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NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE




          Bethesda, Maryland
 
ADVICE
                 TO  THE

  PEOPLE   in  General,
       WITH  REGARD  TO  THEIR


 H   E    A    L    T    H:
But particularly calculated for thofe, who
  are  the moir  unlikely to be provided in.
  Time  -wich  the be/t Afiittaiice, in acute
  Difeales, or upon any inward or outward
  Accident.
                   WITH

A Ta bl e of the  nioft cheap, yet efFecr.ua!
  Remedies, arid the plaineft Directions for
  preparing them readily.
           Tranllated from the French Edition of

  Dr.  T i ssot's Avis au Peuple,  Sec.
Printed at Lyons ; with all the Notes in the firft
  Englifli Edition, and a very few additional ones.

    By J.  KIRK PATRICK,  M. D.
                To which is  ..^..v,

The Art of prelerving Health :
Containing the molt important Rules recommend-
  ed by Phyficians and Philoibphers for the Prefer-
  vation ofHEALTH  in the feveral. Periods and Cir-
  cumitances of Life : together with the Reafons
  on which thefe Rules are founded.
    By J.  MACKENZIE,  M.  D.

In the Multitude tf the People is the Honour of a King ; and for the Want
  of People cometh the Dejlruction of the Prtncc.      l'rov. xiy. 28

__________VOLUME   II.___________

  LONDON:  Printed in  Year  MDCCLXVH-

______________      _/7£Z 
 
THE
CONTENTS
o  F
VOLUME     II.
              CHAP.  XXVI.
     DIRECTIONS peculiar to the fex----   page  i
     Of the monthly cuitoms    —  __   __    2
Of gravidation or going with child     __    II
Of labours or diliveries        ___.     __    15
Of their confequences       ____    ____    i r
Of a cancer  —    —    —    __     __   j«

              CHAP.  XXVIL

Directions with regard to children     ______      lo
Of the firlt caufe of their o'itbrders, the meconium  20
Of thefecond, the fouring of their milk  —  21
Of the danger of giving them oil     ----     ib.
Of diforders from their want of perfpiration,
   the  means of keeping it up, and  of waft-
   ing them in cold water--------24 and 25
Of the third caufe, the cutting of their teeth 27
Of the fourth  caufe,  worms    ______        28
Of convulfions     —     __    __     __
Methods  necelfary   to make  them  ftrong
   and  hardy,  with general directions  about
   them    ----     ----    _       35 and ^

              C HAP.  XXVIII.

Of affiances for dro-wned perfom           ,      4q.
t>K 
          CON  T  E   N  T  S.

               CHAP.  XXIX.
 €f fubfiances fiopt between the month and the fio-
   mach    ------------------page  46

               CHAP.. XXX.
 Of diforders requiring  the affiance of a furge on   64
 Of burns-----------      ----      °5
 Of wounds       -----      —■---         °°
 Of bruifes, and of falls-----------      71
 Of ulcers       —    —  —  —   —  ——   70
 Of frozen limbs, or joints       ---   —     81
 Of chilblains    —     —    —    —       85
 Of rupture*        —    —    —    —     94
 Of phlegmons, or boils      -——--------98
 Of fellons, or whitlows     —     —    —   99
 Of thorns, fplinters,  ire. in the fkin or flefli   10 }
 Of warts      ----—      ----       ----  105
 Of corns      —     —   —   —    —    107

             CHAP.  XXXF.
 Cffome caufes which require immediate  affiance  107-
 Of fwoonings, from excefs of blood     —      ib
 Of fwoonings, from great weaknefs      —   109
 Of fwoonings, occaiioned by a load of the  fto-
     mach     —----    ■-----     ■         ill
 Of fwoonings, refulting from diforders of the
     nerves     -----     -----       —     irq
 Of fwoonings,  occaiioned by the paffions —  116
 Of the fwoonings, which occur in difeafes  — 118
 Of haemorrhages, or fluxes of blood    ----   119
 Of convulfion fits        ----        --—     122
 Of fuflbcating, or ftrangling fits        ----  124
 Of the violent effects of great fear   —.--  —  126
 Of accidents produced by the vapours of char-
     coal, and of wine     —----    —      128
 Ofpoifons       -  —r-       —     —   —   133
Of acute and violent pains      —  —   —   135 
           contents.
              chap.  xxxii.
Of giving remedies by way of precaution-*. .    page i%?7\
Of bleeding    —     —    —    —  —   *38
Of purges    .-----    —       —     —   144
Remedies to be ufed after exceffive purging   146-
Reflections on fome other remedies  —   148 irc^

             CHAP.  XXXIII.
Of Quacks, Mountebanks and Conjurers.   —  —  152

             CHAP.   XXXIV.
Qjtefiions neceffary to be anfwered by any perfon
  who goes to confutt a phyfician     —     —   I 7?
The table of remedies     —    —    —     177
 The Art  of preferving  Health..

                chap.  1.
 A fhort  view of concoCiion, or the mechanifm  by
   which our aliment is digejled  —      —     190
 Of the circulation of the .blood and its confe-
     quences       —         —     —      209.:
 From both thefe it will be obvious to perceive
  the ground and  lealonof the rules laid down
  for the prefervation of health, and  the ex-
  pediency of-obferving them.         —-     2I&'

                CHAP.  IL

 Afummary of the rules of health proper to  be ob.
  ferved with regard to      —       —       2*8''
Aft            — .        _          _      ib
Aliment           —          —        —  220*
Exercife          —              —        22 4'
Sleep and wakefulness          —.      —    226
Repletion and evacuation           —       228k"'
The  paffions and affections of the mind       ',29  .
Some other general rules     —        —    23a - 
CONTENTS-
                  C HA P.   III.
Of the djfrenf  temperaments of the human body,
   with iht rules oj healthadc.pted to them reffective-
   ly t  viz.
The cho'eric       ----        —       page 234
Tlie melancholic         —       —            '* '
The phlegmatic       -—          —           '^""
The fanguine           —               —   2^5

                CHAP.  IV.
Of the different periods of human life, with preempts
   oj health peculiar to each of them,  viz.
Infancy      —    —       —       —     216
Of youth         —       —       —       2^8
Of manhood       —          —       —    241
Of old ane          —-       —       —     ik

                 CHAP.  V.
Of the various circumflances and conditions ofmenr
   with fuitable directions to aU oj them, cenfidered
   as
Robuft  or delicate           —        —     224^
Free or fervile           —          —         ib
Wealthy or indigent            —-            ib

                  CHAP.   VI.
Of the Prophylaxis, or ways to prevent approaching
   dijlempers               —      —•         24£

                CHAP.  VII.
Of Longevity.
The natural marks  of it       —     —     249;
The means of attaing it      —     —     2^0
The rife and fall of the transfimon of blood
   from one animal into another       —     291
The conclufiott            —►          —    25 3, 
AD       VICE
TO THE
PEOPLE

 With RefpecT: to their HEALTH.
             CHAP.. XXVI.

   The Treatment of I>ifeafes peculiar to Women.%

                Sect.  350.
     BESIDES  all the preceding difeafes,  to
     which women are liable in common with men.
     their fcx alfo expofes them to others peculiar
to it, and which depend upon four principal fbur-
ces; which are their monthly discharges, their
pregnancy, their  labours in child-birth, and  the
confequences of their labours.  It is not my prefent
defign to treat profeflediy on each of the difeafes
arifmg from thefe caufes, which  would require a
larger volume than I have propofed ; but I fliali
confine  myfclf  to certaiu general  directions «u
thefe four heads.
  § 351. Nature, who intended women for the i 11-
creafe, and the  aourifhinent of the human race at
  Vol. II,              » 
 •2           The Ti eatmcnt  of Difeafes.
 the bread,  h;is  fubjeCted them to a periodical ef-
 flux, or difcharge, of blood : which circumftance
 conftitutes  the  fource, from  whence the infant is
 afterwards to receive his nutrition and growth.
   This difcliarge generally commences, with  us,
 between  the age of fixteen and eighteen.  YoOng
 maidens, before the appearance  of this difcharge,
 a-e frequently) and many for a long time, in a ft ate
 of weaknef", attended  with various complaints,
 which is termed the chlorofis, or green ficknefs, and
 obfti uctjons ; and  when their appearance  is ex-
 tremely flow and backward, it occaiions very griev-
 ous, and  fometimes even mortal difeafes.  Never-
 thelefs  it is too ufuel, tho' very  improper, to a-
 fcribeall the evils, t.o which they are fubject at this
 term of life, folely to this caufe ; while they real-
 ly often refult  from a  different caufe, of which
 the jobftructions themfelves  are fometimes only the
 effect i  and  this  is the natural,  and, in fome de-
 gree, even  neceflary feeblenefs  of the  lex.  The
 fibres of women which are intended to be relaxed,
 and to give  way, when they  are  unavoidably ex-
 tended  by the growth of the  child, and its inclof-
 ing" membranes  I which frequently arife  to a very
 confiderable fize) fliould neceflarijy be lefs ftiffand
 rigid ; lefs ftrong, and more lax and yielding than
 the fibres cf men.  ifence the circulation of their
blood is more flow  and languid  than hi males j
t'jsir blood  is left compact  and denfe, and  more
 watery ; their fluids are more  liable  to llagnate in
their different bowels, and to  form infariftions and
 obfirutlions.
   \ pc2 The diforders to which fuch a conftituti-
or. fubje<rts them might, in  fome meafure, be pre-
vented, by aflifting that langour or feeblenefs  of
their  natural movements,  by fuch an increafe of
their force,  as exercife might contribute to : but
this siffi (lance, which in foine manner is more ne-
Ceffary for females than males, they are  partly de-
biived of/ by the general education and habitude 
               peculiar to IVomett.               3
of the fex ; as they are ufually employed in ma-
naging houfhold bufinefs, and  fuch light fedenta-
ry work, as afford them lefs exercife and motion,
t'lan the more  active occupations  of men.   They
ftir about but little,  whence their natural tenden-
cy to we«iknefs iiicreafes  from  habit, and  thence
b'eco nes morbid and lickly.  Their blood circulates
imperfectlv; its qualities become impaired ; the h *-
mouis tend to ;x pretty general uaguation; ami none
of the vita; functions" are completely difcharged.
  From fuch caufes .ml ciivum cances,  they begin
to iiuk into a ftale of we.fi-.nefs, fometimes while
they are very young,  and many years before tins
periodical difcharge could bt expected.  This ftave
of langour dilpofes  them to be inactive ;  a  lit.ie
exercife foon  fatigues  them,  whence  they take
none at all.  It might prove a remedy, and  even •
etfecl a cure, at the beginning of their complaint j
but as it is a remedy that is painful and difagrt ■-
able to  them, they reject it, and thus iuciea e
tl^eir diforders.

functions, and gradually becomes ftili lefs ; the w
fual falutary kinds of food  never exciting  it ^i..-
ftead of which they indulge themfelves in whin:it-
cal cravings,  and often  of the oddeft and moil im-
proper fubf lances foi nutrition, which entirely im-
pair the flomach with its digellive functions, and
confequently health itlelf.
   But fometimes  after the duration of this ftate
for a few years, the ordinary time of their  month-
ly  evacuations approaches, which', however,  make
 not the  leaft  appearance, for two reafons.   The
 full is, that their health is too much impaired to
 accomplish this new function, at a time when all
 the others are fo languid ;  and the fecond  is,  that
 under fuch circumflances, the evacuations theni-
 felves are unneceffary ; fince their final purpofe is
 to difcharge (when the fex are not pregnant) that
 fuperfluous blood, wliich they were intended to pi c- 
 4           The Treatment $f Difeafes.
 duce, and whofe retention  would be unhealthy,
 when not applied to the growth of the foetus, or
 nourifhment of the child : and this fuperfluity of
 blood does not exift in women, who have been long
 in a very low and languifhing ftate.
  §  2 53*  Their diforder, however, continues to in-
 creafe,  as every  one daily mufi, which does not
 termiattte.  This increafe of it is attributed to the
 i upprefiion or non-appearance of their monthly ef-
 flux,  which is often erroneous ; fince the diforder
 is not always owing to  that  fuppreflion,  which is
 often the effect, of their diftemperature.   This is
 ib true, that even, when the efflux happens, if their
 weaknefs Mill continues, the patients  are far from
 being the better for it; but the reverfe.  Neither
 is it unufual to fee young lads, who have  received
 from nature,  and from their parents, a fort of fe-
 minine  couititution, education and,haintade,  in-
 felled with much the fame fymptoms,  as obftructed)
 young women.  m
  Country girls, who are generally more accuftom-
 .,,1 .  /-.. „v ' ___>........«   v  J  ,,.....'.r    ~      *■..
 a,u iu luvil ij.i*"»jTy  ir </> n uuu  caliliiCj <*3  IUUU11*
 men,  are lefs fubject to  theie complaints, than wo-
 men, who live in cities.
  § 354. Let people then be careful not to deceive
 themfelves on this important account; finceall the
complaints of young maidens are  not  owing to the
want of their  culloms.  Neverthelefs it is certain
 there are fome of them, who are really  afflicted
 from this caufe.   For  inftance,  when a  ftrong
 young virgin in full health, who is nearly arrived
 to her full growth, and who manifeftly  abounds
 with blood, does not obtain this  difcharge at the
 ufual time  of life, then indeed  this fuperfluous
 blood is the fountain of very many diforders, and
 oreatly more  violent ones than  thofe, which  re-
 iult from the contrary caufes  already mentioned.
  If the lazy inactive city girls are more fubjecr. to
 theobilrucrions, which  either arife from the weak-
 ness and langour I have formerly taken notice of. 
               pecuKar to  Womert,               f
 of which accompany  \*f country  girls are more
 fubjecc. to complaints from this latter caUfe (too
 great a reteufion of fupeWhious blood) than wo-
 men who live in cities ; and it is this lati caufe that
 excites thofe fingular diforders, which appear fb fu-
 pertiatural to to the common people,  that they af-
 cribe them to forcery.
   §  355* And even after thefe periodical difchar-
 ges have appeared, it is known that they have often
 been fuppreffed, without the lead unhealthy con-
 fequeiice refulting from that fuppreflion.   They
 are often fuppreffed, in the eircumfta-nces mention-
 ed § 351. by a continuance of the  difeafe,  which
 was firft an obftacle or retardment to  their appear-
 ance ; and in otl*er cafes, they have been fuppreff-
 ed by other caufes, fuch as cold, moifture,. violent
 fear, and very ftrong paflion ; by too chilly a  courfe
 of diet, with indigeftion; or too hot and irritating
 diet 1 by drinks cooled with ice j by  exercife tco
 long continued, and by  unufual  watching;-  The
 Symptoms, occaiioned-  by  fuch  fuppreflions, are
 fometimes more violent than thole  which preced-
 ed the firft appearance of the difcharge.
   §  356. The great facility with which this  eva-
 cuation may be fupprefled, diminifhed, or  difor-
 dered, by the caufes already aflrgned  ; the terrible
 evils which are the confluences of  fuch interrup-
 tions and irregularities of them ; feem to me ve-
 ry cogent reafons to engage the fex to ufc all pof-
 iible care, in«every refpect, to preferve the regula-
 rity  of them; by avoiding,, during their approach
 and  continuance, every caufe that may prevent or
Jeffen them.   Would they  be thoroughly perfuad-
ed, not folely by my advice,, but by that of tiieir
mothers,  their  relation*,  their  friends, and by
their own experience, of what great importance
it  is  to be very attentive to  themfelves, at  thofe
critical times, I think there is not  one woman,
whoj from the firft, to the very lift appearance ox*
                     B3 
6           The Treatment of Difeafes
them, would not conduct herfelf with the moft
Scrupulous regularity.
  Their demeanour, in thefe circumftances, very
fundamentally interefts their own health, as well
as that of their children; and  confequently their
own happinefs, as well as that of their huib#ids
and families.
  The younger and  more delicate they are,  cau-
tion becomes the more neceffary for them.  I am
very fenfible, a ftrong country girl is too negligent
in regulating herfelf at thofe critical feafons, and
fometimes without any ill confequence ; but at a-
nother time fhe  may fuller feverely for it: and I
-could produce a long lift of many, who, by their
Imprudence on fuch occafions, have thrown them-
felves into the moil terrible condition:.
  Befides the caution with  which females fhould
avoid thefe general caufes, juft mentioned in  the
preceding fection, every perfon  ought to remem-
ber  what has molt  particularly difagreed with
•her during that term,  and tor ever, eonftantly to
reject it.
   § 557.  There are many women, whefe euftoms-
vifit them without the flrghtelt impeachment of
their health ; others are fenfibly  difordered on e-
Very return of them ^ and to others  again  they
are very tormenting by  the violent cholies, of a
longer or (horter duration,  which precede or ac-
company  them.   I have known feme of thefe  vio-
lent attacks laft but feme  minutes,  and  others,
which continued a few hours. Nay, feme indeed
have perfilted for many  days,  attended  with vo-
miting, fainting, with convulsions from exceffive
pain, with vomiting of blood,  bleedings from th&
nofe, ire. which,, in fhort, have brought them to
the very jaws of death.  So  very dangerous a fitu-
ation requires the clofefl attention ; though,, as it
xefults from feveral^ and frequently very oppofite
caufes, it is impoffible, within the prefent plan, to
direct the treatment that may be proper tor each
\ 
               peculiar to Women.               y
individual.  Some women have the  unhappinefs
to be fubject to thefe fyinptoms every month from
the firft appearance, to the final termination, of
thefe discharges ; except proper remedies and, re-
gimen, and fometimes a happy child-birth, re-
move them.  Others complain but now and then,
every fecond, third,  or fourth month ;  and there
are feme again, who haviug differed very feverely
during the firft months, or years, after their firft:
eruptions,  fuller no more afterwards.  A fourth
number, after   having had their  culloms for a
long time, without the leaft complaint,  find them-
felves afflicted with cruel pains at every return of
them ; if by imprudence, or feme inevitable fata-
lity, they have incurred any caufe, that  has fup-
preffed, diminished, or delayed  them.  This con-
federation ought to fuggeft a proper caution even
to  fuch, as generally undergo thefe difcharges,
without pain or complaint: fince all may be allur-
ed, that though they fuller no fenfible diforder at
that  time,  they  are neverthelefs  more delicate,
more impreflible by extraneous  fubftances,  more
eafily  affected  by the paffions of the mind, and
have alio weaker ftomachs at  thefe particular pe-
riods.
   § 358. Thefe difcharges may alfb be fometimes
too profufe in quantity, in which cafe the patients
become obnoxious to very grevious maladies ; into
the difeunion of which however I fliali not enter
here, as they are much left frequent than thole,
ariiing from a fuppreflion of them.  Befides which,
in fuch cafes, recourfe may be had  to the directi-
ons 1  (hall give  hereafter,  when I treat of that loft
of blood, which  may  be  expedient,  during the
courfe of gravidation or pregnancy,  fee § 365.
  § 359. Finally, even when they are the molt re-
gular, after their continuance for a pretty certain
number of years (rarely exceeding thirty-five) they
go off of their own accord, and neceffarily, be-
tween the age  of forty-five and  fifty j  lometixnes 
8          The Tfeatment «/ Difeafes
even fboner, but feldom  continuing longer:  and
this crifis  of their ceafing is generally a very trou-
blefome, and often a rery dangerous one for the
lex.
   §  363.  The evils mentioned $  352  may be pre-
vented, by  avoiding the caufes producing them ;
and, 1. By obliging young maidens to ufe confider-
abls exercife; especially as feon as there is the
leaft reafon to fufpect the approach of this difor-
der, the chkroftSy or green ficknefs.
   2. By watching the n  carefully,  that they eat
nothing unwholefbme or improper  ; as there are
fcarcely any natural fubftances, even among  fuch
as are molt improper for them, and the molt di&
tafteful, which have not fometimes been  the ob-
jects of their Sickly, their unaccountable cravings.
Fat  aliments, paltry, farinaceous or mealy,  and
four and  watery  foods,  are pernicious to them.
Herb-teas, which are frequently directed as a me-
dicine for them,  are Sufficient to throw them into
the diforder, by increafmg that relaxation of their
fibres, which is a principal caufe of it.   If they
mult drink any fuch infufions, as medicated drink*,
let them be taken cold ; but the beSt drink for them
is water,  in which red hot iron has been extin-
guished.
   3. They  muft avoid hot Sharp medicines, and
fuch as are folely intended to force down  their
terms, which are frequently  attended- with very
pernicious' confequences, and never do .any good1:
and they are Still the more hurtful-, as  the patieirt
is the younger.
   4. If the malady mcreafes, k will be neceflary
to give them fome remedies ;  but thefe fliould net
be purges, nor confiit of diluters,  and decoctions
of herbs, of falts, and a heap of other  ufelefs and
noxious ingredients ; but they fliould take filings
of iron, which is the molt certain remedy in fuch
cafes.   Thefe fiiingp Should be of true fimple  iron, 
               peculiar to Women.               9
 and not from Steel; and care Should be taken that it
 be not rufty, in which llate it has very little effect.
   At  the beginning of this  distemper,  and to
 young girls,  it is fufhcient to  give twenty grains
 daily, enjoining due exerciSe,  and a Suitable diet.
 When it prevails in a more fevere degree,  and the
 patient is not fo young, a quarter of an ounce may
 be Safely ventured on : certain bitters or aromatics
 may be advantageoufly joined to the filings, which
 are numbered in the appendix, 54. §5- 56- aT*d
 constitute the molt effectual  remedies  in  this dif-
 temper, to be taken in the form of powder, of vi-
 nous infufion, or of electary *. When there is a jufl
 indication to bring down the difcharge, the vi-
 nous  infufion N"1 55.  muft be given,  and gene-
 rally fucceeds: but  I muft again repeat it, (as it
 Should carefully be considered) that  the ftoppage
 or obstruction of this discharge is frequently the
 effect,  not  the  cauSe of this difeafe  ; and  that
 there Should be no attempt to force it down, which
 in Such a cafe, may Sometimes prove more hurt-
 ful ihu:: bc;:ificii! ; fines it  would naturally,-re-
 turn of its own aqcord, 011 the recovery, and with
 the Strength  of the patient; as their return Should
 follow  that of perfect health,  and neither can pre-
 cede  health, nor introduce  it.  There are fome
 cafes  particularly,  in which it  would be highly
 dangerous to ufe  hot and active medicines,  fuch
 cales for inltance, as are attended with fome  de-
 gree of fever, a frequent coughing, a haemorrhage
 or bleeding, with great  leannefs and confiderable
 thirft :  all which complaints  Should  be removed,
 before any hot medicines are given to force this e-
 vacuation, which many very ignorantly imagine,
 cures all other female  diforders;  an error,  that
 has prematurely occasioned the lofs of many wo-
 men's lives.
  * The French word here tpUt, it fometimes afed  by them for a
compound medicine of the confidence of an eie&ary;  and. caimot be
 fuppofed,  in this place,  to mean  any preparation, into which ofititk
 enters.  X. 
ro          The Treatment  ofDifeafs
  § 36 r. While the patient is  under a conrfe of
thefe medicines, She Should not take any  of thole
1  have forbidden in the preceding Section-; ;  ai.d
the efficacy of thefe lhould  alio be fmtheicd wL!i
proper exercife.  That in a carriage is vtiy he..*-
thy ; dancing  is fb too, provided it be  not  ex-
tended to an excels.  In cafe of a  reiapfe in theie
diforders, the patient is to be treated, a;, ii it were
an original attack.
  § 362. The other f »rt of obstructions, defcribed
§ 354.  recjuiresaveiydifftre.it tieaf.nei.t. Bleed-
ing, which is hurtful in the former i'o t, and t'.e
life, or rather  abufe of which,  Iia, tin own Icvti.l
young women  into irrecoverable  wcakiichVs, has
often removed  this latter fpecies, as it were,  in  a
moment. Bathing of the feet, the powders N°. 20.
and whey, have frequently fucceeded : but  at o-
ther times it is necelfary to accommodate the re-
medies and  the method  to each particular  cafe,
and to judge of it from its own pculiar circumstan-
ces and appearances.
  §. 3.6fe When thefe evacuations naturally  ceafe
through age, (fee § 359) if they Stop fuddenly and
all at once,  and had formerly flowed very largely,
bleeding muft 1. neceffarily be  directed, and re-
peated every fix, every  four,  or even every three
months.
   2. The ufual,  quantity of food Should be fome-
what diminished, especially of fleSh, of eggs,  and
of Strong drink.
   3. Exercife Should be increafed.
   4. The patient  Should  frequently take,  in  a
morning falling, the powder N°* 24. which is ve-
ry beneficial in fuch cafes ; as it moderately iii-
creafes the natural excretions by flool, urine, and
 perfpiration ;  and  thence leflens that quantity  of
 blood, which would otherwife fuperabound.
   Neverthelefs, Should this total ceffation of the
 monthly difcharge be preceded by,  or  attended
 with, any  extraordinary  lofs of blood, which is 
                peculiar to  Women.              Tt
frequently  the cafe, bleeding is not So neceSTary ;
but the regimen and powder j nil iHrected are very
 much fb; to which the purge Nt#  2 5. fr.ould now
and  then be joined, at moderate intervals.  The
ufe of aftringent medicines at  this critical timej
might diSpofe  the  patient to  a  cancer  of the
womb.
  Many women die about this age,  as it is but too
ealy a matter to injure them then ; a circumfiance
that Should  make  them very cautious and  pru-
dent in the medicines  they recur to.   On the  o-
ther hand,  it alfb frequently  happens, that their
constitutions alter for the better, after this critical
time of life ; their fibres grow Stronger; they find
themfelves fenfibly more hearty and hardy ; many
former flight  infirmities disappear, and they en-
joy a healthy and happy old age.  I have  known
feveral, who threw away their Spectacles at the age
of fifty-two, or fifty-three, which  they  had ufed
five or fix years before.
  The regimen I have jult directed,  the powder
N°*  24. and the potion N°* 32. agree very well in
almoSt all inveterate discharges  (I Speak of the  fe-
male peafantry) at whatever time of life.
Of Diforders attending Cravidation, or the Term of go-
                  ing with  Child.
  §  364.  Gravidation is generally a lefs ailing  or
unhealthy Slate in the  country, than in very po»
pulous towns.  Nevertheless  country women are
fubject, as well as citizens,  to pains of the Stomach,
 to vomiting in a morning,  to head-ach and tooth-
nch ; but thefe complaints very commonly yield
to bleeding, which is ahnolt the only remedy ne-
ceSTary * for pregnant women.

  * Too great a fulnefs of blood is undoubtedly the caufe of all the Ob
complaint!.; but  as  there are diffeicnt methods of oppofing this caufe,
the gcntlelt lfcould always be preferred; nor fhould the  conitiiution be-
come  hahituated to fuch remedies as might either impair the ilrength of
the mother,  or  of her fruit. Some  expedients  therefore  fhould be
thought of, that  may compensate for the want of bleeding, by en» 
12           The Treatment of Difeafes
   §  $65. Sometimes after carrying too heavy bur-
thens ; after much or too violent  work ;  after re-
ceiving exceffive jolts, or having had a fall, they
are fubjtct to violent pains of the loins, which  ex-
tend down to their thighs, and terminate quite at
the bottom of the belly ; and which commonly Sig-
nify, that they are  in danger of an abortion,  or
mifearry ing.
  To prevent this confequenre, which is  always
dangerous, they Should, 1.  Immediately go to bed,
and  if they have not a matrafs, they  Should lie up-
on a  bed Stuffed with Straw, a  feather bed being
very improper  in fuch cafes.   They fliould repofe,
or keep themfelves quite flill in  this Situation  for
feveral days, not Stirring, and Speaking as little as
poffible.
  2.  They fhould  directly lofe eight or nine oun-
ces of blood from the arm.
  3.  They Should not eat flefh, flefh-broth, nor eggs;
but  live folely  011  fbups made  of farinaceous  or
mealy fubltances.
  4.  They fhould  take every two hours half a pa-
per of  the powder Nc# 20. and  fliould drink no-
thing but the  ptifan Nc* 2.
  Some Sanguine robuSl women  are  very  liable to
mifearry at a certain time, or Stage, of their preg-
nancy.   This  may be obviated, by their  bleeding
fome days  before that  time approaches, and by
their obferving the  regimen I have  advifed.  But
this  method would avail very little for delicate ci-
tizens, who mifearry from a very different caufe ;

joining proper exercife in a clear air,  with  a  lefs nourifhirtg, and left
juicy diet  S. l~
 This note might have Itsufe fometimes, in the cafes of fuch delicate
andliyfterical, yet pregrant  women, as are apt to fuffer from bleeding,
or any other evacuation, though  no ways  immoderate.  But it fhould
have been confidered, tl.at Dr. TiSSOT was profefledly writing here to
hearty active country  wives,  who are very rarely thus conftituted ; and
whom he  might be unwilling to confiife  with fuch multiplied diftin&ionc
and directions, as would very feldom be necelfary, and might  fometimes
prevent them fiom doing what was fo.  Be fides which, this editoi might
have fren, our author has hinted at fuch  cafes very foon after. K. 
               feeufhtr  r» Women.             13
and whole abortions are to be prevented by a very
diiferent treatment.
            Of Delivery, or  Child-birth,
  "§  346.  It lias been obferved that  a greater pro-
portion of women die in the country in, or very
ipeedily after, theii  delivery, and  that  from the
fearcity of good afliltance,  and the  great plenty of
what is bad ; and that a greater proportion of thole
in cities die alter tlieir labours are -effected, by a
continuance of their former bad health.
   The necessity there is for better instructed, bet-
ter  qualified  midwives, through a great part of
Swijferland, is but too  manifest  an unhappinefs,
which is attended with  the  moll fatal con Sequen-
ces, and which merits the utmost attention  of the
^government.
   The errors which are incurred, during actual
labour, -are numberleSs, and $00 often indeed  are
alSb-irremediable. It would require a whole book,
exprefsly for that purpofe (and in  fome  countries
there are fuch)  to give all the directions that are
necelfary  to  prevent  fe  many fatalities:  and it
would be as necelfary to form a Sufficient number
of well-qualified midwives  to  comprehend, and
to obferve them; which exceeds the plan  of the
work I have propofed.  I Shall only mark out one
of the caufes, and the molt  injurious one on this
occasion : this is the cultoni  of giving hot irritat-
 ing things, whenever the labour is very painful
 or is Slow; fuch as caltor,  or its tincture, falfron'
 fage, rue, favin, oil «f amber, wine, V/enice trea!
 cle,  wine burnt with Spices, coffee,  brandy, ani-
 feed-water,  walnut-water, fennel-water,  and o-
 ther drams or Strong liquors.  All  tiieSe  things are
 ib many  poiSbns i;i  this refpect, whicft, yerv far
 ftom promoting the woman's delivery, render  it
 more diSlicult by inflaming the  womb (wnich can-
 not then So well contract it fell ) and the parts thro'
*rhich the birth is to pals, in con&queucc* c£ which.
   Vo„. IL              C                  ^ ^ 
 J»K^_     The Treatments} t>tfcafti---  -
 they (well,  become more Straitened, and cannot
 yield or be dilated.  Sometimes  theSe Stimulating
 hot medicines alfb bring on haemorrhages, which
 prove mortal in a few hours.
   \ 367. A confiderable number, both of mothers
 and infants, might be preferved by the directly
 bppofite method.   As foon as a woman who was in
 very good health, juft before the approach of her
 labour, being robuSt and well made, finds her tra-
 vail come on,  and that it is painful and difficult ;
 far  from  encouraging  thofe  premature efforts,
 which are always  destructive:  and  from further-
 ing them by the pernicious medicines I have juft
 enumerated, the patient fhould  be bled  in  the
 arm, which will prevent the fwelling and inflam-
 mation;  alfuage the pains: relax the parts, and
 difpofe every thing to a favourable iSfue.
   During actual  labour  no  other  nourishment
 fhould  be allowed, except a little  panada every
 three hours,  and as much toalt and water,  as the
 Woman chooles.
   Every fourth hour a glyfter Should be given, con-
 lifting of a decoction of mallows, and a  little oil.
 In the intervals between thefe glyfters, She fliould
 be fet over a kind of Stove, or in a pierced eafy
 chair, containing a veflel in which  there is  feme
 hot water ; the pafl'age Should be gently  rubbed
 with  a little butter; and  Stupes  wrung  out  of a
 fomentation  of fimple hot water,  which is the
 molt elficac/ous of any, Should be applied over the
 belly.
  The midwives, by taking this method, are not
 only certain  of doing no mifchief,  but  they alfb
 allow nature an opportunity of doing good : as a
 great many labours, which feem difficult at firft,
 terminate happily ; and this SaSe and unprecipi-
tate mauner of proceeding at leaft affords time to
call iu further alliltance.  Belides, the conlequen-
ce; of Such deliveries are healthy and  happy; when
 bv puriumg the heating oppressing practice,  even 
               peculiar to Women.             15
though the delivery be effected, both the mother
and  infant  have  been fo cruelly,  though unde-
signedly,  tormented, that both of them frequent-
ly pcrifh.
   § 368. I acknowledge thefe means are infuffici-
ent when the child  is unhappily Situated  in the
womb ; or when  there is an embarraffing confor-
mation in the mother :  though at leaf! they pre-
vent the cale from proving worfe,  and leave time
for calling in men-midwives, or other female ones,
who may  be better qualified.
   I beg leave again to remind the midwives,  that
they Should be very cautious of urging their wo-
men to make  any  forced elibrts to forward the
birth,  which are extremely injurious to them,
and  which  may render a delivery very dangerous
and  embarraffing, that might otherwife have been
happily effected :  and I infiSl the more freely on
the danger attending thele unfeafbnable efforts,
and  on the very great importance of patience, as
the other  very pernicious practice is become next
to univerSal amongSt us.
   The weakneSs,  in which  the labouring woman
appears, makes the by-Slanders fearful that She will
not have Strength enough to be delivered ;  which
they think abundantly jullifies them in giving her
cordials ;  but this way of reaSbning is very weak
and  chimerical.   Their Strength, on Such occasi-
ons, is not  So  very fpeedily diSlipated : the Small
light pains Sink  them, but in proportion as the
pains become Stronger,  their Strength ariSes , be-
ing never deficient, when there is no extraordina-
ry and uncommon fymptom ; and we may reason-
ably be aSfured,  that in a  healthy, well formed
woman, mere weaknefs never prevents a delivery*

   Of the Conjequences of Labour,  or Child-birth.

   \ 369. The moft ufual confequences of child-
birth in the country are,  1. An excelfive haemor-
rhage.  2. An inflammation of the womb.   3. A
                      C a 
16          The Treatment of Difeafes
fudden fuppreflion of the lochia, or ufual difcharg-
es after delivery.  And, 4. the fever and other ac-
cidents reSulting from the milk.
  Exceflive bleedings or floodings, fhould be treat-
ed according to the manner diiccled §  .,65. and if
they are very excfffive,  folds of linen,  which have
been wrung out  of a mixtuie of equal parts of wa-
ter and vinegar, Should be applied to the belly,
the loins,  and the thighs :  thele  Should be chang-
ed for frefli moiit  ones, as they dry ;  and Should
be omitted, as Soon as the bleeding abates.
  \ ^70. The inflammation  of the womb  is difco-
verable by pains in all the lower parts of the bel-
ly v  by a  tenfion or tightnefs of the whole ; by a
fenfible increale of pain upon touching it; a kind
of red Slain or fpot, that mounts to the middle of
the belly, as high as the navel; which Spot, as tlie
difeafe iiicreafes, turns black, and then is always
a mortal Symptom ; by a very extraordinary de-
gree of weaknefs , an aftoniihing change  of coun-
tenance ;  a light delirium or raving ;  a continual
fever with a weak and hard pulle ; fometimes  in-
ceSfan-t vomitings ; a frequent hiccup ; a moderate
difcharge of a reddiSh, Slinking, Shaip  water ; fre-
quent urgings to go to Stool ; a burning kind of
heat of urine ; and fometimes an entire fupprefli-
on of it.
   j 371. This molt dangerous and.frequently mor-
tal diieafe Should be treated like inflammatory ones.
After bleeding, frequent glyfters of warm water
muft by no means be omitted ;  fome fliould alfo be
injected into the womb,  and applied  continually
over the belly.   The patient may alio drink con-
tinually,  either of fimple barley-water, with  a
quarter of an ounce of nitre ill every pot of it, or
of almond milk N°* 4.
   § 372*  The total fuppreflion of the lochia,  the
difcharge after labour, which proves a  caufe of
the mofl violent disorders,  Should be treated  ex-
actly in the fame  manner: but if unhappily  hot 
               peculiar to Women.             If
medicines have been given, in order tfc Force them
down, the cafe will generally prove a molt hope-
lefs one.
   § 373. If the milk-fever run very high, the bar-
ley ptifan directed § 371. and glySlers,  with a ve-
ry light  diet confilling only of panada,,  or made
of fome other farinaceous fubftances, and that ve-
ry thin,  very generally remove it.
   \ 374. Delicate infirm women, who have not all
the requisite and necelfary attendance they want ;
and fuch as from indigence are obliged to work
too Soon, are expofed to many accidents, which
frequently arife from a want of due perfpiration,
and an infufficient difcharge of the lochia;  and
■hence the Separation of the milk in their breafts
being disturbed, there are milky congestions, or
knots as it were, which are always very painful
and  troublefeme,  and especially when they are
formed more inwardly. They often happen on the-
thighs, in which caSe the ptifan N0*- 58. is to be
drank, and the  pultices N' *■ 59. muft be applied.
Thefe two remedies gradually dilfipate and remove
the tumour, if that may be effected without fup-
puration.  But if that proves impoflible,. anil pusr
or  matter, is actually formed, a Surgeon muft o-
pen the abfcefs, and treat it like any other.
   § 375. Should the milk coagulate,L or curdle as
it were,  in the breaft,  it is of the urmoil import--
ance immediately to attenuate or diffolve  that
thickneSs, which would otherwife degenerate into
a hardneSs and prove a fchirrhus ; and from a.fchir~
rhus in procefs of time a cancer, that molt torment-
ing and cruel diftemper.
   This horrible evil however may be prevented by
an application to thefe fmall tumours,  as Soon as
ever  they  appear.  For this purpofe  nothing is-
more effectual than the prefcriptions N°i 57. and
60. but under fuch menacing circumstances, it is<
always prudent to take the belt advice, as early as
poflible.. 
 l8        The Treatment of Difeafes,  kc.
   From the moment thefe  hard  tumours become
 exceffively and obstinately fo, and yet without any
 pain, we  Should abstain from  ever/ application  :
 all are injurious ;  and grealV,  Sharp, reSincros and
 fpirituous ones fpeedily change the fchirrhus into a
 cancer.  Whenever it becomes  manifestly fuch, all
 applications are alfb equally pernicious, except that
 of'N • 60.   Cancers have long been thought and
 found incurable ; but within a few years pall, fome
 have been cured by the remedy Nc- 57. which ne<-
 vertheleSs is not infallible, though it Should always
 be tried  *.
   §  376.  The nipples of women, who  give milk-,
 are often fretted or excoriated, which proves very
 Severely painful to them.  One of the belt applica-
 tions is the molt  fimple ointment,, being a mixture
of oil and wax melted together;,  or the ointment
 N°* 66.    Should the complaint  prove very obsti-
 nate, the nurfe ought to he purged,, which gene-
 rally removes it..

  • The life of hemlock,, which has been tried at Lyons, by all who have
Bad cancerous patients, having been given in very large dofes, has been
attended with no effeit thei e,  that merited the fci ious attention of prac--
titioners.  Many were careful to obtain the extract from Vienna,, and
even to procure it from Dr. Storck himfelf.  But now it appears to have
had fo-little  fuccef-, as to became entirely neglected.  £. L.
  Having exactly tranlkted in this place, and in the table of remedies,
our learned Author's considerable recommendation of the extract of hem-
 lock in cancers, we think it but fair,  on the other hand, to pubiifli this
note of his editoi's againft it r that the  read efficacy or  inetfnacy of this
 medicine, may ax length be afcertained,  on  the moft extenfive evidence
 and experience.  As far as-my own opportunities and reflexions, and the-
experience of many others, have inflrufted me on this fubjeft, it appears-
clear to mvfelf,. that thojgh the coirfeqnences of it have not been con-
 stantly unfdccefrful with u<, yet its fuccefTes have come very fhort of itt
 fti i.res.  Neverthelefs, as in all fuch cancers, every other internal me-
dicine almoft univerfally fails,  we think with Dr. Ti'Jfot, it fliould always
be tried (from the mere poffibhity of it., fucceeding in fome particular-
 habit and circumstances) at leait till longer experience dull finally deter-.
nine againlt it.  Hi-
* 
      Medical Directions concerning Children.     ,\f


               € K A P.  XXVII.
       Medical Diretlions concerning Children*

                 Sect.  377-
     THE difeafes of children, and every tiling re*
       lative to their health,  are objects which ge-
nerally feem to have been too much neglected by
phyficians ; and have been too long confided to
the conduct of the nioft improper perfens for fuch
a charge.   At the fame time  it muSt be admitted-,
their health is  of no little importance , their pre-
servation is as necelfary as the continuance of the
human race ;  and the application of the practice
of phySick to their diforders is fufeeptible of near-
er approaches to perfection, than is generally con-
ceived.   It feems to have even fome advantage o-
ver that practice which regards grown perlons ;
and it conSiSts in this, that the dileafes of children
are more fimple, and lefs frequently complicated
than thofe of adults.
   It may be faid, indeed, they cannot make them-
felves fo well understood, and mere infants certain-
ly not at all.   This  is true in fact to a certain de-
gree, but not rigidly true ; for though they do not
fpeak our language, tbey have one which we Should
contrive to understand.  Nay  every distemper may
be Said, i-i feme fenfe, to have a language of its own,
which an attentive phyfician will leain. He Should
therefore ufe his utmoft care tojjjtfjRderltand that of
infants, and avail  himfelf of jt, to increafe  the
means of rendering them healthy  and vigorous,
and to cure them of the different distempers to
which they are liable.    I do  not propofe actually
to complete this talk myfelf,  in all that extent it
may jultly demand ; but 1 Shall fet forth the prin-
cipal cauSes of  their distempers, and the general
method of treating  them.   By this means I Shall
at leaft preserve  them from, fome of the mifcliiefs 
30     Medkat Directions concerning Childrea.
which are too frequently done them ; and the leffc
ening fuch evils as ignorance, or erroneous prac-
tice, occasions,  is one of the moft important pur-
pofes of the prefent work.
  § 378. Nearly all the  children who die before
they are one  year, and  even two years,  old, die
with convulsions :  people fay they died of them,
which is partly true, as it is in effect the convulsi-
ons that have  destroyed them.  But then thefe ve-
ry convulsions are the con Sequences, the effects, of
other difeafes, which require the utmoft attention
of thofe,  who are entrusted with the  care and
health of the little  innocents : as an effectual op-
position to thele diSeaSes, thefe  morbid cauSes,  is
the only means of removing the convulsions.  The
four principal known cauSes are, the meconium ; t-'ie
excrements contained in the body of the infant, at
the birth ; acidities, or Sharp and four humours ; the
cutting of the teeth, and worms. I Shall treat brief-
ly of each.

                Of the Meconium.
  \ 379. The Stomach and guts of the infant,  at
its entrance into the world, are filled with a black
fort of matter of a middling confidence, and ve-
ry vifeid or glutinous,  which is called the meconi-
um.   It is necelfary tliis matter Should be dischar-
ged before the infant fucks,  Since it would other-
wise corrupt the milk,  and, becoming extremely
Sharp itfelf, there would reSult from their mixture
a double fource of evils, to the destruction of the
infant.
  The evacuation  of this  excrement is procured,,
I. B/ giving them no milk at all lor the firft twen-
ty-f >ur hours of their lives,   a. By making them
drink during that time fome water, to which a lit*
tie fugar or honey muft be added, which will dilute
this meconium, and  promote the dil'charge of it by
Stool, and fometimes by  vomiting.. 
       Medical Directions  concerning Children.      21

   To be the more certain of expelling all this mat-
 ter,  they Should take one ounce  or compound  Sy-
 rup  * of fuccory,  which fliould  be  diluted with a
 little water,  drinking up this quantity within the
 fpace of four or five hours.   This practice  is a ve-
 r)  beneficial one, and it  is to be wished it were to
 become general.  This  fyiup is greatly preferable
 to  all others, given in Such caSes, and efj.ecially to
 oil of almonds.

  Should the great weaknefs of the child feem to call
 for fome nourishment, there would  be no inconve-
 nience  in allowing a little bifeuit well boiled in wa-
 ter,  which is pretty commonly done, or a little va-
 ry  thin light panada,

           Of Acidities, or Jharp  Humours,

   \  380. Notwithstanding the bodies  of children
 have been  properly emptied Speedily  after  their


  * This method (fays the editor and annotator of Lytm)U ufefn!, when*
 ever the mother does not  fuckie her child. Art is then obliged to piove
 a kind of fubltitute to nature, though always  a very imperfect one.   But
 when  a mother, attentive to her own true intereft, as well  as  her in-
 fant's,  and, liltening to the voce of  nature and her duty, fuckles it her-
 fe'r", thefe remedies [he a<Lls] feem hurtful,  or, at  leaft, ufelefs.  Th*
 mother fliould give her child the brealt as foon as /he can.   The firft
 milk,  the colojtrum, or Jlrippintt,  as it is called in quadrupeds, which is
 veiy feious  or  watery, will  be ferviceable as a purgative; it will for-
 ward ihe-expul.lon of the meconium,  prove gradually nourilhing,  and is
 beucr than bifcuits, or panada, which  (he thinks}  are dangerous in  the
 fcrft days after the birth.   E. L.    ,
  Tlii» fyrup of fuaory being fcarcely ever prepared with us,  though
fuificiently proper for  the ufe alfigned it here, I have retained the pre-
 ceding note, as  the author of it directs thefe Jtrippings, Cot the fame pur-
pofe, with an air of certain experience ; and as this effect of them feems
 no ways repugnint to the phyfkal wifdom a.id ceconomy of nature, on
 fuch important points.  Should it in fact be tb-'r Veiy general operation,
it cannot be unknown to  any male or fema't  piactitioner in midwifery,
 and may fave poor people a liitle  expence, which was one object of our
 humane Author's plan.   The oil of Ricinus, corruptly called Cajtor oil,
 (being exprcifed from the berries of the palma Chrijti) is particularly re-
commended  by fome  late medical  writers from Jamaica,  &c. foi this
 purpofe of expelling the meconium, to the quantity of a fmall fpoonful.
 Thefe gent'emen alfo consider it as the moll-proper, and almolt fpeciffc
opener, in the dry bel.y-ach of that torrid  climate, which tormenting dif-
 eafe has the clofeft affinity to the  mlferre, or iliac paflion, of any I have
 feen.   The  anaotatoi's objection to our Author's very thin light panada,
 fcems to be of little  weight. K. 
32    Medical Direflions  concerting  Children.
birth, yet the milk very often turns four in their
flomachs,  producing  vomitings, violent cholics,
convulsions, a looSeneSs, and even terminating in
death.  There are but two purpoles to be ptwSued
in fucli cafes, which are to carry oil' the Sbur or
Sharp humours,  and to prevent the generation of
more.  The firft of thefe  intentions is beft effe&cd
by the fyrup of Succory * juSl mentioned.
   The generation of further acidities is prevented,
by giving three doles daily, if the  fymptoms are
violent, and but two, or even one only, if they are
very  moderate, of the powder Nc*  61.  drinking
after it bawm tea, or a tea of lime-tree flowers.
   § 381.  It has been a cuflom to load   children
with  oil of almonds, -J-  as foon as ever  they are
infefted with gripes ; but it is a pernicious cuftom,
and attended with very  dangeious confequences.
It is very  true that this oil fometimes immediately
allays the gripes, by involving, or Sheathing up,
as it were the acid humours, and fomewhat blunt-
ing the fenfibility of the nerves. But it proves on-
ly a  palliative remedy, or alTuaging for a time,
which,  far  from removing, increaS'es the  caufe,
lince  it becomes Sharp  and rancid itfelf; whence
the diforder fpeedily returns, and the more oil the
infant takes, it is griped  the more.  I have cured
fome  children of fuch diforders, without any other
remedy, except  abstaining from oil, which weak-
ens their Stomachs,  whence their milk is  lefs per-
fectly, and more Slowly digefted, and becomes more
eafily Soured. Befides this weaknefs of the Stomach,
which thus commences at that very early age, has
fometimes an unhealthy influence on the  constitu-
tion of the  child, throughout the remainder of his
life. -
   A free and open belly is beneficial  to children ;
now  it is certain that the oil very often binds them,

   • Or, for want of it, the folntive fyrup of rofes.  K.
   + The magneJU is an excellent fubltitute ia children, fox thefe oik Dr.
 Tiffot fo juitly condemns here,  K. 
     Medical Directions concerning Children.     a J
in con Sequence of its diminishing the  force and
action of the bowels. There is fcarcely any perfon,
who cannot obferve this inconvenience attending
it; notwithstanding they all continue to advile
and to give it, to obtain a very different purpofe :
But fuch is the power of prejudice in this cafe, and
in So many others ;  people are fo ftrongly prepof-
feSl'ed with a notion, that fuch a medicine muft pro-
duce fuch an effect, that its never having produced
it avails nothing with them, their prejudice ftill
prevails: they aferibe its want of elficacy to  the
fmallnefs of the doles ; thefe are doubled then, and
notwitltandingits bad effects are augmented, their
obstinate blindnefs continues.
  This abufe of the oil alfo difpofes the  child to
knotty hard tumours, and at length often proves
the firft caufe of feme difeafes of the Skin, whofe
cure is extremely difficult*.
   Hence it is evident,  this oil Should be ufed  on
fuch occafions but very feldom; and that  it is  al-
ways very injudicious to give it in cholics, which
arife from Sharp and four humours in  the  flomach
or in the bowels.
   § 382. Infants are commonly molt fubject to Such
cholics during their earlieft months ;  after which
they abate, in proportion as their Stomachs grow
Stronger.  They may be relieved in the fit by glyf-
ters of a decoction of chamomile  flowers, in which
a bit of Soap of the Size of a hazel nut is difl'olved.
A piece of flannel wrung out of a decoction of cha-
momile flowers, with  the addition of fome Venice
treacle, and applied hot over the Stomach and on
the belly,  is alSo very beneficial, and relieving.
  Children cannot always take glyfters, the conti-
nuance of which circumstance might be dangerous
to them ;  and every one  is acquainted with  the
common method of  fubStituting fuppofitories to
them, whether they are formed of the Smooth and
fupple Stalks  of vines, ire. of foap,  or of honey
boiled up  to a proper consistence. 
 24     Medical Directions concerning Children.
   But one  of the  liioSt certain means to prevent
 thefe cholics, which are owiug  to children's not
 digesting their milk  is to move and exercife them
 as muc'i as pollible  ; having a due regard however
 to their tender tine of life.
   § 383. Before 1 proceed to the third caute of the
 diieafes of children, which is, the cutting of their
 teeth, I mult  take notice of the  fir St cares their
 birth  immediately  requires,  that is the  wafh-
 ing of them the firlt  time, merely to cleanfe, and
 afterwards, to Strengthen them.

               Of wafjing Children.
  § 384. The whole body of an infant juft born is co-
vered with a grofs humour,  which is occaiioned by
the fluids, in which it was Suspended in the womb.
Thereis a neceflity tocleanfe it directly from this,S*or
which nothing is So proper as a mixture of one third
wine, and two thirds water ; wine alone would be
dangerous. This walhing may be lepe.vted fome days
fucceSlively; but it  is a bad cullom to continue to
Wa(h them thus warm, the danger of which is aug-
mented by adding fome butter to the wine and wa-
ter, which is done too often.  If this  grofs  hu-
mour, that  covers the child, feems more thick and
glutinous than ordinary, a decoction of chamo-
mile flowers, with a little bit of foap, may be uled
to remove it.  The regularity of perS'piration is the
great foundation of health ; to procure this  regu-
larity the teguments, the fkin, muft be Strengthen-
ed ; but warm walhing tends to weaken it.  When
 it is  of a  proper Strength  it always performs its
functions ; nor is perfpiration difordered Senfiblv
by the alteration of the weather.   For this reafbn
nothing Should be omitted,  that may fix it  in this
ltate ; and to  attain  So important an advantage,
children fhould  he  waflied, Some  few days  after
their birth, with cold water, iu  the Slate  it  is
brought from the fpring.
  For this  purpofe a fpunge is employed, with 
     Medical Directions concerning Children.     2"c
which they begin, by walking firft  the face,  the
ears, the back part of the head (carefully avoiding;
the * foritanelle,  or  mould of the head) the neck,
the loins, the trunk of the  bodv, the thighs, legs
and arms, and  in fhort every  fpot.   This method
Which has obtained for So many ages, and which
is prartifed at prefent.by  many people, who prove
very healthy, will appear Shocking to feveral mo-
thers ; they would be afraid of killing their chil-
dren by it;  and would particulary fail of courage
enough to endure the cries, which children often
make, the firft  time they are waflied.   Yet if their
mothers truly love them, they cannot give a more
fubltantial mark of their tendernefs to them, than
by Subduing their fears and their repugnance, on
this important  head.
   Weakly infants f are thofe who have the great-
eft need of being wa/hed:  Such as are remarkably
Stiong may beexcufed from it ; and it feems Scarce-
ly credible (before-a perfon has frequently Seen the
 confequences of it)  how greatly this method con-
 duces to give,  and tohalten on, their Ilrength.  I
 have had the pleafurc to  obferve, Since I firft En-
 deavoured to introduce this cultom among us, that
 feveral of the molt affectionate and  molt fenfble
 mothers,  h'-ve ufed it with the greateft fuccefs.
 The midwives,  who have been witnefies of ic; the
 uurfesand the  Servants of the-children, whom they
 have  waShed,  publish  it  abroad; and  fhould the
 cultom  become as general,  as every thing feems to
 promile it will, I am fully perfuaded, that by  pre-
 ferving the lives of a great  number of children, it
   Vol. II.             D

   *  That part of the head where a pulfation may be very plainly fc:t-,
 where tlie bones are  iefi hard, and not as yet hnnly joined vviti. t - '.c
 abo. t them.
   t  1 here Is  however a certain degree cf wcaknef, which may very
 rcaf'iuLly deter us  from ihi:. warning ; as when  th'- iniunt r.:_ liilfi'y
 vani* heat, and needs fome cord al and frequent frictions, to p i\i:u .':fi
 expiringfroin downright feeblenefs; in vl'ldi ci;cun:Uii,.c.. v, -!!.'i:0 r...;!
  bv- hurtful to it. 7iyt. 
 »6.    Medical Directions concerning Children,
 will certainly contribute to check the progrefs of
 depopulation,
   They Should be waShed very regularly everyday,
 in every feafon, and every fort of weather ; and in
 the fine warm l'eafbn they fhould b? plunged into a
 large pail of water,  into the bafins around foun-
 tains, ina brook, a river, or  a lake.
   After a few days  crying, they grow fo well  ac-
 cultomed  to this exercife, that it becomes one of
 their pleafures;  fo  that they laugh all the time of
 their going through it.
   The SirSt benefit of this practice is, as I have  al-
 ready faid, the keeping up their perfpiration, and
 rendering them lefs obnoxious to the impreffions of
 the air and weather :  and it is alio in confequence
 of this firft benefit,  that they are preferved from a
 great number of maladies, especially from knotty
 tumours, often called kernels ;  from obstruction ;
 from difeafes of the Skin, and from convulsions ; its
 general confequence  being to inlure them  firm,
 and even  robult  health.
   §  385.  But care fliould be taken not to prevent,
 01*^ as it were to undo,  the benefit this  walhing
 procures them, by the bad cultom of keeping  them
 too hot.   There is not a more pernicious one than
 this, nor one that deftroys more children.  They
 fhould be  accuftomed  to light  cloathing  by day,
 and light covering by night,  to go with their heads
 very thinly covered, and not at all in the day-time,
 after their attaining the age of two years.  They
 fhould avoid fleeping in chambers that are too hot,
 end fhould live in the open  air, both in  fuuvmer
 and winter,  as much as poSfible.   Children who
 have been kept  too hot in fuch refpects, are very
 often liable to colds ;  they are  weakly,  pale, lan-
 guishing, bloated and melancholy.   They are fub-
ject  to hard knotty Swellings, a confumption,  all
 forts of languid diforders, and  either die  in  their
 infancy, or only grow up into a miferable valetudi-
 nary life; while thofe who are  warned or plunged 
     Medical Directions  concerning Children.     27
into cold water, and habitually expofed to the o-
pcn  air,  are juft in the  oppofite circmnftances.
  §  386. I muft further add here, that infancy is
hot the only ftage of life, in whieh cold bathing is
advantageous.   I have  advifed it with remarkable
fvitcef. to perfbns of every  age,  even to that of Se-
venty  : and there are two  kinds of difeafes, more
frequent indeed in cities than in the  country, in
which cold baths Succeed very greatly ; that is, in
debility, or weaknefs of the nerves ; and when per-
fpiration is difordered, when perSbns are feaiful of
every breath of air, liable  to  defluxions or colds,
feeble and languishing, the cold bath re-eftablifhes
perfpiration; reftores Ilrength to the nerves $  and
by that means difpels all the disorders, which  arife
from thefe two caufes, in the  animal ceconomy.
They  Should be  ufed  before dinner.  But in the
fame proportion that cold bathing is beneficial, the
habitual ufe, or rather abufe, of warm bathing is
pernicious ; they  difpofe  the perfons addicted to
them to the apoplexy ; to the dropfy ;  to vapours,
and to the hypochondriacal difeafe : and cities, in
which they  are  too frequently ufed, become, in
fome meafure, defelate from fuch distempers.
            Of the Cutting  oj the Teeth.
   $ 387. Cutting of the teeth is often very  tor-
menting to children, feme dying under the fevere
fymptoms attending it. If it proves very painful,
we Should during that period, 1. Keep their bellies
open by glyfters con Silling only of a Simple decoc-
tion of mallows ;  but gly Iters are not necelfary, if
the child, as it fometimes happens, has then a purg-
ing.
   a. Their ordinary quantity of foc»d Should be
leffened for two reaSbns;  firft, becaufethe Stomach
is then  weaker than  ufual ; and next, becaute a
fmall fever Sometimes  accompanies the cutting.
   3. Their ufual quantity of drink Should be in-
creased a little ; the beft for them  certainly is an
                        D 2 
 ^8    Medical Directions  concerning Children.
 infufion of the flowers of the lime or linden-tree,
 to which a little milk may be added.
   4. Their gums Should frequently be rubbed with
 a mixture of equal parts  of honey, and  mucilage
 of quince-feeds ; and a root of march-mallows, or
 of liquorice, may be given them to> chew.
   It frequently happens,  that during dentition, or
 the time of their toothing,  children prove Subject
 to knots or kernels.

                   Of Worms.
   §  388. The  meconium,  the  acidity of  the milk,
 and cutting of the teeth, are the three great caufes
 of the difeafes of children. There is alio a fourth,
worms, which is hkewife very often pernicious to
 them ; but which,  neverthelefs,  is not, at  leaft
 not near fo much, a general  caufe  of their difor-
 ders, as it is generally fuppoled, when a child ex-
 ceeding two years of age proves fick.  There are a
 great variety of Symptoms, which  difpoie people
to think-a child has worms ;  though  there is but
 one  that  demonftrates it, which  is discharging
them upwards or downwards.  There is  great dif-
ference among children too in  this refpect, fome
remaining healthy, though having feveral' worms,,
 and  others being really fick with a few.
   They prove  hurtful,  1.  By obstructing the guts,.
 and compreSfing the neighbouring bowels by  their
 fize.  2. By fucking up the chyle intended to nou-
 rish the.patient, and thus depriving him of his ve-
 ry fubltance as well as StibSiltence :  and, 3,. By ir-,
 ritating  the guts and  even * gnawing them.

  * I have fcen a child about three years old, whofe navel, after fwell-
 ing and inflaming, fuppuraied, and through a  finall orifice (which muft
have communicated with.the cavity of the gut or  the belly J difenarged
 c.ie of thefe worms we call teretes, about three inches long.  He h^d
 voided feveral  by ftool, after' ta'cing fome vermifuge ratdicines.  The
 fact I perfectly remember ; and to the belt of my  recollection, the ulcer
 healed fi.me time after, and the orifice clofed: but the child died the
 following'year-of a putrid fever,  which might be caufed,  or was aggra-
 vated, by worm:.  K. 
       Medical Directions concerning Cfildren.    29
   f  389. The Symptoms which  make  it probable
they are infefted with worms, are Slight, frequent
and irregular cholics; a  great  quantity of the
fpittle running off while they are fatting ; a dis-
agreeable fmell of their breath,  of a particular
kind, especially in the morning ; a frequent itch-
inefs of their nofes which makes them feratch or rub
them often •,  a  very irregular  appetite,  being
fometimes  voracious, and  at other  times  having
none at all:  pains at Stomach  and  vomitings;
fometimes  a coStive belly ; but  more  frequently
looSe Stools of indigested matter ; the belly rather
larger than ordinary, the relt of the body meagre ;
a thirll which no drink allays; often great weak-
nefs, and Some degree of melancholy.  The coun-
tenance has generally an odd unhealthy look, and
varies every quarter of an  hour; the  eyes often
look dull and are furrounded with a kind of livid
circle: the white of the  eye is fometimes  visible
while they Sleep, their Sleep being often attended
with terrifying  dreams or deliriums, and with con-
tinual  itartings,  and grindings  of their  teeth.
Some children find it impossible to be at reft for a
fingle  moment.   Their  urine is often whitish, I
have feen it from  fome as  white as milk.  They
are afflicted with palpitations, fwoonings, convul-
fions, long and profound drowfineSs; cold fweats
which come on fuddenly;  fevers which have the
appearances of  malignity  ; obscurities and  even
lofs of fight and of fpeech, which continue for a
considerable time ; palfies either of their hands,
their arms,  or their legs, and numbnefles.   Their
gums are in a bad  State, and as though they had
been gnawed  or corroded : they have often  the
hiccup, a Sinall and irregular pulfe, ravings, and,
what is one of the leaft  doubtful Symptoms, fre-
quently a Small dry cough ; and not Seldom a mu-
cofity or Sliminels in their Stools ; Sometimes very
long and violent cholics, which terminate  in  an
                     I>3 
 So    Medical Directions concerning Children.
 abfcefs on the outfide of the belly, from whence
 worms ilfue,  (fee note * p.  28.)
   § 390. There is a great multitude of medicines
 agaiult  worms.   The *  grenette  or  worm-feed,
 which is one  of the cominonelt,  is a  very good
 one.   The  prescription Nv' 62. is alfo a very Siic-»
 cefsful one : and the powder  N:*  14* is one of' the
 belt.   Flower  of brimltone, the juice  of najlurth-
 utn, or crelTes, acids, and honey-water have often
 been very Serviceable ;  but  the firlt  three  I have
 mentioned, fuceeded by  a purge, are  the belt.
 N°* 63. is a purging medicine, that the moll averfe
 and difficult children may calily take.   But when*
 notwithstanding thefe medicines,  the worms are
 not expelled, it is neceflary to take advice of feme
 perfon qualified to prefcribe more efficacious ones-.
 This  is of considerable importance, becaufe, not-
 withstanding a great proportion of children may
 probably have worms, and yet many of  them con*
 tinue in good health, there are, nevertheless, feme
■who are really killed by worms, after having been
 cruelly tormented  by them for feveral years.
   A difboiition to breed  worms always Shews the
 digestions are weak and imperfect ;-for which rea-
 fon children liable to worms Should not be nourish-
 ed with  food difficult to digelt. We Should be par-
 ticularly careful not to ftuff them with oils, which;
 admitting fuch oils  Should immediately kill feme
 of their worms,  do yet increafe that caufe,  which
 di'pofes them  to generate others.    A  long con-
 tinued uSe of filings of iron  is the remedy, tiiat
 molt  effectually  deftroys this  disposition to gene-
 rate worms,.

                 Of Convulfions.
   \ 391.  I have already faid,  § 378, that the con-
 vulsions of children are alinoft constantly the ef*
  * This word occurs in none of the common dictionaries; bnt fufpeft-
 ingit for the fem;n fontonUi of the (hops, 1 find the learned. Dr. bikket
 has rendered it fo, \a his very well received trunilatioa  of this valuable
 work into L*iv Dutch.  X. 
       Medical Directions concerning Chfldrfn.    -jt

; feet of fome other difeale, and especially of fome
 of the four I  have mentioned.   Some other, tho/
 leSs frequent caufes, fometimes occaSion them, and
 thefe may be  reduced to Vhe following.
   The firft of them is the corrupted humours, that
 often abound in their Stomachs and inteftines ; and
 which, by their irritation, produce irregular mo-
 tions throughout the whole fyflem of the nerves,
 or at leall through  Some parts of them ;  whence
 thefe convulfions ariSe, which are merely involun-
 tary motions  of the mufcles.   Theie putrid hu-
 mours are the conlequence of too great a load of
 aliments, of unfound ones, or of fuch, as the Sto-
 machs  of children,  are  incapable  of digesting.
 Thefe humours are  alfb fometimes the effect of a
 mixture and  con fu lion of different aliments, and
 of a bad distribution of their nourishment.
   It may be known that the convulsions of a child
 are owing to this caufe, by the circumftances that
 have preceded them, by a diSgulted loathing flo-
 mach ;  by a certain  heavinefs and load at it;  by a
 foul tongue;  a great belly ; by its bad complexion,
 and its dilturbed uu retraining fleep.
   The child's proper diet, that is, a certain dimi-
 nution of the quantity of its food ;  fome glySters
 of warm water, and one purge of N-c* 63, very ge-
 nerally remove fuch convullions.
   §' 392.  The Second caule is the bad quality of
 their milk. Whether it-be that the nurfe has fall-
 en into a violent paflion, feme considerable difguft,
 great fright or frequent fear : whether flie has eat
 unwholeibme food, drank too much vrine, fpiritu-
 ous liquors, or. any  Strong drink ; whether She is
 Seized with a deScent of her monthly discharges,
 and that has greatly disordered her health ; or, fi-
 nally,  whetiier She  prove  really fick : in all thefe
 cafes the milk is vitiated,  and expoies the infant
 to violent Symptoms, which Sometimes fpeedily de-
>Uoy it.              ' •■   i  -u ■■ .
   The remedies for convulftoas,  from this caufej 
 J2     Medical Directions concerning Children.
 confift, I. In letting the child abstain from this
 corrupted milk, until the nurfe Shall have recover-
 ed her ltate of health and tranquillity, the fpeedy
 attainment of which may be forwarded by a few
 glySters ;  by gentle pacific medicines ; by an en-
 tire abfence of whatever caufld or conduced to her
 bad health ; and by drawing off all the milk that
 had been fe vitiated.
   2. In giving the child itfelf feme  glySters ;  in
 making it drink plentifully of a light infufion of
 the  flowers of the lime-tree: in giving it no other
 nourishment for a day or two,  except panada and
 other light Spoon-meat, without milk.
   3. In purging the child  (foppofing what has
 been juSt directed to have been unavailable) with
 an ounce,  or an ounce and a half, of compound
 fyrup of fuccory, or us much manna.  TheSe leni-
 ent  gentle purges carry off the remainder of the
 corrupted milk, and remove the diforders occaii-
 oned by it.
   \  393. A third caufe which  alfo  produces con-
 vulsions, is the feverish diflempers which attack
 children, especially the fmall-pocks and the mea-
 lies ; but in general fuch convulsions require no o-
 ther treatment, but that proper for the  difeafe,
 which has introduced them.
   §  394. It is evident from what has  been faid in
 the courfe of this chapter, and it deferves to be at-
 tended to,  that convulsions are commonly a Symp-
 tom  attending feme other difeafe,  rattier than an
 original difeafe themfelves : that they depend on
many different caufes ; that from this considerati-
 on there can be no general remedy for  removing
or checking them ;  and that the only means and
medicines which are fuitable in each cafe, are thoSe
which are  proper to oppofe  the particular caufe
producing them> and which I have already point-
ed out in treating of each caufe.
  The  greater part of the pretended Specifics, 
         Medical Directions concerning Children.    33
  which are  indifcriminately and ignorantly  em-
  ployed in all forts of convulsions,  are  often  ufe-
  lefs, and ftill oftner prejudicial.  Of this laft fort
  and character are,
     x. All fharp and hot  medicines, Spirituous li-
  quors, oil of amber, other hot oils and effences,
  volatile falts, and fuch other medicines as, by the
  violence of  their action on the irritable organs of
  children, are likelier to produce convulfions, than
  to allay them.
    2.. Aitringent medicines, which are highly perni-
  cious, ^whenever the/ convulfions u're caufed by any
*  fliarp  humour, that ought to be difeharged from
  the body by Stool;  or  when fuch convulfions are
  the confequences of an * effort of nature, in or-
  der to effect a crifis :  and as they almoll ever de-
  pend  on one  or the other of thefe caufes, it fol-
  lows that altringents can very rarejy, if ever, be
  beneficial.   Befides that there is always Some dan-
  ger in giving  them to children, without a mature,
  a thorough  consideration of their particular cafe
  and Situation, as they often difpofe them to ob-
  structions.
   .3., The over early,  and too considerable ufe of
  opiates, either not  properly indicated,  or conti-
  nued too long, fuch as Venice treacle, mithridate,
  fyrup of poppies (and it  is very eafy to run upon
  fome of thele Shoals) are alfe attended with  the
  mofl embarraffing  events, in regard to convulfi-
  ons : and it may be affirmed they  are improper,
  for nine tenths of thole they are advifed to.  It is
  true they often produce an apparent cafe and tran-
  quillity for fome minutes, and Sometimes for feme
  hours  too ;  but the disorder returns even with
  greater  violence for this fuSpenSion,  by  reafen
  they have augmented all the caules producing it;
  they impair  the Stomach ; they bind, up the belly.;

   • This very important confideration, on w"hich I have treated pretty
  largely, in the Analyfis, feems not to be attended to in practice, as frc-
.quwujy as it ought..  K.                           tm   ' 
34    Medical Directions concerning Children.
they Ieffen the ufual quantity of urine ;  and be-
sides, by their abating the fenlibility of the nerves,
(which ouglit to be considered as one of the chief
centinels appointed by nature, for the difcovery
of any approaching danger) they difpofe the pa-
tient inSenfibly to fuch infarctions and obstructi-
ons, as tend fpeedily to produce fome violent and
mortal event, or which generate a  difpofition to
languid and tedious difeafes : and I do again re*
peat it,,that notwithstanding there are Some cafes,
in which they are absolutely necelfary, they ought
in general to be employed with  great precaution
and prudence.   To mention the  principal indica-
tions for them in convulfive cafes, they  are pro-
per,
  1. When the convulfions Still continue,  after the
original caufe of them is removed.
  2. When they are  fo extremely violent, as to
threaten a great and very fpeedy danger of life ;
and when they prove  an obftacle  to the taking re-
medies calculated to extinguish their caufe -,  and,
  3. When the caufe producing them is of fuch a
nature, as is apt to yield to the force of anodynes;
as when, for instance, they have been the imme-
diate confequence Of a fright.
  §  395. There is a very great  difference in dif-
ferent children, in refpect to their being more or
lefs liable to convulfions. There are feme,  in whom
very ftrong and irritating caufes cannot  excite
them; not even  excruciating  gripes and cho-
lics ; the molt painful cutting of their teeth ; vio-
lent fevers ;  the fmall-pocks ; meafles ;  and tho'
they are, as it were, continually corroded by worms,
they have not the flighteft tendency to be convul-
fed. On the other hand, fome are fo very obnoxi-
ous to convulfions, or fo eaSily convu/fible, if tliat
cxpreffion may be allowed, that they are veiy of-
ten feized with them from fuch very flight caufes,,
that the  molt attentive  consideration cannot in-
vestigate them. This fort of couititution, which 
       Medical Directions c onceming Children.    3 s
U* extremely dangerous,  and expofes the unhappy
fubject of it, either to a very fpeedy death or to a
very low and languid State of life, requires fome
peculiar considerations ; the detail of which would
be the more foreign to the defign of this treatife,
as they are pretty common in cities, but much lefs
fo in country places.  In general cold bathing and
the powder N"- 14. are ferviceable in fuch  circum-
stances.

    General Directions with Refpect to Children.
  § 596. I Shall conclude this chapter by fuch far-
ther advice, as may contribute to give  children a
more  vigorous constitution and temperament, and
to preferve them from many diforders.
   Firft then,  we  Should be careful not to cram
them too much, and to regulate both the quantitv
and the fet time  of their meals, which is a very-
practicable thing, even in the very earlieft days of
their life ; when the woman who nurfes them will
be careful to do it regularly.  Perhaps indeed this
is the very age, when fuch a regulation  may be
the moft eafily attempted and effected ; becaufe it
is that ftage when the conftant uniformity  of tlieir
way of living Should incline us to fuppofe  that
what  they have occafion for is moft constantly ve-
ry much the fame.
  A child who has already attained to a few years,
and who is furrendered up more to his  own exer-
cife and vivacity, feels other calls; his way of life
is become a little  more various and  irregular;
whence his appetite muft prove fo too.   Hence it
would be inconvenient to fubject him over exactly
to one certain rule, in the quantity of his nourish-
ment,  or the distance of his meals.  The  difiipa-
tion or palling off of his  nutrition being unequal,
the occafions he has for repairing it cannot be pre-
cifely  ftated and  regular.   But with  reSpect to
very little children in arms, or on the lap,  an uni-
formity in the firft of thefe  refpects, the quantity 
j4     Medical Directions concerning Children.
of their food, very conliStently conduces to an ufe-
ful regularity with relpect to the Second, the times
o," feeding them,  Sicknei's is probably the only
circumltance, that can warrant  any alteration in
the order and intervals of their  meals ; and then
this change Should conSilt in a diminution of their
ufual quantity, notwithstanding a general and fa-
tal conduct Seems to  eltablilh the  very reverie :
and this pernicious fafhion authorizes thenurfes to
cram thefe poor little  creatures the  more, in pro-
portion as they have real  need  of lefs feeding.
They conclude  of couife,  that all their  cries  are
the effects of hunger, and the moment an infant
begins, then they immediately Slop  its mouth with
its Sbod; without once  tulpecting,  that  thefe
waitings may be occasioned by the  uneafineS's which
an over-loaded  Stomach  may have introduced ; or
by pains whoSe  caufe is neither removed nor miti-
gated, by making the children  eat; though  the
mere action of  eating may render them :iiicufiblr
to flight pains,  for a very lew minutes; in the firSt
place, by calling off" their attention ;  and Second-
ly, by bulbing  them to Sleep, a connnon effect of
feeding in children, being in fact a very general
and  conftant one, and depending on the fame
caufes, which diSpoSe fo many grown perfons to
fleep  after meals.
   A  detail of the many evils children are expofed
to, by thus forcing too much food  upon them, at
the very time when their complaints are owing to
caufes, very different  from hunger,' might appear
incredible.  They are however lb  numerous  and
certain, that I feriouSly wiSh SenSible mothers would
open their eyes to the consideration of this abule.
and agree to cut an end to it.
   ThoSe who overload themfelves with victuals in
hopes of Strengthening them, are extremely de-
ceived * there being no one prejudice equally fa-
tal to liich a number of them.   Whatever unne-
ceffafy aliment a cliild receives,  weakens, instead 
       Medical'Directions concerning Children.     $f
of Strengthening him.   The Stomach,  whenover-
diftended, fuffers  in its force and functions, and
becomes lefs able to digeft  thoroughly.  The ex-
cels of the food laft received impairs the concoc-
tion of the quantity, that was  really neceSSavy;
which, being badly digefted, is fo far from yield-
ing any nourishment to  the infant, that it weak-
ens it, proves a Source of diSeaSes, and concurs to'
produce obstructions, rickets, the evil,flow fevers,
a consumption and death.
  Another unhappy cultom prevails, with  regard
to the diet of  children, when tliey  begin to re-
ceive  any other food betides their nurfe's  milk,,
and that i-, to give them  Such as exceeds the di-"
geftive power of their Stomachs ; and to indulge*
them in a mixture  of Such  things in their meals,
a* are hurtful in themSelves, and more particular-?
ly ib,  with regard  to their feeble, and delicate or-
gans.                                      . ■■. '/p  «
  To juftify this pernicious  indulgence, they affirm
it is necelfary to accultoni their Stomachs to every
kind  of food ;  but this  notion is'highly abiurd,
Siuce their Stomachs Should firft be Strengthened,!
in order to make them capable of digesting every'
food ; and crouding indigeltible, or very difficuit-
lydigeftible'materials into it,  is not- the way to'
Strengthen it.   To make a foal Sufficiently Strong
fbr future labour,  he is exempted from any, till;
he is four years old ;  which enables him to fu-bmit'
to confiderable work, without being.the worle for
it.  But if, to inure him to fatio-nty he Shoii d be;
aJccultonied immediately from ids birth to fabmit
to  burthens  above his  Siren<>;t11,- he could never
prove any thing but an utter jad-c, incapable of re-
al Service.  Th„* application of.this to the Stomach
of a child is verv obvious.
   I Shall add  another  very  important  remark,
ami it is  this,  that the too early.work to which
th." children of peal'ants are forced, bkoines or're-
al prejudice tai the publir. v'Hence-fan&iliGWtsStfu v
   Vol.  Ii.              E 
  2$    Medical Directions concerning Children.
  felves are  lefs numerous, and  the  more  children
  there are removed from tlieir parents, while they
  are very young,  thofe who are left are the more
  obliged to  work, and very often  even at hard la-
  bour,  at an age when they Should  exercife them-
  felves  in the ufual diverfions  and  Sports of chil-
  dren.  Hence they wear out, in a manner, before
  they attain the ordinary term of  manhood ;  they
  never, arrive at  their utmoft Strength, nor reach
  their full Stature ;  and it is too  common to fee a
  countenance witli the look of twenty years, join-
  ed to a Stature of twelve or thirteen,  hi fact, they
  often fink under the weight of fuch hard involun-
 tary labour, and fall into a mortal degree of wast-
 ing and exhaustion.
   § 397.  Secondly,  which indeed  is  but a repetiti-
 on of the advice I have already given, and upon
 which  I cannot infill too much, they mutl be fre-
 quentlv waShed or bathedin cold  water.
   § 398^  Thirdly, they Should be moved about and
 exercifed as much as they can bear,  after they  are
 fome weeks old :  the earlier days of their tender
 lives feeming conSecrated, by nature herfelf, to a
 nearly  total repole,  and to Sleeping, which feems
 not to determine, until they have  need of nou-
 rishment : fo that,  during this very  tender term
 of life, too much agitation or exercife might be
 attended  with mortal conSequences.    But as foon
 as their organs have attained a little  more folidi-
 ty and firmnefs,  the more they are danced about,
 (provided it is not done about their ufual  time of?
 repofe, which ought Still to be very considerable)
 they are fo  much the better for it; and by increaf-
 iiig it gradually, they may be accuftomed to a va-
 ry quick movement, and at length  very fnfely to
 fuch, as may be called hard and  hearty exercife.
 That fort  of motion they receive in go-carts, or o-
 ther vehicles,  particularly contrived  for their ufe,
 js more beneficial to them,  than  what they have
fiom their nuries arms, becaufe thev are in a bet- 
        Medical Directions concerning Children.     %p
 ter attitude in the former, and it heats them lefs
 in Summer, which is a circumstance of no Small
 importance to them ; considerable heat and Sweat
 difpoSing them to be ricltetty.
   § 399. Fourthly, they Should be accuftomed to
 breathe in the free open air as much "as poffible.
   If children have  unhappily been  lefs attended
 to than tViey ought, whence they are evidently
 feeble, thin, languid, obstructed, and liable to
 fehirrhofities (which constitute what is termed  a
 ricketty or confumptive Slate)  thele four directi-
 ons duly obferved retrieve them from that unhap-
 py ftate ; provided the execution of them has not
 been too long delayed.
   § 400. Fifthly,  if they have any natural  dif-
 charge of a humour by the  Skiu, which  is very
 common with them,  or any eruption, fuch as tet-
 ters,  white feurf, a  ralhe,  or the like,  care muft
 be taken not to check or repel them,  by any grea-
 fy or reltringent applications.  Not  a year paSles
 without numbers of children having been destroy-
 ed by imprudence in this refpect ;  while others
 have  been reduced to a deplorable and weakly ha-
 bit.
   I have been a witnefs to the moft unhappy con-
 fequences of external  medicines applied  for  the
 raShe and white feurf;  which,  however frightSiil
 they may appear, are never dangerous ; provided
 nothing at all is applied to them, without the ad-
 vice and consideration of a truly Skilful perSbn.
  When Such external  diforders prove very obf!i-
 nate,  it is reafonable to Sufpect fome  fault or dis-
 agreement  in the milk  the child fucks ; in which
cafe it Should immediately be discontinued,  cor-
rected, or changed.   But I cannot enter here into
a particular detail of all the  treatment neceifary
in fuch cafes.
E 2 
«fO    directions .concerning drowned Perfo/ts.


               CHAP.  XXVIII.        '•  ;':

     Directions with refpet~l to downed Perfons*.-  *

                  Sect.  401.
      Wrlenever a perfon who has been drowned, has
        remained a quarterof an  hour under wa-
ter, there can be no considerable  hopes of his ie-
covery : the fpace of two or three minutes in fuch
a Situation being often Sufficient to kill a man ir-
recoverably.   Neverthelefs, as feveral circuniflan-
ces may happen to have continued life, in fuch aa
unfortunate Situation, beyond the ordinary term,
we Should  always endeavour to afford  them the
moft effectual relief, and not give them up as ir-
recoverable too fbon: Since it has often been known,
that until the expiration of two, and femetiroes e-
ven of three hours, fuch bodies have exhibited fome
apparent tokens of Hfe.
   Water has fometimes been found in the Stomachs
of drowned perfens  ; at other times none at all.
BeSides, the greateft quantity which has ever been
found in it has not  exceeded that, which may be
drank without any inconvenience ; whence we may
conclude^ the mere quantity was not mortal; nei-
ther is it very eafy to conceive how drowning per-
fens can Swallow water. What really kills them is
mere fuflocatio.iv,  or the  interception of air, of
the atfrion of breathing; and the water which de-
fcends into the lungs, and  which  is determined
there,  by the 'effort-; they iieceffarily, though in-
voluntarily make, to draw breath,  after they are

  * The misfortune of a young man drowned in bathing himfelf, at the
tenoning of the feafon, occaiioned the publication cf this chapter by it-
feii in June 1761.  A few days after, the like mi»fortnne happened to
a labouring maa ; but lie was happily taken out of the water foni.cr than
the firft,  (who bad remained about half an hour under it) and he was
recovered by obferving part of the advice this chapter contains ; of which
chapter feveral bytlanders had copies,-—This note feemj to be from the
Author himfelf. 
       Directions concerning drowned Perfons.     4I
under water :  for there abfelutely does not  any
water defcend either into the Stomach or the lungs
of bodies plunged into water, after they are dead ;
a circumftance which fervps to eftabliSh a legal  Sen-
tence and judgment, in feme criminal caSes and tri-
als.   This  water intimately blending itSelf with
the air in  the lungs, forms a vifcid inactive kind
of froth, which entirely destroys the functions of
the lungs j  whence the miferable fufterer is not on-
ly fuffocated, but the return of the  blood from the1
head  being alio intercepted,  tlie blood veflels of
the brain are overcharged, and an apoplexy is com-
bined with the fuflbcation.   This fecond caule,
that is, the defeent of the water into the lungs, is
far from being general;  it having been evident,
from  the difiection of Several di owned bodies, that;.
it really never had existed in them.
  J 40a. The intention that Should be purfiied,  is
that of unloading the lungs and the brain,  and of
reviving the extinguifhed circulation.   For which
purpofe we Should, 1. Immediately Strip the Suffer-
er of all his wet cloaths j  rub him llrongly with
dry coarfe  linen ;  put him, as foon  as poSlible,
into a well  heated bed, and continue to rub  him
well a very considerable time together.
  2. A Strong and  healthy perfon Should force his
own warm breath into the patient's lungs;  and
alSb the fmoke of tobacco, if fome was at hand, by
means of fome pipe, channel, funnel or the like,
that may be introduced into  the mouth.  This
air or fume, being forcibly blown in, by Slopping
the fufTerer's noftrils dole at the Same time, pene-
trates into  the lungs, and there rarities  by its heat
that air, which blended with the water, compof-
ed. the vifcid Spume or froth.    Hence that  air be--
comes difengaged  from the water,  recovers its
fpring,  dilates the lungs ; and, if there Still re-
mains within any principle of lite,  the circulation
is renewed  again that inltant.
  3. If a moderately expert Surgeon is at hand, he
                        *3 
44    Dinctiorrs concerning Jrovmcd Perfons.,
muft-open the jugular vein,  or any large vein m
the neck, and let out ten or twelve ounces of blood.
Such  a  bleeding is Serviceable on many accounts.
Firft, merely as bleeding, it renews the circulati-
on, which is the conftant effect of bleeding in Such
fwoonings, as arife from an  intercepted or futTo-
cated circulation.   Secondly, it is that particular
bleeding,  which moft  fuddenlv removes, in fuch
cales, the infarction or obstruction, of the head and
lungs :  and, thirdly, it is Sometimes the only vef-
fel, whence blood will iSfue under fuch circumstan-
ces.   The veins of the feet then afford none ;  and
thofe of the arms Seldom ; but the jugulars almolt
constantly furnish  it.
  Fourthly, the fume of tobacco fliould be thrown
Up, as fpeedily and plentifully as poflible, into the
intettines by the fundament.  There are very com-
modious contrivances devifed for this purpofe : but
as they  are not common, it may be effected by ma-
ny Speedy means.  One, by which  a woman's life
was preServed, conSilted only in introducing the
Si lull tube of  a tobacco pipe  well lighted  up : the
head or bowl of it was wrapped up in  a paper, in
which feveral  holes were pricked,  and thro* thefe
the breath was ltrongly forced.  At the fifth blaft
a coiifiderable rumbling was heard in the  woman's
belly ; She threw up a  little  water,  and a moment
afterwards came to her Senfes.:  Two pipes may be
thus lighted and applied, with their bowls  cover-
ed over; the extremity of one is to be introduced
into the fundament;  and the other may  be  blown,
through into the lungs.
  Any other vapour may alfb be conveyed up, by
introducing a canuia,  or any other pipe, with a
bladder firmly fixed to it.  This bladder  is fasten-
ed at its other  end  to a large tin funnel,  under
which tobacco is to-be lighted*  This contrivance
has fucceeded with me upon other occasions, in
which neceffity compelled me to invent and apply
it. 
          Directions concerning dromned Perfons.     43
      Fifthly,  the  Strongeft volatiles Should be appli*
    ed to the patient's noltrils.   The powder of  feme
    Strong dry  herb fliould be blown up his nofe,  fuch
    as fage, roSemary, rue, mint, and especially  mar-
    joram, or very well dried tobacco ;  or even the
    fume, the  fmoke of thefe herbs.   But all  thele
    means are moft properly employed after bleeding,
    when they are moft efficacious and certain.
      Sixthly,  as long as the patient Shews no Signs of
    life, he will be unable to Swallow,  and it is  then
    ufelefs,  and even dangerous, to pour much liquid
    of any kind into his  mouth,  which could do no-
    thing but keep up, or increafe fnffocation.   It is
    Sufficient,  in fuch circumStances,  to inSlil a few
    drops of fome irritating liquor, which  might alio
    be cordial  and  reviving.   But as loon  as ever he
    difeovers any motion,  he Should take, within the
•   Space of one hour, five or fix common Spoonfuls
    of oximel of Squils diluted with warm  water ;  or
    if that  medicine was not to be had very fpeedily,
    a ftrong infuSiou of the bleffed thiltle,  or carduus
    benedittus, of fage, or of chamomile flowers fweet-
    ened with honey, might do iultead of it:  and fup-
    ■pofing nothing elSe to be had, fome warm water,
    with the addition of a little common fait, fhould
    be given.   Some perfons  are bold enough to re-
    commend vomits in fuch cafes ; but they are not
    without their inconvenience ;  and it is  not as a
    vomit that I recommend the oximel of fquills in
    them.
      Seventhly, notwithstanding  the fick  difeover
    fome tokens of life, we fliould  not ceafe to con-
    tinue our afliftance ;  Since they Sometimes irreco-
    verably expire) alter theSe firft appearances of re-
    covering.
      And laltly,  though they fliould be  manifeftly
    re-animated, there Sometimes remains  an oppref-
    fion,  a coughing and feveriShnefs,  which effectu-
    ally constitute a difeale :  and then it becomes ne-
    celiary fometimes to bleed them in the arms;  to 
   44    Directions concerning drowned Perfons.
   give them barley-water plentifully,  or elder-flow-
   er tea.
     § 403.  Having  thus pointed out fuch means  as
   are necelfary, and truly effectual, in fuch unfor-
   tunate accidents, I Shall very briefly mention fome
   others, which it is the general cuftom to ufe and
   apply in the firlt hurry.
     1.  Thefe  unhappy people are Sometimes wrap-
   ped  up in a Sheep's, or a calf's, or a dog's fkin,
   immediately flead from the animal : thele appli-
   cations have fometimes indeed revived the heat of
   the drowned ; but their operations are more Slow,
   and lefs efficacious, than the heat of a well-warm-
   ed bed ; with the additional vapour of burnt fu-
   gar, and long continued frictions with hot flannels.
     2.  The method of rolling them in an empty
   hogShead is  dangerous, and mifpends a deal of im-
   portant time.
     3.  That alio of hanging them up by  the  feet is
   attended with danger, and ought to be wholly dif-
   continued.   The froth  or foam, which  is one of
   the caufes of their death,  is too thick and tough to
   difcharge itfelf, in conlequence of its own weight.
   Neverthelefs, this is the only effect that can be ex-
   pected, from this cuftom of fnfpending them by the
   feet; which muft alfo be hurtful, by its tending
   to increafe the overfuhiefs of the head  and of the
   lungs.
     § 404. It is feme years  Since a girl of eighteen
   years  old was recovered [though it is unknown
   whether She  remained under water only a little
   time, or feme hours3 who was motionlefs,  frozen
   as it  were,  infenfible, with  her eyes  clcfed,  her
   mouth wide open,  a livid colour, a Swoln viSage, a
   tumour or bloating of the whole body,  which was
a  overladen as it were, or water-Soaked. This miser-
   able object was extended on a kind of bed, of hot
   or very warm aShes, quickly  heated in great ket-
   T&es ;  and by laying herquite naked on thefe alhes ;
   by covering her with others equally hot; by  put-  s 
       Directions  concerning frowned Perfons.     4$;
 ting a bonnet round her head, with a Stocking
 round her neck Stuffed with  the fame, and heap-
 ing coverings overall this, at the end of half an
 hour her pulSe returned,  She recovered her Speech,
 and cried out, / freeze, I freeze : a little cherry-
 brandy was given  her, and then flie remained bu-
 ried,  as. it were, eight  hours under the aShes ;  be-
 ing taken out of them afterwards wich'-it any o-
 ther complaint,'except that  of great  laSlitude or
 wearinefs,  which went entirely off the third day.
 This method was undoubtedly fb effectual,  that it
 well deServes imitation ;  but it Should not make us
 inattentive to the others. Heated gravel or Sand
 mixed with felt, or hot Salt alone, would halve been
 ■equally efficacious, and they have been Sound fo.
   At  the very time ,of writing -this,'- two young
 ducks, who were drowned, have been revived 'by
 a dry bath of hot afhes. The  heat  of a dung-heap
 may, alfb be beneficial ; and  I tiave  juft been in-
 formed, by a very creditable and fenSible fpectator
 of it,  that it effectually contributed to reftore life
 to a man, who  had certainly remained fix  hours
 under water.
   §  405.  I Shall conclude  thefe  directions with  an
 article printed in a  little work at Paris, about twen-
 ty years Since, by order of the king, to which'there
 is not the leaft doubt, but that any other Sovereign
 will readily accede.'
   " Notwithstanding the common people are very
 t( generally dilpofed to be compaflionate, and may
 u wiSh to give all afiiStance to drowned perfons, it
 " frequently  happens they do not;  and only be-
 " caufe they dare notdmagining they expofe them-
 u felves by it to profecutions.  It is  therefore ne-
 "  ceflary that they Should lenow, and it cannot be
 " too  often repeated,  in  order to eradicate fuch a
 *' pernicious prejudice, that the magistrates have
 " never interpofed  to prevent people from trying
il  every^poffible means to recover fuch -unfortunate
*'  perfons, as Shall be drowned and taken out of the" 
46  Of Stoppages betiuyen the Mouth and Stomach.

" water.  It is only in thofe cafes,  when the per-
" fens are known to be abfelutely and irrecoverably
" dead, that juftice renders it receffary to  feixe
" their bodies."
              e H A P.  XXIX.

 Of Sub fiances fcpt between the Mouth and the Stomach

                Sect.   406.
     TH E food we take in defcends from the mouth
      through a very ftrait paffage or channel, cal-
led the arfophagus, the  gullet, which, going paral*
lei with the f pine or backbone, joins to, or termi-
nates at, the flomach.
  It  happens fometimes that different bodies are
ftopt in  this channel,  without being able either to
defcend or to return up again ; whether  this diffi-
culty arifes from their being too large ; or whether
it be owing to their having fuch angels or points,
as by penetrating into,  and adhering to the fides
of this membranous  canal,  abfelutely  prevent the
ufual action and motion of it.
  5 407. Very dangerous Symptoms arife from this
ftoppage, which  are  frequently  attended with a
moft acute pain in the part; and  at other times,
with  a very  incommodious, rather than  painful,
ienfation ; Sometime"! a veiy ineffectual commotion
at, or rifing of,  the Stomach, attended wiih great
anguiSh ; and if the Stoppage be So < ircumStanced,
that the glottis is doled, or the wind-pipe compref-
fed,  a dreadful  fuffbc.ttion is  the confequence :
the patient cannot breathe, the lungs are quite dif-
tended ; and the blood being unable to return from
the head, the countenance becomes red, then li-
vid ; the neck fwells; the oppreffion increafes, and
the poor fuiferer Speedily dies. 
   Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.  47

   When the patient's breathing is not Slopt, n« r
 greatly opprefled ;  if the pafiage is not entirely
 blocked  up, and he can fwallow Something, he
 lives very eafily for a few days,  and then his cafe
 becomes a particular diforder ofthe cej'ophagus, or
 gullet. But if the paffage is absolutely cloSed, and
 the obstruction cannot be removed for many days,
 a terrible death is the confequence.
   § 408. The danger of fuch cafes does not depend
 fo much on the nature of the obstructing fubStance,
 as on its Size, with regard to that of the paffage of
 the part where it Hops, and of the manner in which
 it forms the  obstruction ; and frequently the very
 food may occafion death ; while fubftanccs lefs a-
 dapted to be Swallowed are not attended wiih any
 violent confequences, tho*.fwallowed.
   A child of fix days old fwallowed a comfit or fu-
 gar plumb,  which Stuck in the  paffage, and in-
 ftantly killed it,
   A grown perfon perceived that a  bit of mutton
 had Slopt in the paSlage ; not to alarm any body he
 arefe from table ; a  moment afterwards, on look-
 ing where he might  be gone, he  was found dead.
 Another was choaked by a bit of cake ;  a third by
 a piece of the Skin of a ham ; and a fourth by au
 Cgg, which he Swallowed whole in a bravado.
  A'child was killed by a cheShut fwallowed whole.
 Another died Suddenly, choaked  (which  is always
 the cirenmftance, when  they die inStantly after
 Such accidents) by a  pear which  he had tolled up,
 and catched in his mouth.  A woman was choaked
 with another pear.   A piece of a finew continued
 eight days in  the paffage, fo that it  prevented
 the patient from getting down any thing elle : as
 the expiration of that time it fell into the Stomach,,
 being looiened by its putridity :  the  patient not-
 withstanding died foon after, being  killed by the
 inflammation, gangrene, and weaknefs it had oc-
casioned. Unhappily there occur but too many in- 
 48   Of Stoppages  between the Mouth and Stomach.
 Stances of this fort, of which  it is unneceSfary to
 cite more.
   § 409. Whenever any fubftance is thus detained
 in the mullet, there are two ways  of removing it;
 that is either by extracting it,  or pufbing it down.
 The fafeft aud moft certain way  is always  to ex-
 tract or draw it out, but this is not always the eafi-
 efl ;  and as the efforts made fortius purpofe great-
 ly fatigue the patient, and are Sometimes attended
 with grievous coulcquences ; therefore if the occa-
 sion is extremely urging, it may be eligible to thurSfc
 it down,  if that is ealier ;  and if there is no dan-
 ger from the reception of the obstructing body into
 the Stomach.
   The fubftance* which may be puSbed down with-
 out  danger  are all common  nourishing ones, as
 bread, meat, cakes, fruits,  puis, mo rials of tripe,
 and even fkin of bacon,  It is only very large rior-
 fels of particular aliments, that prove very difficult
 to digest ; yet even fuch are rarely attended with
 any fatality.
   § 410. The fubllances we fliould endeavour to
 extract or draw out, tho'  it be more  painful and
 lefs eafy.than to pufh them down, are all  thofe,
 whofe confcqiiences might be highly dangerous, or
 even mortal, if Swallowed.  Such are all totally
 indigestible bodies, as corfc, linen-rags, large fruit
 Stones, bones, wood, glafs, Stones, metals ;  and more
 efpecially if any further danger maybe Super-add-
 ed to  that of its  indigeftibi'ity,  from the Shape,-
 whether rough, Sharp, pointed, or angular, of the
 Subftance Swallowed.   Wherefore we fhould  chief-
 ly endeavour, to 'extract  pins, needles, fiSh-bones,
 other pointed fragments of bones, bits of glafs,*
 feiSTars,  rin;>s or buckles.
  Neverthelefs it has happened, that every one of
 thefe  Alliances have at one time or another  been
fwallowed,and the moft ufual confequences of them-
are violent pains of the Stomach,  and in the-o-ats ;
inflammations, fuppurations, abfoeifes, a flow fe- 
  Of Stoppages between  the Mouth and Stomach.   49
ver, gangrene, the viiferere or iliac paffion ; exter-
nal abfeeSfes, through  which the bodies fwallowed
down have been discharged ;  and frequently, after
a long train of maladies, a dreadful death.
  § 41 r. When fuch fubftances have not pafled in
too deep,  we fhould  endeavour to extract them
with our fingers, which often fucceeds.   If they
are lower, we fliould make ufe of nippers or a finall
fjrceps ; of which furgeons are provided with diffe-
rent forts.  Thofe which fome fmoakers  carry a-
bout thein might be very convenient for fuch pur-
pofes ; and in cafe of neceflity they might be made
very readily out of two bits of wood.   But this at-
tempt to extract  rarely fucceeds, if the fubftance
has defcended far into  the ttfcphagus, and if it be of
a flexible nature, which exactly applies  itfelf to,
•and fills up the cavity or channel of the gullet.
   \ 412. If the fingers  and the nippers fail, or can-
not be duly applied,  crotchets, a kind of hoops,
muft be employed.
   Such may be made at once with a pretty ftrong
iron wire,  crooked at the end. It muft be intro-
duced in the flat way,  and for the better conduct-
ing of it, there fliould be anothercurve or hook at
the end it is held by,  to ferve as a kind of handle
to  it,  which has this further ufe,  that it may be
fecured by a  firing tied to it; a   circumstance
not to be omitted in any instrument  employed on.
fuch occasions, to avoid fuch ill accidents as have
fometimes enlued, from thele instruments flippino-
out of the operator's hold.   After tlie crotchet has
paired  beyond and below the fubftance, that ob-
structs the paffage, it is drawn up again, and hooks
up with it and extracts that impediment to fwal-
lowing.
   This crotchet is  alfb very  convenient, whenever
a fubftance-femewhat  flexible, as a  pin  or a fish-
bone Stick, as  it were acrofs the gullet: the crotchet
 in fuch cafes  feizingthem about their middle part,
crooks and thus ■difejigages them.  If they are ve-
   Voi.. II.              *' 
 50  Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.
 yy brittle fubftances, it ferves to break them; and
 if any fragments Still adhere within, feme  other
 means muft be ufed to extract them.
   § 413.  When  the obftructing bodies are fmall,
 and only flop up part of the paffage ; and which
 may either eafily elude the hook, or  llraiten it by
 their refiftance, a kind of rings may be ufed, and
 made either Solid or flexible.
   The folid ones are made  of iron wire, or of a
 firing of very fine brafs wire.  For this purpoSe the
 wire is bent into a circle about the middle part of
 its length,the Sides of which circle do not touch each
 other, but leave a ring, or hollow cavity, of about
 an inch diamiter.   Then  the  long unbent fides of
 the wire are brought near each other ; the circular
 part or ring is introduced iuto the gullet,  in  order
 to be conducted about the obftructing body, and fo
 to extract it.  Very flexible rings may be  made of
 wool, thread, filk, or fmall packthread, which may
 be waxed,  for their great Strength and conSiStence,
 Then they are to be tied  fait to a handle of iron-
 wire, of whalebone, or of any  flexible wood ; af-
 ter which the ring is  to be introduced to furround
 the obftructing fubftance, and to draw it out.
   Several of thefe rings palled through one  ano-
 ther are often made uSe of,  the more certainly to
lay hold of the obftructing body, which may be in-
 volved by  one, if another  fliould  mils it.   This
fort of rings has  one  advantage, which  is, that
 when the fubftance to be extracted  is once  laid
 hold of, it may then, by  turning the handle, be
 retained fo flrongly in tlie ring thus twilled,  as to
 be moved every way : which muft be a considera-
 ble advantage in many fuch cafes.
   §  414. A fourth material employed  on thefe un-
 happy occafions is  the  fpunge.  Its  property of
 fwelling considerably, on being wet,  is the foun-
 dation pf its ufefuluefs here.
   If any fubftance is Stopt in the gullet, but with-
 out filling up the whole paffage,  a bit of fpunge is 
    Of Step pages between the Mcuth and Stomach.  51
introduced into that part that  is unftopt, and be-
yond the  fubflance.   The fpunge feon dilates,
and grows larger  in this inoift lituation, and in-
deed tlie enlargement of  it may be forwarded, by
making the patient Swallow a few drops of water ;
and then drawing  back the fpunge  by tlie handle
it is faftened to, as it  is now too large to return
tln-ough the Sinall  cavity, by which it was convey-
ed in,  it draws out x'.ie obstructing  body with ir,
and thus unplugs,  as it were, and opens the gullet.
  As  dry  fpunge  may Shrink or  be.  contracted,
this circt:instance has  proved the means of Squeez-
ing a pretty  large piece  of it  into  a very  finali
fpace.   It becomes greatly comprefled by windin^-
a tiring or tape very clofely about it, which tape
may be eafily unwound and withdrawn, after the
Spunge has been introduced.   It may alio be.in-
cloled  in a  piece of whakhohc, Split  into  four
flicks at one end,  and which,, being endued with
a considerable Spring,  contracts upon the Spunge,.
The whalebone is lb ftnoothed and accommodated,
as not to wound ; and the fpunge is alfb to be Safe-
ly tied to a ftrong thread ; that after having tlif-
engaged the whalebone from it, the furgcun mav
alfb draw out the fpunge at p'e.iftue.
  Spunge is alfo applied on thefe occafions in an-
other manner.  When there is no room to convex-
it into the gullet, becaufe the obftructing fubftance
iugrofles its  whole cavity;  and iuppoliinv it not
hooked into  the part,  but folely detained by the
flraitnefs  of the palTage, a  pretty  large bet of
fpunge is to be  introduced towards the gullet, and
clofe to the  obstructing  fubftance ;  thus  applied,
the fpunge fwells,  and thence dilates that part  of
the paffage  that  is above  this fubftance.   The
fpunge is then  withdrawn a little, and but a verv
little, and  this  fubftance being lefs preffed  upon
above than below,  it Sometimes happens, that the
greater Slraitnefs and contraction of the lower part
of the paffage,  than of its upper part,  caufes that
                    F 2 
  52 Of Sto-ppages between the Mouth and Stomach.
  fubftance to afcend ; and as foon as this firft loofen-
  ning or disengagement of it has happened, the to-
  tal disengagement of it eafily follows.
    § 415.  Finally, when all  thefe  methods prove
  unavailable,  there remains one more, which is  to
  make the patient vomit: but this can fearcely  be
  of any fervice, but  when fuch obstructing bodies
  are limply engaged in, and not hooked or ftuck in-
  to the fides of the cefophagus ;  Since under this lat-
  ter circumstance vomiting might occalion further
  mifchief.
    If the patient can Swallow,, a vomiting may  be
  excited with the prescription N9* 8. or with N°*
  34. or 35.  By this operation a bone was thrown
  out, which had ltopt in the paffage four and twen-
  ty hours.
    When  the patient cannot fwallow, an attempt
  Should be made to excite him to vomit  by intro-
  ducing into, and twirling about the feathery end
  of a quill, in the bottom of the throat,, which the
  feather however will not effect, if the obftructing
  body Strongly comprefles the whole circumference
  of the gullet ;  and then no other refource is left,
  but giving a giyfter of tobacco.  A certain perfen
  fwallowed a  large  morlel of calf's lights, which
  ltopt in the middle of the gullet, and exactly filled
  up the paffage.  A furgeon unfuccelsfully  attempt-
  ed various methods  to extract it;  but another See-
  ing how unavailable  all of them  were:  and  the
  patient's vifage becoming black and fwclled ; his
  eyes ready to ftart, as it were, out of his head :
  and  falling into  frequent  fwoonings,.  attended
  with convulfions too, he caufed a glyiter of  an
  ounce of tobacco boiled to be thrown up ; the con-
• fequence of which'was a violent vomiting, which
  threw up the fubftance that was fo very near kill-
  ing him.
    \ 416. A Sixth method, which 1 believe has ne-
  ver hitherto been attempted, but which may prove
  very ufeful in many cafes, when the fubftances in 
    Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.  5-3
the paffage are not too hard,  and are very large,
would be to fix a worm (ufed for withdrawing the
charge of guns that have  been loaded) fall to  a
flexible handle, with a waxed thread fattened to
tlie handle in order to withdraw it, if the han-
dle Slip from  the worm : and by this contrivance
it  mioht be  very  practicable,  if the obstructing
fubftance was not too deep in the paffage  of the
gullet, to extract it.----It has  been known that a
thorn fattened in the throat,  has been thrown out
by laughing.
   i 417. In the circumftances mentioned  § 409,
when it is  more eafy and convenient to pufli the
obftructing body downwards, it has  been ufual to
make ufe of leeks,  which may generally be had a-
ny where (but which indeed are very  fubject to
break) or of  a  wax-candle oiled, and but a very
little  heated, fb as to make  it flexible ; or of a piece
of whalebone ;  or of iron-wire ; one extremity of
which may be thickened and- blunted in a minute
with a little  melted lead.  Small Slicks of feme
flexible wood may  be as convenient  for the fame
ufe, fuch as[ the birch-tree, the hazel, the afli,  the
willow, a flexible plummet, or a leaden ring.  All
thefe  fubllances Should be  very Smooth, that they
may not give the leaft irritation; for which reafen
they are Sometimes eovered over with  a thin bit
of Sheep's gut.   Sometimes a fpunge is faSlened to
one end of them, which completely filling up tlie
whole paffage,  pufhes down  whatever obstacle it
meets with.
   In fuch  cafes too, the patient may be prompted
to attempt fwallowing down  large morfels of fome
unhurtful fubftance, fuch  as a  crult of bread,  a
fmnll turuep, a lettuce Stalk,  ora bullet, in hopes
of their carrying down the obftructing caufe with
them.  It  muft be acknowledged, however, that
thefe  afford but a feeble aflillance ; and if they are
Swallowed  without being well fecured to a  thread,
                      V 3 
54   Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach,
it may be apprehended they may even increafe the
obstruction, by their own Stoppage.
  It has  Sometimes very happily, though  rarely,
occurred, that thofe fubllances attempted to  be
detruded or thruft downwards, have Stuck in  the
wax-candle, or the leek, and  Sprung up and  out.
with them ; but this can never happen, except in.
the cafe of pointed fubllances.
  § 418.  Should it be impoflible to extract the bo-
dies mentioned § 410,  and all  fuch  as it  muft be
dangerous to  admit into the  flomach,  we muft
then prefer the leaft of two evils, and. rather run
the hazard of pufliing them down, than fuffer the
patient to perish dreadfully in a few moments..
And we ought to Scruple this refolution the lels, as
a great many iuftances  have  demonstrated,  that
notwithstanding feveral bad conSeqnences,. and e-
ven a tormenting death,  have often  followed  the
fwallowing of fuch hurtful or indigestible Substan-
ces ; yet  at other  times  they  haye been attended
with little or no diforder.
  § 419*  One of thefe four events is- always the
cafe, after fwallowing fuch things..  They either,.
I. Go off by Stool ; or, 2.  They  are not discharged
and kill the patient; or elle, 3.  They are discharg-
ed  by urine ; or,  4. Are vifibly extruded  to  the
fkin.   I Shall  give- fome iuftances of each of thefe
events.
  § 420. When they are  voided by Stool, they are
either voided foon after  they have been fwallow-
ed, and that without having occaiioned fcarce any
troublefeme fymptom ; or the voiding of them has-
not happened till a long time after  Swallowing,
and is preceded with  very considerable pain.  It
has been Seen that a bone  of the leg of a fowl, a
peach-ltone,  the cover of a fmall box of Venice
treacle^ pins, needles, and coins of different ferts,
have been voided within  a few days after they had
flipt down into the Stomach ; and that with little
or no complaint.   A fmall flute, or pipe alio, four 
    Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach. 3 j
inches long, which occasioned acute pains for three
days, has been voided happily afterwards, belides,
knives,  razors, and one Shoe-buckle.  I have feen
but a few tlays Since, a child between two or three
years old, who fwallowed a nail  above an  inch
long, the head  of which  was more than  three
tenths of an inch broad : it Slopt a few moments
about the neck, but defeended while its friends
were looking for me ; and was voided with a ftool
that night,  without any bad  confequence.  And
Still more lately  1 have known  the entire  bone of
a chicken's wing thus fwallowed,  which only oc-
cafioned a flight pain  in the Stomach for three o»
four days.
  Sometimes fuch fubllances are retained within
for a long time, not being voided till after feveral
months, and even years, without the leaft ill ef-
fect:  and Some of them have never either appear-
ed, nor been complained of.
  § 421. But the event is  not always fo  happy ;
and Sometimes tho' they are discharged thro* the
natural paflages, the discharges have been preced-
ed by very acute pains in the Stomach, and in the
bowels.   A girl fwallowed down fome pins, which
afflicted her with violent pains for the fpaee of fixi
years ;  at the expiration of which term She void-
ed them and recovered.  Three needles being fwal-
lowed brought on cholics, fwoonings and convul-
sions, for a year after :  and then being voided by
ftool, the patient recovered.  Another perfon who
fwallowed two,.was much happier in Suffering but
fix hours from them ; when they were  voided by
ftool, and he did well.
  It fometimes happens that fiich indigeflible fiib-
ftances,  after having paSl  all the meanders, the
whole courfe of the inteflines,  have been ftopt in,
the fundament,  and brought on very troublefeme
fymptoms ;  but fuch, however, as an-expert fur*
geon may very generally remove.  If it is practi-
cable to cut them, as it is when they happen to be 
 J 6  Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.
 thin bones,  the jaw-bones of fiSh,  or pins,  they
 are then very eaiily extracted.
   § 422.  The Second event is,  when thefe  fatal
 fubltances are never voided, but  caufe very  em-
 baraSTing Symptoms which finally kill  the  patient;
 and of thefe caSes  there have been  but too many
 examples.
   A young girl having fwallowed fome pins which
 flie held in her mouth, fome of  them were voided
 by ftool;   but others of them pricked and pierced
 into her  guts,  and even into the  muicles of her
 belly, with the Severest pain; and killed her at the
 end of three weeks.
   A man fwallowed a needle,  which pierced  thro'
 his Stomach,  and into his liver*,  and ended in a
 mortal consumption.
   A plummet which flipt down, while the throat
 of a patient was Searching,  killed him at the end
 of two years.
   It is very common for different  coins, and of
 different metals, to be fwallowed  without any fa-
 tal or  troublefome effects.   Even a hundred lui-
 dores -f have been fwallowed, and  all voided.
   Nevertheless  thefe- fortunate  efeapes ought not
 to make  people too fecure and incautious on fuch
 occasions, fince Such melancholy con Sequences have
 happened, as may very juSlly alarm thein.  One fin»

  • I faw a very fimilar inftance and event in a lad)'s little favourite
 bitch, whofe body ihe defired to be opened, from fufpccli.ig her to have
 been poifoned.  But it appeared that a fmall. needle with fine thread,
 which flie had fwallowed, had paffed out of the ftomach into the duoilt-
 num, (one of the guts.; through which the point had pierced, and prick-
 ed and corroded the concave part of the live-, which was all roi-gh and
 prtrid.  The whole carcafc^ was greatly bloated and extremely offenfive,
 veiy foon after the poor animal's death, which happened two or tin^c
 months after the accident,  and was preceded by a great wheezing, .reft-
 lefinefs and lofs of appetite.  The  needle was rufly, b.it the thread en-
 tire, and very little altered. K.
  (■ I knew a man of the name of Poole, who being taken in the fame
ihip with me, 1717 or 18, by pirates, had fwallowed four guineas," and
a gold ring, all which he voided fome days  after  without any injury or
oomplaint, and faved them.   I forget the exaft- number of days he re-
tained them,  but the pirates Staid with u* from Saturday iiigja to Tiijrf-
day noon.  K.^ 
     Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.  5 7
 gle piece of money that was fwallowed, entirely ob-
 structed the communication between the Stomach
 and the inteltines, and killed the patient.  Whole
 nuts have often been inadvertently fwallowed ;  but
 there have been fome instances of perfons in whom
 a heap * of them  has been formed,  which, proved
 the caufe of death, after producing much pain and
 inquietude.
   §  423. The third iffue or event is,  when thefe
 fubllances,  thus fwallowed down, have been dis-
 charged by urine  : but thefe cafes are  very rare.
   A pin of a middling Size has been discharged by
 urine, three days after it Slipt down ;  and a little
 bone  has  been expelled  the  Same  way,  befides
 cherry-ftones, plumb-Stones, and even one peach-
 ltone.
   §  424. Finally,  the fourth confequence or event
 is, when the indigestible fubllances  thus fwallow-
 ed,  have pierced  thro' the llomach  or iutefliues,
 and "even to the  fkin itfelf; and occasioning an
 abfeefs,  have made  an outlet for themfelves, or
 have been taken out of the abfeefs.   A long time
 is often required  to  effect this extraordinary  tra-
jection and appearance of them ; fometimes the
 pains  they  occafion are continual ; in  other caSes
 the patient complains for a time, alter which the
 pain ceafes, and then returns again.  The impoft-.
 hume, or gathering, is formed in the llomach, or
 in Some other part oi' the belly : and fometimes
 theSe very Substances,  after having  pierced thro*
 the guts, make very Singular  routs, and are  diA
 charged very remotely from the belly.    One nee-
 dle that had been fwallowed found its way out, at
 the end of four years,  through the leg ;. another
 at the  Shoulder.
   § 425. All thefe examples,  and many others of

  * Many fatal examples of this kind may be fcen in the Philofophii
 cal Tranfiftions ; and they  fliould caution people  againft fwallowing
cherr)-(tones, ajid it ill more againft thofe of prunes, or fuch a* aid
pointed, though not very  acutely. K, 
58  Of Stoppages between the Mo;>t'n and Stomac '..
cruel deaths, from fwallowing noxious fubftance.';,
demonltrate the great neceflity of an habitual cau-
tion in this  refpect ;  and  give their testimony a-
gainft the horrid,  I had almolt faid, the criminal
imprudence, of people's ainuling themSelves with
fuch tricks as may lead to  Such terrible acci:louts ;
or even holding any fuch fubftance in their mouths,
as, by flipping down through imprudence or acci-
dent, may prove the occaiion of their death.  Is it
poflible that any one, witiiout Shuddering, can holt!
pins or needles in their mouths, after reflecting on
the dreadful accidents, and cruel deaths, that have
thus been caufed by them.
  § 426.  It has been Shewn already, that fubllances
obstructing the paffage of the gullet fometimes fuf-
focate the patient ;  that at other times they  can
neither be extracted nor  thruft down ;  but that
they Stop in the paffage, without killing the pati-
ent, at leaft not immediately and at once.   This
is the cafe when they are So circumstanced, as not
to comprefs the trachea, the wind-pipe, and  not to-
tally to prevent the fwallowing of food ; which laSt
circumflance can Scarcely happen,  except the ob-
ftruction has been formed by  angular or pointed
bodies.   The Stoppage of  fuch bodies is Sometimes
attended, and that without much violence, with a
fmall Suppuration, whicli  loofens them ;  and then
they are either returned upwards thro' the mouth,
or defcend into the Stomach.   But at other times
an extraordinary inflammation is produced, which
kills the  patient.   Or if the contents of the abf-
eefs attending  the inflammation tend outwardly,
a tumour is formed on the external part  of the
neck, which is to be opened,  and through whole
orifice  the obstructing body is difeharged.   In o-
ther instances again they take a different courfe,
attended with little or no  pain, and are at length
difeharged by a gathering behind the neck, on the
hreaft, the Shoulder, or various other parts. 
   Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.  5a
  § 427. Some perfbns aftonifhed at the extraordi-
nary courfe and progreflion  of fuch fubllances,
which, from their Size and  especially from  tlieir
Shape, Seem to them iucapable of being introduced
into, andriu fome Sort, circulating through the liu-
inan body, without destroying it, are very defir-
ous of having the rout and progreflion of fuch in-
truding fubltances explained  to them.  To grati-
fy fuch inquirers, I may be indulged in a Short di-
greflion, which perhaps is the lefs  foreign to my
plan ; as in diffipacing what feems marvellous, and
has been thought fupernatural in Such cafes, I may
eradicate that fuperStitious prejudice  which lias
often aferibed effects of this fort to witchcraft; but
which admit of an eafy explanation.  This very
reafen is the motive  that has determined me  to
give a further extent to this chapter.
  Wherever an iiicilion is made through the fkin,
a certain membrane appears, which confills of two
coats or lamina, feparated from each other by fmall
cells or cavities, which all communicate together;
and which are furnished, more or lefs, with fat.
There is not any fat throughout the human body,
which is not inclofed  in, or enveloped with, this
coat, which is called  the adipofe, fatty, or cellu-
lar membrane.
  This  membrane is not only  found  under the
fkin,  but further plying and  infinuating  itfelf in
various  manners, it  is extended throughout the
whole body.   It distinguishes and Separates all the
mufcles; it conftitutes a part of the llomach, .of
the guts, of the bladder, and of all the vifcera  or
bowels.   It is this which forms what is  termed
the cawl, and which  alfb furniflies  a Sheath or en-
volopement to the veins, arteries, and nerves.'   In
fome parts it is  very  thick, and is  abundantly re-
plenished with fat; in others it is very thin and
unprovided with any  ; but wherever it extends, it
is wholly infenfible, or void of all, fenfation, all
feeling. 
io  Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.
  It may be compared to a quilted  coverlet,  the
cotton., or other Stuffing of which, is unequally
distributed;  greatly  abounding  in  fome  places,
with none at all in others, fo that in thefe the ftuff
above and below touch  each other.   Within  this
membrane, or coverlet, as it were, fuch extrane-
ous or foreign fubllances are moved about ; and as
there is a general communication throughout the
whole extent of the membrane, it is no ways furprif-
ing, that they  are moved from  one part to ano-
ther very distant, in a long courfe  and  duration
of movement.  Officers and foldiers very often ex-
perience,  that bullets which do not  pais through
the parts where they have entered, are transferred
to very different and remote ones.        .»
  The  general communication  throughout  this
membrane is daily  demonstrated by facts, which
the law prohibits ;  this is the butchers inflating,
or blowing  up, the cellular membrane  through-
out the whole carcafe of a calf,  by  a Small  inci-
fion in the fkin, into which they introduce a pipe
or the nozzel of a  fmall bellows ; and  then,  on
blowing forcibly, the air evidently puff's  up the
whole body of the calf into this artificial tumour
or fwelling.
  Some very criminal impoftors have  availed them-
felves  of  this wicked contrivance,  this to  bloat
up children into a kind  of monfters, which  they
afterwards expofe to view for money.
  In this cellular membrane the extravafated wa-
ters of hydropic patients are  commonly diffufed.j
and here they give way to that motion, to which
their own weight difpoSes them.   But here I  may
be alked—As this membrane is crolfed and inter-
fered in different parts of it, by  nerves, veins,
arteries, ire. the wounding of which unavoidably
occafions grievous fymptoms, how comes it,  that
fuch do not enfue upon the intrusion of Such noxi-
ous fubftances ? To this I anfwer,  i. That  Such
fyinptoms do fometimes really enfue; and 2. That 
    Of Stoppages between the Mouth and Stomach.  61
nevertheless they muft happen but feldom, by rea-
fon that all the aforelaid parts, which traverfe and
interfect this membrane,  being  harder  than the
fat it contains; fuch  foreign  S'ubSlances muSl al-
moft necellaiily,  whenever they  rencounter thofe
parts, be turned afide towards the fat which fur-
rounds them, whofe relittance is very conliderably
lefs; and this the more certainly fe, as thefe nerves,
d?r. are always of a cylindrical form.—But to re-
turn final this neceflary digression.
  § 428. To all  thefe methods  and  expedients,
which 1 have already recommended on the import-
ant fubject of this chapter, 1 Shall further add fome
general directions.
  1. It is often ufeful, and even neceflary, to take
a coufiderable quantity of blood from the  arm ;
but efpecially if the patient's refpiration, or breath-
ing, is extremely oppreffed ; or when we cannot
Speedily fucceed in our effort to remove the ob-
structing f bftance; as the bleeding is adapted to
prevent the inflammation, which the frequent ir-
ritations from fuch fubllances occaSion ; and, as by
its difpofi:ig the whole body into a  (late of relax-
ation, it might poflibly procure an immediate dif-
charge of the offending fubftance.
  2.  vThenev^r it is manifelt that all endeavours,
either to ext; act,  or to pufh down  the  fubftance
ttopt in the  paffage, are  ineffectual,  they Should
be discontinued;  becaufe the inflammation  oc-
casioned by perfifting in them, would be as dan-
gerous  as  the obltruction itl'elf;  as there have
been  inltances ol" people's dying in confequence
of the inflammation;  notwithstanding the  body,
which caufed the obltruction,  had been  entirely
removed,
   3. While the means already advifed are makin<>
ufe of,  the patieu Should  often  fwallow,  cr if he
cannot, he Should frequently  receive by injection.
through a crooked tube or pipe, that may  reach
lower down  than the  glottis, fome very emollient
   Vol. II.              G 
 ©2  Of Stoppages between the  Mouth and Stomach'.
 liquor, as warm water, either alone or mixed with
 milk, or a decoction of barley, of mallows, or of
 bran.  A two-fold advantage may arife from this ;
 the firft is, that thele foftening liquors fmooth and
 footh the irritated parts; and fecondly, an  injec-
 tion,  ftrongly thrown in,  has often  been more
 fuccefsful in loofening the obstructing body, than
 all attempts with instruments.
   4. When after all we are  obliged to leave this
 in the part, the patient muft be treated as if he
 had an inflammatory difeafe ; he muft be bled, or-
 dered to a regimen, and have his whole neck fur-
 rounded  with emoilient  pultices.  The like treat-
 ment muft alio be  ufed, though  the obftructing
 fubftance be removed  ; if there is room to fuppoSe
 any inflammation left  in the paffage.
   c. A proper degree  of agitation  has Sometimes
 loofened  the inhering body, more effectually than
 instruments.   It has been experienced that a blow
 with the Sift on the fpine, the middle of the back,
 lias often difengaged fuch obstructed and obftruct-
 ing  bodies ; and 1 have known two iuftances of
 patients who had pins ltopt  in  the  paffage ; and
 who getting on horfeback to  ride put in fearch ©f
 relief at  a neighbouring village, found  each of
 them the pin difengaged  after" an hour's riding;
 one  fpat it out,- and the other fwallowed it, with-
 out any ill confequence.
   6.  When thereis an immediate apprehenfion of
 the patient's being fuffocated ; when bleeding him
 has been of no fervice ; when all hope of freeing
 the paffage in  time is  vanished, and death  feems
 at haiid, if refpiration be notreflored ; the opera-
 tion of bronchotQmy, pr opening  of the  wind-pipe,
 muft be directly performed ;  an operation neither
 difficult to a tolerably Joiowing and expert furge-.
 on, nor very painful fpthe patient.
   7. When;the fubftance that was ltopt, paffesinto
 the llomach,  the patient muft immediately be put
ftuto a very mild and fijioo^h regimen.   He Should 
  Of Stoppages betxuecn the Mouth and Stomach.   6$,
avoid  all Sharp, irritating, inflaming food ; wine,
foiiituous liquors,  all Strong drink and coffee;
taking but little nourishment at once, and  no fo-,
lids, without their  having been  thoroughly  well
chewed.   The beft diet would be that of farinace-
ous mealy Soups,  made of  various leguminous.
grains,  and of  milk  and water, which is much
better than'the ufual cuftom of fwallowing differ-
ent oils.
  \ 429. The author of nature has provided,  that-
in eating, nothing Should pals  by the  glottis  into
the vvnui-pipe.  This misfortune neverthelefs does'
Sometimes happen ; at which veiy  inftant, there"
enfues an iucelfant and  violent  tough, an acute:
pain,  with fuffocation ;  all the blood being forced*
up into the  head, the  patient  is ih extreme  an-
guish, being agitated  with violent and involunta-
ry motions,  and fometimes dying on the fpot.  A
Hungarian grenadier, by  trade a Shoemaker, was
eating and working at'the Same time ; .he tumbled
at once from  his feat, without  uttering a fingle
word.  His comrades called putfor afiiltaiice ; feme
furgeons fpeedily arrived, but after all their en-
deavours he discovered no token of life.  On o-
pening the body, they found a lump, or large mor-
fel, of beef, weighing  two  ounces, forced  into
the wind-pipe,  which it plugged  up  So exac\lyr
that not the leaft air could pafs through it into the
lungs.
  § 4;oI In a cafe  fo' circumstanced, the patient
Should be Struck often on the middle of the back ;
feme efforts to vomit Should be excited ; he fliould
be prompted to Sneeze with powder  of  lily  of the
valley, fage, 01* any cephalic fnuffs, which Should
be blown ltrongly up his nofe.
  A pea, pitched into  the mouth in playing,  en-
tered  into the wind pipe,  and Sprung out again by
vomiting  the patient with oil.  A little bohe*  was"
brought up by making another fneeze, with pow--
dered lily of the valley.
                     G 2- 
64            Of external Diforders.
  In Short, if all thefe means  of aflifting, or fav-
ing the patient are evidently ineffectual,  broncho-
tomy muft be Speedily performed  (fee Nr'. 6. of" the
preceding fection.) By this operation, feme bones,
a bean, and a fifh-bone have  been extracted, and
the patient has been delivered from approaching
death.
  §  431. Nothing fliould be left untried, when the
prefervation of human life is the object.   In tbofe
cafes, when  an  obftructing body can neither be
difengaged  from the throat,  the paffj'.c to the
Stomach,  nor be  fuffered to remain t*:ere  without
fpeedily killing the patient, it has been propol'ed
to make an incifion into this paffage, the eefophagus,
through which fuch a body is to  be extracted ; and
to employ the like means, when  a fubflance which
had flipt even into the flomach itfelf, was of a na-
ture to excite fuch fymptoms,  as muft fpeedily de-
ftroy the patient.
  When the  eefophagus is fo  fully  and  Strongly
clofed, that the patient can receive no food by the
mouth, he is to be nourished by  glyfters  of" foup,
gelly, and the like.
               € H A P.   XXX.
Of external Diforders, and fuch as require Chirurgical
   Application.   Of Burm,  Wounds,  Cotitufions  or
1   Bruifes: Of Sprains,  Ulcers,  Frofi-bitteu  Limbs,
   Chilblains,  Ruptures, Boils: Of Ft lions, Thorns or
   Splinters in the Fingers  or Flefh 1 Of Warts, and of
   Corns.

                 Sect.   432.
     LABOURING countrymen  are  expofed  in
      the courfe of their daily work,  to many out-
ward accidents, fuch as cuts, contusions, <frc. which,' 
              Of external Diforders.            65
tiowever considerable in themfelves, very general-
ly end happily;  and that chiefly in confequence
of the pure and fimple nature of their blood, which
is generally much lefs acrimonious, or Sharp, in.
the country, than in great towns or  cities.  Ne-
vertheless,  the very improper  treatment  of Such
accidents,  in  the  country,  frequently  renders
them,  however light in themfelves, very trouble-
feme ; and indeed, I have feen fo many inftances
of this, that I have thought it  neceffary to  mark.
out here the proper treatment  of fuch  accidents,,
as may not neceffarily require the hand or attend-
ance  of a  furgeon.  I. Shall  alfo add fomething
very briefly, concerning fome  external diforders,,
which at the fame time refult  from an inward!
caufe.

                   Of Burns..

   S 433* When  a burn is very trifling and fuper-
ficial, and  occafions no  vefication or blifter, it is
fufficient to clap a comprefs of feveral folds of Soft
linen upon it, dipt  in cold, water, and.to'renew it
every quarter of an hour, till the pain is entirely
removed.   But  when the  burn  has  bliftered, a
comprefs of very fine linen, fpread over with the
pomatum, Nc- 64. Should be  applied  over it, and
changed twice a day.
  If the true fkin is burnt, and even the mufcles,
the flefli under it, be injured, the Same pomatum
may be applied*; but inftead  of a comprefs, it
fhould be fpread upon a pledget of foft lint, to be
applied very exactly over it ; and over the  pled-
get again,, a flip of  the fimple  plaifler N'* 6c.
which every body may eafily prepare; or, if they
Should prefer it,  the plaiiter N0# 66.
  But,, independently of thefe external applica-
tions,  which are the moft effectual ones,  when
they are directly to be had; whenever the  burn
has been very violent, is highly inflamed, and we
are appreheniive  of the  progrefs and the conic-
                     G 3 
 66           Of external Diforders.
 quences of the inflammation, the fame means and
 remedies mult be recurred to, which  are ufed in
 violent inflammations :  the patient Should be bled,
 and, if it is necelfary, it Should be repeated more
 than once, and he fliould be put into  a regimen ;
 drink nothing but the ptifans  N°# 2. and 4. and
 receive daily two fimple glyfters.
   If the ingredients for the  ointment, called nu-
 tritum,  are not at hand to make the pomatum N°*
 64.  one part  of wax fliould be melted in  eight
 fuch parts of oil, to two ounces of which  mixture
 the yolk of an egg fliould  be added.   An applica-
 tion Still more Simple and fooner prepared, is that
 of one egg (both the yolk  and the white) beat  up
 with two common  fpoonfuls of" the fwectelt oil,
 without any rauknefs. When the pain of the burn,
 and all its other Symptoms have very nearly disap-
 peared,  it is fufficient to apply  the fparadrap, or
 oilcloth N°* 66.
               .   Of Wounds.
   \  434. If a wound  has penetrated  into any of
 the cavities, and has wounded any part contained
 in the breaft,  or in the belly  : or if, without hav-
 ing entered into one of the cavities, it has opened
 fome great blood-veffel; or iS" it has wounded a con-
 siderable nerve, which occasions Symptoms  much
 more violent, than would otherways have happen-
 ed ;  if it has penetrated  even to and injured the
 bone: in Short, if any great  and fevere fymptoin
 fupervenes, there is an abfolute neceflity for call-
 ing in a furgeon.  But whenever the wound is not
 attended with any of thefe circumftances ; when it
 affects only the fkin, the fat membrane beneath it,
treflefhy parts, and the fmall  veffels, it  rhay be ea-
 fily and Simply  dreffed without fuch afliSlance;
 fence, in general, all that is truly neceflary in fuck
cafes is, to defend the wound from the impreffions
©f the air ; and yet not fo, as to give any material 
              Of external Diforders.            c f
obstruction to the difcharge of the matter,  that is
to iffue from the wound.
   §  435.  If the blood does not  particularly flow
out  of any considerable vefl'el, but trickles  almoft
equally from every Spot of the wound, it may very
fafely be  permitted to bleed,  while fome  lint is
fpeedily preparing.   As foon as the  lint is  ready,
fo much of it may be introduced into the wound
as will  nearly fill  it, without  being forced in ;
which is highly improper, and would be attended
with the Same inconveniencies as tents and  doflils.
It fliould be covered over with a comprefs dipt in
fweet oil, or with tlie cerecloth Nc* 65. though  I
prefer the comprefs for the earliell dreffings ; and
the whole drefling fliould be kept on, with  a ban-
dage of two fingers breadth, and of a length pro-
portioned to the fize of the part it is to furround :
it Should be rolled on tight enough  to Secure the
dreffings, and yet  fb moderately, as to bring on
no inflammation.
   This  bandage with  thefe dreffings are to remain
on twenty-four or forty-eight hours  ; wounds be-
ing healed the Sooner, for  being lefs frequently
dreft.  At the fecond dreSIing all the lint  muft be
removed,  which can be done with eafe, and with
reafbnable Speed, to the wounded ; and if any of
it Should Slick clofe, in confequence of the clogged
and  dried blood, it Should be left behind, adding a
little frefli lint to it  ; this  drefling in other re-
flects exactly  refembling the firft.
   When,  from the  continuance of this fimple
drefling, the wound is become veiy  Superficial, it
is fufficient  to apply  the cerecloth, or  plaifter,
without any lint.
   Such  as have conceived an extraordinary  opini-
on of any medical oils, impregnated with the vir-
tues  of particular plants, may, if that will increafe
their fatisfaction, make uSe of the  common  oil of
yarrow, of trefoil, of lilies, of chamomile, of 
0           Of external Diforders:-
balfamines,  or of red rofes ;  only being very care-
ful, that fuch oils are not become Stale and rank.  \
  § 436. When the wound is considerable, it muft
be expected to inflame before fuppuration (which,,
in fuch a cafe, advances more Slowly) can enfue ;
which inflammation will neceftarily be attended
with pain, with a  fever, and  fometimes with a
raving,  or Wandering,  too.-  In fuch a  Situation,
a pultice of bread and milk, with the addition of
a little oil, that it may not Stick too dofe, muft be-
applied  intlead  of  the  comprefs or the plaifter:
which pultice is to  be changed, but without un--
cbvering the wound, thrice  and even four  times'
every day.-
  \ 437. Should fome  pretty confiderable blood--
Velfel'be opened by  the wound,  there muSt be ap-'
plied over it a piece of agaric of the oak, N°* 67.
of which no country place ought to be unprovid-
ed.  It is to be kept on,  by applying.a good deal'
of lint over it, covering the whole with' a thick
comprefs, and then* with-a bandage a little tighter
than ufual.   If this Should not be fufficient topre--
vent the bleeding from  the  large veffel,? and the
wound  be in the  leg  or arm,, a Strong, ligature
muft be made above the wound with a turuiquet,.
which  is formed in a  moment- with a fkain  of
thread,  or of hemp, that is palled round' the arm
circularly into the middle of which is inserted  a
piece of wood or Stick of an inch thicknefe, and'
four or  five inches long; fo  that by turning round
this piece of wood,  any  tightnefs  or compression
may be  effected at pleafure : exactly as a country-
man fecures a hoglhead, or a piece of timber on his
cart, with a chain  and ring.   But care  muft be
taken, I.  To dilpofe the fkain in fuch a manner,
that it mult  always be two  inches wider than the
part it furrounds: and, 2. Not to ftrain it fo tight
as to bring on an inflammation, which might ter-
minate  in a gangrene.
  §. 438. All the boafted virtues of a multitude of 
              Of external Diforders.            60
 ointments  are  downright nonfenfe or quackery.
 Art,  ftiicily considered, does  riot in the leaft con-
 tribute to the healing of wounds;  the utmoft  we
 can do amounting onty to our removing thofe  ac-
 cidents, which  are f"- many  obltacles  to their re-
 union.  On this account, if there is any extrane-
 ous body in the wound, fuch  as iron,  lead, wood,
 glafs, bits of cloth or 'inen,  they mult be extract-
 ed, if that can  be very eafily done;  but  if not,
 application muft be made to a good furgeon, who
 considers what meafures are to be taken, and then
 dreffes the wound, as I have already advifed.
   Very  far from  being ufeful, there are many
 ointments that  are pernicious on thefe occasions ;
 and the only cafes  in which they fliould be ufed,
 are thofe in which the  wounds are distinguished
 with feme particular appearances, which ought to
 be removed by particular applications  ; But a Sim-
 ple recent wound, in a healthy man, requires no o-
 ther treatment but what 1 have already directed,
 befides that of the general regimen.
   Spirituous applications are commonly hurtful,
 and can be fuitable and proper but in  a few caSes,
 which phySicians and  Surgeons only can distinguish.
   When wounds happen in the head, inftead of
 the comprefs dipt in oil, or of the cerecloth, the
 wound Should be covered with a  betony plaifter;
 or, when none is to be had in time, with a com-
 prefs  Squeezed out of hot wine.
   \ 439.  As the following fymptoms, of which  we
 Should be molt apprehensive, are fuch as attend  in-
 flammations, the means we ought to have recourfe
 to are thofe which are moft likely to prevent them  ;
 fuch as bleeding, the ufual regimen, moderate cool-
 ers and glySters.
   Should the wound be very  inconfiderable in its
 degree, and in its Situation, i: may  be  Sufficient to
avoid taking any  thing heating ;  and above  all
things to retrench the uS'eofany Strong drink, and
 of flefh-meat. 
70             Of external uijoraers.
  But when it is considerable, and in inflammati-
on muft be expected, there is a neceffity for Weed-
ing ; the patient Should be kept in the moft quietr
andeafy fituation ; he fliould be ordered immediate-
ly to a regimen ;  and fometimes the bleeding alfb
muft be repeated.  Now all  thefe means are the
more indifpenfably necelfary, when the wound has
penetrated to fome internal part; in which fituati-
on, no remedy is more certain than that of an ex-
tremely light diet.  Such wounded perfons as have
been fnppoSed incapable of living many hours, af-
ter wounds in the  breaft, in  the belly, or in the
kidneys, have been completely recovered, by liv-
ing for the courfe of feveral weeks, on nothing but
barley, or other farinaceous, mealy ptiians, with-.
out fait, without  foup, without any medicine ;
and efpecially without the ufe of any ointment.
  § 440. In the fame proportion that bleeding, mo-
derately and judicioufly employed, is Serviceable ;
in that very fame,  ari excefs of it  becomes perni-
cious.  Great wounds are generally attended with
a considerable lofs of blood, which has already ex-
hautted the wounded perfon ;  and the fever is of-
ten a confequence of this copious lofs of blood.
Now, if under fuch a circumftance, bleeding Should
be ordered and performed; the patient's ftrength
is totally funk ; the humours Stagnate and corrupt;
a gangrene fupervenes,-and  he dies miferably, at
the end of two or three days, of 9. ftries of repeated
bleedings,  but not of the wound.   Notwithstand-
ing the certainty of this, the furgeon frequent-
ly boafts  of his ten, twelve, or even his fifteen
bleedings : affuring his hearers of the infuperable
mortality of the wound, Since the letting out fuch
a quantity of blood could not recover the patient;
when it really was that exceSfive artificial profufion
of it, that downright difpatched him.       The
pleafures  of love are very mortal pleafures to the
wounded.
   §. 441. The balfams and vulnerary plants, which 
             Of external Diforders.             71
have often been  fo highly celebrated for the cure
of wounds, are very noxious, when taken inward-
ly ;  becaufe  the introduction  of them gives  or
heightens the fever, which ought to have been a-
bated.
             Of Contufions, or Bruifss.
   §  442. A contufion, which is commonly called
a bruife, is-the effect of the forcible impreffion or
Stroke of a fubftance not Sharp  or cutting,  on the
body of a man, or any  animal; whether fuch  an
impreflion.be violently made on the man, as when
he is Struck .by a Stick, or by  a Stone thrown at
him;  or whether the man be involuntarily for-
ced againft a poft, a flone,  or  any hard fubftance
by a fall; or whether, in Short,  he is fqueezed and
oppreSfed betwixt two hard bodies, as when his
finger is fqueezed betwixt the  door and the door-
poll, or the whole body jammed in betwixt any
carriage and the wall.   Thefe bruifes, however,
are ftill more frequent in the country than wounds,
and commonly more dangerous too ; and  indeed
the more fo,  as we cannot judge fe exactly, and
fo foon, of the whole injury that has been incur-
red ; and becaufe all that is immediately vifible of
 it is often but a fmall part of the real damage at-
tending it: Since it frequently  happens that  no
hurt appears for a few fucceflive days ; nor does it
become manifeft, until it is too late to admit of an
effectual cure.
   § 443. It is but a few weeks fince a cooper came
to aSk my advice.   His manner of breathing, his
afpect, the quicknefs, fmallneSs,  and irregularity
of his pulfe,  made me apprehenfive at once, that
fome matter was formed within  his breaft.  Ne-
vertheless he ftill kept up, and went about, work-
ing alfb at fome part of his trade.  He  had fallen
lin removing fome caSks or  hogSheads ; and the
I whole weight of his body had been violently im«
preffed upon the right fide of his breaft,  Notwith.. 
 72           Of external Diforders.
 Handing this, he was fenfible of no hurt at firft ;
 but Some days afterwards he  began to feel a dull
 heavy pain  in  that part,  which continued and
 brought on  a difficulty of breathing, weaknefs,
 broken fleep and lofs of* appetite.   I ordered him
 immediately  to ftillnefs and  repofe, and  advifed
 him to drink a ptiSiin of barley Sweetened with
 honey, in a plentiful quantity.   He regularly o-
 beyed only the  latter part of my directions : yet
 on meeting  him a few days after, he told me he
 was better.  The very fame week, however, I was   j
 informed he had been found dead in his bed.  The
 impoflhume had undoubtedly broke, and fuflocat-
 ed him.
   § 444.  A  young man,  run away with by his
 horfe, was forced with violence  againfl a Stable-
 door, without being fenfible of any damage at the
 time.   But at the expiration of" twelve days,  he
 found himfelf attacked by fome  fuch complaints,   ,
 as generally occur at the beginning of a  fever.
 This fever was mistaken for a putrid one, and he  •
 was-very improperly treated, for  the fever it real-
 ly v/as, above a month.   In Short, it was agreed at
 a confultation, that matter was  collected  in the
 breaft.   In confequence of this, he was more pro-
 perly attended,  and at lengtL happily cured by
 the operation for an empyema, after languishing a
 whole year.  I have published thefe two instances,
 to demonstrate  the great danger of neglecting
 violent Strokes or bruiies; Since  the firft of theSe
 patients  might have eScaped  death  ; and the fe-
cond a tedious and  afflicting diforder, if they had
taken, immediately after each accident,  the ne-
 ceflary precautions again It its confequences.
   \ 445.  Whenever any part is  bruifed, one of
 two things always enfues,  and  commonly both
 happen together ;  especially  if  the contulion is
pretty considerable : either the Small blood-veffels   i
of the confuted  part are broken, and the blcod
they contained is fpread about iu the adjoining 
              ■Of external Diforders.          7 3
parts ; or elfe, without fnch an effufion of it, thefe
'veffels have lotl their tone, their active force, and
no longer contributing to the circulation, their
contents ftagnate. In each of thefe cafes, if nature,
either without or with -the afliftance of art,  does
not remove  the impediment,  an inflammation
comes on, attended with an imperfect, unkindly
fuppuration, with putrefaction and a gangrene ;
without mentioning the fymptoms that arife from
the contufion of Some particular fubftance, as a.
nerve, a large veffel,  a bone, ire.  Hence we may
alio conceive  the danger of a contufion, happen-
ing to  any inward  part, from which the blood is
either internally eff'ufed, or the circulation wholly
obstructed in feme vital organ. This is the^caufe of
the fudden  death of perfons after a violent fall ^
or of thofe who have received the violent force of
•heavy defeefiding bodies on their heads; or of fome
violent ftrokes, without any evident external hurt
or mark.
   There  have been  many inftances of  fudden
deaths, after  one blow on the pit of the Stomach,
which has occasioned a rupture of the fpleen.
   It is in confequence of falls occafioniug a gene-
ral flight contufion,  as well internal as external,
that they are Sometimes attended with fuch griev-
ous confequences,  cfpecially in old men,  where
•nature, already enfeebled,  is lefs able to redrefs
fuch diforders.  And thus in fact has it been, that
many fuch,  who had before enjoyed a firm ftate
of health, have immediately loft it after a fall
■(which teemed at firft to have affected them little
or not at all) and languished Soon after to the mo-
ment of their death, which fuch accidents very
generally accelerate.
    \ 446.  Different external and internal remedies
are applicable in contufioiis.   When tlie accident
has occurred in a Slight degree, and there has been
no great.nor  general Shock, which might,produce
an internal forenels or cchtufiou, external appli-
   Vol. II.             H 
-74           ®f external Diforders.
cations may be fufficient.   They fliould confift of
fuch things as are adapted, firft, to attenuate and
refolve the effuSed and Stagnant blood, which Shews
jtfelf fo apparently; and which, from its manifeft
blacknefs, very  foon after the contufion,  becomes
fucceflively brown,  yellow,  and greyish,  in pro-|
portion as the magnitude of the fufluSion or fet-
tling decreafes, till at la^t it difappears entirely, and
the Skin recovers its .colour, without  the blood's
having been difeharged through the external fur-
face, as it has been infeiifibly  and gradually dif-
folved, and been taken in again  by  the veffels ;
and fecondly, the medicines fliould be fuch as are
qualified to reflore the tone, and to recover the
ilrength of the affected veffels.
  1 he beft application is vinegar, diluted, if very
iharp, with twice as much warm water; in which
mixture folds of linen are to be  dipt, within which
the contufed parts are to be involved ; and thefe •
folds are to be re-moiftened and re-applied every
two hours on the firft day..
  Parfley,  chervil, and houfeleek leaves, lighthr  ,
pounded,  have alfo been, fuccefsfully employed)
and thefe  applications are preferable  to vinegar,
when a wound is joined to the bruile.   The pulti-
ces N°* 68. may alfo be ufed with  advantage.
   § 447. It has been  a common practice immedir
ately to apply Spirituous liquors, fuch  as brandy,
arquebuffade  and * Alibour water,  and the  likej
but  a long abufe ought not to be eftablifhed by
prefcription.   Thefe liquids, which coagulate the
blood, instead of refolvjiig  it,  are truly  pernici-
ous; notwithstanding they ace  fometimes employ*
,ed without any vifible.difadvantage, on yery Slight
occasions :  frequently by  determining the fettled' "
blood  towards the .jnterilices of the mufcles, the
deShy parts; or, fometimes even by preventing the

  * This, Dr. Tijfpt informs me, is a fojntjon of white yitriol and foine ,
 ,-ner drugs in fpi.-it of wine, and is never ufed in regular jpraftltC R9ft
 '■■ uas its name frqfn the aiuiw;; vx lbs f(iSutin% 
              Of external Diforders.           ft
effufion, or vifible fettling of the blood, and fix-
ing it, as it were, within the bruifed veSfels, they
feem to be well; though this only arifes from their
concentring and concealing the evil, which, at the
end of a few months, breaks forth again in a very
rroublelbme Shape.   Of this  I have feen Some mi-
serable examples; whence it has been abundantly
evinced, tbat applications oS'this fort fliould never
be admitted, and that vinegar Should be ufed in-
stead  of them.  At the utmoft, it fliould only be'
allowed, (after there is reafen to fuppofe all the
Stagnant blood rcfelved and relbrbed into the cir»
dilation} to add a third  part of the arquebufade
water to the vinegar,- with an intention to  reftore
fome ftrength to the relaxed and weakened parts.
  § 4^3. It is Still a more  pernicious  practice, to'
apply, in'bruiSes, plaillers compofed of greaSy Sub-
Stances, rofins, gums, earths,  ire.  The molt boaft-'.
ed of thefe is always hurtful, and there have been
many in fiances of very flight cohtuSions being ag-
gravated'into gangrenes, by fuch plaifters ignorant-"
ly applied j which bruifes would have been entire-
ly Subdued by the ceconomy of nature, if left to
herfelf, in the Space of four days.
   Thofe Sacs or- fuffufions of coagulated  blood,
which are vifible under the Skin, Should never be
opened, except fbr fome  urgent reafen ;• Since,
however large they may be, they infeiifibly difap-
pear and diflipate ; inftead of which termination,
by opening them, they fometimes' terminate in a
dangerous ulceration.
  5 449. The  internal treatment of contufions, is
exactly the fame with that  of wounds ; only, that
in thefe cafes, the  beft drink is the  prescription
Nc* 1. to each pot  of which a drachm of nitre
inult be added.
  When  any perfen has got a violent fall,  has
loft his fenfes, or is become  very Stupid ; when the
blood Starts out of his noftrils,  or his ears ;  when1
he is greatly opprefled, or his belly feels very tight?
                     H 2 
76           Of external Diforders.
and tenfe, which import an eff'ufion of blood  ei»
ther into the head, the breaft or the belly ; he muft,
firft of all, be bled upon the fpot, and all the means
muft be recurred to, which have  been mentioned
§ 439. giving the wretched patient the leaft pof-
fible disturbance  or motion ; and  by all means a-
voiding to jog or fliake him, with  a defign to bring
him to his fenfes ; which would be directly and ef-
fectually killing him, bycaufuiga further effufion
of blood.  Inftead of this  the whole body fhould
be fomented, with feme one of the decoctions  al-
ready mentioned ; and when the  violence has been
chiefly  impreffed ©n  the  head,  wine and  water
fliould be preferred to vinegar.
  Falls attended with wounds, and  even a fracture
of the fkull,  and with  the moft  alarming fymp-
toms, have been cured by thefe internal remedies,
and without any other external  afliftance, except
the ufe of the aromatic fomentation, N°* 68
  A man from Pully-petit came to confult me feme
months ago, concerning  his father,  who  had  a
high fall out of a tree.  He had  been twenty-four
hours without feeling or fenfe,  and without any
other motion than frequent efforts  to vomit; and
blood had iffued both  from his nofe and ears.  He
had no vifible outward  hurt  neither on his head,
nor any other part; and very fortunately for him,
they had not as yet exerted  the  lealt effort to  re-
lieve him.  I immediately   directed a plentiful.
bleeding in the  arm, and   a large  quantity or*
 whey fweetened with honey  to  be drank, and ta
be alfo injected  by way of giyfter..  This  ad-
 vice  was  very  punctually observed; and fiStceu
 clays after the father  came to Laufanne, which  is
 four leagues  from Fully-pttit, a.nd  told me he was
 very well.   It is proper, in-all considerable bruif-
 es, to open the patient's belly with a mild cooling
 purge, fuch as N°*  n.  23. "2. 49. The prefcrip-
 tionN0* 24. and the  honeyed whey are excellent
 remedies,  from the fame reafen. 
             Of external Diforders'.            77
  *} 4jo. In  thefe  circumftances, wirie^ diftilled
Spirits,  and whatever has been fuppofed to revive
and to roule, are mortal.   For this reaSbn  people
fhould not be too impatient, becaufe the patients
remain feme time without  fenfe or feeling.  The
giving of turpentine  is more likely to do mifeliief
titan good ; and if it has been Sometimes fervice-
able, it muft have been in confequence of its purg-
ing the patient, who  probably then needed to bfe
purged.  The fat of a whale, {fperma ca*ti) dragon's
blood,  crabs-eyes,  and ointments of vvhatfoever
fort are at leatl  ufelefs  and dangerous medicines,
if the cafe be very  hazardous ; either by the mif-
eliief they do,  or the good they prevent from be-
ing done.   The proper indication is to dilute the
blood, to render it more fluid and difpofed to cir-
culate; and the medicines juft mentioned produce
a very contrary effect.
  § 451. When  an  aged perfen gets  a fall, which
is the more dangerous in proportion to his age and
groffnefs; notwithstanding he Should not feem in
the leaft incommoded by it, if he is  Sanguine and
Still feinewhat vigorqus, he fliould part with three
or four ounces of blood.  He Should takeimediate-
ly a few fucce.Tive cups of a lightly aromatic drink
wbictr fliould be given him  hot;  fuch, for inttance
as an infufion of tea fweetened  with honey, and.
lie fliould be advifed  to move gently about.  He
niuft;retrench a  little from the ufual quantity of
his food, and accuftom himfelf to very gentle  but
Very frequent, exercife..                   '
  § 452. Sprains or wrenches, which very often
happen,  produce a kind of contufion, in the parts
adjoining-to the Sprained joint.  This contufion is
caufed by the violent  friction of the bone againft
the neighbouring parts  : and as foon as the bone*
are immediately returned into their proper fixa-
tion, the disorder fliould be treated as a contofion
Indeed it the bones Should not of themfelves return
into their proper natural pofition, recourfe mvfc
be had to the hand of a Surgeon..
                     Hi. 
7$           Of external Diforders.
  The beft remedy in this cafe is abfelute reft and
repofe, after applying a comprefs, moistened in vi-
negar and water, which is to be renew ed and con-
tinued, till the marks of the contufion entirely
difappear ; and there remains not the fmalleft ap-
prehenfion  of  an inflammation.   Then indeed,
and not before, a little brandy, or arquebufsule
water  may  be  added  to  vinegar: and  the part
(which is almoll  constantly the foot) Should be
itrengthened and fecured for a considerable time
with a bandage ; as it might otherwile be liable to
frefh Sprains, which would  daily more and more
enfeeble it;. for if this evil is overlooked too much
in its  infancy, the  part  never recovers its  full
ftrength • and a fmall fwelling often remains t.o>
the end of the patient's life.
  If the  fpraiu- is very flight  and moderate, a
plunging of the part into cold water is excellent ;
but if this is, not d;>ne at once immediately after
the Sprain,  or if the contufion is violent it is even
hurtful.
  The cuftom of rolling the naked foot upon feme*
round body is infufficient, when the bones are not
perfectly replaced ;, and hurtful, when  the Sprain
is accompanied with a contufion.
  It happens continually almolt, that country peo-
ple, who encounter  fuch accidents, apply  them-
felves  either to ignorant or knavish  impollers,.
who find, or are determined to find,, a diforder or
dislocation of the bones, where there is none ; and
who, by their  violent manner  of handling the
parts, or by the plaifters they furround them. with,.
bring on a dangerous inflammation,  and change
the patient's dread of & fmall diforder, into a very'
grievous malady.
  Thefe are the very perfons who have created, or
indeed rather imagined, feme impoflible difeafes,.
fuch as the opening, the fpliting of the flomach,
and of the  kidjiies..  But thefe  big words terrify 
             Of external  Diforden.            1$
the poor coutry  people, and  difpofe them to h&
more eafily and effectually duped,-
                   Of Ulcers.

  5  4)?. Whenever  ulcers arife  from a  general
fault of the blood, it is impossible  to cure  them^
without deftroving the caufe and  fuel of  them.
It is in fact imprudent to  attempt to heal them up*
by outward remedies;.and a real misfortune  to the
patient, if his af lift ant effectually heals and doles
them.
  But,, for the greater- part, ulcers in the country,.
are the confequence of feme wound, bruife,  or tu-
mour improperly treated ;, and efpecially of fuch
as have been  drelied with too Sharp, or toe fpiritu--
ous applications.  Rancid oils are alio one" of" the"
caufes, which change the moft fimple wounds into"
obstinate ulcers ;  for which reaSbn they Should be"
avoided ; and apothecaries Should be careful, when
they compound greafy ointments,..to make but lit--
tle at a  time, and the oftener, as a very conside-
rable quantity of any of them becomes rank before
it is all  fold ; notwithstanding.Sweet freSh oil may
have been employed in preparing them.
  \  454. What  Serves to ■  distinguish  ulcers  from
wounds, is the drynefs and hardnefs of the fides
or borders of ulcers,, and the quality of the lm>
mour difeharged from them ; which, inltead of
being ripe eonfiftent matter, is a liquid more thin,,
lefs white, Sometimes yielding a disagreeable Scent,
and fe very Sharp, that if it touch  the adjoining
fkiu, it  produces rednefs, inflammation, or puf-
tules there ;  Sometimes a  ferpiginous,  or  ring-
worm like^eruption, and even a further ulceration.
  § 455. Such ulcers  as are of a long duration^
which Spread wide, and difcharge much,.prey up-
on the patient, and  throw him  into  a flow  fever,.
which melts  and confumes him-  Befides,  when
an ulcer is of a  long Standing, it is dangerous to
dry it up j  and indeed this  never Should be done^ 
2CP           Of  external Diforderts
but by fubftituting in the place of one difcharge'
that is become almoft natural, fome other evacua-'
tion,  filth as purging from time to  time.
  We may daily fee  fudden deaths, or  very tor-
menting difeafes, enfue the Sudden drying up fuch'
humours and drains  as have been of a long conti-
nuance : and whenever any quack (and as many
as promife the fpeedy cure of fuch, deferve  that
tltle);all'ures the patient of his  curing an inverate
ulcer  in a few days,  he demon Urates himfelf to be'
a very dangerous and ignorant  intermeddler> who'
mull  kill the patient, if he keeps his word.  Some
of thefe impudent  impoftors make ufe of the  moft
corrofive applications, and even arfenical ones y
notwithllanding the moft violent death is general-'
ly the confequence of therm-
   § 456; The utmoft that'art' can effect, with re-"
gard  to ulcers,  which do not arife from  any fault'-
in the humours, is to* change them into-wounds.-
To this end, the hardnefs and drynefs of  tlie edges'
of the ulcer,  and iftdeed  of the whole nice,  muft:
be ditniniflied,  and  its ''inflammation   removed.-
But fometimes the hardnefs is fo obstinate,? that
this cannot be mollified any other way, than-by
fearrifying the edges with a. lancet.   But when  it'
may  be effected  by  other means,  let a; pledget
fpread with the ointment'N?'  69.  be applied  all1
over the ulcer; and this  pledget be covered again1
with  a comprefs of feveral folds,.moiltened in the
liquid N°* 70. which fhouldbe renewed three times-
daily ; though it is fuflkient t'oapplyafrefh pledg-'
et only twice.
   As  I have already  affirmed^ that/ ulcers were  of-'
ten the confequence of Sharp and fpiritUous dreff-
ings,  it is evident fuch fliould  be abstained from,-
without which  abstinence, they  will prove incu^
rable.
   To forward" the cure, falted  food, fpices, and
ftrong drink Should  be avoided ; the quantity  of
fleflwneat Should be leffened ; and the body be kept 
            .  Of  external Diforders.             8l
 open by a regimen of puis, or vegetables, and by
 the habitual ufe of whey fweetened- with honev.
   If the ulcers are in  the legs, a vary common Situ-
 ation of them,  it  is of great importance, as well as
 in wounds of  the Same  parts, that the  patients
 Should walk about but little ; and yet never ftand
 up without walking.  This indeed is one of thefe
 cafes, in which  thofe, who have feme credit and in-
 fluence in the estimation, of the people, .Should o-
 mit nothing to  make them thoroughly comprehend
 the necefliry of confining themfelves, feme days, to
 undifturbed tranquillity and reft ; and they Should
 alfo convince them, that this term of reft is fo far
 from being loft time, that it is likely to prove their-
 moft profitable time  of  life.-Negligence, in this
 material point', changes the flightell  wounds into
 ulcers, and the  moft trifling ulcers into  obftinate
 and incurable ones: infomuch, that their is Scarcely
 any man, who may not obServe  feme  family in his
 neighbourhood, reduced  ta the hofpital  *, . from-
 their having  been too inattentive to the due  care
 of feme complaint of this fert.
   I conclude  this  n-rtcle on  ulcers with repeating^
 that thofe which art .?i\ u:^ to fome internal caufe >
 or even fuch as happtii i\ oni an external one, in
 perfons of a bad habit of body,  frequently require
 a more particular treatment-.

                Of Frozen Limbs,-
   § 457. It is but. too common, in very  rigorous
 winters,  fbr feme perfons to.be pierced with lb vio-
 lent a degree of cold, that tl.eir hands  or feet, or
 Sometimes both together, are  frozen  it once, juft
 like a piece of flefh meat expofed to the air.
   If a  perfon thus  pierced  with the cold, dilpofe
 Iiimfelf to walk about, which feems fb natural and
obvious a means to get warm ; and especially, if he

  * This feems jnfl the fame as tomir.g  0: the ;-.<;;' ., or bcb.u received^
 into anal.iio-i;-jufe  here;  in <.onfe«.;uL.-.io: of fudi an incurabie difibUkjt
bi;j.»ening io the pojr working father oi a family. K. 
82'             Cf external Diforders.
attetnps to f warm the parts tli'at have been frozen*/
his cafe proves irrecoverable.  Intolerable pains
are the confequence,  which  pains are fpeedily at-
tended with an incurable gangrene ; and there  is
no  means  left to  fave the  patient's life,  but  by
cutting, off the gangrened limbs.
  There was  a very late  and terrible example of
this, in the cafe of an inhabitant at  Coffonay, who*
had both his hands frozen. Some greafy ointments
were  applied hot to them,  the  confeqrtehce of
which was, the necefiity  of cutting off fix  of his
fingers.
  \ 458. Tn fhort,  there is but one certain remedy"
in flich cafes; and this  is to convey the perfon af-'
fected into feme place where it does not  freeze^
But where, however, it is  but veiy moderately hot,-
and there continually to apply, to'the frozen parts,-
fnow, if it be at hand ; and if not, to keep wafh-'
ing them  inceffantly, but very gently (fince  all
frictions would-at this-juncture prove dangerousV
In*ice-water,  as the ice thaws in the chamber.  By
this application the patients will be fenfible of their
feeling's returning very gradually to the part, and1
Ifaat they begin to recover their motion.    In this-
ftate they  may fafely be moved into  a place a little
Warmer, and  drink feme cups of the potion-N"1 13;-
or of another of the  like quality.
  § 4J9.  Every perfon maybe a competent judge"
of the manifeft danger  of attempting to   relieve
fuch parts by heating them, and of^he ufe  of ice-
water,  by a common, a daily experience.   Frozen
pears, apples, and raddifhes,  being put into water'
juft about to freeze, recover their former Slate, and-

  t The reafon of the fatality of heat, in thefe cafes, and of the fuc-
cefs of an oppofite application (fee f 4J9) feems ftri&ly and even beauti-
fully analogous to what Hippocrates has obferved  of the danger, and evea'
fatality, of all great and fudden changes in the human body, whether from
the  weather or otherwife.  Whence this truly great founder ofphyfic,
when he obferves elfewhere, that difeafes are to be cured by  fomething
contrary to their caufes, very confidently advifes, not adiit-ft and violent-
contrariety, but a gradual and regulated one, a.fu&'c$titrariety^  K» 
              Of external  Diforder*.           $3

jwove quickly eatable.  But if they are put  imo
warm water, or into a hot place,  rottennefs, which
4s one fort of gangrene, is the immediate effect. The
following cafe will make .this  .right method of
treating them Still more intelligible, and  demon-
itrate its efficacy.
   A  man was  travelling to the distance of fix
leagues in very cold weather; the road being co-
vered with Show and ice.   Hisflioes, not being ve-
ry good, failed him on his march, fo that he walk-
ed the three laft leagues bare-footed ;  and felt im-
mediately after the firft half league, Sharp  pains
in his legs and  feet, which increafed as he pro-
ceeded.  He arrived at his journey's end in a man-
lier nearly deprived of his lower extremities. They
fet him before a great fire, heated a bed well, and
 put him  into  it.  His pains immediately became,
intollei able; he was inceffantly  in  the moft vio-
lent agitations,  and cried out in the moft pier-
cing and affecting manner.  A  phyfician,  being
 feut for in the night, found his toes  of a blackifh
.colour, and beginning to loofe their feeling.  His
 legs, and the upper part  of his feet,  which were
exceSSively fwelled, of a purplish red, and varied
 with foots of a  violet colour, were ftill fenfible of
-the moSl excruciating pains.  The phyfician or-
dered in a pail of water from the adjoining river,
 adding more to it, and fome ice withal.   In  this
 he obliged the  patient to plunge his legs ; they
 were kept in near an hour,  andwithin that time,
 the pains became lefs violent. After another hour,
 he ordered a fecond cold bath, from which the pa-
 tent perceiving  ftill further relief, prolonged it to
 the extent of two hours.  During that time, fome
 water was taken out of the pail,  and  fome ice and
 Show were put into it.  Now his toes, which had
 been black,  grew red ; the violet fpots in his legs,
 difappeared ;  the fwelling abated ; the pains be-
 came moderate, and intermitted.  The bath was
 /neverthelefs repeated fix times; after which there 
 84            Of .external Diforders.
iremained ne other complaint, but that  of a great
ttendernefs or extraordinary S'eniibility in the Soles
of his feet,  which  hindered  him  from walking.
The  parts were afterwards bathed with  fome aro-
matic fomentations; and he drank a ptifan of far-
faparilla /one of elder flowers would have anfwer-
ed the Jauie purpofe, and have been lefs expen-
sive.)  On the eighth day S'rom his  Seizure he was
perfectly recovered,  and  returned  home on foot
on the fifteenth.
   § 460.  When cold weather is extremely fevere,
and  a  perl'on is expofed to it fbr a long time at
once, it proves-mortal, in confequence of" its con.
gealing the blood,  and becaufe it forces too great
■a proportion of blood up to the brain ; fo that
the patient  dies of a kind of apoplexy, which is
preceded by a fleepinefs.  In this circumstance the
traveller, who finds he grows drowfy,  fliould  re.
double his eflorts.-to extricate  himfelf from the im-
minent danger he is expofed to.  This Sleep, which
he might confider as fome alleviation of his fuffer-
 ings, if indulged, would prove his lalt.
   § 461.  The remedies in fuch cafes are the fame
with thofe directed in frozen  limbs.  The patient
mult be conducted  to  an apartment, rather cold
than hot, and be rubbed withfuow or with ice-wa-
ter.  There have been many well attefted inftances
©f this method ; and as fuch cafes  are  ftill more
frequent in more northern climates,  a bath  of the
very coldeft water, has  been  found the  fureft  re-
 medy.
   Since it is known that many people have  been
revived, who had remained in  the  fnow, or  had
been expofed to the freezing air durino-  five,  or e-
ven fix fucceflive days,  and who had difcovered no
one mark of life for feveral hours, the utmoft en-
 deavours Should be ufed for the recovery  of perlbps
in the like circumftances and Situation, 
Of external Diforders.             8 5
             Of Kibes,  or Chilblains.
  | 462-  Thefe  troublefeme and fmarting  com-
plaints attack the  hands,  feet,  heels, ears, uofe
and lips, thofe of children especially, and moltly
in winter ;  when thefe extremities are expofed to
the fudden changes from  hot  to cold, and  from
cold to hot weather.  They begin with an inflati-
on or kind of Swelling,  which,  at firft, occasions
but little heat, pain or itching.   Sometimes they
do not exceed this firft Slate, and go off Spontane-
ously without any application : but at other times,
which may be termed the fecond  degree of the dif-
order (whether it  happens from their being ne-
glected, or improperly  treated)  their heat, red-
nefs, itching and pain,  increafe considerably ;  fo
that the patient is often deprived of the free ufe
of" his fingers by the pain, fwelling and liumbnefs:
in which cafe the malady is Still aggravated,  if ef-
fectual means are not uled.
   Whenever the inflammation  mounts to a Still
higher  degree,   fmall  vesications  or blisters are
formed,  which  are  not long without burlling j
when they leave a flight excoriation, or rawnels,
as it were, which fpeedily ulcerates, and frequent-
ly  proves  a very  deep and obstinate ulcer, di£
charging a Sharp and ill-conditioned matter.
   The laft and moft virulent degree of chilblains,
which is not infrequent in the very coldeft  coun-
tries, though very rare in the temperate ones, is
when the inflammation degenerates into a gan-
grene.
    § 463.  Thefe tumours are owing to  a fulnefs
and obstruction  of the veffels of the Skin,  which
occurs  from this  circuiuSlance, that the  veins*
which are more Superficial than the arteries, be-
ing proportionably  Snore affected  anc| ftraitened
 by the cold, do not carry off all the blood com-
municated to them by the arteries ; and perhaps
 alfo the particles or atoms of cold,  which arc ad-
    VOL. II.               1 
 S&            Of external Diforders,
 mitted through the pores of the fkin, may act up-
 on our fluids,  as it does upon water,  and occalion
 a congelatiou of them, or a considerable approach
 towards it.
   If thefe  complaints are chiefly  fet, which in
 fact is the cafe, rather on the extreme  parts than
 on others,  it arifes from two caufes,  the principal
 one being, that the circulation's being weaker at
 the extremities than elfewhere, the effect of thofe
 caufes, that may impair it, mufl be more coufider-
 ably  felt there.   The fecond reaSbn is,  becaufe
 thefe  parts are more  expofed to the impreffions
 from without than the others.
   They occur  moft frequently to children, from
 their weakneSs, and the greater tendernefs and
 fenlibility of their  organs,  which neceffarily in-
 creafes the effect of external impreffions.  It is the
 frequent  and  ftrong alteration from heat to cold,
 that Seems to contribute the moft powerfully  to
 the production of chilblains ; and this effect of it
 is moft confiderable, when the  heat of the air is at
 the fame time blended with'moifture ; whence the
 extreme and fuperficial parts pafs fuddenly, as it
 were,  out of a hot, into a cold,  bath.  A man fix-
 ty years of age,  who  never before was troubled
 with kibes, having worn for feme hours on a jour-
 ney, a pair of  furred gloves, in  which  his hands
 fvveated, felt them very  tender,  and  found them
 fvvellecl up with blood ; as the common effect of the
 warm  bath is  to foften and relax, and to draw
 blood abundantly to the bathed parts, whence it
 renders them more fenfible.
  This  man, 1 fay,  thus  circumftanced,  was at
 that age firfl attacked with chilblains,  which prov-
ed extremely troublefeme ;  and he was every fuc-
 ceeding winter, as certainly in felted with them,
within half an hour after he left off his gloves, and
was expoled to  a very cold air.
  It is for this reafen,  that feveral perfons are ne-
per iufefted with  chilblains, but  when  they ufe 
              Of external Diforders*            #7
 themfelves to muffs, which are fearcely known in
 hot countries ; nor are they very common  among
 the moie northern  ones, v*i which  the extraordi-
 nary changes fiom cold to heat are  very rare  and
 unufual.
   Some people are fubject to this troublefeme com-
 plaint in the fall; while others have it only in the
 Spring.   The child of a  labouring peafant, who
 has a hard fkin, and one inured to all the impref-
 f-'o:is  of the feafons and of the  elements,  is,  and
 indeed ncceiTaity muft be, lefs liable to kibes, than
 the child of a rich citizen, whofe Skin is often che-
 riiiie.'. at the expence of his constitution.   But
 even  a mono; children of the fame rank in life  Pint
 circumftances, who Seem pretty  much of the fan e
 complexion, and live much in the i. me manner;
 whence thev might of courfe be  fuppofed equally
 liable to the fame impreSiions,  ?.v.<\  to the  hi.e ef-
 fects of t"iem ; thereis, neverthelefs,  a very great
 difference with refpect to their constitutional pro--
 penfity to contract chilblains.  Some aie vc-v cru-
 elly tormented wif»!i them,  from the Setting in of
 autumn,  to the  very  end  of the fpriup : others
 have either none at all, or have them  but very-
 Slightly, and  for a very  Short time.  This dihei -
 ence  undoubtedly  arifes from the different quali-
 ty of their humours, and tlie texture of their whole
 furface,  but particularly from that  of the  fkin of
 their hands ;  though  we readily coufefs it is by
 no means eafy to determine,  with  certainty  and
 precifion, in what this difference eff'eutially confifl?.
  Children of a fanguiue complexion,  and delicate
 fkin, are pretty generally fubject to this  disorder ;
which is often regarded much too flightly, thouo.i
it is really fevere enough to engage  our attention
more; fince, even abstracted from the Sharp pairs
which fmart thefe unhappy children for  feveml
months,  it Sometimes gives them a  fever, hindeis
them  from Sleeping, and yet confines them to their
bed, which is very prejudicial to their conftitu-
                      I 2 
 88           Of external Diforders.
 tions.   It alfo breaks in  upon the  order of thei*"
 different  duties  and employments ;  it interrupt3
 their innocent falutary pleafures, and  fometimes,
tv'.CI: they are obliged to earn their daily bread by
 doing fome work or other, it  finks them down to
 mifery.  I knew  a young man, who, from being
 rendered  incapable  by chilblains,  of ferving out
 his apprenticeship to a watch-maker, is become a
 lazy beggar.
   Chilblains which attack the nofe, often  leave a
 mark that  alters the  phyfiognomy,  the afpect of
the patient, for the remainder of his life;  and the
Lands of fuch as  have fuffered SVom very obiiinate
 ones, are commonly ever SenSible of tlieir conS'e-
queflces.
   § 464. With refpect, therefore, to thefe afflict-
ing tumours and ulcerations, we fhould, in the
firSt place, do our utmoft to prevent them ;  and
next exert our beft endeavours to cure Such as x, e
could not prevent.
   § 465. Since they manifeftly depend on the fen-
fibility  of the  fkin, the nature of the humours,
and the changes of the weather from  heat to cold ;
in order to prevent them,  in the firft  place, the
ikiii muft  be rendered  firmer or lefs tender.  2.
That vicious quality of  the temperament, which
contributes to their existence, muft be  corrected :
 and, 3. The perfens fb  liable, muft  guard them-
 felves, as well as poflible, again ft thefe  changes of
 the weather.
   Now, the fkin of the hands, as well  as that of the
whole body, may be ftrengthened by that habit of
walhing or  bathing in cold  water, which 1 have
defcribed at large, § 384. and in fact, I  have never
feen children, who had been early accultomed and
inured"to this habit, as much afflicted  with chil-
blains as others.  But ftill a more particular regard
 Should be  had to fortify the fkin  of the  hands,
 which are more obnoxious to this diforder than the
 feet, by making children dip them in cold water, 
              Of external Diforders.          ^9
and keep them for fome moments  together in it
every morning, and every evening too, before fup-
per ; from the very beginning of the fall.  It will
give the children no fort of pain, during that fea-
fon, to contract this habit;  and when  it is once
contracted, it will give them no trouble to conti-
nue it throughout the winter ;  even when the wa-
ter is  readv to freeze every where.   They may al-
fo be habituated to plunge their feet into  cold
water twice or  thrice a week ; and this metkod,
which might  be lefs adapted for grown perSbns,
who had not been accuStomed to it, muft be with-
out objection with refpect to fuch children as have
been accuftomed to it;  to whom all its confequen-
ces muft be uSeful and Salutary.
   At  the fame time, care mult be taken not to de-
feat or lefl'en the effect of the cold bathing, by fuf-
fering the bather or waflier, to grow too warm be-
tween two baths or dippings ;  which is alfo avoid-
ing the too Speedy  fucceffions of heat and cold.
For this purpofe, I. The children muft be taught
never to warm their hands before the fire at  Such
times, and ftill  lefs  before the the Stoves, which
very  probably  is one  of the principal cauSes of
chilblains,  that are lefs ufual in countries which
ufe no fuch lloves, and among thofe individuals who
make the leaft ufe of them, where they are.   A-
bove all, the  ufe of cavettcs (that is, of feats or lit-
tle Stairs, as it were, contrived between the Stove
and the wall) is prejudicial  to children, and even
to grown people, upon feveral accounts.  2. They
fhould never  accultom themSelves to wear muff's.
p. It  would be alfo proper  they Should never uSe
gloves, imlefs feme particular circumstances re-
quire it ; and I recommend this abstinence from
gloves, efpecially to young boys : but if any fliould
be allowed them, let the gloves be thin and Smooth.
   §  46.1. When chilblains feem to be nourished by
feme  fault in  the temperament  or humours, the
cou(iik-ration. of a phyfician becomes neceflary, to
                        I  3 
  5>o           Of external Diforders.
  direct a proper method of removing or altering it,
  I have feen children from the age of three, to that
  of twelve or thirteen years,  in  whom their chil-
  blains, raw and flead, as it were, for eight months
  of the year, feemed to be a particular kind of iifue,
  by which nature freed herfelf of an inconvenient
  fuperfluity of humours, when the perfpiration was
  diminished, by the abatement of the violent heats.
  In fuch cafes,  I have been obliged to carry them
  through a pretty  long  courfe  of regimen  and
  remedies ; which, however,  being necefl'arily va-
  rious, from a variety of circumftances, cannot be
  detailed here.   The milder preparations of anti-
  mony are often neceflary in fuch cafes ; and Some
  purges conduce in particular ones, to allay, and to
  abridge the diferder.
    §  467. The firlt degree of"  this complaint goe*
  off,  as I have already faid, without the aid of me-
  dicine -r or fhould it prove fomewhat  more obsti-
  nate, it may eafily be diffipated by fome of the
  following remedies. But when they rife to the fe-
  eond degree,  they muft  be  treated  like other
 complaints from congelation, or froft biting, (of
 which they are the firft degree)  with  cold water,
 ice-water and fnow.
   No other method or medicine is nearly as effica-
 cious as  very cold water, fo as to be  ready  to
 freeze, in which the hands are to be dipt and re-
 tained for  feme minutes  together, and  Several
 times daily.  In  Short it is the only remedy which
 ought to  be applied, when the hands are the part
 affected ;  when the patient has the courage to bear
 this degree of cold ; and when he is under no cir-
 cumstance which may render it prejudicial.. It is the
 only application 1 have ufed for mySelf,.after having
 been attacked with chilblains for feme years pall,
 from having acenftomed myfelfto too warm  a muff.
  There enfues a Slight degree of pain fbr fome
moments, after plunging the hand into water, but
it diminishes gradually.  On taking tlie hand out,. 
               Of external Diforders.            91
 the fingers are numbed with the cold, but they pre-
 fently grow warm again ; and within a quarter of
 an hour, it is entirely over.
   The hands, on being  taken out of the water,
 are to be well di ied, and  put into fkin gloves ; af-
 ter bathing three or four times, their fwelling
 fubfidcs, fo that the  Skin wrinkles : but by continu-
 ing the  cold bathing, it grows tight and Smooth a-
 gain ; the cure is  completed after  ufing it three
 or four days ; and,  in general, the dilbrder never
 returns  again the fame winter.
   The moll troublefeme raging itching is certain-
 ly affuaged by plunging the hands into cold water.
   The effect of fnow is,  perhaps, ftill more fpee-
 dy : the hands are to»be  gently and often rubbed
 with  it  for a confiderable  time ;  they grow  hot,
 and are  of a very high red fbr fome  moments, but
 entire eafe very quickly fucceeds.
   Neverthelefs, a very fmall number of perfens,
 who mult have  extremely delicate and fenfible
 fkins,  do not experience the efficacy of this appli-
 cation.  It Seems  too active for them; it  affect*
 the fkin  much like a common  blistering plaifter;
 and by bringing on  a large flow of humours there,
 it iiicreafes, inttead  of  leffening the complaint.
   § 468.v.When this lall  reafen, indeed, or feme
 other circumltance exifts, Such as the child's want
 of courage, or its affliction, the monthly discharg-
 es in a woman,  a violent  cough, habitual cholics,
 ami feme other maladies,  which have been obferv-
 ed to  be renewed or aggravated by the influence
 of cold at the extremities, do really forbid  this
 very cold application,  fome  others muft be fub-
itituted.
   One of the beft, is to wear day and night, with-
 out ever putting it off,  a glove made of fome
finooth Skin,  fuch as that  of a dog*  which Sel-
dom fails to extinguish the disorder in fome days
 time.
  Whew  the  feet  are affe&ed Twith  chilblains^ 
9 2            Of  external Diforders.
focks of the fame  fkin fhould be worn ; and the pa*
tient kept clofe to his  bed for feme days.
  §  469.  When the diforder is violent, the ufe of
cold water is prohibited, and the gloves juft recom-
mended have but  a Slow  effect; the difealed parts
Should  be gently fomented or moiftened  feveral
times a day,  with  fome  decoction rather more
than warm ; which at  the  fame time Should be d'xf-
Solving and emollient.  Such is  that  celebrated de-
coction of the  ferapings,  the peel  of radishes,
whofe efficacy is ftill further increafed,  by adding
one Sixth part of vinegar to the decoction.
  Another decoction,  of whofe great efficacy  I
have been  a witnefs,  but which dyes  the hands
yellow  for a few  days, is the prefcription N°*  71.
many others may be  made of nearly the  fame
virtues, with all  the  vulnerary  herbs, and  even
with the faltrauc.
   Urine,  which feme boaft of in  thefe cafes, from
their having  ufed it with Succefs ; and the mixture
of urine and lime-water, have the like virtues with
the former decoctions.*
   As feon as  the hands affected  are taken out  of
thefe decoctions, they muft be defended from the
air by  gloves.
   § 470. Vapours, or ft earns, are often more effica-
cious.than decoctions  ; whence, inSlead of dipping
the hands into thefe already mentioned, we  may
expofe them to their vapours,  with ftill more Suc-
cefs.  That of hot vinegar is one of the molt pow-
erful remedies ;  thofe off afphalt or of turpentine
have frequently  fucceeded too.  It may be need-

  *  Chilblains may alfo be advantagcoufly wafhed with water and flow-
er of muftard,  which will concur,  in a certain and eafy ::^u.n;i, both to
 cleanfe and to cere them. E. L.
  + This is, or fhould be, the fame with the bitumen juda'cum, formerly
kept in the fhopj-, bnt which is never direfted, except  in 1i.1t itrangs
 medley the Venice treacle, accoidmg to the old prruiiption,  The beft is
 found in Egypt and on the Red Sea.-  bin a diffen;.-. fort, from Germany
France, wdSvjifftrlartd, u now generally fubftituied here. JC- 
              VJ external  Dtjoraers.            93
 *efs to add that the affected parts muft be defend-
 ed from the air, as well after the Steams, as the de-
 coctions ; fince it  is  from this cii cumftance  of
 keeping off" the air, that the cerecloths are of fer-
 vice; and hence alfo  the  application of fuet  has
 fometimes anfwered.
   Whe\i the distemper is  fubdued by the  ufe of
 bathings or Steams, which make the fkin fuple and
 foft, then it fliould be Strengthened by waShing the
 parts with  a little  camphorated brandy,  diluted
 with an equal quantity of water.
   § 47 r.  When the nofe is affected  with  a chil-
 blain, the fleam of vinegar, and  an artificial nofe,
 or covering for it, made of dog-fkin, are the moft
 effectual applications.  The fame treatment is e-
 qually proper for the  ears and the  chin, when in-
 felted with them.  Frequently waShing thefe parts
 in cold water is a good prefervative from their be-
 ing attacked.
   § 472.  Whenever the inflammation rifes very
 high, and brings on fome degree of a fever,  the
 patient's ufual quantity of ftrong drink,  and  of
 fleSh-meat, mult  be leflened ;  his body fliould  be
 kept open by a few glyfters; he fhould take every
 evening a dole of nitre, as prefcribed, N°* 20. and
 if the Sever proves ftrong, he Should lofe  fome
 blood too.
   As many as are troubled with  obftinate  chil-
 blaius, Should always be denied the ufe  of Strong
 liquor and flefli.
   §  47 >• When this diftemper prevails in its third
 degree, and the parts are ulcerated  ; befides keep-
 ing the patients Strictly to  the regimen of perfens
 in a way of recovery, and giving them a purge of
manna, the fwelled  parts fliould be expofed to the
fleams ofviuegar;  the ulcerations Should be cover-
ed with a diapalma  plailter; and the whole part
fliould be enveloped in fmooth foft Skin, or in thin
ferecloths. 
 H           Of external D:Jorders.
   § 474*  The  fourth  degree of this  difeafe,  in
 which the parts become gangrenous, mult be pre-
 vented by the method and medicines which remove
 an inflammation ; but if,  unhappily, a gangrene
 has already appeared, the  afliftaiice of a Surgeon
 proves indifpenSably neceflary.

                  Of Ruptures.
   § 475- Hernias or ruptures,  which country peo-
 ple term being burf/en,  are diforders  which fome-
 times occur at the very birth ; though, more  fre-
 quently, they are the effects of violent crying,  of
 a Strong forcing cough, or of repeated efforts  to
 Vomit, in the firft months  of  infancy.
   They may happen afterwards  indifci hninatcly
 at every age; either as confequences of paitkuiar
 maladies, or accidents, or from  people's violent
 exertions of their Strength.  They happen much
 oftener  to men, than  women ; and  the   moft
 common fort, indeed the only one of which I pro-
 pofe to treat, and that  but briefly, is that  which
 confiSts in the deScent of a part of the guts, or of
 the cawl, into the bag or codpiece.
  It is not difficult to distinguish this rupture.
 When  it occurs in little children,  it is almost ever
 cured, by making them conilantly wear a bandage;
 Which  fliould be  made only  of fultian, with a lit-
 tle pillow or pincufliion, "fluffed  with linen rags,
 hair or bran. There  fliould be  at leaft two of thefe
 bandages, to change them alternately ; nor fhould it
 ever be applied,  but when  the child is laid down
 on its back, and after being well afliired that the
gut or cawl, which had  fallen  down, has been
 fafely  returned into the cavity of the belly ; fince
without  this precaution, it might occafion  the
worfl consequences.
  The good effect of the bandage may be ftill fur-
 ther promoted,  by applying upon the fkin, and
vvithin the plait or fold of the groin (under which
place the rings,  or pallagc out of the belly into 
              Of external Diforders.             9 $
 the bag lie) feme pretty aflringent or Strengthen-
 ing plailter,  Such as that commonly ufed for frac-
 tures, or that I  have already mentioned, § 144.
 Here we may obferve  by  the way,  that ruptured
 children Should never be fet 011 a horfe, nor be car-
 ried by any perfen on horfe-back,  before  the rup-
 ture is perfectly cured.
   \ 476.  In a more advanced age, a bandage on-
 ly of fuflian is not fufficient; one muSt be procur-
 ed  with a plate of fteel; even fe as to constrain and
 incommode the wearer a little at firSt: neverthe-
 lefs, it foon becomes habitual, and  is  then no long-
 er inconvenient to them.
   \ 477.  Ruptures Sometimes attain a monftrous
 fize ; and a great part of the guts fall down into
 the fcrotum or bag,  without  any  fymptoin of an
 actual dileafe.  This  circumltance, nevertheless,
 is accompanied  with  very great inconvenience,
 which disables perfons affected with it  to work ;
 and whenever the malady is  fo confiderable, and
 of a long Handing too, there are  commonly fome
 obstacles that  prevent a  complete  return of the
 guts into the belly.   In this Slate indeed, the ap-
 plication of the bandage or trufs  is  impracticable,
 and the miferable patients are condemned to carry
 their grievous burthen for the remainder of their
 lives ; whic,h may however be palliated a little, by
 the ufe of a  fufpenfary and  bag, adapted to the
 Size of  the rupture.   The dread of its increasing
 magnitude is  a  Strong motive  for  checking the
 progrefs of it, when it firft appears.   But  thereis
 another ltill ftronger,  which  is, that ruptures ex-
 pofe the patient to  a Symptom frequently mortal.
This occurs, when that part of the inteftines fallen
into the fcrotum inflames ; when ftill encreafing in
 its  bulk, and being extremely compreffed, acute
pains come on : for now, from the increafe of the
rupture's extent, the paffage which gave way to its
defeent, cannot  admit of its return or afcent :
the blood-vellels themfelves being oppreffed^ the 
  o6           Of external Diforders.
  'nflammation increafes  every moment ;  the com-
  munication between the llomach and the  funda-
  ment  is often entirely cut  off",  fe  that  nothing
  paffes  through,  but incell'ant vomitings come on
  (this being the  kind of miferere,  o* iliac paflion, I
  have mentioned, § 420.) which are  Succeeded by
  the  hiccup,  raving,  Swooning, cold  fvveats, and
  death.
     \  478. This fymptom fupervencs in ruptures,
  when  the excrements become hard  in that part of
  the guts fallen into the fcrotum; when the patient
  is overheated with wine, drams,  an inflammatory
  diet, <Lrc.  or when he has received a Stroke on the
  ailing  part,  or had a fall.
     §479. The beft means  and remedies are, r. As feon
  as ever this  Symptom or accident  is manifeft,  to
  bleed the patient very plentifully, as he lies  down
  in his  bed, and upon his back, with his head a lit-
  tle railed,  and his legs  Somewhat bent, So  that his
  knees  may be erect. This is the attitude or pollute
  they fliould always prelerve, as much as poSiible.
  When  tlie  malady is not too  far advanced, the firft
  bleeding often makes a complete cure ;  and the
  guts return up as Soon as it is over. At other times,
  this  bleeding is leSs fuccefsful, and leaves a necef-
  Sity  for its repetition.
     2. A giyfter muft be  thrown up, confuting of a
  Strong decoction of the large white beet leaves,
  with a Small Spoonful or pinch of common fait, and
  and a bitof frefli butter of the Size of an egg.
     3. folds of linen dipt in ice water muft be ap-
  plied all over the tumour,  and conftantly renewed
  every  quarter of an hour.   This remedy,  when
\  immediately  applied, has  produced the moft hap-
  py effects ; but if the fymptom has endured vio-
  lently more than  ten or twelve hours, it  is often
  too  late to apply it; and then, it is better  to make
  ufe  of flannels dipt in a warm decoction of mallow
  nd elder flowers, Shifting  them frequently.  It has 
                Of external Diforders.             97
been known however, that ice-water, or ice itfelf,
has Succeeded as late as the third day.*
  4.  When thefe  endeavours are inlufficient, gly-
fters of tobacco Sinoke  mult be tried,  which have
often redreflcd and returned ruptures,  when every
thing elfe had  failed.
  5. And  laltly, if all thefe attempts are fruitlefs,
the operation mull be refolvedon, without lofinga
moment's  time  ; as the local difeafe proves  fome-
times mortal in the Space of two days ;  but for this
operation  an excellent furgeon is  indifpenSably
necelfary.   Tlie happy confequence  with  which I
have ordered it, in a molt defperate cafe fince the
firft edition of this work,  on the fixth  day after a
labour, has convinced me, ftill more than any for-
mer observation i had  made, that the trial of it
ought never to be  omitted, when  other  attempts
have been unavailing.   It  cannot even halten the
patient's death, which muft be inevitable withe ut
it, but it rather renders that more gentle, where it
might fail to prevent it. When  it is performed as
■Mr. Levape effected it, in the cafe I have juft re-
ferred to,  the pain attending it is  very tolerable
and foon over.
  I i\< ill not attempt to deferibe  the operation, as
I could not explain myfelf fufficienfly  to instruct
an  ignorant-furgeon in it;  and an excellent  and
experienced one muit be Sufficiently apprLcu of all
I could Say concerning it.
  A certain  woman in  this  place,  but now dead,
had the great and impudent temerity to attempt
this operation,  and  killed her p.itkms after the
Vol.  II.                K

  *  Pieces of ice applied between two pieces of linen, directly upon tho
rupture, as foon a« poffiblc ufter  it;, fir it appearance, i& one of tho A. ex-
tiaoidunry remedies, which wc fho.Id never hefitate to make immed.ito
trie of.  Vv'e nuy he.cci tain by this a.ip!i. .nio/i, if the nipture is liinp 0,
and not complicate!.1 ti om  f.-ime a^jgia.ating caufe, to  ien->o,e fpcedi.;,
and wiili very little pain, a difo.der,  that miajit be attended with tue
n./.l dixadfii! coufe<ijcnici. But tie continuance of'this xpp.icitionni it
b. prop 01 t.Oiied to tlie flicngih of the peilod n; inured, wh/-h iiuy be i.l>
fi umly cftiinatcd by the j>.nfe, E. L, 
^98            Of external Diforders.
moft excruciating torments, an.I an extirpation,
or cutting away of the tellicle; which quacks and
ignorant  furgeons always  do,  but which  a  good
furgeon never does in this operation.   This is of-
ten the cuftom too (in country places) of thofe cai-
tiffs, who perform this operation without the leaft
lieceflity ; and mercilefsly emafculate a multitude
of infants ;  whom nature,  if left  to her own con-
duct, or aSSiSted only by  a Simple bandage, would
have perfectly cured ; inftead of which, they  ab-
felutely kill a great  many, and deprive thofe of
their virility,  who forvive their robbery and vio-
lence.   It were religioufly to be wifhed Such cai-
tiffs were  to be duly,  that is,  Severely punished ;
and  it cannot be too much inculcated into  the
people, that this operation (termed the bubonocele}
in the manner it js performed by the belt Surgeons,
is not necelfary, except in the Symptoms and cir-
cumftances I have mentioned, and that the  cutting
off the telticle never is fo.

            Of Phlegmons,  or Boils,.
  §  480.  Every  perfen  knows what boils are at
fight,  which are confiderably painful when large,
highly inflamed, or fb fituated as to incommode
the motions, or  different pofitions, of the  body.
Whenever their inflammation is very confiderable ;
when there are a great many of them at once, and
they prevent the patients from Sleeping, it becomes
necelfary  to enter them into a cooling regimen ;
to throw  up feme opening glySlers ;  and to make
them drink plentifully of the ptifan N  • 2. Some-
times it is alfb neceflary to bleed the patient.
   Should  the inflammation be very high indeed,  a
pultice of bread and milk, or of  ferrel  a little
boiled and bruifed, muSl be applied to it.   But if
the  infiamm.ition is  only moderate,  a mucilage
plailter,  or one of the fimple diachylon,  may be
Sufficient.  Diachylon with  the gums is more ac-
tive and  efficacious; jjut it fo greatly  augments 
             Of external Diforders.             $9
the pain of fome perfons afflicted with boils,  that
thev cannot bear it.
  Boils, which often return-, Signify feme fault in
the temperament, and frequently one fo consider-
able,  that  might difpofe a phyfician to be So far
apprehenfive of its confequenccs, as to enquire in-
to the caufe, and to attempt the extinction of it.-
But the .detail of this is no part nor purpofe of the
prefent work.
  \ 48 r. The phlegmon, or boil, commonly ter-
minates in  Suppuration, but a fuppuration of  a Sin-
gular kind.   It breaks open at firft on  its  top, or
the moft pointed part, when feme drops  of pus,
like that of an abfeefs, comes out,  after which the
germ, or what is called the core of it,  may be dis-
cerned.  This is a purulent matter or i'ubftance,
but So thick and tenacious, that it appears like a
folicl  body, which  may be drawn out entirely in
the Shape of a fmall cylinder, like the pith of el-
der, to the length of Some lines of an inch  ; fome-
times to the length of a full inch,  and even more.
The emission of this core is commonly followed by
the discharge of a certaiu quantity, according to
the Size of the tumour, of liquid  matter, Spread
throughout the bottom of it.  As Soon as ever thi:;
difcharge is made, the pain goes entirely off; and
the fwelling difappears at the end of a few  days,
by continuing to apply the fimple diachylon, or
the ointment N0* 66.

             Of Felons,  or  Whitlows.
   \ 482.  The danger of thefe fmall  tumours is
much greater than is generally fuppofed.   It is an
inflammation at the extremity or  end of a finger,
which is often the effect of a fmall quantity of hu-
mour extravafated, or Stagnant, in that part;  whe-
ther this has happened in confequence of a bruife,
a Sling, or a bite.  At other times it is evident that
it has refnlted from no external caufe, but is the
effect of Some inward one.
                      K 2 
 TOO          Of external Diforders.
   It is distinguished into  many  kinds, according
 to the place in which the inSlaiinnaiion begins;
 but the effential nature of" tlie  nm ady !•> always   ]
 the fh-ne,  and requires the fame fort of remedies.
 Hence Such as are neither phyficians nor Surgeons,
 may Spare themSelves the tionble of enquiring in-
 to the divisions of r-'iis dillemper;  which, though
 they vary  the danger of it, and diverfity the man-
 ner of tiie Surgeons operation, yet have no relati-
 on to. the general  treatment of it ; the power and
 activity of which muft be regulated by the violence
 of the Symptoms.
   § 48?. This  diforder begins with a flow heavy
 pain, attended by a flight puliation,, without Swell-
 ing, without redneSs, and without heat ■, but in a
 little time the pain,  heat,  and palfation or throb-
 bing,  become intolerable.   The part prows very
 large and red ; the adjoining fingers and the whole
 hand fwelling up.   In fome cafes, a kind of red
 and inflated fufe or Streak may be obferved,, which,  t%
 beginning at the affected part, is continued almoft
 to the elbow ; neither is it  unufiial for the patients   I
 to complain of a very fharp pain under the fhoul-
 der ;  and  fometimes  the whole arm is  exceflively
 inflamed and fuelled.  The fick have not a wink
 of fleep,  the fever and other fymptoms quickly
 increafing.  If the distemper  rifes to a violent de-
 gree indeed, a delirium and convulsions fupervene.
   This inflammation of the finger terminates, ei-
 ther in fuppuration, or in  a gangrene.  When the
 lafl of thefe occurs,  the patient is in  very  great
.danger, if he is not very fpeedily relieved ;.. and it
 has proved neceflary  more  than once  to cut oft" the
 arm,  for the prefervation of his life.   When fupr
 puration is effected,  if the matter lies very deep,
 and is Sharp ;  or if the afiiStance of a Surgeon has
 arrived too late, the bone of the lalt phalanx, or
 row of bones of the finger,  is generally carious
 and loft.  But how  gentle foever the complaint 
               Of external Diforders.          Toi
Ras been, the nail is very generally feparated and
falls oh.
   § 484. The internal treatment of whitlows is the
fame with that in other inflammatory distempers.
The patient muft enter upon a regimen  more or
lefs Strict, in  proportion  to the degree of the fe-
ver ;  and if this runs very high, and the inflam-
mation be very confiderable,  there may  be a ne-
ceflity for Several bleedings.
   The external treatment confifts in allaying the
inflammation ; in Softening the Skin ; and in pro-
curing a discharge  of the matter,  as foon as it is
formed.  For this purpofe,.
   1.  The finger affected is to be plunged, as foon
as the diforder is manifeft, in water a little more
than warm :  the fteam of boiling water  may al-
fo be directed into it ;  and by doing thefe things
 a!molt constantly for the -firft day,  a total  dilii-
pation  of" the malady  has often been  obtained.
But unhappily it  has  been  generally fuppofed,
that fucli Slight attacks could have but very flight
confequences,  whence  they have  been neglected
until the diforder has greatly  advanced ; in which-
State Suppuration becomes absolutely necelfary.
   2.  This fuppuration therefore may be forward •
ed,  by  continually  involving  the finger,  as it
were,  in a decoction of mallow-flowers boiled in
milk,  or with a cataplal'm  of -bread and. milk.
This-,may be rendered Still more active and ripen-
ing,  by adding a few white lily roots, or a little
honey.    But  this lalt muft not be applied before
the inflammation is femewhat abated,  and fuppu-
ration begins ; before which term, all fharp ap-
plications  are very  dangerous.   At this  time,.
yeait,  or leaven, may  be advantageoufly  ttfed,
which powerfully  promotes  fuppuration.   The
forrel pultice, mentioned  § 480. is alfe a very ef-
ficacious one.
  § 4S?.  A fpeedy difcharge of the ripe matter1
is  of confiderable importance, but this  particu- 
 IQ*          Of external Diforders..
 lady requires the attention of the furgeon ;  as it
 is not proper to wait till the tumour breaks and
 difeharges of itfelf;  and this the rather, as from
 the Skin's proving fometimes extremely hard, the   <■
 matter might be inwardly  etfufed  between the
 mufcles,  and upon  their membranes,  before  it
 could penetrate through the fkin.   For this rea-
 fen, as foon as  matter, is fufpected  to be formed,
 a furgeon fliould be called in, to determine exact-
 ly on the time, when au opening fliould be made ;.
 "which had better be performed a little, too Soon
 than too late; and a little too deep than not deep
 enough.
   When  the orifice has been made, and. the dis-
 charge is effected, it is to-be dreff'ed up with the
 plaifter Nc* 66.  Spread upon linen, or with the
 cerecloth ; and thefe dreffings are to be repeated
 daily.                 .                         ,
   §  486.  When  the whitlow is caufed  by a hu-  ■
 mour  extravafated very near the nail, an expert   ]
 furgeon fpeedily checks its pi ogreSs, and cures it  ]\
 effectually by an  incifion  which lets out the hu-<
 mour.   Yet, notwithstanding this operation is in   "
 no wife difficult,  all furgeons are not qualified to   i
 perforin it,  and  but  too many have no idea at.all.
 of it.                                             •
   \ 487.  Fungous, or,  as  it is commonly called,
 proud fiVfh, Sometimes appears during the incarn-
 ing or healing of the incifion.  Such may be kept
 down with fprinkling a little"minium (red lead) or
 burnt alom over it.
   § 488. If a caries, a rottennefs of the bone, Should
 be a con Sequence, there is a neceflity for a furgeon's
 attendance,  as much as if there was a gangrene ;.
 fbr which reafen 1 Shall add nothing with refpect
 to either of thefe fymptom s;  only observing, there   -■,
are three very effential remedies againit the laft ;
viz.  the bark, Nc* 14. a drachm of which muft be
taken every  two hours j fearificatjons throughout   ' 
              Of external Diforders.             103
the whole gangrened part;  and fomentations with
a decoction of the bark, and the addition of fpirifc
of fulphur.   This medicine is certainly no cheap
one ; but  a decoction of other: bitter plants, with
tlie addition of Spirit of fait, may Sometimes do in-
stead of it.  And here I take  leave to infill again
upon it, that  in molt cafes of gangrened  limbs, it
is judicious not to proceed to an amputation of the
mortified part, till the gangrene Stops, which  may
be  known  by  a very perceivable circle, (and eafily
distinguished  by  the  molt  ignorant perfons) that
marks the bounds  of the gangrene, and feparates
the living from the mortified parts.

Of Thorns, Splinters,  or other pointed Sub fiances,  pier'
             cing into the Skin or Flefh.-
    § 489.  It is very common for the'hands, feet, or
 legs, to be  pierced  by  the  forcible intrusion of
 fmall pointed Substances, Such as thorns or prickles^
whether of  rofes, thistles  or cheltnuts,  or little
fplinters of wood, bone, iro-.
   If fuch  Substances are immediately and entirely
extracted, the accident is generally attended  with
no bad confequences;  though more certainly to
obviate any Such, comprelies of linen dipt in warm
water may be applied  to the part, or  it may  be
kept a little while in a warm bath. But if any  Such
pointed penetrating  body cannot be directly ex-
tracted, or if a part  of it be left within, it cauSes
an inflammation,, which, in its progrefs, Soon  pro-
duces  the fame  fymptoms as a whitlow : or  if it
happens in the leg,  it inflames and forms a. conli.
 derable ablcefs there.
   § 4jo.  To  prevent Such confequences, if the pe-
netrating  fubftance  is Still near the furface,  and
an expert furgeon is at hand, he mu^t immediate-
ly  make  a fmall  incifiou, aud thence extract it.
 Dut if, the  inflammation  is  already formed,  this
would be  ufelefs, aud eveu dangerous. 
 f 04            Of external Diforders.
   When the incifion, therefore, is improper, therfif
 fhould be applied to the affected part,  (after con-
 veying the Steam of fo ne hot w.iter into it)  either
 feme very emollient pultices of the crumb of bread,.
 milk and oil, or Some very emollient unctuous mat'
 ter alone ; th* fat of a * hare being generally em"
 ployed in  fuch cafes, and  being indeed very eft'ec--
 tual to relax and  fupple  the fkin ; and1, by thus ^
 diminishing its  reSiltance, to  afford the offensive"v -;
 penetrating  body  an  opportunity  of fprincing
 forth.  Nothing, however,  but the groflelt  preju-
 dice, could make any  one imagine, that this  fat
 attracted the Splinter, thorn,  or any other obtrud-
 ed fubftance by  any Sympathetic virtue ; no ether
 Sympathy  in nature being  clearly  demonstrated,.
 except  that  very common  one  between  wrong.
 heads, and abfurd extravagant opinions.
   It is absolutely  neceifary that the injured part
 mould be  kept  in the eaSieSl potture,  and as  im-
 moveable as poffible.
   If fuppuration has not been prevented by an im-
 mediate extraction of the offending fubftance,  the
 abfeefs fhould be opened as foon  as  ever  matter is
 formed.   I have  known very troublefeme events
 from its being too long delayed.
   §  491.  Sometimes the thorn, after having very
 painfully penetrated through the teguments, the
 ikin, enters directly into the fat ; upon which  the
 pain ceafes, and the patient begins to conclude no
 fharp prickly fubftance had  ever been introduced
 into the part;  and of courfe fuppofesnone can re-
 main there.  Neverthelefs, feme days after, or, in
 other instances,  feme weeks, frefh pains are excited,
 to which  an inflammation and abfeefs fucceed,
 which are to be treated as ufual, witli emollients, .
 and feafenablp opened.
   A  patient has been reduced to lofe his  hand, in
 confequence of  a fharp  thorn's  piercing into  his

  * Thefe creatures perhaps are fatter inSviifferland, than we often fee
Xfcem here.  K. 
               Of external Diforders.             I Of
 finger ; from its having been neglected at firft, and
 improperly treated afterwards.

                      Of Warts.

    \  492.  Wart* are Sometimes the effects of a par-
 ticular lauit in the olood, which feeds and extrudes
 a furprifiug quantity of them.   This happens  to
 Some children,  from  four to ten yeais  old, and  e-
 fpecially  to thole who  feed  moll plentifully  on
 milk or milk-meats.  They  may be  removed by  a
 moderate change of their diet, and the  pills pre-
 ferred N  • 18.
    But they are more frequently an  accidental dif-
 order of the fkin,arising from fome external caufe.
    In this laft cafe,  if  they are very troublefome
 in confequence of their great fize, their Situation,..
 or>their longstanding, they may  be destroyed,  t.
 By tying themclofely with a filk thread, or with a
 ftrong  flaxen  one waxed,   a. By  cutting tliem
 off'with a fharp feiffars or a  biftory,  and applying
 aplailter of diachylon with  the gums, over the cut
 wart, which brings on a fmall fuppuration  that
 may  deftroy or diflblve the foot of the wart : And,
 3.  By drying, or,  as  it were,  withering them up
 by feme moderately corroding application, fuch as
 that  of tiie milky juice of *  purfl'ain, of fig-leaves',
 of'chelidonium, (fwallowovort) or  of" Spurge.  But
 be .'ides thefe corroding vegetable  milks being pip-
 curable only in Summer, people who have very de-
 licate  thin fkins Should not  make  ufe of them, as
 they  may occaiion a confiderable and painful fvvell-

  * Our "a-den purflain, though a  very juicy  herb, cannot ftriftly  be
termed mjfly.  In the hotter climates where it  is wild, and  grows very
runkly, they-fometimes boil the Ica.c^ and ilalks (befides eating,them as
a cooling faladj and find the whoie an infipid mucilaginous pot-herb. But
Dr. T>yt obferves to me, tliai  its juke will inflame the fkin ; and that
tome w 1 iters on diei, who difipprove  it  iuternaily, aliiim  they  h-ty*
known it productive of bad effects. Yet none fuch  have ever happened
to my fell, nor to nun) oihers, w!io have frequently eaten of it, lis feeds
have fometimes been ducrted in cooiing eniulfions.  The wart fpurge is».
a very milky and common herb, which flower* in  fummcr here. K. 
                                                 1
I o 6            Of extern a I D if orders.
ing.   Strong vinegar, charged with as much com-   ^
mou felt as it will diifolve, is a very  proper appli-
cation to them.   A plailttr may alio be coiupo/ed
from Sal ammoniac and fome galbanum,  which be-
ing kneaded up well together and applied, Seldom
fails of destroying them.
  The molt powerful corrofives Should never be uf.
ed, without the direction of a Surgeon ; and even
then it is full as prudent not to meddle with them,
any more than with actual  cauteries.  I have late-
ly Seen Some very tedious  and troublefome difor-
ders  and ulcerations of the kidneys,  enfue the ap-
plication of a corrolive water, by the advice of a
quack.  Cutting  them away is a more certain, a
lefs painful, and  a lefs dangerous  way  of remov-
ing them.
  Wens, if of a pretty confiderable fize, and dura-
tion, are incurable by any other remedy, except
amputation.
                    Of Corns.

  § 493. The very general or only caufes of corns*  \
are flioes either too hard and Stiff, or too fmall.
  The whole cure confifts  in Softening the corns,
by repeated  wafhings and foakings of the S'eet in
pretty hot water ; then in cutting them, when
foftened,with a penknife or fciflars, without wound-
ing the found parts (which are the more SenSible,
in proportion as they are more extended than ufu-
al) and next in applying a leaf of houfe-leek, of
ground-ivy, or of purflain dipt-in vinegar,  upon
the part. Inllead  of thefe leaves, if any perfon will
give himfelf the little trouble of drefling them eve-
ry day, he may apply a plaifter of fimple diachy-
lon, or of gum ammoniacum feftened in vinegar.
   The increafe or return of" corns can only be pre-
vented, by avoiding the caufes that produce them. 
    Of Cafes which require immediate AJfifiance.   107

                CHAP.   XXXI.
Of fome Cafes which require immediate Afiflances fuch
   as Swoonings ; Haemorrhages, or involuntary Lofs of
   Blood, coutfuljion Fits, and Suffocations ; the fudden
   Effeils of great Fear ,• of Diforders caufed by noxiotu
   V apours ; of Potfons, and of acute Pains.

                  Of Swoonings.
                 Sect.   494.
      THERE are many degrees  of fwooning, or
      fainting away :  the flighteftis that in which
(the patient conltantly perceives and uuderllandi,
yet without the power of fpeaking.  This is called
a fainting, which happens very often to vapouriSh
 perfons, and without any remarkable alteration of
the pulle.
   If the paiient entirely lofes fenfation or feeling,
and underllanding, with a very confiderable fink-
ing of thepulfe, this is called ajyncope^ and is the
fecond  degree of* fwooning.
   But if this fyncope is fb violent, that the pulfe
feems totally extinguished ;  without any  discerni-
ble breathing; with a  manifest coldneSs of the
whole body ;  and a  wanly  livid countenance,  it
conllitutes a third  and laft  degree,  which is the
true image of death, that  in effect Sometimes at-
tends it, and it is called an  afphixy,  whicSi may
fignify a total refelution.
   Swoonings refult from  many different cauSes,  of
which  1 Shall only enumerate the principal;  and
thefe are,  1. Too large a quantity of blood.  2.  A
xlefect or infufficient proportion of it, and a gene-
ral weaknels.  3. A load at  and violent  dilbiders
of the Stomach. 4.  Nervous maladies,   c.  The paf-
fions ; and 6. Some kinds of difeafes.

     Of Swoonings occafioned by Excefs of Blood.

   § 49 c. An exceSfive quantity of blood  is frequent-
ly a caufe  of fwooning; and it may  be inferred 
 to8 • Of Cafes which require immediate  Ajpfiancc.
 that it is owing to this caufe, when it attacks fan-
 guine, hearty and robult perSbn" ; and more espe-
 cially  when it  attacks them, after being combin-
 ed with any additional or Supervening caule, that
 Suddenly increal'ed the motion of the blood; fuch
 as  heatiug meats or drinks, wine,  fpiritnous  li-
 quors; Smaller drinks, if taken very hot and plen-
 tifully, fuch as coffee, Indian tea,  bawm  tea and
 the like ;  a long expoiure to the hot Sun, or being
.detained in a very liot place ; much and tiolent ex-
 ercilc  ; an over intenle and aSliduous Study  or ap-
 plication, or feme exceSfive paSIion.
   In fuch cafes, firft of all the patient fhould  be
 made  to fmell to, or even  to Snuff up, fome vine-
 gar ;  and his forehead,  his  temples and his vvriffs
 Should be bathed with it ;  adding an equal quanti-
 ty  of warm water, if  at  hand.  Bathing- them
 with cliStillecl or Spirituous liquids would be preju-
 dicial  in this kind of fwooning.
   2. The patient fhould  be made, if poftlble,  to
fwallow two  or three  fjioonfuls of vinegar, with
 four or five times as  much water.
   3. The  patient's  garters  fhould be tied very
 tightly above his knees ; as by this means a great-
er quantity of blood is retained in the legs, whence
 the heart may be lefs overladen with it.
   4. If the fainting pro\es obltinate, that is, if
 it continues longer than a quarter of an hour,  or
 degenerates into a fyncope, vjn abolition of feeling
 and understanding,  he mult be bled in the arm,
 which quickly re\i\es  him.
   5. After the  bleeding, the injection of a giyfter
will be highly proper; and then the patient Should
 be kept ftill and calm, only letting him drink,  e-
very half  hour, feme  cups of eider-flower tea,
with the addition of a little fugar and vinegar.
   When fwoonings  which refult from this caufe
occur frequently in  the fame perfon, he fliould, in
order to efcape them,  purfue the  directions  1 hnll 
      Of Cafes -which require immediate Affifiassct*  \qq,

'hereafter mention, §  544. when treating of per-
fons who fuperabound with blood.
   The very fame caufe, or cauSes,  which occafioQ,
 thefe fwoonings, alfe  frequently produce violent
 palpitations, under the Same circumstances;  the
 palpitation often  preceding or following the deli-
.quium, or fwooning.
       Of Swoonisigs accaficned by Weaknefs,

   \ 496.   If too great a quantity of blood, which
 may  be coufidered as fome  excefs of health, i«
 fometimes the caufe of fwooning,  this lall is of-
. tener the effect of a very contrary caufe, that is,
 of a want of blood, or an exhaultion of too much.
   This fort of Swooning happens after great h«e-
 morrhages, or difcharges of blood ; after fudden
 or exceffive evacuations,  fuch  as  one of feme
 hours continuance in a cholera morbus (§ 321) or fuch
 as are more  flow,  but of longer duration, as  for
 iirftance,  after an inveterate diarrhaa, or purging ;
 exceffive  fweats;  a flood of urine; fuch excefles
 as tend to exhault nature ; obfttnate wakefulnefs ;
 a long inappeteucy, which,  by depriving the  bo-
. dy of its neceflary fuftenance, is attended with the
 feme confequence as profufe evacuatious.
   Ttiefe different  caufes of fwooning Should be
, oppofed by  the means and  remedies adapted to-
 each of them.  A detail of alj thefe would be im-
 proper here ;  but the affiftauces that are neceflary
 at the time of fwooning, are nearly the fume  tor
 all cafes of this clafe ; excepting*for that  attend-
 ing a great  lofs of blood, of which I fhall treat
 hereafter.  Firft of all, the patients Should be laid
 down on  a bed, and  being  covered,  fliould have
 their legs and thighs,  their arms, and their whole
 bodies  rubbed pretty Strongly with  hot flannels;
 and  no ligature  fliould  remain on  any  part of;
 them.
   2.  They fliould have very fpirituous things to
 fmell or  fnuff up, fuch as  the cannelite  water.
   Vol.                 L                     ' 
rZ 10 Of Cafes which require imntdiate Aftfiance.
Hungary water,  the *  Englijh fait,  fpiiit of  fal
ammoniac,  ftrong  fmelling herbs,  Such as rue,
iage,  rofemary,  mint,  wormwood,  and the like.
   3. Thefe Should be conveyed into  their  mouths,
and they Should be forced, if poffible, to  fwallow
feme drops of  carmelite water,,or of brandy, or
of feme other potable liquor, mixed with a  little
water ; while Some hot wine mixed with fugar and
cinnamon, which makes one of the belt cordials,
is getting ready.
   4.   A  coinpreSs  of flannel,  or of feme other
woollen Stuff,  dipt in hot wine, in which feme a-
romatic herb has been iteeped, muft be  applied to
,the pit of the Stomach,
   j. If the fwooning feems likely  to continue, the
patient  inuft be put into a well heated bed,  which
has before  been  perfumed  with   burning fugar
and cinnamon:  the frictions of  the whole  body
with hot flannels being  ftill continued.
   6.  As foon as the patient can Swallow, he Should
take fome Soup or broth, with the  yolk of an egg ;
,or a little bread or bifeuit, feaked in the hot fpic-
pd wine.
    7. Laftly, during the whole time that all other
precautions are taken to oppofe the caufe  of the
 fwooning, care mult be had lor feme days to pre-
 vent any deliquium or  fainting, by giving them
 often, and but little at  a  time, feme light  yet
 ltrengthening nourishment,  fuch  as panada made
 with  fbup  inSlead of water, new  laid  eggs very
jlightly  poached, light roaft meats with fweet fauce,
 Chocolate, feups of the  moft: nourishing meats, jel-
 lies, milk,  ire.

   * Dr. Tijfot informs ipe, that io Svifferland, they call volatile fait of
 vipers,  or the volatile fait of raw filk, lei. f Atgleterre, of which one
 Gtddard made a fecret, and ^hich Jje brought into vogue the latter end
 of the lad century. " But b,e.juftly obferves at  the fame time, that on
 .the prefent occafiort every oiher volatile alkali  will equally  anfwer the
 j>arpoie ;  and indeed the fmell of fome of them, as the fpirit of fal any
 '^oniac, witbijuiclsiune, tin (tehee, &c feem more penetratmj.  £. 
   Of Cafes which require immediate Affifiance, iff
  \ 497. Thofe fwoonings, which are the effect of
Weeding,  or of the  violent operation of  fome
purge, are to'be ranged in this clafs.
  Such as happen after artificial bleeding, are ge-
nerally very moderate, commonly terminating as
foon as the patient is laid upon the bed : and per-
fons  Subject to this  kiiid,  fliould be  bled  lying-
down, in  order to' prevent it.   But fliould the
fainting continue longer than ufual, feme vinegar
fmelt fo, and a little fwallowed with fome water,
is a very good remedy.
  The treatment of Such faintings or  fwoonings,
as are the confequences of too violent vomits or
purges, may be Seen hereafter § 552;
Of faintings occafioned by a Load, or Uneafinefs at
                   Stomach.
  § 498. It has been already obferved, § 308. that
ilidigeftions were femetimes attended with fwoon-
ings,  and indeed Such vehement one?, as required
Speedy and very active fuccour too, Such as that of
a vomit.   The indigeftion is fometimes lets the <*\-
fect of the quantity >  than  of the  quallitv, or the
Corruption of the food, contained in the Stomach.
Thus we See there are Some peribns, who are dis-
ordered by eating eggs, filh, ■ craw-fifh, or any fat
meat; being thrown by them* into inexpreSfible
anguish attended with fwooning too.-  It may be
fuppofed to depend on this cauSe, when thete ve-
ry aliments have been lately eaten ; and  when it
evidently neither depends  on  the other caufes I
have  mentioned, nor on fuch as  I Shall foon pre--
ceed to enumerate,-
  We Should, in cafes of this fort, excite and revive
the patients as in the former, by making them re-
ceive feme very Strong Smell, of whatever kind is
at hand ;  but the moft effential point  is to   make
them fwallow  down a  large  quantity of"  lij.ht
warm fluid ; which may ferve to drown, as it vi ere,
the indigelted matter;  which may fofteu its acii- 
     jia  Of Cafes txihich require hhtnediafe. Affi fiance.
     mony ; and either effect the difeharge of :t by vo-
     miting, or force it down into the channel  of the
     inteftines.
       A light infufion of chamomile flowers, of tea,
     Of  fage, of elder  flowers, or of carduus  b'eneditttisy
     bpeiate with much the fame efficacy ;. though the
     chamomile and carduus promote the operation of
qj-   "Vomiting  rather  more powerfully,, which  warm
     livater alone will fometimes fufficiently do.
       The fwooning, ceafes, or at. leatt,. cohfiderably
     abates in thefe cafes, as Soon as ever the vomiting
     commences.   It frequently happens too, that, du-
     ring the fwooning, nature herfelf brings on a cer-
     tain naufea, a  Wambling and fickilh commotion of
     the Stomach, that revives or routes the patient for
     at moment ; but yet not being fufficient to  excite-
     an actual vomiting, it lets him foon fink down a-
     gain into this  temporary diflolution, which  of ten-:
     continues a pretty confiderable time ; leaving be?
     hind it a ficknefs  at Stomach,. vertigos, and  a de~.
     prefiion and. anxiety,  which do not  occur  in the
     former Species  of this  malady.
       Whenever thefe fwoonings from this caufe are
     •ntirely terminated, the patient muft be kept for
     feme days to a very light diet, and  take, at the-
     fame time,  every  morning falling, a dole of the*
     powder, N,c_* 38. which relieves and exonerates the
     llomach of whatever  noxious contents might re-
     main in it; and then restores its natural ftrength
     and functions.
       §  499. There is another  kind of fwooning,.
     which alforefults fr*»m a caufe in the llomach ; but
     Ivhich is, uevei thelefs, very different from this we
     have juft been  treating of;  and which requires a
     very different  kind of affiftance,  It ariles from
     an extraordinary fenfibility of this important or--
     gan, and from  a general weakneSs of the patient.
       Thofe fubject to this malady are  valetudinary
     weikly perSbns,  who  are  disordered  from many.
     flight caufes, and whole Stomachs are at once veiy 
     Of Cafes which require immediate Ajjifianee.  TT ?.
feeble and extremely fenfible.  They have almolfc
continually a little uneafinefs after a meal, though
they Should indulge but a little more than ufual ;
or if they eat of any food  not quite Co eafy of di«-
geflion,  they have feme qualm or commotion af-
ter it: nay,  fhould the weather only be unfavour-
able,  and Sometimes without any  perceivable as-
signable  caule,  their uneafinefs  terminates in a
fw oon.
  Patients fwooning,  from  thefe caufes, have  a
greater neceffity for much tranquillity and repofe,
than for any other remedy ;  and it might  be Suffi-
cient to lay them  down-on  the bed'.   But as the
byltanders in fuch cafes, fijid it difficult to remain
inactive  Spectators of perfons in  a  Swoon > Some
Spirituous liquid may be held to their nofe,  while
their temples and  wrifts are rubbed- with it; and
at the fame time a little wine ihould be given them.
Frictions are alfo ufeful- in thefe cafes.-
  This fpecies of fwooning, is oltener attended
with a little feverilhnefs, thaw the others.

Of thofe Swoonings, which   arife from/ Nervous Dif"
                     orders. ■
  § 500. This fpecies of fwooning, is almoft whole-
ly unknown to thofe porfons, for whom this trea-
tise is  chiefly intended.  Yet as there are fome ci-
tizens, who pais a part'of their lives in the country^
and Some country people,  who are unhappily af-
flicted with the ailments of the inhabitants of larger*
towns and cities, it feemed necelfary to treat brief-
ly of them.
  By diforders of the  nerves, I understand in this
place, only that fault or defect in them,  whirh is
tlie caufe  of their  exciting in the body, either ir-
regular motions,  that is,, motions without any ex-
ternal caule, at" leaft  any perceiveble  one ;• ar.:'.
without our will's confenting to the production of
them ; or fuch motions, as ire greatly more c<v.:ii-
derable than they  fliould be,  if they had been pi -ox- 
  II*;   Of Cafes which-rfrrr. ire UhmmeAixU Affl ana.
  • portioned to the force of the impreflion from with-
  out.  This  is very exactly that flute, or affection,
  termed the vapours, and by the common people,
  •'the mo.her ,• and as there is  no organ unprovided
  xvith nerves, and  none,  or hardly auy  function,
  in which the nerves have not their influence, it
  rnay be eafily comprehended, that the vopours be-
  ing a  State or  condition,  which arifes  fiom the
  nerves exeiting  irregular  involuntary  motions,
  without any evident caufe,  and all the  functions
  of the body depending partly on the nerves ; there
  is no one fymptom of other difeafes, which the va-
  pours may not produce or imitate ;  and that thefe
  iymptoms, for tlie fame reafen, muSt vary infinite-
  ly, according to thofe branches of the nerves which
  are disordered.   It may  alfb hence be conceived,
  why the vapours of one perfen,have frequently no
  refemblance to thofe of another; and why the va-
  pours of the very Same perfen, in one day, are So
  very different from thofe  in the  next.  It is alio
  very conceivable, that the vapours area certain, a
  real malady; and  that oddity of the Symptoms,
  which cannot be accounted for, by people unac-
  quainted with the animal ceconomy, has beenthe
  caufe of their being confidered, ratheras the effect
  of a depraved imagination,  than as a  real difeafe.
  It is very conceivable, I fey, that this furprizing
  oddity of the fymptoms, is a ne< diary  effect of the
  caufe of the vapours ; and, that no perfon can any
  more prevent his  being invaded, by the  vapours,
  than he can prevent the attack, of a- fever, or of
'the tooth-ach.
   § '5©r. A few plain initances will fumifh out a
 more complete notion of the mechanSfin, on na-
ture of vapours.   An emetic, a vomiting medi-
cine, -excites the  act, or rather the pafiion, the
convulsion of vomiting, chiefly by the irritation it
gives to the nerves of the llomach' i  wh'ch irrita*
tion produces a fpafm, a contractioi.1 of Jii-s organ,
iNovVj a in confequence of this jnorLiu °- defc6i*'C 
     'Of Cafes which require immediate Afiifarfee.   txe
'texture of the nerves, which  conllitutes the va-
 pouis,'thofe of the llomach are excited to act with
 the Same violence,  as  in confeqnence oi' taking a.
 vomit, the patient will be agitated, and worked by
 violent efforts to vomit, as much as if he had real-
 ly taken one.
   If an  involuntary unnfual motion in the nerve's,
 that are distributed through the lungs, Should cm-
 it rain and ltraiten the  very little viSicles,.or blad-
 ders,  as-it were, which admit'the Si efli air at eve-
 ry ielpiration,-the  patient will  feel a degree of ^
 fuflbcation ; juft as if that Straitening or contrac-
 tion of the velfels were occaiioned by Some  noxious
 fleam or vapour.
   Should the nerves which are distributed through-
 out  the  whole fkin,  by  afucceffion of thefe irregu-
 lar morbid motions, contract themfelves,- as they
 may from external  cold, or by feme Stimulating v
 application, perfpiration by the pores will  be pre-
 vented or checked ; whence  the  humours, which ■
 fliould be evtacuatedcthrough the pOres of the Skin,
 will be thrown-upon the kidnies,  and the  patient
will make a great quantity of thin clear urine,,a
fymptom very common tovapourilh people j  or it
 may be diverted- to  the glands of the inteftines,
the  guts, and  terminate in a watery diarrhea, o-r
loofenefs, which frequently proves a very obsti-
nate one.
  § 50"2. Neither are fwoonings the leaft ufual irymp-
toius attending the vapours ; and we may  be cer-
tain they Spring from this Source,  when the*  hap-
pen  to a  perfbn fubject  to the vapours ; and noife
of the ether caufes  producing them-are  evident,
or have lately preceded  them.-
   Such fwoonings, however, are indeed ver*' viv.
ly dangerous, and fcarcely require any- medical^
aSliStance.  The patient fliould be  laid . ,,on a uc, t
the frelh air Should- be very freely admitted to hi .,,
and he Should l>e made to Smell rather to Sb.ne tS*.-
agreeable ai'.cl £*tid, than to any fragrant,  lub- 
116   Of Cafes wbicH require immediate Affifiance.
fiance.   It is  in fuch  faintings as  thefe  that  the'
fmell of burnt leather,  of feathers, or of paper,
have often proved of great fervice.
  § 503. Patients alfo frequently  faint away, in
confequence of falling too long; or  from having
eat a little too much ;  from being confined in  too:
hot a chamber;  from having Seen  too much com-
pany ; from fmelling too over-pouring-a feent;'
from  being too  coltive ;-from  being too  forcibly
affected with'fome difcourfe or Sentiments; and in*
a word, from a great variety of cauSes, which might
not make the leaft impreflion on perfons in perfect
health; but  which violently operate upon thofe
vaponrifh people; becaufe, as I  have faid, the fault
of tneir nerves conSifls in their  being too vividly,
too acutely affected ; the force of their fenS'ation be-
ing lip ways proportioned to the external caufe of it.
  As Soon as that  particular caufe  is distinguished'
from all the reft,-which has occasioned the prefent
fwooning; it is manifest that'this fwooning is to be
remedied,  by removing that particular caufe of it,
       Of Swoonings occafioned by*the Pajponsi
  §  504* There have  been feme inftances of per-
fons dying within a  moment,  through exceSfive
joy.  But fuch initaiices are fo very rare and Sud-
den,  that afiiltance has feldom been fought for on
this occalion.  The cafe is otherWife with' refpect
to thofe produced from rage, vexation, and dread
Or  horror.- I Shall treat in  a feperate article of
thofe refulting from great fear ; and fhall briefly
confider here Such as en Sue from rage,  and vehe-
ment grief or disappointment.
  §  50c. Exceffive rage and  violent affliction, are
fometimes fatal in the twinkling  of an eye ; th'o'
they oftner terminate in  fainting only.  Excef-
five geief  or  chagrine is  especially accompanied
wi£h this confequence ;'  and it is very c-mroon to
fee perfons thus affected^ Sink info'fnee'eflive faint-
ii gs  for feveral hours.   It is pla nl; ob ious that 
      Of Cafes which require inimedi'ate Ajfifiance.- 117*
  very little affiflance can be given in fuch cafes :  it
  is proper, however, they fhould froell-to ftrong-vi-
  negar ; and frequently take  a few cups  of feme
  hot and temperately cordial drink,  fuch  as bawm
  tea., or lemonade with  a little. orange or lemun-
  peel.
    The calming afluagiiig cordial, that 'has* feem-
  ed the moft efficacious to me, is one fmall coffee
  ipoonful of a mixture of three parts of tlie mine- -
  ral anodyne liquor  of Hoffman*", and  one part ■
  of the fpirituous tincture of  amber, which Should
  be fwallowed in a Spoonful of water ; taking a'fter.'
  it a few cups of fuch drinks as I Shall prefently -
  direct..
   It is not to be fuppofed, that fwoonings drfahjtv
  ings from exceffive paffions,  can be cured by nou-
 "rilhment.  The p'hyGcwl Slate or''condition, into
 'which vehement grief throws the body, is that, of'
  all others, in which  nourishment would  be moft
 "injurious to it;  and as  long as the 'vehemence of
 the affliction endures, the fufferer fhould take no-
 'thing  but  Some fpoonfuls of foup or  broth, or  a
  few morfels of fome light meat roafted.
   § 506. When wrath or rage  h&s rifen to fb-
 Tligh a pitch, that the human machine, the body,
 entirely exhaufled, as it were, by that violent ef- -
 fort, finks down at once into exceffive  relaxation,
 a fainting Sometimes fucceeds, and- even the moft •
 •perilous degree of it, a fyncope.
   It is  fiffficient,  or  rather the moft that  can he-
 done here, is to let the patient-be perfectly Hill a
 while in this State ; only making him fmeH to feme
 "vinegar. But when he is come to himfelf, he fhould
 drink plentifully of hot lemonade, and take one
 or more of the glyfters Nc* 5.
   Sometimes there remain in thefe cafes, ficknefles
 at Stomach, Teachings to vomit, a bitternefs in the
"mouth, and feme vertiginous fymptoms, which feehi

 '* Our fiveet-fjpirit-sf'VitrJW na OmiSar^aud-a effectual a medicine. K. ■ 
fr8  Of Cafes which require immediate Aft fiance.
tb require a vomit.  But fuch a  medicine mult"
be very carefully avoided, fince it  may be attend-
ed wiih the moft fatal  confequence; and lemon-
ade with glyfters generally and gradually remove
thefe fwoonings.  If the nauj'ea aud ficknefs at Sto-
mach continue, the utmoft medicine we fhould al-
low beSides, would be that of N • 23. or a-few doles
of N°- 24.

@f Symptomatical Swoonings,  or fuch  as happen in the
            Progrefs oj  other Difeafes.
  § 507. Swoonings, which fupervenein the courfe
6f other difeafes, never afford a  favourable prog-'
rioftic;  as they denote weaknefs, and'weaknefs is
an obstacle to recovery.-
  In the beginning of putrid difeafes,. they alfo
denote an oppreffion at Stomach, or a  mafs of cor-
rupt humours ;  and they ceafe as Soon as an evacu-
ation fupervenes,- whether by vomit or by Stool.
  When they occur, at  the beginning,  of malig-
nant fevers, they declare the high degree of their
malignancy,  and the great diminution of the pa-
tient's natural ftrength.'
  In each of thefe cafes, vinegar ufed externally
and internally, is the beft remedy during the ex-
acerbation or height *>f  the paroxyfm  ;  and plen-'
ty of lemon juice and water, after it.
  § 508. Swoonings which Supervene in difeafes,
accompanied with  great evacuations,  are cured"
like thofe which are owing to weakneSs ;  and en-
deavours Should be ufed to restrain  or moderate
the evacuations.
  § 5°9« Thofe who have  any inward  abfeefs or
impofthume, are apt to Swoon frequently. They
may femetimes be revived a little by vinegar, but
they prove too  frequently mortal.
  § 510. Many  perfons have a flighter or a deeper
fwooning,  at the end of a violent  fit  of an inter-
mitting fever,  or at that of each  exacerbation of
a continual fever} this  constantly  fhews the fcv«r- 
    'Of Cafes which require immediate Ajftfiance.   119
his run very high, the fwooning having been the
confequence of that great relaxation,  which has
Succeeded to a very high teufion.   A fpoonful or
two of light white wine, with an equal quantity
.of water,  affords all.the fuccour proper in fuch a
cafe.
   §  511.  Perfons fubject to frequent fwoonings,
fhould neglect nothing  that may enable .them to
remove them when kuown ; fince the confequen-
ces of them are always detrimental, except in feme
fevers, in which they feem to mark the -crifis.
   Every fwooning fit leaves the patient in dejecti-
on and weaknefs ;  the fecretions from the blood
 are  fufpended ; the humours difpofed to Stagnati-
on ; grumofities,  or coagulations  and obstructions
 are  formed ;  and if the motion of the blood is to-
 tally intercepted, or conliderably checked, poly-
pufes, and thele often incurable, are formed in the
 heart,  or in the larger velfels ; the confequences
 of which are dreadful, and femetimes give rife to
internal aneurii'ms,  which always prove mortal,
after long anxiety and oppreflion.
   Swoonings which attack old people,  without a-
4iy manifeft caufe, always afford  an unfavourable
 prognostic.

   Of Hemorrhages, or an involuntary Lofs of Blood.
   § JI a. Haemorrhages  of the nofe,  "fupervening
 in inflammatory fevers, commonly prove a favour-
 able crifis i  which bleeding we Should carefully a-
 yoid Stopping,  except it becomes exceffive, aud
 feems to threaten the patient's life.
   As they  fearcely  ever happen  in  very healthy
 Subjects,  but from a fuperfluous abundance of
 blood, it is  very improper to check them too feon,
 left feme internal Stuffings and obstructions fhould
 prove the confequence.                .
   A fwooning fometimes enfues after  the  lofs of
 only a moderate quantity of blood.  This fwoon-
 ing Stops the haemorrhage,  and goes off without 
 *ao  Of Cafes which require immediate Ajfiftance*
 any further afliitance, except the Smelling to vine-
 gar.   But in other cafes, there is a fucceffion of
 faintingfits, without the blood's Stopping.,  while
 at  the  fame time, -Slight  convulsive motions and
 twitchings enfue, attended with a  raving ;  when.,,
 it  becomes really neceflary. to Hop the bleeding.:
-and indeed.,  without waiting  till thefe  violent
 fymptoms appear, the following. Signs will fuffici-
 ently direct us when it is right to  ftop the flux of
 blood, or to permit, its continuance-^—As long as
 the pulfe is ftill pretty full; while  the heat of the
; body  is equally extended to the very extremities ;
 and the countenauce and lips preferve their natu-
 ral red ne fs, no ill confequence is. to be. apprehend-
ed from the haemorrhage, though it has been very
^copious, and even feinewhat profule.
   But whenever the pulfe begins  to faulter.and
 tremble; when thecouutenance aud the lips grow
 pale,  and the patient complains of a iicknefs  at
 ftoniach, it is abfelutely.neceff'arv to Stop the dif-
, charge, of blood.   Aiid, considering, that the ope-
 ration of remedies,  does not  immediately follow;
 the exhibition .or  application-of them, it is Safer
- to begin, a little to.o  early with them, than to de-
 lay them, though ever fo little too  long.
   § 513. Firft of all then, tight bandages, or li-
 gatures, fhould be applied round  both  arms,  on
 the part they are  applied, qver  in  order to bleed-
 ing ;  and. 1 pund the  lower part of both, thighs, on,
 tlie gartering place ; and allvthele are to be drawn
 very tight, with an iutention to detain and accu-
 mulate the blood in the extremities.
   2. In order to increafe this effect, the legs are to
 be plunged in warm water up to the knees ;  for,
 by relaxing the bfeod-veflels of. the legs and feet,
 they are dilated at the fame time,   and thence re-
 ceive, and, in confequence of the ligatures above
 the knees,' retain the 11101 e blood.   If the water
were cold, it would repel the blood to the head ;
if hot, it would increase the motion of it;  and, 
     Of Cafes which require immediate Afi[lance.  121
(by giving a greater qtiickiiefs to t';e pulle, would
even contribute to increaSe the haemorrhage.
   As Soon,  however,  as the haemorrhage is ftopt,
-thefe ligatures  (on  the-thighs)  may be relaxed  a
little, or one of them  be  entirely removed ;  al-
lowing the others to continue on  an hour or two
.longer without touching them: but,great precau-
tion fliould be taken not to flackeu them entirely,
nor all ai once.
   3. Seven or eight grains of nitre, and a fpoon-
ful of vinegar in  half a glafs of cool water, ShouiJi
be given the patient every half hour.
   4. One drachm-of white vitriol muft be diflblv-
•cd in two common fpoonfuls of fpring water ; and
.9. tent of lint, or bits of foft fine linen dipt in this
Solution, are to be introduced into  the  noftrils,
horizontally at firft, but afterwards to be intruded
upwards, and as high as may be,  by the affiftance
of a flexible bit of wood or whalebone. But fliould
this application be  ineffectual, the  mineral  ano-
dyne liquor of Hoffman  is certain to fucceed ;
and in the country, where itoften happens that
■neither of thefe applications are to be had fpeedi-
ly, brandy, and even fpiiit of wine, rnixt with a
 third part vinegar,  have  anfwered entirely well,
 of which I have been a witueSs.
   The prescription N ''• 67.  which I have already
 referred to, on the  article of wounds, may alfe be
 ferviceable on  this  occafiori.  It mult be reduced
 to powder, aud conveyed  up the noftrils-as  high
 as may be, on the point or extremity of a tent of
 lint, which may  eafily be covered with it:  or  a
 quill, well charged with the powder, niay be intro-
 duced high into the noftrils, and its contents be
 Strongly blown up S'rom its other extremity ;  tho'
 Gf'ter all the former method is preferable.
    5.  When the flux of blood is totally ftopt, the  ,
 ratient is  to be kept as ftill and quiet as poSfible ;
 taking great  care not to extract the tent which re-
 mains in the  uoie, nor  to  remove the clots of cu-
   Vol. II,              M 
;I22  Of Cafes which require immediate Affifiance.
agulated  blood  which till up the pallage.    The
loofening and removing of thele Should be effc t-
ed very gradually and cautiouSlv ; and frequently
the tent does not Spring out Spontaneously,  till af-
ter many days.
   §514.  I have not,  hitherto, find any thing of
artificial bleeding in thefe cafes, as 1 think it at
beft unferviceable ;  fince, tho' it may fometimes
have Slopt the morbid lofs of blood, it  has at other
times increafed  it.   Neither have I mentioned n-
nodynes here, whofe conftant effect  is to  deter-
mine a larger quantity of blood to the head.
   Applications  of cold water  to the  nape  of the
neck, ought to be wholly difufed ;  having  feme-
times been  attended with the moft embarraffing
confequences.
   In all haemorrhages, all fluxes of blood,  great
tranquillity, ligatures, and the ufe pf the  drinks
Nc* 2. or 4. are very ufeful.
   § 515. People who are very liable  to frequent
haemorrhages, ought to manage themfelves con-
formably to the directions contained in the next
chapter, § 544.   They ihould take very little fup-
per ; avoid all Sharp and fpirituous liquors ;  apart-
ments that are over hot; and cover their heads but
very lightly.
   When a patient has for a long time  been fubject
to haemorrhages, if they ceafe, he fhould retrench
from his  ufual  quantity of food ;  accultom him-
felf to artificial  bleedings at proper intervals; and
take fome gentle opening purges, efpecially that
of Nc- 24. and frequently a little nitre in an even-
ing.
                 Of Convulfions.

   \ 516. Convulfions are,  in general,   more terri-
fyiug than dangerous ; they refult from many and
various caufes ;  and on the removal-or extirpation
-of thefe, their cure depends. 
    Of Cafes which require immediate Aflifiance.  123
  In the fit itfelf very little is to be  done, or even
attempted.
  As nothing cloes Shorten the duration, nor even
lelfen the violence, of an epileptic fit,  fb nothing
at all Should be attempted in it ; and  the rather,'
becaufe means and  medicines-often  aggravate the
diSealc.  We fhould confine our endeavours felely
to the Security of the patient, by preventing him
from giving himfelf any violent Strokes ; by get-
ting So-ittJii'.'a', -f poffible, between his teeth, fuch
as a fmall roller of linen, to prevent his  tongue
fron  bring hurt,  or  very,  clanger uifly fqueezed
and bruifed,  in  a ftrong convulsion.
  The  only cafe which requires immediate abid-
ance  in the  fit, is, when it is  fo extrcm-'iy vio-
lent,  the nerk  fe fwelled,  and the face fo v.-ry
red, i-JiH.t t'"r'-f  U ropm to b? up'.uchLnhv.' -^ -~i'-
apoplexy, which we fhould eiuk-avour  to obviate,
by drawing eight or ten ounces of blood from, tin;
arm.     ~.   '
  As  this terrible  difeafe U common in the coun-
try, it is doing  a  real Service to the unfortunate
victims  of it, to inform them, how verv danoero-,-
•  ■      •                           -'     t5
it is to  give  themfelves blindly up to take all the
medicines which  are cried  up to  them in fuch.
cafes.   If there-be any one difeafe which requires
a more  attentive,  delicate,  aud exquisite kind of
treatment, it is this very difeafe.  Some fpecies of
it are wholly incurable ;  and Such  as may  be fui-
ceptible of a cure, require  the utmoft care, and
consideration of the moft  enlightened and molt
experienced pliyficians ;  while  thofe who pretend
to cure all epileptic patients, with one invariable
medicine, are either iguorants, or impoftors, and
fometimes both in one.
   § 5r 7.  Simple convulsion fits, which are not e-
pileptic,  are frequently  of a  long continuance,,
perfeveriug,  with very few and  Short intervals, for'
days, and even for weeks.
                      M 2- 
I.2.4  Of Cafes which require immediate Ajffiance.
  The true genuine caufe, fhcu'.d be invelligated'!
as Strictly as poflible, though nothing fhould be at-
tempted in the fit.   The nerves are;.'during that
term, in So high a degree of tenSion.and-SenSibili-
»y,  that the very medicines liippofed. to he ttrong-
ly indicated,,often redouble the ftprm they were
intended to appeafe.
  Thin watery liquors',  moderately imbued with
aromatics, are the  leaft hurtful, the moft innocent
things that can be given ;  fuch as bawm,  liinc-
tree, and elder-flower tea.    A ptifan of liquorice.
root only, has fometimes anfwered.better than any.
other.

         Of'f/ffocating,  or firangling Fits.
  \ 518  Tl»efe fits (by whatever other name they
v:.:y be called)'whenever they very fuddciily au
tack a perfon,  whofe. breathing Mas ealy and na-
tural juft before,  depend almolt constantly on a
fpr.fn or contraction of the nerves, in tiie veSicles,
of the lungs ; or upon an infarction, a fluffing of
tlie Slime parts, produced by  vifcid clammy hi:-.
ruours.
  Tliat fufl'ocation which  arifes from, a  fpafm is
not ciaugerous ; it goes off. of itIVIf,  or it may be
treated like fwoonings owing- to the fame caule..
See §  5.02.                       •
  § 519. That fuffocation, which is the effect of a
f.inguiueous fulueS's and obltruction,. may be dil-
tinguiflied by its attacking ftrong, vigorous, San-
guine  perfons, who are great eaters,  uSing much
juicy nutritious food, and Strong wine and liquors,
and who frequently heat and inflame themfelves ;
and when the fit has come 011  after any inflaming
caufe,  when the pulfe is full and it rung,  and the
counntenance red. .
  Such are cured, I. By a very plentiful difcharge
of blood from the arm, which is to be repeated, if
neceflary.
  2. By the ufe of glyfters.. 
    Of Cafes which require immediate AJfifidnce.   T2$
  3.  By drinking plentifully of the ptifan N°. 1.
to each  pot of which a dram of mere is to be add-
ed ;  aiid,
  4. By the vapour of hot vinegar, continually re-
ceceived by respiration or breathing.  See §55.
  § 520. There is reafen to think, that one of thefe
fits is owing to a quantity of tough vifeid humours
in the lungs, when it attacks perfons,  whofe tem-
perament, and whofe manner of living are oppo- -
lite to thofe I have juft deScribed ; fuch as valetu-
dinary, weakly,  plilegmatic, pituhous, inactive, .
and  S'queamilh perfons, who feed badly, or on fat,
vil'cid,  and infipid diet ;  and who drink much hot
water, either alone, or in tea-like iufufions.  And
thefe Signs  of Suffocation,  refulting  from  finch-
caufes,  are ftill more probable, if the  fit came on
in rainy weather, and- during  a feutherly wind ;
and  when the pulfe is foft and fmall,  the viSage
pale and hollow.
  Tlie  moft efficacious treatment we  can advife,,
is, r. To give every half hour,  half a cup of the
potion N°* 8. if it can be readily had.   2. To make
the patient drink very plentifully of the drink N°* ■
12.  and, 3. To apply two ftrong blisters to the
flefhy parts of his legs.
   If he was Strong and hearty before the fit,  and
the pulfe Still continues vigorous,  and feels Some-
what full withal,  the lofs of Seven or eight oun-
ces of blood is Sometimes indil'penfably neceflary.
A giyfter has alfo frequently been attended with
extraordinary good effects.
  Thole afflicted with this oppreffmg malady, are
commonly  relieved,  as foon  as  they expectorate,.
and Sometimes even by vomiting a little.
  The medicine N°* 2j. a dole of which may be
taken every two  hours,  with a cup. of the ptifan
N •  12. often fucceeds very well.
  But if neuher this medicine,  nor the prescrip-
tion  .N<'• 8. are at hand,  which may be the cafe in
countrv places; an onion of a moderate fize fhould<
                    -M-3 * 
1-26'  Of Cafes which require immediate Aft fiance.
be pounded in an iron or marble mortar ; upon
this, a glafs of vinegar is to be poured, and then
ftrongly Squeezed out again through a piece of li-
nen-  An equal  quantity  of honey is.then to be
added  to it.  A fpoonful. of this  mixture, whole,
remarkable efficacy i have been, a witnefs. of, is to
be given every half hour.
           Of the violent Effects of  Fear.,.
   §  521. Here I Shall infert Some directions, to pre-
vent the ill  confequences  of great fear or terror,.
which are very prejudicial at every term of life, but
chiefly during infancy. .
   The general effects of terror, are a >great ftrait-
ening or contraction of all the fmall veflels, and a
repulfion of the blood into the large and internal
ones.   Hence follows the fuppreflion of perfpiratic
on,  the general, feizoire  or oppression, the trem-
bling,  the palpitations and  anguish, from the,
heart and the lungs being over charged with blood ;
and fometimes attended with fwoonings, irreme-
diable diforders of the heart,  and death itfelf.  A
heavy drowfinefs, raving,  and a kind of furious or
raging delirium happen in other cafes, which I have
frequently obferved in children,  when the blood-*
veflels  ot the neck  were fwelled  and fluffed up ;
and convulfions, and even the epiiepfy have come-
on,  all which have proved the horrihle confequence
of a moft  fenfelefs and wicked foolery orfporting.
 One half of thofe epilepfies,  which do not depend
on  fuch caufes as might  exift before the child's
birth, are owing to this deteltible cuftom ; and it
cannot  be too  much inculcated into  children,
 never  to  frighten  one another; a point, which
 peribns intruited with  their education, ought to
have the ltrictelt regard to.
   When the humours that  Should have paffed off
by perfpiration, are repelled to the inteftines, a te-
 dious and very obftiuate loofenefs is the frequent
«onfequeucec 
   Of Cafes which require immediate A fitfiance;    Tiy*"
  § 522. Our endeavours Should be directed, to re-
eftablilh the disordered circulation ; to reStore tha
obilructed perlpiration.j and to allay the agitation >
of the nerves, .
  The popular cuftom  in :thefe cafes, has been to
give the terrified patient feme cold water directly j •
but when the fright has-been confiderable,  this is
a. very pernicious cuftom, and I have feen  feme
 terrible confequences from it. -
   They Should, on the contrary, be conveyed into >
feme very quiet Situation,  leaving  there but very
few  perfons,  and- fuch  only as they are  through- -
ly familiar with.   They  Should take a  few cups
of pretty  warm drink^ particularly  of an infufi- -
on of lime-tree flowers  and  bawm.- Their*leg$
Should be put into warm  water, and remain there
an hour,  if they will patiently -permit it, rubbing
them gently  now andthen,. and giving them eve-
ry half-quarter of an hour, a fmall cup of the fame tf
drink.1  When, their, compofure and- tranquillity ■"
are returned a little, and  their fkin feems to have "
recovered its wonted and  general warmth, care *
fhould.be taken to difpofe them to fleep, and to per- -
fpire plentifully.  For  this purpofe, they may  be ~
allowed a few fpoonfuls of wine, on putting, them '-
 into bed, with, one cup  of the former infufion; ,
or,  which is more certain and effectual,  a few
drops  of Sydenham's liquid  laudanum, N°' 44.
but  fhould that not.be near at  hand,  a Sin all dole, ■
of Venice treacle.
   \  523.  It  femetimes happens, .that.children  do v
not feem,at firft extremely terrified ; but the fright
is renewed while they fleep, and with no Small  vi- -
olence. The  directions  I have juft given muit then •
be  obferved, for-Some-fuccefiive evenings before
 they are put to bed.
   Their fright frequently returns  about the latter
 end of the night, and agitates them violently eve- ■
 ry day,. The fame treatment fliould be continued . 
 128'   Of Cafes which require immediate Aftfiance.'
 in fuch cafes ; and we* Should endeavour to difpofe
 them to be afleep at  the ufual hour of" its  return. •
   By this very method, I have diflipated  the dif-
 mal confequences of-fear on-women in  child-bed,'
 which is  So commonly, and often  fpeedily, mortal.
   If a fuffbcation from this caufe is violent, there
 is femetimes a neceffity for opening a vein in the'
 arm.
   Thefe patients fliould gradually be inured to an
 aim oft  continual, but gentle, kind of exercile.
   All   violent  medicines   render  thole diSeafes, •
 which  are the  confequences of great fear, incu-'
 rable.  A pretty common one is that of an obllruc-
 tion of the liver, which has been productive of a'•
 jaundice.*

 Of Accidents or Symptoms produced  by the Vapours of.
                 Coal, and of Wine.
   \  524.  Not a  fingle year paffes over here,  with- -
 out the dellruction of many people by the vapour
of charcoal, or of fmall coal,  and by the fleam or >'
 vapour of" wine. -
   The fymptoms by coal occur, when  j fmall'coal, -
 and especially when \ charcoal is burnt in a cham-
ber dole  Shut, which is direct poifbn to a .-perfen1
fhut up in it.  The fulphureous oil, v> hl-j-h is fet at
liberty  and diffufed by the action  of fire, expands
itfelf through the chamber; .while  thofe'.who are
in  it perceive a diforder  and -confufiou in their
heads;  contract vertigos, ficknefs  at' flomach, a
weakneSs, and  very uuufnal kind of numbnefs;-
become raving, convulfed  and 'trembling ; and ■

  •I have feen this a&ually verified by great and difagreeable furprife, •
attended indeed with raudi concern, in a perfen of exocrine UniaiioiH.X.
 y La B, aife.
  t Charbon.  Dr. T^ffot informs me, their difference confiils In this that
the cbarcoaJ is prepared from wood burnt in a clofe or ft'iflcd fire : and
that the fjnail- coal is made ol wood (and of fmaller wood.) burnt in an cv '
pen fire, and extiiij-uifhed before it is reduced to the rtate of a ci ,Jcr. He
fays the latter is fmalfer, fofter, lefs durable in the fire, and the vapour
of it lefs dangerous- than ti.at of charcoal, 
   Of Cafes' which require immediate Afiifiance.   r20
if they fail of prefence of mind, or of Strength,
to get out of the chamber, they die within a Short
time.
  1 have feen a woman who had vertiginous com-
motions in her head for two days, and almoft con-
tinual vomitings, from her having  been confined
leSs than fix minutes in a chamber (and that, not-
withstanding both one window and one door were .
open) in which there was a chafing diSh, with Some
burning coals.  Had the room been quite clofe, She
muft have perished by it-
  This vapour is narcotic or Stupefying, -and prove3f
mortal, in confequence of its  producing a fleepy
or apoplectic  diforder, tho' blended, at the fame
time, with Something convulfive ; which fufficientJ
ly appears from, the clofuie of.the mouth, and the
Strict contraction or locking of tfie jaws^.
  The condition of the brain, in the diflected boJ
dies of perfens thus cleftrcyed, proves that they die
of an apoplexy : notwithstanding it is very proba-^
ble, that fu (location is alfo partly the caufe of their
deaths, as the lungs have  been found fluffed up
with blood, and livid.
  It  has alfo been obferved in feme other fuch bo- -
dies, that patients killed by the vapour of burning
coals, have commonly their whole bodies fwelled
out to one third more than their magnitude, when
living.  The face, neck,  and arms are Swelled, as
if they had been blown up ; and the  whole human
machine appears in inch a Slate, as the dead body
of a perlbn would, who had been violently Strang-
led ; and who had made alL pofiible  reflftance for
a long time,  before he was overpowered.
  \  52 c. Such as are fenfible- of the great danger
they are in, and retreat SeaSbnably from it, are ge-
nerally relieved as Soon as they get  into the open
air ; or if they  have  any remaining uneafinefs, a
little water and vinegar, or lemonade, drank  hot,
affords theni  Speedy relief.  But when they are fb>
far.poifened,  as to have loft  their feeling and un- 
i';o   Of Cafes which require immediate Affiance.
derftanding,  if there be  any means of reviving
them, fuch means confifl,
  i. In  exposing them to a very  pure, freSh and o-
pen air.
  2. In making them'Smell to fome very penetrate
ing odour, which is Somewhat Stimulating and re-
viving,  fuch  as the volatile Spirit offal ammoniac,
the  * £Jiglifh fait;  and  afterwards  to Surround
them, as it were,  with  the fleam of vinegar.
  3. In  taking fome blood from  their arm.
  4. In  putting their legs  into warm or hot water,
and chafing them  well.
  5. In making them fwaiio\v, if practicable, m*--ch
lemonade, or water and vinegar, with the addition:
of nitre; and,
  6.  In throwing, up feme Sharp glyfters.
  As it is manifelLthere is tbmething fpafmodic ijl
thefe cafes,  it were proper  to  he  provided with'
fome antifpafmodic remedies, fuch as the mineral
anodyne liquid of  Hoffman.   Even  opium  has
fometimes  been Successfully  given here, but it
Should be allowed to pliyficians only to direct it'
iu Such  cafes.
  A vomit would be  hurtful; and the reachings to
Vomit arife only from the oppreflion on the brain. •
  It is a common, but  erroneous opinion, that if
the coal be fuffered  to burn for a minute or fo in
the open air, or in a  chimney, it  is fuSficient to pre-
vent any danger from the vapour of* it.
   Hence it amounts even to a criminal degree of,
imprudence, to fleep in a chamber while charcoal
or fmall coal is burning in it ; and the  number of
fuch imprudent perfons,  as have never awaked af- -
ter it, is fo  considerable, and fo generally  known
too, that the continuance of this unhappy cuftom
is altoniShing.
   §  526. The bakers,  who make ufe of  much
fmall coal,  often keep great quantities of it in*
* See note * touo, Vol. II. 
     ~0f Cafes which require immediate Aftfiance. \%\
«<heir  cellars, which  frequently abound fo  much
 with the vapour or' it, that it Seizes them violent-
 ly the moment they, enter into .the cellar.  They
 fink dp>vn at jnce, deprived of all fenfation, and
 die, if'uy  .u c .or drawn out of it  foon enough
 to he alfitte<r, according to the directions I  have
 juft given.
   One certain means of preventing- fuch fatal ac-
 cidents, .is,  upon going into the cellar, to throw
vfeme flaming paper or Straw into it,  and if  thefe
 continue to flame out and confume, there is no
 reafen for dreading the vapour ; but if they fhould
 be extinguifhed,  no perfon ought to venture  in.
 But after opening the vent-hole, a bundle of flam-
 ing flraw muft be fet at the door, which ferves to
 attract the external air ftrongly.   Soon after, the
 experiment of the flaming- paper muft be repeat-
 ed, and if it goes out, more flraw  is  to be fet on
 fire before the cellar door.
    § 527. Small coal,  l.urnt in an open fire, is not
 near fo  daiigei ous as  charcoal,  properly So called j
 the danger  of which arifes from-tbis, that in ex-
 .tinguifhiiig it by  the ufual methods, all thofe ful-
 phureous particles of it, in which its danger con-
 fids,  are concentred.   Nevertheief, Small  coal
 is not entirely deprived of all its noxious quality,
 without feme  of which it could  not  llrictly be
 coal.
    The common method of throwing  fome fait on
 live coals, before they are conveyed into a cham-
 ber ;  or  of calling a piece of iron among them,
 to imbihe fome part of their deadly  narcotic ful-
 phur,  is  not without its utility ; though by up
 means fufficient to prevent all danger from them.
    §  528.  When  the  moft dangerous  Jymptoms
 from this caule disappear, and there  remains only
 feme degree of weaknefs,  of numbnefs,  and a lit-
 tle in appetency," or loathing at flomach, nothing
 •is better than lemonade with one fourth part wine, 
1^2  Of Cafes which require immediate AJftfiance.
half a cup of which Should frequently be taken
with a fmall crull of bread.
  § 529.  The  vapour which  exhales  from wine,
and in general from all fermenting liquours, fuch
as beer, cyder, ire. contains Something.poifonous,
which kills.in the like manner, with the vapour of
coal ;  and there  is always Some danger  in going
into a cellar, where there is much wine in the Slate
of fermentation,  if it has been.Shut up clofe fbr
feveral hours.  There have been many  examples of
perlbns Struck dead on entering one, and of others
who have efeaped  out of it with difficulty.
  When  fuch  unhappy  accidents  occur,  men
-fliould not be Succeflively expofed, one after  ano-
ther, to periSh, by endeavouring to fetch out the
firft who funk.down upon his entrance ; but tlie
■air Should immediately be purified  by  the method
already directed, or by discharging feme guns in-
to the cellar ;  after wl'ich people  may  venter in
with precaution.  And when  the  perfens unfor-
tunately afflicted are brought  out,  they are to be
treated like thofe who  were affected with  the
coal-vapour.
   I faw a man, about  eight years fince, who was
riot SenSible of the application of fpirit of .fal am-
moniac,  till about an hour  after fie was It ruck
down,  and who was  entirely freed at lall, by  a
plentiful bleeding ; though he had been fo in fen-
fible,  that it was feveral hours before he  dilco-
vered a very great wound he  had, which extend-
ed from the middle of his arm to his armpit ;  and,
which was made by a.hook, intended to be ufed, in
cafe of a houle catching fire, to affift perfons in
eScaping  from the flames.
   §   530. When  Subterraneous caves that  have
been very5 long fliut, are opened ; or 'when  deep
wells are cleaned, that have not been einj.:icd for
feveial years, the vapours anting  from them pro-
duce the fame Symptoms  I have mentioned, and
xcquhe the fame afiiitance. 1 hey are  c'o uc  clean!- 
    Of Cafes which require immediate AjftRance. 135
ed arid purified,'by burning- Sulphur and fait petre
in them, or gunpowder, as compounded of both.
   § 531. The offenfive (thick  of lamps,  and of
candles, efpecially when  their  flames are  extin-
guished, operate like other vapours,  though with
iefs violence, and  lefs Suddenly.    Neverthelefs
there have been inftances of people killed by the
fumes of lamps fed with nut oil, which had been
extinguished in a clofe room.   Thefe laft  fmelk?
or fumes  prove  noxious alfo, in confequence of
tlieir  greafineSs,  which  being conveyed, together
r.'ith  the  air, into the  lungs,  prevent  their  ref^-
piration ; and hence we may obferve,  that per-
fons of weak, delicate breafls, find themfelves quick-
ly opprefled, indiambers or apartments illuminat-
ed with many candles!
   The proper remedies  have been already direct-
ed \ 525.   The lleam of vinegar is very  fervice-
able in fuch eaics.

                   Of  Poifons.

   5 5^2. There  are a great number of poifens,
whole manner of acting is  not  alike, and whofe
r.l effects are to "be oppofed by different  remedies;
but arfcnic, or i;atfbane, and fome particular plants
are the poifens which are the molt frequently pro-
ductive of mifehief,  in country places.
   § 533- It is iu confequence of its-exceffive acri-
mony, or violeut heat and SharpneSs, - which cor-
rodes or gnaws, that arSenrc deltroys by an exceA
live inflammation, with a burning fire as it were
moft  torturing pains in the mouth, throat, Sto-
mach, guts; with rending and often bloody vo-
liiitings and Stool':,  convulfions, faintings. ire.
   The beft remedy of all,  is^pouring down wholes
torrents of milk ;  or, where there is  not milk, of
warm water.  Nothing, but a prodigious quantity
of fuch weak liquids can  avail fuch a miferable
patient.   If the caufe of the'diforder is immedi-
ately  known, after having very fpeedily taken
   V01. II               N 
  *34  Of Cafes which require immediate Afifiarc:.
  down a large quantity of warm water, vomiting
  may  be exited,  with oil,  or with melted  butter,
  and by tickling the infide of" the. throat with a fea-
  ther.   But when the poifon has already inflamed
  the flomach  and the guts,  we uxufl not expect to
  difcharge it by vomiting.  Whatever is healing or
  emollient, decoctions  of mealy puis,  of  bailey,
  of oatmeal, of marflimallows, and butter and oil,
  are the molt fuitable.
    As foon as ever the tormenting pains  are felt in
  the belly, and  the inteftines feem attacked, gly-
 fters of milk muft be very frequently thrown up.
    If at the  very beginning of. the attack,  the
 patient has a ftrong  pulfe, a very large bleeding
 may be considerably Serviceable, Jby its delaying
 the progrefs, and diminishing the  degree, of in-
 flammation.
   And even though it fhould happen, that a pati-
 ent overcomes the firft  violence of this dreadful
 accident, it is too common for him to continue in
 a languid  State for a long time, and femetimes for
 all the remainder  of his life.   The moSt. certain
 method of preventing this mifery, is to live for
 feme months felely upon milk, and feme very new
 laid eggs,  juft received from the hen, and diifolv-
 ed or blended in  the  milk, without  boiling- them.
   § 534.  The plants which chiefly  produce thefe
 unhappy  accidents, are feme kinds of hemlock,
 whether it  be the leaf or  the root,  the  berries off
 the bella donna,  or deadly nightfhade, whichf chil-
 dren eat  by miftake for cherries ;  fome kind of
 mufhrooms, the feed  of the datura, or the Stinking
 thorn-apple.
   All the poifens of this clafs prove mortal, rather
 from a narcotic, or  Stupefying, than from an a-
 crid, or very Sharp quality.  ' Vertigos,  faintings,
 Teachings to vomit, and actual vomitings, are the
'firft fymptoms produced by them.
   The patient Should immediately fwallow down a
 large  quantity   of wafer,  moderately  feafon.c4 
    Of Cafes which require immediate Affiance.  r$S
With Salt, or with fugar ; and  then a vomiting
fliould  be- excited as foon as poffible, by the  pre-
scription N'" 34. oT 35- or, if neither of thefe is
very readily procurable, with radifh-Seed pounded,
to the  quantity  of a coffee  fpoonful, fwallowed
in warm water,  foon after forcing a feather or a
finger into the  patient's throat, to  expedite the
vomiting.                  .       in.
  After the operation of the vomit, he muft con-
tinue to take a large quantity of water, Sweetened
with honey or Sugar, together with a confiderable
quantity of vinegar, which is the true fpecific,  or
antidote, as it were, againll  thofe  poisons-  the
intefliiies muft alfo be emptied by a few glyfters.
   Thirty-Seven  foldiers having  unhappily eaten,
iriftead of carrots, of the roots of the eenanthe,  or
water-hemlock,  became all extremely fick ; when
the emetic, N*-  34. with the affii lance of glyfters,
arid very plentiful drinking of warm Water, faVed
all but one of them,: who  died before he could  be
aflifted.
   5  5.35. If a perfen has taken too much opium, •
or any medicine into which it'enters, as Venice
treacle, mithridate, dtafcordium, ire. whether by
imprudence, miftake, ignorance, of through any
bad defign, he muft be  bled upon  the fpot, and
treated as if he had a fanguine apoplexy, (fee §
I47«) n7 reaf°n  tnat opium in effect  produces fuch
a one. He fhould fnuff up  and' inhale  the vapour
of vinegar plentifully,  adding it alio liberally  to
the water he is to drink. ■
                  Of. acute  Pains. •

   § 536. It is not my intention  to  treat  here  of
thole  pains, that  accompany any evident known
difeafe, and which Should be conducted as relating
 to Such difeafes  ; nor of pains to which infirm va-
letudinary perfons  are habitually  fubject;  Since
 experience has informed Such of the moft effectu-
 al relief for them;  but when a  perfon found and
                      N--2- 
         _ ■
*3°  Of Cafes which require immediate Aft fiance.
hale, finds himSelf Suddenly attacked with feme:
exceffive pain, in whatever part it occurs, without
knowing either the nature, or the caufe of it, they
may, till proper advice can be  procured^.
   I. Part with  feme  blood, which,  by  abating
the fulnefs and teniion, almolt  constantly afl'uages
the pains, at lealt  for Some time ; and it may even
be repeated, if, without weakening the  patient
much, it has leiTened the violence of the pain.
   2. The patient fliould drink abundantly  of feme
very mild temperate drink,, fuch as the ptifan N°.
2. the  almond  emulfion N°*  4. or warm  water,
with a fourth or fifth part milk..
   3. Several emollient glyfters  fliould be given.
   4. The whole part that is affected, and  the ad-
joining parts, fliould  be covered with cataplaftn*,
or foothed with the emollient fomentation, Nc* 9
   5. The warm bath may alfo  be advantageoufly.
ufed.
   6. If notwithftandmg all thefe affiftances, the
pain fliould  ftill continue violent, and the pull'e is ■
neither full nor hard, the grown patient may take
an ounce of fyrup of diacodium, or fixteen drops >t
liquid laudanum ; and when  neither of thefe are
to be had, * an Englifb pint of boiling water muft
be poured upon three or  four poppy-heads with**
their feeds, but without the leaves, and  this de«-
coction is to be drank like tea..
   §  537.  Perfens  very fubject  to^ frequent pains,,
and efpecially to  violent head-achs, Should abltaitti
from all ftrong drink ;  Such-abstinence being oftea
the  only means of curing  them; and people are-
very often  mistaken in Supposing wine necelfary.
for as. many as feem to have a weak flomach*.

                   -» Vne Quartette.. 
Of Medicines taken by Way, kc. ■
137 *:
              C H A P.   XXXII.
Gf Medicines taken by Way of Precaution, or Prevent
ttoti.
I
                Sect.  538. •
 -■ Have pointed out, in fome V^f^j\uLworTk, '
1   the metro* of preventing the bad effecWof fe-
deral  cauSes of difeafes >  and of prohibiting the
return of fome habitual diforders.   In the prefent
chapter, I Shall adjoin feme observations on the ufe
of the principal remedies,  which are employed as
general preservatives ;  pretty regularly too at cer-
tain Stated times, and almoft always, from  mere
cuftom  only; without knowing, and  often with ■
very  little confideration, whether  they are right
or wrong.                ,,,.,- ^ 3 •
  Neverthelefs,  the ufe, the habit  of taking me- -
dkines, is certainly no indifferent matter : it is ri-
diculous, dangerous, and even criminal,  to omit -.
them, when they are neceflary; but not leSs fo to
take  them when they  are not wanted.   A good
medicine taken feafonably,  when there  is fome
diforder, fome difarrangement in- the body, which
wouhl in a Short time occafion a distemper, has of-
ten prevented it; But  yet the very fame medicine, ,
when given to a perfon in perfect health, if it does
not directly make him fick, leaves him at the beft
in  a  greater propenfity to the impreflious of dif
eaSes ; and there are  but  too many examples  of
people, who having very unhappily contra&ed a
habit, a difpofition to take  phyfick,  have really
injured their health, and impaired their constitu-
tions, however natarally ftrong,  by an abufe of
 thole materials, which  providence has given for
 the recovery and re-ellablifliment of it: an abu,fe
 which, tho* it fliould not injure the health of the
 perfon,  would occafion  thofe  remedies, when he
 Should be really Sick, to be lefs efficacious and fer-
                      .N--3 - 
  138        Of Medicines taken by Way
  viceable to him, from their having been familiar
  to his conftitution ;  and thus he becomes depriv-
  ed of the  afliflance he would have received from
  them,  if taken only in thofe times  aud circum-
  ftances, in which they were neceflary fbr him.

                    Of Bleeding.
     § SfiMp Bleeding is neceflary only in thefe four
  cafes.  1.  When there is too  great a quantity of
  blood in the body., 2. When there is any inflam-
  mation, or an inflammatory  difeafe.   3. Wheit
  feme caufe fupervenes, or is  about to fupervene,.
  in the conftitution, which would fpeedily produce.
  an inflammation,  or feme other dangerous Symp-
  toms,  if the veffels were not relaxed  by bleeding.,
  3t is upon this principle that patients are bled af-
  ter wounds and after bruifes ;  that bleeding is di-
 rected for a pregnant woman, if flie has  a violent
 cough ;  and that bleeding is  performed,  by way
 of precaution,  in feveral other cafes.  4. We alfo-
 advife bleeding fometimes  to aff'uage  an  exceffive
 pain, though fuch pain is not owing  to excefs of
 blood, nor arifes from any inflamed blood ; but in>
 order to appeafe and moderate the  pain by bleed-
 ing, and thereby to  obtain time for destroying
 the caufe of it  by other remedies.   But  as theSe
 two laft reafons are in effect involved °r implied.
 in the two firft, it may be very generally conclud-
 ed,  that an excefs of blood, and an inflamed ltate
 of it, are the only two neceflary motives for bleed—

   § 540. An inflammation of the blood is known by
 the fymptoms accompanying thofe difeafes, which
 that caufe produces.  Of theSe I have already Spok-
 en, and I have at the fame time regulated the prac-
 tice of bleeding  in fuch cafes.   Here 1 Shall point
 out thofe Symptoms and circumftances, which ma-
nifest an excefs of blood.
  The firft,  then, is the general courfe and man-
 ner of the patient's living, while in health.   If 
           of Precaution, or Prevention.       rggt
 be is a great eater, and indulges irr. juicy nutri-
 tritious food,  aud efpecially on much flelh-meat ;
 if he drinks rich and nourishing- wine, or other
 Strong driuk,  and at the fame time enjoys a good
 digeltion ; if he takes but little  exercife, Sleeps
 much, and has not been  fubject to any very conii-
 d-rrable evacuation, he may well be Suppofed to
 abound in blood.  It is very obvious that all thefe
 caufes rarely occur in country people  ; if we ex-
 cept only the abatement of their exerciSe  during.
 feme weeks in winter, which indeed may contri-
 bute  to their  generating  more blood than  they
 commonly do.
  The labouring country-man, for much the great--
 er part of his time, lives only on bread, water and
 vegetables ;  materials but  very moderately nou~
 riShing ;  as one pound of bread probably does not
 make, in the Same body,, more blood- than one
 otiuce of flefh ;  tho' a general prejudice Seems to'
 have eftablhhed a contrary opinion.  The 2d, is the
 total flopping or long interruption, of  fome invo--
 luntary bleeding or haemorrhage, to which he had
 been accuftomed,  3. A full and Strong pulfe, and
 veins vifibly filled with blood, in  a-body that is
 not lean and thin, and when he is not  heated.  4*-
 A florid lively ruddinefs.   5, A confiderable and
 Unufual numbnefs; fleep more  profound,, of more
 duration, and yet lefs tranquil and calm,  tlian at
 other times ; a greater propenfity than ordinary
 to be fatigued  after  moderate exercife or work;
and a little oppreffion and heavineSs from walk-
 ing.  6. Palpitations, accompanied femetimes with
 very great dejection, and even with a flight faint-
 ing fit;  efpecially on being in any hot place, or
 after moving about considerably.    7. Vertigos,.
 or fwimmings of the head, efpeqially  on bowing
 down and railing it up  at once, and  after fleep-
 ing.   8. Frequent  pains of  the head, to which
 the perfon was  not formerly fubject;  and which
 feem, not to arife from any defeft ia, the digefti- 
 I4d -       Of Meditines taken  by Way
 ons.  o. An evident fenfation of heat,  pretty ge- *
 nferally diffufed over the whole body.  to. A Smart- -
 iug fort of itching all over, from a very  little more
 heat than ufual.  And laltly, frequent haemorrha-
 ges, and thefe attended with manifeft relief, and
 more vivacity.
   People fliould,'notwithstanding,  be cautious of
 fiippoiing an unhealthy  excefs of blood, from a^ -
 ny one of thefe Symptoms only. •  Many of them '
 muft concur ; and they fhould endeavour to be '
 certain,  that even fuch a  concurrence of  them '
 does not refult from a very different caufe, and •
 wholly oppolite in effect to that of an excefs of
 blood.
   But when it is certain,, from the whole appear- -
 ance, that fuch an excefs doth really exilt, then a <
 fingle, or even a Second  bleeding is attended with -'<
 very good effects.  Nor is it-material, in fuch cafes; >
 from what part the blood is taken; -
   §  541:. -On the other hand,  when thefe circum- -
 fiances do not exift, bleeding  is in no wife necef- -
 fary ; nor fhould it ever be practifed in thefe fol-
 lowing conditions and circumf         xcept for
 fome particular and very flronte      jiis ;  of the '
 due force of which none  but pliyficians can judge, v
   Firft, when the  perfon is in a very advanced • *
 age, or in very early infancy.   2.- When he is ei-;
 ther naturally of a weakly conftitution,- or -it has
 been rendered fuch by ficknefs, or by Some other ■
 accident.    3. When the pulfe is fmall,  feft> fee- •
 ble, and  intermits, and -the  fkin  is  manifeftly-'
 pale,  4* When the limbs, the extremities of the
 body, are often cold, puffed up and  foft.  5.  When *
their appetite has been very fmall for a long time ; ;
their food but little nourishing, and their perfpi-< :.
ration too plentiful, from great exercife. '6.  When :
the flomach has long been difordered, and the di-
 geftion bad,  whence very little blood  could be -■'  -
generated.    7.  When the patient has  been con-
fiderably-, emptied,  whether by haemorrhages, »„ 
           ofPrecfiutisn, or Prevention.        141
 loofenefs,  profufe  urine or fweat ;  or when the
 crifis of Some diftemper has been effected by  any
 one of thefe evacuations.  8. When the patient
 has long been afflicted with  feme deprefling dif-
 eafe ;  and troubled with many  fuch obstructions
 as  prevent Liie  formation of blood.   9. When-
 ever a perfon is exhausted, from whatever caule.
 10. When the blood is in a thin,  pale, and diflblv-
 ed  ftate.
  \ 542. In all thefe cafes, and in feme others lefs
 frequent, a fingle  bleeding- often precipitates the
 patient, into an  abfelutely incurable State; an  irre-
 parable train of evils.   Many difma-1 examples of
 it are but too obvious.
  Whatever, therefore, be the Situation of the pa-
 tient,  and however naturally robult,  that bleed-
 ing, which is unneceffary, is noxious.  Repeated,
 re-iterated bleedings, weaken and enervate,  haft-
 en  old age,  dimhiilh the force of the circulation,
 thence fatten.and puff up the body ; and next, by
 weakening, and laltly by-deftroying, the digesti-
 ons, they lead to a fatal dropfv : they diforder the
 perfpiration by the  fkin, and leave the patient lia-
 ble  to colds and  defluxions:  they  weaken the ner-
 vous "fy Item, and render perfons fubject to vapours,
 to the hypochondriac diforders, aud to all nervous
 maladies.
  The ill confequence of a fingle, though erro-
neous, bleeding, is not immediately discernible :
on  the contrary, when it was not performed in
fuch a quantity, as  to weaken the patient perceiv-
ably, it  appears to have been rather beneficial.
Yet I Still here in lift upon it, that it is not the lefs.
true that, when  unneceffary, is is prejudicial;  and,
that people fliould  never bleed,  as fometimes has ■
been done, for mere whim;  or, as it were, for di-
verfionv   St avails nothing to affirm,  that within
a few days after it,.they have got moretflood than
they had before  it,  that is,  that they weigh more
than, at firit, whence they infer  the lofs of bloo4 
 r\2'-         Of Medicines taken by Wa/
 very fpeedily repaired.  The fact  of their aug-
 mented weight is admitted ;  but this very fact tes-
 tifies againft the real benefit of that bleeding y
 Since it is a proof; that the natural evr.cn u ions of
 the body are lels compleatly  made ;  and that hu-
 mours, which ought to be expelled^ are  retained -
 in it.   There remains tlie fame-quantity of blood,
 and perhaps a little  more ; but it  is  not a blood fo
 well made, fb perfectly elaborated ;  and' this is  ib ■'
 very true, that if tlie thing  were  otherwise;  if
 fome days after the Heeding,- they  had a  greater
 quantity of the fame kind of blood, it would  a-
 mount  to a demonflration, that more re-iterated :
 bleedings muft neceffarily have brought on an in- -
 flammatory difeafe,  in a man of a robuft habit  of >'
 body.
   §  543.  The quantity of blood, which  a growtt**
 man may part with, by way of precaution, is about-
 ten  ounces.
   5  544- Perfons fo conftituted, as to breed much*
 blood, fhould carefully avoid all thofe caufes which *
 tend to augment it,-- (fee $  540. Art. 1.) and when J
 they are fenfible of the quantity augmented, they
 fhould confine themfelves to a light frugal diet, on ;
 puis, fruits, bread and water; they fhould o'.'ten *
 bathe their feet in warm water, taking-night and -
 morning the powder N°* 20. drink  of the ptifan
 N°*  I. Sleep but very moderately,  and take much :
 exercife. By ufing thefe precautions, they may ei-
 ther prevent any occafion for bleeding, or Should '
 they really be obliged  to admit of it,  they would '
 increafe and prolong its good effects.  Thefe are
 alfb the very  rri'eans, which may remove all the
danger  that might enfue from a perfon'-s omitting *
 to bleed at the ufual feafon or  interval, when the/
 habit, the.fafhion of bleeding had been inveterate- '
 ly eflabliflied in him.
   §  545. We learn with horror and aftonifhment,
 that fome have been bled eighteen, twenty, and  e- '
 ven  twenty-four times in two days ; and feme  o- • 
            of^Pre caution, or Prevent ion.          .T4J
  ♦hers, feme * hundred times, in the courfe of feme
  snout lis.  Such instances ii-refragably demonstrate
  the continual ignorance of-their pliyfician or fur-
  .geon;  and Should the patient efeape,  we'ought to
  admire the inexhauftible relburces of nature,  t»*at
  furvived fo many murderous incifions.
    \ 546. The  people .entertain  a  common noti-
  on, which is,  that the firft time  of bleeding  cer-
  tainly faves the life of the patient;  but to con-
  vince them of the falfity of this filly notion, they
  need only open their eyes, and fee the  very con-
  trary fact to this  occur but  too  unhappily every
  day,  many people dying foon after  their  firSt
  bleeding.  Were their opinion right,. it would be
  impoflible that  any perfen  fhould die of the firft
  difeafe that Seized him, which yet daily happens.
  Now tlie extirpation of this abfurd opinion is real-
  ly become important, as the continuance of it is at-
  tended  with Some unhappy conSequences: their
  faith in,  their great dependance on, the extraordi-
  nary virtue of this firSl bleeding, makes them will-
  ing to omit it,  that is, to treafure it up  againSt a
  diltemper, from which they Shall be in the greatefl;
  danger;  and thus it is deferred.as  long as the pa-
  tient is not extremely bad,  in hopes  that if they
  can do withont it then, they  lhall keep it for ano-
  ther and more  prefling occafion.  Their prefent
  difeafe in the mean  time rifes to a violent height;
  and then .they bleed, but when it is too late, and I
  have feen instances  of many  patients, who were
,  permitted to die, that the firft bleeding might be
:  jeferved for a more important occafion.   The only
E  difference between the firft bleeding, and any fub-

   * How fhocking is this! and yet how true in fome countries! I have
  teen ro iff certainly affured, that bleeding has been inflicted and repeated
'  In the lait finking and totally relaxing ftage of a fea-fcui yy, whofe fatal
  termination is doubtlefs accelerated. This did not happen in our own
  fleet: yet we are not as yet wholly exempt on, fhore, from fome abufe of
  blccdinj, which a tew raw, unthinking operators are apt toconfideras a
  meer matter of ceurfe.  I ha»e in fome other place ftigmatized the raad-
  nefs of bleeding in convulfions, from majufeit exbAaJUoa and ernjt'mei^
'  Wkk the abhorrence it defwres. &. 
    T-44          Of Medicines taken-by V.'r-i
    fequent one is,  that the firft, commonly gives the
    patient.au emotion which is rather hurtful than Sa-
    lutary,
                       Of Purges.
      \ 547. The flomach and bowels are emptied ei-
    ther by vomiting,  or by Stools, the latter discharge
    being much more riatunil than the firft,  which is
    not effected without a violent'motion, and one in-
    deed to which nature  i:.repugnant;.   Neverthelefs,
    there  are-Some cafes, which  really require this arti-
    ficial  vomiting ; but thefe excepted (Ibme of which
    I have already pointed out) we Should rather  pre*
    fer thofe remedies, whicSi empty the belly by Stool.
       § 548. The.Signs, which  indicate a neceffity for"
    purging,  are,  I. A diS'agreeable talle or favour of
    the mouth in a morning, and  especially  a bitter
    talte ; a foul furred tongue and teeth, disagreeable
    eructations or belchings, windinels and distention.,
       2. A want of appetite which increases very gra-
    dually, without any fever,  which degenerates in-
    to a difguft or total averfion to food ; ami fome-
    times communicates a bad- talte to the very little
    fuch perfons do eat.
       3.  Reachings to vomit in a morning falling,
    and fometimes  throughout the day ; fuppolingfuch
    not to depend on a woman's pregnaucy',-or fbine o-
    ther diforder, in which purges would be either ufe-
    lefs or hurtful.                              *
       4. A vomiting up of bitter or corrupted humours.
       5.  A manifeft fenfation  of a weight,  or heavi-
    jaefs in the flomach,  the  loins, or the knees.
       6.  A want of ftrength  fometimes attended with
    ^reftleffheis, ill humour,  'or peeviflniefs, and  me-
    lancholy.
       7.  Pains of the flomach, frequent pains of the
    ■ head, or vertigos ; fometimes a drowfinefs, which
    jncreafes after meals.
       8. Some fpecies of cholics; irregular ftools, which.
'*   jure fometimes very great in quantity, and too li- 
          of Precaution, or Prevention.          14c
quid for many days together; after which an ob-
ftinate coftivenefs enfues.
  9. A  pulfe  lefs regular, and lefs ftrong,  than
what is natural to the patient, and which feme-
times intermits.
  \ 549. When thefe fymptoms, or feme of them,
afcertaiu the necefity of purging- a perfen, not then
attacked by  any manifeft  difeafe (for I am not
fpeaking here of  purges in fuch cafes) a proper
purging medicine may be given  him.  The bad
■talle in his mouth ;  the continual  belchings ; the
frequent  Teachings  to  vomit; the actual vomit-
ings and melancholy  difeover, that the caufe of
his diforder refides in the ftomach, and Shew that
a vomit will be of Service to him.  But when thefe
Signs  or fymptoms  are not evident,  the patient
fliould take fuch  purging or opening remedies, as
are particularly indicated by the pains, whether of
the loins,  from the  cholic, or by a  fenfation of
weight or heavinefs in the knees.
   | 550. But we fhould abftain from either vomits'
higor purging, r. Whenever the complaints of the
patients are founded in their weaknels, and their
being already  exhausted.  .2. When there is a ge-
neral drynefs of the habit, a very confiderable de-
gree of heat,  feme  inflammation,  or" a ftrong fe-
ver.  3. Whenever nature is  exerting herfelf in
feme other falutary  evacuation ; whence purging
riuft never be attempted in critical fweats, during
the monthly  difcharges, nor  during  a fit of the
gout.   4. Nor in fuch  inveterate obstructions as
purges  cannot remove, and really do augment.
c. Neither when  the nervous fyftem is confiderab-
ly weakened.
   § ssi.  There  are other cafes again, in which
it may be proper to purge, but not to give a vo»
init.  Thefe  cafes  are, 1. When   the patient a-
bounds too much with  blood,  (fee §. 540) Since the
efforts which  attend vomiting, greatly  augment
the force of  the circulation; whence the blood-
   Vol. II.              O 
146          Of ?.lr.i;c':i:rs. taken by Way
yeffels of the head and of the breaft, being ex*
tremely diitended with  blood, might burft,  which
muft prove fatal on the fpot, and has  repeatedly
proved fo.   2. for the fame reafen they  Should
not be given "to  perfons, who  are Subject to fre-
quent bleeding from  the> nofe, or to coughing up
or vomiting of blood ;, to  women who arc fubject
to exceffive ,pr unfeafbnable difcharges  of blood,
ire.  from the vagina, the neck 6f* the  womb ; nor
to thofe who are  with child.  3. Vomits are impro.
per for ruptured  perfons.
   § 552. When any perfen has taken too acrid, too
fharp a vomit, or a  purge, which operates with
exceffive violence ; whether this confiSts in the moft
vehement efforts and agitations, the  pains, con-
vulsions or [fwoonings,  which  are tlieir frequent
confequences; or whether that prodigious evacu-
ation' and emptinefs their operation caufes (which
is commonly  termed a fuper-purgation) and which
■may hurry the patient off; instances of which are
but too common  among the lower clafs of" the peo-
ple, who much too frequently confide  themfelves
to the conduct of ignorant men-flayers : in all fuch
unhappy accidents, I fey, we Should treat thefe un-
fortunate perfons, as if  they  had been actually
poilbned by violent corroding- poifens,  (fee § 533)
;that is, we Should fill them, as it were, with draughts
of warm water, milk, oil, barley-water, almond-
milk, emollient glyfters with milk, and the yolks
of eggs;  and alfo bleed them plentifully, if their
pains are exceffive, and their pulfes ftrong and fe-
' verifh.
   The fupper-purgation, the exceffive difcharge is
to be ftopt,  after having plied the patient plenti-
fully with diluting-brinks, by giving the calming
anodyne medicines directed in the removal of a-
cute pains,  § 536.  Art. 6.
   Flannels dipt in hot  water,  in  which  fome Ve-
nice  treacle is diffolved,  are very ferviceable, and
jfliould the 4 evacuations by ftool  be exceflive, and 
          Of Precaution, or Prevention.        147
the patient has not a high fever, and a parching
kind of heat, a morfel of the fame treacle, as large
as a nutmeg, may be diffolved in his giyfter.
  But fliould the vomiting folely be exceffive, with-
out any purging, the number of"the emollient gly-
fters with oil and the yolk of  an egg, muft be in-
cfeafed ;  ami the patient fliould be placed in a '
warm bath.
   § 553.  Purges frequently repeated, without juft
and neceffary indications, are attended with much
the fame  ill effects as frequent bleedings. •  They
dellroy the-digeitions ;  the flomach  no-longer, or
very languidly, exerts its functions ;  the inteftines
prdve inactive ; the patient becomes liable to very
fevere cholics"; the plight of the body, deprived of
its-Salutary nutrition, fails off"; perfpiration is dif-
ordered ; defluxions enfue ; nervous maladies come
ofr, with a general languor; and  the patient proves
old, long before the number of his years  have made
him fb.
   Much irreparable mifeliief has been done to the
health of children,  by  purges injudicioufly given
and repeated. They prevent them from attaining
their utmoft natural ftrength,  and frequently con-
tract their due growth.  They  ruirt their teeth;
difpoSe young girls to future ' obstructions, and
when they have been- already ^affected  by  them,
tliey render them ftill more obftinate.
   It is a prejudice too generally  received, that per-
fons who have little or no appetite need purging ;
fince this is often very falle, and  moft of thofe
caufes, which leflen or deSlroy the  appetite, can- '
not be removed by purging ;  tho' many  of them.
maybe increafed by it. -
   Perfens' whofe  ftomachs contain much  glairy '
vifcid matter, fuppofe they may be cured by pur-
ges, which Seem indeed at firft to  relieve'them ;
but this proves a very  flight and deceitful relief.
Thefe humours  are owing to  that weaknels and
laxity, of the-flomach, which  purges  augment; -
                     O 3 
j 4 8        Of Medicines taken by Way
fince, notwithstanding they carry off part of thefe
vifcid humours generated  in it, at the expiration
of a few days there is a greater accumulation of
them than before ; and  thu , by a re-iteration of
purging medicines, the malady foon  becomes in-
curable, and health is irrecoverably loft.   The re-
al cure  of fuch cafes is effected by directly oppofiue
medicines.  Thofe reftired to, or mentioned,\
272. are highly conducive to it.
  S 554- The  cuftom of  taking Stomachic medi-
cines  iufufed  in  brandy,   fpiiit of wine, cherry
water, in., is always dangerous ; for notwithstand-
ing the prefeut immediate relief fuch  infufions af-
 ford in Some diforders of the Stomach, .they really,
by flow degrees, impair and ruin that organ ;  and
it may be  obferved,. that as  many  as  accultom
themfelves to drams, go  off,  juft like  exceSfive
drinkers,  in conlequence  of their having no di-
gestion ;  whence they fink into a. State, of depref-
fion and languor, and die dropfical.
   § 555.  Either vomits or purges may  be often
beneficially omitted,  even when they, have Some
appearance of feeming neceflary,  by abating  one
meal a day for feme time ; by abstaining from the
moft nourishing forts of food ; and especially from
thofe which are fat; by  drinking freely, of cool
water,  and taking extraordinary  exercile.  The
fame  regimen alfo Serves to fubdue,  without the
ufe of purges, the various complaints which often.
invade thole, who omit taking purging medicines,
at thofe feafons and intervals, in which they have
made it a cuftom to take them.
   \ 556.  The medicines  Nc# 34. and 35. are the
moft certain vomits. The  powder N°* 21. is a good
purge, when the patient is in no wife feverifh.
   The  doles recommended in.the table of reme-
dies are thofe, which are  proper for a grown man
of a vigorous conftitution..  Nevertheless there aie
fome  few, for whom they may be too w eak : in
inch circuuiftauces they may be increafed by the 
           of Precaution,  or Prevention.       X49
addition of a third or fourth part of the dofe pre-
scribed.  But'flibuld they not operate in that quan-
tity, we  muft be careful  not to  double  the dofe,
much lefs to give a threefold quantity, which has
femetimes been done, and that even without its o-
peration,  and at the rifcpic of killing- the patient,
which  has not feldom been the confequence.   In
cafe of fuch purging not enfuing,  we Should ra-
ther give large draughts of whey fweetened with ■
honey, or of warm water, in a pot of which an
ounce, or an  ounce and  a  half"  of common fait
muft bVdiffolved ; and this quantity is.to  be  taken
from time to  time  in fmall cups, moving  about
with it. -
  The  fibres of country people who  inhabit the "
mountains, and live almoit Solely on milk,  are fb "
little f ufeeptible of  fenSatfen, that they- muSl take
fuch large doles' to  purge them, as would kill all
the peafantiy in the Vallies.   In the mountains of
Vdlais there are men who take twenty, and even
twenty four grains of glafs of" antimony for a fin-
gle dofe ;  a grain or two of which were fufficient
to'pbifbn ordinary men.
  S 55 7- Notwithltauding our eautioiis on this im-
portant head,  whenever an urgent necefiity com-
mands it, purging muft be recurred to at all  times
and feafonst but when  the'feafon -may be fafely
felected,  it were right to decline purging in the
extremities of either heat or cold ;  and to take
the purge early in -the  morning> that themedi- -
cines may find lefs obstruction or embarraflment
from the contents of the llomach.  Every  other
confideratidn,  with  relation to the flats and moon,
is ridiculous, and void  of any foundation;  The
pcople: are particularly  averfe  to purging in the
dog-days; and if this were only on account of the
great heat, it would be very pardonable; but it is
from an aftrological prejudice, which  is  So-much
the more abl'urd, as the  real dog-days are at thir-
ty fiv days distance from thofe commonly reckon..
  Vol. II...          Oj, 
 150        Of Medicines taken  by Way
 ed fuch;  and it is  a melancholy reflection, that"
 the ignorance of the people fliould be fo grofs, in
 this  refpect,  in  our enlightened age ;  and that
 they fliould ftill imagine the virtue and efficacy of
 medicines, to depend on what fign  of the zodiac
 the fun is in, or on any particular quarter of the
 moon.  Yet it is certain in this point,  they are fo
 inveterately attached to this  prejudice, that it is
 but too common to fee country-people die, in wait-
 ing for the Sign or quarter molt favourable to the
 operation and effect of a medicine, which was tru-
 ly neceflary five or fix days before either of them.
 Sometimes too, that particular medicine is given,
 to which  a certain  day  is fuppoled to be aufpici-
 ous and favourable,  iii preference to that which is
 moft prevalent againtt the difeafe. And thus it is,,
 that an ignorant almanack maker determines on
 the lives of the huxnan race ? and contracts the du«-
 ration of them with impunity.
    §  J58.  When  a vomit or purge is to be taken,.
 the  patient's body Should be prepared for the re--
 ception of it twenty four hours before-hand ; by
 taking very little food,  and drinking Some glafies-
 •«f warm water,  or of a light tea of feme'herbs.
   He fliould  not drink after a vomit,  until it be-
' gins to woi k ; but then he Should drink very plen-
 tifully of warm water,  or a light infufion of cha-
 momile flowers,  which is preferable.
   It is ufual, after purges, to take feme thin broth
 or fbup during their operation ; . but warm water
 fweetened with fiigar or honey,  or an infufion of
 iuccory flowers, would Sometimes be more fuitable.
   §  550,  As the  Stomach fuflers, in fome degree,
 as often as either a vomit,  or a purge,  is taken,
 the patient Should be careful how  he lives and or-
 ders himfelf for feme days after taking them, as
 Well in regard to the-quantity,, as-quality of hi*
 food.
   § 560. I' fliali fry nothing of other articles taken
~fcy way of precaution^, fuch as foups, whey, wa- 
            of Precaution,  or Prevention.-       iyr
 tters, ire.  which are but little ufed among the peo-
 ple ; but confine myfelf to this  general remark,
 that when they  take any of theie precautionary
 things, they Should enter on a regimen or  way of
 living, that may co-operate wit!h them,  and con-
 tribute to the Same purpofe.   Whey is commonly
 taken to  refresh and cool  the  body ;  and while
 they tlrink  it, they deny themfelves puis,  fruits,
 and fallads.  They eat nothing then, but the beft
 and. heartfelt flefh-meats they can come at  ; fueh
 vegetables as are ufed in  good fbups,  eggs, and'
 good wine ; notwithftanding this  is to deftroy, by
 high and  heating aliments, all the attemperating,
 cooling effects expected from the whey.
   Some perfons propofe to cool and attemperate
 their blood by fbups and a thin diet,, into  which'
 they crain.craw-fifh, that heat considerably, or na~-
 fittrtium, crelies, which alio heat ;  and thus  defeat'
 their own purpofe.   Happily, in  fuch a cafe, the
 error,  in  one refpect, often cures that in  the-o--
 ther ;  and thefe  kinds of feup, which  are  in  no
 wife cooling, prove very ferviceable,  in  confe--
 quence of the caufe of the fymptoms, which they
 were intended to remove, not requiring auy cool--
 ers at all..
   The general phyfical practice of the coinmuni--
 ty, which unhappily is but too much in fall.ion,
 abounds with Similar errors.   1 will juft cite one,,
 becaule I have feen its difmal effects.   Many peo-
ple fuppofe  pepper  cooling, though their  fmell,
talte,  and common fenfe,  concur to inform them
of the contraiy.   It-is-the very hottefl of fpices.
   § 561. The moft certain preservative,  and the
moft attainable too-by every man, is-to avoid all
excels, and especially excels in eating and  drink-
ing.    People generally eat more than thoroughly
conlifts with  health,  or permits them to attain the
utniolt vigour, of which  their natural constituti-
ons are capable.  The cuftom is established, and'it
is  difficult to eradicate it y notwjt.biian,dijig;  -#« 
T?2 :  Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.  •
fhould at leaft refolve not to eat, but thro'  hun-
ger, and always under a fubjection to reafen  ; be-
caufe, except in a very few cales, reafen conllaut-
ly fuggefts to us not to eat, when the Stomach has
an averfion to food. • A  fober moderate perfen is
capable of labour, I may fay,'-even of exceSfive la-
bour  of Some kinds-; of which great eaters are ab-
felutely  incapable. • Sobriety of itfelf cures  fuch
maladies as are otherwife incurable,  and  may re-
cover the molt fluttered  and unhealthy perfons.
              C H A P.   XXXIII.
      Of Mountebanks, Quacks,  and Conjurers,

                S T. "c  T.  S&1*
     ONE dreadful feourge Still remains to'be treat-*'
       ed of, = which occasions a greater mortality,
than all the distempers-1 have hitherto defeiibed ;
and which, as-long as it continues)  will defeat
our utmoft precautions  to'preferve the healths and
lives of the common people,  This, or rather", thefe  "
feourges, for they are-very numerous, are quacks; ,
of which there are two fpecies : the-moumebanks
fqv travellin-g- quacks, and thofe pretended phyfici- -
ans in villages and country places, both male and  '
female, known in Swijferland by the name of con-
jurers,  and who very effectually unpeople it.-
  The: firft of thefe, the mountebanks, without  ■
vifiting the fick, or thinking of their dillempers,
fell different medicines, fome of which are for ex-
ternal ufe, and thefe often do little or no-mifeliief;  •
but their*internal ones-are much oftener pernici-  •
ous.   I have  been a witnefs of their dreadful ef-  •
fects ; and we are notvifited by one of thefe wan-
dering caitiff's,  whofe admiffion into our country -
is not mortallyfatal, to-fojne of its inhabitants..- 
      Of Mountebanks, Qiiacks, and Conjurers.   ryj
 They are injurious alio in another refpect, as they
 cany off great Sums of money .with them, and le-
 vy annually Some thousands of livres, amongSt
 that  order  of the people,, who  have the leaft to
 Spare.   I have Seen, and with a  very painful con-
 cern,  the poor labourer and artifan,  who  have
 fcarcely poilefi'ed  the  common necelfaries of life,
 borrow wherewithal to  purchale,  aud%at a  dear
 price, the poifbn that was to complete their mise-
 ry, by increafing their maladies; and which, where
 they eS'caped with  their lives, has left them in  fuch
 a languid and inactive itate,  as has reduced their
 whole family to beggary.
   \ 563. An ignorant, knavifh,  lying, and  impu-
 dent fellow,, will always feducethe grofs and  cre-
 dulous niafs of people, incapable to judge of,  and
 eftimate any thing rightly; and adapted to be the
 eternal  dupes  of i'ueh, as are bafe enough to en-
 deavour to dazile  their weak understandings ; by
 which method thefe  vile quacks will certainly de-
 fraud them, as long as they  are tolerated.   But
 ought not the magistrates, the guardians, the pro-
 tectors,  the political fathers of the people,  to in-
 terpofe, and defend them from this danger, by fe-
 verely prohibiting  the  entrance of fuch pernicious
 fellows into  a country,, where  men's lives are very
 eltimable, and where money is fearce ; Since they
 extinguish the firft,  and carry off the laft,  with- ■
 out the  leaft poflibility of their being in any wife
 ufeful to it.  Can fuch forcible  motives as thefe
 fuller our magistrates to delay their expulfion  any
 longer,  whom there never was the leaft reafen for
 admitting ?'
  \ 564- It is acknowledged the conjurers, the re-
siding conjurers, do not carry out the current  mo-
ney of the country, like the itinerant quacks ;  but
the havock they make  among their fellow fubjects
is without intermiSfion,  whence  it muSt be very
great, as every  day  in the year is marked with
many oi" their victims.   Without.the leaft.know- 
r$4  Of Mountebanks,  Quacks, and Conjurer si

ledge or experience,  and offcnfively armed with :
three or four medicines, whofe nature they are ;>s
thoroughly ignorant of,  as of their unhappy pa-
tients difeafes ;  and which medicines, being almolt
all violent ones, are very certainly fo many Swords
in the hands of raging  madmen.   Thus  armed
and  qualified,  I fay, they aggravate the Sl'uditeft
disorders^ and  make thoSe that  are a little more
considerable, mortal ; but S'rom which the patients
Would have recovered, if left folely to the conduct
of nature ; and, for a ftill Stronger reaSou, if they
had  confided to the guidance of her  experienced
obfervers and afliftants.
   §  565.  The robber who affaflinates on the high-.
Way, leaves the traveller the refource of deS'end-
ing  himfelf, and the chance of being aided by the
arrival of other travellers :  but the poifoner, who '
forces himfelf into the confidence of a fick perfon, •
is a hundred times more dangerous, and as juft an
 object of punishment. ■
   The bands of highwaymen, and their individu-
 als,  that enter into  any country or district, are'
 defcribed as particularly as poflible to the publick* •
 It were equally to be wished, we had alfo a lift of'
 thefe pbylicab impoftors and iguorants  male and '
 female ; and that a moft exact defcription of them, •
 with the number, and-a brief fummary of their-
 murderous exploits*,  were  faithfully  published.'
 By  this means the populace might probably be in-
 spired with fuch a wholefome dread of them, that
 they  would no longer expofe their -lives to the '
 mercy of fuch executioners.
   \ 566. But  their blindnefs, with refpect to thefe
 two ferts of maleficent  beings, is inconceivable.
 That indeed in favour of the mountebank is fomc-
 what lefs grofs,  becaufe, as they are not perSbnal- '
 ly acquainted with him,  they may the more eafily
 credit him with fome part of the talents  and the '
 knowledge he arrogates   I Shall therefore inS'orm •
 them, and it cannot be repeated too  often, that' 
     'Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.   155
whatever ostentatious drefs  and  figure feme of
thefei impoftors make,  they  are  constantly  vile
wretches, who, incapable of earning a livelyhood .
hi an honeft way, have laid the foundation of
their fubfiftence on their own amazing Slock of
impudence, and  that of the weak  credulity of
the people ; that they have no  feientifick know-
lege ; that their  titles and patents  are  fb many
impositions, andinauthentick/"; Since by  a  Shame-
ful.abufe, fuch patents and titles are become ar-
ticles of commerce, which are to  be obtained at
very  low prices,  juft like  the fecond-hand laced
.cloaks .which they purchafe.at the brokers; that
their certificates of cures are fo many chimeras or
forgeries ; and that in fhort, if among the prodi-
gious multitudes of people who take their  medi-
cines, fome of them  fliould  recover, which it is
almoft phyfically impoSlible muft not fometimes be
the cafe, yet it would not be the lefs certain, that
 they are a pernicious destructive fet of men.  A
 thcuft of a rapier into the breaft has Saved a man's
life  by  feafonably opening an impoSthume in it,
 which might otherwife have killed him ; and ^yet
 internal penetrating wounds, with a fmall fword,
 are not the lefs mortal fbr one fuch extraordinary
 confequence.   Nor is it even furprizing that thefe
 mountebanks (which is equally applicable to con-
 jurers)  who kill thoufands of people, whom nature
 alone, or afliited by a phyfician, would  have fav-
,ed1  fliould now and then cure a patient who had
 been treated before by the ableft phyficians. Fre-
quently patients of that clafs, who  apply to thefe
 mountebanks and conjurers  (whether it has been,
 that they would not  fubmit to the treatment pro-
 per for their diftempers ; or whether the real phy-
 fician tired of the intractable creatures has difcon-
 tinued  his advice and  attendance) look  out for
 fuch doctors, as allure them of  a fpeedy cure, and
 venture to give them fuch medicines as  kill many,
 and cure one (who has had conftitution enough to 
1:56   Of Mount■rba::ks, Quacks, and Conjurers.
overcome them) a little fooner tnan a jnftly repu-
table phyfician would have done.  It is but too ca-
fy to procure, in  every  parish,  fuch lilts of their
patients, and of their feats,  as  would clearly t-
vince the truth of whatever has been Said here re-
lating to them
   §  56-7. The credit of this  market, this fairhunt-
ing doctor, furrounded by five or Six hundred  pea-
fonts,  Staring and gaping at him, and counting
themlelves happy in his condelcending to cheat
them  of their very  fcarce and  iiecelfar.y caSh, by
felling-them, for twenty times  more  than its real
worth, a medicine,  whofe beft quality were to be
only a ufelei's one;  the credit, 1 fay,  of this  vile,
yet  tolerated cheat, would quickly vauifh, could
each of his  auditors  be peiiuaded  of  what  is
ftrictly true, that except a  little more tendernefs
aud agility of hand, he  knows full as-much as his
doctor ;  and that if he could aflume as much im-
pudence, he would  immediately have as much a-
biiity, would equally  deferve the  Slime reputati-
on,  and to have the feme confidence .repofed
in him.,
   §  568. Were the populace capable of reafen-
ing, it were eafy to dilabufe them in thefe refpecls;
but as it is,  their  guardians  and conductors Should
reaSbn for them.  I have already proved  the ab-
fordity  of repoSing any confidence  in  mounte-
banks, properly  fo called ; aud  that reliance Some
have on the conjurer is ftill more flupid and  ridi-
culous.
   The very meaneft trade requires fome in ft ructi-
on : a man  does not commence  even a cobler, a
botcher  of old leather, without Serving an appren-
ticeship to it; and yet no time has been f'erveci, no
inllruction has been attended to, by thefe pretend-
ers to the moft neceifary, ufeful and  elegant pro-
fession.  We  do  not  confide the  mending,  the
cleaning of a watch to  any,  who have not fpent
-feveral years in coniidering how a watch is made.; 
      Of Mountebanks, Quacks,  and Conjurers.  15/7
what are  the requifites and caufes  of its going
right ; and the defects or impediments that make
it go wrong ;  and yet the preferving and  rectify-
ing the movements of the moft complex, the moft
delicate and exquiftte,  and the  moft eflimable
machine upon earth, is entrusted to people who
have not the leaft  notion of its Structure; of the
caufes of its motions ; nor of the instruments pro-
per to rectify their deviations.
  Let a foldier, difcarded  from his regiment for
his roguifh tricks,  or who is a deferter from it, a
bankrupt, a dilreputable ecclefiaSlic,  a drunken
barber,  or a multitude  of Such other worthlefs
people,  advertife that they mount, fet and fit up
all kinds of jewels and  trinkets in perfection; if
any  of thefe are not known ; if no perfon in  the
place has ever Seen any of their work;  or  if they
cannot  produce authentic  testimonials  of their
honefty, and their ability in their bufinefs, not a
Single individual will  trull them with two  penny-
worth of falfe Stones  to work upon ; in fhort they
muft be famifhed.   But  if, inftead of  profefling
themfelves jewellers,  they  poll  themfelves up as
phylicians; the crowd purchafe, at a high rate, the
pleasure of trulting them with the care of their
lives, the remaining part of which they rarely fail
to empoifbn.
  §  569. The moft genuine and excellent p hvfi-
cians, thefe extraordinary  men, who born with
the happieft talents, began to inform their under-
standings from their earlieft youth ; who have af-
terwards carefully  qualified themfelves by culti-
vating every branch  of  phyfick ;  who have Sacri-
ficed the bell  aud moft pleafurable days of their
lives, to a regular and  afliduous  investigation of
the human body ;  of its  various functions ;  of the
caufes that may impair or embarrafs them ;  and
informed themfelves of the qualities aud virtues of
every Simple and compound  medicine ; who have
Surmounted the difficulty aud loathlbmenefs ofliv-
   VOL. II.           .  '  P 
I'$8  Of Mountebanks, Qriacks, and Conjurers.
ino- in hofpitals among thoufands of patients ; and
who have added the medical observations of all a-
ges and places to their own ; thefe few and extra-
ordinary men,  1  Say, ftill conSider themSelves  as
fhort of that perfect ability, and confummate know-
ledge, which .they contemplate and  wjfh  for,  as
neceflary to guarding the precious depofitum of hu-
man  life  and  health,  confided  to tlieir charge.
Nevertheless, we  fee the fame ineftimable trea-
fures,  intrnfted  to  grofs and  Stupid men, born
without  talents,  brought up without  education
or culture; who S'requently can Scarcely read;
who are as profoundly  ignorant  of every fubject
that has any relation to phyfick,  as.the  favages  of
jQfia; who awake only  to drink away ;  who often
exercife their horrid trade,  merely to find them-
felves  in   ftrong liqour, and execute  it chiefly
when they are drunk : who, in Short, became pliy-
ficians, only from their incapacity to arrive  at  a-
ny trade or attainment ! Certainly fuch a conduct,
in creatures of the human  fpecies, muSt appear
very  altoniShing, and even  melancholy, to every
fenfible thinking man;  and  conltitute thehigheft
degree of abfurdity and extravagance.
  Should any perfen duly qualified, enter into an
examination of the medicines they ufe,  and com-
pare them  with the Situation and  fymptoms of*the
patients to whom .they give .them,  he muft be
ftruck with horror, and heartily deplore the fate
of that unfortunate part of  the human  race,
whofe lives, fo important to the  community, are
com mi ted  to the charge of the moft murderous
let of beings.
  § 570. Some of thefe caitiffs however, apprehend-
ing the force and danger of that objection, found-
ed on their want of Study and education, have en-
deavoured  to elude it, by infufing and  Spreading
a falfe, and indeed,  an impudent impious  preju-
dice among the people,  which prevails  too muck
?.t prcfent; and this is,  that  their talents for phy- 
      Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.   i f£
f»ck are a fupernaturalgiSt, and, of courfe, greatly
Superior to all human knowledge.   It were going
out of my province to expatiate on the indecency,
the fin,  and the irreligion  of fuch knavery, and
jncroaching upon the rights and perhaps the duty
of the clergy; but I intreat the liberty of obferv-
ing to this rel'pectable order of men, that this fu-
pcrllition, which is attended with dreadful confe-
rueuces, Seems to call for tlieir utmoft attention';
and in general, the e:-.puliion of fuperftition is the
more to be v, if bed, as a mind, imbued with  falfe
prejudices, is lefs adapted to imbibe a true and valu-
able doctrine. There are fern? very callous harden-
ed viih-in  amon»- this murdering band, who, with a'
riew toeftablifh tlieir influence and revenue, as well
upon fear as upon hope, have horribly ventured
fo far as to incline the populace to doubt, whether
they received their boafted gLc and  power from
heaven or from hell! And yet thefe are the men
who are nulled with the  health and lives of many
others.
  5 57F. One fact which I have already mention-'
ed, and which it feems impofiible to account for,'
is, thut great earneitnefs of the peafaut to procure
the beft uiliftance he can for his Sick cattle.' Ar
whatever distance the farrier lives, or fome perfon
who is SuppoSed qualified to be one (for unfbrtu-
iiately there is not  one in Swilferlaud)  if  he has
considerable reputation iu this way, the country-
man goes to conl'ult him, or purchases his vifit at
any price.  However expensive the medicines are,
which the horfe-doctor  directs, if they  are ac-
counted the beft, he procures them for his  poor
beaSt.  But if himSelf, his wife or children  fall
fick, he either calls in inxafiiflance  nor medicines,
or contents himfelf with fuch as are next at hand,
however pernicious they may be, though nothing
the cheaper on  that  account ; for certainly the
money,  extorted by fome of thefe phyfical conju-
rers from tlieir  patients, but oftner from their' 
j6o  Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.
heirs, is a very Shameful injustice, and calls loud-
ly for reformation.
   §  572. In  an excellent memoir or tract, which
will fhortly  be  publilhed,  on the population of
Swijferlaud, we fliali find an important  and  very
affecting remark,  which Strictly  demonstrates the
havocfc made by thefe immedical magicians or  con-
jurers;  and  which is  this;  that in  the common
courfe of years, the proportion between the num-
bers and deaths of the inhabitants of any one place,
is not extremely different in city  and country  : but
when the very fame epidemical diS'eafe attacks the
city and the  villages, the difference is enormous ;
.uid the number of deaths of the  former,compared
with that of" the inhabitants of the villages, where
the conjurer exercifes his bloody dominion, is in-
finitely more than the deaths in the city.
   I find in the fecond volume of the memoirs of the
^economical  fociety of Berne, for the year 1762,
-mother fact  equally interesting,  which is related
:y one  of the moft intelligent and Sagacious ob-
jervers, concerned in that work.  "  Pleurisies and
} eripneumonies (he fays) prevailed at Cottens  a la
Cote ; and fome peafants died under them, who had
* onfulted the conjurers,  and taken  their heating
medicines ; while of thofe,  who purt'ued a directly
■oppofite method,  almoft every one recovered."
   §  573.  But 1 Shall employ myfelf no longer en
this topic, on which the love of my fpecies alone
has prompted me  to fay thus  much ; tho' it de»-
ferves to be considered more in detail, and is, in
reality, of the greatcfl  confequence.   None,  me-
vhinks, could make themfelves eafy with refpect to
it fo much as pliyficians, if" they were conducted
 only by lucrative views »fince thefe conjurers di-
minish  the  number of thofe poor  people,  \\\\o
fometimes confult the real pliyficians,. and  with
feme care and trouble, but without  the leaft pro-
fit,  to thofe gentlemen.  But what good phyfician
 is mean, and vile enough to purchafe a few hou?s 
    Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.    iSf '
of eafe and tranquillity at fo high, fo very odious
a price ?
  P574. Having thus clearly  Shewn the  evils at-
tending this crying nufance,  I wifh I were able to
prefcribe an effectual remedy againSl it,' which I
acknowledge is far from being eafy to do.
  The firlt neceflary point probably was to publish
and demoHllrate the great and public danger, and
to diibofe the Slate to employ  their attention on
this fatal, this mortal abufe;  which,  joined  to o-
ther caules of depopulation, has a manifeft ten-
dency to render Swijferland a del'art.
  § 575. The Second, and doubtlefs the moft ef-
fectual means,  which I have already mentioned is,,
not to admit any travelling mountebank to  enter
this country ;  and to fet a mark on all the conju-
rers :  it may probably alfo  be found  convenient,
to inflict corporal puuifhment on them ; as it has
been already adjudged in different countries, by fo-
vereioii edicts.  At the  very  leaft they Should be
marked with public infamy, according to the fol-
lowing cuftom practifed  in a great city in France.
*'' When any mountebanks appeared in Montpelier,
the magistrates had a power to mount each of them
upon  a meagre iniferable aSV, with his head to the
als's tail. In this condition they were led through-
out the whole city, attended  with the Shouts and
hooting  of the children and the mob, beating
them, throwing filth and ordure at them, reviling
them, and dragging them all  about."
   § 576. A third conducive means, would be the
in: l ructions and admonitions of the clergy on this
ihbject, to the peafants in  their feveral  parilh.es.
For this  conduct of the,common people  amount-,
ing, in effect,  to filicide, to  Self-murder, it muft
be important to convince them of it.   But the lit-
tle efficacy of the Strongest and  repeated exhorta-
tions on' fo many other articles, may  caule us to
 entertain a very reafonable doubt of  their luccefs
oathis,   Cuftom feems to have determined, that
                       P 3 
l6'2    Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurer),
there is nothing in our day, which excludes a per-
fen from the title and appellation of an honelt cr
honourable man, except  it be meer and convicted
theft;  and that for this Simple and obvious reaSbn,
that we attach ourfelves more Strongly to our pro-
perty,  than to any thing elf'e.  Even homicide is
eiteemed  and reputed honourable in many cafes.
Can we reafenably expect then to convince  the
multitude, that it is criminal to confide the care of
their health to thefe poiSoners, in hopes of a cure of
their diferders ? A much likelier method of Suc-
ceeding on this point would certainly be, to con*
■vince the deluded people, that it will coft  them
lefs to be  honeltly and judicioufly treated, than to
liiffer under the hands of thefe executioners. The
expectation of a good and cheap health-market,
will be apt to influence them more,  than their
dread of a crime would.
   \  577.  A fourth mejans of removing or reftrain-
ing this nufance, would be to expunge, from  the
almanacks, all the  aftrological  rules relating to
phyfic ; as they continually conduce to prefervc
and increafe feme dangerous prejudices  and noti-
ons in  a fcience, the fmalleft  errors in which  are'
fometimes fatal.  I had  already reflected on  the
multitude of peafants  that have been loft, front
pottponing, or miftiming a bleeding ; only becaufe
the  fovereign  decifion  of an almanack had  di-
rected it at fome other time.  May it not alfb be
dreaded,  to mention it by the way, that the Same
caufe, the almanacks may prove injurious to their
rural oeconomy and  management ; and that, by
advifing with the moon, which  has no  influence,
an,d is of no  coiifequence in vegetation or other
country bufinefs,  they may be wanting in a  due
attention to fuch other circumftances andregulati^
©ns, as are of real importance in them ?
   \  578.  A  fifth concurring remedy againft  this
popular evil would be the- e-ftabnfhment of hofpi- 
     Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.    163
tals, for the reception of poor patients, in the dif*
ferent cities and towns of Swijferland.
  There may be a great  many eafy and concur-
ring means of erecting and endowing fuel), with
very little new expence ;  and immenfe advantages
might refult  from them :  befides,  however confix
derable the e'xpences might prove, is not the ob*
jectof them of the moft  interesting, the moft im*
portant nature .' It is  inconteftably our Serious du-i
ty ; and  it would foon be  manifeft, that the per-
formance of it would be attended with more effen-
tial intrinsic"  benefit  to the community, than any
Other application of money could produce.   We
muft either admit, that the multitude, the  body
of the people is ufelefs to the flate, or agree,  that
care fhould be taken to  preferve and continue
them.  A very refpectable Englifhman, who, after
a previous and thorough confideration of this fub*
ject, had applied himfelf very  afliduoufly and ufe-'
fully on the means of increasing the  riches and
the happineSs of his countrymen, complains,  that
in Engtand, the very country in which there are
the molt  hofpitals, the poor who are fick  are not
fufficiently affifted.  What  a deplorable deficience
of the neceflary alliltance for fuch muft then be in
a country, that is not provided with a fingle hofpi*
tal ? That aid from furgery and phyfic, which a-
bounds in cities,  is not  fufficiently diffufed into
country-places ; and the peafants are liable to fome
Simple and moderate difeafes, which,  for  want of
proper care, degenerate into a Slate of infirmity,
that Sinks them into premature death.
   \ 579.  In fine,  if it  be  found impoflible to
cxtinguifh  thefe  abufes  (for thofe  arifing  from
Quacks are not the only ones,  nor is that title ap-
plied to as many as  really deferve  it) beyond all
doubt  it would be for the benefit and fafety of
the public, upon the  whole, entirely  to  prohibit"
tlie art, the practice  of phyfic itfelf.  When real
and good phyftciaas cannot effect as  much  good 
164    Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.
as ignorant  ones and impoftures can do mifehief,
feme real advantages muft accrue to theftate, and
to the whole Species, from employing  none of ei-
ther.   I aSfirm it, after much reflection, and  from
thorough conviction, that anarchy in medicine, is
the moft dangerous anarchy,  for this profeflion,
when loafed from  every  restraint,'  and fubjected
to no regulations, no laws, is the more cruel Scourge
and affliction, from the  inceffant  exercife of it;
and fhould its anarchy, its diforders prove irreme-
diable, the practice  of an  art, become fo very  nox-
ious, fhould  be  prohibited under the  feverell pe-
nalties : or, if the conftitution of any government
was inconfittent with the application of fe violent
a remedy, they Should order public prayers againlt
the  mortality  of  it, to be offered  up in all the
churches; as the cuftom  has been in other great
and general calamities.
   \ 580. Another abufe, lefs fatal indeed than thofe
already mentioned  (but which, however has real
ill  confequences, and  at he beft,  carries out a
great deal of-money from us, tho'  lefs  at  the ex-
pence of the common people, than of thofe of eaSy
circumftances) is that blindnefs and  facility,  with
which many Suffer themfelves to be  impoicdupon,
by the  pompous advertifments of feme tathultcon,
feme universal remedy, which they purchale at a
high rate, from feme foreign pretender  to a mighty
fecret or nofirum. Perfons of a clafs  or two above
the populace do not care to run after  a Mounte-
bank, from fuppofing they Should depredate them-
felves by mixing with  the herd.  "Vet if that very
Quack, inSlead of coining among us,  were to re-
fide in  Some foreign city ; if, inltead of polling up
his lying puffs and pretentions at the corners of the
ftreets,  he would get tbem inferted in the gazettes, ■
and news-papers ; if inftead of Selling  his boaited
remedies iu  perfon,  he fhould eftabliSh  Shops or of-
fices for that purpofe in every city ; and finally, if
instead of felling taeni  twenty tiroes  above their 
     Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.    I ce-
real value, he would Still double that price ; inflead
of having the common people for his customers, he
would take  in the wealthy citizen, perfons of* all
ranks, and from almoft every country ; for Strange
as it feems,  it is certain,  that a perfen of fuch a
condition, who is fenfible  in  every  other  refpect ;
and who will fcruple to  confide his health to the
conduct of fuch phyficians as would be the juftefl
objects of his  confidence, will  venture  to take,
through  a very unaccountable  infatuation,  the
moft dangerous medicine,  upon  the credit of an
impofing advertiSemeut, published by as worthlefs
and ignorant a  fellow as the Mountebank whom
he delpiSes,  becaufe the latter blows  a horn  un-
der his window ; and yet who differs from the Sbr-
mcr in no other reSpects except thofe  I  have juft
pointed out.
  § 581. Scarcely a year pafles, without one or an*
other fuch advertised and vaunted medicine's get^
ting into high  credit ;  the  ravages of which are
more or lefs, in proportion  to its being more or
lefs in  vogue.  Fortunately,  for the human  fpe#
cies, but few of thefe nofirums have attained an e-
qual reputation with Ailhaud's powders,  an inha-
bitant of Aix in, Provence,- and unworthy the name
of a phyfician ;  who has over-run Europe for feme
years with a violent purge, the remembrance of
which will not be effaced before  the extinction of
all its-victims.  I attend now, and have for a long
time pall, feveral patients, whofe  diforders I pal-
liate without hopes of ever curing them ; and who
owe their prefent melancholy State of body, to no-
thing but the manifest confequences of thefe pow-
ders ;  and I have actually feen,  very  lately,  two
perfons who have  been cruelly  poifoned  by this
boalted remedy of his.   A French phyfician, as e-
minent for his talents and ljis feience, as eltimable
for his perfonal character in other refpects,  has
published feme of the unhappy and tragical con-
fequences which the ufe of  them has occaiioned j 
 l66  Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.
 and were a collection published of the fame event!
 from them,  in every place where they have been
 introduced, the fixe and the contents of the vo-
 lume would make a very terrible one.
   § 583.  It is fome comfort however, that all the
 other medicines thus puffed  and vended have not
 been  altogether fb fafhionable,  nor  yet quite fo
 dangerous :  but  all polled and  advertised medi-
 cines Should  be  judged  of upon this  principle,
 (and  I do not know a more infallible one in phy-
 Sicks, nor in the practice  of phyfick) that  who-
 ever advertises any medicine, as an un'nerl'al re-
 medy for all dif'eal'es, is an abfolute impoltor, Such
 a  remedy being  impoflible and contradt tory.  I
 Shall not here offer to detail'fuch proofs as  may be
 given of the verity of this proposition ; but I free-
 ly appeal for it to every fenfible man, who will re-
 flect a little on the different caufes of difeafes ; on
 the oppofition of thefe caufes ;  and on the abfur-
 dicy of Attempting to oppofe  fuch various diScafes,
 and their caufes, by one and the fame remedy.
  As many as Shall fettle tlieir judgments  proper-
 ly on this principle, will never be impofed upon,
 by the fuperficial glofs of thofe fophifins contrived
 to prove,  that all difeafes proceed from one caufe ;
 and that this caufe is ib very  tractable, as to yield
 to  one boaltect  remedy.   They  will perceive at
 once, that fuch an afiertion  muft be founded in
 the utmoft knavery or ignorance;  and they will
 readily difcover where the fallacy lies.  Can any
 one expect to cure a dropfy, which arifes from too
 great a laxity of the fibres, and too great an atte-
nuation or thinnefs of the blood, by the fame me-
 dicines that are ufed to cure an inflammatory dif-
eafe, in which the fibres are too ftiff and tenfe, and
the blood  too thick and denfe ?  Yet confult the
news-papers  and the polls, and you will See pub-
lished in  and  on all of them, virtues juft  as con-
 tradictory; and certainly the authors of fuch ppi~ 
      Of Mountebanks, Qriacks,  and Conjurers.  16.7
 4bnous contradictions ought to be legally puniflied
 for them.
   § 583. I heartily wifh the publick would attend
 here to  a very natural and obvious reflection.   I
 have treated in this  book but  of a  fmall number
 of difeafes,  moft of them acute ones ;  and I am
 pofitive, that no competent well qualified  phyfi-
 cian  has ever.employed fewer medicines, in the
 .treatment of the difeafes themfelves.   Neverthe-
 lefs I have  preScribed Seventy one,  and I do not
 See which of them I could retrench,  or diSpenfe
 with  the want of, if I  were obliged  to  ufe  one
 leSs.  Can it be SuppoSed then, that any one Sin-
 gle medicine, compounded or fimple, fliali cure
 thirty times as many difeafes as thofe I  have  treat-
 ed of .»
   § 584.  I  fliali add  another very important  pb-
 fervation, which doubtlefs may have occurred to
 many of my readers ;  and it is this,  that  the dif-
 ferent cauSes of difeafes, their different  characters;
 the differences which arife from the necelfary al-
 terations that happen throughout their progrefs
 and duration ;  the complications of which tFfey
 are luSceptible ; the varieties which refult from the
 State of different epidemics, of feafens, of fexes,
 and of many other circumftances ; that thefe  di-
 versities,  I Say, oblige us very often to vary and
 change the medicines ;  which proves  how very
 ticklish and  dangerous it is to have  them direct-
 ed by perfens, who have fuch an imperfect know-
 ledge of them,  as thofe who are not  phyficians
 muft be fuppofed to have.  And the circUmfpecti-
 on to be ul'ed in fuch  cafes, ought to be proporti-
oned to the  intereft the afliftant takes  in the pre-
fervation of the patient ; and  that love of  his
neighbour with which he is animated.
  § 585. Muft not the fame arguments  and reflec-
tions unavoidably fuggeft the neceflity of an en-
tire tractability on the part of the patient, and of
his friends and afiiftants ? The history of difeafes, 
168  Of Mountebanks, Quacks, andConjttrers.
which have their Hated times of beginning, of ma- •
nifelling and difplaving the^nlelves, of  arriving
at, and  continuing in rieir height, and of decreaf-
ing ; do not all thele deinonlti are the neceflity of
continuing the fane medicines, as long as the
character of' the diltemper  is the fame ;  and the
danger  of changing them often,  only becauSe
what has been given, has not afforded immediate
relief?  nothing can  injure the patient more  than
this instability and caprice.   After the indication
which his, distemper SuggeSls, appears to be well
deduced, the medicine  muft  be chofen  that  is
likeliett to refift the caufe of it ; and it muft be
continued as long as no new fymptoin or circum-
stance fupervenes, which requires an alteration of
it ; except it Should  be evident, that an  error had
been incurred in giving  it.  But to conclude that
 a medicine is uielefs or infiguificant, becaufe  it
does not remove or abate the diltemper as Speedi-
ly, as the impatience of* the fick would naturally
defire it;  and to change it for another,  is as un-
reasonable, as it would  be  for a man to break his
watch,  becaufe the hand takes  twelve  hours, to
make a revolution round the dial-plate.
   \  586. Phyficians have feme regard to the State
 of the  urine of lick perfons, efpecially in inflam-
 matory fevers; as  the  alterations  occuring in it
 help them to judge  of the  changes that may have
 been made in the character and confidence of the
 humours in  the mafs of blood ;  and  thence may
 conduce to determine the time, in which it will be
 proper no dispofe  them  to  fome  evacuation.  But
 it is grofs ignorance to imagine,  and utter kna-
 very and  impollu.e to perfuade the fick, that the
 mere inspection of their urine folely, fufficiently
 enables others to judge of the fymptoms and caufe
 of the difeafe,  and to direct the belt  remedies for
 it.  This infpection of  the urine can only  be  of
 ufe when it is duly  infpe.ct.ed; when we confider at
 the fame  time  the  exact ftate, and the very looks 
     Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.   $0
of the  patient ; when thefe  are compared  with
the degree of the Symptoms of the malady ;  with
the othef eyacuations ;  and when the phyfician is
Strictly  informed of all external  circumftances,
which m*y be confidered as foreign to  the  mala-
dy ; which  may  alter or affect the  evacuations,
Such as particular articles of food, particular drinks,
diflVrent medicines, or the very quantity of drink.
Where  a perfon  is not furuifhed  with an exact
account of thefe circumftances, the mere inspecti-
on  of the urine is of no Service, it fuggeSts no in-
dication, nor any expedient ; and mere common
fenfe Sufficiently proves, anil it may be boldly af-
firmed,  that whoever orders any  medicine,  with-
out any other knowledge of the difeafe, than what
an  inspection of urine affords, is a rank knave,
and the patient, who takes them is a dupe.
   S 587. And here now any  reader may very na-
turally  afk,  whence can fuch a ridiculous creduli-
ty  proceed,  upon a fubject fe  effentially interest-
 ing to us, as our own health ?
   In anfwer  to this  it Should be obferved,  that
 fome Sources, feme cauSes of it feem appropriated
 merely to the people, the multitude.  Tlie firft of
 thefe is, the mechanical impreffion of parade and
 Shew upon the fenfes.  2. The prejudice they have
 conceived, as I faid before,  of the conjurers cu-
 ring by a fupernatural gift.  3. The  notion the
 country people entertain, that tlieir diftemper and
 diforders are of a character and Species peculiar to
 themfelves, and that the  phyficians, attending the
 rich, know  nothing concerning- them.  4. The ge-
 neral miftake that their employing the conjurer
 is  much cheaper. 5. Perhaps a lheepifh Shame-fa-.
 ced timidity may be one motive, at k: a ft with fome
 of them.  6. A  kind of fear too, that pbvueians
 will conSider their caies with lefs care and  con-
 cern, and be likely to treat  them more cavalierly ;
 a fear  which increafes that confidence, which thtf
 peafant, and which iu/Wd every man has in his
    Vol. II.            Q. 
*J9   ®f ■^^'•''■I'-'banliy Qnacks,  and-Conjurers,
equal ; being founded in equality itfelf.  And, 7?
the diS'courl'e and converfation of Siich illiterate
empirics being more to their tafte, and more  adapt-
ed to their apprehension.
  But it is lefs eafy to account for this blind con-
fidence, which perfons of a  fhpei ior clais  (whole
education beino conlidered as much better  arc re-.
    1    -    -      -   -        -    .
garded as better reafoners) repofe in  thele boaited
remedies ;  and even for  feme conjurer in  vogue.'
Neverthelefs, even  fome  of their motives may be
probably afligned.
  The firft is, that great principle of fl'ity,  or felf-
fiefs,  as it  may  be called, innate to  man,  which,
attaching him to the prolongation of his own  ex-
iftence, more than to any other thing in the uni-
verSe, keeps his eyes, his utmoft attention,  conti-
nually fixed upon this object , and compels  him to
ma!;e it the very point,  the purpofe of all  his ad-
vances and proceedings: notwithstanding  it does
not. permit him  to distinguish the Safest paths to it
from the dangerous ones. This is the fureSl and
fhorteSt way, laystbme collector at the  turnpike,
he pays, paffes  and  perifhes from the precipices
that occur in his route.
  This very principle is  the fource of another er-
ror, which confitts in repoSuig, involuntarily, a
greater degree of confidence in thofe, who  flatter
and fall in the moft with us in our favourite opi-
nions.  The well apprifed phyfician,  who forelees
the length and the danger of a. difeafe ; and who
is a man of too  much integrity to affirm what he
does not think,  mult, from  a neceflary construc-
tion of the human  frame and  mind, be liltened
to lefs favourably, than he who flatters us by fay-
ing  what we with.  We endeavour  to elongate^
to abfent ourfeivts, from the Sentiments, the judg-
ment of the firft . we fmile,  from ielf-complacen*-
ry, at thole of the lait, which in a very little time
,>:e Sure of obtaining our preference. 
     Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.   l?[
  A  third caufe, which refults from the fame prin-
ciple, is, that we give ouiSelves up the moft readi-
ly to his  conduct,  whofe method feems  the  leaft
difagreeable, and flatters our inclinations the molt.
The  phyfician who enjoins a Strict  regimen ;  who
infills upon f;ine reftfaints  and'Self-denials ;  who
intimates  the'Hecellity  of time and  patience for
the accomplishment cf the cure, and' who expects
a thorough regularity through  the courfe  of it;
di I gulls a patient who has been accultomed to in-
i!n!:;el'.issnvii tafte'and huucur ; the quack,  who
ii'wer'helitifcs at complying with "it,  charms him.
The  idca-of a long and feinewhat distant cure, to
bfc obtained'at the end of an" unpleafant and unre-
Lf.vug regimen, 'ihppofes a very perilous  difeafe:
this idea di(j>ofes the pati?nt to" diiguft and  me-
lancholy,  he cannot  fu bm.it to it Without pniii ;
ahd he embraces,  almoft v.uc.uifcionlly, Merely to
avoid this, ; ri oppolite iyllcm -which  pre fonts bun
only with the idea of fuJi ;i diitcn ;tr, us  will
rive Way to a few doles of fimpki.
  That propenfity to  the  new and  marvellous,
which tyrannizes Over fo large'a proportion oi'c.r
 fpecies, and  which has advanced fo many  a'rfurd
 peifons and things into reputation, is afouv.h and
 n very powerful motive.  An  irkfoine Satiety,.and
 a tirefomneis, as it were, from the  fan... object's,
 is what our nature is  apt to be very  apprehensive
 of';'  though we are inceflantly conducted towards
 it, by  a  perception  of Some void,  Some  empti-
 nefs in ourfelves, and even  in  Society too ;  but
 Hew and extraordinary fenfations routing us i. cm
 this  difagreeable ftate,  more  effectually than  ;n.r
 thing elle, we unthinkingly abandon ouuilvis to
 them, without forefeeiiig their confequence .
   A fifth caufe arifc^" ftum-* feve-.i eights of man-
 kind being  managed by, or following, the -other-
 eighth ; and, generally Speaking, the eighth th.;t.
 is fo very forward to  manage them, is the  lcai fit"
 and  worthy to do it; whence all  muft go ainift,
                       Q.2 
3 72   Of Mountebanks, Quacks,  and Conjurers.
and  abfurd and embarraffing  confeqiunces enfue
from the condition of Society.  A  man of excel-
lent fcnle frequently fees only through the eyes of
a fool,  of an intriguing fellow,  or  of a cheat ;  hi
this  he judges Wrong, and his conduct muft be fo
too.  A man  of real merit cannot coruect himfelf
with thofe who are addicted to caballing ; and j ct
fuch are  the perfous,  who-frequently conduct'o-
thers.
   Some other caufes night be annexed  to thefe,
but  I Shall mention only one of them, which I ha\c
already hinted, and the truth of which  I am con-
firmed  in from Several years experience ; which j---,
that we generally love thofe who reaion more ab-
surdly  than ourlelves, better than  thofe who con-
vince us of our own weak reafbning.
   I  hope  the  reflections every reader will make on
thefe caufes  of our ill com! net on  this important
head, may contribute to correct or diminish  it ;
aud to derlroy thofe prejudices whofe fatal effects
We may continually obforve.

   [N. B.  The multitude  of a'' the ob jells of this ex-
cellent chapter in this metropolis, and doubtlej's through-
out Engluud, were jirong inducements to lave  taken a
little wholefome notice oj  the impojiors of a fw pJl tlie
viofi pernicious.    But on  a fecond psrnfal of iha part
of the original and its tranftation, I thu.r^'jt it impojibk
\without defending to perianal, kot.hujI tntudotes about
the vermin) to add any thing material upon a fubjeQ,
which the  Author has with  Juch eney, exhaujted.  lie
even feems, by fome of his defcriptions, tu have taken
cognizance of  a few of our ?nojl Jelj'-dignijud itinerant
empirics j   as  thjfe geniufes jiud it necejj\iry fovietma
to appeafe  the pub lick  with  a tr asportation of them-
felves.   In truth,  L'r. Tiilht has, in a viafierly way,
thoroughly dijfecled and difplayed the whole genu-, evt- ■
ry fpecies  oj  quacks.   And when  /<.  comes to  account
for that jacility,  with  which perfons   of very dif\rCht*
principles from them, and of bitter ir.telle&s, Jirjt If.-'- 
    Queftions neceffary to be anfwered a Phyfician. i 73
 en to, and finally countenance fuch caitiffs,  he pene-
 trates into fome of the ?noft latent weakuejfes of the hu-
 man mind; even fuch as are often fecrets to their own-
 ers.   Jt is difficult, throughout this  difquifitton, not to
 admire the writer j but impoffible not to love  the man,
 the ardent philanthropifi.   His fentiment that-----" A
 u man of real merit cannot connect  himfelf with thofe
 " who are addiBed to caballing,"-----/'/ exquifitely juji,
 and fo liberal, that it never entered into the mind of any
 diftugenuous man,  however dignified,  in  any projeffion.
 Perfons oj the fimplefi hearts and purejl refections mujl
Jhrink at every  confcioufnefs of artifice;  and fecretly
 reproach themfelves for each fuccefs, that has redound-
 ed to them at the expence of truth.]   K.
              CHAP.  XXXIV.

Containing Quefiions abfolutely neceffary to  be anfwer*
  id exaitly by the Patient, who confulti a Phyfician.

                'S E C  T.  588.

    GREAT confideration and experience are ne-
     celfary to form a right judgment of the ftate
of a*parient, whom the phyfician has not pfcrfo-
nally feen ; even though he fliould receive the beft
information it is poflible to give him, at  a distance
Siom the patient.   But this  difficulty  is greatly
augmented, or rather changed into  an impoflibi-
lity, when his information is not exact and fufli-
cient.  It has frequently happened to my Self, that
after having examined  peafants who came to get
advice fcr others,  I did not venture to preferibe,
becaufe they were not able to give me a fufficient
information,  in order to my  being certain of the
distemper.   To prevent this great inconvenience,
1 fubjoin a lift of fuch questions,  as  indifpcnf.ibly
iccptirc elenr and direct anfwers.
                       0.3 
j 74 Queflions neceffary tn be anfwer ed a Phyjuuv..

                i,\ neral Quefiions.

  What is the patient's age \
  Is he generally a healthy perfon ?
  What is his general courfe  of-life ?
  How long has he been Sick  ?
  In what manner  did  his prefent ficknefs begin,
or appear ?
  Has he any fever ?
  Is his pulfe hard or foft ?
  Has he ftill tolerable Strength, or is he weak ?
  Does he keep his bed in the day time, or quit it ?
  Is he  in  the fame  condition throughout the
 whole day i
  Is he ftill, or reltlefs ?
   Is he hot, or cold 1
   Has he pains in the head, the throat, the breaft,
 the llomach, the belly, the loins, or in the limbs,
 the extremities»of  the body ?
   Is his tongue dry ?  Does he complain of thirft ?
 of an ill talte in  his mouth ?  or Teachings to vo-
 mit ?  or of an averfion to food ?
   Does he go to Stool often or feldom ?
   What appearance have his Stools, and what i3  ■
 their  ufual quantity ?
   Does he make much urine ?   What appearance
 has his uripe, as to colour and contents ? Are they
 generally much alike,  or do they change often •
   TJoes  he  fweat ?
   Does he expectorate,  or cough up ?
   Does he get fleep i
   Does he draw his breath eafily :
   What regimen does he obferve in  his ficknefs ?
   What medicines has he taken I
   What effects have they produced ?
   Has he never had the fame diltemper before ?

    ( 589. The difeafes  of women and children are
 attended with peculiar circumftances; fo that when
 advice is aftcdfcr them, anfwers muit be given, 
    Quefiions neceffary to be anfiuiered a Phyfician. i jf
 not only to the preceding questions, which relate
 to fick perfons in general ;  but alfb to the follow-
 ing, which regard thefe particularly.

         Que fi ions with Refpeil to Women.
  Have they  arrived at tlieir monthly difebarges,
 and are thefe regular ?
  Are they pregnant ?  If fe, how long fince ?
  Are they in child-bed ?
  Has their delivery been happily accomplished I
  Has the mother cleanl'ed fufficiently ?
  Has her milk come  in due time and quantity I
  Does She fuckle the  infant herfelf ?
  ls-fhe fubject to the whites ?

          Que fi ions relating to Children. ■

  What is the child's exact age ?"
  How many  teeth has he cut i
  Does he cut them painfully :
  Is he  any wife ricketty, or fubject to knots or^
 kernels ?
  Has he had the fmall-pocks ?
  Does the child void worms, «pwards  or down=»
 wards ?
  Is his  belly  large, fwelled, or hard ?
  Is his  fleep  quiet,  or otherwise ?

  § 590. Befides thefe general queftions, common
in all the difeafes of the different fexes and ages,
tlie perfen confulting inuft  alio anfwer to thofe,
which have a clofe and direct relation to the  dif-
eafe, at that very time affecting the fick.
  For example,  in  the quinfey, the condition of
the throat mutt be exactly enquired into.  In  dif-
eafes of the breafl, an account muft be given of
the patient's pains ; of" his cough ;  of the oppref
 fion, and of  his breathing,  and expectoration.  I
Shall not enter upon a  more particular detail; com-
mon fcnfe will fufficiently extend this plan or  foe. 
Xfo Quefiions neceffary to be anfwered a Phyfici.tn.
cimen to other difeafes ;  and though thefe quefU-
ons may feem numerous, it will-always be eaf'y to
write down their anfwers in as little room,  as the
queftions  take up here.   It were even to be wish-
ed, that perlbhs of every rank, who occafionally
write for medical advice  and directions, would ob-
ferve Such a plan or fucceSIion, in the body of their
letters.    By this means,  they would frequently
procure the  moft fatisfactory anfwers ;  and  Save
themfelves the trouble of writing fecond letters,
to give  a  neceflary explanation of the fir St.
   The  fuccefs  of remedies depends,  in a veiy
great meafnre,  on a very exact Ttnowledge of the
difeafe  ; and that knowledge-on the precife infor-
mation of it, which is laid before the phyfician. 
   TABLE

                  OF THE

 PRESCRIPTIONS  and MEDICINES,

Referred to in the foregoing Treatise;
  which, with the Notes beneath them,  are
  to be read before the taking, or Applica-
  tion, of any of the faid Medicines.


   AS, in order to afcertain the dofes of medicines,
     I have generally done it by pounds, ounces,
half ounces, ixc. ire.  and as this method, efpeci-
ally to the common people, might prove a little
too obfeure and embarraffing, I have fpecified here
the exact weight of water, contained in fuch  vei-
il-ls,  or liquid- meafures,  as are  moft commonly
ui.d  in the country.
  The pound which I mean, throughout  all thefe
prescriptions,  is that confiding of Sixteen ounces.     '
Thefe ounces contain eight drachms, each drachm     f
confifling  of three Scruples, and each Scruple of     J
twenty grains ; the medical Scruple of Paris folely     >
containing twenty four grains.
  The liquid meafure, the pot ufed at Berne, being     ['
that  I always fpeak of, may be eitiiuated, without .    \
any material error, to contain  three  pounds and     f
a ijuarter, which is equal to three pints, and eight     ^
common Spoonfuls, -English meafure   But the ex-     I
act ueight of the  water,  contained in the pot of
Jd-erne., fceing fifty one ounces and a quarter only* ,   ■ 
178            Table  of Remedies,
it is Strictly equal but to three pints and fix com-
mon fpoonfuls Englijh.  This, however, is a differ-
ence of no importance, in the ufual drinks or ali-
ments of the fick.
  The fmall drinking  glafs we  talk of, filled fo
as  not  to  run over, contains three ounces and
three quarters,' But filled, as we prop.ofe it fhould
for the fick,  it is  to be eftimatcd  only at three
ounces.
  The common middle Sized cup, though rather
large  than little,  contains three  ounces and- a
quarter : but, as dealt out to tlie fi; !., it Should ret
be  eftimated, at the  utmoll, above three ounces.
  The fmall glafs  contains feven common Spoon-
fuls ; fo that a Spoonful is fuppofed to-be equal to
half an ounce.
  The fmall fpoon,  or coffee fpoon> when of its
ufual fize and  cavity, may contain thirty drops, or
a few more ; but, in the exhibition of medicines,.
it may be reckoned at thirty drops.  Five or fix>of
thefe are deemed  equal in meafure to a common
foup-fpoon.
   The bafoii or porrenger,  mentioned in the pre-
sent'trearifey holds, without running  over, the
quantity of five glafles,  which  is  equivalent to
eighteen ounces and three quarters.  It may be e-
itimated, however, without a fraction, at eighteen
 ounces ; and a fick perSbn fliould never be allow-
 ed to take more than a third part of this quantify
 of nourishment, at any one time.
    The dofes in'all the following prefcriptions are
 adjusted to  the  age of an adult or grown man,
 from  the  age of eighteen to that of fixty years.
 From the age  of twelve to eighteen, two thirds of
 that dofe  will generally be fufficient ;  and Irom
 twelve down to feven  years, onetialf;  diminish-
 ing this ftill lower,  in proportion to  the greater
 youth of the patient:  fo that not more than one
 eighth of the dofe prefcribed Should  be given to
 an infant of fome months old, or under one year.. 
               Table of Remedies.              t*y
But  it muft alfb be confidered,  that their differ-
ent conltitutions will  make a  confiderable differ-
ence in adjufting  their .different doles.   It  were
to be wished, on  this account, that every perfon
would careS'ully obferve, whether a ftrong clofe is
neceffary to purge him,  or  if  a fmall one is Suffi-
cient;  as  exactneS's is moSl  important, in adjust-
ing the dotes of fuch medicines,' as are intended
to purge,  or to evacuate in any other manner.

                     N°- i.
  Take a pugil or large pinch between the thumb
and  fingers, of elder-flowers;  put  them  into an
earthen-ware mug or porrenger,  with two ounces
of honey, and an ounce and a half of good vinegar.
Pour upon them three pints and.onequarter of'boil-
ing water.  Stir it about a little  with a fpoon, to
mix and diffolve  the  honey; then  cover up the
mug ;  and, when the liquor L  cold, itrain it thrd*
a linen cloth.
                     N°- 2.  '
  Take two ounces of whole barley,  cleanfe  and
wafh it well  in  hot water,  throwing away, this
water  afterwards.   Theu boil it in five  chopins
or Englifh pints of water,  till the .barley burlts
and opens. Towards the  end of the boiling, throw
in one drachm and a half of .nitre (Saltpetre)  Strain
it through a  linen cloth, and  then  add to it one
ounce  and a half of honey,  and  one ounce of vi-
negar,*
                    N°-  3.
  Take the fame quantity of barley as before, and
inSlead of nitre, boil in it, as Soon as the barley is
put in  to boil, a quarter  of au ounce of cream of
tartar.  Strain it, ,and add nothing elfe \ to it.

  * This mikes an agreeable drink : and the notion of its being wind/
ii idle ; fince it is fo only to thofe,  with whom barley does not agiee. It
ir.ny, where barley is not procurable, be made from oit.«.
  } l:i thofe cafes mentioned } 241. 262. ?8"i. inftcadof the barley, fo'-_r
ounres of grafs roots may be boiled in the  fiiiic c.uat.tity  of wattr ice
J-iii i'\ !x r, wiih the cream of tartar. 
rl8o               Table  of Remedies.
                      N'-  4.
   Take three ounces of  the frefiielt fweet almonds,
 and one ounce of gourd or melon  feeds;  bruile
 them in a mortar, adding to them, by a little at a
 time, one pint of water, then 11 rain  it through li-
 nen.  .Bruile what remains again, adding gradu-
 ally to it another pint of water -,-ihcn llraining,
 and addung water to the re-fidue, till full three pints
 at leuft of water are thus ufed ; after tvhich it may
 again be poured upon the bruitetl mal's, Stirred well
 about, and then be  finally Strained  off.  Half an
 ounce of Sugar may  Safely be bruited with the al-
 monds aud feeds at firft, tho" Some weakly imagine
 it too heating ; and delicate perlbns may  be  al-
 lowed a little orange-flower water with it.
                       N°-  c.
    Take two  pugils of mallow leaves and flowers,
 cut them fmall, and po»r a pint of boiling  water
 upon them.   After Handing Some time, Strain it,
 adding  one ounce of honey to  it.  For  want of
 mallows, which is preferrable, a Similar gh (ler may
 be made of-the leaves of mercuiy, pellitory of the
 wall, theraarSh-mallows, the greater in allows, S'rom
 lettuce, or from "fpinage.   A few very particular
 . constitutions are not to be purged by any giyfter
 but warm water alone ; fuch mould  receive  no o-
 ther, and the water Should not be very hot.
                       .N" 6.
    Boil a pugil of mallow-flowers, in a pint of bar-
  ley water S'or a giyfter.     -
                       N1- 7-
    Take three pints of fimple bariey water, add to
  it  three  ounces of the juice of* fow-ihiltle,or cf
  groundfel, or of the greater hoy fc leek, or of bo-
  rage,*
    * Thefe jukes are to be procured from the herbs when frefli and very
  voting, if polGblc, by beating them in a marble mortar, or for want  of
  fiich (or a wooden mortar)  in an iron one, and  ihen Squeezing out the
  juicethroiglialmenbag. It rm-.ft be left to fettle alitt.c  |n an earthen
  vellcl, nfier which the (:'.-iu juice 1: u'"; te decanted guaty u5, wA the
  Ud.ment'— iti: bthiad. 
                  Table of Remedies, ..               l&X
                          N°-  8.
  '   To one ounce of oxy mel of quills, add five oun-
  ces of a Strong infufion of elder flowers.
                          Nc- 9.
     There are many different emollient applications,
  which have very  nearly the fame virtues.
     The following are the moft effi cacious.
     I.  Flanels wruno- out of a hot  decoction of mal-
  low flowers,
     2.  Small bags filled with mallow flowers, or with
  thofe of mullein, of elder,  of chamomile, of wild
  corn poppy, and boiled either in milk or water.
     3. Pultices of the lame flowers boiled in milk and
  water.
     4.  Bladders half filled with hot milk and water,
  or with fome emollient  decoction.
     5.  A pultice of boiled bread and milk, or of bar-
  ley or rice, boiled till thoroughly feft and tender.
     6. In the plenrify (fee § 89) the affected part may
  be rubbed femetimes with ointment  ef marfh-mal-
  lows.
                         N°-  10.
     To one ounce of fpiritof fulphur, add fix ounces
  of fyrup of violets, or  for want  of the  latter, as
  much barley water,  of a thicker confiftence than.
  ordinary.*
                              R
    * Some friends, fays Dr.  T'ffot,  whofe judgment I greatly  refpecV
  hive thought the dofes of acid fpirit which I direft extremely ftrong ; and.
(  ttouUtlefs they are fa, if compared with the dofes generally prefcribed,
 ■ and to  which I fliould have limited myfelf", if I had  not frequently  feen
  their mfurh'cience.  Experience has taught me to encreafe them confider-
  ably ; and, augmenting the dofe gradually, I now venture to give larger
  Jofes of ihcmthan have ever been done before, and  always with much
j fuccefs; the famedofes which I have advifed in this work, not being, fo
, )arge as thofe I frequently prefcribe.  For this reifon I i.itrcat  thofe
  pliyfkians, who have thought  them exreflive, to try  the  acid fpirits in
  laigerdofcstlian thofe commonly ordered:  and I am perfuaded they will
  fee reafon to congratulate themfelves upon the effete, f
    t Our author' 1 French  annotator has a note againji this ac'td, tvnict I have
  tittittcd; foi tho' I have given his note page 6\.Vol. I. (with the (ub'lar.iir
  of the immediately preceding one) to whic/i I have alfo aided fame loubti tf
  nyman, from fails, concerning the benefit of acidi;'.; ir.'mmatory u,u' den
  •j(the, breaft j yet-with regard to the ardent, the futrU, 'he rvtli;-*nt fe-
                                               ...     .  .

_________________________________'* 
1S2               Table of Revi'J.cs.

                     N°- u.
  Take two ounces of manna, and  half an ounce
of Sedlitz fait, or for the want of it, as much Ep-
fom fait; diSfolving them in four ounces of hot wa-
ter, and Straining them.

                     N°-  12.
   Take of elder-flowers one pugil, of hyftop leaves
half as much.   Pour three pints of  boiling  water,
upon them.   After infufing fome  time, ltrain, and
diffblve three ounces of honey in the infufion.

                     tN°- 13.
   Is only the fame kind of drink made by omitting
the hy(Top,  and adding inltead of it as much more
elder-flowers.

                     N°- 14.
   Let one  ounce of the beft Jefuits bark in fine
powder be dirided into fixteeu equal portions.

                     N°-  15.
   Take of the flowers  of St.  John's wort, of elder,
and of melilot, of each a few pinches ;  put them
into the bottom  of an ewer or veflei containing
five or fix Englifh  pints, with half an ounce of oil
of turpentine,  and fill it up with boiling water.
                     N°- 16.
   Is only the fyrup of the flowers of the wild red
com poppy.

   Is only very clear fweet whey, in every pint  of
which one ounce of honey is to be diffolved.

                     N°. iS.
   Take of Caftile or hard white foap fix drachms;
 of extract of dandelion one drachm and a half; of

 Ver, and erifipelas, in which Dr. Tiffot diretts this, I have no doubt efits
 Propriety, (Jupp^ng no inoperable Agreement to acids in the con Mutton)
 and with refpeci to their d,fes, I thwk nve may i.elyjely 0 n our h.najtau-
 th.'s ve.ac^ty. Dr. Fuller ajures us, a gentleman s coalman yas rece
 -veredfrem the bleeding fmall poch, by la>ge and repeat^ i^: eftke «./>/
pitrit.',  it WJerablc droughts  of cold inter.  K. 
              Table of Remedies.               l8j
gum animoniacum half a drachm, and with fyrup
of maidenhair make a mats  of pills, to be formed
into pills, weighing three grains each.
                   N°- 19.
  Gargarifins may be prepared from a decoction,
or rather an infufion, of the leaves of periwinkle,
or of red rofe-leaves,  or of mallows.   Two ounces
of vinegar and as much honey muft be added to e-
very pint of it, and the patient fliould gargle with
it pretty hot.   The  deterging, cleanfiug garga-
rilin referred to \ 112.  is a light  infufion  of tin;
tons of Sage, adding two ounces of honey to each
pint of it.
                    N°- 20.
  Is only one ounce of powdered nitre, divided in-
to Sixteen equal dofes.
                     Nc- 21.
  Take of jalap, of ieuna, and of cream of tartar,
of each thirty gKains finely powdered, and let them
be very well mixed.*
                   N°- a*.
  Take of China root,  and of farfaparilla of each
one ounce and a half, of laffafras root, and of the
Shavings of guiacum,  otherways called lignum vitx,
of each one ounce.  Let the whole be cut very fine,
Then put them into a glazed earthen vefi'el ; pour-
ing upon them about five pints of  boiling water.
Let them boil gently  for an hour ; then take it
from the fire, and Strain it off through linen. This
is called the decoction of the woods, and is often
of different proportions  of thefe ingredients, or
with the addition of a few  others.  More water
may, after the firft boiling, he poured on  the him;
ingredients, and be boiled up into a fmall decocti-
on for common drink.
                       R 2

  * This, our author obferves, will work a ftrong country-man very well
by which, however, he does not feem to mean an inhabitant of  the jionn.-
uins in Ktf/aij, Seepage 14^. Vo'.ll. 
 184              Table of Remedies.
                    Nr- 23.
   Take one ounce of the pulp of tamarinds, half a
 drachm  of nitre, and four ounces  of water;, let
 them boil not more than one minute, then add two
 ounces of manna, and when  diffolved, Strain the
 mixture off".
                     N°. 24.
   Is only an ounce of cream of tartar,  divided in-
 ij eight equal parts.
                     N°- 25.
   This prefefiption is  only  the preparation  of
 Kerme's mineral, otherways called the chartruliau
 powder.  Dr.  Ttssor  orders  but one grain Sbr a
 dofe.  It has been directed from one to three.
                     N°- 26.
   Take three ounces of the common burdock root;
boil it  for half an hour,  with half a  drachm of ai-
 re, in three full pints of water.

                     N°- 27.
   Take half a pinch of the herbs prefcribed NP« e.
 art. 1.  and half an cmnce'of hard  white foap
 fliaved thin.  Pour on thefe one pint  and a half of
 boiling water,  and one glafs of wine.   Strain the
 liquor, and  fqueeae it ltrongly out.
                     Nc-  2.8.
   Take  of the  pureft quicksilver, one ounce ;  of
 Venice turpentine half a drachm, of  the fred eft
 hog's lard two ounces,  and  let the whole be very
 well rubbed together into an ointment.*
                     N°. 29.
   This prefcription is nothing but the yellow ba-
 iilicon.

   Take  of natural and factitious  or artificial cin-
 nabar, twenty-four grains each; of mufk Sixteen

  * This ointment Should be prepared at the apothecaries-, tht receiptor
 j; being given here, only becaufe the proportions ol the cjuckfil/ <.■■ .Mia tis
 I»rd ar.e not always the fame in different  places. 
                   Table of Remedies*                 l8f

   grains and  let the whole be reduced into fine pow-
   der, and very well mixed f.

                           N°-  31.
     Take  one drachm of Virginia f lake-root in pow-
   der, of  camphor,  and  of affa-foetida ten  grains
   each; of opium one  grain, and with  a  fuffici-
   ent quantity  of conferve,  or rob of elder, make a
   bolus %.

                           N°-  32.
     Take  three ounces of tamarinds.   Pour on them
   one pint of boiling water, and  after letting them
   boil a minute or two,  Strain the liquor through a
   linen cloth.
                           Nc- 33.     j
     Take  feven grains of turbith mineral,  and make
   it into a pill or bolus with a little crumb of bread jj.

                          N°- 34.
     This is nothing but a  prefcription of fix grains
   of tartar * emetic.

      *                      R *
    t This medicine is known by the name of Cob's powder;  and as its re*
   putation is very confiderable, I did  not chufe to omit it 5 though I  muit
   repeat here what I have faid } 195......That  tl.e cinnabar-is probably
   of little or no clficacy -, and there  are other medicines that  have alfb
   mudi more than  the-mulk ; which  befides is  extremely dear for  poor
   people, as the requifite dofes of it, in very dangeioas cafes, would colt
   ten or twelve fhiilings daily.  The prefcription NJ- 31. is  more effecia-
_  al than the  muik;  and inftead ofsthe ufelefs cinnibar, the powerful
p  Quickfilver may  be given to the qxantity of forty-five grains. I have
   laid nothing hitherto m this work of the  red  Uoflomed mulberry-tree,
   whiih fpafl'cs for a real pecific,  among  fome perfons, in this dreadful
   malady.  An account of it may be feen in the firlt volume of the Econo-
   mical journal of Berne.  It is my opinion however,  tftat none of the in-
   It-iiues related ti.i-ie are fathfac'tory and decifi-n ; its efficacy ftillappear*
   ing to me verv doubtful.
    X When  this is preferred to N'- 30. of which muflc is an ingredienf,
|t  the grain of opium Ihould be omitted, excep: once,  or at rr.Jit t.vire in-
   the twenty.four hours.   Two dofes of quickfilver, of fifteen grains caJ;,
   lhonlrl be given daily in the  morning, in the interval between the other
   bolufes.
    II This medicine makes the dogs vomit and fl.tver abundantly.  It has
   effected many cures after the Hydrii-fobia, the dreacKof water was mani-
   ftil. It muft be given three days  fu^eimcly, and aftrfwakis.  twice  j
   wctk, for liftcen days.
    *  When the people are ignorant of the ftrength of the  tartar emetic
   (MiLU is often various) or of ih- patient's b;ing eafy or hard to -.o.uit/ 
sSo
Table of Remedies.
                      N°- 35.
    Take thirty-five grains of ipecacuanna, which,,
 in the very flrongeft  constitutions,  may be aug-
 mented to forty-five, or even to fifty grains.

                      N-°- 36.
    Prefcribes only the common blistering plaifter };
 and the no/e obferves, that very young infants-
 who have delicate fkins, may have finapifms appli-
 ed inSlead of blisters; aud made of a little old
 leaven, kneaded up with a  few drops of Sharp vi-
 negar.

                      N°- 37.
    Take the  tops of chamaedrys or ground oak, of
 the leffer centaury,  of wormwood and of chamo-
 mile, of"each one pugil. Pour on  them three pints
 «f boiling water; and fufl'ering them to infule un-
 til  it is cold, ftrain the liquor through  a linen
 cloth,  prefling it out Strongly.

                     N°-  38.
   Take forty grains of rhubarb, and r.s much
 cream of tartar in powder, mixing them well  to-
 gether.

                     N°-  39-
   Take three drachms of cream of tartar, and one.
 drachm of ipecacuanna finely powdered.  Rub^
 them well together, and divide them into fix equal-
 parts.

                     N°- 40-
   Take of the fimple mixture one  ounce, of fpirit
 of vitriol half an ounce, and mix them.   The dole
 is one or two  tea-fpoonfuls in a cup of the patient's
 common drink.  The fimple mixture is compofed
 of five  ounces of treacle  water camphorated, of

 a dofe and a half may be diflblved  in a quart of warm water, of which
lie may cake a glafs every quarter of an hour, whence the operation may
be  forwarded, orotherwife regulated, according to the number of vo--
jnits or ftools. This ro.etb.od, much ufed in Pari), feems a fafe a*4
eligible oaei 
              Table of Remedies.              tS f
 three ounces of Spirit of tartar rectified, and one
 ounce of Spirit of vitriol.   If the patient has an
 infuperable averfion to the camphor, it muft be o-
 mitted, though the medicine is leSs efficacious with-
 out it.  And if his thirSt is not very confiderable,
 the Simple  mixture may be  given alone, without
 any further addition of fpirit of vitriol.
                    N°- 4*-
  Take half a drachm of Virginia fnake-root, ten
 grains of camphor, and  make them into a bolus
 M'ith rob of elder-berries.  If the patient's Stomachs
 cannot bear So large a dole  of camphor, he may
 take it in fmaller dofes and oftner, viz. three grains,.
 every two hours.   If there is a violent loofenefs,
 diafcordium mult be fubftituted iuftead of the rob
 of elder-berries.

                   N°- 42-
  Preferibes only  the thcriaca paupenim,  or poor
 man's treacle, in the dofe of a quarter of an ounce.
 The  following compofition  of it is that chiefly
 preferred by  our  author.   Take equal parts of
 round birthwort roots, of elecampane,  of myrrh,
 and of rob  or conferve of juniper-berries, and
 make them into  an electuary of a  rather  thin,
 than very ftiff confiftence, with fyrup of orange-
 peel.

  The firft of the-three medicines  referred to in
 this number,  is that already directed, N °. 37. The
 fecond is as fellows.
  Take equal parts of the leffer centaury, of
 Wormwood^ of myrrh* all powdered, and of con-
ferve of juniper-berries, making them up into a
pretty thick confiftence with fyrup of wormwood..
The dofe is a quarter of an'ounce ;  to be taken at
 the fame intervals as the bark.
  For the third compofition—Take-of the roots of
 calamus aromaticus and elecampane well bruited,
two ounces; of the tops of the lefter centaury cut 
  188            Table of Remedies.
  fmall, a pugil; of filings  of unrufted iron two
  ounces, of old white wine three  pints. Put them
  all into a wide-necked bottle, and fet it upon em-
  bers, or on a ftove, or by the chimney, that it may
  be always kept  hot. Let them infufe twenty-four
  hours,  Shaking them well for five or fix time*;
  then let the infufion fettle, and  Strain  it.  The
  dofe is a common cup every four hours, four times
  daily, and timing- it one hour before dinner.
                     N°-  44.
    Take a quarter of an ounce of cream of tartar,'
  a pugil of common chamomile ; boil them in twelve
1  ounces of water for half an hour, and  Strain it off.

                     N°-  45-
    Directs only  the  common  fal  ammoniac, from
  two Scruples to onedrachm for a tiofe. The note
  to it adds, that it may be made into a bolus with
  rob of elder; and  obferves,  that thofe  feverifh
  patients, who have  a weak  delicate flomach, do
  not well admit of this fait, no more than of feve-
  ral others, which affect them with great diforder
  and anxiety.
                     N°- 46.
    The powder.   Take  one pugil of chamomile
  flowers, and as  much elder flowers, bruifing them
  Well; of fine flower  or ftarch three ounces ; of ce-
  rufs and of blue Smalt each half an ounce.  Rub
  the whole and mix them well.  This powder  may
  be applied immediately to the part.
    The plaiiter.   Take of the  ointment called nu-
  tritum,  made with the neweft fweet oil, two oun-
  ces ; of white wax three quarters of an ounce, and
  one quarter of an ounce of blue fmalt. Melt the
  wax, then add the nutritum to it,  after the fmalt
  finely powdered  has been  exactly incorporated
  with it; Stirring it about with an iron Spatula or
  rod, till the whole is well  mixed and  cold.  This
  is to be fmoothly Spread on linen cloth.
    A quarter of an ounce of fmalt may  alfo be miv 
                Table of Remedies.                189
 rd exactly with two ounces of butter or ointment
 tu'lead, to be ufed occasionally inftead of the plai-
 Iter.
         ^     •        N-. 47.
   Take one ounce of Sedlitz,  or for want of that,
 as much EpSbm fait, and two ounces of tamarinds:
 pour upon them  eight  ounces of boiling water,
 Stirring them  about to  diifc-lve  tlie  ta;  ai intls.
 Strain it off, and divide it into two equal draughts,
 to be given at the interval of half an hour between
 the  firft and  laft.
                      N°. 48.
   Take of  Sydenham's liquid  laudanum  eighty
 drops ; of bawin water two ounces and a half.  I;f
 the  firll, or the fecond dofe Slops,  or  considerably
 leffens  the vomiting, this f medicine fhould  not
 be further repeated.

                      N°-  49-
   DifTolve  three ounces  or manna,  and twenty
 grains of nitre, in twenty ounces, or fix glafl'es, of
 Sweet whey.
                      N°- 50.
   To two ounces of fyrup of diacodium, or white
 poppy heads, add  an equal weight of elder flower
 water, or, for want of it, of fpring water.
                      N°* 51.
   Directo nothing but a drachm of rhubarb in po\v-
 lie.-.
                      N°- 52.
  Take  of fulphur vivum,  or  of flower  of brim-
stone,  one ounce ;  offal ammoniac, one drachm ;

  t The medical editor at Lyons juftly notes here,  that thefe eighty
diopsarea very ftrong dofe of liquicUaudanum ; adding that it is fcarce-
ty ever given at Lyons in a greater dole than thirty drops j and recom-
mending a fpoonful of fyr np of lemon-pill to be given with it----But we
muft obftrve here in anfwer to this note, that when Dr. TISSOT directs
this mixture in the iliac pafllon j 318. art. 3. to appeafe the vomitings,
he or dcis but one fpoonful of this mixture to be  taken  at once, and  an
interval of two hours to be obferved between the firft and fecond repeti-
tion, which reduces each dofe to fixtecn chops, and which is not to b«-
rvpcaicd without ncceOity. &.. 
190               TabU of Remedies.

of frelh hog's lard, two ounces ; and mix the whole
yery well in a mortar.

                        N°-  c?.
   Take two drachms  of crude antimouy,  and as
much nitre, both  finely powdered and  \ery  well
mixed ;  dividing  the  whole  into  eight  equal
dofes ;f.


   *  Take of  filings of iron,  not the  leaft nifty,
and  of fiigar, each one ounce ;  of auileeds pow-
dered  half an ounce.   After rubbing  them  very
well together, divide the powder into twenty-four
equal portions; one of  which is to be takon three
times a day an hour before  eating.


                         N°:  **•
   Take filings of found iron two ounces; of leaves
of rue, and of white hoar-hound, one pugil each ;
of black hellebore-root, one  quarter of an ounce,
and  infufe  the  whole in  three pints  of wine in
the manner already directed, N°* 43.   The  dofe
of this  is one Small cup three times a day^ an  hour
before  eating, f


   t This  medicine which often occafions cholics in fome  perfons of a
weakly ftomach, is attended with no fuch inconvenience in ftrong coun-
 try people ; and has been effectual in fome diforders of the ikin,  which
 have baffled other medicines.....The remainder of this note obfer.-es the
 great efficacy of antimony in promoting perfpiration, and the  extraordi-
 nary benefit it is of to l.orfes indifferent cafes.
   * The  prefciptions No. 54. 55. 56. are calculated agiinrt  diftempers
 which arife  from obftruttions, and a ftoppage of the monthly difchar-
 ges ; which No- 55. is more particularly intended to remove -, thofe of
 54. and 56. are moft convenient, either when the fupprelfion does not
 exift, or  is not to be much regarded, tho' it does.  This medicine  may be
 rendered  lefs unpalatable  for perfons in eafy circumftances, by adding as
 much cinnamon inftead of anifeeds; and though the quantity of iron be
 fmall, it may be  fufficient, if given early in the complaint; one, or at
 the  moft, iwo of  thefe dofes dally, being fufficient for a  very young
 maiden.
   t I chufe to repeat here, the more ftrongly to inculcate fo  important a
 point, that in women who have long been ill and languid, our endeavours
 muft be directed towards the reftoring of the patient's health.^ d ilren, ti ,
 and not to forcing down the monthly difcharges, which is a very perni-
 cious practice.  Thefe will return of courfe, if the patient is of a pro-
 per age,  as ihe grows better.  Their return fucceeds the return of her
 health, and fhould not, very often cannot, precede it. 
                   Table  of Remedies.               101

                         N°- 56.
    Take two ounces of filings of iron ; of rue leaves
 and anifeeds powdered, each half an ounce.   Add
 to them a fufficient quantity of honey to make an
 electuary of  a  good  confiftence.   The  dole   is  a
 quarter of an ounce  three  times daily.

                        N°- c7.
    Take of the  extract  of  the  flinking hemlock,
 with the  purple fpotted ftalk,  one  ounce.  Form
 i it into pills weighing two grains each ;  adding as
 much of the powder of dry hemlock leaves,  as the
 pills  will eafily  take up.    Begin the  ufe  of this
 medicine, by giving one pill night and morning.
1 Some patients have been fb familiarized to it,  as
; as to take at length half an ounce daily.  *

                         Nc-  58.
    Take of the  roots of grafs and of fiiccory  well
' walked, each one ounce.   Boil  them a quarter of
 an hour in a pint of water.  Then diffolvein it half
 an ounce  of Sedlitz, or of Epfom felt, and two  oun-
 ces of manna ;  and Strain it oft* to drink one glafs


   « Onr learned and  candid author has a very long note in this  place,
  ftrongly in favour of Storck's extract of hemlock;  in which it is evident
 fr he credits the greater part of  the  cures affirmed by Dr. Storck to hay*
  been effected  by it.  He fays he made fome himfelf, but not of the right
  kemlock, which ive think  is very difficult to miftake, from its peculiar
 .fink fetid fmeil,  and its  purple  fpotted ftalk.  After firft taking this
 r himfelf, he found it mitigated  the pain of cancers, but did not aire them.
I But then addrefling himfelf to Dr. Storck, and exactly  following  his di-
 1 reflions in making  it, he took of Dr. Storck's extract,  and of his own,
 ' which exactly relemblcd each  other, to the quantity of a  drachm and a
 half daily, and finding his health not in  the leaft impaired by it, he then
 gave it to feveral patients,  curing many  fcrophulous and  cancerous cafes,
 ■ and mitigating others, which he fuppofes were incurable.  So that  he
 feems fully perfuaded Dr. Storck's extract is always innocent (which in
 - UQ, except in a very few  inftances, none of which were  fatal,  it has
 fbecn; and he  thinks it a fpecific in many cafes, to which nothing can be
 fubllituted as an equivalent remedy -, that it  mould be taken with entire
 confidence, and that it would be jbfurd to neglect its continuance.
   The tianflator of this work  of Dr. Tiffot's has thought it but fair to
 fin-e all the force of this note  here, which muft be his own, as his editor
 it Lyons feems to entertain a  very different  opinion of the efficacy ot
 Ihii medicine ; for which opinion wp refer back to his note, $ 375,  of thi;;
 t.-caliic, which the reader may compare with this of our author's. 
j 92            Table of Kerne dies.
of it from half hour to half hour, till its effect';
are fufficient.   It is to be repeated at the interval
of two or three days.

                    N"  59-
  Is a cataplafm or pultice  made  of crumb of
breadj with chamomile  flowers boiled  in milk,
and the  addition of fome foap, fo that each pul-
tice may contain half a  quarter of an  ounce of
this laft ingredient.   And when the circumftances
of female patients have not afforded them that re-
gular attendance, which the repetition of the pul-
tice requires,  as  it fhould be renewed every three
hours, I  have fuccefsfully directed the  hemlock
plailler of the Shop's.
                     N°-  60.
   Take a fufficient quantity of dry hemlock leaves.
Secure them properly between two pieces of thin
linen cloth,  fo as to make a very flexible fort of
fmall matrafs, letting  it boil  a few moments iu
water, then fqueeze it out  and apply it to the af-
fected part.   It muft thus be moistened and heat-
ed afrefli, and re-applied every two hours.

                     N°-  6r.
 * Take of the eyes of the craw-fifh,  or of the true
white magnefia,  two drachms;  of cinnamon pow-
dered four grains.   Rub  them very well together,
and divide the  whole into eight dofes.   One of
thefe is  to be given in a fpoonful of milk, or of
water, before the infant fucks.

                    N°-  62.
   Take of an extract of walnuts, made in water,
two drachms ; and diffolve  it in half an ounce of
cinnamon water.   Fifty  drops a day of this folu-
tion is to be  given  to  a  child of two years old;
and after the whole has been taken,  the child
fhould be purged.  This extract is to be made of
the unripe nuts, when they are of a proper growth
and confiftence for pickling. 
              Table of Remedies.              *93
                   N°- 63.
  Take of rezin of jalap two grainf.   Rub it a
confiderable time with twelve or fifteen grains of
fiigar, and afterwards with three or four Sweet
almonds;  adding, very gradually, two common.
fpoonfuls of water.  Then Strain it through clear
thin linen, as the emulfion of almonds-was order-
ed to be.   Laftly, add a tea fpoonful of fvrup of
capillaire to it.  This is no disagreeable draught,
and may be given to a child of two years old ;  and
if they are older, a grain or two more of the rezin
may be allowed.   But under two years old,  it is
prudent to purge  children rather with fyrup of
Succory, or with manna.

                   N°- 64.
  Take of the ointment called nutritum, one ounce;
the entire yolk of one  fmall egg, or the half of a
large one, and mix them well together. This nu-
tritum may be readily made by rubbing very  well
together,  and for Some time, two drachms of ce-
ruSs,  [white lead]  half an ounce of vinegar,  and
three ounces of common oil.

                    1ST- 65.
  Melt four ounces  of white  wax ;  add to it, if
made in winter, two fpoonfuls of oil;  if  in fum-
mer none at all, or at  moft, not  above  a fpoonful.
Dip in this, flips of linen cloth not worn too thin,
and let them dry ; or fpread it thin and evenly o-
ver them.
                    N°- 66.
  Take of oil of rofes one pound ;  of red  lead
hal? a pound ;  of vinegar four ounces.   Boil them
t« gethei;   nearly to  the confiftence of a plaifter ;
then diflblve in the liquid mafs an  ounce and a
half cf yellow wax, and two drachms of camphor,
flirring the  whole about well.   Remove it then
from the fire, and fpread it on Sheets or flips of
paper,  of what fize you think  moft convenient.
   V01 II.             S 
  ^94            Table of Remedies,
  The ointment of Chambauderie, fo famous in many
  families on the continent, is made of a quarter of
  a pound  of yellow wax, of the plainer of three
  ingredients, (very  nearly the fame with N°*  66 )
  of compound  diachylon, and of common oil,  of
  each the fame quantity,  all melted together,  and
  then ftirred about well, after it is  removed from
  the fire, till it grows cold.  To make a fparadrap,
  or oil-cloth, which is linen, covered with,  or  dipt
  in an emplaftic fubftance or ointment,  it muft  be
  melted over again with the addition-of a little oil,
  and applied to the linen as ilirected at Nc# 65.
                      N°. 67.
    Gather in autumn, while the fine weather la~Sxs,
 , the  agaric of the oak,  which is a kind of fungus,
 . or excrefeence, iffuing from the wood of that tree.
    It  confitts at firft of four parts, which prefent
  themfelves fucceliively. 1,The outward rind or Skin,
  which may be thrown  away.   2. That part  im-
  mediately under this rind, which is the beft of all.
  It is to be beat well with a hammer,  till it becomes
  loft and very pliable.  This is the only preparati-
  on it requires; and a Slice of it,  of a proper fize,
  is to be applied directly  over  the burfting, open
  blood-veffels.  It conftringes and brings them clofe
  together;  ftops the bleediugs ; and  generally falls
  off at the end of two  days.   3.  The third part,
  adhering  to the fecond, may  ferye  $0 flop  the
  bleeding from the fmaller vellels :  and the fourth
 .and  laft part may be reduced to powder, as con-
  ducing to the fame purpofe. *
                      NV  68.
    Take four ounces  of crumbs of bread, a  pugil
 of elder-flowers, and the fame quantity of thofe
..of chamomile, and  of St. John's wort.   Boil them.

   » Our W'thor attefts his feeing the happicft confequences fram thtsap-
 p'v.-.iion', whuh M. Br ■jj.ird,  a very eminent French fuigcon, firft pu!-
' ii hod : and declared his preference of that agaric which fpmng  frcjpj
 t;.vfe parts of the ticc-, from whence large boughs  had been Ioj>pe4* 
               Table of Remedies.              195
nito a  pultice  in equal quantities of vinegar and
Water.
   It  fomentations fliould  he thought preferable,
take the fame herbs, or fome pugils of the ingredi-
ents for jaltrank : throw them into  a pint and a
half  of boiling water:  and let them infufe fome
minutes.  Then a pint of vinegar is- to be added,
and flannels or other woolen cloths dipt in the fo-
mentation, and wrung out, are to  be applied to the
part affected.
   For the  aromatic fomentations recommended §
449, take leaves'of betony  and of rue,  flowers of
rofemary and lavender, and red rofes of each a pu-
;ril aud a half.  Boil them for a quarter of an hour,
in a pot with a cover, with thieepints of old white
wine. Then Strain off, Squeezing the liquor ftronp-
ly from the herbs, end apply it as already dirc-c'ted.

                     Nr- 69. '   .
   Directs only the plainer of Diapalma.*'

                     N"*  70.
   Directs only a mixture of two parts wrtcr,  av.d
one part of vine* ar of litharoe.
                     N°  7(.
   Take of the leaves of few-bread, ?.nd of chamo-
mile tops, of each one pugil.   Put  them into a-i
earthen veffel with half an ounce of foap, and ar
much Sal ammoniac, and  pour upon them three
pints  of boiling water.f

  * To fpread this upon lint as directed, §456,  if mall be melted dowa.
again with a litt-le oil.
  (■ A. B. I conceive all the notes to  thrs'tab't, in  which I have - t
mentioned the editor at Lyons, nor fubferibed with my initial letter K.
to-come fjom the author, having omitted nothing of them but the pries.
S3 
 
THE
HISTORY  of   HEALTH,

                AND THE

  Art  of  Preserving  it;

              CONTAINING

The moft important Rules recommended by
  Pliyficians  and Philofophers for the Pre.
  fervation of Health in the feveral Peri-
  ods and Circumftances of Life ; together
  •with  tfe lleafons on which thefe Rules are
  founded.
 By  JAMES MACKENZIE,  M. D.
Phyfician lately at Worcefter, and Fellow of the
   Royal College of Phyficians in Edinburgh,
By furfeiting many have peri/hed, but he that taketb
  heedprolongeth his life.                Eccr-us.
1.0 NDQ Ni Printed in the Year MDCLXVII. 
 
                    THE

HISTORY  of  health;;

                . ASD THE

     Art   of  Preserving  it.
                c h a p.  r.
Exhibits a fhort View of Conco&ion, or the vtechanifm
  by which our Aliment is digefted; Mnd of the Circu-
  lation of the Blood; from which it will be obvious to
  perceive  the Ground and Reafon  of the Rules laid
  down for the prefervation of health, and the expedi-
  ency of ssbferving the?n,

     THE art of- preferving health pronmes three
      things : Firfi,  To fecure  or maintain the
health which a man enjoys at prefent.  Secondly,
To prevent approaching diftempers.  Thirdly, To
prolong life-  Of all which I fhall treat in the or-
der here mentioned.
  The firft of theSe, in a great meafure, includes
the other two,  becaufe a diligent obfervation  of
the rules proper  to preferve health, will, for the
molt part, prevent approaching  diftempers j ansd
difpoSe the body to longevity. The firft, therefore,
requires to be treated of more largely than either
of'the other articles.  But to fet it in a clear light,
we ,nuft previoufly defcribe feme  parts of the ani-
mal Jtru&ttre awd ^economy, fro» which we may 
20O.-•             Of ConeotTionr
readily perceive the reafen of the rules recommend*
ed to preferve health, and the necefiity oi putting _
them in practice.
  And here we may, with pleafure, remark a fur-
prizing agreement and harmony between the S'uc-
ceisiul practice  of the ancients, direcfe-J only by
their aStiduous observation of nature, and the me-
chanical theory of the moderns, founded upon the
wonderful Structure of our  Solids, and the perpe-
tual  rotation of our fluids, witu which the ancients
were unacquainted.
  Auatomy dilcovers  ten tlioufand beauties in the
human t'abrick,  which 1 have no room to mention
here i nor is it poinbie, in a performance of this
kind, to delcribe  the geometiical accuracy with
which the author of uature  bus formed every  part
of the body to carry on the  animal ceconomy, and
anSwer tiie vaiious purpofes of life.  All I propofe
in this place is,  by touching upon a few particu-
lars, to give thofe who are unacquainted with our
profeflion, a general idea of the -itru&ure of their
own bodies, from which they will eafily apprehend,
that intemperance, floth, and feveral other vices
and  errors, have a necelfary and mechanical ten-
dency  to deltroy  health.   To this end  it will be
iiidifpenfably requifite to give feme accountofcon-
coction,  or the mechanitin  by which om aliment
is digefted ;  and then to take notice of the  circu-
lation of the blood, with feme of Ksneceliary coifc-'
Sequences.
                  Of CtncotTton,

  Among all the wife contrivances obferved in the
human fabric, none can excite-our-attentioH and
admiration more than  'he  difpofition and meeha-
nifm of thofe parts, by "which "our aliment is  con-
cocted, or fitted for our daily fupport and nourish-
ment.   To have a clear, idea of the manner in
•which coucoftiou is pert' rmed, we rmrft diftinguifl*
it into three itages.   The firit ftage is performed 
                  Of Coneo£iion.                 201
in  the  progreSs of the aliment from the mouth
down to 'the  lacteal veins*.  The fecond is  per-
formed  in the paffage of" the milky liquour, called
chyle, through the lacteal veffels to the loins, and
then up to where it mingles with the blood, under
the collar bone.   The third or ultimate concoct ion
is performed by the circulation of the blood and
chyle together through the lungs, and the whole
arterial fyftem.   In all thefe ftages,  the defign of
the great  architect, has evidently been to grind
and dhTolve the aliment, and to mix and incorpo-
rate it with a  large quantity-of animal juices al*
ready prepared, in  fuch  a manner as to reduce it
at laft to the very fame fubftance with our blood and
humours.  How wonderfully and completely this
defign has been executed we Shall fee prefently.
  In the firSl ftage of concoction, by a curious con-
figuration of parts, and action of mufelesf, adapt*
ed  to their refpective functions, our food is ground
fmall by the teeth,  and moiftened by a copious fa*
liva % in the-mouth.  It is in the next place fwal-
lowed,  and conveyed down the gullet, where it is
further  mollified and lubricated by a vifcid undtious
humour, distilled from the  glands of that canal.
From thence it flips into the Stomach, -where feve-
ral caufes concur towards  its more complete diffo-
lutiou.  It,is diluted, by the j uices, it is Swelled and

  *  The lafteah or milky veins, are fmall veflels, that receive the chyle
from the inteftines.
  t  Vid. Boerh. inftit. § S%- et feq.
  Bocilaave has given a fuller and clearer view of the animal ceconomy
than any other man eve.- did.  His inllitutions contain an accurate  dc-
lcription of all the principal art ions performed in the  human body, dedu*-
ced  in the molt confequcntial order that can be imagined ;  and intelligible
to thofe who are previoufiv acquainted wiih all the branches of anatomy.
But  this book was calculated for phyficians only; and no man probably ot
any  other profeflion will ever take the pains to underhand it.
  NBA rnrfcle is a malt or co. le&ion of fibres, of different dimenfions,
bv which all the motion- of every part of the body are performed.
  t  The falivia, or fpittle. n a pure, pellucid, penetrating humour, con^
willing oil, fait, water, and fpi.it, (training from the arterial bood, and
verv ufeful in digeition ; and therefore the habitual and immoderate dif-
charge of it, in chewing and fmotikiug tobacco,  muft be of bad coalc- 
ZQ%               Of Concocttcn.
fubtilized by the internal air, and it is macerated
and dili'olved  by the  heat  which it meets with in
that cavity.   It is alfo agitated and attenuated iy
the perpetual friction of the coats of the Stomach,
and the pulfation  of the arteries there j by the al-
ternate elevation and depreffion of the diaphragm*
ill breathing •,  and by the cempreflion of the ftrong.
mufcles of the belly.  And after a proper Slay, it
is gradually propelled  into the inteftines, in  the
form of a thick, {moth-,.uniform, alh-c oloured fluid.
   When our aliment, thus prepared, arrives at  the
inteftines, it  is there mixed with three different
forts of liquor.    Iff receives two forts of bile f ;
the one thick, yellow, and extremely  bitter, from
the the gall-bladder , the other fcarce- yellow, or
bitter,  but  in a much  larger quantity,  from  the
liver.   TJkte third liquor,  that falls here upon  the
aliment,  iffues plentifully from a large glandular
fubftance, fituated beneath the ftoinach, called the
pancreas or fweet-bread, and is a limpid, mild fluid
like the faliva, which Serves to dilute and Sweeten
what may be too Spifs and acrimonious.   The two--
fapanaceous biles reSblve and attenuate vifcid fub-
ftances;  incorporate oily  fluids  with  aqueous,
making the  whole  mixture  homogeneous;   and
by their penetrating and detergent qualities ren-
der the chyle fit  to  enter the' lacleal veins, into
which it is conveyed partly  by the abfbrbent  na-
ture of thefe veins,  and partly by the peristaltic:}:
motion of the inteftines.
   If we confider  the change  which  our aliment •
has undergone in the mouth, gullet, and flomach,

  * The diaphragm or midrif;' is a very large tranfverfe ainfcle, which,
feparates the thorax or chert from the abdomen or belly,  and ioaeties
the contents of the ftomach and inteftines.
  t The bile or gall is the principle diflblvent of the aliment, and  when
it is vitiated or defective, there can be no good digeftion.
  t Pcriftaltic is that vermicular motion of the inteftines, prodmed by
the alternate and piogreffive contraction and dilation o? then fpual and;
orbicular fibres, which prefjes the chyle iuo tke lacuaU,  aud aal*e.»--
aiM\p other goad purnofes. - 
                   Cf Concoction                2oj
together with the large quantity of bile and pan-
  creatic juice poured upon it in the inteftines :  and
  if  we reflect aiib on the iuceffant. action  of the
  mufcules, blending, churning,  and incorporating
  the whole,  we Shall  readily  perceive, that their
  united agency muft alter the particular taf.es, fla-
  vours,  and  properties  of our  different kinds of
  food, in fuch a manner as to bring the chyle near-
  er in its nature  to our animal juices, than to the
  original  fubftances  from which  it  was formed.
■ Our aliment thus changed into chyle, conftitutes
t  .the* firft Stage of concoction ; and we Shall find the
  feme alii mil at ion carried on through the Second.
    The fecond ltage of concoction begins  with the
  Slender lacteal veins, where they arife from  the
  inteStines by an innumerable multitude of invisible
  pores, through which the fine, white, fluid part
  of the. chyle is Strained or abferbed ;  while, at the
  fame time, the grofs, yellow, fibrous part, cenvey-
.-  ed flowly forward, and further  attenuated  in  the
  long  inteftinal tube, is perpetually preffed and
  drained of its  remaining chyle, until the  dregs,
  becoming at laft ufelefs, are ejected out of  the
, body.                                      4  •
   Thefe lacteal veins  iffue from the  inteftines in
 various directions, now  ftreight and now oblique,
often uniting and growing  larger,  but prefently
 feparating again.  They frequently meet at fharp
 angles,  and enter into  foft  glands,  difperfed
 through tlie mefentery*,  from which they pro-
 ceed larger than before, and more turgid, with a
 fine lymphatic fluid.  In moft places alfo they run
 contiguous with the mefentric arteries, by  whofe
 pulfation  their load is puShed forward.  And thus,
 after  various  communications,  Separations  and
 protrufions,  the lacteal veins pour their chyle into

   * The mefentery is that ftrong double membrane within which the in-'
. teftines are convolved, and is interfpei fed with innumerable glands, nervefc
' queries, lafteal and lymphatic veflels. 
204                 Of ConcoHion.
a fort of ciftern * or refervoir formed for that pur-
pofe between the loweft portion of the diaphragm,
and the highest vertebre of the loins-f.  It is very
remarkable thatthefe veins are furnished with pro-
per valves which permit the chyle to move forward,
but effectually Stop its return ; and that a great
number of veins.purely lymphatic, as well as the
lacteal, empty themfelves into the fame cidern.
  . In  all this contrivance  it  is  evident that the
chyle, being more  and more diluted and blended
with abundance of lymph % from the glands through
■which it pafles, and from other Source?, approach-
es ftill  nearer to  the nature of our  animal juices,
and confequently,becomes fitter for nutritiou.
   From its refervoir the chyle is puShedinto a nar-
row transparent pipe, called the thoracic duel, which
climbs in a perpeiidicul,ir direction  by the Side  of
the  back-bone, •from  the  loins  up  to the collar
bone, and opens into the Subclavian vein§ ; where,
by a particular arangemeiit of feveral fn.all valves,
the.chyle mingles gently with,the blood, after it
has been, thoroughly elaborated,  churned,  and at-
tenuated with lymph  fiom every part  of the  tho-
rax f,  and is from thence feon  conveyed to the
heart.
   Thus, by a wonderful mechauifm, we may plain-
ly perceive  that a large  quantity of chyle and
lymph is forced upwards,in a perpendicular courfe,
through a thin flender pipe,  if we  attend  to  the
following particulars : Firft,  to the progrefs of the
chyle,  urged forward  and   continued  from the

  * This ciftern (a-s anatomifts call it) is often found to cenfift only 67
fome large branches of the lacteal veins,
  t The- feveral bones which compofe the chine are called vertebres, of
whica five belong to the loins.
  X The lymph is the molt elaborated and fineft part of the blood, which
is continually flowing into the chyle throughout hs whole courfe.
  $ Moft commonly into the left, but fometimes though very rarely, in-
fo the right.  Nay, fomeiimcs, as that  acurate anatomift Dr. Monro
ebferves, it divides into two under the curvatuie of the great artery ;  ene
goes to the right, and the other to the left fubclavian vein.
  f4 By thpjax is meaut the great cavity of thebreafh 
                  Of Cone oil ion.              2dj

 tTZaT atrti°rn °F thC inteftin<^  and the beat-
  ■>to or  the  mefentric arteries.  Secondly. To the

 pr^0/h-he|diaph.™«in aml lnn«". » Ration!
 v nile the thorax nfmg and falling refifts their ac-
 tion,  whereby  the  duct  is  fqueezed between two

 miuZ^ f°VC7 ™£ thf, U*',or which if contains
 pruned upwards,  7W£,  This duct runs clofe by
 the fide of the great artery, (called  by anatomifts
 t ,.e fupenor portion of the deftending aorta) whofe
 ftrong p„Hanoi, preffes its yielding Sides, and com-
 pels the chyle and lymph to mount in an upright
 afcent.   Fourthly, We are to obferve that this duct
 is accommodated with valves, which permit its con-
 tents to move upwards by every compreffion, but
 never to fall back again.  Tims terminates the fe-
 cond ftage of concoction, when the chyle falls in-
 to  the heart.  And  we fee that, in its progrefs
 tnrough thefe two ftages, our aliment has bee? ac-
 curately mixed with all the nourishing juices of the
 body, and with all the fnbftancesor principles that
 compote the blood, viz. faliva, mucus, lymph, bile,
 water, falts, oil, and fpirits.                   '
   But here we mult take notice, that the moft flu-
 id and fuht:Ie part of our aliment, before and af-
 ter it is elaborated into chyle, paffes into the blood
 hj  certain abforbent  veins difperfed all over  the
 mouth, gullet, Stomach and inteftines.   This is e-
rident from the fudden-refreshment  and ftrength
communicated to weary, faint and hungry people
immediately upon drinking 4 glafs of good wine \
or eating any cordial fpoon meat; and from  the
flavour which different forts of food qive to the u-
rine,  much  Sooner than it is poffibleVor the chyle
to reach the heart in its common windings.
  The third ftage of concoction begins, where the
chyle mingles with the blood, and falling- fbon in-
to the right ventricle of the heart, is from thence
propelled into the lungs.  It will appear that the
lungs are the principal inltrument of San^uifica
  Vol. SI.              T               * 
206               Of CcncoClion.
tion, or converting the chyle into blood, if we con-
sider their Structure,  firft with  regard to the air
veffels of which they  are compofed, and fecondly
with regard to their blood veflels ; for we fliali then
very clearly perceive  the change which their fa-
brick and action muft necefl'arily produce  on the
chyle.   The wind-pipe is compofed of fegments of
cartilaginous rings on the fore part, to give a free
paffage to the air in  refpiration ; and of a ftrong
membrane on its back part, to bend with the neck,
and give way to the gullet in  deglutition.  This
pipe is lined throughout with an infinity of glands,
which  perpetually diftil an  uuctuous  denle hu-
mour to lubricate  and anoint the paffages of the
air.  Soon after the wind-pipe has defcended  into
the cavity of the breaft, it is divided into two great
branches, and thefe two are fubdivided into innu-
merable ramifications called Bronchia, which grow
Smaller in their progrefs, (not unlike a bulhy tree
inverted)  until at laft they terminate in millions of
little bladders, which  hang in clutters on their ex-
tremities, and are inflated by the admiflinn of the
air,  and fubfide at its expulfion.   TheSe clutters
conttitute the lobes of the lungs.   The blood vef-
fels of the lungs next deferve our attention.   The
branches of the pulmonary artery run along with
thofe of the wind-pipe,  and are ultimately Subdi-
vided into an endlefs number of capillary ramifi-
cations, which are fpread like a fine net-work, o-
verthe furface of every individual air bladder. And
the pulmonary vein, whofe extreme branches re-
ceive the blood and chyle from thofe of the  arte-
ries, run Hkewife in form of a net over all the air
bladders of the Bronchia.
   From this admirable Structure of the lungs, it is
pbvious, that the crude mixture of tlie blood and
chyle,  pafEng through the minute ramifications of
the pulmonary artery  and vein, is compreh'ed and
ground by  two contrary forces, viz. by tlie force
of the heart driving  the mixture forward  againft 
                  Of Concoction.                207
the  fides of  the bronchia and air bladders;  and
by  the elaltic force  of the air equally repelling
tins mixture  from the contrary fide.
  By t'.ieie two opposite forces, the chyle and blood
are more intimately blended and incorporated; aud
by the admii'Iou a.id expulfion of the air in respira-
tion, the vc-ilels are alternately inflated anil  com-
prefled (and probably fome fubtile air or a-theris re-
ceived * into  the blood) by ^vhich means the mix-
ture is  (till further attenuated and diffolved; and
after various circulations  through the lungs, and
heart, and the whole arterial fyftem, is at laft per-
fectly aflimilated with the blood, and fitted to nou-
rish the body, aud anfwer the different purpofes of
animal life.
  When the blood  thus prepared  from the aliment
is by repeated Circulations gradually drained Of all
its bland  and uf'eful parts, and begins to acquire
too great a degree of acrimony, it is carried off by
fenfible and infenfible evacuations, through the Se-
veral channels and dilliihutions of nature. By thefe
evacuations the body becomes languid, and require s
a frefh  fupply of aliment; while at the fame time
the faliva, and juices of the flomach and intestines,
growing  thin and acrid by multiplied circulation?-,
vel'licate  the nerves of thofe  p-affages, and  excite
hunger, as a faithful monitor,  to  remind  us of
that refrefhment which is now become neceffary.
  From this  fhort view of concoction it follows,
firft, that the immenfe variety of aliments,  which
the bounty of heaven has provided  on  the earth
and iii the waters, for the fuflenance of man, is
by this divine mechanifm, reduced at laft  to one
                        T  2

  *  This feems, at leaft,. probable  from the  following fimple experi-
ment- Some phylicians at Worcciter laid bare the crural anery of a
fowl, and made two firm ligatures on the artery, at the diltance of an
inc i one from the other.  They then cut out the artery above and below
the two ligatures, and put it immediately into an air pump, and upon ex -
•hauftine the air, the fection of the artery between the ligatures, whick
was full of blood,  fwclled inltantly to a confiderable degree. 
ao£               Of Loficocfion.
red, uniform, vital fluid, proper to nourish and
fupport the human fabric.
  It follows in the next place, that when we take
in a larger quantity of aliment than our digestive
faculties are able to conquer and aflimilate, Such a
quantity can never turn to good nourishment.
  Thirdly, when by the arts of luxury our food is
rendered too high and rich,, and couiequently too
much faturated with pungent lalts,  and oils ; fuch
mixtures with the bldbd will  contribute rather to
deftroy than maintain health.
  It follows, fourthly, that exercife is neceflary to
afiift the fblids*  in rubbing,  agitating, and levi-
gating our aliment, to mix it intimately with our
animal Juices,  and make it pafs with eafe through
the»e narrow J^ipes and-Subtile ftrainers, which it
mull pervade,  in order to nourish the body.  And
h -re we  may  oblerve,  that  moderate riding on
h uieback, accommodated to a  perfen's ftrength,
j ,  of all exercifes, the moft proper to promote a
£, u>d digestion, by means of that infinity of gentle
f< ccuflions which it gives to  the bowels; whereby
t ie flomach is affifted to diffolve the remains of the
aliment ; the chyle is  forwarded in pafuug from
the inteftines into the lacteal veins ; the lymph and
chyle together are puShed briSkly through the tho-
racic duct into the heart -r and the circulation is in-
vioorated  to  aflimilate  that mixture into good
b'ood and healthful nourifliment ;  and to throw
all Superfluities through the natural drains, out of
tiu  body.   From this corollary may be clearly de-
duced the reafbnablenefs of every argument  ad-
vanced by  Sydenham, Fuller, and  ethers,, to re-
commend riding.
   Fifthly, people in health fliould not force them-
felves to eat when they have no inclination to it ;
 but fliould wait the return of appetite, which will
not fail to admonifh thein of the proper time fcr
  * By folds here I mean the m\f- ular fibres of the b ;dy, or the action
of the feveral mufcies couceiucdincou - \.v... 
           Of the Circulation of the Blood.        200
refreshment. To act contrary to this rule frequent-
ly, will overload the powers of digeftion, and per-
vert the purpofe of nature.
   And to add but one confequence more, it is evi-
dent from what has been faid, that to facilitate a
complete digeftion, our aliment ought to be well
chewed.
   In Short,  the reafon  and  expediency of everv
rule eftablifhed by experience to direct us in the
quantity and choice of  our aliment,  may, with a
little attention, be plainly deduced from the me-
chanifm by which concoction is performed.
Of the Circulation  of the Blood, and  its Confequences.
   Every man talks familiarly of the circulation of
the blood, and feems  to be well acquainted' with
that fubject.   But when it is thoroughly consider-
ed, it will appear to be one of the molt Stupend-
ous* works of omnipotence.   Tho' the life of the
animal abfelutely  depends upon it, yet the great-
eft phySicians and philol'cphers of  antiquity knew
it not.  To  England, aud modern times,  was re-
ferved the glory of bringing this important fecret
to lioht.  And even  after the immortal Harveyf
published his difeovery  with all the evidence of a
demonllratiou, it  was a  long time before Riolanus,
and the beft anatomifts of thofe days, could be per-
fuaded cf the truth of  it. So great was their at-
tachment to the  ancients, that they could fearce
believe their own  eyes.
   To form a dittinct judgment of the mechanifin
and importance of the circulation, it will be neeef-
                       T  3
  * Ne igitur mireris folem, lunam, et unherfaro aflromm feriem fum-
mo artificio difpofitam efte, neve te attonitum imCnitudo eorum, velpui-
thritcdo  vel motus peipetuus leddat adto,  Lt fi infenora hs.c compara-
vcri-   carva tibmdearun- efle: etenim fjpientiarn, etvi.tutem, etpro-
Videntiam hie quoquc frmilcm mvenies. Gal. de ufu partium, lib. 3, cap.
10 veif. latin- vulgar.              .
  + William Harvey was born at Folkfton in Kent, nnno 1557, and edu-
cated at Cambridge. He ftudied five years ai Padua, wai phyfician to
r-  les !• and lircd tofourfcore. 
2fO        Of the Circulation oj the Blood.
fary todeferibe the ftructure of the arteries, veins.,
and  nerves ; aud take notice of feme experiments
made upon  them.  We inufr  in the  next place
touch upon the cavities of the heart, by means of
which the  blood is  propelled  through the body*.
And then proceed  to obferve the extenfive ufe and
benefit of this circulation to every  branch of the.
animal ceconomy.  From all which it will be obvi-
ous to deduce the congruity  of the principle rules
eftabliflied by experience for the confervation of
health.
  The arteries are  blood-veffels ccjnfiftingof a clofe
texture of ftrong elaftic* fibres^-, woven iu various
webs, laid in different directions, and interfperfed'
with an infinity of delicate nerves, veins,  and mi-
nute arteries.   They are divided and Subdivided
into numberleSs branches aud ramifications,  that
grow finaller and  fmaller as they recede from the
heart, until at laft their extremities become mucu
more Slender than  the hairs of a man's head, (call-
ed thereSbre capillary arteries) which are  found'
either to unite iu  continued pipes with the begin-
nings of the veins, or to terminate in fmall recep-
tacles, from which  the veins derive tlieir origin.
The arteries have  no valves but  only where their
trunks-  fpring from  the heart. . They throb  and
beat perpetually while life remains;  and their ex-
tremities differ  in the thickuefs of  their coatsf.
and  feme  other particulars,  accouling to the na-
ture of the part which they pervade.   All the ar-
teries in the lungs (except the thiall ones that  con-
vey nourishment to  them)  are derived from the
great  pulmonary  artery,  which  ilfnes from the
right ventricle of  the heart.  And all tlie arteries
in the reft of the body proceed from the aorta^,

  • Baltic bodies are thofe which have the power of  a fpring,  or of
reftoring themfelves to the poltuic from which they wercdifpUccd by any
external force.
  t By fibres are meant fmall animal thieads, which are the firft confti-
dent parts o."the folids.
  i Aorta properly fignifies an air vefTcl, becaufe the a&cJCAlS though*
thai this aitery contained air ©aly. 
            €f the Circulation of the Bloott.        2 T ,
 wBofe trunk  fpriugs from th£ kft  venu..cle of ^


 ^driH.fVe,nS-refembIe t,,e arteries »* ^eir fio-ure
 and distribution, but their cavities are larger  «nd
 tne r brailcl    perh     more  n         »™±™*
 coat  are  much weaker and Slenderer than thofe
 of the  arteries.  They are furniiUd with feveral
 valves,  contrived in fuch  a manner as to permit
  he blood  to  pafs freely from the fmaller into the
 larger branches, but flop its retro o re Sfion.   Thev
 neither  throb nor beat.   Their beginnings form-
 continued pipes with the extremities of the arte-
 ries, or atife  from feme gland or receptacle where
 tne arteries terminate.  aW the veins in the Junes,
 from their capillary beginnings growing fftll I*-!'
 ger, unite at laft an.? discharge their  blood into
 the felt auricle * of the hea, t.  And all the vein*
 in  the reft of the body empty  themfelves in like
 manner, into the vena cava,  which opens into ti.e
 right auticle  of the heart.
   The nerves deduce their origin from  the brain
 or its appendages, in feveral pairs, of a cyliudric
 form, like fo many fkains of thiead within their
 reflective Sheaths, which in their prog rets, decreafe-
 by eiidlefs  divisions and fubdivifions, until at  laft
 they Spread themSelves into a texture of filanients-
 fo Slender,  and  fo clofely interwoven with each o-
 ther over the  whole body, that the point of a nee-
 dle  can hardly be put upon any  part or particle of
 it,  without touching the delicate branch of feme
 nerve.
   The great Harvey, and otliers, made Several ex*
 periments  upon the veflels we have defbribed, in
 order to demonstrate the circulation of the blood.
 For instance,  it has  been found by many trials.
 that when  an artery is laid bare, and a ligature

  • The i ig' t and left auricleare two- mn feu tar caps covering the twe
»entnces o: .he lieair,  thus caledfrom the refemblaace they bear to the-
ectc. aa. eai.  'Iiey move •>eg,-iarly like thehejit, but in an inverted
•»ocr, U»eu 6ouuaawactuj-ti#oadui^t».ihe' diiatauoa ef the veAuicfa, 
212       Of the Circulation of the Blood.
made upon it,  if you open the artery with a lan-
cet between the ligature and the heart, the blood
will rufh out with great violence ; and this rapid
jerking Stream will continue (uulefs you Stop it by
art) until, through lofs of blood, the animal  faints
or dies.  But if you open the fame artery between
the ligature and the extremites,  a few drops only
will ouze out from the wounded coats of the ar-
tery .
   On the  other hand, when a vein is laid bare,
and a ligature made upon it, if you open that vein
between the ligature and the extremities, the blood
 will gulh out,  as we lee in  common vencsfection.
 But if we open the fame vein between the binding
 aud the heart, no blood will appear.   From thefe
 experiments it is obvious to the flighteft attention,
 that the blood flows from the heart,  through the
 arteries, to the extreme  parts of the body ;  and
 returns again through the veins to the heart.
   For the regular performance and continuation
 of this motion of the blood  (called its circulation)
 thro' all the different parts of the body, the wife Ar-
 chitect has furnifhed  the heart, which is the pri-
 mum mobile, and gives the firfi impulfe, with four "di-
 stinct mufcular cavities, that is, with an auricle and
 a ventricle on the  right fide, and an auricle.and a
 ventricle on the left.  Through thefe cavities, cu-
 rioufly adapted to their refpective offices, the blood
 circulates  in the  following order : it is received
 from the veins firft into the right auricle,  which
 contracting  itfelf, pufhes the blood into the right
 ventricle at that  inltant dilated.    The  moment
 this ventricle is filled, it contracts itfelf with great
 force, and impells the blood into the pulmonary
 artery, which pafling through the lungs, and re-
 turning by the pulmonary veins,  is received into
 the left auricle of the heart, and from thence it
 is pufhed into tlie leS't ventricle.  The left ventri-
 cle thus filled, contracts itfelf, and drives the blood
 with great rapidity  to all the parts  oi' the body> 
          Of the Circulation of the Blood.       11 $
and from them it  returns again through the veins
into the right auricle of the heart vis before.   It is
very remarkable,  that we have here a double cir-
culation:  one from the  right ventricle through the
UtnJs,  to the ieft auricle  of the heart, in order to
convert  the chyle into blood, and finally prepare
it for the nourifliment of the ani.ral.   The other
from the-left ventricle through the who.e body, to the
right auricle  of the heart, which lervts to apply
that nourithment to every  pait,  belides various o-
ther purpoles.
  But to proceed.   Of  thefe four mufcular cr.vi-
ties, the two auricles are  contracted at tlw fane
inltant, while the two ventricles are dilated ;  the
ventricles,  in their  turn,  are contracting them-
felves  at the very inftant that the auricies are di-
lated.    The  arteries, in like manuei, beat in al-
ternate time with the ventricles ol  the heait, that
is,  when the ventricles are contracted the atteries
are distended, and while the  aiteries  contact
themfelves the ventricles are dilleuded.
  The nerves, as well as the veins and arteries, acl
their part in this rotation of the  bfeod ;  for if you
bind up the eighth pair w'ic1! proceeds from the
brain to the heart, the motion of the heart imme-
diately languishes, and feon ceafes intirely.
  Thus we have a perpetual motion (lb vainly Sought
for by  fouie  p'liof; vats ami'  mathematicians)
which  none but  a  btiug  of infinite wifdom ar.d
power could p'^^; nrd ; erhaps its continuati-
on  requires t.ie couftaut  aid of the fame hand t'at
firft gave it  e\ilteiice.  The train tranfinits an>
jnal fpiiits to tie heart,  to give it a vigorous con-
traction.   T.ie heart, at the feme inttaut, pulhes
the blood .into the brain  tofupply it with new fji-
»its: by which means the  head and the heart mu-
tually 'Support e.-cii other every moment.   But
ti is is not u'l : tie action of the  heart fends the
blood and other vital humours over the whole bo-
 dy  by the aiuii-i, and  distributes nourijhmenli 
214       Of the Circu/attuu oj ir>e &;ooa.
and vigour to every part*, (while perhaps the ani-
mal Spirits, from the extremities of  the  nerves,
return again into the blood)  and the whole reflu-
ent mats is conveyed back through  the veins into
the heart,  which enables it,  without interinilliori,
to perfift in rolling this tide  of life.
   If we now  take a view of the ufe and import-
ance of the circulation of the  blood to the whole
animal ceconomy, we Shall find it veiy txtenlive.
   r.  When  this  circulation  is duly performed,
man continues in good health ; when it grows ir-
regular he Sickens:  and  when it ceal'es he  dies.
Nay,  if but one member fhould be deprived of it,
that member prefently corrupts and mortifies.  By
means of this circulation,  every natural Secretion
is mechanically regulated, the perfpiration pro-
moted, all the  dregs of the body difeharged,  and
diftempers frequently cured without any other af-
flftance.
   2. When the circulation is naturally quick and
vigorous,  the temperament  of the  body becomes
habitually hot : when it is languid and flow, the
temperament is cold.   When the original ftamina
of the felids, which pre Us forward this circulation,
are compact and firm, the conftitution is propor-
tionally ftrong ;  when they are lax and delicate,
the conftitution is weak and tender.   When'bile
or phlegm prevails in the fluids, the complexion
correfponds with the prevailing humour, and is
accordingly called  bilious or phlegmatic.   Thus,
from the different velocity of  the circulation,  the
different ftrength of" the ftamina, and the difl'erent
mixture of the fluids in every individual, arifes
that peculiar difpofition,  or -J- 'iSioovynqoivia,  which
is the  true caufe why feveral things that are hurt-
ful to fome are beneficial to others :  and why the
  * The lungs not excepted, which receive their nourifliment by the
bronchial arteries from the aorta.
  f Thw word cannot be accurately tranflated into our language, but it
means that fingular difpofition of the folids, and mixture tf the fluids.
•which ex'Jl in  every individual. 
            Of the Circulation of the Blood.       2l;
  fame perfen finds fome  things  agree with him at
  one time, which have disagreed at another.
  the M f"rther' a ^erate arid calm circulation of
  tue blood is neceflary even towards the right po-
  vernnient of  our paffions, and the true ufe of our
  realon.    We know by daily  experience, that the
  influence of the mind upon the body, with refpect
  to health, and of the body upon the mind,  with
  refpect to the intellectual faculties, is very «rear
  Sudden terrors have killed fome, and diffracted o-
  tliers.  Anger and grief impair health, cheerfulnefs
  and contentment promote it : inflammations, and
  other diforders of the brain, fufpend the right ufe
  of our reafen :  many arguments induce us to be-
  lieve, that the nerves ferve for fenfation andmufcu-
  lar motion,  and that by means  of thefe two/the
  mind carries  on its correfpondence with external
  objects.  We  know  alfo that the nerves  are fup-
  plied with Spirits from the brain, and the brain
  with blood from the  heart.   From all which it is
 evident, that the circulation  muft be  gentle aud
 regular,  in order to prevent  the paffions from
 growing boisterous or headflrong ; and that con-
 sequently it is the fource of that rational corre-
 fpondence  and harmony, which fhould fubfift be-
 tween the human mind and body.
   I Shall conclude this article of the ufes  of the
 circulation, with obferving that the fame circula-
 tion which fupports life fb long, and preferves it
 iti vigour,  does at laft, by a mechanical neceffity
 flop its own courfe, and deflroy the animal. From
 the perpetual friction and attrition of the parts one
 againlt the other, the ftamina  or fibres in a courfe
 of years become rigid, and lofe their fpring j the
 larger pipes grow hard, and the fmall ones, con-
 tracting gradually,  become at  laft impervious ;
 the body is  Shrivelled, and the motion of the fluids
firft languishes, and then cenfes : and thefe caufes
oradually bring on old age and death, which ap-
proach fooner or later, as the attrition of the part* 
2j6       Of the Circuljfrtv of the LVe-d.
has been either rafhly luini.-d on'with the violence
and i 'petuofity of exeefs  und  iiot,  or gently led
with the calmhefs of moderation and tenperance.
  From wliat has been fuid, it fhould feem mani-
feft tnt  health  confiiis in a,  modeiate, equable
and free circulation of the blood, and other vital
fluids of  the bodv,  through their correspondent
canals.   It is no lefs certain, that a prober degree
of  ftrength aud elasticity in the ftamina of thefe
cavities and pipes, is neceffary, to enable them to
pufh on the fluids with vigour,  and that the fluids
muft be of a proper confiftence and quantity, to
make them yield to the impulfe of the folids.  L"t
us now apply this idea of health  to the fix inf.ru-
ments of life, and we fliali fee tlie reaSbnablenelsof
the rules laid  down with regard to every one of
them,  it will be Su'iit ient to give one instance v.f
the moft  important precepts of each ;  and firft, as
to the air :
   I.  The principal rule in reference  to the air is,
that  we fhould choofe fuch as is pure,  and i\ce
from all pernicious damps and  redundant  n.ix-
tures, and known by expeiience  to be Salubrious!
The reafenablenefs of this rule will appear, when
we conSider, that the air is indifpenlablv necelfa-
ry to expand the lungs,  and that it  mingles not
only with our-aliment, but alfb with our blood and
juices,  and confequently that  it ought to be pure
and elafiic, becaufe any pernicious qualities in it
would Soon taint the. blood, and diiiurb the cir-
culation,  or, which  is the Same tbing in other
words,  would afflict or deilroy the life oS' the ani-
mal.
   2.  An important rule with refpect to n.liment i.,
that it Should be ofed juft in fuch a quantity as we
find by experience to  agree with us, and lufficient
to invigorate, but not to load  the body.  The ex-
pediency Of this rule will be evident, when we re-
flect that aliment was appointed to Supply what is
Ihrown off by the continual attrition of t^e folids, 
          Of the Circulation of the Blood.      my
and diflipation of the fluids, and that confequent-
ly too rigid abstinence will render the felids lan-
guid, and unfit for  action ;  and too great excefs
will increaSe the  fluids fb as to choak up, or burft
the tubes thro' which they pafs ;  and  it is  plain
that either of  thefe errors would in a Short time
flop the circulation.
   3. We are advifed to ufe moderate exercife,  ad-
jufted as exactly as we can to the quantity of our
aliment, that fe an equipoife may  be  maintained
between what is thrown off, and what is taken in-
to the  body.  Now,  Since  moderate  exercife is
known  to give ftrength  to the Solids, and motion
to the fluids, it is obvious to the Slightest consider-
ation, that too much would over-heat the fluids,
and render the felids ftiff; and too little would re-
lax the felids,  and make the fluids Stagnate : both
which extremes are inconsistent with a tree  circu-
lation.
   4.  As fleep  was intended by nature to cherifh
the body after the action or fatigue of" the day, by
a new and  refrefliing appofitioii of parts,  which
work requires an  adequate proportion  of time,
that  differs in different constitutions ; it follows
that  too little fleep muft waSte and dry the ani-
mal,  and too much would render it dull  and
heavy.
   5.  In reference  to repletion and evacuation j
fiuce the quantity and quality of the fluids fliould
bear an exact .proportion to the ftrength  and ela-
sticity of the felids, it is certain,  that all fuperflu-
ous reciements and hurtful humours mult be dis-
charged out of the body, left they  Should difturb
or deftroy the  neceffary  equipoife  between the fe-
lids and fluids ; and that  all ufeful humours muft
be retained, in order to preferve this balance.
   6.  Laltly, As the paffions and  affections of the
mind  by creating diforders in the blood, have fe
 oreat'an influence 011 health, it is c\idei:t  that a
 habit of virtue which can  govern  thefe paffions,
   Vox. H.              V 
218                   Of Air.
and make them fubfervient to reafen, is the  firft-*
and principle rule in which mankind ought to be
trained up, to f'ecure a good State of health  iu all
the periods of life.
                 CHAP.  II.

A Summary of the Rules of Health proper to be objerved,
  with Regard to every one of the fix Things necefary to
  human Life, as Air,  /lliment, Exerctj'e, &.c.  together
  with fome other general Maxims.

     OF the rules requisite to preferve health, fome
      are general or common to all ages and con-
ditions  of men ; and  feme are particular, or adapt-
ed to different periods and ciicumftances  of life.
Under the  general rules are  comprehended thofe
which relate to the fix inftrutnents of life, as air, ali-
ment, ire.  together with  Seine othei ufeful max-
ims. Under the particular rules are reckoned, firft,
Thofe which  are  peculiar to  different tempera-
ments,  namely the  bili.ms,  fanguine, melancho-
lic, and phlegmatic.  Secondly, Thole  rules  that
belong  to different  periods of life, as  infancy,
youth, manhood, and old  age.  Thirdly,  Thofe that
are appropriated to different conditions and cir-
cumftances of men, confidered as active or indo-
lent, wealthy  or indigent, free or Servile.
  I Shall mention  all thefe in order, beginning
with the general rules which relate  to Galen's Six
Non-naturals, viz. Air, aliment, exercife  and reft,
Sleep and wakefulness, repletion  and evacuation,
together with  the paflions and affections of the
mind.                /
                      Of Air.
   Air, by its extreme fubtilty  and  weight pene-
trates into, and mingles with every part of the bo-
dy ; and by  its elasticity gives an inteftine motion 
                      Of Air.                  219
 to all the fluids, and a lively fpring to all  the fi-
 bres, which promote the circulation. As it is there-
 tore the principal moving caufe  of all  the fluids
 and felids of the human body, we ought to be ve-
 ry careful in choofing a healthy air, as far as it is
 in our power
    I. That air is beft which is pure,* dry, and tem-
 perate, untainted with noxious  damps, or  putrid
 exhalations from  any caufe whatfeever ; but the
 fureft mark of a good air, in any place, is the com-
 mon longevity of its inhabitants.
    2. A houfe is healthy which is fituated on a rif.
 mg t ground and  a gravelly foil, in an open dry
 country ; the rooms fhould be pretty Large, but not
 cold ; the expofure prudently adapted  to the  na-
 ture of the climate, but  fo  contrived  that your
 houfe may be perflated by the ealt or north winds
 Whenever  you pleafe, which  fhould be  done  at
 leaft once every day,  to blow away animal fteams
 and other noxious vapours.   But efpecially let tiie
 air of your bed chamber be  pure and  untainted,
 not near the ground, or any kind of dampnefs.
   3-  Evident marks of a bad air in any houfe, are
 dampnefs or difcolouring of  plaifter or wain foot
 mouldinels of bread* wetnefs of  fpunge, melting
 of fugar, rufting of braSs and iron, and rotting of
 furniture.
   4.  There is nothing more apt to load the air wi'h
 putrid fteams,  or breed  bad  diftempers, than  the
 general and pernicious cultom  of permitting com-
 mon and crowded burial places to  be within the pre-
 cincts of populous cities.
   5.  The air of cities being loaded with fteams of
 fuel, and exhalations from animals, is unfriendly

  * By pure and dry is not meant an  air  abfolutely clear from any
 heteroge;:cois mixture, for that is impoffible, nor woald fucn be fit for.
 anima .--, but an aii  not overcharged with any fteams.
 f See Columel. de re ruft. lib. 1. cap.4. Petat'jr igt^ir a- r calore et
fri#<re temperarus, quern medi :s fere oUinet colJis, lo^a paulilum  i"tu-
raefcente,  suod neqoe depreffus hieme pruinis torpet, aut toim aefla-
te vapoiitus.
                       U  2 
220            Of Aliment.
to infants *  not yet  habituated to fuch noxious
mixtures.
  6. Sudden extremes of heat and cold fhould be a-
voided as much as poffible ;  aud they commit a moft
dangerous error, who, in the winter nights, come
out of the clofe, hot rooms of public houfes, into a
cold and chilling air, without cloaks or fui touts.
                   Of Aliment.

  I. The beft food is that which is fimple, nourish-
ing, without acrimony, and eafily digefted ; and
the principal rule to be obfeived with regard to a-
liment in general, is to eat and drink wholefome
things in a proper quantity.  But, you  will  afk,
how fliali the bulk of the people diftinguifh whole-
fame aliment from nnwholefenie ?  And  how Shall
they meafure the quantity proper for them ?  I an-
fwer,  that almoft all the aliment in  common  ufe
has been found wholefome by the experience  of a-
ges, and a temperate healthy man need not be un-
der great apprehenfions of danger in partaking of
fuch.  But there is an obvious rule which will di-
rect every individual aright in the choice of his a-
liment. Let  him obferve what agrees with his con-
ftitution and what does not, and let his experience
and reafen direct him to ufe the one and  avoid  the
other.  And as to the proper quantity of aliment,
the rule is,, to  take juft  fuch a proportion as will
be  fufficient  to fuppovt and nourish him, but not
fuch as will overload the Stomach, and be difficult
to digelt ; yet in this meafure alio, every indivi-
dual has  a Sure guide, if he will be directed by a  na-
tural undepraved appetite ; for whenever he  has
eat of any good food, as much as his  appetite  re-
quires, and. leaves off before his flomach is  cloy-

  *  Founded upon experience, is mentioned a calculation in the biihop of
"Worcefter's excellent ftimnn (page 18, \y.) preached for the benefit of
the Foundling hofp;tal anno 1756, lhewing that man>  more children die
in propoition, which are nurled  in a populouo city, or broi ght up by
ha :d, than iftheyivae nurfed ia  the.country, and nouiilhcd at tt«
breaft. 
                 Of Aliment.                 2 2 r
ed*, or finishes his meal with fome relifh for more>
he has eat a proper quantity.  But to prevent any
deception, he may be ftill farther convinced  that
he has committed 110 excefs, if immediately  after
dinner he can write or walk, or go about any other
neceflary bufinefs with pleafure ; and if after fupper
his Sleep Shall not be  diltUrbed,  or  Shortened by
what he has eat or drank ; if he has no  head-ach
next morning, nor any uncommon  haughing or
{pitting, nor a bad talle in his mouth ; but riles at
his ufual hour refrefhed apd chearful.
  2. Another ufeful rule is, that we fhould not in-
dulge ourfelves in a difeordant variety of aliments
at the fame meal.  Tho'  a good  llomach, for ex-
ample, may make a Shift to digeft filh, flefli,  wine
and  beer at one repalt ; yet if one adds falad, cream
and  fruit to them (which is too frequently dont)
the flatulent mixture will  dillend the bowels, and
pervert the digeftion.
  3.  The quantity and felidity of a man's aliment
ought to bear a juft proportion to the ftrength of
his conftitution,  and to the exercifes which lie ,1-
fes : for young, ftrong, labouring people will turn
to good nourifliment any kind of fbo 1 in common
ufe ;  and. they  can digeft with eafe a quantity that
would opprefs or deflroy the delicate and fedentary.
  4.  Bread,  made of good  wheat flour, properly
fermented and biked, U the moft valuable article
»f our diet, wholefome and nourifhing by itfelf^
mixing  well with-  all Sorts of aliment, and fre-
quently agreeable to the flomach when it loaths e-
very other food.
  5. It is-to  be obferve.', that liquid  aliments, or
fpoon meats', are moft proper, when immediate re-
frefliTiient is require ' after great abftinence or fa-
tigue,.  becaufe they mingle Sooner with the bloodl
tuaii ibiid. aiiinents.

  » Vid, Hippoc. aph. feCt. 2  aphor. 17, Ubicoplolior prxtu nat'i-
jamcitus ingeltusfuei it, id nioxbum creat. 
222               OfAumem.
   6. As drink makes a confiderable part of our ali-
ment, it may not be amif's here to inquire which
fort of common drink, generally {peaking, is the
moltrproper to preferve health.  "  Pure water
" (fays Frederick Hoffman *) is the beft drink for
" perfens  of all ages and temperaments.  By  its
tc fluidity and  mildnefs it promotes a free and e-
tl quable circulation  of the blood and  humours
" through all the veflels of the body, upon which
({ the due performance of every animal  function
" depends ;  and hence water drinkers are n«t on-
" ly the moft active and nimble, but alfb the  moft
" chearful  and fprightly  of all  people.  In fan-
" guine  complexions,  water,  by  diluting the
ic blood, renders the circulation eafy and uniform.
" In the choleric,  the coolnefs  of the water re-
*' Strains the quick motion, and intenfe heat  of
" the humours.  It attenuates the glutinous  vici-
"• dity of the juices in  the  phlegmatic, and the
" grofs earthinefs  which prevails in melancholic
" temperaments.  Aud as to different ages, water
" is  good  for  children, to  make their tenacious
** milky diet thin, and  eafy to digeft :  for youth
" and middle aged people, to fweeten and difiolve
*' any feorbutic acrimony, or  lharpnefs that  may
4i be in the humours,  by which  means pains and
" obftructions  are  prevented : and for  old  peo-
41 pie, to  moiften  and  molify their rigid fibres,
4* and to promote  a lefs difficult circulation thro'
4< their  hard and flirivel'd pipes.  In Short,  (fays
41 he) of all the  productions  of nature  or art,
*' water comes nearell to  that universal reme-
*' dy  or panacea,   fo  much Searched   after  by
4< mankind, but  never discovered."  The truth
of it is, pure, light, foft, cold water, from a  clear
liream, drank  in  fuch a quantity as is necef-
fary to quench  their thirfl, dilute their food, and
cool their heat, is the beft drink  for  children, for

  * Uiffert. phyfico-med.  vol, a. differi. 5. 
                  Of Aliment.                 22 J
hearty people, and for perfons of a hot  tempera-
ment, efpecially if |they have  been habituated to
the ufe of it: but to delicate or cold conftitutions,
to weak llomachs, and to per fens unaccu Homed to
it, water without wine is a very improper drink* ;.-
and they will find it fo, who try it under fuch cir-
cumftances.
  Good wine \ is an  admirable liquor,  and, ufed
in  a moderate quantity, anfVers many excellent
purpofes of health. Beer well  brewed, light, clear,
and of a proper ftrength and age, if  we except
water and wine,  is perhaps the molt ancient, and
bell fort of drink in common ufe among mankind..
   7. It is neceffary to obferve, that water  or Small
beer,  or Some other weak liquor,  Should be drank
at meals,  in a quantity fuihcient to dilute our fo-
lid  food,  and  make it  fluid  enough to circulate
through the Small blood veffels, otherways  the ani-
mal functions will  grow languid,  and obstructions
muft follow.
   8, "Teat,  to feme,, is a refrefliing cordial after a-
ny fatigue.  To fome it is ufcful, and feerns to af-
filt  digeftion,  drank at  a proper  diftance of time
after dinner : but  to others it  occafions  ficknefs,.
fainting, and tremors at all times ; So that the  ex-
perience of every  individual  mufl determine not
only the uSe or forbearance, but alfo the  ftrength
and quantity of this exotic beverage.
   As the nature of coffee is more fiery and active
than that of tea, anil the frequent ufe of it may
confequently be more dangerous, every man's own
experience fhould direct him how and when to ufe
or forbear it ;  but the  tiial fliould be fairly made
with care and caution.
   * See  Hippocrates'opinion on this article, page to6, &c.|
  +  Plutarch, in his life of Czdr, tells  us, that when he had  takeif
 Gomphi, a town in Theftaiy, by  aflault, he not only found provifions
for  his army, but phyfick alfo: for there they met with plenty of wine,
 wl-ich they drank freely.  Varmed  with this, and infpued with the.
  d  thev jollily danced a'ong, and Co fliook off their difeafe contracted
 from therr former crude and fcanty diet, and changed their >vho;e confti-
 tution. 
224                 Of Exercife.
  Chocolate is nourishing and balfamic, when frefii
and good,  but very difagreeable to the ftoinach
when  the nut  is badly  prepared, and  is gveafy,
decayed or rancid.
  9. Perfons offender conftitutions fliould be care-
ful to chew their meat well, that it may be more
eafily digefted.

                   Of Exercife.
  As the human body is a fyftem of pipes,, through
which fluids are perpetually circulating ;  and as
life fubfiits by  this circulation,  contrived by infi-
nite wifdom to perform all the animal functions, it
is obvious that exercife muft be neceffary to hea,th,
becaufe it preferves this circulation by alfilting di-
geftion, and throwing off fuperfluities.   BeSides,
we See every day that the active *are Stronger than
the feden tary :  and that thofe limbs  of labouring
men which happen to be moft exercifed in their
respective occupations,  grow proportionably  lar-
ger and firmer than thofe limbs  which are lefs em-
ployed.
   I. Three things are neceflarily to be considered
with regard to  exercife.   Firft,  What is the  beSl
fort of exerciSe.  Secondly, What is the beft time to
ufe it :. and, thirdly, What is the proper degree or
meafure to be ufed.  As  to  the  firSt, tho' various
exercifes fuit various constitutions, as they happen
to be robuft or delicate,  yet in  general that  Sort
is beft to which one has  been accnStemed,  which
he has  always  found  to agree with him, and in
which he takes the greateft delight.
   2. In  the Second place, the beft time to ufe ex-
ercife is when the flomach  is molt empty.  Some
cannot  bear it quite  fatting,  and therefore, to
them  exercife  is proper enough, after a  light

  • Julius Catfar was of a weak and delicate cnnftiution, fays Plutarch,
which however he hardened by txeicife, and d ew even ficm :he tiicom-
mditie-. of war a remedy f >'■ his indifpofitio:.,, by inuring himfelf to ail
forts of fatigue, and turning even his jepofe into action. 
                    Of Exercife.                2-z$
 breakfall, or towards evening when dinner is pret-
 ty well digefted,  but  fliould  never  be attempted
 loon after a fall meal, by fuel' as are under no ne-
 cefflty to work for their daily fubfiftence.
   3. Laflly, The meafure or proportion of exercife
 fit for  every individual, is to be eftimated  by the
 ftrength or weaknefs of his couflitution ;  for when
 any perfon  begins  to fweat,  or grow weary, or
 Short breathed,, he Should forbear a while, in order
 to recover himfelf, and then relume his exercife a-
 gain, as long as he can purfue  that method  with
 eafe and pleafure : but if he perfifts until he turns
 pale, or languid, or fliff, he has proceeded too far,
 and muft not  only forbear exercife for the prefent,.
 but fhould alfb ufe lefs next day.  In general  it is
 to be obferved,  that  children  and  old people re-
 quire much lefs exercife thau thofe  who are in the
 vigour of life..
   4.  Exercife may properly be divided into three
 forts.   Firft, That which  is  performed by the in--
 trinfie  powers of our own body only, as  walking,.
 running, dancing, playing at ball, reading * aloud
 ire.   Secondly, That  which  is  performed  by   the
 powers of fome other bodies extrinfic to us, as gef-
 tation  in wheel  machines, horfe  litters,  Sedan
 chairs, failing,  ire. And,  Thirdly, That which  par-
 takes of both the former,  as  riding on horfeback,,
 wherein we  exercife our own powers by managing
 our horfe, and holding our  bodies  firm and  up-
 right,  while  the horfe performs the part of a ve-
hicle.
   Without entering into  the  ancient difputes of
philofophers, about the molt healthful  of all thefe
forts, we may venture to affirm in. general,that what

  * Dr. Andry obferves, that finglng is a moft healthful exercife, and
 fiibjoins the following words :. " 1 anta denique eft  vocis  et loqreUe in
 " exercendo corpoie p/aeftantia, ut id fonafle caufa fit, cur  famine
 «< non tanto aiias exeicito indigent quunto indigent viri,  quoniam fcilicet
 «« funt illae loquaciores. Ojiaeft. medic.  An prsecipua valetudinis tutela.
 « exercitatio? In fchel. medic. Purif. difcufl'a, an.  1723, Pracftd. Nio
" Andry."- 
226           Of Sleep and Wakefulnefs.
is perferme ' b, our own pi weis, is the moft proper
for perfens of a Hroni>  :uiu uealthy  conftitution ;
that what is performed bv external helps only, is
molt proper for the iuiirm and delicate ;  and  that
the  exercife  performed  partly by oui'felves, and
partly by foreign afliliance, is moit fnitable to fuch
as are neither very robuft nor very tender : and as
to the paiticular benefits which a rife  from riding
on horfeback, they have been Set forth in So  rati-
onal and lively a manner by Sydenham and Fuller,
that nothing material can be added to their argu-
ments : and it has been already obferved, that what-
ever advantage can be received  from a  good di-
geftion,  uiay, in an  eminent degree be  expected
from this exercife,  adjufted accurately to the
ftrength of the rider.
   c.  After exercife we run a great rifk of catching
cold, (efpecially if we have been in any decree of
fweat) unlets we take care  to prevent it, by rub-
bing our bodies well with a  dty cloth, aud'chang-
ing our linen, which Should  be previoufly well air-
ed : but of all the follies committed immediately
after exercife, the molt pernicious is that of drink-
ing fmall liquors of any fort quite  cold, when a
man is hot; whereas if we drank them blood warm
they  would quench our thirft better,  and could do
us no injury.
   6. Lean people are feoner weakened and wafted
by too much exercife than thofe who are plump :
and every man fhould reft for Some  time after ex-
ercife, before he fits down to dinner or Supper.

            Of  Sleep and Wakefulnefs.
   I.  Sleep and wakefulnefs bear a  great refern-
blance to exercife and reli ;  as wakefulnefs ib the
natural ftate of action,  in which the animal ma-
chine is fatigued and waited, and fleep the State
of eafe, in which it is refreshed and-repaired.  The
vit iflitude of Sleeping and waking is not only ne-
ceflary but pleating  to our  nature,  while each is 
          Of Sleep and Walefulnefs.           227
-confined within its  proper limits.  But you  will
afk what Units IhouU' be affigned to Sleep ?    1 he
anlwci  is,  that though  different coiifiitutions re-
quire different meafnres of fleep,  yet it has been
111 general obferved, that fix or feven hours are
fufficient for youth or manhood, and eight or nine
for infancy, or old age,  when they are ftrong and
healthy, but the infirm are not to be limited ;  and
the weaker any perfon is, the longer he ought to
indulge himfelf in  fuch a meafure of fleep as he
finds by experience  fufficient to refrefh him.
   2.  Moderate  Sleep  increafes tlie  perfpiration,
promotes digeftion, cherifhes the body, and exhi-
larates  the mind ;   and  they whofe Sleep is apt to
be interrupted by flight caufes,  fliould neverthe-
lefs keep themfelves quiet  and warm in bed,  with
their eyes Shut, and without tolling or tumbling,
which will in Some  degree anfwer the purpofes of
a more found fleep.
   3.  Exceffive fleep, on the other hand, renders
the body phlegmatic and inactive, impairs the me-
mory, and ltupifies the understanding.   And ex-
ceffive wakefulnefs diflipates the Strength, produ-
ces fevers,  dries and waStes the body, and antici-
pates old age.
   4.  He who Sleeps  long in the morning, and fits
up late at night, inverts the order of nature, and
hurts his conftitution, without gaining any time;
and he who will do it merely in compliance  with
the faShion, ought  not  to repine at a fashionable
ftate of bad health, or a broken conftitution.
   5. A man fliould forbear to Sleep after dinner, or
indeed at any other time of the day in our cold
climate, except where a  long habit has rendered
fuch a cuftom almoft natural to him, or where ex-
traordinary fatigue, or want of reft the  preceed-
ing night, obliges  him to it ;  in which cafe he
fhould be well covered to defend him againft catch-
ing cold.
   6.  Two hours or more fhould intervene between 
228        Of Repletion and Evacuation.
fupper and the time of going to bed :  and a late
heavy fupper is a great enemy to Sleep, as it disturbs
that fweet tranquillity of the body and mind which
is fo refreshing to both, and produces reftlelfncfs
and  anxiety.
           Of Repletion and Evacuation.
   I. The whole art of preferving health may pro-
perly enough be laid to conlilt in filling up what
is deficient, and emptying what is redundant, that
fb the body may  be  habitually kept in its natural
ftate ; and hence it follows, that all the fupplies
from eating and drinking, aud all the difcharges
by perfpiration, and by the other channels and di-
llributions of nature,  fliould be regulated in fuch
a manner that the body fhall not be opprefled with
repletion, or wafted by evacuation.  Of thefe two,
one  is the cure or antidote of the other ; every er-
ror  iu repletion  being corrected, by  a feafbnable
and congruous evacuation j  and every exceSs in e-
vatuation  (if it has not proceeded too far)  being
cured by a gradual and fuitable repletion,
   2. When any repletion has been accumulated, it
requires a particular and correfpondent evacuati-
on,  well known to phyficians.   Repletion,  for in-
stance,  from eating or drinking, requires a puke
or abstinence. A fulnefs of blood requires imme-
diate venae, fection.   A redundancy of liumours re-
quires purging.   And a retention of any excre-
nientitious matter,  which fhould have been dif-
eharged hy fweat, mine, or (pitting, requires af-
fiftance  from fuch  means as are found by experi-
ence to  promote thefe feveral evacuations.  And
if thofe  cautions are neglected, there will fucceed
an oppreffion of the Stomach or breafl,  a weight
of the head, a rupture of the blood veflels, or fome
other-troubleSome diforder.
   3. It  is  to be obS'erved, that a perfen in perfect
health,  all whofe Secretions are duly  performed,
ought never to take any medicine that is either e» 
      Of the Paffions and AJeftion-s of the Mind.  229
 vacuating or acrimonious,  becaufe it may difturb
 t.ie operations of nature without any neceflity ;
 and Hippocrates exprefsly declares *,  that thofe
 who are of a ftrong  and healthy conftitution are
 muc.i the  worfe for taking purges f.  But as  to
 external ablutions  of the fkin, by waShing, bath-
 ing, or fwimming,  they arc  proper  for healthy
 people, provided they are not carried to excefs.
   4. It  alfo is to  be obferved, that chewing  or
 fmoaking  tobacco foon after meals,  generally de-
 stroys the appetite, and hurts the conftitution/both
 by weakening the fprings of life, (as other opiates
 do) and by evacuating the faliva which-nature has
 -appointed  to fall into the ftomach to promote di-
 gelt ion.
   5. Nothing exhaufls and enervates the body more,
 or hurries on old age fader than premature con-
 cubinage j and hence tlie ancient Germans^ are ex-
 tolled by Tacitus for not marrying before thcv ar-
 rived at their full vigour.

      Of the-Pafion s and A feci-ions of the Mind.
   1. He who feriouSly refolves to preferve his health,
 muft previously learn to conquer his paffions, and
 keep them in abi'olute Subjection to reafen ;  for let
 a  man be ever fo  temperate iu  his diet,  and reou-
 lar in his exercife, yet ftill feme unhappy  pafiion.*,'
 if  indulged to excefs, will prevail over all  his re-
 gularity, and  prevent the good effects  of Lis tem-
 perance i it is neceffary the* efore that'lli iLbuld be'
 upon his guard againft an iii-iuence ib defa-uclive.
   2. Fear, grief,  and thofe paiiionj which p.ir talie
 of them, as envy, hatred, malice, revenue,  aud
■defpair, are known by experience' to weaken the
 nerves, retard the  circular motion  of.the  fluids,
 hinder  perfpiration.,  impair cij^eftion,  and often
   Vol. "il.              X
  * S-'ch 2„ aphor. j6,  37,
  ■| It is to be;ubfi.-i..lu U*u the purges ufe-J i.i HippocT/Uci'' time vet:
 til fome what violent.
  ♦ Tarda illis veiiw.., et .pares vjfJi'.iue m!fceLant-r.  De ;:;;>r. G:vrr. 
 230  Of the P.aftons aud Affections of the Mind.
 to  produce  fpafms, obstructions, and hypochon-
 driacal diforders.   And extreme fudden terror* has
 fometimes brought on immediate death.
   £.  Moderate joy and anger, on the other hand,
 and thofe paffions and affections of the mind  which
 partake of their nature, as cheerfulnefs, content-
 ment, hope, virtuous and mutual  love, and cou-
 rage in doing good,  iuvigorate the  nerves, acce-
 lerate the circulating fluids, promote perlpiration,
 and aSfift digeftion  ; but violent anger (which dif-
 fers from madnefs  only in duration)  creates bili-
 ous, inflammatory, convullive, aud  fometimes a-
 poplectic diforders, efpecially iu  hot  tempera-
 ments i and excefs  of joy deitroys fleep, and often
 has fudden and fatal f effects.
   4. It is obfervable,  that  the  perfpiration is lar-
 ger from any vehement paSliou of the mind when
 the body is quiet, than from  the Strongest bodily
exercife when the mind is compofed.  Thole there-
 fore who are prone to anger,  cannot bear  much
 exercife,  becaufe the exuberant  perfpiration of
 both would exbauft and walle the body.   It is al-
 io remarkable, that a diferder which arifes from
 any vehement agitation of the mind, is more Stub-
 born than  that which arifes from violent corporal
exercife, becaufe the latter is cured by  reft and
 fleep, which have  but little influence on the for-
 mer.
   5. A  conftant  Serenity,  fupported by hope,  or
 cheerfulneSs arising from a pood conscience, is the
 moft  healthful of all the  affections of the mind-.
Cheerfulnefs of fpirit, (as the great lord Verulam
 observes} is particularly uSeful when we fit  down
 to our meals, or cempofe  ourfelves to fleep;  be-
 caufe anxiety or grief are known  to prevent the
 benefits which we ought naturally to receive from
thefe refreshments ; " If therefore/* fays he, 4( any

  »  See Valer. Maxim, who mentions feveral fuch inflanc.es.
  t  Vid. Plin.  hill, nau lib. 7. cap. 53-   Aul. Cell. Noft. Attic, lib,
 3.  "P.- '5. 
     Of the Paffions and Affections of the Mind.   231
" violent pafiion fliould chance to furprife us near
" thofe rimes,  it would be prudent to defer  eat-
" ing,  or going to bed, until it fubfides, and the
" mind recovers its former tranquillity."
  Having thus mentioned the principal rules re-
lating  to  the Six things  neceffary to life, considered
Singly,  I Shall here fubjoin a very important  rule,
which confiders two of the fix together, and Shews
the mutual influence which they have one upon
the other, with refpect  to health.  The rule is,
that our exercife fhould bear an  exact proportion
to our diet, and our diet in like manner to our ex-
ercife ;  or,  in other words,  that he v/ho eats and-
drinks plentifully fliould ufe much exercife ;  and
he  wdio cannot ufe exercife, fhould, in order to
preferve his health,  lite  abftemioufly.  Perfons
who can ufe moderate  and conftant exercife, are
able to digeft a large quantity of aliment, with-
out any injury to their heakh,  becaufe their ex-
ercife throws off whatever is Superfluous ; but ten-
der people, who can ufe little or  no  exercife,  if
they fhould take in a large quantity of food,  fome
indigefled fuperfluity muft  remain in the body,
which  becomes  a perpetual Source of diftempers.
Hippocrates looks upon this rule of adjusting our
diet to our exercife as  the moft  important in the
whole  art of preferving health, and has taken par-
ticular  care to recommend it.
  But  one caution I muft here recommend, which
is lefs  attended to than it deferves, viz. when a
man happens to be much fatigued and fpent after
a hard journey or violent  exercife, and ftands in
need of immediate refreffiment, let him eat things
that are light and eafy  to digeft, and  drink fome
fmall liquor warm; for heavy meat and ftrong drink
will increafe the artificial fever, (if I may fb call it)
which violent exerciSe raifes in the blood, and will
rather wafte than recruit his Strength and Spirits.
  Befides thofe appertaining to the fix things al-
ready  mentioned, there are three other general
                       X 2 
■232   Of the Paffions and Affections rf the Mi>y.
rules greatly  conducive  to  the  prefervation  of
health, which mull not te forgotten.
  The firft rule is:  every excefs  is an  enemy to
nature.  Whether it be in heat  or cold, in grief
or joy, in eating or drinking, or in any  other fen-
fual g-atification, excefs never fails to diforder the
bod}- ; whereas, to be moderate in every affection
and enjoyment, is the way to preferve health.
  Rule the fecond :  it is dangerous Suddenly * to
alter a fettled habit  or an old cuftom,  and to  fly
from one extreme to another.  Even thofe things
whicli are  in themSelves  bad,  as  drain-drinking,
chewing tobacco, fitting up  late at night, jleeping im-
mediately ajter dinner,  morning whets as they arc call-
ed,  ire.  when by long uSe they  have unhappily
grown familiar to any perfen, muft not be broke
off all at once, but fhould be relinguifhed by de-
grees.
  The third rule  is, that whatever tends to impair
our Strength, fliould be  carefully avoided.    To
bleed often, for inllance, without an urgent caufe ;
to  take  ftron<>- purses or vomits ; to  2,0  into a
Slender and vegetable diet raihly,  and rather from
whim than neceflity : all fuch errors as thefe,  I
fay,  change  the  fmall pipes, through  which the
circulation is performed, into impervious cords,
and impair the ftrength by drying up the conduits
cf  life.
   Having thus taken notice of the general rules
to be obferved by all, let us in  the next  place con-
sider the particular rules  appropriated to tiie vari-
ous temperaments, ages, and conditions of men.

  * Semel rnultum et repente vel evaoare, vel repfere vel cal<rfacete, vel
refigerare, aut alio quovis  modo mo,ere,  pcrkulofam. Hy^oc.  aph.
feet. 2. aplu 5'. 
      Of the Temperaments of the human Body.   231:.

                 CHAP.  Tftr-

Of the different Temperaments of the human Body, viz,
   the choleric,  the melancholic,  the phlegmatic,  and
   the fanguine, with  the Rules of Health relating  to
   them, and fome Inferences deduced from them.

     TO be acquainted with the temperaments of
       men is of no fmall importance to health.
Hippocrates * fays,  " that the human body con-
"  tains four humours very different with refpect
"'  to heat, cold, moisture,  and drynefs, viz. blood,
"  phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile; which fe-
"  veral humours are frequently brought up by vo-
"  miting, and difeharged by-ftool ;  that health
"  confifts in  a due  mixture of thefe four;  and
'*  that diftempers are produced by a redundancy
"•  in  any of  them."   Upon this observation of
Hippocrates, the four principal temperaments of
choleric^  melancholic, phlegmatic, and fanguine,
have been eftabliflied. -  But Galen f,  too fond of
fubtilties and divisions, has reckoned up nine tem-
peraments,  viz. four fimple,  the hot, the  cold, .
the moift,  and the dry ;  four compound, the hot
and  moilt, the hot and dry, ^the cold and moift,
the cold'-and  dry ;  and one moderate or healthy
temperament, confifting.in a mediocrity that leans
to no extreme. -
   Thefe two great men, and their respective fol-
lowers, mean  nearly the fame thing, though they'
differ in words;  for the choleric of Hippocrates
and his adherents has a great affinity with tlie hot
and dry temperament of Galen ;  the  phlegmatic
with the  coid  and moift ;   the'melancholic with
the cold and  dry; and the fanguine  of the one
with the moderate temperament of -theother : it *
                      X 3
• De natuf. horn, pag. 225, 226. -
t De tempexameat, lib. a. cap. i 
234   Of the Temperaments of the human BoSj.
will not therefore be of fo great moment to deter-
mine which divifiuti we fhould adopt,  as it will be
to give a juft notion of thefe  temperaments, con-
fiftently with the laws of circulation, to which tlie
ancients were Strangers.   To  form therefore a di-
liinct idea of the different temperaments which
Hippocrates  points out,  (for 1 choofe  to follow
him)  it will  be neceflary to conSider -what c hange
is produced  in the whole mafs of fluids,  by the
prevailing humours from which  thefe tempera-
 ments take  their  names,  and  what effect this
 change has upon the human body and niind.
   In  choleric *  temperaments,  or  in  bodies  a-
 bounding with  yellow bile,  the blood is hot and
 thin,  moves with  great rapidity  thro' the pipes,
 difpofes tlie body to inflammations and acute di-
 ftempers, and the mind to a pronaptnefs and im-
 petuofity in all its  deliberations and actions.  Per-
 fens of this  temperament ought to avoid all occa-
 sions of  difpute, ftrong liquors, violent exercife,
  and every thing by which they are apt to be over-
  heated.
     In melancholic temperaments,  where pcrfens a-
  bound with a grofs,  earthy, aultere humour, call-
  ed by the ancients black bile, the blood  is heavy
  and thick,  moves  Slowly,  difpofes  the  body to
  glandulous  obstructions and  lownefs of Spirits, and
  the mind to fear  and  griefe To fuch  perfons a
  healthy air, moderate exercife, light food, a little
  o-ood wine,  which fhould  be  mixt with  water for
  common drink, and cheerful company,  are the
 beft means to preferve health.
    In phlegmatic temperaments,  where  there  is a
 large proportion of a watery tenacious mucilage,
 the flimy blood moves languidly,.difpofes the body
 to white fwellings  and dropfical  dilordcrs, and the
 mind to Stupidity and Sloth.  In this temperament,
 a diet moderately attenuating, conftant exertile,

   *  Vid. Hoffm. diflert. de tempcramento,.fux:dam3nto morua et mor-
 horasa 'ux sciuious- 
    Of the Temperaments of the human Body.    2?>

and fome warm, gentle phyfic at proper times, will
prevent bad diforders.
  In  fanguilie temperaments, where there is no
redundancy of bile or phlegm, the  blood  (except
in cafes of fulnef> from high living, or inanition
from  haemorrhages) circulates freely and  equably
through ail the vcifels, which difpofes the body to
health and long life, aud the mind to cheerfulnefs
and benevolence.  The principal care of fuch per-
fons fliould be, by  a moderate and  prudent ufe of
all the necefl'aries of life, to avoid the extremes of
plenitude and voluptuoufnefs, and  every fort of
intemperance  which may  Spoil   a benign and
healthy  conftitution.
  It is true, that thefe temperaments are not eafi-
ly distinguished at firft fight, in every indhidual ;
but a confiderate man may, by observation and ex-
perience, difeover which temperament he himfelf
principally partakes of, and confequently may,
by proper precautions, obviate any inconvenience
apt to arife from it.
   From what has been faid of thefe different tem-
peraments, it will clearly follow, firft,  That there
can be no fuch thing contrived by man, as an nni-
verfal remedy to  prevent or remove  all  ferts of
complaints, becaufe that which would agree wish
the hot, muft difagree witli the cold.  Befides, all
fuch boafted fpecifics have been found ineffectual
fromexperience,and every pretender lothem has at
laft been convicted either of ignorance or difhonef-
ty.   In  a word, none but he who had Skill to cre-
ate the human body, can contrive a fpecific for all
diftempers ; and  I am fully perfuaded, that ex*-
cept the tree of life,  there never  was,  nor will be
an univerfal panacea.
   It  follows, fecoudly,  That we cannot with cer-
tainty promife for any particular aliment, or any
kind of medicine, that it will agree with this or
the other individual, until we are acquainted with
 his pecidiar temperament j. and confequently, that 
236                   Of Infancy.
it is  abfurd to preferibe a method of diet or phyfic
for any man, without fuch a previous knowledge.
  After this Short Sketch of the temperaments, we
come next to take a  view  of thofe rules of health
which are peculiar to the different periods of life.
                  CHAP.  IV.

Of Infancy, Youth, Manhood, and Old Age, together with
    the Precepts of Health peculiar to each of them.

     HA D the philofopher," whom Aulus Gellius *
      *' introduces delaiming again ft the unnatur.
" al behaviour of mothers, who neglect to fuckle
" their  own children," lived  iu our  days, and
known that men of rank  aud fafhion frequently
choofe their wives not  for  the  graces of their
perfon, or  the  virtues of their  mind,  but onTy
for  the largenefs  of their  fortune,  he   would
perhaps,  in compaflion td the  infant,  have  pre-
ferred a  healthy difcreet  nurfe to a  weakly ca-
pricious mother.  Such parents therefore as hare*
not taken  care, by  their  own  temperance, good
humour and health, to fecure a vigorous and hap-
py  conftitution  to their  children, may furely be
permitted to make up that  deficiency  as  well as-
they can, in the choice of a proper nurfe.
  The firft care to be taken of" the infant, (in cafe
the mother fliould not be fit  for the momentuous
tafk) is to  choofe  a virtuous, healthy,,  cheerful,
cleanly and experienced nurfe.   Her  milk  fliould .
be white, fweet, and of a good flavour, untainted
with any foreign talte or  fmell, between two and '

  •-Lib. '2- cap. i. Oro te, inqo'rt,  mulier, iine earn totam integrate
effie matremfilii fui; quod efl enim hoe contra natutam imperfeftnm at-
que dimidiatum matris genus, peperifle, ac Itatim ab fefe abjecifi'e ? ala-
iffe in ntero fanguine fuo neAJo quid,  quod non videret; non alere nunc
fuo lacle quod videac* jam. yiventeni, jam botninem, jam mat*L>ofEcu
implorantem ? 
                   ■'/  U'jancy.                237
 fix months old, and of a thin rather than a thick
 confiftence.   The child's oilier food fliould be Sim-
 ple, aud of a very eafy digeftion ;  his cloathi Inculd
 neither  be  ftrait  no-  too  warm, and the nurfe
 Should  be difeharged from ufin«'  pins  in drefling
 him, where  there can be any  danger of pricking
 his fkin ;  and She muft  give  as  much as  he can
 bear of air and exercife.
   To prevent rickets, ferophulous diforders, coughs
 and broken bellies, to which children are very lia-
 ble in this ifland, the moft likely means would be
 to introduce the cuftom of dipping their whole bo-
 dies every morning in cold water, after which  they
 fhould be immediately rubbed dry and  drelfed  ; de-
 ferring neverthelefs the  commencement of  this
 practice for  feme months, or to the next Summer
 after the infant  is born, left  there Should be too
 quick a transition from the warmth in which the
 foetus was formed to the  extreme coldnefs  of the
 water.  If the infant becomes warm and lively up-
 on rifing out of the bath,  there can be no danger
 in this immerfion ; but in cafe  lie  fliould  remain
 chilly and-pale for a confiderable  part  of the  day,
 the ufe cf the  cold bath muft be laid  afide for fome
 time,and may  be tried again when the child grows
 ft longer.
   When the firft dawn of reafen  appears In chil-
 dren, the parents fhould take the  earJieft care  pof-
 fible to make their minds obedient  to discipline,
 and  " gradually * inllil into them that great priir-
 "  ciplc  (as Mr. Locke calls  it) of all virtue and
 "  worth, viz.  to  deny themfelves their own  de-
 *<  fires, and  purely follow what reafen dictates as
 "  beft, tho' the appetite fhould lean the other way.
 "  We frequently fee parents, by humouring them
 "  when little, corrupt the principles of nature iu
«  their children,  and wonder  afterwards to talte
"  the  bitter waters, when they  themfelves have
* Locke on education. 
238                   Of Youth.
" poifened the fountain;  why  fliould we think i*
" Slrange, that he  who has been accultomed to
" have his will in every  thing when he  was in
" coats, fliould defire it, and contend for it, when
" he is in breeches?"
  And  in  this  our judicious author has adopted
or confirmed the remark which the  admirable
Quintilian made long before him, part of whole
words  * I have quoted at the bottom of the  page :
and  indeed we frequently See, that thofe indulgen-
ces to the child have grown into Settled  habits,
and  proved the ruin of the man, with relpecl both
to hii health and his morals.

                    Of  Youth.

  The diet of youth fliould be indee ' plentiful,  as
 Hippocrates adviSes f, but Simple, and of eafy di-
gestion ; becaufe food which cannot be well digeft-
ed breeds crofs humours, and imperceptibly lays a
foundation for feurvy, ftone, rheumatifm,  and  o-
ther very bad  diftempers.  Wine alfe,  or  ftrong
drink,  fhould never, or very fparingly, be allowed
to youth.  They Should be kept intirely from  un-
ripe  fruit, and from too much of what is ripe.
Their exercife fhould be moderate, for too little
would bloat  them and make them fhort breathed ;
and  too much would wafte  their ftrength.  Too
much  fleep  alfo  (like  too  little exerciSe) would
ftupify them, and  too little would render them
thin and fubject to fevers.
  But,  above every other care and consideration,
youth  is the  moft proper feafbn to inure the mind
to the practice of virtue,  upon which their future
health and reputation mult depend, and without
which  it will be impoffible to deliver their  coufti-

 * Utinam liberomm noftrornm mores ipfi non perderemus,  infantiam
ftatim deliciis fohrimus.  Mollis ilia educatio, quam indnlgentiam voca-
mus,  nervos omnes et mentis et corporis frangit. Fit ex hii confuetudo,
deinde natura.  In/lit. erat. lib. 1. cap. 2.
  t Seft. i.aph.  13. 
                  Of Youth.                  2 39
tutions unbroken to manhood and old age.  Many
vices are absolutely inconsistent with health, which
never dwells wherelewdneC, drunkennefs, luxury,
or Sloth,  have taken polfeSSion.  The life  of the
rake and epicure is not only Short but mii'erable. It
would fliock the modefl and companionate to hear
of thofe exquifite pains and dreadful agonies which
profligate young perfons fuller under the reiterat-
ed courfes  of their  debauchery, before they  can
reach the grave into which they often hurry them-
felves : or,  if fome Slop Short in their career of ri-
ot, before they have quite deftroyed the Springs of
life, yet thefe fprings  are generally  rendered fo
feeble and crazy by the liberties which they have
already taken, that  they only  fupport a gloomy,
difpirited,  dying life,  tedious to themfelves,  and
troublefeme to all about them ; and (which is Hill
more pitiable) often tranfmit their complaints to
an innocent unhappy offspring.
   The expediency of virtue towards the preserva-
tion of health, is no  new doctrine with thofe who
ftudied and recommended thac art ; it was  taught
many ages ago by Galen, who Speaking of youth,
expreffes himfelf in the manner following :  " This
<(  * is the proper Sea Son to discipline the  mind,
*l  and train it up in  virtuous habits, efpecially in
"  modefty  and obedience, which will prove the
"  moft compendious method to attain whatever
"  may be neceflary  towards the health of the bo-
({  dy in the future periods of life."
   But how Shall giddy youth, hurried away by
ftrong appetites and  paffions, be  prevented from
running into thofe excefles which may  cut them
off in the prime of their days, or at leaft hoard up
difeafes and remorfe  for old age: I anfwer, that
their paffions and appetites muft be restrained ear-
ly  by proper discipline and example.  This is to
be done by their parents, whofe firSt care fhould be

 • De fin. fend. lib. r.cap. u. Vide infuperejufdem libelilltndecog.
nefcend. et curand. aniint raorbis. cap. 7. 
240                  Of Youth.
to train  up their children at  home  in "  the vvaj
*<  thev Should  go,  that  when they  are  old they
"  may not depart from it "
   In the next place,  fuch as can afford their fens
a liberal education,  ought  to fend them, for  in-
struction and example, to thole feminaries of learn-
ino-  where  religion  and  virtue  are held in  the
hio-heft  efteem, and praJtifed  with the  greateft
care and decency ;  for Such an education will  not
only prove a benefit to the youth themfelves,  but
a blefiing alfo to the community, which is al\va\s
ready to imitate as  well  the good as the bad ex-
ample of their Superiors.
   We have reafen to felicitate our youth upon the
many opportunities which they have of a virtuous
education  in  the excellent  universities  of Great
Britain.  Oxford is certainly one of the molt com-
modious residences  for  Study 011 the  face  of the
earth.   I was never fo charmed with  any place of
public rcfort as I was with that univerfity.  There
religion, learning,  and  good  manners  appear iu
 all their beauty.   There ignorance,  vice,  a;id iuii-
 delit' are reputed clow nilh and contemptible;  and
 there t\\e virtues and the graces are united, or, in o-
 ther words, the knowledge of the Scholar is joined
 with the politenefi of the gentleman.  I never in-
 deed had the good fortune to  be at Cambridge,
 but from the great aud good men which  that  uni-
 verfity has produced, it is reasonable to conclude,
 that fire is not inferior to her filter of Oxford. .No:
 have the feveral univerfities of Scotland been at a-
 ny time deltitute of mafters or Scholars,  confpicu-
 ous for o-enius, literature or virtue.
   Thofc°geiitleinen,therefore, who fend  their fens
 abroad  for a foreign  education,  before they are
 grounded  in virtue and  learning  at  our own uni-
 verfities, feem to have no great value for the future
 health and dignity of their children,  or (give  me leave
 to add) for theprofperity oj their country. *
   *  "What cm be e^eAjd from thofe yoonR aJventurer-, but in im"
 portion of all the fdae,, uvpciic:, vicc^, aoJ  luxury of the l.vcr. 
          Of Manhood,  and Old Age.           2^1
                   Of Manhood.
   To this period belong all  the general rules of
health before mentioned, and, in a word, all thefe
rules that are not diftinctly appropriated to infan-
cy, youth or old age.
   The beft fecurity to health in this period is the
good habit of temperance and moderation, tranf-
mitted to it from childhood and youth : for a man
arrived to the perfect ufe Of his reafen, is not very
apt (unlefs he lays reflexion quite afide) to indulge
any vicious appetites over which he had an abso-
lute command in the former part of his life.
   It is alfo reafonable to expect that a perfen will,
hi this period, attend  to the temperament  moft
predominant  in himfelf, whether  it  inclines to
the choleric, melancholic, phlegmatic or Sanguine,
and will regulate his way of living in fuch a man-
ner  that his peculiar temperament fliali be kept
within the bounds neceflary to the confervation of
health ;  or (which is the  fame thing)  that he will
be careful to avoid whatever he finds by experience
to be detrimental to  his health, and will perfifl in
the ufe of fuch things as he finds by the fame ex-
perience and obfervation to agree with him ; feri-
ouSly ■•reflecting how eafy  it is either by a fupine
indolence, or by criminal excefles, to deftroy even
a good conftitution in the prime and vigour of-life,
beyond the poffibility of repair : of this unhappy
conduct, too many fad examples fall  within the
circle of every man's acquaintance.
                   Of Old Age.
  Health is an invaluable bleffing in age, when the
judgment arrived at full maturity, difplays more
ftrength and beauty  than ever it did before ;  and
therefore it fliould  be Secured, as far as lies in our
power, by a dHigent obfervation  of the following
   Vol. II.  .           Y
countries through which they have patted." Sherridan on Britirt educati-
on, book i.  chap.  2. page 32, 33■ 
 2 42                 Of Old Age.
 plain rules, which point out to the aged, firft what.
 they ought to  avoid;  and  fecondly,  what they
 ought to purfue.
   In the SirSl place, old people mull be  careful to
 avoid whatever they have by experience found al-
 ways hurtful to them in the former part of their
lives, fbr age is not the proper feafon to Struggle
with new or unneceffary evils.   They muft alfo
Shun every excefs that has a natural tendency to
impair  tlieir  remaining ftrength ; for  tho' men
may fometimes efcape the bad effect of thofe  excef-
fes in the vigour of life,  old age would quickly be
demolished by them ; Such are too much care and
anxiety about wealth, an over afliduous application
to fludy, habitual fretfulnefs ; or, in a.word,  what-
ever is known  to weaken * a good constitution.
   Secondly,  As to what they ought to purfue.  Old
men fliould be careful to practife the following im-
portant rules.   Firft, Tochufe a pure and healthy
air for  the place of their refidence.  In the next
place, To adjuft their diet to their exercife ; to be
moderate  in both ;  to retrench a little in their fo-
lid food,  and add proportion ably  to  their drink  ;
and  to rife from meals always with fome appetite
to eat more ; but in cafe of any accidental  excefs
one day, to retrench the next, or for a longer fpace,
unlefs the llomach is quite eafy.  Thirdly, To  con-
trive that their evacuations be regular by  nature
or by art.   Foutkly, To Study every means that can
contribute  to make their night's reft fweet, and
and their fleep found ; for quiet fleep  f wonderful-
ly cherilhes old  people.  Fifthly, To be  clean and
neat in their perfons, and to  keep their bodies well
clothed, efpecially their  Stomach,  legs  and feet,
without which they cannot enjoy a good  State of

 * Exceffive venery  enervates qJd men extremcljc.  The adventurer,
in one of his admirable effays, humouroufly applies to them what Viq;;
reports of his fighting bees, tsnimafque in vulnere ponunt,
 i Pax animi quern cura fugit, qui corpor a diaris
Fefta minifteriis mulccs, rcparafqne labon. 
                 Of Old Age.                 243
wealth : and fixthly, To be of a contented, chearful
mind,  and endeavour to render  their  behaviour
and  converfation  agreeable to, and  courted  by,
young people,  and to be frequently in their com-
pany.
                  C HA P.  V.
Of the various Conditions and Circitmftances of Men cow
  jidered as robuft or delicate, free or ferviie, wealthy
  'or1 indigent j together with the rules of health accom-
  modated to them refpeclively.

     TH E feveral conditions and circumftances of
      men,  fuppofed to enjoy their ufual health,
may be reduced to two forts, viz- internal and ex-
ternal. The internal conditions of men are ftrength,
or weaknefs  of conftitution,  Their external  cir-
cumftances are either wealth and freedom, which
enable them to live  as they  pleale ; or  ambition
and poverty, which bind them  down to Splendid
or obfcure Servitude, and other inconveniencies.
  Perfons  of a healthy  and Strong conftitution
Should obferve the two following rules.   The-firft
is, to avoid a precife and uniform diet,  and to di-
versify their method of living ;  to be fometimes in
the city, and forhetinies in the country ; to eat and
drink femetimes more, /and fometimes lei's than u-
fual, but always within the bounds of temperance ;
to partake'-of whatever wholefome food  comes in
their way, be it  ever fo ordinary ;  to ufe at  one
time little, at another much exercife ; and in fl.ort,
by a various  life, to be always prepared, and ready
to fall in.with any condition which may be appoint-
ed for them  by providence.
  The fecond rule is, to be cautious not to deflroy
in their  gay  days of pleafure and  health, by any
great  excefs Or debauchery, that vigour  of confti- 
244         Confederations on the Conditions
tution which fliould fupport them under unavoid-
able infirmities.
  On the other hand, perfons of a tender and de-
licate habit of body, (among whom Celfus reckons
mnfl of thofe who live in great cities, and all the
ftudious and contemplative)  fhould endeavour to
repair by  their temperance, regularity anil  care,
what is perpetually impaired by their weaknefs, fi-
tuation  and Study : and, in  effect, we often See
that perfons of a weakly constitution,  who are im-
mediately injured by any excefs, and confequently
obliged to be careful in the management of their
health, live more comfortably, and  longer  than
thofe  of  a robuft conftitution, who? from  a vain
confidence in their vigour, are apt to defpife all
rules and order.
  As  to  external  circumftances, thofe  who,  by
birth  or  acquisition,  are  poflefled of a fortune
which makes them able, and of a difpofition which
makes them  free to live as they pleafe, having it in
their power to put every rule in practice that can
conduce to the preservation of their health, are to
blame if they neglect fe great a bleSIing, which e-
very man will know  the value  of and deplore,
when once lie has loft it.
  Thofe again, who either by choice  are engaged
to ferve the public, or by poverty obliged to Serve
private families,  and are  not at liberty to beftow
much time or care on their health,  muft make the
belt ufe they can of fuch opportunities as their en-
gagements will afford them.   Every condition has
ibme vacant hours, which may be employed to the
purpofe  of health.  " The emperor  Antoninu*,.
" fays Galen, who difpatched  fe much bufniefs in
*' the day,  began his  exercife always  about fun-
" fet.'' It is important for a Jlatefman to .obferve,
that li the more bufniefs he has been fatigued with
" upon any particular occafion, the more temper-
" ately he ought to live ;" and that he Should not
at fuch times, eat any thing hard of  digeftion, or 
           and Circumftances of Men.           2 AS
drink more wine than what is juft fufficient to re-
frefh him.
  It is moreover to be obferved,  that perfens of all
ranks who  eat and  drink freely, and are at  the
fame time  fo much confined by their employments,
as to be able to ufe little or no exercife abroad,
fhould be fure to ufe feme  exercife  within doors,
of which a great variety may be contrived to eve-
ry man's tafte, as fhittle-cock, billiards, hand-ball,
dumb bell, ire.  and fliould alfo frequently  chaff
his body with a  flefh  brufli  in  the morniug, and
now and then take feme very gentle phyfic, to car-
ry off what may  remain indigefted in his llomach
and bowels.
  To  conclude,  the poor, if they are virtuous and
cleanly,  have great  advantages over  the  rich,
with refpect to health and long-life, as the narrow-
nefs  of their circumftances  prompts them tola-'
bour,  and withdraws all temptations to luxury.
                   Chap.   VI. -

Of the Prophylaxis, or Ways to prevent approaching Dif-
                     tempers. •

  IN the beginning of Chap. I. I obferved, that the
   art of preferving health  might be divided into
three branches,  whereof the firft points o it  the
rules 'calculated  to maintain  the health we enjoy
at prefeiit.  The fecond treats of the beft method
to prevent diftempers ; and  the third  directs the
way to long life.  I have already fpoke of the firfl
branch. The precepts which relate to the two fol-
lowing will be but few.
  When diftempers are perceived to make their ap-
proach, they  fhould  be prevented,  by  removing
their caufes as foon as poflible. "A man, fays Ga-
                       Y 3 
346         Of the Prophylaxis, or Ways to
t( len*, feems to be in a middle ftate between health
" and ficknefs, when  he has fome Slight ailment
** that does not confine him to bed, or from bn-
" finefs, fuch as an inconfiderable head-ach, lofs
" of appetite, feme unufual wearinefs,  weight or
" drowfinefs : but it is the part of a wife  man to
" prevent thofe fmall disorders from growing worfe
" by correcting without  delay  the difpofition by.
" which they are  propagated.   If, for example,
" the beginning complaint arifes from too great a
" fulnefs, that fnlnefs Should be diminished by ab-
" Slinence, or (if abstinence is not fufficient) by
" bleeding, purging or Sweating., If it arifes from
" crudities, and  indigeftion, the remedy to pre-
" vent its growing worfe, is to  keep one's felf
" warm, to live abstemiously and quietly for fome
" days, and to drink a little good wine to Strength-*
" en the Stomach.  And in general we Should en~
" deavour (continues he) to remove, the  prefent
*' flight  complaint by purfuing a method,  in its
" tendency and effects, directly  contrary to the
" caufe which produced that complaint ; or, in o-
'■' ther words, thick humours mull be attenuated  ;
*' acrimonious and'redundant: humours corrected
■' and  difeharged;  crude humours  concocted;
" contractions relaxed, and obflructions opened."
  When a beginning cold or cough threatened an
impending fever,  the Sagacious  Sydenham fre-
quently-|-  removed  the cough, ami prevented the
fever, by preferibing air and exercife, and .a cool-
ing ptilan for drink, together with abstinence from
flefh meat, and Strong liquors.
  Boerhaave,  who  had Studied  all the ancient and
modern phyficians  of any reputation,  and  knew
perfectly well how  to extract what was  moft ufe-
ful from their feveral  writings, has,  in his Pro-
phylaxis %, recommended the three following ex-
cellent precepts to  prevent diftempers,
  * Demed. art. conftitut, cap. io.
  + Detu/T.  epidem. pag, 208;
  t Inftit, medic fed. 104*. 
prevent approaching D'fftemp:rs.'
24V
  I. As foon as we perceive, from certain fymp-
toms, fays he, that any diltemper is approaching
we fliould prevent k>  by purfuing a method oppo-
site to the caufe which rs likely to produce it : and
this method chiefly confifts in ufingthe following
means, viz.  " We muft, in the firft place, practise
" abltinence and reft, and drink Several draughts
" of warm water. - We ought, in the next place,
" to  ufe fome moderate exercife, and perfifl in it
" until a gentle fweat begins to. break out; after
" which  we  fhould  immediately go into a warm
" bed,  and there  indulge a free perfpiration,  and
" fleep as long, as conveniently we can ; for it is
" obvious that by thefe means the veffels are relax-
" ed, <-rofs humours are diluted, .and noxious hu-
" mours difeharged j and thus impending diftem-
" pers are prevented by removing their caufes.
  2.  "  To  guard againft diftempers in general,
" there cannot be a more ufeful precaution in our
" climate,  than to keep, up a free and uniform
"  perfpiration, by not laying alide our winter gar-
"  merits before a warm May ; and by putting them
"  on again before a cold November.
   0.  " In fummer (continues he) our diet Should
"  be light, foft,  and mild ; our  drink  cooling ;
'*■ and our exercife gentle.  In winter, on the con-
" trary,our food ought to be felid, dry and favom-
" ry, warmed with a little  good  wine ; and the
" exercife vigorous, . In fpring  and  autumn the
" ailment and exercife fliould keep a  medium be-
« tween both,  but leaning to thofe of fummer or
« winter, as one is more or lefs affected  with the
" heat or.cold."
   To the directions- of thefe great men,  I Shaft
fubjoin  a fimple  and eafy method of preventing
impendent diftempers, frequently -practised with
 oood fuccefs,  viz. When you find yourfelfindiSi
 pofed, go directly to bed, and there ly for one,
 two, or three days,  until your complaints  are re-
 remored; living all the while on water gruel  or 
 2$B         Of the Prophylaxis or ways U
panada for food ; and on water or fmall warm ne-
 gus,  or white wine whey  for drink.   Your gruel
 or panada may be made more or  lefs fubftautial as
 you require them.  This is very nearly the advice
 of Cell'us,  an  author of no mean ruputation,
 whofe  fentiments * to the fame  effect,  expieff'ed
 with affuranee of S'ucceSs,  may be feen at the bot-
 tom ot'the page.
   And tho'  Some  may deride the   Simplicity of
 this prefcription, they will find   that where fuch
 food  agrees with the  llomach, and time can be
 fpared to make the  experiment, it will prove more
 beneficial than they may imagine.   I  have  been
 often told  by  a  lady  of quality, whofe circum-
 ftances obliged her  to be a good   oeconoir^'t, and
 whole  prudence  and  temperance  preferved  her
 health and fenfes unimpaired to  a great age, that
 She  had kept  herfelf out  of  the  hands of the fa-
 culty many years,  by this Simple regimen,  Gru-
 el indeed is a very infipid diet  to  a perfon  of a
 nice  palate.  Plutarch, in his life of  Lycurgus,
 tells  that  one of  the kings of Pontus, who  loved
 good  eating,   having heard  great  encomiums
 made on  the  black broth  of  Sparta,  hired a  cook
 from that city.   But when  he came to talte this
 celebrated difh, he called immediately for his cook
 and  with fome warmth  told him,  that it was a
 vile  abominable  mefs.  To which the other mo-
 deftly  replied,  Sir, to make this broth relifh well,  a
 man muft bathe himfelf iu the river Eurotus *.

  * Igitui- fi quid-ex his (ttotis futur* tdverfa •ualetnd'nh) incid;t, omn-i-'
 am optima funt q. ies et  abftinentia:  fi quid bibendum, aqla ; idque in-
 tetdum uno die fieri  fat is  eft; interdnm, fi terrehtia marten t, biduo:
 p oximeqne  abll-nentiam fumendns cibus  exiguus, bibenda aq'-.a, poi.e-
 ro die etiam vinuin, deinde  alternisdiebus, modo aqua, rn.do unum, do-
 nee omnis caufa metus finiaiur.  Per haec enim  fepe inlrans gravis mor-
 bus difcutitur.--"—Neque dubiom eft, quin vix quifquam, q-.i non tfifi-
 mtrlavit, fed per hzc moibo mature occuirit, scgrotet. Lib. 3. cap. 1,
  * A river of l.aconra, running by Sparta, fo that to bstht in E-trot*s,
 sieans tt ttmiete the tttftip line and temperance of the Lacedemonians, 
Of Longevity;
2 \9
                 CHAP.   VII.
 Of longevity.—The  natural marks of it.—The means
    of attaining it---The rife and fall of the transfufion
    of  blood from one animal  into another.  The  con-
    c hi fion.

 I Have already obferved, that when the continu-
    al attritions of the felids and fluids of  the hu-
 man body againSl  each other,  is hurried on with
 violence, death  muft advance baflily,  and arrive
 early ;. but when it is performed with moderation,
 the fprings  cf life laSl longer,  and death is more
 Slow in its approaches.
    Longevity may  proceed  either from nature  of
 from art; but chiefly from their happy conjunc* -
 tioh.
    The natural marks bywhieh we difcem that a
 man is made for long life,  are  principally as fol-
 lows :
    r. To be  defeended,- at leaft by one fide, from
 long lived parents.
    2. To be  of. a.  calm,  contented,' and  chear-
 fiil difpofition.-
    3. To have.a juft- Symmetry, or proper confor-
 mation of parts ; a full chelt,  well formed joints
 and limbs, with a neck and head large rather than
• Small in proportion to the Size of the body.
   4.  A firm and compact fyftem of veflels and fta-
 mina, not too fat :  veins large and prominent ; a -
 voice  fomewhat deep; and a fkin not  too  white
 and Smooth.
   5.  To  be a long  andfeund fleeper.
   The great  afliftance which art 'affords toward* -
 attaining long- life, arifes from the benefit of good
 air * and good water  f, from a frugaLand Simple

  » Brafifae falubrftatis fama non paucos olirri fenes,  aliofque minus
 profperi utentes  valetudine, ex Hifpania, et Indiis, aliifque difiitis locis,
 excivit ad aerem  et aquas has caclo datas, tanquam ad  duo validifliml
 pixfidia vitae et valetudinis. Perquam mature enim  pebefcunt incio*. «- 
25°              Of Longevity.
diet, from the wife  government  of our appetites'
and  paffions,  and,  in a word,  from  a prudent
choice and proper ufe of all the instruments of lite,
and  rules of  health,  of which  we  have  fpoken
before.
   But  Some of the moderns have gone farther, and
recommended new and  bold methods  to pro long-
life, which the antients either had not perfpicacity
to difeern, or wanted  resolution to praciife.   The
comprehensive and exalted genius of lord Verulam
was not to be  limited  by  common rules.   He ad-
viies old people "  once every two years to change
" their whole  juices,  and render themfelves  very
" lean by a courfe of abftinence  and proper diet-
drinks, in order to f'wceten their blood and renew
their age."  And  Boerhaave *,  who  like  the in -"
duftrious bee  collected honey  from every  flower,
adopts his lordfhip's opinion witii  fome fmall  a-
mendment; for, Speaking of the moft proper diet
to  attain  longevity,  he expreffes himfelf in the
manner following  ;  " Great abftinence, or an ex-
*' Iremely  Slender,  drying  and   emaciating diet l
" now and  then,  but very rarely put in practice,
" is of wonderful  ufe to attain longevity."  And a
little lower  he explains his meaning more  perfpi-

fene faint tarde, idque fine  canitie aut calvitio.  Qjo fit,  quod longe
ultra centefimurn aeiatis annum viridi fenefta, non  Americani  tantum,
fedet ipfi Europsei fruantur, tor&mque  adeo territorinm Macrobtum di-
ci mereator.  Gu.l. Pifoms hilt. nat. et medic. Brafiliz continentis.
  i Audio in iEgypti locis homines  vivere longiorem vitam quam alibi,  "
fdioit Melchior Gni andimis.)  quando ipforum permulti anno; plus centum
Vivunt:  communis fere omnibus ih habitatoribns vita annorum nona-
ginta  folet efTe.-.-Aqui  Nili fluminis ciaiefacldt, dulcet, tenuiilimae,
fplendidiffimae atque leviflimafc exi.tunt, ita ut  celeieme corporis vifcera
pcrmeant.  Audio etinim  (quid olim, cum Cayri morera facerem etiam
•Lfervavi} in fingulis fere coi  poi ibus ab ipfi epotis aquis ftatim vel copio-
fas urirus, vel fudores, vel peralvnm deje&ionesobfc-rvari, atque in hypo-
chondrils nutlam flu&uationem ab  ipfi*  oftendi: loquor de Its qurE Ca.. ri
liabentur et poiantur, quando Alexandria aquae consent fubitaiiira craf-
fioii, quse peifimae exiftunt,  tardiflimeque vifcera permeant.   Confirmo
mam fententiam, (rtfpondent A pinui; atque me in omnibui corporibiis
•bfervafi";, ciiiifime illas aqjas Cayri clarefactas, vel peranum,  vc; per
iirinam vel f_do.em exiilfe.  Profper Alpinis de  raedk. Efc,pt. lib. i,
 cap. 11. et 12.
  '* Iultit. med. num. to;? —1062. 
                   Of Longevity.              2JI
,,-cuoufly, by telling us, that " a radical, or almoft
 <( total change of the humours by refolvent medi-
- <( cines, and a fucceeding difcharge of them out
-•" of the body, fuch,as happens under a courfe of
 i( mercury, or  under  a courfe of  attenuating,
 '•< drying, and fudorific decoctions, often difpofe
 " the.body in an admirable manner, to expel old
 " ditlempered humours, and to.fill the veflels with
 frefh-vital juices."   And  thus art, conducted with
 prudence, may effectually lead to long life.
    But how far this method of renewing their age
 may be fafely practifed by old people,  I will not
: take upon me to determine, fince the fuccefs muft,
 in a great meafure, depend upon the goodnefs of
 their ftamina, the ftrength and perfeverance of
 their refolution, and the Skill  of the  artift who
 conducts  the  regimen.   And though this and the
 following brave but unfuccesful effort to prolong-
 ate, difcover a quick  penetration and a laudable
 boldnefs of the human mind ;  yet  a line and ea-
 fy road to longevity,  different from the  general
 rules of health already mentioned, feems to be a-
 mong the defiderata in  our art, the difcovery of
 which is  referved, perhaps, for a more meritori-
 ous generation.
    About a hundred * years ago, a new and gallant
 effort was vaf.de to mend distempered conflituti-
 ons, and coufequentlv  to prolong life, by fup-
 plying the human  body with young and healthy
 blood from other animals.
    The firft hint of this great attempt  was given
 at Oxford, anno 1658,  by Dr. Christopher Wren,
 Savilian Profefl'or  of aftronomy there,  who pro-
 pofed to the honourable  Mr.  Boyle, a method of
 trausfuftng liquors into the veins of living animals.
    In 1666, his hint was farther improved, at the
 fame perennial fource of ingenuity  and learning,
 by Dr. Richard  Lower, who invented the method

   * See the original tranfaaions of the royal fociety, vol. r. 
-r'>'-              Of Longevity.
 of tratfuftng blood out of one animal into another
   He was followed by feveral ingenious  men at
 London, and particularly  by Dr. Edmund King,
, who rendered Lower's method of transfution  Still
 more eaS'y and commodious. And as it was intend-
 ed by the royal Society that thofe trials fhould be
 profecnted to-the utmofl  variety which the fubject
 would bear, by exchanging the blood of old  and
 young, Sick and healthy, fieiee and timid animals ;
 various experiments were accordingly made with
 Surprising effects upon  lambs, Sheep, dogs,  calves
 and horfes, ire.
   From England this invention paffed into France
 and Italy ;  where,  after old, decrepid and  deaf a-
 nimals had their hearing, mid the agility of their
 limbs, reilored  by the transfufion of \oung  and
 healthy blood into their veins, and other wonder-
 ful cures had been atchieved, J.  Denis, doctor of
 phyfic at Paris, with the affiftance of Mr. Emerez,
 ventured to perform the operation on men  in that
 city:  And Johann.  Gulielm. -Riva *, a furgeon of
 good  reputation, made the fame experiments at
 Rome.
   After fome trials, Monfieur Denis  publifhed  one
 account of a  young man that was cured of an  un.
 common lethargy,  ( fobfequent to a fever in which
 he had been blooded twenty  times)  by transfuftng
 the  arterial blood  of a lamb into his veins :  and
 another account of the cure of an inveterate  and
 raging phrenzy performed on a  man thirty-four
 years  old, by transfuftng  the arterial blood of  a
 calf into his veins, in the prefence of fevdal per-
 fons of quality  and learning.
   This daring enterprize having fucceeded  fo well
 at the firli: Setting out in France,  it was alio prac-
 rifed in England from the arteries of a  vouno-
 Sheep,  into the  veins  of one Mr.  Arthur  Coga,

   * Vide Merklin. de ortu et occafu transftf. fang.  Edit. Norembcrg;
.anno i6jy. 
                    Of Longevity.             r 53
 November the 23d, anno 1667, at Arundel-Jionfe3
■■. iefore a Splendid company, by Dr.  Edmund King,
 and Dr. Richard Lower.  Anil Coga published un-
 der his own hand, an account of the great bene-
 fit which he received from the operation. But un-
 fortunately this tramf.uft'on  happened to be feon af-
. ter performed in France and Italy with bad  S'uc-
-ceSs on feme  perfons of  distinction* ; by  which
 unhappy accidents the  practice (being yet in its
 infancy,  and unfupported by  a fufficient number
 of experiments) fell into difercdit, and was  pro-
 hibited by the king's authority in France, and by
 ;the Pope's mandate at. Rome.
    Thus  was-defeated a noble effay, begun with
. prudence in England, but rafhly purfued  in fo-
, xeign countries,  which, had the firfl  trials on the
 human fpecies been conducted with care and  cau-
 tion, might intimehave produced moft ufeful and
 furprifing effects.
    But after all, I am  of opinion, that the great-
 •eft efforts of the human mind to extend a vigorous
 longevity much beyond fourfeore, will generally
 prove ineffectual ; and that neither the total alte-
 ration and difeharge of old distempered humours,
 by a courfe of refelvent medicines, nor the  fub-
 flitution of frefh vital juices in their room,  pre-
 fcribed by-the great lord-Verulam and Boeihaavei
 nor the transfution of young blood into old veins,
 tho* performed with  the utmoft precaution  and
 dexterity, will ever avail to bellow ftrength and
 vigour  on the hulk of mankind,  for any great
 number,of years, beyond  the limits marked out
hy the  Pfalmift, and much lefs to produce reju-
 venefeency.   Tho* I am perfuaded,  at the fame
 time, that thefe methods profecuted to accuracy,

   * It was imprudently and fatally tried in France on baron Bond,  fonto
 the firft minilter of ftate in Sweden, afie. he was given over by hisphy-
' licians, and his bowels began to mortify ; aid had the fame til fate, at
 Rome, being injudicioufiy tried on a perfon juft worn out with % coafump
"^iion. 'videMeiklin de ortu et occafu transf. fang.
     Yol.  11.        Z 
 -2 J 4             Of L ongcvity.
 and reduced,  if poffible,  to  a general and  c:tf'-;
 practice,  would  make t-<e life of man hold  om,
 free fion tlie ufual  compiaints  of decrepitude,
•longer than it does at preler.t, fince we See every
 day, that an extraordinary theugtVi of conftituti-
 on, managed  with common prudence,  often ex-
 ceeds an hundred years.*
   Let us in the mean  time make  the  beft  ufe of
 thofe advantages which we tan  ?afily compafs.
 Let u^,  by a virtuous  courfe of life, and  by  the
 practice  of fuch rules as  the  experience ot  ages
 has eftabliflied, endeavour to preferve healtli  of
 body and  foundnefs of mind, until we arrive at the
 boundaries which providence (unlels we are our
 own enemies ) feems to have nearly marked out
 for  our  respective  constitutions.  And then let us
■ chearfully fubmit to have the curtain drawn for a
 little while  between our  fiiends  and us ; and.be
 ready and willing to  enter into that happy Hate
 for  which we were originally intended, and  where
 we  fliali be fecure from the approach  of age aud
 infirmities.   '

  * See t'e diligent and good bifhopof Berrci.";  natural hiftory of No--
 wa-., w,ere he relates from credible vouJ.ds,  that in the year 1733,
. f ■; r  n^rried  couple danced in  the  pc fence of Chriftian VI. ki.i£ of
 Denmark, wioicagea joined tojv.tler, a'rouiited  to mo e llian el&ht
 hundred years, none of the four cojpic bciutmicu-r an hundred.  P.trt 2,
 ena,p. o. kcUtf. 
 
 
Med tf.V
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