>y> ► 'JO » >'ti> 2K> ■ ■ *m y> .v >> JZnyraved /rem.the Oriyinall'tcture. in the pa BENJAMIN RUSH MoD'o iholjj). A N ORATION, DELIVERED FEBRUARY 4, 1774, BEFORE THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL S O C I E T Y, H E L D A T '" PHILADELPHIA. CONTAINING, ^n Enquiry into the Natural Hiftory of Mebicink among the Indians in North-America, A comparative View of their Diseases and Reme- dies, with thofe of civilized Nations. Together with an Appendix, containing, PROOFS and ILLUSTRATIONS. By BENJAMIN RUSH, M. D. Profeflbr of Chemiftry in the College of Philadelphia. Let Homines fe fervent twjvurs dc leitr yeux fourfe csiiduire, et Us ne fervent prefque Jamais tie tear V.fprit pour decouvrir la ■verite. Lertr but principal cfi de fc avoir ce qu'il a crti, Ci«< fe/"j(-_ tier de ce qu'ilfaut croire-----,----MiLr.DRiKCHE. ■^mtttEffS PHILADELPHIA Printed by JOSEPH C R U K S H A N I£ i Street, between SeconJ and Third Streets, T O Dr. RICHARD HUCK, or LONDON, THE FOLLOWING ORATION, AS A SMALL TRIBUTE TO HIS ABILITIES and VIRTUES. ASA SCHOLAR, A PHYSICIAN, AND A GENTLEMAN, is IN S C RIBED by his SINCERE FRIEND, The AUTHOR. c ADVERTISEMENT. MA N Y of the fa&s contained in the' natural hiftory of medicine among the Indians in the following oration, are taken from La Hontan's and Charlevoix's hiftories of Canada: But the mofl mate- rial of them are taken from perfons who had lived, or travelled among the Indi- ans. The author acknowledges himfelf indebted in a particular manner to Mr. Edward Hand, furgeon in the 18th regi- ment, who during feveral years refidence at Fort Pitt, directed his enquiries into their cufloms, difeafes, and remedies, with a fuccefs that does equal honor to his ingenuity and diligence. A N ORATION, «**. GENTLEMEN, 1R I S E with peculiar diffidence to addrefs you upon this occafion, when I refledt upon the entertainment you propofed to yourfelves from the eloquence of that learned member*, whom your fuffrages appointed to this honor after the delivery of the laft annlverfary orati- on. Unhappy for the interefts of litera- ture, his want of health has not permit- ted him to comply wlthyourappointment. I beg therefore that you would forget for a while, the abilities necefTary to execute this talk with propriety, and liften with candor to the efforts of a member, whofe attachment to the fociety, was the only qualification that entitled him to the ho- nor of your choice. The * Mr. Charles Thompfon. C 8 ] The fubject I have chofen for this evening's entertainment, is " An enquiry " into the natural hiftory of medicine " among the Indians in North-America, " and a comparative view of their difeafes " and remedies with thofe of civilized " nations." You will readily anticipate the difficulty of doing juflice to this fub- ject. How fhall we diftinguifh between the original difeafes of the Indians and thofe contracted from their intercourfe with the Europeans ? By what arts fhall we perfuade them to difcover their reme- dies ? and laftly, how fhall we come at the knowledge of facts in that cloud of errors, in which the credulity of the Eu- ropeans, and the fuperftition of the In- dians have involved both their difeafes and remedies ? Thefe difficulties ferve to increafe the Importance of our fubjecr. If I fhould not be able to folve them, perhaps I may lead the way to more fuc- cefsful endeavors for that purpofe. I shall firft limit the tribes of Indians who are to be the objects of this enquiry, to thofe who inhabit that part of North- America which extends from the 30th to t 9 3 to the o"oth degree of latitude. When we exclude the Efquimaux, who inhabit the fhores of Hudfon's bay, we fhall find a general refemblance in the color, man- ners, and ftate of fociety, among all the tribes of Indians who inhabit that exten- five tract of country. Civilians have divided nations into favage, barbarous, and civilized. The favage, live by fifhing and hunting. The barbarous, by pafturage or cattle; and the civilized, by agriculture. Each of thefe are connected together in fuch a manner that the whole appear to form different parts of a circle. Even the man- ners of the moft civilized nations partake of thofe of the favage* It would feem as if liberty and indolence were the higheft purfuits of man ; and thefe are enjoyed in their greateft perfection by favages, or in the practice of cuftoms which refemble thofe of favages. The Indians of North-America partake chiefly of the manners of favages. In the earlieft accounts we have of them, we find them cultivating a fpot of ground. B The C 10 ] The maize is an original grain among them. The different difhes of it which are in ufe among the white people ftill retain Indian names. It will be unneceffary to fhow that the Indians live in a ftate of fociety adapted to all the exigencies of their mode of life. Thofe who look for the fimplicity and perfection of the ftate of nature, muft feek it in fyftems, as abfurd in phi- lofophy, as they are delightful in poetry. Before we attempt to afcertain the number or hiftory of the difeafes of the Indians, it will be necefTary to enquire in- to thofe cuftoms among them which we know influence difeafes. For this pur- pofe I fhall, Firft, Mention a few facts which relate to the birth and treatment of their chil- dren. Secondly, I fhall fpeak of their diet. Thirdly, Of the cuftoms peculiar to each of the fexes. And, Fourth, [ II ] Fourthly, Of thofe cuftoms which are common to them both, I. Of the birth and treatment of their children. Much of the future health of the body depends upon its original ftamina. A child born of healthy parents always brings into the world a fyftem formed by nature to refift the caufes of difeafes. The treatment of children among the Indians, tends to fecure this hereditary firmnefs of conftitution. Their firft food is their mother's milk. To harden them againft the a&ion of heat and cold (the natural enemies of health and life among the Indians) they are plunged every day in cold water. In order to facilitate their being moved from place to place, and at the fame time, to preferve their fhapes, they are tied to a board, where they lie on their backs for fix, ten, or eighteen months. A child generally fucks its mother till it Is two years old, and fome- times longer. It is eafy to conceive how much vigor their bodies mud acquire from this fimple, but wholefome nou- riftimenk C « 3 rifhment. The appetite we fometimes obferve in children for flefh, is altoge- ther artificial. The peculiar irritability of the fyftem In infancy, forbids ftimu- lating aliment of all kinds. Nature never calls for animal food till fhe has provided the child with thofe teeth which are ne- cefTary to divide it. I fhall not under- take to determine how far the wholfome quality of the mother's milk is increafed by her refufing the embraces of her huf- band, during the time of giving fuck. II. The diet of the Indians is of a mixed nature, heing partly animal and partly vegetable; their animals are wild and therefore eafy of digeftion. As the Indians are naturally more difpofed to the indolent employment of fifbing than hunting in fummer, fo we find them living more upon fifh than land animals, in that fea- fon of the year. Their vegetables confift Of roots and fruits, mild in themfelves, or capable of being made fo by the ac- tion of fire. Altho' the interior parts of our continent abound with fait fprings, yet I cannot find that the Indians ufed fait in their diet, till they were inftrudt- ed C 13 1 ed to do fo by the Europeans. The fmall quantity of fixed alkali contained in the afhes on which they roafted their meat, could not add much to its ftimulating quality. They preferve their meat from putrefaction, by cutting it into fmall pieces, and expofing it in fummer to the fun, and in winter to the frolt. In the one cafe its moifture is diffipated, and in the other fo frozen, that it cannot undergo the putrefactive procefs. In dreffing their meat, they are careful to preferve its juices. They generally pre- fer it in the form of foops. Hence we find, that among them, the ufe of the fpoon preceded that of the knife and fork. They take the fame pains to pre- ferve the juice of their meat when they roaft it, by turning it often. The effi- cacy of this animal juice in diflolving meat in the ftomach, has not been equal- led by any of thofe fauces or liquors, which modern luxury has mixed with it for that purpofe. The Indians have no fet time for eat- ing, but obey the gentle appetites of na- ture, as often as they call them. After whole C 14 ] whole days fpent in the chafe or in war, they often commit thofe exceffes in eat- ing, to which long abflinence can not fail of prompting them. It is common to fee them fpend three or four hours in fatisfying their hunger. This is occafioned not more by the quantity they eat, than by the pains they take in mafticating it. III. We come now to fpeak of thofe cuftoms which are peculiar to the fexes. And, firft, of thofe which belong to the women. They are doomed by their hufbands to fuch domeftic labor as gives a firmnefs to their bodies, bordering up- on the mafculine. Their menfes feldom begin to flow before they are eighteen, or twenty years of age, and generally ceafe before they are forty. They have them in fmall quantities, but at regular inter- vals. They feldom marry till they are above twenty. The conftitution has now acquired a vigor, which enables it the better to fupport the convulfions of child- bearing. This cuftom likewife guards againft a premature old age. Doctor Bancroft C 15 ] Bancroft afcribes the haggard looks-— the loofe hanging breafts—and the pro- minent bellies of the Indian women at Guiana, entirely to their bearing children too early *. Where marriages are un- fruitful (which is feldom the cafe) a fepa- ration is obtained by means of an eafy di- vorce; fo that they are unacquainted with the difquietudes which fometimes arife from barrennefs. During pregnancy, the women are exempted from the more la- borious parts of their duty—Hence mif- carriages rarely happen among them. Nature is their only midwife. Their la- bors are fhort, and accompanied with lit- tle pain. Each woman is delivered in a private cabbin, without fo much as one of her own fex to attend her. After wafh- ing herfelf in cold water, {he returns in a few days to her ufual employments ; fo that fhe knows nothing of thofe accidents which arife from the careleffnefs, or ill management of midwives, or thofe weak- neffes which arife from a month's confine- ment in a warm room. It is remarkable that there is hardly a period in the inter- val between the eruption and the ceafing of * Natural hiftory of Guiana. [ 16- ] of the menfes, in which they are not pregnant, .or giving fuck. This is the moft natural ftate of the conftitution during that interval; and hence we often find it connected with the beft ftate of health in the women of civilized nations. The cuftoms peculiar to the Indian men, confift chiefly in thofe employ- ments which are necefTary to preferve animal life, and to defend their nation. Thefe employments are hunting and war, eacl) of which is conducted in a manner that tends to call forth every fibre into exercife, and to enfure them the poffeffion of the utmoft poffible health. In times of plenty and peace, we fee them fome- times rifing from their beloved indolence, and fhaking off its influence by the fa- lutary exercifes of dancing and fwim- ming. The Indian men feldom marry before they are thirfy years of age: They no doubt derive confiderable vigor from this cuftom ; for while they are fecured by it, from the enervating effects of the premature dalliance of love, they may enfure more certain fruitfulnefs to their wives, and entail more certain health upon L" 17 ] Upon their children. Tacitus defcribes the fame cuftom among the Germans, and attributes to it the fame good effe&s. " Sera juvenum venus, eoque inexaufta " pubertas ; nee virgines feftinantur j ea- " dem juventa, fimilis proceritas, pares " validique mifcentur ; ac robora paren- " turn liberi referunt."(a) Among the Indian men it is deemed a mark of heroifm to bear the moft ex- quifite pain without complaining; upon this account they early inure themfelves to burning part of their bodies with fire, or cutting them with fharp inftruments. No young man can be admitted to the honors of manhood or wav, who has not acquitted himfelf well in thefe trials of patience and fortitude. It is eafy to con- ceive how much this contributes to give a tenfion to the nervous fyftem, which renders it lefs fubject to the occafional caufes of difeafes. IV. We come now to fpeak of thofe cuftoms which are common to both fex- es : Thefe are painting, and the ufe of the cold bath. The pracfice of anoint- C ing t 18 3 ihg the body with oil is common to the favages of all countries: In warm climates it is faid to promote longevity, by check- ing exceffive perfpiration. The Indians generally ufe bear's greafe mixed with a clay, which bears the greateft refemblance to the color of their fkins. This pig'1 ment ferves to leffen the fenfibility of the extremeties of the nerves: It moreover fortifies them againft the action of thofe exhalations, which we fhall mention here- after, as a confiderable fource of their dif- eafes. The cold bath likewife fortifies the body, and renders it lefs fubjedt to thofe difeafes which arife from the extremes and viciffitudes of heat and cold* We fhall fpeak hereafter of the Indian man- ner of ufing it. The ftate of fociety among the Indians excludes the influence of moft of thofe paffions which diforder the body. The turbulent effects of anger are concealed in deep and lafting refentments. Envy and ambition are excluded by their equality of power and property: Nor is it necef- Tary that the perfections of the whole fex fhould be afcribed to one, to induce them to v C 19 3 to marry. " The weaknefs of love (fays " doctor Adam Smith) which is fo much {S indulged in ages of humanity and po« " litenefs, is regarded among favages as " the moft unpardonable effeminacy. A " young man would think himfelf dif- " graced for ever, if he fhowed the leaft " preference of one woman above another, " or did not exprefs the moft compleat " indifference, both about the time when, " and the perfon to whom he was to be " married *." Thus are they exempted from thofe violent or lafting difeafes, which accompany the feveral ftages of fuch pafiions in both fexes among cWi- lized nations, It is remarkable that there are no de- formed Indians: Some have fufpected from this circumftance, that they put their deformed children to death; but nature here acts the part of an unna- tural mother. The feverity of the Indi- an manners deftrpys them, (b) From a review of the cuftoms of the Indians, we need not be furprifed at the ftatelinefs. * Theory of moral fentiments. [ 10 ] ftatelinefs, regularity of features, and dignity of afpecl: by which they are cha-r racferized. Where we obferve thefe among ourfelves, there is always a pre- fumption of their being accompanied with health, and a ftrong conftitution. Having finifhed our enquiry into the phyfical cuftoms of the Indians, we fhall proceed now to enquire into their difeafes, A celebrated profeffor of anatomy has afferted, that we could not tell by reaToning a priori, that the body was mortal, fo intimately woven with its tex- ture, are the principles of life. Lord Ba- con declares, that the only caufe of death which is natural to man, is that from old age; and complains of the imperfection of phyfic, in not being able to guard the principle of life, until the whole of the oil that feeds it, is confumed. We can- not admit of this propofition of our noble philofopher. In the inventory of the grave in every country, we find more of the fpoils of youth and manhood, than of age. This rauft be attributed to moral as well as phyfical gaufes. We [ 21 J We need only recollect the cuftom among the Indians, of fleeping in the open air in a variable climate—the alternate acti- on of heat and cold upon their bodies, to which the warmth of their cabbins expofes them—their long marches—their exceffive exercife—their intemperance in eating, to which their long falling, and their pub- lic feafts naturally prompt them: And, laftly, the vicinity of their habitations to the banks of rivers, in order to difcover the empire of difeafes among them in every ftage of their lives. They have in vain attempted to elude the general laws of mortality, while their mode of life fubjefts them to thefe remote, but cer- tain caufes of difeafes. From what we know of the action of thefe potentiae nocentes upon the human body, it will hardly be necefTary to appeal to facts to determine that fevers conftitute the only difeafes among the Indians. Thefe fevers are occafioned by the fenfible and infenfible qualities of the air. Thofe which are produced by cold, are of the inflammatory kind, fuch as pleurifies, peripneumonies, and rheumatifms, Thofe which [ « 3 which are produced by the infenfible qualities of the air, or by putrid exhala- tions,— are intermitting,—putrid,—and inflammatory, according as the exhalatU ons are combined with more or lefs heat or cold. The dysentery (which is an In- dian difeafe) comes under the clafs of fevers. It is the febris introverfaof Dr. Sydenham. The Indians are fubject to animal and vegetable poisons. The effects of thefe upon the body, are in fome degree analogous to the exhalations we have mentioned. When they do not bring on fudden death, they produce according to their malignity, either an inflammatory or putrid fever. The small pox and the venereal disease were communicated to the In- dians in North-America by the Europeans. Nor can I find that they were ever fubject to the scurvy. Whether this was obviated by their method of preferving their flefh, or by their mixing it at all times with vegetables, I fhall not undertake to de- termine. Doctor Maclurg afcribes to frefh [ n 1 frefh meat an antifeptic quality*. Th« peculiar cuftoms and manners of life among the Indians, feems to have exempt- ed them from thefe, as well as all other dif- eafes of the fluids. The leprofy—elephan- tiafis—fcurvy—and venereal difeafe, ap- pear to be different modifications of the fame primary diforder. The fame caufes produce them in every age and country. They are diverfified like plants by climate and nourifhment. They all fprung origi- nally from a moift atmofphere, and un- wholfome diet: hence we read of their prevailing fo much in the middle cen- turies, when the principal parts of Europe were overflowed with water, and the in- habitants lived entirely on fifh, and a few unwholfome vegetables. The abolition of the feudal fyftem in Europe by introduc- ing freedom, introduced at the fame time agriculture; which by multiplying the fruits of the earth, leffened the confump- tion of animal food, and thus put a flop to thefe diforders. The elephantiafis is al- moft unknown in Europe. The leprofy is confined chiefly to the low countries of Africa. The plica polonica once fo com- mon * Experiments on the bile, and reflexions on the biliary fecrction. C H 3 mon in Poland is to be found only in books of medicine. The venereal difeafe will probably in a few years ceafe to be a tax upon unlawful embraces. The fmall pox is no longer a fatal diforder, when the body is prepared for its reception, by a vege- table regimen. Even the plague itfelf is lofing its fling. It is hardly dreaded at this time in Turky; and its very exift- ence is preferved there by the doctrine of fatalifm, which prevails among the inhabitants of that country. It may ferve as a new and powerful motive againft political flavery to perceive, that it is connected with thofe difeafes which moft deform and debafe the human body. It may likewife ferve to enhance the bleffings of liberty, to trace its effects, in eradicating fuch loathTome and deftructive diforders. (c) I have heard of two or three cafes of the gout among the Indians, but it was only among thofe who had learned the ufe of rum, from the white people. A queftion naturally occurs here, and that is; wby does not the gout appear more frequently among that clafs of people, who C *5 3 who confume the greateft quantity of rum among ourfelves ? To this I ar.fwer, that the effects of this liquor upon thofe enfeebled people, are too fudden and violent, to admit of their being thrown upon the extremities ; as wc know them to be among the Indians. They appear only in vifceral obftructions, and a com- plicated train of chronic difeafes. Thus putrid miafmata are fometimes too ftrong to bring on a fever, but produce inftant debility, and death. The Gout is feldom heard of in Ruffia, Denmark or Poland. Is this occafioned by the vigor of conflitu- tion peculiar to the inhabitants of thofe northern countries ? Or is it caufed by their exceffive ufe of fpirituous liquors, which produce the fame chronic com- plaints among them, which we faid were common among the lower clafs of people in this country ? The fimilarity of their difeafes, makes the laft of thefe fuppofiti- ons the moft probable. The effects of wine, like tyrranny in a well formed govern- ment, are felt firft in the extremities; while fpirits, like a bold invader, feize at once upon the vitals of the conftitucion. D I CAN- C ^ 3 I cannot find any accounts of difeafes from Worms among the Indians. Worms are common to moft animals; they pro- duce difeafes only in weak, or increafe them in ftrong conftitutions.----Hence they have no place in the nofological fyftems of phyfic. Nor does dentition appear to be a diforder among the Indi- ans. The facility with which the heal- thy children of healthy parents cut their teeth, among civilized nations, gives us reafon to conclude that the Indian chil- dren never fuffer from this quarter. The employments of the Indians fub- ject them to many accidents; hence we fometimesread of wounds, fractures, and luxations among them. Having thus pointed out the na- tural difeafes of the Indians, and fhown what diforders are foreign to them; we may venture to conclude, that fe- vers, old age, casualties and war are the only natural outlets of hu- man life. War is nothing but a dif- temper ; it is founded in the imperfecti- on of political bodies j juft as fevers are founded L 27 3 founded on the weaknefs of the animal body.—Providence in thefe difeafes feems to act like a mild legiflature, which miti- gates the feverity of death, by inflicting it in a manner the leaft painful upon the whole, to the patient and the furvivors. Let us now enquire into the remedies of the Indians. Thefe like their difeafes are fimple, and few in number. Among the firft of them we fhall mention the powers of nature. Fevers we faid formerly, conftituted the chief of the dif- eafes among the Indians ; they are like- wife, in the hands of nature, the principal inftruments to remove the evils which threaten her diffolution ; (d) but the event of thefe efforts of nature, no doubt, foon convinced the Indians of the danger of trufting her in all cafes; and hence in the earlieft accounts we have of their manners, we read of perfons who were intrufted with the office of phyficians. It will be difficult to find out the ex- act order, in which the Indian remedies were fuggefted by nature ; or difcovered by art; nor will it be eafy to arrange them in proper order. I fhall however attempt it [ »8 ] it, by reducing them to Natural, and ARTIFICIAL. To the clafs of natural remedies belongs the Indian practice, of abftracting from their patients all kinds of ftimulat- ing aliment. The compliance of the In- dians with this dictate of nature, in the early llage of a diforder, no doubt, pre- vents in many cafes, their being obliged to ufe any other remedy. They follow nature flill clofer, in allowing their pati- ents to drink plentifully of cold water; this being the only liquor a patient calls for in a fever. Sweating is likewife a natural reme- dy. It was probably fuggefted by obferv- ing fevers to be terminated by it. I fhall not enquire how far thefe fweats are ef- fential to the crifis of fevers. The Indian mode of procuring this evacuation is as follows; the patient is confined in a clofe tent, or wigwam, over a hole in the earth, in which a red hot ftone is placed; a quantity of water is thrown upon this ftone, which inftantly involves the patient in a cloud of vapour and fweat; in this fituation [ 29 3 fituation he rufhes out, and plunges him- felf into a river; from whence he retires to his bed. If the' remedy has been ufed with fuccefs, he rifes from his bed in four and twenty hours, perfectly recovered from his indifpofition. This remedy is ufed not only to cure fevers, but to re- move that uneafinefs which arifes from fatigue of body. A third natural remedy among the Indians, is purging. The fruits of the earth, the flefh of birds, and other animals feeding upon particular vege- tables, and above all, the fpontaneous efforts of nature, early led the Indians to perceive the neceffity and advantages of this evacuation, Vomits conftitute their fourth natural remedy. They were probably like the for- mer, fuggefted by nature, and accident. The ipecacuana is one of the many roots they employ, for this purpofe. The artificial remedies made ufe of by the Indians, are bleeding, caus- tics, and astringent medicines. They confine bleeding entirely to the part af- afected. [ y> 3 fected. To know that opening a vein in the arm, or foot, would relieve a pain in the head, or fide, fuppofes fome Kno .v- ledge of the animal ceconomy, and there- fore marks an advanced period in the hiftory of medicine. Sharp ftones and thorns, are the in- flruments they ufe, to procure a difcharge of blood, We have an account of the Indians ufing fomething like a potential caus- tic, in obftinate pains. It confifts of a piece of rotten wood, called punk, which they place upon the part affected, and afterwards fet it on fire ; the fire gra- dually confumes the wood, and its allies burn a hole in the flefh, The undue efforts of nature, in thofe fevers which are connected with a diarr- hoea, or dyfentry, together with thofe hemorrhages to which their mode of life expofed them, neceffarily led them to an early difcovery of fome astringent vegetables. I am uncertain whether the Indians rely upon aftringent, or any t 31 3 any other vegetables, for the cure of thd intermitting fever. This difeafe among them probably requires no other reme- dies than the cold bath, or cold air. Its greater obftinacy, as well as frequency among ourfelves, muft be fought for in the greater feeblenefs of our conflituti- ons; and in that change which our country has undergone, from meadows— mill-dams—and the cutting down of woods ; whereby morbid exhalations have been multiplied, and their paffage rendered more free, through every part of the country, (e) Thi s is a fhort account of the remedies of the Indians. If they are fimple, they are like their eloquence, full of ftrength ; if they are few in number, they are ac- commodated, as their languages are to their ideas, to the whole of their difeafes. We faid formerly that the Indian's were fubject to accidents, fuch as wounds—fractures-----and the like. In thefe cafes, nature performs the office of afurgeon. We may judge of her qualifi- cations for this office, by obferving the marks C 3* 3 marks of wounds, and fractures, which are fometimes difcovered on wild ani- mals. But further, what is the praftice of our modern furgeons in thefe cafes? Is it not to lay afide plafters and oint- ments, and truft the whole to nature ? Thofe ulcers which require the affiftance of mercury, bark, and a particular regi* men, are unknown to the Indians. Their practice of attempting to reco- ver drowned people, is irrational and unfuccefsful. It confifts in fufpending the patient by the heels, in order ^that the water may flow from his mouth. This practice is founded on a belief, that the patient dies from fwallowing an exceffive quantity of water. But modern obferva- tion teaches us, that, drowned people die of an apoplexy. This difcovery naturally fuggefts a method of cure, di* rectly oppofite to that in ufe among the Indians; and fhows us that the practice of fufpending by the heels is hurtful. We have heard much of their fpeci* fie antidotes to the venereal disease. In the accounts of thefe antivenereal me- « dicines C 33 3 dicines, fome abatement fhould be made for that love of the marvellous, and of noveltyj which are apt to CFeep into the writings Of travellers, and phyficians. How many medicines which were once thought infallible in this diforder, are noW rejected from the materia medica ! I have found upon enquiry, that the Indians always affift their medicines in this dif- eafe, by a regimen which promotes per- foration. Should we allow that mercury acts as a fpecific in deftroying this dif- order, it does not follow that it is proof againft the efficacy of medicines which act more mechanically upon the body, (f) There cannot be a ftronger mark of the imperfect ftate of knowledge in medi- cine amOng the Indians, than their method of treating the small-pox. We are told that they plunge themfelves in cold water, in the beginning of the diforder, and that it generally proves fatal to them. Travellers fpeak in high terms of the Indian antidotes to poisons. We muft remember* that many things have been E thought C 34 3 thought poifonous, which later experi- ence hath proved to poffefs no unwhole- fome quality. Moreover the uncertainty and variety in the operation of poifons, render it extremely difficult to fix the certainty of their antidotes, to them. How many fpecifics have derived their credit for preventing the hydrophobia, from perfons being wounded by animals, who were not in a fituation to produce that diforder! If we may judge of all the Indian antidotes to poifons, by thofe which have fallen into our hands, we have little reafon to afcribe much to them in any cafes whatever. I have heard of their performing feveral remarkable cures upon stiff joints, by an infufion of certain herbs in water.— The mixture of feveral herbs together in this infufion calls in queftion the fpecific efficacy of each of them. I cannot help attributing the whole fuccefs of this re- medy, to the great heat of the water, in which the herbs were boiled ; and to its being applied a long time to the part af- fected. We find the fame medicine to vary frequently in its fuccefs, according to C 35 3 to its ftrength, or to the continuance of its application. De Haen attributes the good effects of electricity, entirely to its being ufed for feveral months. We arefometimes amufedwith accounts of Indian remedies for the dropsy—epi- lepsy—colic—gravel and gout. If with all the advantages which modern phyficians derive from their knowledge in anatomy —chemistry — botany and philosophy, if with the benefit of difco- veries communicated from abroad, as well as handed down from our anceftors, by more certain methods than tradition, we are flill ignorant of certain remedies for thefe difeafes ; what can we expect from the Indians, who are not only deprived of thefe advantages, but want our chief motive, the fenfe of the pain and dan-. ger of thofe diforders, to prompt them to feek for fuch remedies to relieve them ? There cannot be a ftronger proof of their ignorance of proper remedies for new or difficult diTeafes, than their having re- courfe to enchantment. But to be more particular j I have taken pains to enquire into C 34 3 into the fuccefs of fome of thefe Indian fpecifics, and have never heard of one well attefted cafe of their efficacy. I believe they derive all their credit from our be- ing ignorant of their cbmpofition. The influence of fecrecy is well known in efta- blifhing the credit of a medicine. The fal feignet was an infallible medicine for the intermitting fever, while the manu- factory of it was confined to an apothe- cary at Rochelle; but it loft its virtues as foon as it was found to be compofed of the fait of tartar, and a foffil alkali. Doctor Ward's famous pill and drop, ceafed to do wonders in fcrophulous cafes, as foon as he bequeathed to the world his receipts for making them. I foresee ah objection to what has been faid concerning the remedies of the In- dians, drawn from that knowledge which experience gives to a mind intent upon one fubject. We have heard much of the perfection of their fenfes of feeing and hearing. An Indian we are told, will dif- cover not only a particular tribe of In- dians by their footfteps, but the diftance of time in which they were made. In thofe 'C 37 3 thofe branches of knowledge which re? "" late to hunting and war, the Indians have accquired a degree of perfection that has not been equalled by civilized nations. But we muft remember that medicine among them does not enjoy the like advantage, the arts of war and hunting, of being the chief object of their attention. The phyfician and the warrior are united in one character ; to render him as able in the former, as he is in the latter profeffion, would re- quire an entire abftraction from every other employment, and a familiarity with external objects, which are incompatible with the wandering life of favages. Thus have we finifhed our enquiry into the difeafes and remedies of the Indians in North-America.—We come now to enquire into the difeafes and remedies of civilized nations. Nations differ in their degrees of civilization. We fhall felect one for the fubject of our enquiries which is moft familiar to us; I mean the Britilh Nation. Here we behold fubordination and claffes L 38 3 of mankind eftablifhed by government— —commerce—manufactures, and certain cuftoms common to moft of the civilized nations of Europe. We fhall trace the origin of their difeafes through their cuf- toms, in the fame manner as we did thofe of the Indians. I. It will be fufficient to name the degrees of heat — the improper aliment ■—the tight dreffes, and the premature ftudies children are expofed to, in order to fhow the ample fcope for difeafes, which is added to the original defect of ftamina, they derive from their ances- tors. II. Civilization rifes in its demands upon the health of women. Their fafhi- ons, their drefs and diet——their eager purfuits and ardent enjoyment of plea^ fure----their indolence and undue eva- cuations in pregnancy----their cordials -—hot regimen and neglect or ufe of art, in child-birth, are all fo many inlets to difeafes. « Humanity would fain be filent, while philofophy calls upon us to mention the effe&s, C 39 3 effects of interefted marriages—of difap- pointments in love, encreafed by that concealment which the tyranny of cuftom has impofed upon the fex ; and laftly, the efiedts of the long delay of the marriage bed. (g) All.thefe exaggerate the natural, and encreafe the number of artificial difeafes among women. III. The difeafes introduced by civi- lization extend themfelves through every clafs and profeffion among men. How fatal are the effects of idlenefs and intem- perance among the rich—and of hard labor and penury among the poor ! What palid looks are contracted by the votaries of fcience from banging over the " fick- " ly taper." How many difeafes are en- tailed upon manufacturers, by the mate- rials in which they work, and the pof- ture of their bodies ! What monkifh difeafes do we obferve from monkifh continence, and monkifh vices! We pafs over the increafe of accidents from build- ing—failing— riding and the like. War as if too flow in deftroying the human fpecies, calls in a train of difeafes pecu- liar to civilized nations. What havoc have C 4° 3 have the corruption and monoply ofprd- vifions—a damp foil, and art unwhole- fome fky, made in a few days in an ar- my ! The achievements of britifh valor at the Havannah, in the laft war, were obtained at the expence of 9,000 menj 7,000 of whom perifhed with the Weft- India fever, (h) Even our modern dif- coveries in geography, by extending the empire of commerce*, have likewife ex- tended the empire of difeafes. What defolation have the Eaft and Weft- Indies made, of Britifh fubjects! It has been found upon a nice calculation, that only ten of an hundred Europeans, live above feven years after they arrive in the ifland of Jamaica, (i) IV. It would take up too much of our time to point out all the cuftoms both ■phyfical and moral, which influence dif- eafes among both fexes. The former have engendred the feeds of difeafes, in the human body itfelf; hence the origin of catarrhs—jail and miliary fevers ; with a* long train of contagious diforders, which compofe fo great a part of out books of medicine. The latter likewife have t 4* 3 have a large fhare in producing difeafes. I am not one of thofe modern philofo- phers, who derive the vices of mankind from the influence of civilization : but I am fafe in afferting, that their number and malignity encreafe with the refine- ments of polifhed life. To prove this, we need only furvey a fcene too fami- liar to affect us: it is a bedlam, which injuftice — inhumanity — avarice—pride — vanity and ambition have filled with inhabitants. Thus have we briefly pointed out the cuftoms which influence the difeafes of civilized nations. It remains now that we take notice of their difeafes. With- out naming the many new fevers, fluxes* haemorrhages, fwellings from water, wind, flefh, fat, pus and blood ; foulneffes on the fkin from cancers, lepras, yaws, poxes, itch ; and laftly, the gout, the hy- fteria, and the hypochondriafis, in all their variety of known and unknown fhapes : I fhall fum all that is necefTary upon this Tubjedt by adding, that the number of difeafes which belong to civilized nations* according to Doctor Cullen's nofblogy, F amounts I 42 3 amounts to 1,387: the fingle clafs of nervous difeafes form 612 of this num- ber. Before we proceed to fpeak of the remedies of civilized nations, we fhall examine into the abilities of nature in curing their difeafes. We found her active and fuccefsful in curing the difeafes of the, Indians. Is her ftrength, wifdom, or benignity, equal to the encreafe of thofe dangers which threaten her diffo- lution among civilized nations ? In or- der to anfwer this queftion, it will be necefTary to explain the meaning of the term nature. By nature, in the prefent cafe, I un- derftand nothing but phyfical neceflity : this at once excludes every thing like in- telligence from her operations: thefe are all performed in obedience to the fame laws, which govern vegetation in plants and the inteftine motions of foffils: they are as truly mechanical as the laws of gravitation, electricity, or magnetifm. A fhip when laid on her broadfide by a wave, or a fudden blaft of wind, rifes by C 43 3 by the fimple laws of her mechanifm: but fuppofe this fhip to be attacked by fire, or a water-fpout, we are not to call in queftion the fkill of the fhip-builder, if fhe is confumed by the one, or funk by Uie other. In like manner the author of nature hath furnifhed the body with powers to preferve itfelf from its natural enemies; but when it is attacked by thofe civil foes which are bred by the pe- culiar cuftoms of civilization, it refem- bles a company of Indians, armed with bows and arrows, againft the complicated and deadly machinery of firearms. To place this fubject in a proper light, we fhall deliver a hiftory of the operations of nature in a few of the difeafes of civi- lized nations. I. There are cafes in which nature is £1111 fuccefsful in curing difeafes. In fevers fhe ftill deprives us of our appetite for animal food, and imparts to us a defire for cool air and cold water. In haemorrhages fhe produces a fainti- nefs, which occafions a coagulum in the open L 44 J open veffels ; fo that the further paffage of blood through them is obftructed. In wounds of the flefh and bones, fhe difcharges foreign matter by exciting an inflammation, and fupplies the wafte of both with new flefh and bone. II. There are cafes where the efforts of nature are too feeble to do fervice, as in putrid and nervous fevers. III. There are cafes where the efforts of nature are over-proportioned to the flrength of the difeafe, as in the cholera morbus and dyfentery. IV. There are cafes where nature is idle, as in the atonic ftages of the gout, the cancer, the epilepfy the mania, the venereal difeafe, the apoplexy and the tetanus. * V. There are cafes in which nature does mifchief. She waftes herfelf with an uneceffary fever, in a dropfy and con- fumption. She throws a plethora upon the If Hoffman de Hypothefium Medicarum Damno Sect. sv. ( 45 ) the brains and lungs. She ends a pleurify and peripneumony in a vomica, or em- piema. She creates an unnatural appetite for food in the hypochondriac diforder. And laftly fhe drives the melancholy pa- tient to folitude, where by brooding over the fubject of his infanity, he encreafej his difeafe. We are accuftomed to hear of the falu- tary kindnefs of nature in. alarming us with pain, to prompt us to feek for a remedy. But, VI. There are cafes in which fhe refufes to fend this harbinger of the evils which threaten her, as in the aneurifm, fcirrhus, and ftone of the bladder. VII. There are cafes where the pain is not proportioned to the danger, as in the tetanus, confumption and dropfy of the head. And, VIII. There are cafes where the pain is over-proportioned to the dan- ger, as in the paronychia and tooth- ach, This ( 4<* ) This is a fhort account of the operati- ons of nature, in the difeafes of civilized nations. A lunatic might as well plead againft the fequeftration of his eftate, be- caufe he once enjoyed the full exercife of his reafon, or becaufe he ftill had lucid intervals, as nature be exempted from the charges we have brought againft her. But this fubject will receive ftrength from confidering the remedies of civiliz- ed nations. All the products of the vege- table, foffil and animal kingdoms, tortur- ed by heat and mixture into an almoft infinite variety of forms; bleeding, cup- ing, artificial drains by fetons, iffues, and blifters; exercife active and paffive; voy- ages and journies; baths warm and cold, waters faline aerial and mineral, food by weight and meafure, the royal touch, inchantment, miracles, in a word, the combined difcoveries of natural hiftory and philofophy, united into a fyftem of materia medica, all fhow, that although phyficians are in fpeculation the fervants, yet in practice they are the mafters of nature, The whole of their remedies feem contrived C 47 3 contrived on purpofe to aroufe, affift reftrain and controul her operations. There are fome truths like certain liquors which require ftrong heads to bear them. I feel myfelf protected from the prejudices of vulgar minds, when I re- flect that I am delivering thefe fenti- ments in a fociety of philofophers. Let us now take a comparitive view of the difeafes and remedies of the In- dians, with thofe of civilized nations. We fhall begin with their difeafes. In our account of the difeafes of the Indians we beheld death executing his commiffion, it is true ; but then his dart was hid in a mantle, under which he concealed his fhape. But among civiliz- ed nations we behold him multiplying his weapons in proportion to the number of organs and functions in the body ; and pointing each of them in fuch a manner, as to render his mdfengers more terrible than himfelf. We L 48 3 We find formerly that fevers conftituted the chief difeafes of the Indians. Accord- ing to Dr. Sydenham's computation above 66,qoo out of 100,000 died of fevers in London about 100 years ago j but fevers now conftitute but a little more than one tenth part of the difeafes of that city. Out of 21,780 perfons who died in London between December 1770 and December 1771, only 2273 died of fimple fevers. I have more than once heard Dr. Huck complain, that he could find no marks of epidemic fevers in London as defcribed by Dr. Sydenham. London has undergone a revolution in its manners and cuftoms fince Dr. Syden* ham's time. New difeafes, the offspring of luxury, have fupplanted fevers ; and the few that are left, appear fo complicate ed with other difeafes, that their connec- tion can no longer be difcovered with an epedemic conftitution of the year. The pleurify and periupneumony, thofe inflammatory fevers of ftrong conftituti- ons, are now loft in catarrhs, or colds; which inftead of challenging the powers of nature or art to a fair combat, in- fenfibly C 49 3 fenfibly undermine the conftitution, and bring on an incurable confumption. Out of 22,434 who died between December 1769 and the fame month in 1770, 4594 perifhed with that britifh diforder. Our countryman Dr. Maclurg has ventured to foretel that the Gout will be loft in a few years, in a train of hypochondriac, hyfteric and bilious diforders. In like man- ner, may we not look for a feafon when fevers, the natural difeafes of the human body, will be loft in an inundation of arti- ficial difeafes, brought on by the madifh practices of modern civilization ? It may not be improper to compare the prognosis of the Indians, in difeafes, with that of civilized nations, before we take a comparative view of their remedies. Thei Indians are faid to be fuccefsful in predicting the events of difeafes. While difeafes are fimple, the marks which diftinguifh them, or characterize their feveral ftages, are generally uniform and obvious to the moft indifferent ob- server. Thefe marks afford fo much G certainty C 50 3 certainty, that the Indians fometimes kill their phyficians for a falfe prognofis, charging the death of the patient to his careleffnefs, or ignorance. They eftimate the danger of their patients by their de- grees of appetite ; while an Indian is able to eat, he is looked upon as free from danger. But when weconfider the num- ber and variety in the figns of difeafes, among civilized nations, together with the fhortnefs of life, the fallacy of me- mory, and the uncertainty of obfervatl- on ; where fhall we find a phyfician will- ing to rifk his reputation, much lefs his life, upon the prediction of the event of our acute difeafes ? We can derive no advantage from the fimple fign, by which the Indians eftimate the danger of their patients ; for we daily fee a want of ap- petite for food in difeafes which are at- tended with no danger; and we fome- times obfcrve an unufual degree of this appetite to precede the agonies of death. I.honour the name of Hippocrates: But forgive me ye votaries of antiquity, if I attempt to pluck a few grey hairs from his venerable head. I was once an idola- ter at his altar, nor did I turn apoftate from C 51 3 from his worfhip, till I was taught, that not a tenth part of his prognoftics corref- ponded with modern experience, or ob- fervation. (k) The pulfe, (1) urine (m) and fweats (n) from which the principal figns of life and death have been taken, are fo variable in moft of the acute difeafes of civilized nations, that the wifeft phyiicians have in fome meafure excluded the prog- nofis, from being a part of their profeffion. I am here infenfibly led to make an apology for the inftability of the theories, and practice of phyfic. The theory of phyfic is founded upon the laws of the animal ceconomy. Thefe (unlike the laws of the mind, or the common laws of matter) do not appear at once, but are gradually brought to light, by the phe- nominaof difeafes. The fuccefs of nature, in curing the fimple difeafes of Sajony, laid the foundation for the anima medica of Dr. Stahl. The endemicks of Holland (o) led Dr. Boerh a'ave to feek for the caufes of all difeafes in the fluids. And the univerfal prevalence of the difeafes of the nerves, in Great-* Britain, led Dr. Cullen to difcover their peculiar C 52 3 peculiar laws, and to found a system upon them. A fyftem, which will pro- bably laft till fome new difeafes are let loo/e upon the human fpecies, which fhall unfold other laws of the animal ceconomy' It is in confequence of this fluctuation in the principles, and practice of phyfic, being fo neceffarily connected with the changes in the cuftoms of civilized nati- ons, that old and young phyficians fo often difagree, in their opinions and practices. And it is by attending to the conftant changes in thefe cuftoms of civilized nations, that thofe phyficians have generally become the moft eminent, who have fooneft emancipated themfelves from the tyranny of the fchools of phyfic; and have occafionly accomodat- ed their principles, and practice, to the changes in difeafes. (p) This variety in difeafes, which is produced by the changes in the cuftoms of civilized nations, will enable us to account for many of the con- tradictions which are to be found in authors of equal candor, and abilities, who have written of the materia medica, In C 53 3 In forming a comparative view of the remedies of the Indians, with thofe of civilized nations, we fhall remark, that the want of fuccefs in a medicine, is oc- cafioned by one of the following caufes. First, our ignorance of the diforder. Secondly, an ignorance of a fuitable re- medy. Thirdly, a want of efficacy in the remedy. Considering the violence of the dif- eafes of the Indians, it is probable their want of fuccefs, is always occafioned by a want of efficacy in their medicines. But the cafe is very different among civilized nations. Diffeclions daily convince us of our ignorance of the feats of difeafes, and caufe us to blufh at our prefcriptions. What certain or equal remedies have we found for the gout, the epilepfy, apoplexy, palfy, dropfy of the brain, cancer and confumption ? How often are we difap- pointed in our expectations, from the the moft certain and powerful of our remedies, by the negligence or obftina- cy of our patients! What mtfchief have we not done under the belief of falfe facts > t I 54 3 facts, and falfe theories! We have affifled in multiplying difeafes.----We have done more----we have increafed their mortality, (q)------■ I shall not paufe to beg pardon of the faculty, for acknowledging in this public manner the weakneffes of our profeffion. I am purfuing truth, and while I can keep my eye fixed upon my guide—I am indifferent whither I am led, provided fhe is ,my leader. But further, the Indian fubmits to his difeafe, without one fearful emotion, from his doubtfulnefs of its event; and at laft meets his fate without an anxious wifh for futurity ; except it is of being admitted to an " equal fky" where " His faithful dog fhall bear him company." But among civilized nations, the influ- ence of a falfe religion in good, and of a true religion in bad men, has converted even the fear of death into a difeafe. Itis this original diftemper of the imagination which renders the plague moft fatal, up-. pn its firft appearance in a country. Under C 55 3 Under all thefe difadvantages, in the ftate of medicine, among civilized nati^ ons, do more in proportion die of the difeafes peculiar to them, than of fevers, Caufualties and old age, among the Ir> dians? If we take our account from the city of London, we fhall find this to be the cafe. Near a twentieth pare of its inhabitants perifh one year with another. Nor does the natural increafe of inhabitants fupply this yearly wafte. If we judge from the bills of mortality, the city of London contains fewer inha- bitants, by feveral thoufands, than it did forty years ago. It appears from this fact, and many others of a like nature, which might be adduced, that although the difficulty of fupporting children, to- gether with fome peculiar cuftoms of the Indians, which we mentioned, limit their number ; yet they multiply falter, and die in a fmaller proportion than civilized nations, under the circumftances we have defcribed. The Indians we are told were numerous in this country, befbre the Europeans fettled among them. Travel- lers agree likewife in defcribing numbers of t 56 3 of both fexes, who exhibited all the marks of extreme old age. It is remarkable that age feldom impairs the faculties of their minds. The mortality peculiar to thofe In- dian tribes who have mingled with the white people muft be afcribed to the extenfive mifchief of fpirituous liquors. When thefe have not acted, they halve fuf- feredfrom having accomodated themfelves toofuddenly to fhe European diet, drefs, and manners. It does not become us to pry too much into futurity; but if we may judge from the fate of the origi- nal natives Of Hifpaniola, Jamaica, and the provinces on the continent, we may venture to foretel, that, in proportion as the white people multiply, the Indians will diminifh; fo that in a few centu- ries they will probabl be entirely extir- pated, (r) It may be faid, that health among the Indians, like infenfibility to cold and hun- ger, is proportioned to thei;- need of it; and that the lefs degrees, or entire want L 57 3 want of health are no interruption to thd ordinary bufinefs of civilized life. To obviate this fuppofitiOn we fhall firft attend to the effects of a fingle difA temper in thofe people, who are the prin^ cipal wheels in the machine of civil fociety. Juflice has ftopt its current— victories have been loft—wars have been prolonged, and embaffies delayed, by the principal actors in thefe departments of government, being fuddenly laid up with a fit of the gout. How many of- fences are daily committed againft the rules of good breeding, by the tedious hiftories of our diforders, which com* pofe fo great a part of modern conver- fation ! What fums of money have been lavifhed in foreign countries in purfuit of health 1 (s) Families have been ruined by the unavoidable expcnces of medi- cines, and watering places. In a word* the fwarms of beggars which infeft fo many of the European countries, urge their petitions for charity chiefly by ar- guments derived from real or counter* feit difeafes, which render them incapa- ble of fupporting themfelves. (t) H But C 58 3 But may not civilization while it abates the violence of natural difeafes, increafe the lenity of thofe that are arti- ficial ; in the fame manner that it leffens the ftrength of natural vices by multi- plying them? To anfwer this queftion, it will only be necefTary to afk another: Who would exchange the heat, thirft and uneafinefs of a fever, for one fit of the colic or ftone ? The hiftory of the number, combi* nations and fafhions of the remedies we have given, may ferve to humble the pride of philofophy; and to convince us that with all the advantages of the whole circle of fciences, we are ftill ignorant of antidotes to the chief of the difeafes of ci- vilized nations. We fometimes footh our ignorance by reproaching our idlenefs in not inveftigating the remedies peculiar to this country. We are taught to be- lieve that every herb that grows in our woods, is poffefTed of fome medicinal virtue, and that heaven would be want- ing in benignity if our country did not produce remedies, for all the different difeafes of its inhabitants, (u) It would be L" S9 3 be arrogating too much to fuppofe, that man was the only creature in our world for whom vegetables grow. The beafts, birds and infects, derive their fuftenance either directly, or indirectly from them ; while many of them were probably in- tended from their variety in figure, foli- age and color, only to ferve as ornaments for our globe. It would feem ftrange that the author of nature fhould furnifh every fpot of ground, with medicines adapted to the difeafes of its inhabitants, and at the fame time deny it the more necefTary articles of food and cloathing. I know not whether heaven has provided every country with antidotes even to the natural difeafes of its inhabitants. The intermitting fever is common in almoft every corner of the globe. But a fove- reign remedy for it has been difcovered only in South-America. The combination of bitter and aftringent fubftances which ferve as a fuccedaneum to the Peruvian bark is as much a preparation of art, as calomel, or tartar emetic. Societies ftand in need of each other as much as indivi- duals : and the goodnefs of the deity re- mains unimpeached when we fuppofe, that C Co 3 that he intended medicines to ferve (with other articles) to promote that know- ledge, humanity and politenefs among the inhabitants of the earth, which have been fo juftly attributed to commerce, (w) We have no difcoveries in the materia medica, to hope for from the Indians in North-America. It would be a reproach to our fchools of phyfic, if modern phy- ficians were not more fuccefsful than the Indians, even in the treatment of their Own difeafes. (x) Do the bleffings of civilization com- penfate for the facrifice we make of natu- ral health, as well as of natural liberty ? This queftion muft be anfwered under fome limitations. When natural liberty is given pp for laws, which enflave inftead of protecting us, we are immenfe lofers by the exchange. Thus, if we arm the whole elements againft our health, and render every pore in the body an avenue for a difeafe, we pay too high a price for fhe bleffings of civilization. In L ■ patriots—and legiflators ; many of whom have already feized the prizes of honor, which their anceftors had allotted to a much later pofterity. Our firft offering had fcarcely found its way into the temple of fame, when the oldeft focietics in Eu- rope turned their eyes upon us, expect- ing with impatience to fee the mighty fabric of fcience, which like a well built arch, cm only reft upon the whole of its I ri 3 its materials, completely finifhed from the treafures of this unexplored quarter} of the globe. It reflects equal honor upon our foci- ety and the honourable affembly of our province, to acknowledge, that we have always found the latter willing to encou- rage by their patronage, and reward by their liberality, all our fchemes for pro- moting ufeful knowledge. What may we not expect from this harmony be- tween the fciences and government! Methinks I fee canals cut — rivers once impaffable, rendered navigable-^—bridges erected — and roads improved, to facili- tate the exportation of grain.—I fee the banks of our rivers vieing in fruitfulnefs with the banks of the river of Egypt.—- I behold our farmers, nobles—our mer- chants, princes.----But I forbear—Ima- gination cannot fwell with the fubject. I beg leave to conclude, by deriving an argument from our connection with the legiflature, to remind my auditors of the duty they owe to the fociety. Pa- triotifm and literature are here connected K together j L 74 3 together ; and a man cannot neglect the one, without being deftitute of the other. Nature and our anceftors have completed their works among us; and have left us nothing to do, but to enlarge and per- petuate our own happinefs. AN A N APPENDIX: CONTAINING PROOFS »» AND ILLUSTRATIONS, / £v-'*y/. /<£> APPENDIX. (a) Page 17. \k CJESAR, in his hiftory of the ' 'Ui_! Gallic war, gives the fame ac- count of the ancient Germans. His words are: " Qui diutiffime impu- beres permanferunt, maximam inter fuos ferunt laudem: hoc ali ftaturam, ali vi- res, nervofque confirmari putant." Lib. vi. xxi. (b) p. 19. Since the intercourfe of the white people with the Indians, we find fome of them deformed in their limbs. This deformity, upon enquiry, appears to be produced by thofe accidents, quarrels, C ?8 3 Src. which have been introduced among them by fpirituous liquors. (c) p. 24. Muratori, in his antiquities of Italy % in the middle ages, defcribes the greateft part of Europe as overflowed with wa- ter. The phyficians and hiftorians of thofe ages, are full of the phyfical and political miferies which prevailed during thofe centuries. The whole of the dif- eafes we have mentioned, raged at one time in all the countries of Europe. In the ninth century, there were 19,000 hofpitals for lepers only, in Chriften- dom. Lewis VIII. king, of France, in the year 1227, bequeathed legacies to 2000 leprous hofpitals in his own king- dom.The fame diet, and the fame dampnefs of foil and air, produced the fame efl^ts in South-America. The venereal difeafe probably made its appearance at the fame time, in South-America and Naples. Pre- cis de rHiftoire phyfique des terns, par M. Raymond, The leprofy and fcurvy ftill prevail in the northern parts of Eu- rope,, where the manner of living, a- mong- t 79 3 mong the inhabitants, ftill bears fome re- femblance to that which prevailed in the middle centuries. Pontoppidan's Natural Hift. of'Norway. Between the years 1006 and 1680, we read of the plague being epidemic fifty-two times throughout all Europe. The fituation of Europe is well known during the fourteenth century : every country was in arms ; agriculture was neglected ; nourifhn'^nt of all kinds was fcanty and unwholfome; no won- der, therefore, that we read of the plague being fourteen times epidemic in Europe during that period. In proportion as the nations of Europe have civilized, and cultivated the earth, together with the arts of peace, this diforder has gradually mitigated. It prevailed only fix times in the fixteenth, and five times in the fe- venteenth centuries : it made its laft ge- neral appearance in the year 1680 : it has occafionally vifited feveral cities in Eu- rope within the laft century; but has raged with much lefs violence than for- merly. It is highly probable its*Jvery ex- iftence would be deftroyed, could the in- habitants of Turkey (where it is at all times endemic) be prevailed upon to ufe the L so 3 the fame precautions to prevent its fpreading, which have been found fuc- cefsful in other parts of Europe. The Englifh, and other foreigners, who re- fide at Conftantinople, efcape the plague more by avoiding all intercourfe with perfons — houfes — cloaths, &c. infected with the diforder, than by any peculiari- ties in their diet or manners. That the ufe of wine alone does not preferve them from the infection, we learn from the hiftory of the Armenians, who drink large quantities of wine ; and yet, from their belief in the doctrine of fatalifm, perifh in the fame proportion as the Turks. (d) p. 27. " Licet enim commotio ifta [febris] perturbato circulationis fyftemate, gravi- bufque fymptomatis molefta, haud raro perniciem inferar, hinc merito morbus appelletur ; faepe tamen et mirifice adeo falutaris eft, ut certius aliud potentiufve cum ad fanandos, turn ad pnecavendos morbos auxillium natura, vel ars, vix agnof- \ C Bi 3 agnofeat."" Gauhii Iiiftitutiones 'PttJiofo- gi?e. 641. (e) p. 31. It has been remarked, that the inter- mitting fevers which follow, the building of a grift-mill, appear only on the weft fide of -the mill-dam : this is probabjy occafioned by our eafterly winds (which carry the exhalations) being generally accompanied with rain* Formerly, in- termitting ttevers were confined to the fhores .of Sufquehannah--Schuylkill— and the other rivers of our province; but fince the country has bee;n fp much cleared of woods, we often, meet with them eight or ten miles from the rivers. (f) P- 33- I cannot help fufpecting the antive- nereal qualities of the lobelia—ceanothus and ranunculus, fpoken of by Mr. Kalm, in the memoirs of the Swedifh academy. Mr. Hand informed me, that the Indians rely chiefly upon a plentiful ufe of the decoctions of the pine-trees, againft the L vene- C &>■ 3 venereal difeafe. He added moreover, that he had often known it prove fatal to them. (g) P- 39- " Married women are more healthy and long-lived than fingle women. The regifters, examined by Mr. Muret, con- firm this dbfervation ; and fhow particu- larly, that of equal numbers of fingle and married women between fifteen and twenty-five years of age, more of the former died than of the latter, in the proportion of two to one : the confe- quence, therefore, of following nature, muft be favourable to health among the female fex." Supplement to Price's Ob- fervations on Reverfionary Payments, p. 357- (h) p. 40. The modern writers upon the difeafes of armies, wonder that the Greek and Roman phyficians have left us nothing upon that fubject. But may not mofl of the difeafes of armies, be produced by the C b3 ] the different manner in which wars are carried on by modern nations ? The dif- coveries in geography, by extending the field of war, expofe foldiers to many dif- eafes from long voyages, and a fudden. change of climate; which were unknown, to the armies of former ages. More- over, the form of the weapons, and the variety in the military exercifes of the Grecian and Roman armies, gave a vigor to the conftitution, which can never be acquired by the ufe of mufkets, and ar- tillery. (i) p. 40. The Hon. Dr. Young, a curious bo- tanift, and ingenious phyfician at St. Vincent's, took a particular account of the height—age—and temperament of each of the foldiers that arrived in that ifland, in the late war that was carried on againft the Caribbs; and upon exa- mining his lift at the clofe of the war, he has afcertained, with a good deal of exactnefs, the figures—ages—and confti« tutions of men, which are moft proper for [ 84 3 for the- Weft-India climate. When he has added a few more facts to his calcu- lation, we hear he intends to oblige the public with a fight of it. '.&)' P- 51- The uniformity in the figns of di& eafes fo earefnlly defcribed by Hippo- crates, was produced by the uniformity of the climate of Greece. Dr. Syden- ham long ago complained of the variety in the figns of difeafes, which was pro- duced by the variable climate of Bri- tain. The fame variety, together with the gradual changes of the climate in North*-America, render it iiWpoffiWe to perfect the Hippocratic art in this coun- try. P) P- 5i..' Dr. Cull en ufed to inform his pu- pils, that after forty years experience, he could find no relation between his obfervations on the pulfe, and thofe made by Dr. Solano. The climate and cuftoms C 85 1: cuftoms of the people in Spain being fy different from the climate and cuftoms of the prefent inhabitants of Britain, may account for the diverfity of their obfervations. Dr. Heberden's remarks upon the pulfe, in the fecond volume of the Medical Tranfactions, are calculated to fhow how little the prefent ftate, or iffue of difeafes can be learnt from it. (m) p. 51. Thb urine has been examined by phy- ficians, with the fame ferutiny as if it was the book of fate, or poffeffed' of the power of Aaron's breaftpfate ; virginity, conception, and fruitfulnefs, have been decided by it *. It indicates the degree and duration of fimple difeafes; each of which may be determined by lefs equi- vocal figns. But where fhall we find difeafes fo fimple, as not to be, in feme meafure, influenced by fome peculiar cuftom of civilized life ? In difeafes which are of a mixed nature, or altogether ar- tificial, fo many circumftances from dice —drinks i Sir Thorrtas Brown. [ 8