>*■//.
ILLTJSTHATI01T             ,'%
OF THE PRESENT PERNICIOUS MODE
   OF FASHIONABLE PRACTICE OF
■■'V*MEDICINE.  WITH PLATES.
ACCOMPANIED WITH
A DIALOGUE,
Between an Apothecary and a Physician, on the
  subject of the statute regulating the practice
          of Physic and Surgery.
AFTER WHICn IS ADDED
A FEW BRIEF
ANK£DOTi»c
ALB
  18:
 
« 
PREFACE.
  Health is unquestionably the greatest temporal
blessing conferred on man.  Mankind  are liable to
such a variety of diseases, that  the utility and ne-
cessity of remedies are obviously indicated.   The
Author of nature has suffered the malady, and pro-
vided the antidote.   This remark is exemplified in
the case  of a venomous bite.  It may be inferred
then, that if one disorder is curable, there are sub-
stances provided for the cure of every  disease inci-
dent to the human body.  The brute creation, when
sick, are taught by instinct when  and where to apply
for relief ; but man, being possessed of rational facul-
ties, is left to discover remedies  by observation, ex-
perience, and reason.  It being admitted that such
remedies do exist, the important inquiry is, are they
known, and in use ?   Alas  ! for the human family,
it is a melancholy fact, that this question cannot be
answered in  the affirmative.  Instead of an effica-
cious and effectual  mode of treating diseases, the
most pernicious  and dangerous  one is substituted ;
which like the demon of destruction, has swept more
from the earth than the wars of  Europe.
   There is a certain class of persons, who make pre-
tentions to  the  healing  art; but, notwithstanding
several hundred  years' experience of their predeces-
sors, are hardly  able to cure a single disease.  The
science of medicine, in all its branches, is wretched
beyond  description.   Poison, instead of  salutary
medicines, is daily  administered.  The article of
mercury alone, denominated "the champion of the
Materia Medica," has destroyed more  lives than 
(4)
the sword, famine, and pestilence.   This poisonous
mineral, like the knife and lancet, has scattered dis-
ease and death throughout the world.   Some, hav-
ing observed the vast quantities of medicine poured
into the human system  without benefit, have affirm-
ed, that neither medicine  nor art has any influence
in the cure of diseases ; imputing their removal en-
tirely to nature, or that prin6iple denominated vis
medicatrix natura.  Dr. Reecc thus  remarks :—
"Common sense,  common  honesty, and  common
humanity, are.at variance with the present condition
of medicine.  Indeed, the experience of every day
shows the necessity of a substantial, practical, and
permanent remodelling of the profession.  Physi-
cians  have  basely sacrificed the health  and lives of
their  fellow creatures, at the shrine of avarice and
gain."
   The design  of this work is to expose the present
unhappy and deplorable state of medicine ; and the
author pledges himself to "prove these assertions.
It is undertaken from  the most conscientious mo-
tives, from  a full conviction  of its necessity.   If it
be asked, what is  the use of such a publication ?   I
answer in the  words of that venerable patriarch, the
Rev.  John Wesley—"The greatest that can  possi-
bly be conceived.   Is it not needful in  the highest
degree, to rescue men from the jaws of destruction;
from  wasting their fortunes,  as thousands have done,
and continue to do daily ; from pining away in siek-
uess  and  pain, either through the ignorance or
knavery of physicians ? yea, and many times throw-
ing away their lives, after their health, time,  and
 substance."  Regardless of  obliging or disobliging
 any man livinsr, an illustration of thepresentdestruc-
 tive  mode of fashionable practice, is now undertak-
 en ;  anticipating, at the same time, the most impla-
 cable enemies, and a flood of calumny.   For, says
 '„he celebrated Dr. Harvey,  " he who professes to 
                      (5)

be a reformer of the  art of physic must expect to
run the risk of the martrydom of his life."   It is
confidently hoped, that all who  " dare think for
themselves,"  who regard their own health and the
welfare  of others, will read the sequal, pause and
reflect.
,^
<s. 
  The above plate represents and exhibits to view,
one of the most prominent means resorted to by the
Faculty, under pretence of restoring sick people to
health:  and since the discovery of the circulation of
the blood by  Harvey,  this  practice  of  systematic
butchering has been carried to a great extent.   In
the time of Dr. Rush, it  raged,  and many fell vic-
tims to death by this unnatural mode oi"  treatment,
and it still continues to have many tenacious sup-
porters; and since this system of depletion has be-
come established by law, to the exclusion of all oth-
ers, the lancet has been continually  unsheathed.  In
short, it is a practice so injurious in its nature,  and
so disgraceful to the science of Medicine, that poet-
ry has no colors sufficient, and language  wants ex-
pression to set it  forth in a true light.
  Figure 1, Represents the patient with  the blood
gushing from his arm, who, beholding the same vi-
tal fluid discharging from the hog, cries out in a tone
of surprise,  "what is the difference, Doctor?"  and
faints.   The old lady,  as  represented by Fgure 2,
holdinghis head, exclaims, "he has fainted or dying,
bring some water."  The girl,  as represented  by
Figure 3, brings  the water and says,  "use it freely
mother, I am afraid it is too late."  The Doctor,
as represented by Figure 4, in answer to the above
question, holding up his lancet,  says, "this is heal-
ing, and that is killing," referring  to the knife held
in the hand of the butcher.   The butcher, as repre- 
                      (T)

scnted in Figure 5, says, "suppose we counsel, our
practices are alike, the effects appear to be the same,
they both produce  faintness and death."  The  man
standing over the hog, as represented by Figure  6,
says, "I am afraid it is too late, I believe he is dy-
ing,  but I will use the water freely, and try to bring
him  to."  Thus he tries to bring the hog  to,  by
pouring water on his head, by the sane method that
they use to bring the man to.
   This plate represesents the doctor in the full ca
reer of his practice, in a case of the Fever-and-Ague
dealing out  that harmless  medicine,  commonly-
known by the name of  Rats Bane, deceiving the
patient by calling it Arsenic, Quinine, or some oth-
er mild medicine.   A farmer calls on the doctor for
something to kill his rats; he then dividesthepapers,
and shoving them  over  to  him, says,  "there  is
enough  to kill ten thousand rats."  "What is it?"
says the farmer.   "Rats Bane," says the  doctor.
"That is what  I wanted."   The patient hearing
this, begins to be frightened, turns  his  head, and
says "if that is your medicine I must settle my bu-
siness, make my will, and prepare for a future state,
by making peace with my God, for my time here  is
short.   The medicine you was about to leave for
me, you say will kill twenty thousand rats; my dis-
order is almost enough to kill me, and to take this 
(8)
poison in addition to the disorder, makes  me give
tip all hopes:  I feel  comfortable,  warming myself
by the stove, and I must either discharge you,  or
settle my business in this world."
  This plate represents one class of men as superior
beings, domineering over another.
  It is to  show the absurdity of the doctors  in this
plate, so the people canjudge better of theirusefulness
or injury, at the present day.   When their  system
first began, in the days  of Esculapius  and Hypoc-
rates, their practice was simple, powerful, and effi-
cacious in removing diseases,  and their  system was
practiced then with more success than for centuries
after.   But it is now laid aside, and false and injuri-
ous practices instituted in its stead.  But some peo-
ple's eyes are opening to their danger; so the doc-
tors are under the necessity of seeking Legislative
aid  for their support, and to prevent their darling
system from tumbling to ruin.
  The person raised upon a stool,  and in  the act
of  speaking, represents  what  was requested  and
what  was  granted.    All   persons   who  attend
and study poison three years, and  cut  and  mangle
human bodies six months,  are to be raised  on  law
legs, and authorised to practice poison to the exclu-
sion of all others, and become a privileged order of
men, and thus  ingenious  and useful   men  (whom
the faculty are indebted to for all the useful discove-
ries, Patent Pills, Powders, Drops, Tinctures,  Ex- 
(9)
tracts, &c. made in medicine,)  are prevented  from
using any means for the relief of the sick, and con-
sequently all improvements are stopped in this im-
portant science.  They know if they are  placed on
a level with common people they cannot sell poison
well, but when they are elevated on these legs of the
Law, they are enabled to profit and  grow  rich  at
the  expense of  other  people.   The  oth?r person
standing with his hat off, looking up with  reve-
rence  to  the doctor  on  Law legs,  an'd hearing
him thank the Legislature for their powerful growth,
for, says the Doctor, "before  the  Quacks got all
the business, but now they must slop, the staff is in
our own hands, the people have got to  take our med-   '
icine and poison, or not be doctored at all,  and  we
will give what we please, and no tribunal can bring
us to justice;  we will steal the bodies of dead people,
and if likely to be detected, hide them under the of-
fice floor, and if they are found there,  it will be  no
evidence against us, and thus go clear: Bones fetch
a good price,  and if the legislature  continues to
lengthen our legs,  and grant us  privileges, the"
 whole power and  profit will be in our hands."


    A  Warning to  Phlebotomists.—A person,
 somewhatindisposed, applied toDr. Beach of Bridge-
 port,Connecticut for relief. The Doctorimmediaieiy
 advised him to be bled.   He accordingly submitted
 to the operation, which was attended  with  the most
 serious consequences.   Itparalized  his  whole arm,
 and entirely deprived him of the use of it.  An action
 of damage  was instituted by the patient against the
 physician,  which excited much interest. It was de-
 fended by  the most eminent, counsellors  in the state.
 Among whom was M. Sherman Esq.  of Fairfield for-
 the plaintiff.  After three,days trial  the jury retur-
 ned a verdictof #500 for the unfortunate sufferer. 
.(10)
  This picture  will show by  contrasting ancient
with modern times, that antiquity and long stand-
ing of a system, is no just criterion  by which we
can judge* of its merits or demerits.  But few years
since, New-England  was innundated by a system of
witchery which had its origin prior to the Christian
Era, and which would  have continued  until this
time, if the good citizens of America hnd not exam-
ined for themselves, and refused  to  encourage any
system without first investigating it.  Inthereignof
the Salem witchcraft, if a woman  was suspected of
being a witch, she was  immediately apprehended
and brought to trial, to test whether she was in real-
ity one or not.  The form of trial was, as is exhibit-
ted by the above plate;  she  was to   be  placed by
means of a ladder on a tree, and the tree to be chop-
ped down, and as she fell she was to be caught with
a pitchfork, to prevent her escape.  If the fall  kill-
ed her she was no witch, but if  it did not kill her
she was considered as one, consequently she was to
be hung on a gallows with a withe.  As inhuman
and  brutal as this may appear, it is nevertheless true,
that the life and happiness of the innocent old  wo-
men were sported with in this horrible manner. 
Ill)
  This plate exhibits  to us the  method of trying
men supposed to be wizards, which was by throw-
ing them into a stream of water, andifthey sunk and
drownedj they were no wizards, but if by striving, or
by chance, they were likely to get across,' they were
wizards,  and must be shot with silver balls.
  The two not designated by  numbers, represent
the wizards which they are trying.
  The man represented by Figure 2, says, pointing
to the man lying in  a  horizontal  position, that
"there is no  supernatural  power, for he has ris-
en the third time, and he is drowing; he is no wiz-
ard."  The man  represented by Figure 3, says,
"the other is a wizard, for he is climbing out; make
haste and load  your gun, I fear he will  get  out  and
bewitch us."  The man represented by  Figure 4,
says, "I am putting down two balls of silver, 1 shall 
(12)
be ready for him by the time he gets half way out
of the water."
   Such was the ignorance and duplicity of the peo-
ple of that day, that they would put a person on tri-
al for the least supposed offence, for instance, a man
should go across a neck of land on foot quicker than
another could ride around, he would be considered
possessed of witchcraft, for he could not  have got
there so quick without flying.  Or  if the old  mare
should kick the boards off the barn, or  by kicking
off flies she should get her foot into the stirrup, or if
they should have to churn longer than usual to fetch
the butter, or the  cows   refuse to give down the
milk,  the  old woman  would be  accused of be-
witching them, and considered as  a  witch.   Oh!
shame, where is thy blush?  What will succeeding
generations say?  What will  our children's children
say a century hence?  Will they not look back with
astonishment and surprise at this,  our day, to see
the same method used  to  restore sick people  to
health, that is used to take the lives  of  rats and
beasts? Will they not abhor,  reject and despise it as
much as  we do the Salem witchcraft? Let the mon-
 uments  of infamy  erected  to  false and  exploded
systems answer.
   We will now let the subject assume a more seri-
©us aspect, and proceed  to examine the fair famed
system of depletion practiced by Dr. Rush, and  his
disciples.  Of the effects of this system the people
of America have heard and felt enough,  but of  its
 origin many of them are totally ignorant.  At the
first breaking out of the Yellow Fever in  Philadel-
 phia, Dr. Rush tells us he was baffled in almost eve-
 ry attempt to  stop its   ravages.   "Heaven alone"
 says he, "bore witness to the anguish of my soul."
 But proceeds he in the  same strain of  egotism,  "I
 did  not  abandon  a belief that the  disease  might  be
 cured," and again applied himself with fresh ardor 
(13)
to the investigation of the Yellow Fever, and for a
long time invain; till at length being much  struck
with a certain passage of an old manuscript, in which
the writer observed, that a timidity about the weak-
ness of the body was of bad consequence,  and that
purges might be given, when the pulse was so low
that it could hardly be felt."  There, says Rush, I
paused: a new train of ideas broke in suddenly upon
my mind, my fears were gone:  I adopted this the-
ory and practice, and  resolved  to follow  them.
Having, "in a moment" formed this resolution, he
very soon proceeded  to put  it in practice.  The
purge which he fixed  upon  was composed of 10 grs.
of Calomel,  and 15 of Jalap.  To this purge, which
the inventor sometimes called the Sampson of medi-
cine, was added copious blood-letting;  a most pow-
erful co-operator!  With these remedies, the Penn-
sylvanian "Hippocrates" set  to work, and he  de-
clared that  there was no necessity for the people
fleeing to the country, for the Yellow Fever was no
longer a dangerous disease, but was now perfectly
under the power of medicine, and that there was  no
more danger to be apprehended from it,  than from
the measles, influenza, or a ciramon cold.  YetDoct,
 Currie, compelled by  the calls of humanity, earnest-
 ly besought the peor deluded Philadelphians to open
 their eyes,  to beware of the new remedies; for, »aid
 he, "the mode of treatment advised by Dr. Rush,
 cannot, in the Yellow Fever, fail of causing death."
    Dr.  Rush's associates were five of his former pu-
 pils, and five who  yet remained  under his care.
 Such were  the Medical characters of whose  concur-
 rence and whose aid  the doctor had to boast, besides
 a group of undisciplined practitioners:  these were a
 Popish Priest, a German Apothecary, an Auction-
 eer, two old Women, and a brace of Negro Parsons;
 the Reverend Absalom Jones, and the Reverend
 Richard Allen.  Of this motly squad, the two He*- 
                        (14)

   erend Negroes appear to have been his favorites; for
   says he, "the success of these fellows  was unparal-
   lelled by what is called regular practice."   But ask    «
   any man, who had the mortification to be a  spec-
   tator of their operations, and he will tell you  what
   bloody work they made among the infatuated  crea-
   tures who submitted to their treatment.  When the
   reader casts his eye on the wretched, half-deserted
   city; when he sees Rush's s*i6ter, his pupils,  and
   perhaps twenty  apothecaries  apprentices,  besides;    .
   all making packets of Mercury; and when  he sees ^_|,
   the swift poison committed to the hands of old  wo-    j
   men  and negroes, he will not be surprised at the fa-    |
   tal consequences:  instead of astonishment at the vast    '
   increase of the bills of mortality, he will  find  am-    j
   pie occasion for thanksgiving, that a single man  was    {
   left alive.   But Rush, on the contrary, blessed God    j
   for the discovery he had made, and for the success'of
   his practice.  "I regret," says he,  "thatit is not in my   U
   power to furnish a list of the names of my patients,   J
   for a majority of  them were poor people, whoao
^  names are still unknown to me."   But this did not
   prevent him fromrecording the names of the minor-
   ity; and, besides, poverty does not deprive men of
   their names; nor are the names of poor people  any  *l
   longer  or more difficult to write down, than  those    1
   of the rich.                                        v
     He was not very delicate, God knows, in thrus-
   ting his remedies into vouge; and why should he be
   more delicate in obtaining proofs of their wonderful
   effects? How easily  he might have obtained their
   names  by calling upon all who had been cured by
   him, by advertising in the papers to have their names    ..
   sent to his house; unless, indeed, they were all in    j
   the situation of the unfortunate  woman,  who  was
   described to Rush, by Dr.  Woodhouse;  and who,    j
   after her recovery,  could not recollect her name!    •>
   Poor souls!  if  the doctor had advertised, few of 
                     (15)

them would, I am afraid, have recollected their names..
  "Fortunately, however, for Philadelphia, and un-
fortunately for Rush and his discovery, a bill  of
mortality was kept by  the officers of the city. This
bill of mortality, compared with the vaunts of the
doctor, will enable any one to form a tolerably accu-
rate judgment, not only of the truth of his statements,
but of the saving effects of his remedies,  as  applied
by himself and his numerous assistants.
  The yellow fever of 1794 broke out on the first of
August, and from that day to the 8th of September
the number of deaths had been various, once as low
as three, and once as high as forty-two. Now it was,
that mercury and the lancet began to be put in mo-
tion, and I beseech you, reader, to mark their pro-
gress.  "List! list! 0 list!"
  On September the twelfth, Rush began to.recom-
mend his powders by  public advertisement.  He, at
the same time, told the people not to leave the city;
that there was no longer any danger, for that his dis-
covery had put the fever on a level with the mea-
sles, the influenza, or a common  cold.  For some
days previous to this,  the ravages of the fever had
become less alarming,  the bill of  mortality had fal-
len from forty-two to twenty-three  per day; and as
Rush had reduced  the disease, in point of  danger,
to a level with a common cold, the poor Philadel-
phians, who were carried away by his noisy impu-
dence, began to hail him as their  deliverer from  a
calamity which they now looked  upon as nearly  at
an end.   Bat, death, who seems always to have had
an  implacable  grudge against the Pennsylvanian
"Hippocrates," persecuted him,  in the present in-
stance, with more severity than ever; for, from the
day on which Rush declared that his discovery had
reduced  the  fever to  a level  with a  common
cold; from the day  on which he promulgated
(he  infediability ef his  nostrum;  from that dajf 
(16)
4id the bill  of mortality begin  to  Increase in
a fearful degree, as will be seen by the following!
extract
Days		Deaths.		Day*		Deaths,
Sept, 11	-	- 23	Sept	. 21	•	- 57
12	-	- 33		22	-	- 76
13	-	- 37		23	-	- 68
14	*	- 48		24	•	- 96
15	-	- 56		26	.	. 87
16	.	- 67		£	.	- 52
17	-	- 81			.	- 60
18	-	- 69		28	.	• 51
19	-	- 61		29	.	- ***
20	-	- 67		30	-	- 63
Oct 1	.	- 74	•ct	7	.	* 82
2	-	- 66		8	-	- 90'
3	-	- 78		9	.	- 102
4	.	- 58		10	-	. 93
5	.	. 71		11	-	- 116
6	.	- 76				
  •Thus, you  see, that though the fever was, on the
12th of September, reduced to a level with  a com*
xnon cold;  though the lancet was continually un-
sheathed; though Rush and his subalterns were rea-
dy at every call, the  deaths  did actually increase;
and, incredible as it may seem, this increase  grew
with that of the  very practice which saved  more
than niBety-nine patients out of ahuudred!  Aston-
ishing obstinacy!  Perverse Philadelphians!  Not-
with.stn/ ding there was a man in your  city,  who
com Id    c *v:.-led you at a touch, you continued t»
3".?  .o.   ;i;scanding the precious purges were ad-
v-ii  ised at  every corner, and were brought even  to
y. :r doors, and besides by old women and negroes;
notwithstanding life was offered you on terms  the
mast reasonable and accommodating, still you per- 
(17)
  sisted in dying!  Nor did barely dying content you.
  It was not enough for  you to reject the means of
  prolonging your existence, but you must  begin to
  drop off the faster from the moment that those means
  were presented to you; and this, for no earthly pur-
  pose, that I can see, but the malicious one of inju-
  ring the reputation of the "saving angel,"  whom
 * "a kind Providence had  sent to, your assistance!"
    But, it was not only amongst the people in gene-
  ral that the doctor met with this  mortifying per-
  verseness, even the members of his own  household,
  those who  dipped in the  same  dish with him,  and
  who were  to share in his  honors, seem,  in like
  manner, to have conspired against the fame  of his
  discovery,  for, of his sister, and five pupils;,  all  of
  whom were attacked with the fever, four had  the
 : ingratitude to seal, with their death, the  condemna-
\ tion of his  practice."
    And they had all the life-preserving purges, con-
' tinually under their fingers; yet, notwithstanding
 >, all these advantages, there died no les$ than four out
 ! 'of the six.   Such, reader, was the origin; and such
 fj were the first blessed  fruits, of the far-famed sys-
  tem of depletion.  Well  might  Dr.  Currie  call
  upon his fellow-citizens, to open their eyes!  Well
  might he assure them that Rush's yellow fever rem-
  edies were "certain death,"   When, therefore, the
 ' yellow fever again broke out in 1797, the chariot of
  .the mighty "Hippocrates," began again to  rattle
 'along the lanes andalleysj the secret  of "undisci-
 i plined "practitioners" were again taking the field;
 [ the  Reverend  negroes   had  tucked  up   the
  sleeves of their garberdine, and were  preparing to
  draw the  lancet and throw  away  the scabbard.
  Purge and bleed!  purge and bleed!!   resounded
  i through the half-deserted city, while the responsive
   howlings of the dogs,  "gave dreadful  note-of pre*
 h paration.'* 
i
   Frigid indeed must have been my feelings, or
cowardly must have been my heart,  if, with a pub-
lic print! such  as I held io my hand, I had in a scene
like this, remained a silent  spectator.  Far was it
from me to think of a course so dishonorable   I
thought I  saw approaching all the horrors of 1793,
and both my interest and my duty commanded me
to endeavor to avert them.    ✓.                   -s. ■
   For  writing medical essays; for  controverting
scientifically the wild positions of Rush and his ad-
herents, I acknowledged myself then, as I now do,  *
tetally unqualified.  To the charges of ignorance in
medicine,  brought against me by the great 'Hippo-
crates,' I might indeed  have found a triumphant re-
ply in his own book on the Yellow Fever;  I might
have produced himself; I might have quoted the pas-
sages, where he asserts,  that  the success of the two
negroes, in curing the yellow fever, was  'unparal-
lelled by what was  called  regular practice;' that a
hundred things are taught in the  common schools,
less useful, 'and many things more difficult than the
knowledge that would be necessary to cure a yellow f'
fever, or the plague;' and that 'all the  knowledge* j
necessary to discover when blood-letting is proper,
might be taught to  a boy or a girl of twelve years
in two hours!  I taught it,' adds he, 'in less  time
to several persons during our late epidemic!'—'It is
time,' exclaims he in another place, "to take the cure
of pestilential fevers out of the hands of physicians
and to place it in the hands of the people!'—\
wight have shown that he  very highly  applauded
the conduct of the popish priest, who exhorted the
other physicians'to  renounce the pride of science,
'and adopt the new remedies.—I might in, in  short - -
have proved most satisfactorily, that, according to
the written assertions of this impudent innovator, I  > >
was duly and amply qualified to approve of, or to
Condemn,  any mode of treating the yellow fever; 
(19;
and indeed had I been fool or knave enough to join
his troop of moc doctors, I could probably have talk
ed very learnedly about 'bleeding as  white as Jer-
sey veal,' about'washing the guts,' and shaking the
gall bladder;' nay, it is possible that I could have e-
qualled even the Pennsylvanian  'Hippocrates' in
that butcher-like dialect, which is so admirably  cal-
culated to vulgarise the medical profession, and to
brutalize the human frame.
  t/2 private conversation  between a Physician
and an Apothecary, concerning  the statute reg-
ulating the practice of Physic and Surgery, a?id*
the mode of obtaining a livelihood by their fraud-
ulent and pernicious'conduct.
  Dr.  Good Evening,  Sir: 1 am glad to meet you>
to relate to yOu the new law that has just  past the
House.
  A. What new law,  sir?
  Dr. This staff and crutch that I stand on,  is the
law; and I think that  our legislature bids fair to
make a  good pair of legs  for us.   We had our leg
lengthened by the old statute, and now they  have
given us the crutch to match it.   If they will take
the crutch and leg that they have lengthened,  and
make the  people give us  fifteen dollars a year,
each, whether sick  or well, we  should  not  want
the assistance of the  law, for legs. 
[to,
   A. I aw glad to sec the legislature,so engaged iu
 our  behalf.
   Dr.  So am I.   We have tried them every year,
 and  never received so much encouragement,  until
 November, 1827.
   A. We ought to have been encouraged long be-
 fore the root  doctors, or hemlock  doctors had be-
 come so numerous.  One of my neighbors  worked
 hard and got sweaty,  then rode  on  his sleigh, and
 took cobl, and was threatened with a fever;  one of
 the root fools came and gave him some  peppermint
 tea,  and sweated him with hemlock, and the  next
 day  he  was nearly well.
   Dr.  Yes, I'll warrant you: that is what makes us
'dread their progress so; and if one  of the  faculty
 had  been  called,  we  should  have bled him, and
 lengthened out his sickness to increase the  bill: al-
 tho' 1 tell you this in confidence, that it will not go
 from you in this color or light. Our practice is bad,
 as you know, and cannot be otherwise.   I buy the
 medicine of you, and you know it is mostly poison;
 and  that is not all,  when we get a chance to try ex-
 periments, we do  it   I will mention two  cases.
 One man lost a piece of his nose, by accident, and I
 scalped him to patch  his nose.   In  another  case, a
 thild had the inflammation in his bowels, and I bled
 it twice, and the disorder was then removed to  hid
 head; I lastly bled it in the neck.
   A. I am frightened, doctor!  Did the child live?
   Dr. No, you fool! how did you  think the  child
 would live when bled twice in its arm, and once in
 the  neck.
   A. How did the man get along,  doctor?
   Dr. The same that any  one  would that should
 have his forehead skinned, and  had not broke  his
 skull.   This is nothing to what I can tell you.   Our
 medicine will cut as  harsh in the stomach and bow-.
 eb as the knives  will  on  the  outsider  Recellect 
(21)
what you have seen at funerals; the mouths of chil-
dren so destroyed by poison, as to show their  teeth
through the cheeks.
  A.  I am surprised doctor;  at all this: I never saw
it so plain before; altho' I knew what was going on!
  Dr.  What I have  related is nothing to what we
have done towards robbingthe people of their rights.
Twenty years  ago, the women did all the midwife-
ry, and we faught them out of the branch.  It  has
been a great help  to us;  but a great slaughter  has
keen made among the women and children, besides
the extravagant bills, too great to mention.   The
people begin to think there is something wrong, but
we tell them that we know,  and that is enough.
   A. That is right, doctor, but your profession docs
shake, and you must stick, or you are gone.
   Dr. Yes, I see that, very plainly; but if we could
smash the quacks, as we smashed the old women in
their business, that would  do.
   A. I presume you can, if you  hang light,  altho'
they are strong and wilful.
   Dr. So are we, and if the law improves in our fa-
vor as it has for a few years  past, we shall have the
government, property, and lives of  the  people in
our hands.
   A.  And that you ought to have, and  make poor
men work for one shilling a day.  Those times are
good,  and your law legs would not then be wanted.
   Dr. Yes, that is what we want;   and  we  would
hang the quacks, or root d<>"tors, for fear they  would
expose us in our conduct.
   A.  Yes, that is what ought to be done to all those
that do not  believe in poison, to be  used as  medi-
cine.
   Dr. We are troubled in the same manner the prea-
chers were, when the bible was first translated, so
that every man could read and pray for himself.
   A-  Yes, and that was bad for themj because  'it 
(**)
did not compel them to hear nor pay; but every man
was worthy of his hire, and if he hired, he must pay.
  Dr. Well, you know that was the new law.  Our
fathers faught for  liberty, and it was thought more
of then, than it is now.
  A.  Well, 1 know that, doctor.
  Dr. We want to have  the mechanics study sev-
en yenrs, so that if there are some  smart ones, and
some  thick heads, they can  begin  together, and
make  a law tosupportthem all, and sot liberty aside:
I want the same law  put in force;—if  the  people
will not take my medicine, they shall pay the  same
as if they did:  because our study is great on  the hu-
man system to know how much calomel it  would
take to salivate or  physic a man, and  where to bleed
in the neck or arm, and where to cut out patches in
the face, or on the  legs.
   A.  Yes, that will do.   It is bad to study so long,
and have no employ, or  use for such medicine and
treatment.
   Dr. 1 know that; so we must press iton slow, and
keep  the people blind; for if they see our iniquity,
they  will rise and fight for liberty  again.
   A. Be careful,  and you will do well  enough; be-
oause your study is to make the people believe you,,
and not believe their ewn eyes.
   Dr. Yes, that  is true, but there are many rascals
 telling the people not to believe us, and eur doc-
 trine, and that our theory of  medicine is not truej
 and the common people  do not hesitate to stop and
 Qontcnd with us whenever they meet us, and dictate
 to us in  giving medicine.
   A. Thit is a shame on professional  men;  but if
 you do not press  on strong, 1 am afraid that you will
 lose  your legs, and sink  on a par with the quacks of
 pf the country. And if ive do, you arc gone, and our
 race  is run for ever, not to re tarn.  My  shop  i6
 «nM- wi»h vnttr «kiH> 
(23)
    Dr. Do not be discouraged, I have  not  told  half
  that I could, but must tel!  this in confidence,  and
  you must keep it from the people.
    A. Never mind, I will keep it as  sacred  as  the
  Bible, and that is what  I do.
    Dr. This plan that our society is upon, is raising
  monopoly to a great pitch; but it will stand,  if we
  can keep the people blind as to our doings.   I  will
  relate it more plainly.   We might as well get a law
  that a man should not help another out ofthe river that
  was drowning, without he had law legs on, as to say
  he should not help one that was in distress, without
  law legs on; or that part  ofthe lawyers should stop
  while the others got rich.
    A. I am glad that you have been so successful for
  your and my good.   I believe  in  popularity,  and
  t^at has been of as long standing as your practice has
  been: I believe that there are as many'witches now
  as there ever was, if we could make people  be-
  lieve it: but the times are altered,—the weighiiig
  of papers to determine the balance  of accounts in
•court, skipple stones to balance grists when going
 to mill, and witches, are  all out of date.
    Dr. Yes,  and  (betwixt you and  I,) the common
 practice ought to be, also.  I  meet with troujjH
 with patients every day  ; they  make  me tell whal
 medicines I deal to them, and they will not take an}
 if there  is vitrol or nitre, rats-bane, aqua fortis, o
 calomel in it: and if I throw these away,  I car
 practice  any more.
   A.  I see you meet with serious difficulty with
 times ; but we hope for  better, and  it bids fai
 think, to be so.
   Dr. We have tried the legislature very hard  f
 three or four years, to make a law to break down!
 opposition.   They  have altered the law ; but*
 more mature reflection, I fear the  alteration m;
 operate rather against than for us.  They have tak
* 
Ci4)
off the twenty-five dollar fine, and left the penahy
to the  discretion  of the court.   The people when
left to their unbiased  judgment, are not friendly to
monopolise ;  and the  increasing liberality of the
age, will incline our courts, 1 fear, to favor the no-
tion of having the choice of one's physicians to the
individuals who  are most interested in employing
him.*  But we tell the people that the law is  in our
favor,  and that the quacks must stop ;  and if they
could be put down, it would be well for us, as you
know.                                       e
   A. Yes; and then we should be the guardians to?
the people.
   Dr.  Yes, in this enlightened land of liberty which
 our fathers fought and bled for.
   A.  That is a bold push, Doctor.
   Dr. Well you know that liberty will not do when
Ihere is falsehood, poison and witches.
   A.  I see  you understand your business, and I
 wish you success in  your cotcer.  I am in a hurry
 and my time is short.   I shoald be pleased to meet
 you again and talk on this important subject.
    Dr.   Do not be in  haste, it  seems as though I
 could not part with one of my friends since 1 heard
 of the new law.   My mind has been somewhat per-
 plexed between  hope and fear, as to the effect ofthe
  new law.  But I have so far succeeded with those
  persons by whom I  wishtd to  be trusted.  Since
  the alteration of the law, I can get trusted where 1
  could not get one cent before.  Since the petended
  new  law came out, 1 have got me a new hat and coat
  on credit.
    A.  That is encouraging, Doctor.  I will tell you
  some of my Christian principles, although I repent
  every day for it.  I hope it will do, but I often feel
  bad about it.   You know there is a great variety of
  puv.-nt pills, drops, powders, &c. leftwithus to sejl. 
                     t*ft)

What do we  do ?  That  which  6ells best we wi^l
counterfeit, and sell it for the genuine kind.       ,
  Dr. What do your buyers say 7
  A.  Not much, when we have our great stock of
poison to prepare patent medicine out of, instead of
the growth of the country.
  Dr.  I thought you were all honest.
  A.  We be, as the gallows.   What goes down the
throat, is as sure of the work as the rope around the
neck.
  Dr.  When  the  people are sick, they want good
medicine.
  A  Fool !  do you not know that we must live by
our trade ?   When  our  medicine comes to New-
York, the shipper's profit is small, and he must adul-
ter' 'e it, or counterfeit it, and then it is too  strong.
 ,»e put it into rye dough, roll it  into pills, and what
they do not kill, you get, Doctor.
   Dr. What you have stated, I have witnessed, and
my patients  more  ;—because lingering complaints,
hectic and consumption follow.
   A.  Well, we must help one another into business.
   Dr. Yes.   I fear our time  is short, and it is time
 for us to  be called to repentance.   It does appear
 that the veil of darkness is  broke, and the people
 begin to see  the dawn of day.
    A.  I f^ that is true, God have mercy upon us, and
 those that have been snatched from time to eternity,
 with our pretended patent medicines.
    Dr Yes;  and those lives  that have been trifled
 with, by experiments from our hands; and  women
 and children in child-bed, also.
    A. 1 begin to repent of what  I have done ; when
 I reflect back, it fairly makes me shudder.   How of-
 ten do I see horse thieves, and counterfeiters arraign-
 ed up for their crimes : but what is that to my crimel
    Dr. Nothing, after reflecting one moment.   Bad
 money is the loss of property,  and the same when 
/
#>r horse n stolen-, and bad  medicine is the wo#4
cf counterfeiting.
  A  What is our property to our lives?
 "Dr. Nothing, or not the weight of a straw.
  A.  Then our sins are unpardonable.
  Dr  What is our property to our health?  Noth
ing, because we may have all the riches in the world,
and we cannot enjoy any thing, unless we have our
health.
  A.  I believe that,  Doctor ; a man  had better be
poor and well, than rich and sick.
  Dr. Lord have  mercy!  every idea I hear advan-
ced, gives me trouble to my fate.
   A.  I feel as though 1 wanted to ask forgiveness
Of the whole  world.
   Dr. You have spoken my mind in full.  But I think
that God could not forgive us, if the people would.
   A.  Then how shall we settle our crime, Doctor?
   Dr.  I am drowned in tears: wait for a moment-*-
it cannot be settled.
   A.  Why, Doctor?
   Dr. You know that  medicine has snatched otij
friends off suddenly, and  gave them no chance to
repent, so we must answer  for their sins.  1 begin
to be humble, and this ought to be published to the
world.
   A. So I think,  Doctor, and let every man be hig
Own guardian, and employ whom he pleases, for the
law says, that "the laborer is worthy of his hire."
I have no more to-night.
   Dr. Nor have  I, for I am  full  as  I  can be; but
next time we meet, I hope this scene of  utter dark-
oess will be open, and we can see our way clear.
   A. Yes, that is what I do, Doctor, I hope that our
wickedness will  be no more.  I feel struck under
 conviction, so I must bid you good night, Doctor.
   Dr. You have  spoke my mind in full;  if yon s£0
 tfny chance for us, oall and  let me know it. 
i**\            >"
   Another horrid law now exists: that is, if a mafi
 ties in  the state prison, he is given to the doctors
 for dissection, as they call it: but they cut and  boil
 Ihe flesh, and sell the  bones  for  profit.  This  law
 goes to the most outrageous lengths.   It robs  the
 tomb of its just due;—it certainly must have  been
 passed without reason, reflection, or any due regard
 to human feelings;—it gives that away, which  no-
 thing  short of  the  Almighty ought to take the
 Charge of.  It must be allowed that the mangling of
 dead bodies does not hurt them',  but the friends or
 relation must bear the thoughts of having their chil-
 dren cut and mangled by that class of men  called
 doctors.  This  law reminds  me of a  trait in the
 character of our Indians, who, if  they get angry at a
 man, and cannot otherwise injure him, will punish
 Or kill his relatives.    If the  physicians  want sub-
 jects to dissect, let them take their own  wives or
 children, when dead.  If the legislature think  that
 they ought to take the charge of the prisoners bod*
 ies, it is for some cause.  It can  be for no other, as
 I can see, than to defray the expense of trial:  then
 let them hold the bodies in security according to the
 expense incurred.  If one dies after his services in
 prison have paid all  expenses, let him be buried:  if
 not, let a crier go through the streets, and  cry  the
 body for sale, and likewise give the friends and re-
 latives a chance to know of his death.   There is at
 present, no means provided for the relatives to learn
 the death of these unfortunates; but with very little
 trouble on the part of the keepers, they might  be
 informed.   If the body be not  taken  by the rela-
 tives, let it be auctioned; and if the doctors bid the
 most, let them have it;  and let the money be paidinto
{he treasury ofthe county where  he was convicted*
   Nature, reason, and  common  sense,  are greitly
 apposed to the practice at this day.   Twenty-five
 wars ago there  was  not one physician  to whf^ 
(26)
 there is ten now.   When they  began to increase
 their business could not support  them:  they then
 began to quarrel with the old  women  about mid-
 wifery, and soon quarrelled  them out of their branch
 ofthe business.  This added much to their profits,
 besides furnishing  an easy introduction to other fa-
 miliararities in  families.   They continued to press
 poison on the people as medicine,  and  the fevers
 would  run longer,  if the patient was rich, than tho*
 he was poor; and the people began to get their eyes
 open.  Then these regular  physicians, as they call
 themselves,  began  to complain about  quacks, or
 root doctors getting their business.  Then they
 pressed the  legislature (now  full of  doctors,)  to
 make laws for their  special benefit.   A law  was
passed  that physicians might have all the bodies that
died in the States Prison.   The sale ofthe  bones of
 anatomical subjects gave them some support.   But
'his was not enough; a law  was likewise procured
by their management that the  quacks should  pay
$25 if they practiced and received pay.  It was no
crime to practice; but the crime consisted in taking
pay; perhaps a year or three years after.   This step
was taken to discourage all  botanists who  would
wish to practice with safe, cheap, and good medi-
cine: but they  failed in  their object: they could
not hunt up the criminal where the patient was well,
and willing to pay.   They  found that this law was
 not severe enough; so  they pressed  to  have it so
amended as to  make it a misdemeanor to practice at
all, and punishable with fine and imprisonment, and
have at length effected that  object.   When the per-
 son is imprisoned,  who practices  without  license,
 he is out of their way, and does not  trouble  them
 when in prison,  by  getting  away  their business.
 Those  laws show their  nakedness in all their native
 deformity, and the people are  becoming awako to
 their danger.                        ° 
(29)
'<"£'
  Remark.   It poison minerals are gomi in eradi-
cating disease, will mild vegetable medicine be good?
  If poison minerals make a  well  man sick,  can
they make a sick  man well?
Ji plain view of the present  method of practice
          pursued by the Physicians.
  When a man is sick, he is like one sunk fast in
the mud.   What does the doctor say?  You are
strong and full  ef blood, and you must  be  reduced
below the disease; or in other  words,  you are al-
ready sunk waist deep, you must be crowded up to
your  neck in the mud, before it will do to help you
out.  He begins in like manner. The person is able
to walk the room ;  his arm is corded—one quart of
bleod  is  taken—ten  grains of calomel is given —
blisters arc plied—salt petre and opium left to use
through the night—water-gruel to nourish the  body
—by this lime he  is fastened to the pillow—watch-
ers are wanted to give the remainder of the medi-
cine.   Next visit  fever high—one  more  quart of
blood is taken—calomel and jalap  left, and  more
blisters drawn on the limbs and body.  By  this time
three  watchers are needed, one to give medicine,
one to throw water on his face to keep him from.
fainting,  and  one to fan  him to keep him alive.
Here he  is, up to his neck in mud; bled with the
lancet, skinned with Spanish flies, and gutted  with
calomel.  Counsel is called to keep this mode of kill-
ing popular.   They often agree, but quarrel to know
which shall attend the patient afterwards.  But if
given over by them, and nature is sufficient to over*
come the disease, and  those instruments  of  death
or poison, and the patient recovers, he is like a man
with  his  foot  in  a bear trap,  he neither lives nor
dies.   He is neither  fit for himself nor any body 
(3*)
 ehe ; languishing  out a miserable existence.  Ask
 what is the matter? The reply  is,  that  'fever has
 (broken my constitution.'   Others  who have  theit
 eyes open say, 'that poison I took, almost killed me*
 <V*y teeth are loose, my, bones are rotten, and my
 iJesh is sore.  1 cannot eat, and when I do, the food,
 eies  like a wedge in my stomach :   it does not di-
 gest at  all.   My stomach  has  been destroyed by
coinerals; and through the imposition practiced on
 me  by calling them medicines.  This  is the first
sickness lever had;—I have,however,proved  these
.remedies of the doctors  to be much worse than the
disorders.  I am surprised to see the people so dup-
ed  with the doctor's blarney.'   If you  should get
 into the mud, and calling on your neighbor to help
you out, he should tell you that he must get on your
shoulders, and thrust  you  up to your neck to get
 you out, what would you say? You would discharge
your neighbor at once, and  call  on  another that
tirould aid your struggles, or you would  lie as you
«vere, and not oppose nature;  but in the case of the
disorder, you would assist nature by the use of sue!?
 remedies as tended to  remove the obstruction,
       THE DOCTOR AND QUAKER.
  A Quaker was walking in the town  of----, iu
<pmpany with a learned doctor. I n the course ofcon-
▼ersation, the  Friend mentioned the  many fal&e,
leedless, and hurtful fashions and  customs of the
rfay;  and many institutions  which he considered
Useless; he also  observed that many  things  were
Wrongly  named, mentioning the particulars.
  As they proceeded,  they came  to a medical col-
ttdge.  "Friend, (said the doctor) do you think this
building  is rightly  named? No, replied  the Quaker.
L *%i jw  w«r« to put a sign on this boildiDg, (said 
(31)
Lhe doctor) what would you have on it ?"   Indeed,
said the Friend, if I were to do justice to the build-
ing, by giving a true  sign, I would have an horse
and rider painted pale, with this text under the man
and horse    Rev. vi.  8.  "And I looked, and behold
a/?a/ehorse; and  his name that sat on him was
death, and hell followed with him."
   Rush had attended  a gentleman for some time,
when the patient finding himself grow worse under
the infallible remedies, proposed the calling in of
another physician.   "With all my heart, my dear
friend,"  said Rush; upon which  the  gentleman
named doctor Khun.   "No," replied the  modest
son of Mercury, "I will never consult with Khun!"
"If you will not  attend  with doctor Khun," said
the gentleman,  "Ae must attend without you; that
is all."   A few days afterwards, Rush, seeing Khun
going to his old patient, called out to him: "He is
out of danger already; I defy you to kill him!"—
"Why," replied  Khun, "after his passing through
your hands, he may, indeed, safely set death at de-
fiance."
   Mr. Barry, a respectable citizen, sometime in the
course of last summer, applied to an apothecary for
a  dose ofthe cream of tartar, in place of which he
received tartar emetic;  he had no sooner taken  a
small portion of it,  than  he was thrown into the
most violent  puking and spams.    A physician  waa
immediately sent for, who administered fifteen grain*
of white vitriol.   Death  soon  followed.   Query,
which killed the man, the tartar emetie, or the whits
vitriol? 
■M)
  It is said thai a young  man  having'finiiWMii*
■smdiesuponfishionablc minerals, opium, blistering.
issues, setons, &c set out in search for a place. On
his way he met an old  man, a Quaker, with whom
he had been acquainted.   Sir, said the young  man,
how shall I make the people know 1  am a doctor!
"I will tell thee friend, when thnu  hast  found  a
rdacc, I advise thee to buy about a  dozen ducks, and
they wiU tell the people where thou art, for  they
will constantly  say quaik! quack! quack! and by
this, the  people will all find thee.''
                ———w—

   "Dr. Rush, in that emphatic style which is  pecu
liar to himself,  calls mercury the Satnpson of med-
icine.   In his hands, and in those of  his partizans,
it may,  indeed,  be compared to Sampson; for 1
verily believe, they have slain more Americans with
it,  than ever Sampson slew of the Philistines.   The
Israelite slew his thousands, but the  Rushites have
ilain their tens of thousands."
             THE PREACHER.
Kom. iii. 1»;. —Destruction and misery are in their
  ways, and the way of peace have they not known
  There are no men on earth on whom so much is
depending, as on doctors, as it  respects this life; and
there are no- men, according to their books, who,
in my  view,  use such destructive  things as they
give.  The account given of  the  sick woman, and
of those who tended  her, seem  applicable  in this
case, Mark v. 25, 26.   "And a certain woman,
which  had  an issue of blood twelve years, and  had
suffered manv things of many physicians, ind had
spent all that she  had, and was nothing bettered, but 
v33;
rather grew worse," &c.   It appears that their war
was destructive, and  led to misery; for the poor wo-
man, in addition to twelve years' sickness, suffer-
ing, and loss of property, was in a worse condition
than at  the beginning.                      •
  Without going back eighteen hundred years, wc
may see a proof of the  destructive and miserable
way of  treating the sick and dead in  our day, and
near our dwellings.   One says, my child had a dis-
order in her eyes; I applied to  a doctor, and she
soon became blind, and so must remain until she
dies.  Another, my child  was unwell, the doctor
gave her mercury, and she has wholly  lost the use
of her arm to this day.  A third says, I had a fever,
the doctor salivated  me; and  I have lost all my
teeth.   Another, I was sick, all my hair come off,
and so I remain.   Another, I had a fever, and took
calomel, and a shock of the  palsy followed.  An-
other, my child had a fever,  the doctor  shaved his
bead, and  blistered  it;  he became  delirious, and
died.   Another sa)rs, my sister was sick  and rest-
less, the doctor gave her opium, she fell  asleep and
never woke again.   Another, I  had a fever, it, or
the mercury, fell into my leg, and caused a running
sore from that time.  Astranger comes forward and
says, my child took cold in his arm, I applied to a
doctor,  who attended him almost half a year, until
he had  three sores  on his arm,  his elbow stiff, but
little appetite, with the  loss of his  health, and a
large bill  to pay,  and the child worse at the end
than at  the beginning.  And why all this destruc-
tion and misery?   Because poison was administered
instead  of medicine, or because the difficulties were
not rightly managed.
  In addition to all this, witness the destruction of hu»
man bodies after  they are dead, and the misery of
friends  on hearing vvhathas been done to the dead, by
men professingto be friends to the sick and distressed- 
                    (34)

!lou> treat is Calomel, the Goddess of DiaWtrf
  1. Quacks of the highest rank,
    To pay their fees* would break a Bank,
    Since wisdom, science, art, and skill,
    Seems all compris'd in Calomel.

  $. Since Calomel's become their toast,
    How many patients have they lost-
    How many thousands do they kill,
    Or poison with their Calomel.

  1 llowe'er their patients may complain,
    Of head or heart, of nerve or vein,
    Of fevers high, or parts that swell,
    Their  remedy in Calomel.

  4. When Mr. A— or B— is sick,
    Go fetch the  Doctor  and be quick,
    The Doctor comes of free good  will;
    But ne'er forgets his Calomel.

  $ He takes his  patient by the hand,
    And complements him as a friend,
    He sits awhile his pulse to feel,
    And then deals out his Calomel,

  tX  He turns upon his patient's wife,
     Have  you clean paper, ma'am, and knift;?
     I think your husband might do  well
     To take a course of Calomel.

  *7* He then deals out the fatal grains.
     With opium, to ease his pains,
     Once  in three hours at sound of bell
     Give  him a dose of Calomel.

   1. He leave* his patient in her care,
     And  bids good r:i^;ht with graceful  air, 
cas)
  > In'hopes bad humors to expels
    She freely gives the Calomel.

 Q. The man reclines upon his bed,
    And o'er the pillow leans his head;
    Like hunted harts upon the hill,
    He pants and drills with Calomel.

10. His neighbors they flock in to see
    The dire effects of Mercury.
    What is it so affects the smell?
    ?Tis putrid fumes of Calomel.

41. The man grows worse quite fast indeed,
    Go call a council, ride with 6peed,
    The council comes like  post or tnaU,
    And orders him more Calomel.

 i2. The man in death begins to groan,,
    The fatal job for him  is  done,
    No fault is  found, the doctor's bill
    Is forty pounds for Calomel.

 V3. The funeral charges must be paid,
    And under ground the body laid,
    The lawyer executes the will,
    And pays the charge for Calomel.

 >4. Now Calomel has lo6t his name,
    And hidrug plays his deadly game.,
    And does his office woi k fulfil,  '
    As faithfully as Calomel.

 \5. Physicians of  my former choice,
    Receive my council, take advice.)
    Be not offended though I tell
    I'm not so fond of Calomel. 
*30i
*0.  And when I must resign mv brt-aui,
    Pray let n>c die a natural »l- at i,
    \:id bid you oil a long farewell,
    Without hidrug or Calomel.
     MODERN  PRACTICE.

Much  horrid torture every day,
Amongst our neighbor's we survey,
W done by Indians it would kill,
If by learned doctors it is skill.

The lancet's us'd to take tho blood,   '*
'The poisonous mercury for our good.
l'he\ nitre give to kill  the heat,
They tell the patient not to eat;

 l'hey opium give to case the pain;
This kills in part then live again,
 i'<- taki!  the life which doth remain,
iluy then  the lancet use again.

The blister's us'd to help distress,
•V"' break the patient of his rest,
With setons they will tear the skin,
With physic clear what is within.

The tortur'd victim now must die,
The worms have kill'd him is their cry,
Or else the time the Lord hath *ent,
Our healing power can't death prevent.

.This is the place  some moderns fill,
Where one is cur'd there's ten is kill'd,
We now presume to tell those tales,
That death's a cure thit never fails.