to the country, before the sickly season. 1 have cured many with bow- man root, which is called by some, Indian physic. Boil a good handful in two quarts of water to a pint, let them driek freely of that, and drink warm water to work it off; or take a table spoonful of beat puccoon root, a spoonful of fennel seed, a spoonful of mouutain birch bark, beat it fine$ you may let this stand for time of need; this decoction is to be put in a quart of cider; a child of two or three years old is to take a tea spoonful ooce or tw ice a day, and so on up according to the age; to a grown person, a table spoonful. Not lo eat hog meat nor milk. INTERNAL DROPSY OF THE BRAIN. THIS disorder is sometimes the consequence of a stroke upon the head, received by falling, or otherwise} it may also be excited by different kinds of fever. In every case where there are pains of the limbs, head, sickness at the stomach, dilatation of the pupils of the eyes and sleepiness, this disease should be suspected. In Doctor Rush's treating of this complaint in his enquiries, he gives the following description of it—as taken from the writings of Dr. Guin: In general, the palie t is at first languid and inactive, often drowsy and peevish, but at intervals cheerful and apparently free from complaint, the appetite is weak, and in many cases a vomiting oc- cur- once or twice in the day; the skin is observed to be hot and dry towards the evening. Soon after these symp- INTERNAL DROPSY OF THE BRAIN. 3$ toms have appeared, the patient is affected with a sharp head acne, chiefly in the fore part, and if not there, generally in the crown of the head, it is sometimes, how- ever, confined to one side of the head; and in that case, when the posture of the body is erect, as in silting, the head often inclines to the side affected: the vomiting is le?s troublesome, when the pain in the head is most vio- lent; and on the contrary, there are also pains in the limbs or the bowels; but more constantly in the bac* of the neck, and between the shoulder blades. In these cases the head is commonly less affected, the patient dis- likes the light; at this period, cries much, sleeps little, and when he does sleep, he grinds his teeth, picks his nose, appears to :>e uneasy, and starts often, screaming as if terrified. The bowels are in most cases bound, though sometimes they are in a lax state, and the pulse is not much irregular. In the early stage of the disor- der, these symptoms are subject to great fluctuation; but whatever may be the degree or order of them, after some days one of the eyes will be turned inwards, as if looking at the nose, and the pupil of the turned eye, will be more dilattd than the other, and if both eyes be turned, which sometimes happens, both pupils will be larger than they are observed to be in healthy people, at the same time, and in the same degree of light. Af- ter this, the vomiting becomes more constant, and the head ache more excruciating, and every symptom of the fever makes its appearance, the pulse is frequent, the breathing quick; the fever returns with more violence at night, and the head and face is flushed, usually one cheek more than the other; there are temporary sweats, and sometimes bleeding at the nose, but neither affords any relief; the patient is sometimes violently delirious, After proceeding on in this way fourteen days, often a much shorter space of time, the disorder undergoes a change and passes into the second stage; the pulse be- comes slow and unequal, both in time and strength, the pain seems to abate, a deep sleepiness ensues, the pupils 34 INTERNAL DROPSY OF THE BRAIN. are more dilated, the patient lies with one or both eyefr halt closed, which ate foued on examina ion to be insen- sible to the light; the vomiting ceases, the patient >wal- lows with greediness whatever is offered to him, and the bowels remain obstinately costive: if not relieved, the second stage is soon succeeded by the third, which spee- dily terminates in death The symptoms in this stage, are, weak and quick, but equal pulse, difficult breathing, with deep suorii g, the eyes suffused with blood, alter- nate flushings and deadly paleness in the face, red spots or blotches on the limbe, difficult swallowing; and lastly convulsions close the scene. 1 must here observe, however, that neither the dilated or insensible pupil, nor the puking, delirium, or the squinting, always attend this disease. Children of eve- ry age> but more commonly those of four or five years old are subject to it, as was hinted before. This is the complaint which was little understood until lalely, and was commonly called a worm lever; and as worms are in some instances discharged in this disorder, ignorant and injudicious persons, may readily enough be deceived. In every instance, therefore, where the symptoms are suspicious, parents ought to be alarmed, and if possible, they should procure relief on the first.attack. The remedies to be employed in the first stage of this (too of ten) fatal disease—are bleeding and purging; these should be repeated, as often as may be necessary to sub- due the inflammation; if there be pain in the head, cold water or vinegar, or vinegar and water, or even ice wa- ter, might be applied, with cloths wetted for the pur- pose, which should be frequently changed; sometimes the symptoms abate, after two or three bleedings, but return in the course of a few days. In every such case, the bleeding must be repeated, and the more certainly if the puLe be full and tight. In the last stages of this complaint, bleeding is seldom proper; the principal de- pendence is to be placed on the use of mercury; the pa tjenl should be salivated at any stage of the disease* THE HERB ANGELICA. $j After the inflammatory symptoms are subdued, blisters are beneficial, and should be applied-to the head, neck, and temples, &c. Now I quit medicine a little, and speak on a few roots that are well known by Ihe most of mankind, that is very profitable in our day, both to make a drink, in the complaint above spoken of, and many more. And for this dropsy, I have given you a full description from the beginning to the end, &c. &c. THE HERB ANGELICA. THIS is excellent for the head and the parts there- of; this is eaten, or the powder, or j lice of it drank; keepeth a person from th" head ache and megrim; it is good against dizziness, swimming or giddiness of the head; it comforteth the brain, sharpeoeth the wit, strengtheneth the memory. It is a singular remedy against deafness; it amendeth the thickness of the hear^ ing, and provokes sleep: the juice of it laid in lint and put to the eyes quickeneth the sight. Also, the root or herb dried and boiled to a strong decoction, and wash the eyes, has the same effect; make a tea of the root to drink, cureth the redness of the eyes, blood-shotten and itching of fhem. The same decoction drank in wine, is good for a foul stomach; it strengthens a weak stomach and causeth an appetite; it digests cold phlegms on the stomach, and opens the pipes. A person that is just poisoned and drinketh enough of the spirits that have been stilled, roots and tops, will clear them out. This herb is good against the disease of the lungs; it strength- ens the members; it is good for the aching of bones. This hem b.iled in the urine of a healthy man-child, is good for the dropsy; it is good for them to make a ")l The 1< aves of Vzelica and the root*, or the b ik of me .a-.is <•♦" dogwood, sassafn- bark, shoemakc r. o s, a d ru.ini.-g brier roots, all boiled stro and roots, boil it d>wn to a salve; tins salve is wo. derful to h- «l cancers, old rotten putrid sores, burning hot swellings, and carbuncles; sores that are hard to be cured. It would he a good thing to *ash the sores fir>t before the plaister goes on, with muscle shell lime, &c. Bv this we may- understand with how much virtue God has endued and blessed this herb. To sum up all, it helpeth the body inwardly and outward'*, it promotes s eat, by which the body is purged of much corruption, w lich breed^tii diseases"; it exnelletn tiie Venom of in- fection; it consumes ill blood and naugh-y humors; whereby diseases are engendered. Therefore, giving God thanks for his goodness, which has given us this herb, &c. &c. and all oth-r ble-sings, for he"lth here, and for salvation of the soul hereafter; for God hath fixed a way to heal both body and soul. ADVICE TO SWEAT WITH THE HERB AN- GELICA. HERE, perhaps, some will ask a question respecting the time and quantity, which things are to be considered in taking medicine. As touching the time, if it be taken for a preservative, it is good to take it in the morning or evening before one goes to bed, because that is a conve- nient time to sweat, for one that feeleth himself not much diseased; but if a man takes it to expel any grief felt in the body, immediately go to bed and sweat. As touching the quantity: one need not be so careful in fa dug this herb, as in taking those medicines that da purge vehemently, by ejestion. as some term it, or by vomit. For in taking them, if discretion be not used, iii considering the time, the quantity, and the stale of man's body, they may cause present d-a;h; or other- wise, they may much weaken the patient. Thus I 1HB HERB ANGELICA. counsel all that use it—that when they or any of theirs are diseased, they defer not the time, but take it pres- ently, as soon as it may be had, and that they do not thinjc it sufficient to take it once or twice, but often; there is no danger in it. TO SHEW THE DEGREES OF THE HERB ANGELICA. IT is hot and dry, at least in the third degree. All the writers in" Germany agree upon it, and I have proved the Mime. The roots stilled, and the oil that comes of the spirit, is good for poison. If any person be sudden- ly taken with the ague, let them take fifteen drops of the oil, or a tea spoonful of the spirits, and cover up warm; do the same for poison, which, if they do, they will begin to sweat. This stilled water is good for gnawing pains of the belly, occasioned by colds; if the body be nol bound, it is good for all inward diseases, as pleurisies in the beginning, before the act of inflamma- tion affects the body; for it dissolveth and scattereth abroad such humors as bring on pleurisy. Moreover, it is good for the diseases of the lungs, if they come by cold; and for a stoppage in the breast; it is good for a woman that is in travail; it expelleth wind, and easeth pains flowing from the same cause. Those that cannot still this root, may let it stand in wine or water, as the nature of the sick may require. When it is pulverized, it may be sprinkled in ulcers, sores and cancers, before you put your salve on; when you want to heal them up, it cleanses out the bad flesh and engenders good. This herb is known by most of people, yet they know not the use of it. But I have ventured to reveal it—1 do not think it right that any thing should be secret which may be profitable to my country—for God hath not made any thing for the use of a few, out for the accommodation of all men: and we, that are the children of God, ought to frame ourselves so that we m.iv be like affectioned to our Father, who is beneficial to all men; who hath made 38 THE PLEURISY. his sun to shine, and his rain to fall, upon the wicked as well as upon the good—that is to-say, who feedelh all, both good and bad, by heat and moisture, which proceed from the sun and rain, all things grow upon the e^rth, whereby our lives are maintained. I conclude that, forasmuch as the mighty God is good unto all men, we ought to be like minded, and not to keep secret, nor hide any thing that may profit one another. I wish all men rightly to use the good creatures of God, and to give him hearty thanks for all his benefits, to all eternity. FOR THE PLEURISY—THE SYMPTOMS. THIS comes on like other fevers. It generally be- gins with dullness and shivering, which are followed by heat, thirst, and restlessness; to these succeeds a violent pricking pain in one of the sides among the ribs, some- times the pain extends towards the back-bone; some- times towards the fore part of the breast, and at other times towards the blades; the pain is generally most vio- lent when the patient draws in his breath—if he holds his breath as long as he can, he cannot fetch his breath without coughing. The pulse in this disease is com- monly quick and hard, the urine is high colouied, and if blood is let, it is covered with a tough crust or buffy coat; the patient's spittle is at first thin, but afterwards it be- comes grosser, and is often streaked with blood; there is generally a violent pain in the side, and high fevers, changing from place to place, and sometimes in the head, ■with a shortness of breath that you will appear to be choaking, and generally weakens the patient fast, and often turns to the third day fever and ague. Make a de- coction of nettles, and apply the boiled herb as hoi as you can bear it to the pain; or beat brimstone fine, or the flower of sulphur, mix up the white of two eggs and put to the pain; letyour diet be light, thin, and cooling; let your drink be whey, water gruel, barley water, hysop INFLAMMATION OF THE EYES, &C 39 »ea, sharpened with vinegar or lemon juice and water. If the spitting stops suddenly, take a little vomit, like camphorated vinegar, sirup, elder berries, raspberries, or strawberries, this is good to cleanse the lungs; bleeding oftentimes is wonderful good, sometimes roasted apples or currants are good. There is a bastard pleurisy and a true one, that is to say, an inflammation in the ribs, at- tended with little or no fever; the right pleurisy is at- tended with a violent fever, and pains in the sides, the pulse remarkably hard: he may take a strong decoction of seneca snake root, which is called by some rattle snake root, or a table spoonful of pleurisy root, which is called by some butterfly root, and then cover up warm in bed; any kind of warm dilutary drinks, dried cat dung made a tea of; this is a wonderful remedy; or take a handful of dried pokeberries, a handful of saw dust of Jightwood, a handful of dried horehound, a spoonfu1 of brimstone, a half spoonful of saltpetre, a spoonful of beat rattlesnake root, to a quart of whiskey, (rye whiskey is the best) take a table spoonful twice a day: beware of taking cold or going out in the dew, or after sunset; blisters are good when the pain continues. If the body be bound take some of the bark of white walnut and elder roots, boil them, take out the roots and put in some salt petre, boil this to pills and take them as needful. These pills will neither leave you bound nor gripe you; if the sweat does not break, it is good to put a little dogwood bark in this decoction of pills, that is, the white walnut pills. INFLAMMATION OF THE EYES, OR SORE EYES. SORE EYES are of two kinds, that which affects the coats of the balls of the eve, &c.—that which af- fects the eye lids onlyv The causes inducing inflaramav R» INFLAMMATION OF THE EYES, &C« tion are external violence, wounds, particles of dust, sand, &c. or the hairs of the eye lids inverted, too much light, or strong light too long continued; sitting up at night before a fire, riding in snow, particularly when it falls early or late in the season, writing or reading too much at night, too long accurately inspecting very mi- nute objects, frequent intoxication, sharp matter, such as tobacco, &c. received into eyes: sympathy sore eyes frequently taken by looking at others in the same condi- tion, and is the effect of an active imagination. Gene- ral fever sometimes produces this disease. The remedies are a9 follows: Bleeding, when there is general fever, copious bleeding from the arm will be necessary; if no general fever present, cupping the temples, and scarifying the inside of the eye lids. Pur- ges may be more or less violent, according to the vio- lence of the disease. Blisters should be applied to the reck and behind the ears, and to the temples. Certain washes: These must be mild or sharp according to the stage of the disease. In most instances when inflam- mation of eyes first appears, cold water, milk and water, or mild lead water will be proper; the lead water ^should be made into a poultice and applied to the eye affected, first covering it with a bit of cambric or mus- lin. In the last stages of this disease, the eyes may be washed with the following solution: white vitriol, two drachms, sugar of lead forty grains, of spring water one gill; if this be not convenient, weak spirits and water, Madeira wine and water, salt and water, or a decoction of oak bark and leaves not too strong. In curing this disease, the patient should not be exposed to the light, and all spiritous liquors must be carefully avoided.__ When there are particles of dust or the like in the eye, it may sometimes be washed out with clean water; if an inverted hair be the cause it must be plucked out. If the disease should be of long standing and obstinate, se- tons and issues will be proper. The eyes should be washed with salt pctre, then with breast "milk or honey THE SCARLET FIVER. 4J and copperas mixed well together, or take a table spoon- ful of white copperas, a table spoonful of salt to a quart of water, and boil it down to a pint, then let it settle, pour it off and boil it down to a half pint, keep this to wash any humor in the eyes; take angelica, boil it in water, then mix it with new milk, and wash the eyes, and at night bind rotten apples to them when going to bed; or take half an ounce of lapis cahminaris powdered into a half pint of French white wine, and as much white rose water, put a drop or two in the corner of the eye, this has cured some that have been nearly blind; or take six ounces of rectified spirits of wine, dissolve it in one drachm of camphor, then add two small haudfuls of dried elder flowers, and when you wash your eyes, wash your forehead also. THE SCARLET FEVER. THIS Fever, like the foregoing, depends on a specific contagion; it comes on with chilliness and sickness at the stomach and vomiting. These symptoms are spe- cially characteristic of the disease: there are in some cases a swelhng of the throat, and difficulty of speaking, swallowing ai d breathing—sometimes theie is a squeak- ing voice and ulcers in the throat, which are in some instances deep and covered with white, brown or black sloughs; a thick mucus is discharged from the nose, sometimes from the beginning, but more commonly com- ing on about the fifth day; an eruption appears on the skin, sometimes preceding, sometimes following the ulcers and swelling of the throat; in some the eruption is confined to the outside of the throat and breast; in others wholly to the limbs: in some it appears on the second and thi-d day, and never afterwards; in some it appears with the s »re throat, and perhaps in others wiih- out it—the bowls are gent rally regular, but some have a diarrhoea. This fever is moderately inflammatory, and 42 THE SCARLET FEVER. differs from the malignant fever or putrid sore throat. The eruption in this fever is of a deeper red color, and is more smooth, resembling the back of a boiled lobster; the skin is also more hot and dry; the skin peels off in the close of this fever. It is not so dangerous as the putrid sore throat, it commonly goes off with the swel- ling of the hands and feet; and lastly it frequently ap- pears in summer and dry weather. Again, this fever may be distinguished from a common inflammation of the almonds,&.c. called quinsy, by the following remark: the appearance of ulcers, in common quinsy is confined to the almonds, &c.—a strong, full and tense pulse attend an inflammatory quinsy, always admitting the use of the lancet. A common quinsy is not attended with external redness. The remedies for the Scarlet Fever, puking, ipecacuanha and calomel combined, as the putrid sore throat; wash the mouth and throat with barley wa«ter, or very thin gruel, to which should be added a little vine- gar and honey; if convenient, a portion of the tincture of myrrh; sixty or eighty drops of the tincture of myrrh might be added to half an ounce of the gruel, &c-—or if the myrrh cannot be had, as much calomel might be added instead of it, as may be sufficient to turn it of a whitish color. I have found great benefit from fre- quently washing the m uth and throat well with the fol- lowing mixture: Take Salt Petre, half an ounce, Borax one quarter of an ounce, the whole to be dissolved in one pint of water, and sweetened with honey. I have used it successfully in a number of cases without anv other topical application—snuff may be used about the fifth day to excite a running at the nose. Towards the eh>e of the disease, wine and water, or wine whey, may be used to such extent only as to keep up a very gentle perspiration. Whenever the swellingof the extremities takes place, a few doses of calomel may be repeated. It is worthy of observation, that this disea-e can be com- municated before it can be known to be present in any case; it is therefore unnecessary to remove children ou< THE CONSUMPTION. 43 of the family where it makes u^ ippearance. Some are of opinion that ihe Scarlet Fever migh' be prevented by using occas oual doses of Rhubar;; this remedy is worthy of trial. Children are mostly subject to it. THE CONSUMPTION. THIS disorder comes by many causes. This disor- der.comes often limes by wet feet, night air, wet clothes, over heats, sudden changes of weatiier; and women not taking care when their terms are on them, which causes them to abate, corrupts their blood and settles on their lungs, and turns to a deep consumption, if not brought on by regular means. It is bad for shoemakers, seam- &ters, and such as lean on the breast. This disease generally begins with a dry, tickling cough; the cough continues sometimes a long time be- fore it takes lite,and sometimes but a short time. They that have this complaint, some days have a craving appe- tite, and then at other times scarcely any appetite; they cough mostly in the morning, and often times a soreness and oppression in the breast, a shortness of breath; going up the slant of a hill, a weakness in the knees; the spit- tle is fi'st of a sweetish fainty taste; then as the disor- der increases, the spittle turns of a saltish taste; and in (his stage the spittle is often of a whitish frothy color— the patient is often sad, the thirs* is often great, the pulse often quick and small, then at other times they are full and hard: a* this time there is generally dull heavy feel- mil's, streici ling and gaping at times, which if not check- ed, it enters into*the second stage; the spittle that was before of a whitish frothy color, is become a greenish color, and sometimes streaked with blood—often a swim- ming in the head, mostly after a spell of coughing or eating. There is a kind of hectic fever takes place in 2 THE VENEREAL DISEASE. complaint as well as the guilty—infants, nursea, mid- wives, and women by guilty husbands. If you are innocently taken in, you are excusable, as Adam must fulfil the command, multiply, &c. &c. Though he that has taken the blaze on the other hand, is condemned by Paul's ministerial words, for he says, "it is better to marry than to burn:" and generally when the flame rakes place, there is a discharge of matter, which makes its appearance within eight or ten days alter the infec- tion has been received, and some within two or. three davs, according to what state the blood is in when you take it, and with some not under four or five weeks; but the patient often feels an itching with a small degree of pain in the testicles, and sometimes there runs a yellow thin matter which stains, and with some it is white with a violent burning when they make water; and it comes sometimes with a degree of heat, and there is often a redness. If the disorder is not checked, the sy mptoms will increase; the disorder rises higher and higher in the penis; and the longer it runs, the worse the patient dreads to make water, but wants to be always at it until it will come by drops in this complaint: tho' there is a disorder in women that one might be mistaken in, that is when the womb is affected, and there comes a whitish matter, and sometimes a kind of greenish colour, and with some their terms are discharged in this way. Now regard should be had to eating and drinking, no strong drink, no salted or smoaked meats, nor heat your blood, and do not season what you eat too high; drink cooling teas, balm, ground ivy, sinkfield, mallad, &c. In the first place take a good dose of salts, or calomel and jal- Iap, syringe with blue stone and apple brandy, two or three times a day; and you may take physic of may ap- ple root; make it thus: take one handful of may ap- ple roots, put the roots in a pot and put in a quart of water, boil them very strong, then give one table spoon- ful, if that does not work, another, and so on until it does work; then take a good handful of sarsaparilla and wild Cherry tree bark, then high black berry brier roots, the fcUNNING OP THE REIN9. 5$ bark of the roots of white sumac, a handful of dogwood bark, half a handful of red oak bark, a handful of the bark of yellow poplar root, a double handful of pine tops, boil them all together until they are strong: take of this three or four times a day, and if ulcers or sores arise, or blubbers, apply red precipitate dissolved in old whiskey to wash with; until and after taking this, purge with salts, and bleed, &c.—or take a handful of dog- wood bark, a handful of running briar roots, a handful of yellow poplar bark, a handful of rattle root, a hand- ful of male sumac, put a quart of water to every hand- ful, boil it strong, drink of this often, and let your diet be light; keep from hog meat, salted fish, or smoked meats; take care of getting cold, wet or heating your blood, that is half the battle. You may drink cooling teas; or take a handful of poke root, roast it well in hot embers, and put it in a quart of old spirits, and drink a table spoonful two or three times a day; or take a hand- ful of yellow poplar bark, a handful of sumac root, a handful of dogwood bark, a handful of yellow sarsapa- rilla, a handful of sassafras baric, boil them well, and drink for your constant drink; make use of flax-seed and comfrey teas when going to bed. RUNNING OF THE REINS. THIS complaint has often the symptoms of the above complaint, only more liable to run: there is always a weakness in the small of the back; an inward fever; a bad taste in the mouth; in the morning a weakness in the eyes; a burning when you make water, but not cor* ded as with the venereal disease. This disorder may come by overstraining yourself or acting too much in the way of copulation, or an excess of drinking. The matter discharged is white, &c When this complaint first comes, it may be cured by drinking flaxseed tea» o* j4 THE WHITE SWELLING---OP THE JOIN In- take a pill of white turpentine, night and morning, and Use the same diet in the complaint above mentioned; and drink comfrey tea often; or take a spoonful of black pepper, a handful of life-everlasting, put a pint of new milk with them, boil them down to a half pint, drink at night and the rest in the morning; take some white plan- tain, and hang it up in the chimney until it is well dried, and then bind it to the penis, and it will stop the runs ning; or take the bark of prickly ash, the root, the saw dust of light wood and dried horehound, and steep until it is strong, and take a bitter two or three times a day; let your diet be light seasoned; do not concern with woman and you will soon be well. THE WHITE SWELLING—OF THE JOINTS. THIS complaint is often thought light of, but it is a growing evil; the complaint is so well known that I need not describe but a few symptoms. It generally comes about the joint; and from the bone it seldom ever chan- ges the color of the flesh, but rises to a head, and breaks* if not prevented, which affects the bone more and more, until it rises like a honey comb. But if this complaint rs taken in time it is easily removed; but if it gets the mastery, it is not easy subdued; something like a small twig, which is easy bent when young, but afterwards be- comes very stubborn. In the first place take a double handful of dogwood bark, a handful of black haw bark, a handful of asb bark,a handful of white oak bark; and when it is boil- ed well, take out the barks and put in muffin rootsra double handful, and boil it down to a quart, and thicken it with meal, then let il get cold, and stir in it the white of three or four eggs, then spread the plaister on a cloth, and spread some honey on the plaister and put it on the .swelling,let this poultice stay there a day^ and take off THE WHITE SWELLING—07 THE JOISTS. Oj that poultice, then boil cherry tree leaves, black haw bark, and dogwood bark, and white ass-smart, boil this well; then takeout the bark, and cut up some tobacco fine, and stew it well, then put in some strong apple vin- egar, and thicken it in the same way, but put no honey on; after that poultice comes off, give the patient a dose of salt9; let the poultice stay on twelve hours if possi* ble; the poultice will make the patient sick, but no dan- ger; then when that comes off, give the patient a dose of salts, or calomel and jallap during this time. If the swelling does not seem to abate, get the inside of the north side of white walnut bark, and the inside of the bark of the root, and beat fine, put in a little strong vine* gar and put to the white swelling. This will draw a blister like flies on any part of the body except the sto- mach. Then when you draw a blister, wash it with new milk, then put on bees-wax and tallow, or take some marsh willow roots, muffin, the tops and roots, boil them strong, take out the herbs, and then put in some burnt dirt out of the back wall, or a dirt oven, and beat it fine; put a little strong vinegar with it, and stir it well together, then put that to the white swelling, this is wonderful to draw it to a head or carry it away.—■ Blistering on the swelling, and purging is the finest thing in nature; or take the bark of the root of marsh willow, and mullin roots and tops, then when they are well boiled, take them out and put in some burnt dirt out of the back wall or dirt oven, beat it fine, and put in a little strong apple vinegar, and stir them well to- gether; then put this to the white swelling. This is a wonderful medicine to bring it to a head or carry it away: and if it break, make some wetfire and put in it. The wetfire is made thus: Get a peck of ivy leaves, and boil them strong, then get a good quantity of ash bark, the inside, and put it in a pot, and put the pot over a hot fire until it burns to ashes, then soak the ley out of the ashes, and put the strength of the leaves and the ley together, and boil it down to a pint; and put 69 THE WHITE SWELLING—-OP THE JOINTS. that in the place once or twice a day, and let it stay on an hour and a half; then you are to put it. another salve; the salve is to cleanse the sore and heal the inside; the salve is made thus: Take muscle shells, burn them well, and beat them to a powder, and let them soak in a little waier, then take a half pint of the water, and put a half pint of sweet oil, stew them well together, and put in the sore as above directed. Or make another sort of salve, (if it corrupts and runs much,) that is made thus: Get a double handful of the root of dogwood bark, a handful of yellow sarsaparilla roots, a double handful of black oak bark, a handful of running briar roots, a handful of wild cherry tree bark, a good handful of the bark of the root of sassafras, a handful of persimmon tree bark, get of the north side of the trees, then put the a- all together, and boil them well a half a day, with increasing the water: then take out the barks and strain it, then put it back in the pot again and boil it down as thick as tar; spread this on a cloth and lay to the sore. This is a wonderful medicine to eat humour, sores and while swellings. If the while swelling be- comes very painful, in < ny stage, take the white of four or Ave eggs, mix them well with beat brimstone, then spread the poultice on soft leather, and put it on where the pain is; and if it is like to mortify, take some wood dittany and beat it well, put in a little water to make it soft, and bind to the swelling; or beat ground ivy and bind to it; or take a handful of feathers and a roll of brimstone, and a little tar, and put them in a pot, on some hickory coals, and hold the mortified place over this, (but keep the steam from your face); or get hore- hound, beat it well, and mix honey with it, and apply to the plate; or woodbine, dogwood bark, arid while wal- nut bark, boiled and thickened with rye meal,'make a poultice and bind to the place, &c. Here is a wonder- ful salve to carry away a white swellii.g: Get twelve eggs and a pound of fresh flutter, not was hod nor salted, and put these together and slew them moderately, and ON THE COMMOV DISEASES OP CHILDREN* 57 stir in some rye meal, and let it stew to an ointment, and keep that to anoint with; then heat some oats and put in a bag, and anoint well with the oil, and put on the bag as hot as you can bear it, night and morning; and when it begins to suage, or come to a head,get swamp willows and make a poultice; this has cured many, though it is simple; or put on eight or ten leeches once a day, and ^entle vomits two or three times a week. An electric may be used in every case where it can be done; this remedy will frequently succeed. When appearances are unfavorable, then bathe in salt water often, or pump cold water on the knee or pait affected, half an hour.— This also cures pains in the joints, and seldom fails. Or pour on it daily a stream of waim water, or a stream of cold water one day, and warm the next, and so on by turns. This is a full and clear description—and well proven in Garrard county, where I live; and as the complaint is fatal, I have taken all the pains in my power, to give ia* formation wherever my book may reach* ON COMMON DISEASES OF CHILDREN. In our day and time, children are often taken sudden- ly, and at a surprise, where great attention ought to be paid to clothing, and dry beds, often sunned. Children should have free hbertv; keeping children too much con- fined in the arms of their nurse, and of shutting them up in any one particular apartment; they should be indul- ged in running about the house or yard; you may take care that they do not climb or go in any dangerous pla- ces. But keep them from a heedless nurse, for with them not only their limbs are in danger, but their lives also. This may be pernicious to their morals and hap- piness through life, which often is the case with the rich, svho give the care of their children in the hands of need* 58 ON THE COMMON DtSEASKS OF CHILDREN. less slaves. Now, sufficient liberty being granted then;, they will of course breathe in a pure air during the day. But I must make a remark on the danger of putting chil- dren to sleep in a close room, from which every breath of air is excluded: many promising children have per- ished in convulsions, by this act of mistaken kindness. As to the clothing of children, it is important that every part of it be made loose and easy. Confinement in this respect must endanger their health, by obstructing the regular motion of the system, and may at length deform them very much. Their dress should be moderately Warm, and should be varied with the weather and sea- Son. It will be found on observation, that in most in- stances violent fever and croup, happen to those chil- dren who are most healthy, and who of course, are per- mitted to run about in col) and windy weather, without any change of clothing; a very moderate degree of care on the part of the mother, might prevent much mischief in this respect* In the article of food* children may generally be permitted to indulge their own appetite; if healthy, they will eat more or less for every hour in the day. It is much better for their health to gratify them as often as they request it, :han to confine them to any set meals, adopted to the demands of grown people. While they are young milk is the best, and ought to be a principal article of their food'. Milk says Dr. Darwin, is the natural food for children, and must curdle in their stomachs before digestion; and as this curdling of milk destroys a part of the juices of the stomach, there is no reason for discontinuing its use; although it is occasion- ally thrown out in a curdled state. A child of a week old, which had been taken from the breast of its dying mother, and by some uncommon error, had been suffered to take no food but water gruel, became sick, and griped in twenty-four hours, was convulsed on the second day, and died on the third. When young children are brought up without the breast, for the first two months, they .should have no/ood but new milk. It should be weak ON THE COMMON BISBASES OP CHILDREN. bh ened with a little water, and some loaf, or clean Drown sug.ir, might also be added: but the addition of any kind of oread or flour, is liable to ferment, and produce much acidity, as appears by the consequent diarrhoea, with green stools and gripes, They should never be fed as they lie on their backs; in that position they are neces- sitated to swallow all that is put in their mouths;—but when they are ted as they are si.ting up, or raised pretty much, when they have enough they can permit the rest to run out of their mouths. This circumstance is of great importance to the health of those children who are reared by the spoon; if too much food be given them indigestion, gripes and diarrhoea are the consequence; j id it too little, they oecome emaciated; and of the exact quantity, their own palates judge the best. Most mothers, from their natural tenderness for their infant children, are led to feed them more or less of every ar- ticle of which they eat themselves. In some instances, it may not happen to do any mischief; but it is always dangerous to oppose the obvious appointments of the God of nature. If we would be guided by the intima- tions given us of his will, we should never feed our chil- dren with solid food until they were supplied wth teeth for masticating it. I think no vegetable should be giv- en till they are at least five months old; for with some it passes the stomach clear, and with some it relaxes^ and often causes worms. SOME MORE REMARKS On children, with descriptions of disorders, and the symp- toms of m attack, that may be (cnowi if strictly attended to- before hand. Advice according to all complaints ihal are not seated, fyc. s or deficiency in their eating, may not p iss unnoticed. This will be of use, since a considerable change in one of these respects almost always takes place before a spell of sickness.__ Attention should be paid to their stools. Unimportant a* this mig it at first appear to the inconsiderate, vet a costive habit generally precedes an attack of fever- the degree of exercise and the agility with which it is per- formed, deserve particular observation; for all fevers are ushered in with a degree of slothfulaess, a sense of weariness, and with children a more than usual di-po- eition to ^eepiness, &c. To see by noticing whether any of the foregoing circumstances take place, after ha- ving been exposed to unusual weather, or seasoie of foggy dews, or greater than ordinary fatigue, or if the place or season be sickly. By having regard to these circumstances, there will be the less danger of bei.ag faken at surprise. It is generally the case, that some complaints of lesser magnitude go before and give svar- nirig of the impending danger: as costiveness, a sen.je of weariness, dulness of the facul'ies, preternatural appe- tite or defect of it, a pain in the limbs, &c When these marks of forming disease, present themselves, a puke or purge timely administered according to circumstances, might frequently prevent great mischief. Indeed, in ma- ny instances, simply bathing the feet in hot water and taking a plentiful draught of warm tea of some kind, on going to bed, might prevent an attack of fever, espe- cially if the patient is not in a costive habit. Thio test G2 ON THE COMMON DISEASES OF CHILDREN. circumstance may be considered in most instances, re quirinff the exhibition of a purge of some kind, as also great sickness of the stomach might point out the pro- priety of a puke. But it will also be important for pa- rents to be able to judge of the violence of the disease. In case of an attack, they should, therefore, frequently observe the strength of their childien's pulse, when in health; its kind of motion, the force with which it seems to propel the blood along; its apparent size; it* lightness as to its extension lengthways of the arm; its fulness, &c. A knowledge of these circumstances attending the pulse, will be very important in particular cases, espe- cially where bleeding may be necessary; for this opera- tion cannot be proper unless the pulse be either strong and full, or tight; at least judicious advice should be had in cases, with other states of the pulse, They should also have regard to the manner of breathing in a heal- thy child; to the state of his skin; the appearance of his. eyes; the complexion of his teeth; the colour and degree of moisture of his tongue; the proper figure and appear- ance of his mouth and throat. For as the violence and danger of a disease are always ir proportion to the ir- regularity presented in these circumstances and appear- ances, it must be important to obtain a correct know- ledge of them all. To apply these remarks in a case or two, let it be observed that children are subject to some of the most violent diseases. If a child, after exposure to cold, be taken suddenly at night when warm in bed, if the pulse be strong, full and tight, if it beat forcibly in the neck, if the face be flushed with blood, while there is great heat and thirst, if he breathe irregularly with a stoppage at every breath, have a cough, and particu- larly if he expresses an increase of pain, on pressing his side with the hand, a pleurisy should be suspected, and he should be immediately bled; and this operation should be repeated again and again, as often as the violence of the symptoms require. It may be observed, that a large bleeding at first is better than smaller ones repeated.— ON THE COMMON DISEASES OP CHILDREN. It should be so large as at any rate to change the man* ner of his breathing, and lessen the pain; the blood should be drawn from a large'orifice. After.a copious bleeding, let three grains of tartar emetic and twenty grains of salt petre be dissolved in one gill of water, and give a tea spoonful of this solution in barley water or flaxseed tea, or any other mild drink, a little warmed, every one, two, or three hours; it will moderate the cough, and remove the fever. If it nauseate too much, the dose should be lessened; as this calculation would suit a child of four or five years old; the quantity of tar- tar should be varied according to circumstances. In the mean time, his bowels should be evacuated with a little manna, cream of tartar, castor-oil, or some other mild purge. Glystqrs might also be of service. Again, if the child complains of pains in the head, attended with redness of the eyes and face; if the admission of the light to his eyes seems to excite uneasiness, or pain; if he startles at every noise; be very watchful; some- times making violent struggles, and a full and tight, or hard pulse; inflammation of the brain should be sus- pected. In this case, the child should be copiously bled; purged With jallap and calomel and glystered; his head should be considerably raised; cloths wet with cold water and vinegar, should be applied to his head. And after bleed- ing and purging, a blister should be applied to his head, (shaved for the purpose) or to his two temples. I have introduced the above cases in this place, be- cause more or less of those symptoms, indicating danger to the lungs and brain, frequently occur, in measles, whooping cough, and other diseases of children; and be- cause it is important, that these parts of the system, so essential to life, should be properly guarded; whatever may be the supposed complaint, whether it may be ow- ing to the greater proportionate size of the head, and the more delicate contexture of the lungs in children; or to whatever cause it may be attributed, it is a fact, that t>4 A F0LL DESCRIPTION OP WORMS IN CHILDREN, &C in all fevers, there is a greater determination of the blood to the brain and lungs in children's cases, than in those of adults. \ FULL DESCRIPTION OF WORMS IN CH1L- DREN, &c. The symptoms pointing out the presence of Worms are various, and are the following, to-wit: Grinding of the teeth, starting in sleep, a dry cough bringing up a frothy spittle, sighing, and suffocating manner of breath- ing, pain in the side, hiccough, heart burn, vomiting, lax, sudden urgings to go to stool,, costiveness, slimy stools, night sweats, sour breath, flushing of one cheek, itching of the nose, an excessive appetite, lying much on the belly, a swelling of the partition of the nose and of the upper lip, the actual voiding of more or less worms, a wasting away of the limbs and the whole body, jaundice, head-ache, deadly snoring in sleep, convul- sions, &c. &c. Our first care should be to prevent the dangerous effects of worms; and there are various articles of food, which will answer this intention. "Nature," says Dr. Rush in his medical enquiries, "has wisely guarded children against the morbid effects of worms, by im- planting in them an early appetite for common salt, ripe fruits and saccharine substances, all of which appear lo be among the most speedy and effectual poisons for worms." Ever since I observed the effects of sugar, and other sweet substances, upon worms, I have recom- mended the liberal use of all them in the diet of chil- dren, with the happiest effects. The medicines proper for the removal of worms, are common salts; this may be given in doses of thirty, upon an empty stomach in the morning, and is an excellent remedy. Sugar or molasses in large quantities, so that they may pass out A FULL DESCRIPTION OP WORMS IN CHtLWtEN, &C. $5 of the stomach without undergoing any material change from digestion; in smaller quantities they may destroy worms in the stomach only. The pressed juice of onions aid garlic are said to be considerably efficacious against the excess of worms. Gunpowder, a tea spoonful to be given in the morning upon an empty stomach; perhaps three-fourths of the same quantity of salt petre would answer just as well. Carolina pink root: If this arti- cle be properly used it is a certain remedy; about half an ounce may be gently stewed in half a pint of water, 'till its strength is properly extracted; then let the de- coction be strained and well sweetened with sugar or molasses, and give one-fourth of it every two or three hours, to a child four or five years old. I have generally thought it best to add to each dose, about one-eighth of an ounce of manna. The importance of this addition will appear when it is remarked, that the pink-root is poisonous, and if given in too large quantities, kills the child to whom it is given. Aloes, four t < six grains} rhubarb, eight to fifteen grains; Jebuils bark, bear's foot, worm seed; these are all said to be good worm medi- cines; calomel, this is an excellent and safe remedy, whether given by itself, or combined with jallap. It is most effectual, however, when given in large doses: from four to eight grains, might be given to a child of four to six years old. 'But of all the medicines that I have administered,' says Dr. Rush, *I know of none more safe and certain than the simple preparation of iron, whether it be given in the form of steel filings, or of the rust of iron; if ever they fail of success, it is be- cause they are given in too small doses.' I generally prescribe from five to thirty grains every morning, to children between one and ten years old. 1 have been taught by an old sea captain, who was cured of a tape worm ten feet and a half, by this medicine; give from two drachms to half an ounce of it every morning, for three or four days, not only with safety, but with success. 66 A PULL DESCRIPTION OP WORMS IN CHILDREN, &.C, I generally give it in honey, or take a piece of alum as- big as a bean, and beat it fine, and mix with honey for three or four days. THE DESCRIPTION AND MANAGEMENT OF WORMS IN THE LAST STAGE. A CHILD may be known to have the worms by dull- ness, paleness, hollow eyes, itching of the nose, starting in sleep, and an unusual stinking breath. It is not con- sidered that children that live on milk are troubled with worms much. Jfow to loosen the worms: boil a half an ounce of aloes, powdered, with a few sprigs of rue, wormwood^ and camomile, in half a pint of gall, to the consistency of a plaister; spread this on thin leather and apply to the stomach; changing it every twelve hours for three days; then take a dose of jallap, and it will bring vast quantities of worm.- away—some bursted and some alive. This will cure when no internal medi- cine avails, &c.—Or get a good chance of garlic, and beat it fine, to have a poultice and bind to the belly eve- ry full and change, and in three times domgryou will find a wonderful effect. A child that the doctors had give out, and the child lay like a dead person, this was tried with joy, for there came upwards of one hundred and twenty, little and big. But I think it best to get a large red onion, and cut a hole in it, put in some fine brimstone, and roast it well, get the juice of it, and take before and after the poultice, night and morning; let their diet be as light as possible. Or take a spoonful of the juice of lemons, or two spoonfuls of nettle juice, the bark of open peach tree, about a handful boiled in a quart of water to a pint, and take a half gill, from four years old to fifteen; if you peal it down it will purge; if you peal it up it will vomit. If worms come in the throat and F-tomach, take a little indigo and water, it will sink them DESCRIPTION OP THE TAPE WORM. 6? instantly; or bind these red fishing worms alive to the navel; this is said to be wonderful; or take a piece of copperas as big as a pea, and give to a child two or three years old, in a little new milk; beat up and bind worm- wood, rue, fetherfew, tansy and beef's gall, to the belly as a poultice, &c. DESCRIPTION OF THE TAPE WORM, &c. THIS is a melancholy and sad complaint, which makes a person suffer a great deal of misery often in the limf)-. Tlie main seat of the tape worm, is the pit of the stomach, often makes them have a craving appetite;— and sometimes the victuals turn sour on the stomach, and pains often times in the stomach, with a great heat in the stomach, like a heart burn. The tape worm is flat, and vcia long and full of joints, is of a clear while colour, but the round and siiort worm, they generally are seated in the end gut, and causes a disagreeable itching about the seat. The long round worms, occa- sioned with vomiting and a disagreeble breath, gripes, looseness and swelling of the belly, and loathing of food —at times a dry cough and convulsions, and sometimes a.-, alteration of speech. These and the tape worms, have nearly the same symptoms; and it is my opinion that the greater half of mankind dies with worm*, and is taken to be other complaints. To Know the com- plaints is half the medicine; except the medicine is ap- plied to suit the complaint,it loses its virtue, augments the disorder, and flings the patient in a worse situation. For instance, an axe is made to cut a tree, and a matlox is made to grub, take the maltox lo cut,and the axe to grub, and see what way you will make. So it is by contrary medicine. g8 REFLECTIONS* Now concerning the tape worm: Take a double handful of pine vops, nine star roots, a gallon of haul cider, ai d a good chance of rusty iron; boil this to a pi t, and take a table spoonful three times .. day ;ai>d fifteen drops of laudanum, going to bed, ur iak<- four of five dr«.p- of turpentine, and beware of getting wet; put a bladder of new milk as hot as you can bear, at night going to bed, on the pit of the stomach; or ge' a vial of holla- uiib oil, and take these drops twice a day. • This is a Dutc medicine; the name of it is printed callemillical. This medicine is good for fits; but keep from hog meat, , and clear from spirits. Here is another medicine: Get a handful of the bark of the root of the north side of the mulberry, and boil it in a gallon of new milk; take this for three days, before the full, and three days before the change, for three moons, and the lighter the diet the better. I never knew this fail; when it is boiled it is like beaslens. Or puke with tartar, and drink a bitter of the bark of the root of cucumber, and the bark of the tree, and the cucumber seed, and the butterfly root; drink of this three times a day, &.c. &c. I HAVE given my friends and well beloved, as clear a description as lies in my power, and as far as my know- ledge leads. I allow midwives, doctors, and all other professions to pursue; and if they pursue further the work is damaged; but if the workmen stop when they have gone as tar as their knowledge leads them, aid do not try experiment*, and send for a greater workman, and he tries his skill, the work is neat. For Christ say s, "that a king will keep his palace till a stronger than he comes, and takes it from him." So he that fears God, and has a regard for man, will go no farther than their knowledge lends them. But 1 have seen in my travels, some that would com to the sick, and give a little med- icine, and keep the patient lingering, until, with their REFLECTIONS* 69 rough butchery, often times tbey hardly recover; ard if the patient lived or died, they were as greedy after their money as hungry vultures after their prey; not hav- ing the fear of God before their eyes; not thinking they have to die themselves. We know this is a serious point, by woful experience; for many have been the cries of the widow and the orphans in this way, in my opinion. And further than this—I have a desire to talk to the midwives, without offence, when it is granted that there ire some women skilled in the art of midwifery. The known liberality of the ladies, will indulge me in a dec- laration, that most of those who make pretensions to this important profession, are exceedingly ignorant ard self Conceited. A great proportion of them have been in- troduced into the practice, by being caught, as they commonly call it, with some one or more women.—> Their known ignorance forbids them to beofficiour;ai.d nature unassisted, or rather uninterrupted, performed her own office: properly the success in each case, un- justly attributed to the attending woman: encouraging others to employ her, she is presently considered a deep proficient in the art: her vanity keeps an equal pace with the fame of her skill; and in a little time she affect9 considerable knowledge of most diseases; is dubbed a mighty doctress, and not unfrequently has the address to impose her fanciful prescriptions upon a whole exten- sive neighbourhood. I have no wish that all should be forsaken; by no means—expediency, and their popular- ity forbid: but it is right to demand of them submission to their own proper station; for as often as they exceed their due bounds, they do violence to the laws of God, and the cause of humanity. Within the limits of a cer- tain sphere, they might be useful and respectable. If they would extend their usefulness, let them first learn how little knowledge they possess, that they m«y exert themselves in making more extensive attainments.— There is no doubt that all wish their services to be ben /(J THE MESENTERIC I'EVLK eficial; or that many are reluctantly drawn into tiic practice. But howevergood or humane their intention, it often is to get the applause, and often does great dam- age to their neighbours' wives; and except they quit the work when their skill is out, they will -poil the work as I said at first. So let a greater, a stronger than them take the place. As I close one thing, 1 will propose an- other: If 1 have said wrong, show me my error, and I will ask a thousand pardons. THE MESENTERIC FEVER. THERE is another disease which has its principal Seat in the intestinal glands, and may therefore be pro- per enough admissible in this place. It is a fever exci- ted by obstructions in the mesentery; from which cir- cumstance it has its name. Children are subject to it from infancy, up to the age of three or four, or even six or eight years. This fever remits, and sometimes has irregular intermissions, attended with a loss of appetite,. swelled belly, and pain in the bowels; and has often been mistaken for worms. If, therefore, the usual rem- edies for worms should fail, the child will sooner or later be affected with indigestion, costiveness, or purg- ing; irregular appetite, flushed cheeks, or total loss of colour, impaired strength and spirits, remitting fever, a hard swelled belly, and emaciated limbs. These symp- toms, will therefore, sufficiently specify the disease; it frequently follows measles; and other eruptive fevers. Children that are confined to coarse and unwholesome food; are badly clothed; not kept sufficiently clean, spe- cify the disease. It frequently follows measles, and other eruptive fevers, or those neglected so as not to re- ceive sufficient exercise, are most subject to its attack. Hence the negro children of the southern slates, frer quently perish with this fever. 1HB HOOPING COUOH, OR CHIN GOUSH 71 When any symptom.: of this de^(ruuld be made into the manner of feeding, clotih: g and cleaning tiie child; and every error in the ariichs must be corrected; and if the pa- tient has not too beg laboured uader its influence, fre- quent purging with calomel will 01 itself perform a cure. In mote advanced stages of this complaint, it would be best to call in tiie aid of a physician; but where this is impracticable, proceed to give th*> followii g nobis three timps a week: Take calomel, two grains; ipecacuanha, from half a grain to one grain; nutmeg or ginger, powdered, (six grains,) to be mixed up in honey rfyrup, f ter, with the addition of fifty drops of the tincture of opium. Should a hiccoughing come on, take spirits of nitre, one quarter of an ounce, clean water, one half pint, and white sugar at discretion. Of this mixture give two spooi fiiN every two or three hours. She should breathe pure air; strict regard should be had to clean- liness; her rest must be secured; and silence should be carefully preserved. I< is thought, (not with good rea- son ) this fever may be communicated by contagion.— Tins circumstance will make it necessary for the mid- wife to be cautious in every respect, so as not to convey it from one to another. To take ciuquefoil. white plan- lain, mountain tea, and maiden's hair, to make a drink of it. is wonderful good; and so is dogwood bark mixed with salt fctre. tfO CHILD BED FEVER, &C FOR the infection of the womb—likewise a dropsical suel- //««• of the womb— with the abate of the terms, fyc. A dropsy of the womb often proceeds from wind or water; the belly so swells and increases, that it deceives many, thinking they were witb child, when they are not. Tiiis is an unusual swelliug, raising by the gathering of the water, from moisture, mixed with the terms. The Bymptoms of this disorder are nearly these: The lower tarts of the belly and privates are puffed up and pained —the feet swell, the natural color of the face declines, the appetite is often gone, the terms are but few, and sometimes cease altogether; her breast is also soft and flabby: this is known from a common dropsy, because tiie lower part of the belly is mostly swelled; but a general dropsy often follows after. Here is the reme- dies fbi the cure, and is good for any dropsies. Take eight ounces of red century, five ounces of dogwood bark, a large handful of cedar tops, a double handful of horse raddish, a double handful of anvil scales, two Spoonfuls of black mustard seed, put it in two gallons and a half of strong apple cider, and iet it stand four or five days, and lake a gill morning, noon and night; and let your constant drink be mallard tea, sinkfield tea, and sage tea, whey, cider and balm tea, and apple wa- ter; and let your diet be as light as possible, &,c. Or take and file rusty iron, a half pint put to a quart of rye whiskey; let this stand until it gets strong, take a table spoonful three times a day, and live on light diet. Let about fifty or a hundred new nails stand in a pewter ha- sin, and keep water in that for your constant drink.— And every nine days take as much anvil dust as will lie on the point of a case knife twice; the anvil dust is made thus: wash it clean and beat it fine, take the inside of the north side of dogwood bark and dry it, beat it fine, mix an equal quantity and take it in honey; take fifteen drops of laudanum going to bed the night'that you take Ihe anvil dust and dogwood. In the morning, if the whiskey and the rust of iron be too strong, add more THE MENSES, &C. 91 whiskey. Let your diet be light, and take a dose of cal- 6mel once a month* You are to leave off the other medicine three or four days before you take the calomel, &c. 1 have cured one in a desperate case by this medicine, that is to eat three or four cloves of garlic every morning with hard biscuit and butter, and fast two hours after it; and let your drink be water that fennel hath been steeped in.— You will find relief in a short time. And again some men are so gross and fat that they can hardly walk and do any business; let such do the same and they will soo?\ find relief, &e. THE MENSES, &c« THERE is a certain periodical evacuation which takes place with all healthy females, beginning when they arrive at twelve or fifteen years of age, and con- tinuing on till forty-five or fifty. This I cannot call a disease as it is universal to the sex, and as there cannot be health without it. You should begin in due time to instruct your daughters in the. conduct and manage- ment of themselves. At this critical lime of life a few lessons seasonably given, may prevent much mischief.— But little attention is necessary to know when this dis- charge is about to commence. There are particular symptoms which go before it, and foretell its approach, as a sense of heat and weight, with a dull pain in the loins, a swelling and hardness of the breast, head ache, lor.s of appetite, uncommon weakness of the limbs, pale- ness of the countenance; and sometimes a slight degree of fever. Whenever these symptoms begin to appear about the age at which the terms begin to flow, every thing that obstructs it, must be carefully avoided, and such means used as tend to bring it forward. biie should sit over the steam of warm water, bathing her ite THE >iV\5KS, &,C. feet at the same time in a vessel filled with the saim, and so deep as to reach up to her knees. She should drink freely of warm diluting liquors, such as weak flax- seed tea, mallow or balm teas; or sweat over bitter herbs. The most proper time for these things is the evening: 30 that she may cover herself up warmly in bed alter the bathing, and after continuing the drink until bed time, &c. Some precautions, however, are necessary before the symptoms, which usher in this discharge, present themselves. For if she be closely confined about this time, and be not engaged in some active em- ployment, which may give proper exercise to her whole body, she will become weak, relaxed and sickly; her countenance will be pale, her spirits will sink, her vi- gour decline, and she perhaps will become weakly and sickly the remainder of her life. It is often the case. that the daughters of the fashionable and the wealthy, who, according to custom, have been much indulged, entirely give themselves up to indolence at this critical time; and bring upon themselves such irregularities as render them miserable tor life. We seldom meet with complaints from cold, as it is commonly called, among active and industrious girls. While on the contrary, the indolent and slothful are never freed from them.— A sprightlv disposition, and an habitual cheerfulness, ought to be cultivated with all possible attention, not only as conducive to prevent obstructions, but as the best defence against vapours and hysterics. The cheerful- ness which I here kecommeridj is not mere mirth and laughter; it is a calm and uniform serenity which pre- pares a rational being thankfully and heartily to enjoy the real comforts of life; it is a peculiar spring which gives ains work in the sides of some like pleurisy; sometimes i tingling in the flesh, like little pins sticking in you; a leadness and a sleepiness in the flesh, &c. The reme- lies must be given her with care, and beware of taking old. Except she is restored to her common health with are, it will turn to a deep consumption, or some fatal omplaint. I have known the severest convulsive tits ccasioned by it. Beat some puccoon roots fine, put a irge table spoonful to a quart of apple cider, a table loonful of sweet fennel seed, and dried birch bark the same, let them stand three or four days, and take a table spoonful night and morning, and beware of eating hog HE\sf.:s, &LC. 99 meat, or milk; but such as beef, mvUton, chicken, squir- rels, and butter. If this medicine makes you feel weak and feeble when you first take it, with a sick feeling at the stomach; and when that is off you have a cravin** appetite, but do not eat your fill, but eat little and often, and take care of taking cold, if the medicine works this way, it will be of wonderful effect to you,and no doubt will restore you to your health again: for I have cured many with this medicine. Or get a handful of sweet modly, a handful of butterfly roots, and two or three tabic* spoonfuls of camomile flowers, a handful of ver- vain roots, a handful of red centaury, put these to a half a gallon of rye whiskey, and take of this according as you can drink it, three or four times a day,and live on light diet, and take care of taking cold, or getting wetj and let your drink be cooling,such as balm tea, cinque- foil tea, ground ivy tea, mallard tea, &c. Perhaps a sweat miy be needful, and here is the best kind of sweat for this complaint and common colds that I ever tried— here is the directions to manage the sweat: Take a cou- ple of good large rocks, heat them well in the fire, and put them in a pan apiece, lay the bed down in the floor, and let the patient lay on the back in the middle of the bed, and put a pan on each side of her, as level with the heart as you can, then put on fine bush on the rocks lo keep it from burning the cover, then put the cover over all, and pour cold water on the rocks as the patient can bear the steam; and when the body is in a sweat, the feet are as cold as if the patient was dead; then when the body is in a good sweat, move the rocks to the knees, and let the steam continue there till the feet sweats well. This takes the cold out of the body better than any sweat I ever knew. But when the steam begins, you are to give some steeped seneca snake root, or black snake root, or wild ginger roots, or a table spoonful of Bateman's drops; then after the sweat you are to make a bitter of some kind. Take a handful of dried horehound, some ginseng root, camomile flowers 0 38 MENSES, &C and orange peels, or the rust of iron. This is the In dians' rule, to take an infirmity from the body to the feet; and it is good for many. IMMODERATE MENSES, &c. WHEN the menses continue too long, or come on too often for the strength of the patient, they are said to be immoderate; this most frequently happens to women of a soft delicate habit, to such as use tea and coffee too freely, and who do not take sufficient ex rcise. It is sometimes brought on by excessive fatigue; and this may happen to temperate and industrious women. In either case its approach may he known by a pain in the loins and hips: observe this symptom carefully, and ou its first appearance let a little blood from the arm; and it will generally prevent the attack for that time, but the entire removal of it, observe the following direc- tions:—So soon as it is known that this complaint is formed, it will be proper to bleed a little from the arm; there are but few instances in which this might not be proper, in greater or leaser quantities. If excessive labour brought on the disease, rest comes in as an essen- tial remedy; cool air is highly proper; this may be ap- plied by placing the patient in such a situation that a current from a door or window may blow upon her; cloths wet in cold vinegar and water may be applied all over the groins, &c. to be changed as they become warm, cold flour in a large quantity applied to the parts, has sometimes succeeded in dangerous cases; cool drinks, as the decoction of nettle roots, or of the greater comfrey, &c. If all these fail, repeat the bleeding: where too strong a motion of the arteries can be ascertained as the cause, it may be generally entirely removed, by gentle bleeding, and purging occasionally repeatedt If much weakness, paleness and a disposi- FLUOR ALBUS, OR WHITES. 99 'ion to bloat, give half a grain of opium every six hours; and at intervals of three or four hours, give twelve or fifteen grains of an equal mixture of alum and gum kino; nauseate the sto.mach with small doses of from one to five grains of ipecacuanha; apply blisters to fhe * lists and ancles alternately, in all delicate cases; after the removal of the disease for the time being, have re- course to the cold bath, exercise, friction with a flesh brush or flannel, till her health is confirmed. FLUOR ALBUS, OR WHITES, &c. WHEN a discharge of whitish matter flows instead of the menses, il is called the fluor albus, or whites; if :t be of a longstanding, it sometimes assumes a greenish or yellow complexion; becomes acid, sharp, and corro- ding; and is highly offensive to the smell. When it happens to young women, it is in most cases a local dis- ease—I mean by this, that it is never brought on by any general affection of the system, but is wholly confined to the parts which are its seat; indeed il is sometimes the case that the menses are discharged entirely in this way. For the cure, take the rust of iron prepared, one ounce of gum myrrh, one ounce of nutmeg No. 2, or cinnamon half an ounce, the whole to be finely powder- ed, carefully mixed and kept in a close vessel: if rust of iron cannot be had, the salt of steel will answer, (using half the quantity.) Of this preparation, may be taken from four to six times a day; if prepared with the salt of steel, four to six grains will be the dose; the portion of either ought to be varied according to cir- cumstances, if it excites a little sickness of the stomach; but if a puking, or too violent sickness takes place, tbe dose mav be lessened; on the other hand, if any consid- erable effects are observed, it may be enlarged, &c.—or fake the bark of service trees and make a tea for your [00 GHILD BIRTH. drink; this is wonderful; or steam rosin and brimstoiu' in spirits, and drink as a bitter; or boil pine buds for tea, or the roots of pine, or what is better turpentine, in its soft state, mixed with an equal quantity of honey; of this mixture a tea spoonful may be taken three limes a day; or for those who can procure it, balsam copaiba, twenty drops in a little new milk three times a day, fre- quently cleanse the parts with milk and water, some- times an injection made of sixty grains of white vitriol, dissolved in a pint of spring or rain water, and thrown into the passage by the help of a syringe, three or four times a day, is a most effectual remedy; or blue-stone dissolved in old brandy, and used the same way: and lastly, if ulcers attend, give two or three grains of calo- mel every third night, and touch the ulcers with a little mercurial ointment, or with an ointment of white or red percipitate of mercury. Here it might be well to ob- serve that a disease in some degree similar to the fluor albus, or more commonly of a mixed kind, between this and immoderate menses, U sometimes the effect of a polypus or excrescence from the inner surface of the womb. If, therefore, the discharge should continue after using the proper remedies, a polypus ought to be suspected, and a physician or surgeon should be called in to your aid* OF CHILD BIRTH, &c. A DIRECTION TO THE GRANNY. HERE are a few remedies to hasten labor and fetch deliverance, when needed: Take eel's liver and dry it, beat it to a powder, and give the woman in labor te drink in spirits. This is a speedy remedy; or beat a rattle snake's rattles fine, and give to one that is in labour—this is wonderful to hasten labor; or dip a linen cloth in the juice of parsley, and put up the privates; COMPLAINTS OP THE BREAST, &C. 101 it causes deliverance of a dead child. This is also good to cleanse the womb of ill humors, &,c. PoUipodium steeped or beaten, and applied to the feet of a woman in travail, bringeth away the child, whether dead or alive; the ashes of an ass' hoof mixed with oil, and the privates anointed, is a wonderful remedy. The juice of vervain, or the decoction given to a woman in travail, causeth speedy deliverance; or a drachm of myrrh giv- en in powder to drink in any convenient liquor, bringeth the child away dead or alive; or give a woman to drink another woman's milk, fetches on speedy deliverance; or boil mugwort in water, 'till it becomes a poultice, ap- ply it hot to the thighs of a woman with child, it causeth both births to come away, but if it tarries long, it will bring the womb also; dittany to take inwardly, causeth deliverance. COMPLAINTS OF THE BREAST AND NIP- PLES, &c. OFTEN times women's breasts swell and cake; which is caused by a hurt, sometimes with yoimg wo- men; and with married women, by milk curdled and caked. The cause may be cold taken at the breast, which causeth inflammations; therefore, such as some call the ague in the breast, or the curdling of the milk when it is turned into a substance like cheese. Some- times the nipples are so swelled and caked with milk through the pores, that the child cannot draw them; and some scale like a scab. For the cure, take bean flow- ers. or flour and mix it with the white of an egg and apply unto them; or nettles boiled in vinegar and ap- plied to them, instantly helps them; crumbs of bread mixed with the juice of smallage and applied unto the breast, helps them when the milk is curdled in the breast If there be any hollow ulcers in the breast, mix goat's 102 CURE FOR THE FEVER AND AGUE. dung with honey; this soon eases them, and cleanses oco the filth and heals them. A pancake baked and spread with honey, and put to the breast, helps them. A poul- tice made with mallow and chickweed, malt and sheep suet, takes out the pain and assuages the swelling and heals the wounds, &c. CURE FOR FEVER AND AGUE. CLEANSE the stomach and bowels, with a puke m a purge. If sickness of the stomach prevail, use the former, or take the following: Epsom salts, an ounce; tartar emetic, three grains. But if the tongue be foul, give at night, calomel, one scruple, Dover's powder, eight grains; work off in the morning with castor oil, one ounce; spirits of turpentine,one drachm, mixed. After cleansing the stomach and bowels, take pulverized Vir- ginia snake root,one ounce; carb. potash,two drachms; mix and give a tea spoonful in water, every two hours. Or give quinine, two grains, every three hours. All the above medicines are to be used during the intervals of fever; and when the fever is on, wash the head, breast, and arms, with cold water; and during the chill, use warm applications both internally and externally.— Drink no whiskey, nor any other ardent spirits, in three weeks after the chills cease. GENERAL REMATRKS ON THE MEDICINES PRESCRIBED IN THE FIRST eART OF THIS BOOK. [Here [shall make a few remarks on the Apothecary Medi- cines that I have made use of, and is of great importance and use to the poor—their use, management, fyc.~\ ALUM—Is used in floorings, and in long continued fluxes. It is given to grown persons in doses of five to twenty grains every four, eight, or twelve hours, accor- ding to the exigency of the case. In women's cases, it may commonly be used with kino—which see. ALOES, SOCOTRINE—Is a purgative medicine, very stimulating to the rectum, or lower intestines, and if too frequently used, induces piles; it is however a very good article in cases of suppressed menses, worms, &c The dose for a grown person may be from six to sixty grains; for a child of two years, from two to six grains. ASSAFCETIDA—Is used in hysteric cases. In hys- teric suffocation, a plaister made of assafcetida, one quar- ter of an ounce, and camphor, ten to fifteen grains, may be applied to the stomach, and found a useful remedy. BARK—Of this article there are two kinds: that is to say, the red and the pale. It is a useful remedy in feeble habits, and strengthens the stomach and bowels. It is employed in the cure of fever and ague; but it is sometimes unsuccessful, unless the patient be first bled one or more time3. Its dose for a man may be from thirty to sixty grains, to be repeated every one, two or three hours. A dose for a child of two years old, from five to ten grains. BORAX—Is used to relieve children in thrush. It is also proper for making gargarisms in cases of sore throat, whether in scarlet fever or putrid sore throat. In ca- ses of thrush, it may be prepared as follows: take borax, sixty grains, honey, one ounce, and it is better to add 104 MEDICINES, &X. as much water, as may serve t • dilute it sufficiently.-— It is said to be useful as a medicine to be taken inward- ly in cases of fluor albus. The dose from five grains to sixty; if taken in this disease, a few grams ot nutmeg or cinnamon should be added to each dose; otherwise it may produce vomiting. CALOMEL—Is an excellent medicine. It may be used as a purge, either alone or combined with jallap. If it be intended to operate speedily, it should be com- bined: if not, it is most effectual by itself. Sometimes, when given too often, or in too large doses, it pro uces a salivation. The dose for a man is from five to twenty grains. For a child of two years old, from two to four grains. If given for worms, it might be combined with a little aloes or jallap; in all bilious fevers it is a very useful remedy; and after sufficient evacuation by bleed- ing, it may be given in small doses frequently repeated, with very great advaatage. CAMPLOR— Is a very powerful stimulant, and is sometimes useful in fever; after sufficient depletion, it produces sweating, and mav be given in doses from two to twenty grains; it i* sometimes useful,combined with salt petre, when dissolved in spirit; it is sometimes use- ful as an external application for the relief of pain, inflammation, numbness, pal«ev. Sic. CAROLINA PINK ROOT—Perhaps the dose of this medicine may be too slrong. as advised for worms, it will be safest to make trial as follows: take one quarter of an ounce, stew it gently in one pint of water, down to three gills; give half a gill of this decoction to a child six years old, morning and evening, and observe its ef- fect; if if procures unusual drowsiness, the dose may be considered too strong, and ought, therefore, to be les- sened, or entirely omitted. CASTOR OIL—Is a mild and pleasant purge; its dose for a man, is from one to two table spoonfuls; for a child of two or three years old, from one to two tea spoonfuls. :JFDI0TNES, ScC. 105 CAMOMILE FLOWERS—Make a tea which is use- ful in weakly cases, as of indigestion, sickness at the -'tomach from weakness, &.c. COLIMBO—Is said to be almost a specific in chole- ra morbus, nausea, vomiting, purging, diarrhoea, dysen- tery, bilious fevers, indigestion, want of appetite, and most disorders of the stomach and bowels, where no inflammation exists. But on the principles of Doctor Rush's theory, in every species of cholic, blood letting ought to be the first remedy; and afterwards, perhaps, gentle evacuants; then if debility prevail, the columbo with orange peel, &c. would be proper; from ten to thirty grains every three or four hours, the common dose; but it may be extended even to one sixth of an ounce. CREAM OF TARTAR—Is a very mild purge, and may be given from one to two ounces, if dissolved in a large quantity of warm water, and taken in a gradual manner; it evacuates the intestines in a mild and effec- tual way; combined with jallap, it is considerably effec- tual in exciting the action of the absorbents. By these means I once cured an acites, (that is a dropsy of the belly of long standing.) CINNAMON—Is an excellent aromatic, and is con- siderably strengthening to the bowels, and is recommen- ded in cases of flooding, whites, &x. ETHER—If applied externally, relieves pains, and if given internally it removes phthisics, hiccoughs, &.c. if applied to an inflammation and is suffered to evapo- rate, it will cool and relieve wonderfully; if applied to chronic rheumatism, in a state of confinement, so as to prevent its evaporation, as with a cloth wetted with it and covered with the palm of the hand, it will relieve pain on opposite principles. ELIXER VITRIOL—Is a valuable remedy in weak- ness of the stomach, indigestion, &,c; but being con d- erably stimulant, it must, be improper when the pul :s tense; and in all cases of inflammation,its dose from ;.en 106 MEDICINES, &C. to thirty drops, in a cup of some kind of liquid; if this article be dropped on linen or cotton cloths it destroys them. FLIES, called also Cantharides—Are used for the pur- pose of drawing blisters; perhaps the best mode of ap- plying them is in the form of a quilt: if prepared in this form, one quilt will serve three or four times; when ap- plied on plaisters, the skin should be guarded by apply- inga thin bit of muslin between it and the flesh. The application of flies sometimes excites a stranguary;— when this circumstance takes place, the patient should drink plentifully of some diluting draught. A lea made of mullin would answer a good purpose; in this case he should also take a dose of opium, and repeat it in eight hours, if necessary. Blisters are seldom proper till the violence of the fever is reduced by bleeding and pur- ging; they should not be dressed with colewort leaves; some kind of mild ointment, as beeswax and sheep suet. The sunny side of colewort leaves will keep them a running, and the underside will dry them up. Wet the sore once in a while with vinegar to keep them a run- ning, IPECACUANHA—Is an excellent puke, and is the mildest and safest of any yet known; its dose for grown persons is from five to thirty grains, and for a child of two years old, from one to five grains; it may be taken in the form of a tea, or bolus, and while it operates, the patient may drink freely of camomile tea. IRON—Is one of the most powerful strengtheners in weak lax. and pale habits, cachexy, green sickness—itis the best medicine as yet known: but is often injudicious- ly employed, so as to do irreparable damage. If there be tension, rigidity and spasmodic stricture, existing in the system, it is highly pernicious. Let it therefore be observed, that if the use of this article excites pains in the head, with other feverish symptoms, it should not be continued. It may be given in the form of simple filings, rust of iron, or the salt of steel; if the rust or filing* MEDICINES, &C, 107 be used, the dose may be from five to ten grains; if salt of steel be chosen, from one to three grains mav be the dose; it is generally the best method to administer it in small doses, frequently repeated. Cases may occur in which this article is really necessary, and in which not- withstanding its propriety, it may cause considerable sick .ess and perturbations. In such instances a moder- ate dose of opium may be given after each dose, or the patient may be. directed to take it on going to bed at nigat, and again about half an hour before rising up in the morning, and at otter times of'the day; let him or her walk moderately immediately after taking the dose, &c. Kl NO —Is an astringent opium, and is useful in disea- ses of laxity, such as diarrhoea, fluor albus, &.c. It may be given in the following form: Take kino, two parts, and alum, three harts, g,ind them together; of this mixture, tiie dose may be from live to fifteen grains every three or four hours; incases where the alum is improp- er or disagreeable, from five to fifteen grains of kino alone. It may be dissolved in water, or a solution of gum arabic: to which also may be added a few drops of laudanum. MAGNESIA—Is a very mild article, it corrects acidi- fy in the stomacfi in its first passages; hence its effects in relieving heart burn, as. also giddiness, vomiting, and pain in tne stomach, when they are the consequences of an acid matter collected in the stomach; it also relieves gripes in children, when brought on by the same cause; its dose for an infant, may be from two to five grains, to be given in tea of fennel seed, and repeated; the addi- tion of a small portion of rhubarb or manna gives it a little more activity as a purge. M ANNA—Is one of the mildest purgatives, and may be given with great safety to children and pregnant wo- men; it is proper in pleurisy, all inflammatory fevers, and such other cases as may require mild purges. Its dose is from half an ounce to two ounces, and it is best 108 MEDICINES, &,C. perhaps to dissolve it in a decoction of cassia, whicli is an inferior kind of cinnamon; it .1 little lartar emetic, or some other active article be added, the mama will ope- rate much more effectual—say manna half an ounce, tartar emetic half a grain, to be repeated every two or three hours; this would be an excellent preparation as a purge in child bed fever. GUM MYRRH—Is a stimulant, and is admissible in tiiose cases only where iron is proper,as in chlorosis; and its dose may be from five grains to thirty. A tinc- ture may be made of this gum as follows: take gum myrrh, three ounces, proof spirit, or good wine, one pint and a half, digest them ten days with a gentle heat; the tincture so prepared, is a useful addition to cleaning gargarisms, such as are proper in putrid sore throats. NUTMEG—Is warm and agreeable to the taste, is good for the stomach, corrects a laxative habit, relieves indigestion; its dose is from six grains to thirty; if roasted in substance, it is said to be more astringent, and is an excellent remedy in chronic diarrhoeas and dysenteries. ORANGE PEEL—Is employed as a stomachic med- icine, it promotes appetite, gives strength and vigour to the bowels; and is therefore proper, in cases of indiges- tion, flatulency, when the consequences of debility. &c. it is rendered more effectual by joining it with columbo; the yellow outside rhine should- be preferred; infusions with water are better than any preparations with ar- dent spirits; in'all cases where bitters are required the u^e of spririls must be injurious; wine if good might be useful. OLIVE OIL, called also sweet oil—Is employed as an external application; it is improper, however, in cases of burns, especially if the skin peel off. But I intend in a particular manner, to recommend a frequent use of it internally, to such women as are wont to have hard la- bours; they should begin its use several days before the time of delivery; one or two ounces should be beaten up with one or more yolks of an egg, till it will readily MEDICINBS, &C 109 mix with water, add half a pint or a pint of water sweet- ened with mauna orsirrup; with this, she should keep her bowels constantly laxed; where there is sufficient strength, blood letting should also be employed. OPIUM—Is a powerful cordial, it eases pain, but at the same time, very much increases the circulation, and is therefore, very injurious in inflammatory fevers, espe- cially if the brain, lungs, liver, stomach, or boweL be the seat of the disease; at least considerable evacuar ons should be procured before it is ever employed; in such cases it is never proper if there be tensity in the pilse; in cases of external tumor and consequent pain, it is fre- quently admissible; and when debility prevails, with a 20ft and languid pulse, it is an excellent remedy. Its doses when ta\en in substance may be from one to three grains; in a liquid form, as laudanum, or tincture of opi- um, which are two different names for the same thing, the dose may be from twenty five to sixty drops; but it should be remembered, that this article generally indu- ces costiveness. PRECIPITATE OF MERCURY—Is either red or white; i* applied in dry powder to a foul ulcer, they cleanse it; when combined wilhmiid ointment or hogs' lard,(that is hogs' fat) they form a drying ointment, use ful in eruptions on the skin, sore nipples; take lard, or rather sweet oil, hardened sufficiently by melting bees' wax together with it, half an ounce, precipitate forty to sixty grains, mix them in a cold state, and the ointment is prepared. RHUBARB—Is a mild nurge, and may be given in dos.es of from twenty to sixty grains; but as it is consid- erably astringent, it should not be employed where a cos- tive habit is to be avoided: in chronic diarrhoeas it may be given in small doses of five or six grains combined with opium, two or three times a day; it cannot be a proper remedy in inflammatory cases, and is therefore, iorhidden in dysentery; but in cases of debility it is fre- quently usefulj combined with manna it will evacuate 10 110 MEDICINES, &C the intestines without exhausting the strength of the patient in any considerable degree. RUSSIAN CASTOR—Is useful in hysteric cases; this may also be used in foim of a tincture: Take castor one ounce, proof spirit two pounds, digest ten days, and it is ready for use; the dose may be fiom twenty to sixty drops; it is sometimes taken to advantage in conjunction with laudanum—say laudanum twenty to sixty drops, tincture of castor, twenty-five drops, the whole for one dose in hysteric suffocation, as also in painful menstrua- tion, where blood letting is not needed. SAL AMMONIAC—Of this, one ounce may be dis- solved in one quart of water, or of spirit and water com- bined. This solution is useful as an external application in cases of inflamed breasts. SPIRITS OF NITRE, or nitre ether— is used in fever, and is an excellent medicine for quenching thirst, expel- ling flatulencies, preventing nausea and vomiting, and moderately strengthening the stomach; it is diaphoretic and cooling. The dose may vary from twenty to forty drops. • Spirits of Sal Ammoniac and spirits of Hartshorn are similar in their nature and effects, but the first is perhaps the best; the dose may be from fifteen drops to sixty. It is useful in fainting, and other hysteric affections; if given in wine-whey, it generally procures a very pleas- ant sweat. SAt.T PETRE, called also nitre—Is a useful remedy in inflammatory fever; the dose may vary from three grains lo forty, every two hours; i( is most effectual if given immediately after its solution—some caution how- ever, is necessary in using this article, as it sometimes occasions a nausea,or pain in the stomach; in such cases it requires plentiful dilution, and sometimes the addition of a little camphor. Nitre is an excellent ingredient in gargarisms, and mouth waters. SALT OF TARTAR, called also fixed alkali—Is used for making the saline mixture. Take salt of tartar MEDICINES, &C. ' 111 twenty grains, lime juice or vinegar, as much as may saturate it, or till it ceases to effervesce, pure water one and a half ounces, and sirrup two ounces, the whole may be takeu in the course of four hours, to be repeated as often as may be thought necessary; it may be given also in a simple solution with pure water; in this shape the dose may be from ten to thirty or more grams; but it should always be sufficiently diluted; every three or four grains require an ounce of water. The saline mixture given in a state of effervescence, frequently corrects vomiting. The simple solution of tartar re- lieves heart burns, &c. SENNA—Is a purge of considerable activity, is com- monly taken in form of an infusion: pour one pint of boiling water, on one quarter of an ounce of senna, let it stand several hours in a moderate degree of heat; one gill may be taken every two hours as a dose for a grown person; and one or two spoonfuls for a child two years old. It is rendered more pleasant and mild in its operation, if one ounce of manna be added; the addition of a small portion of ginger will help to pre- vent its griping. FLOUR OF SULPHUR—Is a gentle and pleasant purge; it is also effectual in curing affections of the Bkin, as the itch, &c.—combined with the cream of tartar, is useful in the piles', it is also a very good purge to be employed on the third and fourth day of the measles. TARTAR EMETIC, called also tartarized antimony, may be so varied in its dose as to produce sweating, puking, and purging. It is a medicine both safe and convenient, and has but little taste; the dose as a puke, is from one grain to five, and may be dissolved in warm water; when used in children's cases, one grain may be dissolved in one ounce of water, which may be sweeten- ed with sugar; a tea spoonful or two may be given every half hour, till the patient vomits, if that be the inten- tion ; when given to procure sweating, the dose may 113 MEDICINES, &X« vary from one eighth to one half of a grain; it may be repeated every two or three hours; and in inflammatory fevers, ten or more grains should be added to each dose: this is an excellent remedy to be employed in inflamma- tory cases after sufficient blood letting; if it be given in small doses, well diluted, every half hour, it will act as a purge, and the more certainly so, if some mild purgative be added, as manna, purging salts, &c. This last is an excellent remedy in the beginning of fever, and if suffi- ciently employed, frequently will remove the disease; as the tartar is nearly without taste, it is very easily imposed on obstinate children, by mixing it with cold water, and giving it when they ask for drink. There is a description how to manage with simple apothecary medicine, and the most useful medicine, without much danger. With care any common man may manage in his family; in time of need, and a com- plaint you do not understand, apply to a physician that is always in full practice of these things. The circum- stance of man's blood is like a running stream; the lungs create the blood in a milky state; then it passes throughout the liver; then it becomes blood; the liver discharges it to the heart; the heart discharges it thro1 the whole body by the pulse veins; and the still veins return it back again, and feed the nerves, which increase the flesh; the blood is either increasing or decreasing; the blood is said to pass through the heart every five hours, that is, in man's body; whether it be so or not, it shews when a man is bit by a serpent in any vein or at* tery, it soon alters the pulse, &c« PHTHISIC. H3 FOR THE PHTHISIC, WHICH MAY BE CALLED THE ASTHMA. THIS complaint is often in children; it is a disease of eeswax, then put in an on; ce of hog's lard, and boil them together; when it is cold, pour the beer U6 BILIOUS CMOLiv. from it, and apply it by spreading it upon white 'cnfhei ; renew it every other day, it brings out greal blotches; wash it with an ooze made of dogwood bark, black oak bark, and sassafras bark; or get an equal quantity of blue vitriol and white vitriol, as much red precipitate as of either of the quantity of vitriol, beat it well togeth- er and sprinkle in the sore, and boil slippery elm, and thicken it well with sweet milk and flour, and put on as a poultice or salve, and wash it now and then with the elixer viiriol; and to heal it up, take and stir up some of the sugar of lead, dissolved in spring water, and thick- en it with flour and honey as a salve; or beat twenty grains of copperas, five of calomel, mixed well together and sprinkle in the sore. FOR THE BILIOUS CHOLIC. DRINK warm lemonade; it may answer to lay down a few symptoms. This is generally attended with vom- iting a greenish or frothy matter, with feverish heat and violent thirst, a bitter taste in the mouth, little and high coloured urine. This cholic is attended with a violent pain about (he pit of the stomach, attended with great sinking of the spirits, and often bound, violent pains through the whole body; if not relieved by puking or purging, &x. give a table spoonful of sweet oil every hour. This has cured when patients appeared to beat the point of death. Take one table spoonful of castor- oil, mixed with a spoonful of lemon juice, or sharp vinegar, every hour until it purges. This is a safe, easy, and effectual purge, not only in all those complaints where the bowels are the s« at of the disease, but also in the intermitting and remitting bilious fevers, and lever and ague: Or take a table spoonful of castor oil, and fifteen drops of laudanum, well mixed together, and get in a tub of warm water, about blood warm, and stay there till you get in a moist sweat, then wipe dry and *RAMP CHOLIC. 117 put on your clothes; this has done wonders; or drink spirits from tar as a bitter, and take half a table spoon- ful of salts going to bed, and live on light diet; forsake hog meat, and let your milk be half water and a little -alt, or boiled and peppered. FOR THE CRAMP CHOLIC. THIS is a cholic that cramps the stomach, and draws the patient sometimes nearly double with violent pains all through the breast, and will roll through the bowels like goose eggs, and sometimes goes off with a lax, or discharge of the wind up or down before the patient can get any ease. Parched peas eaten freely have had a happy effect. When other means have failed, a pill of iogwood berries boiled in a quart of water, to a half pint, and drink, is wonderful; or boil a large bin doc leaf in a quart of water to a gill, and drink that; or take and scrape the inside of a pipe and give them lo drink; or take a piece of charcoal as large as a small bullet and beat it fine, and give the patient in a little water; or take a young shoat and cut it open as soon as jou can and swallow the gall; or make ginger tea and drink; or calamus to chew and swallow your spittle; or dry pig nuts in the chimney and beat fine, and put in spirits and drink; or eat ginseng root freely; or take and combine aloes, assafoetida, and rhubarb inspirits: these are all good medicines. But of all the medicines, garlic boiled in new milk, often relieves the quickest; beware of eating such food as creates wind, or is hard of digestion. 118 CONVULSIVE FIT«• A FEW WORDS ON MEDICINE, &c. HERE, in many places, are many remedies for each di«' id r, not only because all are not easily to be pro- cured at all times and in all places; but likewise the medicine that cures one man will not always cure an- ot'-er of the same distemper, nor will it cure the same man at all times. Therefore, it was necessary to have a variety, so if one fails, there is the other. FOR CONVULSIVE FITS. TAKE a handful of white oak missletoe, and nine star roots, two tea spoonfuls of salt petre in a quart of rum, and drink of that as a bitter; this has cured many; or beat up a turkey-buzzard's skin of the craw when dried, to a powder, and take as much as will lie on the point of a case knife night and morning, and let your drink he mullen tea, and your diet light. I never knew this fail. Or take and mix the flowers of a woman with wine, and take night and morning is good; or use the cold bath; or take a tea spoonful of valerian root, pow- dered in a cup of water every evening. LEGS, SORE AND RUNNING. WASH them in brandy, and apply alder leaves, changing them twice a day; this is wonderful to dry up; or poultice them with rotten apples, and take a purge now and then; or beat white walnut bark fine and wet with vinegar, and apply to them once or twice, to draw the humor: then burn muscle-shells well, beat them fine, and soak them well, and put half a pint of lime wa- ter to half a pint of sweet oil, and stir them well together^ MORTIFICATION. 119 and anomt with thai twh e a d iv. I hnve cured many with this meuicine that were said to be past cure. TO STOP VOMITING. BEAT red onions and apply to the groins and pit of the stomach; or beat mu.-tard seed, wet il with vinegar, and bind lc the pit of the stomach; or take a spoonful of lemon juice, and six grains of sale of tartar. TO STOP A MORTIFICATION. APPLY a poultice of flour, honey and water, with a little yeast. When a rrortification takes place, ihe flesh is not already dead, but is dying, or in a state of dying. It is often necessary to abate it by bleeding, if the fever admits, and by cooling, opening medicines; the parts around touched with vinegar, lime water, or camphora- ted spirits, and scarified: apply a poultice of biscuit of fine wheat flour, boiled with milk, to the mortified place, and take the bark freely; or apply puccoon juice and honey—this is wonderful; or make a poultice of dog- wood bark, black oak bark, sassafras bark, biack h^iw bark, sumac roots, and wheat flour or rye meal, and bathe the place beforehand with bitter herbs; or take aome tar, feathers, brimstone and hickory coals and put in a vessel and hold the mortified place over the steam, this is wondeiful. TO STOP VOMITING BLOOD. TAKE a table spoonful of sage juice, or the roots and tops boiled and drank every time it takes you; or drink salt and water; or a tea made of the insiae of 1M SNAKE BITE—FLOODING. white hickory bark; or a table spoonful of copper a-, put to a quart of spring water, and take a t ible spoonful twice a day; or two spoonfuls of the juice of nettles every morning, and a large cup of the decoction of nettles at night for a week; or tar aid joaf sugar; or take as much salt petre as will lay on the point of a case knife, three or four times a day, dissolved in cold water. FOR THE BITE OF A SNAKE, OR POISONOUS ANIMALS, &c. IF a person be bit with a snake, beat black ash leaves and bind to the wound as soon as you can, and make a tea of the bark; this will cure any snake bite; 01 give them a sweat of seneca snake root the over night, and give them a tea spoonful of the juice of puccoon root in the morning. I have known this medicine to cure hundreds; or bind the liver and guts of the snake to the bite; or apply bruised garlic; or take a quantity of horehound, bruise it well in a mortar, and squeeze out the juice, likewise plantain in like manner, a table spoonful of each mixed together, and a table spoonful to be taken every hour, for three hours, then every three hours till the infusion is done; and put the beaten herb to the bite; this has done wonders; or get the juice of green plantain and new milk, and mix together, and drink; this has cured when thought to be dead; and if they are far spent, put a poultice of garlic to the bottom pf the feet; or bind on salt and tobacco to the bite. FOR A FLOODING. GET a handful of common cherry tree tops, a hand* ful of blackberry brier roots, a handful pf white oak TO HAVB EASY DBtf?ERY. 141 tops, put them in two quarts of water, boil it slowly down to a pint, and let her drink of that according as the case needs. I never knew it fail; or take a piece of alum as big as a hazle-nut, and beat it fine, and take it in a little new milk warm from the cow; this is a good remedy: or beat green plantain and get the juice and give fier a table spoonful every half hour, till they abate; or put your husband's shirt on warm off his back. I have known this to do wonders: or get a handful of service bark, and make a strong tea of this, and drink according as you need. I never knew this fail. Or catch some of the flowers and give them back again; and oftentimes when a violent flooding takes place, linen cloths wet in vinegar and water, then wrung and applied to the region of the belly, loins and thighs; these must be changed as they grow dry, and may be stopped as the flooding stops; but when all other things fail and have no effect, cold water dashed upon the patient's belly will stop the flooding immediately. Thisis a complaint that should not at all times be thought light of, especi- ally after delivery; comfrey boiled in new milk, a little will stop them, and boiled in water will fetch them on, MEDICINE TO MAKE A WOMAN HAVE EASY DELIVERY. ABOUT a month or a month and a half before you expect delivery, get a good large double handful of spignel roots, and put to a quart of spirits, and drink of that night and morning; this is very good and strength- ens the womb very much; or get a handful of vervain roots, three slices of allecompain roots, and a table spoonful of camomile flowers, and a few sprigs of sweet modley, put these lo a quart of spirits and take a table spoonhil every morning; if it appears too bitter, to a guart add more spirits; or get seven or eight roots of 122 AFTER PAINS. Devil's bit, called by some, ring roots, and by sonic jointed snake root; the form it grows in is like a white plantain leaf in shape, but the leaf is green like a green plantain leaf, the roots are about as long as your linger and full of rings, and the end is rotten off, and is as bit- ter as gall to taste of: put these roots to a quart of spir- its, and take a bitter night and morning, a month before delivery. This is a wonderful remedy, and 1 never knew one have a hard time that took it. It grows by branch sides in poor land. TO RELIEVE AFTER PAINS. THE reason of after pains is because the clotted blood can't make its way; although il is a bad sign for a woman to be put to bed, and not to complain of after pains; because when the pains begin to arise the clots of blood descend like the child. When the woman is ta- ken in labour, then when she complains of three or four pains, to give her medicine to fetch it off' with ease, will cause her to escape from many dangers, and be heartier when she gets about: Get a handful of vervain roots, and four or five slices of allecompain roots, the same of butterfly roots, (if you can get them,) steep them in spirits; you may always have it by you, and give her a good drink. This cleanses the womb of all bad humors, and prepares them forthe same work again. Or take a pill of opium every night for three or four nights; or put oil,(beaver castor,) in wine and give her; or the tea of allecompain, or a tea spoonful of the bark of the root of cucumber, dried and beaten fine, and ta- ken in spirits. Scald head 123 FOR A SCALD HEAD. FOR the cure of scald head, the first thing necessary is to cleanse the head by carefully washing it with milk and water, apply mild poultices, changing them every four hours for two or three days; then apply a solution of ten grains of corrosive sublimate, dissolved in one pint of spring water; some recommend tar water, or tar ointment: others a stiff plaister of pitch, so as ultimate- ly to extirpate the hairs, as the best remedies for a scald head; others recommend a decoction Of tobacco, a strong solution of soap and water. But the best remedy I ever knew, is to burn a piece of alum nearly as large as a hen's egg, beat fine, put to a quart of water, and half the size of copperas, let it stand till it gets clear, and wash with that night and morning; this kills the humor and heals the sore. FOR A TETTER WORM. GET a good chance of white hickory bark, the inside, black oak bark, the inside, boil them well together, then strain it, then put it back again in the pot, then put in some blue stone and copperas, then boil it down as thick as tar, and anoint the tetter worm with this every day for a while; then make an ointment of sweet oil— the ointment is made thus: Take a quart of unslaked lime, a quart of muscle shells well burnt and beat, mix them together with water, so as to get half a pint of the lime water, then mix bal1 a pint of the lime water to half pint sweet oil, stirred well together, till it thickens like butter, and anoint with that once or twice a day; this both eats and heals; or get some poke roots and slice them well, then get three or four quarts of sweet cream and put them in a copper kettle, boil them a good while, then anoint the tetter worm often with this; or 124 COUT, RHBUMATlStf, WEAK tfERVES, &<-■ Use corrosive sublimate in water, ten grains to one pint, and use as an ointment in the tetter worm once a day, and take a purge every ten days. FOR THE GOUT, RHEUMATISMS, CRAMP, ALL INFIRMITIES OF THE SINEWS AND JOINTS, &c. TAKE a young fat dog and kill him, scald him like a jpig, then make a hole in one of his sides, then take out his guts, and put into his belly two handfuls of nettles, two ounces of brimstone, about a dozen hen eggs, and four ounces of turpentine, well mixed together, then sow up his belly close, and roast him, save the oil, and anoint the joints and weak limbs as hot as you can bear by the fire. A REMEDY FOR WEAK NERVES, RHEUMA- TISMS, AND THE LIKE. KILL the fattest young dog in March or April yo* can get, scald him and take out his guts, fill up his belly with a pint of red pepper, a pint of red fishing worms, the bark of sassafras roots, and water frogs, and sew up his belly close again, roast him, and save the drip- pings, to anoint for sores, gouts, burns, weak nerves,&o» FOR A WATER BRASH. MANY men are troubled with watery stomachs, much thin fresh water coming out of their mouths: towards morning it usually comes with the form of a vomit* bwr\s, Src. 126 For this take a little stick and split the end, and put two oak leaves in the split, then cui them round, hen put them in your mouth as far as you can well suffer them, and hold the stick last between the teeth, abundance of water will runoff the stomach; then wash the leaves in water and put them in your mouth again; do so as often as you see fit; if you do this before you eat, it will take the water off your stomach, and help your digestion. FOR BURNS, &c. IF fever be excited by a burn, the patient should be bled and purged, with gentle laxative medicines; but the greatest dependence should be placed upon applica- tion to be made to the part affected: as lead water, rum and water, holding the part near the fire that is affected, or immerse the part in cold water, keep it covered with the water one hour or more. Oil is an improper appli- cation ; a strong solution of soap and water is a good ap- plication; an ointment made of Jamestown weed, stra- monium, is said to be an excellent remedy. After this inflammation is subdued,cold and salted dough made of Indian corn meal, is a good application, especially where the skin is broken—a poultice made thus: Take some flaxseed and put it in about a quart of water, and boil it down till it begins to thicken, then put some new milk and let it boil a little, then thicken il with a little flour, and spread it on a doth, then put on some fresh butter, not sailed nor washed; that keeps it from sticking, and draws out the fire and heals. Or get a handful of heart leaves, a handful of the inside bark of alder, sheep suet and a little fresh butter,and make an ointment, is good, to put on muslin and put on the burn. Or take unslaked lime, and slake it in commonoil, or? < eet, then take it out again as dry as you can, and make it into an ointment 126 PILES, &X. with oil of roses; this oil often cures without a scar in a little lime. PILES OF THE TWO KINDS. THE first kind most fleshy women, and more common- ly those who lead sedentary lives, are subject to the dis- tressing complaint called the piles; such too as are much troubled with costiveness seldom escape this.— This disorder, by whatever means the disposition to tne fiiles is formed, it generally is more troublesome in the ast months of pregnancy than at other times. If the attack be of the more moderate kind, a gentle dose of the cream o tai iar, and flour of sulpi.ur combined, will afford considerable relief. Cold applications of any kind, as of cloth wetted in cold water,orspir.tand wa er would answer the purpose. Also the following ointment: Take the yolk of an egg, tincture of opium or lauda- num, three tea spoonfuls, neats loot oil, or any oiher, one table spoonful to be mixed and applied; let the tinc.ure and the yolk of the egg be first mixed together, and af- terwards the oil maybe added: this ointment gives re- lief when much disposed to itch; if they protrude out- wards, press them between the thumb and finger, and at the same time anoint and put them up carefully. Those subject to this complaint ought to lie down upon their backs for a few minutes after every stool.— 1 have known this precaution to do much towards pre- venting their return when once removed. I am told that an ointment made of the oak ball, powdered and stew- ed in hog's lard, is a valuable remedy, and there is 110 r- ason to doubt its virtue. Steep butterfly loots and drink as a tea, is a wonderful remedy; stew red onions in fresh butter for anointment; or beat the juice out of Jamestown leaves and wash the part; or bum English rosin iu a pot, and set over it, and take a small pill of CLYSTERS--NIGHTMARE. 127 ©piUm on going to bed; or drink tar water; or take a gray cat and cut Her throat and save the blood, and skin her, then roast her, and save the fat, then stew the blood and grease and a little fine brimstone, and apply that to the piles, it is of great virtue. FOR GLYSTERS. THERE are many kinds of glysters that are useful in a bound slate: Get some water gruel made thin, and put a table spoonful of hogs' lard, a table spoonful of honey, a table spoonful of salt, mix them well, and glister with that. It is a fine glyster: keep it a quarter of an hour, if you can. Another tine glyster, is a table spoonful of glauber salts and warm water; or get a halt pint ol flax-seed,tie in a rag, acd boil it well, then a table spoonful of iresh butter, and glyster with that. New milk and warm water is a mild glyster, cooling to the bowels; if neediul put in a little fat. Sweet oil is a good glyster when ihe bowels are weak, and glyster with that as often as need- ful. But of all the glysters that ever 1 knew, when all others give out, this makes the quickest passage: That is, to boil a handful of bitter gourd guts, and glyster with the water; make a trial of a liule first, and so on to keep the body open. Take seven or eight cedar berries, go- ing to bed, half a tabie spoonful of castor oil in the mor- ning, or divide one dose of salts into lour parts, and take that through the day. ON THE NIGHTMARE. The nightmare is a disease of the blood, with gross thick blood; with cold phlegms that stops the nerves, and takes one in their sleep. When the blood works 128 VmifM^RE. to the heart and makes one think .d boil it well, then strain that, and put them together, then boil it to a quart; then put a table spoon- ful of salt petre and bottle it. Give a table spoonful three times a day; mike a drink of wild cherry tree, and running brier and burdoc roots; and if the patient is far spent, get two or three oil beaver castors and put in a bottle of wine; let them drink of that modeiately. For the appetite, give the essence of peppermint in water, or elixir vitriol, except there be tenseness in the pulse. An Indian sweat is good in every stage 0f this fever. If attended with great pains in the limbs, you may take Twenty drops of spirits of hartshorn in a eup of water, twice in tweniv-four hours. I have given you a short account of medicine as near as I can, that you can get. 1 have been to many that were t(iven out by great dectors, and I have never lost one patient to my knowledge. CESS\TION OF THE MENKES. ALL womor* are a'am d at the time of the final ces- satio • of the -mm se , beli ving that some oi c use jiien- cc's may follow. T:ie ttuih is. that tcaice one of a great 12 134 MIDWIFERY. number of women suffer more than a temporary incon* Venience: on that account it must be acknowledged, however, that if there be a disposition to disease i the constitution, and especially in the womb, it will proceed more rapidly waen the menses cease, by being deprived of that local discharge by whicli they are before reliev- ed. Many remedies have been devised to prevent and correct the mischief expected or supposed to exist; but the present mode of practice is to bleed occasionally, give gentle cooling purges, as manna, cream of tartar, or common purging salts, &c—avoiding all kinds of medicine and diet wnich are heating. Tais practice ia both rational and successiul I have found it a good way to lessen the quantity of blood to be taken in a gradual manner, so as to imitate as nearly as possible the most tegular cessation in the natural way, &c. ON THE PRACTICE OF MIDWIFERY. I SHALL set down a few instructions respecting proceedings in the time of labor, though this book is too small to give you the full account. It I live, (God willing,) the next author I shall quote, altogether on this work. I shall in a decent manner set down names that are hard to be understood, &c. The abdomen is the name given to the bellv; it is the soft covering of the bowels, extending from the breast down to the following bone, which is called the pubis: This bone stands forward, forming an arch between the hips, and is called by some the bearing bone. It has a peculiar kind of joint in the middle, which sometimes opens in cases of difficult labour, and when this happens it is commonly lollowed by a collection of matter, which is distressing to Ihe last degree, very difficult to cure, and sometimes fatal to the patient. The sacrum is the part of the bones which is fixed between the hips back- MIDWIFERY. 135. ward';, and is opposite to the pubis. The sacrum ex- tends itself downwards and forwards, forming a curve, and makes it necessary to regulate the passage of the child in a corresponding direction. The large passage or cavity, made by these two bones, together with the other bones of the hips, is called the pelvis. If this cavity is much less than common, or out of shape, so as to pr- vent the passage of the child, the pelvis is said to be distorted; this distortion may be effected several ways. The common distance between the sacrum and pubis is rather more than four inches; but it is some- times found to be no more than one. The lower part of the sacrum, which bends forwards and inward-, form- ing a curve as above, in young women, admits of a little motion backwards, so as to make the passage of the child more easy. But in some instances, especially ia those women who do not marry until they become old maids, it is so strong as not to admit of any motion at all. In addition (o this, it sometimes bends so far inwards, as very much to obstruct the passage. The mons veneris is the fatty substance which covers the pubis, and extends downwards and sidewards towards the two groins.— The labia, the two thick soft pieces of skin which pass on either side, still downwards from the mons veneris, the pudendum, external parts of generation; of these the labia are the principal parts. The perinaeum, the part which begins at the lower angle of the labia, and extends backwards to the anus or fundament. This part is subject to be torn in child bearing. The vagina, or the passage from the pudendum to the womb, (the uterus, the name of the womb,) at the upper end of the vagina is an opening into the womb, called the os uteri, or the mouth of the womb, (the placenta) the after birth, called also the cake; and with the membranes, inclu- ding the child waters. &c. is sometimes called the secun- dhies, the umbilical cord, the navel string, the foetus, the child while in the womb. To these names, I will add in this place the five following terms, expressive of lse MIDWIFERY. certain changes which take place in the act of chikl bearing: Parlurttion—The act of bringing forth a child; it ia another name for labor. DilnUdioa—The act of stretching and opening at the Same time. This is applied to os uteri, and to the pu- dendum. Distention—The act of stretching or making more open. Expel—The act of turning out. This is performed by the uteru*, when it contracts, wi.ich it endeavors to do by certain periodical exertions, called pains. Presentation—The act of presenting. This term is applied to the position of the child, and particularly to the pad of the child which is first sensible to the touch at the mouth of the womb when labor is coming on. There is ihe names of the different parts of generation; and again, the common time for complete gestation, 19 forfy weeks; at the expiration of which the process of la'o- commences, every labor should be called natural, if the head of the child is present. If the labor be completed within twenty-four hours, if no artificial aid be required, if the labour be prolonged beyond twenty- four hours, it may be called difficult, &c. SYMPTOMS OF PRESENT LABOR. THE first symptom of present labor, is an anxiety arising from a dread of danger or a doubt of safely. This anxiety will be increased if the patient should have heard of accidents or deaths in any late similar case. It is the duty of the midwife to soothe and com- fort her when in this situation, by suitable language, and a diligent attention to every complaint. But in the meantime, she should by no means be persuaded to offer assistance before it is necessary. At the commence- MIDWIFERY. 137 swent of labor, women have commonly one or more chills, or fits of shivering, with or without sense of cold. But should there be one strong and distinct chill or shivering fit, it may be a dangerous symptom. There will be some difficulty in voiding the urine; it should therefore be evacuated frequently, otherwise, it may ul- timately become necessary to introduce a catheter.— There will sometimes be a frequent painful disposition to go to stool; this ought to be considered a favorable symptom. A glyster or two prepared of milk and wa- ter, or thin gruel, may serve to correct the pain; or if no such disposition be present, the glysters may serve to evacuate the bowels artificially. The mucous discharge which before was without color, will after the com- mencement of labour, be tinged with blood; this ap- pearance is commonly called the shew. If together with the above symptoms, the usual pains be present, the presumption is very strongly in favour of approach- ing parturition. COMMON APPEARANCE OF TRUE PAINS. FIRST.—The true pains usually begin in the loins, or lower part of the back, pass round into the abdomen, and end at the pubis, or upper part of the thighs. Some- limes, however, they take the opposite direction, that is, beginning at the thighs or pubis, and ending in the loins; sometimes, too, they are confined to one particular spot, as the back, abdomen, thighs, and even to the knees, heels, or feet, and in some instances other parts are affected, as the stomach, head, &c. Second.—The true labor pains are periodical, with in- tervals of twenty, fifteen, ten, or five minutes; and mode- rate pains frequently repeated, are safer than more severe one? at greater intervals. An experienced mid- wife may generally judge of the nature of present pains 138 MIDWIFERY. from the tone of the patient's voice. The first ch.ii.g" effected by the pains, consists in a dilatation of the parts. Forcible and quick distension, gives a sensation like that produced by the infliction of a wound; and the lone of voice will be in a similar manner,interrupted and shrill: these are vulgarly called cutting, grinding, or rending pains. When the internal parts are sufficiently opened, the child begins to descend, and then the patient is by her feelings obliged to make an effort to expel, and the expression will be made with a continued and grave tone of voice; or she will hold her breath and be silent; these are called bearing pains. It is a common thing to say that women have fruitless pains; this is an unfair and discouraging statement. No person in labor ever had a pain depending on her labor which was in vain. In the beginning, pains are usually slight in their degree, and have long intervals. But as the labor advances, they become more violent,and the intervals are shorter. Sometimes the pains are alternately stronger; the next weaker, or one stronger and two weaker; but every va- riety has its own peculiar advantage, being wisely adap- ted to the state of ihe patient. Nothing, therefore, can be more preposterous, than any kind of artificial attempt to add to the strength ol the pains, or to fiasten their return. It is wrong even to direct the patient to help herself. The supposed skill of midwives, in these points, has done more mischief to society, than the most skilful practice ever did good, &c. Though false pains may be detected and removed, a case may occur where it may be necessary to deter- mine whether present pains be true or false; because, if false pains be encouraged or permitted to continue, they may at length occasion premature labor. Then some known cause commonly goes before and brings on false pains, as fatigue of any kind, especially too long stand- ing on the feet, sudden and violent motion of the body, gre-it costiveness, a diarrhoea, a general feverish disposi- tion, some violent agitation of the mind, or the like. But MiDwiF-f-.m. 130 tiie most certain way for detecting fake pains, is by an actual examination; this operation is commonly called taking a pain. The position in which women are pla- ced when it is necessary to examine them, varies in dif- ferent countries, and indeed almost every midwife has her own opinion: but most r-. gular men direct the wo- man to repose on a couch or bed upon her left si e. w ith her knees bcni, and drawn up towards the abdomen; and this is certainly the most convenient and decent method. The examination should be performed with the utmost care, decency and tenderness. If there be perceptible pressure on the os uteri, or if it be perceived to dilate curing the continuance of a pain, the woman may be considered as really in labor: but if neither pressure nor dilatation can be felt, the conclusion may be drawn that the pains are false. If it be determined that the pains are false, il will be proper toaftempi to remove them; when occasioned by fatigue of any I. .d, the patient should rest in bed; if she be of a feverish dlsposifio", she should lose some blood. Ge- neral it wili be proper to give a dose or two of manna with sweet oil, or castor oil, or the like; mild and open- ing glysters should be injected every three or four hours till the bowels are emptied. After these evacuations. w Inch should be repeated according to the exigency of the case, she should have a grain of opium with one grain of ipecacuanha every three hours, till she be com- pv,sed. Let it be observed, however, (hat an examina- tion should never he made in too great haste; and if it be probable thai the patient is ically in labor, an exa- mination ought not to be made until the membranes are broken. 01 until the os uteri is fully dilated: but more of this in another place. PROGRESS OF NATURAL LABOR. THERE may be said to be three stages, in the pic- frcss of natural labor. The first includes all the cir- 140 MIDWIFERY* cumstances of the pains to the complete dilatation of the os uteri, the breaking of the membranes, and the dis- charge of the waters. The second includes those which occur at the time of the opening of the os uteri, to the expulsion of the child: And the third, includes all the circumstances which relate to the separation and exclu- sion of the placenta. But to treat of each of these sta- ges more particularly, and in order: The os uteri is not always found in the same central position; nor does it always dilate in the same length of time. The first part of the dilatation is generally made very slowly; but when the membranes containing the waters begin to in- sinuate themselves, they act like a wedge, an ; the ope- ration proceeds much more rapidly. It cannot well be told with certainty, how long time will be required in any case for the complete dilatation f the os uteri, yet some conjecture may be made. If, for example, after the pains have continued for three hours, the os uteri should be dilated to the size of one inch; and three hours more will be required for a complete dilatation; making in all eight hours. This calculation supposes the labor to go on regularly, and with equal strength. But the os uteri sometimes remains for hours in the same state, and yet when it begins to dilate, the complete dilatation is soon perfected. Again, in some cases the dilatation proceeds on regularly for a while, and then is suspended for many hours, and afterwards returns with great vigor. W ith first children, this stage is commonly tedious and very painful: some considerable judgment is therefore necessary on the part of the midwife, for supporting the patient and confidence of the suffering woman, as the labor proceeds, the pains become more frequent and for- cible. If the dilatation should take place with difficulty, there will sometimes be sickness of the stomach and vomiting; this is a favourable circumstance, as it com- monly has a tendency to relax the system; at h ngth, after a greater or lesser number of hours, as the ease may be, the dilatation is effected. But let it be care- "Midwifery. 141 r.'iv observed, that no artificial aid is to be oferch du- ring this part of the process. It may indeed be vw.ll cu.aii'h to pretend to assist, with the intention to com- pose the mind of the patient, and inspire her with confi- dence. But be assured, that all manual interposition will retard the progress of the dilatation; let the patient and bystander he 'mportur.nte; pain on the one hand, and ignorance on the other may excuse them. But the midwife must be firm in the discharge of I crduty •. care must be taken not to break the nu fnbranes, should an examination be deemed necessary, when the os uteri is fully dilated; they are Usually broken by the force of pains. If this should rot be the case, they will protrude outward, in the form of a bag. aid then are of no fur- ther use. If the labor has not been disturbed, the child is commonly born speedily after the natural rupture of the membranes: and therefore, if ihe birth be delayed alter this event takes place, it will be very proper time to make a careful examination of the state of things. Here 1 must be permitted to remark, that touching the parts too frequently, is highly pernicious; the juices fur* nished by nature for moistening, softening, and by these mean- preparing the parts for distension, must be im- properly exhausted by repeated applications of the hand; If the passage be thus left dry, it will be much disposed to irritation, and the whole process may be deranged. In every difficult case which has com3, under my obser- vation, I have been able to trace all the existing evils back to the common error, of too early taking in hand, ^ the operation is commonly called. Your pomatums, oils, lard, and ointments, are poor substitutes for natural fluids, which are wiped away. Indeed they may do in- jury by clogging the mouths of little vessels through which those fluids are secreted; by escaping any such injnrv it happens pretty commonly that women taken at urp: ise, have better times, than when aided by good midw ive.- of the neighborhood; if there be no irregulari- ty, nature is always competent to the task appointed her 142 MIDWIFERY. of God; and the only circumstance which can make it necessary to call in a midwife at all, is a possibility of such irregularity, and the convenience of having her dexterity in the management of the placenta, dressing the child, &c. SECOND STAGE OF NATURAL LABOR. THE second stage of natural labor includes all cir- cumstances attending the descent of the child through the pelvis, the dilatation of the external parts, and Ihe final expulsion of the child, hi general, it will follow, that the further the labor is advanced before the dis- charge of the waters, the more safely this second stage will be accomplished; as the head passes through the pelvis, it undergoes various charges of position; by which it is adapted to the form of each part of the pas- sage, and that more or less, readily, according to the size of the head, strength of the pains, &c. Whether these changes are pioduced quickly, or in a tedious manner; whether in one or more hours, it can by no means be proper to interfere, for the powers of the constitution will produce their proper effect with less injury and more propriety than the most dexterous mid- wife. When the head begins to press upon the external parts at first, every pain may be suffered to have its full and natural effect. But when a part of the head is ful- ly exposed,and the fore part of the perinaeum is on the stretch, it is necessary to use some precaution to pre- vent its being torn, and the more expeditious the labor, the more is this caution necessary. Some have thought that if the external parts be very rigid, they should be frequently anointed with some kind of ointment; not- ing can equal the natural juices. But if from any cause the parts become heated and dry, flannels wrung out of v rrm water should be applied for some time, and after.- MIDWIFERY 14o w.njeet to inconveni- ence and'difficulty in these respecrs; to prevent any injury ol the external part.-, the only safe aid effectual plan is io retard for a certain time thep^saue of the Lead tnrouga them; therefore instead of encouraging tiie patient at this urne to use her utmost exertions to h.is.c n ihe >ii t h. she siionl J be co'.vinced ot its impro- piiey, and he dfs-uaded from n-i ig any voluntary t-x- ei i'o.i. It she cannot be regulated according to your Wis.aes, tier efforts must be counteracted by some equiv- alent external r-. sistance; this may be perlormed by lacing Hie fi-iger and Ihumn of the right hand upon »he end of the cuild duri g the time of a pain; or by pla- cing tne briils of one or both thumbs en the thin edge of tne periiianim, with tirst chihhen. If there be great danger of iaoeralioe, the right hand may be used as be- fore, and the palm of the left wound round with a soft cloth may be applied over the whole peri ia?um, where it must he firmly continued during tiie v.olonce of the pain. It is proper to proceed in this way, till the parts are sufficiently dilated; then the head may be permitted to slide through them in the slowest and gentlest manner, paying tne strictest attention, till it is perfectly cleared of the perinseum. If tbere should beany delay or difficul- ty when the perinaeum slides over the face, tne fore fin- ger of the right hand may be pined under its edge, by which it may be cleared of the mouth a id chin before the support given by the left hand be withdrawn; (»tion of the arteries of the cord may be felt beating like the pulse; but after it breathes and cries, this pul- sation or motion censes, and the string becomes quite re- laxed and soft. These circumstances ought to take place before the umbilical cord is divided; ten, fifteen, and sometimes twenty minutes are required for the com- plete relaxation of the navel s'ring; (hen let it he tied in two places and divide between them, Soon after the birth of the ch.iid, the midwife should apply her hand unon the abdomen of the mother, to determine whether there be another child, and whether the womb contracts in a manner favourable to the separation and removal of the cake. M"stw menare ex'r Tnely uneasy till the placenta is removed, and suppose the soot er it is ac- complished the better; but this uneasiness is unnecessa- ry and all harry is improper. After the birth of the chdd. l*-» the first attention be paid to the mother; tran- quility should be restored to her rni d. and the hurried Cumulation of the blood should be calmed; she should M/DW1FERY. 146 be recovered from her fatigue, and her natural slate re- gained as soon as possible. VV ith this derign, let her be kept quiet, affording her at the same time some suitable r< /Vesliment; in the course of ten, fifteen or twenty minutes the pains will return for the purpose of expell- ing the placenta and it will generally be expelled with- 0'it any kind of artificial aid, which should never be em- ployed where it can be avoided; but it it descends too slowly, the midwife may take hold of the cord, and ly pulling in a gentle manner, and in a proper direction, may afford some assistance, and this should be done ordy in time of pain. After the cake is brought down into '.he vagina, whether by the natural pairs, or with the artificial aid as above, it must be suffered to remain there till excluded by the pains; this may prevent a dangerous flooding, if an hour be requisite for ihe ex- clusion. After it enters the vagina, no assistance oiif.dit to be offered, but after that time it may again be gernly pulled in the time • f the pains. No objection should be raised to this plan from any supposed advantage, to be derived to the child, from laying the cake upon its belly, on the coles, in hot embers, in hot wine or the like; all this is of little or no account. Let it then be a settled point that hurry is improper, either in dividing the string, or removing the; cake. Haste in the first may destrpy the child, in hhe last must injure tl»e mother. In a greater or lesser degree, if the ill ef- fect be not immediately perceived, she will at lengtn ->e sensible ofthe injury when her health gradually deciines, The conclusion to be drawn from the foregoing is. that parturition is a natural process of the. constitution which generally needs noassstance; and when it is natural, it should alwa\s be suffered to have its own course without interruption, &c. 13 HO MIJOWIFEftYu, INTRODUCTION TO DIFFICULT LAB6R. IN consequence of their natural construction, the wo- men must be subject to great pain and difficulty in partu- rition. Yet, by the peculiar form of the mother, and the original construction of the head of the child, ample provision is made for overcoming all the difficulties to which they are subject. But by the customs of society, and various other causes, women are rendered subject to diseases and accidents which increase their natural in- conveniences, and produce new causes of danger.— Therefore there will be occasions which require assist- ance. The first distinction of labor requiring assistance of art, may be called difficult, and every labor in which the head of the child presents, but which is delayed longer than twenty-four hours, ought to be classed under this head. Difficult or tedious labors may be of four kinds; those which are rendered difnculi from a too weak or an irregular action of the w< mb; those which are occa- sioned by a certain rigidity or firmness of the parts, in consequence of which the dilatation is tedious and diffi- cult: those in which a quick and easy passage of the head of the child is prevented by some distortion of ihe pelvis, or too large a size of the head; those of the soft parts which are rendered difficult from diseases. FIRST KIND OF DIFFICULT LABOR, THE action of the womb is sometimes too weak, iu consequence of great distention. In a case of this sort, the safest, and frequently the only remedy, is to allow the patient to walk or stand, pursue any amusement, or choose that position which she mav prefer. Sometimes, however, frequent glysters of warm milk and water, or thin gruel might be injected; or if the pains should be MiDWIFERV. 147 feeble and come on in a veiy slow manner, and if the la- bor be far advanced, it will be proper to give a glyster of gruel made more vivitating, by the addition of an ounce of common table salt, or a like quantity of purging salt, whichever may be most convenient. The action of the wo?nb may be feeble and tedious, in consequence of being partial or incomplete; in a case of this kind the patient will complain that the child lies high in the sto- mach; or.she will have cramp like pains in various parts of the abdomen, which seem quite ineffectual; if these pains be great, and different from common labor pains, they are commonly the effect of a feverish disposition; and if so, the patient may lose some small quantities of blood; she may take thirty or forty drops of spirits of nitre in a cupof some kind of cooling tea, every two or three hours. Her bowels must be kepi open with glys- ters or gentle doses of manna, castor oil, or purging salts; and sometimes it will be found useful to anoint the w'iole abdomen with warm oil; if little fever be present she might walk about the room in the intervals between the pains. If she should have suffered long, after the blood letting and a glyster or two, she should take forty- five or fifty drops of the tincture of opium, or one grain of opium mixed with one and a half grains of ipecacu- anha, to be repealed if necessary at the end of six hours; the p'»\vder is preferable to the tincture of opium. In this case, sometimes the pains are not sufficiently strong to break the membranes containing the waters. If the presumption he that the membranes are too rigid, or if sufficient-time may have been allowed, it may become necessary to break them artificially. But as was obser- ved under the head of natural labors, this must be done with the greatest caution. It should be first known that tht; os uteri is filly dilated, and care must be taken not to be deceived on this point, because the os uteri is some- times so thinly and uniformly spread over the head of the child before it is in any degree dilated, as very much »o resemble the membranes. If if be determined to 148 MIDWIFERY. break the membranes, no instrument is necessary but the finger, or at least the finger nail prepared for the purpose, by being cut and turned up; the shortness of the funis, or umbilical cord, may be the cause of diffi- cult labor, resembling that which is the effect of a feeble actum of the womb. It may therefore be explained in this place. Tiie umbilical cord may be short originally, or may be rendered so by being wound roun 1 the neck, body or limbs of the child. If the child sho ild be drawn back upon the declension of a pain, the shortness of the um- bilical cord may be always suspected: by allowing suffi- cient t^rne this inconvenience will commonly be over- come. If, however, the child should not be born alter waiting long enough, it may be necessary to change the position of the patient, and instead of reposing on a bed or couch, as advised in the instructions for takings pain, she may be placed upon the lap of one of the assistants; it will frequently be found advantageous to prefer this position in lingering cases, especially when the parts seem fully prepared for dilatation. When the head of the child is expelled, the funis may be brought forward over the head, or backwards over the shoulders; but if nei- ther can be done, it may be necessary to wait for the ef- fect of lime; it is not so dangerous as some suppose for the child to remain some time in this position; but the air should have free access to its mouth. But when it can no longer be considered safe, the funis must be divided with the usual precaution of tying, &c. If the child be dead and swelled, the labour will commonly be exceed- ingly difficult, and put on appearances similai to those of the foregoing cases; it may be found necessary in an instance of this sort, to place a towel or handkerchief around the neck of the child, and then by taking hold of both ends, considerable aid may be afforded. But if this method should not succeed, one or both arms should be brought down, and included in the handkerchief, by which means still greater force may be applied. In a!! MIDWIFERY. 149 Cases however, where it can be done with safety, it will always be more safe and humane, to wait the effect of naural efforts than to use much force. Consumption and other diseases, with general debility, commonly causes great apprehensions about the issue of parturi- tion. But if there be no untoward circumstance in the way, it will be found that there is a peculiar balance obtaining between the strength of the patient, and the disposition of the parts concerned for dilatation; give them time and they will be delivered. When labour is ommon, there is generally a sense of heat, quickness of the pulse, thirst, flushed cheeks, in one word a general fever, sick disposition: these appearances may be con- sidered natural efforts for carrying on the depending juration of the system; but the fever runs sometimes too high, and exhausts those powers of the system which ought to have been otherwise applied. When this is the case, nothing can be more erroneous than the com- mon and almost universal plan of giving wine, spirits, or other cordials. This kind of treatment is calculated to increase the fever and destroy the pains. Instead of spirits, wine and opium, have recourse to cooling drinks and moderate blood letting, to be repeated according to the (in umstances; to these may be added frequent mild glysters, and a gentle purge or two, &c. The room should be kept cool and well aired, and the patient should be kept cool and well aired also, and the patient -as muc h as possible composed. Fat and inactive women veiv frequently have slow and lingering labor, they seem subject to debility of the indirect kind; in every case of this sort, it must be very improper to make use of spirits, &c. to hasten pains. Patients under the impression of fear, will almost in every instance be sub- ject to a tedious labour; and as the time is prolonged their fears will naturally increase, so that ultimately they may be brought into danger by their own cowardly imagination. The midwife should therefore use discreet measures to inspire more favorable sentiments, &c. 13* 150 MIDWIFERY. Concerning letting blood in time of labour, it cannot be admissible in every case, even with the most robust women. But if there be fever, or if the pams be very strong, and the exertions of the woman seem vehement, in either of these cases it is necessary to lose blood. DIFFICULT LABOR. MOST women with their first children suffer more op less from the difficult distention of the parts concerned in parturition; but the rigidity which is the cause, com- monly lessens with every child in proportion to tne num- ber she has; and has sufficient resources within herself for delivery—sometimes blood letting is necessary. In this case, if the woman be advanced in age at the time of having her first child, this rigidity of the parts will be the greater, and of course the labour may be more diffi- cult. Women of this distinction or description might generally avoid much inconvenience by occasional blood letting towards the close of pregnancy, by making fre- quent use of gentle laxatives, as manna, sweet oil, castor oil and the like, sitting over the steam of warm water every night at bed time. It may be observed, however, that it frequently happens that women at forty five fare as well as they could have done with their first child at twenty-five; none therefore ought to be discouraged.— The natural efforts of the constitution in these cases are astonishing. MIDWIFERY. 151 CONCLUSION OF MIDWIFERY* 1 THE midwife's cry is often heard, And often calls when not prepared— And many go against their will, The reason why, they lack in skill. 2 Although they say they have the art, Though not in full, but in a part; And often find that they are lacking, Strait way then for a doctor to back them, 3 Then comes the doctor with his skill, Relieves the pains that oft doth kill, Which throws the midwives in a maze-— With trembling hearts they stand and gaze? 4 When the horrid scene is o'er, They the patient's case deplore, And talk of this, and every part, But still they know they lack the art* 5 Although in cases they are good, So is the dote that's in the wood; Though when the tree is fresh and green\ No skill in them is to be seem 152 COLD FEVER, &C. THE COLD FEVER, OR TIGER GRIPE. THIS is a new disease that has been approaching through the land ever since the shaking of the earth, and is little understood, though many opinions have been drawn upon it: And as I have been successful ir its cure in the year 1813, losing but two out of sixty-seven pa- tients, I beg leave to give my opinion of the disorder, although 1 may be in the dark, without the true light of the causes of the disease. I am no prophet, nor the son of a prophet, to pretend any superior skill in the partic- ular signification; all that I can assert with any confi- dence in such cases is, that the Almighty with an out- stretched arm, is frowning and bending his bow, and making his quiver ready to shoot at the inhabitants of the earth; and that we had best consider and ex 'mine ourselves, and prepare to meet Him in the judgment of the great and last day: all diseases are the servants of the most high God. For instance, shall there be evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it? If it comes from the air, is he not the author of the air and ruleth it? If it comes from the earth, hath he not the same power over it, &c. ? We hear it declared from his excellent glory," That I will bring a sword and avenge the quarrels of my cove- nant, and when you assemble in cities, then will I bring the pestilence in the midst of you." A- there are-sulphu- rous vapours that are drawn from the earth, by reason of the heat of the sun, which meeting in the middle re- gion of the air with cold and moist vapours, are together with them inclosed in a hollow cloud; but when the hot exhalations agree with the coldness of the place, by this strife being driven together, made stronger, kindles and causes the noise which we call thunder; as we may add the breaking of an egg in the fire, or an apple, or the flash of a gun, by inclosing the hot winds and sulphu- rous vapours, and cannot have vent, it will seek itself a way, by breaking the skin,or shell, or the like; and when there is little or no thunder and lightning to burn those COLD FEVER, &C. 153 vapours and fumes that proceed from mineral juices, they affect the air, and in damp giving weather, cause malignant distempers, and sometimes death to animals, and fill the air with such soot and volatile salt, and ihe air abounding with such particles, is very apt to inflame and exulcerate the lungs, &c. Thunderbolts are noth- ing else but the matter of those vapours and exhalations, which are the material cause. For we see by experi- ence, that even our urine has always some such concre- ted drugs belonging to it, and sometimes perfect stones made out of it, either in the reins *r uterus, or the blad- der. I have staled my opinion respecting the cause of the disease, or cold fever. Another observation worthy of remark, is, respecting well diggers; if they meet with sulphur how it stagnates them, and often kills. The symptoms of this complaint are violent, and it not early chec ked soon set all medicine aside* It often comes with cold chills, then a high fever, a pain in the side, (sometimes in the right, sometimes in the left,) it is most fatal when in the left; pain in the head, an aching in the bones; sickness at the stomach. If there be sick- ness at the stomach,a puke is necessary (of ipecacuanha) if in the bowels, a purge of calomel; then a miraculous sweat. Get a pint of whiskey, heat it boiling hot, set it on fire, put the still cap over it, and put the little end in the bed, as hot as the patient can bear the steam.— Where the pain is most acute, cup, scarify and blister; but by no means let blood; draw blisters on the chest; boil red pepper, mustard seed, salt petre, and whiskey, together, and wash where the pains are most severe. If the headache is acute, beat peach tree bark, and wet it in good strong vinegar, and bind to the forehead; or fetherfew and vinegar; snuff the juice of ground ivy, or hartshorn; bind roasted poke roots to the soles of the feet. Bathe the feet in weak ley; apply a blister behind each ear, and the back of the neck. If the pain still continues in the head, shave a large place on the top and apply a plaister there. If the cough is hard, get A 154 ANATOMY OF A MA\'s BODY, handful of horehound. a handful of spikenard, a handful of the bark of the root of spicewood, a handfil ol alle- compain, a handful of comfrey, a handful of the bark of the root of yellow poplar, boil them in three gallons of water to one, strain it; add a quart of honey, a quart of hard cider, a table spoonful of salt petre. a ta: e spoon- ful of dried Indian turnip, boil them to a quart; take from half a spoonful three times a day, to a spoonful three times a day, and keep the bowels open with pur- ging salts, castor oil, cream, of tartar and the like. Take from five to fifteen drops of the elixir vitriol, three times a day to keep the appetite up; make a constant drink of sycamore chips and groundivy. When the attack is violent at the first, the warm bath is wonderful; or if the pain is severe in the breast, get spicewood, horehound, catnip, boil them strong, strain it, thicken it with rye meal, put it in a little bag, lay it on the breast as warm as you can bear it. Or boil allecompain, comfrey, cat- nip, salt petre, hard cider, and honey, put it in a coffee pot, and suck the steam in the lungs as warm as you can bear. When doctors first began their skill, A many a patient they did kill; But now they've got it in possession, They give the means, and say, God bless them. THE ANATOMY OF MAN'S BODY, WITH THE NUMBER OF BONES. IN the top of the head is a bone that covereth the brain, called the capital bone; inthe.9kull there are two bonts close and stedfasl; and lower in the brain, is a bone called the crown of Ihe head: and on the one -ide, and on the other, are two holes, within which is the palate or roof bone; in the part behind the head, are four little bones, to which the chain of the necV ANA'IOMY OF A MAx's BODY. 155 holdeth; in the nose are two bones; the bones of the chap- above, are eleven, and of the nether jaw are two, Above the oppo-ite 01 the brain, there is one behind, named collateral. The bones of the teeth are thirty- eight before, four above and four underneath, sharp- edged, for to cut the morsel; there are four sharp, two above and two underneath, and all are called canines, for they are like canines' teeth. After that are sixteen; they are like as they were hammers, or grinding teeth, for they chew and grind the meat which is eaten.— There are four above on every side, and fo r under- neath; then the lour teeth of sapience on every side of the chaps, one above and one underneath. In the chi', from the head downwards are thirty bones, caded kno S or joints. In t-.e breast before are seven hones; and on every side twelve ribs; by (he neck between the he..d and shoulders, are two bones, named the sheets, and the two shoulder blades from the shoulders to the elbows. In each arm is a bone called adjutor, from the elbow to the hand bone. In every arm are two bones that are called cannis. In each hand there are eight: above the palm are four bones called the comb of the hand; the bones in the fingers in each hand are fifteen; in every finger three. At the end of the ridge, are the truckle bones, whereto are fastened the two bones of the thighs. In each knee is a bone,called the plate. From the kn e lo the foot in each leg are four bones, called the ancle or pin of the foot; behind the ancle is the heel bone in each foot, which is the lowest part of the man; and a- bove each foot is a bone called the, hohow hone. In the plant of each foot are lour bones,:th; y are ihe lambs of the fno;. in each of which are five-bones. The bones of the toes in each foot are fourteeji. Two bones are be- fore the belly to lold it sledfast, will, the two branches; two hones in the head behind the tars, called ocuhne-s __we reckon not the tender bones of the end of the shoul- ders, nor the sid* s, n0r of divers little gristles and so - de. , of bone-, for they are comprehended in the number aforesaid. They are in all two hundred and iorty-eighh 156 ©RBER OF BLOOD LETTING, &C. THE USE AND ORDER OF BLOOD LETTING WITH THE NAMES UF THE VEINS, AND WHERE THEY REST. THE vein in the midst of the forehead should be opened for the headache; pains in the head, pleurisy in the head, fevers, lethargy, and for the megrim in the. head. Behind the ears are two veins, which we let blood to give clear understanding and virtue of light, for thick breath and to prevent measles or leprosy. In the ems>les are two veins called the arteries, for which we let blood to dimmish and take away the great re- pletion and abundance of blood that is in the brain, that might annoy the head and eyes; it is good against the gout, megrim, the pleurisy in the head,and divers other accidents that may happen to the head. Under the tongue are two veins thai are to be opened for a sick- ness called (he quincy, and against the swelling and im- pQsthume of the throat; and against the squinancy, by which a man may die suddenly for default of such bleed- ing. In the neck are two veins called original, because they hold abundance of blood that governeth the body of man and principally the head; but they ought not to let blood wilhout the counsel of physician; and the bleeding availeth much to the sickness of the leprosy, waen it cometh principally of the bjood. The vein of the heart taken in the arm profiteth to take away the hu- mors or evil blood that might hurt the chamber of the heart; and is good for them that spit blood, and that are short winded; by which a man may die sudden- ly for want of bleeding. The vein of the liver taken in the arm, assuageth the great heat of the body, and keeps the body in health; this bleeding is profitable aho against the palsy, whereof a man may die lor the lack of bleeting, imposthumes. jaundices, &c. Between the master finger and the leech finger, to let blood help. £th the pains in the stomach and side, as botches, im.- •RDER OF BLOOD LETTING, &C 15? posfhumes, and divers other accidents, that may come to those places by great abundance of blood, and hu- mors in the sides. Betweei. the womb and the branch arc two veins, that on the right side we let blood for me dropsy, and that of the left for every sickness that com- eth about the melt; and they should blee l according to the fatness or leanness of the party; take good heed at four fingers near the incision, and they ought not to bJe- d without the counsel of the physician. In every foot are three veins, one is under the ancle, name d saphon, winch ought to be opened to assuage and drive away divers humours, botches, and imposthunies that ce,me«h about tne groin, and profiteth much to women, causing the men* struosity to descead, and delayeth the hemorrhoids tt.at cometh in the secret places, and the like. Between the wrists of the feet and the great toe is a vein, which ought to be opened for divers complaints and inconveniences, as the pestilence that taketh a person suddenly, h. :\ c great superabundance of humor; and this bleeding must be performed in twenty-four hours after the patient is affected, and before the fever comes on; and this bleed- ing ought to be done according to the corpulency of the patient. In the angles of the eyes, are two veins, w aich we let blood for the red and watery eye, and divers other disorders that may happen by overabundance of humors and blood in the'vein. At the end of the nose we bleed for red pimpled faces, red drops, pustule-, small scab, and other infections of the heart, that may come by too great repletion, ai d abundance of blood and humors. It is excellent for pimpled noses and dis- orders in the mouth. In the gums are four veins, that is to say, two above and two heneaih, shich we open for the cancer in the mouth, and the tooth ache. Between the lip and chin is a vein, that is to be opened 10 give amendment to them that have an evil breath. In each arm are four veins: ft;si, the vein of the head iyhe highest; the second is from the heait; the third is fr m the liver; the vein of the head taken in the arm ought 14 t58 FOR THE DROPSY. to be opened to take away the great repletion and abun dance of blood that may annoy the head, the eyes and brain; and is very good for changeable heats, swelled and red faces, and for divers other disorders that may come by the great abundance of blood. Fourthly, the vein of the melt, otherwise called the lower vein, should be opened for fevers, tertians, quartans; and the orifice ought to be made wide and shallow, to prevent the gath- ering of wind, and fear of a sinew that lies under it, called the lizard. In each hand are three veins: that above the thumb ought to be opened to take away the great heat of the visage, and for much thick blood and humors that are in the head; and this vein lieth more than that in the arm, between the little finger and the leech finger: letting of blood greatly profiteth all fevers, whether they are tertian or quartan. In the thighs is a vein, when opened, is good for pains of the genitals, and puts out of the man's body humors, that are in the groin. The vein that is under the ancle of the foot on the out- side, is named sciat, when opened is very beneficial against pains in the flanks, and to drive out humors which would gather in said place, and availeth much toward the benefit of women to restrain their menstru* osity, when they have too great abundance. FOR THE DROPSY. TAKE steel dust, make it as fine as you can: Gel a pint of honey, a handful of fetherfew, a handful of sweet bazil,a handful of sweet fennel, a handful of tame pen- eroyal, a table spoonful of callender seed, put the herbs into an oven to themselves, and dry them well over a glow fire: when they are dried well, beat them to snuff and mix them with honey; add a table spoonful of (he Steel dust, and roll them in starch, and lake six of the pills in the day, the size of Anderson's pills, You must ITCH—SORE LEGS. 15* »iot eat sweet milk nor bacon, nor any thing high season- ed. This 1 never knew fail. FOR THE ITCH, OR ANY ERUPTION OF THE SKIN. TALE a handful of sour dock roots, and a handful of the bark of dogwood root, one handful of the bark of elder root, one handful of balsam, one handful of the bark of sassafras roots, a piece of poke root as big as a gcose egg, all boiled well together, then strained and stewed slowly down to the consistence of syrup, then taken off and stirred slowly till half cold; add two spoonfuls of tar to a pint of the decoction, one spoonful of salt petre, one spoonful of soft soap, one spoonful of fine brimstone, one spoonful of black pepper beat fine; all this to be stewed well together. It may be rubbed on the joints as mercurial ointment, or all over the body( »f necessary. It is good for any itching humors. TO DRY UP OLD SORES ON THE LEGS. FILE brass and put in it, and put over it a plaister of tar; or beat rock or horse antimony and put in it, and a plaister as above. To take the fever out of a sore leg, get elder berries and boil to a salve, and put it on twice a day as a plaister, and take a spoonful of the salve in- wardly twice a day, and wash it well with the sugar of leitd. 160 DISEASES OF CHILDREN. TO DRY UP THE MILK IN A WOMAN'S BREAST. TAKE the stinking mud from the kitchen door, where dish or slop water is thrown out, heat it and put it to the breast as a poultice. DIRECTIONS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. I NOW proceed to consider some of the particular diseases to which young children are exposed; and the first to be noticed is commonly called red gum; it has its name from its appearance, being red eruptions on any paFt of the body or face of very young children; it is not dangerous, and generally goes off in a few days. Doctor Dowel supposes it may be the effects of heat, and the friction of flannel. OF THE JAW FALL. ANOTHER disease of young children is the jaw-fall. The name is sufficiently expressive of its nature. I think it seldom occurs in this country; but wherever it does happen, it is said to be incurable; it may be .pre- vented however, by purging the child soon after its birth with the following preparation: Take magnesia, twenty grains, rhubarb, five grains, grind them carefully togeth- er: of this powder give from three to five grains every four or six hours, until the evacuations are sufficiently copious. Some think this an excellent remedy, and re- commend it in all cases of new born children. Perhaps it would seldom be improper where the natural dischar- ges are deficient; it may be given in a little breast milk or fennel seed tea, with or without sugar. DlSE\srs OF CHILDREN. 16] SORE OR RUPTURED NAVEL. IF the child be distressed with a sore navel, mix to- gether ten grains of the sugar of lead, and forty grains of wheat flour, sprinkle the sore with this powder two or three times a day, after having each time cleansed it carefully and tenderly with milk and water; cotton or liniien scorched very brown, will commonly dry the sore speedily after the redness is removed by those powders, or by the application of the bread and milk poultice.— For a uiptured navel apply a plaister made of the dia- chylon salve and common raisins: Say, diachylen salve, five parts, raisins one part, to be melted together. This application acts merely by confining the intestines to their proper place, until nature may have time toper- form the cure. THE THRUSH. THIS is a very common complaint among young children. Its approach may be known and stopped by a few doses of the powders recommended in the case of the jaw-fall. When this disease takes place, the tongue becomes in some degree swelled; its colour, and th*t of the throat is purple; sloughs, or rather ulcers appear first on the throat, edges of the tongue, and at length over the whole mouth. These sloughs, or ulcers are of a whitish colour; sometimes they arc quite distinct,and in some instances run together. The time of its dura- tioa is uncertain. For the cure, lei the mouth be care- full v and gently washed several times in the day, with the following solution. To half a gill of water well sweetened with honey or molasses, add fifteen grains of borax: when dissolved it is ready for use. Or if this is not convi nient, take sage tea, half a gill, sweetened as beiore, add to it from five to ten grains best almond soap 14* 46$ DISEASES OF CHILDREN. to be used as above; or take a handful of briar roots, u. handful of persimmon tree bark, a handful of privey, a handful of white oak bark, a handful of common cherry tree twigs, and one handful of sage; boil it together well, and then strain it, then add a tea spoonful of alum, a half a pint of houey, half a tea spoonful of sail petre, and a little vinegar, and wash the mouth twice or three Mmes a day, is a certain cure. OF MILK IN THE BREAST. IT is very common for milk to collect in young chil- dren's breasts; their nurses intending them a kindness, carefully squeeze it out by dint of force; this should never be done, because it sometimes induces a hard and dangerous swelling. The milk may be scattered by ba- thing the breasts with a little spirits, or by applying an ointment made of oil and camphor. THE BELLY ACHE. THIS complaint is commonly the consequence, either of the mother eating too much rich food, or of feeding the child too soon on vegetable diet. Women giving suck, should prefer a vegetable diet; milk is also an ex- cellent article for them at times. Children should be weaned at ten or twelve months old; it is injurious to ihe mother and child to give suck after the return of the menstruation. The remedies proper for the belly ache, are pepper- mint water, tincture of opium, or paregoric elixir, or the powders recommended in the case of the jaw fall; but the spirits should never be used. If the tincture of opi- um be chosen for the purpose, not more than one fourth DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 163 of a drop ought to be given for the first docp. but itmay afterwards be given and gradually enLige-i. I have known a child of two weeks old to be convulsed d this should be done after every stool, if the de- scent of the intestines should make it necessary. In the meantime a costive habit must carefully be preven- ted by the use of a small dose of castor oil, or some oth- er gentle purge; take and light a pipe of tobacco and blow it into melted hog's fat, until it becomes of a NATURE OF THE TWELVE SIGNS. 165 greenish colour, and it is to be rubbed while warm, on 'he affected part. FOR THE PILES. GET a double handful of catnip, a handful of ginseng leaves, a dozen big red onions boiled well and strahed, then add a pint of fresh butter, half a pint of rusty ha- con fat, a tea spoonful of brimstone, stew it down to an oil, and anoint with it. THE NATURE OF THE TWELVE SIGNS. ARIES is hot and dry, of the nature of the fire, and governs in the head and face of man, and it is good for bleeding when the moon is in it, save in the part it gover- eth and luleth. TAURUS is evil for bleeding. Taurus is dry and cold of the nature of the earth, and governeth the neck and knot under the throat; and is evd for bleeding. GEMINI is evil for bleeding. Gemini is hot and moist of the nature of the air, and governeth the shoulders, the arms and hands; and is evil for bleeding. CANCER is indifferent for bleeding. Cancer is cold ind moist, of the nature of the water and governeth the )reast, the stomach, and the melt; and is indiffent for bleeding. LEO is evil for bleeding. Leo is hot and dry, and of the nature of fire, and governeth the back and sides; and is evil for bleeding. VIRGO is indifferent for bleeding. Virgo is cold and dry of the nature of the earth, and governeth the womb and inward parts; and is neither good nor evil for bleed- ing, but between both. 166 NATURE OF THE TWELVE SluNa. LIBRA is right good for bleeding. Libra is hot ant! moist, of the nature o'fthe air, and governeth ihe uavel, the reins, and the lower parts ot the womb; and is very good for bleeding. SCORPIO is indifferent for bleeding. Scorpio is cold and moist, of the nature of the water, and governeth the members of man; and is neither good nor bad for bleeding, but between both. SAG1TARIUS is good for bleeding. Sagitarius is hot and dry of the nature of fire, and governeth the thighs; and is good for blood letting. lAPRICORNUd is evil for bleeding. Capricornus is cold and dry, of the nature of the earth, and govern- eth the knees, and is evil for bleeding. AQUARIUS is indifferent for bleeding. Aquarius is hot and moist, ot the nature of the air, and governeth the legs; and is neither good nor ill for bleeding. PISCES is indifferent for bleeding. Pisces is cold and moist, of the nature of water and governeth the feet; and is neither good nor ill for letting blood. No man ought to make incisions, nor touch with iron, the members governed by any sign the day that the moon is in it, for fear of the great effusion of blood that may happen. Nor when the sun is in it, for fear of the great danger aud peril that might follow therefrom. POETICAL.. *6? POETICAL,. THE OLD MAN'S COMPLAINT, My prime is past, my nerves decay, My spirit's fled, my head's grown gray, My blood's dryed up, my body's cold, My lips are blue, which pales my cheek—» My teeth are gone, I scarce can eat. My legs are shrunk; lame are my feet; My youthful sins now make me sigh And sob when I should sleep. Pity the sorrows of a poor old man, Whose trembling limbs led him to your door; Whose days are dwindled to the shortest sp m, Oh! give relief and heaven shall bless your store. Ten times ten years old, not fully told, Since nature gave me breath, Mn race is run, my thread is spun, Lo! here is fatal death. "All men must die, and so must I; This cannot be revok'd:" For Adam's sake, those words God spake. When he so high provok'd. Yet live I shall, this life's but small, In place of higher bliss— When I can have all I can crave, What life is like to this! Oh! what is life but care and strife, Since first we came from womb; Our time doth haste, our strength doth waste, And we shall go to tomb. Oh! bubble blast how long can last, That always art a breaking? No sooner blown, but dead and gone, Just as the words are speaking. 168 FOETICAL, A SPEECH IN A PARABLE BETWEEN FLESH AND SPIRIT. WHERE once I stood Close by the banks of lureum flood, I heard two sisters reason on Things that wast past, and things to come. One flesh was cold, who had her eye, On worldly wealth and vanity— The other spirit did her rear, Her thoughts unto a higher sphere. "Sister, (quoth flesh,) what liyeth thou on? Nothing but meditation satisfy? Nothing without reality? Dost dream of things beyond the moon? Ai-d doth thou hope to dwell fhere sooni; H ah treasure there laid up in store? From one father we are not, Tho" by old Adam was beg t," Thou speaketh to me fair, But bates me sore; The flatterer turns, I'll trust no more. A PARABLE ON THE INDUSTRIOUS MAN AND LAZY MAN. THE ant, the prudent, painful train, Brought forth and dried her heap of grain; A .;rass-hopper, half starv'd went by, And begg'd her charity. To whom the poor ant reply'd: Hn harvest how your time employ'd?" *'I sing the insect, m'izi the play, ♦*To mike the laborer pleasant, gay." *kO, (crv'd the ant,) how just the chance, As you have sung, you now may dance; FOETICAL. |69 In vain vou here for food apply, I'll feed no idle folks, uot I.*' EACH creature is link'd to that below it; All iature, if observ'd, will shew it, /nd upwards still our search will prove, Each link'd again to that above. Heaven, when it had created nan, Unfinish'd saw creation's plan; Nor would the links together meet, Until woman did the chain complete* 15 GLOSSARY. EXPLANATION OF SOME WORDS FOR THE HELP OF COMMON READERS. There are many authors that set out books, and when they are purchased by the poor, there are but few who can get bem fit by them without going to a doctor. And for the benefit of thia book} and others, 1 shall explain a few of the most useful words. Abortion.—An untimely birth, a miscarriage. Corroding.—Eating away. Costiveness.—Being bound in the body. Debilitate.—To weaken, lo make faint. Depletion.—The act of emptying. Diaphoretic.—That which causes sweating. Diarrhcea.—A lax, or looseness of the bowels* Dilute.—To make thin, as water. Dilution.—The act of making thin. Distorted.—Out of shape. Effervesce.—The act of boiling like beer. Emaciated.—.Made lean. Equivalent.— Equal in value. Exhausted.—Drawn out, spent. Gestation.—The act of carry ing a child in the womb. Hemoirhage.— A flux of blood which is unnatural. Hymen.—Tl>e virginal membrane. Imperforated.—Notpieiccd through, without a hole. 172 GLOSSARY. Indigestion.—A disease in which the food lies heavy and uncha. ged upon the stomach. Incontinence.— Inability to restrain or withhold. Indication.— A mark or sign by which to be knowni Insinuate.—To introduce gently. Interposition.—Putting in by way of interruption. Irretrievable.—Not to be repaired. Laceration.—The act of tearing or butchery. Manuel.—Performed by the hand. Membrane.—A thin covering of the flesh. Menstrual.—To discharge the menses. Menstruation.—The act of discharging the menses. Mucus.—A slime. Muious.—Slimy. Nausea.—Squeamishness, sickness at the stomach. P .rturition.—The act of bringing forth. Periodical.—Occuring at stated times. Premature*—Too hasty. Pressure.—The act of bearing upon, or squeezing. Saturation.—The act of filling till no more can be received. Suffocation.—The act of choaking. Suppression.—The act of stopping. Suspend.—To stop for a time. INDEX* Angelica, (Herb): 35 to 38 Ague and Fever, 102 Alum, 103 Aloes, ib Assafcetida, »'& After pains, relief, 122 Anatomy of man's body, 1*4 B Brain, dropsy of the 32 Breast and Nipples, 101 To dry up milk in the 160 Milk in the 162 Bark, 103 Borax, ™ Bilious Cholic, l*6 Blood Vomiting, It9 Bite of a Snake, &c 12° Burns, *2^ Bilious Fever, 132 Blood letting, its use, &c. * jjjj Bellyache, 162 174 INDEX, c Cholera Morbus, Consumption, Cholic, nervous, Children, diseases of Young, directions concerning Cough, Hooping, Croup, Caution to the ladies, Conception, signs of Child bed fever, Chilu birth, directions to the granny, Calomel, Camphor, Carolina pink root, Castor oil,&c. Cancers, Cholic, bilious, Cramp, Convulsive fits, Cold fever,or tiger gripe, D Dysentery, or bloody flux, Dropsy of the brain, &c. Cure for the Drugs, (See medicines,) Delivery of women, E Eyes, inflammation of the Diseases of the Ether, its properties, &c. Elixir vitriol, Easy delivery, how procured, Eruptions of the skin, woex. 175 Fever, scarlet, 41 Mesenteric, 70 Childbed, 88 Bilious, 132 And ague, 102 Cold, or tiger gripe, 152 Fluor albus, or whites, 99 Flies, or Cantharides, 106 Fits, covulsive, 118 Flooding, 120 G Gour,&Co 124 Glysters, 127 Glossary, 171 11 Hooping cough, 71 Hives, [See Croup) Hysterics, 83 I J Introduction, ~* Joints, swelling of 54 Itch.&c. J*9 Ipecacuanha, f 106 Iron, „ ,rt Influenza, Jaw-fall, 130 140 Intestines, falling down of the lower- 164 i76 lNIX-.X. Ki mo. 107 King's evil, 129 L^Dirs—a caution to them, 80 Legs, sorf, 118 To dry up 159 M Married state, 17 Mesenteric fever, 70 Measles, 73 Menses, 91 With pain, 94 Obstruction of 94 to 97 Immoderate, 98 Cessation of the 133 Medicines used, their properties, 103 to 112 A few words on, 118 Magnesia, j 07 Manna, 107 Myrrh, gum, 108 Mortification, 119 • Midwifery, itspractiee, 134 to 151 N Negro poison, (see poison) Nipples, &c, (see breast, o>c.) Nutmeg, jfg Nerves, weak, 124 Nightmare, 127 Navel, sore or ruptured, 101 'J'DEX. o Orange peel, O ive oil, Opium, P Preface, Pleurisy, Poison, Negro, Putrid sore throat, Pregnancy, Precipitate of Mercury^ Phthisic, Piles, Poetry, R Recommendations, Rems, running of Rhubarb, Russian Castor, Rheumatism, &c. IS Swelling of the joints, Sore throat, putrid, Sal Ammoniac, ) Spirits of Nitre, ) Salt Petre, Salt of Tartar, Senna, Sulphur, flour of Signs which govern the body, Sore legs, 178 INDEI# Snake bite, &c. Scald head, Sinews, infirmities in T Thirst, Tartar, Tetter worm, Tiger gripe, Teething, Thrush, Twelve signs, their nature, V Venereal Disease Vomiting, remedy Cot Blood, w Wind in the blood, &c. Worms in children, Their management in the last stage, Tape, Tetter, Word concerning midwives. Whites, (see Fluor Albus,) Weak nerves, Water brash, Warts on the tongue, ■*x£\ fMe^l- Mist wz. ★ * ARMY * * MEDICAL LIBRARY /~i_____i_____i r»_______I. # ^Hr^'y.- K -'■<; /Jfe***' ^ &S*