AN ABSTRACT OF THE METHODS OF CURING DISEASES OF THE EYES, LEGS, and BREASTS, AND ON THE CURE OF Cancerous, Scrophulous, and other Chronic Diseases, BY MILD INTERNAL REMEDIES. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, OBSERVATIONS ON THE Dangerous Effects of altering the accustomed Diet of Patients. AND On the Ill Effects of Salt Water, Hemlock, &c. By WILLIAM ROWLEY, Surgeon, Castle Street, Leicester Fields. Experientia, plus profecto valet, quam centum acutissimæ rationes. Hoffman. LONDON: Printed for F. Newbery, at No. 20, the Corner of Ludgate Street. MDCCLXXIV. The following Treatises written by William Rowley, may be had at Francis Newbery’s, the Corner of St. Paul’s Church-yard. A Treatise on the principal Diseases of the Eyes, containing a critical and candid Examination of the ancient and modern Methods of Cure, and of the present defective Modes of Practice; with an Account of new,mild, and successful Methods for the Cure of Diseases of this Organ. Price 3s. An Essay on the Cure of Ulcerated Legs without Rest, proved by a Va- riety of remarkable Cases, in which laborious Exercise was used during the Cures. Price 1s. 6d. A Practical Treatise on Diseases of the Breasts of Women, containing Directions for Females during Lying-in, and on the Schirrus or occult Can- cers of the Breasts, with the Methods of preventing those Diseases, &c. Price 1s. 6d. In a few Days will be Published, Price One Shilling, A Collection of upwards of one hundred cases of the most remarkable Cures performed, in Diseases of the Eyes, Legs, Breasts, Cancers, scrophulous and scorbutic Complaints, the Fistula, &c. by Mr. Rowley’s new Methods of Treatment. THIS ABSTRACT may be had Gratis, at Mr. Rowley’s, Surgeon, Castle Street, Leicester Fields; and at Mr. F. Newbery’s, the Cor- ner of St. Paul’s Church-yard. INTRODUCTION. To make public some useful discoveries is the chief intention of the following Essay. The cure of habitual and chronic diseases has occasioned much controversy, but few or no improvements have been made in their cure. What has been written, may have arisen from prejudices in the minds of the authors, the doctrines are supported by artful reasoning, but have not been demonstrated as truths.* Amongst medical practitioners there are prejudices which cannot be too freely censured. Physicians and surgeons too often recommend to their patients the diet, exercise and remedies which agree with themselves. Thus some who drink water, wine, ale, or any other liquor, will recommend the particular liquid which they accustom themselves to. Some recommend a vegetable and milk diet; others say, that bread is a poison; some, that we ought to eat our meat almost raw; others, the reverse. Many recommend what agrees best with their own con- stitutions, without considering, that the constitutions and inclinations of mankind vary as much as their faces, and that a sudden altera- tion of diet, may lay the foundation of diseases which prove fatal. From discerning these and similar prejudices in the early part of life, I concluded that the most rational method of curing habitual or chro- nic diseasses must be by gradually altering the habit, by removing the cause of the indisposition insensibly, allowing patients to ad- here to their accustomed diet. It is upon this plan, and this alone, that we may cure the gout, rheumatism, cancers, king’s evil, and all chronic or habitual diseases. Where the diet has been altered, to which patients have been accustomed many years, the most dangerous ravages in the constitution have been produced; if some survive such a change, to others it has proved fatal. Therefore, however plau- sible such a doctrine may be, it can be applied to particular persons only, and cannot become generally useful. When I first discovered the method of curing ulcerated legs with- out rest (which is now twelve years since) I concluded that dressings, &c. were applying remedies to the skin, when the cause of the * If a thousand men of genius write on the subject, they will all vary and contradict each other. False opinions promote the spirit of controversy, but do not improve science. I consider it idle for any one to dispute about an opinion. The question with every sensible man ought to be; is it true or false? If it is true, it will gain assent; if not, who dares say, if he examines the confined knowledge of human beings, that any opinion is true? I have always considered it as certain proof of the weakness of the mental powers, for a man to dispute, or attempt to defend matters of opinion in physic. † The low diet recommended to child-bed women by some men-midwifes has proved fatal. In the gout I have known instances of persons losing their lives by altering disorder (iv) disorder was in the constitution. I had observed, that the common methods were not attended with success, and that salivation ruined the constitutions of many patients, without performing their cure. In the last war, I attended many men who had habitual ulcers, and other scorbutic complaints. The salt water at that time was a very fash- ionable remedy; it has remained so ever since, to the manifest injury of many constitutions. I had read a Treatise on the subject, and was determined to try its effects on these men; therefore I persevered in drenching and bathing them, but to no useful purpose, for I cured not one patient, they were all evidently worse, and their constitutions greatly relaxed. I frequently overheard their murmurs, these sensibly affected me, and excited a warm desire to relieve them. I fixed on the plan of cure I have published; it proved successful; not only there, but afterwards in the West Indies and America. The success I had in town many years, in curing habitual ulcers, and other scorbutic diseases, made me conceive, that other habitual and chronic diseases might be cured by a similar plan. In an extensive practice of midwifery, I had many opportunities of applying the same plan of cure to cancers of the breasts and womb*. In scrophulous indurations, and other habi- tual and chronic diseases ; I have cured many, and have al- lowed the patients their usual diet. I considered, that if cures could be performed by change of diet, that patients would be liable to a relapse on pursuing their former course. But, if ulcers of the legs are cured without rest; and other habitual diseases are cured by gradually altering the habit, allowing the usual diet, there would be no probability of ulcers relapsing, or the chronic disease thus cured returning. A series of success for many years has confirmed these doctrines to be true. This has given rise to those publications, an idea of which is contained in the following Abstract. * At an hospital which I chiefly supported myself, there were seldom less than four or five hundred patients under cure, and many hundreds of poor persons were cured of diseases of the eyes, legs, breasts, cancerous and scrophulous complaints. An AN ABSTRACT OF Mr. ROWLEY’S NEW METHODS OF CURING DISEASED EYES, LEGS, and BREASTS. Discoveries in medicine are only useful, in proportion as they become of general service to mankind; but it has frequently happened, that the most useful improvements have been strenuously opposed, by those whose duty it was to have promoted them. There reigns a spirit of detraction, pride and opposition, in the minds of many medical men, which reflects dishonour on the profession. The most useful discoveries in anatomy*, the circulation of the blood †, the most excellent remedies which are now universally esteemed, were opposed at their introduction by the unit- ed efforts of the most learned in the profession, in every part of Europe. On the contrary, when discoveries have been received, they have been embraced so warmly, and become so universal, that they have done considerable mischief: it is common for practitioners in medicine to fly from one extreme to another. I am concerned to say, that I have known instances where legs have been amputated, eyes blinded, and even lives sa- crifised, from a lethargic compliance to custom. There is such an obstinate perseverance in erroneous opinions, and such an inattention to truth, com- bined in the minds of many learned practitioners, that some would rather suffer their patients to endure the most acute misery, than deviate in the least from the common rules of practice ||. Those who make improvements, must expect to be censured in propor- tion as their discoveries are useful, or practice successful. Hence many who have attained to superior excellence, have passed through life in a state of indolence; because they have seen, with concern, the cool reception of truth, and the warm opposition improvements meet with. I have made improvements in the cure of diseases of the eyes, legs, breasts, and glandular affections; and have freely censured, in my writings, many false doctrines which have been generally believed. A comparison of my * Vesalius, that great lover of truth, restorer of medical learning, and ornament of the profession, was opposed by all the learned anatomists in Europe, when he attacked the ancient prejudices in anatomy. † Harvey was near thirty years combating the opposers of his discovery of the cir- culation of the blood, though it was a demonstrative truth. When it was received and acknowledged true, the physical geniuses adopted an extravagant scheme to prolong life, by transfusing the blood of animals into the veins of men. It is no extraordinary thing, for, medical men to embrace the most extravagant prejudices; the history of medicine gives us many instances of their being imposed on by their credulity. ‡ Bark, mercury, antimony, &c. || All efficacious remedies as those above. Crude quicksilver, calves-pluck-water, tar-water, and many fashionable remedies have done mischief, by being improperly ap- plied. Goulard’s extract of Saturn, has many times proved hurtful, by being inju- diciously applied in the preparation, called vegeto mineral water. A new [2] new methods with those in common practice will clearly convey an idea of their superior advantages; and I believe practitioners in general must re- tract those opinions, which they have so long, and universally believed as truths. A COMPARATIVE VIEW, &c. The common doctrines concerning ulcers of the legs. I. It is a common maxim, that ulcers of the legs are difficult of cure, if they have been of many years continuance. II. The common methods of cure are by rest, salivation, purging, and va- rious dressings. It is acknowledged by the most eminent surgeons, that these methods are not attended with success; for, though the patients are often, to appearance, cured, they are liable to a speedy relapse, as the ulcers break out again on using exercise*. III. It is erroneously asserted, that some ulcers of the legs cannot be cured by any means. In many instances the cure cannot be attempted with safety; that a cure would produce a diar- rhæa (or purging) fever, cough, or The improvements. I. I have found no difficulty in cur- ing, by my new and mild methods, the most inveterate ulcers of the legs, and other parts, which had continued from one year to 30 years, and had baffled the attempts of the most emi- nent surgeons, not only in this town, but most parts of the kingdom. II. I always recommend exercise du- ring the cure, and never salivate patients ; I seldom order purges. I cure them by a mild, safe method, gradually altering the habit by insen- sible degrees, with various internal medicines. I can clearly prove, that no relapse happens, by referring to many persons of reputation, who have been cured by me many years. One gentleman who had been lame 12 years, has been in the West In- dies since the cure ; has returned to England; his leg remains sound, and he is in perfect health. This patient had been under the care of some of the most eminent physicians and sur- geons in town. III. I declare, no ulcer is incurable, unless some particular bones are carious, or the patient’s consti- tution has been destroyed by the common unsuccessful methods. The cure of ulcers can be per- formed * This is acknowledged by Mr. Samuel Sharp, late surgeon of Guy’s hospital, who is justly esteemed one of the most excellent surgeons in Europe ; he is now retired from practice. [3] Common Methods. other symptoms, which would end in the death of the patient.* IV. Many imagine that stopping a discharge,to which the body has been accustomed, would endanger the con- stitution of the patient. To females it is imagined, that it would be ha- zardous, particularly between the age of thirty-six and fifty The whole of the doctrines ad- vanced on ulcerated legs, amounts to mere opinion. New Methods. formed with the utmost ease and safety, nor does a fever, purging, cough, or any other symptom, at- tack the patient after the cure. That the cure does not prove fatal, I can prove from a great number of living witnesses, who have been cured many years, and have enjoyed a perfect and uninterrupted state of health. This assertion I do not make from curing a few patients, for in the course of twelve years, I have, cured some hundreds of ulcerated legs, many of the patients had inveterate scor- butic eruptions on every part of the body, which had eluded every other method of cure. IV. The idea of its being dangerous to stop a discharge is false, nor does it endanger the constitution, for it has never happened in the method I prac- tise, in one single instance. It is not hazardous to cure females at any age, as I can prove by many in- stances.† The doctrines I have advanced are plain facts, they have their founda- tion in truth. The doctrines therefore generally believed by physicians, surgeons and patients, concerning ulcerated legs, are replete with prejudices and absurdi- ties, and are false. I have explained and refuted these opinions, not by sophistical reasoning, nor any arts of persuasion, but by actions, by the proof of cures already confirmed. From the proofs of cures I have performed, I assert, that physicians and surgeons are ignorant of the cure of ulcerated legs, who insinuate to their patients, that it is dangerous to cure an old ulcer. It would be more honourable for them to confess they do not know how to cure those common complaints (for they certainly do not) than to alarm the unsuspicious patient with apprehensions of future evils. This artifice is generally used as a salvo for the inefficacy of their feeble attempts to cure. If it be dangerous to cure old ulcers, why do they make any attempts? Some perhaps consider, that ulcerated legs are annuities annexed to their pro- fession as surgeons. But I cannot suppose them so iniquitous, to suffer their patients * See Sharp's surgery, Le Dran’s, &c. † I can produce one woman who was cured by me about two years since, of an ulce- cated leg, which had continued had thirty-eight years. Her leg had been condemned to be cut off by one of the most eminent surgeons. She is sixty years old, and in better health than she had been for many years. A2 to [4] to be afflicted with a painful disease for years, if it is in their power to cure it. But from what principle it is, they do not cure their patients, I leave them- selves to determine. Were I induced to make an ostentatious display of the superior advan- tages of my methods of cure, I could mention the names of many of the most eminent physicians and surgeons, whose patients I have cured in a few weeks, after they had attempted their cures many years without suc- cess. This would be injurious to their reputation, and unbecoming the character of a gentleman. I wish the members of our profession would use the same circumspection when they speak of the abilities of each other. The advantages of these improved methods are many. Patients who must have passed through life in pain and misery, with a soul discharge from the ulcer, are made perfectly happy. The scorbutic, or whatever indisposition of the body was the cause of the ulcer, is removed. But a consideration su- perior to these, is the prevention of future amputations. For it is well known, that I have cured many legs which had been condemned to this cruel operation by some of the most eminent surgeons in this metropolis. Improvements in the Cure of Inflamed Eyes. Common Methods. Blistering, setons, eye-waters, purges, scarrifying the eye, are re- quently used, and if attended with success, the patient is commonly three weeks or a month under these cruel methods. Sometimes these methods cause total blindness.* In my Treatise on the New Methods. All these cruelties are exposed, refuted, and avoided; the recent in- flammation is cured in a few days, by gentle medicines, and a particu- lar regimen. The inflammation treated thus never terminates in blindness. In Blindness from Specks, or the Opacity of the Cornea. The common methods are to blow powdered glass into the eyes, double refined sugar, to use eye-waters, and if the patient is totally blind, no re- medy has till now been discovered, which could restore sight. I make use of no external applica- tion; the patients, tho’ totally blind, have been restored to sight by internal medicines only. Many persons I have in this manner restored to sight, may- be referred to, as proofs of the truth I here advance. On the CATARACT. This is blindness occasioned by the cristalline lens becoming opaque, which in general is left to a proper maturity, and then the operation of extraction or couching is performed. Either of these operations cause a vi- olent inflammation for many months, and frequently prove unsuccessful. This may be proved from the writings I have in many instances restored the patient to sight by internal me- dicines. For extracting the cataract I have invented two new instruments; by considerable practice I have arri- ved at a great certainty in this ope- ration, and by preparing the patient, by proper regimen and medicines, I have prevented that violent inflam- * I solemnly assert, that more eyes have been blinded by injudicious treatment (parti- cularly by pultices and outward applications) than by diseases, not by oculists and pre- tenders only, but by regular practitioners. See Critical Review, in my Treatise on the Principal Diseases of the Eyes. of [5] of the most eminent surgeons, both ancient and modern. mation, which ever accompanies this operation as practised by others. In many instances of total blindness, in which I have restored the patient to sight by the operation, the eyes have been exposed to the strongest light in summer in about fourteen days. These methods, with a plate of the instruments, I shall speedily publish. Improvements in treating Diseases of the Breast. The common pernicious methods of treating the breasts during lying- in, frequently lay the foundation of the cancer. I have given very plain rules how to treat the breasts by a very mild method during lying-in, and how to prevent the cancer, which, if regard- ed by females in lying-in, would be attended with great advantage.* The Scrophula or King’s Evil, the Cancer of the Breast, Swellings of the Glands in other Parts, and cancerous Ulcers. It is well known,that the scrophula, occult cancers of the breasts, or other parts, are in general deemed incurable. I have discovered a method of radically curing these inveterate and dangerous diseases, which I intend to communicate to the public. I cure these cases by internal medicines alone, I never use the knife, caustic, or any other cruelty. I have cured lately a schirrus and ulcer of the womb by these means; the case being remarkable, I shall relate. A lady was recommended by a noble lord to be under my care, at a time when every expectation of life was resigned by the lady, her relations, and four very eminent physicians. Her disease was a large schirrus near the neck of the bladder, and I believe a cancerous ulcer of the womb. She had been afflicted with it for three years, and for two years before I saw her, her pains were so exquisite, that she could not obtain any rest, even by the assistance of large doses of laudanum; she was not able to rise up, and her water was insensibly discharged. She had been for great part of this time in such misery, that her life was insupportable. She had been taking that per- nicious drug hemlock, and all the other remedies generally used in cance- rous cases, to no purpose; her disease became worse, and she so emaciated from these dreadful symptoms, that her face had nearly the appearance of a corpse; there was a languor and dullness in her eyes, which seemed to be the forerunners of death. She had lost her memory, her ideas were so unconnected, that she could scarce remember any thing just transacted. In six weeks after being under my care, she could get up three or four hours in the day. During this time there was a great discharge of very offensive matter, and a quantity of matter was discharged by stool; from this I con- cluded, that there was an ulcer in the rectum. Before I came, she was often * See Treatise on the Disorders of the Breasts, and the Methods of treating Women during Lying in. † Before this time the lady had some scorbutic eruptions, and by the advice of her phy- sicians had bathed in the salt water at Brightheimstone. This practice weakened her ha- bit, and was probabiy productive of the cancerous disease. ‡ This was undoubtedly occasioned by the hemlock. An effect I have frequently ob- served to succeed the use of it. obliged [6] obliged to have clysters, she being always costive, which I suppose was chiefly owing to the large doses of opium, which her physicians had pre- scribed. I neither ordered opiates nor clysters, as the remedies I prescribed gave ease without injuring the constitution, and kept the body gently open without disturbing the intestines. After she had been about four months under my care, the incontinence of urine ceased. By persevering in these medicines, she is restored to perfect health. This lady was covered with scaly eruptions, which are likewise cured. THERE is no imposition on mankind more flagrant, than that of the pre- tended cures performed by Salt Water. It certainly relaxes the tone of the stomach and intestines, it may be useful to very robust habits and great feeders; but when I reflect, that salt-water is administered to delicate con- stitutions, already relaxed by the effects of painful diseases, I am shocked for the many innocent victims that are yearly sacrifised at our fashionable watering-places. I have had as great opportunities as any man in this kingdom, to ascertain the effects of salt-water in most parts of the world, and am convinced, from facts, of its inefficacy in scorbutic, schrophulous, aad other diseases; I shall hereafter explain myself more fully on this sub- ject, and expose the many gross impositions of those who have recommended this nauseous remedy. The Hemlock, though fashionable, is ineffectual in the cure of cancers, and is a dangerous remedy to many constitutions. It often produces dan- gerous head achs, loss of memory, and other alarming symptoms. Those who pretend to secret methods of curing the Cancer, use a burning caustic, to take out the core, as they call it. This cruel applica- tion they impudently call a plaister, and by an insinuation that they do not use the knife, they practise a method many degrees more cruel. With an artful address, they endeavour to make their deluded patients believe every case they are consulted in, to be cancerous. I thought it necessary to mention this villainous practice, to prevent the unsuspicious from being imposed on. Many cruel instances I have known, and lately had a case under my care, which, for cruelty, ignorance, and imposition, in the modes of treatment is unparalleled. A lady had a small swelling in the maxillary gland, for which she had the advice of one of the most eminent surgeons in this town, who sali- vated her. This increased the disease, and the applied to an eminent phy- sician in the city; he ordered some alterative, but the disorder still en- creased, and the gland became much larger. After this, she had the ad- vice of one of the court physicians, who prescribed the hemlock, but this was not attended with success, for the swelling stiil encreased, and she was recommended to be under the care of a Woman reputedly famous for cur- ing cancers without cutting, who agreed to undertake the cure for one hundred guineas, twenty of which she had at first. She immediately or- dered six of the lady’s teeth to be drawn. From these operation the lower jaw soon became carious, its action was destroyed, and the patient could scarce swallow any liquids. At this time I was recommended by a lady of qua- lity. A great part of the bone was foul, some of which had loosened, and was extracted. The discharge from the carious bone was so offensive, that the attendants could scarce bear the putrid smell. I had no prospects of success, owing to the improper treatment at first; the extraction of teeth causing a caries of the jaw-bone, and the patient not being able to swallow nourishment, or any remedy, died four days after I first saw her. This is a melancholy instance of the impudent pretentions of an ignorant woman to [7] to cure these cases. I really consider the female pretender as a murderer, though the laws suffer such to pass with impunity. I must observe, that the hemlock, salt-water, and every other remedy is wrongly applied in cancerous, scrophulous, and other diseases, which is the cause or their not often proving successful. In the cure of these cases, no parti- cular remedy will avail, and hence the absurdity of a nostrum or secret remedy. I use various remedies; the chief skill required, is to adapt them to the constitution; it is from this alone I have had such extraordinary success. I purpose hereafter to publish both my theory and methods of practice, for the cure of diseases of the glands, as the cancer, king’s-evil, &c. and other chronic disorders. All the advantages I have obtained, have been from giv- ing a strict and unwearied attention to nature, and forming just conclusions from a variety of circumstances. I examine every theory, and never impli- citly believe in the opinions of others, but form my judgment from the convicton of my senses. From this general idea of what I have already published, I leave the dis- cerning to judge of the improvements I have made; I am now prosecu- ting a plan for the farther improvement of different branches in physic, (in which my chief aim will be to prevent many operations in surgery too frequently practised, and to accomplish it will be the study of my whole life. The methods which I practise have been frequently mis-applied by practitioners and others, through want of judgment, notwithstanding I have used every precaution in my power to prevent such errors. It is im- possible to express rules applicable to every constitution, as I have before- observed*. We may give general precepts, but the particular, and suc- cessful treatment of every disease, will depend on the discernment, and experience of the practitioner. If curiosity leads any person to a farther enquiry concerning the success of the methods here recommended, they may be referred to many persons of reputation, of both sexes, who have been cured of diseases of the legs, which had continued bad from two or three years, to thirty-eight years, many of whom were far advanced in life. Any persons who desire, may be referred to many who have been restored to sight from total blindness by internal medicines, without any external application whatever; and other extraordinary cures in the different diseases of the eyes, &c. Many whom I have cured have given me the liberty of publishing their cases, and the names of the physicians and surgeons who have attempted their cures without success; this I have declined, but they may be known, and a list of patients cured with their address, may be had, by applying at Mr. Rowley’s, in Castle Street, Leicester Fields. I must observe, that whenever I have failed of curing these inveterate dis- eases, it has been owing to the ill effects which have been produced in the * “A physician must regulate his ideas by the unbounded variety observable in na- “ture; the temper, physiognomy, diet, exercise, particular propensities, all the mu- “tual relations of the symptoms, and every thing which corresponds in nature to make “clear to us the cause of a disease. We are then to draw our conclusions from past “observations on the effects of medicine, in the same or similar disease, and we ought “well to know the practice of the ancients and moderns. These observations will “clearly shew the ignorance of applying one remedy to various constitutions, in the “same disease; and will prove, that a medicine may be salutary to one, and injuri- “ous, if not fatal, to another. See treatise on the principal diseases of the eyes, p, “4. in the address, &c.” consti- [8] constitution by the common unsuccessful methods. All the principal medi- cines necessary in the art of physic may be about twenty. I have reduced my materia medica to this standard. My success has been owing to the just ad- ministration of simple remedies. On the effects of simple medicines we may form just inferences, but in compounds there is such confusion of sub- stances, that we cannot ascertain which relieved the disease, and conse- quently our conclusions may be erroneous.* I hope the publication of this Abstract will not be considered by the sen- sible as an impropriety, for mankind are so much interested in medical im- provements, that they cannot be too publicly known. It must be great con- solation to the afflicted that milder methods are discovered for their relief, in cases where unsuccessful operations and cruelties were frequently prac- tised. The restoring sight to the blind by internal medicines, the future prevention of amputating ulcerated legs, the curing of scrophulous com- plaints, occult and other cancers of the breasts, &c &c. without the use of the knife, is certainly of some consequence ; and I hope will apologize for this method of conveying these discoveries to the public. I have been repeatedly injured in my reputation by the private slanders of several eminent men in the profession, to whom my person is even un- known. I know not how I have deserved such treatment. The most jus- tifiable method of silencing falsehoods and calumnies, delivered in private, is to publicly advance these positive truths, which can be maintained by se- veral respectable vouchers, and persons of rank; and is the only means of effectually refuting them. If some learned individuals consider themselves in- jured by general censures, the conclusion is too evident to require a com- mentary. How I deserve slanders for an industrious application, for many years in different parts of the world, and sacrifising every private conside- ration, for the improvement of our noble art, I leave to the determination of the candid public.† In the prosecution of these enquiries I have improved the treatment of many other diseases, as fevers, diseases of the lungs, &c. &c. which are reduced to a very singular mode of cure, and will be the subject of a future publication. “ I will invariably pursue the plan, which has engaged the “ attention of my whole life. To detect ignorance and error, however “ veiled and disguised by artifice; and to make some improvements in the “ profession. How far I have already succeeded I shall submit to the judg- “ ment of the learned.” * If there was a possibility of reducing the materia medica to about twenty remedies, it would greatly improve the science of medicine. We should soon arrive at certainty on the effects of remedies in every disease. But, whilst there are some hundreds of in- significant substances constantly used on very precarious principles, and substances diame- trically opposite, enters the prescriptions of the learned, it is impossible to improve this noble art. The necessity of a reformation in this particular is evident; it might be ac- complished by a few men of learning and spirit, of lib eral and exalted sentiments. † It has been urged by some gentlemen of the profession, that the alterative methods which I practice injures the patients constitutions. To this I assert, that they are totally mistaken, nor could they have advanced such a palpable falsehood, but from their total ignorance of the manner in which I apply my remedies; for they never have yet disturb- ed the constitutions of the most delicate persons, not even young children, as in some hundreds of instances can be demonstrably proved. ‡ See Treatise on the principal Diseases of the Eyes. I beg leave to observe, that my trifling productions have been received with great respect by many of the learned in every part of Europe. I have several learned friends, who have given more applause to my little Treatises, than I ever thought they merited.