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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39044-8.txt b/39044-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7142999 --- /dev/null +++ b/39044-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17369 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Advice to the people in general, with +regard to their health, by Samuel Auguste David Tissot + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Advice to the people in general, with regard to their health + +Author: Samuel Auguste David Tissot + +Translator: J. Kirkpatrick + +Release Date: March 9, 2012 [EBook #39044] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADVICE TO THE PEOPLE *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Enrico Segre and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + Advice to the people + + + _ADVICE_ + __to the__ + _PEOPLE_ in __General__, + __with__ + + Regard to their __Health__: + + + + +But more particularly calculated for those, who, by their Distance from +regular Physicians, or other very experienced Practitioners, are the +most unlikely to be seasonably provided with the best Advice and +Assistance, in acute Diseases, or upon any sudden inward or outward +Accident. + + _WITH_ + +A Table of the most cheap, yet effectual Remedies, and the plainest +Directions for preparing them readily. + + Translated from the _French_ Edition of + + Dr. __Tissot's__ _Avis au Peuple_, &c. + +Printed at _Lyons_; with all his own Notes; a few of his medical +Editor's at _Lyons_; and several occasional Notes, adapted to this +_English_ Translation, + + By J. _Kirkpatrick_, M. D. + + + + + _In the Multitude of the People is the Honour of a King; and for + the Want of People cometh the Destruction of the Prince._ + + Proverbs xiv, 28. + ----------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + __LONDON:__ + + Printed for T. _Becket_ and P. A. _De Hondt_, at _Tully's_ Head, near + _Surry-Street_, in the _Strand_. + + M DCC LXV. + + + + + _the Translator's_ PREFACE. + + +Though the great Utility of those medical Directions, with which the +following Treatise is thoroughly replenished, will be sufficiently +evident to every plain and sensible Peruser of it; and the extraordinary +Reception of it on the Continent is recited in the very worthy Author's +Preface; yet something, it should seem, may be pertinently added, with +Regard to this Translation of it, by a Person who has been strictly +attentive to the Original: a Work, whose Purpose was truly necessary and +benevolent; as the Execution of it, altogether, is very happily +accomplished. + +It will be self evident, I apprehend, to every excellent Physician, that +a radical Knowledge of the Principles, and much Experience in the +Exercise, of their Profession, were necessary to accommodate such a Work +to the Comprehension of those, for whom it was more particularly +calculated. Such Gentlemen must observe, that the certain Axiom of +_Nature's curing Diseases_, which is equally true in our Day, as it was +in that of _Hippocrates_, so habitually animates this Treatise, as not +to require the least particular Reference. This _Hippocratic_ Truth as +certain (though much less subject to general Observation) as that +Disease, or Age, is finally prevalent over all sublunary Life, the most +attentive Physicians discern the soonest, the most ingenuous readily +confess: and hence springs that wholesome Zeal and Severity, with which +Dr. _Tissot_ encounters such Prejudices of poor illiterate Persons, as +either oppose, or very ignorantly precipitate, her Operations, in her +Attainment of Health. These Prejudices indeed may seem, from this Work, +to be still greater, and perhaps grosser too, in _Swisserland_ than +among ourselves; though it is certain there is but too much Room for the +Application of his salutary Cautions and Directions, even in this +Capital; and doubtless abundantly more at great Distances from it. It +may be very justly supposed, for _one_ Instance, that in most of those +Cases in the Small Pocks, in which the Mother undertakes the Cure of her +Child, or confides it to a Nurse, that Saffron, in a greater or less +Quantity, and Sack or Mountain Whey, are generally still used in the +Sickening before Eruption; to accelerate that very Eruption, whose +gradual Appearance, about the fourth Day, from that of Seizure +inclusive, is so favourable and promising to the Patient; and the +Precipitation of which is often so highly pernicious to them. Most of, +or rather all, his other Cautions and Corrections seem equally necessary +here, as often as the Sick are similarly circumstanced, under the +different acute Diseases in which he enjoins them. + +Without the least Detraction however from this excellent Physician, it +may be admitted that a few others, in many other Countries, might have +sufficient Abilities and Experience for the Production of a like Work, +on the same good Plan. This, we find, Dr. _Hirzel_, principal Physician +of _Zurich_, had in Meditation, when the present Treatise appeared, +which he thought had so thoroughly fulfilled his own Intention, that it +prevented his attempting to execute it. But the great Difficulty +consisted in discovering a Physician, who, with equal Abilities, +Reputation and Practice, should be qualified with that _much rarer_ +Qualification of caring so much more for the Health of those, who could +never pay him for it, than for his own Profit or Ease, as to determine +him to project and to accomplish so necessary, and yet so self-denying, +a Work. For as the Simplicity he proposed in the Style and Manner of it, +by condescending, in the plainest Terms, to the humblest Capacities, +obliged him to depress himself, by writing rather beneath the former +Treatises, which had acquired him the Reputation of medical Erudition, +Reasoning and Elegance; we find that the Love of Fame itself, so +stimulating even to many ingenuous Minds, was as impotent as that of +Wealth, to seduce him from so benign, so generous a Purpose. Though, +upon Reflection, it is by no Means strange to see wise Men found their +Happiness, which all [however variously and even oppositely] pursue, +rather in Conscience, than on Applause; and this naturally reminds us of +that celebrated Expression of _Cato_, or some other excellent Ancient, +"that he had rather _be_ good, than _be reputed_ so." + +However singular such a Determination may now appear, the Number of +reputable medical Translators into different Languages, which this +original Work has employed on the Continent, makes it evident, that real +Merit will, sooner or later, have a pretty general Influence; and induce +many to imitate that Example, which they either could not, or did not, +propose. As the truly modest Author has professedly disclaimed all +Applause on the Performance, and contented himself with hoping an +Exemption from Censure, through his Readers' Reflection on the peculiar +Circumstances and Address of it; well may his best, his faithfullest +Translators, whose Merit and Pains must be of a very secondary Degree to +his own, be satisfied with a similar Exemption: especially when joined +to the Pleasure, that must result from a Consciousness of having +endeavoured to extend the Benefits of their Author's Treatise, to +Multitudes of their own Country and Language. + +For my own Particular, when after reading the Introduction to the Work, +and much of the Sequel, I had determined to translate it; to be as just +as possible to the Author, and to his _English_ Readers, I determined +not to interpolate any Sentiment of my own into the Text, nor to omit +one Sentence of the Original, which, besides its being _Detraction_ in +its literal Sense, I thought might imply it in its worst, its figurative +one; for which there was no Room. To conform as fully as possible to the +Plainness and Perspicuity he proposed, I have been pretty often obliged +in the anatomical Names of some Parts, and sometimes of the Symptoms, as +well as in some pretty familiar, though not entirely popular Words, to +explain all such by the most common Words I have heard used for them; as +after mentioning the _Diaphragm_, to add, or _Midriff_--the +_Tracha_--or _Windpipe_--_acrimonious_, or _very sharp_, and so of many +others. This may a little, though but a little, have extended the +Translation beyond the Original; as the great Affinity between the +_French_ and _Latin_, and between the former and many _Latin_ Words +borrowed from the _Greek_, generally makes the same anatomical or +medical Term, that is technical with us, vernacular or common with them. +But this unavoidable Tautology, which may be irksome to many Ears, those +medical Readers, for whom it was not intended, will readily forgive, +from a Consideration of the general Address of the Work: while they +reflect that meer Style, if thoroughly intelligible, is least essential +to those Books, which wholly consist of very useful, and generally +interesting, Matter. + +As many of the Notes of the Editor of _Lyons_, as I have retained in +this Version (having translated from the Edition of _Lyons_) are +subscribed _E. L._ I have dispensed with several, some, as evidently +less within Dr. _Tissot's_ Plan, from tending to theorize, however +justly or practically, where he must have had his own Reasons for +omitting to theorize: a few others, as manifestly needless, from what +the Author had either premised, or speedily subjoined, on the very same +Circumstance: besides a very few, from their local Confinement to the +Practice at _Lyons_, which lies in a Climate somewhat more different +from our own than that of _Lausanne_. It is probable nevertheless, I +have retained a few more than were necessary in a professed Translation +of the original Work: but wherever I have done this, I have generally +subjoined my Motive for it; of whatever Consequence that may appear to +the Reader. I have retained all the Author's own Notes, with his Name +annexed to them; or if ever the Annotator was uncertain to me, I have +declared whose Note I supposed it to be. + +Such as I have added from my own Experience or Observation are +subscribed _K_, to distinguish them from the others; and that the +Demerit of any of them may neither be imputed to the learned Author, nor +to his Editor. Their principal Recommendation, or Apology is, that +whatever Facts I have mentioned are certainly true. I have endeavoured +to be temperate in their Number and Length, and to imitate that strict +Pertinence, which prevails throughout the Author's Work. If any may have +ever condescended to consider my Way of writing, they will conceive this +Restraint has cost me at least as much Pains, as a further Indulgence of +my own Conceptions could have done. The few Prescriptions I have +included in some of them, have been so conducted, as not to give the +Reader the least Confusion with Respect to those, which the Author has +given in his Table of Remedies, and which are referred to by numerical +Figures, throughout the Course of his Book. + +The moderate Number of Dr. _Tissot's_ Prescriptions, in his Table of +Remedies, amounting but to seventy-one, and the apparent Simplicity of +many of them, may possibly disgust some Admirers of pompous and compound +Prescription. But his Reserve, in this important Respect, has been +thoroughly consistent with his Notion of Nature's curing Diseases; which +suggested to him the first, the essential Necessity of cautioning his +Readers against doing, giving, or applying any thing, that might oppose +her healing Operations (a most capital Purpose of his Work) which +important Point being gained, the mildest, simplest and least hazardous +Remedies would often prove sufficient Assistants to her. Nevertheless, +under more severe and tedious Conflicts, he is not wanting to direct the +most potent and efficacious ones. The Circumstances of the poor Subjects +of his medical Consideration, became also a very natural Object to him, +and was in no wise unworthy the Regard of the humane Translator of +_Bilguer on Amputations_, or rather _against_ the crying Abuse of them; +an excellent Work, that does real Honour to them both; and which can be +disapproved by none, who do not prefer the frequently unnecessary +Mutilation of the afflicted, to the Consumption of their own Time, or +the Contraction of their Employment. + +Some Persons may imagine that a Treatise of this Kind, composed for the +Benefit of labouring People in _Swisserland_, may be little applicable +to those of the _British_ Islands: and this, in a very few Particulars, +and in a small Degree, may reasonably be admitted. But as we find their +common Prejudices are often the very same; as the _Swiss_ are the +Inhabitants of a colder Climate than _France_, and generally, as Dr. +_Tissot_ often observes, accustomed to drink (like ourselves) more +strong Drink than the _French_ Peasantry; and to indulge more in eating +Flesh too, which the Religion of _Berne_, like our own, does not +restrain; the Application of his Advice to them will pretty generally +hold good here. Where he forbids them Wine and Flesh, all Butchers Meat, +and in most Cases all Flesh, and all strong Drink should be prohibited +here: especially when we consider, that all his Directions are confined +to the Treatment of acute Diseases, of which the very young, the +youthful, and frequently even the robust are more generally the +Subjects. Besides, in some few of the _English_ Translator's Notes, he +has taken the Liberty of moderating the Coolers, or the Quantities of +them (which may be well adapted to the great Heats and violent _Swiss_ +Summers he talks of) according to the Temperature of our own Climate, +and the general Habitudes of our own People. It may be observed too, +that from the same Motive, I have sometimes assumed the Liberty of +dissenting from the Text in a very few Notes, as for Instance, on the +Article of Pastry, which perhaps is generally better here than in +_Swisserland_ (where it may be no better than the coarse vile Trash that +is hawked about and sold to meer Children) as I have frequently, in +preparing for Inoculation, admitted the best Pastry (but not of Meat) +into the limited Diet of the Subjects of Inoculation, and constantly +without the least ill Consequence. Thus also in Note [70] Page 287, 288, +I have presumed to affirm the Fact, that a strong spirituous Infusion of +the Bark has succeeded more speedily in some Intermittents, in +particular Habits, than the Bark in Substance. This I humbly conceive +may be owing to such a _Menstruum's_ extracting the Resin of the Bark +more effectually (and so conveying it into the Blood) than the Juices of +the Stomach and of the alimentary Canal did, or could. For it is very +conceivable that the _Crasis_, the Consistence, of the fibrous Blood may +sometimes be affected with a morbid Laxity or Weakness, as well as the +general System of the muscular Fibres. + +These and any other like Freedoms, I am certain the Author's Candour +will abundantly pardon; since I have never dissented for Dissention's +Sake, to the best of my Recollection; and have the Honour of harmonizing +very generally in Judgment with him. If _one_ useful Hint or Observation +occurs throughout my Notes, his Benevolence will exult in that essential +Adherence to his Plan, which suggested it to me: While an invariable +ecchoing Assentation throughout such Notes, when there really was any +salutary Room for doubting, or for adding (with Respect to ourselves) +would discover a Servility, that must have disgusted a liberal manly +Writer. One common good Purpose certainly springs from the generous +Source, and replenishes the many Canals into which it is derived; all +the Variety and little Deviations of which may be considered as more +expansive Distributions of its Benefits. + +Since the natural Feelings of Humanity generally dispose us, but +especially the more tender and compassionate Sex, to advise Remedies to +the poor Sick; such a Knowledge of their real Disease, as would prevent +their Patrons, Neighbours and Assistants from advising a wrong Regimen, +or an improper or ill-timed Medicine, is truly essential to relieving +them: and such we seriously think the present Work is capable of +imparting, to all commonly sensible and considerate Perusers of it. A +Vein of unaffected Probity, of manly Sense, and of great Philanthropy, +concur to sustain the Work: And whenever the Prejudices of the Ignorant +require a forcible Eradication; or the crude Temerity and Impudence of +Knaves and Impostors cry out for their own Extermination, a happy +Mixture of strong Argument, just Ridicule, and honest Severity, give a +poignant and pleasant Seasoning to the Work, which renders it +occasionally entertaining, as it is continually instructive. + +A general Reader may be sometimes diverted with such Customs and Notions +of the _Swiss_ Peasants, as are occasionally mentioned here: and +possibly our meerest Rustics may laugh at the brave simple _Swiss_, on +his introducing a Sheep into the Chamber of a very sick Person, to save +the Life of the Patient, by catching its own Death. But the humblest +Peasantry of both Nations are agreed in such a Number of their absurd +unhealthy Prejudices, in the Treatment of Diseases, that it really +seemed necessary to offer our own the Cautions and Counsels of this +principal Physician, in a very respectable Protestant Republick, in +Order to prevent their Continuance. Nor is it unreasonable to presume, +that under such a Form of Government, if honestly administered upon its +justest Principles, the People may be rather more tenderly regarded, +than under the Pomp and Rage of Despotism, or the Oppression of some +Aristocracies. + +Besides the different Conditions of [1] Persons, to whom our Author +recommends the Patronage and Execution of his Scheme, in his +Introduction, it is conceived this Book must be serviceable to many +young Country Practitioners, and to great Numbers of Apothecaries, by +furnishing them with such exact and striking Descriptions of each acute +Disease and its Symptoms, as may prevent their mistaking it for any +other; a Deception which has certainly often been injurious, and +sometimes even fatal: for it is dreadful but to contemplate the +Destruction or Misery, with which Temerity and Ignorance, so frequently +combined, overwhelm the Sick. Thus more Success and Reputation, with the +Enjoyment of a better Conscience, would crown their Endeavours, by a +more general Recovery of, or Relief to, their Patients. To effect this, +to improve every Opportunity of eschewing medical Evil, and of doing +medical Good, was the Author's avowed Intention; which he informs us in +his Preface, he has heard, from some intelligent and charitable Persons, +his Treatise had effected, even in some violent Diseases. That the same +good Consequences may every where attend the numerous Translations of +it, must be the fervent Wish of all, except the Quacks and Impostors he +so justly characterizes in his thirty-third Chapter! and particularly of +all, who may be distinguishably qualified, like himself, to, + +--_Look through Nature up to Nature's GOD!_ + + [1] Of all these the Schoolmasters, _with us_, may seem the most + reasonably exempted from this Duty. + + + + + The AUTHOR's _DEDICATION._ + + +_To the most Illustrious, the most Noble and Magnificent Lords, the +Lords President and Counsellors of the Chamber of Health, of the City +and Republick of_ Berne. + +_Most honourable Lords_, + +When I first published the following Work, my utmost Partiality to it +was not sufficient to allow me the Confidence of addressing it to Your +Lordships. But Your continual Attention to all the Objects, which have +any Relation to that important Part of the Administration of the State, +which has been so wisely committed to Your Care, has induced You to take +Notice of it. You have been pleased to judge it might prove useful, and +that an Attempt must be laudable, which tends to the Extermination of +erroneous and inveterate Prejudices, those cruel Tyrants, that are +continually opposing the Happiness of the People, even under that Form +and Constitution of Government, which is the best adapted to establish +and to increase it. + +Your Lordships Approbation, and the splendid Marks of [2] Benevolence, +with which You have honoured me, have afforded me a juster Discernment +of the Importance of this Treatise, and have inclined me to hope, _most +Illustrious, most Noble, and Magnificent Lords_, that You will permit +this new Edition of it to appear under the Sanction of your Auspices; +that while the Publick is assured of Your general Goodness and +Beneficence, it may also be informed of my profoundly grateful Sense of +them, on the same Occasion. + + [2] See the Author's Preface, immediately following this Dedication. + +May the present Endeavour then, in fully corresponding to my Wishes, +effectually realize Your Lordships utmost Expectations from it; while +You condescend to accept this small Oblation, as a very unequal +Expression of that profound Respect, with which I have the Honour to be, + +_Most Illustrious, Most Noble, and Magnificent Lords,_ + + _Your most humble_ + _And most_ + _Obedient Servant_, + + _TISSOT._ + + _Lausanne_, + _Dec. 3, 1762._ + + + + + THE AUTHOR's _PREFACE._ + + +_If Vanity too often disposes many to speak of themselves, there are +some Occasions, on which a total Silence might be supposed to result +from a still higher Degree of it: And the very general Reception of the +*Advice to the People* has been such, that there would be Room to +suspect me of that most shocking Kind of Pride, which receives Applause +with Indifference (as deeming its own Merit Superior to the greatest) if +I did not appear to be strongly impressed with a just Sense of that +great Favour of the Publick, which has been so very obliging, and is so +highly agreable, to me._ + +_Unfeignedly affected with the unhappy Situation of the poor Sick in +Country Places in *Swisserland*, where they are lost from a Scarcity of +the best Assistance, and from a fatal Superfluity of the worst, my sole +Purpose in writing this Treatise has been to serve, and to comfort them. +I had intended it only for a small Extent of Country, with a moderate +Number of Inhabitants; and was greatly surprized to find, that within +five or six Months after its Publication, it was become one of the most +extensively published Books in *Europe*; and one of those Treatises, on +a scientific Subject, which has been perused by the greatest Number of +Readers of all Ranks and Conditions. To consider such Success with +Indifference, were to have been unworthy of it, which Demerit, at least +on this Account, I cannot justly be charged with; since Indifference has +not been my Case, who have felt, as I ought, this Gratification of +Self-love; and which, under just and prudent Restrictions, may perhaps +be even politically cherished; as the Delight naturally arising from +having been approved, is a Source of that laudable Emulation, which has +sometimes produced the most essential good Consequences to Society +itself. For my own particular, I can truly aver, that my Satisfaction +has been exquisitely heightened on this Occasion, as a Lover of my +Species: since judging from the Success of this Work (a Success which +has exceeded my utmost Expectations) of the Effects that may reasonably +be expected from it, I am happily conscious of that Satisfaction, or +even Joy, which every truly honest Man must receive, from rendering +essential good Offices to others. Besides which, I have enjoyed, in its +utmost Extent, that Satisfaction which every grateful Man must receive +from the Approbation and Beneficence of his Sovereign, when I was +distinguished with the precious Medal, which the illustrious Chamber of +Health of the Republick of Berne honoured me with, a few Months after +the Publication of this Treatise; together with a Letter still more +estimable, as it assured me of the extraordinary Satisfaction the +Republick had testified on the Impression of it; a Circumstance, which I +could not avoid this publick Acknowledgement of, without the greatest +Vanity and Ingratitude. This has also been a very influencing Motive +with me, to exert my utmost Abilities in perfecting this new Edition, in +which I have made many Alterations, that render it greatly preferable to +the first; and of which Amendments I shall give a brief Account, after +saying somewhat of the Editions, which have appeared elsewhere._ + +_The first is that, which Messrs. *Heidegger*, the Booksellers published +in the *German* Language at *Zurich*, about a Year since. I should have +been highly delighted with the meer Approbation of *__M. Hirzel__*, +first Physician of the Canton of *Zurich, &c.* whose superior and +universal Talents; whose profound Knowledge in the Theory of Physick; +and the Extent and Success of whose Practice have justly elevated him +among the small Number of extraordinary Men of our own Times; he having +lately obtained the Esteem and the Thanks of all *Europe,* for the +History of one of her [3] Sages. But I little expected the Honour this +Gentleman has done me, in translating the *Advice to the People* into +his own Language. Highly sensible nevertheless as I am of this Honour, I +must always reflect with Regret, that he has consumed that important +Time, in rendering my Directions intelligible to his Countrymen, which +he might have employed much more usefully, in obliging the World with +his own._ + +_He has enriched his Translation with an excellent Preface, which is +chiefly employed in a just and beautiful Portrait and Contrast of the +true, and of the false Physician; with which I should have done myself +the Pleasure to have adorned the present [4] Edition; if the Size of +this Volume, already too large, had not proved an Obstacle to so +considerable an Addition; and if the Manner, in which *Mr.* *__Hirzel__* +speaks of its Author, had permitted me with Decency to publish his +Preface. I have been informed by some Letters, that there have been two +other *German* Translation of it; but I am not informed by whom. +However, *__M. Hirzel's__* Preface, his own Notes, and some Additions +with which I have furnished him, renders his Edition preferable to the +first in *French*, and to the other *German* Translations already made._ + + [3] _Le Socrate rustique_, a Work, which every Person should read. + + [4] This Preface is indeed premised to this _French_ Edition, but a + Translation of it was omitted, to avoid extending the Bulk and + Price of the Work. Dr. _Tissot_ must then have been ignorant of + this Addition, when first published at _Lyons_. + +_The Second Edition is that, which the younger *__Didot__*, the +Bookseller, published towards the End of the Winter at *Paris*. He had +requested me to furnish him with some Additions to it, which I could not +readily comply with._ + +_The Third Edition is a *Dutch* Translation of it, which will be very +speedily published by *__M. Renier Aremberg__*, Bookseller at +*Rotterdam*. He had begun the Translation from my first Edition; but +having wrote to know whether I had not some Additions to make, I desired +him to wait for the Publication of this. I have the good Fortune to be +very happy in my Translators; it being *__M. Bikker__*, a celebrated +Physician at *Rotterdam* (so very advantagiously known in other +Countries, by his beautiful *Dissertation on Human Nature*, throughout +which Genius and Knowledge proceed Hand in Hand) who will present his +Countrymen with the *Advice to the People*, in their own Language: and +who will improve it with such Notes, as are necessary for a safe and +proper Application of its Contents, in a Climate, different from that in +which it was wrote. I have also heard, there has been an *Italian* +Translation of it._ + +_After this Account of the foreign Editions, I return to the present +one, which is the second of the original *French* Treatise. I shall not +affirm it is greatly corrected, with Respect to fundamental Points: for +as I had advanced nothing in the first, that was not established on +Truth and Demonstration, there was no Room for Correction, with Regard +to any essential Matters. Nevertheless, in this I have made, 1, a great +Number of small Alterations in the Diction, and added several Words, to +render the Work still more simple and perspicuous. 2, The typographical +Execution of this is considerably improved in the Type, the Paper and +Ink, the Spelling, Pointing, and Arrangement of the Work. 3, I have made +some considerable Additions, which are of three Kinds. Not a few of them +are new Articles on some of the Subjects formerly treated of; such as +the Articles concerning Tarts and other Pastry Ware; the Addition +concerning the Regimen for Persons, in a State of Recovery from +Diseases; the Preparation for the Small Pocks; a long Note on the +Jesuits Bark; another on acid Spirits; one on the Extract of Hemlock: +besides some new Matter which I have inserted; such as an Article with +Regard to proper Drinks; one on the Convulsions of Infants; one on +Chilblains; another on Punctures from Thorns; one upon the Reason of the +Confidence reposed in Quacks, and the thirty-first Chapter entirely: in +which I have extended the Consideration of some former Articles, that +seemed to me a little too succinct and short. There are some Alterations +of this last, this additional, Kind, interspersed almost throughout the +whole Substance of this Edition; but especially in the two Chapters +relating to Women and Children._ + +_The Objects of the XXXI Chapter are such as require immediate +Assistance, viz. Swoonings, Hmorrhages, that is, large spontaneous +Bleedings; the Attacks of Convulsions, and of Suffocations; the +Consequences of Fright and Terror; Disorders occasioned by unwholesome +or deadly Vapours; the Effects of Poison, and the sudden Invasions of +excessive Pain._ + +_The Omission of this Chapter was a very material Defect in the original +Plan of this Work. The Editor of it at Paris was very sensible of this +Chasm, or Blank, as it may be called, and has filled it up very +properly: and if I have not made Use of his Supplement, instead of +enlarging myself upon the Articles of which he has treated, it has only +been from a Purpose of rendering the whole Work more uniform; and to +avoid that odd Diversity, which seems scarcely to be avoided in a +Treatise composed by two Persons. Besides which, that Gentleman has said +nothing of the Articles, which employ the greatest Part of that Chapter, +*viz.* the Swoonings, the Consequences of great Fear, and the noxious +Vapours._ + +_Before I conclude, I ought to justify myself, as well as possible, to a +great Number of very respectable Persons both here and abroad, (to whom +I can refuse nothing without great Chagrine and Reluctance) for my not +having made such Additions as they desired of me. This however was +impossible, as the Objects, in which they concurred, were some chronical +Distempers, that are entirely out of the Plan, to which I was strictly +attached, for many Reasons. The first is, that it was my original +Purpose to oppose the Errors incurred in Country Places, in the +Treatment of acute Diseases; and to display the best Method of +conducting such, as do not admit of waiting for the Arrival of distant +Succour; or of removing the Patients to Cities, or large Towns. It is +but too true indeed, that chronical Diseases are also liable to improper +Treatment in small Country Places: but then there are both Time and +Convenience to convey the Patients within the Reach of better Advice; or +for procuring them the Attendance of the best Advisers, at their own +Places of Residence. Besides which, such Distempers are considerably +less common than those to which I had restrained my Views: and they will +become still less frequent, whenever acute Diseases, of which they are +frequently the Consequences, shall be more rationally and safely +conducted._ + +_The second Reason, which, if alone, would have been a sufficient one, +is, that it is impossible to subject the Treatment of chronical +Distempers to the Capacity and Conduct of Persons, who are not +Physicians. Each acute Distemper generally arises from one Cause; and +the Treatment of it is simple and uniform; since those Symptoms, which +manifest the Malady, point out its Cause and Treatment. But the Case is +very differently circumstanced in tedious and languid Diseases; each of +which may depend on so many and various Causes (and it is only the real, +the true Cause, which ought to determine us in selecting its proper +Remedies) that though the Distemper and its Appellation are evidently +known, a meer By-stander may be very remote from penetrating into its +true Cause; and consequently be incapable of chusing the best Medicines +for it. It is this precise and distinguishing Discernment of the real +particular Cause *[or of the contingent Concurrence of more than one]* +that necessarily requires the Presence of Persons conversant in the +Study and the Practice of all the Parts of Physick; and which Knowledge +it is impossible for People, who are Strangers to such Studies, to +arrive at. Moreover, their frequent Complexness; the Variety of their +Symptoms; the different Stages of these tedious Diseases [not exactly +attended to even by many competent Physicians] the Difficulty of +ascertaining the different Doses of Medicines, whose Activity may make +the smallest Error highly dangerous, &c. &c. are really such trying +Circumstances, as render the fittest Treatment of these Diseases +sufficiently difficult and embarrassing to the most experienced +Physicians, and unattainable by those who are not Physicians._ + +_A third Reason is, that, even supposing all these Circumstances might +be made so plain and easy, as to be comprehended by every Reader, they +would require a Work of an excessive Length; and thence be +disproportioned to the Faculties of those, for whom it was intended. One +single chronical Disease might require as large a Volume as the present +one._ + +_But finally, were I to acknowledge, that this Compliance was both +necessary and practicable, I declare I find it exceeds my Abilities; and +that I am also far from having sufficient Leisure for the Execution of +it. It is my Wish that others would attempt it, and may succeed in +accomplishing it; but I hope these truly worthy Persons, who have +honoured me by proposing the Achievement of it to myself, will perceive +the Reasons for my not complying with it, in all their Force; and not +ascribe a Refusal, which arises from the very Nature of the thing, +either to Obstinacy, or to any Want of an Inclination to oblige them._ + +_I have been informed my Citations, or rather References, have puzzled +some Readers. It was difficult to foresee this, but is easy to prevent +it for the future. The Work contains Citations only of two Sorts; one, +that points to the Remedies prescribed; and the other, which refers to +some Passage in the Book itself, that serves to illustrate those +Passages in which I cite. Neither of these References could have been +omitted. The first is marked thus, *N.* with the proper Figure to it, +as 1, 2, &c. This signifies, that the Medicine I direct is described in +the Table of Remedies, according to the Number annexed to that +Character. Thus when we find directed, in any Page of the Book, the warm +Infusion *N. 1*; in some other, the Ptisan *N. 2*; or in a third, the +Almond Milk, or Emulsion *N. 4*, it signifies, that such Prescriptions +will be found at the Numbers 1, 2, and 4; and this Table is printed at +the End of the Book._ + +_If, instead of forming this Table, and thus referring to the +Prescriptions by their Numbers, I had repeated each Prescription as +often as I directed it, this Treatise must have been doubled in Bulk, +and insufferably tiresome to peruse. I must repeat here, what I have +already said in the former Edition, that the [5] Prices of the +Medicines, or of a great Number of them, are those at which the +Apothecaries may afford them, without any Loss, to a Peasant in humble +Circumstances. But it should be remembered, they are not set down at the +full Prices which they may handily demand; since that would be unjust +for some to insist on them at. Besides, there is no Kind of Tax in +*Swisserland*, and I have no Right to impose one._ + + [5] The Reasons for omitting the Prices _here_, may be seen Page 23 of + this Translation. + +_The Citations of the second Kind are very plain and simple. The whole +Work is divided into numbered Paragraphs distinguished by the Mark . +And not to swell it with needless Repetitions, when in one Place I might +have even pertinently repeated something already observed, instead of +such Repetition at Length, I have only referred to the Paragraph, where +it had been observed. Thus, for Example when we read Page 81, 50 +--*When the Disease is so circumstanced as we have described*, 46,-- +this imports that, not to repeat the Description already given, I refer +the Reader to that last for it._ + +_The Use of these Citations is not the least Innovation, and extremely +commodious and easy: but were there only a single Reader likely to be +puzzled by them, I ought not to omit this Explanation of them, as I can +expect to be generally useful, only in Proportion as I am clear: and it +must be obvious, that a Desire of being extensively useful is the sole +Motive of this Work. I have long since had the Happiness of knowing, +that some charitable and intelligent Persons have applied the Directions +it contains, with extraordinary Success, even in violent Diseases: And I +shall arrive at the Height of my Wishes, if I continue to be informed, +that it contributes to alleviate the Sufferings, and to prolong the +Days, of my rational Fellow Creatures._ + +_N. B._ A Small Blank occurring conveniently here in the Impression, the +Translator of this Work has employed it to insert the following proper +Remark, _viz._ + +Whenever the Tea or Infusion of the Lime-tree is directed in the Body of +the Book, which it often is, the _Flowers_ are always meant, and not the +_Leaves_; though by an Error of the Press, or perhaps rather by an +Oversight of the Transcribers of this Version, it is printed _Leaves_ +instead of _Flowers_ P. 392, as noted and corrected in the _Errata_. +These Flowers are easily procurable here, meerly for gathering, in most +Country Places in _July_, as few Walks, Vistas, &c. are without these +Trees, planted for the pleasant Shade they afford, and to keep off the +Dust in Summer, though the Leaf drops rather too early for this Purpose. +Their Flowers have an agreeable Flavour, which is communicated to Water +by Infusion, and rises with it in Distillation. They were, to the best +of my Recollection, an Ingredient in the antiepileptic Water of +_Langius_, omitted in our late Dispensatories of the College. They are +an Ingredient in the antiepileptic Powder, in the List of Medicines in +the present Practice of the _Hotel Dieu_ at _Paris_: and we think were +in a former Prescription of our _Pulvis de Gutteta_, or Powder against +Convulsions. Indeed they are considered, by many medical Writers, as a +Specific in all Kinds of Spasms and Pains; and __Hoffman__ affirms, he +knew a very tedious Epilepsy cured by the Use of an Infusion of these +Flowers. + +I also take this Opportunity of adding, that as this Translation is +intended for the Attention and the Benefit of the Bulk of the +Inhabitants of the _British_ Empire, I have been careful not to admit +any Gallicisms into it; as such might render it either less +intelligible, or less agreeable to its Readers. If but a single one +occurs, I either have printed it, or did intend it should be printed, +distinguishably in Italics. _K._ + + + + + __Introduction.__ + + +The Decrease of the Number of Inhabitants, in most of the States of +Europe, is a Fact, which impresses every reflecting Person, and is +become such a general Complaint, as is but too well established on plain +Calculations. This Decrease is most remarkable in Country Places. It is +owing to many Causes; and I shall think myself happy, if I can +contribute to remove one of the greatest of them, which is the +pernicious Manner of treating sick People in Country Places. This is my +sole Object, tho' I may be excused perhaps for pointing out the other +concurring Causes, which may be all included within these two general +Affirmations; That greater Numbers than usual emigrate from the Country; +and that the People increase less every where. + +There are many Sorts of Emigration. Some leave their Country to enlist +in the Service of different States by Sea and Land; or to be differently +employ'd abroad, some as Traders, others as Domestics, _&c._ + +Military Service, by Land or Sea, prevents Population in various +Respects. In the first Place, the Numbers going abroad are always less, +often _much_ less, than those who return. General Battles, with all the +Hazards and Fatigues of War; detached Encounters, bad Provisions, Excess +in drinking and eating, Diseases that are the Consequences of Debauches, +the Disorders that are peculiar to the Country; epidemical, pestilential +or contagious Distempers, caused by the unwholsome Air of Flanders, +Holland, Italy and Hungary; long Cruises, Voyages to the East or West +Indies, to Guinea, &c. destroy a great Number of Men. The Article of +Desertion also, the Consequences of which they dread on returning home, +disposes many to abandon their Country for ever. Others, on quitting the +Service, take up with such Establishments, as it has occasionally thrown +in their Way; and which necessarily prevent their Return. But in the +second Place, supposing they were all to come back, their Country +suffers equally from their Absence; as this very generally happens +during that Period of Life, when they are best adapted for Propagation; +since that Qualification on their Return is impaired by Age, by +Infirmities and Debauches: and even when they do marry, the Children +often perish as Victims to the Excesses and Irregularities of their +Fathers: they are weak, languishing, distempered, and either die young, +or live incapable of being useful to Society. Besides, that the +prevailing Habit of Libertinage, which many have contracted, prevents +several of them from marrying at all. But notwithstanding all these +inconvenient Consequences are real and notorious; yet as the Number of +those, who leave their Country on these Accounts, is limited, and indeed +rather inconsiderable, if compared with the Number of Inhabitants which +must remain at home: as it may be affirmed too, that this relinquishing +of their Country, may have been even necessary at some Times, and may +become so again, if the Causes of Depopulation should cease, this kind +of Emigration is doubtless the least grievous of any, and the last which +may require a strict Consideration. + +But that abandoning of their Country, or _Expatriation_, as it may be +termed, the Object of which is a Change of the Emigrants Condition, is +more to be considered, being more numerous. It is attended with many and +peculiar Inconveniencies, and is unhappily become an epidemical Evil, +the Ravages of which are still increasing; and that from one simple +ridiculous Source, which is this; that the Success of one Individual +determines a hundred to run the same Risque, ninety and nine of whom may +probably be disappointed. They are struck with the apparent Success of +one, and are ignorant of the Miscarriage of others. Suppose a hundred +Persons might have set out ten Years ago, to _seek their Fortune_, as +the saying is, at the End of six Months they are all forgotten, except +by their Relations; but if one should return the same Year, with more +Money than his own Fortune, more than he set out with; or if one of them +has got a moderate Place with little Work, the whole Country rings with +it, as a Subject of general Entertainment. A Croud of young People are +seduced by this and sally forth, because not one reflects, that of the +ninety nine, who set out with the hundredth Person, one half has +perished, many are miserable, and the Remainder come back, without +having gained any thing, but an Incapacity to employ themselves usefully +at home, and in their former Occupations: and having deprived their +Country of a great many Cultivaters, who, from the Produce of the Lands, +would have attracted considerable Sums of Money, and many comfortable +Advantages to it. In short, the very small Proportion who succeed, are +continually talked of; the Croud that sink are perpetually forgot. This +is a very great and real Evil, and how shall it be prevented? It would +be sufficient perhaps to publish the extraordinary Risque, which may be +easily demonstrated: It would require nothing more than to keep an exact +yearly Register of all these Adventurers, and, at the Expiration of six, +eight, or ten Years, to publish the List, with the Fate, of every +Emigrant. I am greatly deceived, or at the End of a certain Number of +Years, we should not see such Multitudes forsake their native Soil, in +which they might live comfortably by working, to go in Search of +Establishments in others; the Uncertainty of which, such Lists would +demonstrate to them; and also prove, how preferable their Condition in +their own Country would have been, to that they have been reduced to. +People would no longer set out, but on almost certain Advantages: fewer +would undoubtedly emigrate, more of whom, from that very Circumstance, +must succeed. Meeting with fewer of their Country-men abroad, these +fortunate few would oftner return. By this Means more Inhabitants would +remain in the Country, more would return again, and bring with them more +Money to it. The State would be more populous, more rich and happy; as +the Happiness of a People, who live on a fruitful Soil, depends +essentially on a great Number of Inhabitants, with a moderate Quantity +of pecuniary Riches. + +But the Population of the Country is not only necessarily lessened, in +Consequence of the Numbers that leave it; but even those who remain +increase less, than an equal Number formerly did. Or, which amounts to +the same Thing, among the same Number of Persons, there are fewer +Marriages than formerly; and the same Number of Marriages produce fewer +Christenings. I do not enter upon a Detail of the Proofs, since merely +looking about us must furnish a sufficient Conviction of the Truth of +them. What then are the Causes of this? There are two capital ones, +Luxury and Debauchery, which are Enemies to Population on many Accounts. + +Luxury compells the wealthy Man, who would make a Figure; and the Man of +a moderate Income, but who is his equal in every other Respect, and who +_will_ imitate him, to be afraid of a numerous Family; the Education of +which must greatly contract that Expence he had devoted to Parade and +Ostentation: And besides, if he must divide his Estate among a great +many Children, each of them would have but a little, and be unable to +keep up the State and the Train of the Father's. Since Merit is unjustly +estimated by exterior Shew and Expence, one must of Course endeavour to +attain for himself, and to leave his Children in, a Situation capable of +supporting that Expence. Hence the fewer Marriages of People who are not +opulent, and the fewer Children among People who marry. + +Luxury is further prejudicial to the Increase of the People, in another +Respect. The irregular Manner of Life which it introduces, depresses +Health; it ruins the Constitutions, and thus sensibly affects +Procreation. The preceding Generation counted some Families with more +than twenty Children: the living one less than twenty Cousins. Very +unfortunately this Way of thinking and acting, so preventive of +Increase, has extended itself even into Villages: and they are no longer +convinced there, that the Number of Children makes the Riches of the +Countryman. Perhaps the next Generation will scarcely be acquainted with +the Relation of Brotherhood. + +A third Inconvenience of Luxury is, that the Rich retreat from the +Country to live in Cities; and by multiplying their Domestics there, +they drain the former. This augmented Train is prejudicial to the +Country, by depriving it of Cultivaters, and by diminishing Population. +These Domestics, being seldom sufficiently employed, contract the Habit +of Laziness; and they prove incapable of returning to that Country +Labour, for which Nature intended them. Being deprived of this Resource +they scarcely ever marry, either from apprehending the Charge of +Children, or from their becoming Libertines; and sometimes, because many +Masters will not employ married Servants. Or should any of them marry, +it is often in the Decline of Life, whence the State must have the fewer +Citizens. + +Idleness of itself weakens them, and disposes them to those Debauches, +which enfeeble them still more. They never have more than a few +Children, and these sickly; such as have not Strength to cultivate the +Ground; or who, being brought up in Cities, have an Aversion to the +Country. + +Even those among them who are more prudent, who preserve their Morals, +and make some Savings, being accustomed to a City Life, and dreading the +Labour of a Country one (of the Regulation of which they are also +ignorant) chuse to become little Merchants, or Tradesmen; and this must +be a Drawback from Population, as any Number of Labourers beget more +Children than an equal Number of Citizens; and also by Reason, that out +of any given Number, more Children die in Cities, than in the Country. + +The same Evils also prevail, with Regard to female Servants. After ten +or twelve Years Servitude, the Maid-Servants in Cities cannot acquit +themselves as good Country Servants: and such of them as chuse this +Condition, quickly fail under that Kind or Quantity of Work, for which +they are no longer constituted. Should we see a Woman married in the +Country, a Year after leaving Town, it is easy to observe, how much that +Way of living in the Country has broke her. Frequently their first +Child-bed, in which Term they have not all the Attendance their Delicacy +demands, proves the Loss of their Health; they remain in a State of +Languor, of Feebleness, and of Decay: they have no more Children; and +this renders their Husbands unuseful towards the Population of the +State. + +Abortions, Infants carried out of their Country after a concealed +Pregnancy, and the Impossibility of their getting Husbands afterwards, +are frequently the Effects of their Libertinage. + +It is to be apprehended too these bad Effects are rather increasing with +us; since, either for want of sufficient Numbers, or from oeconomical +Views, it has become a Custom, instead of Women Servants, to employ +Children, whose Manners and whole Constitutions are not yet formed; and +who are ruined in the same Manner, by their Residence in Town, by their +Laziness, by bad Examples, and bad Company. + +Doubtless much remains still unsaid on these important Heads; but +besides my Intention not to swell this Treatise immoderately, and the +many Avocations, which prevent me from launching too far into what may +be less within the Bounds of Medicine, I should be fearful of digressing +too far from my Subject. What I have hitherto said however, I think +cannot be impertinent to it; since in giving Advice to the People, with +Regard to their Health, it was necessary to display to them the Causes +that impaired it: though what I might be able to add further on this +Head, would probably be thought more remote from the Subject. + +I shall add then but a single Hint on the Occasion. Is it not +practicable, in Order to remedy those Evils which we cannot prevent, to +select some particular Part or Canton of the Country, wherein we should +endeavour by Rewards, _1st._ Irremoveably to fix all the Inhabitants. +_2dly._ To encourage them by other Rewards to a plentiful and legitimate +Increase. They should not be permitted to go out of it, which must +prevent them from being exposed to the Evils I have mentioned. They +should by no means intermarry with any Strangers, who might introduce +such Disorders among them. Thus very probably this Canton, after a +certain Time, would become even over-peopled, and might send out +Colonies to the others. + +One Cause, still more considerable than those we have already mention'd, +has, to this very Moment, prevented the Increase of the People in +France. This is the Decay of Agriculture. The Inhabitants of the +Country, to avoid serving in the Militia; to elude the Days-Service +impos'd by their Lords, and the Taxes; and being attracted to the City +by the Hopes of Interest, by Laziness and Libertinage, have left the +Country nearly deserted. Those who remain behind, either not being +encouraged to work, or not being sufficient for what there is to do, +content themselves with cultivating just as much as is absolutely +necessary for their Subsistence. They have either lived single, or +married but late; or perhaps, after the Example of the Inhabitants of +the Cities, they have refused to fulfil their Duty to Nature, to the +State, and to a Wife. The Country deprived of Tillers, by this +Expatriation and Inactivity, has yielded nothing; and the Depopulation +of the State has daily increased, from the reciprocal and necessary +Proportion between Subsistence and Population, and because Agriculture +alone can increase Subsistence. A single Comparison will sufficiently +evince the Truth and the Importance of these Principles, to those who +have not seen them already divulged and demonstrated in the Works of +the [6] Friend of Man. + + [6] The Marquis of Mirabeau. + +"An old Roman, who was always ready to return to the Cultivation of his +Field, subsisted himself and his Family from one Acre of Land. A Savage, +who neither sows nor cultivates, consumes, in his single Person, as much +Game as requires fifty Acres to feed them. Consequently _Tullus +Hostilius_, on a thousand Acres, might have five thousand Subjects: +while a Savage Chief, limited to the same Extent of Territory, could +scarcely have twenty: such an immense Disproportion does Agriculture +furnish, in Favour of Population. Observe these two great Extremes. A +State becomes dispeopled or peopled in that Proportion, by which it +recedes from one of these Methods, and approaches to the other." Indeed +it is evident, that wherever there is an Augmentation of Subsistence, an +Increase of Population will soon follow; which again will still further +facilitate the Increase of Provisions. In a State thus circumstanced Men +will abound, who, after they have furnished sufficient Numbers for the +Service of War, of Commerce, of Religion, and for Arts and Professions +of every kind, will further also furnish a Source for Colonies, who will +extend the Name and the Prosperity of their Nation to distant Regions. +There will ensue a Plenty of Commodities, the Superfluity of which will +be exported to other Countries, to exchange for other Commodities, that +are not produced at home; and the Balance, being received in Money, will +make the Nation rich, respectable by its Neighbours, and happy. +Agriculture, vigorously pursued, is equal to the Production of all these +Benefits; and the present Age will enjoy the Glory of restoring it, by +favouring and encouraging Cultivaters, and by forming Societies for the +Promotion of Agriculture. + +I proceed at length to the fourth Cause of Depopulation, which is the +Manner of treating sick People in the Country. This has often affected +me with the deepest Concern. I have been a Witness, that Maladies, +which, in themselves, would have been gentle, have proved mortal from a +pernicious Treatment: I am convinced that this Cause alone makes as +great a Havock as the former; and certainly it requires the utmost +Attention of Physicians, whose Duty it is to labour for the Preservation +of Mankind. While we are employing our assiduous Cares on the more +polished and fashionable Part of them in Cities, the larger and more +useful Moiety perish in the Country; either by particular, or by highly +epidemical, Diseases, which, within a few Years past, have appeared in +different Villages, and made no small Ravages. This afflicting +Consideration has determined me to publish this little Work, which is +solely intended for those Patients, who, by their Distance from +Physicians, are deprived of their Assistance. I shall not give a Detail +of my Plan, which is very simple, in this Part; but content myself with +affirming, I have used my utmost Care to render it the most useful I +possibly could: and I dare hope, that if I have not fully displayed its +utmost Advantages, I have at least sufficiently shewn those pernicious +Methods of treating Diseases, that should incontestably be avoided. I am +thoroughly convinced, the Design might be accomplished more compleatly +than I have done it; but those who are so capable of, do not attempt, +it: I happen to be less timid; and I hope that thinking Persons will +rather take it in good part of me, to have published a Book, the +composing of which is rather disagreeable from its very Facility; from +the minute Details, which however are indispensable; and from the +Impossibility of discussing any Part of it (consistently with the Plan) +to the Bottom of the Subject; or of displaying any new and useful +Prospect. It may be compared, in some Respects, to the Works of a +spiritual Guide, who was to write a Catechism for little Children. + +At the same time I am not ignorant there have already been a few Books +calculated for Country Patients, who are remote from Succour: but some +of these, tho' published with a very good Purpose, produce a bad Effect. +Of this kind are all Collections of Receipts or Remedies, without the +least Description of the Disease; and of Course without just Directions +for the Exhibition, or Application, of them. Such, for Example, is the +famous Collection of Madam _Fouquet_, and some more in the same manner. +Some others approach towards my Plan; but many of them have taken in too +many Distempers, whence they are become too voluminous. Besides, they +have not dwelt sufficiently upon the Signs of the Diseases; upon their +Causes; the general Regimen in them, and the Mismanagement of them. +Their Receipts are not generally as simple, and as easy to prepare, as +they ought to be. In short, the greater Part of their Writers seem, as +they advanced, to have grown tired of their melancholy Task, and to have +hurried them out too expeditiously. There are but two of them, which I +must name with Respect, and which being proposed on a Plan very like my +own, are executed in a superior Manner, that merits the highest +Acknowlegements of the Publick. One of these Writers is M. _Rosen_, +first Physician of the Kingdom of _Sweden_; who, some Years since, +employed his just Reputation to render the best Services to his Country +Men. He has made them retrench from the Almanacs those ridiculous Tales; +those extraordinary Adventures; those pernicious astrological +Injunctions, which there, as well as here, answer no End, but that of +keeping up Ignorance, Credulity, Superstition, and the falsest +Prejudices on the interesting Articles of Health, of Diseases, and of +Remedies. He has also taken Care to publish simple plain Treatises on +the most popular Distempers; which he has substituted in the Place of +the former Heap of Absurdities. These concise Works however, which +appear annually in their Almanacs, are not yet translated from the +_Swedish_, so that I was unqualified to make any Extracts from them. The +other is the Baron _Van Swieten_, first Physician to their Imperial +Majesties, who, about two Years since, has effected for the Use of the +Army, what I now attempt for sick People in the Country. Though my Work +was greatly advanced, when I first saw his, I have taken some Passages +from it: and had our Plans been exactly alike, I should imagine I had +done the Publick more Service by endeavouring to extend the Reading of +his Book, than by publishing a new one. Nevertheless, as he is silent on +many Articles, of which I have treated diffusively; as he has treated of +many Distempers, which did not come within my Plan; and has said nothing +of some others which I could not omit; our two Works, without entering +into the Particulars of the superior Merit of the Baron's, are very +different, with Regard to the Subject of the Diseases; tho' in such as +we have both considered, I account it an Honour to me to find, we have +almost constantly proceeded upon the same Principles. + +The present Work is by no means addressed to such Physicians, as are +thoroughly accomplished in their Profession; yet possibly, besides my +particular medical Friends, some others may read it. I beg the Favour of +all such fully to consider the Intention, the Spirit, of the Author, and +not to censure him, as a Physician, from the Composition of this Book. I +even advise them here rather to forbear perusing it; as a Production, +that can teach them nothing. Such as read, in order to criticize, will +find a much greater Scope for exercising that Talent on the other +Pamphlets I have published. It were certainly unjust that a Performance, +whose sole abstracted Object is the Health and Service of my Countrymen, +should subject me to any disagreeable Consequences: and a Writer may +fairly plead an Exemption from any Severity of Censure, who has had the +Courage to execute a Work, which cannot pretend to a Panegyric. + +Having premised thus much in general, I must enter into some Detail of +those Means, that seem the most likely to me, to facilitate the +beneficial Consequences, which, I hope, may result to others, from my +present Endeavours. I shall afterwards give an Explanation of some Terms +which I could not avoid using, and which, perhaps, are not generally +understood. + +The Title of _Advice to the People_, was not suggested to me by an +Illusion, which might persuade me, this Book would become a Piece of +Furniture, as it were, in the House of every Peasant. Nineteen out of +twenty will probably never know of its Existence. Many may be unable to +read, and still more unable to understand, it, plain and simple as it +is. I have principally calculated it for the Perusal of intelligent and +charitable Persons, who live in the Country; and who seem to have, as it +were, a Call from Providence, to assist their less intelligent poor +Neighbours with their Advice. + +It is obvious, that the first Gentlemen I have my Eye upon, are the +Clergy. There is not a single Village, a Hamlet, nor even the House of +an Alien in the Country, that has not a Right to the good Offices of +some one of this Order; And I assure myself there are a great Number of +them, who, heartily affected with the Distress of their ailing Flocks, +have wished many hundred Times, that it were in their Power to give +their Parishioners some bodily Help, at the very Time they were +disposing them to prepare for Death; or so far to delay the Fatality of +the Distemper, that the Sick might have an Opportunity of living more +religiously afterwards. I shall think myself happy, if such truly +respectable Ecclesiastics shall find any Resources in this Performance, +that may conduce to the Accomplishment of their beneficent Intentions. +Their Regard, their Love for their People; their frequent Invitations to +visit their principal Neighbours; their Duty to root out all +unreasonable Prejudices, and Superstition; their Charity, their +Learning; the Facility, with which their general Knowlege in Physics, +qualifies them to comprehend thoroughly all the medical Truths, and +Contents of this Piece, are so many Arguments to convince me, that they +will have the greatest Influence to procure that Reformation, in the +Administration of Physick to poor Country People, which is so necessary, +so desirable, an Object. + +In the next Place, I dare assure myself of the Concurrence of Gentlemen +of Quality and Opulence, in their different Parishes and Estates, whose +Advice is highly regarded by their Inferiors; who are so powerfully +adapted to discourage a wrong, and to promote a right Practice, of which +they will easily discern all the Advantages. The many Instances I have +seen of their entering, with great Facility, into all the Plan and +Conduct of a Cure; their Readiness and even Earnestness to comfort the +Sick in their Villages; and the Generosity with which they prevent their +Necessities, induce me to hope, from judging of these I have not the +Pleasure to know, by those whom I have, that they will eagerly embrace +an Opportunity of promoting a new Method of doing good in their +Neighbourhood. Real Charity will apprehend the great Probability there +is of doing Mischief, tho' with the best Intention, for want of a proper +Knowledge of material Circumstances; and the very Fear of that Mischief +may sometimes suspend the Exercise of such Charity; notwithstanding it +must seize, with the most humane Avidity, every Light that can +contribute to its own beneficent Exertion. + +Thirdly, Persons who are rich, or at least in easy Circumstances, whom +their Disposition, their Employments, or the Nature of their Property, +fixes in the Country, where they are happy in doing good, must be +delighted to have some proper Directions for the Conduct and +Effectuation of their charitable Intentions. + +In every Village, where there are any Persons, of these three +Conditions, they are always readily apprized of the Distempers in it, by +their poor Neighbours coming to intreat a little Soup, Venice Treacle, +Wines, Biscuits, or any thing they imagine necessary for their sick +Folks. In Consequence of some Questions to the Bystanders, or of a Visit +to the sick Person, they will judge at least of _what kind_ the Disease +is; and by their prudent Advice they may be able to prevent a Multitude +of Evils. They will give them some Nitre instead of Venice Treacle; +Barley, or sweet Whey, in lieu of Soup. They will advise them to have +Recourse to Glysters, or Bathings of their Feet, rather than to Wine; +and order them Gruel rather than Biscuits. A man would scarcely believe, +'till after the Expiration of a few Years, how much Good might be +effected by such proper Regards, so easily comprehended, and often +repeated. At first indeed there may be some Difficulty in eradicating +old Prejudices, and inveterately bad Customs; but whenever these were +removed, good Habits would strike forth full as strong Roots, and I hope +that no Person would be inclined to destroy them. + +It may be unnecessary to declare, that I have more Expectation from the +Care and Goodness of the Ladies, than from those of their Spouses, their +Fathers, or Brothers. A more active Charity, a more durable Patience, a +more domestic Life; a Sagacity, which I have greatly admired in many +Ladies both in Town and Country, that disposes them to observe, with +great Exactness; and to unravel, as it were, the secret Causes of the +Symptoms, with a Facility that would do Honour to very good Practioners, +and with a Talent adapted to engage the Confidence of the Patient:--All +these, I say, are so many characteristical Marks of their Vocation in +this important and amicable Duty; nor are there a few, who fulfil it +with a Zeal, that merits the highest Commendation, and renders them +excellent Models for the Imitation of others. + +Those who are intrusted with the Education of Youth, may also be +supposed sufficiently intelligent to take some Part in this Work; and I +am satisfied that much Good might result from their undertaking it. I +heartily wish, they would not only study to _distinguish the Distemper_ +(in which the principal, but by no means an insuperable Difficulty +consists; and to which I hope I have considerably put them in the Way) +but I would have them learn also the Manner of applying Remedies. Many +of them have; I have known some who bleed, and who have given Glysters +very expertly. This however all may easily learn; and perhaps it would +not be imprudent, if the Art of bleeding well and safely were reckoned a +necessary Qualification, when they are examined for their Employment. +These Faculties, that of estimating the Degree of a Fever, and how to +apply and to dress Blisters, may be of great Use within the +Neighbourhood of their Residence. Their Schools, which are not +frequently over-crouded, employ but a few of their daily Hours; the +greater part of them have no Land to cultivate; and to what better Use +can they apply their Leisure, than to the Assistance and Comfort of the +Sick? The moderate Price of their Service may be so ascertained, as to +incommode no Person; and this little Emolument might render their own +Situation the more agreeable: besides which, these little Avocations +might prevent their being drawn aside sometimes, by Reason of their +Facility and frequent Leisure, so as to contract a Habit of drinking too +often. Another Benefit would also accrue from accustoming them to this +kind of Practice, which is, that being habituated to the Care of sick +People, and having frequent Occasions to write, they would be the better +qualify'd, in difficult Cases, to advise with those, who were thought +further necessary to be consulted. + +Doubtless, even among Labourers, there may be many, for some such I have +known, who being endued with good natural Sense and Judgment, and +abounding with Benevolence, will read this Book with Attention, and +eagerly extend the Maxims and the Methods it recommends. + +And finally I hope that many Surgeons, who are spread about the Country, +and who practice Physic in their Neighbourhood, will peruse it; will +carefully enter into the Principles established in it, and will conform +to its Directions; tho' a little different perhaps from such as they may +have hitherto practiced. They will perceive a Man may learn at any Age, +and of any Person; and it may be hoped they will not think it too much +Trouble to reform some of their Notions in a Science, which is not +properly within their Profession (and to the Study of which they were +never instituted) by those of a Person, who is solely employed in it, +and who has had many Assistances of which they are deprived. + +Midwives may also find their Attendance more efficacious, as soon as +they are thoroughly disposed to be better informed. + +It were heartily to be wished, that the greater Part of them had been +better instructed in the Art they profess. The Instances of Mischief +that might have been avoided, by their being better qualify'd, are +frequent enough to make us wish there may be no Repetition of them, +which it may be possible to prevent. Nothing seems impossible, when +Persons in Authority are zealously inclined to prevent every such Evil; +and it is time they should be properly informed of one so essentially +hurtful to Society. + +The Prescriptions I have given consist of the most simple Remedies, and +I have adjoined the Manner of preparing them so fully, that I hope no +Person can be at any Loss in that Respect. At the same time, that no one +may imagine they are the less useful and efficacious for their +Simplicity, I declare, they are the same I order in the City for the +most opulent Patients. This Simplicity is founded in Nature: the +Mixture, or rather the Confusion, of a Multitude of Drugs is ridiculous. +If they have the very same Virtues, for what Purpose are they blended? +It were more judicious to confine ourselves to that, which is the most +effectual. If their Virtues are different, the Effect of one destroys, +or lessens, the Effect of the other; and the Medicine ceases to prove a +Remedy. + +I have given no Direction, which is not very practicable and easy to +execute; nevertheless it will be discernible, that some few are not +calculated for the Multitude, which I readily grant. However I have +given them, because I did not lose Sight of some Persons; who, tho' not +strictly of the Multitude, or Peasantry, do live in the Country, and +cannot always procure a Physician as soon, or for as long a Time, as +they gladly would. + +A great Number of the Remedies are entirely of the Country Growth, and +may be prepared there; but there are others, which must be had from the +Apothecaries. I have set down the Price [7] at which I am persuaded all +the Country Apothecaries will retail them to a Peasant, who is not +esteemed a rich one. I have marked the Price, not from any Apprehension +of their being imposed on in the Purchase, for this I do not apprehend; +but, that seeing the Cheapness of the Prescription, they may not be +afraid to buy it. The necessary Dose of the Medicine, for each Disease, +may generally be purchased for less Money than would be expended on +Meat, Wine, Biscuits, and other improper things. But should the Price of +the Medicine, however moderate, exceed the Circumstances of the Sick, +doubtless the Common Purse, or the Poors-Box will defray it: moreover +there are in many Country Places Noblemens Houses, some of whom +charitably contribute an annual Sum towards buying of Medicines for poor +Patients. Without adding to which Sum, I would only intreat the Favour +of each of them to alter the Objects of it, and to allow their sick +Neighbours the Remedies and the Regimen directed here, instead of such +as they formerly distributed among them. + + [7] This oeconomical Information was doubtless very proper, where our + judicious and humane Author published it; but notwithstanding his + excellent Motives for giving it, we think it less necessary here, + where many Country Gentlemen furnish themselves with larger or + smaller Medicine Chests, for the Benefit of their poor sick + Neighbours; and in a Country, where the settled parochial Poor are + provided with Medicines, as well as other Necessaries, at a + parochial Expence. Besides, tho' we would not suppose our Country + Apothecaries less considerate or kind than others, we acknowledge + our Apprehension, that in such Valuation of their Drugs (some of + which often vary in their Price) might dispose a few of them, + rather to discountenance the Extension of a Work, so well intended + and executed as Dr. _Tissot's_; a Work, which may not be wholly + unuseful to some of the most judicious among them, and will be + really necessary for the rest. _K._ + +It may still be objected, that many Country Places are very distant from +large Towns; from which Circumstance a poor Peasant is incapable of +procuring himself a seasonable and necessary Supply in his Illness. I +readily admit, that, in Fact, there are many Villages very remote from +such Places as Apothecaries reside in. Yet, if we except a few among the +Mountains, there are but very few of them above three or four Leagues +from some little Town, where there always lives some Surgeon, or some +Vender of Drugs. Perhaps however, even at this Time, indeed, there may +not be many thus provided; but they will take care to furnish themselves +with such Materials, as soon as they have a good Prospect of selling +them, which may constitute a small, but new, Branch of Commerce for +them. I have carefully set down the Time, for which each Medicine will +keep, without spoiling. There is a very frequent Occasion for some +particular ones, and of such the School-masters may lay in a Stock. I +also imagine, if they heartily enter into my Views, they will furnish +themselves with such Implements, as may be necessary in the Course of +their Attendance. If any of them were unable to provide themselves with +a sufficient Number of good Lancets, an _Apparatus_ for Cupping, and a +Glyster Syringe (for want of which last a Pipe and Bladder may be +occasionally substituted) the Parish might purchase them, and the same +Instruments might do for the succeeding School-master. It is hardly to +be expected, that all Persons in that Employment would be able, or even +inclined, to learn the Way of using them with Address; but one Person +who did, might be sufficient for whatever Occasions should occur in this +Way in some contiguous Villages; with very little Neglect of their +Functions among their Scholars. + +Daily Instances of Persons, who come from different Parts to consult me, +without being capable of answering the Questions I ask them, and the +like Complaints of many other Physicians on the same Account, engaged me +to write the last Chapter of this Work. I shall conclude this +Introduction with some Remarks, necessary to facilitate the Knowledge of +a few Terms, which were unavoidable in the Course of it. + +The Pulse commonly beats in a Person in good Health, from the Age of +eighteen or twenty to about sixty six Years, between sixty and seventy +Times in a Minute. It sometimes comes short of this in old Persons, and +in very young Children it beats quicker: until the Age of three or four +Years the Difference amounts at least to a third; after which it +diminishes by Degrees. + +An intelligent Person, who shall often touch and attend to his own +Pulse, and frequently to other Peoples, will be able to judge, with +sufficient Exactness, of the Degree of a Fever in a sick Person. If the +Strokes are but one third above their Number in a healthy State, the +Fever is not very violent: which it is, as often as it amounts to half +as many more as in Health. It is very highly dangerous, and may be +generally pronounced mortal, when there are two Strokes in the Time of +one. We must not however judge of the Pulse, solely by its Quickness, +but by its Strength or Weakness; its Hardness or Softness; and the +Regularity or Irregularity of it. + +There is no Occasion to define the strong and the feeble Pulse. The +Strength of it generally affords a good Prognostic, and, supposing it +too strong, it may easily be lowered. The weak Pulse is often very +menacing. + +If the Pulse, in meeting the Touch, excites the Notion of a dry Stroke, +as though the Artery consisted of Wood, or of some Metal, we term it +_hard_; the opposite to which is called _soft_, and generally promises +better. If it be strong and yet soft, even though it be quick, it may be +considered as a very hopeful Circumstance. But if it is strong and hard, +that commonly is a Token of an Inflammation, and indicates Bleeding and +the cooling Regimen. Should it be, at the same time, small, quick and +hard, the Danger is indeed very pressing. + +We call that Pulse regular, a continued Succession of whole Strokes are +made in equal Intervals of Time; and in which Intervals, not a single +Stroke is wanting (since if that is its State, it is called an +intermitting Pulse.) The Beats or Pulsations are also supposed to +resemble each other so exactly in Quality too, that one is not strong, +and the next alternately feeble. + +As long as the State of the Pulse is promising; Respiration or Breathing +is free; the Brain does not seem to be greatly affected; while the +Patient takes his Medicines, and they are attended with the Consequence +that was expected; and he both preserves his Strength pretty well, and +continues sensible of his Situation, we may reasonably hope for his +Cure. As often as all, or the greater Number of these characterizing +Circumstances are wanting, he is in very considerable Danger. + +The Stoppage of Perspiration is often mentioned in the Course of this +Work. We call the Discharge of that Fluid which continually passes off +through the Pores of the Skin, _Transpiration_; and which, though +invisible, is very considerable. For if a Person in Health eats and +drinks to the Weight of eight Pounds daily, he does not discharge four +of them by Stool and Urine together, the Remainder passing off by +insensible Transpiration. It may easily be conceived, that if so +considerable a Discharge is stopt, or considerably lessened; and if this +Fluid, which ought to transpire through the Skin, should be transfered +to any inward Part, it must occasion some dangerous Complaint. In fact +this is one of the most frequent Causes of Diseases. + +To conclude very briefly--All the Directions in the following Treatise +are solely designed for such Patients, as cannot have the Attendance of +a Physician. I am far from supporting, they ought to do instead of one, +even in those Diseases, of which I have treated in the fullest Manner; +and the Moment a Physician arrives, they ought to be laid aside. The +Confidence reposed in him should be entire, or there should be none. The +Success of the Event is founded in that. It is his Province to judge of +the Disease, to select Medicines against it; and it is easy to foresee +the Inconveniences that may follow, from proposing to him to consult +with any others, preferably to those he may chuse to consult with; only +because they have succeeded in the Treatment of another Patient, whose +Case they suppose to have been nearly the same with the present Case. +This were much the same, as to order a Shoemaker to make a Shoe for one +Foot by the Pattern of another Shoe, rather than by the Measure he has +just taken. + +_N. B._ Though a great Part of this judicious Introduction is less +applicable to the political Circumstances of the British Empire, than to +those of the Government for which it was calculated; we think the good +Sense and the unaffected Patriotism which animate it, will supersede any +Apology for our translating it. The serious Truth is this, that a +thorough Attention to Population seems never to have been more expedient +for ourselves, than after so bloody and expensive, though such a +glorious and successful War: while our enterprizing Neighbours, who will +never be our Friends, are so earnest to recruit their Numbers; to +increase their Agriculture; and to force a Vent for their Manufactures, +which cannot be considerably effected, without a sensible Detriment to +our own. Besides which, the unavoidable Drain from the People here, +towards an effectual Cultivation, Improvement, and Security of our +Conquests, demands a further Consideration. _K._ + + + + + _ADVICE_ _TO THE_ _PEOPLE_, + + + With Respect to their _HEALTH._ + + *__Chapter I.__* + + + + _Of the most usual Causes of popular Maladies._ + + + __Sect.__ 1. + +The most frequent Causes of Diseases commonly incident to Country People +are, 1. Excessive Labour, continued for a very considerable Time. +Sometimes they sink down at once in a State of Exhaustion and Faintness, +from which they seldom recover: but they are oftener attacked with some +inflammatory Disease; as a Quinsey, a Pleurisy, or an Inflammation of +the Breast. + +There are two Methods of preventing these Evils: one is, to avoid the +Cause which produces them; but this is frequently impossible. Another +is, when such excessive Labour has been unavoidable, to allay their +Fatigue, by a free Use of some temperate refreshing Drink; especially by +sweet Whey, by Butter-milk, or by [8] Water, to a Quart of which a +Wine-glass of Vinegar may be added; or, instead of that, the expressed +Juice of Grapes not fully ripe, or even of Goosberries or Cherries: +which wholesome and agreeable Liquors are refreshing and cordial. I +shall treat, a little lower, of inflammatory Disorders. The Inanition or +Emptiness, though accompanied with Symptoms different from the former, +have yet some Affinity to them with Respect to their Cause, which is a +kind of general Exsiccation or Dryness. I have known some cured from +this Cause by Whey, succeeded by tepid Baths, and afterwards by Cow's +Milk: for in such Cases hot Medicines and high Nourishment are fatal. + + [8] This supposes they are not greatly heated, as well as fatigued, by + their Labour or Exercise, in which Circumstance free and sudden + Draughts of cooling Liquors might be very pernicious: and it + evidently also supposes these Drinks to be thus given, rather in + Summer, than in very cold Weather, as the Juice of the unripe + Grapes, and the other fresh Fruits sufficiently ascertain the + Season of the Year. We think the Addition of Vinegar to their Water + will scarcely ever be necessary in this or the adjoining Island, on + such Occasions. The Caution recommended in this Note is abundantly + enforced by Dr. _Tissot_, 4: but considering the Persons, to whom + this Work is more particularly addressed, we were willing to + prevent every Possibility of a Mistake, in so necessary, and + sometimes so vital a Point. _K._ + + 2. There is another Kind of Exhaustion or Emptiness, which may be +termed real Emptiness, and is the Consequence of great Poverty, the Want +of sufficient Nourishment, bad Food, unwholesome Drink, and excessive +Labour. In Cases thus circumstanced, good Soups and a little Wine are +very proper. Such happen however very seldom in this Country: I believe +they are frequent in some others, especially in many Provinces of +_France_. + + 3. A second and very common Source of Disorders arises, from Peoples' +lying down and reposing, when very hot, in a cold Place. This at once +stops Perspiration, the Matter of which being thrown upon some internal +Part, proves the Cause of many violent Diseases, particularly of +Quinseys, Inflammations of the Breast, Pleurisies, and inflammatory +Cholics. These Evils, from this Cause, may always be avoided by avoiding +the Cause, which is one of those that destroy a great Number of People. +However, when it has occurred, as soon as the first Symptoms of the +Malady are perceiveable, which sometimes does not happen till several +Days after, the Patient should immediately be bled; his Legs should be +put into Water moderately hot, and he should drink plentifully of the +tepid Infusion marked No. 1. Such Assistances frequently prevent the +Increase of these Disorders; which, on the contrary, are greatly +aggravated, if hot Medicines are given to sweat the Patient. + + 4. A third Cause is drinking cold Water, when a Person is extremely +hot. This acts in the same Manner with the second; but its Consequences +are commonly more sudden and violent. I have seen most terrible Examples +of it, in Quinseys, Inflammations of the Breast, Cholics, Inflammations +of the Liver, and all the Parts of the Belly, with prodigious Swellings, +Vomitings, Suppressions of Urine, and inexpressible Anguish. The most +available Remedies in such Cases, from this Cause, are, a plentiful +Bleeding at the Onset, a very copious Drinking of warm Water, to which +one fifth Part of Whey should be added; or of the Ptisan No. 2, or of an +Emulsion of Almonds, all taken warm. Fomentations of warm Water should +also be applied to the Throat, the Breast and Belly, with Glysters of +the same, and a little Milk. In this Case, as well as in the preceding +one, ( 3.) a _Semicupium_, or Half-bath of warm Water has sometimes +been attended with immediate Relief. It seems really astonishing, that +labouring People should so often habituate themselves to this pernicious +Custom, which they know to be so very dangerous to their very Beasts. +There are none of them, who will not prevent their Horses from drinking +while they are hot, especially if they are just going to put them up. +Each of them knows, that if he lets them drink in that State, they might +possibly burst with it; nevertheless he is not afraid of incurring the +like Danger himself. However, this is not the only Case, in which the +Peasant seems to have more Attention to the Health of his Cattle, than +to his own. + + 5. The fourth Cause, which indeed affects every Body, but more +particularly the Labourer, is, the Inconstancy of the Weather. We shift +all at once, many times a Day, from Hot to Cold, and from Cold to Hot, +in a more remarkable Manner, and more suddenly, than in most other +Countries. This makes Distempers from Defluxion and Cold so common with +us: and it should make us careful to go rather a little more warmly +cloathed, than the Season may seem to require; to have Recourse to our +Winter-cloathing early in Autumn, and not to part with it too early in +the Spring. Prudent Labourers, who strip while they are at Work, take +care to put on their Cloaths in the Evening when they return home. [9] +Those, who from Negligence, are satisfied with hanging them upon their +Country Tools, frequently experience, on their Return, the very unhappy +Effects of it. There are some, tho' not many Places, where the Air +itself is unwholsome, more from its particular Quality, than from its +Changes of Temperature, as at _Villeneuve_, and still more at _Noville_, +and in some other Villages situated among the Marshes which border on +the _Rhone_. These Countries are particularly subject to intermitting +Fevers; of which I shall treat briefly hereafter. + + [9] This good Advice is enforced in a Note, by the Editor of _Lyons_, + who observes, it should be still more closely attended to, in + Places, where Rivers, Woods or Mountains retain, as it were, a + considerable Humidity; and where the Evenings are, in every Season, + cold and moist.--It is a very proper Caution too in our own + variable Climate, and in many of our Colonies in North _America_. + _K._ + + 6. Such sudden Changes are often attended with great Showers of Rain, +and even cold Rain, in the Middle of a very hot Day; when the Labourer +who was bathed, as it were, in a hot Sweat, is at once moistened in cold +Water; which occasions the same Distempers, as the sudden Transition +from Heat to Cold, and requires the same Remedies. If the Sun or a hot +Air succeed immediately to such a Shower, the Evil is considerably +lighter: but if the Cold continues, many are often greatly incommoded by +it. + +A Traveller is sometimes thoroughly and unavoidably wet with Mud; the +ill Consequence of which is often inconsiderable, provided he changes +his Cloaths immediately, when he sets up. I have known fatal Pleurisies +ensue from omitting this Caution. Whenever the Body or the Limbs are +wet, nothing can be more useful than bathing them in warm Water. If the +Legs only have been wet, it may be sufficient to bath them. I have +radically, thoroughly, cured Persons subject to violent Cholics, as +often as their Feet were wet, by persuading them to pursue this Advice. +The Bath proves still more effectual, if a little Soap be dissolved in +it. + + 7. A fifth Cause, which is seldom attended to, probably indeed because +it produces less violent Consequences, and yet is certainly hurtful, is +the common Custom in all Villages, of having their Ditches or Dunghills +directly under their Windows. Corrupted Vapours are continually exhaling +from them, which in Time cannot fail of being prejudicial, and must +contribute to produce putrid diseases. Those who are accustomed to the +Smell, become insensible of it: but the Cause, nevertheless, does not +cease to be unwholesomly active; and such as are unused to it perceive +the Impression in all its Force. + + 8. There are some Villages, in which, after the Curtain Lines are +erased, watery marshy Places remain in the Room of them. The Effect of +this is still more dangerous, because that putrify'd Water, which +stagnates during the hot Season, suffers its Vapours to exhale more +easily, and more abundantly, than that in the Curtain Lines did. Having +set out for _Pully le Grand_, in 1759, on Account of an epidemical +putrid Fever which raged there, I was sensible, on traversing the +Village, of the Infection from those Marshes; nor could I doubt of their +being the Cause of this Disease, as well as of another like it, which +had prevailed there five Years before. In other Respects the Village is +wholesomly situated. It were to be wished such Accidents were obviated +by avoiding these stagnated Places; or, at least, by removing them and +the Dunghils, as far as possible from the Spot, where we live and lodge. + + 9. To this Cause may also be added the Neglect of the Peasants to air +their Lodgings. It is well known that too close an Air occasions the +most perplexing malignant Fevers; and the poor Country People respire no +other in their own Houses. Their Lodgings, which are very small, and +which notwithstanding inclose, (both Day and Night) the Father, Mother, +and seven or eight Children, besides some Animals, are never kept open +during six Months in the Year, and very seldom during the other six. I +have found the Air so bad in many of these Houses, that I am persuaded, +if their Inhabitants did not often go out into the free open Air, they +must all perish in a little Time. It is easy, however, to prevent all +the Evils arising from this Source, by opening the Windows daily: so +very practicable a Precaution must be followed with the happiest +Consequences. + + 10. I consider Drunkenness as a sixth Cause, not indeed as producing +epidemical Diseases, but which destroys, as it were, by Retail, at all +times, and every where. The poor Wretches, who abandon themselves to it, +are subject to frequent Inflammations of the Breast, and to Pleurisies, +which often carry them off in the Flower of their Age. If they sometimes +escape through these violent Maladies, they sink, a long Time before the +ordinary Approach of old Age, into all its Infirmities, and especially +into an Asthma, which terminates in a Dropsy of the Breast. Their +Bodies, worn out by Excess, do not comply and concur, as they ought, +with the Force or Operation of Remedies; and Diseases of Weakness, +resulting from this Cause, are almost always incurable. It seems happy +enough, that Society loses nothing in parting with these Subjects, who +are a Dishonour to it; and whose brutal Souls are, in some Measure, +dead, long before their Carcases. + + 11. The Provisions of the common People are also frequently one Cause +of popular Maladies. This happens 1st, whenever the Corn, not well +ripened, or not well got in, in bad [10] _Harvests_, has contracted an +unwholesome Quality. Fortunately however this is seldom the Case; and +the Danger attending the Use of it, may be lessened by some Precautions, +such as those of washing and drying the Grain completely; of mixing a +little Wine with the Dough, in kneading it; by allowing it a little more +Time to swell or rise, and by baking it a little more. 2dly, The fairer +and better saved Part of the Wheat is sometimes damaged in the Farmers +House; either because he does not take due Care of it, or because he has +no convenient Place to preserve it, only from one Summer to the next. It +has often happened to me, on entering one of these bad Houses, to be +struck with the Smell of Wheat that has been spoiled. Nevertheless, +there are known and easy Methods to provide against this by a little +Care; though I shall not enter into a Detail of them. It is sufficient +to make the People sensible, that since their chief Sustenance consists +of Corn, their Health must necessarily be impaired by what is bad. 3dly, +That Wheat, which is good, is often made into bad Bread, by not letting +it rise sufficiently; by baking it too little, and by keeping it too +long. All these Errors have their troublesome Consequences on those who +eat it; but in a greater Degree on Children and Valetudinarians, or +weakly People. + +[10] Thus I have ventured to translate _Ets_ (_Summers_) to apply it to + this and the neighbouring Islands. Their Harvests in _Swisserland_ + perhaps are earlier, and may occur in _August_, and that of some + particular Grain, probably still earlier. _K._ + +Tarts or Cakes may be considered as an Abuse of Bread, and this in some +Villages is increased to a very pernicious Height. The Dough is almost +constantly bad, and often unleavened, ill baked, greasy, and stuffed +with either fat or sour Ingredients, which compound one of the most +indigestible Aliments imaginable. Women and Children consume the most of +this Food, and are the very Subjects for whom it is the most improper: +little Children especially, who live sometimes for many successive Days +on these Tarts, are, for the greater Part, unable to digest them +perfectly. Hence they receive a [11] Source of Obstructions in the +Bowels of the Belly, and of a slimy Viscidity or Thickishness, +throughout the Mass of Humours, which throws them into various Diseases +from Weakness; slow Fevers, a Hectic, the Rickets, the King's Evil, and +Feebleness; for the miserable Remainder of their Days. Probably indeed +there is nothing more unwholesome than Dough not sufficiently leavened, +ill-baked, greasy, and soured by the Addition of Fruits. Besides, if we +consider these Tarts in an oeconomical View, they must be found +inconvenient also for the Peasant on that Account. + +[11] The Abuse just mentioned can scarcely be intended to forbid the + moderate Use of good Pastry, the Dough of which is well raised and + well baked, the Flower and other Ingredients sound, and the Paste + not overcharged with Butter, even though it were sweet and fresh. + But the Abuse of Alum and other pernicious Materials introduced by + our Bakers, may too justly be considered as one horrible Source of + those Diseases of Children, &c. which our humane and judicious + Author mentions here. What he adds, concerning the Pastries being + rendered still more unwholesome by the sour Fruits sometimes baked + in it, is true with Respect to those Children and others, who are + liable to Complaints from Acidities abounding in the Bowels; and + for all those who are ricketty or scrophulous, from a cold and + viscid State of their Humours. But as to healthy sanguine Children, + who are advanced and lively, and others of a sanguine or bilious + Temperament, we are not to suppose a moderate Variety of this Food + injurious to them; when we consider, that the Sharpness and Crudity + of the Fruit is considerably corrected by the long Application of + Fire; and that they are the Produce of Summer, when bilious + Diseases are most frequent. This suggests however no bad Hint + against making them immoderately sweet. _K._ + +Some other Causes of Maladies may also be referred to the Article of +Food, tho' less grievous and less frequent, into a full Detail of which +it is very difficult to enter: I shall therefore conclude that Article +with this general Remark; that it is the Care which Peasants usually +take in eating slowly, and in chewing very well, that very greatly +lessens the Dangers from a bad Regimen: and I am convinced they +constitute one of the greatest Causes of that Health they enjoy. We may +further add indeed the Exercise which the Peasant uses, his long abiding +in the open Air, where he passes three fourths of his Life; besides +(which are also considerable Advantages) his happy Custom of going soon +to Bed, and of rising very early. It were to be wished, that in these +Respects, and perhaps on many other Accounts, the Inhabitants of the +Country were effectually proposed as Models for reforming the Citizens. + + 12. We should not omit, in enumerating the Causes of Maladies among +Country People, the Construction of their Houses, a great many of which +either lean, as it were, close to a higher Ground, or are sunk a little +in the Earth. Each of these Situations subjects them to considerable +Humidity; which is certain greatly to incommode the Inhabitants, and to +spoil their Provisions, if they have any Quantity in Store; which, as we +have observed, is another, and not the least important, Source of their +Diseases. A hardy Labourer is not immediately sensible of the bad +Influence of this moist and marshy Habitation; but they operate at the +long Run, and I have abundantly observed their most evident bad Effects, +especially on Women in Child-bed, on Children, and in Persons recovering +of a preceding Disease. It would be easy to prevent this Inconvenience, +by raising the Ground on which the House stood, some, or several, Inches +above the Level of the adjacent Soil, by a Bed of Gravel, of small +Flints, pounded Bricks, Coals, or such other Materials; and by avoiding +to build immediately close to, or, as it were, under a much higher Soil. +This Object, perhaps, may well deserve the Attention of the Publick; and +I earnestly advise as many as do build, to observe the necessary +Precautions on this Head. Another, which would cost still less Trouble, +is to give the Front of their Houses an Exposure to the South-East. This +Exposure, supposing all other Circumstances of the Building and its +Situation to be alike, is both the most wholesome and advantageous. I +have seen it, notwithstanding, very often neglected, without the least +Reason being assigned for not preferring it. + +These Admonitions may possibly be thought of little Consequence by three +fourths of the People. I take the Liberty of reminding them, however, +that they are more important than they may be supposed; and so many +Causes concur to the Destruction of Men, that none of the Means should +be neglected, which may contribute to their Preservation. + + 13. The Country People in _Swisserland_ drink, either 1, pure Water, +2, some Wine, 3, Perry, made from wild Pears, or sometimes Cyder from +Apples, and, 4, a small Liquor which they call _Piquette_, that is +Water, which has fermented with the Cake or Husks of the Grapes, after +their Juice has been expressed. Water however is their most general +Drink; Wine rarely falling in their Way, but when they are employed by +rich Folks; or when they can spare Money enough for a Debauch. Fruit +Wines and the [12] _Piquettes_ are not used in all Parts of the Country; +they are not made in all Years; and keep but for some Months. + +[12] This Word's occurring in the plural Number will probably imply, the + _Swiss_ make more than one Species of this small Drink, by pouring + Water on the Cake or Remainder of their other Fruits, after they + have been expressed; as our People in the Cyder, and perhaps in the + Perry, Counties, make what they call _Cyderkin_, _Perkin_, _&c._ It + should seem too from this Section, that the laborious Countrymen in + _Swisserland_ drink no Malt Liquor, though the Ingredients may be + supposed to grow in their Climate. Now Beer, of different Strength, + making the greater Part of our most common Drink, it may be proper + to observe here, that when it is not strong and heady, but a + middling well-brewed Small-beer, neither too new, nor hard or sour, + it is full as wholesome a Drink for laborious People in Health as + any other, and perhaps generally preferable to Water for such; + which may be too thin and light for those who are unaccustomed to + it; and more dangerous too, when the labouring Man is very hot, as + well as thirsty. The holding a Mouthful of any weak cold Liquor in + the Mouth without swallowing 'till it becomes warm, there, and + spurting it out before a Draught is taken down would be prudent; + and in Case of great Heat, to take the requisite Quantity rather at + two Draughts, with a little Interval between them, than to swallow + the Whole precipitately at one, would be more safe, and equally + refreshing, though perhaps less grateful. _K._ + +Our Waters in general, are pretty good; so that we have little Occasion +to trouble ourselves about purifying them; and they are well known in +those Provinces where they are chiefly and necessarily used. [13] The +pernicious Methods taken to improve or meliorate, as it is falsely +called, bad Wines, are not as yet sufficiently practiced among us, for +me to treat of them here: and as our Wines are not hurtful, of +themselves, they become hurtful only from their Quantity. The +Consumption of made Wines and _Piquettes_ is but inconsiderable, and I +have not hitherto known of any ill Effects from them, so that our +Liquors cannot be considered as Causes of Distempers in our Country; but +in Proportion to our Abuse of them by Excess. The Case is differently +circumstanced in some [14] other Countries; and it is the Province of +Physicians who reside in them, to point out to their Country-Men the +Methods of preserving their Health; as well as the proper and necessary +Remedies in their Sickness. + +[13] The bad Quality of Water is another common Cause of Country + Diseases; either where the Waters are unwholesome, from the Soils + in which they are found, as when they flow through, or settle, on + Banks of Shells; or where they become such, from the Neighbourhood + of, or Drainings from Dunghills and Marshes. + + When Water is unclear and turbid, it is generally sufficient to let + it settle in order to clear itself, by dropping its Sediment. But + if that is not effected, or if it be slimy or muddy, it need only + be poured into a large Vessel, half filled with fine Sand, or, for + want of that, with Chalk; and then to shake and stir it about + heartily for some Minutes. When this Agitation is over, the Sand, + in falling to the Bottom of the Vessel, will attract some of the + Foulness suspended in the Water. Or, which is still better, and + very easy to do, two large Vessels may be set near together, one of + which should be placed considerably higher than the other. The + highest should be half filled with Sand. Into this the turbid, or + slimy muddy Water is to be poured; whence it will filter itself + through the Body of Sand, and pass off clear by an Opening or + Orifice made at the Bottom of the Vessel; and fall from thence into + the lower one, which serves as a Reservoir. When the Water is + impregnated with Particles from the Beds of Selenites, or of any + Spar (which Water we call hard, because Soap will not easily + dissolve in it, and Puls and other farinaceous Substances grow hard + instead of soft, after boiling in it) such Water should be exposed + to the Sun, or boiled with the Addition of some Puls, or leguminous + Vegetables, or Bread toasted, or untoasted. When Water is in its + putrid State, it may be kept till it recovers its natural sweet + one: but if this cannot be waited for, a little Sea Salt should be + dissolved in it, or some Vinegar may be added, in which some + grateful aromatic Plant has been infused. It frequently happens, + that the publick Wells are corrupted by foul Mud at the Bottom, and + by different Animals which tumble in and putrify there. Drinking + Snow-water should be avoided, when the Snow is but lately fallen, + as it seems to be the Cause of those swelling wenny Throats in the + Inhabitants of some Mountains; and of endemic Cholics in many + Persons. As Water is so continually used, great Care should be + taken to have what is good. Bad Water, like bad Air, is one of the + most general Causes of Diseases; that which produces the greater + Number of them, the most grieveous ones; and often introduces such + as are epidemical. _E. L. i.e._ the Editor of Lyons. + +[14] Many Persons, With a Design to preserve their Wines, add Shot to + them, or Preparations of Lead, Alum, &c. The Government should + forbid, under the most severe Penalties, all such Adulterations, as + tend to introduce the most painful Cholics, Obstruction, and a long + Train of Evils, which it sometimes proves difficult to trace to + this peculiar Cause; while they shorten the lives of, or cruelly + torment, such over credulous Purchasers, as lay in a Stock of bad + Wines, or drink of them, without distinction, from every Wine + Merchant or Tavern. _E. L._ + + _This Note, from the Editor at_ Lyons, _we have sufficient Reason + for retaining here. K._ + + + + + __Chapter II.__ + + + _Of the Causes which aggravate the Diseases of the People. General + Considerations._ + + + __Sect.__ 14. + +The Causes already enumerated in the first Chapter occasion Diseases; +and the bad Regimen, or Conduct of the People, on the Invasion of them, +render them still more perplexing, and very often mortal. + +There is a prevailing Prejudice among them, which is every Year attended +with the Death of some Hundreds in this Country, and it is this--That +all Distempers are cured by Sweat; and that to procure Sweat, they must +take Abundance of hot and heating things, and keep themselves very hot. +This is a Mistake in both Respects, very fatal to the Population of the +State; and it cannot be too much inculcated into Country People; that by +thus endeavouring to force Sweating, at the very Beginning of a Disease, +they are with great Probability, taking Pains to kill themselves. I have +seen some Cases, in which the continual Care to provoke this Sweating, +has as manifestly killed the Patient, as if a Ball had been shot through +his Brains; as such a precipitate and untimely Discharge carries off the +thinner Part of the Blood, leaving the Mass more dry, more viscid and +inflamed. Now as in all acute Diseases (if we except a very few, and +those too much less frequent) the Blood is already too thick; such a +Discharge must evidently increase the Disorder, by co-operating with its +Cause. Instead of forcing out the watery, the thinner Part of the Blood, +we should rather endeavour to increase it. There is not a single Peasant +perhaps, who does not say, when he has a Pleurisy, or an Inflammation of +his Breast, that his Blood is too thick, and that it cannot circulate. +On seeing it in the Bason after Bleeding, he finds it _black, dry, +burnt_; these are his very Words. How strange is it then, that common +Sense should not assure him, that, far from forcing out the _Serum_, the +watery Part, of such a Blood by sweating, there is a Necessity to +increase it? + + 15. But supposing it were as certain, as it is erroneous, that +Sweating was beneficial at the Beginning of Diseases, the Means which +they use to excite it would not prove the less fatal. The first +Endeavour is, to stifle the Patient with the Heat of a close Apartment, +and a Load of Covering. Extraordinary Care is taken to prevent a Breath +of fresh Air's squeezing into the Room; from which Circumstance, the Air +already in it is speedily and extremely corrupted: and such a Degree of +Heat is procured by the Weight of the Patient's Bed-cloaths, that these +two Causes alone are sufficient to excite a most ardent Fever, and an +Inflammation of the Breast, even in a healthy Man. More than once have I +found myself seized with a Difficulty of breathing, on entering such +Chambers, from which I have been immediately relieved, on obliging them +to open all the Windows. Persons of Education must find a Pleasure, I +conceive, in making People understand, on these Occasions, which are so +frequent, that the Air being more indispensably necessary to us, if +possible, than Water is to a Fish, our Health must immediately suffer, +whenever that ceases to be pure; in assuring them also, that nothing +corrupts it sooner than those Vapours, which continually steam from the +Bodies of many Persons inclosed within a little Chamber, from which the +Air is excluded. The Absurdity of such Conduct is a self-evident +Certainty. Let in a little fresh Air on these miserable Patients, and +lessen the oppressing Burthen of their Coverings, and you generally see +upon the Spot, their Fever and Oppression, their Anguish and Raving, to +abate. + + 16. The second Method taken to raise a Sweat in these Patients is, to +give them nothing but hot things, especially Venice Treacle, Wine, or +some [15] _Faltranc_, the greater Part of the Ingredients of which are +dangerous, whenever there is an evident Fever; besides Saffron, which is +still more pernicious. In all feverish Disorders we should gently cool, +and keep the Belly moderately open; while the Medicines just mentioned +both heat and bind; and hence we may easily judge of their inevitable +ill Consequences. A healthy Person would certainly be seized with an +inflammatory Fever, on taking the same Quantity of Wine, of Venice +Treacle, or of _Faltranc_, which the Peasant takes now and then, when he +is attacked by one of these Disorders. How then should a sick Person +escape dying by them? Die indeed he _generally_ does, and sometimes with +astonishing Speed. I have published some dreadful Instances of such +Fatality some Years since, in another Treatise. In fact they still daily +occur, and unhappily every Person may observe some of them in his own +Neighbourhood. + +[15] This Word, which must be of German, not of French Extraction, + strictly signifies, _Drink for a Fall_, as we say _Pulvis ad + Casum_, &c. Powder for a Fall, or a supposed inward Bruise. Dr. + _Tissot_ informs me, it is otherwise called the vulnerary Herbs, or + the Swiss Tea; and that it is an injudicious _Farrago_ or Medley of + Herbs and Flowers, blended with Bitters, with stimulating, harsh + and astringent Ingredients, being employed indiscriminately in all + their Distempers by the Country People in _Swisserland_. _K._ + + 17. But I shall be told perhaps, that Diseases are often carried off +by Sweat, and that we ought to be guided by Experience. To this I +answer, it is very true, that Sweating cures some particular Disorders, +as it were, at their very Onset, for Instance, those Stitches that are +called spurious or false Pleurisies, some rheumatic Pains, and some +Colds or Defluxions. But this only happens when the Disorders depend +solely and simply on stopt or abated Perspiration, to which such Pain +instantly succeeds; where immediately, before the Fever has thickened +the Blood, and inflamed the Humours; and where before any internal +Infarction, any Load, is formed, some warm Drinks are given, such as +_Faltranc_ and Honey; which, by restoring Transpiration, remove the very +Cause of the Disorder. Nevertheless, even in such a Case, great Care +should be had not to raise too violent a Commotion in the Blood, which +would rather restrain, than promote, Sweat, to effect which +Elder-flowers are in my Opinion preferable to _Faltranc_. Sweating is +also of Service in Diseases, when their Causes are extinguished, as it +were, by plentiful Dilution: then indeed it relieves, by drawing off, +with itself, some Part of the distempered Humours; after which their +grosser Parts have passed off by Stool and by Urine: besides which, the +Sweat has also served to carry off that extraordinary Quantity of Water, +we were obliged to convey into the Blood, and which was become +superfluous there. Under such Circumstances, and at such a Juncture, it +is of the utmost Importance indeed, not to check the Sweat, whether by +Choice, or for Want of Care. There might often be as much Danger in +doing this, as there would have been in endeavouring to force a Sweat, +immediately upon the Invasion of the Disorder; since the arresting of +this Discharge, under the preceding Circumstances, might frequently +occasion a more dangerous Distemper, by repelling the Humour on some +inward vital Part. As much Care therefore should be taken not to check, +imprudently, that Evacuation by the Skin, which naturally occurs towards +the Conclusion of Diseases, as not to force it at their Beginning; the +former being almost constantly beneficial, the latter as constantly +pernicious. Besides, were it even necessary, it might be very dangerous +to force it violently; since by heating the Patients greatly, a vehement +Fever is excited; they become scorched up in a Manner, and the Skin +proves extremely dry. Warm Water, in short, is the best of Sudorifics. + +If the Sick are sweated very plentifully for a Day or two, which may +make them easier for some Hours; these Sweats soon terminate, and cannot +be excited again by the same Medicines. The Dose thence is doubled, the +Inflammation is increased, and the Patient expires in terrible Anguish, +with all the Marks of a general Inflammation. His Death is ascribed to +his Want of Sweating; when it really was the Consequence of his Sweating +too much at first; and of his taking Wine and hot Sudorifics. An able +Swiss Physician had long since assured his Countrymen, that Wine was +fatal to them in Fevers; I take leave to repeat it again and again, and +wish it may not be with as little Success. + +Our Country Folks, who in Health, naturally dislike red Wine, prefer it +when Sick; which is wrong, as it binds them up more than white Wine. It +does not promote Urine as well; but increases the Force of the +circulating Arteries, and the Thickness of the Blood, which were already +too considerable. + + 18. Their Diseases are also further aggravated by the Food that is +generally given them. They must undoubtedly prove weak, in Consequence +of their being sick; and the ridiculous Fear of the Patients' dying of +Weakness, disposes their Friends to force them to eat; which, increasing +their Disorder, renders the Fever mortal. This Fear is absolutely +chimerical; never yet did a Person in a Fever die merely from Weakness. +They may be supported, even for some Weeks, by Water only; and are +stronger at the End of that Time, than if they had taken more solid +Nourishment; since, far from strengthening them, their Food increases +their Disease, and thence increases their Weakness. + + 19. From the first Invasion of a Fever, Digestion ceases. Whatever +solid Food is taken corrupts, and proves a Source of Putridity, which +adds nothing to the Strength of the Sick, but greatly to that of the +Distemper. There are in fact a thousand Examples to prove, that it +becomes a real Poison: and we may sensibly perceive these poor +Creatures, who are thus compelled to eat, lose their Strength, and fall +into Anxiety and Ravings, in Proportion as they swallow. + + 20. They are also further injured by the Quality, as well as the +Quantity, of their Food. They are forced to sup strong Gravey Soups, +Eggs, Biscuits, and even Flesh, if they have but just Strength and +Resolution to chew it. It seems absolutely impossible for them to +survive all this Trash. Should a Man in perfect Health be compelled to +eat stinking Meat, rotten Eggs, stale sour Broth, he is attacked with as +violent Symptoms, as if he had taken real Poison, which, in Effect, he +has. He is seized with Vomiting, Anguish, a violent Purging, and a +Fever, with Raving, and eruptive Spots, which we call the Purple Fever. +Now when the very same Articles of Food, in their soundest State, are +given to a Person in a Fever, the Heat, and the morbid Matter already in +his Stomach, quickly putrify them; and after a few Hours produce all the +abovementioned Effects. Let any Man judge then, if the least Service can +be expected from them. + + 21. It is a Truth established by the first of Physicians, above two +thousand Years past, and still further ratified by his Successors, that +as long as a sick Person has a bad Humour or Ferment in his Stomach, his +Weakness increases, in Proportion to the Food he receives. For this +being corrupted by the infected Matter it meets there, proves incapable +of nourishing, and becomes a conjunct or additional Cause of the +Distemper. + +The most observing Persons constantly remark, that whenever a feverish +Patient sups, what is commonly called some good Broth, the Fever gathers +Strength and the Patient Weakness. The giving such a Soup or Broth, +though of the freshest soundest Meat, to a Man who has a high Fever, or +putrid Humours in his Stomach, is to do him exactly the same service, as +if you had given him, two or three Hours later, stale putrid Soup. + + 22. I must also affirm, that this fatal Prejudice, of keeping up the +Patients' Strength by Food, is still too much propagated, even among +those very Persons, whose Talents and whose Education might be expected +to exempt them from any such gross Error. It were happy for Mankind, and +the Duration of their Lives would generally be more extended, if they +could be thoroughly persuaded of this medical, and so very demonstrable, +Truth;--That the only things which can strengthen sick Persons are +those, which are able to weaken their Disease; but their Obstinacy in +this Respect is inconceivable: it is another Evil superadded to that of +the Disease, and sometimes the more grievous one. Out of twenty sick +Persons, who are lost in the Country, more than two Thirds might often +have been cured, if being only lodged in a Place defended from the +Injuries of the Air, they were supplied with Abundance of good Water. +But that most mistaken Care and Regimen I have been treating of, +scarcely suffers one of the twenty to survive them. + + 23. What further increases our Horror at this enormous Propensity to +heat, dry up, and cram the sick is, that it is totally opposite to what +Nature herself indicates in such Circumstances. The burning Heat of +which they complain; the Dryness of the Lips, Tongue and Throat; the +flaming high Colour of their Urine; the great Longing they have for +cooling things; the Pleasure and sensible Benefit they enjoy from fresh +Air, are so many Signs, or rather Proofs, which cry out with a loud +Voice, that we ought to attemperate and cool them moderately, by all +means. Their foul Tongues, which shew the Stomach to be in the like +Condition; their Loathing, their Propensity to vomit, their utter +Aversion to all solid Food, and especially to Flesh; the disagreeable +Stench of their Breath; their Discharge of fetid Wind upwards and +downwards, and frequently the extraordinary Offensiveness of their +Excrements, demonstrate, that their Bowels are full of putrid Contents, +which must corrupt all the Aliments superadded to them; and that the +only thing, which can prudently be done, is to dilute and attemper them +by plentiful Draughts of refreshing cooling Drinks, which may promote an +easy Discharge of them. I affirm it again, and I heartily wish it may be +thoroughly attended to, that as long as there is any Taste of +Bitterness, or of Putrescence; as long as there is a _Nausea_ or +Loathing, a bad Breath, Heat and Feverishness with fetid Stools, and +little and high-coloured Urine; so long all flesh, and Flesh-Soup, Eggs, +and all kind of Food composed of them, or of any of them, and all Venice +Treacle, Wine, and all heating things are so many absolute Poisons. + + 24. I may possibly be censured as extravagant and excessive on these +Heads by the Publick, and even by some Physicians: but the true and +enlightened Physicians, those who attend to the Effects of every +Particular, will find on the contrary, that far from exceeding in this +Respect, I have rather feebly expressed their own Judgment, in which +they agree with that of all the good ones, who have existed within more +than two thousand Years; that very Judgment which Reason approves, and +continual Experience confirms. The Prejudices I have been contending +against have cost _Europe_ some Millions of Lives. + + 25. Neither should it be omitted, that even when a Patient has very +fortunately escaped Death, notwithstanding all this Care to obtain it, +the Mischief is not ended; the Consequences of the high Aliments and +heating Medicines being, to leave behind the Seed, the Principle, of +some low and chronical Disease; which increasing insensibly, bursts out +at length, and finally procures him the Death he has even wished for, to +put an End to his tedious Sufferings. + + 26. I must also take Notice of another dangerous common Practice; +which is that of purging, or vomiting a Patient, at the very Beginning +of a Distemper. Infinite Mischiefs are occasioned by it. There are some +Cases indeed, in which evacuating Medicines, at the Beginning of a +Disease, are convenient and even necessary. Such Cases shall be +particularly mentioned in some other Chapters: but as long as we are +unacquainted with them, it should be considered as a general Rule, that +they are hurtful at the Beginning; this being true very often; and +always, when the Diseases are strictly inflammatory. + + 27. It is hoped by their Assistance, at that Time, to remove the Load +and Oppression of the Stomach, the Cause of a Disposition to vomit, of a +dry Mouth, of Thirst, and of much Uneasiness; and to lessen the Leaven +or Ferment of the Fever. But in this Hope they are very often deceived; +since the Causes of these Symptoms are seldom of a Nature to yield to +these Evacuations. By the extraordinary Viscidity or Thickness of the +Humours, that foul the Tongue, we should form our Notions of those, +which line the Stomach and the Bowels. It may be washed, gargled and +even scraped to very little good Purpose. It does not happen, until the +Patient has drank for many Days, and the Heat, the Fever and the great +Siziness of the Humours are abated, that this Filth can he thoroughly +removed, which by Degrees separates of itself. The State of the Stomach +being conformable to that of the Tongue, no Method can effectually scour +and clean it at the Beginning: but by giving refreshing and diluting +Remedies plentifully, it gradually frees itself; and the Propensity to +vomit, with its other Effects and Uneasinesses, go off naturally, and +without Purges. + + 28. Neither are these Evacuations only negatively wrong, merely from +doing no Good; for considerable Evil positively ensues from the +Application of those acrid irritating Medicines, which increase the Pain +and Inflammation; drawing the Humours upon those Parts that were already +overloaded with them; which by no means expel the Cause of the Disease, +that not being at this time fitted for Expulsion, as not sufficiently +concocted or ripe: and yet which, at the same Time, discharge the +thinnest Part of the Blood, whence the Remainder becomes more thick; in +short which carry off the useful, and leave the hurtful Humours behind. + + 29. The Vomit especially, being given in an inflammatory Disease, and +even without any Distinction in all acute ones, before the Humours have +been diminished by Bleeding, and diluted by plentiful small Drinks, is +productive of the greatest Evils; of Inflammations of the Stomach, of +the Lungs and Liver, of Suffocations and Frenzies. Purges sometimes +occasion a general Inflammation of the Guts, which [16] terminates in +Death. Some Instances of each of these terrible Consequences have I +seen, from blundering Temerity, Imprudence and Ignorance. The Effect of +such Medicines, in these Circumstances, are much the same with those we +might reasonably expect, from the Application of Salt and Pepper to a +dry, inflamed and foul Tongue, in Order to moisten and clean it. + +[16] It is pretty common to _hear_ of Persons recovering from + Inflammations of the Bowels, or Guts, which our Author more justly + and ingenuously considers as general Passports to Death: for it is + difficult to conceive, that a real and _considerable_ Inflammation + of such thin, membranous, irritable Parts, lined with such + putrescent Humours and Contents, and in so hot and close a + Situation, could be restored to a sound and healthy State _so + often_ as Rumour affirms it. This makes it so important a Point, to + avert every Tendency to an Inflammation of these feculent Parts, as + to justify a Bleeding directed, solely, from this Precaution, and + which might have been no otherwise indicated by a Disease, attended + with any Symptom, that threatened such an Inflammation. But when a + Person recovers, there can be no anatomical Search for such + Inflammations, or its Effects, the real or imaginary Cure of which + may well amaze the Patient, and must greatly redound to the Honour + of his Prescriber; so that there may be Policy sometimes in giving + a moderate Disease a very bad Name. _K._ + + 30. Every Person of sound plain Sense is capable of perceiving the +Truth of whatever I have advanced in this Chapter: and there would be +some Degree of Prudence, even in those who do not perceive the real good +Tendency of my Advice, not to defy nor oppose it too hardily. The +Question relates to a very important Object; and in a Matter quite +foreign to themselves, they undoubtedly owe some Deference to the +Judgment of Persons, who have made it the Study and Business of their +whole Lives. It is not to myself that I hope for their Attention, but to +the greatest Physicians, whose feeble Instrument and Eccho I am. What +Interest have any of us in forbidding sick People to eat, to be stifled, +or to drink such heating things as heighten their Fever? What Advantage +can accrue to us from opposing the fatal Torrent, which sweeps them off? +What Arguments can persuade People, that some thousand Men of Genius, of +Knowledge, and of Experience, who pass their Lives among a Croud and +Succession of Patients; who are entirely employed to take Care of them, +and to observe all that passes, have been only amusing and deceiving +themselves, on the Effects of Food, of Regimen and of Remedies? Can it +enter into any sensible Head, that a Nurse, who advises Soup, an Egg, or +a Biscuit, deserves a Patient's Confidence, better than a Physician who +forbids them? Nothing can be more disagreeable to the latter, than his +being obliged to dispute continually in Behalf of the poor Patients; and +to be in constant Terror, lest this mortally officious Attendance, by +giving such Food as augments all the Causes of the Disease, should +defeat the Efficacy of all the Remedies he administers to remove it; and +should fester and aggravate the Wound, in Proportion to the Pains he +takes to dress it. The more such absurd People love a Patient, the more +they urge him to eat, which, in Effect, verifies the Proverb of _killing +one with Kindness_. + + + + + __Chapter III.__ + + + _Of the Means that ought to be used, at the Beginning of Diseases; and + of the Diet in acute Diseases._ + + + __Sect.__ 31. + +I have clearly shewn the great Dangers of the Regimen, or Diet, and of +the principal Medicines too generally made Use of by the Bulk of the +People, on these Occasions. I must now point out the actual Method they +may pursue, without any Risque, on the Invasion of some acute Diseases, +and the general Diet which agrees with them all. As many as are desirous +of reaping any Benefit from this Treatise, should attend particularly to +this Chapter; since, throughout the other Parts of it, in Order to avoid +Repetitions, I shall say nothing of the Diet, except the particular +Distemper shall require a different one, from that of which I am now to +give an exact Detail. And whenever I shall say in general, that a +Patient is to be put upon a Regimen, it will signify, that he is to be +treated according to the Method prescribed in this Chapter; and all such +Directions are to be observed, with Regard to Air, Food, Drink and +Glysters; except when I expressly order something else, as different +Ptisans, Glysters, &c. + + 32. The greater Part of Diseases (by which I always understand acute +and feverish ones) often give some Notice of their Approach a few Weeks, +and, very commonly, some Days before their actual Invasion; such as a +light Lassitude, or Weariness, Stiffness or Numbness; less Activity than +usual, less Appetite, a small Load or Heaviness at Stomach; some +Complaint in the Head; a profounder Degree of Sleep, yet less composed, +and less refreshing than usual; less Gayety and Liveliness; sometimes a +light Oppression of the Breast, a less regular Pulse; a Propensity to be +Cold; an Aptness to sweat; and sometimes a Suppression of a former +Disposition to sweat. At such a Term it may be practicable to prevent, +or at least considerably to mitigate, the most perplexing Disorders, by +carefully observing the four following Points. + +1. To omit all violent Work or Labour, but yet not so, as to discontinue +a gentle easy Degree of Exercise. + +2. To bring the Complainant to content himself without any, or with very +little, solid Food; and especially to renounce all Flesh, Flesh-broth, +Eggs and Wine. + +3. To drink plentifully, that is to say, at least three Pints, or even +four Pints daily, by small Glasses at a Time, from half hour to half +hour, of the Ptisans N. 1 and 2, or even of warm Water, to each Quart +of which may be added half a Glass of Vinegar. No Person can be +destitute of this very attainable Assistance. But should there be a Want +even of Vinegar, a few Grains of common [17] Salt may be added to a +Quart of warm Water for Drink. Those who have Honey will do well to add +two or three Spoonfuls of it to the Water. A light Infusion of Elder +Flowers, or of those of the Linden, the Lime-tree, may also be +advantageously used, and even well settled and clear sweet Whey. + +[17] This Direction of our Author's, which may surprize some, probably + arises from his preferring a small Quantity of the marine Acid to + no Acid at all: For though a great Proportion of Salt, in saving + and seasoning Flesh and other Food, generally excites Thirst, yet a + little of it seems to have rather a different Effect, by gently + stimulating the salivary Glands: And we find that Nature very + seldom leaves the great diluting Element wholly void of this + quickening, antiputrescent Principle. _K._ + +4. Let the Person, affected with such previous Complaints, receive +Glysters of warm Water, or the Glyster N. 5. By pursuing these +Precautions some grievous Disorders have often been happily rooted out: +and although they should not prove so thoroughly efficacious, as to +prevent their Appearance, they may at least be rendered more gentle, and +much less dangerous. + + 33. Very unhappily People have taken the directly contrary Method. +From the Moment these previous, these forerunning Complaints are +perceived, they allow themselves to eat nothing but gross Meat, Eggs, or +strong Meat-Soups. They leave off Garden-Stuff and Fruits, which would +be so proper for them; and they drink heartily (under a Notion of +strengthening the Stomach and expelling Wind) of Wine and other Liquors, +which strengthen nothing but the Fever, and expel what Degree of Health +might still remain. Hence all the Evacuations are restrained; the +Humours causing and nourishing the Diseases are not at all attempered, +diluted, nor rendered proper for Evacuation. Nay, on the very contrary, +they become more sharp, and more difficult to be discharged: while a +sufficient Quantity of diluting refreshing Liquor, asswages and +separates all Matters foreign to the Blood, which it purifies; and, at +the Expiration of some Days, all that was noxious in it is carried off +by Stool, by Urine, or by Sweat. + + 34. When the Distemper is further advanced, and the Patient is already +seized with that Coldness or Shuddering, in a greater or less Degree, +which ushers in all Disease; and which is commonly attended with an +universal Oppression, and Pains over all the Surface of the Body; the +Patient, thus circumstanced, should be put to Bed, if he cannot keep up; +or should sit down as quietly as possible, with a little more Covering +than usual: he should drink every Quarter of an Hour a small Glass of +the Ptisan, N. 1 or 2, warm; or, if that is not at Hand, of some one of +those Liquids I have recommended 32. + + 35. These Patients earnestly covet a great Load of covering, during +the Cold or Shivering; but we should be very careful to lighten them as +soon as it abates; so that when the succeeding Heat begins, they may +have no more than their usual Weight of Covering. It were to be wished +_perhaps_, they had rather less. The Country People lie upon a +Feather-bed, and under a downy Coverlet, or Quilt, that is commonly +extremely heavy; and the Heat which is heightened and retained by +Feathers, is particularly troublesome to Persons in a Fever. +Nevertheless, as it is what they are accustomed to, this Custom may be +complied with for one Season of the Year: but during our Heats, or +whenever the Fever is very violent, they should lie on a Pallet (which +will be infinitely better for them) and should throw away their +Coverings of Down, so as to remain covered only with Sheets, or +something else, less injurious than Feather-Coverings. A Person could +scarcely believe, who had not been, as I have, a Witness of it, how much +Comfort a Patient is sensible of, in being eased of his former +Coverings. The Distemper immediately puts on a different Appearance. + + 36. As soon as the Heat after the _Rigor_, or Coldness and Shuddering, +approaches, and the Fever is manifestly advanced, we should provide for +the Patient's _Regimen_. And + +1, Care should be taken that the Air, in the Room where he lies, should +not be too hot, the mildest Degree of Warmth being very sufficient; that +there be as little Noise as possible, and that no Person speak to the +Sick, without a Necessity for it. No external Circumstance heightens the +Fever more, nor inclines the Patient more to a _Delirium_ or Raving, +than the Persons in the Chamber, and especially about the Bed. They +lessen the Spring, the elastic and refreshing Power, of the Air; they +prevent a Succession of fresh Air; and the Variety of Objects occupies +the Brain too much. Whenever the Patient has been at Stool, or has made +Urine, these Excrements should be removed immediately. The Windows +should certainly be opened Night and Morning, at least for a Quarter of +an Hour each Time; when also a Door should be opened, to promote an +entire Renovation or Change of the Air in the Room. Nevertheless, as the +Patient should not be exposed at any Time to a Stream or Current of Air, +the Curtains of his Bed should be drawn on such Occasions; and, if he +lay without any, Chairs, with Blankets or Cloaths hung upon them, should +be substituted in the Place of Curtains, and surround the Bed; while the +Windows continued open, in Order to defend the Patient from the Force of +the rushing Air. If the Season, however, be rigidly cold, it will be +sufficient to keep the Windows open, but for a few Minutes, each Time. +In Summer, at least one Window should be set open Day and Night. The +pouring a little Vinegar upon a red-hot Shovel also greatly conduces to +restore the Spring, and correct the Putridity, of the Air. In our +greatest Heats, when that in the Room seems nearly scorching, and the +sick Person is sensibly and greatly incommoded by it, the Floor may be +sprinkled now and then; and Branches of Willow or Ash-trees dipt a +little in Pails of Water may be placed within the Room. + + 37. 2. With Respect to the Patient's Nourishment, he must entirely +abstain from all Food; but he may always be allowed, and have daily +prepared, the following Sustenance, which is one of the wholesomest, and +indisputably the simplest one. Take half a Pound of Bread, a Morsel of +the freshest Butter about the Size only of a Hazel Nut (which may even +be omitted too) three Pints and one quarter of a Pint of Water. Boil +them 'till the Bread be entirely reduced to a thin Consistence. Then +strain it, and give the Patient one eighth Part of it every three, or +every four, Hours; but still more rarely, if the Fever be vehemently +high. Those who have Groats, Barley, Oatmeal, or Rice, may boil and +prepare them in the same Manner, with some Grains of Salt. + + 38. The Sick may also be sometimes indulged, in lieu of these +different Spoon-Meats, with raw Fruits in Summer, or in Winter with +Apples baked or boiled, or Plumbs and Cherries dried and boiled. Persons +of Knowledge and Experience will be very little, or rather not at all, +surprized to see various Kinds of Fruit directed in acute Diseases; the +Benefit of which they may here have frequently seen. Such Advice can +only disgust those, who remain still obstinately attached to old +Prejudices. But could they prevail on themselves to reflect a little, +they must perceive, that these Fruits which allay Thirst; which cool and +abate the Fever; which correct and attemper the putrid and heated Bile; +which gently dispose the Belly to be rather open, and promote the +Secretion and Discharge of the Urine, must prove the properest +Nourishment for Persons in acute Fevers. Hence we see, as it were by a +strong Admonition from Nature herself, they express an ardent Longing +for them; and I have known several, who would not have recovered, but +for their eating secretly large Quantities of those Fruits they so +passionately desired, and were refused. As many however, as are not +convinced by my Reasoning in this Respect, may at least make a Tryal of +my Advice, on my Affirmation and Experience; when I have no doubt but +their own will speedily convince them of the real Benefit received from +this Sort of Nourishment. It will then be evident, that we may safely +and boldly allow, in all continual Fevers, Cherries red and black, +Strawberries, the best cured Raisins, Raspberries, and Mulberries; +provided that all of them be perfectly ripe. Apples, Pears and Plumbs +are less melting and diluting, less succulent, and rather less proper. +Some kinds of Pears however are extremely juicy, and even watery almost, +such as the Dean or Valentia Pear, different Kinds of the Buree Pear; +the St. Germain, the Virgoleuse; the green sugary Pear, and the Summer +Royal, which may all be allowed; as well as a little Juice of very ripe +Plumbs, with the Addition of Water to it. This last I have known to +asswage Thirst in a Fever, beyond any other Liquor. Care should be +taken, at the same Time, that the Sick should never be indulged in a +great Quantity of any of them at once, which would overload the Stomach, +and be injurious to them; but if they are given a little at a Time and +often, nothing can be more salutary. Those whose Circumstances will +afford them China Oranges, or Lemons, may be regaled with the Pulp and +Juice as successfully; but without eating any of their Peel, which is +hot and inflaming. + + 39. 3. Their Drink should be such as allays Thirst, and abates the +Fever; such as dilutes, relaxes, and promotes the Evacuations by Stool, +Urine and Perspiration. All these which I have recommended in the +preceding Chapters, jointly and severally possess these Qualities. A +Glass or a Glass and a half of the Juice of such Fruits as I have just +mentioned, may also be added to three full Pints of Water. + + 40. The Sick should drink at least twice or thrice that Quantity +daily, often, and a little at once, between three or four Ounces, every +Quarter of an Hour. The Coldness of the Drink should just be taken off. + + 41. 4. If the Patient has not two Motions in the 24 Hours; if the +Urine be in small Quantity and high coloured; if he rave, the Fever +rage, the Pain of the Head and of the Loins be considerable, with a Pain +in the Belly, and a Propensity to vomit, the Glyster N. 5 should be +given at least once a Day. The People have generally an Aversion to this +kind of Remedy; notwithstanding there is not any more useful in feverish +Disorders, especially in those I have just recounted; and one Glyster +commonly gives more Relief, than if the Patient had drank four or five +Times the Quantity of his Drinks. The Use of Glysters, in different +Diseases, will be properly ascertained in the different Chapters, which +treat of them. But it may be observed in this Place, that they are never +to be given at the very Time the Patient is in a Sweat, which seems to +relieve him. + + 42. 5. As long as the Patient has sufficient Strength for it, he +should sit up out of Bed one Hour daily, and longer if he can bear it; +but at least half an Hour. It has a Tendency to lessen the Fever, the +Head-ach, and a Light-headiness, or Raving. But he should not be raised, +while he has a hopeful Sweating; though such Sweats hardly ever occur, +but at the Conclusion of Diseases, and after the Sick has had several +other Evacuations. + + 43. 6. His Bed should be made daily while he sits up; and the Sheets +of the Bed, as well as the Patient's Linen, should be changed every two +Days, if it can be done with Safety. An unhappy Prejudice has +established a contrary, and a really dangerous, Practice. The People +about the Patient dread the very Thought of his rising out of Bed; they +let him continue there in nasty Linen loaden with putrid Steams and +Humours; which contribute, not only to keep up the Distemper, but even +to heighten it into some Degree of Malignity. I do again repeat it here, +that nothing conduces more to continue the Fever and Raving, than +confining the Sick constantly to Bed, and witholding him from changing +his foul Linen: by relieving him from both of which Circumstances I +have, without the Assistance of any other Remedy, put a Stop to a +continual Delirium of twelve Days uninterrupted Duration. It is usually +said, the Patient is too weak, but this is a very weak Reason. He must +be in very nearly a dying Condition, not to be able to bear these small +Commotions, which, in the very Moment when he permits them, increase his +Strength, and immediately after abate his Complaints. One Advantage the +Sick gain by sitting up a little out of Bed, is the increased Quantity +of their Urine, with greater Facility in passing it. Some have been +observed to make none at all, if they did not rise out of Bed. + +A very considerable Number of acute Diseases have been radically, +effectually, cured by this Method, which mitigates them all. Where it is +not used, as an Assistance at least, Medicines are very often of no +Advantage. It were to be wished the Patient and his Friends were made to +understand, that Distempers were not to be expelled at once with rough +and precipitate Usage; that they must have their certain Career or +Course; and that the Use of the violent Methods and Medicines they chuse +to employ, might indeed abridge the Course of them, by killing the +Patient; yet never otherwise shortened the Disease; but, on the +contrary, rendered it more perplexing, tedious and obstinate; and often +entailed such unhappy Consequences on the Sufferer, as left him feeble +and languid for the rest of his Life. + + 44. But it is not sufficient to treat, and, as it were, to conduct the +Distemper properly. The Term of Recovery from a Disease requires +considerable Vigilance and Attention, as it is always a State of +Feebleness, and, thence, of Depression and Faintness. The same Kind of +Prejudice which destroys the Sick, by compelling them to eat, during the +Violence of the Disease, is extended also into the Stage of +Convalescence, or Recovery; and either renders it troublesome and +tedious; or produces fatal Relapses, and often chronical Distempers. In +Proportion to the Abatement, and in the Decline, of the Fever, the +Quantity of Nourishment may be gradually increased: but as long as there +are any Remains of it, their Qualities should be those I have already +recommended. Whenever the Fever is compleatly terminated, some different +Foods may be entered upon; so that the Patient may venture upon a little +white Meat, provided it be tender; some [18] Fish; a little Flesh-Soup, +a few Eggs at times, with Wine property diluted. It must be observed at +the same Time, that those very proper Aliments which restore the +Strength, when taken moderately, delay the perfect Cure, if they exceed +in Quantity, tho' but a little; because the Action of the Stomach being +extremely weakened by the Disease and the Remedies, is capable only, as +yet, of a small Degree of Digestion; and if the Quantity of its Extents +exceed its Powers, they do not digest, but become putrid. Frequent +Returns of the Fever supervene; a continual Faintishness; Head-achs; a +heavy Drowsiness without a Power of Sleeping comfortably; flying Pains +and Heats in the Arms and Legs; Inquietude; Peevishness; Propensity to +Vomit; Looseness; Obstructions, and sometimes a slow Fever, with a +Collection of Humours, that comes to Suppuration. + +All these bad Consequences are prevented, by the recovering Sick +contenting themselves, for some Time, with a very moderate Share of +proper Food. We are not nourished in Proportion to the Quantity we +swallow, but to that we digest. A Person on the mending Hand, who eats +moderately, digests it and grows strong from it. He who swallows +abundantly does not digest it, and instead of being nourished and +strengthened, he withers insensibly away. + +[18] The most allowable of these are Whitings, Flounders, Plaice, Dabbs, + or Gudgeons; especially such of the last as are taken out of clear + current Streams with gravelly Bottoms. Salmon, Eels, Carp, all the + Skate kind, Haddock, and the like, should not be permitted, before + the Sick return to their usual Diet when in Health. _K._ + + 45. We may reduce, within the few following Rules, all that is most +especially to be observed, in Order to procure a compleat, a perfect +Termination of acute Diseases; and to prevent their leaving behind them +any Impediments to Health. + +1. Let these who are recovering, as well as those who are actually sick, +take very little Nourishment at a time, and take it often. + +2. Let them take but one sort of Food at each Meal, and not change their +Food too often. + +3. Let them chew whatever solid Victuals they eat, very carefully. + +4. Let them diminish their Quantity of Drink. The best for them in +general is Water, [19] with a fourth or third Part of white Wine. Too +great a Quantity of Liquids at this time prevents the Stomach from +recovering its Tone and Strength; impairs Digestion; keeps up Weakness; +increases the Tendency to a Swelling of the Legs; sometimes even +occasions a slow Fever; and throws back the Person recovering into a +languid State. + +[19] We have known many who had an Aversion to Water, and with whom, on + that very Account, it might probably agree less, find Water very + grateful, in which a thoroughly baked and hot, not burnt, Slice of + Bread had been infused, untill it attained the Colour of fine clear + Small-beer, or light Amber coloured Beer, and we never saw any + Inconvenience result from it. Doubtless pure, untoasted elemental + Water may be preferable for those who like, and have been + accustomed to it. _K._ + +5. Let them go abroad as often as they are able, whether on Foot, in a +Carriage, or on Horseback. This last Exercise is the healthiest of all, +and three fourths of the labouring People in this Country, who have it +in their Power to procure it without Expense, are in the wrong to +neglect it. They, who would practice it, should mount before their +principal Meal, which should be about Noon, and never ride after it. +Exercise taken before a Meal strengthens the Organs of Digestion, which +is promoted by it. If the Exercise is taken soon after the Meal, it +impairs it. + +6. As People in this State are seldom quite as well towards Night, in +the Evening they should take very little Food. Their Sleep will be the +less disturbed for this, and repair them the more, and sooner. + +7. They should not remain in Bed above seven, or eight Hours. + +8. The Swelling of the Legs and Ancles, which happens to most Persons at +this time, is not dangerous, and generally disappears of itself; if they +live soberly and regularly, and take moderate Exercise. + +9. It is not necessary, in this State, that they should go constantly +every Day to Stool; though they should not be without one above two or +three. If their Costiveness exceeds this Term, they should receive a +Glyster the third Day, and even sooner, if they are heated by it, if +they feel puffed up, are restless, and have any Pains in the Head. + +10. Should they, after some time, still continue very weak; if their +Stomach is disordered; if they have, from time to time, a little +irregular Fever, they should take three Doses daily of the Prescription +N. 14. which fortifies the Digestions, recovers the strength, and +drives away the Fever. + +11. They must by no means return to their Labour too soon. This +erroneous Habit daily prevents many Peasants from ever getting perfectly +well, and recovering their former Strength. From not having been able to +confine themselves to Repose and Indolence for some Days, they never +become as hearty hardy Workmen as they had been: and this premature +hasty Labour makes them lose in the Consequence, every following Week of +their Lives, more time than they ever gained, by their over-early +resuming of their Labour. I see every Day weakly Labourers, Vineroons, +and other Workmen, who date the Commencement of their Weakness from that +of some acute Disease, which, for want of proper Management through the +Term of their Recovery, was never perfectly cured. A Repose of seven or +eight Days, more than they allowed themselves, would have prevented all +these Infirmities; notwithstanding it is very difficult to make them +sensible of this. The Bulk, the Body of the People, in this and in many +other Cases, look no further than the present Day; and never extend +their Views to the following one. They are for making no Sacrifice to +Futurity; which nevertheless must be done, to render it favourable to +us. + + + + + __Chapter IV.__ + + + _Of an Inflammation of the Breast._ + + + __Sect.__ 46. + +The Inflammation of the Breast, or Peripneumony, or a Fluxion upon the +Breast, is an Inflammation of the Lungs, and most commonly of one only, +and consequently on one Side. The Signs by which it is evident, are a +Shivering, of more or less Duration, during which the Person affected is +sometimes very restless and in great Anguish, an essential and +inseparable symptom; and which has helped me more than once to +distinguish this Disease certainly, at the very Instant of its Invasion. +Besides this, a considerable Degree of Heat succeeds the Shivering, +which Heat, for a few ensuing Hours, is often blended as it were, with +some Returns of Chilliness. The Pulse is quick, pretty strong, +moderately full, hard and regular, when the Distemper is not very +violent; but small, soft and irregular, when it is very dangerous. There +is also a Sensation of Pain, but rather light and tolerable, in one Side +of the Breast; sometimes a kind of straitning or Pressure on the Heart; +at other times Pains through the whole Body, especially along the Reins; +and some Degree of Oppression, at least very often; for sometimes it is +but very inconsiderable. The Patient finds a Necessity of lying almost +continually upon his Back, being able to lie but very rarely upon either +of his Sides. Sometimes his Cough is dry, and then attended with the +most Pain; at other times it is accompanied with a Spitting or Hawking +up, blended with more or less Blood, and sometimes with pure sheer +Blood. There is also some Pain, or at least a Sensation of Weight and +Heaviness in the Head: and frequently a Propensity to rave. The Face is +almost continually flushed and red: though sometimes there is a Degree +of Paleness and an Air of Astonishment, at the Beginning of the Disease, +which portend no little Danger. The Lips, the Tongue, the Palate, the +Skin are all dry; the Breath hot; the Urine little and high coloured in +the first Stage: but more plentiful, less flaming, and letting fall much +Sediment afterwards. There is a frequent Thirst, and sometimes an +Inclination to vomit; which imposing on the ignorant Assistants, have +often inclined them to give the Patient a Vomit, which is mortal, +especially at this Juncture. The Heat becomes universal. The Symptoms +are heightened almost every Night, during which the Cough is more +exasperated, and the Spitting or Expectoration in less Quantity. The +best Expectoration is of a middling Consistence, neither too thin, nor +too hard and tough, like those which are brought up at the Termination +of a Cold; but rather more yellow, and mixed with a little Blood, which +gradually becomes still less, and commonly disappears entirely, before +the seventh Day. Sometimes the Inflammation ascends along the Wind-pipe, +and in some Measure suffocates the Patient, paining him considerably in +Swallowing, which makes him think he has a sore Throat. + + 47. Whenever the Disease is very violent at first, or increases to be +such, the Patient cannot draw his Breath, but when he sits up. The Pulse +becomes very small and very quick; the Countenance livid, the Tongue +black; the Eyes stare wildly; and he suffers inexpressible Anguish, +attended with incessant Restlessness and Agitation in his Bed. One of +his Arms is sometimes affected with a sort of Palsy; he raves without +Intermission; can neither thoroughly wake nor sleep. The Skin of his +Breast and of his Neck is covered (especially in close sultry Weather, +and when the Distemper is extremely violent) with livid Spots, more or +less remarkable, which should be called _petechial_ ones, but are +improperly termed the _pourpre_, or purple. The natural Strength becomes +exhausted; the Difficulty of breathing increases every Moment; he sinks +into a Lethargy, and soon dies a terrible Death in Country Places, by +the very Effects of the inflaming Medicines they employ on such +Occasions. It has been known in Fact, that the Use of them has raised +the Distemper to such a Height, that the very Heart has been rent open, +which the Dissection of the Body has demonstrated. + + 48. If the Disease rushes on at once, with a sudden and violent +Attack; if the Horror, the Cold and Shivering last many Hours, and are +followed with a nearly scorching Degree of Heat; if the Brain is +affected from the very Onset; if the Patient has a small Purging, +attended with a _Tenesinus_, or straining to Stool, often termed a +_Needy_; if he abhors the Bed; if he either sweat excessively, or if his +Skin be extremely dry; if his natural Manner and Look are considerably +changed; and if he spits up with much Difficulty, the Disease is +extremely dangerous. + + 49. He must directly, from the first Seizure in this State, be put +upon a Regimen, and his Drink must never be given cold. It should either +be the Barley Water N. 2, the Almond Emulsion N. 4, or that of N. 7. +The Juices of the Plants, which enter into the last of these Drinks, are +excellent Remedies in this Case; as they powerfully attenuate, or melt +down, the viscid thick Blood, which causes the Inflammation. + +The Advantage of Bleeding: + +As long as the Fever keeps up extremely violent; while the Patient does +not expectorate sufficiently; continues raving; has a violent Head-ach, +or raises up pure Blood, the Glyster N. 5 must be given thrice, or at +least twice, in twenty four Hours. However the principal Remedy is +Bleeding. As soon as ever the preceding cold Assault is over, twelve +Ounces of Blood must be taken away at once; and, if the Patient be young +and strong, fourteen or even sixteen. This plentiful Bleeding gives him +more Ease, than if twenty four Ounces had been drawn, at three different +Times. + + 50. When the Disease is circumstanced as described ( 46) that first +Bleeding makes the Patient easy for some Hours; but the Complaint +returns; and to obviate its Violence, as much as possible, we must, +except things promise extremely well, repeat the Bleeding four Hours +after the first, taking again twelve Ounces of Blood, which pretty often +proves sufficient. But if, about the Expiration of eight or ten Hours, +it appears to kindle up again, it must be repeated a third, or even a +fourth Time. Yet, with the Assistance of other proper Remedies, I have +seldom been obliged to bleed a fourth Time, and have sometimes found the +two first Bleedings sufficient. + +If the Disease has been of several Days Duration, when I have first been +called; if the Fever is still very high; if there be a Difficulty of +Breathing; if the Patient does not expectorate at all, or brings up too +much Blood; without being too solicitous about the Day of the Disease, +the Patient should be bled, though it were on the tenth. [20] + + 51. In this, and in all other inflammatory Diseases, the Blood is in a +very thick viscid State: and almost immediately on its being drawn, a +white tough Skin, somewhat like Leather, is formed on its Top, which +most People have seen, and which is called the _pleuritic Crust_. It is +thought a promising Appearance, when at each Bleeding it seems less +hard, and less thick, than it was at the preceding ones: and this is +very generally true, if the Sick feels himself, at the same Time, +sensibly better: but whoever shall attend _solely_ to the Appearance of +the Blood, will find himself often deceived. It will happen, even in the +most violent Inflammation of the Breast, that this Crust is not formed, +which is supposed to be a very unpromising Sign. There are also, in this +Respect, many odd Appearances, which arise from the smallest +Circumstances; so that we must not regulate the Repetitions of our +bleeding, solely by this Crust: and in general we must not be over +credulous in supposing, that the Appearances in the Blood, received into +the Bason, can enable us to determine, with Certainty, of its real State +in the Body. + +[20] We should however, with the greater Circumspection (of how much the + longer standing the Disease has been, and by how much the more + difficult the viscous Humours are to be melted down and dislodged) + attend to the Coction of the Matter of Expectoration; which Nature + does not often easily effect, and which she effects the more + imperfectly and slowly, the weaker he is. Her last Efforts have + often been attended with such high Paroxysms, as have imposed even + upon very competent Physicians, and have made them open a Vein a + few Hours before the Patients' Death, from their Pulses being + strong, hard and frequent. Excessive Weakness is the Sign, by which + we may discover such unavailing Efforts to be the last. _E. L._ + + 52. When the sick Person is in the Condition described ( 47) the +Bleeding is not only unattended with Ease; but sometimes it is also +pernicious, by the sudden Weakness to which it reduces him. Generally in +such a Case all Medicines and Means are insignificant: and it is a very +bad Sign in this Disease, when this Discharge is not attended with Ease +and Benefit to the Sick; or when there are some Circumstances, which +oblige us to be sparing of it. + + 53. The Patient's Legs should every Day, for one half Hour, be put +into a Bath of warm Water, wrapping him up closely; that the Cold may +not check that Perspiration, which the Bath promotes. + + 54. Every two Hours he should take two Spoonfuls of the Mixture N. 8, +which promotes all the Discharges, and chiefly that of Expectoration. + + 55. When the Oppression and Straitness are considerable, and the Cough +dry, the Patient may receive the Vapour of boiling Water, to which a +little Vinegar has been added. There are two ways of effecting this; +either by placing below his Face, after setting him up, a Vessel filled +with such boiling hot Water, and covering the Patient's Head and the +Vessel with a Linen Cloth, that may inclose the Steam; or else by +holding before his Mouth a Spunge dipped in the same boiling Liquor. +This last Method is the least effectual, but it fatigues the Patient +considerably less. When this bad Symptom is extremely pressing, Vinegar +alone should be used without Water; and the Vapour of it has often saved +Patients, who seemed to have one Foot in the Grave: but it should be +continued for several Hours. + + 56. The outward Remedies directed in N. 9. are also applied with +Success to the Breast, and to the Throat. + + 57. When the Fever is extremely high, the Sick should take every Hour, +a Spoonful of the Mixture N. 10. in a Cup of the Ptisan [21] but +without diminishing on this Account the usual Quantity of his other +Drinks, which may be taken immediately after it. + +[21] The Use of Acids, in Inflammations of the Breast, requires no + little Consideration. Whenever the sick Person has an Aversion to + them; when the Tongue is moist, the Stomach is heavy and + disordered, and the Habit and Temperament of the Patient is mild + and soft; when the Cough is very sharp without great Thirst, we + ought to abstain from them. But when the Inflammation is joined to + a dry Tongue, to great Thirst, Heat and Fever, they are of great + Service. Slices of China Oranges sprinkled with Sugar may be given + first; a light Limonade may be allowed afterwards; and at last + small Doses of the Mixture, N. 10. if it becomes necessary. _E. + L._--I have chosen to retain this Note of the Editor of _Lyons_, + from having frequently seen the Inefficacy, and sometimes, I have + even thought, the ill Effects of Acids in Peripneumonies and + Pleurisies, in a Country far South of _Swisserland_; and where + these Diseases are very frequent, acute and fatal. On the other + hand I shall add the Substance of what Dr. _Tissot_ says on this + Head in a Note to his Table of Remedies, wherein he affirms, that + he has given in this Disease very large Doses of them, rising + gradually from small ones, and always with great Success; + intreating other Physicians to order this Acid (the Spirit of + Sulphur) in the same large Doses which he directs in this Chapter, + and assuring himself of their thanks, for its good + Consequences--Now the only ill Effect I can surmize here, from + shewing this Diversity of Opinion in these two learned Physicians, + and my own Doubts, is, that the Subjects of this Disease in Country + Places may prove somewhat confused and irresolute by it, in their + Conduct in such Cases. But as all of us certainly concur in the + great Intention of doing all possible Good, by the extensive + Publication of this Treatise, I shall take leave to observe that in + this Disease, and in Pleurisies, more solid Benefit has been + received in _Carolina_, _Virginia_, &c. from the Use of the + _Seneka_ Rattle-snake Root, than from any other Medicine whatever. + Bleeding indeed is necessarily premised to it; but it has often + saved the Necessity of many repeated Bleedings. This Medicine, + which is termed in Latin, the _Polygala Virginiana_, is certainly + rather of a saponaceous attenuating Quality, and betrays not any + Marks of Acidity, being rather moderately acrid. There will be + Occasion to mention it more particularly in the subsequent Chapter, + as such a Liberty can need no Apology to any philosophical + Physician. _K._ + + 58. As long as the Patient shall grow worse, or only continue equally +bad, the same Medicines are to be repeated. But if on the third Day +(tho' it rarely happens so soon) or fourth, or fifth, the Disease takes +a more favourable Turn; if the Exasperation returns with less Violence; +the Cough be less severe; the Matter coughed up less bloody: if +Respiration becomes easier; the Head be less affected; the Tongue not +quite so dry; if the high Colour of the Urine abates, and its Quantity +be increased, it may be sufficient then to keep the Patient carefully to +his Regimen, and to give him a Glyster every Evening. The Exasperation +that occurs the fourth Day is often the highest. + + 59. This Distemper is most commonly terminated and carried off by +Expectoration, and often by Urine, which on the seventh, the ninth, or +the eleventh Day, and sometimes on the Days between them, begins to let +fall a plentiful Sediment, or Settling, of a pale red Colour, and +sometimes real _Pus_ or ripe Matter. These Discharges are succeeded by +Sweats, which are as serviceable then, as they were injurious at the +Beginning of the Disease. + + 60. Some Hours before these Evacuations appear, there come on, and not +seldom, some very alarming Symptoms, such as great Anguish; +Palpitations, some Irregularity in the Pulse; an increased Oppression; +convulsive Motions (this being what is called the _Crisis_, the Height, +or Turn of the Distemper) but they are no ways dangerous, provided they +do not occasion any improper Treatment. These Symptoms depend on the +morbid and purulent Matter, which, being dislodged, circulates with the +Humours, and irritates different Parts, until the Discharge of it has +fairly begun; after which all such Symptoms disappear, and Sleep +generally ensues. However I cannot too strongly insist on the Necessity +of great Prudence in such Circumstances. Sometimes it is the Weakness of +the Patient, and at other times Convulsions, or some other Symptoms, +that terrify the By-standers. If, which is most generally the Case, the +absurd Practice of directing particular Remedies for such Accidents +takes place, such as spirituous Cordials, Venice Treacle, Confections, +Castor and Rue; the Consequence is, that Nature being disturbed in her +Operations, the _Crisis_ or Turn is not effected; the Matter which +should be discharged by Stool, by Urine, or by Sweat, is not discharged +out of the Body; but is thrown upon some internal or external part of +it. Should it be on some inward part, the Patient either dies at once; +or another Distemper succeeds, more troublesome and incurable than the +first. Should it be expelled to some outward part, the Danger indeed is +less; and as soon as ever such a Tumour appears, ripening Pultices +should be apply'd to bring it to a Head, after which it should +immediately be opened. + + 61. In order to prevent such unhappy Consequences, great Care must be +taken, whenever such terrifying Symptoms come on, [about the Time of the +_Crisis_] to make no Change in the Diet, nor in the Treatment of the +Patient; except in giving him the loosening Glyster N. 5; and applying +every two Hours a Flannel, squeezed out of warm Water, which may cover +all the Belly, and in a Manner go round the Body behind the Reins. The +Quantity of his Drink may also be increased a little; and that of his +Nourishment lessened, as long as this high and violent State continues. + + 62. I have not spoken of Vomits or Purges, as being directly contrary +to the Nature of this Disease. Anodynes, or Opiates, to procure Sleep +are also, in general, very improper. In a few Cases, however, they may +possibly be useful; but these Cases are so very difficult to be +sufficiently distinguished, that Opiates should never be admitted in +this Disease, without the Presence and Advice of a Physician. I have +seen many Patients, who have been thrown into an incurable Hectic, by +taking them improperly. When the Disease is not received in a mortal +Degree, nor has been injudiciously treated, and proceeds in a benign +regular Manner, the Patient may be called very well and safe by the +fourteenth Day; when he may, if he has an Appetite, be put upon the Diet +of People who are recovering. But if he still retains an Aversion to +Food; if his Mouth is foul and furred, and he is sensible of some +Heaviness in his Head, he should take the purging Potion N. 11. + + 63. Bleedings from the Nose occur sometimes naturally in this Disease, +even after repeated Bleedings by Art; these are very benign and +favourable, and are commonly attended with more Ease and Relief than +artificial Bleedings. Such voluntary Discharges may sometimes be +expected, when the Patient is sensibly mended in many Respects after the +Use of the Lancet; and yet complains of a great Pain in his Head, +accompanied with quick sparkling Eyes, and a Redness of the Nose. +Nothing should be done to stop these voluntary Bleedings, since it would +be very dangerous: For when Nature has fulfilled her Intention by them, +they cease of themselves. At other times, but more rarely, the Distemper +is carried off by a natural Purging, attended with moderate Pain, and +the Discharge of bilious Matter. + + 64. If the Expectoration, or hawking up of Matter, stops very +suddenly, and is not speedily attended with some other Evacuation; the +Oppression and Anguish of the Patient immediately return, and the Danger +is great and pressing. If the Distemper, at this Juncture, is not of +many Days standing; if the Patient is a strong Person; if he has not as +yet been plentifully bled; if there be still some Blood mixed with the +Humour he expectorates; or if the Pulse be strong and hard, he should be +bled immediately in the Arm; and constantly receive the Steam of hot +Water and Vinegar by the Mouth, and drink plentifully of the Ptisan N. +2, something hotter than ordinary. But if his Circumstances, after this +Suppression, are different from these just mentioned; instead of +bleeding him, two Blisters should be applied to the Legs; and he should +drink plentifully of the Ptisan N. 12. + +The Causes which oftenest produce this Suppression of his Expectoration +are, 1, a sharp and sudden cold Air. 2, too hot a one. 3, over hot +Medicines. 4, excessive Sweating. 5, a Purge prematurely and +injudiciously timed. and 6, some immoderate Passion of the Mind. + + 65. When the Sick has not been sufficiently bled, or not soon enough; +and even sometimes, which I have seen, when he has been greatly weakened +by excessive Bleeding; so that the Discharges by Stool, Urine, +Expectoration and Perspiration, have not been sufficiently made; when +these Discharges have been confused by some other Cause; or the Disease +has been injudiciously treated; then the Vessels that have been +inflamed, do not unload themselves of the Humours, which stuff up and +oppress them: but there happens in the Substance of the affected Lung, +the same Circumstance we see daily occur on the Surface of the Body. If +an inflammatory Tumour or Swelling does not disperse itself, and +disappears insensibly, it forms an Imposthume or Abscess. Thus exactly +also in the inflamed Lung, if the Inflammation is not dissipated, it +forms an Abscess, which, in that part, is called a _Vomica:_ and the +Matter of that Abscess, like the external ones, remains often long +inclosed in its Sac or Bag, without bursting open its Membrane or Case, +and discharging the Matter it contains. + + 66. If the Inflammation was not very deeply seated in the inward +Substance of the diseased Lung; but was extended to its Surface, that +is, very near the Ribs, the Sac will burst on the Surface of the Lung; +and the Matter contained in it must be discharged into the Cavity, or +Hollowness of the Breast, between the Lung, the Ribs, and the Diaphragm +or Midriff, which is the Membrane that divides the Breast and the Belly. +But when the Inflammation is considerably deeper, the Imposthume bursts +withinside of the Lung itself. If its Orifice, or Opening is so small, +that but little can get out at once; if the Quantity of all the Matter +be inconsiderable, and the Patient is at the same Time pretty strong, he +coughs up the Matter, and is very sensibly relieved. But if this +_Vomica_ be large, or if its Orifice is wide, and it throws out a great +Quantity of Matter at once; or if the Patient is very weak, he dies the +Moment it bursts, and that sometimes when it is least expected. I have +seen one Patient so circumstanced expire, as he was conveying a Spoonful +of Soup to his Mouth; and another, while he was wiping his Nose. There +was no present Symptom in either of these Cases, whence a Physician +might suppose them likelier to die at that Instant, than for some Hours +before. The _Pus_, or Matter, is commonly discharged through the Mouth +after Death, and the Bodies very soon become putrified. + + 67. We call that _Vomica_ which is not burst, an _occult_ or hidden, +and that which is, an evident or open one. It is of considerable +Importance to treat exactly and clearly of this Topic; as a great Number +of Country People die of these Imposthumes, even without a Suspicion of +the Cause of their Death. I had an Instance of it some Days since, in +the School-master of a Village. He had an occult and very considerable +_Vomica_ in the left Lung, which was the Consequence of an Inflammation +of the Breast, that had been treated improperly at the Beginning. He +seemed to me not likely to live twenty four Hours; and really died in +the Night, after inexpressible Anguish. + + 68. Whatever Distemper is included within the Breast of a living +Patient, is neither an Object of the Sight or Touch whence these +_Vomicas_, these inward Tumours, are so often unknown, and indeed +unsuspected. The Evacuations that were necessary for the Cure, or +sometimes for the Prevention, of them, have not taken place, during the +first fourteen Days. At the End of this Term, the Patient, far from +being cured, is not very considerably relieved; but, on the contrary, +the Fever continues to be pretty high, with a Pulse continually quick; +in general soft and weak; though sometimes pretty hard, and often +fluctuating, or, as it were, waving. His Breathing is still difficult +and oppressed; with small cold Shudderings from Time to Time; an +Exasperation of the Fever; flushed Cheeks, dry Lips, and Thirst. + +The Increase of these Symptoms declare, that _Pus_ or Matter is +thoroughly formed: the Cough then becomes more continual; being +exasperated with the least Motion; or as soon as ever the Patient has +taken any Nourishment. He can repose only on the Side affected. It often +happens indeed, that he cannot lie down at all; but is obliged to be set +up all Day; sometimes even without daring to lean a little upon his +Loins, for fear of increasing the Cough and Oppression. He is unable to +sleep; has a continual Fever, and his Pulse frequently intermits. + +The Fever is not only heightened every Evening; but the smallest +Quantity of Food, the gentlest Motion, a little Coughing, the lightest +Agitation of the Mind, a little more than usual Heat in the Chamber, +Soup either a little too strong, or a little too salt, increase the +Quickness of his Pulse the Moment they occur, or are given. He is quite +restless, has some short Attacks of the most terrible Anguish, +accompanied and succeeded by Sweatings on his Breast, and from his whole +Countenance. He sweats sometimes the whole Night; his Urine is reddish, +now frothy, and at other times oily, as it were. Sudden Flushings, hot +as Flames, rise into his whole Visage. The greater Number of the Sick +are commonly sensible of a most disagreeable Taste in their Mouth; some +of old strong Cheese; others of rotten Eggs; and others again of +stinking Meat, and fall greatly away. The Thirst of some is +unquenchable; their Mouths and Lips are parched; their Voice weak and +hoarse; their Eyes hollow, with a kind of Wildness in their Looks. They +have a general Disgust to all Food; and if they should ask for some +particular Nourishment without seeing it, they reject it the Moment it +is brought them; and their Strength at length seems wholly exhausted. + +Besides these Symptoms, a little Inflation, or _Bloatedness_, as it +were, is sometimes observed on the Breast, towards the Side affected; +with an almost insensible Change of Colour. If the _Vomica_ be situated +at the Bottom of the affected Lobe of the Lungs, and in its internal +Part, that is, nearly in the Middle of the Breast, some _Puffiness_ or +light Swelling may be perceived in some Bodies, by gently pressing the +Pit of the Stomach; especially when the Patient coughs. In short, +according to the Observations of a German Physician, if one strike the +open Hand on the Breast, covered only with a Shirt, it retains in the +Spot, which is directly opposite to the _Vomica_, a flat heavy Sound, as +if one struck a Piece of Flesh; while in striking on the other Side it +gives a clear loud Sound, as from a Drum. I still doubt however, whether +this Observation will generally hold true; and it would be hazardous to +affirm there is no Abscess in a Breast, which does not return this heavy +Sound. + + 69. When a _Vomica_ is formed, as long as it is not emptied, all the +Symptoms I have already enumerated increase, and the _Vomica_ grows in +Size: the whole Side of the Lung affected sometimes becomes a Bag or Sac +of Matter. The sound Side is compressed; and the Patient dies after +dreadful Anguish, with the Lung full of _Pus_, and without having ever +brought up any. + +To avoid such fatal Consequences, it is necessary to procure the Rupture +and Discharge of this inward Abscess, as soon as we are certain of its +Existence: And as it is safer it should break within the Lobe affected, +from whence it may be discharged by hawking up; than that it should +burst and void itself into the Cavity of the Breast, for Reasons I shall +give hereafter, we must endeavour, that this Rupture may be effected +within the internal Substance of the Lungs. + + 70. The most effectual Methods to procure this are, 1. To make the +Patient continually receive, by his Mouth, the Vapour of warm Water. 2. +When by this Means that part of the Sac or Abscess is softened, where we +could wish the Rupture of it to happen, the Patient is to swallow a +large Quantity of the most emollient Liquid; such as Barley Water, +Almond Milk, light Veal Broth, or Milk and Water. By this Means the +Stomach is kept always full: so that the Resistance to the Lungs being +considerable on that Side, the Abscess and its Contents will naturally +be pressed towards the Side of the Wind-pipe, as it will meet with less +Resistance there. This fulness of the Stomach will also incline the +Patient to cough, which may concur to produce a good Event. Hence, 3, we +should endeavour to make the Patient cough, by making him smell to some +Vinegar, or even snuff up a little; or by injecting into his Throat, by +the Means of a small Syringe or Pipe, such as Children make out of short +Pieces of Elder-Boughs, a little Water or Vinegar. 4. He should be +advised to bawl out aloud, to read loud, or to laugh heartily; all which +Means contribute to burst open the Abscess, as well as those two +following ones. 5. Let him take every two Hours a Soup-Ladle of the +Potion N. 8. 6. He should be put into a Cart, or some other Carriage; +but not before he has drank plentifully of such Liquors as I have just +mentioned: after which the Shaking and Jolting in the Carriage have +sometimes immediately procured that Rupture, or breaking of the Bag or +Abscess, we wished for. + + 71. Some Years since I saw a Country Maid Servant, who was left in a +languishing Condition after an Inflammation of the Breast; without any +Person's suspecting her Ailment. This Woman being put into a Cart, that +was sent for a Load of Hay; one of the Wheels run violently against a +Tree: she swooned away, and at the same Time brought up a great Quantity +of digested Matter. She continued to bring up more; during which I was +informed of her Case, and of the Accident, which effectually cured her. + +A _Swiss_ Officer, who served in _Piedmont_, had been in a languid State +of Health for some Months; and returned home to set himself down as +easily as he could, without conceiving any considerable Hopes of +Recovery. Upon entering into his own Country, by the Way of _Mount +Bernard_; and being obliged to go some Paces on Foot, he fell down; and +remained in a Swoon above a Quarter of an Hour: during which Time he +threw up a large Quantity of Matter, and found himself that very Moment +very greatly relieved. I ordered him a proper Diet, and suitable +Medicines: his Health became perfectly established; and the Preservation +of his Life was principally owing to this lucky Fall. + +Many Persons afflicted with a _Vomica_, faint away the very Instant it +breaks. Some sharp Vinegar should be directly held to their Nose. This +small Assistance is generally sufficient, where the bursting of it is +not attended with such Appearances as shew it to be mortal, in which +Case every Application is insignificant. + + 72. If the sick Person was not extremely weak before the Bursting of +the Abscess; if the Matter was white, and well conditioned; if the Fever +abates after it; if the Anguish, Oppression and Sweats terminate; if the +Cough is less violent; if the Patient is sensibly easier in his +Situation or Posture; if he recovers his Sleep and Appetite; if his +usual Strength returns; if the Quantity he expectorates, or brings up, +becomes daily and gradually less; and if his Urine is apparently better, +we may have Room to hope, that by the Assistance of these Remedies I +shall immediately direct, he may be radically, compleatly cured. + + 73. But if on the contrary; when his Strength is exhausted before the +bursting of the Abscess; when the Matter is too thin and transparent, +brown, green, yellow, bloody and of an Offensive Smell; if the Pulse +continues quick and weak; if the Patient's Appetite, Strength and Sleep +do not improve, there remains no hope of a Cure, and the best Medicines +are ineffectual: Nevertheless we ought to make some Tryal of them. + + 74. They consist of the following Medicines and Regulations. 1. Give +every four Hours a little Barley or Rice Cream. 2. If the Matter brought +up is thick and glewy, so that it is very difficult to be loosened and +discharged, give every two Hours a Soup-ladle of the Potion N. 8; and +between the giving these two, let the Patient take every half Hour a Cup +of the Drink N. 13. 3. When the Consistence of the Matter is such, that +there is no Occasion for these Medicines to promote the Discharge of it, +they must be omitted; tho' the same Sort and Quantity of Food are to be +continued; but with the Addition of an equal Quantity of Milk; or, which +would be still more beneficial, instead of this Mixture, we should give +an equal Quantity of sweet Milk, taken from a good Cow, which, in such a +Case, may compose the whole Nourishment of the Patient. 4. He should +take four Times a Day, beginning early in the Morning, and at the +Distance of two Hours, a Dose of the Powder N. 14, diluted in a little +Water, or made into a _Bolus_, or Morsel, with a little Syrup or Honey. +His common Drink should be Almond Emulsion, commonly called Almond Milk, +or Barley Water, or fresh Water with a fourth part Milk. 5. He should +air and exercise every Day on Horseback, or in a Carriage, according as +his Strength and his Circumstances will allow him. But of all Sorts of +Exercise, that upon a trotting Horse is, beyond all Comparison, the very +best, and the easiest to be procured by every Body; provided the Disease +be not too far advanced; since in such a Situation, any Exercise, that +was only a little violent, might prove pernicious. + + 75. The Multitude, who are generally illiterate, seldom consider any +thing as a Remedy, except they swallow it. They have but little +Confidence in _Regimen_, or any Assistance in the Way of Diet, and +consider Riding on Horseback as wholly useless to them. This is a +dangerous Mistake, of which I should be glad to undeceive them: since +this Assistance, which appears so insignificant to them, is probably the +most effectual of any: it is that in Fact, without which they can +scarcely expect a Cure, in the highest Degrees of this Disease: it is +that, which perhaps alone may recover them, provided they take no +improper Food. In brief it is considered, and with Reason, as the real +Specific for this Disease. + + 76. The Influence of the Air is of more Importance in this Disorder, +than in any others; for which Reason great Care should be taken to +procure the best, in the Patient's Chamber. For this Purpose it should +often be ventilated, or have an Admission of fresh Air, and be sweetened +from Time to Time, tho' very lightly, with a little good Vinegar; and in +the Season it should be plentifully supplied with agreeable Herbs, +Flowers and Fruits. Should the Sick be unfortunately situated, and +confined in an unwholsome Air, there can be but little Prospect of +curing him, without altering it. + + 77. Out of many Persons affected with these Disorders, some have been +cured by taking nothing whatsoever but Butter-milk; others by Melons and +Cucumbers only; and others again by Summer Fruits of every Sort. +Nevertheless, as such Cases are singular, and have been but few, I +advise the Patient to observe the Method I have directed here, as the +surest. + + 78. It is sufficient if he have a Stool once in two, or even in three, +Days. Hence, there is no Reason for him, in this Case, to accustom +himself to Glysters: they might excite a Looseness, which may be very +dangerous. + + 79. When the Discharge of the Matter from the Breast diminishes, and +the Patient is perceivably mended in every Respect, it is a Proof that +the Wound in the Abscess is deterged, or clean, and that it is disposed +to heal up gradually. If the Suppuration, or Discharge, continues in +great Quantity; if it seems but of an indifferent Consistence; if the +Fever returns every Evening, it may be apprehended, that the Wound, +instead of healing, may degenerate into an Ulcer, which must prove a +most embarrassing Consequence. Under such a Circumstance, the Patient +would fall into a confirmed Hectic, and die after some Months Sickness. + + 80. I am not acquainted with any better Remedy, in such a dangerous +Case, than a Perseverance in these already directed, and especially in +moderate Exercise on Horseback. In some of them indeed Recourse may be +had to the sweet Vapours of some vulnerary Herbs in hot Water, with a +little Oil of Turpentine, as directed N. 15. I have seen them succeed; +but the safest Way is to consult a Physician, who may examine and +consider, if there is not some particular Circumstance combined with the +Disease, that proves an Obstacle to the Cure of it. If the Cough +prevents the Patient from Sleeping, he may take in the Evening two or +three Table Spoonfuls of the Prescription N. 16, in a Glass of Almond +Milk or Barley Water. + + 81. The very same Causes which suddenly suppress the Expectoration, in +an Inflammation of the Breast, may also check the Expectoration from a +_Vomica_ already begun: in which Circumstance the Patient is speedily +afflicted with an Oppression and Anguish, a Fever and evident +Feebleness. We should immediately endeavour to remove this Stoppage, by +the Vapour of hot Water; by giving a Spoonful of the Mixture N. 3 every +Hour; by a large Quantity of the Ptisan N. 12, and by a proper Degree +of Motion or Exercise. As soon as ever the Expectoration returns, the +Fever and the other Symptoms disappear. I have seen this Suppression in +strong Habits quickly followed with an Inflammation about the Seat of +the _Vomica_, which has obliged me to bleed, after which the +Expectoration immediately returned. + + 82. It happens sometimes, that the _Vomica_ is entirely cleansed; the +Expectoration is entirely finished, or drained off, the Patient seems +well, and thinks himself compleatly cured: but soon after, the +Uneasiness, Oppression, Cough and Fever are renewed, because the +Membrane or Bag of the _Vomica_ fills again: again it empties itself, +the Patient expectorates for some Days, and seems to recover. After some +Time however, the same Scene is repeated; and this Vicissitude, or +Succession, of moderate and of bad Health, often continues for some +Months and even some Years. This happens when the _Vomica_ is emptied, +and is gradually deterged; so that its Membranes, or Sides touch or +approach each other; but without cicatrizing or healing firmly; and then +there drops or leaks in very gradually fresh Matter. For a few Days this +seems no ways to incommode the Patient; but as soon as a certain +Quantity is accumulated, he is visited again with some of the former +Symptoms, 'till another Evacuation ensues. People thus circumstanced, in +this Disease, sometimes appear to enjoy a tolerable Share of Health. It +may be considered as a kind of internal Issue, which empties and +cleanses itself from Time to Time; pretty frequently in some +Constitutions, more slowly in others; and under which some may attain a +good middling Age. When it arrives however at a very considerable +Duration, it proves incurable. In its earliest State, it gives way +sometimes to a Milk-diet, to riding on Horseback; and to the Medicine +N. 14. + + 83. Some may be surprized, that in treating of an Abscess of the +Lungs, and of the Hectic, which is a Consequence of it, I say nothing of +those Remedies, commonly termed _Balsamics_, and so frequently employed +in them, for Instance, Turpentines, Balsam of Peru, of Mecca, +Frankincense, Mastich, Myrrh, Storax and Balsam of Sulphur. I shall +however say briefly here (because it is equally my Design to destroy the +Prejudice of the People, in favour of improper Medicines, and to +establish the Reputation of good ones) that I never in such Cases made +use of these Medicines; because I am convinced, that their Operation is +generally hurtful in such Cases; because I see them daily productive of +real Mischief; that they protract the Cure, and often change a slight +Disorder into an incurable Disease. They are incapable of perfect +Digestion, they obstruct the finest Vessels of the Lungs, whose +Obstructions we should endeavour to remove; and evidently occasion, +except their Dose be extremely small, Heat and Oppression. I have very +often seen to a Demonstration, that Pills compounded of Myrrh, +Turpentine and Balsam of Peru, have, an Hour after they were swallowed, +occasioned a Tumult and Agitation in the Pulse, high Flushings, Thirst +and Oppression. In short it is demonstrable to every unprejudiced +Person, that these Remedies, as they have been called, are truly +prejudicial in this Case; and I heartily wish People may be disabused +with Respect to them, and that they may lose that Reputation so +unhappily ascribed to them. + +I know that many Persons, very capable in other Respects, daily make use +of them in these Distempers: such however cannot fail of disusing them, +as soon as they shall have observed their Effects, abstracted from the +Virtues of the other Medicines to which they add them, and which +mitigate the Danger of them. I saw a Patient, whom a foreign Surgeon, +who lived at _Orbe_, attempted to cure of a Hectic with melted Bacon, +which aggravated the Disease. This Advice seemed, and certainly was, +absurd; nevertheless the Balsamics ordered in such Cases are probably +not more digestible than fat Bacon. The Powder N. 14 possesses whatever +these Balsamics pretend to: it is attended with none of the +Inconveniencies they produce; and has all the good Qualities ascribed to +them. Notwithstanding which, it must not be given while the Inflammation +exists; nor when it may revive again; and no other Aliment should be +mixed with the Milk. + +The famous Medicine called the _Antihectic_, (_Antihecticum Poterii_) +has not, any more than these Balsamics, the Virtues ascribed to it in +such Cases. I very often give it in some obstinate Coughs to Infants +with their Milk, and then it is very useful: but I have seldom seen it +attended with considerable Effects in grown Persons; and in the present +Cases I should be fearful of its doing Mischief. + + 84. If the _Vomica_, instead of breaking within the Substance of the +Lungs affected, should break without it, the Pus must be received into +the Cavity of the Breast. We know when that has happened, by the +Sensation or Feeling of the Patient; who perceives an uncommon, a +singular kind of Movement, pretty generally accompanied with a Fainting. +The Oppression and Anguish cease at once; the Fever abates; the Cough +however commonly continues, tho' with less Violence, and without any +Expectoration. But this seeming Amendment is of a short Duration, since +from the daily Augmentation of the Matter, and its becoming more acrid +or sharp, the Lungs become oppressed, irritated and eroded. The +Difficulty of Breathing, Heat, Thirst, Wakefulness, Distaste, and +Deafness, return, with many other Symptoms unnecessary to be enumerated, +and especially with frequent Sinkings and Weakness. The Patient should +be confined to his _Regimen_, to retard the Increase of the Disease as +much as possible; notwithstanding no other effectual Remedy remains, +except that of opening the Breast between two of the Ribs, to discharge +the Matter, and to stop the Disorder it occasions. This is called the +Operation for the _Empyema_. I shall not describe it here, as it should +not be undertaken but by Persons of Capacity and Experience, for whom +this Treatise was not intended. I would only observe, it is less painful +than terrifying; and that if it is delayed too long, it proves useless, +and the Patient dies miserably. + + 85. We may daily see external Inflammations turn gangrenous, or +mortify. The same Thing occurs in the Lungs, when the Fever is +excessive, the Inflammation either in its own Nature, extremely violent, +or raised to such a Height by hot Medicines. Intolerable Anguish, +extreme Weakness, frequent Faintings, Coldness of the Extremities, a +livid and foetid thin Humour brought up instead of concocted Spitting, +and sometimes blackish Stripes on the Breast, sufficiently distinguish +this miserable State. I have smelt in one Case of this Kind, where the +Patient had been attacked with this Disease (after a forced March on +Foot, having taken some Wine with Spices to force a Sweat) his Breath so +horribly stinking, that his Wife had many Sinkings from attending him. +When I saw him, I could discern neither Pulse nor Intellect, and ordered +him nothing. He died an Hour afterwards, about the Beginning of the +third Hour. + + 86. An Inflammation may also become hard, when it forms what we call a +_Scirrhus_, which is a very hard Tumour, indolent, or unpainful. This is +known to occur, when the disease has not terminated in any of those +Manners I have represented; and where, tho' the Fever and the other +Symptoms disappear, the Respiration, or Breathing, remains always a +little oppressed; the Patient still retains a troublesome Sensation in +one Side of his Breast; and has from Time to Time a dry Cough, which +increases after Exercise, and after eating. This Malady is but seldom +cured; though some Persons attacked with it last many Years, without any +other considerable Complaint. They should avoid all Occasions of +over-heating themselves; which might readily produce a new Inflammation +about this Tumour, the Consequences of which would be highly dangerous. + + 87. The best Remedies against this Disorder, and from which I have +seen some good Effects, are the medicated Whey N. 17, and the Pills N. +18. The Patient may take twenty Pills, and a Pint and a half of the Whey +every Morning for a long Continuance; and receive inwardly, now and +then, the Vapour of hot Water. + + 88. Each Lung, in a perfect State of Health, touches the _Pleura_, the +Membrane, that lines the Inside of the Breast; though it is not +connected to it. But it often happens, after an Inflammation of the +Breast, after the Pleurisy, and in some other Cases, that these two +Parts adhere closely to each other, and are never afterwards separated. +However this is scarcely to be considered as a Disease; and remains +commonly unknown, as the Health is not impaired by it, and nothing is +ever prescribed to remove it. Nevertheless I have seen a few Cases, in +which this Adhesion was manifestly prejudicial. + + + + + __Chapter V.__ + + + _Of the Pleurisy._ + + + __Sect.__ 89. + +The Pleurisy, which is chiefly known by these four Symptoms, a strong +Fever, a Difficulty of Breathing, a Cough, and an acute Pain about the +Breast; the Pleurisy, I say, is not a different Malady from the +Peripneumony, or Inflammation of the Breast, the Subject of the +preceding Chapter; so that I have very little to say of it, +particularly, or apart. + + 90. The Cause of this Disease then is exactly the same with that of +the former, that is, an Inflammation of the Lungs; but an Inflammation, +that seems rather a little more external. The only considerable +Difference in the Symptoms is, that the Pleurisy is accompanied with a +most acute Pain under the Ribs, and which is commonly termed a _Stitch_. +This Pain is felt indifferently over every Part of the Breast; though +more commonly about the Sides, under the more fleshy Parts of the +Breast, and oftenest on the right Side. The Pain is greatly increased +whenever the Patient coughs or draws in the Air in breathing; and hence +a Fear of increasing it, by making some Patients forbear to cough or +respire, as much as they possibly can; and that aggravates the Disease, +by stopping the Course of the Blood in the Lungs, which are soon +overcharged with it. Hence the Inflammation of this Bowel becomes +general; the Blood mounts up to the Head; the Countenance looks deeply +red, or as it were livid; the Patient becomes nearly suffocated, and +falls into the State described 47. + +Sometimes the Pain is so extremely violent, that if the Cough is very +urgent at the same Time, and the Sick cannot suppress or restrain it, +they are seized with Convulsions, of which I have seen many Instances, +but these occur almost always to Women; though they are much less +subject than Men to this Disease, and indeed to all inflammatory ones. +It may be proper however to observe here, that if Women should be +attacked with it, during their monthly Discharges, that Circumstance +should not prevent the repeated and necessary Bleedings, nor occasion +any Alteration in the Treatment of the Disease. And hence it appears, +that the Pleurisy is really an Inflammation of the Lungs, accompanied +with acute Pain. + + 91. I am sensible that sometimes an Inflammation of the Lungs is +communicated also to that Membrane, which lines the Inside of the +Breast; and which is called the _Pleura_; and from thence to the +Muscles, the fleshy Parts, over and between the Ribs. This however is +not very frequently the Case. + + 92. Spring is commonly the Season most productive of Pleurisies: in +general there are few in Summer: notwithstanding that in the Year 1762, +there were a great many during the hottest Season, which then was +excessively so. The Disease usually begins with a violent Shivering, +succeeded by considerable Heat, with a Cough, an Oppression, and +sometimes with a sensible Straitning, or Contraction, as it were, all +over the Breast; and also with a Head-ach, a Redness of the Cheeks, and +with Reachings to vomit. The Stitch does not always happen at the very +first Onset; often not 'till after several Hours from the first +Complaint; sometimes not before the second, or even the third Day. +Sometimes the Patient feels two Stitches, in different Parts of the +Side; though it seldom happens that they are equally sharp, and the +lightest soon ceases. Sometimes also the Stitch shifts its Place, which +promises well, if the Part first attacked by it continues perfectly free +from Pain: but it has a bad Appearance, if, while the first is present, +another also supervenes, and both continue. The Pulse is usually very +hard in this Distemper; but in the dreadful Cases described 47 and 90, +it becomes soft and small. There often occur at, or very quickly after, +the Invasion, such an Expectoration, or hawking up, as happens in an +Inflammation of the Breast; at other Times there is not the least +Appearance of it, whence such are named dry Pleurisies, which happen +pretty often. Sometimes the Sick cough but little, or not at all. They +often lie more at Ease upon the Side affected, than on the sound one. +The Progress of this Disease advances exactly like that described in the +preceding Chapter: for how can they differ considerably? and the +Treatment of both is the same. Large Hmorrhages, or Bleedings from the +Nose, frequently happen, to the great Relief of the Patient; but +sometimes such Discharges consist of a kind of corrupted Blood, when the +Patient is very ill, and these portend Death. + + 93. This Distemper is often produced by drinking cold Water, while a +Person is hot; from which Cause it is sometimes so violent, as to kill +the Patient in three Hours. A young Man was found dead at the Side of +the Spring, from which he had quenched his Thirst: neither indeed is it +uncommon for Pleurisies to prove mortal within three Days. + +Sometimes the Stitch disappears, whence the Patient complains less; but +at the same Time his Countenance changes; he grows pale and sad; his +Eyes look dull and heavy, and his Pulse grows feeble. This signifies a +Translation of the Disease to the Brain, a Case which is almost +constantly fatal. + +There is no Disease in which the critical Symptoms are more violent, and +more strongly marked, than in this. It is proper this should be known, +as it may prevent or lessen our excessive Terror. A perfect Cure +supervenes sometimes, at the very Moment when Death was expected. + + 94. This Malady is one of the most common and the most destroying +kind, as well from its own violent Nature, as through the pernicious +Treatment of it in Country Places. That Prejudice, which insists on +curing all Diseases by Sweating, entirely regulates their Conduct in +treating a Pleurisy; and as soon as a Person is afflicted with a Stitch, +all the hot Medicines are immediately set to Work. This mortal Error +destroys more People than Gunpowder; and it is by so much the more +hurtful, as the Distemper is of the most violent kind; and because, as +there is commonly not a Moment to be lost, the whole depends on the +Method immediately recurred to. + + 95. The proper Manner of treating this Disease, is exactly the same in +all Respects, with that of the Peripneumony; because, I again affirm, it +is the very same Disease. Hence the Bleedings, the softening and +diluting Drinks, the Steams, the Glysters, the Potion N. 8, and the +emollient Poultices are the real Remedies. These last perhaps are still +more effectual in the Pleurisy; and therefore they should be continually +applied over the very Stitch. + +The first Bleeding, especially if there has been a considerable +Discharge, almost constantly abates the Stitch, and often entirely +removes it: though it more commonly returns, after an Intermission of +some Hours, either in the same Spot, or sometimes in another. This +shifting of it is rather favourable, especially if the Pain, that was +first felt under the Breast, shifts into the Shoulders, to the Back, the +Shoulder-blade, or the Nape of the Neck. + +When the Stitch is not at all abated, or only a little; or if, after +having abated, it returns as violently as at first, and especially if it +returns in the same Spot, and the Height of the other Symptoms continue, +Bleeding must be repeated. But if a sensible Abatement of the Stitch +continues; and if, though it returns, it should be in a smaller Degree, +and by Intervals, or in these Places I have mentioned above; if the +Quickness, or the Hardness of the Pulse, and all the other Symptoms are +sensibly diminished, this repeated Bleeding may sometimes be omitted. +Nevertheless, in a very strong Subject, it seems rather prudent not to +omit it, since in such Circumstances it can do no Mischief; and a +considerable Hazard may sometimes be incurred by the Omission. In very +high and dangerous Pleurisies a frequent Repetition of bleeding is +necessary; except some Impediment to it should arise from the particular +Constitution of the Patient, or from his Age, or some other +Circumstances. + +If, from the Beginning of the Disease, the Pulse is but a little quicker +and harder than in a healthy State; if it is not manifestly strong; if +the Head-ach and the Stitch are so moderate as to prove supportable; if +the Cough is not too violent; if there is no sensible Oppression or +Straitness, and the Patient expectorate, or cough up, Bleeding may be +omitted. + +With Respect to the administering of other Remedies, the same Directions +are to be exactly followed, which have been already given in the +preceding Chapter, to which the Reader is referred from 53 to 66. + + 96. When the Disease is not very acute and pressing, I have often +cured it in a very few Days by a single Bleeding, and a large Quantity +of a Tea or Infusion of Elder-flowers, sweetened with Honey. It is in +some Cases of this kind, that we often find the Water _Faltranc_ +succeed, with the Addition of some Honey, and even of Oil: though the +Drink I have just directed is considerably preferable. That Drink which +is compounded of equal Quantities of Wine and Water, with the Addition +of much Venice Treacle, annually destroys a great Number of People in +the Country. + + 97. In those dry Pleurisies, in which the Stitch, the Fever, and the +Head-ach are strong and violent; and where the Pulse is very hard and +very full, with an excessive Dryness of the Skin and of the Tongue, +Bleeding should be frequently repeated, and at small Intervals from each +other. This Method frequently cures the Disease effectually, without +using any other Evacuation. + + 98. The Pleurisy terminates, like any other inward Inflammation, +either by some Evacuation; by an Abscess; in a Mortification; or in a +Scirrhosity or hard Tumour; and it often leaves Adhesions in the Breast. + +The Gangrene or Mortification sometimes appears on the third Day, +without having been preceded by very vehement Pains. In such Cases the +dead Body often looks very black, especially in the Parts near the Seat +of the Disease: and in such the more superstitious ascribe it to some +supernatural Cause; or draw some unhappy Presage from it, with Respect +to those who are yet unattacked by it. This Appearance however is purely +a natural Consequence, quite simple, and cannot be otherwise; and the +hot Regimen and Medicines are the most prevailing Causes of it. I have +seen it thus circumstanced in a Man in the Flower of his Age, who had +taken Venice Treacle in Cherry Water, and the Ingredients of _Faltranc_ +infused in Wine. + + 99. _Vomicas_ are sometimes the Consequences of Pleurisies; but their +particular Situation disposes them more to break [22] outwardly; which +is the most frequent Cause of an _Empyema_ 84. "To prevent this, it is +highly proper to apply, at the first Invasion of the Disease, to the +Spot where the Pain chiefly rages, a small Plaister, which may exactly +fit it; since if the Pleurisy should terminate in an Abscess or +Imposthume, the purulent Matter will be determined to that Side. + +[22] That is, into the Cavity of the Breast, rather than within the + Substance of the Lungs. + +"As soon then as it is foreseen that an Abscess is forming (see 68) we +should erode, by a light Caustic, the Place where it is expected; and as +soon as it is removed, Care should be taken to promote Suppuration +there. By this Means we may entertain a reasonable Hope, that the Mass +of Matter will incline its Course to that Spot, where it will meet with +the least Resistance, and be discharged from thence. For this Heap of +Matter is often accumulated between the _Pleura_, and the Parts which +adhere to it." + +This is the Advice of a very [23] great Physician; but I must inform the +Reader, there are many Cases, in which it can be of no Service; neither +ought it to be attempted, but by Persons of undoubted Abilities. + +[23] This is, undoubtedly, Baron _Van Swieten_, with whom he had + premised, he agreed considerably, in all the Diseases they had both + treated of. _K._ + +With Regard to the Scirrhosity, or Hardness, and to the Circumstances of +Adhesions, I can add nothing to what I have said in 86 and 87. + + 100. It has been observed that some Persons, who have been once +attacked by this Disease, are often liable to Relapses of it, especially +such as drink hard. I knew one Man, who reckoned up his Pleurisies by +Dozens. A few Bleedings, at certain proper Intervals, might prevent +these frequent Returns of it; which, joined to their excessive Drinking, +make them languid and stupid, in the very Flower of their Age. They +generally fall into some Species of an Asthma, and from that into a +Dropsy, which proves the melancholy, though not an improper, Conclusion +of their Lives. Such as can confine themselves to some proper +Precautions, may also prevent these frequent Returns of this Disease, +even without bleeding; by a temperate Regimen; by abstaining from Time +to Time, from eating Flesh and drinking Wine; at which Times they should +drink Whey, or some of those Diet-Drinks N. 1, 2, 4; and by bathing +their Legs sometimes in warm Water; especially in those Seasons, when +this Disease is the most likely to return. + + 101. Two Medicines greatly esteemed in this Disease among the +Peasantry, and even extolled by some Physicians, are the Blood of a wild +He Goat, and the [24] Soot in an Egg. I do not contest the Cure or +Recovery of many Persons, who have taken these Remedies; notwithstanding +it is not less true, that both of them, as well as the Egg in which the +Soot is taken, are dangerous: For which Reason it is prudent, at least, +never to make use of them; as there is great Probability, they may do a +little Mischief; and a Certainty that they can do no Good. The _Genipi_, +or [25] Wormwood of the Alps, has also acquired great Reputation in this +Disease, and occasioned many Disputes between some very zealous +Ecclesiastics, and a justly celebrated Physician. It seems not difficult +however to ascertain the proper Use of it. This Plant is a powerful +Bitter; it heats and excites Sweat: it seems clear, that, from such +Consequences, it should never be employed in a Pleurisy, while the +Vessels are full, the Pulse hard, the Fever high, and the Blood +inflamed. In all such Circumstances it must aggravate the Disease; but +towards the Conclusion of it, when the Vessels are considerably emptied, +the Blood is diluted, and the Fever abated, it may then be recurred to; +but with a constant Recollection that it is hot, and not to be employed +without Reflection and Prudence. [26] + +[24] This, with great Probability, means that small black Substance + often visible in a rotten Egg, which is undoubtedly of a violent, + or even poisonous Quality. Dr. _Tissot_ terms it expressly--_la + suie dans un Oeuf_. K. + +[25] Dr. _Lewis_, who has not taken Notice of this Species of Wormwood + in his Improvement of _Quincy's_ Dispensatory, has mentioned it in + his late _Materia Medica_. K. + +[26] This being a proper Place for directing the Seneka Rattle Snake + Root, I shall observe, that the best Way of exhibiting it is in + Decoction, by gradually simmering and boiling two Ounces of it in + gross Powder, in two Pints and a half of Water, to a Pint and a + quarter; and then giving three Spoonfuls of it to a grown Person, + every six Hours. If the Stitch should continue, or return, after + taking it, Bleeding, which should be premised to it, must be + occasionally repeated; though it seldom proves necessary, after a + few Doses of it. It greatly promotes Expectoration, keeps the Body + gently open, and sometimes operates by Urine and by Sweat; very + seldom proving at all emetic in Decoction. The Regimen of Drinks + directed here in Pleurisies are to be given as usual. Dr. + _Tennant_, the Introducer of this valuable Medicine, confided + solely in it, in Bastard Peripneumonies, without Bleeding, + Blistering, or any other Medicines. _K._ + + + + + __Chapter VI.__ + + + _Of the Diseases of the Throat._ + + + __Sect.__ 102. + +The Throat is subject to many Diseases: One of the most frequent and the +most dangerous, is that Inflammation of it, commonly termed a Quinsey. +This in Effect is a Distemper of the same Nature with an Inflammation of +the Breast; but as it occurs in a different Part, the Symptoms, of +Course, are very different. They also vary, not a very little, according +to the different Parts of the Throat which are inflamed. + + 103. The general Symptoms of an Inflammation of the Throat are, the +Shivering, the subsequent Heat, the Fever, the Head-ach, red +high-coloured Urine, a considerable Difficulty, and sometimes even an +Impossibility, of swallowing any thing whatever. But if the nearer Parts +to the _Glottis_, that is, of the Entrance into the Windpipe, or Conduit +through which we breathe, are attacked, Breathing becomes excessively +difficult; the Patient is sensible of extreme Anguish, and great +Approaches to Suffocation; the Disease is then extended to the +_Glottis_, to the Body of the Wind-pipe, and even to the Substance of +the Lungs, whence it becomes speedily fatal. + +The Inflammation of the other Parts is attended with less Danger; and +this Danger becomes still less, as the Disease is more extended to the +outward and superficial Parts. When the Inflammation is general, and +seizes all the internal Parts of the Throat, and particularly the +Tonsils or Almonds, as they are called, the _Uvula_, or Process of the +Palate, and the _Basis_, or remotest deepest Part of the Tongue, it is +one of the most dangerous and dreadful Maladies. The Face is then +swelled up and inflamed; the whole Inside of the Throat is in the same +Condition; the Patient can get nothing down; he breathes with a Pain and +Anguish, which concur, with a Stuffing or Obstruction in his Brains, to +throw him into a kind of furious _Delirium_, or Raving. His Tongue is +bloated up, and is extended out of his Mouth; his Nostrils are dilated, +as tho' it were to assist him in his Breathing; the whole Neck, even to +the Beginning of the Breast, is excessively tumified or swelled up; the +Pulse is very quick, very weak, and often intermits; the miserable +Patient is deprived of all his Strength, and commonly dies the second or +third Day. Very fortunately this Kind, or Degree of it, which I have +often seen in _Languedoc_, happens very rarely in _Swisserland_, where +the Disease is less violent; and where I have only seen People die of +it, in Consequence of its being perniciously treated; or by Reason of +some accidental Circumstances, which were foreign to the Disease itself. +Of the Multitude of Patients I have attended in this Disorder, I have +known but one to fail under it, whose Case I shall mention towards the +Close of this Chapter. + + 104. Sometimes the Disease shifts from the internal to the external +Parts: the Skin of the Neck and Breast grows very red, and becomes +painful, but the Patient finds himself better. + +At other Times the Disorder quits the Throat; but is transferred to the +Brain, or upon the Lungs. Both these Translations of it are mortal, when +the best Advice and Assistance cannot be immediately procured; and it +must be acknowledged, that even the best are often ineffectual. + + 105. The most usual kind of this Disease is that which affects only +the Tonsils (the Almonds) and the Palate; or rather its Process, +_commonly called_ the Palate. It generally first invades one of the +Tonsils, which becomes enlarged, red and painful, and does not allow the +afflicted to swallow, but with great Pain. Sometimes the Disorder is +confined to one Side; but most commonly it is extended to the _Uvula_, +(the Palate) from whence it is extended to the other Tonsil. If it be of +a mild kind, the Tonsil first affected is generally better, when the +second is attacked. Whenever they are both affected at once, the Pain +and the Anguish of the Patient are very considerable; he cannot swallow, +but with great Difficulty and Complaint; and the Torment of this is so +vehement, that I have seen Women affected with Convulsions, as often as +they endeavoured to swallow their Spittle, or any other Liquid. They +continue, even for several Hours sometimes, unable to take any thing +whatever; all the upper inward Part of the Mouth, the Bottom of the +Palate, and the descending Part of the Tongue become lightly red, or +inflamed. + +A considerable Proportion of Persons under this Disease swallow Liquids +more difficultly than Solids; by Reason that Liquids require a greater +Action of some Part of the Muscles, in order to their being properly +directed into their Conduit or Chanel. The Deglutition (the Swallowing) +of the Spittle is attended with still more Uneasiness than that of other +Liquids, because it is a little more thick and viscid, and flows down +with less Ease. This Difficulty of swallowing, joined to the Quantity +thence accumulated, produces that almost continual hawking up, which +oppresses some Patients so much the more, as the Inside of their Cheeks, +their whole Tongue, and their Lips are often galled, and even flead as +it were. This also prevents their Sleeping, which however seems no +considerable Evil; Sleep being _sometimes_ but of little Service in +Diseases attended with a Fever; and I have often seen those, who thought +their Throats almost entirely well in the Evening, and yet found them +very bad after some Hours Sleep. + +The Fever, in this Species of the Disease, is sometimes, very high; and +the Shivering often endures for many Hours. It is succeeded by +considerable Heat, and a violent Head-ach, which yet is sometimes +attended with a Drowsiness. The Fever is commonly pretty high in the +Evening, though sometimes but inconsiderable, and by the Morning perhaps +there is none at all. + +A light Invasion of this Disease of the Throat often precedes the +Shivering; though most commonly it does not become manifest 'till after +it, and at the same Time when the Heat comes on. + +The Neck is sometimes a little inflated, or puffed up; and many of the +Sick complain of a pretty smart Pain in the Ear of that Side, which is +most affected. I have but very seldom observed that they had it in both. + + 106. The Inflammation either disappears by Degrees, or an Abscess is +formed in the Part which was chiefly affected. It has never happened, at +least within my Knowledge, that this Sort of the Disease, prudently +treated, has ever terminated either in a Mortification, or a Scirrhus: +but I have been a Witness to either of these supervening, when Sweating +was extorted in the Beginning of it, by hot Medicines. + +It is also very rare to meet with those highly dangerous Translations of +this Disease upon the Lungs, such as are described in that Species of it +from 103, 104. It is true indeed it does not occur more frequently, +even in that Species, whenever the Disease is thrown out upon the more +external Parts. + + 107. The Treatment of the Quinsey, as well as of all other +inflammatory Diseases, is the same with that of an Inflammation of the +Breast. + +The Sick is immediately to be put upon a Regimen; and in that Sort +described 103, Bleeding must be repeated four or five Times within a +few Hours; and sometimes there is a Necessity to recur still oftner to +it. When it assaults the Patient in the most vehement Degree, all +Medicines, all Means, are very generally ineffectual; they should be +tried however. We should give as much as can be taken of the Drinks N. +2 and 4. But as the Quantity they are able to swallow is often very +inconsiderable; the Glyster N. 5 should be repeated every three Hours; +and their Legs should be put into a Bath of warm Water, thrice a Day. + + 108. Cupping Glasses, with Scarification, applied about the Neck, +after bleeding twice or thrice, have often been experienced to be highly +useful. In the most desperate Cases, when the Neck is excessively +swelled, one or two deep Incisions made with a Razor, on this external +Tumour, have sometimes saved a Patient's Life. + + 109. In that kind, and those Circumstances, of this Disease described + 105 we must have very frequent Recourse to Bleeding; and it should +never be omitted, when the Pulse is very perceivably hard and full. It +is of the utmost Consequence to do it instantaneously; since it is the +only Means to prevent the Abscess, which forms very readily, if Bleeding +has been neglected, only for a few Hours. Sometimes it is necessary to +repeat it a second Time, but very rarely a third. + +This Disease is frequently so gentle and mild, as to be cured without +Bleeding, by the Means of much good Management. But as many as are not +Masters of their own Time, nor in such an easy Situation, as to be +properly attended, ought, without the least Hesitation, to be bled +directly, which is sometimes sufficient to remove the Complaint; +especially if, after Bleeding, the Patient drinks plentifully of the +Ptisan N. 2. + +In this light Degree of the Disease, it may suffice to bathe the Legs, +and to receive a Glyster, once a Day each; the first to be used in the +Morning, and the last in the Evening. Besides the general Remedies +against Inflammations, a few particular ones, calculated precisely for +this Disease, may be applied in each kind or Degree of it. The best are, +first the emollient Poultices, N. 9, laid over the whole Neck. [27] +Some have highly extolled the Application of Swallows Nests in this +Disease; and though I make no Objection to it, I think it certainly less +efficacious than any of those which I direct. + +[27] The _English_ avail themselves considerably, in this Disease, of a + Mixture of equal Parts of Sallad Oil, and Spirit of Sal Ammoniac; + or of Oil and Spirit of Hartshorn, as a Liniment and Application + round the Neck. This Remedy corresponds with many Indications; and + deserves, perhaps, the first Place amongst local Applications + against the inflammatory Quinsey. _E. L._ + +2. Of the Gargarisms (N. 19) a great Variety may be prepared, of pretty +much the same Properties, and of equal Efficacy. Those I direct here are +what have succeeded best with me and they are very simple. [28] + +[28] Dr. _Pringle_ is apprehensive of some ill Effects from Acids in + Gargarisms [_which is probably from their supposed repelling + Property_] and prefers a Decoction of Figs in Milk and Water, to + which he adds a small Quantity of Spirit of Sal Ammoniac. _E. L._ + +3. The Steam of hot Water, as directed 55, should be repeated five or +six Times a Day; a Poultice should be constantly kept on, and often +renewed; and the Patient should often gargle. + +There are some Persons, besides Children, who cannot gargle themselves: +and in fact the Pain occasioned by it makes it the more difficult. In +such a Case, instead of gargling, the same Gargarism (N. 19) may be +injected with a small Syringe. The Injection reaches further than +Gargling, and often causes the Patient to hawk up a considerable +Quantity of glarey Matter (which has grown still thicker towards the +Bottom of the Throat) to his sensible Relief. This Injection should be +often repeated. The little hollowed Pipes of Elder Wood, which all the +Children in the Country can make, may be conveniently employed for this +Purpose. The Patient should breathe out, rather than inspire, during the +Injection. + + 110. Whenever the Disease terminates without Suppuration, the Fever, +the Head-ach, the Heat in the Throat, and the Pain in swallowing, begin +to abate from the fourth Day, some times from the third, often only from +the fifth; and from such Period that Abatement increases at a great +Rate; so that at the End of two, three, or four Days, on the sixth, +seventh, or eighth, the Patient is entirely well. Some few however +continue to feel a light Degree of Pain, and that only on one Side, four +or five Days longer, but without a Fever, or any considerable +Uneasiness. + + 111. Sometimes the Fever and the other Symptoms abate, after the +Bleeding and other Remedies; without any subsequent Amendment in the +Throat, or any Signs of Suppuration. In such Cases we must chiefly +persist in the Gargarisms and the Steams; and where an experienced and +dexterous Surgeon can be procured, it were proper he should scarify the +inflamed Tonsils. These discharge, in such Cases, a moderate Quantity of +Blood; and this Evacuation relieves, very readily, as many as make use +of it. + + 112. If the Inflammation is no ways disposed to disperse, so that an +Abscess is forming, which almost ever happens, if it has not been +obviated at the Invasion of the Disease; then the Symptoms attending the +Fever continue, though raging a little less after the fourth Day: the +Throat continues red, but of a less florid and lively Redness: a Pain +also continues, though less acute, accompanied sometimes with +Pulsations, and at other Times intirely without any; of which it is +proper to take Notice: the Pulse commonly grows a little softer; and on +the fifth or sixth Day, and sometimes sooner, the Abscess is ready to +break. This may be discovered by the Appearance of a small white and +soft Tumour, when the Mouth is open, which commonly appears about the +Centre or Middle of the Inflammation. It bursts of itself; or, should it +not, it must be opened. This is effected by strongly securing a Lancet +to one End of a small Stick or Handle, and enveloping, or wrapping up +the whole Blade of it, except the Point and the Length of one fourth or +a third of an Inch, in some Folds of soft Linnen; after which the +Abscess is pierced with the Point of this Lancet. The Instant it is +opened, the Mouth is filled with the Discharge of a Quantity of _Pus_, +of the most intolerable Savour and Smell. The Patient should gargle +himself after the Discharge of it with the detersive, or cleansing +Gargarism N. 19. It is surprising sometimes to see the Quantity of +Matter discharged from this Imposthumation. In general there is but one; +though sometimes I have seen two of them. + + 113. It happens, and not seldom, that the Matter is not collected +exactly in the Place, where the Inflammation appeared, but in some less +exposed and less visible Place: whence a Facility of swallowing is +almost entirely restored; the Fever abates; the Patient sleeps; he +imagines he is cured, and that no Inconvenience remains, but such as +ordinarily occurs in the earliest Stage of Recovery. A Person who is +neither a Physician, nor a Surgeon, may easily deceive himself, when in +this State. But the following Signs may enable him to discover that +there is an Abscess, viz. A certain Inquietude and general Uneasiness; a +Pain throughout the Mouth; some Shiverings from Time to Time; frequently +sharp, but short and transient, Heat: a Pulse moderately soft, but not +in a natural State; a Sensation of Thickness and Heaviness in the +Tongue; small white Eruptions on the Gums, on the Inside of the Cheek, +on the Inside and Outside of the Lips, and a disagreeable Taste and +Odour. + + 114. In such Cases Milk or warm Water should frequently be retained in +the Mouth; the Vapour of hot Water should be conveyed into it; and +emollient Cataplasms may be applied about the Neck. All these Means +concur to the softening and breaking of the Abscess. The Finger may also +be introduced to feel for its Situation; and when discovered, the +Surgeon may easily open it. I happened once to break one under my +Finger, without having made the least Effort to do it. Warm Water may be +injected pretty forcibly, either by the Mouth or the Nostrils: this +sometimes occasions a kind of Cough, or certain Efforts which tend to +break it. I have seen this happen even from laughing. As to the rest, +the Patient should not be too anxious or uneasy about the Event. I never +saw a single Instance of a Person's dying of a Quinsey of this kind, +after the Suppuration is truly effected; neither has it happened perhaps +after the Time it is forming for Suppuration. + + 115. The glairy Matter with which the Throat is over-charged, and the +very Inflammation of that Part, which, from its Irritation, produces the +same Effect, as the Introduction of a Finger into it, occasions some +Patients to complain of incessant Propensities to vomit. We must be upon +our Guard here, and not suppose that this Heart-Sickness, as some have +called it, results from a Disorder of, or a Load within, the Stomach, +and that it requires a Vomit for its Removal. The giving one here would +often prove a very unfortunate Mistake. It might, in a high +Inflammation, further aggravate it; or we might be obliged (even during +the Operation of the Vomit) to bleed, in order to lessen the Violence of +the Inflammation. Such Imprudence with its bad Consequences, often +leaves the Patient, even after the Disease is cured, in a State of +Languor and Weakness for a considerable Time. Nevertheless, there are +some particular Disorders of the Throat, attended with a Fever, in which +a Vomit may be prudently given. But this can only be, when there is no +Inflammation, or after it is dispersed; and there still remains some +putrid Matter in the first Passages. Of such Cases I shall speak +hereafter. [29] + +[29] In Diseases of the Throat, which have been preceded by such + Excesses in Food or strong Drink, as occur too often in many + Countries, when the Patient has very strong Reachings to vomit, and + the Tongue is moist at the same Time; we should not hesitate, after + appeasing the first Symptoms of the Inflammation [by sufficient + Bleedings, &c.] to assist the Efforts of Nature, and to give a + small Dose of Tartar emetic, dissolved in some Spoonfuls of Water. + This Remedy in this Case, promotes the Dispersion of the + Inflammation, beyond any other. _E. L._ + + 116. We often see in _Swisserland_ a Disorder different from these of +the Throat, of which we have just treated; though, like these, attended +with a Difficulty of swallowing. It is termed in French the _Oreillons_, +and often the _Ourles_, or swelled Ears. It is an Overfulness and +Obstruction of those Glands and their Tubes, which are to furnish the +_Saliva_ or Spittle; and particularly of the two large Glands which lie +between the Ear and the Jaw; which are called the _Parotides_; and of +two under the Jaw, called the _Maxillares_. All these being considerably +swelled in this Disease, do not only produce a great Difficulty of +swallowing; but also prevent the Mouth from opening; as an Attempt to do +it is attended with violent Pain. Young Children are much more liable to +this Disease than grown Persons. Being seldom attended with a Fever, +there is no Occasion for Medicines: It is sufficient to defend the Parts +affected from the external Air; to apply some proper Poultice over them; +to lessen the Quantity of their Food considerably, denying them Flesh +and Wine; but indulging them plentifully in some light warm Liquid, to +dilute their Humours and restore Perspiration. I cured myself of this +Disorder in 1754, by drinking nothing, for four Days, but Balm Tea, to +which I added one fourth part Milk, and a little Bread. The same +_Regimen_ has often cured me of other light Complaints of the Throat. + + 117. In the Spring of 1761, there were an astonishing Number of +Persons attacked with Disorders of the Throat, of two different Kinds. +Some of them were seized with that common Sort which I have already +described. Without adding any thing more particularly, in Respect to +this Species, it happened frequently to grown Persons, who were +perfectly cured by the Method already recited. The other Species, on +which I shall be more particular in this Place (because I know they have +abounded in some Villages, and were very fatal) invaded Adults, or grown +Persons also, but especially Children, from the Age of one Year, and +even under that, to the Age of twelve or thirteen. + +The first Symptoms were the same with those of the common Quinsey, such +as the Shivering, the ensuing Heat or Fever, Dejection, and a Complaint +of the Throat: but the following Symptoms distinguished these from the +common inflammatory Quinseys. + +1. The Sick had often something of a Cough, and a little Oppression. + +2. The Pulse was quicker, but less hard, and less strong, than generally +happens in Diseases of the Throat. + +3. The Patients were afflicted with a sharp, stinging and dry Heat, and +with great Restlessness. + +4. They spat less than is usual in a common Quinsey; and their Tongues +were extremely dry. + +5. Though they had some Pain in swallowing, this was not their principal +Complaint, and they could drink sufficiently. + +6. The Swelling and Redness of the Tonsils, of the Palate, and of its +Process were not considerable; but the parotid and maxillary Glands, and +especially the former, being extremely swelled and inflamed, the Pain +they chiefly complained of, was this outward one. + +7. When the Disease proved considerably dangerous, the whole Neck +swelled; and sometimes even the Veins, which return the Blood from the +Brain, being overladen, as it were, the Sick had some Degree of +Drowsiness, and of a _Delirium_, or Raving. + +8. The Paroxysms, or Returns, of the Fever were considerably irregular. + +9. The Urine appeared to be less inflamed, than in other Diseases of the +Throat. + +10. Bleeding and other Medicines did not relieve them, as soon as in the +other kind; and the Disease itself continued a longer Time. + +11. It did not terminate in a Suppuration like other Quinsies, but +sometimes the Tonsils were ulcerated. + +12. [30] Almost every Child, and indeed a great many of the grown +Persons assaulted with this Disease, threw out, either on the first Day, +or on some succeeding one, within the first six Days, a certain +Efflorescence, or Eruptions, resembling the Measles considerably in +some, but of a less lively Colour, and without any Elevation, or rising +above the Skin. It appeared first in the Face, next in the Arms, and +descended to the Legs, Thighs and Trunk; disappearing gradually at the +End of two or three Days, in the same Order it had observed in breaking +out. A few others (I have seen but five Instances of it) suffered the +most grievous Symptoms before the Eruption; and threw out the genuine +_purpura_, or white miliary Eruption. + +[30] This seems to have been the same kind of Quinsey, of which Drs. + _Huxham_, _Fothergil_, _Cotton_ and others wrote, though under + different Appellations. _K._ + +13. As soon as these Efflorescences or Eruptions appeared, the Sick +generally found themselves better. That, last mentioned, continued four, +five, or six Days, and frequently went off by Sweats. Such as had not +these Ebullitions, which was the Case of many Adults, were not cured +without very plentiful Sweats towards the Termination of the Disease: +those which occurred at the Invasion of it being certainly unprofitable, +and always hurtful. + +14. I have seen some Patients, in whom the Complaint of the Throat +disappeared entirely, without either Eruptions or Sweats: but such still +remained in very great Inquietude and Anguish, with a quick and small +Pulse. I ordered them a sudorific Drink, which being succeeded by the +Eruption, or by Sweating, they found themselves sensibly relieved. + +15. But whether the Sick had, or had not, these external Rednesses or +Eruptions, every one of them parted with their Cuticle or Scarf Skin, +which fell off, in large Scales, from the whole Surface of the Body: so +great was the Acrimony or Sharpness of that Matter, which was to be +discharged through the Skin. + +16. A great Number suffered a singular Alteration in their Voice, +different from that which occurs in common Quinsies, the Inside of their +Nostrils being extremely dry. + +17. The Sick recovered with more Difficulty after this, than after the +common Quinsies: and if they were negligent or irregular, during their +Recovery; particularly, if they exposed themselves too soon to the Cold, +a Relapse ensued, or some different Symptoms; such as a Stuffing with +Oppression, a Swelling of the Belly, windy Swellings in different Parts; +Weakness, Loathings, Ulcerations behind the Ears, and something of a +Cough and Hoarseness. + +18. I have been sent for to Children, and also to some young Folks, who, +at the End of several Weeks, had been taken with a general Inflammation +of the whole Body, attended with great Oppression, and a considerable +Abatement of their Urine, which was also high-coloured and turbid, or +without Separation. They seemed also in a very singular State of +Indifference, or Disregard, with Respect to any Object, or Circumstance. +I recovered every one of them entirely by Blisters, and the Powder N. +25. The first Operation of this Medicine was to vomit them: to this +succeeded a Discharge by Urine, and at last very plentiful Sweating, +which compleated the Cure. Two Patients only, of a bad Constitution, who +were a little ricketty, and disposed to glandular Scirrhosity or +Knottiness, relapsed and died, after being recovered of the Disease +itself for some Days. + + 118. I have bled some adult Persons, and made Use of the cooling +Regimen, as long as there was an evident Inflammation: it was necessary +after this to unload the first Passages; and at last to excite moderate +Sweats. The same Powders N. 25 have often effected both these +Discharges, and with entire Success. In other Cases I have made Use of +Ipecacuanha, as directed N. 35. + +In some Subjects there did not appear any inflammatory Symptom; and the +Distemper resulted solely from a Load of putrid Matter in the first +Passages. Some Patients also discharged Worms. In such Cases I never +bled; but the Vomit had an excellent Effect, at the very Onset of the +Disease; it produced a perceivable Abatement of all the Symptoms; +Sweating ensued very kindly and naturally, and the Patient recovered +entirely a few Hours after. + + 119. There were some Places, in which no Symptom or Character of +Inflammation appeared; and in which it was necessary to omit Bleeding, +which was attended with bad Consequences. + +I never directed Infants to be bled. After opening the first Passages, +Blisters and diluting Drinks proved their only Remedies. A simple +Infusion of Elder Flowers, and those of the Lime Tree, has done great +Service to those who drank plentifully of it. + + 120. I am sensible that in many Villages a great Number of Persons +have died, with a prodigious Inflation or Swelling of the Neck. Some +have also died in the City, and among others a young Woman of twenty +Years of Age, who had taken nothing but hot sweating Medicines and red +Wine, and died the fourth Day, with violent Suffocations, and a large +Discharge of Blood from the Nose. Of the great Number I have seen in +Person, only two died. One was a little Girl of ten Months old. She had +an Efflorescence which very suddenly disappeared: at this Time I was +called in; but the Humour had retreated to the Breast, and rendered her +Death inevitable. The other was a strong Youth from sixteen to seventeen +Years old, whose sudden Attack from the Disease manifested, from the +very Beginning, a violent Degree of it. Nevertheless, the Symptoms +subsiding, and the Fever nearly terminating, the Sweats which approached +would probably have saved him. But he would not suffer them to have +their Course, continually stripping himself quite naked. The +Inflammation was immediately repelled upon the Lungs, and destroyed him +within the Space of thirty Hours. I never saw a Person die with so very +dry a Skin. The Vomit affected him very little upwards, and brought on a +purging. His own bad Conduct seems to have been the Occasion of his +Death; and may this serve as one Example of it. + + 121. I chose to expatiate on this Disease, as it may happen to reach +other Places, where it may be useful to have been apprized of its Marks, +and of its Treatment, which agrees as much with that of putrid Fevers, +of which I shall speak hereafter, as with that of the inflammatory +Diseases I have already considered: since in some Subjects the Complaint +of the Throat has evidently been a Symptom of a putrid Fever, rather +than of the chiefly apparent Disease, a Quinsey. [31] + + 122. Disorders of the Throat are, with Respect to particular Persons, +an habitual Disease returning every Year, and sometimes oftner than once +a Year. They may be prevented by the same Means, which I have directed +for the Preservation from habitual Pleurisies 100; and by defending +the Head and the Neck from the Cold; especially after being heated by +Hunting, or any violent Exercise, or even by singing long and loud, +which may be considered as an extraordinary Exercise of some of the +Parts affected in this Disease. + +[31] I reserve some other interesting Reflections on this Disease, for + the second Edition of my Treatise on Fevers; and the Editor at + _Paris_ has very well observed, that it has some Relation to the + gangrenous sore Throat, which has been epidemical these twenty + Years past, in many Parts of _Europe_.----This Note is from Dr. + _Tissot_ himself. + + + + + __Chapter VII.__ + + + _Of Colds._ + + + __Sect.__ 123. + +There are many erroneous Prejudices, with Regard to Colds, all of which +may be attended with pernicious Consequences. The first is, that a Cold +is never dangerous; an Error which daily destroys the Lives of many. I +have already complained of it for many Years past; and I have since +beheld a Multitude of such Examples of it, as have but too sufficiently +warranted my Complaints. + +No Person however, it is certain, dies merely of a Cold, as long as it +is nothing but a Cold simply; but when, from Inattention and Neglect, it +is thrown upon, and occasions Distempers of the Breast, it may, and +often does, prove mortal. _Colds destroy more than Plagues_, was the +Answer of a very sagacious and experienced Physician to one of his +Friends, who, being asked, how he was in Health, replied, Very well, I +have nothing but a Cold. + +A second erroneous Prejudice is, that Colds require no Means, no +Medicines, and that they last the longer for being nursed, or tampered +with. The last Article may be true indeed, with Respect to the Method, +in which the Person affected with them treats them; but the Principle +itself is false. Colds, like other Disorders, have their proper +Remedies; and are removed with more or less Facility, as they are +conducted better or worse. + + 124. A third Mistake is, that they are not only considered as not +dangerous, but are even supposed wholesome too. Doubtless a Man had +better have a Cold than a more grievous Disease; though it must be still +better to have neither of them. The most that can reasonably be said and +admitted on this Point, is, that when a checked, or an obstructed +Perspiration becomes the Cause of a Distemper, it is fortunate that it +produces rather a Cold, than any very dreadful Disease, which it +frequently does: though it were to be wished, that neither the Cause, +nor its Effect existed. A Cold constantly produces some Disorder or +Defect in the Functions of some Part or Parts of the Body, and thus +becomes the Cause of a Disease. It is indeed a real Disorder itself, and +which, when in a violent Degree, makes a very perceivable Assault upon +our whole Machine. Colds, with their Defluxions, considerably weaken the +Breast, and sooner or later considerably impair the Health. Persons +subject to frequent Colds are never robust or strong; they often sink +into languid Disorders; and a frequent Aptitude to take Cold is a Proof, +that their Perspiration may be easily checked and restrained; whence the +Lungs become oppressed and obstructed, which must always be attended +with considerable Danger. + + 125. We may be convinced of the Weakness and Fallacy of these +Prejudices, by considering attentively the Nature of Colds; which are +nothing else than the very Diseases already described in the three +preceding Chapters, though in their greatest Degree only. + +A Cold in Truth is almost constantly an inflammatory Disease; a light +Inflammation of the Lungs, or of the Throat; of the Membrane or very +thin Skin, which lines the Nostrills, and the Inside of certain Cavities +in the Bones of the Cheeks and Forehead. These Cavities communicate with +the Nose, in such a Manner, that when one Part of this Membrane is +affected with an Inflammation, it is easily communicated to the other +Parts. + + 126. It is scarcely necessary to describe the Symptoms of a Cold, and +it may be sufficient to remark, 1. That their chief Cause is the same +with that, which most commonly produces the Diseases already treated of, +that is, an obstructed Perspiration, and a Blood somewhat inflamed. 2. +That whenever these Diseases affect great Numbers, many Colds prevail at +the same Time. 3. That the Symptoms which manifest a violent Cold, +greatly resemble those which precede or usher in these Diseases. People +are rarely attacked by great Colds, without a shivering and Fever; which +last sometimes continues for many Days. There is a Cough, a dry Cough, +for some Time; after which some Expectoration ensues; which allays the +Cough, and lightens the Oppression; at which Time the Cold may be said +to be maturated, or ripe. There are pretty often slight Stitches, but +unfixed or flying about, with a little Complaint of the Throat. When the +Nostrills happen to be the Seat of the Disorder, which is then very +improperly termed a Cold of the Brain, it is often attended with a +vehement Head-ach; which sometimes depends on an Irritation of the +Membrane, that lines the Cavities in the Bone of the Forehead, or the +maxillary Sinusses, that is, the Cavities in the Jaws: At first the +Running from the Nose is very clear; thin and sharp; afterwards, in +Proportion to the Abatement of the Inflammation, it becomes thicker; and +the Consistence and Colour of it resemble those of what others cough up. +The Smell, the Taste and the Appetite are commonly impaired by it. + + 127. Colds seem to be of no certain Duration or Continuance. Those of +the Head or Brain generally last but a few Days; of the Breast longer. +Some Colds nevertheless terminate in four or five Days. If they extend +beyond this Term they prove really hurtful. 1. Because the Violence of +the Cough disorders the whole Machine; and particularly, by forcing up +the Blood to the Head. 2. By depriving the Person afflicted of his usual +Sleep, which is almost constantly diminished by it. 3. By impairing the +Appetite, and confusing the Digestion, which is unavoidably lessened by +it. 4. By weakening the very Lungs, by the continual Agitations from +Coughing; whence all the Humours being gradually determined towards +them, as the weakest Part, a continual Cough subsists. Hence also they +become overcharged with Humours, which grow viscid there; the +Respiration is overloaded and oppressed; a slow Fever appears; Nutrition +almost ceases; the Patient becomes very weak; sinks into a Wasting; an +obstinate Wakefulness and Anguish, and often dies in a short Time. 5. By +Reason that the Fever, which almost constantly accompanies great Cold, +concurs to wear the body down. + + 128. Wherefore, since a Cold is a Disease of the same kind with +Quinsies, Peripneumonies and Inflammations of the Breast, it ought to be +treated in the same Manner. If it is a violent one, Blood should be +taken from the Arm, which may considerably shorten its Duration: and +this becomes most essentially necessary, whenever the Patient is of a +sanguineous ruddy Complexion, abounds with Blood, and has a strong +Cough, and great Head-ach. The Drinks N. 1, 2, 3, 4, should be very +plentifully used. It is advantagious to bathe the Feet in warm Water +every Night at going to Bed. [32] In a Word, if the Patient is put into +a Regimen, the Cure is very speedily effected. + +[32] It frequently happens, that the Bathings alone remove the Head-ach, + and the Cough too, by relaxing the lower Parts, and the entire + Surface of the Body. If the Patient is costive, he should receive + Glysters of warm Water, in which some Bran has been boiled, with + the Addition of a little common Soap or Butter. _E. L._ + + 129. The Disorder indeed, however, is often so very slight, that it +may be thought to require very little, if any, medical Treatment, and +may be easily cured without Physick, by abstaining from Flesh, Eggs, +Broth, and Wine; from all Food that is sharp, fat and heavy; and by +dieting upon Bread, Pulse, Fruit, and Water; particularly by eating +little or no Supper; and drinking, if thirsty, a simple Ptisan of +Barley, or an Infusion of Elder Flowers, with the Addition of a third or +fourth Part of Milk. Bathing the Feet, and the Powder N. 20 contribute +to dispose the Patient to sleep. Five Tea-Cups of an Infusion of the +Red, or wild Poppy Leaves may also be ventured on safely. + + 130. When the Fever, Heat and Inflammation wholly disappear; when the +Patient has kept to his Regimen for some Days, and his Blood is well +diluted, if the Cough and Want of Sleep still continues, he may take in +the Evening a Dose of Storax [33] Pill, or of Venice Treacle with Elder +Flower Tea, after bathing his Feet. These Remedies by stilling the +Cough, and restoring Perspiration, frequently cure the Cold in the Space +of one Night. I confess at the same Time, I have seen bad Consequences +from such Opiates, when given too early in the Complaint. It is also +necessary, when they are given, that the Patient should have supt but +very moderately, and that his Supper should be digested. + +[33] Under these Circumstances of a tickling Cough from a Cold, without + a Fever, and with very little Inflammation, I have known great and + very frequent Success, from a Dose of _Elixir paregoricum_, taken + at Bed-time, after a very light thin Supper. If the Patient be + sanguine, strong and costive, Bleeding in a suitable Quantity, and + a gently opening Potion, or purging Glyster, may be prudently + premised to it. Grown Persons may take from 30 to 80, or even 100 + Drops of it, in Barley Water, or any other pectoral Drink; and + Children in the Chincough from five to twenty Drops; half an Ounce + of it by Measure containing about one Grain of Opium, which is the + Quantity contained in less than quite six Grains of the Storax + Pill; this last being a very available pectoral Opiate too in + Coughs from a Distillation, in more adult Bodies, who may also + prefer a Medicine in that small Size, and Form. _K._ + + 131. An immense Number of Remedies are cried up for the Cure of Colds; +such as Ptisans of Apples or Pippins, of Liquorice, of dry Raisins, of +Figs, of Borage, of Ground-Ivy, of _Veronica_ or Speedwell, of Hysop, of +Nettles, _&c. &c._ I have no Design to depreciate them; as all of them +may possibly be useful: But unfortunately, those who have seen any +particular one of them succeed in one Case, readily conclude it to be +the most excellent of them all; which is a dangerous Error, because no +one Case is a sufficient Foundation to decide upon: which besides none +are qualified to do, who have not often seen a great Number of such +Cases; and who do not so attentively observe the Effects of different +Medicines, as to determine on those which most frequently agree with the +Disorder; and which, in my Judgment, are those I have just enumerated. I +have known a Tea or Infusion of Cherry Stalks, which is not a +disagreeable Drink, to cure a very inveterate Cold. + + 132. In Colds of the Head or Brain, the Steam of warm Water alone, or +that in which Elder Flowers, or some other mild aromatic Herbs, have +been boiled, commonly afford a pretty speedy Relief. These are also +serviceable in Colds fallen on the Breast. See 55. + +It has been a Practice, though of no very long standing, to give the Fat +of a Whale in these Cases; but this is a very crude indigestible kind of +Fat, and greasy oily Medicines seldom agree with Colds. Besides, this +Whales' Fat is very disagreeable and rancid, that is rank; so that it +were better to forbear using it: I have sometimes seen ill Effects from +it, and rarely any good ones. [34] + +[34] This seems but too applicable to the very popular Use of + _Spermaceti_, &c. in such Cases, which can only grease the Passage + to the Stomach; must impair its digestive Faculty, and cannot + operate against the Cause of a Cold; though that Cure of it, which + is effected by the Oeconomy of Nature in due Time, is often + ascribed to such Medicines, as may rather have retarded it. _K._ + + 133. Such Persons as abate nothing of the usual Quantity of their +Food, when seized with a Cold, and who swallow down large Quantities of +hot Water, ruin their Health. Their Digestion ceases; the Cough begins +to affect the Stomach, without ceasing to afflict the Breast; and they +incur a Chance of sinking into the Condition described 127, N. 4. + +Burnt Brandy and spiced Wine are very pernicious in the Beginning of +Colds, and the Omission of them must be a very prudent Omission. If any +good Effects have ever been known to attend the Use of them, it has been +towards the going off of the Cold; when the Disorder maintained its +Ground, solely from the Weakness of the Patient. Whenever this is the +Case, there is not the least Room for farther Relaxation; but the +Powders N. 14, should be taken every Day in a little Wine; and should +the Humours seem likely to be thrown upon the Lungs, Blisters ought to +be applied to the fleshy Part of the Legs. + + 134. Drams, or _Liqueurs_, as they are called in _French_, agree so +very little in this last State, that frequently a very small Quantity of +them revives a Cold that was just expiring. There really are some +Persons who never drink them without taking Cold, which is not to be +wondered at, as they occasion a light Inflammation in the Breast, which +is equivalent to a Cold or Distillation. + +Nevertheless, People in this Disorder should not expose themselves to +violent cold Weather, if there is a Possibility of avoiding it: though +they should equally guard too against excessive Heat. Those, who inclose +themselves in very hot Rooms, never get quite cured; and how is it +possible they should be cured in such a Situation? Such Rooms, +abstracted from the Danger of coming out of them, produce Colds in the +same Manner that Drams do, by producing a light inflammation in the +Breast. + + 135. Persons subject to frequent Colds, which Habits are sometimes +termed _fluxionary_, or liable to Distillations, imagine, they ought to +keep themselves very hot. This is an Error which thoroughly destroys +their Health. Such a Disposition to take Cold arises from two Causes; +either because their Perspiration is easily impaired; or sometimes from +the Weakness of the Stomach or the Lungs, which require particular +Remedies. When the Complaint arises from the Perspiration's being easily +disturbed and lessened, the hotter they keep themselves, the more they +sweat, and increase their Complaint the more. This incessantly warm Air +lets down and weakens the whole Machine, and more particularly the +Lungs; where the Humours finding less Resistance, are continually +derived, and are accumulated there. The Skin, being constantly bathed in +a small Sweat, becomes relaxed, soft, and incapable of compleating its +Functions: from which Failure the slightest Cause produces a total +Obstruction of Perspiration; and a Multitude of languid Disorders ensue. + +These Patients thus circumstanced, redouble their Precautions against +the Cold, or even the Coolness of the Air, while their utmost Cautions +are but so many effectual Means to lower their Health; and this the more +certainly, as their Dread of the free Air necessarily subjects them to a +sedentary Life, which increases all their Symptoms; while the hot Drinks +they indulge in, compleat their Severity. There is but one Method to +cure People thus situated; that is, by accustoming them gradually to the +Air; to keep them out of hot Chambers; to lessen their Cloathing by +Degrees; to make them sleep cool; and to let them eat or drink nothing +but what is cold, Ice itself being wholesome in their Drink: to make +them use much Exercise; and finally, if the Disorder be inveterate, to +give them for a considerable Time the Powder N. 14, and make them use +the cold Bath. This Method succeeds equally too with those, in whom the +Disease originally depended on a Weakness of the Stomach, or of the +Lungs: and in fact, at the End of a certain Period, these three Causes +are always combined. Some Persons who have been subject, for many Years, +to catch Colds throughout the Winter; and who, during that Season, never +went out, and drank every thing warm, have been evidently the better, +during the Winter of 1761, and 1762, for the Direction I have given +here. They now walk out every Day; drink their Liquids cold; and by this +Means entirely escape Colds, and enjoy perfect Health. + + 136. It is more customary indeed in Town, than in the Country, to have +different Troches, and Compositions in the Mouth. I am not for excluding +this Habit; though I think nothing is so efficacious as Juice of +Liquorice; and provided a sufficient Dose be taken, it affords certain +Relief. I have taken an Ounce and a half in one Day, and have felt the +good Consequences of it very remarkably. + + + + + __Chapter VIII.__ + + + _Of Diseases of the Teeth._ + + + __Sect.__ 137. + +The Diseases of the Teeth, which are sometimes so tedious and so +violent, as to cause obstinate Wakefulness, a considerable Degree of +Fever, Raving, Inflammations, Abscesses, Rottenness of the Bones, +Convulsions and Faintings, depend on three principal Causes. 1. On a +_Caries_ or Rottenness of the Teeth. 2. On an Inflammation of the Nerves +of the Teeth, or of the Membrane which invests and covers them; and +which affects the Membrane of the Gums. 3. A cold Humour or Defluxion +that is determined to the Teeth, and to their Nerves and Membrane. + + 138. In the first of these Cases, the _Caries_ having eat down to, and +exposed the naked Nerve, the Air, Food and Drink irritate, or, as it +were sting it; and this irritation is attended with Pain more or less +violent. Every thing that increases the Motion or Action of the affected +Part, as Exercise, Heat or Food, will be attended with the same +Consequence. + +When the Tooth is greatly decayed, there is no other Cure besides that +by extracting it, without which the Pain continues; the Breath becomes +very offensive; the Gum is eat down; the other Teeth, and sometimes even +the Jaw-bone, are infected with the Rottenness: besides, that it +prevents the Use of the other Teeth, which are infected with a kind of +tartarous Matter, and decay. + +But when the Disorder is less considerable, the Progress of it may +sometimes be restrained, by burning the Tooth with a hot Iron, or by +filling it with Lead, if it is fitted to receive and to retain it. +Different corroding Liquids are sometimes used on these Occasions, _Aqua +fortis_ itself, and Spirit of Vitriol: but such Applications are highly +dangerous, and ought to be excluded. When the Patients, from Dread, +reject the Operations just mentioned, a little Oyl of Cloves may be +applied, by introducing a small Pellet of Cotton, dipt in it, to the +rotten hollow Tooth; which often affords considerable Ease, and Respite. +Some make use of a Tincture of Opium, or Laudanum, after the same +Manner; and indeed these two Medicines may be used together in equal +Quantities. I have often succeeded with _Hoffman's_ mineral anodyne +Liquor; which seemed indeed, for a few Moments, to increase the Pain; +but Ease generally ensues after spitting a little Time. A Gargarism made +of the Herb _Argentina_; that is Silver-weed or wild Tansey, in Water, +frequently appeases the Pain that results from a _Caries_ of the Teeth: +and in such Cases many People have found themselves at Ease, under a +constant Use of it. It certainly is an Application that cannot hurt, and +is even beneficial to the Gums. Others have been relieved by rubbing +their Faces over with Honey. + + 139. The second Cause is the Inflammation of the Nerve within the +Substance, or of the Membrane on the Outside, of the Tooth. This is +discovered by the Patient's Temperament, Age and Manner of living. They +who are young, sanguine, who heat themselves much, whether by Labour, by +their Food, their Drink, by sitting up late, or by any other Excess: +they who have been accustomed to any Discharges or Eruptions of Blood, +whether natural or artificial, and who cease to have them as usual, are +much exposed to the Tooth-ach, from this Cause. + +This Pain, or rather Torment, if in an acute Degree, commonly happens +very suddenly, and often after some heating Cause. The Pulse is strong +and full; the Countenance considerably red; the Mouth extremely hot: +there is often a pretty high Fever, and a violent Head-ach. The Gums, or +some Part of them, become inflamed, swelled, and sometimes an Abscess +appears. At other times the Humours throw themselves upon the more +external Parts; the Cheek swells, and the Pain abates. When the Cheek +swells, but without any Diminution of the Pain, it then becomes an +Augmentation, but no essential Change, of the Disorder. + + 140. In this Species of the Disease, we must have Recourse to the +general Method of treating inflammatory Disorders, and direct Bleeding, +which often produces immediate Ease, if performed early. After Bleeding, +the Patient should gargle with Barley Water, or Milk and Water; and +apply an emollient Cataplasm to the Cheek. If an Abscess or little +Imposthume appears, the Suppuration or ripening of it is to be promoted, +by holding continually in the Mouth some hot Milk, or Figs boiled in +some Milk: and as soon as ever it seems ripe, it should be opened, which +may be done easily, and without any Pain. The Disorder, when depending +on this Cause, is sometimes not so violent, but of a longer Duration, +and returns whenever the Patient heats himself; when he goes to Bed; +when he eats any heating Food, or Drink, Wine or Coffee. In this Case he +should be bled, without which his other Medicines will have little +Effect; and he should bathe his Feet in warm Water for some Evenings +successively, taking one Dose of the Powder N. 20. Entire Abstinence +from Wine and Meat, especially at Night, has cured several Persons of +inveterate and obstinate Maladies of the Teeth. + +In this Species of Tooth-ach, all hot Remedies are pernicious; and it +often happens that Opium, Venice Treacle, and Storax Pills, are so far +from producing the Relief expected from them, that they have aggravated +the Pain. + + 141. When the Disease arises from a cold Distillation, or Humour, +tending to these Parts, it is commonly (though equally painful) attended +with less violent Symptoms. The Pulse is neither strong, full nor quick; +the Mouth is less heated, and less swelled. In such Cases, the afflicted +should be purged with the Powder N. 21, which has sometimes perfectly +cured very obstinate Complaints of this Sort. After purging they should +make Use of the Diet Drink of the Woods N. 22. This has cured +Tooth-achs, which have baffled other Attempts for many Years; but it +must be added, this Drink would be hurtful in the Disease from a +different Cause. Blisters to the Nape of the Neck, or [35] elsewhere, it +matters not greatly where, have often extraordinary good Effects, by +diverting the Humour, and restoring a compleat Perspiration. In short in +this Species, we may employ, not only with Safety, but with Success +(especially after due purging) Pills of Storax, Opium and Venice +Treacle. Acrid sharp Remedies, such as hard spun [35] Tobacco, Root of +Pellitory of _Spain_, &c. by exciting much Spitting, discharge part of +the Humour which causes the Disease, and hence diminish the Pain. The +Smoke of Tobacco also succeeds now and then in this Disorder, whether +this happens from the Discharge of the Rheum or Spittle it occasions; or +whether it is owing to any anodyne Efficacy of this Plant, in which it +resembles Opium. + +[35] A small Blister behind the Ear of the affected Side, or both Ears, + has very often removed the Pain, when from a Defluxion. It is + pretty common for the Subjects of this Disease to be very costive, + during the Exacerbations of it, which I have sometimes experienced + to be pretty regularly and severely quotidian, for a Week or two. + The Custom of smoking Tobacco very often, which the Violence of + this Pain has sometimes introduced, often disposes to a Blackened + and premature Decay of the Teeth, to which the Chewers of it are + less obnoxious: and this Difference may result from some particles + of its chemical Oil rising by Fumigation, and being retained in the + Teeth, which Particles are not extracted by Mastication. But with + Regard to the habitual Use of this very acrid and internally + violent Herb, for, but chiefly after, this Disease, it should be + considered well, whether in some Constitutions it may not pave the + Way to a more dangerous one, than it was introduced to remove. _K._ + + 142. As this last Cause is often the Consequence of a Weakness in the +Stomach, it daily happens that we see some People, whose Disorder from +this Cause is augmented, in Proportion as they indulge in a cooling, +refreshing Way of living. The Increase of the Disorder disposes them to +increase the Dose of what they mistake for its Remedy, in Proportion to +which their Pain only increases. There is a Necessity that such Persons +should alter this Method; and make use of such Medicines as are proper +to strengthen the Stomach, and to restore Perspiration. The Powder N. +14. has often produced the best Consequences, when I have ordered it in +these Cases; and it never fails to dissipate the Tooth-ach very +speedily, which returns periodically at stated Days and Hours. I have +also cured some Persons who never drank Wine, by advising them to the +Use of it. + + 143. But besides the Diseases of the Teeth, that are owing to these +three principal Causes, which are the most common ones; there are some +very tedious and most tormenting Disorders of them, that are occasioned +by a general Acrimony, or great Sharpness, of the Mass of Blood, and +which are never cured by any other Medicines but such, as are proper to +correct that Acrimony. When it is of a scorbutic Nature, the wild +Horse-radish (Pepperwort) Water Cresses, Brooklime, Sorrel, and +Wood-sorrell correct and cure it. If it is of a different Nature, it +requires different Remedies. But very particular Details do not come +within the Plan of this Work. As the Malady is of the chronical or +tedious kind, it allows Time to consider and consult more particularly +about it. + +The Gout and the Rheumatism are sometimes transferred to the Teeth, and +give Rise to the most excruciating Pains; which must be treated like the +Diseases from which they arise. + + 144. From what has been said on this Disorder, the Reader will +discern, in what that imaginary Oddness may consist, which has been +ascribed to it, from the same Application's relieving one Person in it, +and not affording the least Relief to another. Now the plain Reason of +this is, that these Applications are always directed, without an exact +Knowledge of the particular Cause of the Disease, in different Subjects +and Circumstances; whence the Pain from a rotten Tooth, is treated like +that from an Inflammation; that from an Inflammation, like the Pain from +a cold Humour or Fluxion; and this last like a Pain caused by a +scorbutic Acrimony: so that the Disappointment is not in the least +surprizing. Perhaps Physicians themselves do not always attend +distinctly enough to the Nature of each particular Disorder: and even +when they do, they content themselves with directing some of the less +potent Medicines, which may be inadequate to accomplish the necessary +Effect. If the Distemper truly be of an inflammatory Disposition, +Bleeding is indispensible to the Cure. + +It happens in Fact, with Regard to the Diseases of the Teeth, as well as +to all other Diseases, that they arise from different Causes; and if +these Causes are not opposed by Medicines suited to them, the Disease, +far from being cured, is aggravated. + +I have cured violent Tooth-achs, of the lower Jaw, by applying a +Plaister of Meal, the White of an Egg, Brandy and Mastich, at the Corner +of that Jaw, over the Spot where the Pulsation of the Artery may be +perceived: and I have also mitigated the most excruciating Pains of the +Head, by applying the same Plaister upon the temporal Artery. + + + + + __Chapter IX.__ + + + _Of the Apoplexy._ + + + __Sect.__ 145. + +Every Person has some Idea of the Disease termed an Apoplexy, which is a +sudden Privation or Loss of all Sense, and of all voluntary Motion; the +Pulse at the same Time being kept up, but Respiration or Breathing, +being oppressed. I shall treat of this Disease only in a brief Manner, +as it is not common in our Country Villages; and as I have expatiated on +it in a different Manner in a Letter to Dr. _Haller_, published in 1761. + + 146. This Disease is generally distinguished into two Kinds, the +sanguineous and serous Apoplexy. Each of them results from an +Overfulness of the Blood Vessels of the Brain, which presses upon, and +prevents or impairs the Functions of the Nerves. The whole Difference +between these two Species consists in this, that the sanguineous +Apoplexy prevails among strong robust Persons, who have a rich, heavy, +thick and inflammable Blood, and that in a large Quantity; in which +Circumstance it becomes a genuine inflammatory Distemper. The serous, or +humoral Apoplexy invades Persons of a less robust Constitution; whose +Blood is more dilute or watery; and rather viscid, or lightly +gelatinous, than heavy or rich; whole Vessels are in a more relaxed +State; and who abound more in other Humours than in red Blood. + + 147. When the first kind of this Disease exists in its most violent +Degree, it is then sometimes termed, an apoplectic Stroke, or thundering +Apoplexy, which kills in a Moment or instantaneously, and admits of no +Remedies. When the Assault is less violent, and we find the Patient with +a strong, full and raised Pulse, his Visage red and bloated, and his +Neck swelled up; with an oppressed and loud hoarse Respiration; being +sensible of nothing, and capable of no other Motions, except some +Efforts to vomit, the Case is not always equally desperate. We must +therefore immediately, + +1. Entirely uncover the Patient's Head, covering the rest of his Body +but very lightly; procure him instantly very fresh free Air, and leave +his Neck quite unbound and open. + +2. His Head should be placed as high as may be, with his Feet hanging +down. + +3. He must lose from twelve to fifteen Ounces of Blood, from a free open +Orifice in the Arm: the Strength or Violence with which the Blood +sallies out, should determine the Surgeon to take a few Ounces more or +less. It should be repeated to the third or fourth Time, within the +Space of three or four Hours; if the Symptoms seem to require it, either +in the Arm, or in the Foot. + +4. A Glyster should be given of a Decoction of the first emollient +opening Herbs that can be got, with four Spoonfuls of Oil, one Spoonful +of Salt: and this should be repeated every three Hours. + +5. If it is possible, he should be made to swallow Water plentifully, in +each Pot of which three Drams of Nitre are to be dissolved. + +6. As soon as the Height and Violence of the Pulse abates; when his +Breathing becomes less oppressed and difficult, and his Countenance less +inflamed, he should take the Decoction N. 23; or, if it cannot be got +ready in Time, he should take three Quarters of an Ounce of Cream of +Tartar, and drink Whey plentifully after it. This Medicine succeeded +extremely well with me in a Case, where I could not readily procure any +other. + +7. He should avoid all strong Liquor, Wine, distilled Spirit, whether +inwardly or by outward Application, and should even be prevented +from [36] smelling them. + +[36] I have been very authentically assured of the Death of a hale Man, + which happened in the very Act of pouring out a large Quantity of + distilled Spirits, by Gallons or Bucketfulls, from one Vessel into + another. _K._ + +8. The Patient should be stirred, moved, or even touched, as little as +it is possible: in a Word every Thing must be avoided that can give him +the least Agitation. This Advice, I am sensible, is directly contrary to +the common Practice; notwithstanding which it is founded in Reason, +approved by Experience, and absolutely necessary. In Fact, the whole +Evil results from the Blood being forced up with too much Force, and in +too great a Quantity, to the Brain; which being thence in a State of +Compression, prevents every Movement and every Influence of the Nerves. +In Order, therefore, to re-establish these Movements, the Brain must be +unloaded, by diminishing the Force of the Blood. But strong Liquors, +Wines, Spirits, volatile Salts, all Agitation and Frictions augment it, +and by that very Means increase the Load, the Embarrassment of the +Brain, and thus heighten the Disease itself. On the contrary, every +Thing that calms the Circulation, contributes to recall Sensation and +voluntary Motion the sooner. + +9. Strong Ligatures should be made about the Thighs under the Ham: By +this Means the Blood is prevented in its Ascent from the Legs, and less +is carried up to the Head. + +If the Patient seems gradually, and in Proportion as he takes proper +Medicines, to advance into a less violent State, there may be some +Hopes. But if he rather grows worse after his earliest Evacuations, the +Case is desperate. + + 148. When Nature and Art effect his Recovery, his Senses return: +though there frequently remains a little _Delirium_ or Wandering for +some Time; and almost always a paralytic Defect, more or less, of the +Tongue, the Arm, the Leg, and the Muscles of the same Side of the Face. +This Palsy sometimes goes off gradually, by the Help of cooling Purges +from Time to Time, and a Diet that is but very moderately and lightly +nourishing. All hot Medicines are extremely hurtful in this Case, and +may pave the Way to a repeated Attack. A Vomit might be even fatal, and +has been more than once so. It should be absolutely forbidden; nor +should we even promote, by Draughts of warm Water, the Efforts of the +Patient to vomit. They do not any ways depend on any Humour or Mass in +the Stomach; but on the Oppression and Embarrassment of the Brain: and +the more considerable such Efforts are, the more such Oppression is +increased: by Reason that as long as they continue, the Blood cannot +return from the Head, by which Means the Brain remains overcharged. + + 149. The other Species of Apoplexy is attended with the like Symptoms, +excepting the Pulse not being so high nor strong; the Countenance being +also less red, sometimes even pale; the Breathing seems less oppressed; +and sometimes the Sick have a greater Facility to vomit, and discharge +more upwards. + +As this Kind of the Disease attacks Persons who abound less in Blood; +who are less strong, and less heated or inflamed, Bleeding is not often +at all necessary: at least the Repetition of it is scarcely ever so: and +should the Pulse have but a small Fulness, and not the least unnatural +Hardness, Bleeding might even be pernicious. + +1. The Patient however should be placed as was directed in the former +Mode of this Disease; though it seems not equally necessary here. + +2. He should receive a Glyster, but without Oil, with double the +Quantity of Salt, and a Bit of Soap of the Size of a small Egg; or with +four or five Sprigs of Hedge Hyssop. It may be repeated twice a Day. + +3. He should be purged with the Powder N. 4. [37] + +[37] Vomits which are so pernicious in the sanguineous Apoplexy, where + the Patient's Countenance and Eyes are inflamed; and which are also + dangerous or useless, when a Person has been very moderate in his + Meals, or is weakened by Age or other Circumstances, and whole + Stomach is far from being overloaded with Aliment, are nevertheless + very proper for gross Feeders, who are accustomed to exceed at + Table, who have Indigestions, and have a Mass of viscid glairy + Humours in their Stomachs; more especially, if such a one has a + little while before indulged himself excessively, whence he has + vomited without any other evident Cause, or at least had very + Strong _Nauseas_, or Loathings. In brief, Vomits are the true + Specific for Apoplexies, occasioned by any narcotic or stupifying + Poisons, the pernicious Effects of which cease, the Moment the + Persons so poisoned vomit them up. An attentive Consideration of + what has occurred to the Patient before his Seizure; his small + natural Propensity to this Disease, and great and incessant + Loathings, render it manifest, whether it has been caused by such + Poisons, or such poisonous Excesses. In these two Last Cases a + double Dose of Tartar emetic should be dissolved in a Goblet or Cup + of Water, of which the Patient should immediately take a large + Spoonful; which should be repeated every Quarter of an Hour, till + it operates. _E. L._ + +4. His common Drink may be a Strong Infusion of Leaves of Balm. + +5. The Purge should be repeated the third Day. + +6. Blisters should immediately be applied to the fleshy Part of the +Legs, or between the Shoulder Blades. [38] + +[38] These Blisters may be preceded by Cupping with Scarification on the + Nape of the Neck. This Remedy, often used by the ancient + Physicians, but too little practiced in France, is one of the most + speedy, and not the least efficacious, Applications in both + sanguine and serous Apoplexies. _E. L._ + +7. Should Nature seem disposed to relieve herself by Sweatings, it +should be encouraged; and I have often known an Infusion of the _Carduus +benedictus_, or blessed Thistle, produce this Effect very successfully. +If this Method be entered upon, the Sweat ought to be kept up (without +stirring if possible) for many Days. It has then sometimes happened, +that at the End of nine Days, the Patient has been totally freed from +the Palsy, which commonly succeeds this Species of the Apoplexy, just as +it does the other. + + 150. Persons who have been attacked with either kinds of this Disease +are liable to subsequent ones; each of which is more dangerous than that +preceding: whence an Endeavour to obviate or prevent such Relapses +becomes of the utmost Importance. This is to be effected in each Sort by +a very exact, and rather severe Diet, even to diminishing the usual +Quantity of the Patient's Food; the most essential Precaution, to be +observed by any who have been once assaulted with it, being entirely to +leave off Suppers. Indeed those, who have been once attacked with the +_first_, the _sanguineous Apoplexies_, should be still more exact, more +upon their Guard, than the others. They should deny themselves whatever +is rich and juicy, hot or aromatic, sharp, Wine, distilled Liquors and +Coffee. They should chiefly confine themselves to Garden-Stuff, Fruits +and Acids; such should eat but little Flesh, and only those called +white; taking every Week two or three Doses of the Powder N. 24, in a +Morning fasting, in a Glass of Water. They should be purged twice or +thrice a Year with the Draught N. 23; use daily Exercise; avoid very +hot Rooms, and the violent Heat of the Sun. They should go to Bed +betimes, rise early, never lie in Bed above eight Hours: and if it is +observed that their Blood increases considerably, and has a Tendency +towards the Head, they should be bled without Hesitation: and for some +Days restrain themselves entirely to a thin and low Regimen, without +taking any solid Food. In these Circumstances warm Bathings are hurtful. +In the other, the serous, Apoplexy, instead of purging with N. 23, the +Patient should take the Purge N. 21. + + 151. The same Means, that are proper to prevent a Relapse, might also +obviate or keep off a primary or first Assault, if employed in Time: for +notwithstanding it may happen very suddenly, yet this Disease foreshews +itself many Weeks, sometimes many Months, nay even Years beforehand, by +Vertigos, Heaviness of the Head; small Defects of the Tongue or Speech; +short and momentary Palsies, sometimes of one, sometimes of another, +Part: sometimes by Loathings and Reachings to vomit; without supposing +any Obstruction or Load in the first Passages, or any other Cause in the +Stomach, or the adjoining Parts. There happens also some particular +Change in the Looks and Visage not easy to be described: sharp and short +Pains about the Region of the Heart; an Abatement of the Strength, +without any discernible Cause of it. Besides there are still some other +Signs, which signify the Ascent of the Humours too much to the Head, and +shew, that the Functions of the Brain are embarrassed. + +Some Persons are liable to certain Symptoms and Appearances, which arise +from the same Cause as an Apoplexy; and which indeed may be considered +as very light benign Apoplexies, of which they sustain many Attacks, and +yet without any considerable Annoyance of their Health. The Blood, all +at once as it were, flushes up to their Heads: they appear heedless or +blundering; and have sometimes Disgusts and _Nauseas_, and yet without +any Abatement of their Understanding, their Senses, or Motion of any +Sort. Tranquillity of Mind and Body, once Bleeding, and a few Glysters +usually carry it off soon after its Invasion. The Returns of it may be +prevented by the Regimen directed 150; and especially by a frequent +Use of the Powder N. 24. At the long Run however, one of these Attacks +commonly degenerates into a mortal Apoplexy: though this may be retarded +for a very long Time by an exact Regimen, and by avoiding all strong +Commotions of the Mind, but especially that of Anger or violent Rage. + + + + + __Chapter X.__ + + + _Of the violent Influence, or Strokes, of the Sun._ + + + __Sect.__ 152. + +This Appellation is applied to those Disorders, which arise from too +violent an Influence of the Heat of the Sun, immediately upon the Head; +and which in one Word may be termed _Insolation_. + +If we consider that Wood, Stone and Metals, when long exposed to the +Sun, become very hot, and that even in temperate Climates, to such a +Degree, that they can scarcely be touched without some Sensation of +burning, we may easily conceive the Risk a Person undergoes, in having +his Head exposed to the same Degree of Heat. The Blood-Vessels grow dry, +the Blood itself becomes condensed or thickened, and a real Inflammation +is formed, which has proved mortal in a very little Time. It was this +Distemper, a Stroke of the Sun, which killed _Manasses_ the Husband of +_Judith_. 'For as he was among the Labourers who bound up the Sheafs in +the Fields, the Heat struck upon his Head, and he was taken ill; he went +to Bed and he died.' The Signs which precede and attend this Disease +are, being exposed in a Place where the Sun shines forth with great +Force and Ardour; a violent Head-ach, attended with a very hot and +extremely dry Skin: the Eyes are also dry and red, being neither able to +remain open, nor yet to bear the Light; and sometimes there is a kind of +continual and involuntary Motion in the Eyelid; while some Degree of +Relief is perceivable from the Application of any cooling Liquor. It +often happens that some cannot possibly sleep; and at other times they +have a great Drowsiness, but attended with outrageous Wakenings: there +is a very strong Fever; a great Faintness, and a total Disrelish and +Loathing. Sometimes the Patient is very thirsty, and at other times not +at all: and the Skin of his Face often looks as though it were burnt. + + 153. People may be affected with the Disease from this Cause, at two +different Seasons of the Year; that is, either in the Spring, or during +the very raging Heats; but their Events are very different. Country +People and Labourers are but little liable to the former. They chiefly +affect the Inhabitants of Cities, and delicate Persons, who have used +very little Exercise in the Winter, and abound with superfluous Humours. +If thus circumstanced they expose themselves to the Sun, as even in the +Spring he attains a considerable Force; and, by the Course of Life they +have led, their Humours are already much disposed to mount to the Head; +while the Coolness of the Soil, especially when it has rained, prevents +their Feet from being so easily warmed; the Power of the Sun acts upon +their Head like a Blister, attracting a great Quantity of Humours to it. +This produces excruciating Pains of the Head, frequently accompanied +with quick and violent Shootings, and with Pain in the Eyes; +notwithstanding this Degree of the Malady is seldom dangerous. Country +People, and even such Inhabitants of Cities and Towns, as have not +forbore to exercise themselves in Winter, have no Sort of Dread of these +Strokes of the Sun, in the Spring of the Year. Its Summer Strokes are +much more vehement and troublesome, and assault Labourers and +Travellers, who are for a long Time exposed to the Fervour of it. Then +it is that the Disease is aggravated to its highest Pitch, those who are +thus struck often dying upon the Spot. In the hot Climates this Cause +destroys many in the very Streets, and makes dreadful Havock among +Armies on the March, and at Sieges. Some tragical Effects of it, on such +Occasions, are seen even in the temperate Countries. After having +marched a whole Day in the Sun, a Man shall fall into a Lethargy, and +die within some Hours, with the Symptoms of raving Madness. I have seen +a Tyler in a very hot Day, complaining to his Comrade of a violent Pain +in his Head, which increased every Moment almost; and at the very +Instant when he purposed to retire out of the Sun, he sunk down dead, +and fell down from the House he was slating. This same Cause produces +very often in the Country some most dangerous Phrenzies, which are +called there hot or burning Fevers. Every Year furnishes but too many of +them. + + 154. The Vehemence of the Sun is still more dangerous to those, who +venture to sleep exposed to it. Two Mowers who fell asleep on a Haycock, +being wakened by some others, immediately on waking, staggered, and +pronouncing a few incoherent unmeaning Words, died. When the Violence of +Wine and that of the Sun are combined, they kill very suddenly: nor is +there a single Year in which Peasants are not found dead on the +Highroads; who being drunk endeavoured to lie down in some Corner, where +they perished by an Apoplexy, from the Heat of the Sun and of strong +Drink. Those of them who escape so speedy and premature a Death, are +subject for the Remainder of their Lives, to chronical, or tedious +Head-achs; and to suffer some little Disorder and Confusion in their +Ideas. I have seen some Cases, when after violent Head-achs of some Days +Continuance, the Disease has been transferred to the Eyelids, which +continued a long Time red and distended, so that they could not be kept +asunder or open. It has also been known, that some Persons have been +struck by the Sun into a _Delirium_ or Raving, without a Fever, and +without complaining of a Head-ach. Sometimes a _Gutta Serena_ has been +its Consequence; and it is very common to see People, whose long +Continuance under the strong Light and Influence of the Sun, has made +such an Impression upon the Eyes, as presents them with different Bodies +flying about in the Air, which distract and confuse their Sight. + +A Man of forty two Years of Age, having been exposed for several Hours +to the violent Heat of the Sun, with a very small Cap or Bonnet; and +having past the following Night in the open Air, was attacked the next +Day with a most severe Head-ach, a burning Fever, Reachings to vomit, +great Anguish, and red and sparkling Eyes. Notwithstanding the best +Assistance of several Physicians, he became phrenitic on the fifth Day, +and died on the ninth. Suppurated Matter was discharged from his Mouth, +one of his Nostrils, and his right Ear, a few Hours before his Death; +upon Dissection a small Abscess was found within the Skull; and the +whole Brain, as well as all the Membranes inclosing it, were entirely +corrupted. + + 155. In very young Children, who are not, or never should be, exposed +for any long Time to such excessive Heat (and whom a slight Cause will +often affect) this Malady discovers itself by a heavy deep Drowsiness, +which lasts for several Days; also by incessant Ravings mingled with +Rage and Terror, much the same as when they are affected with violent +Fear: and sometimes by convulsive Twitchings; by Head-achs which +returned at certain Periods, and continual Vomitings. I have seen +Children, who, after a Stroke of the Sun, have been harrassed a long +Time with a little Cough. + + 156. Old Men who often expose themselves imprudently to the Sun, are +little apprized of all the Danger they incur by it. A certain Person, +who purposely sunned himself for a considerable Time, in the clear Day +of an intermitting tertian Fever, underwent the Assault of an Apoplexy, +which carried him off the following Day. And even when the Disease may +not be so speedy and violent, yet this Custom (of sunning in hot +Weather) certainly disposes to an Apoplexy, and to Disorders of the +Head. One of the slightest Effects of much solar Heat upon the Head is, +to cause a Defluxion from the Brain, a Swelling of the Glands of the +Neck, and a Dryness of the Eyes, which sometimes continues for a +considerable Term after it. + + 157. The effect of too much culinary, or common Fire, is of the same +Quality with that of the Sun. A Man who fell asleep with his Head +directly opposite, and probably, very near to the Fire, went off in an +Apoplexy, during his Nap. + + 158. The Action of too violent a Sun is not only pernicious, when it +falls upon the Head; but it is also hurtful to other Parts; and those +who continue long exposed to it, though their Heads should not be +affected, experience violent Pains, a disagreeable Sensation of Heat, +and a considerable Stiffness in the Parts that have been, in some +Manner, parched by it; as in the Legs, the Knees, the Thighs, Reins and +Arms; and sometimes they prove feverish. + + 159. In contemplating the Case of a Patient, _Sun-struck_, as we may +term it, we must endeavour to distinguish, whether there may not be also +some other joint Causes concurring to the Effect. A Traveller, a +labouring Man, is often as much affected by the Fatigue of his Journey, +or of his Labour, as he is by the Influence of solar Heat. + + 160. It is necessary to set about the Cure of this Disease, as soon as +ever we are satisfied of its Existence: for such as might have been +easily preserved by an early Application, are considerably endangered by +a Neglect of it. The Method of treating this is very much the same, with +that of the inflammatory Diseases already mentioned; that is, by +Bleeding, and cooling Medicines of various Kinds in their Drinks, by +Bathings, and by Glysters. And 1. If the Disease be very high and +urgent, a large Quantity of Blood should be taken away, and occasionally +repeated. _Lewis_ the XIV. was bled nine Times to prevent the Fatality +of a Stroke of the Sun, which he received in Hunting in 1658. + +2. After Bleeding, the Patient's Legs should be plunged into warm Water. +This is one of the Applications that affords the most speedy Relief; and +I have seen the Head-ach go off and return again, in Proportion to the +Repetition, and the Duration, of these Bathings of the Legs. When the +Disorder is highly dangerous, it will be necessary to treat the Patient +with _Semicupia_, or warm Baths, in which he may sit up to his Hips; and +in the most dangerous Degrees of it, even to bathe the whole Body: but +the Water in this Case, as well as in Bathings of the Feet, should be +only sensibly warm: the Use of hot would be highly pernicious. + +3. Glysters made from a Decoction of any of the emollient Herbs are also +very effectual. + +4. The Patient should drink plentifully of Almond Emulsion N. 4; of +Limonade, which is a Mixture of the Juice of Lemons and Water, (and is +the best Drink in this Disease) of Water and Vinegar, which is a very +good Substitute for Limonade; and of, what is still more efficacious, +very clear Whey, with the Addition of a little Vinegar. These various +Drinks may all be taken cold; Linen Cloths dipt in cold Water and +Vinegar of Roses may be applied to the Forehead, the Temples, or all +over the Head, which is equivalent to every other Application used upon +such Occasions. Those which are the most cried up, are the Juice of +Purslain, of Lettuce, of Houseleek, and of Vervain. The Drink N. 32 is +also serviceable, taken every Morning fasting. + + 161. Cold Baths have sometimes recovered Persons out of such violent +Symptoms, from this Cause, as have been almost quite despaired of. + +A Man twenty Years of Age, having been a very long Time exposed to the +scorching Sun, became violently delirious, without a Fever, and proved +really mad. After repeated Bleedings, he was thrown into a cold Bath, +which was also frequently repeated; pouring cold Water, at the same +Time, upon his Head. With such Assistance he recovered, though very +gradually. + +An Officer who had rode Post for several Days successively, in very hot +Weather, swooned away, immediately on dismounting; from which he could +not be recovered by the ordinary Assistance in such Cases. He was saved +however, in Consequence of being plunged into a Bath of freezing Water. +It should be observed however, that in these Cases the cold Bath should +never be recurred to, without previous Bleeding. + + 162. It is past Doubt, that if a Person stands still in the violent +Heat of the Sun, he is more liable to be struck with it, than if he +walks about; and the Use of white Hats, or of some Folds of clean white +Paper under a black one, may sensibly contribute to prevent any Injury +from the considerable Heat of the Sun; though it is a very incompetent +Defence against a violent Degree of it. + +The natural Constitution, or even that Constitution, which has been +formed from long Custom and Habit, make a very great Difference between +the Effects of solar Heat on different Persons. People insensibly +accustom themselves to the Impressions of it, as they do to those of all +the other Bodies and Elements, which are continually acting upon us; and +by Degrees we arrive at a Power of sustaining his violent Heat with +Impunity: just as others arrive at the Hardiness of bearing the most +rigid Colds, with very little Complaint or Inconvenience. The human Body +is capable of supporting many more Violences and Extremes, than it +commonly does. Its natural Force is scarcely ever ascertained among +civilized Nations; because their Education generally tends to impair and +lessen it, and always succeeds in this Respect. If we were inclined to +consider a purely natural, a simply physical Man, we must look for him +among savage Nations; where only we can discover what we are able to be, +and to bear. We certainly could not fail of being Gainers, by adopting +their corporal Education; neither does it seem as yet to have been +infallibly demonstrated, that we should be great Losers in commuting our +moral Education for theirs. [39] + +[39] As some may think an Apology necessary for a Translation of this + Chapter on a Disease, which never, or very seldom, exists in this + or the adjacent Island, I shall observe here, that, abstracted from + the Immorality of a narrow and local Solicitude only for ourselves, + we are politically interested as a Nation always in Trade, and + often at War (and whose Subjects are extended into very distant and + different Climates) to provide against a sudden and acute + Distemper, to which our Armies, our Sailors and Colonies are + certainly often exposed. A Fatality from this Cause is not + restrained to our Islands within the Tropic, where several + Instances of it have occurred during the late War: but it has also + been known to prevail as far Northward as _Pensylvania_, in their + Summers, and even in their Harvests. I once received a sensible + Scald on the Back of my Thumb, from the Sun suddenly darting out + through a clear Hole, as it were, in a Cloud, after a short and + impetuous Shower in Summer; which Scald manifestly blistered within + some Minutes after. Had this concentrated Ray been darted on my + bare Head, the Consequence might have been more dangerous; or + perhaps as fatal as some of the Cases recorded by Dr. _Tissot_, in + this Chapter. _K._ + + + + + __Chapter XI.__ + + + _Of the Rheumatism._ + + + __Sect.__ 163. + +The Rheumatism may exist either with or without a Fever. The first of +these may be classed among the Diseases, of which I have already +treated; being an Inflammation which is manifested by a violent Fever, +preceded by Shivering, a subsequent Heat, hard Pulse, and a Head-ach. +Sometimes indeed an extraordinary Coldness, with general Uneasiness and +Inquietude, exists several Days before the Fever is perceived. On the +second or third Day, and sometimes even on the first, the Patient is +seized with a violent Pain in some Part of his Body, but especially +about the Joints, which entirely prevents their Motion, and which is +often accompanied with Heat, Redness and a Swelling of the Part. The +Knee is often the first Part attacked, and sometimes both the Knees at +once. When the Pain is fixed, an Abatement of the Fever frequently +happens; though in some other Persons it continues for several Days, and +increases every Evening. The Pain diminishes in one Part after a +Duration of some Days, and then invades some other. From the Knee it +descends to the Foot, or mounts to the Hip, to the Loins, the +Shoulder-blades, Elbow, Wrist, the Nape of the Neck, and frequently is +felt in the intermediate Parts. Sometimes one Part is quite free from +Pain, when another is attacked; at other Times many Parts are seized +nearly at the same Instant; and I have sometimes seen every Joint +afflicted at once. In this Case the Patient is in a very terrible +Situation, being incapable of any Motion, and even dreading the +Assistance of his Attendants, as he can scarcely admit of touching, +without a sensible Aggravation of his Pains. He is unable to bear even +the Weight of the Bed-clothes, which must be, as it were, arched over +his Limbs by a proper Contrivance, to prevent their Pressure: and the +very walking across the Chamber increases his Torments. The Parts in +which they are the most excruciating, and obstinate, are the Region of +the Loins, the Hips, and the Nape or hinder Part of the Neck. + + 164. This Disease is also often extended over the Scalp and the +Surface of the Head; and there the Pains are excessive. I have seen them +affect the Eyelids and the Teeth with inexpressible Torment. As long as +the Distemper is situated in the more external Parts, the Patient, +however painful his Situation may prove, is in no great Danger, if he be +properly treated: but if by some Accident, some Error, or by any latent +Cause, the Disease be repelled upon an internal Part or Organ, his Case +is extremely dangerous. If the Brain is attacked, a frantic raging +_Delirium_ is the Consequence; if it falls upon the Lungs, the Patient +is suffocated: and if it attacks the Stomach or the Bowels, it is +attended with the most astonishing Pains, which are caused by the +Inflammation of those Parts, and which Inflammation, if violent, is [40] +speedily fatal. About two Years since I was called to a robust Man, +whose Guts were already in a gangrenous State, which was the Consequence +of a Rheumatism, that first attacked one Arm and one Knee; the Cure of +which had been attempted by sweating the Patient with some hot Remedies. +These indeed brought on a plentiful Sweat; but the inflammatory Humour +seized the Intestines, whose Inflammation degenerated into a Gangrene, +after a Duration of the most acute Pain for thirty-six Hours; his +Torments terminating in Death two Hours after I saw him. + +[40] See Note [16] to Page 59. + + 165. This Malady however is often in a less violent Degree; the Fever +is but moderate, and ceases entirely when the Pain begins; which is also +confined to one, or not more than two Parts. + + 166. If the Disease continues fixed, for a considerable Time, in one +Joint, the Motion of it is impaired for Life. I have seen a Person, who +has now a wry Neck, of twenty Years standing, in Consequence of a +Rheumatism in the Nape of the Neck; and I also saw a poor young Man from +_Jurat_, who was Bed-ridden, and who had lost the Motion of one Hip and +both Knees. He could neither stand nor sit, and there were but a few +Postures in which he could even lie in Bed. + + 167. An obstructed Perspiration, an inflammatory Thickness of the +Blood, constitute the most general Cause of the Rheumatism. This last +concurring Cause is that we must immediately encounter; since, as long +as that subsists, Perspiration cannot be perfectly re-established, which +follows of Course, when the Inflammation is cured. For which Reason this +Distemper must be conducted like the other inflammatory ones, of which I +have already treated. + + 168. As soon as it is sufficiently manifest, the Glyster N. 5, should +be injected; and twelve Ounces of Blood be taken from the Arm an Hour +after. The Patient is to enter upon a Regimen, and drink plentifully of +the Ptisan N. 2, and of Almond Milk or Emulsion N. 4. As this last +Medicine may be too costly in Country Places for the poor Peasantry; +they may drink, in Lieu of it, very clear Whey, sweetened with a little +Honey. I have known a very severe Rheumatism cured, after twice +bleeding, without any other Food or Medicine, for the Space of thirteen +Days. The Whey also may be happily used by Way of Glyster. + + 169. If the Distemper is not considerably asswaged by the first +Bleeding, it should be repeated some Hours after. I have ordered it four +Times within the first two Days; and some Days after I have even +directed a fifth Bleeding. But in general the Hardness of the Pulse +becomes less after the second: and notwithstanding the Pains may +continue as severe as before, yet the Patient is sensible of less +Inquietude. The Glyster must be repeated every Day, and even twice a +Day, if each of them is attended only with a small Discharge; and +particularly if there be a violent Head-ach. In such Cases as are +excessively painful, the Patient can scarcely dispose himself into a +proper Attitude or Posture to receive Glysters: and in such +Circumstances his Drinks should be made as opening as possible; and a +Dose of the Cream of Tartar N. 24 should be given Night and Morning. +This very Medicine, with the Assistance of Whey, cured two Persons I +advised it to, of rheumatic Pains, of which they had been infested with +frequent Returns for many Years, and which were attended with a small +Fever. + +Apples coddled, Prunes stewed, and well ripened Summer Fruits are the +properest Nourishment in this Disease. + +We may save the Sick a good deal of Pain, by putting one strong Towel +always under their Back, and another under their Thighs, in order to +move them the more easily. When their Hands are without Pain, a third +Towel hung upon a Cord, which is fastened across the Bed, must +considerably assist them in moving themselves. + + 170. When the Fever entirely disappears, and the Hardness of the Pulse +is removed, I have ordered the Purge N. 23 with a very good Effect; and +if it is attended with five or six Motions, the Patient is very sensibly +relieved. The Day but one after it may be repeated successfully, and a +third Time, after an Interval of a greater Number of Days. + + 171. When the Pains are extremely violent, they admit of no +Application: Vapour-Baths however may be employed, and provided they are +often used, and for a considerable Time, they prove very efficacious. +The Purpose of these Baths is only to convey the Steam of boiling Water +to the Parts affected; which may always easily be effected, by a Variety +of simple and easy Contrivances; the Choice of which must depend on the +different Circumstances and Situation of the Sick. + +Whenever it is possible, some of the emollient Applications N. 9, +should be continually employed. A half Bath, or an entire Bath of warm +Water, in which the Patient should remain an Hour, after sufficient +Bleedings and many Glysters, affords the greatest Relief. I have seen a +Patient, under the most acute Pains of the Loins, of the Hips, and of +one Knee, put into one. He continued still under extreme Torment in the +Bath, and on being taken out of it: but an Hour after he had been put to +Bed, he sweated, to an incredible Quantity, for thirty six Hours, and +was cured. The Bath should never be made use of, until after repeated +Bleedings, or at least other equivalent Evacuations: for otherwise +timed, it would aggravate the Disease. + + 172. The Pains are generally most severe in the Night; whence it has +been usual to give composing soporific Medicines. This however has been +very erroneous, as Opiates really augment the Cause of the Disease, and +destroy the Efficacy of the proper Remedies: and, even not seldom, far +from asswaging the Pains, they increase them. Indeed they agree so +little in this Disease, that even the Patient's natural Sleep at the +Invasion of this Complaint, is rather to his Detriment. They feel, the +very Moment they are dropping asleep, such violent Jirks as awaken them +with great Pain: or if they do sleep a few Minutes, the Pains are +stronger when they awake. + + 173. The Rheumatism goes off either by Stool, by turbid thick Urine +which drops a great Proportion of a yellowish Sediment, or by Sweats: +and it generally happens that this last Discharge prevails towards the +Conclusion of the Disease. It may be kept up by drinking an Infusion of +Elder Flowers. At the Beginning however Sweating is pernicious. + + 174. It happens also, though but very seldom, that Rheumatisms +determine by depositing a sharp Humour upon the Legs; where it forms +Vesications, or a kind of Blisterings; which burst open and form Ulcers, +that ought not to be healed and dried up too hastily; as this would +occasion a speedy Return of the rheumatic Pains. They are disposed to +heal naturally of themselves, by the Assistance of a temperate regular +Diet, and a few gentle Purges. + + 175. Sometimes again, an Abscess is formed either in the affected +Part, or in some neighbouring one. I have seen a Vineyard Dresser, who +after violent Pains of the Loins, had an Abscess in the upper Part of +the Thigh, which he neglected for a long Time. When I saw him, it was of +a monstrous Size. I ordered it to be opened, when at once above three +Pots of [41] Matter rushed out of it: but the Patient, being exhausted, +died some Time after it. + +[41] This, according to our Author's Estimation of the Pot-Measure at + _Berne_, which is that he always means, and which he says contains + exactly (of Water we suppose) fifty one Ounces and a Quarter + (though without a material Error it may be computed at three Pounds + and a Quarter) will amount at least to nine Pounds and three + Quarters of Matter, supposing this no heavier than Water. By + Measure it will want but little of five of our Quarts: a very + extraordinary Discharge indeed of _Pus_ at once, and not unlikely + to be attended by the Event which soon followed. _K._ + +Another Crisis of the Rheumatism has happened by a kind of Itch, which +breaks out upon all the Parts adjacent to the Seat of this Disease. +Immediately after this Eruption the Pains vanish; but the Pustules +sometimes continue for several Weeks. + + 176. I have never observed the Pains to last, with considerable +Violence, above fourteen Days, in this Species of the Rheumatism; though +there remains a Weakness, Numbness, and some Inflation, or Puffing, of +the adjoining Parts: and it will also be many Weeks, and sometimes even +Months; especially if the Distemper attacked them in the Fall, before +the Sick recover their usual Strength. I have known some Persons, who, +after a very painful Rheumatism, have been troubled with a very +disagreeable Sensation of Lassitude; which did not go off till after a +great Eruption, all over the Body, of little Vesications or Blisterings, +full of a watery Humour; many of them burst open, and others withered +and dried up without bursting. + + 177. The Return of Strength into the Parts affected may be promoted by +Frictions Night and Morning, with Flannel or any other woollen Stuff; by +using Exercise; and by conforming exactly to the Directions given in the +Chapter on Convalescence, or Recovery from acute Diseases. The +Rheumatism may also be prevented by the Means I have pointed out, in +treating of Pleurisies and Quinsies. + + 178. Sometimes the Rheumatism, with a Fever, invades Persons who are +not so sanguine, or abounding in Blood; or whose Blood is not so much +disposed to Inflammation; those whose Flesh and Fibres are softer; and +in whose Humours there is more Thinness and Sharpness, than Viscidity +and Thickness. Bleeding proves less necessary for Persons so +constituted, notwithstanding the Fever should be very strong. Some +Constitutions require more Discharges by Stool; and after they are +properly evacuated, some Blisters should be applied, which often afford +them a sensible Relief as soon as ever they begin to operate. +Nevertheless they should never be used where the Pulse is hard. The +Powder N. 25 answers very well in these Cases. + + 179. There is another Kind of Rheumatism, called chronical, or +lasting. It is known by the following Characters or Marks. 1. It is +commonly unattended with a Fever. 2. It continues a very long Time. 3. +It seldom attacks so many Parts at once as the former. 4. Frequently no +visible Alteration appears in the affected Part, which is neither more +hot, red, or swelled than in its healthy State; though sometimes one or +other of these Symptoms is evident. 5. The former, the inflammatory, +Rheumatism assaults strong, vigorous, robust Persons: but this rather +invades People arrived at a certain Period of Life, or such as are weak +and languishing. + + 180. The Pain of the chronical Rheumatism, when left to itself, or +injudiciously treated, lasts sometimes many Months, and even Years. It +is particularly and extremely obstinate, when it is exerted on the Head, +the Loins, or on the Hip, and along the Thighs, when it is called the +_Sciatica_. There is no Part indeed which this Pain may not invade; +sometimes it fixes itself in a small Spot, as in one Corner of the Head; +the Angle of the Jaw; the Extremity of a Finger; in one Knee; on one +Rib, or on the Breast, where it often excites Pains, which make the +Patient apprehensive of a Cancer. It penetrates also to the internal +Parts. When it affects the Lungs, a most obstinate Cough is the +Consequence; which degenerates at length into very dangerous Disorders +of the Breast. In the Stomach and Bowels it excites most violent Pains +like a Cholic; and in the Bladder, Symptoms so greatly resembling those +of the Stone, that Persons, who are neither deficient in Knowlege nor +Experience, have been more than once deceived by them. + + 181. The Treatment of this chronical Rheumatism does not vary +considerably from that of the former. Nevertheless, in the first Place, +if the Pain is very acute, and the Patient robust, a single Bleeding at +the Onset is very proper and efficacious. 2. The Humours ought to be +diluted, and their Acrimony or Sharpness should be diminished, by a very +plentiful Use of a Ptisan of [42] Burdock Roots N. 26. 3. Four or five +Days after drinking abundantly of this, the purging [43] Powder N. 21 +may be taken with Success. In this Species of the Rheumatism, a certain +Medicine is sometimes found serviceable. This has acquired some +Reputation, particularly in the Country, where they bring it from, +_Geneva_; under the Title of the Opiate for the Rheumatism, tho' I +cannot say for what Reason; as it is indeed neither more nor less than +the Electuary _Caryocostinum_, which may be procured at our +Apothecaries. I shall observe however, that this Medicine has done +Mischief in the inflammatory Rheumatism, and even in this, as often as +the Persons afflicted with it are feeble, thin and of a hot Temperament; +and either when they have not previously taken diluting Drinks, or when +it has been used too long. For, in such a Circumstance, it is apt to +throw the Patient into an irrecoverable Weakness. The Composition +consists of the hottest Spices, and of very sharp Purgatives. + +[42] Half a Pint of a pretty strong Infusion of the Leaves of Buckbean, + which grows wild here, taken once a Day rather before Noon, has + also been found very serviceable in that Species of a chronical + Rheumatism, which considerably results from a scorbutic State of + the Constitution. _K._ + +[43] Another very good Purge, in this Kind of Rheumatism, may also be + compounded of the best Gum Guiacum in Powder from 30 to 40 Grains; + dissolved in a little Yolk of a fresh Egg; adding from 6 to 10 + Grains of Jallap powdered, and from 3 to 5 Grains of powdered + Ginger, with as much plain or sorrel Water, as will make a purging + Draught for a stronger or weaker grown Patient. Should the Pains + frequently infest the Stomach, while the Patient continues costive, + and there is no other Fever than such a small symptomatic one, as + may arise solely from Pain, he may safely take, if grown up, from + 30 to 45 Drops of the volatile Tincture of Gum Guiacum, in any + diluting Infusion, that may not coagulate or separate the Gum. It + generally disposes at first to a gentle _Diaphoresis_ or Sweat, and + several Hours after to one, and sometimes to a second Stool, with + little or no Griping. _K._ + + 182. When general Remedies have been used, and the Disorder still +continues, Recourse should be had to such Medicines, as are available to +restore Perspiration; and these should be persisted in for a +considerable Time. The Pills N. 18, with a strong Infusion of Elder +Flowers, have often succeeded in this Respect: and then after a long +Continuance of diluting Drinks, if the Fever is entirely subdued; if the +Stomach exerts its Functions well; the Patient is no ways costive; if he +is not of a dry Habit of Body; and the Part affected remains without +Inflammation, the Patient may safely take the Powder N. 29, at Night +going to Bed, with a Cup or two of an Infusion of _Carduus benedictus_, +or the blessed Thistle, and a Morsel of Venice Treacle of the Size of a +Hazel Nut, or a Filberd. This Remedy brings on a very copious Sweating, +which often expells the [44] Disease. These Sweats may be rendered full +more effectual, by wrapping up the affected Part in a Flanel dipt in the +Decoction N. 27. + +[44] Gum Guaiacum, given from six to ten Grains Morning and Night, is + often very successful in these Cases. It may be made into Pills or + Bolusses with the Rob of Elder, or with the Extract of Juniper. _E. + L._ + + 183. But of all these Pains, the Sciatica is one of the most tedious +and obstinate. Nevertheless I have seen the greatest Success, from the +Application of seven or eight Cupping-Glasses on the tormented Part; by +which, without the Assistance of any other Remedy, I have cured, in a +few Hours, Sciaticas of many Years standing, which had baffled other +Remedies. Blisters, or any such stimulating Plaisters, as bring on a +Suppuration and Discharge from the afflicted Part, contribute also +frequently to the Cure; tho' less effectually than Cupping, which should +be repeated several Times. Green Cere-cloth, commonly called Oil-cloth, +(whether the Ingredients be spread on Taffety or on Linen) being applied +to the diseased Part, disposes it to sweat abundantly, and thus to +discharge the sharp Humour which occasions the Pain. Sometimes both +these Applications, but especially that spread on Silk (which may be +applied more exactly and closely to the Part, and which is also spread +with a different Composition) raise a little Vesication on the Part as +Blisters do. A Plaister of Quicklime and Honey blended together has +cured inveterate Sciaticas. Oil of Eggs has sometimes succeeded in such +Cases. A Seton has also been successfully made in the lower Part of the +Thigh. Finally some Pains, which have not yielded to any of these +Applications, have been cured by actual burning, inflicted on the very +Spot, where the most violent Pain has been felt; except some particular +Reason, drawn from an anatomical Knowlege of the Part, should determine +the Surgeon not to apply it there. The Scull or Head should never be +cauterized with a burning Iron. + + 184. The hot Baths of _Bourbon_, _Plombiers_, _Aix-la-Chapelle_ and +many others are often very efficacious in these chronical Pains: +notwithstanding I really think, there is no rheumatic Pain that may not +be cured without them. The common People substitute to these a Bath made +of the Husk of Grapes, after their Juice is expressed, which cures some +by making them sweat abundantly. Cold Baths however are the best to keep +off this Disease; but then they cannot always be safely ventured on. +Many Circumstances render the Use of them impracticable to particular +Persons. Such as are subject to this chronical Rheumatism, would do very +well to rub their whole Bodies every Morning, if they could, but +especially the afflicted Parts, with Flanel. This Habit keeps up +Perspiration beyond any other Assistance; and indeed sometimes even +increases it too much. It would be serviceable too, if such Subjects of +this cruel Disease wore Flanel all over their Skin, during the Winter. + +After a violent Rheumatism, People should long be careful to avoid that +cold and moist Air, which disposes them to relapse. + + 185. Rheumatic People have too frequent a Recourse to very improper +and hurtful Medicines, in this Distemper, which daily produce very bad +Consequences. Such are spirituous Medicines, Brandy, and Arquebusade +Water. They either render the Pain more obstinate and fixed, by +hardening the Skin; or they repell the Humour to some inward Part. And +Instances are not wanting of Persons who have died suddenly, from the +Application of Spirit of Wine upon the Parts, that were violently +afflicted with the Rheumatism. It also happens sometimes that the +Humour, having no Outlet through the Skin, is thrown internally on the +Bone and affects it. A very singular Fact occurred in this Respect, an +Account of which may be serviceable to some Persons afflicted with the +Disease. A Woman at Night was chaffing the Arm of her Husband, who had +the Rheumatism there, with Spirit of Wine; when a very lucky Accident +prevented the Mischief she might have occasioned by it. The Spirit of +Wine took Fire from the Flame of the Candle she made use of, and burned +the diseased Part. It was drest of Course, and the Suppuration that +attended it, entirely cured the Rheumatism. + +Sharp and greasy Unctions or Ointments produce very bad Effects, and are +equally dangerous. A _Caries_, a Rottenness of the Bones, has ensued +upon the Use of a Medicine called, The Balsam of Sulphur with +Turpentine. I was consulted in 1750, three Days before her Decease, +about a Woman, who had long endured acute rheumatic Pains. She had taken +various Medicines, and, among the rest, a considerable Quantity of a +Ptisan, in which Antimony was blended with some purging Medicines, and a +greasy spirituous Balsam had been rubbed into the Part. The Fever, the +Pains, and the Dryness of the Skin soon increased; the Bones of the +Thighs and Arms became carious: and in moving the Patient no more than +was necessary for her Relief and Convenience, without taking her out of +her Bed, both Thighs and one Arm broke. So dreadful an Example should +make People cautious of giving or applying Medicines inconsiderately, +even in such Diseases, as appear but trifling in themselves. I must also +inform the Readers, there are some rheumatic Pains, which admit of no +Application; and that almost every Medicine aggravates them. In such +Cases the afflicted must content themselves with keeping the Parts +affected from the Impressions of the Air, by a Flanel, or the Skin of +some Animal with the Fur on. + +It is also more advisable sometimes to leave a sufferable and inveterate +Pain to itself, especially in old or weakly People, than to employ too +many Medicines, or such violent ones, as should affect them more +importantly than the Pains did. + + 186. If the Duration of the Pains fixed in the same Place, should +cause some Degree of Stiffness in the Joint affected, it should be +exposed twice a Day to the Vapour of warm Water, and dried well +afterwards with hot Linen: then it should be well chaffed, and lastly +touched over with Ointment of Marsh-mallows. Pumping, if superadded to +this Vapour, considerably increases its Efficacy. I directed, for a Case +of this Sort, a very simple Machine of white Tin, or Lattin, which +combined the Application of the Steam and the Pump. + + 187. Very young Children are sometimes subject to such violent and +extended Pains, that they cannot bear touching in any Part, without +excessive Crying. We must be careful to avoid mistaking these Cases, and +not to treat them like Rheumatisms. They sometimes are owing to Worms, +and go off when these have been discharged. + + + + + __Chapter XII.__ + + + _Of the Bite of a mad Dog._ + + + __Sect.__ 188. + +Men may contract the particular and raging Symptom, which is very +generally peculiar to this Disease from this Cause, and even without any +Bite; but this happens very rarely indeed. It is properly a Distemper +belonging to the canine _Genus_, consisting of the three Species of +Dogs, Wolves, and Foxes, to whom only it seems inherent and natural; +scarcely ever arising in other Animals, without its being inflicted by +them. Whenever there occurs one of them who breeds it, he bites others, +and thus the Poison, the Cause of this terrible Disease, is diffused. +Other Animals besides the canine Species, and Men themselves being +exposed to this Accident, do sometimes contract the Disease in all its +Rage and Horror: though it is not to be supposed, that this is always an +unfailing Consequence. + + 189. If a Dog who used to be lively and active, becomes all at once +moapish and morose; if he has an Aversion to eat; a particular and +unusual Look about his Eyes; a Restlessness, which appears from his +continually running to and fro, we may be apprehensive he is likely to +prove mad; at which very Instant he ought to be tied up securely, that +it may be in our Power to destroy him as soon as the Distemper is +evident. Perhaps it might be even still safer to kill him at once. + +Whenever the Malady is certain, the Symptoms heighten pretty soon. His +Aversion to Food, but especially to Drink, grows stronger. He no longer +seems to know his Master, the Sound of his Voice changes; he suffers no +Person to handle or approach him; and bites those who attempt it. He +quits his ordinary Habitation, marching on with his Head and his Tail +hanging downwards; his Tongue lolling half out, and covered with Foam or +Slaver, which indeed not seldom happens indifferently to all Dogs. Other +Dogs scent him, not seldom at a considerable Distance, and fly him with +an Air of Horror, which is a certain Indication of his Disease. +Sometimes he contents himself with biting only those who happen to be +near him: while at other Times becoming more enraged, he springs to the +right and left on all Men and Animals about him. He hurries away with +manifest Dread from whatever Waters occur to him: at length he falls +down as spent and exhausted; sometimes he rises up again, and drags +himself on for a little Time, commonly dying the third, or, at the +latest, on the fourth Day after the manifest Appearance of the Disease, +and sometimes even sooner. + + 190. When a Person is bit by such a Dog, the Wound commonly heals up +as readily, as if it was not in the least poisonous: but after the +Expiration of a longer or shorter Term, from three Weeks to three +Months; but most commonly in about six Weeks, the Person bitten begins +to perceive, in the Spot that was bit, a certain dull obtuse Pain. The +Scar of it swells, inflames, bursts open, and weeps out a sharp, foetid, +and sanious, or somewhat bloody Humour. At the same Time the Patient +becomes sad and melancholy: he feels a kind of Indifference, +Insensibility, and general Numbness; an almost incessant Coldness; a +Difficulty of breathing; a continual Anguish, and Pains in his Bowels. +His Pulse is weak and irregular, his sleep restless, turbid, and +confused with Ravings; with starting up in Surprize, and with terrible +Frights. His Discharges by Stool are often much altered and irregular, +and small cold Sweats appear at very short Intervals. Sometimes there is +also a slight Pain or Uneasiness in the Throat. Such is the first Degree +of this Disease, and it is called by some Physicians the dumb Rage, or +Madness. + + 191. Its second Degree, the confirmed or downright Madness, is +attended with the following Symptoms. The Patient is afflicted with a +violent Thirst, and a Pain in drinking. Soon after this he avoids all +Drink, but particularly Water, and within some Hours after, he even +abhors it. This Horror becomes so violent, that the bringing Water near +his Lips, or into his Sight, the very Name of it, or of any other Drink; +the Sight of Objects, which, from their Transparence, have any +Resemblance of Water, as a Looking Glass, _&c._ afflicts him with +extreme Anguish, and sometimes even with Convulsions. They continue +however still to swallow (though not without violent Difficulty) a +little Meat or Bread, and sometimes a little Soup. Some even get down +the liquid Medicines that are prescribed them, provided there be no +Appearance of Water in them; or that Water is not mentioned to them, at +the same Time. Their Urine becomes thick and high-coloured, and +sometimes there is a Suppression or Stoppage of it. The Voice either +grows hoarse, or is almost entirely abolished: but the Reports of the +bitten barking like Dogs are ridiculous and superstitious Fictions, void +of any Foundation; as well as many other Fable, that have been blended +with the History of this Distemper. The Barking of Dogs however is very +disagreeable to them. They are troubled with short _Deliriums_ or +Ravings, which are sometimes mixed with Fury. It is at such times that +they spit all around them; that they attempt also to bite, and sometimes +unhappily effect it. Their Looks are fixed, as it were, and somewhat +furious, and their Visage frequently red. It is pretty common for these +miserable Patients to be sensible of the Approach of their raging Fit, +and to conjure the Bystanders to be upon their Guard. Many of them never +have an Inclination to bite. The increasing Anguish and Pain they feel +become inexpressible: they earnestly wish for Death; and some of them +have even destroyed themselves, when they had the Means of effecting it. + + 192. It is with the Spittle, and the Spittle only, that this dreadful +Poison unites itself. And here it may be observed, 1, That if the Wounds +have been made through any of the Patient's Cloaths, they are less +dangerous than those inflicted immediately on the naked Skin. 2, That +Animals who abound in Wool, or have very thick Hair, are often preserved +from the mortal Impression of the Poison; because in these various +Circumstances, the Cloaths, the Hair, or the Wool have wiped, or even +dried up, the Slaver of their Teeth. 3, The Bites inflicted by an +infected Animal, very soon after he has bitten many others, are less +dangerous than the former Bites, because their Slaver is lessened or +exhausted. 4, If the Bite happens in the Face, or in the Neck, the +Danger is greater, and the Operation of the Venom is quicker too; by +Reason the Spittle of the Person so bit is sooner infected. 5, The +higher the Degree of the Disease is advanced, the Bites become +proportionably more dangerous. From what I have just mentioned here it +may be discerned, why, of many who have been bitten by the same +Sufferer, some have been infected with this dreadful Disease, and others +not. + + 193. A great Number of Remedies have been highly cried up, as famous +in the Cure of this Disease; and, in _Swisserland_ particularly, the +Root of the Eglantine or wild Rose, gathered at some particular times, +under the favorable Aspects of the Moon, and dried with some +extraordinary Precautions. There is also the Powder of _Palmarius_ of +calcined Egg Shells, that of the _Lichen terrestris_, or Ground +Liverwort, with one third Part of Pepper, a Remedy long celebrated in +_England_; Powder of Oyster-Shells; of Vervain; bathing in Salt Water; +St. Hubert's Key, _&c. &c._ But the Death of a Multitude of those who +have been bitten, notwithstanding their taking the greatest Part of all +these boasted Antidotes; and the Certainty of no one's escaping, who had +been attacked with the high raging Symptom, the _Hydrophobia_, have +demonstrated the Inefficacy of them all, to all _Europe_. It is +incontestable that to the Year 1730, not a single Patient escaped, in +whom the Disease was indisputably manifest; and that every Medicine then +employed against it was useless. When Medicines had been given before +the great Symptom appeared, in some of those who took them, it +afterwards appeared, in others not. The same different Events occurred +also to others who were bitten, and who took not the least Medicine; so +that upon the whole, before that Date, no Medicine seemed to be of any +Consequence. Since that Time, we have had the Happiness to be informed +of a certain Remedy, which is Mercury, joined to a few others. + + 194. In short there is a Necessity for destroying or expelling the +Poison itself, which Mercury effects, and is consequently the +Counter-poison of it. That poison produces a general Irritation of the +Nerves; this is to be removed or asswaged by Antispasmodics: so that in +Mercury, or Quicksilver, joined to Antispasmodics, consists the whole +that is indicated in the Cure of this Disease. There really have been +many Instances of Persons cured by these Medicines, in whom the +Distemper had been manifest in its Rage and Violence; and as many as +have unfortunately received the Cause of it in a Bite, should be firmly +persuaded, that in taking these Medicines, and using all other proper +Precautions, they shall be entirely secured from all its ill +Consequences. Those also in whom the Rage and Fury of this Distemper is +manifest, ought to use the same Medicines, with entire [45] Hope and +Confidence, which may justly be founded on the many Cures effected by +them. It is acknowledged however, that they have proved ineffectual in a +few Cases; but what Disease is there, which does not sometimes prove +incurable? + +[45] This Advice is truly prudent and judicious; Hope, as I have + observed on a different Occasion, being a powerful, though + impalpable, Cordial: and in such perilous Situations, we should + excite the most agreeable Expectations we possibly can in the + Patient; that Nature, being undepressed by any desponding + melancholy ones, may exert her Functions the more firmly, and + co-operate effectually with the Medicines, against her internal + Enemy. _K._ + + 195. The very Moment after receiving the Bite, is it happens to be in +the Flesh, and if it can safely be effected, all the Part affected +should be cut [46] away. The Ancients directed it to be cauterized, or +burnt with a red hot Iron (meer Scarification being of very little +Effect) and this Method would very probably prove effectual. It requires +more Resolution, however, than every Patient is endued with. The Wound +should be washed and cleansed a considerable Time with warm Water, with +a little Sea-Salt dissolved in it. After this into the Lips and Edges of +the Wound, and into the Surface of the Part all about it, should be +rubbed a Quarter of an Ounce of the Ointment N. 28; and the Wound +should be dressed twice daily, with the soft lenient Ointment N. 29, to +promote Suppuration; but that of N. 28 is to be used only once a Day. + +[46] I knew a brave worthy Gentleman abroad, who above forty Years past + thus preserved his Life, after receiving the Bite of a large + Rattle-Snake, by resolutely cutting it and the Flesh surrounding it + out, with a sharp pointed Penknife.--Perhaps those who would not + suffer the Application of the actual Cautery, that is, of a red hot + Iron (which certainly promises well for a Cure) might be persuaded + to admit of a potential Cautery, where the Bite was inflicted on a + fleshy Part. Though even this is far from being unpainful, yet the + Pain coming on more gradually, is less terrifying and horrid. And + when it had been applied quickly after, and upon the Bite, and kept + on for 3 or 4 Hours, the Discharge, after cutting the _Eschar_, + would sooner ensue, and in more Abundance, than that from the + actual Cautery; the only Preference of which seems to consist in + its being capable perhaps of absorbing, or otherwise consuming, all + the poisonous _Saliva_ at once. This Issue should be dressed + afterwards according to our Author's Direction; and in the gradual + healing of the Ulcer, it may be properly deterged by adding a + little Prcipitate to the Digestive. Neither would this interfere + with the Exhibition of the _Tonquin_ Powder N. 30, nor the + antispasmodic _Bolus_ N. 31, if they should be judged necessary. + And these perhaps might prove the most certain Means of preventing + the mortal Effects of this singular animal Poison, which it is so + impossible to analyze, and so extremely difficult to form any + material Idea of; but which is not the Case of some other Poisons. + _K._ + +In point of Regimen, the Quantity of Nourishment should be less than +usual, particularly in the Article of [47] Flesh: he should abstain from +Wine, spirituous Liquors, all Sorts of Spices and hot inflaming Food. He +should drink only Barley-Water, or an Infusion of the Flowers of the +Lime-tree. He should be guarded against Costiveness by a soft relaxing +Diet, or by Glysters, and bathe his Legs once a Day in warm Water. Every +third Day one Dose of the Medicine N. 30 should be taken; which is +compounded of Mercury, that counterworks the Poison, and of Musk which +prevents the Spasms, or convulsive Motions. I confess at the same Time +that I have less Dependance on the Mercury given in this Form, and think +the rubbing in of its Ointment considerably more efficacious, which I +should hope may always prevent the Fatality of this dreadful, surprizing +Disease. [48] + +[47] It seems not amiss to try the Effects of a solely vegetable Diet + (and that perhaps consisting more of the acescent than alcalescent + Herbs and Roots) in this Disease, commencing immediately from the + Bite of a known mad Dog. These carnivorous Animals, who naturally + reject all vegetable Food, are the only primary Harbingers or + Breeders of it; though they are capable of transmitting it by a + Bite to graminivorous and granivorous ones. The Virtue of Vinegar + in this Disease, said to have been accidentally discovered on the + Continent, seems not to have been hitherto experienced amongst us; + yet in Case of such a morbid Accident it may require a Tryal; tho' + not so far, as to occasion the Omission of more certainly + experienced Remedies, with some of which it might be improper. _K._ + +[48] The great Usefulness of mercurial Frictions, we may even say, the + certain Security which they procure for the Patients, in these + Cases, provided they are applied very soon after the Bite, have + been demonstrated by their Success in _Provence_, at _Lyons_, at + _Montpellier_, at _Pondacherry_, and in many other Places. Neither + have these happy Events been invalidated by any Observations or + Instances to the contrary. It cannot therefore be too strongly + inculcated to those who have been bitten by venomous Animals, to + comply with the Use of them. They ought to be used in such a + Quantity, and after such a Manner, as to excite a moderate + Salivation, for fifteen, twenty, or even thirty Days. _E. L._ + Though this Practice may justly be pursued from great Caution, when + no Cautery had been speedily applied to, and no such Discharge had + been obtained from, the bitten Part; yet wherever it had, this long + and depressing Salivation, I conceive, would be very seldom + necessary; and might be hurtful to weak Constitutions. _K._ + + 196. If the raging Symptom, the Dread of Water, has already appeared, +and the Patient is strong, and abounds with Blood, he should, 1, be bled +to a considerable Quantity, and this may be repeated twice, thrice, or +even a fourth Time, if Circumstances require it. + +2, The Patient should be put, if possible, into a warm Bath; and this +should be used twice daily. + +3, He should every Day receive two, or even three of the emollient +Glysters N. 5. + +4, The Wound and the Parts adjoining to it should be rubbed with the +Ointment N. 28, twice a Day. + +5, The whole Limb which contains the Wound should be rubbed with Oil, +and be wrapped up in an oily Flanel. + +6, Every three Hours a Dose of the Powder N. 30, should be taken in a +Cup of the Infusion of Lime-tree and Elder Flowers. + +7, The Prescription N. 31, is to be given every Night, and to be +repeated in the Morning, if the Patient is not easy, washing it down +with the same Infusion. + +8, If there be a great Nauseousness at Stomach, with a Bitterness in the +Mouth, give the Powder N. 35, which brings up a copious Discharge of +glewy and bilious Humours. + +9, There is very little Occasion to say any thing relating to the +Patient's Food, in such a Situation. Should he ask for any, he may be +allowed Panada, light Soup, Bread, Soups made of farinaceous or mealy +Vegetables, or a little Milk. + + 197. By the Use of these Remedies the Symptoms will be observed to +lessen, and to disappear by Degrees; and finally Health will be +re-established. But if the Patient should long continue weak, and +subject to Terrors, he may take a Dose of the Powder N. 14, thrice a +Day. + + 198. It is certain that a Boy, in whom the raging Symptom of This +Disease had just appeared, was perfectly cured, by bathing all about the +wounded Part with Sallad-Oil, in which some Camphire and Opium were +dissolved; with the Addition of repeated Frictions of the Ointment N. +28, and making him take some _Eau de luce_ with a little Wine. This +Medicine, a Coffee-Cup of which may be given every four Hours, allayed +the great Inquietude and Agitation of the Patient; and brought on a very +plentiful Sweat, on which all the Symptoms vanished. + + 199. Dogs may be cured by rubbing in a triple Quantity of the same +Ointment directed for Men, and by giving them the Bolus N. 33. But both +these Means should be used as soon as ever they are bit. When the great +Symptom is manifest, there would be too much Danger in attempting to +apply one, or to give the other; and they should be immediately killed. +It might be well however to try if they would swallow down the Bolus, on +its being thrown to them. + +As soon as ever Dogs are bit, they should be safely tied up, and not let +loose again, before the Expiration of three or four Months. + + 200. A false and dangerous Prejudice has prevailed with Regard to the +Bites from Dogs, and it is this--That if a Dog who had bit any Person, +without being mad at the Time of his biting, should become mad +afterwards, the Person so formerly bitten, would prove mad too at the +same Time. Such a Notion is full as absurd, as it would be to affirm, +that if two Persons had slept in the same Bed, and that one of them +should take the Itch, the Small-Pocks, or any other contagious Disease, +ten or twelve Years afterwards, that the other should also be infected +with that he took, and at the same Time too. + +Of two Circumstances, whenever a Person is bit, one must certainly be. +Either the Dog which gives the Bite, is about to be mad himself, in +which Case this would be evident in a few Days; and then it must be said +the Person was bitten by a mad Dog: Or else, that the Dog was absolutely +sound, having neither conceived, or bred in himself, nor received from +without the Cause, the Principle, of Madness: in which last Case I ask +any Man in his Senses, if he could communicate it. No Person, no Thing +imparts what it has not. This false and crude Notion excites those who +are possessed with it to a dangerous Action: they exercise that Liberty +the Laws unhappily allow them of killing the Dog; by which Means they +are left uncertain of his State, and of their own Chance. This is a +dreadful Uncertainty, and may be attended with embarrassing and +troublesome Consequences, independant of the Poison itself. The +reasonable Conduct would be to secure and observe the Dog very closely, +in Order to know certainly whether he is, or is not, mad. + + 201. It is no longer necessary to represent the Horror, the Barbarity +and Guilt of that cruel Practice, which prevailed, not very long since, +of suffocating Persons in the Height of this Disease, with the +Bed-cloaths, or between Matrasses. It is now prohibited in most +Countries; and doubtless will be punished, or, at least ought to be, +even in those where as yet it is not. + +Another Cruelty, of which we hope to see no repeated Instance, is that +of abandoning those miserable Patients to themselves, without the least +Resource or Assistance: a most detestable Custom even in those Times, +when there was not the least Hope of saving them; and still more +criminal in our Days, when they may be recovered effectually. I do again +affirm, that it is not very often these afflicted Patients are disposed +to bite; and that even when they are, they are afraid of doing it; and +request the Bystanders to keep out of their Reach: So that no Danger is +incurred; or where there is any, it may easily be avoided by a few +Precautions. + + + + + __Chapter XIII.__ + + + _Of the Small-Pocks._ + + + __Sect.__ 202. + +The Small-Pocks is the most frequent, the most extensive of all +Diseases; since out of a hundred Persons there are not more than [49] +four or five exempted from it. It is equally true however, that if it +attacks almost every Person, it attacks them but once, so that having +escaped through it, they are always secure from [50] it. It must be +acknowleged, at the same Time, to be one of the most destructive +Diseases; for if in some Years or Seasons, it proves to be of a very +mild and gentle Sort, in others it is almost as fatal as the Plague: it +being demonstrated, by calculating the Consequences of its most raging, +and its gentlest Prevalence, that it kills one seventh of the Number it +attacks. + +[49] As far as the Number of inoculated Persons, who remained entirely + uninfected (some very few after a second Inoculation) has enabled + me, I have calculated the Proportion naturally exempted from this + Disease, though residing within the Influence of it, to be full 25 + in 1000. See Analysis of Inoculation, Ed. 2d. P. 157. Note *. _K._ + +[50] It has sometimes been observed (and the Observation has been such, + as not to be doubted) that a very mild distinct Small-Pocks has + sometimes invaded the same Person twice: But such Instances are so + very rare, that we may very generally affirm, those who have once + had it, will never have it again. _E. L._----In Deference to a few + particular Authorities, I have also supposed such a repeated + Infection. (Analysis of Inoculation, Ed. 2d. P. 43.) though I have + really never seen any such myself; nor ever heard more than two + Physicians affirm it, one at _Versailles_, and another in _London_; + the last of whom declared, he took it upon the Credit of a Country + Physician, thoroughly acquainted with this Disease, and a Witness + to the Repetition of it. Hence we imagine the Editor of this Work + at _Lyons_ might have justly termed this Re-infection _extremely_ + rare, which would have a Tendency to reconcile the Subjects of the + Small-Pocks, more generally, to the most salutary Practice of + Inoculation. Doubtless some other eruptive Fevers, particularly, + the Chicken Pocks, Crystals, _&c._ have been often mistaken for the + real Small-Pocks by incompetent Judges, and sometimes even by + Persons better qualified, yet who were less attentive to the + Symptoms and Progress of the former. But whoever will be at the + Pains to read Dr. _Paux' Parallle de la petite verole naturalle + avec l'artificielle_, or a practical Abstract of Part of it in the + Monthly Review. Vol. XXV. P. 307 to 311, will find such a just, + clear and useful Distinction of them, as may prevent many future + Deceptions on this frequently interesting Subject. _K._ + + 203. People generally take the Small-Pocks in their Infancy, or in +their Childhood. It is very seldom known to attack only one Person in +one Place: its Invasions being very generally epidemical, and seizing a +large Proportion of those who have not suffered it. It commonly ceases +at the End of some Weeks, or of some Months, and rarely ever appears +again in the same Place, until four, five or six Years after. + + 204. This Malady often gives some Intimation of its Approach, three or +four Days before the Appearance of the Fever, by a little Dejection; +less Vivacity and Gaiety than usual; a great Propensity to sweat; less +Appetite; a slight Alteration of the Countenance, and a kind of pale +livid Colour about the Eyes: Notwithstanding which, in Children of a lax +and phlegmatic Constitution, I have known a moderate Agitation of their +Blood, (before their Shivering approached) give them a [51] Vivacity, +Gaiety, and a rosy Improvement of their Complexion, beyond what Nature +had given them. + +[51] The same Appearances very often occur in such Subjects by + Inoculation, before actual Sickening, as I have observed and + instanced, Ed. 1st. P. 62, Ed. 2. P. 75, 76. _K._ + +Certain short Vicissitudes of Heat or Coldness succeed the former +introductory Appearances, and at length a considerable Shivering, of the +Duration of one, two, three or four Hours: This is succeeded by violent +Heat, accompanied with Pains of the Head, Loins, Vomiting, or at least +with a frequent Propensity to vomit. + +This State continues for some Hours, at the Expiration of which the +Fever abates a little in a Sweat, which is sometimes a very large one: +the Patient then finds himself better, but is notwithstanding cast down, +torpid or heavy, very squeamish, with a Head-ach and Pain in the Back, +and a Disposition to be drowsy. The last Symptom indeed is not very +common, except in Children, less than seven or eight Years of Age. + +The Abatement of the Fever is of small Duration; and some Hours after, +commonly towards the Evening, it returns with all its Attendants, and +terminates again by Sweats, as before. + +This State of the Disease lasts three or four Days; at the End of which +Term, and seldom later, the first Eruptions appear among the Sweat, +which terminates the Paroxysm or Return of the Fever. I have generally +observed the earliest Eruption to appear in the Face, next to that on +the Hands, on the fore Part of the Arms; on the Neck, and on the upper +Part of the Breast. As soon as this Eruption appears, if the Distemper +is of a gentle Kind and Disposition, the Fever almost entirely vanishes: +the Patient continues to sweat a little, or transpire; the Number of +Eruptions increases, others coming out on the Back, the Sides, the +Belly, the Thighs, the Legs, and the Feet. Sometimes they are pushed out +very numerously even to the Soles of the Feet; where, as they increase +in Size, they often excite very sharp Pain, by Reason of the great +Thickness and Hardness of the Skin in these Parts. + +Frequently on the first and second Day of Eruption (speaking hitherto +always of the mild Kind and Degree of the Disease) there returns again a +very gentle Revival of the Fever about the Evening, which, about the +Termination of it, is attended with a considerable and final Eruption: +though as often as the Fever terminates perfectly after the earliest +Eruption, a very distinct and very small one is a pretty certain +Consequence. For though the Eruption is already, or should prove only +moderate, the Fever, as I have before said, does not totally disappear; +a small Degree of it still remaining, and heightening a little every +Evening. + +These Pustules, or Efflorescences, on their first Appearance, are only +so many very little red Spots, considerably resembling a Flea-bite; but +distinguishable by a small white Point in the Middle, a little raised +above the rest, which gradually increases in Size, with the Redness +extended about it. They become whiter, in Proportion as they grow +larger; and generally upon the sixth Day, including that of their first +Eruption, they attain their utmost Magnitude, and are full of _Pus_ or +Matter. Some of them grow to the Size of a Pea, and some still a little +larger; but this never happens to the greatest Number of them. From this +Time they begin to look yellowish, they gradually become dry, and fall +off in brown Scales, in ten or eleven Days from their first Appearance. +As their Eruption occurred on different Days, they also wither and fall +off successively. The Face is sometimes clear of them, while Pustules +still are seen upon the Legs, not fully ripe, or suppurated: and those +in the Soles of the Feet often remain much longer. + + 205. The Skin is of Course extended or stretched out by the Pustules; +and after the Appearance of a certain Quantity, all the Interstices, or +Parts between the Pustules, are red and bright, as it were, with a +proportionable Inflation or Swelling of the Skin. The Face is the first +Part that appears bloated, from the Pustules there first attaining their +utmost Size: and this inflation is sometimes so considerable, as to look +monstrous; the like happens also to the Neck, and the Eyes are entirely +closed up by it. The Swelling of the Face abates in Proportion to the +scabbing and drying up of the Pustules; and then the Hands are puffed up +prodigiously. This happens successively to the Legs, the Tumour or +Swelling, being the Consequence of the Pustules attaining their utmost +Size, which happens by Succession, in these different Parts. + + 206. Whenever there is a very considerable Eruption, the Fever is +heightened at the Time of Suppuration, which is not to be wondered at; +one single Boil excites a Fever: How is it possible then that some +hundred, nay some thousand of these little Abscesses should not excite +one? This Fever is the most dangerous Period, or Time of the Disease, +and occurs between the ninth and the thirteenth Days; as many +Circumstances vary the Term of Suppuration, two or three Days. At this +painful and perilous Season then, the Patient becomes very hot, and +thirsty: he is harrassed with Pain; and finds it very difficult to +discover a favourable easy Posture. If the Malady runs very high, he has +no Sleep; he raves, becomes greatly oppressed, is seized with a heavy +Drowsiness; and when he dies, he dies either suffocated or lethargic, +and sometimes in a State compounded of both these Symptoms. + +The Pulse, during this Fever of Suppuration, is sometimes of an +astonishing Quickness, while the Swelling of the Wrists makes it seem, +in some Subjects, to be very small. The most critical and dangerous Time +is, when the Swellings of the Face, Head and Neck are in their highest +Degree. Whenever the Swelling begins to fall, the Scabs on the Face to +dry [_supposing neither of these to be too sudden and premature, for the +visible Quantity of the Pustules_] and the Skin to shrivel, as it were, +the Quickness of the Pulse abates a little, and the Danger diminishes. +When the Pustules are very few, this second Fever is so moderate, that +it requires some Attention to discern it, so that the Danger is next to +none. + + 207. Besides those Symptoms, there are some others, which require +considerable Attention and Vigilance. One of these is the Soreness of +the Throat, with which many Persons in the Small-Pocks are afflicted, as +soon as the Fever grows pretty strong. It continues for two or three +Days; feels very strait and troublesome in the Action of Swallowing; and +whenever the Disease is extremely acute, it entirely prevents +Swallowing. It is commonly ascribed to the Eruption of Pustules in the +Throat; but this is a Mistake, such Pustules being almost +constantly [52] imaginary. It begins, most frequently, before the +Eruption appears; if this Complaint is in a light Degree, it terminates +upon the Eruption; and whenever it revives again in the Course of the +Disease, it is always in Proportion to the Degree of the Fever. Hence we +may infer it does not arise from the Pustules, but is owing to the +Inflammation; and as often as it is of any considerable Duration, it is +almost ever attended with another Symptom, the Salivation, or a +Discharge of a great Quantity of Spittle. This Salivation rarely exists, +where the Disease is very gentle, or the Patient very young; and is full +as rarely absent, where it is severe, and the Patient is past seven or +eight Years old: but when the Eruption is very confluent, and the +Patient adult, or grown up, the Discharge is surprizing. Under these +Circumstances it flows out incessantly, allowing the afflicted Patient +no Rest or Respite; and often incommodes him more than any other Symptom +of the Distemper; and so much the more, as after its Continuance for +some Days, the Lips, the Inside of the Cheeks, the Tongue, and the Roof +of the Mouth are entirely peeled or flead, as it were. Nevertheless, +however painful and embarrassing this Discharge may prove, it is very +important and salutary. Meer Infants are less subject to it, some of +them having a Looseness, in Lieu of it: and yet I have observed even +this last Discharge to be considerably less frequent in them, than a +Salivation is in grown People. + +[52] As Pustules are, and not very seldom, visible on the Tongue, and + sometimes on the Roof, even to its Process called the Palate, which + I have plainly seen; it seems not very easy to assign any + insuperable Obstacle to the Existence of a few within the Throat; + though this scarcely ever occurs, in the distinct Small-Pocks. + Doubtless however, a considerable Inflammation of that Part will be + as likely to produce the great Difficulty of Swallowing, as the + Existence of Pustules there; which our learned Author does not + absolutely reject, and consequently will forgive this Supposition + of them; especially if he credits the ocular Testimony of Dr. + _Violante_, cited in the Analysis, Ed. 2d. p 71. _K._ + + 208. Children, to the Age of five or six Years, are liable to +Convulsions, before Eruption: these however are not dangerous, if they +are not accompanied with other grievous and violent Symptoms. But such +Convulsions as supervene, either when Eruption having already occurred, +suddenly retreats, or _strikes in_, according to the common Phrase; or +during the Course of the Fever of Suppuration, are greatly more +terrifying. + +Involuntary Discharges of Blood from the Nose often occur, in the first +Stage of this Distemper, which are extremely serviceable, and commonly +lessen, or carry off, the Head-ach. Meer Infants are less subject to +this Discharge; though they have sometimes a little of it: and I have +known a considerable _Stupor_ or Drowsiness, vanish immediately after +this Bleeding. + + 209. The Small-Pocks is commonly distinguished into two Kinds, the +confluent and the distinct, such a Distinction really existing in +Nature: but as the Treatment of each of them is the same; and as the +Quantity or Dose of the Medicines is only to be varied, in Proportion to +the Danger of the Patient (not to enter here into very tedious Details, +and such as might exceed the Comprehension of many of our Readers; as +well as whatever might relate particularly to the malignant Small-Pocks) +I shall limit myself within the Description I have premised, which +includes all the Symptoms common to both these Kinds of the Small-Pocks. +I content myself with adding here, that we may expect a very confluent +and dangerous Pock, is, at the very Time of seizure, the Patient is +immediately attacked with many violent Symptoms; more especially if his +Eyes are extremely quick, lively, and even glistening, as it were; if he +vomits almost continually; if the Pain of his Loins be violent; and if +he suffers at the same Time great Anguish and Inquietude: If in Infants +there is great _Stupor_ or Heaviness; if Eruption appears on the third +Day, and sometimes even on the second: as the hastier Eruptions in this +Disease signify the most dangerous Kind and Degree of it; and on the +contrary, the slower Eruption is, it is the safer too; supposing this +Slowness of the Eruption not to have been the Consequence of great +Weakness, or of some violent inward Pain. + + 210. The Disorder is sometimes so very mild and slight, that Eruption +appears with scarcely any Suspicion of the Child's having the least +Ailment, and the Event is as favourable as the Invasion. The Pustules +appear, grow large, suppurate and attain their Maturity, without +confining the Patient to his Bed, or lessening either his Sleep, or +Appetite. + +It is very common to see Children in the Country (and they are seldom +more than Children who have it so very gently) run about in the open +Air, through the whole Course of this Disease, and feeding just as they +do in Health. Even those who take it in a somewhat higher Degree, +commonly go out when Eruption is finished, and give themselves up, +without Reserve, to the Voracity of their Hunger. Notwithstanding all +this Neglect, many get perfectly cured; though such a Conduct should +never be proposed for Imitation, since Numbers have experienced its +pernicious Consequences, and several of these Children have been brought +to me, especially from _Jurat_, who after such Neglect, in the Course of +the mild and kindly Sort of this Distemper, have contracted Complaints +and Infirmities of different Kinds, which have been found very difficult +to subdue. + + 211. This still continues to be one of these Distempers, whose Danger +has long been increased by its improper Treatment, and especially by +forcing the Patients into Sweats; and it still continues to be +increased, particularly among Country People. They have seen Eruption +appear, where the Patient sweats, and observed he found himself better +after its Appearance: and hence they conclude that, by quickening and +forcing out this Eruption, they contribute to his Relief; and suppose, +that by increasing the Quantity of his Sweats, and the Number of his +Eruptions, the Blood is the better cleared and purified from the Poison. +These are mortal Errors, which daily Experience has demonstrated, by +their tragical Consequences. + +When the Contagion or Poison, which generates this Disease, has been +admitted into the Blood, it requires a certain Term to produce its usual +Effects: at which Time the Blood being tainted by the Venom it has +received, and by that which such Venom has formed or assimilated from +it, Nature makes an Effort to free herself of it, and to expell it by +the Skin, precisely at the Time when every Thing is predisposed for that +Purpose. This Effort pretty generally succeeds, being very often rather +too rapid and violent, and very seldom too weak. Hence it is evident, +that whenever this Effort is deficient, it ought not to be heightened by +hot Medicines or Means, which make it too violent and dangerous: for +when it already exceeds in this Respect, a further Increase of such +Violence must render it mortal. There are but few Cases in which the +Efforts of Nature, on this Occasion, are too languid and feeble, +especially in the Country; and whenever such rare Cases do occur, it is +very difficult to form a just and proper Estimation of them: for which +Reason we should be very reserved and cautious in the Use of heating +Medicines, which are so mortally pernicious in this Disease. + +Wine, Venice Treacle, cordial Confections, hot Air, and Loads of +Bed-cloths, annually sweep off Thousands of Children, who might have +recovered, if they had taken nothing but warm Water: and every Person +who is interested in the Recovery of Patients in this Distemper, ought +carefully to prevent the smallest Use of such Drugs; which, if they +should not immediately aggravate it to a fatal Degree, yet will +certainly increase the Severity and Torment of it, and annex the most +unhappy and tragical Consequences to it. + +The Prejudice in this Point is so strongly rooted, that a total +Eradication of it must be very difficult: but I only desire People would +be convinced by their own Eyes, of the different Success of the hot +Regimen, and of that I shall propose. And here indeed I must confess, I +found more Attention and Docility, on this Point, among the Inhabitants +of the City, and especially in the last epidemical spreading of the +Small-Pocks, than I presumed to hope for. Not only as many as consulted +me on the Invasion of it, complied exactly with the cooling Regimen I +advised them; but their Neighbours also had Recourse to it, when their +Children sickened: and being often called in when it had been many Days +advanced, I observed with great Pleasure, that in many Houses, not one +heating Medicine had been given; and great Care had been taken to keep +the Air of the Patient's Chamber refreshingly cool and temperate. This +encourages me to expect, that this Method hereafter will become general +here. What certainly ought most essentially to conduce to this is, that +notwithstanding the Diffusion or spreading of this Disease was as +numerous and extensive as any of the former, the Mortality, in +Consequence of it, was evidently less. + + 212. At the very Beginning of the Small-Pocks (which may be reasonably +suspected, from the Presence of the Symptoms I have already described; +supposing the Person complaining never to have had it, and the Disease +to prevail near his Residence) the Patient is immediately to be put on a +strict Regimen, and to have his Legs bathed Night and Morning in warm +Water. This is the most proper and promising Method to lessen the +Quantity of Eruption in the Face and Head, and to facilitate it every +where else on the Surface. Glysters also greatly contribute to abate the +Head-ach, and to diminish the Reachings to vomit, and the actual +Vomitings, which greatly distress the Patient; but which however it is +highly absurd and pernicious to stop by any stomachic cordial +Confection, or by Venice Treacle; and still more dangerous to attempt +removing the Cause of them, by a Vomit or Purge, which are hurtful in +the beginning of the Small-Pocks. + +If the Fever be moderate, the Bathings of the Legs on the first Day of +sickening, and one Glyster may suffice then. The Patient must be +restrained to his Regimen; and instead of the Ptisan N. 1, 2, 4, a very +young Child should drink nothing but Milk diluted with two thirds of +Elder Flower or Lime-tree Tea, or with Balm Tea, if there be no +perceivable Fever; and in short, if they have an Aversion to the Taste +of them all, with only the same Quantity of good clear [53] Water. An +Apple coddled or baked may be added to it; and if they complain of +Hunger, a little Bread may be allowed; but they must be denied any Meat, +or Meat Broth, Eggs and strong Drink; since it has appeared from +Observations frequently repeated, that Children who had been indulged +with such Diet proved the worse for it, and recovered more slowly than +others. In this early Stage too, clear Whey alone may serve them instead +of every other Drink, the good Effects of which I have frequently been a +Witness to; or some Buttermilk may be allowed. When the Distemper is of +a mild Species, a perfect Cure ensues, without any other Assistance or +Medicine: but we should not neglect to purge the Patient as soon as the +Pustules are perfectly scabbed on the greater Part of his Face, with the +Prescription N. 11, which must be repeated six Days after. He should +not be allowed Flesh 'till after this second Purge; though after the +first he may he allowed some well-boiled Pulse, or Garden-stuff and +Bread, and in such a Quantity, as not to be pinched with Hunger, while +he recovers from the Disease. + +[53] A Negro Girl, about five or six Years old, under a coherent Pock, + stole by Night out of the Garret where she lay, into a Kitchen out + of Doors, where she drank plentifully of cold Water. How often she + repeated these nightly cooling Potions I never could certainly + learn, though they occurred in my own House in _South-Carolina_ in + Summer. But it is certain the Child recovered as speedily as + others, whose Eruption was more distinct, and who drank + Barley-Water, very thin Rice or Indian Corn Gruel, Balm Tea, or the + like. In fact, throughout the Course of this Visitation from the + Small Pocks in _Carolina_ in 1738, we had but too many + Demonstrations of the fatal Co-operation of violent Heat with their + Contagion; and not a very few surprizing Instances of the salutary + Effects of being necessarily and involuntarily exposed to same very + cooling Accidents after Infection, and in some Cases after Eruption + too: which I then more particularly mentioned is a small + controversial Tract printed there. _K._ + + 213. But if the Fever should be strong, the Pulse hard, and the Pain +of the Head and Loins should be violent, he must, 1. immediately lose +Blood from the Arm; receive a Glyster two Hours after; and, if the Fever +continues, the Bleeding must be repeated. I have directed a Repetition +of it even to the fourth Time, within the two first Days, to young +People under the Age of eighteen; and it is more especially necessary in +such Persons as, with a hard and full Pulse, are also affected with a +heavy Drowsiness and a _Delirium_, or Raving. + +2. As long as the Fever continues violently, two, three, and even four +Glysters should be given in the 24 Hours; and the Legs should be bathed +twice. + +3. The Patient is to be taken out of Bed, and supported in a Chair as +long as he can tolerably bear it. + +4. The Air of his Chamber should frequently be renewed, and if it be too +hot, which it often is in Summer, in Order to refresh it, and the +Patient, the Means must be employed which are directed 36. + +5. He is to be restrained to the Ptisans N. 2 or 4; and if that does +not sufficiently moderate the Fever, he should take every Hour, or every +two Hours, according to the Urgency of the Case, a Spoonful of the +Mixture N. 10; mixed with a Cup of Ptisan. After the Eruption, the +Fever being then abated, there is less Occasion for Medicine; and should +it even entirely disappear, the Patient may be regulated, as directed, +212. + + 214. When, after a Calm, a Remission or Intermission of some Days, the +Process of Suppuration revives the Fever, we ought first, and +especially, to keep the [54] Body very open. For this Purpose, _a_ an +Ounce of _Catholicon_ should be added to the Glysters; or they might be +simply made of Whey, with Honey, Oil and Salt. _b_ Give the Patient +three times every Morning, at the Interval of two Hours between each, +three Glasses of the Ptisan N. 32. _c_ Purge him _after_ two Days, with +the Potion N. 23, but on that Day he must not take the Ptisan N. 32. + +[54] We must remember that Dr. _Tissot_ is treating _here_ of the higher + or confluent Degrees of this Disease; for in the distinct + Small-Pocks, it is common to find Persons for several Days without + a Stool, and without the least perceiveable Disorder for Want of + one (their whole Nourishment being very light and liquid) in which + Cases, while Matters proceeded well in all other Respects, there + seems little Occasion for a great Solicitude about Stools: But if + one should be judged necessary after four or five Days Costiveness, + accompanied with a Tightness or Hardness of the Belly, doubtless + the Glyster should be of the lenient Kind (as those directed by our + Author are) and not calculated to produce more than a second Stool + at the very most. Indeed, where there is Reason to apprehend a + strong secondary Fever, from the Quantity of Eruption, and a + previously high Inflammation, it is more prudent to provide for a + Mitigation of it, by a moderately open Belly, than to suffer a long + Costiveness; yet so as to incur very little Hazard of abating the + Salivation, or retarding the Growth or Suppuration of the Pustules, + by a Superpurgation, which it may be too easy to excite in some + Habits. If the Discharge by spitting, and the Brightness and + Quantity of Suppuration, have been in Proportion to the Number of + Eruptions; though the Conflict from the secondary Fever, where + these have been numerous, is often acute and high; and the Patient, + who is in great Anguish, is far from being out of Danger, yet + Nature pretty generally proves stronger than the Disease, in such + Circumstances. As the _Elect. Catholicon_, is little used, or made + here, the lenitive Electuary of our Dispensatory may be substituted + for it, or that of the _Edinburgh_ Dispensatory, which was + calculated particularly for Glysters. _K._ + +2. He must, if the Distemper be very violent, take a double Dose of the +Mixture N. 10. + +3. The Patient should be taken out of Bed, and kept up in a Room well +aired Day and Night, until the Fever has abated. Many Persons will +probably be surprized at this Advice; nevertheless it is that which I +have often experienced to be the most efficacious, and without which the +others are ineffectual. They will say, how shall the Patient sleep at +this Rate? To which it may be answered, Sleep is not necessary, nay, it +is hurtful in this State and Stage of the Disease. Besides, he is really +unable to sleep: the continual Salivation prevents it, and it is very +necessary to keep up the Salivation; which is facilitated by often +injecting warm Water and Honey into his Throat. It is also of +considerable Service to throw some up his Nostrils, and often thus to +cleanse the Scabs which form within them. A due Regard to these +Circumstances not only contributes to lessen the Patient's Uneasiness, +but very effectually also to his Cure. + +4. If the Face and Neck are greatly swelled, emollient Cataplasms are to +be applied to the Soles of the Feet; and if these should have very +little Effect, Sinapisms should be applied. These are a kind of Plaister +or Application composed of Yeast, Mustard-flower, and some Vinegar. They +sometimes occasion sharp and almost burning Pain, but in Proportion to +the Sharpness and Increase of these Pains, the Head and Neck are +remarkably relieved. + + 215. The Eyelids are puffed up and swelled when the Disease runs high, +so as to conceal the Eyes, which are closed up fast for several Days. +Nothing further should be attempted, with Respect to this Circumstance, +but the frequent moistening of them with a little warm Milk and Water. +The Precautions which some take to stroke them with Saffron, a gold +Ducat, or Rose-water are equally childish and insignificant. What +chiefly conduces to prevent the Redness or Inflammation of the Eyes +after the Disease, and in general all its other bad Consequences, is to +be content for a considerable Time, with a very moderate Quantity of +Food, and particularly to abstain from Flesh and Wine. In the very bad +Small Pocks, and in little Children, the Eyes are closed up from the +Beginning of the Eruption. + + 216. One extremely serviceable Assistance, and which has not been made +use of for a long Time past, except as a Means to preserve the +Smoothness and Beauty of the Face; but yet which has the greatest +Tendency to preserve Life itself, is the Opening of the Pustules, not +only upon the Face, but all over the Body. In the first Place, by +opening them, the Lodgment or Retention of _Pus_ is prevented, which may +be supposed to prevent any Erosion, or eating down, from it; whence +Scars, deep Pitts and other Deformities are obviated. Secondly, in +giving a Vent to the Poison, the Retreat of it into the Blood is cut +off, which removes a principal Cause of the Danger of the Small-Pocks. +Thirdly, the Skin is relaxed; the Tumour of the Face and Neck diminish +in Proportion to that Relaxation; and thence the Return of the Blood +from the Brain is facilitated, which must prove a great Advantage. The +Pustules should be opened every where, successively as they ripen. The +precise Time of doing it is when they are entirely white; when they just +begin to turn but a very little yellowish; and when the red Circle +surrounding them is quite pale. They should be opened with very fine +sharp-pointed Scissars; this does not give the Patient the least Pain; +and when a certain Number of them are opened, a Spunge dipt in a little +warm Water is to be repeatedly applied to suck up and remove that _Pus_, +which would soon be dried up into Scabs. But as the Pustules, when +emptied thus, soon fill again, a Discharge of this fresh Matter must be +obtained in the same Manner some Hours after; and this must sometimes be +repeated five or even six Times successively. Such extraordinary +Attention in this Point may probably be considered as minute, and even +trivial, by some; and is very unlikely to become a [55] general +Practice: but I do again affirm it to be of much more Importance than +many may imagine; and that as often as the Fever attending Suppuration +is violent and menacing, a very general, exact and repeated opening, +emptying, and absorbing of the ripened Pustules, is a Remedy of the +utmost Importance and Efficacy; as it removes two very considerable +Causes of the Danger of this Disease, which are the Matter itself, and +the great Tension and Stiffness of the Skin. + +[55] This Practice which I had heard of, and even suggested to myself, + but never seen actually enterprized, seems so very rational as + highly to deserve a fair Trial in the confluent Degrees of the + Small-Pocks [for in the distinct it can scarcely be necessary] + wherein every probable Assistance should be employed, and in which + the most potent Medicines are very often unsuccessful. We have but + too many Opportunities of trying it sufficiently; and it certainly + has a more promising Aspect than a Practice so highly recommended + many Years ago, of covering all the Pustules (which is sometimes + the whole Surface of the Patient) in Melilot, or suppose any other + suppurating, Plaister; which will effectually prevent all + Perspiration, and greatly increase the Soreness, Pain and + Embarrassment of the Patient, at the Height of the Disease. I can + conceive but one bad Consequence that might possibly sometimes + result from the former; but this (besides the Means that may be + used to avert it) is rather remote, and so uncertain, until the + Trial is repeatedly made, that I think it ought not to be named, in + Competition with the Benefits that may arise from it in such Cases, + as seem, otherwise, too generally irrecoverable. _K._ + + 217. In the Treatment of this Disease, I have said nothing with +Respect to Anodynes, or such Medicines as procure Sleep, which I am +sensible are pretty generally employed in it, but which I scarcely ever +direct in this violent Degree of the Disease, and the Dangers of which +Medicine in it I have demonstrated in the Letter to Baron _Haller_, +which I have already mentioned. For which Reason, wherever the Patient +is not under the Care and Direction of a Physician, they should very +carefully abstain from the Use of Venice Treacle, Laudanum, _Diacodium_, +that is the Syrup of white Poppies, or even of the wild red Poppy; Syrup +of Amber, Pills of Storax, of _Cynoglossum_ or Hounds-tongue, and, in +one Word, of every Medicine which produces Sleep. But still more +especially should their Use be entirely banished, throughout the +Duration of the secondary Fever, when even natural Sleep itself is +dangerous. One Circumstance in which their Use may sometimes be +permitted, is in the Case of weakly Children, or such as are liable to +Convulsions, where Eruption is effected not without Difficulty. But I +must again inculcate the greatest Circumspection, in the Use of such +Medicines, whose Effects are fatal, [56] when the Blood-vessels are +turgid or full; whenever there is Inflammation, Fever, a great +Distension of the Skin; whenever the Patient raves, or complains of +Heaviness and Oppression; and when it is necessary that the Belly should +be open; the Urine plentifully discharged; and the Salivation be freely +promoted. + +[56] The Use of Opiates in this Disease undoubtedly requires no Small + Consideration, the great _Sydenham_ himself not seeming always + sufficiently guarded in the Exhibition of them; as far as + Experience since his Day has enabled Physicians to judge of this + Matter. In general our Author's Limitations of them seem very just; + though we have seen a few clear Instances, in which a light Raving, + which evidently arose from Want of Sleep (joined to some Dread of + the Event of the Disease by Inoculation) was happily removed, with + every other considerable Complaint, by a moderate Opiate. In sore + and fretful Children too, under a large or middling Eruption, as + the Time gained to Rest is taken from Pain, and from wasting their + Spirits in Crying and Clamour, I have seen Suppuration very + benignly promoted by _Diacodium_. But in the _Crisis_ of the + secondary Fever in the confluent or coherent Pock, when there is a + morbid Fulness, and Nature is struggling to unload herself by some + other Outlets than those of the Skin, which now are totally + obstructed (and which seems the only Evacuation, that is not + restrained by Opiates) the giving and repeating them then, as has + too often been practised, seems importantly erroneous; for I think + Dr. _Swan_ has taken a judicious Liberty of dissenting from the + great Author he translates, in forbidding an Opiate, if the + Spitting abates, or grows so tough and ropy, as to endanger + Suffocation. As the Difference of our Oeconomy in the + Administration of Physic from that in _Swisserland_, and Dr. + _Tissot's_ just Reputation may dispose many Country Practitioners + to peruse this Treatise, I take the Liberty of referring such + Readers, for a Recollection of some of my Sentiments of Opiates, + long before the Appearance of this Work in French, to the second + Edition of the Analysis from P. 94 to 97, _&c._ _K._ + + 218. If Eruption should suddenly retreat, or strike in, heating, +soporific, spirituous and volatile Remedies should carefully be avoided: +but the Patient may drink plentifully of the Infusion N. 12 pretty hot, +and should be blistered on the fleshy Part of the Legs. This is a very +embarrassing and difficult Case, and the different Circumstances +attending it may require different Means and Applications, the Detail +and Discussion of which are beyond my Plan here. Sometimes a single +Bleeding has effectually recalled Eruption at once. + + 219. The only certain Method of surmounting all the Danger of this +Malady, is to inoculate. But this most salutary Method, which ought to +be regarded as a particular and gracious Dispensation of Providence, can +scarcely be attainable by, or serviceable to, the Bulk of the People, +except in those Countries, where Hospitals [57] are destined +particularly for Inoculation. In these where as yet there are none, the +only Resource that is left for Children who cannot be inoculated at +home, is to dispose them happily for the Distemper, by a simple easy +Preparation. + +[57] That I have long since had the Honour of agreeing with our learned + Author, in this Consideration for the Benefit of the Body of the + People, which is the Benefit of the State, will appear from p. 288 + of Analys. Ed. 1st. and from p. 371, 372 of the Second. _K._ + + 220. This Preparation consists, upon the whole, in removing all Want +of, and all Obstructions to, the Health of the Person subject to this +Disease, if he have any such; and in bringing him into a mild and +healthy, but not into a very robust and vigorous, State; as this +Distemper is often exceedingly violent in this last. + +It is evident, that since the Defects of Health are very different in +different Bodies, the Preparations of them must as often vary; and that +a Child subject to some habitual Disorder, cannot be prepared in the +same Method with another who has a very opposite one. The Detail and +Distinctions which are necessary on this important Head, would be +improper here, whether it might be owing to their unavoidable Length; or +to the Impossibility of giving Persons, who are not Physicians, +sufficient Knowlege and Information to qualify them for determining on, +and preferring, the most proper Preparation in various Cases. +Nevertheless I will point out some such as may be very likely to agree, +pretty generally, with Respect to strong and healthy Children. [58] + +[58] The Substance of this Section flows from the Combination of an + excellent Understanding with great Experience, mature Reflection, + and real Probity; and fundamentally exposes both the Absurdity of + such as universally decry any Preparation of any Subject previous + to Inoculation, (which is said to be the Practice of a present very + popular Inoculator in _Paris_) and the opposite Absurdity of giving + one and the very same Preparation to all Subjects, without + Distinction; though this was avowed to have been successfully fully + practised in _Pensylvania_, some Years since; which the Reader may + see Analys. Ed. 2d, from p. 329 to 331 and the Note there. _K._ + +The first Step then is an Abatement of their usual Quantity of Food. +Children commonly eat too much. Their Limitation should be in Proportion +to their Size and Growth, where we could exactly ascertain them: but +with Regard to all, or to much the greater Number of them, we may be +allowed to make their Supper very light, and very small. + +Their second Advantage will consist in the Choice of their Food. This +Circumstance is less within the Attainment of, and indeed less necessary +for, the common People, who are of Course limited to a very few, than to +the Rich, who have Room to make great Retrenchments on this Account. The +Diet of Country People being of the simplest Kind, and almost solely +consisting of Vegetables and of Milk-meats, is the most proper Diet +towards preparing for this Disease. For this Reason, such Persons have +little more to attend to in this Respect, but that such Aliments be +sound and good in their Kind; that their Bread be well baked; their +Pulse dressed without Bacon, or rancid strong Fat of any sort; that +their Fruits should be well ripened; that their Children should have no +Cakes or Tarts, [But see Note [11], P. 40, 41.] and but little Cheese. +These simple Regulations may be sufficient, with Regard to this Article +of their Preparation. + +Some Judgment may be formed of the good Consequences of their Care on +these two Points, concerning the Quantity and Quality of the Childrens +Diet, by the moderate Shrinking of their Bellies; as they will be +rendered more lively and active by this Alteration in their living; and +yet, notwithstanding a little less Ruddiness in their Complexion, and +some Abatement of their common Plight of Body, their Countenances, upon +the whole, will seem improved. + +The third Article I would recommend, is to bathe their Legs now and then +in warm Water, before they go to Bed. This promotes Perspiration, cools, +dilutes the Blood, and allays the Sharpness of it, as often as it is +properly timed. + +The fourth Precaution, is the frequent Use of very clear Whey. This +agreeable Remedy, which consists of the Juices of Herbs filtred through, +and concocted, or as it were, sweetened by the Organs of a healthy +Animal, answers every visible Indication (I am still speaking here of +sound and hearty Children). It imparts a Flexibility, or Soupleness to +the Vessels; it abates the Density, the heavy Consistence and Thickness +of the Blood; which being augmented by the Action of the poisonous Cause +of the Small-Pocks, would degenerate into a most dangerous +inflammatory [59] Viscidity or Thickness. It removes all Obstructions in +the _Viscera_, or Bowels of the lower Cavity, the Belly. It opens the +Passages which strain off the Bile; sheaths, or blunts, its Sharpness, +gives it a proper Fluidity, prevents its Putridity, and sweetens +whatever excessive Acrimony may reside throughout the Mass of Humours. +It likewise promotes Stools, Urine and Perspiration; and, in a Word, it +communicates the most favourable Disposition to the Body, not to be too +violently impressed and agitated by the Operation of an inflammatory +Poison: And with Regard to such Children as I have mentioned, for those +who are either sanguine or bilious, it is beyond all Contradiction, the +most effectual preparatory Drink, and the most proper to make them +amends for the Want of Inoculation. + +[59] There may certainly be an inflammatory Acrimony or Thinness, as + well as Thickness of the Blood; and many medical Readers may think + a morbid Fusion of the red Globules to be a more frequent Effect of + this Contagion, than an increased Viscidity of them. See Analys. + Ed. 2d. p. 75 to 83. But this Translation, conforming to the Spirit + of its Original, admits very little Theory, and still less + Controversy, into its Plan. _K._ + +I have already observed, that it may also be used to great Advantage, +during the Course of the Disease: but I must also observe, that however +salutary it is, in the Cases for which I have directed it, there are +many others in which it would be hurtful. It would be extremely +pernicious to order it to weak, languishing, scirrhous, pale Children, +subject to Vomitings, Purgings, Acidities, and to all Diseases which +prove their Bowels to be weak, their Humours to be sharp: so that People +must be very cautious not to regard it as an universal and infallible +Remedy, towards preparing for the Small-Pocks. Those to whom it is +advised, may take a few Glasses every Morning, and even drink it daily, +for their common Drink; they may also sup it with Bread for Breakfast, +for Supper, and indeed at any Time. + +If Country People will pursue these Directions, which are very easy to +observe and to comprehend, whenever the Small-Pocks rages, I am +persuaded it must lessen the Mortality attending it. Some will certainly +experience the Benefit of them; such I mean as are very sensible and +discreet, and strongly influenced by the truest Love of their Children. +Others there are Alas! who are too stupid to discern the Advantage of +them, and too unnatural to take any just Care of their Families. + + + + + __Chapter XIV.__ + + + _Of the Measles._ + + + __Sect.__ 221. + +The Measles, to which the human Species are as generally liable, as to +the Small-Pocks, is a Distemper considerably related to it; though, +generally speaking, it is less fatal; notwithstanding which, it is not a +little destructive in some Countries. In _Swisserland_ we lose much +fewer, immediately in the Disease, than from the Consequences of it. + +It happens now and then that the Small-Pocks and the Measles rage at the +same Time, and in the same Place; though I have more frequently +observed, that each of them was epidemical in different Years. Sometimes +it also happens that both these Diseases are combined at once in the +same Person; and that one supervenes before the other has finished its +Course, which makes the Case very perilous. + + 222. In some Constitutions the Measles gives Notice of its Approach +many Days before its evident Invasion, by a small, frequent and dry +Cough, without any other sensible Complaint: though more frequently by a +general Uneasiness; by Successions of Shivering and of Heat; by a severe +Head-ach in grown Persons; a Heaviness in Children; a considerable +Complaint of the Throat; and, by what particularly characterizes this +Distemper, an Inflammation and a considerable Heat in the Eyes, attended +with a Swelling of the Eye-lids, with a Defluxion of sharp Tears, and so +acute a Sensation, or Feeling of the Eyes, that they cannot bear the +Light; by very frequent Sneezings, and a Dripping from the Nose of the +same Humour with that, which trickles from the Eyes. + +The Heat and the Fever increases with Rapidity; the Patient is afflicted +with a Cough, a Stuffing, with Anguish, and continual Reachings to +vomit; with violent Pains in the Loins; and sometimes with a Looseness, +under which Circumstance he is less persecuted with Vomiting. At other +times, and in other Subjects, Sweating chiefly prevails, though in less +Abundance than in the Small-Pocks. The Tongue is foul and white; the +Thirst is often very high; and the Symptoms are generally more violent +than in the mild Small-Pocks. + +At length, on the fourth or fifth Day, and sometimes about the End of +the third, a sudden Eruption appears and in a very great Quantity, +especially about the Face; which in a few Hours is covered with Spots, +each of which resembles a Flea-bite; many of them soon joining form red +Streaks or Suffusions larger or smaller, which inflame the Skin, and +produce a very perceivable Swelling of the Face; whence the very Eyes +are sometimes closed. Each small Spot or Suffusion is raised a little +above the Surface, especially in the Face, where they are manifest both +to the Sight and the Touch. In the other Parts of the Body, this +Elevation or Rising is scarcely perceivable by any Circumstance, but the +Roughness of the Skin. + +The Eruption, having first appeared in the Face, is afterwards extended +to the Breast, the Back, the Arms, the Thighs and Legs. It generally +spreads very plentifully over the Breast and the Back, and sometimes red +Suffusions are found upon the Breast, before any Eruption has appeared +in the Face. + +The Patient is often relieved, as in the Small-Pocks, by plentiful +Discharges of Blood from the Nose, which carry off the Complaints of the +Head, of the Eyes, and of the Throat. + +Whenever this Distemper appears in its mildest Character, almost every +Symptom abates after Eruption, as it happens in the Small-Pocks; though, +in general, the Change for the better is not as thoroughly perceivable, +as it is in the Small-Pocks. It is certain the Reachings and Vomitings +cease almost entirely; but the Fever, the Cough, the Head-ach continue; +and I have sometimes observed that a bilious Vomiting, a Day or two +after the Eruption, proved a more considerable Relief to the Patient +than the Eruption had. On the third or fourth Day of the Eruption, the +Redness diminishes; the Spots, or very small Pustules, dry up and fall +off in very little branny Scales; the Cuticle, or superficial Skin also +shrivels off; and is replaced by one succeeding beneath it. On the ninth +Day, when the Progress of the Malady has been speedy, and on the +eleventh, when it has been very slow, no Trace of the Redness is to be +found; and the Surface immediately resumes its usual Appearance. + + 223. Notwithstanding all which the Patient is not safe, except, during +the Course of the Distemper, or immediately after it, he has had some +considerable Evacuation; such as the Vomiting I have just mentioned; or +a bilious Looseness; or considerable Discharges by Urine; or very +plentiful Sweating. For when any of these Evacuations supervene, the +Fever vanishes; the Patient resumes his Strength, and perfectly +recovers. It happens sometimes too, and even without any of these +perceivable Discharges, that insensible Perspiration expels the Relics +of the poisonous Cause of this Disease, and the Patient recovers his +Health. Yet it occurs too often, that this Venom not having been +entirely expelled (or its internal Effects not having been thoroughly +effaced) it is repelled upon the Lungs, where it produces a slight +Inflammation. In Consequence of this the Oppression, the Cough, the +Anguish, and Fever return, and the Patient's Situation becomes very +dangerous. This Outrage is frequently less vehement, but it proves +tedious and chronical, leaving a very obstinate Cough behind it, with +many Resemblances of the Whooping-Cough. In 1758 there was an epidemic +State of the Measles here extremely numerous, which affected great +Numbers: Almost all who had it, and who were not very carefully and +judiciously attended, were seized in Consequence of it with that Cough, +which proved very violent and obstinate. + + 224. However, notwithstanding this be the frequent Progress and +Consequence of this Disease, when left entirely to itself, or +erroneously treated, and more particularly when treated with a hot +Regimen; yet when proper Care was taken to moderate the Fever at the +Beginning, to dilute, and to keep up the Evacuations, such unhappy +Consequences have been very rare. + + 225. The proper Method of conducting this Distemper is much the same +with that of the Small-Pocks. + +1, If the Fever be high, the Pulse hard, the Load and Oppression heavy, +and all the Symptoms violent, the Patient must be bled once or twice. + +2, His Legs must be bathed, and he must take some Glysters: the +Vehemence of the Symptoms must regulate the Number of each. + +3, The Ptisans N. 3 or 4 must be taken, or a Tea of Elder and Lime-tree +Flowers, to which a fifth Part Milk may be added. + +4, The Vapour, the Steam of warm Water should also be employed, as very +conducive to asswage the Cough; the Soreness of the Throat, and the +Oppression the Patient labours under. + +5, As soon as the Efflorescence, the Redness becomes pale, the Patient +is to be purged with the Draught N. 23. + +6, He is still to be kept strictly to his Regimen, for two Days after +this Purge; after which he is to be put upon the Diet of those who are +in a State of Recovery. + +7, If during the Eruption such Symptoms supervene as occur [at the same +Term] in the Small-Pocks, they are to be treated in the Manner already +directed there. + + 226. Whenever this Method has not been observed, and the Accidents +described 223 supervene, the Distemper must be treated like an +Inflammation in its first State, and all must be done as directed 225. +If the Disease is not vehement, [60] Bleeding may be omitted. If it is +of some standing in gross Children, loaded with Humours, inactive, and +pale, we must add to the Medicines already prescribed the Potion N. 8, +and Blisters to the Legs. + +[60] Our Author very prudently limits this Discharge, and the Repetition + of it, in this Disease ( 225) as an erroneous Excess of it has + sometimes prevailed. I have seen a very epidemical Season of the + Measles, where Bleeding was not indicated in one third of the + infected. And yet I have known such an Abuse of Bleeding in it, + that being repeated more than once in a Case before Eruption (the + Measles probably not being suspected) the Eruption was retarded + several Days; and the Patient, a young Lady of Condition, remained + exceeding low, faint and sickish; 'till after recruiting a very + little, the Measles appeared, and she recovered. In a Youth of a + lax Fibre, where the Measles had appeared, a seventh or eighth + Bleeding was ordered on a Stitch in the Side, supervening from + their too early Disappearance, and the Case seemed very doubtful. + But Nature continued very obstinately favourable in this Youth, who + at length, but very slowly, recovered. His Circulation remained so + languid, his Strength, with his Juices, so exhausted, that he was + many Weeks before he could sit upright in a Chair, being obliged to + make Use of a Cord depending from the Ceiling, to raise himself + erectly in his Seat. _K._ + + 227. It often happens from the Distance of proper Advice, that the +Relics, the Dregs as it were, of the Disease have been too little +regarded, especially the Cough; in which Circumstance it forms a real +Suppuration in the Lungs, attended with a slow Fever. I have seen many +Children in Country Villages destroyed by this Neglect. Their Case is +then of the same Nature with that described 68 and 82, and terminates +in the same Manner in a Looseness, (attended with very little Pain) and +sometimes a very foetid one, which carries off the Patient. In such +Cases we must recur to the Remedies prescribed 74, Article 3, 4, 5; to +the Powder N. 14; and to Milk and Exercise. But it is so very difficult +to make Children take the Powder, that it may be sometimes necessary to +trust to the Milk without it, which I have often seen in such Situations +accomplish a very difficult Cure. I must advise the Reader at the same +Time, that it has not so compleat an Effect, as when it is taken solely +unjoined by any other Aliment; and that it is of the last Importance not +to join it with any, which has the least Acidity or Sharpness. Persons +in easy Circumstances may successfully take, at the same Time, +_Pfeffer_, [61] _Seltzer_, _Peterstal_, or some other light Waters, +which are but moderately loaded with mineral Ingredients. These are also +successfully employed in all the Cases, in which the Cure I have +mentioned is necessary. + +[61] Bristol Water will be no bad Substitute for any of these, in such + Cases. _K._ + + 228. Sometimes there remains, after the Course of the Measles, a +strong dry Cough, with great Heat in the Breast, and throughout the +whole Body, with Thirst, an excessive Dryness of the Tongue, and of the +whole Surface of the Body. I have cured Persons thus indisposed after +this Distemper, by making them breathe in the Vapour of warm Water; by +the repeated Use of warm Baths; and by allowing them to take nothing for +several Days but Water and Milk. + +Before I take leave of this Subject, I assure the Reader again, that the +contagious Cause of the Measles is of an extremely sharp and acrid +Nature. It appears to have some Resemblance to the bilious Humour, which +produces the _Erisipelas_, or St. Anthony's Fire; and thence it demands +our particular Attention and Vigilance; without which very troublesome +and dangerous Consequences may be apprehended. I have seen, not very +long since, a young Girl, who was in a very languid State after the +Measles, which she had Undergone three Years before: It was at length +attended with an Ulceration in her Neck, which was cured, and her Health +finally restored by _Sarsaparilla_ with Milk and Water. + + 229. The Measles have been communicated by [62] Inoculation in some +Countries, where it is of a very malignant Disposition; and that Method +might also be very advantageous in this. But what we have already +observed, with Respect to the Inoculation of the Small-Pocks, _viz._ +That it cannot be extended to the general Benefit of the People, without +the Foundation of Hospitals for that very Purpose, is equally applicable +to the Inoculation of the Measles. + +[62] The only Account I have read of this Practice, is in the learned + Dr. _Home's_ _Medical Facts and Experiments_, published in 1759, + which admits, that but nine out of fifteen of the Subjects of this + Practice took. Cotton dipt in the Blood of a Patient in the Measles + was inserted into the Arms of twelve; and three received the Cotton + into their Nostrils, after the Chinese Manner of infusing the + Small-Pocks; but of these last not one took, and one of those who + had taken, had the Measles again two Months after. We think the + sharp hot Lymph distilling from the inflamed Eyes of Persons in + this Disease, a likelier Vehicle to communicate it than the Blood, + especially the dry Blood, which was sometimes tried; since the + human _Serum_ seems the Fluid more particularly affected by it; and + this must have been evaporated when the Blood grew dry. A few + practical Strictures on this Work, and particularly on this + Practice described in it, appeared in the Monthly Review Vol. XXI. + P. 68 to 75. _K._ + + + + + __Chapter XV.__ + + + _Of the ardent or burning Fever._ + + + __Sect.__ 230. + +The much greater Number of the Diseases I have hitherto considered, +result from an Inflammation of the Blood, combined with the particular +Inflammation of some Part, or occasioned by some Contagion or Poison, +which must be evacuated. But when the Blood is solely and strongly +inflamed, without an Attack on any particular Part, this Fever, which we +term hot or burning, is the Consequence. + + 231. The Signs which make it evident are, a Hardness and Fulness of +the Pulse in a higher Degree than happens in any other Malady; an +excessive Heat; great Thirst; with an extraordinary Dryness of the Eyes, +Nostrils, Lips, of the Tongue, and of the Throat; a violent Head-ach; +and sometimes a Raving at the Height of the Paroxysm, or Increase of the +Fever, which rises considerably every Evening. The Respiration is also +somewhat oppressed, but especially at the Return of this Paroxysm, with +a Cough now and then; though without any Pain in the Breast, and without +any Expectoration, or coughing up. The Body is costive; the Urine very +high coloured, hot, and in a small Quantity. The Sick are also liable to +start sometimes, but especially when they seem to sleep; for they have +little sound refreshing Sleep, but rather a kind of Drowsiness, that +makes them very little attentive to, or sensible of, whatever happens +about them, or even of their own Condition. They have sometimes a little +Sweat or Moisture; though commonly a very dry Skin; they are manifestly +weak, and have either little or no Smell or Taste. + + 232. This Disease, like all other inflammatory ones, is produced by +the Causes which thicken the Blood, and increase its Motion; such as +excessive Labour, violent Heat, Want of Sleep, the Abuse of Wine or +other strong Liquors; the long Continuance of a dry Constitution of the +Air, Excess of every kind, and heating inflaming Food. + + 233. The Patient, under these Circumstances, ought, 1, immediately to +be put upon a Regimen; to have the Food allowed him given only every +eight Hours, and, in some Cases, only twice a Day: and indeed, when the +Attack is extremely violent, Nourishment may be wholly omitted. + +2, Bleeding should be performed and repeated, 'till the Hardness of the +Pulse is sensibly abated. The first Discharge should be considerable, +the second should be made four Hours after. If the Pulse is softened by +the first, the second may be suspended, and not repeated before it +becomes sufficiently hard again, to make us apprehensive of Danger: but +should it continue strong and hard, the Bleeding may be repeated on the +same Day to a third Time, which often happens to be all the Repetitions +that are necessary. + +3, The Glyster N. 5 should be given twice, or even thrice, daily. + +4, His Legs are to be bathed twice a Day in warm Water: his Hands may be +bathed in the same Water. Linen or Flanel Cloths dipt in warm Water may +be applied over the Breast, and upon the Belly; and he should regularly +drink the Almond Milk N. 4 and the Ptisan N. 7. The poorest Patients +may content themselves with the last, but should drink very plentifully +of it; and after the Bleeding properly repeated, fresh Air and the +plentiful Continuance of small diluting Liquors generally establish the +Health of the Patient. + +5, If notwithstanding the repeated Bleedings, the Fever still rages +highly, it may be lessened by giving a Spoonful of the Potion N. 10 +every Hour, till it abates; and afterwards every three Hours, until it +becomes very moderate. + + 234. Hmorrhages, or Bleedings, from the Nose frequently occur in this +Fever, greatly to the Relief and Security of the Patient. + +The first Appearances of Amendment are a softening of the Pulse, (which +however does not wholly lose all its Hardness, before the Disease +entirely terminates) a sensible Abatement of the Head-ach; a greater +Quantity of Urine, and that less high coloured; and a manifestly +approaching Moisture of the Tongue. These favourable Signs keep +increasing in their Degree, and there frequently ensue between the ninth +and the fourteenth Day, and often after a Flurry of some Hours +Continuance, very large Evacuations by Stool; a great Quantity of Urine, +which lets fall a palely reddish Sediment; the Urine above it being very +clear, and of a natural Colour; and these accompanied with Sweats in a +less or greater Quantity. At the same Time the Nostrils and the Mouth +grow moist: the brown and dry Crust which covered the Tongue, and which +was hitherto inseparable from it, peels off of itself; the Thirst is +diminished; the Clearness of the Faculties rises; the Drowsiness goes +off, it is succeeded by comfortable Sleep, and the natural Strength is +restored. When Things are evidently in this Way, the Patient should take +the Potion N. 23, and be put upon the Regimen of those who are in a +State of Recovery. It should be repeated at the End of eight or ten +Days. Some Patients have perfectly recovered from this Fever, without +the least Sediment in their Urine. + + 235. The augmenting Danger of this Fever may be discerned, from the +continued Hardness of the Pulse, though with an Abatement of its +Strength; if the Brain becomes more confused; the Breathing more +difficult; if the Eyes, Nose, Lips and Tongue become still more dry, and +the Voice more altered. If to these Symptoms there be also added a +Swelling of the Belly; a Diminution of the Quantity of Urine; a constant +Raving; great Anxiety, and a certain Wildness of the Eyes, the Case is +in a manner desperate; and the Patient cannot survive many Hours. The +Hands and Fingers at this Period are incessantly in Motion, as if +feeling for something upon the Bed-Cloths, which is commonly termed, +their hunting for Flies. + + + + + __Chapter XVI.__ + + + _Of putrid Fevers._ + + + __Sect.__ 236. + +Having treated of such feverish Distempers, as arise from an +Inflammation of the Blood, I shall here treat of those produced by +corrupt Humours, which stagnate in the Stomach, the Guts, or other +Bowels of the lower Cavity, the Belly; or which have already passed from +them into the Blood. These are called putrid Fevers, or sometimes +bilious Fevers, when a certain Degeneracy or Corruption of the Bile +seems chiefly to prevail in the Disease. + + 237. This Distemper frequently gives Notice of its Approach, several +Days before its manifest Attack; by a great Dejection, a Heaviness of +the Head; Pains of the Loins and Knees; a Foulness of the Mouth in the +Morning; little Appetite; broken Slumber; and sometimes by an excessive +Head-ach for many Days, without any other Symptom. After this, or these +Disorders, a Shivering comes on, followed by a sharp and dry Heat: the +Pulse, which was small and quick during the Shivering, is raised during +the Heat, and is often very strong, though it is not attended with the +same Hardness, as in the preceding Fever; except the putrid Fever be +combined with an inflammatory one, which it sometimes is. During this +Time, that is the Duration of the Heat, the Head-ach is commonly +extremely violent; the Patient is almost constantly affected with +Loathings, and sometimes even with Vomiting; with Thirst, disagreeable +Risings, a Bitterness in the Mouth; and very little Urine. This Heat +continues for many Hours, frequently the whole Night; it abates a little +in the Morning, and the Pulse, though always feverish, is then something +less so, while the Patient suffers less, though still greatly dejected. + +The Tongue is white and furred, the Teeth are foul, and the Breath +smells very disagreeably. The Colour, Quantity and Consistence of the +Urine, are very various and changeable. Some Patients are costive, +others frequently have small Stools, without the least Relief accruing +from them. The Skin is sometimes dry, and at other Times there is some +sensible Perspiration, but without any Benefit attending it. The Fever +augments every Day, and frequently at unexpected irregular Periods. +Besides that _great_ Paroxysm or Increase, which is perceivable in all +the Subjects of this Fever, some have also other _less_ intervening +ones. + + 238. When the Disease is left to itself, or injudiciously treated; or +when it proves more powerful than the Remedies against it, which is by +no Means seldom the Case, the Aggravations of it become longer, more +frequent and irregular. There is scarcely an Interval of Ease. The +Patient's Belly is swell'd out like a Foot-ball; a _Delirium_ or Raving +comes on; he proves insensible of his own Evacuations, which come away +involuntarily; he rejects Assistance, and keeps muttering continually, +with a quick, small, irregular Pulse. Sometimes little Spots of a brown, +or of a livid Colour appear on the Surface, but particularly about the +Neck, Back and Breast. All the Discharges from his Body have a most +foetid Smell: convulsive Motions also supervene, especially in the Face; +he lies down only on his Back, sinks down insensibly towards the Foot of +the Bed, and picks about, as if catching Flies; his Pulse becomes so +quick and so small, that it cannot be perceived without Difficulty, and +cannot be counted. His Anguish seems inexpressible: his Sweats stream +down from Agony: his Breast swells out as if distended by Fullness, and +he dies miserably. + + 239. When this Distemper is less violent, or more judiciously treated, +and the Medicines succeed well, it continues for some Days in the State +described 237, without growing worse, though without abating. None of +these Symptoms however appear, described 238; but, on the contrary, +all the Symptoms become milder, the Paroxysms, or Aggravations, are +shorter and less violent, the Head-ach more supportable; the Discharges +by Stool are less frequent, but more at once, and attended with Relief +to the Patient. The Quantity of Urine is very considerable, though it +varies at different Times in Colour and Consistence, as before. The +Patient soon begins to get a little Sleep, and grows more composed and +easy. The Tongue disengages itself from its Filth and Furriness, and +Health gradually, yet daily, advances. + + 240. This Fever seems to have no critical Time, either for its +Termination in Recovery, or in Death. When it is very violent, or very +badly conducted, it proves sometimes fatal on the ninth Day. Persons +often die of it from the eighteenth to the twentieth; sometimes only +about the fortieth; after having been alternately better and worse. + +When it happens but in a light Degree, it is sometimes cured within a +few Days, after the earliest Evacuations. When it is of a very different +Character, some Patients are not out of Danger before the End of six +Weeks, and even still later. Nevertheless it is certain, that these +Fevers, extended to this Length of Duration, often depend in a great +Measure on the Manner of treating them; and that in general their Course +must be determined, some time from the fourteenth to the thirtieth Day. + + 241. The Treatment of this Species of Fevers is comprized in the +following Method and Medicines. + +1, The Patient must be put into a _Regimen_; and notwithstanding he is +far from costive, and sometimes has even a small Purging, he should +receive one Glyster daily. His common Drink should be Lemonade, (which +is made of the Juice of Lemons, Sugar and Water) or the Ptisan N. 3. +Instead of Juice of Lemons, Vinegar may be occasionally substituted, +which, with Sugar and Water, makes an agreeable and very wholesome Drink +in these Fevers. + +2, If there be an Inflammation also, which may be discovered by the +Strength and the Hardness of the Pulse, and by the Temperament and +Complexion of the Patient; if he is naturally robust, and has heated +himself by any of the Causes described, 232, he should be bled once, +and even a second Time, if necessary, some Hours after. I must observe +however, that very frequently there is no such Inflammation, and that in +such a Case, Bleeding would be hurtful. + +3, When the Patient has drank very plentifully for two Days of these +Liquids, if his Mouth still continues in a very foul State, and he has +violent Reachings to vomit, he must take the Powder N. 34, dissolved in +half a [63] Pot of warm Water, a [64] Glass of it being to be drank +every half Quarter of an Hour. But as this Medicine vomits, it must not +be taken, except we are certain the Patient is not under any +Circumstance, which forbids the Use of a Vomit: all which Circumstances +shall be particularly mentioned in the Chapter, respecting the Use of +such Medicines, as are taken by way of Precaution, or Prevention. If the +first Glasses excite a plentiful Vomiting, we must forbear giving +another, and be content with obliging the Patient to drink a +considerable Quantity of warm Water. But if the former Glasses do not +occasion Vomiting, they must be repeated, as already directed until they +do. Those who are afraid of taking this Medicine, which is usually +called, the Emetic, may take that of N. 35, also drinking warm Water +plentifully during its Operation; but the former is preferable, as more +prevalent, in dangerous Cases. We must caution our Readers at the same +Time, that wherever there is an Inflammation of any Part, neither of +these Medicines must be given, which might prove a real Poison in such a +Circumstance; and even if the Fever is extremely violent, though there +should be no particular Inflammation, they should not be given. + +[63] That is about two Ounces more than a Pint and a half of our + Measure. + +[64] About three Ounces. + +The Time of giving them is soon after the End of the Paroxysm, when the +Fever is at the lowest. The Medicine N. 34 generally purges, after it +ceases to make the Patient vomit: But N. 35 is seldom attended with the +same Effect. + +When the Operation of the Vomit is entirely over, the Sick should return +to the Use of the Ptisan; and great Care must be taken to prohibit them +from the Use of Flesh Broth, under the Pretext of working off a Purging +with it. The same Method is to be continued on the following Days as on +the first; but as it is of Importance to keep the Body open, he should +take every Morning some of the Ptisan N. 32. Such, as this would be too +expensive for, may substitute, in the room of it, a fourth Part of the +Powder N. 34 in five or six Glasses of Water, of which they are to take +a Cup every two Hours, beginning early in the Morning. Nevertheless, if +the Fever be very high, N. 32 should be preferred to it. + +4, After the Operation of the Vomit, if the Fever still continue, if the +Stools are remarkably foetid, and if the Belly is tense and distended as +it were, and the Quantity of Urine is small, a Spoonful of the Potion +N. 10 should be given every two Hours, which checks the Putridity and +abates the Fever. Should the Distemper become violent, and very +pressing, it ought to be taken every Hour. + +5, Whenever, notwithstanding the giving all these Medicines as directed, +the Fever continues obstinate; the Brain is manifestly disordered; there +is a violent Head-ach, or very great Restlessness, two blistering +Plaisters N. 36 must be applied to the inside and fleshy Part of the +Legs, and their Suppuration and Discharge should be continued as long as +possible. + +6, If the Fever is extremely violent indeed, there is a Necessity +absolutely to prohibit the Patient from receiving the least Nourishment. + +7, When it is thought improper, or unsafe, to give the Vomit, the +Patient should take in the Morning, for two successive Days, three Doses +of the Powder N. 24, at the Interval of one Hour between each: This +Medicine produces some bilious Stools, which greatly abate the Fever, +and considerably lessen the Violence of all the other Symptoms of the +Disease. This may be done with Success, when the excessive Height of the +Fever prevents us from giving the Vomit: and we should limit ourselves +to this Medicine, as often as we are uncertain, what ever the +Circumstances of the Disease and the Patient will admit of the Vomiting; +which may thus be dispensed with, in many Cases. + +8, When the Distemper has manifestly and considerably declined; the +Paroxysms are more slight; and the Patient continues without any Fever +for several Hours, the daily use of the purging opening Drinks should be +discontinued. The common Ptisans however should be still made use of; +and it will be proper to give every other Day two Doses of the Powder +N. 24, which sufficiently obviates every ill Consequence from this +Disease. + +9, If the Fever has been clearly off for a long Part of the Day; if the +Tongue appears in a good healthy State; if the Patient has been well +purged; and yet one moderate Paroxysm of the Fever returns every Day, he +should take four Doses of the Powder N. 14 between the End of one +Return and the Beginning of the next, and continue this Repetition some +Days. People who cannot easily procure this Medicine, may substitute, +instead of it, the bitter Decoction N. 37. four Glasses of which may be +taken at equal Intervals, between the two Paroxysms or Returns of the +Fever. + +10, As the Organs of Digestion have been considerably weakened through +the Course of this Fever, there is a Necessity for the Patient's +conducting himself very prudently and regularly long after it, with +Regard both to the Quantity and Quality of his Food. He should also use +due Exercise as soon as his Strength will permit, without which he may +be liable to fall into some chronical and languishing Disorder, +productive of considerable Languor and Weakness. * + + [*] As our Jail, Hospital, and Camp Fevers may often be ranged in this + Class, as of the most putrid Kind, and not seldom occasioned by bad + Food, bad Air, unclean, unwholesome Lodging, _&c._ a judicious Use + may certainly be made of a small Quantity of genuine, and not + ungenerous, Wine in such of them, as are not blended with an + inflammatory Cause, or inflammable Constitution, or which do not + greatly result from a bilious Cause; though in these last, where + there is manifest Lowness and Dejection, perhaps a little Rhenish + might be properly interposed between the Lemonade and other Drinks + directed 241. Doubtless Dr. _Tissot_ was perfectly apprized of + this salutary Use of it in some low Fevers; but the Necessity of + its being regulated by the Presence of a Physician has probably + disposed him rather to omit mentioning it, than to leave the + Allowance of it to the Discretion of a simple Country Patient, or + his ignorant Assistants. _K._ + + + + + __Chapter XVII.__ + + + _Of malignant Fevers._ + + + __Sect.__ 242. + +Those Fevers are termed malignant, in which the Danger is more than the +Symptoms would make us apprehensive of: they have frequently a fatal +Event without appearing so very perilous; on which Account it has been +well said of this Fever, that it is a Dog which bites without barking. + + 243. The distinguishing _Criterion_ or Mark of malignant Fevers is a +total Loss of the Patient's Strength, immediately on their first Attack. +They arise from a Corruption of the Humours, which is noxious to the +very Source and Principle of Strength, the Impairing or Destruction of +which is the Cause of the Feebleness of the Symptoms; by Reason none of +the Organs are strong enough to exert an Opposition sufficiently +vigorous, to subdue the Cause of the Distemper. + +If, for Instance or Illustration, we were to suppose, that when two +Armies were on the Point of engaging, one of them should be nearly +deprived of all their Weapons, the Contest would not appear very +violent, nor attended with great Noise or Tumult, though with a horrible +Massacre. The Spectator, who, from being ignorant of one of the Armies +being disarmed, would not be able to calculate the Carnage of the +Battle, but in Proportion to its Noise and Tumult, must be extremely +deceived in his Conception of it. The Number of the Slain would be +astonishing, which might have been much less (though the Noise and +Clangor of it had been greater) if each Army had been equally provided +for the Combat. + + 244. The Causes of this Disease are a long Use of animal Food or Flesh +alone, without Pulse, Fruits or Acids; the continued Use of other bad +Provisions, such as Bread made of damaged Corn or Grain, or very stale +Meat. Eight Persons, who dined together on corrupt Fish, were all seized +with a malignant Fever, which killed five of them, notwithstanding the +Endeavours of the most able Physicians. These Fevers are also frequently +the Consequence of a great Dearth or Famine; of too hot and moist an +Air, or an Air, which highly partakes of these two Qualities; so that +they happen to spread most in hot Years, in Places abounding with +Marshes and standing Waters. They are also the Effect of a very close +and stagnant Air, especially if many Persons are crouded together in it, +this being a Cause that particularly tends to corrupt the Air. Tedious +Grief and Vexation also contribute to generate these Fevers. + + 245. The Symptoms of malignant Fevers are, as I have already observed, +a total and sudden Loss of Strength, without any evident preceding +Cause, sufficient to produce such a Privation of Strength: at the same +Time there is also an utter Dejection of the Mind, which becomes almost +insensible and inattentive to every Thing, and even to the Disease +itself; a sudden Alteration in the Countenance, especially in the Eyes: +some small Shiverings, which are varied throughout the Space of +twenty-four Hours, with little Paroxysms or Vicissitudes of Heat; +sometimes there is a great Head-ach and a Pain in the Loins; at other +Times there is no perceivable Pain in any Part; a kind of Sinkings or +Faintings, immediately from the Invasion of the Disease, which is always +very unpromising; not the least refreshing Sleep; frequently a kind of +half Sleep, or Drowsiness; a light and silent or inward Raving, which +discovers itself in the unusual and astonished Look of the Patient, who +seems profoundly employed in meditating on something, but really thinks +of nothing, or not at all: Some Patients have, however, violent Ravings; +most have a Sensation of Weight or Oppression, and at other Times of a +Binding or Tightness about, or around, the Pit of the Stomach. + +The sick Person seems to labour under great Anguish: he has sometimes +slight convulsive Motions and Twitchings in his Face and his Hands, as +well as in his Arms and Legs. His Senses seem torpid, or as it were +benumbed. I have seen many who had lost, to all Appearance, the whole +five, and yet some of them recover. It is not uncommon to meet with +some, who neither see, understand, nor speak. Their Voices change, +become weak, and are sometimes quite lost. Some of them have a fixed +Pain in some Part of the Belly: this arises from a Stuffing or +Obstruction, and often ends in a Gangrene, whence this Symptom is highly +dangerous and perplexing. + +The Tongue is sometimes very little altered from its Appearance in +Health; at other Times covered over with a yellowish brown Humour; but +it is more rarely dry in this Fever than in the others; and yet it +sometimes does resemble a Tongue that has been long smoaked. + +The Belly is sometimes very soft, and at other Times tense and hard. The +Pulse is weak, sometimes pretty regular, but always more quick than in a +natural State, and at some Times even very quick; and such I have always +found it, when the Belly has been distended. + +The Skin is often neither hot, dry, nor moist: it is frequently +overspread with petechial or eruptive Spots (which are little Spots of a +reddish livid Colour) especially on the Neck, about the Shoulders, and +upon the Back. At other Times the Spots are larger and brown, like the +Colour of Wheals from the Strokes of a Stick. + +The Urine of the Sick is almost constantly crude, that is of a lighter +Colour than ordinary. I have seen some, which could not be +distinguished, merely by the Eye, from Milk. A black and stinking +Purging sometimes attends this Fever, which is mortal, except the Sick +be evidently relieved by the Discharge. + +Some of the Patients are infested with livid Ulcers on the Inside of the +Mouth, and on the Palate. At other Times Abscesses are formed in the +Glands of the Groin, of the Arm-pit, in those between the Ears and the +Jaw; or a Gangrene may appear in some Part, as on the Feet, the Hands, +or the Back. The Strength proves entirely spent, the Brain is wholly +confused: the miserable Patient stretched out on his Back, frequently +expires under Convulsions, an enormous Sweat, and an oppressed Breast +and Respiration. Hmorrhages also happen sometimes and are mortal, being +almost unexceptionably such in this Fever. There is also in this, as in +all other Fevers, an Aggravation of the Fever in the Evening. + + 246. The Duration and _Crisis_ of these malignant, as well as those of +putrid Fevers, are very irregular. Sometimes the Sick die on the seventh +or eighth Day, more commonly between the twelfth and the fifteenth, and +not infrequently at the End of five or six Weeks. These different +Durations result from the different Degree and Strength of the Disease. +Some of these Fevers at their first Invasion are very slow; and during a +few of the first Days, the Patient, though very weak, and with a very +different Look and Manner, scarcely thinks himself sick. + +The Term or Period of the Cure or the Recovery, is as uncertain as that +of Death in this Distemper. Some are out of Danger at the End of fifteen +Days, and even sooner; others not before the Expiration of several +Weeks. + +The Signs which portend a Recovery are, a little more Strength in the +Pulse; a more concocted Urine; less Dejection and Discouragement; a less +confused Brain; an equal kindly Heat; a pretty warm or hot Sweat in a +moderate Quantity, without Inquietude or Anguish; the Revival of the +different Senses that were extinguished, or greatly suspended in the +Progress of the Disease; though the Deafness is not a very threatening +Symptom, if the others amend while it endures. + +This Malady commonly leaves the Patient in a very weak Condition; and a +long Interval will ensue between the End of it, and their recovering +their full Strength. + + 247. It is, in the first place, of greater Importance in this +Distemper than in any other, both for the Benefit of the Patients, and +those who attend them, that the Air should be renewed and purified. +Vinegar should often be evaporated from a hot Tile or Iron in the +Chamber, and one Window kept almost constantly open. + +2, The Diet should be light; and the Juice of Sorrel may be mixed with +their Water; the Juice of Lemons may be added to Soups prepared from +different Grains and Pulse; the Patient may eat sharp acid Fruits, such +as tart juicy [65] Cherries, Gooseberries, small black Cherries; and +those who can afford them, may be allowed Lemons, Oranges and +Pomgranates. + +[65] The French Word is _Griettes_, which _Beyer_ englishes, _the + Agriot, the red or sour Cherry_; and _Chambaud, the sweeter large + black Cherry or Mazzard_--But as Dr. _Tissot_ was recommending the + Use of Acids, it is more probably the first of these: so that our + Morellas, which make a pleasant Preserve, may be a good Substitute + to them, supposing them not to be the same. Our Berbery Jam, and + Jelly of Red Currants, may be also employed to answer the same + Indication. _K._ + +3, The Patient's Linen should be changed every two Days. + +4, Bleeding is very rarely necessary, or even proper, in this Fever; the +Exceptions to which are very few, and cannot be thoroughly ascertained, +as fit and proper Exceptions to the Omission of Bleeding, without a +Physician, or some other very skilful Person's seeing the Patient. + +5, There is often very little Occasion for Glysters, which are sometimes +dangerous in this Fever. + +6, The Patient's common Drink should be Barley Water made acid with the +Spirit N. 10, at the Rate of one Quarter of an Ounce to at least full +three Pints of the Water, or acidulated agreeably to his Taste. He may +also drink Lemonade. + +7, It is necessary to open and evacuate the Bowels, where a great +Quantity of corrupt Humours is generally lodged. The Powder N. 35 may +be given for this Purpose, after the Operation of which the Patient +generally finds himself better, at least for some Hours. It is of +Importance not to omit this at the Beginning of the Disease; though if +it has been omitted at first, it were best to give it even later, +provided no particular Inflammation has supervened, and the Patient has +still some Strength. I have given it, and with remarkable Success, on +the twentieth Day. + +8, Having by this Medicine expelled a considerable Portion of the bad +Humours, which contribute to feed and keep up the Fever, the Patient +should take every other Day, during the Continuance of the Disease, and +sometimes even every Day, one Dose of the Cream of Tartar and Rhubarb +N. 38. This Remedy evacuates the corrupt Humours, prevents the +Corruption of the others; expells the Worms that are very common in +these Fevers, which the Patient sometimes discharges upwards and +downwards; and which frequently conduce to many of the odd and +extraordinary Symptoms, that are observed in malignant Fevers. In short +it strengthens the Bowels, and, without checking the necessary +Evacuations, it moderates the Looseness, when it is hurtful. + +9, If the Skin be dry, with a Looseness, and that by checking it, we +design to increase Perspiration, instead of the Rhubarb, the Cream of +Tartar may be blended with the Ipecacuana, N. 39, which, being given in +small and frequent Doses, restrains the Purging, and promotes +Perspiration. This Medicine, as the former, is to be taken in the +Morning; two Hours after, the Sick must begin with the Potion N. 40, +and repeat it regularly every three Hours; until it be interrupted by +giving one of the Medicines N. 38 or 39: After which the Potion is to +be repeated again, as already directed, till the Patient grows +considerably better. + +10, If the Strength of the Sick be very considerably depressed, and he +is in great Dejection and Anguish, he should take, with every Draught of +the Potion, the Bolus, or Morsel N. 41. If the _Diarrhoea_, the Purging +is violent, there should be added, once or twice a Day to the Bolus, the +Weight of twenty Grains, or the Size of a very small Bean, of +_Diascordium_; or if that is not readily to be got, as much Venice +Treacle. + +11, Whenever, notwithstanding all this Assistance, the Patient continues +in a State of Weakness and Insensibility, two large Blisters should be +applied to the fleshy Insides of the Legs, or a large one to the Nape of +the Neck: and sometimes, if there be a great Drowsiness, with a manifest +Embarrassment of the Brain, they may be applied with great Success over +the whole Head. Their Suppuration and Discharge is to be promoted +abundantly; and, if they dry up within a few Days, others are to be +applied, and their Evacuation is to be kept up for a considerable Time. + +12, As soon as the Distemper is sufficiently abated, for the Patient to +remain some Hours with very little or no Fever, we must avail ourselves +of this Interval, to give him six, or at least five Doses of the +Medicine N. 14, and repeat the same the next Day, which may prevent the +Return of the Fever: [66] after which it may be sufficient to give daily +only two Doses for a few Days. + +[66] Observation and Experience have demonstrated the Advantage of the + Bark, to obviate a Gangrene, and prevent the Putrefaction of animal + Substances. We therefore conclude it may be usefully employed in + malignant Fevers, as soon as the previous and necessary Evacuations + shall have taken Place. _E. L._--Provided there be very clear and + regular Remissions at least. _K._ + +13, When the Sick continue entirely clear of a Fever, or any Return, +they are to be put into the _Regimen_ of Persons in a State of Recovery. +But if his Strength returns very slowly, or not at all; in Order to the +speedier Establishment and Confirmation of it, he may take three Doses a +Day of the _Theriaca Pauperum_, or poor Man's Treacle N. 42, the first +of them fasting, and the other twelve Hours after. It were to be wished +indeed, this Medicine was introduced into all the Apothecaries Shops, as +an excellent Stomachic, in which Respect it is much preferable to Venice +Treacle, which is an absurd Composition, dear and often dangerous. It is +true it does not dispose the Patients to Sleep; but when we would +procure them Sleep, there are better Medicines than the Treacle to +answer that Purpose. Such as may not think the Expence of the Medicine +N. 14, too much, may take three Doses of it daily for some Weeks, +instead of the Medicine N. 42, already directed. + + 248. It is necessary to eradicate a Prejudice that prevails among +Country People, with Regard to the Treatment of these Fevers; not only +because it is false and ridiculous, but even dangerous too. They imagine +that the Application of Animals can draw out the Poison of the Disease; +in Consequence of which they apply Poultry, or Pigeons, Cats or sucking +Pigs to the Feet, or upon the Head of the Patient, having first split +the living Animals open. Some Hours after they remove their strange +Applications, corrupted, and stinking very offensively; and then ascribe +such Corruption and horrid Stink to the Poison they suppose their +Application to be charged with; and which they suppose to be the Cause +of this Fever. But in this supposed Extraction of Poison, they are +grosly mistaken, since the Flesh does not stink in Consequence of any +such Extraction, but from its being corrupted through Moisture and Heat: +and they contract no other Smell but what they would have got, if they +had been put in any other Place, as well as on the Patient's Body, that +was equally hot and moist. Very far from drawing out the Poison, they +augment the Corruption of the Disease; and it would be sufficient to +communicate it to a sound Person, if he was to suffer many of these +animal Bodies, thus absurdly and uselessly butchered, to be applied to +various Parts of his Body in Bed; and to lie still a long Time with +their putrified Carcases fastened about him, and corrupting whatever Air +he breathed there. + +With the same Intention they fasten a living Sheep to the Bed's-foot for +several Hours; which, though not equally dangerous, is in some Measure +hurtful, since the more Animals there are in a Chamber, the Air of it is +proportionably corrupted, or altered at least from its natural +Simplicity, by their Respiration and Exhalations: but admitting this to +be less pernicious, it is equally absurd. It is certain indeed, the +Animals who are kept very near the sick Person breathe in the poisonous, +or noxious Vapours which exhale from his Body, and may be incommoded +with them, as well as his Attendants: But it is ridiculous to suppose +their being kept near the Sick causes such Poison to come out of their +Bodies. On the very contrary, in contributing still further to the +Corruption of the Air, they increase the Disease. They draw a false +Consequence, and no Wonder, from a false Principle; saying, if the Sheep +dies, the Sick will recover. Now, most frequently the Sheep does not +die; notwithstanding which the Sick sometimes recover; and sometimes +they both die. + + 249. The Cause of Malignant Fevers is, not infrequently, combined with +other Diseases, whose Danger it extremely increases. It is blended for +Instance, with the Poison of the Small-Pocks, or of the Measles. This +may be known by the Union of those Symptoms, which carry the Marks of +Malignity, with the Symptoms of the other Diseases. Such combined Cases +are extremely dangerous; they demand the utmost Attention of the +Physician; nor is it possible to prescribe their exact Treatment here; +since it consists in general of a Mixture of the Treatment of each +Disease; though the Malignity commonly demands the greatest Attention. + + + + + __Chapter XVIII.__ + + + _Of intermitting Fevers._ + + + __Sect.__ 250. + +Intermitting Fevers, commonly called here, Fevers and Agues, are those, +which after an Invasion and Continuance for some Hours, abate very +perceivably, as well as all the Symptoms attending them, and then +entirely cease; nevertheless, not without some periodical or stated +Return of them. + +They were very frequent with us some Years since; and indeed might even +be called epidemical: but for the five or six last Years, they have been +much less frequent throughout the greater Part of _Swisserland_: +notwithstanding they still continue in no small Number in all Places, +where the Inhabitants breathe the Air that prevails in all the marshy +Borders of the _Rhone_, and in some other Situations that are exposed to +much the same humid Air and Exhalations. + + 251. There are several Kinds of intermitting Fevers, which take their +different Names from the Interval or different Space of Time, in which +the Fits return. + +If the Paroxysm or Fit returns every Day, it is either a true Quotidian, +or a double Tertian Fever: The first of these may be distinguished from +the last by this Circumstance, that in the Quotidian, or one Day Fever, +the Fits are long; and correspond pretty regularly to each other in +Degree and Duration. This however is less frequent in _Swisserland_. In +the double Tertian, the Fits are shorter, and one is alternately light, +and the other more severe. + +In the simple Tertian, or third Day's Fever, the Fits return every other +Day; so that three Days include one Paroxysm, and the Return of another. + +In a Quartan, the Fit returns every fourth Day, including the Day of the +first and that of the second Attack: so that the Patient enjoys two +clear Days between the two sick ones. + +The other kinds of Intermittents are much rarer. I have seen however one +true Quintan, or fifth Day Ague, the Patient having three clear Days +between two Fits; and one regularly weekly Ague, as it may be called, +the Visitation of every Return happening every Sunday. + + 252. The first Attack of an intermittent Fever often happens, when the +Patient thought himself in perfect Health. Sometimes however it is +preceded by a Sensation of Cold and a kind of Numbness, which continue +some Days before the manifest Invasion of the Fit. It begins with +frequent Yawnings, a Lassitude, or Sensation of Weariness, with a +general Weakness, with Coldness, Shivering and Shaking: There is also a +Paleness of the extreme Parts of the Body, attended with Loathings, and +sometimes an actual Vomiting. The Pulse is quick, weak, and small, and +there is a considerable Degree of Thirst. + +At the End of an Hour or two, and but seldom so long as three or four +Hours, a Heat succeeds, which increases insensibly, and becomes violent +at its Height. At this Period the whole Body grows red, the Anxiety of +the Patient abates; the Pulse is very strong and large, and his Thirst +proves excessive. He complains of a violent Head-ach, and of a Pain in +all his Limbs, but of a different sort of Pain from that he was sensible +of, while his Coldness continued. Finally, having endured this hot +State, four, five or six Hours, he falls into a general Sweat for a few +more: upon which all the Symptoms already mentioned abate, and sometimes +Sleep supervenes. + +At the Conclusion of this Nap the Patient often wakes without any +sensible Fever; complaining only of Lassitude and Weakness. Sometimes +his Pulse returns entirely to its natural State between the two Fits; +though it often continues a little quicker than in perfect Health; and +does not recover its first Distinctness and Slowness, till some Days +after the last Fit. + +One Symptom, which most particularly characterises these several Species +of intermitting Fevers, is the Quality of the Urines which the Sick pass +after the Fit. They are of a reddish Colour, and let fall a Sediment, or +Settling, which exactly resembles Brick-dust. They are sometimes frothy +too, and a Pellicle, or thin filmy Skin, appears on the Top, and adheres +to the Sides of the Glass that contains them. + + 253. The Duration of each Fit is of no fixed Time or Extent, being +various according to the particular sort of Intermittents, and through +many other Circumstances. Sometimes they return precisely at the very +same Hour; at other Times they come one, two, or three Hours sooner, and +in other Instances as much later than the former. It has been imagined +that those Fevers, whose Paroxysms returned sooner than usual, were +sooner finally terminated: but there seems to be no general Rule in this +Case. + + 254. Intermitting Fevers are distinguished into those of Spring and +Autumn. The former generally prevail from February to June: the latter +are those which reign from July to January. Their essential Nature and +Characters are the very same, as they are not different Distempers; +though the various Circumstances attending them deserve our +Consideration. These Circumstances depend on the Season itself, and the +Constitution of the Patients, during such Seasons. The Spring +Intermittents are sometimes blended with an inflammatory Disposition, as +that is the Disposition of Bodies in that Season; but as the Weather +then advances daily into an improving State, the Spring Fevers are +commonly of a shorter Duration. The autumnal Fevers are frequently +combined and aggravated with a Principle of Putrefaction; and as the Air +of that Season rather degenerates, they are more tedious and obstinate. + + 255. The autumnal Fevers seldom begin quite so early as July, but much +oftner in August: and the Duration to which they are often extended, has +increased the Terror which the People entertain of Fevers that begin in +that Month. But that Prejudice which ascribes their Danger to the +Influence of August, is a very absurd Error; since it is better they +should set in then than in the following Months; because they are +obstinate in Proportion to the Tardiness, the Slowness of their +Approach. They sometimes appear at first considerably in the Form of +putrid Fevers, not assuming that of Intermittents till some Days after +their Appearance: but very happily there is little or no Danger in +mistaking them for putrid Fevers, or in treating them like such. The +Brick-coloured Sediment, and particularly the Pellicle or Film on the +Surface of the Urine, are very common in autumnal Intermittents, and are +often wanting in the Urine of putrid Fevers. In these latter, it is +generally less high coloured, and leaning rather to a yellow, a kind of +Cloudiness is suspended in the Middle of it. These also deposite a white +Sediment, which affords no bad Prognostic. + + 256. Generally speaking, intermitting Fevers are not mortal; often +terminating in Health of their own Accord (without the Use of any +Medicine) after some Fits. In this last Respect Intermittents in the +Spring differ considerably from those in the Fall, which continue a long +Time, and sometimes even until Spring, if they are not removed by Art, +or if they have been improperly treated. + +Quartan Fevers are always more obstinate and inveterate than Tertians; +the former sometimes persevering in certain Constitutions for whole +Years. When these Sorts of Fevers occur in boggy marshy Countries, they +are not only very chronical or tedious, but Persons infested with them +are liable to frequent Relapses. + + 257. A few Fits of an Intermittent are not very injurious, and it +happens sometimes, that they are attended with a favourable Alteration +of the Habit in Point of Health; by their exterminating the Cause or +Principle of some languid and tedious Disorder; though it is erroneous +to consider them as salutary. If they prove tedious and obstinate, and +the Fits are long and violent, they weaken the whole Body, impairing all +its Functions, and particularly the Digestions: They make the Humours +sharp and unbalmy, and introduce several other Maladies, such as the +Jaundice, Dropsy, Asthma and slow wasting Fevers. Nay sometimes old +Persons, and those who are very weak, expire in the Fit; though such an +Event never happens but in the cold Fit. + + 258. Very happily Nature has afforded us a Medicine, that infallibly +cures these Fevers: this is the _Kinkina_, or Jesuits Bark; and as we +are possessed of this certain Remedy, the only remaining Difficulty is +to discover, if there be not some other Disease combined with these +Fevers, which Disease might be aggravated by the Bark. Should any such +exist, it must be removed by Medicines adapted to it, before the Bark is +given. [67] + +[67] This admirable Medicine was unknown in Europe, till about one + hundred and twenty Years past; we are obliged to the Spaniards for + it, who found it in the Province of Quito in Peru; the Countess of + Chinchon being the first European who used it in America, whence it + was brought to Spain, under the Name of the Countesses Powder. The + Jesuits having soon dispensed and distributed it abroad, it became + still more publick by the Name of the Jesuits Powder: and since it + has been known by that of _Kinkina_ or the Peruvian Bark. It met + with great Opposition at first; some deeming it a Poison, while + others considered it as a divine Remedy: so that the Prejudices of + many being heightened by their Animosity, it was nearly a full + Century, before its true Virtue and its Use were agreed to: and + about twenty Years since the most unfavourable Prejudices against + it pretty generally subsided. The Insufficience of other Medicines + in several Cases; its great Efficaciousness; and the many and + surprizing Cures which it did, and daily does effect; the Number of + Distempers; the different kinds of Fevers, in which it proves the + sovereign Remedy; its Effects in the most difficult chirurgical + Cases; the Comfort, the Strength and Sprits it gives those who need + and take it, have at length opened every Persons Eyes; so that it + has almost unanimously obtained the first Reputation, among the + most efficacious Medicines. The World is no longer amused with + Apprehensions of its injuring the Stomach; of its fixing, or + _shutting up_ the Fever (as the Phrase has been) without curing it; + that it shuts up the Wolf in the Sheepfold; that it throws those + who take it into the Scurvy, the Asthma, the Dropsy, the Jaundice. + On the contrary they are persuaded it prevents there very Diseases; + and, that if it is ever hurtful, it is only when it is either + adulterated, as most great Remedies have been; or has been wrongly + prescribed, or improperly taken: or lastly when it meets with some + latent, some unknown Particularities in a Constitution, which + Physicians term an _Idiosyncrasy_, and which prevent or pervert its + very general Effects. _Tissot._ + + 259. In the vernal, or Spring-Fevers, if the Fits are not very severe; +if the Patient is evidently well in their Intervals; if his Appetite, +his Strength, and his Sleep continue as in Health, no Medicine should be +given, nor any other Method be taken, but that of putting the Person, +under such a gentle Intermittent, upon the Regimen directed for Persons +in a State of Recovery. This is such a Regimen as pretty generally +agrees with all the Subjects of these Fevers: for if they should be +reduced to the Regimen proper in acute Diseases, they would be weakened +to no Purpose, and perhaps be the worse for it. But at the same Time if +we were not to retrench from the Quantity, nor somewhat to vary the +Quality of their usual Food in a State of Health; as there is not the +least Digestion made in the Stomach, during the whole Term of the Fit; +and as the Stomach is always weakened a little by the Disease, crude and +indigested Humours would be produced, which might afford a Fuel to the +Disease. Not the least solid Food should be allowed, for at least two +Hours before the usual Approach of the Fit. + + 260. If the Fever extends beyond the sixth, or the seventh Fit; and +the Patient seems to have no Occasion for a Purge; which may be learned +by attending to the Chapter, which treats of Remedies to be taken by Way +of Precaution; [68] he may take the Bark, that is the Powder N. 14. If +it is a Quotidian, a daily Fever, or a double Tertian, six Doses, +containing three Quarters of an Ounce, should be taken between the two +Fits; and as these Intermissions commonly consist of but ten or twelve, +or at the most of fourteen or fifteen Hours, there should be an Interval +of only one Hour and a half between each Dose. During this Interval the +Sick may take two of his usual Refreshments or Suppings. + +[68] It happens very seldom that intermitting Fevers require [69] no + Purge towards their Cure, especially in Places, which are disposed + to generate Putridity. There is always some material Cause + essential to these Fevers, of which Nature disembarrasses herself + more easily by Stools, than by any other Discharge: And as there is + not the least Danger to be apprehended from a gentle Purge, such at + those of N. 11 or 23, we think it would be prudent always to + premise a Dose or two of either to the Bark. _E. L._ + +[69] Yet I have known many in whom no Purge was necessary, and have seen + some rendered more obstinate and chronical by erroneous Purging. + But a Vomit is very generally necessary before the Bark is given. + _K._ + +When the Fever is a Tertian, an Ounce should be given between the two +Fits: which makes eight Doses, one of which is to be taken every three +Hours. + +In a Quartan I direct one Ounce and a half, to be taken in the same +Manner. It is meer trifling to attempt preventing the Returns with +smaller Doses. The frequent Failures of the Bark are owing to over small +Doses. On such Occasions the Medicine is cried down, and censured as +useless, when the Disappointment is solely the Fault of those who do not +employ it properly. The last Dose is to be given two Hours before the +usual Return of the Fit. + +The Doses, just mentioned, frequently prevent the Return of the Fit; but +whether it returns or not, after the Time of its usual Duration is past, +repeat the same Quantity, in the same Number of Doses, and Intervals, +which certainly keeps off another. For six Days following, half the same +Quantity must be continued, in the Intervals that would have occurred +between the Fits, if they had returned: and during all this Time the +Patient should inure himself to as much Exercise, as he can well bear. + + 261. Should the Fits be very strong, the Pain of the Head violent, the +Visage red, the Pulse full and hard; if there is any Cough; if, even +after the Fit is over, the Pulse still is perceivably hard; if the Urine +is inflamed, hot and high-coloured, and the Tongue very dry, the Patient +must be bled, and drink plentifully of Barley Water N. 3. These two +Remedies generally bring the Patient into the State described 259: in +which State he may take on a Day, when the Fever is entirely off, three +or four Doses of the Powder N. 24, and then leave the Fever to pursue +its own Course for the Space of a few Fits. But should it not then +terminate of itself, the Bark must be recurred to. + +If the Patient, even in the Interval of the Returns, has a foetid, +furred Mouth, a Loathing, Pains in the Loins, or in the Knees, much +Anxiety, and bad Nights, he should be purged with the Powder N. 21 or +the Potion N. 23, before he takes the Bark. + + 262. If Fevers in Autumn appear to be of the continual kind, and very +like putrid Fevers, the Patients should drink abundantly of Barley +Water; and if at the Expiration of two or three Days, there still +appears to be a Load or Oppression at the Stomach, the Powder N. 34 or +that of 35 is to be given (but see 241): and if, after the Operation +of this, the Signs of Putridity continue, the Body is to be opened with +repeated Doses of the Powder N. 24; or, where the Patients are very +robust, with N. 21; and when the Fever becomes quite regular, with +distinct _Remissions_ at least, the Bark is to be given as directed +260. + +But as autumnal Fevers are more obstinate; after having discontinued the +Bark for eight Days; and notwithstanding there has been no Return of the +Fever, it is proper to resume the Bark, and to give three Doses of it +daily for the succeeding eight Days, more especially if it was a +Quartan; in which Species I have ordered it to be repeated, every other +eight Days, for six Times. + +Many People may find it difficult to comply with this Method of Cure, +which is unavoidably expensive, through the Price of the Bark. I thought +however this ought not to prevent me from averring it to be the only +certain one; since nothing can be an equivalent _Succedaneum_ or +Substitute to this Remedy, which is the only sure and safe one in all +these Cases. The World had long been prepossessed with Prejudices to the +contrary: it was supposed to be hurtful to the Stomach; to prevent which +it has been usual to make the Sick eat something an Hour after it. +Nevertheless, very far from injuring the Stomach, it is the best +Medicine in the Universe to strengthen it; and it is a pernicious +Custom, when a Patient is obliged to take it often, to eat an Hour after +it. It had also been imagined to cause Obstructions, and that it +subjected Patients to a Dropsy: but at present we are convinced, it is +the obstinate and inveterate Duration of the Intermittent, that causes +Obstructions, and paves the Way to a Dropsy. The Bark, in Consequence of +its speedily curing the Fever, does not only prevent the former Disease; +but when it continues, through an injudicious Omission of the Bark, a +proper Use of it is serviceable in the Dropsy. In a Word, if there is +any other Malady combined with the Fever, sometimes that indeed prevents +the Success of the Bark, yet without rendering it hurtful. But whenever +the intermitting Fever is simple and uncombined, it ever has, and ever +will render the Patient all possible Service. In another Place I shall +mention such Means and Methods as may in some Degree, though but +imperfectly, be substituted instead of it. + +After the Patient has begun with the Bark, he must take no purging +Medicine, as that Evacuation would, with the greatest Probability, +occasion a Return of the Fever. + + 263. Bleeding is never, or extremely seldom indeed necessary in a +Quartan Ague, which occurs in the Fall oftner than in the Spring; and +with the Symptoms of Putridity rather than of Inflammation. + + 264. The Patient ought, two Hours before the Invasion of the Fit, to +drink a small Glass of warm Elder Flower Tea, sweetened with Honey, +every Quarter of an Hour, and to walk about moderately; this disposes +him to a very gentle Sweat, and thence renders the ensuing Coldness and +the whole Fit milder. He is to continue the same Drink throughout the +Duration of the cold Fit; and when the hot one approaches, he may either +continue the same, or substitute that of N. 2, which is more cooling. +It is not necessary however, in this State, to drink it warm, it is +sufficient that it be not over cold. When the Sweat, at the Termination +of the hot Fit, is concluded, the Patient should be well wiped and +dried, and may get up. If the Fit was very long, he may be allowed a +little Gruel, or some other such Nourishment during the Sweat. + + 265. Sometimes the first, and a few successive Doses of the Bark purge +the Patient. This is no otherwise an ill Consequence, than by its +retarding the Cure; since, when it purges, it does not commonly prevent +the Return of the Fever; so that these Doses may be considered as to no +Purpose, and others should be repeated, which, ceasing to purge, do +prevent it. Should the Looseness notwithstanding continue, the Bark must +be discontinued for one entire Day, in order to give the Patient half a +Quarter of an Ounce of Rhubarb: after which the Bark is to be resumed +again, and if the Looseness still perseveres, fifteen Grains of Venice +Treacle should be added to each Dose, but not otherwise. All other +Medicines which are superadded, very generally serve only to increase +the Bulk of the Dose, while they lessen its Virtue. + + 266. Before our thorough Experience of the Bark, other bitter +Medicines were used for the same Purpose: these indeed were not +destitute of Virtue in such Cases, though they were considerably less +available than the Bark. Under N. 43, some valuable Prescriptions of +that kind may be seen, whose Efficacy I have often experienced: though +at other Times I have been obliged to leave them off, and recur to the +Bark more successfully. Filings of Iron, which enter into the third +Prescription, are an excellent Febrifuge in particular Cases and +Circumstances. In the Middle of the Winter 1753, I cured a Patient of a +Quartan Ague with it, who would not be prevailed on to take the Bark. It +must be confessed he was perfectly regular in observing the _Regimen_ +directed for him; and that, during the most rigid Severity of the +Winter, he got every Day on Horseback, and took such a Degree of other +Exercise in the open Air, as disposed him to perspire abundantly. + + 267. Another very practicable easy Method, of which I have often +availed my Patients, under tertian Fevers (but which succeeded with me +only twice in Quartans) was to procure the Sufferer a very plentiful +Sweat, at the very Time when the Fit was to return, in its usual Course. +To effect this he is to drink, three or four Hours before it is +expected, an Infusion of Elder Flowers sweetened with Honey, which I +have already recommended 264; and one Hour before the usual Invasion +of the Shivering, he is to go into Bed, and take, as hot as he can drink +it, the Prescription N. 44. + +I have also cured some Tertians and even Quartans, in 1751 and 1752, by +giving them, every four Hours between the Fits, the Powder N. 45. But I +must acknowledge that, besides its having often failed me, and its never +succeeding so speedily as the Bark, I have found it weaken some +Patients; it disorders, or disagrees with, their Stomachs: and in two +Cases, where it had removed the Fever, I was obliged to call in the Bark +for a thorough Establishment of the Patient's Health. Nevertheless, as +these Medicines are very cheap and attainable, and often do succeed, I +thought I could not properly omit them. + + 268. A Multitude of other Remedies are cried up for the Cure of +Fevers: though none of them are equally efficacious with those I have +directed: and as many of them are even dangerous, it is prudent to +abstain from them. Some Years since certain Powders were sold here, +under the Name of the _Berlin_ Powders; these are nothing but the Bark +masqued or disguised (which has sometimes been publickly discovered) and +have always been sold very dear: though the Bark well chosen, and +freshly powdered when wanted, is greatly preferable. + + 269. I have often known Peasants, who had laboured for several Months +under intermitting Fevers; having made Use of many bad Medicines and +Mixtures for them, and observed no Manner of Regimen. Such I have +happily treated by giving them the Remedies N. 34, or 35; and +afterwards, for some Days, that of N. 38; at the End of which Time, I +have ordered them the Bark (See 260) or other Febrifuges, as at 266, +267; and then finally ordered them for some Days, to take Morsels of the +poor Man's Treacle (See 247, _Art._ 13) to strengthen and confirm +their Digestions, which I have found very weak and irregular. + + 270. Some Intermittents are distinguished as pernicious or malignant, +from every Fit's being attended with the most violent Symptoms. The +Pulse is small and irregular, the Patient exceedingly dejected, and +frequently swooning; afflicted with inexpressible Anguish, Convulsions, +a deep Drowsiness, and continual Efforts to go to Stool, or make Urine, +but ineffectually. This Disease is highly pressing and dangerous; the +Patient may die in the third Fit, and rarely survives the sixth, if he +is not very judiciously treated. Not a Moment should be lost, and there +is no other Step to be taken, but that of giving the Bark continually, +as directed 260, to prevent the succeeding Fits. These worst Kinds of +Intermittents are often combined with a great Load of putrid Humours in +the first Passages: and as often as such an aggravating Combination is +very evident, we should immediately after the End of one Fit, give a +Dose of Ipecacuana N. 35, and, when its Operation is finished, give the +Bark. But I chuse to enter into very few Details on this Species of +Intermittents, both as they occur but seldom, and as the Treatment of +them is too difficult and important, to be submitted to the Conduct of +any one but a Physician. My Intention has only been to represent them +sufficiently, that they may be so distinguished when they do occur, as +to apprize the People of their great Danger. + + 271. The same Cause which produces these intermitting Fevers, +frequently also occasions Disorders, which return periodically at the +same Hour, without Shivering, without Heat, and often without any +Quickness of the Pulse. Such Disorders generally preserve the +Intermissons of quotidian or tertian Fevers, but much seldomer those of +Quartans. I have seen violent Vomittings, and Reachings to vomit, with +inexpressible Anxiety; the severest Oppressions, the most racking +Cholics; dreadful Palpitations and excessive Tooth-achs: Pains in the +Head, and very often an unaccountable Pain over one Eye, the Eyelid, +Eyebrow and Temple, on the same Side of the Face; with a Redness of that +Eye, and a continual, involuntary trickling of Tears. I have also seen +such a prodigious Swelling of the affected Part, that the Eye projected, +or stood out, above an Inch from the Head, covered by the Eyelid, which +was also extremely inflated or puffed up. All these Maladies begin +precisely at a certain Hour; last about the usual Time of a Fit; and +terminating without any sensible Evacuation, return exactly at the same +Hour, the next Day, or the next but one. + +There is but one known Medicine that can effectually oppose this Sort, +which is the Bark, given as directed 260. Nothing affords Relief in +the Fit, and no other Medicine ever suspends or puts it off. But I have +cured some of these Disorders with the Bark, and especially those +affecting the Eyes, which happen oftner than the other Symptoms, after +their Duration for many Weeks, and after the ineffectual Use of +Bleeding, Purging, Baths, Waters, Blisters, and a great Number of other +Medicines. If a sufficient Dose of it be given, the next Fit is very +mild; the second is prevented; and I never saw a Relapse in these Cases, +which sometimes happens after the Fits of common Intermittents seemed +cured. + + 272. In Situations where the Constitution of the Air renders these +Fevers very common, the Inhabitants should frequently burn in their +Rooms, at least in their lodging Rooms, some aromatic Wood or Herbs. +They should daily chew some Juniper Berries, and drink a fermented +Infusion of them. These two Remedies are very effectual to fortify the +weakest Stomachs, to prevent Obstructions, and to promote Perspiration. +And as these are the Causes which prolong these Fevers the most +obstinately; nothing is a more certain Preservation from them than these +cheap and obvious Assistances. [70] + +[70] I have seen several Cases in very marshy maritime Countries, with + little good drinking Water, and far South of _Swisserland_, where + intermitting Fevers, with Agues at different Intervals, are + annually endemic, very popular, and often so obstinate as to return + repeatedly, whenever the weekly precautionary Doses of the Bark + have been omitted (through the Patient's nauseating the frequent + Swallowing of it) so that the Disease has sometimes been extended + beyond the Term of a full Year, and even far into a second, + including the temporary Removals of it by the Bark. Nevertheless, + in some such obstinate Intermittents, and particularly Quartans + there, wherein the Bark alone has had but a short and imperfect + Effect, I have known the following Composition, after a good Vomit, + attended with speedy and final Success, _viz._ Take of fresh + Sassafras Bark, of Virginia Snake-root, of Roch-Allom, of Nutmeg, + of diaphoretic Antimony, and of Salt of Wormwood of each one + Drachm. To these well rubbed together into fine Powder, add the + Weight of the whole, of the best and freshest Bark; then drop in + three Drops of the chemical Oil of Mint, and with Syrup of Cloves + make it into the Consistence of an Electuary or Bolus, for 12 Doses + for a grown Person, to be taken at the Distance of three or four + Hours from each other, while the Patient is awake, according to the + longer or shorter Intermission of the Fever. + + I have also known, particularly in obstinate autumnal Agues there, + an Infusion of two Ounces of the best Bark in fine Powder, or two + Ounces and a half in gross Powder, in a Quart of the best Brandy, + for three or four Days (a small Wine Glass to be taken by grown + Persons at the Distance of from four to six Hours) effectually and + speedily terminate such intermittent Agues, as had given but little + Way to the Bark in Substance. This was certainly more suitable for + those who were not of a light delicate Habit and Temperament, and + who had not been remarkable for their Abstinence from strong + Liquors: the inebriating Force of the Brandy being remarkably + lessened, by the Addition and long Infusion of the Bark. These + Facts which I saw, are the less to be wondered at, as in such + inveterate, but perfectly clear and distinct Intermittents, both + the State of the Fluids and Solids seem very opposite to their + State in an acutely inflammatory Disease. _K._ + + + + + __Chapter XIX.__ + + + + _Of the Erisipelas, and the Bites of Animals._ + + + __Sect.__ 273. + +The Erisipelas, commonly called in English, St. Anthony's Fire, and in +Swisserland _the Violet_, is sometimes but a very slight Indisposition +which appears on the Skin, without the Person's being sensible of any +other Disorder; and it most commonly breaks out either in the Face, or +on the Legs. The Skin becomes tense, or stiff, rough and red; but this +Redness disappears on pressing the Spot with a Finger, and returns on +removing it. The Patient feels in the Part affected a burning Heat, +which makes him uneasy, and sometimes hinders him from sleeping. The +Disorder increases for the Space of two or three Days; continues at its +Height one or two, and then abates. Soon after this, that Part of the +Skin that was affected, falls off in pretty large Scales, and the +Disorder entirely terminates. + + 274. But sometimes this Malady is considerably more severe, beginning +with a violent Shivering, which is succeeded by a burning Heat, a +vehement Head-ach, a Sickness at Heart, as it is commonly termed, or +Reachings to vomit, which continue till the _Erisipelas_ appears, which +sometimes does not happen before the second, or even the third Day. The +Fever then abates, and the Sickness goes off, though frequently a less +Degree of Fever, and of Sickness or Loathing remain, during the whole +Time, in which the Disease is in its increasing State. When the Eruption +and Inflammation happen in the Face, the Head-ach continues, until the +Decline, or going off, of the Disease. The Eyelid swells, the Eye is +closed, and the Patient has not the least Ease or Tranquillity. It often +passes from one Cheek to the other, and extends successively over the +Forehead, the Neck, and the Nape of the Neck; under which Circumstance +the Disease is of a more than ordinary Duration. Sometimes also when it +exists in a very high Degree, the Fever continues, the Brain is +obstructed and oppressed; the Patient raves; his Case becomes extremely +dangerous; whence sometimes, if he is not very judiciously assisted, he +dies, especially if of an advanced Age. A violent _Erisipelas_ on the +Neck brings on a Quinsey, which may prove very grievous, or even fatal. + +When it attacks the Leg, the whole Leg swells up; and the Heat and +Irritation from it is extended up to the Thigh. + +Whenever this Tumour is considerable, the Part it seizes is covered with +small Pustules filled with a clear watery Humour, resembling those which +appear after a Burn, and drying afterwards and scaling off. I have +sometimes observed, especially when this Distemper affected the Face, +that the Humour, which issued from these little Pustules, was extremely +thick or glewy, and formed a thick Scurf, or Scabs nearly resembling +those of sucking Children: they have continued fast on the Face many +Days before they fell off. + +When the Disease may be termed violent, it sometimes continues eight, +ten, twelve Days at the same Height; and is at last terminated by a very +plentiful Sweat, that may sometimes be predicted by a Restlessness +attended with Shiverings, and a little Anxiety of some Hours Duration. +Throughout the Progress of the Disease, the whole Skin is very dry, and +even the Inside of the Mouth. + + 275. An _Erisipelas_ rarely comes to Suppuration, and when it does, +the Suppuration is always unkindly, and much disposed to degenerate into +an Ulcer. Sometimes a malignant kind of _Erisipelas_ is epidemical, +seizing a great Number of Persons, and frequently terminating in +Gangrenes. + + 276. This Distemper often shifts its Situation; it sometimes retires +suddenly; but the Patient is uneasy and disordered; he has a Propensity +to vomit, with a sensible Anxiety and Heat: the _Erisipelas_ appears +again in a different Part, and he feels himself quite relieved from the +preceding Symptoms. But if instead of re-appearing on some other Part of +the Surface, the Humour is thrown upon the Brain, or the Breast, he dies +within a few Hours; and these fatal Changes and Translations sometimes +occur, without the least Reason or Colour for ascribing them either to +any Error of the Patient, or of his Physician. + +If the Humour has been transferred to the Brain, the Patient immediately +becomes delirious, with a highly flushed Visage, and very quick +sparkling Eyes: very soon after he proves downright frantic, and goes +off in a Lethargy. + +If the Lungs are attacked, the Oppression, Anxiety, and Heat are +inexpressible. + + 277. There are some Constitutions subject to a very frequent, and, as +it were, to an habitual _Erisipelas_. If it often affects the Face, it +is generally repeated on the same Side of it, and that Eye is, at +length, considerably weakened by it. + + 278. This Distemper results from two Causes; the one, an acrid sharp +Humour, which is commonly bilious, diffused through the Mass of Blood; +the other consists in that Humour's not being sufficiently discharged by +Perspiration. + + 279. When this Disease is of a gentle Nature, such as it is described + 273, it will be sufficient to keep up a very free Perspiration, but +without heating the Patient; and the best Method to answer this Purpose +is putting him upon the Regimen so often already referred to, with a +plentiful Use of Nitre in Elder Tea. Flesh, Eggs and Wine are prohibited +of Course, allowing the Patient a little Pulse and ripe Fruits. He +should drink Elder Flower Tea abundantly, and take half a Drachm of +Nitre every three Hours; or, which amounts to the same Thing, let three +Drachms of Nitre be dissolved in as much Infusion of Elder Flowers, as +he can drink in twenty-four Hours. Nitre may be given too in a Bolus +with Conserve of Elder-berries. These Medicines keep the Body open, and +increase Urine and Perspiration. + + 280. When the Distemper prevails in a severer Degree, if the Fever is +very high, and the Pulse, at the same Time, strong or hard, it may be +necessary to bleed once: but this should never be permitted in a large +Quantity at a Time in this Disease; it being more adviseable, if a +sufficient Quantity has not been taken at once, to bleed a second Time, +and even a third, if the Fever should prove very high, as it often does, +and that sometimes in so violent a Degree, as to render it extremely +dangerous: and in some such Cases Nature has sometimes saved the +Patients by effecting a large Hemorrhage, or Bleeding, to the Quantity +of four or five Pounds. This Conduct a very intelligent and prudent +Physician may presume to imitate; but I dare not advise the same Conduct +to that Class of Physicians, for which only I write: it being safer for +them to use repeated Bleedings in such Cases, than one in an excessive +Quantity. These erisipelatous Fevers are often excited by a Person's +being too long over-heated. + +After Bleeding the Patient is to be restrained to his Regimen; Glysters +are to be given until there is a sensible Abatement of the Fever; and he +should drink the Barley Water freely, N. 3. + +When the Fever is somewhat diminished, either the Purge N. 23 should be +given, or a few Doses every Morning of Cream of Tartar N. 24. Purging +is absolutely necessary to carry off the stagnant Bile, which is +generally the first Cause of the violent Degrees of this Distemper. It +may sometimes be really necessary too, if the Disease is very tedious; +if the Loathing and Sickness at Stomach is obstinate; the Mouth +ill-favoured, and the Tongue foul, (provided there be only a slight +Fever, and no Fear of an Inflammation) to give the Medicines N. 34 or +35, which, in Consequence of the Agitation, the Shaking they occasion, +remove these Impediments still better than Purges. + +It commonly happens that this Disease is more favourable after these +Evacuations; nevertheless it is sometimes necessary to repeat them the +next Day, or the next but one; especially if the Malady affects the +Head. Purging is the true Evacuation for curing it, whenever it attacks +this Part. By carrying off the Cause of the Disease, they diminish it, +and prevent its worst Effects. + +Whenever, even after these Evacuations, the Fever still continues to be +very severe, the Patient should take every two Hours, or occasionally, +oftner, two Spoonfuls of the Prescription N. 10, added to a Glass of +Ptisan. + +It will be very useful, when this Disease is seated in the Head or Face, +to bathe the Legs frequently in warm Water; and where it is violent +there, also to apply Sinapisms to the Soles of the Feet. I have seen +this Application, in about four Hours attract, or draw down an +_Erisipelas_ to the Legs, which had spread over the Nose, and both the +Eyes. When the Distemper once begins to go off by Sweating, this should +be promoted by Elder-flower Tea and Nitre (See 279) and the Sweating +may be encouraged to Advantage for some Hours. + + 281. The best Applications that can be made to the affected Part are +1st, The Herb Robert, a Kind of _Geranium_, or Crane's-Bill; or Chervil, +or Parsley, or Elder Flowers: and if the Complaint be of a very mild +Disposition, it may be sufficient to apply a very soft smooth Linen over +it, which some People dust over with a little dry Meal. + +2, If there is a very considerable Inflammation, and the Patient is so +circumstanced as to be very tractable and regularly attended, Flanels +wrung out of a strong Decoction of Elder-flowers and applied warm, +afford him the speediest Ease and Relief. By this simple Application I +have appeased the most violent Pains of a St. Anthony's Fire, which is +the most cruel Species of an Erisipelas, and has some peculiar Marks or +Symptoms extraordinary. + +3, The Plaister of Smalt, and Smalt itself N. 46, are also very +successfully employed in this Disease. This Powder, the farinaceous, or +mealy ones, or others cried up for it, agree best when a thin watery +Humour distills or weeps from the little Vesications attending it, which +it is convenient to absorb by such Applications; without which +Precaution it might gall, or even ulcerate the Part. + +All other Plaisters, which are partly compounded of greasy, or of +resinous Substances, are very dangerous: they often repel, or strike in +the _Erisipelas_, occasioning it to ulcerate, or even to gangrene. If +People who are naturally subject to this Disease should apply any such +Plaister to their Skin, even in its soundest State, an _Erisipelas_ is +the speedy Consequence. + + 282. Whenever the Humour occasioning the Distemper is repelled, and +thrown upon the Brain, the Throat, the Lungs, or any internal Part, the +Patient should be bled; Blisters must be applied to the Legs; and Elder +Tea, with Nitre dissolved in it, should be plentifully drank. + + 283. People who are liable to frequent Returns of an Erisipelas, +should very carefully avoid using Milk, Cream, and all fat and viscid, +or clammy Food, Pies, brown Meat, Spices, thick and heady Liquors, a +sedentary Life, the more active Passions, especially Rage, and, if +possible, all Chagrin too. Their Food should chiefly consist of Herbage, +Fruits, of Substances inclining to Acidity, and which tend to keep the +Body open; they should drink Water, and some of the light white Wines; +by no Means omitting the frequent Use of Cream of Tartar. A careful +Conformity to these Regulations is of real Importance, as, besides the +Danger of the frequent Visitations of this Disease, they denote some +slight Indispositions of the Liver and the Gall-bladder; which, if too +little attended to, might in Time prove very troublesome and pernicious. + +Such mineral Waters as are gently opening are very proper for these +Constitutions, as well as the Juice of Succory, and clarified Whey, of +which they should take about three Pints every Morning, during the five +or six Summer Months. This becomes still more efficacious, if a little +Cream of Tartar and Honey be added to it. + + + + _Of the Stings, or little Wounds, by Animals._ + + + 284. The Stings or little Bites of Animals, frequently producing a +kind of _Erisipelas_, I shall add a very few Words concerning them in +this Place. + +Of the Serpents in this Country none but the Vipers are poisonous; and +none of these are found except at _Baume_, where there is a _Viperary_, +if we may be allowed that Word. We have no Scorpions, which are somewhat +poisonous; our Toads are not in the least so: whence the only Stings we +are exposed to, are those of Bees, Wasps, Hornets, Muskitos or Gnats, +and Dragon [71] Flies: all of which are sometimes attended with severe +Pain, a Swelling, and a very considerable erisipelatous Redness; which, +if it happens in the Face, sometimes entirely closes the Eyes up; +occasioning also a Fever, Pains of the Head, Restlessness, and Sickness +at Heart; and, when the Pains are in a violent Degree, Faintings and +Convulsions, though always without any mortal Consequence. These +Symptoms go off naturally within a few Days, without any Assistance: +Nevertheless they may either be prevented, diminished in Degree, or +shortned in Duration. + +[71] These, in some Parts of America, are called Muskito Hawks; but we + do not recollect their biting there. _K._ + +1, By extracting the Sting of the Animal, if it is left behind. + +2, By a continual Application of one of the Remedies directed 281, +Article 1 and 2, particularly the Infusion of Elder-flowers, to which a +little Venice Treacle is added; or by covering the Part affected with a +Pultice, made of Crum of Bread, Milk, Honey, and a little Venice +Treacle. [72] + +[72] Pounded Parsley is one of the most availing Applications in such + Accidents. _E.L._ + +3, By bathing the Legs of the Person stung repeatedly in warm Water. + +4, By retrenching a little of their customary Food, especially at Night, +and by making them drink an Infusion of Elder-flowers, with the Addition +of a little Nitre. Oil, if applied very quickly after the Sting, +sometimes prevents the Appearance of any Swelling, and from thence the +Pains that attend it. + + + + + __Chapter XX.__ + + + _Of spurious, or false Inflammations of the Breast, and of spurious, + bilious, Pleurisies._ + + + __Sect.__ 285. + +The Inflammation of the Breast and that Pleurisy, which is called +_bilious_, are the same Disease. It is properly a putrid Fever, attended +with an Infarction or Stuffing of the Lungs, though without Pain; in +which Circumstance it is called a putrid or bilious Peripneumony: but +when attended with a Pain of the Side, a Stitch, it is called a spurious +or bastard Pleurisy. + + 286. The Signs which distinguish these Diseases from the inflammatory +ones of the same Name, described Chap. IV and V, are a less hard and +less strong, but a quicker Pulse, though unaccompanied with the same +Symptoms which constitute the inflammatory ones (See 47 and 90). The +Mouth is foul, and has a Sensation of Bitterness; the Patient is +infested with a sharp and dry Heat; he has a Feeling of Heaviness and +Anxiety all about his Stomach, with Loathings: he is less flushed and +red in these, than in the inflammatory Diseases, but rather a little +yellow. He has a dejected wan Look; his Urine resembles that in putrid +Fevers, and not that of inflammatory ones; and he has very often a small +bilious Looseness, which is extremely offensive. The Skin is commonly +very dry in this Disease; the Humour spit up is less thick, less +reddish, and rather more yellow than in the inflammatory Diseases of the +same Names. + + 287. They must be treated after the manner of putrid Fevers, as in +241. Supposing some little Degree of Inflammation to be combined with +the Disease, it may be removed by a single Bleeding. After this the +Patient is to drink Barley Water N. 3, to make Use of Glysters; and as +soon as all Symptoms of any Inflammation wholly disappear, he is to take +the vomiting and purging Draught N. 34. But the utmost Caution must be +taken not to give it, before every Appearance of any Inflammation is +totally removed; as giving it sooner would be certain Death to the Sick: +and it is dreadful but to think of agitating, by a Vomit, Lungs that are +inflamed, and overloaded with Blood, whose Vessels burst and discharge +themselves, only from the Force of Expectoration. After an Interval of +some Days, he may be purged again with the Medicine N. 23. The +Prescription N. 25 succeeds also very well as a Vomit. If the Fever is +violent, he must drink plentifully of the Potion N. 10. + +Blisters to the Legs are very serviceable, when the Load and Oppression +are not considerably abated after general Evacuations. + + 288. The false Inflammation of the Breast is an Overfulness or +Obstruction in the Lungs, accompanied with a Fever; and it is caused by +extremely thick and tenacious Humours; and not by a really inflammatory +Blood, or by any putrid or bilious Humour. + + 289. This Distemper happens more frequently in the Spring, than in any +other Season. Old Men, puny, ill-constitutioned Children, languid Women, +feeble young Men, and particularly such as have worn their Constitutions +out by drinking, are the Subjects most frequently attacked by it; +especially if they have used but little Exercise throughout the Winter: +if they have fed on viscid, mealy and fat Aliments, as Pastry, Chesnuts, +thick Milk or Pap, and Cheese. All their Humours have contracted a thick +glutinous Quality; they are circulated with Difficulty, and when Heat or +Exercise in the Spring increases their Motion at once, the Humours, +already stuffing up the Lungs, still more augment that Plenitude, whence +these vital Organs are fatally extended, and the Patient dies. + + 290. This Distemper is known to exist, + +1, By the previous Existence of the Causes already mentioned. + +2, By the Symptoms which precede and usher it in. For Example, the +Patient many Days before-hand has a slight Cough; a small Oppression +when he moves about; a little Restlessness, and is sometimes a little +choleric or fretful. His Countenance is higher coloured than in Health; +he has a Propensity to sleep, but attended with Confusion and without +Refreshment, and has sometimes an extraordinary Appetite. + +3, When this State has continued for some Days, there comes on a cold +Shivering, though more considerable for its Duration than its Violence; +it is succeeded by a moderate Degree of Heat, but that attended with +much Inquietude and Oppression. The sick Person cannot confine himself +to the Bed; but walks to and fro in his Chamber, and is greatly +dejected. The Pulse is weak and pretty quick; the Urine is sometimes but +little changed from that in Health; at other Times it is discharged but +in a small Quantity, and is higher coloured: he coughs but moderately, +and does not expectorate, or cough up, but with Difficulty. The Visage +becomes very red, and even almost livid; he can neither keep awake, nor +sleep well; he raves for some Moments, and then his Head grows clear +again. Sometimes it happens, especially to Persons of advanced Age, that +this State suddenly terminates in a mortal Swoon or Fainting: at other +Times and in other Cases, the Oppression and Anguish increase; the +Patient cannot breathe but when sitting up, and that with great +Difficulty and Agony: the Brain is utterly disturbed and embarrassed; +this State lasts for some Hours, and then terminates of a sudden. + + 291. This is a very dangerous Distemper; because, in the first Place, +it chiefly attacks those Persons whose Temperament and Constitution are +deprived of the ordinary Resources for Health and Recovery: in the +second Place, because it is of a precipitate Nature, the Patient +sometimes dying on the third Day, and but seldom surviving the seventh; +while the Cause of it requires a more considerable Term for its Removal +or Mitigation. Besides which, if some Indications present for the +Employment of a Remedy, there are frequently others which forbid it; and +all that seems to be done is, as follows; + +1, If the Patient has still a pretty good Share of Health; if he is not +of too advanced an Age; if the Pulse has a perceivable Hardness, and yet +at the same Time some Strength; if the Weather is dry, and the Wind +blows from the North, he should be bled once, to a moderate Quantity. +But if the greater Part of these Circumstances are wanting, Bleeding +would be very prejudicial. Were we obliged to establish some general and +positive Rule in this Case, it were better to exclude Bleeding, than to +admit it. + +2, The Stomach and the Bowels should be unloaded from their viscid +glutinous Contents; and the Medicines which succeed the best in this +Respect are N. 35, when the Symptoms shew there is a great Necessity +for vomiting, and there is no Inflammation; or the Prescription N. 25, +which after vomiting, purges by Stool, promotes Urine, breaks down and +divides the viscid Humours that occasion the Disease, and increase +Perspiration. When we are afraid of hazarding the Agitation of a Vomit +and its Consequences, the Potion, N. 11 may be given; but we must be +very cautious, in Regard to old Men, even with this; as such may expire +during the Operation of it. + +3, They should, from the Beginning of the Disease, drink plentifully of +the Ptisan N. 26, which is the best Drink in this Disease; or that of +N. 12, adding half a Dram of Nitre to every Pint of it. + +4, A Cup of the Mixture N. 8 must be taken every two Hours. + +5. Blisters are to be applied to the Insides of the Legs. + +When the Case is very doubtful and perplexing, it were best to confine +ourselves to the three last-mentioned Remedies, which have often been +successful in severe Degrees of this Disease; and which can occasion no +ill Consequence. + + 292. When this Malady invades old People, though they partly recover, +they never recover perfectly, entirely, from it: and if due Precaution +is not taken, they are very liable to fall into a Dropsy of the Breast +after it. + + 293. The spurious or false Pleurisy is a Distemper that does not +affect the Lungs, but only the Teguments, the Skin, and the Muscles +which cover the Ribs. It is the Effect of a rheumatic Humour thrown upon +these Parts, in which, as it produces very sharp Pains resembling that +which is called a _Stitch_, it has from this Circumstance, been termed a +Pleurisy. + +It is generally supposed by the meer Multitude, and even by some of a +different Rank, that a false Pleurisy is more dangerous than a genuine, +a true one; but this is a Mistake. It is often ushered in by a +Shivering, and almost ever attended with a little Fever, a small Cough, +and a slight Difficulty of breathing; which, as well as the Cough, is +occasioned from the Circumstance of a Patient's (who feels Pain in +Respiration, or Breathing) checking Breathing as much as he can; this +accumulates a little too much Blood in the Lungs; but yet he has no +Anguish, nor the other Symptoms of acute true Pleurisies. In some +Patients this Pain is extended, almost over the whole Breast, and to the +Nape of the Neck. The sick Person cannot repose himself on the Side +affected. + +This Disorder is not more dangerous than a Rheumatism, except in two +Cases; 1, When the Pain is so very severe, that the Patient strongly +endeavours not to breathe at all, which brings on a great Infarction or +Stoppage in the Lungs. 2, When this Humour, like any other rheumatic +one, is transferred to some internal Part. + + 294. It must be treated exactly like a Rheumatism. See 168 and 169. + +After bleeding once or more, a Blister applied to the affected Part is +often attended with a very good Effect: This being indeed the Kind +of [73] Pleurisy, in which it particularly agrees. + +[73] The Seneka Rattle-Snake root, already recommended in true + Pleurisies, will, with the greatest Probability, be found not less + effectual in these false ones, in which the Inflammation of the + Blood is less. The Method of giving it may be seen P. 118, + N. ([26].) By Dr. _Tissot's_ having never mentioned this valuable + Simple throughout his Work, it may be presumed, that when he wrote + it, this Remedy had not been admitted into the Apothecaries Shops + in _Swisserland_. _K._ + + 295. This Malady sometimes gives Way to the first Bleeding; often +terminating on the third, fourth or fifth Day, by a very plentiful +Sweat, and rarely lasting beyond the seventh. Sometimes it attacks a +Person very suddenly, after a Stoppage of Perspiration; and then, if at +once before the Fever commences, and has had Time to inflame the Blood, +the Patient takes some _Faltrank_, it effects a speedy Cure by restoring +Perspiration. They are such Cases as these, or that mentioned 96, +which have given this Composition the Reputation it has obtained in this +Disease: a Reputation nevertheless, which has every Year proved tragical +in its Consequences to many Peasants, who being deceived by some +misleading Resemblances in this Distemper, have rashly and ignorantly +made Use of it in true inflammatory Pleurisies. + + + + + __Chapter XXI.__ + + + + _Of the Cholic and its different Kinds._ + + + __Sect.__ 296. + +The Appellation of a Cholic is commonly given to all Pains of the Belly +indiscriminately; but I apply it in this Place only to such as attack +the Stomach, or the Intestines, the Guts. + +Cholics may and do result from very many Causes; and the greater Number +of Cholics are chronical or tedious Complaints, being more common among +the inactive Inhabitants of Cities, and Workmen in sedentary Trades, +than among Country People. Hence I shall treat here only of the small +Variety of Cholics, which happen the most usually in Villages. I have +already proved that the fatal Events of some Distempers were occasioned +by endeavouring to force the Patients into Sweats; and the same unhappy +Consequences have attended Cholics, from accustoming the Subjects of +this Disease to Drams, and hot inflaming spirituous Liquors, with an +Intention to expel the Wind. + + + + _Of the inflammatory Cholic._ + + + 297. The most violent and dangerous kind of Cholic is that, which +arises from an Inflammation of the Stomach, or of the Intestines. It +begins most commonly without any Shivering, by a vehement Pain in the +Belly, which gradually becomes still more so. The Pulse grows quick and +hard; a burning Pain is felt through the whole Region of the Belly; +sometimes there is a watery _Diarrhoea_, or Purging; at other Times the +Belly is rather costive, which is attended with Vomiting, a very +embarrassing and dangerous Symptom: the Countenance becomes highly +flushed; the Belly tense and hard; neither can it be touched scarcely +without a cruel Augmentation of the Patient's Pain, who is also +afflicted with extreme Restlessness; his Thirst is very great, being +unquenchable by Drink; the Pain often extends to the Loins, where it +proves very sharp, and severe; little Urine is made, and that very red, +and with a kind of burning Heat. The tormented Patient has not a +Moment's Rest, and now and then raves a little. If the Disease is not +removed or moderated, before the Pains rise to their utmost Height and +Violence, the Patient begins at length to complain less; the Pulse +becomes less strong and less hard than before, but quicker: his Face +first abates of its Flush and Redness, and soon after looks pale; the +Parts under the Eyes become livid; the Patient sinks into a low stupid +Kind of _Delirium_, or Raving; his Strength entirely deserts him; the +Face, Hands, Feet, and the whole Body, the Belly only excepted, become +cold: the Surface of the Belly appears bluish; extreme Weakness follows, +and the Patient dies. There frequently occurs, just a Moment before he +expires, an abundant Discharge of excessively foetid Matter by Stool; +and during this Evacuation he dies with his Intestines quite gangrened, +or mortified. + +When the Distemper assaults the Stomach, the Symptoms are the very same, +but the Pain is felt higher up, at the Pit of the Stomach. Almost every +thing that is swallowed is cast up again; the Anguish of the tortured +Patient is terrible, and the Raving comes on very speedily. This Disease +proves mortal in a few Hours. + + 298. The only Method of succeeding in the Cure of it is as follows: + +1, Take a very large Quantity of Blood from the Arm; this almost +immediately diminishes the Violence of the Pains, and allays the +Vomiting: besides its contributing to the greater Success of the other +Remedies. It is often necessary to repeat this Bleeding within the Space +of two Hours. + +2, Whether the Patient has a Looseness, or has not, a Glyster of a +Decoction of Mallows, or of Barley Water and Oil, should be given every +two Hours. + +3, The Patient should drink very plentifully of Almond Milk N. 4; or a +Ptisan of Mallow Flowers, or of Barley, all which should be warm. + +4, Flanels dipt in hot, or very warm Water should be continually applied +over the Belly, shifting them every Hour, or rather oftner; for in this +Case they very quickly grow dry. + +5, If the Disease, notwithstanding all this, continues very obstinate +and violent, the Patient should be put into a warm Water Bath, the +extraordinary Success of which I have observed. + +When the Distemper is over, that is to say, when the Pains have +terminated, and the Fever has ceased, so that the Patient recovers a +little Strength, and gets a little Sleep, it will be proper to give him +a Purge, but a very gentle one. Two Ounces of Manna, and a Quarter of an +Ounce of Sedlitz [74] Salt dissolved in a Glass of clear Whey is +generally sufficient, at this Period, to purge the most robust and hardy +Bodies. Manna alone may suffice for more delicate Constitutions: as all +acrid sharp Purges would be highly dangerous, with Regard to the great +Sensibility and tender Condition of the Stomach, and of the Intestines +after this Disease. + +[74] Glauber or Epsom Salt may be substituted, where the other is not to + be readily procured. _K._ + + 299. It is sometimes the Effect of a general Inflammation of the +Blood; and is produced, like other inflammatory Diseases, by +extraordinary Labour, very great Heat, heating Meats or Drinks, _&c._ It +is often the Consequence of other Cholics which have been injudiciously +treated, and which otherwise would not have degenerated into +inflammatory ones; as I have many Times seen these Cholics introduced +after the Use of heating Medicines; one Instance of which may be seen +164. + + 300. Ten Days after I had recovered a Woman out of a severe Cholic, +the Pains returned violently in the Night. She, supposing them to arise +only from Wind, hoped to appease them by drinking a deal of distilled +Walnut Water; which, far from producing any such Effect, rendered them +more outrageous. They soon were heightened to a surprising Degree, which +might reasonably be expected. Being sent for very early in the Morning, +I found her Pulse hard, quick, short; her Belly was tense and hard; she +complained greatly of her Loins: her Urine was almost entirely stopt. +She past but a few Drops, which felt as it were scalding hot, and these +with excessive Pain. She went very frequently to the Close-stool, with +scarcely any Effect; her Anguish, Heat, Thirst, and the Dryness of her +Tongue were even terrifying: and her wretched State, the Effect of the +strong hot Liquor she had taken, made me very apprehensive for her. One +Bleeding, to the Quantity of fourteen Ounces, somewhat abated all the +Pains; she took several Glysters, and drank off a few Pots of _Orgeat_ +in a few Hours. By these Means the Disease was a little mitigated; by +continuing the same Drink and the Glysters the Looseness abated; the +Pain of the Loins went off, and she passed a considerable Quantity of +Urine, which proved turbid, and then let fall a Sediment, and the +Patient recovered. Nevertheless I verily believe, if the Bleeding had +been delayed two Hours longer, this spirituous Walnut Water would have +been the Death of her. During the Progress of this violent Disease, no +Food is to be allowed; and we should never be too inattentive to such +Degrees of Pain, as sometimes remain after their Severity is over; lest +a _Scirrhus_, an inward hard Tumour, should be generated, which may +occasion the most inveterate and tedious Maladies. + + 301. An Inflammation of the Intestines, and one of the Stomach, may +also terminate in an Abscess, like an Inflammation of any other Part; +and it may be apprehended that one is forming, when, though the Violence +of the Pains abates, there still remains a slow, obtuse, heavy Pain, +with general Inquietude, little Appetite, frequent Shiverings; the +Patient at the same Time not recovering any Strength. In such Cases the +Patient should be allowed no other Drinks, but what are already directed +in this Chapter, and some Soops made of Pulse, or other farinaceous +Food. + +The Breaking of the Abscess may sometimes be discovered by a slight +Swoon or fainting Fit; attended with a perceivable Cessation of a Weight +or Heaviness in the Part, where it was lately felt: and when the _Pus_, +or ripe Matter, is effused into the Gut, the Patient sometimes has +Reachings to vomit, a _Vertigo_, or Swimming in the Head, and the Matter +appears in the next Stools. In this Case there remains an Ulcer within +the Gut, which, if either neglected, or improperly treated, may pave the +Way to a slow wasting Fever, and even to Death. Yet this I have cured by +making the Patient live solely upon skimmed Milk, diluted with one third +Part Water, and by giving every other Day a Glyster, consisting of equal +Parts of Milk and Water, with the Addition of a little Honey. + +When the Abscess breaks on the Outside of the Gut, and discharges its +Contents into the Cavity of the Belly, it becomes a very miserable Case, +and demands such further Assistance as cannot be particularized here. + + + + _Of the bilious Cholic._ + + + 302. The bilious Cholic discovers itself by very acute Pains, but is +seldom accompanied with a Fever; at least not until it has lasted a Day +or two. And even if there should be some Degree of a Fever, yet the +Pulse, though quick, is neither strong nor hard: the Belly is neither +tense or stretched as it were, nor burning hot, as in the former Cholic: +the Urine comes away with more Ease, and is less high-coloured: +Nevertheless the inward Heat and Thirst are considerable; the Mouth is +bitter; the Vomiting or Purging, when either of them attend it, +discharge a yellowish Humour or Excrement; and the Patient's Head is +often vertiginous or dizzy. + + 303. The Method of curing this is, + +1, By injecting Glysters of Whey and Honey; or, if Whey is not readily +procurable, by repeating the Glyster, N. 5. + +2, By making the Sick drink considerably of the same Whey, or of a +Ptisan made of the Root of Dog's-Grass (the common Grass) and a little +Juice of Lemon, for want of which, a little Vinegar and Honey may be +substituted instead of it. [75] + +[75] Pullet, or rather Chicken Water, but very weak, may often do + instead of Ptisan, or serve for a little Variety of Drink to some + Patients. _E. L._--K. + +3, By giving every Hour one Cup of the Medicine N. 32; or where this is +not to be had, half a Drachm of Cream of Tartar at the same short +Intervals. + +4, Fomentations of warm Water and Half-baths are also very proper. + +5, If the Pains are sharp and violent, in a robust strong Person, and +the Pulse is strong and tense, Bleeding should be used to prevent an +Inflammation. + +6, No other Nourishment should be given, except some maigre Soops, made +from Vegetables, and particularly of Sorrel. + +7, After plentiful Dilution with the proper Drink, if no Fever +supervenes; if the Pains still continue, and the Patient discharges but +little by Stool, he should take a moderate Purge. That directed N. 47 +is a very proper one. + + 304. This bilious Cholic is habitual to many Persons; and may be +prevented or greatly mitigated by an habitual Use of the Powder N. 24; +by submitting to a moderate Retrenchment in the Article of Flesh-meat; +and by avoiding heating and greasy Food, and the Use of Milk. + + + + _Of Cholics from Indigestions, and of Indigestion._ + + + 305. Under this Appellation I comprehend all those Cholics, which are +either owing to any overloading Quantity of Food taken at once; or to a +Mass or Accumulation of Aliments formed by Degrees in such Stomachs, as +digest but very imperfectly; or which result from noxious Mixtures of +Aliment in the Stomach, such as that of Milk and Acids; or from Food +either not wholesome in its self, or degenerated into an unwholesome +Condition. + +This kind of Cholic may be known from any of these Causes having +preceded it; by its Pains, which are accompanied with great +Restlessness, and come on by Degrees, being less fixed than in the +Cholics before treated of. These Cholics are also without any Fever, +Heat or Thirst, but accompanied with a Giddiness of the Head, and +Efforts to vomit, and rather with a pale, than a high-coloured Visage. + + 306. These Disorders, from these last Causes, are scarcely ever +dangerous in themselves; but may be made such by injudicious Management, +and doing more than is necessary or proper: as the only Thing to be done +is to promote the Discharges by warm Drinks. There are a considerable +Variety of them, which seem equally good, such as warm Water, or even +cold Water with a Toast, with the Addition either of a little Sugar, or +a little Salt: a light Infusion of Chamomile, or of Elder-flowers, +common Tea, or Baum, it imports little which, provided the Patient drink +plentifully of them: in Consequence of which the offending Matter is +discharged, either by vomiting, or a considerable purging; and the +speedier and more in Quantity these Discharges are, the sooner the +Patient is relieved. + +If the Belly is remarkably full and costive, Glysters of warm Water and +Salt should be injected. + +The Expulsion of the obstructing Matter is also facilitated, by rubbing +the Belly heartily with hot Cloths. + +Sometimes the Humours, or other retained Contents of the Belly, are more +pernicious from their Quality, than their Quantity; and then the Malady +may be dissipated without the former Discharges, by the irritating sharp +Humour being diluted, or even drowned, as it were, in the Abundance of +small watery Drinks. When the Pains invade first in the Stomach, they +become less sharp, and the Patient feels less Inquietude, as soon as the +Cause of the Pain has descended out of the Stomach into the Intestines, +whose Sensations are something less acute than, or somewhat different +from, those of the Stomach. + +It is often found that after these plentiful Discharges, and when the +Pains are over, there remains a very disagreeable Taste in the Mouth, +resembling the Savour of rotten Eggs. This may be removed by giving some +Doses of the Powder N. 24, and drinking largely of good Water: + +It is an essential Point in these Cases, to take no Food before a +perfect Recovery. + + 307. Some have been absurd enough in them, to fly at once to some +heating Cordial Confection, to Venice Treacle, Aniseed Water, Geneva, or +red Wine to stop these Evacuations; but there cannot be a more fatal +Practice: since these Evacuations are the only Thing which can cure the +Complaint, and to stop them is to deprive the Person, who was in Danger +of drowning, of the Plank which might save him. Nay should this +Endeavour of stopping them unhappily succeed, the Patient is either +thrown into a putrid Fever, or some chronical tedious Malady; unless +Nature, much wiser than such a miserable Assistant, should prevail over +the Obstacles opposed to her Recovery, and restore the obstructed +Evacuations by her own Oeconomy, in the Space of a few Days. + + 308. Sometimes an Indigestion happens, with very little Pain or +Cholic, but with violent Reachings to vomit, inexpressible Anguish, +Faintings, and cold Sweats: and not seldom also the Malady begins, only +with a very sudden and unexpected Fainting: the Patient immediately +loses all his Senses, his Face is pale and wan: he has some Hickups +rather than Reachings to vomit, which joined to the Smallness of his +Pulse, to the Easiness of his respiring, or breathing, and to the +Circumstance of his being attacked immediately, or very soon, after a +Meal, makes this Disorder distinguishable from a real Apoplexy. +Nevertheless, when it rises to this Height, with these terrible +Symptoms, it sometimes kills in a few Hours. The first thing to be done +is to throw up a sharp Glyster, in which Salt and Soap are to be +dissolved; next to get down as much Salt and Water as he can swallow; +and if that is ineffectual, the Powder N. 34 is to be dissolved in +three Cups of Water; one half of which is to be given directly; and, if +it does not operate in a Quarter of an Hour, the other half. Generally +speaking the Patient's Sense begins to return, as soon as he begins to +vomit. + + + + _Of the flatulent or windy Cholic._ + + + 309. Every Particular which constitutes our Food, whether solid or +liquid, contains much Air, but some of them more than others. If they do +not digest soon enough, or but badly, which occasions a sensible Escape +of such Air; if they are such as contain an extraordinary Quantity of +Air; or if the Guts being straitened or compressed any where in the +Course of their Extent, prevent that Air from being equally diffused +(which must occasion a greater Proportion of it in some Places) then the +Stomach and the Guts are distended by this Wind; and this Distention +occasions these Pains, which are called flatulent, or windy. + +This Sort of Cholic rarely appears alone and simple; but is often +complicated with, or added, as it were, to the other Sorts, of which it +is a Consequence; and is more especially joined with the Cholic from +Indigestions, whose Symptoms it multiplies and heightens. It may be +known, like that, by the Causes which have preceded it, by its not being +accompanied either with Fever, Heat, or Thirst; the Belly's being large +and full, though without Hardness, being unequal in its Largeness, which +prevails more in one Part of it than in another, forming something like +Pockets of Wind, sometimes in one Part, sometimes in another; and by the +Patient's feeling some Ease merely from the rubbing of his Belly, as it +moves the Wind about; which escaping either upwards or downwards affords +him still a greater Relief. + + 310. When it is combined with any different Species of the Cholic, it +requires no distinct Treatment from that Species; and it is removed or +dissipated by the Medicines which cure the principal Disease. + +Sometimes however it does happen to exist alone, and then it depends on +the Windiness of the solid and liquid Food of the Person affected with +it, such as the _Must_ or new Wine, Beer, especially very new Beer, +certain Fruits and Garden-stuff. It may be cured by a Glyster; by +chaffing the Belly with hot Cloths; by the Use of Drink moderately +spiced; and especially by Camomile Tea, to which a little cordial +Confection, or even Venice Treacle, may be added. When the Pains are +almost entirely vanished, and there is no Fever, nor any unhealthy +Degree of Heat; and if the Patient is sensible of a Weakness at Stomach, +he may take a little aromatic, or spiced Wine, or even a small cordial +stomachic Dram. It should be observed, that these are not to be allowed +in any other Kind of Cholic. + + 311. When any Person is frequently subject to cholic-like Pains, it is +a Proof that the digestive Faculty is impaired; the restoring of which +should be carefully attended to; without which the Health of the Patient +must suffer considerably, and he must be very likely to contract many +tedious and troublesome Disorders. + + + + _Of Cholics from Cold._ + + + 312. When any Person has been very cold, and especially in his Feet, +it is not uncommon for him to be attacked, within a few Hours after it, +with violent Cholic Pains, in which heating and spirituous Medicines are +very pernicious: but which are easily cured by rubbing the Legs well +with hot Cloths; and keeping them afterwards for a considerable Time in +warm Water; advising them at the same Time to drink freely of a light +Infusion of Chamomile or Elder-flowers. + +The Cure will be effected the sooner, if the Patient is put to Bed and +sweats a little, especially in the Legs and Feet. + +A Woman who had put her Legs into a pretty cool Spring, after travelling +in the Height of Summer, was very quickly after attacked with a most +violent Cholic. She took different hot Medicines; she became still +worse; she was purged, but the Distemper was still further aggravated. I +was called in on the third Day, a few Hours before her Decease. + +In such Cases, if the Pain be excessive, it may be necessary to +bleed; [76] to give a Glyster of warm Water; to keep the Legs several +Hours over the Steam of hot Water, and afterwards in the Water; to drink +plentifully of an Infusion of the Flowers of the Lime-tree, with a +little Milk; and if the Distemper is not subdued by these Means, +Blisters should be applied to the Legs, which I have known to be highly +efficacious. + +[76] Bleeding should not be determined on too hastily in this Sort of + Cholic, but rather be omitted, or deferred at least, till there be + an evident Tendency to an Inflammation. _E. L._ + + The Propriety or Impropriety of Bleeding in a Cholic from this + Cause should be determined, I think, from the State of the Person + it happens to: So that Bleeding a strong Person with a firm Fibre, + and a hard Pulse, may be very prudent and precautionary: But if it + be a weakly lax Subject with a soft and low Pulse, there may be + Room either for omitting, or for suspending it. _K._ + + 313. It appears, through the Course of this Chapter, that it is +necessary to be extremely on our Guard, against permitting the Use of +heating and spirituous Medicines in Cholics, as they may not only +aggravate, but even render them mortal. In short they should never be +given, and when it is difficult to discover the real Cause of the +Cholic, I advise Country People to confine themselves to the three +following Remedies, which cannot be hurtful in any Sort of Cholic, and +may remove as many as are not of a violent Nature. First then, let +Glysters be frequently repeated. 2, Let the Patient drink warm Water +plentifully, or Elder Tea. 3, Let the Belly be often fomented in pretty +warm Water, which is the most preferable Fomentation of any. + + 314 I have said nothing here of the Use of any Oils in this Disease, +as they agree but in very few Species of Cholics, and not at all in +those of which I have been treating. For this Reason I advise a total +Disuse of them, since they may be of bad Consequence in many Respects. + + 315. Chronical Diseases not coming within the Plan of this Work, I +purposely forbear treating of any Kind of those tedious Cholics, which +afflict some People for many Years: but I think it my Duty to admonish +such, that their Torments being very generally occasioned by +Obstructions in the _Viscera_, or different Bowels of the Belly, or by +some other Fault, and more particularly in those Organs, which are +intended to prepare the Bile, they should, 1, avoid with the greatest +Care, the Use of sharp, hot, violent Medicines, Vomits, strong Purges, +Elixirs, _&c._ 2, They should be thoroughly on their Guard against all +those, who promise them a very speedy Cure, by the Assistance of some +specific Remedy; and ought to look upon them as Mountebanks, into whose +Hands it is highly dangerous to trust themselves. 3, They should be +persuaded, or rather convinced, that they can entertain no reasonable +Hope of being cured, without an exact Conformity to a proper and +judicious Regimen, and a long Perseverance in a Course of mild and safe +Remedies. 4, They should continually reflect with themselves, that there +is little Difficulty in doing them great Mischief; and that their +Complaints are of that Sort, which require the greatest Knowledge and +Prudence in those Persons, to whom the Treatment and Cure of them are +confided. + + + + + __Chapter XXII.__ + + + + _Of the Iliac Passion, and of the Cholera-morbus._ + + + __Sect.__ 316. + +These violent Diseases are fatal to many Country People, while their +Neighbours are frequently so ignorant of the Cause of their Death, that +Superstition has ascribed it to Poison, or to Witchcraft. + + 317. The first of these, the _Miserere_, or Iliac Passion, is one of +the most excruciating Distempers. If any Part of the Intestines, the +Cavity of the Guts is closed up, whatever may have occasioned it, the +Course or Descent of the Food they contain is necessarily stopped; in +which Case it frequently happens, that that continual Motion observed in +the Guts of a living Animal dissected, and which was intended to +detrude, or force their Contents downwards, is propagated in a directly +contrary Manner, from the Guts towards the Mouth. + +This Disease sometimes begins after a Constipation, or Costiveness, of +some Days; at other Times without that Costiveness having been preceded +by Pains in any Part of the Belly, especially around the Navel; but +which Pains, gradually increasing after their Commencement, at length +become extremely violent, and throw the Patient into excessive Anguish. +In some of these Cases a hard Tumour may be felt, which surrounds the +Belly like a Cord. The Flatulences within become very audible, some of +them are discharged upwards; in a little Time after, Vomitings come on, +which increase till the Patient has thrown up all he had taken in, with +a still further Augmentation of the excessive Pain. With the first of +his Vomitings he only brings up the last Food he had taken, with his +Drink and some yellowish Humour: but what comes up afterwards proves +stinking; and when the Disease is greatly heightened, they have what is +called the Smell of Excrement or Dung; but which rather resembles that +of a putrid dead Body. It happens too sometimes, that if the Sick have +taken Glysters composed of Materials of a strong Smell, the same Smell +is discernible in the Matter they vomit up. I confess however I never +saw either real Excrements, or the Substance of their Glysters, brought +up, much less the Suppositories that were introduced into the Fundament: +and were it credible that Instances of this Kind had occurred, they must +be allowed very difficult to account for. Throughout this whole Term of +the Disease, the Patient has not a single Discharge by Stool; the Belly +is greatly distended; the Urine not seldom suppressed, and at other +Times thick and foetid. The Pulse, which at first was pretty hard, +becomes quick and small; the Strength entirely vanishes; a Raving comes +on; a Hiccup almost constantly supervenes, and sometimes general +Convulsions; the Extremities grow cold, the Pulse scarcely perceivable; +the Pain and the Vomiting cease, and the Patient dies very quickly +after. + + 318. As this Disease is highly dangerous, the Moment it is strongly +apprehended, it is necessary to oppose it by proper Means and Remedies: +the smallest Error may be of fatal Consequence, and hot inflaming +Liquids have been known to kill the Patient in a few Hours. I was called +in the second Day of the Disease to a young Person, who had taken a good +deal of Venice Treacle: Nothing could afford her any Relief, and she +died early on the third Day. + +This Disease should be treated precisely in the same Manner as an +inflammatory Cholic; the principal Difference being, that in the former +there are no Stools, but continual Vomitings. + +1, First of all then the Patient should be plentifully bled, if the +Physician has been called in early enough, and before the Sick has lost +his Strength. + +2, He should receive opening Glysters made of a Decoction of Barley +Water, with five or six Ounces of Oil in each. + +3, We should endeavour to allay the violent Efforts to vomit, by giving +every two Hours a Spoonful of the Mixture N. 48. + +4, The Sick should drink plentifully, in very small Quantities, very +often repeated, of an appeasing, diluting, refreshing Drink, which tends +at the same Time to promote both Stools and Urine. Nothing is preferable +to the Whey N. 49, if it can be had immediately: if not, give simple +clear Whey sweetened with Honey, and the Drinks prescribed 298, Art. +3. + +5, The Patient is to be put into a warm Bath, and kept as long as he can +bear it, repeating it as often daily too, as his Strength will permit. + +6, After Bleeding, warm Bathing, repeated Glysters and Fomentations, if +each and all of these have availed nothing; the Fume or Smoak of Tobacco +may be introduced in the Manner of a Glyster, of which I shall speak +further, in the Chapter on Persons drowned. + +I cured a Person of this Disease, by conveying him into a Bath, +immediately after bleeding him, and giving him a Purge on his going into +the Bath. + + 319. If the Pain abates before the Patient has quite lost his +Strength; if the Pulse improves at the same Time; if the Vomitings are +less in Number, and in the Quantity of the Matter brought up; if that +Matter seems in a less putrid offensive State; if he feels some +Commotion and Rumbling in his Bowels; if he has some little Discharge by +Stool; and if at the same Time he feels himself a little stronger than +before, his Cure may reasonably be expected; but if he is otherwise +circumstanced he will soon depart. It frequently happens, a single Hour +before Death, that the Pain seems to vanish, and a surprising Quantity +of extremely foetid Matter is discharged by Stool: the Patient is +suddenly seized with a great Weakness and Sinking, falls into a cold +Sweat, and immediately expires. + + 320. This is the Disease which the common People attribute to, and +term, the _Twisting of the Guts_; and in which they make the Patients +swallow Bullets, or large Quantities of Quick-silver. This twisting, +tangling, or Knoting of the Guts is an utter, an impossible Chimera; for +how can they admit of such a Circumstance, as one of their Extremities, +their Ends, is connected to the Stomach, and the other irremoveably +fastened to the Skin of the Fork or Cleft of the Buttocks? In Fact this +Disease results from a Variety of Causes, which have been discovered on +a Dissection of those who have died of it. It were to be wished indeed +this prudent Custom, so extremely conducive to enrich, and to perfect, +the Art of Physick, were to prevail more generally; and which we ought +rather to consider as a Duty to comply with, than a Difficulty to submit +to; as it is our Duty to contribute to the Perfection of a Science, on +which the Happiness of Mankind so considerably depends. I shall not +enter into a Detail of these Causes; but whatever they are, the Practice +of swallowing Bullets in the Disease is always pernicious, and the like +Use of Mercury must be often so. Each of these pretended Remedies may +aggravate the Disease, and contribute an insurmountable Obstacle to the +Cure--Of that Iliac Passion, which is sometimes a Consequence of +Ruptures, I shall treat in another Place. + + + + _Of the Cholera-morbus._ + + + 321. This Disease is a sudden, abundant, and painful Evacuation by +vomiting and by Stool. + +It begins with much Flatulence, or Wind, with Swelling and slight Pains +in the Belly, accompanied with great Dejection; and followed with large +Evacuations either by Stool or by Vomit at first, but whenever either of +them has begun, the other quickly follows. The Matter evacuated is +either yellowish, green, brown, whitish, or black; the Pains in the +Belly violent; the Pulse, almost constantly feverish, is sometimes +strong at first, but soon sinks into Weakness, in Consequence of the +prodigious Discharge. Some Patients purge a hundred Times in the Compass +of a few Hours: they may even be seen to fall away; and if the Disease +exists in a violent Degree, they are scarcely to be known within three +or four Hours from the Commencement of these Discharges. After a great +Number of them they are afflicted with Spasms, or Cramps, in their Legs, +Thighs, and Arms, which torment them as much as the Pains in the Belly. +When the Disease rages too highly to be asswaged, Hiccups, Convulsions +and a Coldness of the Extremities approach; there is a scarcely +intermitting Succession of fainting, or swooning Fits, the Patient dying +either in one of them, or in Convulsions. + + 322. This Disease, which constantly depends on a Bile raised to the +highest Acrimony, commonly prevails towards the End of July and in +August: especially if the Heats have been very violent, and there have +been little or no Summer Fruits, which greatly conduce to attempt: and +allay the putrescent Acrimony of the Bile. + + 323. Nevertheless, however violent this Distemper may be, it is less +dangerous, and also less tormenting than the former, many Persons +recovering from it. + +1, Our first Endeavour should be to dilute, or even to drown this acrid +Bile, by Draughts, by Deluges, of the most mitigating Drinks; the +irritation being so very great, that every Thing having the least +Sharpness is injurious. Wherefore the patient should continually take +in, by Drink, and by Way of Glyster, either Barley-Water, Almond-Milk, +or pure Water, with one eighth Part Milk, which has succeeded very well +in my Practice. Or he may use a very light Decoction, or Ptisan, as it +were, of Bread, which is made by gently boiling a Pound of toasted +Bread, in three or four Pots of Water for half an Hour. In _Swisserland_ +we prefer Oat bread. We also successfully use pounded Rye, making a +light Ptisan of it. + +A very light thin Soup made of a Pullet, a Chicken, or of one Pound of +lean Veal, in three Pots of Water, is very proper too in this Disease. +Whey is also employed to good Purpose; and in those Places, where it can +easily be had, Butter-milk is the best Drink of any. But, whichever of +these Drinks shall be thought preferable, it is a necessary Point to +drink very plentifully of it; and the Glysters should be given every two +Hours. + +2, If the Patient is of a robust Constitution, and sanguine Complexion, +with a strong Pulse at the Time of the Attack, and the Pains are very +severe, a first, and in some Cases, a second Bleeding, very early in the +Invasion, asswages the Violence of the Malady, and allows more Leisure +for the Assistance of other Remedies. I have seen the Vomiting cease +almost entirely, after the first Bleeding. + +The Rage of this Disease abates a little after a Duration of five or six +Hours: we must not however, during this Remission or Abatement, forbear +to throw in proper Remedies; since it returns soon after with great +Force, which Return however indicates no Alteration of the Method +already entered upon. + +3, In general the warm Bath refreshes the Patient while he continues in +it; but the Pains frequently return soon after he is taken out, which, +however, is no Reason for omitting it, since it has frequently been +found to give a more durable Relief. The Patient should continue in it a +considerable Time, and, during that Time, he should take six or seven +Glasses of the Potion N. 32, which has been very efficacious in this +Disease. By these Means the Vomiting has been stopt; and the Patient, +upon going out of the Bath, has had several large Stools, which very +considerably diminished the Violence of the Disease. + +4, If the Patient's Attendants are terrified by these great Evacuations, +and determine to check them (however prematurely) by Venice Treacle, +Mint Water, Syrup of white Poppies, called Diacodium, by Opium or +Mithridate, it either happens, that the Disease and all its Symptoms are +heightened, to which I have been a Witness; or, if the Evacuations +should actually be stopt, the Patient, in Consequence of it, is thrown +into a more dangerous Condition. I have been obliged to give a Purge, in +order to renew the Discharges, to a Man, who had been thrown into a +violent Fever, attended with a raging _Delirium_, by a Medicine composed +of Venice Treacle, Mithridate and Oil. Such Medicines ought not to be +employed, until the Smallness of the Pulse, great Weakness, violent and +almost continual Cramps, and even the Insufficience of the Patient's +Efforts to vomit, make us apprehensive of his sinking irrecoverably. In +such Circumstances indeed he should take, every Quarter or half Quarter +of an Hour, a Spoonful of the Mixture N. 50, still continuing the +diluting Drinks. After the first Hour, they should only be given every +Hour, and that only to the Extent of eight Doses. But I desire to insist +upon it here, that this Medicine should not be given too early in this +Distemper. + + 324. If the Patient is likely to recover, the Pains and the +Evacuations gradually abate; the Thirst is less; the Pulse continues +very quick, but it becomes regular. There have been Instances of their +Propensity to a heavy kind of Drowsiness at this Time; for perfect +refreshing Sleep advances but slowly after this Disease. It will still +be proper to persevere in the Medicines already directed, though +somewhat less frequently. And now we may begin to allow the Patient a +few Soups from farinaceous mealy Substances; and as soon as the +Evacuations accompanying this Disease are evidently ceased, and the +Pains are vanished; though an acute Sensibility and great Weakness +continues, beside such Soups, he may be allowed some new-laid Eggs, very +lightly boiled, or even raw, for some Days. After this he must be +referred to the Regimen so frequently recommended to Persons in a State +of Recovery: when the concurring Use of the Powder N. 24, taken twice a +Day, will greatly assist to hasten and to establish his Health. + + + + + __Chapter XXIII.__ + + + _Of a Diarrhoea, or Looseness._ + + + __Sect.__ 325. + +Every one knows what is meant by a Looseness or Purging, which the +Populace frequently call a Flux, and sometimes a Cholic. + +There are certain very chronical, or tedious and obstinate ones, which +arise from some essential Fault in the Constitution. Of such, as foreign +to my Plan, I shall say nothing. + +Those which come on suddenly, without any preceding Disorder, except +sometimes a slight Qualm or short Loathing, and a Pain in the Loins and +Knees; which are not attended with smart Pains nor a Fever (and +frequently without any Pain, or any other Complaint) are oftener of +Service than prejudicial. They carry off a Heap of Matter that may have +been long amassed and corrupted in the Body; which, if not discharged, +might have produced some Distemper; and, far from weakening the Body, +such Purgings as these render it more strong, light and active. + + 326. Such therefore ought by no Means to be stopped, nor even speedily +checked: they generally cease of themselves, as soon as all the noxious +Matter is discharged; and as they require no Medicine, it is only +necessary to retrench considerably from the ordinary Quantity of +Nourishment; to abstain from Flesh, Eggs and Wine or other strong Drink; +to live only on some Soups, on Pulse, or on a little Fruit, whether raw +or baked, and to drink rather less than usual. A simple Ptisan with a +little Syrup of _Capillaire_, or Maiden-hair, is sufficient in these +Purgings, which require no Venice Treacle, Confection, nor any Drug +whatever. + + 327. But should it continue more than five or six Days, and manifestly +weaken the Patient; if the Pain attending it grows a little severe; and +especially if the Irritation, the urging to Stool, proves more frequent, +it becomes seasonable to check, or to stop, it. For this Purpose the +Patient is to be put into a Regimen; and if the Looseness has been +accompanied with a great Loathing, with Risings or Wamblings at Stomach, +with a foul furred Tongue, and a bad Taste in the Mouth, he must take +the Powder N. 35. But if these Symptoms do not appear, give him that of +N. 51: and during the three following Hours, let him take, every half +Hour, a Cup of weak light Broth, without any Fat on it. + +If the Purging, after being restrained by this Medicine, should return +within a few Days, it would strongly infer, there was still some tough +viscid Matter within, that required Evacuation. To effect this he should +take the Medicines N. 21, 25 or 27; and afterwards take fasting, for +two successive Mornings, half the Powder, N. 51. + +On the Evening of that Day when the Patient took N. 35, or N. 51, or +any other Purge, he may take a small Dose of Venice Treacle. + + 328. A Purging is often neglected for a long Time, without observing +the least Regimen, from which Neglect they degenerate into tedious and +as it were habitual, perpetual ones, and entirely weaken the Patient. In +such Cases, the Medicine N. 35 should be given first; then, every other +Day for four Times successively, he should take N. 51: during all which +Time he should live on nothing but Panada (See 57) or on Rice boiled +in weak Chicken-broth. A strengthing stomachic Plaister has sometimes +been successfully applied, which may be often moistened in a Decoction +of Herbs boiled in Wine. Cold and Moisture should be carefully avoided +in these Cases, which frequently occasion immediate Relapses, even after +the Looseness had ceased for many Days. + + + + + __Chapter XXIV.__ + + + _Of the Dysentery, or Bloody-flux._ + + + __Sect.__ 329. + +The Dysentery is a Flux or Looseness of the Belly, attended with great +Restlessness and Anguish, with severe Gripings, and frequent +Propensities to go to Stool. There is generally a little Blood in the +Stools, though this is not a constant Symptom, and is not essential to +the Existence of a Dysentery; notwithstanding it may not be much less +dangerous, for the Absence of this Symptom. + + 330. The Dysentery is often epidemical; beginning sometimes at the End +of July, though oftner in August, and going off when the Frosts set in. +The great preceding Heats render the Blood and the Bile acrid or sharp; +and though, during the Continuance of the Heat, Perspiration is kept up +(See Introduct. P. 28) yet as soon as the Heat abates, especially in the +Mornings and Evenings, that Discharge is diminished; and by how much the +more Viscidity or Thickness the Humours have acquired, in Consequence of +the violent Heats, the Discharge of the sharp Humour by Perspiration +being now checked, it is thrown upon the Bowels which it irritates, +producing Pains in, and Evacuations from them. + +This Kind of Dysentery may happen at all Times, and in all Countries; +but if other Causes, capable of producing a Putridity of the Humours, be +complicated with it; such as the crouding up a great Number of People +into very little Room, and very close Quarters, as in Hospitals, Camps, +or Prisons, this introduces a malignant Principle into the Humours, +which, co-operating with the simpler Cause of the Dysentery, renders it +the more difficult and dangerous. + + 331. This Disease begins with a general Coldness rather than a +Shivering, which lasts some Hours; the Patient's Strength soon abates, +and he feels sharp Pains in his Belly, which sometimes continue for +several Hours, before the Flux begins. He is affected with _Vertigos_, +or Swimmings in the Head, with Reachings to vomit, and grows pale; his +Pulse at the same Time being very little, if at all, feverish, but +commonly small, and at length the Purging begins. The first Stools are +often thin, and yellowish; but in a little Time they are mixt with a +viscid ropy Matter, which is often tinged with Blood. Their Colour and +Consistence are various too, being either brown, greenish or black, +thinner or thicker, and foetid: The Pains increase before each of the +Discharges, which grow very frequent, to the Number of eight, ten, +twelve or fifteen in an Hour: then the Fundament becomes considerably +irritated, and the _Tenesmus_ (which is a great Urgency to go to Stool, +though without any Effect) is joined to the Dysentery or Flux, and often +brings on a Protrusion or falling down of the Fundament, the Patient +being now most severely afflicted. Worms are sometimes voided, and +glairy hairy Humours, resembling Pieces or Peelings of Guts, and +sometimes Clots of Blood. + +If the Distemper rises to a violent Height, the Guts become inflamed, +which terminates either in Suppuration or in Mortification; the +miserable Patient discharges _Pus_, or black and foetid watery Stools: +the Hiccup supervenes; he grows delirious; his Pulse sinks; and he falls +into cold Sweats and Faintings which terminate in Death. + +A kind of Phrenzy, or raging _Delirium_, sometimes comes on before the +Minute of Expiration. I have seen a very unusual Symptom accompany this +Disease in two Persons, which was an Impossibility of swallowing, for +three Days before Death. + +But in general this Distemper is not so extremely violent; the +Discharges are less frequent, being from twenty-five to forty within a +Day and Night. Their Contents are less various and uncommon, and mixed +with very little Blood; the Patient retains more Strength; the Number of +Stools gradually decrease; the Blood disappears; the Consistence of the +Discharges improves; Sleep and Appetite return, and the Sick recovers. + +Many of the Sick have not the least Degree of Fever, nor of Thirst, +which perhaps is less common in this Disease, than in a simple Purging +or Looseness. + +Their Urine sometimes is but in a small Quantity; and many Patients have +ineffectual Endeavours to pass it, to their no small Affliction and +Restlessness. + + 332. The most efficacious Remedy for this Disease is a Vomit. That of +N. 34, (when there is no present Circumstance that forbids the giving a +Vomit) if taken immediately on the first Invasion of it, often removes +it at once; and always shortens its Duration. That of N. 35 is not less +effectual; it has been considered for a long Time, even as a certain +Specific, which it is not, though a very useful Medicine. If the Stools +prove less frequent after the Operation of either of them, it is a good +Sign; if they are no Ways diminished, we may apprehend the Disease is +like to be tedious and obstinate. + +The Patient is to be ordered to a Regimen, abstaining from all +Flesh-meat with the strictest Attention, until the perfect Cure of the +Disease. The Ptisan N. 3 is the best Drink for him. + +The Day after the Vomit, he must take the Powder N. 51 divided into two +Doses: the next Day he should take no other Medicine but his Ptisan; on +the fourth the Rhubarb must be repeated; after which the Violence of the +Disease commonly abates: His Diet during the Disease is nevertheless to +be continued exactly for some Days; after which he may be allowed to +enter upon that of Persons in a State of Recovery. + + 333. The Dysentery sometimes commences with an inflammatory Fever; a +feverish, hard, full Pulse, with a violent Pain in the Head and Loins, +and a stiff distended Belly. In such a Case the Patient must be bled +once; and daily receive three or even four of the Glysters N. 6, +drinking plentifully of the Drink N. 3. + +When all Dread of an Inflammation is entirely over, the Patient is to be +treated in the Manner just related; though often there is no Necessity +for the Vomit: and if the inflammatory Symptoms have run high, his first +Purge should be that of N. 11, and the Use of the Rhubarb may be +postponed, till about the manifest Conclusion of the Disease. + +I have cured many Dysenteries, by ordering the Sick no other Remedy, but +a Cup of warm Water every Quarter of an Hour; and it were better to rely +only on this simple Remedy, which must be of some Utility, than to +employ those, of whose Effects Country People are ignorant, and which +are often productive of very dangerous ones. + + 334. It sometimes happens that the Dysentery is combined with a putrid +Fever, which makes it necessary, after the Vomit, to give the Purges N. +23 or 47, and several Doses of N. 24, before the Rhubarb is given. N. +32 is excellent in this combined Case. + +There was in _Swisserland_ in the Autumn of 1755, after a very numerous +Prevalence of epidemical putrid Fevers had ceased, a Multitude of +Dysenteries, which had no small Affinity with, or Relation to, such +Fevers. I treated them first, with the Prescription N. 34, giving +afterwards N. 32; and I directed the Rhubarb only to very few, and that +towards the Conclusion of the Disease. By much the greater Number of +them were cured at the End of four or five Days. A small Proportion of +them, to whom I could not give the Vomit, or whose Cases were more +complicated, remained languid a considerable Time, though without +Fatality or Danger. + + 335. When the Dysentery is blended with Symptoms of Malignity (See +245) after premising the Prescription N. 35, those of N. 38 and 39 may +be called in successfully. + + 336. When the Disease has already been of many Days standing, without +the Patient's having taken any Medicines, or only such as were injurious +to him, he must be treated as if the Distemper had but just commenced; +unless some Symptoms, foreign to the Nature of the Dysentery, had +supervened upon it. + + 337. Relapses sometimes occur in Dysenteries, some few Days after the +Patients appeared well; much the greater Number of which are occasioned +either by some Error in Diet, by cold Air, or by being considerably +over-heated. They are to be prevented by avoiding these Causes of them; +and may be removed by putting the Patient on his Regimen, and giving him +one Dose of the Prescription N. 51. Should it return even without any +such discoverable Causes, and if it manifests itself to be the same +Distemper renewed, it must be treated as such. + + 338. This Disease is sometimes combined too with an intermitting +Fever; in which Case the Dysentery must be removed first, and the +intermittent afterwards. Nevertheless if the Access, the Fits of the +Fever have been very strong, the Bark must be given as directed 259. + + 339. One pernicious Prejudice, which still generally prevails is, that +Fruits are noxious in a Dysentery, that they even give it, and aggravate +it; and this perhaps is an extremely ill-grounded one. In truth bad +Fruits, and such as have not ripened well, in unseasonable Years, may +really occasion Cholics, a Looseness (though oftner a Costiveness) and +Disorders of the Nerves, and of the Skin; but never can occasion an +epidemical Dysentery or Flux. Ripe Fruits, of whatever Species, and +especially Summer Fruits, are the real Preservatives from this Disease. +The greatest Mischief they can effect, must result from their thinning +and washing down the Humours, especially the thick glutinous Bile, if +they are in such a State; good ripe Fruits being the true Dissolvents of +such; by which indeed they may bring on a Purging, but such a one, as is +rather a Guard against a Dysentery. + +We had a great, an extraordinary Abundance of Fruit in 1759 and 1760, +but scarcely any Dysenteries. It has been even observed to be more rare, +and less dangerous than formerly; and if the Fact is certain, it cannot +be attributed to any thing more probably, than to the very numerous +Plantations of Trees, which have rendered Fruit very plenty, cheap and +common. Whenever I have observed Dysenteries to prevail, I made it a +Rule to eat less Flesh, and Plenty of Fruit; I have never had the +slightest Attack of one; and several Physicians use the same Caution +with the same Success. + +I have seen eleven Patients in a Dysentery in one House, of whom nine +were very tractable; they eat Fruit and recovered. The Grandmother and +one Child, whom she loved more than the rest, were carried off. She +managed the Child after her own Fashion, with burnt Wine, Oil, and some +Spices, but no Fruit. She conducted herself in the very same Manner, and +both died. + +In a Country Seat near _Berne_, in the Year 1751, when these Fluxes made +great Havock, and People were severely warned against the Use of Fruits, +out of eleven Persons in the Family, ten eat plentifully of Prunes, and +not one of them was seized with it: The poor Coachman alone rigidly +observed that Abstinence from Fruit injoined by this Prejudice, and took +a terrible Dysentery. + +This same Distemper had nearly destroyed a Swiss Regiment in Garrison in +the South of _France_; the Captains purchased the whole Crop of several +Acres of Vineyard; there they carried the sick Soldiers, and gathered +the Grapes for such as could not bear being carried into the Vineyard; +those who were well eating nothing else: after this not one more died, +nor were any more even attacked with the Dysentery. + +A Clergyman was seized with a Dysentery, which was not in the least +mitigated by any Medicines he had taken. By meer Chance he saw some red +Currans; he longed for them, and eat three Pounds of them between seven +and nine o'Clock in the Morning; that very Day he became better, and was +entirely well on the next. + +I could greatly enlarge the Number of such Instances; but these may +suffice to convince the most incredulous, whom I thought it might be of +some Importance to convince. Far from forbidding good Fruit, when +Dysenteries rage, the Patients should be encouraged to eat them freely; +and the Directors of the Police, instead of prohibiting them, ought to +see the Markets well provided with them. It is a Fact of which Persons, +who have carefully informed themselves, do not in the least doubt. +Experience demonstrates it, and it is founded in Reason, as good Fruit +counter-operates all the Causes of Dysenteries. [77] + +[77] The Experience of all Countries and Times so strongly confirms + these important Truths, that they cannot be too often repeated, too + generally published, whenever and wherever this Disease rages. The + Succession of cold Showers to violent Heats; too moist a + Constitution of the Air; an Excess of animal Food; Uncleanliness + and Contagion, are the frequent Causes of epidemical Fluxes. _E. + L._ + + I have retained the preceding Note, abridged from this Gentleman, + as it contains the Suffrage of another experienced Physician, + against that Prejudice of ripe Fruits occasioning Fluxes, which is + too popular among ourselves, and probably more so in the Country + than in _London_. I have been also very credibly assured, that the + Son of a learned Physician was perfectly cured of a very obstinate + Purging, of a Year's Continuance (in Spite of all the usual + officinal Remedies) by his devouring large Quantities of ripe + Mulberries, for which he ardently longed, and drinking very freely + of their expressed Juice. The Fact occurred after his Father's + Decease, and was affirmed to me by a Gentleman intimately + acquainted with them both. _K._ + + 340. It is important and even necessary, that each Subject of this +Disease should have a Close-stool or Convenience apart to himself, as +the Matter discharged is extremely infectious: and if they make Use of +Bed-pans, they should be carried immediately out of the Chamber, the Air +of which should be continually renewed, burning Vinegar frequently in +it. + +It is also very necessary to change the Patient's Linen frequently; +without all which Precautions the Distemper becomes more violent, and +attacks others who live in the same House. Hence it is greatly to be +wished the People in general were convinced of these Truths. + +It was _Boerhaave's_ Opinion, that all the Water which was drank, while +Dysenteries were epidemical, should be _stummed_, as we term it, or +sulphurized. [78] + +[78] Our learned Author, or his medical Editor at _Lyons_, observes + here, 'that in the Edition of this Treatise at _Paris_, there was + an essential Mistake, by making _Boerhaave_ recommend the Addition + of Brandy, _Eau de vie_, instead of stumming or sulphurizing it,' + for which this Note, and the Text too use the Verb _branter_, which + Word we do not find in any Dictionary. We are told however, it + means to impregnate the Casks in which the Water is reserved, with + the Vapour of Sulphur, and then stopping them; in the same Manner + that Vessels are in some Countries, for the keeping of Wine. He + observes the Purpose of this is to oppose Corruption by the acid + Steams of the Sulphur. _K._ + + 341. It has happened, by some unaccountable Fatality, that there is no +Disease, for which a greater Number of Remedies are advised, than for +the Dysentery. There is scarcely any Person but what boasts of his own +Prescription, in Preference to all the rest, and who does not boldly +engage to cure, and that within a few Hours, a tedious severe Disease, +of which he has formed no just Notion, with some Medicine or +Composition, of whose Operation he is totally ignorant: while the poor +Sufferer, restless and impatient, swallows every Body's Recommendation, +and gets poisoned either through Fear, downright Disgust or Weariness, +or through entire Complaisance. Of these many boasted Compositions, some +are only indifferent, but others pernicious. I shall not pretend to +detail all I know myself, but after repeatedly affirming, that the only +true Method of Cure is that I have advised here, the Purpose of which is +evacuating the offending Matter; I also affirm that all those Methods, +which have a different Scope or Drift, are pernicious; but shall +particularly observe, that the Method most generally followed, which is +that of stopping the Stools by Astringents, or by Opiates, is the worst +of all, and even so mortal a one, as to destroy a Multitude of People +annually, and which throws others into incurable Diseases. By preventing +the Discharge of these Stools, and inclosing the Wolf in the Fold, it +either follows, 1, that this [79] retained Matter irritates and inflames +the Bowels from which Inflammation excruciating Pains arise, an acute +inflammatory Cholic, and finally a Mortification and Death; or a +_Schirrhus_, which degenerates into a _Cancer_, (of which I have seen a +dreadful Instance) or else an Abscess, Suppuration and Ulcer. Or 2, this +arrested Humour is repelled elsewhere, producing a _Scirrhus_ in the +Liver, or Asthmas, Apoplexy, Epilepsy, or Falling Sickness; horrible +rheumatic Pains, or incurable Disorders of the Eyes, or of the +Teguments, the Skin and Surface. + +[79] A first or second Dose of Glauber Salt has been known to succeed in + the epidemical Summer Fluxes of the hotter Climates, when repeated + Doses of Rhubarb and Opiates had failed. Such Instances seems a + collateral Confirmation of Dr. _Tissot's_ rational and successful + Use of cooling opening Fruits in them. _K._ + +Such are the Consequences of all the astringent Medicines, and of those +which are given to procure Sleep in this Disease, as Venice Treacle, +Mithridate and Diascordium, when given too early in Dysenteries. + +I have been consulted on Account of a terrible Rheumatism, which ensued +immediately after taking a Mixture of Venice Treacle and Plantain, on +the second Day of a Dysentery. + +As those who advise such Medicines, are certainly unaware of their +Consequences, I hope this Account of them will be sufficient, to prevent +their Repetition. + + 342. Neither are Purges without their Abuse and Danger; they determine +the Course of all the Humours more violently to the tender afflicted +Parts; the Body becomes exhausted; the Digestions fail; the Bowels are +weakened, and sometimes even lightly ulcerated, whence incurable +_Diarrhoeas_ or Purgings ensue, and prove fatal after many Years +Affliction. + + 343. If the Evacuations prove excessive, and the Distemper tedious, +the Patient is likely to fall into a Dropsy; but if this is immediately +opposed, it may be removed by a regular and drying Diet, by +Strengthners, by Friction and proper Exercise. + + + + + __Chapter XXV.__ + + + _Of the Itch._ + + + __Sect.__ 344. + +The Itch is an infectious Disorder contracted by touching infected +Persons or Cloaths, but not imbibed from the Air: So that by carefully +avoiding the _Medium_, or Means of Contagion, the Disorder may be +certainly escaped. + +Though any Part of the Body may be infested with the Itch, it commonly +shews itself on the Hands, and chiefly between the Fingers. At first one +or two little Pimples or Pustules appear, filled with a kind of clear +Water, and excite a very disagreeable Itching. If these Pustules are +broke by scratching them, the Water oozing from them infects the +neighbouring Parts. At the Beginning of this Infection it can scarcely +be distinguished, if a Person is not well apprized of its Nature; but in +the Progress of it, the little Pustules increase both in Number and +Size; and when they are opened by scratching, a loathsome kind of Scab +is formed, and the Malady extends over the whole Surface. Where they +continue long, they produce small Ulcers, and are at that Time highly +contagious. + + 345. Bad Diet, particularly the Use of Salt Meat, bad unripe Fruit, +and Uncleanliness occasion this Disease; though it is oftnest taken by +Contagion. Some very good Physicians suppose it is never contracted +otherwise; but I must take Leave to dissent, as I have certainly seen it +exist without Contagion. + +When it happens to a Person, who cannot suspect he has received it by +Contact, his Cure should commence with a total Abstinence from all Salt, +sour, fat and spicy Food. He should drink a Ptisan of wild and bitter +Succory, or that of N. 26, five or six Glasses of which may be daily +taken; at the End of four or five Days, he may be purged with N. 21, or +with an Ounce of _Sedlitz_ [or _Epsom_] Salt. His Abstinence, his +Regimen is to be continued; the Purge to be repeated after six or seven +Days; and then all the Parts affected, and those very near them, are to +be rubbed in the Morning fasting, with a fourth Part of the Ointment N. +52. The three following Days the same Friction is to be repeated, after +which the same Quantity of Ointment is to be procured, and used in the +same Proportion; but only every other Day. It happens but seldom that +this Method fails to remove this disagreeable Malady; sometimes however +it will return, in which Case, the Patient must be purged again, and +then recur to the Ointment, whose good Effects I have experienced, and +continually do. + +If the Disease has been very lately contracted, and most certainly by +Contact, the Ointment may be fearlessly employed, as soon as it is +discovered, without taking any Purge before it. But if, on the contrary, +the Disease has been long neglected, and has rose to a high Degree, it +will be necessary to restrain the Patient a long Time to the Regimen I +have directed; he must be repeatedly purged, and then drink plentifully +of the Ptisan N. 26, before the Ointment is rubbed in. When the Malady +is thus circumstanced, I have always begun with the Ointment N. 28, +half a Quarter of which is to be used every Morning. I have also +frequently omitted the Use of that N. 52, having always found the +former as certain, but a little slower in its Effects. + + 346. While these Medicines are employed, the Patient must avoid all +Cold and Wet, especially if he makes Use of N. 28, [80] in which there +is Quick-silver; which, if such Precautions were neglected, might bring +on a Swelling of the Throat and Gums, and even rise to a Salivation. Yet +this Ointment has one Advantage in its having no Smell, and being +susceptible of an agreeable one; while it is very difficult to disguise +the disagreeable Odour of the other. + +The Linen of a Person in this Disease ought to be often changed; but his +upper Cloaths must not be changed: because these having been infected, +might, when worn again, communicate the Itch to the Wearer again, after +he had been cured. + +Shirts, Breeches and Stockings may be fumigated with Sulphur, before +they are put on; and this Fumigation should be made in the open Air. + +[80] I have seen a pretty singular Consequence from the Abuse of + mercurial Unction for the Itch; whether it happened from the + Strength or Quantity of the Ointment, or from taking Cold after + applying it, as this Subject, a healthy Youth of about sixteen, + probably did, by riding three or four Miles through the Rain. But + without any other previous Complaint, he awoke quite blind one + Morning, wondering, as he said, when it would be Day. His Eyes were + very clear, and free from Inflammation, but the Pupil was wholly + immoveable, as in a _Gutta serena_. I effected the Cure by some + moderate Purges repeated a few Times; by disposing him to sweat by + lying pretty much in Bed (it being towards Winter) and by promoting + his Perspiration, chiefly with Sulphur: after which the shaved + Scalp was embrocated with a warm nervous Mixture, in which Balsam + of _Peru_ was a considerable Ingredient. In something less than + three Weeks he could discern a glowing Fire, or the bright Flame of + a Candle. As his Sight increased, he discerned other Objects, which + appeared for some Days inverted to him, with their Colours + confused; but Red was most distinguishable. He discovered the Aces + sooner than other Cards; and in about six or seven Weeks recovered + his full Sight in all its natural Strength, which he now enjoys. + _K._ + + 347. If this Disorder becomes very inveterate and tedious, it exhausts +the Patient, in Consequence of its not suffering him to sleep at Nights, +as well as by his restless Irritation; and sometimes even brings on a +Fever, so that he falls away in Flesh, and his Strength abates. + +In such a Case he must take, 1, a gentle Purge. + +2, Make Use frequently of warm Baths. + +3, He must be put on the Regimen of Persons in a State of Recovery. + +4, He must take Morning and Evening, fifteen Days successively, the +Powder N. 53, with the Ptisan N. 26. + +This Malady is often very obstinate, and then the Medicines must be +varied according to the Circumstances, the Detail of which I avoid here. + + 348. After giving repeated Purges in such obstinate Cases, mineral +Waters abounding with Sulphur, such as [81] those of _Yverdun_, &c. +often effect a Cure; and simple cold Bathings in Rivers or Lakes have +sometimes succeeded in very inveterate Cases of this Disorder. + +[81] Sea water, and those of _Dulwich_, _Harrigate_, _Shadwell_, &c. + will be full as effectual. _K._ + +Nothing conduces more to the long Continuance of this Malady, than the +Abuse of hot Waters, such as infusions of Tea, &c. + + 349. I shall conclude this Chapter, with a repeated Injunction not to +be too free or rash in the Use of the Ointment N. 52, and other outward +Remedies for extinguishing the Itch. There is hardly any Complaint, but +what has been found to be the Consequence of too sudden a Removal of +this Disorder by outward Applications, before due Evacuations have been +made, and a moderate Abatement of the Sharpness of the Humours has been +effected. + + + + + __Chapter XXVI.__ + + + + _The Treatment of Diseases peculiar to Women._ + + + __Sect.__ 350. + +Besides all the preceding Diseases, to which Women are liable in common +with Men, their Sex also exposes them to others peculiar to it, and +which depend upon four principal Sources; which are their monthly +Discharges, their Pregnancy, their Labours in Child-birth, and the +Consequences of their Labours. It is not my present Design to treat +professedly on each of the Diseases arising from these Causes, which +would require a larger Volume than I have proposed; but I shall confine +myself to certain general Directions on these four Heads. + + 351. Nature, who intended Women for the Increase, and the Nourishment +of the human Race at the Breast, has subjected them to a periodical +Efflux, or Discharge, of Blood: which Circumstance constitutes the +Source, from whence the Infant is afterwards to receive his Nutrition +and Growth. + +This Discharge generally commences, with us, between the Age of sixteen +and eighteen. Young Maidens, before the Appearance of this Discharge, +are frequently, and many for a long Time, in a State of Weakness, +attended with various Complaints, which is termed the _Chlorosis_, or +Green Sickness, and Obstructions: and when their Appearance is extremely +slow and backward, it occasions very grievous, and sometimes even mortal +Diseases. Nevertheless it is too usual, though very improper, to ascribe +all the Evils, to which they are subject at this Term of Life, solely to +this Cause; while they really often result from a different Cause, of +which the Obstructions themselves are sometimes only the Effect; and +this is the natural, and, in some Degree, even necessary Feebleness of +the Sex. The Fibres of Women which are intended to be relaxed, and to +give Way, when they are unavoidably extended by the Growth of the Child, +and its inclosing Membranes (which frequently arise to a very +considerable Size) should necessarily be less stiff and rigid, less +strong, and more lax and yielding than the Fibres of Men. Hence the +Circulation of their Blood is more slow and languid than in Males; their +Blood is less compact and dense, and more watery; their Fluids are more +liable to stagnate in their different Bowels, and to form Infarctions +and Obstructions. + + 352. The Disorders to which such a Constitution subjects them might, +in some Measure, be prevented, by assisting that Languor or Feebleness +of their natural Movements, by such an Increase of their Force, as +Exercise might contribute to: But this Assistance, which in some Manner +is more necessary for Females than Males, they are partly deprived of, +by the general Education and Habitude of the Sex; as they are usually +employed in managing Household Business, and such light sedentary Work, +as afford them less Exercise and Motion, than the more active +Occupations of Men. They stir about but little, whence their natural +Tendency to Weakness increases from Habit, and thence becomes morbid and +sickly. Their Blood circulates imperfectly; its Qualities become +impaired; the Humours tend to a pretty general Stagnation; and none of +the vital Functions are completely discharged. + +From such Causes and Circumstances they begin to sink into a State of +Weakness, sometimes while they are very young, and many Years before +this periodical Discharge could be expected. This State of Languor +disposes them to be inactive; a little Exercise soon fatigues them, +whence they take none at all. It might prove a Remedy, and even effect a +Cure, at the Beginning of their Complaint; but as it is a Remedy, that +is painful and disagreeable to them, they reject it, and thus increase +their Disorders. + +Their Appetite declines with the other vital Functions, and gradually +becomes still less; the usual salutary Kinds of Food never exciting it; +instead of which they indulge themselves in whimsical Cravings, and +often of the oddest and most improper Substances for Nutrition, which +entirely impair the Stomach with its digestive Functions, and +consequently Health itself. + +But sometimes after the Duration of this State for a few Years, the +ordinary Time of their monthly Evacuations approaches, which however +make not the least Appearance, for two Reasons. The first is, that their +Health is too much impaired to accomplish this new Function, at a Time +when all the others are so languid: and the second is, that under such +Circumstances, the Evacuations themselves are unnecessary; since their +final Purpose is to discharge (when the Sex are not pregnant) that +superfluous Blood, which they were intended to produce, and whose +Retention would be unhealthy, when not applied to the Growth of the +Foetus, or Nourishment of the Child: and this Superfluity of Blood does +not exist in Women, who have been long in a very low and languishing +State. + + 353. Their Disorder however continues to increase, as every one daily +must, which does not terminate. This Increase of it is attributed to the +Suppression or Non-appearance of their monthly Efflux, which is often +erroneous; since the Disorder is not always owing to that Suppression, +which is often the Effect of their Distemperature. This is so true, that +even when the Efflux happens, if their Weakness still continues, the +Patients are far from being the better for it, but the reverse. Neither +is it unusual to see young Lads, who have received from Nature, and from +their Parents, a sort of feminine Constitution, Education and Habitude, +infested with much the same Symptoms, as obstructed young Women. + +Country Girls, who are generally more accustomed to such hardy Work and +Exercise as Country Men, are less subject to these Complaints, than +Women who live in Cities. + + 354. Let People then be careful not to deceive themselves on this +important Account; since all the Complaints of young Maidens are not +owing to the Want of their Customs. Nevertheless it is certain there are +some of them, who are really afflicted from this Cause. For Instance, +when a strong young Virgin in full Health, who is nearly arrived to her +full Growth, and who manifestly abounds with Blood, does not obtain this +Discharge at the usual Time of Life, then indeed this superfluous Blood +is the Fountain of very many Disorders, and greatly more violent ones +than those, which result from the contrary Causes already mentioned. + +If the lazy inactive City Girls are more subject to the Obstructions, +which either arise from the Weakness and Languor I have formerly taken +Notice of, or which accompany it; Country Girls are more subject to +Complaints from this latter Cause (too great a Retention of superfluous +Blood) than Women who live in Cities: and it is this last Cause that +excites those singular Disorders, which appear so supernatural to the +common People, that they ascribe them to Sorcery. + + 355. And even after these periodical Discharges have appeared, it is +known that they have often been suppressed, without the least unhealthy +Consequence resulting from that Suppression. They are often suppressed, +in the Circumstances mentioned 351, by a Continuance of the Disease, +which was first an Obstacle or Retardment to their Appearance; and in +other Cases, they have been suppressed by other Causes, such as Cold, +Moisture, violent Fear, any very strong Passion; by too chilly a Course +of Diet, with Indigestion; or too hot and irritating Diet; by Drinks +cooled with Ice, by Exercise too long continued, and by unusual +Watching. The Symptoms, occasioned by such Suppressions, are sometimes +more violent than those, which preceded the first Appearance of the +Discharge. + + 356. The great Facility with which this Evacuation may be suppressed, +diminished, or disordered, by the Causes already assigned; the terrible +Evils which are the Consequences of such Interruptions and +Irregularities of them, seem to me very cogent Reasons to engage the Sex +to use all possible Care, in every Respect, to preserve the Regularity +of them; by avoiding, during their Approach and Continuance, every Cause +that may prevent or lessen them. Would they be thoroughly persuaded, not +solely by my Advice, but by that of their Mothers, their Relations, +their Friends, and by their own Experience, of what great Importance it +is to be very attentive to themselves, at those critical Times, I think +there is not one Woman, who from the first, to the very last Appearance +of them, would not conduct herself with the most scrupulous Regularity. + +Their Demeanour, in these Circumstances, very fundamentally interests +their own Health, as well as that of their Children; and consequently +their own Happiness, as well as that of their Husbands and Families. + +The younger and more delicate they are, Caution becomes the more +necessary for them. I am very sensible a strong Country Girl is too +negligent in regulating herself at those critical Seasons, and sometimes +without any ill Consequence; but at another Time she may suffer severely +for it: and I could produce a long List of many, who, by their +Imprudence on such Occasions, have thrown themselves into the most +terrible Condition. + +Besides the Caution with which Females should avoid these general +Causes, just mentioned in the preceding Section, every Person ought to +remember what has most particularly disagreed with her during that Term, +and for ever constantly to reject it. + + 357. There are many Women whose Customs visit them without the +slightest Impeachment of their Health: others are sensibly disordered on +every Return of them; and to others again they are very tormenting, by +the violent Cholics, of a longer or a shorter Duration, which precede or +accompany them. I have known some of these violent Attacks last but some +Minutes, and others which continued a few Hours. Nay some indeed have +persisted for many Days, attended with Vomiting, Fainting, with +Convulsions from excessive Pain, with Vomiting of Blood, Bleedings from +the Nose, _&c._ which, in short, have brought them to the very Jaws of +Death. So very dangerous a Situation requires the closest Attention; +though, as it results from several and frequently very opposite Causes, +it is impossible within the present Plan, to direct the Treatment that +may be proper for each Individual. Some Women have the Unhappiness to be +subject to these Symptoms every Month, from the first Appearance, to the +final Termination, of these Discharges; except proper Remedies and +Regimen, and sometimes a happy Child-birth, remove them. Others complain +but now and then, every second, third, or fourth Month; and there are +some again, who having suffered very severely during the first Months, +or Years, after their first Eruptions, suffer no more afterwards. A +fourth Number, after having had their Customs for a long Time, without +the least Complaint, find themselves afflicted with cruel Pains, at +every Return of them; if by Imprudence, or some inevitable Fatality, +they have incurred any Cause, that has suppressed, diminished, or +delayed them. This Consideration ought to suggest a proper Caution even +to such, as generally undergo these Discharges, without Pain or +Complaint: since all may be assured, that though they suffer no sensible +Disorder at that Time, they are nevertheless more delicate, more +impressible by extraneous Substances, more easily affected by the +Passions of the Mind, and have also weaker Stomachs at these particular +Periods. + + 358. These Discharges may also be sometimes too profuse in Quantity, +in which Case the Patients become obnoxious to very grievous Maladies; +into the Discussion of which however I shall not enter here, as they are +much less frequent than those, arising from a Suppression of them. +Besides which, in such Cases, Recourse may be had to the Directions I +shall give hereafter, when I treat of that Loss of Blood, which may be +expedient, during the Course of Gravidation or Pregnancy. See 365. + + 359. Finally, even when they are the most regular, after their +Continuance for a pretty certain Number of Years (rarely exceeding +thirty-five) they go off of their own Accord, and necessarily, between +the Age of forty-five and fifty; sometimes even sooner, but seldom +continuing longer: and this _Crisis_ of their ceasing is generally a +very troublesome, and often a very dangerous, one for the Sex. + + 360. The Evils mentioned 352 may be prevented, by avoiding the +Causes producing them; and, 1, by obliging young Maidens to use +considerable Exercise; especially as soon as there is the least Reason +to suspect the Approach of this Disorder, the _Chlorosis_, or Green +Sickness. + +2, By watching them carefully, that they eat nothing unwholesome or +improper; as there are scarcely any natural Substances, even among such +as are most improper for them, and the most distasteful, which have not +sometimes been the Objects of their sickly, their unaccountable +Cravings. Fat Aliments, Pastry, farinaceous or mealy, and sour and +watery Foods are pernicious to them. Herb-Teas, which are frequently +directed as a Medicine for them, are sufficient to throw them into the +Disorder, by increasing that Relaxation of their Fibres, which is a +principal Cause of it. If they must drink any such Infusions, as +medicated Drinks, let them be taken cold: but the best Drink for them is +Water, in which red hot Iron has been extinguished. + +3, They must avoid hot sharp Medicines, and such as are solely intended +to force down their Terms, which are frequently attended with very +pernicious Consequences, and never do any good: and they are still the +more hurtful, as the Patient is the younger. + +4, If the Malady increases, it will be necessary to give them some +Remedies; but these should not be Purges, nor consist of Diluters, and +Decoctions of Herbs, of Salts, and a Heap of other useless and noxious +Ingredients; but they should take Filings of Iron, which is the most +certain Remedy in such Cases. These Filings Should be of true simple +Iron, and not from Steel; and Care should be taken that it be not rusty, +in which State it has very little Effect. + +At the Beginning of this Distemper, and to young Girls, it is sufficient +to give twenty Grains daily, enjoining due Exercise and a suitable Diet. +When it prevails in a severer Degree, and the Patient is not so young, a +Quarter of an Ounce may be safely ventured on: Certain Bitters or +Aromatics may be advantageously joined to the Filings, which are +numbered in the Appendix, 54, 55, 56, and constitute the most effectual +Remedies in this Distemper, to be taken in the Form of Powder, of vinous +Infusion, or of Electary. [82] When there is a just Indication to bring +down the Discharge, the vinous Infusion N. 55 must be given, and +generally succeeds: but I must again repeat it (as it should carefully +be considered) that the Stoppage or Obstruction of this Discharge is +frequently the Effect, not the Cause, of this Disease; and that there +should be no Attempt to force it down, which in such a Case, may +sometimes prove more hurtful than beneficial; since it would naturally +return of its own Accord, on the Recovery, and with the Strength, of the +Patient: as their Return should follow that of perfect Health, and +neither can precede Health, nor introduce it. There are some Cases +particularly, in which it would be highly dangerous to use hot and +active Medicines, such Cases for Instance, as are attended with some +Degree of Fever, a frequent Coughing, a Hmorrhage, or Bleeding, with +great Leanness and considerable Thirst: all which Complaints should be +removed, before any hot Medicines are given to force this Evacuation, +which many very ignorantly imagine cures all other female Disorders; an +Error, that has prematurely occasioned the Loss of many Womens' Lives. + +[82] The _French_ Word here, _Opiat_, is sometimes used by them for a + compound Medicine of the Consistence of an Electary; and cannot be + supposed, in this Place, to mean any Preparation, into which + _Opium_ enters. _K._ + + 361. While the Patient is under a Course of these Medicines, she +should not take any of those I have forbidden in the preceding Sections; +and the Efficacy of these should also be furthered with proper Exercise. +That in a Carriage is very healthy; Dancing is so too, provided it be +not extended to an Excess. In Case of a Relapse in these Disorders, the +Patient is to be treated, as if it were an original Attack. + + 362. The other Sort of Obstructions described 354 requires a very +different Treatment. Bleeding, which is hurtful in the former Sort, and +the Use, or rather Abuse, of which has thrown several young Women into +irrecoverable Weaknesses, has often removed this latter Species, as it +were, in a Moment. Bathing of the Feet, the Powders N. 20, and Whey +have frequently succeeded: but at other Times it is necessary to +accommodate the Remedies and the Method to each particular Case, and to +judge of it from its own peculiar Circumstances and Appearances. + + 363. When these Evacuations naturally cease through Age (See 359) if +they stop suddenly and all at once, and had formerly flowed very +largely, Bleeding must, 1, necessarily be directed, and repeated every +six, every four, or even every three Months. + +2, The usual Quantity of Food should be somewhat diminished, especially +of Flesh, of Eggs and of strong Drink. + +3, Exercise should be increased. + +4, The Patient should frequently take, in a Morning fasting, the Powder +N. 24, which is very beneficial in such Cases; as it moderately +increases the natural Excretions by Stool, Urine and Perspiration; and +thence lessens that Quantity of Blood, which would otherwise +superabound. + +Nevertheless, should this total Cessation of the monthly Discharge be +preceded by, or attended with, any extraordinary Loss of Blood, which is +frequently the Case, Bleeding is not so necessary; but the Regimen and +Powder just directed are very much so; to which the Purge N. 23 should +now and then be joined, at moderate Intervals. The Use of astringent +Medicines at this critical Time might dispose the Patient to a Cancer of +the Womb. + +Many Women die about this Age, as it is but too easy a Matter to injure +them then; a Circumstance that should make them very cautious and +prudent in the Medicines they recur to. On the other Hand it also +frequently happens, that their Constitutions alter for the better, after +this critical Time of Life; their Fibres grow stronger; they find +themselves sensibly more hearty and hardy; many former slight +Infirmities disappear, and they enjoy a healthy and happy old Age. I +have known several who threw away their Spectacles at the Age of +fifty-two, or fifty-three, which they had used five or six Years before. + +The Regimen I have just directed, the Powder N. 24, and the Potion N. +32, agree very well in almost all inveterate Discharges (I speak of the +female Peasantry) at whatever Time of Life. + + + + _Of Disorders attending Gravidation, or the Term of going with Child._ + + + 364. Gravidation is generally a less ailing or unhealthy State in the +Country, than in very populous Towns. Nevertheless Country Women are +subject, as well as Citizens, to Pains of the Stomach, to vomiting in a +Morning, to Head-ach and Tooth-ach; but these Complaints very commonly +yield to Bleeding, which is almost the only Remedy necessary [83] for +pregnant Women. + +[83] Too great a Fulness of Blood is undoubtedly the Cause of all these + Complaints; but as there are different Methods of opposing this + Cause, the gentlest should always be preferred; nor should the + Constitution become habituated to such Remedies, as might either + impair the Strength of the Mother, or of her Fruit. Some Expedients + therefore should be thought of, that may compensate for the Want of + Bleeding, by enjoining proper Exercise in a clear Air, with a less + nourishing, and a less juicy Diet. _E. L._ + + This Note might have its Use sometimes, in the Cases of such + delicate and hysterical, yet pregnant Women, as are apt to suffer + from Bleeding, or any other Evacuation, though no ways immoderate. + But it should have been considered, that Dr. _Tissot_ was + professedly writing here to hearty active Country Wives, who are + very rarely thus constituted; and whom he might be unwilling to + confuse with such multiplied Distinctions and Directions, as would + very seldom be necessary, and might sometimes prevent them from + doing what was so. Besides which, this Editor might have seen, our + Author has hinted at such Cases very soon after. _K._ + + 365. Sometimes after carrying too heavy Burthens; after too much or +too violent Work; after receiving excessive Jolts, or having had a Fall, +they are subject to violent Pains of the Loins, which extend down to +their Thighs, and terminate quite at the Bottom of the Belly; and which +commonly import, that they are in Danger of an Abortion, or Miscarrying. + +To prevent this Consequence, which is always dangerous, they should, 1, +immediately go to Bed; and if they have not a Mattrass, they should lie +upon a Bed stuffed with Straw, a Feather-bed being very improper in such +Cases. They should repose, or keep themselves quite still in this +Situation for several Days, not stirring, and speaking as little as +possible. + +2, They should directly lose eight or nine Ounces of Blood from the Arm. + +3, They should not eat Flesh, Flesh-broth, nor Eggs; but live solely on +Soups made of farinaceous or mealy Substances. + +4, They should take every two Hours half a Paper of the Powder N. 20; +and should drink nothing but the Ptisan N. 2. + +Some sanguine robust Women are very liable to miscarry at a certain +Time, or Stage, of their Pregnancy. This may be obviated by their +bleeding some Days before that Time approaches, and by their observing +the Regimen I have advised. But this Method would avail very little for +delicate Citizens, who miscarry from a very different Cause; and whose +Abortions are to be prevented by a very different Treatment. + + + + _Of Delivery, or Child-birth._ + + + 366. It has been observed that a greater Proportion of Women die in +the Country in, or very speedily after, their Delivery, and that from +the Scarcity of good Assistance, and the great Plenty of what is bad; +and that a greater Proportion of those in Cities die after their Labours +are effected, by a Continuance of their former bad Health. + +The Necessity there is for better instructed, better qualified Midwives, +through a great Part of _Swisserland_, is but too manifest an +Unhappiness, which is attended with the most fatal Consequences, and +which merits the utmost Attention of the Government. + +The Errors which are incurred, during actual Labour, are numberless, and +too often indeed are also irremediable. It would require a whole Book, +expressly for that Purpose (and in some Countries there are such) to +give all the Directions that are necessary, to prevent so many +Fatalities: and it would be as necessary to form a sufficient Number of +well-qualified Midwives to comprehend, and to observe them; which +exceeds the Plan of the Work I have proposed. I shall only mark out one +of the Causes, and the most injurious one on this Occasion: This is the +Custom of giving hot irritating Things, whenever the Labour is very +painful, or is slow; such as Castor, or its Tincture, Saffron, Sage, +Rue, Savin, Oil of Amber, Wine, Venice Treacle, Wine burnt with Spices, +Coffee, Brandy, Aniseed-Water, Walnut-Water, Fennel-Water, and other +Drams or strong Liquors. All these Things are so many Poisons in this +Respect, which, very far from promoting the Woman's Delivery, render it +more difficult by inflaming the Womb (which cannot then so well contract +itself) and the Parts, through which the Birth is to pass, in +Consequence of which they swell, become more straitened, and cannot +yield or be dilated. Sometimes these stimulating hot Medicines also +bring on Hmorrhages, which prove mortal in a few Hours. + + 367. A considerable Number, both of Mothers and Infants, might be +preserved by the directly opposite Method. As soon as a Woman who was in +very good Health, just before the Approach of her Labour, being robust +and well made, finds her Travail come on, and that it is painful and +difficult; far from encouraging those premature Efforts, which are +always destructive; and from furthering them by the pernicious Medicines +I have just enumerated, the Patient should be bled in the Arm, which +will prevent the Swelling and Inflammation; asswage the Pains; relax the +Parts, and dispose every thing to a favourable Issue. + +During actual Labour no other Nourishment should be allowed, except a +little Panada every three Hours, and as much Toast and Water, as the +Woman chuses. + +Every fourth Hour a Glyster should be given, consisting of a Decoction +of Mallows and a little Oil. In the Intervals between these Glysters she +should be set over a kind of Stove, or in a pierced easy Chair, +containing a Vessel in which there is some hot Water: the Passage should +be gently rubbed with a little Butter; and Stapes wrung out of a +Fomentation of simple hot Water, which is the most efficacious of any, +should be applied over the Belly. + +The Midwives, by taking this Method, are not only certain of doing no +Mischief, but they also allow Nature an Opportunity of doing Good: as a +great many Labours, which seem difficult at time, terminate happily; and +this safe and unprecipitate Manner of proceeding at least affords Time +to call in further Assistance. Besides, the Consequences of such +Deliveries are healthy and happy; when by pursuing the heating +oppressing Practice, even though the Delivery be effected, both Mother +and Infant have been so cruelly, though undesignedly, tormented, that +both of them frequently perish. + + 368. I acknowledge these Means are insufficient, when the Child is +unhappily situated in the Womb; or when there is an embarrassing +Conformation in the Mother: though at least they prevent the Case from +proving worse, 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 Women to make any forced Efforts to forward the +Birth, which are extremely injurious to them, and which may render a +Delivery very dangerous and embarrassing, that might otherwise have been +happily effected: and I insist the more freely on the Danger attending +these unreasonable 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-standers fearful that she will not have Strength enough to be +delivered; which they think abundantly justifies them in giving her +Cordials; but this Way of Reasoning is very weak and chimerical. Their +Strength, on such Occasions, is not so very speedily dissipated: the +small light Pains sink them, but in Proportion as the Pains become +stronger, their Strength arises; being never deficient, when there is no +extraordinary and uncommon Symptom; and we may reasonably be assured, +that in a healthy, well formed Woman, meer Weakness never prevents a +Delivery. + + + + _Of the Consequences of Labour, or Childbirth._ + + + 369. The most usual Consequences of Childbirth in the Country are, 1, +An excessive Hmorrhage. 2, An Inflammation of the Womb. 3, A sudden +Suppression of the _Lochia_, or usual Discharges after Delivery. And, 4, +the Fever and other Accidents, resulting from the Milk. + +Excessive Bleedings or Floodings, should be treated according to the +Manner directed 365: and if they are very excessive, Folds of Linen, +which have been wrung out of a Mixture of equal Parts of Water and +Vinegar, should be applied to the Belly, the Loins, and the Thighs: +these should be changed for fresh moist ones, as they dry; and should be +omitted, as soon as the Bleeding abates. + + 370. The Inflammation of the Womb is discoverable by Pains in all the +lower Parts of the Belly; by a Tension or Tightness of the whole; by a +sensible Increase of Pain upon touching it; a kind of red Stain or Spot, +that mounts to the Middle of the Belly, as high as the Navel; which +Spot, as the Disease increases, turns black, and then is always a mortal +Symptom; by a very extraordinary Degree of Weakness; an astonishing +Change of Countenance; a light _Delirium_ or Raving; a continual Fever +with a weak and hard Pulse; sometimes incessant Vomitings; a frequent +Hiccup; a moderate Discharge of a reddish, stinking, sharp Water; +frequent Urgings to go to Stool; a burning kind of Heat of Urine; and +sometimes an entire Suppression of it. + + 371. This most dangerous and frequently mortal Disease should be +treated like inflammatory ones. After Bleeding, frequent Glysters of +warm Water must by no Means be omitted; some should also be injected +into the Womb, and applied continually over the Belly. The Patient may +also drink continually, either of simple Barley-Water, with a Quarter of +an Ounce of Nitre in every Pot of it, or of Almond Milk N. 4. + + 372. The total Suppression of the _Lochia_, the Discharges after +Labour, which proves a Cause of the most violent Disorders, should be +treated exactly in the same Manner: but if unhappily hot Medicines have +been given, in order to force them down, the Case will very generally +prove a most hopeless one. + + 373. If the Milk-fever run very high, the Barley Ptisan directed +371, and Glysters, with a very light Diet, consisting only of Panada, or +made of some other farinaceous Substances, and very thin, very generally +remove it. + + 374. Delicate infirm Women, who have not all the requisite and +necessary Attendance they want; and such as from Indigence are obliged +to work too soon, are exposed to many Accidents, which frequently arise +from a Want of due Perspiration, and an insufficient Discharge of the +_Lochia_; and hence, the Separation of the Milk in their Breasts being +disturbed, there are milky Congestions, or Knots as it were, which are +always very painful and troublesome, and especially when they are formed +more inwardly. They often happen on the Thighs, in which Case the Ptisan +N. 58 is to be drank, and the Pultices N. 59 must be applied. These +two Remedies gradually dissipate and remove the Tumour, if that may be +effected without Suppuration. But if that proves impossible, and _Pus_, +or Matter, is actually formed, a Surgeon must open the Abscess, and +treat it like any other. + + 375. Should the Milk coagulate, or curdle as it were, in the Breast, +it is of the utmost Importance immediately to attenuate or dissolve that +Thickness, which would otherwise degenerate into a Hardness and prove a +_Scirrhus_; and from a _Scirrhus_ in Process of Time a Cancer, that most +tormenting and cruel Distemper. + +This horrible Evil however may be prevented by an Application to these +small Tumours, as soon as ever they appear, For this Purpose nothing is +more effectual than the Prescriptions N. 57 and 60; but under such +menacing Circumstances, it is always prudent to take the best Advice, as +early as possible. + +From the Moment these hard Tumours become excessively and obstinately +so, and yet without any Pain, we should abstain from every Application, +all are injurious; and greasy, sharp, resinous and spirituous ones +speedily change the _Scirrhus_ into a Cancer. Whenever it becomes +manifestly such, all Applications are also equally pernicious, except +that of N. 60. Cancers have long been thought and found incurable; but +within a few Years past some have been cured by the Remedy N. 57; which +nevertheless is not infallible, though it should always be tried. [84] + +[84] The Use of Hemlock, which has been tried at _Lyons_, by all who + have had cancerous Patients, having been given in very large Doses, + has been attended with no Effect there, that merited the serious + Attention of Practitioners. Many were careful to obtain the Extract + from _Vienna_, and even to procure it from Dr. _Storck_ himself. + But now it appears to have had so little Success, as to become + entirely neglected. _E. L._ + + Having exactly translated in this Place, and in the Table of + Remedies, our learned Author's considerable Recommendation of the + Extract of Hemlock in Cancers, we think it but fair, on the other + Hand, to publish this Note of his Editor's against it; that the + real Efficacy or Inefficacy of this Medicine may at length be + ascertained, on the most extensive Evidence and Experience. As far + as my own Opportunities and Reflections, and the Experience of many + others, have instructed me on this Subject, it appears clear to + myself, that though the Consequences of it have not been constantly + unsuccessful with us, yet its Successes have come very short of its + Failures. Nevertheless, as in all such Cancers, every other + internal Medicine almost universally fails, we think with Dr. + _Tissot_ it should always be tried (from the meer Possibility of + its succeeding in some particular Habit and Circumstances) at least + till longer Experience shall finally determine against it. _K._ + + 376. The Nipples of Women, who give Milk, are often fretted or +excoriated, which proves very severely painful to them. One of the best +Applications is the most simple Ointment, being a Mixture of Oil and Wax +melted together; or the Ointment N. 66. Should the Complaint prove very +obstinate, the Nurse ought to be purged, which generally removes it. + + + + + __Chapter XXVII.__ + + + + _Medical Directions concerning Children._ + + + __Sect.__ 377. + +The Diseases of Children, and every Thing relating to their Health, are +Objects which generally seem to have been too much neglected by +Physicians; and have been too long confided to the Conduct of the most +improper Persons for such a Charge. At the same Time it must be admitted +their Health is of no little Importance; their Preservation is as +necessary as the Continuance of the human Race; and the Application of +the Practice of Physick to their Disorders is susceptible of nearer +Approaches to Perfection, than is generally conceived. It seems to have +even some Advantage over that Practice which regards grown Persons; and +it consists in this, that the Diseases of Children are more simple, and +less frequently complicated than those of Adults. + +It may be said indeed, they cannot make themselves so well understood, +and meer Infants certainly not at all. This is true in Fact to a certain +Degree, but not rigidly true; for though they do not speak our Language, +they have one which we should contrive to understand. Nay every +Distemper may be said, in some Sense, to have a Language of its own, +which an attentive Physician will learn. He should therefore use his +utmost Care to understand that of Infants, and avail himself of it, to +increase the Means of rendering them healthy and vigorous, and to cure +them of the different Distempers to which they are liable. I do not +propose actually to compleat this Task myself, in all that Extent it may +justly demand; but I shall set forth the principal Causes of their +Distempers, and the general Method of treating them. By this Means I +shall at least preserve them from some of the Mischiefs which are too +frequently done them; and the lessening such Evils as Ignorance, or +erroneous Practice, occasions, is one of the most important Purposes of +the present Work. + + 378. Nearly all the Children who die before they are one Year, and +even two Years, old, die _with_ Convulsions: People say they died _of_ +them, which is partly true, as it is in Effect, the Convulsions that +have destroyed them. But then these very Convulsions are the +Consequences, the Effects, of other Diseases, which require the utmost +Attention of those, who are entrusted with the Care and Health of the +little Innocents: as an effectual Opposition to these Diseases, these +morbid Causes, is the only Means of removing the Convulsions. The four +principal known Causes are, the _Meconium_; the Excrements contained in +the Body of the Infant, at the Birth; _Acidities_, or sharp and sour +Humours; the Cutting of the Teeth, and Worms. I shall treat briefly of +each. + + + + _Of the Meconium._ + + +379. The Stomach and Guts of the Infant, at its Entrance into the +World, are filled with a black Sort of Matter, of a middling +Consistence, and very viscid or glutinous, which is called the +_Meconium_. It is necessary this Matter should be discharged before the +Infant sucks, since it would otherwise corrupt the Milk, and, becoming +extremely sharp itself, there would result from their Mixture a double +Source of Evils, to the Destruction of the Infant. + +The Evacuation of this Excrement is procured, 1, By giving them no Milk +at all for the first twenty-four Hours of their Lives. 2, By making them +drink during that Time some Water, to which a little Sugar or Honey must +be added, which will dilute this _Meconium_, and promote the Discharge +of it by Stool, and sometimes by vomiting. + +To be the more certain of expelling all this Matter, they should take +one Ounce of Compound Syrup [85] of Succory, which should be diluted +with a little Water, drinking up this Quantity within the Space of four +or five Hours. This Practice is a very beneficial one, and it is to be +wished it were to become general. This Syrup is greatly preferable to +all others, given in such Cases, and especially to Oil of Almonds. + +[85] This Method (says the Editor and Annotator of _Lyons_) is useful, + whenever the Mother does not suckle her Child. Art is then obliged + to prove a Kind of Substitute to Nature, though always a very + imperfect one. But when a Mother, attentive to her own true + Interest, as well as her Infant's, and, listening to the Voice of + Nature and her Duty, suckles it herself, these Remedies [he adds] + seem hurtful, or at least, useless. The Mother should give her + Child the Breast as soon as she can. The first Milk, the + _Colostrum_, or _Strippings_, as it is called in Quadrupeds, which + is very serous or watery, will be serviceable as a Purgative; it + will forward the Expulsion of the _Meconium_, prove gradually + nourishing, and is better than Biscuits, or Panada, which (he + thinks) are dangerous in the first Days after the Birth. _E. L._ + + This Syrup of Succory being scarcely ever prepared with us, though + sufficiently proper for the Use assigned it here, I have retained + the preceding Note, as the Author of it directs these _Strippings_, + for the same Purpose, with an Air of certain Experience; and as + this Effect of them seems no Ways repugnant to the physical Wisdom + and Oeconomy of Nature, on such important Points. Should it in fact + be their very general Operation, it cannot be unknown to any Male + or Female Practitioner in Midwifery, and may save poor People a + little Expence, which was one Object of our humane Author's Plan. + The Oil Of _Ricinus_, corruptly called _Castor_ Oil (being + expressed from the Berries of the _Palma Christi_) is particularly + recommended by some late medical Writers from _Jamaica_, _&c._ for + this Purpose of expelling the _Meconium_, to the Quantity of a + small Spoonful. These Gentlemen also consider it as the most + proper, and almost specific Opener, in the dry Belly-ach of that + torrid Climate, which tormenting Disease has the closest Affinity + to the _Miserere_, or Iliac Passion, of any I have seen. The + Annotator's Objection to our Author's very _thin light_ Panada, + seems to be of little Weight. _K._ + +Should the great Weakness of the Child seem to call for some +Nourishment, there would be no Inconvenience in allowing a little +Biscuit well boiled in Water, which is pretty commonly done, or a little +very thin light Panada. + + + + _Of Acidities, or sharp Humours._ + + + 380. Notwithstanding the Bodies of Children have been properly emptied +speedily after their Birth, yet the Milk very often turns sour in their +Stomachs, producing Vomitings, violent Cholics, Convulsions, a +Looseness, and even terminating in Death. There are but two Purposes to +be pursued in such Cases, which are to carry off the sour or sharp +Humours, and to prevent the Generation of more. The first of these +Intentions is best effected by the Syrup of Succory [86] just mentioned. + +[86] Or, for Want of it, the solutive Syrup of Roses. _K._ + +The Generation of further Acidities is prevented, by giving three Doses +daily, if the Symptoms are violent, and but two, or even one only, if +they are very moderate, of the Powder N. 61, drinking after it Bawm +Tea, or a Tea of Lime-tree Leaves. + + 381. It has been a Custom to load Children with Oil of Almonds, [87] +as soon as ever they are infested with Gripes: but it is a pernicious +Custom, and attended with very dangerous Consequences. It it very true +that this Oil sometimes immediately allays the Gripes, by involving, or +sheathing up, as it were, the acid Humours, and somewhat blunting the +Sensibility of the Nerves. But it proves only a palliative Remedy, or +asswaging for a Time, which, far from removing, increases the Cause, +since it becomes sharp and rancid itself; whence the Disorder speedily +returns, and the more Oil the Infant takes, it is griped the more. I +have cured some Children of such Disorders, without any other Remedy, +except abstaining from Oil, which weakens their Stomachs, whence their +Milk is less perfectly, and more slowly digested, and becomes more +easily soured. Besides this Weakness of the Stomach, which thus +commences at that very early Age, has sometimes an unhealthy Influence +on the Constitution of the Child, throughout the Remainder of his Life. + +[87] The _Magnesia_ is an excellent Substitute in Children, for these + Oils Dr. _Tissot_ so justly condemns here. _K._ + +A free and open Belly is beneficial to Children; now it is certain that +the Oil very often binds them, in Consequence of its diminishing the +Force and Action of the Bowels. There is scarcely any Person, who cannot +observe this Inconvenience attending it; notwithstanding they all +continue to advise and to give it, to obtain a very different Purpose: +But such is the Power of Prejudice in this Case, and in so many others; +People are so strongly pre-possessed with a Notion, that such a Medicine +must produce such an Effect; that its never having produced it avails +nothing with them, their Prejudice still prevails; they ascribe its Want +of Efficacy to the Smallness of the Doses; these are doubled then, and +notwithstanding its bad Effects are augmented, their obstinate Blindness +continues. + +This Abuse of the Oil also disposes their Child to knotty hard Tumours, +and at length often proves the first Cause of some Diseases of the Skin, +whose Cure is extremely difficult. + +Hence it is evident, this Oil should be used on such Occasions but very +seldom; and that it is always very injudicious to give it in Cholics, +which arise from sharp and sour Humours in the Stomach, or in the +Bowels. + + 382. Infants are commonly most subject to such Cholics during their +earliest Months; after which they abate, in Proportion as their Stomachs +grow stronger. They may be relieved in the Fit by Glysters of a +Decoction of Chamomile Flowers, in which a Bit of Soap of the Size of a +Hazel Nut is dissolved. A Piece of Flanel wrung out of a Decoction of +Chamomile Flowers, with the Addition of some Venice Treacle, and applied +hot over the Stomach and on the Belly, is also very beneficial, and +relieving. + +Children cannot always take Glysters, the Continuance of which +Circumstance might be dangerous to them; and every one is acquainted +with the common Method of substituting Suppositories to them, whether +they are formed of the smooth and supple Stalks of Vines, _&c._ of Soap, +or of Honey boiled up to a proper Consistence. + +But one of the most certain Means to prevent these Cholics, which are +owing to Children's not digesting their Milk, is to move and exercise +them as much as possible; having a due Regard however to their tender +Time of Life. + + 383. Before I proceed to the third Cause of the Diseases of Children, +which is, the Cutting of their Teeth, I must take Notice of the first +Cares their Birth immediately requires, that is the Washing of them the +first Time, meerly to cleanse, and afterwards, to strengthen them. + + + + _Of washing Children._ + + + 384. The whole Body of an Infant just born is covered with a gross +Humour, which is occasioned by the Fluids, in which it was suspended in +the Womb. There is a Necessity to cleanse it directly from this, for +which nothing is so proper as a Mixture of one third Wine, and two +thirds Water; Wine alone would be dangerous. This Washing may be +repeated some Days successively; but it is a bad Custom to continue to +wash them thus warm, the Danger of which is augmented by adding some +Butter to the Wine and Water, which is done too often. If this gross +Humour, that covers the Child, seems more thick and glutinous than +ordinary, a Decoction of Chamomile Flowers, with a little Bit of Soap, +may be used to remove it. The Regularity of Perspiration is the great +Foundation of Health; to procure this Regularity the Teguments, the +Skin, must be strengthened; but warm Washing tends to weaken it. When it +is of a proper Strength it always performs its Functions; nor is +Perspiration disordered sensibly by the Alteration of the Weather. For +this Reason nothing should be omitted, that may fix it in this State; +and to attain so important an Advantage, Children should be washed, some +few Days after their Birth, with cold Water, in the State it is brought +from the Spring. + +For this Purpose a Spunge is employed, with which they begin, by washing +first the Face, the Ears, the back Part of the Head (carefully avoiding +the [88] _Fontanelle_, or Mould of the Head) the Neck, the Loins, the +Trunck of the Body, the Thighs, Legs and Arms, and in short every Spot. +This Method which has obtained for so many Ages, and which is practised +at present by many People, who prove very healthy, will appear shocking +to several Mothers; they would be afraid of killing their Children by +it; and would particularly fail of Courage enough to endure the Cries, +which Children often make, the first Time they are washed. Yet if their +Mothers truly love them, they cannot give a more substantial Mark of +their Tenderness to them, than by subduing their Fears and their +Repugnance, on this important Head. + +[88] That Part of the Head where a Pulsation may be very plainly felt, + where the Bones are less hard, and not as yet firmly joined with + those about them. + +Weakly Infants [89] are those who have the greatest Need of being +washed: such as are remarkably strong may be excused from it; and it +seems scarcely credible (before a Person has frequently seen the +Consequences of it) how greatly this Method conduces to give, and to +hasten on, their Strength. I have had the Pleasure to observe, since I +first endeavoured to introduce the Custom among us, that several of the +most affectionate and most sensible Mothers, have used it with the +greatest Success. The Midwives, who have been Witnesses of it; the +Nurses and the Servants of the Children, whom they have washed, publish +it abroad; and should the Custom become as general, as every thing seems +to promise it will, I am fully persuaded, that by preserving the Lives +of a great Number of Children, it will certainly contribute to check the +Progress of Depopulation. + +[89] There is however a certain Degree of Weakness, which may very + reasonably deter us from this Washing; as when the Infant + manifestly wants Heat, and needs some Cordial and frequent + Frictions, to prevent its expiring from downright Feebleness; in + which Circumstances Washing must be hurtful to it. _Tissot._ + +They should be washed very regularly every Day, in every Season, and +every Sort of Weather; and in the fine warm Season they should be +plunged into a large Pail of Water, into the Basins around Fountains, in +a Brook, a River, or a Lake. + +After a few Days crying, they grow so well accustomed to this Exercise, +that it becomes one of their Pleasures; so that they laugh all the Time +of their going through it. + +The first Benefit of this Practice is, as I have already said, the +keeping up their Perspiration, and rendering them less obnoxious to the +Impressions of the Air and Weather: and it is also in Consequence of +this first Benefit, that they are preserved from a great Number of +Maladies, especially from knotty Tumours, often called Kernels; from +Obstructions; from Diseases of the Skin, and from Convulsions, its +general Consequence being to insure them firm, and even robust Health. + + 385. But Care should be taken not to prevent, or, as it were to undo, +the Benefit this Washing procures them, by the bad Custom of keeping +them too hot. There is not a more pernicious one than this, nor one that +destroys more Children. They should be accustomed 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 should avoid sleeping in Chambers that are too hot, +and should live in the open Air, both in Summer and Winter, as much as +possible. Children who have been kept too hot in such Respects, are very +often liable to Colds; they are weakly, pale, languishing, bloated and +melancholy. They are subject to hard knotty Swellings, a Consumption, +all Sorts of languid Disorders, and either die in their Infancy, or only +grow up into a miserable valetudinary Life; while those who are washed +or plunged into cold Water, and habitually exposed to the open Air, are +just in the opposite Circumstances. + + 386. I must further add here, that Infancy is not the only Stage of +Life, in which cold Bathing is advantagious. I have advised it with +remarkable Success to Persons of every Age, even to that of seventy: and +there are two Kinds of Diseases, more frequent indeed in Cities than in +the Country, in which cold Baths succeed very greatly; that is, in +Debility, or Weakness of the Nerves; and when Perspiration is +disordered, when Persons are fearful of every Breath of Air, liable to +Defluxions or Colds, feeble and languishing, the cold Bath +re-establishes Perspiration; restores Strength to the Nerves; and by +that Means dispels all the Disorders, which arise from these two Causes, +in the animal Oeconomy. They should be used before Dinner. But in the +same Proportion that cold Bathing is beneficial, the habitual Use, or +rather Abuse, of warm Bathing is pernicious; they dispose the Persons +addicted to them to the Apoplexy; to the Dropsy; to Vapours, and to the +hypochondriacal Disease: and Cities, in which they are too frequently +used, become, in some Measure, desolate from such Distempers. + + + + _Of the Cutting of the Teeth._ + + + 387. Cutting of the Teeth is often very tormenting to Children, some +dying under the severe Symptoms attending it. If it proves very painful, +we should during that Period, 1, Keep their Bellies open by Glysters +consisting only of a simple Decoction of Mallows: but Glysters are not +necessary, if the Child, as it sometimes happens then, has a Purging. + +2, Their ordinary Quantity of Food should be lessened for two Reasons; +first, because the Stomach is then weaker than usual; and next, because +a small Fever sometimes accompanies the Cutting. + +3, Their usual Quantity of Drink should be increased a little; the best +for them certainly is an Infusion of the Leaves or 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-seeds; 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 Causes of the Diseases of Children. There is also a +fourth, Worms, which is likewise very often pernicious to them; but +which, nevertheless, is not, at least not near so much, a general Cause +of their Disorders, as it is generally supposed, when a Child exceeding +two Years of Age proves sick. There are a great Variety of Symptoms, +which dispose People to think a Child has Worms; though there is but one +that demonstrates it, which is discharging them upwards or downwards. +There is great Difference among Children too in this Respect, some +remaining healthy, though having several Worms, and others being really +sick with a few. + +They prove hurtful, 1, by obstructing the Guts, and compressing the +neighbouring Bowels by their Size. 2, By sucking up the Chyle intended +to nourish the Patient, and thus depriving him of his very Substance as +well as Subsistence: and, 3, by irritating the Guts and even [90] +gnawing them. + +[90] I have seen a Child about three Years old, whose Navel, after + swelling and inflaming, suppurated, and through a small Orifice + (which must have communicated with the Cavity of the Gut or the + Belly) discharged one of these Worms we call _teretes_, about three + Inches long. He had voided several by Stool, after taking some + vermifuge Medicines. The Fact I perfectly remember; and to the best + of my Recollection, the Ulcer healed some Time after, and the + Orifice closed: but the Child died the following Year of a putrid + Fever, which might be caused, or was aggravated, by Worms. _K._ + + 389. The Symptoms which make it probable they are infested with Worms, +are slight, frequent and irregular Cholics; a great Quantity of Spittle +running off while they are fasting; a disagreeable Smell of their +Breath, of a particular Kind, especially in the Morning; a frequent +Itchiness of their Noses which makes them scratch or rub them often; a +very irregular Appetite, being sometimes voracious, and at other Times +having none at all: Pains at Stomach and Vomitings: sometimes a costive +Belly; but more frequently loose Stools of indigested Matter; the Belly +rather larger than ordinary, the rest of the Body meagre; a Thirst which +no Drink allays; often great Weakness, and some Degree of Melancholy. +The Countenance has generally an odd unhealthy Look, and varies every +Quarter of an Hour; the Eyes often look dull, and are surrounded with a +Kind of livid Circle: the White of the Eye is sometimes visible while +they sleep, their Sleep being often attended with terrifying Dreams or +_Deliriums_, and with continual Startings, and Grindings of their Teeth. +Some Children find it impossible to be at Rest for a single Moment. +Their Urine is often whitish, I have seen it from some as white as Milk. +They are afflicted with Palpitations, Swoonings, Convulsions, long and +profound Drowsiness; cold Sweats which come on suddenly; Fevers which +have the Appearances of Malignity; Obscurities and even Loss of Sight +and of Speech, which continue for a considerable Time; Palsies either of +their Hands, their Arms, or their Legs, and Numbnesses. Their Gums are +in a bad State, and as though they had been gnawed or corroded: they +have often the Hickup, a small and irregular Pulse, Ravings, and, what +is one of the least doubtful Symptoms, frequently a small dry Cough; and +not seldom a Mucosity or Sliminess in their Stools: sometimes very long +and violent Cholics, which terminate in an Abscess on the Outside of the +Belly, from whence Worms issue. (See Note [90] p. 388.) + + 390. There are a great Multitude of Medicines against Worms. The [91] +_Grenette_ or Worm-seed, which is one of the commonest, is a very good +one. The Prescription N. 62, is also a very successful one; and the +Powder N. 14 is one of the best. Flower of Brimstone, the Juice of +_Nasturtium_, or Cresses, Acids and Honey Water have often been very +serviceable; but the first three I have mentioned, succeeded by a Purge, +are the best. N. 63 is a purging Medicine, that the most averse and +difficult Children may easily take. But when, notwithstanding these +Medicines, the Worms are not expelled, it is necessary to take Advice of +some Person qualified to prescribe more efficacious ones. This is of +considerable Importance, because, notwithstanding a great Proportion of +Children may probably have Worms, and yet many of them continue in good +Health, there are, nevertheless, some who are really killed by Worms, +after having been cruelly tormented by them for several Years. + +[91] This Word occurs in none of the common Dictionaries; but suspecting + it for the _Semen Santonici_ of the Shops, I find the learned Dr. + _Bikker_ has rendered it so, in his very well received Translation + of this valuable Work into _Low Dutch_. _K._ + +A Disposition to breed Worms always shews the Digestions are weak and +imperfect; for which Reason Children liable to Worms should not be +nourished with Food difficult to digest. We should be particularly +careful not to stuff them with Oils, which, admitting such Oils should +immediately kill some of their Worms, do yet increase that Cause, which +disposes them to generate others. A long continued Use of Filings of +Iron is the Remedy, that most effectually destroys this Disposition to +generate Worms. + + + + _Of Convulsions._ + + + 391. I have already said, 378, that the Convulsions of Children are +almost constantly the Effect of some other Disease, and especially of +some of the four I have mentioned. Some other, though less frequent +Causes, sometimes occasion them, and these may be reduced to the +following. + +The first of them is the corrupted Humours, that often abound in their +Stomachs and Intestines; and which, by their Irritation, produce +irregular Motions throughout the whole System of the Nerves, or at least +through some Parts of them; whence those Convulsions arise, which are +merely involuntary Motions of the Muscles. These putrid Humours are the +Consequence of too great a Load of Aliments, of unsound ones, or of +such, as the Stomachs of Children are incapable of digesting. These +Humours are also sometimes the Effect of a Mixture and Confusion 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 Cause, +by the Circumstances that have preceded them, by a disgusted loathing +Stomach; by a certain Heaviness and Load at it; by a foul Tongue; a +great Belly; by its bad Complexion, and its disturbed unrefreshing +Sleep. + +The Child's proper Diet, that is, a certain Diminution of the Quantity +of its Food; some Glysters of warm Water, and one Purge of N. 63, very +generally remove such Convulsions. + + 392. The second Cause is the bad Quality of their Milk. Whether it be +that the Nurse has fallen into a violent Passion, some considerable +Disgust, great Fright or frequent Fear: whether she has eat unwholesome +Food, drank too much Wine, spirituous Liquors, or any strong Drink: +whether she is seized with a Descent of her monthly Discharges, and that +has greatly disordered her Health; or finally whether she prove really +sick: In all these Cases the Milk is vitiated, and exposes the Infant to +violent Symptoms, which sometimes speedily destroy it. + +The Remedies for Convulsions, from this Cause, consist, 1, In letting +the Child abstain from this corrupted Milk, until the Nurse shall have +recovered her State of Health and Tranquillity, the speedy Attainment of +which may be forwarded by a few Glysters; by gentle pacific Medicines; +by an entire Absence of whatever caused or conduced to her bad Health; +and by drawing off all the Milk that had been so vitiated. + +2, In giving the Child itself some Glysters: in making it drink +plentifully of a light Infusion of the Lime-tree Flowers, 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 (supposing what has been just directed to have +been unavailable) with an Ounce, or an Ounce and a Half, of compound +Syrup of Succory, or as much Manna. These lenient gentle Purges carry +off the Remainder of the corrupted Milk, and remove the Disorders +occasioned by it. + + 393. A third Cause which also produces Convulsions, is the feverish +Distempers which attack Children, especially the Small-pocks and the +Measles; but in general such Convulsions require no other Treatment, but +that proper for the Disease, which has introduced them. + + 394. It is evident from what has been said in the Course of this +Chapter, and it deserves to be attended to, that Convulsions are +commonly a Symptom attending some other Disease, rather than an original +Disease themselves: that they depend on many different Causes; that from +this Consideration there can be no general Remedy for removing or +checking them; and that the only Means and Medicines which are suitable +in each Case, are those, which are proper to oppose the particular Cause +producing them, and which I have already pointed out in treating of each +Cause. + +The greater Part of the pretended Specifics, which are indiscriminately +and ignorantly employed in all Sorts of Convulsions, are often useless, +and still oftner prejudicial. Of this last Sort and Character are, + +1, All sharp and hot Medicines, spirituous Liquors, Oil of Amber,--other +hot Oils and Essences, volatile Salts, and such other Medicines, as, by +the Violence of their Action on the irritable Organs of Children, are +likelier to produce Convulsions, than to allay them. + +2, Astringent Medicines, which are highly pernicious, whenever the +Convulsions are caused by any sharp Humour, that ought to be discharged +from the Body by Stool; or when such Convulsions are the Consequences of +an [92] Effort of Nature, in Order to effect a _Crisis_: And as they +almost ever depend on one or the other of these Causes, it follows that +Astringents can very rarely, if ever, be beneficial. Besides that there +is always some Danger in giving them to Children without a mature, a +thorough Consideration of their particular Case and Situation, as they +often dispose them to Obstructions. + +[92] This very important Consideration, on which I have treated pretty + largely, in the _Analysis_, seems not to be attended to in + Practice, as frequently as it ought. _K._ + +3, The over early, and too considerable Use of Opiates, either not +properly indicated, or continued too long, such as Venice Treacle, +Mithridate, Syrup of Poppies (and it is very easy to run upon some of +these Sholes) are also attended with the most embarrassing Events, in +Regard to Convulsions; and it may be affirmed they are improper, for +nine Tenths of those they are advised to. It is true they often produce +an apparent Ease and Tranquillity for some Minutes, and sometimes for +some Hours too; but the Disorder returns even with greater Violence for +this Suspension, by Reason they have augmented all the Causes producing +it; they impair the Stomach; they bind up the Belly; they lessen the +usual Quantity of Urine; and besides, by their abating the Sensibility +of the Nerves, which ought to be considered as one of the chief +Centinels appointed by Nature, for the Discovery of any approaching +Danger, they dispose the Patient insensibly to such Infarctions and +Obstructions, as tend speedily to produce some violent and mortal Event, +or which generate a Disposition to languid and tedious Diseases: and I +do again repeat it, that notwithstanding there are some Cases, in which +they are absolutely necessary, they ought in general to be employed with +great Precaution and and Prudence. To mention the principal Indications +for them in convulsive Cases, they are proper, + +1, When the Convulsions still continue, after the original Cause of them +is removed. + +2, When they are so extremely violent, as to threaten a great and very +speedy Danger of Life; and when they prove an Obstacle to the taking +Remedies calculated to extinguish their Cause; and, + +3, When the Cause producing them is of such a Nature, as is apt to yield +to the Force of Anodynes; as when, for Instance, they have been the +immediate Consequence of a Fright. + + 395. There is a very great Difference in different Children, in +Respect to their being more or less liable to Convulsions. There are +some, in whom very strong and irritating Causes cannot excite them; not +even excruciating Gripes and Cholics; the most painful Cutting of their +Teeth; violent Fevers; the Small Pocks; Measles; and though they are, as +it were, continually corroded by Worms, they have not the slightest +Tendency to be convulsed. On the other Hand, some are so very obnoxious +to Convulsions, or so easily _convulsible_, if that Expression may be +allowed, that they are very often seized with them from such very slight +Causes, that the most attentive Consideration cannot investigate them. +This Sort of Constitution, which is extremely dangerous, and exposes the +unhappy Subject of it, either to a very speedy Death, or to a very low +and languid State of Life, requires some peculiar Considerations; the +Detail of which would be the more foreign to the Design of this +Treatise, as they are pretty common in Cities, but much less so in +Country Places. In general cold Bathing and the Powder N. 14 are +serviceable in such Circumstances. + + + + _General Directions, with Respect to Children._ + + + 396. I shall conclude this Chapter by such farther Advice, as may +contribute to give Children a more vigorous Constitution and +Temperament, and to preserve them from many Disorders. + +First then, we should be careful not to cram them too much, and to +regulate both the Quantity and the set Time of their Meals, which is a +very practicable Thing, even in the very earliest Days of their Life; +when the Woman who nurses them, will be careful to do it regularly. +Perhaps indeed this is the very Age, when such a Regulation may be the +most easily attempted and effected; because it is that Stage, when the +constant Uniformity of their Way of living should incline us to suppose, +that what they have Occasion for is most constantly very much the same. + +A Child who has already attained to a few Years, and who is surrendered +up more to his own Exercise and Vivacity, feels other Calls; his Way of +Life is become a little more various and irregular, whence his Appetite +must prove so too. Hence it would be inconvenient to subject him over +exactly to one certain Rule, in the Quantity of his Nourishment, or the +Distance of his Meals. The Dissipation or passing off of his Nutrition +being unequal, the Occasions he has for repairing it cannot be precisely +dated and regular. But with Respect to very little Children in Arms, or +on the Lap, a Uniformity in the first of these Respects, the Quantity of +their Food, very consistently conduces to a useful Regularity with +Respect to the second, the Times of feeding them. Sickness is probably +the only Circumstance, that can warrant any Alteration in the Order and +Intervals of their Meals; and then this Change should consist in a +Diminution of their usual Quantity, notwithstanding a general and fatal +Conduct seems to establish the very Reverse; and this pernicious Fashion +authorizes the Nurses to cram these poor little Creatures the more, in +Proportion as they have real Need of less feeding. They conclude of +Course, that all their Cries are the Effects of Hunger, and the Moment +an Infant begins, then they immediately stop his Mouth with his Food; +without once suspecting, that these Wailings may be occasioned by the +Uneasiness an over-loaded Stomach may have introduced; or by Pains whose +Cause is neither removed nor mitigated, by making the Children eat; +though the meer Action of eating may render them insensible to slight +Pains, for a very few Minutes; in the first Place, by calling off their +Attention; and secondly, by hushing them to sleep, a common Effect of +feeding in Children, being in fact, a very general and constant one, and +depending on the same Causes, which dispose so many grown Persons to +sleep after Meals. + +A Detail of the many Evils Children are exposed to, by thus forcing too +much Food upon them, at the very Time when their Complaints are owing to +Causes, very different from Hunger, might appear incredible. They are +however so numerous and certain, that I seriously wish sensible Mothers +would open their Eyes to the Consideration of this Abuse, and agree to +put an End to it. + +Those who overload them with Victuals, in Hopes of strengthening them, +are extremely deceived; there being no one Prejudice equally fatal to +such a Number of them. Whatever unnecessary Aliment a Child receives, +weakens, instead of strengthening him. The Stomach, when over-distended, +suffers in its Force and Functions, and becomes less able to digest +thoroughly. The Excess of the Food last received impairs the Concoction +of the Quantity, that was really necessary: which, being badly digested, +is so far from yielding any Nourishment to the Infant, that it weakens +it, and proves a Source of Diseases, and concurs to produce +Obstructions, Rickets, the Evil, slow Fevers, a Consumption and Death. + +Another unhappy Custom prevails, with Regard to the Diet of Children, +when they begin to receive any other Food besides their Nurse's Milk, +and that is, to give them such as exceeds the digestive Power of their +Stomachs; and to indulge them in a Mixture of such Things in their +Meals, as are hurtful in themselves, and more particularly so, with +Regard to their feeble and delicate Organs. + +To justify this pernicious Indulgence, they affirm it is necessary to +accustom their Stomachs to every Kind of Food; but this Notion is highly +absurd, since their Stomachs should first be strengthened, in Order to +make them capable of digesting every Food; and crouding indigestible, or +very difficultly digestible Materials into it, is not the Way to +strengthen it. To make a Foal sufficiently strong for future Labour, he +is exempted from any, till he is four Years old; which enables him to +submit to considerable Work, without being the worse for it. But if, to +inure him to Fatigue, he should be accustomed, immediately from his +Birth, to submit to Burthens above his Strength, he could never prove +any Thing but an utter Jade, incapable of real Service. The Application +of this to the Stomach of a Child is very obvious. + +I shall add another very important Remark, and it is this, that the too +early Work to which the Children of Peasants are forced, becomes of real +Prejudice to the Publick. Hence Families themselves are less numerous, +and the more Children that are removed from their Parents, while they +are very young, those who are left are the more obliged to Work, and +very often even at hard Labour, at an Age when they should exercise +themselves in the usual Diversions and Sports of Children. Hence they +wear out in a Manner, before they attain the ordinary Term of Manhood; +they never arrive at their utmost Strength, nor reach their full +Stature; and it is too common to see a Countenance with the Look of +twenty Years, joined to a Stature of twelve or thirteen. In fact, they +often sink under the Weight of such hard involuntary Labour, and fall +into a mortal Degree of Wasting and Exhaustion. + + 397. Secondly, which indeed is but a Repetition of the Advice I have +already given, and upon which I cannot insist too much, they must be +frequently washed or bathed in cold Water. + + 398. Thirdly, they should be moved about and exercised as much as they +can bear, after they are some Weeks old: the earlier Days of their +tender Life seeming consecrated, by Nature herself, to a nearly total +Repose, and to sleeping, which seems not to determine, until they have +Need of Nourishment: so that, during this very tender Term of Life, too +much Agitation or Exercise might be attended with mortal Consequences. +But as soon as their Organs have attained a little more Solidity and +Firmness, the more they are danced about (provided it is not done about +their usual Time of Repose, which ought still to be very considerable) +they are so much the better for it; and by increasing it gradually, they +may be accustomed to a very quick Movement, and at length very safely to +such, as may be called hard and hearty Exercise. That Sort of Motion +they receive in Go-Carts, or other Vehicles, particularly contrived for +their Use, is more beneficial to them, than what they have from their +Nurses Arms, because they are in a better Attitude in the former; and it +heats them less in Summer, which is a Circumstance of no small +Importance to them; considerable Heat and Sweat disposing them to be +ricketty. + + 399. Fourthly, they should be accustomed to breathe in the free open +Air as much as possible. + +If Children have unhappily been less attended to than they ought, whence +they are evidently feeble, thin, languid, obstructed, and liable to +Scirrhosities (which constitute what is termed a ricketty or consumptive +State) these four Directions duly observed retrieve them from that +unhappy State; provided the Execution of them has not been too long +delayed. + + 400. Fifthly, If they have any natural Discharge of a Humour by the +Skin, which is very common with them, or any Eruption, such as Tetters, +white Scurf, a Rashe, or the like, Care must be taken not to check or +repel them, by any greasy or restringent Applications. Not a Year passes +without Numbers of Children having been destroyed by Imprudence in this +Respect; while others have been reduced to a deplorable and weakly +Habit. + +I have been a Witness to the most unhappy Consequences of external +Medicines applied for the Rashe and white Scurf; which, however +frightful they may appear, are never dangerous; provided nothing at all +is applied to them, without the Advice and Consideration of a truly +skilful Person. + +When such external Disorders prove very obstinate, it is reasonable to +suspect some Fault or Disagreement in the Milk the Child sucks; in which +Case it should immediately be discontinued, corrected, or changed. But I +cannot enter here into a particular Detail of all the Treatment +necessary in such Cases. + + + + + __Chapter XXVIII.__ + + + _Directions with Respect to drowned Persons._ [93] + + +[93] The Misfortune of a young Man drowned in bathing himself, at the + Beginning of the Season, occasioned the Publication of this Chapter + by itself in _June_, 1761. A few Days after, the like Misfortune + happened to a labouring Man; but he was happily taken out of the + water sooner than the first (who had remained about half an Hour + under it) and he was recovered by observing Part of the Advice this + Chapter contains; of which Chapter several Bystanders had + Copies.--This Note seems to be from the Author himself. + + __Sect.__ 401. + +Whenever a Person who has been drowned, has remained a Quarter of an +Hour under Water, there can be no considerable Hopes of his Recovery: +the Space of two or three Minutes in such a Situation being often +sufficient to kill a Man irrecoverably. Nevertheless, as several +Circumstances may happen to have continued Life, in such an unfortunate +Situation, beyond the ordinary Term, we should always endeavour to +afford them the most effectual Relief, and not give them up as +irrecoverable too soon: since it has often been known, that until the +Expiration of two, and sometimes even of three Hours, such Bodies have +exhibited some apparent Tokens of Life. + +Water has sometimes been found in the Stomach of drowned Persons; at +other times none at all. Besides, the greatest Quantity which has ever +been found in it has not exceeded that, which may be drank without any +Inconvenience; whence we may conclude, the meer Quantity was not mortal; +neither is it very easy to conceive how drowned Persons can swallow +Water. What really kills them is meer Suffocation, or the Interception +of Air, of the Action of breathing; and the Water which descends into +the Lungs, and which is determined there, by the Efforts they +necessarily, though involuntarily make, to draw Breath, after they are +under Water: for there absolutely does not any Water descend, either +into the Stomach or the Lungs of Bodies plunged into Water, after they +are dead; a Circumstance, which serves to establish a legal Sentence and +Judgment in some criminal Cases, and Trials: This Water intimately +blending itself with the Air in the Lungs, forms a viscid inactive Kind +of Froth, which entirely destroys the Functions of the Lungs; whence the +miserable Sufferer is not only suffocated, but the Return of the Blood +from the Head being also intercepted, the Blood Vessels of the Brain are +overcharged, and an Apoplexy is combined with the Suffocation. This +second Cause, that is, the Descent of the Water into the Lungs, is far +from being general, it having been evident from the Dissection of +several drowned Bodies, that it really never had existed in them. + + 402. The Intention that should be pursued, is that of unloading the +Lungs and the Brain, and of reviving the extinguished Circulation. For +which Purpose we should, 1, immediately strip the Sufferer of all his +wet Cloaths; rub him strongly with dry coarse Linnen; put him, as soon +as possible, into a well heated Bed, and continue to rub him well a very +considerable Time together. + +2, A strong and healthy Person should force his own warm Breath into the +Patient's Lungs; and the Smoke of Tobacco, if some was at Hand, by Means +of some Pipe, Chanel, Funnel or the like, that may be introduced into +the Mouth. This Air or Fume, being forcibly blown in, by stopping the +Sufferer's Nostrils close at the same Time, penetrates into the Lungs, +and there rarifies by its Heat that Air, which blended with the Water, +composed the viscid Spume or Froth. Hence that Air becomes disengaged +from the Water, recovers its Spring, dilates the Lungs; and, if there +still remains within any Principle of Life, the Circulation is renewed +again that Instant. + +3, If a moderately expert Surgeon is at Hand, he must open the jugular +Vein, or any large Vein in the Neck, and let out ten or twelve Ounces of +Blood. Such a Bleeding is serviceable on many Accounts. First, merely as +Bleeding, it renews the Circulation, which is the constant Effect of +Bleeding in such Swoonings, as arise from an intercepted or suffocated +Circulation. Secondly, it is that particular Bleeding, which most +suddenly removes, in such Cases, the Infarction or Obstruction of the +Head and Lungs; and, thirdly, it is sometimes the only Vessel, whence +Blood will issue under such Circumstances. The Veins of the Feet then +afford none; and those of the Arms seldom; but the Jugulars almost +constantly furnish it. + +Fourthly, the Fume of Tobacco should be thrown up, as speedily and +plentifully as possible, into the Intestines by the Fundament. There are +very commodious Contrivances devised for this Purpose; but as they are +not common, it may be effected by many speedy Means. One, by which a +Woman's Life was preserved, consisted only in introducing the small Tube +of a Tobacco Pipe well lighted up: the Head or Bowl of it was wrapped up +in a Paper, in which several Holes were pricked, and through these the +Breath was strongly forced. At the fifth Blast a considerable Rumbling +was heard in the Woman's Belly; she threw up a little Water, and a +Moment afterwards came to her Senses. Two Pipes may be thus lighted and +applied, with their Bowls covered 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 also be conveyed up, by introducing a _Canula_, or +any other Pipe, with a Bladder firmly fixed to it. This Bladder is +fastened at its other End to a large Tin Funnel, under which Tobacco is +to be lighted. This Contrivance has succeeded with me upon other +Occasions, in which Necessity compelled me to invent and apply it. + +Fifthly, the strongest Volatiles should be applied to the Patient's +Nostrils. The Powder of some strong dry Herb should be blown up his +Nose, such as Sage, Rosemary, Rue, Mint, and especially Marjoram, or +very well dried Tobacco; or even the Fume, the Smoke of these Herbs. But +all these Means are most properly employed after Bleeding, when they are +most efficacious and certain. + +Sixthly, as long as the Patient shews no Signs of Life, he will be +unable to swallow, and it is then useless, and even dangerous, to pour +much Liquid of any kind into his Mouth, which could do nothing but keep +up, or increase Suffocation. It is sufficient, in such Circumstances, to +instil a few Drops of some irritating Liquor, which might also be +cordial and reviving. But as soon as ever he discovers any Motion, he +should take, within the Space of one Hour, five or six common Spoonfuls +of Oxymel of Squills diluted with warm Water: or if that Medicine was +not to be had very speedily, a strong Infusion of the blessed Thistle, +or _Carduus benedictus_, of Sage, or of Chamomile Flowers sweetened with +Honey, might do instead of it: and supposing nothing else to be had, +some warm Water, with the Addition of a little common Salt, should be +given. Some Persons are bold enough to recommend Vomits in such Cases; +but they are not without their Inconvenience; and it is not as a Vomit +that I recommend the Oxymel of Squills in them. + +Seventhly, Notwithstanding the Sick discover some Tokens of Life, we +should not cease to continue our Assistance; since they sometimes +irrecoverably expire, after these first Appearances of recovering. + +And lastly, though they should be manifestly re-animated, there +sometimes remains an Oppression, a Coughing and Feverishness, which +effectually constitute a Disease: and then it becomes necessary +sometimes to bleed them in the Arms; to give them Barley Water +plentifully, or Elder-flower Tea. + + 403. Having thus pointed out such Means as are necessary, and truly +effectual, in such unfortunate Accidents, I shall very briefly mention +some others, which it is the general Custom to use and apply in the +first Hurry. + +1, These unhappy People are sometimes wrapped up in a Sheep's, or a +Calf's, or a Dog's Skin, immediately flead from the Animal: these +Applications have sometimes indeed revived the Heat of the Drowned; but +their Operations are more slow, and less efficacious, than the Heat of a +well-warmed Bed; with the additional Vapour of burnt Sugar, and long +continued Frictions with hot Flanels. + +2, The Method of rolling them in an empty Hogshead is dangerous, and +mispends a deal of important Time. + +3, That also of hanging them up by the Feet is attended with Danger, and +ought to be wholly discontinued. The Froth or Foam, which is one of the +Causes of their Death, is too thick and tough to discharge itself, in +Consequence of its own Weight. Nevertheless, this is the only Effect +that can be expected, from this Custom of suspending them by the Feet; +which must also be hurtful, by its tending to increase the Overfulness +of the Head and of the Lungs. + + 404. It is some Years since a Girl of eighteen Years old was recovered +[though it is unknown whether she remained under Water only a little +Time or some Hours] who was motionless, frozen as it were, insensible, +with her Eyes closed, her Mouth wide open, a livid Colour, a swoln +Visage, a Tumour or bloating of the whole Body, which was overladen as +it were, or Water-soaked. This miserable Object was extended on a Kind +of Bed, of hot or very warm Ashes, quickly heated in great Kettles; and +by laying her quite naked on these Ashes; by covering her with others +equally hot; by putting a Bonnet round her Head, with a Stocking round +her Neck stuffed with the same, and heaping Coverings over all this, at +the End of half an Hour her Pulse returned, she recovered her Speech, +and cried out, _I freeze, I freeze_: A little Cherry-Brandy was given +her, and then she remained buried, as it were, eight Hours under the +Ashes; being taken out of them afterwards without any other Complaint, +except that of great Lassitude or Weariness, which went entirely off the +third Day. This Method was undoubtedly so effectual, that it well +deserves Imitation; but it should not make us inattentive to the others. +Heated Gravel or Sand mixed with Salt, or hot Salt alone, would have +been equally efficacious, and they have been found so. + +At the very Time of writing this, two young Ducks, who were drowned, +have been revived by a dry Bath of hot Ashes. The Heat of a Dung-heap +may also be beneficial; and I have just been informed, by a very +creditable and sensible Spectator of it, that it effectually contributed +to restore Life to a Man, who had certainly remained six Hours under +Water. + + 405. I shall conclude these Directions with an Article printed in a +little Work at _Paris_, about twenty Years since, by Order of the King, +to which there is not the least Doubt, but that any other Sovereign will +readily accede. + + "Notwithstanding the common People are very generally disposed + to be compassionate, and may wish to give all Assistance to + drowned Persons, it frequently happens they do not, only because + they dare not; imagining they expose themselves by it to + Prosecutions. It is therefore necessary, that they should know, + and it cannot be too often repeated, in order to eradicate such + a pernicious Prejudice, that the Magistrates have never + interposed to prevent People from trying every possible Means to + recover such unfortunate Persons, as shall be drowned and taken + out of the Water. It is only in those Cases, when the Persons + are known to be absolutely and irrecoverably dead, that Justice + renders it necessary to seize their Bodies." + + + + + __Chapter XXIX.__ + + + _Of Substances stopt between the Mouth and the Stomach._ + + + __Sect.__ 406. + +The Food we take in descends from the Mouth through a very strait +Passage or Chanel, called the _Oesophagus_, the Gullet, which, going +parallel with the Spine or Backbone, joins to, or terminates at, the +Stomach. + +It happens sometimes that different Bodies are stopt in this Chanel, +without being able either to descend or to return up again; whether this +Difficulty arises from their being too large; or whether it be owing to +their having such Angles or Points, as by penetrating into, and adhering +to the Sides of this membranous Canal, absolutely prevent the usual +Action and Motion of it. + + 407. Very dangerous Symptoms arise from this Stoppage, which are +frequently attended with a most acute Pain in the Part; and at other +Times, with a very incommodious, rather than painful, Sensation; +sometimes a very ineffectual Commotion at, or rising of, the Stomach, +attended with great Anguish; and if the Stoppage be so circumstanced, +that the _Glottis_ is closed, or the Wind-pipe compressed, a dreadful +Suffocation is the Consequence: the Patient cannot breathe, the Lungs +are quite distended; and the Blood being unable to return from the Head, +the Countenance becomes red, then livid; the Neck swells; the Oppression +increases, and the poor Sufferer speedily dies. + +When the Patient's Breathing is not stopt, nor greatly oppressed; if the +Passage is not entirely blocked up, and he can swallow something, he +lives very easily for a few Days, and then his Case becomes a particular +Disorder of the _Oesophagus_, or Gullet. But if the Passage is +absolutely closed, and the Obstruction cannot be removed for many Days, +a terrible Death is the Consequence. + + 408. The Danger of such Cases does not depend so much on the Nature of +the obstructing Substance, as on its Size, with Regard to that of the +Passage of the Part where it stops, and of the Manner in which it forms +the Obstruction; and frequently the very Food may occasion Death; while +Substances less adapted to be swallowed are not attended with any +violent Consequences, though swallowed. + +A Child of six Days old swallowed a Comfit or Sugar Plumb, which stuck +in the Passage, and instantly killed it. + +A grown Person perceived that a Bit of Mutton had stopt in the Passage; +not to alarm any Body he arose from Table; a Moment afterwards, on +looking 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 an Egg, which he swallowed whole in a Bravo. + +A Child was killed by a Chesnut swallowed whole. Another died suddenly, +choaked (which is always the Circumstance, when they die instantly after +such Accidents) by a Pear which he had tossed up, and catched in his +Mouth. A Woman was choaked with another Pear. A Piece of a Sinew +continued eight Days in the Passage, so that it prevented the Patient +from getting down any Thing else; at the Expiration of that Time it fell +into the Stomach, being loosened by its Putridity: The Patient +notwithstanding died soon after, being killed by the Inflammation, +Gangrene and Weakness it had occasioned. Unhappily there occur but too +many Instances of this Sort, of which it is unnecessary to cite more. + + 409. Whenever any Substance is thus detained in the Gullet, there are +two Ways of removing it; that is either by extracting it, or pushing it +down. The safest and most certain Way is always to extract or draw it +out, but this is not always the easiest: and as the Efforts made for +this Purpose greatly fatigue the Patient, and are sometimes attended +with grievous Consequences; and yet if the Occasion is extremely urging, +it may be eligible to thrust it down, if that is easier; and if there is +no Danger from the obstructing Bodies Reception into the Stomach. + +The Substances which may be pushed down without Danger, are all common +nourishing ones, as Bread, Meat, Cakes, Fruits, Pulse, Morsels of Tripe, +and even Skin of Bacon. It is only very large Morsels of particular +Aliments, that prove very difficult to digest; yet even such are rarely +attended with any Fatality. + + 410. The Substances we should endeavour to extract or draw out, though +it be more painful and less easy than to push them down, are all those, +whose Consequences might be highly dangerous, or even mortal, if +swallowed. Such are all totally indigestible Bodies, as Cork, +Linen-Rags, large Fruit Stones, Bones, Wood, Glass, Stones, Metals; and +more especially if any further Danger may be superadded to that of its +Indigestibility, from the Shape, whether rough, sharp, pointed, or +angular, of the Substance swallowed. Wherefore we should chiefly +endeavour to extract Pins, Needles, Fish-bones, other pointed Fragments +of Bones, Bits of Glass, Scissars, Rings, or Buckles. + +Nevertheless it has happened, that every one of these Substances have at +one Time or another been swallowed, and the most usual Consequences of +them are violent Pains of the Stomach, and in the Guts; Inflammations, +Suppurations, Abscesses, a slow Fever, Gangrene, the _Miserere_ or Iliac +Passion; external Abscesses, through which the Bodies swallowed down +have been discharged; and frequently, after a long Train of Maladies, a +dreadful Death. + + 411. When such Substances have not passed in too deep, we should +endeavour to extract them with our Fingers, which often succeeds. If +they are lower, we should make use of Nippers or a small _Forceps_; of +which Surgeons are provided with different Sorts. Those which some +Smoakers carry about them might be very convenient for such Purposes; +and in Case of Necessity they might be made very readily out of two Bits +of Wood. But this Attempt to extract rarely succeeds, if the Substance +has descended far into the _Oesophagus_, and if the Substance be of a +flexible Nature, which exactly applies itself to, and fills up the +Cavity or Chanel of it. + + 412. If the Fingers and the Nippers fail, or cannot be duly applied, +Crotchets, a Kind of Hooks, must be employed. + +These may be made at once with a pretty strong iron Wire, crooked at the +End. It must be introduced in the flat Way, and for the better +conducting of it, there should be another Curve or Hook at the End it is +held by, to serve as a Kind of Handle to it, which has this further Use, +that it may be secured by a String tied to it; a Circumstance not to be +omitted in any Instrument employed on such Occasions, to avoid such ill +Accidents as have sometimes ensued, from these Instruments slipping out +of the Operators Hold. After the Crotchet has passed beyond and below +the Substance, that obstructs the Passage, it is drawn up again, and +hooks up with it and extracts that Impediment to swallowing. + +This Crotchet is also very convenient, whenever a Substance somewhat +flexible, as a Pin or a Fishbone stick, as it were, across the Gullet: +the Crotchet in such Cases seizing them about their middle Part, crooks +and thus disengages them. If they are very brittle Substances, it serves +to break them; and if any Fragments still stick within, some other Means +must be used to extract them. + + 413. When the obstructing Bodies are small, and only stop up Part of +the Passage; and which may either easily elude the Hook, or straiten it +by their Resistance, a Kind of Rings may be used, and made either solid +or flexible. + +The solid ones are made of iron Wire, or of a String of very fine brass +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 Diameter. Then the +long unbent Sides of the Wire are brought near each other; the circular +Part or Ring is introduced into the Gullet, in order to be conducted +about the obstructing Body, and so to extract it. Very flexible Rings +may be made of Wool, Thread, Silk, or small Packthread, which may be +waxed, for their greater Strength and Consistence. Then they are to be +tied fast to a Handle of Iron-Wire, of Whale-bone, or of any flexible +Wood; after which the Ring is to be introduced to surround the +obstructing Substance, and to draw it out. + +Several of these Rings passed through one another are often made use of, +the more certainly to lay hold of the obstructing Body, which may be +involved by one, if another should miss it. This Sort of Rings has one +Advantage, which is, that when the Substance to be extracted is once +laid hold of, it may then, by turning the Handle, be retained so +strongly in the Ring thus twisted, as to be moved every Way; which must +be a considerable Advantage in many such Cases. + + 414. A fourth Material employed on these unhappy Occasions is the +Sponge. Its Property of swelling considerably, on being wet, is the +Foundation of its Usefulness here. + +If any Substance is stopt in the Gullet, but without filling up the +whole Passage, a Bit of Sponge is introduced, into that Part that is +unstopt, and beyond the Substance. The Sponge soon dilates, and grows +larger in this moist Situation, and indeed the Enlargement of it may be +forwarded, by making the Patient swallow a few Drops of Water; and then +drawing back the Sponge by the Handle it is fastened to, as it is now +too large to return through the small Cavity, by which it was conveyed +in, it draws out the obstructing Body with it, and thus unplugs, as it +were, and opens the Gullet. + +As dry Sponge may shrink or be contracted, this Circumstance has proved +the Means of squeezing a pretty large Piece of it into a very small +Space. It becomes greatly compressed by winding a String or Tape very +closely about it, which Tape may be easily unwound and withdrawn, after +the Sponge has been introduced. It may also be inclosed in a Piece of +Whalebone, split into four Sticks at one End, and which, being endued +with a considerable Spring, contracts upon the Sponge. The Whalebone is +so smoothed and accommodated, as not to wound; and the Sponge is also to +be safely tied to a strong Thread; that after having disengaged the +Whalebone from it, the Surgeon may also draw out the Sponge at Pleasure. + +Sponge is also applied on these Occasions in another Manner. When there +is no Room to convey it into the Gullet, because the obstructing +Substance ingrosses its whole Cavity; and supposing it not hooked into +the Part, but solely detained by the Straitness of the Passage, a pretty +large Bit of Sponge is to be introduced towards the Gullet, and close to +the obstructing Subtance: Thus applied, the Sponge swells, and thence +dilates that Part of the Passage that is above this Substance. The +Sponge is then withdrawn a little, and but a very little, and this +Substance being less pressed upon above than below, it sometimes +happens, that the greater Staitness and Contraction of the lower Part of +the Passage, than of its upper Part, causes that Substance to ascend; +and as soon as this first Loosening or Disengagement of it has happened, +the total Disengagement of it easily follows. + + 415. Finally, when all these Methods prove unavailable, there remains +one more, which is to make the Patient vomit; but this can scarcely be +of any Service, but when such obstructing Bodies are simply engaged in, +and not hooked or stuck into the Sides of the _Oesophagus_; since under +this latter Circumstance vomiting might occasion further Mischief. + +If the Patient can swallow, a Vomiting may be excited with the +Prescription N. 8, or with N. 34, or 35. By this Operation a Bone was +thrown out, which had stopt in the Passage four and twenty Hours. + +When the Patient cannot swallow, an Attempt should be made to excite him +to vomit by introducing 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 obstructing Body strongly compresses the whole +Circumference of the Gullet; and then no other Resource is left, but +giving a Glyster of Tobacco. A certain Person swallowed a large Morsel +of Calf's Lights, which stopt in the Middle of the Gullet, and exactly +filled up the Passage. A Surgeon unsuccessfully attempted various +Methods to extract it; but another seeing how unavailable all of them +were; and the Patient's Visage becoming black and swelled; his Eyes +ready to start, as it were, out of his Head; and falling into frequent +Swoonings, attended with Convulsions too, he caused a Glyster of an +Ounce of Tobacco boiled to be thrown up; the Consequence of which was a +violent Vomiting, which threw up the Substance that was so very near +killing him. + + 416. A sixth Method, which I believe has never hitherto been +attempted, but which may prove very useful in many Cases, when the +Substances in the Passage are not too hard, and are very large, would be +to fix a Worm (used for withdrawing the Charge of Guns that have been +loaded) fast to a flexible Handle, with a waxed Thread fastened to the +Handle, in Order to withdraw it, if the Handle slipt from the Worm; and +by this Contrivance it might be very practicable, if the obstructing +Substance was not too deep in the Passage of the Gullet, to extract +it--It has been known that a Thorn fastened in the Throat, has been +thrown out by laughing. + + 417. In the Circumstances mentioned 409, when it is more easy and +convenient to push the obstructing Body downwards, it has been usual to +make Use of Leeks, which may generally be had any where (but which +indeed are very subject to break) or of a Wax-candle oiled, and but a +very little heated, so as to make it flexible; or of a Piece of +Whale-bone; or of Iron-Wire; one Extremity of which may be thickened and +blunted in a Minute with a little melted Lead. Small Sticks of some +flexible Wood may be as convenient for the same Use, such as the +Birch-tree, the Hazel, the Ash, the Willow, a flexible Plummet, or a +leaden Ring. All these Substances should be very smooth, that they may +not give the least Irritation; for which Reason they are sometimes +covered over with a thin Bit of Sheep's Gut. Sometimes a Sponge is +fastened to one End of them, which, completely filling up the whole +Passage, pushes down whatever Obstacle it meets with. + +In such Cases too, the Patient may be prompted to attempt swallowing +down large Morsels of some unhurtful Substance, such as a Crust of +Bread, a small Turnep, a Lettuce Stalk, or a Bullet, in Hopes of their +carrying down the obstructing Cause with them. It must be acknowledged, +however, that these afford but a feeble Assistance; and if they are +swallowed without being well secured to a Thread, it may be apprehended +they may even increase the Obstruction, by their own Stoppage. + +It has sometimes very happily, though rarely, occurred, that those +Substances attempted to be detruded or thrust 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 Case of pointed Substances. + + 418. Should it be impossible to extract the Bodies mentioned 410, +and all such as it must be dangerous to admit into the Stomach, we must +then prefer the least of two Evils, and rather run the Hazard of pushing +them down, than suffer the Patient to perish dreadfully in a few +Moments. And we ought to scruple this Resolution the less, as a great +many Instances have demonstrated, that notwithstanding several bad +Consequences, and even a tormenting Death, have often followed the +swallowing of such hurtful or indigestible Substances; yet at other +times they have been attended with little or no Disorder. + + 419. One of these four Events is always the Case, after swallowing +such Things. They either, 1, go off by Stool; or, 2, they are not +discharged and kill the Patient. Or else, 3, they are discharged by +Urine; or, 4, are visibly extruded to the Skin. I shall give some +Instances of each of these Events. + + 420. When they are voided by Stool, they are either voided soon after +they have been swallowed, and that without having occasional scarce any +troublesome Symptom; 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-stone, the Cover +of a small Box of Venice Treacle, Pins, Needles, and Coins of different +Sorts, have been voided within a few Days after they had slipt down into +the Stomach; and that with little or no Complaint. A small Flute, or +Pipe also, four Inches long, which occasioned acute Pains for three +Days, has been voided happily afterwards, besides, Knives, Razors, and +one Shoe-buckle. I have seen but a few Days since a Child between two +and three Years old, who swallowed a Nail above an Inch long, the Head +of which was more than three Tenths of an Inch broad: it stopt a few +Moments about the Neck, but descended while its Friends were looking for +me; and was voided with a Stool that Night, without any bad Consequence. +And still more lately I have known the entire Bone of a Chicken's Wing +thus swallowed, which only occasioned a slight Pain in the Stomach for +three or four Days. + +Sometimes such Substances are retained within for a long Time, not being +voided till after several Months, and even Years, without the least ill +Effect: and some of them have never either appeared, nor been complained +of. + + 421. But the Event is not always so happy; and sometimes though they +are discharged through the natural Passages, the Discharges have been +preceded by very acute Pains in the Stomach, and in the Bowels. A Girl +swallowed down some Pins, which afflicted her with violent Pains for the +Space of six Years; at the Expiration of which Term she voided them and +recovered. Three Needles being swallowed brought on Cholics, Swoonings +and Convulsions for a Year after: and then being voided by Stool, the +Patient recovered. Another Person who swallowed two, was much happier in +suffering but six Hours from them; when they were voided by Stool, and +he did well. + +It sometimes happens that such indigestible Substances, after having +past all the Meanders, the whole Course of the Intestines, have been +stopt in the Fundament, and brought on very troublesome Symptoms; but +such however, as an expert Surgeon may very generally remove. If it is +practicable to cut them, as it is when they happen to be thin Bones, the +Jaw-bones of Fish, or Pins, they are then very easily extracted. + + 422. The second Event is, when these fatal Substances are never +voided, but cause very embarrassing Symptoms which finally kill the +Patient; and of these Cases there have been but too many Examples. + +A young Girl having swallowed some Pins, which she held in her Mouth, +some of them were voided by Stool; but others of them pricked and +pierced into her Guts, and even into the Muscles of her Belly, with the +severest Pain; and killed her at the End of three Weeks. + +A Man swallowed a Needle, which pierced through his Stomach, and into +his Liver, [94] and ended in a mortal Consumption. + +[94] I saw a very similar Instance and Event in a Lady's little + favourite Bitch, whole Body she desired to be opened, from + suspecting her to have been poisoned. But it appeared that a small + Needle with fine Thread, which she had swallowed, had passed out of + the Stomach into the _Duodenum_ (one of the Guts) through which the + Point had pierced and pricked and corroded the concave Part of the + Liver, which was all rough and putrid. The whole Carcase was + greatly bloated and extremely offensive, very soon after the poor + Animal's Death, which happened two or three Months after the + Accident, and was preceded by a great Wheezing, Restlessness and + Loss of Appetite. The Needle was rusty, but the Thread entire, and + very little altered. _K._ + +A Plummet which slipt 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 +swallowed without any fatal or troublesome Effects. Even a hundred +Luidores [95] have been swallowed, and all voided. Nevertheless these +fortunate Escapes ought not to make People too secure and incautious on +such Occasions, since such melancholy Consequences have happened, as may +very justly alarm them. One single Piece of Money that was swallowed, +entirely obstructed the Communication between the Stomach and the +Intestines, and killed the Patient. Whole Nuts have often been +inadvertently swallowed; but there have been some Instances of Persons +in whom a Heap [96] of them has been formed, which proved the Cause of +Death, after producing much Pain and Inquietude. + +[95] I knew a Man of the Name of _Poole_, who being taken in the same + Ship with me, 1717 or 18, by Pirates, had swallowed four Ginueas, + and a gold Ring, all which he voided some Days after without any + Injury or Complaint, and saved them. I forget the exact Number of + Days he retained them, but the Pirates staid with us from Saturday + Night to Thursday Noon. _K._ + +[96] Many fatal Examples of this Kind may be seen in the _Philosophical + Transactions_; and they should caution People against swallowing + Cherry-stones, and still more against those of Prunes, or such as + are pointed, though not very acutely. _K._ + + 423. The third Issue or Event is, when these Substances, thus +swallowed down, have been discharged by Urine: but these Cases 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, besides +Cherry-stones, Plumb-stones, and even one Peach-stone. + + 424. Finally, the fourth Consequence or Event is, when the +indigestible Substances thus swallowed, have pierced through the Stomach +or Intestines, and even to the Skin itself; and occasioning an Abscess, +have made an Outlet for themselves, or have been taken out of the +Abscess. A long Time is often required to effect this extraordinary +Trajection and Appearance of them; sometimes the Pains they occasion are +continual; in other Cases the Patient complains for a Time, after which +the Pain ceases, and then returns again. The Imposthume, or Gathering, +is formed in the Stomach, or in some other Part of the Belly: and +sometimes these very Substances, after having pierced through the Guts, +make very singular Routs, and are discharged very remotely from the +Belly. One Needle that had been swallowed found its Way out, at the End +of four Years, through the Leg; another at the Shoulder. + + 425. All these Examples, and many others of cruel Deaths, from +swallowing noxious Substances, demonstrate the great Necessity of an +habitual Caution in this Respect; and give in their Testimony against +the horrid, I had almost said, the criminal Imprudence, of People's +amusing themselves with such Tricks as may lead to such terrible +Accidents; or even holding any such Substance in their Mouths, as by +slipping down through Imprudence or Accident, may prove the Occasion of +their Death. Is it possible that any one, without shuddering, can hold +Pins or Needles in their Mouths, after reflecting on the dreadful +Accidents, and cruel Deaths, that have thus been caused by them. + + 426. It has been shewn already, that Substances obstructing the +Passage of the Gullet sometimes suffocate the Patient; that at other +Times they can neither be extracted nor thrust down; but that they stop +in the Passage, without killing the Patient, at least not immediately +and at once. This is the Case when they are so circumstanced, as not to +compress the _Tracha_, the Wind-pipe, and not totally to prevent the +swallowing of Food; which last Circumstance can scarcely happen, except +the Obstruction has been formed by angular or pointed Bodies. The +Stoppage of such Bodies is sometimes attended, and that without much +Violence, with a small Suppuration, which loosens them; and then they +are either returned upwards through the Mouth, or descend into the +Stomach. But at other Times an extraordinary Inflammation is produced, +which kills the Patient. Or if the Contents of the Abscess attending the +Inflammation tend outwardly, a Tumour is formed on the external Part of +the Neck, which is to be opened, and through whose Orifice the +obstructing Body is discharged. In other Instances again they take a +different Course, attended with little or no Pain, and are at length +discharged by a Gathering behind the Neck, on the Breast, the Shoulder, +or various other Parts. + + 427. Some Persons, astonished at the extraordinary Course and +Progression of such Substances, which, from their Size, and especially +from their Shape, seem to them incapable of being introduced into, and +in some Sort, circulating through the human Body, without destroying it, +are very desirous of having the Rout and Progression of such intruding +Substances explained to them. To gratify such Inquirers, I may be +indulged in a short Digression, which perhaps is the less foreign to my +Plan; as in dissipating what seems marvelous, and has been thought +supernatural in such Cases, I may demolish that superstitious Prejudice, +which has often ascribed Effects of this Sort to Witchcraft; but which +admit of an easy Explanation. This very Reason is the Motive that has +determined me to give a further Extent to this Chapter. + +Wherever an Incision is made through the Skin, a certain Membrane +appears, which consists of two Coats or _Lamin_, separated from each +other by small Cells or Cavities, which all communicate together; and +which are furnished, more or less, with Fat. There is not any Fat +throughout the human Body, which is not inclosed in, or enveloped with, +this Coat, which is called the adipose, fatty, or cellular Membrane. + +This Membrane is not only found under the Skin, but further plying and +insinuating itself in various Manners, it is extended throughout the +whole Body. It distinguishes and separates all the Muscles; it +constitutes a Part of the Stomach, of the Guts, of the Bladder, and of +all the _Viscera_ or Bowels. It is this which forms what is called the +Cawl, and which also furnishes a Sheath or Envelopement to the Veins, +Arteries, and Nerves. In some Parts it is very thick, and is abundantly +replenished with Fat; in others it is very thin and unprovided with any; +but wherever it extends, it is wholly insensible, or void of all +Sensation, all Feeling. + +It may be compared to a quilted Coverlet, the Cotton, or other Stuffing +of which, is unequally distributed; greatly abounding in some Places, +with none at all in others, so that in these the Stuff above and below +touch each other. Within this Membrane, or Coverlet, as it were, such +extraneous or foreign Substances are moved about; and as there is a +general Communication throughout the whole Extent of the Membrane, it is +no ways surprizing, that they are moved from one Part to another very +distant, in a long Course and Duration of Movement. Officers and +Soldiers very often experience, that Bullets which do not pass 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 throughout the whole Carcase of a +Calf, by a small Incision in the Skin, into which they introduce a Pipe +or the Nozzle of a small Bellows; and then, blowing forcibly, the Air +evidently puffs up the whole Body of the Calf into this artificial +Tumour or Swelling. + +Some very criminal Impostors have availed themselves of this wicked +Contrivance, thus to bloat up Children into a Kind of Monsters, which +they afterwards expose to View for Money. + +In this cellular Membrane the extravasated Waters of hydropic Patients +are commonly diffused; and here they give Way to that Motion, to which +their own Weight disposes them. But here I may be asked--As this +Membrane is crossed and intersected in different Parts of it, by Nerves, +Veins, Arteries, _&c._ the wounding of which unavoidably occasions +grievous Symptoms, how comes it, that such do not ensue upon the +Intrusion of such noxious Substances? To this I answer, 1, that such +Symptoms do sometimes really ensue; and 2, that nevertheless they must +happen but seldom, by Reason that all the aforesaid Parts, which +traverse and intersect this Membrane, being harder than the Fat it +contains; such foreign Substances must almost necessarily, whenever they +rencounter those Parts, be turned aside towards the Fat which surrounds +them, whose Resistance is very considerably less; and this the more +certainly so, as these Nerves, _&c._ are always of a cylindrical +Form.----But to return from this necessary Digression. + + 428. To all these Methods and Expedients I have already recommended on +the important Subject of this Chapter, I shall further add some general +Directions. + +1. It is often useful, and even necessary, to take a considerable +Quantity of Blood from the Arm; but especially if the Patient's +Respiration, or Breathing, is extremely oppressed; or when we cannot +speedily succeed in our Efforts to remove the obstructing Substance; as +the Bleeding is adapted to prevent the Inflammation, which the frequent +Irritations from such Substances occasion; and as by its disposing the +whole Body into a State of Relaxation, it might possibly procure an +immediate Discharge of the offending Substance. + +2. Whenever it is manifest that all Endeavours, either to extract, or to +push down the Substance stopt in the Passage, are ineffectual, they +should be discontinued; because the Inflammation occasioned by +persisting in them, would be as dangerous as the Obstruction itself; as +there have been Instances of People's dying in Consequence of the +Inflammation; notwithstanding the Body, which caused the Obstruction, +had been entirely removed. + +3. While the Means already advised are making Use of, the Patient should +often swallow, or if he cannot, he should frequently receive by +Injection through a crooked Tube or Pipe, that may reach lower down than +the _Glottis_, some very emollient 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 arise from this; the first is, that these +softening Liquors smooth and sooth the irritated Parts; and secondly, an +Injection, strongly thrown in, has often been more successful in +loosening the obstructing Body, than all Attempts with Instruments. + +4. When after all we are obliged to leave this in the Part, the Patient +must be treated as if he had an inflammatory Disease; he must be bled, +ordered to a Regimen, and have his whole Neck surrounded with emollient +Pultices. The like Treatment must also be used, though the obstructing +Substance be removed; if there is Room to suppose any Inflammation left +in the Passage. + +5. A proper Degree of Agitation has sometimes loosened the inhering +Body, more effectually than Instruments. It has been experienced that a +Blow with the Fist on the Spine, the Middle of the Back, has often +disengaged such obstructed and obstructing Bodies; and I have known two +Instances of Patients who had Pins stopt in the Passage; and who getting +on Horseback to ride out in Search of Relief at a neighbouring Village, +found each of them the Pin disengaged after an Hour's riding: One spat +it out, and the other swallowed it, without any ill Consequence. + +6. When there is an immediate Apprehension of the Patient's being +suffocated; when bleeding him has been of no Service; when all Hope of +freeing the Passage in time is vanished, and Death seems at Hand, if +Respiration be not restored; the Operation of _Bronchotomy_, or opening +of the Wind-pipe, must be directly performed; an Operation neither +difficult to a tolerably knowing and expert Surgeon, nor very painful to +the Patient. + +7. When the Substance that was stopt passes into the Stomach, the +Patient must immediately be put into a very mild and smooth Regimen. He +should avoid all sharp, irritating, inflaming Food; Wine, spirituous +Liquors, all strong Drink, and Coffee; taking but little Nourishment at +once, and no Solids, without their having been thoroughly well chewed. +The best Diet would be that of farinaceous mealy Soups, made of various +leguminous Grains, and of Milk and Water, which is much better than the +usual Custom of swallowing different Oils. + + 429. The Author of Nature has provided, that in eating, nothing should +pass by the _Glottis_ into the Wind-pipe. This Misfortune nevertheless +does sometimes happen; at which very Instant there ensues an incessant +and violent Cough, an acute Pain, with Suffocation; all the Blood being +forced up into the Head, the Patient is in extreme Anguish, being +agitated with violent and involuntary Motions, and sometimes dying on +the Spot. A _Hungarian_ Grenadier, by Trade a Shoemaker, was eating and +working at the same time. He tumbled at once from his Seat, without +uttering a single Word. His Comrades called out for Assistance; some +Surgeons speedily arrived, but after all their Endeavours he discovered +no Token of Life. On opening the Body, they found a Lump, or large +Morsel, of Beef, weighing two Ounces, forced into the Windpipe, which it +plugged up so exactly, that not the least Air could pass through it into +the Lungs. + + 430. In a Case so circumstanced, the Patient should be struck often on +the Middle of the Back; some Efforts to vomit should be excited; he +should be prompted to sneeze with Powder of Lilly of the Valley, Sage, +or any cephalic Snuffs, which should be blown strongly up his Nose. + +A Pea, pitched into the Mouth in playing, entered into the Wind-pipe, +and sprung out again by vomiting the Patient with Oil. A little Bone was +brought up by making another sneeze, with powdered Lilly of the Valley. + +In short, if all these Means of assisting, or saving the Patient are +evidently ineffectual, _Bronchotomy_ must be speedily performed (See N. +6, of the preceding Section.) By this Operation, some Bones, a Bean, and +a Fish-bone have been extracted, and the Patient has been delivered from +approaching Death. + + 431. Nothing should be left untried, when the Preservation of human +Life is the Object. In those Cases, when an obstructing Body can neither +be disengaged from the Throat, the Passage to the Stomach, nor be +suffered to remain there without speedily killing the Patient, it has +been proposed to make an Incision into this Passage, the _Oesophagus_, +through which such a Body is to be extracted; and to employ the like +Means, when a Substance which had slipt even into the Stomach itself, +was of a Nature to excite such Symptoms, as must speedily destroy the +Patient. + +When the _Oesophagus_ is so fully and strongly closed, that the Patient +can receive no Food by the Mouth, he is to be nourished by Glysters of +Soup, Gelly, and the like. + + + + + __Chapter XXX.__ + + + _Of external Disorders, and such as require chirurgical + Application. Of Burns, Wounds, Contusions or Bruises: Of + Sprains, Ulcers, frostbitten Limbs, Chilblains, Ruptures, Boils. + Of Fellons, Thorns or Splinters in the Fingers or Flesh; of + Warts, and of Corns._ + + + __Sect.__ 432. + +Labouring Countrymen are exposed in the Course of their daily Work, to +many outward Accidents, such as Cuts, Contusions, _&c_. which, however +considerable in themselves, very generally end happily; and that chiefly +in Consequence of the pure and simple Nature of their Blood, which is +generally much less acrimonious, or sharp, in the Country, than in great +Towns or Cities. Nevertheless, the very improper Treatment of such +Accidents, in the Country, frequently renders them, however light in +themselves, very troublesome; and indeed, I have seen so many Instances +of this, that I have thought it necessary to mark out here the proper +Treatment of such Accidents, as may not necessarily require the Hand or +Attendance of a Surgeon. I shall also add something very briefly, +concerning some external Disorders, which at the same Time result from +an inward Cause. + + + + _Of Burns._ + + + 433. When a Burn is very trifling and superficial, and occasions no +Vesication or Blister, it is sufficient to clap a Compress of several +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 blistered, a Compress of very fine Linen, spread over with the +Pomatum, N. 64, should be applied over it, and changed twice a Day. + +If the true Skin is burnt, and even the Muscles, the Flesh under it, be +injured, the same Pomatum may be applied; but instead of a Compress, it +should be spread upon a Pledget of soft Lint, to be applied very exactly +over it, and over the Pledget again, a Slip of the simple Plaister N. +65, which every Body may easily prepare; or, if they should prefer it, +the Plaister N. 66. + +But, independently of these external Applications, which are the most +effectual ones, when they are directly to be had; whenever the Burn has +been very violent, is highly inflamed, and we are apprehensive of the +Progress and the Consequences of the Inflammation, the same Means and +Remedies must be recurred to, which are used in violent Inflammations: +the Patient should be bled, and, if it is necessary, it should be +repeated more than once, and he should be put into a Regimen; drink +nothing but the Ptisans N. 2 and 4, and receive daily two simple +Glysters. + +If the Ingredients for the Ointment, called _Nutritum_, are not at Hand +to make the Pomatum N. 64; one Part of Wax should be melted in eight +such Parts of Oil, to two Ounces of which Mixture the Yolk of an Egg +should be added. A still more simple and sooner prepared Application, is +that of one Egg, both the Yolk and the White, beat up with two common +Spoonfuls of the sweetest Oil, without any Rankness. When the Pain of +the Burn, and all its other Symptoms have very nearly disappeared, it is +sufficient to apply the Sparadrap, or Oil-cloth N. 66. + + + + _Of Wounds._ + + + 434. If a Wound has penetrated into any of the Cavities, and has +wounded any Part contained in the Breast, or in the Belly: Or if, +without having entered into one of the Cavities, it has opened some +great Blood-vessel; or if it has wounded a considerable Nerve, which +occasions Symptoms much more violent, than would otherwise have +happened; if it has penetrated even to and injured the Bone: in short, +if any great and severe Symptom supervenes, there is an absolute +Necessity for calling in a Surgeon. But whenever the Wound is not +attended with any of these Circumstances; when it affects only the Skin, +the fat Membrane beneath it, the fleshy Parts and the small Vessels, it +may be easily and simply dressed without such Assistance; since, in +general, all that is truly necessary in such Cases is, to defend the +Wound from the Impressions of the Air; and yet not so, as to give any +material Obstruction to the Discharge of the Matter, that is to issue +from the Wound. + + 435. If the Blood does not particularly flow out of any considerable +Vessel, but trickles almost equally from every Spot of the Wound, it may +very safely be permitted to bleed, while some Lint is speedily +preparing. As soon as the Lint is ready, so 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 Inconveniences as +Tents and Dossils. It should be covered over with a Compress dipt in +sweet Oil, or with the Cerecloth N. 65; though I prefer the Compress +for the earliest Dressings: and the whole Dressing should be kept on, +with a Bandage of two Fingers Breadth, and of a Length proportioned to +the Size of the Part it is to surround: This should be rolled on tight +enough to secure the Dressings, and yet so moderately, as to bring on no +Inflammation. + +This Bandage with these Dressings are to remain on twenty-four or +forty-eight Hours; Wounds being healed the sooner, for being less +frequently drest. At the second Dressing all the Lint must be removed, +which can be done with Ease, and with reasonable Speed, to the Wounded; +and if any of it should stick close, in Consequence of the clogged and +dried Blood, it should be left behind, adding a little fresh Lint to it; +this Dressing in other Respects exactly resembling the first. + +When, from the Continuance of this simple Dressing, the Wound is become +very superficial, it is sufficient to apply the Cerecloth, or Plaister, +without any Lint. + +Such as have conceived an extraordinary Opinion of any medical Oils, +impregnated with the Virtues of particular Plants, may, if that will +increase their Satisfaction, make use of the common Oil of Yarrow, of +Trefoil, of Lilies, of Chamomile, of Balsamines, or of red Roses; only +being very careful, that such Oils are not become stale and rank. + + 436. When the Wound is considerable, it must be expected to inflame +before Suppuration (which, in such a Case, advances more slowly) can +ensue; which Inflammation will necessarily be attended with Pain, with a +Fever, and sometimes with a Raving, or Wandering, too. In such a +Situation, a Pultice of Bread and Milk, with the Addition of a little +Oil, that it may not stick too close, must be applied instead of the +Compress or the Plaister: which Pultice is to be changed, but without +uncovering the Wound, thrice and even four times every Day. + + 437. Should some pretty considerable Blood-vessel be opened by the +Wound, there must be applied over it, a Piece of Agaric of the Oak, N. +67, with which no Country place ought to be unprovided. It is to be kept +on, by applying a good deal of Lint over it; covering the whole with a +thick Compress, and then with a Bandage a little tighter than usual. If +this should not be sufficient to prevent the Bleeding from the large +Vessel, and the Wound be in the Leg or Arm, a strong Ligature must be +made above the Wound with a _Turniquet_, which is made in a Moment with +a Skain of Thread, or of Hemp, that is passed round the Arm circularly, +into the Middle of which is inserted a Piece of Wood or Stick of an Inch +Thickness, and four or five Inches long; so that by turning round this +Piece of Wood, any Tightness or Compression may be effected at Pleasure; +exactly as a Country-man secures a Hogshead, or a Piece of Timber on his +Cart, with a Chain and Ring. But Care must be taken, 1, to dispose the +Skain in such a Manner, that it must always be two Inches wider than the +Part it surrounds: and, 2, not to strain it so tight as to bring on an +Inflammation, which might terminate in a Gangrene. + + 438. All the boasted Virtues of a Multitude of Ointments are downright +Nonsense or Quackery. Art, strictly considered, does not in the least +contribute to the healing of Wounds; the utmost we can do amounting only +to our removing those Accidents, which are so many Obstacles to their +Re-union. On this Account, if there is any extraneous Body in the Wound, +such as Iron, Lead, Wood, Glass, Bits of Cloth or Linen, they must be +extracted, if that can be very easily done; but if not, Application must +be made to a good Surgeon, who considers what Measures are to be taken, +and then dresses the Wound, as I have already advised. + +Very far from being useful, there are many Ointments that are pernicious +on these Occasions; and the only Cases in which they should be used, are +those in which the Wounds are distinguished with some particular +Appearances, which ought to be removed by particular Applications: But a +simple recent Wound, in a healthy Man, requires no other Treatment but +what I have already directed, besides that of the general Regimen. + +Spirituous Applications are commonly hurtful, and can be suitable and +proper but in a few Cases, which Physicians and Surgeons only can +distinguish. + +When Wounds occur in the Head, instead of the Compress dipt in Oil, or +of the Cerecloth, the Wound should be covered with a Betony Plaister; +or, when none is to be had in time, with a Compress squeezed out of hot +Wine. + + 439. As the following Symptoms, of which we should be most +apprehensive, are such as attend on Inflammations, the Means we ought to +have Recourse to are those which are most likely to prevent them; such +as Bleeding, the usual Regimen, moderate Coolers and Glysters. + +Should the Wound be very inconsiderable in its Degree, and in its +Situation, it may be sufficient to avoid taking any Thing heating; and +above all Things to retrench the Use of any strong Drink, and of +Flesh-meat. + +But when it is considerable, and an Inflammation must be expected, there +is a Necessity for Bleeding; the Patient should be kept in the most +quiet and easy Situation; he should be ordered immediately to a Regimen; +and sometimes the Bleeding also must be repeated. Now all these Means +are the more indispensably necessary, when the Wound has penetrated to +some internal Part; in which Situation, no Remedy is more certain than +that of an extremely light Diet. Such wounded Persons as have been +supposed incapable of living many Hours, after Wounds in the Breast, in +the Belly, or in the Kidnies, have been completely recovered, by living +for the Course of several Weeks, on nothing but a Barley, or other +farinaceous mealy, Ptisans, without Salt, without Soup, without any +Medicine; and especially without the Use of any Ointments. + + 440. In the same Proportion that Bleeding, moderately and judiciously +employed, is serviceable, in that very same an Excess of it becomes +pernicious. Great Wounds are generally attended with a considerable Loss +of Blood, which has already exhausted the wounded Person; and the Fever +is often a Consequence of this copious Loss of Blood. Now if under such +a Circumstance, Bleeding should be ordered and performed, the Patient's +Strength is totally sunk; the Humours stagnate and corrupt; a Gangrene +supervenes, and he dies miserably, at the End of two or three Days, of a +_Series_ of repeated Bleedings, but not of the Wound. Notwithstanding +the Certainty of this, the Surgeon frequently boasts of his ten, twelve, +or even his fifteen Bleedings; assuring his Hearers of the insuperable +Mortality of the Wound, since the letting out such a Quantity of Blood +could not recover the Patient; when it really was that excessive +artificial Profusion of it, that downright dispatched him.------The +Pleasures of Love are very mortal ones to the Wounded. + + 441. The Balsams and vulnerary Plants, which have often been so highly +celebrated for the Cure of Wounds, are very noxious, when taken +inwardly; because the Introduction of them gives or heightens the Fever, +which ought to have been abated. + + + + _Of Contusions, or Bruises._ + + + 442. A Contusion, which is commonly called a Bruise, is the Effect of +the forcible Impression or Stroke of a Substance not sharp or cutting, +on the Body of a Man, or any Animal; whether such an Impression 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 forced against +a Post, a Stone, or any hard Substance by a Fall; or whether, in short, +he is squeezed and oppressed betwixt two hard Bodies, as when his Finger +is squeezed betwixt the Door and the Door-Post, or the whole Body jammed +in betwixt any Carriage and the Wall. These Bruises, however, are still +more frequent in the Country than Wounds, and commonly more dangerous +too; and indeed the more so, as we cannot judge so exactly, and so soon, +of the whole Injury that has been incurred; and because all that is +immediately visible of it is often but a small Part of the real Damage +attending it: since it frequently happens that no Hurt appears for a few +successive Days; nor does it become manifest, until it is too late to +admit of an effectual Cure. + + 443. It is but a few Weeks since a Cooper came to ask my Advice. His +Manner of breathing, his Aspect, the Quickness, Smallness, and +Irregularity of his Pulse, made me apprehensive at once, that some +Matter was formed within his Breast. Nevertheless he still kept up, and +went about, working also at some Part of his Trade. He had fallen in +removing some Casks or Hogsheads; and the whole Weight of his Body had +been violently impressed upon the right Side of his Breast. +Notwithstanding this, he was sensible of no Hurt at first; but some Days +afterwards he began to feel a dull heavy Pain in that Part, which +continued and brought on a Difficulty of Breathing, Weakness, broken +Sleep and Loss of Appetite. I ordered him immediately to Stillness and +Repose, and I advised him to drink a Ptisan of Barley sweetened with +Honey, in a plentiful Quantity. He regularly obeyed only the latter Part +of my Directions: yet on meeting him a few Days after, he told me he was +better. The very same Week, however, I was informed he had been found +dead in his Bed. The Imposthume had undoubtedly broke, and suffocated +him. + + 444. A young Man, run away with by his Horse, was forced with Violence +against a Stable-Door, without being sensible of any Damage at the Time. +But at the Expiration of twelve Days, he found himself attacked by some +such 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 really was, above a Month. In short, it was agreed at a +Consultation, that Matter was collected in the Breast. In Consequence of +this, he was more properly attended, and at length happily cured by the +Operation for an _Empyema_, after languishing a whole Year. I have +published these two Instances, to demonstrate the great Danger of +neglecting violent Strokes or Bruises; since the first of these Patients +might have escaped Death; and the second a tedious and afflicting +Disorder, if they had taken, immediately after each Accident, the +necessary Precautions against its Consequences. + + 445. Whenever any Part is bruised, one of two Things always ensues, +and commonly both happen together; especially if the Contusion is pretty +considerable: Either the small Blood-vessels of the contused Part are +broken, and the Blood they contained is spread about in the adjoining +Parts; or else, without such an Effusion of it, these Vessels have lost +their Tone, their active Force, and no longer contributing to the +Circulation, their Contents stagnate. In each of these Cases, if Nature, +either without or with the Assistance of Art, does not remove the +Impediment, an Inflammation comes on, attended with an imperfect, +unkindly Suppuration, with Putrefaction and a Gangrene; without +mentioning the Symptoms that arise from the Contusion of some particular +Substance, as a Nerve, a large Vessel, a Bone, _&c._ Hence we may also +conceive the Danger of a Contusion, happening to any inward Part, from +which the Blood is either internally effused, or the Circulation wholly +obstructed in some vital Organ. This is the Cause of the sudden Death of +Persons after a violent Fall; or of those who have received the violent +Force of heavy descending Bodies on their Heads; or of some violent +Strokes, without any evident external Hurt or Mark. + +There have been many Instances of sudden Deaths after one Blow on the +Pit of the Stomach, which has occasioned a Rupture of the Spleen. + +It is in Consequence of Falls occasioning a general slight Contusion, as +well internal as external, that they are sometimes attended with such +grievous Consequences, especially in old Men, where Nature, already +enfeebled, is less able to redress such Disorders. And thus in Fact has +it been, that many such, who had before enjoyed a firm State of Health, +have immediately lost it after a Fall (which seemed at first to have +affected them little or not at all) and languished soon after to the +Moment of their Death, which such Accidents very generally accelerate. + + 446. Different external and internal Remedies are applicable in +Contusions. When the Accident has occurred in a slight Degree, and there +has been no great nor general Shock, which might produce an internal +Soreness or Contusion, external Applications may be sufficient. They +should consist of such Things as are adapted, first, to attenuate and +resolve the effused and stagnant Blood, which shews itself so +apparently; and which, from its manifest Blackness very soon after the +Contusion, becomes successively brown, yellow, and greyish, in +Proportions as the Magnitude of the Suffusion or Sealing decreases, till +at last it disappears entirely, and the Skin recovers its Colour, +without the Blood's having been discharged through the external Surface, +as it has been insensibly and gradually dissolved, and been taken in +again by the Vessels: And secondly, the Medicines should be such as are +qualified to restore the Tone, and to recover the Strength of the +affected Vessels. + +The best Application is Vinegar, diluted, if very sharp, with twice as +much warm Water; in which Mixture Folds of Linnen are to be dipt, within +which the contused Parts are to be involved; and these Folds are to be +remoistened and re-applied every two Hours on the first Day. + +Parsley, Chervil, and Houseleek Leaves, lightly pounded, have also been +successfully employed; and these Applications are preferable to Vinegar, +when a Wound is joined to the Bruise. The Pultices, N. 68, may also be +used with Advantage. + + 447. It has been a common Practice immediately to apply spirituous +Liquors, such as Brandy, Arquebussade and [97] Alibour Water, and the +like; but a long Abuse ought not to be established by Prescription. +These Liquids which coagulate the Blood, instead of resolving it, are +truly pernicious; notwithstanding they are sometimes employed without +any visible Disadvantage on very slight Occasions. Frequently by +determining the settled Blood towards the Insterstices of the Muscles, +the fleshy Parts; or sometimes even by preventing the Effusion, or +visible Settling of the Blood, and fixing it, as it were, within the +bruised Vessels, they seem to be well; though this only arises from +their concentring and concealing the Evil, which, at the End of a few +Months, breaks forth again in a very troublesome Shape. Of this I have +seen some miserable Examples, whence it has been abundantly evinced, +that Applications of this Sort should never be admitted; and that +Vinegar should be used instead of them. At the utmost it should only be +allowed, (after there is Reason to suppose all the stagnant Blood +resolved and resorbed into the Circulation) to add a third Part of +Arquebusade Water to the Vinegar; with an Intention to restore some +Strength to the relaxed and weakened Parts. + +[97] This, Dr. _Tissot_ informs me, is a Solution of white Vitriol and + some other Drugs in Spirit of Wine, and is never used in regular + Practice now. It has its Name from the Author of the Solution. _K._ + + 448. It is still a more pernicious Practice to apply, in Bruises, +Plaisters composed of greasy Substances, Rosins, Gums, Earths, _&c._ The +most boasted of these is always hurtful, and there have been many +Instances of very slight Contusions being aggravated into Gangrenes by +such Plaisters ignorantly applied; which Bruises would have been +entirely subdued by the Oeconomy of Nature, if left to herself, in the +Space of four Days. + +Those Sacs or Suffusions of coagulated Blood, which are visible under +the Skin, should never be opened, except for some urgent Reason; since +however large they may be, they insensibly disappear and dissipate; +instead of which Termination, by opening them, they sometimes terminate +in a dangerous Ulceration. + + 449. The internal Treatment of Contusions is exactly the same with +that of Wounds; only that in these Cases the best Drink is the +Prescription, N. 1, to each Pot of which a Drachm of Nitre must be +added. + +When any Person has got a violent Fall; has lost his Senses, or is +become very stupid; when the Blood starts out of his Nostrils, or his +Ears; when he is greatly oppressed, or his Belly feels very tight and +tense, which import an Effusion of Blood either into the Head, the +Breast or the Belly, he must, first of all, be bled upon the Spot, and +all the Means must be recurred to, which have been mentioned 439, +giving the wretched Patient the least possible Disturbance or Motion; +and by all means avoiding to jog or shake him, with a Design to bring +him to his Senses; which would be directly and effectually killing him, +by causing a further Effusion of Blood. Instead of this the whole Body +should be fomented, with some one of the Decoctions already mentioned: +and when the Violence has been chiefly impressed on the Head, Wine and +Water should be prefered to Vinegar. + +Falls attended with Wounds, and even a Fracture of the Skull, and with +the most alarming Symptoms, have been cured by these internal Remedies, +and without any other external Assistance, except the Use of the +aromatic Fomentation, N. 68. + +A Man from _Pully-petit_ came to consult me some Months ago, concerning +his Father, who had a high Fall out of a Tree. He had been twenty-four +Hours without Feeling or Sense, and without any other Motion than +frequent Efforts to vomit; and Blood had issued both from his Nose and +Ears. He had no visible outward Hurt neither on his Head, nor any other +Part; and, very fortunately for him, they had not as yet exerted the +least Effort to relieve him. I immediately directed a plentiful Bleeding +in the Arm; and a large Quantity of Whey sweetened with Honey to be +drank, and to be also injected by Way of Glyster. This Advice was very +punctually observed; and fifteen Days after the Father came to +_Lausanne_, which is four Leagues from _Pully-petit_, and told me he was +very well. It is proper, in all considerable Bruises, to open the +Patient's Belly with a mild cooling Purge, such as N. 11, 23, 32, 49. +The Prescription N. 24, and the honyed Whey are excellent Remedies, +from the same Reason. + + 450. In these Circumstances, Wine, distiled Spirits, and whatever has +been supposed to revive and to rouse, is mortal. For this Reason People +should not be too impatient, because the Patients remain some Time +without Sense or Feeling. The giving of Turpentine is more likely to do +Mischief than Good; and if it has been sometimes serviceable, it must +have been in Consequence of its purging the Patient, who probably then +needed to be purged. The Fat of a Whale, (_Sperma cti_) Dragons Blood, +Crabs-Eyes, and Ointments of whatsoever Sort are at least useless and +dangerous Medicine, if the Case be very hazardous; either by the +Mischief they do, or the Good they prevent from being done. The proper +Indication is to dilute the Blood, to render it more fluid and disposed +to circulate; and the Medicines just mentioned produce a very contrary +Effect. + + 451. When an aged Person gets a Fall, which is the more dangerous in +Proportion to his Age and Grossness; notwithstanding he should not seem +in the least incommoded by it, if he is sanguine and still somewhat +vigorous, he should part with three or four Ounces of Blood. He should +take immediately a few successive Cups of a lightly aromatic Drink, +which should be given him hot; such, for Instance, as an Infusion of Tea +sweetened with Honey, and he should be advised to move gently about. He +must retrench a little from the usual Quantity of his Food, and accustom +himself to very gentle, but very frequent, Exercise. + + 452. Sprains or Wrenches, which very often happen, produce a Kind of +Contusion, in the Parts adjoining to the sprained Joint. This Contusion +is caused by the violent Friction of the Bone against the neighbouring +Parts; and as soon as the Bones are immediately returned into their +proper Situation, the Disorder should be treated as a Contusion. Indeed +if the Bones should not of themselves return into their proper natural +Position, Recourse must be had to the Hand of a Surgeon. + +The best Remedy in this Case is absolute Rest and Repose, after applying +a Compress moistened in Vinegar and Water, which is to be renewed and +continued, till the Marks of the Contusion entirely disappear; and there +remains not the smallest Apprehension of an Inflammation. Then indeed, +and not before, a little Brandy or Arquebusade Water may be added to the +Vinegar; and the Part (which is almost constantly the Foot) should be +strengthened and secured for a considerable Time with a Bandage; as it +might otherwise be liable to fresh Sprains, which would daily more and +more enfeeble it: and if this Evil is overlooked too much in its +Infancy, the Part never recovers its full Strength; and a small Swelling +often remains to the End of the Patient's Life. + +If the Sprain is very slight and moderate, a Plunging of the Part into +cold Water is excellent; but if this is not done at once immediately +after the Sprain, or if the Contusion is violent, it is even hurtful. + +The Custom of rolling the naked Foot upon some round Body is +insufficient, when the Bones are not perfectly replaced; and hurtful, +when the Sprain is accompanied with a Contusion. + +It happens continually almost that Country People, who encounter such +Accidents, apply themselves either to ignorant or knavish Imposters, who +find, or are determined to find, a Disorder or Dislocation of the Bones, +where there is none; and who, by their violent Manner of handling the +Parts, or by the Plaisters they surround them with, bring on a dangerous +Inflammation, and change the Patient's Dread of a small Disorder, into a +very grievous Malady. + +These are the very Persons who have created, or indeed rather imagined, +some impossible Diseases, such as the Opening, the Splitting of the +Stomach, and of the Kidnies. But these big Words terrify the poor +Country People, and dispose them to be more easily and effectually +duped. + + + + _Of Ulcers._ + + + 453. Whenever Ulcers arise from a general Fault of the Blood, it is +impossible to cure them, without destroying the Cause 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 Assistant effectually heals +and closes them. + +But, for the greater Part, Ulcers in the Country are the Consequence of +some Wound, Bruise, or Tumour improperly treated; and especially of such +as have been dressed with too sharp, or too spirituous Applications. +Rancid Oils are also one of the Causes, which change the most simple +Wounds into obstinate Ulcers, for which Reason they should be avoided; +and Apothecaries should be careful, when they compound greasy Ointments, +to make but little at a Time, and the oftner, as a very considerable +Quantity of any of them becomes rank before it is all sold; +notwithstanding sweet fresh Oil may have been employed in preparing +them. + + 454. What serves to distinguish Ulcers from Wounds, is the Dryness and +Hardness of the Sides or Borders of Ulcers, and the Quality of the +Humour discharged from them; which, instead of being ripe consistent +Matter, is a Liquid more thin, less white, sometimes yielding a +disagreable Scent, and so very sharp, that if it touch the adjoining +Skin, it produces Redness, Inflammation, or Pustules there; sometimes a +serpiginous, or Ring-worm like Eruption, and even a further Ulceration. + + 455. Such Ulcers as are of a long Duration, which spread wide, and +discharge much, prey upon the Patient, and throw him into a slow Fever, +which melts and consumes him. Besides, when an Ulcer is of a long +Standing, it is dangerous to dry it up; and indeed this never should be +done, but by substituting in the Place of one Discharge that is become +almost natural, some other Evacuation, such as Purging from Time to +Time. + +We may daily see sudden Deaths, or very tormenting Diseases, ensue the +sudden drying up such Humours and Drains as have been of a long +Continuance: and whenever any Quack (and as many as promise the speedy +Cure of such, deserve that Title) assures the Patient of his curing an +inveterate Ulcer in a few Days, he demonstrates himself to be a very +dangerous and ignorant Intermeddler, who must kill the Patient, if he +keeps his Word. Some of these impudent Impostors make use of the most +corrosive Applications, and even arsenical ones; notwithstanding the +most violent Death is generally the Consequence of them. + + 456. The utmost that Art can effect, with Regard to Ulcers, which do +not arise from any Fault in the Humours, is to change them into Wounds. +To this End, the Hardness and Dryness of the Edges of the Ulcer, and +indeed of the whole Ulcer, must be diminished, and its Inflammation +removed. But sometimes the Hardness is so obstinate, that this cannot be +mollified any other Way, than by scarifying the Edges with a Lancet. But +when it may be effected by other Means, let a Pledget spread with the +Ointment, N. 69, be applied all over the Ulcer; and this Pledget be +covered again with a Compress of several Folds, moistened in the Liquid, +N. 70, which should be renewed three times daily; though it is +sufficient to apply a fresh Pledget only twice. + +As I have already affirmed that Ulcers were often the Consequence of +sharp and spirituous Dressings, it is evident such should be abstained +from, without which Abstinence they will prove incurable. + +To forward the Cure, salted Food, Spices, and strong Drink should be +avoided; the Quantity of Flesh-meat should be lessened; and the Body be +kept open by a Regimen of Pulse, of Vegetables, and by the habitual Use +of Whey sweetened with Honey. + +If the Ulcers are in the Legs, a very common Situation of them, it is of +great Importance, as well as in Wounds of the same Parts, that the +Patient should walk about but little; and yet never stand up without +walking. This indeed is one of these Cases, in which those, who have +some Credit and Influence in the Estimation of the People, should omit +nothing to make them thoroughly comprehend the Necessity of confining +themselves, some Days, to undisturbed Tranquillity and Rest; and they +should also convince them, that this Term of Rest is so far from being +lost Time, that it is likely to prove their most profitable Time of +Life. Negligence, in this material Point, changes the slightest Wounds +into Ulcers, and the most trifling Ulcers into obstinate and incurable +ones: insomuch that there is scarcely any Man, who may not observe some +Family in his Neighbourhood, reduced to the Hospital, [98] from their +having been too inattentive to the due Care of some Complaint of this +Sort. + +[98] This seems just the same as _coming on the Parish_, or being + received into an Alms house here; in Consequence of such an + incurable Disability happening to the poor working Father of a + Family. _K._ + +I conclude this Article on Ulcers with repeating, that those which are +owing to some internal Cause; or even such as happen from an external +one, in Persons 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, for some Persons +to be pierced with so violent a Degree of Cold, that their Hands or +Feet, or sometimes both together are frozen at once, just like a Piece +of Flesh-meat exposed to the Air. + +If a Person thus pierced with the Cold, dispose himself to walk about, +which seems so natural and obvious a Means to get warm; and especially, +if he attempts to [99] warm the Parts that have been frozen, his Case +proves irrecoverable. Intolerable Pains are the Consequence, which Pains +are speedily attended with an incurable Gangrene; and there is no Means +left to save the Patient's Life, but by cutting off the gangrened Limbs. + +[99] The Reason of the Fatality of Heat, in these Cases, and of the + Success of an opposite Application, (See 459) seems strictly and + even beautifully analogous to what _Hippocrates_ has observed of + the Danger, and even Fatality, of all great and sudden Changes in + the human Body, whether from the Weather or otherwise. Whence this + truly great Founder of Physick, when he observes elsewhere, that + Diseases are to be cured by something contrary to their Causes, + very consistently advises, not a direct and violent Contrariety, + but a gradual and regulated one, a _Sub-contrariety_. _K._ + +There was a very late and terrible Example of this, in the Case of an +Inhabitant at _Cossonay_, who had both his Hands frozen. Some greasy +Ointments were applied hot to them, the Consequence of which was, the +Necessity of cutting off six of his Fingers. + + 458. In short, there is but one certain Remedy in such Cases, and this +is to convey the Person affected into some Place where it does not +freeze, but where, however, it is but very moderately hot, and there +continually to apply, to the frozen Parts, Snow, if it be at hand; and +if not, to keep washing them incessantly, but very gently (since all +Friction would at this Juncture prove dangerous) in Ice-water, as the +Ice thaws in the Chamber. By this Application the Patients will be +sensible of their Feeling's returning very gradually to the Part, and +that they begin to recover their Motion. In this State they may Safely +be moved into a Place a little warmer, and drink some Cups of the Potion +N. 13, or of another of the like Quality. + + 459. Every Person may be a competent judge of the manifest Danger of +attempting to relieve such Parts by heating them, and of the Use of +Ice-water, by a common, a daily Experience. Frozen Pears, Apples, and +Radishes, being put into Water just about to freeze, recover their +former State, and prove quickly eatable. But if they are put into warm +Water, or into a hot Place, Rottenness, which is one Sort of Gangrene, +is the immediate Effect. The following Case will make this right Method +of treating them still more intelligible, and demonstrate its Efficacy. + +A Man was travelling to the Distance of six Leagues in very cold +Weather; the Road being covered with Snow and Ice. His Shoes, not being +very good, failed him on his March, so that he walked the three last +Leagues bare-footed; and felt, immediately after the first Half League, +sharp Pains in his Legs and Feet, which increased as he proceeded. He +arrived at his Journey's End in a Manner nearly deprived of his lower +Extremities. They set him before a great Fire, heated a Bed well, and +put him into it. His Pains immediately became intolerable: he was +incessantly in the most violent Agitations, and cried out in the most +piercing and affecting Manner. A Physician, being sent for in the Night, +found his Toes of a blackish Colour, and beginning to lose their +Feeling. His Legs and the upper Part of his Feet, which were excessively +swelled, of a purplish Red, and varied with Spots of a violet Colour, +were still sensible of the most excruciating Pains. The Physician +ordered in a Pail of Water from the adjoining River, adding more to it, +and some Ice withal. In this he obliged the Patient to plunge his Legs; +they were kept in near an Hour, and within that Time, the Pains became +less violent. After another Hour he ordered a second cold Bath, from +which the Patient perceiving still further Relief, prolonged it to the +Extent of two Hours. During that Time, some Water was taken out of the +Pail, and some Ice and Snow were put into it. Now his Toes, which had +been black, grew red; the violet Spots in his Legs disappeared; the +Swelling abated; the Pains became moderate, and intermitted. The Bath +was nevertheless repeated six times; after which there remained no other +Complaint, but that of a great Tenderness or extraordinary Sensibility +in the Soles of his Feet, which hindered him from walking. The Parts +were afterwards bathed with some aromatic Fomentations; and he drank a +Ptisan of Sarsaparilla [one of Elder Flowers would have answered the +same Purpose, and have been less expensive.] On the eighth Day from his +Seizure he was perfectly recovered, and returned home on Foot on the +fifteenth. + + 460. When cold Weather is extremely severe, and a Person is exposed to +it for a long Time at once, it proves mortal, in Consequence of its +congealing the Blood, and because it forces too great a Proportion of +Blood up to the Brain; so that the Patient dies of a Kind of Apoplexy, +which is preceded by a Sleepiness. In this Circumstance the Traveller, +who finds himself drowsy, should redouble his Efforts to extricate +himself from the eminent Danger he is exposed to. This Sleep, which he +might consider as some Alleviation of his Sufferings, if indulged, would +prove his last. + + 461. The Remedies in such Cases are the same with those directed in +frozen Limbs. The Patient must be conducted to an Apartment rather cold +than hot, and be rubbed with Snow or with Ice-water. There have been +many well attested Instances of this Method; and as such Cases are still +more frequent in more northern Climates, a Bath of the very coldest +Water has been found the surest Remedy. + +Since it is known that many People have been revived, who had remained +in the Snow, or had been exposed to the freezing Air during five, or +even six successive Days, and who had discovered no one Mark of Life for +several Hours, the utmost Endeavours should be used for the Recovery of +Persons in the like Circumstances and Situation. + + + + _Of Kibes, or Chilblains._ + + + 462. These troublesome and smarting Complaints attack the Hands, Feet, +Heels, Ears, Nose and Lips, those of Children especially, and mostly in +Winter; when these Extremities are exposed to the sudden Changes from +hot to cold, and from cold to hot Weather. They begin with an Inflation +or kind of Swelling, which, at first, occasions but little Heat, Pain or +Itching. Sometimes they do not exceed this first State, and go off +spontaneously without any Application: But at other Times (which may be +termed the second Degree of the Disorder, whether it happens from their +being neglected, or improperly treated) their Heat, Redness, Itching and +Pain increase considerably; so that the Patient is often deprived of the +free Use of his Fingers by the Pain, Swelling and Numbness: in which +Case the Malady is still aggravated, if effectual Means are not used. + +Whenever the Inflammation mounts to a still higher Degree, small +Vesications or Blisters are formed, which are not long without bursting; +when they leave a slight Excoriation, or Rawness, as it were, which +speedily ulcerates, and frequently proves a very deep and obstinate +Ulcer, discharging a sharp and ill-conditioned Matter. + +The last and most virulent Degree of Chilblains, which is not infrequent +in the very coldest Countries, though very rare in the temperate ones, +is, when the Inflammation degenerates into a Gangrene. + + 463. These Tumours are owing to a Fulness and Obstruction of the +Vessels of the Skin, which occurs from this Circumstance, that the +Veins, which are more superficial than the Arteries, being +proportionably more affected and straitened by the Cold, do not carry +off all the Blood communicated to them by the Arteries; and perhaps also +the Particles or Atoms of Cold, which are admitted through the Pores of +the Skin, may act upon our Fluids, as it does upon Water, and occasion a +Congelation of them, or a considerable Approach towards it. + +If these Complaints are chiefly felt, which in Fact is the Case, rather +on the extreme Parts than on others, it arises from two Causes, the +principal one being, that the Circulation's being weaker at the +Extremities than elsewhere, the Effect of those Causes, that may impair +it, must be more considerably felt there. The second Reason is, because +these Parts are more exposed to the Impressions from without than the +others. + +They occur most frequently to Children, from their Weakness and the +greater Tenderness and Sensibility of their Organs, which necessarily +increases the Effect of external Impressions. It is the frequent and +strong Alteration from Heat to Cold, that seems to contribute the most +powerfully to the Production of Chilblains; and this Effect of it is +most considerable, when the Heat of the Air is at the same Time blended +with Moisture; whence the extreme and superficial Parts pass suddenly as +it were, out of a hot, into a cold, Bath. A Man sixty Years of Age, who +never before was troubled with Kibes, having worn, for some Hours on a +Journey, a Pair of furred Gloves, in which his Hands sweated, felt them +very tender, and found them swelled up with Blood: as the common Effect +of the warm Bath is to soften and relax, and to draw Blood abundantly to +the bathed Parts, whence it renders them more sensible. + +This Man, I say, thus circumstanced, was at that Age first attacked with +Chilblains, which proved extremely troublesome; and he was every +succeeding Winter as certainly infested with them, within Half an Hour +after he left off his Gloves, and was exposed to a very cold Air. + +It is for this Reason, that several Persons are never infested with +Chilblains, but when they use themselves to Muffs, which are scarcely +known in hot Countries; nor are they very common among the more northern +ones, in which the extraordinary Changes from Cold to Heat are very rare +and unusual. + +Some People are subject to this troublesome Complaint in the Fall; while +others have it only in the Spring. The Child of a labouring Peasant, who +has a hard Skin, and one inured to all the Impressions of the Seasons +and of the Elements, is, and indeed necessarily must be, less liable to +Kibes, than the Child of a rich Citizen, whose Skin is often cherished, +at the Expence of his Constitution. But even among Children of the same +Rank in Life and Circumstances, who seem pretty much of the same +Complexion, and live much in the same Manner; whence they might of +Course be supposed equally liable to the same Impressions, and to the +like Effects of them, there is, nevertheless, a very great Difference +with Respect to their constitutional Propensity to contract Chilblains. +Some are very cruelly tormented with them, from the setting in of +Autumn, to the very End of the Spring: others have either none at all, +or have them but very slightly, and for a very short Time. This +Difference undoubtedly arises from the different Quality of their +Humours, and the Texture of their whole Surface, but particularly from +that of the Skin of their Hands; though we readily confess it is by no +Means easy to determine, with Certainty and Precision, in what this +Difference essentially consists. + +Children of a sanguine Complexion and delicate Skin are pretty generally +subject to this Disorder, which is often regarded much too slightly, +though it is really severe enough to engage our Attention more; since, +even abstracted from the sharp Pains which smart these unhappy Children +for several Months; it sometimes gives them a Fever, hinders them from +sleeping, and yet confines them to their Bed, which is very prejudicial +to their Constitutions. It also breaks in upon the Order of their +different Duties and Employments; it interrupts their innocent salutary +Pleasures; and sometimes, when they are obliged to earn their daily +Bread by doing some Work or other, it sinks them down to Misery. I knew +a young Man, who from being rendered incapable by Chilblains, of serving +out his Apprenticeship to a Watch-maker, is become a lazy Beggar. + +Chilblains which attack the Nose, often leave a Mark that alters the +Physiognomy, the Aspect of the Patient, for the Remainder of his Life: +and the Hands of such as have suffered from very obstinate ones, are +commonly ever sensible of their Consequences. + + 464. With Respect, therefore, to these afflicting Tumours and +Ulcerations, we should, in the first Place, do our utmost to prevent +them; and next exert our best Endeavours to cure such as we could not +prevent. + + 465. Since they manifestly depend on the Sensibility of the Skin, the +Nature of the Humours, and the Changes of the Weather from Heat to Cold, +in Order to prevent them, in the first Place, the Skin must be rendered +firmer or less tender. 2, That vicious Quality of the Temperament, which +contributes to their Existence, must be corrected; and, 3, the Persons +so liable must guard themselves as well as possible, against these +Changes of the Weather. + +Now the Skin of the Hands, as well as that of the whole Body, may be +strengthened by that Habit of washing or bathing in cold Water, which I +have described at large, 384; and in Fact I have never seen Children, +who had been early accustomed and inured to this Habit, as much +afflicted with Chilblains as others. But still a more particular Regard +should be had to fortify the Skin of the Hands, which are more obnoxious +to this Disorder than the Feet, by making Children dip them in cold +Water, and keep them for some Moments together in it every Morning, and +every Evening too before Supper, from the very Beginning of the Fall. It +will give the Children no Sort of Pain, during that Season, to contract +this Habit; and when it is once contracted, it will give them no Trouble +to continue it throughout the Winter, even when the Water is ready to +freeze every where. They may also be habituated to plunge their Feet +into cold Water twice or thrice a Week: and this Method, which might be +less adapted for grown Persons, who had not been accustomed to it, must +be without Objection with Respect to such Children, as have been +accustomed to it; to whom all its Consequences must be useful and +salutary. + +At the same Time Care must be taken not to defeat or lessen the Effect +of the cold bathing, by suffering the Bather or Washer, to grow too warm +between two Baths or Dippings; which is also avoiding the too speedy +Successions of Heat and Cold. For this Purpose, 1, the Children must be +taught never to warm their Hands before the Fire at such Times, and +still less before the Stoves, which very probably are one of the +principal Causes of Chilblains, that are less usual in Countries which +use no such Stoves, and among those Individuals who make the least Use +of them, where they are. Above all, the Use of _Cavettes_ (that is, of +Seats or little Stairs, as it were, contrived between the Stove and the +Wall) is prejudicial to Children, and even to grown People, upon several +Accounts. 2, They should never accustom themselves to wear Muffs. 3, It +would be also proper they should never use Gloves, unless some +particular Circumstances require it; and I recommend this Abstinence +from Gloves, especially to young Boys: but if any should be allowed +them, let the Gloves be thin and smooth. + + 466. When Chilblains seem to be nourished by some Fault in the +Temperament or Humours, the Consideration of a Physician becomes +necessary, to direct a proper Method of removing or altering it. I have +seen Children from the Age of three, to that of twelve or thirteen +Years, in whom their Chilblains, raw and flead, as it were, for eight +Months of the Year, seemed to be a particular Kind of Issue, by which +Nature freed herself of an inconvenient Superfluity of Humours, when the +Perspiration was diminished by the Abatement of the violent Heats. In +such Cases I have been obliged to carry them through a pretty long +Course of Regimen and Remedies; which, however, being necessarily +various from a Variety of Circumstances, cannot be detailed here. The +milder Preparations of Antimony are often necessary in such Cases; and +some Purges conduce in particular ones to allay and to abridge the +Disorder. + + 467. The first Degree of this Complaint goes off, as I have already +said, without the Aid of Medicine; or should it prove somewhat more +obstinate, it may easily be dissipated by some of the following +Remedies. But when they rise to the second Degree, they must be treated +like other Complaints from Congelation, or Frost-biting (of which they +are the first Degree) with cold Water, Ice-water and Snow. + +No other Method or Medicine is nearly as efficacious as very cold Water, +so as to be ready to freeze, in which the Hands are to be dipt and +retained for some Minutes together, and several Times daily. In short it +is the only Remedy which ought to be applied, when the Hands are the +Parts affected; when the Patient has the Courage to bear this Degree of +Cold; and when he is under no Circumstance which may render it +prejudicial. It is the only Application I have used for myself, after +having been attacked with Chilblains for some Years past, from having +accustomed myself to too warm a Muff. + +There ensues a slight Degree of Pain for some Moments after plunging the +Hand into Water, but it diminishes gradually. On taking the Hand out, +the Fingers are numbed with the Cold, but they presently 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 dried, and +put into Skin Gloves; after bathing three or four Times, their Swelling +subsides, so that the Skin wrinkles: but by continuing the cold Bathing, +it grows tight and smooth again; the Cure is compleated after using it +three or four Days; and, in general, the Disorder never returns again +the same Winter. + +The most troublesome raging Itching is certainly assuaged by plunging +the Hands into cold Water. + +The Effect of Snow is, perhaps, still more speedy: the Hands are to be +gently and often rubbed with it for a considerable Time; they grow hot, +and are of a very high Red for some Moments, but entire Ease very +quickly succeeds. + +Nevertheless, a very small Number of Persons, who must have extremely +delicate and sensible Skins, do not experience the Efficacy of this +Application. It seems too active for them; it affects the Skin much like +a common blistering Plaister; and by bringing on a large flow of Humours +there, it increases, instead of lessening the Complaint. + + 468. When this last Reason indeed, or some other Circumstance exists; +such as the Child's Want of Courage, or its Affliction; the monthly +Discharges in a Woman; a violent Cough; habitual Colics; and some other +Maladies, which have been observed to be renewed or aggravated by the +Influence of Cold at the Extremities, do really forbid this very cold +Application, some others must be substituted. + +One of the best is to wear Day and Night, without ever putting it off, a +Glove made of some smooth Skin, such as that of a Dog; which seldom +fails to extinguish the Disorder in some Days time. + +When the Feet are affected with Chilblains, Socks of the same Skin +should be worn; and the Patient keep close to his Bed for some Days. + + 469. When the Disorder is violent, the Use of cold Water prohibited, +and the Gloves just recommended have but a slow Effect, the diseased +Parts should be gently fomented or moistened several times a Day, with +some Decoction, rather more than warm; which at the same time should be +dissolving and emollient. Such is that celebrated Decoction of the +Scrapings, the Peel of Radishes, whose Efficacy is still further +increased, by adding one sixth Part of Vinegar to the Decoction. + +Another Decoction, of whose great Efficacy I have been a Witness, but +which dies the Hands yellow for a few Days, is the Prescription N. 71. +Many others may be made, of nearly the same Virtues, with all the +vulnerary Herbs, and even with the _Faltranc_. + +Urine, which some boast of in these Cases, from their having used it +with Success; and the Mixture of Urine and Lime-water have the like +Virtues with the former Decoctions. [100] + +[100] Chilblains may also be advantageously washed with Water and Flower + of Mustard, which will concur, in a certain and easy Manner, both + to cleanse and to cure them. _E. L._ + +As soon as the Hands affected are taken out of these Decoctions, they +must be defended from the Air by Gloves. + + 470. Vapours or Steams are often more efficacious than Decoctions; +whence instead of dipping the Hands into these already mentioned, we may +expose them to their Vapours, with still more Success. That of hot +Vinegar is one of the most powerful Remedies; those of [101] _Asphalt_, +or of Turpentine have frequently succeeded too. It may be needless to +add that the affected Parts must be defended from the Air, as well after +the Steams as the Decoctions; since it is from this Cause of keeping off +the Air, that the Cerecloths are of Service; and hence also the +Application of Suet has sometimes answered. + +[101] This is or should be, the same with the _Bitumen Judaicum_, + formerly kept in the Shops; but which is never directed, except in + that strange Medley the _Venice_ Treacle, according to the old + Prescription. The best is found in _Egypt_, and on the _Red Sea_: + but a different Sort, from _Germany_, _France_, and _Swisserland_, + is now generally substituted here. _K._ + +When the Distemper is subdued by the Use of Bathings or Steams, which +make the Skin supple and soft, then it should be strengthened by washing +the Parts with a little camphorated Brandy, diluted with an equal +Quantity of Water. + + 471. When the Nose is affected with a Chilblain, the Steam of Vinegar, +and an artificial Nose, or Covering for it, made of Dog-skin, are the +most effectual Applications. The same Treatment is equally proper for +the Ears and the Chin, when infested with them. Frequently washing these +Parts in cold Water is a good Preservative from their being attacked. + + 472. Whenever the Inflammation rises very high, and brings on some +Degree of a Fever, the Patient's usual Quantity of strong Drink and of +Flesh-meat must be lessened; his Body should be kept open by a few +Glysters; he should take every Evening a Dose of Nitre as prescribed, +N. 20; and if the Fever proved strong, he should lose some Blood too. + +As many as are troubled with obstinate Chilblains, should always be +denied the Use of strong Liquor and Flesh. + + 473. When this Distemper prevails in its third Degree, and the Parts +are ulcerated; besides keeping the Patients strictly to the Regimen of +Persons in a Way of Recovery, and giving them a Purge of Manna, the +swelled Parts should be exposed to the Steams of Vinegar; the +Ulcerations should be covered with a Diapalma Plaister; and the whole +Part should be enveloped in a smooth soft Skin, or in thin Cerecloths. + + 474. The fourth Degree of this Disease, in which the Parts become +gangrenous, must be prevented by the Method and Medicines which remove +an Inflammation; but if unhappily a Gangrene has already appeared, the +Assistance of a Surgeon proves indispensably necessary. + + + + _Of Ruptures._ + + + 475. _Hernias_ or Ruptures, which Country-People term _being bursten_, +are a Disorder which sometimes occurs at the very Birth; though more +frequently they are the Effects of violent crying, of a strong forcing +Cough, or of repeated Efforts to vomit, in the first Months of Infancy. + +They may happen afterwards indiscriminately at every Age, either as +Consequences of particular Maladies, or Accidents, or from Peoples' +violent Exertions of their Strength. They happen much oftner to Men than +Women; and the most common Sort, indeed the only one of which I propose +to treat, and that but briefly, is that which consists in the Descent of +a Part of the Guts, or of the Cawl, into the Bag or Cod-piece. + +It is not difficult to distinguish this Rupture. When it occurs in +little Children, it is almost ever cured by making them constantly wear +a Bandage which should be made only of Fustian, with a little Pillow or +Pincushion, stuffed with Linen Rags, Hair or Bran. There should be at +least two of these Bandages, to change them alternately; nor should it +ever be applied, but when the Child is laid down on its Back, and after +being well assured that the Gut or Cawl, which had fallen down, has been +safely returned into the Cavity of the Belly; since without this +Precaution it might occasion the worst Consequences. + +The good Effect of the Bandage may be still further promoted, by +applying upon the Skin, and within the Plait or Fold of the Groin (under +which Place the Rings, or Passage out of the Belly into the Bag lie) +some pretty astringent or strengthening Plaister, such as that commonly +used for Fractures, or that I have already mentioned, 144. Here we may +observe by the Way, that ruptured Children should never be set on a +Horse, nor be carried by any Person on Horseback, before the Rupture is +perfectly cured. + + 476. In a more advanced Age, a Bandage only of Fustian is not +sufficient; one must be procured with a Plate of Steel, even so as to +constrain and incommode the Wearer a little at first: nevertheless it +soon becomes habitual, and is then no longer inconvenient to them. + + 477. Ruptures sometimes attain a monstrous Size; and a great Part of +the Guts fall down in to the _Scrotum_ or Bag, without any Symptom of an +actual Disease. This Circumstance, nevertheless, is accompanied with +very great Inconvenience, which disables Persons affected with it to +work; and whenever the Malady is so considerable, and of a long Standing +too, there are commonly some Obstacles that prevent a compleat Return of +the Guts into the Belly. In this State indeed, the Application of the +Bandage or Truss is impracticable, and the miserable Patients are +condemned to carry their grievous Burthen for the Remainder of their +Lives; which may however, be palliated a little by the Use of a +Suspensory and Bag, adapted to the Size of the Rupture. This Dread of +its increasing Magnitude is a strong Motive for checking the Progress of +it, when it first appears. But there is another still stronger, which +is, that Ruptures expose the Patient to a Symptom frequently mortal. +This occurs when that Part of the Intestines fallen into the _Scrotum_ +inflames; when still increasing in its Bulk, and being extremely +compressed, acute Pains come on: for now from the Increase of the +Rupture's Extent, the Passage which gave Way to its Descent, cannot +admit of its Return or Ascent; the Blood-vessels themselves being +oppressed, the Inflammation increases every Moment; the Communication +between the Stomach and the Fundament is often entirely cut off; so that +nothing passes through, but incessant Vomitings come on [this being the +Kind of _Miserere_, or Iliac Passion I have mentioned, 320] which are +succeeded by the Hickup, Raving, Swooning, cold Sweats, and Death. + + 478. This Symptom supervenes in Ruptures, when the Excrements become +hard in that Part of the Guts fallen into the _Scrotum_; when the +Patient is overheated with Wine, Drams, an inflammatory Diet, _&c._ or +when he has received a Stroke on the ailing Part, or had a Fall. + + 479. The best Means and Remedies are, 1, as soon as ever this Symptom +or Accident is manifest, to bleed the Patient very plentifully, as he +lies down in his Bed and upon his Back, with his Head a little raised, +and his Legs somewhat bent, so that his Knees may be erect. This is the +Attitude or Posture they should always preserve as much as possible. +When the Malady is not too far advanced, the first Bleeding often makes +a compleat Cure; and the Guts return up as soon as it is over. At other +Times this Bleeding is less successful, and leaves a Necessity for its +Repetition. + +2, A Glyster must be thrown up consisting of a strong Decoction of the +large white Beet Leaves, with a small Spoonful or Pinch of common Salt, +and a Bit of fresh Butter of the Size of an Egg. + +3, Folds of Linen dipt in Ice-water must be applied all over the Tumour, +and constantly renewed every Quarter of an Hour. This Remedy, when +immediately applied, has produced the most happy Effects; but if the +Symptom has endured violently more than ten or twelve Hours, it is often +too late to apply it; and then it is better to make Use of Flanels dipt +in a warm Decoction of Mallow and Elder Flowers, shifting them +frequently. It has been known however, that Ice-water, or Ice itself has +succeeded as late as the third Day. [102] + +[102] Pieces of Ice applied between two Pieces of Linen, directly upon + the Rupture, as soon as possible after its first Appearance, is one + of those extraordinary Remedies, which we should never hesitate to + make immediate Use of. We may be certain by this Application, if + the Rupture is simple, and not complicated from some aggravating + Cause, to remove speedily, and with very little Pain, a Disorder, + that might be attended with the most dreadful Consequences. But the + Continuance of this Application must be proportioned to the + Strength of the Person ruptured, which may be sufficiently + estimated by the Pulse. _E. L._ + +4, When these Endeavours are insufficient, Glysters of Tobacco Smoke +must be tried, which has often redressed and returned Ruptures, when +every Thing else had failed. + +5, And lastly, if all these Attempts are fruitless, the Operation must +be resolved on, without losing a Moment's Time; as this local Disease +proves sometimes mortal in the Space of two Days; but for this Operation +an excellent Surgeon is indispensably necessary. The happy Consequence +with which I have ordered it, in a most desperate Case since the first +Edition of this Work, on the sixth Day after a Labour, has convinced me, +still more than any former Observation I had made, that the Trial of it +ought never to be omitted, when other Attempts have been unavailing. It +cannot even hasten the Patient's Death, which must be inevitable without +it, but it rather renders that more gentle, where it might fail to +prevent it. When it is performed as Mr. _Levade_ effected it, in the +Case I have just referred to, the Pain attending it is very tolerable +and soon over. + +I shall not attempt to describe the Operation, as I could not explain +myself sufficiently to instruct an ignorant Surgeon in it; and an +excellent and experienced one must be sufficiently apprized 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 Patients after the +most excruciating Torments, and an Extirpation, or cutting away of the +Testicle; which Quacks and ignorant Surgeons always do, but which a good +Surgeon never does in this Operation. This is often the Custom too (in +Country Places) of those Caitiffs, who perform this Operation without +the least Necessity; and mercilessly emasculate a Multitude of Infants; +whom Nature, if left to her own Conduct, or assisted only by a simple +Bandage, would have perfectly cured; instead of which, they absolutely +kill a great many, and deprive those of their Virility, who survive +their Robbery and Violence. It were religiously to be wished such +Caitiffs 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 is performed by the best Surgeons, is not +necessary; except in the Symptoms and Circumstances I have mentioned, +and that the cutting off the Testicle never is so. + + + + _Of Phlegmons or Boils._ + + + 480. Every Person knows what Boils are at Sight, which are +considerably painful when large, highly inflamed, or so situated as to +incommode the Motions, or different Positions of the Body. Whenever +their Inflammation is very considerable; when there are a great many of +them at once, and they prevent the Patients from sleeping, it becomes +necessary to enter them into a cooling Regimen; to throw up some opening +Glysters; and to make them drink plentifully of the Ptisan, N. 2. +Sometimes it is also necessary to bleed the Patient. + +Should the Inflammation be very high indeed, a Pultice of Bread and +Milk, or of Sorrel a little boiled and bruised, must be applied to it. +But if the Inflammation is only moderate, a Mucilage Plaister, or one of +the simple Diachylon, may be sufficient. Diachylon with the Gums is more +active and efficacious; but it so greatly augments the Pain of some +Persons afflicted with Boils, that they cannot bear it. + +Boils, which often return, signify some Fault in the Temperament, and +frequently one so considerable, that might dispose a Physician to be so +far apprehensive of its Consequences, as to enquire into the Cause, and +to attempt the Extinction of it. But the Detail of this is no Part nor +Purpose of the present Work. + + 481. The Phlegmon, or Boil, commonly terminates in Suppuration, but a +Suppuration of a singular Kind. It breaks open at first on its Top, or +the most pointed Part, when some Drops of a _Pus_ like that of an +Abscess comes out, after which the Germ, or what is called the Core of +it may be discerned. This is a purulent Matter or Substance, but so +thick and tenacious, that it appears like a solid Body; which may be +drawn out entirely in the Shape of a small Cylinder, like the Pith of +Elder, to the Length of some Lines of an Inch; sometimes to the Length +of a full Inch, and even more. The Emission of this Core is commonly +followed by the Discharge of a certain Quantity, according to the Size +of the Tumour, of liquid Matter, spread throughout the Bottom of it. As +soon as ever this Discharge is made, the Pain goes entirely off; and the +Swelling disappears at the End of a few Days, by continuing to apply the +simple Diachylon, or the Ointment N. 66. + + + + _Of Fellons or Whitlows._ + + + 482. The Danger of these small Tumours is much greater than is +generally supposed. It is an Inflammation at the Extremity or End of a +Finger, which is often the Effect of a small Quantity of Humour +extravasated, or stagnant, in that Part; whether this has happened in +Consequence of a Bruise, a Sting, or a Bite. At other times it is +evident that it has resulted from no external Cause, but is the Effect +of some inward one. + +It is distinguished into many Kinds, according to the Place in which the +Inflammation begins; but the essential Nature of the Malady is always +the same, and requires the same Sort of Remedies. Hence such as are +neither Physicians nor Surgeons, may spare themselves the Trouble of +enquiring into the Divisions of this Distemper; which, though they vary +the Danger of it, and diversify the Manner of the Surgeons Operation, +yet have no Relation to the general Treatment of it; the Power and +Activity of which must be regulated by the Violence of the Symptoms. + + 483. This Disorder begins with a slow heavy Pain, attended by a slight +Pulsation, without Swelling, without Redness, and without Heat; but in a +little Time the Pain, Heat, and Pulsation or Throbbing becomes +intolerable. The Part grows very large and red; the adjoining Fingers +and the whole Hand swelling up. In some Cases a Kind of red and inflated +Fuse or Streak may be observed, which, beginning at the affected Part, +is continued almost to the Elbow; neither is it unusual for the Patients +to complain of a very sharp Pain under the Shoulder; and sometimes the +whole Arm is excessively inflamed and swelled. The Sick have not a Wink +of Sleep, the Fever and other Symptoms quickly increasing. If the +Distemper rises to a violent Degree indeed, a _Delirium_ and Convulsions +supervene. + +This Inflammation of the Finger determines, either in Suppuration, or in +a Gangrene. When the last of these occurs, the Patient is in very great +Danger, if he is not very speedily relieved; and it has proved necessary +more than once to cut off the Arm, for the Preservation of his Life. +When Suppuration is effected, if the Matter lies very deep and sharp, or +if the Assistance of a Surgeon has arrived too late, the Bone of the +last _Phalanx_, or Row of Bones of the Finger, is generally carious and +lost. But how gentle soever the Complaint has been, the Nail is very +generally separated and falls off. + + 484. The internal Treatment in Whitlows, is the same with that in +other inflammatory Distempers. The Patient must enter upon a Regimen +more or less strict, in Proportion to the Degree of the Fever; and if +this runs very high, and the Inflammation be very considerable, there +may be a Necessity for several Bleedings. + +The external Treatment consists in allaying the Inflammation; in +softening the Skin; and in procuring a Discharge of the Matter, as soon +as it is formed. For this Purpose, + +1, The Finger affected is to be plunged, as soon as the Disorder is +manifest, in Water a little more than warm: the Steam of boiling Water +may also by admitted into it; and by doing these Things almost +constantly for the first Day, a total Dissipation of the Malady has +often been obtained. But unhappily it has been generally supposed, that +such slight Attacks could have but very slight Consequences, whence they +have been neglected until the Disorder has greatly advanced; in which +State Suppuration becomes absolutely necessary. + +2, This Suppuration therefore may be forwarded, by continually involving +the Finger, as it were, in a Decoction of Mallow Flowers boiled in Milk, +or with a Cataplasm of Bread and Milk. This may be rendered still more +active and ripening, by adding a few white Lilly Roots, or a little +Honey. But this last must not be applied before the Inflammation is +somewhat abated, and Suppuration begins; before which Term, all sharp +Applications are very dangerous. At this Time, Yeast or Leaven may be +advantagiously used, which powerfully promotes Suppuration. The Sorrel +Pultice, mentioned 480, is also a very efficacious one. + + 485. A speedy Discharge of the ripe Matter is of considerable +Importance, but this particularly requires the Attention of the Surgeon; +as it is not proper to wait till the Tumour breaks and discharges of +itself; and this the rather, as from the Skin's proving sometimes +extremely hard, the Matter might be inwardly effused between the +Muscles, and upon their Membranes, before it could penetrate through the +Skin. For this Reason, as soon as Matter is suspected to be formed, a +Surgeon should be called in, to determine exactly on the Time, when an +Opening should 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 Discharge is effected, it is to +be dressed up with the Plaister N. 66, spread upon Linen, or with the +Cerecloth; and these Dressings are to be repeated daily. + + 486. When the Whitlow is caused by a Humour extravasated very near the +Nail, an expert Surgeon speedily checks its Progress, and cures it +effectually by an Incision which lets out the Humour. Yet, +notwithstanding this Operation is in no wise difficult, all Surgeons are +not qualified to perform it, and but too many have no Idea at all of it. + + 487. Fungous, or, as it is commonly called, proud Flesh sometimes +appears during the incarning or healing of the Incision. Such may be +kept down with sprinkling a little _Minium_ (red Lead) or burnt Alum +over it. + + 488. If a _Caries_, a Rottenness of the Bone, should be a Consequence, +there is a Necessity for a Surgeon's Attendance, as much as if there was +a Gangrene; for which Reason, I shall add nothing with Respect to either +of these Symptoms; only observing, there are three very essential +Remedies against the last; _viz._ the Bark, N. 14, a Drachm of which +must be taken every two Hours; Scarifications throughout the whole +gangrened Part; and Fomentations with a Decoction of the Bark, and the +Addition of Spirit of Sulphur. This Medicine is certainly no cheap one; +but a Decoction of other bitter Plants, with the Addition of Spirit of +Salt, may sometimes do instead of it. And here I take leave to insist +again upon it, that in most Cases 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 easily +distinguished by the most ignorant Persons) that marks the Bounds of the +Gangrene, and separates the living from the mortified Parts. + + + + _Of Thorns, Splinters, or other pointed Substances piercing into the + Skin, or Flesh._ + + + 489. It is very common for the Hands, Feet or Legs, to be pierced by +the forcible Intrusion of small pointed Substances, such as Thorns or +Prickles, whether of Roses, Thistles or Chestnuts, or little Splinters +of Wood, Bone, _&c._ + +If such Substances are immediately and entirely extracted, the Accident +is generally attended with no bad Consequences; though more certainly to +obviate any such, Compresses 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 extracted, or if a Part +of it be left within, it causes an Inflammation, which, in its Progress, +soon produces the same Symptoms as a Whitlow: or if it happens in the +Leg, it inflames and forms a considerable Abscess there. + + 490. To prevent such Consequences, if the penetrating Substance is +still near the Surface, and an expert Surgeon is at Hand, he must +immediately make a small Incision, and thence extract it. But if the +Inflammation were already formed, this would be useless, and even +dangerous. + +When the Incision, therefore, is improper; there should be applied to +the affected Part, (after conveying the Steam of some hot Water into it) +either some very emollient Pultices of the Crumb of Bread, Milk and Oil, +or some very emollient unctuous Matter alone, the Fat of a [103] Hare +being generally employed in such Cases, and being indeed very effectual +to relax and supple the Skin; and, by thus diminishing its Resistance, +to afford the offensive penetrating Body an Opportunity of springing +forth. Nothing however, but the grossest Prejudice, could make any one +imagine, that this Fat attracted the Splinter, Thorn, or any other +intruded Substance by any sympathetic Virtue; no other Sympathy in +Nature being clearly demonstrated, except that very common one between +wrong Heads, and absurd extravagant Opinions. + +[103] These Creatures perhaps are fatter in _Swisserland_, than we often + see them here. _K._ + +It is absolutely necessary that the injured Part should be kept in the +easiest Posture, and as immoveable as possible. + +If Suppuration has not been prevented by an immediate Extraction of the +offending Substance, the Abscess should be opened as soon as ever Matter +is formed. I have known very troublesome Events from its being too long +delayed. + + 491. Sometimes the Thorn, after having very painfully penetrated +through the Teguments, the Skin, enters directly into the Fat; upon +which the Pain ceases, and the Patient begins to conclude no sharp +prickling Substance had ever been introduced into the Part; and of +Course supposes none can remain there. Nevertheless some Days after, or, +in other Instances, some Weeks, fresh Pains are excited, to which an +Inflammation and Abscess succeed, which are to be treated as usual, with +Emollients, and seasonably opened. + +A Patient has been reduced to lose his Hand, in Consequence of a sharp +Thorn's piercing into his Finger; from its having been neglected at +first, and improperly treated afterwards. + + + + _Of Warts._ + + + 492. Warts are sometimes the Effects of a particular Fault in the +Blood, which feeds and extrudes a surprizing Quantity of them. This +happens to some Children, from four to ten Years old, and especially to +those who feed most plentifully on Milk or Milk-meats. They may be +removed by a moderate Change of their Diet, and the Pills prescribed N. +18. + +But they are more frequently an accidental Disorder of the Skin, arising +from some external Cause. + +In this last Case, if they are very troublesome in Consequence of their +great Size, their Situation or their long Standing, they may be +destroyed, 1, by tying them closely with a Silk Thread, or with a strong +flaxen one waxed. 2, By cutting them off with a sharp Scissars or a +Bistory, and applying a Plaister of Diachylon, with the Gums, over the +cut Wart, which brings on a small Suppuration that may destroy or +dissolve the Root of the Wart: and, 3, By drying, or, as it were, +withering them up by some moderately corroding Application, such as that +of the milky Juice of [104] Purslain, of Fig-leaves, of _Chelidonium_ +(Swallow-wort) or of Spurge. But besides these corroding vegetable Milks +being procurable only in Summer, People who have very delicate thin +Skins should not make Use of them, as they may occasion a considerable +and painful Swelling. Strong Vinegar, charged with as much common Salt +as it will dissolve, is a very proper Application to them. A Plaister +may also be composed from Sal Ammoniac and some Galbanum, which being +kneaded up well together and applied, seldom fails of destroying them. + +[104] Our Garden Purslain, though a very juicy Herb, cannot strictly be + termed milky. In the hotter Climates where it is wild, and grows + very rankly, they sometimes boil the Leaves and Stalks (besides + eating them as a cooling Salad) and find the whole an insipid + mucilaginous Pot-herb. But Dr. _Tissot_ observes to me, that its + Juice will inflame the Skin; and that some Writers on Diet, who + disapprove it internally, affirm they have known it productive of + bad Effects. Yet none such have ever happened to myself, nor to + many others, who have frequently eaten of it. Its Seeds have + sometimes been directed in cooling Emulsions. The Wart Spurge is a + very milky and common Herb, which flowers in Summer here. _K._ + +The most powerful Corrosives should never be used, 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 lately seen some very +tedious and troublesome Disorders and Ulcerations of the Kidnies, ensue +the Application of a corrosive Water, by the Advice of a Quack. Cutting +them away is a more certain, a less painful, and a less dangerous Way of +removing them. + +Wens, if of a pretty considerable Size, and Duration, are incurable by +any other Remedy, except Amputation. + + + + _Of Corns._ + + + 493. The very general or only Causes of Corns, are Shoes either too +hard and stiff, or too small. + +The whole Cure consists in softening the Corns by repeated Washings and +Soakings of the Feet in pretty hot Water; then in cutting them, when +softened, with a Penknife or Scissars, without wounding the sound Parts +(which are the more sensible, in Proportion as they are more extended +than usual) and next in applying a Leaf of House-leek, of Ground-ivy, or +of Purslain dipt in Vinegar, upon the Part. Instead of these Leaves, if +any Person will give himself the little Trouble of dressing them every +Day, he may apply a Plaister of simple Diachylon, or of Gum Ammoniacum +softened in Vinegar. + +The Increase or Return of Corns can only be prevented, by avoiding the +Causes that produce them. + + + + + __Chapter XXXI.__ + + + _Of some Cases which require immediate Assistance; such as + Swoonings; Hmorrhages, or involuntary Loss of Blood; Convulsion + Fitts, and Suffocations; the sudden Effects of great Fear; of + Disorders caused by noxious Vapours; of Poisons, and of acute + Pains._ + + + + _Of Swoonings._ + + + __Sect.__ 494. + +There are many Degrees of Swooning, or fainting away: the slightest is +that in which the Patient constantly perceives and understands, yet +without the Power of speaking. This is called a Fainting, which happens +very often to vapourish Persons, and without any remarkable Alteration +of the Pulse. + +If the Patient entirely loses Sensation, or Feeling, and Understanding, +with a very considerable Sinking of the Pulse, this is called a +_Syncop_, and is the second Degree of Swooning. + +But if this _Syncop_ is so violent, that the Pulse seems totally +extinguished; without any discernible Breathing; with a manifest +Coldness of the whole Body; and a wanly livid Countenance, it +constitutes a third and last Degree, which is the true Image of Death, +that in Effect sometimes attends it, and it is called an _Asphixy_, +which may signify a total Resolution. + +Swoonings result from many different Causes, of which I shall only +enumerate the principal; and these are, 1, Too large a Quantity of +Blood. 2, A Defect or insufficient Proportion of it, and a general +Weakness. 3, A Load at and violent Disorders of the Stomach. 4, Nervous +Maladies. 5, The Passions; and, 6, some Kinds of Diseases. + + + + _Of Swoonings occasioned by Excess of Blood._ + + + 495. An excessive Quantity of Blood is frequently a Cause of Swooning; +and it may be inferred that it is owing to this Cause, when it attacks +sanguine, hearty and robust Persons; and more especially when it attacks +them, after being combined with any additional or supervening Cause, +that suddenly increased the Motion of the Blood; such as heating Meats +or Drinks, Wine, spirituous Liquors: smaller Drinks, if taken very hot +and plentifully, such as Coffee, Indian Tea, Bawm Tea and the like; a +long Exposure to the hot Sun, or being detained in a very hot Place; +much and violent Exercise; an over intense and assiduous Study or +Application, or some excessive Passion. + +In such Cases, first of all the Patient should be made to smell to, or +even to snuff up, some Vinegar; and his Forehead, his Temples and his +Wrists should be bathed with it; adding an equal Quantity of warm Water, +if at Hand. Bathing them with distilled or spirituous Liquids would be +prejudicial in this Kind of Swooning. + +2, The Patient should be made, if possible, to swallow two or three +Spoonfuls of Vinegar, with four or five Times as much Water. + +3, The Patient's Garters should be tied very tightly above his Knees; as +by this Means a greater Quantity of Blood is retained in the Legs, +whence the Heart may be less overladen with it. + +4, If the Fainting proves obstinate, that is, if it continues longer +than a Quarter of an Hour, or degenerates into a _Syncop_, an Abolition +of Feeling and Understanding, he must be bled in the Arm, which quickly +revives him. + +5, After the Bleeding, the Injection of a Glyster will be highly proper; +and then the Patient should be kept still and calm, only letting him +drink, every half Hour, some Cups of Elder Flower Tea, with the Addition +of a little Sugar and Vinegar. + +When Swoonings which result from this Cause occur frequently in the same +Person, he should, in Order to escape them, pursue the Directions I +shall hereafter mention, 544, when treating of Persons who superabound +with Blood. + +The very same Cause, or Causes, which occasion these Swoonings, also +frequently produce violent Palpitations, under the same Circumstances; +the Palpitation often preceding or following the _Deliquium_, or +Swooning. + + + + _Of Swoonings occasioned by Weakness._ + + + 496. If too great a Quantity of Blood, which may be considered as some +Excess of Health, is sometimes the Cause of Swooning, this last is +oftener the Effect of a very contrary Cause, that is, of a Want of +Blood, or an Exhaustion of too much. + +This Sort of Swooning happens after great Hmorrhages, or Discharges of +Blood; after sudden or excessive Evacuations, such as one of some Hours +Continuance in a _Cholera Morbus_ ( 321) or such as are more slow, but +of longer Duration, as for Instance, after an inveterate _Diarrhoea_, or +Purging; excessive Sweats; a Flood of Urine; such Excesses as tend to +exhaust Nature; obstinate Wakefulness; a long Inappetency, which, by +depriving the Body of its necessary Sustenance, is attended with the +same Consequence as profuse Evacuations. + +These different Causes of Swooning should be opposed by the Means and +Remedies adapted to each of them. A Detail of all these would be +improper here; but the Assistances that are necessary at the Time of +Swooning, are nearly the same for all Cases of this Class; excepting for +that attending a great Loss of Blood, of which I shall treat hereafter: +first of all, the Patients should be laid down on a Bed, and being +covered, should have their Legs and Thighs, their Arms, and their whole +Bodies rubbed pretty strongly with hot Flanels; and no Ligature should +remain on any Part of them. + +2, They should have very spirituous Things to smell or snuff up, such as +the Carmelite Water, Hungary Water, the [105] _English_ Salt, Spirit of +Sal Ammoniac, strong smelling Herbs, such as Rue, Sage, Rosemary, Mint, +Wormwood, and the like. + +[105] Dr. _Tissot_ informs me, that in _Swisserland_, they call a + volatile Salt of Vipers, or the volatile Salt of raw Silk, _Sel. + d'Angleterre_, of which one _Goddard_ made a Secret, and which he + brought into Vogue the latter End of the last Century. But he + justly observes at the same Time, that on the present Occasion + every other volatile Alkali will equally answer the Purpose; and + indeed the Smell of some of them, as the Spirit of Sal Ammoniac + with Quicklime, _Eau de Luce_, _&c._ seem more penetrating. _K._ + +3, These should be conveyed into their Mouths; and they should be +forced, if possible, to swallow some Drops of Carmelite Water, or of +Brandy, or of some other potable Liquor, mixed with a little Water; +while some hot Wine mixed with Sugar and Cinnamon, which makes one of +the best Cordials, is getting ready. + +4, A Compress of Flanel, or of some other woollen Stuff, dipt in hot +Wine, in which some aromatic Herb has been steeped, must be applied to +the Pit of the Stomach. + +5, If the Swooning seems likely to continue, the Patient must be put +into a well heated Bed, which has before been perfumed with burning +Sugar and Cinnamon; the Frictions of the whole Body with hot Flanels +being still continued. + +6, As soon as the Patient can swallow, he should take some Soup or +Broth, with the Yolk of an Egg; or a little Bread or Biscuit; soaked in +the hot spiced Wine. + +7, Lastly, during the whole Time that all other Precautions are taken to +oppose the Cause of the Swooning, Care must be had for some Days to +prevent any _Deliquium_ or Fainting, by giving them often, and but +little at a time, some light yet strengthening Nourishment, such as +Panada made with Soup instead of Water, new laid Eggs very lightly +poached, light roast Meats with sweet Sauce, Chocolate, Soups of the +most nourishing Meats, Jellies, Milk, _&c._ + + 497. Those Swoonings, which are the Effect of Bleeding, or of the +violent Operation of some Purge, are to be ranged in this Class. + +Such as happen after artificial Bleeding, are generally very moderate, +commonly terminating as soon as the Patient is laid upon the Bed: and +Persons subject to this Kind, should be bled lying down, in Order to +prevent it. But should the Fainting continue longer than usual, some +Vinegar smelt to, and a little swallowed with some Water, is a very good +Remedy. + +The Treatment of such Faintings or Swoonings, as are the Consequences of +too violent Vomits or Purges, may be seen hereafter 552. + + + + _Of Faintings occasioned by a Load, or Uneasiness, at Stomach._ + + + 498. It has been already observed, 308, that Indigestions were +sometimes attended with Swoonings, and indeed such vehement ones, as +required speedy and very active Succour too, such as that of a Vomit. +The Indigestion is sometimes less the Effect of the Quantity, than of +the Quality, or the Corruption of the Food, contained in the Stomach. +Thus we see there are some Persons, who are disordered by eating Eggs, +Fish, Craw Fish, or any fat Meat; being thrown by them into +inexpressible Anguish attended with Swooning too. It may be supposed to +depend on this Cause, when these very Aliments have been lately eaten; +and when it evidently neither depends on the other Causes I have +mentioned; nor on such as I shall soon proceed to enumerate. + +We should in Cases of this Sort, excite and revive the Patients as in +the former, by making them receive some very strong Smell, of whatever +Kind is at hand; but the most essential Point is to make them swallow +down a large Quantity of light warm Fluid; which may serve to drown, as +it were, the indigested Matter; which may soften its Acrimony; and +either effect the Discharge of it by vomiting, or force it down into the +Chanel of the Intestines. + +A light Infusion of Chamomile Flowers, of Tea, of Sage, of Elder +Flowers, or of _Carduus Benedictus_, operate with much the same +Efficacy; though the Chamomile and Carduus promote the Operation of +vomiting rather more powerfully; which warm Water alone will sometimes +sufficiently do. + +The Swooning ceases, or at least, considerably abates in these Cases, as +soon as ever the Vomiting commences. It frequently happens too, that, +during the Swooning, Nature herself brings on certain _Nausea_, a +Wambling and sickish Commotion of the Stomach, that revives or rouses +the Patient for a Moment; but yet not being sufficient to excite an +actual Vomiting, lets him soon sink down again into this temporary +Dissolution, which often continues a pretty considerable Time; leaving +behind it a Sickness at Stomach, Vertigos, and a Depression and Anxiety, +which do not occur in the former Species of this Malady. + +Whenever these Swoonings from this Cause are entirely terminated, the +Patient must be kept for some Days to a very light Diet, and take, at +the same Time, every Morning fasting, a Dose of the Powder, N. 38, +which relieves and exonerates the Stomach of whatever noxious Contents +might remain in it; and then restores its natural Strength and +Functions. + + 499. There is another Kind of Swooning, which also results from a +Cause in the Stomach; but which is, nevertheless, very different from +this we have just been treating of; and which requires a very different +Kind of Assistance. It arises from an extraordinary Sensibility of this +important Organ, and from a general Weakness of the Patient. + +Those subject to this Malady are valetudinary weakly Persons, who are +disordered from many slight Causes, and whose Stomachs are at once very +feeble and extremely sensible. They have almost continually a little +Uneasiness after a Meal, though they should indulge but a little more +than usual; or if they eat of any Food not quite so easy of Digestion, +they have some Qualm or Commotion after it: Nay, should the Weather only +be unfavourable, and sometimes without any perceivable assignable Cause, +their Uneasiness terminates in a Swoon. + +Patients swooning, from these Causes, have a greater Necessity for great +Tranquillity and Repose, than for any other Remedy; and it might be +sufficient to lay them down on the Bed: But as the Bystanders in such +Cases find it difficult to remain inactive Spectators of Persons in a +Swoon, some spirituous Liquid may be held to their Nose, while their +Temples and Wrists are rubbed with it; and at the same Time a little +Wine should be given them. Frictions are also useful in these Cases. + +This Species of Swooning is oftener attended with a little Feverishness +than the others. + + + + _Of those Swoonings, which arise from nervous Disorders._ + + + 500. This Species of Swooning is almost wholely unknown to those +Persons, for whom this Treatise is chiefly intended. Yet as there are +some Citizens who pass a Part of their Lives in the Country; and some +Country People who are unhappily afflicted with the Ailments of the +Inhabitants of large Towns and Cities, it seemed necessary to treat +briefly of them. + +By Disorders of the Nerves, I understand in this Place, only that Fault +or Defect in them, which is the Cause of their exciting in the Body, +either irregular Motions, that is, Motions without any external Cause, +at least any perceivable one; and without our Will's consenting to the +Production of them: or such Motions, as are greatly more considerable +than they should be, if they had been proportioned to the Force of the +Impression from without. This is very exactly that State, or Affection +termed the _Vapours_; and by the common People, the _Mother_: And as +there is no Organ unprovided with Nerves; and none, or hardly any +Function, in which the Nerves have not their Influence; it may be easily +comprehended, that the Vapours being a State or Condition, which arises +from the Nerves exerting irregular involuntary Motions, without any +evident Cause, and all the Functions of the Body depending partly on the +Nerves; there is no one Symptom of other Diseases which the Vapours may +not produce or imitate; and that these Symptoms, for the same Reason, +must vary infinitely, according to those Branches of the Nerves which +are disordered. It may also hence be conceived, why the Vapours of one +Person have frequently no Resemblance to those of another: and why the +Vapours of the very same Person, in one Day, are so very different from +those in the next. It is also very conceivable that the Vapours are a +certain, a real Malady; and that Oddity of the Symptoms, which cannot be +accounted for, by People unacquainted with the animal Oeconomy, has been +the Cause of their being considered rather as the Effect of a depraved +Imagination, than as a real Disease. It is very conceiveable, I say, +that this surprizing Oddity of the Symptoms is a necessary Effect of the +Cause of the Vapours; and that no Person can any more prevent his being +invaded by the Vapours, than he can prevent the Attack of a Fever, or of +the Tooth-ach. + + 501. A few plain Instances will furnish out a more compleat Notion of +the Mechanism, or Nature, of Vapours. An Emetic, a vomiting Medicine, +excites the Act, or rather the Passion, the Convulsion of Vomiting, +chiefly by the Irritation it gives to the Nerves of the Stomach; which +Irritation produces a Spasm, a Contraction of this Organ. Now if in +Consequence of this morbid or defective Texture of the Nerves, which +constitutes the Vapours, those of the Stomach are excited to act with +the same Violence, as in Consequence of taking a Vomit, the Patient will +be agitated and worked by violent Efforts to vomit, as much as if he had +really taken one. + +If an involuntary unusual Motion in the Nerves, that are distributed +through the Lungs, should constrain and straiten the very little +Vesicles, or Bladders, as it were, which admit the fresh Air at every +Respiration, the Patient will feel a Degree of Suffocation; just as if +that Straitening or Contraction of the Vesicles were occasioned by some +noxious Steam or Vapour. + +Should the Nerves which are distributed throughout the whole Skin, by a +Succession of these irregular morbid Motions, contract themselves, as +they may from external Cold, or by some stimulating Application, +Perspiration by the Pores will be prevented or checked; whence the +Humours, which should be evacuated through the Pores of the Skin, will +be thrown upon the Kidnies, and the Patient will make a great Quantity +of thin clear Urine, a Symptom very common to vapourish People; or it +may be diverted to the Glands of the Intestines, the Guts, and terminate +in a watery _Diarrhoea_, or Looseness, which frequently proves a very +obstinate one. + + 502. Neither are Swoonings the least usual Symptoms attending the +Vapours: and we may be certain they spring from this Source, when they +happen to a Person subject to the Vapours; and none of the other Causes +producing them are evident, or have lately preceded them. + +Such Swoonings, however, are indeed very rarely dangerous, and scarcely +require any medical Assistance. The Patient should be laid upon a Bed; +the fresh Air should be very freely admitted to him; and he should be +made to smell rather to some disagreeable and fetid, than to any +fragrant, Substance. It is in such Faintings as these that the Smell of +burnt Leather, of Feathers, or of Paper, have often proved of great +Service. + + 503. Patients also frequently faint away, in Consequence of fasting +too long; or from having eat a little too much; from being confined in +too hot a Chamber; from having seen too much Company; from smelling too +over-powering a Scent; from being too costive; from being too forcibly +affected with some Discourse or Sentiments; and, in a Word, from a great +Variety of Causes, which might not make the least Impression on Persons +in perfect Health; but which violently operate upon those vapourish +People, because, as I have said, the Fault of their Nerves consists in +their being too vividly, too acutely affected; the Force of their +Sensation being nowise proportioned to the external Cause of it. + +As soon as that particular Cause is distinguished from all the rest, +which has occasioned the present Swooning; it is manifest that this +Swooning is to be remedied by removing that particular Cause of it. + + + + _Of Swoonings occasioned by the Passions._ + + + 504. There have been some Instances of Persons dying within a Moment, +through excessive Joy. But such Instances are so very rare and sudden, +that Assistance has seldom been sought for on this Occasion. The Case is +otherwise with Respect to those produced from Rage, Vexation, and Dread +or Horror. I shall treat in a separate Article of those resulting from +great Fear; and shall briefly consider here such as ensue from Rage, and +vehement Grief or Disappointment. + + 505. Excessive Rage and violent Affliction are sometimes fatal in the +Twinkling of an Eye; though they oftener terminate in fainting only. +Excessive Grief or Chagrine is especially accompanied with this +Consequence; and it is very common to see Persons thus affected, sink +into successive Faintings for several Hours. It is plainly obvious that +very little Assistance can be given in such Cases: it is proper, +however, they should smell to strong Vinegar; and frequently take a few +Cups of some hot and temperately cordial Drink, such as Bawm Tea, or +Lemonade with a little Orange or Lemon-peel. + +The calming asswaging Cordial, that has seemed the most efficacious to +me, is one small Coffee Spoonful of a Mixture of three Parts of the +Mineral Anodyne Liquor of _Hoffman_, [106] and one Part of the +spirituous Tincture of Amber, which should be swallowed in a Spoonful of +Water; taking after it a few Cups of such Drinks as I shall presently +direct. + +[106] Our sweet Spirit of Vitriol is a similar, and as effectual a + Medicine. _K._ + +It is not to be supposed that Swoonings or Faintings, from excessive +Passions, can be cured by Nourishment. The physical State or Condition, +into which vehement Grief throws the Body, is that, of all others, in +which Nourishment would be most injurious to it: and as long as the +Vehemence of the Affliction endures, the Sufferer should take nothing +but some Spoonfuls of Soup or Broth, or a few Morsels of some light Meat +roasted. + + 506. When Wrath or Rage has risen to so high a Pitch, that the human +Machine, the Body, entirely exhausted, as it were, by that violent +Effort, sinks down at once into excessive Relaxation, a Fainting +sometimes succeeds, and even the most perilous Degree of it, a +_Syncop_. + +It is sufficient, or rather the most that can be done here, to let the +Patient be perfectly still a while in this State; only making him smell +to some Vinegar. But when he is come to himself, he should drink +plentifully of hot Lemonade, and take one or more of the Glysters N. 5. + +Sometimes there remain in these Cases Sicknesses at Stomach, Reachings +to vomit, a Bitterness in the Mouth, and some vertiginous Symptoms which +seem to require a Vomit. But such a Medicine must be very carefully +avoided, since it may be attended with the most fatal Consequence; and +Lemonade with Glysters generally and gradually remove these Swoonings. +If the _Nausea_ and Sickness at Stomach continue, the utmost Medicine we +should allow besides, would be that of N. 23, or a few Doses of N. 24. + + + +_Of symptomatical Swoonings, or such, as happen in the Progress of other + Diseases._ + + + 507. Swoonings, which supervene in the Course of other Diseases, never +afford a favourable Prognostic; as they denote Weakness, and Weakness is +an Obstacle to Recovery. + +In the Beginning of putrid Diseases, they also denote an Oppression at +Stomach, or a Mass of corrupt Humours; and they cease as soon as an +Evacuation supervenes, whether by Vomit or Stool. + +When they occur at the Beginning of malignant Fevers, they declare the +high Degree of their Malignancy, and the great Diminution of the +Patient's natural Strength. + +In each of these Cases Vinegar, used externally and internally, is the +best Remedy during the Exacerbation or Height of the Paroxysm; and +Plenty of Lemon Juice and Water after it. + + 508. Swoonings which supervene in Diseases, accompanied with great +Evacuations, are cured like those which are owing to Weakness; and +Endeavours should be used to restrain or moderate the Evacuations. + + 509. Those who have any inward Abscess or Imposthume are apt to swoon +frequently. They may sometimes be revived a little by Vinegar, but they +prove too frequently mortal. + + 510. Many Persons have a slighter or a deeper Swooning, at the End of +a violent Fit of an intermitting Fever, or at that of each Exacerbation +of a continual Fever; this constantly shews the Fever has run very high, +the Swooning having been the Consequence of that great Relaxation, which +has succeeded to a very high Tension. A Spoonful or two of light white +Wine, with an equal Quantity of Water, affords all the Succour proper in +such a Case. + + 511. Persons subject to frequent Swoonings, should neglect nothing +that may enable them to remove them when known; since the Consequences +of them are always detrimental, except in some Fevers, in which they +seem to mark the _Crisis_. + +Every swooning Fit leaves the Patient in Dejection and Weakness; the +Secretions from the Blood are suspended; the Humours disposed to +Stagnation; Grumosities, or Coagulations, and Obstructions are formed; +and if the Motion of the Blood is totally intercepted, or considerably +checked, _Polypus's_, and these often incurable, are formed in the +Heart, or in the larger Vessels; the Consequences of which are dreadful, +and sometimes give Rise to internal Aneurisms, which always prove +mortal, after long Anxiety and Oppression. + +Swoonings which attack old People, without any manifest Cause, always +afford an unfavourable Prognostic. + + + + _Of Hmorrhages, or an involuntary Loss of Blood._ + + + 512. Hmorrhages of the Nose, supervening in inflammatory Fevers, +commonly prove a favourable _Crisis_; which Bleeding we should carefully +avoid stopping; except it becomes excessive, and seems to threaten the +Patient's Life. + +As they scarcely ever happen in very healthy Subjects, but from a +superfluous Abundance of Blood, it is very improper to check them too +soon; lest some internal Stuffings and Obstructions should prove the +Consequence. + +A Swooning sometimes ensues after the Loss of only a moderate Quantity +of Blood. This Swooning stops the Hmorrhage, and goes off without any +further Assistance, except the smelling to Vinegar. But in other Cases +there is a Succession of fainting Fits, without the Blood's stopping; +while at the same time slight convulsive Motions and Twitchings ensue, +attended with a Raving, when it becomes really necessary to stop the +Bleeding: and indeed, without waiting till these violent Symptoms +appear, the following Signs will sufficiently direct us, when it is +right to stop the Flux of Blood, or to permit its Continuance--As long +as the Pulse is still pretty full; while the Heat of the Body is equally +extended to the very Extremities; and the Countenance and Lips preserve +their natural Redness, no ill Consequence is to be apprehended from the +Hmorrhage, though it has been very copious, and even somewhat profuse. + +But whenever the Pulse begins to faulter and tremble; when the +Countenance and the Lips grow pale, and the Patient complains of a +Sickness at Stomach, it is absolutely necessary to stop the Discharge of +Blood. And considering that the Operation of Remedies does not +immediately follow the Exhibition or Application of them, it is safer to +begin a little too early with them, than to delay them, though ever so +little too long. + + 513. First of all then, tight Bandages, or Ligatures, should be +applied round both Arms, on the Part they are applied over in order to +Bleeding; and round the lower Part of both Thighs, on the gartering +Place; and all these are to be drawn very tight, with an Intention to +detain and accumulate the Blood in the Extremities. + +2, In Order to increase this Effect, the Legs are to be plunged in warm +Water up to the Knees; for by relaxing the Blood-vessels of the Legs and +Feet, they are dilated at the same time, and thence receive, and, in +Consequence of the Ligatures above the Knees, retain the more Blood. If +the Water were cold, it would repel the Blood to the Head; if hot, it +would increase the Motion of it; and, by giving a greater Quickness to +the Pulse, would even contribute to increase the Hmorrhage. + +As soon however, as the Hmorrhage is stopt, these Ligatures [on the +Thighs] may be relaxed a little, or one of them be entirely removed; +allowing the others to continue on an Hour or two longer without +touching them: but great Precaution should be taken not to slacken them +entirely, nor all at once. + +3, Seven or eight Grains of Nitre, and a Spoonful of Vinegar, in half a +Glass of cool Water, should be given the Patient every half Hour. + +4, One Drachm of white Vitriol must be dissolved in two common Spoonfuls +of Spring Water; and a Tent of Lint, or Bits of soft fine Linen dipt in +this Solution, are to be introduced into the Nostrils, horizontally at +first, but afterwards to be intruded upwards, and as high as may be, by +the Assistance of a flexible Bit of Wood or Whale-bone. But should this +Application be ineffectual, the Mineral Anodyne Liquor of _Hoffman_ is +certain to succeed: and in the Country, where it often happens that +neither of these Applications are to be had speedily, Brandy, and even +Spirit of Wine, mixt with a third Part Vinegar, have answered entirely +well, of which I have been a Witness. + +The Prescription N. 67, which I have already referred to, on the +Article of Wounds, may also be serviceable on this Occasion. It must be +reduced to Powder, and conveyed up the Nostrils as high as may be, on +the Point or Extremity of a Tent of Lint, which may easily be covered +with it. Or a Quill, well charged with the Powder, may be introduced +high into the Nostrils, and its Countents be strongly blown up from its +other Extremity: though after all the former Method is preferable. + +5, When the Flux of Blood is totally stopt, the Patient is to be kept as +still and quiet as possible; taking great Care not to extract the Tent +which remains in the Nose; nor to remove the Clots of coagulated Blood +which fill up the Passage. The loosening and removing of these should be +effected very gradually and cautiously; and frequently the Tent does not +spring out spontaneously, till after many Days. + + 514. I have not, hitherto, said any thing of artificial Bleeding in +these Cases, as I think it at best unserviceable; since, though it may +sometimes have stopt the morbid Loss of Blood, it has at other times +increased it. Neither have I mentioned Anodynes here, whose constant +Effect is to determine a larger Quantity of Blood to the Head. + +Applications of cold Water to the Nape of the Neck ought to be wholly +disused, having sometimes been attended with the most embarrassing +Consequences. + +In all Hmorrhages, all Fluxes of Blood, great Tranquillity, Ligatures, +and the Use of the Drinks N. 2 or 4, are very useful. + + 515. People who are very liable to frequent Hmorrhages, ought to +manage themselves conformably to the Directions contained in the next +Chapter, 544. They should take very little Supper; avoid all sharp and +spirituous Liquors; Apartments that are over hot, and cover their Heads +but very lightly. + +When a Patient has for a long time been subject to Hmorrhages, if they +cease, he should retrench from his usual Quantity of Food; accustom +himself to artificial Bleedings at proper Intervals; and take some +gentle opening Purges, especially that of N. 24, and frequently a +little Nitre in an Evening. + + + + _Of Convulsion Fits._ + + + 516. Convulsions are, in general, more terrifying than dangerous; they +result from many and various Causes; and on the Removal or Extirpation +of these, their Cure depends. + +In the very Fit itself very little is to be done or attempted. + +As nothing does shorten the Duration, nor even lessen the Violence, of +an epileptic Fit, so nothing at all should be attempted in it; and the +rather, because Means and Medicines often aggravate the Disease. We +should confine our Endeavours solely to the Security of the Patient, by +preventing him from giving himself any violent Strokes; by getting +something, if possible, between his Teeth, such as a small Roller of +Linen to prevent his Tongue from being hurt, or very dangerously +squeezed and bruised, in a strong Convulsion. + +The only Case which requires immediate Assistance in the Fit, is, when +it is so extremely violent, the Neck so swelled, and the Face so very +red, that there is Room to be apprehensive of an Apoplexy, which we +should endeavour to obviate, by drawing eight or ten Ounces of Blood +from the Arm. + +As this terrible Disease is common in the Country, it is doing a real +Service to the unfortunate Victims of it, to inform them how very +dangerous it is to give themselves blindly up to take all the Medicines, +which are cried up to them in such Cases. If there be any one Disease, +which requires a more attentive, delicate, and exquisite Kind of +Treatment, it is this very Disease. Some Species of it are wholly +incurable: and such as may be susceptible of a Cure, require the utmost +Care and Consideration of the most enlightned and most experienced +Physicians: while those who pretend to cure all epileptic Patients, with +one invariable Medicine, are either Ignorants, or Impostors, and +sometimes both in one. + + 517. Simple Convulsion Fits, which are not epileptic, are frequently +of a long Continuance, persevering, with very few and short Intervals, +for Days and even for Weeks. + +The true genuine Cause should be investigated as strictly as possible, +though nothing should be attempted in the Fit. The Nerves are, during +that Term, in so high a Degree of Tension and Sensibility, that the very +Medicines, supposed to be strongly indicated, often redouble the Storm +they were intended to appease. + +Thin watery Liquors, moderately imbued with Aromatics, are the least +hurtful, the most innocent Things that can be given; such as Bawm, +Lime-tree, and Elder Flower Tea. A Ptisan of Liquorice Root only has +sometimes answered better than any other. + + + + _Of suffocating, or strangling Fits._ + + + 518. These Fits (by whatever other Name they may be called) whenever +they very suddenly attack a Person, whose Breathing was easy and natural +just before, depend almost constantly on a Spasm or Contraction of the +Nerves, in the Vesicles of the Lungs; or upon an Infarction, a Stuffing +of the same Parts, produced by viscid clammy Humours. + +That Suffocation which arises from a Spasm is not dangerous, it goes off +of itself, or it may be treated like Swoonings owing to the same Cause. +See 502. + + 519. That Suffocation, which is the Effect of a sanguineous Fulness +and Obstruction, may be distinguished by its attacking strong, vigorous, +sanguine Persons, who are great Eaters, using much juicy nutritious +Food, and strong Wine and Liquors, and who frequently eat and inflame +themselves; and when the Fit has come on after any inflaming Cause; when +the Pulse is full and strong, and the Countenance red. + +Such are cured, 1, by a very plentiful Discharge of Blood from the Arm, +which is to be repeated, if necessary. + +2, By the Use of Glysters. + +3, By drinking plentifully of the Ptisan N. 1; to each Pot of which, a +Drachm of Nitre is to be added; and, + +4, By the Vapour of hot Vinegar, continually received by Respiration or +Breathing. See 55. + + 520. There is Reason to think that one of these Fits is owing to a +Quantity of tough viscid Humours in the Lungs, when it attacks Persons, +whose Temperament, and whose Manner of living are opposite to those I +have just described; such as valetudinary, weakly, phlegmatic, +pituitous, inactive, and squeamish Persons, who feed badly, or on fat, +viscid, and insipid Diet, and who drink much hot Water, either alone, or +in Tea-like Infusions. And these Signs of Suffocation, resulting from +such Causes, are still more probable, if the Fit came on in rainy +Weather, and during a southerly Wind; and when the Pulse is soft and +small, the Visage pale and hollow. + +The most efficacious Treatment we can advise, is, 1, 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 strong Blisters to the fleshy Parts of his Legs. + +If he was strong and hearty before the Fit, and the Pulse still +continues vigorous, and feels somewhat full withall, the Loss of seven +or eight Ounces of Blood is sometimes indispensably necessary. A Glyster +has also frequently been attended with extraordinary good Effects. + +Those afflicted with this oppressing Malady are commonly relieved, as +soon as they expectorate, and sometimes even by vomiting a little. + +The Medicine N. 25, a Dose of which may be taken every two Hours, with +a Cup of the Ptisan N. 12, often succeeds very well. + +But if neither this Medicine, nor the Prescription of N. 8 are at Hand, +which may be the Case in Country Places; an Onion of a moderate Size +should be pounded in an Iron or Marble Mortar; upon this, a Glass of +Vinegar is to be poured, and then strongly squeezed out again through a +Piece of Linen. An equal Quantity of Honey is then to be added to it. A +Spoonful of this Mixture, whose remarkable Efficacy I have been a +Witness of, is to be given every half Hour. + + + + _Of the violent Effects of Fear._ + + + 521. Here I shall insert some Directions to prevent the ill +Consequences 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 Straitening or Contraction of +all the small Vessels, and a Repulsion of the Blood into the large and +internal ones. Hence follows the Suppression of Perspiration, the +general Seizure or Oppression, the Trembling, the Palpitations and +Anguish, from the Heart and the Lungs being overcharged with Blood; and +sometimes attended with Swoonings, irremediable Disorders of the Heart, +and Death itself. A heavy Drowsiness, Raving, and a Kind of furious or +raging _Delirium_ happen in other Cases, which I have frequently +observed in Children, when the Blood-vessels of the Neck were swelled +and stuffed up; and Convulsions, and even the Epilepsy have come on, all +which have proved the horrible Consequence of a most senseless and +wicked Foolery or Sporting. One half of those Epilepsies which do not +depend on such Causes, as might exist before the Child's Birth, are +owing to this detestable Custom; and it cannot be too much inculcated +into Children, never to frighten one another; a Point which Persons +intrusted with their Education, ought to have the strictest Regard to. + +When the Humours that should have passed off by Perspiration, are +repelled to the Intestines, a tedious and very obstinate Looseness is +the frequent Consequence. + + 522. Our Endeavours should be directed, to re-establish the disordered +Circulation; to restore the obstructed Perspiration; and to allay the +Agitation of the Nerves. + +The popular Custom in these Cases has been to give the terrified Patient +some cold Water directly; but when the Fright has been considerable, +this is a very pernicious custom, and I have seen some terrible +Consequences from it. + +They should, on the contrary, be conveyed into some very quiet +Situation, leaving there but very few Persons, and such only as they are +thoroughly familiar with. They should take a few Cups of pretty warm +Drink, particularly of an Infusion of Lime-tree Flowers and Bawm. Their +Legs should be put into warm Water, and remain there an Hour, if they +will patiently permit it, rubbing them gently now and then, and giving +them every half-quarter of an Hour, a small Cup of the said Drink. When +their Composure and Tranquillity are returned a little, and their Skin +seems to have recovered its wonted and general Warmth, Care should be +taken to dispose them to sleep, and to perspire plentifully. For this +Purpose they may be allowed a few Spoonfuls of Wine, on putting them +into Bed, with one Cup of the former Infusion; or, which is more certain +and effectual, a few Drops of _Sydenham's_ Liquid Laudanum, N. 44; but +should that not be near at Hand, a small Dose of _Venice_ Treacle. + + 523. It sometimes happens that Children do not seem at first extremely +terrified; but the Fright is renewed while they sleep, and with no small +Violence. The Directions I have just given must then be observed, for +some successive Evenings, before they are put to Bed. + +Their Fright frequently returns about the latter End of the Night, and +agitates them violently every Day. The same Treatment should be +continued in such Cases; and we should endeavour to dispose them to be +a-sleep at the usual Hour of its Return. + +By this very Method, I have dissipated the dismal Consequences of Fear +of Women in Child-bed, which is so commonly, and often speedily, mortal. + +If a Suffocation from this Cause is violent, there is sometimes a +Necessity for opening a Vein in the Arm. + +These Patients should gradually be inured to an almost continual, but +gentle, Kind of Exercise. + +All violent Medicines render those Diseases, which are the Consequences +of great Fear, incurable. A pretty common one is that of an Obstruction +of the Liver, which has been productive of a Jaundice. [107] + +[107] I have seen this actually verified by great and disagreeable + Surprize, attended indeed with much Concern, in a Person of + exquisite Sensations. _K._ + + + +_Of Accidents or Symptoms produced by the Vapours of Coal, and of Wine._ + + + 524. Not a single Year passes over here, without the Destruction of +many People by the Vapour of Charcoal, or of small Coal, and by the +Steam or Vapour of Wine. + +The Symptoms by Coal occur, when [108] small Coal, and especially +when [109] Charcoal is burnt in a Chamber close shut, which is direct +Poison to a Person shut up in it. The sulphureous Oil, which is set at +Liberty and diffused by the Action of Fire, expands itself through the +Chamber; while those who are in it perceive a Disorder and Confusion in +their Heads; contract Vertigos, Sickness at Stomach, a Weakness, and +very unusual Kind of Numbness; become raving, convulsed and trembling; +and if they fail of Presence of Mind, or of Strength, to get out of the +Chamber, they die within a short Time. + +[108] _La Braise._ + +[109] _Charbon._ Dr. _Tissot_ informs me, their Difference consists in + this, that the Charcoal is prepared from Wood burnt in a close or + stifled Fire; and that the small Coal is made of Wood (and of + smaller Wood) burnt in an open Fire, and extinguished before it is + reduced to the State of a Cinder. He says the latter is smaller, + softer, less durable in the Fire, and the Vapour of it less + dangerous than that of Charcoal. + +I have seen a Woman who had vertiginous Commotions in her Head for two +Days, and almost continual Vomitings, from her having been confined less +than six Minutes in a Chamber (and that notwithstanding, both one Window +and one Door were open) in which there was a Chafing-dish with some +burning Coals. Had the Room been quite close, she must have perished by +it. + +This Vapour is narcotic or stupefying, and proves mortal in Consequence +of its producing a sleepy or apoplectic Disorder, though blended, at the +same time, with something convulsive; which sufficiently appears from +the Closure of the Mouth, and the strict Contraction or Locking of the +Jaws. + +The Condition of the Brain, in the dissected Bodies of Persons thus +destroyed, proves that they die of an Apoplexy: notwithstanding it is +very probable that Suffocation is also partly the Cause of their Deaths; +as the Lungs have been found stuffed up with Blood and livid. + +It has also been observed in some other such Bodies, that Patients +killed by the Vapour of burning Coals, have commonly their whole Body +swelled out to one third more than their Magnitude, when living. The +Face, Neck, and Arms are swelled out, as if they had been blown up; and +the whole human Machine appears in such a State, as the dead Body of a +Person would, who had been violently strangled; and who had made all +possible Resistance for a long time, before he was overpowered. + + 525. Such as are sensible of the great Danger they are in, and retreat +seasonably from it, are generally relieved as soon as they get into the +open Air; or if they have any remaining Uneasiness, a little Water and +Vinegar, or Lemonade, drank hot, affords them speedy Relief. But when +they are so far poisoned, as to have lost their Feeling and +Understanding, if there be any Means of reviving them, such Means +consist, + +1, In exposing them to a very pure, fresh and open Air. + +2, In making them smell to some very penetrating Odour, which is +somewhat stimulating and reviving, such as the volatile Spirit of Sal +Ammoniac, the [110] _English_ Salt; and afterwards to surround them, as +it were, with the Steam of Vinegar. + +[110] See Note [105] Page 495. + +3, In taking some Blood from their Arm. + +4, In putting their Legs into warm or hot Water, and chafing them well. + +5, In making them swallow, if practicable, much Lemonade, or Water and +Vinegar, with the Addition of Nitre: and, + +6, In throwing up some sharp Glysters. + +As it is manifest there is something spasmodic in these Cases, it were +proper to be provided with some antispasmodic Remedies, such as the +Mineral Anodyne Liquid of _Hoffman_. Even Opium has sometimes been +successfully given here, but it should be allowed to Physicians only to +direct it in such Cases. + +A Vomit would be hurtful; and the Reachings to vomit arise only from the +Oppression on the Brain. + +It is a common but erroneous Opinion, that if the Coal be suffered to +burn for a Minute or so in the open Air, or in a Chimney, it is +sufficient to prevent any Danger from the Vapour of it. + +Hence it amounts even to a criminal Degree of Imprudence, to sleep in a +Chamber while Charcoal or small Coal is burning in it; and the Number of +such imprudent Persons, as have never awaked after it, is so +considerable, and so generally known too, that the Continuance of this +unhappy Custom is astonishing. + + 526. The Bakers, who make Use of much small Coal, often keep great +Quantities of it in their Cellars, which frequently abound so much with +the Vapour of it, that it seizes them violently the Moment they enter +into the Cellar. They sink down at once deprived of all Sensation, and +die if they are not drawn out of it soon enough to be assisted, +according to the Directions I have just given. + +One certain Means of preventing such fatal Accidents is, upon going into +the Cellar to throw some flaming Paper or Straw into it, and if these +continue to flame out and consume, there is no Reason for dreading the +Vapour: but if they should be extinguished, no Person should venture in. +But after opening the Vent-hole, a Bundle of flaming Straw must be set +at the Door, which serves to attract the external Air strongly. Soon +after the Experiment of the flaming Paper must be repeated, and if it +goes out, more Straw is to be set on Fire before the Cellar Door. + + 527. Small Coal, burnt in an open Fire, is not near so dangerous as +_Charcoal_, properly so called, the Danger of which arises from this, +that in extinguishing it by the usual Methods, all those sulphureous +Particles of it, in which its Danger consists, are concentred. +Nevertheless, small Coal is not entirely deprived of all its noxious +Quality, without some of which it could not strictly be Coal. + +The common Method of throwing some Salt on live Coals, before they are +conveyed into a Chamber; or of casting a Piece of Iron among them to +imbibe some Part of their deadly narcotic Sulphur, is not without its +Utility; though by no means sufficient to prevent all Danger from them. + + 528. When the most dangerous Symptoms from this Cause disappear, and +there remains only some Degree of Weakness, of Numbness, and a little +Inappetency, or Loathing at Stomach, nothing is better than Lemonade +with one fourth Part Wine, half a Cup of which should frequently be +taken, with a small Crust of Bread. + + 529. The Vapour which exhales from Wine, and in general from all +fermenting Liquors, such as Beer, Cyder, _&c._ contains something +poisonous, 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 State of Fermentation; if it has been shut up close for +several Hours. There have been many Examples of Persons struck dead on +entering one, and of others who have escaped out of it with Difficulty. + +When such unhappy Accidents occur, Men should not be successively +exposed, one after another, to perish, by endeavouring to fetch out the +first who sunk down upon his Entrance; but the Air should immediately be +purified by the Method already directed, or by discharging some Guns +into the Cellar; after which People may venture in with Precaution. And +when the Persons unfortunately affected are brought out, they are to be +treated like those, who were affected with the Coal-Vapour. + +I saw a Man, about eight Years since, who was not sensible of the +Application of Spirit of Sal Ammoniac, till about an Hour after he was +struck down, and who was entirely freed at last by a plentiful Bleeding; +though he had been so insensible, that it was several Hours before he +discovered a very great Wound he had, which extended from the Middle of +his Arm to his Armpit, and which was made by a Hook intended to be used, +in Case of a House catching Fire, to assist Persons in escaping from the +Flames. + + 530. When subterraneous Caves that have been very long shut are +opened; or when deep Wells are cleaned, that have not been emptied for +several Years, the Vapours arising from them produce the same Symptoms I +have mentioned, and require the same Assistance. They are to be cleansed +and purified by burning Sulphur and Salt Petre in them, or Gunpowder, as +compounded of both. + + 531. The offensive Stink of Lamps and of Candles, especially when +their Flames are extinguished, operate like other Vapours, though with +less Violence, and less suddenly. Nevertheless there have been Instances +of People killed by the Fumes of Lamps fed with Nut Oil, which had been +extinguished in a close Room. These last Smells or Fumes prove noxious +also, in Consequence of their Greasiness, which being conveyed, together +with the Air, into the Lungs, prevent their Respiration: And hence we +may observe, that Persons of weak delicate Breasts find themselves +quickly oppressed in Chambers or Apartments, illuminated with many +Candles. + +The proper Remedies have been already directed, 525. The Steam of +Vinegar is very serviceable in such Cases. + + + + _Of Poisons._ + + + 532. There are a great Number of Poisons, whose Manner of acting is +not alike; and whose ill Effects are to be opposed by different +Remedies: But Arsenic, or Ratsbane, and some particular Plants are the +Poisons which are the most frequently productive of Mischief, in Country +Places. + + 533. It is in Consequence of its excessive Acrimony, or violent Heat +and Sharpness, which corrodes or gnaws, that Arsenic destroys by an +excessive Inflammation, with a burning Fire as it were, most torturing +Pains in the Mouth, Throat, Stomach, Guts; with rending and often bloody +Vomitings, and Stools, Convulsions, Faintings, _&c._ + +The best Remedy of all is pouring down whole Torrents of Milk, or, where +there is not Milk, of warm Water. Nothing but a prodigious Quantity of +such weak Liquids can avail such a miserable Patient. If the Cause of +the Disorder is immediately known, after having very speedily taken down +a large Quantity of warm Water, Vomiting may be excited with Oil, or +with melted Butter, and by tickling the Inside of the Throat with a +Feather. But when the Poison has already inflamed the Stomach and the +Guts, we must not expect to discharge it by vomiting. Whatever is +healing or emollient, Decoctions of mealy Pulse, of Barley, of Oatmeal, +of Marsh-mallows, and Butter and Oil are the most suitable. + +As soon as ever the tormenting Pains are felt in the Belly, and the +Intestines seem attacked, Glysters of Milk must be very frequently +thrown up. + +If at the very Beginning of the Attack, the Patient has a strong Pulse, +a very large Bleeding may be considerably serviceable by its delaying +the Progress, and diminishing the Degree of Inflammation. + +And even though it should happen that a Patient overcomes the first +Violence of this dreadful Accident, it is too common for him to continue +in a languid State for a long Time, and sometimes for all the Remainder +of his Life. The most certain Method of preventing this Misery, is to +live for some Months solely upon Milk, and some very new laid Eggs, just +received from the Hen, and dissolved or blended in the Milk, without +boiling them. + + 534. The Plants which chiefly produce these unhappy Accidents are some +Kinds of Hemlock, whether it be the Leaf or the Root, the Berries of the +_Bella Donna_, or deadly Nightshade, which Children eat by mistake for +Cherries; some Kind of Mushrooms, the Seed of the _Datura_, or the +stinking Thorn-Apple. + +All the Poisons of this Class prove mortal rather from a narcotic, or +stupefying, than from an acrid, or very sharp Quality. Vertigos, +Faintings, Reachings to vomit, and actual Vomitings are the first +Symptoms produced by them. + +The Patient should immediately swallow down a large Quantity of Water, +moderately seasoned with Salt or with Sugar; and then a Vomiting should +be excited as soon as possible by the Prescription N. 34 or 35: or, if +neither of these is very readily procurable, with Radish-seed pounded, +to the Quantity of a Coffee Spoonful, swallowed in warm Water, soon +after forcing a Feather or a Finger into the Patient's Throat, to +expedite the Vomiting. + +After the Operation of the Vomit, he must continue to take a large +Quantity of Water, sweetened with Honey or Sugar, together with a +considerable Quantity of Vinegar, which is the true Specific, or +Antidote, as it were, against those Poisons: the Intestines must also be +emptied by a few Glysters. + +Thirty-seven Soldiers having unhappily eaten, instead of Carrots, of the +Roots of the _Oenanth_; or Water-hemlock, became all extremely sick; +when the Emetic, N. 34, with the Assistance of Glysters, and very +plentiful drinking of warm Water, saved all but one of them, who died +before he could be assisted. + + 535. If a Person has taken too much Opium; or any Medicine into which +it enters, as _Venice_ Treacle, Mithridate, Diascordium, _&c._ whether +by Imprudence, Mistake, Ignorance, or through any bad Design, he must be +bled upon the Spot, and treated as if he had a sanguine Apoplexy, (See +147) by Reason that Opium in Effect produces such a one. He should snuff +up and inhale the Vapour of Vinegar plentifully, adding it also +liberally to the Water he is to drink. + + + + _Of acute Pains._ + + + 536. It is not my Intention to treat here of those Pains, that +accompany any evident known Disease, and which should be conducted as +relating to such Diseases; nor of such Pains as infirm valetudinary +Persons are habitually subject to; since Experience has informed such of +the most effectual Relief for them: But when a Person sound and hale, +finds himself suddenly attacked with some excessive Pain, in whatever +Part it occurs, without knowing either the Nature, or the Cause of it, +they may, till proper Advice can be procured, + +1, Part with some Blood, which, by abating the Fulness and Tension, +almost constantly asswages the Pains, at least for some Time: and it may +even be repeated, if, without weakening the Patient much, it has +lessened the Violence of the Pain. + +2, The Patient should drink abundantly of some very mild temperate +Drink, such as the Ptisan N. 2, the Almond Emulsion N. 4, or warm +Water with a fourth or fifth Part Milk. + +3, Several emollient Glysters should be given. + +4, The whole Part that is affected, and the adjoining Parts should be +covered with Cataplasms, or soothed with the emollient Fomentation, N. +9. + +5, The warm Bath may also be advantagiously used. + +6, If notwithstanding all these Assistances, the Pain should still +continue violent, and the Pulse is neither full nor hard, the grown +Patient may take an Ounce of Syrup of Diacodium, or sixteen Drops of +liquid Laudanum; and when neither of these are to be had, [111] an +_English_ Pint of boiling Water must be poured upon three or four +Poppy-heads with their Seeds, but without the Leaves, and this Decoction +is to be drank like Tea. + +[111] _Une Quartette._ + + 537. Persons very subject to frequent Pains, and especially to violent +Head-achs, should abstain from all strong Drink; such Abstinence being +often the only Means of curing them: And People are very often mistaken +in supposing Wine necessary for as many as seem to have a weak Stomach. + + + + + __Chapter XXXII.__ + + + + _Of Medicines taken by Way of Precaution, or Prevention._ + + + __Sect.__ 538. + +I Have pointed out, in some Parts of this Work, the Means of preventing +the bad Effects of several Causes of Diseases; and of prohibiting the +Return of some habitual Disorders. In the present Chapter I shall adjoin +some Observations, on the Use of the principal Remedies, which are +employed as general Preservatives; pretty regularly too at certain +stated Times, and almost always from meer Custom only, without knowing, +and often with very little Consideration, whether they are right or +wrong. + +Nevertheless, the Use, the Habit of taking Medicines, is certainly no +indifferent Matter: it is ridiculous, dangerous, and even criminal to +omit them, when they are necessary, but not less so to take them when +they are not wanted. A good Medicine taken seasonably, when there is +some Disorder, some _Disarrangement_ in the Body, which would in a short +time occasion a Distemper, has often prevented it. But yet the very same +Medicine, if given to a Person in perfect Health, if it does not +directly make him sick, leaves him at the best in a greater Propensity +to the Impressions of Diseases: and there are but too many Examples of +People, who having very unhappily contracted a Habit, a Disposition to +take Physick, have really injured their Health, and impaired their +Constitution, however naturally strong, by an Abuse of those Materials +which Providence has given for the Recovery and Re-establishment of it; +an Abuse which, though it should not injure the Health of the Person, +would occasion those Remedies, when he should be really sick, to be less +efficacious and serviceable to him, from their having been familiar to +his Constitution; and thus he becomes deprived of the Assistance he +would have received from them, if taken only in those Times and +Circumstances, in which they were necessary for him. + + + + _Of Bleeding._ + + + 539. Bleeding is necessary only in these four Cases. 1, When there is +too great a Quantity of Blood in the Body. 2, When there is any +Inflammation, or an inflammatory Disease. 3, When some Cause supervenes, +or is about to supervene, in the Constitution, which would speedily +produce an Inflammation, or some other dangerous Symptom, if the Vessels +were not relaxed by Bleeding. It is upon this Principle that Patients +are bled after Wounds, and after Bruises; that Bleeding is directed for +a pregnant Woman, if she has a violent Cough; and that Bleeding is +performed, by Way of Precaution, in several other Cases. 4, We also +advise Bleeding sometimes to asswage an excessive Pain, though such Pain +is not owing to Excess of Blood, nor arises from an inflamed Blood; but +in Order to appease and moderate the Pain by Bleeding; and thereby to +obtain Time for destroying the Cause of it by other Remedies. But as +these two last Reasons are in Effect involved or implied in the two +first; it may be very generally concluded, that an Excess of Blood, and +an inflamed State of it, are the only two necessary Motives for +Bleeding. + + 540. An Inflammation of the Blood is known by the Symptoms +accompanying those Diseases, which that Cause produces. Of these I have +already spoken, and I have at the same time regulated the Practice of +Bleeding in such Cases. Here I shall point out those Symptoms and +Circumstances, which manifest an Excess of Blood. + +The first, then, is the general Course and Manner of the Patient's +living, while in Health. If he is a great Eater, and indulges in juicy +nutritious Food, and especially on much Flesh-meat; if he drinks rich +and nourishing Wine, or other strong Drink, and at the same time enjoys +a good Digestion; if he takes but little Exercise, sleeps much, and has +not been subject to any very considerable Evacuation, he may well be +supposed to abound in Blood. It is very obvious that all these Causes +rarely occur in Country People; if we except only the Abatement of their +Exercise, during some Weeks in Winter, which indeed may contribute to +their generating more Blood than they commonly do. + +The labouring Country-man, for much the greater part of his Time, lives +only on Bread, Water and Vegetables; Materials but very moderately +nourishing, as one Pound of Bread probably does not make, in the same +Body, more Blood than one Ounce of Flesh; though a general Prejudice +seems to have established a contrary Opinion. 2, The total Stopping or +long Interruption of some involuntary Bleeding or Hmorrhage, to which +he had been accustomed. 3, A full and strong Pulse, and Veins visibly +filled with Blood, in a Body that is not lean and thin, and when he is +not heated. 4, A florid lively Ruddiness. 5, A considerable and unusual +Numbness; Sleep more profound, of more Duration, and yet less tranquil +and calm, than at other times; a greater Propensity than ordinary to be +fatigued after moderate Exercise or Work; and a little Oppression and +Heaviness from walking. 6, Palpitations, accompanied sometimes with very +great Dejection, and even with a slight fainting Fit; especially on +being in any hot Place, or after moving about considerably. 7, Vertigos, +or Swimmings of the Head, especially on bowing down and raising it up at +once, and after sleeping. 8, Frequent Pains of the Head, to which the +Person was not formerly subject; and which seem not to arise from any +Defect in the Digestions. 9, An evident Sensation of Heat, pretty +generally diffused over the whole Body. 10, A smarting Sort of Itching +all over, from a very little more Heat than usual. And lastly, frequent +Hmorrhages, and these attended with manifest Relief, and more Vivacity. + +People should, notwithstanding, be cautious of supposing an unhealthy +Excess of Blood, from any one of these Symptoms only. Many of them must +concur; and they should endeavour to be certain that even such a +Concurrence of them does not result from a very different Cause, and +wholly opposite in Effect to that of an Excess of Blood. + +But when it is certain, from the whole Appearance, that such an Excess +doth really exist, then a single, or even a second Bleeding is attended +with very good Effects. Nor is it material, in such Cases, from what +Part the Blood is taken. + + 541. On the other Hand, when these Circumstances do not exist, +Bleeding is in no wise necessary: nor should it ever be practised in +these following Conditions and Circumstances; except for some particular +and very strong Reasons; of the due Force of which none but Physicians +can judge. + +First, when the Person is in a very advanced Age, or in very early +Infancy. 2, When he is either naturally of a weakly Constitution, or it +has been rendered such by Sickness, or by some other Accident. 3, When +the Pulse is small, soft, feeble, and intermits, and the Skin is +manifestly pale. 4, When the Limbs, the Extremities of the Body, are +often cold, puffed up and soft. 5, When their Appetite has been very +small for a long time; their Food but little nourishing, and their +Perspiration too plentiful, from great Exercise. 6, When the Stomach has +long been disordered, and the Digestion bad, whence very little Blood +could be generated. 7, When the Patient has been considerably emptied, +whether by Hmorrhages, a Looseness, profuse Urine or Sweat: or when the +_Crisis_ of some Distemper has been effected by any one of these +Evacuations. 8, When the Patient has long been afflicted with some +depressing Disease; and troubled with many such Obstructions as prevent +the Formation of Blood. 9, Whenever a Person is exhausted, from whatever +Cause. 10, When the Blood is in a thin, pale, and dissolved State. + + 542, In all these Cases, and in some others less frequent, a single +Bleeding often precipitates the Patient into an absolutely incurable +State, an irreparable Train of Evils. Many dismal Examples of it are but +too obvious. + +Whatever, therefore, be the Situation of the Patient, and however +naturally robust, that Bleeding, which is unnecessary, is noxious. +Repeated, re-iterated Bleedings, weaken and enervate, hasten old Age, +diminish the Force of the Circulation, thence fatten and puff up the +Body; and next by weakening, and lastly by destroying, the Digestions, +they lead to a fatal Dropsy. They disorder the Perspiration by the Skin, +and leave the Patient liable to Colds and Defluxions: They weaken the +nervous System, and render them subject to Vapours, to the hypochondriac +Disorders, and to all nervous Maladies. + +The ill Consequence of a single, though erroneous Bleeding is not +immediately discernible: on the contrary, when it was not performed in +such a Quantity, as to weaken the Patient perceivably, it appears to +have been rather beneficial. Yet I still here insist upon it, that it is +not the less true that, when unnecessary, it is prejudicial; and that +People should never bleed, as sometimes has been done, for meer Whim, +or, as it were, for Diversion. It avails nothing to affirm, that within +a few Days after it, they have got more Blood than they had before it, +that is, that they weigh more than at first, whence they infer the Loss +of Blood very speedily repaired. The Fact of their augmented Weight is +admitted; but this very Fact testifies against the real Benefit of that +Bleeding; hence it is a Proof, that the natural Evacuations of the Body +are less compleatly made; and that Humours, which ought to be expelled, +are retained in it. There remains the same Quantity of Blood, and +perhaps a little more; but it is not a Blood so well made, so perfectly +elaborated; and this is so very true, that if the thing were otherwise; +if some Days after the Bleeding they had a greater Quantity of the same +Kind of Blood, it would amount to a Demonstration, that more re-iterated +Bleedings must necessarily have brought on an inflammatory Disease, in a +Man of a robust Habit of Body. + + 543. The Quantity of Blood, which a grown Man may Part with, by Way of +Precaution, is about ten Ounces. + + 544. Persons so constituted as to breed much Blood, should carefully +avoid all those Causes which tend to augment it, (See 540, N. 1) and +when they are sensible of the Quantity augmented, they should confine +themselves to a light frugal Diet, on Pulse, Fruits, Bread and Water; +they should often bathe their Feet in warm Water, taking Night and +Morning the Powder N. 20; drink of the Ptisan N. 1; sleep but very +moderately, and take much Exercise. By using these Precautions they may +either prevent any Occasion for Bleeding, or should they really be +obliged to admit of it, they would increase and prolong its good +Effects. These are also the very Means, which may remove all the Danger +that might ensue from a Person's omitting to bleed, at the usual Season +or Interval, when the Habit, the Fashion of Bleeding had been +inveterately established in him. + + 545. We learn with Horror and Astonishment, that some have been bled +eighteen, twenty and even twenty-four times in two Days; and some +others, some [112] hundred times, in the Course of some Months. Such +Instances irrefragably demonstrate the continual Ignorance of their +Physician or Surgeon; and should the Patient escape, we ought to admire +the inexhaustible Resources of Nature, that survived so many murderous +Incisions. + +[112] How shocking is this! and yet how true in some Countries! I have + been most certainly assured, that Bleeding has been inflicted and + repeated in the last sinking and totally relaxing Stage of a + Sea-Scurvy, whose fatal Termination it doubtless accelerated. This + did not happen in our own Fleet; yet we are not as yet Wholly + exempt on Shore, from some Abuse of Bleeding, which a few raw + unthinking Operators are apt to consider as a meer Matter of + Course. I have in some other Place stigmatized the Madness of + Bleeding in Convulsions, from manifest Exhaustion and Emptiness, + with the Abhorrence it deserves. _K._ + + 546. The People entertain a common Notion, which is, that the first +Time of bleeding certainly saves the Life of the Patient; but to +convince them of the Falsity of this silly Notion, they need only open +their Eyes, and see the very contrary Fact to this occur but too +unhappily every Day; many People dying soon after their first Bleeding. +Were their Opinion right, it would be impossible that any Person should +die of the first Disease that seized him, which yet daily happens. Now +the Extirpation of this absurd Opinion is really become important, as +the Continuance of it is attended with some unhappy Consequences: their +Faith in, their great Dependance on, the extraordinary Virtue of this +first Bleeding makes them willing to omit it, that is, to treasure it up +against a Distemper, from which they shall be in the greatest Danger; +and thus it is deferred as long as the Patient is not extremely bad, in +Hopes that if they can do without it then, they shall keep it for +another and more pressing Occasion. Their present Disease in the mean +time rises to a violent Height; and then they bleed, but when it is too +late, and I have seen Instances of many Patients, who were permitted to +die, that the first Bleeding might be reserved for a more important +Occasion. The only Difference between the first Bleeding, and any +subsequent one is, that the first commonly gives the Patient an Emotion, +that is rather hurtful than salutary. + + + + _Of Purges._ + + + 547. The Stomach and Bowels are emptied either by Vomiting, or by +Stools, the latter Discharge being much more natural than the first, +which is not effected without a violent Motion, and one indeed to which +Nature is repugnant. Nevertheless, there are some Cases, which really +require this artificial Vomiting; but these excepted (some of which I +have already pointed out) we should rather prefer those Remedies, which +empty the Belly by Stool. + + 548. The Signs, which indicate a Necessity for Purging, are, 1, a +disagreeable Tast or Savour of the Mouth in a Morning, and especially a +bitter Tast; a foul, furred Tongue and Teeth, disagreable Eructations or +Belchings, Windiness and Distension. + +2, A Want of Appetite which increases very gradually, without any Fever, +which degenerates into a Disgust or total Aversion to Food; and +sometimes communicates a bad Tast to the very little such Persons do +eat. + +3, Reachings to vomit in a Morning fasting, and sometimes throughout the +Day; supposing such not to depend on a Woman's Pregnancy, or some other +Disorder, in which Purges would be either useless or hurtful. + +4, A vomiting up of bitter, or corrupted, Humours. + +5, A manifest Sensation of a Weight, or Heaviness in the Stomach, the +Loins, or the Knees. + +6, A Want of Strength sometimes attended with Restlessness, ill Humour, +or Peevishness, and Melancholy. + +7, Pains of the Stomach, frequent Pains of the Head, or Vertigos; +sometimes a Drowsiness, which increases after Meals. + +8, Some Species of Cholics; irregular Stools which are sometimes very +great in Quantity, and too liquid for many Days together; after which an +obstinate Costiveness ensues. + +9, A Pulse less regular, and less strong, than what is natural to the +Patient, and which sometimes intermits. + + 549. When these Symptoms, or some of them, ascertain the Necessity of +purging a Person, not then attacked by any manifest Disease (for I am +not speaking here of Purges in such Cases) a proper purging Medicine may +be given him. The bad Tast in his Mouth; the continual Belchings; the +frequent Reachings to vomit; the actual Vomitings and Melancholy +discover, that the Cause of his Disorder resides in the Stomach, and +shew that a Vomit will be of Service to him. But when such Signs or +Symptoms are not evident, the Patient should take such purging or +opening Remedies, as are particularly indicated by the Pains, whether of +the Loins; from the Cholic; or by a Sensation of Weight or Heaviness in +the Knees. + + 550. But we should abstain from either vomiting or purging, 1, +Whenever the Complaints of the Patients are founded in their Weakness, +and their being already exhausted, 2, When there is a general Dryness of +the Habit, a very considerable Degree of Heat, some Inflammation, or a +strong Fever. 3, Whenever Nature is exerting herself in some other +salutary Evacuation; whence purging must never be attempted in critical +Sweats, during the monthly Discharges, nor during a Fit of the Gout. 4, +Nor in such inveterate Obstructions as Purges cannot remove, and really +do augment. 5, Neither when the nervous System is considerably weakened. + + 551. There are other Cases again, in which it may be proper to purge, +but not to give a Vomit. These Cases are, 1, When the Patient abounds +too much with Blood, (See 540) since the Efforts which attend +vomiting, greatly augment the Force of the Circulation; whence the +Blood-vessels of the Head and of the Breast, being extremely distended +with Blood, might burst, which must prove fatal on the Spot, and has +repeatedly proved so. 2, For the same Reason they should not be given to +Persons, who are subject to frequent Bleeding from the Nose, or to +coughing up or vomiting of Blood; to Women who are subject to excessive +or unseasonable Discharges of Blood, _&c._ from the _Vagina_, the Neck +of the Womb; nor to those who are with Child. 3, Vomits are improper for +ruptured Persons. + + 552. When any Person has taken too acrid, too sharp, a Vomit, or a +Purge, which operates with excessive Violence; whether this consists in +the most vehement Efforts and Agitations, the Pains, Convulsions, or +Swoonings, which are their frequent Consequences; or whether that +prodigious Evacuation and Emptiness their Operation causes, (which is +commonly termed a _Super-purgation_) and which may hurry the Patient +off; Instances of which are but too common among the lower Class of the +People, who much too frequently confide themselves to the Conduct of +ignorant Men-slayers: In all such unhappy Accidents, I say, we should +treat these unfortunate Persons, as if they had been actually poisoned, +by violent corroding Poisons, (See 533) that is, we should fill them, +as it were, with Draughts of warm Water, Milk, Oil, Barley-water, Almond +Milk, emollient Glysters with Milk, and the Yolks of Eggs; and also +bleed them plentifully, if their Pains are excessive, and their Pulses +strong and feverish. + +The Super-purgation, the excessive Discharge, is to be stopt, after +having plied the Patient plentifully with diluting Drinks, by giving the +calming Anodyne Medicines directed in the Removal of acute Pains, 536, +N. 6. + +Flanels dipt in hot Water, in which some _Venice_ Treacle is dissolved, +are very serviceable: and should the Evacuations by Stool be excessive, +and the Patient has not a high Fever, and a parching Kind of Heat, a +Morsel of the same Treacle, as large as a Nutmeg, may be dissolved in +his Glyster. + +But should the Vomiting solely be excessive, without any Purging, the +Number of the emollient Glysters with Oil and the Yolk of an Egg must be +increased; and the Patient should be placed in a warm Bath. + + 553. Purges frequently repeated, without just and necessary +Indications, are attended with much the same ill Effects as frequent +Bleedings. They destroy the Digestions; the Stomach no longer, or very +languidly, exerts its Functions; the Intestines prove inactive; the +Patient becomes liable to very severe Cholics; the Plight of the Body, +deprived of its salutary Nutrition, falls off; Perspiration is +disordered; Defluxions ensue; nervous Maladies come on, with a general +Languor; and the Patient proves old, long before the Number of his Years +have made him so. + +Much irreparable Mischief has been done to the Health of Children, by +Purges injudiciously given and repeated. They prevent them from +attaining their utmost natural Strength, and frequently contract their +due Growth. They ruin their Teeth; dispose young Girls to future +Obstructions; and when they have been already affected by them, they +render them still more obstinate. + +It is a Prejudice too generally received, that Persons who have little +or no Appetite need purging; since this is often very false, and most of +those Causes, which lessen or destroy the Appetite, cannot be removed by +purging; though many of them may be increased by it. + +Persons whose Stomachs contain much glairy viscid Matter suppose, they +may be cured by Purges, which seem indeed at first to relieve them: but +this proves a very slight and deceitful Relief. These Humours are owing +to that Weakness and Laxity of the Stomach, which Purges augment; since +notwithstanding they carry off Part of these viscid Humours generated in +it, at the Expiration of a few Days there is a greater Accumulation of +them than before; and thus, by a Re-iteration of purging Medicines, the +Malady soon becomes incurable, and Health irrecoverably lost. The real +Cure of such Cases is effected by directly opposite Medicines. Those +referred to, or mentioned, 272, are highly conducive to it. + + 554. The Custom of taking stomachic Medicines infused in Brandy, +Spirit of Wine, Cherry Water, _&c._ is always dangerous; for +notwithstanding the present immediate Relief such Infusions afford in +some Disorders of the Stomach, they really by slow Degrees impair and +ruin that Organ; and it may be observed, that as many as accustom +themselves to Drams, go off, just like excessive Drinkers, in +Consequence of their having no Digestion; whence they sink into a State +of Depression and Languor, and die dropsical. + + 555. Either Vomits or Purges may be often beneficially omitted, even +when they have some Appearance of seeming necessary, by abating one Meal +a Day for some time; by abstaining from the most nourishing Sorts of +Food; and especially from those which are fat; by drinking freely of +cool Water, and taking extraordinary Exercise. The same Regimen also +serves to subdue, without the Use of Purges, the various Complaints +which often invade those, who omit taking purging Medicines, at those +Seasons and Intervals, in which they have made it a Custom to take them. + + 556. The Medicines, N. 34 and 35, are the most certain Vomits. The +Powder, N. 21, is a good Purge, when the Patient is in no wise +feverish. + +The Doses recommended in the Table of Remedies are those, which are +proper for a grown Man, of a vigorous Constitution. Nevertheless there +are some few, for whom they may be too weak: in such Circumstances they +may be increased by the Addition of a third or fourth Part of the Dose +prescribed. But should they not operate in that Quantity, we must be +careful not to double the Dose, much less to give a three-fold Quantity, +which has sometimes been done, and that even without its Operation, and +at the Risque of killing the Patient, which has not seldom been the +Consequence. In Case of such purging not ensuing, we should rather give +large Draughts of Whey sweetened with Honey, or of warm Water, in a Pot +of which an Ounce, or an Ounce and a half of common Salt must be +dissolved; and this Quantity is to be taken from time to time in small +Cups, moving about with it. + +The Fibres of Country People who inhabit the Mountains, and live almost +solely on Milk, are so little susceptible of Sensation, that they must +take such large Doses to purge them, as would kill all the Peasantry in +the Vallies. In the Mountains of _Valais_ there are Men who take twenty, +and even twenty-four Grains of Glass of Antimony for a single Dose; a +Grain or two of which were sufficient to poison ordinary Men. + + 557. Notwithstanding our Cautions on this important Head, whenever an +urgent Necessity commands it, Purging must be recurred to at all Times +and Seasons: but when the Season may be safely selected, it were right +to decline Purging in the Extremities of either Heat or Cold; and to +take the Purge early in the Morning, that the Medicines may find less +Obstruction or Embarrassment from the Contents of the Stomach. Every +other Consideration, with Relation to the Stars and the Moon, is +ridiculous, and void of any Foundation. The People are particularly +averse 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 +astrological Prejudice, which is so much the more absurd, as the real +Dog-days are at thirty-six Days Distance from those commonly reckoned +such; and it is a melancholy Reflection, that the Ignorance of the +People should be so gross, in this Respect, in our enlightened Age; and +that they should still imagine the Virtue and Efficacy of Medicines to +depend on what Sign of the Zodiac the Sun is in, or in any particular +Quarter of the Moon. Yet it is certain in this Point, they are so +inveterately attached to this Prejudice, that it is but too common to +see Country-People die, in waiting for the Sign or Quarter most +favourable to the Operation and Effect of a Medicine, which was truly +necessary five or six Days before either of them. Sometimes too that +particular Medicine is given, to which a certain Day is supposed to be +auspicious and favourable, in Preference to that which is most prevalent +against the Disease. And thus it is, than an ignorant Almanack Maker +determines on the Lives of the human Race; and contracts the Duration of +them with Impunity. + + 558. When a Vomit or a Purge is to be taken, the Patient's Body should +be prepared for the Reception of it twenty-four Hours beforehand; by +taking very little Food, and drinking some Glasses of warm Water, or of +a light Tea of some Herbs. + +He should not drink after a Vomit, until it begins to work; but then he +should drink very plentifully of warm Water, or a light Infusion of +Chamomile Flowers, which is preferable. + +It is usual, after Purges, to take some thin Broth or Soup during their +Operation; but warm Water sweetened with Sugar or Honey, or an Infusion +of Succory Flowers, would sometimes be more suitable. + + 559. As the Stomach suffers, in some Degree, as often as either a +Vomit, or a Purge, is taken, the Patient should be careful how he lives +and orders himself for some Days after taking them, as well in Regard to +the Quantity as Quality of his Food. + + 560. I shall say nothing of other Articles taken by Way of Precaution, +such as Soups, Whey, Waters, _&c._ which are but little used among the +People; but confine myself to this general Remark, that when they take +any of these precautionary Things, they should enter on a Regimen or Way +of living, that may co-operate with them, and contribute to the same +Purpose. Whey is commonly taken to refresh and cool the Body; and while +they drink it, they deny themselves Pulse, Fruits, and Sallads. They eat +nothing then, but the best and heartiest Flesh-meats they can come at; +such Vegetables as are used in good Soups, Eggs, and good Wine; +notwithstanding this is to destroy, by high and heating Aliments, all +the attemperating cooling Effects expected from the Whey. + +Some Persons propose to cool and attemperate their Blood by Soups and a +thin Diet, into which they cram Craw-fish, that heat considerably, or +_Nasturtium_, Cresses which also heat, and thus defeat their own +Purpose. Happily, in such a Case, the Error in one Respect often cures +that in the other; and these Kinds of Soup, which are in no wise +cooling, prove very serviceable, in Consequence of the Cause of the +Symptoms, which they were intended to remove, not requiring any Coolers +at all. + +The general physical Practice of the Community, which unhappily is but +too much in Fashion, abounds with similar Errors. I will just cite one, +because I have seen its dismal Effects. Many People suppose Pepper +cooling, though their Smell, Taste, and common Sense concur to inform +them of the contrary. It is the very hottest of Spices. + + 561. The most certain Preservative, and the most attainable too by +every Man, is to avoid all Excess, and especially Excess in eating and +in drinking. People generally eat more than thoroughly consists with +Health, or permits them to attain the utmost Vigour, of which their +natural Constitutions are capable. The Custom is established, and it is +difficult to eradicate it: notwithstanding we should at least resolve +not to eat, but through Hunger, and always under a Subjection to Reason; +because, except in a very few Cases, Reason constantly suggests to us +not to eat, when the Stomach has an Aversion to Food. A sober moderate +Person is capable of Labour, I may say, even of excessive Labour of some +Kinds; of which greater Eaters are absolutely incapable. Sobriety of +itself cures such Maladies as are otherwise incurable, and may recover +the most shattered and unhealthy Persons. + + + + + __Chapter XXXIII.__ + + + _Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers._ + + + __Sect.__ 562. + +One dreadful Scourge still remains to be treated of, which occasions a +greater Mortality, than all the Distempers I have hitherto described; +and which, as long as it continues, will defeat our utmost Precautions +to preserve the Healths and Lives of the common People. This, or rather, +these Scourges, for they are very numerous, are Quacks; of which there +are two Species: The Mountebanks or travelling Quacks, and those +pretended Physicians in Villages and Country-Places, both male and +female, known in _Swisserland_ by the Name of Conjurers, and who very +effectually unpeople it. + +The first of these, the Mountebanks, without visiting the Sick, or +thinking of their Distempers, sell different Medicines, some of which +are for external Use, and these often do little or no Mischief; but +their internal ones are much oftener pernicious. I have been a Witness +of their dreadful Effects, and we are not visited by one of these +wandering Caitiffs, whose Admission into our Country is not mortally +fatal to some of its Inhabitants. They are injurious also in another +Respect, as they carry off great Sums of Money with them, and levy +annually some thousands of Livres, amongst that Order of the People, who +have the least to spare. I have seen, and with a very painful Concern, +the poor Labourer and the Artisan, who have scarcely possessed the +common Necessaries of Life, borrow wherewithal to purchase, and at a +dear Price, the Poison that was to compleat their Misery, by increasing +their Maladies; and which, where they escaped with their Lives, has left +them in such a languid and inactive State, as has reduced their whole +Family to Beggary. + + 563. An ignorant, knavish, lying and impudent Fellow will always +seduce the gross and credulous Mass of People, incapable to judge of and +estimate any thing rightly; and adapted to be the eternal Dupes of such, +as are base enough to endeavour to dazzle their weak Understandings; by +which Method these vile Quacks will certainly defraud them, as long as +they are tolerated. But ought not the Magistrates, the Guardians, the +Protectors, the political Fathers of the People interpose, and defend +them from this Danger, by severely prohibiting the Entrance of such +pernicious Fellows into a Country, where Mens' Lives are very estimable, +and where Money is scarce; since they extinguish the first, and carry +off the last, without the least Possibility of their being in anywise +useful to it. Can such forcible Motives as these suffer our Magistrates +to delay _their_ Expulsion any longer, _whom_ there never was the least +Reason for admitting? + + 564. It is acknowledged the Conjurers, the residing Conjurers, do not +carry out the current Money of the Country, like the itinerant Quacks; +but the Havock they make among their Fellow Subjects is without +Intermission, whence it must be very great, as every Day in the Year is +marked with many of their Victims. Without the least Knowledge or +Experience, and offensively armed with three or four Medicines, whose +Nature they are as thoroughly ignorant of, as of their unhappy Patients +Diseases; and which Medicines, being almost all violent ones, are very +certainly so many Swords in the Hands of raging Madmen. Thus armed and +qualified, I say, they aggravate the slightest Disorders, and make those +that are a little more considerable, mortal; but from which the Patients +would have recovered, if left solely to the Conduct of Nature; and, for +a still stronger Reason, if they had confided to the Guidance of her +experienced Observers and Assistants. + + 565. The Robber who assassinates on the High-way, leaves the Traveller +the Resource of defending himself, and the Chance of being aided by the +Arrival of other Travellers: But the Poisoner, who forces himself into +the Confidence of a sick Person, is a hundred times more dangerous, and +as just an Object of Punishment. + +The Bands of Highwaymen, and their Individuals, that enter into any +Country or District, are described as particularly as possible to the +Publick. It were equally to be wished, we had also a List of these +physical Impostors and Ignorants male and female; and that a most exact +Description of them, with the Number, and a brief Summary of their +murderous Exploits, were faithfully published. By this Means the +Populace might probably be inspired with such a wholesome Dread of them, +that they would no longer expose their Lives to the Mercy of such +Executioners. + + 566. But their Blindness, with Respect to these two Sorts of +maleficent Beings, is inconceivable. That indeed in Favour of the +Mountebank is somewhat less gross, because as they are not personally +acquainted with him, they may the more easily credit him with some Part +of the Talents and the Knowledge he arrogates. I shall therefore inform +them, and it cannot be repeated too often, that whatever ostentatious +Dress and Figure some of these Impostors make, they are constantly vile +Wretches, who, incapable of earning a Livelyhood in any honest Way, have +laid the Foundation of their Subsistence on their own amazing Stock of +Impudence, and that of the weak Credulity of the People; that they have +no scientific Knowledge; that their Titles and Patents are so many +Impositions, and inauthentic; since by a shameful Abuse, such Patents +and Titles are become Articles of Commerce, which are to be obtained at +very low Prices; just like the second-hand laced Cloaks which they +purchase at the Brokers. That their Certificates of Cures are so many +Chimeras or Forgeries; and that in short, if among the prodigious +Multitudes of People who take their Medicines, some of them should +recover, which it is almost physically impossible must not sometimes be +the Case, yet it would not be the less certain, that they are a +pernicious destructive Set of Men. A Thrust of a Rapier into the Breast +has saved a Man's Life by seasonably opening an Imposthume in it, which +might otherwise have killed him: and yet internal penetrating Wounds, +with a small Sword, are not the less mortal for one such extraordinary +Consequence. Nor is it even surprizing that these Mountebanks, which is +equally applicable to Conjurers, who kill thousands of People, whom +Nature alone, or assisted by a Physician, would have saved, should now +and then cure a Patient, who had been treated before by the ablest +Physicians. Frequently Patients of that Class, who apply to these +Mountebanks and Conjurers (whether it has been, that they would not +submit to the Treatment proper for their Distempers; or whether the real +Physician tired of the intractable Creatures has discontinued his Advice +and Attendance) look out for such Doctors, as assure them of a speedy +Cure, and venture to give them such Medicines as kill many, and cure one +(who has had Constitution enough to overcome them) a little sooner than +a justly reputable Physician would have done. It is but too easy to +procure, in every Parish, such Lists of their Patients, and of their +Feats, as would clearly evince the Truth of whatever has been said here +relating to them. + + 567. The Credit of this Market, this Fair-hunting Doctor, surrounded +by five or six hundred Peasants, staring and gaping at him, and counting +themselves happy in his condescending to cheat them of their very scarce +and necessary Cash, by selling them, for twenty times more than its real +Worth, a Medicine whose best Quality were to be only a useless one; the +Credit, I say, of this vile yet tolerated Cheat, would quickly vanish, +could each of his Auditors be persuaded, of what is strictly true, that +except a little more Tenderness and Agility of Hand, he knows full as +much as his Doctor; and that if he could assume as much Impudence, he +would immediately have as much Ability, would equally deserve the same +Reputation, and to have the same Confidence reposed in him. + + 568. Were the Populace capable of reasoning, it were easy to disabuse +them in these Respects; but as it is, their Guardians and Conductors +should reason for them. I have already proved the Absurdity of reposing +any Confidence in Mountebanks, properly so called; and that Reliance +some have on the Conjurers is still more stupid and ridiculous. + +The very meanest Trade requires some Instruction: A Man does not +commence even a Cobler, a Botcher of old Leather, without serving an +Apprenticeship to it; and yet no Time has been served, no Instruction +has been attended to, by these Pretenders to the most necessary, useful +and elegant Profession. We do not confide the mending, the cleaning of a +Watch to any, who have not spent several Years in considering how a +Watch is made; what are the Requisites and Causes of its going right; +and the Defects or Impediments that make it go wrong: and yet the +preserving and rectifying the Movements of the most complex, the most +delicate and exquisite, and the most estimable Machine upon Earth, is +entrusted to People who have not the least Notion of its Structure; of +the Causes of its Motions; nor of the Instruments proper to rectify +their Deviations. + +Let a Soldier discarded from his Regiment for his roguish Tricks, or who +is a Deserter from it, a Bankrupt, a disreputable Ecclesiastic, a +drunken Barber, or a Multitude of such other worthless People, advertize +that they mount, set and fit up all Kinds of Jewels and Trinkets in +Perfection; if any of these are not known; if no Person in the Place has +ever seen any of their Work; or if they cannot produce authentic +Testimonials of their Honesty, and their Ability in their Business, not +a single Individual will trust them with two Pennyworth of false Stones +to work upon; in short they must be famished. But if instead of +professing themselves Jewellers, they post themselves up as Physicians, +the Croud purchase, at a high Rate, the Pleasure of trusting them with +the Care of their Lives, the remaining Part of which they rarely fail to +empoison. + + 569. The most genuine and excellent Physicians, these extraordinary +Men, who, born with the happiest Talents, have began to inform their +Understandings from their earliest Youth; who have afterwards carefully +qualified themselves by cultivating every Branch of Physic; who have +sacrificed the best and most pleasurable Days of their Lives, to a +regular and assiduous Investigation of the human Body; of its various +Functions; of the Causes that may impair or embarrass them, and informed +themselves of the Qualities and Virtues of every simple and compound +Medicine; who have surmounted the Difficulty and Loathsomness of living +in Hospitals among thousands of Patients; and who have added the medical +Observations of all Ages and Places to their own; these few and +extraordinary Men, I say, still consider themselves as short of that +perfect Ability and consummate Knowledge, which they contemplate and +wish for, as necessary to guarding the precious _Depositum_ of human +Life and Health, confided to their Charge. Nevertheless we see the same +inestimable Treasures, intrusted to gross and stupid Men, born without +Talents; brought up without Education or Culture; who frequently can +scarcely read; who are as profoundly ignorant of every Subject that has +any Relation to Physic, as the Savages of _Asia_; who awake only to +drink away; who often exercise their horrid Trade merely to find +themselves in strong Liquor, and execute it chiefly when they are drunk: +who, in short, became Physicians, only from their Incapacity to arrive +at any Trade or Attainment! Certainly such a Conduct in Creatures of the +human Species must appear very astonishing, and even melancholy, to +every sensible thinking Man; and constitute the highest Degree of +Absurdity and Extravagance. + +Should any Person duly qualified enter into an Examination of the +Medicines they use, and compare them with the Situation and Symptoms of +the Patients to whom they give them, he must be struck with Horror; and +heartily deplore the Fate of that unfortunate Part of the human Race, +whose Lives, so important to the Community, are committed to the Charge +of the most murderous Set of Beings. + + 570. Some of these Caitiffs however, apprehending the Force and Danger +of that Objection, founded on their Want of Study and Education, have +endeavoured to elude it, by infusing and spreading a false, and indeed, +an impudent impious Prejudice among the People, which prevails too much +at present; and this is, that their Talents for Physic are a +supernatural Gift, and, of Course, greatly superior to all human +Knowledge. It were going out of my Province to expatiate on the +Indecency, the Sin, and the Irreligion of such Knavery, and incroaching +upon the Rights and perhaps the Duty of the Clergy; but I intreat the +Liberty of observing to this respectable Order of Men, that this +Superstition, which is attended with dreadful Consequences, seems to +call for their utmost Attention: and in general the Expulsion of +Superstition is the more to be wished, as a Mind, imbued with false +Prejudices, is less adapted to imbibe a true and valuable Doctrine. +There are some very callous hardened Villains among this murdering Band, +who, with a View to establish their Influence and Revenue as well upon +Fear as upon Hope, have horridly ventured so far as to incline the +Populace to doubt, whether they received their boasted Gift and Power +from Heaven or from Hell! And yet these are the Men who are trusted with +the Health and the Lives of many others. + + 571. One Fact which I have already mentioned, and which it seems +impossible to account for is, that great Earnestness of the Peasant to +procure the best Assistance he can for his sick Cattle. At whatever +Distance the Farrier lives, or some Person who is supposed qualified to +be one (for unfortunately there is not one in _Swisserland_) if he has +considerable Reputation in this Way, the Country-man goes to consult +him, or purchases his Visit at any Price. However expensive the +Medicines are, which the Horse-doctor directs, if they are accounted the +best, he procures them for his poor Beast. But if himself, his Wife or +Children fall sick, he either calls in no Assistance nor Medicines; or +contents himself with such as are next at Hand, however pernicious they +may be, though nothing the cheaper on that account: for certainly the +Money, extorted by some of these physical Conjurers from their Patients, +but oftner from their Heirs, is a very shameful Injustice, and calls +loudly for Reformation. + + 572. In an excellent Memoir or Tract, which will shortly be published, +on the Population of _Swisserland_, we shall find an important and very +affecting Remark, which strictly demonstrates the Havock made by these +immedical Magicians or Conjurers; and which is this: That in the common +Course of Years, the Proportion between the Numbers and Deaths of the +Inhabitants of any one Place, is not extremely different in City and +Country: but when the very same epidemical Disease attacks the City and +the Villages, the Difference is enormous; and the Number of Deaths of +the former compared with that of the Inhabitants of the Villages, where +the Conjurer exercises his bloody Dominion, is infinitely more than the +Deaths in the City. + +I find in the second Volume of the Memoirs of the oeconomical Society of +_Berne_, for the Year 1762, another Fact equally interesting, which is +related by one of the most intelligent and sagacious Observers, +concerned in that Work. "Pleurisies and Peripneumonies (he says) +prevailed at _Cottens a la Cte_; and some Peasants died under them, who +had consulted the Conjurers and taken their heating Medicines; while of +those, who pursued a directly opposite Method, almost every one +recovered." + + 573. But I shall employ myself no longer on this Topic, on which the +Love of my Species alone has prompted me to say thus much; though it +deserves to be considered more in Detail, and is, in Reality, of the +greatest Consequence. None methinks could make themselves easy with +Respect to it so much as Physicians, if they were conducted only by +lucrative Views; since these Conjurers diminish the Number of those poor +People, who sometimes consult the real Physicians, and with some Care +and Trouble, but without the least Profit, to those Gentlemen. But what +good Physician is mean and vile enough to purchase a few Hours of Ease +and Tranquillity at so high, so very odious a Price? + + 574. Having thus clearly shewn the Evils attending this crying +Nusance, I wish I were able to prescribe an effectual Remedy against it, +which I acknowledge is far from being easy to do. + +The first necessary Point probably was to have demonstrated the great +and public Danger, and to dispose the State to employ their Attention on +this fatal, this mortal Abuse; which, joined to the other Causes of +Depopulation, has a manifest Tendency to render _Swisserland_ a Desert. + + 575. The second, and doubtless the most effectual Means, which I had +already mentioned is, not to admit any travelling Mountebank to enter +this Country; and to set a Mark on all the Conjurers: It may probably +also be found convenient, to inflict corporal Punishment on them; as it +has been already adjudged in different Countries by sovereign Edicts. At +the very least they should be marked with public Infamy, according to +the following Custom practised in a great City in _France_. "When any +Mountebanks appeared in _Montpellier_, the Magistrates had a Power to +mount each of them upon a meagre miserable Ass, with his Head to the +Ass's Tail. In this Condition they were led throughout 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 Instructions and Admonition +of the Clergy on this Subject, to the Peasants in their several +Parishes. For this Conduct of the common People amounting, in Effect, to +Suicide, to Self-murder, it must be important to convince them of it. +But the little Efficacy of the strongest and repeated Exhortations on so +many other Articles, may cause us to entertain a very reasonable Doubt +of their Success on this. Custom seems to have determined, that there is +nothing in our Day, which excludes a Person from the Title and +Appellation of an honest or honourable Man, except it be meer and +convicted Theft; and that for this simple and obvious Reason, that we +attach ourselves more strongly to our Property, than to any Thing else. +Even Homicide is esteemed and reputed honourable in many Cases. Can we +reasonably then expect to convince the Multitude, that it is criminal to +confide the Care of their Health to these Poisoners, in Hopes of a Cure +of their Disorders? A much likelier Method of succeding on this Point +would certainly be, to convince the deluded People, that it will cost +them less to be honestly and judiciously treated, than to suffer under +the Hands of these 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 Means of removing or restraining this Nusance would be +to expunge, from the Almanacs, all the astrological Rules relating to +Physick; as they continually conduce to preserve and increase some +dangerous Prejudices and Notions in a Science, the smallest Errors in +which are sometimes fatal. I had already reflected on the Multitude of +Peasants that have been lost, from postponing, or mistiming a Bleeding, +only because the sovereign Decision of an Almanac had directed it at +some other Time. May it not also be dreaded, to mention it by the Way, +that the same Cause, the Almanacs, may prove injurious to their rural +Oeconomy and Management; and that by advising with the Moon, who has no +Influence, and is of no Consequence in Vegetation or other Country +Business, they may be wanting in a due Attention to such other +Circumstances and Regulations, as are of real Importance in them? + + 578. A fifth concurring Remedy against this popular Evil would be the +Establishment of Hospitals, for the Reception of poor Patients, in the +different Cities and Towns of _Swisserland_. + +There may be a great many easy and concurring Means of erecting and +endowing such, with very little new Expence; and immense Advantages +might result from them: besides, however considerable the Expenses might +prove, is not the Object of them of the most interesting, the most +important Nature? It is incontestably our serious Duty; and it would +soon be manifest, that the Performance of it would be attended with more +essential intrinsic Benefit to the Community, than any other Application +of Money could produce. We must either admit, that the Multitude, the +Body of the People is useless to the State, or agree, that Care should +be taken to preserve and continue them. A very respectable _English_ +Man, who, after a previous and thorough Consideration of this Subject, +had applied himself very assiduously and usefully on the Means of +increasing the Riches and the Happiness of his Country-men, complains +that in _England_, the very Country in which there are the most +Hospitals, the Poor who are sick are not sufficiently assisted. What a +deplorable Deficience of the necessary Assistance for such must then be +in a Country, that is not provided with a single Hospital? That Aid from +Surgery and Physic, which abounds in Cities, is not sufficiently +diffused into Country-places: and the Peasants are liable to some simple +and moderate Diseases, which, for Want of proper Care, degenerate into a +State of Infirmity, that sinks them into premature Death. + + 579. In fine, if it be found impossible to extinguish these Abuses +(for those arising from Quacks are not the only ones, nor is that Title +applied to as many as really deserve it) beyond all Doubt it would be +for the Benefit and Safety of the Public, upon the whole, entirely to +prohibit the Art, the Practice of Physic itself. When real and good +Physicians cannot effect as much Good, as ignorant ones and Impostors +can do Mischief, some real Advantage must accrue to the State, and to +the whole Species, from employing none of either. I affirm it, after +much Reflection, and from thorough Conviction, that Anarchy in Medicine +is the most dangerous Anarchy. For this Profession, when loosed from +every Restraint, and subjected to no Regulations, no Laws, is the more +cruel Scourge and Affliction, from the incessant Exercise of it; and +should its Anarchy, its Disorders prove irremediable, the Practice of an +Art, become so very noxious, should be prohibited under the severest +Penalties: Or, if the Constitution of any Government was inconsistent +with the Application of so violent a Remedy, they should order public +Prayers against the Mortality of it, to be offered up in all the +Churches; as the Custom has been in other great and general Calamities. + + 580. Another Abuse, less fatal indeed than those already mentioned +(but which, however, has real ill Consequences, and at the best, carries +out a great deal of Money from us, though less at the Expense of the +common People, than of those of easy Circumstances) is that Blindness +and Facility, with which many suffer themselves to be imposed upon, by +the pompous Advertisements of some _Catholicon_, some universal Remedy, +which they purchase at a high Rate, from some foreign Pretender to a +mighty Secret or _Nostrum_. Persons of a Class or two above the Populace +do not care to run after a Mountebank, from supposing they should +depretiate themselves by mixing with the Herd. Yet if that very Quack, +instead of coming among us, were to reside in some foreign City; if, +instead of posting up his lying Puffs and Pretentions at the Corners of +the Streets, he would get them inserted in the Gazettes, and +News-papers; if, instead of selling his boasted Remedies in Person, he +should establish Shops or Offices for that Purpose in every City; and +finally, if instead of selling them twenty times above their real Value, +he would still double that Price; instead of having the common People +for his Customers, he would take in the wealthy Citizen, Persons of all +Ranks, and from almost every Country. For strange as it seems, it is +certain, that a Person of such a Condition, who is sensible in every +other Respect; and who will scruple to confide his Health to the Conduct +of such Physicians as would be the justest Subjects of his Confidence, +will venture to take, through a very unaccountable Infatuation, the most +dangerous Medicine, upon the Credit of an imposing Advertisement, +published by as worthless and ignorant a Fellow as the Mountebank whom +he despises, because the latter blows a Horn under his Window; and yet +who differs from the former in no other Respects except those I have +just pointed out. + + 581. Scarcely a Year passes, without one or another such advertized +and vaunted Medicine's getting into high Credit; the Ravages of which +are more or less, in Proportion to its being more or less in Vogue. +Fortunately, for the human Species, but few of these _Nostrums_ have +attained an equal Reputation with _Ailbaud_'s Powders, an Inhabitant of +_Aix_ in _Provence_, and unworthy the Name of a Physician; who has +over-run _Europe_ for some Years, with a violent Purge, the Remembrance +of which will not be effaced before the Extinction of all its Victims. I +attend now, and for a long time past, several Patients, whose Disorders +I palliate without Hopes of ever curing them; and who owe their present +melancholy State of Body to nothing but the manifest Consequences of +these Powders; and I have actually seen, very lately, two Persons who +have been cruelly poisoned by this boasted Remedy of his. A French +Physician, as eminent for his Talents and his Science, as estimable from +his personal Character in other Respects, has published some of the +unhappy and tragical Consequences which the Use of them has occasioned; +and were a Collection published of the same Events from them, in every +Place where they have been introduced, the Size and the Contents of the +Volume would make a very terrible one. + + 582. It is some Comfort however, that all the other Medicines thus +puffed and vended have not been altogether so fashionable, nor yet quite +so dangerous: but all posted and advertized Medicines should be judged +of upon this Principle (and I do not know a more infallible one in +Physics, nor in the Practice of Physic), that whoever advertises any +Medicine, as a universal Remedy for all Diseases, is an absolute +Impostor, such a Remedy being impossible and contradictory. I shall not +here offer to detail such Proofs as may be given of the Verity of this +Proposition: but I freely appeal for it to every sensible Man, who will +reflect a little on the different Causes of Diseases; on the Opposition +of these Causes; and on the Absurdity of attempting to oppose such +various Diseases, and their Causes, by one and the same Remedy. + +As many as shall settle their Judgments properly on this Principle, will +never be imposed upon by the superficial Gloss of these Sophisms +contrived to prove, that all Diseases proceed from one Cause; and that +this Cause is so very tractable, as to yield to one boasted Remedy. They +will perceive at once, that such an Assertion must be founded in the +utmost Knavery or Ignorance; and they will readily discover where the +Fallacy lies. Can any one expect to cure a Dropsy, which arises from too +great a Laxity of the Fibres, and too great an Attenuation or Thinness +of the Blood, by the same Medicines that are used to cure an +inflammatory Disease, in which the Fibres are too stiff and tense, and +the Blood too thick and dense? Yet consult the News-papers and the +Posts, and you will see published in and on all of them, Virtues just as +contradictory; and certainly the Authors of such poisonous +Contradictions ought to be legally punished for them. + + 583. I heartily wish the Publick would attend here to a very natural +and obvious Reflection. I have treated in this Book, but of a small +Number of Diseases, most of them acute ones; and I am positive that no +competent well qualified Physician has ever employed fewer Medicines, in +the Treatment of the Diseases themselves. Nevertheless I have prescribed +seventy-one, and I do not see which of them I could retrench, or +dispense with the Want of, if I were obliged to use one less. Can it be +supposed then, that any one single Medicine, compound or simple, shall +cure thirty times as many Diseases as those I have treated of? + + 584. I shall add another very important Observation, which doubtless +may have occurred to many of my Readers; and it is this, that the +different Causes of Diseases, their different Characters; the +Differences which arise from the necessary Alterations that happen +throughout their Progress and Duration; the Complications of which they +are susceptible; the Varieties which result from the State of different +Epidemics, of Seasons, of Sexes, and of many other Circumstances; that +these Diversities, I say, oblige us very often to vary and change the +Medicines; which proves how very ticklish and dangerous it is to have +them directed by Persons, who have such an imperfect Knowledge of them, +as those who are not Physicians must be supposed to have. And the +Circumspection to be used in such Cases ought to be proportioned to the +Interest the Assistant takes in the Preservation of the Patient; and +that Love of his Neighbour with which he is animated. + + 585. Must not the same Arguments and Reflections unavoidably suggest +the Necessity of an entire Tractability on the Part of the Patient, and +his Friends and Assistants? The History of Diseases which have their +stated Times of Beginning, of manifesting and displaying themselves; of +arriving at, and continuing in their Height, and of decreasing; do not +all these demonstrate the Necessity of continuing the same Medicines, as +long as the Character of the Distemper is the same; 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 +suggests, appears to be well deduced, the Medicine must be chosen that +is likeliest to resist the Cause of it; and it must be continued as long +as no new Symptom or Circumstance supervenes, 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 useless or +insignificant, because it does not remove or abate the Distemper as +speedily, as the Impatience of the Sick would naturally desire it; and +to change it for another, is as unreasonable, as it would be for a Man +to break his Watch, because the Hand takes twelve Hours, to make a +Revolution round the Dial-plate. + + 586. Physicians have some Regard to the State of the Urine of sick +Persons, especially in inflammatory Fevers; as the Alterations occurring +in it help them to judge of the Changes that may have been made in the +Character and Consistence of the Humours in the Mass of Blood; and +thence may conduce to determine the Time, in which it will be proper to +dispose them to some Evacuation. But it is gross Ignorance to imagine, +and utter Knavery and Imposture to persuade the Sick, that the meer +Inspection of their Urine solely, sufficiently enables others to judge +of the Symptoms and Cause of the Disease, and to direct the best +Remedies for it. This Inspection of the Urine can only be of Use when it +is duly inspected; when we consider at the same time the exact State and +the very Looks of the Patient; when these are compared with the Degree +of the Symptoms of the Malady; with the other Evacuations; and when the +Physician is strictly informed of all external Circumstances, which may +be considered as foreign to the Malady; which may alter or affect the +Evacuations, such as particular Articles of Food, particular Drinks, +different Medicines, or the very Quantity of Drink. Where a Person is +not furnished with an exact Account of these Circumstances, the meer +Inspection of the Urine is of no Service, it suggests no Indication, nor +any Expedient; and meer common Sense sufficiently proves, and it may be +boldly affirmed, that whoever orders any Medicine, without any other +Knowledge of the Disease, than what an Inspection of the Urine affords, +is a rank Knave, and the Patient who takes them is a Dupe. + + 587. And here now any Reader may very naturally ask, whence can such a +ridiculous Credulity proceed, upon a Subject so essentially interesting +to us as our own Health? + +In Answer to this it should be observed, that some Sources, some Causes +of it seem appropriated merely to the People, the Multitude. The first +of these is, the mechanical Impression of Parade and Shew upon the +Senses. 2, The Prejudice they have conceived, as I said before, of the +Conjurers curing by a supernatural Gift. 3, The Notion the Country +People entertain, that their Distemper and Disorders are of a Character +and Species peculiar to themselves, and that the Physicians, attending +the Rich, know nothing concerning them. 4, The general Mistake that +their employing the Conjurer is much cheaper. 5, Perhaps a sheepish +shame-faced Timidity may be one Motive, at least with some of them. 6, A +Kind of Fear too, that Physicians will consider their Cases with less +Care and Concern, and be likely to treat them more cavalierly; a Fear +which increases that Confidence which the Peasant, and which indeed +every Man has in his Equal, being sounded in Equality itself. And 7, the +Discourse and Conversation of such illiterate Empirics being more to +their Tast, and more adapted to their Apprehension. + +But it is less easy to account for this blind Confidence, which Persons +of a superior Class (whole Education being considered as much better are +regarded as better Reasoners) repose in these boasted Remedies; and even +for some Conjurer in Vogue. Nevertheless even some of their Motives may +be probably assigned. + +The first is that great Principle of _Sety_, or _Selfness_, as it may +be called, innate to Man, which attaching him to the Prolongation of his +own Existence more than to any other thing in the Universe, keeps his +Eyes, his utmost Attention, continually fixed upon this Object; and +compels him to make it the very Point, the Purpose of all his Advances +and Proceedings; notwithstanding it does not permit him to distinguish +the safest Paths to it from the dangerous ones. This is the surest and +shortest Way says some Collector at the Turnpike, he pays, passes, and +perishes from the Precipices that occur in his Route. + +This very Principle is the Source of another Error, which consists in +reposing, involuntarily, a greater Degree of Confidence in those, who +flatter and fall in the most with us in our favourite Opinions. The well +apprised Physician, who foresees the Length and the Danger of a Disease; +and who is a Man of too much Integrity to affirm what he does not think, +must, from a necessary Construction of the human Frame and Mind, be +listened to less favourably, than he who flatters us by saying what we +wish. We endeavour to elongate, to absent ourselves, from the +Sentiments, the Judgment of the first; we smile, from Self-complacency, +at those of the last, which in a very little time are sure of obtaining +our Preference. + +A third Cause, which results from the same Principle is, that we give +ourselves up the most readily to his Conduct, whose Method seems the +least disagreeable, and flatters our Inclinations the most. The +Physician who enjoins a strict Regimen; who insists upon some Restraints +and Self-denials; who intimates the Necessity of Time and Patience for +the Accomplishment of the Cure, and who expects a thorough Regularity +through the Course of it, disgusts a Patient who has been accustomed to +indulge his own Tast and Humour; the Quack, who never hesitates at +complying with it, charms him. The Idea of a long and somewhat distant +Cure, to be obtained at the End of an unpleasant and unrelaxing Regimen, +supposes a very perilous Disease; this Idea disposes the Patient to +Disgust and Melancholy, he cannot submit to it without Pain; and he +embraces, almost unconsciously, merely to avoid this, an opposite System +which presents him only with the Idea of such a Distemper, as will give +Way to a few Doses of Simples. + +That Propensity to the New and Marvellous, which tyrannizes over so +large a Proportion of our Species, and which has advanced so many absurd +Persons and Things into Reputation, is a fourth and a very powerful +Motive. An irksome Satiety, and a Tiresomeness, as it were, from the +same Objects, is what our Nature is apt to be very apprehensive of; +though we are incessantly conducted towards it, by a Perception of some +Void, some Emptiness in ourselves, and even in Society too: But new and +extraordinary Sensations rousing us from this disagreeable State, more +effectually than any Thing else, we unthinkingly abandon ourselves to +them, without foreseeing their Consequences. + +A fifth Cause arises from seven Eighths of Mankind being managed by, or +following, the other Eighth; and, generally speaking, the Eighth that is +so very forward to manage them, are the least fit and worthy to do it; +whence all must go amiss, and absurd and embarrassing Consequences ensue +from the Condition of Society. A Man of excellent Sense frequently sees +only through the Eyes of a Fool, of an intriguing Fellow, or of a Cheat; +in this he judges wrong, and his Conduct must be so too. A man of real +Merit cannot connect himself with those who are addicted to caballing; +and yet such are the Persons, who frequently conduct others. + +Some other Causes might be annexed to these, but I shall mention only +one of them, which I have already hinted, and the Truth of which I am +confirmed in from several Years Experience; which is, that we generally +love those who reason more absurdly than ourselves, better than those +who convince us of our own weak Reasoning. + +I hope the Reflexions every Reader will make on these Causes of our ill +Conduct on this important Head, may contribute to correct or diminish +it; and to destroy those Prejudices whose fatal Effects we may +continually observe. + + +[N. B. _The Multitude of_ all _the Objects of this excellent Chapter in +this Metropolis, and doubtless throughout_ England, _were strong +Inducements to have taken a little wholesome Notice of the Impostures of +a few of the most pernicious. But on a second Perusal of this Part of +the Original and its Translation, I thought it impossible (without +descending to personal, nominal Anecdotes about the Vermin) to add any +Thing material upon a Subject, which the Author has with such Energy +exhausted. He even seems, by some of his Descriptions, to have taken +Cognizance of a few of our most self-dignified itinerant Empirics; as +these Genius's find it necessary sometimes to treat themselves with a +little Transportation. In reality Dr._ _Tissot_ _has, in a very masterly +Way, thoroughly dissected and displayed the whole_ Genus, _every Species +of Quacks. And when he comes to account for that Facility, with which +Persons of very different Principles from them, and of better +Intellects, first listen to, and finally countenance such Caitiffs, he +penetrates into some of the most latent Weaknesses of the human Mind; +even such as are often Secrets to their Owners. It is difficult, +throughout this Disquisition, not to admire the Writer; but impossible +not to love the Man, the ardent Philanthropist. His Sentiment that--"A +Man of real Merit cannot connect himself with those who are addicted to +caballing,"--is exquisitely just, and so liberal, that it never entered +into the Mind of any disingenuous Man, however dignified, in any +Profession. Persons of the simplest Hearts and purest Reflections must +shrink at every Consciousness of Artifice; and secretly reproach +themselves for each Success, that has redounded to them at the Expence +of Truth._] K. + + + + + __Chapter XXXIV.__ + + + _Containing Questions absolutely necessary to be answered + exactly by the Patient, who consults a Physician._ + + + __Sect.__ 588. + +Great Consideration and Experience are necessary to form a right +Judgment of the State of a Patient, whom the Physician has not +personally seen; even though he should receive the best Information it +is possible to give him, at a Distance from the Patient. But this +Difficulty is greatly augmented, or rather changed into an +Impossibility, when his Information is not exact and sufficient. It has +frequently happened to myself, that after having examined Peasants who +came to get Advice for others, I did not venture to prescribe, because +they were not able to give me a sufficient Information, in order to my +being certain of the Distemper. To prevent this great Inconvenience, I +subjoin a List of such Questions, as indispensably require clear and +direct Answers. + + + + _General Questions._ + + +What is the Patient's Age? + +Is he generally a healthy Person? + +What is his general Course of Life? + +How long has he been sick? + +In what Manner did his present Sickness begin, or appear? + +Has he any Fever? + +Is his Pulse hard or soft? + +Has he still tolerable Strength, or is he weak? + +Does he keep his Bed in the Day Time, or quit it? + +Is he in the same Condition throughout the whole Day? + +Is he still, or restless? + +Is he hot, or cold? + +Has he Pains in the Head, the Throat, the Breast, the Stomach, the +Belly, the Loins, or in the Limbs, the Extremities of the Body? + +Is his Tongue dry? does he complain of Thirst? of an ill Tast in his +Mouth? of Reachings to vomit, or of an Aversion to Food? + +Does he go to stool often or seldom? + +What Appearance have his Stools, and what is their usual quantity? + +Does he make much Urine? What Appearance has his Urine, as to Colour and +Contents? Are they generally much alike, or do they change often? + +Does he sweat? + +Does he expectorate, or cough up? + +Does he get Sleep? + +Does he draw his Breath easily? + +What Regimen does he observe in his Sickness? + +What Medicines has he taken? + +What Effects have they produced? + +Has he never had the same Distemper before? + + 589. The Diseases of Women and Children are attended with peculiar +Circumstances; so that when Advice is asked for them, Answers must be +given, not only to the preceding Questions, which relate to sick Persons +in general; but also to the following, which regard these particularly. + + + + _Questions with Respect to Women._ + + +Have they arrived at their monthly Discharges, and are these regular? + +Are they pregnant? Is so, how long since? + +Are they in Child-bed? + +Has their Delivery been happily accomplished? + +Has the Mother cleansed sufficiently? + +Has her Milk come in due Time and Quantity? + +Does she suckle the Infant herself? + +Is she subject to the Whites? + + + + _Questions relating to Children._ + + +What is the Child's exact Age? + +How many Teeth has he cut? + +Does he cut them painfully? + +Is he any-wise ricketty, or subject to Knots or Kernels? + +Has he had the Small Pocks? + +Does the Child void Worms, upwards or downwards? + +Is his Belly large, swelled, or hard? + +Is his Sleep quiet, or otherwise? + + 590. Besides these general Questions, common in all the Diseases of +the different Sexes and Ages, the Person consulting must also answer to +those, which have a close and direct Relation to the Disease, at that +very Time affecting the Sick. + +For Example, in the Quinsey, the Condition of the Throat must be exactly +inquired into. In Diseases of the Breast, an Account must be given of +the Patient's Pains; of his Cough; of the Oppression, and of his +Breathing, and Expectoration. I shall not enter upon a more particular +Detail; common Sense will sufficiently extend this Plan or Specimen to +other Diseases; and though these Questions may seem numerous, it will +always be easy to write down their Answers in as little Room, as the +Questions take up here. It were even to be wished that Persons of every +Rank, who occasionally write for medical Advice and Directions, would +observe such a Plan or Succession, in the Body of their Letters. By this +Means they would frequently procure the most satisfactory Answers; and +save themselves the Trouble of writing second Letters, to give a +necessary Explanation of the first. + +The Success of Remedies depends, in a very great Measure, on a very +exact Knowledge of the Disease; and that Knowledge on the precise +Information of it, which is laid before the Physician. + + + + + __FINIS.__ + + + + + _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 Application, of any of the said + Medicines._ + + +As in Order to ascertain the Doses of Medicines, I have generally done +it by Pounds, Ounces, Half-Ounces, _&c. &c._ and as this Method, +especially to the common People, might prove a little too obscure and +embarrassing, I have specified here the exact Weight of Water, contained +in such Vessels or liquid Measures, as are most commonly used in the +Country. + +The Pound which I mean, throughout all these Prescriptions, is that +consisting of sixteen Ounces. These Ounces contain eight Drachms, each +Drachm consisting of three Scruples, and each Scruple of twenty Grains; +the medical Scruple of _Paris_ solely containing twenty-four Grains. + +The liquid Measure, the _Pot_ used at _Berne_, being that I always speak +of, may be estimated, without any material Error, to contain three +Pounds and a Quarter, which is equal to three Pints, and eight common +Spoonfuls English Measure. But the exact Weight of the Water, contained +in the Pot of _Berne_, being fifty-one Ounces and a Quarter only, it is +strictly equal but to three Pints and six common Spoonfuls _English_. +This however is a Difference of no Importance, in the usual Drinks or +Aliments of the Sick. + +The small drinking Glass we talk of, filled so as not to run over, +contains three Ounces and three Quarters. But filled, as we propose it +should for the Sick, it is to be estimated 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 the Sick, it should not +be estimated, at the utmost, above three Ounces. + +The small Glass contains seven common Spoonfuls; so that a Spoonful is +supposed to contain half an Ounce. + +The small Spoon, or Coffee Spoon, when of its usual Size 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 six of these are +deemed equal in Measure, to a common Soup-Spoon. + +The Bason or Porrenger, mentioned in the present Treatise, holds, +without running over, the Quantity of five Glasses, which is equivalent +to eighteen Ounces and three Quarters. It may be estimated however, +without a Fraction, at eighteen Ounces: and a sick Person should never +be allowed to take more than a third Part of this Quantity of +Nourishment, at any one Time. + +The Doses in all the following Prescriptions are adjusted to the Age of +an Adult or grown Man, from the Age of eighteen to that of sixty Years. +From the Age of twelve to eighteen, two thirds of that Dose will +generally be sufficient: and from twelve down to seven Years one half, +diminishing this still lower, in Proportion to the greater Youth of the +Patient: so that not more than one eighth of the Dose prescribed should +be given to an infant of some Months old, or under one Year. But it must +also be considered, that their different Constitutions will make a +considerable Difference in adjusting their different Doses. It were to +be wished, on this Account, that every Person would carefully observe +whether a strong Dose is necessary to purge him, or if a small one is +sufficient; as Exactness is most important in adjusting the Doses of +such Medicines, as are intended to purge, or to evacuate in any other +Manner. + + + + N. 1. + + +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 one Quarter of boiling Water. Stir it about a little with a +Spoon to mix and dissolve the Honey; then cover up the Mug; and, when +the Liquor is cold, strain it through a Linen Cloth. + + + + N. 2. + + +Take two Ounces of whole Barley, cleanse and wash it well in hot Water, +throwing away this Water afterwards. Then boil it in five Chopins or +_English_ Pints of Water, till the Barley bursts and opens. Towards the +End of the boiling, throw in one Drachm and a half of Nitre [Salt Petre] +strain it through a Linen Cloth, and then add to it one Ounce and a half +of Honey, and one Ounce of Vinegar. [113] + +[113] This makes an agreeable Drink; and the Notion of its being windy is + idle; since it is so only to those, with whom Barley does not + agree. It may, where Barley is not procurable, be made from Oats. + + + + N. 3. + + +Take the same Quantity of Barley as before, and instead of Nitre, boil +in it, as soon as the Barley is put in to boil, a Quarter of an Ounce of +Cream of Tartar. Strain it, and add nothing else [114] to it. + +[114] In those Cases mentioned 241, 262, 280, instead of the Barley, + four Ounces of Grass Roots may be boiled in the same Quantity of + Water for half an Hour, with the Cream of Tartar. + + + + N. 4. + + +Take three Ounces of the freshest sweet Almonds, and one Ounce of Gourd +or Melon Seed; bruise them in a Mortar, adding to them by a little at a +time, one Pint of Water, then strain it through Linen. Bruise what +remains again, adding gradually to it another Pint of Water, then +straining; and adding Water to the Residue, till full three Pints at +least of Water are thus used: after which it may again be poured upon +the bruised Mass, stirred well about, and then be finally strained off. +Half an Ounce of Sugar may safely be bruised with the Almonds and Seeds +at first, though some weakly imagine it too heating; and delicate +Persons may be allowed a little Orange Flower Water with it. + + + + N. 5. + + +Take two Pugils of Mallow Leaves and Flowers, cut them small, and pour a +Pint of boiling Water upon them. After standing some time strain it, +adding one Ounce of Honey to it. For Want of Mallows, which is +preferable, a similar Glyster may be made of the Leaves of Mercury, +Pellitory of the Wall, the Marsh-Mallows, the greater Mallows, from +Lettuce, or from Spinage. A few very particular Consititutions are not +to be purged by any Glyster but warm Water alone; such should receive no +other, and the Water should not be very hot. + + + + N. 6. + + +Boil a Pugil of Mallow Flowers, in a Pint of Barley Water for a Glyster. + + + + N. 7. + + +Take three Pints of simple Barley Water, add to it three Ounces of the +Juice of Sow-thistle, or of Groundsel, or of the greater Houseleek, or +of Borage. [115] + +[115] These Juices are to be procured from the Herbs when fresh and very + young, if possible, by beating them in a Marble Mortar, or for Want + of such [or a wooden Mortar] in an Iron one, and then squeezing out + the Juice through a Linen Bag. It must be left to settle a little + in an earthen Vessel, after which the clear Juice must be decanted + gently off, and the Sediment be left behind. + + + + N. 8. + + +To one Ounce of Oxymel of Squills, add five Ounces of a strong Infusion +of Elder Flowers. + + + + N. 9. + + +There are many different emollient Applications, which have very nearly +the same Virtues. The following are the most efficacious. + +1, Flanels wrung out of a hot Decoction of Mallow Flowers. + +2, Small Bags filled with Mallow Flowers, or with those of Mullein, of +Elder, of Camomile, of wild Corn Poppy, and boiled either in Milk or +Water. + +3, Pultices of the same Flowers boiled in Milk and Water. + +4, Bladders half filled with hot Milk and Water, or with some emollient +Decoction. + +5, A Pultice of boiled Bread and Milk, or of Barley or Rice boiled till +thoroughly soft and tender. + +6, In the Pleurisy (See 89) the affected Part may be rubbed sometimes +with Ointment of Marsh-mallows. + + + + N. 10. + + +To one Ounce of Spirit of Sulphur, add six Ounces of Syrup of Violets, +or for want of the latter, as much Barley Water, of a thicker +Consistence than ordinary. [116] + +[116] Some Friends, says Dr. _Tissot_, whose judgment I greatly respect, + have thought the Doses of acid Spirit which I direct extremely + strong; and doubtless they are so, if compared with the Doses + generally prescribed, and to which I should have limited myself, if + I had not frequently seen their Insufficience. Experience has + taught me to increase them considerably; and, augmenting the Dose + gradually, I now venture to give larger Doses of them than have + ever been done before, and always with much Success; the same Doses + which I have advised in this Work not being so large as those I + frequently prescribe. For this Reason I intreat those Physicians, + who have thought them excessive, to try the acid Spirits in larger + Doses than those commonly ordered; and I am persuaded they will see + Reason to congratulate themselves upon the Effect. [117] + +[117] Our Author's _French_ Annotator has a Note against this Acid, which + I have omitted; for though I have given his Note Page 84 [with the + Substance of the immediately preceding one] to which I have also + added some Doubts of my own, from Facts, concerning the Benefit of + Acids in inflammatory Disorders of the Breast; yet with Regard to + the ardent, the putrid, the malignant Fever, and _Erisipelas_, in + which Dr. _Tissot_ directs this, I have no Doubt of its Propriety + (supposing no insuperable Disagreement to Acids in the + Constitution) and with Respect to their Doses, I think we may + safely rely on our honest Author's Veracity. Dr. _Fuller_ assures + us, a Gentleman's Coachman was recovered from the Bleeding Small + Pocks, by large and repeated Doses of the Oil of Vitriol, in + considerable Draughts of cold Water. _K._ + + + + N. 11. + + +Take two Ounces of Manna, and half an Ounce of Sedlitz Salt, or for want +of it, as much Epsom Salt; dissolving them in four Ounces of hot Water, +and straining them. + + + + N. 12. + + +Take of Elder Flowers one Pugil, of Hyssop Leaves half as much. Pour +three Pints of boiling Water upon them. After infusing some time, +strain, and dissolve three Ounces of Honey in the Infusion. + + + + N. 13. + + +Is only the same Kind of Drink made by omitting the Hyssop, and adding +instead of it as much more Elder Flowers. + + + + N. 14. + + +Let one Ounce of the best Jesuits Bark in fine Powder be divided into +sixteen 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 Vessel +containing five or six _English_ Pints, with half an Ounce of Oil of +Turpentine, and fill it up with boiling Water. + + + + N. 16. + + +Is only the Syrup of the Flowers of the wild red Corn Poppy. + + + + N. 17. + + +Is only very clear sweet Whey, in every Pint of which one Ounce of Honey +is to be dissolved. + + + + N. 18. + + +Take of Castile or hard white Soap six Drachms; of Extract of Dandelion +one Drachm and a half; of Gum Ammoniacum half a Drachm, and with Syrup +of Maidenhair make a Mass of Pills, to be formed into Pills, weighing +three Grains each. + + + + N. 19. + + +Gargarisms may be prepared from a Decoction, or rather an Infusion, of +the Leaves of Periwinkle, or of Red Rose-Leaves, or of Mallows. Two +Ounces of Vinegar and as much Honey must be added to every Pint of it, +and the Patient should gargle with it pretty hot. The deterging, +cleansing Gargarisin referred to 112, is a light Infusion of the Tops +of Sage, adding two Ounces of Honey to each Pint of it. + + + + N. 20. + + +Is only one Ounce of powdered Nitre, divided into sixteen equal Doses. + + + + N. 21. + + +Take of Jalap, of Senna, and of Cream of Tartar of each thirty Grains +finely powdered; and let them be very well mixed. [118] + +[118] This, our Author observes, will work a strong Country-man very + well: by which however he does not seem to mean an Inhabitant of + the Mountains in _Valais_. See P. 547. + + + + N. 22. + + +Take of _China_ Root, and of Sarsaparilla of each one Ounce and a half, +of Sassafras Root, and of the Shavings of Guiacum, otherwise called +_Lignum vit_, of each one Ounce. Let the whole be cut very fine. Then +put them into a glazed earthen Vessel; pouring 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 these +Ingredients, or with the Addition of a few others. More Water may, after +the first boiling, be poured on the same Ingredients, and be boiled up +into a small Decoction for common Drink. + + + + N. 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 dissolved strain the Mixture off. + + + + N. 24. + + +Is only an Ounce of Cream of Tartar, divided into eight equal Parts. + + + + N. 25. + + +This Prescription is only the Preparation of Kermes mineral, otherwise +called the Chartreusian Powder. Dr. _Tissot_ orders but one Grain for a +Dose. 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 Nitre, in three full Pints of Water. + + + + N. 27. + + +Take half a Pinch of the Herbs prescribed N. 9, Article 2, and half an +Ounce of hard white Soap shaved thin. Pour on these one Pint and a half +of boiling Water, and one Glass of Wine. Strain the Liquor and squeeze +it strongly out. + + + + N. 28. + + +Take of the purest Quicksilver one Ounce; of Venice Turpentine half a +Drachm, of the freshest Hog's Lard two Ounces, and let the whole be very +well rubbed together into an Ointment. [119] + +[119] This Ointment should be prepared at the Apothecaries; the Receipt + of it being given here, only because the Proportions of the + Quicksilver and the Lard are not always the same in different + Places. + + + + N. 29. + + +This Prescription is nothing but the yellow Basilicon. + + + + N. 30. + + +Take of natural and factitious, or artificial Cinnabar, twenty-four +Grains each; of Musk sixteen Grains, and let the whole be reduced into +fine Powder, and very well mixed. [120] + +[120] This Medicine is known by the Name of _Cob's_ Powder; and as its + Reputation is very considerable, I did not chuse to omit it; though + I must repeat here what I have said 195--That the Cinnabar is + probably of little or no Efficacy; and there are other Medicines + that have also much more than the Musk; which besides is extremely + dear for poor People, as the requisite Doses of it, in very + dangerous Cases, would cost ten or twelve Shillings daily. The + Prescription, N. 31, is more effectual than the Musk; and instead + of the useless Cinnabar, the powerful Quicksilver may be given to + the Quantity of forty-five Grains. I have said nothing hitherto in + this Work of the red blossomed Mulberry Tree, which passes for a + real Specific, among some Persons, in this dreadful Malady. An + Account of it may be seen in the first Volume of the Oeconomical + Journal of _Berne_. It is my Opinion however, that none of the + Instances related there are satisfactory and decisive; its Efficacy + still appearing to me very doubtful. + + + + N. 31. + + +Take one Drachm of _Virginia_ Snake Root in Powder; of Camphor and of +Assa-foetida ten Grains each; of Opium one Grain, and with a sufficient +Quantity of Conserve, or Rob of Elder, make a Bolus. [121] + +[121] When this is preferred to N. 30, of which Musk is an Ingredient, + the Grain of Opium should be omitted, except once or at most twice + in the twenty-four Hours. Two Doses of Quicksilver, of fifteen + Grains each, should be given daily in the Morning, in the Interval + between the other Bolus's. + + + + 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. + + + + N. 33. + + +Take seven Grains of Turbith Mineral; and make it into a Pill or Bolus +with a little Crumb of Bread. [122] + +[122] This Medicine makes the Dogs vomit and slaver abundantly. It has + effected many Cures after the _Hydrophobia_, the Dread of Water, + was manifest. It must be given three Days successively, and + afterwards twice a Week, for fifteen Days. + + + + N. 34. + + +This is nothing but a Prescription of six Grains of Tartar [123] emetic. + +[123] When People are ignorant of the Strength of the Tartar emetic + (which is often various) or of the Patient's being easy or hard to + vomit, a Dose and a half may be dissolved in a Quart of warm Water, + of which he may take a Glass every Quarter of an Hour, whence the + Operation may be forwarded, or otherwise regulated, according to + the Number of Vomits or Stools. This Method, much used in _Paris_, + seems a safe and eligible one. + + + + N. 35. + + +Take thirty-five Grains of Ipecacuanna, which, in the very strongest +Constitutions, may be augmented to forty-five, or even to fifty Grains. + + + + N. 36. + + +Prescribes only the common blistering Plaister; and the Note observes +that very young Infants who have delicate Skins may have Sinapisms +applied instead of Blisters; and made of a little old Leaven, kneaded up +with a few Drops of sharp Vinegar. + + + + N. 37. + + +Take of the Tops of _Chamaedrys_ or Ground Oak, of the lesser Centaury, +of Wormwood and of Camomile, of each one Pugil. Pour on them three Pints +of boiling Water; and suffering them to infuse until it is cold, strain +the Liquor through a Linen Cloth, pressing it out strongly. + + + + N. 38. + + +Take forty Grains of Rhubarb, and as much Cream of Tartar in Powder, +mixing them well together. + + + + N. 39. + + +Take three Drachms of Cream of Tartar, and one Drachm of Ipecacuanna +finely powdered. Rub them well together, and divide them into six equal +Parts. + + + + N. 40. + + +Take of the simple Mixture one Ounce, of Spirit of Vitriol half an +Ounce, and mix them. The Dose is one or two Tea Spoonfuls in a Cup of +the Patient's common Drink. The simple Mixture is composed of five +Ounces of Treacle Water camphorated, of three Ounces of Spirit of Tartar +rectified, and one Ounce of Spirit of Vitriol. If the Patient has an +insuperable Aversion to the Camphor, it must be omitted, though the +Medicine is less efficacious without it. And if his Thirst is not very +considerable, the simple Mixture may be given alone, without any further +Addition of Spirit of Vitriol. + + + + N. 41. + + +Take half a Drachm of _Virginia_ Snake-root, ten Grains of Camphor, and +make them into a Bolus with Rob of Elder-Berries. If the Patient's +Stomach cannot bear so large a Dose of Camphor, he may take it in +smaller Doses and oftner, _viz._ three Grains, every two Hours. If there +is a violent Looseness, Diascordium must be substituted instead of the +Rob of Elder-berries. + + + + N. 42. + + +Prescribes only the _Theriaca pauperum_, or poor Man's Treacle, in the +Dose of a Quarter of an Ounce. The following Composition of it is that +chiefly preferred by our Author. Take equal Parts of round Birthwort +Roots, of Elecampane, of Myrrh, and of Rob or Conserve of +Juniper-berries, and make them into an Electuary of a rather thin, than +very stiff Consistence, with Syrup of Orange-peel. + + + + N. 43. + + +The first of the three Medicines referred to in this Number, is that +already directed, N. 37. The second is as follows. + +Take equal Parts of the lesser Centaury, of Wormwood, of Myrrh, all +powdered, and of Conserve of Juniper-berries, making them up into a +pretty thick Consistence with Syrup of Wormwood. The Dose is a Quarter +of an Ounce; to be taken at the same Intervals as the Bark. + +For the third Composition--Take of the Roots of Calamus Aromaticus and +Elecampane well bruised, two Ounces; of the Tops of the lesser Centaury +cut small, a Pugil; of Filings of unrusted Iron two Ounces, of old white +Wine, three Pints. Put them all into a wide necked Bottle, and set it +upon Embers, or on a Stove, or by the Chimney, that it may be always +kept hot. Let them infuse twenty-four Hours, shaking them well five or +six Times; then let the Infusion settle, and strain it. The Dose 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 +Camomile; boil them in twelve Ounces of Water for half an Hour, and +strain it off. + + + + N. 45. + + +Directs only the common Sal Ammoniac, from two Scruples to one Drachm +for a Dose. The Note to it adds, that it may be made into a Bolus with +Rob of Elder; and observes, that those feverish Patients, who have a +weak delicate Stomach, do not well admit of this Salt; no more than of +several others, which affect them with great Disorder and Anxiety. + + + + N. 46. + + +The Powder. Take one Pugil of Camomile Flowers, and as much Elder +Flowers, bruising them well; of fine Flour or Starch three Ounces; of +Ceruss 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 Plaister. Take of the Ointment called _Nutritum_, made with the +newest sweet Oil, two Ounces; of white Wax three Quarters of an Ounce, +and one Quarter of an Ounce of blue Smalt. Melt the Wax, then add the +_Nutritum_ to it, after the Smalt 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 smoothly spread on +Linen Cloth. + +A Quarter of an Ounce of Smalt may also be mixed exactly with two Ounces +of Butter or Ointment of Lead, to be used occasionally instead of the +Plaister. + + + + N. 47. + + +Take one Ounce of Sedlitz, or for want of that, as much Epsom Salt, and +two Ounces of Tamarinds: pour upon them eight Ounces of boiling Water, +stirring them about to dissolve the Tamarinds. Strain it off; and divide +it into two equal Draughts, to be given at the Interval of Half an Hour +between the first and last. + + + + N. 48. + + +Take of _Sydenham_'s Liquid Laudanum eighty Drops; of Bawm Water two +Ounces and a half. If the first, or the second, Dose stops or +considerably lessens the Vomiting, this [124] Medicine should not be +further repeated. + +[124] The medical Editor at _Lyons_ justly notes here, that these eighty + Drops are a very strong Dose of liquid Laudanum; adding that it is + scarcely ever given at _Lyons_ in a greater Dose than thirty Drops; + and recommending a Spoonful of Syrup of Lemon-peel to be given with + it--But we must observe here in answer to this Note, that when Dr. + _Tissot_ directs this Mixture in the Iliac Passion 318, to + appease the Vomitings, Art. 3, he orders but one spoonful of this + Mixture to be taken at once, and an Interval of two Hours to be + observed between the first and second Repetition, which reduces + each Dose to sixteen Drops, and which is not to be repeated without + Necessity. + + + + N. 49. + + +Dissolve three Ounces of Manna and twenty Grains of Nitre in twenty +Ounces, or six Glasses, of sweet Whey. + + + + N. 50. + + +To two Ounces of Syrup of Diacodium, or white Poppy Heads, add an equal +Weight of Elder Flower Water, or, for want of it, of Spring Water. + + + + N. 51. + + +Directs nothing but a Drachm of Rhubarb in Powder. + + + + N. 52. + + +Take of _Sulphur vivum_, or of Flower of Brimstone, one Ounce; of Sal +Ammoniac, one Drachm; of fresh Hogs Lard, two Ounces; and mix the whole +very well in a Mortar. + + + + N. 53. + + +Take two Drachms of crude Antimony and as much Nitre, both finely +powdered and very well mixed; dividing the whole into eight equal +Doses. [125] + +[125] This Medicine, which often occasions Cholics in some Persons of a + weakly Stomach, is attended with no such Inconvenience in strong + Country People; and has been effectual in some Disorders of the + Skin, which have baffled other Medicines--The Remainder of this + Note observes the great Efficacy of Antimony in promoting + Perspiration, and the extraordinary Benefit it is of to Horses in + different Cases. + + + + N. 54. + + +Take of Filings of Iron, not the least rusty, and of Sugar, each one +Ounce; of Aniseeds Powdered, half an Ounce. After rubbing then very well +together, divide the Powder into twenty-four equal Portions; one of +which is to be taken three times a Day an Hour before eating. [126] + +[126] The Prescriptions N. 54, 55, 56, are calculated against Distempers + which arise from Obstructions, and a Stoppage of the monthly + Discharges; which N. 55 is more particularly intended to remove; + those of 54 and 56 are most convenient, either when the Suppression + does not exist, or is not to be much regarded, if it does. This + Medicine may be rendered less unpalatable for Persons in easy + Circumstances, by adding as much Cinamon instead of Aniseeds; and + though the Quantity of Iron be small, it may be sufficient, if + given early in the Complaint; one, or at the most, two of these + Doses daily, being sufficient for a very young Maiden. + + + + N. 55. + + +Take of Filings of sound 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 infuse the whole in three Pints of Wine in the Manner already +directed, N. 43. The Dose of this is one small Cup three times a Day, +an Hour before eating. [127] + +[127] I chuse to repeat here, the more strongly to inculcate so important + a Point, that in Women who have long been ill and languid, our + Endeavours must be directed towards the restoring of the Patient's + Health and Strength, and not to forcing down the monthly + Discharges, which is a very pernicious Practice. These will return + of Course, if the Patient is of a proper Age, as she grows better. + Their Return succeeds the Return of her Health, and should not, + very often cannot, precede it. + + + + N. 56. + + +Take two Ounces of Filings of Iron; of Rue Leaves and Aniseed powdered, +each half an Ounce. Add to them a sufficient Quantity of Honey to make +an Electuary of a good Consistence. The Dose is a Quarter of an Ounce +three times daily. + + + + N. 57. + + +Take of the Extract of the stinking Hemlock, with the purple spotted +Stalk, one Ounce. Form it into Pills weighing two Grains each; adding as +much of the Powder of dry Hemlock Leaves, as the Pills will easily take +up. Begin the Use of this Medicine by giving one Pill Night and Morning. +Some Patients have been so familiarized to it, as to take at length Half +an Ounce daily. [128] + +[128] Our learned and candid Author has a very long Note in this Place, + strongly in Favour of _Storck's_ Extract of Hemlock, in which it is + evident he credits the greater Part of the Cures affirmed by Dr. + _Storck_ to have been effected by it. He says he made some himself, + but not of the right Hemlock, which we think it very difficult to + mistake, from its peculiar rank fetid Smell, and its purple spotted + Stalk. After first taking this himself, he found it mitigated the + Pain of Cancers, but did not cure them. But then addressing himself + to Dr. _Storck_, and exactly following his Directions in making it, + he took of Dr. _Storck's_ Extract, and of his own, which exactly + resembled each other, to the Quantity of a Drachm and a half daily; + and finding his Health not in the least impaired by it, he then + gave it to several Patients, curing many scrophulous and cancerous + Cases, and mitigating others, which he supposes were incurable. So + that he seems fully persuaded Dr. _Storck's_ Extract is always + innocent [which in Fact, except in a very few Instances, none of + which were fatal, it has been] and he thinks it a Specific in many + Cases, to which nothing can be substituted as an equivalent Remedy; + that it should be taken with entire Confidence, and that it would + be absurd to neglect its Continuance. + + The Translator of this Work of Dr. _Tissot's_ has thought it but + fair to give all the Force of this Note here, which must be his + own, as his Editor at _Lyons_ seems to entertain a very different + Opinion of the Efficacy of this Medicine; for which Opinion we + refer back to his Note, 375, of this Treatise, which the Reader + may compare with this of our Author's. _K._ + + + + N. 58. + + +Take of the Roots of Grass and of Succory well washed, each one Ounce. +Boil them a Quarter of an Hour in a Pint of Water. Then dissolve in it +Half an Ounce of Sedlitz, or of _Epsom_ Salt, and two Ounces of Manna; +and strain it off to drink one Glass of it from Half Hour, to Half Hour, +till its Effects are sufficient. It is to be repeated at the Interval of +two or three Days. + + + + N. 59. + + +Is a Cataplasm or Pultice made of Crumb of Bread, with Camomile Flowers +boiled in Milk, with the Addition of some Soap, so that each Pultice may +contain half a Quarter of an Ounce of this last Ingredient. And when the +Circumstances of female Patients have not afforded them that regular +Attendance, which the Repetition of the Pultice requires, as it should +be renewed every three Hours, I have successfully directed the Hemlock +Plaister of the Shops. + + + + N. 60. + + +Take a sufficient Quantity of dry Hemlock Leaves. Secure them properly +between two Pieces of thin Linen Cloth, so as to make a very flexible +Sort of small Matrass, letting it boil a few Moments in Water, then +squeeze it out and apply it to the affected Part. It must thus be +moistened and heated afresh, and re-applied every two Hours. + + + + N. 61. + + +Take of the Eyes of the Craw-fish, or of the true white Magnesia, two +Drachms; of Cinnamon powdered four Grains. Rub them very well together, +and divide the whole into eight Doses. One of these is to be given in a +Spoonful of Milk, or of Water, before the Infant sucks. + + + + N. 62. + + +Take of an Extract of Walnuts, made in Water, two Drachms; and dissolve +it in half an Ounce of Cinnamon Water. Fifty Drops a Day of this +Solution is to be given to a Child of two Years old; and after the whole +has been taken, the Child should be purged. This Extract is to be made +of the unripe Nuts, when they are of a proper Growth and Consistence for +pickling. + + + + N. 63. + + +Take of Rezin of Jalap two Grains. Rub it a considerable time with +twelve or fifteen Grains of Sugar, and afterwards with three or four +sweet Almonds; adding, very gradually, two common Spoonfuls of Water. +Then strain it through clear thin Linen, as the Emulsion of Almonds was +ordered to be. Lastly, add a Tea Spoonful of Syrup of Capillaire to it. +This is no disagreable 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 Syrup of Succory, or with Manna. + + + + N. 64. + + +Take of the Ointment called _Nutritum_ one Ounce; the entire Yolk of one +small Egg, or the Half of a large one, and mix them well together. This +_Nutritum_ may be readily made by rubbing very well together, and for +some time, two Drachms of Ceruss [white Lead] half an Ounce of Vinegar, +and three Ounces of common Oil. + + + + N. 65. + + +Melt four Ounces of white Wax; add to it, if made in Winter two +Spoonfuls of Oil; if in Summer none at all, or at most, not above a +Spoonful. Dip in this Slips of Linen Cloth not worn too thin, and let +them dry: or spread it thin and evenly over them. + + + + N. 66. + + +Take of Oil of Roses one Pound; of red Lead half a Pound; of Vinegar +four Ounces. Boil them together nearly to the Consistence of a Plaister; +then dissolve in the liquid Mass an Ounce and a Half of yellow Wax, and +two Drachms of Camphor, stirring the whole about well. Remove it then +from the Fire, and spread it on Sheets or Slips of Paper, of what Size +you think most convenient. The Ointment of _Chambauderie_, so famous in +many Families on the Continent, is made of a Quarter of a Pound of +yellow Wax, of the Plaister of three Ingredients (very nearly the same +with N. 66) of compound Diachylon and of common Oil, of each the same +Quantity, all melted together, and then stirred about well, after it is +removed from the Fire, till it grows cold. To make a Sparadrap, or Oil +Cloth, which is Linen, covered with, or dipt in an emplastic Substance +or Ointment, it must be melted over again with the Addition of a little +Oil, and applied to the Linen as directed at N. 65. + + + + N. 67. + + +Gather in Autumn, while the fine Weather lasts, the Agaric of the Oak, +which is a Kind of _Fungus_ or Excrescence, issuing from the Wood of +that Tree. + +It consists at first of four Parts, which present themselves +successively, 1, The outward Rind or Skin, which may be thrown away. 2, +That Part immediately under this Rind, which is the best of all. This is +to be beat well with a Hammer, till it becomes soft and very pliable. +This is the only Preparation it requires, and a Slice of it of a proper +Size is to be applied directly over the bursting, open Blood-vessels. It +constringes and brings them close together; stops the Bleedings; and +generally falls off at the End of two Days. 3, The third Part, adhering +to the second may serve to stop the Bleeding from the smaller Vessels; +and the fourth and last Part may be reduced to Powder, as conducing to +the same Purpose. [129] + +[129] Our Author attests his seeing the happiest Consequences from this + Application, which M. _Brossard_, a very eminent _French_ Surgeon, + first published; and declared his Preference of that Agaric which + sprung from those Parts of the Tree, from whence large Boughs had + been lopped. + + + + N. 68. + + +Take four Ounces of Crumbs of Bread, a Pugil of Elder Flowers, and the +same Quantity of those of Camomile, and of St. _John's_ Wort. Boil them +into a Pultice in equal Quantities of Vinegar and Water. + +If Fomentations should be thought preferable, take the same Herbs, or +some Pugils of the Ingredients for _Faltrank_: throw them into a Pint +and a Half of boiling Water: and let them infuse some Minutes. Then a +Pint of Vinegar is to be added, and Flanels or other woollen Cloths dipt +in the Fomentation, 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 Rosemary or Lavender, and red Roses, of each a +Pugil and a Half. Boil them for a Quarter of an Hour in a Pot with a +Cover, with three Pints of old white Wine. Then strain off, squeezing +the Liquor strongly from the Herbs, and apply it as already directed. + + + + N. 69. + + +Directs only the Plaister of Diapalma. [130] + +[130] To spread this upon Lint as directed, 456, it must be melted down + again with a little Oil. + + + + N. 70. + + +Directs only a Mixture of two Parts Water, and one Part of Vinegar of +Litharge. + + + + N. 71. + + +Take of the Leaves of Sow-bread, and of Camomile Tops, of each one +Pugil. Put them into an earthen Vessel with half an Ounce of Soap, and +as much Sal Ammoniac, and pour upon them three Pints of boiling Water. + +_N. B._ I conceive all the Notes to this Table, in which I have not +mentioned the Editor at _Lyons_, nor subscribed with my initial Letter +_K_, to come from the Author, having omitted nothing of them, but the +Prices. + + + + + ERRATA. + + +Page 4, Line 6, for _os_ read _of_. p. 16, l. 16, for _be_ read _me_. p. +29, l. 12, after _it_ add . p. 49, l. 12, dele _and_ at the End of it. +p. 51, in the running Title, for _Causss_ read _Causes_. ib. l. 2, dele +_and_. ib. l. 7, dele _and_. p. 57, last line, for _hurtsul_ read +_hurtful_. p. 67, l. 17, after _Water_, add, _may be placed within the +Room_. p. 74, line last but two, after _never_, dele , p. 96, l. 11, for +_Aiiment_ read _Ailment_. p. 106, l. 23, for the second _is_ read _has_. +p. 126, l. 21, for _breath_ read _breathe_. p. 137, l. 13, for +_Efflorescene_ read _Efflorescence_, p. 145, l. 1, for _Water_ read +_Tea_. p. 148, l. 19, for _beomes_ read _becomes_. p. 163, l. 30. in the +Note, for _occured_ read _occurred_; p. 171, l. 20, dele _and_. p. 189, +l. 28, dele _of_. p. 199, l. 6, for _Paulmier_ read _Palmarius_, being +the _Latinized_ Name of that _Physician_; as we say for _Fernel +Fernelius, Holler Hollerius, &c._ _N. B._ His Powder for the Bite of a +mad Dog consisted of equal Parts of Rue, Vervain, Plantain, Polypody, +common Wormwood, Mugwort, Bastard Baum, Betony, St. _John's_ Wort, and +lesser Centaury Tops, to which _Default_ adds Coraline.----p. 237, l. 2, +for _Streakes_ read _Streaks_. p. 256, first line of the Note * _dele_ +the first _often_. p. 261, l. 15, for _happens_ read _happen_. p. 270, +l. 12, dele _t_ in _Switsserland_. p. 282, l. 23, for _enters_ read +_enter_. p. 283, l. 23, for _Stomach_ read _Stomachs_. p. 284, l. 12, +for _it_ read _them_. p. 287, Note * l. 25, for _here_ read _there_. p. +303, l. 14, for _doubtsul_ read _doubtful_. p. 311, l. 18, for _abate_ +read _abates_. p. 337, l. 7, for _glary_ read _glairy_. N. B. In the +first Page that is folio'd 445 read 345. p. 346, l. 19, for _two_ read +_too_. p. 351, l. 25, after Waters add, _such as Infusions of Tea, &c._ +p. 375, l. 7, for _two_ read _too_. p. 392, last line, for _Leaves_ read +_Flowers_. p. 393, l. 26, after _them_, insert _and_. p. 397, l. 1 and +2, for Temparrament read _Temperament_. p. 422, l. 6, between _several_ +and _Consequences_ insert _bad_. p. 454, l. 5, for _Diflocation_ read +_Dislocation_. p. 459, l. 17, in _Ice-thaws_ dele - p. 466, l. 16, to +_Constitution_ add _s_. p. 486, l. 29, after _or_ add _if_. p. 487, l. +12, for _Parts_ read _Part_. p. 511, l. 12, for _not_ read _nor_. p. +533, l. 12, for _arrives_ read _arises_. p. 542, l. 22, for _Patient_ +read _Patients_. p. 562, l. 14, for _fays_ read _says_. p. 573, l. 10, +after _Cause_, dele _Comma_. + + + + + _Table_ _of the several Chapters, and their principal Contents._ + + +Introduction ---- Page 1 +The first Cause of Depopulation, Emigrations ---- _ib._ +The second Cause, Luxury ---- 6 +Third Cause, Decay of Agriculture ---- 10 +Fourth Cause, the pernicious Treatment of Diseases ---- 12 +Means for rendering this Treatise useful ---- 15 +Explanation of certain physical Terms, and Phrases ---- 26 + + _Chapter I._ + +_The most common Causes of popular Sickness_ ---- 31 +First Cause, excessive Labour ---- _ib._ +Second Cause, the Effect of cold Air, when a Person is hot ---- 33 +Third Cause, taking cold Drink, when in a Heat ---- _ib._ _&_ 34 +Fourth Cause, the Inconstancy and sudden Change of the Weather ---- 35 +Fifth Cause, the Situation of Dunghills, and Marshes, near inhabited +Houses, and the bad confined Air in the Houses ---- 37 +Sixth Cause, Drunkenness ---- 38 +Seventh Cause, the Food of Country People ---- 39 +Eighth Cause, the Situation, or Exposure of Houses ---- 42 +Concerning the Drink of Country People ---- 43 + + _Chap. II._ + +_Of Causes which increase the Diseases of the People, with general +Considerations_ ---- 47 +First Cause, the great Care employed to force the Sick to sweat, and the +Methods taken for that Purpose ---- _ib._ _&_ 48 +The Danger of hot Chambers ---- 49 +The Danger of hot Drinks and heating Medicines ---- 50 +Second Cause, the Quantity and Quality of the Food given sick Persons +---- 53 +Third Cause, the giving Vomits and Purges at the Beginning of the +Disease ---- 57 + + _Chap. III._ + +_Concerning what should be done in the Beginning of Diseases, and the +Diet in acute Diseases_ ---- 61 +Signs which indicate approaching Diseases; with Means to prevent them +---- 62 +The common Regimen, or Regulations, for the Sick ---- 64 +The Benefits of ripe sound Fruits ---- 68 +Cautions and Means to be used, on Recovery ---- 73, 74 + + _Chap. IV._ + +_Of the Inflammation of the Breast_ ---- 77 +The Signs of this Disease ---- _ib._ _&_ 78 +The Advantage of Bleeding ---- 81 +Signs of Recovery ---- 85 +Of _Crises_, and the Symptoms that precede them ---- 86 +The Danger of Vomits, of Purges, and of Anodynes ---- 88 +Of the Suppression of Expectoration, and the Means to restore it. +---- 89 +Of the Formation of _Vomicas_, or Imposthumes in the Lungs, and the +Treatment of them ---- 90 +Of the Danger of Remedies, termed Balsamics ---- 103 +The Inefficacy of the Antihectic of _Poterius_ ---- 104 +Of an _Empyema_ ---- 105 +Of a Gangrene of the Lungs ---- 106 +Of a _Scirrhus_ of the Lungs ---- _ib._ + + _Chap. V._ + +_Of the Pleurisy_ ---- 108 +The Danger of heating Remedies ---- 112 to 115 +Of frequent, or habitual, Pleurisies ---- 116 +Of Goats Blood; the Soot of a stale Egg, and of the Wormwood of the +Alps, in Pleurisies ---- 117, 118 + + _Chap. VI._ + +_Of Diseases of the Throat_ ---- 119 +Of their proper Treatment ---- 124 +Of the Formation of an Abscess there ---- 127 +Of swelled Ears, from the Obstruction of the parotid and maxillary +Glands ---- 131 +Of the epidemic and putrid Diseases of the Throat, which prevailed in +1761 at _Lausanne_ ---- 132 + + _Chap. VII._ + +_Of Colds_ ---- 139 +Different Prejudices concerning Colds ---- _ib._ _&_ 140 +The Danger of drinking much hot Water, and of strong spirituous Liquors, +_&c._ ---- 146 +Means for strengthening and curing Persons very subject to Colds +---- 148 + + _Chap. VIII._ + +_Of Diseases of the Teeth_ ---- 150 + + _Chap. IX._ + +_Of the Apoplexy_ ---- 158 +Of sanguine Apoplexy ---- _ib._ _&_ 159 +Of a serous, or watery, Apoplexy ---- 162 +Means to prevent relapsing into them ---- 164 _& seq._ + + _Chap. X._ + +_Of morbid Strokes of the Sun_ ---- 167 + + _Chap. XI._ + +_Of the Rheumatism_ ---- 177 +Of the acute Rheumatism, attended with a Fever ---- _ib._ +Of the flow, or chronical, without a Fever ---- 186 +The Danger of spirituous and greasy Remedies ---- 191, 192 + + _Chap. XII._ + +_Of the Bite of a mad Dog_ ---- 194 + + _Chap. XIII._ + +_Of the Small Pocks._ ---- 207 +Of the preceding Symptoms of this Disease ---- 209 +--The Danger of sweating Medicines ---- 217 +--The Treatment of the benign distinct Small Pocks ---- 220 +--The Use of Bleeding ---- 222 +--The Fever of Suppuration ---- 223 +--The Necessity of opening the ripe Pustules ---- 226 +--The Danger of Anodynes ---- 228 +Of the striking in of the Eruptions ---- 229 +Preparations for receiving it favorably ---- 230 + + _Chap. XIV._ + +_Of the Measles_ ---- 235 +Of their Treatment and the Means to prevent any of their bad +Consequences, to ---- 243 + + _Chap. XV._ + +_Of the hot, or burning, Fever_ ---- 244 + + _Chap. XVI._ + +_Of putrid Fevers_ ---- 248 + + _Chap. XVII._ + +_Of malignant Fevers_ ---- 257 +The Danger of applying living Animals in them ---- 267 + + _Chap. XVIII._ + +_Of intermitting Fevers_ ---- 269 +--Spring and Autumn Intermittents ---- 272 +Method of Cure by the Bark ---- 275 +Method of treating the Patient in the Fit ---- 277 +Of other Febrifuges, besides the Bark ---- 278 +The Treatment of long and obstinate Intermittents ---- 279 +Of some very dangerous Intermittents ---- 284 +Of some periodical Disorders, which may be termed, Fevers disguised +---- 285 +Of Preservatives from unwholesome Air ---- 286 + + _Chap. XIX._ + +_Of an_ Erisipelas, _or St._ Anthony's _Fire._ ---- 288 +Of a frequent or habitual _Erisipelas_ ---- 295 +Of the Stings or Bites of Animals ---- 296 + + _Chap. XX._ + +_Of Inflammations of the Breast, and of Bastard and bilious Pleurisies_ +---- 298 +--Of the false Inflammation of the Breast ---- 300 +--The false Pleurisy ---- 303 + + _Chap. XXI._ + +_Of Cholics_ ---- 306 +Of the inflammatory Cholic ---- 307 +--the bilious Cholic ---- 312 +--the Cholic from Indigestion, and of Indigestions ---- 314 +--the flatulent, or windy, Cholic ---- 317 +--the Cholic, from taking Cold ---- 319 + + _Chap. XXII._ + +_Of the_ Miserere, _or Iliac Passion, and of the_ Cholera Morbus +---- 322 +The _Miserere_ ---- _ib._ _&_ 323 +The _Cholera Morbus_ ---- 327 + + _Chap. XXIII._ + +_Of a_ Diarrhoea, _or Looseness_ ---- 332 + + _Chap. XXIV._ + +_Of a Dysentery, or Bloody-Flux_ ---- 335 +The Symptoms of the Disease ---- 336 +The Remedies against it ---- 338 +Of the beneficial Use of ripe Fruits ---- 341 +Of the Danger of taking a great Number of popular Remedies in it +---- 345 + + _Chap. XXV._ + +_Of the Itch_ ---- 347 + + _Chap. XXVI._ + +_Directions peculiar to the Sex_ ---- 352 +Of the monthly Customs ---- 353 +Of Gravidation, or going with Child ---- 365 +Of Labours or Deliveries, ---- 367 +Of their Consequences ---- 371 +Of a Cancer ---- 373 + + _Chap. XXVII._ + +_Directions with Regard to Children_ ---- 375 +Of the first Cause of their Disorders, the _Meconium_ ---- 377 +--the second, the souring of their Milk ---- 379 +--the Danger of giving them Oil ---- _ib._ +--Disorders from their Want of Perspiration, the Means of keeping it up, +and of washing them in cold Water ---- 381 _&_ 382 +--the third Cause, the cutting of their Teeth ---- 386 +--the fourth Cause, Worms ---- 387 +Of Convulsions ---- 391 +Methods necessary to make them strong and hardy, with general Directions +about them ---- 396 _& seq._ + + _Chap. XXVIII._ + +_Of Assistances for drowned Persons_ ---- 403 + + _Chap. XXIX._ + +_Of Substances stopt between the Mouth and the Stomach_ ---- 411 + + _Chap. XXX._ + +_Of Disorders requiring the Assistance of a Surgeon_ ---- 435 +Of Burns ---- 436 +Of Wounds ---- 437 +Of Bruises, and of Falls ---- 444 +Of Ulcers ---- 454 +Of frozen Limbs, or Joints ---- 458 +Of Chilblains ---- 462 +Of Ruptures ---- 474 +Of Phlegmons, or Boils ---- 480 +Of Fellons, or Whitlows ---- 481 +Of Thorns, Splinters, _&c._ in the Skin or Flesh ---- 486 +Of Warts ---- 488 +Of Corns ---- 490 + + _Chap. XXXI._ + +_Of some Cases which require immediate Assistance_ ---- 491 +Of Swoonings, from Excess of Blood ---- 492 +Of Swoonings, from great Weakness ---- 494 +Of Swoonings, occasioned by a Load on the Stomach ---- 497 +Of Swoonings, resulting from Disorders of the Nerves 500 +Of Swoonings, occasioned by the Passions ---- 504 +Of the Swoonings, which occur in Diseases ---- 506 +Of Hmorrhages, or Fluxes of Blood ---- 508 +Of Convulsion Fits ---- 512 +Of suffocating, or strangling Fits ---- 514 +Of the violent Effects of great Fear ---- 516 +Of Accidents produced by the Vapours of Charcoal, and of Wine ---- 519 +Of Poisons ---- 526 +Of acute and violent Pains ---- 529 + + _Chap. XXXII._ + +_Of giving Remedies by Way of Precaution_ ---- 531 +Of Bleeding ---- 532 +Of Purges ---- 540 +Remedies to be used after excessive Purging ---- 544 +Reflections on some other Remedies ---- 546, _&c._ + + _Chap. XXXIII._ + +_Of Quacks, Mountebanks, and Conjurers_ ---- 551 + + _Chap. XXXIV._ + +_Questions necessary to be answered by any Person, who goes to consult a +Physician_ ---- 579 +The Table of Remedies ---- 584 + + + + + Transcription note + + +Old and variant spellings, like _surprising_ / _surprizing_, Buttermilk +/ _Butter-milk_, _Blood-vessels_ / _Blood-Vessels_, _Faltranc_ / +_Faltrank_, _wholesome_ / _wholsome_, _fetid_ / _foetid_, _public_ / +_publick_, _Physic_ / _Physick_, etc. have been preserved in the present +transcription. + +In some cases of doubt, the present edition has been compared with scans +of the 1766 edition printed by Donaldson, which differs slightly in +setting, for instance having all names not capitalized, and corrects +many typographic mistakes. + +Corrections listed in the Errata at the end of the book have been +carried into this transcription (excepting those which are not relevant +for the transcription, like those in running titles). + +Typographic errors, occurring at the following pages and lines in the +original, have been corrected (negative numbers indicate lines from the +bottom of the page): + + - *p. 23, note *, l. -6* their Druggs --> their Drugs + - *p. 29, l. 12* thorough Attentention --> thorough Attention + - *p. 39, l. 2* btutal Souls --> brutal Souls + - *p. 48, l. 12-13* thick, and and that --> thick, and that + - *p. 55, l. -5* increases our Horrour --> increases our Horror + - *p. 61, l. 3-4* deserves a Patients Confidence --> deserves a + Patient's Confidence + - *p. 62, l. 16* Drink and Glisters --> Drink and Glysters + - *p. 87, l. -8* the loosening Glyster No. 5 --> the loosening Glyster + N. 5 + - *p. 106, l. 1* Inflammamations --> Inflammations + - *p. 148, l. 21-22* Perspiraration --> Perspiration + - *p. 182, l. 19* Applications N. 9 --> Applications N. 9 + - *p. 189, l. 1* the Powder No. 29 --> the Powder N. 29 + - *p. 223, note *, l. 4* without the least peceiveable --> without the + least perceiveable + - *p. 226, l. 17-18* Relax-tion --> Relaxation + - *p. 244, l. 4-5* Dis-seases --> Diseases + - *p. 261, l. 15* Hmmorrhages --> Hmorrhages + - *p. 283, l. 14-15* Pre-Precription --> Prescription + - *p. 344, note +, l. -2* _missing closing quote conjecturally + inserted after_ instead of stumming or sulphurizing it,' + - *p. 353, l. 1* stance constitutes --> Circumstance constitutes + - *p. 355, l. 18* not pregant --> not pregnant + - *p. 383, l. 6* the back Bart of the Head --> the back Part of the + Head + - *p. 485, l. 13* checks it Progress --> checks its Progress + - *p. 495, l. 19* strong swelling Herbs --> strong smelling Herbs + - *p. 506, l. 15* Weakness is an Obstable --> Weakness is an Obstacle + - *p. 506, l. 19* an Evacution supervenes --> an Evacuation supervenes + - *p. 525, l. -2,-1* Never-vertheless --> Nevertheless + - *p. 560, l. -7* Villians --> Villains + - *p. 573, l. 6* some Evacution --> some Evacuation + - *p. 608. l. -7* Temparrament --> Temperrament + - *p. 611, col. 2, l. 4* _Of a_ Diarrha --> _Of a_ Diarrhoea + +So has been corrected the punctuation: + + - *p. xxii, last line, note* published at _Lyons_. [missing period] + - *p. xxix, l. 10* _Infusion_ N. 1; [missing dot] + - *p. xxix, l. 13-14* Numbers 1. 2, and 4 --> Numbers 1, 2, and 4 + - *p. 63, l. 15* of the Ptisans N. 1 [missing dot] + - *p. 84, l. -7, note* the Mixture, N. 10 [missing dot] + - *p. 88, l. 21* the purging Potion N. 11 [missing dot] + - *p. 89, l. 12* and drink plentifully of the Ptisan N. 2 [missing + dot] + - *p. 89, l. -7* should drink plentifully of the Ptisan N. 12 + [missing dot] + - *p. 117, l. 12-13* or some of those Diet-Drinks N. 1, 2, 4; [dots + instead of commas] + - *p. 118, note *, l. 3* it in his late _Materia Medica._ K. [missing + period] + - *p. 173, l. -8* in Hunting in 1658. [additional comma] + - *p. 198, l. 16* 3. The Bites --> 3, The Bites + - *p. 203, note, l. 5* in many other Places. [missing period] + - *p. 231, note, l- 1* and the Note there. [comma instead of period] + - *p. 233, l. 10* sound and hearty Children). [missing period] + - *p. 265, l. -6* 12, As soon as the Distemper [period instead of + comma] + - *p. 320, last line of the note* or for suspending it. _K._ [missing + dot] + - *p. 371, l. 7* 2, An Inflammation [period instead of comma] + - *p. 531, l. -6* or wrong. [missing period] + - *p. 538, l. -9* Powder N. 20 [missing dot] + - *p. 601, first line of the note* The Prescriptions N. 54, 55, 56 + [missing dot after N and periods instead of commas] + +The footnotes, marked in the text mostly by asterisks, symbols and +alphabetic letters on a page by page basis, have been renumbered +progressively throughout the book. The footnote * on page 256 does not +appear to be referenced at any specific point on the printed page, and +has been treated as footnote to the last word of the paragraph. + +Italics markup of abbreviations like _&c._, _K._, which was not always +consistent in the original, has been retained as printed. + +The Greek letters _{alpha}_, _{beta}_, _{gamma}_ enumerating the +prescriptions of 214 have been replaced by the Latin letters _a_, _b_, +_c_ for better character set portability. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Advice to the people in general, with +regard to their health, by Samuel Auguste David Tissot + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADVICE TO THE PEOPLE *** + +***** This file should be named 39044-8.txt or 39044-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/0/4/39044/ + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Enrico Segre and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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padding-top: 1px } + + .coverpage, .titlepage, + .contents, .foreword, .preface, .introduction, .dedication, .prologue, + .epilogue, .appendix, .glossary, .bibliography, .index, .colophon, + .footnotes, + .cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 1px } + + .vfill { margin-top: 20% } + h2.title { margin-top: 20% } +} +</style> +<style type="text/css"> +.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; } +.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } +.toc-pageref { float: right } +pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Advice to the people in general, with +regard to their health, by Samuel Auguste David Tissot + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Advice to the people in general, with regard to their health + +Author: Samuel Auguste David Tissot + +Translator: J. Kirkpatrick + +Release Date: March 9, 2012 [EBook #39044] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADVICE TO THE PEOPLE *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Enrico Segre and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="document" id="advice-to-the-people"> +<h1 class="document-title level-1 pfirst title">Advice to the people</h1> + +<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> +<!-- styling approximations:-bold emphasis in the preface +-bold section titles but thin subtitles +-one column TOC and non-margin aligned +-italic preface footnotes +-check why footnotes split in three blocks in epub --> +<!-- .. style:: document --> +<!-- :class: text-transform-smartquotes --> +<!-- no idea of what really the above does... --> +<!-- for the index: --> +<!-- --> +<div class="container frontispiece"> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="pageno target" title="i" id="page-i"> </span><span class="gesperrt xx-large">ADVICE</span></div> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">to the</span></div> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt">PEOPLE</span> in <span class="gesperrt small-caps">General</span>,</div> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">with</span></div> +</div> +<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">Regard to their <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Health</span>:</div> +</div> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst">But more particularly calculated for those, who, +by their Distance from regular Physicians, or +other very experienced Practitioners, are the +most unlikely to be seasonably provided with +the best Advice and Assistance, in acute +Diseases, or upon any sudden inward or outward +Accident.</p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost small"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt">WITH</span></div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst">A Table of the most cheap, yet effectual Remedies, +and the plainest Directions for preparing +them readily.</p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost small"> +<div class="line">Translated from the <span class="small-caps">French</span> Edition of</div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">Dr. <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Tissot's</span> <em class="italics">Avis au Peuple</em>, &c.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst">Printed at <em class="italics">Lyons</em>; with all his own Notes; a few of +his medical Editor's at <em class="italics">Lyons</em>; and several occasional +Notes, adapted to this <em class="italics">English</em> Translation,</p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">By J. <span class="small-caps">Kirkpatrick</span>, M. D.</div> +</div> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<table class="align-center table" style="margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" summary="no summary" id="table-2"> +<colgroup> +<col width="100%"/> +</colgroup> +<tbody valign="top"> +<tr class="first last"><td style="text-align: center"><p class="center first pfirst small"><em class="italics">In the Multitude of the People is the Honour of a King; and +for the Want of People cometh the Destruction of the Prince.</em></p> +<p class="last pnext right small">Proverbs xiv, 28.</p> +</td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt italics">LONDON:</span></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">Printed for T. <span class="small-caps">Becket</span> and P. A. <span class="small-caps">De Hondt</span>, at +<em class="italics">Tully's</em> Head, near <em class="italics">Surry-Street</em>, in the <em class="italics">Strand</em>.</div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">M DCC LXV.</div> +</div> +<!-- forget! |^| M |^| D\ |^| C\ |^| C\ |^| L |^| X\ |^| V. --> +</div> +<!-- mainmatter --> +<p class="pnext"><span class="invisible pageno target" title="ii" id="page-ii"> </span><span class="pageno target" title="iii" id="page-iii"> </span></p> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head003-the-translator-s-preface"> +<h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i003a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="small-caps">the Translator's</span> PREFACE.</h2> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 6.00em" alt="T" src="images/i003b.png"/>hough the great Utility of those +medical Directions, with which the +following Treatise is thoroughly +replenished, will be sufficiently evident +to every plain and sensible +Peruser of it; and the extraordinary Reception +of it on the Continent is recited in the very worthy +Author's Preface; yet something, it should +seem, may be pertinently added, with Regard +to this Translation of it, by a Person who has +been strictly attentive to the Original: a Work, +whose Purpose was truly necessary and benevolent; +as the Execution of it, altogether, is very +happily accomplished.</p> +<p class="pnext">It will be self evident, I apprehend, to every +excellent Physician, that a radical Knowledge of +the Principles, and much Experience in the Exercise, +of their Profession, were necessary to accommodate +such a Work to the Comprehension +of those, for whom it was more particularly calculated. +Such Gentlemen must observe, that +the certain Axiom of <em class="italics">Nature's curing Diseases</em>, +which is equally true in our Day, as it was in +<span class="pageno target" title="iv" id="page-iv"> </span>that of <span class="small-caps">Hippocrates</span>, so habitually animates +this Treatise, as not to require the least particular +Reference. This <em class="italics">Hippocratic</em> Truth as certain +(though much less subject to general Observation) +as that Disease, or Age, is finally prevalent +over all sublunary Life, the most attentive Physicians +discern the soonest, the most ingenuous +readily confess: and hence springs that wholesome +Zeal and Severity, with which Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> +encounters such Prejudices of poor illiterate Persons, +as either oppose, or very ignorantly precipitate, +her Operations, in her Attainment of Health. +These Prejudices indeed may seem, from this +Work, to be still greater, and perhaps grosser too, +in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em> than among ourselves; though it +is certain there is but too much Room for the +Application of his salutary Cautions and Directions, +even in this Capital; and doubtless abundantly +more at great Distances from it. It may +be very justly supposed, for <em class="italics">one</em> Instance, that in +most of those Cases in the Small Pocks, in which +the Mother undertakes the Cure of her Child, +or confides it to a Nurse, that Saffron, in a +greater or less Quantity, and Sack or Mountain +Whey, are generally still used in the Sickening +before Eruption; to accelerate that very Eruption, +whose gradual Appearance, about the +fourth Day, from that of Seizure inclusive, is so +favourable and promising to the Patient; and the +Precipitation of which is often so highly pernicious +to them. Most of, or rather all, his other +Cautions and Corrections seem equally necessary +<span class="pageno target" title="v" id="page-v"> </span>here, as often as the Sick are similarly circumstanced, +under the different acute Diseases in +which he enjoins them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Without the least Detraction however from +this excellent Physician, it may be admitted that +a few others, in many other Countries, might +have sufficient Abilities and Experience for the +Production of a like Work, on the same good +Plan. This, we find, Dr. <span class="small-caps">Hirzel</span>, principal +Physician of <em class="italics">Zurich</em>, had in Meditation, when +the present Treatise appeared, which he thought +had so thoroughly fulfilled his own Intention, +that it prevented his attempting to execute it. +But the great Difficulty consisted in discovering a +Physician, who, with equal Abilities, Reputation +and Practice, should be qualified with that +<em class="italics">much rarer</em> Qualification of caring so much more +for the Health of those, who could never pay +him for it, than for his own Profit or Ease, as +to determine him to project and to accomplish so +necessary, and yet so self-denying, a Work. For +as the Simplicity he proposed in the Style and +Manner of it, by condescending, in the plainest +Terms, to the humblest Capacities, obliged him +to depress himself, by writing rather beneath the +former Treatises, which had acquired him the +Reputation of medical Erudition, Reasoning and +Elegance; we find that the Love of Fame itself, +so stimulating even to many ingenuous Minds, +was as impotent as that of Wealth, to seduce +him from so benign, so generous a Purpose. +Though, upon Reflection, it is by no Means +<span class="pageno target" title="vi" id="page-vi"> </span>strange to see wise Men found their Happiness, +which all [however variously and even oppositely] +pursue, rather in Conscience, than on Applause; +and this naturally reminds us of that +celebrated Expression of <span class="small-caps">Cato</span>, or some other +excellent Ancient, “that he had rather <em class="italics">be</em> good, +than <em class="italics">be reputed</em> so.”</p> +<p class="pnext">However singular such a Determination may +now appear, the Number of reputable medical +Translators into different Languages, which this +original Work has employed on the Continent, +makes it evident, that real Merit will, sooner or +later, have a pretty general Influence; and induce +many to imitate that Example, which they either +could not, or did not, propose. As the truly +modest Author has professedly disclaimed all +Applause on the Performance, and contented +himself with hoping an Exemption from Censure, +through his Readers' Reflection on the peculiar +Circumstances and Address of it; well +may his best, his faithfullest Translators, whose +Merit and Pains must be of a very secondary Degree +to his own, be satisfied with a similar Exemption: +especially when joined to the Pleasure, +that must result from a Consciousness of having +endeavoured to extend the Benefits of their Author's +Treatise, to Multitudes of their own Country +and Language.</p> +<p class="pnext">For my own Particular, when after reading +the Introduction to the Work, and much of the +Sequel, I had determined to translate it; to be +as just as possible to the Author, and to his +<span class="pageno target" title="vii" id="page-vii"> </span><em class="italics">English</em> Readers, I determined not to interpolate +any Sentiment of my own into the Text, nor to +omit one Sentence of the Original, which, besides +its being <em class="italics">Detraction</em> in its literal Sense, I +thought might imply it in its worst, its figurative +one; for which there was no Room. To conform +as fully as possible to the Plainness and Perspicuity +he proposed, I have been pretty often +obliged in the anatomical Names of some Parts, +and sometimes of the Symptoms, as well as in +some pretty familiar, though not entirely popular +Words, to explain all such by the most common +Words I have heard used for them; as after +mentioning the <em class="italics">Diaphragm</em>, to add, or <em class="italics">Midriff</em>—the +<em class="italics">Trachæa</em>—or <em class="italics">Windpipe</em>—<em class="italics">acrimonious</em>, +or <em class="italics">very sharp</em>, and so of many others. This may +a little, though but a little, have extended the +Translation beyond the Original; as the great +Affinity between the <em class="italics">French</em> and <em class="italics">Latin</em>, and between +the former and many <em class="italics">Latin</em> Words borrowed +from the <em class="italics">Greek</em>, generally makes the +same anatomical or medical Term, that is technical +with us, vernacular or common with them. +But this unavoidable Tautology, which may be +irksome to many Ears, those medical Readers, +for whom it was not intended, will readily forgive, +from a Consideration of the general Address +of the Work: while they reflect that meer +Style, if thoroughly intelligible, is least essential +to those Books, which wholly consist of very +useful, and generally interesting, Matter.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="viii" id="page-viii"> </span>As many of the Notes of the Editor of <em class="italics">Lyons</em>, +as I have retained in this Version (having translated +from the Edition of <em class="italics">Lyons</em>) are subscribed +<em class="italics">E. L.</em> I have dispensed with several, some, as +evidently less within Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot's</span> Plan, from +tending to theorize, however justly or practically, +where he must have had his own Reasons for +omitting to theorize: a few others, as manifestly +needless, from what the Author had either +premised, or speedily subjoined, on the very +same Circumstance: besides a very few, from +their local Confinement to the Practice at <em class="italics">Lyons</em>, +which lies in a Climate somewhat more different +from our own than that of <em class="italics">Lausanne</em>. It is +probable nevertheless, I have retained a few +more than were necessary in a professed Translation +of the original Work: but wherever I have +done this, I have generally subjoined my Motive +for it; of whatever Consequence that may appear +to the Reader. I have retained all the Author's +own Notes, with his Name annexed to them; +or if ever the Annotator was uncertain to me, I +have declared whose Note I supposed it to be.</p> +<p class="pnext">Such as I have added from my own Experience +or Observation are subscribed <em class="italics">K</em>, to distinguish +them from the others; and that the Demerit +of any of them may neither be imputed to +the learned Author, nor to his Editor. Their +principal Recommendation, or Apology is, that +whatever Facts I have mentioned are certainly +true. I have endeavoured to be temperate in +their Number and Length, and to imitate that +<span class="pageno target" title="ix" id="page-ix"> </span>strict Pertinence, which prevails throughout the +Author's Work. If any may have ever condescended +to consider my Way of writing, they +will conceive this Restraint has cost me at least as +much Pains, as a further Indulgence of my own +Conceptions could have done. The few Prescriptions +I have included in some of them, have +been so conducted, as not to give the Reader the +least Confusion with Respect to those, which the +Author has given in his Table of Remedies, and +which are referred to by numerical Figures, +throughout the Course of his Book.</p> +<p class="pnext">The moderate Number of Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot's</span> Prescriptions, +in his Table of Remedies, amounting +but to seventy-one, and the apparent Simplicity +of many of them, may possibly disgust some +Admirers of pompous and compound Prescription. +But his Reserve, in this important Respect, +has been thoroughly consistent with his +Notion of Nature's curing Diseases; which suggested +to him the first, the essential Necessity of +cautioning his Readers against doing, giving, or +applying any thing, that might oppose her healing +Operations (a most capital Purpose of his +Work) which important Point being gained, the +mildest, simplest and least hazardous Remedies +would often prove sufficient Assistants to her. +Nevertheless, under more severe and tedious +Conflicts, he is not wanting to direct the most +potent and efficacious ones. The Circumstances +of the poor Subjects of his medical Consideration, +became also a very natural Object to him, and +<span class="pageno target" title="x" id="page-x"> </span>was in no wise unworthy the Regard of the +humane Translator of <span class="small-caps">Bilguer on Amputations</span>, +or rather <em class="italics">against</em> the crying Abuse of +them; an excellent Work, that does real Honour +to them both; and which can be disapproved +by none, who do not prefer the frequently +unnecessary Mutilation of the afflicted, to the +Consumption of their own Time, or the Contraction +of their Employment.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some Persons may imagine that a Treatise of +this Kind, composed for the Benefit of labouring +People in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>, may be little applicable to +those of the <em class="italics">British</em> Islands: and this, in a very +few Particulars, and in a small Degree, may +reasonably be admitted. But as we find their +common Prejudices are often the very same; as +the <em class="italics">Swiss</em> are the Inhabitants of a colder Climate +than <em class="italics">France</em>, and generally, as Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> often +observes, accustomed to drink (like ourselves) +more strong Drink than the <em class="italics">French</em> Peasantry; +and to indulge more in eating Flesh too, which +the Religion of <em class="italics">Berne</em>, like our own, does not restrain; +the Application of his Advice to them will +pretty generally hold good here. Where he forbids +them Wine and Flesh, all Butchers Meat, +and in most Cases all Flesh, and all strong Drink +should be prohibited here: especially when we +consider, that all his Directions are confined to +the Treatment of acute Diseases, of which the +very young, the youthful, and frequently even +the robust are more generally the Subjects. Besides, +in some few of the <em class="italics">English</em> Translator's +<span class="pageno target" title="xi" id="page-xi"> </span>Notes, he has taken the Liberty of moderating +the Coolers, or the Quantities of them (which +may be well adapted to the great Heats and violent +<em class="italics">Swiss</em> Summers he talks of) according to the +Temperature of our own Climate, and the general +Habitudes of our own People. It may be +observed too, that from the same Motive, I have +sometimes assumed the Liberty of dissenting from +the Text in a very few Notes, as for Instance, on +the Article of Pastry, which perhaps is generally +better here than in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em> (where it may be +no better than the coarse vile Trash that is hawked +about and sold to meer Children) as I have frequently, +in preparing for Inoculation, admitted +the best Pastry (but not of Meat) into the limited +Diet of the Subjects of Inoculation, and constantly +without the least ill Consequence. Thus +also in Note <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id402" id="id1"><sup>70</sup></a> Page <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-287">287</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-288">288</a>, I have presumed +to affirm the Fact, that a strong spirituous Infusion +of the Bark has succeeded more speedily in +some Intermittents, in particular Habits, than +the Bark in Substance. This I humbly conceive +may be owing to such a <em class="italics">Menstruum's</em> extracting +the Resin of the Bark more effectually (and so +conveying it into the Blood) than the Juices of +the Stomach and of the alimentary Canal did, or +could. For it is very conceivable that the <em class="italics">Crasis</em>, +the Consistence, of the fibrous Blood may sometimes +be affected with a morbid Laxity or Weakness, +as well as the general System of the muscular +Fibres.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="xii" id="page-xii"> </span>These and any other like Freedoms, I am +certain the Author's Candour will abundantly +pardon; since I have never dissented for Dissention's +Sake, to the best of my Recollection; and +have the Honour of harmonizing very generally +in Judgment with him. If <em class="italics">one</em> useful Hint or +Observation occurs throughout my Notes, his +Benevolence will exult in that essential Adherence +to his Plan, which suggested it to me: +While an invariable ecchoing Assentation throughout +such Notes, when there really was any salutary +Room for doubting, or for adding (with +Respect to ourselves) would discover a Servility, +that must have disgusted a liberal manly Writer. +One common good Purpose certainly springs from +the generous Source, and replenishes the many +Canals into which it is derived; all the Variety +and little Deviations of which may be considered +as more expansive Distributions of its Benefits.</p> +<p class="pnext">Since the natural Feelings of Humanity generally +dispose us, but especially the more tender +and compassionate Sex, to advise Remedies to +the poor Sick; such a Knowledge of their real +Disease, as would prevent their Patrons, Neighbours +and Assistants from advising a wrong Regimen, +or an improper or ill-timed Medicine, is +truly essential to relieving them: and such we +seriously think the present Work is capable of +imparting, to all commonly sensible and considerate +Perusers of it. A Vein of unaffected Probity, +of manly Sense, and of great Philanthropy, +concur to sustain the Work: And whenever the +<span class="pageno target" title="xiii" id="page-xiii"> </span>Prejudices of the Ignorant require a forcible Eradication; +or the crude Temerity and Impudence +of Knaves and Impostors cry out for their own +Extermination, a happy Mixture of strong Argument, +just Ridicule, and honest Severity, give +a poignant and pleasant Seasoning to the Work, +which renders it occasionally entertaining, as it is +continually instructive.</p> +<p class="pnext">A general Reader may be sometimes diverted +with such Customs and Notions of the <em class="italics">Swiss</em> Peasants, +as are occasionally mentioned here: and +possibly our meerest Rustics may laugh at the +brave simple <em class="italics">Swiss</em>, on his introducing a Sheep +into the Chamber of a very sick Person, to save +the Life of the Patient, by catching its own +Death. But the humblest Peasantry of both +Nations are agreed in such a Number of their +absurd unhealthy Prejudices, in the Treatment +of Diseases, that it really seemed necessary to +offer our own the Cautions and Counsels of this +principal Physician, in a very respectable Protestant +Republick, in Order to prevent their Continuance. +Nor is it unreasonable to presume, that +under such a Form of Government, if honestly +administered upon its justest Principles, the People +may be rather more tenderly regarded, than +under the Pomp and Rage of Despotism, or the +Oppression of some Aristocracies.</p> +<p class="pnext">Besides the different Conditions of <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id3" id="id2"><sup>1</sup></a> Persons, +to whom our Author recommends the Patronage +<span class="pageno target" title="xiv" id="page-xiv"> </span>and Execution of his Scheme, in his Introduction, +it is conceived this Book must be serviceable to +many young Country Practitioners, and to great +Numbers of Apothecaries, by furnishing them +with such exact and striking Descriptions of each +acute Disease and its Symptoms, as may prevent +their mistaking it for any other; a Deception +which has certainly often been injurious, and +sometimes even fatal: for it is dreadful but to +contemplate the Destruction or Misery, with +which Temerity and Ignorance, so frequently +combined, overwhelm the Sick. Thus more +Success and Reputation, with the Enjoyment of +a better Conscience, would crown their Endeavours, +by a more general Recovery of, or Relief +to, their Patients. To effect this, to improve +every Opportunity of eschewing medical Evil, +and of doing medical Good, was the Author's +avowed Intention; which he informs us in his +Preface, he has heard, from some intelligent and +charitable Persons, his Treatise had effected, even +in some violent Diseases. That the same good +Consequences may every where attend the numerous +Translations of it, must be the fervent Wish +of all, except the Quacks and Impostors he so justly +characterizes in his thirty-third Chapter! and +particularly of all, who may be distinguishably +qualified, like himself, to,</p> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">—<em class="italics">Look through Nature up to Nature's GOD!</em></div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head015-the-author-s-dedication"> +<h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="xv" id="page-xv"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i015a.png" width="100%"/> The AUTHOR's <span class="gesperrt xx-large">DEDICATION.</span></h2> +<p class="large pfirst"><em class="italics">To the most Illustrious, the most +Noble and Magnificent Lords, +the Lords President and Counsellors +of the Chamber of +Health, of the City and Republick +of</em> Berne.</p> +<p class="large pnext"><em class="italics">Most honourable Lords</em>,</p> +<p class="large pnext"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 3.60em" alt="W" src="images/i015b.png"/>hen I first published +the following Work, +my utmost Partiality to +it was not sufficient to +allow me the Confidence of +<span class="pageno target" title="xvi" id="page-xvi"> </span>addressing it to Your Lordships. +But Your continual Attention +to all the Objects, which have +any Relation to that important +Part of the Administration of the +State, which has been so wisely +committed to Your Care, has +induced You to take Notice of +it. You have been pleased to +judge it might prove useful, and +that an Attempt must be laudable, +which tends to the Extermination +of erroneous and inveterate +Prejudices, those cruel +Tyrants, that are continually opposing +the Happiness of the People, +even under that Form and +Constitution of Government, +which is the best adapted to establish +and to increase it.</p> +<p class="large pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="xvii" id="page-xvii"> </span>Your Lordships Approbation, +and the splendid Marks of <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id5" id="id4"><sup>2</sup></a> Benevolence, +with which You have +honoured me, have afforded me +a juster Discernment of the Importance +of this Treatise, and +have inclined me to hope, <span class="small-caps">most +Illustrious, most Noble, +and Magnificent Lords</span>, that +You will permit this new Edition +of it to appear under the Sanction +of your Auspices; that while the +Publick is assured of Your general +Goodness and Beneficence, it +may also be informed of my profoundly +grateful Sense of them, +on the same Occasion.</p> +<p class="large pnext">May the present Endeavour +then, in fully corresponding to my +<span class="pageno target" title="xviii" id="page-xviii"> </span>Wishes, effectually realize Your +Lordships utmost Expectations +from it; while You condescend +to accept this small Oblation, as +a very unequal Expression of that +profound Respect, with which I +have the Honour to be,</p> +<p class="large pnext"><span class="small-caps">Most Illustrious, Most Noble, +and Magnificent Lords,</span></p> +<blockquote><div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><em class="italics">Your most humble</em></div> +<div class="line"><em class="italics">And most</em></div> +<div class="line"><em class="italics">Obedient Servant</em>,</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block noindent outermost right x-large"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt">TISSOT.</span></div> +</div> +<div class="left line-block outermost small"> +<div class="line"><span class="small-caps">Lausanne</span>,</div> +<div class="line"><em class="italics">Dec. 3, 1762.</em></div> +</div> +</div></blockquote> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head019-the-author-s-preface"> +<h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="xix" id="page-xix"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i019a.png" width="100%"/> THE <span class="x-large">AUTHOR's</span> <span class="gesperrt xx-large">PREFACE.</span></h2> +<div class="container"> +<!-- this unfortunately causes footnotes to be in italic in pdf,even if the footnote body is out of the container --> +<!-- emphasis should be plain upright but we don't have anitalic-overriding class for it --> +<p class="italics pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 6.00em" alt="I" src="images/i019b.png"/>f Vanity too often disposes many +to speak of themselves, there are +some Occasions, on which a total +Silence might be supposed to result +from a still higher Degree of it: +And the very general Reception of the <em class="bold">Advice +to the People</em> has been such, that there would +be Room to suspect me of that most shocking +Kind of Pride, which receives Applause with +Indifference (as deeming its own Merit Superior +to the greatest) if I did not appear to be +strongly impressed with a just Sense of that +great Favour of the Publick, which has been +so very obliging, and is so highly agreable, to me.</p> +<p class="italics pnext">Unfeignedly affected with the unhappy Situation +of the poor Sick in Country Places in +<span class="pageno target" title="xx" id="page-xx"> </span><em class="bold">Swisserland</em>, where they are lost from a Scarcity of +the best Assistance, and from a fatal Superfluity +of the worst, my sole Purpose in writing this +Treatise has been to serve, and to comfort them. +I had intended it only for a small Extent of +Country, with a moderate Number of Inhabitants; +and was greatly surprized to find, that +within five or six Months after its Publication, +it was become one of the most extensively published +Books in <em class="bold">Europe</em>; and one of those Treatises, +on a scientific Subject, which has been +perused by the greatest Number of Readers of +all Ranks and Conditions. To consider such +Success with Indifference, were to have been +unworthy of it, which Demerit, at least on +this Account, I cannot justly be charged with; +since Indifference has not been my Case, who have +felt, as I ought, this Gratification of Self-love; +and which, under just and prudent Restrictions, +may perhaps be even politically cherished; as the +Delight naturally arising from having been approved, +is a Source of that laudable Emulation, +which has sometimes produced the most essential +good Consequences to Society itself. For my own +particular, I can truly aver, that my Satisfaction +has been exquisitely heightened on this Occasion, +as a Lover of my Species: since judging +from the Success of this Work (a Success which +has exceeded my utmost Expectations) of the +Effects that may reasonably be expected from it, +I am happily conscious of that Satisfaction, or +<span class="pageno target" title="xxi" id="page-xxi"> </span>even Joy, which every truly honest Man must +receive, from rendering essential good Offices to +others. Besides which, I have enjoyed, in its +utmost Extent, that Satisfaction which every +grateful Man must receive from the Approbation +and Beneficence of his Sovereign, when I +was distinguished with the precious Medal, +which the illustrious Chamber of Health of the +Republick of Berne honoured me with, a few +Months after the Publication of this Treatise; +together with a Letter still more estimable, as +it assured me of the extraordinary Satisfaction +the Republick had testified on the Impression of +it; a Circumstance, which I could not avoid +this publick Acknowledgement of, without the +greatest Vanity and Ingratitude. This has also +been a very influencing Motive with me, to exert +my utmost Abilities in perfecting this new +Edition, in which I have made many Alterations, +that render it greatly preferable to the +first; and of which Amendments I shall give a +brief Account, after saying somewhat of the +Editions, which have appeared elsewhere.</p> +<p class="italics pnext">The first is that, which Messrs. <em class="bold">Heidegger</em>, +the Booksellers published in the <em class="bold">German</em> Language +at <em class="bold">Zurich</em>, about a Year since. I should +have been highly delighted with the meer Approbation +of <em class="bold gesperrt small-caps">M. Hirzel</em>, first Physician of the +Canton of <em class="bold">Zurich, &c.</em> whose superior and universal +Talents; whose profound Knowledge in the +Theory of Physick; and the Extent and Success +<span class="pageno target" title="xxii" id="page-xxii"> </span>of whose Practice have justly elevated him among +the small Number of extraordinary Men of our +own Times; he having lately obtained the Esteem +and the Thanks of all <em class="bold">Europe,</em> for the History +of one of her <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id8" id="id6"><sup>3</sup></a> Sages. But I little expected +the Honour this Gentleman has done me, in +translating the <em class="bold">Advice to the People</em> into his +own Language. Highly sensible nevertheless as +I am of this Honour, I must always reflect +with Regret, that he has consumed that important +Time, in rendering my Directions intelligible +to his Countrymen, which he might have +employed much more usefully, in obliging the +World with his own.</p> +<p class="italics pnext">He has enriched his Translation with an excellent +Preface, which is chiefly employed in a +just and beautiful Portrait and Contrast of +the true, and of the false Physician; with +which I should have done myself the Pleasure +to have adorned the present <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id9" id="id7"><sup>4</sup></a> Edition; if the +Size of this Volume, already too large, had not +proved an Obstacle to so considerable an Addition; +and if the Manner, in which <em class="bold">Mr.</em> <em class="bold gesperrt small-caps">Hirzel</em> +speaks of its Author, had permitted me with Decency +to publish his Preface. I have been informed +by some Letters, that there have been two +<span class="pageno target" title="xxiii" id="page-xxiii"> </span>other <em class="bold">German</em> Translation of it; but I am not +informed by whom. However, <em class="bold gesperrt small-caps">M. Hirzel's</em> Preface, +his own Notes, and some Additions with +which I have furnished him, renders his Edition +preferable to the first in <em class="bold">French</em>, and to the +other <em class="bold">German</em> Translations already made.</p> +</div> +<div class="container"> +<p class="italics pfirst">The Second Edition is that, which the younger +<em class="bold gesperrt small-caps">Didot</em>, the Bookseller, published towards the +End of the Winter at <em class="bold">Paris</em>. He had requested +me to furnish him with some Additions to +it, which I could not readily comply with.</p> +<p class="italics pnext">The Third Edition is a <em class="bold">Dutch</em> Translation of +it, which will be very speedily published by <em class="bold gesperrt small-caps">M. +Renier Aremberg</em>, Bookseller at <em class="bold">Rotterdam</em>. +He had begun the Translation from my first +Edition; but having wrote to know whether +I had not some Additions to make, I desired +him to wait for the Publication of this. I +have the good Fortune to be very happy in my +Translators; it being <em class="bold gesperrt small-caps">M. Bikker</em>, a celebrated +Physician at <em class="bold">Rotterdam</em> (so very advantagiously +known in other Countries, by his beautiful +<em class="bold">Dissertation on Human Nature</em>, throughout which +Genius and Knowledge proceed Hand in Hand) +who will present his Countrymen with the <em class="bold">Advice +to the People</em>, in their own Language: +and who will improve it with such Notes, as +are necessary for a safe and proper Application +of its Contents, in a Climate, different from +that in which it was wrote. I have also heard, +there has been an <em class="bold">Italian</em> Translation of it.</p> +<p class="italics pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="xxiv" id="page-xxiv"> </span>After this Account of the foreign Editions, +I return to the present one, which is the second +of the original <em class="bold">French</em> Treatise. I shall +not affirm it is greatly corrected, with Respect +to fundamental Points: for as I had advanced +nothing in the first, that was not established +on Truth and Demonstration, there was +no Room for Correction, with Regard to any +essential Matters. Nevertheless, in this I have +made, 1, a great Number of small Alterations +in the Diction, and added several Words, +to render the Work still more simple and perspicuous. +2, The typographical Execution of this +is considerably improved in the Type, the Paper +and Ink, the Spelling, Pointing, and Arrangement +of the Work. 3, I have made some +considerable Additions, which are of three Kinds. +Not a few of them are new Articles on some +of the Subjects formerly treated of; such as +the Articles concerning Tarts and other Pastry +Ware; the Addition concerning the Regimen +for Persons, in a State of Recovery from +Diseases; the Preparation for the Small Pocks; +a long Note on the Jesuits Bark; another +on acid Spirits; one on the Extract of Hemlock: +besides some new Matter which I have +inserted; such as an Article with Regard to +proper Drinks; one on the Convulsions of Infants; +one on Chilblains; another on Punctures +from Thorns; one upon the Reason of the +Confidence reposed in Quacks, and the thirty-first +<span class="pageno target" title="xxv" id="page-xxv"> </span>Chapter entirely: in which I have extended +the Consideration of some former Articles, that +seemed to me a little too succinct and short. +There are some Alterations of this last, this +additional, Kind, interspersed almost throughout +the whole Substance of this Edition; but especially +in the two Chapters relating to Women and +Children.</p> +<p class="italics pnext">The Objects of the <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxxi">XXXI Chapter</a> are such +as require immediate Assistance, viz. Swoonings, +Hæmorrhages, that is, large spontaneous +Bleedings; the Attacks of Convulsions, and of +Suffocations; the Consequences of Fright and +Terror; Disorders occasioned by unwholesome +or deadly Vapours; the Effects of Poison, and +the sudden Invasions of excessive Pain.</p> +<p class="italics pnext">The Omission of this Chapter was a very +material Defect in the original Plan of this +Work. The Editor of it at Paris was very +sensible of this Chasm, or Blank, as it may +be called, and has filled it up very properly: +and if I have not made Use of his Supplement, +instead of enlarging myself upon the +Articles of which he has treated, it has only +been from a Purpose of rendering the whole +Work more uniform; and to avoid that odd +Diversity, which seems scarcely to be avoided +in a Treatise composed by two Persons. Besides +which, that Gentleman has said nothing +of the Articles, which employ the greatest Part +of that Chapter, <em class="bold">viz.</em> the Swoonings, the +<span class="pageno target" title="xxvi" id="page-xxvi"> </span>Consequences of great Fear, and the noxious +Vapours.</p> +<p class="italics pnext">Before I conclude, I ought to justify myself, +as well as possible, to a great Number of very +respectable Persons both here and abroad, (to +whom I can refuse nothing without great Chagrine +and Reluctance) for my not having made +such Additions as they desired of me. This +however was impossible, as the Objects, in +which they concurred, were some chronical Distempers, +that are entirely out of the Plan, to +which I was strictly attached, for many Reasons. +The first is, that it was my original +Purpose to oppose the Errors incurred in Country +Places, in the Treatment of acute Diseases; +and to display the best Method of conducting such, +as do not admit of waiting for the Arrival +of distant Succour; or of removing the Patients +to Cities, or large Towns. It is but too +true indeed, that chronical Diseases are also +liable to improper Treatment in small Country +Places: but then there are both Time and Convenience +to convey the Patients within the Reach +of better Advice; or for procuring them the +Attendance of the best Advisers, at their own +Places of Residence. Besides which, such Distempers +are considerably less common than those +to which I had restrained my Views: and +they will become still less frequent, whenever acute +Diseases, of which they are frequently the Consequences, +shall be more rationally and safely +conducted.</p> +<p class="italics pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="xxvii" id="page-xxvii"> </span>The second Reason, which, if alone, would +have been a sufficient one, is, that it is impossible +to subject the Treatment of chronical Distempers +to the Capacity and Conduct of Persons, who are +not Physicians. Each acute Distemper generally +arises from one Cause; and the Treatment of it is +simple and uniform; since those Symptoms, which +manifest the Malady, point out its Cause and +Treatment. But the Case is very differently circumstanced +in tedious and languid Diseases; each +of which may depend on so many and various +Causes (and it is only the real, the true Cause, +which ought to determine us in selecting its proper +Remedies) that though the Distemper and its Appellation +are evidently known, a meer By-stander +may be very remote from penetrating into its true +Cause; and consequently be incapable of chusing +the best Medicines for it. It is this precise and +distinguishing Discernment of the real particular +Cause <em class="bold">[or of the contingent Concurrence of more +than one]</em> that necessarily requires the Presence of +Persons conversant in the Study and the Practice +of all the Parts of Physick; and which Knowledge +it is impossible for People, who are Strangers +to such Studies, to arrive at. Moreover, their +frequent Complexness; the Variety of their Symptoms; +the different Stages of these tedious Diseases +[not exactly attended to even by many competent +Physicians] the Difficulty of ascertaining the different +Doses of Medicines, whose Activity may +make the smallest Error highly dangerous, &c. +<span class="pageno target" title="xxviii" id="page-xxviii"> </span>&c. are really such trying Circumstances, as render +the fittest Treatment of these Diseases sufficiently +difficult and embarrassing to the most experienced +Physicians, and unattainable by those who are not +Physicians.</p> +<p class="italics pnext">A third Reason is, that, even supposing all +these Circumstances might be made so plain and +easy, as to be comprehended by every Reader, they +would require a Work of an excessive Length; and +thence be disproportioned to the Faculties of those, +for whom it was intended. One single chronical +Disease might require as large a Volume as the +present one.</p> +<p class="italics pnext">But finally, were I to acknowledge, that this +Compliance was both necessary and practicable, I +declare I find it exceeds my Abilities; and that I +am also far from having sufficient Leisure for the +Execution of it. It is my Wish that others would +attempt it, and may succeed in accomplishing it; +but I hope these truly worthy Persons, who have +honoured me by proposing the Achievement of it to +myself, will perceive the Reasons for my not complying +with it, in all their Force; and not ascribe +a Refusal, which arises from the very Nature of +the thing, either to Obstinacy, or to any Want of +an Inclination to oblige them.</p> +<p class="italics pnext">I have been informed my Citations, or rather +References, have puzzled some Readers. It was +difficult to foresee this, but is easy to prevent it +for the future. The Work contains Citations only +of two Sorts; one, that points to the Remedies +<span class="pageno target" title="xxix" id="page-xxix"> </span>prescribed; and the other, which refers to some +Passage in the Book itself, that serves to illustrate +those Passages in which I cite. Neither of these +References could have been omitted. The first is +marked thus, <em class="bold">Nº.</em> with the proper Figure to it, +as 1, 2, &c. This signifies, that the Medicine I +direct is described in the Table of Remedies, according +to the Number annexed to that Character. +Thus when we find directed, in any Page of the +Book, the warm <span class="target" id="infusion">Infusion</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id793"><em class="bold">Nº. 1</em></a>; in some other, +the Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794"><em class="bold">Nº. 2</em></a>; or in a third, the Almond +Milk, or Emulsion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800"><em class="bold">Nº. 4</em></a>, it signifies, that such +Prescriptions will be found at the <span class="target" id="numbers-1-2-and-4">Numbers 1, 2, +and 4</span>; and this Table is printed at the End of +the Book.</p> +<p class="italics pnext">If, instead of forming this Table, and thus referring +to the Prescriptions by their Numbers, I +had repeated each Prescription as often as I directed +it, this Treatise must have been doubled in +Bulk, and insufferably tiresome to peruse. I must +repeat here, what I have already said in the former +Edition, that the <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id11" id="id10"><sup>5</sup></a> Prices of the Medicines, +or of a great Number of them, are those at which +the Apothecaries may afford them, without any +Loss, to a Peasant in humble Circumstances. But +it should be remembered, they are not set down at +the full Prices which they may handily demand; +since that would be unjust for some to insist on +<span class="pageno target" title="xxx" id="page-xxx"> </span>them at. Besides, there is no Kind of Tax in +<em class="bold">Swisserland</em>, and I have no Right to impose one.</p> +</div> +<div class="container"> +<p class="italics pfirst">The Citations of the second Kind are very +plain and simple. The whole Work is divided +into numbered Paragraphs distinguished by the +Mark §. And not to swell it with needless +Repetitions, when in one Place I might have +even pertinently repeated something already observed, +instead of such Repetition at Length, +I have only referred to the Paragraph, where +it had been observed. Thus, for Example when +we read Page <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-81">81</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id86">§ 50</a> —<em class="bold">When the Disease is so +circumstanced as we have described</em>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id82">§ 46</a>,— this +imports that, not to repeat the Description already +given, I refer the Reader to that last § for it.</p> +<!-- § 46 out of the emphasis because its a link --> +<p class="italics pnext">The Use of these Citations is not the least Innovation, +and extremely commodious and easy: but +were there only a single Reader likely to be puzzled +by them, I ought not to omit this Explanation of +them, as I can expect to be generally useful, only +in Proportion as I am clear: and it must be obvious, +that a Desire of being extensively useful is the +sole Motive of this Work. I have long since had +the Happiness of knowing, that some charitable +and intelligent Persons have applied the Directions +it contains, with extraordinary Success, even in +violent Diseases: And I shall arrive at the +Height of my Wishes, if I continue to be informed, +that it contributes to alleviate the Sufferings, +and to prolong the Days, of my rational +Fellow Creatures.</p> +</div> +<!-- NOTE that at this page we return to uprighttext, italicized emphasis (italics is a *toggle*, +notes to italics return upright in general) --> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="pageno target" title="xxxi" id="page-xxxi"> </span><em class="italics">N. B.</em> A Small Blank occurring conveniently +here in the Impression, the Translator of this +Work has employed it to insert the following +proper Remark, <em class="italics">viz.</em></p> +<p class="pnext">Whenever the Tea or Infusion of the Lime-tree +is directed in the Body of the Book, which +it often is, the <em class="italics">Flowers</em> are always meant, and +not the <em class="italics">Leaves</em>; though by an Error of the Press, +or perhaps rather by an Oversight of the Transcribers +of this Version, it is printed <em class="italics">Leaves</em> instead +of <em class="italics">Flowers</em> P. <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-392">392</a>, as noted and corrected +in the <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id900"><em class="italics">Errata</em></a>. These Flowers are easily procurable +here, meerly for gathering, in most +Country Places in <em class="italics">July</em>, as few Walks, Vistas, +&c. are without these Trees, planted for the +pleasant Shade they afford, and to keep off the +Dust in Summer, though the Leaf drops rather +too early for this Purpose. Their Flowers have +an agreeable Flavour, which is communicated to +Water by Infusion, and rises with it in Distillation. +They were, to the best of my Recollection, +an Ingredient in the antiepileptic Water of +<em class="italics">Langius</em>, omitted in our late Dispensatories of the +College. They are an Ingredient in the antiepileptic +Powder, in the List of Medicines in the +present Practice of the <em class="italics">Hotel Dieu</em> at <em class="italics">Paris</em>: and +we think were in a former Prescription of our +<em class="italics">Pulvis de Gutteta</em>, or Powder against Convulsions. +Indeed they are considered, by many +medical Writers, as a Specific in all Kinds of +Spasms and Pains; and <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Hoffman</span> affirms, he +<span class="pageno target" title="xxxii" id="page-xxxii"> </span>knew a very tedious Epilepsy cured by the Use +of an Infusion of these Flowers.</p> +<p class="pnext">I also take this Opportunity of adding, that as +this Translation is intended for the Attention and +the Benefit of the Bulk of the Inhabitants of the +<em class="italics">British</em> Empire, I have been careful not to admit +any Gallicisms into it; as such might render +it either less intelligible, or less agreeable to its +Readers. If but a single one occurs, I either +have printed it, or did intend it should be printed, +distinguishably in Italics. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<p class="center pnext"><img class="align-middle" style="width: 10em" alt="****" src="images/i032.png"/></p> +<span class="target" id="ib1"/></div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head033-introduction"> +<span id="introduction"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="1" id="page-1"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i033a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Introduction.</span></h2> +<span class="target" id="the-first-cause-of-depopulation-emigrations"/><p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 6.00em" alt="T" src="images/i033b.png"/>he Decrease of the Number of Inhabitants, +in most of the States of +Europe, is a Fact, which impresses +every reflecting Person, and is become +such a general Complaint, as +is but too well established on plain Calculations. +This Decrease is most remarkable in Country +Places. It is owing to many Causes; and I +shall think myself happy, if I can contribute to +remove one of the greatest of them, which is +the pernicious Manner of treating sick People +in Country Places. This is my sole Object, +tho' I may be excused perhaps for pointing out +the other concurring Causes, which may be all +included within these two general Affirmations; +That greater Numbers than usual emigrate from +the Country; and that the People increase less +every where.</p> +<p class="pnext">There are many Sorts of Emigration. Some +leave their Country to enlist in the Service of +different States by Sea and Land; or to be +<span class="pageno target" title="2" id="page-2"> </span>differently employ'd abroad, some as Traders, others +as Domestics, <em class="italics">&c.</em></p> +<p class="pnext">Military Service, by Land or Sea, prevents +Population in various Respects. In the first +Place, the Numbers going abroad are always +less, often <em class="italics">much</em> less, than those who return. +General Battles, with all the Hazards and Fatigues +of War; detached Encounters, bad Provisions, +Excess in drinking and eating, Diseases +that are the Consequences of Debauches, the Disorders +that are peculiar to the Country; epidemical, +pestilential or contagious Distempers, caused +by the unwholsome Air of Flanders, Holland, +Italy and Hungary; long Cruises, Voyages to +the East or West Indies, to Guinea, &c. destroy +a great Number of Men. The Article of Desertion +also, the Consequences of which they dread +on returning home, disposes many to abandon +their Country for ever. Others, on quitting the +Service, take up with such Establishments, as it +has occasionally thrown in their Way; and which +necessarily prevent their Return. But in the +second Place, supposing they were all to come +back, their Country suffers equally from their +Absence; as this very generally happens during +that Period of Life, when they are best adapted +for Propagation; since that Qualification on their +Return is impaired by Age, by Infirmities and +Debauches: and even when they do marry, the +Children often perish as Victims to the Excesses +and Irregularities of their Fathers: they are weak, +languishing, distempered, and either die young, +<span class="pageno target" title="3" id="page-3"> </span>or live incapable of being useful to Society. Besides, +that the prevailing Habit of Libertinage, +which many have contracted, prevents several of +them from marrying at all. But notwithstanding +all these inconvenient Consequences are real and +notorious; yet as the Number of those, who +leave their Country on these Accounts, is limited, +and indeed rather inconsiderable, if compared +with the Number of Inhabitants which must remain +at home: as it may be affirmed too, that +this relinquishing of their Country, may have +been even necessary at some Times, and may +become so again, if the Causes of Depopulation +should cease, this kind of Emigration is doubtless +the least grievous of any, and the last which may +require a strict Consideration.</p> +<p class="pnext">But that abandoning of their Country, or <em class="italics">Expatriation</em>, +as it may be termed, the Object of +which is a Change of the Emigrants Condition, +is more to be considered, being more numerous. +It is attended with many and peculiar Inconveniencies, +and is unhappily become an epidemical +Evil, the Ravages of which are still increasing; +and that from one simple ridiculous Source, +which is this; that the Success of one Individual +determines a hundred to run the same Risque, +ninety and nine of whom may probably be disappointed. +They are struck with the apparent +Success of one, and are ignorant of the Miscarriage +of others. Suppose a hundred Persons +might have set out ten Years ago, to <em class="italics">seek their +Fortune</em>, as the saying is, at the End of six Months +<span class="pageno target" title="4" id="page-4"> </span>they are all forgotten, except by their Relations; +but if one should return the same Year, with +more Money than his own Fortune, more than +he set out with; or if one of them has got a +moderate Place with little Work, the whole +Country rings with it, as a Subject <span class="target" id="of">of</span> general Entertainment. +A Croud of young People are seduced +by this and sally forth, because not one reflects, +that of the ninety nine, who set out with +the hundredth Person, one half has perished, many +are miserable, and the Remainder come back, +without having gained any thing, but an Incapacity +to employ themselves usefully at home, +and in their former Occupations: and having +deprived their Country of a great many Cultivaters, +who, from the Produce of the Lands, would +have attracted considerable Sums of Money, and +many comfortable Advantages to it. In short, +the very small Proportion who succeed, are continually +talked of; the Croud that sink are perpetually +forgot. This is a very great and real +Evil, and how shall it be prevented? It would +be sufficient perhaps to publish the extraordinary +Risque, which may be easily demonstrated: It +would require nothing more than to keep an exact +yearly Register of all these Adventurers, and, +at the Expiration of six, eight, or ten Years, to +publish the List, with the Fate, of every Emigrant. +I am greatly deceived, or at the End of +a certain Number of Years, we should not see +such Multitudes forsake their native Soil, in which +they might live comfortably by working, to go +<span class="pageno target" title="5" id="page-5"> </span>in Search of Establishments in others; the Uncertainty +of which, such Lists would demonstrate +to them; and also prove, how preferable +their Condition in their own Country would have +been, to that they have been reduced to. People +would no longer set out, but on almost certain +Advantages: fewer would undoubtedly +emigrate, more of whom, from that very Circumstance, +must succeed. Meeting with fewer +of their Country-men abroad, these fortunate +few would oftner return. By this Means more +Inhabitants would remain in the Country, more +would return again, and bring with them more +Money to it. The State would be more populous, +more rich and happy; as the Happiness of +a People, who live on a fruitful Soil, depends +essentially on a great Number of Inhabitants, +with a moderate Quantity of pecuniary Riches.</p> +<p class="pnext">But the Population of the Country is not only +necessarily lessened, in Consequence of the Numbers +that leave it; but even those who remain +increase less, than an equal Number formerly +did. Or, which amounts to the same Thing, +among the same Number of Persons, there are +fewer Marriages than formerly; and the same +Number of Marriages produce fewer Christenings. +I do not enter upon a Detail of the Proofs, +since merely looking about us must furnish a sufficient +Conviction of the Truth of them. What +then are the Causes of this? There are two capital +ones, Luxury and Debauchery, which are +Enemies to Population on many Accounts.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="the-second-cause-luxury"><span class="pageno target" title="6" id="page-6"> </span>Luxury compells the wealthy Man, who +would make a Figure; and the Man of a moderate +Income, but who is his equal in every +other Respect, and who <em class="italics">will</em> imitate him, to be +afraid of a numerous Family; the Education +of which must greatly contract that Expence he +had devoted to Parade and Ostentation: And besides, +if he must divide his Estate among a great +many Children, each of them would have but a +little, and be unable to keep up the State and the +Train of the Father's. Since Merit is unjustly +estimated by exterior Shew and Expence, one +must of Course endeavour to attain for himself, +and to leave his Children in, a Situation capable +of supporting that Expence. Hence the fewer +Marriages of People who are not opulent, and +the fewer Children among People who marry.</p> +<p class="pnext">Luxury is further prejudicial to the Increase +of the People, in another Respect. The irregular +Manner of Life which it introduces, depresses +Health; it ruins the Constitutions, and +thus sensibly affects Procreation. The preceding +Generation counted some Families with more +than twenty Children: the living one less than +twenty Cousins. Very unfortunately this Way +of thinking and acting, so preventive of Increase, +has extended itself even into Villages: and they +are no longer convinced there, that the Number +of Children makes the Riches of the Countryman. +Perhaps the next Generation will scarcely +be acquainted with the Relation of Brotherhood.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="7" id="page-7"> </span>A third Inconvenience of Luxury is, that the +Rich retreat from the Country to live in Cities; +and by multiplying their Domestics there, they +drain the former. This augmented Train is prejudicial +to the Country, by depriving it of Cultivaters, +and by diminishing Population. These +Domestics, being seldom sufficiently employed, +contract the Habit of Laziness; and they +prove incapable of returning to that Country Labour, +for which Nature intended them. Being +deprived of this Resource they scarcely ever marry, +either from apprehending the Charge of Children, +or from their becoming Libertines; and +sometimes, because many Masters will not employ +married Servants. Or should any of them +marry, it is often in the Decline of Life, whence +the State must have the fewer Citizens.</p> +<p class="pnext">Idleness of itself weakens them, and disposes +them to those Debauches, which enfeeble them +still more. They never have more than a few +Children, and these sickly; such as have not +Strength to cultivate the Ground; or who, being +brought up in Cities, have an Aversion to +the Country.</p> +<p class="pnext">Even those among them who are more prudent, +who preserve their Morals, and make some +Savings, being accustomed to a City Life, and +dreading the Labour of a Country one (of the +Regulation of which they are also ignorant) +chuse to become little Merchants, or Tradesmen; +and this must be a Drawback from Population, as +any Number of Labourers beget more Children +<span class="pageno target" title="8" id="page-8"> </span>than an equal Number of Citizens; and also by +Reason, that out of any given Number, more +Children die in Cities, than in the Country.</p> +<p class="pnext">The same Evils also prevail, with Regard to +female Servants. After ten or twelve Years +Servitude, the Maid-Servants in Cities cannot +acquit themselves as good Country Servants: and +such of them as chuse this Condition, quickly +fail under that Kind or Quantity of Work, for +which they are no longer constituted. Should +we see a Woman married in the Country, a +Year after leaving Town, it is easy to observe, +how much that Way of living in the Country +has broke her. Frequently their first Child-bed, +in which Term they have not all the Attendance +their Delicacy demands, proves the Loss of their +Health; they remain in a State of Languor, of +Feebleness, and of Decay: they have no more +Children; and this renders their Husbands unuseful +towards the Population of the State.</p> +<p class="pnext">Abortions, Infants carried out of their Country +after a concealed Pregnancy, and the Impossibility +of their getting Husbands afterwards, are frequently +the Effects of their Libertinage.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is to be apprehended too these bad Effects +are rather increasing with us; since, either for +want of sufficient Numbers, or from oeconomical +Views, it has become a Custom, instead of +Women Servants, to employ Children, whose +Manners and whole Constitutions are not yet +formed; and who are ruined in the same +<span class="pageno target" title="9" id="page-9"> </span>Manner, by their Residence in Town, by their Laziness, +by bad Examples, and bad Company.</p> +<p class="pnext">Doubtless much remains still unsaid on these +important Heads; but besides my Intention +not to swell this Treatise immoderately, and the +many Avocations, which prevent me from launching +too far into what may be less within the +Bounds of Medicine, I should be fearful of digressing +too far from my Subject. What I have +hitherto said however, I think cannot be impertinent +to it; since in giving Advice to the People, +with Regard to their Health, it was necessary to +display to them the Causes that impaired it: +though what I might be able to add further on +this Head, would probably be thought more remote +from the Subject.</p> +<p class="pnext">I shall add then but a single Hint on the Occasion. +Is it not practicable, in Order to remedy +those Evils which we cannot prevent, to select +some particular Part or Canton of the Country, +wherein we should endeavour by Rewards, <em class="italics">1st.</em> +Irremoveably to fix all the Inhabitants. <em class="italics">2dly.</em> To +encourage them by other Rewards to a plentiful +and legitimate Increase. They should not be permitted +to go out of it, which must prevent them +from being exposed to the Evils I have mentioned. +They should by no means intermarry with any +Strangers, who might introduce such Disorders +among them. Thus very probably this Canton, +after a certain Time, would become even over-peopled, +and might send out Colonies to the +others.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="third-cause-decay-of-agriculture"><span class="pageno target" title="10" id="page-10"> </span>One Cause, still more considerable than those +we have already mention'd, has, to this very Moment, +prevented the Increase of the People in +France. This is the Decay of Agriculture. The +Inhabitants of the Country, to avoid serving in the +Militia; to elude the Days-Service impos'd by +their Lords, and the Taxes; and being attracted +to the City by the Hopes of Interest, by Laziness +and Libertinage, have left the Country nearly deserted. +Those who remain behind, either not +being encouraged to work, or not being sufficient +for what there is to do, content themselves with +cultivating just as much as is absolutely necessary +for their Subsistence. They have either lived +single, or married but late; or perhaps, after the +Example of the Inhabitants of the Cities, they +have refused to fulfil their Duty to Nature, to the +State, and to a Wife. The Country deprived of +Tillers, by this Expatriation and Inactivity, has +yielded nothing; and the Depopulation of the +State has daily increased, from the reciprocal +and necessary Proportion between Subsistence and +Population, and because Agriculture alone can +increase Subsistence. A single Comparison will +sufficiently evince the Truth and the Importance +of these Principles, to those who have not seen +them already divulged and demonstrated in the +Works of the <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id13" id="id12"><sup>6</sup></a> Friend of Man.</p> +<p class="pnext">“An old Roman, who was always ready to +return to the Cultivation of his Field, subsisted +<span class="pageno target" title="11" id="page-11"> </span>himself and his Family from one Acre of Land. +A Savage, who neither sows nor cultivates, +consumes, in his single Person, as much Game +as requires fifty Acres to feed them. Consequently +<em class="italics">Tullus Hostilius</em>, on a thousand Acres, +might have five thousand Subjects: while a +Savage Chief, limited to the same Extent of +Territory, could scarcely have twenty: such +an immense Disproportion does Agriculture +furnish, in Favour of Population. Observe +these two great Extremes. A State becomes +dispeopled or peopled in that Proportion, by +which it recedes from one of these Methods, +and approaches to the other.” Indeed it is +evident, that wherever there is an Augmentation +of Subsistence, an Increase of Population will soon +follow; which again will still further facilitate +the Increase of Provisions. In a State thus circumstanced +Men will abound, who, after they +have furnished sufficient Numbers for the Service +of War, of Commerce, of Religion, and for Arts +and Professions of every kind, will further also +furnish a Source for Colonies, who will extend +the Name and the Prosperity of their Nation to +distant Regions. There will ensue a Plenty of +Commodities, the Superfluity of which will be +exported to other Countries, to exchange for other +Commodities, that are not produced at home; +and the Balance, being received in Money, will +make the Nation rich, respectable by its Neighbours, +and happy. Agriculture, vigorously pursued, +is equal to the Production of all these Benefits; +<span class="pageno target" title="12" id="page-12"> </span>and the present Age will enjoy the Glory of +restoring it, by favouring and encouraging Cultivaters, +and by forming Societies for the Promotion +of Agriculture.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="fourth-cause-the-pernicious-treatment-of-diseases">I proceed at length to the fourth Cause of Depopulation, +which is the Manner of treating sick +People in the Country. This has often affected +me with the deepest Concern. I have been a +Witness, that Maladies, which, in themselves, +would have been gentle, have proved mortal from +a pernicious Treatment: I am convinced that +this Cause alone makes as great a Havock as the +former; and certainly it requires the utmost Attention +of Physicians, whose Duty it is to labour +for the Preservation of Mankind. While we are +employing our assiduous Cares on the more polished +and fashionable Part of them in Cities, the +larger and more useful Moiety perish in the +Country; either by particular, or by highly epidemical, +Diseases, which, within a few Years +past, have appeared in different Villages, and made +no small Ravages. This afflicting Consideration +has determined me to publish this little Work, +which is solely intended for those Patients, who, +by their Distance from Physicians, are deprived of +their Assistance. I shall not give a Detail of my +Plan, which is very simple, in this Part; but +content myself with affirming, I have used my +utmost Care to render it the most useful I possibly +could: and I dare hope, that if I have not fully +displayed its utmost Advantages, I have at least +sufficiently shewn those pernicious Methods of +<span class="pageno target" title="13" id="page-13"> </span>treating Diseases, that should incontestably be +avoided. I am thoroughly convinced, the Design +might be accomplished more compleatly +than I have done it; but those who are so capable +of, do not attempt, it: I happen to be +less timid; and I hope that thinking Persons will +rather take it in good part of me, to have published +a Book, the composing of which is rather +disagreeable from its very Facility; from the minute +Details, which however are indispensable; +and from the Impossibility of discussing any Part +of it (consistently with the Plan) to the Bottom of +the Subject; or of displaying any new and useful +Prospect. It may be compared, in some Respects, +to the Works of a spiritual Guide, who +was to write a Catechism for little Children.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the same time I am not ignorant there have +already been a few Books calculated for Country +Patients, who are remote from Succour: but +some of these, tho' published with a very good +Purpose, produce a bad Effect. Of this kind are +all Collections of Receipts or Remedies, without +the least Description of the Disease; and of Course +without just Directions for the Exhibition, +or Application, of them. Such, for Example, +is the famous Collection of Madam <span class="small-caps">Fouquet</span>, +and some more in the same manner. +Some others approach towards my Plan; +but many of them have taken in too many +Distempers, whence they are become too voluminous. +Besides, they have not dwelt sufficiently +upon the Signs of the Diseases; upon their Causes; +the general Regimen in them, and the +<span class="pageno target" title="14" id="page-14"> </span>Mismanagement of them. Their Receipts are not +generally as simple, and as easy to prepare, as +they ought to be. In short, the greater Part of +their Writers seem, as they advanced, to have +grown tired of their melancholy Task, and to +have hurried them out too expeditiously. There +are but two of them, which I must name with +Respect, and which being proposed on a Plan +very like my own, are executed in a superior Manner, +that merits the highest Acknowlegements +of the Publick. One of these Writers is M. +<span class="small-caps">Rosen</span>, first Physician of the Kingdom of <em class="italics">Sweden</em>; +who, some Years since, employed his just +Reputation to render the best Services to his +Country Men. He has made them retrench from +the Almanacs those ridiculous Tales; those extraordinary +Adventures; those pernicious astrological +Injunctions, which there, as well as here, +answer no End, but that of keeping up Ignorance, +Credulity, Superstition, and the falsest Prejudices +on the interesting Articles of Health, of Diseases, +and of Remedies. He has also taken Care to +publish simple plain Treatises on the most popular +Distempers; which he has substituted in the +Place of the former Heap of Absurdities. These +concise Works however, which appear annually +in their Almanacs, are not yet translated from the +<em class="italics">Swedish</em>, so that I was unqualified to make any +Extracts from them. The other is the Baron +<span class="small-caps">Van Swieten</span>, first Physician to their Imperial +Majesties, who, about two Years since, has effected +for the Use of the Army, what I now attempt +<span class="pageno target" title="15" id="page-15"> </span>for sick People in the Country. Though my +Work was greatly advanced, when I first saw +his, I have taken some Passages from it: and had +our Plans been exactly alike, I should imagine I +had done the Publick more Service by endeavouring +to extend the Reading of his Book, than by +publishing a new one. Nevertheless, as he is +silent on many Articles, of which I have treated +diffusively; as he has treated of many Distempers, +which did not come within my Plan; and has +said nothing of some others which I could not +omit; our two Works, without entering into the +Particulars of the superior Merit of the Baron's, +are very different, with Regard to the Subject of +the Diseases; tho' in such as we have both considered, +I account it an Honour to me to find, we +have almost constantly proceeded upon the same +Principles.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="means-for-rendering-this-treatise-useful">The present Work is by no means addressed +to such Physicians, as are thoroughly accomplished +in their Profession; yet possibly, besides my +particular medical Friends, some others may read +it. I beg the Favour of all such fully to consider +the Intention, the Spirit, of the Author, and not +to censure him, as a Physician, from the Composition +of this Book. I even advise them here +rather to forbear perusing it; as a Production, +that can teach them nothing. Such as read, in +order to criticize, will find a much greater Scope +for exercising that Talent on the other Pamphlets +I have published. It were certainly unjust that a +Performance, whose sole abstracted Object is the +<span class="pageno target" title="16" id="page-16"> </span>Health and Service of my Countrymen, should +subject me to any disagreeable Consequences: +and a Writer may fairly plead an Exemption +from any Severity of Censure, who has had the +Courage to execute a Work, which cannot pretend +to a Panegyric.</p> +<p class="pnext">Having premised thus much in general, I +must enter into some Detail of those Means, that +seem the most likely to me, to facilitate the beneficial +Consequences, which, I hope, may result +to others, from my present Endeavours. I +shall afterwards give an Explanation of some +Terms which I could not avoid using, and which, +perhaps, are not generally understood.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Title of <em class="italics">Advice to the People</em>, was not +suggested to <span class="target" id="me">me</span> by an Illusion, which might persuade +me, this Book would become a Piece of +Furniture, as it were, in the House of every Peasant. +Nineteen out of twenty will probably +never know of its Existence. Many may be unable +to read, and still more unable to understand, +it, plain and simple as it is. I have principally +calculated it for the Perusal of intelligent +and charitable Persons, who live in the Country; +and who seem to have, as it were, a Call from +Providence, to assist their less intelligent poor +Neighbours with their Advice.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is obvious, that the first Gentlemen I have +my Eye upon, are the Clergy. There is not a +single Village, a Hamlet, nor even the House of +an Alien in the Country, that has not a Right +to the good Offices of some one of this Order; +<span class="pageno target" title="17" id="page-17"> </span>And I assure myself there are a great Number of +them, who, heartily affected with the Distress +of their ailing Flocks, have wished many hundred +Times, that it were in their Power to give their +Parishioners some bodily Help, at the very Time +they were disposing them to prepare for Death; +or so far to delay the Fatality of the Distemper, +that the Sick might have an Opportunity of living +more religiously afterwards. I shall think +myself happy, if such truly respectable Ecclesiastics +shall find any Resources in this Performance, +that may conduce to the Accomplishment +of their beneficent Intentions. Their Regard, +their Love for their People; their frequent Invitations +to visit their principal Neighbours; their +Duty to root out all unreasonable Prejudices, and +Superstition; their Charity, their Learning; the +Facility, with which their general Knowlege in +Physics, qualifies them to comprehend thoroughly +all the medical Truths, and Contents of this +Piece, are so many Arguments to convince me, +that they will have the greatest Influence to procure +that Reformation, in the Administration of +Physick to poor Country People, which is so necessary, +so desirable, an Object.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the next Place, I dare assure myself of the +Concurrence of Gentlemen of Quality and Opulence, +in their different Parishes and Estates, whose +Advice is highly regarded by their Inferiors; who +are so powerfully adapted to discourage a wrong, +and to promote a right Practice, of which they +will easily discern all the Advantages. The many +<span class="pageno target" title="18" id="page-18"> </span>Instances I have seen of their entering, with +great Facility, into all the Plan and Conduct of +a Cure; their Readiness and even Earnestness to +comfort the Sick in their Villages; and the Generosity +with which they prevent their Necessities, +induce me to hope, from judging of these I +have not the Pleasure to know, by those whom I +have, that they will eagerly embrace an Opportunity +of promoting a new Method of doing good +in their Neighbourhood. Real Charity will apprehend +the great Probability there is of doing +Mischief, tho' with the best Intention, for want +of a proper Knowledge of material Circumstances; +and the very Fear of that Mischief may +sometimes suspend the Exercise of such Charity; +notwithstanding it must seize, with the most +humane Avidity, every Light that can contribute +to its own beneficent Exertion.</p> +<p class="pnext">Thirdly, Persons who are rich, or at least in +easy Circumstances, whom their Disposition, their +Employments, or the Nature of their Property, +fixes in the Country, where they are happy in +doing good, must be delighted to have some proper +Directions for the Conduct and Effectuation +of their charitable Intentions.</p> +<p class="pnext">In every Village, where there are any Persons, +of these three Conditions, they are always readily +apprized of the Distempers in it, by their poor +Neighbours coming to intreat a little Soup, Venice +Treacle, Wines, Biscuits, or any thing they imagine +necessary for their sick Folks. In Consequence +of some Questions to the Bystanders, or +<span class="pageno target" title="19" id="page-19"> </span>of a Visit to the sick Person, they will judge at +least of <em class="italics">what kind</em> the Disease is; and by their prudent +Advice they may be able to prevent a Multitude +of Evils. They will give them some Nitre +instead of Venice Treacle; Barley, or sweet +Whey, in lieu of Soup. They will advise them +to have Recourse to Glysters, or Bathings of their +Feet, rather than to Wine; and order them Gruel +rather than Biscuits. A man would scarcely +believe, 'till after the Expiration of a few Years, +how much Good might be effected by such proper +Regards, so easily comprehended, and often +repeated. At first indeed there may be some +Difficulty in eradicating old Prejudices, and inveterately +bad Customs; but whenever these were +removed, good Habits would strike forth full +as strong Roots, and I hope that no Person would +be inclined to destroy them.</p> +<p class="pnext">It may be unnecessary to declare, that I have +more Expectation from the Care and Goodness +of the Ladies, than from those of their Spouses, +their Fathers, or Brothers. A more active Charity, +a more durable Patience, a more domestic +Life; a Sagacity, which I have greatly admired +in many Ladies both in Town and Country, that +disposes them to observe, with great Exactness; +and to unravel, as it were, the secret Causes of +the Symptoms, with a Facility that would do +Honour to very good Practioners, and with a Talent +adapted to engage the Confidence of the Patient:—All +these, I say, are so many characteristical +Marks of their Vocation in this important and +<span class="pageno target" title="20" id="page-20"> </span>amicable Duty; nor are there a few, who fulfil +it with a Zeal, that merits the highest Commendation, +and renders them excellent Models for +the Imitation of others.</p> +<p class="pnext">Those who are intrusted with the Education of +Youth, may also be supposed sufficiently intelligent +to take some Part in this Work; and I am +satisfied that much Good might result from their +undertaking it. I heartily wish, they would not +only study to <em class="italics">distinguish the Distemper</em> (in which +the principal, but by no means an insuperable +Difficulty consists; and to which I hope I have +considerably put them in the Way) but I would +have them learn also the Manner of applying Remedies. +Many of them have; I have known +some who bleed, and who have given Glysters +very expertly. This however all may easily +learn; and perhaps it would not be imprudent, +if the Art of bleeding well and safely were reckoned +a necessary Qualification, when they are +examined for their Employment. These Faculties, +that of estimating the Degree of a Fever, +and how to apply and to dress Blisters, may be +of great Use within the Neighbourhood of their +Residence. Their Schools, which are not frequently +over-crouded, employ but a few of their +daily Hours; the greater part of them have no +Land to cultivate; and to what better Use can +they apply their Leisure, than to the Assistance +and Comfort of the Sick? The moderate Price +of their Service may be so ascertained, as to incommode +no Person; and this little Emolument +<span class="pageno target" title="21" id="page-21"> </span>might render their own Situation the more agreeable: +besides which, these little Avocations might +prevent their being drawn aside sometimes, by +Reason of their Facility and frequent Leisure, so +as to contract a Habit of drinking too often. +Another Benefit would also accrue from accustoming +them to this kind of Practice, which +is, that being habituated to the Care of sick People, +and having frequent Occasions to write, they +would be the better qualify'd, in difficult Cases, +to advise with those, who were thought further +necessary to be consulted.</p> +<p class="pnext">Doubtless, even among Labourers, there may +be many, for some such I have known, who being +endued with good natural Sense and Judgment, +and abounding with Benevolence, will +read this Book with Attention, and eagerly extend +the Maxims and the Methods it recommends.</p> +<p class="pnext">And finally I hope that many Surgeons, who +are spread about the Country, and who practice +Physic in their Neighbourhood, will peruse it; +will carefully enter into the Principles established +in it, and will conform to its Directions; tho' +a little different perhaps from such as they may +have hitherto practiced. They will perceive a +Man may learn at any Age, and of any Person; +and it may be hoped they will not think it too +much Trouble to reform some of their Notions +in a Science, which is not properly within their +Profession (and to the Study of which they were +never instituted) by those of a Person, who is +<span class="pageno target" title="22" id="page-22"> </span>solely employed in it, and who has had many +Assistances of which they are deprived.</p> +<p class="pnext">Midwives may also find their Attendance more +efficacious, as soon as they are thoroughly disposed +to be better informed.</p> +<p class="pnext">It were heartily to be wished, that the greater +Part of them had been better instructed in the +Art they profess. The Instances of Mischief +that might have been avoided, by their being +better qualify'd, are frequent enough to make us +wish there may be no Repetition of them, which +it may be possible to prevent. Nothing seems +impossible, when Persons in Authority are zealously +inclined to prevent every such Evil; and it is +time they should be properly informed of one +so essentially hurtful to Society.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Prescriptions I have given consist of the +most simple Remedies, and I have adjoined the +Manner of preparing them so fully, that I hope +no Person can be at any Loss in that Respect. +At the same time, that no one may imagine they +are the less useful and efficacious for their Simplicity, +I declare, they are the same I order in the +City for the most opulent Patients. This Simplicity +is founded in Nature: the Mixture, or rather +the Confusion, of a Multitude of Drugs is ridiculous. +If they have the very same Virtues, for +what Purpose are they blended? It were more +judicious to confine ourselves to that, which is the +most effectual. If their Virtues are different, +the Effect of one destroys, or lessens, the Effect of +<span class="pageno target" title="23" id="page-23"> </span>the other; and the Medicine ceases to prove a +Remedy.</p> +<p class="pnext">I have given no Direction, which is not very +practicable and easy to execute; nevertheless it +will be discernible, that some few are not calculated +for the Multitude, which I readily grant. +However I have given them, because I did not +lose Sight of some Persons; who, tho' not strictly +of the Multitude, or Peasantry, do live in the +Country, and cannot always procure a Physician +as soon, or for as long a Time, as they gladly +would.</p> +<p class="pnext">A great Number of the Remedies are entirely +of the Country Growth, and may be prepared +there; but there are others, which must be had +from the Apothecaries. I have set down the +Price <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id15" id="id14"><sup>7</sup></a> at which I am persuaded all the Country +Apothecaries will retail them to a Peasant, who +is not esteemed a rich one. I have marked the +Price, not from any Apprehension of their being +<span class="pageno target" title="24" id="page-24"> </span>imposed on in the Purchase, for this I do not apprehend; +but, that seeing the Cheapness of the +Prescription, they may not be afraid to buy it. +The necessary Dose of the Medicine, for each +Disease, may generally be purchased for less Money +than would be expended on Meat, Wine, +Biscuits, and other improper things. But should +the Price of the Medicine, however moderate, +exceed the Circumstances of the Sick, doubtless +the Common Purse, or the Poors-Box will defray +it: moreover there are in many Country Places +Noblemens Houses, some of whom charitably +contribute an annual Sum towards buying of +Medicines for poor Patients. Without adding +to which Sum, I would only intreat the Favour +of each of them to alter the Objects of it, and +to allow their sick Neighbours the Remedies and +the Regimen directed here, instead of such as +they formerly distributed among them.</p> +<p class="pnext">It may still be objected, that many Country +Places are very distant from large Towns; +from which Circumstance a poor Peasant is incapable +of procuring himself a seasonable and necessary +Supply in his Illness. I readily admit, that, +in Fact, there are many Villages very remote +from such Places as Apothecaries reside in. Yet, +if we except a few among the Mountains, there +are but very few of them above three or four +Leagues from some little Town, where there always +lives some Surgeon, or some Vender of Drugs. +Perhaps however, even at this Time, indeed, +there may not be many thus provided; but they +<span class="pageno target" title="25" id="page-25"> </span>will take care to furnish themselves with such +Materials, as soon as they have a good Prospect +of selling them, which may constitute a small, +but new, Branch of Commerce for them. I have +carefully set down the Time, for which each Medicine +will keep, without spoiling. There is a +very frequent Occasion for some particular ones, +and of such the School-masters may lay in a +Stock. I also imagine, if they heartily enter into +my Views, they will furnish themselves with +such Implements, as may be necessary in the +Course of their Attendance. If any of them +were unable to provide themselves with a sufficient +Number of good Lancets, an <em class="italics">Apparatus</em> +for Cupping, and a Glyster Syringe (for want of +which last a Pipe and Bladder may be occasionally +substituted) the Parish might purchase them, +and the same Instruments might do for the succeeding +School-master. It is hardly to be expected, +that all Persons in that Employment +would be able, or even inclined, to learn the +Way of using them with Address; but one Person +who did, might be sufficient for whatever +Occasions should occur in this Way in some contiguous +Villages; with very little Neglect of +their Functions among their Scholars.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="explanation-of-certain-physical-terms-and-phrases">Daily Instances of Persons, who come from +different Parts to consult me, without being capable +of answering the Questions I ask them, and +the like Complaints of many other Physicians on +the same Account, engaged me to write the last +Chapter of this Work. I shall conclude this +<span class="pageno target" title="26" id="page-26"> </span>Introduction with some Remarks, necessary to facilitate +the Knowledge of a few Terms, which +were unavoidable in the Course of it.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Pulse commonly beats in a Person in +good Health, from the Age of eighteen or twenty +to about sixty six Years, between sixty and +seventy Times in a Minute. It sometimes comes +short of this in old Persons, and in very young +Children it beats quicker: until the Age of three +or four Years the Difference amounts at least to +a third; after which it diminishes by Degrees.</p> +<p class="pnext">An intelligent Person, who shall often touch +and attend to his own Pulse, and frequently to +other Peoples, will be able to judge, with sufficient +Exactness, of the Degree of a Fever in a sick +Person. If the Strokes are but one third above +their Number in a healthy State, the Fever is +not very violent: which it is, as often as it amounts +to half as many more as in Health. It +is very highly dangerous, and may be generally +pronounced mortal, when there are two Strokes +in the Time of one. We must not however +judge of the Pulse, solely by its Quickness, but +by its Strength or Weakness; its Hardness or +Softness; and the Regularity or Irregularity of +it.</p> +<p class="pnext">There is no Occasion to define the strong and +the feeble Pulse. The Strength of it generally +affords a good Prognostic, and, supposing it too +strong, it may easily be lowered. The weak +Pulse is often very menacing.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="27" id="page-27"> </span>If the Pulse, in meeting the Touch, excites +the Notion of a dry Stroke, as though the Artery +consisted of Wood, or of some Metal, we term it +<em class="italics">hard</em>; the opposite to which is called <em class="italics">soft</em>, and generally +promises better. If it be strong and yet +soft, even though it be quick, it may be considered +as a very hopeful Circumstance. But if it is +strong and hard, that commonly is a Token of +an Inflammation, and indicates Bleeding and the +cooling Regimen. Should it be, at the same +time, small, quick and hard, the Danger is indeed +very pressing.</p> +<p class="pnext">We call that Pulse regular, a continued Succession +of whole Strokes are made in equal Intervals +of Time; and in which Intervals, not a +single Stroke is wanting (since if that is its State, +it is called an intermitting Pulse.) The Beats or +Pulsations are also supposed to resemble each other +so exactly in Quality too, that one is not strong, +and the next alternately feeble.</p> +<p class="pnext">As long as the State of the Pulse is promising; +Respiration or Breathing is free; the Brain does +not seem to be greatly affected; while the Patient +takes his Medicines, and they are attended +with the Consequence that was expected; and +he both preserves his Strength pretty well, and +continues sensible of his Situation, we may reasonably +hope for his Cure. As often as all, or +the greater Number of these characterizing +Circumstances are wanting, he is in very considerable +Danger.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="28" id="page-28"> </span>The Stoppage of Perspiration is often mentioned +in the Course of this Work. We call the +Discharge of that Fluid which continually passes +off through the Pores of the Skin, <em class="italics">Transpiration</em>; +and which, though invisible, is very considerable. +For if a Person in Health eats and drinks to the +Weight of eight Pounds daily, he does not discharge +four of them by Stool and Urine together, +the Remainder passing off by insensible Transpiration. +It may easily be conceived, that if so +considerable a Discharge is stopt, or considerably +lessened; and if this Fluid, which ought to transpire +through the Skin, should be transfered to +any inward Part, it must occasion some dangerous +Complaint. In fact this is one of the most +frequent Causes of Diseases.</p> +<p class="pnext">To conclude very briefly—All the Directions +in the following Treatise are solely designed for +such Patients, as cannot have the Attendance of +a Physician. I am far from supporting, they +ought to do instead of one, even in those Diseases, +of which I have treated in the fullest Manner; +and the Moment a Physician arrives, they +ought to be laid aside. The Confidence reposed +in him should be entire, or there should be none. +The Success of the Event is founded in that. It +is his Province to judge of the Disease, to select +Medicines against it; and it is easy to foresee +the Inconveniences that may follow, from proposing +to him to consult with any others, preferably +to those he may chuse to consult with; only because +they have succeeded in the Treatment of +<span class="pageno target" title="29" id="page-29"> </span>another Patient, whose Case they suppose to have +been nearly the same with the present Case. +This were much the same, as to order a Shoemaker +to make a Shoe for one Foot by the Pattern +of another Shoe, rather than by the Measure +he has just taken.</p> +<p class="pnext small"><em class="italics">N. B.</em> Though a great Part of this judicious Introduction is +less applicable to the political Circumstances of the British Empire, +than to those of the Government for which it was calculated; +we think the good Sense and the unaffected Patriotism +which animate it, will supersede any Apology for our translating +<span class="target" id="it">it</span>. The serious Truth is this, that a <span class="target" id="thorough-attention">thorough Attention</span> +to Population seems never to have been more expedient +for ourselves, than after so bloody and expensive, though such a +glorious and successful War: while our enterprizing Neighbours, +who will never be our Friends, are so earnest to recruit their +Numbers; to increase their Agriculture; and to force a Vent +for their Manufactures, which cannot be considerably effected, +without a sensible Detriment to our own. Besides which, the +unavoidable Drain from the People here, towards an effectual +Cultivation, Improvement, and Security of our Conquests, demands +a further Consideration. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<p class="center pnext"><img class="align-middle" style="width: 10em" alt="****" src="images/i061.png"/></p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<p class="pnext"><span class="invisible pageno target" title="30" id="page-30"> </span><span class="pageno target" title="31" id="page-31"> </span></p> +<span class="target" id="ib31"/></div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head063-advice-to-the-people"> +<h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i063a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt xx-large">ADVICE</span> <span class="gesperrt">TO THE</span> <span class="gesperrt xx-large">PEOPLE</span>,</h2> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost x-large"> +<div class="line">With Respect to their <span class="gesperrt">HEALTH.</span></div> +</div> +<div class="align-center figure" style="margin-left: 0%; width: 100%"> +<img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i063b.png" width="100%"/> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="chapter-i"><span class="bold gesperrt small-caps x-large">Chapter I.</span></p> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-most-usual-causes-of-popular-maladies"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the most usual Causes of popular Maladies.</em></h3> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 1.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 6.00em" alt="T" src="images/i063c.png"/>he most frequent Causes of Diseases +commonly incident to Country +People are, 1. <span class="target" id="excessive-labour">Excessive Labour</span>, +continued for a very considerable +Time. Sometimes they sink down +at once in a State of Exhaustion and Faintness, +from which they seldom recover: but they are +oftener attacked with some inflammatory Disease; +as a Quinsey, a Pleurisy, or an Inflammation of +the Breast.</p> +<p class="pnext">There are two Methods of preventing these +Evils: one is, to avoid the Cause which +<span class="pageno target" title="32" id="page-32"> </span>produces them; but this is frequently impossible. +Another is, when such excessive Labour has been +unavoidable, to allay their Fatigue, by a free +Use of some temperate refreshing Drink; especially +by sweet Whey, by Butter-milk, or by <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id17" id="id16"><sup>8</sup></a> Water, to a Quart of which a Wine-glass of +Vinegar may be added; or, instead of that, the +expressed Juice of Grapes not fully ripe, or even +of Goosberries or Cherries: which wholesome +and agreeable Liquors are refreshing and cordial. +I shall treat, a little lower, of inflammatory Disorders. +The Inanition or Emptiness, though accompanied +with Symptoms different from the +former, have yet some Affinity to them with +Respect to their Cause, which is a kind of general +Exsiccation or Dryness. I have known some +cured from this Cause by Whey, succeeded by +tepid Baths, and afterwards by Cow's Milk: for +in such Cases hot Medicines and high Nourishment +are fatal.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id18">§ 2</span>. There is another Kind of Exhaustion or +Emptiness, which may be termed real +<span class="pageno target" title="33" id="page-33"> </span>Emptiness, and is the Consequence of great Poverty, +the Want of sufficient Nourishment, bad Food, +unwholesome Drink, and excessive Labour. In +Cases thus circumstanced, good Soups and a little +Wine are very proper. Such happen however +very seldom in this Country: I believe they are +frequent in some others, especially in many Provinces +of <em class="italics">France</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id19">§ 3</span>. A second and very common Source of +Disorders arises, from Peoples' lying down and +reposing, when very hot, in a cold Place. This +at once stops Perspiration, the Matter of which +being thrown upon some internal Part, proves +the Cause of many violent Diseases, particularly +of Quinseys, Inflammations of the Breast, Pleurisies, +and inflammatory Cholics. These Evils, +from this Cause, may always be avoided by avoiding +the Cause, which is one of those that destroy +a great Number of People. However, when it +has occurred, as soon as the first Symptoms of +the Malady are perceiveable, which sometimes +does not happen till several Days after, the Patient +should immediately be bled; his Legs should +be put into Water moderately hot, and he should +drink plentifully of the tepid Infusion marked +No. 1. Such Assistances frequently prevent the +Increase of these Disorders; which, on the contrary, +are greatly aggravated, if hot Medicines are +given to sweat the Patient.</p> +<span class="target" id="ib33"/><p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id20">§ 4</span>. A third Cause is drinking cold Water, +when a Person is extremely hot. This acts in +the same Manner with the second; but its +<span class="pageno target" title="34" id="page-34"> </span>Consequences are commonly more sudden and violent. +I have seen most terrible Examples of it, +in Quinseys, Inflammations of the Breast, Cholics, +Inflammations of the Liver, and all the Parts of +the Belly, with prodigious Swellings, Vomitings, +Suppressions of Urine, and inexpressible Anguish. +The most available Remedies in such Cases, from +this Cause, are, a plentiful Bleeding at the Onset, +a very copious Drinking of warm Water, to +which one fifth Part of Whey should be added; +or of the Ptisan No. 2, or of an Emulsion of +Almonds, all taken warm. Fomentations of +warm Water should also be applied to the Throat, +the Breast and Belly, with Glysters of the same, +and a little Milk. In this Case, as well as in the +preceding one, (<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id19">§ 3</a>.) a <em class="italics">Semicupium</em>, or Half-bath +of warm Water has sometimes been attended +with immediate Relief. It seems really astonishing, +that labouring People should so often +habituate themselves to this pernicious Custom, +which they know to be so very dangerous to +their very Beasts. There are none of them, who +will not prevent their Horses from drinking +while they are hot, especially if they are just going +to put them up. Each of them knows, that +if he lets them drink in that State, they might +possibly burst with it; nevertheless he is not +afraid of incurring the like Danger himself. However, +this is not the only Case, in which the +Peasant seems to have more Attention to the +Health of his Cattle, than to his own.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="35" id="page-35"> </span><span class="target" id="id21">§ 5</span>. The fourth Cause, which indeed affects +every Body, but more particularly the Labourer, +is, the Inconstancy of the Weather. We +shift all at once, many times a Day, from Hot +to Cold, and from Cold to Hot, in a more remarkable +Manner, and more suddenly, than in +most other Countries. This makes Distempers +from Defluxion and Cold so common with us: +and it should make us careful to go rather a +little more warmly cloathed, than the Season may +seem to require; to have Recourse to our Winter-cloathing +early in Autumn, and not to part with +it too early in the Spring. Prudent Labourers, +who strip while they are at Work, take care +to put on their Cloaths in the Evening when +they return home. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id23" id="id22"><sup>9</sup></a> Those, who from Negligence, +are satisfied with hanging them upon their +Country Tools, frequently experience, on their +Return, the very unhappy Effects of it. There +are some, tho' not many Places, where the Air +itself is unwholsome, more from its particular +Quality, than from its Changes of Temperature, +as at <em class="italics">Villeneuve</em>, and still more at <em class="italics">Noville</em>, and +in some other Villages situated among the Marshes +which border on the <em class="italics">Rhone</em>. These Countries +<span class="pageno target" title="36" id="page-36"> </span>are particularly subject to intermitting Fevers; of +which I shall treat briefly hereafter.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id24">§ 6</span>. Such sudden Changes are often attended +with great Showers of Rain, and even cold +Rain, in the Middle of a very hot Day; when +the Labourer who was bathed, as it were, in a +hot Sweat, is at once moistened in cold Water; +which occasions the same Distempers, as the sudden +Transition from Heat to Cold, and requires +the same Remedies. If the Sun or a hot Air +succeed immediately to such a Shower, the Evil +is considerably lighter: but if the Cold continues, +many are often greatly incommoded by it.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Traveller is sometimes thoroughly and unavoidably +wet with Mud; the ill Consequence +of which is often inconsiderable, provided he +changes his Cloaths immediately, when he sets +up. I have known fatal Pleurisies ensue from +omitting this Caution. Whenever the Body or +the Limbs are wet, nothing can be more useful +than bathing them in warm Water. If the Legs +only have been wet, it may be sufficient to bath +them. I have radically, thoroughly, cured Persons +subject to violent Cholics, as often as their +Feet were wet, by persuading them to pursue this +Advice. The Bath proves still more effectual, +if a little Soap be dissolved in it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id25">§ 7</span>. A fifth Cause, which is seldom attended +to, probably indeed because it produces less violent +Consequences, and yet is certainly hurtful, +is the common Custom in all Villages, of having +their Ditches or Dunghills directly under their +<span class="pageno target" title="37" id="page-37"> </span>Windows. Corrupted Vapours are continually +exhaling from them, which in Time cannot fail +of being prejudicial, and must contribute to produce +putrid diseases. Those who are accustomed +to the Smell, become insensible of it: but the +Cause, nevertheless, does not cease to be unwholesomly +active; and such as are unused to it +perceive the Impression in all its Force.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id26">§ 8</span>. There are some Villages, in which, after +the Curtain Lines are erased, watery marshy Places +remain in the Room of them. The Effect of this +is still more dangerous, because that putrify'd +Water, which stagnates during the hot Season, +suffers its Vapours to exhale more easily, and more +abundantly, than that in the Curtain Lines did. +Having set out for <em class="italics">Pully le Grand</em>, in 1759, on +Account of an epidemical putrid Fever which +raged there, I was sensible, on traversing the +Village, of the Infection from those Marshes; nor +could I doubt of their being the Cause of this +Disease, as well as of another like it, which had +prevailed there five Years before. In other Respects +the Village is wholesomly situated. It +were to be wished such Accidents were obviated +by avoiding these stagnated Places; or, at least, +by removing them and the Dunghils, as far as +possible from the Spot, where we live and lodge.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id27">§ 9</span>. To this Cause may also be added the +Neglect of the Peasants to air their Lodgings. It +is well known that too close an Air occasions the +most perplexing malignant Fevers; and the poor +Country People respire no other in their own +<span class="pageno target" title="38" id="page-38"> </span>Houses. Their Lodgings, which are very small, +and which notwithstanding inclose, (both Day and +Night) the Father, Mother, and seven or eight +Children, besides some Animals, are never kept +open during six Months in the Year, and very +seldom during the other six. I have found the +Air so bad in many of these Houses, that I am +persuaded, if their Inhabitants did not often go +out into the free open Air, they must all perish +in a little Time. It is easy, however, to prevent +all the Evils arising from this Source, by opening +the Windows daily: so very practicable a Precaution +must be followed with the happiest Consequences.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id28">§ 10</span>. I consider Drunkenness as a sixth Cause, +not indeed as producing epidemical Diseases, but +which destroys, as it were, by Retail, at all +times, and every where. The poor Wretches, +who abandon themselves to it, are subject to +frequent Inflammations of the Breast, and to +Pleurisies, which often carry them off in the +Flower of their Age. If they sometimes escape +through these violent Maladies, they sink, a long +Time before the ordinary Approach of old Age, +into all its Infirmities, and especially into an +Asthma, which terminates in a Dropsy of the +Breast. Their Bodies, worn out by Excess, do +not comply and concur, as they ought, with the +Force or Operation of Remedies; and Diseases +of Weakness, resulting from this Cause, are almost +always incurable. It seems happy enough, +that Society loses nothing in parting with these +<span class="pageno target" title="39" id="page-39"> </span>Subjects, who are a Dishonour to it; and whose +<span class="target" id="brutal-souls">brutal Souls</span> are, in some Measure, dead, long +before their Carcases.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id29">§ 11</span>. The Provisions of the common People +are also frequently one Cause of popular Maladies. +This happens 1st, whenever the Corn, +not well ripened, or not well got in, in bad <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id31" id="id30"><sup>10</sup></a> +<em class="italics">Harvests</em>, has contracted an unwholesome Quality. +Fortunately however this is seldom the +Case; and the Danger attending the Use of it, +may be lessened by some Precautions, such as +those of washing and drying the Grain completely; +of mixing a little Wine with the Dough, in +kneading it; by allowing it a little more Time to +swell or rise, and by baking it a little more. 2dly, +The fairer and better saved Part of the Wheat is +sometimes damaged in the Farmers House; either +because he does not take due Care of it, or +because he has no convenient Place to preserve it, +only from one Summer to the next. It has often +happened to me, on entering one of these bad +Houses, to be struck with the Smell of Wheat +that has been spoiled. Nevertheless, there are +known and easy Methods to provide against this +by a little Care; though I shall not enter into a +Detail of them. It is sufficient to make the People +sensible, that since their chief Sustenance consists +of Corn, their Health must necessarily be +<span class="pageno target" title="40" id="page-40"> </span>impaired by what is bad. 3dly, That Wheat, +which is good, is often made into bad Bread, by +not letting it rise sufficiently; by baking it too +little, and by keeping it too long. All these Errors +have their troublesome Consequences on those +who eat it; but in a greater Degree on Children +and Valetudinarians, or weakly People.</p> +<p class="pnext">Tarts or Cakes may be considered as an Abuse +of Bread, and this in some Villages is increased +to a very pernicious Height. The Dough is almost +constantly bad, and often unleavened, ill +baked, greasy, and stuffed with either fat or sour +Ingredients, which compound one of the most indigestible +Aliments imaginable. Women and +Children consume the most of this Food, and +are the very Subjects for whom it is the most +improper: little Children especially, who live +sometimes for many successive Days on these +Tarts, are, for the greater Part, unable to digest +them perfectly. Hence they receive a <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id33" id="id32"><sup>11</sup></a> Source +<span class="pageno target" title="41" id="page-41"> </span>of Obstructions in the Bowels of the Belly, and +of a slimy Viscidity or Thickishness, throughout +the Mass of Humours, which throws them into +various Diseases from Weakness; slow Fevers, a +Hectic, the Rickets, the King's Evil, and Feebleness; +for the miserable Remainder of their Days. +Probably indeed there is nothing more unwholesome +than Dough not sufficiently leavened, ill-baked, +greasy, and soured by the Addition of +Fruits. Besides, if we consider these Tarts in an +oeconomical View, they must be found inconvenient +also for the Peasant on that Account.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some other Causes of Maladies may also be +referred to the Article of Food, tho' less grievous +and less frequent, into a full Detail of which it is +very difficult to enter: I shall therefore conclude +that Article with this general Remark; that it +is the Care which Peasants usually take in eating +slowly, and in chewing very well, that very +greatly lessens the Dangers from a bad Regimen: +and I am convinced they constitute one of the +greatest Causes of that Health they enjoy. We +may further add indeed the Exercise which +the Peasant uses, his long abiding in the open Air, +where he passes three fourths of his Life; besides +<span class="pageno target" title="42" id="page-42"> </span>(which are also considerable Advantages) his +happy Custom of going soon to Bed, and of rising +very early. It were to be wished, that in these +Respects, and perhaps on many other Accounts, +the Inhabitants of the Country were effectually +proposed as Models for reforming the Citizens.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id34">§ 12</span>. We should not omit, in enumerating +the Causes of Maladies among Country People, +the Construction of their Houses, a great many +of which either lean, as it were, close to a +higher Ground, or are sunk a little in the Earth. +Each of these Situations subjects them to considerable +Humidity; which is certain greatly to +incommode the Inhabitants, and to spoil their +Provisions, if they have any Quantity in Store; +which, as we have observed, is another, and +not the least important, Source of their Diseases. +A hardy Labourer is not immediately sensible of +the bad Influence of this moist and marshy Habitation; +but they operate at the long Run, and +I have abundantly observed their most evident +bad Effects, especially on Women in Child-bed, +on Children, and in Persons recovering of a preceding +Disease. It would be easy to prevent +this Inconvenience, by raising the Ground on +which the House stood, some, or several, Inches +above the Level of the adjacent Soil, by a +Bed of Gravel, of small Flints, pounded Bricks, +Coals, or such other Materials; and by avoiding +to build immediately close to, or, as it were, +under a much higher Soil. This Object, +<span class="pageno target" title="43" id="page-43"> </span>perhaps, may well deserve the Attention of the +Publick; and I earnestly advise as many as do +build, to observe the necessary Precautions on +this Head. Another, which would cost still +less Trouble, is to give the Front of their +Houses an Exposure to the South-East. This +Exposure, supposing all other Circumstances of +the Building and its Situation to be alike, is +both the most wholesome and advantageous. I +have seen it, notwithstanding, very often neglected, +without the least Reason being assigned +for not preferring it.</p> +<p class="pnext">These Admonitions may possibly be thought +of little Consequence by three fourths of the People. +I take the Liberty of reminding them, +however, that they are more important than they +may be supposed; and so many Causes concur to +the Destruction of Men, that none of the Means +should be neglected, which may contribute to +their Preservation.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id35">§ 13</span>. The Country People in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em> +drink, either 1, pure Water, 2, some Wine, 3, +Perry, made from wild Pears, or sometimes Cyder +from Apples, and, 4, a small Liquor which +they call <em class="italics">Piquette</em>, that is Water, which has +fermented with the Cake or Husks of the +Grapes, after their Juice has been expressed. +Water however is their most general Drink; +Wine rarely falling in their Way, but when +they are employed by rich Folks; or when they +can spare Money enough for a Debauch. Fruit +<span class="pageno target" title="44" id="page-44"> </span>Wines and the <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id37" id="id36"><sup>12</sup></a> <em class="italics">Piquettes</em> are not used in all +Parts of the Country; they are not made in all +Years; and keep but for some Months.</p> +<p class="pnext">Our Waters in general, are pretty good; so +that we have little Occasion to trouble ourselves +about purifying them; and they are well known +in those Provinces where they are chiefly and +necessarily used. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id40" id="id38"><sup>13</sup></a> The pernicious Methods +<span class="pageno target" title="45" id="page-45"> </span>taken to improve or meliorate, as it is falsely +called, bad Wines, are not as yet sufficiently +practiced among us, for me to treat of them here: +and as our Wines are not hurtful, of themselves, +they become hurtful only from their Quantity. +The Consumption of made Wines and <em class="italics">Piquettes</em> +is but inconsiderable, and I have not hitherto +<span class="pageno target" title="46" id="page-46"> </span>known of any ill Effects from them, so that our +Liquors cannot be considered as Causes of Distempers +in our Country; but in Proportion to +our Abuse of them by Excess. The Case is differently +circumstanced in some <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id41" id="id39"><sup>14</sup></a> other Countries; +and it is the Province of Physicians who +reside in them, to point out to their Country-Men +the Methods of preserving their Health; as +well as the proper and necessary Remedies in +their Sickness.</p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<p class="center pnext"><img class="align-middle" style="width: 20%" alt="****" src="images/i078.png" width="20%"/></p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<span class="target" id="ib47"/></div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head079-chapter-ii"> +<span id="chap-ii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="47" id="page-47"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i079a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter II.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-causes-which-aggravate-the-diseases-of-the-people-general-considerations"> +<span id="of-causes"/><em class="italics">Of the Causes which aggravate the Diseases of the People. General Considerations.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 14.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i079b.png"/>he Causes already enumerated in +the first Chapter occasion Diseases; +and the bad Regimen, or Conduct of +the People, on the Invasion of them, +render them still more perplexing, and very often +mortal.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="first-cause-the-great-care-employed-to-force-the-sick-to-sweat-and-the-methods-taken-for-that-purpose">There is a prevailing Prejudice among them, +which is every Year attended with the Death of +some Hundreds in this Country, and it is this—That +all Distempers are cured by Sweat; and +that to procure Sweat, they must take Abundance +of hot and heating things, and keep themselves +very hot. This is a Mistake in both Respects, +very fatal to the Population of the State; and it +cannot be too much inculcated into Country +People; that by thus endeavouring to force Sweating, +at the very Beginning of a Disease, they are +with great Probability, taking Pains to kill themselves. +I have seen some Cases, in which the +continual Care to provoke this Sweating, has as +manifestly killed the Patient, as if a Ball had +been shot through his Brains; as such a precipitate +<span class="pageno target" title="48" id="page-48"> </span>and untimely Discharge carries off the thinner Part +of the Blood, leaving the Mass more dry, more viscid +and inflamed. Now as in all acute Diseases (if we +except a very few, and those too much less frequent) +the Blood is already too thick; such a +Discharge must evidently increase the Disorder, +by co-operating with its Cause. Instead of forcing +out the watery, the thinner Part of the +Blood, we should rather endeavour to increase it. +There is not a single Peasant perhaps, who does +not say, when he has a Pleurisy, or an Inflammation +of his Breast, that his Blood is too <span class="target" id="thick-and-that">thick, and +that</span> it cannot circulate. On seeing it in the +Bason after Bleeding, he finds it <em class="italics">black, dry, burnt</em>; +these are his very Words. How strange is it +then, that common Sense should not assure him, +that, far from forcing out the <em class="italics">Serum</em>, the watery +Part, of such a Blood by sweating, there is a Necessity +to increase it?</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id42">§ 15</span>. But supposing it were as certain, as it is +erroneous, that Sweating was beneficial at the +Beginning of Diseases, the Means which they +use to excite it would not prove the less fatal. +The first Endeavour is, to stifle the Patient with +the Heat of a close Apartment, and a Load of +Covering. Extraordinary Care is taken to prevent +a Breath of fresh Air's squeezing into the Room; +from which Circumstance, the Air already in it +is speedily and extremely corrupted: and such a +Degree of Heat is procured by the Weight of the +Patient's Bed-cloaths, that these two Causes alone +are sufficient to excite a most ardent Fever, and +<span class="pageno target" title="49" id="page-49"> </span>an Inflammation of the Breast, even in a healthy +Man. More than once have I found myself +seized with a Difficulty of breathing, on entering +such Chambers, from which I have been immediately +relieved, on obliging them to open all +the Windows. Persons of Education must find +a Pleasure, I conceive, in making People understand, +on these Occasions, which are so frequent, +that the Air being more indispensably necessary +to us, if possible, than Water is to a Fish, +our Health must immediately suffer, whenever +that ceases to be pure; <span class="target" id="in-assuring-them">in assuring them</span> +also, that nothing corrupts it sooner than those +Vapours, which continually steam from the Bodies +of many Persons inclosed within a little +Chamber, from which the Air is excluded. +The Absurdity of such Conduct is a self-evident +Certainty. Let in a little fresh Air on these +miserable Patients, and lessen the oppressing Burthen +of their Coverings, and you generally see +upon the Spot, their Fever and Oppression, their +Anguish and Raving, to abate.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id43">§ 16</span>. The second Method taken to raise a +Sweat in these Patients is, to give them nothing +but hot things, especially Venice Treacle, Wine, +or some <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id45" id="id44"><sup>15</sup></a> <em class="italics">Faltranc</em>, the greater Part of the Ingredients +<span class="pageno target" title="50" id="page-50"> </span>of which are dangerous, whenever there is +an evident Fever; besides Saffron, which is still +more pernicious. In all feverish Disorders we +should gently cool, and keep the Belly moderately +open; while the Medicines just mentioned +both heat and bind; and hence we may easily +judge of their inevitable ill Consequences. A +healthy Person would certainly be seized with an +inflammatory Fever, on taking the same Quantity +of Wine, of Venice Treacle, or of <em class="italics">Faltranc</em>, +which the Peasant takes now and then, when he +is attacked by one of these Disorders. How +then should a sick Person escape dying by them? +Die indeed he <em class="italics">generally</em> does, and sometimes with +astonishing Speed. I have published some dreadful +Instances of such Fatality some Years since, +in another Treatise. In fact they still daily occur, +and unhappily every Person may observe +some of them in his own Neighbourhood.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id46">§ 17</span>. But I shall be told perhaps, that Diseases +are often carried off by Sweat, and that we ought +to be guided by Experience. To this I answer, +it is very true, that Sweating cures some particular +Disorders, as it were, at their very Onset, for +Instance, those Stitches that are called spurious +or false Pleurisies, some rheumatic Pains, and +some Colds or Defluxions. But this only happens +when the Disorders depend solely and simply +<span class="pageno target" title="51" id="page-51"> </span>on stopt or abated Perspiration, to which such +Pain instantly succeeds; <span class="target" id="where-immediately">where immediately</span>, +before the Fever has thickened the Blood, and +inflamed the Humours; and where before any +internal Infarction, any Load, is formed, some +warm Drinks are given, such as <em class="italics">Faltranc</em> and +Honey; <span class="target" id="which-by-restoring-transpiration">which, by restoring Transpiration</span>, +remove the very Cause of the Disorder. Nevertheless, +even in such a Case, great Care should +be had not to raise too violent a Commotion in +the Blood, which would rather restrain, than promote, +Sweat, to effect which Elder-flowers are +in my Opinion preferable to <em class="italics">Faltranc</em>. Sweating +is also of Service in Diseases, when their Causes +are extinguished, as it were, by plentiful Dilution: +then indeed it relieves, by drawing off, +with itself, some Part of the distempered Humours; +after which their grosser Parts have passed +off by Stool and by Urine: besides which, the +Sweat has also served to carry off that extraordinary +Quantity of Water, we were obliged to +convey into the Blood, and which was become +superfluous there. Under such Circumstances, +and at such a Juncture, it is of the utmost Importance +indeed, not to check the Sweat, whether +by Choice, or for Want of Care. There might +often be as much Danger in doing this, as there +would have been in endeavouring to force a +Sweat, immediately upon the Invasion of the +Disorder; since the arresting of this Discharge, +under the preceding Circumstances, might frequently +occasion a more dangerous Distemper, by +<span class="pageno target" title="52" id="page-52"> </span>repelling the Humour on some inward vital +Part. As much Care therefore should be taken +not to check, imprudently, that Evacuation by +the Skin, which naturally occurs towards the +Conclusion of Diseases, as not to force it at their +Beginning; the former being almost constantly +beneficial, the latter as constantly pernicious. +Besides, were it even necessary, it might be very +dangerous to force it violently; since by heating +the Patients greatly, a vehement Fever is excited; +they become scorched up in a Manner, and the +Skin proves extremely dry. Warm Water, in +short, is the best of Sudorifics.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Sick are sweated very plentifully for a +Day or two, which may make them easier for +some Hours; these Sweats soon terminate, and +cannot be excited again by the same Medicines. +The Dose thence is doubled, the Inflammation is +increased, and the Patient expires in terrible Anguish, +with all the Marks of a general Inflammation. +His Death is ascribed to his Want of +Sweating; when it really was the Consequence +of his Sweating too much at first; and of his +taking Wine and hot Sudorifics. An able Swiss +Physician had long since assured his Countrymen, +that Wine was fatal to them in Fevers; I +take leave to repeat it again and again, and wish it +may not be with as little Success.</p> +<p class="pnext">Our Country Folks, who in Health, naturally +dislike red Wine, prefer it when Sick; +which is wrong, as it binds them up more than +white Wine. It does not promote Urine as well; +<span class="pageno target" title="53" id="page-53"> </span>but increases the Force of the circulating Arteries, +and the Thickness of the Blood, which +were already too considerable.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id47">§ 18</span>. Their Diseases are also further aggravated +by the Food that is generally given them. +They must undoubtedly prove weak, in Consequence +of their being sick; and the ridiculous Fear +of the Patients' dying of Weakness, disposes their +Friends to force them to eat; which, increasing +their Disorder, renders the Fever mortal. This +Fear is absolutely chimerical; never yet did a +Person in a Fever die merely from Weakness. +They may be supported, even for some Weeks, +by Water only; and are stronger at the End of +that Time, than if they had taken more solid +Nourishment; since, far from strengthening +them, their Food increases their Disease, and +thence increases their Weakness.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id48">§ 19</span>. From the first Invasion of a Fever, Digestion +ceases. Whatever solid Food is taken +corrupts, and proves a Source of Putridity, which +adds nothing to the Strength of the Sick, but +greatly to that of the Distemper. There are in +fact a thousand Examples to prove, that it becomes +a real Poison: and we may sensibly perceive +these poor Creatures, who are thus compelled +to eat, lose their Strength, and fall into +Anxiety and Ravings, in Proportion as they swallow.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id49">§ 20</span>. They are also further injured by the +Quality, as well as the Quantity, of their Food. +They are forced to sup strong Gravey Soups, +<span class="pageno target" title="54" id="page-54"> </span>Eggs, Biscuits, and even Flesh, if they have but +just Strength and Resolution to chew it. It seems +absolutely impossible for them to survive all this +Trash. Should a Man in perfect Health be +compelled to eat stinking Meat, rotten Eggs, +stale sour Broth, he is attacked with as violent +Symptoms, as if he had taken real Poison, which, +in Effect, he has. He is seized with Vomiting, +Anguish, a violent Purging, and a Fever, with +Raving, and eruptive Spots, which we call the +Purple Fever. Now when the very same Articles +of Food, in their soundest State, are given +to a Person in a Fever, the Heat, and the morbid +Matter already in his Stomach, quickly putrify +them; and after a few Hours produce all +the abovementioned Effects. Let any Man judge +then, if the least Service can be expected from +them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id50">§ 21</span>. It is a Truth established by the first of +Physicians, above two thousand Years past, and +still further ratified by his Successors, that as long +as a sick Person has a bad Humour or Ferment +in his Stomach, his Weakness increases, in Proportion +to the Food he receives. For this being +corrupted by the infected Matter it meets there, +proves incapable of nourishing, and becomes a +conjunct or additional Cause of the Distemper.</p> +<p class="pnext">The most observing Persons constantly remark, +that whenever a feverish Patient sups, what is +commonly called some good Broth, the Fever gathers +Strength and the Patient Weakness. The giving +such a Soup or Broth, though of the freshest +<span class="pageno target" title="55" id="page-55"> </span>soundest Meat, to a Man who has a high Fever, +or putrid Humours in his Stomach, is to do him +exactly the same service, as if you had given him, +two or three Hours later, stale putrid Soup.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id51">§ 22</span>. I must also affirm, that this fatal Prejudice, +of keeping up the Patients' Strength by +Food, is still too much propagated, even among +those very Persons, whose Talents and whose +Education might be expected to exempt them +from any such gross Error. It were happy for +Mankind, and the Duration of their Lives would +generally be more extended, if they could be +thoroughly persuaded of this medical, and so +very demonstrable, Truth;—That the only +things which can strengthen sick Persons are +those, which are able to weaken their Disease; +but their Obstinacy in this Respect is inconceivable: +it is another Evil superadded to that of the +Disease, and sometimes the more grievous one. +Out of twenty sick Persons, who are lost in the +Country, more than two Thirds might often have +been cured, if being only lodged in a Place defended +from the Injuries of the Air, they were +supplied with Abundance of good Water. But +that most mistaken Care and Regimen I have +been treating of, scarcely suffers one of the twenty +to survive them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id52">§ 23</span>. What further <span class="target" id="increases-our-horror">increases our Horror</span> at +this enormous Propensity to heat, dry up, and +cram the sick is, that it is totally opposite to what +Nature herself indicates in such Circumstances. +The burning Heat of which they complain; the +<span class="pageno target" title="56" id="page-56"> </span>Dryness of the Lips, Tongue and Throat; the +flaming high Colour of their Urine; the great +Longing they have for cooling things; the Pleasure +and sensible Benefit they enjoy from fresh +Air, are so many Signs, or rather Proofs, which +cry out with a loud Voice, that we ought to attemperate +and cool them moderately, by all +means. Their foul Tongues, which shew the +Stomach to be in the like Condition; their Loathing, +their Propensity to vomit, their utter Aversion +to all solid Food, and especially to Flesh; the +disagreeable Stench of their Breath; their Discharge +of fetid Wind upwards and downwards, +and frequently the extraordinary Offensiveness of +their Excrements, demonstrate, that their Bowels +are full of putrid Contents, which must corrupt +all the Aliments superadded to them; and that +the only thing, which can prudently be done, is +to dilute and attemper them by plentiful Draughts +of refreshing cooling Drinks, which may promote +an easy Discharge of them. I affirm it +again, and I heartily wish it may be thoroughly +attended to, that as long as there is any Taste of +Bitterness, or of Putrescence; as long as there is +a <em class="italics">Nausea</em> or Loathing, a bad Breath, Heat and +Feverishness with fetid Stools, and little and high-coloured +Urine; so long all flesh, and Flesh-Soup, +Eggs, and all kind of Food composed of them, +or of any of them, and all Venice Treacle, Wine, +and all heating things are so many absolute Poisons.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id53">§ 24</span>. I may possibly be censured as extravagant +and excessive on these Heads by the +<span class="pageno target" title="57" id="page-57"> </span>Publick, and even by some Physicians: but the true +and enlightened Physicians, those who attend to +the Effects of every Particular, will find on the +contrary, that far from exceeding in this Respect, +I have rather feebly expressed their own Judgment, +in which they agree with that of all the +good ones, who have existed within more than +two thousand Years; that very Judgment which +Reason approves, and continual Experience confirms. +The Prejudices I have been contending +against have cost <em class="italics">Europe</em> some Millions of Lives.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id54">§ 25</span>. Neither should it be omitted, that even +when a Patient has very fortunately escaped +Death, notwithstanding all this Care to obtain it, +the Mischief is not ended; the Consequences of +the high Aliments and heating Medicines being, +to leave behind the Seed, the Principle, of some +low and chronical Disease; which increasing insensibly, +bursts out at length, and finally procures +him the Death he has even wished for, to put an +End to his tedious Sufferings.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id55">§ 26</span>. I must also take Notice of another dangerous +common Practice; which is that of purging, +or vomiting a Patient, at the very Beginning of a +Distemper. Infinite Mischiefs are occasioned by +it. There are some Cases indeed, in which evacuating +Medicines, at the Beginning of a Disease, +are convenient and even necessary. Such Cases +shall be particularly mentioned in some other +Chapters: but as long as we are unacquainted +with them, it should be considered as a general +Rule, that they are <span class="target" id="hurtful">hurtful</span> at the Beginning; this +<span class="pageno target" title="58" id="page-58"> </span>being true very often; and always, when the Diseases +are strictly inflammatory.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id56">§ 27</span>. It is hoped by their Assistance, at that +Time, to remove the Load and Oppression of the +Stomach, the Cause of a Disposition to vomit, of +a dry Mouth, of Thirst, and of much Uneasiness; +and to lessen the Leaven or Ferment of the Fever. +But in this Hope they are very often deceived; +since the Causes of these Symptoms are seldom +of a Nature to yield to these Evacuations. By the +extraordinary Viscidity or Thickness of the Humours, +that foul the Tongue, we should form our +Notions of those, which line the Stomach and +the Bowels. It may be washed, gargled and +even scraped to very little good Purpose. It does +not happen, until the Patient has drank for many +Days, and the Heat, the Fever and the great Siziness +of the Humours are abated, that this Filth +can he thoroughly removed, which by Degrees +separates of itself. The State of the Stomach +being conformable to that of the Tongue, no +Method can effectually scour and clean it at the +Beginning: but by giving refreshing and diluting +Remedies plentifully, it gradually frees itself; and +the Propensity to vomit, with its other Effects and +Uneasinesses, go off naturally, and without Purges.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id57">§ 28</span>. Neither are these Evacuations only negatively +wrong, merely from doing no Good; +for considerable Evil positively ensues from the +Application of those acrid irritating Medicines, +which increase the Pain and Inflammation; drawing +<span class="pageno target" title="59" id="page-59"> </span>the Humours upon those Parts that were already +overloaded with them; which by no means +expel the Cause of the Disease, that not being at this +time fitted for Expulsion, as not sufficiently concocted +or ripe: and yet which, at the same Time, +discharge the thinnest Part of the Blood, whence +the Remainder becomes more thick; in short +which carry off the useful, and leave the hurtful +Humours behind.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id58">§ 29</span>. The Vomit especially, being given in +an inflammatory Disease, and even without any +Distinction in all acute ones, before the Humours +have been diminished by Bleeding, and diluted by +plentiful small Drinks, is productive of the greatest +Evils; of Inflammations of the Stomach, of +the Lungs and Liver, of Suffocations and Frenzies. +Purges sometimes occasion a general Inflammation +of the Guts, which <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id60" id="id59"><sup>16</sup></a> terminates in +Death. Some Instances of each of these terrible +<span class="pageno target" title="60" id="page-60"> </span>Consequences have I seen, from blundering Temerity, +Imprudence and Ignorance. The Effect +of such Medicines, in these Circumstances, are +much the same with those we might reasonably +expect, from the Application of Salt and Pepper +to a dry, inflamed and foul Tongue, in Order to +moisten and clean it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id61">§ 30</span>. Every Person of sound plain Sense is +capable of perceiving the Truth of whatever I +have advanced in this Chapter: and there would +be some Degree of Prudence, even in those who +do not perceive the real good Tendency of my +Advice, not to defy nor oppose it too hardily. +The Question relates to a very important Object; +and in a Matter quite foreign to themselves, +they undoubtedly owe some Deference to the +Judgment of Persons, who have made it the +Study and Business of their whole Lives. It is +not to myself that I hope for their Attention, but +to the greatest Physicians, whose feeble Instrument +and Eccho I am. What Interest have any +of us in forbidding sick People to eat, to be stifled, +or to drink such heating things as heighten their +Fever? What Advantage can accrue to us from +opposing the fatal Torrent, which sweeps them +off? What Arguments can persuade People, that +some thousand Men of Genius, of Knowledge, +and of Experience, who pass their Lives among +a Croud and Succession of Patients; who are entirely +employed to take Care of them, and to observe +all that passes, have been only amusing and +deceiving themselves, on the Effects of Food, of +<span class="pageno target" title="61" id="page-61"> </span>Regimen and of Remedies? Can it enter into +any sensible Head, that a Nurse, who advises +Soup, an Egg, or a Biscuit, <span class="target" id="deserves-a-patient-s-confidence">deserves a Patient's +Confidence</span>, better than a Physician who forbids +them? Nothing can be more disagreeable to the +latter, than his being obliged to dispute continually +in Behalf of the poor Patients; and to be in +constant Terror, lest this mortally officious Attendance, +by giving such Food as augments all +the Causes of the Disease, should defeat the Efficacy +of all the Remedies he administers to remove +it; and should fester and aggravate the Wound, +in Proportion to the Pains he takes to dress it. +The more such absurd People love a Patient, the +more they urge him to eat, which, in Effect, verifies +the Proverb of <em class="italics">killing one with Kindness</em>.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head093-chapter-iii"> +<span id="chap-iii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i093a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter III.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-means-that-ought-to-be-used-at-the-beginning-of-diseases-and-of-the-diet-in-acute-diseases"> +<span id="concerning"/><em class="italics">Of the Means that ought to be used, at the Beginning of Diseases; and of the Diet in acute Diseases.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 31.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="I" src="images/i093b.png"/> have clearly shewn the great Dangers +of the Regimen, or Diet, and of +the principal Medicines too generally +made Use of by the Bulk of the People, +on these Occasions. I must now point out +<span class="pageno target" title="62" id="page-62"> </span>the actual Method they may pursue, without any +Risque, on the Invasion of some acute Diseases, +and the general Diet which agrees with them all. +As many as are desirous of reaping any Benefit +from this Treatise, should attend particularly to +this Chapter; since, throughout the other Parts +of it, in Order to avoid Repetitions, I shall say +nothing of the Diet, except the particular Distemper +shall require a different one, from that of +which I am now to give an exact Detail. And +whenever I shall say in general, that a Patient +is to be put upon a Regimen, it will signify, that +he is to be treated according to the Method prescribed +in this Chapter; and all such Directions +are to be observed, with Regard to Air, Food, +<span class="target" id="drink-and-glysters">Drink and Glysters</span>; except when I expressly order +something else, as different Ptisans, Glysters, +&c.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id62">§ 32</span>. The greater Part of Diseases (by which +I always understand acute and feverish ones) often +give some Notice of their Approach a few +Weeks, and, very commonly, some Days before +their actual Invasion; such as a light Lassitude, +or Weariness, Stiffness or Numbness; less +Activity than usual, less Appetite, a small Load +or Heaviness at Stomach; some Complaint in +the Head; a profounder Degree of Sleep, yet +less composed, and less refreshing than usual; +less Gayety and Liveliness; sometimes a light +Oppression of the Breast, a less regular Pulse; +a Propensity to be Cold; an Aptness to sweat; +and sometimes a Suppression of a former Disposition +<span class="pageno target" title="63" id="page-63"> </span>to sweat. At such a Term it may be practicable +to prevent, or at least considerably to mitigate, +the most perplexing Disorders, by carefully +observing the four following Points.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="the-common-regimen-or-regulations-for-the-sick">1. To omit all violent Work or Labour, but +yet not so, as to discontinue a gentle easy Degree +of Exercise.</p> +<p class="pnext">2. To bring the Complainant to content himself +without any, or with very little, solid Food; +and especially to renounce all Flesh, Flesh-broth, +Eggs and Wine.</p> +<p class="pnext">3. To drink plentifully, that is to say, at least +three Pints, or even four Pints daily, by small +Glasses at a Time, from half hour to half hour, +<span class="target" id="of-the-ptisans">of the Ptisans</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id793">Nº. 1</a> and <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">2</a>, or even of warm Water, +to each Quart of which may be added half a +Glass of Vinegar. No Person can be destitute of +this very attainable Assistance. But should there +be a Want even of Vinegar, a few Grains of +common <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id64" id="id63"><sup>17</sup></a> Salt may be added to a Quart of warm +Water for Drink. Those who have Honey will +do well to add two or three Spoonfuls of it to the +Water. A light Infusion of Elder Flowers, or +of those of the Linden, the Lime-tree, may also +be advantageously used, and even well settled +and clear sweet Whey.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="64" id="page-64"> </span>4. Let the Person, affected with such previous +Complaints, receive Glysters of warm Water, +or the Glyster <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id801">Nº. 5</a>. By pursuing these +Precautions some grievous Disorders have often +been happily rooted out: and although they +should not prove so thoroughly efficacious, as to +prevent their Appearance, they may at least be +rendered more gentle, and much less dangerous.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id65">§ 33</span>. Very unhappily People have taken the +directly contrary Method. From the Moment +these previous, these forerunning Complaints are +perceived, they allow themselves to eat nothing +but gross Meat, Eggs, or strong Meat-Soups. +They leave off Garden-Stuff and Fruits, which +would be so proper for them; and they drink +heartily (under a Notion of strengthening the +Stomach and expelling Wind) of Wine and +other Liquors, which strengthen nothing but the +Fever, and expel what Degree of Health might +still remain. Hence all the Evacuations are restrained; +the Humours causing and nourishing +the Diseases are not at all attempered, diluted, +nor rendered proper for Evacuation. Nay, on the +very contrary, they become more sharp, and +more difficult to be discharged: while a sufficient +Quantity of diluting refreshing Liquor, asswages +and separates all Matters foreign to the Blood, +which it purifies; and, at the Expiration of some +Days, all that was noxious in it is carried off by +Stool, by Urine, or by Sweat.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id66">§ 34</span>. When the Distemper is further advanced, +and the Patient is already seized with that +<span class="pageno target" title="65" id="page-65"> </span>Coldness or Shuddering, in a greater or less Degree, +which ushers in all Disease; and which is +commonly attended with an universal Oppression, +and Pains over all the Surface of the Body; +the Patient, thus circumstanced, should be put to +Bed, if he cannot keep up; or should sit down +as quietly as possible, with a little more Covering +than usual: he should drink every Quarter +of an Hour a small Glass of the Ptisan, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id793">Nº. 1</a> or +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">2</a>, warm; or, if that is not at Hand, of some +one of those Liquids I have recommended <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id62">§ 32</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id67">§ 35</span>. These Patients earnestly covet a great +Load of covering, during the Cold or Shivering; +but we should be very careful to lighten them as +soon as it abates; so that when the succeeding +Heat begins, they may have no more than their +usual Weight of Covering. It were to be wished +<em class="italics">perhaps</em>, they had rather less. The Country +People lie upon a Feather-bed, and under a downy +Coverlet, or Quilt, that is commonly extremely +heavy; and the Heat which is heightened and +retained by Feathers, is particularly troublesome +to Persons in a Fever. Nevertheless, as it is +what they are accustomed to, this Custom may +be complied with for one Season of the Year: +but during our Heats, or whenever the Fever is +very violent, they should lie on a Pallet (which +will be infinitely better for them) and should +throw away their Coverings of Down, so as to +remain covered only with Sheets, or something +else, less injurious than Feather-Coverings. A +Person could scarcely believe, who had not been, +<span class="pageno target" title="66" id="page-66"> </span>as I have, a Witness of it, how much Comfort +a Patient is sensible of, in being eased of his former +Coverings. The Distemper immediately +puts on a different Appearance.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id68">§ 36</span>. As soon as the Heat after the <em class="italics">Rigor</em>, or +Coldness and Shuddering, approaches, and the +Fever is manifestly advanced, we should provide +for the Patient's <em class="italics">Regimen</em>. And</p> +<p class="pnext">1, Care should be taken that the Air, in the +Room where he lies, should not be too hot, the +mildest Degree of Warmth being very sufficient; +that there be as little Noise as possible, and that +no Person speak to the Sick, without a Necessity +for it. No external Circumstance heightens the +Fever more, nor inclines the Patient more to a +<em class="italics">Delirium</em> or Raving, than the Persons in the +Chamber, and especially about the Bed. They +lessen the Spring, the elastic and refreshing Power, +of the Air; they prevent a Succession of fresh +Air; and the Variety of Objects occupies the +Brain too much. Whenever the Patient has +been at Stool, or has made Urine, these Excrements +should be removed immediately. The +Windows should certainly be opened Night and +Morning, at least for a Quarter of an Hour each +Time; when also a Door should be opened, to +promote an entire Renovation or Change of the +Air in the Room. Nevertheless, as the Patient +should not be exposed at any Time to a Stream +or Current of Air, the Curtains of his Bed should +be drawn on such Occasions; and, if he lay +without any, Chairs, with Blankets or Cloaths +<span class="pageno target" title="67" id="page-67"> </span>hung upon them, should be substituted in the +Place of Curtains, and surround the Bed; while +the Windows continued open, in Order to defend +the Patient from the Force of the rushing Air. +If the Season, however, be rigidly cold, it will be +sufficient to keep the Windows open, but for a +few Minutes, each Time. In Summer, at least +one Window should be set open Day and Night. +The pouring a little Vinegar upon a red-hot +Shovel also greatly conduces to restore the +Spring, and correct the Putridity, of the Air. +In our greatest Heats, when that in the Room +seems nearly scorching, and the sick Person +is sensibly and greatly incommoded by it, the +Floor may be sprinkled now and then; and +Branches of Willow or Ash-trees dipt a little in +Pails of Water <span class="target" id="may-be-placed-within-the-room">may be placed within the Room</span>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id69">§ 37</span>. 2. With Respect to the Patient's Nourishment, +he must entirely abstain from all Food; +but he may always be allowed, and have daily +prepared, the following Sustenance, which is one +of the wholesomest, and indisputably the simplest +one. Take half a Pound of Bread, a Morsel of +the freshest Butter about the Size only of a Hazel +Nut (which may even be omitted too) three +Pints and one quarter of a Pint of Water. Boil +them 'till the Bread be entirely reduced to a thin +Consistence. Then strain it, and give the Patient +one eighth Part of it every three, or every four, +Hours; but still more rarely, if the Fever be vehemently +high. Those who have Groats, +<span class="pageno target" title="68" id="page-68"> </span>Barley, Oatmeal, or Rice, may boil and prepare them +in the same Manner, with some Grains of Salt.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id70">§ 38</span>. The Sick may also be sometimes indulged, +in lieu of these different Spoon-Meats, +with raw Fruits in Summer, or in Winter with +Apples baked or boiled, or Plumbs and Cherries +dried and boiled. Persons of Knowledge and +Experience will be very little, or rather not at all, +surprized to see various Kinds of Fruit directed +in acute Diseases; the Benefit of which they may +here have frequently seen. Such Advice can +only disgust those, who remain still obstinately attached +to old Prejudices. But could they prevail +on themselves to reflect a little, they must perceive, +that these Fruits which allay Thirst; which +cool and abate the Fever; which correct and attemper +the putrid and heated Bile; which gently +dispose the Belly to be rather open, and promote +the Secretion and Discharge of the Urine, must +prove the properest Nourishment for Persons in +acute Fevers. Hence we see, as it were by a +strong Admonition from Nature herself, they express +an ardent Longing for them; and I have +known several, who would not have recovered, +but for their eating secretly large Quantities of +those Fruits they so passionately desired, and were +refused. As many however, as are not convinced +by my Reasoning in this Respect, may at least +make a Tryal of my Advice, on my Affirmation +and Experience; when I have no doubt but their +own will speedily convince them of the real Benefit +received from this Sort of Nourishment. It +<span class="pageno target" title="69" id="page-69"> </span>will then be evident, that we may safely and +boldly allow, in all continual Fevers, Cherries +red and black, Strawberries, the best cured Raisins, +Raspberries, and Mulberries; provided that +all of them be perfectly ripe. Apples, Pears and +Plumbs are less melting and diluting, less succulent, +and rather less proper. Some kinds of +Pears however are extremely juicy, and even +watery almost, such as the Dean or Valentia +Pear, different Kinds of the Buree Pear; the St. +Germain, the Virgoleuse; the green sugary Pear, +and the Summer Royal, which may all be allowed; +as well as a little Juice of very ripe Plumbs, +with the Addition of Water to it. This last I +have known to asswage Thirst in a Fever, beyond +any other Liquor. Care should be taken, +at the same Time, that the Sick should never be +indulged in a great Quantity of any of them at +once, which would overload the Stomach, and +be injurious to them; but if they are given a little +at a Time and often, nothing can be more salutary. +Those whose Circumstances will afford +them China Oranges, or Lemons, may be regaled +with the Pulp and Juice as successfully; but +without eating any of their Peel, which is hot and +inflaming.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id71">§ 39</span>. 3. Their Drink should be such as allays +Thirst, and abates the Fever; such as dilutes, relaxes, +and promotes the Evacuations by Stool, +Urine and Perspiration. All these which I have +recommended in the preceding Chapters, jointly +and severally possess these Qualities. A Glass or +<span class="pageno target" title="70" id="page-70"> </span>a Glass and a half of the Juice of such Fruits as I +have just mentioned, may also be added to three +full Pints of Water.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id72">§ 40</span>. The Sick should drink at least twice or +thrice that Quantity daily, often, and a little +at once, between three or four Ounces, every +Quarter of an Hour. The Coldness of the +Drink should just be taken off.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id73">§ 41</span>. 4. If the Patient has not two Motions +in the 24 Hours; if the Urine be in small Quantity +and high coloured; if he rave, the Fever +rage, the Pain of the Head and of the Loins be +considerable, with a Pain in the Belly, and a Propensity +to vomit, the Glyster <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id801">Nº. 5</a> should be +given at least once a Day. The People have +generally an Aversion to this kind of Remedy; +notwithstanding there is not any more useful in +feverish Disorders, especially in those I have just +recounted; and one Glyster commonly gives +more Relief, than if the Patient had drank four +or five Times the Quantity of his Drinks. The +Use of Glysters, in different Diseases, will be properly +ascertained in the different Chapters, which +treat of them. But it may be observed in this +Place, that they are never to be given at the very +Time the Patient is in a Sweat, which seems to +relieve him.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id74">§ 42</span>. 5. As long as the Patient has sufficient +Strength for it, he should sit up out of Bed one +Hour daily, and longer if he can bear it; but at +least half an Hour. It has a Tendency to lessen +the Fever, the Head-ach, and a Light-headiness, +<span class="pageno target" title="71" id="page-71"> </span>or Raving. But he should not be raised, while +he has a hopeful Sweating; though such Sweats +hardly ever occur, but at the Conclusion of Diseases, +and after the Sick has had several other Evacuations.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id75">§ 43</span>. 6. His Bed should be made daily while +he sits up; and the Sheets of the Bed, as well as +the Patient's Linen, should be changed every +two Days, if it can be done with Safety. An unhappy +Prejudice has established a contrary, and +a really dangerous, Practice. The People about +the Patient dread the very Thought of his rising +out of Bed; they let him continue there in nasty +Linen loaden with putrid Steams and Humours; +which contribute, not only to keep up the Distemper, +but even to heighten it into some Degree +of Malignity. I do again repeat it here, that +nothing conduces more to continue the Fever +and Raving, than confining the Sick constantly +to Bed, and witholding him from changing his +foul Linen: by relieving him from both of +which Circumstances I have, without the Assistance +of any other Remedy, put a Stop to a continual +Delirium of twelve Days uninterrupted +Duration. It is usually said, the Patient is too +weak, but this is a very weak Reason. He must +be in very nearly a dying Condition, not to be +able to bear these small Commotions, which, in +the very Moment when he permits them, increase +his Strength, and immediately after abate +his Complaints. One Advantage the Sick gain +by sitting up a little out of Bed, is the increased +<span class="pageno target" title="72" id="page-72"> </span>Quantity of their Urine, with greater Facility in +passing it. Some have been observed to make +none at all, if they did not rise out of Bed.</p> +<p class="pnext">A very considerable Number of acute Diseases +have been radically, effectually, cured by this +Method, which mitigates them all. Where it +is not used, as an Assistance at least, Medicines +are very often of no Advantage. It were to be +wished the Patient and his Friends were made to +understand, that Distempers were not to be expelled +at once with rough and precipitate Usage; +that they must have their certain Career or +Course; and that the Use of the violent Methods +and Medicines they chuse to employ, might indeed +abridge the Course of them, by killing the +Patient; yet never otherwise shortened the Disease; +but, on the contrary, rendered it more perplexing, +tedious and obstinate; and often entailed such +unhappy Consequences on the Sufferer, as left +him feeble and languid for the rest of his Life.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id76">§ 44</span>. But it is not sufficient to treat, and, as +it were, to conduct the Distemper properly. +The Term of Recovery from a Disease requires +considerable Vigilance and Attention, as it is always +a State of Feebleness, and, thence, of +Depression and Faintness. The same Kind of +Prejudice which destroys the Sick, by compelling +them to eat, during the Violence of the Disease, +is extended also into the Stage of Convalescence, +or Recovery; and either renders it troublesome +and tedious; or produces fatal Relapses, and often +chronical Distempers. In Proportion to the +Abatement, and in the Decline, of the Fever, the +<span class="pageno target" title="73" id="page-73"> </span>Quantity of Nourishment may be gradually increased: +but as long as there are any Remains of +it, their Qualities should be those I have already +recommended. Whenever the Fever is compleatly +terminated, some different Foods may be +entered upon; so that the Patient may venture +upon a little white Meat, provided it be tender; +some <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id78" id="id77"><sup>18</sup></a> Fish; a little Flesh-Soup, a few Eggs at +times, with Wine property diluted. It must be +observed at the same Time, that those very proper +Aliments which restore the Strength, when taken +moderately, delay the perfect Cure, if they exceed +in Quantity, tho' but a little; because the +Action of the Stomach being extremely weakened +by the Disease and the Remedies, is capable +only, as yet, of a small Degree of Digestion; and +if the Quantity of its Extents exceed its Powers, +they do not digest, but become putrid. Frequent +Returns of the Fever supervene; a continual +Faintishness; Head-achs; a heavy Drowsiness +without a Power of Sleeping comfortably; flying +Pains and Heats in the Arms and Legs; Inquietude; +Peevishness; Propensity to Vomit; Looseness; +Obstructions, and sometimes a slow Fever, +with a Collection of Humours, that comes to +Suppuration.</p> +<p class="pnext">All these bad Consequences are prevented, by +the recovering Sick contenting themselves, for +<span class="pageno target" title="74" id="page-74"> </span>some Time, with a very moderate Share of proper +Food. We are not nourished in Proportion to +the Quantity we swallow, but to that we digest. +A Person on the mending Hand, who eats moderately, +digests it and grows strong from it. +He who swallows abundantly does not digest it, +and instead of being nourished and strengthened, +he withers insensibly away.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id79">§ 45</span>. We may reduce, within the few following +Rules, all that is most especially to be +observed, in Order to procure a compleat, a perfect +Termination of acute Diseases; and to prevent +their leaving behind them any Impediments +to Health.</p> +<p class="pnext">1. Let these who are recovering, as well as +those who are actually sick, take very little +Nourishment at a time, and take it often.</p> +<p class="pnext">2. Let them take but one sort of Food at +each Meal, and not change their Food too often.</p> +<p class="pnext">3. Let them chew whatever solid Victuals they +eat, very carefully.</p> +<p class="pnext">4. Let them diminish their Quantity of Drink. +The best for them in general is Water, <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id81" id="id80"><sup>19</sup></a> with +a fourth or third Part of white Wine. Too great +a Quantity of Liquids at this time prevents the +<span class="pageno target" title="75" id="page-75"> </span>Stomach from recovering its Tone and Strength; +impairs Digestion; keeps up Weakness; increases +the Tendency to a Swelling of the Legs; +sometimes even occasions a slow Fever; and +throws back the Person recovering into a languid +State.</p> +<p class="pnext">5. Let them go abroad as often as they are +able, whether on Foot, in a Carriage, or on +Horseback. This last Exercise is the healthiest +of all, and three fourths of the labouring People +in this Country, who have it in their Power to +procure it without Expense, are in the wrong to +neglect it. They, who would practice it, should +mount before their principal Meal, which should +be about Noon, and never ride after it. Exercise +taken before a Meal strengthens the Organs +of Digestion, which is promoted by it. If the +Exercise is taken soon after the Meal, it impairs +it.</p> +<p class="pnext">6. As People in this State are seldom quite as +well towards Night, in the Evening they should +take very little Food. Their Sleep will be the +less disturbed for this, and repair them the more, +and sooner.</p> +<p class="pnext">7. They should not remain in Bed above seven, +or eight Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext">8. The Swelling of the Legs and Ancles, +which happens to most Persons at this time, is +not dangerous, and generally disappears of itself; +if they live soberly and regularly, and take moderate +Exercise.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="76" id="page-76"> </span>9. It is not necessary, in this State, that they +should go constantly every Day to Stool; though +they should not be without one above two or +three. If their Costiveness exceeds this Term, +they should receive a Glyster the third Day, and +even sooner, if they are heated by it, if they +feel puffed up, are restless, and have any Pains +in the Head.</p> +<p class="pnext">10. Should they, after some time, still continue +very weak; if their Stomach is disordered; +if they have, from time to time, a little irregular +Fever, they should take three Doses daily of the +Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>. which fortifies the Digestions, +recovers the strength, and drives away the +Fever.</p> +<p class="pnext">11. They must by no means return to their Labour +too soon. This erroneous Habit daily prevents +many Peasants from ever getting perfectly well, +and recovering their former Strength. From +not having been able to confine themselves to +Repose and Indolence for some Days, they never +become as hearty hardy Workmen as they had +been: and this premature hasty Labour makes +them lose in the Consequence, every following +Week of their Lives, more time than they ever +gained, by their over-early resuming of their Labour. +I see every Day weakly Labourers, Vineroons, +and other Workmen, who date the +Commencement of their Weakness from that of +some acute Disease, which, for want of proper +Management through the Term of their Recovery, +was never perfectly cured. A Repose of +<span class="pageno target" title="77" id="page-77"> </span>seven or eight Days, more than they allowed +themselves, would have prevented all these Infirmities; +notwithstanding it is very difficult to +make them sensible of this. The Bulk, the +Body of the People, in this and in many other +Cases, look no further than the present Day; +and never extend their Views to the following +one. They are for making no Sacrifice to Futurity; +which nevertheless must be done, to render +it favourable to us.</p> +<span class="target" id="ib77"/></div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head109-chapter-iv"> +<span id="chap-iv"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i109a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter IV.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-an-inflammation-of-the-breast"> +<span id="of-the-inflammation"/><em class="italics">Of an Inflammation of the Breast.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost" id="id82"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 46.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i109b.png"/>he Inflammation of the Breast, or +Peripneumony, or a Fluxion upon the +Breast, is an Inflammation of the Lungs, +and most commonly of one only, and +consequently on one Side. The Signs by which +it is evident, are a Shivering, of more or less +Duration, during which the Person affected is +sometimes very restless and in great Anguish, an +essential and inseparable symptom; and which +has helped me more than once to distinguish +this Disease certainly, at the very Instant of its +Invasion. Besides this, a considerable Degree of +Heat succeeds the Shivering, which Heat, for a +<span class="pageno target" title="78" id="page-78"> </span>few ensuing Hours, is often blended as it were, +with some Returns of Chilliness. The Pulse is +quick, pretty strong, moderately full, hard and +regular, when the Distemper is not very violent; +but small, soft and irregular, when it is +very dangerous. There is also a Sensation of +Pain, but rather light and tolerable, in one Side +of the Breast; sometimes a kind of straitning or +Pressure on the Heart; at other times Pains +through the whole Body, especially along the +Reins; and some Degree of Oppression, at +least very often; for sometimes it is but very +inconsiderable. The Patient finds a Necessity of +lying almost continually upon his Back, being +able to lie but very rarely upon either of his +Sides. Sometimes his Cough is dry, and then +attended with the most Pain; at other times it is +accompanied with a Spitting or Hawking up, +blended with more or less Blood, and sometimes +with pure sheer Blood. There is also some +Pain, or at least a Sensation of Weight and +Heaviness in the Head: and frequently a Propensity +to rave. The Face is almost continually +flushed and red: though sometimes there is a +Degree of Paleness and an Air of Astonishment, +at the Beginning of the Disease, which portend +no little Danger. The Lips, the Tongue, the +Palate, the Skin are all dry; the Breath hot; +the Urine little and high coloured in the first +Stage: but more plentiful, less flaming, and +letting fall much Sediment afterwards. There +is a frequent Thirst, and sometimes an Inclination +<span class="pageno target" title="79" id="page-79"> </span>to vomit; which imposing on the ignorant +Assistants, have often inclined them to give the +Patient a Vomit, which is mortal, especially at +this Juncture. The Heat becomes universal. +The Symptoms are heightened almost every Night, +during which the Cough is more exasperated, +and the Spitting or Expectoration in less Quantity. +The best Expectoration is of a middling +Consistence, neither too thin, nor too hard and +tough, like those which are brought up at the +Termination of a Cold; but rather more yellow, +and mixed with a little Blood, which gradually +becomes still less, and commonly disappears entirely, +before the seventh Day. Sometimes the +Inflammation ascends along the Wind-pipe, and in +some Measure suffocates the Patient, paining +him considerably in Swallowing, which makes +him think he has a sore Throat.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id83">§ 47</span>. Whenever the Disease is very violent at +first, or increases to be such, the Patient cannot +draw his Breath, but when he sits up. The +Pulse becomes very small and very quick; the +Countenance livid, the Tongue black; the Eyes +stare wildly; and he suffers inexpressible Anguish, +attended with incessant Restlessness and +Agitation in his Bed. One of his Arms is sometimes +affected with a sort of Palsy; he raves without +Intermission; can neither thoroughly wake +nor sleep. The Skin of his Breast and of his +Neck is covered (especially in close sultry +Weather, and when the Distemper is extremely +violent) with livid Spots, more or less remarkable, +<span class="pageno target" title="80" id="page-80"> </span>which should be called <em class="italics">petechial</em> ones, but are improperly +termed the <em class="italics">pourpre</em>, or purple. The +natural Strength becomes exhausted; the Difficulty +of breathing increases every Moment; he +sinks into a Lethargy, and soon dies a terrible +Death in Country Places, by the very Effects of +the inflaming Medicines they employ on such +Occasions. It has been known in Fact, that the +Use of them has raised the Distemper to such a +Height, that the very Heart has been rent open, +which the Dissection of the Body has demonstrated.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id84">§ 48</span>. If the Disease rushes on at once, with +a sudden and violent Attack; if the Horror, the +Cold and Shivering last many Hours, and are followed +with a nearly scorching Degree of Heat; +if the Brain is affected from the very Onset; if +the Patient has a small Purging, attended with a +<em class="italics">Tenesinus</em>, or straining to Stool, often termed a +<em class="italics">Needy</em>; if he abhors the Bed; if he either sweat +excessively, or if his Skin be extremely dry; if +his natural Manner and Look are considerably +changed; and if he spits up with much Difficulty, +the Disease is extremely dangerous.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id85">§ 49</span>. He must directly, from the first Seizure +in this State, be put upon a Regimen, and his +Drink must never be given cold. It should +either be the Barley Water <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a>, the Almond +Emulsion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">Nº. 4</a>, or that of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id803">Nº. 7</a>. The Juices +of the Plants, which enter into the last of these +Drinks, are excellent Remedies in this Case; as +<span class="pageno target" title="81" id="page-81"> </span>they powerfully attenuate, or melt down, the viscid +thick Blood, which causes the Inflammation.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="the-advantage-of-bleeding">The Advantage of Bleeding</span>:</p> +<p class="pnext">As long as the Fever keeps up extremely violent; +while the Patient does not expectorate sufficiently; +continues raving; has a violent Head-ach, +or raises up pure Blood, the Glyster <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id801">Nº. 5</a> +must be given thrice, or at least twice, in twenty +four Hours. However the principal Remedy is +Bleeding. As soon as ever the preceding cold +Assault is over, twelve Ounces of Blood must be +taken away at once; and, if the Patient be young +and strong, fourteen or even sixteen. This plentiful +Bleeding gives him more Ease, than if twenty +four Ounces had been drawn, at three different +Times.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id86">§ 50</span>. When the Disease is circumstanced as +described (<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id82">§ 46</a>) that first Bleeding makes the +Patient easy for some Hours; but the Complaint +returns; and to obviate its Violence, as much as +possible, we must, except things promise extremely +well, repeat the Bleeding four Hours +after the first, taking again twelve Ounces of +Blood, which pretty often proves sufficient. But +if, about the Expiration of eight or ten Hours, it +appears to kindle up again, it must be repeated a +third, or even a fourth Time. Yet, with the Assistance +of other proper Remedies, I have seldom +been obliged to bleed a fourth Time, and have +sometimes found the two first Bleedings sufficient.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Disease has been of several Days Duration, +when I have first been called; if the Fever +<span class="pageno target" title="82" id="page-82"> </span>is still very high; if there be a Difficulty of +Breathing; if the Patient does not expectorate at +all, or brings up too much Blood; without being +too solicitous about the Day of the Disease, the +Patient should be bled, though it were on the +tenth. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id89" id="id87"><sup>20</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id88">§ 51</span>. In this, and in all other inflammatory +Diseases, the Blood is in a very thick viscid State: +and almost immediately on its being drawn, a +white tough Skin, somewhat like Leather, is +formed on its Top, which most People have seen, +and which is called the <em class="italics">pleuritic Crust</em>. It is +thought a promising Appearance, when at each +Bleeding it seems less hard, and less thick, than it +was at the preceding ones: and this is very generally +true, if the Sick feels himself, at the same Time, +sensibly better: but whoever shall attend <em class="italics">solely</em> +to the Appearance of the Blood, will find himself +often deceived. It will happen, even in the +most violent Inflammation of the Breast, that +this Crust is not formed, which is supposed to be +a very unpromising Sign. There are also, in +this Respect, many odd Appearances, which +<span class="pageno target" title="83" id="page-83"> </span>arise from the smallest Circumstances; so that we +must not regulate the Repetitions of our bleeding, +solely by this Crust: and in general we must +not be over credulous in supposing, that the Appearances +in the Blood, received into the Bason, +can enable us to determine, with Certainty, of +its real State in the Body.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id90">§ 52</span>. When the sick Person is in the Condition +described (<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id83">§ 47</a>) the Bleeding is not only unattended +with Ease; but sometimes it is also pernicious, +by the sudden Weakness to which it reduces +him. Generally in such a Case all Medicines +and Means are insignificant: and it is a very +bad Sign in this Disease, when this Discharge is +not attended with Ease and Benefit to the Sick; +or when there are some Circumstances, which +oblige us to be sparing of it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id91">§ 53</span>. The Patient's Legs should every Day, +for one half Hour, be put into a Bath of warm +Water, wrapping him up closely; that the Cold +may not check that Perspiration, which the +Bath promotes.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id92">§ 54</span>. Every two Hours he should take two +Spoonfuls of the Mixture <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id806">Nº. 8</a>, which promotes +all the Discharges, and chiefly that of Expectoration.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id93">§ 55</span>. When the Oppression and Straitness are +considerable, and the Cough dry, the Patient +may receive the Vapour of boiling Water, to which +a little Vinegar has been added. There are two +ways of effecting this; either by placing below +his Face, after setting him up, a Vessel filled with +<span class="pageno target" title="84" id="page-84"> </span>such boiling hot Water, and covering the Patient's +Head and the Vessel with a Linen Cloth, +that may inclose the Steam; or else by holding +before his Mouth a Spunge dipped in the same +boiling Liquor. This last Method is the least +effectual, but it fatigues the Patient considerably +less. When this bad Symptom is extremely +pressing, Vinegar alone should be used without +Water; and the Vapour of it has often saved +Patients, who seemed to have one Foot in the +Grave: but it should be continued for several +Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id94">§ 56</span>. The outward Remedies directed in <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id807">Nº. 9.</a> +are also applied with Success to the Breast, +and to the Throat.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id95">§ 57</span>. When the Fever is extremely high, +the Sick should take every Hour, a Spoonful of +the Mixture <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id808">Nº. 10</a>. in a Cup of the Ptisan <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id97" id="id96"><sup>21</sup></a> +<span class="pageno target" title="85" id="page-85"> </span>but without diminishing on this Account the +usual Quantity of his other Drinks, which may +be taken immediately after it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id98">§ 58</span>. As long as the Patient shall grow worse, +or only continue equally bad, the same Medicines +are to be repeated. But if on the third Day +(tho' it rarely happens so soon) or fourth, or +fifth, the Disease takes a more favourable Turn; +if the Exasperation returns with less Violence; the +Cough be less severe; the Matter coughed up +less bloody: if Respiration becomes easier; the +Head be less affected; the Tongue not quite so +dry; if the high Colour of the Urine abates, and +its Quantity be increased, it may be sufficient +<span class="pageno target" title="86" id="page-86"> </span>then to keep the Patient carefully to his Regimen, +and to give him a Glyster every Evening. +The Exasperation that occurs the fourth Day is +often the highest.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id99">§ 59</span>. This Distemper is most commonly terminated +and carried off by Expectoration, and +often by Urine, which on the seventh, the ninth, +or the eleventh Day, and sometimes on the Days +between them, begins to let fall a plentiful Sediment, +or Settling, of a pale red Colour, and sometimes +real <em class="italics">Pus</em> or ripe Matter. These Discharges +are succeeded by Sweats, which are as serviceable +then, as they were injurious at the Beginning of +the Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id100">§ 60</span>. Some Hours before these Evacuations +appear, there come on, and not seldom, some +very alarming Symptoms, such as great Anguish; +Palpitations, some Irregularity in the Pulse; an +increased Oppression; convulsive Motions (this +being what is called the <em class="italics">Crisis</em>, the Height, or +Turn of the Distemper) but they are no ways +dangerous, provided they do not occasion any improper +Treatment. These Symptoms depend on +the morbid and purulent Matter, which, being +dislodged, circulates with the Humours, +and irritates different Parts, until the Discharge +of it has fairly begun; after which all such Symptoms +disappear, and Sleep generally ensues. However +I cannot too strongly insist on the Necessity +of great Prudence in such Circumstances. Sometimes +it is the Weakness of the Patient, and at +other times Convulsions, or some other Symptoms, +<span class="pageno target" title="87" id="page-87"> </span>that terrify the By-standers. If, which is +most generally the Case, the absurd Practice of +directing particular Remedies for such Accidents +takes place, such as spirituous Cordials, Venice +Treacle, Confections, Castor and Rue; the Consequence +is, that Nature being disturbed in her +Operations, the <em class="italics">Crisis</em> or Turn is not effected; +the Matter which should be discharged by Stool, +by Urine, or by Sweat, is not discharged out of +the Body; but is thrown upon some internal or +external part of it. Should it be on some inward +part, the Patient either dies at once; or +another Distemper succeeds, more troublesome +and incurable than the first. Should it be expelled +to some outward part, the Danger indeed +is less; and as soon as ever such a Tumour appears, +ripening Pultices should be apply'd to +bring it to a Head, after which it should immediately +be opened.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id101">§ 61</span>. In order to prevent such unhappy Consequences, +great Care must be taken, whenever +such terrifying Symptoms come on, [about the +Time of the <em class="italics">Crisis</em>] to make no Change in the +Diet, nor in the Treatment of the Patient; except +in giving him <span class="target" id="the-loosening-glyster">the loosening Glyster</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id801">Nº. 5</a>; +and applying every two Hours a Flannel, squeezed +out of warm Water, which may cover all the +Belly, and in a Manner go round the Body behind +the Reins. The Quantity of his Drink +may also be increased a little; and that of his +Nourishment lessened, as long as this high and +violent State continues. +<span class="pageno target" title="88" id="page-88"> </span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id102">§ 62</span>. I have not spoken of Vomits or Purges, as +being directly contrary to the Nature of this Disease. +Anodynes, or Opiates, to procure Sleep are also, +in general, very improper. In a few Cases, however, +they may possibly be useful; but these +Cases are so very difficult to be sufficiently distinguished, +that Opiates should never be admitted +in this Disease, without the Presence and Advice +of a Physician. I have seen many Patients, who +have been thrown into an incurable Hectic, by +taking them improperly. When the Disease is +not received in a mortal Degree, nor has been injudiciously +treated, and proceeds in a benign regular +Manner, the Patient may be called very +well and safe by the fourteenth Day; when he +may, if he has an Appetite, be put upon the +Diet of People who are recovering. But if he +still retains an Aversion to Food; if his Mouth is +foul and furred, and he is sensible of some Heaviness +in his Head, he should take <span class="target" id="the-purging-potion">the purging +Potion</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id813">Nº. 11</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id103">§ 63</span>. Bleedings from the Nose occur sometimes +naturally in this Disease, even after repeated +Bleedings by Art; these are very benign and favourable, +and are commonly attended with more +Ease and Relief than artificial Bleedings. Such +voluntary Discharges may sometimes be expected, +when the Patient is sensibly mended in many +Respects after the Use of the Lancet; and yet +complains of a great Pain in his Head, accompanied +with quick sparkling Eyes, and a Redness +of the Nose. Nothing should be done to stop +<span class="pageno target" title="89" id="page-89"> </span>these voluntary Bleedings, since it would be very +dangerous: For when Nature has fulfilled her +Intention by them, they cease of themselves. +At other times, but more rarely, the Distemper +is carried off by a natural Purging, attended with +moderate Pain, and the Discharge of bilious +Matter.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id104">§ 64</span>. If the Expectoration, or hawking up +of Matter, stops very suddenly, and is not +speedily attended with some other Evacuation; +the Oppression and Anguish of the Patient immediately +return, and the Danger is great and +pressing. If the Distemper, at this Juncture, +is not of many Days standing; if the Patient is +a strong Person; if he has not as yet been plentifully +bled; if there be still some Blood mixed +with the Humour he expectorates; or if the Pulse +be strong and hard, he should be bled immediately +in the Arm; and constantly receive the +Steam of hot Water and Vinegar by the Mouth, +<span class="target" id="and-drink-plentifully-of-the-ptisan">and drink plentifully of the Ptisan</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a>, something +hotter than ordinary. But if his Circumstances, +after this Suppression, are different from +these just mentioned; instead of bleeding him, +two Blisters should be applied to the Legs; and +he <span class="target" id="should-drink-plentifully-of-the-ptisan">should drink plentifully of the Ptisan</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id814">Nº. 12</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Causes which oftenest produce this Suppression +of his Expectoration are, 1, a sharp and +sudden cold Air. 2, too hot a one. 3, over +hot Medicines. 4, excessive Sweating. 5, a +Purge prematurely and injudiciously timed. and 6, +some immoderate Passion of the Mind.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="90" id="page-90"> </span><span class="target" id="id105">§ 65</span>. When the Sick has not been sufficiently +bled, or not soon enough; and even sometimes, +which I have seen, when he has been greatly +weakened by excessive Bleeding; so that the +Discharges by Stool, Urine, Expectoration and +Perspiration, have not been sufficiently made; +when these Discharges have been confused by +some other Cause; or the Disease has been injudiciously +treated; then the Vessels that have +been inflamed, do not unload themselves of the +Humours, which stuff up and oppress them: but +there happens in the Substance of the affected +Lung, the same Circumstance we see daily occur +on the Surface of the Body. If an inflammatory +Tumour or Swelling does not disperse itself, and +disappears insensibly, it forms an Imposthume or +Abscess. Thus exactly also in the inflamed +Lung, if the Inflammation is not dissipated, it +forms an Abscess, which, in that part, is called a +<em class="italics">Vomica:</em> and the Matter of that Abscess, like +the external ones, remains often long inclosed in +its Sac or Bag, without bursting open its Membrane +or Case, and discharging the Matter it contains.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id106">§ 66</span>. If the Inflammation was not very deeply +seated in the inward Substance of the diseased +Lung; but was extended to its Surface, that is, +very near the Ribs, the Sac will burst on the +Surface of the Lung; and the Matter contained +in it must be discharged into the Cavity, or Hollowness +of the Breast, between the Lung, the +Ribs, and the Diaphragm or Midriff, which is +<span class="pageno target" title="91" id="page-91"> </span>the Membrane that divides the Breast and the +Belly. But when the Inflammation is considerably +deeper, the Imposthume bursts withinside +of the Lung itself. If its Orifice, or Opening is +so small, that but little can get out at once; if +the Quantity of all the Matter be inconsiderable, +and the Patient is at the same Time pretty strong, +he coughs up the Matter, and is very sensibly relieved. +But if this <em class="italics">Vomica</em> be large, or if its Orifice +is wide, and it throws out a great Quantity of +Matter at once; or if the Patient is very weak, +he dies the Moment it bursts, and that sometimes +when it is least expected. I have seen one Patient +so circumstanced expire, as he was conveying +a Spoonful of Soup to his Mouth; and another, +while he was wiping his Nose. There was +no present Symptom in either of these Cases, +whence a Physician might suppose them likelier +to die at that Instant, than for some Hours before. +The <em class="italics">Pus</em>, or Matter, is commonly discharged +through the Mouth after Death, and +the Bodies very soon become putrified.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id107">§ 67</span>. We call that <em class="italics">Vomica</em> which is not burst, +an <em class="italics">occult</em> or hidden, and that which is, an evident +or open one. It is of considerable Importance +to treat exactly and clearly of this Topic; as a +great Number of Country People die of these +Imposthumes, even without a Suspicion of the +Cause of their Death. I had an Instance of it +some Days since, in the School-master of a Village. +He had an occult and very considerable +<em class="italics">Vomica</em> in the left Lung, which was the +<span class="pageno target" title="92" id="page-92"> </span>Consequence of an Inflammation of the Breast, that +had been treated improperly at the Beginning. +He seemed to me not likely to live twenty four +Hours; and really died in the Night, after inexpressible +Anguish.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id108">§ 68</span>. Whatever Distemper is included within +the Breast of a living Patient, is neither an Object +of the Sight or Touch whence these <em class="italics">Vomicas</em>, +these inward Tumours, are so often unknown, +and indeed unsuspected. The Evacuations +that were necessary for the Cure, or sometimes +for the Prevention, of them, have not +taken place, during the first fourteen Days. At +the End of this Term, the Patient, far from being +cured, is not very considerably relieved; but, +on the contrary, the Fever continues to be pretty +high, with a Pulse continually quick; in general +soft and weak; though sometimes pretty +hard, and often fluctuating, or, as it were, waving. +His Breathing is still difficult and oppressed; +with small cold Shudderings from Time +to Time; an Exasperation of the Fever; flushed +Cheeks, dry Lips, and Thirst.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Increase of these Symptoms declare, that +<em class="italics">Pus</em> or Matter is thoroughly formed: the Cough +then becomes more continual; being exasperated +with the least Motion; or as soon as ever the +Patient has taken any Nourishment. He can +repose only on the Side affected. It often happens +indeed, that he cannot lie down at all; +but is obliged to be set up all Day; sometimes +even without daring to lean a little upon his +<span class="pageno target" title="93" id="page-93"> </span>Loins, for fear of increasing the Cough and Oppression. +He is unable to sleep; has a continual +Fever, and his Pulse frequently intermits.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Fever is not only heightened every Evening; +but the smallest Quantity of Food, the +gentlest Motion, a little Coughing, the lightest +Agitation of the Mind, a little more than usual +Heat in the Chamber, Soup either a little too +strong, or a little too salt, increase the Quickness +of his Pulse the Moment they occur, or are given. +He is quite restless, has some short Attacks of +the most terrible Anguish, accompanied and +succeeded by Sweatings on his Breast, and from +his whole Countenance. He sweats sometimes +the whole Night; his Urine is reddish, now +frothy, and at other times oily, as it were. Sudden +Flushings, hot as Flames, rise into his whole +Visage. The greater Number of the Sick are +commonly sensible of a most disagreeable Taste +in their Mouth; some of old strong Cheese; +others of rotten Eggs; and others again of stinking +Meat, and fall greatly away. The Thirst of +some is unquenchable; their Mouths and Lips +are parched; their Voice weak and hoarse; +their Eyes hollow, with a kind of Wildness in +their Looks. They have a general Disgust to all +Food; and if they should ask for some particular +Nourishment without seeing it, they reject it the +Moment it is brought them; and their Strength +at length seems wholly exhausted.</p> +<p class="pnext">Besides these Symptoms, a little Inflation, or +<em class="italics">Bloatedness</em>, as it were, is sometimes observed on +<span class="pageno target" title="94" id="page-94"> </span>the Breast, towards the Side affected; with an +almost insensible Change of Colour. If the <em class="italics">Vomica</em> +be situated at the Bottom of the affected +Lobe of the Lungs, and in its internal Part, that is, +nearly in the Middle of the Breast, some <em class="italics">Puffiness</em> +or light Swelling may be perceived in some +Bodies, by gently pressing the Pit of the Stomach; +especially when the Patient coughs. In +short, according to the Observations of a German +Physician, if one strike the open Hand on +the Breast, covered only with a Shirt, it retains +in the Spot, which is directly opposite to the <em class="italics">Vomica</em>, +a flat heavy Sound, as if one struck a Piece +of Flesh; while in striking on the other Side it +gives a clear loud Sound, as from a Drum. I +still doubt however, whether this Observation +will generally hold true; and it would be hazardous +to affirm there is no Abscess in a Breast, +which does not return this heavy Sound.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id109">§ 69</span>. When a <em class="italics">Vomica</em> is formed, as long as +it is not emptied, all the Symptoms I have already +enumerated increase, and the <em class="italics">Vomica</em> grows +in Size: the whole Side of the Lung affected +sometimes becomes a Bag or Sac of Matter. +The sound Side is compressed; and the Patient +dies after dreadful Anguish, with the Lung full of +<em class="italics">Pus</em>, and without having ever brought up any.</p> +<p class="pnext">To avoid such fatal Consequences, it is necessary +to procure the Rupture and Discharge of +this inward Abscess, as soon as we are certain of +its Existence: And as it is safer it should break +within the Lobe affected, from whence it may +<span class="pageno target" title="95" id="page-95"> </span>be discharged by hawking up; than that it should +burst and void itself into the Cavity of the Breast, +for Reasons I shall give hereafter, we must endeavour, +that this Rupture may be effected within +the internal Substance of the Lungs.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id110">§ 70</span>. The most effectual Methods to procure +this are, 1. To make the Patient continually +receive, by his Mouth, the Vapour of warm Water. +2. When by this Means that part of the +Sac or Abscess is softened, where we could wish +the Rupture of it to happen, the Patient is to +swallow a large Quantity of the most emollient +Liquid; such as Barley Water, Almond Milk, +light Veal Broth, or Milk and Water. By this +Means the Stomach is kept always full: so that +the Resistance to the Lungs being considerable +on that Side, the Abscess and its Contents will +naturally be pressed towards the Side of the +Wind-pipe, as it will meet with less Resistance +there. This fulness of the Stomach will also +incline the Patient to cough, which may concur +to produce a good Event. Hence, 3, we should +endeavour to make the Patient cough, by making +him smell to some Vinegar, or even snuff up a +little; or by injecting into his Throat, by the +Means of a small Syringe or Pipe, such as Children +make out of short Pieces of Elder-Boughs, +a little Water or Vinegar. 4. He should be advised +to bawl out aloud, to read loud, or to laugh +heartily; all which Means contribute to burst +open the Abscess, as well as those two following +ones. 5. Let him take every two Hours a Soup-Ladle +<span class="pageno target" title="96" id="page-96"> </span>of the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id806">Nº. 8</a>. 6. He should be put +into a Cart, or some other Carriage; but not before +he has drank plentifully of such Liquors as +I have just mentioned: after which the Shaking +and Jolting in the Carriage have sometimes immediately +procured that Rupture, or breaking of the +Bag or Abscess, we wished for.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id111">§ 71</span>. Some Years since I saw a Country Maid +Servant, who was left in a languishing Condition +after an Inflammation of the Breast; without any +Person's suspecting her <span class="target" id="ailment">Ailment</span>. This Woman +being put into a Cart, that was sent for a Load of +Hay; one of the Wheels run violently against a +Tree: she swooned away, and at the same Time +brought up a great Quantity of digested Matter. +She continued to bring up more; during which +I was informed of her Case, and of the Accident, +which effectually cured her.</p> +<p class="pnext">A <em class="italics">Swiss</em> Officer, who served in <em class="italics">Piedmont</em>, had +been in a languid State of Health for some +Months; and returned home to set himself +down as easily as he could, without conceiving +any considerable Hopes of Recovery. +Upon entering into his own Country, by the +Way of <em class="italics">Mount Bernard</em>; and being obliged to +go some Paces on Foot, he fell down; and remained +in a Swoon above a Quarter of an Hour: +during which Time he threw up a large Quantity +of Matter, and found himself that very Moment +very greatly relieved. I ordered him a proper +Diet, and suitable Medicines: his Health became +<span class="pageno target" title="97" id="page-97"> </span>perfectly established; and the Preservation of his +Life was principally owing to this lucky Fall.</p> +<p class="pnext">Many Persons afflicted with a <em class="italics">Vomica</em>, faint +away the very Instant it breaks. Some sharp +Vinegar should be directly held to their Nose. +This small Assistance is generally sufficient, +where the bursting of it is not attended with +such Appearances as shew it to be mortal, in +which Case every Application is insignificant.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id112">§ 72</span>. If the sick Person was not extremely +weak before the Bursting of the Abscess; if the +Matter was white, and well conditioned; if the +Fever abates after it; if the Anguish, Oppression +and Sweats terminate; if the Cough is less violent; +if the Patient is sensibly easier in his Situation or +Posture; if he recovers his Sleep and Appetite; +if his usual Strength returns; if the Quantity he +expectorates, or brings up, becomes daily and +gradually less; and if his Urine is apparently +better, we may have Room to hope, that by the +Assistance of these Remedies I shall immediately +direct, he may be radically, compleatly cured.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id113">§ 73</span>. But if on the contrary; when his +Strength is exhausted before the bursting of the +Abscess; when the Matter is too thin and transparent, +brown, green, yellow, bloody and of an +Offensive Smell; if the Pulse continues quick +and weak; if the Patient's Appetite, Strength +and Sleep do not improve, there remains no hope +of a Cure, and the best Medicines are ineffectual: +Nevertheless we ought to make some Tryal +of them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="98" id="page-98"> </span><span class="target" id="id114">§ 74</span>. They consist of the following Medicines +and Regulations. 1. Give every four Hours a +little Barley or Rice Cream. 2. If the Matter +brought up is thick and glewy, so that it is very +difficult to be loosened and discharged, give every +two Hours a Soup-ladle of the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id806">Nº. 8</a>; +and between the giving these two, let the Patient +take every half Hour a Cup of the Drink <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id815">Nº. 13</a>. +3. When the Consistence of the Matter is such, +that there is no Occasion for these Medicines to +promote the Discharge of it, they must be omitted; +tho' the same Sort and Quantity of Food are +to be continued; but with the Addition of an +equal Quantity of Milk; or, which would be +still more beneficial, instead of this Mixture, we +should give an equal Quantity of sweet Milk, taken +from a good Cow, which, in such a Case, +may compose the whole Nourishment of the +Patient. 4. He should take four Times a Day, +beginning early in the Morning, and at the Distance +of two Hours, a Dose of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>, +diluted in a little Water, or made into a <em class="italics">Bolus</em>, +or Morsel, with a little Syrup or Honey. +His common Drink should be Almond Emulsion, +commonly called Almond Milk, or Barley +Water, or fresh Water with a fourth part Milk. +5. He should air and exercise every Day on +Horseback, or in a Carriage, according as his +Strength and his Circumstances will allow him. +But of all Sorts of Exercise, that upon a trotting +Horse is, beyond all Comparison, the very best, +and the easiest to be procured by every Body; +<span class="pageno target" title="99" id="page-99"> </span>provided the Disease be not too far advanced; +since in such a Situation, any Exercise, that was +only a little violent, might prove pernicious.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id115">§ 75</span>. The Multitude, who are generally illiterate, +seldom consider any thing as a Remedy, +except they swallow it. They have but little +Confidence in <em class="italics">Regimen</em>, or any Assistance in the +Way of Diet, and consider Riding on Horseback +as wholly useless to them. This is a dangerous +Mistake, of which I should be glad to undeceive +them: since this Assistance, which appears so +insignificant to them, is probably the most effectual +of any: it is that in Fact, without which +they can scarcely expect a Cure, in the highest +Degrees of this Disease: it is that, which perhaps +alone may recover them, provided they take no +improper Food. In brief it is considered, and +with Reason, as the real Specific for this Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id116">§ 76</span>. The Influence of the Air is of more +Importance in this Disorder, than in any others; +for which Reason great Care should be taken to +procure the best, in the Patient's Chamber. +For this Purpose it should often be ventilated, or +have an Admission of fresh Air, and be sweetened +from Time to Time, tho' very lightly, with a +little good Vinegar; and in the Season it should +be plentifully supplied with agreeable Herbs, +Flowers and Fruits. Should the Sick be unfortunately +situated, and confined in an unwholsome +Air, there can be but little Prospect of +curing him, without altering it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="100" id="page-100"> </span><span class="target" id="id117">§ 77</span>. Out of many Persons affected with these +Disorders, some have been cured by taking nothing +whatsoever but Butter-milk; others by +Melons and Cucumbers only; and others again +by Summer Fruits of every Sort. Nevertheless, +as such Cases are singular, and have been but +few, I advise the Patient to observe the Method I +have directed here, as the surest.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id118">§ 78</span>. It is sufficient if he have a Stool once +in two, or even in three, Days. Hence, there +is no Reason for him, in this Case, to accustom +himself to Glysters: they might excite a Looseness, +which may be very dangerous.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id119">§ 79</span>. When the Discharge of the Matter from +the Breast diminishes, and the Patient is perceivably +mended in every Respect, it is a Proof +that the Wound in the Abscess is deterged, or +clean, and that it is disposed to heal up gradually. +If the Suppuration, or Discharge, continues in +great Quantity; if it seems but of an indifferent +Consistence; if the Fever returns every Evening, +it may be apprehended, that the Wound, instead +of healing, may degenerate into an Ulcer, which +must prove a most embarrassing Consequence. +Under such a Circumstance, the Patient would +fall into a confirmed Hectic, and die after some +Months Sickness.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id120">§ 80</span>. I am not acquainted with any better +Remedy, in such a dangerous Case, than a Perseverance +in these already directed, and especially +in moderate Exercise on Horseback. In some of +them indeed Recourse may be had to the sweet +<span class="pageno target" title="101" id="page-101"> </span>Vapours of some vulnerary Herbs in hot Water, +with a little Oil of Turpentine, as directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id817">Nº. 15</a>. +I have seen them succeed; but the safest Way is +to consult a Physician, who may examine and +consider, if there is not some particular Circumstance +combined with the Disease, that proves an +Obstacle to the Cure of it. If the Cough prevents +the Patient from Sleeping, he may take in +the Evening two or three Table Spoonfuls of the +Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id818">Nº. 16</a>, in a Glass of Almond Milk +or Barley Water.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id121">§ 81</span>. The very same Causes which suddenly +suppress the Expectoration, in an Inflammation of +the Breast, may also check the Expectoration +from a <em class="italics">Vomica</em> already begun: in which Circumstance +the Patient is speedily afflicted with an +Oppression and Anguish, a Fever and evident +Feebleness. We should immediately endeavour +to remove this Stoppage, by the Vapour of hot +Water; by giving a Spoonful of the Mixture +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id797">Nº. 3</a> every Hour; by a large Quantity of the +Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id814">Nº. 12</a>, and by a proper Degree of Motion +or Exercise. As soon as ever the Expectoration +returns, the Fever and the other Symptoms disappear. +I have seen this Suppression in strong +Habits quickly followed with an Inflammation +about the Seat of the <em class="italics">Vomica</em>, which has obliged +me to bleed, after which the Expectoration immediately +returned.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id122">§ 82</span>. It happens sometimes, that the <em class="italics">Vomica</em> +is entirely cleansed; the Expectoration is entirely +<span class="pageno target" title="102" id="page-102"> </span>finished, or drained off, the Patient seems well, +and thinks himself compleatly cured: but soon +after, the Uneasiness, Oppression, Cough and +Fever are renewed, because the Membrane or +Bag of the <em class="italics">Vomica</em> fills again: again it empties +itself, the Patient expectorates for some Days, +and seems to recover. After some Time however, +the same Scene is repeated; and this Vicissitude, +or Succession, of moderate and of bad +Health, often continues for some Months and +even some Years. This happens when the <em class="italics">Vomica</em> +is emptied, and is gradually deterged; so +that its Membranes, or Sides touch or approach +each other; but without cicatrizing or healing +firmly; and then there drops or leaks in very +gradually fresh Matter. For a few Days this +seems no ways to incommode the Patient; but +as soon as a certain Quantity is accumulated, he +is visited again with some of the former Symptoms, +'till another Evacuation ensues. People +thus circumstanced, in this Disease, sometimes +appear to enjoy a tolerable Share of Health. It +may be considered as a kind of internal Issue, +which empties and cleanses itself from Time to +Time; pretty frequently in some Constitutions, +more slowly in others; and under which some +may attain a good middling Age. When it arrives +however at a very considerable Duration, +it proves incurable. In its earliest State, it gives +way sometimes to a Milk-diet, to riding on +Horseback; and to the Medicine <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="103" id="page-103"> </span><span class="target" id="id123">§ 83</span>. Some may be surprized, that in treating +of an Abscess of the Lungs, and of the Hectic, +which is a Consequence of it, I say nothing of +those Remedies, commonly termed <em class="italics">Balsamics</em>, +and so frequently employed in them, for Instance, +Turpentines, Balsam of Peru, of Mecca, Frankincense, +Mastich, Myrrh, Storax and Balsam +of Sulphur. I shall however say briefly here +(because it is equally my Design to destroy the +Prejudice of the People, in favour of improper +Medicines, and to establish the Reputation of +good ones) that I never in such Cases made use +of these Medicines; because I am convinced, +that their Operation is generally hurtful in such +Cases; because I see them daily productive of +real Mischief; that they protract the Cure, and +often change a slight Disorder into an incurable +Disease. They are incapable of perfect Digestion, +they obstruct the finest Vessels of the Lungs, +whose Obstructions we should endeavour to remove; +and evidently occasion, except their Dose +be extremely small, Heat and Oppression. I +have very often seen to a Demonstration, that +Pills compounded of Myrrh, Turpentine and +Balsam of Peru, have, an Hour after they were +swallowed, occasioned a Tumult and Agitation +in the Pulse, high Flushings, Thirst and Oppression. +In short it is demonstrable to every +unprejudiced Person, that these Remedies, as +they have been called, are truly prejudicial in +this Case; and I heartily wish People may be +disabused with Respect to them, and that they +<span class="pageno target" title="104" id="page-104"> </span>may lose that Reputation so unhappily ascribed +to them.</p> +<p class="pnext">I know that many Persons, very capable in +other Respects, daily make use of them in these +Distempers: such however cannot fail of disusing +them, as soon as they shall have observed their +Effects, abstracted from the Virtues of the other +Medicines to which they add them, and which +mitigate the Danger of them. I saw a Patient, +whom a foreign Surgeon, who lived at <em class="italics">Orbe</em>, attempted +to cure of a Hectic with melted Bacon, +which aggravated the Disease. This Advice seemed, +and certainly was, absurd; nevertheless the +Balsamics ordered in such Cases are probably not +more digestible than fat Bacon. The Powder +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a> possesses whatever these Balsamics pretend +to: it is attended with none of the Inconveniencies +they produce; and has all the good Qualities +ascribed to them. Notwithstanding which, +it must not be given while the Inflammation +exists; nor when it may revive again; and no +other Aliment should be mixed with the Milk.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="poterius">The famous Medicine called the <em class="italics">Antihectic</em>, +(<em class="italics">Antihecticum Poterii</em>) has not, any more than +these Balsamics, the Virtues ascribed to it in +such Cases. I very often give it in some obstinate +Coughs to Infants with their Milk, and +then it is very useful: but I have seldom seen it +attended with considerable Effects in grown Persons; +and in the present Cases I should be fearful +of its doing Mischief.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id124">§ 84</span>. If the <em class="italics">Vomica</em>, instead of breaking within +<span class="pageno target" title="105" id="page-105"> </span>the Substance of the Lungs affected, should +break without it, the Pus must be received into +the Cavity of the Breast. We know when that +has happened, by the Sensation or Feeling of the +Patient; who perceives an uncommon, a singular +kind of Movement, pretty generally accompanied +with a Fainting. The Oppression and +Anguish cease at once; the Fever abates; the +Cough however commonly continues, tho' with +less Violence, and without any Expectoration. +But this seeming Amendment is of a short Duration, +since from the daily Augmentation of the +Matter, and its becoming more acrid or sharp, the +Lungs become oppressed, irritated and eroded. +The Difficulty of Breathing, Heat, Thirst, Wakefulness, +Distaste, and Deafness, return, with many +other Symptoms unnecessary to be enumerated, +and especially with frequent Sinkings and Weakness. +The Patient should be confined to his +<em class="italics">Regimen</em>, to retard the Increase of the Disease as +much as possible; notwithstanding no other effectual +Remedy remains, except that of opening +the Breast between two of the Ribs, to discharge +the Matter, and to stop the Disorder it occasions. +This is called the Operation for the <em class="italics">Empyema</em>. I +shall not describe it here, as it should not be undertaken +but by Persons of Capacity and Experience, +for whom this Treatise was not intended. +I would only observe, it is less painful than terrifying; +and that if it is delayed too long, it proves +useless, and the Patient dies miserably.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id125">§ 85</span>. We may daily see external +<span class="pageno target" title="106" id="page-106"> </span><span class="target" id="inflammations">Inflammations</span> turn gangrenous, or mortify. The same +Thing occurs in the Lungs, when the Fever is +excessive, the Inflammation either in its own +Nature, extremely violent, or raised to such a +Height by hot Medicines. Intolerable Anguish, +extreme Weakness, frequent Faintings, Coldness +of the Extremities, a livid and fœtid thin Humour +brought up instead of concocted Spitting, +and sometimes blackish Stripes on the Breast, +sufficiently distinguish this miserable State. I +have smelt in one Case of this Kind, where the +Patient had been attacked with this Disease (after +a forced March on Foot, having taken some Wine +with Spices to force a Sweat) his Breath so horribly +stinking, that his Wife had many Sinkings +from attending him. When I saw him, I could +discern neither Pulse nor Intellect, and ordered +him nothing. He died an Hour afterwards, +about the Beginning of the third Hour.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="ib106"><span class="target" id="id126">§ 86</span>. An Inflammation may also become hard, +when it forms what we call a <em class="italics">Scirrhus</em>, which is +a very hard Tumour, indolent, or unpainful. +This is known to occur, when the disease <span class="target" id="has">has</span> not +terminated in any of those Manners I have represented; +and where, tho' the Fever and the other +Symptoms disappear, the Respiration, or Breathing, +remains always a little oppressed; the Patient +still retains a troublesome Sensation in one +Side of his Breast; and has from Time to Time +a dry Cough, which increases after Exercise, and +after eating. This Malady is but seldom cured; +though some Persons attacked with it last many +<span class="pageno target" title="107" id="page-107"> </span>Years, without any other considerable Complaint. +They should avoid all Occasions of over-heating +themselves; which might readily produce a new +Inflammation about this Tumour, the Consequences +of which would be highly dangerous.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id127">§ 87</span>. The best Remedies against this Disorder, +and from which I have seen some good Effects, +are the medicated Whey <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id819">Nº. 17</a>, and the +Pills <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id820">Nº. 18</a>. The Patient may take twenty Pills, +and a Pint and a half of the Whey every Morning +for a long Continuance; and receive inwardly, +now and then, the Vapour of hot Water.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id128">§ 88</span>. Each Lung, in a perfect State of Health, +touches the <em class="italics">Pleura</em>, the Membrane, that lines +the Inside of the Breast; though it is not connected +to it. But it often happens, after an Inflammation +of the Breast, after the Pleurisy, and +in some other Cases, that these two Parts adhere +closely to each other, and are never afterwards +separated. However this is scarcely to be considered +as a Disease; and remains commonly unknown, +as the Health is not impaired by it, and +nothing is ever prescribed to remove it. Nevertheless +I have seen a few Cases, in which this Adhesion +was manifestly prejudicial.</p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<p class="center pnext"><img class="align-middle" style="width: 7em" alt="****" src="images/i139.png"/></p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head140-chapter-v"> +<span id="chap-v"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="108" id="page-108"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i140a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter V.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-pleurisy"> +<span id="pleurisy"/><em class="italics">Of the Pleurisy.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost" id="id129"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 89.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i140b.png"/>he Pleurisy, which is chiefly known by +these four Symptoms, a strong Fever, a +Difficulty of Breathing, a Cough, and +an acute Pain about the Breast; the +Pleurisy, I say, is not a different Malady from +the Peripneumony, or Inflammation of the Breast, +the Subject of the preceding Chapter; so that +I have very little to say of it, particularly, or +apart.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id130">§ 90</span>. The Cause of this Disease then is exactly +the same with that of the former, that is, +an Inflammation of the Lungs; but an Inflammation, +that seems rather a little more external. +The only considerable Difference in the Symptoms +is, that the Pleurisy is accompanied with a +most acute Pain under the Ribs, and which is +commonly termed a <em class="italics">Stitch</em>. This Pain is felt indifferently +over every Part of the Breast; though +more commonly about the Sides, under the more +fleshy Parts of the Breast, and oftenest on the +right Side. The Pain is greatly increased whenever +the Patient coughs or draws in the Air in +breathing; and hence a Fear of increasing it, +<span class="pageno target" title="109" id="page-109"> </span>by making some Patients forbear to cough or respire, +as much as they possibly can; and that +aggravates the Disease, by stopping the Course of +the Blood in the Lungs, which are soon overcharged +with it. Hence the Inflammation of +this Bowel becomes general; the Blood mounts +up to the Head; the Countenance looks deeply +red, or as it were livid; the Patient becomes +nearly suffocated, and falls into the State described +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id83">§ 47</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sometimes the Pain is so extremely violent, +that if the Cough is very urgent at the same +Time, and the Sick cannot suppress or restrain +it, they are seized with Convulsions, of which I +have seen many Instances, but these occur almost +always to Women; though they are much less +subject than Men to this Disease, and indeed to +all inflammatory ones. It may be proper however +to observe here, that if Women should be +attacked with it, during their monthly Discharges, +that Circumstance should not prevent the repeated +and necessary Bleedings, nor occasion any Alteration +in the Treatment of the Disease. And +hence it appears, that the Pleurisy is really an +Inflammation of the Lungs, accompanied with +acute Pain.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id131">§ 91</span>. I am sensible that sometimes an Inflammation +of the Lungs is communicated also to that +Membrane, which lines the Inside of the Breast; +and which is called the <em class="italics">Pleura</em>; and from thence +to the Muscles, the fleshy Parts, over and between +<span class="pageno target" title="110" id="page-110"> </span>the Ribs. This however is not very frequently +the Case.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id132">§ 92</span>. Spring is commonly the Season most +productive of Pleurisies: in general there are few +in Summer: notwithstanding that in the Year +1762, there were a great many during the hottest +Season, which then was excessively so. The +Disease usually begins with a violent Shivering, +succeeded by considerable Heat, with a Cough, +an Oppression, and sometimes with a sensible +Straitning, or Contraction, as it were, all over +the Breast; and also with a Head-ach, a Redness of +the Cheeks, and with Reachings to vomit. The +Stitch does not always happen at the very first +Onset; often not 'till after several Hours from +the first Complaint; sometimes not before the +second, or even the third Day. Sometimes the +Patient feels two Stitches, in different Parts of +the Side; though it seldom happens that they are +equally sharp, and the lightest soon ceases. Sometimes +also the Stitch shifts its Place, which promises +well, if the Part first attacked by it continues +perfectly free from Pain: but it has a bad +Appearance, if, while the first is present, another +also supervenes, and both continue. The Pulse +is usually very hard in this Distemper; but in the +dreadful Cases described <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id83">§ 47</a> and <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id130">90</a>, it becomes +soft and small. There often occur at, or very +quickly after, the Invasion, such an Expectoration, +or hawking up, as happens in an Inflammation +of the Breast; at other Times there is not the +<span class="pageno target" title="111" id="page-111"> </span>least Appearance of it, whence such are named +dry Pleurisies, which happen pretty often. Sometimes +the Sick cough but little, or not at all. +They often lie more at Ease upon the Side affected, +than on the sound one. The Progress +of this Disease advances exactly like that described +in the preceding Chapter: for how can +they differ considerably? and the Treatment of +both is the same. Large Hæmorrhages, or Bleedings +from the Nose, frequently happen, to the +great Relief of the Patient; but sometimes such +Discharges consist of a kind of corrupted Blood, +when the Patient is very ill, and these portend +Death.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id133">§ 93</span>. This Distemper is often produced by +drinking cold Water, while a Person is hot; +from which Cause it is sometimes so violent, as +to kill the Patient in three Hours. A young +Man was found dead at the Side of the Spring, +from which he had quenched his Thirst: neither +indeed is it uncommon for Pleurisies to prove +mortal within three Days.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sometimes the Stitch disappears, whence the +Patient complains less; but at the same Time +his Countenance changes; he grows pale and +sad; his Eyes look dull and heavy, and his Pulse +grows feeble. This signifies a Translation of the +Disease to the Brain, a Case which is almost constantly +fatal.</p> +<p class="pnext">There is no Disease in which the critical +Symptoms are more violent, and more strongly +marked, than in this. It is proper this should +<span class="pageno target" title="112" id="page-112"> </span>be known, as it may prevent or lessen our excessive +Terror. A perfect Cure supervenes sometimes, +at the very Moment when Death was +expected.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="the-danger-of-heating-remedies"><span class="target" id="id134">§ 94</span>. This Malady is one of the most common +and the most destroying kind, as well from +its own violent Nature, as through the pernicious +Treatment of it in Country Places. That +Prejudice, which insists on curing all Diseases +by Sweating, entirely regulates their Conduct in +treating a Pleurisy; and as soon as a Person is +afflicted with a Stitch, all the hot Medicines are +immediately set to Work. This mortal Error +destroys more People than Gunpowder; and it +is by so much the more hurtful, as the Distemper +is of the most violent kind; and because, +as there is commonly not a Moment to be lost, +the whole depends on the Method immediately +recurred to.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id135">§ 95</span>. The proper Manner of treating this +Disease, is exactly the same in all Respects, with +that of the Peripneumony; because, I again affirm, +it is the very same Disease. Hence the +Bleedings, the softening and diluting Drinks, the +Steams, the Glysters, the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id806">Nº. 8</a>, and the +emollient Poultices are the real Remedies. These +last perhaps are still more effectual in the Pleurisy; +and therefore they should be continually +applied over the very Stitch.</p> +<p class="pnext">The first Bleeding, especially if there has been +a considerable Discharge, almost constantly abates +the Stitch, and often entirely removes it: though +<span class="pageno target" title="113" id="page-113"> </span>it more commonly returns, after an Intermission of +some Hours, either in the same Spot, or sometimes +in another. This shifting of it is rather favourable, +especially if the Pain, that was first +felt under the Breast, shifts into the Shoulders, +to the Back, the Shoulder-blade, or the Nape of +the Neck.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Stitch is not at all abated, or only +a little; or if, after having abated, it returns as +violently as at first, and especially if it returns in +the same Spot, and the Height of the other Symptoms +continue, Bleeding must be repeated. But +if a sensible Abatement of the Stitch continues; +and if, though it returns, it should be in a smaller +Degree, and by Intervals, or in these Places I +have mentioned above; if the Quickness, or the +Hardness of the Pulse, and all the other Symptoms +are sensibly diminished, this repeated Bleeding +may sometimes be omitted. Nevertheless, in +a very strong Subject, it seems rather prudent not +to omit it, since in such Circumstances it can do +no Mischief; and a considerable Hazard may +sometimes be incurred by the Omission. In very +high and dangerous Pleurisies a frequent Repetition +of bleeding is necessary; except some Impediment +to it should arise from the particular +Constitution of the Patient, or from his Age, or +some other Circumstances.</p> +<p class="pnext">If, from the Beginning of the Disease, the +Pulse is but a little quicker and harder than in a +healthy State; if it is not manifestly strong; if +the Head-ach and the Stitch are so moderate as +<span class="pageno target" title="114" id="page-114"> </span>to prove supportable; if the Cough is not too +violent; if there is no sensible Oppression or +Straitness, and the Patient expectorate, or cough +up, Bleeding may be omitted.</p> +<p class="pnext">With Respect to the administering of other +Remedies, the same Directions are to be exactly +followed, which have been already given in the +preceding Chapter, to which the Reader is referred +from <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id91">§ 53</a> to <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id106">66</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id136">§ 96</span>. When the Disease is not very acute and +pressing, I have often cured it in a very few Days +by a single Bleeding, and a large Quantity of a +Tea or Infusion of Elder-flowers, sweetened with +Honey. It is in some Cases of this kind, that +we often find the Water <em class="italics">Faltranc</em> succeed, with +the Addition of some Honey, and even of Oil: +though the Drink I have just directed is considerably +preferable. That Drink which is compounded +of equal Quantities of Wine and Water, +with the Addition of much Venice Treacle, annually +destroys a great Number of People in the +Country.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id137">§ 97</span>. In those dry Pleurisies, in which the +Stitch, the Fever, and the Head-ach are strong +and violent; and where the Pulse is very hard +and very full, with an excessive Dryness of the +Skin and of the Tongue, Bleeding should be frequently +repeated, and at small Intervals from +each other. This Method frequently cures the +Disease effectually, without using any other Evacuation.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="115" id="page-115"> </span><span class="target" id="id138">§ 98</span>. The Pleurisy terminates, like any other +inward Inflammation, either by some Evacuation; +by an Abscess; in a Mortification; or in a Scirrhosity +or hard Tumour; and it often leaves Adhesions in +the Breast.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Gangrene or Mortification sometimes appears +on the third Day, without having been preceded +by very vehement Pains. In such Cases +the dead Body often looks very black, especially +in the Parts near the Seat of the Disease: and in +such the more superstitious ascribe it to some supernatural +Cause; or draw some unhappy Presage +from it, with Respect to those who are yet +unattacked by it. This Appearance however is +purely a natural Consequence, quite simple, and +cannot be otherwise; and the hot Regimen and +Medicines are the most prevailing Causes of it. +I have seen it thus circumstanced in a Man in the +Flower of his Age, who had taken Venice Treacle +in Cherry Water, and the Ingredients of +<em class="italics">Faltranc</em> infused in Wine.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id139">§ 99</span>. <em class="italics">Vomicas</em> are sometimes the Consequences +of Pleurisies; but their particular Situation +disposes them more to break <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id141" id="id140"><sup>22</sup></a> outwardly; which +is the most frequent Cause of an <em class="italics">Empyema</em> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id124">§ 84</a>. +“To prevent this, it is highly proper to apply, +at the first Invasion of the Disease, to the Spot +where the Pain chiefly rages, a small Plaister, +which may exactly fit it; since if the Pleurisy +should terminate in an Abscess or Imposthume, +<span class="pageno target" title="116" id="page-116"> </span>the purulent Matter will be determined to that +Side.</p> +<p class="pnext">“As soon then as it is foreseen that an Abscess +is forming (see <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id108">§ 68</a>) we should erode, by a +light Caustic, the Place where it is expected; +and as soon as it is removed, Care should be +taken to promote Suppuration there. By this +Means we may entertain a reasonable Hope, +that the Mass of Matter will incline its Course +to that Spot, where it will meet with the least +Resistance, and be discharged from thence. +For this Heap of Matter is often accumulated +between the <em class="italics">Pleura</em>, and the Parts which adhere +to it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">This is the Advice of a very <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id143" id="id142"><sup>23</sup></a> great Physician; +but I must inform the Reader, there are many +Cases, in which it can be of no Service; neither +ought it to be attempted, but by Persons of undoubted +Abilities.</p> +<p class="pnext">With Regard to the Scirrhosity, or Hardness, +and to the Circumstances of Adhesions, I can add +nothing to what I have said in <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id126">§ 86</a> and <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id127">87</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="of-frequent-or-habitual-pleurisies"><span class="target" id="id144">§ 100</span>. It has been observed that some Persons, +who have been once attacked by this Disease, +are often liable to Relapses of it, especially +such as drink hard. I knew one Man, who +reckoned up his Pleurisies by Dozens. A few +Bleedings, at certain proper Intervals, might prevent +these frequent Returns of it; which, joined +<span class="pageno target" title="117" id="page-117"> </span>to their excessive Drinking, make them languid +and stupid, in the very Flower of their Age. +They generally fall into some Species of an Asthma, +and from that into a Dropsy, which proves +the melancholy, though not an improper, Conclusion +of their Lives. Such as can confine themselves +to some proper Precautions, may also prevent +these frequent Returns of this Disease, even +without bleeding; by a temperate Regimen; by +abstaining from Time to Time, from eating Flesh +and drinking Wine; at which Times they should +drink Whey, <span class="target" id="or-some-of-those-diet-drinks">or some of those Diet-Drinks</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id793">Nº. 1</a>, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">2</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">4</a>; and by bathing their Legs sometimes in +warm Water; especially in those Seasons, when +this Disease is the most likely to return.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="of-goats-blood-the-soot-of-a-stale-egg-and-of-the-wormwood-of-the-alps-in-pleurisies"><span class="target" id="id145">§ 101</span>. Two Medicines greatly esteemed in +this Disease among the Peasantry, and even extolled +by some Physicians, are the Blood of a +wild He Goat, and the <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id149" id="id146"><sup>24</sup></a> Soot in an Egg. I do +not contest the Cure or Recovery of many Persons, +who have taken these Remedies; notwithstanding +it is not less true, that both of them, as +well as the Egg in which the Soot is taken, are +dangerous: For which Reason it is prudent, at +least, never to make use of them; as there is +great Probability, they may do a little Mischief; +and a Certainty that they can do no Good. The +<span class="pageno target" title="118" id="page-118"> </span><em class="italics">Genipi</em>, or <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id150" id="id147"><sup>25</sup></a> Wormwood of the Alps, has also +acquired great Reputation in this Disease, and occasioned +many Disputes between some very zealous +Ecclesiastics, and a justly celebrated Physician. +It seems not difficult however to ascertain +the proper Use of it. This Plant is a powerful +Bitter; it heats and excites Sweat: it seems +clear, that, from such Consequences, it should +never be employed in a Pleurisy, while the Vessels +are full, the Pulse hard, the Fever high, and +the Blood inflamed. In all such Circumstances +it must aggravate the Disease; but towards the +Conclusion of it, when the Vessels are considerably +emptied, the Blood is diluted, and the Fever +abated, it may then be recurred to; but with a +constant Recollection that it is hot, and not to be +employed without Reflection and Prudence. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id151" id="id148"><sup>26</sup></a></p> +<!-- the K is not italicized because follows italics; but a dot was missing --> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head119-chapter-vi"> +<span id="chap-vi"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="119" id="page-119"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i151a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter VI.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-diseases-of-the-throat"> +<span id="throat"/><em class="italics">Of the Diseases of the Throat.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 102.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 3.60em" alt="T" src="images/i151b.png"/>he Throat is subject to many Diseases: +One of the most frequent and the most +dangerous, is that Inflammation of it, +commonly termed a Quinsey. This +in Effect is a Distemper of the same Nature with +an Inflammation of the Breast; but as it occurs +in a different Part, the Symptoms, of Course, +are very different. They also vary, not a very +little, according to the different Parts of the +Throat which are inflamed.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id152">§ 103</span>. The general Symptoms of an Inflammation +of the Throat are, the Shivering, the +subsequent Heat, the Fever, the Head-ach, red +high-coloured Urine, a considerable Difficulty, +and sometimes even an Impossibility, of swallowing +any thing whatever. But if the nearer Parts +to the <em class="italics">Glottis</em>, that is, of the Entrance into the +Windpipe, or Conduit through which we breathe, +are attacked, Breathing becomes excessively difficult; +the Patient is sensible of extreme Anguish, +and great Approaches to Suffocation; the Disease +is then extended to the <em class="italics">Glottis</em>, to the Body of +<span class="pageno target" title="120" id="page-120"> </span>the Wind-pipe, and even to the Substance of the +Lungs, whence it becomes speedily fatal.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Inflammation of the other Parts is attended +with less Danger; and this Danger becomes +still less, as the Disease is more extended +to the outward and superficial Parts. When the +Inflammation is general, and seizes all the internal +Parts of the Throat, and particularly the +Tonsils or Almonds, as they are called, the +<em class="italics">Uvula</em>, or Process of the Palate, and the <em class="italics">Basis</em>, +or remotest deepest Part of the Tongue, it is one +of the most dangerous and dreadful Maladies. +The Face is then swelled up and inflamed; the +whole Inside of the Throat is in the same Condition; +the Patient can get nothing down; he +breathes with a Pain and Anguish, which concur, +with a Stuffing or Obstruction in his Brains, +to throw him into a kind of furious <em class="italics">Delirium</em>, +or Raving. His Tongue is bloated up, and is +extended out of his Mouth; his Nostrils are dilated, +as tho' it were to assist him in his Breathing; +the whole Neck, even to the Beginning of the +Breast, is excessively tumified or swelled up; +the Pulse is very quick, very weak, and often intermits; +the miserable Patient is deprived of all +his Strength, and commonly dies the second or +third Day. Very fortunately this Kind, or Degree +of it, which I have often seen in <em class="italics">Languedoc</em>, +happens very rarely in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>, where the +Disease is less violent; and where I have only +seen People die of it, in Consequence of its +<span class="pageno target" title="121" id="page-121"> </span>being perniciously treated; or by Reason of some +accidental Circumstances, which were foreign to +the Disease itself. Of the Multitude of Patients +I have attended in this Disorder, I have known +but one to fail under it, whose Case I shall mention +towards the Close of this Chapter.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id153">§ 104</span>. Sometimes the Disease shifts from the +internal to the external Parts: the Skin of the +Neck and Breast grows very red, and becomes painful, +but the Patient finds himself better.</p> +<p class="pnext">At other Times the Disorder quits the Throat; +but is transferred to the Brain, or upon the Lungs. +Both these Translations of it are mortal, when +the best Advice and Assistance cannot be immediately +procured; and it must be acknowledged, +that even the best are often ineffectual.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id154">§ 105</span>. The most usual kind of this Disease is +that which affects only the Tonsils (the Almonds) +and the Palate; or rather its Process, <em class="italics">commonly +called</em> the Palate. It generally first invades one +of the Tonsils, which becomes enlarged, red and +painful, and does not allow the afflicted to swallow, +but with great Pain. Sometimes the Disorder +is confined to one Side; but most commonly +it is extended to the <em class="italics">Uvula</em>, (the Palate) +from whence it is extended to the other Tonsil. +If it be of a mild kind, the Tonsil first affected +is generally better, when the second is attacked. +Whenever they are both affected at once, the +Pain and the Anguish of the Patient are very considerable; +he cannot swallow, but with great +Difficulty and Complaint; and the Torment of +<span class="pageno target" title="122" id="page-122"> </span>this is so vehement, that I have seen Women affected +with Convulsions, as often as they endeavoured +to swallow their Spittle, or any other Liquid. +They continue, even for several Hours +sometimes, unable to take any thing whatever; +all the upper inward Part of the Mouth, the +Bottom of the Palate, and the descending Part +of the Tongue become lightly red, or inflamed.</p> +<p class="pnext">A considerable Proportion of Persons under +this Disease swallow Liquids more difficultly than +Solids; by Reason that Liquids require a greater +Action of some Part of the Muscles, in order to +their being properly directed into their Conduit +or Chanel. The Deglutition (the Swallowing) +of the Spittle is attended with still more Uneasiness +than that of other Liquids, because it is a +little more thick and viscid, and flows down with +less Ease. This Difficulty of swallowing, joined +to the Quantity thence accumulated, produces +that almost continual hawking up, which oppresses +some Patients so much the more, as the +Inside of their Cheeks, their whole Tongue, and +their Lips are often galled, and even flead as it +were. This also prevents their Sleeping, which +however seems no considerable Evil; Sleep being +<em class="italics">sometimes</em> but of little Service in Diseases attended +with a Fever; and I have often seen those, +who thought their Throats almost entirely well +in the Evening, and yet found them very bad after +some Hours Sleep.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Fever, in this Species of the Disease, is +sometimes, very high; and the Shivering often +<span class="pageno target" title="123" id="page-123"> </span>endures for many Hours. It is succeeded by considerable +Heat, and a violent Head-ach, which +yet is sometimes attended with a Drowsiness. +The Fever is commonly pretty high in the Evening, +though sometimes but inconsiderable, and +by the Morning perhaps there is none at all.</p> +<p class="pnext">A light Invasion of this Disease of the Throat +often precedes the Shivering; though most commonly +it does not become manifest 'till after it, +and at the same Time when the Heat comes +on.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Neck is sometimes a little inflated, or +puffed up; and many of the Sick complain of +a pretty smart Pain in the Ear of that Side, which +is most affected. I have but very seldom observed +that they had it in both.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id155">§ 106</span>. The Inflammation either disappears by +Degrees, or an Abscess is formed in the Part +which was chiefly affected. It has never happened, +at least within my Knowledge, that this +Sort of the Disease, prudently treated, has ever +terminated either in a Mortification, or a Scirrhus: +but I have been a Witness to either of these +supervening, when Sweating was extorted in the +Beginning of it, by hot Medicines.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is also very rare to meet with those highly +dangerous Translations of this Disease upon the +Lungs, such as are described in that Species of +it from <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id152">§ 103</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id153">104</a>. It is true indeed it does +not occur more frequently, even in that Species, +whenever the Disease is thrown out upon the +more external Parts.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="of-their-proper-treatment"><span class="pageno target" title="124" id="page-124"> </span><span class="target" id="id156">§ 107</span>. The Treatment of the Quinsey, as +well as of all other inflammatory Diseases, is the +same with that of an Inflammation of the Breast.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Sick is immediately to be put upon a Regimen; +and in that Sort described <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id152">§ 103</a>, Bleeding +must be repeated four or five Times within +a few Hours; and sometimes there is a Necessity +to recur still oftner to it. When it assaults the +Patient in the most vehement Degree, all Medicines, +all Means, are very generally ineffectual; +they should be tried however. We should give +as much as can be taken of the Drinks <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a> and +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">4</a>. But as the Quantity they are able to swallow +is often very inconsiderable; the Glyster <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id801">Nº. 5</a> +should be repeated every three Hours; and their +Legs should be put into a Bath of warm Water, +thrice a Day.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id157">§ 108</span>. Cupping Glasses, with Scarification, +applied about the Neck, after bleeding twice or +thrice, have often been experienced to be highly +useful. In the most desperate Cases, when the +Neck is excessively swelled, one or two deep Incisions +made with a Razor, on this external Tumour, +have sometimes saved a Patient's Life.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id158">§ 109</span>. In that kind, and those Circumstances, +of this Disease described <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id154">§ 105</a> we must have +very frequent Recourse to Bleeding; and it should +never be omitted, when the Pulse is very perceivably +hard and full. It is of the utmost Consequence +to do it instantaneously; since it is the +only Means to prevent the Abscess, which forms +very readily, if Bleeding has been neglected, only +<span class="pageno target" title="125" id="page-125"> </span>for a few Hours. Sometimes it is necessary to +repeat it a second Time, but very rarely a third.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Disease is frequently so gentle and mild, +as to be cured without Bleeding, by the Means +of much good Management. But as many as +are not Masters of their own Time, nor in such +an easy Situation, as to be properly attended, +ought, without the least Hesitation, to be bled +directly, which is sometimes sufficient to remove +the Complaint; especially if, after Bleeding, the +Patient drinks plentifully of the Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">In this light Degree of the Disease, it may suffice +to bathe the Legs, and to receive a Glyster, +once a Day each; the first to be used in the +Morning, and the last in the Evening. Besides +the general Remedies against Inflammations, a +few particular ones, calculated precisely for this +Disease, may be applied in each kind or Degree +of it. The best are, first the emollient Poultices, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id807">Nº. 9</a>, laid over the whole Neck. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id160" id="id159"><sup>27</sup></a> Some have +highly extolled the Application of Swallows +Nests in this Disease; and though I make no +Objection to it, I think it certainly less efficacious +than any of those which I direct.</p> +<p class="pnext">2. Of the Gargarisms (<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id821">Nº. 19</a>) a great Variety +may be prepared, of pretty much the same +Properties, and of equal Efficacy. Those I +<span class="pageno target" title="126" id="page-126"> </span>direct here are what have succeeded best with me +and they are very simple. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id162" id="id161"><sup>28</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext">3. The Steam of hot Water, as directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id93">§ 55</a>, +should be repeated five or six Times a Day; a +Poultice should be constantly kept on, and often +renewed; and the Patient should often gargle.</p> +<p class="pnext">There are some Persons, besides Children, +who cannot gargle themselves: and in fact the +Pain occasioned by it makes it the more difficult. +In such a Case, instead of gargling, the same +Gargarism (<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id821">Nº. 19</a>) may be injected with a small +Syringe. The Injection reaches further than Gargling, +and often causes the Patient to hawk up a +considerable Quantity of glarey Matter (which +has grown still thicker towards the Bottom of the +Throat) to his sensible Relief. This Injection +should be often repeated. The little hollowed +Pipes of Elder Wood, which all the Children in +the Country can make, may be conveniently +employed for this Purpose. The Patient should +<span class="target" id="breathe">breathe</span> out, rather than inspire, during the Injection.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id163">§ 110</span>. Whenever the Disease terminates without +Suppuration, the Fever, the Head-ach, the +Heat in the Throat, and the Pain in swallowing, +begin to abate from the fourth Day, some +times from the third, often only from the fifth; +and from such Period that Abatement increases at +<span class="pageno target" title="127" id="page-127"> </span>a great Rate; so that at the End of two, three, +or four Days, on the sixth, seventh, or eighth, +the Patient is entirely well. Some few however +continue to feel a light Degree of Pain, and that +only on one Side, four or five Days longer, but +without a Fever, or any considerable Uneasiness.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="of-the-formation-of-an-abscess-there"><span class="target" id="id164">§ 111</span>. Sometimes the Fever and the other +Symptoms abate, after the Bleeding and other +Remedies; without any subsequent Amendment +in the Throat, or any Signs of Suppuration. In +such Cases we must chiefly persist in the Gargarisms +and the Steams; and where an experienced +and dexterous Surgeon can be procured, it +were proper he should scarify the inflamed +Tonsils. These discharge, in such Cases, a moderate +Quantity of Blood; and this Evacuation +relieves, very readily, as many as make use of +it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id165">§ 112</span>. If the Inflammation is no ways disposed +to disperse, so that an Abscess is forming, +which almost ever happens, if it has not been +obviated at the Invasion of the Disease; then the +Symptoms attending the Fever continue, though +raging a little less after the fourth Day: the Throat +continues red, but of a less florid and lively Redness: +a Pain also continues, though less acute, accompanied +sometimes with Pulsations, and at other +Times intirely without any; of which it is proper +to take Notice: the Pulse commonly grows +a little softer; and on the fifth or sixth Day, and +sometimes sooner, the Abscess is ready to break. +This may be discovered by the Appearance of a +<span class="pageno target" title="128" id="page-128"> </span>small white and soft Tumour, when the Mouth +is open, which commonly appears about the +Centre or Middle of the Inflammation. It bursts +of itself; or, should it not, it must be opened. +This is effected by strongly securing a Lancet to +one End of a small Stick or Handle, and enveloping, +or wrapping up the whole Blade of it, +except the Point and the Length of one fourth or +a third of an Inch, in some Folds of soft Linnen; +after which the Abscess is pierced with the Point +of this Lancet. The Instant it is opened, the +Mouth is filled with the Discharge of a Quantity +of <em class="italics">Pus</em>, of the most intolerable Savour and Smell. +The Patient should gargle himself after the Discharge +of it with the detersive, or cleansing Gargarism +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id821">Nº. 19</a>. It is surprising sometimes to see +the Quantity of Matter discharged from this Imposthumation. +In general there is but one; though +sometimes I have seen two of them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id166">§ 113</span>. It happens, and not seldom, that the +Matter is not collected exactly in the Place, where +the Inflammation appeared, but in some less exposed +and less visible Place: whence a Facility of +swallowing is almost entirely restored; the Fever +abates; the Patient sleeps; he imagines he is +cured, and that no Inconvenience remains, but +such as ordinarily occurs in the earliest Stage of +Recovery. A Person who is neither a Physician, +nor a Surgeon, may easily deceive himself, when +in this State. But the following Signs may enable +him to discover that there is an Abscess, viz. +A certain Inquietude and general Uneasiness; a +<span class="pageno target" title="129" id="page-129"> </span>Pain throughout the Mouth; some Shiverings +from Time to Time; frequently sharp, but short +and transient, Heat: a Pulse moderately soft, +but not in a natural State; a Sensation of Thickness +and Heaviness in the Tongue; small white +Eruptions on the Gums, on the Inside of the +Cheek, on the Inside and Outside of the Lips, +and a disagreeable Taste and Odour.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id167">§ 114</span>. In such Cases Milk or warm Water +should frequently be retained in the Mouth; the +Vapour of hot Water should be conveyed into +it; and emollient Cataplasms may be applied +about the Neck. All these Means concur to the +softening and breaking of the Abscess. The +Finger may also be introduced to feel for its Situation; +and when discovered, the Surgeon may +easily open it. I happened once to break one +under my Finger, without having made the least +Effort to do it. Warm Water may be injected +pretty forcibly, either by the Mouth or the Nostrils: +this sometimes occasions a kind of Cough, +or certain Efforts which tend to break it. I have +seen this happen even from laughing. As to the +rest, the Patient should not be too anxious or uneasy +about the Event. I never saw a single Instance +of a Person's dying of a Quinsey of this +kind, after the Suppuration is truly effected; neither +has it happened perhaps after the Time it is +forming for Suppuration.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id168">§ 115</span>. The glairy Matter with which the +Throat is over-charged, and the very Inflammation +of that Part, which, from its Irritation, +<span class="pageno target" title="130" id="page-130"> </span>produces the same Effect, as the Introduction of a +Finger into it, occasions some Patients to complain +of incessant Propensities to vomit. We +must be upon our Guard here, and not suppose +that this Heart-Sickness, as some have called it, +results from a Disorder of, or a Load within, the +Stomach, and that it requires a Vomit for its Removal. +The giving one here would often prove +a very unfortunate Mistake. It might, in a high +Inflammation, further aggravate it; or we might +be obliged (even during the Operation of the +Vomit) to bleed, in order to lessen the Violence of +the Inflammation. Such Imprudence with its +bad Consequences, often leaves the Patient, even +after the Disease is cured, in a State of Languor +and Weakness for a considerable Time. Nevertheless, +there are some particular Disorders of +the Throat, attended with a Fever, in which +a Vomit may be prudently given. But this can +only be, when there is no Inflammation, or after +it is dispersed; and there still remains some +putrid Matter in the first Passages. Of such Cases +I shall speak hereafter. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id170" id="id169"><sup>29</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext" id="of-swelled-ears-from-the-obstruction-of-the-parotid-and-maxillary-glands"><span class="target" id="id171">§ 116</span>. We often see in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em> a Disorder +different from these of the Throat, of which we +<span class="pageno target" title="131" id="page-131"> </span>have just treated; though, like these, attended +with a Difficulty of swallowing. It is termed in +French the <em class="italics">Oreillons</em>, and often the <em class="italics">Ourles</em>, or +swelled Ears. It is an Overfulness and Obstruction +of those Glands and their Tubes, which are +to furnish the <em class="italics">Saliva</em> or Spittle; and particularly +of the two large Glands which lie between the +Ear and the Jaw; which are called the <em class="italics">Parotides</em>; +and of two under the Jaw, called the <em class="italics">Maxillares</em>. +All these being considerably swelled in this Disease, +do not only produce a great Difficulty of +swallowing; but also prevent the Mouth from +opening; as an Attempt to do it is attended with +violent Pain. Young Children are much more +liable to this Disease than grown Persons. Being +seldom attended with a Fever, there is no Occasion +for Medicines: It is sufficient to defend the +Parts affected from the external Air; to apply some +proper Poultice over them; to lessen the Quantity +of their Food considerably, denying them Flesh +and Wine; but indulging them plentifully in +some light warm Liquid, to dilute their Humours +and restore Perspiration. I cured myself +of this Disorder in 1754, by drinking nothing, +for four Days, but Balm Tea, to which I added +one fourth part Milk, and a little Bread. The +same <em class="italics">Regimen</em> has often cured me of other light +Complaints of the Throat.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="of-the-epidemic"><span class="target" id="id172">§ 117</span>. In the Spring of 1761, there were an +astonishing Number of Persons attacked with +Disorders of the Throat, of two different Kinds. +Some of them were seized with that common +<span class="pageno target" title="132" id="page-132"> </span>Sort which I have already described. Without +adding any thing more particularly, in Respect +to this Species, it happened frequently to grown +Persons, who were perfectly cured by the Method +already recited. The other Species, on which I +shall be more particular in this Place (because I +know they have abounded in some Villages, and +were very fatal) invaded Adults, or grown Persons +also, but especially Children, from the Age +of one Year, and even under that, to the Age of +twelve or thirteen.</p> +<p class="pnext">The first Symptoms were the same with those +of the common Quinsey, such as the Shivering, +the ensuing Heat or Fever, Dejection, and a +Complaint of the Throat: but the following +Symptoms distinguished these from the common +inflammatory Quinseys.</p> +<p class="pnext">1. The Sick had often something of a Cough, +and a little Oppression.</p> +<p class="pnext">2. The Pulse was quicker, but less hard, and +less strong, than generally happens in Diseases of +the Throat.</p> +<p class="pnext">3. The Patients were afflicted with a sharp, +stinging and dry Heat, and with great Restlessness.</p> +<p class="pnext">4. They spat less than is usual in a common +Quinsey; and their Tongues were extremely +dry.</p> +<p class="pnext">5. Though they had some Pain in swallowing, +this was not their principal Complaint, and +they could drink sufficiently.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="133" id="page-133"> </span>6. The Swelling and Redness of the Tonsils, +of the Palate, and of its Process were not considerable; +but the parotid and maxillary Glands, +and especially the former, being extremely swelled +and inflamed, the Pain they chiefly complained +of, was this outward one.</p> +<p class="pnext">7. When the Disease proved considerably dangerous, +the whole Neck swelled; and sometimes +even the Veins, which return the Blood from the +Brain, being overladen, as it were, the Sick had +some Degree of Drowsiness, and of a <em class="italics">Delirium</em>, +or Raving.</p> +<p class="pnext">8. The Paroxysms, or Returns, of the Fever +were considerably irregular.</p> +<p class="pnext">9. The Urine appeared to be less inflamed, +than in other Diseases of the Throat.</p> +<p class="pnext">10. Bleeding and other Medicines did not relieve +them, as soon as in the other kind; and the +Disease itself continued a longer Time.</p> +<p class="pnext">11. It did not terminate in a Suppuration like +other Quinsies, but sometimes the Tonsils were +ulcerated.</p> +<p class="pnext">12. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id174" id="id173"><sup>30</sup></a> Almost every Child, and indeed a great +many of the grown Persons assaulted with this +Disease, threw out, either on the first Day, or on +some succeeding one, within the first six Days, a +certain Efflorescence, or Eruptions, resembling +the Measles considerably in some, but of a less +lively Colour, and without any Elevation, or +<span class="pageno target" title="134" id="page-134"> </span>rising above the Skin. It appeared first in the +Face, next in the Arms, and descended to the +Legs, Thighs and Trunk; disappearing gradually +at the End of two or three Days, in the +same Order it had observed in breaking out. A +few others (I have seen but five Instances of it) +suffered the most grievous Symptoms before the +Eruption; and threw out the genuine <em class="italics">purpura</em>, +or white miliary Eruption.</p> +<p class="pnext">13. As soon as these Efflorescences or Eruptions +appeared, the Sick generally found themselves +better. That, last mentioned, continued +four, five, or six Days, and frequently went off +by Sweats. Such as had not these Ebullitions, +which was the Case of many Adults, were not +cured without very plentiful Sweats towards the +Termination of the Disease: those which occurred +at the Invasion of it being certainly unprofitable, +and always hurtful.</p> +<p class="pnext">14. I have seen some Patients, in whom the +Complaint of the Throat disappeared entirely, +without either Eruptions or Sweats: but such +still remained in very great Inquietude and Anguish, +with a quick and small Pulse. I ordered +them a sudorific Drink, which being succeeded +by the Eruption, or by Sweating, they found +themselves sensibly relieved.</p> +<p class="pnext">15. But whether the Sick had, or had not, +these external Rednesses or Eruptions, every one +of them parted with their Cuticle or Scarf Skin, +which fell off, in large Scales, from the whole +Surface of the Body: so great was the Acrimony +<span class="pageno target" title="135" id="page-135"> </span>or Sharpness of that Matter, which was to be +discharged through the Skin.</p> +<p class="pnext">16. A great Number suffered a singular Alteration +in their Voice, different from that which +occurs in common Quinsies, the Inside of their +Nostrils being extremely dry.</p> +<p class="pnext">17. The Sick recovered with more Difficulty +after this, than after the common Quinsies: and +if they were negligent or irregular, during their +Recovery; particularly, if they exposed themselves +too soon to the Cold, a Relapse ensued, or +some different Symptoms; such as a Stuffing +with Oppression, a Swelling of the Belly, windy +Swellings in different Parts; Weakness, Loathings, +Ulcerations behind the Ears, and something +of a Cough and Hoarseness.</p> +<p class="pnext">18. I have been sent for to Children, and also +to some young Folks, who, at the End of several +Weeks, had been taken with a general Inflammation +of the whole Body, attended with great +Oppression, and a considerable Abatement of +their Urine, which was also high-coloured and turbid, +or without Separation. They seemed also +in a very singular State of Indifference, or Disregard, +with Respect to any Object, or Circumstance. +I recovered every one of them entirely +by Blisters, and the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id829">Nº. 25</a>. The first +Operation of this Medicine was to vomit them: +to this succeeded a Discharge by Urine, and at +last very plentiful Sweating, which compleated +the Cure. Two Patients only, of a bad Constitution, +who were a little ricketty, and disposed to +<span class="pageno target" title="136" id="page-136"> </span>glandular Scirrhosity or Knottiness, relapsed and +died, after being recovered of the Disease itself +for some Days.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id175">§ 118</span>. I have bled some adult Persons, and +made Use of the cooling Regimen, as long as +there was an evident Inflammation: it was necessary +after this to unload the first Passages; and +at last to excite moderate Sweats. The same +Powders <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id829">Nº. 25</a> have often effected both these +Discharges, and with entire Success. In other +Cases I have made Use of Ipecacuanha, as directed +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">In some Subjects there did not appear any inflammatory +Symptom; and the Distemper resulted +solely from a Load of putrid Matter in the +first Passages. Some Patients also discharged +Worms. In such Cases I never bled; but the +Vomit had an excellent Effect, at the very Onset +of the Disease; it produced a perceivable Abatement +of all the Symptoms; Sweating ensued +very kindly and naturally, and the Patient recovered +entirely a few Hours after.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id176">§ 119</span>. There were some Places, in which no +Symptom or Character of Inflammation appeared; +and in which it was necessary to omit Bleeding, +which was attended with bad Consequences.</p> +<p class="pnext">I never directed Infants to be bled. After +opening the first Passages, Blisters and diluting +Drinks proved their only Remedies. A simple +Infusion of Elder Flowers, and those of the Lime +<span class="pageno target" title="137" id="page-137"> </span>Tree, has done great Service to those who drank +plentifully of it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id177">§ 120</span>. I am sensible that in many Villages a +great Number of Persons have died, with a prodigious +Inflation or Swelling of the Neck. Some +have also died in the City, and among others a +young Woman of twenty Years of Age, who had +taken nothing but hot sweating Medicines and +red Wine, and died the fourth Day, with violent +Suffocations, and a large Discharge of Blood from +the Nose. Of the great Number I have seen in +Person, only two died. One was a little Girl of +ten Months old. She had an <span class="target" id="efflorescence">Efflorescence</span> which +very suddenly disappeared: at this Time I was +called in; but the Humour had retreated to the +Breast, and rendered her Death inevitable. The +other was a strong Youth from sixteen to seventeen +Years old, whose sudden Attack from the +Disease manifested, from the very Beginning, a +violent Degree of it. Nevertheless, the Symptoms +subsiding, and the Fever nearly terminating, +the Sweats which approached would probably +have saved him. But he would not suffer them +to have their Course, continually stripping himself +quite naked. The Inflammation was immediately +repelled upon the Lungs, and destroyed +him within the Space of thirty Hours. I never +saw a Person die with so very dry a Skin. The +Vomit affected him very little upwards, and +brought on a purging. His own bad Conduct +seems to have been the Occasion of his Death; +and may this serve as one Example of it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="138" id="page-138"> </span><span class="target" id="id178">§ 121</span>. I chose to expatiate on this Disease, as +it may happen to reach other Places, where it +may be useful to have been apprized of its Marks, +and of its Treatment, which agrees as much +with that of putrid Fevers, of which I shall speak +hereafter, as with that of the inflammatory Diseases +I have already considered: since in some Subjects +the Complaint of the Throat has evidently +been a Symptom of a putrid Fever, rather than +of the chiefly apparent Disease, a Quinsey. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id181" id="id179"><sup>31</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id180">§ 122</span>. Disorders of the Throat are, with +Respect to particular Persons, an habitual Disease +returning every Year, and sometimes oftner than +once a Year. They may be prevented by the +same Means, which I have directed for the +Preservation from habitual Pleurisies <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id144">§ 100</a>; and +by defending the Head and the Neck from the +Cold; especially after being heated by Hunting, +or any violent Exercise, or even by singing long +and loud, which may be considered as an extraordinary +Exercise of some of the Parts affected in +this Disease.</p> +<span class="target" id="ib139"/></div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head171-chapter-vii"> +<span id="chap-vii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="139" id="page-139"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i171a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter VII.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-colds"> +<em class="italics">Of Colds.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 123.</div> +</div> +<span class="target" id="different-prejudices-concerning-colds"/><p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 3.60em" alt="T" src="images/i171b.png"/>here are many erroneous Prejudices, +with Regard to Colds, all of which +may be attended with pernicious Consequences. +The first is, that a Cold is +never dangerous; an Error which daily destroys +the Lives of many. I have already complained +of it for many Years past; and I have since beheld +a Multitude of such Examples of it, as have +but too sufficiently warranted my Complaints.</p> +<p class="pnext">No Person however, it is certain, dies merely +of a Cold, as long as it is nothing but a Cold +simply; but when, from Inattention and Neglect, +it is thrown upon, and occasions Distempers of +the Breast, it may, and often does, prove mortal. +<em class="italics">Colds destroy more than Plagues</em>, was the Answer +of a very sagacious and experienced Physician to +one of his Friends, who, being asked, how he +was in Health, replied, Very well, I have nothing +but a Cold.</p> +<p class="pnext">A second erroneous Prejudice is, that Colds +require no Means, no Medicines, and that they +last the longer for being nursed, or tampered +with. The last Article may be true indeed, with +<span class="pageno target" title="140" id="page-140"> </span>Respect to the Method, in which the Person affected +with them treats them; but the Principle +itself is false. Colds, like other Disorders, have +their proper Remedies; and are removed with +more or less Facility, as they are conducted better +or worse.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id182">§ 124</span>. A third Mistake is, that they are not +only considered as not dangerous, but are even +supposed wholesome too. Doubtless a Man had +better have a Cold than a more grievous Disease; +though it must be still better to have neither of +them. The most that can reasonably be said and +admitted on this Point, is, that when a checked, +or an obstructed Perspiration becomes the Cause +of a Distemper, it is fortunate that it produces +rather a Cold, than any very dreadful Disease, +which it frequently does: though it were to be +wished, that neither the Cause, nor its Effect existed. +A Cold constantly produces some Disorder +or Defect in the Functions of some Part or Parts +of the Body, and thus becomes the Cause of a +Disease. It is indeed a real Disorder itself, and +which, when in a violent Degree, makes a very +perceivable Assault upon our whole Machine. +Colds, with their Defluxions, considerably weaken +the Breast, and sooner or later considerably +impair the Health. Persons subject to frequent +Colds are never robust or strong; they often sink +into languid Disorders; and a frequent Aptitude +to take Cold is a Proof, that their Perspiration may +be easily checked and restrained; whence the +Lungs become oppressed and obstructed, which +<span class="pageno target" title="141" id="page-141"> </span>must always be attended with considerable Danger.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id183">§ 125</span>. We may be convinced of the Weakness +and Fallacy of these Prejudices, by considering +attentively the Nature of Colds; which are +nothing else than the very Diseases already described +in the three preceding Chapters, though +in their greatest Degree only.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Cold in Truth is almost constantly an inflammatory +Disease; a light Inflammation of the +Lungs, or of the Throat; of the Membrane or +very thin Skin, which lines the Nostrills, and +the Inside of certain Cavities in the Bones of the +Cheeks and Forehead. These Cavities communicate +with the Nose, in such a Manner, that +when one Part of this Membrane is affected with +an Inflammation, it is easily communicated to +the other Parts.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id184">§ 126</span>. It is scarcely necessary to describe the +Symptoms of a Cold, and it may be sufficient to +remark, 1. That their chief Cause is the same +with that, which most commonly produces the +Diseases already treated of, that is, an obstructed +Perspiration, and a Blood somewhat inflamed. +2. That whenever these Diseases affect great +Numbers, many Colds prevail at the same Time. +3. That the Symptoms which manifest a violent +Cold, greatly resemble those which precede +or usher in these Diseases. People are rarely attacked +by great Colds, without a shivering and +Fever; which last sometimes continues for many +Days. There is a Cough, a dry Cough, for some +<span class="pageno target" title="142" id="page-142"> </span>Time; after which some Expectoration ensues; +which allays the Cough, and lightens the Oppression; +at which Time the Cold may be said +to be maturated, or ripe. There are pretty often +slight Stitches, but unfixed or flying about, with +a little Complaint of the Throat. When the +Nostrills happen to be the Seat of the Disorder, +which is then very improperly termed a Cold of +the Brain, it is often attended with a vehement +Head-ach; which sometimes depends on an Irritation +of the Membrane, that lines the Cavities +in the Bone of the Forehead, or the maxillary +Sinusses, that is, the Cavities in the Jaws: At +first the Running from the Nose is very clear; +thin and sharp; afterwards, in Proportion to +the Abatement of the Inflammation, it becomes +thicker; and the Consistence and Colour of it +resemble those of what others cough up. The +Smell, the Taste and the Appetite are commonly +impaired by it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id185">§ 127</span>. Colds seem to be of no certain Duration +or Continuance. Those of the Head or +Brain generally last but a few Days; of the +Breast longer. Some Colds nevertheless terminate +in four or five Days. If they extend beyond +this Term they prove really hurtful. 1. Because +the Violence of the Cough disorders the +whole Machine; and particularly, by forcing up +the Blood to the Head. 2. By depriving the +Person afflicted of his usual Sleep, which is +almost constantly diminished by it. 3. By impairing +the Appetite, and confusing the Digestion, +<span class="pageno target" title="143" id="page-143"> </span>which is unavoidably lessened by it. 4. By weakening +the very Lungs, by the continual Agitations +from Coughing; whence all the Humours +being gradually determined towards them, as the +weakest Part, a continual Cough subsists. Hence +also they become overcharged with Humours, +which grow viscid there; the Respiration is overloaded +and oppressed; a slow Fever appears; +Nutrition almost ceases; the Patient becomes +very weak; sinks into a Wasting; an obstinate +Wakefulness and Anguish, and often dies in a +short Time. 5. By Reason that the Fever, +which almost constantly accompanies great Cold, +concurs to wear the body down.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id186">§ 128</span>. Wherefore, since a Cold is a Disease +of the same kind with Quinsies, Peripneumonies +and Inflammations of the Breast, it ought to be +treated in the same Manner. If it is a violent +one, Blood should be taken from the Arm, which +may considerably shorten its Duration: and this +becomes most essentially necessary, whenever the +Patient is of a sanguineous ruddy Complexion, +abounds with Blood, and has a strong Cough, +and great Head-ach. The Drinks <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id793">Nº. 1</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">2</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id797">3</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">4</a>, +should be very plentifully used. It is advantagious +to bathe the Feet in warm Water every Night +at going to Bed. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id188" id="id187"><sup>32</sup></a> In a Word, if the Patient +<span class="pageno target" title="144" id="page-144"> </span>is put into a Regimen, the Cure is very speedily +effected.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id189">§ 129</span>. The Disorder indeed, however, is often +so very slight, that it may be thought to require +very little, if any, medical Treatment, and +may be easily cured without Physick, by abstaining +from Flesh, Eggs, Broth, and Wine; from all +Food that is sharp, fat and heavy; and by dieting +upon Bread, Pulse, Fruit, and Water; particularly +by eating little or no Supper; and drinking, +if thirsty, a simple Ptisan of Barley, or an +Infusion of Elder Flowers, with the Addition of +a third or fourth Part of Milk. Bathing the +Feet, and the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id822">Nº. 20</a> contribute to dispose +the Patient to sleep. Five Tea-Cups of an +Infusion of the Red, or wild Poppy Leaves may +also be ventured on safely.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id190">§ 130</span>. When the Fever, Heat and Inflammation +wholly disappear; when the Patient has kept +to his Regimen for some Days, and his Blood is +well diluted, if the Cough and Want of Sleep +still continues, he may take in the Evening a +Dose of Storax <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id192" id="id191"><sup>33</sup></a> Pill, or of Venice Treacle with +<span class="pageno target" title="145" id="page-145"> </span>Elder Flower <span class="target" id="tea">Tea</span>, after bathing his Feet. +These Remedies by stilling the Cough, and restoring +Perspiration, frequently cure the Cold in +the Space of one Night. I confess at the same +Time, I have seen bad Consequences from such +Opiates, when given too early in the Complaint. +It is also necessary, when they are given, that the +Patient should have supt but very moderately, +and that his Supper should be digested.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id193">§ 131</span>. An immense Number of Remedies +are cried up for the Cure of Colds; such as Ptisans +of Apples or Pippins, of Liquorice, of dry +Raisins, of Figs, of Borage, of Ground-Ivy, of +<em class="italics">Veronica</em> or Speedwell, of Hysop, of Nettles, +<em class="italics">&c. &c.</em> I have no Design to depreciate them; +as all of them may possibly be useful: But unfortunately, +those who have seen any particular +one of them succeed in one Case, readily conclude +it to be the most excellent of them all; +which is a dangerous Error, because no one Case +is a sufficient Foundation to decide upon: which +besides none are qualified to do, who have not +often seen a great Number of such Cases; and +who do not so attentively observe the Effects of +different Medicines, as to determine on those +which most frequently agree with the Disorder; +<span class="pageno target" title="146" id="page-146"> </span>and which, in my Judgment, are those I have just +enumerated. I have known a Tea or Infusion of +Cherry Stalks, which is not a disagreeable Drink, +to cure a very inveterate Cold.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id194">§ 132</span>. In Colds of the Head or Brain, the +Steam of warm Water alone, or that in which +Elder Flowers, or some other mild aromatic +Herbs, have been boiled, commonly afford a +pretty speedy Relief. These are also serviceable +in Colds fallen on the Breast. See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id93">§ 55</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">It has been a Practice, though of no very long +standing, to give the Fat of a Whale in these +Cases; but this is a very crude indigestible kind +of Fat, and greasy oily Medicines seldom agree +with Colds. Besides, this Whales' Fat is very disagreeable +and rancid, that is rank; so that it were +better to forbear using it: I have sometimes seen +ill Effects from it, and rarely any good ones. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id196" id="id195"><sup>34</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id197">§ 133</span>. Such Persons as abate nothing of the +usual Quantity of their Food, when seized with +a Cold, and who swallow down large Quantities +of hot Water, ruin their Health. Their Digestion +ceases; the Cough begins to affect the +Stomach, without ceasing to afflict the Breast; +and they incur a Chance of sinking into the +Condition described <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id185">§ 127</a>, Nº. 4.</p> +<p class="pnext">Burnt Brandy and spiced Wine are very +<span class="pageno target" title="147" id="page-147"> </span>pernicious in the Beginning of Colds, and the Omission +of them must be a very prudent Omission. +If any good Effects have ever been known to attend +the Use of them, it has been towards the +going off of the Cold; when the Disorder maintained +its Ground, solely from the Weakness of +the Patient. Whenever this is the Case, there is +not the least Room for farther Relaxation; but +the Powders <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>, should be taken every Day +in a little Wine; and should the Humours seem +likely to be thrown upon the Lungs, Blisters +ought to be applied to the fleshy Part of the Legs.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id198">§ 134</span>. Drams, or <em class="italics">Liqueurs</em>, as they are called +in <em class="italics">French</em>, agree so very little in this last State, +that frequently a very small Quantity of them +revives a Cold that was just expiring. There +really are some Persons who never drink them +without taking Cold, which is not to be wondered +at, as they occasion a light Inflammation in the +Breast, which is equivalent to a Cold or Distillation.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nevertheless, People in this Disorder should not +expose themselves to violent cold Weather, if +there is a Possibility of avoiding it: though they +should equally guard too against excessive Heat. +Those, who inclose themselves in very hot Rooms, +never get quite cured; and how is it possible they +should be cured in such a Situation? Such Rooms, +abstracted from the Danger of coming out of +them, produce Colds in the same Manner that +Drams do, by producing a light inflammation in +the Breast.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="148" id="page-148"> </span><span class="target" id="id199">§ 135</span>. Persons subject to frequent Colds, which +Habits are sometimes termed <em class="italics">fluxionary</em>, or liable +to Distillations, imagine, they ought to keep themselves +very hot. This is an Error which thoroughly +destroys their Health. Such a Disposition +to take Cold arises from two Causes; either because +their Perspiration is easily impaired; or +sometimes from the Weakness of the Stomach or +the Lungs, which require particular Remedies. +When the Complaint arises from the Perspiration's +being easily disturbed and lessened, the hotter +they keep themselves, the more they sweat, +and increase their Complaint the more. This +incessantly warm Air lets down and weakens the +whole Machine, and more particularly the Lungs; +where the Humours finding less Resistance, are +continually derived, and are accumulated there. +The Skin, being constantly bathed in a small Sweat, +<span class="target" id="becomes">becomes</span> relaxed, soft, and incapable of compleating +its Functions: from which Failure the slightest +Cause produces a total Obstruction of <span class="target" id="perspiration">Perspiration</span>; +and a Multitude of languid Disorders +ensue.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="means-for-strengthening-and-curing-persons-very-subject-to-colds">These Patients thus circumstanced, redouble +their Precautions against the Cold, or even the +Coolness of the Air, while their utmost Cautions +are but so many effectual Means to lower their +Health; and this the more certainly, as their +Dread of the free Air necessarily subjects them to +a sedentary Life, which increases all their Symptoms; +while the hot Drinks they indulge in, +compleat their Severity. There is but one +<span class="pageno target" title="149" id="page-149"> </span>Method to cure People thus situated; that is, by accustoming +them gradually to the Air; to keep +them out of hot Chambers; to lessen their +Cloathing by Degrees; to make them sleep cool; +and to let them eat or drink nothing but what +is cold, Ice itself being wholesome in their Drink: +to make them use much Exercise; and finally, +if the Disorder be inveterate, to give them for a +considerable Time the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>, and make +them use the cold Bath. This Method succeeds +equally too with those, in whom the Disease originally +depended on a Weakness of the Stomach, +or of the Lungs: and in fact, at the End +of a certain Period, these three Causes are always +combined. Some Persons who have been subject, +for many Years, to catch Colds throughout +the Winter; and who, during that Season, never +went out, and drank every thing warm, have +been evidently the better, during the Winter of +1761, and 1762, for the Direction I have given +here. They now walk out every Day; drink +their Liquids cold; and by this Means entirely +escape Colds, and enjoy perfect Health.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id200">§ 136</span>. It is more customary indeed in Town, +than in the Country, to have different Troches, +and Compositions in the Mouth. I am not for +excluding this Habit; though I think nothing is +so efficacious as Juice of Liquorice; and provided +a sufficient Dose be taken, it affords certain +Relief. I have taken an Ounce and a half in +one Day, and have felt the good Consequences +of it very remarkably.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head182-chapter-viii"> +<span id="chap-viii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="150" id="page-150"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i182a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter VIII.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-diseases-of-the-teeth"> +<em class="italics">Of Diseases of the Teeth.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 137.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 3.60em" alt="T" src="images/i182b.png"/>he Diseases of the Teeth, which are +sometimes so tedious and so violent, as +to cause obstinate Wakefulness, a considerable +Degree of Fever, Raving, Inflammations, +Abscesses, Rottenness of the Bones, +Convulsions and Faintings, depend on three principal +Causes. 1. On a <em class="italics">Caries</em> or Rottenness of +the Teeth. 2. On an Inflammation of the +Nerves of the Teeth, or of the Membrane which +invests and covers them; and which affects the +Membrane of the Gums. 3. A cold Humour +or Defluxion that is determined to the Teeth, +and to their Nerves and Membrane.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id201">§ 138</span>. In the first of these Cases, the <em class="italics">Caries</em> +having eat down to, and exposed the naked +Nerve, the Air, Food and Drink irritate, or, as +it were sting it; and this irritation is attended +with Pain more or less violent. Every thing +that increases the Motion or Action of the affected +Part, as Exercise, Heat or Food, will be attended +with the same Consequence.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Tooth is greatly decayed, there is +no other Cure besides that by extracting it, without +<span class="pageno target" title="151" id="page-151"> </span>which the Pain continues; the Breath becomes +very offensive; the Gum is eat down; +the other Teeth, and sometimes even the Jaw-bone, +are infected with the Rottenness: besides, +that it prevents the Use of the other Teeth, which +are infected with a kind of tartarous Matter, and +decay.</p> +<p class="pnext">But when the Disorder is less considerable, the +Progress of it may sometimes be restrained, by +burning the Tooth with a hot Iron, or by filling +it with Lead, if it is fitted to receive and to retain +it. Different corroding Liquids are sometimes +used on these Occasions, <em class="italics">Aqua fortis</em> itself, and +Spirit of Vitriol: but such Applications are highly +dangerous, and ought to be excluded. When +the Patients, from Dread, reject the Operations +just mentioned, a little Oyl of Cloves may be applied, +by introducing a small Pellet of Cotton, dipt in +it, to the rotten hollow Tooth; which often affords +considerable Ease, and Respite. Some +make use of a Tincture of Opium, or Laudanum, +after the same Manner; and indeed these +two Medicines may be used together in equal +Quantities. I have often succeeded with <em class="italics">Hoffman's</em> +mineral anodyne Liquor; which seemed +indeed, for a few Moments, to increase the Pain; +but Ease generally ensues after spitting a little +Time. A Gargarism made of the Herb <em class="italics">Argentina</em>; +that is Silver-weed or wild Tansey, in +Water, frequently appeases the Pain that results +from a <em class="italics">Caries</em> of the Teeth: and in such Cases +many People have found themselves at Ease, +<span class="pageno target" title="152" id="page-152"> </span>under a constant Use of it. It certainly is an +Application that cannot hurt, and is even beneficial to +the Gums. Others have been relieved by rubbing +their Faces over with Honey.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id202">§ 139</span>. The second Cause is the Inflammation +of the Nerve within the Substance, or of the +Membrane on the Outside, of the Tooth. This +is discovered by the Patient's Temperament, Age +and Manner of living. They who are young, +sanguine, who heat themselves much, whether +by Labour, by their Food, their Drink, by sitting +up late, or by any other Excess: they who have +been accustomed to any Discharges or Eruptions +of Blood, whether natural or artificial, and who +cease to have them as usual, are much exposed to +the Tooth-ach, from this Cause.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Pain, or rather Torment, if in an acute +Degree, commonly happens very suddenly, and +often after some heating Cause. The Pulse is +strong and full; the Countenance considerably +red; the Mouth extremely hot: there is often a +pretty high Fever, and a violent Head-ach. The +Gums, or some Part of them, become inflamed, +swelled, and sometimes an Abscess appears. At +other times the Humours throw themselves upon +the more external Parts; the Cheek swells, and +the Pain abates. When the Cheek swells, but +without any Diminution of the Pain, it then becomes +an Augmentation, but no essential Change, +of the Disorder.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id203">§ 140</span>. In this Species of the Disease, we must +have Recourse to the general Method of treating +<span class="pageno target" title="153" id="page-153"> </span>inflammatory Disorders, and direct Bleeding, +which often produces immediate Ease, if performed +early. After Bleeding, the Patient should +gargle with Barley Water, or Milk and Water; +and apply an emollient Cataplasm to the Cheek. +If an Abscess or little Imposthume appears, the +Suppuration or ripening of it is to be promoted, +by holding continually in the Mouth some hot +Milk, or Figs boiled in some Milk: and as soon +as ever it seems ripe, it should be opened, which +may be done easily, and without any Pain. The +Disorder, when depending on this Cause, is sometimes +not so violent, but of a longer Duration, +and returns whenever the Patient heats himself; +when he goes to Bed; when he eats any heating +Food, or Drink, Wine or Coffee. In this Case +he should be bled, without which his other Medicines +will have little Effect; and he should +bathe his Feet in warm Water for some Evenings +successively, taking one Dose of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id822">Nº. 20</a>. +Entire Abstinence from Wine and Meat, +especially at Night, has cured several Persons of +inveterate and obstinate Maladies of the Teeth.</p> +<p class="pnext">In this Species of Tooth-ach, all hot Remedies +are pernicious; and it often happens that Opium, +Venice Treacle, and Storax Pills, are so far from +producing the Relief expected from them, that +they have aggravated the Pain.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id204">§ 141</span>. When the Disease arises from a cold +Distillation, or Humour, tending to these Parts, +it is commonly (though equally painful) attended +with less violent Symptoms. The Pulse is +<span class="pageno target" title="154" id="page-154"> </span>neither strong, full nor quick; the Mouth is less +heated, and less swelled. In such Cases, the afflicted +should be purged with the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id823">Nº. 21</a>, +which has sometimes perfectly cured very obstinate +Complaints of this Sort. After purging +they should make Use of the Diet Drink of the +Woods <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id826">Nº. 22</a>. This has cured Tooth-achs, +which have baffled other Attempts for many +Years; but it must be added, this Drink would +be hurtful in the Disease from a different Cause. +Blisters to the Nape of the Neck, or <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id207" id="id205"><sup>35</sup></a> elsewhere, +it matters not greatly where, have often extraordinary +good Effects, by diverting the Humour, +and restoring a compleat Perspiration. In short +in this Species, we may employ, not only with +Safety, but with Success (especially after due +purging) Pills of Storax, Opium and Venice +Treacle. Acrid sharp Remedies, such as hard +spun <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id207" id="id206"><sup>35</sup></a> Tobacco, Root of Pellitory of <em class="italics">Spain</em>, &c. +by exciting much Spitting, discharge part of the +<span class="pageno target" title="155" id="page-155"> </span>Humour which causes the Disease, and hence +diminish the Pain. The Smoke of Tobacco also +succeeds now and then in this Disorder, whether +this happens from the Discharge of the Rheum +or Spittle it occasions; or whether it is owing to +any anodyne Efficacy of this Plant, in which it +resembles Opium.</p> +<!-- [footnote is referenced twice on page, hence fixed number 35to compile pdf] --> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id208">§ 142</span>. As this last Cause is often the Consequence +of a Weakness in the Stomach, it daily +happens that we see some People, whose Disorder +from this Cause is augmented, in Proportion +as they indulge in a cooling, refreshing Way of +living. The Increase of the Disorder disposes +them to increase the Dose of what they mistake +for its Remedy, in Proportion to which their +Pain only increases. There is a Necessity that +such Persons should alter this Method; and +make use of such Medicines as are proper to +strengthen the Stomach, and to restore Perspiration. +The Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>. has often produced +the best Consequences, when I have ordered it +in these Cases; and it never fails to dissipate the +Tooth-ach very speedily, which returns periodically +at stated Days and Hours. I have also +cured some Persons who never drank Wine, by +advising them to the Use of it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id209">§ 143</span>. But besides the Diseases of the Teeth, +that are owing to these three principal Causes, +which are the most common ones; there are +some very tedious and most tormenting Disorders +of them, that are occasioned by a general Acrimony, +or great Sharpness, of the Mass of Blood, +<span class="pageno target" title="156" id="page-156"> </span>and which are never cured by any other Medicines +but such, as are proper to correct that Acrimony. +When it is of a scorbutic Nature, the +wild Horse-radish (Pepperwort) Water Cresses, +Brooklime, Sorrel, and Wood-sorrell correct and +cure it. If it is of a different Nature, it requires +different Remedies. But very particular Details +do not come within the Plan of this Work. As +the Malady is of the chronical or tedious kind, +it allows Time to consider and consult more +particularly about it.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Gout and the Rheumatism are sometimes +transferred to the Teeth, and give Rise to the +most excruciating Pains; which must be treated +like the Diseases from which they arise.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id210">§ 144</span>. From what has been said on this Disorder, +the Reader will discern, in what that imaginary +Oddness may consist, which has been ascribed +to it, from the same Application's relieving +one Person in it, and not affording the least Relief +to another. Now the plain Reason of this +is, that these Applications are always directed, +without an exact Knowledge of the particular +Cause of the Disease, in different Subjects and +Circumstances; whence the Pain from a rotten +Tooth, is treated like that from an Inflammation; +that from an Inflammation, like the Pain from a +cold Humour or Fluxion; and this last like a +Pain caused by a scorbutic Acrimony: so that +the Disappointment is not in the least surprizing. +Perhaps Physicians themselves do not always attend +distinctly enough to the Nature of each +<span class="pageno target" title="157" id="page-157"> </span>particular Disorder: and even when they do, +they content themselves with directing some of +the less potent Medicines, which may be inadequate +to accomplish the necessary Effect. If the +Distemper truly be of an inflammatory Disposition, +Bleeding is indispensible to the Cure.</p> +<p class="pnext">It happens in Fact, with Regard to the Diseases +of the Teeth, as well as to all other Diseases, +that they arise from different Causes; and if these +Causes are not opposed by Medicines suited to +them, the Disease, far from being cured, is aggravated.</p> +<p class="pnext">I have cured violent Tooth-achs, of the lower +Jaw, by applying a Plaister of Meal, the White of +an Egg, Brandy and Mastich, at the Corner of that +Jaw, over the Spot where the Pulsation of the +Artery may be perceived: and I have also mitigated +the most excruciating Pains of the Head, +by applying the same Plaister upon the temporal +Artery.</p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<p class="center pnext"><img class="align-middle" style="width: 10em" alt="****" src="images/i189.png"/></p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<span class="target" id="ib158"/></div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head190-chapter-ix"> +<span id="chap-ix"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="158" id="page-158"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i190a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter IX.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-apoplexy"> +<em class="italics">Of the Apoplexy.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 145.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="E" src="images/i190b.png"/>very Person has some Idea of the +Disease termed an Apoplexy, which is +a sudden Privation or Loss of all Sense, +and of all voluntary Motion; the Pulse +at the same Time being kept up, but Respiration +or Breathing, being oppressed. I shall treat of +this Disease only in a brief Manner, as it is not +common in our Country Villages; and as I have +expatiated on it in a different Manner in a Letter +to Dr. <span class="small-caps">Haller</span>, published in 1761.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id211">§ 146</span>. This Disease is generally distinguished +into two Kinds, the sanguineous and serous Apoplexy. +Each of them results from an Overfulness +of the Blood Vessels of the Brain, which presses +upon, and prevents or impairs the Functions of +the Nerves. The whole Difference between these +two Species consists in this, that the sanguineous +Apoplexy prevails among strong robust Persons, +who have a rich, heavy, thick and inflammable +Blood, and that in a large Quantity; in which +Circumstance it becomes a genuine inflammatory +Distemper. The serous, or humoral Apoplexy +<span class="pageno target" title="159" id="page-159"> </span>invades Persons of a less robust Constitution; +whose Blood is more dilute or watery; and rather +viscid, or lightly gelatinous, than heavy or rich; +whole Vessels are in a more relaxed State; and +who abound more in other Humours than in red +Blood.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id212">§ 147</span>. When the first kind of this Disease +exists in its most violent Degree, it is then sometimes +termed, an apoplectic Stroke, or thundering +Apoplexy, which kills in a Moment or instantaneously, +and admits of no Remedies. When +the Assault is less violent, and we find the Patient +with a strong, full and raised Pulse, his Visage +red and bloated, and his Neck swelled up; +with an oppressed and loud hoarse Respiration; +being sensible of nothing, and capable of no +other Motions, except some Efforts to vomit, the +Case is not always equally desperate. We must +therefore immediately,</p> +<p class="pnext">1. Entirely uncover the Patient's Head, covering +the rest of his Body but very lightly; procure +him instantly very fresh free Air, and leave his +Neck quite unbound and open.</p> +<p class="pnext">2. His Head should be placed as high as may +be, with his Feet hanging down.</p> +<p class="pnext">3. He must lose from twelve to fifteen Ounces +of Blood, from a free open Orifice in the Arm: +the Strength or Violence with which the Blood +sallies out, should determine the Surgeon to take +a few Ounces more or less. It should be repeated +to the third or fourth Time, within the Space +<span class="pageno target" title="160" id="page-160"> </span>of three or four Hours; if the Symptoms seem to +require it, either in the Arm, or in the Foot.</p> +<p class="pnext">4. A Glyster should be given of a Decoction +of the first emollient opening Herbs that can be +got, with four Spoonfuls of Oil, one Spoonful +of Salt: and this should be repeated every three +Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext">5. If it is possible, he should be made to swallow +Water plentifully, in each Pot of which +three Drams of Nitre are to be dissolved.</p> +<p class="pnext">6. As soon as the Height and Violence of the +Pulse abates; when his Breathing becomes less +oppressed and difficult, and his Countenance less +inflamed, he should take the Decoction <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a>; +or, if it cannot be got ready in Time, he should +take three Quarters of an Ounce of Cream of +Tartar, and drink Whey plentifully after it. This +Medicine succeeded extremely well with me in a +Case, where I could not readily procure any +other.</p> +<p class="pnext">7. He should avoid all strong Liquor, Wine, +distilled Spirit, whether inwardly or by outward +Application, and should even be prevented from <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id214" id="id213"><sup>36</sup></a> smelling them.</p> +<p class="pnext">8. The Patient should be stirred, moved, or +even touched, as little as it is possible: in a Word +every Thing must be avoided that can give him +<span class="pageno target" title="161" id="page-161"> </span>the least Agitation. This Advice, I am sensible, +is directly contrary to the common Practice; +notwithstanding which it is founded in Reason, +approved by Experience, and absolutely necessary. +In Fact, the whole Evil results from the Blood +being forced up with too much Force, and in +too great a Quantity, to the Brain; which being +thence in a State of Compression, prevents every +Movement and every Influence of the Nerves. +In Order, therefore, to re-establish these Movements, +the Brain must be unloaded, by diminishing +the Force of the Blood. But strong Liquors, +Wines, Spirits, volatile Salts, all Agitation +and Frictions augment it, and by that very +Means increase the Load, the Embarrassment of +the Brain, and thus heighten the Disease itself. +On the contrary, every Thing that calms the Circulation, +contributes to recall Sensation and voluntary +Motion the sooner.</p> +<p class="pnext">9. Strong Ligatures should be made about the +Thighs under the Ham: By this Means the +Blood is prevented in its Ascent from the Legs, +and less is carried up to the Head.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Patient seems gradually, and in Proportion +as he takes proper Medicines, to advance into a +less violent State, there may be some Hopes. But +if he rather grows worse after his earliest Evacuations, +the Case is desperate.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id215">§ 148</span>. When Nature and Art effect his Recovery, +his Senses return: though there frequently +remains a little <em class="italics">Delirium</em> or Wandering for +<span class="pageno target" title="162" id="page-162"> </span>some Time; and almost always a paralytic Defect, +more or less, of the Tongue, the Arm, the +Leg, and the Muscles of the same Side of the +Face. This Palsy sometimes goes off gradually, +by the Help of cooling Purges from Time to +Time, and a Diet that is but very moderately and +lightly nourishing. All hot Medicines are extremely +hurtful in this Case, and may pave the +Way to a repeated Attack. A Vomit might be +even fatal, and has been more than once so. It +should be absolutely forbidden; nor should we +even promote, by Draughts of warm Water, the +Efforts of the Patient to vomit. They do not +any ways depend on any Humour or Mass in the +Stomach; but on the Oppression and Embarrassment +of the Brain: and the more considerable +such Efforts are, the more such Oppression is increased: +by Reason that as long as they continue, +the Blood cannot return from the Head, by which +Means the Brain remains overcharged.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id216">§ 149</span>. The other Species of Apoplexy is attended +with the like Symptoms, excepting the +Pulse not being so high nor strong; the Countenance +being also less red, sometimes even pale; +the Breathing seems less oppressed; and sometimes +the Sick have a greater Facility to vomit, +and discharge more upwards.</p> +<p class="pnext">As this Kind of the Disease attacks Persons +who abound less in Blood; who are less strong, +and less heated or inflamed, Bleeding is not often +at all necessary: at least the Repetition of it +<span class="pageno target" title="163" id="page-163"> </span>is scarcely ever so: and should the Pulse have but +a small Fulness, and not the least unnatural Hardness, +Bleeding might even be pernicious.</p> +<p class="pnext">1. The Patient however should be placed as +was directed in the former Mode of this Disease; +though it seems not equally necessary here.</p> +<p class="pnext">2. He should receive a Glyster, but without +Oil, with double the Quantity of Salt, and a Bit +of Soap of the Size of a small Egg; or with four +or five Sprigs of Hedge Hyssop. It may be repeated +twice a Day.</p> +<p class="pnext">3. He should be purged with the Powder +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">Nº. 4</a>. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id218" id="id217"><sup>37</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext">4. His common Drink may be a Strong Infusion +of Leaves of Balm.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="164" id="page-164"> </span>5. The Purge should be repeated the third +Day.</p> +<p class="pnext">6. Blisters should immediately be applied to +the fleshy Part of the Legs, or between the +Shoulder Blades. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id220" id="id219"><sup>38</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext">7. Should Nature seem disposed to relieve herself +by Sweatings, it should be encouraged; and I +have often known an Infusion of the <em class="italics">Carduus benedictus</em>, +or blessed Thistle, produce this Effect very +successfully. If this Method be entered upon, +the Sweat ought to be kept up (without stirring +if possible) for many Days. It has then sometimes +happened, that at the End of nine Days, +the Patient has been totally freed from the Palsy, +which commonly succeeds this Species of the +Apoplexy, just as it does the other.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id221">§ 150</span>. Persons who have been attacked with +either kinds of this Disease are liable to subsequent +ones; each of which is more dangerous +than that preceding: whence an Endeavour +to obviate or prevent such Relapses becomes of +the utmost Importance. This is to be effected in +each Sort by a very exact, and rather severe Diet, +even to diminishing the usual Quantity of the +Patient's Food; the most essential Precaution, to +be observed by any who have been once assaulted +with it, being entirely to leave off Suppers. +<span class="pageno target" title="165" id="page-165"> </span>Indeed those, who have been once attacked with +the <em class="italics">first</em>, the <em class="italics">sanguineous Apoplexies</em>, should be still +more exact, more upon their Guard, than the +others. They should deny themselves whatever +is rich and juicy, hot or aromatic, sharp, Wine, +distilled Liquors and Coffee. They should chiefly +confine themselves to Garden-Stuff, Fruits and +Acids; such should eat but little Flesh, and only +those called white; taking every Week two +or three Doses of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>, in a +Morning fasting, in a Glass of Water. They +should be purged twice or thrice a Year with +the Draught <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a>; use daily Exercise; avoid +very hot Rooms, and the violent Heat of the +Sun. They should go to Bed betimes, rise early, +never lie in Bed above eight Hours: and if it is +observed that their Blood increases considerably, +and has a Tendency towards the Head, they +should be bled without Hesitation: and for some +Days restrain themselves entirely to a thin and low +Regimen, without taking any solid Food. In these +Circumstances warm Bathings are hurtful. In +the other, the serous, Apoplexy, instead of purging +with <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a>, the Patient should take the +Purge <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id823">Nº. 21</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id222">§ 151</span>. The same Means, that are proper to +prevent a Relapse, might also obviate or keep off +a primary or first Assault, if employed in Time: +for notwithstanding it may happen very suddenly, +yet this Disease foreshews itself many Weeks, +sometimes many Months, nay even Years beforehand, +by Vertigos, Heaviness of the Head; small +<span class="pageno target" title="166" id="page-166"> </span>Defects of the Tongue or Speech; short and +momentary Palsies, sometimes of one, sometimes +of another, Part: sometimes by Loathings and +Reachings to vomit; without supposing any Obstruction +or Load in the first Passages, or any +other Cause in the Stomach, or the adjoining +Parts. There happens also some particular +Change in the Looks and Visage not easy to be described: +sharp and short Pains about the Region +of the Heart; an Abatement of the Strength, +without any discernible Cause of it. Besides there +are still some other Signs, which signify the +Ascent of the Humours too much to the Head, +and shew, that the Functions of the Brain are +embarrassed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some Persons are liable to certain Symptoms +and Appearances, which arise from the same Cause +as an Apoplexy; and which indeed may be considered +as very light benign Apoplexies, of which +they sustain many Attacks, and yet without any +considerable Annoyance of their Health. The +Blood, all at once as it were, flushes up to their +Heads: they appear heedless or blundering; and +have sometimes Disgusts and <em class="italics">Nauseas</em>, and yet +without any Abatement of their Understanding, +their Senses, or Motion of any Sort. Tranquillity +of Mind and Body, once Bleeding, and a few +Glysters usually carry it off soon after its Invasion. +The Returns of it may be prevented by the Regimen +directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id221">§ 150</a>; and especially by a frequent +Use of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>. At the long +Run however, one of these Attacks commonly +<span class="pageno target" title="167" id="page-167"> </span>degenerates into a mortal Apoplexy: though this +may be retarded for a very long Time by an exact +Regimen, and by avoiding all strong Commotions +of the Mind, but especially that of Anger +or violent Rage.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head199-chapter-x"> +<span id="chap-x"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i199a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter X.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-violent-influence-or-strokes-of-the-sun"> +<span id="of-morbid-strokes-of-the-sun"/><em class="italics">Of the violent Influence, or Strokes, of the Sun.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 152.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i199b.png"/>his Appellation is applied to those +Disorders, which arise from too violent +an Influence of the Heat of the Sun, +immediately upon the Head; and +which in one Word may be termed <em class="italics">Insolation</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">If we consider that Wood, Stone and Metals, +when long exposed to the Sun, become very hot, +and that even in temperate Climates, to such a +Degree, that they can scarcely be touched without +some Sensation of burning, we may easily +conceive the Risk a Person undergoes, in having +his Head exposed to the same Degree of Heat. +The Blood-Vessels grow dry, the Blood itself +becomes condensed or thickened, and a real +Inflammation is formed, which has proved mortal +in a very little Time. It was this Distemper, a +Stroke of the Sun, which killed <em class="italics">Manasses</em> the +Husband of <em class="italics">Judith</em>. ‘For as he was among the +<span class="pageno target" title="168" id="page-168"> </span>Labourers who bound up the Sheafs in the +Fields, the Heat struck upon his Head, and +he was taken ill; he went to Bed and he died.’ +The Signs which precede and attend this Disease +are, being exposed in a Place where the Sun +shines forth with great Force and Ardour; a violent +Head-ach, attended with a very hot and +extremely dry Skin: the Eyes are also dry and +red, being neither able to remain open, nor yet +to bear the Light; and sometimes there is a kind +of continual and involuntary Motion in the Eyelid; +while some Degree of Relief is perceivable +from the Application of any cooling Liquor. It +often happens that some cannot possibly sleep; +and at other times they have a great Drowsiness, +but attended with outrageous Wakenings: there +is a very strong Fever; a great Faintness, and a +total Disrelish and Loathing. Sometimes the +Patient is very thirsty, and at other times not at +all: and the Skin of his Face often looks as +though it were burnt.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id223">§ 153</span>. People may be affected with the Disease +from this Cause, at two different Seasons of +the Year; that is, either in the Spring, or during +the very raging Heats; but their Events are very +different. Country People and Labourers are +but little liable to the former. They chiefly affect +the Inhabitants of Cities, and delicate Persons, +who have used very little Exercise in the +Winter, and abound with superfluous Humours. +If thus circumstanced they expose themselves to +the Sun, as even in the Spring he attains a +<span class="pageno target" title="169" id="page-169"> </span>considerable Force; and, by the Course of Life +they have led, their Humours are already much +disposed to mount to the Head; while the Coolness +of the Soil, especially when it has rained, +prevents their Feet from being so easily warmed; +the Power of the Sun acts upon their Head like +a Blister, attracting a great Quantity of Humours +to it. This produces excruciating Pains of the +Head, frequently accompanied with quick and +violent Shootings, and with Pain in the Eyes; +notwithstanding this Degree of the Malady is +seldom dangerous. Country People, and even +such Inhabitants of Cities and Towns, as have not +forbore to exercise themselves in Winter, have +no Sort of Dread of these Strokes of the Sun, in +the Spring of the Year. Its Summer Strokes are +much more vehement and troublesome, and assault +Labourers and Travellers, who are for a +long Time exposed to the Fervour of it. Then +it is that the Disease is aggravated to its highest +Pitch, those who are thus struck often dying +upon the Spot. In the hot Climates this Cause +destroys many in the very Streets, and makes +dreadful Havock among Armies on the March, +and at Sieges. Some tragical Effects of it, on +such Occasions, are seen even in the temperate +Countries. After having marched a whole Day +in the Sun, a Man shall fall into a Lethargy, and +die within some Hours, with the Symptoms of +raving Madness. I have seen a Tyler in a very +hot Day, complaining to his Comrade of a violent +Pain in his Head, which increased every Moment +<span class="pageno target" title="170" id="page-170"> </span>almost; and at the very Instant when he purposed +to retire out of the Sun, he sunk down dead, and +fell down from the House he was slating. This +same Cause produces very often in the Country +some most dangerous Phrenzies, which are called +there hot or burning Fevers. Every Year furnishes +but too many of them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id224">§ 154</span>. The Vehemence of the Sun is still +more dangerous to those, who venture to sleep +exposed to it. Two Mowers who fell asleep on a +Haycock, being wakened by some others, immediately +on waking, staggered, and pronouncing +a few incoherent unmeaning Words, died. When +the Violence of Wine and that of the Sun are +combined, they kill very suddenly: nor is there +a single Year in which Peasants are not found +dead on the Highroads; who being drunk endeavoured +to lie down in some Corner, where +they perished by an Apoplexy, from the Heat of +the Sun and of strong Drink. Those of them who +escape so speedy and premature a Death, are subject +for the Remainder of their Lives, to chronical, or +tedious Head-achs; and to suffer some little Disorder +and Confusion in their Ideas. I have seen +some Cases, when after violent Head-achs of +some Days Continuance, the Disease has been +transferred to the Eyelids, which continued a +long Time red and distended, so that they could +not be kept asunder or open. It has also +been known, that some Persons have been struck +by the Sun into a <em class="italics">Delirium</em> or Raving, without +a Fever, and without complaining of a Head-ach. +<span class="pageno target" title="171" id="page-171"> </span>Sometimes a <em class="italics">Gutta Serena</em> has been its Consequence; +and it is very common to see People, +whose long Continuance under the strong Light +and Influence of the Sun, has made such an Impression +upon the Eyes, as presents them with different +Bodies flying about in the Air, which distract +and confuse their Sight.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Man of forty two Years of Age, having +been exposed for several Hours to the violent +Heat of the Sun, with a very small Cap or Bonnet; +and having past the following Night in the +open Air, was attacked the next Day with a most +severe Head-ach, a burning Fever, Reachings to +vomit, great Anguish, and red and sparkling +Eyes. Notwithstanding the best Assistance of +several Physicians, he became phrenitic on the +fifth Day, and died on the ninth. Suppurated +Matter was discharged from his Mouth, one of +his Nostrils, and his right Ear, a few Hours before +his Death; <span class="target" id="upon-dissection-a-small-abscess">upon Dissection a small Abscess</span> +was found within the Skull; and the whole +Brain, as well as all the Membranes inclosing it, +were entirely corrupted.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id225">§ 155</span>. In very young Children, who are not, +or never should be, exposed for any long Time +to such excessive Heat (and whom a slight Cause +will often affect) this Malady discovers itself by a +heavy deep Drowsiness, which lasts for several +Days; also by incessant Ravings mingled with +Rage and Terror, much the same as when they +are affected with violent Fear: and sometimes +by convulsive Twitchings; by Head-achs which +<span class="pageno target" title="172" id="page-172"> </span>returned at certain Periods, and continual Vomitings. +I have seen Children, who, after a Stroke +of the Sun, have been harrassed a long Time with +a little Cough.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id226">§ 156</span>. Old Men who often expose themselves +imprudently to the Sun, are little apprized of all +the Danger they incur by it. A certain Person, +who purposely sunned himself for a considerable +Time, in the clear Day of an intermitting tertian +Fever, underwent the Assault of an Apoplexy, +which carried him off the following Day. And +even when the Disease may not be so speedy and +violent, yet this Custom (of sunning in hot Weather) +certainly disposes to an Apoplexy, and to +Disorders of the Head. One of the slightest Effects +of much solar Heat upon the Head is, to +cause a Defluxion from the Brain, a Swelling of +the Glands of the Neck, and a Dryness of the +Eyes, which sometimes continues for a considerable +Term after it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id227">§ 157</span>. The effect of too much culinary, or +common Fire, is of the same Quality with that of +the Sun. A Man who fell asleep with his Head +directly opposite, and probably, very near to the +Fire, went off in an Apoplexy, during his Nap.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id228">§ 158</span>. The Action of too violent a Sun is +not only pernicious, when it falls upon the Head; +but it is also hurtful to other Parts; and those +who continue long exposed to it, though their +Heads should not be affected, experience violent +Pains, a disagreeable Sensation of Heat, and a +considerable Stiffness in the Parts that have been, +<span class="pageno target" title="173" id="page-173"> </span>in some Manner, parched by it; as in the Legs, +the Knees, the Thighs, Reins and Arms; and +sometimes they prove feverish.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id229">§ 159</span>. In contemplating the Case of a Patient, +<em class="italics">Sun-struck</em>, as we may term it, we must endeavour +to distinguish, whether there may not be also +some other joint Causes concurring to the Effect. +A Traveller, a labouring Man, is often as much +affected by the Fatigue of his Journey, or of his +Labour, as he is by the Influence of solar Heat.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id230">§ 160</span>. It is necessary to set about the Cure of +this Disease, as soon as ever we are satisfied of its +Existence: for such as might have been easily +preserved by an early Application, are considerably +endangered by a Neglect of it. The Method +of treating this is very much the same, with that +of the inflammatory Diseases already mentioned; +that is, by Bleeding, and cooling Medicines of +various Kinds in their Drinks, by Bathings, and +by Glysters. And 1. If the Disease be very high +and urgent, a large Quantity of Blood should be +taken away, and occasionally repeated. <span class="small-caps">Lewis</span> +the XIV. was bled nine Times to prevent the +Fatality of a Stroke of the Sun, which he received +<span class="target" id="in-hunting-in-1658">in Hunting in 1658.</span></p> +<p class="pnext">2. After Bleeding, the Patient's Legs should +be plunged into warm Water. This is one of the +Applications that affords the most speedy Relief; +and I have seen the Head-ach go off and return +again, in Proportion to the Repetition, and the +Duration, of these Bathings of the Legs. When +the Disorder is highly dangerous, it will be +<span class="pageno target" title="174" id="page-174"> </span>necessary to treat the Patient with <em class="italics">Semicupia</em>, or +warm Baths, in which he may sit up to his Hips; +and in the most dangerous Degrees of it, even to +bathe the whole Body: but the Water in this +Case, as well as in Bathings of the Feet, should +be only sensibly warm: the Use of hot would +be highly pernicious.</p> +<p class="pnext">3. Glysters made from a Decoction of any of +the emollient Herbs are also very effectual.</p> +<p class="pnext">4. The Patient should drink plentifully of Almond +Emulsion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">Nº. 4</a>; of Limonade, which is a +Mixture of the Juice of Lemons and Water, (and +is the best Drink in this Disease) of Water and +Vinegar, which is a very good Substitute for Limonade; +and of, what is still more efficacious, +very clear Whey, with the Addition of a little +Vinegar. These various Drinks may all be taken +cold; Linen Cloths dipt in cold Water and Vinegar +of Roses may be applied to the Forehead, +the Temples, or all over the Head, which is +equivalent to every other Application used upon +such Occasions. Those which are the most cried +up, are the Juice of Purslain, of Lettuce, of +Houseleek, and of Vervain. The Drink <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id842">Nº. 32</a> +is also serviceable, taken every Morning fasting.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id231">§ 161</span>. Cold Baths have sometimes recovered +Persons out of such violent Symptoms, from this +Cause, as have been almost quite despaired of.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Man twenty Years of Age, having been a +very long Time exposed to the scorching Sun, +became violently delirious, without a Fever, and +proved really mad. After repeated Bleedings, +<span class="pageno target" title="175" id="page-175"> </span>he was thrown into a cold Bath, which was also +frequently repeated; pouring cold Water, at the +same Time, upon his Head. With such Assistance +he recovered, though very gradually.</p> +<p class="pnext">An Officer who had rode Post for several Days +successively, in very hot Weather, swooned away, +immediately on dismounting; from which he +could not be recovered by the ordinary Assistance +in such Cases. He was saved however, in Consequence +of being plunged into a Bath of freezing +Water. It should be observed however, that +in these Cases the cold Bath should never be recurred +to, without previous Bleeding.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id232">§ 162</span>. It is past Doubt, that if a Person stands +still in the violent Heat of the Sun, he is more +liable to be struck with it, than if he walks about; +and the Use of white Hats, or of some Folds of +clean white Paper under a black one, may sensibly +contribute to prevent any Injury from the +considerable Heat of the Sun; though it is a very +incompetent Defence against a violent Degree +of it.</p> +<p class="pnext">The natural Constitution, or even that Constitution, +which has been formed from long Custom +and Habit, make a very great Difference between +the Effects of solar Heat on different Persons. +People insensibly accustom themselves to +the Impressions of it, as they do to those of all the +other Bodies and Elements, which are continually +acting upon us; and by Degrees we arrive at a +Power of sustaining his violent Heat with Impunity: +just as others arrive at the Hardiness of +<span class="pageno target" title="176" id="page-176"> </span>bearing the most rigid Colds, with very little +Complaint or Inconvenience. The human Body +is capable of supporting many more Violences +and Extremes, than it commonly does. Its natural +Force is scarcely ever ascertained among civilized +Nations; because their Education generally +tends to impair and lessen it, and always succeeds +in this Respect. If we were inclined +to consider a purely natural, a simply physical +Man, we must look for him among savage Nations; +where only we can discover what we are +able to be, and to bear. We certainly could not +fail of being Gainers, by adopting their corporal +Education; neither does it seem as yet to have +been infallibly demonstrated, that we should be +great Losers in commuting our moral Education +for theirs. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id234" id="id233"><sup>39</sup></a></p> +<span class="target" id="ib177"/></div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head209-chapter-xi"> +<span id="chap-xi"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="177" id="page-177"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i209a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XI.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-rheumatism"> +<em class="italics">Of the Rheumatism.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 163.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst" id="of-the-acute-rheumatism-attended-with-a-fever"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i209b.png"/>he Rheumatism may exist either with +or without a Fever. The first of these +may be classed among the Diseases, of +which I have already treated; being an +Inflammation which is manifested by a violent +Fever, preceded by Shivering, a subsequent Heat, +hard Pulse, and a Head-ach. Sometimes indeed +an extraordinary Coldness, with general Uneasiness +and Inquietude, exists several Days before +the Fever is perceived. On the second or third +Day, and sometimes even on the first, the Patient +is seized with a violent Pain in some Part of +his Body, but especially about the Joints, which +entirely prevents their Motion, and which is often +accompanied with Heat, Redness and a Swelling +of the Part. The Knee is often the first +Part attacked, and sometimes both the Knees at +once. When the Pain is fixed, an Abatement +of the Fever frequently happens; though in some +other Persons it continues for several Days, and +increases every Evening. The Pain diminishes +in one Part after a Duration of some Days, and +then invades some other. From the Knee it +<span class="pageno target" title="178" id="page-178"> </span>descends to the Foot, or mounts to the Hip, to the +Loins, the Shoulder-blades, Elbow, Wrist, the +Nape of the Neck, and frequently is felt in the +intermediate Parts. Sometimes one Part is quite +free from Pain, when another is attacked; at +other Times many Parts are seized nearly at the +same Instant; and I have sometimes seen every +Joint afflicted at once. In this Case the Patient +is in a very terrible Situation, being incapable of +any Motion, and even dreading the Assistance of +his Attendants, as he can scarcely admit of touching, +without a sensible Aggravation of his Pains. +He is unable to bear even the Weight of the +Bed-clothes, which must be, as it were, arched +over his Limbs by a proper Contrivance, to prevent +their Pressure: and the very walking across +the Chamber increases his Torments. The Parts +in which they are the most excruciating, and obstinate, +are the Region of the Loins, the Hips, +and the Nape or hinder Part of the Neck.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id235">§ 164</span>. This Disease is also often extended +over the Scalp and the Surface of the Head; and +there the Pains are excessive. I have seen them +affect the Eyelids and the Teeth with inexpressible +Torment. As long as the Distemper is +situated in the more external Parts, the Patient, +however painful his Situation may prove, is in no +great Danger, if he be properly treated: but if +by some Accident, some Error, or by any latent +Cause, the Disease be repelled upon an internal +Part or Organ, his Case is extremely dangerous. +If the Brain is attacked, a frantic raging <em class="italics">Delirium</em> +<span class="pageno target" title="179" id="page-179"> </span>is the Consequence; if it falls upon the Lungs, +the Patient is suffocated: and if it attacks the +Stomach or the Bowels, it is attended with the +most astonishing Pains, which are caused by the +Inflammation of those Parts, and which Inflammation, +if violent, is <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id237" id="id236"><sup>40</sup></a> speedily fatal. About two +Years since I was called to a robust Man, whose +Guts were already in a gangrenous State, which +was the Consequence of a Rheumatism, that +first attacked one Arm and one Knee; the Cure +of which had been attempted by sweating the +Patient with some hot Remedies. These indeed +brought on a plentiful Sweat; but the inflammatory +Humour seized the Intestines, whose Inflammation +degenerated into a Gangrene, after a +Duration of the most acute Pain for thirty-six +Hours; his Torments terminating in Death two +Hours after I saw him.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id239">§ 165</span>. This Malady however is often in a less +violent Degree; the Fever is but moderate, and +ceases entirely when the Pain begins; which is +also confined to one, or not more than two +Parts.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id240">§ 166</span>. If the Disease continues fixed, for a +considerable Time, in one Joint, the Motion of +it is impaired for Life. I have seen a Person, +who has now a wry Neck, of twenty Years standing, +in Consequence of a Rheumatism in the +Nape of the Neck; and I also saw a poor young +Man from <em class="italics">Jurat</em>, who was Bed-ridden, and who +had lost the Motion of one Hip and both Knees. +<span class="pageno target" title="180" id="page-180"> </span>He could neither stand nor sit, and there were +but a few Postures in which he could even lie in +Bed.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id241">§ 167</span>. An obstructed Perspiration, an inflammatory +Thickness of the Blood, constitute the +most general Cause of the Rheumatism. This +last concurring Cause is that we must immediately +encounter; since, as long as that subsists, Perspiration +cannot be perfectly re-established, which +follows of Course, when the Inflammation is +cured. For which Reason this Distemper must +be conducted like the other inflammatory ones, +of which I have already treated.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id242">§ 168</span>. As soon as it is sufficiently manifest, +the Glyster <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id801">Nº. 5</a>, should be injected; and twelve +Ounces of Blood be taken from the Arm an Hour +after. The Patient is to enter upon a Regimen, +and drink plentifully of the Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a>, and of +Almond Milk or Emulsion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">Nº. 4</a>. As this last +Medicine may be too costly in Country Places +for the poor Peasantry; they may drink, in Lieu +of it, very clear Whey, sweetened with a little +Honey. I have known a very severe Rheumatism +cured, after twice bleeding, without any +other Food or Medicine, for the Space of thirteen +Days. The Whey also may be happily used by +Way of Glyster.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id243">§ 169</span>. If the Distemper is not considerably +asswaged by the first Bleeding, it should be repeated +some Hours after. I have ordered it four +Times within the first two Days; and some +Days after I have even directed a fifth Bleeding. +<span class="pageno target" title="181" id="page-181"> </span>But in general the Hardness of the Pulse becomes +less after the second: and notwithstanding the +Pains may continue as severe as before, yet the +Patient is sensible of less Inquietude. The Glyster +must be repeated every Day, and even twice +a Day, if each of them is attended only with a +small Discharge; and particularly if there be a +violent Head-ach. In such Cases as are excessively +painful, the Patient can scarcely dispose +himself into a proper Attitude or Posture to receive +Glysters: and in such Circumstances his +Drinks should be made as opening as possible; +and a Dose of the Cream of Tartar <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a> should +be given Night and Morning. This very Medicine, +with the Assistance of Whey, cured two +Persons I advised it to, of rheumatic Pains, of +which they had been infested with frequent Returns +for many Years, and which were attended +with a small Fever.</p> +<p class="pnext">Apples coddled, Prunes stewed, and well ripened +Summer Fruits are the properest Nourishment +in this Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext">We may save the Sick a good deal of Pain, +by putting one strong Towel always under their +Back, and another under their Thighs, in order +to move them the more easily. When their +Hands are without Pain, a third Towel hung +upon a Cord, which is fastened across the Bed, +must considerably assist them in moving themselves.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id244">§ 170</span>. When the Fever entirely disappears, +and the Hardness of the Pulse is removed, I have +<span class="pageno target" title="182" id="page-182"> </span>ordered the Purge <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a> with a very good Effect; +and if it is attended with five or six Motions, +the Patient is very sensibly relieved. The +Day but one after it may be repeated successfully, +and a third Time, after an Interval of a +greater Number of Days.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id245">§ 171</span>. When the Pains are extremely violent, +they admit of no Application: Vapour-Baths +however may be employed, and provided they +are often used, and for a considerable Time, they +prove very efficacious. The Purpose of these +Baths is only to convey the Steam of boiling Water +to the Parts affected; which may always easily +be effected, by a Variety of simple and easy +Contrivances; the Choice of which must depend +on the different Circumstances and Situation of +the Sick.</p> +<p class="pnext">Whenever it is possible, some of the emollient +<span class="target" id="applications">Applications</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id807">Nº. 9</a>, should be continually employed. +A half Bath, or an entire Bath of warm +Water, in which the Patient should remain an +Hour, after sufficient Bleedings and many Glysters, +affords the greatest Relief. I have seen a +Patient, under the most acute Pains of the Loins, +of the Hips, and of one Knee, put into one. He +continued still under extreme Torment in the +Bath, and on being taken out of it: but an Hour +after he had been put to Bed, he sweated, to an +incredible Quantity, for thirty six Hours, and +was cured. The Bath should never be made use +of, until after repeated Bleedings, or at least other +<span class="pageno target" title="183" id="page-183"> </span>equivalent Evacuations: for otherwise timed, it +would aggravate the Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id246">§ 172</span>. The Pains are generally most severe in +the Night; whence it has been usual to give +composing soporific Medicines. This however +has been very erroneous, as Opiates really augment +the Cause of the Disease, and destroy the +Efficacy of the proper Remedies: and, even not +seldom, far from asswaging the Pains, they increase +them. Indeed they agree so little in this Disease, +that even the Patient's natural Sleep at the Invasion +of this Complaint, is rather to his Detriment. +They feel, the very Moment they are +dropping asleep, such violent Jirks as awaken +them with great Pain: or if they do sleep a few +Minutes, the Pains are stronger when they awake.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id247">§ 173</span>. The Rheumatism goes off either by +Stool, by turbid thick Urine which drops a great +Proportion of a yellowish Sediment, or by Sweats: +and it generally happens that this last Discharge +prevails towards the Conclusion of the Disease. +It may be kept up by drinking an Infusion of +Elder Flowers. At the Beginning however +Sweating is pernicious.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id248">§ 174</span>. It happens also, though but very seldom, +that Rheumatisms determine by depositing +a sharp Humour upon the Legs; where it forms +Vesications, or a kind of Blisterings; which burst +open and form Ulcers, that ought not to be +healed and dried up too hastily; as this would +occasion a speedy Return of the rheumatic Pains. +<span class="pageno target" title="184" id="page-184"> </span>They are disposed to heal naturally of themselves, +by the Assistance of a temperate regular Diet, +and a few gentle Purges.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id249">§ 175</span>. Sometimes again, an Abscess is formed +either in the affected Part, or in some neighbouring +one. I have seen a Vineyard Dresser, who +after violent Pains of the Loins, had an Abscess +in the upper Part of the Thigh, which he neglected +for a long Time. When I saw him, it +was of a monstrous Size. I ordered it to be opened, +when at once above three Pots of <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id251" id="id250"><sup>41</sup></a> Matter +rushed out of it: but the Patient, being exhausted, +died some Time after it.</p> +<p class="pnext">Another Crisis of the Rheumatism has happened +by a kind of Itch, which breaks out upon +all the Parts adjacent to the Seat of this Disease. +Immediately after this Eruption the Pains vanish; +but the Pustules sometimes continue for several +Weeks.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id252">§ 176</span>. I have never observed the Pains to last, +with considerable Violence, above fourteen Days, +in this Species of the Rheumatism; though there +remains a Weakness, Numbness, and some Inflation, +or Puffing, of the adjoining Parts: and +it will also be many Weeks, and sometimes even +<span class="pageno target" title="185" id="page-185"> </span>Months; especially if the Distemper attacked +them in the Fall, before the Sick recover their +usual Strength. I have known some Persons, +who, after a very painful Rheumatism, have been +troubled with a very disagreeable Sensation of +Lassitude; which did not go off till after a great +Eruption, all over the Body, of little Vesications +or Blisterings, full of a watery Humour; many +of them burst open, and others withered and +dried up without bursting.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id253">§ 177</span>. The Return of Strength into the Parts +affected may be promoted by Frictions Night and +Morning, with Flannel or any other woollen +Stuff; by using Exercise; and by conforming +exactly to the Directions given in the Chapter on +Convalescence, or Recovery from acute Diseases. +The Rheumatism may also be prevented by the +Means I have pointed out, in treating of Pleurisies +and Quinsies.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id254">§ 178</span>. Sometimes the Rheumatism, with a +Fever, invades Persons who are not so sanguine, +or abounding in Blood; or whose Blood is not so +much disposed to Inflammation; those whose +Flesh and Fibres are softer; and in whose Humours +there is more Thinness and Sharpness, +than Viscidity and Thickness. Bleeding proves +less necessary for Persons so constituted, notwithstanding +the Fever should be very strong. Some +Constitutions require more Discharges by Stool; +and after they are properly evacuated, some Blisters +should be applied, which often afford them +a sensible Relief as soon as ever they begin to +<span class="pageno target" title="186" id="page-186"> </span>operate. Nevertheless they should never be used +where the Pulse is hard. The Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id829">Nº. 25</a> +answers very well in these Cases.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id255">§ 179</span>. There is another Kind of Rheumatism, +called chronical, or lasting. It is known by the +following Characters or Marks. 1. It is commonly +unattended with a Fever. 2. It continues +a very long Time. 3. It seldom attacks so many +Parts at once as the former. 4. Frequently no +visible Alteration appears in the affected Part, +which is neither more hot, red, or swelled than +in its healthy State; though sometimes one or +other of these Symptoms is evident. 5. The former, +the inflammatory, Rheumatism assaults +strong, vigorous, robust Persons: but this rather +invades People arrived at a certain Period of Life, +or such as are weak and languishing.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id256">§ 180</span>. The Pain of the chronical Rheumatism, +when left to itself, or injudiciously treated, +lasts sometimes many Months, and even Years. +It is particularly and extremely obstinate, when it +is exerted on the Head, the Loins, or on the Hip, +and along the Thighs, when it is called the <em class="italics">Sciatica</em>. +There is no Part indeed which this Pain +may not invade; sometimes it fixes itself in a +small Spot, as in one Corner of the Head; the +Angle of the Jaw; the Extremity of a Finger; +in one Knee; on one Rib, or on the Breast, +where it often excites Pains, which make the Patient +apprehensive of a Cancer. It penetrates +also to the internal Parts. When it affects the +Lungs, a most obstinate Cough is the Consequence; +<span class="pageno target" title="187" id="page-187"> </span>which degenerates at length into very +dangerous Disorders of the Breast. In the Stomach +and Bowels it excites most violent Pains +like a Cholic; and in the Bladder, Symptoms so +greatly resembling those of the Stone, that Persons, +who are neither deficient in Knowlege nor +Experience, have been more than once deceived +by them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id257">§ 181</span>. The Treatment of this chronical Rheumatism +does not vary considerably from that of +the former. Nevertheless, in the first Place, if +the Pain is very acute, and the Patient robust, a +single Bleeding at the Onset is very proper and +efficacious. 2. The Humours ought to be diluted, +and their Acrimony or Sharpness should be diminished, +by a very plentiful Use of a Ptisan of <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id260" id="id258"><sup>42</sup></a> +Burdock Roots <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id830">Nº. 26</a>. 3. Four or five Days after +drinking abundantly of this, the purging <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id261" id="id259"><sup>43</sup></a> +<span class="pageno target" title="188" id="page-188"> </span>Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id823">Nº. 21</a> may be taken with Success. In +this Species of the Rheumatism, a certain Medicine +is sometimes found serviceable. This has +acquired some Reputation, particularly in the +Country, where they bring it from, <em class="italics">Geneva</em>; under +the Title of the Opiate for the Rheumatism, tho' +I cannot say for what Reason; as it is indeed +neither more nor less than the Electuary <em class="italics">Caryocostinum</em>, +which may be procured at our Apothecaries. +I shall observe however, that this Medicine +has done Mischief in the inflammatory +Rheumatism, and even in this, as often as the +Persons afflicted with it are feeble, thin and of +a hot Temperament; and either when they have +not previously taken diluting Drinks, or when it +has been used too long. For, in such a Circumstance, +it is apt to throw the Patient into an +irrecoverable Weakness. The Composition consists +of the hottest Spices, and of very sharp Purgatives.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id262">§ 182</span>. When general Remedies have been +used, and the Disorder still continues, Recourse +should be had to such Medicines, as are available +to restore Perspiration; and these should be persisted +in for a considerable Time. The Pills +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id820">Nº. 18</a>, with a strong Infusion of Elder Flowers, have +often succeeded in this Respect: and then after +a long Continuance of diluting Drinks, if the +Fever is entirely subdued; if the Stomach exerts +its Functions well; the Patient is no ways costive; +if he is not of a dry Habit of Body; and +the Part affected remains without Inflammation, +<span class="pageno target" title="189" id="page-189"> </span>the Patient may safely take <span class="target" id="the-powder">the Powder</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id835">Nº. 29</a>, +at Night going to Bed, with a Cup or two of an +Infusion of <em class="italics">Carduus benedictus</em>, or the blessed +Thistle, and a Morsel of Venice Treacle of the +Size of a Hazel Nut, or a Filberd. This Remedy +brings on a very copious Sweating, which +often expells the <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id264" id="id263"><sup>44</sup></a> Disease. These Sweats may +be rendered full more effectual, by wrapping up +the affected Part in a Flanel dipt in the Decoction +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id831">Nº. 27</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id265">§ 183</span>. But of all these Pains, the Sciatica is +one of the most tedious and obstinate. Nevertheless +I have seen the greatest Success, from the +Application of seven or eight Cupping-Glasses +on the tormented Part; by which, without the +Assistance of any other Remedy, I have cured, +in a few Hours, Sciaticas of many Years standing, +which had baffled other Remedies. Blisters, +or any such stimulating Plaisters, as bring +on a Suppuration and Discharge from the afflicted +Part, contribute also frequently to the Cure; tho' +less effectually than Cupping, which should be +repeated several Times. Green Cere-cloth, commonly +called Oil-cloth, (whether the Ingredients +be spread on Taffety or on Linen) being applied to +the diseased Part, disposes it to sweat abundantly, +and thus to discharge the sharp Humour which +occasions the Pain. <span class="target" id="sometimes-both-these">Sometimes both these</span> +<span class="pageno target" title="190" id="page-190"> </span>Applications, but especially that spread on Silk +(which may be applied more exactly and closely +to the Part, and which is also spread with a different +Composition) raise a little Vesication on +the Part as Blisters do. A Plaister of Quicklime +and Honey blended together has cured inveterate +Sciaticas. Oil of Eggs has sometimes succeeded +in such Cases. A Seton has also been successfully +made in the lower Part of the Thigh. +Finally some Pains, which have not yielded to any of +these Applications, have been cured by actual burning, +inflicted on the very Spot, where the most +violent Pain has been felt; except some particular +Reason, drawn from an anatomical Knowlege +of the Part, should determine the Surgeon not to +apply it there. The Scull or Head should never +be cauterized with a burning Iron.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id266">§ 184</span>. The hot Baths of <em class="italics">Bourbon</em>, <em class="italics">Plombiers</em>, +<em class="italics">Aix-la-Chapelle</em> and many others are often very +efficacious in these chronical Pains: notwithstanding +I really think, there is no rheumatic +Pain that may not be cured without them. The +common People substitute to these a Bath made +of the Husk of Grapes, after their Juice is expressed, +which cures some by making them sweat +abundantly. Cold Baths however are the best to +keep off this Disease; but then they cannot always +be safely ventured on. Many Circumstances +render the Use of them impracticable to +particular Persons. Such as are subject to this +chronical Rheumatism, would do very well to +rub their whole Bodies every Morning, if they +<span class="pageno target" title="191" id="page-191"> </span>could, but especially the afflicted Parts, with +Flanel. This Habit keeps up Perspiration beyond +any other Assistance; and indeed sometimes even +increases it too much. It would be serviceable +too, if such Subjects of this cruel Disease wore +Flanel all over their Skin, during the Winter.</p> +<p class="pnext">After a violent Rheumatism, People should +long be careful to avoid that cold and moist Air, +which disposes them to relapse.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id267">§ 185</span>. Rheumatic People have too frequent a +Recourse to very improper and hurtful Medicines, +in this Distemper, which daily produce very +bad Consequences. Such are spirituous Medicines, +Brandy, and Arquebusade Water. They either +render the Pain more obstinate and fixed, by +hardening the Skin; or they repell the Humour +to some inward Part. And Instances are not wanting +of Persons who have died suddenly, from the +Application of Spirit of Wine upon the Parts, that +were violently afflicted with the Rheumatism. It +also happens sometimes that the Humour, having +no Outlet through the Skin, is thrown internally +on the Bone and affects it. A very singular +Fact occurred in this Respect, an Account of +which may be serviceable to some Persons afflicted +with the Disease. A Woman at Night was +chaffing the Arm of her Husband, who had the +Rheumatism there, with Spirit of Wine; when +a very lucky Accident prevented the Mischief she +might have occasioned by it. The Spirit of Wine +took Fire from the Flame of the Candle she made +use of, and burned the diseased Part. It was +<span class="pageno target" title="192" id="page-192"> </span>drest of Course, and the Suppuration that attended +it, entirely cured the Rheumatism.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sharp and greasy Unctions or Ointments produce +very bad Effects, and are equally dangerous. +A <em class="italics">Caries</em>, a Rottenness of the Bones, has +ensued upon the Use of a Medicine called, The +Balsam of Sulphur with Turpentine. I was consulted +in 1750, three Days before her Decease, +about a Woman, who had long endured acute +rheumatic Pains. She had taken various Medicines, +and, among the rest, a considerable Quantity +of a Ptisan, in which Antimony was blended +with some purging Medicines, and a greasy spirituous +Balsam had been rubbed into the Part. +The Fever, the Pains, and the Dryness of the +Skin soon increased; the Bones of the Thighs and +Arms became carious: and in moving the Patient +no more than was necessary for her Relief +and Convenience, without taking her out of her +Bed, both Thighs and one Arm broke. So +dreadful an Example should make People cautious +of giving or applying Medicines inconsiderately, +even in such Diseases, as appear but trifling +in themselves. I must also inform the Readers, +there are some rheumatic Pains, which admit +of no Application; and that almost every +Medicine aggravates them. In such Cases the afflicted +must content themselves with keeping the +Parts affected from the Impressions of the Air, by +a Flanel, or the Skin of some Animal with the +Fur on.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="193" id="page-193"> </span>It is also more advisable sometimes to leave a +sufferable and inveterate Pain to itself, especially +in old or weakly People, than to employ too +many Medicines, or such violent ones, as should +affect them more importantly than the Pains +did.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id268">§ 186</span>. If the Duration of the Pains fixed in +the same Place, should cause some Degree of +Stiffness in the Joint affected, it should be exposed +twice a Day to the Vapour of warm Water, +and dried well afterwards with hot Linen: +then it should be well chaffed, and lastly touched +over with Ointment of Marsh-mallows. Pumping, +if superadded to this Vapour, considerably +increases its Efficacy. I directed, for a Case of this +Sort, a very simple Machine of white Tin, or +Lattin, which combined the Application of the +Steam and the Pump.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id269">§ 187</span>. Very young Children are sometimes +subject to such violent and extended Pains, that +they cannot bear touching in any Part, without +excessive Crying. We must be careful to avoid +mistaking these Cases, and not to treat them like +Rheumatisms. They sometimes are owing to +Worms, and go off when these have been discharged.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head226-chapter-xii"> +<span id="chap-xii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="194" id="page-194"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i226a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XII.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-bite-of-a-mad-dog"> +<em class="italics">Of the Bite of a mad Dog.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 188.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="M" src="images/i226b.png"/>en may contract the particular and +raging Symptom, which is very generally +peculiar to this Disease from this +Cause, and even without any Bite; but +this happens very rarely indeed. It is properly a +Distemper belonging to the canine <em class="italics">Genus</em>, consisting +of the three Species of Dogs, Wolves, and Foxes, +to whom only it seems inherent and natural; +scarcely ever arising in other Animals, without +its being inflicted by them. Whenever there occurs +one of them who breeds it, he bites others, +and thus the Poison, the Cause of this terrible +Disease, is diffused. Other Animals besides the +canine Species, and Men themselves being exposed +to this Accident, do sometimes contract +the Disease in all its Rage and Horror: though it +is not to be supposed, that this is always an unfailing +Consequence.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id270">§ 189</span>. If a Dog who used to be lively and active, +becomes all at once moapish and morose; if he +has an Aversion to eat; a particular and unusual +Look about his Eyes; a Restlessness, which appears +from his continually running to and fro, we +<span class="pageno target" title="195" id="page-195"> </span>may be apprehensive he is likely to prove mad; +at which very Instant he ought to be tied up securely, +that it may be in our Power to destroy him +as soon as the Distemper is evident. Perhaps +it might be even still safer to kill him at once.</p> +<p class="pnext">Whenever the Malady is certain, the Symptoms +heighten pretty soon. His Aversion to Food, +but especially to Drink, grows stronger. He no +longer seems to know his Master, the Sound of +his Voice changes; he suffers no Person to handle +or approach him; and bites those who attempt it. +He quits his ordinary Habitation, marching on +with his Head and his Tail hanging downwards; +his Tongue lolling half out, and covered with +Foam or Slaver, which indeed not seldom happens +indifferently to all Dogs. Other Dogs scent +him, not seldom at a considerable Distance, +and fly him with an Air of Horror, which +is a certain Indication of his Disease. Sometimes +he contents himself with biting only those who +happen to be near him: while at other Times +becoming more enraged, he springs to the right +and left on all Men and Animals about him. +He hurries away with manifest Dread from whatever +Waters occur to him: at length he falls +down as spent and exhausted; sometimes he rises +up again, and drags himself on for a little +Time, commonly dying the third, or, at the +latest, on the fourth Day after the manifest Appearance +of the Disease, and sometimes even +sooner.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="196" id="page-196"> </span><span class="target" id="id271">§ 190</span>. When a Person is bit by such a Dog, +the Wound commonly heals up as readily, as if +it was not in the least poisonous: but after the +Expiration of a longer or shorter Term, from +three Weeks to three Months; but most commonly +in about six Weeks, the Person bitten begins +to perceive, in the Spot that was bit, a certain +dull obtuse Pain. The Scar of it swells, inflames, +bursts open, and weeps out a sharp, fœtid, +and sanious, or somewhat bloody Humour. +At the same Time the Patient becomes sad and +melancholy: he feels a kind of Indifference, +Insensibility, and general Numbness; an almost +incessant Coldness; a Difficulty of breathing; a +continual Anguish, and Pains in his Bowels. +His Pulse is weak and irregular, his sleep restless, +turbid, and confused with Ravings; with starting +up in Surprize, and with terrible Frights. +His Discharges by Stool are often much altered +and irregular, and small cold Sweats appear at +very short Intervals. Sometimes there is also a +slight Pain or Uneasiness in the Throat. Such is +the first Degree of this Disease, and it is called +by some Physicians the dumb Rage, or Madness.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id272">§ 191</span>. Its second Degree, the confirmed or +downright Madness, is attended with the following +Symptoms. The Patient is afflicted with a +violent Thirst, and a Pain in drinking. Soon +after this he avoids all Drink, but particularly +Water, and within some Hours after, he even +abhors it. This Horror becomes so violent, that +<span class="pageno target" title="197" id="page-197"> </span>the bringing Water near his Lips, or into his +Sight, the very Name of it, or of any other Drink; +the Sight of Objects, which, from their Transparence, +have any Resemblance of Water, as a +Looking Glass, <em class="italics">&c.</em> afflicts him with extreme +Anguish, and sometimes even with Convulsions. +They continue however still to swallow (though +not without violent Difficulty) a little Meat or +Bread, and sometimes a little Soup. Some even +get down the liquid Medicines that are prescribed +them, provided there be no Appearance of Water +in them; or that Water is not mentioned to them, +at the same Time. Their Urine becomes thick and +high-coloured, and sometimes there is a Suppression +or Stoppage of it. The Voice either grows hoarse, +or is almost entirely abolished: but the Reports +of the bitten barking like Dogs are ridiculous +and superstitious Fictions, void of any Foundation; +as well as many other Fable, that have been +blended with the History of this Distemper. The +Barking of Dogs however is very disagreeable to +them. They are troubled with short <em class="italics">Deliriums</em> +or Ravings, which are sometimes mixed with +Fury. It is at such times that they spit all around +them; that they attempt also to bite, and sometimes +unhappily effect it. Their Looks are fixed, +as it were, and somewhat furious, and their +Visage frequently red. It is pretty common for +these miserable Patients to be sensible of the Approach +of their raging Fit, and to conjure the Bystanders +to be upon their Guard. Many of them +never have an Inclination to bite. The increasing +<span class="pageno target" title="198" id="page-198"> </span>Anguish and Pain they feel become +inexpressible: they earnestly wish for Death; and +some of them have even destroyed themselves, +when they had the Means of effecting it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id273">§ 192</span>. It is with the Spittle, and the Spittle +only, that this dreadful Poison unites itself. And +here it may be observed, 1, That if the Wounds +have been made through any of the Patient's +Cloaths, they are less dangerous than those inflicted +immediately on the naked Skin. 2, That +Animals who abound in Wool, or have very +thick Hair, are often preserved from the mortal +Impression of the Poison; because in these various +Circumstances, the Cloaths, the Hair, or the +Wool have wiped, or even dried up, the Slaver +of their Teeth. <span class="target" id="the-bites">3, The Bites</span> inflicted by an infected +Animal, very soon after he has bitten +many others, are less dangerous than the former +Bites, because their Slaver is lessened or exhausted. +4, If the Bite happens in the Face, or in +the Neck, the Danger is greater, and the Operation +of the Venom is quicker too; by Reason the +Spittle of the Person so bit is sooner infected. 5, +The higher the Degree of the Disease is advanced, +the Bites become proportionably more dangerous. +From what I have just mentioned here +it may be discerned, why, of many who have +been bitten by the same Sufferer, some have been +infected with this dreadful Disease, and others +not.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id274">§ 193</span>. A great Number of Remedies have +been highly cried up, as famous in the Cure of +<span class="pageno target" title="199" id="page-199"> </span>this Disease; and, in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em> particularly, the +Root of the Eglantine or wild Rose, gathered at +some particular times, under the favorable Aspects +of the Moon, and dried with some extraordinary +Precautions. <span class="target" id="there-is-also-the">There is also the</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#his-powder-for-the-bite-of-a-mad-dog">Powder of <em class="italics">Palmarius</em></a> of calcined Egg Shells, that of the +<em class="italics">Lichen terrestris</em>, or Ground Liverwort, with one +third Part of Pepper, a Remedy long celebrated +in <em class="italics">England</em>; Powder of Oyster-Shells; of Vervain; +bathing in Salt Water; St. Hubert's Key, +<em class="italics">&c. &c.</em> But the Death of a Multitude of those +who have been bitten, notwithstanding their taking +the greatest Part of all these boasted Antidotes; +and the Certainty of no one's escaping, +who had been attacked with the high raging +Symptom, the <em class="italics">Hydrophobia</em>, have demonstrated +the Inefficacy of them all, to all <em class="italics">Europe</em>. It is +incontestable that to the Year 1730, not a single +Patient escaped, in whom the Disease was indisputably +manifest; and that every Medicine then +employed against it was useless. When Medicines +had been given before the great Symptom +appeared, in some of those who took them, it afterwards +appeared, in others not. The same different +Events occurred also to others who were +bitten, and who took not the least Medicine; so +that upon the whole, before that Date, no Medicine +seemed to be of any Consequence. Since +that Time, we have had the Happiness to be informed +of a certain Remedy, which is Mercury, +joined to a few others.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="200" id="page-200"> </span><span class="target" id="id275">§ 194</span>. In short there is a Necessity for destroying +or expelling the Poison itself, which Mercury +effects, and is consequently the Counter-poison of +it. That poison produces a general Irritation of +the Nerves; this is to be removed or asswaged +by Antispasmodics: so that in Mercury, or +Quicksilver, joined to Antispasmodics, consists +the whole that is indicated in the Cure of this +Disease. There really have been many Instances +of Persons cured by these Medicines, in whom +the Distemper had been manifest in its Rage and +Violence; and as many as have unfortunately received +the Cause of it in a Bite, should be firmly +persuaded, that in taking these Medicines, and +using all other proper Precautions, they shall be +entirely secured from all its ill Consequences. +Those also in whom the Rage and Fury of this +Distemper is manifest, ought to use the same +Medicines, with entire <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id277" id="id276"><sup>45</sup></a> Hope and Confidence, +which may justly be founded on the many Cures +effected by them. It is acknowledged however, +that they have proved ineffectual in a few Cases; +but what Disease is there, which does not sometimes +prove incurable?</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="201" id="page-201"> </span><span class="target" id="id278">§ 195</span>. The very Moment after receiving the +Bite, is it happens to be in the Flesh, and if it +can safely be effected, all the Part affected should +be cut <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id280" id="id279"><sup>46</sup></a> away. The Ancients directed it to be +cauterized, or burnt with a red hot Iron (meer +Scarification being of very little Effect) and this +Method would very probably prove effectual. It +requires more Resolution, however, than every +Patient is endued with. The Wound should be +washed and cleansed a considerable Time with +warm Water, with a little Sea-Salt dissolved in it. +After this into the Lips and Edges of the Wound, +and into the Surface of the Part all about it, +<span class="pageno target" title="202" id="page-202"> </span>should be rubbed a Quarter of an Ounce of the +Ointment <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id832">Nº. 28</a>; and the Wound should be +dressed twice daily, with the soft lenient Ointment +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id835">Nº. 29</a>, to promote Suppuration; but that +of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id832">Nº. 28</a> is to be used only once a Day.</p> +<p class="pnext">In point of Regimen, the Quantity of Nourishment +should be less than usual, particularly in the +Article of <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id283" id="id281"><sup>47</sup></a> Flesh: he should abstain from Wine, +spirituous Liquors, all Sorts of Spices and hot inflaming +Food. He should drink only Barley-Water, +or an Infusion of the Flowers of the +Lime-tree. He should be guarded against Costiveness +by a soft relaxing Diet, or by Glysters, +and bathe his Legs once a Day in warm Water. +Every third Day one Dose of the Medicine <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id836">Nº. 30</a> +should be taken; which is compounded of Mercury, +that counterworks the Poison, and of Musk +which prevents the Spasms, or convulsive Motions. +I confess at the same Time that I have less +Dependance on the Mercury given in this Form, +and think the rubbing in of its Ointment considerably +more efficacious, which I should hope +<span class="pageno target" title="203" id="page-203"> </span>may always prevent the Fatality of this dreadful, +surprizing Disease. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id284" id="id282"><sup>48</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id285">§ 196</span>. If the raging Symptom, the Dread of +Water, has already appeared, and the Patient is +strong, and abounds with Blood, he should, 1, be +bled to a considerable Quantity, and this may be +repeated twice, thrice, or even a fourth Time, if +Circumstances require it.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, The Patient should be put, if possible, into +a warm Bath; and this should be used twice +daily.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, He should every Day receive two, or even +three of the emollient Glysters <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id801">Nº. 5</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, The Wound and the Parts adjoining to it +should be rubbed with the Ointment <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id832">Nº. 28</a>, +twice a Day.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, The whole Limb which contains the Wound +should be rubbed with Oil, and be wrapped up +in an oily Flanel.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="204" id="page-204"> </span>6, Every three Hours a Dose of the Powder +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id836">Nº. 30</a>, should be taken in a Cup of the Infusion +of Lime-tree and Elder Flowers.</p> +<p class="pnext">7, The Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id839">Nº. 31</a>, is to be given +every Night, and to be repeated in the Morning, +if the Patient is not easy, washing it down with +the same Infusion.</p> +<p class="pnext">8, If there be a great Nauseousness at Stomach, +with a Bitterness in the Mouth, give the Powder +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a>, which brings up a copious Discharge of +glewy and bilious Humours.</p> +<p class="pnext">9, There is very little Occasion to say any thing +relating to the Patient's Food, in such a Situation. +Should he ask for any, he may be allowed Panada, +light Soup, Bread, Soups made of farinaceous +or mealy Vegetables, or a little Milk.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id286">§ 197</span>. By the Use of these Remedies the +Symptoms will be observed to lessen, and to disappear +by Degrees; and finally Health will be +re-established. But if the Patient should long +continue weak, and subject to Terrors, he may +take a Dose of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>, thrice a +Day.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id287">§ 198</span>. It is certain that a Boy, in whom the +raging Symptom of This Disease had just appeared, +was perfectly cured, by bathing all about +the wounded Part with Sallad-Oil, in which +some Camphire and Opium were dissolved; with +the Addition of repeated Frictions of the Ointment +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id832">Nº. 28</a>, and making him take some <em class="italics">Eau de +luce</em> with a little Wine. This Medicine, a Coffee-Cup of +which may be given every four Hours, +<span class="pageno target" title="205" id="page-205"> </span>allayed the great Inquietude and Agitation of the +Patient; and brought on a very plentiful Sweat, +on which all the Symptoms vanished.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id288">§ 199</span>. Dogs may be cured by rubbing in a +triple Quantity of the same Ointment directed for +Men, and by giving them the Bolus <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id843">Nº. 33</a>. But +both these Means should be used as soon as ever +they are bit. When the great Symptom is manifest, +there would be too much Danger in attempting +to apply one, or to give the other; and they +should be immediately killed. It might be well +however to try if they would swallow down the +Bolus, on its being thrown to them.</p> +<p class="pnext">As soon as ever Dogs are bit, they should be +safely tied up, and not let loose again, before +the Expiration of three or four Months.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id289">§ 200</span>. A false and dangerous Prejudice has +prevailed with Regard to the Bites from Dogs, +and it is this—That if a Dog who had bit any +Person, without being mad at the Time of his +biting, should become mad afterwards, the Person +so formerly bitten, would prove mad too at +the same Time. Such a Notion is full as absurd, +as it would be to affirm, that if two Persons had +slept in the same Bed, and that one of them +should take the Itch, the Small-Pocks, or any +other contagious Disease, ten or twelve Years afterwards, +that the other should also be infected +with that he took, and at the same Time too.</p> +<p class="pnext">Of two Circumstances, whenever a Person is +bit, one must certainly be. Either the Dog which +gives the Bite, is about to be mad himself, in +<span class="pageno target" title="206" id="page-206"> </span>which Case this would be evident in a few Days; +and then it must be said the Person was bitten by +a mad Dog: Or else, that the Dog was absolutely +sound, having neither conceived, or bred in +himself, nor received from without the Cause, +the Principle, of Madness: in which last Case I +ask any Man in his Senses, if he could communicate +it. No Person, no Thing imparts what +it has not. This false and crude Notion excites +those who are possessed with it to a dangerous +Action: they exercise that Liberty the Laws +unhappily allow them of killing the Dog; by +which Means they are left uncertain of his State, +and of their own Chance. This is a dreadful +Uncertainty, and may be attended with embarrassing +and troublesome Consequences, independant +of the Poison itself. The reasonable +Conduct would be to secure and observe the Dog +very closely, in Order to know certainly whether +he is, or is not, mad.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id290">§ 201</span>. It is no longer necessary to represent +the Horror, the Barbarity and Guilt of that cruel +Practice, which prevailed, not very long since, of +suffocating Persons in the Height of this Disease, +with the Bed-cloaths, or between Matrasses. It +is now prohibited in most Countries; and doubtless +will be punished, or, at least ought to be, +even in those where as yet it is not.</p> +<p class="pnext">Another Cruelty, of which we hope to see no +repeated Instance, is that of abandoning those +miserable Patients to themselves, without the +least Resource or Assistance: a most detestable +<span class="pageno target" title="207" id="page-207"> </span>Custom even in those Times, when there was +not the least Hope of saving them; and still more +criminal in our Days, when they may be recovered +effectually. I do again affirm, that it is +not very often these afflicted Patients are disposed +to bite; and that even when they are, +they are afraid of doing it; and request the Bystanders +to keep out of their Reach: So that no +Danger is incurred; or where there is any, it +may easily be avoided by a few Precautions.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head239-chapter-xiii"> +<span id="chap-xiii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i239a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XIII.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-small-pocks"> +<em class="italics">Of the Small-Pocks.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 202.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i239b.png"/>he Small-Pocks is the most frequent, +the most extensive of all Diseases; since +out of a hundred Persons there are not +more than <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id293" id="id291"><sup>49</sup></a> four or five exempted from +it. It is equally true however, that if it attacks almost +every Person, it attacks them but once, so +that having escaped through it, they are always +<span class="pageno target" title="208" id="page-208"> </span>secure from <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id294" id="id292"><sup>50</sup></a> it. It must be acknowleged, at +the same Time, to be one of the most destructive +Diseases; for if in some Years or Seasons, it +proves to be of a very mild and gentle Sort, in +others it is almost as fatal as the Plague: it being +demonstrated, by calculating the Consequences of +its most raging, and its gentlest Prevalence, that +it kills one seventh of the Number it attacks.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id295">§ 203</span>. People generally take the Small-Pocks +in their Infancy, or in their Childhood. It is +very seldom known to attack only one Person in +one Place: its Invasions being very generally epidemical, +and seizing a large Proportion of those +<span class="pageno target" title="209" id="page-209"> </span>who have not suffered it. It commonly ceases +at the End of some Weeks, or of some Months, +and rarely ever appears again in the same Place, +until four, five or six Years after.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id296">§ 204</span>. This Malady often gives some Intimation +of its Approach, three or four Days before +the Appearance of the Fever, by a little Dejection; +less Vivacity and Gaiety than usual; a great +Propensity to sweat; less Appetite; a slight Alteration +of the Countenance, and a kind of pale +livid Colour about the Eyes: Notwithstanding +which, in Children of a lax and phlegmatic Constitution, +I have known a moderate Agitation of +their Blood, (before their Shivering approached) +give them a <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id298" id="id297"><sup>51</sup></a> Vivacity, Gaiety, and a rosy Improvement +of their Complexion, beyond what Nature +had given them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Certain short Vicissitudes of Heat or Coldness +succeed the former introductory Appearances, and +at length a considerable Shivering, of the Duration +of one, two, three or four Hours: This is +succeeded by violent Heat, accompanied with +Pains of the Head, Loins, Vomiting, or at least +with a frequent Propensity to vomit.</p> +<p class="pnext">This State continues for some Hours, at the +Expiration of which the Fever abates a little in a +Sweat, which is sometimes a very large one: +the Patient then finds himself better, but is notwithstanding +cast down, torpid or heavy, very +<span class="pageno target" title="210" id="page-210"> </span>squeamish, with a Head-ach and Pain in the Back, +and a Disposition to be drowsy. The last Symptom +indeed is not very common, except in Children, +less than seven or eight Years of Age.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Abatement of the Fever is of small Duration; +and some Hours after, commonly towards +the Evening, it returns with all its Attendants, +and terminates again by Sweats, as before.</p> +<p class="pnext">This State of the Disease lasts three or four +Days; at the End of which Term, and seldom +later, the first Eruptions appear among the Sweat, +which terminates the Paroxysm or Return of the +Fever. I have generally observed the earliest +Eruption to appear in the Face, next to that on +the Hands, on the fore Part of the Arms; on +the Neck, and on the upper Part of the Breast. +As soon as this Eruption appears, if the Distemper +is of a gentle Kind and Disposition, the Fever +almost entirely vanishes: the Patient continues to +sweat a little, or transpire; the Number of Eruptions +increases, others coming out on the Back, +the Sides, the Belly, the Thighs, the Legs, and +the Feet. Sometimes they are pushed out very +numerously even to the Soles of the Feet; where, +as they increase in Size, they often excite very +sharp Pain, by Reason of the great Thickness +and Hardness of the Skin in these Parts.</p> +<p class="pnext">Frequently on the first and second Day of Eruption +(speaking hitherto always of the mild +Kind and Degree of the Disease) there returns +again a very gentle Revival of the Fever about +<span class="pageno target" title="211" id="page-211"> </span>the Evening, which, about the Termination of +it, is attended with a considerable and final Eruption: +though as often as the Fever terminates perfectly +after the earliest Eruption, a very distinct and +very small one is a pretty certain Consequence. +For though the Eruption is already, or should +prove only moderate, the Fever, as I have before +said, does not totally disappear; a small Degree +of it still remaining, and heightening a little +every Evening.</p> +<p class="pnext">These Pustules, or Efflorescences, on their +first Appearance, are only so many very little red +Spots, considerably resembling a Flea-bite; but +distinguishable by a small white Point in the +Middle, a little raised above the rest, which gradually +increases in Size, with the Redness extended +about it. They become whiter, in Proportion +as they grow larger; and generally upon the +sixth Day, including that of their first Eruption, +they attain their utmost Magnitude, and are full +of <em class="italics">Pus</em> or Matter. Some of them grow to the +Size of a Pea, and some still a little larger; but +this never happens to the greatest Number of +them. From this Time they begin to look yellowish, +they gradually become dry, and fall off +in brown Scales, in ten or eleven Days from their +first Appearance. As their Eruption occurred on +different Days, they also wither and fall off successively. +The Face is sometimes clear of them, +while Pustules still are seen upon the Legs, not +fully ripe, or suppurated: and those in the Soles +of the Feet often remain much longer.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="212" id="page-212"> </span><span class="target" id="id299">§ 205</span>. The Skin is of Course extended or +stretched out by the Pustules; and after the Appearance +of a certain Quantity, all the Interstices, +or Parts between the Pustules, are red and +bright, as it were, with a proportionable Inflation +or Swelling of the Skin. The Face is the first +Part that appears bloated, from the Pustules there +first attaining their utmost Size: and this inflation +is sometimes so considerable, as to look monstrous; +the like happens also to the Neck, and +the Eyes are entirely closed up by it. The Swelling +of the Face abates in Proportion to the scabbing +and drying up of the Pustules; and then the +Hands are puffed up prodigiously. This happens +successively to the Legs, the Tumour or Swelling, +being the Consequence of the Pustules attaining +their utmost Size, which happens by Succession, +in these different Parts.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id300">§ 206</span>. Whenever there is a very considerable +Eruption, the Fever is heightened at the Time of +Suppuration, which is not to be wondered at; +one single Boil excites a Fever: How is it possible +then that some hundred, nay some thousand +of these little Abscesses should not excite +one? This Fever is the most dangerous Period, +or Time of the Disease, and occurs between the +ninth and the thirteenth Days; as many Circumstances +vary the Term of Suppuration, two +or three Days. At this painful and perilous Season +then, the Patient becomes very hot, and +thirsty: he is harrassed with Pain; and finds it +very difficult to discover a favourable easy Posture. +<span class="pageno target" title="213" id="page-213"> </span>If the Malady runs very high, he has no Sleep; +he raves, becomes greatly oppressed, is seized +with a heavy Drowsiness; and when he dies, he +dies either suffocated or lethargic, and sometimes +in a State compounded of both these Symptoms.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Pulse, during this Fever of Suppuration, +is sometimes of an astonishing Quickness, while +the Swelling of the Wrists makes it seem, in +some Subjects, to be very small. The most critical +and dangerous Time is, when the Swellings +of the Face, Head and Neck are in their highest +Degree. Whenever the Swelling begins to fall, +the Scabs on the Face to dry [<em class="italics">supposing neither +of these to be too sudden and premature, for the visible +Quantity of the Pustules</em>] and the Skin to +shrivel, as it were, the Quickness of the Pulse +abates a little, and the Danger diminishes. When +the Pustules are very few, this second Fever is +so moderate, that it requires some Attention to +discern it, so that the Danger is next to none.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id301">§ 207</span>. Besides those Symptoms, there are +some others, which require considerable Attention +and Vigilance. One of these is the Soreness +of the Throat, with which many Persons in the +Small-Pocks are afflicted, as soon as the Fever +grows pretty strong. It continues for two or +three Days; feels very strait and troublesome in +the Action of Swallowing; and whenever the +Disease is extremely acute, it entirely prevents +Swallowing. It is commonly ascribed to the +Eruption of Pustules in the Throat; but this is a +<span class="pageno target" title="214" id="page-214"> </span>Mistake, such Pustules being almost constantly <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id303" id="id302"><sup>52</sup></a> +imaginary. It begins, most frequently, before +the Eruption appears; if this Complaint is +in a light Degree, it terminates upon the Eruption; +and whenever it revives again in the Course +of the Disease, it is always in Proportion to the +Degree of the Fever. Hence we may infer it +does not arise from the Pustules, but is owing to +the Inflammation; and as often as it is of any +considerable Duration, it is almost ever attended +with another Symptom, the Salivation, or a Discharge +of a great Quantity of Spittle. This Salivation +rarely exists, where the Disease is very +gentle, or the Patient very young; and is full as +rarely absent, where it is severe, and the Patient +is past seven or eight Years old: but when the +Eruption is very confluent, and the Patient adult, +or grown up, the Discharge is surprizing. Under +these Circumstances it flows out incessantly, allowing +the afflicted Patient no Rest or Respite; +and often incommodes him more than any other +Symptom of the Distemper; and so much the +more, as after its Continuance for some Days, +<span class="pageno target" title="215" id="page-215"> </span>the Lips, the Inside of the Cheeks, the Tongue, +and the Roof of the Mouth are entirely peeled +or flead, as it were. Nevertheless, however +painful and embarrassing this Discharge may +prove, it is very important and salutary. Meer +Infants are less subject to it, some of them having +a Looseness, in Lieu of it: and yet I have +observed even this last Discharge to be considerably +less frequent in them, than a Salivation is in +grown People.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id304">§ 208</span>. Children, to the Age of five or six +Years, are liable to Convulsions, before Eruption: +these however are not dangerous, if they +are not accompanied with other grievous and +violent Symptoms. But such Convulsions as supervene, +either when Eruption having already +occurred, suddenly retreats, or <em class="italics">strikes in</em>, according +to the common Phrase; or during the Course +of the Fever of Suppuration, are greatly more +terrifying.</p> +<p class="pnext">Involuntary Discharges of Blood from the +Nose often occur, in the first Stage of this Distemper, +which are extremely serviceable, and +commonly lessen, or carry off, the Head-ach. +Meer Infants are less subject to this Discharge; +though they have sometimes a little of it: and I +have known a considerable <em class="italics">Stupor</em> or Drowsiness, +vanish immediately after this Bleeding.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id305">§ 209</span>. The Small-Pocks is commonly distinguished +into two Kinds, the confluent and the +distinct, such a Distinction really existing in Nature: +but as the Treatment of each of them is +<span class="pageno target" title="216" id="page-216"> </span>the same; and as the Quantity or Dose of the +Medicines is only to be varied, in Proportion to +the Danger of the Patient (not to enter here into +very tedious Details, and such as might exceed +the Comprehension of many of our Readers; +as well as whatever might relate particularly +to the malignant Small-Pocks) I shall limit +myself within the Description I have premised, +which includes all the Symptoms common to +both these Kinds of the Small-Pocks. I content +myself with adding here, that we may expect a +very confluent and dangerous Pock, is, at the very +Time of seizure, the Patient is immediately attacked +with many violent Symptoms; more especially +if his Eyes are extremely quick, lively, and +even glistening, as it were; if he vomits almost +continually; if the Pain of his Loins be violent; +and if he suffers at the same Time great Anguish +and Inquietude: If in Infants there is great <em class="italics">Stupor</em> +or Heaviness; if Eruption appears on the third +Day, and sometimes even on the second: as the +hastier Eruptions in this Disease signify the most +dangerous Kind and Degree of it; and on the +contrary, the slower Eruption is, it is the safer +too; supposing this Slowness of the Eruption not +to have been the Consequence of great Weakness, +or of some violent inward Pain.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id306">§ 210</span>. The Disorder is sometimes so very +mild and slight, that Eruption appears with +scarcely any Suspicion of the Child's having the +least Ailment, and the Event is as favourable as +the Invasion. The Pustules appear, grow large, +<span class="pageno target" title="217" id="page-217"> </span>suppurate and attain their Maturity, without confining +the Patient to his Bed, or lessening either +his Sleep, or Appetite.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is very common to see Children in the Country +(and they are seldom more than Children who +have it so very gently) run about in the open Air, +through the whole Course of this Disease, and +feeding just as they do in Health. Even those +who take it in a somewhat higher Degree, commonly +go out when Eruption is finished, and +give themselves up, without Reserve, to the Voracity +of their Hunger. Notwithstanding all this +Neglect, many get perfectly cured; though such +a Conduct should never be proposed for Imitation, +since Numbers have experienced its pernicious +Consequences, and several of these Children have +been brought to me, especially from <em class="italics">Jurat</em>, who +after such Neglect, in the Course of the mild +and kindly Sort of this Distemper, have contracted +Complaints and Infirmities of different +Kinds, which have been found very difficult to +subdue.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id307">§ 211</span>. This still continues to be one of these +Distempers, whose Danger has long been increased +by its improper Treatment, and especially by +forcing the Patients into Sweats; and it still continues +to be increased, particularly among Country +People. They have seen Eruption appear, +where the Patient sweats, and observed he found +himself better after its Appearance: and hence +they conclude that, by quickening and forcing +out this Eruption, they contribute to his Relief; +<span class="pageno target" title="218" id="page-218"> </span>and suppose, that by increasing the Quantity of his +Sweats, and the Number of his Eruptions, the +Blood is the better cleared and purified from the +Poison. These are mortal Errors, which daily +Experience has demonstrated, by their tragical +Consequences.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Contagion or Poison, which generates +this Disease, has been admitted into the Blood, +it requires a certain Term to produce its usual +Effects: at which Time the Blood being tainted +by the Venom it has received, and by that which +such Venom has formed or assimilated from it, +Nature makes an Effort to free herself of it, and +to expell it by the Skin, precisely at the Time +when every Thing is predisposed for that Purpose. +This Effort pretty generally succeeds, being +very often rather too rapid and violent, and +very seldom too weak. Hence it is evident, that +whenever this Effort is deficient, it ought not to +be heightened by hot Medicines or Means, which +make it too violent and dangerous: for when it +already exceeds in this Respect, a further Increase +of such Violence must render it mortal. There +are but few Cases in which the Efforts of Nature, +on this Occasion, are too languid and feeble, especially +in the Country; and whenever such rare +Cases do occur, it is very difficult to form a just +and proper Estimation of them: for which Reason +we should be very reserved and cautious in the +Use of heating Medicines, which are so mortally +pernicious in this Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext">Wine, Venice Treacle, cordial Confections, +<span class="pageno target" title="219" id="page-219"> </span>hot Air, and Loads of Bed-cloths, annually +sweep off Thousands of Children, who might +have recovered, if they had taken nothing but +warm Water: and every Person who is interested +in the Recovery of Patients in this Distemper, +ought carefully to prevent the smallest Use of +such Drugs; which, if they should not immediately +aggravate it to a fatal Degree, yet will +certainly increase the Severity and Torment of it, +and annex the most unhappy and tragical Consequences +to it.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Prejudice in this Point is so strongly rooted, +that a total Eradication of it must be very difficult: +but I only desire People would be convinced +by their own Eyes, of the different Success +of the hot Regimen, and of that I shall propose. +And here indeed I must confess, I found +more Attention and Docility, on this Point, among +the Inhabitants of the City, and especially in the +last epidemical spreading of the Small-Pocks, than +I presumed to hope for. Not only as many as +consulted me on the Invasion of it, complied exactly +with the cooling Regimen I advised them; +but their Neighbours also had Recourse to it, +when their Children sickened: and being often +called in when it had been many Days advanced, +I observed with great Pleasure, that in many +Houses, not one heating Medicine had been given; +and great Care had been taken to keep the +Air of the Patient's Chamber refreshingly cool +and temperate. This encourages me to expect, +that this Method hereafter will become general +<span class="pageno target" title="220" id="page-220"> </span>here. What certainly ought most essentially to +conduce to this is, that notwithstanding the Diffusion +or spreading of this Disease was as numerous +and extensive as any of the former, the Mortality, +in Consequence of it, was evidently less.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id308">§ 212</span>. At the very Beginning of the Small-Pocks +(which may be reasonably suspected, from +the Presence of the Symptoms I have already described; +supposing the Person complaining never +to have had it, and the Disease to prevail near +his Residence) the Patient is immediately to be +put on a strict Regimen, and to have his Legs +bathed Night and Morning in warm Water. +This is the most proper and promising Method to +lessen the Quantity of Eruption in the Face and +Head, and to facilitate it every where else on the +Surface. Glysters also greatly contribute to +abate the Head-ach, and to diminish the Reachings +to vomit, and the actual Vomitings, which +greatly distress the Patient; but which however +it is highly absurd and pernicious to stop by any +stomachic cordial Confection, or by Venice Treacle; +and still more dangerous to attempt removing +the Cause of them, by a Vomit or Purge, +which are hurtful in the beginning of the Small-Pocks.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Fever be moderate, the Bathings of the +Legs on the first Day of sickening, and one Glyster +may suffice then. The Patient must be restrained +to his Regimen; and instead of the +Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id793">Nº. 1</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">2</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">4</a>, a very young Child should +drink nothing but Milk diluted with two thirds +of Elder Flower or Lime-tree Tea, or with Balm +<span class="pageno target" title="221" id="page-221"> </span>Tea, if there be no perceivable Fever; and in +short, if they have an Aversion to the Taste of +them all, with only the same Quantity of good +clear <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id310" id="id309"><sup>53</sup></a> Water. An Apple coddled or baked +may be added to it; and if they complain of +Hunger, a little Bread may be allowed; but they +must be denied any Meat, or Meat Broth, Eggs and +strong Drink; since it has appeared from Observations +frequently repeated, that Children who had +been indulged with such Diet proved the worse +for it, and recovered more slowly than others. +In this early Stage too, clear Whey alone may +serve them instead of every other Drink, the +good Effects of which I have frequently been a +Witness to; or some <span class="target" id="buttermilk">Buttermilk</span> may be allowed. +When the Distemper is of a mild Species, a perfect +Cure ensues, without any other Assistance or +Medicine: but we should not neglect to purge +the Patient as soon as the Pustules are perfectly +<span class="pageno target" title="222" id="page-222"> </span>scabbed on the greater Part of his Face, with the +Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id813">Nº. 11</a>, which must be repeated six +Days after. He should not be allowed Flesh 'till +after this second Purge; though after the first he +may he allowed some well-boiled Pulse, or Garden-stuff +and Bread, and in such a Quantity, as +not to be pinched with Hunger, while he recovers +from the Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id311">§ 213</span>. But if the Fever should be strong, the +Pulse hard, and the Pain of the Head and Loins +should be violent, he must, 1. immediately lose +Blood from the Arm; receive a Glyster two +Hours after; and, if the Fever continues, the +Bleeding must be repeated. I have directed a +Repetition of it even to the fourth Time, within +the two first Days, to young People under the +Age of eighteen; and it is more especially necessary +in such Persons as, with a hard and full +Pulse, are also affected with a heavy Drowsiness +and a <em class="italics">Delirium</em>, or Raving.</p> +<p class="pnext">2. As long as the Fever continues violently, +two, three, and even four Glysters should be +given in the 24 Hours; and the Legs should be +bathed twice.</p> +<p class="pnext">3. The Patient is to be taken out of Bed, and +supported in a Chair as long as he can tolerably +bear it.</p> +<p class="pnext">4. The Air of his Chamber should frequently +be renewed, and if it be too hot, which it often is +in Summer, in Order to refresh it, and the Patient, +the Means must be employed which are directed +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id68">§ 36</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="223" id="page-223"> </span>5. He is to be restrained to the Ptisans <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a> +or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">4</a>; and if that does not sufficiently moderate the +Fever, he should take every Hour, or every two +Hours, according to the Urgency of the Case, a +Spoonful of the Mixture <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id808">Nº. 10</a>; mixed with a +Cup of Ptisan. After the Eruption, the Fever +being then abated, there is less Occasion for Medicine; +and should it even entirely disappear, +the Patient may be regulated, as directed, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id308">§ 212</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id312">§ 214</span>. When, after a Calm, a Remission or +Intermission of some Days, the Process of +Suppuration revives the Fever, we ought first, +and especially, to keep the <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id314" id="id313"><sup>54</sup></a> Body very open. For +<span class="pageno target" title="224" id="page-224"> </span>this Purpose, <em class="italics">a</em> an Ounce of <em class="italics">Catholicon</em> should be +added to the Glysters; or they might be simply +made of Whey, with Honey, Oil and Salt. <em class="italics">b</em> +Give the Patient three times every Morning, at +the Interval of two Hours between each, three +Glasses of the Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id842">Nº. 32</a>. <em class="italics">c</em> Purge him <em class="italics">after</em> +two Days, with the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a>, but on that +Day he must not take the Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id842">Nº. 32</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">2. He must, if the Distemper be very violent, +take a double Dose of the Mixture <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id808">Nº. 10</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">3. The Patient should be taken out of Bed, +and kept up in a Room well aired Day and +Night, until the Fever has abated. Many Persons +will probably be surprized at this Advice; nevertheless +it is that which I have often experienced +to be the most efficacious, and without which +the others are ineffectual. They will say, how +shall the Patient sleep at this Rate? To which it +may be answered, Sleep is not necessary, nay, it +is hurtful in this State and Stage of the Disease. +Besides, he is really unable to sleep: the continual +Salivation prevents it, and it is very necessary +to keep up the Salivation; which is facilitated +by often injecting warm Water and Honey +into his Throat. It is also of considerable Service +to throw some up his Nostrils, and often thus to +<span class="pageno target" title="225" id="page-225"> </span>cleanse the Scabs which form within them. A +due Regard to these Circumstances not only contributes +to lessen the Patient's Uneasiness, but very +effectually also to his Cure.</p> +<p class="pnext">4. If the Face and Neck are greatly swelled, +emollient Cataplasms are to be applied to the +Soles of the Feet; and if these should have very +little Effect, Sinapisms should be applied. These +are a kind of Plaister or Application composed of +Yeast, Mustard-flower, and some Vinegar. They +sometimes occasion sharp and almost burning Pain, +but in Proportion to the Sharpness and Increase +of these Pains, the Head and Neck are remarkably +relieved.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id315">§ 215</span>. The Eyelids are puffed up and swelled +when the Disease runs high, so as to conceal the +Eyes, which are closed up fast for several Days. +Nothing further should be attempted, with Respect +to this Circumstance, but the frequent +moistening of them with a little warm Milk and +Water. The Precautions which some take to +stroke them with Saffron, a gold Ducat, or Rose-water +are equally childish and insignificant. +What chiefly conduces to prevent the Redness +or Inflammation of the Eyes after the Disease, +and in general all its other bad Consequences, is +to be content for a considerable Time, with a +very moderate Quantity of Food, and particularly +to abstain from Flesh and Wine. In the +very bad Small Pocks, and in little Children, the +Eyes are closed up from the Beginning of the +Eruption.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="226" id="page-226"> </span><span class="target" id="id316">§ 216</span>. One extremely serviceable Assistance, +and which has not been made use of for a +long Time past, except as a Means to preserve +the Smoothness and Beauty of the Face; but yet +which has the greatest Tendency to preserve Life +itself, is the Opening of the Pustules, not only +upon the Face, but all over the Body. In the +first Place, by opening them, the Lodgment or +Retention of <em class="italics">Pus</em> is prevented, which may be +supposed to prevent any Erosion, or eating down, +from it; whence Scars, deep Pitts and other Deformities +are obviated. Secondly, in giving a +Vent to the Poison, the Retreat of it into the +Blood is cut off, which removes a principal +Cause of the Danger of the Small-Pocks. Thirdly, +the Skin is relaxed; the Tumour of the Face +and Neck diminish in Proportion to that <span class="target" id="relaxation">Relaxation</span>; +and thence the Return of the Blood from +the Brain is facilitated, which must prove a great +Advantage. The Pustules should be opened +every where, successively as they ripen. The +precise Time of doing it is when they are entirely +white; when they just begin to turn +but a very little yellowish; and when the red +Circle surrounding them is quite pale. They +should be opened with very fine sharp-pointed +Scissars; this does not give the Patient the +least Pain; and when a certain Number of them +are opened, a Spunge dipt in a little warm Water +is to be repeatedly applied to suck up and +remove that <em class="italics">Pus</em>, which would soon be dried +<span class="pageno target" title="227" id="page-227"> </span>up into Scabs. But as the Pustules, when emptied +thus, soon fill again, a Discharge of this fresh +Matter must be obtained in the same Manner +some Hours after; and this must sometimes be +repeated five or even six Times successively. +Such extraordinary Attention in this Point may +probably be considered as minute, and even trivial, +by some; and is very unlikely to become a <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id318" id="id317"><sup>55</sup></a> general Practice: but I do again affirm it to be +of much more Importance than many may imagine; +and that as often as the Fever attending +Suppuration is violent and menacing, a very +general, exact and repeated opening, emptying, +and absorbing of the ripened Pustules, is a Remedy +of the utmost Importance and Efficacy; as +it removes two very considerable Causes of the +Danger of this Disease, which are the Matter +<span class="pageno target" title="228" id="page-228"> </span>itself, and the great Tension and Stiffness of the +Skin.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id319">§ 217</span>. In the Treatment of this Disease, I +have said nothing with Respect to Anodynes, or +such Medicines as procure Sleep, which I am +sensible are pretty generally employed in it, but +which I scarcely ever direct in this violent Degree +of the Disease, and the Dangers of which +Medicine in it I have demonstrated in the Letter to +Baron <span class="small-caps">Haller</span>, which I have already mentioned. +For which Reason, wherever the Patient is +not under the Care and Direction of a Physician, +they should very carefully abstain from the Use of +Venice Treacle, Laudanum, <em class="italics">Diacodium</em>, that is +the Syrup of white Poppies, or even of the wild +red Poppy; Syrup of Amber, Pills of Storax, of +<em class="italics">Cynoglossum</em> or Hounds-tongue, and, in one Word, +of every Medicine which produces Sleep. But still +more especially should their Use be entirely banished, +throughout the Duration of the secondary +Fever, when even natural Sleep itself is dangerous. +One Circumstance in which their Use may +sometimes be permitted, is in the Case of weakly +Children, or such as are liable to Convulsions, +where Eruption is effected not without Difficulty. +But I must again inculcate the greatest Circumspection, +in the Use of such Medicines, +whose Effects are fatal, <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id321" id="id320"><sup>56</sup></a> when the Blood-vessels +<span class="pageno target" title="229" id="page-229"> </span>are turgid or full; whenever there is Inflammation, +Fever, a great Distension of the Skin; whenever +the Patient raves, or complains of Heaviness +and Oppression; and when it is necessary that +the Belly should be open; the Urine plentifully +discharged; and the Salivation be freely promoted.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id322">§ 218</span>. If Eruption should suddenly retreat, +or strike in, heating, soporific, spirituous and volatile +Remedies should carefully be avoided: but +the Patient may drink plentifully of the Infusion +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id814">Nº. 12</a> pretty hot, and should be blistered on +the fleshy Part of the Legs. This is a very +<span class="pageno target" title="230" id="page-230"> </span>embarrassing and difficult Case, and the different +Circumstances attending it may require different +Means and Applications, the Detail and Discussion +of which are beyond my Plan here. Sometimes +a single Bleeding has effectually recalled Eruption +at once.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id323">§ 219</span>. The only certain Method of surmounting +all the Danger of this Malady, is to inoculate. +But this most salutary Method, which ought to +be regarded as a particular and gracious Dispensation +of Providence, can scarcely be attainable +by, or serviceable to, the Bulk of the People, except +in those Countries, where Hospitals <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id325" id="id324"><sup>57</sup></a> are +destined particularly for Inoculation. In these +where as yet there are none, the only Resource +that is left for Children who cannot be inoculated +at home, is to dispose them happily for the Distemper, +by a simple easy Preparation.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id326">§ 220</span>. This Preparation consists, upon the +whole, in removing all Want of, and all Obstructions +to, the Health of the Person subject to +this Disease, if he have any such; and in bringing +him into a mild and healthy, but not into +a very robust and vigorous, State; as this Distemper +is often exceedingly violent in this last.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is evident, that since the Defects of Health +are very different in different Bodies, the Preparations +of them must as often vary; and that a +<span class="pageno target" title="231" id="page-231"> </span>Child subject to some habitual Disorder, cannot +be prepared in the same Method with another +who has a very opposite one. The Detail +and Distinctions which are necessary on this important +Head, would be improper here, whether +it might be owing to their unavoidable Length; +or to the Impossibility of giving Persons, who +are not Physicians, sufficient Knowlege and Information +to qualify them for determining on, +and preferring, the most proper Preparation in +various Cases. Nevertheless I will point out +some such as may be very likely to agree, pretty generally, +with Respect to strong and healthy Children. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id328" id="id327"><sup>58</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext">The first Step then is an Abatement of their +usual Quantity of Food. Children commonly +eat too much. Their Limitation should be in +Proportion to their Size and Growth, where we +could exactly ascertain them: but with Regard +to all, or to much the greater Number of them, +we may be allowed to make their Supper very +light, and very small.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="232" id="page-232"> </span>Their second Advantage will consist in the +Choice of their Food. This Circumstance is less +within the Attainment of, and indeed less necessary +for, the common People, who are of Course +limited to a very few, than to the Rich, who +have Room to make great Retrenchments on this +Account. The Diet of Country People being of +the simplest Kind, and almost solely consisting of +Vegetables and of Milk-meats, is the most proper +Diet towards preparing for this Disease. For +this Reason, such Persons have little more to attend +to in this Respect, but that such Aliments +be sound and good in their Kind; that their +Bread be well baked; their Pulse dressed without +Bacon, or rancid strong Fat of any sort; that +their Fruits should be well ripened; that their +Children should have no Cakes or Tarts, [But +see Note <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id33" id="id329"><sup>11</sup></a>, P. <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-40">40</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-41">41</a>.] and but little Cheese. +These simple Regulations may be sufficient, with +Regard to this Article of their Preparation.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some Judgment may be formed of the good +Consequences of their Care on these two Points, +concerning the Quantity and Quality of the Childrens +Diet, by the moderate Shrinking of their +Bellies; as they will be rendered more lively +and active by this Alteration in their living; and +yet, notwithstanding a little less Ruddiness in +their Complexion, and some Abatement of their +common Plight of Body, their Countenances, +upon the whole, will seem improved.</p> +<p class="pnext">The third Article I would recommend, is to +bathe their Legs now and then in warm Water, +<span class="pageno target" title="233" id="page-233"> </span>before they go to Bed. This promotes Perspiration, +cools, dilutes the Blood, and allays the +Sharpness of it, as often as it is properly timed.</p> +<p class="pnext">The fourth Precaution, is the frequent Use of +very clear Whey. This agreeable Remedy, +which consists of the Juices of Herbs filtred +through, and concocted, or as it were, sweetened +by the Organs of a healthy Animal, answers +every visible Indication (I am still speaking here +of <span class="target" id="sound-and-hearty-children">sound and hearty Children).</span> It imparts a Flexibility, +or Soupleness to the Vessels; it abates the +Density, the heavy Consistence and Thickness of +the Blood; which being augmented by the Action +of the poisonous Cause of the Small-Pocks, +would degenerate into a most dangerous inflammatory <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id331" id="id330"><sup>59</sup></a> +Viscidity or Thickness. It removes all +Obstructions in the <em class="italics">Viscera</em>, or Bowels of the +lower Cavity, the Belly. It opens the Passages +which strain off the Bile; sheaths, or blunts, its +Sharpness, gives it a proper Fluidity, prevents its +Putridity, and sweetens whatever excessive Acrimony +may reside throughout the Mass of Humours. +It likewise promotes Stools, Urine and +Perspiration; and, in a Word, it communicates +the most favourable Disposition to the Body, not +to be too violently impressed and agitated by the +<span class="pageno target" title="234" id="page-234"> </span>Operation of an inflammatory Poison: And with +Regard to such Children as I have mentioned, +for those who are either sanguine or bilious, it is +beyond all Contradiction, the most effectual +preparatory Drink, and the most proper to make +them amends for the Want of Inoculation.</p> +<p class="pnext">I have already observed, that it may also be +used to great Advantage, during the Course of +the Disease: but I must also observe, that however +salutary it is, in the Cases for which I have +directed it, there are many others in which it +would be hurtful. It would be extremely pernicious +to order it to weak, languishing, scirrhous, +pale Children, subject to Vomitings, Purgings, +Acidities, and to all Diseases which prove their +Bowels to be weak, their Humours to be sharp: +so that People must be very cautious not to regard +it as an universal and infallible Remedy, +towards preparing for the Small-Pocks. Those +to whom it is advised, may take a few Glasses +every Morning, and even drink it daily, for their +common Drink; they may also sup it with Bread +for Breakfast, for Supper, and indeed at any +Time.</p> +<p class="pnext">If Country People will pursue these Directions, +which are very easy to observe and to comprehend, +whenever the Small-Pocks rages, I am +persuaded it must lessen the Mortality attending +it. Some will certainly experience the Benefit +of them; such I mean as are very sensible and +discreet, and strongly influenced by the truest +<span class="pageno target" title="235" id="page-235"> </span>Love of their Children. Others there are Alas! +who are too stupid to discern the Advantage of +them, and too unnatural to take any just Care of +their Families.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head267-chapter-xiv"> +<span id="chap-xiv"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i267a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XIV.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-measles"> +<em class="italics">Of the Measles.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 221.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i267b.png"/>he Measles, to which the human Species +are as generally liable, as to the +Small-Pocks, is a Distemper considerably +related to it; though, generally +speaking, it is less fatal; notwithstanding which, +it is not a little destructive in some Countries. In +<em class="italics">Swisserland</em> we lose much fewer, immediately in +the Disease, than from the Consequences of it.</p> +<p class="pnext">It happens now and then that the Small-Pocks +and the Measles rage at the same Time, +and in the same Place; though I have more frequently +observed, that each of them was epidemical +in different Years. Sometimes it also happens +that both these Diseases are combined at +once in the same Person; and that one supervenes +before the other has finished its Course, +which makes the Case very perilous.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id332">§ 222</span>. In some Constitutions the Measles +gives Notice of its Approach many Days before +<span class="pageno target" title="236" id="page-236"> </span>its evident Invasion, by a small, frequent and dry +Cough, without any other sensible Complaint: +though more frequently by a general Uneasiness; +by Successions of Shivering and of Heat; by a severe +Head-ach in grown Persons; a Heaviness in +Children; a considerable Complaint of the +Throat; and, by what particularly characterizes +this Distemper, an Inflammation and a considerable +Heat in the Eyes, attended with a Swelling +of the Eye-lids, with a Defluxion of sharp Tears, +and so acute a Sensation, or Feeling of the Eyes, +that they cannot bear the Light; by very frequent +Sneezings, and a Dripping from the Nose +of the same Humour with that, which trickles +from the Eyes.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Heat and the Fever increases with Rapidity; +the Patient is afflicted with a Cough, a Stuffing, +with Anguish, and continual Reachings to +vomit; with violent Pains in the Loins; and +sometimes with a Looseness, under which Circumstance +he is less persecuted with Vomiting. +At other times, and in other Subjects, Sweating +chiefly prevails, though in less Abundance than +in the Small-Pocks. The Tongue is foul and +white; the Thirst is often very high; and the +Symptoms are generally more violent than in the +mild Small-Pocks.</p> +<p class="pnext">At length, on the fourth or fifth Day, and +sometimes about the End of the third, a sudden +Eruption appears and in a very great Quantity, +especially about the Face; which in a few Hours +is covered with Spots, each of which resembles a +<span class="pageno target" title="237" id="page-237"> </span>Flea-bite; many of them soon joining form red +<span class="target" id="streaks">Streaks</span> or Suffusions larger or smaller, which +inflame the Skin, and produce a very perceivable +Swelling of the Face; whence the very Eyes are +sometimes closed. Each small Spot or Suffusion +is raised a little above the Surface, especially in +the Face, where they are manifest both to the +Sight and the Touch. In the other Parts of the +Body, this Elevation or Rising is scarcely perceivable +by any Circumstance, but the Roughness of +the Skin.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Eruption, having first appeared in the +Face, is afterwards extended to the Breast, the +Back, the Arms, the Thighs and Legs. It generally +spreads very plentifully over the Breast +and the Back, and sometimes red Suffusions are +found upon the Breast, before any Eruption has +appeared in the Face.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Patient is often relieved, as in the Small-Pocks, +by plentiful Discharges of Blood from +the Nose, which carry off the Complaints of the +Head, of the Eyes, and of the Throat.</p> +<p class="pnext">Whenever this Distemper appears in its mildest +Character, almost every Symptom abates after +Eruption, as it happens in the Small-Pocks; +though, in general, the Change for the better is +not as thoroughly perceivable, as it is in the +Small-Pocks. It is certain the Reachings and +Vomitings cease almost entirely; but the Fever, +the Cough, the Head-ach continue; and I have +sometimes observed that a bilious Vomiting, a +Day or two after the Eruption, proved a more +<span class="pageno target" title="238" id="page-238"> </span>considerable Relief to the Patient than the Eruption +had. On the third or fourth Day of the Eruption, +the Redness diminishes; the Spots, or very +small Pustules, dry up and fall off in very little +branny Scales; the Cuticle, or superficial Skin +also shrivels off; and is replaced by one succeeding +beneath it. On the ninth Day, when the +Progress of the Malady has been speedy, and on +the eleventh, when it has been very slow, no +Trace of the Redness is to be found; and the +Surface immediately resumes its usual Appearance.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id333">§ 223</span>. Notwithstanding all which the Patient +is not safe, except, during the Course of the +Distemper, or immediately after it, he has had +some considerable Evacuation; such as the Vomiting +I have just mentioned; or a bilious Looseness; +or considerable Discharges by Urine; or +very plentiful Sweating. For when any of these +Evacuations supervene, the Fever vanishes; the +Patient resumes his Strength, and perfectly recovers. +It happens sometimes too, and even +without any of these perceivable Discharges, that +insensible Perspiration expels the Relics of the +poisonous Cause of this Disease, and the Patient +recovers his Health. Yet it occurs too often, +that this Venom not having been entirely expelled +(or its internal Effects not having been thoroughly +effaced) it is repelled upon the Lungs, where it +produces a slight Inflammation. In Consequence +of this the Oppression, the Cough, the Anguish, +and Fever return, and the Patient's Situation +<span class="pageno target" title="239" id="page-239"> </span>becomes very dangerous. This Outrage is frequently +less vehement, but it proves tedious and chronical, +leaving a very obstinate Cough behind it, +with many Resemblances of the Whooping-Cough. +In 1758 there was an epidemic State of +the Measles here extremely numerous, which affected +great Numbers: Almost all who had it, +and who were not very carefully and judiciously +attended, were seized in Consequence of it with +that Cough, which proved very violent and obstinate.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id334">§ 224</span>. However, notwithstanding this be the +frequent Progress and Consequence of this Disease, +when left entirely to itself, or erroneously +treated, and more particularly when treated with +a hot Regimen; yet when proper Care was taken +to moderate the Fever at the Beginning, to dilute, +and to keep up the Evacuations, such unhappy +Consequences have been very rare.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id335">§ 225</span>. The proper Method of conducting +this Distemper is much the same with that of +the Small-Pocks.</p> +<p class="pnext">1, If the Fever be high, the Pulse hard, the +Load and Oppression heavy, and all the Symptoms +violent, the Patient must be bled once or +twice.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, His Legs must be bathed, and he must +take some Glysters: the Vehemence of the Symptoms +must regulate the Number of each.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, The Ptisans <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id797">Nº. 3</a> or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">4</a> must be taken, or +a Tea of Elder and Lime-tree Flowers, to which +a fifth Part Milk may be added.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="240" id="page-240"> </span>4, The Vapour, the Steam of warm Water +should also be employed, as very conducive to +asswage the Cough; the Soreness of the Throat, +and the Oppression the Patient labours under.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, As soon as the Efflorescence, the Redness +becomes pale, the Patient is to be purged with +the Draught <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">6, He is still to be kept strictly to his Regimen, +for two Days after this Purge; after which +he is to be put upon the Diet of those who are +in a State of Recovery.</p> +<p class="pnext">7, If during the Eruption such Symptoms +supervene as occur [at the same Term] in the +Small-Pocks, they are to be treated in the Manner +already directed there.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id336">§ 226</span>. Whenever this Method has not been observed, +and the Accidents described <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id333">§ 223</a> supervene, +the Distemper must be treated like an Inflammation +in its first State, and all must be done +as directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id335">§ 225</a>. If the Disease is not vehement, <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id338" id="id337"><sup>60</sup></a> Bleeding may be omitted. If it is of +<span class="pageno target" title="241" id="page-241"> </span>some standing in gross Children, loaded with +Humours, inactive, and pale, we must add to +the Medicines already prescribed the Potion +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id806">Nº. 8</a>, and Blisters to the Legs.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id339">§ 227</span>. It often happens from the Distance of +proper Advice, that the Relics, the Dregs as it +were, of the Disease have been too little regarded, +especially the Cough; in which Circumstance it +forms a real Suppuration in the Lungs, attended +with a slow Fever. I have seen many Children +in Country Villages destroyed by this Neglect. +Their Case is then of the same Nature with that +described <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id108">§ 68</a> and <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id122">82</a>, and terminates in the +same Manner in a Looseness, (attended with very +little Pain) and sometimes a very fœtid one, which +carries off the Patient. In such Cases we must +recur to the Remedies prescribed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id114">§ 74</a>, Article 3, +4, 5; to the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>; and to Milk and +Exercise. But it is so very difficult to make +Children take the Powder, that it may be sometimes +necessary to trust to the Milk without it, +which I have often seen in such Situations accomplish +a very difficult Cure. I must advise the +Reader at the same Time, that it has not so compleat +an Effect, as when it is taken solely +<span class="pageno target" title="242" id="page-242"> </span>unjoined by any other Aliment; and that it is of the +last Importance not to join it with any, which has +the least Acidity or Sharpness. Persons in easy +Circumstances may successfully take, at the same +Time, <em class="italics">Pfeffer</em>, <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id341" id="id340"><sup>61</sup></a> <em class="italics">Seltzer</em>, <em class="italics">Peterstal</em>, or some other +light Waters, which are but moderately loaded +with mineral Ingredients. These are also successfully +employed in all the Cases, in which the +Cure I have mentioned is necessary.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id342">§ 228</span>. Sometimes there remains, after the +Course of the Measles, a strong dry Cough, with +great Heat in the Breast, and throughout the +whole Body, with Thirst, an excessive Dryness +of the Tongue, and of the whole Surface of the +Body. I have cured Persons thus indisposed after +this Distemper, by making them breathe in the +Vapour of warm Water; by the repeated Use of +warm Baths; and by allowing them to take nothing +for several Days but Water and Milk.</p> +<p class="pnext">Before I take leave of this Subject, I assure the +Reader again, that the contagious Cause of the +Measles is of an extremely sharp and acrid Nature. +It appears to have some Resemblance to +the bilious Humour, which produces the <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em>, +or St. Anthony's Fire; and thence it demands +our particular Attention and Vigilance; without +which very troublesome and dangerous Consequences +may be apprehended. I have seen, not +very long since, a young Girl, who was in a very +<span class="pageno target" title="243" id="page-243"> </span>languid State after the Measles, which she had +Undergone three Years before: It was at length +attended with an Ulceration in her Neck, which +was cured, and her Health finally restored by +<em class="italics">Sarsaparilla</em> with Milk and Water.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id343">§ 229</span>. The Measles have been communicated +by <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id345" id="id344"><sup>62</sup></a> Inoculation in some Countries, where it is +of a very malignant Disposition; and that Method +might also be very advantageous in this. +But what we have already observed, with Respect +to the Inoculation of the Small-Pocks, <em class="italics">viz.</em> That +it cannot be extended to the general Benefit of the +People, without the Foundation of Hospitals for +that very Purpose, is equally applicable to the +Inoculation of the Measles.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head276-chapter-xv"> +<span id="chap-xv"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="244" id="page-244"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i276a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XV.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-ardent-or-burning-fever"> +<em class="italics">Of the ardent or burning Fever.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 230.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i276b.png"/>he much greater Number of the <span class="target" id="diseases">Diseases</span> +I have hitherto considered, result +from an Inflammation of the Blood, +combined with the particular Inflammation +of some Part, or occasioned by some Contagion +or Poison, which must be evacuated. But +when the Blood is solely and strongly inflamed, +without an Attack on any particular Part, this +Fever, which we term hot or burning, is the +Consequence.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id346">§ 231</span>. The Signs which make it evident are, +a Hardness and Fulness of the Pulse in a higher +Degree than happens in any other Malady; an +excessive Heat; great Thirst; with an extraordinary +Dryness of the Eyes, Nostrils, Lips, of +the Tongue, and of the Throat; a violent Head-ach; +and sometimes a Raving at the Height of +the Paroxysm, or Increase of the Fever, which +rises considerably every Evening. The Respiration +is also somewhat oppressed, but especially +at the Return of this Paroxysm, with a Cough +now and then; though without any Pain in the +Breast, and without any Expectoration, or coughing +<span class="pageno target" title="245" id="page-245"> </span>up. The Body is costive; the Urine very +high coloured, hot, and in a small Quantity. +The Sick are also liable to start sometimes, but +especially when they seem to sleep; for they have +little sound refreshing Sleep, but rather a kind of +Drowsiness, that makes them very little attentive +to, or sensible of, whatever happens about them, +or even of their own Condition. They have +sometimes a little Sweat or Moisture; though +commonly a very dry Skin; they are manifestly +weak, and have either little or no Smell or Taste.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id347">§ 232</span>. This Disease, like all other inflammatory +ones, is produced by the Causes which +thicken the Blood, and increase its Motion; such +as excessive Labour, violent Heat, Want of Sleep, +the Abuse of Wine or other strong Liquors; the +long Continuance of a dry Constitution of the +Air, Excess of every kind, and heating inflaming +Food.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id348">§ 233</span>. The Patient, under these Circumstances, +ought, 1, immediately to be put upon a Regimen; +to have the Food allowed him given +only every eight Hours, and, in some Cases, only +twice a Day: and indeed, when the Attack is +extremely violent, Nourishment may be wholly +omitted.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, Bleeding should be performed and repeated, +'till the Hardness of the Pulse is sensibly abated. +The first Discharge should be considerable, the +second should be made four Hours after. If the +Pulse is softened by the first, the second may be +suspended, and not repeated before it becomes +<span class="pageno target" title="246" id="page-246"> </span>sufficiently hard again, to make us apprehensive +of Danger: but should it continue strong and +hard, the Bleeding may be repeated on the same +Day to a third Time, which often happens to +be all the Repetitions that are necessary.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, The Glyster <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id801">Nº. 5</a> should be given twice, +or even thrice, daily.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, His Legs are to be bathed twice a Day in +warm Water: his Hands may be bathed in the +same Water. Linen or Flanel Cloths dipt in +warm Water may be applied over the Breast, +and upon the Belly; and he should regularly +drink the Almond Milk <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">Nº. 4</a> and the Ptisan +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id803">Nº. 7</a>. The poorest Patients may content themselves +with the last, but should drink very plentifully +of it; and after the Bleeding properly repeated, +fresh Air and the plentiful Continuance +of small diluting Liquors generally establish the +Health of the Patient.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, If notwithstanding the repeated Bleedings, +the Fever still rages highly, it may be lessened by +giving a Spoonful of the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id808">Nº. 10</a> every Hour, +till it abates; and afterwards every three Hours, +until it becomes very moderate.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id349">§ 234</span>. Hæmorrhages, or Bleedings, from the +Nose frequently occur in this Fever, greatly to the +Relief and Security of the Patient.</p> +<p class="pnext">The first Appearances of Amendment are a +softening of the Pulse, (which however does not +wholly lose all its Hardness, before the Disease +entirely terminates) a sensible Abatement of the +Head-ach; a greater Quantity of Urine, and that +<span class="pageno target" title="247" id="page-247"> </span>less high coloured; and a manifestly approaching +Moisture of the Tongue. These favourable +Signs keep increasing in their Degree, and there +frequently ensue between the ninth and the fourteenth +Day, and often after a Flurry of some +Hours Continuance, very large Evacuations by +Stool; a great Quantity of Urine, which lets fall +a palely reddish Sediment; the Urine above it +being very clear, and of a natural Colour; and +these accompanied with Sweats in a less or greater +Quantity. At the same Time the Nostrils and +the Mouth grow moist: the brown and dry Crust +which covered the Tongue, and which was hitherto +inseparable from it, peels off of itself; the +Thirst is diminished; the Clearness of the Faculties +rises; the Drowsiness goes off, it is succeeded +by comfortable Sleep, and the natural Strength +is restored. When Things are evidently in this +Way, the Patient should take the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a>, +and be put upon the Regimen of those who are +in a State of Recovery. It should be repeated at +the End of eight or ten Days. Some Patients +have perfectly recovered from this Fever, without +the least Sediment in their Urine.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id350">§ 235</span>. The augmenting Danger of this Fever +may be discerned, from the continued Hardness +of the Pulse, though with an Abatement of its +Strength; if the Brain becomes more confused; +the Breathing more difficult; if the Eyes, Nose, +Lips and Tongue become still more dry, and the +Voice more altered. If to these Symptoms there +be also added a Swelling of the Belly; a Diminution +<span class="pageno target" title="248" id="page-248"> </span>of the Quantity of Urine; a constant Raving; +great Anxiety, and a certain Wildness of +the Eyes, the Case is in a manner desperate; and +the Patient cannot survive many Hours. The +Hands and Fingers at this Period are incessantly +in Motion, as if feeling for something upon the +Bed-Cloths, which is commonly termed, their +hunting for Flies.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head280-chapter-xvi"> +<span id="chap-xvi"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i280a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XVI.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-putrid-fevers"> +<em class="italics">Of putrid Fevers.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 236.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="H" src="images/i280b.png"/>aving treated of such feverish Distempers, +as arise from an Inflammation +of the Blood, I shall here treat of those +produced by corrupt Humours, which +stagnate in the Stomach, the Guts, or other Bowels +of the lower Cavity, the Belly; or which +have already passed from them into the Blood. +These are called putrid Fevers, or sometimes bilious +Fevers, when a certain Degeneracy or Corruption +of the Bile seems chiefly to prevail in the +Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id351">§ 237</span>. This Distemper frequently gives Notice +of its Approach, several Days before its manifest +Attack; by a great Dejection, a Heaviness +of the Head; Pains of the Loins and Knees; a +<span class="pageno target" title="249" id="page-249"> </span>Foulness of the Mouth in the Morning; little Appetite; +broken Slumber; and sometimes by an excessive +Head-ach for many Days, without any other +Symptom. After this, or these Disorders, a Shivering +comes on, followed by a sharp and dry Heat: +the Pulse, which was small and quick during the +Shivering, is raised during the Heat, and is often +very strong, though it is not attended with the +same Hardness, as in the preceding Fever; except +the putrid Fever be combined with an inflammatory +one, which it sometimes is. During +this Time, that is the Duration of the Heat, the +Head-ach is commonly extremely violent; the +Patient is almost constantly affected with Loathings, +and sometimes even with Vomiting; with +Thirst, disagreeable Risings, a Bitterness in the +Mouth; and very little Urine. This Heat continues +for many Hours, frequently the whole +Night; it abates a little in the Morning, and the +Pulse, though always feverish, is then something +less so, while the Patient suffers less, though still +greatly dejected.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Tongue is white and furred, the Teeth +are foul, and the Breath smells very disagreeably. +The Colour, Quantity and Consistence of the +Urine, are very various and changeable. Some +Patients are costive, others frequently have small +Stools, without the least Relief accruing from +them. The Skin is sometimes dry, and at other +Times there is some sensible Perspiration, but +without any Benefit attending it. The Fever +augments every Day, and frequently at unexpected +<span class="pageno target" title="250" id="page-250"> </span>irregular Periods. Besides that <em class="italics">great</em> Paroxysm +or Increase, which is perceivable in all +the Subjects of this Fever, some have also other +<em class="italics">less</em> intervening ones.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id352">§ 238</span>. When the Disease is left to itself, or +injudiciously treated; or when it proves more powerful +than the Remedies against it, which is by no +Means seldom the Case, the Aggravations of it +become longer, more frequent and irregular. +There is scarcely an Interval of Ease. The Patient's +Belly is swell'd out like a Foot-ball; a <em class="italics">Delirium</em> +or Raving comes on; he proves insensible +of his own Evacuations, which come away involuntarily; +he rejects Assistance, and keeps muttering +continually, with a quick, small, irregular +Pulse. Sometimes little Spots of a brown, or +of a livid Colour appear on the Surface, but +particularly about the Neck, Back and Breast. All +the Discharges from his Body have a most fœtid +Smell: convulsive Motions also supervene, especially +in the Face; he lies down only on his +Back, sinks down insensibly towards the Foot +of the Bed, and picks about, as if catching +Flies; his Pulse becomes so quick and so small, +that it cannot be perceived without Difficulty, +and cannot be counted. His Anguish seems +inexpressible: his Sweats stream down from +Agony: his Breast swells out as if distended by +Fullness, and he dies miserably.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id353">§ 239</span>. When this Distemper is less violent, or +more judiciously treated, and the Medicines succeed +well, it continues for some Days in the State +<span class="pageno target" title="251" id="page-251"> </span>described <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id351">§ 237</a>, without growing worse, though +without abating. None of these Symptoms however +appear, described <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id352">§ 238</a>; but, on the contrary, +all the Symptoms become milder, the Paroxysms, +or Aggravations, are shorter and less violent, the +Head-ach more supportable; the Discharges by +Stool are less frequent, but more at once, and attended +with Relief to the Patient. The Quantity +of Urine is very considerable, though it varies at +different Times in Colour and Consistence, as before. +The Patient soon begins to get a little +Sleep, and grows more composed and easy. The +Tongue disengages itself from its Filth and Furriness, +and Health gradually, yet daily, advances.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id354">§ 240</span>. This Fever seems to have no critical +Time, either for its Termination in Recovery, or +in Death. When it is very violent, or very +badly conducted, it proves sometimes fatal on the +ninth Day. Persons often die of it from the +eighteenth to the twentieth; sometimes only +about the fortieth; after having been alternately +better and worse.</p> +<p class="pnext">When it happens but in a light Degree, it is +sometimes cured within a few Days, after the +earliest Evacuations. When it is of a very different +Character, some Patients are not out of Danger +before the End of six Weeks, and even still later. +Nevertheless it is certain, that these Fevers, extended +to this Length of Duration, often depend +in a great Measure on the Manner of treating +them; and that in general their Course must be +<span class="pageno target" title="252" id="page-252"> </span>determined, some time from the fourteenth to the +thirtieth Day.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id355">§ 241</span>. The Treatment of this Species of Fevers +is comprized in the following Method and +Medicines.</p> +<p class="pnext">1, The Patient must be put into a <em class="italics">Regimen</em>; +and notwithstanding he is far from costive, and +sometimes has even a small Purging, he should +receive one Glyster daily. His common Drink +should be Lemonade, (which is made of the +Juice of Lemons, Sugar and Water) or the Ptisan +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id797">Nº. 3</a>. Instead of Juice of Lemons, Vinegar +may be occasionally substituted, which, with +Sugar and Water, makes an agreeable and very +wholesome Drink in these Fevers.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, If there be an Inflammation also, which +may be discovered by the Strength and the Hardness +of the Pulse, and by the Temperament and +Complexion of the Patient; if he is naturally +robust, and has heated himself by any of the +Causes described, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id347">§ 232</a>, he should be bled once, +and even a second Time, if necessary, some +Hours after. I must observe however, that very +frequently there is no such Inflammation, and +that in such a Case, Bleeding would be hurtful.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, When the Patient has drank very plentifully +for two Days of these Liquids, if his Mouth +still continues in a very foul State, and he has +violent Reachings to vomit, he must take the +Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a>, dissolved in half a <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id358" id="id356"><sup>63</sup></a> Pot of +<span class="pageno target" title="253" id="page-253"> </span>warm Water, a <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id359" id="id357"><sup>64</sup></a> Glass of it being to be drank +every half Quarter of an Hour. But as this Medicine +vomits, it must not be taken, except we +are certain the Patient is not under any Circumstance, +which forbids the Use of a Vomit: all +which Circumstances shall be particularly mentioned +in the Chapter, respecting the Use of such +Medicines, as are taken by way of Precaution, or +Prevention. If the first Glasses excite a plentiful +Vomiting, we must forbear giving another, and +be content with obliging the Patient to drink a +considerable Quantity of warm Water. But if +the former Glasses do not occasion Vomiting, +they must be repeated, as already directed until +they do. Those who are afraid of taking this +Medicine, which is usually called, the Emetic, +may take that of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a>, also drinking warm +Water plentifully during its Operation; but the +former is preferable, as more prevalent, in dangerous +Cases. We must caution our Readers at +the same Time, that wherever there is an Inflammation +of any Part, neither of these Medicines +must be given, which might prove a real Poison +in such a Circumstance; and even if the Fever is +extremely violent, though there should be no +particular Inflammation, they should not be +given.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Time of giving them is soon after the End of +the Paroxysm, when the Fever is at the lowest. The +Medicine <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a> generally purges, after it ceases +<span class="pageno target" title="254" id="page-254"> </span>to make the Patient vomit: But <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a> is seldom +attended with the same Effect.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Operation of the Vomit is entirely +over, the Sick should return to the Use of the +Ptisan; and great Care must be taken to prohibit +them from the Use of Flesh Broth, under the +Pretext of working off a Purging with it. The +same Method is to be continued on the following +Days as on the first; but as it is of Importance +to keep the Body open, he should take +every Morning some of the Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id842">Nº. 32</a>. Such, +as this would be too expensive for, may substitute, +in the room of it, a fourth Part of the Powder +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a> in five or six Glasses of Water, of which +they are to take a Cup every two Hours, beginning +early in the Morning. Nevertheless, if the +Fever be very high, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id842">Nº. 32</a> should be preferred +to it.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, After the Operation of the Vomit, if the +Fever still continue, if the Stools are remarkably +fœtid, and if the Belly is tense and distended as it +were, and the Quantity of Urine is small, a +Spoonful of the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id808">Nº. 10</a> should be given +every two Hours, which checks the Putridity +and abates the Fever. Should the Distemper become +violent, and very pressing, it ought to be +taken every Hour.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, Whenever, notwithstanding the giving all +these Medicines as directed, the Fever continues +obstinate; the Brain is manifestly disordered; +there is a violent Head-ach, or very great Restlessness, +two blistering Plaisters <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id850">Nº. 36</a> must be +<span class="pageno target" title="255" id="page-255"> </span>applied to the inside and fleshy Part of the Legs, +and their Suppuration and Discharge should be +continued as long as possible.</p> +<p class="pnext">6, If the Fever is extremely violent indeed, +there is a Necessity absolutely to prohibit the Patient +from receiving the least Nourishment.</p> +<p class="pnext">7, When it is thought improper, or unsafe, to +give the Vomit, the Patient should take in the +Morning, for two successive Days, three Doses +of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>, at the Interval of one +Hour between each: This Medicine produces +some bilious Stools, which greatly abate the Fever, +and considerably lessen the Violence of all the +other Symptoms of the Disease. This may be +done with Success, when the excessive Height +of the Fever prevents us from giving the Vomit: +and we should limit ourselves to this Medicine, +as often as we are uncertain, what ever the Circumstances +of the Disease and the Patient will admit +of the Vomiting; which may thus be dispensed +with, in many Cases.</p> +<p class="pnext">8, When the Distemper has manifestly and +considerably declined; the Paroxysms are more +slight; and the Patient continues without any +Fever for several Hours, the daily use of the +purging opening Drinks should be discontinued. +The common Ptisans however should be still +made use of; and it will be proper to give every +other Day two Doses of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>, +which sufficiently obviates every ill Consequence +from this Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext">9, If the Fever has been clearly off for a long +Part of the Day; if the Tongue appears in a +<span class="pageno target" title="256" id="page-256"> </span>good healthy State; if the Patient has been well +purged; and yet one moderate Paroxysm of the +Fever returns every Day, he should take four +Doses of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a> between the End of +one Return and the Beginning of the next, and +continue this Repetition some Days. People who +cannot easily procure this Medicine, may substitute, +instead of it, the bitter Decoction <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id851">Nº. 37</a>. +four Glasses of which may be taken at equal Intervals, +between the two Paroxysms or Returns +of the Fever.</p> +<p class="pnext">10, As the Organs of Digestion have been +considerably weakened through the Course of +this Fever, there is a Necessity for the Patient's +conducting himself very prudently and regularly +long after it, with Regard both to the Quantity +and Quality of his Food. He should also use +due Exercise as soon as his Strength will permit, +without which he may be liable to fall into +some chronical and languishing Disorder, productive +of considerable Languor and Weakness. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id361" id="id360"><sup>*</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head289-chapter-xvii"> +<span id="chap-xvii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="257" id="page-257"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i289a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XVII.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-malignant-fevers"> +<em class="italics">Of malignant Fevers.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 242.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i289b.png"/>hose Fevers are termed malignant, +in which the Danger is more than the +Symptoms would make us apprehensive +of: they have frequently a fatal +Event without appearing so very perilous; on +which Account it has been well said of this Fever, +that it is a Dog which bites without barking.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id362">§ 243</span>. The distinguishing <em class="italics">Criterion</em> or Mark +of malignant Fevers is a total Loss of the Patient's +Strength, immediately on their first Attack. They +arise from a Corruption of the Humours, which +is noxious to the very Source and Principle of +Strength, the Impairing or Destruction of which +is the Cause of the Feebleness of the Symptoms; +by Reason none of the Organs are strong enough +to exert an Opposition sufficiently vigorous, to +subdue the Cause of the Distemper.</p> +<p class="pnext">If, for Instance or Illustration, we were to +suppose, that when two Armies were on the Point +of engaging, one of them should be nearly deprived +of all their Weapons, the Contest would +not appear very violent, nor attended with great +Noise or Tumult, though with a horrible Massacre. +<span class="pageno target" title="258" id="page-258"> </span>The Spectator, who, from being ignorant +of one of the Armies being disarmed, would +not be able to calculate the Carnage of the Battle, +but in Proportion to its Noise and Tumult, must +be extremely deceived in his Conception of it. +The Number of the Slain would be astonishing, +which might have been much less (though the +Noise and Clangor of it had been greater) if +each Army had been equally provided for the +Combat.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id363">§ 244</span>. The Causes of this Disease are a long +Use of animal Food or Flesh alone, without +Pulse, Fruits or Acids; the continued Use of +other bad Provisions, such as Bread made of damaged +Corn or Grain, or very stale Meat. Eight +Persons, who dined together on corrupt Fish, +were all seized with a malignant Fever, which +killed five of them, notwithstanding the Endeavours +of the most able Physicians. These Fevers are +also frequently the Consequence of a great Dearth +or Famine; of too hot and moist an Air, or an Air, +which highly partakes of these two Qualities; so +that they happen to spread most in hot Years, in +Places abounding with Marshes and standing +Waters. They are also the Effect of a very close +and stagnant Air, especially if many Persons are +crouded together in it, this being a Cause that +particularly tends to corrupt the Air. Tedious +Grief and Vexation also contribute to generate +these Fevers.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id364">§ 245</span>. The Symptoms of malignant Fevers +are, as I have already observed, a total and sudden +<span class="pageno target" title="259" id="page-259"> </span>Loss of Strength, without any evident preceding +Cause, sufficient to produce such a Privation +of Strength: at the same Time there is also an +utter Dejection of the Mind, which becomes almost +insensible and inattentive to every Thing, +and even to the Disease itself; a sudden Alteration +in the Countenance, especially in the Eyes: +some small Shiverings, which are varied throughout +the Space of twenty-four Hours, with little +Paroxysms or Vicissitudes of Heat; sometimes +there is a great Head-ach and a Pain in the +Loins; at other Times there is no perceivable +Pain in any Part; a kind of Sinkings or Faintings, +immediately from the Invasion of the Disease, +which is always very unpromising; not the +least refreshing Sleep; frequently a kind of half +Sleep, or Drowsiness; a light and silent or inward +Raving, which discovers itself in the unusual +and astonished Look of the Patient, who +seems profoundly employed in meditating on +something, but really thinks of nothing, or not +at all: Some Patients have, however, violent +Ravings; most have a Sensation of Weight or +Oppression, and at other Times of a Binding or +Tightness about, or around, the Pit of the Stomach.</p> +<p class="pnext">The sick Person seems to labour under great +Anguish: he has sometimes slight convulsive Motions +and Twitchings in his Face and his Hands, +as well as in his Arms and Legs. His Senses +seem torpid, or as it were benumbed. I have +seen many who had lost, to all Appearance, the +<span class="pageno target" title="260" id="page-260"> </span>whole five, and yet some of them recover. It is +not uncommon to meet with some, who neither +see, understand, nor speak. Their Voices change, +become weak, and are sometimes quite lost. +Some of them have a fixed Pain in some Part +of the Belly: this arises from a Stuffing or Obstruction, +and often ends in a Gangrene, whence +this Symptom is highly dangerous and perplexing.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Tongue is sometimes very little altered +from its Appearance in Health; at other Times +covered over with a yellowish brown Humour; +but it is more rarely dry in this Fever than in the +others; and yet it sometimes does resemble a +Tongue that has been long smoaked.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Belly is sometimes very soft, and at other +Times tense and hard. The Pulse is weak, sometimes +pretty regular, but always more quick than +in a natural State, and at some Times even very +quick; and such I have always found it, when +the Belly has been distended.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Skin is often neither hot, dry, nor moist: +it is frequently overspread with petechial or eruptive +Spots (which are little Spots of a reddish +livid Colour) especially on the Neck, about the +Shoulders, and upon the Back. At other Times +the Spots are larger and brown, like the Colour +of Wheals from the Strokes of a Stick.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Urine of the Sick is almost constantly +crude, that is of a lighter Colour than ordinary. +I have seen some, which could not be distinguished, +merely by the Eye, from Milk. A +<span class="pageno target" title="261" id="page-261"> </span>black and stinking Purging sometimes attends +this Fever, which is mortal, except the Sick be +evidently relieved by the Discharge.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some of the Patients are infested with livid +Ulcers on the Inside of the Mouth, and on the +Palate. At other Times Abscesses are formed in +the Glands of the Groin, of the Arm-pit, in those +between the Ears and the Jaw; or a Gangrene +may appear in some Part, as on the Feet, the +Hands, or the Back. The Strength proves entirely +spent, the Brain is wholly confused: the +miserable Patient stretched out on his Back, frequently +expires under Convulsions, an enormous +Sweat, and an oppressed Breast and Respiration. +<span class="target" id="haemorrhages">Hæmorrhages</span> also <span class="target" id="happen">happen</span> sometimes and are +mortal, being almost unexceptionably such in +this Fever. There is also in this, as in all other +Fevers, an Aggravation of the Fever in the +Evening.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id365">§ 246</span>. The Duration and <em class="italics">Crisis</em> of these malignant, +as well as those of putrid Fevers, are +very irregular. Sometimes the Sick die on the +seventh or eighth Day, more commonly between +the twelfth and the fifteenth, and not infrequently +at the End of five or six Weeks. These different +Durations result from the different Degree and +Strength of the Disease. Some of these Fevers +at their first Invasion are very slow; and during a +few of the first Days, the Patient, though very +weak, and with a very different Look and Manner, +scarcely thinks himself sick.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="262" id="page-262"> </span>The Term or Period of the Cure or the Recovery, +is as uncertain as that of Death in this Distemper. +Some are out of Danger at the End of +fifteen Days, and even sooner; others not before +the Expiration of several Weeks.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Signs which portend a Recovery are, a +little more Strength in the Pulse; a more concocted +Urine; less Dejection and Discouragement; +a less confused Brain; an equal kindly +Heat; a pretty warm or hot Sweat in a moderate +Quantity, without Inquietude or Anguish; +the Revival of the different Senses that were +extinguished, or greatly suspended in the Progress +of the Disease; though the Deafness is not a very +threatening Symptom, if the others amend while +it endures.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Malady commonly leaves the Patient in +a very weak Condition; and a long Interval will +ensue between the End of it, and their recovering +their full Strength.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id366">§ 247</span>. It is, in the first place, of greater Importance +in this Distemper than in any other, both +for the Benefit of the Patients, and those who attend +them, that the Air should be renewed and +purified. Vinegar should often be evaporated +from a hot Tile or Iron in the Chamber, and +one Window kept almost constantly open.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, The Diet should be light; and the Juice of +Sorrel may be mixed with their Water; the Juice +of Lemons may be added to Soups prepared from +different Grains and Pulse; the Patient may eat +<span class="pageno target" title="263" id="page-263"> </span>sharp acid Fruits, such as tart juicy <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id368" id="id367"><sup>65</sup></a> Cherries, +Gooseberries, small black Cherries; and those +who can afford them, may be allowed Lemons, +Oranges and Pomgranates.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, The Patient's Linen should be changed +every two Days.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, Bleeding is very rarely necessary, or even +proper, in this Fever; the Exceptions to which +are very few, and cannot be thoroughly ascertained, +as fit and proper Exceptions to the Omission +of Bleeding, without a Physician, or some +other very skilful Person's seeing the Patient.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, There is often very little Occasion for Glysters, +which are sometimes dangerous in this Fever.</p> +<p class="pnext">6, The Patient's common Drink should be +Barley Water made acid with the Spirit <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id808">Nº. 10</a>, +at the Rate of one Quarter of an Ounce to at least +full three Pints of the Water, or acidulated agreeably +to his Taste. He may also drink Lemonade.</p> +<p class="pnext">7, It is necessary to open and evacuate the Bowels, +where a great Quantity of corrupt Humours +is generally lodged. The Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a> +may be given for this Purpose, after the Operation +of which the Patient generally finds himself +better, at least for some Hours. It is of Importance +not to omit this at the Beginning of the +Disease; though if it has been omitted at first, it +<span class="pageno target" title="264" id="page-264"> </span>were best to give it even later, provided no particular +Inflammation has supervened, and the +Patient has still some Strength. I have given it, +and with remarkable Success, on the twentieth +Day.</p> +<p class="pnext">8, Having by this Medicine expelled a considerable +Portion of the bad Humours, which +contribute to feed and keep up the Fever, the +Patient should take every other Day, during the +Continuance of the Disease, and sometimes +even every Day, one Dose of the Cream of +Tartar and Rhubarb <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id852">Nº. 38</a>. This Remedy +evacuates the corrupt Humours, prevents the +Corruption of the others; expells the Worms +that are very common in these Fevers, which +the Patient sometimes discharges upwards and +downwards; and which frequently conduce to +many of the odd and extraordinary Symptoms, +that are observed in malignant Fevers. In short +it strengthens the Bowels, and, without checking +the necessary Evacuations, it moderates the Looseness, +when it is hurtful.</p> +<p class="pnext">9, If the Skin be dry, with a Looseness, and +that by checking it, we design to increase Perspiration, +instead of the Rhubarb, the Cream of +Tartar may be blended with the Ipecacuana, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id853">Nº. 39</a>, which, being given in small and frequent +Doses, restrains the Purging, and promotes Perspiration. +This Medicine, as the former, is to +be taken in the Morning; two Hours after, the +Sick must begin with the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id854">Nº. 40</a>, and repeat +it regularly every three Hours; until it be +<span class="pageno target" title="265" id="page-265"> </span>interrupted by giving one of the Medicines <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id852">Nº. 38</a> +or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id853">39</a>: After which the Potion is to be repeated +again, as already directed, till the Patient grows +considerably better.</p> +<p class="pnext">10, If the Strength of the Sick be very considerably +depressed, and he is in great Dejection +and Anguish, he should take, with every Draught +of the Potion, the Bolus, or Morsel <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id855">Nº. 41</a>. If +the <em class="italics">Diarrhœa</em>, the Purging is violent, there should +be added, once or twice a Day to the Bolus, the +Weight of twenty Grains, or the Size of a very +small Bean, of <em class="italics">Diascordium</em>; or if that is not +readily to be got, as much Venice Treacle.</p> +<p class="pnext">11, Whenever, notwithstanding all this Assistance, +the Patient continues in a State of Weakness +and Insensibility, two large Blisters should +be applied to the fleshy Insides of the Legs, or a +large one to the Nape of the Neck: and sometimes, +if there be a great Drowsiness, with a +manifest Embarrassment of the Brain, they may +be applied with great Success over the whole +Head. Their Suppuration and Discharge is to +be promoted abundantly; and, if they dry up +within a few Days, others are to be applied, and +their Evacuation is to be kept up for a considerable +Time.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="as-soon-as-the-distemper">12, As soon as the Distemper</span> is sufficiently +abated, for the Patient to remain some Hours +with very little or no Fever, we must avail ourselves +of this Interval, to give him six, or at least +five Doses of the Medicine <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>, and repeat +the same the next Day, which may prevent the +<span class="pageno target" title="266" id="page-266"> </span>Return of the Fever: <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id370" id="id369"><sup>66</sup></a> after which it may be +sufficient to give daily only two Doses for a few +Days.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="par247art13">13, When the Sick continue entirely clear of +a Fever, or any Return, they are to be put into +the <em class="italics">Regimen</em> of Persons in a State of Recovery. +But if his Strength returns very slowly, or not at +all; in Order to the speedier Establishment and +Confirmation of it, he may take three Doses a +Day of the <em class="italics">Theriaca Pauperum</em>, or poor Man's +Treacle <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id856">Nº. 42</a>, the first of them fasting, and +the other twelve Hours after. It were to be +wished indeed, this Medicine was introduced into +all the Apothecaries Shops, as an excellent Stomachic, +in which Respect it is much preferable +to Venice Treacle, which is an absurd Composition, +dear and often dangerous. It is true it +does not dispose the Patients to Sleep; but when +we would procure them Sleep, there are better +Medicines than the Treacle to answer that +Purpose. Such as may not think the Expence +of the Medicine <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>, too much, may take +three Doses of it daily for some Weeks, instead +of the Medicine <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id856">Nº. 42</a>, already directed.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id371">§ 248</span>. It is necessary to eradicate a Prejudice +that prevails among Country People, with +<span class="pageno target" title="267" id="page-267"> </span>Regard to the Treatment of these Fevers; not only +because it is false and ridiculous, but even dangerous +too. They imagine that the Application +of Animals can draw out the Poison of the Disease; +in Consequence of which they apply Poultry, +or Pigeons, Cats or sucking Pigs to the Feet, +or upon the Head of the Patient, having first +split the living Animals open. Some Hours after +they remove their strange Applications, corrupted, +and stinking very offensively; and then +ascribe such Corruption and horrid Stink to the +Poison they suppose their Application to be charged +with; and which they suppose to be the Cause +of this Fever. But in this supposed Extraction +of Poison, they are grosly mistaken, since the +Flesh does not stink in Consequence of any such +Extraction, but from its being corrupted through +Moisture and Heat: and they contract no other +Smell but what they would have got, if they had +been put in any other Place, as well as on the Patient's +Body, that was equally hot and moist. +Very far from drawing out the Poison, they augment +the Corruption of the Disease; and it would +be sufficient to communicate it to a sound Person, +if he was to suffer many of these animal Bodies, +thus absurdly and uselessly butchered, to be applied +to various Parts of his Body in Bed; and to +lie still a long Time with their putrified Carcases +fastened about him, and corrupting whatever Air +he breathed there.</p> +<p class="pnext">With the same Intention they fasten a living +Sheep to the Bed's-foot for several Hours; which, +<span class="pageno target" title="268" id="page-268"> </span>though not equally dangerous, is in some Measure +hurtful, since the more Animals there are in a Chamber, +the Air of it is proportionably corrupted, or +altered at least from its natural Simplicity, by their +Respiration and Exhalations: but admitting this +to be less pernicious, it is equally absurd. It is +certain indeed, the Animals who are kept very +near the sick Person breathe in the poisonous, or +noxious Vapours which exhale from his Body, +and may be incommoded with them, as well as +his Attendants: But it is ridiculous to suppose +their being kept near the Sick causes such Poison +to come out of their Bodies. On the very contrary, +in contributing still further to the Corruption +of the Air, they increase the Disease. They +draw a false Consequence, and no Wonder, from +a false Principle; saying, if the Sheep dies, the +Sick will recover. Now, most frequently the +Sheep does not die; notwithstanding which the +Sick sometimes recover; and sometimes they +both die.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id372">§ 249</span>. The Cause of Malignant Fevers is, not +infrequently, combined with other Diseases, whose +Danger it extremely increases. It is blended for +Instance, with the Poison of the Small-Pocks, +or of the Measles. This may be known by the +Union of those Symptoms, which carry the Marks +of Malignity, with the Symptoms of the other +Diseases. Such combined Cases are extremely +dangerous; they demand the utmost Attention of +the Physician; nor is it possible to prescribe their +<span class="pageno target" title="269" id="page-269"> </span>exact Treatment here; since it consists in general +of a Mixture of the Treatment of each Disease; +though the Malignity commonly demands the +greatest Attention.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head301-chapter-xviii"> +<span id="chap-xviii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i301a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XVIII.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-intermitting-fevers"> +<em class="italics">Of intermitting Fevers.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 250.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="I" src="images/i301b.png"/>ntermitting Fevers, commonly called +here, Fevers and Agues, are those, +which after an Invasion and Continuance +for some Hours, abate very perceivably, +as well as all the Symptoms attending +them, and then entirely cease; nevertheless, not +without some periodical or stated Return of +them.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were very frequent with us some Years +since; and indeed might even be called epidemical: +but for the five or six last Years, they have +been much less frequent throughout the greater +Part of <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>: notwithstanding they still +continue in no small Number in all Places, where +the Inhabitants breathe the Air that prevails in all +the marshy Borders of the <em class="italics">Rhone</em>, and in some +other Situations that are exposed to much the +same humid Air and Exhalations.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="270" id="page-270"> </span><span class="target" id="id373">§ 251</span>. There are several Kinds of intermitting +Fevers, which take their different Names +from the Interval or different Space of Time, in +which the Fits return.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Paroxysm or Fit returns every Day, it +is either a true Quotidian, or a double Tertian +Fever: The first of these may be distinguished +from the last by this Circumstance, that in the +Quotidian, or one Day Fever, the Fits are long; +and correspond pretty regularly to each other in +Degree and Duration. <span class="target" id="this-however-is-less-frequent-in">This however is less frequent +in</span> <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>. In the double Tertian, +the Fits are shorter, and one is alternately light, +and the other more severe.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the simple Tertian, or third Day's Fever, +the Fits return every other Day; so that three +Days include one Paroxysm, and the Return of +another.</p> +<p class="pnext">In a Quartan, the Fit returns every fourth +Day, including the Day of the first and that of +the second Attack: so that the Patient enjoys +two clear Days between the two sick ones.</p> +<p class="pnext">The other kinds of Intermittents are much +rarer. I have seen however one true Quintan, +or fifth Day Ague, the Patient having three clear +Days between two Fits; and one regularly weekly +Ague, as it may be called, the Visitation of +every Return happening every Sunday.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id374">§ 252</span>. The first Attack of an intermittent +Fever often happens, when the Patient thought +himself in perfect Health. Sometimes however +it is preceded by a Sensation of Cold and a kind +<span class="pageno target" title="271" id="page-271"> </span>of Numbness, which continue some Days before +the manifest Invasion of the Fit. It begins with +frequent Yawnings, a Lassitude, or Sensation of +Weariness, with a general Weakness, with Coldness, +Shivering and Shaking: There is also a +Paleness of the extreme Parts of the Body, attended +with Loathings, and sometimes an actual +Vomiting. The Pulse is quick, weak, and small, +and there is a considerable Degree of Thirst.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the End of an Hour or two, and but seldom +so long as three or four Hours, a Heat succeeds, +which increases insensibly, and becomes +violent at its Height. At this Period the whole +Body grows red, the Anxiety of the Patient +abates; the Pulse is very strong and large, and +his Thirst proves excessive. He complains of a +violent Head-ach, and of a Pain in all his Limbs, +but of a different sort of Pain from that he was +sensible of, while his Coldness continued. Finally, +having endured this hot State, four, five +or six Hours, he falls into a general Sweat for a +few more: upon which all the Symptoms already +mentioned abate, and sometimes Sleep supervenes.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the Conclusion of this Nap the Patient often +wakes without any sensible Fever; complaining +only of Lassitude and Weakness. Sometimes +his Pulse returns entirely to its natural State between +the two Fits; though it often continues +a little quicker than in perfect Health; and does +not recover its first Distinctness and Slowness, till +some Days after the last Fit.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="272" id="page-272"> </span>One Symptom, which most particularly characterises +these several Species of intermitting +Fevers, is the Quality of the Urines which the +Sick pass after the Fit. They are of a reddish +Colour, and let fall a Sediment, or Settling, +which exactly resembles Brick-dust. They are +sometimes frothy too, and a Pellicle, or thin filmy +Skin, appears on the Top, and adheres to the +Sides of the Glass that contains them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id375">§ 253</span>. The Duration of each Fit is of no +fixed Time or Extent, being various according +to the particular sort of Intermittents, and through +many other Circumstances. Sometimes they return +precisely at the very same Hour; at other Times +they come one, two, or three Hours sooner, and +in other Instances as much later than the former. +It has been imagined that those Fevers, +whose Paroxysms returned sooner than usual, +were sooner finally terminated: but there seems +to be no general Rule in this Case.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id376">§ 254</span>. Intermitting Fevers are distinguished +into those of Spring and Autumn. The former +generally prevail from February to June: the +latter are those which reign from July to January. +Their essential Nature and Characters are the +very same, as they are not different Distempers; +though the various Circumstances attending them +deserve our Consideration. These Circumstances +depend on the Season itself, and the Constitution +of the Patients, during such Seasons. The +Spring Intermittents are sometimes blended with +an inflammatory Disposition, as that is the Disposition +<span class="pageno target" title="273" id="page-273"> </span>of Bodies in that Season; but as the Weather +then advances daily into an improving State, +the Spring Fevers are commonly of a shorter Duration. +The autumnal Fevers are frequently +combined and aggravated with a Principle of Putrefaction; +and as the Air of that Season rather +degenerates, they are more tedious and obstinate.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id377">§ 255</span>. The autumnal Fevers seldom begin +quite so early as July, but much oftner in August: +and the Duration to which they are often +extended, has increased the Terror which the +People entertain of Fevers that begin in that +Month. But that Prejudice which ascribes their +Danger to the Influence of August, is a very +absurd Error; since it is better they should set in +then than in the following Months; because +they are obstinate in Proportion to the Tardiness, +the Slowness of their Approach. They sometimes +appear at first considerably in the Form of +putrid Fevers, not assuming that of Intermittents +till some Days after their Appearance: but very +happily there is little or no Danger in mistaking +them for putrid Fevers, or in treating them like +such. The Brick-coloured Sediment, and particularly +the Pellicle or Film on the Surface of the +Urine, are very common in autumnal Intermittents, +and are often wanting in the Urine of putrid +Fevers. In these latter, it is generally less +high coloured, and leaning rather to a yellow, a +kind of Cloudiness is suspended in the Middle of +<span class="pageno target" title="274" id="page-274"> </span>it. These also deposite a white Sediment, which +affords no bad Prognostic.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id378">§ 256</span>. Generally speaking, intermitting Fevers +are not mortal; often terminating in Health +of their own Accord (without the Use of any +Medicine) after some Fits. In this last Respect +Intermittents in the Spring differ considerably +from those in the Fall, which continue a long +Time, and sometimes even until Spring, if they +are not removed by Art, or if they have been +improperly treated.</p> +<p class="pnext">Quartan Fevers are always more obstinate and +inveterate than Tertians; the former sometimes +persevering in certain Constitutions for whole +Years. When these Sorts of Fevers occur in +boggy marshy Countries, they are not only very +chronical or tedious, but Persons infested with +them are liable to frequent Relapses.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id379">§ 257</span>. A few Fits of an Intermittent are not +very injurious, and it happens sometimes, that +they are attended with a favourable Alteration of +the Habit in Point of Health; by their exterminating +the Cause or Principle of some languid and +tedious Disorder; though it is erroneous to consider +them as salutary. If they prove tedious +and obstinate, and the Fits are long and violent, +they weaken the whole Body, impairing all its +Functions, and particularly the Digestions: They +make the Humours sharp and unbalmy, and introduce +several other Maladies, such as the Jaundice, +Dropsy, Asthma and slow wasting Fevers. +Nay sometimes old Persons, and those who are +<span class="pageno target" title="275" id="page-275"> </span>very weak, expire in the Fit; though such an +Event never happens but in the cold Fit.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id380">§ 258</span>. Very happily Nature has afforded us +a Medicine, that infallibly cures these Fevers: +this is the <em class="italics">Kinkina</em>, or Jesuits Bark; and as +we are possessed of this certain Remedy, the only +remaining Difficulty is to discover, if there be +not some other Disease combined with these +Fevers, which Disease might be aggravated by +the Bark. Should any such exist, it must be removed +by Medicines adapted to it, before the +Bark is given. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id382" id="id381"><sup>67</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="276" id="page-276"> </span><span class="target" id="id383">§ 259</span>. In the vernal, or Spring-Fevers, if +the Fits are not very severe; if the Patient is evidently +well in their Intervals; if his Appetite, his +Strength, and his Sleep continue as in Health, +no Medicine should be given, nor any other Method +be taken, but that of putting the Person, under +such a gentle Intermittent, upon the Regimen +directed for Persons in a State of Recovery. This +is such a Regimen as pretty generally agrees with +all the Subjects of these Fevers: for if they +should be reduced to the Regimen proper in acute +Diseases, they would be weakened to no Purpose, +and perhaps be the worse for it. But at the same +Time if we were not to retrench from the Quantity, +nor somewhat to vary the Quality of their +usual Food in a State of Health; as there is not +the least Digestion made in the Stomach, during +the whole Term of the Fit; and as the Stomach +is always weakened a little by the Disease, crude +and indigested Humours would be produced, +which might afford a Fuel to the Disease. Not +the least solid Food should be allowed, for at +least two Hours before the usual Approach of the +Fit.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="277" id="page-277"> </span><span class="target" id="id384">§ 260</span>. If the Fever extends beyond the sixth, +or the seventh Fit; and the Patient seems to +have no Occasion for a Purge; which may be learned +by attending to the Chapter, which treats of +Remedies to be taken by Way of Precaution; <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id386" id="id385"><sup>68</sup></a> +he may take the Bark, that is the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>. +If it is a Quotidian, a daily Fever, or a +double Tertian, six Doses, containing three Quarters +of an Ounce, should be taken between the +two Fits; and as these Intermissions commonly +consist of but ten or twelve, or at the most of +fourteen or fifteen Hours, there should be an Interval +of only one Hour and a half between each +Dose. During this Interval the Sick may take +two of his usual Refreshments or Suppings.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Fever is a Tertian, an Ounce should +be given between the two Fits: which makes +eight Doses, one of which is to be taken every +three Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext">In a Quartan I direct one Ounce and a half, +to be taken in the same Manner. It is meer +trifling to attempt preventing the Returns with +smaller Doses. The frequent Failures of the +<span class="pageno target" title="278" id="page-278"> </span>Bark are owing to over small Doses. On such +Occasions the Medicine is cried down, and censured +as useless, when the Disappointment is +solely the Fault of those who do not employ it +properly. The last Dose is to be given two +Hours before the usual Return of the Fit.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Doses, just mentioned, frequently prevent +the Return of the Fit; but whether it returns +or not, after the Time of its usual Duration +is past, repeat the same Quantity, in the +same Number of Doses, and Intervals, which +certainly keeps off another. For six Days following, +half the same Quantity must be continued, +in the Intervals that would have occurred between +the Fits, if they had returned: and during all +this Time the Patient should inure himself to as +much Exercise, as he can well bear.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id389">§ 261</span>. Should the Fits be very strong, the +Pain of the Head violent, the Visage red, the +Pulse full and hard; if there is any Cough; if, +even after the Fit is over, the Pulse still is perceivably +hard; if the Urine is inflamed, hot and +high-coloured, and the Tongue very dry, the +Patient must be bled, and drink plentifully of +Barley Water <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id797">Nº. 3</a>. These two Remedies generally +bring the Patient into the State described +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id383">§ 259</a>: in which State he may take on a Day, +when the Fever is entirely off, three or four +Doses of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>, and then leave the +Fever to pursue its own Course for the Space of a +few Fits. But should it not then terminate of +itself, the Bark must be recurred to.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="279" id="page-279"> </span>If the Patient, even in the Interval of the +Returns, has a fœtid, furred Mouth, a Loathing, +Pains in the Loins, or in the Knees, much +Anxiety, and bad Nights, he should be purged +with the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id823">Nº. 21</a> or the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a>, before +he takes the Bark.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id390">§ 262</span>. If Fevers in Autumn appear to be of +the continual kind, and very like putrid Fevers, +the Patients should drink abundantly of Barley +Water; and if at the Expiration of two or three +Days, there still appears to be a Load or Oppression +at the Stomach, the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a> or that of +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">35</a> is to be given (but see <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id355">§ 241</a>): and if, after the +Operation of this, the Signs of Putridity continue, +the Body is to be opened with repeated Doses of +the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>; or, where the Patients are +very robust, with <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id823">Nº. 21</a>; and when the Fever +becomes quite regular, with distinct <em class="italics">Remissions</em> at +least, the Bark is to be given as directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id384">§ 260</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="the-treatment-of-long-and-obstinate-intermittents">But as autumnal Fevers are more obstinate; +after having discontinued the Bark for eight Days; +and notwithstanding there has been no Return +of the Fever, it is proper to resume the Bark, and +to give three Doses of it daily for the succeeding +eight Days, more especially if it was a Quartan; +in which Species I have ordered it to be repeated, +every other eight Days, for six Times.</p> +<p class="pnext">Many People may find it difficult to comply +with this Method of Cure, which is unavoidably +expensive, through the Price of the Bark. I +thought however this ought not to prevent me +<span class="pageno target" title="280" id="page-280"> </span>from averring it to be the only certain one; since +nothing can be an equivalent <em class="italics">Succedaneum</em> or Substitute +to this Remedy, which is the only sure +and safe one in all these Cases. The World had +long been prepossessed with Prejudices to the contrary: +it was supposed to be hurtful to the Stomach; +to prevent which it has been usual to +make the Sick eat something an Hour after it. +Nevertheless, very far from injuring the Stomach, +it is the best Medicine in the Universe to strengthen +it; and it is a pernicious Custom, when a Patient +is obliged to take it often, to eat an Hour after it. +It had also been imagined to cause Obstructions, +and that it subjected Patients to a Dropsy: but at +present we are convinced, it is the obstinate and +inveterate Duration of the Intermittent, that +causes Obstructions, and paves the Way to a Dropsy. +The Bark, in Consequence of its speedily +curing the Fever, does not only prevent the former +Disease; but when it continues, through an +injudicious Omission of the Bark, a proper Use of +it is serviceable in the Dropsy. In a Word, if +there is any other Malady combined with the +Fever, sometimes that indeed prevents the Success +of the Bark, yet without rendering it hurtful. +But whenever the intermitting Fever is +simple and uncombined, it ever has, and ever +will render the Patient all possible Service. In +another Place I shall mention such Means and +Methods as may in some Degree, though but +imperfectly, be substituted instead of it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="281" id="page-281"> </span>After the Patient has begun with the Bark, he +must take no purging Medicine, as that Evacuation +would, with the greatest Probability, occasion +a Return of the Fever.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id391">§ 263</span>. Bleeding is never, or extremely seldom +indeed necessary in a Quartan Ague, which occurs +in the Fall oftner than in the Spring; and +with the Symptoms of Putridity rather than of +Inflammation.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id392">§ 264</span>. The Patient ought, two Hours before +the Invasion of the Fit, to drink a small Glass of +warm Elder Flower Tea, sweetened with Honey, +every Quarter of an Hour, and to walk about moderately; +this disposes him to a very gentle Sweat, +and thence renders the ensuing Coldness and the +whole Fit milder. He is to continue the same +Drink throughout the Duration of the cold Fit; +and when the hot one approaches, he may either +continue the same, or substitute that of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a>, +which is more cooling. It is not necessary however, +in this State, to drink it warm, it is sufficient +that it be not over cold. When the Sweat, +at the Termination of the hot Fit, is concluded, +the Patient should be well wiped and dried, and +may get up. If the Fit was very long, he may +be allowed a little Gruel, or some other such +Nourishment during the Sweat.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id393">§ 265</span>. Sometimes the first, and a few successive +Doses of the Bark purge the Patient. This +is no otherwise an ill Consequence, than by its +retarding the Cure; since, when it purges, it +does not commonly prevent the Return of the +<span class="pageno target" title="282" id="page-282"> </span>Fever; so that these Doses may be considered as +to no Purpose, and others should be repeated, +which, ceasing to purge, do prevent it. Should +the Looseness notwithstanding continue, the Bark +must be discontinued for one entire Day, in order +to give the Patient half a Quarter of an Ounce of +Rhubarb: after which the Bark is to be resumed +again, and if the Looseness still perseveres, fifteen +Grains of Venice Treacle should be added to each +Dose, but not otherwise. All other Medicines +which are superadded, very generally serve only +to increase the Bulk of the Dose, while they lessen +its Virtue.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id394">§ 266</span>. Before our thorough Experience of +the Bark, other bitter Medicines were used for the +same Purpose: these indeed were not destitute of +Virtue in such Cases, though they were considerably +less available than the Bark. Under +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id857">Nº. 43</a>, some valuable Prescriptions of that kind +may be seen, whose Efficacy I have often experienced: +though at other Times I have been +obliged to leave them off, and recur to the Bark +more successfully. Filings of Iron, which <span class="target" id="enter">enter</span> +into the third Prescription, are an excellent Febrifuge +in particular Cases and Circumstances. +In the Middle of the Winter 1753, I cured a +Patient of a Quartan Ague with it, who would +not be prevailed on to take the Bark. It must be +confessed he was perfectly regular in observing +the <em class="italics">Regimen</em> directed for him; and that, during +the most rigid Severity of the Winter, he got +every Day on Horseback, and took such a +<span class="pageno target" title="283" id="page-283"> </span>Degree of other Exercise in the open Air, as disposed +him to perspire abundantly.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id395">§ 267</span>. Another very practicable easy Method, +of which I have often availed my Patients, under +tertian Fevers (but which succeeded with me +only twice in Quartans) was to procure the Sufferer +a very plentiful Sweat, at the very Time +when the Fit was to return, in its usual Course. +To effect this he is to drink, three or four Hours +before it is expected, an Infusion of Elder Flowers +sweetened with Honey, which I have already +recommended <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id392">§ 264</a>; and one Hour before the +usual Invasion of the Shivering, he is to go into +Bed, and take, as hot as he can drink it, the +<span class="target" id="prescription">Prescription</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id858">Nº. 44</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">I have also cured some Tertians and even +Quartans, in 1751 and 1752, by giving them, +every four Hours between the Fits, the Powder +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id859">Nº. 45</a>. But I must acknowledge that, besides +its having often failed me, and its never succeeding +so speedily as the Bark, I have found it weaken +some Patients; it disorders, or disagrees with, +their <span class="target" id="stomachs">Stomachs</span>: and in two Cases, where it had +removed the Fever, I was obliged to call in the +Bark for a thorough Establishment of the Patient's +Health. Nevertheless, as these Medicines +are very cheap and attainable, and often do succeed, +I thought I could not properly omit them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id396">§ 268</span>. A Multitude of other Remedies are +cried up for the Cure of Fevers: though none +of them are equally efficacious with those I have +directed: and as many of them are even +<span class="pageno target" title="284" id="page-284"> </span>dangerous, it is prudent to abstain from them. Some +Years since certain Powders were sold here, under +the Name of the <em class="italics">Berlin</em> Powders; these are +nothing but the Bark masqued or disguised (which +has sometimes been publickly discovered) and +have always been sold very dear: though the +Bark well chosen, and freshly powdered when +wanted, is greatly preferable.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id397">§ 269</span>. I have often known Peasants, who had +laboured for several Months under intermitting +Fevers; having made Use of many bad Medicines +and Mixtures for <span class="target" id="them">them</span>, and observed no Manner +of Regimen. Such I have happily treated +by giving them the Remedies <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a>, or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">35</a>; +and afterwards, for some Days, that of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id852">Nº. 38</a>; +at the End of which Time, I have ordered them +the Bark (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id384">§ 260</a>) or other Febrifuges, as at +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id394">§ 266</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id395">267</a>; and then finally ordered them +for some Days, to take Morsels of the poor Man's +Treacle (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#par247art13">§ 247, <em class="italics">Art.</em> 13</a>) to strengthen and +confirm their Digestions, which I have found very +weak and irregular.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id398">§ 270</span>. Some Intermittents are distinguished as +pernicious or malignant, from every Fit's being +attended with the most violent Symptoms. The +Pulse is small and irregular, the Patient exceedingly +dejected, and frequently swooning; afflicted +with inexpressible Anguish, Convulsions, a +deep Drowsiness, and continual Efforts to go to +Stool, or make Urine, but ineffectually. This +Disease is highly pressing and dangerous; the Patient +may die in the third Fit, and rarely survives +<span class="pageno target" title="285" id="page-285"> </span>the sixth, if he is not very judiciously treated. +Not a Moment should be lost, and there is no +other Step to be taken, but that of giving the +Bark continually, as directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id384">§ 260</a>, to prevent +the succeeding Fits. These worst Kinds of Intermittents +are often combined with a great Load +of putrid Humours in the first Passages: and as +often as such an aggravating Combination is very +evident, we should immediately after the End of +one Fit, give a Dose of Ipecacuana <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a>, and, +when its Operation is finished, give the Bark. +But I chuse to enter into very few Details on this +Species of Intermittents, both as they occur but +seldom, and as the Treatment of them is too difficult +and important, to be submitted to the Conduct +of any one but a Physician. My Intention has +only been to represent them sufficiently, that they +may be so distinguished when they do occur, as +to apprize the People of their great Danger.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id399">§ 271</span>. The same Cause which produces these +intermitting Fevers, frequently also occasions Disorders, +which return periodically at the same +Hour, without Shivering, without Heat, and often +without any Quickness of the Pulse. Such +Disorders generally preserve the Intermissons of +quotidian or tertian Fevers, but much seldomer +those of Quartans. I have seen violent Vomittings, +and Reachings to vomit, with inexpressible +Anxiety; the severest Oppressions, the most racking +Cholics; dreadful Palpitations and excessive +Tooth-achs: Pains in the Head, and very often +an unaccountable Pain over one Eye, the Eyelid, +<span class="pageno target" title="286" id="page-286"> </span>Eyebrow and Temple, on the same Side of the +Face; with a Redness of that Eye, and a continual, +involuntary trickling of Tears. I have also +seen such a prodigious Swelling of the affected +Part, that the Eye projected, or stood out, above +an Inch from the Head, covered by the Eyelid, +which was also extremely inflated or puffed up. +All these Maladies begin precisely at a certain +Hour; last about the usual Time of a Fit; and +terminating without any sensible Evacuation, return +exactly at the same Hour, the next Day, or +the next but one.</p> +<p class="pnext">There is but one known Medicine that can effectually +oppose this Sort, which is the Bark, given +as directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id384">§ 260</a>. Nothing affords Relief in the +Fit, and no other Medicine ever suspends or puts +it off. But I have cured some of these Disorders +with the Bark, and especially those affecting the +Eyes, which happen oftner than the other Symptoms, +after their Duration for many Weeks, and +after the ineffectual Use of Bleeding, Purging, +Baths, Waters, Blisters, and a great Number of +other Medicines. If a sufficient Dose of it be given, +the next Fit is very mild; the second is +prevented; and I never saw a Relapse in these +Cases, which sometimes happens after the Fits of +common Intermittents seemed cured.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id400">§ 272</span>. In Situations where the Constitution of +the Air renders these Fevers very common, the +Inhabitants should frequently burn in their Rooms, +at least in their lodging Rooms, some aromatic +Wood or Herbs. They should daily chew some +<span class="pageno target" title="287" id="page-287"> </span>Juniper Berries, and drink a fermented Infusion +of them. These two Remedies are very effectual +to fortify the weakest Stomachs, to prevent +Obstructions, and to promote Perspiration. And +as these are the Causes which prolong these Fevers +the most obstinately; nothing is a more certain +Preservation from them than these cheap and +obvious Assistances. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id402" id="id401"><sup>70</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head320-chapter-xix"> +<span id="chap-xix"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="288" id="page-288"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i320a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XIX.</span></h2> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-erisipelas-and-the-bites-of-animals"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the Erisipelas, and the Bites of Animals.</em></h3> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost" id="id403"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 273.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i320b.png"/>he Erisipelas, commonly called in +English, St. Anthony's Fire, and in +Swisserland <em class="italics">the Violet</em>, is sometimes but +a very slight Indisposition which appears +on the Skin, without the Person's being sensible +of any other Disorder; and it most commonly +breaks out either in the Face, or on the +Legs. The Skin becomes tense, or stiff, rough +and red; but this Redness disappears on pressing +the Spot with a Finger, and returns on removing +it. The Patient feels in the Part affected a burning +Heat, which makes him uneasy, and sometimes +hinders him from sleeping. The Disorder +increases for the Space of two or three Days; +continues at its Height one or two, and then +abates. Soon after this, that Part of the Skin +that was affected, falls off in pretty large Scales, +and the Disorder entirely terminates.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="289" id="page-289"> </span><span class="target" id="id404">§ 274</span>. But sometimes this Malady is considerably +more severe, beginning with a violent +Shivering, which is succeeded by a burning Heat, +a vehement Head-ach, a Sickness at Heart, as it is +commonly termed, or Reachings to vomit, which +continue till the <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em> appears, which sometimes +does not happen before the second, or even +the third Day. The Fever then abates, and the +Sickness goes off, though frequently a less Degree +of Fever, and of Sickness or Loathing remain, +during the whole Time, in which the +Disease is in its increasing State. When the +Eruption and Inflammation happen in the Face, +the Head-ach continues, until the Decline, or +going off, of the Disease. The Eyelid swells, +the Eye is closed, and the Patient has not the +least Ease or Tranquillity. It often passes from +one Cheek to the other, and extends successively +over the Forehead, the Neck, and the Nape of +the Neck; under which Circumstance the Disease +is of a more than ordinary Duration. Sometimes +also when it exists in a very high Degree, +the Fever continues, the Brain is obstructed and +oppressed; the Patient raves; his Case becomes +extremely dangerous; whence sometimes, if he is +not very judiciously assisted, he dies, especially if +of an advanced Age. A violent <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em> on the +Neck brings on a Quinsey, which may prove very +grievous, or even fatal.</p> +<p class="pnext">When it attacks the Leg, the whole Leg +swells up; and the Heat and Irritation from it is +extended up to the Thigh.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="290" id="page-290"> </span>Whenever this Tumour is considerable, the +Part it seizes is covered with small Pustules filled +with a clear watery Humour, resembling those +which appear after a Burn, and drying afterwards +and scaling off. I have sometimes observed, +especially when this Distemper affected +the Face, that the Humour, which issued from +these little Pustules, was extremely thick or +glewy, and formed a thick Scurf, or Scabs nearly +resembling those of sucking Children: they have +continued fast on the Face many Days before they +fell off.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Disease may be termed violent, it +sometimes continues eight, ten, twelve Days at +the same Height; and is at last terminated by a +very plentiful Sweat, that may sometimes be predicted +by a Restlessness attended with Shiverings, +and a little Anxiety of some Hours Duration. +Throughout the Progress of the Disease, the +whole Skin is very dry, and even the Inside of +the Mouth.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id405">§ 275</span>. An <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em> rarely comes to Suppuration, +and when it does, the Suppuration is always +unkindly, and much disposed to degenerate +into an Ulcer. Sometimes a malignant kind +of <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em> is epidemical, seizing a great Number +of Persons, and frequently terminating in +Gangrenes.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id406">§ 276</span>. This Distemper often shifts its Situation; +it sometimes retires suddenly; but the Patient +is uneasy and disordered; he has a Propensity +to vomit, with a sensible Anxiety and Heat: +the <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em> appears again in a different Part, +<span class="pageno target" title="291" id="page-291"> </span>and he feels himself quite relieved from the preceding +Symptoms. But if instead of re-appearing +on some other Part of the Surface, the Humour +is thrown upon the Brain, or the Breast, +he dies within a few Hours; and these fatal +Changes and Translations sometimes occur, without +the least Reason or Colour for ascribing them +either to any Error of the Patient, or of his +Physician.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Humour has been transferred to the +Brain, the Patient immediately becomes delirious, +with a highly flushed Visage, and very quick +sparkling Eyes: very soon after he proves downright +frantic, and goes off in a Lethargy.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Lungs are attacked, the Oppression, +Anxiety, and Heat are inexpressible.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id407">§ 277</span>. There are some Constitutions subject +to a very frequent, and, as it were, to an habitual +<em class="italics">Erisipelas</em>. If it often affects the Face, it +is generally repeated on the same Side of it, and +that Eye is, at length, considerably weakened +by it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id408">§ 278</span>. This Distemper results from two +Causes; the one, an acrid sharp Humour, which +is commonly bilious, diffused through the Mass +of Blood; the other consists in that Humour's +not being sufficiently discharged by Perspiration.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id409">§ 279</span>. When this Disease is of a gentle Nature, +such as it is described <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id403">§ 273</a>, it will be sufficient +to keep up a very free Perspiration, but +without heating the Patient; and the best Method +to answer this Purpose is putting him upon +<span class="pageno target" title="292" id="page-292"> </span>the Regimen so often already referred to, with a +plentiful Use of Nitre in Elder Tea. Flesh, +Eggs and Wine are prohibited of Course, allowing +the Patient a little Pulse and ripe Fruits. He +should drink Elder Flower Tea abundantly, and +take half a Drachm of Nitre every three Hours; +or, which amounts to the same Thing, let three +Drachms of Nitre be dissolved in as much Infusion +of Elder Flowers, as he can drink in twenty-four +Hours. Nitre may be given too in a Bolus with +Conserve of Elder-berries. These Medicines keep +the Body open, and increase Urine and Perspiration.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id410">§ 280</span>. When the Distemper prevails in a severer +Degree, if the Fever is very high, and the +Pulse, at the same Time, strong or hard, it may +be necessary to bleed once: but this should never +be permitted in a large Quantity at a Time in this +Disease; it being more adviseable, if a sufficient +Quantity has not been taken at once, to bleed a +second Time, and even a third, if the Fever should +prove very high, as it often does, and that sometimes +in so violent a Degree, as to render it extremely +dangerous: and in some such Cases Nature +has sometimes saved the Patients by effecting +a large Hemorrhage, or Bleeding, to the Quantity +of four or five Pounds. This Conduct a +very intelligent and prudent Physician may presume +to imitate; but I dare not advise the same +Conduct to that Class of Physicians, for which +only I write: it being safer for them to use repeated +Bleedings in such Cases, than one in an +excessive Quantity. These erisipelatous Fevers +<span class="pageno target" title="293" id="page-293"> </span>are often excited by a Person's being too long +over-heated.</p> +<p class="pnext">After Bleeding the Patient is to be restrained to +his Regimen; Glysters are to be given until there +is a sensible Abatement of the Fever; and he +should drink the Barley Water freely, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id797">Nº. 3</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Fever is somewhat diminished, either +the Purge <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a> should be given, or a few +Doses every Morning of Cream of Tartar <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>. +Purging is absolutely necessary to carry off the +stagnant Bile, which is generally the first Cause +of the violent Degrees of this Distemper. It may +sometimes be really necessary too, if the Disease is +very tedious; if the Loathing and Sickness at Stomach +is obstinate; the Mouth ill-favoured, and +the Tongue foul, (provided there be only a slight +Fever, and no Fear of an Inflammation) to give +the Medicines <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a> or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">35</a>, which, in Consequence +of the Agitation, the Shaking they occasion, +remove these Impediments still better than +Purges.</p> +<p class="pnext">It commonly happens that this Disease is more +favourable after these Evacuations; nevertheless +it is sometimes necessary to repeat them the next +Day, or the next but one; especially if the Malady +affects the Head. Purging is the true Evacuation +for curing it, whenever it attacks this +Part. By carrying off the Cause of the Disease, +they diminish it, and prevent its worst Effects.</p> +<p class="pnext">Whenever, even after these Evacuations, the +Fever still continues to be very severe, the Patient +should take every two Hours, or occasionally, +<span class="pageno target" title="294" id="page-294"> </span>oftner, two Spoonfuls of the Prescription +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id808">Nº. 10</a>, added to a Glass of Ptisan.</p> +<p class="pnext">It will be very useful, when this Disease is +seated in the Head or Face, to bathe the Legs +frequently in warm Water; and where it is violent +there, also to apply Sinapisms to the Soles +of the Feet. I have seen this Application, in +about four Hours attract, or draw down an <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em> +to the Legs, which had spread over the Nose, +and both the Eyes. When the Distemper once +begins to go off by Sweating, this should be promoted +by Elder-flower Tea and Nitre (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id409">§ +279</a>) and the Sweating may be encouraged to +Advantage for some Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id411">§ 281</span>. The best Applications that can be made +to the affected Part are 1st, The Herb Robert, a +Kind of <em class="italics">Geranium</em>, or Crane's-Bill; or Chervil, +or Parsley, or Elder Flowers: and if the Complaint +be of a very mild Disposition, it may be +sufficient to apply a very soft smooth Linen over +it, which some People dust over with a little dry +Meal.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, If there is a very considerable Inflammation, +and the Patient is so circumstanced as to be very +tractable and regularly attended, Flanels wrung +out of a strong Decoction of Elder-flowers and +applied warm, afford him the speediest Ease and +Relief. By this simple Application I have appeased +the most violent Pains of a St. Anthony's +Fire, which is the most cruel Species of an Erisipelas, +and has some peculiar Marks or Symptoms +extraordinary.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="295" id="page-295"> </span>3, The Plaister of Smalt, and Smalt itself +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id860">Nº. 46</a>, are also very successfully employed in +this Disease. This Powder, the farinaceous, or +mealy ones, or others cried up for it, agree best +when a thin watery Humour distills or weeps +from the little Vesications attending it, which it +is convenient to absorb by such Applications; without +which Precaution it might gall, or even ulcerate +the Part.</p> +<p class="pnext">All other Plaisters, which are partly compounded +of greasy, or of resinous Substances, are very +dangerous: they often repel, or strike in the <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em>, +occasioning it to ulcerate, or even to gangrene. +If People who are naturally subject to +this Disease should apply any such Plaister to +their Skin, even in its soundest State, an <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em> +is the speedy Consequence.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id412">§ 282</span>. Whenever the Humour occasioning +the Distemper is repelled, and thrown upon the +Brain, the Throat, the Lungs, or any internal +Part, the Patient should be bled; Blisters must +be applied to the Legs; and Elder Tea, with +Nitre dissolved in it, should be plentifully drank.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id413">§ 283</span>. People who are liable to frequent Returns +of an Erisipelas, should very carefully avoid +using Milk, Cream, and all fat and viscid, or +clammy Food, Pies, brown Meat, Spices, thick +and heady Liquors, a sedentary Life, the more +active Passions, especially Rage, and, if possible, +all Chagrin too. Their Food should chiefly +consist of Herbage, Fruits, of Substances inclining +to Acidity, and which tend to keep the Body +<span class="pageno target" title="296" id="page-296"> </span>open; they should drink Water, and some of the +light white Wines; by no Means omitting the +frequent Use of Cream of Tartar. A careful +Conformity to these Regulations is of real Importance, +as, besides the Danger of the frequent +Visitations of this Disease, they denote some +slight Indispositions of the Liver and the Gall-bladder; +which, if too little attended to, might in +Time prove very troublesome and pernicious.</p> +<p class="pnext">Such mineral Waters as are gently opening are +very proper for these Constitutions, as well as +the Juice of Succory, and clarified Whey, of +which they should take about three Pints every +Morning, during the five or six Summer Months. +This becomes still more efficacious, if a little +Cream of Tartar and Honey be added to it.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-stings-or-little-wounds-by-animals"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the Stings, or little Wounds, by Animals.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id414">§ 284</span>. The Stings or little Bites of Animals, +frequently producing a kind of <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em>, I shall +add a very few Words concerning them in this +Place.</p> +<p class="pnext">Of the Serpents in this Country none but the +Vipers are poisonous; and none of these are +found except at <em class="italics">Baume</em>, where there is a <em class="italics">Viperary</em>, +if we may be allowed that Word. We have no +Scorpions, which are somewhat poisonous; our +Toads are not in the least so: whence the only +Stings we are exposed to, are those of Bees, Wasps, +Hornets, Muskitos or Gnats, and Dragon <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id416" id="id415"><sup>71</sup></a> Flies: +<span class="pageno target" title="297" id="page-297"> </span>all of which are sometimes attended with severe +Pain, a Swelling, and a very considerable erisipelatous +Redness; which, if it happens in the +Face, sometimes entirely closes the Eyes up; occasioning +also a Fever, Pains of the Head, Restlessness, +and Sickness at Heart; and, when the +Pains are in a violent Degree, Faintings and Convulsions, +though always without any mortal Consequence. +These Symptoms go off naturally +within a few Days, without any Assistance: Nevertheless +they may either be prevented, diminished +in Degree, or shortned in Duration.</p> +<p class="pnext">1, By extracting the Sting of the Animal, if it +is left behind.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, By a continual Application of one of the +Remedies directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id411">§ 281</a>, Article 1 and 2, particularly +the Infusion of Elder-flowers, to which a +little Venice Treacle is added; or by covering the +Part affected with a Pultice, made of Crum of +Bread, Milk, Honey, and a little Venice Treacle. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id418" id="id417"><sup>72</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext">3, By bathing the Legs of the Person stung +repeatedly in warm Water.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, By retrenching a little of their customary +Food, especially at Night, and by making them +drink an Infusion of Elder-flowers, with the +Addition of a little Nitre. Oil, if applied very +quickly after the Sting, sometimes prevents the +Appearance of any Swelling, and from thence the +Pains that attend it.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head330-chapter-xx"> +<span id="chap-xx"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="298" id="page-298"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i330a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XX.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-spurious-or-false-inflammations-of-the-breast-and-of-spurious-bilious-pleurisies"> +<em class="italics">Of spurious, or false Inflammations of the Breast, and of spurious, bilious, Pleurisies.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 285.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i330b.png"/>he Inflammation of the Breast and that +Pleurisy, which is called <em class="italics">bilious</em>, are the +same Disease. It is properly a putrid +Fever, attended with an Infarction or +Stuffing of the Lungs, though without Pain; in +which Circumstance it is called a putrid or bilious +Peripneumony: but when attended with +a Pain of the Side, a Stitch, it is called a spurious +or bastard Pleurisy.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id419">§ 286</span>. The Signs which distinguish these Diseases +from the inflammatory ones of the same +Name, described Chap. IV and V, are a less +hard and less strong, but a quicker Pulse, though +unaccompanied with the same Symptoms which +constitute the inflammatory ones (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id83">§ 47</a> and +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id130">90</a>). The Mouth is foul, and has a Sensation +of Bitterness; the Patient is infested with a sharp +and dry Heat; he has a Feeling of Heaviness and +Anxiety all about his Stomach, with Loathings: +he is less flushed and red in these, than in the inflammatory +Diseases, but rather a little yellow. +He has a dejected wan Look; his Urine +<span class="pageno target" title="299" id="page-299"> </span>resembles that in putrid Fevers, and not that of inflammatory +ones; and he has very often a small +bilious Looseness, which is extremely offensive. +The Skin is commonly very dry in this Disease; +the Humour spit up is less thick, less reddish, +and rather more yellow than in the inflammatory +Diseases of the same Names.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id420">§ 287</span>. They must be treated after the manner +of putrid Fevers, as in <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id355">§ 241</a>. Supposing +some little Degree of Inflammation to be combined +with the Disease, it may be removed by a +single Bleeding. After this the Patient is to +drink Barley Water <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id797">Nº. 3</a>, to make Use of Glysters; +and as soon as all Symptoms of any Inflammation +wholly disappear, he is to take the vomiting +and purging Draught <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a>. But the utmost +Caution must be taken not to give it, before +every Appearance of any Inflammation is totally +removed; as giving it sooner would be certain +Death to the Sick: and it is dreadful but to think +of agitating, by a Vomit, Lungs that are inflamed, +and overloaded with Blood, whose Vessels burst +and discharge themselves, only from the Force +of Expectoration. After an Interval of some +Days, he may be purged again with the Medicine +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a>. The Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id829">Nº. 25</a> succeeds also +very well as a Vomit. If the Fever is violent, he +must drink plentifully of the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id808">Nº. 10</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">Blisters to the Legs are very serviceable, when +the Load and Oppression are not considerably +abated after general Evacuations.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="300" id="page-300"> </span><span class="target" id="id421">§ 288</span>. The false Inflammation of the Breast is +an Overfulness or Obstruction in the Lungs, accompanied +with a Fever; and it is caused by extremely +thick and tenacious Humours; and not +by a really inflammatory Blood, or by any putrid +or bilious Humour.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id422">§ 289</span>. This Distemper happens more frequently +in the Spring, than in any other Season. Old Men, +puny, ill-constitutioned Children, languid Women, +feeble young Men, and particularly such as +have worn their Constitutions out by drinking, +are the Subjects most frequently attacked by it; +especially if they have used but little Exercise +throughout the Winter: if they have fed on viscid, +mealy and fat Aliments, as Pastry, Chesnuts, +thick Milk or Pap, and Cheese. All their +Humours have contracted a thick glutinous Quality; +they are circulated with Difficulty, and +when Heat or Exercise in the Spring increases +their Motion at once, the Humours, already stuffing +up the Lungs, still more augment that Plenitude, +whence these vital Organs are fatally extended, +and the Patient dies.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id423">§ 290</span>. This Distemper is known to exist,</p> +<p class="pnext">1, By the previous Existence of the Causes already +mentioned.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, By the Symptoms which precede and usher +it in. For Example, the Patient many Days +before-hand has a slight Cough; a small Oppression +when he moves about; a little Restlessness, +and is sometimes a little choleric or fretful. His +Countenance is higher coloured than in Health; +<span class="pageno target" title="301" id="page-301"> </span>he has a Propensity to sleep, but attended with +Confusion and without Refreshment, and has +sometimes an extraordinary Appetite.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, When this State has continued for some +Days, there comes on a cold Shivering, though +more considerable for its Duration than its Violence; +it is succeeded by a moderate Degree of +Heat, but that attended with much Inquietude +and Oppression. The sick Person cannot confine +himself to the Bed; but walks to and fro in his +Chamber, and is greatly dejected. The Pulse is +weak and pretty quick; the Urine is sometimes +but little changed from that in Health; at other +Times it is discharged but in a small Quantity, +and is higher coloured: he coughs but moderately, +and does not expectorate, or cough up, +but with Difficulty. The Visage becomes very +red, and even almost livid; he can neither keep +awake, nor sleep well; he raves for some Moments, +and then his Head grows clear again. +Sometimes it happens, especially to Persons of +advanced Age, that this State suddenly terminates +in a mortal Swoon or Fainting: at other +Times and in other Cases, the Oppression and +Anguish increase; the Patient cannot breathe but +when sitting up, and that with great Difficulty +and Agony: the Brain is utterly disturbed and +embarrassed; this State lasts for some Hours, +and then terminates of a sudden.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id424">§ 291</span>. This is a very dangerous Distemper; +because, in the first Place, it chiefly attacks those +Persons whose Temperament and Constitution +<span class="pageno target" title="302" id="page-302"> </span>are deprived of the ordinary Resources for Health +and Recovery: in the second Place, because it is +of a precipitate Nature, the Patient sometimes +dying on the third Day, and but seldom surviving +the seventh; while the Cause of it requires a +more considerable Term for its Removal or Mitigation. +Besides which, if some Indications present +for the Employment of a Remedy, there are +frequently others which forbid it; and all that +seems to be done is, as follows;</p> +<p class="pnext">1, If the Patient has still a pretty good Share +of Health; if he is not of too advanced an Age; +if the Pulse has a perceivable Hardness, and yet +at the same Time some Strength; if the Weather +is dry, and the Wind blows from the North, +he should be bled once, to a moderate Quantity. +But if the greater Part of these Circumstances are +wanting, Bleeding would be very prejudicial. +Were we obliged to establish some general and +positive Rule in this Case, it were better to exclude +Bleeding, than to admit it.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, The Stomach and the Bowels should be +unloaded from their viscid glutinous Contents; +and the Medicines which succeed the best in this +Respect are <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a>, when the Symptoms shew +there is a great Necessity for vomiting, and there +is no Inflammation; or the Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id829">Nº. 25</a>, +which after vomiting, purges by Stool, promotes +Urine, breaks down and divides the viscid Humours +that occasion the Disease, and increase +Perspiration. When we are afraid of hazarding +the Agitation of a Vomit and its Consequences, +<span class="pageno target" title="303" id="page-303"> </span>the Potion, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id813">Nº. 11</a> may be given; but we must +be very cautious, in Regard to old Men, even +with this; as such may expire during the Operation +of it.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, They should, from the Beginning of the +Disease, drink plentifully of the Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id830">Nº. 26</a>, +which is the best Drink in this Disease; or that of +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id814">Nº. 12</a>, adding half a Dram of Nitre to every +Pint of it.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, A Cup of the Mixture <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id806">Nº. 8</a> must be taken +every two Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext">5. Blisters are to be applied to the Insides of +the Legs.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Case is very <span class="target" id="doubtful">doubtful</span> and perplexing, +it were best to confine ourselves to the three +last-mentioned Remedies, which have often been +successful in severe Degrees of this Disease; and +which can occasion no ill Consequence.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id425">§ 292</span>. When this Malady invades old People, +though they partly recover, they never recover +perfectly, entirely, from it: and if due Precaution +is not taken, they are very liable to fall into a Dropsy +of the Breast after it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id426">§ 293</span>. The spurious or false Pleurisy is a Distemper +that does not affect the Lungs, but only +the Teguments, the Skin, and the Muscles +which cover the Ribs. It is the Effect of a rheumatic +Humour thrown upon these Parts, in which, +as it produces very sharp Pains resembling that +which is called a <em class="italics">Stitch</em>, it has from this Circumstance, +been termed a Pleurisy.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="304" id="page-304"> </span>It is generally supposed by the meer Multitude, +and even by some of a different Rank, +that a false Pleurisy is more dangerous than a genuine, +a true one; but this is a Mistake. It is +often ushered in by a Shivering, and almost ever +attended with a little Fever, a small Cough, and +a slight Difficulty of breathing; which, as well +as the Cough, is occasioned from the Circumstance +of a Patient's (who feels Pain in Respiration, +or Breathing) checking Breathing as much +as he can; this accumulates a little too much +Blood in the Lungs; but yet he has no Anguish, +nor the other Symptoms of acute true Pleurisies. +In some Patients this Pain is extended, almost +over the whole Breast, and to the Nape of the +Neck. The sick Person cannot repose himself +on the Side affected.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Disorder is not more dangerous than a +Rheumatism, except in two Cases; 1, When +the Pain is so very severe, that the Patient strongly +endeavours not to breathe at all, which brings +on a great Infarction or Stoppage in the Lungs. +2, When this Humour, like any other rheumatic +one, is transferred to some internal Part.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id427">§ 294</span>. It must be treated exactly like a Rheumatism. +See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id242">§ 168</a> and <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id243">169</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">After bleeding once or more, a Blister applied +to the affected Part is often attended with a very +good Effect: This being indeed the Kind of <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id429" id="id428"><sup>73</sup></a> Pleurisy, in which it particularly agrees.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="305" id="page-305"> </span><span class="target" id="id431">§ 295</span>. This Malady sometimes gives Way to +the first Bleeding; often terminating on the third, +fourth or fifth Day, by a very plentiful Sweat, +and rarely lasting beyond the seventh. Sometimes +it attacks a Person very suddenly, after a +Stoppage of Perspiration; and then, if at once before +the Fever commences, and has had Time to +inflame the Blood, the Patient takes some <em class="italics">Faltrank</em>, +it effects a speedy Cure by restoring Perspiration. +They are such Cases as these, or that mentioned +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id136">§ 96</a>, which have given this Composition the +Reputation it has obtained in this Disease: a Reputation +nevertheless, which has every Year proved +tragical in its Consequences to many Peasants, +who being deceived by some misleading Resemblances +in this Distemper, have rashly and ignorantly +made Use of it in true inflammatory Pleurisies.</p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<p class="center pnext"><img class="align-middle" style="width: 10em" alt="****" src="images/i337.png"/></p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head338-chapter-xxi"> +<span id="chap-xxi"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="306" id="page-306"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i338a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXI.</span></h2> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-cholic-and-its-different-kinds"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the Cholic and its different Kinds.</em></h3> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 296.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i338b.png"/>he Appellation of a Cholic is commonly +given to all Pains of the Belly +indiscriminately; but I apply it in this +Place only to such as attack the Stomach, +or the Intestines, the Guts.</p> +<p class="pnext">Cholics may and do result from very many +Causes; and the greater Number of Cholics are +chronical or tedious Complaints, being more common +among the inactive Inhabitants of Cities, +and Workmen in sedentary Trades, than among +Country People. Hence I shall treat here only +of the small Variety of Cholics, which happen the +most usually in Villages. I have already proved +that the fatal Events of some Distempers were occasioned +by endeavouring to force the Patients into +Sweats; and the same unhappy Consequences +have attended Cholics, from accustoming the +Subjects of this Disease to Drams, and hot inflaming +spirituous Liquors, with an Intention to expel +the Wind.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-inflammatory-cholic"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="307" id="page-307"> </span><em class="italics">Of the inflammatory Cholic.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id432">§ 297</span>. The most violent and dangerous kind +of Cholic is that, which arises from an Inflammation +of the Stomach, or of the Intestines. It +begins most commonly without any Shivering, by +a vehement Pain in the Belly, which gradually +becomes still more so. The Pulse grows quick +and hard; a burning Pain is felt through the +whole Region of the Belly; sometimes there is +a watery <em class="italics">Diarrhœa</em>, or Purging; at other Times +the Belly is rather costive, which is attended with +Vomiting, a very embarrassing and dangerous +Symptom: the Countenance becomes highly +flushed; the Belly tense and hard; neither can it +be touched scarcely without a cruel Augmentation +of the Patient's Pain, who is also afflicted +with extreme Restlessness; his Thirst is very great, +being unquenchable by Drink; the Pain often +extends to the Loins, where it proves very sharp, +and severe; little Urine is made, and that very +red, and with a kind of burning Heat. The +tormented Patient has not a Moment's Rest, and +now and then raves a little. If the Disease is not +removed or moderated, before the Pains rise to their +utmost Height and Violence, the Patient begins +at length to complain less; the Pulse becomes less +strong and less hard than before, but quicker: +his Face first abates of its Flush and Redness, +and soon after looks pale; the Parts under the +Eyes become livid; the Patient sinks into a low +<span class="pageno target" title="308" id="page-308"> </span>stupid Kind of <em class="italics">Delirium</em>, or Raving; his Strength +entirely deserts him; the Face, Hands, Feet, and +the whole Body, the Belly only excepted, become +cold: the Surface of the Belly appears bluish; +extreme Weakness follows, and the Patient dies. +There frequently occurs, just a Moment before +he expires, an abundant Discharge of excessively +fœtid Matter by Stool; and during this Evacuation +he dies with his Intestines quite gangrened, +or mortified.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Distemper assaults the Stomach, the +Symptoms are the very same, but the Pain is felt +higher up, at the Pit of the Stomach. Almost +every thing that is swallowed is cast up again; +the Anguish of the tortured Patient is terrible, +and the Raving comes on very speedily. This +Disease proves mortal in a few Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id433">§ 298</span>. The only Method of succeeding in the +Cure of it is as follows:</p> +<p class="pnext">1, Take a very large Quantity of Blood +from the Arm; this almost immediately diminishes +the Violence of the Pains, and allays the +Vomiting: besides its contributing to the greater +Success of the other Remedies. It is often necessary +to repeat this Bleeding within the Space of +two Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, Whether the Patient has a Looseness, or +has not, a Glyster of a Decoction of Mallows, or +of Barley Water and Oil, should be given every +two Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, The Patient should drink very plentifully +of Almond Milk <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">Nº. 4</a>; or a Ptisan of Mallow +<span class="pageno target" title="309" id="page-309"> </span>Flowers, or of Barley, all which should be +warm.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, Flanels dipt in hot, or very warm Water +should be continually applied over the Belly, +shifting them every Hour, or rather oftner; for +in this Case they very quickly grow dry.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, If the Disease, notwithstanding all this, +continues very obstinate and violent, the Patient +should be put into a warm Water Bath, the extraordinary +Success of which I have observed.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Distemper is over, that is to say, +when the Pains have terminated, and the Fever +has ceased, so that the Patient recovers a little +Strength, and gets a little Sleep, it will be proper +to give him a Purge, but a very gentle one. +Two Ounces of Manna, and a Quarter of an +Ounce of Sedlitz <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id435" id="id434"><sup>74</sup></a> Salt dissolved in a Glass of +clear Whey is generally sufficient, at this Period, +to purge the most robust and hardy Bodies. Manna +alone may suffice for more delicate Constitutions: +as all acrid sharp Purges would be highly +dangerous, with Regard to the great Sensibility +and tender Condition of the Stomach, and +of the Intestines after this Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id436">§ 299</span>. It is sometimes the Effect of a general +Inflammation of the Blood; and is produced, +like other inflammatory Diseases, by extraordinary +Labour, very great Heat, heating Meats or +Drinks, <em class="italics">&c.</em> It is often the Consequence of +<span class="pageno target" title="310" id="page-310"> </span>other Cholics which have been injudiciously treated, +and which otherwise would not have degenerated +into inflammatory ones; as I have many Times +seen these Cholics introduced after the Use of heating +Medicines; one Instance of which may be +seen <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id235">§ 164</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id437">§ 300</span>. Ten Days after I had recovered a Woman +out of a severe Cholic, the Pains returned +violently in the Night. She, supposing them to +arise only from Wind, hoped to appease them by +drinking a deal of distilled Walnut Water; which, +far from producing any such Effect, rendered +them more outrageous. They soon were heightened +to a surprising Degree, which might reasonably +be expected. Being sent for very early in +the Morning, I found her Pulse hard, quick, +short; her Belly was tense and hard; she complained +greatly of her Loins: her Urine was almost +entirely stopt. She past but a few Drops, +which felt as it were scalding hot, and these with +excessive Pain. She went very frequently to the +Close-stool, with scarcely any Effect; her Anguish, +Heat, Thirst, and the Dryness of her +Tongue were even terrifying: and her wretched +State, the Effect of the strong hot Liquor she +had taken, made me very apprehensive for her. +One Bleeding, to the Quantity of fourteen Ounces, +somewhat abated all the Pains; she took several +Glysters, and drank off a few Pots of <em class="italics">Orgeat</em> in +a few Hours. By these Means the Disease was a +little mitigated; by continuing the same Drink +and the Glysters the Looseness abated; the Pain +<span class="pageno target" title="311" id="page-311"> </span>of the Loins went off, and she passed a considerable +Quantity of Urine, which proved turbid, and +then let fall a Sediment, and the Patient recovered. +Nevertheless I verily believe, if the Bleeding had +been delayed two Hours longer, this spirituous +Walnut Water would have been the Death of +her. During the Progress of this violent Disease, +no Food is to be allowed; and we should never +be too inattentive to such Degrees of Pain, as sometimes +remain after their Severity is over; lest a +<em class="italics">Scirrhus</em>, an inward hard Tumour, should be generated, +which may occasion the most inveterate +and tedious Maladies.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id438">§ 301</span>. An Inflammation of the Intestines, and +one of the Stomach, may also terminate in an +Abscess, like an Inflammation of any other Part; +and it may be apprehended that one is forming, +when, though the Violence of the Pains <span class="target" id="abates">abates</span>, +there still remains a slow, obtuse, heavy Pain, +with general Inquietude, little Appetite, frequent +Shiverings; the Patient at the same Time not recovering +any Strength. In such Cases the Patient +should be allowed no other Drinks, but +what are already directed in this Chapter, and +some Soops made of Pulse, or other farinaceous +Food.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Breaking of the Abscess may sometimes +be discovered by a slight Swoon or fainting Fit; +attended with a perceivable Cessation of a Weight +or Heaviness in the Part, where it was lately +felt: and when the <em class="italics">Pus</em>, or ripe Matter, is effused +into the Gut, the Patient sometimes has +<span class="pageno target" title="312" id="page-312"> </span>Reachings to vomit, a <em class="italics">Vertigo</em>, or Swimming in +the Head, and the Matter appears in the next +Stools. In this Case there remains an Ulcer +within the Gut, which, if either neglected, or +improperly treated, may pave the Way to a +slow wasting Fever, and even to Death. Yet +this I have cured by making the Patient live +solely upon skimmed Milk, diluted with one +third Part Water, and by giving every other Day +a Glyster, consisting of equal Parts of Milk and +Water, with the Addition of a little Honey.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Abscess breaks on the Outside of the +Gut, and discharges its Contents into the Cavity +of the Belly, it becomes a very miserable Case, +and demands such further Assistance as cannot be +particularized here.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-bilious-cholic"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the bilious Cholic.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id439">§ 302</span>. The bilious Cholic discovers itself by +very acute Pains, but is seldom accompanied with +a Fever; at least not until it has lasted a Day or +two. And even if there should be some Degree +of a Fever, yet the Pulse, though quick, is neither +strong nor hard: the Belly is neither tense +or stretched as it were, nor burning hot, as in +the former Cholic: the Urine comes away with +more Ease, and is less high-coloured: Nevertheless +the inward Heat and Thirst are considerable; +the Mouth is bitter; the Vomiting or Purging, +when either of them attend it, discharge a +<span class="pageno target" title="313" id="page-313"> </span>yellowish Humour or Excrement; and the Patient's +Head is often vertiginous or dizzy.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id440">§ 303</span>. The Method of curing this is,</p> +<p class="pnext">1, By injecting Glysters of Whey and Honey; +or, if Whey is not readily procurable, by repeating +the Glyster, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id801">Nº. 5</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, By making the Sick drink considerably of +the same Whey, or of a Ptisan made of the Root +of Dog's-Grass (the common Grass) and a little +Juice of Lemon, for want of which, a little Vinegar +and Honey may be substituted instead of +it. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id442" id="id441"><sup>75</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext">3, By giving every Hour one Cup of the Medicine +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id842">Nº. 32</a>; or where this is not to be had, +half a Drachm of Cream of Tartar at the same +short Intervals.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, Fomentations of warm Water and Half-baths +are also very proper.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, If the Pains are sharp and violent, in a robust +strong Person, and the Pulse is strong and +tense, Bleeding should be used to prevent an Inflammation.</p> +<p class="pnext">6, No other Nourishment should be given, +except some maigre Soops, made from Vegetables, +and particularly of Sorrel.</p> +<p class="pnext">7, After plentiful Dilution with the proper +Drink, if no Fever supervenes; if the Pains still +continue, and the Patient discharges but little by +Stool, he should take a moderate Purge. That +directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id861">Nº. 47</a> is a very proper one.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="314" id="page-314"> </span><span class="target" id="id443">§ 304</span>. This bilious Cholic is habitual to many +Persons; and may be prevented or greatly mitigated +by an habitual Use of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>; +by submitting to a moderate Retrenchment in the +Article of Flesh-meat; and by avoiding heating +and greasy Food, and the Use of Milk.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-cholics-from-indigestions-and-of-indigestion"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Cholics from Indigestions, and of Indigestion.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id444">§ 305</span>. Under this Appellation I comprehend +all those Cholics, which are either owing to any +overloading Quantity of Food taken at once; or +to a Mass or Accumulation of Aliments formed by +Degrees in such Stomachs, as digest but very +imperfectly; or which result from noxious Mixtures +of Aliment in the Stomach, such as that +of Milk and Acids; or from Food either not +wholesome in its self, or degenerated into an +unwholesome Condition.</p> +<p class="pnext">This kind of Cholic may be known from any +of these Causes having preceded it; by its Pains, +which are accompanied with great Restlessness, +and come on by Degrees, being less fixed than in +the Cholics before treated of. These Cholics +are also without any Fever, Heat or Thirst, but +accompanied with a Giddiness of the Head, and +Efforts to vomit, and rather with a pale, than a +high-coloured Visage.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id445">§ 306</span>. These Disorders, from these last Causes, +are scarcely ever dangerous in themselves; but +may be made such by injudicious Management, +and doing more than is necessary or proper: as +<span class="pageno target" title="315" id="page-315"> </span>the only Thing to be done is to promote the Discharges +by warm Drinks. There are a considerable +Variety of them, which seem equally good, +such as warm Water, or even cold Water with a +Toast, with the Addition either of a little Sugar, +or a little Salt: a light Infusion of Chamomile, +or of Elder-flowers, common Tea, or Baum, +it imports little which, provided the Patient drink +plentifully of them: in Consequence of which +the offending Matter is discharged, either by vomiting, +or a considerable purging; and the speedier +and more in Quantity these Discharges are, the +sooner the Patient is relieved.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Belly is remarkably full and costive, +Glysters of warm Water and Salt should be injected.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Expulsion of the obstructing Matter is +also facilitated, by rubbing the Belly heartily +with hot Cloths.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sometimes the Humours, or other retained +Contents of the Belly, are more pernicious from +their Quality, than their Quantity; and then the +Malady may be dissipated without the former +Discharges, by the irritating sharp Humour being +diluted, or even drowned, as it were, in the +Abundance of small watery Drinks. When the +Pains invade first in the Stomach, they become +less sharp, and the Patient feels less Inquietude, as +soon as the Cause of the Pain has descended out +of the Stomach into the Intestines, whose Sensations +are something less acute than, or somewhat +different from, those of the Stomach.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="316" id="page-316"> </span>It is often found that after these plentiful Discharges, +and when the Pains are over, there remains +a very disagreeable Taste in the Mouth, +resembling the Savour of rotten Eggs. This +may be removed by giving some Doses of the +Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>, and drinking largely of good +Water:</p> +<p class="pnext">It is an essential Point in these Cases, to take no +Food before a perfect Recovery.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id446">§ 307</span>. Some have been absurd enough in +them, to fly at once to some heating Cordial +Confection, to Venice Treacle, Aniseed Water, +Geneva, or red Wine to stop these Evacuations; +but there cannot be a more fatal Practice: since +these Evacuations are the only Thing which can +cure the Complaint, and to stop them is to deprive +the Person, who was in Danger of drowning, +of the Plank which might save him. Nay +should this Endeavour of stopping them unhappily +succeed, the Patient is either thrown into a +putrid Fever, or some chronical tedious Malady; +unless Nature, much wiser than such a miserable +Assistant, should prevail over the Obstacles +opposed to her Recovery, and restore the obstructed +Evacuations by her own Oeconomy, in +the Space of a few Days.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id447">§ 308</span>. Sometimes an Indigestion happens, +with very little Pain or Cholic, but with violent +Reachings to vomit, inexpressible Anguish, Faintings, +and cold Sweats: and not seldom also the +Malady begins, only with a very sudden and unexpected +Fainting: the Patient immediately loses +<span class="pageno target" title="317" id="page-317"> </span>all his Senses, his Face is pale and wan: he has +some Hickups rather than Reachings to vomit, +which joined to the Smallness of his Pulse, to the +Easiness of his respiring, or breathing, and to the +Circumstance of his being attacked immediately, +or very soon, after a Meal, makes this Disorder +distinguishable from a real Apoplexy. Nevertheless, +when it rises to this Height, with these +terrible Symptoms, it sometimes kills in a few +Hours. The first thing to be done is to throw +up a sharp Glyster, in which Salt and Soap are to +be dissolved; next to get down as much Salt and +Water as he can swallow; and if that is ineffectual, +the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a> is to be dissolved in +three Cups of Water; one half of which is to be +given directly; and, if it does not operate in a +Quarter of an Hour, the other half. Generally +speaking the Patient's Sense begins to return, +as soon as he begins to vomit.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-flatulent-or-windy-cholic"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the flatulent or windy Cholic.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id448">§ 309</span>. Every Particular which constitutes our +Food, whether solid or liquid, contains much +Air, but some of them more than others. If +they do not digest soon enough, or but badly, +which occasions a sensible Escape of such Air; if +they are such as contain an extraordinary Quantity +of Air; or if the Guts being straitened or +compressed any where in the Course of their Extent, +prevent that Air from being equally +diffused (which must occasion a greater Proportion +<span class="pageno target" title="318" id="page-318"> </span>of it in some Places) then the Stomach and +the Guts are distended by this Wind; and this +Distention occasions these Pains, which are called +flatulent, or windy.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Sort of Cholic rarely appears alone and +simple; but is often complicated with, or added, as +it were, to the other Sorts, of which it is a Consequence; +and is more especially joined with the +Cholic from Indigestions, whose Symptoms it +multiplies and heightens. It may be known, +like that, by the Causes which have preceded it, +by its not being accompanied either with Fever, +Heat, or Thirst; the Belly's being large and full, +though without Hardness, being unequal in its +Largeness, which prevails more in one Part of +it than in another, forming something like Pockets +of Wind, sometimes in one Part, sometimes +in another; and by the Patient's feeling some +Ease merely from the rubbing of his Belly, as it +moves the Wind about; which escaping either +upwards or downwards affords him still a greater +Relief.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id449">§ 310</span>. When it is combined with any different +Species of the Cholic, it requires no distinct +Treatment from that Species; and it is removed +or dissipated by the Medicines which cure the +principal Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sometimes however it does happen to exist +alone, and then it depends on the Windiness of +the solid and liquid Food of the Person affected +with it, such as the <em class="italics">Must</em> or new Wine, Beer, especially +very new Beer, certain Fruits and +<span class="pageno target" title="319" id="page-319"> </span>Garden-stuff. It may be cured by a Glyster; by +chaffing the Belly with hot Cloths; by the Use +of Drink moderately spiced; and especially by +Camomile Tea, to which a little cordial Confection, +or even Venice Treacle, may be added. +When the Pains are almost entirely vanished, +and there is no Fever, nor any unhealthy Degree +of Heat; and if the Patient is sensible of a Weakness +at Stomach, he may take a little aromatic, +or spiced Wine, or even a small cordial stomachic +Dram. It should be observed, that these are not to +be allowed in any other Kind of Cholic.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id450">§ 311</span>. When any Person is frequently subject +to cholic-like Pains, it is a Proof that the digestive +Faculty is impaired; the restoring of which +should be carefully attended to; without which +the Health of the Patient must suffer considerably, +and he must be very likely to contract many +tedious and troublesome Disorders.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-cholics-from-cold"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Cholics from Cold.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id451">§ 312</span>. When any Person has been very cold, +and especially in his Feet, it is not uncommon +for him to be attacked, within a few Hours after +it, with violent Cholic Pains, in which heating +and spirituous Medicines are very pernicious: but +which are easily cured by rubbing the Legs well +with hot Cloths; and keeping them afterwards +for a considerable Time in warm Water; advising +them at the same Time to drink freely of +a light Infusion of Chamomile or Elder-flowers.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="320" id="page-320"> </span>The Cure will be effected the sooner, if the Patient +is put to Bed and sweats a little, especially +in the Legs and Feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Woman who had put her Legs into a pretty +cool Spring, after travelling in the Height of Summer, +was very quickly after attacked with a most +violent Cholic. She took different hot Medicines; +she became still worse; she was purged, +but the Distemper was still further aggravated. +I was called in on the third Day, a few Hours +before her Decease.</p> +<p class="pnext">In such Cases, if the Pain be excessive, it may +be necessary to bleed; <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id453" id="id452"><sup>76</sup></a> to give a Glyster of warm +Water; to keep the Legs several Hours over the +Steam of hot Water, and afterwards in the Water; +to drink plentifully of an Infusion of the +Flowers of the Lime-tree, with a little Milk; +and if the Distemper is not subdued by these +Means, Blisters should be applied to the Legs, +which I have known to be highly efficacious.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id454">§ 313</span>. It appears, through the Course of this +Chapter, that it is necessary to be extremely on +our Guard, against permitting the Use of heating +and spirituous Medicines in Cholics, as they may +not only aggravate, but even render them mortal. +<span class="pageno target" title="321" id="page-321"> </span>In short they should never be given, and when it +is difficult to discover the real Cause of the Cholic, +I advise Country People to confine themselves +to the three following Remedies, which cannot +be hurtful in any Sort of Cholic, and may remove +as many as are not of a violent Nature. +First then, let Glysters be frequently repeated. +2, Let the Patient drink warm Water plentifully, +or Elder Tea. 3, Let the Belly be often +fomented in pretty warm Water, which is +the most preferable Fomentation of any.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id455">§ 314</span> I have said nothing here of the Use of +any Oils in this Disease, as they agree but in +very few Species of Cholics, and not at all in those +of which I have been treating. For this Reason +I advise a total Disuse of them, since they may +be of bad Consequence in many Respects.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id456">§ 315</span>. Chronical Diseases not coming within +the Plan of this Work, I purposely forbear treating +of any Kind of those tedious Cholics, which +afflict some People for many Years: but I think +it my Duty to admonish such, that their Torments +being very generally occasioned by Obstructions +in the <em class="italics">Viscera</em>, or different Bowels of +the Belly, or by some other Fault, and more +particularly in those Organs, which are intended +to prepare the Bile, they should, 1, avoid with the +greatest Care, the Use of sharp, hot, violent Medicines, +Vomits, strong Purges, Elixirs, <em class="italics">&c.</em> 2, +They should be thoroughly on their Guard against +all those, who promise them a very speedy Cure, +by the Assistance of some specific Remedy; and +<span class="pageno target" title="322" id="page-322"> </span>ought to look upon them as Mountebanks, into +whose Hands it is highly dangerous to trust themselves. +3, They should be persuaded, or rather +convinced, that they can entertain no reasonable +Hope of being cured, without an exact Conformity +to a proper and judicious Regimen, and a +long Perseverance in a Course of mild and safe +Remedies. 4, They should continually reflect +with themselves, that there is little Difficulty in +doing them great Mischief; and that their Complaints +are of that Sort, which require the greatest +Knowledge and Prudence in those Persons, to +whom the Treatment and Cure of them are +confided.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head354-chapter-xxii"> +<span id="chap-xxii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i354a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXII.</span></h2> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-iliac-passion-and-of-the-cholera-morbus"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the Iliac Passion, and of the Cholera-morbus.</em></h3> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 316.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i354b.png"/>hese violent Diseases are fatal to many +Country People, while their Neighbours +are frequently so ignorant of the +Cause of their Death, that Superstition +has ascribed it to Poison, or to Witchcraft.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="ib322"><span class="target" id="id457">§ 317</span>. The first of these, the <em class="italics">Miserere</em>, or +Iliac Passion, is one of the most excruciating +Distempers. If any Part of the Intestines, the +Cavity of the Guts is closed up, whatever may +<span class="pageno target" title="323" id="page-323"> </span>have occasioned it, the Course or Descent of the +Food they contain is necessarily stopped; in which +Case it frequently happens, that that continual +Motion observed in the Guts of a living Animal +dissected, and which was intended to detrude, or +force their Contents downwards, is propagated +in a directly contrary Manner, from the Guts +towards the Mouth.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Disease sometimes begins after a Constipation, +or Costiveness, of some Days; at other +Times without that Costiveness having been preceded +by Pains in any Part of the Belly, especially +around the Navel; but which Pains, gradually +increasing after their Commencement, at +length become extremely violent, and throw the +Patient into excessive Anguish. In some of these +Cases a hard Tumour may be felt, which surrounds +the Belly like a Cord. The Flatulences +within become very audible, some of them are +discharged upwards; in a little Time after, Vomitings +come on, which increase till the Patient +has thrown up all he had taken in, with a +still further Augmentation of the excessive Pain. +With the first of his Vomitings he only brings +up the last Food he had taken, with his Drink +and some yellowish Humour: but what comes +up afterwards proves stinking; and when the +Disease is greatly heightened, they have what is +called the Smell of Excrement or Dung; but +which rather resembles that of a putrid dead +Body. It happens too sometimes, that if the +Sick have taken Glysters composed of Materials +<span class="pageno target" title="324" id="page-324"> </span>of a strong Smell, the same Smell is discernible +in the Matter they vomit up. I confess however +I never saw either real Excrements, or the Substance +of their Glysters, brought up, much +less the Suppositories that were introduced into +the Fundament: and were it credible that Instances +of this Kind had occurred, they must be +allowed very difficult to account for. Throughout +this whole Term of the Disease, the Patient +has not a single Discharge by Stool; the Belly is +greatly distended; the Urine not seldom suppressed, +and at other Times thick and fœtid. The +Pulse, which at first was pretty hard, becomes +quick and small; the Strength entirely vanishes; +a Raving comes on; a Hiccup almost constantly +supervenes, and sometimes general Convulsions; +the Extremities grow cold, the Pulse scarcely perceivable; +the Pain and the Vomiting cease, and +the Patient dies very quickly after.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id458">§ 318</span>. As this Disease is highly dangerous, +the Moment it is strongly apprehended, it is necessary +to oppose it by proper Means and Remedies: +the smallest Error may be of fatal Consequence, +and hot inflaming Liquids have been +known to kill the Patient in a few Hours. I +was called in the second Day of the Disease to a +young Person, who had taken a good deal of Venice +Treacle: Nothing could afford her any Relief, +and she died early on the third Day.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Disease should be treated precisely in the +same Manner as an inflammatory Cholic; the +principal Difference being, that in the former +there are no Stools, but continual Vomitings.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="325" id="page-325"> </span>1, First of all then the Patient should be plentifully +bled, if the Physician has been called in +early enough, and before the Sick has lost his +Strength.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, He should receive opening Glysters made +of a Decoction of Barley Water, with five or six +Ounces of Oil in each.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="art-3">3, We should endeavour to allay the violent +Efforts to vomit, by giving every two Hours a +Spoonful of the Mixture <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id862">Nº. 48</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, The Sick should drink plentifully, in very +small Quantities, very often repeated, of an appeasing, +diluting, refreshing Drink, which tends +at the same Time to promote both Stools and +Urine. Nothing is preferable to the Whey <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id865">Nº. 49</a>, +if it can be had immediately: if not, give +simple clear Whey sweetened with Honey, and +the Drinks prescribed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id433">§ 298</a>, Art. 3.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, The Patient is to be put into a warm Bath, +and kept as long as he can bear it, repeating it +as often daily too, as his Strength will permit.</p> +<p class="pnext">6, After Bleeding, warm Bathing, repeated +Glysters and Fomentations, if each and all of +these have availed nothing; the Fume or Smoak +of Tobacco may be introduced in the Manner of +a Glyster, of which I shall speak further, in the +Chapter on Persons drowned.</p> +<p class="pnext">I cured a Person of this Disease, by conveying +him into a Bath, immediately after bleeding +him, and giving him a Purge on his going into +the Bath.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="326" id="page-326"> </span><span class="target" id="id459">§ 319</span>. If the Pain abates before the Patient +has quite lost his Strength; if the Pulse improves +at the same Time; if the Vomitings are less in +Number, and in the Quantity of the Matter +brought up; if that Matter seems in a less putrid +offensive State; if he feels some Commotion +and Rumbling in his Bowels; if he has some +little Discharge by Stool; and if at the same +Time he feels himself a little stronger than before, +his Cure may reasonably be expected; but +if he is otherwise circumstanced he will soon depart. +It frequently happens, a single Hour before +Death, that the Pain seems to vanish, and a +surprising Quantity of extremely fœtid Matter is +discharged by Stool: the Patient is suddenly seized +with a great Weakness and Sinking, falls into +a cold Sweat, and immediately expires.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id460">§ 320</span>. This is the Disease which the common +People attribute to, and term, the <em class="italics">Twisting +of the Guts</em>; and in which they make the Patients +swallow Bullets, or large Quantities of +Quick-silver. This twisting, tangling, or Knoting +of the Guts is an utter, an impossible Chimera; +for how can they admit of such a Circumstance, +as one of their Extremities, their Ends, +is connected to the Stomach, and the other irremoveably +fastened to the Skin of the Fork or +Cleft of the Buttocks? In Fact this Disease results +from a Variety of Causes, which have been discovered +on a Dissection of those who have died of it. +It were to be wished indeed this prudent Custom, +so extremely conducive to enrich, and to perfect, +<span class="pageno target" title="327" id="page-327"> </span>the Art of Physick, were to prevail more generally; +and which we ought rather to consider as +a Duty to comply with, than a Difficulty to submit +to; as it is our Duty to contribute to the Perfection +of a Science, on which the Happiness of +Mankind so considerably depends. I shall not +enter into a Detail of these Causes; but whatever +they are, the Practice of swallowing Bullets in +the Disease is always pernicious, and the like Use +of Mercury must be often so. Each of these +pretended Remedies may aggravate the Disease, +and contribute an insurmountable Obstacle to the +Cure—Of that Iliac Passion, which is sometimes +a Consequence of Ruptures, I shall treat in another +Place.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-cholera-morbus"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the Cholera-morbus.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id461">§ 321</span>. This Disease is a sudden, abundant, +and painful Evacuation by vomiting and by +Stool.</p> +<p class="pnext">It begins with much Flatulence, or Wind, +with Swelling and slight Pains in the Belly, accompanied +with great Dejection; and followed +with large Evacuations either by Stool or by Vomit +at first, but whenever either of them has +begun, the other quickly follows. The Matter +evacuated is either yellowish, green, brown, +whitish, or black; the Pains in the Belly violent; +the Pulse, almost constantly feverish, is sometimes +strong at first, but soon sinks into Weakness, in +Consequence of the prodigious Discharge. Some +Patients purge a hundred Times in the Compass +<span class="pageno target" title="328" id="page-328"> </span>of a few Hours: they may even be seen to fall +away; and if the Disease exists in a violent Degree, +they are scarcely to be known within three +or four Hours from the Commencement of these +Discharges. After a great Number of them they +are afflicted with Spasms, or Cramps, in their +Legs, Thighs, and Arms, which torment them +as much as the Pains in the Belly. When the +Disease rages too highly to be asswaged, Hiccups, +Convulsions and a Coldness of the Extremities +approach; there is a scarcely intermitting Succession +of fainting, or swooning Fits, the Patient dying +either in one of them, or in Convulsions.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id462">§ 322</span>. This Disease, which constantly depends +on a Bile raised to the highest Acrimony, commonly +prevails towards the End of July and in +August: especially if the Heats have been very +violent, and there have been little or no Summer +Fruits, which greatly conduce to attempt: and +allay the putrescent Acrimony of the Bile.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id463">§ 323</span>. Nevertheless, however violent this Distemper +may be, it is less dangerous, and also less +tormenting than the former, many Persons recovering +from it.</p> +<p class="pnext">1, Our first Endeavour should be to dilute, or +even to drown this acrid Bile, by Draughts, by +Deluges, of the most mitigating Drinks; the irritation +being so very great, that every Thing having +the least Sharpness is injurious. Wherefore +the patient should continually take in, by Drink, +and by Way of Glyster, either Barley-Water, +Almond-Milk, or pure Water, with one eighth +<span class="pageno target" title="329" id="page-329"> </span>Part Milk, which has succeeded very well in my +Practice. Or he may use a very light Decoction, +or Ptisan, as it were, of Bread, which is +made by gently boiling a Pound of toasted Bread, +in three or four Pots of Water for half an Hour. +In <em class="italics">Swisserland</em> we prefer Oat bread. We also +successfully use pounded Rye, making a light +Ptisan of it.</p> +<p class="pnext">A very light thin Soup made of a Pullet, a +Chicken, or of one Pound of lean Veal, in three +Pots of Water, is very proper too in this Disease. +Whey is also employed to good Purpose; and in +those Places, where it can easily be had, Butter-milk +is the best Drink of any. But, whichever +of these Drinks shall be thought preferable, it is +a necessary Point to drink very plentifully of it; +and the Glysters should be given every two +Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, If the Patient is of a robust Constitution, +and sanguine Complexion, with a strong Pulse +at the Time of the Attack, and the Pains are +very severe, a first, and in some Cases, a second +Bleeding, very early in the Invasion, asswages +the Violence of the Malady, and allows more +Leisure for the Assistance of other Remedies. +I have seen the Vomiting cease almost entirely, +after the first Bleeding.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Rage of this Disease abates a little after +a Duration of five or six Hours: we must +not however, during this Remission or Abatement, +forbear to throw in proper Remedies; +since it returns soon after with great Force, +<span class="pageno target" title="330" id="page-330"> </span>which Return however indicates no Alteration of +the Method already entered upon.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, In general the warm Bath refreshes the Patient +while he continues in it; but the Pains frequently +return soon after he is taken out, which, +however, is no Reason for omitting it, since it +has frequently been found to give a more durable +Relief. The Patient should continue in it a +considerable Time, and, during that Time, he +should take six or seven Glasses of the Potion +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id842">Nº. 32</a>, which has been very efficacious in this +Disease. By these Means the Vomiting has been +stopt; and the Patient, upon going out of the +Bath, has had several large Stools, which very +considerably diminished the Violence of the Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, If the Patient's Attendants are terrified by +these great Evacuations, and determine to check +them (however prematurely) by Venice Treacle, +Mint Water, Syrup of white Poppies, called Diacodium, +by Opium or Mithridate, it either happens, +that the Disease and all its Symptoms are +heightened, to which I have been a Witness; or, +if the Evacuations should actually be stopt, the +Patient, in Consequence of it, is thrown into a +more dangerous Condition. I have been obliged +to give a Purge, in order to renew the Discharges, +to a Man, who had been thrown into a violent +Fever, attended with a raging <em class="italics">Delirium</em>, by +a Medicine composed of Venice Treacle, Mithridate +and Oil. Such Medicines ought not to be +employed, until the Smallness of the Pulse, great +<span class="pageno target" title="331" id="page-331"> </span>Weakness, violent and almost continual Cramps, +and even the Insufficience of the Patient's Efforts +to vomit, make us apprehensive of his sinking +irrecoverably. In such Circumstances indeed he +should take, every Quarter or half Quarter of +an Hour, a Spoonful of the Mixture <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id866">Nº. 50</a>, still +continuing the diluting Drinks. After the first +Hour, they should only be given every Hour, +and that only to the Extent of eight Doses. But +I desire to insist upon it here, that this Medicine +should not be given too early in this Distemper.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id464">§ 324</span>. If the Patient is likely to recover, the +Pains and the Evacuations gradually abate; the +Thirst is less; the Pulse continues very quick, but +it becomes regular. There have been Instances +of their Propensity to a heavy kind of Drowsiness +at this Time; for perfect refreshing Sleep +advances but slowly after this Disease. It will +still be proper to persevere in the Medicines already +directed, though somewhat less frequently. +And now we may begin to allow the Patient a +few Soups from farinaceous mealy Substances; +and as soon as the Evacuations accompanying +this Disease are evidently ceased, and the Pains +are vanished; though an acute Sensibility and +great Weakness continues, beside such Soups, he +may be allowed some new-laid Eggs, very lightly +boiled, or even raw, for some Days. After +this he must be referred to the Regimen so frequently +recommended to Persons in a State of +Recovery: when the concurring Use of the +<span class="pageno target" title="332" id="page-332"> </span>Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>, taken twice a Day, will greatly assist +to hasten and to establish his Health.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head364-chapter-xxiii"> +<span id="chap-xxiii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i364a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXIII.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-a-diarrhoea-or-looseness"> +<em class="italics">Of a Diarrhœa, or Looseness.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 325.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="E" src="images/i364b.png"/>very one knows what is meant by a +Looseness or Purging, which the Populace +frequently call a Flux, and sometimes +a Cholic.</p> +<p class="pnext">There are certain very chronical, or tedious +and obstinate ones, which arise from some essential +Fault in the Constitution. Of such, as foreign +to my Plan, I shall say nothing.</p> +<p class="pnext">Those which come on suddenly, without any +preceding Disorder, except sometimes a slight +Qualm or short Loathing, and a Pain in the Loins +and Knees; which are not attended with smart +Pains nor a Fever (and frequently without any +Pain, or any other Complaint) are oftener of Service +than prejudicial. They carry off a Heap of +Matter that may have been long amassed and corrupted +in the Body; which, if not discharged, +might have produced some Distemper; and, far +from weakening the Body, such Purgings as +these render it more strong, light and active.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="333" id="page-333"> </span><span class="target" id="id465">§ 326</span>. Such therefore ought by no Means to +be stopped, nor even speedily checked: they generally +cease of themselves, as soon as all the +noxious Matter is discharged; and as they require +no Medicine, it is only necessary to retrench +considerably from the ordinary Quantity of Nourishment; +to abstain from Flesh, Eggs and Wine +or other strong Drink; to live only on some Soups, +on Pulse, or on a little Fruit, whether raw or +baked, and to drink rather less than usual. A +simple Ptisan with a little Syrup of <em class="italics">Capillaire</em>, or +Maiden-hair, is sufficient in these Purgings, which +require no Venice Treacle, Confection, nor any +Drug whatever.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id466">§ 327</span>. But should it continue more than five +or six Days, and manifestly weaken the Patient; +if the Pain attending it grows a little severe; +and especially if the Irritation, the urging to +Stool, proves more frequent, it becomes seasonable +to check, or to stop, it. For this Purpose +the Patient is to be put into a Regimen; and if +the Looseness has been accompanied with a great +Loathing, with Risings or Wamblings at Stomach, +with a foul furred Tongue, and a bad +Taste in the Mouth, he must take the Powder +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a>. But if these Symptoms do not appear, +give him that of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id867">Nº. 51</a>: and during the three +following Hours, let him take, every half Hour, +a Cup of weak light Broth, without any Fat +on it.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Purging, after being restrained by this +Medicine, should return within a few Days, it +<span class="pageno target" title="334" id="page-334"> </span>would strongly infer, there was still some tough +viscid Matter within, that required Evacuation. +To effect this he should take the Medicines <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id823">Nº. 21</a>, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id829">25</a> or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id831">27</a>; and afterwards take fasting, for +two successive Mornings, half the Powder, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id867">Nº. 51</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the Evening of that Day when the Patient +took <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a>, or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id867">Nº. 51</a>, or any other Purge, he +may take a small Dose of Venice Treacle.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id467">§ 328</span>. A Purging is often neglected for a long +Time, without observing the least Regimen, from +which Neglect they degenerate into tedious and as it +were habitual, perpetual ones, and entirely weaken +the Patient. In such Cases, the Medicine <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a> +should be given first; then, every other Day for +four Times successively, he should take <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id867">Nº. 51</a>: +during all which Time he should live on nothing +but Panada (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id95">§ 57</a>) or on Rice boiled in weak +Chicken-broth. A strengthing stomachic Plaister +has sometimes been successfully applied, which +may be often moistened in a Decoction of Herbs +boiled in Wine. Cold and Moisture should be +carefully avoided in these Cases, which frequently +occasion immediate Relapses, even after the +Looseness had ceased for many Days.</p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<p class="center pnext"><img class="align-middle" style="width: 10em" alt="****" src="images/i366.png"/></p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head367-chapter-xxiv"> +<span id="chap-xxiv"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="335" id="page-335"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i367a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXIV.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-dysentery-or-bloody-flux"> +<em class="italics">Of the Dysentery, or Bloody-flux.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 329.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i367b.png"/>he Dysentery is a Flux or Looseness of +the Belly, attended with great Restlessness +and Anguish, with severe Gripings, +and frequent Propensities to go to Stool. +There is generally a little Blood in the Stools, +though this is not a constant Symptom, and is +not essential to the Existence of a Dysentery; +notwithstanding it may not be much less dangerous, +for the Absence of this Symptom.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id468">§ 330</span>. The Dysentery is often epidemical; +beginning sometimes at the End of July, though +oftner in August, and going off when the Frosts +set in. The great preceding Heats render the +Blood and the Bile acrid or sharp; and though, +during the Continuance of the Heat, Perspiration +is kept up (See Introduct. P. 28) yet as soon as +the Heat abates, especially in the Mornings and +Evenings, that Discharge is diminished; and by +how much the more Viscidity or Thickness the +Humours have acquired, in Consequence of the +violent Heats, the Discharge of the sharp Humour +by Perspiration being now checked, it is thrown +<span class="pageno target" title="336" id="page-336"> </span>upon the Bowels which it irritates, producing +Pains in, and Evacuations from them.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Kind of Dysentery may happen at all +Times, and in all Countries; but if other Causes, +capable of producing a Putridity of the Humours, +be complicated with it; such as the crouding up +a great Number of People into very little Room, +and very close Quarters, as in Hospitals, Camps, +or Prisons, this introduces a malignant Principle +into the Humours, which, co-operating with the +simpler Cause of the Dysentery, renders it the +more difficult and dangerous.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id469">§ 331</span>. This Disease begins with a general +Coldness rather than a Shivering, which lasts +some Hours; the Patient's Strength soon abates, +and he feels sharp Pains in his Belly, which +sometimes continue for several Hours, before the +Flux begins. He is affected with <em class="italics">Vertigos</em>, or +Swimmings in the Head, with Reachings to +vomit, and grows pale; his Pulse at the same +Time being very little, if at all, feverish, but +commonly small, and at length the Purging begins. +The first Stools are often thin, and yellowish; +but in a little Time they are mixt with a +viscid ropy Matter, which is often tinged with +Blood. Their Colour and Consistence are various +too, being either brown, greenish or black, +thinner or thicker, and fœtid: The Pains increase +before each of the Discharges, which grow +very frequent, to the Number of eight, ten, +twelve or fifteen in an Hour: then the Fundament +<span class="pageno target" title="337" id="page-337"> </span>becomes considerably irritated, and the <em class="italics">Tenesmus</em> +(which is a great Urgency to go to Stool, +though without any Effect) is joined to the Dysentery +or Flux, and often brings on a Protrusion +or falling down of the Fundament, the Patient +being now most severely afflicted. Worms +are sometimes voided, and <span class="target" id="glairy">glairy</span> hairy Humours, +resembling Pieces or Peelings of Guts, and sometimes +Clots of Blood.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Distemper rises to a violent Height, the +Guts become inflamed, which terminates either +in Suppuration or in Mortification; the miserable +Patient discharges <em class="italics">Pus</em>, or black and fœtid watery +Stools: the Hiccup supervenes; he grows +delirious; his Pulse sinks; and he falls into cold +Sweats and Faintings which terminate in Death.</p> +<p class="pnext">A kind of Phrenzy, or raging <em class="italics">Delirium</em>, sometimes +comes on before the Minute of Expiration. +I have seen a very unusual Symptom accompany +this Disease in two Persons, which was +an Impossibility of swallowing, for three Days +before Death.</p> +<p class="pnext">But in general this Distemper is not so extremely +violent; the Discharges are less frequent, +being from twenty-five to forty within a Day and +Night. Their Contents are less various and uncommon, +and mixed with very little Blood; the +Patient retains more Strength; the Number of +Stools gradually decrease; the Blood disappears; +the Consistence of the Discharges improves; Sleep +and Appetite return, and the Sick recovers.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="338" id="page-338"> </span>Many of the Sick have not the least Degree of +Fever, nor of Thirst, which perhaps is less common +in this Disease, than in a simple Purging or +Looseness.</p> +<p class="pnext">Their Urine sometimes is but in a small Quantity; +and many Patients have ineffectual Endeavours +to pass it, to their no small Affliction and +Restlessness.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id470">§ 332</span>. The most efficacious Remedy for this +Disease is a Vomit. That of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a>, (when +there is no present Circumstance that forbids the +giving a Vomit) if taken immediately on the first +Invasion of it, often removes it at once; and always +shortens its Duration. That of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a> is +not less effectual; it has been considered for a +long Time, even as a certain Specific, which it +is not, though a very useful Medicine. If the +Stools prove less frequent after the Operation of +either of them, it is a good Sign; if they are no +Ways diminished, we may apprehend the Disease +is like to be tedious and obstinate.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Patient is to be ordered to a Regimen, abstaining +from all Flesh-meat with the strictest +Attention, until the perfect Cure of the Disease. +The Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id797">Nº. 3</a> is the best Drink for him.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Day after the Vomit, he must take the +Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id867">Nº. 51</a> divided into two Doses: the +next Day he should take no other Medicine but +his Ptisan; on the fourth the Rhubarb must be +repeated; after which the Violence of the Disease +commonly abates: His Diet during the Disease +is nevertheless to be continued exactly for +<span class="pageno target" title="339" id="page-339"> </span>some Days; after which he may be allowed to +enter upon that of Persons in a State of Recovery.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id471">§ 333</span>. The Dysentery sometimes commences +with an inflammatory Fever; a feverish, hard, +full Pulse, with a violent Pain in the Head and +Loins, and a stiff distended Belly. In such a +Case the Patient must be bled once; and daily +receive three or even four of the Glysters <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id802">Nº. 6</a>, +drinking plentifully of the Drink <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id797">Nº. 3</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">When all Dread of an Inflammation is entirely +over, the Patient is to be treated in the +Manner just related; though often there is no +Necessity for the Vomit: and if the inflammatory +Symptoms have run high, his first Purge +should be that of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id813">Nº. 11</a>, and the Use of the +Rhubarb may be postponed, till about the manifest +Conclusion of the Disease.</p> +<p class="pnext">I have cured many Dysenteries, by ordering +the Sick no other Remedy, but a Cup of warm +Water every Quarter of an Hour; and it were +better to rely only on this simple Remedy, which +must be of some Utility, than to employ those, +of whose Effects Country People are ignorant, +and which are often productive of very dangerous +ones.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id472">§ 334</span>. It sometimes happens that the Dysentery +is combined with a putrid Fever, which +makes it necessary, after the Vomit, to give the +Purges <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a> or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id861">47</a>, and several Doses of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>, +before the Rhubarb is given. <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id842">Nº. 32</a> is excellent +in this combined Case.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="340" id="page-340"> </span>There was in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em> in the Autumn of +1755, after a very numerous Prevalence of epidemical +putrid Fevers had ceased, a Multitude of +Dysenteries, which had no small Affinity with, +or Relation to, such Fevers. I treated them first, +with the Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a>, giving afterwards +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id842">Nº. 32</a>; and I directed the Rhubarb only to very +few, and that towards the Conclusion of the Disease. +By much the greater Number of them +were cured at the End of four or five Days. A +small Proportion of them, to whom I could not +give the Vomit, or whose Cases were more complicated, +remained languid a considerable Time, +though without Fatality or Danger.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id473">§ 335</span>. When the Dysentery is blended with +Symptoms of Malignity (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id364">§ 245</a>) after premising +the Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">Nº. 35</a>, those of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id852">Nº. 38</a> +and 39 may be called in successfully.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id474">§ 336</span>. When the Disease has already been of +many Days standing, without the Patient's having +taken any Medicines, or only such as were injurious +to him, he must be treated as if the Distemper +had but just commenced; unless some +Symptoms, foreign to the Nature of the Dysentery, +had supervened upon it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id475">§ 337</span>. Relapses sometimes occur in Dysenteries, +some few Days after the Patients appeared +well; much the greater Number of which are +occasioned either by some Error in Diet, by cold +Air, or by being considerably over-heated. They +are to be prevented by avoiding these Causes of +them; and may be removed by putting the +<span class="pageno target" title="341" id="page-341"> </span>Patient on his Regimen, and giving him one Dose +of the Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id867">Nº. 51</a>. Should it return +even without any such discoverable Causes, and if +it manifests itself to be the same Distemper renewed, +it must be treated as such.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id476">§ 338</span>. This Disease is sometimes combined +too with an intermitting Fever; in which Case the +Dysentery must be removed first, and the intermittent +afterwards. Nevertheless if the Access, +the Fits of the Fever have been very strong, the +Bark must be given as directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id383">§ 259</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id477">§ 339</span>. One pernicious Prejudice, which still +generally prevails is, that Fruits are noxious in +a Dysentery, that they even give it, and aggravate +it; and this perhaps is an extremely ill-grounded +one. In truth bad Fruits, and such as have +not ripened well, in unseasonable Years, may +really occasion Cholics, a Looseness (though +oftner a Costiveness) and Disorders of the Nerves, +and of the Skin; but never can occasion an epidemical +Dysentery or Flux. Ripe Fruits, of whatever +Species, and especially Summer Fruits, are +the real Preservatives from this Disease. The +greatest Mischief they can effect, must result from +their thinning and washing down the Humours, +especially the thick glutinous Bile, if +they are in such a State; good ripe Fruits being +the true Dissolvents of such; by which indeed +they may bring on a Purging, but such a one, as +is rather a Guard against a Dysentery.</p> +<p class="pnext">We had a great, an extraordinary Abundance +of Fruit in 1759 and 1760, but scarcely any +<span class="pageno target" title="342" id="page-342"> </span>Dysenteries. It has been even observed to be +more rare, and less dangerous than formerly; +and if the Fact is certain, it cannot be attributed +to any thing more probably, than to the very numerous +Plantations of Trees, which have rendered +Fruit very plenty, cheap and common. +Whenever I have observed Dysenteries to prevail, +I made it a Rule to eat less Flesh, and Plenty of +Fruit; I have never had the slightest Attack of +one; and several Physicians use the same Caution +with the same Success.</p> +<p class="pnext">I have seen eleven Patients in a Dysentery in +one House, of whom nine were very tractable; +they eat Fruit and recovered. The Grandmother +and one Child, whom she loved more than +the rest, were carried off. She managed the +Child after her own Fashion, with burnt Wine, +Oil, and some Spices, but no Fruit. She conducted +herself in the very same Manner, and both +died.</p> +<p class="pnext">In a Country Seat near <em class="italics">Berne</em>, in the Year +1751, when these Fluxes made great Havock, +and People were severely warned against the Use +of Fruits, out of eleven Persons in the Family, +ten eat plentifully of Prunes, and not one of them +was seized with it: The poor Coachman alone +rigidly observed that Abstinence from Fruit injoined +by this Prejudice, and took a terrible Dysentery.</p> +<p class="pnext">This same Distemper had nearly destroyed a +Swiss Regiment in Garrison in the South of +<em class="italics">France</em>; the Captains purchased the whole Crop of +<span class="pageno target" title="343" id="page-343"> </span>several Acres of Vineyard; there they carried the +sick Soldiers, and gathered the Grapes for such as +could not bear being carried into the Vineyard; +those who were well eating nothing else: after +this not one more died, nor were any more even +attacked with the Dysentery.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Clergyman was seized with a Dysentery, +which was not in the least mitigated by any Medicines +he had taken. By meer Chance he saw +some red Currans; he longed for them, and eat +three Pounds of them between seven and nine +o'Clock in the Morning; that very Day he became +better, and was entirely well on the next.</p> +<p class="pnext">I could greatly enlarge the Number of such +Instances; but these may suffice to convince the +most incredulous, whom I thought it might be +of some Importance to convince. Far from forbidding +good Fruit, when Dysenteries rage, the +Patients should be encouraged to eat them freely; +and the Directors of the Police, instead of prohibiting +them, ought to see the Markets well +provided with them. It is a Fact of which Persons, +who have carefully informed themselves, do +not in the least doubt. Experience demonstrates +it, and it is founded in Reason, as good Fruit +counter-operates all the Causes of Dysenteries. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id479" id="id478"><sup>77</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="344" id="page-344"> </span><span class="target" id="id480">§ 340</span>. It is important and even necessary, that +each Subject of this Disease should have a Close-stool +or Convenience apart to himself, as the +Matter discharged is extremely infectious: and if +they make Use of Bed-pans, they should be carried +immediately out of the Chamber, the Air of +which should be continually renewed, burning +Vinegar frequently in it.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is also very necessary to change the Patient's +Linen frequently; without all which Precautions +the Distemper becomes more violent, +and attacks others who live in the same House. +Hence it is greatly to be wished the People in general +were convinced of these Truths.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was <span class="small-caps">Boerhaave's</span> Opinion, that all the +Water which was drank, while Dysenteries were +epidemical, should be <em class="italics">stummed</em>, as we term it, +or sulphurized. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id482" id="id481"><sup>78</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="345" id="page-345"> </span><span class="target" id="id483">§ 341</span>. It has happened, by some unaccountable +Fatality, that there is no Disease, for which +a greater Number of Remedies are advised, than +for the Dysentery. There is scarcely any Person +but what boasts of his own Prescription, in Preference +to all the rest, and who does not boldly +engage to cure, and that within a few Hours, a +tedious severe Disease, of which he has formed +no just Notion, with some Medicine or Composition, +of whose Operation he is totally ignorant: +while the poor Sufferer, restless and impatient, +swallows every Body's Recommendation, and +gets poisoned either through Fear, downright +Disgust or Weariness, or through entire Complaisance. +Of these many boasted Compositions, +some are only indifferent, but others pernicious. +I shall not pretend to detail all I know myself, +but after repeatedly affirming, that the only true +Method of Cure is that I have advised here, the +Purpose of which is evacuating the offending Matter; +I also affirm that all those Methods, which +have a different Scope or Drift, are pernicious; +but shall particularly observe, that the Method +most generally followed, which is that of stopping +the Stools by Astringents, or by Opiates, +is the worst of all, and even so mortal a one, as +to destroy a Multitude of People annually, and +<span class="pageno target" title="346" id="page-346"> </span>which throws others into incurable Diseases. By +preventing the Discharge of these Stools, and inclosing +the Wolf in the Fold, it either follows, 1, +that this <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id485" id="id484"><sup>79</sup></a> retained Matter irritates and inflames +the Bowels from which Inflammation excruciating +Pains arise, an acute inflammatory Cholic, +and finally a Mortification and Death; or a <em class="italics">Schirrhus</em>, +which degenerates into a <em class="italics">Cancer</em>, (of which +I have seen a dreadful Instance) or else an Abscess, +Suppuration and Ulcer. Or 2, this arrested Humour +is repelled elsewhere, producing a <em class="italics">Scirrhus</em> +in the Liver, or Asthmas, Apoplexy, Epilepsy, +or Falling Sickness; horrible rheumatic Pains, or +incurable Disorders of the Eyes, or of the Teguments, +the Skin and Surface.</p> +<p class="pnext">Such are the Consequences of all the astringent +Medicines, and of those which are given to procure +Sleep in this Disease, as Venice Treacle, +Mithridate and Diascordium, when given <span class="target" id="too">too</span> +early in Dysenteries.</p> +<p class="pnext">I have been consulted on Account of a terrible +Rheumatism, which ensued immediately after +taking a Mixture of Venice Treacle and Plantain, +on the second Day of a Dysentery.</p> +<p class="pnext">As those who advise such Medicines, are certainly +unaware of their Consequences, I hope +<span class="pageno target" title="347" id="page-347"> </span>this Account of them will be sufficient, to prevent +their Repetition.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id486">§ 342</span>. Neither are Purges without their Abuse +and Danger; they determine the Course of all +the Humours more violently to the tender afflicted +Parts; the Body becomes exhausted; the Digestions +fail; the Bowels are weakened, and +sometimes even lightly ulcerated, whence incurable +<em class="italics">Diarrhœas</em> or Purgings ensue, and prove +fatal after many Years Affliction.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id487">§ 343</span>. If the Evacuations prove excessive, and +the Distemper tedious, the Patient is likely to +fall into a Dropsy; but if this is immediately +opposed, it may be removed by a regular and +drying Diet, by Strengthners, by Friction and +proper Exercise.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head379-chapter-xxv"> +<span id="chap-xxv"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i379a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXV.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-the-itch"> +<em class="italics">Of the Itch.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 344.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i379b.png"/>he Itch is an infectious Disorder contracted +by touching infected Persons or +Cloaths, but not imbibed from the Air: +So that by carefully avoiding the <em class="italics">Medium</em>, +or Means of Contagion, the Disorder may +be certainly escaped.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="348" id="page-348"> </span>Though any Part of the Body may be infested +with the Itch, it commonly shews itself on the +Hands, and chiefly between the Fingers. At +first one or two little Pimples or Pustules appear, +filled with a kind of clear Water, and excite a +very disagreeable Itching. If these Pustules are +broke by scratching them, the Water oozing +from them infects the neighbouring Parts. At +the Beginning of this Infection it can scarcely be +distinguished, if a Person is not well apprized of +its Nature; but in the Progress of it, the little +Pustules increase both in Number and Size; and +when they are opened by scratching, a loathsome +kind of Scab is formed, and the Malady +extends over the whole Surface. Where they +continue long, they produce small Ulcers, and +are at that Time highly contagious.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id488">§ 345</span>. Bad Diet, particularly the Use of Salt +Meat, bad unripe Fruit, and Uncleanliness occasion +this Disease; though it is oftnest taken by +Contagion. Some very good Physicians suppose +it is never contracted otherwise; but I must take +Leave to dissent, as I have certainly seen it exist +without Contagion.</p> +<p class="pnext">When it happens to a Person, who cannot suspect +he has received it by Contact, his Cure should +commence with a total Abstinence from all Salt, +sour, fat and spicy Food. He should drink a +Ptisan of wild and bitter Succory, or that of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id830">Nº. 26</a>, +five or six Glasses of which may be daily +taken; at the End of four or five Days, he may +be purged with <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id823">Nº. 21</a>, or with an Ounce of +<span class="pageno target" title="349" id="page-349"> </span><em class="italics">Sedlitz</em> [or <em class="italics">Epsom</em>] Salt. His Abstinence, his +Regimen is to be continued; the Purge to be repeated +after six or seven Days; and then all the +Parts affected, and those very near them, are to be +rubbed in the Morning fasting, with a fourth +Part of the Ointment <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id868">Nº. 52</a>. The three following +Days the same Friction is to be repeated, +after which the same Quantity of Ointment is to +be procured, and used in the same Proportion; +but only every other Day. It happens but seldom +that this Method fails to remove this disagreeable +Malady; sometimes however it will return, in +which Case, the Patient must be purged again, +and then recur to the Ointment, whose good +Effects I have experienced, and continually do.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Disease has been very lately contracted, +and most certainly by Contact, the Ointment +may be fearlessly employed, as soon as it is discovered, +without taking any Purge before it. But +if, on the contrary, the Disease has been long +neglected, and has rose to a high Degree, it will +be necessary to restrain the Patient a long Time +to the Regimen I have directed; he must be repeatedly +purged, and then drink plentifully of the +Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id830">Nº. 26</a>, before the Ointment is rubbed in. +When the Malady is thus circumstanced, I have +always begun with the Ointment <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id832">Nº. 28</a>, half a +Quarter of which is to be used every Morning. +I have also frequently omitted the Use of that +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id868">Nº. 52</a>, having always found the former as certain, +but a little slower in its Effects.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id489">§ 346</span>. While these Medicines are employed, +<span class="pageno target" title="350" id="page-350"> </span>the Patient must avoid all Cold and Wet, especially +if he makes Use of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id832">Nº. 28</a>, <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id491" id="id490"><sup>80</sup></a> in which +there is Quick-silver; which, if such Precautions +were neglected, might bring on a Swelling of the +Throat and Gums, and even rise to a Salivation. +Yet this Ointment has one Advantage in its having +no Smell, and being susceptible of an agreeable +one; while it is very difficult to disguise the +disagreeable Odour of the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Linen of a Person in this Disease ought to +be often changed; but his upper Cloaths must not +be changed: because these having been infected, +might, when worn again, communicate the Itch +to the Wearer again, after he had been cured.</p> +<p class="pnext">Shirts, Breeches and Stockings may be fumigated +with Sulphur, before they are put on; and +this Fumigation should be made in the open Air.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="351" id="page-351"> </span><span class="target" id="id492">§ 347</span>. If this Disorder becomes very inveterate +and tedious, it exhausts the Patient, in Consequence +of its not suffering him to sleep at +Nights, as well as by his restless Irritation; and +sometimes even brings on a Fever, so that he falls +away in Flesh, and his Strength abates.</p> +<p class="pnext">In such a Case he must take, 1, a gentle Purge.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, Make Use frequently of warm Baths.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, He must be put on the Regimen of Persons +in a State of Recovery.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, He must take Morning and Evening, fifteen +Days successively, the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id869">Nº. 53</a>, with the +Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id830">Nº. 26</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Malady is often very obstinate, and then +the Medicines must be varied according to the +Circumstances, the Detail of which I avoid here.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id493">§ 348</span>. After giving repeated Purges in such +obstinate Cases, mineral Waters abounding with +Sulphur, such as <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id495" id="id494"><sup>81</sup></a> those of <em class="italics">Yverdun</em>, &c. often +effect a Cure; and simple cold Bathings in Rivers +or Lakes have sometimes succeeded in very +inveterate Cases of this Disorder.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nothing conduces more to the long Continuance +of this Malady, than the Abuse of hot +Waters, <span class="target" id="such-as-infusions-of-tea-c">such as infusions of Tea, &c.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id496">§ 349</span>. I shall conclude this Chapter, with a +repeated Injunction not to be too free or rash in the +Use of the Ointment <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id868">Nº. 52</a>, and other outward +Remedies for extinguishing the Itch. There is +hardly any Complaint, but what has been found +<span class="pageno target" title="352" id="page-352"> </span>to be the Consequence of too sudden a Removal +of this Disorder by outward Applications, +before due Evacuations have been made, and a +moderate Abatement of the Sharpness of the Humours +has been effected.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head384-chapter-xxvi"> +<span id="chap-xxvi"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i384a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXVI.</span></h2> +<div class="level-3 section" id="the-treatment-of-diseases-peculiar-to-women"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">The Treatment of Diseases peculiar to Women.</em></h3> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 350.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="B" src="images/i384b.png"/>esides all the preceding Diseases, to +which Women are liable in common +with Men, their Sex also exposes them +to others peculiar to it, and which depend +upon four principal Sources; which are their +monthly Discharges, their Pregnancy, their Labours +in Child-birth, and the Consequences of +their Labours. It is not my present Design to +treat professedly on each of the Diseases arising +from these Causes, which would require a larger +Volume than I have proposed; but I shall confine +myself to certain general Directions on these +four Heads.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id497">§ 351</span>. Nature, who intended Women for the +Increase, and the Nourishment of the human +Race at the Breast, has subjected them to a periodical +Efflux, or Discharge, of Blood: which +<span class="pageno target" title="353" id="page-353"> </span><span class="target" id="circumstance-constitutes">Circumstance constitutes</span> the Source, from whence the +Infant is afterwards to receive his Nutrition and +Growth.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Discharge generally commences, with us, +between the Age of sixteen and eighteen. Young +Maidens, before the Appearance of this Discharge, +are frequently, and many for a long Time, +in a State of Weakness, attended with various Complaints, +which is termed the <em class="italics">Chlorosis</em>, or Green +Sickness, and Obstructions: and when their Appearance +is extremely slow and backward, it occasions +very grievous, and sometimes even mortal +Diseases. Nevertheless it is too usual, though +very improper, to ascribe all the Evils, to which +they are subject at this Term of Life, solely to +this Cause; while they really often result from a +different Cause, of which the Obstructions themselves +are sometimes only the Effect; and this is +the natural, and, in some Degree, even necessary +Feebleness of the Sex. The Fibres of Women +which are intended to be relaxed, and to +give Way, when they are unavoidably extended +by the Growth of the Child, and its inclosing +Membranes (which frequently arise to a very +considerable Size) should necessarily be less stiff +and rigid, less strong, and more lax and yielding +than the Fibres of Men. Hence the Circulation +of their Blood is more slow and languid than +in Males; their Blood is less compact and dense, +and more watery; their Fluids are more liable to +stagnate in their different Bowels, and to form +Infarctions and Obstructions.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="354" id="page-354"> </span><span class="target" id="id498">§ 352</span>. The Disorders to which such a Constitution +subjects them might, in some Measure, +be prevented, by assisting that Languor or Feebleness +of their natural Movements, by such an Increase +of their Force, as Exercise might contribute +to: But this Assistance, which in some Manner +is more necessary for Females than Males, they +are partly deprived of, by the general Education +and Habitude of the Sex; as they are usually +employed in managing Household Business, and +such light sedentary Work, as afford them less +Exercise and Motion, than the more active Occupations +of Men. They stir about but little, +whence their natural Tendency to Weakness increases +from Habit, and thence becomes morbid +and sickly. Their Blood circulates imperfectly; +its Qualities become impaired; the Humours tend +to a pretty general Stagnation; and none of the +vital Functions are completely discharged.</p> +<p class="pnext">From such Causes and Circumstances they begin +to sink into a State of Weakness, sometimes +while they are very young, and many Years before +this periodical Discharge could be expected. +This State of Languor disposes them to be inactive; +a little Exercise soon fatigues them, whence +they take none at all. It might prove a Remedy, +and even effect a Cure, at the Beginning of their +Complaint; but as it is a Remedy, that is painful +and disagreeable to them, they reject it, and +thus increase their Disorders.</p> +<p class="pnext">Their Appetite declines with the other vital +Functions, and gradually becomes still less; the +<span class="pageno target" title="355" id="page-355"> </span>usual salutary Kinds of Food never exciting it; +instead of which they indulge themselves in whimsical +Cravings, and often of the oddest and most +improper Substances for Nutrition, which entirely +impair the Stomach with its digestive Functions, +and consequently Health itself.</p> +<p class="pnext">But sometimes after the Duration of this State +for a few Years, the ordinary Time of their +monthly Evacuations approaches, which however +make not the least Appearance, for two Reasons. +The first is, that their Health is too much +impaired to accomplish this new Function, at a +Time when all the others are so languid: and +the second is, that under such Circumstances, +the Evacuations themselves are unnecessary; since +their final Purpose is to discharge (when the Sex +are <span class="target" id="not-pregnant">not pregnant</span>) that superfluous Blood, which +they were intended to produce, and whose Retention +would be unhealthy, when not applied +to the Growth of the Fœtus, or Nourishment of +the Child: and this Superfluity of Blood does +not exist in Women, who have been long in a +very low and languishing State.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id499">§ 353</span>. Their Disorder however continues to +increase, as every one daily must, which does +not terminate. This Increase of it is attributed +to the Suppression or Non-appearance of their +monthly Efflux, which is often erroneous; since +the Disorder is not always owing to that Suppression, +which is often the Effect of their Distemperature. +This is so true, that even when the +Efflux happens, if their Weakness still continues, +<span class="pageno target" title="356" id="page-356"> </span>the Patients are far from being the better for it, +but the reverse. Neither is it unusual to see +young Lads, who have received from Nature, +and from their Parents, a sort of feminine Constitution, +Education and Habitude, infested with +much the same Symptoms, as obstructed young +Women.</p> +<p class="pnext">Country Girls, who are generally more accustomed +to such hardy Work and Exercise as +Country Men, are less subject to these Complaints, +than Women who live in Cities.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id500">§ 354</span>. Let People then be careful not to deceive +themselves on this important Account; +since all the Complaints of young Maidens are +not owing to the Want of their Customs. Nevertheless +it is certain there are some of them, who +are really afflicted from this Cause. For Instance, +when a strong young Virgin in full Health, who +is nearly arrived to her full Growth, and who +manifestly abounds with Blood, does not obtain +this Discharge at the usual Time of Life, then indeed +this superfluous Blood is the Fountain of very +many Disorders, and greatly more violent ones +than those, which result from the contrary Causes +already mentioned.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the lazy inactive City Girls are more subject +to the Obstructions, which either arise from +the Weakness and Languor I have formerly taken +Notice of, or which accompany it; Country +Girls are more subject to Complaints from this +latter Cause (too great a Retention of superfluous +Blood) than Women who live in Cities: and it is +<span class="pageno target" title="357" id="page-357"> </span>this last Cause that excites those singular Disorders, +which appear so supernatural to the common +People, that they ascribe them to Sorcery.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id501">§ 355</span>. And even after these periodical Discharges +have appeared, it is known that they +have often been suppressed, without the least unhealthy +Consequence resulting from that Suppression. +They are often suppressed, in the Circumstances +mentioned <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id497">§ 351</a>, by a Continuance of +the Disease, which was first an Obstacle or Retardment +to their Appearance; and in other Cases, +they have been suppressed by other Causes, such +as Cold, Moisture, violent Fear, any very strong +Passion; by too chilly a Course of Diet, with Indigestion; +or too hot and irritating Diet; by +Drinks cooled with Ice, by Exercise too long +continued, and by unusual Watching. The +Symptoms, occasioned by such Suppressions, are +sometimes more violent than those, which preceded +the first Appearance of the Discharge.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id502">§ 356</span>. The great Facility with which this +Evacuation may be suppressed, diminished, or +disordered, by the Causes already assigned; the +terrible Evils which are the Consequences of such +Interruptions and Irregularities of them, seem to +me very cogent Reasons to engage the Sex to use +all possible Care, in every Respect, to preserve +the Regularity of them; by avoiding, during +their Approach and Continuance, every Cause +that may prevent or lessen them. Would they +be thoroughly persuaded, not solely by my Advice, +but by that of their Mothers, their +<span class="pageno target" title="358" id="page-358"> </span>Relations, their Friends, and by their own Experience, +of what great Importance it is to be very +attentive to themselves, at those critical Times, +I think there is not one Woman, who from the +first, to the very last Appearance of them, would +not conduct herself with the most scrupulous Regularity.</p> +<p class="pnext">Their Demeanour, in these Circumstances, +very fundamentally interests their own Health, +as well as that of their Children; and consequently +their own Happiness, as well as that of +their Husbands and Families.</p> +<p class="pnext">The younger and more delicate they are, Caution +becomes the more necessary for them. I am +very sensible a strong Country Girl is too negligent +in regulating herself at those critical Seasons, +and sometimes without any ill Consequence; +but at another Time she may suffer severely for +it: and I could produce a long List of many, who, +by their Imprudence on such Occasions, have +thrown themselves into the most terrible Condition.</p> +<p class="pnext">Besides the Caution with which Females should +avoid these general Causes, just mentioned in the +preceding Section, every Person ought to remember +what has most particularly disagreed with her +during that Term, and for ever constantly to reject +it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id503">§ 357</span>. There are many Women whose Customs +visit them without the slightest Impeachment +of their Health: others are sensibly disordered +on every Return of them; and to others +again they are very tormenting, by the violent +<span class="pageno target" title="359" id="page-359"> </span>Cholics, of a longer or a shorter Duration, which +precede or accompany them. I have known +some of these violent Attacks last but some Minutes, +and others which continued a few Hours. +Nay some indeed have persisted for many Days, +attended with Vomiting, Fainting, with Convulsions +from excessive Pain, with Vomiting of Blood, +Bleedings from the Nose, <em class="italics">&c.</em> which, in short, +have brought them to the very Jaws of Death. +So very dangerous a Situation requires the closest +Attention; though, as it results from several and frequently +very opposite Causes, it is impossible +within the present Plan, to direct the Treatment +that may be proper for each Individual. Some +Women have the Unhappiness to be subject to +these Symptoms every Month, from the first Appearance, +to the final Termination, of these Discharges; +except proper Remedies and Regimen, +and sometimes a happy Child-birth, remove them. +Others complain but now and then, every second, +third, or fourth Month; and there are +some again, who having suffered very severely +during the first Months, or Years, after their +first Eruptions, suffer no more afterwards. A +fourth Number, after having had their Customs for +a long Time, without the least Complaint, find +themselves afflicted with cruel Pains, at every +Return of them; if by Imprudence, or some inevitable +Fatality, they have incurred any Cause, +that has suppressed, diminished, or delayed them. +This Consideration ought to suggest a proper +Caution even to such, as generally undergo these +<span class="pageno target" title="360" id="page-360"> </span>Discharges, without Pain or Complaint: since all +may be assured, that though they suffer no sensible +Disorder at that Time, they are nevertheless +more delicate, more impressible by extraneous +Substances, more easily affected by the +Passions of the Mind, and have also weaker Stomachs +at these particular Periods.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id504">§ 358</span>. These Discharges may also be sometimes +too profuse in Quantity, in which Case the +Patients become obnoxious to very grievous Maladies; +into the Discussion of which however I +shall not enter here, as they are much less frequent +than those, arising from a Suppression of +them. Besides which, in such Cases, Recourse +may be had to the Directions I shall give hereafter, +when I treat of that Loss of Blood, which +may be expedient, during the Course of Gravidation +or Pregnancy. See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id515">§ 365</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id505">§ 359</span>. Finally, even when they are the most +regular, after their Continuance for a pretty certain +Number of Years (rarely exceeding thirty-five) +they go off of their own Accord, and necessarily, +between the Age of forty-five and fifty; +sometimes even sooner, but seldom continuing +longer: and this <em class="italics">Crisis</em> of their ceasing is generally +a very troublesome, and often a very dangerous, +one for the Sex.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id506">§ 360</span>. The Evils mentioned <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id498">§ 352</a> may be +prevented, by avoiding the Causes producing +them; and, 1, by obliging young Maidens to +use considerable Exercise; especially as soon as +<span class="pageno target" title="361" id="page-361"> </span>there is the least Reason to suspect the Approach +of this Disorder, the <em class="italics">Chlorosis</em>, or Green Sickness.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, By watching them carefully, that they eat +nothing unwholesome or improper; as there are +scarcely any natural Substances, even among such +as are most improper for them, and the most distasteful, +which have not sometimes been the Objects +of their sickly, their unaccountable Cravings. +Fat Aliments, Pastry, farinaceous or mealy, and +sour and watery Foods are pernicious to them. +Herb-Teas, which are frequently directed as a +Medicine for them, are sufficient to throw them +into the Disorder, by increasing that Relaxation +of their Fibres, which is a principal Cause of it. +If they must drink any such Infusions, as medicated +Drinks, let them be taken cold: but the +best Drink for them is Water, in which red hot +Iron has been extinguished.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, They must avoid hot sharp Medicines, and +such as are solely intended to force down their +Terms, which are frequently attended with very +pernicious Consequences, and never do any good: +and they are still the more hurtful, as the Patient +is the younger.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, If the Malady increases, it will be necessary +to give them some Remedies; but these should +not be Purges, nor consist of Diluters, and Decoctions +of Herbs, of Salts, and a Heap of other +useless and noxious Ingredients; but they should +take Filings of Iron, which is the most certain +Remedy in such Cases. These Filings Should be +<span class="pageno target" title="362" id="page-362"> </span>of true simple Iron, and not from Steel; and Care +should be taken that it be not rusty, in which +State it has very little Effect.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the Beginning of this Distemper, and to +young Girls, it is sufficient to give twenty Grains +daily, enjoining due Exercise and a suitable Diet. +When it prevails in a severer Degree, and the +Patient is not so young, a Quarter of an Ounce +may be safely ventured on: Certain Bitters or +Aromatics may be advantageously joined to the +Filings, which are numbered in the Appendix, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id872">54</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id875">55</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id878">56</a>, and constitute the most effectual +Remedies in this Distemper, to be taken in the +Form of Powder, of vinous Infusion, or of Electary. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id508" id="id507"><sup>82</sup></a> +When there is a just Indication to bring +down the Discharge, the vinous Infusion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id875">Nº. 55</a> +must be given, and generally succeeds: but I +must again repeat it (as it should carefully be +considered) that the Stoppage or Obstruction of +this Discharge is frequently the Effect, not the +Cause, of this Disease; and that there should be +no Attempt to force it down, which in such a +Case, may sometimes prove more hurtful than +beneficial; since it would naturally return of its +own Accord, on the Recovery, and with the +Strength, of the Patient: as their Return should +follow that of perfect Health, and neither can +precede Health, nor introduce it. There are +<span class="pageno target" title="363" id="page-363"> </span>some Cases particularly, in which it would be +highly dangerous to use hot and active Medicines, +such Cases for Instance, as are attended with some +Degree of Fever, a frequent Coughing, a Hæmorrhage, +or Bleeding, with great Leanness and considerable +Thirst: all which Complaints should +be removed, before any hot Medicines are given +to force this Evacuation, which many very ignorantly +imagine cures all other female Disorders; an +Error, that has prematurely occasioned the Loss +of many Womens' Lives.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id509">§ 361</span>. While the Patient is under a Course +of these Medicines, she should not take any of +those I have forbidden in the preceding Sections; +and the Efficacy of these should also be furthered +with proper Exercise. That in a Carriage is very +healthy; Dancing is so too, provided it be not +extended to an Excess. In Case of a Relapse in +these Disorders, the Patient is to be treated, as if +it were an original Attack.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id510">§ 362</span>. The other Sort of Obstructions described +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id500">§ 354</a> requires a very different Treatment. +Bleeding, which is hurtful in the former Sort, +and the Use, or rather Abuse, of which has +thrown several young Women into irrecoverable +Weaknesses, has often removed this latter Species, +as it were, in a Moment. Bathing of the +Feet, the Powders <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id822">Nº. 20</a>, and Whey have frequently +succeeded: but at other Times it is necessary +to accommodate the Remedies and the +Method to each particular Case, and to judge of it +<span class="pageno target" title="364" id="page-364"> </span>from its own peculiar Circumstances and Appearances.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id511">§ 363</span>. When these Evacuations naturally +cease through Age (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id505">§ 359</a>) if they stop +suddenly and all at once, and had formerly flowed +very largely, Bleeding must, 1, necessarily be +directed, and repeated every six, every four, or +even every three Months.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, The usual Quantity of Food should be +somewhat diminished, especially of Flesh, of +Eggs and of strong Drink.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, Exercise should be increased.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, The Patient should frequently take, in a +Morning fasting, the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>, which is +very beneficial in such Cases; as it moderately +increases the natural Excretions by Stool, Urine +and Perspiration; and thence lessens that Quantity +of Blood, which would otherwise superabound.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nevertheless, should this total Cessation of the +monthly Discharge be preceded by, or attended +with, any extraordinary Loss of Blood, which is +frequently the Case, Bleeding is not so necessary; +but the Regimen and Powder just directed are +very much so; to which the Purge <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a> should +now and then be joined, at moderate Intervals. +The Use of astringent Medicines at this critical +Time might dispose the Patient to a Cancer of the +Womb.</p> +<p class="pnext">Many Women die about this Age, as it is but +too easy a Matter to injure them then; a +<span class="pageno target" title="365" id="page-365"> </span>Circumstance that should make them very cautious +and prudent in the Medicines they recur to. On +the other Hand it also frequently happens, that +their Constitutions alter for the better, after this +critical Time of Life; their Fibres grow stronger; +they find themselves sensibly more hearty and +hardy; many former slight Infirmities disappear, +and they enjoy a healthy and happy old Age. I +have known several who threw away their Spectacles +at the Age of fifty-two, or fifty-three, +which they had used five or six Years before.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Regimen I have just directed, the Powder +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>, and the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id842">Nº. 32</a>, agree very well +in almost all inveterate Discharges (I speak of +the female Peasantry) at whatever Time of Life.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-disorders-attending-gravidation-or-the-term-of-going-with-child"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Disorders attending Gravidation, or the Term of going with Child.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id512">§ 364</span>. Gravidation is generally a less ailing or +unhealthy State in the Country, than in very populous +Towns. Nevertheless Country Women +are subject, as well as Citizens, to Pains of the +Stomach, to vomiting in a Morning, to Head-ach +and Tooth-ach; but these Complaints very +commonly yield to Bleeding, which is almost the +only Remedy necessary <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id514" id="id513"><sup>83</sup></a> for pregnant Women.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="366" id="page-366"> </span><span class="target" id="id515">§ 365</span>. Sometimes after carrying too heavy +Burthens; after too much or too violent Work; +after receiving excessive Jolts, or having had a +Fall, they are subject to violent Pains of the +Loins, which extend down to their Thighs, and +terminate quite at the Bottom of the Belly; and +which commonly import, that they are in Danger +of an Abortion, or Miscarrying.</p> +<p class="pnext">To prevent this Consequence, which is always +dangerous, they should, 1, immediately go to +Bed; and if they have not a Mattrass, they +should lie upon a Bed stuffed with Straw, a +Feather-bed being very improper in such Cases. +They should repose, or keep themselves quite +still in this Situation for several Days, not stirring, +and speaking as little as possible.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, They should directly lose eight or nine +Ounces of Blood from the Arm.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, They should not eat Flesh, Flesh-broth, +nor Eggs; but live solely on Soups made of +farinaceous or mealy Substances.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="367" id="page-367"> </span>4, They should take every two Hours half a +Paper of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id822">Nº. 20</a>; and should drink +nothing but the Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some sanguine robust Women are very liable +to miscarry at a certain Time, or Stage, of their +Pregnancy. This may be obviated by their +bleeding some Days before that Time approaches, +and by their observing the Regimen I have advised. +But this Method would avail very little +for delicate Citizens, who miscarry from a very +different Cause; and whose Abortions are to be +prevented by a very different Treatment.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-delivery-or-child-birth"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Delivery, or Child-birth.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id516">§ 366</span>. It has been observed that a greater +Proportion of Women die in the Country in, or +very speedily after, their Delivery, and that from +the Scarcity of good Assistance, and the great +Plenty of what is bad; and that a greater Proportion +of those in Cities die after their Labours are +effected, by a Continuance of their former bad +Health.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Necessity there is for better instructed, better +qualified Midwives, through a great Part of +<em class="italics">Swisserland</em>, is but too manifest an Unhappiness, +which is attended with the most fatal Consequences, +and which merits the utmost Attention +of the Government.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Errors which are incurred, during actual +Labour, are numberless, and too often indeed +are also irremediable. It would require a whole +<span class="pageno target" title="368" id="page-368"> </span>Book, expressly for that Purpose (and in some +Countries there are such) to give all the Directions +that are necessary, to prevent so many Fatalities: +and it would be as necessary to form a sufficient +Number of well-qualified Midwives to +comprehend, and to observe them; which exceeds +the Plan of the Work I have proposed. I +shall only mark out one of the Causes, and the +most injurious one on this Occasion: This is the +Custom of giving hot irritating Things, whenever +the Labour is very painful, or is slow; such +as Castor, or its Tincture, Saffron, Sage, Rue, +Savin, Oil of Amber, Wine, Venice Treacle, +Wine burnt with Spices, Coffee, Brandy, Aniseed-Water, +Walnut-Water, Fennel-Water, and +other Drams or strong Liquors. All these Things +are so many Poisons in this Respect, which, very +far from promoting the Woman's Delivery, render +it more difficult by inflaming the Womb +(which cannot then so well contract itself) and +the Parts, through which the Birth is to pass, in +Consequence of which they swell, become more +straitened, and cannot yield or be dilated. Sometimes +these stimulating hot Medicines also bring +on Hæmorrhages, which prove mortal in a few +Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id517">§ 367</span>. A considerable Number, both of Mothers +and Infants, might be preserved by the directly +opposite Method. As soon as a Woman +who was in very good Health, just before the Approach +of her Labour, being robust and well +made, finds her Travail come on, and that it is +<span class="pageno target" title="369" id="page-369"> </span>painful and difficult; far from encouraging those +premature Efforts, which are always destructive; +and from furthering them by the pernicious Medicines +I have just enumerated, the Patient should +be bled in the Arm, which will prevent the Swelling +and Inflammation; asswage the Pains; relax +the Parts, and dispose every thing to a favourable +Issue.</p> +<p class="pnext">During actual Labour no other Nourishment +should be allowed, except a little Panada every +three Hours, and as much Toast and Water, as +the Woman chuses.</p> +<p class="pnext">Every fourth Hour a Glyster should be given, +consisting of a Decoction of Mallows and a little +Oil. In the Intervals between these Glysters she +should be set over a kind of Stove, or in a pierced +easy Chair, containing a Vessel in which there is +some hot Water: the Passage should be gently +rubbed with a little Butter; and Stapes wrung +out of a Fomentation of simple hot Water, which +is the most efficacious of any, should be applied +over the Belly.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Midwives, by taking this Method, are +not only certain of doing no Mischief, but they +also allow Nature an Opportunity of doing Good: +as a great many Labours, which seem difficult at +time, terminate happily; and this safe and unprecipitate +Manner of proceeding at least affords Time +to call in further Assistance. Besides, the Consequences +of such Deliveries are healthy and happy; +when by pursuing the heating oppressing Practice, +even though the Delivery be effected, both +<span class="pageno target" title="370" id="page-370"> </span>Mother and Infant have been so cruelly, though +undesignedly, tormented, that both of them frequently +perish.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id518">§ 368</span>. I acknowledge these Means are insufficient, +when the Child is unhappily situated in +the Womb; or when there is an embarrassing +Conformation in the Mother: though at least +they prevent the Case from proving worse, and leave +Time for calling in Men-Midwives, or other female +ones, who may be better qualified.</p> +<p class="pnext">I beg leave again to remind the Midwives, +that they should be very cautious of urging their +Women to make any forced Efforts to forward the +Birth, which are extremely injurious to them, and +which may render a Delivery very dangerous +and embarrassing, that might otherwise have +been happily effected: and I insist the more +freely on the Danger attending these unreasonable +Efforts, and on the very great Importance of +Patience, as the other very pernicious Practice is +become next to universal amongst us.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Weakness, in which the labouring Woman +appears, makes the By-standers fearful that +she will not have Strength enough to be delivered; +which they think abundantly justifies them +in giving her Cordials; but this Way of Reasoning +is very weak and chimerical. Their Strength, +on such Occasions, is not so very speedily +dissipated: the small light Pains sink them, but in +Proportion as the Pains become stronger, their +Strength arises; being never deficient, when there +is no extraordinary and uncommon Symptom; +<span class="pageno target" title="371" id="page-371"> </span>and we may reasonably be assured, that in a +healthy, well formed Woman, meer Weakness +never prevents a Delivery.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-consequences-of-labour-or-childbirth"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the Consequences of Labour, or Childbirth.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id519">§ 369</span>. The most usual Consequences of Childbirth +in the Country are, 1, An excessive Hæmorrhage. +<span class="target" id="an-inflammation">2, An Inflammation</span> of the Womb. +3, A sudden Suppression of the <em class="italics">Lochia</em>, or usual +Discharges after Delivery. And, 4, the Fever +and other Accidents, resulting from the Milk.</p> +<p class="pnext">Excessive Bleedings or Floodings, should be +treated according to the Manner directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id515">§ 365</a>: +and if they are very excessive, Folds of Linen, +which have been wrung out of a Mixture of +equal Parts of Water and Vinegar, should be applied +to the Belly, the Loins, and the Thighs: +these should be changed for fresh moist ones, as +they dry; and should be omitted, as soon as the +Bleeding abates.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id520">§ 370</span>. The Inflammation of the Womb is +discoverable by Pains in all the lower Parts of the +Belly; by a Tension or Tightness of the whole; +by a sensible Increase of Pain upon touching it; a +kind of red Stain or Spot, that mounts to the +Middle of the Belly, as high as the Navel; +which Spot, as the Disease increases, turns black, +and then is always a mortal Symptom; by a very +extraordinary Degree of Weakness; an astonishing +Change of Countenance; a light <em class="italics">Delirium</em> or +Raving; a continual Fever with a weak and hard +<span class="pageno target" title="372" id="page-372"> </span>Pulse; sometimes incessant Vomitings; a frequent +Hiccup; a moderate Discharge of a reddish, +stinking, sharp Water; frequent Urgings to go +to Stool; a burning kind of Heat of Urine; and +sometimes an entire Suppression of it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id521">§ 371</span>. This most dangerous and frequently +mortal Disease should be treated like inflammatory +ones. After Bleeding, frequent Glysters +of warm Water must by no Means be omitted; +some should also be injected into the Womb, and +applied continually over the Belly. The Patient +may also drink continually, either of simple +Barley-Water, with a Quarter of an Ounce of Nitre +in every Pot of it, or of Almond Milk <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">Nº. 4</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id522">§ 372</span>. The total Suppression of the <em class="italics">Lochia</em>, +the Discharges after Labour, which proves a Cause +of the most violent Disorders, should be treated +exactly in the same Manner: but if unhappily +hot Medicines have been given, in order to force +them down, the Case will very generally prove a +most hopeless one.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id523">§ 373</span>. If the Milk-fever run very high, the +Barley Ptisan directed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id521">§ 371</a>, and Glysters, with +a very light Diet, consisting only of Panada, or +made of some other farinaceous Substances, and +very thin, very generally remove it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id524">§ 374</span>. Delicate infirm Women, who have +not all the requisite and necessary Attendance +they want; and such as from Indigence are +obliged to work too soon, are exposed to many +Accidents, which frequently arise from a Want +<span class="pageno target" title="373" id="page-373"> </span>of due Perspiration, and an insufficient Discharge +of the <em class="italics">Lochia</em>; and hence, the Separation of the +Milk in their Breasts being disturbed, there are +milky Congestions, or Knots as it were, which +are always very painful and troublesome, and +especially when they are formed more inwardly. +They often happen on the Thighs, in which +Case the Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id882">Nº. 58</a> is to be drank, and the +Pultices <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id883">Nº. 59</a> must be applied. These two +Remedies gradually dissipate and remove the +Tumour, if that may be effected without Suppuration. +But if that proves impossible, and <em class="italics">Pus</em>, +or Matter, is actually formed, a Surgeon must +open the Abscess, and treat it like any other.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id525">§ 375</span>. Should the Milk coagulate, or curdle +as it were, in the Breast, it is of the utmost Importance +immediately to attenuate or dissolve +that Thickness, which would otherwise degenerate +into a Hardness and prove a <em class="italics">Scirrhus</em>; and +from a <em class="italics">Scirrhus</em> in Process of Time a Cancer, +that most tormenting and cruel Distemper.</p> +<p class="pnext">This horrible Evil however may be prevented +by an Application to these small Tumours, as +soon as ever they appear, For this Purpose nothing +is more effectual than the Prescriptions <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id879">Nº. 57</a> +and <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id884">60</a>; but under such menacing Circumstances, +it is always prudent to take the best Advice, +as early as possible.</p> +<p class="pnext">From the Moment these hard Tumours become +excessively and obstinately so, and yet +without any Pain, we should abstain from every +Application, all are injurious; and greasy, sharp, +<span class="pageno target" title="374" id="page-374"> </span>resinous and spirituous ones speedily change the +<em class="italics">Scirrhus</em> into a Cancer. Whenever it becomes +manifestly such, all Applications are also equally +pernicious, except that of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id884">Nº. 60</a>. Cancers have +long been thought and found incurable; but +within a few Years past some have been cured by +the Remedy <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id879">Nº. 57</a>; which nevertheless is not +infallible, though it should always be tried. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id527" id="id526"><sup>84</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id528">§ 376</span>. The Nipples of Women, who give +Milk, are often fretted or excoriated, which proves +very severely painful to them. One of the best +Applications is the most simple Ointment, being +a Mixture of Oil and Wax melted together; or +the Ointment <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id890">Nº. 66</a>. Should the Complaint +prove very obstinate, the Nurse ought to be +purged, which generally removes it.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head407-chapter-xxvii"> +<span id="chap-xxvii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="375" id="page-375"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i407a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXVII.</span></h2> +<div class="level-3 section" id="medical-directions-concerning-children"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Medical Directions concerning Children.</em></h3> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 377.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i407b.png"/>he Diseases of Children, and every +Thing relating to their Health, are Objects +which generally seem to <span class="target" id="have-been-too">have been +too</span> much neglected by Physicians; +and have been too long confided to the Conduct +of the most improper Persons for such a Charge. +At the same Time it must be admitted their +Health is of no little Importance; their Preservation +is as necessary as the Continuance of the +human Race; and the Application of the Practice +of Physick to their Disorders is susceptible of +nearer Approaches to Perfection, than is generally +conceived. It seems to have even some Advantage +over that Practice which regards grown +Persons; and it consists in this, that the Diseases +of Children are more simple, and less frequently +complicated than those of Adults.</p> +<p class="pnext">It may be said indeed, they cannot make +themselves so well understood, and meer Infants +certainly not at all. This is true in Fact to a +certain Degree, but not rigidly true; for though +they do not speak our Language, they have one +which we should contrive to understand. Nay +<span class="pageno target" title="376" id="page-376"> </span>every Distemper may be said, in some Sense, to +have a Language of its own, which an attentive +Physician will learn. He should therefore use +his utmost Care to understand that of Infants, and +avail himself of it, to increase the Means of rendering +them healthy and vigorous, and to cure +them of the different Distempers to which they +are liable. I do not propose actually to compleat +this Task myself, in all that Extent it may +justly demand; but I shall set forth the principal +Causes of their Distempers, and the general Method +of treating them. By this Means I shall at +least preserve them from some of the Mischiefs +which are too frequently done them; and the +lessening such Evils as Ignorance, or erroneous +Practice, occasions, is one of the most important +Purposes of the present Work.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id529">§ 378</span>. Nearly all the Children who die before +they are one Year, and even two Years, +old, die <em class="italics">with</em> Convulsions: People say they died +<em class="italics">of</em> them, which is partly true, as it is in Effect, +the Convulsions that have destroyed them. But +then these very Convulsions are the Consequences, +the Effects, of other Diseases, which +require the utmost Attention of those, who are +entrusted with the Care and Health of the little +Innocents: as an effectual Opposition to these +Diseases, these morbid Causes, is the only Means +of removing the Convulsions. The four principal +known Causes are, the <em class="italics">Meconium</em>; the Excrements +contained in the Body of the Infant, at +the Birth; <em class="italics">Acidities</em>, or sharp and sour Humours; +<span class="pageno target" title="377" id="page-377"> </span>the Cutting of the Teeth, and Worms. I shall +treat briefly of each.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-meconium"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the Meconium.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst">§379. The Stomach and Guts of the Infant, +at its Entrance into the World, are filled with a +black Sort of Matter, of a middling Consistence, +and very viscid or glutinous, which is called the +<em class="italics">Meconium</em>. It is necessary this Matter should be +discharged before the Infant sucks, since it would +otherwise corrupt the Milk, and, becoming extremely +sharp itself, there would result from their +Mixture a double Source of Evils, to the Destruction +of the Infant.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Evacuation of this Excrement is procured, +1, By giving them no Milk at all for the first +twenty-four Hours of their Lives. 2, By making +them drink during that Time some Water, to +which a little Sugar or Honey must be added, +which will dilute this <em class="italics">Meconium</em>, and promote +the Discharge of it by Stool, and sometimes by +vomiting.</p> +<p class="pnext">To be the more certain of expelling all this +Matter, they should take one Ounce of Compound +Syrup <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id531" id="id530"><sup>85</sup></a> of Succory, which should be +<span class="pageno target" title="378" id="page-378"> </span>diluted with a little Water, drinking up this Quantity +within the Space of four or five Hours. +This Practice is a very beneficial one, and it is +to be wished it were to become general. This +Syrup is greatly preferable to all others, given in +such Cases, and especially to Oil of Almonds.</p> +<p class="pnext">Should the great Weakness of the Child seem +to call for some Nourishment, there would be +no Inconvenience in allowing a little Biscuit well +boiled in Water, which is pretty commonly +done, or a little very thin light Panada.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-acidities-or-sharp-humours"> +<span id="ib379"/><h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="379" id="page-379"> </span><em class="italics">Of Acidities, or sharp Humours.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id532">§ 380</span>. Notwithstanding the Bodies of Children +have been properly emptied speedily after +their Birth, yet the Milk very often turns sour +in their Stomachs, producing Vomitings, violent +Cholics, Convulsions, a Looseness, and even terminating +in Death. There are but two Purposes +to be pursued in such Cases, which are to carry +off the sour or sharp Humours, and to prevent +the Generation of more. The first of these Intentions +is best effected by the Syrup of Succory <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id534" id="id533"><sup>86</sup></a> +just mentioned.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Generation of further Acidities is prevented, +by giving three Doses daily, if the Symptoms +are violent, and but two, or even one only, if +they are very moderate, of the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id885">Nº. 61</a>, +drinking after it Bawm Tea, or a Tea of Lime-tree +Leaves.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id535">§ 381</span>. It has been a Custom to load Children +with Oil of Almonds, <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id537" id="id536"><sup>87</sup></a> as soon as ever they are infested +with Gripes: but it is a pernicious Custom, +and attended with very dangerous Consequences. +It it very true that this Oil sometimes immediately +allays the Gripes, by involving, or sheathing +up, as it were, the acid Humours, and somewhat +blunting the Sensibility of the Nerves. But +it proves only a palliative Remedy, or asswaging +for a Time, which, far from removing, increases +<span class="pageno target" title="380" id="page-380"> </span>the Cause, since it becomes sharp and rancid itself; +whence the Disorder speedily returns, and +the more Oil the Infant takes, it is griped the +more. I have cured some Children of such Disorders, +without any other Remedy, except abstaining +from Oil, which weakens their Stomachs, +whence their Milk is less perfectly, and more +slowly digested, and becomes more easily soured. +Besides this Weakness of the Stomach, which +thus commences at that very early Age, has +sometimes an unhealthy Influence on the Constitution +of the Child, throughout the Remainder +of his Life.</p> +<p class="pnext">A free and open Belly is beneficial to Children; +now it is certain that the Oil very often binds +them, in Consequence of its diminishing the +Force and Action of the Bowels. There is +scarcely any Person, who cannot observe this +Inconvenience attending it; notwithstanding they +all continue to advise and to give it, to obtain a +very different Purpose: But such is the Power +of Prejudice in this Case, and in so many others; +People are so strongly pre-possessed with a Notion, +that such a Medicine must produce such an Effect; +that its never having produced it avails nothing +with them, their Prejudice still prevails; +they ascribe its Want of Efficacy to the Smallness +of the Doses; these are doubled then, and notwithstanding +its bad Effects are augmented, their +obstinate Blindness continues.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Abuse of the Oil also disposes their Child +to knotty hard Tumours, and at length often +<span class="pageno target" title="381" id="page-381"> </span>proves the first Cause of some Diseases of the +Skin, whose Cure is extremely difficult.</p> +<p class="pnext">Hence it is evident, this Oil should be used on +such Occasions but very seldom; and that it is +always very injudicious to give it in Cholics, +which arise from sharp and sour Humours in the +Stomach, or in the Bowels.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id538">§ 382</span>. Infants are commonly most subject to +such Cholics during their earliest Months; after +which they abate, in Proportion as their Stomachs +grow stronger. They may be relieved in +the Fit by Glysters of a Decoction of Chamomile +Flowers, in which a Bit of Soap of the Size of a +Hazel Nut is dissolved. A Piece of Flanel wrung +out of a Decoction of Chamomile Flowers, with +the Addition of some Venice Treacle, and applied +hot over the Stomach and on the Belly, is also +very beneficial, and relieving.</p> +<p class="pnext">Children cannot always take Glysters, the Continuance +of which Circumstance might be dangerous +to them; and every one is acquainted with +the common Method of substituting Suppositories +to them, whether they are formed of the smooth +and supple Stalks of Vines, <em class="italics">&c.</em> of Soap, or of +Honey boiled up to a proper Consistence.</p> +<p class="pnext">But one of the most certain Means to prevent +these Cholics, which are owing to Children's +not digesting their Milk, is to move and exercise +them as much as possible; having a due Regard +however to their tender Time of Life.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id539">§ 383</span>. Before I proceed to the third Cause +of the Diseases of Children, which is, the +<span class="pageno target" title="382" id="page-382"> </span>Cutting of their Teeth, I must take Notice of +the first Cares their Birth immediately requires, +that is the Washing of them the first Time, +meerly to cleanse, and afterwards, to strengthen +them.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-washing-children"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of washing Children.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id540">§ 384</span>. The whole Body of an Infant just born +is covered with a gross Humour, which is occasioned +by the Fluids, in which it was suspended +in the Womb. There is a Necessity to cleanse +it directly from this, for which nothing is so proper +as a Mixture of one third Wine, and two +thirds Water; Wine alone would be dangerous. +This Washing may be repeated some Days successively; +but it is a bad Custom to continue to +wash them thus warm, the Danger of which is +augmented by adding some Butter to the Wine +and Water, which is done too often. If this +gross Humour, that covers the Child, seems +more thick and glutinous than ordinary, a Decoction +of Chamomile Flowers, with a little Bit of +Soap, may be used to remove it. The Regularity +of Perspiration is the great Foundation of +Health; to procure this Regularity the Teguments, +the Skin, must be strengthened; but warm +Washing tends to weaken it. When it is of a proper +Strength it always performs its Functions; +nor is Perspiration disordered sensibly by the Alteration +of the Weather. For this Reason nothing +should be omitted, that may fix it in this State; +and to attain so important an Advantage, Children +<span class="pageno target" title="383" id="page-383"> </span>should be washed, some few Days after +their Birth, with cold Water, in the State it +is brought from the Spring.</p> +<p class="pnext">For this Purpose a Spunge is employed, with +which they begin, by washing first the Face, the +Ears, <span class="target" id="the-back-part-of-the-head">the back Part of the Head</span> (carefully +avoiding the <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id542" id="id541"><sup>88</sup></a> <em class="italics">Fontanelle</em>, or Mould of the Head) +the Neck, the Loins, the Trunck of the Body, +the Thighs, Legs and Arms, and in short every +Spot. This Method which has obtained for so +many Ages, and which is practised at present by +many People, who prove very healthy, will appear +shocking to several Mothers; they would be +afraid of killing their Children by it; and would +particularly fail of Courage enough to endure +the Cries, which Children often make, the first +Time they are washed. Yet if their Mothers +truly love them, they cannot give a more substantial +Mark of their Tenderness to them, than +by subduing their Fears and their Repugnance, +on this important Head.</p> +<p class="pnext">Weakly Infants <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id544" id="id543"><sup>89</sup></a> are those who have the greatest +Need of being washed: such as are remarkably +strong may be excused from it; and it seems +scarcely credible (before a Person has frequently +<span class="pageno target" title="384" id="page-384"> </span>seen the Consequences of it) how greatly this Method +conduces to give, and to hasten on, their +Strength. I have had the Pleasure to observe, +since I first endeavoured to introduce the Custom +among us, that several of the most affectionate +and most sensible Mothers, have used it with the +greatest Success. The Midwives, who have been +Witnesses of it; the Nurses and the Servants of +the Children, whom they have washed, publish +it abroad; and should the Custom become as +general, as every thing seems to promise it will, I +am fully persuaded, that by preserving the Lives +of a great Number of Children, it will certainly +contribute to check the Progress of Depopulation.</p> +<p class="pnext">They should be washed very regularly every +Day, in every Season, and every Sort of Weather; +and in the fine warm Season they should be +plunged into a large Pail of Water, into the Basins +around Fountains, in a Brook, a River, or a +Lake.</p> +<p class="pnext">After a few Days crying, they grow so well +accustomed to this Exercise, that it becomes one +of their Pleasures; so that they laugh all the Time +of their going through it.</p> +<p class="pnext">The first Benefit of this Practice is, as I have +already said, the keeping up their Perspiration, +and rendering them less obnoxious to the Impressions +of the Air and Weather: and it is also in +Consequence of this first Benefit, that they are +preserved from a great Number of Maladies, +especially from knotty Tumours, often called +<span class="pageno target" title="385" id="page-385"> </span>Kernels; from Obstructions; from Diseases of +the Skin, and from Convulsions, its general Consequence +being to insure them firm, and even robust +Health.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id545">§ 385</span>. But Care should be taken not to prevent, +or, as it were to undo, the Benefit this +Washing procures them, by the bad Custom of +keeping them too hot. There is not a more +pernicious one than this, nor one that destroys +more Children. They should be accustomed 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 should +avoid sleeping in Chambers that are too hot, and +should live in the open Air, both in Summer and +Winter, as much as possible. Children who +have been kept too hot in such Respects, are very +often liable to Colds; they are weakly, pale, +languishing, bloated and melancholy. They +are subject to hard knotty Swellings, a Consumption, +all Sorts of languid Disorders, and either die +in their Infancy, or only grow up into a miserable +valetudinary Life; while those who are +washed or plunged into cold Water, and habitually +exposed to the open Air, are just in the opposite +Circumstances.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id546">§ 386</span>. I must further add here, that Infancy +is not the only Stage of Life, in which cold +Bathing is advantagious. I have advised it with +remarkable Success to Persons of every Age, +even to that of seventy: and there are two Kinds +<span class="pageno target" title="386" id="page-386"> </span>of Diseases, more frequent indeed in Cities than +in the Country, in which cold Baths succeed very +greatly; that is, in Debility, or Weakness of +the Nerves; and when Perspiration is disordered, +when Persons are fearful of every Breath of Air, +liable to Defluxions or Colds, feeble and languishing, +the cold Bath re-establishes Perspiration; +restores Strength to the Nerves; and by +that Means dispels all the Disorders, which arise +from these two Causes, in the animal Oeconomy. +They should be used before Dinner. But in the +same Proportion that cold Bathing is beneficial, +the habitual Use, or rather Abuse, of warm Bathing +is pernicious; they dispose the Persons addicted +to them to the Apoplexy; to the Dropsy; +to Vapours, and to the hypochondriacal Disease: +and Cities, in which they are too frequently used, +become, in some Measure, desolate from such +Distempers.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-cutting-of-the-teeth"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the Cutting of the Teeth.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id547">§ 387</span>. Cutting of the Teeth is often very tormenting +to Children, some dying under the severe +Symptoms attending it. If it proves very painful, +we should during that Period, 1, Keep +their Bellies open by Glysters consisting only of +a simple Decoction of Mallows: but Glysters are +not necessary, if the Child, as it sometimes happens +then, has a Purging.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, Their ordinary Quantity of Food should be +lessened for two Reasons; first, because the +<span class="pageno target" title="387" id="page-387"> </span>Stomach is then weaker than usual; and next, because +a small Fever sometimes accompanies the +Cutting.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, Their usual Quantity of Drink should be +increased a little; the best for them certainly is +an Infusion of the Leaves or Flowers, of the +Lime or Linden-tree, to which a little Milk may +be added.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, Their Gums should frequently be rubbed +with a Mixture of equal Parts of Honey, and +Mucilage of Quince-seeds; and a Root of March-Mallows, +or of Liquorice, may be given them to +chew.</p> +<p class="pnext">It frequently happens, that during Dentition, +or the Time of their toothing, Children prove +subject to Knots or Kernels.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-worms"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Worms.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id548">§ 388</span>. The <em class="italics">Meconium</em>, the Acidity of the +Milk, and Cutting of the Teeth are the three +great Causes of the Diseases of Children. There +is also a fourth, Worms, which is likewise very +often pernicious to them; but which, nevertheless, +is not, at least not near so much, a general +Cause of their Disorders, as it is generally supposed, +when a Child exceeding two Years of Age +proves sick. There are a great Variety of Symptoms, +which dispose People to think a Child has +Worms; though there is but one that demonstrates +it, which is discharging them upwards or +downwards. There is great Difference among +<span class="pageno target" title="388" id="page-388"> </span>Children too in this Respect, some remaining +healthy, though having several Worms, and others +being really sick with a few.</p> +<p class="pnext">They prove hurtful, 1, by obstructing the +Guts, and compressing the neighbouring Bowels +by their Size. 2, By sucking up the Chyle intended +to nourish the Patient, and thus depriving +him of his very Substance as well as Subsistence: +and, 3, by irritating the Guts and even <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id550" id="id549"><sup>90</sup></a> gnawing +them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id551">§ 389</span>. The Symptoms which make it probable +they are infested with Worms, are slight, +frequent and irregular Cholics; a great Quantity +of Spittle running off while they are fasting; a +disagreeable Smell of their Breath, of a particular +Kind, especially in the Morning; a frequent +Itchiness of their Noses which makes them +scratch or rub them often; a very irregular Appetite, +being sometimes voracious, and at other +Times having none at all: Pains at Stomach and +Vomitings: sometimes a costive Belly; but more +frequently loose Stools of indigested Matter; the +Belly rather larger than ordinary, the rest of the +<span class="pageno target" title="389" id="page-389"> </span>Body meagre; a Thirst which no Drink allays; +often great Weakness, and some Degree of Melancholy. +The Countenance has generally an +odd unhealthy Look, and varies every Quarter of +an Hour; the Eyes often look dull, and are surrounded +with a Kind of livid Circle: the White +of the Eye is sometimes visible while they sleep, +their Sleep being often attended with terrifying +Dreams or <em class="italics">Deliriums</em>, and with continual Startings, +and Grindings of their Teeth. Some Children +find it impossible to be at Rest for a single +Moment. Their Urine is often whitish, I have +seen it from some as white as Milk. They are +afflicted with Palpitations, Swoonings, Convulsions, +long and profound Drowsiness; cold +Sweats which come on suddenly; Fevers which +have the Appearances of Malignity; Obscurities +and even Loss of Sight and of Speech, which continue +for a considerable Time; Palsies either of +their Hands, their Arms, or their Legs, and +Numbnesses. Their Gums are in a bad State, +and as though they had been gnawed or corroded: +they have often the Hickup, a small +and irregular Pulse, Ravings, and, what is one +of the least doubtful Symptoms, frequently a +small dry Cough; and not seldom a Mucosity or +Sliminess in their Stools: sometimes very long +and violent Cholics, which terminate in an Abscess +on the Outside of the Belly, from whence +Worms issue. (See Note <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id550" id="id552"><sup>90</sup></a> p. <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-388">388</a>.)</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="390" id="page-390"> </span><span class="target" id="id553">§ 390</span>. There are a great Multitude of Medicines +against Worms. The <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id555" id="id554"><sup>91</sup></a> <em class="italics">Grenette</em> or Worm-seed, +which is one of the commonest, is a very +good one. The Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id886">Nº. 62</a>, is also a +very successful one; and the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a> is +one of the best. Flower of Brimstone, the Juice +of <em class="italics">Nasturtium</em>, or Cresses, Acids and Honey Water +have often been very serviceable; but the first +three I have mentioned, succeeded by a Purge, +are the best. <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id887">Nº. 63</a> is a purging Medicine, that +the most averse and difficult Children may easily +take. But when, notwithstanding these Medicines, +the Worms are not expelled, it is necessary to +take Advice of some Person qualified to prescribe +more efficacious ones. This is of considerable +Importance, because, notwithstanding a great +Proportion of Children may probably have +Worms, and yet many of them continue in +good Health, there are, nevertheless, some who +are really killed by Worms, after having been +cruelly tormented by them for several Years.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Disposition to breed Worms always shews +the Digestions are weak and imperfect; for +which Reason Children liable to Worms should +not be nourished with Food difficult to digest. +We should be particularly careful not to stuff +them with Oils, which, admitting such Oils +should immediately kill some of their Worms, +<span class="pageno target" title="391" id="page-391"> </span>do yet increase that Cause, which disposes them to +generate others. A long continued Use of Filings +of Iron is the Remedy, that most effectually +destroys this Disposition to generate Worms.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-convulsions"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Convulsions.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id556">§ 391</span>. I have already said, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id529">§ 378</a>, that the +Convulsions of Children are almost constantly the +Effect of some other Disease, and especially of +some of the four I have mentioned. Some +other, though less frequent Causes, sometimes +occasion them, and these may be reduced to the +following.</p> +<p class="pnext">The first of them is the corrupted Humours, +that often abound in their Stomachs and Intestines; +and which, by their Irritation, produce +irregular Motions throughout the whole System +of the Nerves, or at least through some Parts of +them; whence those Convulsions arise, which +are merely involuntary Motions of the Muscles. +These putrid Humours are the Consequence of +too great a Load of Aliments, of unsound ones, +or of such, as the Stomachs of Children are incapable +of digesting. These Humours are also +sometimes the Effect of a Mixture and Confusion +of different Aliments, and of a bad Distribution +of their Nourishment.</p> +<p class="pnext">It may be known that the Convulsions of a +Child are owing to this Cause, by the Circumstances +that have preceded them, by a disgusted +loathing Stomach; by a certain Heaviness and +<span class="pageno target" title="392" id="page-392"> </span>Load at it; by a foul Tongue; a great Belly; +by its bad Complexion, and its disturbed unrefreshing +Sleep.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Child's proper Diet, that is, a certain +Diminution of the Quantity of its Food; some +Glysters of warm Water, and one Purge of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id887">Nº. 63</a>, +very generally remove such Convulsions.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id557">§ 392</span>. The second Cause is the bad Quality +of their Milk. Whether it be that the Nurse has +fallen into a violent Passion, some considerable +Disgust, great Fright or frequent Fear: whether +she has eat unwholesome Food, drank too much +Wine, spirituous Liquors, or any strong Drink: +whether she is seized with a Descent of her +monthly Discharges, and that has greatly disordered +her Health; or finally whether she prove +really sick: In all these Cases the Milk is vitiated, +and exposes the Infant to violent Symptoms, +which sometimes speedily destroy it.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Remedies for Convulsions, from this +Cause, consist, 1, In letting the Child abstain +from this corrupted Milk, until the Nurse shall +have recovered her State of Health and Tranquillity, +the speedy Attainment of which may be forwarded +by a few Glysters; by gentle pacific Medicines; +by an entire Absence of whatever caused +or conduced to her bad Health; and by drawing +off all the Milk that had been so vitiated.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, In giving the Child itself some Glysters: +in making it drink plentifully of a light Infusion +of the Lime-tree <span class="target" id="flowers">Flowers</span>, in giving it no other +<span class="pageno target" title="393" id="page-393"> </span>Nourishment for a Day or two, except Panada +and other light Spoon-meat, without Milk.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, In purging the Child (supposing what has +been just directed to have been unavailable) +with an Ounce, or an Ounce and a Half, of compound +Syrup of Succory, or as much Manna. +These lenient gentle Purges carry off the Remainder +of the corrupted Milk, and remove the +Disorders occasioned by it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id558">§ 393</span>. A third Cause which also produces +Convulsions, is the feverish Distempers which +attack Children, especially the Small-pocks and +the Measles; but in general such Convulsions require +no other Treatment, but that proper for +the Disease, which has introduced them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id559">§ 394</span>. It is evident from what has been said +in the Course of this Chapter, and it deserves to +be attended to, that Convulsions are commonly a +Symptom attending some other Disease, rather +than an original Disease themselves: that they +depend on many different Causes; that from this +Consideration there can be no general Remedy +for removing or checking them; and that the +only Means and Medicines which are suitable in +each Case, are those, which are proper to oppose +the particular Cause <span class="target" id="producing-them-and">producing them, and</span> which I +have already pointed out in treating of each +Cause.</p> +<p class="pnext">The greater Part of the pretended Specifics, +which are indiscriminately and ignorantly employed +in all Sorts of Convulsions, are often +<span class="pageno target" title="394" id="page-394"> </span>useless, and still oftner prejudicial. Of this last Sort +and Character are,</p> +<p class="pnext">1, All sharp and hot Medicines, spirituous +Liquors, Oil of Amber,—other hot Oils and +Essences, volatile Salts, and such other Medicines, +as, by the Violence of their Action on +the irritable Organs of Children, are likelier to +produce Convulsions, than to allay them.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, Astringent Medicines, which are highly +pernicious, whenever the Convulsions are caused +by any sharp Humour, that ought to be discharged +from the Body by Stool; or when such Convulsions +are the Consequences of an <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id561" id="id560"><sup>92</sup></a> Effort of +Nature, in Order to effect a <em class="italics">Crisis</em>: And as they +almost ever depend on one or the other of these +Causes, it follows that Astringents can very rarely, +if ever, be beneficial. Besides that there is always +some Danger in giving them to Children +without a mature, a thorough Consideration of +their particular Case and Situation, as they often +dispose them to Obstructions.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, The over early, and too considerable Use +of Opiates, either not properly indicated, or continued +too long, such as Venice Treacle, Mithridate, +Syrup of Poppies (and it is very easy to +run upon some of these Sholes) are also attended +with the most embarrassing Events, in Regard to +Convulsions; and it may be affirmed they are +improper, for nine Tenths of those they are advised +<span class="pageno target" title="395" id="page-395"> </span>to. It is true they often produce an apparent +Ease and Tranquillity for some Minutes, and +sometimes for some Hours too; but the Disorder +returns even with greater Violence for this +Suspension, by Reason they have augmented all +the Causes producing it; they impair the Stomach; +they bind up the Belly; they lessen the +usual Quantity of Urine; and besides, by their +abating the Sensibility of the Nerves, which +ought to be considered as one of the chief Centinels +appointed by Nature, for the Discovery of any +approaching Danger, they dispose the Patient +insensibly to such Infarctions and Obstructions, +as tend speedily to produce some violent and mortal +Event, or which generate a Disposition to languid +and tedious Diseases: and I do again repeat +it, that notwithstanding there are some Cases, in +which they are absolutely necessary, they ought +in general to be employed with great Precaution +and and Prudence. To mention the principal Indications +for them in convulsive Cases, they are +proper,</p> +<p class="pnext">1, When the Convulsions still continue, after +the original Cause of them is removed.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, When they are so extremely violent, as to +threaten a great and very speedy Danger of Life; +and when they prove an Obstacle to the taking +Remedies calculated to extinguish their Cause; +and,</p> +<p class="pnext">3, When the Cause producing them is of such +a Nature, as is apt to yield to the Force of +<span class="pageno target" title="396" id="page-396"> </span>Anodynes; as when, for Instance, they have been +the immediate Consequence of a Fright.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id562">§ 395</span>. There is a very great Difference in +different Children, in Respect to their being +more or less liable to Convulsions. There are +some, in whom very strong and irritating Causes +cannot excite them; not even excruciating Gripes +and Cholics; the most painful Cutting of their +Teeth; violent Fevers; the Small Pocks; Measles; +and though they are, as it were, continually +corroded by Worms, they have not the +slightest Tendency to be convulsed. On the +other Hand, some are so very obnoxious to Convulsions, +or so easily <em class="italics">convulsible</em>, if that Expression +may be allowed, that they are very often +seized with them from such very slight Causes, +that the most attentive Consideration cannot investigate +them. This Sort of Constitution, which +is extremely dangerous, and exposes the unhappy +Subject of it, either to a very speedy Death, +or to a very low and languid State of Life, requires +some peculiar Considerations; the Detail +of which would be the more foreign to the Design +of this Treatise, as they are pretty common +in Cities, but much less so in Country Places. +In general cold Bathing and the Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a> +are serviceable in such Circumstances.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="general-directions-with-respect-to-children"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">General Directions, with Respect to Children.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id563">§ 396</span>. I shall conclude this Chapter by such +farther Advice, as may contribute to give +<span class="pageno target" title="397" id="page-397"> </span>Children a more vigorous Constitution and <span class="target" id="temperament">Temperament</span>, +and to preserve them from many Disorders.</p> +<p class="pnext">First then, we should be careful not to cram +them too much, and to regulate both the Quantity +and the set Time of their Meals, which is a +very practicable Thing, even in the very earliest +Days of their Life; when the Woman who +nurses them, will be careful to do it regularly. +Perhaps indeed this is the very Age, when such a +Regulation may be the most easily attempted and +effected; because it is that Stage, when the constant +Uniformity of their Way of living should +incline us to suppose, that what they have Occasion +for is most constantly very much the same.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Child who has already attained to a few +Years, and who is surrendered up more to his +own Exercise and Vivacity, feels other Calls; his +Way of Life is become a little more various and +irregular, whence his Appetite must prove so too. +Hence it would be inconvenient to subject him +over exactly to one certain Rule, in the Quantity +of his Nourishment, or the Distance of his +Meals. The Dissipation or passing off of his +Nutrition being unequal, the Occasions he has +for repairing it cannot be precisely dated and regular. +But with Respect to very little Children +in Arms, or on the Lap, a Uniformity in the +first of these Respects, the Quantity of their Food, +very consistently conduces to a useful Regularity +with Respect to the second, the Times of feeding +them. Sickness is probably the only Circumstance, +<span class="pageno target" title="398" id="page-398"> </span>that can warrant any Alteration in the +Order and Intervals of their Meals; and then +this Change should consist in a Diminution of +their usual Quantity, notwithstanding a general +and fatal Conduct seems to establish the very Reverse; +and this pernicious Fashion authorizes the +Nurses to cram these poor little Creatures the +more, in Proportion as they have real Need of +less feeding. They conclude of Course, that all +their Cries are the Effects of Hunger, and the +Moment an Infant begins, then they immediately +stop his Mouth with his Food; without once +suspecting, that these Wailings may be occasioned +by the Uneasiness an over-loaded Stomach may +have introduced; or by Pains whose Cause is neither +removed nor mitigated, by making the +Children eat; though the meer Action of eating +may render them insensible to slight Pains, for a +very few Minutes; in the first Place, by calling off +their Attention; and secondly, by hushing them +to sleep, a common Effect of feeding in Children, +being in fact, a very general and constant one, +and depending on the same Causes, which dispose +so many grown Persons to sleep after Meals.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Detail of the many Evils Children are exposed +to, by thus forcing too much Food upon them, +at the very Time when their Complaints are owing +to Causes, very different from Hunger, might +appear incredible. They are however so numerous +and certain, that I seriously wish sensible +Mothers would open their Eyes to the Consideration +<span class="pageno target" title="399" id="page-399"> </span>of this Abuse, and agree to put an End +to it.</p> +<p class="pnext">Those who overload them with Victuals, in +Hopes of strengthening them, are extremely deceived; +there being no one Prejudice equally fatal +to such a Number of them. Whatever unnecessary +Aliment a Child receives, weakens, instead of +strengthening him. The Stomach, when over-distended, +suffers in its Force and Functions, and +becomes less able to digest thoroughly. The +Excess of the Food last received impairs the Concoction +of the Quantity, that was really necessary: +which, being badly digested, is so far from yielding +any Nourishment to the Infant, that it +weakens it, and proves a Source of Diseases, and +concurs to produce Obstructions, Rickets, the +Evil, slow Fevers, a Consumption and Death.</p> +<p class="pnext">Another unhappy Custom prevails, with Regard +to the Diet of Children, when they begin +to receive any other Food besides their Nurse's +Milk, and that is, to give them such as exceeds +the digestive Power of their Stomachs; and to +indulge them in a Mixture of such Things in +their Meals, as are hurtful in themselves, and +more particularly so, with Regard to their feeble +and delicate Organs.</p> +<p class="pnext">To justify this pernicious Indulgence, they affirm +it is necessary to accustom their Stomachs to +every Kind of Food; but this Notion is highly +absurd, since their Stomachs should first be +strengthened, in Order to make them capable of +digesting every Food; and crouding indigestible, +<span class="pageno target" title="400" id="page-400"> </span>or very difficultly digestible Materials into it, is not +the Way to strengthen it. To make a Foal sufficiently +strong for future Labour, he is exempted +from any, till he is four Years old; which enables +him to submit to considerable Work, without +being the worse for it. But if, to inure him to +Fatigue, he should be accustomed, immediately +from his Birth, to submit to Burthens above his +Strength, he could never prove any Thing but +an utter Jade, incapable of real Service. The +Application of this to the Stomach of a Child is +very obvious.</p> +<p class="pnext">I shall add another very important Remark, +and it is this, that the too early Work to which +the Children of Peasants are forced, becomes of +real Prejudice to the Publick. Hence Families +themselves are less numerous, and the more Children +that are removed from their Parents, while +they are very young, those who are left are the +more obliged to Work, and very often even at +hard Labour, at an Age when they should exercise +themselves in the usual Diversions and +Sports of Children. Hence they wear out in a +Manner, before they attain the ordinary Term of +Manhood; they never arrive at their utmost +Strength, nor reach their full Stature; and it is +too common to see a Countenance with the Look +of twenty Years, joined to a Stature of twelve or +thirteen. In fact, they often sink under the +Weight of such hard involuntary Labour, and +fall into a mortal Degree of Wasting and Exhaustion.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="401" id="page-401"> </span><span class="target" id="id564">§ 397</span>. Secondly, which indeed is but a Repetition +of the Advice I have already given, and +upon which I cannot insist too much, they must +be frequently washed or bathed in cold Water.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id565">§ 398</span>. Thirdly, they should be moved about +and exercised as much as they can bear, after +they are some Weeks old: the earlier Days of +their tender Life seeming consecrated, by Nature +herself, to a nearly total Repose, and to sleeping, +which seems not to determine, until they have +Need of Nourishment: so that, during this very +tender Term of Life, too much Agitation or Exercise +might be attended with mortal Consequences. +But as soon as their Organs have attained +a little more Solidity and Firmness, the +more they are danced about (provided it is not +done about their usual Time of Repose, which +ought still to be very considerable) they are so +much the better for it; and by increasing it gradually, +they may be accustomed to a very quick +Movement, and at length very safely to such, as +may be called hard and hearty Exercise. That +Sort of Motion they receive in Go-Carts, or other +Vehicles, particularly contrived for their Use, is +more beneficial to them, than what they have +from their Nurses Arms, because they are in a +better Attitude in the former; and it heats them +less in Summer, which is a Circumstance of no +small Importance to them; considerable Heat +and Sweat disposing them to be ricketty.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id566">§ 399</span>. Fourthly, they should be accustomed +to breathe in the free open Air as much as possible.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="402" id="page-402"> </span>If Children have unhappily been less attended +to than they ought, whence they are evidently +feeble, thin, languid, obstructed, and liable to +Scirrhosities (which constitute what is termed a +ricketty or consumptive State) these four Directions +duly observed retrieve them from that unhappy +State; provided the Execution of them +has not been too long delayed.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id567">§ 400</span>. Fifthly, If they have any natural Discharge +of a Humour by the Skin, which is very +common with them, or any Eruption, such as +Tetters, white Scurf, a Rashe, or the like, Care +must be taken not to check or repel them, by +any greasy or restringent Applications. Not a +Year passes without Numbers of Children having +been destroyed by Imprudence in this Respect; +while others have been reduced to a deplorable +and weakly Habit.</p> +<p class="pnext">I have been a Witness to the most unhappy +Consequences of external Medicines applied for +the Rashe and white Scurf; which, however +frightful they may appear, are never dangerous; +provided nothing at all is applied to them, without +the Advice and Consideration of a truly skilful +Person.</p> +<p class="pnext">When such external Disorders prove very obstinate, +it is reasonable to suspect some Fault or +Disagreement in the Milk the Child sucks; in +which Case it should immediately be discontinued, +corrected, or changed. But I cannot enter +here into a particular Detail of all the Treatment +necessary in such Cases.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head435-chapter-xxviii"> +<span id="chap-xxviii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><span class="pageno target" title="403" id="page-403"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i435a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXVIII.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="directions-with-respect-to-drowned-persons-nbs"> +<span id="directions-with-respect-to-drowned-persons"/><em class="italics">Directions with Respect to drowned Persons.</em> <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id569" id="id568"><sup>93</sup></a></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 401.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="W" src="images/i435b.png"/>henever a Person who has been +drowned, has remained a Quarter of +an Hour under Water, there can be +no considerable Hopes of his Recovery: +the Space of two or three Minutes in such a Situation +being often sufficient to kill a Man irrecoverably. +Nevertheless, as several Circumstances +may happen to have continued Life, in such an +unfortunate Situation, beyond the ordinary Term, +we should always endeavour to afford them the +most effectual Relief, and not give them up as +irrecoverable too soon: since it has often been +known, that until the Expiration of two, and +sometimes even of three Hours, such Bodies have +exhibited some apparent Tokens of Life.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="404" id="page-404"> </span>Water has sometimes been found in the Stomach +of drowned Persons; at other times none +at all. Besides, the greatest Quantity which has +ever been found in it has not exceeded that, +which may be drank without any Inconvenience; +whence we may conclude, the meer Quantity +was not mortal; neither is it very easy to conceive +how drowned Persons can swallow Water. +What really kills them is meer Suffocation, or +the Interception of Air, of the Action of breathing; +and the Water which descends into the +Lungs, and which is determined there, by the Efforts +they necessarily, though involuntarily make, +to draw Breath, after they are under Water: for +there absolutely does not any Water descend, either +into the Stomach or the Lungs of Bodies plunged +into Water, after they are dead; a Circumstance, +which serves to establish a legal Sentence and +Judgment in some criminal Cases, and Trials: +This Water intimately blending itself with the +Air in the Lungs, forms a viscid inactive Kind +of Froth, which entirely destroys the Functions +of the Lungs; whence the miserable Sufferer is +not only suffocated, but the Return of the Blood +from the Head being also intercepted, the Blood +Vessels of the Brain are overcharged, and an +Apoplexy is combined with the Suffocation. +This second Cause, that is, the Descent of the +Water into the Lungs, is far from being general, +it having been evident from the Dissection of several +drowned Bodies, that it really never had +existed in them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="405" id="page-405"> </span><span class="target" id="id570">§ 402</span>. The Intention that should be pursued, +is that of unloading the Lungs and the Brain, and +of reviving the extinguished Circulation. For +which Purpose we should, 1, immediately strip +the Sufferer of all his wet Cloaths; rub him +strongly with dry coarse Linnen; put him, as +soon as possible, into a well heated Bed, and continue +to rub him well a very considerable Time +together.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, A strong and healthy Person should force +his own warm Breath into the Patient's Lungs; +and the Smoke of Tobacco, if some was at +Hand, by Means of some Pipe, Chanel, Funnel +or the like, that may be introduced into the +Mouth. This Air or Fume, being forcibly +blown in, by stopping the Sufferer's Nostrils close +at the same Time, penetrates into the Lungs, +and there rarifies by its Heat that Air, which +blended with the Water, composed the viscid +Spume or Froth. Hence that Air becomes disengaged +from the Water, recovers its Spring, dilates +the Lungs; and, if there still remains within +any Principle of Life, the Circulation is renewed +again that Instant.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, If a moderately expert Surgeon is at Hand, +he must open the jugular Vein, or any large +Vein in the Neck, and let out ten or twelve +Ounces of Blood. Such a Bleeding is serviceable +on many Accounts. First, merely as Bleeding, +it renews the Circulation, which is the constant +Effect of Bleeding in such Swoonings, as arise +from an intercepted or suffocated Circulation. +<span class="pageno target" title="406" id="page-406"> </span>Secondly, it is that particular Bleeding, which +most suddenly removes, in such Cases, the Infarction +or Obstruction of the Head and Lungs; +and, thirdly, it is sometimes the only Vessel, +whence Blood will issue under such Circumstances. +The Veins of the Feet then afford none; +and those of the Arms seldom; but the Jugulars +almost constantly furnish it.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fourthly, the Fume of Tobacco should be +thrown up, as speedily and plentifully as possible, +into the Intestines by the Fundament. There +are very commodious Contrivances devised for +this Purpose; but as they are not common, it +may be effected by many speedy Means. One, +by which a Woman's Life was preserved, consisted +only in introducing the small Tube of a Tobacco +Pipe well lighted up: the Head or Bowl +of it was wrapped up in a Paper, in which several +Holes were pricked, and through these the +Breath was strongly forced. At the fifth Blast a +considerable Rumbling was heard in the Woman's +Belly; she threw up a little Water, and a +Moment afterwards came to her Senses. Two +Pipes may be thus lighted and applied, with their +Bowls covered over; the Extremity of one is to +be introduced into the Fundament; and the other +may be blown through into the Lungs.</p> +<p class="pnext">Any other Vapour may also be conveyed up, +by introducing a <em class="italics">Canula</em>, or any other Pipe, with +a Bladder firmly fixed to it. This Bladder is +fastened at its other End to a large Tin Funnel, +under which Tobacco is to be lighted. This +<span class="pageno target" title="407" id="page-407"> </span>Contrivance has succeeded with me upon other +Occasions, in which Necessity compelled me to +invent and apply it.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fifthly, the strongest Volatiles should be applied +to the Patient's Nostrils. The Powder of +some strong dry Herb should be blown up his +Nose, such as Sage, Rosemary, Rue, Mint, and +especially Marjoram, or very well dried Tobacco; +or even the Fume, the Smoke of these Herbs. +But all these Means are most properly employed +after Bleeding, when they are most efficacious +and certain.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sixthly, as long as the Patient shews no Signs +of Life, he will be unable to swallow, and it is +then useless, and even dangerous, to pour much +Liquid of any kind into his Mouth, which could +do nothing but keep up, or increase Suffocation. +It is sufficient, in such Circumstances, to instil a +few Drops of some irritating Liquor, which +might also be cordial and reviving. But as soon +as ever he discovers any Motion, he should take, +within the Space of one Hour, five or six common +Spoonfuls of Oxymel of Squills diluted with +warm Water: or if that Medicine was not to be +had very speedily, a strong Infusion of the blessed +Thistle, or <em class="italics">Carduus benedictus</em>, of Sage, or of Chamomile +Flowers sweetened with Honey, might do +instead of it: and supposing nothing else to be had, +some warm Water, with the Addition of a little +common Salt, should be given. Some Persons +are bold enough to recommend Vomits in such +Cases; but they are not without their Inconvenience; +<span class="pageno target" title="408" id="page-408"> </span>and it is not as a Vomit that I recommend +the Oxymel of Squills in them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Seventhly, Notwithstanding the Sick discover +some Tokens of Life, we should not cease to +continue our Assistance; since they sometimes +irrecoverably expire, after these first Appearances +of recovering.</p> +<p class="pnext">And lastly, though they should be manifestly +re-animated, there sometimes remains an Oppression, +a Coughing and Feverishness, which +effectually constitute a Disease: and then it becomes +necessary sometimes to bleed them in the +Arms; to give them Barley Water plentifully, +or Elder-flower Tea.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id571">§ 403</span>. Having thus pointed out such Means +as are necessary, and truly effectual, in such unfortunate +Accidents, I shall very briefly mention +some others, which it is the general Custom to +use and apply in the first Hurry.</p> +<p class="pnext">1, These unhappy People are sometimes +wrapped up in a Sheep's, or a Calf's, or a Dog's +Skin, immediately flead from the Animal: these +Applications have sometimes indeed revived the +Heat of the Drowned; but their Operations are +more slow, and less efficacious, than the Heat of +a well-warmed Bed; with the additional Vapour +of burnt Sugar, and long continued Frictions with +hot Flanels.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, The Method of rolling them in an empty +Hogshead is dangerous, and mispends a deal of +important Time.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="409" id="page-409"> </span>3, That also of hanging them up by the Feet +is attended with Danger, and ought to be wholly +discontinued. The Froth or Foam, which is +one of the Causes of their Death, is too thick and +tough to discharge itself, in Consequence of its +own Weight. Nevertheless, this is the only +Effect that can be expected, from this Custom +of suspending them by the Feet; which must also +be hurtful, by its tending to increase the Overfulness +of the Head and of the Lungs.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id572">§ 404</span>. It is some Years since a Girl of eighteen +Years old was recovered [though it is unknown +whether she remained under Water only a little +Time or some Hours] who was motionless, frozen +as it were, insensible, with her Eyes closed, +her Mouth wide open, a livid Colour, a swoln Visage, +a Tumour or bloating of the whole Body, +which was overladen as it were, or Water-soaked. +This miserable Object was extended on a Kind +of Bed, of hot or very warm Ashes, quickly +heated in great Kettles; and by laying her quite +naked on these Ashes; by covering her with +others equally hot; by putting a Bonnet round +her Head, with a Stocking round her Neck +stuffed with the same, and heaping Coverings +over all this, at the End of half an Hour her +Pulse returned, she recovered her Speech, and +cried out, <em class="italics">I freeze, I freeze</em>: A little Cherry-Brandy +was given her, and then she remained +buried, as it were, eight Hours under the Ashes; +being taken out of them afterwards without any +other Complaint, except that of great Lassitude +<span class="pageno target" title="410" id="page-410"> </span>or Weariness, which went entirely off the third +Day. This Method was undoubtedly so effectual, +that it well deserves Imitation; but it should not +make us inattentive to the others. Heated Gravel +or Sand mixed with Salt, or hot Salt alone, +would have been equally efficacious, and they +have been found so.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the very Time of writing this, two young +Ducks, who were drowned, have been revived +by a dry Bath of hot Ashes. The Heat of a +Dung-heap may also be beneficial; and I have +just been informed, by a very creditable and sensible +Spectator of it, that it effectually contributed +to restore Life to a Man, who had certainly remained +six Hours under Water.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id573">§ 405</span>. I shall conclude these Directions with +an Article printed in a little Work at <em class="italics">Paris</em>, about +twenty Years since, by Order of the King, to +which there is not the least Doubt, but that any +other Sovereign will readily accede.</p> +<blockquote><div> +<p class="pfirst">“Notwithstanding the common People are +very generally disposed to be compassionate, +and may wish to give all Assistance to drowned +Persons, it frequently happens they do not, +only because they dare not; imagining they +expose themselves by it to Prosecutions. It +is therefore necessary, that they should know, +and it cannot be too often repeated, in order +to eradicate such a pernicious Prejudice, that +the Magistrates have never interposed to prevent +People from trying every possible Means +to recover such unfortunate Persons, as shall +<span class="pageno target" title="411" id="page-411"> </span>be drowned and taken out of the Water. It is +only in those Cases, when the Persons are +known to be absolutely and irrecoverably dead, +that Justice renders it necessary to seize their +Bodies.”</p> +</div></blockquote> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head443-chapter-xxix"> +<span id="chap-xxix"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i443a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXIX.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-substances-stopt-between-the-mouth-and-the-stomach"> +<em class="italics">Of Substances stopt between the Mouth and the Stomach.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 406.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i443b.png"/>he Food we take in descends from the +Mouth through a very strait Passage +or Chanel, called the <em class="italics">Oesophagus</em>, the +Gullet, which, going parallel with the +Spine or Backbone, joins to, or terminates at, the +Stomach.</p> +<p class="pnext">It happens sometimes that different Bodies are +stopt in this Chanel, without being able either to +descend or to return up again; whether this Difficulty +arises from their being too large; or whether +it be owing to their having such Angles or +Points, as by penetrating into, and adhering to +the Sides of this membranous Canal, absolutely +prevent the usual Action and Motion of it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id574">§ 407</span>. Very dangerous Symptoms arise from +this Stoppage, which are frequently attended with +a most acute Pain in the Part; and at other +<span class="pageno target" title="412" id="page-412"> </span>Times, with a very incommodious, rather than +painful, Sensation; sometimes a very ineffectual +Commotion at, or rising of, the Stomach, attended +with great Anguish; and if the Stoppage +be so circumstanced, that the <em class="italics">Glottis</em> is closed, +or the Wind-pipe compressed, a dreadful Suffocation +is the Consequence: the Patient cannot +breathe, the Lungs are quite distended; and the +Blood being unable to return from the Head, +the Countenance becomes red, then livid; the +Neck swells; the Oppression increases, and the +poor Sufferer speedily dies.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Patient's Breathing is not stopt, nor +greatly oppressed; if the Passage is not entirely +blocked up, and he can swallow something, he +lives very easily for a few Days, and then his +Case becomes a particular Disorder of the <em class="italics">Oesophagus</em>, +or Gullet. But if the Passage is absolutely +closed, and the Obstruction cannot be removed +for many Days, a terrible Death is the +Consequence.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id575">§ 408</span>. The Danger of such Cases does not +depend so much on the Nature of the obstructing +Substance, as on its Size, with Regard to that of +the Passage of the Part where it stops, and of the +Manner in which it forms the Obstruction; and +frequently the very Food may occasion Death; +while Substances less adapted to be swallowed are +not attended with any violent Consequences, +though swallowed.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="413" id="page-413"> </span>A Child of six Days old swallowed a Comfit +or Sugar Plumb, which stuck in the Passage, +and instantly killed it.</p> +<p class="pnext">A grown Person perceived that a Bit of Mutton +had stopt in the Passage; not to alarm any +Body he arose from Table; a Moment afterwards, +on looking 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 an Egg, which he swallowed +whole in a Bravo.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Child was killed by a Chesnut swallowed +whole. Another died suddenly, choaked (which +is always the Circumstance, when they die instantly +after such Accidents) by a Pear which he +had tossed up, and catched in his Mouth. A +Woman was choaked with another Pear. A +Piece of a Sinew continued eight Days in the +Passage, so that it prevented the Patient from +getting down any Thing else; at the Expiration +of that Time it fell into the Stomach, being +loosened by its Putridity: The Patient notwithstanding +died soon after, being killed by the Inflammation, +Gangrene and Weakness it had occasioned. +Unhappily there occur but too many +Instances of this Sort, of which it is unnecessary +to cite more.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id576">§ 409</span>. Whenever any Substance is thus detained +in the Gullet, there are two Ways of removing +it; that is either by extracting it, or +pushing it down. The safest and most certain +Way is always to extract or draw it out, but this +<span class="pageno target" title="414" id="page-414"> </span>is not always the easiest: and as the Efforts made +for this Purpose greatly fatigue the Patient, and +are sometimes attended with grievous Consequences; +and yet if the Occasion is extremely urging, +it may be eligible to thrust it down, if that is +easier; and if there is no Danger from the obstructing +Bodies Reception into the Stomach.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Substances which may be pushed down +without Danger, are all common nourishing ones, +as Bread, Meat, Cakes, Fruits, Pulse, Morsels +of Tripe, and even Skin of Bacon. It is only +very large Morsels of particular Aliments, that +prove very difficult to digest; yet even such are +rarely attended with any Fatality.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id577">§ 410</span>. The Substances we should endeavour +to extract or draw out, though it be more painful +and less easy than to push them down, are +all those, whose Consequences might be highly +dangerous, or even mortal, if swallowed. Such +are all totally indigestible Bodies, as Cork, Linen-Rags, +large Fruit Stones, Bones, Wood, Glass, +Stones, Metals; and more especially if any further +Danger may be superadded to that of its Indigestibility, +from the Shape, whether rough, sharp, +pointed, or angular, of the Substance swallowed. +Wherefore we should chiefly endeavour to extract +Pins, Needles, Fish-bones, other pointed Fragments +of Bones, Bits of Glass, Scissars, Rings, +or Buckles.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nevertheless it has happened, that every one +of these Substances have at one Time or another +been swallowed, and the most usual +<span class="pageno target" title="415" id="page-415"> </span>Consequences of them are violent Pains of the Stomach, +and in the Guts; Inflammations, Suppurations, +Abscesses, a slow Fever, Gangrene, the <em class="italics">Miserere</em> +or Iliac Passion; external Abscesses, through +which the Bodies swallowed down have been +discharged; and frequently, after a long Train +of Maladies, a dreadful Death.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id578">§ 411</span>. When such Substances have not passed +in too deep, we should endeavour to extract them +with our Fingers, which often succeeds. If they +are lower, we should make use of Nippers or a +small <em class="italics">Forceps</em>; of which Surgeons are provided +with different Sorts. Those which some Smoakers +carry about them might be very convenient +for such Purposes; and in Case of Necessity they +might be made very readily out of two Bits of +Wood. But this Attempt to extract rarely succeeds, +if the Substance has descended far into the +<em class="italics">Oesophagus</em>, and if the Substance be of a flexible +Nature, which exactly applies itself to, and fills +up the Cavity or Chanel of it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id579">§ 412</span>. If the Fingers and the Nippers fail, +or cannot be duly applied, Crotchets, a Kind of +Hooks, must be employed.</p> +<p class="pnext">These may be made at once with a pretty +strong iron Wire, crooked at the End. It must +be introduced in the flat Way, and for the better +conducting of it, there should be another +Curve or Hook at the End it is held by, to serve +as a Kind of Handle to it, which has this further +Use, that it may be secured by a String tied to +it; a Circumstance not to be omitted in any +<span class="pageno target" title="416" id="page-416"> </span>Instrument employed on such Occasions, to avoid +such ill Accidents as have sometimes ensued, from +these Instruments slipping out of the Operators +Hold. After the Crotchet has passed beyond and +below the Substance, that obstructs the Passage, +it is drawn up again, and hooks up with it and +extracts that Impediment to swallowing.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Crotchet is also very convenient, whenever +a Substance somewhat flexible, as a Pin or +a Fishbone stick, as it were, across the Gullet: +the Crotchet in such Cases seizing them about +their middle Part, crooks and thus disengages +them. If they are very brittle Substances, it +serves to break them; and if any Fragments still +stick within, some other Means must be used to +extract them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id580">§ 413</span>. When the obstructing Bodies are small, +and only stop up Part of the Passage; and which +may either easily elude the Hook, or straiten +it by their Resistance, a Kind of Rings may be +used, and made either solid or flexible.</p> +<p class="pnext">The solid ones are made of iron Wire, or of +a String of very fine brass 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 Diameter. +Then the long unbent Sides of the Wire are +brought near each other; the circular Part or +Ring is introduced into the Gullet, in order to be +conducted about the obstructing Body, and so +to extract it. Very flexible Rings may be made +<span class="pageno target" title="417" id="page-417"> </span>of Wool, Thread, Silk, or small Packthread, +which may be waxed, for their greater Strength +and Consistence. Then they are to be tied fast +to a Handle of Iron-Wire, of Whale-bone, or of +any flexible Wood; after which the Ring is to +be introduced to surround the obstructing Substance, +and to draw it out.</p> +<p class="pnext">Several of these Rings passed through one another +are often made use of, the more certainly to +lay hold of the obstructing Body, which may be +involved by one, if another should miss it. This +Sort of Rings has one Advantage, which is, that +when the Substance to be extracted is once laid +hold of, it may then, by turning the Handle, be +retained so strongly in the Ring thus twisted, as +to be moved every Way; which must be a +considerable Advantage in many such Cases.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id581">§ 414</span>. A fourth Material employed on these +unhappy Occasions is the Sponge. Its Property +of swelling considerably, on being wet, is the +Foundation of its Usefulness here.</p> +<p class="pnext">If any Substance is stopt in the Gullet, but +without filling up the whole Passage, a Bit of +Sponge is introduced, into that Part that is unstopt, +and beyond the Substance. The Sponge +soon dilates, and grows larger in this moist Situation, +and indeed the Enlargement of it may be +forwarded, by making the Patient swallow a few +Drops of Water; and then drawing back the +Sponge by the Handle it is fastened to, as it is +now too large to return through the small Cavity, +by which it was conveyed in, it draws out the +<span class="pageno target" title="418" id="page-418"> </span>obstructing Body with it, and thus unplugs, as +it were, and opens the Gullet.</p> +<p class="pnext">As dry Sponge may shrink or be contracted, +this Circumstance has proved the Means of +squeezing a pretty large Piece of it into a very +small Space. It becomes greatly compressed by +winding a String or Tape very closely about it, +which Tape may be easily unwound and withdrawn, +after the Sponge has been introduced. It +may also be inclosed in a Piece of Whalebone, +split into four Sticks at one End, and which, being +endued with a considerable Spring, contracts +upon the Sponge. The Whalebone is so smoothed +and accommodated, as not to wound; and +the Sponge is also to be safely tied to a strong +Thread; that after having disengaged the Whalebone +from it, the Surgeon may also draw out +the Sponge at Pleasure.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sponge is also applied on these Occasions in +another Manner. When there is no Room to +convey it into the Gullet, because the obstructing +Substance ingrosses its whole Cavity; and supposing +it not hooked into the Part, but solely detained +by the Straitness of the Passage, a pretty +large Bit of Sponge is to be introduced towards +the Gullet, and close to the obstructing Subtance: +Thus applied, the Sponge swells, and +thence dilates that Part of the Passage that is +above this Substance. The Sponge is then withdrawn +a little, and but a very little, and this +Substance being less pressed upon above than below, +it sometimes happens, that the greater +<span class="pageno target" title="419" id="page-419"> </span>Staitness and Contraction of the lower Part of +the Passage, than of its upper Part, causes that +Substance to ascend; and as soon as this first +Loosening or Disengagement of it has happened, +the total Disengagement of it easily follows.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id582">§ 415</span>. Finally, when all these Methods prove +unavailable, there remains one more, which is +to make the Patient vomit; but this can scarcely +be of any Service, but when such obstructing Bodies +are simply engaged in, and not hooked or +stuck into the Sides of the <em class="italics">Oesophagus</em>; since under +this latter Circumstance vomiting might occasion +further Mischief.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Patient can swallow, a Vomiting may +be excited with the Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id806">Nº. 8</a>, or with +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a>, or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">35</a>. By this Operation a Bone was +thrown out, which had stopt in the Passage four +and twenty Hours.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Patient cannot swallow, an Attempt +should be made to excite him to vomit by +introducing 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 obstructing Body strongly compresses the +whole Circumference of the Gullet; and then no +other Resource is left, but giving a Glyster of +Tobacco. A certain Person swallowed a large Morsel +of Calf's Lights, which stopt in the Middle +of the Gullet, and exactly filled up the Passage. +A Surgeon unsuccessfully attempted various Methods +to extract it; but another seeing how unavailable +all of them were; and the Patient's +<span class="pageno target" title="420" id="page-420"> </span>Visage becoming black and swelled; his Eyes +ready to start, as it were, out of his Head; and +falling into frequent Swoonings, attended with +Convulsions too, he caused a Glyster of an +Ounce of Tobacco boiled to be thrown up; the +Consequence of which was a violent Vomiting, +which threw up the Substance that was so very +near killing him.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id583">§ 416</span>. A sixth Method, which I believe has +never hitherto been attempted, but which may +prove very useful in many Cases, when the Substances +in the Passage are not too hard, and +are very large, would be to fix a Worm (used +for withdrawing the Charge of Guns that have +been loaded) fast to a flexible Handle, with a +waxed Thread fastened to the Handle, in Order +to withdraw it, if the Handle slipt from the +Worm; and by this Contrivance it might be very +practicable, if the obstructing Substance was +not too deep in the Passage of the Gullet, to extract +it—It has been known that a Thorn fastened +in the Throat, has been thrown out by +laughing.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id584">§ 417</span>. In the Circumstances mentioned <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id576">§ 409</a>, +when it is more easy and convenient to push the +obstructing Body downwards, it has been usual +to make Use of Leeks, which may generally be +had any where (but which indeed are very subject +to break) or of a Wax-candle oiled, and but a +very little heated, so as to make it flexible; or +of a Piece of Whale-bone; or of Iron-Wire; +one Extremity of which may be thickened and +<span class="pageno target" title="421" id="page-421"> </span>blunted in a Minute with a little melted Lead. +Small Sticks of some flexible Wood may be as +convenient for the same Use, such as the Birch-tree, +the Hazel, the Ash, the Willow, a flexible +Plummet, or a leaden Ring. All these Substances +should be very smooth, that they may not +give the least Irritation; for which Reason they +are sometimes covered over with a thin Bit of +Sheep's Gut. Sometimes a Sponge is fastened +to one End of them, which, completely filling +up the whole Passage, pushes down whatever +Obstacle it meets with.</p> +<p class="pnext">In such Cases too, the Patient may be prompted +to attempt swallowing down large Morsels of +some unhurtful Substance, such as a Crust of +Bread, a small Turnep, a Lettuce Stalk, or a +Bullet, in Hopes of their carrying down the obstructing +Cause with them. It must be acknowledged, +however, that these afford but a feeble +Assistance; and if they are swallowed without +being well secured to a Thread, it may be apprehended +they may even increase the Obstruction, +by their own Stoppage.</p> +<p class="pnext">It has sometimes very happily, though rarely, +occurred, that those Substances attempted to be +detruded or thrust 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 Case of pointed Substances.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id585">§ 418</span>. Should it be impossible to extract the +Bodies mentioned <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id577">§ 410</a>, and all such as it must +be dangerous to admit into the Stomach, we must +<span class="pageno target" title="422" id="page-422"> </span>then prefer the least of two Evils, and rather run +the Hazard of pushing them down, than suffer +the Patient to perish dreadfully in a few Moments. +And we ought to scruple this Resolution the less, +as a great many Instances have demonstrated, +that notwithstanding several <span class="target" id="bad">bad</span> Consequences, and +even a tormenting Death, have often followed +the swallowing of such hurtful or indigestible +Substances; yet at other times they have been +attended with little or no Disorder.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id586">§ 419</span>. One of these four Events is always the +Case, after swallowing such Things. They +either, 1, go off by Stool; or, 2, they are not +discharged and kill the Patient. Or else, 3, +they are discharged by Urine; or, 4, are visibly +extruded to the Skin. I shall give some Instances +of each of these Events.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id587">§ 420</span>. When they are voided by Stool, they +are either voided soon after they have been swallowed, +and that without having occasional scarce +any troublesome Symptom; 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-stone, the Cover of a +small Box of Venice Treacle, Pins, Needles, +and Coins of different Sorts, have been voided +within a few Days after they had slipt down into +the Stomach; and that with little or no Complaint. +A small Flute, or Pipe also, four Inches +long, which occasioned acute Pains for three +Days, has been voided happily afterwards, +<span class="pageno target" title="423" id="page-423"> </span>besides, Knives, Razors, and one Shoe-buckle. I have +seen but a few Days since a Child between two +and three Years old, who swallowed a Nail +above an Inch long, the Head of which was +more than three Tenths of an Inch broad: it +stopt a few Moments about the Neck, but descended +while its Friends were looking for me; +and was voided with a Stool that Night, without +any bad Consequence. And still more lately I +have known the entire Bone of a Chicken's +Wing thus swallowed, which only occasioned a +slight Pain in the Stomach for three or four +Days.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sometimes such Substances are retained within +for a long Time, not being voided till after several +Months, and even Years, without the least +ill Effect: and some of them have never either +appeared, nor been complained of.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id588">§ 421</span>. But the Event is not always so happy; +and sometimes though they are discharged through +the natural Passages, the Discharges have been +preceded by very acute Pains in the Stomach, +and in the Bowels. A Girl swallowed down +some Pins, which afflicted her with violent Pains +for the Space of six Years; at the Expiration of +which Term she voided them and recovered. +Three Needles being swallowed brought on Cholics, +Swoonings and Convulsions for a Year after: +and then being voided by Stool, the Patient recovered. +Another Person who swallowed two, +was much happier in suffering but six Hours +<span class="pageno target" title="424" id="page-424"> </span>from them; when they were voided by Stool, +and he did well.</p> +<p class="pnext">It sometimes happens that such indigestible +Substances, after having past all the Meanders, +the whole Course of the Intestines, have been +stopt in the Fundament, and brought on very +troublesome Symptoms; but such however, as +an expert Surgeon may very generally remove. +If it is practicable to cut them, as it is when they +happen to be thin Bones, the Jaw-bones of Fish, +or Pins, they are then very easily extracted.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id589">§ 422</span>. The second Event is, when these fatal +Substances are never voided, but cause very embarrassing +Symptoms which finally kill the Patient; +and of these Cases there have been but too +many Examples.</p> +<p class="pnext">A young Girl having swallowed some Pins, +which she held in her Mouth, some of them were +voided by Stool; but others of them pricked and +pierced into her Guts, and even into the Muscles +of her Belly, with the severest Pain; and killed +her at the End of three Weeks.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Man swallowed a Needle, which pierced +through his Stomach, and into his Liver, <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id591" id="id590"><sup>94</sup></a> and +ended in a mortal Consumption.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="425" id="page-425"> </span>A Plummet which slipt down, while the +Throat of a Patient was searching, killed him at +the End of two Years.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is very common for different Coins, and of +different Metals, to be swallowed without any +fatal or troublesome Effects. Even a hundred +Luidores <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id594" id="id592"><sup>95</sup></a> have been swallowed, and all voided. +Nevertheless these fortunate Escapes ought not +to make People too secure and incautious on +such Occasions, since such melancholy Consequences +have happened, as may very justly alarm +them. One single Piece of Money that was +swallowed, entirely obstructed the Communication +between the Stomach and the Intestines, +and killed the Patient. Whole Nuts have often +been inadvertently swallowed; but there have +been some Instances of Persons in whom a +Heap <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id595" id="id593"><sup>96</sup></a> of them has been formed, which proved +the Cause of Death, after producing much Pain +and Inquietude.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="426" id="page-426"> </span><span class="target" id="id596">§ 423</span>. The third Issue or Event is, when +these Substances, thus swallowed down, have +been discharged by Urine: but these Cases are +very rare.</p> +<p class="pnext">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, besides +Cherry-stones, Plumb-stones, and even one +Peach-stone.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id597">§ 424</span>. Finally, the fourth Consequence or +Event is, when the indigestible Substances thus +swallowed, have pierced through the Stomach +or Intestines, and even to the Skin itself; and occasioning +an Abscess, have made an Outlet for +themselves, or have been taken out of the Abscess. +A long Time is often required to effect this extraordinary +Trajection and Appearance of them; +sometimes the Pains they occasion are continual; +in other Cases the Patient complains for a Time, +after which the Pain ceases, and then returns +again. The Imposthume, or Gathering, is formed +in the Stomach, or in some other Part of the +Belly: and sometimes these very Substances, after +having pierced through the Guts, make very singular +Routs, and are discharged very remotely +from the Belly. One Needle that had been +swallowed found its Way out, at the End of +four Years, through the Leg; another at the +Shoulder.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id598">§ 425</span>. All these Examples, and many others +of cruel Deaths, from swallowing noxious Substances, +demonstrate the great Necessity of an +<span class="pageno target" title="427" id="page-427"> </span>habitual Caution in this Respect; and give in +their Testimony against the horrid, I had almost +said, the criminal Imprudence, of People's amusing +themselves with such Tricks as may lead to +such terrible Accidents; or even holding any +such Substance in their Mouths, as by slipping +down through Imprudence or Accident, may +prove the Occasion of their Death. Is it possible +that any one, without shuddering, can hold +Pins or Needles in their Mouths, after reflecting +on the dreadful Accidents, and cruel Deaths, that +have thus been caused by them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id599">§ 426</span>. It has been shewn already, that Substances +obstructing the Passage of the Gullet +sometimes suffocate the Patient; that at other +Times they can neither be extracted nor thrust +down; but that they stop in the Passage, without +killing the Patient, at least not immediately and +at once. This is the Case when they are so +circumstanced, as not to compress the <em class="italics">Trachæa</em>, +the Wind-pipe, and not totally to prevent the +swallowing of Food; which last Circumstance +can scarcely happen, except the Obstruction has +been formed by angular or pointed Bodies. The +Stoppage of such Bodies is sometimes attended, +and that without much Violence, with a small +Suppuration, which loosens them; and then they +are either returned upwards through the Mouth, +or descend into the Stomach. But at other +Times an extraordinary Inflammation is produced, +which kills the Patient. Or if the Contents +of the Abscess attending the Inflammation +<span class="pageno target" title="428" id="page-428"> </span>tend outwardly, a Tumour is formed on the external +Part of the Neck, which is to be opened, +and through whose Orifice the obstructing Body +is discharged. In other Instances again they take +a different Course, attended with little or no Pain, +and are at length discharged by a Gathering behind +the Neck, on the Breast, the Shoulder, or +various other Parts.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id600">§ 427</span>. Some Persons, astonished at the extraordinary +Course and Progression of such Substances, +which, from their Size, and especially +from their Shape, seem to them incapable of being +introduced into, and in some Sort, circulating +through the human Body, without destroying it, +are very desirous of having the Rout and Progression +of such intruding Substances explained +to them. To gratify such Inquirers, I may be +indulged in a short Digression, which perhaps is +the less foreign to my Plan; as in dissipating +what seems marvelous, and has been thought +supernatural in such Cases, I may demolish that +superstitious Prejudice, which has often ascribed +Effects of this Sort to Witchcraft; but which +admit of an easy Explanation. This very Reason +is the Motive that has determined me to give a +further Extent to this Chapter.</p> +<p class="pnext">Wherever an Incision is made through the +Skin, a certain Membrane appears, which consists +of two Coats or <em class="italics">Laminæ</em>, separated from +each other by small Cells or Cavities, which all +communicate together; and which are furnished, +more or less, with Fat. There is not any Fat +<span class="pageno target" title="429" id="page-429"> </span>throughout the human Body, which is not inclosed +in, or enveloped with, this Coat, which is +called the adipose, fatty, or cellular Membrane.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Membrane is not only found under the +Skin, but further plying and insinuating itself in +various Manners, it is extended throughout the +whole Body. It distinguishes and separates all +the Muscles; it constitutes a Part of the Stomach, +of the Guts, of the Bladder, and of all the <em class="italics">Viscera</em> +or Bowels. It is this which forms what is +called the Cawl, and which also furnishes a +Sheath or Envelopement to the Veins, Arteries, +and Nerves. In some Parts it is very thick, and +is abundantly replenished with Fat; in others it is +very thin and unprovided with any; but wherever +it extends, it is wholly insensible, or void of all +Sensation, all Feeling.</p> +<p class="pnext">It may be compared to a quilted Coverlet, the +Cotton, or other Stuffing of which, is unequally +distributed; greatly abounding in some Places, +with none at all in others, so that in these the Stuff +above and below touch each other. Within this +Membrane, or Coverlet, as it were, such extraneous +or foreign Substances are moved about; +and as there is a general Communication throughout +the whole Extent of the Membrane, it is no +ways surprizing, that they are moved from one +Part to another very distant, in a long Course and +Duration of Movement. Officers and Soldiers +very often experience, that Bullets which do not +pass through the Parts where they have entered, +are transferred to very different and remote ones.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="430" id="page-430"> </span>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 throughout +the whole Carcase of a Calf, by a small Incision +in the Skin, into which they introduce a Pipe +or the Nozzle of a small Bellows; and then, +blowing forcibly, the Air evidently puffs up the +whole Body of the Calf into this artificial Tumour +or Swelling.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some very criminal Impostors have availed +themselves of this wicked Contrivance, thus to +bloat up Children into a Kind of Monsters, which +they afterwards expose to View for Money.</p> +<p class="pnext">In this cellular Membrane the extravasated +Waters of hydropic Patients are commonly diffused; +and here they give Way to that Motion, to +which their own Weight disposes them. But +here I may be asked—As this Membrane is +crossed and intersected in different Parts of it, by +Nerves, Veins, Arteries, <em class="italics">&c.</em> the wounding of +which unavoidably occasions grievous Symptoms, +how comes it, that such do not ensue upon the +Intrusion of such noxious Substances? To this I +answer, 1, that such Symptoms do sometimes +really ensue; and 2, that nevertheless they must +happen but seldom, by Reason that all the aforesaid +Parts, which traverse and intersect this Membrane, +being harder than the Fat it contains; +such foreign Substances must almost necessarily, +whenever they rencounter those Parts, be turned +aside towards the Fat which surrounds them, +<span class="pageno target" title="431" id="page-431"> </span>whose Resistance is very considerably less; and +this the more certainly so, as these Nerves, <em class="italics">&c.</em> +are always of a cylindrical Form.——But to +return from this necessary Digression.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id601">§ 428</span>. To all these Methods and Expedients +I have already recommended on the important +Subject of this Chapter, I shall further add some +general Directions.</p> +<p class="pnext">1. It is often useful, and even necessary, to +take a considerable Quantity of Blood from the +Arm; but especially if the Patient's Respiration, +or Breathing, is extremely oppressed; or when +we cannot speedily succeed in our Efforts to remove +the obstructing Substance; as the Bleeding +is adapted to prevent the Inflammation, which +the frequent Irritations from such Substances occasion; +and as by its disposing the whole Body +into a State of Relaxation, it might possibly procure +an immediate Discharge of the offending +Substance.</p> +<p class="pnext">2. Whenever it is manifest that all Endeavours, +either to extract, or to push down the Substance +stopt in the Passage, are ineffectual, they should +be discontinued; because the Inflammation occasioned +by persisting in them, would be as dangerous +as the Obstruction itself; as there have +been Instances of People's dying in Consequence +of the Inflammation; notwithstanding the Body, +which caused the Obstruction, had been entirely +removed.</p> +<p class="pnext">3. While the Means already advised are making +Use of, the Patient should often swallow, or +<span class="pageno target" title="432" id="page-432"> </span>if he cannot, he should frequently receive by Injection +through a crooked Tube or Pipe, that +may reach lower down than the <em class="italics">Glottis</em>, some +very emollient 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 arise from this; the first is, that +these softening Liquors smooth and sooth the irritated +Parts; and secondly, an Injection, strongly +thrown in, has often been more successful in +loosening the obstructing Body, than all Attempts +with Instruments.</p> +<p class="pnext">4. When after all we are obliged to leave this +in the Part, the Patient must be treated as if he +had an inflammatory Disease; he must be bled, +ordered to a Regimen, and have his whole Neck +surrounded with emollient Pultices. The like +Treatment must also be used, though the obstructing +Substance be removed; if there is Room +to suppose any Inflammation left in the Passage.</p> +<p class="pnext">5. A proper Degree of Agitation has sometimes +loosened the inhering Body, more effectually than +Instruments. It has been experienced that a +Blow with the Fist on the Spine, the Middle of +the Back, has often disengaged such obstructed +and obstructing Bodies; and I have known two Instances +of Patients who had Pins stopt in the Passage; +and who getting on Horseback to ride out in +Search of Relief at a neighbouring Village, found +each of them the Pin disengaged after an Hour's +riding: One spat it out, and the other swallowed +it, without any ill Consequence.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="no-6-of-the-preceding-section"><span class="pageno target" title="433" id="page-433"> </span>6. When there is an immediate Apprehension +of the Patient's being suffocated; when bleeding +him has been of no Service; when all Hope of +freeing the Passage in time is vanished, and Death +seems at Hand, if Respiration be not restored; +the Operation of <em class="italics">Bronchotomy</em>, or opening of the +Wind-pipe, must be directly performed; an +Operation neither difficult to a tolerably knowing +and expert Surgeon, nor very painful to the Patient.</p> +<p class="pnext">7. When the Substance that was stopt passes +into the Stomach, the Patient must immediately +be put into a very mild and smooth Regimen. +He should avoid all sharp, irritating, inflaming +Food; Wine, spirituous Liquors, all strong +Drink, and Coffee; taking but little Nourishment +at once, and no Solids, without their having +been thoroughly well chewed. The best +Diet would be that of farinaceous mealy Soups, +made of various leguminous Grains, and of Milk +and Water, which is much better than the usual +Custom of swallowing different Oils.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id602">§ 429</span>. The Author of Nature has provided, +that in eating, nothing should pass by the <em class="italics">Glottis</em> +into the Wind-pipe. This Misfortune nevertheless +does sometimes happen; at which very Instant +there ensues an incessant and violent Cough, +an acute Pain, with Suffocation; all the Blood +being forced up into the Head, the Patient is in +extreme Anguish, being agitated with violent +and involuntary Motions, and sometimes dying +on the Spot. A <em class="italics">Hungarian</em> Grenadier, by Trade +<span class="pageno target" title="434" id="page-434"> </span>a Shoemaker, was eating and working at the +same time. He tumbled at once from his Seat, +without uttering a single Word. His Comrades +called out for Assistance; some Surgeons speedily +arrived, but after all their Endeavours he discovered +no Token of Life. On opening the Body, +they found a Lump, or large Morsel, of Beef, +weighing two Ounces, forced into the Windpipe, +which it plugged up so exactly, that not +the least Air could pass through it into the Lungs.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id603">§ 430</span>. In a Case so circumstanced, the Patient +should be struck often on the Middle of the +Back; some Efforts to vomit should be excited; +he should be prompted to sneeze with Powder of +Lilly of the Valley, Sage, or any cephalic Snuffs, +which should be blown strongly up his Nose.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Pea, pitched into the Mouth in playing, entered +into the Wind-pipe, and sprung out again +by vomiting the Patient with Oil. A little Bone +was brought up by making another sneeze, with +powdered Lilly of the Valley.</p> +<p class="pnext">In short, if all these Means of assisting, or saving +the Patient are evidently ineffectual, <em class="italics">Bronchotomy</em> +must be speedily performed (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#no-6-of-the-preceding-section">Nº. 6, of +the preceding Section</a>.) By this Operation, some +Bones, a Bean, and a Fish-bone have been extracted, +and the Patient has been delivered from +approaching Death.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id604">§ 431</span>. Nothing should be left untried, when +the Preservation of human Life is the Object. In +those Cases, when an obstructing Body can neither +be disengaged from the Throat, the Passage +<span class="pageno target" title="435" id="page-435"> </span>to the Stomach, nor be suffered to remain there +without speedily killing the Patient, it has been +proposed to make an Incision into this Passage, +the <em class="italics">Oesophagus</em>, through which such a Body is to +be extracted; and to employ the like Means, +when a Substance which had slipt even into the +Stomach itself, was of a Nature to excite such +Symptoms, as must speedily destroy the Patient.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the <em class="italics">Oesophagus</em> is so fully and strongly +closed, that the Patient can receive no Food by +the Mouth, he is to be nourished by Glysters of +Soup, Gelly, and the like.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head467-chapter-xxx"> +<span id="chap-xxx"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i467a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXX.</span></h2> +<blockquote class="epigraph" id="of-disorders-requiring-the-assistance-of-a-surgeon"><div> +<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Of external Disorders, and such as require chirurgical +Application. Of Burns, Wounds, Contusions +or Bruises: Of Sprains, Ulcers, frostbitten +Limbs, Chilblains, Ruptures, Boils. +Of Fellons, Thorns or Splinters in the Fingers or +Flesh; of Warts, and of Corns.</em></p> +</div></blockquote> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 432.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="L" src="images/i467b.png"/>abouring Countrymen are exposed in +the Course of their daily Work, to many +outward Accidents, such as Cuts, +Contusions, <em class="italics">&c</em>. which, however considerable +in themselves, very generally end happily; +and that chiefly in Consequence of the pure +<span class="pageno target" title="436" id="page-436"> </span>and simple Nature of their Blood, which is generally +much less acrimonious, or sharp, in the +Country, than in great Towns or Cities. Nevertheless, +the very improper Treatment of such +Accidents, in the Country, frequently renders +them, however light in themselves, very troublesome; +and indeed, I have seen so many Instances +of this, that I have thought it necessary to mark +out here the proper Treatment of such Accidents, +as may not necessarily require the Hand or Attendance +of a Surgeon. I shall also add something +very briefly, concerning some external Disorders, +which at the same Time result from an +inward Cause.</p> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-burns"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Burns.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id605">§ 433</span>. When a Burn is very trifling and superficial, +and occasions no Vesication or Blister, +it is sufficient to clap a Compress of several 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 +blistered, a Compress of very fine Linen, spread +over with the Pomatum, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id888">Nº. 64</a>, should be applied +over it, and changed twice a Day.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the true Skin is burnt, and even the Muscles, +the Flesh under it, be injured, the same Pomatum +may be applied; but instead of a Compress, it +should be spread upon a Pledget of soft Lint, to +be applied very exactly over it, and over the +Pledget again, a Slip of the simple Plaister <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id889">Nº. 65</a>, +<span class="pageno target" title="437" id="page-437"> </span>which every Body may easily prepare; or, if they +should prefer it, the Plaister <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id890">Nº. 66</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">But, independently of these external Applications, +which are the most effectual ones, when +they are directly to be had; whenever the Burn +has been very violent, is highly inflamed, and we +are apprehensive of the Progress and the Consequences +of the Inflammation, the same Means +and Remedies must be recurred to, which are +used in violent Inflammations: the Patient should +be bled, and, if it is necessary, it should be repeated +more than once, and he should be put into a +Regimen; drink nothing but the Ptisans <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a> +and <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">4</a>, and receive daily two simple Glysters.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Ingredients for the Ointment, called +<em class="italics">Nutritum</em>, are not at Hand to make the Pomatum +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id888">Nº. 64</a>; one Part of Wax should be melted +in eight such Parts of Oil, to two Ounces of +which Mixture the Yolk of an Egg should be +added. A still more simple and sooner prepared +Application, is that of one Egg, both the Yolk +and the White, beat up with two common +Spoonfuls of the sweetest Oil, without any Rankness. +When the Pain of the Burn, and all its +other Symptoms have very nearly disappeared, it +is sufficient to apply the Sparadrap, or Oil-cloth +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id890">Nº. 66</a>.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-wounds"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Wounds.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id606">§ 434</span>. If a Wound has penetrated into any of +the Cavities, and has wounded any Part contained +<span class="pageno target" title="438" id="page-438"> </span>in the Breast, or in the Belly: Or if, without +having entered into one of the Cavities, it has +opened some great Blood-vessel; or if it has +wounded a considerable Nerve, which occasions +Symptoms much more violent, than would otherwise +have happened; if it has penetrated even to +and injured the Bone: in short, if any great and +severe Symptom supervenes, there is an absolute +Necessity for calling in a Surgeon. But whenever +the Wound is not attended with any of these +Circumstances; when it affects only the Skin, +the fat Membrane beneath it, the fleshy Parts and +the small Vessels, it may be easily and simply +dressed without such Assistance; since, in general, +all that is truly necessary in such Cases is, to defend +the Wound from the Impressions of the Air; +and yet not so, as to give any material Obstruction +to the Discharge of the Matter, that is to issue +from the Wound.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id607">§ 435</span>. If the Blood does not particularly flow +out of any considerable Vessel, but trickles almost +equally from every Spot of the Wound, it may +very safely be permitted to bleed, while some +Lint is speedily preparing. As soon as the Lint +is ready, so 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 Inconveniences as +Tents and Dossils. It should be covered over +with a Compress dipt in sweet Oil, or with the +Cerecloth <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id889">Nº. 65</a>; though I prefer the Compress +for the earliest Dressings: and the whole +<span class="pageno target" title="439" id="page-439"> </span>Dressing should be kept on, with a Bandage of +two Fingers Breadth, and of a Length proportioned +to the Size of the Part it is to surround: +This should be rolled on tight enough to secure +the Dressings, and yet so moderately, as to bring +on no Inflammation.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Bandage with these Dressings are to remain +on twenty-four or forty-eight Hours; +Wounds being healed the sooner, for being less +frequently drest. At the second Dressing all the +Lint must be removed, which can be done with +Ease, and with reasonable Speed, to the Wounded; +and if any of it should stick close, in Consequence +of the clogged and dried Blood, it should +be left behind, adding a little fresh Lint to it; +this Dressing in other Respects exactly resembling +the first.</p> +<p class="pnext">When, from the Continuance of this simple +Dressing, the Wound is become very superficial, +it is sufficient to apply the Cerecloth, or Plaister, +without any Lint.</p> +<p class="pnext">Such as have conceived an extraordinary Opinion +of any medical Oils, impregnated with the +Virtues of particular Plants, may, if that will increase +their Satisfaction, make use of the common +Oil of Yarrow, of Trefoil, of Lilies, of Chamomile, +of Balsamines, or of red Roses; only being +very careful, that such Oils are not become stale +and rank.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id608">§ 436</span>. When the Wound is considerable, it +must be expected to inflame before Suppuration +(which, in such a Case, advances more slowly) +<span class="pageno target" title="440" id="page-440"> </span>can ensue; which Inflammation will necessarily +be attended with Pain, with a Fever, and sometimes +with a Raving, or Wandering, too. In +such a Situation, a Pultice of Bread and Milk, +with the Addition of a little Oil, that it may not +stick too close, must be applied instead of the +Compress or the Plaister: which Pultice is to be +changed, but without uncovering the Wound, +thrice and even four times every Day.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id609">§ 437</span>. Should some pretty considerable Blood-vessel +be opened by the Wound, there must be +applied over it, a Piece of Agaric of the Oak, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id891">Nº. 67</a>, with which no Country place ought to +be unprovided. It is to be kept on, by applying +a good deal of Lint over it; covering the whole +with a thick Compress, and then with a Bandage +a little tighter than usual. If this should not be +sufficient to prevent the Bleeding from the large +Vessel, and the Wound be in the Leg or Arm, a +strong Ligature must be made above the Wound +with a <em class="italics">Turniquet</em>, which is made in a Moment +with a Skain of Thread, or of Hemp, that is +passed round the Arm circularly, into the Middle +of which is inserted a Piece of Wood or Stick +of an Inch Thickness, and four or five Inches +long; so that by turning round this Piece of +Wood, any Tightness or Compression may be +effected at Pleasure; exactly as a Country-man +secures a Hogshead, or a Piece of Timber on his +Cart, with a Chain and Ring. But Care must +be taken, 1, to dispose the Skain in such a Manner, +that it must always be two Inches wider +<span class="pageno target" title="441" id="page-441"> </span>than the Part it surrounds: and, 2, not to strain +it so tight as to bring on an Inflammation, which +might terminate in a Gangrene.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id610">§ 438</span>. All the boasted Virtues of a Multitude +of Ointments are downright Nonsense or Quackery. +Art, strictly considered, does not in the least +contribute to the healing of Wounds; the utmost +we can do amounting only to our removing +those Accidents, which are so many Obstacles to +their Re-union. On this Account, if there is +any extraneous Body in the Wound, such as +Iron, Lead, Wood, Glass, Bits of Cloth or +Linen, they must be extracted, if that can be +very easily done; but if not, Application must +be made to a good Surgeon, who considers what +Measures are to be taken, and then dresses the +Wound, as I have already advised.</p> +<p class="pnext">Very far from being useful, there are many +Ointments that are pernicious on these Occasions; +and the only Cases in which they should be used, +are those in which the Wounds are distinguished +with some particular Appearances, which ought +to be removed by particular Applications: But a +simple recent Wound, in a healthy Man, requires +no other Treatment but what I have already +directed, besides that of the general Regimen.</p> +<p class="pnext">Spirituous Applications are commonly hurtful, +and can be suitable and proper but in a few Cases, +which Physicians and Surgeons only can distinguish.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="442" id="page-442"> </span>When Wounds occur in the Head, instead of +the Compress dipt in Oil, or of the Cerecloth, +the Wound should be covered with a Betony +Plaister; or, when none is to be had in time, +with a Compress squeezed out of hot Wine.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id611">§ 439</span>. As the following Symptoms, of which +we should be most apprehensive, are such as attend +on Inflammations, the Means we ought to +have Recourse to are those which are most likely +to prevent them; such as Bleeding, the usual +Regimen, moderate Coolers and Glysters.</p> +<p class="pnext">Should the Wound be very inconsiderable in +its Degree, and in its Situation, it may be sufficient +to avoid taking any Thing heating; and +above all Things to retrench the Use of any strong +Drink, and of Flesh-meat.</p> +<p class="pnext">But when it is considerable, and an Inflammation +must be expected, there is a Necessity for +Bleeding; the Patient should be kept in the most +quiet and easy Situation; he should be ordered +immediately to a Regimen; and sometimes the +Bleeding also must be repeated. Now all these +Means are the more indispensably necessary, when +the Wound has penetrated to some internal Part; +in which Situation, no Remedy is more certain +than that of an extremely light Diet. Such +wounded Persons as have been supposed incapable +of living many Hours, after Wounds in the +Breast, in the Belly, or in the Kidnies, have +been completely recovered, by living for the +Course of several Weeks, on nothing but a Barley, +or other farinaceous mealy, Ptisans, without +<span class="pageno target" title="443" id="page-443"> </span>Salt, without Soup, without any Medicine; +and especially without the Use of any Ointments.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id612">§ 440</span>. In the same Proportion that Bleeding, +moderately and judiciously employed, is serviceable, +in that very same an Excess of it becomes +pernicious. Great Wounds are generally attended +with a considerable Loss of Blood, which has +already exhausted the wounded Person; and the +Fever is often a Consequence of this copious Loss +of Blood. Now if under such a Circumstance, +Bleeding should be ordered and performed, the +Patient's Strength is totally sunk; the Humours +stagnate and corrupt; a Gangrene supervenes, +and he dies miserably, at the End of two or three +Days, of a <em class="italics">Series</em> of repeated Bleedings, but not +of the Wound. Notwithstanding the Certainty +of this, the Surgeon frequently boasts of his ten, +twelve, or even his fifteen Bleedings; assuring +his Hearers of the insuperable Mortality of the +Wound, since the letting out such a Quantity of +Blood could not recover the Patient; when it +really was that excessive artificial Profusion of it, +that downright dispatched him.———The +Pleasures of Love are very mortal ones to the +Wounded.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id613">§ 441</span>. The Balsams and vulnerary Plants, +which have often been so highly celebrated for the +Cure of Wounds, are very noxious, when taken +inwardly; because the Introduction of them gives +or heightens the Fever, which ought to have been +abated.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-contusions-or-bruises"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="444" id="page-444"> </span><em class="italics">Of Contusions, or Bruises.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id614">§ 442</span>. A Contusion, which is commonly +called a Bruise, is the Effect of the forcible Impression +or Stroke of a Substance not sharp or +cutting, on the Body of a Man, or any Animal; +whether such an Impression 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 forced against a Post, a Stone, +or any hard Substance by a Fall; or whether, in +short, he is squeezed and oppressed betwixt two +hard Bodies, as when his Finger is squeezed betwixt +the Door and the Door-Post, or the whole +Body jammed in betwixt any Carriage and the +Wall. These Bruises, however, are still more +frequent in the Country than Wounds, and commonly +more dangerous too; and indeed the more +so, as we cannot judge so exactly, and so soon, +of the whole Injury that has been incurred; and +because all that is immediately visible of it is often +but a small Part of the real Damage attending it: +since it frequently happens that no Hurt appears +for a few successive Days; nor does it become +manifest, until it is too late to admit of an effectual +Cure.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id615">§ 443</span>. It is but a few Weeks since a Cooper +came to ask my Advice. His Manner of breathing, +his Aspect, the Quickness, Smallness, and +Irregularity of his Pulse, made me apprehensive at +once, that some Matter was formed within his Breast. +<span class="pageno target" title="445" id="page-445"> </span>Nevertheless he still kept up, and went about, +working also at some Part of his Trade. He +had fallen in removing some Casks or Hogsheads; +and the whole Weight of his Body had been +violently impressed upon the right Side of his +Breast. Notwithstanding this, he was sensible +of no Hurt at first; but some Days afterwards he +began to feel a dull heavy Pain in that Part, +which continued and brought on a Difficulty of +Breathing, Weakness, broken Sleep and Loss of +Appetite. I ordered him immediately to Stillness +and Repose, and I advised him to drink a Ptisan +of Barley sweetened with Honey, in a plentiful +Quantity. He regularly obeyed only the latter +Part of my Directions: yet on meeting him a +few Days after, he told me he was better. The +very same Week, however, I was informed he +had been found dead in his Bed. The Imposthume +had undoubtedly broke, and suffocated +him.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id616">§ 444</span>. A young Man, run away with by his +Horse, was forced with Violence against a Stable-Door, +without being sensible of any Damage +at the Time. But at the Expiration of twelve +Days, he found himself attacked by some such +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 really was, above a Month. In +short, it was agreed at a Consultation, that Matter +was collected in the Breast. In Consequence +of this, he was more properly attended, and at +<span class="pageno target" title="446" id="page-446"> </span>length happily cured by the Operation for an +<em class="italics">Empyema</em>, after languishing a whole Year. I +have published these two Instances, to demonstrate +the great Danger of neglecting violent +Strokes or Bruises; since the first of these Patients +might have escaped Death; and the second +a tedious and afflicting Disorder, if they had +taken, immediately after each Accident, the necessary +Precautions against its Consequences.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id617">§ 445</span>. Whenever any Part is bruised, one of +two Things always ensues, and commonly both +happen together; especially if the Contusion is +pretty considerable: Either the small Blood-vessels +of the contused Part are broken, and the +Blood they contained is spread about in the adjoining +Parts; or else, without such an Effusion +of it, these Vessels have lost their Tone, their +active Force, and no longer contributing to the +Circulation, their Contents stagnate. In each of +these Cases, if Nature, either without or with +the Assistance of Art, does not remove the Impediment, +an Inflammation comes on, attended +with an imperfect, unkindly Suppuration, with +Putrefaction and a Gangrene; without mentioning +the Symptoms that arise from the Contusion +of some particular Substance, as a Nerve, a large +Vessel, a Bone, <em class="italics">&c.</em> Hence we may also conceive +the Danger of a Contusion, happening to +any inward Part, from which the Blood is either +internally effused, or the Circulation wholly obstructed +in some vital Organ. This is the Cause +of the sudden Death of Persons after a violent +<span class="pageno target" title="447" id="page-447"> </span>Fall; or of those who have received the violent +Force of heavy descending Bodies on their Heads; +or of some violent Strokes, without any evident +external Hurt or Mark.</p> +<p class="pnext">There have been many Instances of sudden +Deaths after one Blow on the Pit of the Stomach, +which has occasioned a Rupture of the Spleen.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is in Consequence of Falls occasioning a general +slight Contusion, as well internal as external, +that they are sometimes attended with such +grievous Consequences, especially in old Men, +where Nature, already enfeebled, is less able to +redress such Disorders. And thus in Fact has it +been, that many such, who had before enjoyed +a firm State of Health, have immediately lost it +after a Fall (which seemed at first to have affected +them little or not at all) and languished soon +after to the Moment of their Death, which such +Accidents very generally accelerate.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id618">§ 446</span>. Different external and internal Remedies +are applicable in Contusions. When the +Accident has occurred in a slight Degree, and +there has been no great nor general Shock, which +might produce an internal Soreness or Contusion, +external Applications may be sufficient. They +should consist of such Things as are adapted, +first, to attenuate and resolve the effused and +stagnant Blood, which shews itself so apparently; +and which, from its manifest Blackness very +soon after the Contusion, becomes successively +brown, yellow, and greyish, in Proportions as the +Magnitude of the Suffusion or Sealing decreases, +<span class="pageno target" title="448" id="page-448"> </span>till at last it disappears entirely, and the Skin recovers +its Colour, without the Blood's having been +discharged through the external Surface, as it +has been insensibly and gradually dissolved, and +been taken in again by the Vessels: And secondly, +the Medicines should be such as are qualified to +restore the Tone, and to recover the Strength of +the affected Vessels.</p> +<p class="pnext">The best Application is Vinegar, diluted, if +very sharp, with twice as much warm Water; +in which Mixture Folds of Linnen are to be +dipt, within which the contused Parts are to be +involved; and these Folds are to be remoistened +and re-applied every two Hours on the first +Day.</p> +<p class="pnext">Parsley, Chervil, and Houseleek Leaves, lightly +pounded, have also been successfully employed; +and these Applications are preferable to +Vinegar, when a Wound is joined to the Bruise. +The Pultices, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id894">Nº. 68</a>, may also be used with +Advantage.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id619">§ 447</span>. It has been a common Practice immediately +to apply spirituous Liquors, such as Brandy, +Arquebussade and <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id621" id="id620"><sup>97</sup></a> Alibour Water, and the +like; but a long Abuse ought not to be established +by Prescription. These Liquids which coagulate +the Blood, instead of resolving it, are truly pernicious; +notwithstanding they are sometimes +<span class="pageno target" title="449" id="page-449"> </span>employed without any visible Disadvantage on very +slight Occasions. Frequently by determining +the settled Blood towards the Insterstices of the +Muscles, the fleshy Parts; or sometimes even by +preventing the Effusion, or visible Settling of +the Blood, and fixing it, as it were, within the +bruised Vessels, they seem to be well; though +this only arises from their concentring and concealing +the Evil, which, at the End of a few +Months, breaks forth again in a very troublesome +Shape. Of this I have seen some miserable Examples, +whence it has been abundantly evinced, +that Applications of this Sort should never be admitted; +and that Vinegar should be used instead +of them. At the utmost it should only be allowed, +(after there is Reason to suppose all the stagnant +Blood resolved and resorbed into the Circulation) +to add a third Part of Arquebusade Water +to the Vinegar; with an Intention to restore some +Strength to the relaxed and weakened Parts.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id622">§ 448</span>. It is still a more pernicious Practice to +apply, in Bruises, Plaisters composed of greasy +Substances, Rosins, Gums, Earths, <em class="italics">&c.</em> The +most boasted of these is always hurtful, and there +have been many Instances of very slight Contusions +being aggravated into Gangrenes by such +Plaisters ignorantly applied; which Bruises would +have been entirely subdued by the Oeconomy of +Nature, if left to herself, in the Space of four +Days.</p> +<p class="pnext">Those Sacs or Suffusions of coagulated Blood, +which are visible under the Skin, should never +<span class="pageno target" title="450" id="page-450"> </span>be opened, except for some urgent Reason; since +however large they may be, they insensibly disappear +and dissipate; instead of which Termination, +by opening them, they sometimes terminate +in a dangerous Ulceration.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id623">§ 449</span>. The internal Treatment of Contusions +is exactly the same with that of Wounds; only +that in these Cases the best Drink is the Prescription, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id793">Nº. 1</a>, to each Pot of which a Drachm of +Nitre must be added.</p> +<p class="pnext">When any Person has got a violent Fall; has +lost his Senses, or is become very stupid; when +the Blood starts out of his Nostrils, or his Ears; +when he is greatly oppressed, or his Belly feels +very tight and tense, which import an Effusion +of Blood either into the Head, the Breast or the +Belly, he must, first of all, be bled upon the +Spot, and all the Means must be recurred to, +which have been mentioned <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id611">§ 439</a>, giving the +wretched Patient the least possible Disturbance +or Motion; and by all means avoiding to jog or +shake him, with a Design to bring him to his +Senses; which would be directly and effectually +killing him, by causing a further Effusion of +Blood. Instead of this the whole Body should +be fomented, with some one of the Decoctions +already mentioned: and when the Violence +has been chiefly impressed on the Head, Wine +and Water should be prefered to Vinegar.</p> +<p class="pnext">Falls attended with Wounds, and even a +Fracture of the Skull, and with the most alarming +Symptoms, have been cured by these internal +<span class="pageno target" title="451" id="page-451"> </span>Remedies, and without any other external Assistance, +except the Use of the aromatic Fomentation, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id894">Nº. 68</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Man from <em class="italics">Pully-petit</em> came to consult me +some Months ago, concerning his Father, who +had a high Fall out of a Tree. He had been +twenty-four Hours without Feeling or Sense, and +without any other Motion than frequent Efforts +to vomit; and Blood had issued both from his +Nose and Ears. He had no visible outward Hurt +neither on his Head, nor any other Part; and, +very fortunately for him, they had not as yet exerted +the least Effort to relieve him. I immediately +directed a plentiful Bleeding in the Arm; +and a large Quantity of Whey sweetened with +Honey to be drank, and to be also injected by +Way of Glyster. This Advice was very punctually +observed; and fifteen Days after the Father +came to <em class="italics">Lausanne</em>, which is four Leagues from +<em class="italics">Pully-petit</em>, and told me he was very well. It is +proper, in all considerable Bruises, to open the +Patient's Belly with a mild cooling Purge, such +as <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id813">Nº. 11</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">23</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id842">32</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id865">49</a>. The Prescription +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>, and the honyed Whey are excellent Remedies, +from the same Reason.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id624">§ 450</span>. In these Circumstances, Wine, distiled +Spirits, and whatever has been supposed to revive +and to rouse, is mortal. For this Reason +People should not be too impatient, because the +Patients remain some Time without Sense or +Feeling. The giving of Turpentine is more +likely to do Mischief than Good; and if it has +<span class="pageno target" title="452" id="page-452"> </span>been sometimes serviceable, it must have been in +Consequence of its purging the Patient, who probably +then needed to be purged. The Fat of a +Whale, (<em class="italics">Sperma cæti</em>) Dragons Blood, Crabs-Eyes, +and Ointments of whatsoever Sort are at +least useless and dangerous Medicine, if the Case +be very hazardous; either by the Mischief they +do, or the Good they prevent from being done. +The proper Indication is to dilute the Blood, to +render it more fluid and disposed to circulate; +and the Medicines just mentioned produce a very +contrary Effect.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id625">§ 451</span>. When an aged Person gets a Fall, +which is the more dangerous in Proportion to his +Age and Grossness; notwithstanding he should +not seem in the least incommoded by it, if he is +sanguine and still somewhat vigorous, he should +part with three or four Ounces of Blood. He +should take immediately a few successive Cups of +a lightly aromatic Drink, which should be given +him hot; such, for Instance, as an Infusion of +Tea sweetened with Honey, and he should be +advised to move gently about. He must retrench +a little from the usual Quantity of his Food, and +accustom himself to very gentle, but very frequent, +Exercise.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id626">§ 452</span>. Sprains or Wrenches, which very often +happen, produce a Kind of Contusion, in the +Parts adjoining to the sprained Joint. This Contusion +is caused by the violent Friction of the +Bone against the neighbouring Parts; and as soon +as the Bones are immediately returned into their +<span class="pageno target" title="453" id="page-453"> </span>proper Situation, the Disorder should be treated +as a Contusion. Indeed if the Bones should not +of themselves return into their proper natural +Position, Recourse must be had to the Hand of +a Surgeon.</p> +<p class="pnext">The best Remedy in this Case is absolute Rest +and Repose, after applying a Compress moistened +in Vinegar and Water, which is to be renewed +and continued, till the Marks of the Contusion +entirely disappear; and there remains not the +smallest Apprehension of an Inflammation. Then +indeed, and not before, a little Brandy or Arquebusade +Water may be added to the Vinegar; +and the Part (which is almost constantly the +Foot) should be strengthened and secured for a +considerable Time with a Bandage; as it might +otherwise be liable to fresh Sprains, which would +daily more and more enfeeble it: and if this Evil +is overlooked too much in its Infancy, the Part +never recovers its full Strength; and a small +Swelling often remains to the End of the Patient's +Life.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Sprain is very slight and moderate, a +Plunging of the Part into cold Water is excellent; +but if this is not done at once immediately +after the Sprain, or if the Contusion is violent, +it is even hurtful.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Custom of rolling the naked Foot upon +some round Body is insufficient, when the Bones +are not perfectly replaced; and hurtful, when +the Sprain is accompanied with a Contusion.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="454" id="page-454"> </span>It happens continually almost that Country +People, who encounter such Accidents, apply +themselves either to ignorant or knavish Imposters, +who find, or are determined to find, a Disorder +or <span class="target" id="dislocation">Dislocation</span> of the Bones, where there is +none; and who, by their violent Manner of +handling the Parts, or by the Plaisters they surround +them with, bring on a dangerous Inflammation, +and change the Patient's Dread of a small +Disorder, into a very grievous Malady.</p> +<p class="pnext">These are the very Persons who have created, +or indeed rather imagined, some impossible Diseases, +such as the Opening, the Splitting of the +Stomach, and of the Kidnies. But these big +Words terrify the poor Country People, and +dispose them to be more easily and effectually +duped.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-ulcers"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Ulcers.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id627">§ 453</span>. Whenever Ulcers arise from a general +Fault of the Blood, it is impossible to cure them, +without destroying the Cause 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 Assistant effectually heals +and closes them.</p> +<p class="pnext">But, for the greater Part, Ulcers in the Country +are the Consequence of some Wound, Bruise, +or Tumour improperly treated; and especially +of such as have been dressed with too sharp, or +too spirituous Applications. Rancid Oils are also +<span class="pageno target" title="455" id="page-455"> </span>one of the Causes, which change the most simple +Wounds into obstinate Ulcers, for which +Reason they should be avoided; and Apothecaries +should be careful, when they compound greasy +Ointments, to make but little at a Time, and +the oftner, as a very considerable Quantity of +any of them becomes rank before it is all sold; +notwithstanding sweet fresh Oil may have been +employed in preparing them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id628">§ 454</span>. What serves to distinguish Ulcers from +Wounds, is the Dryness and Hardness of the +Sides or Borders of Ulcers, and the Quality of +the Humour discharged from them; which, instead +of being ripe consistent Matter, is a Liquid +more thin, less white, sometimes yielding a disagreable +Scent, and so very sharp, that if it touch +the adjoining Skin, it produces Redness, Inflammation, +or Pustules there; sometimes a serpiginous, +or Ring-worm like Eruption, and even +a further Ulceration.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id629">§ 455</span>. Such Ulcers as are of a long Duration, +which spread wide, and discharge much, prey +upon the Patient, and throw him into a slow +Fever, which melts and consumes him. Besides, +when an Ulcer is of a long Standing, it is +dangerous to dry it up; and indeed this never +should be done, but by substituting in the Place +of one Discharge that is become almost natural, +some other Evacuation, such as Purging from +Time to Time.</p> +<p class="pnext">We may daily see sudden Deaths, or very tormenting +Diseases, ensue the sudden drying up +<span class="pageno target" title="456" id="page-456"> </span>such Humours and Drains as have been of a long +Continuance: and whenever any Quack (and as +many as promise the speedy Cure of such, deserve +that Title) assures the Patient of his curing +an inveterate Ulcer in a few Days, he demonstrates +himself to be a very dangerous and ignorant +Intermeddler, who must kill the Patient, if +he keeps his Word. Some of these impudent +Impostors make use of the most corrosive Applications, +and even arsenical ones; notwithstanding +the most violent Death is generally the Consequence +of them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id630">§ 456</span>. The utmost that Art can effect, with +Regard to Ulcers, which do not arise from any +Fault in the Humours, is to change them into +Wounds. To this End, the Hardness and Dryness +of the Edges of the Ulcer, and indeed of +the whole Ulcer, must be diminished, and its +Inflammation removed. But sometimes the +Hardness is so obstinate, that this cannot be +mollified any other Way, than by scarifying the +Edges with a Lancet. But when it may be +effected by other Means, let a Pledget spread +with the Ointment, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id895">Nº. 69</a>, be applied all over +the Ulcer; and this Pledget be covered again +with a Compress of several Folds, moistened in +the Liquid, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id898">Nº. 70</a>, which should be renewed +three times daily; though it is sufficient to apply +a fresh Pledget only twice.</p> +<p class="pnext">As I have already affirmed that Ulcers were often +the Consequence of sharp and spirituous Dressings, +it is evident such should be abstained from, +<span class="pageno target" title="457" id="page-457"> </span>without which Abstinence they will prove incurable.</p> +<p class="pnext">To forward the Cure, salted Food, Spices, and +strong Drink should be avoided; the Quantity of +Flesh-meat should be lessened; and the Body be +kept open by a Regimen of Pulse, of Vegetables, +and by the habitual Use of Whey sweetened +with Honey.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Ulcers are in the Legs, a very common +Situation of them, it is of great Importance, as +well as in Wounds of the same Parts, that the +Patient should walk about but little; and yet +never stand up without walking. This indeed is +one of these Cases, in which those, who have +some Credit and Influence in the Estimation of +the People, should omit nothing to make them +thoroughly comprehend the Necessity of confining +themselves, some Days, to undisturbed Tranquillity +and Rest; and they should also convince +them, that this Term of Rest is so far from being +lost Time, that it is likely to prove their most +profitable Time of Life. Negligence, in this material +Point, changes the slightest Wounds into +Ulcers, and the most trifling Ulcers into obstinate +and incurable ones: insomuch that there is +scarcely any Man, who may not observe some +Family in his Neighbourhood, reduced to the +Hospital, <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id632" id="id631"><sup>98</sup></a> from their having been too inattentive +<span class="pageno target" title="458" id="page-458"> </span>to the due Care of some Complaint of this +Sort.</p> +<p class="pnext">I conclude this Article on Ulcers with repeating, +that those which are owing to some internal +Cause; or even such as happen from an +external one, in Persons of a bad Habit of Body, +frequently require a more particular Treatment.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-frozen-limbs"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Frozen Limbs.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id633">§ 457</span>. It is but too common, in very rigorous +Winters, for some Persons to be pierced with so +violent a Degree of Cold, that their Hands or +Feet, or sometimes both together are frozen at +once, just like a Piece of Flesh-meat exposed to +the Air.</p> +<p class="pnext">If a Person thus pierced with the Cold, dispose +himself to walk about, which seems so natural +and obvious a Means to get warm; and especially, +if he attempts to <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id635" id="id634"><sup>99</sup></a> warm the Parts that have +been frozen, his Case proves irrecoverable. Intolerable +Pains are the Consequence, which +Pains are speedily attended with an incurable +Gangrene; and there is no Means left to save +<span class="pageno target" title="459" id="page-459"> </span>the Patient's Life, but by cutting off the gangrened +Limbs.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was a very late and terrible Example of +this, in the Case of an Inhabitant at <em class="italics">Cossonay</em>, +who had both his Hands frozen. Some greasy +Ointments were applied hot to them, the Consequence +of which was, the Necessity of cutting +off six of his Fingers.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id636">§ 458</span>. In short, there is but one certain Remedy +in such Cases, and this is to convey the +Person affected into some Place where it does not +freeze, but where, however, it is but very moderately +hot, and there continually to apply, to +the frozen Parts, Snow, if it be at hand; and if +not, to keep washing them incessantly, but very +gently (since all Friction would at this Juncture +prove dangerous) in Ice-water, as the <span class="target" id="ice-thaws">Ice thaws</span> +in the Chamber. By this Application the Patients +will be sensible of their Feeling's returning +very gradually to the Part, and that they begin to +recover their Motion. In this State they may +Safely be moved into a Place a little warmer, and +drink some Cups of the Potion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id815">Nº. 13</a>, or of +another of the like Quality.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id637">§ 459</span>. Every Person may be a competent +judge of the manifest Danger of attempting to +relieve such Parts by heating them, and of the +Use of Ice-water, by a common, a daily Experience. +Frozen Pears, Apples, and Radishes, +being put into Water just about to freeze, recover +their former State, and prove quickly eatable. +But if they are put into warm Water, or into a +<span class="pageno target" title="460" id="page-460"> </span>hot Place, Rottenness, which is one Sort of +Gangrene, is the immediate Effect. The following +Case will make this right Method of +treating them still more intelligible, and demonstrate +its Efficacy.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Man was travelling to the Distance of six +Leagues in very cold Weather; the Road being +covered with Snow and Ice. His Shoes, not +being very good, failed him on his March, so +that he walked the three last Leagues bare-footed; +and felt, immediately after the first Half +League, sharp Pains in his Legs and Feet, which +increased as he proceeded. He arrived at his +Journey's End in a Manner nearly deprived of +his lower Extremities. They set him before a +great Fire, heated a Bed well, and put him into +it. His Pains immediately became intolerable: +he was incessantly in the most violent Agitations, +and cried out in the most piercing and affecting +Manner. A Physician, being sent for in the +Night, found his Toes of a blackish Colour, and +beginning to lose their Feeling. His Legs and +the upper Part of his Feet, which were excessively +swelled, of a purplish Red, and varied with +Spots of a violet Colour, were still sensible of +the most excruciating Pains. The Physician ordered +in a Pail of Water from the adjoining River, +adding more to it, and some Ice withal. In +this he obliged the Patient to plunge his Legs; +they were kept in near an Hour, and within +that Time, the Pains became less violent. After +another Hour he ordered a second cold Bath, +<span class="pageno target" title="461" id="page-461"> </span>from which the Patient perceiving still further +Relief, prolonged it to the Extent of two Hours. +During that Time, some Water was taken out +of the Pail, and some Ice and Snow were put +into it. Now his Toes, which had been black, +grew red; the violet Spots in his Legs disappeared; +the Swelling abated; the Pains became +moderate, and intermitted. The Bath was nevertheless +repeated six times; after which there remained +no other Complaint, but that of a great +Tenderness or extraordinary Sensibility in the +Soles of his Feet, which hindered him from +walking. The Parts were afterwards bathed +with some aromatic Fomentations; and he drank +a Ptisan of Sarsaparilla [one of Elder Flowers +would have answered the same Purpose, and have +been less expensive.] On the eighth Day from +his Seizure he was perfectly recovered, and +returned home on Foot on the fifteenth.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id638">§ 460</span>. When cold Weather is extremely severe, +and a Person is exposed to it for a long +Time at once, it proves mortal, in Consequence +of its congealing the Blood, and because it forces +too great a Proportion of Blood up to the Brain; +so that the Patient dies of a Kind of Apoplexy, +which is preceded by a Sleepiness. In this Circumstance +the Traveller, who finds himself +drowsy, should redouble his Efforts to extricate +himself from the eminent Danger he is exposed +to. This Sleep, which he might consider as +some Alleviation of his Sufferings, if indulged, +would prove his last.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="462" id="page-462"> </span><span class="target" id="id639">§ 461</span>. The Remedies in such Cases are the +same with those directed in frozen Limbs. The +Patient must be conducted to an Apartment +rather cold than hot, and be rubbed with Snow +or with Ice-water. There have been many well +attested Instances of this Method; and as such +Cases are still more frequent in more northern +Climates, a Bath of the very coldest Water has +been found the surest Remedy.</p> +<p class="pnext">Since it is known that many People have been +revived, who had remained in the Snow, or +had been exposed to the freezing Air during five, +or even six successive Days, and who had discovered +no one Mark of Life for several Hours, +the utmost Endeavours should be used for the Recovery +of Persons in the like Circumstances and +Situation.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-kibes-or-chilblains"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Kibes, or Chilblains.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id640">§ 462</span>. These troublesome and smarting Complaints +attack the Hands, Feet, Heels, Ears, Nose +and Lips, those of Children especially, and mostly +in Winter; when these Extremities are exposed to +the sudden Changes from hot to cold, and from +cold to hot Weather. They begin with an Inflation +or kind of Swelling, which, at first, occasions +but little Heat, Pain or Itching. Sometimes +they do not exceed this first State, and go +off spontaneously without any Application: But +at other Times (which may be termed the second +Degree of the Disorder, whether it happens from +<span class="pageno target" title="463" id="page-463"> </span>their being neglected, or improperly treated) +their Heat, Redness, Itching and Pain increase +considerably; so that the Patient is often deprived +of the free Use of his Fingers by the Pain, +Swelling and Numbness: in which Case the +Malady is still aggravated, if effectual Means are +not used.</p> +<p class="pnext">Whenever the Inflammation mounts to a still +higher Degree, small Vesications or Blisters are +formed, which are not long without bursting; +when they leave a slight Excoriation, or Rawness, +as it were, which speedily ulcerates, and +frequently proves a very deep and obstinate +Ulcer, discharging a sharp and ill-conditioned +Matter.</p> +<p class="pnext">The last and most virulent Degree of Chilblains, +which is not infrequent in the very coldest +Countries, though very rare in the temperate +ones, is, when the Inflammation degenerates +into a Gangrene.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id641">§ 463</span>. These Tumours are owing to a Fulness +and Obstruction of the Vessels of the Skin, +which occurs from this Circumstance, that the +Veins, which are more superficial than the Arteries, +being proportionably more affected and +straitened by the Cold, do not carry off all the +Blood communicated to them by the Arteries; +and perhaps also the Particles or Atoms of Cold, +which are admitted through the Pores of the +Skin, may act upon our Fluids, as it does upon +Water, and occasion a Congelation of them, or +a considerable Approach towards it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="464" id="page-464"> </span>If these Complaints are chiefly felt, which in +Fact is the Case, rather on the extreme Parts +than on others, it arises from two Causes, the +principal one being, that the Circulation's being +weaker at the Extremities than elsewhere, the +Effect of those Causes, that may impair it, must be +more considerably felt there. The second Reason +is, because these Parts are more exposed to +the Impressions from without than the others.</p> +<p class="pnext">They occur most frequently to Children, from +their Weakness and the greater Tenderness and +Sensibility of their Organs, which necessarily increases +the Effect of external Impressions. It +is the frequent and strong Alteration from Heat +to Cold, that seems to contribute the most +powerfully to the Production of Chilblains; and +this Effect of it is most considerable, when the +Heat of the Air is at the same Time blended with +Moisture; whence the extreme and superficial +Parts pass suddenly as it were, out of a hot, into +a cold, Bath. A Man sixty Years of Age, who +never before was troubled with Kibes, having +worn, for some Hours on a Journey, a Pair of +furred Gloves, in which his Hands sweated, felt +them very tender, and found them swelled up +with Blood: as the common Effect of the warm +Bath is to soften and relax, and to draw Blood +abundantly to the bathed Parts, whence it renders +them more sensible.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Man, I say, thus circumstanced, was at +that Age first attacked with Chilblains, which +proved extremely troublesome; and he was every +<span class="pageno target" title="465" id="page-465"> </span>succeeding Winter as certainly infested with +them, within Half an Hour after he left off his +Gloves, and was exposed to a very cold Air.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is for this Reason, that several Persons are +never infested with Chilblains, but when they +use themselves to Muffs, which are scarcely +known in hot Countries; nor are they very common +among the more northern ones, in which +the extraordinary Changes from Cold to Heat are +very rare and unusual.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some People are subject to this troublesome +Complaint in the Fall; while others have +it only in the Spring. The Child of a labouring +Peasant, who has a hard Skin, and one inured +to all the Impressions of the Seasons and of the +Elements, is, and indeed necessarily must be, +less liable to Kibes, than the Child of a rich Citizen, +whose Skin is often cherished, at the Expence +of his Constitution. But even among +Children of the same Rank in Life and Circumstances, +who seem pretty much of the same +Complexion, and live much in the same Manner; +whence they might of Course be supposed equally +liable to the same Impressions, and to the like +Effects of them, there is, nevertheless, a very +great Difference with Respect to their constitutional +Propensity to contract Chilblains. Some +are very cruelly tormented with them, from the +setting in of Autumn, to the very End of the +Spring: others have either none at all, or have +them but very slightly, and for a very short +Time. This Difference undoubtedly arises from +<span class="pageno target" title="466" id="page-466"> </span>the different Quality of their Humours, and the +Texture of their whole Surface, but particularly +from that of the Skin of their Hands; though +we readily confess it is by no Means easy to determine, +with Certainty and Precision, in what this +Difference essentially consists.</p> +<p class="pnext">Children of a sanguine Complexion and delicate +Skin are pretty generally subject to this Disorder, +which is often regarded much too slightly, +though it is really severe enough to engage our +Attention more; since, even abstracted from the +sharp Pains which smart these unhappy Children +for several Months; it sometimes gives them a +Fever, hinders them from sleeping, and yet confines +them to their Bed, which is very prejudicial +to their <span class="target" id="constitution">Constitution</span>s. It also breaks in upon the +Order of their different Duties and Employments; +it interrupts their innocent salutary Pleasures; +and sometimes, when they are obliged to earn +their daily Bread by doing some Work or other, +it sinks them down to Misery. I knew a young +Man, who from being rendered incapable by +Chilblains, of serving out his Apprenticeship to a +Watch-maker, is become a lazy Beggar.</p> +<p class="pnext">Chilblains which attack the Nose, often leave +a Mark that alters the Physiognomy, the Aspect +of the Patient, for the Remainder of his Life: and +the Hands of such as have suffered from very obstinate +ones, are commonly ever sensible of their +Consequences.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id642">§ 464</span>. With Respect, therefore, to these afflicting +Tumours and Ulcerations, we should, +<span class="pageno target" title="467" id="page-467"> </span>in the first Place, do our utmost to prevent +them; and next exert our best Endeavours to +cure such as we could not prevent.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id643">§ 465</span>. Since they manifestly depend on the +Sensibility of the Skin, the Nature of the Humours, +and the Changes of the Weather from +Heat to Cold, in Order to prevent them, in the +first Place, the Skin must be rendered firmer or +less tender. 2, That vicious Quality of the +Temperament, which contributes to their Existence, +must be corrected; and, 3, the Persons +so liable must guard themselves as well as possible, +against these Changes of the Weather.</p> +<p class="pnext">Now the Skin of the Hands, as well as that +of the whole Body, may be strengthened by that +Habit of washing or bathing in cold Water, +which I have described at large, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id540">§ 384</a>; and in +Fact I have never seen Children, who had been +early accustomed and inured to this Habit, as +much afflicted with Chilblains as others. But +still a more particular Regard should be had to +fortify the Skin of the Hands, which are more +obnoxious to this Disorder than the Feet, by +making Children dip them in cold Water, and +keep them for some Moments together in it +every Morning, and every Evening too before Supper, +from the very Beginning of the Fall. It +will give the Children no Sort of Pain, during +that Season, to contract this Habit; and when +it is once contracted, it will give them no Trouble +to continue it throughout the Winter, even +when the Water is ready to freeze every where. +<span class="pageno target" title="468" id="page-468"> </span>They may also be habituated to plunge their +Feet into cold Water twice or thrice a Week: +and this Method, which might be less adapted for +grown Persons, who had not been accustomed to +it, must be without Objection with Respect to +such Children, as have been accustomed to it; +to whom all its Consequences must be useful and +salutary.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the same Time Care must be taken not to +defeat or lessen the Effect of the cold bathing, +by suffering the Bather or Washer, to grow too +warm between two Baths or Dippings; which +is also avoiding the too speedy Successions of Heat +and Cold. For this Purpose, 1, the Children +must be taught never to warm their Hands before +the Fire at such Times, and still less before +the Stoves, which very probably are one of the +principal Causes of Chilblains, that are less usual +in Countries which use no such Stoves, and among +those Individuals who make the least Use of them, +where they are. Above all, the Use of <em class="italics">Cavettes</em> +(that is, of Seats or little Stairs, as it were, contrived +between the Stove and the Wall) is prejudicial +to Children, and even to grown People, +upon several Accounts. 2, They should never accustom +themselves to wear Muffs. 3, It would +be also proper they should never use Gloves, unless +some particular Circumstances require it; and I +recommend this Abstinence from Gloves, especially +to young Boys: but if any should be allowed +them, let the Gloves be thin and smooth.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="469" id="page-469"> </span><span class="target" id="id644">§ 466</span>. When Chilblains seem to be nourished +by some Fault in the Temperament or Humours, +the Consideration of a Physician becomes necessary, +to direct a proper Method of removing or +altering it. I have seen Children from the Age +of three, to that of twelve or thirteen Years, in +whom their Chilblains, raw and flead, as it +were, for eight Months of the Year, seemed to +be a particular Kind of Issue, by which Nature +freed herself of an inconvenient Superfluity of +Humours, when the Perspiration was diminished +by the Abatement of the violent Heats. In such +Cases I have been obliged to carry them through +a pretty long Course of Regimen and Remedies; +which, however, being necessarily various from +a Variety of Circumstances, cannot be detailed +here. The milder Preparations of Antimony are +often necessary in such Cases; and some Purges +conduce in particular ones to allay and to abridge +the Disorder.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id645">§ 467</span>. The first Degree of this Complaint +goes off, as I have already said, without the Aid +of Medicine; or should it prove somewhat more +obstinate, it may easily be dissipated by some +of the following Remedies. But when they rise +to the second Degree, they must be treated like +other Complaints from Congelation, or Frost-biting +(of which they are the first Degree) with +cold Water, Ice-water and Snow.</p> +<p class="pnext">No other Method or Medicine is nearly as +efficacious as very cold Water, so as to be ready +to freeze, in which the Hands are to be dipt and +<span class="pageno target" title="470" id="page-470"> </span>retained for some Minutes together, and several +Times daily. In short it is the only Remedy +which ought to be applied, when the Hands are +the Parts affected; when the Patient has the Courage +to bear this Degree of Cold; and when he is +under no Circumstance which may render it prejudicial. +It is the only Application I have used +for myself, after having been attacked with Chilblains +for some Years past, from having accustomed +myself to too warm a Muff.</p> +<p class="pnext">There ensues a slight Degree of Pain for some +Moments after plunging the Hand into Water, +but it diminishes gradually. On taking the Hand +out, the Fingers are numbed with the Cold, but +they presently grow warm again; and within a +Quarter of an Hour, it is entirely over.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Hands, on being taken out of the Water, +are to be well dried, and put into Skin Gloves; +after bathing three or four Times, their Swelling +subsides, so that the Skin wrinkles: but by continuing +the cold Bathing, it grows tight and +smooth again; the Cure is compleated after using +it three or four Days; and, in general, the Disorder +never returns again the same Winter.</p> +<p class="pnext">The most troublesome raging Itching is certainly +assuaged by plunging the Hands into cold +Water.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Effect of Snow is, perhaps, still more +speedy: the Hands are to be gently and often +rubbed with it for a considerable Time; they +grow hot, and are of a very high Red for +<span class="pageno target" title="471" id="page-471"> </span>some Moments, but entire Ease very quickly +succeeds.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nevertheless, a very small Number of Persons, +who must have extremely delicate and sensible +Skins, do not experience the Efficacy of this +Application. It seems too active for them; it +affects the Skin much like a common blistering +Plaister; and by bringing on a large flow of Humours +there, it increases, instead of lessening +the Complaint.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id646">§ 468</span>. When this last Reason indeed, or some +other Circumstance exists; such as the Child's Want +of Courage, or its Affliction; the monthly Discharges +in a Woman; a violent Cough; habitual +Colics; and some other Maladies, which have +been observed to be renewed or aggravated by the +Influence of Cold at the Extremities, do really +forbid this very cold Application, some others +must be substituted.</p> +<p class="pnext">One of the best is to wear Day and Night, +without ever putting it off, a Glove made of +some smooth Skin, such as that of a Dog; +which seldom fails to extinguish the Disorder in +some Days time.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Feet are affected with Chilblains, +Socks of the same Skin should be worn; and +the Patient keep close to his Bed for some Days.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id647">§ 469</span>. When the Disorder is violent, the Use +of cold Water prohibited, and the Gloves just recommended +have but a slow Effect, the diseased +Parts should be gently fomented or moistened +several times a Day, with some Decoction, +<span class="pageno target" title="472" id="page-472"> </span>rather more than warm; which at the same time +should be dissolving and emollient. Such is that +celebrated Decoction of the Scrapings, the Peel +of Radishes, whose Efficacy is still further increased, +by adding one sixth Part of Vinegar to +the Decoction.</p> +<p class="pnext">Another Decoction, of whose great Efficacy I +have been a Witness, but which dies the Hands +yellow for a few Days, is the Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id899">Nº. 71</a>. +Many others may be made, of nearly the same +Virtues, with all the vulnerary Herbs, and even +with the <em class="italics">Faltranc</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">Urine, which some boast of in these Cases, +from their having used it with Success; and the +Mixture of Urine and Lime-water have the like +Virtues with the former Decoctions. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id649" id="id648"><sup>100</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext">As soon as the Hands affected are taken out +of these Decoctions, they must be defended from +the Air by Gloves.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id650">§ 470</span>. Vapours or Steams are often more efficacious +than Decoctions; whence instead of dipping +the Hands into these already mentioned, we +may expose them to their Vapours, with still +more Success. That of hot Vinegar is one of +the most powerful Remedies; those of <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id652" id="id651"><sup>101</sup></a> <em class="italics">Asphalt</em>, +<span class="pageno target" title="473" id="page-473"> </span>or of Turpentine have frequently succeeded too. +It may be needless to add that the affected Parts +must be defended from the Air, as well after the +Steams as the Decoctions; since it is from this +Cause of keeping off the Air, that the Cerecloths +are of Service; and hence also the Application of +Suet has sometimes answered.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Distemper is subdued by the Use of +Bathings or Steams, which make the Skin supple +and soft, then it should be strengthened by +washing the Parts with a little camphorated Brandy, +diluted with an equal Quantity of Water.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id653">§ 471</span>. When the Nose is affected with a +Chilblain, the Steam of Vinegar, and an artificial +Nose, or Covering for it, made of Dog-skin, are +the most effectual Applications. The same Treatment +is equally proper for the Ears and the Chin, +when infested with them. Frequently washing +these Parts in cold Water is a good Preservative +from their being attacked.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id654">§ 472</span>. Whenever the Inflammation rises very +high, and brings on some Degree of a Fever, the Patient's +usual Quantity of strong Drink and of Flesh-meat +must be lessened; his Body should be kept +open by a few Glysters; he should take every +Evening a Dose of Nitre as prescribed, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id822">Nº. 20</a>; +and if the Fever proved strong, he should lose +some Blood too.</p> +<p class="pnext">As many as are troubled with obstinate Chilblains, +should always be denied the Use of strong +Liquor and Flesh.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="474" id="page-474"> </span><span class="target" id="id655">§ 473</span>. When this Distemper prevails in its +third Degree, and the Parts are ulcerated; besides +keeping the Patients strictly to the Regimen +of Persons in a Way of Recovery, and giving +them a Purge of Manna, the swelled Parts should +be exposed to the Steams of Vinegar; the Ulcerations +should be covered with a Diapalma Plaister; +and the whole Part should be enveloped in +a smooth soft Skin, or in thin Cerecloths.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id656">§ 474</span>. The fourth Degree of this Disease, in +which the Parts become gangrenous, must be +prevented by the Method and Medicines which +remove an Inflammation; but if unhappily a +Gangrene has already appeared, the Assistance +of a Surgeon proves indispensably necessary.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-ruptures"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Ruptures.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id657">§ 475</span>. <em class="italics">Hernias</em> or Ruptures, which Country-People +term <em class="italics">being bursten</em>, are a Disorder which +sometimes occurs at the very Birth; though more +frequently they are the Effects of violent crying, +of a strong forcing Cough, or of repeated Efforts +to vomit, in the first Months of Infancy.</p> +<p class="pnext">They may happen afterwards indiscriminately +at every Age, either as Consequences of particular +Maladies, or Accidents, or from Peoples' violent +Exertions of their Strength. They happen +much oftner to Men than Women; and the most +common Sort, indeed the only one of which I +propose to treat, and that but briefly, is that +which consists in the Descent of a Part of +<span class="pageno target" title="475" id="page-475"> </span>the Guts, or of the Cawl, into the Bag or +Cod-piece.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is not difficult to distinguish this Rupture. +When it occurs in little Children, it is almost +ever cured by making them constantly wear a +Bandage which should be made only of Fustian, +with a little Pillow or Pincushion, stuffed with +Linen Rags, Hair or Bran. There should be at +least two of these Bandages, to change them alternately; +nor should it ever be applied, but +when the Child is laid down on its Back, and after +being well assured that the Gut or Cawl, +which had fallen down, has been safely returned +into the Cavity of the Belly; since without this +Precaution it might occasion the worst Consequences.</p> +<p class="pnext">The good Effect of the Bandage may be still +further promoted, by applying upon the Skin, +and within the Plait or Fold of the Groin (under +which Place the Rings, or Passage out of the +Belly into the Bag lie) some pretty astringent or +strengthening Plaister, such as that commonly +used for Fractures, or that I have already mentioned, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id210">§ 144</a>. Here we may observe by the +Way, that ruptured Children should never be set +on a Horse, nor be carried by any Person on +Horseback, before the Rupture is perfectly +cured.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id658">§ 476</span>. In a more advanced Age, a Bandage +only of Fustian is not sufficient; one must be +procured with a Plate of Steel, even so as to +constrain and incommode the Wearer a little at +<span class="pageno target" title="476" id="page-476"> </span>first: nevertheless it soon becomes habitual, and +is then no longer inconvenient to them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id659">§ 477</span>. Ruptures sometimes attain a monstrous +Size; and a great Part of the Guts fall down in +to the <em class="italics">Scrotum</em> or Bag, without any Symptom +of an actual Disease. This Circumstance, nevertheless, +is accompanied with very great Inconvenience, +which disables Persons affected with +it to work; and whenever the Malady is so considerable, +and of a long Standing too, there are +commonly some Obstacles that prevent a compleat +Return of the Guts into the Belly. In this +State indeed, the Application of the Bandage or +Truss is impracticable, and the miserable Patients +are condemned to carry their grievous Burthen +for the Remainder of their Lives; which may +however, be palliated a little by the Use of a +Suspensory and Bag, adapted to the Size of the +Rupture. This Dread of its increasing Magnitude +is a strong Motive for checking the Progress +of it, when it first appears. But there is another +still stronger, which is, that Ruptures expose the +Patient to a Symptom frequently mortal. This +occurs when that Part of the Intestines fallen into +the <em class="italics">Scrotum</em> inflames; when still increasing in +its Bulk, and being extremely compressed, +acute Pains come on: for now from the Increase +of the Rupture's Extent, the Passage which gave +Way to its Descent, cannot admit of its Return +or Ascent; the Blood-vessels themselves being +oppressed, the Inflammation increases every Moment; +the Communication between the Stomach +<span class="pageno target" title="477" id="page-477"> </span>and the Fundament is often entirely cut off; so +that nothing passes through, but incessant Vomitings +come on [this being the Kind of <em class="italics">Miserere</em>, +or Iliac Passion I have mentioned, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id460">§ 320</a>] which +are succeeded by the Hickup, Raving, Swooning, +cold Sweats, and Death.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id660">§ 478</span>. This Symptom supervenes in Ruptures, +when the Excrements become hard in that +Part of the Guts fallen into the <em class="italics">Scrotum</em>; when +the Patient is overheated with Wine, Drams, +an inflammatory Diet, <em class="italics">&c.</em> or when he has received +a Stroke on the ailing Part, or had a +Fall.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id661">§ 479</span>. The best Means and Remedies are, 1, +as soon as ever this Symptom or Accident is manifest, +to bleed the Patient very plentifully, as +he lies down in his Bed and upon his Back, +with his Head a little raised, and his Legs somewhat +bent, so that his Knees may be erect. +This is the Attitude or Posture they should always +preserve as much as possible. When the +Malady is not too far advanced, the first Bleeding +often makes a compleat Cure; and the Guts +return up as soon as it is over. At other Times +this Bleeding is less successful, and leaves a Necessity +for its Repetition.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, A Glyster must be thrown up consisting of +a strong Decoction of the large white Beet Leaves, +with a small Spoonful or Pinch of common Salt, +and a Bit of fresh Butter of the Size of an Egg.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, Folds of Linen dipt in Ice-water must be +applied all over the Tumour, and constantly +<span class="pageno target" title="478" id="page-478"> </span>renewed every Quarter of an Hour. This +Remedy, when immediately applied, has produced +the most happy Effects; but if the Symptom +has endured violently more than ten or +twelve Hours, it is often too late to apply it; and +then it is better to make Use of Flanels dipt in a +warm Decoction of Mallow and Elder Flowers, +shifting them frequently. It has been known +however, that Ice-water, or Ice itself has succeeded +as late as the third Day. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id663" id="id662"><sup>102</sup></a></p> +<p class="pnext">4, When these Endeavours are insufficient, +Glysters of Tobacco Smoke must be tried, which +has often redressed and returned Ruptures, when +every Thing else had failed.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, And lastly, if all these Attempts are fruitless, +the Operation must be resolved on, without +losing a Moment's Time; as this local Disease +proves sometimes mortal in the Space of two +Days; but for this Operation an excellent Surgeon +is indispensably necessary. The happy Consequence +with which I have ordered it, in a most +desperate Case since the first Edition of this Work, +on the sixth Day after a Labour, has convinced +me, still more than any former Observation I +<span class="pageno target" title="479" id="page-479"> </span>had made, that the Trial of it ought never to be +omitted, when other Attempts have been unavailing. +It cannot even hasten the Patient's +Death, which must be inevitable without it, but +it rather renders that more gentle, where it might +fail to prevent it. When it is performed as Mr. +<span class="small-caps">Levade</span> effected it, in the Case I have just referred +to, the Pain attending it is very tolerable +and soon over.</p> +<p class="pnext">I shall not attempt to describe the Operation, +as I could not explain myself sufficiently to instruct +an ignorant Surgeon in it; and an excellent +and experienced one must be sufficiently apprized +of all I could say concerning it.</p> +<p class="pnext">A certain Woman in this Place, but now +dead, had the great and impudent Temerity to +attempt this Operation, and killed her Patients +after the most excruciating Torments, and an +Extirpation, or cutting away of the Testicle; +which Quacks and ignorant Surgeons always do, +but which a good Surgeon never does in this +Operation. This is often the Custom too (in +Country Places) of those Caitiffs, who perform +this Operation without the least Necessity; and +mercilessly emasculate a Multitude of Infants; +whom Nature, if left to her own Conduct, or +assisted only by a simple Bandage, would have +perfectly cured; instead of which, they absolutely +kill a great many, and deprive those of their Virility, +who survive their Robbery and Violence. +It were religiously to be wished such Caitiffs were +to be duly, that is, severely punished; and it +<span class="pageno target" title="480" id="page-480"> </span>cannot be too much inculcated into the People, +that this Operation (termed the <em class="italics">Bubonocele</em>) in the +Manner it is performed by the best Surgeons, is +not necessary; except in the Symptoms and Circumstances +I have mentioned, and that the cutting +off the Testicle never is so.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-phlegmons-or-boils"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Phlegmons or Boils.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id664">§ 480</span>. Every Person knows what Boils are +at Sight, which are considerably painful when +large, highly inflamed, or so situated as to incommode +the Motions, or different Positions of +the Body. Whenever their Inflammation is very +considerable; when there are a great many of +them at once, and they prevent the Patients +from sleeping, it becomes necessary to enter them +into a cooling Regimen; to throw up some +opening Glysters; and to make them drink plentifully +of the Ptisan, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a>. Sometimes it is also +necessary to bleed the Patient.</p> +<p class="pnext">Should the Inflammation be very high indeed, +a Pultice of Bread and Milk, or of Sorrel a little +boiled and bruised, must be applied to it. But +if the Inflammation is only moderate, a Mucilage +Plaister, or one of the simple Diachylon, +may be sufficient. Diachylon with the Gums is +more active and efficacious; but it so greatly +augments the Pain of some Persons afflicted with +Boils, that they cannot bear it.</p> +<p class="pnext">Boils, which often return, signify some Fault +in the Temperament, and frequently one so +<span class="pageno target" title="481" id="page-481"> </span>considerable, that might dispose a Physician to be so +far apprehensive of its Consequences, as to enquire +into the Cause, and to attempt the Extinction +of it. But the Detail of this is no Part nor +Purpose of the present Work.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id665">§ 481</span>. The Phlegmon, or Boil, commonly +terminates in Suppuration, but a Suppuration of +a singular Kind. It breaks open at first on its +Top, or the most pointed Part, when some +Drops of a <em class="italics">Pus</em> like that of an Abscess comes out, +after which the Germ, or what is called the Core +of it may be discerned. This is a purulent Matter +or Substance, but so thick and tenacious, that +it appears like a solid Body; which may be drawn +out entirely in the Shape of a small Cylinder, +like the Pith of Elder, to the Length of some +Lines of an Inch; sometimes to the Length of a +full Inch, and even more. The Emission of this +Core is commonly followed by the Discharge of +a certain Quantity, according to the Size of the +Tumour, of liquid Matter, spread throughout +the Bottom of it. As soon as ever this Discharge +is made, the Pain goes entirely off; and the +Swelling disappears at the End of a few Days, +by continuing to apply the simple Diachylon, or +the Ointment <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id890">Nº. 66</a>.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-fellons-or-whitlows"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Fellons or Whitlows.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id666">§ 482</span>. The Danger of these small Tumours +is much greater than is generally supposed. It +is an Inflammation at the Extremity or End of a +<span class="pageno target" title="482" id="page-482"> </span>Finger, which is often the Effect of a small +Quantity of Humour extravasated, or stagnant, +in that Part; whether this has happened in Consequence +of a Bruise, a Sting, or a Bite. At +other times it is evident that it has resulted from +no external Cause, but is the Effect of some inward +one.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is distinguished into many Kinds, according +to the Place in which the Inflammation begins; +but the essential Nature of the Malady is always +the same, and requires the same Sort of Remedies. +Hence such as are neither Physicians nor +Surgeons, may spare themselves the Trouble of +enquiring into the Divisions of this Distemper; +which, though they vary the Danger of it, and +diversify the Manner of the Surgeons Operation, +yet have no Relation to the general Treatment +of it; the Power and Activity of which must be +regulated by the Violence of the Symptoms.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id667">§ 483</span>. This Disorder begins with a slow heavy +Pain, attended by a slight Pulsation, without +Swelling, without Redness, and without Heat; +but in a little Time the Pain, Heat, and Pulsation +or Throbbing becomes intolerable. The Part +grows very large and red; the adjoining Fingers +and the whole Hand swelling up. In some Cases +a Kind of red and inflated Fuse or Streak may be +observed, which, beginning at the affected Part, +is continued almost to the Elbow; neither is it +unusual for the Patients to complain of a very +sharp Pain under the Shoulder; and sometimes +the whole Arm is excessively inflamed and swelled. +<span class="pageno target" title="483" id="page-483"> </span>The Sick have not a Wink of Sleep, the +Fever and other Symptoms quickly increasing. +If the Distemper rises to a violent Degree indeed, +a <em class="italics">Delirium</em> and Convulsions supervene.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Inflammation of the Finger determines, +either in Suppuration, or in a Gangrene. When +the last of these occurs, the Patient is in very +great Danger, if he is not very speedily relieved; +and it has proved necessary more than once to +cut off the Arm, for the Preservation of his Life. +When Suppuration is effected, if the Matter lies +very deep and sharp, or if the Assistance of a Surgeon +has arrived too late, the Bone of the last +<em class="italics">Phalanx</em>, or Row of Bones of the Finger, is generally +carious and lost. But how gentle soever +the Complaint has been, the Nail is very generally +separated and falls off.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id668">§ 484</span>. The internal Treatment in Whitlows, +is the same with that in other inflammatory Distempers. +The Patient must enter upon a Regimen +more or less strict, in Proportion to the Degree +of the Fever; and if this runs very high, and +the Inflammation be very considerable, there +may be a Necessity for several Bleedings.</p> +<p class="pnext">The external Treatment consists in allaying +the Inflammation; in softening the Skin; and in +procuring a Discharge of the Matter, as soon as +it is formed. For this Purpose,</p> +<p class="pnext">1, The Finger affected is to be plunged, as +soon as the Disorder is manifest, in Water a little +more than warm: the Steam of boiling Water +may also by admitted into it; and by doing these +<span class="pageno target" title="484" id="page-484"> </span>Things almost constantly for the first Day, a +total Dissipation of the Malady has often been +obtained. But unhappily it has been generally +supposed, that such slight Attacks could have but +very slight Consequences, whence they have been +neglected until the Disorder has greatly advanced; +in which State Suppuration becomes absolutely +necessary.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, This Suppuration therefore may be forwarded, +by continually involving the Finger, as +it were, in a Decoction of Mallow Flowers boiled +in Milk, or with a Cataplasm of Bread and +Milk. This may be rendered still more active +and ripening, by adding a few white Lilly Roots, +or a little Honey. But this last must not be applied +before the Inflammation is somewhat abated, +and Suppuration begins; before which Term, all +sharp Applications are very dangerous. At this +Time, Yeast or Leaven may be advantagiously +used, which powerfully promotes Suppuration. +The Sorrel Pultice, mentioned <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id664">§ 480</a>, is also a +very efficacious one.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id669">§ 485</span>. A speedy Discharge of the ripe Matter +is of considerable Importance, but this particularly +requires the Attention of the Surgeon; as +it is not proper to wait till the Tumour breaks +and discharges of itself; and this the rather, as +from the Skin's proving sometimes extremely +hard, the Matter might be inwardly effused between +the Muscles, and upon their Membranes, +before it could penetrate through the Skin. For +this Reason, as soon as Matter is suspected to be +<span class="pageno target" title="485" id="page-485"> </span>formed, a Surgeon should be called in, to determine +exactly on the Time, when an Opening +should be made; which had better be performed +a little too soon than too late; and a little too +deep, than not deep enough.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Orifice has been made, and the +Discharge is effected, it is to be dressed up with +the Plaister <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id890">Nº. 66</a>, spread upon Linen, or with +the Cerecloth; and these Dressings are to be repeated +daily.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id670">§ 486</span>. When the Whitlow is caused by a +Humour extravasated very near the Nail, an expert +Surgeon speedily <span class="target" id="checks-its-progress">checks its Progress</span>, and +cures it effectually by an Incision which lets out +the Humour. Yet, notwithstanding this Operation +is in no wise difficult, all Surgeons are not +qualified to perform it, and but too many have +no Idea at all of it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id671">§ 487</span>. Fungous, or, as it is commonly called, +proud Flesh sometimes appears during the incarning +or healing of the Incision. Such may be kept +down with sprinkling a little <em class="italics">Minium</em> (red Lead) +or burnt Alum over it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id672">§ 488</span>. If a <em class="italics">Caries</em>, a Rottenness of the Bone, +should be a Consequence, there is a Necessity +for a Surgeon's Attendance, as much as if there +was a Gangrene; for which Reason, I shall add +nothing with Respect to either of these Symptoms; +only observing, there are three very +essential Remedies against the last; <em class="italics">viz.</em> the +Bark, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id816">Nº. 14</a>, a Drachm of which must be +taken every two Hours; Scarifications throughout +<span class="pageno target" title="486" id="page-486"> </span>the whole gangrened Part; and Fomentations +with a Decoction of the Bark, and the Addition +of Spirit of Sulphur. This Medicine is +certainly no cheap one; but a Decoction of other +bitter Plants, with the Addition of Spirit of Salt, +may sometimes do instead of it. And here I +take leave to insist again upon it, that in most +Cases 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 easily distinguished +by the most ignorant Persons) that marks +the Bounds of the Gangrene, and separates the +living from the mortified Parts.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-thorns-splinters-or-other-pointed-substances-piercing-into-the-skin-or-flesh"> +<span id="of-thorns-splinters-c-in-the-skin-or-flesh"/><h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Thorns, Splinters, or other pointed Substances piercing into the Skin, or Flesh.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id673">§ 489</span>. It is very common for the Hands, +Feet or Legs, to be pierced by the forcible Intrusion +of small pointed Substances, such as Thorns +or Prickles, whether of Roses, Thistles or Chestnuts, +or little Splinters of Wood, Bone, <em class="italics">&c.</em></p> +<p class="pnext">If such Substances are immediately and entirely +extracted, the Accident is generally attended +with no bad Consequences; though more certainly +to obviate any such, Compresses 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 extracted, or <span class="target" id="if">if</span> a Part of it be left +within, it causes an Inflammation, which, in its +<span class="pageno target" title="487" id="page-487"> </span>Progress, soon produces the same Symptoms as a +Whitlow: or if it happens in the Leg, it inflames +and forms a considerable Abscess there.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id674">§ 490</span>. To prevent such Consequences, if the +penetrating Substance is still near the Surface, +and an expert Surgeon is at Hand, he must immediately +make a small Incision, and thence extract +it. But if the Inflammation were already +formed, this would be useless, and even dangerous.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Incision, therefore, is improper; +there should be applied to the affected <span class="target" id="part">Part</span>, (after +conveying the Steam of some hot Water into +it) either some very emollient Pultices of the +Crumb of Bread, Milk and Oil, or some very +emollient unctuous Matter alone, the Fat of a <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id676" id="id675"><sup>103</sup></a> Hare being generally employed in such Cases, +and being indeed very effectual to relax and supple +the Skin; and, by thus diminishing its Resistance, +to afford the offensive penetrating Body +an Opportunity of springing forth. Nothing +however, but the grossest Prejudice, could make +any one imagine, that this Fat attracted the +Splinter, Thorn, or any other intruded Substance +by any sympathetic Virtue; no other Sympathy +in Nature being clearly demonstrated, except +that very common one between wrong Heads, +and absurd extravagant Opinions.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is absolutely necessary that the injured Part +<span class="pageno target" title="488" id="page-488"> </span>should be kept in the easiest Posture, and as immoveable +as possible.</p> +<p class="pnext">If Suppuration has not been prevented by an +immediate Extraction of the offending Substance, +the Abscess should be opened as soon as ever +Matter is formed. I have known very troublesome +Events from its being too long delayed.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id677">§ 491</span>. Sometimes the Thorn, after having +very painfully penetrated through the Teguments, +the Skin, enters directly into the Fat; +upon which the Pain ceases, and the Patient begins +to conclude no sharp prickling Substance had +ever been introduced into the Part; and of +Course supposes none can remain there. Nevertheless +some Days after, or, in other Instances, +some Weeks, fresh Pains are excited, to which +an Inflammation and Abscess succeed, which are +to be treated as usual, with Emollients, and seasonably +opened.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Patient has been reduced to lose his Hand, +in Consequence of a sharp Thorn's piercing into +his Finger; from its having been neglected at +first, and improperly treated afterwards.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-warts"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Warts.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id678">§ 492</span>. Warts are sometimes the Effects of a +particular Fault in the Blood, which feeds and +extrudes a surprizing Quantity of them. This +happens to some Children, from four to ten Years +old, and especially to those who feed most plentifully +on Milk or Milk-meats. They may be +<span class="pageno target" title="489" id="page-489"> </span>removed by a moderate Change of their Diet, +and the Pills prescribed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id820">Nº. 18</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">But they are more frequently an accidental +Disorder of the Skin, arising from some external +Cause.</p> +<p class="pnext">In this last Case, if they are very troublesome +in Consequence of their great Size, their Situation +or their long Standing, they may be destroyed, +1, by tying them closely with a Silk Thread, +or with a strong flaxen one waxed. 2, By cutting +them off with a sharp Scissars or a Bistory, +and applying a Plaister of Diachylon, with the +Gums, over the cut Wart, which brings on a +small Suppuration that may destroy or dissolve the +Root of the Wart: and, 3, By drying, or, as it +were, withering them up by some moderately corroding +Application, such as that of the milky Juice +of <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id680" id="id679"><sup>104</sup></a> Purslain, of Fig-leaves, of <em class="italics">Chelidonium</em> +(Swallow-wort) or of Spurge. But besides these +corroding vegetable Milks being procurable only +in Summer, People who have very delicate thin +Skins should not make Use of them, as they may +occasion a considerable and painful Swelling. +<span class="pageno target" title="490" id="page-490"> </span>Strong Vinegar, charged with as much common +Salt as it will dissolve, is a very proper Application +to them. A Plaister may also be composed +from Sal Ammoniac and some Galbanum, which +being kneaded up well together and applied, seldom +fails of destroying them.</p> +<p class="pnext">The most powerful Corrosives should never be +used, 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 lately seen some very tedious and troublesome +Disorders and Ulcerations of the Kidnies, +ensue the Application of a corrosive Water, by +the Advice of a Quack. Cutting them away is a +more certain, a less painful, and a less dangerous +Way of removing them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Wens, if of a pretty considerable Size, and +Duration, are incurable by any other Remedy, +except Amputation.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-corns"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Corns.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id681">§ 493</span>. The very general or only Causes of +Corns, are Shoes either too hard and stiff, or too +small.</p> +<p class="pnext">The whole Cure consists in softening the Corns +by repeated Washings and Soakings of the Feet +in pretty hot Water; then in cutting them, when +softened, with a Penknife or Scissars, without +wounding the sound Parts (which are the more +sensible, in Proportion as they are more extended +than usual) and next in applying a Leaf of +<span class="pageno target" title="491" id="page-491"> </span>House-leek, of Ground-ivy, or of Purslain dipt +in Vinegar, upon the Part. Instead of these +Leaves, if any Person will give himself the little +Trouble of dressing them every Day, he may +apply a Plaister of simple Diachylon, or of Gum +Ammoniacum softened in Vinegar.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Increase or Return of Corns can only be +prevented, by avoiding the Causes that produce +them.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head523-chapter-xxxi"> +<span id="chap-xxxi"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i523a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXXI.</span></h2> +<blockquote class="epigraph" id="of-some-cases-which-require-immediate-assistance"><div> +<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Of some Cases which require immediate Assistance; +such as Swoonings; Hæmorrhages, or involuntary +Loss of Blood; Convulsion Fitts, and Suffocations; +the sudden Effects of great Fear; of +Disorders caused by noxious Vapours; of Poisons, +and of acute Pains.</em></p> +</div></blockquote> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-swoonings"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Swoonings.</em></h3> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 494.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="T" src="images/i523b.png"/>here are many Degrees of Swooning, +or fainting away: the slightest is +that in which the Patient constantly +perceives and understands, yet without +the Power of speaking. This is called a Fainting, +which happens very often to vapourish +<span class="pageno target" title="492" id="page-492"> </span>Persons, and without any remarkable Alteration of +the Pulse.</p> +<p class="pnext">If the Patient entirely loses Sensation, or Feeling, +and Understanding, with a very considerable +Sinking of the Pulse, this is called a <em class="italics">Syncopè</em>, +and is the second Degree of Swooning.</p> +<p class="pnext">But if this <em class="italics">Syncopè</em> is so violent, that the Pulse +seems totally extinguished; without any discernible +Breathing; with a manifest Coldness of the +whole Body; and a wanly livid Countenance, it +constitutes a third and last Degree, which is the +true Image of Death, that in Effect sometimes +attends it, and it is called an <em class="italics">Asphixy</em>, which +may signify a total Resolution.</p> +<p class="pnext">Swoonings result from many different Causes, +of which I shall only enumerate the principal; +and these are, 1, Too large a Quantity of Blood. +2, A Defect or insufficient Proportion of it, and +a general Weakness. 3, A Load at and violent +Disorders of the Stomach. 4, Nervous Maladies. +5, The Passions; and, 6, some Kinds of +Diseases.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-swoonings-occasioned-by-excess-of-blood"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Swoonings occasioned by Excess of Blood.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id682">§ 495</span>. An excessive Quantity of Blood is frequently +a Cause of Swooning; and it may be inferred +that it is owing to this Cause, when it attacks +sanguine, hearty and robust Persons; and +more especially when it attacks them, after being +combined with any additional or supervening +Cause, that suddenly increased the Motion of the +<span class="pageno target" title="493" id="page-493"> </span>Blood; such as heating Meats or Drinks, Wine, +spirituous Liquors: smaller Drinks, if taken very +hot and plentifully, such as Coffee, Indian Tea, +Bawm Tea and the like; a long Exposure to the +hot Sun, or being detained in a very hot Place; +much and violent Exercise; an over intense and +assiduous Study or Application, or some excessive +Passion.</p> +<p class="pnext">In such Cases, first of all the Patient should +be made to smell to, or even to snuff up, some +Vinegar; and his Forehead, his Temples and his +Wrists should be bathed with it; adding an equal +Quantity of warm Water, if at Hand. Bathing +them with distilled or spirituous Liquids would +be prejudicial in this Kind of Swooning.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, The Patient should be made, if possible, +to swallow two or three Spoonfuls of Vinegar, +with four or five Times as much Water.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, The Patient's Garters should be tied very +tightly above his Knees; as by this Means a +greater Quantity of Blood is retained in the Legs, +whence the Heart may be less overladen with +it.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, If the Fainting proves obstinate, that is, if +it continues longer than a Quarter of an Hour, or +degenerates into a <em class="italics">Syncopè</em>, an Abolition of Feeling +and Understanding, he must be bled in the +Arm, which quickly revives him.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, After the Bleeding, the Injection of a +Glyster will be highly proper; and then the Patient +should be kept still and calm, only letting +him drink, every half Hour, some Cups of Elder +<span class="pageno target" title="494" id="page-494"> </span>Flower Tea, with the Addition of a little Sugar +and Vinegar.</p> +<p class="pnext">When Swoonings which result from this Cause +occur frequently in the same Person, he should, +in Order to escape them, pursue the Directions +I shall hereafter mention, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id745">§ 544</a>, when treating +of Persons who superabound with Blood.</p> +<p class="pnext">The very same Cause, or Causes, which occasion +these Swoonings, also frequently produce +violent Palpitations, under the same Circumstances; +the Palpitation often preceding or following +the <em class="italics">Deliquium</em>, or Swooning.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-swoonings-occasioned-by-weakness"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Swoonings occasioned by Weakness.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id683">§ 496</span>. If too great a Quantity of Blood, +which may be considered as some Excess of +Health, is sometimes the Cause of Swooning, +this last is oftener the Effect of a very contrary +Cause, that is, of a Want of Blood, or an Exhaustion +of too much.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Sort of Swooning happens after great +Hæmorrhages, or Discharges of Blood; after +sudden or excessive Evacuations, such as one of +some Hours Continuance in a <em class="italics">Cholera Morbus</em> +(<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id461">§ 321</a>) or such as are more slow, but of longer +Duration, as for Instance, after an inveterate +<em class="italics">Diarrhœa</em>, or Purging; excessive Sweats; a +Flood of Urine; such Excesses as tend to exhaust +Nature; obstinate Wakefulness; a long Inappetency, +which, by depriving the Body of its +<span class="pageno target" title="495" id="page-495"> </span>necessary Sustenance, is attended with the same +Consequence as profuse Evacuations.</p> +<p class="pnext">These different Causes of Swooning should be +opposed by the Means and Remedies adapted to +each of them. A Detail of all these would be +improper here; but the Assistances that are necessary +at the Time of Swooning, are nearly the +same for all Cases of this Class; excepting for that +attending a great Loss of Blood, of which I shall +treat hereafter: first of all, the Patients should be +laid down on a Bed, and being covered, should +have their Legs and Thighs, their Arms, and +their whole Bodies rubbed pretty strongly with +hot Flanels; and no Ligature should remain on +any Part of them.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, They should have very spirituous Things to +smell or snuff up, such as the Carmelite Water, +Hungary Water, the <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id685" id="id684"><sup>105</sup></a> <em class="italics">English</em> Salt, Spirit of Sal +Ammoniac, <span class="target" id="strong-smelling-herbs">strong smelling Herbs</span>, such as Rue, +Sage, Rosemary, Mint, Wormwood, and the +like.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, These should be conveyed into their +Mouths; and they should be forced, if possible, +to swallow some Drops of Carmelite Water, or +of Brandy, or of some other potable Liquor, +<span class="pageno target" title="496" id="page-496"> </span>mixed with a little Water; while some hot Wine +mixed with Sugar and Cinnamon, which makes +one of the best Cordials, is getting ready.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, A Compress of Flanel, or of some other +woollen Stuff, dipt in hot Wine, in which some +aromatic Herb has been steeped, must be applied +to the Pit of the Stomach.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, If the Swooning seems likely to continue, +the Patient must be put into a well heated Bed, +which has before been perfumed with burning +Sugar and Cinnamon; the Frictions of the whole +Body with hot Flanels being still continued.</p> +<p class="pnext">6, As soon as the Patient can swallow, he +should take some Soup or Broth, with the Yolk +of an Egg; or a little Bread or Biscuit; soaked in +the hot spiced Wine.</p> +<p class="pnext">7, Lastly, during the whole Time that all +other Precautions are taken to oppose the Cause +of the Swooning, Care must be had for some +Days to prevent any <em class="italics">Deliquium</em> or Fainting, by +giving them often, and but little at a time, some +light yet strengthening Nourishment, such as +Panada made with Soup instead of Water, new +laid Eggs very lightly poached, light roast Meats +with sweet Sauce, Chocolate, Soups of the most +nourishing Meats, Jellies, Milk, <em class="italics">&c.</em></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id686">§ 497</span>. Those Swoonings, which are the Effect +of Bleeding, or of the violent Operation of some +Purge, are to be ranged in this Class.</p> +<p class="pnext">Such as happen after artificial Bleeding, are +generally very moderate, commonly terminating +as soon as the Patient is laid upon the Bed: and +<span class="pageno target" title="497" id="page-497"> </span>Persons subject to this Kind, should be bled lying +down, in Order to prevent it. But should the +Fainting continue longer than usual, some Vinegar +smelt to, and a little swallowed with some +Water, is a very good Remedy.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Treatment of such Faintings or Swoonings, +as are the Consequences of too violent Vomits +or Purges, may be seen hereafter <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id755">§ 552</a>.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-faintings-occasioned-by-a-load-or-uneasiness-at-stomach"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Faintings occasioned by a Load, or Uneasiness, at Stomach.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id687">§ 498</span>. It has been already observed, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id447">§ 308</a>, +that Indigestions were sometimes attended with +Swoonings, and indeed such vehement ones, as +required speedy and very active Succour too, +such as that of a Vomit. The Indigestion is +sometimes less the Effect of the Quantity, than +of the Quality, or the Corruption of the Food, +contained in the Stomach. Thus we see there +are some Persons, who are disordered by eating +Eggs, Fish, Craw Fish, or any fat Meat; being +thrown by them into inexpressible Anguish attended +with Swooning too. It may be supposed to +depend on this Cause, when these very Aliments +have been lately eaten; and when it evidently +neither depends on the other Causes I have mentioned; +nor on such as I shall soon proceed to +enumerate.</p> +<p class="pnext">We should in Cases of this Sort, excite and +revive the Patients as in the former, by making +them receive some very strong Smell, of whatever +<span class="pageno target" title="498" id="page-498"> </span>Kind is at hand; but the most essential Point is to +make them swallow down a large Quantity of +light warm Fluid; which may serve to drown, +as it were, the indigested Matter; which may +soften its Acrimony; and either effect the Discharge +of it by vomiting, or force it down into +the Chanel of the Intestines.</p> +<p class="pnext">A light Infusion of Chamomile Flowers, of +Tea, of Sage, of Elder Flowers, or of <em class="italics">Carduus +Benedictus</em>, operate with much the same Efficacy; +though the Chamomile and Carduus promote +the Operation of vomiting rather more +powerfully; which warm Water alone will +sometimes sufficiently do.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Swooning ceases, or at least, considerably +abates in these Cases, as soon as ever the +Vomiting commences. It frequently happens +too, that, during the Swooning, Nature herself +brings on certain <em class="italics">Nausea</em>, a Wambling and +sickish Commotion of the Stomach, that revives +or rouses the Patient for a Moment; but yet not +being sufficient to excite an actual Vomiting, +lets him soon sink down again into this temporary +Dissolution, which often continues a pretty +considerable Time; leaving behind it a Sickness +at Stomach, Vertigos, and a Depression and +Anxiety, which do not occur in the former Species +of this Malady.</p> +<p class="pnext">Whenever these Swoonings from this Cause are +entirely terminated, the Patient must be kept for +some Days to a very light Diet, and take, at +the same Time, every Morning fasting, a Dose +<span class="pageno target" title="499" id="page-499"> </span>of the Powder, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id852">Nº. 38</a>, which relieves and exonerates +the Stomach of whatever noxious Contents +might remain in it; and then restores its +natural Strength and Functions.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id688">§ 499</span>. There is another Kind of Swooning, +which also results from a Cause in the Stomach; +but which is, nevertheless, very different from +this we have just been treating of; and which requires +a very different Kind of Assistance. It +arises from an extraordinary Sensibility of this +important Organ, and from a general Weakness +of the Patient.</p> +<p class="pnext">Those subject to this Malady are valetudinary +weakly Persons, who are disordered from many +slight Causes, and whose Stomachs are at once very +feeble and extremely sensible. They have almost +continually a little Uneasiness after a Meal, +though they should indulge but a little more than +usual; or if they eat of any Food not quite so +easy of Digestion, they have some Qualm or +Commotion after it: Nay, should the Weather +only be unfavourable, and sometimes without any +perceivable assignable Cause, their Uneasiness +terminates in a Swoon.</p> +<p class="pnext">Patients swooning, from these Causes, have a +greater Necessity for great Tranquillity and Repose, +than for any other Remedy; and it might +be sufficient to lay them down on the Bed: But +as the Bystanders in such Cases find it difficult to +remain inactive Spectators of Persons in a Swoon, +some spirituous Liquid may be held to their Nose, +while their Temples and Wrists are rubbed with +<span class="pageno target" title="500" id="page-500"> </span>it; and at the same Time a little Wine should +be given them. Frictions are also useful in these +Cases.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Species of Swooning is oftener attended +with a little Feverishness than the others.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-those-swoonings-which-arise-from-nervous-disorders"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of those Swoonings, which arise from nervous Disorders.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id689">§ 500</span>. This Species of Swooning is almost +wholely unknown to those Persons, for whom +this Treatise is chiefly intended. Yet as there +are some Citizens who pass a Part of their Lives +in the Country; and some Country People who +are unhappily afflicted with the Ailments of the +Inhabitants of large Towns and Cities, it seemed +necessary to treat briefly of them.</p> +<p class="pnext">By Disorders of the Nerves, I understand in +this Place, only that Fault or Defect in them, +which is the Cause of their exciting in the Body, +either irregular Motions, that is, Motions without +any external Cause, at least any perceivable +one; and without our Will's consenting to the +Production of them: or such Motions, as are +greatly more considerable than they should be, +if they had been proportioned to the Force of the +Impression from without. This is very exactly +that State, or Affection termed the <em class="italics">Vapours</em>; and +by the common People, the <em class="italics">Mother</em>: And as +there is no Organ unprovided with Nerves; and +none, or hardly any Function, in which the +Nerves have not their Influence; it may be easily +<span class="pageno target" title="501" id="page-501"> </span>comprehended, that the Vapours being a +State or Condition, which arises from the Nerves +exerting irregular involuntary Motions, without +any evident Cause, and all the Functions of the +Body depending partly on the Nerves; there is +no one Symptom of other Diseases which the Vapours +may not produce or imitate; and that these +Symptoms, for the same Reason, must vary infinitely, +according to those Branches of the +Nerves which are disordered. It may also hence +be conceived, why the Vapours of one Person +have frequently no Resemblance to those of another: +and why the Vapours of the very same +Person, in one Day, are so very different from +those in the next. It is also very conceivable +that the Vapours are a certain, a real Malady; +and that Oddity of the Symptoms, which cannot +be accounted for, by People unacquainted with +the animal Oeconomy, has been the Cause of +their being considered rather as the Effect of a +depraved Imagination, than as a real Disease. It is +very conceiveable, I say, that this surprizing Oddity +of the Symptoms is a necessary Effect of the +Cause of the Vapours; and that no Person can +any more prevent his being invaded by the Vapours, +than he can prevent the Attack of a Fever, +or of the Tooth-ach.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id690">§ 501</span>. A few plain Instances will furnish out +a more compleat Notion of the Mechanism, or +Nature, of Vapours. An Emetic, a vomiting +Medicine, excites the Act, or rather the Passion, +the Convulsion of Vomiting, chiefly by the +<span class="pageno target" title="502" id="page-502"> </span>Irritation it gives to the Nerves of the Stomach; which +Irritation produces a Spasm, a Contraction of this +Organ. Now if in Consequence of this morbid +or defective Texture of the Nerves, which constitutes +the Vapours, those of the Stomach are +excited to act with the same Violence, as in +Consequence of taking a Vomit, the Patient will +be agitated and worked by violent Efforts to +vomit, as much as if he had really taken one.</p> +<p class="pnext">If an involuntary unusual Motion in the Nerves, +that are distributed through the Lungs, should +constrain and straiten the very little Vesicles, or +Bladders, as it were, which admit the fresh Air +at every Respiration, the Patient will feel a Degree +of Suffocation; just as if that Straitening or +Contraction of the Vesicles were occasioned by +some noxious Steam or Vapour.</p> +<p class="pnext">Should the Nerves which are distributed +throughout the whole Skin, by a Succession of +these irregular morbid Motions, contract themselves, +as they may from external Cold, or by +some stimulating Application, Perspiration by the +Pores will be prevented or checked; whence the +Humours, which should be evacuated through +the Pores of the Skin, will be thrown upon the +Kidnies, and the Patient will make a great +Quantity of thin clear Urine, a Symptom very +common to vapourish People; or it may be diverted +to the Glands of the Intestines, the Guts, +and terminate in a watery <em class="italics">Diarrhœa</em>, or Looseness, +which frequently proves a very obstinate +one.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="503" id="page-503"> </span><span class="target" id="id691">§ 502</span>. Neither are Swoonings the least usual +Symptoms attending the Vapours: and we may +be certain they spring from this Source, when +they happen to a Person subject to the Vapours; +and none of the other Causes producing them +are evident, or have lately preceded them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Such Swoonings, however, are indeed very +rarely dangerous, and scarcely require any medical +Assistance. The Patient should be laid upon +a Bed; the fresh Air should be very freely admitted +to him; and he should be made to smell +rather to some disagreeable and fetid, than to any +fragrant, Substance. It is in such Faintings as +these that the Smell of burnt Leather, of Feathers, +or of Paper, have often proved of great +Service.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id692">§ 503</span>. Patients also frequently faint away, in +Consequence of fasting too long; or from having +eat a little too much; from being confined in too +hot a Chamber; from having seen too much +Company; from smelling too over-powering a +Scent; from being too costive; from being too +forcibly affected with some Discourse or Sentiments; +and, in a Word, from a great Variety +of Causes, which might not make the least Impression +on Persons in perfect Health; but which +violently operate upon those vapourish People, because, +as I have said, the Fault of their Nerves +consists in their being too vividly, too acutely affected; +the Force of their Sensation being nowise +proportioned to the external Cause of it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="504" id="page-504"> </span>As soon as that particular Cause is distinguished +from all the rest, which has occasioned the present +Swooning; it is manifest that this Swooning is to +be remedied by removing that particular Cause +of it.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-swoonings-occasioned-by-the-passions"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Swoonings occasioned by the Passions.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id693">§ 504</span>. There have been some Instances of +Persons dying within a Moment, through excessive +Joy. But such Instances are so very rare and +sudden, that Assistance has seldom been sought +for on this Occasion. The Case is otherwise +with Respect to those produced from Rage, +Vexation, and Dread or Horror. I shall treat in +a separate Article of those resulting from great +Fear; and shall briefly consider here such as ensue +from Rage, and vehement Grief or Disappointment.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id694">§ 505</span>. Excessive Rage and violent Affliction +are sometimes fatal in the Twinkling of an Eye; +though they oftener terminate in fainting only. +Excessive Grief or Chagrine is especially accompanied +with this Consequence; and it is very +common to see Persons thus affected, sink into +successive Faintings for several Hours. It is +plainly obvious that very little Assistance can be +given in such Cases: it is proper, however, they +should smell to strong Vinegar; and frequently +take a few Cups of some hot and temperately +cordial Drink, such as Bawm Tea, or Lemonade +with a little Orange or Lemon-peel.</p> +<p class="pnext">The calming asswaging Cordial, that has seemed +<span class="pageno target" title="505" id="page-505"> </span>the most efficacious to me, is one small Coffee +Spoonful of a Mixture of three Parts of the Mineral +Anodyne Liquor of <span class="small-caps">Hoffman</span>, <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id696" id="id695"><sup>106</sup></a> and one +Part of the spirituous Tincture of Amber, which +should be swallowed in a Spoonful of Water; +taking after it a few Cups of such Drinks as I +shall presently direct.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is not to be supposed that Swoonings or +Faintings, from excessive Passions, can be cured +by Nourishment. The physical State or Condition, +into which vehement Grief throws the Body, +is that, of all others, in which Nourishment +would be most injurious to it: and as long as +the Vehemence of the Affliction endures, the +Sufferer should take nothing but some Spoonfuls +of Soup or Broth, or a few Morsels of some +light Meat roasted.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id697">§ 506</span>. When Wrath or Rage has risen to so +high a Pitch, that the human Machine, the +Body, entirely exhausted, as it were, by that +violent Effort, sinks down at once into excessive +Relaxation, a Fainting sometimes succeeds, and +even the most perilous Degree of it, a <em class="italics">Syncopè</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is sufficient, or rather the most that can be +done here, to let the Patient be perfectly still a +while in this State; only making him smell to some +Vinegar. But when he is come to himself, he +should drink plentifully of hot Lemonade, and +take one or more of the Glysters <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id801">Nº. 5</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sometimes there remain in these Cases Sicknesses +at Stomach, Reachings to vomit, a Bitterness +<span class="pageno target" title="506" id="page-506"> </span>in the Mouth, and some vertiginous Symptoms +which seem to require a Vomit. But such +a Medicine must be very carefully avoided, since +it may be attended with the most fatal Consequence; +and Lemonade with Glysters generally +and gradually remove these Swoonings. If the +<em class="italics">Nausea</em> and Sickness at Stomach continue, the +utmost Medicine we should allow besides, would +be that of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">Nº. 23</a>, or a few Doses of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-symptomatical-swoonings-or-such-as-happen-in-the-progress-of-other-diseases"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of symptomatical Swoonings, or such, as happen in the Progress of other Diseases.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id698">§ 507</span>. Swoonings, which supervene in the +Course of other Diseases, never afford a favourable +Prognostic; as they denote Weakness, and +<span class="target" id="weakness-is-an-obstacle">Weakness is an Obstacle</span> to Recovery.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the Beginning of putrid Diseases, they also +denote an Oppression at Stomach, or a Mass of +corrupt Humours; and they cease as soon as +<span class="target" id="an-evacuation-supervenes">an Evacuation supervenes</span>, whether by Vomit or +Stool.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they occur at the Beginning of malignant +Fevers, they declare the high Degree of +their Malignancy, and the great Diminution of +the Patient's natural Strength.</p> +<p class="pnext">In each of these Cases Vinegar, used externally +and internally, is the best Remedy during the +Exacerbation or Height of the Paroxysm; and +Plenty of Lemon Juice and Water after it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id699">§ 508</span>. Swoonings which supervene in Diseases, +accompanied with great Evacuations, are +<span class="pageno target" title="507" id="page-507"> </span>cured like those which are owing to Weakness; +and Endeavours should be used to restrain or moderate +the Evacuations.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id700">§ 509</span>. Those who have any inward Abscess +or Imposthume are apt to swoon frequently. +They may sometimes be revived a little by Vinegar, +but they prove too frequently mortal.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id701">§ 510</span>. Many Persons have a slighter or a +deeper Swooning, at the End of a violent Fit of +an intermitting Fever, or at that of each Exacerbation +of a continual Fever; this constantly shews the +Fever has run very high, the Swooning having +been the Consequence of that great Relaxation, +which has succeeded to a very high Tension. A +Spoonful or two of light white Wine, with an +equal Quantity of Water, affords all the Succour +proper in such a Case.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id702">§ 511</span>. Persons subject to frequent Swoonings, +should neglect nothing that may enable them to remove +them when known; since the Consequences +of them are always detrimental, except in some +Fevers, in which they seem to mark the <em class="italics">Crisis</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">Every swooning Fit leaves the Patient in Dejection +and Weakness; the Secretions from the +Blood are suspended; the Humours disposed to +Stagnation; Grumosities, or Coagulations, and +Obstructions are formed; and if the Motion of +the Blood is totally intercepted, or considerably +checked, <em class="italics">Polypus's</em>, and these often incurable, +are formed in the Heart, or in the larger Vessels; +the Consequences of which are dreadful, and +sometimes give Rise to internal Aneurisms, +<span class="pageno target" title="508" id="page-508"> </span>which always prove mortal, after long Anxiety +and Oppression.</p> +<p class="pnext">Swoonings which attack old People, without +any manifest Cause, always afford an unfavourable +Prognostic.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-haemorrhages-or-an-involuntary-loss-of-blood"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Hæmorrhages, or an involuntary Loss of Blood.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id703">§ 512</span>. Hæmorrhages of the Nose, supervening +in inflammatory Fevers, commonly prove a +favourable <em class="italics">Crisis</em>; which Bleeding we should +carefully avoid stopping; except it becomes excessive, +and seems to threaten the Patient's Life.</p> +<p class="pnext">As they scarcely ever happen in very healthy +Subjects, but from a superfluous Abundance of +Blood, it is very improper to check them too +soon; lest some internal Stuffings and Obstructions +should prove the Consequence.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Swooning sometimes ensues after the Loss +of only a moderate Quantity of Blood. This +Swooning stops the Hæmorrhage, and goes off +without any further Assistance, except the smelling +to Vinegar. But in other Cases there is a +Succession of fainting Fits, without the Blood's +stopping; while at the same time slight convulsive +Motions and Twitchings ensue, attended +with a Raving, when it becomes really necessary +to stop the Bleeding: and indeed, without waiting +till these violent Symptoms appear, the following +Signs will sufficiently direct us, when it +is right to stop the Flux of Blood, or to permit +its Continuance—As long as the Pulse is still +<span class="pageno target" title="509" id="page-509"> </span>pretty full; while the Heat of the Body is equally +extended to the very Extremities; and the +Countenance and Lips preserve their natural +Redness, no ill Consequence is to be apprehended +from the Hæmorrhage, though it has been +very copious, and even somewhat profuse.</p> +<p class="pnext">But whenever the Pulse begins to faulter and +tremble; when the Countenance and the Lips +grow pale, and the Patient complains of a Sickness +at Stomach, it is absolutely necessary to stop +the Discharge of Blood. And considering that +the Operation of Remedies does not immediately +follow the Exhibition or Application of them, it +is safer to begin a little too early with them, +than to delay them, though ever so little too +long.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id704">§ 513</span>. First of all then, tight Bandages, or +Ligatures, should be applied round both Arms, +on the Part they are applied over in order to +Bleeding; and round the lower Part of both +Thighs, on the gartering Place; and all these +are to be drawn very tight, with an Intention to +detain and accumulate the Blood in the Extremities.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, In Order to increase this Effect, the Legs +are to be plunged in warm Water up to the +Knees; for by relaxing the Blood-vessels of the +Legs and Feet, they are dilated at the same time, +and thence receive, and, in Consequence of the +Ligatures above the Knees, retain the more +Blood. If the Water were cold, it would repel +the Blood to the Head; if hot, it would increase +<span class="pageno target" title="510" id="page-510"> </span>the Motion of it; and, by giving a greater +Quickness to the Pulse, would even contribute to +increase the Hæmorrhage.</p> +<p class="pnext">As soon however, as the Hæmorrhage is +stopt, these Ligatures [on the Thighs] may be +relaxed a little, or one of them be entirely removed; +allowing the others to continue on an +Hour or two longer without touching them: but +great Precaution should be taken not to slacken +them entirely, nor all at once.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, Seven or eight Grains of Nitre, and a +Spoonful of Vinegar, in half a Glass of cool Water, +should be given the Patient every half +Hour.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, One Drachm of white Vitriol must be dissolved +in two common Spoonfuls of Spring Water; +and a Tent of Lint, or Bits of soft fine +Linen dipt in this Solution, are to be introduced +into the Nostrils, horizontally at first, but afterwards +to be intruded upwards, and as high as +may be, by the Assistance of a flexible Bit of +Wood or Whale-bone. But should this Application +be ineffectual, the Mineral Anodyne Liquor +of <span class="small-caps">Hoffman</span> is certain to succeed: and in +the Country, where it often happens that neither +of these Applications are to be had speedily, +Brandy, and even Spirit of Wine, mixt with a +third Part Vinegar, have answered entirely well, +of which I have been a Witness.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Prescription <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id891">Nº. 67</a>, which I have already +referred to, on the Article of Wounds, may +also be serviceable on this Occasion. It must be +<span class="pageno target" title="511" id="page-511"> </span>reduced to Powder, and conveyed up the Nostrils +as high as may be, on the Point or Extremity +of a Tent of Lint, which may easily be +covered with it. Or a Quill, well charged with +the Powder, may be introduced high into the +Nostrils, and its Countents be strongly blown up +from its other Extremity: though after all the +former Method is preferable.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, When the Flux of Blood is totally stopt, +the Patient is to be kept as still and quiet as possible; +taking great Care not to extract the Tent +which remains in the Nose; <span class="target" id="nor">nor</span> to remove the +Clots of coagulated Blood which fill up the Passage. +The loosening and removing of these +should be effected very gradually and cautiously; +and frequently the Tent does not spring out spontaneously, +till after many Days.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id705">§ 514</span>. I have not, hitherto, said any thing +of artificial Bleeding in these Cases, as I think it +at best unserviceable; since, though it may sometimes +have stopt the morbid Loss of Blood, it has +at other times increased it. Neither have I mentioned +Anodynes here, whose constant Effect is +to determine a larger Quantity of Blood to the +Head.</p> +<p class="pnext">Applications of cold Water to the Nape of the +Neck ought to be wholly disused, having sometimes +been attended with the most embarrassing +Consequences.</p> +<p class="pnext">In all Hæmorrhages, all Fluxes of Blood, +great Tranquillity, Ligatures, and the Use of the +Drinks <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a> or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">4</a>, are very useful.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="512" id="page-512"> </span><span class="target" id="id706">§ 515</span>. People who are very liable to frequent +Hæmorrhages, ought to manage themselves conformably +to the Directions contained in the next +Chapter, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id745">§ 544</a>. They should take very little +Supper; avoid all sharp and spirituous Liquors; +Apartments that are over hot, and cover their +Heads but very lightly.</p> +<p class="pnext">When a Patient has for a long time been subject +to Hæmorrhages, if they cease, he should +retrench from his usual Quantity of Food; accustom +himself to artificial Bleedings at proper +Intervals; and take some gentle opening Purges, +especially that of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id828">Nº. 24</a>, and frequently a little +Nitre in an Evening.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-convulsion-fits"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Convulsion Fits.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id707">§ 516</span>. Convulsions are, in general, more terrifying +than dangerous; they result from many +and various Causes; and on the Removal or +Extirpation of these, their Cure depends.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the very Fit itself very little is to be done or +attempted.</p> +<p class="pnext">As nothing does shorten the Duration, nor +even lessen the Violence, of an epileptic Fit, so +nothing at all should be attempted in it; and the +rather, because Means and Medicines often aggravate +the Disease. We should confine our Endeavours +solely to the Security of the Patient, by +preventing him from giving himself any violent +Strokes; by getting something, if possible, between +his Teeth, such as a small Roller of Linen to +<span class="pageno target" title="513" id="page-513"> </span>prevent his Tongue from being hurt, or very +dangerously squeezed and bruised, in a strong +Convulsion.</p> +<p class="pnext">The only Case which requires immediate Assistance +in the Fit, is, when it is so extremely +violent, the Neck so swelled, and the Face so +very red, that there is Room to be apprehensive +of an Apoplexy, which we should endeavour to +obviate, by drawing eight or ten Ounces of Blood +from the Arm.</p> +<p class="pnext">As this terrible Disease is common in the +Country, it is doing a real Service to the unfortunate +Victims of it, to inform them how very +dangerous it is to give themselves blindly up to +take all the Medicines, which are cried up to +them in such Cases. If there be any one Disease, +which requires a more attentive, delicate, +and exquisite Kind of Treatment, it is this very +Disease. Some Species of it are wholly incurable: +and such as may be susceptible of a Cure, require +the utmost Care and Consideration of the most +enlightned and most experienced Physicians: while +those who pretend to cure all epileptic Patients, +with one invariable Medicine, are either Ignorants, +or Impostors, and sometimes both in one.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id708">§ 517</span>. Simple Convulsion Fits, which are not +epileptic, are frequently of a long Continuance, +persevering, with very few and short Intervals, +for Days and even for Weeks.</p> +<p class="pnext">The true genuine Cause should be investigated +as strictly as possible, though nothing should be +attempted in the Fit. The Nerves are, during +<span class="pageno target" title="514" id="page-514"> </span>that Term, in so high a Degree of Tension +and Sensibility, that the very Medicines, supposed +to be strongly indicated, often redouble the +Storm they were intended to appease.</p> +<p class="pnext">Thin watery Liquors, moderately imbued +with Aromatics, are the least hurtful, the most +innocent Things that can be given; such as +Bawm, Lime-tree, and Elder Flower Tea. A +Ptisan of Liquorice Root only has sometimes answered +better than any other.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-suffocating-or-strangling-fits"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of suffocating, or strangling Fits.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id709">§ 518</span>. These Fits (by whatever other Name +they may be called) whenever they very suddenly +attack a Person, whose Breathing was easy and +natural just before, depend almost constantly on +a Spasm or Contraction of the Nerves, in the +Vesicles of the Lungs; or upon an Infarction, a +Stuffing of the same Parts, produced by viscid +clammy Humours.</p> +<p class="pnext">That Suffocation which arises from a Spasm is +not dangerous, it goes off of itself, or it may +be treated like Swoonings owing to the same +Cause. See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id691">§ 502</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id710">§ 519</span>. That Suffocation, which is the Effect +of a sanguineous Fulness and Obstruction, may +be distinguished by its attacking strong, vigorous, +sanguine Persons, who are great Eaters, using +much juicy nutritious Food, and strong Wine +and Liquors, and who frequently eat and inflame +themselves; and when the Fit has come on +<span class="pageno target" title="515" id="page-515"> </span>after any inflaming Cause; when the Pulse is full +and strong, and the Countenance red.</p> +<p class="pnext">Such are cured, 1, by a very plentiful Discharge +of Blood from the Arm, which is to be +repeated, if necessary.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, By the Use of Glysters.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, By drinking plentifully of the Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id793">Nº. 1</a>; +to each Pot of which, a Drachm of Nitre is to be +added; and,</p> +<p class="pnext">4, By the Vapour of hot Vinegar, continually +received by Respiration or Breathing. See +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id93">§ 55</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id711">§ 520</span>. There is Reason to think that one of +these Fits is owing to a Quantity of tough viscid +Humours in the Lungs, when it attacks Persons, +whose Temperament, and whose Manner of +living are opposite to those I have just described; +such as valetudinary, weakly, phlegmatic, pituitous, +inactive, and squeamish Persons, who feed +badly, or on fat, viscid, and insipid Diet, and +who drink much hot Water, either alone, or in +Tea-like Infusions. And these Signs of Suffocation, +resulting from such Causes, are still more +probable, if the Fit came on in rainy Weather, +and during a southerly Wind; and when the +Pulse is soft and small, the Visage pale and +hollow.</p> +<p class="pnext">The most efficacious Treatment we can advise, +is, 1, To give every half Hour half a Cup of +the Potion, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id806">Nº. 8</a>, if it can be readily had. 2, +To make the Patient drink very plentifully of the +<span class="pageno target" title="516" id="page-516"> </span>Drink <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id814">Nº. 12</a>; and, 3, to apply two strong +Blisters to the fleshy Parts of his Legs.</p> +<p class="pnext">If he was strong and hearty before the Fit, +and the Pulse still continues vigorous, and feels +somewhat full withall, the Loss of seven or eight +Ounces of Blood is sometimes indispensably necessary. +A Glyster has also frequently been attended +with extraordinary good Effects.</p> +<p class="pnext">Those afflicted with this oppressing Malady +are commonly relieved, as soon as they expectorate, +and sometimes even by vomiting a little.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Medicine <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id829">Nº. 25</a>, a Dose of which may +be taken every two Hours, with a Cup of the +Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id814">Nº. 12</a>, often succeeds very well.</p> +<p class="pnext">But if neither this Medicine, nor the Prescription +of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id806">Nº. 8</a> are at Hand, which may be the +Case in Country Places; an Onion of a moderate +Size should be pounded in an Iron or Marble +Mortar; upon this, a Glass of Vinegar is to be +poured, and then strongly squeezed out again +through a Piece of Linen. An equal Quantity +of Honey is then to be added to it. A Spoonful +of this Mixture, whose remarkable Efficacy I +have been a Witness of, is to be given every half +Hour.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-the-violent-effects-of-fear"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of the violent Effects of Fear.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id712">§ 521</span>. Here I shall insert some Directions to +prevent the ill Consequences of great Fear or Terror, +which are very prejudicial at every Term of +Life, but chiefly during Infancy.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="517" id="page-517"> </span>The general Effects of Terror, are a great +Straitening or Contraction of all the small Vessels, +and a Repulsion of the Blood into the large and +internal ones. Hence follows the Suppression of +Perspiration, the general Seizure or Oppression, +the Trembling, the Palpitations and Anguish, +from the Heart and the Lungs being overcharged +with Blood; and sometimes attended with +Swoonings, irremediable Disorders of the Heart, +and Death itself. A heavy Drowsiness, Raving, +and a Kind of furious or raging <em class="italics">Delirium</em> happen +in other Cases, which I have frequently observed +in Children, when the Blood-vessels of the Neck +were swelled and stuffed up; and Convulsions, +and even the Epilepsy have come on, all which +have proved the horrible Consequence of a most +senseless and wicked Foolery or Sporting. One +half of those Epilepsies which do not depend on +such Causes, as might exist before the Child's +Birth, are owing to this detestable Custom; +and it cannot be too much inculcated into Children, +never to frighten one another; a Point +which Persons intrusted with their Education, +ought to have the strictest Regard to.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the Humours that should have passed off +by Perspiration, are repelled to the Intestines, a +tedious and very obstinate Looseness is the frequent +Consequence.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id713">§ 522</span>. Our Endeavours should be directed, +to re-establish the disordered Circulation; to restore +the obstructed Perspiration; and to allay +the Agitation of the Nerves.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="518" id="page-518"> </span>The popular Custom in these Cases has been +to give the terrified Patient some cold Water +directly; but when the Fright has been considerable, +this is a very pernicious custom, and I +have seen some terrible Consequences from it.</p> +<p class="pnext">They should, on the contrary, be conveyed +into some very quiet Situation, leaving there but +very few Persons, and such only as they are +thoroughly familiar with. They should take a +few Cups of pretty warm Drink, particularly of +an Infusion of Lime-tree Flowers and Bawm. +Their Legs should be put into warm Water, and +remain there an Hour, if they will patiently permit +it, rubbing them gently now and then, and +giving them every half-quarter of an Hour, a +small Cup of the said Drink. When their Composure +and Tranquillity are returned a little, and +their Skin seems to have recovered its wonted +and general Warmth, Care should be taken to +dispose them to sleep, and to perspire plentifully. +For this Purpose they may be allowed a few +Spoonfuls of Wine, on putting them into Bed, +with one Cup of the former Infusion; or, which +is more certain and effectual, a few Drops of +<span class="small-caps">Sydenham's</span> Liquid Laudanum, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id858">Nº. 44</a>; but +should that not be near at Hand, a small Dose +of <em class="italics">Venice</em> Treacle.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id714">§ 523</span>. It sometimes happens that Children do +not seem at first extremely terrified; but the +Fright is renewed while they sleep, and with no +small Violence. The Directions I have just +<span class="pageno target" title="519" id="page-519"> </span>given must then be observed, for some successive +Evenings, before they are put to Bed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Their Fright frequently returns about the latter +End of the Night, and agitates them violently +every Day. The same Treatment should be +continued in such Cases; and we should endeavour +to dispose them to be a-sleep at the usual +Hour of its Return.</p> +<p class="pnext">By this very Method, I have dissipated the +dismal Consequences of Fear of Women in +Child-bed, which is so commonly, and often +speedily, mortal.</p> +<p class="pnext">If a Suffocation from this Cause is violent, +there is sometimes a Necessity for opening a Vein +in the Arm.</p> +<p class="pnext">These Patients should gradually be inured +to an almost continual, but gentle, Kind of +Exercise.</p> +<p class="pnext">All violent Medicines render those Diseases, +which are the Consequences of great Fear, incurable. +A pretty common one is that of an +Obstruction of the Liver, which has been productive +of a Jaundice. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id716" id="id715"><sup>107</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-accidents-or-symptoms-produced-by-the-vapours-of-coal-and-of-wine"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Accidents or Symptoms produced by the Vapours of Coal, and of Wine.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id717">§ 524</span>. Not a single Year passes over here, +without the Destruction of many People by the +<span class="pageno target" title="520" id="page-520"> </span>Vapour of Charcoal, or of small Coal, and by +the Steam or Vapour of Wine.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Symptoms by Coal occur, when <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id720" id="id718"><sup>108</sup></a> small +Coal, and especially when <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id721" id="id719"><sup>109</sup></a> Charcoal is burnt in +a Chamber close shut, which is direct Poison to +a Person shut up in it. The sulphureous Oil, +which is set at Liberty and diffused by the Action +of Fire, expands itself through the Chamber; +while those who are in it perceive a Disorder and +Confusion in their Heads; contract Vertigos, +Sickness at Stomach, a Weakness, and very unusual +Kind of Numbness; become raving, convulsed +and trembling; and if they fail of Presence +of Mind, or of Strength, to get out of the Chamber, +they die within a short Time.</p> +<p class="pnext">I have seen a Woman who had vertiginous +Commotions in her Head for two Days, and almost +continual Vomitings, from her having been +confined less than six Minutes in a Chamber +(and that notwithstanding, both one Window +and one Door were open) in which there was a +Chafing-dish with some burning Coals. Had +the Room been quite close, she must have +perished by it.</p> +<p class="pnext">This Vapour is narcotic or stupefying, and +proves mortal in Consequence of its producing a +<span class="pageno target" title="521" id="page-521"> </span>sleepy or apoplectic Disorder, though blended, +at the same time, with something convulsive; +which sufficiently appears from the Closure of +the Mouth, and the strict Contraction or Locking +of the Jaws.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Condition of the Brain, in the dissected +Bodies of Persons thus destroyed, proves that +they die of an Apoplexy: notwithstanding it is +very probable that Suffocation is also partly the +Cause of their Deaths; as the Lungs have been +found stuffed up with Blood and livid.</p> +<p class="pnext">It has also been observed in some other such +Bodies, that Patients killed by the Vapour of +burning Coals, have commonly their whole Body +swelled out to one third more than their Magnitude, +when living. The Face, Neck, and +Arms are swelled out, as if they had been blown +up; and the whole human Machine appears in +such a State, as the dead Body of a Person would, +who had been violently strangled; and who had +made all possible Resistance for a long time, before +he was overpowered.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id722">§ 525</span>. Such as are sensible of the great Danger +they are in, and retreat seasonably from it, are generally +relieved as soon as they get into the open Air; +or if they have any remaining Uneasiness, a little +Water and Vinegar, or Lemonade, drank hot, +affords them speedy Relief. But when they are +so far poisoned, as to have lost their Feeling and +Understanding, if there be any Means of reviving +them, such Means consist,</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="522" id="page-522"> </span>1, In exposing them to a very pure, fresh and +open Air.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, In making them smell to some very penetrating +Odour, which is somewhat stimulating +and reviving, such as the volatile Spirit of Sal +Ammoniac, the <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id724" id="id723"><sup>110</sup></a> <em class="italics">English</em> Salt; and afterwards to +surround them, as it were, with the Steam of +Vinegar.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, In taking some Blood from their Arm.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, In putting their Legs into warm or hot +Water, and chafing them well.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, In making them swallow, if practicable, +much Lemonade, or Water and Vinegar, with +the Addition of Nitre: and,</p> +<p class="pnext">6, In throwing up some sharp Glysters.</p> +<p class="pnext">As it is manifest there is something spasmodic +in these Cases, it were proper to be provided +with some antispasmodic Remedies, such as the +Mineral Anodyne Liquid of <span class="small-caps">Hoffman</span>. Even +Opium has sometimes been successfully given +here, but it should be allowed to Physicians only +to direct it in such Cases.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Vomit would be hurtful; and the Reachings +to vomit arise only from the Oppression on +the Brain.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is a common but erroneous Opinion, that +if the Coal be suffered to burn for a Minute or so +in the open Air, or in a Chimney, it is sufficient +to prevent any Danger from the Vapour of it.</p> +<p class="pnext">Hence it amounts even to a criminal Degree +of Imprudence, to sleep in a Chamber while +<span class="pageno target" title="523" id="page-523"> </span>Charcoal or small Coal is burning in it; and the +Number of such imprudent Persons, as have +never awaked after it, is so considerable, and so +generally known too, that the Continuance of +this unhappy Custom is astonishing.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id726">§ 526</span>. The Bakers, who make Use of much +small Coal, often keep great Quantities of it in +their Cellars, which frequently abound so much +with the Vapour of it, that it seizes them violently +the Moment they enter into the Cellar. They +sink down at once deprived of all Sensation, and +die if they are not drawn out of it soon enough +to be assisted, according to the Directions I have +just given.</p> +<p class="pnext">One certain Means of preventing such fatal +Accidents is, upon going into the Cellar to throw +some flaming Paper or Straw into it, and if +these continue to flame out and consume, there +is no Reason for dreading the Vapour: but if +they should be extinguished, no Person should +venture in. But after opening the Vent-hole, a +Bundle of flaming Straw must be set at the Door, +which serves to attract the external Air strongly. +Soon after the Experiment of the flaming Paper +must be repeated, and if it goes out, more Straw +is to be set on Fire before the Cellar Door.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id727">§ 527</span>. Small Coal, burnt in an open Fire, is not +near so dangerous as <em class="italics">Charcoal</em>, properly so called, +the Danger of which arises from this, that in +extinguishing it by the usual Methods, all those +sulphureous Particles of it, in which its Danger +consists, are concentred. Nevertheless, small +<span class="pageno target" title="524" id="page-524"> </span>Coal is not entirely deprived of all its noxious +Quality, without some of which it could not +strictly be Coal.</p> +<p class="pnext">The common Method of throwing some Salt +on live Coals, before they are conveyed into +a Chamber; or of casting a Piece of Iron among +them to imbibe some Part of their deadly narcotic +Sulphur, is not without its Utility; though by no +means sufficient to prevent all Danger from +them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id728">§ 528</span>. When the most dangerous Symptoms +from this Cause disappear, and there remains +only some Degree of Weakness, of Numbness, +and a little Inappetency, or Loathing at Stomach, +nothing is better than Lemonade with one fourth +Part Wine, half a Cup of which should frequently +be taken, with a small Crust of Bread.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id729">§ 529</span>. The Vapour which exhales from +Wine, and in general from all fermenting Liquors, +such as Beer, Cyder, <em class="italics">&c.</em> contains something +poisonous, 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 State of Fermentation; if it +has been shut up close for several Hours. There +have been many Examples of Persons struck +dead on entering one, and of others who have +escaped out of it with Difficulty.</p> +<p class="pnext">When such unhappy Accidents occur, Men +should not be successively exposed, one after +another, to perish, by endeavouring to fetch out +the first who sunk down upon his Entrance; but +<span class="pageno target" title="525" id="page-525"> </span>the Air should immediately be purified by the +Method already directed, or by discharging some +Guns into the Cellar; after which People may +venture in with Precaution. And when the +Persons unfortunately affected are brought out, +they are to be treated like those, who were +affected with the Coal-Vapour.</p> +<p class="pnext">I saw a Man, about eight Years since, who was +not sensible of the Application of Spirit of Sal Ammoniac, +till about an Hour after he was struck +down, and who was entirely freed at last by a +plentiful Bleeding; though he had been so insensible, +that it was several Hours before he discovered +a very great Wound he had, which extended +from the Middle of his Arm to his Armpit, +and which was made by a Hook intended +to be used, in Case of a House catching Fire, +to assist Persons in escaping from the Flames.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id730">§ 530</span>. When subterraneous Caves that have +been very long shut are opened; or when deep +Wells are cleaned, that have not been emptied +for several Years, the Vapours arising from them +produce the same Symptoms I have mentioned, +and require the same Assistance. They are to be +cleansed and purified by burning Sulphur and +Salt Petre in them, or Gunpowder, as compounded +of both.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id731">§ 531</span>. The offensive Stink of Lamps and of +Candles, especially when their Flames are extinguished, +operate like other Vapours, though +with less Violence, and less suddenly. <span class="target" id="nevertheless">Nevertheless</span> +there have been Instances of People +<span class="pageno target" title="526" id="page-526"> </span>killed by the Fumes of Lamps fed with Nut +Oil, which had been extinguished in a close +Room. These last Smells or Fumes prove noxious +also, in Consequence of their Greasiness, +which being conveyed, together with the Air, +into the Lungs, prevent their Respiration: And +hence we may observe, that Persons of weak delicate +Breasts find themselves quickly oppressed in +Chambers or Apartments, illuminated with many +Candles.</p> +<p class="pnext">The proper Remedies have been already directed, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id722">§ 525</a>. The Steam of Vinegar is very +serviceable in such Cases.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-poisons"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Poisons.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id732">§ 532</span>. There are a great Number of Poisons, +whose Manner of acting is not alike; and whose +ill Effects are to be opposed by different Remedies: +But Arsenic, or Ratsbane, and some particular +Plants are the Poisons which are the most +frequently productive of Mischief, in Country +Places.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id733">§ 533</span>. It is in Consequence of its excessive +Acrimony, or violent Heat and Sharpness, which +corrodes or gnaws, that Arsenic destroys by an +excessive Inflammation, with a burning Fire as +it were, most torturing Pains in the Mouth, +Throat, Stomach, Guts; with rending and often +bloody Vomitings, and Stools, Convulsions, +Faintings, <em class="italics">&c.</em></p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="527" id="page-527"> </span>The best Remedy of all is pouring down +whole Torrents of Milk, or, where there is not +Milk, of warm Water. Nothing but a prodigious +Quantity of such weak Liquids can avail such +a miserable Patient. If the Cause of the Disorder +is immediately known, after having very speedily +taken down a large Quantity of warm Water, +Vomiting may be excited with Oil, or with +melted Butter, and by tickling the Inside of the +Throat with a Feather. But when the Poison +has already inflamed the Stomach and the Guts, +we must not expect to discharge it by vomiting. +Whatever is healing or emollient, Decoctions of +mealy Pulse, of Barley, of Oatmeal, of Marsh-mallows, +and Butter and Oil are the most suitable.</p> +<p class="pnext">As soon as ever the tormenting Pains are felt +in the Belly, and the Intestines seem attacked, +Glysters of Milk must be very frequently thrown +up.</p> +<p class="pnext">If at the very Beginning of the Attack, the Patient +has a strong Pulse, a very large Bleeding may +be considerably serviceable by its delaying the Progress, +and diminishing the Degree of Inflammation.</p> +<p class="pnext">And even though it should happen that a Patient +overcomes the first Violence of this dreadful +Accident, it is too common for him to continue +in a languid State for a long Time, and sometimes +for all the Remainder of his Life. The +most certain Method of preventing this Misery, +is to live for some Months solely upon Milk, +<span class="pageno target" title="528" id="page-528"> </span>and some very new laid Eggs, just received from +the Hen, and dissolved or blended in the Milk, +without boiling them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id734">§ 534</span>. The Plants which chiefly produce +these unhappy Accidents are some Kinds of Hemlock, +whether it be the Leaf or the Root, the +Berries of the <em class="italics">Bella Donna</em>, or deadly Nightshade, +which Children eat by mistake for Cherries; +some Kind of Mushrooms, the Seed of the +<em class="italics">Datura</em>, or the stinking Thorn-Apple.</p> +<p class="pnext">All the Poisons of this Class prove mortal +rather from a narcotic, or stupefying, than from +an acrid, or very sharp Quality. Vertigos, +Faintings, Reachings to vomit, and actual Vomitings +are the first Symptoms produced by them.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Patient should immediately swallow down +a large Quantity of Water, moderately seasoned +with Salt or with Sugar; and then a Vomiting +should be excited as soon as possible by the Prescription +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a> or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">35</a>: or, if neither of these is +very readily procurable, with Radish-seed pounded, +to the Quantity of a Coffee Spoonful, swallowed +in warm Water, soon after forcing a Feather +or a Finger into the Patient's Throat, to expedite +the Vomiting.</p> +<p class="pnext">After the Operation of the Vomit, he must continue +to take a large Quantity of Water, sweetened +with Honey or Sugar, together with a considerable +Quantity of Vinegar, which is the true +Specific, or Antidote, as it were, against those +Poisons: the Intestines must also be emptied by a +few Glysters.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="529" id="page-529"> </span>Thirty-seven Soldiers having unhappily eaten, +instead of Carrots, of the Roots of the <em class="italics">Oenanthè</em>; +or Water-hemlock, became all extremely sick; +when the Emetic, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a>, with the Assistance +of Glysters, and very plentiful drinking of warm +Water, saved all but one of them, who died before +he could be assisted.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id735">§ 535</span>. If a Person has taken too much Opium; +or any Medicine into which it enters, as +<em class="italics">Venice</em> Treacle, Mithridate, Diascordium, <em class="italics">&c.</em> +whether by Imprudence, Mistake, Ignorance, +or through any bad Design, he must be bled +upon the Spot, and treated as if he had a sanguine +Apoplexy, (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id212">§ 147</a>) by Reason that +Opium in Effect produces such a one. He should +snuff up and inhale the Vapour of Vinegar plentifully, +adding it also liberally to the Water he +is to drink.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-acute-pains"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of acute Pains.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id736">§ 536</span>. It is not my Intention to treat here of +those Pains, that accompany any evident known +Disease, and which should be conducted as relating +to such Diseases; nor of such Pains as infirm +valetudinary Persons are habitually subject to; +since Experience has informed such of the most +effectual Relief for them: But when a Person +sound and hale, finds himself suddenly attacked +with some excessive Pain, in whatever Part it +occurs, without knowing either the Nature, or +<span class="pageno target" title="530" id="page-530"> </span>the Cause of it, they may, till proper Advice can +be procured,</p> +<p class="pnext">1, Part with some Blood, which, by abating +the Fulness and Tension, almost constantly +asswages the Pains, at least for some Time: and +it may even be repeated, if, without weakening +the Patient much, it has lessened the Violence of +the Pain.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, The Patient should drink abundantly of +some very mild temperate Drink, such as the +Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id794">Nº. 2</a>, the Almond Emulsion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id800">Nº. 4</a>, or +warm Water with a fourth or fifth Part Milk.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, Several emollient Glysters should be given.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, The whole Part that is affected, and the +adjoining Parts should be covered with Cataplasms, +or soothed with the emollient Fomentation, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id807">Nº. 9</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, The warm Bath may also be advantagiously +used.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="no-6">6, If notwithstanding all these Assistances, the +Pain should still continue violent, and the Pulse +is neither full nor hard, the grown Patient may +take an Ounce of Syrup of Diacodium, or sixteen +Drops of liquid Laudanum; and when neither +of these are to be had, <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id738" id="id737"><sup>111</sup></a> an <em class="italics">English</em> Pint of boiling +Water must be poured upon three or four +Poppy-heads with their Seeds, but without the +Leaves, and this Decoction is to be drank like +Tea.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id739">§ 537</span>. Persons very subject to frequent Pains, +and especially to violent Head-achs, should abstain +<span class="pageno target" title="531" id="page-531"> </span>from all strong Drink; such Abstinence being often +the only Means of curing them: And People are +very often mistaken in supposing Wine necessary +for as many as seem to have a weak Stomach.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head563-chapter-xxxii"> +<span id="chap-xxxii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i563a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXXII.</span></h2> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-medicines-taken-by-way-of-precaution-or-prevention"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Medicines taken by Way of Precaution, or Prevention.</em></h3> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 538.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="I" src="images/i563b.png"/> Have pointed out, in some Parts of +this Work, the Means of preventing +the bad Effects of several Causes of Diseases; +and of prohibiting the Return of +some habitual Disorders. In the present Chapter +I shall adjoin some Observations, on the Use of +the principal Remedies, which are employed as +general Preservatives; pretty regularly too at certain +stated Times, and almost always from meer +Custom only, without knowing, and often with +very little Consideration, whether they are right +<span class="target" id="or-wrong">or wrong.</span></p> +<p class="pnext">Nevertheless, the Use, the Habit of taking +Medicines, is certainly no indifferent Matter: it +is ridiculous, dangerous, and even criminal to +omit them, when they are necessary, but not less +so to take them when they are not wanted. A +<span class="pageno target" title="532" id="page-532"> </span>good Medicine taken seasonably, when there is +some Disorder, some <em class="italics">Disarrangement</em> in the Body, +which would in a short time occasion a Distemper, +has often prevented it. But yet the very +same Medicine, if given to a Person in perfect +Health, if it does not directly make him sick, +leaves him at the best in a greater Propensity to +the Impressions of Diseases: and there are but +too many Examples of People, who having very +unhappily contracted a Habit, a Disposition to +take Physick, have really injured their Health, +and impaired their Constitution, however naturally +strong, by an Abuse of those Materials +which Providence has given for the Recovery +and Re-establishment of it; an Abuse which, +though it should not injure the Health of the +Person, would occasion those Remedies, when +he should be really sick, to be less efficacious and +serviceable to him, from their having been familiar +to his Constitution; and thus he becomes +deprived of the Assistance he would have received +from them, if taken only in those Times +and Circumstances, in which they were necessary +for him.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-bleeding"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Bleeding.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id740">§ 539</span>. Bleeding is necessary only in these +four Cases. 1, When there is too great a Quantity +of Blood in the Body. 2, When there is +any Inflammation, or an inflammatory Disease. +3, When some Cause supervenes, or is about to +<span class="pageno target" title="533" id="page-533"> </span>supervene, in the Constitution, which would +speedily produce an Inflammation, or some other +dangerous Symptom, if the Vessels were not relaxed +by Bleeding. It is upon this Principle +that Patients are bled after Wounds, and after +Bruises; that Bleeding is directed for a pregnant +Woman, if she has a violent Cough; and that +Bleeding is performed, by Way of Precaution, +in several other Cases. 4, We also advise Bleeding +sometimes to asswage an excessive Pain, +though such Pain is not owing to Excess of +Blood, nor <span class="target" id="arises">arises</span> from an inflamed Blood; but +in Order to appease and moderate the Pain by +Bleeding; and thereby to obtain Time for destroying +the Cause of it by other Remedies. +But as these two last Reasons are in Effect involved +or implied in the two first; it may be very +generally concluded, that an Excess of Blood, +and an inflamed State of it, are the only two +necessary Motives for Bleeding.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id741">§ 540</span>. An Inflammation of the Blood is +known by the Symptoms accompanying those +Diseases, which that Cause produces. Of these +I have already spoken, and I have at the same +time regulated the Practice of Bleeding in such +Cases. Here I shall point out those Symptoms +and Circumstances, which manifest an Excess of +Blood.</p> +<p class="pnext">The first, then, is the general Course and +Manner of the Patient's living, while in Health. +If he is a great Eater, and indulges in juicy nutritious +Food, and especially on much Flesh-meat; +<span class="pageno target" title="534" id="page-534"> </span>if he drinks rich and nourishing Wine, or +other strong Drink, and at the same time enjoys +a good Digestion; if he takes but little Exercise, +sleeps much, and has not been subject to any +very considerable Evacuation, he may well be +supposed to abound in Blood. It is very obvious +that all these Causes rarely occur in Country +People; if we except only the Abatement of their +Exercise, during some Weeks in Winter, which +indeed may contribute to their generating more +Blood than they commonly do.</p> +<p class="pnext">The labouring Country-man, for much the +greater part of his Time, lives only on Bread, +Water and Vegetables; Materials but very moderately +nourishing, as one Pound of Bread probably +does not make, in the same Body, more Blood +than one Ounce of Flesh; though a general Prejudice +seems to have established a contrary Opinion. +2, The total Stopping or long Interruption of +some involuntary Bleeding or Hæmorrhage, to +which he had been accustomed. 3, A full and +strong Pulse, and Veins visibly filled with Blood, +in a Body that is not lean and thin, and when he +is not heated. 4, A florid lively Ruddiness. +5, A considerable and unusual Numbness; Sleep +more profound, of more Duration, and yet less +tranquil and calm, than at other times; a greater +Propensity than ordinary to be fatigued after moderate +Exercise or Work; and a little Oppression +and Heaviness from walking. 6, Palpitations, +accompanied sometimes with very great Dejection, +and even with a slight fainting Fit; especially on +<span class="pageno target" title="535" id="page-535"> </span>being in any hot Place, or after moving about +considerably. 7, Vertigos, or Swimmings of the +Head, especially on bowing down and raising it +up at once, and after sleeping. 8, Frequent +Pains of the Head, to which the Person was not +formerly subject; and which seem not to arise +from any Defect in the Digestions. 9, An evident +Sensation of Heat, pretty generally diffused +over the whole Body. 10, A smarting Sort of +Itching all over, from a very little more Heat +than usual. And lastly, frequent Hæmorrhages, +and these attended with manifest Relief, and +more Vivacity.</p> +<p class="pnext">People should, notwithstanding, be cautious +of supposing an unhealthy Excess of Blood, from +any one of these Symptoms only. Many of +them must concur; and they should endeavour +to be certain that even such a Concurrence of +them does not result from a very different Cause, +and wholly opposite in Effect to that of an Excess +of Blood.</p> +<p class="pnext">But when it is certain, from the whole Appearance, +that such an Excess doth really exist, +then a single, or even a second Bleeding is attended +with very good Effects. Nor is it material, +in such Cases, from what Part the Blood is +taken.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id742">§ 541</span>. On the other Hand, when these Circumstances +do not exist, Bleeding is in no wise +necessary: nor should it ever be practised in these +following Conditions and Circumstances; except +for some particular and very strong Reasons; of +<span class="pageno target" title="536" id="page-536"> </span>the due Force of which none but Physicians can +judge.</p> +<p class="pnext">First, when the Person is in a very advanced +Age, or in very early Infancy. 2, When he is +either naturally of a weakly Constitution, or it +has been rendered such by Sickness, or by some +other Accident. 3, When the Pulse is small, +soft, feeble, and intermits, and the Skin is manifestly +pale. 4, When the Limbs, the Extremities +of the Body, are often cold, puffed up +and soft. 5, When their Appetite has been very +small for a long time; their Food but little nourishing, +and their Perspiration too plentiful, from +great Exercise. 6, When the Stomach has long +been disordered, and the Digestion bad, whence +very little Blood could be generated. 7, When +the Patient has been considerably emptied, whether +by Hæmorrhages, a Looseness, profuse +Urine or Sweat: or when the <em class="italics">Crisis</em> of some Distemper +has been effected by any one of these +Evacuations. 8, When the Patient has long +been afflicted with some depressing Disease; and +troubled with many such Obstructions as prevent +the Formation of Blood. 9, Whenever a Person +is exhausted, from whatever Cause. 10, When +the Blood is in a thin, pale, and dissolved State.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id743">§ 542</span>, In all these Cases, and in some others +less frequent, a single Bleeding often precipitates +the Patient into an absolutely incurable State, an +irreparable Train of Evils. Many dismal Examples +of it are but too obvious.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="537" id="page-537"> </span>Whatever, therefore, be the Situation of the +Patient, and however naturally robust, that +Bleeding, which is unnecessary, is noxious. Repeated, +re-iterated Bleedings, weaken and enervate, +hasten old Age, diminish the Force of the +Circulation, thence fatten and puff up the Body; +and next by weakening, and lastly by destroying, +the Digestions, they lead to a fatal +Dropsy. They disorder the Perspiration by the +Skin, and leave the Patient liable to Colds and +Defluxions: They weaken the nervous System, +and render them subject to Vapours, to the +hypochondriac Disorders, and to all nervous +Maladies.</p> +<p class="pnext">The ill Consequence of a single, though erroneous +Bleeding is not immediately discernible: +on the contrary, when it was not performed in +such a Quantity, as to weaken the Patient perceivably, +it appears to have been rather beneficial. +Yet I still here insist upon it, that it is not the +less true that, when unnecessary, it is prejudicial; +and that People should never bleed, as sometimes +has been done, for meer Whim, or, as +it were, for Diversion. It avails nothing to affirm, +that within a few Days after it, they have +got more Blood than they had before it, that is, +that they weigh more than at first, whence they +infer the Loss of Blood very speedily repaired. +The Fact of their augmented Weight is admitted; +but this very Fact testifies against the real +Benefit of that Bleeding; hence it is a Proof, +that the natural Evacuations of the Body are less +<span class="pageno target" title="538" id="page-538"> </span>compleatly made; and that Humours, which +ought to be expelled, are retained in it. There +remains the same Quantity of Blood, and perhaps +a little more; but it is not a Blood so well +made, so perfectly elaborated; and this is so +very true, that if the thing were otherwise; if +some Days after the Bleeding they had a greater +Quantity of the same Kind of Blood, it would +amount to a Demonstration, that more re-iterated +Bleedings must necessarily have brought +on an inflammatory Disease, in a Man of a robust +Habit of Body.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id744">§ 543</span>. The Quantity of Blood, which a +grown Man may Part with, by Way of Precaution, +is about ten Ounces.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id745">§ 544</span>. Persons so constituted as to breed much +Blood, should carefully avoid all those Causes +which tend to augment it, (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id741">§ 540</a>, Nº. 1) +and when they are sensible of the Quantity augmented, +they should confine themselves to a +light frugal Diet, on Pulse, Fruits, Bread and +Water; they should often bathe their Feet in +warm Water, taking Night and Morning the +<span class="target" id="powder">Powder</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id822">Nº. 20</a>; drink of the Ptisan <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id793">Nº. 1</a>; sleep +but very moderately, and take much Exercise. +By using these Precautions they may either prevent +any Occasion for Bleeding, or should they +really be obliged to admit of it, they would increase +and prolong its good Effects. These are +also the very Means, which may remove all the +Danger that might ensue from a Person's omitting +to bleed, at the usual Season or Interval, +<span class="pageno target" title="539" id="page-539"> </span>when the Habit, the Fashion of Bleeding had +been inveterately established in him.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id746">§ 545</span>. We learn with Horror and Astonishment, +that some have been bled eighteen, twenty +and even twenty-four times in two Days; and +some others, some <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id748" id="id747"><sup>112</sup></a> hundred times, in the +Course of some Months. Such Instances irrefragably +demonstrate the continual Ignorance of +their Physician or Surgeon; and should the Patient +escape, we ought to admire the inexhaustible +Resources of Nature, that survived so many +murderous Incisions.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id749">§ 546</span>. The People entertain a common Notion, +which is, that the first Time of bleeding +certainly saves the Life of the Patient; but to +convince them of the Falsity of this silly Notion, +they need only open their Eyes, and see the very +contrary Fact to this occur but too unhappily +every Day; many People dying soon after their +first Bleeding. Were their Opinion right, it +would be impossible that any Person should die +of the first Disease that seized him, which yet +daily happens. Now the Extirpation of this absurd +Opinion is really become important, as the +<span class="pageno target" title="540" id="page-540"> </span>Continuance of it is attended with some unhappy +Consequences: their Faith in, their great Dependance +on, the extraordinary Virtue of this +first Bleeding makes them willing to omit it, +that is, to treasure it up against a Distemper, +from which they shall be in the greatest Danger; +and thus it is deferred as long as the Patient is +not extremely bad, in Hopes that if they can do +without it then, they shall keep it for another +and more pressing Occasion. Their present Disease +in the mean time rises to a violent Height; +and then they bleed, but when it is too late, and +I have seen Instances of many Patients, who +were permitted to die, that the first Bleeding +might be reserved for a more important Occasion. +The only Difference between the first +Bleeding, and any subsequent one is, that the +first commonly gives the Patient an Emotion, +that is rather hurtful than salutary.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="of-purges"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Of Purges.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst"><span class="target" id="id750">§ 547</span>. The Stomach and Bowels are emptied +either by Vomiting, or by Stools, the latter Discharge +being much more natural than the first, +which is not effected without a violent Motion, +and one indeed to which Nature is repugnant. +Nevertheless, there are some Cases, which really +require this artificial Vomiting; but these excepted +(some of which I have already pointed out) +we should rather prefer those Remedies, which +empty the Belly by Stool.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="541" id="page-541"> </span><span class="target" id="id751">§ 548</span>. The Signs, which indicate a Necessity +for Purging, are, 1, a disagreeable Tast or Savour +of the Mouth in a Morning, and especially +a bitter Tast; a foul, furred Tongue and +Teeth, disagreable Eructations or Belchings, +Windiness and Distension.</p> +<p class="pnext">2, A Want of Appetite which increases very +gradually, without any Fever, which degenerates +into a Disgust or total Aversion to Food; and +sometimes communicates a bad Tast to the very +little such Persons do eat.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, Reachings to vomit in a Morning fasting, +and sometimes throughout the Day; supposing +such not to depend on a Woman's Pregnancy, or +some other Disorder, in which Purges would +be either useless or hurtful.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, A vomiting up of bitter, or corrupted, +Humours.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, A manifest Sensation of a Weight, or +Heaviness in the Stomach, the Loins, or the +Knees.</p> +<p class="pnext">6, A Want of Strength sometimes attended +with Restlessness, ill Humour, or Peevishness, +and Melancholy.</p> +<p class="pnext">7, Pains of the Stomach, frequent Pains of +the Head, or Vertigos; sometimes a Drowsiness, +which increases after Meals.</p> +<p class="pnext">8, Some Species of Cholics; irregular Stools +which are sometimes very great in Quantity, and +too liquid for many Days together; after which +an obstinate Costiveness ensues.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="542" id="page-542"> </span>9, A Pulse less regular, and less strong, than +what is natural to the Patient, and which sometimes +intermits.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id752">§ 549</span>. When these Symptoms, or some of +them, ascertain the Necessity of purging a Person, +not then attacked by any manifest Disease +(for I am not speaking here of Purges in such +Cases) a proper purging Medicine may be given +him. The bad Tast in his Mouth; the continual +Belchings; the frequent Reachings to vomit; +the actual Vomitings and Melancholy discover, +that the Cause of his Disorder resides in +the Stomach, and shew that a Vomit will be of +Service to him. But when such Signs or Symptoms +are not evident, the Patient should take +such purging or opening Remedies, as are particularly +indicated by the Pains, whether of the +Loins; from the Cholic; or by a Sensation of +Weight or Heaviness in the Knees.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id753">§ 550</span>. But we should abstain from either +vomiting or purging, 1, Whenever the Complaints +of the <span class="target" id="patients">Patients</span> are founded in their Weakness, +and their being already exhausted, 2, +When there is a general Dryness of the Habit, a +very considerable Degree of Heat, some Inflammation, +or a strong Fever. 3, Whenever Nature +is exerting herself in some other salutary Evacuation; +whence purging must never be attempted +in critical Sweats, during the monthly Discharges, +nor during a Fit of the Gout. 4, Nor +in such inveterate Obstructions as Purges cannot +remove, and really do augment. 5, Neither +<span class="pageno target" title="543" id="page-543"> </span>when the nervous System is considerably weakened.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id754">§ 551</span>. There are other Cases again, in which +it may be proper to purge, but not to give a Vomit. +These Cases are, 1, When the Patient +abounds too much with Blood, (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id741">§ 540</a>) since +the Efforts which attend vomiting, greatly augment +the Force of the Circulation; whence the +Blood-vessels of the Head and of the Breast, being +extremely distended with Blood, might burst, +which must prove fatal on the Spot, and has +repeatedly proved so. 2, For the same Reason +they should not be given to Persons, who are +subject to frequent Bleeding from the Nose, or +to coughing up or vomiting of Blood; to Women +who are subject to excessive or unseasonable +Discharges of Blood, <em class="italics">&c.</em> from the <em class="italics">Vagina</em>, the +Neck of the Womb; nor to those who are with +Child. 3, Vomits are improper for ruptured +Persons.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id755">§ 552</span>. When any Person has taken too acrid, +too sharp, a Vomit, or a Purge, which operates +with excessive Violence; whether this consists in +the most vehement Efforts and Agitations, the +Pains, Convulsions, or Swoonings, which are +their frequent Consequences; or whether that +prodigious Evacuation and Emptiness their Operation +causes, (which is commonly termed a <em class="italics">Super-purgation</em>) +and which may hurry the Patient +off; Instances of which are but too common +among the lower Class of the People, who much +too frequently confide themselves to the Conduct +<span class="pageno target" title="544" id="page-544"> </span>of ignorant Men-slayers: In all such unhappy +Accidents, I say, we should treat these unfortunate +Persons, as if they had been actually poisoned, +by violent corroding Poisons, (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id733">§ 533</a>) +that is, we should fill them, as it were, with +Draughts of warm Water, Milk, Oil, Barley-water, +Almond Milk, emollient Glysters with +Milk, and the Yolks of Eggs; and also bleed +them plentifully, if their Pains are excessive, and +their Pulses strong and feverish.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Super-purgation, the excessive Discharge, +is to be stopt, after having plied the Patient +plentifully with diluting Drinks, by giving the +calming Anodyne Medicines directed in the Removal +of acute Pains, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#no-6">§ 536, Nº. 6</a>.</p> +<p class="pnext">Flanels dipt in hot Water, in which some <em class="italics">Venice</em> +Treacle is dissolved, are very serviceable: +and should the Evacuations by Stool be excessive, +and the Patient has not a high Fever, and a +parching Kind of Heat, a Morsel of the same +Treacle, as large as a Nutmeg, may be dissolved +in his Glyster.</p> +<p class="pnext">But should the Vomiting solely be excessive, +without any Purging, the Number of the emollient +Glysters with Oil and the Yolk of an Egg +must be increased; and the Patient should be +placed in a warm Bath.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id756">§ 553</span>. Purges frequently repeated, without +just and necessary Indications, are attended with +much the same ill Effects as frequent Bleedings. +They destroy the Digestions; the Stomach no +longer, or very languidly, exerts its Functions; +<span class="pageno target" title="545" id="page-545"> </span>the Intestines prove inactive; the Patient becomes +liable to very severe Cholics; the Plight of the +Body, deprived of its salutary Nutrition, falls off; +Perspiration is disordered; Defluxions ensue; +nervous Maladies come on, with a general Languor; +and the Patient proves old, long before +the Number of his Years have made him so.</p> +<p class="pnext">Much irreparable Mischief has been done to +the Health of Children, by Purges injudiciously +given and repeated. They prevent them from +attaining their utmost natural Strength, and frequently +contract their due Growth. They ruin +their Teeth; dispose young Girls to future Obstructions; +and when they have been already +affected by them, they render them still more +obstinate.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is a Prejudice too generally received, that +Persons who have little or no Appetite need +purging; since this is often very false, and most +of those Causes, which lessen or destroy the Appetite, +cannot be removed by purging; though +many of them may be increased by it.</p> +<p class="pnext">Persons whose Stomachs contain much glairy +viscid Matter suppose, they may be cured by +Purges, which seem indeed at first to relieve +them: but this proves a very slight and deceitful +Relief. These Humours are owing to that +Weakness and Laxity of the Stomach, which +Purges augment; since notwithstanding they carry +off Part of these viscid Humours generated in +it, at the Expiration of a few Days there is a +greater Accumulation of them than before; and +<span class="pageno target" title="546" id="page-546"> </span>thus, by a Re-iteration of purging Medicines, +the Malady soon becomes incurable, and Health +irrecoverably lost. The real Cure of such Cases +is effected by directly opposite Medicines. Those +referred to, or mentioned, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id400">§ 272</a>, are highly +conducive to it.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id757">§ 554</span>. The Custom of taking stomachic Medicines +infused in Brandy, Spirit of Wine, Cherry +Water, <em class="italics">&c.</em> is always dangerous; for notwithstanding +the present immediate Relief such +Infusions afford in some Disorders of the Stomach, +they really by slow Degrees impair and +ruin that Organ; and it may be observed, that +as many as accustom themselves to Drams, go +off, just like excessive Drinkers, in Consequence +of their having no Digestion; whence they sink +into a State of Depression and Languor, and die +dropsical.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id758">§ 555</span>. Either Vomits or Purges may be often +beneficially omitted, even when they have +some Appearance of seeming necessary, by abating +one Meal a Day for some time; by abstaining +from the most nourishing Sorts of Food; and +especially from those which are fat; by drinking +freely of cool Water, and taking extraordinary +Exercise. The same Regimen also serves to +subdue, without the Use of Purges, the various +Complaints which often invade those, who omit +taking purging Medicines, at those Seasons and +Intervals, in which they have made it a Custom +to take them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="547" id="page-547"> </span><span class="target" id="id759">§ 556</span>. The Medicines, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id846">Nº. 34</a> and <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id849">35</a>, are +the most certain Vomits. The Powder, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id823">Nº. 21</a>, +is a good Purge, when the Patient is in no wise +feverish.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Doses recommended in the Table of Remedies +are those, which are proper for a grown +Man, of a vigorous Constitution. Nevertheless +there are some few, for whom they may be too +weak: in such Circumstances they may be increased +by the Addition of a third or fourth Part +of the Dose prescribed. But should they not +operate in that Quantity, we must be careful +not to double the Dose, much less to give a +three-fold Quantity, which has sometimes been +done, and that even without its Operation, and at +the Risque of killing the Patient, which has not +seldom been the Consequence. In Case of such +purging not ensuing, we should rather give large +Draughts of Whey sweetened with Honey, or of +warm Water, in a Pot of which an Ounce, or +an Ounce and a half of common Salt must be +dissolved; and this Quantity is to be taken from +time to time in small Cups, moving about with +it.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Fibres of Country People who inhabit +the Mountains, and live almost solely on Milk, +are so little susceptible of Sensation, that they +must take such large Doses to purge them, as +would kill all the Peasantry in the Vallies. In +the Mountains of <em class="italics">Valais</em> there are Men who take +twenty, and even twenty-four Grains of Glass of +<span class="pageno target" title="548" id="page-548"> </span>Antimony for a single Dose; a Grain or two of +which were sufficient to poison ordinary Men.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id760">§ 557</span>. Notwithstanding our Cautions on this +important Head, whenever an urgent Necessity +commands it, Purging must be recurred to at all +Times and Seasons: but when the Season may +be safely selected, it were right to decline Purging +in the Extremities of either Heat or Cold; +and to take the Purge early in the Morning, that +the Medicines may find less Obstruction or Embarrassment +from the Contents of the Stomach. +Every other Consideration, with Relation to the +Stars and the Moon, is ridiculous, and void of +any Foundation. The People are particularly +averse 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 astrological +Prejudice, which is so much the more absurd, as +the real Dog-days are at thirty-six Days Distance +from those commonly reckoned such; and it is a +melancholy Reflection, that the Ignorance of the +People should be so gross, in this Respect, in our +enlightened Age; and that they should still imagine +the Virtue and Efficacy of Medicines to depend on +what Sign of the Zodiac the Sun is in, or in any +particular Quarter of the Moon. Yet it is certain +in this Point, they are so inveterately attached +to this Prejudice, that it is but too common +to see Country-People die, in waiting for +the Sign or Quarter most favourable to the Operation +and Effect of a Medicine, which was truly +necessary five or six Days before either of them. +<span class="pageno target" title="549" id="page-549"> </span>Sometimes too that particular Medicine is given, +to which a certain Day is supposed to be auspicious +and favourable, in Preference to that which +is most prevalent against the Disease. And thus +it is, than an ignorant Almanack Maker determines +on the Lives of the human Race; and +contracts the Duration of them with Impunity.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id761">§ 558</span>. When a Vomit or a Purge is to be +taken, the Patient's Body should be prepared for +the Reception of it twenty-four Hours beforehand; +by taking very little Food, and drinking +some Glasses of warm Water, or of a light Tea +of some Herbs.</p> +<p class="pnext">He should not drink after a Vomit, until it +begins to work; but then he should drink very +plentifully of warm Water, or a light Infusion +of Chamomile Flowers, which is preferable.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is usual, after Purges, to take some thin +Broth or Soup during their Operation; but warm +Water sweetened with Sugar or Honey, or an +Infusion of Succory Flowers, would sometimes be +more suitable.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id762">§ 559</span>. As the Stomach suffers, in some Degree, +as often as either a Vomit, or a Purge, is +taken, the Patient should be careful how he lives +and orders himself for some Days after taking +them, as well in Regard to the Quantity as Quality +of his Food.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id763">§ 560</span>. I shall say nothing of other Articles +taken by Way of Precaution, such as Soups, +Whey, Waters, <em class="italics">&c.</em> which are but little used +among the People; but confine myself to this +<span class="pageno target" title="550" id="page-550"> </span>general Remark, that when they take any of +these precautionary Things, they should enter on +a Regimen or Way of living, that may co-operate +with them, and contribute to the same Purpose. +Whey is commonly taken to refresh and +cool the Body; and while they drink it, they +deny themselves Pulse, Fruits, and Sallads. +They eat nothing then, but the best and heartiest +Flesh-meats they can come at; such Vegetables +as are used in good Soups, Eggs, and good +Wine; notwithstanding this is to destroy, by +high and heating Aliments, all the attemperating +cooling Effects expected from the Whey.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some Persons propose to cool and attemperate +their Blood by Soups and a thin Diet, into which +they cram Craw-fish, that heat considerably, or +<em class="italics">Nasturtium</em>, Cresses which also heat, and thus +defeat their own Purpose. Happily, in such a +Case, the Error in one Respect often cures that +in the other; and these Kinds of Soup, which +are in no wise cooling, prove very serviceable, in +Consequence of the Cause of the Symptoms, +which they were intended to remove, not requiring +any Coolers at all.</p> +<p class="pnext">The general physical Practice of the Community, +which unhappily is but too much in Fashion, +abounds with similar Errors. I will just +cite one, because I have seen its dismal Effects. +Many People suppose Pepper cooling, though +their Smell, Taste, and common Sense concur +to inform them of the contrary. It is the very +hottest of Spices.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="551" id="page-551"> </span><span class="target" id="id764">§ 561</span>. The most certain Preservative, and +the most attainable too by every Man, is to +avoid all Excess, and especially Excess in eating +and in drinking. People generally eat more than +thoroughly consists with Health, or permits them +to attain the utmost Vigour, of which their natural +Constitutions are capable. The Custom is +established, and it is difficult to eradicate it: +notwithstanding we should at least resolve not +to eat, but through Hunger, and always under +a Subjection to Reason; because, except in a +very few Cases, Reason constantly suggests to us +not to eat, when the Stomach has an Aversion +to Food. A sober moderate Person is capable of +Labour, I may say, even of excessive Labour of +some Kinds; of which greater Eaters are absolutely +incapable. Sobriety of itself cures such +Maladies as are otherwise incurable, and may +recover the most shattered and unhealthy Persons.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head583-chapter-xxxiii"> +<span id="chap-xxxiii"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title with-subtitle"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i583a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXXIII.</span></h2> +<p class="center level-2 medium pfirst section-subtitle subtitle" id="of-mountebanks-quacks-and-conjurers"> +<em class="italics">Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers.</em></p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 562.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="O" src="images/i583b.png"/>ne dreadful Scourge still remains to be +treated of, which occasions a greater +Mortality, than all the Distempers I +have hitherto described; and which, as +long as it continues, will defeat our utmost +<span class="pageno target" title="552" id="page-552"> </span>Precautions to preserve the Healths and Lives of the +common People. This, or rather, these Scourges, +for they are very numerous, are Quacks; of which +there are two Species: The Mountebanks or +travelling Quacks, and those pretended Physicians +in Villages and Country-Places, both male +and female, known in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em> by the Name +of Conjurers, and who very effectually unpeople +it.</p> +<p class="pnext">The first of these, the Mountebanks, without +visiting the Sick, or thinking of their Distempers, +sell different Medicines, some of which +are for external Use, and these often do little +or no Mischief; but their internal ones are +much oftener pernicious. I have been a Witness +of their dreadful Effects, and we are not visited +by one of these wandering Caitiffs, whose Admission +into our Country is not mortally fatal to +some of its Inhabitants. They are injurious also +in another Respect, as they carry off great Sums +of Money with them, and levy annually some +thousands of Livres, amongst that Order of the +People, who have the least to spare. I have seen, +and with a very painful Concern, the poor Labourer +and the Artisan, who have scarcely possessed +the common Necessaries of Life, borrow +wherewithal to purchase, and at a dear Price, +the Poison that was to compleat their Misery, by +increasing their Maladies; and which, where +they escaped with their Lives, has left them in +such a languid and inactive State, as has reduced +their whole Family to Beggary.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="553" id="page-553"> </span><span class="target" id="id765">§ 563</span>. An ignorant, knavish, lying and impudent +Fellow will always seduce the gross and +credulous Mass of People, incapable to judge of +and estimate any thing rightly; and adapted to +be the eternal Dupes of such, as are base enough +to endeavour to dazzle their weak Understandings; +by which Method these vile Quacks will certainly +defraud them, as long as they are tolerated. But +ought not the Magistrates, the Guardians, the +Protectors, the political Fathers of the People interpose, +and defend them from this Danger, by +severely prohibiting the Entrance of such pernicious +Fellows into a Country, where Mens' +Lives are very estimable, and where Money is +scarce; since they extinguish the first, and carry +off the last, without the least Possibility of their +being in anywise useful to it. Can such forcible +Motives as these suffer our Magistrates to delay +<em class="italics">their</em> Expulsion any longer, <em class="italics">whom</em> there never +was the least Reason for admitting?</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id766">§ 564</span>. It is acknowledged the Conjurers, the +residing Conjurers, do not carry out the current +Money of the Country, like the itinerant Quacks; +but the Havock they make among their Fellow +Subjects is without Intermission, whence it must +be very great, as every Day in the Year is marked +with many of their Victims. Without the +least Knowledge or Experience, and offensively +armed with three or four Medicines, whose Nature +they are as thoroughly ignorant of, as of +their unhappy Patients Diseases; and which Medicines, +being almost all violent ones, are very +<span class="pageno target" title="554" id="page-554"> </span>certainly so many Swords in the Hands of raging +Madmen. Thus armed and qualified, I say, +they aggravate the slightest Disorders, and make +those that are a little more considerable, mortal; +but from which the Patients would have recovered, +if left solely to the Conduct of Nature; +and, for a still stronger Reason, if they had confided +to the Guidance of her experienced Observers +and Assistants.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id767">§ 565</span>. The Robber who assassinates on the +High-way, leaves the Traveller the Resource of +defending himself, and the Chance of being aided +by the Arrival of other Travellers: But the +Poisoner, who forces himself into the Confidence +of a sick Person, is a hundred times more dangerous, +and as just an Object of Punishment.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Bands of Highwaymen, and their Individuals, +that enter into any Country or District, +are described as particularly as possible to the +Publick. It were equally to be wished, we had +also a List of these physical Impostors and Ignorants +male and female; and that a most exact +Description of them, with the Number, and a +brief Summary of their murderous Exploits, +were faithfully published. By this Means the +Populace might probably be inspired with such a +wholesome Dread of them, that they would no +longer expose their Lives to the Mercy of such +Executioners.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id768">§ 566</span>. But their Blindness, with Respect to +these two Sorts of maleficent Beings, is inconceivable. +That indeed in Favour of the Mountebank +<span class="pageno target" title="555" id="page-555"> </span>is somewhat less gross, because as they are +not personally acquainted with him, they may +the more easily credit him with some Part of +the Talents and the Knowledge he arrogates. I +shall therefore inform them, and it cannot be repeated +too often, that whatever ostentatious Dress +and Figure some of these Impostors make, they +are constantly vile Wretches, who, incapable of +earning a Livelyhood in any honest Way, have +laid the Foundation of their Subsistence on their +own amazing Stock of Impudence, and that of +the weak Credulity of the People; that they have +no scientific Knowledge; that their Titles and +Patents are so many Impositions, and inauthentic; +since by a shameful Abuse, such Patents and +Titles are become Articles of Commerce, which +are to be obtained at very low Prices; just like the +second-hand laced Cloaks which they purchase +at the Brokers. That their Certificates of Cures +are so many Chimeras or Forgeries; and that in +short, if among the prodigious Multitudes of +People who take their Medicines, some of them +should recover, which it is almost physically impossible +must not sometimes be the Case, yet it +would not be the less certain, that they are a pernicious +destructive Set of Men. A Thrust of a +Rapier into the Breast has saved a Man's Life by +seasonably opening an Imposthume in it, which +might otherwise have killed him: and yet internal +penetrating Wounds, with a small Sword, +are not the less mortal for one such extraordinary +Consequence. Nor is it even surprizing that +<span class="pageno target" title="556" id="page-556"> </span>these Mountebanks, which is equally applicable +to Conjurers, who kill thousands of People, +whom Nature alone, or assisted by a Physician, +would have saved, should now and then cure a +Patient, who had been treated before by the +ablest Physicians. Frequently Patients of that +Class, who apply to these Mountebanks and +Conjurers (whether it has been, that they would +not submit to the Treatment proper for their +Distempers; or whether the real Physician tired +of the intractable Creatures has discontinued his +Advice and Attendance) look out for such Doctors, +as assure them of a speedy Cure, and venture +to give them such Medicines as kill many, and +cure one (who has had Constitution enough to +overcome them) a little sooner than a justly reputable +Physician would have done. It is but +too easy to procure, in every Parish, such Lists +of their Patients, and of their Feats, as would +clearly evince the Truth of whatever has been +said here relating to them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id769">§ 567</span>. The Credit of this Market, this Fair-hunting +Doctor, surrounded by five or six hundred +Peasants, staring and gaping at him, and +counting themselves happy in his condescending +to cheat them of their very scarce and necessary +Cash, by selling them, for twenty times more +than its real Worth, a Medicine whose best Quality +were to be only a useless one; the Credit, +I say, of this vile yet tolerated Cheat, would +quickly vanish, could each of his Auditors be +persuaded, of what is strictly true, that except a +<span class="pageno target" title="557" id="page-557"> </span>little more Tenderness and Agility of Hand, he +knows full as much as his Doctor; and that if +he could assume as much Impudence, he would +immediately have as much Ability, would equally +deserve the same Reputation, and to have the +same Confidence reposed in him.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id770">§ 568</span>. Were the Populace capable of reasoning, +it were easy to disabuse them in these Respects; +but as it is, their Guardians and Conductors +should reason for them. I have already proved +the Absurdity of reposing any Confidence in +Mountebanks, properly so called; and that Reliance +some have on the Conjurers is still more +stupid and ridiculous.</p> +<p class="pnext">The very meanest Trade requires some Instruction: +A Man does not commence even a +Cobler, a Botcher of old Leather, without serving +an Apprenticeship to it; and yet no Time +has been served, no Instruction has been attended +to, by these Pretenders to the most necessary, +useful and elegant Profession. We do not confide +the mending, the cleaning of a Watch to +any, who have not spent several Years in considering +how a Watch is made; what are the +Requisites and Causes of its going right; and the +Defects or Impediments that make it go wrong: +and yet the preserving and rectifying the Movements +of the most complex, the most delicate +and exquisite, and the most estimable Machine +upon Earth, is entrusted to People who have not +the least Notion of its Structure; of the Causes +<span class="pageno target" title="558" id="page-558"> </span>of its Motions; nor of the Instruments proper to +rectify their Deviations.</p> +<p class="pnext">Let a Soldier discarded from his Regiment for +his roguish Tricks, or who is a Deserter from it, +a Bankrupt, a disreputable Ecclesiastic, a drunken +Barber, or a Multitude of such other worthless +People, advertize that they mount, set and fit +up all Kinds of Jewels and Trinkets in Perfection; +if any of these are not known; if no Person in +the Place has ever seen any of their Work; or if +they cannot produce authentic Testimonials of +their Honesty, and their Ability in their Business, +not a single Individual will trust them with two +Pennyworth of false Stones to work upon; in +short they must be famished. But if instead of +professing themselves Jewellers, they post themselves +up as Physicians, the Croud purchase, at a +high Rate, the Pleasure of trusting them with +the Care of their Lives, the remaining Part of +which they rarely fail to empoison.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id771">§ 569</span>. The most genuine and excellent Physicians, +these extraordinary Men, who, born +with the happiest Talents, have began to inform +their Understandings from their earliest Youth; +who have afterwards carefully qualified themselves +by cultivating every Branch of Physic; +who have sacrificed the best and most pleasurable +Days of their Lives, to a regular and assiduous +Investigation of the human Body; of its various +Functions; of the Causes that may impair +or embarrass them, and informed themselves of +the Qualities and Virtues of every simple and +<span class="pageno target" title="559" id="page-559"> </span>compound Medicine; who have surmounted +the Difficulty and Loathsomness of living in +Hospitals among thousands of Patients; and who +have added the medical Observations of all Ages +and Places to their own; these few and extraordinary +Men, I say, still consider themselves as +short of that perfect Ability and consummate +Knowledge, which they contemplate and wish +for, as necessary to guarding the precious <em class="italics">Depositum</em> +of human Life and Health, confided to +their Charge. Nevertheless we see the same inestimable +Treasures, intrusted to gross and stupid +Men, born without Talents; brought up without +Education or Culture; who frequently can +scarcely read; who are as profoundly ignorant of +every Subject that has any Relation to Physic, as +the Savages of <em class="italics">Asia</em>; who awake only to drink +away; who often exercise their horrid Trade merely +to find themselves in strong Liquor, and execute +it chiefly when they are drunk: who, in short, +became Physicians, only from their Incapacity to +arrive at any Trade or Attainment! Certainly +such a Conduct in Creatures of the human Species +must appear very astonishing, and even melancholy, +to every sensible thinking Man; and +constitute the highest Degree of Absurdity and +Extravagance.</p> +<p class="pnext">Should any Person duly qualified enter into +an Examination of the Medicines they use, and +compare them with the Situation and Symptoms +of the Patients to whom they give them, he must +be struck with Horror; and heartily deplore the +<span class="pageno target" title="560" id="page-560"> </span>Fate of that unfortunate Part of the human Race, +whose Lives, so important to the Community, +are committed to the Charge of the most murderous +Set of Beings.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id772">§ 570</span>. Some of these Caitiffs however, apprehending +the Force and Danger of that Objection, +founded on their Want of Study and +Education, have endeavoured to elude it, by infusing +and spreading a false, and indeed, an impudent +impious Prejudice among the People, +which prevails too much at present; and this is, +that their Talents for Physic are a supernatural +Gift, and, of Course, greatly superior to all +human Knowledge. It were going out of my +Province to expatiate on the Indecency, the Sin, +and the Irreligion of such Knavery, and incroaching +upon the Rights and perhaps the Duty +of the Clergy; but I intreat the Liberty of +observing to this respectable Order of Men, that +this Superstition, which is attended with dreadful +Consequences, seems to call for their utmost +Attention: and in general the Expulsion of Superstition +is the more to be wished, as a Mind, +imbued with false Prejudices, is less adapted to +imbibe a true and valuable Doctrine. There are +some very callous hardened <span class="target" id="villains">Villains</span> among this +murdering Band, who, with a View to establish +their Influence and Revenue as well upon Fear +as upon Hope, have horridly ventured so far as +to incline the Populace to doubt, whether they +received their boasted Gift and Power from Heaven +or from Hell! And yet these are the Men +<span class="pageno target" title="561" id="page-561"> </span>who are trusted with the Health and the Lives +of many others.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id773">§ 571</span>. One Fact which I have already mentioned, +and which it seems impossible to account +for is, that great Earnestness of the Peasant +to procure the best Assistance he can for his +sick Cattle. At whatever Distance the Farrier +lives, or some Person who is supposed qualified +to be one (for unfortunately there is not one in +<em class="italics">Swisserland</em>) if he has considerable Reputation in +this Way, the Country-man goes to consult him, +or purchases his Visit at any Price. However expensive +the Medicines are, which the Horse-doctor +directs, if they are accounted the best, he +procures them for his poor Beast. But if himself, +his Wife or Children fall sick, he either +calls in no Assistance nor Medicines; or contents +himself with such as are next at Hand, however +pernicious they may be, though nothing the +cheaper on that account: for certainly the Money, +extorted by some of these physical Conjurers +from their Patients, but oftner from their +Heirs, is a very shameful Injustice, and calls +loudly for Reformation.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id774">§ 572</span>. In an excellent Memoir or Tract, +which will shortly be published, on the Population +of <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>, we shall find an important +and very affecting Remark, which strictly demonstrates +the Havock made by these immedical +Magicians or Conjurers; and which is this: That +in the common Course of Years, the Proportion +between the Numbers and Deaths of the Inhabitants +<span class="pageno target" title="562" id="page-562"> </span>of any one Place, is not extremely different +in City and Country: but when the very same +epidemical Disease attacks the City and the Villages, +the Difference is enormous; and the +Number of Deaths of the former compared with +that of the Inhabitants of the Villages, where +the Conjurer exercises his bloody Dominion, is +infinitely more than the Deaths in the City.</p> +<p class="pnext">I find in the second Volume of the Memoirs +of the oeconomical Society of <em class="italics">Berne</em>, for the +Year 1762, another Fact equally interesting, +which is related by one of the most intelligent +and sagacious Observers, concerned in that Work. +“Pleurisies and Peripneumonies (he <span class="target" id="says">says</span>) prevailed +at <em class="italics">Cottens a la Côte</em>; and some Peasants +died under them, who had consulted the Conjurers +and taken their heating Medicines; while +of those, who pursued a directly opposite Method, +almost every one recovered.”</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id775">§ 573</span>. But I shall employ myself no longer +on this Topic, on which the Love of my Species +alone has prompted me to say thus much; +though it deserves to be considered more in Detail, +and is, in Reality, of the greatest Consequence. +None methinks could make themselves +easy with Respect to it so much as Physicians, +if they were conducted only by lucrative Views; +since these Conjurers diminish the Number of +those poor People, who sometimes consult the +real Physicians, and with some Care and Trouble, +but without the least Profit, to those Gentlemen. +But what good Physician is mean and +<span class="pageno target" title="563" id="page-563"> </span>vile enough to purchase a few Hours of Ease and +Tranquillity at so high, so very odious a Price?</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id776">§ 574</span>. Having thus clearly shewn the Evils +attending this crying Nusance, I wish I were +able to prescribe an effectual Remedy against it, +which I acknowledge is far from being easy to +do.</p> +<p class="pnext">The first necessary Point probably was to have +demonstrated the great and public Danger, and +to dispose the State to employ their Attention on +this fatal, this mortal Abuse; which, joined to +the other Causes of Depopulation, has a manifest +Tendency to render <em class="italics">Swisserland</em> a Desert.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id777">§ 575</span>. The second, and doubtless the most +effectual Means, which I had already mentioned +is, not to admit any travelling Mountebank to +enter this Country; and to set a Mark on all the +Conjurers: It may probably also be found convenient, +to inflict corporal Punishment on them; +as it has been already adjudged in different Countries +by sovereign Edicts. At the very least they +should be marked with public Infamy, according +to the following Custom practised in a great +City in <em class="italics">France</em>. “When any Mountebanks +appeared in <em class="italics">Montpellier</em>, the Magistrates had a +Power to mount each of them upon a meagre +miserable Ass, with his Head to the Ass's Tail. +In this Condition they were led throughout 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.”</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="564" id="page-564"> </span><span class="target" id="id778">§ 576</span>. A third conducive Means would be +the Instructions and Admonition of the Clergy +on this Subject, to the Peasants in their several +Parishes. For this Conduct of the common +People amounting, in Effect, to Suicide, to +Self-murder, it must be important to convince +them of it. But the little Efficacy of the strongest +and repeated Exhortations on so many other Articles, +may cause us to entertain a very reasonable +Doubt of their Success on this. Custom seems +to have determined, that there is nothing in our +Day, which excludes a Person from the Title +and Appellation of an honest or honourable Man, +except it be meer and convicted Theft; and +that for this simple and obvious Reason, that we +attach ourselves more strongly to our Property, +than to any Thing else. Even Homicide is +esteemed and reputed honourable in many Cases. +Can we reasonably then expect to convince the +Multitude, that it is criminal to confide the Care +of their Health to these Poisoners, in Hopes of a +Cure of their Disorders? A much likelier Method +of succeding on this Point would certainly +be, to convince the deluded People, that it will +cost them less to be honestly and judiciously +treated, than to suffer under the Hands of these +Executioners. The Expectation of a good and +cheap Health-market will be apt to influence +them more, than their Dread of a Crime would.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id779">§ 577</span>. A fourth Means of removing or restraining +this Nusance would be to expunge, +from the Almanacs, all the astrological Rules +<span class="pageno target" title="565" id="page-565"> </span>relating to Physick; as they continually conduce +to preserve and increase some dangerous Prejudices +and Notions in a Science, the smallest Errors +in which are sometimes fatal. I had already +reflected on the Multitude of Peasants that +have been lost, from postponing, or mistiming a +Bleeding, only because the sovereign Decision of +an Almanac had directed it at some other Time. +May it not also be dreaded, to mention it by the +Way, that the same Cause, the Almanacs, may +prove injurious to their rural Oeconomy and Management; +and that by advising with the Moon, +who has no Influence, and is of no Consequence +in Vegetation or other Country Business, they +may be wanting in a due Attention to such other +Circumstances and Regulations, as are of real +Importance in them?</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id780">§ 578</span>. A fifth concurring Remedy against +this popular Evil would be the Establishment of +Hospitals, for the Reception of poor Patients, in +the different Cities and Towns of <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">There may be a great many easy and concurring +Means of erecting and endowing such, with +very little new Expence; and immense Advantages +might result from them: besides, however +considerable the Expenses might prove, is not +the Object of them of the most interesting, the +most important Nature? It is incontestably our +serious Duty; and it would soon be manifest, +that the Performance of it would be attended +with more essential intrinsic Benefit to the +Community, than any other Application of Money +<span class="pageno target" title="566" id="page-566"> </span>could produce. We must either admit, that +the Multitude, the Body of the People is useless +to the State, or agree, that Care should be taken +to preserve and continue them. A very respectable +<em class="italics">English</em> Man, who, after a previous and +thorough Consideration of this Subject, had applied +himself very assiduously and usefully on the +Means of increasing the Riches and the Happiness +of his Country-men, complains that in <em class="italics">England</em>, +the very Country in which there are the +most Hospitals, the Poor who are sick are not +sufficiently assisted. What a deplorable Deficience +of the necessary Assistance for such must +then be in a Country, that is not provided with +a single Hospital? That Aid from Surgery and +Physic, which abounds in Cities, is not sufficiently +diffused into Country-places: and the Peasants +are liable to some simple and moderate +Diseases, which, for Want of proper Care, degenerate +into a State of Infirmity, that sinks +them into premature Death.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id781">§ 579</span>. In fine, if it be found impossible to +extinguish these Abuses (for those arising from +Quacks are not the only ones, nor is that Title +applied to as many as really deserve it) beyond all +Doubt it would be for the Benefit and Safety of +the Public, upon the whole, entirely to prohibit +the Art, the Practice of Physic itself. When +real and good Physicians cannot effect as much +Good, as ignorant ones and Impostors can do +Mischief, some real Advantage must accrue to +the State, and to the whole Species, from +<span class="pageno target" title="567" id="page-567"> </span>employing none of either. I affirm it, after much +Reflection, and from thorough Conviction, that +Anarchy in Medicine is the most dangerous +Anarchy. For this Profession, when loosed +from every Restraint, and subjected to no Regulations, +no Laws, is the more cruel Scourge and +Affliction, from the incessant Exercise of it; and +should its Anarchy, its Disorders prove irremediable, +the Practice of an Art, become so very noxious, +should be prohibited under the severest Penalties: +Or, if the Constitution of any Government was +inconsistent with the Application of so violent a +Remedy, they should order public Prayers against +the Mortality of it, to be offered up in all the +Churches; as the Custom has been in other great +and general Calamities.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id782">§ 580</span>. Another Abuse, less fatal indeed than +those already mentioned (but which, however, +has real ill Consequences, and at the best, carries +out a great deal of Money from us, though +less at the Expense of the common People, than +of those of easy Circumstances) is that Blindness +and Facility, with which many suffer themselves +to be imposed upon, by the pompous Advertisements +of some <em class="italics">Catholicon</em>, some universal Remedy, +which they purchase at a high Rate, from +some foreign Pretender to a mighty Secret or +<em class="italics">Nostrum</em>. Persons of a Class or two above the +Populace do not care to run after a Mountebank, +from supposing they should depretiate themselves +by mixing with the Herd. Yet if that very +Quack, instead of coming among us, were to +<span class="pageno target" title="568" id="page-568"> </span>reside in some foreign City; if, instead of posting +up his lying Puffs and Pretentions at the Corners +of the Streets, he would get them inserted +in the Gazettes, and News-papers; if, instead of +selling his boasted Remedies in Person, he should +establish Shops or Offices for that Purpose in every +City; and finally, if instead of selling them +twenty times above their real Value, he would +still double that Price; instead of having the +common People for his Customers, he would +take in the wealthy Citizen, Persons of all +Ranks, and from almost every Country. For +strange as it seems, it is certain, that a Person of +such a Condition, who is sensible in every other +Respect; and who will scruple to confide his +Health to the Conduct of such Physicians as +would be the justest Subjects of his Confidence, +will venture to take, through a very unaccountable +Infatuation, the most dangerous Medicine, +upon the Credit of an imposing Advertisement, +published by as worthless and ignorant a Fellow +as the Mountebank whom he despises, because +the latter blows a Horn under his Window; and +yet who differs from the former in no other Respects +except those I have just pointed out.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id783">§ 581</span>. Scarcely a Year passes, without one +or another such advertized and vaunted Medicine's +getting into high Credit; the Ravages of which +are more or less, in Proportion to its being more +or less in Vogue. Fortunately, for the human +Species, but few of these <em class="italics">Nostrums</em> have attained +an equal Reputation with <em class="italics">Ailbaud</em>'s Powders, an +<span class="pageno target" title="569" id="page-569"> </span>Inhabitant of <em class="italics">Aix</em> in <em class="italics">Provence</em>, and unworthy the +Name of a Physician; who has over-run <em class="italics">Europe</em> +for some Years, with a violent Purge, the Remembrance +of which will not be effaced before +the Extinction of all its Victims. I attend now, +and for a long time past, several Patients, whose +Disorders I palliate without Hopes of ever curing +them; and who owe their present melancholy +State of Body to nothing but the manifest Consequences +of these Powders; and I have actually +seen, very lately, two Persons who have been +cruelly poisoned by this boasted Remedy of his. +A French Physician, as eminent for his Talents +and his Science, as estimable from his personal +Character in other Respects, has published some +of the unhappy and tragical Consequences which +the Use of them has occasioned; and were a +Collection published of the same Events from +them, in every Place where they have been introduced, +the Size and the Contents of the Volume +would make a very terrible one.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id784">§ 582</span>. It is some Comfort however, that all +the other Medicines thus puffed and vended have +not been altogether so fashionable, nor yet quite +so dangerous: but all posted and advertized +Medicines should be judged of upon this Principle +(and I do not know a more infallible one in +Physics, nor in the Practice of Physic), that +whoever advertises any Medicine, as a universal +Remedy for all Diseases, is an absolute Impostor, +such a Remedy being impossible and contradictory. +I shall not here offer to detail such Proofs +<span class="pageno target" title="570" id="page-570"> </span>as may be given of the Verity of this Proposition: +but I freely appeal for it to every sensible Man, +who will reflect a little on the different Causes of +Diseases; on the Opposition of these Causes; +and on the Absurdity of attempting to oppose +such various Diseases, and their Causes, by one +and the same Remedy.</p> +<p class="pnext">As many as shall settle their Judgments properly +on this Principle, will never be imposed +upon by the superficial Gloss of these Sophisms +contrived to prove, that all Diseases proceed +from one Cause; and that this Cause is so very +tractable, as to yield to one boasted Remedy. +They will perceive at once, that such an Assertion +must be founded in the utmost Knavery or Ignorance; +and they will readily discover where the +Fallacy lies. Can any one expect to cure a +Dropsy, which arises from too great a Laxity of +the Fibres, and too great an Attenuation or +Thinness of the Blood, by the same Medicines +that are used to cure an inflammatory Disease, in +which the Fibres are too stiff and tense, and the +Blood too thick and dense? Yet consult the +News-papers and the Posts, and you will see +published in and on all of them, Virtues just as +contradictory; and certainly the Authors of such +poisonous Contradictions ought to be legally +punished for them.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id785">§ 583</span>. I heartily wish the Publick would attend +here to a very natural and obvious Reflection. +I have treated in this Book, but of a small +Number of Diseases, most of them acute ones; +<span class="pageno target" title="571" id="page-571"> </span>and I am positive that no competent well qualified +Physician has ever employed fewer Medicines, +in the Treatment of the Diseases themselves. +Nevertheless I have prescribed seventy-one, and +I do not see which of them I could retrench, or +dispense with the Want of, if I were obliged to +use one less. Can it be supposed then, that any +one single Medicine, compound or simple, shall +cure thirty times as many Diseases as those I have +treated of?</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id786">§ 584</span>. I shall add another very important Observation, +which doubtless may have occurred to +many of my Readers; and it is this, that the different +Causes of Diseases, their different Characters; +the Differences which arise from the necessary +Alterations that happen throughout their Progress +and Duration; the Complications of which they +are susceptible; the Varieties which result from +the State of different Epidemics, of Seasons, of +Sexes, and of many other Circumstances; that +these Diversities, I say, oblige us very often to +vary and change the Medicines; which proves +how very ticklish and dangerous it is to have +them directed by Persons, who have such an imperfect +Knowledge of them, as those who are +not Physicians must be supposed to have. And +the Circumspection to be used in such Cases +ought to be proportioned to the Interest the +Assistant takes in the Preservation of the Patient; +and that Love of his Neighbour with which he +is animated.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="572" id="page-572"> </span><span class="target" id="id787">§ 585</span>. Must not the same Arguments and +Reflections unavoidably suggest the Necessity of +an entire Tractability on the Part of the Patient, +and his Friends and Assistants? The History of +Diseases which have their stated Times of Beginning, +of manifesting and displaying themselves; +of arriving at, and continuing in their Height, +and of decreasing; do not all these demonstrate +the Necessity of continuing the same Medicines, +as long as the Character of the Distemper is the +same; 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 suggests, +appears to be well deduced, the Medicine +must be chosen that is likeliest to resist the +Cause of it; and it must be continued as long as +no new Symptom or Circumstance supervenes, +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 useless or insignificant, because it does not remove +or abate the Distemper as speedily, as the +Impatience of the Sick would naturally desire it; +and to change it for another, is as unreasonable, +as it would be for a Man to break his Watch, +because the Hand takes twelve Hours, to make +a Revolution round the Dial-plate.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id788">§ 586</span>. Physicians have some Regard to the +State of the Urine of sick Persons, especially in +inflammatory Fevers; as the Alterations occurring +<span class="pageno target" title="573" id="page-573"> </span>in it help them to judge of the Changes that +may have been made in the Character and Consistence +of the Humours in the Mass of Blood; +and thence may conduce to determine the Time, +in which it will be proper to dispose them to +<span class="target" id="some-evacuation">some Evacuation</span>. But it is gross Ignorance to +imagine, and utter Knavery and Imposture to +persuade the Sick, that the meer Inspection of +their Urine solely, sufficiently enables others to +judge of the Symptoms and <span class="target" id="cause">Cause</span> of the Disease, +and to direct the best Remedies for it. +This Inspection of the Urine can only be of Use +when it is duly inspected; when we consider at +the same time the exact State and the very +Looks of the Patient; when these are compared +with the Degree of the Symptoms of the Malady; +with the other Evacuations; and when the Physician +is strictly informed of all external Circumstances, +which may be considered as foreign to +the Malady; which may alter or affect the Evacuations, +such as particular Articles of Food, +particular Drinks, different Medicines, or the +very Quantity of Drink. Where a Person is not +furnished with an exact Account of these Circumstances, +the meer Inspection of the Urine is +of no Service, it suggests no Indication, nor any +Expedient; and meer common Sense sufficiently +proves, and it may be boldly affirmed, that whoever +orders any Medicine, without any other +Knowledge of the Disease, than what an Inspection +of the Urine affords, is a rank Knave, +and the Patient who takes them is a Dupe.</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="574" id="page-574"> </span><span class="target" id="id789">§ 587</span>. And here now any Reader may very +naturally ask, whence can such a ridiculous Credulity +proceed, upon a Subject so essentially interesting +to us as our own Health?</p> +<p class="pnext">In Answer to this it should be observed, that +some Sources, some Causes of it seem appropriated +merely to the People, the Multitude. The +first of these is, the mechanical Impression of +Parade and Shew upon the Senses. 2, The +Prejudice they have conceived, as I said before, +of the Conjurers curing by a supernatural Gift. +3, The Notion the Country People entertain, +that their Distemper and Disorders are of a Character +and Species peculiar to themselves, and +that the Physicians, attending the Rich, know +nothing concerning them. 4, The general Mistake +that their employing the Conjurer is much +cheaper. 5, Perhaps a sheepish shame-faced +Timidity may be one Motive, at least with some +of them. 6, A Kind of Fear too, that Physicians +will consider their Cases with less Care and +Concern, and be likely to treat them more cavalierly; +a Fear which increases that Confidence +which the Peasant, and which indeed every +Man has in his Equal, being sounded in Equality +itself. And 7, the Discourse and Conversation +of such illiterate Empirics being more to +their Tast, and more adapted to their Apprehension.</p> +<p class="pnext">But it is less easy to account for this blind +Confidence, which Persons of a superior Class +(whole Education being considered as much better +<span class="pageno target" title="575" id="page-575"> </span>are regarded as better Reasoners) repose in +these boasted Remedies; and even for some Conjurer +in Vogue. Nevertheless even some of their +Motives may be probably assigned.</p> +<p class="pnext">The first is that great Principle of <em class="italics">Seïty</em>, or +<em class="italics">Selfness</em>, as it may be called, innate to Man, +which attaching him to the Prolongation of his +own Existence more than to any other thing in +the Universe, keeps his Eyes, his utmost Attention, +continually fixed upon this Object; and +compels him to make it the very Point, the Purpose +of all his Advances and Proceedings; notwithstanding +it does not permit him to distinguish +the safest Paths to it from the dangerous ones. +This is the surest and shortest Way says some +Collector at the Turnpike, he pays, passes, and +perishes from the Precipices that occur in his +Route.</p> +<p class="pnext">This very Principle is the Source of another +Error, which consists in reposing, involuntarily, +a greater Degree of Confidence in those, who flatter +and fall in the most with us in our favourite +Opinions. The well apprised Physician, who +foresees the Length and the Danger of a Disease; +and who is a Man of too much Integrity to +affirm what he does not think, must, from a +necessary Construction of the human Frame and +Mind, be listened to less favourably, than he who +flatters us by saying what we wish. We endeavour +to elongate, to absent ourselves, from the +Sentiments, the Judgment of the first; we smile, +from Self-complacency, at those of the last, +<span class="pageno target" title="576" id="page-576"> </span>which in a very little time are sure of obtaining +our Preference.</p> +<p class="pnext">A third Cause, which results from the same +Principle is, that we give ourselves up the most +readily to his Conduct, whose Method seems the +least disagreeable, and flatters our Inclinations +the most. The Physician who enjoins a strict +Regimen; who insists upon some Restraints and +Self-denials; who intimates the Necessity of +Time and Patience for the Accomplishment of +the Cure, and who expects a thorough Regularity +through the Course of it, disgusts a Patient +who has been accustomed to indulge his own +Tast and Humour; the Quack, who never hesitates +at complying with it, charms him. The +Idea of a long and somewhat distant Cure, to be +obtained at the End of an unpleasant and unrelaxing +Regimen, supposes a very perilous Disease; +this Idea disposes the Patient to Disgust and Melancholy, +he cannot submit to it without Pain; +and he embraces, almost unconsciously, merely +to avoid this, an opposite System which presents +him only with the Idea of such a Distemper, as +will give Way to a few Doses of Simples.</p> +<p class="pnext">That Propensity to the New and Marvellous, +which tyrannizes over so large a Proportion of +our Species, and which has advanced so many +absurd Persons and Things into Reputation, is a +fourth and a very powerful Motive. An irksome +Satiety, and a Tiresomeness, as it were, +from the same Objects, is what our Nature is +apt to be very apprehensive of; though we are +<span class="pageno target" title="577" id="page-577"> </span>incessantly conducted towards it, by a Perception +of some Void, some Emptiness in ourselves, and +even in Society too: But new and extraordinary +Sensations rousing us from this disagreeable State, +more effectually than any Thing else, we unthinkingly +abandon ourselves to them, without +foreseeing their Consequences.</p> +<p class="pnext">A fifth Cause arises from seven Eighths of +Mankind being managed by, or following, the +other Eighth; and, generally speaking, the +Eighth that is so very forward to manage them, +are the least fit and worthy to do it; whence all +must go amiss, and absurd and embarrassing +Consequences ensue from the Condition of Society. +A Man of excellent Sense frequently sees +only through the Eyes of a Fool, of an intriguing +Fellow, or of a Cheat; in this he judges wrong, +and his Conduct must be so too. A man of real +Merit cannot connect himself with those who are +addicted to caballing; and yet such are the Persons, +who frequently conduct others.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some other Causes might be annexed to these, +but I shall mention only one of them, which I +have already hinted, and the Truth of which I +am confirmed in from several Years Experience; +which is, that we generally love those who reason +more absurdly than ourselves, better than +those who convince us of our own weak Reasoning.</p> +<p class="pnext">I hope the Reflexions every Reader will make +on these Causes of our ill Conduct on this important +Head, may contribute to correct or diminish +<span class="pageno target" title="578" id="page-578"> </span>it; and to destroy those Prejudices whose fatal +Effects we may continually observe.</p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pnext">[N. B. <em class="italics">The Multitude of</em> all <em class="italics">the Objects of this +excellent Chapter in this Metropolis, and doubtless +throughout</em> England, <em class="italics">were strong Inducements to +have taken a little wholesome Notice of the Impostures +of a few of the most pernicious. But on a +second Perusal of this Part of the Original and its +Translation, I thought it impossible (without descending +to personal, nominal Anecdotes about the Vermin) +to add any Thing material upon a Subject, which the +Author has with such Energy exhausted. He even +seems, by some of his Descriptions, to have taken +Cognizance of a few of our most self-dignified itinerant +Empirics; as these Genius's find it necessary +sometimes to treat themselves with a little +Transportation. In reality Dr.</em> <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> <em class="italics">has, in a very +masterly Way, thoroughly dissected and displayed the +whole</em> Genus, <em class="italics">every Species of Quacks. And when +he comes to account for that Facility, with which +Persons of very different Principles from them, and +of better Intellects, first listen to, and finally countenance +such Caitiffs, he penetrates into some of the +most latent Weaknesses of the human Mind; even +such as are often Secrets to their Owners. It is difficult, +throughout this Disquisition, not to admire the +Writer; but impossible not to love the Man, the +ardent Philanthropist. His Sentiment that—“A +Man of real Merit cannot connect himself with +those who are addicted to caballing,”—is exquisitely +just, and so liberal, that it never entered into the +Mind of any disingenuous Man, however dignified, +in any Profession. Persons of the simplest Hearts +and purest Reflections must shrink at every Consciousness +of Artifice; and secretly reproach themselves +for each Success, that has redounded to them at the +Expence of Truth.</em>] K. +<span class="pageno target" title="579" id="page-579"> </span></p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head611-chapter-xxxiv"> +<span id="chap-xxxiv"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i611a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt small-caps">Chapter XXXIV.</span></h2> +<blockquote class="epigraph" id="questions-necessary-to-be-answered"><div> +<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Containing Questions absolutely necessary to be answered +exactly by the Patient, who consults a +Physician.</em></p> +</div></blockquote> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt small-caps">Sect.</span> 588.</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="G" src="images/i611b.png"/>reat Consideration and Experience +are necessary to form a right Judgment +of the State of a Patient, whom +the Physician has not personally seen; +even though he should receive the best Information +it is possible to give him, at a Distance +from the Patient. But this Difficulty is greatly +augmented, or rather changed into an Impossibility, +when his Information is not exact and +sufficient. It has frequently happened to myself, +that after having examined Peasants who came +to get Advice for others, I did not venture to +prescribe, because they were not able to give me +a sufficient Information, in order to my being +<span class="pageno target" title="580" id="page-580"> </span>certain of the Distemper. To prevent this great +Inconvenience, I subjoin a List of such Questions, +as indispensably require clear and direct Answers.</p> +<div class="level-3 section" id="general-questions"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">General Questions.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst">What is the Patient's Age?</p> +<p class="pnext">Is he generally a healthy Person?</p> +<p class="pnext">What is his general Course of Life?</p> +<p class="pnext">How long has he been sick?</p> +<p class="pnext">In what Manner did his present Sickness begin, +or appear?</p> +<p class="pnext">Has he any Fever?</p> +<p class="pnext">Is his Pulse hard or soft?</p> +<p class="pnext">Has he still tolerable Strength, or is he weak?</p> +<p class="pnext">Does he keep his Bed in the Day Time, or +quit it?</p> +<p class="pnext">Is he in the same Condition throughout the +whole Day?</p> +<p class="pnext">Is he still, or restless?</p> +<p class="pnext">Is he hot, or cold?</p> +<p class="pnext">Has he Pains in the Head, the Throat, the +Breast, the Stomach, the Belly, the Loins, or in +the Limbs, the Extremities of the Body?</p> +<p class="pnext">Is his Tongue dry? does he complain of +Thirst? of an ill Tast in his Mouth? of Reachings +to vomit, or of an Aversion to Food?</p> +<p class="pnext">Does he go to stool often or seldom?</p> +<p class="pnext">What Appearance have his Stools, and what +is their usual quantity?</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="581" id="page-581"> </span>Does he make much Urine? What Appearance +has his Urine, as to Colour and Contents? +Are they generally much alike, or do they +change often?</p> +<p class="pnext">Does he sweat?</p> +<p class="pnext">Does he expectorate, or cough up?</p> +<p class="pnext">Does he get Sleep?</p> +<p class="pnext">Does he draw his Breath easily?</p> +<p class="pnext">What Regimen does he observe in his Sickness?</p> +<p class="pnext">What Medicines has he taken?</p> +<p class="pnext">What Effects have they produced?</p> +<p class="pnext">Has he never had the same Distemper before?</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id790">§ 589</span>. The Diseases of Women and Children +are attended with peculiar Circumstances; so +that when Advice is asked for them, Answers +must be given, not only to the preceding Questions, +which relate to sick Persons in general; +but also to the following, which regard these +particularly.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="questions-with-respect-to-women"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Questions with Respect to Women.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst">Have they arrived at their monthly Discharges, +and are these regular?</p> +<p class="pnext">Are they pregnant? Is so, how long since?</p> +<p class="pnext">Are they in Child-bed?</p> +<p class="pnext">Has their Delivery been happily accomplished?</p> +<p class="pnext">Has the Mother cleansed sufficiently?</p> +<p class="pnext">Has her Milk come in due Time and Quantity?</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="pageno target" title="582" id="page-582"> </span>Does she suckle the Infant herself?</p> +<p class="pnext">Is she subject to the Whites?</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="questions-relating-to-children"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><em class="italics">Questions relating to Children.</em></h3> +<p class="pfirst">What is the Child's exact Age?</p> +<p class="pnext">How many Teeth has he cut?</p> +<p class="pnext">Does he cut them painfully?</p> +<p class="pnext">Is he any-wise ricketty, or subject to Knots or +Kernels?</p> +<p class="pnext">Has he had the Small Pocks?</p> +<p class="pnext">Does the Child void Worms, upwards or +downwards?</p> +<p class="pnext">Is his Belly large, swelled, or hard?</p> +<p class="pnext">Is his Sleep quiet, or otherwise?</p> +<p class="pnext"><span class="target" id="id791">§ 590</span>. Besides these general Questions, common +in all the Diseases of the different Sexes and +Ages, the Person consulting must also answer to +those, which have a close and direct Relation to +the Disease, at that very Time affecting the +Sick.</p> +<p class="pnext">For Example, in the Quinsey, the Condition +of the Throat must be exactly inquired into. In +Diseases of the Breast, an Account must be given +of the Patient's Pains; of his Cough; of the Oppression, +and of his Breathing, and Expectoration. +I shall not enter upon a more particular +Detail; common Sense will sufficiently extend +this Plan or Specimen to other Diseases; and +though these Questions may seem numerous, it +will always be easy to write down their Answers +<span class="pageno target" title="583" id="page-583"> </span>in as little Room, as the Questions take up here. +It were even to be wished that Persons of every +Rank, who occasionally write for medical Advice +and Directions, would observe such a Plan +or Succession, in the Body of their Letters. By +this Means they would frequently procure the +most satisfactory Answers; and save themselves +the Trouble of writing second Letters, to give a +necessary Explanation of the first.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Success of Remedies depends, in a very +great Measure, on a very exact Knowledge of +the Disease; and that Knowledge on the precise +Information of it, which is laid before the +Physician.</p> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost x-large"> +<div class="line"><span class="gesperrt italics">FINIS.</span></div> +</div> +<div class="vfill"> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head616-table"> +<span id="the-table-of-remedies"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="584" id="page-584"> </span><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i616a.png" width="100%"/> <span class="gesperrt">TABLE</span></h2> +<blockquote class="epigraph"><div> +<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">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 Application, of any of the said Medicines.</em></p> +</div></blockquote> +<p class="pfirst"><img class="dropcap" style="height: 4.80em" alt="A" src="images/i616b.png"/>s in Order to ascertain the Doses of +Medicines, I have generally done it by +Pounds, Ounces, Half-Ounces, <em class="italics">&c. +&c.</em> and as this Method, especially to +the common People, might prove a little too obscure +and embarrassing, I have specified here the +exact Weight of Water, contained in such Vessels +or liquid Measures, as are most commonly +used in the Country.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Pound which I mean, throughout all +these Prescriptions, is that consisting of sixteen +Ounces. These Ounces contain eight Drachms, +each Drachm consisting of three Scruples, and +each Scruple of twenty Grains; the medical +Scruple of <em class="italics">Paris</em> solely containing twenty-four +Grains.</p> +<p class="pnext">The liquid Measure, the <em class="italics">Pot</em> used at <em class="italics">Berne</em>, +being that I always speak of, may be estimated, +without any material Error, to contain three +Pounds and a Quarter, which is equal to three +Pints, and eight common Spoonfuls English +<span class="pageno target" title="585" id="page-585"> </span>Measure. But the exact Weight of the Water, +contained in the Pot of <em class="italics">Berne</em>, being fifty-one +Ounces and a Quarter only, it is strictly equal +but to three Pints and six common Spoonfuls +<em class="italics">English</em>. This however is a Difference of no +Importance, in the usual Drinks or Aliments of +the Sick.</p> +<p class="pnext">The small drinking Glass we talk of, filled so +as not to run over, contains three Ounces and +three Quarters. But filled, as we propose it +should for the Sick, it is to be estimated only at +three Ounces.</p> +<p class="pnext">The common middle sized Cup, though rather +large than little, contains three Ounces and +a Quarter. But as dealt out to the Sick, it +should not be estimated, at the utmost, above +three Ounces.</p> +<p class="pnext">The small Glass contains seven common +Spoonfuls; so that a Spoonful is supposed to +contain half an Ounce.</p> +<p class="pnext">The small Spoon, or Coffee Spoon, when of +its usual Size 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 six of these are deemed equal in Measure, +to a common Soup-Spoon.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Bason or Porrenger, mentioned in the +present Treatise, holds, without running over, +the Quantity of five Glasses, which is equivalent +to eighteen Ounces and three Quarters. It may +be estimated however, without a Fraction, at +eighteen Ounces: and a sick Person should +<span class="pageno target" title="586" id="page-586"> </span>never be allowed to take more than a third Part +of this Quantity of Nourishment, at any one +Time.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Doses in all the following Prescriptions +are adjusted to the Age of an Adult or grown +Man, from the Age of eighteen to that of sixty +Years. From the Age of twelve to eighteen, +two thirds of that Dose will generally be sufficient: +and from twelve down to seven Years one +half, diminishing this still lower, in Proportion +to the greater Youth of the Patient: so that not +more than one eighth of the Dose prescribed +should be given to an infant of some Months old, +or under one Year. But it must also be considered, +that their different Constitutions will make +a considerable Difference in adjusting their different +Doses. It were to be wished, on this Account, +that every Person would carefully observe +whether a strong Dose is necessary to purge him, +or if a small one is sufficient; as Exactness is +most important in adjusting the Doses of such +Medicines, as are intended to purge, or to evacuate +in any other Manner.</p> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id793"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 1.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">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 one Quarter of boiling Water. Stir it +about a little with a Spoon to mix and dissolve the +Honey; then cover up the Mug; and, when +<span class="pageno target" title="587" id="page-587"> </span>the Liquor is cold, strain it through a Linen +Cloth.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id794"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 2.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take two Ounces of whole Barley, cleanse +and wash it well in hot Water, throwing away +this Water afterwards. Then boil it in five +Chopins or <em class="italics">English</em> Pints of Water, till the Barley +bursts and opens. Towards the End of the +boiling, throw in one Drachm and a half of +Nitre [Salt Petre] strain it through a Linen +Cloth, and then add to it one Ounce and a half +of Honey, and one Ounce of Vinegar. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id796" id="id795"><sup>113</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id797"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 3.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take the same Quantity of Barley as before, +and instead of Nitre, boil in it, as soon as the +Barley is put in to boil, a Quarter of an Ounce +of Cream of Tartar. Strain it, and add nothing +else <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id799" id="id798"><sup>114</sup></a> to it.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id800"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 4.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take three Ounces of the freshest sweet Almonds, +and one Ounce of Gourd or Melon +Seed; bruise them in a Mortar, adding to them +by a little at a time, one Pint of Water, then +strain it through Linen. Bruise what remains +again, adding gradually to it another Pint of +Water, then straining; and adding Water to the +<span class="pageno target" title="588" id="page-588"> </span>Residue, till full three Pints at least of Water +are thus used: after which it may again be +poured upon the bruised Mass, stirred well +about, and then be finally strained off. Half an +Ounce of Sugar may safely be bruised with the +Almonds and Seeds at first, though some weakly +imagine it too heating; and delicate Persons +may be allowed a little Orange Flower Water +with it.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id801"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 5.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take two Pugils of Mallow Leaves and +Flowers, cut them small, and pour a Pint of +boiling Water upon them. After standing some +time strain it, adding one Ounce of Honey to it. +For Want of Mallows, which is preferable, a +similar Glyster may be made of the Leaves of +Mercury, Pellitory of the Wall, the Marsh-Mallows, +the greater Mallows, from Lettuce, +or from Spinage. A few very particular Consititutions +are not to be purged by any Glyster but +warm Water alone; such should receive no other, +and the Water should not be very hot.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id802"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 6.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Boil a Pugil of Mallow Flowers, in a Pint of +Barley Water for a Glyster.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id803"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 7.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take three Pints of simple Barley Water, add +to it three Ounces of the Juice of Sow-thistle, or +of Groundsel, or of the greater Houseleek, or of +Borage. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id805" id="id804"><sup>115</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id806"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="589" id="page-589"> </span>Nº. 8.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">To one Ounce of Oxymel of Squills, add +five Ounces of a strong Infusion of Elder +Flowers.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id807"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 9.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">There are many different emollient Applications, +which have very nearly the same Virtues. +The following are the most efficacious.</p> +<p class="pnext">1, Flanels wrung out of a hot Decoction of +Mallow Flowers.</p> +<p class="pnext" id="no-9-article-2">2, Small Bags filled with Mallow Flowers, or +with those of Mullein, of Elder, of Camomile, +of wild Corn Poppy, and boiled either in Milk +or Water.</p> +<p class="pnext">3, Pultices of the same Flowers boiled in Milk +and Water.</p> +<p class="pnext">4, Bladders half filled with hot Milk and +Water, or with some emollient Decoction.</p> +<p class="pnext">5, A Pultice of boiled Bread and Milk, or of +Barley or Rice boiled till thoroughly soft and +tender.</p> +<p class="pnext">6, In the Pleurisy (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id129">§ 89</a>) the affected Part +may be rubbed sometimes with Ointment of +Marsh-mallows.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id808"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 10.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">To one Ounce of Spirit of Sulphur, add six +Ounces of Syrup of Violets, or for want of +<span class="pageno target" title="590" id="page-590"> </span>the latter, as much Barley Water, of a thicker +Consistence than ordinary. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id810" id="id809"><sup>116</sup></a></p> +<!-- a footnote to a footnote! --> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id813"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 11.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take two Ounces of Manna, and half an +Ounce of Sedlitz Salt, or for want of it, as +much Epsom Salt; dissolving them in four +Ounces of hot Water, and straining them.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id814"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 12.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of Elder Flowers one Pugil, of Hyssop +Leaves half as much. Pour three Pints of boiling +Water upon them. After infusing some +time, strain, and dissolve three Ounces of Honey +in the Infusion.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id815"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="591" id="page-591"> </span>Nº. 13.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Is only the same Kind of Drink made by +omitting the Hyssop, and adding instead of it as +much more Elder Flowers.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id816"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 14.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Let one Ounce of the best Jesuits Bark in fine +Powder be divided into sixteen equal Portions.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id817"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 15.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of the Flowers of St. <em class="italics">John's</em> Wort, of +Elder, and of Melilot, of each a few Pinches; +put them into the Bottom of an Ewer or Vessel +containing five or six <em class="italics">English</em> Pints, with half an +Ounce of Oil of Turpentine, and fill it up with +boiling Water.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id818"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 16.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Is only the Syrup of the Flowers of the wild +red Corn Poppy.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id819"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 17.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Is only very clear sweet Whey, in every Pint +of which one Ounce of Honey is to be dissolved.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id820"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 18.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of Castile or hard white Soap six +Drachms; of Extract of Dandelion one Drachm +and a half; of Gum Ammoniacum half a Drachm, +and with Syrup of Maidenhair make a Mass of +Pills, to be formed into Pills, weighing three +Grains each.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id821"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 19.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Gargarisms may be prepared from a Decoction, +or rather an Infusion, of the Leaves of Periwinkle, +or of Red Rose-Leaves, or of Mallows. Two +Ounces of Vinegar and as much Honey must be +<span class="pageno target" title="592" id="page-592"> </span>added to every Pint of it, and the Patient should +gargle with it pretty hot. The deterging, cleansing +Gargarisin referred to <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id165">§ 112</a>, is a light Infusion +of the Tops of Sage, adding two Ounces of +Honey to each Pint of it.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id822"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 20.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Is only one Ounce of powdered Nitre, divided +into sixteen equal Doses.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id823"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 21.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of Jalap, of Senna, and of Cream of +Tartar of each thirty Grains finely powdered; +and let them be very well mixed. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id825" id="id824"><sup>118</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id826"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 22.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of <em class="italics">China</em> Root, and of Sarsaparilla of +each one Ounce and a half, of Sassafras Root, +and of the Shavings of Guiacum, otherwise +called <em class="italics">Lignum vitæ</em>, of each one Ounce. Let the +whole be cut very fine. Then put them into a +glazed earthen Vessel; pouring 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 these Ingredients, or with the Addition +of a few others. More Water may, after +the first boiling, be poured on the same Ingredients, +and be boiled up into a small Decoction for +common Drink.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id827"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="593" id="page-593"> </span>Nº. 23.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">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 dissolved strain the Mixture off.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id828"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 24.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Is only an Ounce of Cream of Tartar, divided +into eight equal Parts.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id829"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 25.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">This Prescription is only the Preparation of +Kermes mineral, otherwise called the Chartreusian +Powder. Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> orders but one Grain +for a Dose. It has been directed from one to three.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id830"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 26.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take three Ounces of the common Burdock +Root; boil it for half an Hour, with half a +Drachm of Nitre, in three full Pints of Water.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id831"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 27.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take half a Pinch of the Herbs prescribed <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#no-9-article-2">Nº. 9, +Article 2</a>, and half an Ounce of hard white +Soap shaved thin. Pour on these one Pint and a +half of boiling Water, and one Glass of Wine. +Strain the Liquor and squeeze it strongly out.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id832"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 28.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of the purest Quicksilver one Ounce; +of Venice Turpentine half a Drachm, of the +freshest Hog's Lard two Ounces, and let the +whole be very well rubbed together into an +Ointment. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id834" id="id833"><sup>119</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id835"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="594" id="page-594"> </span>Nº. 29.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">This Prescription is nothing but the yellow +Basilicon.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id836"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 30.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of natural and factitious, or artificial +Cinnabar, twenty-four Grains each; of Musk +sixteen Grains, and let the whole be reduced +into fine Powder, and very well mixed. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id838" id="id837"><sup>120</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id839"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 31.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take one Drachm of <em class="italics">Virginia</em> Snake Root in +Powder; of Camphor and of Assa-foetida ten +Grains each; of Opium one Grain, and with a +sufficient Quantity of Conserve, or Rob of Elder, +make a Bolus. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id841" id="id840"><sup>121</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id842"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="595" id="page-595"> </span>Nº. 32.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">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.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id843"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 33.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take seven Grains of Turbith Mineral; and +make it into a Pill or Bolus with a little Crumb +of Bread. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id845" id="id844"><sup>122</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id846"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 34.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">This is nothing but a Prescription of six Grains +of Tartar <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id848" id="id847"><sup>123</sup></a> emetic.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id849"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 35.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take thirty-five Grains of Ipecacuanna, which, +in the very strongest Constitutions, may be augmented +to forty-five, or even to fifty Grains.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id850"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 36.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Prescribes only the common blistering Plaister; +and the Note observes that very young Infants +who have delicate Skins may have Sinapisms applied +instead of Blisters; and made of a little old +Leaven, kneaded up with a few Drops of sharp +Vinegar.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id851"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="596" id="page-596"> </span>Nº. 37.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of the Tops of <em class="italics">Chamaedrys</em> or Ground +Oak, of the lesser Centaury, of Wormwood and +of Camomile, of each one Pugil. Pour on them +three Pints of boiling Water; and suffering them +to infuse until it is cold, strain the Liquor +through a Linen Cloth, pressing it out strongly.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id852"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 38.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take forty Grains of Rhubarb, and as much +Cream of Tartar in Powder, mixing them well +together.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id853"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 39.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take three Drachms of Cream of Tartar, and +one Drachm of Ipecacuanna finely powdered. +Rub them well together, and divide them into +six equal Parts.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id854"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 40.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of the simple Mixture one Ounce, of +Spirit of Vitriol half an Ounce, and mix them. +The Dose is one or two Tea Spoonfuls in a Cup +of the Patient's common Drink. The simple +Mixture is composed of five Ounces of Treacle +Water camphorated, of three Ounces of Spirit of +Tartar rectified, and one Ounce of Spirit of Vitriol. +If the Patient has an insuperable Aversion +to the Camphor, it must be omitted, though +the Medicine is less efficacious without it. And +if his Thirst is not very considerable, the simple +Mixture may be given alone, without any further +Addition of Spirit of Vitriol.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id855"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 41.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take half a Drachm of <em class="italics">Virginia</em> Snake-root, +<span class="pageno target" title="597" id="page-597"> </span>ten Grains of Camphor, and make them into a +Bolus with Rob of Elder-Berries. If the Patient's +Stomach cannot bear so large a Dose of Camphor, +he may take it in smaller Doses and oftner, +<em class="italics">viz.</em> three Grains, every two Hours. If there +is a violent Looseness, Diascordium must be +substituted instead of the Rob of Elder-berries.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id856"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 42.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Prescribes only the <em class="italics">Theriaca pauperum</em>, or poor +Man's Treacle, in the Dose of a Quarter of an +Ounce. The following Composition of it is that +chiefly preferred by our Author. Take equal +Parts of round Birthwort Roots, of Elecampane, +of Myrrh, and of Rob or Conserve of Juniper-berries, +and make them into an Electuary of a +rather thin, than very stiff Consistence, with +Syrup of Orange-peel.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id857"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 43.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">The first of the three Medicines referred to in +this Number, is that already directed, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id851">Nº. 37</a>. +The second is as follows.</p> +<p class="pnext">Take equal Parts of the lesser Centaury, of +Wormwood, of Myrrh, all powdered, and of +Conserve of Juniper-berries, making them up +into a pretty thick Consistence with Syrup of +Wormwood. The Dose is a Quarter of an +Ounce; to be taken at the same Intervals as the +Bark.</p> +<p class="pnext">For the third Composition—Take of the Roots +of Calamus Aromaticus and Elecampane well +bruised, two Ounces; of the Tops of the lesser +Centaury cut small, a Pugil; of Filings of +<span class="pageno target" title="598" id="page-598"> </span>unrusted Iron two Ounces, of old white Wine, +three Pints. Put them all into a wide necked +Bottle, and set it upon Embers, or on a Stove, +or by the Chimney, that it may be always kept +hot. Let them infuse twenty-four Hours, +shaking them well five or six Times; then let the +Infusion settle, and strain it. The Dose is a +common Cup every four Hours, four Times +daily, and timing it one Hour before Dinner.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id858"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 44.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take a Quarter of an Ounce of Cream of +Tartar, a Pugil of common Camomile; boil +them in twelve Ounces of Water for half an +Hour, and strain it off.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id859"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 45.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Directs only the common Sal Ammoniac, +from two Scruples to one Drachm for a Dose. +The Note to it adds, that it may be made into a +Bolus with Rob of Elder; and observes, that +those feverish Patients, who have a weak delicate +Stomach, do not well admit of this Salt; no more +than of several others, which affect them with +great Disorder and Anxiety.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id860"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 46.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">The Powder. Take one Pugil of Camomile +Flowers, and as much Elder Flowers, bruising +them well; of fine Flour or Starch three Ounces; +of Ceruss and of blue Smalt each half an Ounce. +Rub the whole, and mix them well. This +Powder may be applied immediately to the Part.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Plaister. Take of the Ointment called +<em class="italics">Nutritum</em>, made with the newest sweet Oil, two +<span class="pageno target" title="599" id="page-599"> </span>Ounces; of white Wax three Quarters of an +Ounce, and one Quarter of an Ounce of blue +Smalt. Melt the Wax, then add the <em class="italics">Nutritum</em> +to it, after the Smalt 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 smoothly +spread on Linen Cloth.</p> +<p class="pnext">A Quarter of an Ounce of Smalt may also +be mixed exactly with two Ounces of Butter or +Ointment of Lead, to be used occasionally instead +of the Plaister.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id861"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 47.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take one Ounce of Sedlitz, or for want of +that, as much Epsom Salt, and two Ounces of +Tamarinds: pour upon them eight Ounces of +boiling Water, stirring them about to dissolve +the Tamarinds. Strain it off; and divide it into +two equal Draughts, to be given at the Interval +of Half an Hour between the first and last.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id862"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 48.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of <em class="italics">Sydenham</em>'s Liquid Laudanum eighty +Drops; of Bawm Water two Ounces and a half. +If the first, or the second, Dose stops or considerably +lessens the Vomiting, this <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id864" id="id863"><sup>124</sup></a> Medicine +should not be further repeated.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id865"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="600" id="page-600"> </span>Nº. 49.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Dissolve three Ounces of Manna and twenty +Grains of Nitre in twenty Ounces, or six Glasses, +of sweet Whey.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id866"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 50.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">To two Ounces of Syrup of Diacodium, or +white Poppy Heads, add an equal Weight of +Elder Flower Water, or, for want of it, of +Spring Water.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id867"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 51.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Directs nothing but a Drachm of Rhubarb in +Powder.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id868"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 52.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of <em class="italics">Sulphur vivum</em>, or of Flower of +Brimstone, one Ounce; of Sal Ammoniac, one +Drachm; of fresh Hogs Lard, two Ounces; +and mix the whole very well in a Mortar.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id869"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 53.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take two Drachms of crude Antimony and +as much Nitre, both finely powdered and very +well mixed; dividing the whole into eight equal +Doses. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id871" id="id870"><sup>125</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id872"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="601" id="page-601"> </span>Nº. 54.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of Filings of Iron, not the least rusty, +and of Sugar, each one Ounce; of Aniseeds +Powdered, half an Ounce. After rubbing then +very well together, divide the Powder into twenty-four +equal Portions; one of which is to be +taken three times a Day an Hour before eating. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id874" id="id873"><sup>126</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id875"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 55.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of Filings of sound 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 infuse the whole in +three Pints of Wine in the Manner already directed, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id857">Nº. 43</a>. The Dose of this is one small +Cup three times a Day, an Hour before eating. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id877" id="id876"><sup>127</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id878"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 56.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take two Ounces of Filings of Iron; of Rue +Leaves and Aniseed powdered, each half an +<span class="pageno target" title="602" id="page-602"> </span>Ounce. Add to them a sufficient Quantity of +Honey to make an Electuary of a good Consistence. +The Dose is a Quarter of an Ounce +three times daily.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id879"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 57.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of the Extract of the stinking Hemlock, +with the purple spotted Stalk, one Ounce. +Form it into Pills weighing two Grains each; +adding as much of the Powder of dry Hemlock +Leaves, as the Pills will easily take up. Begin the +Use of this Medicine by giving one Pill Night +and Morning. Some Patients have been so familiarized +to it, as to take at length Half an +Ounce daily. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id881" id="id880"><sup>128</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id882"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="603" id="page-603"> </span>Nº. 58.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of the Roots of Grass and of Succory +well washed, each one Ounce. Boil them a +Quarter of an Hour in a Pint of Water. Then +dissolve in it Half an Ounce of Sedlitz, or of +<em class="italics">Epsom</em> Salt, and two Ounces of Manna; and +strain it off to drink one Glass of it from Half +Hour, to Half Hour, till its Effects are sufficient. +It is to be repeated at the Interval of two +or three Days.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id883"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 59.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Is a Cataplasm or Pultice made of Crumb of +Bread, with Camomile Flowers boiled in Milk, +with the Addition of some Soap, so that each +Pultice may contain half a Quarter of an Ounce +of this last Ingredient. And when the Circumstances +of female Patients have not afforded them +that regular Attendance, which the Repetition +of the Pultice requires, as it should be renewed +every three Hours, I have successfully directed +the Hemlock Plaister of the Shops.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id884"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 60.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take a sufficient Quantity of dry Hemlock +Leaves. Secure them properly between two +Pieces of thin Linen Cloth, so as to make a very +flexible Sort of small Matrass, letting it boil a +few Moments in Water, then squeeze it out and +apply it to the affected Part. It must thus be +<span class="pageno target" title="604" id="page-604"> </span>moistened and heated afresh, and re-applied every +two Hours.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id885"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 61.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of the Eyes of the Craw-fish, or of the +true white Magnesia, two Drachms; of Cinnamon +powdered four Grains. Rub them very +well together, and divide the whole into eight +Doses. One of these is to be given in a Spoonful +of Milk, or of Water, before the Infant +sucks.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id886"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 62.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of an Extract of Walnuts, made in Water, +two Drachms; and dissolve it in half an +Ounce of Cinnamon Water. Fifty Drops a +Day of this Solution is to be given to a Child +of two Years old; and after the whole has been +taken, the Child should be purged. This Extract +is to be made of the unripe Nuts, when +they are of a proper Growth and Consistence for +pickling.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id887"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 63.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of Rezin of Jalap two Grains. Rub it +a considerable time with twelve or fifteen Grains +of Sugar, and afterwards with three or four sweet +Almonds; adding, very gradually, two common +Spoonfuls of Water. Then strain it through +clear thin Linen, as the Emulsion of Almonds +was ordered to be. Lastly, add a Tea Spoonful +of Syrup of Capillaire to it. This is no disagreable +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 +<span class="pageno target" title="605" id="page-605"> </span>two Years old, it is prudent to purge Children +rather with Syrup of Succory, or with Manna.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id888"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 64.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of the Ointment called <em class="italics">Nutritum</em> one +Ounce; the entire Yolk of one small Egg, or +the Half of a large one, and mix them well +together. This <em class="italics">Nutritum</em> may be readily made +by rubbing very well together, and for some +time, two Drachms of Ceruss [white Lead] +half an Ounce of Vinegar, and three Ounces of +common Oil.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id889"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 65.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Melt four Ounces of white Wax; add to it, +if made in Winter two Spoonfuls of Oil; if in +Summer none at all, or at most, not above a +Spoonful. Dip in this Slips of Linen Cloth not +worn too thin, and let them dry: or spread it +thin and evenly over them.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id890"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 66.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of Oil of Roses one Pound; of red Lead +half a Pound; of Vinegar four Ounces. Boil them +together nearly to the Consistence of a Plaister; +then dissolve in the liquid Mass an Ounce and a +Half of yellow Wax, and two Drachms of Camphor, +stirring the whole about well. Remove it +then from the Fire, and spread it on Sheets or +Slips of Paper, of what Size you think most +convenient. The Ointment of <em class="italics">Chambauderie</em>, so +famous in many Families on the Continent, is +made of a Quarter of a Pound of yellow Wax, +of the Plaister of three Ingredients (very nearly +the same with <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id890">Nº. 66</a>) of compound Diachylon +<span class="pageno target" title="606" id="page-606"> </span>and of common Oil, of each the same Quantity, +all melted together, and then stirred about well, +after it is removed from the Fire, till it grows +cold. To make a Sparadrap, or Oil Cloth, +which is Linen, covered with, or dipt in an +emplastic Substance or Ointment, it must be +melted over again with the Addition of a little +Oil, and applied to the Linen as directed at +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id889">Nº. 65.</a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id891"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 67.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Gather in Autumn, while the fine Weather +lasts, the Agaric of the Oak, which is a Kind of +<em class="italics">Fungus</em> or Excrescence, issuing from the Wood +of that Tree.</p> +<p class="pnext">It consists at first of four Parts, which present +themselves successively, 1, The outward Rind or +Skin, which may be thrown away. 2, That Part +immediately under this Rind, which is the best +of all. This is to be beat well with a Hammer, +till it becomes soft and very pliable. This is +the only Preparation it requires, and a Slice of +it of a proper Size is to be applied directly over +the bursting, open Blood-vessels. It constringes +and brings them close together; stops the Bleedings; +and generally falls off at the End of two +Days. 3, The third Part, adhering to the second +may serve to stop the Bleeding from the +smaller Vessels; and the fourth and last Part may +be reduced to Powder, as conducing to the same +Purpose. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id893" id="id892"><sup>129</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id894"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="607" id="page-607"> </span>Nº. 68.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take four Ounces of Crumbs of Bread, a +Pugil of Elder Flowers, and the same Quantity +of those of Camomile, and of St. <em class="italics">John's</em> Wort. +Boil them into a Pultice in equal Quantities of +Vinegar and Water.</p> +<p class="pnext">If Fomentations should be thought preferable, +take the same Herbs, or some Pugils of the Ingredients +for <em class="italics">Faltrank</em>: throw them into a Pint +and a Half of boiling Water: and let them infuse +some Minutes. Then a Pint of Vinegar is +to be added, and Flanels or other woollen Cloths +dipt in the Fomentation, and wrung out, are to +be applied to the Part affected.</p> +<p class="pnext">For the aromatic Fomentations recommended +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id623">§ 449</a>, take Leaves of Betony and of Rue, +Flowers of Rosemary or Lavender, and red Roses, +of each a Pugil and a Half. Boil them for a +Quarter of an Hour in a Pot with a Cover, with +three Pints of old white Wine. Then strain off, +squeezing the Liquor strongly from the Herbs, +and apply it as already directed.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id895"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 69.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Directs only the Plaister of Diapalma. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id897" id="id896"><sup>130</sup></a></p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id898"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Nº. 70.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Directs only a Mixture of two Parts Water, +and one Part of Vinegar of Litharge.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-3 section" id="id899"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="608" id="page-608"> </span>Nº. 71.</h3> +<p class="pfirst">Take of the Leaves of Sow-bread, and of Camomile +Tops, of each one Pugil. Put them into +an earthen Vessel with half an Ounce of Soap, +and as much Sal Ammoniac, and pour upon +them three Pints of boiling Water.</p> +<p class="pnext small"><em class="italics">N. B.</em> I conceive all the Notes to this Table, in which I have +not mentioned the Editor at <em class="italics">Lyons</em>, nor subscribed with my initial +Letter <em class="italics">K</em>, to come from the Author, having omitted nothing +of them, but the Prices.</p> +<!-- .. footnotes:: Notes --> +</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="head640-errata"> +<span id="errata"/><h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><img style="width: 100%" alt="" src="images/i640.png" width="100%"/> <span class="target" id="id900">ERRATA.</span></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Page 4, Line 6, for <em class="italics">os</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#of">of</a>. p. 16, l. 16, for <em class="italics">be</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#me">me</a>. p. 29, l. 12, +after <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#it">it</a> add . p. 49, l. 12, dele <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#in-assuring-them">and</a> at the End of it. p. 51, in the running +Title, for <em class="italics">Causss</em> read <em class="italics">Causes</em>. ib. l. 2, dele <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#where-immediately">and</a>. ib. l. 7, dele <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#which-by-restoring-transpiration">and</a>. p. 57, +last line, for <em class="italics">hurtsul</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#hurtful">hurtful</a>. p. 67, l. 17, after <em class="italics">Water</em>, add, <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#may-be-placed-within-the-room">may be placed +within the Room</a>. p. 74, line last but two, after <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#never">never</a>, dele , p. 96, l. 11, +for <em class="italics">Aiiment</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#ailment">Ailment</a>. p. 106, l. 23, for the second <em class="italics">is</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#has">has</a>. p. 126, +l. 21, for <em class="italics">breath</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#breathe">breathe</a>. p. 137, l. 13, for <em class="italics">Efflorescene</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#efflorescence">Efflorescence</a>, +p. 145, l. 1, for <em class="italics">Water</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#tea">Tea</a>. p. 148, l. 19, for <em class="italics">beomes</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#becomes">becomes</a>. +p. 163, l. 30. in the Note, for <em class="italics">occured</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#occurred">occurred</a>; p. 171, l. 20, dele <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#upon-dissection-a-small-abscess">and</a>. +p. 189, l. 28, dele <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#sometimes-both-these">of</a>. p. 199, l. 6, for <em class="italics">Paulmier</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#there-is-also-the">Palmarius</a>, being the +<em class="italics">Latinized</em> Name of that <em class="italics">Physician</em>; as we say for <em class="italics">Fernel Fernelius, Holler Hollerius, +&c.</em> <em class="italics">N. B.</em> <span class="target" id="his-powder-for-the-bite-of-a-mad-dog">His Powder for the Bite of a mad Dog</span> consisted of equal Parts of +Rue, Vervain, Plantain, Polypody, common Wormwood, Mugwort, Bastard +Baum, Betony, St. <em class="italics">John's</em> Wort, and lesser Centaury Tops, to which <em class="italics">Default</em> +adds Coraline.——p. 237, l. 2, for <em class="italics">Streakes</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#streaks">Streaks</a>. p. 256, first line +of the Note * <em class="italics">dele</em> the first <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#and-camp-fevers">often</a>. p. 261, l. 15, for <em class="italics">happens</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#happen">happen</a>. +p. 270, l. 12, dele <em class="italics">t</em> in <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#this-however-is-less-frequent-in">Switsserland</a>. p. 282, l. 23, for <em class="italics">enters</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#enter">enter</a>. +p. 283, l. 23, for <em class="italics">Stomach</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#stomachs">Stomachs</a>. p. 284, l. 12, for <em class="italics">it</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#them">them</a>. +p. 287, Note * l. 25, for <em class="italics">here</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#there">there</a>. p. 303, l. 14, for <em class="italics">doubtsul</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#doubtful">doubtful</a>. +p. 311, l. 18, for <em class="italics">abate</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#abates">abates</a>. p. 337, l. 7, for <em class="italics">glary</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#glairy">glairy</a>. +N. B. In the first Page that is folio'd 445 read 345. p. 346, l. 19, for <em class="italics">two</em> read +<a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#too">too</a>. p. 351, l. 25, after Waters add, <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#such-as-infusions-of-tea-c">such as Infusions of Tea, &c.</a> p. 375, l. 7, +for <em class="italics">two</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#have-been-too">too</a>. p. 392, last line, for <em class="italics">Leaves</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#flowers">Flowers</a>. p. 393, l. 26, +after <em class="italics">them</em>, insert <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#producing-them-and">and</a>. p. 397, l. 1 and 2, for Temparrament <span class="target" id="read">read</span> <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#temperament">Temperament</a>. +p. 422, l. 6, between <em class="italics">several</em> and <em class="italics">Consequences</em> insert <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#bad">bad</a>. p. 454, l. 5, for +<em class="italics">Diflocation</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#dislocation">Dislocation</a>. p. 459, l. 17, in <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#ice-thaws">Ice-thaws</a> dele - p. 466, l. 16, +to <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#constitution">Constitution</a> add <em class="italics">s</em>. p. 486, l. 29, after <em class="italics">or</em> add <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#if">if</a>. p. 487, l. 12, for <em class="italics">Parts</em> +read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#part">Part</a>. p. 511, l. 12, for <em class="italics">not</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#nor">nor</a>. p. 533, l. 12, for <em class="italics">arrives</em> read +<a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#arises">arises</a>. p. 542, l. 22, for <em class="italics">Patient</em> read <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#patients">Patients</a>. p. 562, l. 14, for <em class="italics">fays</em> read +<a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#says">says</a>. p. 573, l. 10, after <a class="italics reference internal pginternal" href="#cause">Cause</a>, dele <em class="italics">Comma</em>.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="table-of-the-several-chapters-and-their-principal-contents"> +<h2 class="center level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span class="pageno target" title="609" id="page-609"> </span><span class="small-caps">Table</span> <em class="italics">of the several Chapters, and their principal Contents.</em></h2> +<!-- PG page numbers don't show in html beyond here, try to understand whyand pester --> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#introduction">Introduction</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib1">Page 1</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-first-cause-of-depopulation-emigrations">The first Cause of Depopulation, Emigrations</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib1"><em class="italics">ib.</em></a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-second-cause-luxury">The second Cause, Luxury</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-6">6</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#third-cause-decay-of-agriculture">Third Cause, Decay of Agriculture</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-10">10</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#fourth-cause-the-pernicious-treatment-of-diseases">Fourth Cause, the pernicious Treatment of Diseases</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-12">12</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#means-for-rendering-this-treatise-useful">Means for rendering this Treatise useful</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-15">15</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#explanation-of-certain-physical-terms-and-phrases">Explanation of certain physical Terms, and Phrases</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-26">26</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-i"><span class="small-caps">Chapter I.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-most-usual-causes-of-popular-maladies"><em class="italics">The most common Causes of popular Sickness</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-31">31</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#excessive-labour">First Cause, excessive Labour</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib31"><em class="italics">ib.</em></a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id19">Second Cause, the Effect of cold Air, when a Person is hot</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-33">33</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id20">Third Cause, taking cold Drink, when in a Heat</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib33"><em class="italics">ib.</em></a> <em class="italics">&</em> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-34">34</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id21">Fourth Cause, the Inconstancy and sudden Change of the +Weather</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-35">35</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id25">Fifth Cause, the Situation of Dunghills, and Marshes, near +inhabited Houses, and the bad confined Air in the Houses</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-37">37</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id28">Sixth Cause, Drunkenness</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-38">38</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id29">Seventh Cause, the Food of Country People</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-39">39</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id34">Eighth Cause, the Situation, or Exposure of Houses</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-42">42</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id34">Concerning the Drink of Country People</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-43">43</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-ii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. II.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-causes"><em class="italics">Of Causes which increase the Diseases of the +People, with general Considerations</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-47">47</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#first-cause-the-great-care-employed-to-force-the-sick-to-sweat-and-the-methods-taken-for-that-purpose">First Cause, the great Care employed to force the Sick to sweat, +and the Methods taken for that Purpose</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib47"><em class="italics">ib.</em></a> <em class="italics">&</em> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-48">48</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id42">The Danger of hot Chambers</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-49">49</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id43">The Danger of hot Drinks and heating Medicines</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-50">50</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id47">Second Cause, the Quantity and Quality of the Food given sick +Persons</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-53">53</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id55">Third Cause, the giving Vomits and Purges at the Beginning of the +Disease</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-57">57</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-iii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. III.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#concerning"><em class="italics">Concerning what should be done in the Beginning +of Diseases, and the Diet in acute Diseases</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-61">61</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id62">Signs which indicate approaching Diseases; with Means to prevent +them</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-62">62</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-common-regimen-or-regulations-for-the-sick">The common Regimen, or Regulations, for the Sick</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-64">64</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id70">The Benefits of ripe sound Fruits</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-68">68</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id76">Cautions and Means to be used, on Recovery</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-73">73</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-74">74</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-iv"><span class="small-caps">Chap. IV.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-inflammation"><em class="italics">Of the Inflammation of the Breast</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-77">77</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id82">The Signs of this Disease</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib77"><em class="italics">ib.</em></a> <em class="italics">&</em> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-78">78</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-advantage-of-bleeding">The Advantage of Bleeding</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-81">81</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id98">Signs of Recovery</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-85">85</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id100">Of <em class="italics">Crises</em>, and the Symptoms that precede them</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-86">86</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id102">The Danger of Vomits, of Purges, and of Anodynes</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-88">88</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id104">Of the Suppression of Expectoration, and the Means to restore +it.</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-89">89</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id105">Of the Formation of <em class="italics">Vomicas</em>, or Imposthumes in +the Lungs, and the Treatment of them</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-90">90</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id123">Of the Danger of Remedies, termed Balsamics</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-103">103</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#poterius">The Inefficacy of the Antihectic of <em class="italics">Poterius</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-104">104</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id124">Of an <em class="italics">Empyema</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-105">105</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id125">Of a Gangrene of the Lungs</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-106">106</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id126">Of a <em class="italics">Scirrhus</em> of the Lungs</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib106"><em class="italics">ib.</em></a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-v"><span class="small-caps">Chap. V.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#pleurisy"><em class="italics">Of the Pleurisy</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-108">108</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-danger-of-heating-remedies">The Danger of heating Remedies</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-112">112</a> to <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-115">115</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-frequent-or-habitual-pleurisies">Of frequent, or habitual, Pleurisies</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-116">116</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-goats-blood-the-soot-of-a-stale-egg-and-of-the-wormwood-of-the-alps-in-pleurisies">Of Goats Blood; the Soot of a stale Egg, and of the Wormwood of the +Alps, in Pleurisies</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-117">117</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-118">118</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-vi"><span class="small-caps">Chap. VI.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#throat"><em class="italics">Of Diseases of the Throat</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-119">119</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-their-proper-treatment">Of their proper Treatment</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-124">124</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-formation-of-an-abscess-there">Of the Formation of an Abscess there</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-127">127</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-swelled-ears-from-the-obstruction-of-the-parotid-and-maxillary-glands">Of swelled Ears, from the Obstruction of the parotid and maxillary +Glands</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-131">131</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-epidemic">Of the epidemic and putrid Diseases of +the Throat, which prevailed in 1761 at <em class="italics">Lausanne</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-132">132</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-vii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. VII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-colds"><em class="italics">Of Colds</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-139">139</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#different-prejudices-concerning-colds">Different Prejudices concerning Colds</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib139"><em class="italics">ib.</em></a> <em class="italics">&</em> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-140">140</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id197">The Danger of drinking much hot Water, +and of strong spirituous Liquors, <em class="italics">&c.</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-146">146</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#means-for-strengthening-and-curing-persons-very-subject-to-colds">Means for strengthening and curing Persons very subject to +Colds</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-148">148</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-viii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. VIII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-diseases-of-the-teeth"><em class="italics">Of Diseases of the Teeth</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-150">150</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-ix"><span class="small-caps">Chap. IX.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-apoplexy"><em class="italics">Of the Apoplexy</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-158">158</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id211">Of sanguine Apoplexy</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib158"><em class="italics">ib.</em></a> <em class="italics">&</em> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-159">159</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id216">Of a serous, or watery, Apoplexy</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-162">162</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id221">Means to prevent relapsing into them</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-164">164</a> <em class="italics">& seq.</em></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-x"><span class="small-caps">Chap. X.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-morbid-strokes-of-the-sun"><em class="italics">Of morbid Strokes of the Sun</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-167">167</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xi"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XI.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-rheumatism"><em class="italics">Of the Rheumatism</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-177">177</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-acute-rheumatism-attended-with-a-fever">Of the acute Rheumatism, attended with a Fever</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib177"><em class="italics">ib.</em></a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id255">Of the flow, or chronical, without a Fever</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-186">186</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id267">The Danger of spirituous and greasy Remedies</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-191">191</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-192">192</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-bite-of-a-mad-dog"><em class="italics">Of the Bite of a mad Dog</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-194">194</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xiii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XIII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-small-pocks"><em class="italics">Of the Small Pocks.</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-207">207</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id296">Of the preceding Symptoms of this Disease</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-209">209</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id307">The Danger of sweating Medicines</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-217">217</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id308">The Treatment of the benign distinct Small Pocks</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-220">220</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id311">The Use of Bleeding</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-222">222</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id312">The Fever of Suppuration</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-223">223</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id316">The Necessity of opening the ripe Pustules</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-226">226</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id319">The Danger of Anodynes</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-228">228</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id322">Of the striking in of the Eruptions</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-229">229</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id323">Preparations for receiving it favorably</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-230">230</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xiv"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XIV.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-measles"><em class="italics">Of the Measles</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-235">235</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id332">Of their Treatment and the Means to prevent any of their bad +Consequences</a>, to —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-243">243</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xv"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XV.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-ardent-or-burning-fever"><em class="italics">Of the hot, or burning, Fever</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-244">244</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xvi"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XVI.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-putrid-fevers"><em class="italics">Of putrid Fevers</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-248">248</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xvii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XVII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-malignant-fevers"><em class="italics">Of malignant Fevers</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-257">257</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id371">The Danger of applying living Animals in them</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-267">267</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xviii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XVIII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="pageno target" title="611" id="page-611"> </span><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-intermitting-fevers"><em class="italics">Of intermitting Fevers</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-269">269</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id376">Spring and Autumn Intermittents</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-272">272</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id380">Method of Cure by the Bark</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-275">275</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id389">Method of treating the Patient in the Fit</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-277">277</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id390">Of other Febrifuges, besides the Bark</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-278">278</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-treatment-of-long-and-obstinate-intermittents">The Treatment of long and obstinate Intermittents</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-279">279</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id398">Of some very dangerous Intermittents</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-284">284</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id399">Of some periodical Disorders, which may be termed, Fevers +disguised</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-285">285</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id399">Of Preservatives from unwholesome Air</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-286">286</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xix"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XIX.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-erisipelas-and-the-bites-of-animals"><em class="italics">Of an</em> Erisipelas, <em class="italics">or St.</em> Anthony's <em class="italics">Fire.</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-288">288</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id413">Of a frequent or +habitual <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-295">295</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-stings-or-little-wounds-by-animals">Of the Stings or Bites of Animals</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-296">296</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xx"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XX.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-spurious-or-false-inflammations-of-the-breast-and-of-spurious-bilious-pleurisies"><em class="italics">Of Inflammations of the Breast, and of +Bastard and bilious Pleurisies</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-298">298</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id421">Of the false Inflammation of the Breast</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-300">300</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id426">The false Pleurisy</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-303">303</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxi"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXI.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-cholic-and-its-different-kinds"><em class="italics">Of Cholics</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-306">306</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-inflammatory-cholic">Of the inflammatory Cholic</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-307">307</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-bilious-cholic">the bilious Cholic</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-312">312</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-cholics-from-indigestions-and-of-indigestion">the Cholic from Indigestion, and of Indigestions</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-314">314</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-flatulent-or-windy-cholic">the flatulent, or windy, Cholic</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-317">317</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-cholics-from-cold">the Cholic, from taking Cold</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-319">319</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-iliac-passion-and-of-the-cholera-morbus"><em class="italics">Of +the</em> Miserere, <em class="italics">or Iliac Passion, and of the</em> Cholera Morbus</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-322">322</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id457">The <em class="italics">Miserere</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib322"><em class="italics">ib.</em></a> <em class="italics">&</em> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-323">323</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-cholera-morbus">The <em class="italics">Cholera Morbus</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-327">327</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxiii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXIII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost" id="diarrhoea"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-a-diarrhoea-or-looseness"><em class="italics">Of a</em> Diarrhœa, <em class="italics">or Looseness</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-332">332</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxiv"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXIV.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-dysentery-or-bloody-flux"><em class="italics">Of a Dysentery, or +Bloody-Flux</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-335">335</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id468">The Symptoms of the Disease</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-336">336</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id470">The Remedies against it</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-338">338</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id477">Of the beneficial Use of ripe Fruits</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-341">341</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id483">Of the Danger of taking a great Number of popular Remedies in +it</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-345">345</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxv"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXV.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-itch"><em class="italics">Of the Itch</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-347">347</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxvi"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXVI.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-treatment-of-diseases-peculiar-to-women"><em class="italics">Directions peculiar to the Sex</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-352">352</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id497">Of the monthly Customs</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-353">353</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-disorders-attending-gravidation-or-the-term-of-going-with-child">Of Gravidation, or going with Child</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-365">365</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-delivery-or-child-birth">Of Labours or Deliveries,</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-367">367</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-consequences-of-labour-or-childbirth">Of their Consequences</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-371">371</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id525">Of a Cancer</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-373">373</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxvii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXVII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#medical-directions-concerning-children"><em class="italics">Directions with Regard to Children</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-375">375</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-meconium">Of the first Cause of their Disorders, +the <em class="italics">Meconium</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-377">377</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-acidities-or-sharp-humours">the second, the souring of their Milk</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-379">379</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id535">the Danger of giving them Oil</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#ib379"><em class="italics">ib.</em></a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id539">Disorders from their Want of Perspiration, the Means +of keeping it up, and of washing them in cold Water</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-381">381</a> +<em class="italics">&</em> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-382">382</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-cutting-of-the-teeth">the third Cause, the cutting of their Teeth</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-386">386</a></div> +<div class="line">—<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-worms">the fourth Cause, Worms</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-387">387</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-convulsions">Of Convulsions</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-391">391</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#general-directions-with-respect-to-children">Methods necessary to make them strong and hardy, with +general Directions about them</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-396">396</a> <em class="italics">& seq.</em></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxviii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXVIII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#directions-with-respect-to-drowned-persons"><em class="italics">Of Assistances for drowned Persons</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-403">403</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxix"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXIX.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-substances-stopt-between-the-mouth-and-the-stomach"><em class="italics">Of Substances stopt between the Mouth and the Stomach</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-411">411</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxx"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXX.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-disorders-requiring-the-assistance-of-a-surgeon"><em class="italics">Of Disorders requiring the Assistance of a Surgeon</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-435">435</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-burns">Of Burns</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-436">436</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-wounds">Of Wounds</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-437">437</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-contusions-or-bruises">Of Bruises, and of Falls</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-444">444</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-ulcers">Of Ulcers</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-454">454</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-frozen-limbs">Of frozen Limbs, or Joints</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-458">458</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-kibes-or-chilblains">Of Chilblains</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-462">462</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-ruptures">Of Ruptures</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-474">474</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-phlegmons-or-boils">Of Phlegmons, or Boils</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-480">480</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-fellons-or-whitlows">Of Fellons, or Whitlows</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-481">481</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-thorns-splinters-c-in-the-skin-or-flesh">Of Thorns, Splinters, <em class="italics">&c.</em> in the Skin or Flesh</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-486">486</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-warts">Of Warts</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-488">488</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-corns">Of Corns</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-490">490</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxxi"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXXI.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-some-cases-which-require-immediate-assistance"><em class="italics">Of some Cases which require immediate Assistance</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-491">491</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-swoonings-occasioned-by-excess-of-blood">Of Swoonings, from Excess of Blood</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-492">492</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-swoonings-occasioned-by-weakness">Of Swoonings, from great Weakness</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-494">494</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-faintings-occasioned-by-a-load-or-uneasiness-at-stomach">Of Swoonings, occasioned by a Load on the Stomach</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-497">497</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-those-swoonings-which-arise-from-nervous-disorders">Of Swoonings, resulting from Disorders of the Nerves</a> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-500">500</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-swoonings-occasioned-by-the-passions">Of Swoonings, occasioned by the Passions</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-504">504</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-symptomatical-swoonings-or-such-as-happen-in-the-progress-of-other-diseases">Of the Swoonings, which occur in Diseases</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-506">506</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-haemorrhages-or-an-involuntary-loss-of-blood">Of Hæmorrhages, or Fluxes of Blood</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-508">508</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-convulsion-fits">Of Convulsion Fits</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-512">512</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-suffocating-or-strangling-fits">Of suffocating, or strangling Fits</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-514">514</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-violent-effects-of-fear">Of the violent Effects of great Fear</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-516">516</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-accidents-or-symptoms-produced-by-the-vapours-of-coal-and-of-wine">Of Accidents produced by the Vapours of Charcoal, and of Wine</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-519">519</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-poisons">Of Poisons</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-526">526</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-acute-pains">Of acute and violent Pains</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-529">529</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxxii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXXII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-medicines-taken-by-way-of-precaution-or-prevention"><em class="italics">Of giving Remedies by Way of Precaution</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-531">531</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-bleeding">Of Bleeding</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-532">532</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-purges">Of Purges</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-540">540</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id755">Remedies to be used after excessive Purging</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-544">544</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id757">Reflections on some other Remedies</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-546">546</a>, <em class="italics">&c.</em></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxxiii"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXXIII.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-mountebanks-quacks-and-conjurers"><em class="italics">Of Quacks, Mountebanks, and Conjurers</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-551">551</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chap-xxxiv"><span class="small-caps">Chap. XXXIV.</span></a></div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#questions-necessary-to-be-answered"><em class="italics">Questions necessary to be answered by any Person, +who goes to consult a Physician</em></a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-579">579</a></div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-table-of-remedies">The Table of Remedies</a> —— <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-584">584</a></div> +</div> +<!-- .. contents:: `Table` *of the several Chapters, and their principal Contents.*:depth: 3 +:page-numbers: --> +<div class="footnotes level-3 section small" id="id918"> +<h3 class="center level-3 pfirst section-title title">Notes</h3> +<table class="docutils footnote-group" frame="void" rules="none"> +<colgroup><col class="label"/><col/></colgroup> +<tbody valign="top"> +<tr class="footnote" id="id3"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id2">[1]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Of all these the Schoolmasters, <em class="italics">with us</em>, may seem the +most reasonably exempted from this Duty.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id5"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id4">[2]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">See the Author's Preface, immediately following this +Dedication.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id8"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id6">[3]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst"><em class="italics">Le Socrate rustique</em>, a Work, which every Person should +read.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id9"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id7">[4]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This Preface is indeed premised to this <em class="italics">French</em> Edition, +but a Translation of it was omitted, to avoid extending the Bulk +and Price of the Work. Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> must then have been ignorant +of this Addition, when first <span class="target" id="published-at">published at</span> <em class="italics">Lyons</em>.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id11"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id10">[5]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The Reasons for omitting the Prices <em class="italics">here</em>, may be seen Page +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-23">23</a> of this Translation.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id13"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id12">[6]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The Marquis of Mirabeau.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id15"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id14">[7]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This oeconomical Information was doubtless very proper, +where our judicious and humane Author published it; but notwithstanding +his excellent Motives for giving it, we think it +less necessary here, where many Country Gentlemen furnish +themselves with larger or smaller Medicine Chests, for the Benefit +of their poor sick Neighbours; and in a Country, where +the settled parochial Poor are provided with Medicines, as well +as other Necessaries, at a parochial Expence. Besides, tho' we +would not suppose our Country Apothecaries less considerate or +kind than others, we acknowledge our Apprehension, that in such +Valuation of <span class="target" id="their-drugs">their Drugs</span> (some of which often vary in their +Price) might dispose a few of them, rather to discountenance +the Extension of a Work, so well intended and executed as +Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot's</span>; a Work, which may not be wholly unuseful to +some of the most judicious among them, and will be really necessary +for the rest. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id17"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id16">[8]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This supposes they are not greatly heated, as well as fatigued, +by their Labour or Exercise, in which Circumstance +free and sudden Draughts of cooling Liquors might be very +pernicious: and it evidently also supposes these Drinks to be +thus given, rather in Summer, than in very cold Weather, as +the Juice of the unripe Grapes, and the other fresh Fruits sufficiently +ascertain the Season of the Year. We think the Addition +of Vinegar to their Water will scarcely ever be necessary +in this or the adjoining Island, on such Occasions. The Caution +recommended in this Note is abundantly enforced by Dr. +<cite class="italics">Tissot</cite>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id20">§ 4</a>: but considering the Persons, to whom this Work +is more particularly addressed, we were willing to prevent +every Possibility of a Mistake, in so necessary, and sometimes +so vital a Point. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id23"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id22">[9]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This good Advice is enforced in a Note, by the Editor of +<em class="italics">Lyons</em>, who observes, it should be still more closely attended to, +in Places, where Rivers, Woods or Mountains retain, as it +were, a considerable Humidity; and where the Evenings are, +in every Season, cold and moist.—It is a very proper Caution +too in our own variable Climate, and in many of our Colonies +in North <em class="italics">America</em>. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id31"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id30">[10]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Thus I have ventured to translate <em class="italics">Etés</em> (<em class="italics">Summers</em>) to apply +it to this and the neighbouring Islands. Their Harvests +in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em> perhaps are earlier, and may occur in <em class="italics">August</em>, and +that of some particular Grain, probably still earlier. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id33"> +<td class="label">[11]</td><td><em>(<a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id32">1</a>, <a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id329">2</a>)</em> <p class="last pfirst">The Abuse just mentioned can scarcely be intended to forbid +the moderate Use of good Pastry, the Dough of which is +well raised and well baked, the Flower and other Ingredients +sound, and the Paste not overcharged with Butter, even though +it were sweet and fresh. But the Abuse of Alum and other +pernicious Materials introduced by our Bakers, may too justly +be considered as one horrible Source of those Diseases of Children, +&c. which our humane and judicious Author mentions +here. What he adds, concerning the Pastries being rendered +still more unwholesome by the sour Fruits sometimes baked in +it, is true with Respect to those Children and others, who are +liable to Complaints from Acidities abounding in the Bowels; +and for all those who are ricketty or scrophulous, from a cold +and viscid State of their Humours. But as to healthy sanguine +Children, who are advanced and lively, and others of a sanguine +or bilious Temperament, we are not to suppose a moderate Variety +of this Food injurious to them; when we consider, that +the Sharpness and Crudity of the Fruit is considerably corrected +by the long Application of Fire; and that they are the Produce +of Summer, when bilious Diseases are most frequent. +This suggests however no bad Hint against making them immoderately +sweet. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id37"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id36">[12]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This Word's occurring in the plural Number will probably +imply, the <em class="italics">Swiss</em> make more than one Species of this small +Drink, by pouring Water on the Cake or Remainder of their +other Fruits, after they have been expressed; as our People in +the Cyder, and perhaps in the Perry, Counties, make what +they call <em class="italics">Cyderkin</em>, <em class="italics">Perkin</em>, <em class="italics">&c.</em> It should seem too from this +Section, that the laborious Countrymen in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em> drink no +Malt Liquor, though the Ingredients may be supposed to grow +in their Climate. Now Beer, of different Strength, making +the greater Part of our most common Drink, it may be proper +to observe here, that when it is not strong and heady, but a +middling well-brewed Small-beer, neither too new, nor hard +or sour, it is full as wholesome a Drink for laborious People in +Health as any other, and perhaps generally preferable to Water +for such; which may be too thin and light for those who are +unaccustomed to it; and more dangerous too, when the labouring +Man is very hot, as well as thirsty. The holding a +Mouthful of any weak cold Liquor in the Mouth without +swallowing 'till it becomes warm, there, and spurting it out +before a Draught is taken down would be prudent; and in +Case of great Heat, to take the requisite Quantity rather at +two Draughts, with a little Interval between them, than to +swallow the Whole precipitately at one, would be more safe, +and equally refreshing, though perhaps less grateful. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id40"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id38">[13]</a></td><td><p class="first pfirst">The bad Quality of Water is another common Cause of +Country Diseases; either where the Waters are unwholesome, +from the Soils in which they are found, as when they flow +through, or settle, on Banks of Shells; or where they become +such, from the Neighbourhood of, or Drainings from Dunghills +and Marshes.</p> +<p class="last pnext">When Water is unclear and turbid, it is generally sufficient +to let it settle in order to clear itself, by dropping its Sediment. +But if that is not effected, or if it be slimy or muddy, +it need only be poured into a large Vessel, half filled with fine +Sand, or, for want of that, with Chalk; and then to shake +and stir it about heartily for some Minutes. When this Agitation +is over, the Sand, in falling to the Bottom of the Vessel, +will attract some of the Foulness suspended in the Water. +Or, which is still better, and very easy to do, two large Vessels +may be set near together, one of which should be placed +considerably higher than the other. The highest should be half +filled with Sand. Into this the turbid, or slimy muddy Water +is to be poured; whence it will filter itself through the Body of +Sand, and pass off clear by an Opening or Orifice made at the +Bottom of the Vessel; and fall from thence into the lower one, +which serves as a Reservoir. When the Water is impregnated +with Particles from the Beds of Selenites, or of any Spar (which +Water we call hard, because Soap will not easily dissolve in it, +and Puls and other farinaceous Substances grow hard instead of +soft, after boiling in it) such Water should be exposed to the +Sun, or boiled with the Addition of some Puls, or leguminous +Vegetables, or Bread toasted, or untoasted. When Water is +in its putrid State, it may be kept till it recovers its natural +sweet one: but if this cannot be waited for, a little Sea Salt +should be dissolved in it, or some Vinegar may be added, in +which some grateful aromatic Plant has been infused. It frequently +happens, that the publick Wells are corrupted by foul +Mud at the Bottom, and by different Animals which tumble in +and putrify there. Drinking Snow-water should be avoided, +when the Snow is but lately fallen, as it seems to be the Cause +of those swelling wenny Throats in the Inhabitants of some +Mountains; and of endemic Cholics in many Persons. As +Water is so continually used, great Care should be taken to +have what is good. Bad Water, like bad Air, is one of the +most general Causes of Diseases; that which produces the +greater Number of them, the most grieveous ones; and often +introduces such as are epidemical. <em class="italics">E. L. i.e.</em> the Editor of Lyons.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id41"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id39">[14]</a></td><td><p class="first pfirst">Many Persons, With a Design to preserve their Wines, +add Shot to them, or Preparations of Lead, Alum, &c. The +Government should forbid, under the most severe Penalties, all +such Adulterations, as tend to introduce the most painful Cholics, +Obstruction, and a long Train of Evils, which it sometimes +proves difficult to trace to this peculiar Cause; while +they shorten the lives of, or cruelly torment, such over credulous +Purchasers, as lay in a Stock of bad Wines, or drink of +them, without distinction, from every Wine Merchant or +Tavern. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +<p class="last pnext"><em class="italics">This Note, from the Editor at</em> Lyons, <em class="italics">we have sufficient Reason +for retaining here. K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id45"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id44">[15]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This Word, which must be of German, not of French Extraction, +strictly signifies, <em class="italics">Drink for a Fall</em>, as we say <em class="italics">Pulvis ad +Casum</em>, &c. Powder for a Fall, or a supposed inward Bruise. +Dr. <em class="italics">Tissot</em> informs me, it is otherwise called the vulnerary Herbs, +or the Swiss Tea; and that it is an injudicious <em class="italics">Farrago</em> or +Medley of Herbs and Flowers, blended with Bitters, with stimulating, +harsh and astringent Ingredients, being employed indiscriminately +in all their Distempers by the Country People in +<em class="italics">Swisserland</em>. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id60"> +<td class="label">[16]</td><td><em>(<a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id59">1</a>, <a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id238">2</a>)</em> <p class="last pfirst">It is pretty common to <em class="italics">hear</em> of Persons recovering from +Inflammations of the Bowels, or Guts, which our Author more +justly and ingenuously considers as general Passports to Death: +for it is difficult to conceive, that a real and <em class="italics">considerable</em> Inflammation +of such thin, membranous, irritable Parts, lined +with such putrescent Humours and Contents, and in so hot and +close a Situation, could be restored to a sound and healthy State +<em class="italics">so often</em> as Rumour affirms it. This makes it so important a +Point, to avert every Tendency to an Inflammation of these +feculent Parts, as to justify a Bleeding directed, solely, from +this Precaution, and which might have been no otherwise indicated +by a Disease, attended with any Symptom, that threatened +such an Inflammation. But when a Person recovers, there can +be no anatomical Search for such Inflammations, or its Effects, +the real or imaginary Cure of which may well amaze the Patient, +and must greatly redound to the Honour of his Prescriber; +so that there may be Policy sometimes in giving a moderate +Disease a very bad Name. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id64"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id63">[17]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This Direction of our Author's, which may surprize some, +probably arises from his preferring a small Quantity of the marine +Acid to no Acid at all: For though a great Proportion of +Salt, in saving and seasoning Flesh and other Food, generally +excites Thirst, yet a little of it seems to have rather a different +Effect, by gently stimulating the salivary Glands: And we +find that Nature very seldom leaves the great diluting Element +wholly void of this quickening, antiputrescent Principle. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id78"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id77">[18]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The most allowable of these are Whitings, Flounders, +Plaice, Dabbs, or Gudgeons; especially such of the last as are +taken out of clear current Streams with gravelly Bottoms. +Salmon, Eels, Carp, all the Skate kind, Haddock, and the like, +should not be permitted, before the Sick return to their usual +Diet when in Health. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id81"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id80">[19]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">We have known many who had an Aversion to Water, and +with whom, on that very Account, it might probably agree less, +find Water very grateful, in which a thoroughly baked and hot, +not burnt, Slice of Bread had been infused, untill it attained the +Colour of fine clear Small-beer, or light Amber coloured Beer, +and we <span class="target" id="never">never</span> saw any Inconvenience result from it. Doubtless +pure, untoasted elemental Water may be preferable for those who +like, and have been accustomed to it. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id89"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id87">[20]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">We should however, with the greater Circumspection (of +how much the longer standing the Disease has been, and by +how much the more difficult the viscous Humours are to be +melted down and dislodged) attend to the Coction of the Matter +of Expectoration; which Nature does not often easily effect, +and which she effects the more imperfectly and slowly, the +weaker he is. Her last Efforts have often been attended with +such high Paroxysms, as have imposed even upon very competent +Physicians, and have made them open a Vein a few Hours +before the Patients' Death, from their Pulses being strong, hard +and frequent. Excessive Weakness is the Sign, by which we +may discover such unavailing Efforts to be the last. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id97"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id96">[21]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The Use of Acids, in Inflammations of the Breast, requires +no little Consideration. Whenever the sick Person has an +Aversion to them; when the Tongue is moist, the Stomach is +heavy and disordered, and the Habit and Temperament of the +Patient is mild and soft; when the Cough is very sharp without +great Thirst, we ought to abstain from them. But when +the Inflammation is joined to a dry Tongue, to great Thirst, +Heat and Fever, they are of great Service. Slices of China +Oranges sprinkled with Sugar may be given first; a light Limonade +may be allowed afterwards; and at last small Doses of +<span class="target" id="the-mixture">the Mixture,</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id808">Nº. 10</a>. if it becomes necessary. <em class="italics">E. L.</em>—I have +chosen to retain this Note of the Editor of <em class="italics">Lyons</em>, from having +frequently seen the Inefficacy, and sometimes, I have even +thought, the ill Effects of Acids in Peripneumonies and Pleurisies, +in a Country far South of <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>; and where these +Diseases are very frequent, acute and fatal. On the other hand I +shall add the Substance of what Dr. <em class="italics">Tissot</em> says on this Head in +a Note to his Table of Remedies, wherein he affirms, that he +has given in this Disease very large Doses of them, rising gradually +from small ones, and always with great Success; intreating +other Physicians to order this Acid (the Spirit of Sulphur) +in the same large Doses which he directs in this Chapter, and +assuring himself of their thanks, for its good Consequences—Now +the only ill Effect I can surmize here, from shewing this +Diversity of Opinion in these two learned Physicians, and my +own Doubts, is, that the Subjects of this Disease in Country +Places may prove somewhat confused and irresolute by it, in +their Conduct in such Cases. But as all of us certainly concur +in the great Intention of doing all possible Good, by the +extensive Publication of this Treatise, I shall take leave to observe +that in this Disease, and in Pleurisies, more solid Benefit has been +received in <em class="italics">Carolina</em>, <em class="italics">Virginia</em>, &c. from the Use of the <em class="italics">Seneka</em> +Rattle-snake Root, than from any other Medicine whatever. +Bleeding indeed is necessarily premised to it; but it has often +saved the Necessity of many repeated Bleedings. This Medicine, +which is termed in Latin, the <em class="italics">Polygala Virginiana</em>, is certainly +rather of a saponaceous attenuating Quality, and betrays not any +Marks of Acidity, being rather moderately acrid. There will +be Occasion to mention it more particularly in the subsequent +Chapter, as such a Liberty can need no Apology to any philosophical +Physician. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id141"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id140">[22]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">That is, into the Cavity of the Breast, rather than within +the Substance of the Lungs.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id143"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id142">[23]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This is, undoubtedly, Baron <em class="italics">Van Swieten</em>, with whom he +had premised, he agreed considerably, in all the Diseases they +had both treated of. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id149"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id146">[24]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This, with great Probability, means that small black Substance +often visible in a rotten Egg, which is undoubtedly of a +violent, or even poisonous Quality. Dr. <em class="italics">Tissot</em> terms it expressly—<em class="italics">la +suie dans un Oeuf</em>. K.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id150"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id147">[25]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Dr. <em class="italics">Lewis</em>, who has not taken Notice of this Species of +Wormwood in his Improvement of <em class="italics">Quincy's</em> Dispensatory, has +<span class="target" id="mentioned-it-in-his-late">mentioned it in his late</span> <em class="italics">Materia Medica</em>. K.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id151"> +<td class="label">[26]</td><td><em>(<a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id148">1</a>, <a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id430">2</a>)</em> <p class="last pfirst">This being a proper Place for directing the Seneka Rattle +Snake Root, I shall observe, that the best Way of exhibiting it is +in Decoction, by gradually simmering and boiling two Ounces of +it in gross Powder, in two Pints and a half of Water, to a Pint and +a quarter; and then giving three Spoonfuls of it to a grown Person, +every six Hours. If the Stitch should continue, or return, +after taking it, Bleeding, which should be premised to it, must be +occasionally repeated; though it seldom proves necessary, after +a few Doses of it. It greatly promotes Expectoration, keeps the +Body gently open, and sometimes operates by Urine and by +Sweat; very seldom proving at all emetic in Decoction. The +Regimen of Drinks directed here in Pleurisies are to be given as +usual. Dr. <em class="italics">Tennant</em>, the Introducer of this valuable Medicine, +confided solely in it, in Bastard Peripneumonies, without Bleeding, +Blistering, or any other Medicines. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id160"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id159">[27]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The <em class="italics">English</em> avail themselves considerably, in this Disease, +of a Mixture of equal Parts of Sallad Oil, and Spirit of Sal Ammoniac; +or of Oil and Spirit of Hartshorn, as a Liniment and +Application round the Neck. This Remedy corresponds with +many Indications; and deserves, perhaps, the first Place amongst +local Applications against the inflammatory Quinsey. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id162"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id161">[28]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Dr. <em class="italics">Pringle</em> is apprehensive of some ill Effects from Acids +in Gargarisms [<em class="italics">which is probably from their supposed repelling Property</em>] +and prefers a Decoction of Figs in Milk and Water, to which +he adds a small Quantity of Spirit of Sal Ammoniac. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id170"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id169">[29]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">In Diseases of the Throat, which have been preceded by +such Excesses in Food or strong Drink, as occur too often in many +Countries, when the Patient has very strong Reachings to vomit, +and the Tongue is moist at the same Time; we should not hesitate, +after appeasing the first Symptoms of the Inflammation [by +sufficient Bleedings, &c.] to assist the Efforts of Nature, and +to give a small Dose of Tartar emetic, dissolved in some Spoonfuls +of Water. This Remedy in this Case, promotes the Dispersion +of the Inflammation, beyond any other. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id174"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id173">[30]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This seems to have been the same kind of Quinsey, of which +Drs. <em class="italics">Huxham</em>, <em class="italics">Fothergil</em>, <em class="italics">Cotton</em> and others wrote, though under different +Appellations. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id181"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id179">[31]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">I reserve some other interesting Reflections on this Disease, +for the second Edition of my Treatise on Fevers; and the Editor +at <em class="italics">Paris</em> has very well observed, that it has some Relation to the +gangrenous sore Throat, which has been epidemical these twenty +Years past, in many Parts of <em class="italics">Europe</em>.——This Note is from Dr. +<span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> himself.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id188"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id187">[32]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">It frequently happens, that the Bathings alone remove the +Head-ach, and the Cough too, by relaxing the lower Parts, and +the entire Surface of the Body. If the Patient is costive, he +should receive Glysters of warm Water, in which some Bran has +been boiled, with the Addition of a little common Soap or Butter. +<em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id192"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id191">[33]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Under these Circumstances of a tickling Cough from a Cold, +without a Fever, and with very little Inflammation, I have known +great and very frequent Success, from a Dose of <em class="italics">Elixir paregoricum</em>, +taken at Bed-time, after a very light thin Supper. If the Patient +be sanguine, strong and costive, Bleeding in a suitable Quantity, +and a gently opening Potion, or purging Glyster, may be prudently +premised to it. Grown Persons may take from 30 to 80, +or even 100 Drops of it, in Barley Water, or any other pectoral +Drink; and Children in the Chincough from five to twenty +Drops; half an Ounce of it by Measure containing about one +Grain of Opium, which is the Quantity contained in less than +quite six Grains of the Storax Pill; this last being a very available +pectoral Opiate too in Coughs from a Distillation, in more adult +Bodies, who may also prefer a Medicine in that small Size, and +Form. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id196"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id195">[34]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This seems but too applicable to the very popular Use of +<em class="italics">Spermaceti</em>, &c. in such Cases, which can only grease the Passage +to the Stomach; must impair its digestive Faculty, and cannot +operate against the Cause of a Cold; though that Cure of it, +which is effected by the Oeconomy of Nature in due Time, is often +ascribed to such Medicines, as may rather have retarded it. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id207"> +<td class="label">[35]</td><td><em>(<a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id205">1</a>, <a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id206">2</a>)</em> <p class="last pfirst">A small Blister behind the Ear of the affected Side, or both +Ears, has very often removed the Pain, when from a Defluxion. +It is pretty common for the Subjects of this Disease to be very +costive, during the Exacerbations of it, which I have sometimes experienced +to be pretty regularly and severely quotidian, for a Week +or two. The Custom of smoking Tobacco very often, which the +Violence of this Pain has sometimes introduced, often disposes +to a Blackened and premature Decay of the Teeth, to which the +Chewers of it are less obnoxious: and this Difference may result +from some particles of its chemical Oil rising by Fumigation, +and being retained in the Teeth, which Particles are not extracted +by Mastication. But with Regard to the habitual Use of this very +acrid and internally violent Herb, for, but chiefly after, this Disease, +it should be considered well, whether in some Constitutions it may +not pave the Way to a more dangerous one, than it was introduced +to remove. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id214"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id213">[36]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">I have been very authentically assured of the Death of a +hale Man, which happened in the very Act of pouring out a large +Quantity of distilled Spirits, by Gallons or Bucketfulls, from one +Vessel into another. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id218"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id217">[37]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Vomits which are so pernicious in the sanguineous Apoplexy, +where the Patient's Countenance and Eyes are inflamed; and +which are also dangerous or useless, when a Person has been very +moderate in his Meals, or is weakened by Age or other Circumstances, +and whole Stomach is far from being overloaded with +Aliment, are nevertheless very proper for gross Feeders, who are +accustomed to exceed at Table, who have Indigestions, and have +a Mass of viscid glairy Humours in their Stomachs; more especially, +if such a one has a little while before indulged himself excessively, +whence he has vomited without any other evident Cause, +or at least had very Strong <em class="italics">Nauseas</em>, or Loathings. In brief, Vomits +are the true Specific for Apoplexies, occasioned by any narcotic +or stupifying Poisons, the pernicious Effects of which cease, the +Moment the Persons so poisoned vomit them up. An attentive +Consideration of what has <span class="target" id="occurred">occurred</span> to the Patient before his Seizure; +his small natural Propensity to this Disease, and great and +incessant Loathings, render it manifest, whether it has been caused +by such Poisons, or such poisonous Excesses. In these two Last +Cases a double Dose of Tartar emetic should be dissolved in a +Goblet or Cup of Water, of which the Patient should immediately +take a large Spoonful; which should be repeated every Quarter +of an Hour, till it operates. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id220"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id219">[38]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">These Blisters may be preceded by Cupping with Scarification +on the Nape of the Neck. This Remedy, often used by the +ancient Physicians, but too little practiced in France, is one of +the most speedy, and not the least efficacious, Applications in both +sanguine and serous Apoplexies. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id234"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id233">[39]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">As some may think an Apology necessary for a Translation of +this Chapter on a Disease, which never, or very seldom, exists in this +or the adjacent Island, I shall observe here, that, abstracted from +the Immorality of a narrow and local Solicitude only for ourselves, +we are politically interested as a Nation always in Trade, and often +at War (and whose Subjects are extended into very distant +and different Climates) to provide against a sudden and acute Distemper, +to which our Armies, our Sailors and Colonies are certainly +often exposed. A Fatality from this Cause is not restrained +to our Islands within the Tropic, where several Instances of it +have occurred during the late War: but it has also been known to +prevail as far Northward as <em class="italics">Pensylvania</em>, in their Summers, and +even in their Harvests. I once received a sensible Scald on the +Back of my Thumb, from the Sun suddenly darting out through a +clear Hole, as it were, in a Cloud, after a short and impetuous +Shower in Summer; which Scald manifestly blistered within +some Minutes after. Had this concentrated Ray been darted on +my bare Head, the Consequence might have been more dangerous; +or perhaps as fatal as some of the Cases recorded by Dr. +<span class="small-caps">Tissot</span>, in this Chapter. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id237"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id236">[40]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">See Note <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id60" id="id238"><sup>16</sup></a> to Page <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-59">59</a>.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id251"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id250">[41]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This, according to our Author's Estimation of the Pot-Measure +at <em class="italics">Berne</em>, which is that he always means, and which he says +contains exactly (of Water we suppose) fifty one Ounces and a +Quarter (though without a material Error it may be computed +at three Pounds and a Quarter) will amount at least to nine Pounds +and three Quarters of Matter, supposing this no heavier than Water. +By Measure it will want but little of five of our Quarts: a +very extraordinary Discharge indeed of <em class="italics">Pus</em> at once, and not unlikely +to be attended by the Event which soon followed. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id260"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id258">[42]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Half a Pint of a pretty strong Infusion of the Leaves of +Buckbean, which grows wild here, taken once a Day rather +before Noon, has also been found very serviceable in that +Species of a chronical Rheumatism, which considerably results +from a scorbutic State of the Constitution. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id261"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id259">[43]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Another very good Purge, in this Kind of Rheumatism, +may also be compounded of the best Gum Guiacum in Powder +from 30 to 40 Grains; dissolved in a little Yolk of a fresh Egg; +adding from 6 to 10 Grains of Jallap powdered, and from 3 to +5 Grains of powdered Ginger, with as much plain or sorrel +Water, as will make a purging Draught for a stronger or weaker +grown Patient. Should the Pains frequently infest the Stomach, +while the Patient continues costive, and there is no +other Fever than such a small symptomatic one, as may arise +solely from Pain, he may safely take, if grown up, from 30 to +45 Drops of the volatile Tincture of Gum Guiacum, in any +diluting Infusion, that may not coagulate or separate the Gum. +It generally disposes at first to a gentle <em class="italics">Diaphoresis</em> or Sweat, +and several Hours after to one, and sometimes to a second +Stool, with little or no Griping. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id264"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id263">[44]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Gum Guaiacum, given from six to ten Grains Morning +and Night, is often very successful in these Cases. It may be made +into Pills or Bolusses with the Rob of Elder, or with the Extract +of Juniper. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id277"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id276">[45]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This Advice is truly prudent and judicious; Hope, as I have +observed on a different Occasion, being a powerful, though impalpable, +Cordial: and in such perilous Situations, we should excite +the most agreeable Expectations we possibly can in the Patient; +that Nature, being undepressed by any desponding melancholy +ones, may exert her Functions the more firmly, and co-operate +effectually with the Medicines, against her internal Enemy. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id280"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id279">[46]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">I knew a brave worthy Gentleman abroad, who above forty +Years past thus preserved his Life, after receiving the Bite of a +large Rattle-Snake, by resolutely cutting it and the Flesh surrounding +it out, with a sharp pointed Penknife.—Perhaps those +who would not suffer the Application of the actual Cautery, that +is, of a red hot Iron (which certainly promises well for a Cure) +might be persuaded to admit of a potential Cautery, where the +Bite was inflicted on a fleshy Part. Though even this is far from +being unpainful, yet the Pain coming on more gradually, is less +terrifying and horrid. And when it had been applied quickly +after, and upon the Bite, and kept on for 3 or 4 Hours, the Discharge, +after cutting the <em class="italics">Eschar</em>, would sooner ensue, and in more +Abundance, than that from the actual Cautery; the only Preference +of which seems to consist in its being capable perhaps of absorbing, +or otherwise consuming, all the poisonous <em class="italics">Saliva</em> at once. +This Issue should be dressed afterwards according to our Author's +Direction; and in the gradual healing of the Ulcer, it may be +properly deterged by adding a little Præcipitate to the Digestive. +Neither would this interfere with the Exhibition of the <em class="italics">Tonquin</em> +Powder <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id836">Nº. 30</a>, nor the antispasmodic <em class="italics">Bolus</em> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id839">Nº. 31</a>, if they should +be judged necessary. And these perhaps might prove the most +certain Means of preventing the mortal Effects of this singular +animal Poison, which it is so impossible to analyze, and so extremely +difficult to form any material Idea of; but which is not +the Case of some other Poisons. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id283"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id281">[47]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">It seems not amiss to try the Effects of a solely vegetable +Diet (and that perhaps consisting more of the acescent than alcalescent +Herbs and Roots) in this Disease, commencing immediately +from the Bite of a known mad Dog. These carnivorous +Animals, who naturally reject all vegetable Food, are the only +primary Harbingers or Breeders of it; though they are capable +of transmitting it by a Bite to graminivorous and granivorous +ones. The Virtue of Vinegar in this Disease, said to have been +accidentally discovered on the Continent, seems not to have been +hitherto experienced amongst us; yet in Case of such a morbid +Accident it may require a Tryal; tho' not so far, as to occasion +the Omission of more certainly experienced Remedies, with some +of which it might be improper. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id284"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id282">[48]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The great Usefulness of mercurial Frictions, we may even +say, the certain Security which they procure for the Patients, in +these Cases, provided they are applied very soon after the Bite, +have been demonstrated by their Success in <em class="italics">Provence</em>, at <em class="italics">Lyons</em>, at +<em class="italics">Montpellier</em>, at <em class="italics">Pondacherry</em>, and <span class="target" id="in-many-other-places">in many other Places.</span> Neither +have these happy Events been invalidated by any Observations or +Instances to the contrary. It cannot therefore be too strongly +inculcated to those who have been bitten by venomous Animals, to +comply with the Use of them. They ought to be used in such a +Quantity, and after such a Manner, as to excite a moderate Salivation, +for fifteen, twenty, or even thirty Days. <em class="italics">E. L.</em> Though +this Practice may justly be pursued from great Caution, when no +Cautery had been speedily applied to, and no such Discharge had +been obtained from, the bitten Part; yet wherever it had, this +long and depressing Salivation, I conceive, would be very seldom +necessary; and might be hurtful to weak Constitutions. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id293"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id291">[49]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">As far as the Number of inoculated Persons, who remained +entirely uninfected (some very few after a second Inoculation) has +enabled me, I have calculated the Proportion naturally exempted +from this Disease, though residing within the Influence of it, to +be full 25 in 1000. See Analysis of Inoculation, Ed. 2d. P. 157. +Note <sup>*</sup>. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id294"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id292">[50]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">It has sometimes been observed (and the Observation has +been such, as not to be doubted) that a very mild distinct Small-Pocks +has sometimes invaded the same Person twice: But such Instances +are so very rare, that we may very generally affirm, those +who have once had it, will never have it again. <em class="italics">E. L.</em>——In +Deference to a few particular Authorities, I have also supposed +such a repeated Infection. (Analysis of Inoculation, Ed. +2d. P. 43.) though I have really never seen any such myself; +nor ever heard more than two Physicians affirm it, one at +<em class="italics">Versailles</em>, and another in <em class="italics">London</em>; the last of whom declared, he +took it upon the Credit of a Country Physician, thoroughly acquainted +with this Disease, and a Witness to the Repetition of it. +Hence we imagine the Editor of this Work at <em class="italics">Lyons</em> might have +justly termed this Re-infection <em class="italics">extremely</em> rare, which would have +a Tendency to reconcile the Subjects of the Small-Pocks, more generally, +to the most salutary Practice of Inoculation. Doubtless +some other eruptive Fevers, particularly, the Chicken Pocks, +Crystals, <em class="italics">&c.</em> have been often mistaken for the real Small-Pocks by +incompetent Judges, and sometimes even by Persons better qualified, +yet who were less attentive to the Symptoms and Progress of +the former. But whoever will be at the Pains to read Dr. <em class="italics">Paux' +Paralléle de la petite verole naturalle avec l'artificielle</em>, or a practical +Abstract of Part of it in the Monthly Review. Vol. XXV. +P. 307 to 311, will find such a just, clear and useful Distinction of +them, as may prevent many future Deceptions on this frequently +interesting Subject. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id298"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id297">[51]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The same Appearances very often occur in such Subjects by +Inoculation, before actual Sickening, as I have observed and instanced, +Ed. 1st. P. 62, Ed. 2. P. 75, 76. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id303"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id302">[52]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">As Pustules are, and not very seldom, visible on the Tongue, +and sometimes on the Roof, even to its Process called the Palate, +which I have plainly seen; it seems not very easy to assign any +insuperable Obstacle to the Existence of a few within the Throat; +though this scarcely ever occurs, in the distinct Small-Pocks. +Doubtless however, a considerable Inflammation of that Part +will be as likely to produce the great Difficulty of Swallowing, +as the Existence of Pustules there; which our learned Author does +not absolutely reject, and consequently will forgive this Supposition +of them; especially if he credits the ocular Testimony of +Dr. <em class="italics">Violante</em>, cited in the Analysis, Ed. 2d. p 71. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id310"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id309">[53]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A Negro Girl, about five or six Years old, under a coherent +Pock, stole by Night out of the Garret where she lay, into +a Kitchen out of Doors, where she drank plentifully of cold +Water. How often she repeated these nightly cooling Potions +I never could certainly learn, though they occurred in my own +House in <em class="italics">South-Carolina</em> in Summer. But it is certain the Child +recovered as speedily as others, whose Eruption was more distinct, +and who drank Barley-Water, very thin Rice or Indian +Corn Gruel, Balm Tea, or the like. In fact, throughout the +Course of this Visitation from the Small Pocks in <em class="italics">Carolina</em> in +1738, we had but too many Demonstrations of the fatal Co-operation +of violent Heat with their Contagion; and not a very +few surprizing Instances of the salutary Effects of being necessarily +and involuntarily exposed to same very cooling Accidents +after Infection, and in some Cases after Eruption too: which I +then more particularly mentioned is a small controversial Tract +printed there. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id314"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id313">[54]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">We must remember that Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> is treating <em class="italics">here</em> of the +higher or confluent Degrees of this Disease; for in the distinct +Small-Pocks, it is common to find Persons for several Days +without a Stool, and <span class="target" id="without-the-least-perceiveable">without the least perceiveable</span> Disorder for +Want of one (their whole Nourishment being very light and +liquid) in which Cases, while Matters proceeded well in all +other Respects, there seems little Occasion for a great Solicitude +about Stools: But if one should be judged necessary after +four or five Days Costiveness, accompanied with a Tightness +or Hardness of the Belly, doubtless the Glyster should be of +the lenient Kind (as those directed by our Author are) and not +calculated to produce more than a second Stool at the very +most. Indeed, where there is Reason to apprehend a strong +secondary Fever, from the Quantity of Eruption, and a previously +high Inflammation, it is more prudent to provide for a +Mitigation of it, by a moderately open Belly, than to suffer a +long Costiveness; yet so as to incur very little Hazard of abating +the Salivation, or retarding the Growth or Suppuration of +the Pustules, by a Superpurgation, which it may be too easy +to excite in some Habits. If the Discharge by spitting, and +the Brightness and Quantity of Suppuration, have been in Proportion +to the Number of Eruptions; though the Conflict from +the secondary Fever, where these have been numerous, is often +acute and high; and the Patient, who is in great Anguish, +is far from being out of Danger, yet Nature pretty generally +proves stronger than the Disease, in such Circumstances. As +the <em class="italics">Elect. Catholicon</em>, is little used, or made here, the lenitive Electuary +of our Dispensatory may be substituted for it, or that of +the <em class="italics">Edinburgh</em> Dispensatory, which was calculated particularly +for Glysters. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id318"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id317">[55]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This Practice which I had heard of, and even suggested to +myself, but never seen actually enterprized, seems so very rational +as highly to deserve a fair Trial in the confluent Degrees of the +Small-Pocks [for in the distinct it can scarcely be necessary] +wherein every probable Assistance should be employed, and in +which the most potent Medicines are very often unsuccessful. We +have but too many Opportunities of trying it sufficiently; and it +certainly has a more promising Aspect than a Practice so highly +recommended many Years ago, of covering all the Pustules (which +is sometimes the whole Surface of the Patient) in Melilot, or suppose +any other suppurating, Plaister; which will effectually prevent +all Perspiration, and greatly increase the Soreness, Pain +and Embarrassment of the Patient, at the Height of the Disease. +I can conceive but one bad Consequence that might possibly sometimes +result from the former; but this (besides the Means that may +be used to avert it) is rather remote, and so uncertain, until the +Trial is repeatedly made, that I think it ought not to be named, +in Competition with the Benefits that may arise from it in such Cases, +as seem, otherwise, too generally irrecoverable. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id321"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id320">[56]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The Use of Opiates in this Disease undoubtedly requires no +Small Consideration, the great <span class="small-caps">Sydenham</span> himself not seeming +always sufficiently guarded in the Exhibition of them; as far as +Experience since his Day has enabled Physicians to judge of this +Matter. In general our Author's Limitations of them seem very +just; though we have seen a few clear Instances, in which a light +Raving, which evidently arose from Want of Sleep (joined to some +Dread of the Event of the Disease by Inoculation) was happily removed, +with every other considerable Complaint, by a moderate Opiate. +In sore and fretful Children too, under a large or middling Eruption, +as the Time gained to Rest is taken from Pain, and from +wasting their Spirits in Crying and Clamour, I have seen Suppuration +very benignly promoted by <em class="italics">Diacodium</em>. But in the <em class="italics">Crisis</em> +of the secondary Fever in the confluent or coherent Pock, when +there is a morbid Fulness, and Nature is struggling to unload +herself by some other Outlets than those of the Skin, which now +are totally obstructed (and which seems the only Evacuation, that +is not restrained by Opiates) the giving and repeating them then, +as has too often been practised, seems importantly erroneous; for +I think Dr. <span class="small-caps">Swan</span> has taken a judicious Liberty of dissenting +from the great Author he translates, in forbidding an Opiate, if +the Spitting abates, or grows so tough and ropy, as to endanger +Suffocation. As the Difference of our Oeconomy in the Administration +of Physic from that in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>, and Dr. +<span class="small-caps">Tissot's</span> just Reputation may dispose many Country Practitioners +to peruse this Treatise, I take the Liberty of referring such Readers, +for a Recollection of some of my Sentiments of Opiates, +long before the Appearance of this Work in French, to the second +Edition of the Analysis from P. 94 to 97, <em class="italics">&c.</em> <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id325"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id324">[57]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">That I have long since had the Honour of agreeing +with our learned Author, in this Consideration for the Benefit of +the Body of the People, which is the Benefit of the State, will appear +from p. 288 of Analys. Ed. 1st. and from p. 371, 372 of the +Second. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id328"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id327">[58]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The Substance of this Section flows from the Combination +of an excellent Understanding with great Experience, mature Reflection, +and real Probity; and fundamentally exposes both the +Absurdity of such as universally decry any Preparation of any Subject +previous to Inoculation, (which is said to be the Practice of a +present very popular Inoculator in <em class="italics">Paris</em>) and the opposite Absurdity +of giving one and the very same Preparation to all Subjects, +without Distinction; though this was avowed to have been successfully +fully practised in <em class="italics">Pensylvania</em>, some Years since; which the Reader +may see Analys. Ed. 2d, from p. 329 to 331 <span class="target" id="and-the-note-there">and the Note there.</span> +<em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id331"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id330">[59]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">There may certainly be an inflammatory Acrimony or Thinness, +as well as Thickness of the Blood; and many medical Readers +may think a morbid Fusion of the red Globules to be a more +frequent Effect of this Contagion, than an increased Viscidity of +them. See Analys. Ed. 2d. p. 75 to 83. But this Translation, +conforming to the Spirit of its Original, admits very little Theory, +and still less Controversy, into its Plan. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id338"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id337">[60]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Our Author very prudently limits this Discharge, and the +Repetition of it, in this Disease (<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id335">§ 225</a>) as an erroneous Excess of +it has sometimes prevailed. I have seen a very epidemical Season +of the Measles, where Bleeding was not indicated in one +third of the infected. And yet I have known such an Abuse of +Bleeding in it, that being repeated more than once in a Case before +Eruption (the Measles probably not being suspected) the +Eruption was retarded several Days; and the Patient, a young +Lady of Condition, remained exceeding low, faint and sickish; 'till +after recruiting a very little, the Measles appeared, and she recovered. +In a Youth of a lax Fibre, where the Measles had appeared, +a seventh or eighth Bleeding was ordered on a Stitch in +the Side, supervening from their too early Disappearance, and the +Case seemed very doubtful. But Nature continued very obstinately +favourable in this Youth, who at length, but very slowly, +recovered. His Circulation remained so languid, his Strength, +with his Juices, so exhausted, that he was many Weeks before +he could sit upright in a Chair, being obliged to make Use of a +Cord depending from the Ceiling, to raise himself erectly in his +Seat. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id341"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id340">[61]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Bristol Water will be no bad Substitute for any of these, in +such Cases. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id345"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id344">[62]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The only Account I have read of this Practice, is in the +learned Dr. <span class="small-caps">Home's</span> <em class="italics">Medical Facts and Experiments</em>, published in +1759, which admits, that but nine out of fifteen of the Subjects +of this Practice took. Cotton dipt in the Blood of a Patient in the +Measles was inserted into the Arms of twelve; and three received +the Cotton into their Nostrils, after the Chinese Manner of infusing +the Small-Pocks; but of these last not one took, and one of +those who had taken, had the Measles again two Months after. +We think the sharp hot Lymph distilling from the inflamed Eyes +of Persons in this Disease, a likelier Vehicle to communicate it +than the Blood, especially the dry Blood, which was sometimes +tried; since the human <em class="italics">Serum</em> seems the Fluid more particularly affected +by it; and this must have been evaporated when the Blood +grew dry. A few practical Strictures on this Work, and particularly +on this Practice described in it, appeared in the Monthly +Review Vol. XXI. P. 68 to 75. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id358"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id356">[63]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">That is about two Ounces more than a Pint and a half of our +Measure.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id359"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id357">[64]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">About three Ounces.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id361"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id360">[*]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">As our Jail, Hospital, <span class="target" id="and-camp-fevers">and Camp Fevers</span> may often +be ranged in this Class, as of the most putrid Kind, and not +seldom occasioned by bad Food, bad Air, unclean, unwholesome +Lodging, <em class="italics">&c.</em> a judicious Use may certainly be made of +a small Quantity of genuine, and not ungenerous, Wine in such +of them, as are not blended with an inflammatory Cause, or +inflammable Constitution, or which do not greatly result from a +bilious Cause; though in these last, where there is manifest +Lowness and Dejection, perhaps a little Rhenish might be properly +interposed between the Lemonade and other Drinks directed +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id355">§ 241</a>. Doubtless Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> was perfectly apprized of this +salutary Use of it in some low Fevers; but the Necessity of its +being regulated by the Presence of a Physician has probably +disposed him rather to omit mentioning it, than to leave the Allowance +of it to the Discretion of a simple Country Patient, or +his ignorant Assistants. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id368"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id367">[65]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The French Word is <em class="italics">Griettes</em>, which <em class="italics">Beyer</em> englishes, <em class="italics">the +Agriot, the red or sour Cherry</em>; and <em class="italics">Chambaud, the sweeter large +black Cherry or Mazzard</em>—But as Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> was recommending +the Use of Acids, it is more probably the first of these: so +that our Morellas, which make a pleasant Preserve, may be a +good Substitute to them, supposing them not to be the same. +Our Berbery Jam, and Jelly of Red Currants, may be also employed +to answer the same Indication. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id370"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id369">[66]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Observation and Experience have demonstrated the Advantage +of the Bark, to obviate a Gangrene, and prevent the Putrefaction +of animal Substances. We therefore conclude it may be +usefully employed in malignant Fevers, as soon as the previous +and necessary Evacuations shall have taken Place. <em class="italics">E. L.</em>—Provided +there be very clear and regular Remissions at least. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id382"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id381">[67]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This admirable Medicine was unknown in Europe, till about +one hundred and twenty Years past; we are obliged to the Spaniards +for it, who found it in the Province of Quito in Peru; +the Countess of Chinchon being the first European who used it in +America, whence it was brought to Spain, under the Name of +the Countesses Powder. The Jesuits having soon dispensed and +distributed it abroad, it became still more publick by the Name +of the Jesuits Powder: and since it has been known by that of <em class="italics">Kinkina</em> +or the Peruvian Bark. It met with great Opposition at first; +some deeming it a Poison, while others considered it as a divine +Remedy: so that the Prejudices of many being heightened by +their Animosity, it was nearly a full Century, before its true Virtue +and its Use were agreed to: and about twenty Years since the +most unfavourable Prejudices against it pretty generally subsided. +The Insufficience of other Medicines in several Cases; its great Efficaciousness; +and the many and surprizing Cures which it did, and +daily does effect; the Number of Distempers; the different kinds of +Fevers, in which it proves the sovereign Remedy; its Effects in +the most difficult chirurgical Cases; the Comfort, the Strength and +Sprits it gives those who need and take it, have at length opened +every Persons Eyes; so that it has almost unanimously obtained +the first Reputation, among the most efficacious Medicines. The +World is no longer amused with Apprehensions of its injuring the +Stomach; of its fixing, or <em class="italics">shutting up</em> the Fever (as the Phrase has +been) without curing it; that it shuts up the Wolf in the Sheepfold; +that it throws those who take it into the Scurvy, the Asthma, +the Dropsy, the Jaundice. On the contrary they are persuaded +it prevents there very Diseases; and, that if it is ever +hurtful, it is only when it is either adulterated, as most great Remedies +have been; or has been wrongly prescribed, or improperly +taken: or lastly when it meets with some latent, some unknown +Particularities in a Constitution, which Physicians term an <em class="italics">Idiosyncrasy</em>, +and which prevent or pervert its very general Effects. <span class="small-caps">Tissot.</span></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id386"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id385">[68]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">It happens very seldom that intermitting Fevers require <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id388" id="id387"><sup>69</sup></a> no +Purge towards their Cure, especially in Places, which are disposed +to generate Putridity. There is always some material Cause essential +to these Fevers, of which Nature disembarrasses herself +more easily by Stools, than by any other Discharge: And as +there is not the least Danger to be apprehended from a gentle +Purge, such at those of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id813">Nº. 11</a> or <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id827">23</a>, we think it would be prudent +always to premise a Dose or two of either to the Bark. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id388"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id387">[69]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst smaller">Yet I have known many in whom no Purge was necessary, and have seen +some rendered more obstinate and chronical by erroneous Purging. But a Vomit +is very generally necessary before the Bark is given. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id402"> +<td class="label">[70]</td><td><em>(<a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id1">1</a>, <a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id401">2</a>)</em> <p class="pfirst">I have seen several Cases in very marshy maritime Countries, +with little good drinking Water, and far South of <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>, +where intermitting Fevers, with Agues at different Intervals, are +annually endemic, very popular, and often so obstinate as to return +repeatedly, whenever the weekly precautionary Doses of the +Bark have been omitted (through the Patient's nauseating the frequent +Swallowing of it) so that the Disease has sometimes been +extended beyond the Term of a full Year, and even far into a second, +including the temporary Removals of it by the Bark. Nevertheless, +in some such obstinate Intermittents, and particularly +Quartans there, wherein the Bark alone has had but a short and +imperfect Effect, I have known the following Composition, after a +good Vomit, attended with speedy and final Success, <em class="italics">viz.</em> Take +of fresh Sassafras Bark, of Virginia Snake-root, of Roch-Allom, +of Nutmeg, of diaphoretic Antimony, and of Salt of Wormwood +of each one Drachm. To these well rubbed together into fine +Powder, add the Weight of the whole, of the best and freshest +Bark; then drop in three Drops of the chemical Oil of Mint, +and with Syrup of Cloves make it into the Consistence of an Electuary +or Bolus, for 12 Doses for a grown Person, to be taken at +the Distance of three or four Hours from each other, while the +Patient is awake, according to the longer or shorter Intermission +of the Fever.</p> +<p class="last pnext">I have also known, particularly in obstinate autumnal Agues +<span class="target" id="there">there</span>, an Infusion of two Ounces of the best Bark in fine Powder, +or two Ounces and a half in gross Powder, in a Quart of the best +Brandy, for three or four Days (a small Wine Glass to be taken +by grown Persons at the Distance of from four to six Hours) effectually +and speedily terminate such intermittent Agues, as had given +but little Way to the Bark in Substance. This was certainly +more suitable for those who were not of a light delicate Habit and +Temperament, and who had not been remarkable for their Abstinence +from strong Liquors: the inebriating Force of the Brandy +being remarkably lessened, by the Addition and long Infusion of +the Bark. These Facts which I saw, are the less to be wondered +at, as in such inveterate, but perfectly clear and distinct Intermittents, +both the State of the Fluids and Solids seem very opposite +to their State in an acutely inflammatory Disease. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id416"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id415">[71]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">These, in some Parts of America, are called Muskito Hawks; +but we do not recollect their biting there. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id418"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id417">[72]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Pounded Parsley is one of the most availing Applications in +such Accidents. <em class="italics">E.L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id429"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id428">[73]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The Seneka Rattle-Snake root, already recommended in true +Pleurisies, will, with the greatest Probability, be found not less +effectual in these false ones, in which the Inflammation of the +Blood is less. The Method of giving it may be seen P. <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-118">118</a>, +N. (<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id151" id="id430"><sup>26</sup></a>.) +By Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot's</span> having never mentioned this valuable Simple +throughout his Work, it may be presumed, that when he wrote it, +this Remedy had not been admitted into the Apothecaries Shops in +<em class="italics">Swisserland</em>. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id435"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id434">[74]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Glauber or Epsom Salt may be substituted, where the other is +not to be readily procured. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id442"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id441">[75]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Pullet, or rather Chicken Water, but very weak, may often +do instead of Ptisan, or serve for a little Variety of Drink to +some Patients. <em class="italics">E. L.</em>—K.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id453"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id452">[76]</a></td><td><p class="first pfirst">Bleeding should not be determined on too hastily in this Sort +of Cholic, but rather be omitted, or deferred at least, till there +be an evident Tendency to an Inflammation. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +<p class="last pnext">The Propriety or Impropriety of Bleeding in a Cholic from +this Cause should be determined, I think, from the State of the +Person it happens to: So that Bleeding a strong Person with a +firm Fibre, and a hard Pulse, may be very prudent and precautionary: +But if it be a weakly lax Subject with a soft and low Pulse, +there may be Room either for omitting, <span class="target" id="or-for-suspending-it">or for suspending it.</span> <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id479"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id478">[77]</a></td><td><p class="first pfirst">The Experience of all Countries and Times so strongly confirms +these important Truths, that they cannot be too often repeated, +too generally published, whenever and wherever this Disease +rages. The Succession of cold Showers to violent Heats; +too moist a Constitution of the Air; an Excess of animal Food; +Uncleanliness and Contagion, are the frequent Causes of epidemical +Fluxes. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +<p class="last pnext">I have retained the preceding Note, abridged from this Gentleman, +as it contains the Suffrage of another experienced Physician, +against that Prejudice of ripe Fruits occasioning Fluxes, +which is too popular among ourselves, and probably more so in +the Country than in <em class="italics">London</em>. I have been also very credibly assured, +that the Son of a learned Physician was perfectly cured of +a very obstinate Purging, of a Year's Continuance (in Spite of all +the usual officinal Remedies) by his devouring large Quantities of +ripe Mulberries, for which he ardently longed, and drinking very +freely of their expressed Juice. The Fact occurred after his +Father's Decease, and was affirmed to me by a Gentleman intimately +acquainted with them both. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id482"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id481">[78]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Our learned Author, or his medical Editor at <em class="italics">Lyons</em>, observes +here, ‘that in the Edition of this Treatise at <em class="italics">Paris</em>, there was an +essential Mistake, by making <em class="italics">Boerhaave</em> recommend the Addition +of Brandy, <em class="italics">Eau de vie</em>, <span class="target" id="instead-of-stumming-or-sulphurizing-it">instead of stumming or sulphurizing it,’</span> for +which this Note, and the Text too use the Verb <em class="italics">branter</em>, which +Word we do not find in any Dictionary. We are told however, +it means to impregnate the Casks in which the Water is reserved, +with the Vapour of Sulphur, and then stopping them; in the +same Manner that Vessels are in some Countries, for the keeping +of Wine. He observes the Purpose of this is to oppose Corruption +by the acid Steams of the Sulphur. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id485"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id484">[79]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A first or second Dose of Glauber Salt has been known to +succeed in the epidemical Summer Fluxes of the hotter Climates, +when repeated Doses of Rhubarb and Opiates had failed. Such +Instances seems a collateral Confirmation of Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot's</span> rational +and successful Use of cooling opening Fruits in them. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id491"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id490">[80]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">I have seen a pretty singular Consequence from the Abuse of +mercurial Unction for the Itch; whether it happened from the +Strength or Quantity of the Ointment, or from taking Cold after +applying it, as this Subject, a healthy Youth of about sixteen, probably +did, by riding three or four Miles through the Rain. But +without any other previous Complaint, he awoke quite blind one +Morning, wondering, as he said, when it would be Day. His +Eyes were very clear, and free from Inflammation, but the Pupil +was wholly immoveable, as in a <em class="italics">Gutta serena</em>. I effected the Cure +by some moderate Purges repeated a few Times; by disposing him +to sweat by lying pretty much in Bed (it being towards Winter) +and by promoting his Perspiration, chiefly with Sulphur: after +which the shaved Scalp was embrocated with a warm nervous +Mixture, in which Balsam of <em class="italics">Peru</em> was a considerable Ingredient. +In something less than three Weeks he could discern a glowing +Fire, or the bright Flame of a Candle. As his Sight increased, +he discerned other Objects, which appeared for some Days inverted +to him, with their Colours confused; but Red was most +distinguishable. He discovered the Aces sooner than other Cards; +and in about six or seven Weeks recovered his full Sight in all its +natural Strength, which he now enjoys. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id495"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id494">[81]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Sea water, and those of <em class="italics">Dulwich</em>, <em class="italics">Harrigate</em>, <em class="italics">Shadwell</em>, &c. +will be full as effectual. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id508"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id507">[82]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The <em class="italics">French</em> Word here, <em class="italics">Opiat</em>, is sometimes used by them for +a compound Medicine of the Consistence of an Electary; and +cannot be supposed, in this Place, to mean any Preparation, into +which <em class="italics">Opium</em> enters. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id514"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id513">[83]</a></td><td><p class="first pfirst">Too great a Fulness of Blood is undoubtedly the Cause of all +these Complaints; but as there are different Methods of opposing +this Cause, the gentlest should always be preferred; nor should the +Constitution become habituated to such Remedies, as might either +impair the Strength of the Mother, or of her Fruit. Some Expedients +therefore should be thought of, that may compensate for the +Want of Bleeding, by enjoining proper Exercise in a clear Air, +with a less nourishing, and a less juicy Diet. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +<p class="last pnext">This Note might have its Use sometimes, in the Cases of such +delicate and hysterical, yet pregnant Women, as are apt to suffer +from Bleeding, or any other Evacuation, though no ways immoderate. +But it should have been considered, that Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> was professedly +writing here to hearty active Country Wives, who are very +rarely thus constituted; and whom he might be unwilling to confuse +with such multiplied Distinctions and Directions, as would +very seldom be necessary, and might sometimes prevent them from +doing what was so. Besides which, this Editor might have seen, +our Author has hinted at such Cases very soon after. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id527"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id526">[84]</a></td><td><p class="first pfirst">The Use of Hemlock, which has been tried at <em class="italics">Lyons</em>, by all +who have had cancerous Patients, having been given in very large +Doses, has been attended with no Effect there, that merited the +serious Attention of Practitioners. Many were careful to obtain +the Extract from <em class="italics">Vienna</em>, and even to procure it from Dr. <em class="italics">Storck</em> +himself. But now it appears to have had so little Success, as to +become entirely neglected. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +<p class="last pnext">Having exactly translated in this Place, and in the Table of +Remedies, our learned Author's considerable Recommendation of +the Extract of Hemlock in Cancers, we think it but fair, on the +other Hand, to publish this Note of his Editor's against it; that +the real Efficacy or Inefficacy of this Medicine may at length be +ascertained, on the most extensive Evidence and Experience. As +far as my own Opportunities and Reflections, and the Experience +of many others, have instructed me on this Subject, it appears clear +to myself, that though the Consequences of it have not been constantly +unsuccessful with us, yet its Successes have come very short +of its Failures. Nevertheless, as in all such Cancers, every other +internal Medicine almost universally fails, we think with Dr. +<span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> it should always be tried (from the meer Possibility of its +succeeding in some particular Habit and Circumstances) at least +till longer Experience shall finally determine against it. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id531"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id530">[85]</a></td><td><p class="first pfirst">This Method (says the Editor and Annotator of <em class="italics">Lyons</em>) is +useful, whenever the Mother does not suckle her Child. Art is +then obliged to prove a Kind of Substitute to Nature, though always +a very imperfect one. But when a Mother, attentive to her +own true Interest, as well as her Infant's, and, listening to the +Voice of Nature and her Duty, suckles it herself, these Remedies +[he adds] seem hurtful, or at least, useless. The Mother should +give her Child the Breast as soon as she can. The first Milk, the +<em class="italics">Colostrum</em>, or <em class="italics">Strippings</em>, as it is called in Quadrupeds, which is +very serous or watery, will be serviceable as a Purgative; it will +forward the Expulsion of the <em class="italics">Meconium</em>, prove gradually nourishing, +and is better than Biscuits, or Panada, which (he thinks) are +dangerous in the first Days after the Birth. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +<p class="last pnext">This Syrup of Succory being scarcely ever prepared with us, +though sufficiently proper for the Use assigned it here, I have retained +the preceding Note, as the Author of it directs these <em class="italics">Strippings</em>, +for the same Purpose, with an Air of certain Experience; and +as this Effect of them seems no Ways repugnant to the physical Wisdom +and Oeconomy of Nature, on such important Points. Should +it in fact be their very general Operation, it cannot be unknown to +any Male or Female Practitioner in Midwifery, and may save +poor People a little Expence, which was one Object of our humane +Author's Plan. The Oil Of <em class="italics">Ricinus</em>, corruptly called <em class="italics">Castor</em> Oil (being +expressed from the Berries of the <em class="italics">Palma Christi</em>) is particularly +recommended by some late medical Writers from <em class="italics">Jamaica</em>, <em class="italics">&c.</em> for +this Purpose of expelling the <em class="italics">Meconium</em>, to the Quantity of a small +Spoonful. These Gentlemen also consider it as the most proper, +and almost specific Opener, in the dry Belly-ach of that torrid +Climate, which tormenting Disease has the closest Affinity to the +<em class="italics">Miserere</em>, or Iliac Passion, of any I have seen. The Annotator's +Objection to our Author's very <em class="italics">thin light</em> Panada, seems to be of +little Weight. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id534"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id533">[86]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Or, for Want of it, the solutive Syrup of Roses. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id537"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id536">[87]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The <em class="italics">Magnesia</em> is an excellent Substitute in Children, for these +Oils Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> so justly condemns here. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id542"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id541">[88]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">That Part of the Head where a Pulsation may be very plainly +felt, where the Bones are less hard, and not as yet firmly joined +with those about them.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id544"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id543">[89]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">There is however a certain Degree of Weakness, which +may very reasonably deter us from this Washing; as when the +Infant manifestly wants Heat, and needs some Cordial and frequent +Frictions, to prevent its expiring from downright Feebleness; +in which Circumstances Washing must be hurtful to it. <span class="small-caps">Tissot.</span></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id550"> +<td class="label">[90]</td><td><em>(<a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id549">1</a>, <a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id552">2</a>)</em> <p class="last pfirst">I have seen a Child about three Years old, whose Navel, +after swelling and inflaming, suppurated, and through a small Orifice +(which must have communicated with the Cavity of the Gut +or the Belly) discharged one of these Worms we call <em class="italics">teretes</em>, about +three Inches long. He had voided several by Stool, after taking +some vermifuge Medicines. The Fact I perfectly remember; and +to the best of my Recollection, the Ulcer healed some Time after, +and the Orifice closed: but the Child died the following Year of a +putrid Fever, which might be caused, or was aggravated, by +Worms. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id555"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id554">[91]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This Word occurs in none of the common Dictionaries; but +suspecting it for the <em class="italics">Semen Santonici</em> of the Shops, I find the learned +Dr. <span class="small-caps">Bikker</span> has rendered it so, in his very well received +Translation of this valuable Work into <em class="italics">Low Dutch</em>. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id561"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id560">[92]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This very important Consideration, on which I have treated +pretty largely, in the <em class="italics">Analysis</em>, seems not to be attended to in +Practice, as frequently as it ought. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id569"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id568">[93]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The Misfortune of a young Man drowned in bathing himself, +at the Beginning of the Season, occasioned the Publication +of this Chapter by itself in <em class="italics">June</em>, 1761. A few Days after, the +like Misfortune happened to a labouring Man; but he was happily +taken out of the water sooner than the first (who had remained +about half an Hour under it) and he was recovered by +observing Part of the Advice this Chapter contains; of which +Chapter several Bystanders had Copies.—This Note seems to be +from the Author himself.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id591"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id590">[94]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">I saw a very similar Instance and Event in a Lady's little +favourite Bitch, whole Body she desired to be opened, from suspecting +her to have been poisoned. But it appeared that a small +Needle with fine Thread, which she had swallowed, had passed +out of the Stomach into the <em class="italics">Duodenum</em> (one of the Guts) through +which the Point had pierced and pricked and corroded the concave +Part of the Liver, which was all rough and putrid. The +whole Carcase was greatly bloated and extremely offensive, very +soon after the poor Animal's Death, which happened two or three +Months after the Accident, and was preceded by a great Wheezing, +Restlessness and Loss of Appetite. The Needle was rusty, +but the Thread entire, and very little altered. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id594"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id592">[95]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">I knew a Man of the Name of <em class="italics">Poole</em>, who being taken in +the same Ship with me, 1717 or 18, by Pirates, had swallowed +four Ginueas, and a gold Ring, all which he voided some +Days after without any Injury or Complaint, and saved them. +I forget the exact Number of Days he retained them, but the +Pirates staid with us from Saturday Night to Thursday Noon. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id595"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id593">[96]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Many fatal Examples of this Kind may be seen in the <em class="italics">Philosophical +Transactions</em>; and they should caution People against swallowing +Cherry-stones, and still more against those of Prunes, or +such as are pointed, though not very acutely. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id621"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id620">[97]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This, Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> informs me, is a Solution of white Vitriol +and some other Drugs in Spirit of Wine, and is never used in regular +Practice now. It has its Name from the Author of the +Solution. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id632"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id631">[98]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This seems just the same as <em class="italics">coming on the Parish</em>, or being received +into an Alms house here; in Consequence of such an incurable +Disability happening to the poor working Father of a +Family. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id635"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id634">[99]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The Reason of the Fatality of Heat, in these Cases, and of +the Success of an opposite Application, (See <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id637">§ 459</a>) seems strictly and +even beautifully analogous to what <em class="italics">Hippocrates</em> has observed of +the Danger, and even Fatality, of all great and sudden Changes +in the human Body, whether from the Weather or otherwise. +Whence this truly great Founder of Physick, when he observes +elsewhere, that Diseases are to be cured by something contrary to +their Causes, very consistently advises, not a direct and violent +Contrariety, but a gradual and regulated one, a <em class="italics">Sub-contrariety</em>. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id649"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id648">[100]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Chilblains may also be advantageously washed with Water +and Flower of Mustard, which will concur, in a certain and easy +Manner, both to cleanse and to cure them. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id652"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id651">[101]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This is or should be, the same with the <em class="italics">Bitumen Judaicum</em>, +formerly kept in the Shops; but which is never directed, except +in that strange Medley the <em class="italics">Venice</em> Treacle, according to the old +Prescription. The best is found in <em class="italics">Egypt</em>, and on the <em class="italics">Red Sea</em>: +but a different Sort, from <em class="italics">Germany</em>, <em class="italics">France</em>, and <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>, is +now generally substituted here. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id663"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id662">[102]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Pieces of Ice applied between two Pieces of Linen, directly +upon the Rupture, as soon as possible after its first Appearance, is +one of those extraordinary Remedies, which we should never hesitate +to make immediate Use of. We may be certain by this Application, +if the Rupture is simple, and not complicated from some +aggravating Cause, to remove speedily, and with very little Pain, +a Disorder, that might be attended with the most dreadful Consequences. +But the Continuance of this Application must be proportioned +to the Strength of the Person ruptured, which may be +sufficiently estimated by the Pulse. <em class="italics">E. L.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id676"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id675">[103]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">These Creatures perhaps are fatter in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>, than we +often see them here. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id680"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id679">[104]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Our Garden Purslain, though a very juicy Herb, cannot strictly +be termed milky. In the hotter Climates where it is wild, and +grows very rankly, they sometimes boil the Leaves and Stalks +(besides eating them as a cooling Salad) and find the whole an +insipid mucilaginous Pot-herb. But Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> observes to me, +that its Juice will inflame the Skin; and that some Writers on +Diet, who disapprove it internally, affirm they have known it +productive of bad Effects. Yet none such have ever happened to +myself, nor to many others, who have frequently eaten of it. Its +Seeds have sometimes been directed in cooling Emulsions. The +Wart Spurge is a very milky and common Herb, which flowers +in Summer here. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id685"> +<td class="label">[105]</td><td><em>(<a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id684">1</a>, <a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id725">2</a>)</em> <p class="last pfirst">Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> informs me, that in <em class="italics">Swisserland</em>, they call a +volatile Salt of Vipers, or the volatile Salt of raw Silk, <em class="italics">Sel. +d'Angleterre</em>, of which one <em class="italics">Goddard</em> made a Secret, and which he +brought into Vogue the latter End of the last Century. But he +justly observes at the same Time, that on the present Occasion +every other volatile Alkali will equally answer the Purpose; and +indeed the Smell of some of them, as the Spirit of Sal Ammoniac +with Quicklime, <em class="italics">Eau de Luce</em>, <em class="italics">&c.</em> seem more penetrating. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id696"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id695">[106]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Our sweet Spirit of Vitriol is a similar, and as effectual a +Medicine. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id716"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id715">[107]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">I have seen this actually verified by great and disagreeable +Surprize, attended indeed with much Concern, in a Person of +exquisite Sensations. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id720"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id718">[108]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst"><em class="italics">La Braise.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id721"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id719">[109]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst"><em class="italics">Charbon.</em> Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> informs me, their Difference consists +in this, that the Charcoal is prepared from Wood burnt in a close +or stifled Fire; and that the small Coal is made of Wood (and of +smaller Wood) burnt in an open Fire, and extinguished before it +is reduced to the State of a Cinder. He says the latter is smaller, +softer, less durable in the Fire, and the Vapour of it less dangerous +than that of Charcoal.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id724"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id723">[110]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">See Note <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id685" id="id725"><sup>105</sup></a> Page <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-495">495</a>.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id738"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id737">[111]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst"><em class="italics">Une Quartette.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id748"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id747">[112]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">How shocking is this! and yet how true in some Countries! +I have been most certainly assured, that Bleeding has been inflicted +and repeated in the last sinking and totally relaxing Stage of +a Sea-Scurvy, whose fatal Termination it doubtless accelerated. +This did not happen in our own Fleet; yet we are not as yet +Wholly exempt on Shore, from some Abuse of Bleeding, which a +few raw unthinking Operators are apt to consider as a meer Matter +of Course. I have in some other Place stigmatized the Madness +of Bleeding in Convulsions, from manifest Exhaustion and +Emptiness, with the Abhorrence it deserves. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id796"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id795">[113]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This makes an agreeable Drink; and the Notion of its +being windy is idle; since it is so only to those, with whom +Barley does not agree. It may, where Barley is not procurable, +be made from Oats.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id799"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id798">[114]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">In those Cases mentioned <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id355">§ 241</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id390">262</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id410">280</a>, instead of the +Barley, four Ounces of Grass Roots may be boiled in the +same Quantity of Water for half an Hour, with the Cream of +Tartar.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id805"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id804">[115]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">These Juices are to be procured from the Herbs when +fresh and very young, if possible, by beating them in a Marble +Mortar, or for Want of such [or a wooden Mortar] in an +Iron one, and then squeezing out the Juice through a Linen +Bag. It must be left to settle a little in an earthen Vessel, +after which the clear Juice must be decanted gently off, and +the Sediment be left behind.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id810"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id809">[116]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Some Friends, says Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span>, whose judgment I +greatly respect, have thought the Doses of acid Spirit which +I direct extremely strong; and doubtless they are so, if compared +with the Doses generally prescribed, and to which I +should have limited myself, if I had not frequently seen their +Insufficience. Experience has taught me to increase them +considerably; and, augmenting the Dose gradually, I now venture +to give larger Doses of them than have ever been done before, +and always with much Success; the same Doses which I +have advised in this Work not being so large as those I frequently +prescribe. For this Reason I intreat those Physicians, +who have thought them excessive, to try the acid Spirits in +larger Doses than those commonly ordered; and I am persuaded +they will see Reason to congratulate themselves upon +the Effect. <a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id812" id="id811"><sup>117</sup></a></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id812"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id811">[117]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst smaller">Our Author's <em class="italics">French</em> Annotator has a Note against this Acid, which I +have omitted; for though I have given his <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id97">Note</a> Page <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-84">84</a> [with the Substance of +the immediately preceding one] to which I have also added some Doubts of my +own, from Facts, concerning the Benefit of Acids in inflammatory Disorders of +the Breast; yet with Regard to the ardent, the putrid, the malignant Fever, +and <em class="italics">Erisipelas</em>, in which Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot</span> directs this, I have no Doubt of its Propriety +(supposing no insuperable Disagreement to Acids in the Constitution) and +with Respect to their Doses, I think we may safely rely on our honest Author's +Veracity. Dr. <span class="small-caps">Fuller</span> assures us, a Gentleman's Coachman was recovered +from the Bleeding Small Pocks, by large and repeated Doses of the Oil of Vitriol, +in considerable Draughts of cold Water. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id825"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id824">[118]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This, our Author observes, will work a strong Country-man +very well: by which however he does not seem to mean +an Inhabitant of the Mountains in <em class="italics">Valais</em>. See P. <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-547">547</a>.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id834"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id833">[119]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This Ointment should be prepared at the Apothecaries; the +Receipt of it being given here, only because the Proportions of +the Quicksilver and the Lard are not always the same in different +Places.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id838"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id837">[120]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This Medicine is known by the Name of <em class="italics">Cob's</em> Powder; +and as its Reputation is very considerable, I did not chuse to +omit it; though I must repeat here what I have said <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id278">§ 195</a>—That +the Cinnabar is probably of little or no Efficacy; and +there are other Medicines that have also much more than the +Musk; which besides is extremely dear for poor People, as the +requisite Doses of it, in very dangerous Cases, would cost +ten or twelve Shillings daily. The Prescription, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id839">Nº. 31</a>, is +more effectual than the Musk; and instead of the useless Cinnabar, +the powerful Quicksilver may be given to the Quantity +of forty-five Grains. I have said nothing hitherto in this +Work of the red blossomed Mulberry Tree, which passes for a +real Specific, among some Persons, in this dreadful Malady. +An Account of it may be seen in the first Volume of the +Oeconomical Journal of <em class="italics">Berne</em>. It is my Opinion however, +that none of the Instances related there are satisfactory and decisive; +its Efficacy still appearing to me very doubtful.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id841"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id840">[121]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">When this is preferred to <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id836">Nº. 30</a>, of which Musk is an +Ingredient, the Grain of Opium should be omitted, except +once or at most twice in the twenty-four Hours. Two Doses +of Quicksilver, of fifteen Grains each, should be given daily +in the Morning, in the Interval between the other Bolus's.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id845"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id844">[122]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This Medicine makes the Dogs vomit and slaver abundantly. +It has effected many Cures after the <em class="italics">Hydrophobia</em>, the +Dread of Water, was manifest. It must be given three Days +successively, and afterwards twice a Week, for fifteen Days.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id848"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id847">[123]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">When People are ignorant of the Strength of the Tartar +emetic (which is often various) or of the Patient's being easy +or hard to vomit, a Dose and a half may be dissolved in a +Quart of warm Water, of which he may take a Glass every +Quarter of an Hour, whence the Operation may be forwarded, +or otherwise regulated, according to the Number of Vomits +or Stools. This Method, much used in <em class="italics">Paris</em>, seems a safe +and eligible one.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id864"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id863">[124]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The medical Editor at <em class="italics">Lyons</em> justly notes here, that these +eighty Drops are a very strong Dose of liquid Laudanum; +adding that it is scarcely ever given at <em class="italics">Lyons</em> in a greater Dose +than thirty Drops; and recommending a Spoonful of Syrup +of Lemon-peel to be given with it—But we must observe here +in answer to this Note, that when Dr. <em class="italics">Tissot</em> directs this Mixture +in the Iliac Passion <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id458">§ 318</a>, to appease the Vomitings, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#art-3">Art. +3</a>, he orders but one spoonful of this Mixture to be taken at +once, and an Interval of two Hours to be observed between +the first and second Repetition, which reduces each Dose to +sixteen Drops, and which is not to be repeated without Necessity.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id871"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id870">[125]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This Medicine, which often occasions Cholics in some +Persons of a weakly Stomach, is attended with no such Inconvenience +in strong Country People; and has been effectual +in some Disorders of the Skin, which have baffled other +Medicines—The Remainder of this Note observes the great +Efficacy of Antimony in promoting Perspiration, and the extraordinary +Benefit it is of to Horses in different Cases.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id874"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id873">[126]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst"><span class="target" id="the-prescriptions">The Prescriptions</span> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id872">Nº. 54</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id875">55</a>, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id878">56</a>, are calculated against +Distempers which arise from Obstructions, and a Stoppage of +the monthly Discharges; which <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id875">Nº. 55</a> is more particularly +intended to remove; those of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id872">54</a> and <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id878">56</a> are most convenient, +either when the Suppression does not exist, or is not to be +much regarded, if it does. This Medicine may be rendered +less unpalatable for Persons in easy Circumstances, by adding +as much Cinamon instead of Aniseeds; and though the Quantity +of Iron be small, it may be sufficient, if given early in +the Complaint; one, or at the most, two of these Doses daily, +being sufficient for a very young Maiden.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id877"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id876">[127]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">I chuse to repeat here, the more strongly to inculcate so +important a Point, that in Women who have long been ill and +languid, our Endeavours must be directed towards the restoring +of the Patient's Health and Strength, and not to forcing down +the monthly Discharges, which is a very pernicious Practice. +These will return of Course, if the Patient is of a proper Age, +as she grows better. Their Return succeeds the Return of her +Health, and should not, very often cannot, precede it.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id881"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id880">[128]</a></td><td><p class="first pfirst">Our learned and candid Author has a very long Note in +this Place, strongly in Favour of <em class="italics">Storck's</em> Extract of Hemlock, +in which it is evident he credits the greater Part of the Cures +affirmed by Dr. <span class="small-caps">Storck</span> to have been effected by it. He says +he made some himself, but not of the right Hemlock, which +we think it very difficult to mistake, from its peculiar rank +fetid Smell, and its purple spotted Stalk. After first taking +this himself, he found it mitigated the Pain of Cancers, but +did not cure them. But then addressing himself to Dr. <em class="italics">Storck</em>, +and exactly following his Directions in making it, he took of +Dr. <em class="italics">Storck's</em> Extract, and of his own, which exactly resembled +each other, to the Quantity of a Drachm and a half daily; and +finding his Health not in the least impaired by it, he then +gave it to several Patients, curing many scrophulous and cancerous +Cases, and mitigating others, which he supposes were +incurable. So that he seems fully persuaded Dr. <span class="small-caps">Storck's</span> +Extract is always innocent [which in Fact, except in a very +few Instances, none of which were fatal, it has been] and he +thinks it a Specific in many Cases, to which nothing can be +substituted as an equivalent Remedy; that it should be +taken with entire Confidence, and that it would be absurd to +neglect its Continuance.</p> +<p class="last pnext">The Translator of this Work of Dr. <span class="small-caps">Tissot's</span> has thought +it but fair to give all the Force of this Note here, which must +be his own, as his Editor at <em class="italics">Lyons</em> seems to entertain a very +different Opinion of the Efficacy of this Medicine; for which +Opinion we refer back to his Note, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id525">§ 375</a>, of this Treatise, +which the Reader may compare with this of our Author's. <em class="italics">K.</em></p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id893"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id892">[129]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Our Author attests his seeing the happiest Consequences +from this Application, which M. <span class="small-caps">Brossard</span>, a very eminent +<em class="italics">French</em> Surgeon, first published; and declared his Preference of +that Agaric which sprung from those Parts of the Tree, from +whence large Boughs had been lopped.</p> +</td></tr> +<tr class="footnote" id="id897"> +<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id896">[130]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">To spread this upon Lint as directed, <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id630">§ 456</a>, it must be +melted down again with a little Oil.</p> +</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> +</div> +<div class="backmatter"> +</div> +<div class="topic"> +<p class="center level-2 pfirst title topic-title topic-title first">Transcription note</p> +<p class="pfirst">Old and variant spellings, like <cite class="italics">surprising</cite> / <cite class="italics">surprizing</cite>, +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#buttermilk">Buttermilk</a> / <cite class="italics">Butter-milk</cite>, <cite class="italics">Blood-vessels</cite> / <cite class="italics">Blood-Vessels</cite>, +<cite class="italics">Faltranc</cite> / <cite class="italics">Faltrank</cite>, <cite class="italics">wholesome</cite> / <cite class="italics">wholsome</cite>, <cite class="italics">fetid</cite> / <cite class="italics">fœtid</cite>, +<cite class="italics">public</cite> / <cite class="italics">publick</cite>, <cite class="italics">Physic</cite> / <cite class="italics">Physick</cite>, etc. +have been preserved in the present transcription.</p> +<p class="pnext">In some cases of doubt, the present edition has been compared +with scans of the 1766 edition printed by Donaldson, which +differs slightly in setting, for instance having all names +not capitalized, and corrects many typographic mistakes.</p> +<p class="pnext">Corrections listed in the <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#errata">Errata</a> at the end of the book +have been carried into this transcription (excepting those which are +not relevant for the transcription, like those in running titles).</p> +<p class="pnext">Typographic errors, occurring at the following pages and lines +in the original, have been corrected (negative numbers indicate lines +from the bottom of the page):</p> +<ul class="simple"> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 23, note *, l. -6</strong> their Druggs —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#their-drugs">their Drugs</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 29, l. 12</strong> thorough Attentention —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#thorough-attention">thorough Attention</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 39, l. 2</strong> btutal Souls —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#brutal-souls">brutal Souls</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 48, l. 12-13</strong> thick, and and that —> +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#thick-and-that">thick, and that</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 55, l. -5</strong> increases our Horrour —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#increases-our-horror">increases our Horror</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 61, l. 3-4</strong> deserves a Patients Confidence —> +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#deserves-a-patient-s-confidence">deserves a Patient's Confidence</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 62, l. 16</strong> Drink and Glisters —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#drink-and-glysters">Drink and Glysters</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 87, l. -8</strong> the loosening Glyster No. 5 —> +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-loosening-glyster">the loosening Glyster Nº. 5</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 106, l. 1</strong> Inflammamations —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#inflammations">Inflammations</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 148, l. 21-22</strong> Perspiraration —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#perspiration">Perspiration</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 182, l. 19</strong> Applications N. 9 —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#applications">Applications Nº. 9</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 189, l. 1</strong> the Powder No. 29 —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-powder">the Powder Nº. 29</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 223, note *, l. 4</strong> without the least peceiveable —> +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#without-the-least-perceiveable">without the least perceiveable</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 226, l. 17-18</strong> Relax-tion —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#relaxation">Relaxation</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 244, l. 4-5</strong> Dis-seases —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#diseases">Diseases</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 261, l. 15</strong> Hæmmorrhages —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#haemorrhages">Hæmorrhages</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 283, l. 14-15</strong> Pre-Precription —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#prescription">Prescription</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 344, note †, l. -2</strong> <em class="italics">missing closing quote +conjecturally inserted after</em> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#instead-of-stumming-or-sulphurizing-it">instead of stumming or +sulphurizing it,’</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 353, l. 1</strong> stance constitutes —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#circumstance-constitutes">Circumstance constitutes</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 355, l. 18</strong> not pregant —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#not-pregnant">not pregnant</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 383, l. 6</strong> the back Bart of the Head —> +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-back-part-of-the-head">the back Part of the Head</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 485, l. 13</strong> checks it Progress —> +<a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#checks-its-progress">checks its Progress</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 495, l. 19</strong> strong swelling Herbs —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#strong-smelling-herbs">strong smelling Herbs</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 506, l. 15</strong> Weakness is an Obstable —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#weakness-is-an-obstacle">Weakness is an Obstacle</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 506, l. 19</strong> an Evacution supervenes —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#an-evacuation-supervenes">an Evacuation supervenes</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 525, l. -2,-1</strong> Never-vertheless —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#nevertheless">Nevertheless</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 560, l. -7</strong> Villians —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#villains">Villains</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 573, l. 6</strong> some Evacution —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#some-evacuation">some Evacuation</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 608. l. -7</strong> Temparrament —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#read">Temperrament</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 611, col. 2, l. 4</strong> <em class="italics">Of a</em> Diarrhæa —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#diarrhoea"><em class="italics">Of a</em> Diarrhœa</a></p> +</li> +</ul> +<p class="pfirst">So has been corrected the punctuation:</p> +<ul class="simple"> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. xxii, last line, note</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#published-at">published at <em class="italics">Lyons</em>.</a> [missing period]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. xxix, l. 10</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#infusion"><em class="italics">Infusion</em> Nº. 1;</a> [missing dot]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. xxix, l. 13-14</strong> Numbers 1. 2, and 4 —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#numbers-1-2-and-4">Numbers 1, 2, and 4</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 63, l. 15</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#of-the-ptisans">of the Ptisans Nº. 1</a> [missing dot]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 84, l. -7, note</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-mixture">the Mixture, Nº. 10</a> [missing dot]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 88, l. 21</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-purging-potion">the purging Potion Nº. 11</a> [missing dot]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 89, l. 12</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#and-drink-plentifully-of-the-ptisan">and drink plentifully of the Ptisan Nº. 2</a> +[missing dot]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 89, l. -7</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#should-drink-plentifully-of-the-ptisan">should drink plentifully of the Ptisan Nº. 12</a> +[missing dot]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 117, l. 12-13</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#or-some-of-those-diet-drinks">or some of those Diet-Drinks Nº. 1, 2, 4;</a> +[dots instead of commas]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 118, note *, l. 3</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#mentioned-it-in-his-late">it in his late <em class="italics">Materia Medica.</em> K.</a> [missing period]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 173, l. -8</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#in-hunting-in-1658">in Hunting in 1658.</a> [additional comma]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 198, l. 16</strong> 3. The Bites —> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-bites">3, The Bites</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 203, note, l. 5</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#in-many-other-places">in many other Places.</a> [missing period]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 231, note, l- 1</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#and-the-note-there">and the Note there.</a> [comma instead of period]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 233, l. 10</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#sound-and-hearty-children">sound and hearty Children).</a> [missing period]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 265, l. -6</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#as-soon-as-the-distemper">12, As soon as the Distemper</a> +[period instead of comma]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 320, last line of the note</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#or-for-suspending-it">or for suspending it. <em class="italics">K.</em></a> +[missing dot]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 371, l. 7</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#an-inflammation">2, An Inflammation</a> [period instead of comma]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 531, l. -6</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#or-wrong">or wrong.</a> [missing period]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 538, l. -9</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#powder">Powder Nº. 20</a> [missing dot]</p> +</li> +<li><p class="first pfirst"><strong class="bold">p. 601, first line of the note</strong> <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-prescriptions">The Prescriptions Nº. 54, 55, 56</a> +[missing dot after Nº and periods instead of commas]</p> +</li> +</ul> +<p class="pfirst">The footnotes, marked in the text mostly by asterisks, symbols +and alphabetic letters on a page by page basis, have been +renumbered progressively throughout the book. The footnote * on +page <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#page-256">256</a> does not appear to be referenced at any specific +point on the printed page, and has been treated as footnote to +the last word of the paragraph.</p> +<p class="pnext">Italics markup of abbreviations like <em class="italics">&c.</em>, <em class="italics">K.</em>, which was not +always consistent in the original, has been retained as printed.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Greek letters <em class="italics">{alpha}</em>, <em class="italics">{beta}</em>, <em class="italics">{gamma}</em> enumerating the +prescriptions of <a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#id312">§ 214</a> have been replaced by the Latin letters <em class="italics">a</em>, +<em class="italics">b</em>, <em class="italics">c</em> for better character set portability.</p> +</div> +</div> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Advice to the people in general, with +regard to their health, by Samuel Auguste David Tissot + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADVICE TO THE PEOPLE *** + +***** This file should be named 39044-h.htm or 39044-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/0/4/39044/ + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Enrico Segre and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Samuel Auguste David Tissot + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Advice to the people in general, with regard to their health + +Author: Samuel Auguste David Tissot + +Translator: J. Kirkpatrick + +Release Date: March 9, 2012 [EBook #39044] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADVICE TO THE PEOPLE *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Enrico Segre and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + Advice to the people + + + _ADVICE_ + __to the__ + _PEOPLE_ in __General__, + __with__ + + Regard to their __Health__: + + + + +But more particularly calculated for those, who, by their Distance from +regular Physicians, or other very experienced Practitioners, are the +most unlikely to be seasonably provided with the best Advice and +Assistance, in acute Diseases, or upon any sudden inward or outward +Accident. + + _WITH_ + +A Table of the most cheap, yet effectual Remedies, and the plainest +Directions for preparing them readily. + + Translated from the _French_ Edition of + + Dr. __Tissot's__ _Avis au Peuple_, &c. + +Printed at _Lyons_; with all his own Notes; a few of his medical +Editor's at _Lyons_; and several occasional Notes, adapted to this +_English_ Translation, + + By J. _Kirkpatrick_, M. D. + + + + + _In the Multitude of the People is the Honour of a King; and for + the Want of People cometh the Destruction of the Prince._ + + Proverbs xiv, 28. + ----------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + __LONDON:__ + + Printed for T. _Becket_ and P. A. _De Hondt_, at _Tully's_ Head, near + _Surry-Street_, in the _Strand_. + + M DCC LXV. + + + + + _the Translator's_ PREFACE. + + +Though the great Utility of those medical Directions, with which the +following Treatise is thoroughly replenished, will be sufficiently +evident to every plain and sensible Peruser of it; and the extraordinary +Reception of it on the Continent is recited in the very worthy Author's +Preface; yet something, it should seem, may be pertinently added, with +Regard to this Translation of it, by a Person who has been strictly +attentive to the Original: a Work, whose Purpose was truly necessary and +benevolent; as the Execution of it, altogether, is very happily +accomplished. + +It will be self evident, I apprehend, to every excellent Physician, that +a radical Knowledge of the Principles, and much Experience in the +Exercise, of their Profession, were necessary to accommodate such a Work +to the Comprehension of those, for whom it was more particularly +calculated. Such Gentlemen must observe, that the certain Axiom of +_Nature's curing Diseases_, which is equally true in our Day, as it was +in that of _Hippocrates_, so habitually animates this Treatise, as not +to require the least particular Reference. This _Hippocratic_ Truth as +certain (though much less subject to general Observation) as that +Disease, or Age, is finally prevalent over all sublunary Life, the most +attentive Physicians discern the soonest, the most ingenuous readily +confess: and hence springs that wholesome Zeal and Severity, with which +Dr. _Tissot_ encounters such Prejudices of poor illiterate Persons, as +either oppose, or very ignorantly precipitate, her Operations, in her +Attainment of Health. These Prejudices indeed may seem, from this Work, +to be still greater, and perhaps grosser too, in _Swisserland_ than +among ourselves; though it is certain there is but too much Room for the +Application of his salutary Cautions and Directions, even in this +Capital; and doubtless abundantly more at great Distances from it. It +may be very justly supposed, for _one_ Instance, that in most of those +Cases in the Small Pocks, in which the Mother undertakes the Cure of her +Child, or confides it to a Nurse, that Saffron, in a greater or less +Quantity, and Sack or Mountain Whey, are generally still used in the +Sickening before Eruption; to accelerate that very Eruption, whose +gradual Appearance, about the fourth Day, from that of Seizure +inclusive, is so favourable and promising to the Patient; and the +Precipitation of which is often so highly pernicious to them. Most of, +or rather all, his other Cautions and Corrections seem equally necessary +here, as often as the Sick are similarly circumstanced, under the +different acute Diseases in which he enjoins them. + +Without the least Detraction however from this excellent Physician, it +may be admitted that a few others, in many other Countries, might have +sufficient Abilities and Experience for the Production of a like Work, +on the same good Plan. This, we find, Dr. _Hirzel_, principal Physician +of _Zurich_, had in Meditation, when the present Treatise appeared, +which he thought had so thoroughly fulfilled his own Intention, that it +prevented his attempting to execute it. But the great Difficulty +consisted in discovering a Physician, who, with equal Abilities, +Reputation and Practice, should be qualified with that _much rarer_ +Qualification of caring so much more for the Health of those, who could +never pay him for it, than for his own Profit or Ease, as to determine +him to project and to accomplish so necessary, and yet so self-denying, +a Work. For as the Simplicity he proposed in the Style and Manner of it, +by condescending, in the plainest Terms, to the humblest Capacities, +obliged him to depress himself, by writing rather beneath the former +Treatises, which had acquired him the Reputation of medical Erudition, +Reasoning and Elegance; we find that the Love of Fame itself, so +stimulating even to many ingenuous Minds, was as impotent as that of +Wealth, to seduce him from so benign, so generous a Purpose. Though, +upon Reflection, it is by no Means strange to see wise Men found their +Happiness, which all [however variously and even oppositely] pursue, +rather in Conscience, than on Applause; and this naturally reminds us of +that celebrated Expression of _Cato_, or some other excellent Ancient, +"that he had rather _be_ good, than _be reputed_ so." + +However singular such a Determination may now appear, the Number of +reputable medical Translators into different Languages, which this +original Work has employed on the Continent, makes it evident, that real +Merit will, sooner or later, have a pretty general Influence; and induce +many to imitate that Example, which they either could not, or did not, +propose. As the truly modest Author has professedly disclaimed all +Applause on the Performance, and contented himself with hoping an +Exemption from Censure, through his Readers' Reflection on the peculiar +Circumstances and Address of it; well may his best, his faithfullest +Translators, whose Merit and Pains must be of a very secondary Degree to +his own, be satisfied with a similar Exemption: especially when joined +to the Pleasure, that must result from a Consciousness of having +endeavoured to extend the Benefits of their Author's Treatise, to +Multitudes of their own Country and Language. + +For my own Particular, when after reading the Introduction to the Work, +and much of the Sequel, I had determined to translate it; to be as just +as possible to the Author, and to his _English_ Readers, I determined +not to interpolate any Sentiment of my own into the Text, nor to omit +one Sentence of the Original, which, besides its being _Detraction_ in +its literal Sense, I thought might imply it in its worst, its figurative +one; for which there was no Room. To conform as fully as possible to the +Plainness and Perspicuity he proposed, I have been pretty often obliged +in the anatomical Names of some Parts, and sometimes of the Symptoms, as +well as in some pretty familiar, though not entirely popular Words, to +explain all such by the most common Words I have heard used for them; as +after mentioning the _Diaphragm_, to add, or _Midriff_--the +_Trachaea_--or _Windpipe_--_acrimonious_, or _very sharp_, and so of many +others. This may a little, though but a little, have extended the +Translation beyond the Original; as the great Affinity between the +_French_ and _Latin_, and between the former and many _Latin_ Words +borrowed from the _Greek_, generally makes the same anatomical or +medical Term, that is technical with us, vernacular or common with them. +But this unavoidable Tautology, which may be irksome to many Ears, those +medical Readers, for whom it was not intended, will readily forgive, +from a Consideration of the general Address of the Work: while they +reflect that meer Style, if thoroughly intelligible, is least essential +to those Books, which wholly consist of very useful, and generally +interesting, Matter. + +As many of the Notes of the Editor of _Lyons_, as I have retained in +this Version (having translated from the Edition of _Lyons_) are +subscribed _E. L._ I have dispensed with several, some, as evidently +less within Dr. _Tissot's_ Plan, from tending to theorize, however +justly or practically, where he must have had his own Reasons for +omitting to theorize: a few others, as manifestly needless, from what +the Author had either premised, or speedily subjoined, on the very same +Circumstance: besides a very few, from their local Confinement to the +Practice at _Lyons_, which lies in a Climate somewhat more different +from our own than that of _Lausanne_. It is probable nevertheless, I +have retained a few more than were necessary in a professed Translation +of the original Work: but wherever I have done this, I have generally +subjoined my Motive for it; of whatever Consequence that may appear to +the Reader. I have retained all the Author's own Notes, with his Name +annexed to them; or if ever the Annotator was uncertain to me, I have +declared whose Note I supposed it to be. + +Such as I have added from my own Experience or Observation are +subscribed _K_, to distinguish them from the others; and that the +Demerit of any of them may neither be imputed to the learned Author, nor +to his Editor. Their principal Recommendation, or Apology is, that +whatever Facts I have mentioned are certainly true. I have endeavoured +to be temperate in their Number and Length, and to imitate that strict +Pertinence, which prevails throughout the Author's Work. If any may have +ever condescended to consider my Way of writing, they will conceive this +Restraint has cost me at least as much Pains, as a further Indulgence of +my own Conceptions could have done. The few Prescriptions I have +included in some of them, have been so conducted, as not to give the +Reader the least Confusion with Respect to those, which the Author has +given in his Table of Remedies, and which are referred to by numerical +Figures, throughout the Course of his Book. + +The moderate Number of Dr. _Tissot's_ Prescriptions, in his Table of +Remedies, amounting but to seventy-one, and the apparent Simplicity of +many of them, may possibly disgust some Admirers of pompous and compound +Prescription. But his Reserve, in this important Respect, has been +thoroughly consistent with his Notion of Nature's curing Diseases; which +suggested to him the first, the essential Necessity of cautioning his +Readers against doing, giving, or applying any thing, that might oppose +her healing Operations (a most capital Purpose of his Work) which +important Point being gained, the mildest, simplest and least hazardous +Remedies would often prove sufficient Assistants to her. Nevertheless, +under more severe and tedious Conflicts, he is not wanting to direct the +most potent and efficacious ones. The Circumstances of the poor Subjects +of his medical Consideration, became also a very natural Object to him, +and was in no wise unworthy the Regard of the humane Translator of +_Bilguer on Amputations_, or rather _against_ the crying Abuse of them; +an excellent Work, that does real Honour to them both; and which can be +disapproved by none, who do not prefer the frequently unnecessary +Mutilation of the afflicted, to the Consumption of their own Time, or +the Contraction of their Employment. + +Some Persons may imagine that a Treatise of this Kind, composed for the +Benefit of labouring People in _Swisserland_, may be little applicable +to those of the _British_ Islands: and this, in a very few Particulars, +and in a small Degree, may reasonably be admitted. But as we find their +common Prejudices are often the very same; as the _Swiss_ are the +Inhabitants of a colder Climate than _France_, and generally, as Dr. +_Tissot_ often observes, accustomed to drink (like ourselves) more +strong Drink than the _French_ Peasantry; and to indulge more in eating +Flesh too, which the Religion of _Berne_, like our own, does not +restrain; the Application of his Advice to them will pretty generally +hold good here. Where he forbids them Wine and Flesh, all Butchers Meat, +and in most Cases all Flesh, and all strong Drink should be prohibited +here: especially when we consider, that all his Directions are confined +to the Treatment of acute Diseases, of which the very young, the +youthful, and frequently even the robust are more generally the +Subjects. Besides, in some few of the _English_ Translator's Notes, he +has taken the Liberty of moderating the Coolers, or the Quantities of +them (which may be well adapted to the great Heats and violent _Swiss_ +Summers he talks of) according to the Temperature of our own Climate, +and the general Habitudes of our own People. It may be observed too, +that from the same Motive, I have sometimes assumed the Liberty of +dissenting from the Text in a very few Notes, as for Instance, on the +Article of Pastry, which perhaps is generally better here than in +_Swisserland_ (where it may be no better than the coarse vile Trash that +is hawked about and sold to meer Children) as I have frequently, in +preparing for Inoculation, admitted the best Pastry (but not of Meat) +into the limited Diet of the Subjects of Inoculation, and constantly +without the least ill Consequence. Thus also in Note [70] Page 287, 288, +I have presumed to affirm the Fact, that a strong spirituous Infusion of +the Bark has succeeded more speedily in some Intermittents, in +particular Habits, than the Bark in Substance. This I humbly conceive +may be owing to such a _Menstruum's_ extracting the Resin of the Bark +more effectually (and so conveying it into the Blood) than the Juices of +the Stomach and of the alimentary Canal did, or could. For it is very +conceivable that the _Crasis_, the Consistence, of the fibrous Blood may +sometimes be affected with a morbid Laxity or Weakness, as well as the +general System of the muscular Fibres. + +These and any other like Freedoms, I am certain the Author's Candour +will abundantly pardon; since I have never dissented for Dissention's +Sake, to the best of my Recollection; and have the Honour of harmonizing +very generally in Judgment with him. If _one_ useful Hint or Observation +occurs throughout my Notes, his Benevolence will exult in that essential +Adherence to his Plan, which suggested it to me: While an invariable +ecchoing Assentation throughout such Notes, when there really was any +salutary Room for doubting, or for adding (with Respect to ourselves) +would discover a Servility, that must have disgusted a liberal manly +Writer. One common good Purpose certainly springs from the generous +Source, and replenishes the many Canals into which it is derived; all +the Variety and little Deviations of which may be considered as more +expansive Distributions of its Benefits. + +Since the natural Feelings of Humanity generally dispose us, but +especially the more tender and compassionate Sex, to advise Remedies to +the poor Sick; such a Knowledge of their real Disease, as would prevent +their Patrons, Neighbours and Assistants from advising a wrong Regimen, +or an improper or ill-timed Medicine, is truly essential to relieving +them: and such we seriously think the present Work is capable of +imparting, to all commonly sensible and considerate Perusers of it. A +Vein of unaffected Probity, of manly Sense, and of great Philanthropy, +concur to sustain the Work: And whenever the Prejudices of the Ignorant +require a forcible Eradication; or the crude Temerity and Impudence of +Knaves and Impostors cry out for their own Extermination, a happy +Mixture of strong Argument, just Ridicule, and honest Severity, give a +poignant and pleasant Seasoning to the Work, which renders it +occasionally entertaining, as it is continually instructive. + +A general Reader may be sometimes diverted with such Customs and Notions +of the _Swiss_ Peasants, as are occasionally mentioned here: and +possibly our meerest Rustics may laugh at the brave simple _Swiss_, on +his introducing a Sheep into the Chamber of a very sick Person, to save +the Life of the Patient, by catching its own Death. But the humblest +Peasantry of both Nations are agreed in such a Number of their absurd +unhealthy Prejudices, in the Treatment of Diseases, that it really +seemed necessary to offer our own the Cautions and Counsels of this +principal Physician, in a very respectable Protestant Republick, in +Order to prevent their Continuance. Nor is it unreasonable to presume, +that under such a Form of Government, if honestly administered upon its +justest Principles, the People may be rather more tenderly regarded, +than under the Pomp and Rage of Despotism, or the Oppression of some +Aristocracies. + +Besides the different Conditions of [1] Persons, to whom our Author +recommends the Patronage and Execution of his Scheme, in his +Introduction, it is conceived this Book must be serviceable to many +young Country Practitioners, and to great Numbers of Apothecaries, by +furnishing them with such exact and striking Descriptions of each acute +Disease and its Symptoms, as may prevent their mistaking it for any +other; a Deception which has certainly often been injurious, and +sometimes even fatal: for it is dreadful but to contemplate the +Destruction or Misery, with which Temerity and Ignorance, so frequently +combined, overwhelm the Sick. Thus more Success and Reputation, with the +Enjoyment of a better Conscience, would crown their Endeavours, by a +more general Recovery of, or Relief to, their Patients. To effect this, +to improve every Opportunity of eschewing medical Evil, and of doing +medical Good, was the Author's avowed Intention; which he informs us in +his Preface, he has heard, from some intelligent and charitable Persons, +his Treatise had effected, even in some violent Diseases. That the same +good Consequences may every where attend the numerous Translations of +it, must be the fervent Wish of all, except the Quacks and Impostors he +so justly characterizes in his thirty-third Chapter! and particularly of +all, who may be distinguishably qualified, like himself, to, + +--_Look through Nature up to Nature's GOD!_ + + [1] Of all these the Schoolmasters, _with us_, may seem the most + reasonably exempted from this Duty. + + + + + The AUTHOR's _DEDICATION._ + + +_To the most Illustrious, the most Noble and Magnificent Lords, the +Lords President and Counsellors of the Chamber of Health, of the City +and Republick of_ Berne. + +_Most honourable Lords_, + +When I first published the following Work, my utmost Partiality to it +was not sufficient to allow me the Confidence of addressing it to Your +Lordships. But Your continual Attention to all the Objects, which have +any Relation to that important Part of the Administration of the State, +which has been so wisely committed to Your Care, has induced You to take +Notice of it. You have been pleased to judge it might prove useful, and +that an Attempt must be laudable, which tends to the Extermination of +erroneous and inveterate Prejudices, those cruel Tyrants, that are +continually opposing the Happiness of the People, even under that Form +and Constitution of Government, which is the best adapted to establish +and to increase it. + +Your Lordships Approbation, and the splendid Marks of [2] Benevolence, +with which You have honoured me, have afforded me a juster Discernment +of the Importance of this Treatise, and have inclined me to hope, _most +Illustrious, most Noble, and Magnificent Lords_, that You will permit +this new Edition of it to appear under the Sanction of your Auspices; +that while the Publick is assured of Your general Goodness and +Beneficence, it may also be informed of my profoundly grateful Sense of +them, on the same Occasion. + + [2] See the Author's Preface, immediately following this Dedication. + +May the present Endeavour then, in fully corresponding to my Wishes, +effectually realize Your Lordships utmost Expectations from it; while +You condescend to accept this small Oblation, as a very unequal +Expression of that profound Respect, with which I have the Honour to be, + +_Most Illustrious, Most Noble, and Magnificent Lords,_ + + _Your most humble_ + _And most_ + _Obedient Servant_, + + _TISSOT._ + + _Lausanne_, + _Dec. 3, 1762._ + + + + + THE AUTHOR's _PREFACE._ + + +_If Vanity too often disposes many to speak of themselves, there are +some Occasions, on which a total Silence might be supposed to result +from a still higher Degree of it: And the very general Reception of the +*Advice to the People* has been such, that there would be Room to +suspect me of that most shocking Kind of Pride, which receives Applause +with Indifference (as deeming its own Merit Superior to the greatest) if +I did not appear to be strongly impressed with a just Sense of that +great Favour of the Publick, which has been so very obliging, and is so +highly agreable, to me._ + +_Unfeignedly affected with the unhappy Situation of the poor Sick in +Country Places in *Swisserland*, where they are lost from a Scarcity of +the best Assistance, and from a fatal Superfluity of the worst, my sole +Purpose in writing this Treatise has been to serve, and to comfort them. +I had intended it only for a small Extent of Country, with a moderate +Number of Inhabitants; and was greatly surprized to find, that within +five or six Months after its Publication, it was become one of the most +extensively published Books in *Europe*; and one of those Treatises, on +a scientific Subject, which has been perused by the greatest Number of +Readers of all Ranks and Conditions. To consider such Success with +Indifference, were to have been unworthy of it, which Demerit, at least +on this Account, I cannot justly be charged with; since Indifference has +not been my Case, who have felt, as I ought, this Gratification of +Self-love; and which, under just and prudent Restrictions, may perhaps +be even politically cherished; as the Delight naturally arising from +having been approved, is a Source of that laudable Emulation, which has +sometimes produced the most essential good Consequences to Society +itself. For my own particular, I can truly aver, that my Satisfaction +has been exquisitely heightened on this Occasion, as a Lover of my +Species: since judging from the Success of this Work (a Success which +has exceeded my utmost Expectations) of the Effects that may reasonably +be expected from it, I am happily conscious of that Satisfaction, or +even Joy, which every truly honest Man must receive, from rendering +essential good Offices to others. Besides which, I have enjoyed, in its +utmost Extent, that Satisfaction which every grateful Man must receive +from the Approbation and Beneficence of his Sovereign, when I was +distinguished with the precious Medal, which the illustrious Chamber of +Health of the Republick of Berne honoured me with, a few Months after +the Publication of this Treatise; together with a Letter still more +estimable, as it assured me of the extraordinary Satisfaction the +Republick had testified on the Impression of it; a Circumstance, which I +could not avoid this publick Acknowledgement of, without the greatest +Vanity and Ingratitude. This has also been a very influencing Motive +with me, to exert my utmost Abilities in perfecting this new Edition, in +which I have made many Alterations, that render it greatly preferable to +the first; and of which Amendments I shall give a brief Account, after +saying somewhat of the Editions, which have appeared elsewhere._ + +_The first is that, which Messrs. *Heidegger*, the Booksellers published +in the *German* Language at *Zurich*, about a Year since. I should have +been highly delighted with the meer Approbation of *__M. Hirzel__*, +first Physician of the Canton of *Zurich, &c.* whose superior and +universal Talents; whose profound Knowledge in the Theory of Physick; +and the Extent and Success of whose Practice have justly elevated him +among the small Number of extraordinary Men of our own Times; he having +lately obtained the Esteem and the Thanks of all *Europe,* for the +History of one of her [3] Sages. But I little expected the Honour this +Gentleman has done me, in translating the *Advice to the People* into +his own Language. Highly sensible nevertheless as I am of this Honour, I +must always reflect with Regret, that he has consumed that important +Time, in rendering my Directions intelligible to his Countrymen, which +he might have employed much more usefully, in obliging the World with +his own._ + +_He has enriched his Translation with an excellent Preface, which is +chiefly employed in a just and beautiful Portrait and Contrast of the +true, and of the false Physician; with which I should have done myself +the Pleasure to have adorned the present [4] Edition; if the Size of +this Volume, already too large, had not proved an Obstacle to so +considerable an Addition; and if the Manner, in which *Mr.* *__Hirzel__* +speaks of its Author, had permitted me with Decency to publish his +Preface. I have been informed by some Letters, that there have been two +other *German* Translation of it; but I am not informed by whom. +However, *__M. Hirzel's__* Preface, his own Notes, and some Additions +with which I have furnished him, renders his Edition preferable to the +first in *French*, and to the other *German* Translations already made._ + + [3] _Le Socrate rustique_, a Work, which every Person should read. + + [4] This Preface is indeed premised to this _French_ Edition, but a + Translation of it was omitted, to avoid extending the Bulk and + Price of the Work. Dr. _Tissot_ must then have been ignorant of + this Addition, when first published at _Lyons_. + +_The Second Edition is that, which the younger *__Didot__*, the +Bookseller, published towards the End of the Winter at *Paris*. He had +requested me to furnish him with some Additions to it, which I could not +readily comply with._ + +_The Third Edition is a *Dutch* Translation of it, which will be very +speedily published by *__M. Renier Aremberg__*, Bookseller at +*Rotterdam*. He had begun the Translation from my first Edition; but +having wrote to know whether I had not some Additions to make, I desired +him to wait for the Publication of this. I have the good Fortune to be +very happy in my Translators; it being *__M. Bikker__*, a celebrated +Physician at *Rotterdam* (so very advantagiously known in other +Countries, by his beautiful *Dissertation on Human Nature*, throughout +which Genius and Knowledge proceed Hand in Hand) who will present his +Countrymen with the *Advice to the People*, in their own Language: and +who will improve it with such Notes, as are necessary for a safe and +proper Application of its Contents, in a Climate, different from that in +which it was wrote. I have also heard, there has been an *Italian* +Translation of it._ + +_After this Account of the foreign Editions, I return to the present +one, which is the second of the original *French* Treatise. I shall not +affirm it is greatly corrected, with Respect to fundamental Points: for +as I had advanced nothing in the first, that was not established on +Truth and Demonstration, there was no Room for Correction, with Regard +to any essential Matters. Nevertheless, in this I have made, 1, a great +Number of small Alterations in the Diction, and added several Words, to +render the Work still more simple and perspicuous. 2, The typographical +Execution of this is considerably improved in the Type, the Paper and +Ink, the Spelling, Pointing, and Arrangement of the Work. 3, I have made +some considerable Additions, which are of three Kinds. Not a few of them +are new Articles on some of the Subjects formerly treated of; such as +the Articles concerning Tarts and other Pastry Ware; the Addition +concerning the Regimen for Persons, in a State of Recovery from +Diseases; the Preparation for the Small Pocks; a long Note on the +Jesuits Bark; another on acid Spirits; one on the Extract of Hemlock: +besides some new Matter which I have inserted; such as an Article with +Regard to proper Drinks; one on the Convulsions of Infants; one on +Chilblains; another on Punctures from Thorns; one upon the Reason of the +Confidence reposed in Quacks, and the thirty-first Chapter entirely: in +which I have extended the Consideration of some former Articles, that +seemed to me a little too succinct and short. There are some Alterations +of this last, this additional, Kind, interspersed almost throughout the +whole Substance of this Edition; but especially in the two Chapters +relating to Women and Children._ + +_The Objects of the XXXI Chapter are such as require immediate +Assistance, viz. Swoonings, Haemorrhages, that is, large spontaneous +Bleedings; the Attacks of Convulsions, and of Suffocations; the +Consequences of Fright and Terror; Disorders occasioned by unwholesome +or deadly Vapours; the Effects of Poison, and the sudden Invasions of +excessive Pain._ + +_The Omission of this Chapter was a very material Defect in the original +Plan of this Work. The Editor of it at Paris was very sensible of this +Chasm, or Blank, as it may be called, and has filled it up very +properly: and if I have not made Use of his Supplement, instead of +enlarging myself upon the Articles of which he has treated, it has only +been from a Purpose of rendering the whole Work more uniform; and to +avoid that odd Diversity, which seems scarcely to be avoided in a +Treatise composed by two Persons. Besides which, that Gentleman has said +nothing of the Articles, which employ the greatest Part of that Chapter, +*viz.* the Swoonings, the Consequences of great Fear, and the noxious +Vapours._ + +_Before I conclude, I ought to justify myself, as well as possible, to a +great Number of very respectable Persons both here and abroad, (to whom +I can refuse nothing without great Chagrine and Reluctance) for my not +having made such Additions as they desired of me. This however was +impossible, as the Objects, in which they concurred, were some chronical +Distempers, that are entirely out of the Plan, to which I was strictly +attached, for many Reasons. The first is, that it was my original +Purpose to oppose the Errors incurred in Country Places, in the +Treatment of acute Diseases; and to display the best Method of +conducting such, as do not admit of waiting for the Arrival of distant +Succour; or of removing the Patients to Cities, or large Towns. It is +but too true indeed, that chronical Diseases are also liable to improper +Treatment in small Country Places: but then there are both Time and +Convenience to convey the Patients within the Reach of better Advice; or +for procuring them the Attendance of the best Advisers, at their own +Places of Residence. Besides which, such Distempers are considerably +less common than those to which I had restrained my Views: and they will +become still less frequent, whenever acute Diseases, of which they are +frequently the Consequences, shall be more rationally and safely +conducted._ + +_The second Reason, which, if alone, would have been a sufficient one, +is, that it is impossible to subject the Treatment of chronical +Distempers to the Capacity and Conduct of Persons, who are not +Physicians. Each acute Distemper generally arises from one Cause; and +the Treatment of it is simple and uniform; since those Symptoms, which +manifest the Malady, point out its Cause and Treatment. But the Case is +very differently circumstanced in tedious and languid Diseases; each of +which may depend on so many and various Causes (and it is only the real, +the true Cause, which ought to determine us in selecting its proper +Remedies) that though the Distemper and its Appellation are evidently +known, a meer By-stander may be very remote from penetrating into its +true Cause; and consequently be incapable of chusing the best Medicines +for it. It is this precise and distinguishing Discernment of the real +particular Cause *[or of the contingent Concurrence of more than one]* +that necessarily requires the Presence of Persons conversant in the +Study and the Practice of all the Parts of Physick; and which Knowledge +it is impossible for People, who are Strangers to such Studies, to +arrive at. Moreover, their frequent Complexness; the Variety of their +Symptoms; the different Stages of these tedious Diseases [not exactly +attended to even by many competent Physicians] the Difficulty of +ascertaining the different Doses of Medicines, whose Activity may make +the smallest Error highly dangerous, &c. &c. are really such trying +Circumstances, as render the fittest Treatment of these Diseases +sufficiently difficult and embarrassing to the most experienced +Physicians, and unattainable by those who are not Physicians._ + +_A third Reason is, that, even supposing all these Circumstances might +be made so plain and easy, as to be comprehended by every Reader, they +would require a Work of an excessive Length; and thence be +disproportioned to the Faculties of those, for whom it was intended. One +single chronical Disease might require as large a Volume as the present +one._ + +_But finally, were I to acknowledge, that this Compliance was both +necessary and practicable, I declare I find it exceeds my Abilities; and +that I am also far from having sufficient Leisure for the Execution of +it. It is my Wish that others would attempt it, and may succeed in +accomplishing it; but I hope these truly worthy Persons, who have +honoured me by proposing the Achievement of it to myself, will perceive +the Reasons for my not complying with it, in all their Force; and not +ascribe a Refusal, which arises from the very Nature of the thing, +either to Obstinacy, or to any Want of an Inclination to oblige them._ + +_I have been informed my Citations, or rather References, have puzzled +some Readers. It was difficult to foresee this, but is easy to prevent +it for the future. The Work contains Citations only of two Sorts; one, +that points to the Remedies prescribed; and the other, which refers to +some Passage in the Book itself, that serves to illustrate those +Passages in which I cite. Neither of these References could have been +omitted. The first is marked thus, *No.* with the proper Figure to it, +as 1, 2, &c. This signifies, that the Medicine I direct is described in +the Table of Remedies, according to the Number annexed to that +Character. Thus when we find directed, in any Page of the Book, the warm +Infusion *No. 1*; in some other, the Ptisan *No. 2*; or in a third, the +Almond Milk, or Emulsion *No. 4*, it signifies, that such Prescriptions +will be found at the Numbers 1, 2, and 4; and this Table is printed at +the End of the Book._ + +_If, instead of forming this Table, and thus referring to the +Prescriptions by their Numbers, I had repeated each Prescription as +often as I directed it, this Treatise must have been doubled in Bulk, +and insufferably tiresome to peruse. I must repeat here, what I have +already said in the former Edition, that the [5] Prices of the +Medicines, or of a great Number of them, are those at which the +Apothecaries may afford them, without any Loss, to a Peasant in humble +Circumstances. But it should be remembered, they are not set down at the +full Prices which they may handily demand; since that would be unjust +for some to insist on them at. Besides, there is no Kind of Tax in +*Swisserland*, and I have no Right to impose one._ + + [5] The Reasons for omitting the Prices _here_, may be seen Page 23 of + this Translation. + +_The Citations of the second Kind are very plain and simple. The whole +Work is divided into numbered Paragraphs distinguished by the Mark Sec.. +And not to swell it with needless Repetitions, when in one Place I might +have even pertinently repeated something already observed, instead of +such Repetition at Length, I have only referred to the Paragraph, where +it had been observed. Thus, for Example when we read Page 81, Sec. 50 +--*When the Disease is so circumstanced as we have described*, Sec. 46,-- +this imports that, not to repeat the Description already given, I refer +the Reader to that last Sec. for it._ + +_The Use of these Citations is not the least Innovation, and extremely +commodious and easy: but were there only a single Reader likely to be +puzzled by them, I ought not to omit this Explanation of them, as I can +expect to be generally useful, only in Proportion as I am clear: and it +must be obvious, that a Desire of being extensively useful is the sole +Motive of this Work. I have long since had the Happiness of knowing, +that some charitable and intelligent Persons have applied the Directions +it contains, with extraordinary Success, even in violent Diseases: And I +shall arrive at the Height of my Wishes, if I continue to be informed, +that it contributes to alleviate the Sufferings, and to prolong the +Days, of my rational Fellow Creatures._ + +_N. B._ A Small Blank occurring conveniently here in the Impression, the +Translator of this Work has employed it to insert the following proper +Remark, _viz._ + +Whenever the Tea or Infusion of the Lime-tree is directed in the Body of +the Book, which it often is, the _Flowers_ are always meant, and not the +_Leaves_; though by an Error of the Press, or perhaps rather by an +Oversight of the Transcribers of this Version, it is printed _Leaves_ +instead of _Flowers_ P. 392, as noted and corrected in the _Errata_. +These Flowers are easily procurable here, meerly for gathering, in most +Country Places in _July_, as few Walks, Vistas, &c. are without these +Trees, planted for the pleasant Shade they afford, and to keep off the +Dust in Summer, though the Leaf drops rather too early for this Purpose. +Their Flowers have an agreeable Flavour, which is communicated to Water +by Infusion, and rises with it in Distillation. They were, to the best +of my Recollection, an Ingredient in the antiepileptic Water of +_Langius_, omitted in our late Dispensatories of the College. They are +an Ingredient in the antiepileptic Powder, in the List of Medicines in +the present Practice of the _Hotel Dieu_ at _Paris_: and we think were +in a former Prescription of our _Pulvis de Gutteta_, or Powder against +Convulsions. Indeed they are considered, by many medical Writers, as a +Specific in all Kinds of Spasms and Pains; and __Hoffman__ affirms, he +knew a very tedious Epilepsy cured by the Use of an Infusion of these +Flowers. + +I also take this Opportunity of adding, that as this Translation is +intended for the Attention and the Benefit of the Bulk of the +Inhabitants of the _British_ Empire, I have been careful not to admit +any Gallicisms into it; as such might render it either less +intelligible, or less agreeable to its Readers. If but a single one +occurs, I either have printed it, or did intend it should be printed, +distinguishably in Italics. _K._ + + + + + __Introduction.__ + + +The Decrease of the Number of Inhabitants, in most of the States of +Europe, is a Fact, which impresses every reflecting Person, and is +become such a general Complaint, as is but too well established on plain +Calculations. This Decrease is most remarkable in Country Places. It is +owing to many Causes; and I shall think myself happy, if I can +contribute to remove one of the greatest of them, which is the +pernicious Manner of treating sick People in Country Places. This is my +sole Object, tho' I may be excused perhaps for pointing out the other +concurring Causes, which may be all included within these two general +Affirmations; That greater Numbers than usual emigrate from the Country; +and that the People increase less every where. + +There are many Sorts of Emigration. Some leave their Country to enlist +in the Service of different States by Sea and Land; or to be differently +employ'd abroad, some as Traders, others as Domestics, _&c._ + +Military Service, by Land or Sea, prevents Population in various +Respects. In the first Place, the Numbers going abroad are always less, +often _much_ less, than those who return. General Battles, with all the +Hazards and Fatigues of War; detached Encounters, bad Provisions, Excess +in drinking and eating, Diseases that are the Consequences of Debauches, +the Disorders that are peculiar to the Country; epidemical, pestilential +or contagious Distempers, caused by the unwholsome Air of Flanders, +Holland, Italy and Hungary; long Cruises, Voyages to the East or West +Indies, to Guinea, &c. destroy a great Number of Men. The Article of +Desertion also, the Consequences of which they dread on returning home, +disposes many to abandon their Country for ever. Others, on quitting the +Service, take up with such Establishments, as it has occasionally thrown +in their Way; and which necessarily prevent their Return. But in the +second Place, supposing they were all to come back, their Country +suffers equally from their Absence; as this very generally happens +during that Period of Life, when they are best adapted for Propagation; +since that Qualification on their Return is impaired by Age, by +Infirmities and Debauches: and even when they do marry, the Children +often perish as Victims to the Excesses and Irregularities of their +Fathers: they are weak, languishing, distempered, and either die young, +or live incapable of being useful to Society. Besides, that the +prevailing Habit of Libertinage, which many have contracted, prevents +several of them from marrying at all. But notwithstanding all these +inconvenient Consequences are real and notorious; yet as the Number of +those, who leave their Country on these Accounts, is limited, and indeed +rather inconsiderable, if compared with the Number of Inhabitants which +must remain at home: as it may be affirmed too, that this relinquishing +of their Country, may have been even necessary at some Times, and may +become so again, if the Causes of Depopulation should cease, this kind +of Emigration is doubtless the least grievous of any, and the last which +may require a strict Consideration. + +But that abandoning of their Country, or _Expatriation_, as it may be +termed, the Object of which is a Change of the Emigrants Condition, is +more to be considered, being more numerous. It is attended with many and +peculiar Inconveniencies, and is unhappily become an epidemical Evil, +the Ravages of which are still increasing; and that from one simple +ridiculous Source, which is this; that the Success of one Individual +determines a hundred to run the same Risque, ninety and nine of whom may +probably be disappointed. They are struck with the apparent Success of +one, and are ignorant of the Miscarriage of others. Suppose a hundred +Persons might have set out ten Years ago, to _seek their Fortune_, as +the saying is, at the End of six Months they are all forgotten, except +by their Relations; but if one should return the same Year, with more +Money than his own Fortune, more than he set out with; or if one of them +has got a moderate Place with little Work, the whole Country rings with +it, as a Subject of general Entertainment. A Croud of young People are +seduced by this and sally forth, because not one reflects, that of the +ninety nine, who set out with the hundredth Person, one half has +perished, many are miserable, and the Remainder come back, without +having gained any thing, but an Incapacity to employ themselves usefully +at home, and in their former Occupations: and having deprived their +Country of a great many Cultivaters, who, from the Produce of the Lands, +would have attracted considerable Sums of Money, and many comfortable +Advantages to it. In short, the very small Proportion who succeed, are +continually talked of; the Croud that sink are perpetually forgot. This +is a very great and real Evil, and how shall it be prevented? It would +be sufficient perhaps to publish the extraordinary Risque, which may be +easily demonstrated: It would require nothing more than to keep an exact +yearly Register of all these Adventurers, and, at the Expiration of six, +eight, or ten Years, to publish the List, with the Fate, of every +Emigrant. I am greatly deceived, or at the End of a certain Number of +Years, we should not see such Multitudes forsake their native Soil, in +which they might live comfortably by working, to go in Search of +Establishments in others; the Uncertainty of which, such Lists would +demonstrate to them; and also prove, how preferable their Condition in +their own Country would have been, to that they have been reduced to. +People would no longer set out, but on almost certain Advantages: fewer +would undoubtedly emigrate, more of whom, from that very Circumstance, +must succeed. Meeting with fewer of their Country-men abroad, these +fortunate few would oftner return. By this Means more Inhabitants would +remain in the Country, more would return again, and bring with them more +Money to it. The State would be more populous, more rich and happy; as +the Happiness of a People, who live on a fruitful Soil, depends +essentially on a great Number of Inhabitants, with a moderate Quantity +of pecuniary Riches. + +But the Population of the Country is not only necessarily lessened, in +Consequence of the Numbers that leave it; but even those who remain +increase less, than an equal Number formerly did. Or, which amounts to +the same Thing, among the same Number of Persons, there are fewer +Marriages than formerly; and the same Number of Marriages produce fewer +Christenings. I do not enter upon a Detail of the Proofs, since merely +looking about us must furnish a sufficient Conviction of the Truth of +them. What then are the Causes of this? There are two capital ones, +Luxury and Debauchery, which are Enemies to Population on many Accounts. + +Luxury compells the wealthy Man, who would make a Figure; and the Man of +a moderate Income, but who is his equal in every other Respect, and who +_will_ imitate him, to be afraid of a numerous Family; the Education of +which must greatly contract that Expence he had devoted to Parade and +Ostentation: And besides, if he must divide his Estate among a great +many Children, each of them would have but a little, and be unable to +keep up the State and the Train of the Father's. Since Merit is unjustly +estimated by exterior Shew and Expence, one must of Course endeavour to +attain for himself, and to leave his Children in, a Situation capable of +supporting that Expence. Hence the fewer Marriages of People who are not +opulent, and the fewer Children among People who marry. + +Luxury is further prejudicial to the Increase of the People, in another +Respect. The irregular Manner of Life which it introduces, depresses +Health; it ruins the Constitutions, and thus sensibly affects +Procreation. The preceding Generation counted some Families with more +than twenty Children: the living one less than twenty Cousins. Very +unfortunately this Way of thinking and acting, so preventive of +Increase, has extended itself even into Villages: and they are no longer +convinced there, that the Number of Children makes the Riches of the +Countryman. Perhaps the next Generation will scarcely be acquainted with +the Relation of Brotherhood. + +A third Inconvenience of Luxury is, that the Rich retreat from the +Country to live in Cities; and by multiplying their Domestics there, +they drain the former. This augmented Train is prejudicial to the +Country, by depriving it of Cultivaters, and by diminishing Population. +These Domestics, being seldom sufficiently employed, contract the Habit +of Laziness; and they prove incapable of returning to that Country +Labour, for which Nature intended them. Being deprived of this Resource +they scarcely ever marry, either from apprehending the Charge of +Children, or from their becoming Libertines; and sometimes, because many +Masters will not employ married Servants. Or should any of them marry, +it is often in the Decline of Life, whence the State must have the fewer +Citizens. + +Idleness of itself weakens them, and disposes them to those Debauches, +which enfeeble them still more. They never have more than a few +Children, and these sickly; such as have not Strength to cultivate the +Ground; or who, being brought up in Cities, have an Aversion to the +Country. + +Even those among them who are more prudent, who preserve their Morals, +and make some Savings, being accustomed to a City Life, and dreading the +Labour of a Country one (of the Regulation of which they are also +ignorant) chuse to become little Merchants, or Tradesmen; and this must +be a Drawback from Population, as any Number of Labourers beget more +Children than an equal Number of Citizens; and also by Reason, that out +of any given Number, more Children die in Cities, than in the Country. + +The same Evils also prevail, with Regard to female Servants. After ten +or twelve Years Servitude, the Maid-Servants in Cities cannot acquit +themselves as good Country Servants: and such of them as chuse this +Condition, quickly fail under that Kind or Quantity of Work, for which +they are no longer constituted. Should we see a Woman married in the +Country, a Year after leaving Town, it is easy to observe, how much that +Way of living in the Country has broke her. Frequently their first +Child-bed, in which Term they have not all the Attendance their Delicacy +demands, proves the Loss of their Health; they remain in a State of +Languor, of Feebleness, and of Decay: they have no more Children; and +this renders their Husbands unuseful towards the Population of the +State. + +Abortions, Infants carried out of their Country after a concealed +Pregnancy, and the Impossibility of their getting Husbands afterwards, +are frequently the Effects of their Libertinage. + +It is to be apprehended too these bad Effects are rather increasing with +us; since, either for want of sufficient Numbers, or from oeconomical +Views, it has become a Custom, instead of Women Servants, to employ +Children, whose Manners and whole Constitutions are not yet formed; and +who are ruined in the same Manner, by their Residence in Town, by their +Laziness, by bad Examples, and bad Company. + +Doubtless much remains still unsaid on these important Heads; but +besides my Intention not to swell this Treatise immoderately, and the +many Avocations, which prevent me from launching too far into what may +be less within the Bounds of Medicine, I should be fearful of digressing +too far from my Subject. What I have hitherto said however, I think +cannot be impertinent to it; since in giving Advice to the People, with +Regard to their Health, it was necessary to display to them the Causes +that impaired it: though what I might be able to add further on this +Head, would probably be thought more remote from the Subject. + +I shall add then but a single Hint on the Occasion. Is it not +practicable, in Order to remedy those Evils which we cannot prevent, to +select some particular Part or Canton of the Country, wherein we should +endeavour by Rewards, _1st._ Irremoveably to fix all the Inhabitants. +_2dly._ To encourage them by other Rewards to a plentiful and legitimate +Increase. They should not be permitted to go out of it, which must +prevent them from being exposed to the Evils I have mentioned. They +should by no means intermarry with any Strangers, who might introduce +such Disorders among them. Thus very probably this Canton, after a +certain Time, would become even over-peopled, and might send out +Colonies to the others. + +One Cause, still more considerable than those we have already mention'd, +has, to this very Moment, prevented the Increase of the People in +France. This is the Decay of Agriculture. The Inhabitants of the +Country, to avoid serving in the Militia; to elude the Days-Service +impos'd by their Lords, and the Taxes; and being attracted to the City +by the Hopes of Interest, by Laziness and Libertinage, have left the +Country nearly deserted. Those who remain behind, either not being +encouraged to work, or not being sufficient for what there is to do, +content themselves with cultivating just as much as is absolutely +necessary for their Subsistence. They have either lived single, or +married but late; or perhaps, after the Example of the Inhabitants of +the Cities, they have refused to fulfil their Duty to Nature, to the +State, and to a Wife. The Country deprived of Tillers, by this +Expatriation and Inactivity, has yielded nothing; and the Depopulation +of the State has daily increased, from the reciprocal and necessary +Proportion between Subsistence and Population, and because Agriculture +alone can increase Subsistence. A single Comparison will sufficiently +evince the Truth and the Importance of these Principles, to those who +have not seen them already divulged and demonstrated in the Works of +the [6] Friend of Man. + + [6] The Marquis of Mirabeau. + +"An old Roman, who was always ready to return to the Cultivation of his +Field, subsisted himself and his Family from one Acre of Land. A Savage, +who neither sows nor cultivates, consumes, in his single Person, as much +Game as requires fifty Acres to feed them. Consequently _Tullus +Hostilius_, on a thousand Acres, might have five thousand Subjects: +while a Savage Chief, limited to the same Extent of Territory, could +scarcely have twenty: such an immense Disproportion does Agriculture +furnish, in Favour of Population. Observe these two great Extremes. A +State becomes dispeopled or peopled in that Proportion, by which it +recedes from one of these Methods, and approaches to the other." Indeed +it is evident, that wherever there is an Augmentation of Subsistence, an +Increase of Population will soon follow; which again will still further +facilitate the Increase of Provisions. In a State thus circumstanced Men +will abound, who, after they have furnished sufficient Numbers for the +Service of War, of Commerce, of Religion, and for Arts and Professions +of every kind, will further also furnish a Source for Colonies, who will +extend the Name and the Prosperity of their Nation to distant Regions. +There will ensue a Plenty of Commodities, the Superfluity of which will +be exported to other Countries, to exchange for other Commodities, that +are not produced at home; and the Balance, being received in Money, will +make the Nation rich, respectable by its Neighbours, and happy. +Agriculture, vigorously pursued, is equal to the Production of all these +Benefits; and the present Age will enjoy the Glory of restoring it, by +favouring and encouraging Cultivaters, and by forming Societies for the +Promotion of Agriculture. + +I proceed at length to the fourth Cause of Depopulation, which is the +Manner of treating sick People in the Country. This has often affected +me with the deepest Concern. I have been a Witness, that Maladies, +which, in themselves, would have been gentle, have proved mortal from a +pernicious Treatment: I am convinced that this Cause alone makes as +great a Havock as the former; and certainly it requires the utmost +Attention of Physicians, whose Duty it is to labour for the Preservation +of Mankind. While we are employing our assiduous Cares on the more +polished and fashionable Part of them in Cities, the larger and more +useful Moiety perish in the Country; either by particular, or by highly +epidemical, Diseases, which, within a few Years past, have appeared in +different Villages, and made no small Ravages. This afflicting +Consideration has determined me to publish this little Work, which is +solely intended for those Patients, who, by their Distance from +Physicians, are deprived of their Assistance. I shall not give a Detail +of my Plan, which is very simple, in this Part; but content myself with +affirming, I have used my utmost Care to render it the most useful I +possibly could: and I dare hope, that if I have not fully displayed its +utmost Advantages, I have at least sufficiently shewn those pernicious +Methods of treating Diseases, that should incontestably be avoided. I am +thoroughly convinced, the Design might be accomplished more compleatly +than I have done it; but those who are so capable of, do not attempt, +it: I happen to be less timid; and I hope that thinking Persons will +rather take it in good part of me, to have published a Book, the +composing of which is rather disagreeable from its very Facility; from +the minute Details, which however are indispensable; and from the +Impossibility of discussing any Part of it (consistently with the Plan) +to the Bottom of the Subject; or of displaying any new and useful +Prospect. It may be compared, in some Respects, to the Works of a +spiritual Guide, who was to write a Catechism for little Children. + +At the same time I am not ignorant there have already been a few Books +calculated for Country Patients, who are remote from Succour: but some +of these, tho' published with a very good Purpose, produce a bad Effect. +Of this kind are all Collections of Receipts or Remedies, without the +least Description of the Disease; and of Course without just Directions +for the Exhibition, or Application, of them. Such, for Example, is the +famous Collection of Madam _Fouquet_, and some more in the same manner. +Some others approach towards my Plan; but many of them have taken in too +many Distempers, whence they are become too voluminous. Besides, they +have not dwelt sufficiently upon the Signs of the Diseases; upon their +Causes; the general Regimen in them, and the Mismanagement of them. +Their Receipts are not generally as simple, and as easy to prepare, as +they ought to be. In short, the greater Part of their Writers seem, as +they advanced, to have grown tired of their melancholy Task, and to have +hurried them out too expeditiously. There are but two of them, which I +must name with Respect, and which being proposed on a Plan very like my +own, are executed in a superior Manner, that merits the highest +Acknowlegements of the Publick. One of these Writers is M. _Rosen_, +first Physician of the Kingdom of _Sweden_; who, some Years since, +employed his just Reputation to render the best Services to his Country +Men. He has made them retrench from the Almanacs those ridiculous Tales; +those extraordinary Adventures; those pernicious astrological +Injunctions, which there, as well as here, answer no End, but that of +keeping up Ignorance, Credulity, Superstition, and the falsest +Prejudices on the interesting Articles of Health, of Diseases, and of +Remedies. He has also taken Care to publish simple plain Treatises on +the most popular Distempers; which he has substituted in the Place of +the former Heap of Absurdities. These concise Works however, which +appear annually in their Almanacs, are not yet translated from the +_Swedish_, so that I was unqualified to make any Extracts from them. The +other is the Baron _Van Swieten_, first Physician to their Imperial +Majesties, who, about two Years since, has effected for the Use of the +Army, what I now attempt for sick People in the Country. Though my Work +was greatly advanced, when I first saw his, I have taken some Passages +from it: and had our Plans been exactly alike, I should imagine I had +done the Publick more Service by endeavouring to extend the Reading of +his Book, than by publishing a new one. Nevertheless, as he is silent on +many Articles, of which I have treated diffusively; as he has treated of +many Distempers, which did not come within my Plan; and has said nothing +of some others which I could not omit; our two Works, without entering +into the Particulars of the superior Merit of the Baron's, are very +different, with Regard to the Subject of the Diseases; tho' in such as +we have both considered, I account it an Honour to me to find, we have +almost constantly proceeded upon the same Principles. + +The present Work is by no means addressed to such Physicians, as are +thoroughly accomplished in their Profession; yet possibly, besides my +particular medical Friends, some others may read it. I beg the Favour of +all such fully to consider the Intention, the Spirit, of the Author, and +not to censure him, as a Physician, from the Composition of this Book. I +even advise them here rather to forbear perusing it; as a Production, +that can teach them nothing. Such as read, in order to criticize, will +find a much greater Scope for exercising that Talent on the other +Pamphlets I have published. It were certainly unjust that a Performance, +whose sole abstracted Object is the Health and Service of my Countrymen, +should subject me to any disagreeable Consequences: and a Writer may +fairly plead an Exemption from any Severity of Censure, who has had the +Courage to execute a Work, which cannot pretend to a Panegyric. + +Having premised thus much in general, I must enter into some Detail of +those Means, that seem the most likely to me, to facilitate the +beneficial Consequences, which, I hope, may result to others, from my +present Endeavours. I shall afterwards give an Explanation of some Terms +which I could not avoid using, and which, perhaps, are not generally +understood. + +The Title of _Advice to the People_, was not suggested to me by an +Illusion, which might persuade me, this Book would become a Piece of +Furniture, as it were, in the House of every Peasant. Nineteen out of +twenty will probably never know of its Existence. Many may be unable to +read, and still more unable to understand, it, plain and simple as it +is. I have principally calculated it for the Perusal of intelligent and +charitable Persons, who live in the Country; and who seem to have, as it +were, a Call from Providence, to assist their less intelligent poor +Neighbours with their Advice. + +It is obvious, that the first Gentlemen I have my Eye upon, are the +Clergy. There is not a single Village, a Hamlet, nor even the House of +an Alien in the Country, that has not a Right to the good Offices of +some one of this Order; And I assure myself there are a great Number of +them, who, heartily affected with the Distress of their ailing Flocks, +have wished many hundred Times, that it were in their Power to give +their Parishioners some bodily Help, at the very Time they were +disposing them to prepare for Death; or so far to delay the Fatality of +the Distemper, that the Sick might have an Opportunity of living more +religiously afterwards. I shall think myself happy, if such truly +respectable Ecclesiastics shall find any Resources in this Performance, +that may conduce to the Accomplishment of their beneficent Intentions. +Their Regard, their Love for their People; their frequent Invitations to +visit their principal Neighbours; their Duty to root out all +unreasonable Prejudices, and Superstition; their Charity, their +Learning; the Facility, with which their general Knowlege in Physics, +qualifies them to comprehend thoroughly all the medical Truths, and +Contents of this Piece, are so many Arguments to convince me, that they +will have the greatest Influence to procure that Reformation, in the +Administration of Physick to poor Country People, which is so necessary, +so desirable, an Object. + +In the next Place, I dare assure myself of the Concurrence of Gentlemen +of Quality and Opulence, in their different Parishes and Estates, whose +Advice is highly regarded by their Inferiors; who are so powerfully +adapted to discourage a wrong, and to promote a right Practice, of which +they will easily discern all the Advantages. The many Instances I have +seen of their entering, with great Facility, into all the Plan and +Conduct of a Cure; their Readiness and even Earnestness to comfort the +Sick in their Villages; and the Generosity with which they prevent their +Necessities, induce me to hope, from judging of these I have not the +Pleasure to know, by those whom I have, that they will eagerly embrace +an Opportunity of promoting a new Method of doing good in their +Neighbourhood. Real Charity will apprehend the great Probability there +is of doing Mischief, tho' with the best Intention, for want of a proper +Knowledge of material Circumstances; and the very Fear of that Mischief +may sometimes suspend the Exercise of such Charity; notwithstanding it +must seize, with the most humane Avidity, every Light that can +contribute to its own beneficent Exertion. + +Thirdly, Persons who are rich, or at least in easy Circumstances, whom +their Disposition, their Employments, or the Nature of their Property, +fixes in the Country, where they are happy in doing good, must be +delighted to have some proper Directions for the Conduct and +Effectuation of their charitable Intentions. + +In every Village, where there are any Persons, of these three +Conditions, they are always readily apprized of the Distempers in it, by +their poor Neighbours coming to intreat a little Soup, Venice Treacle, +Wines, Biscuits, or any thing they imagine necessary for their sick +Folks. In Consequence of some Questions to the Bystanders, or of a Visit +to the sick Person, they will judge at least of _what kind_ the Disease +is; and by their prudent Advice they may be able to prevent a Multitude +of Evils. They will give them some Nitre instead of Venice Treacle; +Barley, or sweet Whey, in lieu of Soup. They will advise them to have +Recourse to Glysters, or Bathings of their Feet, rather than to Wine; +and order them Gruel rather than Biscuits. A man would scarcely believe, +'till after the Expiration of a few Years, how much Good might be +effected by such proper Regards, so easily comprehended, and often +repeated. At first indeed there may be some Difficulty in eradicating +old Prejudices, and inveterately bad Customs; but whenever these were +removed, good Habits would strike forth full as strong Roots, and I hope +that no Person would be inclined to destroy them. + +It may be unnecessary to declare, that I have more Expectation from the +Care and Goodness of the Ladies, than from those of their Spouses, their +Fathers, or Brothers. A more active Charity, a more durable Patience, a +more domestic Life; a Sagacity, which I have greatly admired in many +Ladies both in Town and Country, that disposes them to observe, with +great Exactness; and to unravel, as it were, the secret Causes of the +Symptoms, with a Facility that would do Honour to very good Practioners, +and with a Talent adapted to engage the Confidence of the Patient:--All +these, I say, are so many characteristical Marks of their Vocation in +this important and amicable Duty; nor are there a few, who fulfil it +with a Zeal, that merits the highest Commendation, and renders them +excellent Models for the Imitation of others. + +Those who are intrusted with the Education of Youth, may also be +supposed sufficiently intelligent to take some Part in this Work; and I +am satisfied that much Good might result from their undertaking it. I +heartily wish, they would not only study to _distinguish the Distemper_ +(in which the principal, but by no means an insuperable Difficulty +consists; and to which I hope I have considerably put them in the Way) +but I would have them learn also the Manner of applying Remedies. Many +of them have; I have known some who bleed, and who have given Glysters +very expertly. This however all may easily learn; and perhaps it would +not be imprudent, if the Art of bleeding well and safely were reckoned a +necessary Qualification, when they are examined for their Employment. +These Faculties, that of estimating the Degree of a Fever, and how to +apply and to dress Blisters, may be of great Use within the +Neighbourhood of their Residence. Their Schools, which are not +frequently over-crouded, employ but a few of their daily Hours; the +greater part of them have no Land to cultivate; and to what better Use +can they apply their Leisure, than to the Assistance and Comfort of the +Sick? The moderate Price of their Service may be so ascertained, as to +incommode no Person; and this little Emolument might render their own +Situation the more agreeable: besides which, these little Avocations +might prevent their being drawn aside sometimes, by Reason of their +Facility and frequent Leisure, so as to contract a Habit of drinking too +often. Another Benefit would also accrue from accustoming them to this +kind of Practice, which is, that being habituated to the Care of sick +People, and having frequent Occasions to write, they would be the better +qualify'd, in difficult Cases, to advise with those, who were thought +further necessary to be consulted. + +Doubtless, even among Labourers, there may be many, for some such I have +known, who being endued with good natural Sense and Judgment, and +abounding with Benevolence, will read this Book with Attention, and +eagerly extend the Maxims and the Methods it recommends. + +And finally I hope that many Surgeons, who are spread about the Country, +and who practice Physic in their Neighbourhood, will peruse it; will +carefully enter into the Principles established in it, and will conform +to its Directions; tho' a little different perhaps from such as they may +have hitherto practiced. They will perceive a Man may learn at any Age, +and of any Person; and it may be hoped they will not think it too much +Trouble to reform some of their Notions in a Science, which is not +properly within their Profession (and to the Study of which they were +never instituted) by those of a Person, who is solely employed in it, +and who has had many Assistances of which they are deprived. + +Midwives may also find their Attendance more efficacious, as soon as +they are thoroughly disposed to be better informed. + +It were heartily to be wished, that the greater Part of them had been +better instructed in the Art they profess. The Instances of Mischief +that might have been avoided, by their being better qualify'd, are +frequent enough to make us wish there may be no Repetition of them, +which it may be possible to prevent. Nothing seems impossible, when +Persons in Authority are zealously inclined to prevent every such Evil; +and it is time they should be properly informed of one so essentially +hurtful to Society. + +The Prescriptions I have given consist of the most simple Remedies, and +I have adjoined the Manner of preparing them so fully, that I hope no +Person can be at any Loss in that Respect. At the same time, that no one +may imagine they are the less useful and efficacious for their +Simplicity, I declare, they are the same I order in the City for the +most opulent Patients. This Simplicity is founded in Nature: the +Mixture, or rather the Confusion, of a Multitude of Drugs is ridiculous. +If they have the very same Virtues, for what Purpose are they blended? +It were more judicious to confine ourselves to that, which is the most +effectual. If their Virtues are different, the Effect of one destroys, +or lessens, the Effect of the other; and the Medicine ceases to prove a +Remedy. + +I have given no Direction, which is not very practicable and easy to +execute; nevertheless it will be discernible, that some few are not +calculated for the Multitude, which I readily grant. However I have +given them, because I did not lose Sight of some Persons; who, tho' not +strictly of the Multitude, or Peasantry, do live in the Country, and +cannot always procure a Physician as soon, or for as long a Time, as +they gladly would. + +A great Number of the Remedies are entirely of the Country Growth, and +may be prepared there; but there are others, which must be had from the +Apothecaries. I have set down the Price [7] at which I am persuaded all +the Country Apothecaries will retail them to a Peasant, who is not +esteemed a rich one. I have marked the Price, not from any Apprehension +of their being imposed on in the Purchase, for this I do not apprehend; +but, that seeing the Cheapness of the Prescription, they may not be +afraid to buy it. The necessary Dose of the Medicine, for each Disease, +may generally be purchased for less Money than would be expended on +Meat, Wine, Biscuits, and other improper things. But should the Price of +the Medicine, however moderate, exceed the Circumstances of the Sick, +doubtless the Common Purse, or the Poors-Box will defray it: moreover +there are in many Country Places Noblemens Houses, some of whom +charitably contribute an annual Sum towards buying of Medicines for poor +Patients. Without adding to which Sum, I would only intreat the Favour +of each of them to alter the Objects of it, and to allow their sick +Neighbours the Remedies and the Regimen directed here, instead of such +as they formerly distributed among them. + + [7] This oeconomical Information was doubtless very proper, where our + judicious and humane Author published it; but notwithstanding his + excellent Motives for giving it, we think it less necessary here, + where many Country Gentlemen furnish themselves with larger or + smaller Medicine Chests, for the Benefit of their poor sick + Neighbours; and in a Country, where the settled parochial Poor are + provided with Medicines, as well as other Necessaries, at a + parochial Expence. Besides, tho' we would not suppose our Country + Apothecaries less considerate or kind than others, we acknowledge + our Apprehension, that in such Valuation of their Drugs (some of + which often vary in their Price) might dispose a few of them, + rather to discountenance the Extension of a Work, so well intended + and executed as Dr. _Tissot's_; a Work, which may not be wholly + unuseful to some of the most judicious among them, and will be + really necessary for the rest. _K._ + +It may still be objected, that many Country Places are very distant from +large Towns; from which Circumstance a poor Peasant is incapable of +procuring himself a seasonable and necessary Supply in his Illness. I +readily admit, that, in Fact, there are many Villages very remote from +such Places as Apothecaries reside in. Yet, if we except a few among the +Mountains, there are but very few of them above three or four Leagues +from some little Town, where there always lives some Surgeon, or some +Vender of Drugs. Perhaps however, even at this Time, indeed, there may +not be many thus provided; but they will take care to furnish themselves +with such Materials, as soon as they have a good Prospect of selling +them, which may constitute a small, but new, Branch of Commerce for +them. I have carefully set down the Time, for which each Medicine will +keep, without spoiling. There is a very frequent Occasion for some +particular ones, and of such the School-masters may lay in a Stock. I +also imagine, if they heartily enter into my Views, they will furnish +themselves with such Implements, as may be necessary in the Course of +their Attendance. If any of them were unable to provide themselves with +a sufficient Number of good Lancets, an _Apparatus_ for Cupping, and a +Glyster Syringe (for want of which last a Pipe and Bladder may be +occasionally substituted) the Parish might purchase them, and the same +Instruments might do for the succeeding School-master. It is hardly to +be expected, that all Persons in that Employment would be able, or even +inclined, to learn the Way of using them with Address; but one Person +who did, might be sufficient for whatever Occasions should occur in this +Way in some contiguous Villages; with very little Neglect of their +Functions among their Scholars. + +Daily Instances of Persons, who come from different Parts to consult me, +without being capable of answering the Questions I ask them, and the +like Complaints of many other Physicians on the same Account, engaged me +to write the last Chapter of this Work. I shall conclude this +Introduction with some Remarks, necessary to facilitate the Knowledge of +a few Terms, which were unavoidable in the Course of it. + +The Pulse commonly beats in a Person in good Health, from the Age of +eighteen or twenty to about sixty six Years, between sixty and seventy +Times in a Minute. It sometimes comes short of this in old Persons, and +in very young Children it beats quicker: until the Age of three or four +Years the Difference amounts at least to a third; after which it +diminishes by Degrees. + +An intelligent Person, who shall often touch and attend to his own +Pulse, and frequently to other Peoples, will be able to judge, with +sufficient Exactness, of the Degree of a Fever in a sick Person. If the +Strokes are but one third above their Number in a healthy State, the +Fever is not very violent: which it is, as often as it amounts to half +as many more as in Health. It is very highly dangerous, and may be +generally pronounced mortal, when there are two Strokes in the Time of +one. We must not however judge of the Pulse, solely by its Quickness, +but by its Strength or Weakness; its Hardness or Softness; and the +Regularity or Irregularity of it. + +There is no Occasion to define the strong and the feeble Pulse. The +Strength of it generally affords a good Prognostic, and, supposing it +too strong, it may easily be lowered. The weak Pulse is often very +menacing. + +If the Pulse, in meeting the Touch, excites the Notion of a dry Stroke, +as though the Artery consisted of Wood, or of some Metal, we term it +_hard_; the opposite to which is called _soft_, and generally promises +better. If it be strong and yet soft, even though it be quick, it may be +considered as a very hopeful Circumstance. But if it is strong and hard, +that commonly is a Token of an Inflammation, and indicates Bleeding and +the cooling Regimen. Should it be, at the same time, small, quick and +hard, the Danger is indeed very pressing. + +We call that Pulse regular, a continued Succession of whole Strokes are +made in equal Intervals of Time; and in which Intervals, not a single +Stroke is wanting (since if that is its State, it is called an +intermitting Pulse.) The Beats or Pulsations are also supposed to +resemble each other so exactly in Quality too, that one is not strong, +and the next alternately feeble. + +As long as the State of the Pulse is promising; Respiration or Breathing +is free; the Brain does not seem to be greatly affected; while the +Patient takes his Medicines, and they are attended with the Consequence +that was expected; and he both preserves his Strength pretty well, and +continues sensible of his Situation, we may reasonably hope for his +Cure. As often as all, or the greater Number of these characterizing +Circumstances are wanting, he is in very considerable Danger. + +The Stoppage of Perspiration is often mentioned in the Course of this +Work. We call the Discharge of that Fluid which continually passes off +through the Pores of the Skin, _Transpiration_; and which, though +invisible, is very considerable. For if a Person in Health eats and +drinks to the Weight of eight Pounds daily, he does not discharge four +of them by Stool and Urine together, the Remainder passing off by +insensible Transpiration. It may easily be conceived, that if so +considerable a Discharge is stopt, or considerably lessened; and if this +Fluid, which ought to transpire through the Skin, should be transfered +to any inward Part, it must occasion some dangerous Complaint. In fact +this is one of the most frequent Causes of Diseases. + +To conclude very briefly--All the Directions in the following Treatise +are solely designed for such Patients, as cannot have the Attendance of +a Physician. I am far from supporting, they ought to do instead of one, +even in those Diseases, of which I have treated in the fullest Manner; +and the Moment a Physician arrives, they ought to be laid aside. The +Confidence reposed in him should be entire, or there should be none. The +Success of the Event is founded in that. It is his Province to judge of +the Disease, to select Medicines against it; and it is easy to foresee +the Inconveniences that may follow, from proposing to him to consult +with any others, preferably to those he may chuse to consult with; only +because they have succeeded in the Treatment of another Patient, whose +Case they suppose to have been nearly the same with the present Case. +This were much the same, as to order a Shoemaker to make a Shoe for one +Foot by the Pattern of another Shoe, rather than by the Measure he has +just taken. + +_N. B._ Though a great Part of this judicious Introduction is less +applicable to the political Circumstances of the British Empire, than to +those of the Government for which it was calculated; we think the good +Sense and the unaffected Patriotism which animate it, will supersede any +Apology for our translating it. The serious Truth is this, that a +thorough Attention to Population seems never to have been more expedient +for ourselves, than after so bloody and expensive, though such a +glorious and successful War: while our enterprizing Neighbours, who will +never be our Friends, are so earnest to recruit their Numbers; to +increase their Agriculture; and to force a Vent for their Manufactures, +which cannot be considerably effected, without a sensible Detriment to +our own. Besides which, the unavoidable Drain from the People here, +towards an effectual Cultivation, Improvement, and Security of our +Conquests, demands a further Consideration. _K._ + + + + + _ADVICE_ _TO THE_ _PEOPLE_, + + + With Respect to their _HEALTH._ + + *__Chapter I.__* + + + + _Of the most usual Causes of popular Maladies._ + + + __Sect.__ 1. + +The most frequent Causes of Diseases commonly incident to Country People +are, 1. Excessive Labour, continued for a very considerable Time. +Sometimes they sink down at once in a State of Exhaustion and Faintness, +from which they seldom recover: but they are oftener attacked with some +inflammatory Disease; as a Quinsey, a Pleurisy, or an Inflammation of +the Breast. + +There are two Methods of preventing these Evils: one is, to avoid the +Cause which produces them; but this is frequently impossible. Another +is, when such excessive Labour has been unavoidable, to allay their +Fatigue, by a free Use of some temperate refreshing Drink; especially by +sweet Whey, by Butter-milk, or by [8] Water, to a Quart of which a +Wine-glass of Vinegar may be added; or, instead of that, the expressed +Juice of Grapes not fully ripe, or even of Goosberries or Cherries: +which wholesome and agreeable Liquors are refreshing and cordial. I +shall treat, a little lower, of inflammatory Disorders. The Inanition or +Emptiness, though accompanied with Symptoms different from the former, +have yet some Affinity to them with Respect to their Cause, which is a +kind of general Exsiccation or Dryness. I have known some cured from +this Cause by Whey, succeeded by tepid Baths, and afterwards by Cow's +Milk: for in such Cases hot Medicines and high Nourishment are fatal. + + [8] This supposes they are not greatly heated, as well as fatigued, by + their Labour or Exercise, in which Circumstance free and sudden + Draughts of cooling Liquors might be very pernicious: and it + evidently also supposes these Drinks to be thus given, rather in + Summer, than in very cold Weather, as the Juice of the unripe + Grapes, and the other fresh Fruits sufficiently ascertain the + Season of the Year. We think the Addition of Vinegar to their Water + will scarcely ever be necessary in this or the adjoining Island, on + such Occasions. The Caution recommended in this Note is abundantly + enforced by Dr. _Tissot_, Sec. 4: but considering the Persons, to whom + this Work is more particularly addressed, we were willing to + prevent every Possibility of a Mistake, in so necessary, and + sometimes so vital a Point. _K._ + +Sec. 2. There is another Kind of Exhaustion or Emptiness, which may be +termed real Emptiness, and is the Consequence of great Poverty, the Want +of sufficient Nourishment, bad Food, unwholesome Drink, and excessive +Labour. In Cases thus circumstanced, good Soups and a little Wine are +very proper. Such happen however very seldom in this Country: I believe +they are frequent in some others, especially in many Provinces of +_France_. + +Sec. 3. A second and very common Source of Disorders arises, from Peoples' +lying down and reposing, when very hot, in a cold Place. This at once +stops Perspiration, the Matter of which being thrown upon some internal +Part, proves the Cause of many violent Diseases, particularly of +Quinseys, Inflammations of the Breast, Pleurisies, and inflammatory +Cholics. These Evils, from this Cause, may always be avoided by avoiding +the Cause, which is one of those that destroy a great Number of People. +However, when it has occurred, as soon as the first Symptoms of the +Malady are perceiveable, which sometimes does not happen till several +Days after, the Patient should immediately be bled; his Legs should be +put into Water moderately hot, and he should drink plentifully of the +tepid Infusion marked No. 1. Such Assistances frequently prevent the +Increase of these Disorders; which, on the contrary, are greatly +aggravated, if hot Medicines are given to sweat the Patient. + +Sec. 4. A third Cause is drinking cold Water, when a Person is extremely +hot. This acts in the same Manner with the second; but its Consequences +are commonly more sudden and violent. I have seen most terrible Examples +of it, in Quinseys, Inflammations of the Breast, Cholics, Inflammations +of the Liver, and all the Parts of the Belly, with prodigious Swellings, +Vomitings, Suppressions of Urine, and inexpressible Anguish. The most +available Remedies in such Cases, from this Cause, are, a plentiful +Bleeding at the Onset, a very copious Drinking of warm Water, to which +one fifth Part of Whey should be added; or of the Ptisan No. 2, or of an +Emulsion of Almonds, all taken warm. Fomentations of warm Water should +also be applied to the Throat, the Breast and Belly, with Glysters of +the same, and a little Milk. In this Case, as well as in the preceding +one, (Sec. 3.) a _Semicupium_, or Half-bath of warm Water has sometimes +been attended with immediate Relief. It seems really astonishing, that +labouring People should so often habituate themselves to this pernicious +Custom, which they know to be so very dangerous to their very Beasts. +There are none of them, who will not prevent their Horses from drinking +while they are hot, especially if they are just going to put them up. +Each of them knows, that if he lets them drink in that State, they might +possibly burst with it; nevertheless he is not afraid of incurring the +like Danger himself. However, this is not the only Case, in which the +Peasant seems to have more Attention to the Health of his Cattle, than +to his own. + +Sec. 5. The fourth Cause, which indeed affects every Body, but more +particularly the Labourer, is, the Inconstancy of the Weather. We shift +all at once, many times a Day, from Hot to Cold, and from Cold to Hot, +in a more remarkable Manner, and more suddenly, than in most other +Countries. This makes Distempers from Defluxion and Cold so common with +us: and it should make us careful to go rather a little more warmly +cloathed, than the Season may seem to require; to have Recourse to our +Winter-cloathing early in Autumn, and not to part with it too early in +the Spring. Prudent Labourers, who strip while they are at Work, take +care to put on their Cloaths in the Evening when they return home. [9] +Those, who from Negligence, are satisfied with hanging them upon their +Country Tools, frequently experience, on their Return, the very unhappy +Effects of it. There are some, tho' not many Places, where the Air +itself is unwholsome, more from its particular Quality, than from its +Changes of Temperature, as at _Villeneuve_, and still more at _Noville_, +and in some other Villages situated among the Marshes which border on +the _Rhone_. These Countries are particularly subject to intermitting +Fevers; of which I shall treat briefly hereafter. + + [9] This good Advice is enforced in a Note, by the Editor of _Lyons_, + who observes, it should be still more closely attended to, in + Places, where Rivers, Woods or Mountains retain, as it were, a + considerable Humidity; and where the Evenings are, in every Season, + cold and moist.--It is a very proper Caution too in our own + variable Climate, and in many of our Colonies in North _America_. + _K._ + +Sec. 6. Such sudden Changes are often attended with great Showers of Rain, +and even cold Rain, in the Middle of a very hot Day; when the Labourer +who was bathed, as it were, in a hot Sweat, is at once moistened in cold +Water; which occasions the same Distempers, as the sudden Transition +from Heat to Cold, and requires the same Remedies. If the Sun or a hot +Air succeed immediately to such a Shower, the Evil is considerably +lighter: but if the Cold continues, many are often greatly incommoded by +it. + +A Traveller is sometimes thoroughly and unavoidably wet with Mud; the +ill Consequence of which is often inconsiderable, provided he changes +his Cloaths immediately, when he sets up. I have known fatal Pleurisies +ensue from omitting this Caution. Whenever the Body or the Limbs are +wet, nothing can be more useful than bathing them in warm Water. If the +Legs only have been wet, it may be sufficient to bath them. I have +radically, thoroughly, cured Persons subject to violent Cholics, as +often as their Feet were wet, by persuading them to pursue this Advice. +The Bath proves still more effectual, if a little Soap be dissolved in +it. + +Sec. 7. A fifth Cause, which is seldom attended to, probably indeed because +it produces less violent Consequences, and yet is certainly hurtful, is +the common Custom in all Villages, of having their Ditches or Dunghills +directly under their Windows. Corrupted Vapours are continually exhaling +from them, which in Time cannot fail of being prejudicial, and must +contribute to produce putrid diseases. Those who are accustomed to the +Smell, become insensible of it: but the Cause, nevertheless, does not +cease to be unwholesomly active; and such as are unused to it perceive +the Impression in all its Force. + +Sec. 8. There are some Villages, in which, after the Curtain Lines are +erased, watery marshy Places remain in the Room of them. The Effect of +this is still more dangerous, because that putrify'd Water, which +stagnates during the hot Season, suffers its Vapours to exhale more +easily, and more abundantly, than that in the Curtain Lines did. Having +set out for _Pully le Grand_, in 1759, on Account of an epidemical +putrid Fever which raged there, I was sensible, on traversing the +Village, of the Infection from those Marshes; nor could I doubt of their +being the Cause of this Disease, as well as of another like it, which +had prevailed there five Years before. In other Respects the Village is +wholesomly situated. It were to be wished such Accidents were obviated +by avoiding these stagnated Places; or, at least, by removing them and +the Dunghils, as far as possible from the Spot, where we live and lodge. + +Sec. 9. To this Cause may also be added the Neglect of the Peasants to air +their Lodgings. It is well known that too close an Air occasions the +most perplexing malignant Fevers; and the poor Country People respire no +other in their own Houses. Their Lodgings, which are very small, and +which notwithstanding inclose, (both Day and Night) the Father, Mother, +and seven or eight Children, besides some Animals, are never kept open +during six Months in the Year, and very seldom during the other six. I +have found the Air so bad in many of these Houses, that I am persuaded, +if their Inhabitants did not often go out into the free open Air, they +must all perish in a little Time. It is easy, however, to prevent all +the Evils arising from this Source, by opening the Windows daily: so +very practicable a Precaution must be followed with the happiest +Consequences. + +Sec. 10. I consider Drunkenness as a sixth Cause, not indeed as producing +epidemical Diseases, but which destroys, as it were, by Retail, at all +times, and every where. The poor Wretches, who abandon themselves to it, +are subject to frequent Inflammations of the Breast, and to Pleurisies, +which often carry them off in the Flower of their Age. If they sometimes +escape through these violent Maladies, they sink, a long Time before the +ordinary Approach of old Age, into all its Infirmities, and especially +into an Asthma, which terminates in a Dropsy of the Breast. Their +Bodies, worn out by Excess, do not comply and concur, as they ought, +with the Force or Operation of Remedies; and Diseases of Weakness, +resulting from this Cause, are almost always incurable. It seems happy +enough, that Society loses nothing in parting with these Subjects, who +are a Dishonour to it; and whose brutal Souls are, in some Measure, +dead, long before their Carcases. + +Sec. 11. The Provisions of the common People are also frequently one Cause +of popular Maladies. This happens 1st, whenever the Corn, not well +ripened, or not well got in, in bad [10] _Harvests_, has contracted an +unwholesome Quality. Fortunately however this is seldom the Case; and +the Danger attending the Use of it, may be lessened by some Precautions, +such as those of washing and drying the Grain completely; of mixing a +little Wine with the Dough, in kneading it; by allowing it a little more +Time to swell or rise, and by baking it a little more. 2dly, The fairer +and better saved Part of the Wheat is sometimes damaged in the Farmers +House; either because he does not take due Care of it, or because he has +no convenient Place to preserve it, only from one Summer to the next. It +has often happened to me, on entering one of these bad Houses, to be +struck with the Smell of Wheat that has been spoiled. Nevertheless, +there are known and easy Methods to provide against this by a little +Care; though I shall not enter into a Detail of them. It is sufficient +to make the People sensible, that since their chief Sustenance consists +of Corn, their Health must necessarily be impaired by what is bad. 3dly, +That Wheat, which is good, is often made into bad Bread, by not letting +it rise sufficiently; by baking it too little, and by keeping it too +long. All these Errors have their troublesome Consequences on those who +eat it; but in a greater Degree on Children and Valetudinarians, or +weakly People. + +[10] Thus I have ventured to translate _Etes_ (_Summers_) to apply it to + this and the neighbouring Islands. Their Harvests in _Swisserland_ + perhaps are earlier, and may occur in _August_, and that of some + particular Grain, probably still earlier. _K._ + +Tarts or Cakes may be considered as an Abuse of Bread, and this in some +Villages is increased to a very pernicious Height. The Dough is almost +constantly bad, and often unleavened, ill baked, greasy, and stuffed +with either fat or sour Ingredients, which compound one of the most +indigestible Aliments imaginable. Women and Children consume the most of +this Food, and are the very Subjects for whom it is the most improper: +little Children especially, who live sometimes for many successive Days +on these Tarts, are, for the greater Part, unable to digest them +perfectly. Hence they receive a [11] Source of Obstructions in the +Bowels of the Belly, and of a slimy Viscidity or Thickishness, +throughout the Mass of Humours, which throws them into various Diseases +from Weakness; slow Fevers, a Hectic, the Rickets, the King's Evil, and +Feebleness; for the miserable Remainder of their Days. Probably indeed +there is nothing more unwholesome than Dough not sufficiently leavened, +ill-baked, greasy, and soured by the Addition of Fruits. Besides, if we +consider these Tarts in an oeconomical View, they must be found +inconvenient also for the Peasant on that Account. + +[11] The Abuse just mentioned can scarcely be intended to forbid the + moderate Use of good Pastry, the Dough of which is well raised and + well baked, the Flower and other Ingredients sound, and the Paste + not overcharged with Butter, even though it were sweet and fresh. + But the Abuse of Alum and other pernicious Materials introduced by + our Bakers, may too justly be considered as one horrible Source of + those Diseases of Children, &c. which our humane and judicious + Author mentions here. What he adds, concerning the Pastries being + rendered still more unwholesome by the sour Fruits sometimes baked + in it, is true with Respect to those Children and others, who are + liable to Complaints from Acidities abounding in the Bowels; and + for all those who are ricketty or scrophulous, from a cold and + viscid State of their Humours. But as to healthy sanguine Children, + who are advanced and lively, and others of a sanguine or bilious + Temperament, we are not to suppose a moderate Variety of this Food + injurious to them; when we consider, that the Sharpness and Crudity + of the Fruit is considerably corrected by the long Application of + Fire; and that they are the Produce of Summer, when bilious + Diseases are most frequent. This suggests however no bad Hint + against making them immoderately sweet. _K._ + +Some other Causes of Maladies may also be referred to the Article of +Food, tho' less grievous and less frequent, into a full Detail of which +it is very difficult to enter: I shall therefore conclude that Article +with this general Remark; that it is the Care which Peasants usually +take in eating slowly, and in chewing very well, that very greatly +lessens the Dangers from a bad Regimen: and I am convinced they +constitute one of the greatest Causes of that Health they enjoy. We may +further add indeed the Exercise which the Peasant uses, his long abiding +in the open Air, where he passes three fourths of his Life; besides +(which are also considerable Advantages) his happy Custom of going soon +to Bed, and of rising very early. It were to be wished, that in these +Respects, and perhaps on many other Accounts, the Inhabitants of the +Country were effectually proposed as Models for reforming the Citizens. + +Sec. 12. We should not omit, in enumerating the Causes of Maladies among +Country People, the Construction of their Houses, a great many of which +either lean, as it were, close to a higher Ground, or are sunk a little +in the Earth. Each of these Situations subjects them to considerable +Humidity; which is certain greatly to incommode the Inhabitants, and to +spoil their Provisions, if they have any Quantity in Store; which, as we +have observed, is another, and not the least important, Source of their +Diseases. A hardy Labourer is not immediately sensible of the bad +Influence of this moist and marshy Habitation; but they operate at the +long Run, and I have abundantly observed their most evident bad Effects, +especially on Women in Child-bed, on Children, and in Persons recovering +of a preceding Disease. It would be easy to prevent this Inconvenience, +by raising the Ground on which the House stood, some, or several, Inches +above the Level of the adjacent Soil, by a Bed of Gravel, of small +Flints, pounded Bricks, Coals, or such other Materials; and by avoiding +to build immediately close to, or, as it were, under a much higher Soil. +This Object, perhaps, may well deserve the Attention of the Publick; and +I earnestly advise as many as do build, to observe the necessary +Precautions on this Head. Another, which would cost still less Trouble, +is to give the Front of their Houses an Exposure to the South-East. This +Exposure, supposing all other Circumstances of the Building and its +Situation to be alike, is both the most wholesome and advantageous. I +have seen it, notwithstanding, very often neglected, without the least +Reason being assigned for not preferring it. + +These Admonitions may possibly be thought of little Consequence by three +fourths of the People. I take the Liberty of reminding them, however, +that they are more important than they may be supposed; and so many +Causes concur to the Destruction of Men, that none of the Means should +be neglected, which may contribute to their Preservation. + +Sec. 13. The Country People in _Swisserland_ drink, either 1, pure Water, +2, some Wine, 3, Perry, made from wild Pears, or sometimes Cyder from +Apples, and, 4, a small Liquor which they call _Piquette_, that is +Water, which has fermented with the Cake or Husks of the Grapes, after +their Juice has been expressed. Water however is their most general +Drink; Wine rarely falling in their Way, but when they are employed by +rich Folks; or when they can spare Money enough for a Debauch. Fruit +Wines and the [12] _Piquettes_ are not used in all Parts of the Country; +they are not made in all Years; and keep but for some Months. + +[12] This Word's occurring in the plural Number will probably imply, the + _Swiss_ make more than one Species of this small Drink, by pouring + Water on the Cake or Remainder of their other Fruits, after they + have been expressed; as our People in the Cyder, and perhaps in the + Perry, Counties, make what they call _Cyderkin_, _Perkin_, _&c._ It + should seem too from this Section, that the laborious Countrymen in + _Swisserland_ drink no Malt Liquor, though the Ingredients may be + supposed to grow in their Climate. Now Beer, of different Strength, + making the greater Part of our most common Drink, it may be proper + to observe here, that when it is not strong and heady, but a + middling well-brewed Small-beer, neither too new, nor hard or sour, + it is full as wholesome a Drink for laborious People in Health as + any other, and perhaps generally preferable to Water for such; + which may be too thin and light for those who are unaccustomed to + it; and more dangerous too, when the labouring Man is very hot, as + well as thirsty. The holding a Mouthful of any weak cold Liquor in + the Mouth without swallowing 'till it becomes warm, there, and + spurting it out before a Draught is taken down would be prudent; + and in Case of great Heat, to take the requisite Quantity rather at + two Draughts, with a little Interval between them, than to swallow + the Whole precipitately at one, would be more safe, and equally + refreshing, though perhaps less grateful. _K._ + +Our Waters in general, are pretty good; so that we have little Occasion +to trouble ourselves about purifying them; and they are well known in +those Provinces where they are chiefly and necessarily used. [13] The +pernicious Methods taken to improve or meliorate, as it is falsely +called, bad Wines, are not as yet sufficiently practiced among us, for +me to treat of them here: and as our Wines are not hurtful, of +themselves, they become hurtful only from their Quantity. The +Consumption of made Wines and _Piquettes_ is but inconsiderable, and I +have not hitherto known of any ill Effects from them, so that our +Liquors cannot be considered as Causes of Distempers in our Country; but +in Proportion to our Abuse of them by Excess. The Case is differently +circumstanced in some [14] other Countries; and it is the Province of +Physicians who reside in them, to point out to their Country-Men the +Methods of preserving their Health; as well as the proper and necessary +Remedies in their Sickness. + +[13] The bad Quality of Water is another common Cause of Country + Diseases; either where the Waters are unwholesome, from the Soils + in which they are found, as when they flow through, or settle, on + Banks of Shells; or where they become such, from the Neighbourhood + of, or Drainings from Dunghills and Marshes. + + When Water is unclear and turbid, it is generally sufficient to let + it settle in order to clear itself, by dropping its Sediment. But + if that is not effected, or if it be slimy or muddy, it need only + be poured into a large Vessel, half filled with fine Sand, or, for + want of that, with Chalk; and then to shake and stir it about + heartily for some Minutes. When this Agitation is over, the Sand, + in falling to the Bottom of the Vessel, will attract some of the + Foulness suspended in the Water. Or, which is still better, and + very easy to do, two large Vessels may be set near together, one of + which should be placed considerably higher than the other. The + highest should be half filled with Sand. Into this the turbid, or + slimy muddy Water is to be poured; whence it will filter itself + through the Body of Sand, and pass off clear by an Opening or + Orifice made at the Bottom of the Vessel; and fall from thence into + the lower one, which serves as a Reservoir. When the Water is + impregnated with Particles from the Beds of Selenites, or of any + Spar (which Water we call hard, because Soap will not easily + dissolve in it, and Puls and other farinaceous Substances grow hard + instead of soft, after boiling in it) such Water should be exposed + to the Sun, or boiled with the Addition of some Puls, or leguminous + Vegetables, or Bread toasted, or untoasted. When Water is in its + putrid State, it may be kept till it recovers its natural sweet + one: but if this cannot be waited for, a little Sea Salt should be + dissolved in it, or some Vinegar may be added, in which some + grateful aromatic Plant has been infused. It frequently happens, + that the publick Wells are corrupted by foul Mud at the Bottom, and + by different Animals which tumble in and putrify there. Drinking + Snow-water should be avoided, when the Snow is but lately fallen, + as it seems to be the Cause of those swelling wenny Throats in the + Inhabitants of some Mountains; and of endemic Cholics in many + Persons. As Water is so continually used, great Care should be + taken to have what is good. Bad Water, like bad Air, is one of the + most general Causes of Diseases; that which produces the greater + Number of them, the most grieveous ones; and often introduces such + as are epidemical. _E. L. i.e._ the Editor of Lyons. + +[14] Many Persons, With a Design to preserve their Wines, add Shot to + them, or Preparations of Lead, Alum, &c. The Government should + forbid, under the most severe Penalties, all such Adulterations, as + tend to introduce the most painful Cholics, Obstruction, and a long + Train of Evils, which it sometimes proves difficult to trace to + this peculiar Cause; while they shorten the lives of, or cruelly + torment, such over credulous Purchasers, as lay in a Stock of bad + Wines, or drink of them, without distinction, from every Wine + Merchant or Tavern. _E. L._ + + _This Note, from the Editor at_ Lyons, _we have sufficient Reason + for retaining here. K._ + + + + + __Chapter II.__ + + + _Of the Causes which aggravate the Diseases of the People. General + Considerations._ + + + __Sect.__ 14. + +The Causes already enumerated in the first Chapter occasion Diseases; +and the bad Regimen, or Conduct of the People, on the Invasion of them, +render them still more perplexing, and very often mortal. + +There is a prevailing Prejudice among them, which is every Year attended +with the Death of some Hundreds in this Country, and it is this--That +all Distempers are cured by Sweat; and that to procure Sweat, they must +take Abundance of hot and heating things, and keep themselves very hot. +This is a Mistake in both Respects, very fatal to the Population of the +State; and it cannot be too much inculcated into Country People; that by +thus endeavouring to force Sweating, at the very Beginning of a Disease, +they are with great Probability, taking Pains to kill themselves. I have +seen some Cases, in which the continual Care to provoke this Sweating, +has as manifestly killed the Patient, as if a Ball had been shot through +his Brains; as such a precipitate and untimely Discharge carries off the +thinner Part of the Blood, leaving the Mass more dry, more viscid and +inflamed. Now as in all acute Diseases (if we except a very few, and +those too much less frequent) the Blood is already too thick; such a +Discharge must evidently increase the Disorder, by co-operating with its +Cause. Instead of forcing out the watery, the thinner Part of the Blood, +we should rather endeavour to increase it. There is not a single Peasant +perhaps, who does not say, when he has a Pleurisy, or an Inflammation of +his Breast, that his Blood is too thick, and that it cannot circulate. +On seeing it in the Bason after Bleeding, he finds it _black, dry, +burnt_; these are his very Words. How strange is it then, that common +Sense should not assure him, that, far from forcing out the _Serum_, the +watery Part, of such a Blood by sweating, there is a Necessity to +increase it? + +Sec. 15. But supposing it were as certain, as it is erroneous, that +Sweating was beneficial at the Beginning of Diseases, the Means which +they use to excite it would not prove the less fatal. The first +Endeavour is, to stifle the Patient with the Heat of a close Apartment, +and a Load of Covering. Extraordinary Care is taken to prevent a Breath +of fresh Air's squeezing into the Room; from which Circumstance, the Air +already in it is speedily and extremely corrupted: and such a Degree of +Heat is procured by the Weight of the Patient's Bed-cloaths, that these +two Causes alone are sufficient to excite a most ardent Fever, and an +Inflammation of the Breast, even in a healthy Man. More than once have I +found myself seized with a Difficulty of breathing, on entering such +Chambers, from which I have been immediately relieved, on obliging them +to open all the Windows. Persons of Education must find a Pleasure, I +conceive, in making People understand, on these Occasions, which are so +frequent, that the Air being more indispensably necessary to us, if +possible, than Water is to a Fish, our Health must immediately suffer, +whenever that ceases to be pure; in assuring them also, that nothing +corrupts it sooner than those Vapours, which continually steam from the +Bodies of many Persons inclosed within a little Chamber, from which the +Air is excluded. The Absurdity of such Conduct is a self-evident +Certainty. Let in a little fresh Air on these miserable Patients, and +lessen the oppressing Burthen of their Coverings, and you generally see +upon the Spot, their Fever and Oppression, their Anguish and Raving, to +abate. + +Sec. 16. The second Method taken to raise a Sweat in these Patients is, to +give them nothing but hot things, especially Venice Treacle, Wine, or +some [15] _Faltranc_, the greater Part of the Ingredients of which are +dangerous, whenever there is an evident Fever; besides Saffron, which is +still more pernicious. In all feverish Disorders we should gently cool, +and keep the Belly moderately open; while the Medicines just mentioned +both heat and bind; and hence we may easily judge of their inevitable +ill Consequences. A healthy Person would certainly be seized with an +inflammatory Fever, on taking the same Quantity of Wine, of Venice +Treacle, or of _Faltranc_, which the Peasant takes now and then, when he +is attacked by one of these Disorders. How then should a sick Person +escape dying by them? Die indeed he _generally_ does, and sometimes with +astonishing Speed. I have published some dreadful Instances of such +Fatality some Years since, in another Treatise. In fact they still daily +occur, and unhappily every Person may observe some of them in his own +Neighbourhood. + +[15] This Word, which must be of German, not of French Extraction, + strictly signifies, _Drink for a Fall_, as we say _Pulvis ad + Casum_, &c. Powder for a Fall, or a supposed inward Bruise. Dr. + _Tissot_ informs me, it is otherwise called the vulnerary Herbs, or + the Swiss Tea; and that it is an injudicious _Farrago_ or Medley of + Herbs and Flowers, blended with Bitters, with stimulating, harsh + and astringent Ingredients, being employed indiscriminately in all + their Distempers by the Country People in _Swisserland_. _K._ + +Sec. 17. But I shall be told perhaps, that Diseases are often carried off +by Sweat, and that we ought to be guided by Experience. To this I +answer, it is very true, that Sweating cures some particular Disorders, +as it were, at their very Onset, for Instance, those Stitches that are +called spurious or false Pleurisies, some rheumatic Pains, and some +Colds or Defluxions. But this only happens when the Disorders depend +solely and simply on stopt or abated Perspiration, to which such Pain +instantly succeeds; where immediately, before the Fever has thickened +the Blood, and inflamed the Humours; and where before any internal +Infarction, any Load, is formed, some warm Drinks are given, such as +_Faltranc_ and Honey; which, by restoring Transpiration, remove the very +Cause of the Disorder. Nevertheless, even in such a Case, great Care +should be had not to raise too violent a Commotion in the Blood, which +would rather restrain, than promote, Sweat, to effect which +Elder-flowers are in my Opinion preferable to _Faltranc_. Sweating is +also of Service in Diseases, when their Causes are extinguished, as it +were, by plentiful Dilution: then indeed it relieves, by drawing off, +with itself, some Part of the distempered Humours; after which their +grosser Parts have passed off by Stool and by Urine: besides which, the +Sweat has also served to carry off that extraordinary Quantity of Water, +we were obliged to convey into the Blood, and which was become +superfluous there. Under such Circumstances, and at such a Juncture, it +is of the utmost Importance indeed, not to check the Sweat, whether by +Choice, or for Want of Care. There might often be as much Danger in +doing this, as there would have been in endeavouring to force a Sweat, +immediately upon the Invasion of the Disorder; since the arresting of +this Discharge, under the preceding Circumstances, might frequently +occasion a more dangerous Distemper, by repelling the Humour on some +inward vital Part. As much Care therefore should be taken not to check, +imprudently, that Evacuation by the Skin, which naturally occurs towards +the Conclusion of Diseases, as not to force it at their Beginning; the +former being almost constantly beneficial, the latter as constantly +pernicious. Besides, were it even necessary, it might be very dangerous +to force it violently; since by heating the Patients greatly, a vehement +Fever is excited; they become scorched up in a Manner, and the Skin +proves extremely dry. Warm Water, in short, is the best of Sudorifics. + +If the Sick are sweated very plentifully for a Day or two, which may +make them easier for some Hours; these Sweats soon terminate, and cannot +be excited again by the same Medicines. The Dose thence is doubled, the +Inflammation is increased, and the Patient expires in terrible Anguish, +with all the Marks of a general Inflammation. His Death is ascribed to +his Want of Sweating; when it really was the Consequence of his Sweating +too much at first; and of his taking Wine and hot Sudorifics. An able +Swiss Physician had long since assured his Countrymen, that Wine was +fatal to them in Fevers; I take leave to repeat it again and again, and +wish it may not be with as little Success. + +Our Country Folks, who in Health, naturally dislike red Wine, prefer it +when Sick; which is wrong, as it binds them up more than white Wine. It +does not promote Urine as well; but increases the Force of the +circulating Arteries, and the Thickness of the Blood, which were already +too considerable. + +Sec. 18. Their Diseases are also further aggravated by the Food that is +generally given them. They must undoubtedly prove weak, in Consequence +of their being sick; and the ridiculous Fear of the Patients' dying of +Weakness, disposes their Friends to force them to eat; which, increasing +their Disorder, renders the Fever mortal. This Fear is absolutely +chimerical; never yet did a Person in a Fever die merely from Weakness. +They may be supported, even for some Weeks, by Water only; and are +stronger at the End of that Time, than if they had taken more solid +Nourishment; since, far from strengthening them, their Food increases +their Disease, and thence increases their Weakness. + +Sec. 19. From the first Invasion of a Fever, Digestion ceases. Whatever +solid Food is taken corrupts, and proves a Source of Putridity, which +adds nothing to the Strength of the Sick, but greatly to that of the +Distemper. There are in fact a thousand Examples to prove, that it +becomes a real Poison: and we may sensibly perceive these poor +Creatures, who are thus compelled to eat, lose their Strength, and fall +into Anxiety and Ravings, in Proportion as they swallow. + +Sec. 20. They are also further injured by the Quality, as well as the +Quantity, of their Food. They are forced to sup strong Gravey Soups, +Eggs, Biscuits, and even Flesh, if they have but just Strength and +Resolution to chew it. It seems absolutely impossible for them to +survive all this Trash. Should a Man in perfect Health be compelled to +eat stinking Meat, rotten Eggs, stale sour Broth, he is attacked with as +violent Symptoms, as if he had taken real Poison, which, in Effect, he +has. He is seized with Vomiting, Anguish, a violent Purging, and a +Fever, with Raving, and eruptive Spots, which we call the Purple Fever. +Now when the very same Articles of Food, in their soundest State, are +given to a Person in a Fever, the Heat, and the morbid Matter already in +his Stomach, quickly putrify them; and after a few Hours produce all the +abovementioned Effects. Let any Man judge then, if the least Service can +be expected from them. + +Sec. 21. It is a Truth established by the first of Physicians, above two +thousand Years past, and still further ratified by his Successors, that +as long as a sick Person has a bad Humour or Ferment in his Stomach, his +Weakness increases, in Proportion to the Food he receives. For this +being corrupted by the infected Matter it meets there, proves incapable +of nourishing, and becomes a conjunct or additional Cause of the +Distemper. + +The most observing Persons constantly remark, that whenever a feverish +Patient sups, what is commonly called some good Broth, the Fever gathers +Strength and the Patient Weakness. The giving such a Soup or Broth, +though of the freshest soundest Meat, to a Man who has a high Fever, or +putrid Humours in his Stomach, is to do him exactly the same service, as +if you had given him, two or three Hours later, stale putrid Soup. + +Sec. 22. I must also affirm, that this fatal Prejudice, of keeping up the +Patients' Strength by Food, is still too much propagated, even among +those very Persons, whose Talents and whose Education might be expected +to exempt them from any such gross Error. It were happy for Mankind, and +the Duration of their Lives would generally be more extended, if they +could be thoroughly persuaded of this medical, and so very demonstrable, +Truth;--That the only things which can strengthen sick Persons are +those, which are able to weaken their Disease; but their Obstinacy in +this Respect is inconceivable: it is another Evil superadded to that of +the Disease, and sometimes the more grievous one. Out of twenty sick +Persons, who are lost in the Country, more than two Thirds might often +have been cured, if being only lodged in a Place defended from the +Injuries of the Air, they were supplied with Abundance of good Water. +But that most mistaken Care and Regimen I have been treating of, +scarcely suffers one of the twenty to survive them. + +Sec. 23. What further increases our Horror at this enormous Propensity to +heat, dry up, and cram the sick is, that it is totally opposite to what +Nature herself indicates in such Circumstances. The burning Heat of +which they complain; the Dryness of the Lips, Tongue and Throat; the +flaming high Colour of their Urine; the great Longing they have for +cooling things; the Pleasure and sensible Benefit they enjoy from fresh +Air, are so many Signs, or rather Proofs, which cry out with a loud +Voice, that we ought to attemperate and cool them moderately, by all +means. Their foul Tongues, which shew the Stomach to be in the like +Condition; their Loathing, their Propensity to vomit, their utter +Aversion to all solid Food, and especially to Flesh; the disagreeable +Stench of their Breath; their Discharge of fetid Wind upwards and +downwards, and frequently the extraordinary Offensiveness of their +Excrements, demonstrate, that their Bowels are full of putrid Contents, +which must corrupt all the Aliments superadded to them; and that the +only thing, which can prudently be done, is to dilute and attemper them +by plentiful Draughts of refreshing cooling Drinks, which may promote an +easy Discharge of them. I affirm it again, and I heartily wish it may be +thoroughly attended to, that as long as there is any Taste of +Bitterness, or of Putrescence; as long as there is a _Nausea_ or +Loathing, a bad Breath, Heat and Feverishness with fetid Stools, and +little and high-coloured Urine; so long all flesh, and Flesh-Soup, Eggs, +and all kind of Food composed of them, or of any of them, and all Venice +Treacle, Wine, and all heating things are so many absolute Poisons. + +Sec. 24. I may possibly be censured as extravagant and excessive on these +Heads by the Publick, and even by some Physicians: but the true and +enlightened Physicians, those who attend to the Effects of every +Particular, will find on the contrary, that far from exceeding in this +Respect, I have rather feebly expressed their own Judgment, in which +they agree with that of all the good ones, who have existed within more +than two thousand Years; that very Judgment which Reason approves, and +continual Experience confirms. The Prejudices I have been contending +against have cost _Europe_ some Millions of Lives. + +Sec. 25. Neither should it be omitted, that even when a Patient has very +fortunately escaped Death, notwithstanding all this Care to obtain it, +the Mischief is not ended; the Consequences of the high Aliments and +heating Medicines being, to leave behind the Seed, the Principle, of +some low and chronical Disease; which increasing insensibly, bursts out +at length, and finally procures him the Death he has even wished for, to +put an End to his tedious Sufferings. + +Sec. 26. I must also take Notice of another dangerous common Practice; +which is that of purging, or vomiting a Patient, at the very Beginning +of a Distemper. Infinite Mischiefs are occasioned by it. There are some +Cases indeed, in which evacuating Medicines, at the Beginning of a +Disease, are convenient and even necessary. Such Cases shall be +particularly mentioned in some other Chapters: but as long as we are +unacquainted with them, it should be considered as a general Rule, that +they are hurtful at the Beginning; this being true very often; and +always, when the Diseases are strictly inflammatory. + +Sec. 27. It is hoped by their Assistance, at that Time, to remove the Load +and Oppression of the Stomach, the Cause of a Disposition to vomit, of a +dry Mouth, of Thirst, and of much Uneasiness; and to lessen the Leaven +or Ferment of the Fever. But in this Hope they are very often deceived; +since the Causes of these Symptoms are seldom of a Nature to yield to +these Evacuations. By the extraordinary Viscidity or Thickness of the +Humours, that foul the Tongue, we should form our Notions of those, +which line the Stomach and the Bowels. It may be washed, gargled and +even scraped to very little good Purpose. It does not happen, until the +Patient has drank for many Days, and the Heat, the Fever and the great +Siziness of the Humours are abated, that this Filth can he thoroughly +removed, which by Degrees separates of itself. The State of the Stomach +being conformable to that of the Tongue, no Method can effectually scour +and clean it at the Beginning: but by giving refreshing and diluting +Remedies plentifully, it gradually frees itself; and the Propensity to +vomit, with its other Effects and Uneasinesses, go off naturally, and +without Purges. + +Sec. 28. Neither are these Evacuations only negatively wrong, merely from +doing no Good; for considerable Evil positively ensues from the +Application of those acrid irritating Medicines, which increase the Pain +and Inflammation; drawing the Humours upon those Parts that were already +overloaded with them; which by no means expel the Cause of the Disease, +that not being at this time fitted for Expulsion, as not sufficiently +concocted or ripe: and yet which, at the same Time, discharge the +thinnest Part of the Blood, whence the Remainder becomes more thick; in +short which carry off the useful, and leave the hurtful Humours behind. + +Sec. 29. The Vomit especially, being given in an inflammatory Disease, and +even without any Distinction in all acute ones, before the Humours have +been diminished by Bleeding, and diluted by plentiful small Drinks, is +productive of the greatest Evils; of Inflammations of the Stomach, of +the Lungs and Liver, of Suffocations and Frenzies. Purges sometimes +occasion a general Inflammation of the Guts, which [16] terminates in +Death. Some Instances of each of these terrible Consequences have I +seen, from blundering Temerity, Imprudence and Ignorance. The Effect of +such Medicines, in these Circumstances, are much the same with those we +might reasonably expect, from the Application of Salt and Pepper to a +dry, inflamed and foul Tongue, in Order to moisten and clean it. + +[16] It is pretty common to _hear_ of Persons recovering from + Inflammations of the Bowels, or Guts, which our Author more justly + and ingenuously considers as general Passports to Death: for it is + difficult to conceive, that a real and _considerable_ Inflammation + of such thin, membranous, irritable Parts, lined with such + putrescent Humours and Contents, and in so hot and close a + Situation, could be restored to a sound and healthy State _so + often_ as Rumour affirms it. This makes it so important a Point, to + avert every Tendency to an Inflammation of these feculent Parts, as + to justify a Bleeding directed, solely, from this Precaution, and + which might have been no otherwise indicated by a Disease, attended + with any Symptom, that threatened such an Inflammation. But when a + Person recovers, there can be no anatomical Search for such + Inflammations, or its Effects, the real or imaginary Cure of which + may well amaze the Patient, and must greatly redound to the Honour + of his Prescriber; so that there may be Policy sometimes in giving + a moderate Disease a very bad Name. _K._ + +Sec. 30. Every Person of sound plain Sense is capable of perceiving the +Truth of whatever I have advanced in this Chapter: and there would be +some Degree of Prudence, even in those who do not perceive the real good +Tendency of my Advice, not to defy nor oppose it too hardily. The +Question relates to a very important Object; and in a Matter quite +foreign to themselves, they undoubtedly owe some Deference to the +Judgment of Persons, who have made it the Study and Business of their +whole Lives. It is not to myself that I hope for their Attention, but to +the greatest Physicians, whose feeble Instrument and Eccho I am. What +Interest have any of us in forbidding sick People to eat, to be stifled, +or to drink such heating things as heighten their Fever? What Advantage +can accrue to us from opposing the fatal Torrent, which sweeps them off? +What Arguments can persuade People, that some thousand Men of Genius, of +Knowledge, and of Experience, who pass their Lives among a Croud and +Succession of Patients; who are entirely employed to take Care of them, +and to observe all that passes, have been only amusing and deceiving +themselves, on the Effects of Food, of Regimen and of Remedies? Can it +enter into any sensible Head, that a Nurse, who advises Soup, an Egg, or +a Biscuit, deserves a Patient's Confidence, better than a Physician who +forbids them? Nothing can be more disagreeable to the latter, than his +being obliged to dispute continually in Behalf of the poor Patients; and +to be in constant Terror, lest this mortally officious Attendance, by +giving such Food as augments all the Causes of the Disease, should +defeat the Efficacy of all the Remedies he administers to remove it; and +should fester and aggravate the Wound, in Proportion to the Pains he +takes to dress it. The more such absurd People love a Patient, the more +they urge him to eat, which, in Effect, verifies the Proverb of _killing +one with Kindness_. + + + + + __Chapter III.__ + + + _Of the Means that ought to be used, at the Beginning of Diseases; and + of the Diet in acute Diseases._ + + + __Sect.__ 31. + +I have clearly shewn the great Dangers of the Regimen, or Diet, and of +the principal Medicines too generally made Use of by the Bulk of the +People, on these Occasions. I must now point out the actual Method they +may pursue, without any Risque, on the Invasion of some acute Diseases, +and the general Diet which agrees with them all. As many as are desirous +of reaping any Benefit from this Treatise, should attend particularly to +this Chapter; since, throughout the other Parts of it, in Order to avoid +Repetitions, I shall say nothing of the Diet, except the particular +Distemper shall require a different one, from that of which I am now to +give an exact Detail. And whenever I shall say in general, that a +Patient is to be put upon a Regimen, it will signify, that he is to be +treated according to the Method prescribed in this Chapter; and all such +Directions are to be observed, with Regard to Air, Food, Drink and +Glysters; except when I expressly order something else, as different +Ptisans, Glysters, &c. + +Sec. 32. The greater Part of Diseases (by which I always understand acute +and feverish ones) often give some Notice of their Approach a few Weeks, +and, very commonly, some Days before their actual Invasion; such as a +light Lassitude, or Weariness, Stiffness or Numbness; less Activity than +usual, less Appetite, a small Load or Heaviness at Stomach; some +Complaint in the Head; a profounder Degree of Sleep, yet less composed, +and less refreshing than usual; less Gayety and Liveliness; sometimes a +light Oppression of the Breast, a less regular Pulse; a Propensity to be +Cold; an Aptness to sweat; and sometimes a Suppression of a former +Disposition to sweat. At such a Term it may be practicable to prevent, +or at least considerably to mitigate, the most perplexing Disorders, by +carefully observing the four following Points. + +1. To omit all violent Work or Labour, but yet not so, as to discontinue +a gentle easy Degree of Exercise. + +2. To bring the Complainant to content himself without any, or with very +little, solid Food; and especially to renounce all Flesh, Flesh-broth, +Eggs and Wine. + +3. To drink plentifully, that is to say, at least three Pints, or even +four Pints daily, by small Glasses at a Time, from half hour to half +hour, of the Ptisans No. 1 and 2, or even of warm Water, to each Quart +of which may be added half a Glass of Vinegar. No Person can be +destitute of this very attainable Assistance. But should there be a Want +even of Vinegar, a few Grains of common [17] Salt may be added to a +Quart of warm Water for Drink. Those who have Honey will do well to add +two or three Spoonfuls of it to the Water. A light Infusion of Elder +Flowers, or of those of the Linden, the Lime-tree, may also be +advantageously used, and even well settled and clear sweet Whey. + +[17] This Direction of our Author's, which may surprize some, probably + arises from his preferring a small Quantity of the marine Acid to + no Acid at all: For though a great Proportion of Salt, in saving + and seasoning Flesh and other Food, generally excites Thirst, yet a + little of it seems to have rather a different Effect, by gently + stimulating the salivary Glands: And we find that Nature very + seldom leaves the great diluting Element wholly void of this + quickening, antiputrescent Principle. _K._ + +4. Let the Person, affected with such previous Complaints, receive +Glysters of warm Water, or the Glyster No. 5. By pursuing these +Precautions some grievous Disorders have often been happily rooted out: +and although they should not prove so thoroughly efficacious, as to +prevent their Appearance, they may at least be rendered more gentle, and +much less dangerous. + +Sec. 33. Very unhappily People have taken the directly contrary Method. +From the Moment these previous, these forerunning Complaints are +perceived, they allow themselves to eat nothing but gross Meat, Eggs, or +strong Meat-Soups. They leave off Garden-Stuff and Fruits, which would +be so proper for them; and they drink heartily (under a Notion of +strengthening the Stomach and expelling Wind) of Wine and other Liquors, +which strengthen nothing but the Fever, and expel what Degree of Health +might still remain. Hence all the Evacuations are restrained; the +Humours causing and nourishing the Diseases are not at all attempered, +diluted, nor rendered proper for Evacuation. Nay, on the very contrary, +they become more sharp, and more difficult to be discharged: while a +sufficient Quantity of diluting refreshing Liquor, asswages and +separates all Matters foreign to the Blood, which it purifies; and, at +the Expiration of some Days, all that was noxious in it is carried off +by Stool, by Urine, or by Sweat. + +Sec. 34. When the Distemper is further advanced, and the Patient is already +seized with that Coldness or Shuddering, in a greater or less Degree, +which ushers in all Disease; and which is commonly attended with an +universal Oppression, and Pains over all the Surface of the Body; the +Patient, thus circumstanced, should be put to Bed, if he cannot keep up; +or should sit down as quietly as possible, with a little more Covering +than usual: he should drink every Quarter of an Hour a small Glass of +the Ptisan, No. 1 or 2, warm; or, if that is not at Hand, of some one of +those Liquids I have recommended Sec. 32. + +Sec. 35. These Patients earnestly covet a great Load of covering, during +the Cold or Shivering; but we should be very careful to lighten them as +soon as it abates; so that when the succeeding Heat begins, they may +have no more than their usual Weight of Covering. It were to be wished +_perhaps_, they had rather less. The Country People lie upon a +Feather-bed, and under a downy Coverlet, or Quilt, that is commonly +extremely heavy; and the Heat which is heightened and retained by +Feathers, is particularly troublesome to Persons in a Fever. +Nevertheless, as it is what they are accustomed to, this Custom may be +complied with for one Season of the Year: but during our Heats, or +whenever the Fever is very violent, they should lie on a Pallet (which +will be infinitely better for them) and should throw away their +Coverings of Down, so as to remain covered only with Sheets, or +something else, less injurious than Feather-Coverings. A Person could +scarcely believe, who had not been, as I have, a Witness of it, how much +Comfort a Patient is sensible of, in being eased of his former +Coverings. The Distemper immediately puts on a different Appearance. + +Sec. 36. As soon as the Heat after the _Rigor_, or Coldness and Shuddering, +approaches, and the Fever is manifestly advanced, we should provide for +the Patient's _Regimen_. And + +1, Care should be taken that the Air, in the Room where he lies, should +not be too hot, the mildest Degree of Warmth being very sufficient; that +there be as little Noise as possible, and that no Person speak to the +Sick, without a Necessity for it. No external Circumstance heightens the +Fever more, nor inclines the Patient more to a _Delirium_ or Raving, +than the Persons in the Chamber, and especially about the Bed. They +lessen the Spring, the elastic and refreshing Power, of the Air; they +prevent a Succession of fresh Air; and the Variety of Objects occupies +the Brain too much. Whenever the Patient has been at Stool, or has made +Urine, these Excrements should be removed immediately. The Windows +should certainly be opened Night and Morning, at least for a Quarter of +an Hour each Time; when also a Door should be opened, to promote an +entire Renovation or Change of the Air in the Room. Nevertheless, as the +Patient should not be exposed at any Time to a Stream or Current of Air, +the Curtains of his Bed should be drawn on such Occasions; and, if he +lay without any, Chairs, with Blankets or Cloaths hung upon them, should +be substituted in the Place of Curtains, and surround the Bed; while the +Windows continued open, in Order to defend the Patient from the Force of +the rushing Air. If the Season, however, be rigidly cold, it will be +sufficient to keep the Windows open, but for a few Minutes, each Time. +In Summer, at least one Window should be set open Day and Night. The +pouring a little Vinegar upon a red-hot Shovel also greatly conduces to +restore the Spring, and correct the Putridity, of the Air. In our +greatest Heats, when that in the Room seems nearly scorching, and the +sick Person is sensibly and greatly incommoded by it, the Floor may be +sprinkled now and then; and Branches of Willow or Ash-trees dipt a +little in Pails of Water may be placed within the Room. + +Sec. 37. 2. With Respect to the Patient's Nourishment, he must entirely +abstain from all Food; but he may always be allowed, and have daily +prepared, the following Sustenance, which is one of the wholesomest, and +indisputably the simplest one. Take half a Pound of Bread, a Morsel of +the freshest Butter about the Size only of a Hazel Nut (which may even +be omitted too) three Pints and one quarter of a Pint of Water. Boil +them 'till the Bread be entirely reduced to a thin Consistence. Then +strain it, and give the Patient one eighth Part of it every three, or +every four, Hours; but still more rarely, if the Fever be vehemently +high. Those who have Groats, Barley, Oatmeal, or Rice, may boil and +prepare them in the same Manner, with some Grains of Salt. + +Sec. 38. The Sick may also be sometimes indulged, in lieu of these +different Spoon-Meats, with raw Fruits in Summer, or in Winter with +Apples baked or boiled, or Plumbs and Cherries dried and boiled. Persons +of Knowledge and Experience will be very little, or rather not at all, +surprized to see various Kinds of Fruit directed in acute Diseases; the +Benefit of which they may here have frequently seen. Such Advice can +only disgust those, who remain still obstinately attached to old +Prejudices. But could they prevail on themselves to reflect a little, +they must perceive, that these Fruits which allay Thirst; which cool and +abate the Fever; which correct and attemper the putrid and heated Bile; +which gently dispose the Belly to be rather open, and promote the +Secretion and Discharge of the Urine, must prove the properest +Nourishment for Persons in acute Fevers. Hence we see, as it were by a +strong Admonition from Nature herself, they express an ardent Longing +for them; and I have known several, who would not have recovered, but +for their eating secretly large Quantities of those Fruits they so +passionately desired, and were refused. As many however, as are not +convinced by my Reasoning in this Respect, may at least make a Tryal of +my Advice, on my Affirmation and Experience; when I have no doubt but +their own will speedily convince them of the real Benefit received from +this Sort of Nourishment. It will then be evident, that we may safely +and boldly allow, in all continual Fevers, Cherries red and black, +Strawberries, the best cured Raisins, Raspberries, and Mulberries; +provided that all of them be perfectly ripe. Apples, Pears and Plumbs +are less melting and diluting, less succulent, and rather less proper. +Some kinds of Pears however are extremely juicy, and even watery almost, +such as the Dean or Valentia Pear, different Kinds of the Buree Pear; +the St. Germain, the Virgoleuse; the green sugary Pear, and the Summer +Royal, which may all be allowed; as well as a little Juice of very ripe +Plumbs, with the Addition of Water to it. This last I have known to +asswage Thirst in a Fever, beyond any other Liquor. Care should be +taken, at the same Time, that the Sick should never be indulged in a +great Quantity of any of them at once, which would overload the Stomach, +and be injurious to them; but if they are given a little at a Time and +often, nothing can be more salutary. Those whose Circumstances will +afford them China Oranges, or Lemons, may be regaled with the Pulp and +Juice as successfully; but without eating any of their Peel, which is +hot and inflaming. + +Sec. 39. 3. Their Drink should be such as allays Thirst, and abates the +Fever; such as dilutes, relaxes, and promotes the Evacuations by Stool, +Urine and Perspiration. All these which I have recommended in the +preceding Chapters, jointly and severally possess these Qualities. A +Glass or a Glass and a half of the Juice of such Fruits as I have just +mentioned, may also be added to three full Pints of Water. + +Sec. 40. The Sick should drink at least twice or thrice that Quantity +daily, often, and a little at once, between three or four Ounces, every +Quarter of an Hour. The Coldness of the Drink should just be taken off. + +Sec. 41. 4. If the Patient has not two Motions in the 24 Hours; if the +Urine be in small Quantity and high coloured; if he rave, the Fever +rage, the Pain of the Head and of the Loins be considerable, with a Pain +in the Belly, and a Propensity to vomit, the Glyster No. 5 should be +given at least once a Day. The People have generally an Aversion to this +kind of Remedy; notwithstanding there is not any more useful in feverish +Disorders, especially in those I have just recounted; and one Glyster +commonly gives more Relief, than if the Patient had drank four or five +Times the Quantity of his Drinks. The Use of Glysters, in different +Diseases, will be properly ascertained in the different Chapters, which +treat of them. But it may be observed in this Place, that they are never +to be given at the very Time the Patient is in a Sweat, which seems to +relieve him. + +Sec. 42. 5. As long as the Patient has sufficient Strength for it, he +should sit up out of Bed one Hour daily, and longer if he can bear it; +but at least half an Hour. It has a Tendency to lessen the Fever, the +Head-ach, and a Light-headiness, or Raving. But he should not be raised, +while he has a hopeful Sweating; though such Sweats hardly ever occur, +but at the Conclusion of Diseases, and after the Sick has had several +other Evacuations. + +Sec. 43. 6. His Bed should be made daily while he sits up; and the Sheets +of the Bed, as well as the Patient's Linen, should be changed every two +Days, if it can be done with Safety. An unhappy Prejudice has +established a contrary, and a really dangerous, Practice. The People +about the Patient dread the very Thought of his rising out of Bed; they +let him continue there in nasty Linen loaden with putrid Steams and +Humours; which contribute, not only to keep up the Distemper, but even +to heighten it into some Degree of Malignity. I do again repeat it here, +that nothing conduces more to continue the Fever and Raving, than +confining the Sick constantly to Bed, and witholding him from changing +his foul Linen: by relieving him from both of which Circumstances I +have, without the Assistance of any other Remedy, put a Stop to a +continual Delirium of twelve Days uninterrupted Duration. It is usually +said, the Patient is too weak, but this is a very weak Reason. He must +be in very nearly a dying Condition, not to be able to bear these small +Commotions, which, in the very Moment when he permits them, increase his +Strength, and immediately after abate his Complaints. One Advantage the +Sick gain by sitting up a little out of Bed, is the increased Quantity +of their Urine, with greater Facility in passing it. Some have been +observed to make none at all, if they did not rise out of Bed. + +A very considerable Number of acute Diseases have been radically, +effectually, cured by this Method, which mitigates them all. Where it is +not used, as an Assistance at least, Medicines are very often of no +Advantage. It were to be wished the Patient and his Friends were made to +understand, that Distempers were not to be expelled at once with rough +and precipitate Usage; that they must have their certain Career or +Course; and that the Use of the violent Methods and Medicines they chuse +to employ, might indeed abridge the Course of them, by killing the +Patient; yet never otherwise shortened the Disease; but, on the +contrary, rendered it more perplexing, tedious and obstinate; and often +entailed such unhappy Consequences on the Sufferer, as left him feeble +and languid for the rest of his Life. + +Sec. 44. But it is not sufficient to treat, and, as it were, to conduct the +Distemper properly. The Term of Recovery from a Disease requires +considerable Vigilance and Attention, as it is always a State of +Feebleness, and, thence, of Depression and Faintness. The same Kind of +Prejudice which destroys the Sick, by compelling them to eat, during the +Violence of the Disease, is extended also into the Stage of +Convalescence, or Recovery; and either renders it troublesome and +tedious; or produces fatal Relapses, and often chronical Distempers. In +Proportion to the Abatement, and in the Decline, of the Fever, the +Quantity of Nourishment may be gradually increased: but as long as there +are any Remains of it, their Qualities should be those I have already +recommended. Whenever the Fever is compleatly terminated, some different +Foods may be entered upon; so that the Patient may venture upon a little +white Meat, provided it be tender; some [18] Fish; a little Flesh-Soup, +a few Eggs at times, with Wine property diluted. It must be observed at +the same Time, that those very proper Aliments which restore the +Strength, when taken moderately, delay the perfect Cure, if they exceed +in Quantity, tho' but a little; because the Action of the Stomach being +extremely weakened by the Disease and the Remedies, is capable only, as +yet, of a small Degree of Digestion; and if the Quantity of its Extents +exceed its Powers, they do not digest, but become putrid. Frequent +Returns of the Fever supervene; a continual Faintishness; Head-achs; a +heavy Drowsiness without a Power of Sleeping comfortably; flying Pains +and Heats in the Arms and Legs; Inquietude; Peevishness; Propensity to +Vomit; Looseness; Obstructions, and sometimes a slow Fever, with a +Collection of Humours, that comes to Suppuration. + +All these bad Consequences are prevented, by the recovering Sick +contenting themselves, for some Time, with a very moderate Share of +proper Food. We are not nourished in Proportion to the Quantity we +swallow, but to that we digest. A Person on the mending Hand, who eats +moderately, digests it and grows strong from it. He who swallows +abundantly does not digest it, and instead of being nourished and +strengthened, he withers insensibly away. + +[18] The most allowable of these are Whitings, Flounders, Plaice, Dabbs, + or Gudgeons; especially such of the last as are taken out of clear + current Streams with gravelly Bottoms. Salmon, Eels, Carp, all the + Skate kind, Haddock, and the like, should not be permitted, before + the Sick return to their usual Diet when in Health. _K._ + +Sec. 45. We may reduce, within the few following Rules, all that is most +especially to be observed, in Order to procure a compleat, a perfect +Termination of acute Diseases; and to prevent their leaving behind them +any Impediments to Health. + +1. Let these who are recovering, as well as those who are actually sick, +take very little Nourishment at a time, and take it often. + +2. Let them take but one sort of Food at each Meal, and not change their +Food too often. + +3. Let them chew whatever solid Victuals they eat, very carefully. + +4. Let them diminish their Quantity of Drink. The best for them in +general is Water, [19] with a fourth or third Part of white Wine. Too +great a Quantity of Liquids at this time prevents the Stomach from +recovering its Tone and Strength; impairs Digestion; keeps up Weakness; +increases the Tendency to a Swelling of the Legs; sometimes even +occasions a slow Fever; and throws back the Person recovering into a +languid State. + +[19] We have known many who had an Aversion to Water, and with whom, on + that very Account, it might probably agree less, find Water very + grateful, in which a thoroughly baked and hot, not burnt, Slice of + Bread had been infused, untill it attained the Colour of fine clear + Small-beer, or light Amber coloured Beer, and we never saw any + Inconvenience result from it. Doubtless pure, untoasted elemental + Water may be preferable for those who like, and have been + accustomed to it. _K._ + +5. Let them go abroad as often as they are able, whether on Foot, in a +Carriage, or on Horseback. This last Exercise is the healthiest of all, +and three fourths of the labouring People in this Country, who have it +in their Power to procure it without Expense, are in the wrong to +neglect it. They, who would practice it, should mount before their +principal Meal, which should be about Noon, and never ride after it. +Exercise taken before a Meal strengthens the Organs of Digestion, which +is promoted by it. If the Exercise is taken soon after the Meal, it +impairs it. + +6. As People in this State are seldom quite as well towards Night, in +the Evening they should take very little Food. Their Sleep will be the +less disturbed for this, and repair them the more, and sooner. + +7. They should not remain in Bed above seven, or eight Hours. + +8. The Swelling of the Legs and Ancles, which happens to most Persons at +this time, is not dangerous, and generally disappears of itself; if they +live soberly and regularly, and take moderate Exercise. + +9. It is not necessary, in this State, that they should go constantly +every Day to Stool; though they should not be without one above two or +three. If their Costiveness exceeds this Term, they should receive a +Glyster the third Day, and even sooner, if they are heated by it, if +they feel puffed up, are restless, and have any Pains in the Head. + +10. Should they, after some time, still continue very weak; if their +Stomach is disordered; if they have, from time to time, a little +irregular Fever, they should take three Doses daily of the Prescription +No. 14. which fortifies the Digestions, recovers the strength, and +drives away the Fever. + +11. They must by no means return to their Labour too soon. This +erroneous Habit daily prevents many Peasants from ever getting perfectly +well, and recovering their former Strength. From not having been able to +confine themselves to Repose and Indolence for some Days, they never +become as hearty hardy Workmen as they had been: and this premature +hasty Labour makes them lose in the Consequence, every following Week of +their Lives, more time than they ever gained, by their over-early +resuming of their Labour. I see every Day weakly Labourers, Vineroons, +and other Workmen, who date the Commencement of their Weakness from that +of some acute Disease, which, for want of proper Management through the +Term of their Recovery, was never perfectly cured. A Repose of seven or +eight Days, more than they allowed themselves, would have prevented all +these Infirmities; notwithstanding it is very difficult to make them +sensible of this. The Bulk, the Body of the People, in this and in many +other Cases, look no further than the present Day; and never extend +their Views to the following one. They are for making no Sacrifice to +Futurity; which nevertheless must be done, to render it favourable to +us. + + + + + __Chapter IV.__ + + + _Of an Inflammation of the Breast._ + + + __Sect.__ 46. + +The Inflammation of the Breast, or Peripneumony, or a Fluxion upon the +Breast, is an Inflammation of the Lungs, and most commonly of one only, +and consequently on one Side. The Signs by which it is evident, are a +Shivering, of more or less Duration, during which the Person affected is +sometimes very restless and in great Anguish, an essential and +inseparable symptom; and which has helped me more than once to +distinguish this Disease certainly, at the very Instant of its Invasion. +Besides this, a considerable Degree of Heat succeeds the Shivering, +which Heat, for a few ensuing Hours, is often blended as it were, with +some Returns of Chilliness. The Pulse is quick, pretty strong, +moderately full, hard and regular, when the Distemper is not very +violent; but small, soft and irregular, when it is very dangerous. There +is also a Sensation of Pain, but rather light and tolerable, in one Side +of the Breast; sometimes a kind of straitning or Pressure on the Heart; +at other times Pains through the whole Body, especially along the Reins; +and some Degree of Oppression, at least very often; for sometimes it is +but very inconsiderable. The Patient finds a Necessity of lying almost +continually upon his Back, being able to lie but very rarely upon either +of his Sides. Sometimes his Cough is dry, and then attended with the +most Pain; at other times it is accompanied with a Spitting or Hawking +up, blended with more or less Blood, and sometimes with pure sheer +Blood. There is also some Pain, or at least a Sensation of Weight and +Heaviness in the Head: and frequently a Propensity to rave. The Face is +almost continually flushed and red: though sometimes there is a Degree +of Paleness and an Air of Astonishment, at the Beginning of the Disease, +which portend no little Danger. The Lips, the Tongue, the Palate, the +Skin are all dry; the Breath hot; the Urine little and high coloured in +the first Stage: but more plentiful, less flaming, and letting fall much +Sediment afterwards. There is a frequent Thirst, and sometimes an +Inclination to vomit; which imposing on the ignorant Assistants, have +often inclined them to give the Patient a Vomit, which is mortal, +especially at this Juncture. The Heat becomes universal. The Symptoms +are heightened almost every Night, during which the Cough is more +exasperated, and the Spitting or Expectoration in less Quantity. The +best Expectoration is of a middling Consistence, neither too thin, nor +too hard and tough, like those which are brought up at the Termination +of a Cold; but rather more yellow, and mixed with a little Blood, which +gradually becomes still less, and commonly disappears entirely, before +the seventh Day. Sometimes the Inflammation ascends along the Wind-pipe, +and in some Measure suffocates the Patient, paining him considerably in +Swallowing, which makes him think he has a sore Throat. + +Sec. 47. Whenever the Disease is very violent at first, or increases to be +such, the Patient cannot draw his Breath, but when he sits up. The Pulse +becomes very small and very quick; the Countenance livid, the Tongue +black; the Eyes stare wildly; and he suffers inexpressible Anguish, +attended with incessant Restlessness and Agitation in his Bed. One of +his Arms is sometimes affected with a sort of Palsy; he raves without +Intermission; can neither thoroughly wake nor sleep. The Skin of his +Breast and of his Neck is covered (especially in close sultry Weather, +and when the Distemper is extremely violent) with livid Spots, more or +less remarkable, which should be called _petechial_ ones, but are +improperly termed the _pourpre_, or purple. The natural Strength becomes +exhausted; the Difficulty of breathing increases every Moment; he sinks +into a Lethargy, and soon dies a terrible Death in Country Places, by +the very Effects of the inflaming Medicines they employ on such +Occasions. It has been known in Fact, that the Use of them has raised +the Distemper to such a Height, that the very Heart has been rent open, +which the Dissection of the Body has demonstrated. + +Sec. 48. If the Disease rushes on at once, with a sudden and violent +Attack; if the Horror, the Cold and Shivering last many Hours, and are +followed with a nearly scorching Degree of Heat; if the Brain is +affected from the very Onset; if the Patient has a small Purging, +attended with a _Tenesinus_, or straining to Stool, often termed a +_Needy_; if he abhors the Bed; if he either sweat excessively, or if his +Skin be extremely dry; if his natural Manner and Look are considerably +changed; and if he spits up with much Difficulty, the Disease is +extremely dangerous. + +Sec. 49. He must directly, from the first Seizure in this State, be put +upon a Regimen, and his Drink must never be given cold. It should either +be the Barley Water No. 2, the Almond Emulsion No. 4, or that of No. 7. +The Juices of the Plants, which enter into the last of these Drinks, are +excellent Remedies in this Case; as they powerfully attenuate, or melt +down, the viscid thick Blood, which causes the Inflammation. + +The Advantage of Bleeding: + +As long as the Fever keeps up extremely violent; while the Patient does +not expectorate sufficiently; continues raving; has a violent Head-ach, +or raises up pure Blood, the Glyster No. 5 must be given thrice, or at +least twice, in twenty four Hours. However the principal Remedy is +Bleeding. As soon as ever the preceding cold Assault is over, twelve +Ounces of Blood must be taken away at once; and, if the Patient be young +and strong, fourteen or even sixteen. This plentiful Bleeding gives him +more Ease, than if twenty four Ounces had been drawn, at three different +Times. + +Sec. 50. When the Disease is circumstanced as described (Sec. 46) that first +Bleeding makes the Patient easy for some Hours; but the Complaint +returns; and to obviate its Violence, as much as possible, we must, +except things promise extremely well, repeat the Bleeding four Hours +after the first, taking again twelve Ounces of Blood, which pretty often +proves sufficient. But if, about the Expiration of eight or ten Hours, +it appears to kindle up again, it must be repeated a third, or even a +fourth Time. Yet, with the Assistance of other proper Remedies, I have +seldom been obliged to bleed a fourth Time, and have sometimes found the +two first Bleedings sufficient. + +If the Disease has been of several Days Duration, when I have first been +called; if the Fever is still very high; if there be a Difficulty of +Breathing; if the Patient does not expectorate at all, or brings up too +much Blood; without being too solicitous about the Day of the Disease, +the Patient should be bled, though it were on the tenth. [20] + +Sec. 51. In this, and in all other inflammatory Diseases, the Blood is in a +very thick viscid State: and almost immediately on its being drawn, a +white tough Skin, somewhat like Leather, is formed on its Top, which +most People have seen, and which is called the _pleuritic Crust_. It is +thought a promising Appearance, when at each Bleeding it seems less +hard, and less thick, than it was at the preceding ones: and this is +very generally true, if the Sick feels himself, at the same Time, +sensibly better: but whoever shall attend _solely_ to the Appearance of +the Blood, will find himself often deceived. It will happen, even in the +most violent Inflammation of the Breast, that this Crust is not formed, +which is supposed to be a very unpromising Sign. There are also, in this +Respect, many odd Appearances, which arise from the smallest +Circumstances; so that we must not regulate the Repetitions of our +bleeding, solely by this Crust: and in general we must not be over +credulous in supposing, that the Appearances in the Blood, received into +the Bason, can enable us to determine, with Certainty, of its real State +in the Body. + +[20] We should however, with the greater Circumspection (of how much the + longer standing the Disease has been, and by how much the more + difficult the viscous Humours are to be melted down and dislodged) + attend to the Coction of the Matter of Expectoration; which Nature + does not often easily effect, and which she effects the more + imperfectly and slowly, the weaker he is. Her last Efforts have + often been attended with such high Paroxysms, as have imposed even + upon very competent Physicians, and have made them open a Vein a + few Hours before the Patients' Death, from their Pulses being + strong, hard and frequent. Excessive Weakness is the Sign, by which + we may discover such unavailing Efforts to be the last. _E. L._ + +Sec. 52. When the sick Person is in the Condition described (Sec. 47) the +Bleeding is not only unattended with Ease; but sometimes it is also +pernicious, by the sudden Weakness to which it reduces him. Generally in +such a Case all Medicines and Means are insignificant: and it is a very +bad Sign in this Disease, when this Discharge is not attended with Ease +and Benefit to the Sick; or when there are some Circumstances, which +oblige us to be sparing of it. + +Sec. 53. The Patient's Legs should every Day, for one half Hour, be put +into a Bath of warm Water, wrapping him up closely; that the Cold may +not check that Perspiration, which the Bath promotes. + +Sec. 54. Every two Hours he should take two Spoonfuls of the Mixture No. 8, +which promotes all the Discharges, and chiefly that of Expectoration. + +Sec. 55. When the Oppression and Straitness are considerable, and the Cough +dry, the Patient may receive the Vapour of boiling Water, to which a +little Vinegar has been added. There are two ways of effecting this; +either by placing below his Face, after setting him up, a Vessel filled +with such boiling hot Water, and covering the Patient's Head and the +Vessel with a Linen Cloth, that may inclose the Steam; or else by +holding before his Mouth a Spunge dipped in the same boiling Liquor. +This last Method is the least effectual, but it fatigues the Patient +considerably less. When this bad Symptom is extremely pressing, Vinegar +alone should be used without Water; and the Vapour of it has often saved +Patients, who seemed to have one Foot in the Grave: but it should be +continued for several Hours. + +Sec. 56. The outward Remedies directed in No. 9. are also applied with +Success to the Breast, and to the Throat. + +Sec. 57. When the Fever is extremely high, the Sick should take every Hour, +a Spoonful of the Mixture No. 10. in a Cup of the Ptisan [21] but +without diminishing on this Account the usual Quantity of his other +Drinks, which may be taken immediately after it. + +[21] The Use of Acids, in Inflammations of the Breast, requires no + little Consideration. Whenever the sick Person has an Aversion to + them; when the Tongue is moist, the Stomach is heavy and + disordered, and the Habit and Temperament of the Patient is mild + and soft; when the Cough is very sharp without great Thirst, we + ought to abstain from them. But when the Inflammation is joined to + a dry Tongue, to great Thirst, Heat and Fever, they are of great + Service. Slices of China Oranges sprinkled with Sugar may be given + first; a light Limonade may be allowed afterwards; and at last + small Doses of the Mixture, No. 10. if it becomes necessary. _E. + L._--I have chosen to retain this Note of the Editor of _Lyons_, + from having frequently seen the Inefficacy, and sometimes, I have + even thought, the ill Effects of Acids in Peripneumonies and + Pleurisies, in a Country far South of _Swisserland_; and where + these Diseases are very frequent, acute and fatal. On the other + hand I shall add the Substance of what Dr. _Tissot_ says on this + Head in a Note to his Table of Remedies, wherein he affirms, that + he has given in this Disease very large Doses of them, rising + gradually from small ones, and always with great Success; + intreating other Physicians to order this Acid (the Spirit of + Sulphur) in the same large Doses which he directs in this Chapter, + and assuring himself of their thanks, for its good + Consequences--Now the only ill Effect I can surmize here, from + shewing this Diversity of Opinion in these two learned Physicians, + and my own Doubts, is, that the Subjects of this Disease in Country + Places may prove somewhat confused and irresolute by it, in their + Conduct in such Cases. But as all of us certainly concur in the + great Intention of doing all possible Good, by the extensive + Publication of this Treatise, I shall take leave to observe that in + this Disease, and in Pleurisies, more solid Benefit has been + received in _Carolina_, _Virginia_, &c. from the Use of the + _Seneka_ Rattle-snake Root, than from any other Medicine whatever. + Bleeding indeed is necessarily premised to it; but it has often + saved the Necessity of many repeated Bleedings. This Medicine, + which is termed in Latin, the _Polygala Virginiana_, is certainly + rather of a saponaceous attenuating Quality, and betrays not any + Marks of Acidity, being rather moderately acrid. There will be + Occasion to mention it more particularly in the subsequent Chapter, + as such a Liberty can need no Apology to any philosophical + Physician. _K._ + +Sec. 58. As long as the Patient shall grow worse, or only continue equally +bad, the same Medicines are to be repeated. But if on the third Day +(tho' it rarely happens so soon) or fourth, or fifth, the Disease takes +a more favourable Turn; if the Exasperation returns with less Violence; +the Cough be less severe; the Matter coughed up less bloody: if +Respiration becomes easier; the Head be less affected; the Tongue not +quite so dry; if the high Colour of the Urine abates, and its Quantity +be increased, it may be sufficient then to keep the Patient carefully to +his Regimen, and to give him a Glyster every Evening. The Exasperation +that occurs the fourth Day is often the highest. + +Sec. 59. This Distemper is most commonly terminated and carried off by +Expectoration, and often by Urine, which on the seventh, the ninth, or +the eleventh Day, and sometimes on the Days between them, begins to let +fall a plentiful Sediment, or Settling, of a pale red Colour, and +sometimes real _Pus_ or ripe Matter. These Discharges are succeeded by +Sweats, which are as serviceable then, as they were injurious at the +Beginning of the Disease. + +Sec. 60. Some Hours before these Evacuations appear, there come on, and not +seldom, some very alarming Symptoms, such as great Anguish; +Palpitations, some Irregularity in the Pulse; an increased Oppression; +convulsive Motions (this being what is called the _Crisis_, the Height, +or Turn of the Distemper) but they are no ways dangerous, provided they +do not occasion any improper Treatment. These Symptoms depend on the +morbid and purulent Matter, which, being dislodged, circulates with the +Humours, and irritates different Parts, until the Discharge of it has +fairly begun; after which all such Symptoms disappear, and Sleep +generally ensues. However I cannot too strongly insist on the Necessity +of great Prudence in such Circumstances. Sometimes it is the Weakness of +the Patient, and at other times Convulsions, or some other Symptoms, +that terrify the By-standers. If, which is most generally the Case, the +absurd Practice of directing particular Remedies for such Accidents +takes place, such as spirituous Cordials, Venice Treacle, Confections, +Castor and Rue; the Consequence is, that Nature being disturbed in her +Operations, the _Crisis_ or Turn is not effected; the Matter which +should be discharged by Stool, by Urine, or by Sweat, is not discharged +out of the Body; but is thrown upon some internal or external part of +it. Should it be on some inward part, the Patient either dies at once; +or another Distemper succeeds, more troublesome and incurable than the +first. Should it be expelled to some outward part, the Danger indeed is +less; and as soon as ever such a Tumour appears, ripening Pultices +should be apply'd to bring it to a Head, after which it should +immediately be opened. + +Sec. 61. In order to prevent such unhappy Consequences, great Care must be +taken, whenever such terrifying Symptoms come on, [about the Time of the +_Crisis_] to make no Change in the Diet, nor in the Treatment of the +Patient; except in giving him the loosening Glyster No. 5; and applying +every two Hours a Flannel, squeezed out of warm Water, which may cover +all the Belly, and in a Manner go round the Body behind the Reins. The +Quantity of his Drink may also be increased a little; and that of his +Nourishment lessened, as long as this high and violent State continues. + +Sec. 62. I have not spoken of Vomits or Purges, as being directly contrary +to the Nature of this Disease. Anodynes, or Opiates, to procure Sleep +are also, in general, very improper. In a few Cases, however, they may +possibly be useful; but these Cases are so very difficult to be +sufficiently distinguished, that Opiates should never be admitted in +this Disease, without the Presence and Advice of a Physician. I have +seen many Patients, who have been thrown into an incurable Hectic, by +taking them improperly. When the Disease is not received in a mortal +Degree, nor has been injudiciously treated, and proceeds in a benign +regular Manner, the Patient may be called very well and safe by the +fourteenth Day; when he may, if he has an Appetite, be put upon the Diet +of People who are recovering. But if he still retains an Aversion to +Food; if his Mouth is foul and furred, and he is sensible of some +Heaviness in his Head, he should take the purging Potion No. 11. + +Sec. 63. Bleedings from the Nose occur sometimes naturally in this Disease, +even after repeated Bleedings by Art; these are very benign and +favourable, and are commonly attended with more Ease and Relief than +artificial Bleedings. Such voluntary Discharges may sometimes be +expected, when the Patient is sensibly mended in many Respects after the +Use of the Lancet; and yet complains of a great Pain in his Head, +accompanied with quick sparkling Eyes, and a Redness of the Nose. +Nothing should be done to stop these voluntary Bleedings, since it would +be very dangerous: For when Nature has fulfilled her Intention by them, +they cease of themselves. At other times, but more rarely, the Distemper +is carried off by a natural Purging, attended with moderate Pain, and +the Discharge of bilious Matter. + +Sec. 64. If the Expectoration, or hawking up of Matter, stops very +suddenly, and is not speedily attended with some other Evacuation; the +Oppression and Anguish of the Patient immediately return, and the Danger +is great and pressing. If the Distemper, at this Juncture, is not of +many Days standing; if the Patient is a strong Person; if he has not as +yet been plentifully bled; if there be still some Blood mixed with the +Humour he expectorates; or if the Pulse be strong and hard, he should be +bled immediately in the Arm; and constantly receive the Steam of hot +Water and Vinegar by the Mouth, and drink plentifully of the Ptisan No. +2, something hotter than ordinary. But if his Circumstances, after this +Suppression, are different from these just mentioned; instead of +bleeding him, two Blisters should be applied to the Legs; and he should +drink plentifully of the Ptisan No. 12. + +The Causes which oftenest produce this Suppression of his Expectoration +are, 1, a sharp and sudden cold Air. 2, too hot a one. 3, over hot +Medicines. 4, excessive Sweating. 5, a Purge prematurely and +injudiciously timed. and 6, some immoderate Passion of the Mind. + +Sec. 65. When the Sick has not been sufficiently bled, or not soon enough; +and even sometimes, which I have seen, when he has been greatly weakened +by excessive Bleeding; so that the Discharges by Stool, Urine, +Expectoration and Perspiration, have not been sufficiently made; when +these Discharges have been confused by some other Cause; or the Disease +has been injudiciously treated; then the Vessels that have been +inflamed, do not unload themselves of the Humours, which stuff up and +oppress them: but there happens in the Substance of the affected Lung, +the same Circumstance we see daily occur on the Surface of the Body. If +an inflammatory Tumour or Swelling does not disperse itself, and +disappears insensibly, it forms an Imposthume or Abscess. Thus exactly +also in the inflamed Lung, if the Inflammation is not dissipated, it +forms an Abscess, which, in that part, is called a _Vomica:_ and the +Matter of that Abscess, like the external ones, remains often long +inclosed in its Sac or Bag, without bursting open its Membrane or Case, +and discharging the Matter it contains. + +Sec. 66. If the Inflammation was not very deeply seated in the inward +Substance of the diseased Lung; but was extended to its Surface, that +is, very near the Ribs, the Sac will burst on the Surface of the Lung; +and the Matter contained in it must be discharged into the Cavity, or +Hollowness of the Breast, between the Lung, the Ribs, and the Diaphragm +or Midriff, which is the Membrane that divides the Breast and the Belly. +But when the Inflammation is considerably deeper, the Imposthume bursts +withinside of the Lung itself. If its Orifice, or Opening is so small, +that but little can get out at once; if the Quantity of all the Matter +be inconsiderable, and the Patient is at the same Time pretty strong, he +coughs up the Matter, and is very sensibly relieved. But if this +_Vomica_ be large, or if its Orifice is wide, and it throws out a great +Quantity of Matter at once; or if the Patient is very weak, he dies the +Moment it bursts, and that sometimes when it is least expected. I have +seen one Patient so circumstanced expire, as he was conveying a Spoonful +of Soup to his Mouth; and another, while he was wiping his Nose. There +was no present Symptom in either of these Cases, whence a Physician +might suppose them likelier to die at that Instant, than for some Hours +before. The _Pus_, or Matter, is commonly discharged through the Mouth +after Death, and the Bodies very soon become putrified. + +Sec. 67. We call that _Vomica_ which is not burst, an _occult_ or hidden, +and that which is, an evident or open one. It is of considerable +Importance to treat exactly and clearly of this Topic; as a great Number +of Country People die of these Imposthumes, even without a Suspicion of +the Cause of their Death. I had an Instance of it some Days since, in +the School-master of a Village. He had an occult and very considerable +_Vomica_ in the left Lung, which was the Consequence of an Inflammation +of the Breast, that had been treated improperly at the Beginning. He +seemed to me not likely to live twenty four Hours; and really died in +the Night, after inexpressible Anguish. + +Sec. 68. Whatever Distemper is included within the Breast of a living +Patient, is neither an Object of the Sight or Touch whence these +_Vomicas_, these inward Tumours, are so often unknown, and indeed +unsuspected. The Evacuations that were necessary for the Cure, or +sometimes for the Prevention, of them, have not taken place, during the +first fourteen Days. At the End of this Term, the Patient, far from +being cured, is not very considerably relieved; but, on the contrary, +the Fever continues to be pretty high, with a Pulse continually quick; +in general soft and weak; though sometimes pretty hard, and often +fluctuating, or, as it were, waving. His Breathing is still difficult +and oppressed; with small cold Shudderings from Time to Time; an +Exasperation of the Fever; flushed Cheeks, dry Lips, and Thirst. + +The Increase of these Symptoms declare, that _Pus_ or Matter is +thoroughly formed: the Cough then becomes more continual; being +exasperated with the least Motion; or as soon as ever the Patient has +taken any Nourishment. He can repose only on the Side affected. It often +happens indeed, that he cannot lie down at all; but is obliged to be set +up all Day; sometimes even without daring to lean a little upon his +Loins, for fear of increasing the Cough and Oppression. He is unable to +sleep; has a continual Fever, and his Pulse frequently intermits. + +The Fever is not only heightened every Evening; but the smallest +Quantity of Food, the gentlest Motion, a little Coughing, the lightest +Agitation of the Mind, a little more than usual Heat in the Chamber, +Soup either a little too strong, or a little too salt, increase the +Quickness of his Pulse the Moment they occur, or are given. He is quite +restless, has some short Attacks of the most terrible Anguish, +accompanied and succeeded by Sweatings on his Breast, and from his whole +Countenance. He sweats sometimes the whole Night; his Urine is reddish, +now frothy, and at other times oily, as it were. Sudden Flushings, hot +as Flames, rise into his whole Visage. The greater Number of the Sick +are commonly sensible of a most disagreeable Taste in their Mouth; some +of old strong Cheese; others of rotten Eggs; and others again of +stinking Meat, and fall greatly away. The Thirst of some is +unquenchable; their Mouths and Lips are parched; their Voice weak and +hoarse; their Eyes hollow, with a kind of Wildness in their Looks. They +have a general Disgust to all Food; and if they should ask for some +particular Nourishment without seeing it, they reject it the Moment it +is brought them; and their Strength at length seems wholly exhausted. + +Besides these Symptoms, a little Inflation, or _Bloatedness_, as it +were, is sometimes observed on the Breast, towards the Side affected; +with an almost insensible Change of Colour. If the _Vomica_ be situated +at the Bottom of the affected Lobe of the Lungs, and in its internal +Part, that is, nearly in the Middle of the Breast, some _Puffiness_ or +light Swelling may be perceived in some Bodies, by gently pressing the +Pit of the Stomach; especially when the Patient coughs. In short, +according to the Observations of a German Physician, if one strike the +open Hand on the Breast, covered only with a Shirt, it retains in the +Spot, which is directly opposite to the _Vomica_, a flat heavy Sound, as +if one struck a Piece of Flesh; while in striking on the other Side it +gives a clear loud Sound, as from a Drum. I still doubt however, whether +this Observation will generally hold true; and it would be hazardous to +affirm there is no Abscess in a Breast, which does not return this heavy +Sound. + +Sec. 69. When a _Vomica_ is formed, as long as it is not emptied, all the +Symptoms I have already enumerated increase, and the _Vomica_ grows in +Size: the whole Side of the Lung affected sometimes becomes a Bag or Sac +of Matter. The sound Side is compressed; and the Patient dies after +dreadful Anguish, with the Lung full of _Pus_, and without having ever +brought up any. + +To avoid such fatal Consequences, it is necessary to procure the Rupture +and Discharge of this inward Abscess, as soon as we are certain of its +Existence: And as it is safer it should break within the Lobe affected, +from whence it may be discharged by hawking up; than that it should +burst and void itself into the Cavity of the Breast, for Reasons I shall +give hereafter, we must endeavour, that this Rupture may be effected +within the internal Substance of the Lungs. + +Sec. 70. The most effectual Methods to procure this are, 1. To make the +Patient continually receive, by his Mouth, the Vapour of warm Water. 2. +When by this Means that part of the Sac or Abscess is softened, where we +could wish the Rupture of it to happen, the Patient is to swallow a +large Quantity of the most emollient Liquid; such as Barley Water, +Almond Milk, light Veal Broth, or Milk and Water. By this Means the +Stomach is kept always full: so that the Resistance to the Lungs being +considerable on that Side, the Abscess and its Contents will naturally +be pressed towards the Side of the Wind-pipe, as it will meet with less +Resistance there. This fulness of the Stomach will also incline the +Patient to cough, which may concur to produce a good Event. Hence, 3, we +should endeavour to make the Patient cough, by making him smell to some +Vinegar, or even snuff up a little; or by injecting into his Throat, by +the Means of a small Syringe or Pipe, such as Children make out of short +Pieces of Elder-Boughs, a little Water or Vinegar. 4. He should be +advised to bawl out aloud, to read loud, or to laugh heartily; all which +Means contribute to burst open the Abscess, as well as those two +following ones. 5. Let him take every two Hours a Soup-Ladle of the +Potion No. 8. 6. He should be put into a Cart, or some other Carriage; +but not before he has drank plentifully of such Liquors as I have just +mentioned: after which the Shaking and Jolting in the Carriage have +sometimes immediately procured that Rupture, or breaking of the Bag or +Abscess, we wished for. + +Sec. 71. Some Years since I saw a Country Maid Servant, who was left in a +languishing Condition after an Inflammation of the Breast; without any +Person's suspecting her Ailment. This Woman being put into a Cart, that +was sent for a Load of Hay; one of the Wheels run violently against a +Tree: she swooned away, and at the same Time brought up a great Quantity +of digested Matter. She continued to bring up more; during which I was +informed of her Case, and of the Accident, which effectually cured her. + +A _Swiss_ Officer, who served in _Piedmont_, had been in a languid State +of Health for some Months; and returned home to set himself down as +easily as he could, without conceiving any considerable Hopes of +Recovery. Upon entering into his own Country, by the Way of _Mount +Bernard_; and being obliged to go some Paces on Foot, he fell down; and +remained in a Swoon above a Quarter of an Hour: during which Time he +threw up a large Quantity of Matter, and found himself that very Moment +very greatly relieved. I ordered him a proper Diet, and suitable +Medicines: his Health became perfectly established; and the Preservation +of his Life was principally owing to this lucky Fall. + +Many Persons afflicted with a _Vomica_, faint away the very Instant it +breaks. Some sharp Vinegar should be directly held to their Nose. This +small Assistance is generally sufficient, where the bursting of it is +not attended with such Appearances as shew it to be mortal, in which +Case every Application is insignificant. + +Sec. 72. If the sick Person was not extremely weak before the Bursting of +the Abscess; if the Matter was white, and well conditioned; if the Fever +abates after it; if the Anguish, Oppression and Sweats terminate; if the +Cough is less violent; if the Patient is sensibly easier in his +Situation or Posture; if he recovers his Sleep and Appetite; if his +usual Strength returns; if the Quantity he expectorates, or brings up, +becomes daily and gradually less; and if his Urine is apparently better, +we may have Room to hope, that by the Assistance of these Remedies I +shall immediately direct, he may be radically, compleatly cured. + +Sec. 73. But if on the contrary; when his Strength is exhausted before the +bursting of the Abscess; when the Matter is too thin and transparent, +brown, green, yellow, bloody and of an Offensive Smell; if the Pulse +continues quick and weak; if the Patient's Appetite, Strength and Sleep +do not improve, there remains no hope of a Cure, and the best Medicines +are ineffectual: Nevertheless we ought to make some Tryal of them. + +Sec. 74. They consist of the following Medicines and Regulations. 1. Give +every four Hours a little Barley or Rice Cream. 2. If the Matter brought +up is thick and glewy, so that it is very difficult to be loosened and +discharged, give every two Hours a Soup-ladle of the Potion No. 8; and +between the giving these two, let the Patient take every half Hour a Cup +of the Drink No. 13. 3. When the Consistence of the Matter is such, that +there is no Occasion for these Medicines to promote the Discharge of it, +they must be omitted; tho' the same Sort and Quantity of Food are to be +continued; but with the Addition of an equal Quantity of Milk; or, which +would be still more beneficial, instead of this Mixture, we should give +an equal Quantity of sweet Milk, taken from a good Cow, which, in such a +Case, may compose the whole Nourishment of the Patient. 4. He should +take four Times a Day, beginning early in the Morning, and at the +Distance of two Hours, a Dose of the Powder No. 14, diluted in a little +Water, or made into a _Bolus_, or Morsel, with a little Syrup or Honey. +His common Drink should be Almond Emulsion, commonly called Almond Milk, +or Barley Water, or fresh Water with a fourth part Milk. 5. He should +air and exercise every Day on Horseback, or in a Carriage, according as +his Strength and his Circumstances will allow him. But of all Sorts of +Exercise, that upon a trotting Horse is, beyond all Comparison, the very +best, and the easiest to be procured by every Body; provided the Disease +be not too far advanced; since in such a Situation, any Exercise, that +was only a little violent, might prove pernicious. + +Sec. 75. The Multitude, who are generally illiterate, seldom consider any +thing as a Remedy, except they swallow it. They have but little +Confidence in _Regimen_, or any Assistance in the Way of Diet, and +consider Riding on Horseback as wholly useless to them. This is a +dangerous Mistake, of which I should be glad to undeceive them: since +this Assistance, which appears so insignificant to them, is probably the +most effectual of any: it is that in Fact, without which they can +scarcely expect a Cure, in the highest Degrees of this Disease: it is +that, which perhaps alone may recover them, provided they take no +improper Food. In brief it is considered, and with Reason, as the real +Specific for this Disease. + +Sec. 76. The Influence of the Air is of more Importance in this Disorder, +than in any others; for which Reason great Care should be taken to +procure the best, in the Patient's Chamber. For this Purpose it should +often be ventilated, or have an Admission of fresh Air, and be sweetened +from Time to Time, tho' very lightly, with a little good Vinegar; and in +the Season it should be plentifully supplied with agreeable Herbs, +Flowers and Fruits. Should the Sick be unfortunately situated, and +confined in an unwholsome Air, there can be but little Prospect of +curing him, without altering it. + +Sec. 77. Out of many Persons affected with these Disorders, some have been +cured by taking nothing whatsoever but Butter-milk; others by Melons and +Cucumbers only; and others again by Summer Fruits of every Sort. +Nevertheless, as such Cases are singular, and have been but few, I +advise the Patient to observe the Method I have directed here, as the +surest. + +Sec. 78. It is sufficient if he have a Stool once in two, or even in three, +Days. Hence, there is no Reason for him, in this Case, to accustom +himself to Glysters: they might excite a Looseness, which may be very +dangerous. + +Sec. 79. When the Discharge of the Matter from the Breast diminishes, and +the Patient is perceivably mended in every Respect, it is a Proof that +the Wound in the Abscess is deterged, or clean, and that it is disposed +to heal up gradually. If the Suppuration, or Discharge, continues in +great Quantity; if it seems but of an indifferent Consistence; if the +Fever returns every Evening, it may be apprehended, that the Wound, +instead of healing, may degenerate into an Ulcer, which must prove a +most embarrassing Consequence. Under such a Circumstance, the Patient +would fall into a confirmed Hectic, and die after some Months Sickness. + +Sec. 80. I am not acquainted with any better Remedy, in such a dangerous +Case, than a Perseverance in these already directed, and especially in +moderate Exercise on Horseback. In some of them indeed Recourse may be +had to the sweet Vapours of some vulnerary Herbs in hot Water, with a +little Oil of Turpentine, as directed No. 15. I have seen them succeed; +but the safest Way is to consult a Physician, who may examine and +consider, if there is not some particular Circumstance combined with the +Disease, that proves an Obstacle to the Cure of it. If the Cough +prevents the Patient from Sleeping, he may take in the Evening two or +three Table Spoonfuls of the Prescription No. 16, in a Glass of Almond +Milk or Barley Water. + +Sec. 81. The very same Causes which suddenly suppress the Expectoration, in +an Inflammation of the Breast, may also check the Expectoration from a +_Vomica_ already begun: in which Circumstance the Patient is speedily +afflicted with an Oppression and Anguish, a Fever and evident +Feebleness. We should immediately endeavour to remove this Stoppage, by +the Vapour of hot Water; by giving a Spoonful of the Mixture No. 3 every +Hour; by a large Quantity of the Ptisan No. 12, and by a proper Degree +of Motion or Exercise. As soon as ever the Expectoration returns, the +Fever and the other Symptoms disappear. I have seen this Suppression in +strong Habits quickly followed with an Inflammation about the Seat of +the _Vomica_, which has obliged me to bleed, after which the +Expectoration immediately returned. + +Sec. 82. It happens sometimes, that the _Vomica_ is entirely cleansed; the +Expectoration is entirely finished, or drained off, the Patient seems +well, and thinks himself compleatly cured: but soon after, the +Uneasiness, Oppression, Cough and Fever are renewed, because the +Membrane or Bag of the _Vomica_ fills again: again it empties itself, +the Patient expectorates for some Days, and seems to recover. After some +Time however, the same Scene is repeated; and this Vicissitude, or +Succession, of moderate and of bad Health, often continues for some +Months and even some Years. This happens when the _Vomica_ is emptied, +and is gradually deterged; so that its Membranes, or Sides touch or +approach each other; but without cicatrizing or healing firmly; and then +there drops or leaks in very gradually fresh Matter. For a few Days this +seems no ways to incommode the Patient; but as soon as a certain +Quantity is accumulated, he is visited again with some of the former +Symptoms, 'till another Evacuation ensues. People thus circumstanced, in +this Disease, sometimes appear to enjoy a tolerable Share of Health. It +may be considered as a kind of internal Issue, which empties and +cleanses itself from Time to Time; pretty frequently in some +Constitutions, more slowly in others; and under which some may attain a +good middling Age. When it arrives however at a very considerable +Duration, it proves incurable. In its earliest State, it gives way +sometimes to a Milk-diet, to riding on Horseback; and to the Medicine +No. 14. + +Sec. 83. Some may be surprized, that in treating of an Abscess of the +Lungs, and of the Hectic, which is a Consequence of it, I say nothing of +those Remedies, commonly termed _Balsamics_, and so frequently employed +in them, for Instance, Turpentines, Balsam of Peru, of Mecca, +Frankincense, Mastich, Myrrh, Storax and Balsam of Sulphur. I shall +however say briefly here (because it is equally my Design to destroy the +Prejudice of the People, in favour of improper Medicines, and to +establish the Reputation of good ones) that I never in such Cases made +use of these Medicines; because I am convinced, that their Operation is +generally hurtful in such Cases; because I see them daily productive of +real Mischief; that they protract the Cure, and often change a slight +Disorder into an incurable Disease. They are incapable of perfect +Digestion, they obstruct the finest Vessels of the Lungs, whose +Obstructions we should endeavour to remove; and evidently occasion, +except their Dose be extremely small, Heat and Oppression. I have very +often seen to a Demonstration, that Pills compounded of Myrrh, +Turpentine and Balsam of Peru, have, an Hour after they were swallowed, +occasioned a Tumult and Agitation in the Pulse, high Flushings, Thirst +and Oppression. In short it is demonstrable to every unprejudiced +Person, that these Remedies, as they have been called, are truly +prejudicial in this Case; and I heartily wish People may be disabused +with Respect to them, and that they may lose that Reputation so +unhappily ascribed to them. + +I know that many Persons, very capable in other Respects, daily make use +of them in these Distempers: such however cannot fail of disusing them, +as soon as they shall have observed their Effects, abstracted from the +Virtues of the other Medicines to which they add them, and which +mitigate the Danger of them. I saw a Patient, whom a foreign Surgeon, +who lived at _Orbe_, attempted to cure of a Hectic with melted Bacon, +which aggravated the Disease. This Advice seemed, and certainly was, +absurd; nevertheless the Balsamics ordered in such Cases are probably +not more digestible than fat Bacon. The Powder No. 14 possesses whatever +these Balsamics pretend to: it is attended with none of the +Inconveniencies they produce; and has all the good Qualities ascribed to +them. Notwithstanding which, it must not be given while the Inflammation +exists; nor when it may revive again; and no other Aliment should be +mixed with the Milk. + +The famous Medicine called the _Antihectic_, (_Antihecticum Poterii_) +has not, any more than these Balsamics, the Virtues ascribed to it in +such Cases. I very often give it in some obstinate Coughs to Infants +with their Milk, and then it is very useful: but I have seldom seen it +attended with considerable Effects in grown Persons; and in the present +Cases I should be fearful of its doing Mischief. + +Sec. 84. If the _Vomica_, instead of breaking within the Substance of the +Lungs affected, should break without it, the Pus must be received into +the Cavity of the Breast. We know when that has happened, by the +Sensation or Feeling of the Patient; who perceives an uncommon, a +singular kind of Movement, pretty generally accompanied with a Fainting. +The Oppression and Anguish cease at once; the Fever abates; the Cough +however commonly continues, tho' with less Violence, and without any +Expectoration. But this seeming Amendment is of a short Duration, since +from the daily Augmentation of the Matter, and its becoming more acrid +or sharp, the Lungs become oppressed, irritated and eroded. The +Difficulty of Breathing, Heat, Thirst, Wakefulness, Distaste, and +Deafness, return, with many other Symptoms unnecessary to be enumerated, +and especially with frequent Sinkings and Weakness. The Patient should +be confined to his _Regimen_, to retard the Increase of the Disease as +much as possible; notwithstanding no other effectual Remedy remains, +except that of opening the Breast between two of the Ribs, to discharge +the Matter, and to stop the Disorder it occasions. This is called the +Operation for the _Empyema_. I shall not describe it here, as it should +not be undertaken but by Persons of Capacity and Experience, for whom +this Treatise was not intended. I would only observe, it is less painful +than terrifying; and that if it is delayed too long, it proves useless, +and the Patient dies miserably. + +Sec. 85. We may daily see external Inflammations turn gangrenous, or +mortify. The same Thing occurs in the Lungs, when the Fever is +excessive, the Inflammation either in its own Nature, extremely violent, +or raised to such a Height by hot Medicines. Intolerable Anguish, +extreme Weakness, frequent Faintings, Coldness of the Extremities, a +livid and foetid thin Humour brought up instead of concocted Spitting, +and sometimes blackish Stripes on the Breast, sufficiently distinguish +this miserable State. I have smelt in one Case of this Kind, where the +Patient had been attacked with this Disease (after a forced March on +Foot, having taken some Wine with Spices to force a Sweat) his Breath so +horribly stinking, that his Wife had many Sinkings from attending him. +When I saw him, I could discern neither Pulse nor Intellect, and ordered +him nothing. He died an Hour afterwards, about the Beginning of the +third Hour. + +Sec. 86. An Inflammation may also become hard, when it forms what we call a +_Scirrhus_, which is a very hard Tumour, indolent, or unpainful. This is +known to occur, when the disease has not terminated in any of those +Manners I have represented; and where, tho' the Fever and the other +Symptoms disappear, the Respiration, or Breathing, remains always a +little oppressed; the Patient still retains a troublesome Sensation in +one Side of his Breast; and has from Time to Time a dry Cough, which +increases after Exercise, and after eating. This Malady is but seldom +cured; though some Persons attacked with it last many Years, without any +other considerable Complaint. They should avoid all Occasions of +over-heating themselves; which might readily produce a new Inflammation +about this Tumour, the Consequences of which would be highly dangerous. + +Sec. 87. The best Remedies against this Disorder, and from which I have +seen some good Effects, are the medicated Whey No. 17, and the Pills No. +18. The Patient may take twenty Pills, and a Pint and a half of the Whey +every Morning for a long Continuance; and receive inwardly, now and +then, the Vapour of hot Water. + +Sec. 88. Each Lung, in a perfect State of Health, touches the _Pleura_, the +Membrane, that lines the Inside of the Breast; though it is not +connected to it. But it often happens, after an Inflammation of the +Breast, after the Pleurisy, and in some other Cases, that these two +Parts adhere closely to each other, and are never afterwards separated. +However this is scarcely to be considered as a Disease; and remains +commonly unknown, as the Health is not impaired by it, and nothing is +ever prescribed to remove it. Nevertheless I have seen a few Cases, in +which this Adhesion was manifestly prejudicial. + + + + + __Chapter V.__ + + + _Of the Pleurisy._ + + + __Sect.__ 89. + +The Pleurisy, which is chiefly known by these four Symptoms, a strong +Fever, a Difficulty of Breathing, a Cough, and an acute Pain about the +Breast; the Pleurisy, I say, is not a different Malady from the +Peripneumony, or Inflammation of the Breast, the Subject of the +preceding Chapter; so that I have very little to say of it, +particularly, or apart. + +Sec. 90. The Cause of this Disease then is exactly the same with that of +the former, that is, an Inflammation of the Lungs; but an Inflammation, +that seems rather a little more external. The only considerable +Difference in the Symptoms is, that the Pleurisy is accompanied with a +most acute Pain under the Ribs, and which is commonly termed a _Stitch_. +This Pain is felt indifferently over every Part of the Breast; though +more commonly about the Sides, under the more fleshy Parts of the +Breast, and oftenest on the right Side. The Pain is greatly increased +whenever the Patient coughs or draws in the Air in breathing; and hence +a Fear of increasing it, by making some Patients forbear to cough or +respire, as much as they possibly can; and that aggravates the Disease, +by stopping the Course of the Blood in the Lungs, which are soon +overcharged with it. Hence the Inflammation of this Bowel becomes +general; the Blood mounts up to the Head; the Countenance looks deeply +red, or as it were livid; the Patient becomes nearly suffocated, and +falls into the State described Sec. 47. + +Sometimes the Pain is so extremely violent, that if the Cough is very +urgent at the same Time, and the Sick cannot suppress or restrain it, +they are seized with Convulsions, of which I have seen many Instances, +but these occur almost always to Women; though they are much less +subject than Men to this Disease, and indeed to all inflammatory ones. +It may be proper however to observe here, that if Women should be +attacked with it, during their monthly Discharges, that Circumstance +should not prevent the repeated and necessary Bleedings, nor occasion +any Alteration in the Treatment of the Disease. And hence it appears, +that the Pleurisy is really an Inflammation of the Lungs, accompanied +with acute Pain. + +Sec. 91. I am sensible that sometimes an Inflammation of the Lungs is +communicated also to that Membrane, which lines the Inside of the +Breast; and which is called the _Pleura_; and from thence to the +Muscles, the fleshy Parts, over and between the Ribs. This however is +not very frequently the Case. + +Sec. 92. Spring is commonly the Season most productive of Pleurisies: in +general there are few in Summer: notwithstanding that in the Year 1762, +there were a great many during the hottest Season, which then was +excessively so. The Disease usually begins with a violent Shivering, +succeeded by considerable Heat, with a Cough, an Oppression, and +sometimes with a sensible Straitning, or Contraction, as it were, all +over the Breast; and also with a Head-ach, a Redness of the Cheeks, and +with Reachings to vomit. The Stitch does not always happen at the very +first Onset; often not 'till after several Hours from the first +Complaint; sometimes not before the second, or even the third Day. +Sometimes the Patient feels two Stitches, in different Parts of the +Side; though it seldom happens that they are equally sharp, and the +lightest soon ceases. Sometimes also the Stitch shifts its Place, which +promises well, if the Part first attacked by it continues perfectly free +from Pain: but it has a bad Appearance, if, while the first is present, +another also supervenes, and both continue. The Pulse is usually very +hard in this Distemper; but in the dreadful Cases described Sec. 47 and 90, +it becomes soft and small. There often occur at, or very quickly after, +the Invasion, such an Expectoration, or hawking up, as happens in an +Inflammation of the Breast; at other Times there is not the least +Appearance of it, whence such are named dry Pleurisies, which happen +pretty often. Sometimes the Sick cough but little, or not at all. They +often lie more at Ease upon the Side affected, than on the sound one. +The Progress of this Disease advances exactly like that described in the +preceding Chapter: for how can they differ considerably? and the +Treatment of both is the same. Large Haemorrhages, or Bleedings from the +Nose, frequently happen, to the great Relief of the Patient; but +sometimes such Discharges consist of a kind of corrupted Blood, when the +Patient is very ill, and these portend Death. + +Sec. 93. This Distemper is often produced by drinking cold Water, while a +Person is hot; from which Cause it is sometimes so violent, as to kill +the Patient in three Hours. A young Man was found dead at the Side of +the Spring, from which he had quenched his Thirst: neither indeed is it +uncommon for Pleurisies to prove mortal within three Days. + +Sometimes the Stitch disappears, whence the Patient complains less; but +at the same Time his Countenance changes; he grows pale and sad; his +Eyes look dull and heavy, and his Pulse grows feeble. This signifies a +Translation of the Disease to the Brain, a Case which is almost +constantly fatal. + +There is no Disease in which the critical Symptoms are more violent, and +more strongly marked, than in this. It is proper this should be known, +as it may prevent or lessen our excessive Terror. A perfect Cure +supervenes sometimes, at the very Moment when Death was expected. + +Sec. 94. This Malady is one of the most common and the most destroying +kind, as well from its own violent Nature, as through the pernicious +Treatment of it in Country Places. That Prejudice, which insists on +curing all Diseases by Sweating, entirely regulates their Conduct in +treating a Pleurisy; and as soon as a Person is afflicted with a Stitch, +all the hot Medicines are immediately set to Work. This mortal Error +destroys more People than Gunpowder; and it is by so much the more +hurtful, as the Distemper is of the most violent kind; and because, as +there is commonly not a Moment to be lost, the whole depends on the +Method immediately recurred to. + +Sec. 95. The proper Manner of treating this Disease, is exactly the same in +all Respects, with that of the Peripneumony; because, I again affirm, it +is the very same Disease. Hence the Bleedings, the softening and +diluting Drinks, the Steams, the Glysters, the Potion No. 8, and the +emollient Poultices are the real Remedies. These last perhaps are still +more effectual in the Pleurisy; and therefore they should be continually +applied over the very Stitch. + +The first Bleeding, especially if there has been a considerable +Discharge, almost constantly abates the Stitch, and often entirely +removes it: though it more commonly returns, after an Intermission of +some Hours, either in the same Spot, or sometimes in another. This +shifting of it is rather favourable, especially if the Pain, that was +first felt under the Breast, shifts into the Shoulders, to the Back, the +Shoulder-blade, or the Nape of the Neck. + +When the Stitch is not at all abated, or only a little; or if, after +having abated, it returns as violently as at first, and especially if it +returns in the same Spot, and the Height of the other Symptoms continue, +Bleeding must be repeated. But if a sensible Abatement of the Stitch +continues; and if, though it returns, it should be in a smaller Degree, +and by Intervals, or in these Places I have mentioned above; if the +Quickness, or the Hardness of the Pulse, and all the other Symptoms are +sensibly diminished, this repeated Bleeding may sometimes be omitted. +Nevertheless, in a very strong Subject, it seems rather prudent not to +omit it, since in such Circumstances it can do no Mischief; and a +considerable Hazard may sometimes be incurred by the Omission. In very +high and dangerous Pleurisies a frequent Repetition of bleeding is +necessary; except some Impediment to it should arise from the particular +Constitution of the Patient, or from his Age, or some other +Circumstances. + +If, from the Beginning of the Disease, the Pulse is but a little quicker +and harder than in a healthy State; if it is not manifestly strong; if +the Head-ach and the Stitch are so moderate as to prove supportable; if +the Cough is not too violent; if there is no sensible Oppression or +Straitness, and the Patient expectorate, or cough up, Bleeding may be +omitted. + +With Respect to the administering of other Remedies, the same Directions +are to be exactly followed, which have been already given in the +preceding Chapter, to which the Reader is referred from Sec. 53 to 66. + +Sec. 96. When the Disease is not very acute and pressing, I have often +cured it in a very few Days by a single Bleeding, and a large Quantity +of a Tea or Infusion of Elder-flowers, sweetened with Honey. It is in +some Cases of this kind, that we often find the Water _Faltranc_ +succeed, with the Addition of some Honey, and even of Oil: though the +Drink I have just directed is considerably preferable. That Drink which +is compounded of equal Quantities of Wine and Water, with the Addition +of much Venice Treacle, annually destroys a great Number of People in +the Country. + +Sec. 97. In those dry Pleurisies, in which the Stitch, the Fever, and the +Head-ach are strong and violent; and where the Pulse is very hard and +very full, with an excessive Dryness of the Skin and of the Tongue, +Bleeding should be frequently repeated, and at small Intervals from each +other. This Method frequently cures the Disease effectually, without +using any other Evacuation. + +Sec. 98. The Pleurisy terminates, like any other inward Inflammation, +either by some Evacuation; by an Abscess; in a Mortification; or in a +Scirrhosity or hard Tumour; and it often leaves Adhesions in the Breast. + +The Gangrene or Mortification sometimes appears on the third Day, +without having been preceded by very vehement Pains. In such Cases the +dead Body often looks very black, especially in the Parts near the Seat +of the Disease: and in such the more superstitious ascribe it to some +supernatural Cause; or draw some unhappy Presage from it, with Respect +to those who are yet unattacked by it. This Appearance however is purely +a natural Consequence, quite simple, and cannot be otherwise; and the +hot Regimen and Medicines are the most prevailing Causes of it. I have +seen it thus circumstanced in a Man in the Flower of his Age, who had +taken Venice Treacle in Cherry Water, and the Ingredients of _Faltranc_ +infused in Wine. + +Sec. 99. _Vomicas_ are sometimes the Consequences of Pleurisies; but their +particular Situation disposes them more to break [22] outwardly; which +is the most frequent Cause of an _Empyema_ Sec. 84. "To prevent this, it is +highly proper to apply, at the first Invasion of the Disease, to the +Spot where the Pain chiefly rages, a small Plaister, which may exactly +fit it; since if the Pleurisy should terminate in an Abscess or +Imposthume, the purulent Matter will be determined to that Side. + +[22] That is, into the Cavity of the Breast, rather than within the + Substance of the Lungs. + +"As soon then as it is foreseen that an Abscess is forming (see Sec. 68) we +should erode, by a light Caustic, the Place where it is expected; and as +soon as it is removed, Care should be taken to promote Suppuration +there. By this Means we may entertain a reasonable Hope, that the Mass +of Matter will incline its Course to that Spot, where it will meet with +the least Resistance, and be discharged from thence. For this Heap of +Matter is often accumulated between the _Pleura_, and the Parts which +adhere to it." + +This is the Advice of a very [23] great Physician; but I must inform the +Reader, there are many Cases, in which it can be of no Service; neither +ought it to be attempted, but by Persons of undoubted Abilities. + +[23] This is, undoubtedly, Baron _Van Swieten_, with whom he had + premised, he agreed considerably, in all the Diseases they had both + treated of. _K._ + +With Regard to the Scirrhosity, or Hardness, and to the Circumstances of +Adhesions, I can add nothing to what I have said in Sec. 86 and 87. + +Sec. 100. It has been observed that some Persons, who have been once +attacked by this Disease, are often liable to Relapses of it, especially +such as drink hard. I knew one Man, who reckoned up his Pleurisies by +Dozens. A few Bleedings, at certain proper Intervals, might prevent +these frequent Returns of it; which, joined to their excessive Drinking, +make them languid and stupid, in the very Flower of their Age. They +generally fall into some Species of an Asthma, and from that into a +Dropsy, which proves the melancholy, though not an improper, Conclusion +of their Lives. Such as can confine themselves to some proper +Precautions, may also prevent these frequent Returns of this Disease, +even without bleeding; by a temperate Regimen; by abstaining from Time +to Time, from eating Flesh and drinking Wine; at which Times they should +drink Whey, or some of those Diet-Drinks No. 1, 2, 4; and by bathing +their Legs sometimes in warm Water; especially in those Seasons, when +this Disease is the most likely to return. + +Sec. 101. Two Medicines greatly esteemed in this Disease among the +Peasantry, and even extolled by some Physicians, are the Blood of a wild +He Goat, and the [24] Soot in an Egg. I do not contest the Cure or +Recovery of many Persons, who have taken these Remedies; notwithstanding +it is not less true, that both of them, as well as the Egg in which the +Soot is taken, are dangerous: For which Reason it is prudent, at least, +never to make use of them; as there is great Probability, they may do a +little Mischief; and a Certainty that they can do no Good. The _Genipi_, +or [25] Wormwood of the Alps, has also acquired great Reputation in this +Disease, and occasioned many Disputes between some very zealous +Ecclesiastics, and a justly celebrated Physician. It seems not difficult +however to ascertain the proper Use of it. This Plant is a powerful +Bitter; it heats and excites Sweat: it seems clear, that, from such +Consequences, it should never be employed in a Pleurisy, while the +Vessels are full, the Pulse hard, the Fever high, and the Blood +inflamed. In all such Circumstances it must aggravate the Disease; but +towards the Conclusion of it, when the Vessels are considerably emptied, +the Blood is diluted, and the Fever abated, it may then be recurred to; +but with a constant Recollection that it is hot, and not to be employed +without Reflection and Prudence. [26] + +[24] This, with great Probability, means that small black Substance + often visible in a rotten Egg, which is undoubtedly of a violent, + or even poisonous Quality. Dr. _Tissot_ terms it expressly--_la + suie dans un Oeuf_. K. + +[25] Dr. _Lewis_, who has not taken Notice of this Species of Wormwood + in his Improvement of _Quincy's_ Dispensatory, has mentioned it in + his late _Materia Medica_. K. + +[26] This being a proper Place for directing the Seneka Rattle Snake + Root, I shall observe, that the best Way of exhibiting it is in + Decoction, by gradually simmering and boiling two Ounces of it in + gross Powder, in two Pints and a half of Water, to a Pint and a + quarter; and then giving three Spoonfuls of it to a grown Person, + every six Hours. If the Stitch should continue, or return, after + taking it, Bleeding, which should be premised to it, must be + occasionally repeated; though it seldom proves necessary, after a + few Doses of it. It greatly promotes Expectoration, keeps the Body + gently open, and sometimes operates by Urine and by Sweat; very + seldom proving at all emetic in Decoction. The Regimen of Drinks + directed here in Pleurisies are to be given as usual. Dr. + _Tennant_, the Introducer of this valuable Medicine, confided + solely in it, in Bastard Peripneumonies, without Bleeding, + Blistering, or any other Medicines. _K._ + + + + + __Chapter VI.__ + + + _Of the Diseases of the Throat._ + + + __Sect.__ 102. + +The Throat is subject to many Diseases: One of the most frequent and the +most dangerous, is that Inflammation of it, commonly termed a Quinsey. +This in Effect is a Distemper of the same Nature with an Inflammation of +the Breast; but as it occurs in a different Part, the Symptoms, of +Course, are very different. They also vary, not a very little, according +to the different Parts of the Throat which are inflamed. + +Sec. 103. The general Symptoms of an Inflammation of the Throat are, the +Shivering, the subsequent Heat, the Fever, the Head-ach, red +high-coloured Urine, a considerable Difficulty, and sometimes even an +Impossibility, of swallowing any thing whatever. But if the nearer Parts +to the _Glottis_, that is, of the Entrance into the Windpipe, or Conduit +through which we breathe, are attacked, Breathing becomes excessively +difficult; the Patient is sensible of extreme Anguish, and great +Approaches to Suffocation; the Disease is then extended to the +_Glottis_, to the Body of the Wind-pipe, and even to the Substance of +the Lungs, whence it becomes speedily fatal. + +The Inflammation of the other Parts is attended with less Danger; and +this Danger becomes still less, as the Disease is more extended to the +outward and superficial Parts. When the Inflammation is general, and +seizes all the internal Parts of the Throat, and particularly the +Tonsils or Almonds, as they are called, the _Uvula_, or Process of the +Palate, and the _Basis_, or remotest deepest Part of the Tongue, it is +one of the most dangerous and dreadful Maladies. The Face is then +swelled up and inflamed; the whole Inside of the Throat is in the same +Condition; the Patient can get nothing down; he breathes with a Pain and +Anguish, which concur, with a Stuffing or Obstruction in his Brains, to +throw him into a kind of furious _Delirium_, or Raving. His Tongue is +bloated up, and is extended out of his Mouth; his Nostrils are dilated, +as tho' it were to assist him in his Breathing; the whole Neck, even to +the Beginning of the Breast, is excessively tumified or swelled up; the +Pulse is very quick, very weak, and often intermits; the miserable +Patient is deprived of all his Strength, and commonly dies the second or +third Day. Very fortunately this Kind, or Degree of it, which I have +often seen in _Languedoc_, happens very rarely in _Swisserland_, where +the Disease is less violent; and where I have only seen People die of +it, in Consequence of its being perniciously treated; or by Reason of +some accidental Circumstances, which were foreign to the Disease itself. +Of the Multitude of Patients I have attended in this Disorder, I have +known but one to fail under it, whose Case I shall mention towards the +Close of this Chapter. + +Sec. 104. Sometimes the Disease shifts from the internal to the external +Parts: the Skin of the Neck and Breast grows very red, and becomes +painful, but the Patient finds himself better. + +At other Times the Disorder quits the Throat; but is transferred to the +Brain, or upon the Lungs. Both these Translations of it are mortal, when +the best Advice and Assistance cannot be immediately procured; and it +must be acknowledged, that even the best are often ineffectual. + +Sec. 105. The most usual kind of this Disease is that which affects only +the Tonsils (the Almonds) and the Palate; or rather its Process, +_commonly called_ the Palate. It generally first invades one of the +Tonsils, which becomes enlarged, red and painful, and does not allow the +afflicted to swallow, but with great Pain. Sometimes the Disorder is +confined to one Side; but most commonly it is extended to the _Uvula_, +(the Palate) from whence it is extended to the other Tonsil. If it be of +a mild kind, the Tonsil first affected is generally better, when the +second is attacked. Whenever they are both affected at once, the Pain +and the Anguish of the Patient are very considerable; he cannot swallow, +but with great Difficulty and Complaint; and the Torment of this is so +vehement, that I have seen Women affected with Convulsions, as often as +they endeavoured to swallow their Spittle, or any other Liquid. They +continue, even for several Hours sometimes, unable to take any thing +whatever; all the upper inward Part of the Mouth, the Bottom of the +Palate, and the descending Part of the Tongue become lightly red, or +inflamed. + +A considerable Proportion of Persons under this Disease swallow Liquids +more difficultly than Solids; by Reason that Liquids require a greater +Action of some Part of the Muscles, in order to their being properly +directed into their Conduit or Chanel. The Deglutition (the Swallowing) +of the Spittle is attended with still more Uneasiness than that of other +Liquids, because it is a little more thick and viscid, and flows down +with less Ease. This Difficulty of swallowing, joined to the Quantity +thence accumulated, produces that almost continual hawking up, which +oppresses some Patients so much the more, as the Inside of their Cheeks, +their whole Tongue, and their Lips are often galled, and even flead as +it were. This also prevents their Sleeping, which however seems no +considerable Evil; Sleep being _sometimes_ but of little Service in +Diseases attended with a Fever; and I have often seen those, who thought +their Throats almost entirely well in the Evening, and yet found them +very bad after some Hours Sleep. + +The Fever, in this Species of the Disease, is sometimes, very high; and +the Shivering often endures for many Hours. It is succeeded by +considerable Heat, and a violent Head-ach, which yet is sometimes +attended with a Drowsiness. The Fever is commonly pretty high in the +Evening, though sometimes but inconsiderable, and by the Morning perhaps +there is none at all. + +A light Invasion of this Disease of the Throat often precedes the +Shivering; though most commonly it does not become manifest 'till after +it, and at the same Time when the Heat comes on. + +The Neck is sometimes a little inflated, or puffed up; and many of the +Sick complain of a pretty smart Pain in the Ear of that Side, which is +most affected. I have but very seldom observed that they had it in both. + +Sec. 106. The Inflammation either disappears by Degrees, or an Abscess is +formed in the Part which was chiefly affected. It has never happened, at +least within my Knowledge, that this Sort of the Disease, prudently +treated, has ever terminated either in a Mortification, or a Scirrhus: +but I have been a Witness to either of these supervening, when Sweating +was extorted in the Beginning of it, by hot Medicines. + +It is also very rare to meet with those highly dangerous Translations of +this Disease upon the Lungs, such as are described in that Species of it +from Sec. 103, 104. It is true indeed it does not occur more frequently, +even in that Species, whenever the Disease is thrown out upon the more +external Parts. + +Sec. 107. The Treatment of the Quinsey, as well as of all other +inflammatory Diseases, is the same with that of an Inflammation of the +Breast. + +The Sick is immediately to be put upon a Regimen; and in that Sort +described Sec. 103, Bleeding must be repeated four or five Times within a +few Hours; and sometimes there is a Necessity to recur still oftner to +it. When it assaults the Patient in the most vehement Degree, all +Medicines, all Means, are very generally ineffectual; they should be +tried however. We should give as much as can be taken of the Drinks No. +2 and 4. But as the Quantity they are able to swallow is often very +inconsiderable; the Glyster No. 5 should be repeated every three Hours; +and their Legs should be put into a Bath of warm Water, thrice a Day. + +Sec. 108. Cupping Glasses, with Scarification, applied about the Neck, +after bleeding twice or thrice, have often been experienced to be highly +useful. In the most desperate Cases, when the Neck is excessively +swelled, one or two deep Incisions made with a Razor, on this external +Tumour, have sometimes saved a Patient's Life. + +Sec. 109. In that kind, and those Circumstances, of this Disease described +Sec. 105 we must have very frequent Recourse to Bleeding; and it should +never be omitted, when the Pulse is very perceivably hard and full. It +is of the utmost Consequence to do it instantaneously; since it is the +only Means to prevent the Abscess, which forms very readily, if Bleeding +has been neglected, only for a few Hours. Sometimes it is necessary to +repeat it a second Time, but very rarely a third. + +This Disease is frequently so gentle and mild, as to be cured without +Bleeding, by the Means of much good Management. But as many as are not +Masters of their own Time, nor in such an easy Situation, as to be +properly attended, ought, without the least Hesitation, to be bled +directly, which is sometimes sufficient to remove the Complaint; +especially if, after Bleeding, the Patient drinks plentifully of the +Ptisan No. 2. + +In this light Degree of the Disease, it may suffice to bathe the Legs, +and to receive a Glyster, once a Day each; the first to be used in the +Morning, and the last in the Evening. Besides the general Remedies +against Inflammations, a few particular ones, calculated precisely for +this Disease, may be applied in each kind or Degree of it. The best are, +first the emollient Poultices, No. 9, laid over the whole Neck. [27] +Some have highly extolled the Application of Swallows Nests in this +Disease; and though I make no Objection to it, I think it certainly less +efficacious than any of those which I direct. + +[27] The _English_ avail themselves considerably, in this Disease, of a + Mixture of equal Parts of Sallad Oil, and Spirit of Sal Ammoniac; + or of Oil and Spirit of Hartshorn, as a Liniment and Application + round the Neck. This Remedy corresponds with many Indications; and + deserves, perhaps, the first Place amongst local Applications + against the inflammatory Quinsey. _E. L._ + +2. Of the Gargarisms (No. 19) a great Variety may be prepared, of pretty +much the same Properties, and of equal Efficacy. Those I direct here are +what have succeeded best with me and they are very simple. [28] + +[28] Dr. _Pringle_ is apprehensive of some ill Effects from Acids in + Gargarisms [_which is probably from their supposed repelling + Property_] and prefers a Decoction of Figs in Milk and Water, to + which he adds a small Quantity of Spirit of Sal Ammoniac. _E. L._ + +3. The Steam of hot Water, as directed Sec. 55, should be repeated five or +six Times a Day; a Poultice should be constantly kept on, and often +renewed; and the Patient should often gargle. + +There are some Persons, besides Children, who cannot gargle themselves: +and in fact the Pain occasioned by it makes it the more difficult. In +such a Case, instead of gargling, the same Gargarism (No. 19) may be +injected with a small Syringe. The Injection reaches further than +Gargling, and often causes the Patient to hawk up a considerable +Quantity of glarey Matter (which has grown still thicker towards the +Bottom of the Throat) to his sensible Relief. This Injection should be +often repeated. The little hollowed Pipes of Elder Wood, which all the +Children in the Country can make, may be conveniently employed for this +Purpose. The Patient should breathe out, rather than inspire, during the +Injection. + +Sec. 110. Whenever the Disease terminates without Suppuration, the Fever, +the Head-ach, the Heat in the Throat, and the Pain in swallowing, begin +to abate from the fourth Day, some times from the third, often only from +the fifth; and from such Period that Abatement increases at a great +Rate; so that at the End of two, three, or four Days, on the sixth, +seventh, or eighth, the Patient is entirely well. Some few however +continue to feel a light Degree of Pain, and that only on one Side, four +or five Days longer, but without a Fever, or any considerable +Uneasiness. + +Sec. 111. Sometimes the Fever and the other Symptoms abate, after the +Bleeding and other Remedies; without any subsequent Amendment in the +Throat, or any Signs of Suppuration. In such Cases we must chiefly +persist in the Gargarisms and the Steams; and where an experienced and +dexterous Surgeon can be procured, it were proper he should scarify the +inflamed Tonsils. These discharge, in such Cases, a moderate Quantity of +Blood; and this Evacuation relieves, very readily, as many as make use +of it. + +Sec. 112. If the Inflammation is no ways disposed to disperse, so that an +Abscess is forming, which almost ever happens, if it has not been +obviated at the Invasion of the Disease; then the Symptoms attending the +Fever continue, though raging a little less after the fourth Day: the +Throat continues red, but of a less florid and lively Redness: a Pain +also continues, though less acute, accompanied sometimes with +Pulsations, and at other Times intirely without any; of which it is +proper to take Notice: the Pulse commonly grows a little softer; and on +the fifth or sixth Day, and sometimes sooner, the Abscess is ready to +break. This may be discovered by the Appearance of a small white and +soft Tumour, when the Mouth is open, which commonly appears about the +Centre or Middle of the Inflammation. It bursts of itself; or, should it +not, it must be opened. This is effected by strongly securing a Lancet +to one End of a small Stick or Handle, and enveloping, or wrapping up +the whole Blade of it, except the Point and the Length of one fourth or +a third of an Inch, in some Folds of soft Linnen; after which the +Abscess is pierced with the Point of this Lancet. The Instant it is +opened, the Mouth is filled with the Discharge of a Quantity of _Pus_, +of the most intolerable Savour and Smell. The Patient should gargle +himself after the Discharge of it with the detersive, or cleansing +Gargarism No. 19. It is surprising sometimes to see the Quantity of +Matter discharged from this Imposthumation. In general there is but one; +though sometimes I have seen two of them. + +Sec. 113. It happens, and not seldom, that the Matter is not collected +exactly in the Place, where the Inflammation appeared, but in some less +exposed and less visible Place: whence a Facility of swallowing is +almost entirely restored; the Fever abates; the Patient sleeps; he +imagines he is cured, and that no Inconvenience remains, but such as +ordinarily occurs in the earliest Stage of Recovery. A Person who is +neither a Physician, nor a Surgeon, may easily deceive himself, when in +this State. But the following Signs may enable him to discover that +there is an Abscess, viz. A certain Inquietude and general Uneasiness; a +Pain throughout the Mouth; some Shiverings from Time to Time; frequently +sharp, but short and transient, Heat: a Pulse moderately soft, but not +in a natural State; a Sensation of Thickness and Heaviness in the +Tongue; small white Eruptions on the Gums, on the Inside of the Cheek, +on the Inside and Outside of the Lips, and a disagreeable Taste and +Odour. + +Sec. 114. In such Cases Milk or warm Water should frequently be retained in +the Mouth; the Vapour of hot Water should be conveyed into it; and +emollient Cataplasms may be applied about the Neck. All these Means +concur to the softening and breaking of the Abscess. The Finger may also +be introduced to feel for its Situation; and when discovered, the +Surgeon may easily open it. I happened once to break one under my +Finger, without having made the least Effort to do it. Warm Water may be +injected pretty forcibly, either by the Mouth or the Nostrils: this +sometimes occasions a kind of Cough, or certain Efforts which tend to +break it. I have seen this happen even from laughing. As to the rest, +the Patient should not be too anxious or uneasy about the Event. I never +saw a single Instance of a Person's dying of a Quinsey of this kind, +after the Suppuration is truly effected; neither has it happened perhaps +after the Time it is forming for Suppuration. + +Sec. 115. The glairy Matter with which the Throat is over-charged, and the +very Inflammation of that Part, which, from its Irritation, produces the +same Effect, as the Introduction of a Finger into it, occasions some +Patients to complain of incessant Propensities to vomit. We must be upon +our Guard here, and not suppose that this Heart-Sickness, as some have +called it, results from a Disorder of, or a Load within, the Stomach, +and that it requires a Vomit for its Removal. The giving one here would +often prove a very unfortunate Mistake. It might, in a high +Inflammation, further aggravate it; or we might be obliged (even during +the Operation of the Vomit) to bleed, in order to lessen the Violence of +the Inflammation. Such Imprudence with its bad Consequences, often +leaves the Patient, even after the Disease is cured, in a State of +Languor and Weakness for a considerable Time. Nevertheless, there are +some particular Disorders of the Throat, attended with a Fever, in which +a Vomit may be prudently given. But this can only be, when there is no +Inflammation, or after it is dispersed; and there still remains some +putrid Matter in the first Passages. Of such Cases I shall speak +hereafter. [29] + +[29] In Diseases of the Throat, which have been preceded by such + Excesses in Food or strong Drink, as occur too often in many + Countries, when the Patient has very strong Reachings to vomit, and + the Tongue is moist at the same Time; we should not hesitate, after + appeasing the first Symptoms of the Inflammation [by sufficient + Bleedings, &c.] to assist the Efforts of Nature, and to give a + small Dose of Tartar emetic, dissolved in some Spoonfuls of Water. + This Remedy in this Case, promotes the Dispersion of the + Inflammation, beyond any other. _E. L._ + +Sec. 116. We often see in _Swisserland_ a Disorder different from these of +the Throat, of which we have just treated; though, like these, attended +with a Difficulty of swallowing. It is termed in French the _Oreillons_, +and often the _Ourles_, or swelled Ears. It is an Overfulness and +Obstruction of those Glands and their Tubes, which are to furnish the +_Saliva_ or Spittle; and particularly of the two large Glands which lie +between the Ear and the Jaw; which are called the _Parotides_; and of +two under the Jaw, called the _Maxillares_. All these being considerably +swelled in this Disease, do not only produce a great Difficulty of +swallowing; but also prevent the Mouth from opening; as an Attempt to do +it is attended with violent Pain. Young Children are much more liable to +this Disease than grown Persons. Being seldom attended with a Fever, +there is no Occasion for Medicines: It is sufficient to defend the Parts +affected from the external Air; to apply some proper Poultice over them; +to lessen the Quantity of their Food considerably, denying them Flesh +and Wine; but indulging them plentifully in some light warm Liquid, to +dilute their Humours and restore Perspiration. I cured myself of this +Disorder in 1754, by drinking nothing, for four Days, but Balm Tea, to +which I added one fourth part Milk, and a little Bread. The same +_Regimen_ has often cured me of other light Complaints of the Throat. + +Sec. 117. In the Spring of 1761, there were an astonishing Number of +Persons attacked with Disorders of the Throat, of two different Kinds. +Some of them were seized with that common Sort which I have already +described. Without adding any thing more particularly, in Respect to +this Species, it happened frequently to grown Persons, who were +perfectly cured by the Method already recited. The other Species, on +which I shall be more particular in this Place (because I know they have +abounded in some Villages, and were very fatal) invaded Adults, or grown +Persons also, but especially Children, from the Age of one Year, and +even under that, to the Age of twelve or thirteen. + +The first Symptoms were the same with those of the common Quinsey, such +as the Shivering, the ensuing Heat or Fever, Dejection, and a Complaint +of the Throat: but the following Symptoms distinguished these from the +common inflammatory Quinseys. + +1. The Sick had often something of a Cough, and a little Oppression. + +2. The Pulse was quicker, but less hard, and less strong, than generally +happens in Diseases of the Throat. + +3. The Patients were afflicted with a sharp, stinging and dry Heat, and +with great Restlessness. + +4. They spat less than is usual in a common Quinsey; and their Tongues +were extremely dry. + +5. Though they had some Pain in swallowing, this was not their principal +Complaint, and they could drink sufficiently. + +6. The Swelling and Redness of the Tonsils, of the Palate, and of its +Process were not considerable; but the parotid and maxillary Glands, and +especially the former, being extremely swelled and inflamed, the Pain +they chiefly complained of, was this outward one. + +7. When the Disease proved considerably dangerous, the whole Neck +swelled; and sometimes even the Veins, which return the Blood from the +Brain, being overladen, as it were, the Sick had some Degree of +Drowsiness, and of a _Delirium_, or Raving. + +8. The Paroxysms, or Returns, of the Fever were considerably irregular. + +9. The Urine appeared to be less inflamed, than in other Diseases of the +Throat. + +10. Bleeding and other Medicines did not relieve them, as soon as in the +other kind; and the Disease itself continued a longer Time. + +11. It did not terminate in a Suppuration like other Quinsies, but +sometimes the Tonsils were ulcerated. + +12. [30] Almost every Child, and indeed a great many of the grown +Persons assaulted with this Disease, threw out, either on the first Day, +or on some succeeding one, within the first six Days, a certain +Efflorescence, or Eruptions, resembling the Measles considerably in +some, but of a less lively Colour, and without any Elevation, or rising +above the Skin. It appeared first in the Face, next in the Arms, and +descended to the Legs, Thighs and Trunk; disappearing gradually at the +End of two or three Days, in the same Order it had observed in breaking +out. A few others (I have seen but five Instances of it) suffered the +most grievous Symptoms before the Eruption; and threw out the genuine +_purpura_, or white miliary Eruption. + +[30] This seems to have been the same kind of Quinsey, of which Drs. + _Huxham_, _Fothergil_, _Cotton_ and others wrote, though under + different Appellations. _K._ + +13. As soon as these Efflorescences or Eruptions appeared, the Sick +generally found themselves better. That, last mentioned, continued four, +five, or six Days, and frequently went off by Sweats. Such as had not +these Ebullitions, which was the Case of many Adults, were not cured +without very plentiful Sweats towards the Termination of the Disease: +those which occurred at the Invasion of it being certainly unprofitable, +and always hurtful. + +14. I have seen some Patients, in whom the Complaint of the Throat +disappeared entirely, without either Eruptions or Sweats: but such still +remained in very great Inquietude and Anguish, with a quick and small +Pulse. I ordered them a sudorific Drink, which being succeeded by the +Eruption, or by Sweating, they found themselves sensibly relieved. + +15. But whether the Sick had, or had not, these external Rednesses or +Eruptions, every one of them parted with their Cuticle or Scarf Skin, +which fell off, in large Scales, from the whole Surface of the Body: so +great was the Acrimony or Sharpness of that Matter, which was to be +discharged through the Skin. + +16. A great Number suffered a singular Alteration in their Voice, +different from that which occurs in common Quinsies, the Inside of their +Nostrils being extremely dry. + +17. The Sick recovered with more Difficulty after this, than after the +common Quinsies: and if they were negligent or irregular, during their +Recovery; particularly, if they exposed themselves too soon to the Cold, +a Relapse ensued, or some different Symptoms; such as a Stuffing with +Oppression, a Swelling of the Belly, windy Swellings in different Parts; +Weakness, Loathings, Ulcerations behind the Ears, and something of a +Cough and Hoarseness. + +18. I have been sent for to Children, and also to some young Folks, who, +at the End of several Weeks, had been taken with a general Inflammation +of the whole Body, attended with great Oppression, and a considerable +Abatement of their Urine, which was also high-coloured and turbid, or +without Separation. They seemed also in a very singular State of +Indifference, or Disregard, with Respect to any Object, or Circumstance. +I recovered every one of them entirely by Blisters, and the Powder No. +25. The first Operation of this Medicine was to vomit them: to this +succeeded a Discharge by Urine, and at last very plentiful Sweating, +which compleated the Cure. Two Patients only, of a bad Constitution, who +were a little ricketty, and disposed to glandular Scirrhosity or +Knottiness, relapsed and died, after being recovered of the Disease +itself for some Days. + +Sec. 118. I have bled some adult Persons, and made Use of the cooling +Regimen, as long as there was an evident Inflammation: it was necessary +after this to unload the first Passages; and at last to excite moderate +Sweats. The same Powders No. 25 have often effected both these +Discharges, and with entire Success. In other Cases I have made Use of +Ipecacuanha, as directed No. 35. + +In some Subjects there did not appear any inflammatory Symptom; and the +Distemper resulted solely from a Load of putrid Matter in the first +Passages. Some Patients also discharged Worms. In such Cases I never +bled; but the Vomit had an excellent Effect, at the very Onset of the +Disease; it produced a perceivable Abatement of all the Symptoms; +Sweating ensued very kindly and naturally, and the Patient recovered +entirely a few Hours after. + +Sec. 119. There were some Places, in which no Symptom or Character of +Inflammation appeared; and in which it was necessary to omit Bleeding, +which was attended with bad Consequences. + +I never directed Infants to be bled. After opening the first Passages, +Blisters and diluting Drinks proved their only Remedies. A simple +Infusion of Elder Flowers, and those of the Lime Tree, has done great +Service to those who drank plentifully of it. + +Sec. 120. I am sensible that in many Villages a great Number of Persons +have died, with a prodigious Inflation or Swelling of the Neck. Some +have also died in the City, and among others a young Woman of twenty +Years of Age, who had taken nothing but hot sweating Medicines and red +Wine, and died the fourth Day, with violent Suffocations, and a large +Discharge of Blood from the Nose. Of the great Number I have seen in +Person, only two died. One was a little Girl of ten Months old. She had +an Efflorescence which very suddenly disappeared: at this Time I was +called in; but the Humour had retreated to the Breast, and rendered her +Death inevitable. The other was a strong Youth from sixteen to seventeen +Years old, whose sudden Attack from the Disease manifested, from the +very Beginning, a violent Degree of it. Nevertheless, the Symptoms +subsiding, and the Fever nearly terminating, the Sweats which approached +would probably have saved him. But he would not suffer them to have +their Course, continually stripping himself quite naked. The +Inflammation was immediately repelled upon the Lungs, and destroyed him +within the Space of thirty Hours. I never saw a Person die with so very +dry a Skin. The Vomit affected him very little upwards, and brought on a +purging. His own bad Conduct seems to have been the Occasion of his +Death; and may this serve as one Example of it. + +Sec. 121. I chose to expatiate on this Disease, as it may happen to reach +other Places, where it may be useful to have been apprized of its Marks, +and of its Treatment, which agrees as much with that of putrid Fevers, +of which I shall speak hereafter, as with that of the inflammatory +Diseases I have already considered: since in some Subjects the Complaint +of the Throat has evidently been a Symptom of a putrid Fever, rather +than of the chiefly apparent Disease, a Quinsey. [31] + +Sec. 122. Disorders of the Throat are, with Respect to particular Persons, +an habitual Disease returning every Year, and sometimes oftner than once +a Year. They may be prevented by the same Means, which I have directed +for the Preservation from habitual Pleurisies Sec. 100; and by defending +the Head and the Neck from the Cold; especially after being heated by +Hunting, or any violent Exercise, or even by singing long and loud, +which may be considered as an extraordinary Exercise of some of the +Parts affected in this Disease. + +[31] I reserve some other interesting Reflections on this Disease, for + the second Edition of my Treatise on Fevers; and the Editor at + _Paris_ has very well observed, that it has some Relation to the + gangrenous sore Throat, which has been epidemical these twenty + Years past, in many Parts of _Europe_.----This Note is from Dr. + _Tissot_ himself. + + + + + __Chapter VII.__ + + + _Of Colds._ + + + __Sect.__ 123. + +There are many erroneous Prejudices, with Regard to Colds, all of which +may be attended with pernicious Consequences. The first is, that a Cold +is never dangerous; an Error which daily destroys the Lives of many. I +have already complained of it for many Years past; and I have since +beheld a Multitude of such Examples of it, as have but too sufficiently +warranted my Complaints. + +No Person however, it is certain, dies merely of a Cold, as long as it +is nothing but a Cold simply; but when, from Inattention and Neglect, it +is thrown upon, and occasions Distempers of the Breast, it may, and +often does, prove mortal. _Colds destroy more than Plagues_, was the +Answer of a very sagacious and experienced Physician to one of his +Friends, who, being asked, how he was in Health, replied, Very well, I +have nothing but a Cold. + +A second erroneous Prejudice is, that Colds require no Means, no +Medicines, and that they last the longer for being nursed, or tampered +with. The last Article may be true indeed, with Respect to the Method, +in which the Person affected with them treats them; but the Principle +itself is false. Colds, like other Disorders, have their proper +Remedies; and are removed with more or less Facility, as they are +conducted better or worse. + +Sec. 124. A third Mistake is, that they are not only considered as not +dangerous, but are even supposed wholesome too. Doubtless a Man had +better have a Cold than a more grievous Disease; though it must be still +better to have neither of them. The most that can reasonably be said and +admitted on this Point, is, that when a checked, or an obstructed +Perspiration becomes the Cause of a Distemper, it is fortunate that it +produces rather a Cold, than any very dreadful Disease, which it +frequently does: though it were to be wished, that neither the Cause, +nor its Effect existed. A Cold constantly produces some Disorder or +Defect in the Functions of some Part or Parts of the Body, and thus +becomes the Cause of a Disease. It is indeed a real Disorder itself, and +which, when in a violent Degree, makes a very perceivable Assault upon +our whole Machine. Colds, with their Defluxions, considerably weaken the +Breast, and sooner or later considerably impair the Health. Persons +subject to frequent Colds are never robust or strong; they often sink +into languid Disorders; and a frequent Aptitude to take Cold is a Proof, +that their Perspiration may be easily checked and restrained; whence the +Lungs become oppressed and obstructed, which must always be attended +with considerable Danger. + +Sec. 125. We may be convinced of the Weakness and Fallacy of these +Prejudices, by considering attentively the Nature of Colds; which are +nothing else than the very Diseases already described in the three +preceding Chapters, though in their greatest Degree only. + +A Cold in Truth is almost constantly an inflammatory Disease; a light +Inflammation of the Lungs, or of the Throat; of the Membrane or very +thin Skin, which lines the Nostrills, and the Inside of certain Cavities +in the Bones of the Cheeks and Forehead. These Cavities communicate with +the Nose, in such a Manner, that when one Part of this Membrane is +affected with an Inflammation, it is easily communicated to the other +Parts. + +Sec. 126. It is scarcely necessary to describe the Symptoms of a Cold, and +it may be sufficient to remark, 1. That their chief Cause is the same +with that, which most commonly produces the Diseases already treated of, +that is, an obstructed Perspiration, and a Blood somewhat inflamed. 2. +That whenever these Diseases affect great Numbers, many Colds prevail at +the same Time. 3. That the Symptoms which manifest a violent Cold, +greatly resemble those which precede or usher in these Diseases. People +are rarely attacked by great Colds, without a shivering and Fever; which +last sometimes continues for many Days. There is a Cough, a dry Cough, +for some Time; after which some Expectoration ensues; which allays the +Cough, and lightens the Oppression; at which Time the Cold may be said +to be maturated, or ripe. There are pretty often slight Stitches, but +unfixed or flying about, with a little Complaint of the Throat. When the +Nostrills happen to be the Seat of the Disorder, which is then very +improperly termed a Cold of the Brain, it is often attended with a +vehement Head-ach; which sometimes depends on an Irritation of the +Membrane, that lines the Cavities in the Bone of the Forehead, or the +maxillary Sinusses, that is, the Cavities in the Jaws: At first the +Running from the Nose is very clear; thin and sharp; afterwards, in +Proportion to the Abatement of the Inflammation, it becomes thicker; and +the Consistence and Colour of it resemble those of what others cough up. +The Smell, the Taste and the Appetite are commonly impaired by it. + +Sec. 127. Colds seem to be of no certain Duration or Continuance. Those of +the Head or Brain generally last but a few Days; of the Breast longer. +Some Colds nevertheless terminate in four or five Days. If they extend +beyond this Term they prove really hurtful. 1. Because the Violence of +the Cough disorders the whole Machine; and particularly, by forcing up +the Blood to the Head. 2. By depriving the Person afflicted of his usual +Sleep, which is almost constantly diminished by it. 3. By impairing the +Appetite, and confusing the Digestion, which is unavoidably lessened by +it. 4. By weakening the very Lungs, by the continual Agitations from +Coughing; whence all the Humours being gradually determined towards +them, as the weakest Part, a continual Cough subsists. Hence also they +become overcharged with Humours, which grow viscid there; the +Respiration is overloaded and oppressed; a slow Fever appears; Nutrition +almost ceases; the Patient becomes very weak; sinks into a Wasting; an +obstinate Wakefulness and Anguish, and often dies in a short Time. 5. By +Reason that the Fever, which almost constantly accompanies great Cold, +concurs to wear the body down. + +Sec. 128. Wherefore, since a Cold is a Disease of the same kind with +Quinsies, Peripneumonies and Inflammations of the Breast, it ought to be +treated in the same Manner. If it is a violent one, Blood should be +taken from the Arm, which may considerably shorten its Duration: and +this becomes most essentially necessary, whenever the Patient is of a +sanguineous ruddy Complexion, abounds with Blood, and has a strong +Cough, and great Head-ach. The Drinks No. 1, 2, 3, 4, should be very +plentifully used. It is advantagious to bathe the Feet in warm Water +every Night at going to Bed. [32] In a Word, if the Patient is put into +a Regimen, the Cure is very speedily effected. + +[32] It frequently happens, that the Bathings alone remove the Head-ach, + and the Cough too, by relaxing the lower Parts, and the entire + Surface of the Body. If the Patient is costive, he should receive + Glysters of warm Water, in which some Bran has been boiled, with + the Addition of a little common Soap or Butter. _E. L._ + +Sec. 129. The Disorder indeed, however, is often so very slight, that it +may be thought to require very little, if any, medical Treatment, and +may be easily cured without Physick, by abstaining from Flesh, Eggs, +Broth, and Wine; from all Food that is sharp, fat and heavy; and by +dieting upon Bread, Pulse, Fruit, and Water; particularly by eating +little or no Supper; and drinking, if thirsty, a simple Ptisan of +Barley, or an Infusion of Elder Flowers, with the Addition of a third or +fourth Part of Milk. Bathing the Feet, and the Powder No. 20 contribute +to dispose the Patient to sleep. Five Tea-Cups of an Infusion of the +Red, or wild Poppy Leaves may also be ventured on safely. + +Sec. 130. When the Fever, Heat and Inflammation wholly disappear; when the +Patient has kept to his Regimen for some Days, and his Blood is well +diluted, if the Cough and Want of Sleep still continues, he may take in +the Evening a Dose of Storax [33] Pill, or of Venice Treacle with Elder +Flower Tea, after bathing his Feet. These Remedies by stilling the +Cough, and restoring Perspiration, frequently cure the Cold in the Space +of one Night. I confess at the same Time, I have seen bad Consequences +from such Opiates, when given too early in the Complaint. It is also +necessary, when they are given, that the Patient should have supt but +very moderately, and that his Supper should be digested. + +[33] Under these Circumstances of a tickling Cough from a Cold, without + a Fever, and with very little Inflammation, I have known great and + very frequent Success, from a Dose of _Elixir paregoricum_, taken + at Bed-time, after a very light thin Supper. If the Patient be + sanguine, strong and costive, Bleeding in a suitable Quantity, and + a gently opening Potion, or purging Glyster, may be prudently + premised to it. Grown Persons may take from 30 to 80, or even 100 + Drops of it, in Barley Water, or any other pectoral Drink; and + Children in the Chincough from five to twenty Drops; half an Ounce + of it by Measure containing about one Grain of Opium, which is the + Quantity contained in less than quite six Grains of the Storax + Pill; this last being a very available pectoral Opiate too in + Coughs from a Distillation, in more adult Bodies, who may also + prefer a Medicine in that small Size, and Form. _K._ + +Sec. 131. An immense Number of Remedies are cried up for the Cure of Colds; +such as Ptisans of Apples or Pippins, of Liquorice, of dry Raisins, of +Figs, of Borage, of Ground-Ivy, of _Veronica_ or Speedwell, of Hysop, of +Nettles, _&c. &c._ I have no Design to depreciate them; as all of them +may possibly be useful: But unfortunately, those who have seen any +particular one of them succeed in one Case, readily conclude it to be +the most excellent of them all; which is a dangerous Error, because no +one Case is a sufficient Foundation to decide upon: which besides none +are qualified to do, who have not often seen a great Number of such +Cases; and who do not so attentively observe the Effects of different +Medicines, as to determine on those which most frequently agree with the +Disorder; and which, in my Judgment, are those I have just enumerated. I +have known a Tea or Infusion of Cherry Stalks, which is not a +disagreeable Drink, to cure a very inveterate Cold. + +Sec. 132. In Colds of the Head or Brain, the Steam of warm Water alone, or +that in which Elder Flowers, or some other mild aromatic Herbs, have +been boiled, commonly afford a pretty speedy Relief. These are also +serviceable in Colds fallen on the Breast. See Sec. 55. + +It has been a Practice, though of no very long standing, to give the Fat +of a Whale in these Cases; but this is a very crude indigestible kind of +Fat, and greasy oily Medicines seldom agree with Colds. Besides, this +Whales' Fat is very disagreeable and rancid, that is rank; so that it +were better to forbear using it: I have sometimes seen ill Effects from +it, and rarely any good ones. [34] + +[34] This seems but too applicable to the very popular Use of + _Spermaceti_, &c. in such Cases, which can only grease the Passage + to the Stomach; must impair its digestive Faculty, and cannot + operate against the Cause of a Cold; though that Cure of it, which + is effected by the Oeconomy of Nature in due Time, is often + ascribed to such Medicines, as may rather have retarded it. _K._ + +Sec. 133. Such Persons as abate nothing of the usual Quantity of their +Food, when seized with a Cold, and who swallow down large Quantities of +hot Water, ruin their Health. Their Digestion ceases; the Cough begins +to affect the Stomach, without ceasing to afflict the Breast; and they +incur a Chance of sinking into the Condition described Sec. 127, No. 4. + +Burnt Brandy and spiced Wine are very pernicious in the Beginning of +Colds, and the Omission of them must be a very prudent Omission. If any +good Effects have ever been known to attend the Use of them, it has been +towards the going off of the Cold; when the Disorder maintained its +Ground, solely from the Weakness of the Patient. Whenever this is the +Case, there is not the least Room for farther Relaxation; but the +Powders No. 14, should be taken every Day in a little Wine; and should +the Humours seem likely to be thrown upon the Lungs, Blisters ought to +be applied to the fleshy Part of the Legs. + +Sec. 134. Drams, or _Liqueurs_, as they are called in _French_, agree so +very little in this last State, that frequently a very small Quantity of +them revives a Cold that was just expiring. There really are some +Persons who never drink them without taking Cold, which is not to be +wondered at, as they occasion a light Inflammation in the Breast, which +is equivalent to a Cold or Distillation. + +Nevertheless, People in this Disorder should not expose themselves to +violent cold Weather, if there is a Possibility of avoiding it: though +they should equally guard too against excessive Heat. Those, who inclose +themselves in very hot Rooms, never get quite cured; and how is it +possible they should be cured in such a Situation? Such Rooms, +abstracted from the Danger of coming out of them, produce Colds in the +same Manner that Drams do, by producing a light inflammation in the +Breast. + +Sec. 135. Persons subject to frequent Colds, which Habits are sometimes +termed _fluxionary_, or liable to Distillations, imagine, they ought to +keep themselves very hot. This is an Error which thoroughly destroys +their Health. Such a Disposition to take Cold arises from two Causes; +either because their Perspiration is easily impaired; or sometimes from +the Weakness of the Stomach or the Lungs, which require particular +Remedies. When the Complaint arises from the Perspiration's being easily +disturbed and lessened, the hotter they keep themselves, the more they +sweat, and increase their Complaint the more. This incessantly warm Air +lets down and weakens the whole Machine, and more particularly the +Lungs; where the Humours finding less Resistance, are continually +derived, and are accumulated there. The Skin, being constantly bathed in +a small Sweat, becomes relaxed, soft, and incapable of compleating its +Functions: from which Failure the slightest Cause produces a total +Obstruction of Perspiration; and a Multitude of languid Disorders ensue. + +These Patients thus circumstanced, redouble their Precautions against +the Cold, or even the Coolness of the Air, while their utmost Cautions +are but so many effectual Means to lower their Health; and this the more +certainly, as their Dread of the free Air necessarily subjects them to a +sedentary Life, which increases all their Symptoms; while the hot Drinks +they indulge in, compleat their Severity. There is but one Method to +cure People thus situated; that is, by accustoming them gradually to the +Air; to keep them out of hot Chambers; to lessen their Cloathing by +Degrees; to make them sleep cool; and to let them eat or drink nothing +but what is cold, Ice itself being wholesome in their Drink: to make +them use much Exercise; and finally, if the Disorder be inveterate, to +give them for a considerable Time the Powder No. 14, and make them use +the cold Bath. This Method succeeds equally too with those, in whom the +Disease originally depended on a Weakness of the Stomach, or of the +Lungs: and in fact, at the End of a certain Period, these three Causes +are always combined. Some Persons who have been subject, for many Years, +to catch Colds throughout the Winter; and who, during that Season, never +went out, and drank every thing warm, have been evidently the better, +during the Winter of 1761, and 1762, for the Direction I have given +here. They now walk out every Day; drink their Liquids cold; and by this +Means entirely escape Colds, and enjoy perfect Health. + +Sec. 136. It is more customary indeed in Town, than in the Country, to have +different Troches, and Compositions in the Mouth. I am not for excluding +this Habit; though I think nothing is so efficacious as Juice of +Liquorice; and provided a sufficient Dose be taken, it affords certain +Relief. I have taken an Ounce and a half in one Day, and have felt the +good Consequences of it very remarkably. + + + + + __Chapter VIII.__ + + + _Of Diseases of the Teeth._ + + + __Sect.__ 137. + +The Diseases of the Teeth, which are sometimes so tedious and so +violent, as to cause obstinate Wakefulness, a considerable Degree of +Fever, Raving, Inflammations, Abscesses, Rottenness of the Bones, +Convulsions and Faintings, depend on three principal Causes. 1. On a +_Caries_ or Rottenness of the Teeth. 2. On an Inflammation of the Nerves +of the Teeth, or of the Membrane which invests and covers them; and +which affects the Membrane of the Gums. 3. A cold Humour or Defluxion +that is determined to the Teeth, and to their Nerves and Membrane. + +Sec. 138. In the first of these Cases, the _Caries_ having eat down to, and +exposed the naked Nerve, the Air, Food and Drink irritate, or, as it +were sting it; and this irritation is attended with Pain more or less +violent. Every thing that increases the Motion or Action of the affected +Part, as Exercise, Heat or Food, will be attended with the same +Consequence. + +When the Tooth is greatly decayed, there is no other Cure besides that +by extracting it, without which the Pain continues; the Breath becomes +very offensive; the Gum is eat down; the other Teeth, and sometimes even +the Jaw-bone, are infected with the Rottenness: besides, that it +prevents the Use of the other Teeth, which are infected with a kind of +tartarous Matter, and decay. + +But when the Disorder is less considerable, the Progress of it may +sometimes be restrained, by burning the Tooth with a hot Iron, or by +filling it with Lead, if it is fitted to receive and to retain it. +Different corroding Liquids are sometimes used on these Occasions, _Aqua +fortis_ itself, and Spirit of Vitriol: but such Applications are highly +dangerous, and ought to be excluded. When the Patients, from Dread, +reject the Operations just mentioned, a little Oyl of Cloves may be +applied, by introducing a small Pellet of Cotton, dipt in it, to the +rotten hollow Tooth; which often affords considerable Ease, and Respite. +Some make use of a Tincture of Opium, or Laudanum, after the same +Manner; and indeed these two Medicines may be used together in equal +Quantities. I have often succeeded with _Hoffman's_ mineral anodyne +Liquor; which seemed indeed, for a few Moments, to increase the Pain; +but Ease generally ensues after spitting a little Time. A Gargarism made +of the Herb _Argentina_; that is Silver-weed or wild Tansey, in Water, +frequently appeases the Pain that results from a _Caries_ of the Teeth: +and in such Cases many People have found themselves at Ease, under a +constant Use of it. It certainly is an Application that cannot hurt, and +is even beneficial to the Gums. Others have been relieved by rubbing +their Faces over with Honey. + +Sec. 139. The second Cause is the Inflammation of the Nerve within the +Substance, or of the Membrane on the Outside, of the Tooth. This is +discovered by the Patient's Temperament, Age and Manner of living. They +who are young, sanguine, who heat themselves much, whether by Labour, by +their Food, their Drink, by sitting up late, or by any other Excess: +they who have been accustomed to any Discharges or Eruptions of Blood, +whether natural or artificial, and who cease to have them as usual, are +much exposed to the Tooth-ach, from this Cause. + +This Pain, or rather Torment, if in an acute Degree, commonly happens +very suddenly, and often after some heating Cause. The Pulse is strong +and full; the Countenance considerably red; the Mouth extremely hot: +there is often a pretty high Fever, and a violent Head-ach. The Gums, or +some Part of them, become inflamed, swelled, and sometimes an Abscess +appears. At other times the Humours throw themselves upon the more +external Parts; the Cheek swells, and the Pain abates. When the Cheek +swells, but without any Diminution of the Pain, it then becomes an +Augmentation, but no essential Change, of the Disorder. + +Sec. 140. In this Species of the Disease, we must have Recourse to the +general Method of treating inflammatory Disorders, and direct Bleeding, +which often produces immediate Ease, if performed early. After Bleeding, +the Patient should gargle with Barley Water, or Milk and Water; and +apply an emollient Cataplasm to the Cheek. If an Abscess or little +Imposthume appears, the Suppuration or ripening of it is to be promoted, +by holding continually in the Mouth some hot Milk, or Figs boiled in +some Milk: and as soon as ever it seems ripe, it should be opened, which +may be done easily, and without any Pain. The Disorder, when depending +on this Cause, is sometimes not so violent, but of a longer Duration, +and returns whenever the Patient heats himself; when he goes to Bed; +when he eats any heating Food, or Drink, Wine or Coffee. In this Case he +should be bled, without which his other Medicines will have little +Effect; and he should bathe his Feet in warm Water for some Evenings +successively, taking one Dose of the Powder No. 20. Entire Abstinence +from Wine and Meat, especially at Night, has cured several Persons of +inveterate and obstinate Maladies of the Teeth. + +In this Species of Tooth-ach, all hot Remedies are pernicious; and it +often happens that Opium, Venice Treacle, and Storax Pills, are so far +from producing the Relief expected from them, that they have aggravated +the Pain. + +Sec. 141. When the Disease arises from a cold Distillation, or Humour, +tending to these Parts, it is commonly (though equally painful) attended +with less violent Symptoms. The Pulse is neither strong, full nor quick; +the Mouth is less heated, and less swelled. In such Cases, the afflicted +should be purged with the Powder No. 21, which has sometimes perfectly +cured very obstinate Complaints of this Sort. After purging they should +make Use of the Diet Drink of the Woods No. 22. This has cured +Tooth-achs, which have baffled other Attempts for many Years; but it +must be added, this Drink would be hurtful in the Disease from a +different Cause. Blisters to the Nape of the Neck, or [35] elsewhere, it +matters not greatly where, have often extraordinary good Effects, by +diverting the Humour, and restoring a compleat Perspiration. In short in +this Species, we may employ, not only with Safety, but with Success +(especially after due purging) Pills of Storax, Opium and Venice +Treacle. Acrid sharp Remedies, such as hard spun [35] Tobacco, Root of +Pellitory of _Spain_, &c. by exciting much Spitting, discharge part of +the Humour which causes the Disease, and hence diminish the Pain. The +Smoke of Tobacco also succeeds now and then in this Disorder, whether +this happens from the Discharge of the Rheum or Spittle it occasions; or +whether it is owing to any anodyne Efficacy of this Plant, in which it +resembles Opium. + +[35] A small Blister behind the Ear of the affected Side, or both Ears, + has very often removed the Pain, when from a Defluxion. It is + pretty common for the Subjects of this Disease to be very costive, + during the Exacerbations of it, which I have sometimes experienced + to be pretty regularly and severely quotidian, for a Week or two. + The Custom of smoking Tobacco very often, which the Violence of + this Pain has sometimes introduced, often disposes to a Blackened + and premature Decay of the Teeth, to which the Chewers of it are + less obnoxious: and this Difference may result from some particles + of its chemical Oil rising by Fumigation, and being retained in the + Teeth, which Particles are not extracted by Mastication. But with + Regard to the habitual Use of this very acrid and internally + violent Herb, for, but chiefly after, this Disease, it should be + considered well, whether in some Constitutions it may not pave the + Way to a more dangerous one, than it was introduced to remove. _K._ + +Sec. 142. As this last Cause is often the Consequence of a Weakness in the +Stomach, it daily happens that we see some People, whose Disorder from +this Cause is augmented, in Proportion as they indulge in a cooling, +refreshing Way of living. The Increase of the Disorder disposes them to +increase the Dose of what they mistake for its Remedy, in Proportion to +which their Pain only increases. There is a Necessity that such Persons +should alter this Method; and make use of such Medicines as are proper +to strengthen the Stomach, and to restore Perspiration. The Powder No. +14. has often produced the best Consequences, when I have ordered it in +these Cases; and it never fails to dissipate the Tooth-ach very +speedily, which returns periodically at stated Days and Hours. I have +also cured some Persons who never drank Wine, by advising them to the +Use of it. + +Sec. 143. But besides the Diseases of the Teeth, that are owing to these +three principal Causes, which are the most common ones; there are some +very tedious and most tormenting Disorders of them, that are occasioned +by a general Acrimony, or great Sharpness, of the Mass of Blood, and +which are never cured by any other Medicines but such, as are proper to +correct that Acrimony. When it is of a scorbutic Nature, the wild +Horse-radish (Pepperwort) Water Cresses, Brooklime, Sorrel, and +Wood-sorrell correct and cure it. If it is of a different Nature, it +requires different Remedies. But very particular Details do not come +within the Plan of this Work. As the Malady is of the chronical or +tedious kind, it allows Time to consider and consult more particularly +about it. + +The Gout and the Rheumatism are sometimes transferred to the Teeth, and +give Rise to the most excruciating Pains; which must be treated like the +Diseases from which they arise. + +Sec. 144. From what has been said on this Disorder, the Reader will +discern, in what that imaginary Oddness may consist, which has been +ascribed to it, from the same Application's relieving one Person in it, +and not affording the least Relief to another. Now the plain Reason of +this is, that these Applications are always directed, without an exact +Knowledge of the particular Cause of the Disease, in different Subjects +and Circumstances; whence the Pain from a rotten Tooth, is treated like +that from an Inflammation; that from an Inflammation, like the Pain from +a cold Humour or Fluxion; and this last like a Pain caused by a +scorbutic Acrimony: so that the Disappointment is not in the least +surprizing. Perhaps Physicians themselves do not always attend +distinctly enough to the Nature of each particular Disorder: and even +when they do, they content themselves with directing some of the less +potent Medicines, which may be inadequate to accomplish the necessary +Effect. If the Distemper truly be of an inflammatory Disposition, +Bleeding is indispensible to the Cure. + +It happens in Fact, with Regard to the Diseases of the Teeth, as well as +to all other Diseases, that they arise from different Causes; and if +these Causes are not opposed by Medicines suited to them, the Disease, +far from being cured, is aggravated. + +I have cured violent Tooth-achs, of the lower Jaw, by applying a +Plaister of Meal, the White of an Egg, Brandy and Mastich, at the Corner +of that Jaw, over the Spot where the Pulsation of the Artery may be +perceived: and I have also mitigated the most excruciating Pains of the +Head, by applying the same Plaister upon the temporal Artery. + + + + + __Chapter IX.__ + + + _Of the Apoplexy._ + + + __Sect.__ 145. + +Every Person has some Idea of the Disease termed an Apoplexy, which is a +sudden Privation or Loss of all Sense, and of all voluntary Motion; the +Pulse at the same Time being kept up, but Respiration or Breathing, +being oppressed. I shall treat of this Disease only in a brief Manner, +as it is not common in our Country Villages; and as I have expatiated on +it in a different Manner in a Letter to Dr. _Haller_, published in 1761. + +Sec. 146. This Disease is generally distinguished into two Kinds, the +sanguineous and serous Apoplexy. Each of them results from an +Overfulness of the Blood Vessels of the Brain, which presses upon, and +prevents or impairs the Functions of the Nerves. The whole Difference +between these two Species consists in this, that the sanguineous +Apoplexy prevails among strong robust Persons, who have a rich, heavy, +thick and inflammable Blood, and that in a large Quantity; in which +Circumstance it becomes a genuine inflammatory Distemper. The serous, or +humoral Apoplexy invades Persons of a less robust Constitution; whose +Blood is more dilute or watery; and rather viscid, or lightly +gelatinous, than heavy or rich; whole Vessels are in a more relaxed +State; and who abound more in other Humours than in red Blood. + +Sec. 147. When the first kind of this Disease exists in its most violent +Degree, it is then sometimes termed, an apoplectic Stroke, or thundering +Apoplexy, which kills in a Moment or instantaneously, and admits of no +Remedies. When the Assault is less violent, and we find the Patient with +a strong, full and raised Pulse, his Visage red and bloated, and his +Neck swelled up; with an oppressed and loud hoarse Respiration; being +sensible of nothing, and capable of no other Motions, except some +Efforts to vomit, the Case is not always equally desperate. We must +therefore immediately, + +1. Entirely uncover the Patient's Head, covering the rest of his Body +but very lightly; procure him instantly very fresh free Air, and leave +his Neck quite unbound and open. + +2. His Head should be placed as high as may be, with his Feet hanging +down. + +3. He must lose from twelve to fifteen Ounces of Blood, from a free open +Orifice in the Arm: the Strength or Violence with which the Blood +sallies out, should determine the Surgeon to take a few Ounces more or +less. It should be repeated to the third or fourth Time, within the +Space of three or four Hours; if the Symptoms seem to require it, either +in the Arm, or in the Foot. + +4. A Glyster should be given of a Decoction of the first emollient +opening Herbs that can be got, with four Spoonfuls of Oil, one Spoonful +of Salt: and this should be repeated every three Hours. + +5. If it is possible, he should be made to swallow Water plentifully, in +each Pot of which three Drams of Nitre are to be dissolved. + +6. As soon as the Height and Violence of the Pulse abates; when his +Breathing becomes less oppressed and difficult, and his Countenance less +inflamed, he should take the Decoction No. 23; or, if it cannot be got +ready in Time, he should take three Quarters of an Ounce of Cream of +Tartar, and drink Whey plentifully after it. This Medicine succeeded +extremely well with me in a Case, where I could not readily procure any +other. + +7. He should avoid all strong Liquor, Wine, distilled Spirit, whether +inwardly or by outward Application, and should even be prevented +from [36] smelling them. + +[36] I have been very authentically assured of the Death of a hale Man, + which happened in the very Act of pouring out a large Quantity of + distilled Spirits, by Gallons or Bucketfulls, from one Vessel into + another. _K._ + +8. The Patient should be stirred, moved, or even touched, as little as +it is possible: in a Word every Thing must be avoided that can give him +the least Agitation. This Advice, I am sensible, is directly contrary to +the common Practice; notwithstanding which it is founded in Reason, +approved by Experience, and absolutely necessary. In Fact, the whole +Evil results from the Blood being forced up with too much Force, and in +too great a Quantity, to the Brain; which being thence in a State of +Compression, prevents every Movement and every Influence of the Nerves. +In Order, therefore, to re-establish these Movements, the Brain must be +unloaded, by diminishing the Force of the Blood. But strong Liquors, +Wines, Spirits, volatile Salts, all Agitation and Frictions augment it, +and by that very Means increase the Load, the Embarrassment of the +Brain, and thus heighten the Disease itself. On the contrary, every +Thing that calms the Circulation, contributes to recall Sensation and +voluntary Motion the sooner. + +9. Strong Ligatures should be made about the Thighs under the Ham: By +this Means the Blood is prevented in its Ascent from the Legs, and less +is carried up to the Head. + +If the Patient seems gradually, and in Proportion as he takes proper +Medicines, to advance into a less violent State, there may be some +Hopes. But if he rather grows worse after his earliest Evacuations, the +Case is desperate. + +Sec. 148. When Nature and Art effect his Recovery, his Senses return: +though there frequently remains a little _Delirium_ or Wandering for +some Time; and almost always a paralytic Defect, more or less, of the +Tongue, the Arm, the Leg, and the Muscles of the same Side of the Face. +This Palsy sometimes goes off gradually, by the Help of cooling Purges +from Time to Time, and a Diet that is but very moderately and lightly +nourishing. All hot Medicines are extremely hurtful in this Case, and +may pave the Way to a repeated Attack. A Vomit might be even fatal, and +has been more than once so. It should be absolutely forbidden; nor +should we even promote, by Draughts of warm Water, the Efforts of the +Patient to vomit. They do not any ways depend on any Humour or Mass in +the Stomach; but on the Oppression and Embarrassment of the Brain: and +the more considerable such Efforts are, the more such Oppression is +increased: by Reason that as long as they continue, the Blood cannot +return from the Head, by which Means the Brain remains overcharged. + +Sec. 149. The other Species of Apoplexy is attended with the like Symptoms, +excepting the Pulse not being so high nor strong; the Countenance being +also less red, sometimes even pale; the Breathing seems less oppressed; +and sometimes the Sick have a greater Facility to vomit, and discharge +more upwards. + +As this Kind of the Disease attacks Persons who abound less in Blood; +who are less strong, and less heated or inflamed, Bleeding is not often +at all necessary: at least the Repetition of it is scarcely ever so: and +should the Pulse have but a small Fulness, and not the least unnatural +Hardness, Bleeding might even be pernicious. + +1. The Patient however should be placed as was directed in the former +Mode of this Disease; though it seems not equally necessary here. + +2. He should receive a Glyster, but without Oil, with double the +Quantity of Salt, and a Bit of Soap of the Size of a small Egg; or with +four or five Sprigs of Hedge Hyssop. It may be repeated twice a Day. + +3. He should be purged with the Powder No. 4. [37] + +[37] Vomits which are so pernicious in the sanguineous Apoplexy, where + the Patient's Countenance and Eyes are inflamed; and which are also + dangerous or useless, when a Person has been very moderate in his + Meals, or is weakened by Age or other Circumstances, and whole + Stomach is far from being overloaded with Aliment, are nevertheless + very proper for gross Feeders, who are accustomed to exceed at + Table, who have Indigestions, and have a Mass of viscid glairy + Humours in their Stomachs; more especially, if such a one has a + little while before indulged himself excessively, whence he has + vomited without any other evident Cause, or at least had very + Strong _Nauseas_, or Loathings. In brief, Vomits are the true + Specific for Apoplexies, occasioned by any narcotic or stupifying + Poisons, the pernicious Effects of which cease, the Moment the + Persons so poisoned vomit them up. An attentive Consideration of + what has occurred to the Patient before his Seizure; his small + natural Propensity to this Disease, and great and incessant + Loathings, render it manifest, whether it has been caused by such + Poisons, or such poisonous Excesses. In these two Last Cases a + double Dose of Tartar emetic should be dissolved in a Goblet or Cup + of Water, of which the Patient should immediately take a large + Spoonful; which should be repeated every Quarter of an Hour, till + it operates. _E. L._ + +4. His common Drink may be a Strong Infusion of Leaves of Balm. + +5. The Purge should be repeated the third Day. + +6. Blisters should immediately be applied to the fleshy Part of the +Legs, or between the Shoulder Blades. [38] + +[38] These Blisters may be preceded by Cupping with Scarification on the + Nape of the Neck. This Remedy, often used by the ancient + Physicians, but too little practiced in France, is one of the most + speedy, and not the least efficacious, Applications in both + sanguine and serous Apoplexies. _E. L._ + +7. Should Nature seem disposed to relieve herself by Sweatings, it +should be encouraged; and I have often known an Infusion of the _Carduus +benedictus_, or blessed Thistle, produce this Effect very successfully. +If this Method be entered upon, the Sweat ought to be kept up (without +stirring if possible) for many Days. It has then sometimes happened, +that at the End of nine Days, the Patient has been totally freed from +the Palsy, which commonly succeeds this Species of the Apoplexy, just as +it does the other. + +Sec. 150. Persons who have been attacked with either kinds of this Disease +are liable to subsequent ones; each of which is more dangerous than that +preceding: whence an Endeavour to obviate or prevent such Relapses +becomes of the utmost Importance. This is to be effected in each Sort by +a very exact, and rather severe Diet, even to diminishing the usual +Quantity of the Patient's Food; the most essential Precaution, to be +observed by any who have been once assaulted with it, being entirely to +leave off Suppers. Indeed those, who have been once attacked with the +_first_, the _sanguineous Apoplexies_, should be still more exact, more +upon their Guard, than the others. They should deny themselves whatever +is rich and juicy, hot or aromatic, sharp, Wine, distilled Liquors and +Coffee. They should chiefly confine themselves to Garden-Stuff, Fruits +and Acids; such should eat but little Flesh, and only those called +white; taking every Week two or three Doses of the Powder No. 24, in a +Morning fasting, in a Glass of Water. They should be purged twice or +thrice a Year with the Draught No. 23; use daily Exercise; avoid very +hot Rooms, and the violent Heat of the Sun. They should go to Bed +betimes, rise early, never lie in Bed above eight Hours: and if it is +observed that their Blood increases considerably, and has a Tendency +towards the Head, they should be bled without Hesitation: and for some +Days restrain themselves entirely to a thin and low Regimen, without +taking any solid Food. In these Circumstances warm Bathings are hurtful. +In the other, the serous, Apoplexy, instead of purging with No. 23, the +Patient should take the Purge No. 21. + +Sec. 151. The same Means, that are proper to prevent a Relapse, might also +obviate or keep off a primary or first Assault, if employed in Time: for +notwithstanding it may happen very suddenly, yet this Disease foreshews +itself many Weeks, sometimes many Months, nay even Years beforehand, by +Vertigos, Heaviness of the Head; small Defects of the Tongue or Speech; +short and momentary Palsies, sometimes of one, sometimes of another, +Part: sometimes by Loathings and Reachings to vomit; without supposing +any Obstruction or Load in the first Passages, or any other Cause in the +Stomach, or the adjoining Parts. There happens also some particular +Change in the Looks and Visage not easy to be described: sharp and short +Pains about the Region of the Heart; an Abatement of the Strength, +without any discernible Cause of it. Besides there are still some other +Signs, which signify the Ascent of the Humours too much to the Head, and +shew, that the Functions of the Brain are embarrassed. + +Some Persons are liable to certain Symptoms and Appearances, which arise +from the same Cause as an Apoplexy; and which indeed may be considered +as very light benign Apoplexies, of which they sustain many Attacks, and +yet without any considerable Annoyance of their Health. The Blood, all +at once as it were, flushes up to their Heads: they appear heedless or +blundering; and have sometimes Disgusts and _Nauseas_, and yet without +any Abatement of their Understanding, their Senses, or Motion of any +Sort. Tranquillity of Mind and Body, once Bleeding, and a few Glysters +usually carry it off soon after its Invasion. The Returns of it may be +prevented by the Regimen directed Sec. 150; and especially by a frequent +Use of the Powder No. 24. At the long Run however, one of these Attacks +commonly degenerates into a mortal Apoplexy: though this may be retarded +for a very long Time by an exact Regimen, and by avoiding all strong +Commotions of the Mind, but especially that of Anger or violent Rage. + + + + + __Chapter X.__ + + + _Of the violent Influence, or Strokes, of the Sun._ + + + __Sect.__ 152. + +This Appellation is applied to those Disorders, which arise from too +violent an Influence of the Heat of the Sun, immediately upon the Head; +and which in one Word may be termed _Insolation_. + +If we consider that Wood, Stone and Metals, when long exposed to the +Sun, become very hot, and that even in temperate Climates, to such a +Degree, that they can scarcely be touched without some Sensation of +burning, we may easily conceive the Risk a Person undergoes, in having +his Head exposed to the same Degree of Heat. The Blood-Vessels grow dry, +the Blood itself becomes condensed or thickened, and a real Inflammation +is formed, which has proved mortal in a very little Time. It was this +Distemper, a Stroke of the Sun, which killed _Manasses_ the Husband of +_Judith_. 'For as he was among the Labourers who bound up the Sheafs in +the Fields, the Heat struck upon his Head, and he was taken ill; he went +to Bed and he died.' The Signs which precede and attend this Disease +are, being exposed in a Place where the Sun shines forth with great +Force and Ardour; a violent Head-ach, attended with a very hot and +extremely dry Skin: the Eyes are also dry and red, being neither able to +remain open, nor yet to bear the Light; and sometimes there is a kind of +continual and involuntary Motion in the Eyelid; while some Degree of +Relief is perceivable from the Application of any cooling Liquor. It +often happens that some cannot possibly sleep; and at other times they +have a great Drowsiness, but attended with outrageous Wakenings: there +is a very strong Fever; a great Faintness, and a total Disrelish and +Loathing. Sometimes the Patient is very thirsty, and at other times not +at all: and the Skin of his Face often looks as though it were burnt. + +Sec. 153. People may be affected with the Disease from this Cause, at two +different Seasons of the Year; that is, either in the Spring, or during +the very raging Heats; but their Events are very different. Country +People and Labourers are but little liable to the former. They chiefly +affect the Inhabitants of Cities, and delicate Persons, who have used +very little Exercise in the Winter, and abound with superfluous Humours. +If thus circumstanced they expose themselves to the Sun, as even in the +Spring he attains a considerable Force; and, by the Course of Life they +have led, their Humours are already much disposed to mount to the Head; +while the Coolness of the Soil, especially when it has rained, prevents +their Feet from being so easily warmed; the Power of the Sun acts upon +their Head like a Blister, attracting a great Quantity of Humours to it. +This produces excruciating Pains of the Head, frequently accompanied +with quick and violent Shootings, and with Pain in the Eyes; +notwithstanding this Degree of the Malady is seldom dangerous. Country +People, and even such Inhabitants of Cities and Towns, as have not +forbore to exercise themselves in Winter, have no Sort of Dread of these +Strokes of the Sun, in the Spring of the Year. Its Summer Strokes are +much more vehement and troublesome, and assault Labourers and +Travellers, who are for a long Time exposed to the Fervour of it. Then +it is that the Disease is aggravated to its highest Pitch, those who are +thus struck often dying upon the Spot. In the hot Climates this Cause +destroys many in the very Streets, and makes dreadful Havock among +Armies on the March, and at Sieges. Some tragical Effects of it, on such +Occasions, are seen even in the temperate Countries. After having +marched a whole Day in the Sun, a Man shall fall into a Lethargy, and +die within some Hours, with the Symptoms of raving Madness. I have seen +a Tyler in a very hot Day, complaining to his Comrade of a violent Pain +in his Head, which increased every Moment almost; and at the very +Instant when he purposed to retire out of the Sun, he sunk down dead, +and fell down from the House he was slating. This same Cause produces +very often in the Country some most dangerous Phrenzies, which are +called there hot or burning Fevers. Every Year furnishes but too many of +them. + +Sec. 154. The Vehemence of the Sun is still more dangerous to those, who +venture to sleep exposed to it. Two Mowers who fell asleep on a Haycock, +being wakened by some others, immediately on waking, staggered, and +pronouncing a few incoherent unmeaning Words, died. When the Violence of +Wine and that of the Sun are combined, they kill very suddenly: nor is +there a single Year in which Peasants are not found dead on the +Highroads; who being drunk endeavoured to lie down in some Corner, where +they perished by an Apoplexy, from the Heat of the Sun and of strong +Drink. Those of them who escape so speedy and premature a Death, are +subject for the Remainder of their Lives, to chronical, or tedious +Head-achs; and to suffer some little Disorder and Confusion in their +Ideas. I have seen some Cases, when after violent Head-achs of some Days +Continuance, the Disease has been transferred to the Eyelids, which +continued a long Time red and distended, so that they could not be kept +asunder or open. It has also been known, that some Persons have been +struck by the Sun into a _Delirium_ or Raving, without a Fever, and +without complaining of a Head-ach. Sometimes a _Gutta Serena_ has been +its Consequence; and it is very common to see People, whose long +Continuance under the strong Light and Influence of the Sun, has made +such an Impression upon the Eyes, as presents them with different Bodies +flying about in the Air, which distract and confuse their Sight. + +A Man of forty two Years of Age, having been exposed for several Hours +to the violent Heat of the Sun, with a very small Cap or Bonnet; and +having past the following Night in the open Air, was attacked the next +Day with a most severe Head-ach, a burning Fever, Reachings to vomit, +great Anguish, and red and sparkling Eyes. Notwithstanding the best +Assistance of several Physicians, he became phrenitic on the fifth Day, +and died on the ninth. Suppurated Matter was discharged from his Mouth, +one of his Nostrils, and his right Ear, a few Hours before his Death; +upon Dissection a small Abscess was found within the Skull; and the +whole Brain, as well as all the Membranes inclosing it, were entirely +corrupted. + +Sec. 155. In very young Children, who are not, or never should be, exposed +for any long Time to such excessive Heat (and whom a slight Cause will +often affect) this Malady discovers itself by a heavy deep Drowsiness, +which lasts for several Days; also by incessant Ravings mingled with +Rage and Terror, much the same as when they are affected with violent +Fear: and sometimes by convulsive Twitchings; by Head-achs which +returned at certain Periods, and continual Vomitings. I have seen +Children, who, after a Stroke of the Sun, have been harrassed a long +Time with a little Cough. + +Sec. 156. Old Men who often expose themselves imprudently to the Sun, are +little apprized of all the Danger they incur by it. A certain Person, +who purposely sunned himself for a considerable Time, in the clear Day +of an intermitting tertian Fever, underwent the Assault of an Apoplexy, +which carried him off the following Day. And even when the Disease may +not be so speedy and violent, yet this Custom (of sunning in hot +Weather) certainly disposes to an Apoplexy, and to Disorders of the +Head. One of the slightest Effects of much solar Heat upon the Head is, +to cause a Defluxion from the Brain, a Swelling of the Glands of the +Neck, and a Dryness of the Eyes, which sometimes continues for a +considerable Term after it. + +Sec. 157. The effect of too much culinary, or common Fire, is of the same +Quality with that of the Sun. A Man who fell asleep with his Head +directly opposite, and probably, very near to the Fire, went off in an +Apoplexy, during his Nap. + +Sec. 158. The Action of too violent a Sun is not only pernicious, when it +falls upon the Head; but it is also hurtful to other Parts; and those +who continue long exposed to it, though their Heads should not be +affected, experience violent Pains, a disagreeable Sensation of Heat, +and a considerable Stiffness in the Parts that have been, in some +Manner, parched by it; as in the Legs, the Knees, the Thighs, Reins and +Arms; and sometimes they prove feverish. + +Sec. 159. In contemplating the Case of a Patient, _Sun-struck_, as we may +term it, we must endeavour to distinguish, whether there may not be also +some other joint Causes concurring to the Effect. A Traveller, a +labouring Man, is often as much affected by the Fatigue of his Journey, +or of his Labour, as he is by the Influence of solar Heat. + +Sec. 160. It is necessary to set about the Cure of this Disease, as soon as +ever we are satisfied of its Existence: for such as might have been +easily preserved by an early Application, are considerably endangered by +a Neglect of it. The Method of treating this is very much the same, with +that of the inflammatory Diseases already mentioned; that is, by +Bleeding, and cooling Medicines of various Kinds in their Drinks, by +Bathings, and by Glysters. And 1. If the Disease be very high and +urgent, a large Quantity of Blood should be taken away, and occasionally +repeated. _Lewis_ the XIV. was bled nine Times to prevent the Fatality +of a Stroke of the Sun, which he received in Hunting in 1658. + +2. After Bleeding, the Patient's Legs should be plunged into warm Water. +This is one of the Applications that affords the most speedy Relief; and +I have seen the Head-ach go off and return again, in Proportion to the +Repetition, and the Duration, of these Bathings of the Legs. When the +Disorder is highly dangerous, it will be necessary to treat the Patient +with _Semicupia_, or warm Baths, in which he may sit up to his Hips; and +in the most dangerous Degrees of it, even to bathe the whole Body: but +the Water in this Case, as well as in Bathings of the Feet, should be +only sensibly warm: the Use of hot would be highly pernicious. + +3. Glysters made from a Decoction of any of the emollient Herbs are also +very effectual. + +4. The Patient should drink plentifully of Almond Emulsion No. 4; of +Limonade, which is a Mixture of the Juice of Lemons and Water, (and is +the best Drink in this Disease) of Water and Vinegar, which is a very +good Substitute for Limonade; and of, what is still more efficacious, +very clear Whey, with the Addition of a little Vinegar. These various +Drinks may all be taken cold; Linen Cloths dipt in cold Water and +Vinegar of Roses may be applied to the Forehead, the Temples, or all +over the Head, which is equivalent to every other Application used upon +such Occasions. Those which are the most cried up, are the Juice of +Purslain, of Lettuce, of Houseleek, and of Vervain. The Drink No. 32 is +also serviceable, taken every Morning fasting. + +Sec. 161. Cold Baths have sometimes recovered Persons out of such violent +Symptoms, from this Cause, as have been almost quite despaired of. + +A Man twenty Years of Age, having been a very long Time exposed to the +scorching Sun, became violently delirious, without a Fever, and proved +really mad. After repeated Bleedings, he was thrown into a cold Bath, +which was also frequently repeated; pouring cold Water, at the same +Time, upon his Head. With such Assistance he recovered, though very +gradually. + +An Officer who had rode Post for several Days successively, in very hot +Weather, swooned away, immediately on dismounting; from which he could +not be recovered by the ordinary Assistance in such Cases. He was saved +however, in Consequence of being plunged into a Bath of freezing Water. +It should be observed however, that in these Cases the cold Bath should +never be recurred to, without previous Bleeding. + +Sec. 162. It is past Doubt, that if a Person stands still in the violent +Heat of the Sun, he is more liable to be struck with it, than if he +walks about; and the Use of white Hats, or of some Folds of clean white +Paper under a black one, may sensibly contribute to prevent any Injury +from the considerable Heat of the Sun; though it is a very incompetent +Defence against a violent Degree of it. + +The natural Constitution, or even that Constitution, which has been +formed from long Custom and Habit, make a very great Difference between +the Effects of solar Heat on different Persons. People insensibly +accustom themselves to the Impressions of it, as they do to those of all +the other Bodies and Elements, which are continually acting upon us; and +by Degrees we arrive at a Power of sustaining his violent Heat with +Impunity: just as others arrive at the Hardiness of bearing the most +rigid Colds, with very little Complaint or Inconvenience. The human Body +is capable of supporting many more Violences and Extremes, than it +commonly does. Its natural Force is scarcely ever ascertained among +civilized Nations; because their Education generally tends to impair and +lessen it, and always succeeds in this Respect. If we were inclined to +consider a purely natural, a simply physical Man, we must look for him +among savage Nations; where only we can discover what we are able to be, +and to bear. We certainly could not fail of being Gainers, by adopting +their corporal Education; neither does it seem as yet to have been +infallibly demonstrated, that we should be great Losers in commuting our +moral Education for theirs. [39] + +[39] As some may think an Apology necessary for a Translation of this + Chapter on a Disease, which never, or very seldom, exists in this + or the adjacent Island, I shall observe here, that, abstracted from + the Immorality of a narrow and local Solicitude only for ourselves, + we are politically interested as a Nation always in Trade, and + often at War (and whose Subjects are extended into very distant and + different Climates) to provide against a sudden and acute + Distemper, to which our Armies, our Sailors and Colonies are + certainly often exposed. A Fatality from this Cause is not + restrained to our Islands within the Tropic, where several + Instances of it have occurred during the late War: but it has also + been known to prevail as far Northward as _Pensylvania_, in their + Summers, and even in their Harvests. I once received a sensible + Scald on the Back of my Thumb, from the Sun suddenly darting out + through a clear Hole, as it were, in a Cloud, after a short and + impetuous Shower in Summer; which Scald manifestly blistered within + some Minutes after. Had this concentrated Ray been darted on my + bare Head, the Consequence might have been more dangerous; or + perhaps as fatal as some of the Cases recorded by Dr. _Tissot_, in + this Chapter. _K._ + + + + + __Chapter XI.__ + + + _Of the Rheumatism._ + + + __Sect.__ 163. + +The Rheumatism may exist either with or without a Fever. The first of +these may be classed among the Diseases, of which I have already +treated; being an Inflammation which is manifested by a violent Fever, +preceded by Shivering, a subsequent Heat, hard Pulse, and a Head-ach. +Sometimes indeed an extraordinary Coldness, with general Uneasiness and +Inquietude, exists several Days before the Fever is perceived. On the +second or third Day, and sometimes even on the first, the Patient is +seized with a violent Pain in some Part of his Body, but especially +about the Joints, which entirely prevents their Motion, and which is +often accompanied with Heat, Redness and a Swelling of the Part. The +Knee is often the first Part attacked, and sometimes both the Knees at +once. When the Pain is fixed, an Abatement of the Fever frequently +happens; though in some other Persons it continues for several Days, and +increases every Evening. The Pain diminishes in one Part after a +Duration of some Days, and then invades some other. From the Knee it +descends to the Foot, or mounts to the Hip, to the Loins, the +Shoulder-blades, Elbow, Wrist, the Nape of the Neck, and frequently is +felt in the intermediate Parts. Sometimes one Part is quite free from +Pain, when another is attacked; at other Times many Parts are seized +nearly at the same Instant; and I have sometimes seen every Joint +afflicted at once. In this Case the Patient is in a very terrible +Situation, being incapable of any Motion, and even dreading the +Assistance of his Attendants, as he can scarcely admit of touching, +without a sensible Aggravation of his Pains. He is unable to bear even +the Weight of the Bed-clothes, which must be, as it were, arched over +his Limbs by a proper Contrivance, to prevent their Pressure: and the +very walking across the Chamber increases his Torments. The Parts in +which they are the most excruciating, and obstinate, are the Region of +the Loins, the Hips, and the Nape or hinder Part of the Neck. + +Sec. 164. This Disease is also often extended over the Scalp and the +Surface of the Head; and there the Pains are excessive. I have seen them +affect the Eyelids and the Teeth with inexpressible Torment. As long as +the Distemper is situated in the more external Parts, the Patient, +however painful his Situation may prove, is in no great Danger, if he be +properly treated: but if by some Accident, some Error, or by any latent +Cause, the Disease be repelled upon an internal Part or Organ, his Case +is extremely dangerous. If the Brain is attacked, a frantic raging +_Delirium_ is the Consequence; if it falls upon the Lungs, the Patient +is suffocated: and if it attacks the Stomach or the Bowels, it is +attended with the most astonishing Pains, which are caused by the +Inflammation of those Parts, and which Inflammation, if violent, is [40] +speedily fatal. About two Years since I was called to a robust Man, +whose Guts were already in a gangrenous State, which was the Consequence +of a Rheumatism, that first attacked one Arm and one Knee; the Cure of +which had been attempted by sweating the Patient with some hot Remedies. +These indeed brought on a plentiful Sweat; but the inflammatory Humour +seized the Intestines, whose Inflammation degenerated into a Gangrene, +after a Duration of the most acute Pain for thirty-six Hours; his +Torments terminating in Death two Hours after I saw him. + +[40] See Note [16] to Page 59. + +Sec. 165. This Malady however is often in a less violent Degree; the Fever +is but moderate, and ceases entirely when the Pain begins; which is also +confined to one, or not more than two Parts. + +Sec. 166. If the Disease continues fixed, for a considerable Time, in one +Joint, the Motion of it is impaired for Life. I have seen a Person, who +has now a wry Neck, of twenty Years standing, in Consequence of a +Rheumatism in the Nape of the Neck; and I also saw a poor young Man from +_Jurat_, who was Bed-ridden, and who had lost the Motion of one Hip and +both Knees. He could neither stand nor sit, and there were but a few +Postures in which he could even lie in Bed. + +Sec. 167. An obstructed Perspiration, an inflammatory Thickness of the +Blood, constitute the most general Cause of the Rheumatism. This last +concurring Cause is that we must immediately encounter; since, as long +as that subsists, Perspiration cannot be perfectly re-established, which +follows of Course, when the Inflammation is cured. For which Reason this +Distemper must be conducted like the other inflammatory ones, of which I +have already treated. + +Sec. 168. As soon as it is sufficiently manifest, the Glyster No. 5, should +be injected; and twelve Ounces of Blood be taken from the Arm an Hour +after. The Patient is to enter upon a Regimen, and drink plentifully of +the Ptisan No. 2, and of Almond Milk or Emulsion No. 4. As this last +Medicine may be too costly in Country Places for the poor Peasantry; +they may drink, in Lieu of it, very clear Whey, sweetened with a little +Honey. I have known a very severe Rheumatism cured, after twice +bleeding, without any other Food or Medicine, for the Space of thirteen +Days. The Whey also may be happily used by Way of Glyster. + +Sec. 169. If the Distemper is not considerably asswaged by the first +Bleeding, it should be repeated some Hours after. I have ordered it four +Times within the first two Days; and some Days after I have even +directed a fifth Bleeding. But in general the Hardness of the Pulse +becomes less after the second: and notwithstanding the Pains may +continue as severe as before, yet the Patient is sensible of less +Inquietude. The Glyster must be repeated every Day, and even twice a +Day, if each of them is attended only with a small Discharge; and +particularly if there be a violent Head-ach. In such Cases as are +excessively painful, the Patient can scarcely dispose himself into a +proper Attitude or Posture to receive Glysters: and in such +Circumstances his Drinks should be made as opening as possible; and a +Dose of the Cream of Tartar No. 24 should be given Night and Morning. +This very Medicine, with the Assistance of Whey, cured two Persons I +advised it to, of rheumatic Pains, of which they had been infested with +frequent Returns for many Years, and which were attended with a small +Fever. + +Apples coddled, Prunes stewed, and well ripened Summer Fruits are the +properest Nourishment in this Disease. + +We may save the Sick a good deal of Pain, by putting one strong Towel +always under their Back, and another under their Thighs, in order to +move them the more easily. When their Hands are without Pain, a third +Towel hung upon a Cord, which is fastened across the Bed, must +considerably assist them in moving themselves. + +Sec. 170. When the Fever entirely disappears, and the Hardness of the Pulse +is removed, I have ordered the Purge No. 23 with a very good Effect; and +if it is attended with five or six Motions, the Patient is very sensibly +relieved. The Day but one after it may be repeated successfully, and a +third Time, after an Interval of a greater Number of Days. + +Sec. 171. When the Pains are extremely violent, they admit of no +Application: Vapour-Baths however may be employed, and provided they are +often used, and for a considerable Time, they prove very efficacious. +The Purpose of these Baths is only to convey the Steam of boiling Water +to the Parts affected; which may always easily be effected, by a Variety +of simple and easy Contrivances; the Choice of which must depend on the +different Circumstances and Situation of the Sick. + +Whenever it is possible, some of the emollient Applications No. 9, +should be continually employed. A half Bath, or an entire Bath of warm +Water, in which the Patient should remain an Hour, after sufficient +Bleedings and many Glysters, affords the greatest Relief. I have seen a +Patient, under the most acute Pains of the Loins, of the Hips, and of +one Knee, put into one. He continued still under extreme Torment in the +Bath, and on being taken out of it: but an Hour after he had been put to +Bed, he sweated, to an incredible Quantity, for thirty six Hours, and +was cured. The Bath should never be made use of, until after repeated +Bleedings, or at least other equivalent Evacuations: for otherwise +timed, it would aggravate the Disease. + +Sec. 172. The Pains are generally most severe in the Night; whence it has +been usual to give composing soporific Medicines. This however has been +very erroneous, as Opiates really augment the Cause of the Disease, and +destroy the Efficacy of the proper Remedies: and, even not seldom, far +from asswaging the Pains, they increase them. Indeed they agree so +little in this Disease, that even the Patient's natural Sleep at the +Invasion of this Complaint, is rather to his Detriment. They feel, the +very Moment they are dropping asleep, such violent Jirks as awaken them +with great Pain: or if they do sleep a few Minutes, the Pains are +stronger when they awake. + +Sec. 173. The Rheumatism goes off either by Stool, by turbid thick Urine +which drops a great Proportion of a yellowish Sediment, or by Sweats: +and it generally happens that this last Discharge prevails towards the +Conclusion of the Disease. It may be kept up by drinking an Infusion of +Elder Flowers. At the Beginning however Sweating is pernicious. + +Sec. 174. It happens also, though but very seldom, that Rheumatisms +determine by depositing a sharp Humour upon the Legs; where it forms +Vesications, or a kind of Blisterings; which burst open and form Ulcers, +that ought not to be healed and dried up too hastily; as this would +occasion a speedy Return of the rheumatic Pains. They are disposed to +heal naturally of themselves, by the Assistance of a temperate regular +Diet, and a few gentle Purges. + +Sec. 175. Sometimes again, an Abscess is formed either in the affected +Part, or in some neighbouring one. I have seen a Vineyard Dresser, who +after violent Pains of the Loins, had an Abscess in the upper Part of +the Thigh, which he neglected for a long Time. When I saw him, it was of +a monstrous Size. I ordered it to be opened, when at once above three +Pots of [41] Matter rushed out of it: but the Patient, being exhausted, +died some Time after it. + +[41] This, according to our Author's Estimation of the Pot-Measure at + _Berne_, which is that he always means, and which he says contains + exactly (of Water we suppose) fifty one Ounces and a Quarter + (though without a material Error it may be computed at three Pounds + and a Quarter) will amount at least to nine Pounds and three + Quarters of Matter, supposing this no heavier than Water. By + Measure it will want but little of five of our Quarts: a very + extraordinary Discharge indeed of _Pus_ at once, and not unlikely + to be attended by the Event which soon followed. _K._ + +Another Crisis of the Rheumatism has happened by a kind of Itch, which +breaks out upon all the Parts adjacent to the Seat of this Disease. +Immediately after this Eruption the Pains vanish; but the Pustules +sometimes continue for several Weeks. + +Sec. 176. I have never observed the Pains to last, with considerable +Violence, above fourteen Days, in this Species of the Rheumatism; though +there remains a Weakness, Numbness, and some Inflation, or Puffing, of +the adjoining Parts: and it will also be many Weeks, and sometimes even +Months; especially if the Distemper attacked them in the Fall, before +the Sick recover their usual Strength. I have known some Persons, who, +after a very painful Rheumatism, have been troubled with a very +disagreeable Sensation of Lassitude; which did not go off till after a +great Eruption, all over the Body, of little Vesications or Blisterings, +full of a watery Humour; many of them burst open, and others withered +and dried up without bursting. + +Sec. 177. The Return of Strength into the Parts affected may be promoted by +Frictions Night and Morning, with Flannel or any other woollen Stuff; by +using Exercise; and by conforming exactly to the Directions given in the +Chapter on Convalescence, or Recovery from acute Diseases. The +Rheumatism may also be prevented by the Means I have pointed out, in +treating of Pleurisies and Quinsies. + +Sec. 178. Sometimes the Rheumatism, with a Fever, invades Persons who are +not so sanguine, or abounding in Blood; or whose Blood is not so much +disposed to Inflammation; those whose Flesh and Fibres are softer; and +in whose Humours there is more Thinness and Sharpness, than Viscidity +and Thickness. Bleeding proves less necessary for Persons so +constituted, notwithstanding the Fever should be very strong. Some +Constitutions require more Discharges by Stool; and after they are +properly evacuated, some Blisters should be applied, which often afford +them a sensible Relief as soon as ever they begin to operate. +Nevertheless they should never be used where the Pulse is hard. The +Powder No. 25 answers very well in these Cases. + +Sec. 179. There is another Kind of Rheumatism, called chronical, or +lasting. It is known by the following Characters or Marks. 1. It is +commonly unattended with a Fever. 2. It continues a very long Time. 3. +It seldom attacks so many Parts at once as the former. 4. Frequently no +visible Alteration appears in the affected Part, which is neither more +hot, red, or swelled than in its healthy State; though sometimes one or +other of these Symptoms is evident. 5. The former, the inflammatory, +Rheumatism assaults strong, vigorous, robust Persons: but this rather +invades People arrived at a certain Period of Life, or such as are weak +and languishing. + +Sec. 180. The Pain of the chronical Rheumatism, when left to itself, or +injudiciously treated, lasts sometimes many Months, and even Years. It +is particularly and extremely obstinate, when it is exerted on the Head, +the Loins, or on the Hip, and along the Thighs, when it is called the +_Sciatica_. There is no Part indeed which this Pain may not invade; +sometimes it fixes itself in a small Spot, as in one Corner of the Head; +the Angle of the Jaw; the Extremity of a Finger; in one Knee; on one +Rib, or on the Breast, where it often excites Pains, which make the +Patient apprehensive of a Cancer. It penetrates also to the internal +Parts. When it affects the Lungs, a most obstinate Cough is the +Consequence; which degenerates at length into very dangerous Disorders +of the Breast. In the Stomach and Bowels it excites most violent Pains +like a Cholic; and in the Bladder, Symptoms so greatly resembling those +of the Stone, that Persons, who are neither deficient in Knowlege nor +Experience, have been more than once deceived by them. + +Sec. 181. The Treatment of this chronical Rheumatism does not vary +considerably from that of the former. Nevertheless, in the first Place, +if the Pain is very acute, and the Patient robust, a single Bleeding at +the Onset is very proper and efficacious. 2. The Humours ought to be +diluted, and their Acrimony or Sharpness should be diminished, by a very +plentiful Use of a Ptisan of [42] Burdock Roots No. 26. 3. Four or five +Days after drinking abundantly of this, the purging [43] Powder No. 21 +may be taken with Success. In this Species of the Rheumatism, a certain +Medicine is sometimes found serviceable. This has acquired some +Reputation, particularly in the Country, where they bring it from, +_Geneva_; under the Title of the Opiate for the Rheumatism, tho' I +cannot say for what Reason; as it is indeed neither more nor less than +the Electuary _Caryocostinum_, which may be procured at our +Apothecaries. I shall observe however, that this Medicine has done +Mischief in the inflammatory Rheumatism, and even in this, as often as +the Persons afflicted with it are feeble, thin and of a hot Temperament; +and either when they have not previously taken diluting Drinks, or when +it has been used too long. For, in such a Circumstance, it is apt to +throw the Patient into an irrecoverable Weakness. The Composition +consists of the hottest Spices, and of very sharp Purgatives. + +[42] Half a Pint of a pretty strong Infusion of the Leaves of Buckbean, + which grows wild here, taken once a Day rather before Noon, has + also been found very serviceable in that Species of a chronical + Rheumatism, which considerably results from a scorbutic State of + the Constitution. _K._ + +[43] Another very good Purge, in this Kind of Rheumatism, may also be + compounded of the best Gum Guiacum in Powder from 30 to 40 Grains; + dissolved in a little Yolk of a fresh Egg; adding from 6 to 10 + Grains of Jallap powdered, and from 3 to 5 Grains of powdered + Ginger, with as much plain or sorrel Water, as will make a purging + Draught for a stronger or weaker grown Patient. Should the Pains + frequently infest the Stomach, while the Patient continues costive, + and there is no other Fever than such a small symptomatic one, as + may arise solely from Pain, he may safely take, if grown up, from + 30 to 45 Drops of the volatile Tincture of Gum Guiacum, in any + diluting Infusion, that may not coagulate or separate the Gum. It + generally disposes at first to a gentle _Diaphoresis_ or Sweat, and + several Hours after to one, and sometimes to a second Stool, with + little or no Griping. _K._ + +Sec. 182. When general Remedies have been used, and the Disorder still +continues, Recourse should be had to such Medicines, as are available to +restore Perspiration; and these should be persisted in for a +considerable Time. The Pills No. 18, with a strong Infusion of Elder +Flowers, have often succeeded in this Respect: and then after a long +Continuance of diluting Drinks, if the Fever is entirely subdued; if the +Stomach exerts its Functions well; the Patient is no ways costive; if he +is not of a dry Habit of Body; and the Part affected remains without +Inflammation, the Patient may safely take the Powder No. 29, at Night +going to Bed, with a Cup or two of an Infusion of _Carduus benedictus_, +or the blessed Thistle, and a Morsel of Venice Treacle of the Size of a +Hazel Nut, or a Filberd. This Remedy brings on a very copious Sweating, +which often expells the [44] Disease. These Sweats may be rendered full +more effectual, by wrapping up the affected Part in a Flanel dipt in the +Decoction No. 27. + +[44] Gum Guaiacum, given from six to ten Grains Morning and Night, is + often very successful in these Cases. It may be made into Pills or + Bolusses with the Rob of Elder, or with the Extract of Juniper. _E. + L._ + +Sec. 183. But of all these Pains, the Sciatica is one of the most tedious +and obstinate. Nevertheless I have seen the greatest Success, from the +Application of seven or eight Cupping-Glasses on the tormented Part; by +which, without the Assistance of any other Remedy, I have cured, in a +few Hours, Sciaticas of many Years standing, which had baffled other +Remedies. Blisters, or any such stimulating Plaisters, as bring on a +Suppuration and Discharge from the afflicted Part, contribute also +frequently to the Cure; tho' less effectually than Cupping, which should +be repeated several Times. Green Cere-cloth, commonly called Oil-cloth, +(whether the Ingredients be spread on Taffety or on Linen) being applied +to the diseased Part, disposes it to sweat abundantly, and thus to +discharge the sharp Humour which occasions the Pain. Sometimes both +these Applications, but especially that spread on Silk (which may be +applied more exactly and closely to the Part, and which is also spread +with a different Composition) raise a little Vesication on the Part as +Blisters do. A Plaister of Quicklime and Honey blended together has +cured inveterate Sciaticas. Oil of Eggs has sometimes succeeded in such +Cases. A Seton has also been successfully made in the lower Part of the +Thigh. Finally some Pains, which have not yielded to any of these +Applications, have been cured by actual burning, inflicted on the very +Spot, where the most violent Pain has been felt; except some particular +Reason, drawn from an anatomical Knowlege of the Part, should determine +the Surgeon not to apply it there. The Scull or Head should never be +cauterized with a burning Iron. + +Sec. 184. The hot Baths of _Bourbon_, _Plombiers_, _Aix-la-Chapelle_ and +many others are often very efficacious in these chronical Pains: +notwithstanding I really think, there is no rheumatic Pain that may not +be cured without them. The common People substitute to these a Bath made +of the Husk of Grapes, after their Juice is expressed, which cures some +by making them sweat abundantly. Cold Baths however are the best to keep +off this Disease; but then they cannot always be safely ventured on. +Many Circumstances render the Use of them impracticable to particular +Persons. Such as are subject to this chronical Rheumatism, would do very +well to rub their whole Bodies every Morning, if they could, but +especially the afflicted Parts, with Flanel. This Habit keeps up +Perspiration beyond any other Assistance; and indeed sometimes even +increases it too much. It would be serviceable too, if such Subjects of +this cruel Disease wore Flanel all over their Skin, during the Winter. + +After a violent Rheumatism, People should long be careful to avoid that +cold and moist Air, which disposes them to relapse. + +Sec. 185. Rheumatic People have too frequent a Recourse to very improper +and hurtful Medicines, in this Distemper, which daily produce very bad +Consequences. Such are spirituous Medicines, Brandy, and Arquebusade +Water. They either render the Pain more obstinate and fixed, by +hardening the Skin; or they repell the Humour to some inward Part. And +Instances are not wanting of Persons who have died suddenly, from the +Application of Spirit of Wine upon the Parts, that were violently +afflicted with the Rheumatism. It also happens sometimes that the +Humour, having no Outlet through the Skin, is thrown internally on the +Bone and affects it. A very singular Fact occurred in this Respect, an +Account of which may be serviceable to some Persons afflicted with the +Disease. A Woman at Night was chaffing the Arm of her Husband, who had +the Rheumatism there, with Spirit of Wine; when a very lucky Accident +prevented the Mischief she might have occasioned by it. The Spirit of +Wine took Fire from the Flame of the Candle she made use of, and burned +the diseased Part. It was drest of Course, and the Suppuration that +attended it, entirely cured the Rheumatism. + +Sharp and greasy Unctions or Ointments produce very bad Effects, and are +equally dangerous. A _Caries_, a Rottenness of the Bones, has ensued +upon the Use of a Medicine called, The Balsam of Sulphur with +Turpentine. I was consulted in 1750, three Days before her Decease, +about a Woman, who had long endured acute rheumatic Pains. She had taken +various Medicines, and, among the rest, a considerable Quantity of a +Ptisan, in which Antimony was blended with some purging Medicines, and a +greasy spirituous Balsam had been rubbed into the Part. The Fever, the +Pains, and the Dryness of the Skin soon increased; the Bones of the +Thighs and Arms became carious: and in moving the Patient no more than +was necessary for her Relief and Convenience, without taking her out of +her Bed, both Thighs and one Arm broke. So dreadful an Example should +make People cautious of giving or applying Medicines inconsiderately, +even in such Diseases, as appear but trifling in themselves. I must also +inform the Readers, there are some rheumatic Pains, which admit of no +Application; and that almost every Medicine aggravates them. In such +Cases the afflicted must content themselves with keeping the Parts +affected from the Impressions of the Air, by a Flanel, or the Skin of +some Animal with the Fur on. + +It is also more advisable sometimes to leave a sufferable and inveterate +Pain to itself, especially in old or weakly People, than to employ too +many Medicines, or such violent ones, as should affect them more +importantly than the Pains did. + +Sec. 186. If the Duration of the Pains fixed in the same Place, should +cause some Degree of Stiffness in the Joint affected, it should be +exposed twice a Day to the Vapour of warm Water, and dried well +afterwards with hot Linen: then it should be well chaffed, and lastly +touched over with Ointment of Marsh-mallows. Pumping, if superadded to +this Vapour, considerably increases its Efficacy. I directed, for a Case +of this Sort, a very simple Machine of white Tin, or Lattin, which +combined the Application of the Steam and the Pump. + +Sec. 187. Very young Children are sometimes subject to such violent and +extended Pains, that they cannot bear touching in any Part, without +excessive Crying. We must be careful to avoid mistaking these Cases, and +not to treat them like Rheumatisms. They sometimes are owing to Worms, +and go off when these have been discharged. + + + + + __Chapter XII.__ + + + _Of the Bite of a mad Dog._ + + + __Sect.__ 188. + +Men may contract the particular and raging Symptom, which is very +generally peculiar to this Disease from this Cause, and even without any +Bite; but this happens very rarely indeed. It is properly a Distemper +belonging to the canine _Genus_, consisting of the three Species of +Dogs, Wolves, and Foxes, to whom only it seems inherent and natural; +scarcely ever arising in other Animals, without its being inflicted by +them. Whenever there occurs one of them who breeds it, he bites others, +and thus the Poison, the Cause of this terrible Disease, is diffused. +Other Animals besides the canine Species, and Men themselves being +exposed to this Accident, do sometimes contract the Disease in all its +Rage and Horror: though it is not to be supposed, that this is always an +unfailing Consequence. + +Sec. 189. If a Dog who used to be lively and active, becomes all at once +moapish and morose; if he has an Aversion to eat; a particular and +unusual Look about his Eyes; a Restlessness, which appears from his +continually running to and fro, we may be apprehensive he is likely to +prove mad; at which very Instant he ought to be tied up securely, that +it may be in our Power to destroy him as soon as the Distemper is +evident. Perhaps it might be even still safer to kill him at once. + +Whenever the Malady is certain, the Symptoms heighten pretty soon. His +Aversion to Food, but especially to Drink, grows stronger. He no longer +seems to know his Master, the Sound of his Voice changes; he suffers no +Person to handle or approach him; and bites those who attempt it. He +quits his ordinary Habitation, marching on with his Head and his Tail +hanging downwards; his Tongue lolling half out, and covered with Foam or +Slaver, which indeed not seldom happens indifferently to all Dogs. Other +Dogs scent him, not seldom at a considerable Distance, and fly him with +an Air of Horror, which is a certain Indication of his Disease. +Sometimes he contents himself with biting only those who happen to be +near him: while at other Times becoming more enraged, he springs to the +right and left on all Men and Animals about him. He hurries away with +manifest Dread from whatever Waters occur to him: at length he falls +down as spent and exhausted; sometimes he rises up again, and drags +himself on for a little Time, commonly dying the third, or, at the +latest, on the fourth Day after the manifest Appearance of the Disease, +and sometimes even sooner. + +Sec. 190. When a Person is bit by such a Dog, the Wound commonly heals up +as readily, as if it was not in the least poisonous: but after the +Expiration of a longer or shorter Term, from three Weeks to three +Months; but most commonly in about six Weeks, the Person bitten begins +to perceive, in the Spot that was bit, a certain dull obtuse Pain. The +Scar of it swells, inflames, bursts open, and weeps out a sharp, foetid, +and sanious, or somewhat bloody Humour. At the same Time the Patient +becomes sad and melancholy: he feels a kind of Indifference, +Insensibility, and general Numbness; an almost incessant Coldness; a +Difficulty of breathing; a continual Anguish, and Pains in his Bowels. +His Pulse is weak and irregular, his sleep restless, turbid, and +confused with Ravings; with starting up in Surprize, and with terrible +Frights. His Discharges by Stool are often much altered and irregular, +and small cold Sweats appear at very short Intervals. Sometimes there is +also a slight Pain or Uneasiness in the Throat. Such is the first Degree +of this Disease, and it is called by some Physicians the dumb Rage, or +Madness. + +Sec. 191. Its second Degree, the confirmed or downright Madness, is +attended with the following Symptoms. The Patient is afflicted with a +violent Thirst, and a Pain in drinking. Soon after this he avoids all +Drink, but particularly Water, and within some Hours after, he even +abhors it. This Horror becomes so violent, that the bringing Water near +his Lips, or into his Sight, the very Name of it, or of any other Drink; +the Sight of Objects, which, from their Transparence, have any +Resemblance of Water, as a Looking Glass, _&c._ afflicts him with +extreme Anguish, and sometimes even with Convulsions. They continue +however still to swallow (though not without violent Difficulty) a +little Meat or Bread, and sometimes a little Soup. Some even get down +the liquid Medicines that are prescribed them, provided there be no +Appearance of Water in them; or that Water is not mentioned to them, at +the same Time. Their Urine becomes thick and high-coloured, and +sometimes there is a Suppression or Stoppage of it. The Voice either +grows hoarse, or is almost entirely abolished: but the Reports of the +bitten barking like Dogs are ridiculous and superstitious Fictions, void +of any Foundation; as well as many other Fable, that have been blended +with the History of this Distemper. The Barking of Dogs however is very +disagreeable to them. They are troubled with short _Deliriums_ or +Ravings, which are sometimes mixed with Fury. It is at such times that +they spit all around them; that they attempt also to bite, and sometimes +unhappily effect it. Their Looks are fixed, as it were, and somewhat +furious, and their Visage frequently red. It is pretty common for these +miserable Patients to be sensible of the Approach of their raging Fit, +and to conjure the Bystanders to be upon their Guard. Many of them never +have an Inclination to bite. The increasing Anguish and Pain they feel +become inexpressible: they earnestly wish for Death; and some of them +have even destroyed themselves, when they had the Means of effecting it. + +Sec. 192. It is with the Spittle, and the Spittle only, that this dreadful +Poison unites itself. And here it may be observed, 1, That if the Wounds +have been made through any of the Patient's Cloaths, they are less +dangerous than those inflicted immediately on the naked Skin. 2, That +Animals who abound in Wool, or have very thick Hair, are often preserved +from the mortal Impression of the Poison; because in these various +Circumstances, the Cloaths, the Hair, or the Wool have wiped, or even +dried up, the Slaver of their Teeth. 3, The Bites inflicted by an +infected Animal, very soon after he has bitten many others, are less +dangerous than the former Bites, because their Slaver is lessened or +exhausted. 4, If the Bite happens in the Face, or in the Neck, the +Danger is greater, and the Operation of the Venom is quicker too; by +Reason the Spittle of the Person so bit is sooner infected. 5, The +higher the Degree of the Disease is advanced, the Bites become +proportionably more dangerous. From what I have just mentioned here it +may be discerned, why, of many who have been bitten by the same +Sufferer, some have been infected with this dreadful Disease, and others +not. + +Sec. 193. A great Number of Remedies have been highly cried up, as famous +in the Cure of this Disease; and, in _Swisserland_ particularly, the +Root of the Eglantine or wild Rose, gathered at some particular times, +under the favorable Aspects of the Moon, and dried with some +extraordinary Precautions. There is also the Powder of _Palmarius_ of +calcined Egg Shells, that of the _Lichen terrestris_, or Ground +Liverwort, with one third Part of Pepper, a Remedy long celebrated in +_England_; Powder of Oyster-Shells; of Vervain; bathing in Salt Water; +St. Hubert's Key, _&c. &c._ But the Death of a Multitude of those who +have been bitten, notwithstanding their taking the greatest Part of all +these boasted Antidotes; and the Certainty of no one's escaping, who had +been attacked with the high raging Symptom, the _Hydrophobia_, have +demonstrated the Inefficacy of them all, to all _Europe_. It is +incontestable that to the Year 1730, not a single Patient escaped, in +whom the Disease was indisputably manifest; and that every Medicine then +employed against it was useless. When Medicines had been given before +the great Symptom appeared, in some of those who took them, it +afterwards appeared, in others not. The same different Events occurred +also to others who were bitten, and who took not the least Medicine; so +that upon the whole, before that Date, no Medicine seemed to be of any +Consequence. Since that Time, we have had the Happiness to be informed +of a certain Remedy, which is Mercury, joined to a few others. + +Sec. 194. In short there is a Necessity for destroying or expelling the +Poison itself, which Mercury effects, and is consequently the +Counter-poison of it. That poison produces a general Irritation of the +Nerves; this is to be removed or asswaged by Antispasmodics: so that in +Mercury, or Quicksilver, joined to Antispasmodics, consists the whole +that is indicated in the Cure of this Disease. There really have been +many Instances of Persons cured by these Medicines, in whom the +Distemper had been manifest in its Rage and Violence; and as many as +have unfortunately received the Cause of it in a Bite, should be firmly +persuaded, that in taking these Medicines, and using all other proper +Precautions, they shall be entirely secured from all its ill +Consequences. Those also in whom the Rage and Fury of this Distemper is +manifest, ought to use the same Medicines, with entire [45] Hope and +Confidence, which may justly be founded on the many Cures effected by +them. It is acknowledged however, that they have proved ineffectual in a +few Cases; but what Disease is there, which does not sometimes prove +incurable? + +[45] This Advice is truly prudent and judicious; Hope, as I have + observed on a different Occasion, being a powerful, though + impalpable, Cordial: and in such perilous Situations, we should + excite the most agreeable Expectations we possibly can in the + Patient; that Nature, being undepressed by any desponding + melancholy ones, may exert her Functions the more firmly, and + co-operate effectually with the Medicines, against her internal + Enemy. _K._ + +Sec. 195. The very Moment after receiving the Bite, is it happens to be in +the Flesh, and if it can safely be effected, all the Part affected +should be cut [46] away. The Ancients directed it to be cauterized, or +burnt with a red hot Iron (meer Scarification being of very little +Effect) and this Method would very probably prove effectual. It requires +more Resolution, however, than every Patient is endued with. The Wound +should be washed and cleansed a considerable Time with warm Water, with +a little Sea-Salt dissolved in it. After this into the Lips and Edges of +the Wound, and into the Surface of the Part all about it, should be +rubbed a Quarter of an Ounce of the Ointment No. 28; and the Wound +should be dressed twice daily, with the soft lenient Ointment No. 29, to +promote Suppuration; but that of No. 28 is to be used only once a Day. + +[46] I knew a brave worthy Gentleman abroad, who above forty Years past + thus preserved his Life, after receiving the Bite of a large + Rattle-Snake, by resolutely cutting it and the Flesh surrounding it + out, with a sharp pointed Penknife.--Perhaps those who would not + suffer the Application of the actual Cautery, that is, of a red hot + Iron (which certainly promises well for a Cure) might be persuaded + to admit of a potential Cautery, where the Bite was inflicted on a + fleshy Part. Though even this is far from being unpainful, yet the + Pain coming on more gradually, is less terrifying and horrid. And + when it had been applied quickly after, and upon the Bite, and kept + on for 3 or 4 Hours, the Discharge, after cutting the _Eschar_, + would sooner ensue, and in more Abundance, than that from the + actual Cautery; the only Preference of which seems to consist in + its being capable perhaps of absorbing, or otherwise consuming, all + the poisonous _Saliva_ at once. This Issue should be dressed + afterwards according to our Author's Direction; and in the gradual + healing of the Ulcer, it may be properly deterged by adding a + little Praecipitate to the Digestive. Neither would this interfere + with the Exhibition of the _Tonquin_ Powder No. 30, nor the + antispasmodic _Bolus_ No. 31, if they should be judged necessary. + And these perhaps might prove the most certain Means of preventing + the mortal Effects of this singular animal Poison, which it is so + impossible to analyze, and so extremely difficult to form any + material Idea of; but which is not the Case of some other Poisons. + _K._ + +In point of Regimen, the Quantity of Nourishment should be less than +usual, particularly in the Article of [47] Flesh: he should abstain from +Wine, spirituous Liquors, all Sorts of Spices and hot inflaming Food. He +should drink only Barley-Water, or an Infusion of the Flowers of the +Lime-tree. He should be guarded against Costiveness by a soft relaxing +Diet, or by Glysters, and bathe his Legs once a Day in warm Water. Every +third Day one Dose of the Medicine No. 30 should be taken; which is +compounded of Mercury, that counterworks the Poison, and of Musk which +prevents the Spasms, or convulsive Motions. I confess at the same Time +that I have less Dependance on the Mercury given in this Form, and think +the rubbing in of its Ointment considerably more efficacious, which I +should hope may always prevent the Fatality of this dreadful, surprizing +Disease. [48] + +[47] It seems not amiss to try the Effects of a solely vegetable Diet + (and that perhaps consisting more of the acescent than alcalescent + Herbs and Roots) in this Disease, commencing immediately from the + Bite of a known mad Dog. These carnivorous Animals, who naturally + reject all vegetable Food, are the only primary Harbingers or + Breeders of it; though they are capable of transmitting it by a + Bite to graminivorous and granivorous ones. The Virtue of Vinegar + in this Disease, said to have been accidentally discovered on the + Continent, seems not to have been hitherto experienced amongst us; + yet in Case of such a morbid Accident it may require a Tryal; tho' + not so far, as to occasion the Omission of more certainly + experienced Remedies, with some of which it might be improper. _K._ + +[48] The great Usefulness of mercurial Frictions, we may even say, the + certain Security which they procure for the Patients, in these + Cases, provided they are applied very soon after the Bite, have + been demonstrated by their Success in _Provence_, at _Lyons_, at + _Montpellier_, at _Pondacherry_, and in many other Places. Neither + have these happy Events been invalidated by any Observations or + Instances to the contrary. It cannot therefore be too strongly + inculcated to those who have been bitten by venomous Animals, to + comply with the Use of them. They ought to be used in such a + Quantity, and after such a Manner, as to excite a moderate + Salivation, for fifteen, twenty, or even thirty Days. _E. L._ + Though this Practice may justly be pursued from great Caution, when + no Cautery had been speedily applied to, and no such Discharge had + been obtained from, the bitten Part; yet wherever it had, this long + and depressing Salivation, I conceive, would be very seldom + necessary; and might be hurtful to weak Constitutions. _K._ + +Sec. 196. If the raging Symptom, the Dread of Water, has already appeared, +and the Patient is strong, and abounds with Blood, he should, 1, be bled +to a considerable Quantity, and this may be repeated twice, thrice, or +even a fourth Time, if Circumstances require it. + +2, The Patient should be put, if possible, into a warm Bath; and this +should be used twice daily. + +3, He should every Day receive two, or even three of the emollient +Glysters No. 5. + +4, The Wound and the Parts adjoining to it should be rubbed with the +Ointment No. 28, twice a Day. + +5, The whole Limb which contains the Wound should be rubbed with Oil, +and be wrapped up in an oily Flanel. + +6, Every three Hours a Dose of the Powder No. 30, should be taken in a +Cup of the Infusion of Lime-tree and Elder Flowers. + +7, The Prescription No. 31, is to be given every Night, and to be +repeated in the Morning, if the Patient is not easy, washing it down +with the same Infusion. + +8, If there be a great Nauseousness at Stomach, with a Bitterness in the +Mouth, give the Powder No. 35, which brings up a copious Discharge of +glewy and bilious Humours. + +9, There is very little Occasion to say any thing relating to the +Patient's Food, in such a Situation. Should he ask for any, he may be +allowed Panada, light Soup, Bread, Soups made of farinaceous or mealy +Vegetables, or a little Milk. + +Sec. 197. By the Use of these Remedies the Symptoms will be observed to +lessen, and to disappear by Degrees; and finally Health will be +re-established. But if the Patient should long continue weak, and +subject to Terrors, he may take a Dose of the Powder No. 14, thrice a +Day. + +Sec. 198. It is certain that a Boy, in whom the raging Symptom of This +Disease had just appeared, was perfectly cured, by bathing all about the +wounded Part with Sallad-Oil, in which some Camphire and Opium were +dissolved; with the Addition of repeated Frictions of the Ointment No. +28, and making him take some _Eau de luce_ with a little Wine. This +Medicine, a Coffee-Cup of which may be given every four Hours, allayed +the great Inquietude and Agitation of the Patient; and brought on a very +plentiful Sweat, on which all the Symptoms vanished. + +Sec. 199. Dogs may be cured by rubbing in a triple Quantity of the same +Ointment directed for Men, and by giving them the Bolus No. 33. But both +these Means should be used as soon as ever they are bit. When the great +Symptom is manifest, there would be too much Danger in attempting to +apply one, or to give the other; and they should be immediately killed. +It might be well however to try if they would swallow down the Bolus, on +its being thrown to them. + +As soon as ever Dogs are bit, they should be safely tied up, and not let +loose again, before the Expiration of three or four Months. + +Sec. 200. A false and dangerous Prejudice has prevailed with Regard to the +Bites from Dogs, and it is this--That if a Dog who had bit any Person, +without being mad at the Time of his biting, should become mad +afterwards, the Person so formerly bitten, would prove mad too at the +same Time. Such a Notion is full as absurd, as it would be to affirm, +that if two Persons had slept in the same Bed, and that one of them +should take the Itch, the Small-Pocks, or any other contagious Disease, +ten or twelve Years afterwards, that the other should also be infected +with that he took, and at the same Time too. + +Of two Circumstances, whenever a Person is bit, one must certainly be. +Either the Dog which gives the Bite, is about to be mad himself, in +which Case this would be evident in a few Days; and then it must be said +the Person was bitten by a mad Dog: Or else, that the Dog was absolutely +sound, having neither conceived, or bred in himself, nor received from +without the Cause, the Principle, of Madness: in which last Case I ask +any Man in his Senses, if he could communicate it. No Person, no Thing +imparts what it has not. This false and crude Notion excites those who +are possessed with it to a dangerous Action: they exercise that Liberty +the Laws unhappily allow them of killing the Dog; by which Means they +are left uncertain of his State, and of their own Chance. This is a +dreadful Uncertainty, and may be attended with embarrassing and +troublesome Consequences, independant of the Poison itself. The +reasonable Conduct would be to secure and observe the Dog very closely, +in Order to know certainly whether he is, or is not, mad. + +Sec. 201. It is no longer necessary to represent the Horror, the Barbarity +and Guilt of that cruel Practice, which prevailed, not very long since, +of suffocating Persons in the Height of this Disease, with the +Bed-cloaths, or between Matrasses. It is now prohibited in most +Countries; and doubtless will be punished, or, at least ought to be, +even in those where as yet it is not. + +Another Cruelty, of which we hope to see no repeated Instance, is that +of abandoning those miserable Patients to themselves, without the least +Resource or Assistance: a most detestable Custom even in those Times, +when there was not the least Hope of saving them; and still more +criminal in our Days, when they may be recovered effectually. I do again +affirm, that it is not very often these afflicted Patients are disposed +to bite; and that even when they are, they are afraid of doing it; and +request the Bystanders to keep out of their Reach: So that no Danger is +incurred; or where there is any, it may easily be avoided by a few +Precautions. + + + + + __Chapter XIII.__ + + + _Of the Small-Pocks._ + + + __Sect.__ 202. + +The Small-Pocks is the most frequent, the most extensive of all +Diseases; since out of a hundred Persons there are not more than [49] +four or five exempted from it. It is equally true however, that if it +attacks almost every Person, it attacks them but once, so that having +escaped through it, they are always secure from [50] it. It must be +acknowleged, at the same Time, to be one of the most destructive +Diseases; for if in some Years or Seasons, it proves to be of a very +mild and gentle Sort, in others it is almost as fatal as the Plague: it +being demonstrated, by calculating the Consequences of its most raging, +and its gentlest Prevalence, that it kills one seventh of the Number it +attacks. + +[49] As far as the Number of inoculated Persons, who remained entirely + uninfected (some very few after a second Inoculation) has enabled + me, I have calculated the Proportion naturally exempted from this + Disease, though residing within the Influence of it, to be full 25 + in 1000. See Analysis of Inoculation, Ed. 2d. P. 157. Note *. _K._ + +[50] It has sometimes been observed (and the Observation has been such, + as not to be doubted) that a very mild distinct Small-Pocks has + sometimes invaded the same Person twice: But such Instances are so + very rare, that we may very generally affirm, those who have once + had it, will never have it again. _E. L._----In Deference to a few + particular Authorities, I have also supposed such a repeated + Infection. (Analysis of Inoculation, Ed. 2d. P. 43.) though I have + really never seen any such myself; nor ever heard more than two + Physicians affirm it, one at _Versailles_, and another in _London_; + the last of whom declared, he took it upon the Credit of a Country + Physician, thoroughly acquainted with this Disease, and a Witness + to the Repetition of it. Hence we imagine the Editor of this Work + at _Lyons_ might have justly termed this Re-infection _extremely_ + rare, which would have a Tendency to reconcile the Subjects of the + Small-Pocks, more generally, to the most salutary Practice of + Inoculation. Doubtless some other eruptive Fevers, particularly, + the Chicken Pocks, Crystals, _&c._ have been often mistaken for the + real Small-Pocks by incompetent Judges, and sometimes even by + Persons better qualified, yet who were less attentive to the + Symptoms and Progress of the former. But whoever will be at the + Pains to read Dr. _Paux' Parallele de la petite verole naturalle + avec l'artificielle_, or a practical Abstract of Part of it in the + Monthly Review. Vol. XXV. P. 307 to 311, will find such a just, + clear and useful Distinction of them, as may prevent many future + Deceptions on this frequently interesting Subject. _K._ + +Sec. 203. People generally take the Small-Pocks in their Infancy, or in +their Childhood. It is very seldom known to attack only one Person in +one Place: its Invasions being very generally epidemical, and seizing a +large Proportion of those who have not suffered it. It commonly ceases +at the End of some Weeks, or of some Months, and rarely ever appears +again in the same Place, until four, five or six Years after. + +Sec. 204. This Malady often gives some Intimation of its Approach, three or +four Days before the Appearance of the Fever, by a little Dejection; +less Vivacity and Gaiety than usual; a great Propensity to sweat; less +Appetite; a slight Alteration of the Countenance, and a kind of pale +livid Colour about the Eyes: Notwithstanding which, in Children of a lax +and phlegmatic Constitution, I have known a moderate Agitation of their +Blood, (before their Shivering approached) give them a [51] Vivacity, +Gaiety, and a rosy Improvement of their Complexion, beyond what Nature +had given them. + +[51] The same Appearances very often occur in such Subjects by + Inoculation, before actual Sickening, as I have observed and + instanced, Ed. 1st. P. 62, Ed. 2. P. 75, 76. _K._ + +Certain short Vicissitudes of Heat or Coldness succeed the former +introductory Appearances, and at length a considerable Shivering, of the +Duration of one, two, three or four Hours: This is succeeded by violent +Heat, accompanied with Pains of the Head, Loins, Vomiting, or at least +with a frequent Propensity to vomit. + +This State continues for some Hours, at the Expiration of which the +Fever abates a little in a Sweat, which is sometimes a very large one: +the Patient then finds himself better, but is notwithstanding cast down, +torpid or heavy, very squeamish, with a Head-ach and Pain in the Back, +and a Disposition to be drowsy. The last Symptom indeed is not very +common, except in Children, less than seven or eight Years of Age. + +The Abatement of the Fever is of small Duration; and some Hours after, +commonly towards the Evening, it returns with all its Attendants, and +terminates again by Sweats, as before. + +This State of the Disease lasts three or four Days; at the End of which +Term, and seldom later, the first Eruptions appear among the Sweat, +which terminates the Paroxysm or Return of the Fever. I have generally +observed the earliest Eruption to appear in the Face, next to that on +the Hands, on the fore Part of the Arms; on the Neck, and on the upper +Part of the Breast. As soon as this Eruption appears, if the Distemper +is of a gentle Kind and Disposition, the Fever almost entirely vanishes: +the Patient continues to sweat a little, or transpire; the Number of +Eruptions increases, others coming out on the Back, the Sides, the +Belly, the Thighs, the Legs, and the Feet. Sometimes they are pushed out +very numerously even to the Soles of the Feet; where, as they increase +in Size, they often excite very sharp Pain, by Reason of the great +Thickness and Hardness of the Skin in these Parts. + +Frequently on the first and second Day of Eruption (speaking hitherto +always of the mild Kind and Degree of the Disease) there returns again a +very gentle Revival of the Fever about the Evening, which, about the +Termination of it, is attended with a considerable and final Eruption: +though as often as the Fever terminates perfectly after the earliest +Eruption, a very distinct and very small one is a pretty certain +Consequence. For though the Eruption is already, or should prove only +moderate, the Fever, as I have before said, does not totally disappear; +a small Degree of it still remaining, and heightening a little every +Evening. + +These Pustules, or Efflorescences, on their first Appearance, are only +so many very little red Spots, considerably resembling a Flea-bite; but +distinguishable by a small white Point in the Middle, a little raised +above the rest, which gradually increases in Size, with the Redness +extended about it. They become whiter, in Proportion as they grow +larger; and generally upon the sixth Day, including that of their first +Eruption, they attain their utmost Magnitude, and are full of _Pus_ or +Matter. Some of them grow to the Size of a Pea, and some still a little +larger; but this never happens to the greatest Number of them. From this +Time they begin to look yellowish, they gradually become dry, and fall +off in brown Scales, in ten or eleven Days from their first Appearance. +As their Eruption occurred on different Days, they also wither and fall +off successively. The Face is sometimes clear of them, while Pustules +still are seen upon the Legs, not fully ripe, or suppurated: and those +in the Soles of the Feet often remain much longer. + +Sec. 205. The Skin is of Course extended or stretched out by the Pustules; +and after the Appearance of a certain Quantity, all the Interstices, or +Parts between the Pustules, are red and bright, as it were, with a +proportionable Inflation or Swelling of the Skin. The Face is the first +Part that appears bloated, from the Pustules there first attaining their +utmost Size: and this inflation is sometimes so considerable, as to look +monstrous; the like happens also to the Neck, and the Eyes are entirely +closed up by it. The Swelling of the Face abates in Proportion to the +scabbing and drying up of the Pustules; and then the Hands are puffed up +prodigiously. This happens successively to the Legs, the Tumour or +Swelling, being the Consequence of the Pustules attaining their utmost +Size, which happens by Succession, in these different Parts. + +Sec. 206. Whenever there is a very considerable Eruption, the Fever is +heightened at the Time of Suppuration, which is not to be wondered at; +one single Boil excites a Fever: How is it possible then that some +hundred, nay some thousand of these little Abscesses should not excite +one? This Fever is the most dangerous Period, or Time of the Disease, +and occurs between the ninth and the thirteenth Days; as many +Circumstances vary the Term of Suppuration, two or three Days. At this +painful and perilous Season then, the Patient becomes very hot, and +thirsty: he is harrassed with Pain; and finds it very difficult to +discover a favourable easy Posture. If the Malady runs very high, he has +no Sleep; he raves, becomes greatly oppressed, is seized with a heavy +Drowsiness; and when he dies, he dies either suffocated or lethargic, +and sometimes in a State compounded of both these Symptoms. + +The Pulse, during this Fever of Suppuration, is sometimes of an +astonishing Quickness, while the Swelling of the Wrists makes it seem, +in some Subjects, to be very small. The most critical and dangerous Time +is, when the Swellings of the Face, Head and Neck are in their highest +Degree. Whenever the Swelling begins to fall, the Scabs on the Face to +dry [_supposing neither of these to be too sudden and premature, for the +visible Quantity of the Pustules_] and the Skin to shrivel, as it were, +the Quickness of the Pulse abates a little, and the Danger diminishes. +When the Pustules are very few, this second Fever is so moderate, that +it requires some Attention to discern it, so that the Danger is next to +none. + +Sec. 207. Besides those Symptoms, there are some others, which require +considerable Attention and Vigilance. One of these is the Soreness of +the Throat, with which many Persons in the Small-Pocks are afflicted, as +soon as the Fever grows pretty strong. It continues for two or three +Days; feels very strait and troublesome in the Action of Swallowing; and +whenever the Disease is extremely acute, it entirely prevents +Swallowing. It is commonly ascribed to the Eruption of Pustules in the +Throat; but this is a Mistake, such Pustules being almost +constantly [52] imaginary. It begins, most frequently, before the +Eruption appears; if this Complaint is in a light Degree, it terminates +upon the Eruption; and whenever it revives again in the Course of the +Disease, it is always in Proportion to the Degree of the Fever. Hence we +may infer it does not arise from the Pustules, but is owing to the +Inflammation; and as often as it is of any considerable Duration, it is +almost ever attended with another Symptom, the Salivation, or a +Discharge of a great Quantity of Spittle. This Salivation rarely exists, +where the Disease is very gentle, or the Patient very young; and is full +as rarely absent, where it is severe, and the Patient is past seven or +eight Years old: but when the Eruption is very confluent, and the +Patient adult, or grown up, the Discharge is surprizing. Under these +Circumstances it flows out incessantly, allowing the afflicted Patient +no Rest or Respite; and often incommodes him more than any other Symptom +of the Distemper; and so much the more, as after its Continuance for +some Days, the Lips, the Inside of the Cheeks, the Tongue, and the Roof +of the Mouth are entirely peeled or flead, as it were. Nevertheless, +however painful and embarrassing this Discharge may prove, it is very +important and salutary. Meer Infants are less subject to it, some of +them having a Looseness, in Lieu of it: and yet I have observed even +this last Discharge to be considerably less frequent in them, than a +Salivation is in grown People. + +[52] As Pustules are, and not very seldom, visible on the Tongue, and + sometimes on the Roof, even to its Process called the Palate, which + I have plainly seen; it seems not very easy to assign any + insuperable Obstacle to the Existence of a few within the Throat; + though this scarcely ever occurs, in the distinct Small-Pocks. + Doubtless however, a considerable Inflammation of that Part will be + as likely to produce the great Difficulty of Swallowing, as the + Existence of Pustules there; which our learned Author does not + absolutely reject, and consequently will forgive this Supposition + of them; especially if he credits the ocular Testimony of Dr. + _Violante_, cited in the Analysis, Ed. 2d. p 71. _K._ + +Sec. 208. Children, to the Age of five or six Years, are liable to +Convulsions, before Eruption: these however are not dangerous, if they +are not accompanied with other grievous and violent Symptoms. But such +Convulsions as supervene, either when Eruption having already occurred, +suddenly retreats, or _strikes in_, according to the common Phrase; or +during the Course of the Fever of Suppuration, are greatly more +terrifying. + +Involuntary Discharges of Blood from the Nose often occur, in the first +Stage of this Distemper, which are extremely serviceable, and commonly +lessen, or carry off, the Head-ach. Meer Infants are less subject to +this Discharge; though they have sometimes a little of it: and I have +known a considerable _Stupor_ or Drowsiness, vanish immediately after +this Bleeding. + +Sec. 209. The Small-Pocks is commonly distinguished into two Kinds, the +confluent and the distinct, such a Distinction really existing in +Nature: but as the Treatment of each of them is the same; and as the +Quantity or Dose of the Medicines is only to be varied, in Proportion to +the Danger of the Patient (not to enter here into very tedious Details, +and such as might exceed the Comprehension of many of our Readers; as +well as whatever might relate particularly to the malignant Small-Pocks) +I shall limit myself within the Description I have premised, which +includes all the Symptoms common to both these Kinds of the Small-Pocks. +I content myself with adding here, that we may expect a very confluent +and dangerous Pock, is, at the very Time of seizure, the Patient is +immediately attacked with many violent Symptoms; more especially if his +Eyes are extremely quick, lively, and even glistening, as it were; if he +vomits almost continually; if the Pain of his Loins be violent; and if +he suffers at the same Time great Anguish and Inquietude: If in Infants +there is great _Stupor_ or Heaviness; if Eruption appears on the third +Day, and sometimes even on the second: as the hastier Eruptions in this +Disease signify the most dangerous Kind and Degree of it; and on the +contrary, the slower Eruption is, it is the safer too; supposing this +Slowness of the Eruption not to have been the Consequence of great +Weakness, or of some violent inward Pain. + +Sec. 210. The Disorder is sometimes so very mild and slight, that Eruption +appears with scarcely any Suspicion of the Child's having the least +Ailment, and the Event is as favourable as the Invasion. The Pustules +appear, grow large, suppurate and attain their Maturity, without +confining the Patient to his Bed, or lessening either his Sleep, or +Appetite. + +It is very common to see Children in the Country (and they are seldom +more than Children who have it so very gently) run about in the open +Air, through the whole Course of this Disease, and feeding just as they +do in Health. Even those who take it in a somewhat higher Degree, +commonly go out when Eruption is finished, and give themselves up, +without Reserve, to the Voracity of their Hunger. Notwithstanding all +this Neglect, many get perfectly cured; though such a Conduct should +never be proposed for Imitation, since Numbers have experienced its +pernicious Consequences, and several of these Children have been brought +to me, especially from _Jurat_, who after such Neglect, in the Course of +the mild and kindly Sort of this Distemper, have contracted Complaints +and Infirmities of different Kinds, which have been found very difficult +to subdue. + +Sec. 211. This still continues to be one of these Distempers, whose Danger +has long been increased by its improper Treatment, and especially by +forcing the Patients into Sweats; and it still continues to be +increased, particularly among Country People. They have seen Eruption +appear, where the Patient sweats, and observed he found himself better +after its Appearance: and hence they conclude that, by quickening and +forcing out this Eruption, they contribute to his Relief; and suppose, +that by increasing the Quantity of his Sweats, and the Number of his +Eruptions, the Blood is the better cleared and purified from the Poison. +These are mortal Errors, which daily Experience has demonstrated, by +their tragical Consequences. + +When the Contagion or Poison, which generates this Disease, has been +admitted into the Blood, it requires a certain Term to produce its usual +Effects: at which Time the Blood being tainted by the Venom it has +received, and by that which such Venom has formed or assimilated from +it, Nature makes an Effort to free herself of it, and to expell it by +the Skin, precisely at the Time when every Thing is predisposed for that +Purpose. This Effort pretty generally succeeds, being very often rather +too rapid and violent, and very seldom too weak. Hence it is evident, +that whenever this Effort is deficient, it ought not to be heightened by +hot Medicines or Means, which make it too violent and dangerous: for +when it already exceeds in this Respect, a further Increase of such +Violence must render it mortal. There are but few Cases in which the +Efforts of Nature, on this Occasion, are too languid and feeble, +especially in the Country; and whenever such rare Cases do occur, it is +very difficult to form a just and proper Estimation of them: for which +Reason we should be very reserved and cautious in the Use of heating +Medicines, which are so mortally pernicious in this Disease. + +Wine, Venice Treacle, cordial Confections, hot Air, and Loads of +Bed-cloths, annually sweep off Thousands of Children, who might have +recovered, if they had taken nothing but warm Water: and every Person +who is interested in the Recovery of Patients in this Distemper, ought +carefully to prevent the smallest Use of such Drugs; which, if they +should not immediately aggravate it to a fatal Degree, yet will +certainly increase the Severity and Torment of it, and annex the most +unhappy and tragical Consequences to it. + +The Prejudice in this Point is so strongly rooted, that a total +Eradication of it must be very difficult: but I only desire People would +be convinced by their own Eyes, of the different Success of the hot +Regimen, and of that I shall propose. And here indeed I must confess, I +found more Attention and Docility, on this Point, among the Inhabitants +of the City, and especially in the last epidemical spreading of the +Small-Pocks, than I presumed to hope for. Not only as many as consulted +me on the Invasion of it, complied exactly with the cooling Regimen I +advised them; but their Neighbours also had Recourse to it, when their +Children sickened: and being often called in when it had been many Days +advanced, I observed with great Pleasure, that in many Houses, not one +heating Medicine had been given; and great Care had been taken to keep +the Air of the Patient's Chamber refreshingly cool and temperate. This +encourages me to expect, that this Method hereafter will become general +here. What certainly ought most essentially to conduce to this is, that +notwithstanding the Diffusion or spreading of this Disease was as +numerous and extensive as any of the former, the Mortality, in +Consequence of it, was evidently less. + +Sec. 212. At the very Beginning of the Small-Pocks (which may be reasonably +suspected, from the Presence of the Symptoms I have already described; +supposing the Person complaining never to have had it, and the Disease +to prevail near his Residence) the Patient is immediately to be put on a +strict Regimen, and to have his Legs bathed Night and Morning in warm +Water. This is the most proper and promising Method to lessen the +Quantity of Eruption in the Face and Head, and to facilitate it every +where else on the Surface. Glysters also greatly contribute to abate the +Head-ach, and to diminish the Reachings to vomit, and the actual +Vomitings, which greatly distress the Patient; but which however it is +highly absurd and pernicious to stop by any stomachic cordial +Confection, or by Venice Treacle; and still more dangerous to attempt +removing the Cause of them, by a Vomit or Purge, which are hurtful in +the beginning of the Small-Pocks. + +If the Fever be moderate, the Bathings of the Legs on the first Day of +sickening, and one Glyster may suffice then. The Patient must be +restrained to his Regimen; and instead of the Ptisan No. 1, 2, 4, a very +young Child should drink nothing but Milk diluted with two thirds of +Elder Flower or Lime-tree Tea, or with Balm Tea, if there be no +perceivable Fever; and in short, if they have an Aversion to the Taste +of them all, with only the same Quantity of good clear [53] Water. An +Apple coddled or baked may be added to it; and if they complain of +Hunger, a little Bread may be allowed; but they must be denied any Meat, +or Meat Broth, Eggs and strong Drink; since it has appeared from +Observations frequently repeated, that Children who had been indulged +with such Diet proved the worse for it, and recovered more slowly than +others. In this early Stage too, clear Whey alone may serve them instead +of every other Drink, the good Effects of which I have frequently been a +Witness to; or some Buttermilk may be allowed. When the Distemper is of +a mild Species, a perfect Cure ensues, without any other Assistance or +Medicine: but we should not neglect to purge the Patient as soon as the +Pustules are perfectly scabbed on the greater Part of his Face, with the +Prescription No. 11, which must be repeated six Days after. He should +not be allowed Flesh 'till after this second Purge; though after the +first he may he allowed some well-boiled Pulse, or Garden-stuff and +Bread, and in such a Quantity, as not to be pinched with Hunger, while +he recovers from the Disease. + +[53] A Negro Girl, about five or six Years old, under a coherent Pock, + stole by Night out of the Garret where she lay, into a Kitchen out + of Doors, where she drank plentifully of cold Water. How often she + repeated these nightly cooling Potions I never could certainly + learn, though they occurred in my own House in _South-Carolina_ in + Summer. But it is certain the Child recovered as speedily as + others, whose Eruption was more distinct, and who drank + Barley-Water, very thin Rice or Indian Corn Gruel, Balm Tea, or the + like. In fact, throughout the Course of this Visitation from the + Small Pocks in _Carolina_ in 1738, we had but too many + Demonstrations of the fatal Co-operation of violent Heat with their + Contagion; and not a very few surprizing Instances of the salutary + Effects of being necessarily and involuntarily exposed to same very + cooling Accidents after Infection, and in some Cases after Eruption + too: which I then more particularly mentioned is a small + controversial Tract printed there. _K._ + +Sec. 213. But if the Fever should be strong, the Pulse hard, and the Pain +of the Head and Loins should be violent, he must, 1. immediately lose +Blood from the Arm; receive a Glyster two Hours after; and, if the Fever +continues, the Bleeding must be repeated. I have directed a Repetition +of it even to the fourth Time, within the two first Days, to young +People under the Age of eighteen; and it is more especially necessary in +such Persons as, with a hard and full Pulse, are also affected with a +heavy Drowsiness and a _Delirium_, or Raving. + +2. As long as the Fever continues violently, two, three, and even four +Glysters should be given in the 24 Hours; and the Legs should be bathed +twice. + +3. The Patient is to be taken out of Bed, and supported in a Chair as +long as he can tolerably bear it. + +4. The Air of his Chamber should frequently be renewed, and if it be too +hot, which it often is in Summer, in Order to refresh it, and the +Patient, the Means must be employed which are directed Sec. 36. + +5. He is to be restrained to the Ptisans No. 2 or 4; and if that does +not sufficiently moderate the Fever, he should take every Hour, or every +two Hours, according to the Urgency of the Case, a Spoonful of the +Mixture No. 10; mixed with a Cup of Ptisan. After the Eruption, the +Fever being then abated, there is less Occasion for Medicine; and should +it even entirely disappear, the Patient may be regulated, as directed, Sec. +212. + +Sec. 214. When, after a Calm, a Remission or Intermission of some Days, the +Process of Suppuration revives the Fever, we ought first, and +especially, to keep the [54] Body very open. For this Purpose, _a_ an +Ounce of _Catholicon_ should be added to the Glysters; or they might be +simply made of Whey, with Honey, Oil and Salt. _b_ Give the Patient +three times every Morning, at the Interval of two Hours between each, +three Glasses of the Ptisan No. 32. _c_ Purge him _after_ two Days, with +the Potion No. 23, but on that Day he must not take the Ptisan No. 32. + +[54] We must remember that Dr. _Tissot_ is treating _here_ of the higher + or confluent Degrees of this Disease; for in the distinct + Small-Pocks, it is common to find Persons for several Days without + a Stool, and without the least perceiveable Disorder for Want of + one (their whole Nourishment being very light and liquid) in which + Cases, while Matters proceeded well in all other Respects, there + seems little Occasion for a great Solicitude about Stools: But if + one should be judged necessary after four or five Days Costiveness, + accompanied with a Tightness or Hardness of the Belly, doubtless + the Glyster should be of the lenient Kind (as those directed by our + Author are) and not calculated to produce more than a second Stool + at the very most. Indeed, where there is Reason to apprehend a + strong secondary Fever, from the Quantity of Eruption, and a + previously high Inflammation, it is more prudent to provide for a + Mitigation of it, by a moderately open Belly, than to suffer a long + Costiveness; yet so as to incur very little Hazard of abating the + Salivation, or retarding the Growth or Suppuration of the Pustules, + by a Superpurgation, which it may be too easy to excite in some + Habits. If the Discharge by spitting, and the Brightness and + Quantity of Suppuration, have been in Proportion to the Number of + Eruptions; though the Conflict from the secondary Fever, where + these have been numerous, is often acute and high; and the Patient, + who is in great Anguish, is far from being out of Danger, yet + Nature pretty generally proves stronger than the Disease, in such + Circumstances. As the _Elect. Catholicon_, is little used, or made + here, the lenitive Electuary of our Dispensatory may be substituted + for it, or that of the _Edinburgh_ Dispensatory, which was + calculated particularly for Glysters. _K._ + +2. He must, if the Distemper be very violent, take a double Dose of the +Mixture No. 10. + +3. The Patient should be taken out of Bed, and kept up in a Room well +aired Day and Night, until the Fever has abated. Many Persons will +probably be surprized at this Advice; nevertheless it is that which I +have often experienced to be the most efficacious, and without which the +others are ineffectual. They will say, how shall the Patient sleep at +this Rate? To which it may be answered, Sleep is not necessary, nay, it +is hurtful in this State and Stage of the Disease. Besides, he is really +unable to sleep: the continual Salivation prevents it, and it is very +necessary to keep up the Salivation; which is facilitated by often +injecting warm Water and Honey into his Throat. It is also of +considerable Service to throw some up his Nostrils, and often thus to +cleanse the Scabs which form within them. A due Regard to these +Circumstances not only contributes to lessen the Patient's Uneasiness, +but very effectually also to his Cure. + +4. If the Face and Neck are greatly swelled, emollient Cataplasms are to +be applied to the Soles of the Feet; and if these should have very +little Effect, Sinapisms should be applied. These are a kind of Plaister +or Application composed of Yeast, Mustard-flower, and some Vinegar. They +sometimes occasion sharp and almost burning Pain, but in Proportion to +the Sharpness and Increase of these Pains, the Head and Neck are +remarkably relieved. + +Sec. 215. The Eyelids are puffed up and swelled when the Disease runs high, +so as to conceal the Eyes, which are closed up fast for several Days. +Nothing further should be attempted, with Respect to this Circumstance, +but the frequent moistening of them with a little warm Milk and Water. +The Precautions which some take to stroke them with Saffron, a gold +Ducat, or Rose-water are equally childish and insignificant. What +chiefly conduces to prevent the Redness or Inflammation of the Eyes +after the Disease, and in general all its other bad Consequences, is to +be content for a considerable Time, with a very moderate Quantity of +Food, and particularly to abstain from Flesh and Wine. In the very bad +Small Pocks, and in little Children, the Eyes are closed up from the +Beginning of the Eruption. + +Sec. 216. One extremely serviceable Assistance, and which has not been made +use of for a long Time past, except as a Means to preserve the +Smoothness and Beauty of the Face; but yet which has the greatest +Tendency to preserve Life itself, is the Opening of the Pustules, not +only upon the Face, but all over the Body. In the first Place, by +opening them, the Lodgment or Retention of _Pus_ is prevented, which may +be supposed to prevent any Erosion, or eating down, from it; whence +Scars, deep Pitts and other Deformities are obviated. Secondly, in +giving a Vent to the Poison, the Retreat of it into the Blood is cut +off, which removes a principal Cause of the Danger of the Small-Pocks. +Thirdly, the Skin is relaxed; the Tumour of the Face and Neck diminish +in Proportion to that Relaxation; and thence the Return of the Blood +from the Brain is facilitated, which must prove a great Advantage. The +Pustules should be opened every where, successively as they ripen. The +precise Time of doing it is when they are entirely white; when they just +begin to turn but a very little yellowish; and when the red Circle +surrounding them is quite pale. They should be opened with very fine +sharp-pointed Scissars; this does not give the Patient the least Pain; +and when a certain Number of them are opened, a Spunge dipt in a little +warm Water is to be repeatedly applied to suck up and remove that _Pus_, +which would soon be dried up into Scabs. But as the Pustules, when +emptied thus, soon fill again, a Discharge of this fresh Matter must be +obtained in the same Manner some Hours after; and this must sometimes be +repeated five or even six Times successively. Such extraordinary +Attention in this Point may probably be considered as minute, and even +trivial, by some; and is very unlikely to become a [55] general +Practice: but I do again affirm it to be of much more Importance than +many may imagine; and that as often as the Fever attending Suppuration +is violent and menacing, a very general, exact and repeated opening, +emptying, and absorbing of the ripened Pustules, is a Remedy of the +utmost Importance and Efficacy; as it removes two very considerable +Causes of the Danger of this Disease, which are the Matter itself, and +the great Tension and Stiffness of the Skin. + +[55] This Practice which I had heard of, and even suggested to myself, + but never seen actually enterprized, seems so very rational as + highly to deserve a fair Trial in the confluent Degrees of the + Small-Pocks [for in the distinct it can scarcely be necessary] + wherein every probable Assistance should be employed, and in which + the most potent Medicines are very often unsuccessful. We have but + too many Opportunities of trying it sufficiently; and it certainly + has a more promising Aspect than a Practice so highly recommended + many Years ago, of covering all the Pustules (which is sometimes + the whole Surface of the Patient) in Melilot, or suppose any other + suppurating, Plaister; which will effectually prevent all + Perspiration, and greatly increase the Soreness, Pain and + Embarrassment of the Patient, at the Height of the Disease. I can + conceive but one bad Consequence that might possibly sometimes + result from the former; but this (besides the Means that may be + used to avert it) is rather remote, and so uncertain, until the + Trial is repeatedly made, that I think it ought not to be named, in + Competition with the Benefits that may arise from it in such Cases, + as seem, otherwise, too generally irrecoverable. _K._ + +Sec. 217. In the Treatment of this Disease, I have said nothing with +Respect to Anodynes, or such Medicines as procure Sleep, which I am +sensible are pretty generally employed in it, but which I scarcely ever +direct in this violent Degree of the Disease, and the Dangers of which +Medicine in it I have demonstrated in the Letter to Baron _Haller_, +which I have already mentioned. For which Reason, wherever the Patient +is not under the Care and Direction of a Physician, they should very +carefully abstain from the Use of Venice Treacle, Laudanum, _Diacodium_, +that is the Syrup of white Poppies, or even of the wild red Poppy; Syrup +of Amber, Pills of Storax, of _Cynoglossum_ or Hounds-tongue, and, in +one Word, of every Medicine which produces Sleep. But still more +especially should their Use be entirely banished, throughout the +Duration of the secondary Fever, when even natural Sleep itself is +dangerous. One Circumstance in which their Use may sometimes be +permitted, is in the Case of weakly Children, or such as are liable to +Convulsions, where Eruption is effected not without Difficulty. But I +must again inculcate the greatest Circumspection, in the Use of such +Medicines, whose Effects are fatal, [56] when the Blood-vessels are +turgid or full; whenever there is Inflammation, Fever, a great +Distension of the Skin; whenever the Patient raves, or complains of +Heaviness and Oppression; and when it is necessary that the Belly should +be open; the Urine plentifully discharged; and the Salivation be freely +promoted. + +[56] The Use of Opiates in this Disease undoubtedly requires no Small + Consideration, the great _Sydenham_ himself not seeming always + sufficiently guarded in the Exhibition of them; as far as + Experience since his Day has enabled Physicians to judge of this + Matter. In general our Author's Limitations of them seem very just; + though we have seen a few clear Instances, in which a light Raving, + which evidently arose from Want of Sleep (joined to some Dread of + the Event of the Disease by Inoculation) was happily removed, with + every other considerable Complaint, by a moderate Opiate. In sore + and fretful Children too, under a large or middling Eruption, as + the Time gained to Rest is taken from Pain, and from wasting their + Spirits in Crying and Clamour, I have seen Suppuration very + benignly promoted by _Diacodium_. But in the _Crisis_ of the + secondary Fever in the confluent or coherent Pock, when there is a + morbid Fulness, and Nature is struggling to unload herself by some + other Outlets than those of the Skin, which now are totally + obstructed (and which seems the only Evacuation, that is not + restrained by Opiates) the giving and repeating them then, as has + too often been practised, seems importantly erroneous; for I think + Dr. _Swan_ has taken a judicious Liberty of dissenting from the + great Author he translates, in forbidding an Opiate, if the + Spitting abates, or grows so tough and ropy, as to endanger + Suffocation. As the Difference of our Oeconomy in the + Administration of Physic from that in _Swisserland_, and Dr. + _Tissot's_ just Reputation may dispose many Country Practitioners + to peruse this Treatise, I take the Liberty of referring such + Readers, for a Recollection of some of my Sentiments of Opiates, + long before the Appearance of this Work in French, to the second + Edition of the Analysis from P. 94 to 97, _&c._ _K._ + +Sec. 218. If Eruption should suddenly retreat, or strike in, heating, +soporific, spirituous and volatile Remedies should carefully be avoided: +but the Patient may drink plentifully of the Infusion No. 12 pretty hot, +and should be blistered on the fleshy Part of the Legs. This is a very +embarrassing and difficult Case, and the different Circumstances +attending it may require different Means and Applications, the Detail +and Discussion of which are beyond my Plan here. Sometimes a single +Bleeding has effectually recalled Eruption at once. + +Sec. 219. The only certain Method of surmounting all the Danger of this +Malady, is to inoculate. But this most salutary Method, which ought to +be regarded as a particular and gracious Dispensation of Providence, can +scarcely be attainable by, or serviceable to, the Bulk of the People, +except in those Countries, where Hospitals [57] are destined +particularly for Inoculation. In these where as yet there are none, the +only Resource that is left for Children who cannot be inoculated at +home, is to dispose them happily for the Distemper, by a simple easy +Preparation. + +[57] That I have long since had the Honour of agreeing with our learned + Author, in this Consideration for the Benefit of the Body of the + People, which is the Benefit of the State, will appear from p. 288 + of Analys. Ed. 1st. and from p. 371, 372 of the Second. _K._ + +Sec. 220. This Preparation consists, upon the whole, in removing all Want +of, and all Obstructions to, the Health of the Person subject to this +Disease, if he have any such; and in bringing him into a mild and +healthy, but not into a very robust and vigorous, State; as this +Distemper is often exceedingly violent in this last. + +It is evident, that since the Defects of Health are very different in +different Bodies, the Preparations of them must as often vary; and that +a Child subject to some habitual Disorder, cannot be prepared in the +same Method with another who has a very opposite one. The Detail and +Distinctions which are necessary on this important Head, would be +improper here, whether it might be owing to their unavoidable Length; or +to the Impossibility of giving Persons, who are not Physicians, +sufficient Knowlege and Information to qualify them for determining on, +and preferring, the most proper Preparation in various Cases. +Nevertheless I will point out some such as may be very likely to agree, +pretty generally, with Respect to strong and healthy Children. [58] + +[58] The Substance of this Section flows from the Combination of an + excellent Understanding with great Experience, mature Reflection, + and real Probity; and fundamentally exposes both the Absurdity of + such as universally decry any Preparation of any Subject previous + to Inoculation, (which is said to be the Practice of a present very + popular Inoculator in _Paris_) and the opposite Absurdity of giving + one and the very same Preparation to all Subjects, without + Distinction; though this was avowed to have been successfully fully + practised in _Pensylvania_, some Years since; which the Reader may + see Analys. Ed. 2d, from p. 329 to 331 and the Note there. _K._ + +The first Step then is an Abatement of their usual Quantity of Food. +Children commonly eat too much. Their Limitation should be in Proportion +to their Size and Growth, where we could exactly ascertain them: but +with Regard to all, or to much the greater Number of them, we may be +allowed to make their Supper very light, and very small. + +Their second Advantage will consist in the Choice of their Food. This +Circumstance is less within the Attainment of, and indeed less necessary +for, the common People, who are of Course limited to a very few, than to +the Rich, who have Room to make great Retrenchments on this Account. The +Diet of Country People being of the simplest Kind, and almost solely +consisting of Vegetables and of Milk-meats, is the most proper Diet +towards preparing for this Disease. For this Reason, such Persons have +little more to attend to in this Respect, but that such Aliments be +sound and good in their Kind; that their Bread be well baked; their +Pulse dressed without Bacon, or rancid strong Fat of any sort; that +their Fruits should be well ripened; that their Children should have no +Cakes or Tarts, [But see Note [11], P. 40, 41.] and but little Cheese. +These simple Regulations may be sufficient, with Regard to this Article +of their Preparation. + +Some Judgment may be formed of the good Consequences of their Care on +these two Points, concerning the Quantity and Quality of the Childrens +Diet, by the moderate Shrinking of their Bellies; as they will be +rendered more lively and active by this Alteration in their living; and +yet, notwithstanding a little less Ruddiness in their Complexion, and +some Abatement of their common Plight of Body, their Countenances, upon +the whole, will seem improved. + +The third Article I would recommend, is to bathe their Legs now and then +in warm Water, before they go to Bed. This promotes Perspiration, cools, +dilutes the Blood, and allays the Sharpness of it, as often as it is +properly timed. + +The fourth Precaution, is the frequent Use of very clear Whey. This +agreeable Remedy, which consists of the Juices of Herbs filtred through, +and concocted, or as it were, sweetened by the Organs of a healthy +Animal, answers every visible Indication (I am still speaking here of +sound and hearty Children). It imparts a Flexibility, or Soupleness to +the Vessels; it abates the Density, the heavy Consistence and Thickness +of the Blood; which being augmented by the Action of the poisonous Cause +of the Small-Pocks, would degenerate into a most dangerous +inflammatory [59] Viscidity or Thickness. It removes all Obstructions in +the _Viscera_, or Bowels of the lower Cavity, the Belly. It opens the +Passages which strain off the Bile; sheaths, or blunts, its Sharpness, +gives it a proper Fluidity, prevents its Putridity, and sweetens +whatever excessive Acrimony may reside throughout the Mass of Humours. +It likewise promotes Stools, Urine and Perspiration; and, in a Word, it +communicates the most favourable Disposition to the Body, not to be too +violently impressed and agitated by the Operation of an inflammatory +Poison: And with Regard to such Children as I have mentioned, for those +who are either sanguine or bilious, it is beyond all Contradiction, the +most effectual preparatory Drink, and the most proper to make them +amends for the Want of Inoculation. + +[59] There may certainly be an inflammatory Acrimony or Thinness, as + well as Thickness of the Blood; and many medical Readers may think + a morbid Fusion of the red Globules to be a more frequent Effect of + this Contagion, than an increased Viscidity of them. See Analys. + Ed. 2d. p. 75 to 83. But this Translation, conforming to the Spirit + of its Original, admits very little Theory, and still less + Controversy, into its Plan. _K._ + +I have already observed, that it may also be used to great Advantage, +during the Course of the Disease: but I must also observe, that however +salutary it is, in the Cases for which I have directed it, there are +many others in which it would be hurtful. It would be extremely +pernicious to order it to weak, languishing, scirrhous, pale Children, +subject to Vomitings, Purgings, Acidities, and to all Diseases which +prove their Bowels to be weak, their Humours to be sharp: so that People +must be very cautious not to regard it as an universal and infallible +Remedy, towards preparing for the Small-Pocks. Those to whom it is +advised, may take a few Glasses every Morning, and even drink it daily, +for their common Drink; they may also sup it with Bread for Breakfast, +for Supper, and indeed at any Time. + +If Country People will pursue these Directions, which are very easy to +observe and to comprehend, whenever the Small-Pocks rages, I am +persuaded it must lessen the Mortality attending it. Some will certainly +experience the Benefit of them; such I mean as are very sensible and +discreet, and strongly influenced by the truest Love of their Children. +Others there are Alas! who are too stupid to discern the Advantage of +them, and too unnatural to take any just Care of their Families. + + + + + __Chapter XIV.__ + + + _Of the Measles._ + + + __Sect.__ 221. + +The Measles, to which the human Species are as generally liable, as to +the Small-Pocks, is a Distemper considerably related to it; though, +generally speaking, it is less fatal; notwithstanding which, it is not a +little destructive in some Countries. In _Swisserland_ we lose much +fewer, immediately in the Disease, than from the Consequences of it. + +It happens now and then that the Small-Pocks and the Measles rage at the +same Time, and in the same Place; though I have more frequently +observed, that each of them was epidemical in different Years. Sometimes +it also happens that both these Diseases are combined at once in the +same Person; and that one supervenes before the other has finished its +Course, which makes the Case very perilous. + +Sec. 222. In some Constitutions the Measles gives Notice of its Approach +many Days before its evident Invasion, by a small, frequent and dry +Cough, without any other sensible Complaint: though more frequently by a +general Uneasiness; by Successions of Shivering and of Heat; by a severe +Head-ach in grown Persons; a Heaviness in Children; a considerable +Complaint of the Throat; and, by what particularly characterizes this +Distemper, an Inflammation and a considerable Heat in the Eyes, attended +with a Swelling of the Eye-lids, with a Defluxion of sharp Tears, and so +acute a Sensation, or Feeling of the Eyes, that they cannot bear the +Light; by very frequent Sneezings, and a Dripping from the Nose of the +same Humour with that, which trickles from the Eyes. + +The Heat and the Fever increases with Rapidity; the Patient is afflicted +with a Cough, a Stuffing, with Anguish, and continual Reachings to +vomit; with violent Pains in the Loins; and sometimes with a Looseness, +under which Circumstance he is less persecuted with Vomiting. At other +times, and in other Subjects, Sweating chiefly prevails, though in less +Abundance than in the Small-Pocks. The Tongue is foul and white; the +Thirst is often very high; and the Symptoms are generally more violent +than in the mild Small-Pocks. + +At length, on the fourth or fifth Day, and sometimes about the End of +the third, a sudden Eruption appears and in a very great Quantity, +especially about the Face; which in a few Hours is covered with Spots, +each of which resembles a Flea-bite; many of them soon joining form red +Streaks or Suffusions larger or smaller, which inflame the Skin, and +produce a very perceivable Swelling of the Face; whence the very Eyes +are sometimes closed. Each small Spot or Suffusion is raised a little +above the Surface, especially in the Face, where they are manifest both +to the Sight and the Touch. In the other Parts of the Body, this +Elevation or Rising is scarcely perceivable by any Circumstance, but the +Roughness of the Skin. + +The Eruption, having first appeared in the Face, is afterwards extended +to the Breast, the Back, the Arms, the Thighs and Legs. It generally +spreads very plentifully over the Breast and the Back, and sometimes red +Suffusions are found upon the Breast, before any Eruption has appeared +in the Face. + +The Patient is often relieved, as in the Small-Pocks, by plentiful +Discharges of Blood from the Nose, which carry off the Complaints of the +Head, of the Eyes, and of the Throat. + +Whenever this Distemper appears in its mildest Character, almost every +Symptom abates after Eruption, as it happens in the Small-Pocks; though, +in general, the Change for the better is not as thoroughly perceivable, +as it is in the Small-Pocks. It is certain the Reachings and Vomitings +cease almost entirely; but the Fever, the Cough, the Head-ach continue; +and I have sometimes observed that a bilious Vomiting, a Day or two +after the Eruption, proved a more considerable Relief to the Patient +than the Eruption had. On the third or fourth Day of the Eruption, the +Redness diminishes; the Spots, or very small Pustules, dry up and fall +off in very little branny Scales; the Cuticle, or superficial Skin also +shrivels off; and is replaced by one succeeding beneath it. On the ninth +Day, when the Progress of the Malady has been speedy, and on the +eleventh, when it has been very slow, no Trace of the Redness is to be +found; and the Surface immediately resumes its usual Appearance. + +Sec. 223. Notwithstanding all which the Patient is not safe, except, during +the Course of the Distemper, or immediately after it, he has had some +considerable Evacuation; such as the Vomiting I have just mentioned; or +a bilious Looseness; or considerable Discharges by Urine; or very +plentiful Sweating. For when any of these Evacuations supervene, the +Fever vanishes; the Patient resumes his Strength, and perfectly +recovers. It happens sometimes too, and even without any of these +perceivable Discharges, that insensible Perspiration expels the Relics +of the poisonous Cause of this Disease, and the Patient recovers his +Health. Yet it occurs too often, that this Venom not having been +entirely expelled (or its internal Effects not having been thoroughly +effaced) it is repelled upon the Lungs, where it produces a slight +Inflammation. In Consequence of this the Oppression, the Cough, the +Anguish, and Fever return, and the Patient's Situation becomes very +dangerous. This Outrage is frequently less vehement, but it proves +tedious and chronical, leaving a very obstinate Cough behind it, with +many Resemblances of the Whooping-Cough. In 1758 there was an epidemic +State of the Measles here extremely numerous, which affected great +Numbers: Almost all who had it, and who were not very carefully and +judiciously attended, were seized in Consequence of it with that Cough, +which proved very violent and obstinate. + +Sec. 224. However, notwithstanding this be the frequent Progress and +Consequence of this Disease, when left entirely to itself, or +erroneously treated, and more particularly when treated with a hot +Regimen; yet when proper Care was taken to moderate the Fever at the +Beginning, to dilute, and to keep up the Evacuations, such unhappy +Consequences have been very rare. + +Sec. 225. The proper Method of conducting this Distemper is much the same +with that of the Small-Pocks. + +1, If the Fever be high, the Pulse hard, the Load and Oppression heavy, +and all the Symptoms violent, the Patient must be bled once or twice. + +2, His Legs must be bathed, and he must take some Glysters: the +Vehemence of the Symptoms must regulate the Number of each. + +3, The Ptisans No. 3 or 4 must be taken, or a Tea of Elder and Lime-tree +Flowers, to which a fifth Part Milk may be added. + +4, The Vapour, the Steam of warm Water should also be employed, as very +conducive to asswage the Cough; the Soreness of the Throat, and the +Oppression the Patient labours under. + +5, As soon as the Efflorescence, the Redness becomes pale, the Patient +is to be purged with the Draught No. 23. + +6, He is still to be kept strictly to his Regimen, for two Days after +this Purge; after which he is to be put upon the Diet of those who are +in a State of Recovery. + +7, If during the Eruption such Symptoms supervene as occur [at the same +Term] in the Small-Pocks, they are to be treated in the Manner already +directed there. + +Sec. 226. Whenever this Method has not been observed, and the Accidents +described Sec. 223 supervene, the Distemper must be treated like an +Inflammation in its first State, and all must be done as directed Sec. 225. +If the Disease is not vehement, [60] Bleeding may be omitted. If it is +of some standing in gross Children, loaded with Humours, inactive, and +pale, we must add to the Medicines already prescribed the Potion No. 8, +and Blisters to the Legs. + +[60] Our Author very prudently limits this Discharge, and the Repetition + of it, in this Disease (Sec. 225) as an erroneous Excess of it has + sometimes prevailed. I have seen a very epidemical Season of the + Measles, where Bleeding was not indicated in one third of the + infected. And yet I have known such an Abuse of Bleeding in it, + that being repeated more than once in a Case before Eruption (the + Measles probably not being suspected) the Eruption was retarded + several Days; and the Patient, a young Lady of Condition, remained + exceeding low, faint and sickish; 'till after recruiting a very + little, the Measles appeared, and she recovered. In a Youth of a + lax Fibre, where the Measles had appeared, a seventh or eighth + Bleeding was ordered on a Stitch in the Side, supervening from + their too early Disappearance, and the Case seemed very doubtful. + But Nature continued very obstinately favourable in this Youth, who + at length, but very slowly, recovered. His Circulation remained so + languid, his Strength, with his Juices, so exhausted, that he was + many Weeks before he could sit upright in a Chair, being obliged to + make Use of a Cord depending from the Ceiling, to raise himself + erectly in his Seat. _K._ + +Sec. 227. It often happens from the Distance of proper Advice, that the +Relics, the Dregs as it were, of the Disease have been too little +regarded, especially the Cough; in which Circumstance it forms a real +Suppuration in the Lungs, attended with a slow Fever. I have seen many +Children in Country Villages destroyed by this Neglect. Their Case is +then of the same Nature with that described Sec. 68 and 82, and terminates +in the same Manner in a Looseness, (attended with very little Pain) and +sometimes a very foetid one, which carries off the Patient. In such +Cases we must recur to the Remedies prescribed Sec. 74, Article 3, 4, 5; to +the Powder No. 14; and to Milk and Exercise. But it is so very difficult +to make Children take the Powder, that it may be sometimes necessary to +trust to the Milk without it, which I have often seen in such Situations +accomplish a very difficult Cure. I must advise the Reader at the same +Time, that it has not so compleat an Effect, as when it is taken solely +unjoined by any other Aliment; and that it is of the last Importance not +to join it with any, which has the least Acidity or Sharpness. Persons +in easy Circumstances may successfully take, at the same Time, +_Pfeffer_, [61] _Seltzer_, _Peterstal_, or some other light Waters, +which are but moderately loaded with mineral Ingredients. These are also +successfully employed in all the Cases, in which the Cure I have +mentioned is necessary. + +[61] Bristol Water will be no bad Substitute for any of these, in such + Cases. _K._ + +Sec. 228. Sometimes there remains, after the Course of the Measles, a +strong dry Cough, with great Heat in the Breast, and throughout the +whole Body, with Thirst, an excessive Dryness of the Tongue, and of the +whole Surface of the Body. I have cured Persons thus indisposed after +this Distemper, by making them breathe in the Vapour of warm Water; by +the repeated Use of warm Baths; and by allowing them to take nothing for +several Days but Water and Milk. + +Before I take leave of this Subject, I assure the Reader again, that the +contagious Cause of the Measles is of an extremely sharp and acrid +Nature. It appears to have some Resemblance to the bilious Humour, which +produces the _Erisipelas_, or St. Anthony's Fire; and thence it demands +our particular Attention and Vigilance; without which very troublesome +and dangerous Consequences may be apprehended. I have seen, not very +long since, a young Girl, who was in a very languid State after the +Measles, which she had Undergone three Years before: It was at length +attended with an Ulceration in her Neck, which was cured, and her Health +finally restored by _Sarsaparilla_ with Milk and Water. + +Sec. 229. The Measles have been communicated by [62] Inoculation in some +Countries, where it is of a very malignant Disposition; and that Method +might also be very advantageous in this. But what we have already +observed, with Respect to the Inoculation of the Small-Pocks, _viz._ +That it cannot be extended to the general Benefit of the People, without +the Foundation of Hospitals for that very Purpose, is equally applicable +to the Inoculation of the Measles. + +[62] The only Account I have read of this Practice, is in the learned + Dr. _Home's_ _Medical Facts and Experiments_, published in 1759, + which admits, that but nine out of fifteen of the Subjects of this + Practice took. Cotton dipt in the Blood of a Patient in the Measles + was inserted into the Arms of twelve; and three received the Cotton + into their Nostrils, after the Chinese Manner of infusing the + Small-Pocks; but of these last not one took, and one of those who + had taken, had the Measles again two Months after. We think the + sharp hot Lymph distilling from the inflamed Eyes of Persons in + this Disease, a likelier Vehicle to communicate it than the Blood, + especially the dry Blood, which was sometimes tried; since the + human _Serum_ seems the Fluid more particularly affected by it; and + this must have been evaporated when the Blood grew dry. A few + practical Strictures on this Work, and particularly on this + Practice described in it, appeared in the Monthly Review Vol. XXI. + P. 68 to 75. _K._ + + + + + __Chapter XV.__ + + + _Of the ardent or burning Fever._ + + + __Sect.__ 230. + +The much greater Number of the Diseases I have hitherto considered, +result from an Inflammation of the Blood, combined with the particular +Inflammation of some Part, or occasioned by some Contagion or Poison, +which must be evacuated. But when the Blood is solely and strongly +inflamed, without an Attack on any particular Part, this Fever, which we +term hot or burning, is the Consequence. + +Sec. 231. The Signs which make it evident are, a Hardness and Fulness of +the Pulse in a higher Degree than happens in any other Malady; an +excessive Heat; great Thirst; with an extraordinary Dryness of the Eyes, +Nostrils, Lips, of the Tongue, and of the Throat; a violent Head-ach; +and sometimes a Raving at the Height of the Paroxysm, or Increase of the +Fever, which rises considerably every Evening. The Respiration is also +somewhat oppressed, but especially at the Return of this Paroxysm, with +a Cough now and then; though without any Pain in the Breast, and without +any Expectoration, or coughing up. The Body is costive; the Urine very +high coloured, hot, and in a small Quantity. The Sick are also liable to +start sometimes, but especially when they seem to sleep; for they have +little sound refreshing Sleep, but rather a kind of Drowsiness, that +makes them very little attentive to, or sensible of, whatever happens +about them, or even of their own Condition. They have sometimes a little +Sweat or Moisture; though commonly a very dry Skin; they are manifestly +weak, and have either little or no Smell or Taste. + +Sec. 232. This Disease, like all other inflammatory ones, is produced by +the Causes which thicken the Blood, and increase its Motion; such as +excessive Labour, violent Heat, Want of Sleep, the Abuse of Wine or +other strong Liquors; the long Continuance of a dry Constitution of the +Air, Excess of every kind, and heating inflaming Food. + +Sec. 233. The Patient, under these Circumstances, ought, 1, immediately to +be put upon a Regimen; to have the Food allowed him given only every +eight Hours, and, in some Cases, only twice a Day: and indeed, when the +Attack is extremely violent, Nourishment may be wholly omitted. + +2, Bleeding should be performed and repeated, 'till the Hardness of the +Pulse is sensibly abated. The first Discharge should be considerable, +the second should be made four Hours after. If the Pulse is softened by +the first, the second may be suspended, and not repeated before it +becomes sufficiently hard again, to make us apprehensive of Danger: but +should it continue strong and hard, the Bleeding may be repeated on the +same Day to a third Time, which often happens to be all the Repetitions +that are necessary. + +3, The Glyster No. 5 should be given twice, or even thrice, daily. + +4, His Legs are to be bathed twice a Day in warm Water: his Hands may be +bathed in the same Water. Linen or Flanel Cloths dipt in warm Water may +be applied over the Breast, and upon the Belly; and he should regularly +drink the Almond Milk No. 4 and the Ptisan No. 7. The poorest Patients +may content themselves with the last, but should drink very plentifully +of it; and after the Bleeding properly repeated, fresh Air and the +plentiful Continuance of small diluting Liquors generally establish the +Health of the Patient. + +5, If notwithstanding the repeated Bleedings, the Fever still rages +highly, it may be lessened by giving a Spoonful of the Potion No. 10 +every Hour, till it abates; and afterwards every three Hours, until it +becomes very moderate. + +Sec. 234. Haemorrhages, or Bleedings, from the Nose frequently occur in this +Fever, greatly to the Relief and Security of the Patient. + +The first Appearances of Amendment are a softening of the Pulse, (which +however does not wholly lose all its Hardness, before the Disease +entirely terminates) a sensible Abatement of the Head-ach; a greater +Quantity of Urine, and that less high coloured; and a manifestly +approaching Moisture of the Tongue. These favourable Signs keep +increasing in their Degree, and there frequently ensue between the ninth +and the fourteenth Day, and often after a Flurry of some Hours +Continuance, very large Evacuations by Stool; a great Quantity of Urine, +which lets fall a palely reddish Sediment; the Urine above it being very +clear, and of a natural Colour; and these accompanied with Sweats in a +less or greater Quantity. At the same Time the Nostrils and the Mouth +grow moist: the brown and dry Crust which covered the Tongue, and which +was hitherto inseparable from it, peels off of itself; the Thirst is +diminished; the Clearness of the Faculties rises; the Drowsiness goes +off, it is succeeded by comfortable Sleep, and the natural Strength is +restored. When Things are evidently in this Way, the Patient should take +the Potion No. 23, and be put upon the Regimen of those who are in a +State of Recovery. It should be repeated at the End of eight or ten +Days. Some Patients have perfectly recovered from this Fever, without +the least Sediment in their Urine. + +Sec. 235. The augmenting Danger of this Fever may be discerned, from the +continued Hardness of the Pulse, though with an Abatement of its +Strength; if the Brain becomes more confused; the Breathing more +difficult; if the Eyes, Nose, Lips and Tongue become still more dry, and +the Voice more altered. If to these Symptoms there be also added a +Swelling of the Belly; a Diminution of the Quantity of Urine; a constant +Raving; great Anxiety, and a certain Wildness of the Eyes, the Case is +in a manner desperate; and the Patient cannot survive many Hours. The +Hands and Fingers at this Period are incessantly in Motion, as if +feeling for something upon the Bed-Cloths, which is commonly termed, +their hunting for Flies. + + + + + __Chapter XVI.__ + + + _Of putrid Fevers._ + + + __Sect.__ 236. + +Having treated of such feverish Distempers, as arise from an +Inflammation of the Blood, I shall here treat of those produced by +corrupt Humours, which stagnate in the Stomach, the Guts, or other +Bowels of the lower Cavity, the Belly; or which have already passed from +them into the Blood. These are called putrid Fevers, or sometimes +bilious Fevers, when a certain Degeneracy or Corruption of the Bile +seems chiefly to prevail in the Disease. + +Sec. 237. This Distemper frequently gives Notice of its Approach, several +Days before its manifest Attack; by a great Dejection, a Heaviness of +the Head; Pains of the Loins and Knees; a Foulness of the Mouth in the +Morning; little Appetite; broken Slumber; and sometimes by an excessive +Head-ach for many Days, without any other Symptom. After this, or these +Disorders, a Shivering comes on, followed by a sharp and dry Heat: the +Pulse, which was small and quick during the Shivering, is raised during +the Heat, and is often very strong, though it is not attended with the +same Hardness, as in the preceding Fever; except the putrid Fever be +combined with an inflammatory one, which it sometimes is. During this +Time, that is the Duration of the Heat, the Head-ach is commonly +extremely violent; the Patient is almost constantly affected with +Loathings, and sometimes even with Vomiting; with Thirst, disagreeable +Risings, a Bitterness in the Mouth; and very little Urine. This Heat +continues for many Hours, frequently the whole Night; it abates a little +in the Morning, and the Pulse, though always feverish, is then something +less so, while the Patient suffers less, though still greatly dejected. + +The Tongue is white and furred, the Teeth are foul, and the Breath +smells very disagreeably. The Colour, Quantity and Consistence of the +Urine, are very various and changeable. Some Patients are costive, +others frequently have small Stools, without the least Relief accruing +from them. The Skin is sometimes dry, and at other Times there is some +sensible Perspiration, but without any Benefit attending it. The Fever +augments every Day, and frequently at unexpected irregular Periods. +Besides that _great_ Paroxysm or Increase, which is perceivable in all +the Subjects of this Fever, some have also other _less_ intervening +ones. + +Sec. 238. When the Disease is left to itself, or injudiciously treated; or +when it proves more powerful than the Remedies against it, which is by +no Means seldom the Case, the Aggravations of it become longer, more +frequent and irregular. There is scarcely an Interval of Ease. The +Patient's Belly is swell'd out like a Foot-ball; a _Delirium_ or Raving +comes on; he proves insensible of his own Evacuations, which come away +involuntarily; he rejects Assistance, and keeps muttering continually, +with a quick, small, irregular Pulse. Sometimes little Spots of a brown, +or of a livid Colour appear on the Surface, but particularly about the +Neck, Back and Breast. All the Discharges from his Body have a most +foetid Smell: convulsive Motions also supervene, especially in the Face; +he lies down only on his Back, sinks down insensibly towards the Foot of +the Bed, and picks about, as if catching Flies; his Pulse becomes so +quick and so small, that it cannot be perceived without Difficulty, and +cannot be counted. His Anguish seems inexpressible: his Sweats stream +down from Agony: his Breast swells out as if distended by Fullness, and +he dies miserably. + +Sec. 239. When this Distemper is less violent, or more judiciously treated, +and the Medicines succeed well, it continues for some Days in the State +described Sec. 237, without growing worse, though without abating. None of +these Symptoms however appear, described Sec. 238; but, on the contrary, +all the Symptoms become milder, the Paroxysms, or Aggravations, are +shorter and less violent, the Head-ach more supportable; the Discharges +by Stool are less frequent, but more at once, and attended with Relief +to the Patient. The Quantity of Urine is very considerable, though it +varies at different Times in Colour and Consistence, as before. The +Patient soon begins to get a little Sleep, and grows more composed and +easy. The Tongue disengages itself from its Filth and Furriness, and +Health gradually, yet daily, advances. + +Sec. 240. This Fever seems to have no critical Time, either for its +Termination in Recovery, or in Death. When it is very violent, or very +badly conducted, it proves sometimes fatal on the ninth Day. Persons +often die of it from the eighteenth to the twentieth; sometimes only +about the fortieth; after having been alternately better and worse. + +When it happens but in a light Degree, it is sometimes cured within a +few Days, after the earliest Evacuations. When it is of a very different +Character, some Patients are not out of Danger before the End of six +Weeks, and even still later. Nevertheless it is certain, that these +Fevers, extended to this Length of Duration, often depend in a great +Measure on the Manner of treating them; and that in general their Course +must be determined, some time from the fourteenth to the thirtieth Day. + +Sec. 241. The Treatment of this Species of Fevers is comprized in the +following Method and Medicines. + +1, The Patient must be put into a _Regimen_; and notwithstanding he is +far from costive, and sometimes has even a small Purging, he should +receive one Glyster daily. His common Drink should be Lemonade, (which +is made of the Juice of Lemons, Sugar and Water) or the Ptisan No. 3. +Instead of Juice of Lemons, Vinegar may be occasionally substituted, +which, with Sugar and Water, makes an agreeable and very wholesome Drink +in these Fevers. + +2, If there be an Inflammation also, which may be discovered by the +Strength and the Hardness of the Pulse, and by the Temperament and +Complexion of the Patient; if he is naturally robust, and has heated +himself by any of the Causes described, Sec. 232, he should be bled once, +and even a second Time, if necessary, some Hours after. I must observe +however, that very frequently there is no such Inflammation, and that in +such a Case, Bleeding would be hurtful. + +3, When the Patient has drank very plentifully for two Days of these +Liquids, if his Mouth still continues in a very foul State, and he has +violent Reachings to vomit, he must take the Powder No. 34, dissolved in +half a [63] Pot of warm Water, a [64] Glass of it being to be drank +every half Quarter of an Hour. But as this Medicine vomits, it must not +be taken, except we are certain the Patient is not under any +Circumstance, which forbids the Use of a Vomit: all which Circumstances +shall be particularly mentioned in the Chapter, respecting the Use of +such Medicines, as are taken by way of Precaution, or Prevention. If the +first Glasses excite a plentiful Vomiting, we must forbear giving +another, and be content with obliging the Patient to drink a +considerable Quantity of warm Water. But if the former Glasses do not +occasion Vomiting, they must be repeated, as already directed until they +do. Those who are afraid of taking this Medicine, which is usually +called, the Emetic, may take that of No. 35, also drinking warm Water +plentifully during its Operation; but the former is preferable, as more +prevalent, in dangerous Cases. We must caution our Readers at the same +Time, that wherever there is an Inflammation of any Part, neither of +these Medicines must be given, which might prove a real Poison in such a +Circumstance; and even if the Fever is extremely violent, though there +should be no particular Inflammation, they should not be given. + +[63] That is about two Ounces more than a Pint and a half of our + Measure. + +[64] About three Ounces. + +The Time of giving them is soon after the End of the Paroxysm, when the +Fever is at the lowest. The Medicine No. 34 generally purges, after it +ceases to make the Patient vomit: But No. 35 is seldom attended with the +same Effect. + +When the Operation of the Vomit is entirely over, the Sick should return +to the Use of the Ptisan; and great Care must be taken to prohibit them +from the Use of Flesh Broth, under the Pretext of working off a Purging +with it. The same Method is to be continued on the following Days as on +the first; but as it is of Importance to keep the Body open, he should +take every Morning some of the Ptisan No. 32. Such, as this would be too +expensive for, may substitute, in the room of it, a fourth Part of the +Powder No. 34 in five or six Glasses of Water, of which they are to take +a Cup every two Hours, beginning early in the Morning. Nevertheless, if +the Fever be very high, No. 32 should be preferred to it. + +4, After the Operation of the Vomit, if the Fever still continue, if the +Stools are remarkably foetid, and if the Belly is tense and distended as +it were, and the Quantity of Urine is small, a Spoonful of the Potion +No. 10 should be given every two Hours, which checks the Putridity and +abates the Fever. Should the Distemper become violent, and very +pressing, it ought to be taken every Hour. + +5, Whenever, notwithstanding the giving all these Medicines as directed, +the Fever continues obstinate; the Brain is manifestly disordered; there +is a violent Head-ach, or very great Restlessness, two blistering +Plaisters No. 36 must be applied to the inside and fleshy Part of the +Legs, and their Suppuration and Discharge should be continued as long as +possible. + +6, If the Fever is extremely violent indeed, there is a Necessity +absolutely to prohibit the Patient from receiving the least Nourishment. + +7, When it is thought improper, or unsafe, to give the Vomit, the +Patient should take in the Morning, for two successive Days, three Doses +of the Powder No. 24, at the Interval of one Hour between each: This +Medicine produces some bilious Stools, which greatly abate the Fever, +and considerably lessen the Violence of all the other Symptoms of the +Disease. This may be done with Success, when the excessive Height of the +Fever prevents us from giving the Vomit: and we should limit ourselves +to this Medicine, as often as we are uncertain, what ever the +Circumstances of the Disease and the Patient will admit of the Vomiting; +which may thus be dispensed with, in many Cases. + +8, When the Distemper has manifestly and considerably declined; the +Paroxysms are more slight; and the Patient continues without any Fever +for several Hours, the daily use of the purging opening Drinks should be +discontinued. The common Ptisans however should be still made use of; +and it will be proper to give every other Day two Doses of the Powder +No. 24, which sufficiently obviates every ill Consequence from this +Disease. + +9, If the Fever has been clearly off for a long Part of the Day; if the +Tongue appears in a good healthy State; if the Patient has been well +purged; and yet one moderate Paroxysm of the Fever returns every Day, he +should take four Doses of the Powder No. 14 between the End of one +Return and the Beginning of the next, and continue this Repetition some +Days. People who cannot easily procure this Medicine, may substitute, +instead of it, the bitter Decoction No. 37. four Glasses of which may be +taken at equal Intervals, between the two Paroxysms or Returns of the +Fever. + +10, As the Organs of Digestion have been considerably weakened through +the Course of this Fever, there is a Necessity for the Patient's +conducting himself very prudently and regularly long after it, with +Regard both to the Quantity and Quality of his Food. He should also use +due Exercise as soon as his Strength will permit, without which he may +be liable to fall into some chronical and languishing Disorder, +productive of considerable Languor and Weakness. * + + [*] As our Jail, Hospital, and Camp Fevers may often be ranged in this + Class, as of the most putrid Kind, and not seldom occasioned by bad + Food, bad Air, unclean, unwholesome Lodging, _&c._ a judicious Use + may certainly be made of a small Quantity of genuine, and not + ungenerous, Wine in such of them, as are not blended with an + inflammatory Cause, or inflammable Constitution, or which do not + greatly result from a bilious Cause; though in these last, where + there is manifest Lowness and Dejection, perhaps a little Rhenish + might be properly interposed between the Lemonade and other Drinks + directed Sec. 241. Doubtless Dr. _Tissot_ was perfectly apprized of + this salutary Use of it in some low Fevers; but the Necessity of + its being regulated by the Presence of a Physician has probably + disposed him rather to omit mentioning it, than to leave the + Allowance of it to the Discretion of a simple Country Patient, or + his ignorant Assistants. _K._ + + + + + __Chapter XVII.__ + + + _Of malignant Fevers._ + + + __Sect.__ 242. + +Those Fevers are termed malignant, in which the Danger is more than the +Symptoms would make us apprehensive of: they have frequently a fatal +Event without appearing so very perilous; on which Account it has been +well said of this Fever, that it is a Dog which bites without barking. + +Sec. 243. The distinguishing _Criterion_ or Mark of malignant Fevers is a +total Loss of the Patient's Strength, immediately on their first Attack. +They arise from a Corruption of the Humours, which is noxious to the +very Source and Principle of Strength, the Impairing or Destruction of +which is the Cause of the Feebleness of the Symptoms; by Reason none of +the Organs are strong enough to exert an Opposition sufficiently +vigorous, to subdue the Cause of the Distemper. + +If, for Instance or Illustration, we were to suppose, that when two +Armies were on the Point of engaging, one of them should be nearly +deprived of all their Weapons, the Contest would not appear very +violent, nor attended with great Noise or Tumult, though with a horrible +Massacre. The Spectator, who, from being ignorant of one of the Armies +being disarmed, would not be able to calculate the Carnage of the +Battle, but in Proportion to its Noise and Tumult, must be extremely +deceived in his Conception of it. The Number of the Slain would be +astonishing, which might have been much less (though the Noise and +Clangor of it had been greater) if each Army had been equally provided +for the Combat. + +Sec. 244. The Causes of this Disease are a long Use of animal Food or Flesh +alone, without Pulse, Fruits or Acids; the continued Use of other bad +Provisions, such as Bread made of damaged Corn or Grain, or very stale +Meat. Eight Persons, who dined together on corrupt Fish, were all seized +with a malignant Fever, which killed five of them, notwithstanding the +Endeavours of the most able Physicians. These Fevers are also frequently +the Consequence of a great Dearth or Famine; of too hot and moist an +Air, or an Air, which highly partakes of these two Qualities; so that +they happen to spread most in hot Years, in Places abounding with +Marshes and standing Waters. They are also the Effect of a very close +and stagnant Air, especially if many Persons are crouded together in it, +this being a Cause that particularly tends to corrupt the Air. Tedious +Grief and Vexation also contribute to generate these Fevers. + +Sec. 245. The Symptoms of malignant Fevers are, as I have already observed, +a total and sudden Loss of Strength, without any evident preceding +Cause, sufficient to produce such a Privation of Strength: at the same +Time there is also an utter Dejection of the Mind, which becomes almost +insensible and inattentive to every Thing, and even to the Disease +itself; a sudden Alteration in the Countenance, especially in the Eyes: +some small Shiverings, which are varied throughout the Space of +twenty-four Hours, with little Paroxysms or Vicissitudes of Heat; +sometimes there is a great Head-ach and a Pain in the Loins; at other +Times there is no perceivable Pain in any Part; a kind of Sinkings or +Faintings, immediately from the Invasion of the Disease, which is always +very unpromising; not the least refreshing Sleep; frequently a kind of +half Sleep, or Drowsiness; a light and silent or inward Raving, which +discovers itself in the unusual and astonished Look of the Patient, who +seems profoundly employed in meditating on something, but really thinks +of nothing, or not at all: Some Patients have, however, violent Ravings; +most have a Sensation of Weight or Oppression, and at other Times of a +Binding or Tightness about, or around, the Pit of the Stomach. + +The sick Person seems to labour under great Anguish: he has sometimes +slight convulsive Motions and Twitchings in his Face and his Hands, as +well as in his Arms and Legs. His Senses seem torpid, or as it were +benumbed. I have seen many who had lost, to all Appearance, the whole +five, and yet some of them recover. It is not uncommon to meet with +some, who neither see, understand, nor speak. Their Voices change, +become weak, and are sometimes quite lost. Some of them have a fixed +Pain in some Part of the Belly: this arises from a Stuffing or +Obstruction, and often ends in a Gangrene, whence this Symptom is highly +dangerous and perplexing. + +The Tongue is sometimes very little altered from its Appearance in +Health; at other Times covered over with a yellowish brown Humour; but +it is more rarely dry in this Fever than in the others; and yet it +sometimes does resemble a Tongue that has been long smoaked. + +The Belly is sometimes very soft, and at other Times tense and hard. The +Pulse is weak, sometimes pretty regular, but always more quick than in a +natural State, and at some Times even very quick; and such I have always +found it, when the Belly has been distended. + +The Skin is often neither hot, dry, nor moist: it is frequently +overspread with petechial or eruptive Spots (which are little Spots of a +reddish livid Colour) especially on the Neck, about the Shoulders, and +upon the Back. At other Times the Spots are larger and brown, like the +Colour of Wheals from the Strokes of a Stick. + +The Urine of the Sick is almost constantly crude, that is of a lighter +Colour than ordinary. I have seen some, which could not be +distinguished, merely by the Eye, from Milk. A black and stinking +Purging sometimes attends this Fever, which is mortal, except the Sick +be evidently relieved by the Discharge. + +Some of the Patients are infested with livid Ulcers on the Inside of the +Mouth, and on the Palate. At other Times Abscesses are formed in the +Glands of the Groin, of the Arm-pit, in those between the Ears and the +Jaw; or a Gangrene may appear in some Part, as on the Feet, the Hands, +or the Back. The Strength proves entirely spent, the Brain is wholly +confused: the miserable Patient stretched out on his Back, frequently +expires under Convulsions, an enormous Sweat, and an oppressed Breast +and Respiration. Haemorrhages also happen sometimes and are mortal, being +almost unexceptionably such in this Fever. There is also in this, as in +all other Fevers, an Aggravation of the Fever in the Evening. + +Sec. 246. The Duration and _Crisis_ of these malignant, as well as those of +putrid Fevers, are very irregular. Sometimes the Sick die on the seventh +or eighth Day, more commonly between the twelfth and the fifteenth, and +not infrequently at the End of five or six Weeks. These different +Durations result from the different Degree and Strength of the Disease. +Some of these Fevers at their first Invasion are very slow; and during a +few of the first Days, the Patient, though very weak, and with a very +different Look and Manner, scarcely thinks himself sick. + +The Term or Period of the Cure or the Recovery, is as uncertain as that +of Death in this Distemper. Some are out of Danger at the End of fifteen +Days, and even sooner; others not before the Expiration of several +Weeks. + +The Signs which portend a Recovery are, a little more Strength in the +Pulse; a more concocted Urine; less Dejection and Discouragement; a less +confused Brain; an equal kindly Heat; a pretty warm or hot Sweat in a +moderate Quantity, without Inquietude or Anguish; the Revival of the +different Senses that were extinguished, or greatly suspended in the +Progress of the Disease; though the Deafness is not a very threatening +Symptom, if the others amend while it endures. + +This Malady commonly leaves the Patient in a very weak Condition; and a +long Interval will ensue between the End of it, and their recovering +their full Strength. + +Sec. 247. It is, in the first place, of greater Importance in this +Distemper than in any other, both for the Benefit of the Patients, and +those who attend them, that the Air should be renewed and purified. +Vinegar should often be evaporated from a hot Tile or Iron in the +Chamber, and one Window kept almost constantly open. + +2, The Diet should be light; and the Juice of Sorrel may be mixed with +their Water; the Juice of Lemons may be added to Soups prepared from +different Grains and Pulse; the Patient may eat sharp acid Fruits, such +as tart juicy [65] Cherries, Gooseberries, small black Cherries; and +those who can afford them, may be allowed Lemons, Oranges and +Pomgranates. + +[65] The French Word is _Griettes_, which _Beyer_ englishes, _the + Agriot, the red or sour Cherry_; and _Chambaud, the sweeter large + black Cherry or Mazzard_--But as Dr. _Tissot_ was recommending the + Use of Acids, it is more probably the first of these: so that our + Morellas, which make a pleasant Preserve, may be a good Substitute + to them, supposing them not to be the same. Our Berbery Jam, and + Jelly of Red Currants, may be also employed to answer the same + Indication. _K._ + +3, The Patient's Linen should be changed every two Days. + +4, Bleeding is very rarely necessary, or even proper, in this Fever; the +Exceptions to which are very few, and cannot be thoroughly ascertained, +as fit and proper Exceptions to the Omission of Bleeding, without a +Physician, or some other very skilful Person's seeing the Patient. + +5, There is often very little Occasion for Glysters, which are sometimes +dangerous in this Fever. + +6, The Patient's common Drink should be Barley Water made acid with the +Spirit No. 10, at the Rate of one Quarter of an Ounce to at least full +three Pints of the Water, or acidulated agreeably to his Taste. He may +also drink Lemonade. + +7, It is necessary to open and evacuate the Bowels, where a great +Quantity of corrupt Humours is generally lodged. The Powder No. 35 may +be given for this Purpose, after the Operation of which the Patient +generally finds himself better, at least for some Hours. It is of +Importance not to omit this at the Beginning of the Disease; though if +it has been omitted at first, it were best to give it even later, +provided no particular Inflammation has supervened, and the Patient has +still some Strength. I have given it, and with remarkable Success, on +the twentieth Day. + +8, Having by this Medicine expelled a considerable Portion of the bad +Humours, which contribute to feed and keep up the Fever, the Patient +should take every other Day, during the Continuance of the Disease, and +sometimes even every Day, one Dose of the Cream of Tartar and Rhubarb +No. 38. This Remedy evacuates the corrupt Humours, prevents the +Corruption of the others; expells the Worms that are very common in +these Fevers, which the Patient sometimes discharges upwards and +downwards; and which frequently conduce to many of the odd and +extraordinary Symptoms, that are observed in malignant Fevers. In short +it strengthens the Bowels, and, without checking the necessary +Evacuations, it moderates the Looseness, when it is hurtful. + +9, If the Skin be dry, with a Looseness, and that by checking it, we +design to increase Perspiration, instead of the Rhubarb, the Cream of +Tartar may be blended with the Ipecacuana, No. 39, which, being given in +small and frequent Doses, restrains the Purging, and promotes +Perspiration. This Medicine, as the former, is to be taken in the +Morning; two Hours after, the Sick must begin with the Potion No. 40, +and repeat it regularly every three Hours; until it be interrupted by +giving one of the Medicines No. 38 or 39: After which the Potion is to +be repeated again, as already directed, till the Patient grows +considerably better. + +10, If the Strength of the Sick be very considerably depressed, and he +is in great Dejection and Anguish, he should take, with every Draught of +the Potion, the Bolus, or Morsel No. 41. If the _Diarrhoea_, the Purging +is violent, there should be added, once or twice a Day to the Bolus, the +Weight of twenty Grains, or the Size of a very small Bean, of +_Diascordium_; or if that is not readily to be got, as much Venice +Treacle. + +11, Whenever, notwithstanding all this Assistance, the Patient continues +in a State of Weakness and Insensibility, two large Blisters should be +applied to the fleshy Insides of the Legs, or a large one to the Nape of +the Neck: and sometimes, if there be a great Drowsiness, with a manifest +Embarrassment of the Brain, they may be applied with great Success over +the whole Head. Their Suppuration and Discharge is to be promoted +abundantly; and, if they dry up within a few Days, others are to be +applied, and their Evacuation is to be kept up for a considerable Time. + +12, As soon as the Distemper is sufficiently abated, for the Patient to +remain some Hours with very little or no Fever, we must avail ourselves +of this Interval, to give him six, or at least five Doses of the +Medicine No. 14, and repeat the same the next Day, which may prevent the +Return of the Fever: [66] after which it may be sufficient to give daily +only two Doses for a few Days. + +[66] Observation and Experience have demonstrated the Advantage of the + Bark, to obviate a Gangrene, and prevent the Putrefaction of animal + Substances. We therefore conclude it may be usefully employed in + malignant Fevers, as soon as the previous and necessary Evacuations + shall have taken Place. _E. L._--Provided there be very clear and + regular Remissions at least. _K._ + +13, When the Sick continue entirely clear of a Fever, or any Return, +they are to be put into the _Regimen_ of Persons in a State of Recovery. +But if his Strength returns very slowly, or not at all; in Order to the +speedier Establishment and Confirmation of it, he may take three Doses a +Day of the _Theriaca Pauperum_, or poor Man's Treacle No. 42, the first +of them fasting, and the other twelve Hours after. It were to be wished +indeed, this Medicine was introduced into all the Apothecaries Shops, as +an excellent Stomachic, in which Respect it is much preferable to Venice +Treacle, which is an absurd Composition, dear and often dangerous. It is +true it does not dispose the Patients to Sleep; but when we would +procure them Sleep, there are better Medicines than the Treacle to +answer that Purpose. Such as may not think the Expence of the Medicine +No. 14, too much, may take three Doses of it daily for some Weeks, +instead of the Medicine No. 42, already directed. + +Sec. 248. It is necessary to eradicate a Prejudice that prevails among +Country People, with Regard to the Treatment of these Fevers; not only +because it is false and ridiculous, but even dangerous too. They imagine +that the Application of Animals can draw out the Poison of the Disease; +in Consequence of which they apply Poultry, or Pigeons, Cats or sucking +Pigs to the Feet, or upon the Head of the Patient, having first split +the living Animals open. Some Hours after they remove their strange +Applications, corrupted, and stinking very offensively; and then ascribe +such Corruption and horrid Stink to the Poison they suppose their +Application to be charged with; and which they suppose to be the Cause +of this Fever. But in this supposed Extraction of Poison, they are +grosly mistaken, since the Flesh does not stink in Consequence of any +such Extraction, but from its being corrupted through Moisture and Heat: +and they contract no other Smell but what they would have got, if they +had been put in any other Place, as well as on the Patient's Body, that +was equally hot and moist. Very far from drawing out the Poison, they +augment the Corruption of the Disease; and it would be sufficient to +communicate it to a sound Person, if he was to suffer many of these +animal Bodies, thus absurdly and uselessly butchered, to be applied to +various Parts of his Body in Bed; and to lie still a long Time with +their putrified Carcases fastened about him, and corrupting whatever Air +he breathed there. + +With the same Intention they fasten a living Sheep to the Bed's-foot for +several Hours; which, though not equally dangerous, is in some Measure +hurtful, since the more Animals there are in a Chamber, the Air of it is +proportionably corrupted, or altered at least from its natural +Simplicity, by their Respiration and Exhalations: but admitting this to +be less pernicious, it is equally absurd. It is certain indeed, the +Animals who are kept very near the sick Person breathe in the poisonous, +or noxious Vapours which exhale from his Body, and may be incommoded +with them, as well as his Attendants: But it is ridiculous to suppose +their being kept near the Sick causes such Poison to come out of their +Bodies. On the very contrary, in contributing still further to the +Corruption of the Air, they increase the Disease. They draw a false +Consequence, and no Wonder, from a false Principle; saying, if the Sheep +dies, the Sick will recover. Now, most frequently the Sheep does not +die; notwithstanding which the Sick sometimes recover; and sometimes +they both die. + +Sec. 249. The Cause of Malignant Fevers is, not infrequently, combined with +other Diseases, whose Danger it extremely increases. It is blended for +Instance, with the Poison of the Small-Pocks, or of the Measles. This +may be known by the Union of those Symptoms, which carry the Marks of +Malignity, with the Symptoms of the other Diseases. Such combined Cases +are extremely dangerous; they demand the utmost Attention of the +Physician; nor is it possible to prescribe their exact Treatment here; +since it consists in general of a Mixture of the Treatment of each +Disease; though the Malignity commonly demands the greatest Attention. + + + + + __Chapter XVIII.__ + + + _Of intermitting Fevers._ + + + __Sect.__ 250. + +Intermitting Fevers, commonly called here, Fevers and Agues, are those, +which after an Invasion and Continuance for some Hours, abate very +perceivably, as well as all the Symptoms attending them, and then +entirely cease; nevertheless, not without some periodical or stated +Return of them. + +They were very frequent with us some Years since; and indeed might even +be called epidemical: but for the five or six last Years, they have been +much less frequent throughout the greater Part of _Swisserland_: +notwithstanding they still continue in no small Number in all Places, +where the Inhabitants breathe the Air that prevails in all the marshy +Borders of the _Rhone_, and in some other Situations that are exposed to +much the same humid Air and Exhalations. + +Sec. 251. There are several Kinds of intermitting Fevers, which take their +different Names from the Interval or different Space of Time, in which +the Fits return. + +If the Paroxysm or Fit returns every Day, it is either a true Quotidian, +or a double Tertian Fever: The first of these may be distinguished from +the last by this Circumstance, that in the Quotidian, or one Day Fever, +the Fits are long; and correspond pretty regularly to each other in +Degree and Duration. This however is less frequent in _Swisserland_. In +the double Tertian, the Fits are shorter, and one is alternately light, +and the other more severe. + +In the simple Tertian, or third Day's Fever, the Fits return every other +Day; so that three Days include one Paroxysm, and the Return of another. + +In a Quartan, the Fit returns every fourth Day, including the Day of the +first and that of the second Attack: so that the Patient enjoys two +clear Days between the two sick ones. + +The other kinds of Intermittents are much rarer. I have seen however one +true Quintan, or fifth Day Ague, the Patient having three clear Days +between two Fits; and one regularly weekly Ague, as it may be called, +the Visitation of every Return happening every Sunday. + +Sec. 252. The first Attack of an intermittent Fever often happens, when the +Patient thought himself in perfect Health. Sometimes however it is +preceded by a Sensation of Cold and a kind of Numbness, which continue +some Days before the manifest Invasion of the Fit. It begins with +frequent Yawnings, a Lassitude, or Sensation of Weariness, with a +general Weakness, with Coldness, Shivering and Shaking: There is also a +Paleness of the extreme Parts of the Body, attended with Loathings, and +sometimes an actual Vomiting. The Pulse is quick, weak, and small, and +there is a considerable Degree of Thirst. + +At the End of an Hour or two, and but seldom so long as three or four +Hours, a Heat succeeds, which increases insensibly, and becomes violent +at its Height. At this Period the whole Body grows red, the Anxiety of +the Patient abates; the Pulse is very strong and large, and his Thirst +proves excessive. He complains of a violent Head-ach, and of a Pain in +all his Limbs, but of a different sort of Pain from that he was sensible +of, while his Coldness continued. Finally, having endured this hot +State, four, five or six Hours, he falls into a general Sweat for a few +more: upon which all the Symptoms already mentioned abate, and sometimes +Sleep supervenes. + +At the Conclusion of this Nap the Patient often wakes without any +sensible Fever; complaining only of Lassitude and Weakness. Sometimes +his Pulse returns entirely to its natural State between the two Fits; +though it often continues a little quicker than in perfect Health; and +does not recover its first Distinctness and Slowness, till some Days +after the last Fit. + +One Symptom, which most particularly characterises these several Species +of intermitting Fevers, is the Quality of the Urines which the Sick pass +after the Fit. They are of a reddish Colour, and let fall a Sediment, or +Settling, which exactly resembles Brick-dust. They are sometimes frothy +too, and a Pellicle, or thin filmy Skin, appears on the Top, and adheres +to the Sides of the Glass that contains them. + +Sec. 253. The Duration of each Fit is of no fixed Time or Extent, being +various according to the particular sort of Intermittents, and through +many other Circumstances. Sometimes they return precisely at the very +same Hour; at other Times they come one, two, or three Hours sooner, and +in other Instances as much later than the former. It has been imagined +that those Fevers, whose Paroxysms returned sooner than usual, were +sooner finally terminated: but there seems to be no general Rule in this +Case. + +Sec. 254. Intermitting Fevers are distinguished into those of Spring and +Autumn. The former generally prevail from February to June: the latter +are those which reign from July to January. Their essential Nature and +Characters are the very same, as they are not different Distempers; +though the various Circumstances attending them deserve our +Consideration. These Circumstances depend on the Season itself, and the +Constitution of the Patients, during such Seasons. The Spring +Intermittents are sometimes blended with an inflammatory Disposition, as +that is the Disposition of Bodies in that Season; but as the Weather +then advances daily into an improving State, the Spring Fevers are +commonly of a shorter Duration. The autumnal Fevers are frequently +combined and aggravated with a Principle of Putrefaction; and as the Air +of that Season rather degenerates, they are more tedious and obstinate. + +Sec. 255. The autumnal Fevers seldom begin quite so early as July, but much +oftner in August: and the Duration to which they are often extended, has +increased the Terror which the People entertain of Fevers that begin in +that Month. But that Prejudice which ascribes their Danger to the +Influence of August, is a very absurd Error; since it is better they +should set in then than in the following Months; because they are +obstinate in Proportion to the Tardiness, the Slowness of their +Approach. They sometimes appear at first considerably in the Form of +putrid Fevers, not assuming that of Intermittents till some Days after +their Appearance: but very happily there is little or no Danger in +mistaking them for putrid Fevers, or in treating them like such. The +Brick-coloured Sediment, and particularly the Pellicle or Film on the +Surface of the Urine, are very common in autumnal Intermittents, and are +often wanting in the Urine of putrid Fevers. In these latter, it is +generally less high coloured, and leaning rather to a yellow, a kind of +Cloudiness is suspended in the Middle of it. These also deposite a white +Sediment, which affords no bad Prognostic. + +Sec. 256. Generally speaking, intermitting Fevers are not mortal; often +terminating in Health of their own Accord (without the Use of any +Medicine) after some Fits. In this last Respect Intermittents in the +Spring differ considerably from those in the Fall, which continue a long +Time, and sometimes even until Spring, if they are not removed by Art, +or if they have been improperly treated. + +Quartan Fevers are always more obstinate and inveterate than Tertians; +the former sometimes persevering in certain Constitutions for whole +Years. When these Sorts of Fevers occur in boggy marshy Countries, they +are not only very chronical or tedious, but Persons infested with them +are liable to frequent Relapses. + +Sec. 257. A few Fits of an Intermittent are not very injurious, and it +happens sometimes, that they are attended with a favourable Alteration +of the Habit in Point of Health; by their exterminating the Cause or +Principle of some languid and tedious Disorder; though it is erroneous +to consider them as salutary. If they prove tedious and obstinate, and +the Fits are long and violent, they weaken the whole Body, impairing all +its Functions, and particularly the Digestions: They make the Humours +sharp and unbalmy, and introduce several other Maladies, such as the +Jaundice, Dropsy, Asthma and slow wasting Fevers. Nay sometimes old +Persons, and those who are very weak, expire in the Fit; though such an +Event never happens but in the cold Fit. + +Sec. 258. Very happily Nature has afforded us a Medicine, that infallibly +cures these Fevers: this is the _Kinkina_, or Jesuits Bark; and as we +are possessed of this certain Remedy, the only remaining Difficulty is +to discover, if there be not some other Disease combined with these +Fevers, which Disease might be aggravated by the Bark. Should any such +exist, it must be removed by Medicines adapted to it, before the Bark is +given. [67] + +[67] This admirable Medicine was unknown in Europe, till about one + hundred and twenty Years past; we are obliged to the Spaniards for + it, who found it in the Province of Quito in Peru; the Countess of + Chinchon being the first European who used it in America, whence it + was brought to Spain, under the Name of the Countesses Powder. The + Jesuits having soon dispensed and distributed it abroad, it became + still more publick by the Name of the Jesuits Powder: and since it + has been known by that of _Kinkina_ or the Peruvian Bark. It met + with great Opposition at first; some deeming it a Poison, while + others considered it as a divine Remedy: so that the Prejudices of + many being heightened by their Animosity, it was nearly a full + Century, before its true Virtue and its Use were agreed to: and + about twenty Years since the most unfavourable Prejudices against + it pretty generally subsided. The Insufficience of other Medicines + in several Cases; its great Efficaciousness; and the many and + surprizing Cures which it did, and daily does effect; the Number of + Distempers; the different kinds of Fevers, in which it proves the + sovereign Remedy; its Effects in the most difficult chirurgical + Cases; the Comfort, the Strength and Sprits it gives those who need + and take it, have at length opened every Persons Eyes; so that it + has almost unanimously obtained the first Reputation, among the + most efficacious Medicines. The World is no longer amused with + Apprehensions of its injuring the Stomach; of its fixing, or + _shutting up_ the Fever (as the Phrase has been) without curing it; + that it shuts up the Wolf in the Sheepfold; that it throws those + who take it into the Scurvy, the Asthma, the Dropsy, the Jaundice. + On the contrary they are persuaded it prevents there very Diseases; + and, that if it is ever hurtful, it is only when it is either + adulterated, as most great Remedies have been; or has been wrongly + prescribed, or improperly taken: or lastly when it meets with some + latent, some unknown Particularities in a Constitution, which + Physicians term an _Idiosyncrasy_, and which prevent or pervert its + very general Effects. _Tissot._ + +Sec. 259. In the vernal, or Spring-Fevers, if the Fits are not very severe; +if the Patient is evidently well in their Intervals; if his Appetite, +his Strength, and his Sleep continue as in Health, no Medicine should be +given, nor any other Method be taken, but that of putting the Person, +under such a gentle Intermittent, upon the Regimen directed for Persons +in a State of Recovery. This is such a Regimen as pretty generally +agrees with all the Subjects of these Fevers: for if they should be +reduced to the Regimen proper in acute Diseases, they would be weakened +to no Purpose, and perhaps be the worse for it. But at the same Time if +we were not to retrench from the Quantity, nor somewhat to vary the +Quality of their usual Food in a State of Health; as there is not the +least Digestion made in the Stomach, during the whole Term of the Fit; +and as the Stomach is always weakened a little by the Disease, crude and +indigested Humours would be produced, which might afford a Fuel to the +Disease. Not the least solid Food should be allowed, for at least two +Hours before the usual Approach of the Fit. + +Sec. 260. If the Fever extends beyond the sixth, or the seventh Fit; and +the Patient seems to have no Occasion for a Purge; which may be learned +by attending to the Chapter, which treats of Remedies to be taken by Way +of Precaution; [68] he may take the Bark, that is the Powder No. 14. If +it is a Quotidian, a daily Fever, or a double Tertian, six Doses, +containing three Quarters of an Ounce, should be taken between the two +Fits; and as these Intermissions commonly consist of but ten or twelve, +or at the most of fourteen or fifteen Hours, there should be an Interval +of only one Hour and a half between each Dose. During this Interval the +Sick may take two of his usual Refreshments or Suppings. + +[68] It happens very seldom that intermitting Fevers require [69] no + Purge towards their Cure, especially in Places, which are disposed + to generate Putridity. There is always some material Cause + essential to these Fevers, of which Nature disembarrasses herself + more easily by Stools, than by any other Discharge: And as there is + not the least Danger to be apprehended from a gentle Purge, such at + those of No. 11 or 23, we think it would be prudent always to + premise a Dose or two of either to the Bark. _E. L._ + +[69] Yet I have known many in whom no Purge was necessary, and have seen + some rendered more obstinate and chronical by erroneous Purging. + But a Vomit is very generally necessary before the Bark is given. + _K._ + +When the Fever is a Tertian, an Ounce should be given between the two +Fits: which makes eight Doses, one of which is to be taken every three +Hours. + +In a Quartan I direct one Ounce and a half, to be taken in the same +Manner. It is meer trifling to attempt preventing the Returns with +smaller Doses. The frequent Failures of the Bark are owing to over small +Doses. On such Occasions the Medicine is cried down, and censured as +useless, when the Disappointment is solely the Fault of those who do not +employ it properly. The last Dose is to be given two Hours before the +usual Return of the Fit. + +The Doses, just mentioned, frequently prevent the Return of the Fit; but +whether it returns or not, after the Time of its usual Duration is past, +repeat the same Quantity, in the same Number of Doses, and Intervals, +which certainly keeps off another. For six Days following, half the same +Quantity must be continued, in the Intervals that would have occurred +between the Fits, if they had returned: and during all this Time the +Patient should inure himself to as much Exercise, as he can well bear. + +Sec. 261. Should the Fits be very strong, the Pain of the Head violent, the +Visage red, the Pulse full and hard; if there is any Cough; if, even +after the Fit is over, the Pulse still is perceivably hard; if the Urine +is inflamed, hot and high-coloured, and the Tongue very dry, the Patient +must be bled, and drink plentifully of Barley Water No. 3. These two +Remedies generally bring the Patient into the State described Sec. 259: in +which State he may take on a Day, when the Fever is entirely off, three +or four Doses of the Powder No. 24, and then leave the Fever to pursue +its own Course for the Space of a few Fits. But should it not then +terminate of itself, the Bark must be recurred to. + +If the Patient, even in the Interval of the Returns, has a foetid, +furred Mouth, a Loathing, Pains in the Loins, or in the Knees, much +Anxiety, and bad Nights, he should be purged with the Powder No. 21 or +the Potion No. 23, before he takes the Bark. + +Sec. 262. If Fevers in Autumn appear to be of the continual kind, and very +like putrid Fevers, the Patients should drink abundantly of Barley +Water; and if at the Expiration of two or three Days, there still +appears to be a Load or Oppression at the Stomach, the Powder No. 34 or +that of 35 is to be given (but see Sec. 241): and if, after the Operation +of this, the Signs of Putridity continue, the Body is to be opened with +repeated Doses of the Powder No. 24; or, where the Patients are very +robust, with No. 21; and when the Fever becomes quite regular, with +distinct _Remissions_ at least, the Bark is to be given as directed Sec. +260. + +But as autumnal Fevers are more obstinate; after having discontinued the +Bark for eight Days; and notwithstanding there has been no Return of the +Fever, it is proper to resume the Bark, and to give three Doses of it +daily for the succeeding eight Days, more especially if it was a +Quartan; in which Species I have ordered it to be repeated, every other +eight Days, for six Times. + +Many People may find it difficult to comply with this Method of Cure, +which is unavoidably expensive, through the Price of the Bark. I thought +however this ought not to prevent me from averring it to be the only +certain one; since nothing can be an equivalent _Succedaneum_ or +Substitute to this Remedy, which is the only sure and safe one in all +these Cases. The World had long been prepossessed with Prejudices to the +contrary: it was supposed to be hurtful to the Stomach; to prevent which +it has been usual to make the Sick eat something an Hour after it. +Nevertheless, very far from injuring the Stomach, it is the best +Medicine in the Universe to strengthen it; and it is a pernicious +Custom, when a Patient is obliged to take it often, to eat an Hour after +it. It had also been imagined to cause Obstructions, and that it +subjected Patients to a Dropsy: but at present we are convinced, it is +the obstinate and inveterate Duration of the Intermittent, that causes +Obstructions, and paves the Way to a Dropsy. The Bark, in Consequence of +its speedily curing the Fever, does not only prevent the former Disease; +but when it continues, through an injudicious Omission of the Bark, a +proper Use of it is serviceable in the Dropsy. In a Word, if there is +any other Malady combined with the Fever, sometimes that indeed prevents +the Success of the Bark, yet without rendering it hurtful. But whenever +the intermitting Fever is simple and uncombined, it ever has, and ever +will render the Patient all possible Service. In another Place I shall +mention such Means and Methods as may in some Degree, though but +imperfectly, be substituted instead of it. + +After the Patient has begun with the Bark, he must take no purging +Medicine, as that Evacuation would, with the greatest Probability, +occasion a Return of the Fever. + +Sec. 263. Bleeding is never, or extremely seldom indeed necessary in a +Quartan Ague, which occurs in the Fall oftner than in the Spring; and +with the Symptoms of Putridity rather than of Inflammation. + +Sec. 264. The Patient ought, two Hours before the Invasion of the Fit, to +drink a small Glass of warm Elder Flower Tea, sweetened with Honey, +every Quarter of an Hour, and to walk about moderately; this disposes +him to a very gentle Sweat, and thence renders the ensuing Coldness and +the whole Fit milder. He is to continue the same Drink throughout the +Duration of the cold Fit; and when the hot one approaches, he may either +continue the same, or substitute that of No. 2, which is more cooling. +It is not necessary however, in this State, to drink it warm, it is +sufficient that it be not over cold. When the Sweat, at the Termination +of the hot Fit, is concluded, the Patient should be well wiped and +dried, and may get up. If the Fit was very long, he may be allowed a +little Gruel, or some other such Nourishment during the Sweat. + +Sec. 265. Sometimes the first, and a few successive Doses of the Bark purge +the Patient. This is no otherwise an ill Consequence, than by its +retarding the Cure; since, when it purges, it does not commonly prevent +the Return of the Fever; so that these Doses may be considered as to no +Purpose, and others should be repeated, which, ceasing to purge, do +prevent it. Should the Looseness notwithstanding continue, the Bark must +be discontinued for one entire Day, in order to give the Patient half a +Quarter of an Ounce of Rhubarb: after which the Bark is to be resumed +again, and if the Looseness still perseveres, fifteen Grains of Venice +Treacle should be added to each Dose, but not otherwise. All other +Medicines which are superadded, very generally serve only to increase +the Bulk of the Dose, while they lessen its Virtue. + +Sec. 266. Before our thorough Experience of the Bark, other bitter +Medicines were used for the same Purpose: these indeed were not +destitute of Virtue in such Cases, though they were considerably less +available than the Bark. Under No. 43, some valuable Prescriptions of +that kind may be seen, whose Efficacy I have often experienced: though +at other Times I have been obliged to leave them off, and recur to the +Bark more successfully. Filings of Iron, which enter into the third +Prescription, are an excellent Febrifuge in particular Cases and +Circumstances. In the Middle of the Winter 1753, I cured a Patient of a +Quartan Ague with it, who would not be prevailed on to take the Bark. It +must be confessed he was perfectly regular in observing the _Regimen_ +directed for him; and that, during the most rigid Severity of the +Winter, he got every Day on Horseback, and took such a Degree of other +Exercise in the open Air, as disposed him to perspire abundantly. + +Sec. 267. Another very practicable easy Method, of which I have often +availed my Patients, under tertian Fevers (but which succeeded with me +only twice in Quartans) was to procure the Sufferer a very plentiful +Sweat, at the very Time when the Fit was to return, in its usual Course. +To effect this he is to drink, three or four Hours before it is +expected, an Infusion of Elder Flowers sweetened with Honey, which I +have already recommended Sec. 264; and one Hour before the usual Invasion +of the Shivering, he is to go into Bed, and take, as hot as he can drink +it, the Prescription No. 44. + +I have also cured some Tertians and even Quartans, in 1751 and 1752, by +giving them, every four Hours between the Fits, the Powder No. 45. But I +must acknowledge that, besides its having often failed me, and its never +succeeding so speedily as the Bark, I have found it weaken some +Patients; it disorders, or disagrees with, their Stomachs: and in two +Cases, where it had removed the Fever, I was obliged to call in the Bark +for a thorough Establishment of the Patient's Health. Nevertheless, as +these Medicines are very cheap and attainable, and often do succeed, I +thought I could not properly omit them. + +Sec. 268. A Multitude of other Remedies are cried up for the Cure of +Fevers: though none of them are equally efficacious with those I have +directed: and as many of them are even dangerous, it is prudent to +abstain from them. Some Years since certain Powders were sold here, +under the Name of the _Berlin_ Powders; these are nothing but the Bark +masqued or disguised (which has sometimes been publickly discovered) and +have always been sold very dear: though the Bark well chosen, and +freshly powdered when wanted, is greatly preferable. + +Sec. 269. I have often known Peasants, who had laboured for several Months +under intermitting Fevers; having made Use of many bad Medicines and +Mixtures for them, and observed no Manner of Regimen. Such I have +happily treated by giving them the Remedies No. 34, or 35; and +afterwards, for some Days, that of No. 38; at the End of which Time, I +have ordered them the Bark (See Sec. 260) or other Febrifuges, as at Sec. 266, +267; and then finally ordered them for some Days, to take Morsels of the +poor Man's Treacle (See Sec. 247, _Art._ 13) to strengthen and confirm +their Digestions, which I have found very weak and irregular. + +Sec. 270. Some Intermittents are distinguished as pernicious or malignant, +from every Fit's being attended with the most violent Symptoms. The +Pulse is small and irregular, the Patient exceedingly dejected, and +frequently swooning; afflicted with inexpressible Anguish, Convulsions, +a deep Drowsiness, and continual Efforts to go to Stool, or make Urine, +but ineffectually. This Disease is highly pressing and dangerous; the +Patient may die in the third Fit, and rarely survives the sixth, if he +is not very judiciously treated. Not a Moment should be lost, and there +is no other Step to be taken, but that of giving the Bark continually, +as directed Sec. 260, to prevent the succeeding Fits. These worst Kinds of +Intermittents are often combined with a great Load of putrid Humours in +the first Passages: and as often as such an aggravating Combination is +very evident, we should immediately after the End of one Fit, give a +Dose of Ipecacuana No. 35, and, when its Operation is finished, give the +Bark. But I chuse to enter into very few Details on this Species of +Intermittents, both as they occur but seldom, and as the Treatment of +them is too difficult and important, to be submitted to the Conduct of +any one but a Physician. My Intention has only been to represent them +sufficiently, that they may be so distinguished when they do occur, as +to apprize the People of their great Danger. + +Sec. 271. The same Cause which produces these intermitting Fevers, +frequently also occasions Disorders, which return periodically at the +same Hour, without Shivering, without Heat, and often without any +Quickness of the Pulse. Such Disorders generally preserve the +Intermissons of quotidian or tertian Fevers, but much seldomer those of +Quartans. I have seen violent Vomittings, and Reachings to vomit, with +inexpressible Anxiety; the severest Oppressions, the most racking +Cholics; dreadful Palpitations and excessive Tooth-achs: Pains in the +Head, and very often an unaccountable Pain over one Eye, the Eyelid, +Eyebrow and Temple, on the same Side of the Face; with a Redness of that +Eye, and a continual, involuntary trickling of Tears. I have also seen +such a prodigious Swelling of the affected Part, that the Eye projected, +or stood out, above an Inch from the Head, covered by the Eyelid, which +was also extremely inflated or puffed up. All these Maladies begin +precisely at a certain Hour; last about the usual Time of a Fit; and +terminating without any sensible Evacuation, return exactly at the same +Hour, the next Day, or the next but one. + +There is but one known Medicine that can effectually oppose this Sort, +which is the Bark, given as directed Sec. 260. Nothing affords Relief in +the Fit, and no other Medicine ever suspends or puts it off. But I have +cured some of these Disorders with the Bark, and especially those +affecting the Eyes, which happen oftner than the other Symptoms, after +their Duration for many Weeks, and after the ineffectual Use of +Bleeding, Purging, Baths, Waters, Blisters, and a great Number of other +Medicines. If a sufficient Dose of it be given, the next Fit is very +mild; the second is prevented; and I never saw a Relapse in these Cases, +which sometimes happens after the Fits of common Intermittents seemed +cured. + +Sec. 272. In Situations where the Constitution of the Air renders these +Fevers very common, the Inhabitants should frequently burn in their +Rooms, at least in their lodging Rooms, some aromatic Wood or Herbs. +They should daily chew some Juniper Berries, and drink a fermented +Infusion of them. These two Remedies are very effectual to fortify the +weakest Stomachs, to prevent Obstructions, and to promote Perspiration. +And as these are the Causes which prolong these Fevers the most +obstinately; nothing is a more certain Preservation from them than these +cheap and obvious Assistances. [70] + +[70] I have seen several Cases in very marshy maritime Countries, with + little good drinking Water, and far South of _Swisserland_, where + intermitting Fevers, with Agues at different Intervals, are + annually endemic, very popular, and often so obstinate as to return + repeatedly, whenever the weekly precautionary Doses of the Bark + have been omitted (through the Patient's nauseating the frequent + Swallowing of it) so that the Disease has sometimes been extended + beyond the Term of a full Year, and even far into a second, + including the temporary Removals of it by the Bark. Nevertheless, + in some such obstinate Intermittents, and particularly Quartans + there, wherein the Bark alone has had but a short and imperfect + Effect, I have known the following Composition, after a good Vomit, + attended with speedy and final Success, _viz._ Take of fresh + Sassafras Bark, of Virginia Snake-root, of Roch-Allom, of Nutmeg, + of diaphoretic Antimony, and of Salt of Wormwood of each one + Drachm. To these well rubbed together into fine Powder, add the + Weight of the whole, of the best and freshest Bark; then drop in + three Drops of the chemical Oil of Mint, and with Syrup of Cloves + make it into the Consistence of an Electuary or Bolus, for 12 Doses + for a grown Person, to be taken at the Distance of three or four + Hours from each other, while the Patient is awake, according to the + longer or shorter Intermission of the Fever. + + I have also known, particularly in obstinate autumnal Agues there, + an Infusion of two Ounces of the best Bark in fine Powder, or two + Ounces and a half in gross Powder, in a Quart of the best Brandy, + for three or four Days (a small Wine Glass to be taken by grown + Persons at the Distance of from four to six Hours) effectually and + speedily terminate such intermittent Agues, as had given but little + Way to the Bark in Substance. This was certainly more suitable for + those who were not of a light delicate Habit and Temperament, and + who had not been remarkable for their Abstinence from strong + Liquors: the inebriating Force of the Brandy being remarkably + lessened, by the Addition and long Infusion of the Bark. These + Facts which I saw, are the less to be wondered at, as in such + inveterate, but perfectly clear and distinct Intermittents, both + the State of the Fluids and Solids seem very opposite to their + State in an acutely inflammatory Disease. _K._ + + + + + __Chapter XIX.__ + + + + _Of the Erisipelas, and the Bites of Animals._ + + + __Sect.__ 273. + +The Erisipelas, commonly called in English, St. Anthony's Fire, and in +Swisserland _the Violet_, is sometimes but a very slight Indisposition +which appears on the Skin, without the Person's being sensible of any +other Disorder; and it most commonly breaks out either in the Face, or +on the Legs. The Skin becomes tense, or stiff, rough and red; but this +Redness disappears on pressing the Spot with a Finger, and returns on +removing it. The Patient feels in the Part affected a burning Heat, +which makes him uneasy, and sometimes hinders him from sleeping. The +Disorder increases for the Space of two or three Days; continues at its +Height one or two, and then abates. Soon after this, that Part of the +Skin that was affected, falls off in pretty large Scales, and the +Disorder entirely terminates. + +Sec. 274. But sometimes this Malady is considerably more severe, beginning +with a violent Shivering, which is succeeded by a burning Heat, a +vehement Head-ach, a Sickness at Heart, as it is commonly termed, or +Reachings to vomit, which continue till the _Erisipelas_ appears, which +sometimes does not happen before the second, or even the third Day. The +Fever then abates, and the Sickness goes off, though frequently a less +Degree of Fever, and of Sickness or Loathing remain, during the whole +Time, in which the Disease is in its increasing State. When the Eruption +and Inflammation happen in the Face, the Head-ach continues, until the +Decline, or going off, of the Disease. The Eyelid swells, the Eye is +closed, and the Patient has not the least Ease or Tranquillity. It often +passes from one Cheek to the other, and extends successively over the +Forehead, the Neck, and the Nape of the Neck; under which Circumstance +the Disease is of a more than ordinary Duration. Sometimes also when it +exists in a very high Degree, the Fever continues, the Brain is +obstructed and oppressed; the Patient raves; his Case becomes extremely +dangerous; whence sometimes, if he is not very judiciously assisted, he +dies, especially if of an advanced Age. A violent _Erisipelas_ on the +Neck brings on a Quinsey, which may prove very grievous, or even fatal. + +When it attacks the Leg, the whole Leg swells up; and the Heat and +Irritation from it is extended up to the Thigh. + +Whenever this Tumour is considerable, the Part it seizes is covered with +small Pustules filled with a clear watery Humour, resembling those which +appear after a Burn, and drying afterwards and scaling off. I have +sometimes observed, especially when this Distemper affected the Face, +that the Humour, which issued from these little Pustules, was extremely +thick or glewy, and formed a thick Scurf, or Scabs nearly resembling +those of sucking Children: they have continued fast on the Face many +Days before they fell off. + +When the Disease may be termed violent, it sometimes continues eight, +ten, twelve Days at the same Height; and is at last terminated by a very +plentiful Sweat, that may sometimes be predicted by a Restlessness +attended with Shiverings, and a little Anxiety of some Hours Duration. +Throughout the Progress of the Disease, the whole Skin is very dry, and +even the Inside of the Mouth. + +Sec. 275. An _Erisipelas_ rarely comes to Suppuration, and when it does, +the Suppuration is always unkindly, and much disposed to degenerate into +an Ulcer. Sometimes a malignant kind of _Erisipelas_ is epidemical, +seizing a great Number of Persons, and frequently terminating in +Gangrenes. + +Sec. 276. This Distemper often shifts its Situation; it sometimes retires +suddenly; but the Patient is uneasy and disordered; he has a Propensity +to vomit, with a sensible Anxiety and Heat: the _Erisipelas_ appears +again in a different Part, and he feels himself quite relieved from the +preceding Symptoms. But if instead of re-appearing on some other Part of +the Surface, the Humour is thrown upon the Brain, or the Breast, he dies +within a few Hours; and these fatal Changes and Translations sometimes +occur, without the least Reason or Colour for ascribing them either to +any Error of the Patient, or of his Physician. + +If the Humour has been transferred to the Brain, the Patient immediately +becomes delirious, with a highly flushed Visage, and very quick +sparkling Eyes: very soon after he proves downright frantic, and goes +off in a Lethargy. + +If the Lungs are attacked, the Oppression, Anxiety, and Heat are +inexpressible. + +Sec. 277. There are some Constitutions subject to a very frequent, and, as +it were, to an habitual _Erisipelas_. If it often affects the Face, it +is generally repeated on the same Side of it, and that Eye is, at +length, considerably weakened by it. + +Sec. 278. This Distemper results from two Causes; the one, an acrid sharp +Humour, which is commonly bilious, diffused through the Mass of Blood; +the other consists in that Humour's not being sufficiently discharged by +Perspiration. + +Sec. 279. When this Disease is of a gentle Nature, such as it is described +Sec. 273, it will be sufficient to keep up a very free Perspiration, but +without heating the Patient; and the best Method to answer this Purpose +is putting him upon the Regimen so often already referred to, with a +plentiful Use of Nitre in Elder Tea. Flesh, Eggs and Wine are prohibited +of Course, allowing the Patient a little Pulse and ripe Fruits. He +should drink Elder Flower Tea abundantly, and take half a Drachm of +Nitre every three Hours; or, which amounts to the same Thing, let three +Drachms of Nitre be dissolved in as much Infusion of Elder Flowers, as +he can drink in twenty-four Hours. Nitre may be given too in a Bolus +with Conserve of Elder-berries. These Medicines keep the Body open, and +increase Urine and Perspiration. + +Sec. 280. When the Distemper prevails in a severer Degree, if the Fever is +very high, and the Pulse, at the same Time, strong or hard, it may be +necessary to bleed once: but this should never be permitted in a large +Quantity at a Time in this Disease; it being more adviseable, if a +sufficient Quantity has not been taken at once, to bleed a second Time, +and even a third, if the Fever should prove very high, as it often does, +and that sometimes in so violent a Degree, as to render it extremely +dangerous: and in some such Cases Nature has sometimes saved the +Patients by effecting a large Hemorrhage, or Bleeding, to the Quantity +of four or five Pounds. This Conduct a very intelligent and prudent +Physician may presume to imitate; but I dare not advise the same Conduct +to that Class of Physicians, for which only I write: it being safer for +them to use repeated Bleedings in such Cases, than one in an excessive +Quantity. These erisipelatous Fevers are often excited by a Person's +being too long over-heated. + +After Bleeding the Patient is to be restrained to his Regimen; Glysters +are to be given until there is a sensible Abatement of the Fever; and he +should drink the Barley Water freely, No. 3. + +When the Fever is somewhat diminished, either the Purge No. 23 should be +given, or a few Doses every Morning of Cream of Tartar No. 24. Purging +is absolutely necessary to carry off the stagnant Bile, which is +generally the first Cause of the violent Degrees of this Distemper. It +may sometimes be really necessary too, if the Disease is very tedious; +if the Loathing and Sickness at Stomach is obstinate; the Mouth +ill-favoured, and the Tongue foul, (provided there be only a slight +Fever, and no Fear of an Inflammation) to give the Medicines No. 34 or +35, which, in Consequence of the Agitation, the Shaking they occasion, +remove these Impediments still better than Purges. + +It commonly happens that this Disease is more favourable after these +Evacuations; nevertheless it is sometimes necessary to repeat them the +next Day, or the next but one; especially if the Malady affects the +Head. Purging is the true Evacuation for curing it, whenever it attacks +this Part. By carrying off the Cause of the Disease, they diminish it, +and prevent its worst Effects. + +Whenever, even after these Evacuations, the Fever still continues to be +very severe, the Patient should take every two Hours, or occasionally, +oftner, two Spoonfuls of the Prescription No. 10, added to a Glass of +Ptisan. + +It will be very useful, when this Disease is seated in the Head or Face, +to bathe the Legs frequently in warm Water; and where it is violent +there, also to apply Sinapisms to the Soles of the Feet. I have seen +this Application, in about four Hours attract, or draw down an +_Erisipelas_ to the Legs, which had spread over the Nose, and both the +Eyes. When the Distemper once begins to go off by Sweating, this should +be promoted by Elder-flower Tea and Nitre (See Sec. 279) and the Sweating +may be encouraged to Advantage for some Hours. + +Sec. 281. The best Applications that can be made to the affected Part are +1st, The Herb Robert, a Kind of _Geranium_, or Crane's-Bill; or Chervil, +or Parsley, or Elder Flowers: and if the Complaint be of a very mild +Disposition, it may be sufficient to apply a very soft smooth Linen over +it, which some People dust over with a little dry Meal. + +2, If there is a very considerable Inflammation, and the Patient is so +circumstanced as to be very tractable and regularly attended, Flanels +wrung out of a strong Decoction of Elder-flowers and applied warm, +afford him the speediest Ease and Relief. By this simple Application I +have appeased the most violent Pains of a St. Anthony's Fire, which is +the most cruel Species of an Erisipelas, and has some peculiar Marks or +Symptoms extraordinary. + +3, The Plaister of Smalt, and Smalt itself No. 46, are also very +successfully employed in this Disease. This Powder, the farinaceous, or +mealy ones, or others cried up for it, agree best when a thin watery +Humour distills or weeps from the little Vesications attending it, which +it is convenient to absorb by such Applications; without which +Precaution it might gall, or even ulcerate the Part. + +All other Plaisters, which are partly compounded of greasy, or of +resinous Substances, are very dangerous: they often repel, or strike in +the _Erisipelas_, occasioning it to ulcerate, or even to gangrene. If +People who are naturally subject to this Disease should apply any such +Plaister to their Skin, even in its soundest State, an _Erisipelas_ is +the speedy Consequence. + +Sec. 282. Whenever the Humour occasioning the Distemper is repelled, and +thrown upon the Brain, the Throat, the Lungs, or any internal Part, the +Patient should be bled; Blisters must be applied to the Legs; and Elder +Tea, with Nitre dissolved in it, should be plentifully drank. + +Sec. 283. People who are liable to frequent Returns of an Erisipelas, +should very carefully avoid using Milk, Cream, and all fat and viscid, +or clammy Food, Pies, brown Meat, Spices, thick and heady Liquors, a +sedentary Life, the more active Passions, especially Rage, and, if +possible, all Chagrin too. Their Food should chiefly consist of Herbage, +Fruits, of Substances inclining to Acidity, and which tend to keep the +Body open; they should drink Water, and some of the light white Wines; +by no Means omitting the frequent Use of Cream of Tartar. A careful +Conformity to these Regulations is of real Importance, as, besides the +Danger of the frequent Visitations of this Disease, they denote some +slight Indispositions of the Liver and the Gall-bladder; which, if too +little attended to, might in Time prove very troublesome and pernicious. + +Such mineral Waters as are gently opening are very proper for these +Constitutions, as well as the Juice of Succory, and clarified Whey, of +which they should take about three Pints every Morning, during the five +or six Summer Months. This becomes still more efficacious, if a little +Cream of Tartar and Honey be added to it. + + + + _Of the Stings, or little Wounds, by Animals._ + + +Sec. 284. The Stings or little Bites of Animals, frequently producing a +kind of _Erisipelas_, I shall add a very few Words concerning them in +this Place. + +Of the Serpents in this Country none but the Vipers are poisonous; and +none of these are found except at _Baume_, where there is a _Viperary_, +if we may be allowed that Word. We have no Scorpions, which are somewhat +poisonous; our Toads are not in the least so: whence the only Stings we +are exposed to, are those of Bees, Wasps, Hornets, Muskitos or Gnats, +and Dragon [71] Flies: all of which are sometimes attended with severe +Pain, a Swelling, and a very considerable erisipelatous Redness; which, +if it happens in the Face, sometimes entirely closes the Eyes up; +occasioning also a Fever, Pains of the Head, Restlessness, and Sickness +at Heart; and, when the Pains are in a violent Degree, Faintings and +Convulsions, though always without any mortal Consequence. These +Symptoms go off naturally within a few Days, without any Assistance: +Nevertheless they may either be prevented, diminished in Degree, or +shortned in Duration. + +[71] These, in some Parts of America, are called Muskito Hawks; but we + do not recollect their biting there. _K._ + +1, By extracting the Sting of the Animal, if it is left behind. + +2, By a continual Application of one of the Remedies directed Sec. 281, +Article 1 and 2, particularly the Infusion of Elder-flowers, to which a +little Venice Treacle is added; or by covering the Part affected with a +Pultice, made of Crum of Bread, Milk, Honey, and a little Venice +Treacle. [72] + +[72] Pounded Parsley is one of the most availing Applications in such + Accidents. _E.L._ + +3, By bathing the Legs of the Person stung repeatedly in warm Water. + +4, By retrenching a little of their customary Food, especially at Night, +and by making them drink an Infusion of Elder-flowers, with the Addition +of a little Nitre. Oil, if applied very quickly after the Sting, +sometimes prevents the Appearance of any Swelling, and from thence the +Pains that attend it. + + + + + __Chapter XX.__ + + + _Of spurious, or false Inflammations of the Breast, and of spurious, + bilious, Pleurisies._ + + + __Sect.__ 285. + +The Inflammation of the Breast and that Pleurisy, which is called +_bilious_, are the same Disease. It is properly a putrid Fever, attended +with an Infarction or Stuffing of the Lungs, though without Pain; in +which Circumstance it is called a putrid or bilious Peripneumony: but +when attended with a Pain of the Side, a Stitch, it is called a spurious +or bastard Pleurisy. + +Sec. 286. The Signs which distinguish these Diseases from the inflammatory +ones of the same Name, described Chap. IV and V, are a less hard and +less strong, but a quicker Pulse, though unaccompanied with the same +Symptoms which constitute the inflammatory ones (See Sec. 47 and 90). The +Mouth is foul, and has a Sensation of Bitterness; the Patient is +infested with a sharp and dry Heat; he has a Feeling of Heaviness and +Anxiety all about his Stomach, with Loathings: he is less flushed and +red in these, than in the inflammatory Diseases, but rather a little +yellow. He has a dejected wan Look; his Urine resembles that in putrid +Fevers, and not that of inflammatory ones; and he has very often a small +bilious Looseness, which is extremely offensive. The Skin is commonly +very dry in this Disease; the Humour spit up is less thick, less +reddish, and rather more yellow than in the inflammatory Diseases of the +same Names. + +Sec. 287. They must be treated after the manner of putrid Fevers, as in Sec. +241. Supposing some little Degree of Inflammation to be combined with +the Disease, it may be removed by a single Bleeding. After this the +Patient is to drink Barley Water No. 3, to make Use of Glysters; and as +soon as all Symptoms of any Inflammation wholly disappear, he is to take +the vomiting and purging Draught No. 34. But the utmost Caution must be +taken not to give it, before every Appearance of any Inflammation is +totally removed; as giving it sooner would be certain Death to the Sick: +and it is dreadful but to think of agitating, by a Vomit, Lungs that are +inflamed, and overloaded with Blood, whose Vessels burst and discharge +themselves, only from the Force of Expectoration. After an Interval of +some Days, he may be purged again with the Medicine No. 23. The +Prescription No. 25 succeeds also very well as a Vomit. If the Fever is +violent, he must drink plentifully of the Potion No. 10. + +Blisters to the Legs are very serviceable, when the Load and Oppression +are not considerably abated after general Evacuations. + +Sec. 288. The false Inflammation of the Breast is an Overfulness or +Obstruction in the Lungs, accompanied with a Fever; and it is caused by +extremely thick and tenacious Humours; and not by a really inflammatory +Blood, or by any putrid or bilious Humour. + +Sec. 289. This Distemper happens more frequently in the Spring, than in any +other Season. Old Men, puny, ill-constitutioned Children, languid Women, +feeble young Men, and particularly such as have worn their Constitutions +out by drinking, are the Subjects most frequently attacked by it; +especially if they have used but little Exercise throughout the Winter: +if they have fed on viscid, mealy and fat Aliments, as Pastry, Chesnuts, +thick Milk or Pap, and Cheese. All their Humours have contracted a thick +glutinous Quality; they are circulated with Difficulty, and when Heat or +Exercise in the Spring increases their Motion at once, the Humours, +already stuffing up the Lungs, still more augment that Plenitude, whence +these vital Organs are fatally extended, and the Patient dies. + +Sec. 290. This Distemper is known to exist, + +1, By the previous Existence of the Causes already mentioned. + +2, By the Symptoms which precede and usher it in. For Example, the +Patient many Days before-hand has a slight Cough; a small Oppression +when he moves about; a little Restlessness, and is sometimes a little +choleric or fretful. His Countenance is higher coloured than in Health; +he has a Propensity to sleep, but attended with Confusion and without +Refreshment, and has sometimes an extraordinary Appetite. + +3, When this State has continued for some Days, there comes on a cold +Shivering, though more considerable for its Duration than its Violence; +it is succeeded by a moderate Degree of Heat, but that attended with +much Inquietude and Oppression. The sick Person cannot confine himself +to the Bed; but walks to and fro in his Chamber, and is greatly +dejected. The Pulse is weak and pretty quick; the Urine is sometimes but +little changed from that in Health; at other Times it is discharged but +in a small Quantity, and is higher coloured: he coughs but moderately, +and does not expectorate, or cough up, but with Difficulty. The Visage +becomes very red, and even almost livid; he can neither keep awake, nor +sleep well; he raves for some Moments, and then his Head grows clear +again. Sometimes it happens, especially to Persons of advanced Age, that +this State suddenly terminates in a mortal Swoon or Fainting: at other +Times and in other Cases, the Oppression and Anguish increase; the +Patient cannot breathe but when sitting up, and that with great +Difficulty and Agony: the Brain is utterly disturbed and embarrassed; +this State lasts for some Hours, and then terminates of a sudden. + +Sec. 291. This is a very dangerous Distemper; because, in the first Place, +it chiefly attacks those Persons whose Temperament and Constitution are +deprived of the ordinary Resources for Health and Recovery: in the +second Place, because it is of a precipitate Nature, the Patient +sometimes dying on the third Day, and but seldom surviving the seventh; +while the Cause of it requires a more considerable Term for its Removal +or Mitigation. Besides which, if some Indications present for the +Employment of a Remedy, there are frequently others which forbid it; and +all that seems to be done is, as follows; + +1, If the Patient has still a pretty good Share of Health; if he is not +of too advanced an Age; if the Pulse has a perceivable Hardness, and yet +at the same Time some Strength; if the Weather is dry, and the Wind +blows from the North, he should be bled once, to a moderate Quantity. +But if the greater Part of these Circumstances are wanting, Bleeding +would be very prejudicial. Were we obliged to establish some general and +positive Rule in this Case, it were better to exclude Bleeding, than to +admit it. + +2, The Stomach and the Bowels should be unloaded from their viscid +glutinous Contents; and the Medicines which succeed the best in this +Respect are No. 35, when the Symptoms shew there is a great Necessity +for vomiting, and there is no Inflammation; or the Prescription No. 25, +which after vomiting, purges by Stool, promotes Urine, breaks down and +divides the viscid Humours that occasion the Disease, and increase +Perspiration. When we are afraid of hazarding the Agitation of a Vomit +and its Consequences, the Potion, No. 11 may be given; but we must be +very cautious, in Regard to old Men, even with this; as such may expire +during the Operation of it. + +3, They should, from the Beginning of the Disease, drink plentifully of +the Ptisan No. 26, which is the best Drink in this Disease; or that of +No. 12, adding half a Dram of Nitre to every Pint of it. + +4, A Cup of the Mixture No. 8 must be taken every two Hours. + +5. Blisters are to be applied to the Insides of the Legs. + +When the Case is very doubtful and perplexing, it were best to confine +ourselves to the three last-mentioned Remedies, which have often been +successful in severe Degrees of this Disease; and which can occasion no +ill Consequence. + +Sec. 292. When this Malady invades old People, though they partly recover, +they never recover perfectly, entirely, from it: and if due Precaution +is not taken, they are very liable to fall into a Dropsy of the Breast +after it. + +Sec. 293. The spurious or false Pleurisy is a Distemper that does not +affect the Lungs, but only the Teguments, the Skin, and the Muscles +which cover the Ribs. It is the Effect of a rheumatic Humour thrown upon +these Parts, in which, as it produces very sharp Pains resembling that +which is called a _Stitch_, it has from this Circumstance, been termed a +Pleurisy. + +It is generally supposed by the meer Multitude, and even by some of a +different Rank, that a false Pleurisy is more dangerous than a genuine, +a true one; but this is a Mistake. It is often ushered in by a +Shivering, and almost ever attended with a little Fever, a small Cough, +and a slight Difficulty of breathing; which, as well as the Cough, is +occasioned from the Circumstance of a Patient's (who feels Pain in +Respiration, or Breathing) checking Breathing as much as he can; this +accumulates a little too much Blood in the Lungs; but yet he has no +Anguish, nor the other Symptoms of acute true Pleurisies. In some +Patients this Pain is extended, almost over the whole Breast, and to the +Nape of the Neck. The sick Person cannot repose himself on the Side +affected. + +This Disorder is not more dangerous than a Rheumatism, except in two +Cases; 1, When the Pain is so very severe, that the Patient strongly +endeavours not to breathe at all, which brings on a great Infarction or +Stoppage in the Lungs. 2, When this Humour, like any other rheumatic +one, is transferred to some internal Part. + +Sec. 294. It must be treated exactly like a Rheumatism. See Sec. 168 and 169. + +After bleeding once or more, a Blister applied to the affected Part is +often attended with a very good Effect: This being indeed the Kind +of [73] Pleurisy, in which it particularly agrees. + +[73] The Seneka Rattle-Snake root, already recommended in true + Pleurisies, will, with the greatest Probability, be found not less + effectual in these false ones, in which the Inflammation of the + Blood is less. The Method of giving it may be seen P. 118, + N. ([26].) By Dr. _Tissot's_ having never mentioned this valuable + Simple throughout his Work, it may be presumed, that when he wrote + it, this Remedy had not been admitted into the Apothecaries Shops + in _Swisserland_. _K._ + +Sec. 295. This Malady sometimes gives Way to the first Bleeding; often +terminating on the third, fourth or fifth Day, by a very plentiful +Sweat, and rarely lasting beyond the seventh. Sometimes it attacks a +Person very suddenly, after a Stoppage of Perspiration; and then, if at +once before the Fever commences, and has had Time to inflame the Blood, +the Patient takes some _Faltrank_, it effects a speedy Cure by restoring +Perspiration. They are such Cases as these, or that mentioned Sec. 96, +which have given this Composition the Reputation it has obtained in this +Disease: a Reputation nevertheless, which has every Year proved tragical +in its Consequences to many Peasants, who being deceived by some +misleading Resemblances in this Distemper, have rashly and ignorantly +made Use of it in true inflammatory Pleurisies. + + + + + __Chapter XXI.__ + + + + _Of the Cholic and its different Kinds._ + + + __Sect.__ 296. + +The Appellation of a Cholic is commonly given to all Pains of the Belly +indiscriminately; but I apply it in this Place only to such as attack +the Stomach, or the Intestines, the Guts. + +Cholics may and do result from very many Causes; and the greater Number +of Cholics are chronical or tedious Complaints, being more common among +the inactive Inhabitants of Cities, and Workmen in sedentary Trades, +than among Country People. Hence I shall treat here only of the small +Variety of Cholics, which happen the most usually in Villages. I have +already proved that the fatal Events of some Distempers were occasioned +by endeavouring to force the Patients into Sweats; and the same unhappy +Consequences have attended Cholics, from accustoming the Subjects of +this Disease to Drams, and hot inflaming spirituous Liquors, with an +Intention to expel the Wind. + + + + _Of the inflammatory Cholic._ + + +Sec. 297. The most violent and dangerous kind of Cholic is that, which +arises from an Inflammation of the Stomach, or of the Intestines. It +begins most commonly without any Shivering, by a vehement Pain in the +Belly, which gradually becomes still more so. The Pulse grows quick and +hard; a burning Pain is felt through the whole Region of the Belly; +sometimes there is a watery _Diarrhoea_, or Purging; at other Times the +Belly is rather costive, which is attended with Vomiting, a very +embarrassing and dangerous Symptom: the Countenance becomes highly +flushed; the Belly tense and hard; neither can it be touched scarcely +without a cruel Augmentation of the Patient's Pain, who is also +afflicted with extreme Restlessness; his Thirst is very great, being +unquenchable by Drink; the Pain often extends to the Loins, where it +proves very sharp, and severe; little Urine is made, and that very red, +and with a kind of burning Heat. The tormented Patient has not a +Moment's Rest, and now and then raves a little. If the Disease is not +removed or moderated, before the Pains rise to their utmost Height and +Violence, the Patient begins at length to complain less; the Pulse +becomes less strong and less hard than before, but quicker: his Face +first abates of its Flush and Redness, and soon after looks pale; the +Parts under the Eyes become livid; the Patient sinks into a low stupid +Kind of _Delirium_, or Raving; his Strength entirely deserts him; the +Face, Hands, Feet, and the whole Body, the Belly only excepted, become +cold: the Surface of the Belly appears bluish; extreme Weakness follows, +and the Patient dies. There frequently occurs, just a Moment before he +expires, an abundant Discharge of excessively foetid Matter by Stool; +and during this Evacuation he dies with his Intestines quite gangrened, +or mortified. + +When the Distemper assaults the Stomach, the Symptoms are the very same, +but the Pain is felt higher up, at the Pit of the Stomach. Almost every +thing that is swallowed is cast up again; the Anguish of the tortured +Patient is terrible, and the Raving comes on very speedily. This Disease +proves mortal in a few Hours. + +Sec. 298. The only Method of succeeding in the Cure of it is as follows: + +1, Take a very large Quantity of Blood from the Arm; this almost +immediately diminishes the Violence of the Pains, and allays the +Vomiting: besides its contributing to the greater Success of the other +Remedies. It is often necessary to repeat this Bleeding within the Space +of two Hours. + +2, Whether the Patient has a Looseness, or has not, a Glyster of a +Decoction of Mallows, or of Barley Water and Oil, should be given every +two Hours. + +3, The Patient should drink very plentifully of Almond Milk No. 4; or a +Ptisan of Mallow Flowers, or of Barley, all which should be warm. + +4, Flanels dipt in hot, or very warm Water should be continually applied +over the Belly, shifting them every Hour, or rather oftner; for in this +Case they very quickly grow dry. + +5, If the Disease, notwithstanding all this, continues very obstinate +and violent, the Patient should be put into a warm Water Bath, the +extraordinary Success of which I have observed. + +When the Distemper is over, that is to say, when the Pains have +terminated, and the Fever has ceased, so that the Patient recovers a +little Strength, and gets a little Sleep, it will be proper to give him +a Purge, but a very gentle one. Two Ounces of Manna, and a Quarter of an +Ounce of Sedlitz [74] Salt dissolved in a Glass of clear Whey is +generally sufficient, at this Period, to purge the most robust and hardy +Bodies. Manna alone may suffice for more delicate Constitutions: as all +acrid sharp Purges would be highly dangerous, with Regard to the great +Sensibility and tender Condition of the Stomach, and of the Intestines +after this Disease. + +[74] Glauber or Epsom Salt may be substituted, where the other is not to + be readily procured. _K._ + +Sec. 299. It is sometimes the Effect of a general Inflammation of the +Blood; and is produced, like other inflammatory Diseases, by +extraordinary Labour, very great Heat, heating Meats or Drinks, _&c._ It +is often the Consequence of other Cholics which have been injudiciously +treated, and which otherwise would not have degenerated into +inflammatory ones; as I have many Times seen these Cholics introduced +after the Use of heating Medicines; one Instance of which may be seen Sec. +164. + +Sec. 300. Ten Days after I had recovered a Woman out of a severe Cholic, +the Pains returned violently in the Night. She, supposing them to arise +only from Wind, hoped to appease them by drinking a deal of distilled +Walnut Water; which, far from producing any such Effect, rendered them +more outrageous. They soon were heightened to a surprising Degree, which +might reasonably be expected. Being sent for very early in the Morning, +I found her Pulse hard, quick, short; her Belly was tense and hard; she +complained greatly of her Loins: her Urine was almost entirely stopt. +She past but a few Drops, which felt as it were scalding hot, and these +with excessive Pain. She went very frequently to the Close-stool, with +scarcely any Effect; her Anguish, Heat, Thirst, and the Dryness of her +Tongue were even terrifying: and her wretched State, the Effect of the +strong hot Liquor she had taken, made me very apprehensive for her. One +Bleeding, to the Quantity of fourteen Ounces, somewhat abated all the +Pains; she took several Glysters, and drank off a few Pots of _Orgeat_ +in a few Hours. By these Means the Disease was a little mitigated; by +continuing the same Drink and the Glysters the Looseness abated; the +Pain of the Loins went off, and she passed a considerable Quantity of +Urine, which proved turbid, and then let fall a Sediment, and the +Patient recovered. Nevertheless I verily believe, if the Bleeding had +been delayed two Hours longer, this spirituous Walnut Water would have +been the Death of her. During the Progress of this violent Disease, no +Food is to be allowed; and we should never be too inattentive to such +Degrees of Pain, as sometimes remain after their Severity is over; lest +a _Scirrhus_, an inward hard Tumour, should be generated, which may +occasion the most inveterate and tedious Maladies. + +Sec. 301. An Inflammation of the Intestines, and one of the Stomach, may +also terminate in an Abscess, like an Inflammation of any other Part; +and it may be apprehended that one is forming, when, though the Violence +of the Pains abates, there still remains a slow, obtuse, heavy Pain, +with general Inquietude, little Appetite, frequent Shiverings; the +Patient at the same Time not recovering any Strength. In such Cases the +Patient should be allowed no other Drinks, but what are already directed +in this Chapter, and some Soops made of Pulse, or other farinaceous +Food. + +The Breaking of the Abscess may sometimes be discovered by a slight +Swoon or fainting Fit; attended with a perceivable Cessation of a Weight +or Heaviness in the Part, where it was lately felt: and when the _Pus_, +or ripe Matter, is effused into the Gut, the Patient sometimes has +Reachings to vomit, a _Vertigo_, or Swimming in the Head, and the Matter +appears in the next Stools. In this Case there remains an Ulcer within +the Gut, which, if either neglected, or improperly treated, may pave the +Way to a slow wasting Fever, and even to Death. Yet this I have cured by +making the Patient live solely upon skimmed Milk, diluted with one third +Part Water, and by giving every other Day a Glyster, consisting of equal +Parts of Milk and Water, with the Addition of a little Honey. + +When the Abscess breaks on the Outside of the Gut, and discharges its +Contents into the Cavity of the Belly, it becomes a very miserable Case, +and demands such further Assistance as cannot be particularized here. + + + + _Of the bilious Cholic._ + + +Sec. 302. The bilious Cholic discovers itself by very acute Pains, but is +seldom accompanied with a Fever; at least not until it has lasted a Day +or two. And even if there should be some Degree of a Fever, yet the +Pulse, though quick, is neither strong nor hard: the Belly is neither +tense or stretched as it were, nor burning hot, as in the former Cholic: +the Urine comes away with more Ease, and is less high-coloured: +Nevertheless the inward Heat and Thirst are considerable; the Mouth is +bitter; the Vomiting or Purging, when either of them attend it, +discharge a yellowish Humour or Excrement; and the Patient's Head is +often vertiginous or dizzy. + +Sec. 303. The Method of curing this is, + +1, By injecting Glysters of Whey and Honey; or, if Whey is not readily +procurable, by repeating the Glyster, No. 5. + +2, By making the Sick drink considerably of the same Whey, or of a +Ptisan made of the Root of Dog's-Grass (the common Grass) and a little +Juice of Lemon, for want of which, a little Vinegar and Honey may be +substituted instead of it. [75] + +[75] Pullet, or rather Chicken Water, but very weak, may often do + instead of Ptisan, or serve for a little Variety of Drink to some + Patients. _E. L._--K. + +3, By giving every Hour one Cup of the Medicine No. 32; or where this is +not to be had, half a Drachm of Cream of Tartar at the same short +Intervals. + +4, Fomentations of warm Water and Half-baths are also very proper. + +5, If the Pains are sharp and violent, in a robust strong Person, and +the Pulse is strong and tense, Bleeding should be used to prevent an +Inflammation. + +6, No other Nourishment should be given, except some maigre Soops, made +from Vegetables, and particularly of Sorrel. + +7, After plentiful Dilution with the proper Drink, if no Fever +supervenes; if the Pains still continue, and the Patient discharges but +little by Stool, he should take a moderate Purge. That directed No. 47 +is a very proper one. + +Sec. 304. This bilious Cholic is habitual to many Persons; and may be +prevented or greatly mitigated by an habitual Use of the Powder No. 24; +by submitting to a moderate Retrenchment in the Article of Flesh-meat; +and by avoiding heating and greasy Food, and the Use of Milk. + + + + _Of Cholics from Indigestions, and of Indigestion._ + + +Sec. 305. Under this Appellation I comprehend all those Cholics, which are +either owing to any overloading Quantity of Food taken at once; or to a +Mass or Accumulation of Aliments formed by Degrees in such Stomachs, as +digest but very imperfectly; or which result from noxious Mixtures of +Aliment in the Stomach, such as that of Milk and Acids; or from Food +either not wholesome in its self, or degenerated into an unwholesome +Condition. + +This kind of Cholic may be known from any of these Causes having +preceded it; by its Pains, which are accompanied with great +Restlessness, and come on by Degrees, being less fixed than in the +Cholics before treated of. These Cholics are also without any Fever, +Heat or Thirst, but accompanied with a Giddiness of the Head, and +Efforts to vomit, and rather with a pale, than a high-coloured Visage. + +Sec. 306. These Disorders, from these last Causes, are scarcely ever +dangerous in themselves; but may be made such by injudicious Management, +and doing more than is necessary or proper: as the only Thing to be done +is to promote the Discharges by warm Drinks. There are a considerable +Variety of them, which seem equally good, such as warm Water, or even +cold Water with a Toast, with the Addition either of a little Sugar, or +a little Salt: a light Infusion of Chamomile, or of Elder-flowers, +common Tea, or Baum, it imports little which, provided the Patient drink +plentifully of them: in Consequence of which the offending Matter is +discharged, either by vomiting, or a considerable purging; and the +speedier and more in Quantity these Discharges are, the sooner the +Patient is relieved. + +If the Belly is remarkably full and costive, Glysters of warm Water and +Salt should be injected. + +The Expulsion of the obstructing Matter is also facilitated, by rubbing +the Belly heartily with hot Cloths. + +Sometimes the Humours, or other retained Contents of the Belly, are more +pernicious from their Quality, than their Quantity; and then the Malady +may be dissipated without the former Discharges, by the irritating sharp +Humour being diluted, or even drowned, as it were, in the Abundance of +small watery Drinks. When the Pains invade first in the Stomach, they +become less sharp, and the Patient feels less Inquietude, as soon as the +Cause of the Pain has descended out of the Stomach into the Intestines, +whose Sensations are something less acute than, or somewhat different +from, those of the Stomach. + +It is often found that after these plentiful Discharges, and when the +Pains are over, there remains a very disagreeable Taste in the Mouth, +resembling the Savour of rotten Eggs. This may be removed by giving some +Doses of the Powder No. 24, and drinking largely of good Water: + +It is an essential Point in these Cases, to take no Food before a +perfect Recovery. + +Sec. 307. Some have been absurd enough in them, to fly at once to some +heating Cordial Confection, to Venice Treacle, Aniseed Water, Geneva, or +red Wine to stop these Evacuations; but there cannot be a more fatal +Practice: since these Evacuations are the only Thing which can cure the +Complaint, and to stop them is to deprive the Person, who was in Danger +of drowning, of the Plank which might save him. Nay should this +Endeavour of stopping them unhappily succeed, the Patient is either +thrown into a putrid Fever, or some chronical tedious Malady; unless +Nature, much wiser than such a miserable Assistant, should prevail over +the Obstacles opposed to her Recovery, and restore the obstructed +Evacuations by her own Oeconomy, in the Space of a few Days. + +Sec. 308. Sometimes an Indigestion happens, with very little Pain or +Cholic, but with violent Reachings to vomit, inexpressible Anguish, +Faintings, and cold Sweats: and not seldom also the Malady begins, only +with a very sudden and unexpected Fainting: the Patient immediately +loses all his Senses, his Face is pale and wan: he has some Hickups +rather than Reachings to vomit, which joined to the Smallness of his +Pulse, to the Easiness of his respiring, or breathing, and to the +Circumstance of his being attacked immediately, or very soon, after a +Meal, makes this Disorder distinguishable from a real Apoplexy. +Nevertheless, when it rises to this Height, with these terrible +Symptoms, it sometimes kills in a few Hours. The first thing to be done +is to throw up a sharp Glyster, in which Salt and Soap are to be +dissolved; next to get down as much Salt and Water as he can swallow; +and if that is ineffectual, the Powder No. 34 is to be dissolved in +three Cups of Water; one half of which is to be given directly; and, if +it does not operate in a Quarter of an Hour, the other half. Generally +speaking the Patient's Sense begins to return, as soon as he begins to +vomit. + + + + _Of the flatulent or windy Cholic._ + + +Sec. 309. Every Particular which constitutes our Food, whether solid or +liquid, contains much Air, but some of them more than others. If they do +not digest soon enough, or but badly, which occasions a sensible Escape +of such Air; if they are such as contain an extraordinary Quantity of +Air; or if the Guts being straitened or compressed any where in the +Course of their Extent, prevent that Air from being equally diffused +(which must occasion a greater Proportion of it in some Places) then the +Stomach and the Guts are distended by this Wind; and this Distention +occasions these Pains, which are called flatulent, or windy. + +This Sort of Cholic rarely appears alone and simple; but is often +complicated with, or added, as it were, to the other Sorts, of which it +is a Consequence; and is more especially joined with the Cholic from +Indigestions, whose Symptoms it multiplies and heightens. It may be +known, like that, by the Causes which have preceded it, by its not being +accompanied either with Fever, Heat, or Thirst; the Belly's being large +and full, though without Hardness, being unequal in its Largeness, which +prevails more in one Part of it than in another, forming something like +Pockets of Wind, sometimes in one Part, sometimes in another; and by the +Patient's feeling some Ease merely from the rubbing of his Belly, as it +moves the Wind about; which escaping either upwards or downwards affords +him still a greater Relief. + +Sec. 310. When it is combined with any different Species of the Cholic, it +requires no distinct Treatment from that Species; and it is removed or +dissipated by the Medicines which cure the principal Disease. + +Sometimes however it does happen to exist alone, and then it depends on +the Windiness of the solid and liquid Food of the Person affected with +it, such as the _Must_ or new Wine, Beer, especially very new Beer, +certain Fruits and Garden-stuff. It may be cured by a Glyster; by +chaffing the Belly with hot Cloths; by the Use of Drink moderately +spiced; and especially by Camomile Tea, to which a little cordial +Confection, or even Venice Treacle, may be added. When the Pains are +almost entirely vanished, and there is no Fever, nor any unhealthy +Degree of Heat; and if the Patient is sensible of a Weakness at Stomach, +he may take a little aromatic, or spiced Wine, or even a small cordial +stomachic Dram. It should be observed, that these are not to be allowed +in any other Kind of Cholic. + +Sec. 311. When any Person is frequently subject to cholic-like Pains, it is +a Proof that the digestive Faculty is impaired; the restoring of which +should be carefully attended to; without which the Health of the Patient +must suffer considerably, and he must be very likely to contract many +tedious and troublesome Disorders. + + + + _Of Cholics from Cold._ + + +Sec. 312. When any Person has been very cold, and especially in his Feet, +it is not uncommon for him to be attacked, within a few Hours after it, +with violent Cholic Pains, in which heating and spirituous Medicines are +very pernicious: but which are easily cured by rubbing the Legs well +with hot Cloths; and keeping them afterwards for a considerable Time in +warm Water; advising them at the same Time to drink freely of a light +Infusion of Chamomile or Elder-flowers. + +The Cure will be effected the sooner, if the Patient is put to Bed and +sweats a little, especially in the Legs and Feet. + +A Woman who had put her Legs into a pretty cool Spring, after travelling +in the Height of Summer, was very quickly after attacked with a most +violent Cholic. She took different hot Medicines; she became still +worse; she was purged, but the Distemper was still further aggravated. I +was called in on the third Day, a few Hours before her Decease. + +In such Cases, if the Pain be excessive, it may be necessary to +bleed; [76] to give a Glyster of warm Water; to keep the Legs several +Hours over the Steam of hot Water, and afterwards in the Water; to drink +plentifully of an Infusion of the Flowers of the Lime-tree, with a +little Milk; and if the Distemper is not subdued by these Means, +Blisters should be applied to the Legs, which I have known to be highly +efficacious. + +[76] Bleeding should not be determined on too hastily in this Sort of + Cholic, but rather be omitted, or deferred at least, till there be + an evident Tendency to an Inflammation. _E. L._ + + The Propriety or Impropriety of Bleeding in a Cholic from this + Cause should be determined, I think, from the State of the Person + it happens to: So that Bleeding a strong Person with a firm Fibre, + and a hard Pulse, may be very prudent and precautionary: But if it + be a weakly lax Subject with a soft and low Pulse, there may be + Room either for omitting, or for suspending it. _K._ + +Sec. 313. It appears, through the Course of this Chapter, that it is +necessary to be extremely on our Guard, against permitting the Use of +heating and spirituous Medicines in Cholics, as they may not only +aggravate, but even render them mortal. In short they should never be +given, and when it is difficult to discover the real Cause of the +Cholic, I advise Country People to confine themselves to the three +following Remedies, which cannot be hurtful in any Sort of Cholic, and +may remove as many as are not of a violent Nature. First then, let +Glysters be frequently repeated. 2, Let the Patient drink warm Water +plentifully, or Elder Tea. 3, Let the Belly be often fomented in pretty +warm Water, which is the most preferable Fomentation of any. + +Sec. 314 I have said nothing here of the Use of any Oils in this Disease, +as they agree but in very few Species of Cholics, and not at all in +those of which I have been treating. For this Reason I advise a total +Disuse of them, since they may be of bad Consequence in many Respects. + +Sec. 315. Chronical Diseases not coming within the Plan of this Work, I +purposely forbear treating of any Kind of those tedious Cholics, which +afflict some People for many Years: but I think it my Duty to admonish +such, that their Torments being very generally occasioned by +Obstructions in the _Viscera_, or different Bowels of the Belly, or by +some other Fault, and more particularly in those Organs, which are +intended to prepare the Bile, they should, 1, avoid with the greatest +Care, the Use of sharp, hot, violent Medicines, Vomits, strong Purges, +Elixirs, _&c._ 2, They should be thoroughly on their Guard against all +those, who promise them a very speedy Cure, by the Assistance of some +specific Remedy; and ought to look upon them as Mountebanks, into whose +Hands it is highly dangerous to trust themselves. 3, They should be +persuaded, or rather convinced, that they can entertain no reasonable +Hope of being cured, without an exact Conformity to a proper and +judicious Regimen, and a long Perseverance in a Course of mild and safe +Remedies. 4, They should continually reflect with themselves, that there +is little Difficulty in doing them great Mischief; and that their +Complaints are of that Sort, which require the greatest Knowledge and +Prudence in those Persons, to whom the Treatment and Cure of them are +confided. + + + + + __Chapter XXII.__ + + + + _Of the Iliac Passion, and of the Cholera-morbus._ + + + __Sect.__ 316. + +These violent Diseases are fatal to many Country People, while their +Neighbours are frequently so ignorant of the Cause of their Death, that +Superstition has ascribed it to Poison, or to Witchcraft. + +Sec. 317. The first of these, the _Miserere_, or Iliac Passion, is one of +the most excruciating Distempers. If any Part of the Intestines, the +Cavity of the Guts is closed up, whatever may have occasioned it, the +Course or Descent of the Food they contain is necessarily stopped; in +which Case it frequently happens, that that continual Motion observed in +the Guts of a living Animal dissected, and which was intended to +detrude, or force their Contents downwards, is propagated in a directly +contrary Manner, from the Guts towards the Mouth. + +This Disease sometimes begins after a Constipation, or Costiveness, of +some Days; at other Times without that Costiveness having been preceded +by Pains in any Part of the Belly, especially around the Navel; but +which Pains, gradually increasing after their Commencement, at length +become extremely violent, and throw the Patient into excessive Anguish. +In some of these Cases a hard Tumour may be felt, which surrounds the +Belly like a Cord. The Flatulences within become very audible, some of +them are discharged upwards; in a little Time after, Vomitings come on, +which increase till the Patient has thrown up all he had taken in, with +a still further Augmentation of the excessive Pain. With the first of +his Vomitings he only brings up the last Food he had taken, with his +Drink and some yellowish Humour: but what comes up afterwards proves +stinking; and when the Disease is greatly heightened, they have what is +called the Smell of Excrement or Dung; but which rather resembles that +of a putrid dead Body. It happens too sometimes, that if the Sick have +taken Glysters composed of Materials of a strong Smell, the same Smell +is discernible in the Matter they vomit up. I confess however I never +saw either real Excrements, or the Substance of their Glysters, brought +up, much less the Suppositories that were introduced into the Fundament: +and were it credible that Instances of this Kind had occurred, they must +be allowed very difficult to account for. Throughout this whole Term of +the Disease, the Patient has not a single Discharge by Stool; the Belly +is greatly distended; the Urine not seldom suppressed, and at other +Times thick and foetid. The Pulse, which at first was pretty hard, +becomes quick and small; the Strength entirely vanishes; a Raving comes +on; a Hiccup almost constantly supervenes, and sometimes general +Convulsions; the Extremities grow cold, the Pulse scarcely perceivable; +the Pain and the Vomiting cease, and the Patient dies very quickly +after. + +Sec. 318. As this Disease is highly dangerous, the Moment it is strongly +apprehended, it is necessary to oppose it by proper Means and Remedies: +the smallest Error may be of fatal Consequence, and hot inflaming +Liquids have been known to kill the Patient in a few Hours. I was called +in the second Day of the Disease to a young Person, who had taken a good +deal of Venice Treacle: Nothing could afford her any Relief, and she +died early on the third Day. + +This Disease should be treated precisely in the same Manner as an +inflammatory Cholic; the principal Difference being, that in the former +there are no Stools, but continual Vomitings. + +1, First of all then the Patient should be plentifully bled, if the +Physician has been called in early enough, and before the Sick has lost +his Strength. + +2, He should receive opening Glysters made of a Decoction of Barley +Water, with five or six Ounces of Oil in each. + +3, We should endeavour to allay the violent Efforts to vomit, by giving +every two Hours a Spoonful of the Mixture No. 48. + +4, The Sick should drink plentifully, in very small Quantities, very +often repeated, of an appeasing, diluting, refreshing Drink, which tends +at the same Time to promote both Stools and Urine. Nothing is preferable +to the Whey No. 49, if it can be had immediately: if not, give simple +clear Whey sweetened with Honey, and the Drinks prescribed Sec. 298, Art. +3. + +5, The Patient is to be put into a warm Bath, and kept as long as he can +bear it, repeating it as often daily too, as his Strength will permit. + +6, After Bleeding, warm Bathing, repeated Glysters and Fomentations, if +each and all of these have availed nothing; the Fume or Smoak of Tobacco +may be introduced in the Manner of a Glyster, of which I shall speak +further, in the Chapter on Persons drowned. + +I cured a Person of this Disease, by conveying him into a Bath, +immediately after bleeding him, and giving him a Purge on his going into +the Bath. + +Sec. 319. If the Pain abates before the Patient has quite lost his +Strength; if the Pulse improves at the same Time; if the Vomitings are +less in Number, and in the Quantity of the Matter brought up; if that +Matter seems in a less putrid offensive State; if he feels some +Commotion and Rumbling in his Bowels; if he has some little Discharge by +Stool; and if at the same Time he feels himself a little stronger than +before, his Cure may reasonably be expected; but if he is otherwise +circumstanced he will soon depart. It frequently happens, a single Hour +before Death, that the Pain seems to vanish, and a surprising Quantity +of extremely foetid Matter is discharged by Stool: the Patient is +suddenly seized with a great Weakness and Sinking, falls into a cold +Sweat, and immediately expires. + +Sec. 320. This is the Disease which the common People attribute to, and +term, the _Twisting of the Guts_; and in which they make the Patients +swallow Bullets, or large Quantities of Quick-silver. This twisting, +tangling, or Knoting of the Guts is an utter, an impossible Chimera; for +how can they admit of such a Circumstance, as one of their Extremities, +their Ends, is connected to the Stomach, and the other irremoveably +fastened to the Skin of the Fork or Cleft of the Buttocks? In Fact this +Disease results from a Variety of Causes, which have been discovered on +a Dissection of those who have died of it. It were to be wished indeed +this prudent Custom, so extremely conducive to enrich, and to perfect, +the Art of Physick, were to prevail more generally; and which we ought +rather to consider as a Duty to comply with, than a Difficulty to submit +to; as it is our Duty to contribute to the Perfection of a Science, on +which the Happiness of Mankind so considerably depends. I shall not +enter into a Detail of these Causes; but whatever they are, the Practice +of swallowing Bullets in the Disease is always pernicious, and the like +Use of Mercury must be often so. Each of these pretended Remedies may +aggravate the Disease, and contribute an insurmountable Obstacle to the +Cure--Of that Iliac Passion, which is sometimes a Consequence of +Ruptures, I shall treat in another Place. + + + + _Of the Cholera-morbus._ + + +Sec. 321. This Disease is a sudden, abundant, and painful Evacuation by +vomiting and by Stool. + +It begins with much Flatulence, or Wind, with Swelling and slight Pains +in the Belly, accompanied with great Dejection; and followed with large +Evacuations either by Stool or by Vomit at first, but whenever either of +them has begun, the other quickly follows. The Matter evacuated is +either yellowish, green, brown, whitish, or black; the Pains in the +Belly violent; the Pulse, almost constantly feverish, is sometimes +strong at first, but soon sinks into Weakness, in Consequence of the +prodigious Discharge. Some Patients purge a hundred Times in the Compass +of a few Hours: they may even be seen to fall away; and if the Disease +exists in a violent Degree, they are scarcely to be known within three +or four Hours from the Commencement of these Discharges. After a great +Number of them they are afflicted with Spasms, or Cramps, in their Legs, +Thighs, and Arms, which torment them as much as the Pains in the Belly. +When the Disease rages too highly to be asswaged, Hiccups, Convulsions +and a Coldness of the Extremities approach; there is a scarcely +intermitting Succession of fainting, or swooning Fits, the Patient dying +either in one of them, or in Convulsions. + +Sec. 322. This Disease, which constantly depends on a Bile raised to the +highest Acrimony, commonly prevails towards the End of July and in +August: especially if the Heats have been very violent, and there have +been little or no Summer Fruits, which greatly conduce to attempt: and +allay the putrescent Acrimony of the Bile. + +Sec. 323. Nevertheless, however violent this Distemper may be, it is less +dangerous, and also less tormenting than the former, many Persons +recovering from it. + +1, Our first Endeavour should be to dilute, or even to drown this acrid +Bile, by Draughts, by Deluges, of the most mitigating Drinks; the +irritation being so very great, that every Thing having the least +Sharpness is injurious. Wherefore the patient should continually take +in, by Drink, and by Way of Glyster, either Barley-Water, Almond-Milk, +or pure Water, with one eighth Part Milk, which has succeeded very well +in my Practice. Or he may use a very light Decoction, or Ptisan, as it +were, of Bread, which is made by gently boiling a Pound of toasted +Bread, in three or four Pots of Water for half an Hour. In _Swisserland_ +we prefer Oat bread. We also successfully use pounded Rye, making a +light Ptisan of it. + +A very light thin Soup made of a Pullet, a Chicken, or of one Pound of +lean Veal, in three Pots of Water, is very proper too in this Disease. +Whey is also employed to good Purpose; and in those Places, where it can +easily be had, Butter-milk is the best Drink of any. But, whichever of +these Drinks shall be thought preferable, it is a necessary Point to +drink very plentifully of it; and the Glysters should be given every two +Hours. + +2, If the Patient is of a robust Constitution, and sanguine Complexion, +with a strong Pulse at the Time of the Attack, and the Pains are very +severe, a first, and in some Cases, a second Bleeding, very early in the +Invasion, asswages the Violence of the Malady, and allows more Leisure +for the Assistance of other Remedies. I have seen the Vomiting cease +almost entirely, after the first Bleeding. + +The Rage of this Disease abates a little after a Duration of five or six +Hours: we must not however, during this Remission or Abatement, forbear +to throw in proper Remedies; since it returns soon after with great +Force, which Return however indicates no Alteration of the Method +already entered upon. + +3, In general the warm Bath refreshes the Patient while he continues in +it; but the Pains frequently return soon after he is taken out, which, +however, is no Reason for omitting it, since it has frequently been +found to give a more durable Relief. The Patient should continue in it a +considerable Time, and, during that Time, he should take six or seven +Glasses of the Potion No. 32, which has been very efficacious in this +Disease. By these Means the Vomiting has been stopt; and the Patient, +upon going out of the Bath, has had several large Stools, which very +considerably diminished the Violence of the Disease. + +4, If the Patient's Attendants are terrified by these great Evacuations, +and determine to check them (however prematurely) by Venice Treacle, +Mint Water, Syrup of white Poppies, called Diacodium, by Opium or +Mithridate, it either happens, that the Disease and all its Symptoms are +heightened, to which I have been a Witness; or, if the Evacuations +should actually be stopt, the Patient, in Consequence of it, is thrown +into a more dangerous Condition. I have been obliged to give a Purge, in +order to renew the Discharges, to a Man, who had been thrown into a +violent Fever, attended with a raging _Delirium_, by a Medicine composed +of Venice Treacle, Mithridate and Oil. Such Medicines ought not to be +employed, until the Smallness of the Pulse, great Weakness, violent and +almost continual Cramps, and even the Insufficience of the Patient's +Efforts to vomit, make us apprehensive of his sinking irrecoverably. In +such Circumstances indeed he should take, every Quarter or half Quarter +of an Hour, a Spoonful of the Mixture No. 50, still continuing the +diluting Drinks. After the first Hour, they should only be given every +Hour, and that only to the Extent of eight Doses. But I desire to insist +upon it here, that this Medicine should not be given too early in this +Distemper. + +Sec. 324. If the Patient is likely to recover, the Pains and the +Evacuations gradually abate; the Thirst is less; the Pulse continues +very quick, but it becomes regular. There have been Instances of their +Propensity to a heavy kind of Drowsiness at this Time; for perfect +refreshing Sleep advances but slowly after this Disease. It will still +be proper to persevere in the Medicines already directed, though +somewhat less frequently. And now we may begin to allow the Patient a +few Soups from farinaceous mealy Substances; and as soon as the +Evacuations accompanying this Disease are evidently ceased, and the +Pains are vanished; though an acute Sensibility and great Weakness +continues, beside such Soups, he may be allowed some new-laid Eggs, very +lightly boiled, or even raw, for some Days. After this he must be +referred to the Regimen so frequently recommended to Persons in a State +of Recovery: when the concurring Use of the Powder No. 24, taken twice a +Day, will greatly assist to hasten and to establish his Health. + + + + + __Chapter XXIII.__ + + + _Of a Diarrhoea, or Looseness._ + + + __Sect.__ 325. + +Every one knows what is meant by a Looseness or Purging, which the +Populace frequently call a Flux, and sometimes a Cholic. + +There are certain very chronical, or tedious and obstinate ones, which +arise from some essential Fault in the Constitution. Of such, as foreign +to my Plan, I shall say nothing. + +Those which come on suddenly, without any preceding Disorder, except +sometimes a slight Qualm or short Loathing, and a Pain in the Loins and +Knees; which are not attended with smart Pains nor a Fever (and +frequently without any Pain, or any other Complaint) are oftener of +Service than prejudicial. They carry off a Heap of Matter that may have +been long amassed and corrupted in the Body; which, if not discharged, +might have produced some Distemper; and, far from weakening the Body, +such Purgings as these render it more strong, light and active. + +Sec. 326. Such therefore ought by no Means to be stopped, nor even speedily +checked: they generally cease of themselves, as soon as all the noxious +Matter is discharged; and as they require no Medicine, it is only +necessary to retrench considerably from the ordinary Quantity of +Nourishment; to abstain from Flesh, Eggs and Wine or other strong Drink; +to live only on some Soups, on Pulse, or on a little Fruit, whether raw +or baked, and to drink rather less than usual. A simple Ptisan with a +little Syrup of _Capillaire_, or Maiden-hair, is sufficient in these +Purgings, which require no Venice Treacle, Confection, nor any Drug +whatever. + +Sec. 327. But should it continue more than five or six Days, and manifestly +weaken the Patient; if the Pain attending it grows a little severe; and +especially if the Irritation, the urging to Stool, proves more frequent, +it becomes seasonable to check, or to stop, it. For this Purpose the +Patient is to be put into a Regimen; and if the Looseness has been +accompanied with a great Loathing, with Risings or Wamblings at Stomach, +with a foul furred Tongue, and a bad Taste in the Mouth, he must take +the Powder No. 35. But if these Symptoms do not appear, give him that of +No. 51: and during the three following Hours, let him take, every half +Hour, a Cup of weak light Broth, without any Fat on it. + +If the Purging, after being restrained by this Medicine, should return +within a few Days, it would strongly infer, there was still some tough +viscid Matter within, that required Evacuation. To effect this he should +take the Medicines No. 21, 25 or 27; and afterwards take fasting, for +two successive Mornings, half the Powder, No. 51. + +On the Evening of that Day when the Patient took No. 35, or No. 51, or +any other Purge, he may take a small Dose of Venice Treacle. + +Sec. 328. A Purging is often neglected for a long Time, without observing +the least Regimen, from which Neglect they degenerate into tedious and +as it were habitual, perpetual ones, and entirely weaken the Patient. In +such Cases, the Medicine No. 35 should be given first; then, every other +Day for four Times successively, he should take No. 51: during all which +Time he should live on nothing but Panada (See Sec. 57) or on Rice boiled +in weak Chicken-broth. A strengthing stomachic Plaister has sometimes +been successfully applied, which may be often moistened in a Decoction +of Herbs boiled in Wine. Cold and Moisture should be carefully avoided +in these Cases, which frequently occasion immediate Relapses, even after +the Looseness had ceased for many Days. + + + + + __Chapter XXIV.__ + + + _Of the Dysentery, or Bloody-flux._ + + + __Sect.__ 329. + +The Dysentery is a Flux or Looseness of the Belly, attended with great +Restlessness and Anguish, with severe Gripings, and frequent +Propensities to go to Stool. There is generally a little Blood in the +Stools, though this is not a constant Symptom, and is not essential to +the Existence of a Dysentery; notwithstanding it may not be much less +dangerous, for the Absence of this Symptom. + +Sec. 330. The Dysentery is often epidemical; beginning sometimes at the End +of July, though oftner in August, and going off when the Frosts set in. +The great preceding Heats render the Blood and the Bile acrid or sharp; +and though, during the Continuance of the Heat, Perspiration is kept up +(See Introduct. P. 28) yet as soon as the Heat abates, especially in the +Mornings and Evenings, that Discharge is diminished; and by how much the +more Viscidity or Thickness the Humours have acquired, in Consequence of +the violent Heats, the Discharge of the sharp Humour by Perspiration +being now checked, it is thrown upon the Bowels which it irritates, +producing Pains in, and Evacuations from them. + +This Kind of Dysentery may happen at all Times, and in all Countries; +but if other Causes, capable of producing a Putridity of the Humours, be +complicated with it; such as the crouding up a great Number of People +into very little Room, and very close Quarters, as in Hospitals, Camps, +or Prisons, this introduces a malignant Principle into the Humours, +which, co-operating with the simpler Cause of the Dysentery, renders it +the more difficult and dangerous. + +Sec. 331. This Disease begins with a general Coldness rather than a +Shivering, which lasts some Hours; the Patient's Strength soon abates, +and he feels sharp Pains in his Belly, which sometimes continue for +several Hours, before the Flux begins. He is affected with _Vertigos_, +or Swimmings in the Head, with Reachings to vomit, and grows pale; his +Pulse at the same Time being very little, if at all, feverish, but +commonly small, and at length the Purging begins. The first Stools are +often thin, and yellowish; but in a little Time they are mixt with a +viscid ropy Matter, which is often tinged with Blood. Their Colour and +Consistence are various too, being either brown, greenish or black, +thinner or thicker, and foetid: The Pains increase before each of the +Discharges, which grow very frequent, to the Number of eight, ten, +twelve or fifteen in an Hour: then the Fundament becomes considerably +irritated, and the _Tenesmus_ (which is a great Urgency to go to Stool, +though without any Effect) is joined to the Dysentery or Flux, and often +brings on a Protrusion or falling down of the Fundament, the Patient +being now most severely afflicted. Worms are sometimes voided, and +glairy hairy Humours, resembling Pieces or Peelings of Guts, and +sometimes Clots of Blood. + +If the Distemper rises to a violent Height, the Guts become inflamed, +which terminates either in Suppuration or in Mortification; the +miserable Patient discharges _Pus_, or black and foetid watery Stools: +the Hiccup supervenes; he grows delirious; his Pulse sinks; and he falls +into cold Sweats and Faintings which terminate in Death. + +A kind of Phrenzy, or raging _Delirium_, sometimes comes on before the +Minute of Expiration. I have seen a very unusual Symptom accompany this +Disease in two Persons, which was an Impossibility of swallowing, for +three Days before Death. + +But in general this Distemper is not so extremely violent; the +Discharges are less frequent, being from twenty-five to forty within a +Day and Night. Their Contents are less various and uncommon, and mixed +with very little Blood; the Patient retains more Strength; the Number of +Stools gradually decrease; the Blood disappears; the Consistence of the +Discharges improves; Sleep and Appetite return, and the Sick recovers. + +Many of the Sick have not the least Degree of Fever, nor of Thirst, +which perhaps is less common in this Disease, than in a simple Purging +or Looseness. + +Their Urine sometimes is but in a small Quantity; and many Patients have +ineffectual Endeavours to pass it, to their no small Affliction and +Restlessness. + +Sec. 332. The most efficacious Remedy for this Disease is a Vomit. That of +No. 34, (when there is no present Circumstance that forbids the giving a +Vomit) if taken immediately on the first Invasion of it, often removes +it at once; and always shortens its Duration. That of No. 35 is not less +effectual; it has been considered for a long Time, even as a certain +Specific, which it is not, though a very useful Medicine. If the Stools +prove less frequent after the Operation of either of them, it is a good +Sign; if they are no Ways diminished, we may apprehend the Disease is +like to be tedious and obstinate. + +The Patient is to be ordered to a Regimen, abstaining from all +Flesh-meat with the strictest Attention, until the perfect Cure of the +Disease. The Ptisan No. 3 is the best Drink for him. + +The Day after the Vomit, he must take the Powder No. 51 divided into two +Doses: the next Day he should take no other Medicine but his Ptisan; on +the fourth the Rhubarb must be repeated; after which the Violence of the +Disease commonly abates: His Diet during the Disease is nevertheless to +be continued exactly for some Days; after which he may be allowed to +enter upon that of Persons in a State of Recovery. + +Sec. 333. The Dysentery sometimes commences with an inflammatory Fever; a +feverish, hard, full Pulse, with a violent Pain in the Head and Loins, +and a stiff distended Belly. In such a Case the Patient must be bled +once; and daily receive three or even four of the Glysters No. 6, +drinking plentifully of the Drink No. 3. + +When all Dread of an Inflammation is entirely over, the Patient is to be +treated in the Manner just related; though often there is no Necessity +for the Vomit: and if the inflammatory Symptoms have run high, his first +Purge should be that of No. 11, and the Use of the Rhubarb may be +postponed, till about the manifest Conclusion of the Disease. + +I have cured many Dysenteries, by ordering the Sick no other Remedy, but +a Cup of warm Water every Quarter of an Hour; and it were better to rely +only on this simple Remedy, which must be of some Utility, than to +employ those, of whose Effects Country People are ignorant, and which +are often productive of very dangerous ones. + +Sec. 334. It sometimes happens that the Dysentery is combined with a putrid +Fever, which makes it necessary, after the Vomit, to give the Purges No. +23 or 47, and several Doses of No. 24, before the Rhubarb is given. No. +32 is excellent in this combined Case. + +There was in _Swisserland_ in the Autumn of 1755, after a very numerous +Prevalence of epidemical putrid Fevers had ceased, a Multitude of +Dysenteries, which had no small Affinity with, or Relation to, such +Fevers. I treated them first, with the Prescription No. 34, giving +afterwards No. 32; and I directed the Rhubarb only to very few, and that +towards the Conclusion of the Disease. By much the greater Number of +them were cured at the End of four or five Days. A small Proportion of +them, to whom I could not give the Vomit, or whose Cases were more +complicated, remained languid a considerable Time, though without +Fatality or Danger. + +Sec. 335. When the Dysentery is blended with Symptoms of Malignity (See Sec. +245) after premising the Prescription No. 35, those of No. 38 and 39 may +be called in successfully. + +Sec. 336. When the Disease has already been of many Days standing, without +the Patient's having taken any Medicines, or only such as were injurious +to him, he must be treated as if the Distemper had but just commenced; +unless some Symptoms, foreign to the Nature of the Dysentery, had +supervened upon it. + +Sec. 337. Relapses sometimes occur in Dysenteries, some few Days after the +Patients appeared well; much the greater Number of which are occasioned +either by some Error in Diet, by cold Air, or by being considerably +over-heated. They are to be prevented by avoiding these Causes of them; +and may be removed by putting the Patient on his Regimen, and giving him +one Dose of the Prescription No. 51. Should it return even without any +such discoverable Causes, and if it manifests itself to be the same +Distemper renewed, it must be treated as such. + +Sec. 338. This Disease is sometimes combined too with an intermitting +Fever; in which Case the Dysentery must be removed first, and the +intermittent afterwards. Nevertheless if the Access, the Fits of the +Fever have been very strong, the Bark must be given as directed Sec. 259. + +Sec. 339. One pernicious Prejudice, which still generally prevails is, that +Fruits are noxious in a Dysentery, that they even give it, and aggravate +it; and this perhaps is an extremely ill-grounded one. In truth bad +Fruits, and such as have not ripened well, in unseasonable Years, may +really occasion Cholics, a Looseness (though oftner a Costiveness) and +Disorders of the Nerves, and of the Skin; but never can occasion an +epidemical Dysentery or Flux. Ripe Fruits, of whatever Species, and +especially Summer Fruits, are the real Preservatives from this Disease. +The greatest Mischief they can effect, must result from their thinning +and washing down the Humours, especially the thick glutinous Bile, if +they are in such a State; good ripe Fruits being the true Dissolvents of +such; by which indeed they may bring on a Purging, but such a one, as is +rather a Guard against a Dysentery. + +We had a great, an extraordinary Abundance of Fruit in 1759 and 1760, +but scarcely any Dysenteries. It has been even observed to be more rare, +and less dangerous than formerly; and if the Fact is certain, it cannot +be attributed to any thing more probably, than to the very numerous +Plantations of Trees, which have rendered Fruit very plenty, cheap and +common. Whenever I have observed Dysenteries to prevail, I made it a +Rule to eat less Flesh, and Plenty of Fruit; I have never had the +slightest Attack of one; and several Physicians use the same Caution +with the same Success. + +I have seen eleven Patients in a Dysentery in one House, of whom nine +were very tractable; they eat Fruit and recovered. The Grandmother and +one Child, whom she loved more than the rest, were carried off. She +managed the Child after her own Fashion, with burnt Wine, Oil, and some +Spices, but no Fruit. She conducted herself in the very same Manner, and +both died. + +In a Country Seat near _Berne_, in the Year 1751, when these Fluxes made +great Havock, and People were severely warned against the Use of Fruits, +out of eleven Persons in the Family, ten eat plentifully of Prunes, and +not one of them was seized with it: The poor Coachman alone rigidly +observed that Abstinence from Fruit injoined by this Prejudice, and took +a terrible Dysentery. + +This same Distemper had nearly destroyed a Swiss Regiment in Garrison in +the South of _France_; the Captains purchased the whole Crop of several +Acres of Vineyard; there they carried the sick Soldiers, and gathered +the Grapes for such as could not bear being carried into the Vineyard; +those who were well eating nothing else: after this not one more died, +nor were any more even attacked with the Dysentery. + +A Clergyman was seized with a Dysentery, which was not in the least +mitigated by any Medicines he had taken. By meer Chance he saw some red +Currans; he longed for them, and eat three Pounds of them between seven +and nine o'Clock in the Morning; that very Day he became better, and was +entirely well on the next. + +I could greatly enlarge the Number of such Instances; but these may +suffice to convince the most incredulous, whom I thought it might be of +some Importance to convince. Far from forbidding good Fruit, when +Dysenteries rage, the Patients should be encouraged to eat them freely; +and the Directors of the Police, instead of prohibiting them, ought to +see the Markets well provided with them. It is a Fact of which Persons, +who have carefully informed themselves, do not in the least doubt. +Experience demonstrates it, and it is founded in Reason, as good Fruit +counter-operates all the Causes of Dysenteries. [77] + +[77] The Experience of all Countries and Times so strongly confirms + these important Truths, that they cannot be too often repeated, too + generally published, whenever and wherever this Disease rages. The + Succession of cold Showers to violent Heats; too moist a + Constitution of the Air; an Excess of animal Food; Uncleanliness + and Contagion, are the frequent Causes of epidemical Fluxes. _E. + L._ + + I have retained the preceding Note, abridged from this Gentleman, + as it contains the Suffrage of another experienced Physician, + against that Prejudice of ripe Fruits occasioning Fluxes, which is + too popular among ourselves, and probably more so in the Country + than in _London_. I have been also very credibly assured, that the + Son of a learned Physician was perfectly cured of a very obstinate + Purging, of a Year's Continuance (in Spite of all the usual + officinal Remedies) by his devouring large Quantities of ripe + Mulberries, for which he ardently longed, and drinking very freely + of their expressed Juice. The Fact occurred after his Father's + Decease, and was affirmed to me by a Gentleman intimately + acquainted with them both. _K._ + +Sec. 340. It is important and even necessary, that each Subject of this +Disease should have a Close-stool or Convenience apart to himself, as +the Matter discharged is extremely infectious: and if they make Use of +Bed-pans, they should be carried immediately out of the Chamber, the Air +of which should be continually renewed, burning Vinegar frequently in +it. + +It is also very necessary to change the Patient's Linen frequently; +without all which Precautions the Distemper becomes more violent, and +attacks others who live in the same House. Hence it is greatly to be +wished the People in general were convinced of these Truths. + +It was _Boerhaave's_ Opinion, that all the Water which was drank, while +Dysenteries were epidemical, should be _stummed_, as we term it, or +sulphurized. [78] + +[78] Our learned Author, or his medical Editor at _Lyons_, observes + here, 'that in the Edition of this Treatise at _Paris_, there was + an essential Mistake, by making _Boerhaave_ recommend the Addition + of Brandy, _Eau de vie_, instead of stumming or sulphurizing it,' + for which this Note, and the Text too use the Verb _branter_, which + Word we do not find in any Dictionary. We are told however, it + means to impregnate the Casks in which the Water is reserved, with + the Vapour of Sulphur, and then stopping them; in the same Manner + that Vessels are in some Countries, for the keeping of Wine. He + observes the Purpose of this is to oppose Corruption by the acid + Steams of the Sulphur. _K._ + +Sec. 341. It has happened, by some unaccountable Fatality, that there is no +Disease, for which a greater Number of Remedies are advised, than for +the Dysentery. There is scarcely any Person but what boasts of his own +Prescription, in Preference to all the rest, and who does not boldly +engage to cure, and that within a few Hours, a tedious severe Disease, +of which he has formed no just Notion, with some Medicine or +Composition, of whose Operation he is totally ignorant: while the poor +Sufferer, restless and impatient, swallows every Body's Recommendation, +and gets poisoned either through Fear, downright Disgust or Weariness, +or through entire Complaisance. Of these many boasted Compositions, some +are only indifferent, but others pernicious. I shall not pretend to +detail all I know myself, but after repeatedly affirming, that the only +true Method of Cure is that I have advised here, the Purpose of which is +evacuating the offending Matter; I also affirm that all those Methods, +which have a different Scope or Drift, are pernicious; but shall +particularly observe, that the Method most generally followed, which is +that of stopping the Stools by Astringents, or by Opiates, is the worst +of all, and even so mortal a one, as to destroy a Multitude of People +annually, and which throws others into incurable Diseases. By preventing +the Discharge of these Stools, and inclosing the Wolf in the Fold, it +either follows, 1, that this [79] retained Matter irritates and inflames +the Bowels from which Inflammation excruciating Pains arise, an acute +inflammatory Cholic, and finally a Mortification and Death; or a +_Schirrhus_, which degenerates into a _Cancer_, (of which I have seen a +dreadful Instance) or else an Abscess, Suppuration and Ulcer. Or 2, this +arrested Humour is repelled elsewhere, producing a _Scirrhus_ in the +Liver, or Asthmas, Apoplexy, Epilepsy, or Falling Sickness; horrible +rheumatic Pains, or incurable Disorders of the Eyes, or of the +Teguments, the Skin and Surface. + +[79] A first or second Dose of Glauber Salt has been known to succeed in + the epidemical Summer Fluxes of the hotter Climates, when repeated + Doses of Rhubarb and Opiates had failed. Such Instances seems a + collateral Confirmation of Dr. _Tissot's_ rational and successful + Use of cooling opening Fruits in them. _K._ + +Such are the Consequences of all the astringent Medicines, and of those +which are given to procure Sleep in this Disease, as Venice Treacle, +Mithridate and Diascordium, when given too early in Dysenteries. + +I have been consulted on Account of a terrible Rheumatism, which ensued +immediately after taking a Mixture of Venice Treacle and Plantain, on +the second Day of a Dysentery. + +As those who advise such Medicines, are certainly unaware of their +Consequences, I hope this Account of them will be sufficient, to prevent +their Repetition. + +Sec. 342. Neither are Purges without their Abuse and Danger; they determine +the Course of all the Humours more violently to the tender afflicted +Parts; the Body becomes exhausted; the Digestions fail; the Bowels are +weakened, and sometimes even lightly ulcerated, whence incurable +_Diarrhoeas_ or Purgings ensue, and prove fatal after many Years +Affliction. + +Sec. 343. If the Evacuations prove excessive, and the Distemper tedious, +the Patient is likely to fall into a Dropsy; but if this is immediately +opposed, it may be removed by a regular and drying Diet, by +Strengthners, by Friction and proper Exercise. + + + + + __Chapter XXV.__ + + + _Of the Itch._ + + + __Sect.__ 344. + +The Itch is an infectious Disorder contracted by touching infected +Persons or Cloaths, but not imbibed from the Air: So that by carefully +avoiding the _Medium_, or Means of Contagion, the Disorder may be +certainly escaped. + +Though any Part of the Body may be infested with the Itch, it commonly +shews itself on the Hands, and chiefly between the Fingers. At first one +or two little Pimples or Pustules appear, filled with a kind of clear +Water, and excite a very disagreeable Itching. If these Pustules are +broke by scratching them, the Water oozing from them infects the +neighbouring Parts. At the Beginning of this Infection it can scarcely +be distinguished, if a Person is not well apprized of its Nature; but in +the Progress of it, the little Pustules increase both in Number and +Size; and when they are opened by scratching, a loathsome kind of Scab +is formed, and the Malady extends over the whole Surface. Where they +continue long, they produce small Ulcers, and are at that Time highly +contagious. + +Sec. 345. Bad Diet, particularly the Use of Salt Meat, bad unripe Fruit, +and Uncleanliness occasion this Disease; though it is oftnest taken by +Contagion. Some very good Physicians suppose it is never contracted +otherwise; but I must take Leave to dissent, as I have certainly seen it +exist without Contagion. + +When it happens to a Person, who cannot suspect he has received it by +Contact, his Cure should commence with a total Abstinence from all Salt, +sour, fat and spicy Food. He should drink a Ptisan of wild and bitter +Succory, or that of No. 26, five or six Glasses of which may be daily +taken; at the End of four or five Days, he may be purged with No. 21, or +with an Ounce of _Sedlitz_ [or _Epsom_] Salt. His Abstinence, his +Regimen is to be continued; the Purge to be repeated after six or seven +Days; and then all the Parts affected, and those very near them, are to +be rubbed in the Morning fasting, with a fourth Part of the Ointment No. +52. The three following Days the same Friction is to be repeated, after +which the same Quantity of Ointment is to be procured, and used in the +same Proportion; but only every other Day. It happens but seldom that +this Method fails to remove this disagreeable Malady; sometimes however +it will return, in which Case, the Patient must be purged again, and +then recur to the Ointment, whose good Effects I have experienced, and +continually do. + +If the Disease has been very lately contracted, and most certainly by +Contact, the Ointment may be fearlessly employed, as soon as it is +discovered, without taking any Purge before it. But if, on the contrary, +the Disease has been long neglected, and has rose to a high Degree, it +will be necessary to restrain the Patient a long Time to the Regimen I +have directed; he must be repeatedly purged, and then drink plentifully +of the Ptisan No. 26, before the Ointment is rubbed in. When the Malady +is thus circumstanced, I have always begun with the Ointment No. 28, +half a Quarter of which is to be used every Morning. I have also +frequently omitted the Use of that No. 52, having always found the +former as certain, but a little slower in its Effects. + +Sec. 346. While these Medicines are employed, the Patient must avoid all +Cold and Wet, especially if he makes Use of No. 28, [80] in which there +is Quick-silver; which, if such Precautions were neglected, might bring +on a Swelling of the Throat and Gums, and even rise to a Salivation. Yet +this Ointment has one Advantage in its having no Smell, and being +susceptible of an agreeable one; while it is very difficult to disguise +the disagreeable Odour of the other. + +The Linen of a Person in this Disease ought to be often changed; but his +upper Cloaths must not be changed: because these having been infected, +might, when worn again, communicate the Itch to the Wearer again, after +he had been cured. + +Shirts, Breeches and Stockings may be fumigated with Sulphur, before +they are put on; and this Fumigation should be made in the open Air. + +[80] I have seen a pretty singular Consequence from the Abuse of + mercurial Unction for the Itch; whether it happened from the + Strength or Quantity of the Ointment, or from taking Cold after + applying it, as this Subject, a healthy Youth of about sixteen, + probably did, by riding three or four Miles through the Rain. But + without any other previous Complaint, he awoke quite blind one + Morning, wondering, as he said, when it would be Day. His Eyes were + very clear, and free from Inflammation, but the Pupil was wholly + immoveable, as in a _Gutta serena_. I effected the Cure by some + moderate Purges repeated a few Times; by disposing him to sweat by + lying pretty much in Bed (it being towards Winter) and by promoting + his Perspiration, chiefly with Sulphur: after which the shaved + Scalp was embrocated with a warm nervous Mixture, in which Balsam + of _Peru_ was a considerable Ingredient. In something less than + three Weeks he could discern a glowing Fire, or the bright Flame of + a Candle. As his Sight increased, he discerned other Objects, which + appeared for some Days inverted to him, with their Colours + confused; but Red was most distinguishable. He discovered the Aces + sooner than other Cards; and in about six or seven Weeks recovered + his full Sight in all its natural Strength, which he now enjoys. + _K._ + +Sec. 347. If this Disorder becomes very inveterate and tedious, it exhausts +the Patient, in Consequence of its not suffering him to sleep at Nights, +as well as by his restless Irritation; and sometimes even brings on a +Fever, so that he falls away in Flesh, and his Strength abates. + +In such a Case he must take, 1, a gentle Purge. + +2, Make Use frequently of warm Baths. + +3, He must be put on the Regimen of Persons in a State of Recovery. + +4, He must take Morning and Evening, fifteen Days successively, the +Powder No. 53, with the Ptisan No. 26. + +This Malady is often very obstinate, and then the Medicines must be +varied according to the Circumstances, the Detail of which I avoid here. + +Sec. 348. After giving repeated Purges in such obstinate Cases, mineral +Waters abounding with Sulphur, such as [81] those of _Yverdun_, &c. +often effect a Cure; and simple cold Bathings in Rivers or Lakes have +sometimes succeeded in very inveterate Cases of this Disorder. + +[81] Sea water, and those of _Dulwich_, _Harrigate_, _Shadwell_, &c. + will be full as effectual. _K._ + +Nothing conduces more to the long Continuance of this Malady, than the +Abuse of hot Waters, such as infusions of Tea, &c. + +Sec. 349. I shall conclude this Chapter, with a repeated Injunction not to +be too free or rash in the Use of the Ointment No. 52, and other outward +Remedies for extinguishing the Itch. There is hardly any Complaint, but +what has been found to be the Consequence of too sudden a Removal of +this Disorder by outward Applications, before due Evacuations have been +made, and a moderate Abatement of the Sharpness of the Humours has been +effected. + + + + + __Chapter XXVI.__ + + + + _The Treatment of Diseases peculiar to Women._ + + + __Sect.__ 350. + +Besides all the preceding Diseases, to which Women are liable in common +with Men, their Sex also exposes them to others peculiar to it, and +which depend upon four principal Sources; which are their monthly +Discharges, their Pregnancy, their Labours in Child-birth, and the +Consequences of their Labours. It is not my present Design to treat +professedly on each of the Diseases arising from these Causes, which +would require a larger Volume than I have proposed; but I shall confine +myself to certain general Directions on these four Heads. + +Sec. 351. Nature, who intended Women for the Increase, and the Nourishment +of the human Race at the Breast, has subjected them to a periodical +Efflux, or Discharge, of Blood: which Circumstance constitutes the +Source, from whence the Infant is afterwards to receive his Nutrition +and Growth. + +This Discharge generally commences, with us, between the Age of sixteen +and eighteen. Young Maidens, before the Appearance of this Discharge, +are frequently, and many for a long Time, in a State of Weakness, +attended with various Complaints, which is termed the _Chlorosis_, or +Green Sickness, and Obstructions: and when their Appearance is extremely +slow and backward, it occasions very grievous, and sometimes even mortal +Diseases. Nevertheless it is too usual, though very improper, to ascribe +all the Evils, to which they are subject at this Term of Life, solely to +this Cause; while they really often result from a different Cause, of +which the Obstructions themselves are sometimes only the Effect; and +this is the natural, and, in some Degree, even necessary Feebleness of +the Sex. The Fibres of Women which are intended to be relaxed, and to +give Way, when they are unavoidably extended by the Growth of the Child, +and its inclosing Membranes (which frequently arise to a very +considerable Size) should necessarily be less stiff and rigid, less +strong, and more lax and yielding than the Fibres of Men. Hence the +Circulation of their Blood is more slow and languid than in Males; their +Blood is less compact and dense, and more watery; their Fluids are more +liable to stagnate in their different Bowels, and to form Infarctions +and Obstructions. + +Sec. 352. The Disorders to which such a Constitution subjects them might, +in some Measure, be prevented, by assisting that Languor or Feebleness +of their natural Movements, by such an Increase of their Force, as +Exercise might contribute to: But this Assistance, which in some Manner +is more necessary for Females than Males, they are partly deprived of, +by the general Education and Habitude of the Sex; as they are usually +employed in managing Household Business, and such light sedentary Work, +as afford them less Exercise and Motion, than the more active +Occupations of Men. They stir about but little, whence their natural +Tendency to Weakness increases from Habit, and thence becomes morbid and +sickly. Their Blood circulates imperfectly; its Qualities become +impaired; the Humours tend to a pretty general Stagnation; and none of +the vital Functions are completely discharged. + +From such Causes and Circumstances they begin to sink into a State of +Weakness, sometimes while they are very young, and many Years before +this periodical Discharge could be expected. This State of Languor +disposes them to be inactive; a little Exercise soon fatigues them, +whence they take none at all. It might prove a Remedy, and even effect a +Cure, at the Beginning of their Complaint; but as it is a Remedy, that +is painful and disagreeable to them, they reject it, and thus increase +their Disorders. + +Their Appetite declines with the other vital Functions, and gradually +becomes still less; the usual salutary Kinds of Food never exciting it; +instead of which they indulge themselves in whimsical Cravings, and +often of the oddest and most improper Substances for Nutrition, which +entirely impair the Stomach with its digestive Functions, and +consequently Health itself. + +But sometimes after the Duration of this State for a few Years, the +ordinary Time of their monthly Evacuations approaches, which however +make not the least Appearance, for two Reasons. The first is, that their +Health is too much impaired to accomplish this new Function, at a Time +when all the others are so languid: and the second is, that under such +Circumstances, the Evacuations themselves are unnecessary; since their +final Purpose is to discharge (when the Sex are not pregnant) that +superfluous Blood, which they were intended to produce, and whose +Retention would be unhealthy, when not applied to the Growth of the +Foetus, or Nourishment of the Child: and this Superfluity of Blood does +not exist in Women, who have been long in a very low and languishing +State. + +Sec. 353. Their Disorder however continues to increase, as every one daily +must, which does not terminate. This Increase of it is attributed to the +Suppression or Non-appearance of their monthly Efflux, which is often +erroneous; since the Disorder is not always owing to that Suppression, +which is often the Effect of their Distemperature. This is so true, that +even when the Efflux happens, if their Weakness still continues, the +Patients are far from being the better for it, but the reverse. Neither +is it unusual to see young Lads, who have received from Nature, and from +their Parents, a sort of feminine Constitution, Education and Habitude, +infested with much the same Symptoms, as obstructed young Women. + +Country Girls, who are generally more accustomed to such hardy Work and +Exercise as Country Men, are less subject to these Complaints, than +Women who live in Cities. + +Sec. 354. Let People then be careful not to deceive themselves on this +important Account; since all the Complaints of young Maidens are not +owing to the Want of their Customs. Nevertheless it is certain there are +some of them, who are really afflicted from this Cause. For Instance, +when a strong young Virgin in full Health, who is nearly arrived to her +full Growth, and who manifestly abounds with Blood, does not obtain this +Discharge at the usual Time of Life, then indeed this superfluous Blood +is the Fountain of very many Disorders, and greatly more violent ones +than those, which result from the contrary Causes already mentioned. + +If the lazy inactive City Girls are more subject to the Obstructions, +which either arise from the Weakness and Languor I have formerly taken +Notice of, or which accompany it; Country Girls are more subject to +Complaints from this latter Cause (too great a Retention of superfluous +Blood) than Women who live in Cities: and it is this last Cause that +excites those singular Disorders, which appear so supernatural to the +common People, that they ascribe them to Sorcery. + +Sec. 355. And even after these periodical Discharges have appeared, it is +known that they have often been suppressed, without the least unhealthy +Consequence resulting from that Suppression. They are often suppressed, +in the Circumstances mentioned Sec. 351, by a Continuance of the Disease, +which was first an Obstacle or Retardment to their Appearance; and in +other Cases, they have been suppressed by other Causes, such as Cold, +Moisture, violent Fear, any very strong Passion; by too chilly a Course +of Diet, with Indigestion; or too hot and irritating Diet; by Drinks +cooled with Ice, by Exercise too long continued, and by unusual +Watching. The Symptoms, occasioned by such Suppressions, are sometimes +more violent than those, which preceded the first Appearance of the +Discharge. + +Sec. 356. The great Facility with which this Evacuation may be suppressed, +diminished, or disordered, by the Causes already assigned; the terrible +Evils which are the Consequences of such Interruptions and +Irregularities of them, seem to me very cogent Reasons to engage the Sex +to use all possible Care, in every Respect, to preserve the Regularity +of them; by avoiding, during their Approach and Continuance, every Cause +that may prevent or lessen them. Would they be thoroughly persuaded, not +solely by my Advice, but by that of their Mothers, their Relations, +their Friends, and by their own Experience, of what great Importance it +is to be very attentive to themselves, at those critical Times, I think +there is not one Woman, who from the first, to the very last Appearance +of them, would not conduct herself with the most scrupulous Regularity. + +Their Demeanour, in these Circumstances, very fundamentally interests +their own Health, as well as that of their Children; and consequently +their own Happiness, as well as that of their Husbands and Families. + +The younger and more delicate they are, Caution becomes the more +necessary for them. I am very sensible a strong Country Girl is too +negligent in regulating herself at those critical Seasons, and sometimes +without any ill Consequence; but at another Time she may suffer severely +for it: and I could produce a long List of many, who, by their +Imprudence on such Occasions, have thrown themselves into the most +terrible Condition. + +Besides the Caution with which Females should avoid these general +Causes, just mentioned in the preceding Section, every Person ought to +remember what has most particularly disagreed with her during that Term, +and for ever constantly to reject it. + +Sec. 357. There are many Women whose Customs visit them without the +slightest Impeachment of their Health: others are sensibly disordered on +every Return of them; and to others again they are very tormenting, by +the violent Cholics, of a longer or a shorter Duration, which precede or +accompany them. I have known some of these violent Attacks last but some +Minutes, and others which continued a few Hours. Nay some indeed have +persisted for many Days, attended with Vomiting, Fainting, with +Convulsions from excessive Pain, with Vomiting of Blood, Bleedings from +the Nose, _&c._ which, in short, have brought them to the very Jaws of +Death. So very dangerous a Situation requires the closest Attention; +though, as it results from several and frequently very opposite Causes, +it is impossible within the present Plan, to direct the Treatment that +may be proper for each Individual. Some Women have the Unhappiness to be +subject to these Symptoms every Month, from the first Appearance, to the +final Termination, of these Discharges; except proper Remedies and +Regimen, and sometimes a happy Child-birth, remove them. Others complain +but now and then, every second, third, or fourth Month; and there are +some again, who having suffered very severely during the first Months, +or Years, after their first Eruptions, suffer no more afterwards. A +fourth Number, after having had their Customs for a long Time, without +the least Complaint, find themselves afflicted with cruel Pains, at +every Return of them; if by Imprudence, or some inevitable Fatality, +they have incurred any Cause, that has suppressed, diminished, or +delayed them. This Consideration ought to suggest a proper Caution even +to such, as generally undergo these Discharges, without Pain or +Complaint: since all may be assured, that though they suffer no sensible +Disorder at that Time, they are nevertheless more delicate, more +impressible by extraneous Substances, more easily affected by the +Passions of the Mind, and have also weaker Stomachs at these particular +Periods. + +Sec. 358. These Discharges may also be sometimes too profuse in Quantity, +in which Case the Patients become obnoxious to very grievous Maladies; +into the Discussion of which however I shall not enter here, as they are +much less frequent than those, arising from a Suppression of them. +Besides which, in such Cases, Recourse may be had to the Directions I +shall give hereafter, when I treat of that Loss of Blood, which may be +expedient, during the Course of Gravidation or Pregnancy. See Sec. 365. + +Sec. 359. Finally, even when they are the most regular, after their +Continuance for a pretty certain Number of Years (rarely exceeding +thirty-five) they go off of their own Accord, and necessarily, between +the Age of forty-five and fifty; sometimes even sooner, but seldom +continuing longer: and this _Crisis_ of their ceasing is generally a +very troublesome, and often a very dangerous, one for the Sex. + +Sec. 360. The Evils mentioned Sec. 352 may be prevented, by avoiding the +Causes producing them; and, 1, by obliging young Maidens to use +considerable Exercise; especially as soon as there is the least Reason +to suspect the Approach of this Disorder, the _Chlorosis_, or Green +Sickness. + +2, By watching them carefully, that they eat nothing unwholesome or +improper; as there are scarcely any natural Substances, even among such +as are most improper for them, and the most distasteful, which have not +sometimes been the Objects of their sickly, their unaccountable +Cravings. Fat Aliments, Pastry, farinaceous or mealy, and sour and +watery Foods are pernicious to them. Herb-Teas, which are frequently +directed as a Medicine for them, are sufficient to throw them into the +Disorder, by increasing that Relaxation of their Fibres, which is a +principal Cause of it. If they must drink any such Infusions, as +medicated Drinks, let them be taken cold: but the best Drink for them is +Water, in which red hot Iron has been extinguished. + +3, They must avoid hot sharp Medicines, and such as are solely intended +to force down their Terms, which are frequently attended with very +pernicious Consequences, and never do any good: and they are still the +more hurtful, as the Patient is the younger. + +4, If the Malady increases, it will be necessary to give them some +Remedies; but these should not be Purges, nor consist of Diluters, and +Decoctions of Herbs, of Salts, and a Heap of other useless and noxious +Ingredients; but they should take Filings of Iron, which is the most +certain Remedy in such Cases. These Filings Should be of true simple +Iron, and not from Steel; and Care should be taken that it be not rusty, +in which State it has very little Effect. + +At the Beginning of this Distemper, and to young Girls, it is sufficient +to give twenty Grains daily, enjoining due Exercise and a suitable Diet. +When it prevails in a severer Degree, and the Patient is not so young, a +Quarter of an Ounce may be safely ventured on: Certain Bitters or +Aromatics may be advantageously joined to the Filings, which are +numbered in the Appendix, 54, 55, 56, and constitute the most effectual +Remedies in this Distemper, to be taken in the Form of Powder, of vinous +Infusion, or of Electary. [82] When there is a just Indication to bring +down the Discharge, the vinous Infusion No. 55 must be given, and +generally succeeds: but I must again repeat it (as it should carefully +be considered) that the Stoppage or Obstruction of this Discharge is +frequently the Effect, not the Cause, of this Disease; and that there +should be no Attempt to force it down, which in such a Case, may +sometimes prove more hurtful than beneficial; since it would naturally +return of its own Accord, on the Recovery, and with the Strength, of the +Patient: as their Return should follow that of perfect Health, and +neither can precede Health, nor introduce it. There are some Cases +particularly, in which it would be highly dangerous to use hot and +active Medicines, such Cases for Instance, as are attended with some +Degree of Fever, a frequent Coughing, a Haemorrhage, or Bleeding, with +great Leanness and considerable Thirst: all which Complaints should be +removed, before any hot Medicines are given to force this Evacuation, +which many very ignorantly imagine cures all other female Disorders; an +Error, that has prematurely occasioned the Loss of many Womens' Lives. + +[82] The _French_ Word here, _Opiat_, is sometimes used by them for a + compound Medicine of the Consistence of an Electary; and cannot be + supposed, in this Place, to mean any Preparation, into which + _Opium_ enters. _K._ + +Sec. 361. While the Patient is under a Course of these Medicines, she +should not take any of those I have forbidden in the preceding Sections; +and the Efficacy of these should also be furthered with proper Exercise. +That in a Carriage is very healthy; Dancing is so too, provided it be +not extended to an Excess. In Case of a Relapse in these Disorders, the +Patient is to be treated, as if it were an original Attack. + +Sec. 362. The other Sort of Obstructions described Sec. 354 requires a very +different Treatment. Bleeding, which is hurtful in the former Sort, and +the Use, or rather Abuse, of which has thrown several young Women into +irrecoverable Weaknesses, has often removed this latter Species, as it +were, in a Moment. Bathing of the Feet, the Powders No. 20, and Whey +have frequently succeeded: but at other Times it is necessary to +accommodate the Remedies and the Method to each particular Case, and to +judge of it from its own peculiar Circumstances and Appearances. + +Sec. 363. When these Evacuations naturally cease through Age (See Sec. 359) if +they stop suddenly and all at once, and had formerly flowed very +largely, Bleeding must, 1, necessarily be directed, and repeated every +six, every four, or even every three Months. + +2, The usual Quantity of Food should be somewhat diminished, especially +of Flesh, of Eggs and of strong Drink. + +3, Exercise should be increased. + +4, The Patient should frequently take, in a Morning fasting, the Powder +No. 24, which is very beneficial in such Cases; as it moderately +increases the natural Excretions by Stool, Urine and Perspiration; and +thence lessens that Quantity of Blood, which would otherwise +superabound. + +Nevertheless, should this total Cessation of the monthly Discharge be +preceded by, or attended with, any extraordinary Loss of Blood, which is +frequently the Case, Bleeding is not so necessary; but the Regimen and +Powder just directed are very much so; to which the Purge No. 23 should +now and then be joined, at moderate Intervals. The Use of astringent +Medicines at this critical Time might dispose the Patient to a Cancer of +the Womb. + +Many Women die about this Age, as it is but too easy a Matter to injure +them then; a Circumstance that should make them very cautious and +prudent in the Medicines they recur to. On the other Hand it also +frequently happens, that their Constitutions alter for the better, after +this critical Time of Life; their Fibres grow stronger; they find +themselves sensibly more hearty and hardy; many former slight +Infirmities disappear, and they enjoy a healthy and happy old Age. I +have known several who threw away their Spectacles at the Age of +fifty-two, or fifty-three, which they had used five or six Years before. + +The Regimen I have just directed, the Powder No. 24, and the Potion No. +32, agree very well in almost all inveterate Discharges (I speak of the +female Peasantry) at whatever Time of Life. + + + + _Of Disorders attending Gravidation, or the Term of going with Child._ + + +Sec. 364. Gravidation is generally a less ailing or unhealthy State in the +Country, than in very populous Towns. Nevertheless Country Women are +subject, as well as Citizens, to Pains of the Stomach, to vomiting in a +Morning, to Head-ach and Tooth-ach; but these Complaints very commonly +yield to Bleeding, which is almost the only Remedy necessary [83] for +pregnant Women. + +[83] Too great a Fulness of Blood is undoubtedly the Cause of all these + Complaints; but as there are different Methods of opposing this + Cause, the gentlest should always be preferred; nor should the + Constitution become habituated to such Remedies, as might either + impair the Strength of the Mother, or of her Fruit. Some Expedients + therefore should be thought of, that may compensate for the Want of + Bleeding, by enjoining proper Exercise in a clear Air, with a less + nourishing, and a less juicy Diet. _E. L._ + + This Note might have its Use sometimes, in the Cases of such + delicate and hysterical, yet pregnant Women, as are apt to suffer + from Bleeding, or any other Evacuation, though no ways immoderate. + But it should have been considered, that Dr. _Tissot_ was + professedly writing here to hearty active Country Wives, who are + very rarely thus constituted; and whom he might be unwilling to + confuse with such multiplied Distinctions and Directions, as would + very seldom be necessary, and might sometimes prevent them from + doing what was so. Besides which, this Editor might have seen, our + Author has hinted at such Cases very soon after. _K._ + +Sec. 365. Sometimes after carrying too heavy Burthens; after too much or +too violent Work; after receiving excessive Jolts, or having had a Fall, +they are subject to violent Pains of the Loins, which extend down to +their Thighs, and terminate quite at the Bottom of the Belly; and which +commonly import, that they are in Danger of an Abortion, or Miscarrying. + +To prevent this Consequence, which is always dangerous, they should, 1, +immediately go to Bed; and if they have not a Mattrass, they should lie +upon a Bed stuffed with Straw, a Feather-bed being very improper in such +Cases. They should repose, or keep themselves quite still in this +Situation for several Days, not stirring, and speaking as little as +possible. + +2, They should directly lose eight or nine Ounces of Blood from the Arm. + +3, They should not eat Flesh, Flesh-broth, nor Eggs; but live solely on +Soups made of farinaceous or mealy Substances. + +4, They should take every two Hours half a Paper of the Powder No. 20; +and should drink nothing but the Ptisan No. 2. + +Some sanguine robust Women are very liable to miscarry at a certain +Time, or Stage, of their Pregnancy. This may be obviated by their +bleeding some Days before that Time approaches, and by their observing +the Regimen I have advised. But this Method would avail very little for +delicate Citizens, who miscarry from a very different Cause; and whose +Abortions are to be prevented by a very different Treatment. + + + + _Of Delivery, or Child-birth._ + + +Sec. 366. It has been observed that a greater Proportion of Women die in +the Country in, or very speedily after, their Delivery, and that from +the Scarcity of good Assistance, and the great Plenty of what is bad; +and that a greater Proportion of those in Cities die after their Labours +are effected, by a Continuance of their former bad Health. + +The Necessity there is for better instructed, better qualified Midwives, +through a great Part of _Swisserland_, is but too manifest an +Unhappiness, which is attended with the most fatal Consequences, and +which merits the utmost Attention of the Government. + +The Errors which are incurred, during actual Labour, are numberless, and +too often indeed are also irremediable. It would require a whole Book, +expressly for that Purpose (and in some Countries there are such) to +give all the Directions that are necessary, to prevent so many +Fatalities: and it would be as necessary to form a sufficient Number of +well-qualified Midwives to comprehend, and to observe them; which +exceeds the Plan of the Work I have proposed. I shall only mark out one +of the Causes, and the most injurious one on this Occasion: This is the +Custom of giving hot irritating Things, whenever the Labour is very +painful, or is slow; such as Castor, or its Tincture, Saffron, Sage, +Rue, Savin, Oil of Amber, Wine, Venice Treacle, Wine burnt with Spices, +Coffee, Brandy, Aniseed-Water, Walnut-Water, Fennel-Water, and other +Drams or strong Liquors. All these Things are so many Poisons in this +Respect, which, very far from promoting the Woman's Delivery, render it +more difficult by inflaming the Womb (which cannot then so well contract +itself) and the Parts, through which the Birth is to pass, in +Consequence of which they swell, become more straitened, and cannot +yield or be dilated. Sometimes these stimulating hot Medicines also +bring on Haemorrhages, which prove mortal in a few Hours. + +Sec. 367. A considerable Number, both of Mothers and Infants, might be +preserved by the directly opposite Method. As soon as a Woman who was in +very good Health, just before the Approach of her Labour, being robust +and well made, finds her Travail come on, and that it is painful and +difficult; far from encouraging those premature Efforts, which are +always destructive; and from furthering them by the pernicious Medicines +I have just enumerated, the Patient should be bled in the Arm, which +will prevent the Swelling and Inflammation; asswage the Pains; relax the +Parts, and dispose every thing to a favourable Issue. + +During actual Labour no other Nourishment should be allowed, except a +little Panada every three Hours, and as much Toast and Water, as the +Woman chuses. + +Every fourth Hour a Glyster should be given, consisting of a Decoction +of Mallows and a little Oil. In the Intervals between these Glysters she +should be set over a kind of Stove, or in a pierced easy Chair, +containing a Vessel in which there is some hot Water: the Passage should +be gently rubbed with a little Butter; and Stapes wrung out of a +Fomentation of simple hot Water, which is the most efficacious of any, +should be applied over the Belly. + +The Midwives, by taking this Method, are not only certain of doing no +Mischief, but they also allow Nature an Opportunity of doing Good: as a +great many Labours, which seem difficult at time, terminate happily; and +this safe and unprecipitate Manner of proceeding at least affords Time +to call in further Assistance. Besides, the Consequences of such +Deliveries are healthy and happy; when by pursuing the heating +oppressing Practice, even though the Delivery be effected, both Mother +and Infant have been so cruelly, though undesignedly, tormented, that +both of them frequently perish. + +Sec. 368. I acknowledge these Means are insufficient, when the Child is +unhappily situated in the Womb; or when there is an embarrassing +Conformation in the Mother: though at least they prevent the Case from +proving worse, 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 Women to make any forced Efforts to forward the +Birth, which are extremely injurious to them, and which may render a +Delivery very dangerous and embarrassing, that might otherwise have been +happily effected: and I insist the more freely on the Danger attending +these unreasonable 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-standers fearful that she will not have Strength enough to be +delivered; which they think abundantly justifies them in giving her +Cordials; but this Way of Reasoning is very weak and chimerical. Their +Strength, on such Occasions, is not so very speedily dissipated: the +small light Pains sink them, but in Proportion as the Pains become +stronger, their Strength arises; being never deficient, when there is no +extraordinary and uncommon Symptom; and we may reasonably be assured, +that in a healthy, well formed Woman, meer Weakness never prevents a +Delivery. + + + + _Of the Consequences of Labour, or Childbirth._ + + +Sec. 369. The most usual Consequences of Childbirth in the Country are, 1, +An excessive Haemorrhage. 2, An Inflammation of the Womb. 3, A sudden +Suppression of the _Lochia_, or usual Discharges after Delivery. And, 4, +the Fever and other Accidents, resulting from the Milk. + +Excessive Bleedings or Floodings, should be treated according to the +Manner directed Sec. 365: and if they are very excessive, Folds of Linen, +which have been wrung out of a Mixture of equal Parts of Water and +Vinegar, should be applied to the Belly, the Loins, and the Thighs: +these should be changed for fresh moist ones, as they dry; and should be +omitted, as soon as the Bleeding abates. + +Sec. 370. The Inflammation of the Womb is discoverable by Pains in all the +lower Parts of the Belly; by a Tension or Tightness of the whole; by a +sensible Increase of Pain upon touching it; a kind of red Stain or Spot, +that mounts to the Middle of the Belly, as high as the Navel; which +Spot, as the Disease increases, turns black, and then is always a mortal +Symptom; by a very extraordinary Degree of Weakness; an astonishing +Change of Countenance; a light _Delirium_ or Raving; a continual Fever +with a weak and hard Pulse; sometimes incessant Vomitings; a frequent +Hiccup; a moderate Discharge of a reddish, stinking, sharp Water; +frequent Urgings to go to Stool; a burning kind of Heat of Urine; and +sometimes an entire Suppression of it. + +Sec. 371. This most dangerous and frequently mortal Disease should be +treated like inflammatory ones. After Bleeding, frequent Glysters of +warm Water must by no Means be omitted; some should also be injected +into the Womb, and applied continually over the Belly. The Patient may +also drink continually, either of simple Barley-Water, with a Quarter of +an Ounce of Nitre in every Pot of it, or of Almond Milk No. 4. + +Sec. 372. The total Suppression of the _Lochia_, the Discharges after +Labour, which proves a Cause of the most violent Disorders, should be +treated exactly in the same Manner: but if unhappily hot Medicines have +been given, in order to force them down, the Case will very generally +prove a most hopeless one. + +Sec. 373. If the Milk-fever run very high, the Barley Ptisan directed Sec. +371, and Glysters, with a very light Diet, consisting only of Panada, or +made of some other farinaceous Substances, and very thin, very generally +remove it. + +Sec. 374. Delicate infirm Women, who have not all the requisite and +necessary Attendance they want; and such as from Indigence are obliged +to work too soon, are exposed to many Accidents, which frequently arise +from a Want of due Perspiration, and an insufficient Discharge of the +_Lochia_; and hence, the Separation of the Milk in their Breasts being +disturbed, there are milky Congestions, or Knots as it were, which are +always very painful and troublesome, and especially when they are formed +more inwardly. They often happen on the Thighs, in which Case the Ptisan +No. 58 is to be drank, and the Pultices No. 59 must be applied. These +two Remedies gradually dissipate and remove the Tumour, if that may be +effected without Suppuration. But if that proves impossible, and _Pus_, +or Matter, is actually formed, a Surgeon must open the Abscess, and +treat it like any other. + +Sec. 375. Should the Milk coagulate, or curdle as it were, in the Breast, +it is of the utmost Importance immediately to attenuate or dissolve that +Thickness, which would otherwise degenerate into a Hardness and prove a +_Scirrhus_; and from a _Scirrhus_ in Process of Time a Cancer, that most +tormenting and cruel Distemper. + +This horrible Evil however may be prevented by an Application to these +small Tumours, as soon as ever they appear, For this Purpose nothing is +more effectual than the Prescriptions No. 57 and 60; but under such +menacing Circumstances, it is always prudent to take the best Advice, as +early as possible. + +From the Moment these hard Tumours become excessively and obstinately +so, and yet without any Pain, we should abstain from every Application, +all are injurious; and greasy, sharp, resinous and spirituous ones +speedily change the _Scirrhus_ into a Cancer. Whenever it becomes +manifestly such, all Applications are also equally pernicious, except +that of No. 60. Cancers have long been thought and found incurable; but +within a few Years past some have been cured by the Remedy No. 57; which +nevertheless is not infallible, though it should always be tried. [84] + +[84] The Use of Hemlock, which has been tried at _Lyons_, by all who + have had cancerous Patients, having been given in very large Doses, + has been attended with no Effect there, that merited the serious + Attention of Practitioners. Many were careful to obtain the Extract + from _Vienna_, and even to procure it from Dr. _Storck_ himself. + But now it appears to have had so little Success, as to become + entirely neglected. _E. L._ + + Having exactly translated in this Place, and in the Table of + Remedies, our learned Author's considerable Recommendation of the + Extract of Hemlock in Cancers, we think it but fair, on the other + Hand, to publish this Note of his Editor's against it; that the + real Efficacy or Inefficacy of this Medicine may at length be + ascertained, on the most extensive Evidence and Experience. As far + as my own Opportunities and Reflections, and the Experience of many + others, have instructed me on this Subject, it appears clear to + myself, that though the Consequences of it have not been constantly + unsuccessful with us, yet its Successes have come very short of its + Failures. Nevertheless, as in all such Cancers, every other + internal Medicine almost universally fails, we think with Dr. + _Tissot_ it should always be tried (from the meer Possibility of + its succeeding in some particular Habit and Circumstances) at least + till longer Experience shall finally determine against it. _K._ + +Sec. 376. The Nipples of Women, who give Milk, are often fretted or +excoriated, which proves very severely painful to them. One of the best +Applications is the most simple Ointment, being a Mixture of Oil and Wax +melted together; or the Ointment No. 66. Should the Complaint prove very +obstinate, the Nurse ought to be purged, which generally removes it. + + + + + __Chapter XXVII.__ + + + + _Medical Directions concerning Children._ + + + __Sect.__ 377. + +The Diseases of Children, and every Thing relating to their Health, are +Objects which generally seem to have been too much neglected by +Physicians; and have been too long confided to the Conduct of the most +improper Persons for such a Charge. At the same Time it must be admitted +their Health is of no little Importance; their Preservation is as +necessary as the Continuance of the human Race; and the Application of +the Practice of Physick to their Disorders is susceptible of nearer +Approaches to Perfection, than is generally conceived. It seems to have +even some Advantage over that Practice which regards grown Persons; and +it consists in this, that the Diseases of Children are more simple, and +less frequently complicated than those of Adults. + +It may be said indeed, they cannot make themselves so well understood, +and meer Infants certainly not at all. This is true in Fact to a certain +Degree, but not rigidly true; for though they do not speak our Language, +they have one which we should contrive to understand. Nay every +Distemper may be said, in some Sense, to have a Language of its own, +which an attentive Physician will learn. He should therefore use his +utmost Care to understand that of Infants, and avail himself of it, to +increase the Means of rendering them healthy and vigorous, and to cure +them of the different Distempers to which they are liable. I do not +propose actually to compleat this Task myself, in all that Extent it may +justly demand; but I shall set forth the principal Causes of their +Distempers, and the general Method of treating them. By this Means I +shall at least preserve them from some of the Mischiefs which are too +frequently done them; and the lessening such Evils as Ignorance, or +erroneous Practice, occasions, is one of the most important Purposes of +the present Work. + +Sec. 378. Nearly all the Children who die before they are one Year, and +even two Years, old, die _with_ Convulsions: People say they died _of_ +them, which is partly true, as it is in Effect, the Convulsions that +have destroyed them. But then these very Convulsions are the +Consequences, the Effects, of other Diseases, which require the utmost +Attention of those, who are entrusted with the Care and Health of the +little Innocents: as an effectual Opposition to these Diseases, these +morbid Causes, is the only Means of removing the Convulsions. The four +principal known Causes are, the _Meconium_; the Excrements contained in +the Body of the Infant, at the Birth; _Acidities_, or sharp and sour +Humours; the Cutting of the Teeth, and Worms. I shall treat briefly of +each. + + + + _Of the Meconium._ + + +Sec.379. The Stomach and Guts of the Infant, at its Entrance into the +World, are filled with a black Sort of Matter, of a middling +Consistence, and very viscid or glutinous, which is called the +_Meconium_. It is necessary this Matter should be discharged before the +Infant sucks, since it would otherwise corrupt the Milk, and, becoming +extremely sharp itself, there would result from their Mixture a double +Source of Evils, to the Destruction of the Infant. + +The Evacuation of this Excrement is procured, 1, By giving them no Milk +at all for the first twenty-four Hours of their Lives. 2, By making them +drink during that Time some Water, to which a little Sugar or Honey must +be added, which will dilute this _Meconium_, and promote the Discharge +of it by Stool, and sometimes by vomiting. + +To be the more certain of expelling all this Matter, they should take +one Ounce of Compound Syrup [85] of Succory, which should be diluted +with a little Water, drinking up this Quantity within the Space of four +or five Hours. This Practice is a very beneficial one, and it is to be +wished it were to become general. This Syrup is greatly preferable to +all others, given in such Cases, and especially to Oil of Almonds. + +[85] This Method (says the Editor and Annotator of _Lyons_) is useful, + whenever the Mother does not suckle her Child. Art is then obliged + to prove a Kind of Substitute to Nature, though always a very + imperfect one. But when a Mother, attentive to her own true + Interest, as well as her Infant's, and, listening to the Voice of + Nature and her Duty, suckles it herself, these Remedies [he adds] + seem hurtful, or at least, useless. The Mother should give her + Child the Breast as soon as she can. The first Milk, the + _Colostrum_, or _Strippings_, as it is called in Quadrupeds, which + is very serous or watery, will be serviceable as a Purgative; it + will forward the Expulsion of the _Meconium_, prove gradually + nourishing, and is better than Biscuits, or Panada, which (he + thinks) are dangerous in the first Days after the Birth. _E. L._ + + This Syrup of Succory being scarcely ever prepared with us, though + sufficiently proper for the Use assigned it here, I have retained + the preceding Note, as the Author of it directs these _Strippings_, + for the same Purpose, with an Air of certain Experience; and as + this Effect of them seems no Ways repugnant to the physical Wisdom + and Oeconomy of Nature, on such important Points. Should it in fact + be their very general Operation, it cannot be unknown to any Male + or Female Practitioner in Midwifery, and may save poor People a + little Expence, which was one Object of our humane Author's Plan. + The Oil Of _Ricinus_, corruptly called _Castor_ Oil (being + expressed from the Berries of the _Palma Christi_) is particularly + recommended by some late medical Writers from _Jamaica_, _&c._ for + this Purpose of expelling the _Meconium_, to the Quantity of a + small Spoonful. These Gentlemen also consider it as the most + proper, and almost specific Opener, in the dry Belly-ach of that + torrid Climate, which tormenting Disease has the closest Affinity + to the _Miserere_, or Iliac Passion, of any I have seen. The + Annotator's Objection to our Author's very _thin light_ Panada, + seems to be of little Weight. _K._ + +Should the great Weakness of the Child seem to call for some +Nourishment, there would be no Inconvenience in allowing a little +Biscuit well boiled in Water, which is pretty commonly done, or a little +very thin light Panada. + + + + _Of Acidities, or sharp Humours._ + + +Sec. 380. Notwithstanding the Bodies of Children have been properly emptied +speedily after their Birth, yet the Milk very often turns sour in their +Stomachs, producing Vomitings, violent Cholics, Convulsions, a +Looseness, and even terminating in Death. There are but two Purposes to +be pursued in such Cases, which are to carry off the sour or sharp +Humours, and to prevent the Generation of more. The first of these +Intentions is best effected by the Syrup of Succory [86] just mentioned. + +[86] Or, for Want of it, the solutive Syrup of Roses. _K._ + +The Generation of further Acidities is prevented, by giving three Doses +daily, if the Symptoms are violent, and but two, or even one only, if +they are very moderate, of the Powder No. 61, drinking after it Bawm +Tea, or a Tea of Lime-tree Leaves. + +Sec. 381. It has been a Custom to load Children with Oil of Almonds, [87] +as soon as ever they are infested with Gripes: but it is a pernicious +Custom, and attended with very dangerous Consequences. It it very true +that this Oil sometimes immediately allays the Gripes, by involving, or +sheathing up, as it were, the acid Humours, and somewhat blunting the +Sensibility of the Nerves. But it proves only a palliative Remedy, or +asswaging for a Time, which, far from removing, increases the Cause, +since it becomes sharp and rancid itself; whence the Disorder speedily +returns, and the more Oil the Infant takes, it is griped the more. I +have cured some Children of such Disorders, without any other Remedy, +except abstaining from Oil, which weakens their Stomachs, whence their +Milk is less perfectly, and more slowly digested, and becomes more +easily soured. Besides this Weakness of the Stomach, which thus +commences at that very early Age, has sometimes an unhealthy Influence +on the Constitution of the Child, throughout the Remainder of his Life. + +[87] The _Magnesia_ is an excellent Substitute in Children, for these + Oils Dr. _Tissot_ so justly condemns here. _K._ + +A free and open Belly is beneficial to Children; now it is certain that +the Oil very often binds them, in Consequence of its diminishing the +Force and Action of the Bowels. There is scarcely any Person, who cannot +observe this Inconvenience attending it; notwithstanding they all +continue to advise and to give it, to obtain a very different Purpose: +But such is the Power of Prejudice in this Case, and in so many others; +People are so strongly pre-possessed with a Notion, that such a Medicine +must produce such an Effect; that its never having produced it avails +nothing with them, their Prejudice still prevails; they ascribe its Want +of Efficacy to the Smallness of the Doses; these are doubled then, and +notwithstanding its bad Effects are augmented, their obstinate Blindness +continues. + +This Abuse of the Oil also disposes their Child to knotty hard Tumours, +and at length often proves the first Cause of some Diseases of the Skin, +whose Cure is extremely difficult. + +Hence it is evident, this Oil should be used on such Occasions but very +seldom; and that it is always very injudicious to give it in Cholics, +which arise from sharp and sour Humours in the Stomach, or in the +Bowels. + +Sec. 382. Infants are commonly most subject to such Cholics during their +earliest Months; after which they abate, in Proportion as their Stomachs +grow stronger. They may be relieved in the Fit by Glysters of a +Decoction of Chamomile Flowers, in which a Bit of Soap of the Size of a +Hazel Nut is dissolved. A Piece of Flanel wrung out of a Decoction of +Chamomile Flowers, with the Addition of some Venice Treacle, and applied +hot over the Stomach and on the Belly, is also very beneficial, and +relieving. + +Children cannot always take Glysters, the Continuance of which +Circumstance might be dangerous to them; and every one is acquainted +with the common Method of substituting Suppositories to them, whether +they are formed of the smooth and supple Stalks of Vines, _&c._ of Soap, +or of Honey boiled up to a proper Consistence. + +But one of the most certain Means to prevent these Cholics, which are +owing to Children's not digesting their Milk, is to move and exercise +them as much as possible; having a due Regard however to their tender +Time of Life. + +Sec. 383. Before I proceed to the third Cause of the Diseases of Children, +which is, the Cutting of their Teeth, I must take Notice of the first +Cares their Birth immediately requires, that is the Washing of them the +first Time, meerly to cleanse, and afterwards, to strengthen them. + + + + _Of washing Children._ + + +Sec. 384. The whole Body of an Infant just born is covered with a gross +Humour, which is occasioned by the Fluids, in which it was suspended in +the Womb. There is a Necessity to cleanse it directly from this, for +which nothing is so proper as a Mixture of one third Wine, and two +thirds Water; Wine alone would be dangerous. This Washing may be +repeated some Days successively; but it is a bad Custom to continue to +wash them thus warm, the Danger of which is augmented by adding some +Butter to the Wine and Water, which is done too often. If this gross +Humour, that covers the Child, seems more thick and glutinous than +ordinary, a Decoction of Chamomile Flowers, with a little Bit of Soap, +may be used to remove it. The Regularity of Perspiration is the great +Foundation of Health; to procure this Regularity the Teguments, the +Skin, must be strengthened; but warm Washing tends to weaken it. When it +is of a proper Strength it always performs its Functions; nor is +Perspiration disordered sensibly by the Alteration of the Weather. For +this Reason nothing should be omitted, that may fix it in this State; +and to attain so important an Advantage, Children should be washed, some +few Days after their Birth, with cold Water, in the State it is brought +from the Spring. + +For this Purpose a Spunge is employed, with which they begin, by washing +first the Face, the Ears, the back Part of the Head (carefully avoiding +the [88] _Fontanelle_, or Mould of the Head) the Neck, the Loins, the +Trunck of the Body, the Thighs, Legs and Arms, and in short every Spot. +This Method which has obtained for so many Ages, and which is practised +at present by many People, who prove very healthy, will appear shocking +to several Mothers; they would be afraid of killing their Children by +it; and would particularly fail of Courage enough to endure the Cries, +which Children often make, the first Time they are washed. Yet if their +Mothers truly love them, they cannot give a more substantial Mark of +their Tenderness to them, than by subduing their Fears and their +Repugnance, on this important Head. + +[88] That Part of the Head where a Pulsation may be very plainly felt, + where the Bones are less hard, and not as yet firmly joined with + those about them. + +Weakly Infants [89] are those who have the greatest Need of being +washed: such as are remarkably strong may be excused from it; and it +seems scarcely credible (before a Person has frequently seen the +Consequences of it) how greatly this Method conduces to give, and to +hasten on, their Strength. I have had the Pleasure to observe, since I +first endeavoured to introduce the Custom among us, that several of the +most affectionate and most sensible Mothers, have used it with the +greatest Success. The Midwives, who have been Witnesses of it; the +Nurses and the Servants of the Children, whom they have washed, publish +it abroad; and should the Custom become as general, as every thing seems +to promise it will, I am fully persuaded, that by preserving the Lives +of a great Number of Children, it will certainly contribute to check the +Progress of Depopulation. + +[89] There is however a certain Degree of Weakness, which may very + reasonably deter us from this Washing; as when the Infant + manifestly wants Heat, and needs some Cordial and frequent + Frictions, to prevent its expiring from downright Feebleness; in + which Circumstances Washing must be hurtful to it. _Tissot._ + +They should be washed very regularly every Day, in every Season, and +every Sort of Weather; and in the fine warm Season they should be +plunged into a large Pail of Water, into the Basins around Fountains, in +a Brook, a River, or a Lake. + +After a few Days crying, they grow so well accustomed to this Exercise, +that it becomes one of their Pleasures; so that they laugh all the Time +of their going through it. + +The first Benefit of this Practice is, as I have already said, the +keeping up their Perspiration, and rendering them less obnoxious to the +Impressions of the Air and Weather: and it is also in Consequence of +this first Benefit, that they are preserved from a great Number of +Maladies, especially from knotty Tumours, often called Kernels; from +Obstructions; from Diseases of the Skin, and from Convulsions, its +general Consequence being to insure them firm, and even robust Health. + +Sec. 385. But Care should be taken not to prevent, or, as it were to undo, +the Benefit this Washing procures them, by the bad Custom of keeping +them too hot. There is not a more pernicious one than this, nor one that +destroys more Children. They should be accustomed 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 should avoid sleeping in Chambers that are too hot, +and should live in the open Air, both in Summer and Winter, as much as +possible. Children who have been kept too hot in such Respects, are very +often liable to Colds; they are weakly, pale, languishing, bloated and +melancholy. They are subject to hard knotty Swellings, a Consumption, +all Sorts of languid Disorders, and either die in their Infancy, or only +grow up into a miserable valetudinary Life; while those who are washed +or plunged into cold Water, and habitually exposed to the open Air, are +just in the opposite Circumstances. + +Sec. 386. I must further add here, that Infancy is not the only Stage of +Life, in which cold Bathing is advantagious. I have advised it with +remarkable Success to Persons of every Age, even to that of seventy: and +there are two Kinds of Diseases, more frequent indeed in Cities than in +the Country, in which cold Baths succeed very greatly; that is, in +Debility, or Weakness of the Nerves; and when Perspiration is +disordered, when Persons are fearful of every Breath of Air, liable to +Defluxions or Colds, feeble and languishing, the cold Bath +re-establishes Perspiration; restores Strength to the Nerves; and by +that Means dispels all the Disorders, which arise from these two Causes, +in the animal Oeconomy. They should be used before Dinner. But in the +same Proportion that cold Bathing is beneficial, the habitual Use, or +rather Abuse, of warm Bathing is pernicious; they dispose the Persons +addicted to them to the Apoplexy; to the Dropsy; to Vapours, and to the +hypochondriacal Disease: and Cities, in which they are too frequently +used, become, in some Measure, desolate from such Distempers. + + + + _Of the Cutting of the Teeth._ + + +Sec. 387. Cutting of the Teeth is often very tormenting to Children, some +dying under the severe Symptoms attending it. If it proves very painful, +we should during that Period, 1, Keep their Bellies open by Glysters +consisting only of a simple Decoction of Mallows: but Glysters are not +necessary, if the Child, as it sometimes happens then, has a Purging. + +2, Their ordinary Quantity of Food should be lessened for two Reasons; +first, because the Stomach is then weaker than usual; and next, because +a small Fever sometimes accompanies the Cutting. + +3, Their usual Quantity of Drink should be increased a little; the best +for them certainly is an Infusion of the Leaves or 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-seeds; 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._ + + +Sec. 388. The _Meconium_, the Acidity of the Milk, and Cutting of the Teeth +are the three great Causes of the Diseases of Children. There is also a +fourth, Worms, which is likewise very often pernicious to them; but +which, nevertheless, is not, at least not near so much, a general Cause +of their Disorders, as it is generally supposed, when a Child exceeding +two Years of Age proves sick. There are a great Variety of Symptoms, +which dispose People to think a Child has Worms; though there is but one +that demonstrates it, which is discharging them upwards or downwards. +There is great Difference among Children too in this Respect, some +remaining healthy, though having several Worms, and others being really +sick with a few. + +They prove hurtful, 1, by obstructing the Guts, and compressing the +neighbouring Bowels by their Size. 2, By sucking up the Chyle intended +to nourish the Patient, and thus depriving him of his very Substance as +well as Subsistence: and, 3, by irritating the Guts and even [90] +gnawing them. + +[90] I have seen a Child about three Years old, whose Navel, after + swelling and inflaming, suppurated, and through a small Orifice + (which must have communicated with the Cavity of the Gut or the + Belly) discharged one of these Worms we call _teretes_, about three + Inches long. He had voided several by Stool, after taking some + vermifuge Medicines. The Fact I perfectly remember; and to the best + of my Recollection, the Ulcer healed some Time after, and the + Orifice closed: but the Child died the following Year of a putrid + Fever, which might be caused, or was aggravated, by Worms. _K._ + +Sec. 389. The Symptoms which make it probable they are infested with Worms, +are slight, frequent and irregular Cholics; a great Quantity of Spittle +running off while they are fasting; a disagreeable Smell of their +Breath, of a particular Kind, especially in the Morning; a frequent +Itchiness of their Noses which makes them scratch or rub them often; a +very irregular Appetite, being sometimes voracious, and at other Times +having none at all: Pains at Stomach and Vomitings: sometimes a costive +Belly; but more frequently loose Stools of indigested Matter; the Belly +rather larger than ordinary, the rest of the Body meagre; a Thirst which +no Drink allays; often great Weakness, and some Degree of Melancholy. +The Countenance has generally an odd unhealthy Look, and varies every +Quarter of an Hour; the Eyes often look dull, and are surrounded with a +Kind of livid Circle: the White of the Eye is sometimes visible while +they sleep, their Sleep being often attended with terrifying Dreams or +_Deliriums_, and with continual Startings, and Grindings of their Teeth. +Some Children find it impossible to be at Rest for a single Moment. +Their Urine is often whitish, I have seen it from some as white as Milk. +They are afflicted with Palpitations, Swoonings, Convulsions, long and +profound Drowsiness; cold Sweats which come on suddenly; Fevers which +have the Appearances of Malignity; Obscurities and even Loss of Sight +and of Speech, which continue for a considerable Time; Palsies either of +their Hands, their Arms, or their Legs, and Numbnesses. Their Gums are +in a bad State, and as though they had been gnawed or corroded: they +have often the Hickup, a small and irregular Pulse, Ravings, and, what +is one of the least doubtful Symptoms, frequently a small dry Cough; and +not seldom a Mucosity or Sliminess in their Stools: sometimes very long +and violent Cholics, which terminate in an Abscess on the Outside of the +Belly, from whence Worms issue. (See Note [90] p. 388.) + +Sec. 390. There are a great Multitude of Medicines against Worms. The [91] +_Grenette_ or Worm-seed, which is one of the commonest, is a very good +one. The Prescription No. 62, is also a very successful one; and the +Powder No. 14 is one of the best. Flower of Brimstone, the Juice of +_Nasturtium_, or Cresses, Acids and Honey Water have often been very +serviceable; but the first three I have mentioned, succeeded by a Purge, +are the best. No. 63 is a purging Medicine, that the most averse and +difficult Children may easily take. But when, notwithstanding these +Medicines, the Worms are not expelled, it is necessary to take Advice of +some Person qualified to prescribe more efficacious ones. This is of +considerable Importance, because, notwithstanding a great Proportion of +Children may probably have Worms, and yet many of them continue in good +Health, there are, nevertheless, some who are really killed by Worms, +after having been cruelly tormented by them for several Years. + +[91] This Word occurs in none of the common Dictionaries; but suspecting + it for the _Semen Santonici_ of the Shops, I find the learned Dr. + _Bikker_ has rendered it so, in his very well received Translation + of this valuable Work into _Low Dutch_. _K._ + +A Disposition to breed Worms always shews the Digestions are weak and +imperfect; for which Reason Children liable to Worms should not be +nourished with Food difficult to digest. We should be particularly +careful not to stuff them with Oils, which, admitting such Oils should +immediately kill some of their Worms, do yet increase that Cause, which +disposes them to generate others. A long continued Use of Filings of +Iron is the Remedy, that most effectually destroys this Disposition to +generate Worms. + + + + _Of Convulsions._ + + +Sec. 391. I have already said, Sec. 378, that the Convulsions of Children are +almost constantly the Effect of some other Disease, and especially of +some of the four I have mentioned. Some other, though less frequent +Causes, sometimes occasion them, and these may be reduced to the +following. + +The first of them is the corrupted Humours, that often abound in their +Stomachs and Intestines; and which, by their Irritation, produce +irregular Motions throughout the whole System of the Nerves, or at least +through some Parts of them; whence those Convulsions arise, which are +merely involuntary Motions of the Muscles. These putrid Humours are the +Consequence of too great a Load of Aliments, of unsound ones, or of +such, as the Stomachs of Children are incapable of digesting. These +Humours are also sometimes the Effect of a Mixture and Confusion 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 Cause, +by the Circumstances that have preceded them, by a disgusted loathing +Stomach; by a certain Heaviness and Load at it; by a foul Tongue; a +great Belly; by its bad Complexion, and its disturbed unrefreshing +Sleep. + +The Child's proper Diet, that is, a certain Diminution of the Quantity +of its Food; some Glysters of warm Water, and one Purge of No. 63, very +generally remove such Convulsions. + +Sec. 392. The second Cause is the bad Quality of their Milk. Whether it be +that the Nurse has fallen into a violent Passion, some considerable +Disgust, great Fright or frequent Fear: whether she has eat unwholesome +Food, drank too much Wine, spirituous Liquors, or any strong Drink: +whether she is seized with a Descent of her monthly Discharges, and that +has greatly disordered her Health; or finally whether she prove really +sick: In all these Cases the Milk is vitiated, and exposes the Infant to +violent Symptoms, which sometimes speedily destroy it. + +The Remedies for Convulsions, from this Cause, consist, 1, In letting +the Child abstain from this corrupted Milk, until the Nurse shall have +recovered her State of Health and Tranquillity, the speedy Attainment of +which may be forwarded by a few Glysters; by gentle pacific Medicines; +by an entire Absence of whatever caused or conduced to her bad Health; +and by drawing off all the Milk that had been so vitiated. + +2, In giving the Child itself some Glysters: in making it drink +plentifully of a light Infusion of the Lime-tree Flowers, 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 (supposing what has been just directed to have +been unavailable) with an Ounce, or an Ounce and a Half, of compound +Syrup of Succory, or as much Manna. These lenient gentle Purges carry +off the Remainder of the corrupted Milk, and remove the Disorders +occasioned by it. + +Sec. 393. A third Cause which also produces Convulsions, is the feverish +Distempers which attack Children, especially the Small-pocks and the +Measles; but in general such Convulsions require no other Treatment, but +that proper for the Disease, which has introduced them. + +Sec. 394. It is evident from what has been said in the Course of this +Chapter, and it deserves to be attended to, that Convulsions are +commonly a Symptom attending some other Disease, rather than an original +Disease themselves: that they depend on many different Causes; that from +this Consideration there can be no general Remedy for removing or +checking them; and that the only Means and Medicines which are suitable +in each Case, are those, which are proper to oppose the particular Cause +producing them, and which I have already pointed out in treating of each +Cause. + +The greater Part of the pretended Specifics, which are indiscriminately +and ignorantly employed in all Sorts of Convulsions, are often useless, +and still oftner prejudicial. Of this last Sort and Character are, + +1, All sharp and hot Medicines, spirituous Liquors, Oil of Amber,--other +hot Oils and Essences, volatile Salts, and such other Medicines, as, by +the Violence of their Action on the irritable Organs of Children, are +likelier to produce Convulsions, than to allay them. + +2, Astringent Medicines, which are highly pernicious, whenever the +Convulsions are caused by any sharp Humour, that ought to be discharged +from the Body by Stool; or when such Convulsions are the Consequences of +an [92] Effort of Nature, in Order to effect a _Crisis_: And as they +almost ever depend on one or the other of these Causes, it follows that +Astringents can very rarely, if ever, be beneficial. Besides that there +is always some Danger in giving them to Children without a mature, a +thorough Consideration of their particular Case and Situation, as they +often dispose them to Obstructions. + +[92] This very important Consideration, on which I have treated pretty + largely, in the _Analysis_, seems not to be attended to in + Practice, as frequently as it ought. _K._ + +3, The over early, and too considerable Use of Opiates, either not +properly indicated, or continued too long, such as Venice Treacle, +Mithridate, Syrup of Poppies (and it is very easy to run upon some of +these Sholes) are also attended with the most embarrassing Events, in +Regard to Convulsions; and it may be affirmed they are improper, for +nine Tenths of those they are advised to. It is true they often produce +an apparent Ease and Tranquillity for some Minutes, and sometimes for +some Hours too; but the Disorder returns even with greater Violence for +this Suspension, by Reason they have augmented all the Causes producing +it; they impair the Stomach; they bind up the Belly; they lessen the +usual Quantity of Urine; and besides, by their abating the Sensibility +of the Nerves, which ought to be considered as one of the chief +Centinels appointed by Nature, for the Discovery of any approaching +Danger, they dispose the Patient insensibly to such Infarctions and +Obstructions, as tend speedily to produce some violent and mortal Event, +or which generate a Disposition to languid and tedious Diseases: and I +do again repeat it, that notwithstanding there are some Cases, in which +they are absolutely necessary, they ought in general to be employed with +great Precaution and and Prudence. To mention the principal Indications +for them in convulsive Cases, they are proper, + +1, When the Convulsions still continue, after the original Cause of them +is removed. + +2, When they are so extremely violent, as to threaten a great and very +speedy Danger of Life; and when they prove an Obstacle to the taking +Remedies calculated to extinguish their Cause; and, + +3, When the Cause producing them is of such a Nature, as is apt to yield +to the Force of Anodynes; as when, for Instance, they have been the +immediate Consequence of a Fright. + +Sec. 395. There is a very great Difference in different Children, in +Respect to their being more or less liable to Convulsions. There are +some, in whom very strong and irritating Causes cannot excite them; not +even excruciating Gripes and Cholics; the most painful Cutting of their +Teeth; violent Fevers; the Small Pocks; Measles; and though they are, as +it were, continually corroded by Worms, they have not the slightest +Tendency to be convulsed. On the other Hand, some are so very obnoxious +to Convulsions, or so easily _convulsible_, if that Expression may be +allowed, that they are very often seized with them from such very slight +Causes, that the most attentive Consideration cannot investigate them. +This Sort of Constitution, which is extremely dangerous, and exposes the +unhappy Subject of it, either to a very speedy Death, or to a very low +and languid State of Life, requires some peculiar Considerations; the +Detail of which would be the more foreign to the Design of this +Treatise, as they are pretty common in Cities, but much less so in +Country Places. In general cold Bathing and the Powder No. 14 are +serviceable in such Circumstances. + + + + _General Directions, with Respect to Children._ + + +Sec. 396. I shall conclude this Chapter by such farther Advice, as may +contribute to give Children a more vigorous Constitution and +Temperament, and to preserve them from many Disorders. + +First then, we should be careful not to cram them too much, and to +regulate both the Quantity and the set Time of their Meals, which is a +very practicable Thing, even in the very earliest Days of their Life; +when the Woman who nurses them, will be careful to do it regularly. +Perhaps indeed this is the very Age, when such a Regulation may be the +most easily attempted and effected; because it is that Stage, when the +constant Uniformity of their Way of living should incline us to suppose, +that what they have Occasion for is most constantly very much the same. + +A Child who has already attained to a few Years, and who is surrendered +up more to his own Exercise and Vivacity, feels other Calls; his Way of +Life is become a little more various and irregular, whence his Appetite +must prove so too. Hence it would be inconvenient to subject him over +exactly to one certain Rule, in the Quantity of his Nourishment, or the +Distance of his Meals. The Dissipation or passing off of his Nutrition +being unequal, the Occasions he has for repairing it cannot be precisely +dated and regular. But with Respect to very little Children in Arms, or +on the Lap, a Uniformity in the first of these Respects, the Quantity of +their Food, very consistently conduces to a useful Regularity with +Respect to the second, the Times of feeding them. Sickness is probably +the only Circumstance, that can warrant any Alteration in the Order and +Intervals of their Meals; and then this Change should consist in a +Diminution of their usual Quantity, notwithstanding a general and fatal +Conduct seems to establish the very Reverse; and this pernicious Fashion +authorizes the Nurses to cram these poor little Creatures the more, in +Proportion as they have real Need of less feeding. They conclude of +Course, that all their Cries are the Effects of Hunger, and the Moment +an Infant begins, then they immediately stop his Mouth with his Food; +without once suspecting, that these Wailings may be occasioned by the +Uneasiness an over-loaded Stomach may have introduced; or by Pains whose +Cause is neither removed nor mitigated, by making the Children eat; +though the meer Action of eating may render them insensible to slight +Pains, for a very few Minutes; in the first Place, by calling off their +Attention; and secondly, by hushing them to sleep, a common Effect of +feeding in Children, being in fact, a very general and constant one, and +depending on the same Causes, which dispose so many grown Persons to +sleep after Meals. + +A Detail of the many Evils Children are exposed to, by thus forcing too +much Food upon them, at the very Time when their Complaints are owing to +Causes, very different from Hunger, might appear incredible. They are +however so numerous and certain, that I seriously wish sensible Mothers +would open their Eyes to the Consideration of this Abuse, and agree to +put an End to it. + +Those who overload them with Victuals, in Hopes of strengthening them, +are extremely deceived; there being no one Prejudice equally fatal to +such a Number of them. Whatever unnecessary Aliment a Child receives, +weakens, instead of strengthening him. The Stomach, when over-distended, +suffers in its Force and Functions, and becomes less able to digest +thoroughly. The Excess of the Food last received impairs the Concoction +of the Quantity, that was really necessary: which, being badly digested, +is so far from yielding any Nourishment to the Infant, that it weakens +it, and proves a Source of Diseases, and concurs to produce +Obstructions, Rickets, the Evil, slow Fevers, a Consumption and Death. + +Another unhappy Custom prevails, with Regard to the Diet of Children, +when they begin to receive any other Food besides their Nurse's Milk, +and that is, to give them such as exceeds the digestive Power of their +Stomachs; and to indulge them in a Mixture of such Things in their +Meals, as are hurtful in themselves, and more particularly so, with +Regard to their feeble and delicate Organs. + +To justify this pernicious Indulgence, they affirm it is necessary to +accustom their Stomachs to every Kind of Food; but this Notion is highly +absurd, since their Stomachs should first be strengthened, in Order to +make them capable of digesting every Food; and crouding indigestible, or +very difficultly digestible Materials into it, is not the Way to +strengthen it. To make a Foal sufficiently strong for future Labour, he +is exempted from any, till he is four Years old; which enables him to +submit to considerable Work, without being the worse for it. But if, to +inure him to Fatigue, he should be accustomed, immediately from his +Birth, to submit to Burthens above his Strength, he could never prove +any Thing but an utter Jade, incapable of real Service. The Application +of this to the Stomach of a Child is very obvious. + +I shall add another very important Remark, and it is this, that the too +early Work to which the Children of Peasants are forced, becomes of real +Prejudice to the Publick. Hence Families themselves are less numerous, +and the more Children that are removed from their Parents, while they +are very young, those who are left are the more obliged to Work, and +very often even at hard Labour, at an Age when they should exercise +themselves in the usual Diversions and Sports of Children. Hence they +wear out in a Manner, before they attain the ordinary Term of Manhood; +they never arrive at their utmost Strength, nor reach their full +Stature; and it is too common to see a Countenance with the Look of +twenty Years, joined to a Stature of twelve or thirteen. In fact, they +often sink under the Weight of such hard involuntary Labour, and fall +into a mortal Degree of Wasting and Exhaustion. + +Sec. 397. Secondly, which indeed is but a Repetition of the Advice I have +already given, and upon which I cannot insist too much, they must be +frequently washed or bathed in cold Water. + +Sec. 398. Thirdly, they should be moved about and exercised as much as they +can bear, after they are some Weeks old: the earlier Days of their +tender Life seeming consecrated, by Nature herself, to a nearly total +Repose, and to sleeping, which seems not to determine, until they have +Need of Nourishment: so that, during this very tender Term of Life, too +much Agitation or Exercise might be attended with mortal Consequences. +But as soon as their Organs have attained a little more Solidity and +Firmness, the more they are danced about (provided it is not done about +their usual Time of Repose, which ought still to be very considerable) +they are so much the better for it; and by increasing it gradually, they +may be accustomed to a very quick Movement, and at length very safely to +such, as may be called hard and hearty Exercise. That Sort of Motion +they receive in Go-Carts, or other Vehicles, particularly contrived for +their Use, is more beneficial to them, than what they have from their +Nurses Arms, because they are in a better Attitude in the former; and it +heats them less in Summer, which is a Circumstance of no small +Importance to them; considerable Heat and Sweat disposing them to be +ricketty. + +Sec. 399. Fourthly, they should be accustomed to breathe in the free open +Air as much as possible. + +If Children have unhappily been less attended to than they ought, whence +they are evidently feeble, thin, languid, obstructed, and liable to +Scirrhosities (which constitute what is termed a ricketty or consumptive +State) these four Directions duly observed retrieve them from that +unhappy State; provided the Execution of them has not been too long +delayed. + +Sec. 400. Fifthly, If they have any natural Discharge of a Humour by the +Skin, which is very common with them, or any Eruption, such as Tetters, +white Scurf, a Rashe, or the like, Care must be taken not to check or +repel them, by any greasy or restringent Applications. Not a Year passes +without Numbers of Children having been destroyed by Imprudence in this +Respect; while others have been reduced to a deplorable and weakly +Habit. + +I have been a Witness to the most unhappy Consequences of external +Medicines applied for the Rashe and white Scurf; which, however +frightful they may appear, are never dangerous; provided nothing at all +is applied to them, without the Advice and Consideration of a truly +skilful Person. + +When such external Disorders prove very obstinate, it is reasonable to +suspect some Fault or Disagreement in the Milk the Child sucks; in which +Case it should immediately be discontinued, corrected, or changed. But I +cannot enter here into a particular Detail of all the Treatment +necessary in such Cases. + + + + + __Chapter XXVIII.__ + + + _Directions with Respect to drowned Persons._ [93] + + +[93] The Misfortune of a young Man drowned in bathing himself, at the + Beginning of the Season, occasioned the Publication of this Chapter + by itself in _June_, 1761. A few Days after, the like Misfortune + happened to a labouring Man; but he was happily taken out of the + water sooner than the first (who had remained about half an Hour + under it) and he was recovered by observing Part of the Advice this + Chapter contains; of which Chapter several Bystanders had + Copies.--This Note seems to be from the Author himself. + + __Sect.__ 401. + +Whenever a Person who has been drowned, has remained a Quarter of an +Hour under Water, there can be no considerable Hopes of his Recovery: +the Space of two or three Minutes in such a Situation being often +sufficient to kill a Man irrecoverably. Nevertheless, as several +Circumstances may happen to have continued Life, in such an unfortunate +Situation, beyond the ordinary Term, we should always endeavour to +afford them the most effectual Relief, and not give them up as +irrecoverable too soon: since it has often been known, that until the +Expiration of two, and sometimes even of three Hours, such Bodies have +exhibited some apparent Tokens of Life. + +Water has sometimes been found in the Stomach of drowned Persons; at +other times none at all. Besides, the greatest Quantity which has ever +been found in it has not exceeded that, which may be drank without any +Inconvenience; whence we may conclude, the meer Quantity was not mortal; +neither is it very easy to conceive how drowned Persons can swallow +Water. What really kills them is meer Suffocation, or the Interception +of Air, of the Action of breathing; and the Water which descends into +the Lungs, and which is determined there, by the Efforts they +necessarily, though involuntarily make, to draw Breath, after they are +under Water: for there absolutely does not any Water descend, either +into the Stomach or the Lungs of Bodies plunged into Water, after they +are dead; a Circumstance, which serves to establish a legal Sentence and +Judgment in some criminal Cases, and Trials: This Water intimately +blending itself with the Air in the Lungs, forms a viscid inactive Kind +of Froth, which entirely destroys the Functions of the Lungs; whence the +miserable Sufferer is not only suffocated, but the Return of the Blood +from the Head being also intercepted, the Blood Vessels of the Brain are +overcharged, and an Apoplexy is combined with the Suffocation. This +second Cause, that is, the Descent of the Water into the Lungs, is far +from being general, it having been evident from the Dissection of +several drowned Bodies, that it really never had existed in them. + +Sec. 402. The Intention that should be pursued, is that of unloading the +Lungs and the Brain, and of reviving the extinguished Circulation. For +which Purpose we should, 1, immediately strip the Sufferer of all his +wet Cloaths; rub him strongly with dry coarse Linnen; put him, as soon +as possible, into a well heated Bed, and continue to rub him well a very +considerable Time together. + +2, A strong and healthy Person should force his own warm Breath into the +Patient's Lungs; and the Smoke of Tobacco, if some was at Hand, by Means +of some Pipe, Chanel, Funnel or the like, that may be introduced into +the Mouth. This Air or Fume, being forcibly blown in, by stopping the +Sufferer's Nostrils close at the same Time, penetrates into the Lungs, +and there rarifies by its Heat that Air, which blended with the Water, +composed the viscid Spume or Froth. Hence that Air becomes disengaged +from the Water, recovers its Spring, dilates the Lungs; and, if there +still remains within any Principle of Life, the Circulation is renewed +again that Instant. + +3, If a moderately expert Surgeon is at Hand, he must open the jugular +Vein, or any large Vein in the Neck, and let out ten or twelve Ounces of +Blood. Such a Bleeding is serviceable on many Accounts. First, merely as +Bleeding, it renews the Circulation, which is the constant Effect of +Bleeding in such Swoonings, as arise from an intercepted or suffocated +Circulation. Secondly, it is that particular Bleeding, which most +suddenly removes, in such Cases, the Infarction or Obstruction of the +Head and Lungs; and, thirdly, it is sometimes the only Vessel, whence +Blood will issue under such Circumstances. The Veins of the Feet then +afford none; and those of the Arms seldom; but the Jugulars almost +constantly furnish it. + +Fourthly, the Fume of Tobacco should be thrown up, as speedily and +plentifully as possible, into the Intestines by the Fundament. There are +very commodious Contrivances devised for this Purpose; but as they are +not common, it may be effected by many speedy Means. One, by which a +Woman's Life was preserved, consisted only in introducing the small Tube +of a Tobacco Pipe well lighted up: the Head or Bowl of it was wrapped up +in a Paper, in which several Holes were pricked, and through these the +Breath was strongly forced. At the fifth Blast a considerable Rumbling +was heard in the Woman's Belly; she threw up a little Water, and a +Moment afterwards came to her Senses. Two Pipes may be thus lighted and +applied, with their Bowls covered 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 also be conveyed up, by introducing a _Canula_, or +any other Pipe, with a Bladder firmly fixed to it. This Bladder is +fastened at its other End to a large Tin Funnel, under which Tobacco is +to be lighted. This Contrivance has succeeded with me upon other +Occasions, in which Necessity compelled me to invent and apply it. + +Fifthly, the strongest Volatiles should be applied to the Patient's +Nostrils. The Powder of some strong dry Herb should be blown up his +Nose, such as Sage, Rosemary, Rue, Mint, and especially Marjoram, or +very well dried Tobacco; or even the Fume, the Smoke of these Herbs. But +all these Means are most properly employed after Bleeding, when they are +most efficacious and certain. + +Sixthly, as long as the Patient shews no Signs of Life, he will be +unable to swallow, and it is then useless, and even dangerous, to pour +much Liquid of any kind into his Mouth, which could do nothing but keep +up, or increase Suffocation. It is sufficient, in such Circumstances, to +instil a few Drops of some irritating Liquor, which might also be +cordial and reviving. But as soon as ever he discovers any Motion, he +should take, within the Space of one Hour, five or six common Spoonfuls +of Oxymel of Squills diluted with warm Water: or if that Medicine was +not to be had very speedily, a strong Infusion of the blessed Thistle, +or _Carduus benedictus_, of Sage, or of Chamomile Flowers sweetened with +Honey, might do instead of it: and supposing nothing else to be had, +some warm Water, with the Addition of a little common Salt, should be +given. Some Persons are bold enough to recommend Vomits in such Cases; +but they are not without their Inconvenience; and it is not as a Vomit +that I recommend the Oxymel of Squills in them. + +Seventhly, Notwithstanding the Sick discover some Tokens of Life, we +should not cease to continue our Assistance; since they sometimes +irrecoverably expire, after these first Appearances of recovering. + +And lastly, though they should be manifestly re-animated, there +sometimes remains an Oppression, a Coughing and Feverishness, which +effectually constitute a Disease: and then it becomes necessary +sometimes to bleed them in the Arms; to give them Barley Water +plentifully, or Elder-flower Tea. + +Sec. 403. Having thus pointed out such Means as are necessary, and truly +effectual, in such unfortunate Accidents, I shall very briefly mention +some others, which it is the general Custom to use and apply in the +first Hurry. + +1, These unhappy People are sometimes wrapped up in a Sheep's, or a +Calf's, or a Dog's Skin, immediately flead from the Animal: these +Applications have sometimes indeed revived the Heat of the Drowned; but +their Operations are more slow, and less efficacious, than the Heat of a +well-warmed Bed; with the additional Vapour of burnt Sugar, and long +continued Frictions with hot Flanels. + +2, The Method of rolling them in an empty Hogshead is dangerous, and +mispends a deal of important Time. + +3, That also of hanging them up by the Feet is attended with Danger, and +ought to be wholly discontinued. The Froth or Foam, which is one of the +Causes of their Death, is too thick and tough to discharge itself, in +Consequence of its own Weight. Nevertheless, this is the only Effect +that can be expected, from this Custom of suspending them by the Feet; +which must also be hurtful, by its tending to increase the Overfulness +of the Head and of the Lungs. + +Sec. 404. It is some Years since a Girl of eighteen Years old was recovered +[though it is unknown whether she remained under Water only a little +Time or some Hours] who was motionless, frozen as it were, insensible, +with her Eyes closed, her Mouth wide open, a livid Colour, a swoln +Visage, a Tumour or bloating of the whole Body, which was overladen as +it were, or Water-soaked. This miserable Object was extended on a Kind +of Bed, of hot or very warm Ashes, quickly heated in great Kettles; and +by laying her quite naked on these Ashes; by covering her with others +equally hot; by putting a Bonnet round her Head, with a Stocking round +her Neck stuffed with the same, and heaping Coverings over all this, at +the End of half an Hour her Pulse returned, she recovered her Speech, +and cried out, _I freeze, I freeze_: A little Cherry-Brandy was given +her, and then she remained buried, as it were, eight Hours under the +Ashes; being taken out of them afterwards without any other Complaint, +except that of great Lassitude or Weariness, which went entirely off the +third Day. This Method was undoubtedly so effectual, that it well +deserves Imitation; but it should not make us inattentive to the others. +Heated Gravel or Sand mixed with Salt, or hot Salt alone, would have +been equally efficacious, and they have been found so. + +At the very Time of writing this, two young Ducks, who were drowned, +have been revived by a dry Bath of hot Ashes. The Heat of a Dung-heap +may also be beneficial; and I have just been informed, by a very +creditable and sensible Spectator of it, that it effectually contributed +to restore Life to a Man, who had certainly remained six Hours under +Water. + +Sec. 405. I shall conclude these Directions with an Article printed in a +little Work at _Paris_, about twenty Years since, by Order of the King, +to which there is not the least Doubt, but that any other Sovereign will +readily accede. + + "Notwithstanding the common People are very generally disposed + to be compassionate, and may wish to give all Assistance to + drowned Persons, it frequently happens they do not, only because + they dare not; imagining they expose themselves by it to + Prosecutions. It is therefore necessary, that they should know, + and it cannot be too often repeated, in order to eradicate such + a pernicious Prejudice, that the Magistrates have never + interposed to prevent People from trying every possible Means to + recover such unfortunate Persons, as shall be drowned and taken + out of the Water. It is only in those Cases, when the Persons + are known to be absolutely and irrecoverably dead, that Justice + renders it necessary to seize their Bodies." + + + + + __Chapter XXIX.__ + + + _Of Substances stopt between the Mouth and the Stomach._ + + + __Sect.__ 406. + +The Food we take in descends from the Mouth through a very strait +Passage or Chanel, called the _Oesophagus_, the Gullet, which, going +parallel with the Spine or Backbone, joins to, or terminates at, the +Stomach. + +It happens sometimes that different Bodies are stopt in this Chanel, +without being able either to descend or to return up again; whether this +Difficulty arises from their being too large; or whether it be owing to +their having such Angles or Points, as by penetrating into, and adhering +to the Sides of this membranous Canal, absolutely prevent the usual +Action and Motion of it. + +Sec. 407. Very dangerous Symptoms arise from this Stoppage, which are +frequently attended with a most acute Pain in the Part; and at other +Times, with a very incommodious, rather than painful, Sensation; +sometimes a very ineffectual Commotion at, or rising of, the Stomach, +attended with great Anguish; and if the Stoppage be so circumstanced, +that the _Glottis_ is closed, or the Wind-pipe compressed, a dreadful +Suffocation is the Consequence: the Patient cannot breathe, the Lungs +are quite distended; and the Blood being unable to return from the Head, +the Countenance becomes red, then livid; the Neck swells; the Oppression +increases, and the poor Sufferer speedily dies. + +When the Patient's Breathing is not stopt, nor greatly oppressed; if the +Passage is not entirely blocked up, and he can swallow something, he +lives very easily for a few Days, and then his Case becomes a particular +Disorder of the _Oesophagus_, or Gullet. But if the Passage is +absolutely closed, and the Obstruction cannot be removed for many Days, +a terrible Death is the Consequence. + +Sec. 408. The Danger of such Cases does not depend so much on the Nature of +the obstructing Substance, as on its Size, with Regard to that of the +Passage of the Part where it stops, and of the Manner in which it forms +the Obstruction; and frequently the very Food may occasion Death; while +Substances less adapted to be swallowed are not attended with any +violent Consequences, though swallowed. + +A Child of six Days old swallowed a Comfit or Sugar Plumb, which stuck +in the Passage, and instantly killed it. + +A grown Person perceived that a Bit of Mutton had stopt in the Passage; +not to alarm any Body he arose from Table; a Moment afterwards, on +looking 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 an Egg, which he swallowed whole in a Bravo. + +A Child was killed by a Chesnut swallowed whole. Another died suddenly, +choaked (which is always the Circumstance, when they die instantly after +such Accidents) by a Pear which he had tossed up, and catched in his +Mouth. A Woman was choaked with another Pear. A Piece of a Sinew +continued eight Days in the Passage, so that it prevented the Patient +from getting down any Thing else; at the Expiration of that Time it fell +into the Stomach, being loosened by its Putridity: The Patient +notwithstanding died soon after, being killed by the Inflammation, +Gangrene and Weakness it had occasioned. Unhappily there occur but too +many Instances of this Sort, of which it is unnecessary to cite more. + +Sec. 409. Whenever any Substance is thus detained in the Gullet, there are +two Ways of removing it; that is either by extracting it, or pushing it +down. The safest and most certain Way is always to extract or draw it +out, but this is not always the easiest: and as the Efforts made for +this Purpose greatly fatigue the Patient, and are sometimes attended +with grievous Consequences; and yet if the Occasion is extremely urging, +it may be eligible to thrust it down, if that is easier; and if there is +no Danger from the obstructing Bodies Reception into the Stomach. + +The Substances which may be pushed down without Danger, are all common +nourishing ones, as Bread, Meat, Cakes, Fruits, Pulse, Morsels of Tripe, +and even Skin of Bacon. It is only very large Morsels of particular +Aliments, that prove very difficult to digest; yet even such are rarely +attended with any Fatality. + +Sec. 410. The Substances we should endeavour to extract or draw out, though +it be more painful and less easy than to push them down, are all those, +whose Consequences might be highly dangerous, or even mortal, if +swallowed. Such are all totally indigestible Bodies, as Cork, +Linen-Rags, large Fruit Stones, Bones, Wood, Glass, Stones, Metals; and +more especially if any further Danger may be superadded to that of its +Indigestibility, from the Shape, whether rough, sharp, pointed, or +angular, of the Substance swallowed. Wherefore we should chiefly +endeavour to extract Pins, Needles, Fish-bones, other pointed Fragments +of Bones, Bits of Glass, Scissars, Rings, or Buckles. + +Nevertheless it has happened, that every one of these Substances have at +one Time or another been swallowed, and the most usual Consequences of +them are violent Pains of the Stomach, and in the Guts; Inflammations, +Suppurations, Abscesses, a slow Fever, Gangrene, the _Miserere_ or Iliac +Passion; external Abscesses, through which the Bodies swallowed down +have been discharged; and frequently, after a long Train of Maladies, a +dreadful Death. + +Sec. 411. When such Substances have not passed in too deep, we should +endeavour to extract them with our Fingers, which often succeeds. If +they are lower, we should make use of Nippers or a small _Forceps_; of +which Surgeons are provided with different Sorts. Those which some +Smoakers carry about them might be very convenient for such Purposes; +and in Case of Necessity they might be made very readily out of two Bits +of Wood. But this Attempt to extract rarely succeeds, if the Substance +has descended far into the _Oesophagus_, and if the Substance be of a +flexible Nature, which exactly applies itself to, and fills up the +Cavity or Chanel of it. + +Sec. 412. If the Fingers and the Nippers fail, or cannot be duly applied, +Crotchets, a Kind of Hooks, must be employed. + +These may be made at once with a pretty strong iron Wire, crooked at the +End. It must be introduced in the flat Way, and for the better +conducting of it, there should be another Curve or Hook at the End it is +held by, to serve as a Kind of Handle to it, which has this further Use, +that it may be secured by a String tied to it; a Circumstance not to be +omitted in any Instrument employed on such Occasions, to avoid such ill +Accidents as have sometimes ensued, from these Instruments slipping out +of the Operators Hold. After the Crotchet has passed beyond and below +the Substance, that obstructs the Passage, it is drawn up again, and +hooks up with it and extracts that Impediment to swallowing. + +This Crotchet is also very convenient, whenever a Substance somewhat +flexible, as a Pin or a Fishbone stick, as it were, across the Gullet: +the Crotchet in such Cases seizing them about their middle Part, crooks +and thus disengages them. If they are very brittle Substances, it serves +to break them; and if any Fragments still stick within, some other Means +must be used to extract them. + +Sec. 413. When the obstructing Bodies are small, and only stop up Part of +the Passage; and which may either easily elude the Hook, or straiten it +by their Resistance, a Kind of Rings may be used, and made either solid +or flexible. + +The solid ones are made of iron Wire, or of a String of very fine brass +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 Diameter. Then the +long unbent Sides of the Wire are brought near each other; the circular +Part or Ring is introduced into the Gullet, in order to be conducted +about the obstructing Body, and so to extract it. Very flexible Rings +may be made of Wool, Thread, Silk, or small Packthread, which may be +waxed, for their greater Strength and Consistence. Then they are to be +tied fast to a Handle of Iron-Wire, of Whale-bone, or of any flexible +Wood; after which the Ring is to be introduced to surround the +obstructing Substance, and to draw it out. + +Several of these Rings passed through one another are often made use of, +the more certainly to lay hold of the obstructing Body, which may be +involved by one, if another should miss it. This Sort of Rings has one +Advantage, which is, that when the Substance to be extracted is once +laid hold of, it may then, by turning the Handle, be retained so +strongly in the Ring thus twisted, as to be moved every Way; which must +be a considerable Advantage in many such Cases. + +Sec. 414. A fourth Material employed on these unhappy Occasions is the +Sponge. Its Property of swelling considerably, on being wet, is the +Foundation of its Usefulness here. + +If any Substance is stopt in the Gullet, but without filling up the +whole Passage, a Bit of Sponge is introduced, into that Part that is +unstopt, and beyond the Substance. The Sponge soon dilates, and grows +larger in this moist Situation, and indeed the Enlargement of it may be +forwarded, by making the Patient swallow a few Drops of Water; and then +drawing back the Sponge by the Handle it is fastened to, as it is now +too large to return through the small Cavity, by which it was conveyed +in, it draws out the obstructing Body with it, and thus unplugs, as it +were, and opens the Gullet. + +As dry Sponge may shrink or be contracted, this Circumstance has proved +the Means of squeezing a pretty large Piece of it into a very small +Space. It becomes greatly compressed by winding a String or Tape very +closely about it, which Tape may be easily unwound and withdrawn, after +the Sponge has been introduced. It may also be inclosed in a Piece of +Whalebone, split into four Sticks at one End, and which, being endued +with a considerable Spring, contracts upon the Sponge. The Whalebone is +so smoothed and accommodated, as not to wound; and the Sponge is also to +be safely tied to a strong Thread; that after having disengaged the +Whalebone from it, the Surgeon may also draw out the Sponge at Pleasure. + +Sponge is also applied on these Occasions in another Manner. When there +is no Room to convey it into the Gullet, because the obstructing +Substance ingrosses its whole Cavity; and supposing it not hooked into +the Part, but solely detained by the Straitness of the Passage, a pretty +large Bit of Sponge is to be introduced towards the Gullet, and close to +the obstructing Subtance: Thus applied, the Sponge swells, and thence +dilates that Part of the Passage that is above this Substance. The +Sponge is then withdrawn a little, and but a very little, and this +Substance being less pressed upon above than below, it sometimes +happens, that the greater Staitness and Contraction of the lower Part of +the Passage, than of its upper Part, causes that Substance to ascend; +and as soon as this first Loosening or Disengagement of it has happened, +the total Disengagement of it easily follows. + +Sec. 415. Finally, when all these Methods prove unavailable, there remains +one more, which is to make the Patient vomit; but this can scarcely be +of any Service, but when such obstructing Bodies are simply engaged in, +and not hooked or stuck into the Sides of the _Oesophagus_; since under +this latter Circumstance vomiting might occasion further Mischief. + +If the Patient can swallow, a Vomiting may be excited with the +Prescription No. 8, or with No. 34, or 35. By this Operation a Bone was +thrown out, which had stopt in the Passage four and twenty Hours. + +When the Patient cannot swallow, an Attempt should be made to excite him +to vomit by introducing 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 obstructing Body strongly compresses the whole +Circumference of the Gullet; and then no other Resource is left, but +giving a Glyster of Tobacco. A certain Person swallowed a large Morsel +of Calf's Lights, which stopt in the Middle of the Gullet, and exactly +filled up the Passage. A Surgeon unsuccessfully attempted various +Methods to extract it; but another seeing how unavailable all of them +were; and the Patient's Visage becoming black and swelled; his Eyes +ready to start, as it were, out of his Head; and falling into frequent +Swoonings, attended with Convulsions too, he caused a Glyster of an +Ounce of Tobacco boiled to be thrown up; the Consequence of which was a +violent Vomiting, which threw up the Substance that was so very near +killing him. + +Sec. 416. A sixth Method, which I believe has never hitherto been +attempted, but which may prove very useful in many Cases, when the +Substances in the Passage are not too hard, and are very large, would be +to fix a Worm (used for withdrawing the Charge of Guns that have been +loaded) fast to a flexible Handle, with a waxed Thread fastened to the +Handle, in Order to withdraw it, if the Handle slipt from the Worm; and +by this Contrivance it might be very practicable, if the obstructing +Substance was not too deep in the Passage of the Gullet, to extract +it--It has been known that a Thorn fastened in the Throat, has been +thrown out by laughing. + +Sec. 417. In the Circumstances mentioned Sec. 409, when it is more easy and +convenient to push the obstructing Body downwards, it has been usual to +make Use of Leeks, which may generally be had any where (but which +indeed are very subject to break) or of a Wax-candle oiled, and but a +very little heated, so as to make it flexible; or of a Piece of +Whale-bone; or of Iron-Wire; one Extremity of which may be thickened and +blunted in a Minute with a little melted Lead. Small Sticks of some +flexible Wood may be as convenient for the same Use, such as the +Birch-tree, the Hazel, the Ash, the Willow, a flexible Plummet, or a +leaden Ring. All these Substances should be very smooth, that they may +not give the least Irritation; for which Reason they are sometimes +covered over with a thin Bit of Sheep's Gut. Sometimes a Sponge is +fastened to one End of them, which, completely filling up the whole +Passage, pushes down whatever Obstacle it meets with. + +In such Cases too, the Patient may be prompted to attempt swallowing +down large Morsels of some unhurtful Substance, such as a Crust of +Bread, a small Turnep, a Lettuce Stalk, or a Bullet, in Hopes of their +carrying down the obstructing Cause with them. It must be acknowledged, +however, that these afford but a feeble Assistance; and if they are +swallowed without being well secured to a Thread, it may be apprehended +they may even increase the Obstruction, by their own Stoppage. + +It has sometimes very happily, though rarely, occurred, that those +Substances attempted to be detruded or thrust 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 Case of pointed Substances. + +Sec. 418. Should it be impossible to extract the Bodies mentioned Sec. 410, +and all such as it must be dangerous to admit into the Stomach, we must +then prefer the least of two Evils, and rather run the Hazard of pushing +them down, than suffer the Patient to perish dreadfully in a few +Moments. And we ought to scruple this Resolution the less, as a great +many Instances have demonstrated, that notwithstanding several bad +Consequences, and even a tormenting Death, have often followed the +swallowing of such hurtful or indigestible Substances; yet at other +times they have been attended with little or no Disorder. + +Sec. 419. One of these four Events is always the Case, after swallowing +such Things. They either, 1, go off by Stool; or, 2, they are not +discharged and kill the Patient. Or else, 3, they are discharged by +Urine; or, 4, are visibly extruded to the Skin. I shall give some +Instances of each of these Events. + +Sec. 420. When they are voided by Stool, they are either voided soon after +they have been swallowed, and that without having occasional scarce any +troublesome Symptom; 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-stone, the Cover +of a small Box of Venice Treacle, Pins, Needles, and Coins of different +Sorts, have been voided within a few Days after they had slipt down into +the Stomach; and that with little or no Complaint. A small Flute, or +Pipe also, four Inches long, which occasioned acute Pains for three +Days, has been voided happily afterwards, besides, Knives, Razors, and +one Shoe-buckle. I have seen but a few Days since a Child between two +and three Years old, who swallowed a Nail above an Inch long, the Head +of which was more than three Tenths of an Inch broad: it stopt a few +Moments about the Neck, but descended while its Friends were looking for +me; and was voided with a Stool that Night, without any bad Consequence. +And still more lately I have known the entire Bone of a Chicken's Wing +thus swallowed, which only occasioned a slight Pain in the Stomach for +three or four Days. + +Sometimes such Substances are retained within for a long Time, not being +voided till after several Months, and even Years, without the least ill +Effect: and some of them have never either appeared, nor been complained +of. + +Sec. 421. But the Event is not always so happy; and sometimes though they +are discharged through the natural Passages, the Discharges have been +preceded by very acute Pains in the Stomach, and in the Bowels. A Girl +swallowed down some Pins, which afflicted her with violent Pains for the +Space of six Years; at the Expiration of which Term she voided them and +recovered. Three Needles being swallowed brought on Cholics, Swoonings +and Convulsions for a Year after: and then being voided by Stool, the +Patient recovered. Another Person who swallowed two, was much happier in +suffering but six Hours from them; when they were voided by Stool, and +he did well. + +It sometimes happens that such indigestible Substances, after having +past all the Meanders, the whole Course of the Intestines, have been +stopt in the Fundament, and brought on very troublesome Symptoms; but +such however, as an expert Surgeon may very generally remove. If it is +practicable to cut them, as it is when they happen to be thin Bones, the +Jaw-bones of Fish, or Pins, they are then very easily extracted. + +Sec. 422. The second Event is, when these fatal Substances are never +voided, but cause very embarrassing Symptoms which finally kill the +Patient; and of these Cases there have been but too many Examples. + +A young Girl having swallowed some Pins, which she held in her Mouth, +some of them were voided by Stool; but others of them pricked and +pierced into her Guts, and even into the Muscles of her Belly, with the +severest Pain; and killed her at the End of three Weeks. + +A Man swallowed a Needle, which pierced through his Stomach, and into +his Liver, [94] and ended in a mortal Consumption. + +[94] I saw a very similar Instance and Event in a Lady's little + favourite Bitch, whole Body she desired to be opened, from + suspecting her to have been poisoned. But it appeared that a small + Needle with fine Thread, which she had swallowed, had passed out of + the Stomach into the _Duodenum_ (one of the Guts) through which the + Point had pierced and pricked and corroded the concave Part of the + Liver, which was all rough and putrid. The whole Carcase was + greatly bloated and extremely offensive, very soon after the poor + Animal's Death, which happened two or three Months after the + Accident, and was preceded by a great Wheezing, Restlessness and + Loss of Appetite. The Needle was rusty, but the Thread entire, and + very little altered. _K._ + +A Plummet which slipt 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 +swallowed without any fatal or troublesome Effects. Even a hundred +Luidores [95] have been swallowed, and all voided. Nevertheless these +fortunate Escapes ought not to make People too secure and incautious on +such Occasions, since such melancholy Consequences have happened, as may +very justly alarm them. One single Piece of Money that was swallowed, +entirely obstructed the Communication between the Stomach and the +Intestines, and killed the Patient. Whole Nuts have often been +inadvertently swallowed; but there have been some Instances of Persons +in whom a Heap [96] of them has been formed, which proved the Cause of +Death, after producing much Pain and Inquietude. + +[95] I knew a Man of the Name of _Poole_, who being taken in the same + Ship with me, 1717 or 18, by Pirates, had swallowed four Ginueas, + and a gold Ring, all which he voided some Days after without any + Injury or Complaint, and saved them. I forget the exact Number of + Days he retained them, but the Pirates staid with us from Saturday + Night to Thursday Noon. _K._ + +[96] Many fatal Examples of this Kind may be seen in the _Philosophical + Transactions_; and they should caution People against swallowing + Cherry-stones, and still more against those of Prunes, or such as + are pointed, though not very acutely. _K._ + +Sec. 423. The third Issue or Event is, when these Substances, thus +swallowed down, have been discharged by Urine: but these Cases 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, besides +Cherry-stones, Plumb-stones, and even one Peach-stone. + +Sec. 424. Finally, the fourth Consequence or Event is, when the +indigestible Substances thus swallowed, have pierced through the Stomach +or Intestines, and even to the Skin itself; and occasioning an Abscess, +have made an Outlet for themselves, or have been taken out of the +Abscess. A long Time is often required to effect this extraordinary +Trajection and Appearance of them; sometimes the Pains they occasion are +continual; in other Cases the Patient complains for a Time, after which +the Pain ceases, and then returns again. The Imposthume, or Gathering, +is formed in the Stomach, or in some other Part of the Belly: and +sometimes these very Substances, after having pierced through the Guts, +make very singular Routs, and are discharged very remotely from the +Belly. One Needle that had been swallowed found its Way out, at the End +of four Years, through the Leg; another at the Shoulder. + +Sec. 425. All these Examples, and many others of cruel Deaths, from +swallowing noxious Substances, demonstrate the great Necessity of an +habitual Caution in this Respect; and give in their Testimony against +the horrid, I had almost said, the criminal Imprudence, of People's +amusing themselves with such Tricks as may lead to such terrible +Accidents; or even holding any such Substance in their Mouths, as by +slipping down through Imprudence or Accident, may prove the Occasion of +their Death. Is it possible that any one, without shuddering, can hold +Pins or Needles in their Mouths, after reflecting on the dreadful +Accidents, and cruel Deaths, that have thus been caused by them. + +Sec. 426. It has been shewn already, that Substances obstructing the +Passage of the Gullet sometimes suffocate the Patient; that at other +Times they can neither be extracted nor thrust down; but that they stop +in the Passage, without killing the Patient, at least not immediately +and at once. This is the Case when they are so circumstanced, as not to +compress the _Trachaea_, the Wind-pipe, and not totally to prevent the +swallowing of Food; which last Circumstance can scarcely happen, except +the Obstruction has been formed by angular or pointed Bodies. The +Stoppage of such Bodies is sometimes attended, and that without much +Violence, with a small Suppuration, which loosens them; and then they +are either returned upwards through the Mouth, or descend into the +Stomach. But at other Times an extraordinary Inflammation is produced, +which kills the Patient. Or if the Contents of the Abscess attending the +Inflammation tend outwardly, a Tumour is formed on the external Part of +the Neck, which is to be opened, and through whose Orifice the +obstructing Body is discharged. In other Instances again they take a +different Course, attended with little or no Pain, and are at length +discharged by a Gathering behind the Neck, on the Breast, the Shoulder, +or various other Parts. + +Sec. 427. Some Persons, astonished at the extraordinary Course and +Progression of such Substances, which, from their Size, and especially +from their Shape, seem to them incapable of being introduced into, and +in some Sort, circulating through the human Body, without destroying it, +are very desirous of having the Rout and Progression of such intruding +Substances explained to them. To gratify such Inquirers, I may be +indulged in a short Digression, which perhaps is the less foreign to my +Plan; as in dissipating what seems marvelous, and has been thought +supernatural in such Cases, I may demolish that superstitious Prejudice, +which has often ascribed Effects of this Sort to Witchcraft; but which +admit of an easy Explanation. This very Reason is the Motive that has +determined me to give a further Extent to this Chapter. + +Wherever an Incision is made through the Skin, a certain Membrane +appears, which consists of two Coats or _Laminae_, separated from each +other by small Cells or Cavities, which all communicate together; and +which are furnished, more or less, with Fat. There is not any Fat +throughout the human Body, which is not inclosed in, or enveloped with, +this Coat, which is called the adipose, fatty, or cellular Membrane. + +This Membrane is not only found under the Skin, but further plying and +insinuating itself in various Manners, it is extended throughout the +whole Body. It distinguishes and separates all the Muscles; it +constitutes a Part of the Stomach, of the Guts, of the Bladder, and of +all the _Viscera_ or Bowels. It is this which forms what is called the +Cawl, and which also furnishes a Sheath or Envelopement to the Veins, +Arteries, and Nerves. In some Parts it is very thick, and is abundantly +replenished with Fat; in others it is very thin and unprovided with any; +but wherever it extends, it is wholly insensible, or void of all +Sensation, all Feeling. + +It may be compared to a quilted Coverlet, the Cotton, or other Stuffing +of which, is unequally distributed; greatly abounding in some Places, +with none at all in others, so that in these the Stuff above and below +touch each other. Within this Membrane, or Coverlet, as it were, such +extraneous or foreign Substances are moved about; and as there is a +general Communication throughout the whole Extent of the Membrane, it is +no ways surprizing, that they are moved from one Part to another very +distant, in a long Course and Duration of Movement. Officers and +Soldiers very often experience, that Bullets which do not pass 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 throughout the whole Carcase of a +Calf, by a small Incision in the Skin, into which they introduce a Pipe +or the Nozzle of a small Bellows; and then, blowing forcibly, the Air +evidently puffs up the whole Body of the Calf into this artificial +Tumour or Swelling. + +Some very criminal Impostors have availed themselves of this wicked +Contrivance, thus to bloat up Children into a Kind of Monsters, which +they afterwards expose to View for Money. + +In this cellular Membrane the extravasated Waters of hydropic Patients +are commonly diffused; and here they give Way to that Motion, to which +their own Weight disposes them. But here I may be asked--As this +Membrane is crossed and intersected in different Parts of it, by Nerves, +Veins, Arteries, _&c._ the wounding of which unavoidably occasions +grievous Symptoms, how comes it, that such do not ensue upon the +Intrusion of such noxious Substances? To this I answer, 1, that such +Symptoms do sometimes really ensue; and 2, that nevertheless they must +happen but seldom, by Reason that all the aforesaid Parts, which +traverse and intersect this Membrane, being harder than the Fat it +contains; such foreign Substances must almost necessarily, whenever they +rencounter those Parts, be turned aside towards the Fat which surrounds +them, whose Resistance is very considerably less; and this the more +certainly so, as these Nerves, _&c._ are always of a cylindrical +Form.----But to return from this necessary Digression. + +Sec. 428. To all these Methods and Expedients I have already recommended on +the important Subject of this Chapter, I shall further add some general +Directions. + +1. It is often useful, and even necessary, to take a considerable +Quantity of Blood from the Arm; but especially if the Patient's +Respiration, or Breathing, is extremely oppressed; or when we cannot +speedily succeed in our Efforts to remove the obstructing Substance; as +the Bleeding is adapted to prevent the Inflammation, which the frequent +Irritations from such Substances occasion; and as by its disposing the +whole Body into a State of Relaxation, it might possibly procure an +immediate Discharge of the offending Substance. + +2. Whenever it is manifest that all Endeavours, either to extract, or to +push down the Substance stopt in the Passage, are ineffectual, they +should be discontinued; because the Inflammation occasioned by +persisting in them, would be as dangerous as the Obstruction itself; as +there have been Instances of People's dying in Consequence of the +Inflammation; notwithstanding the Body, which caused the Obstruction, +had been entirely removed. + +3. While the Means already advised are making Use of, the Patient should +often swallow, or if he cannot, he should frequently receive by +Injection through a crooked Tube or Pipe, that may reach lower down than +the _Glottis_, some very emollient 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 arise from this; the first is, that these +softening Liquors smooth and sooth the irritated Parts; and secondly, an +Injection, strongly thrown in, has often been more successful in +loosening the obstructing Body, than all Attempts with Instruments. + +4. When after all we are obliged to leave this in the Part, the Patient +must be treated as if he had an inflammatory Disease; he must be bled, +ordered to a Regimen, and have his whole Neck surrounded with emollient +Pultices. The like Treatment must also be used, though the obstructing +Substance be removed; if there is Room to suppose any Inflammation left +in the Passage. + +5. A proper Degree of Agitation has sometimes loosened the inhering +Body, more effectually than Instruments. It has been experienced that a +Blow with the Fist on the Spine, the Middle of the Back, has often +disengaged such obstructed and obstructing Bodies; and I have known two +Instances of Patients who had Pins stopt in the Passage; and who getting +on Horseback to ride out in Search of Relief at a neighbouring Village, +found each of them the Pin disengaged after an Hour's riding: One spat +it out, and the other swallowed it, without any ill Consequence. + +6. When there is an immediate Apprehension of the Patient's being +suffocated; when bleeding him has been of no Service; when all Hope of +freeing the Passage in time is vanished, and Death seems at Hand, if +Respiration be not restored; the Operation of _Bronchotomy_, or opening +of the Wind-pipe, must be directly performed; an Operation neither +difficult to a tolerably knowing and expert Surgeon, nor very painful to +the Patient. + +7. When the Substance that was stopt passes into the Stomach, the +Patient must immediately be put into a very mild and smooth Regimen. He +should avoid all sharp, irritating, inflaming Food; Wine, spirituous +Liquors, all strong Drink, and Coffee; taking but little Nourishment at +once, and no Solids, without their having been thoroughly well chewed. +The best Diet would be that of farinaceous mealy Soups, made of various +leguminous Grains, and of Milk and Water, which is much better than the +usual Custom of swallowing different Oils. + +Sec. 429. The Author of Nature has provided, that in eating, nothing should +pass by the _Glottis_ into the Wind-pipe. This Misfortune nevertheless +does sometimes happen; at which very Instant there ensues an incessant +and violent Cough, an acute Pain, with Suffocation; all the Blood being +forced up into the Head, the Patient is in extreme Anguish, being +agitated with violent and involuntary Motions, and sometimes dying on +the Spot. A _Hungarian_ Grenadier, by Trade a Shoemaker, was eating and +working at the same time. He tumbled at once from his Seat, without +uttering a single Word. His Comrades called out for Assistance; some +Surgeons speedily arrived, but after all their Endeavours he discovered +no Token of Life. On opening the Body, they found a Lump, or large +Morsel, of Beef, weighing two Ounces, forced into the Windpipe, which it +plugged up so exactly, that not the least Air could pass through it into +the Lungs. + +Sec. 430. In a Case so circumstanced, the Patient should be struck often on +the Middle of the Back; some Efforts to vomit should be excited; he +should be prompted to sneeze with Powder of Lilly of the Valley, Sage, +or any cephalic Snuffs, which should be blown strongly up his Nose. + +A Pea, pitched into the Mouth in playing, entered into the Wind-pipe, +and sprung out again by vomiting the Patient with Oil. A little Bone was +brought up by making another sneeze, with powdered Lilly of the Valley. + +In short, if all these Means of assisting, or saving the Patient are +evidently ineffectual, _Bronchotomy_ must be speedily performed (See No. +6, of the preceding Section.) By this Operation, some Bones, a Bean, and +a Fish-bone have been extracted, and the Patient has been delivered from +approaching Death. + +Sec. 431. Nothing should be left untried, when the Preservation of human +Life is the Object. In those Cases, when an obstructing Body can neither +be disengaged from the Throat, the Passage to the Stomach, nor be +suffered to remain there without speedily killing the Patient, it has +been proposed to make an Incision into this Passage, the _Oesophagus_, +through which such a Body is to be extracted; and to employ the like +Means, when a Substance which had slipt even into the Stomach itself, +was of a Nature to excite such Symptoms, as must speedily destroy the +Patient. + +When the _Oesophagus_ is so fully and strongly closed, that the Patient +can receive no Food by the Mouth, he is to be nourished by Glysters of +Soup, Gelly, and the like. + + + + + __Chapter XXX.__ + + + _Of external Disorders, and such as require chirurgical + Application. Of Burns, Wounds, Contusions or Bruises: Of + Sprains, Ulcers, frostbitten Limbs, Chilblains, Ruptures, Boils. + Of Fellons, Thorns or Splinters in the Fingers or Flesh; of + Warts, and of Corns._ + + + __Sect.__ 432. + +Labouring Countrymen are exposed in the Course of their daily Work, to +many outward Accidents, such as Cuts, Contusions, _&c_. which, however +considerable in themselves, very generally end happily; and that chiefly +in Consequence of the pure and simple Nature of their Blood, which is +generally much less acrimonious, or sharp, in the Country, than in great +Towns or Cities. Nevertheless, the very improper Treatment of such +Accidents, in the Country, frequently renders them, however light in +themselves, very troublesome; and indeed, I have seen so many Instances +of this, that I have thought it necessary to mark out here the proper +Treatment of such Accidents, as may not necessarily require the Hand or +Attendance of a Surgeon. I shall also add something very briefly, +concerning some external Disorders, which at the same Time result from +an inward Cause. + + + + _Of Burns._ + + +Sec. 433. When a Burn is very trifling and superficial, and occasions no +Vesication or Blister, it is sufficient to clap a Compress of several +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 blistered, a Compress of very fine Linen, spread over with the +Pomatum, No. 64, should be applied over it, and changed twice a Day. + +If the true Skin is burnt, and even the Muscles, the Flesh under it, be +injured, the same Pomatum may be applied; but instead of a Compress, it +should be spread upon a Pledget of soft Lint, to be applied very exactly +over it, and over the Pledget again, a Slip of the simple Plaister No. +65, which every Body may easily prepare; or, if they should prefer it, +the Plaister No. 66. + +But, independently of these external Applications, which are the most +effectual ones, when they are directly to be had; whenever the Burn has +been very violent, is highly inflamed, and we are apprehensive of the +Progress and the Consequences of the Inflammation, the same Means and +Remedies must be recurred to, which are used in violent Inflammations: +the Patient should be bled, and, if it is necessary, it should be +repeated more than once, and he should be put into a Regimen; drink +nothing but the Ptisans No. 2 and 4, and receive daily two simple +Glysters. + +If the Ingredients for the Ointment, called _Nutritum_, are not at Hand +to make the Pomatum No. 64; one Part of Wax should be melted in eight +such Parts of Oil, to two Ounces of which Mixture the Yolk of an Egg +should be added. A still more simple and sooner prepared Application, is +that of one Egg, both the Yolk and the White, beat up with two common +Spoonfuls of the sweetest Oil, without any Rankness. When the Pain of +the Burn, and all its other Symptoms have very nearly disappeared, it is +sufficient to apply the Sparadrap, or Oil-cloth No. 66. + + + + _Of Wounds._ + + +Sec. 434. If a Wound has penetrated into any of the Cavities, and has +wounded any Part contained in the Breast, or in the Belly: Or if, +without having entered into one of the Cavities, it has opened some +great Blood-vessel; or if it has wounded a considerable Nerve, which +occasions Symptoms much more violent, than would otherwise have +happened; if it has penetrated even to and injured the Bone: in short, +if any great and severe Symptom supervenes, there is an absolute +Necessity for calling in a Surgeon. But whenever the Wound is not +attended with any of these Circumstances; when it affects only the Skin, +the fat Membrane beneath it, the fleshy Parts and the small Vessels, it +may be easily and simply dressed without such Assistance; since, in +general, all that is truly necessary in such Cases is, to defend the +Wound from the Impressions of the Air; and yet not so, as to give any +material Obstruction to the Discharge of the Matter, that is to issue +from the Wound. + +Sec. 435. If the Blood does not particularly flow out of any considerable +Vessel, but trickles almost equally from every Spot of the Wound, it may +very safely be permitted to bleed, while some Lint is speedily +preparing. As soon as the Lint is ready, so 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 Inconveniences as +Tents and Dossils. It should be covered over with a Compress dipt in +sweet Oil, or with the Cerecloth No. 65; though I prefer the Compress +for the earliest Dressings: and the whole Dressing should be kept on, +with a Bandage of two Fingers Breadth, and of a Length proportioned to +the Size of the Part it is to surround: This should be rolled on tight +enough to secure the Dressings, and yet so moderately, as to bring on no +Inflammation. + +This Bandage with these Dressings are to remain on twenty-four or +forty-eight Hours; Wounds being healed the sooner, for being less +frequently drest. At the second Dressing all the Lint must be removed, +which can be done with Ease, and with reasonable Speed, to the Wounded; +and if any of it should stick close, in Consequence of the clogged and +dried Blood, it should be left behind, adding a little fresh Lint to it; +this Dressing in other Respects exactly resembling the first. + +When, from the Continuance of this simple Dressing, the Wound is become +very superficial, it is sufficient to apply the Cerecloth, or Plaister, +without any Lint. + +Such as have conceived an extraordinary Opinion of any medical Oils, +impregnated with the Virtues of particular Plants, may, if that will +increase their Satisfaction, make use of the common Oil of Yarrow, of +Trefoil, of Lilies, of Chamomile, of Balsamines, or of red Roses; only +being very careful, that such Oils are not become stale and rank. + +Sec. 436. When the Wound is considerable, it must be expected to inflame +before Suppuration (which, in such a Case, advances more slowly) can +ensue; which Inflammation will necessarily be attended with Pain, with a +Fever, and sometimes with a Raving, or Wandering, too. In such a +Situation, a Pultice of Bread and Milk, with the Addition of a little +Oil, that it may not stick too close, must be applied instead of the +Compress or the Plaister: which Pultice is to be changed, but without +uncovering the Wound, thrice and even four times every Day. + +Sec. 437. Should some pretty considerable Blood-vessel be opened by the +Wound, there must be applied over it, a Piece of Agaric of the Oak, No. +67, with which no Country place ought to be unprovided. It is to be kept +on, by applying a good deal of Lint over it; covering the whole with a +thick Compress, and then with a Bandage a little tighter than usual. If +this should not be sufficient to prevent the Bleeding from the large +Vessel, and the Wound be in the Leg or Arm, a strong Ligature must be +made above the Wound with a _Turniquet_, which is made in a Moment with +a Skain of Thread, or of Hemp, that is passed round the Arm circularly, +into the Middle of which is inserted a Piece of Wood or Stick of an Inch +Thickness, and four or five Inches long; so that by turning round this +Piece of Wood, any Tightness or Compression may be effected at Pleasure; +exactly as a Country-man secures a Hogshead, or a Piece of Timber on his +Cart, with a Chain and Ring. But Care must be taken, 1, to dispose the +Skain in such a Manner, that it must always be two Inches wider than the +Part it surrounds: and, 2, not to strain it so tight as to bring on an +Inflammation, which might terminate in a Gangrene. + +Sec. 438. All the boasted Virtues of a Multitude of Ointments are downright +Nonsense or Quackery. Art, strictly considered, does not in the least +contribute to the healing of Wounds; the utmost we can do amounting only +to our removing those Accidents, which are so many Obstacles to their +Re-union. On this Account, if there is any extraneous Body in the Wound, +such as Iron, Lead, Wood, Glass, Bits of Cloth or Linen, they must be +extracted, if that can be very easily done; but if not, Application must +be made to a good Surgeon, who considers what Measures are to be taken, +and then dresses the Wound, as I have already advised. + +Very far from being useful, there are many Ointments that are pernicious +on these Occasions; and the only Cases in which they should be used, are +those in which the Wounds are distinguished with some particular +Appearances, which ought to be removed by particular Applications: But a +simple recent Wound, in a healthy Man, requires no other Treatment but +what I have already directed, besides that of the general Regimen. + +Spirituous Applications are commonly hurtful, and can be suitable and +proper but in a few Cases, which Physicians and Surgeons only can +distinguish. + +When Wounds occur in the Head, instead of the Compress dipt in Oil, or +of the Cerecloth, the Wound should be covered with a Betony Plaister; +or, when none is to be had in time, with a Compress squeezed out of hot +Wine. + +Sec. 439. As the following Symptoms, of which we should be most +apprehensive, are such as attend on Inflammations, the Means we ought to +have Recourse to are those which are most likely to prevent them; such +as Bleeding, the usual Regimen, moderate Coolers and Glysters. + +Should the Wound be very inconsiderable in its Degree, and in its +Situation, it may be sufficient to avoid taking any Thing heating; and +above all Things to retrench the Use of any strong Drink, and of +Flesh-meat. + +But when it is considerable, and an Inflammation must be expected, there +is a Necessity for Bleeding; the Patient should be kept in the most +quiet and easy Situation; he should be ordered immediately to a Regimen; +and sometimes the Bleeding also must be repeated. Now all these Means +are the more indispensably necessary, when the Wound has penetrated to +some internal Part; in which Situation, no Remedy is more certain than +that of an extremely light Diet. Such wounded Persons as have been +supposed incapable of living many Hours, after Wounds in the Breast, in +the Belly, or in the Kidnies, have been completely recovered, by living +for the Course of several Weeks, on nothing but a Barley, or other +farinaceous mealy, Ptisans, without Salt, without Soup, without any +Medicine; and especially without the Use of any Ointments. + +Sec. 440. In the same Proportion that Bleeding, moderately and judiciously +employed, is serviceable, in that very same an Excess of it becomes +pernicious. Great Wounds are generally attended with a considerable Loss +of Blood, which has already exhausted the wounded Person; and the Fever +is often a Consequence of this copious Loss of Blood. Now if under such +a Circumstance, Bleeding should be ordered and performed, the Patient's +Strength is totally sunk; the Humours stagnate and corrupt; a Gangrene +supervenes, and he dies miserably, at the End of two or three Days, of a +_Series_ of repeated Bleedings, but not of the Wound. Notwithstanding +the Certainty of this, the Surgeon frequently boasts of his ten, twelve, +or even his fifteen Bleedings; assuring his Hearers of the insuperable +Mortality of the Wound, since the letting out such a Quantity of Blood +could not recover the Patient; when it really was that excessive +artificial Profusion of it, that downright dispatched him.------The +Pleasures of Love are very mortal ones to the Wounded. + +Sec. 441. The Balsams and vulnerary Plants, which have often been so highly +celebrated for the Cure of Wounds, are very noxious, when taken +inwardly; because the Introduction of them gives or heightens the Fever, +which ought to have been abated. + + + + _Of Contusions, or Bruises._ + + +Sec. 442. A Contusion, which is commonly called a Bruise, is the Effect of +the forcible Impression or Stroke of a Substance not sharp or cutting, +on the Body of a Man, or any Animal; whether such an Impression 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 forced against +a Post, a Stone, or any hard Substance by a Fall; or whether, in short, +he is squeezed and oppressed betwixt two hard Bodies, as when his Finger +is squeezed betwixt the Door and the Door-Post, or the whole Body jammed +in betwixt any Carriage and the Wall. These Bruises, however, are still +more frequent in the Country than Wounds, and commonly more dangerous +too; and indeed the more so, as we cannot judge so exactly, and so soon, +of the whole Injury that has been incurred; and because all that is +immediately visible of it is often but a small Part of the real Damage +attending it: since it frequently happens that no Hurt appears for a few +successive Days; nor does it become manifest, until it is too late to +admit of an effectual Cure. + +Sec. 443. It is but a few Weeks since a Cooper came to ask my Advice. His +Manner of breathing, his Aspect, the Quickness, Smallness, and +Irregularity of his Pulse, made me apprehensive at once, that some +Matter was formed within his Breast. Nevertheless he still kept up, and +went about, working also at some Part of his Trade. He had fallen in +removing some Casks or Hogsheads; and the whole Weight of his Body had +been violently impressed upon the right Side of his Breast. +Notwithstanding this, he was sensible of no Hurt at first; but some Days +afterwards he began to feel a dull heavy Pain in that Part, which +continued and brought on a Difficulty of Breathing, Weakness, broken +Sleep and Loss of Appetite. I ordered him immediately to Stillness and +Repose, and I advised him to drink a Ptisan of Barley sweetened with +Honey, in a plentiful Quantity. He regularly obeyed only the latter Part +of my Directions: yet on meeting him a few Days after, he told me he was +better. The very same Week, however, I was informed he had been found +dead in his Bed. The Imposthume had undoubtedly broke, and suffocated +him. + +Sec. 444. A young Man, run away with by his Horse, was forced with Violence +against a Stable-Door, without being sensible of any Damage at the Time. +But at the Expiration of twelve Days, he found himself attacked by some +such 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 really was, above a Month. In short, it was agreed at a +Consultation, that Matter was collected in the Breast. In Consequence of +this, he was more properly attended, and at length happily cured by the +Operation for an _Empyema_, after languishing a whole Year. I have +published these two Instances, to demonstrate the great Danger of +neglecting violent Strokes or Bruises; since the first of these Patients +might have escaped Death; and the second a tedious and afflicting +Disorder, if they had taken, immediately after each Accident, the +necessary Precautions against its Consequences. + +Sec. 445. Whenever any Part is bruised, one of two Things always ensues, +and commonly both happen together; especially if the Contusion is pretty +considerable: Either the small Blood-vessels of the contused Part are +broken, and the Blood they contained is spread about in the adjoining +Parts; or else, without such an Effusion of it, these Vessels have lost +their Tone, their active Force, and no longer contributing to the +Circulation, their Contents stagnate. In each of these Cases, if Nature, +either without or with the Assistance of Art, does not remove the +Impediment, an Inflammation comes on, attended with an imperfect, +unkindly Suppuration, with Putrefaction and a Gangrene; without +mentioning the Symptoms that arise from the Contusion of some particular +Substance, as a Nerve, a large Vessel, a Bone, _&c._ Hence we may also +conceive the Danger of a Contusion, happening to any inward Part, from +which the Blood is either internally effused, or the Circulation wholly +obstructed in some vital Organ. This is the Cause of the sudden Death of +Persons after a violent Fall; or of those who have received the violent +Force of heavy descending Bodies on their Heads; or of some violent +Strokes, without any evident external Hurt or Mark. + +There have been many Instances of sudden Deaths after one Blow on the +Pit of the Stomach, which has occasioned a Rupture of the Spleen. + +It is in Consequence of Falls occasioning a general slight Contusion, as +well internal as external, that they are sometimes attended with such +grievous Consequences, especially in old Men, where Nature, already +enfeebled, is less able to redress such Disorders. And thus in Fact has +it been, that many such, who had before enjoyed a firm State of Health, +have immediately lost it after a Fall (which seemed at first to have +affected them little or not at all) and languished soon after to the +Moment of their Death, which such Accidents very generally accelerate. + +Sec. 446. Different external and internal Remedies are applicable in +Contusions. When the Accident has occurred in a slight Degree, and there +has been no great nor general Shock, which might produce an internal +Soreness or Contusion, external Applications may be sufficient. They +should consist of such Things as are adapted, first, to attenuate and +resolve the effused and stagnant Blood, which shews itself so +apparently; and which, from its manifest Blackness very soon after the +Contusion, becomes successively brown, yellow, and greyish, in +Proportions as the Magnitude of the Suffusion or Sealing decreases, till +at last it disappears entirely, and the Skin recovers its Colour, +without the Blood's having been discharged through the external Surface, +as it has been insensibly and gradually dissolved, and been taken in +again by the Vessels: And secondly, the Medicines should be such as are +qualified to restore the Tone, and to recover the Strength of the +affected Vessels. + +The best Application is Vinegar, diluted, if very sharp, with twice as +much warm Water; in which Mixture Folds of Linnen are to be dipt, within +which the contused Parts are to be involved; and these Folds are to be +remoistened and re-applied every two Hours on the first Day. + +Parsley, Chervil, and Houseleek Leaves, lightly pounded, have also been +successfully employed; and these Applications are preferable to Vinegar, +when a Wound is joined to the Bruise. The Pultices, No. 68, may also be +used with Advantage. + +Sec. 447. It has been a common Practice immediately to apply spirituous +Liquors, such as Brandy, Arquebussade and [97] Alibour Water, and the +like; but a long Abuse ought not to be established by Prescription. +These Liquids which coagulate the Blood, instead of resolving it, are +truly pernicious; notwithstanding they are sometimes employed without +any visible Disadvantage on very slight Occasions. Frequently by +determining the settled Blood towards the Insterstices of the Muscles, +the fleshy Parts; or sometimes even by preventing the Effusion, or +visible Settling of the Blood, and fixing it, as it were, within the +bruised Vessels, they seem to be well; though this only arises from +their concentring and concealing the Evil, which, at the End of a few +Months, breaks forth again in a very troublesome Shape. Of this I have +seen some miserable Examples, whence it has been abundantly evinced, +that Applications of this Sort should never be admitted; and that +Vinegar should be used instead of them. At the utmost it should only be +allowed, (after there is Reason to suppose all the stagnant Blood +resolved and resorbed into the Circulation) to add a third Part of +Arquebusade Water to the Vinegar; with an Intention to restore some +Strength to the relaxed and weakened Parts. + +[97] This, Dr. _Tissot_ informs me, is a Solution of white Vitriol and + some other Drugs in Spirit of Wine, and is never used in regular + Practice now. It has its Name from the Author of the Solution. _K._ + +Sec. 448. It is still a more pernicious Practice to apply, in Bruises, +Plaisters composed of greasy Substances, Rosins, Gums, Earths, _&c._ The +most boasted of these is always hurtful, and there have been many +Instances of very slight Contusions being aggravated into Gangrenes by +such Plaisters ignorantly applied; which Bruises would have been +entirely subdued by the Oeconomy of Nature, if left to herself, in the +Space of four Days. + +Those Sacs or Suffusions of coagulated Blood, which are visible under +the Skin, should never be opened, except for some urgent Reason; since +however large they may be, they insensibly disappear and dissipate; +instead of which Termination, by opening them, they sometimes terminate +in a dangerous Ulceration. + +Sec. 449. The internal Treatment of Contusions is exactly the same with +that of Wounds; only that in these Cases the best Drink is the +Prescription, No. 1, to each Pot of which a Drachm of Nitre must be +added. + +When any Person has got a violent Fall; has lost his Senses, or is +become very stupid; when the Blood starts out of his Nostrils, or his +Ears; when he is greatly oppressed, or his Belly feels very tight and +tense, which import an Effusion of Blood either into the Head, the +Breast or the Belly, he must, first of all, be bled upon the Spot, and +all the Means must be recurred to, which have been mentioned Sec. 439, +giving the wretched Patient the least possible Disturbance or Motion; +and by all means avoiding to jog or shake him, with a Design to bring +him to his Senses; which would be directly and effectually killing him, +by causing a further Effusion of Blood. Instead of this the whole Body +should be fomented, with some one of the Decoctions already mentioned: +and when the Violence has been chiefly impressed on the Head, Wine and +Water should be prefered to Vinegar. + +Falls attended with Wounds, and even a Fracture of the Skull, and with +the most alarming Symptoms, have been cured by these internal Remedies, +and without any other external Assistance, except the Use of the +aromatic Fomentation, No. 68. + +A Man from _Pully-petit_ came to consult me some Months ago, concerning +his Father, who had a high Fall out of a Tree. He had been twenty-four +Hours without Feeling or Sense, and without any other Motion than +frequent Efforts to vomit; and Blood had issued both from his Nose and +Ears. He had no visible outward Hurt neither on his Head, nor any other +Part; and, very fortunately for him, they had not as yet exerted the +least Effort to relieve him. I immediately directed a plentiful Bleeding +in the Arm; and a large Quantity of Whey sweetened with Honey to be +drank, and to be also injected by Way of Glyster. This Advice was very +punctually observed; and fifteen Days after the Father came to +_Lausanne_, which is four Leagues from _Pully-petit_, and told me he was +very well. It is proper, in all considerable Bruises, to open the +Patient's Belly with a mild cooling Purge, such as No. 11, 23, 32, 49. +The Prescription No. 24, and the honyed Whey are excellent Remedies, +from the same Reason. + +Sec. 450. In these Circumstances, Wine, distiled Spirits, and whatever has +been supposed to revive and to rouse, is mortal. For this Reason People +should not be too impatient, because the Patients remain some Time +without Sense or Feeling. The giving of Turpentine is more likely to do +Mischief than Good; and if it has been sometimes serviceable, it must +have been in Consequence of its purging the Patient, who probably then +needed to be purged. The Fat of a Whale, (_Sperma caeti_) Dragons Blood, +Crabs-Eyes, and Ointments of whatsoever Sort are at least useless and +dangerous Medicine, if the Case be very hazardous; either by the +Mischief they do, or the Good they prevent from being done. The proper +Indication is to dilute the Blood, to render it more fluid and disposed +to circulate; and the Medicines just mentioned produce a very contrary +Effect. + +Sec. 451. When an aged Person gets a Fall, which is the more dangerous in +Proportion to his Age and Grossness; notwithstanding he should not seem +in the least incommoded by it, if he is sanguine and still somewhat +vigorous, he should part with three or four Ounces of Blood. He should +take immediately a few successive Cups of a lightly aromatic Drink, +which should be given him hot; such, for Instance, as an Infusion of Tea +sweetened with Honey, and he should be advised to move gently about. He +must retrench a little from the usual Quantity of his Food, and accustom +himself to very gentle, but very frequent, Exercise. + +Sec. 452. Sprains or Wrenches, which very often happen, produce a Kind of +Contusion, in the Parts adjoining to the sprained Joint. This Contusion +is caused by the violent Friction of the Bone against the neighbouring +Parts; and as soon as the Bones are immediately returned into their +proper Situation, the Disorder should be treated as a Contusion. Indeed +if the Bones should not of themselves return into their proper natural +Position, Recourse must be had to the Hand of a Surgeon. + +The best Remedy in this Case is absolute Rest and Repose, after applying +a Compress moistened in Vinegar and Water, which is to be renewed and +continued, till the Marks of the Contusion entirely disappear; and there +remains not the smallest Apprehension of an Inflammation. Then indeed, +and not before, a little Brandy or Arquebusade Water may be added to the +Vinegar; and the Part (which is almost constantly the Foot) should be +strengthened and secured for a considerable Time with a Bandage; as it +might otherwise be liable to fresh Sprains, which would daily more and +more enfeeble it: and if this Evil is overlooked too much in its +Infancy, the Part never recovers its full Strength; and a small Swelling +often remains to the End of the Patient's Life. + +If the Sprain is very slight and moderate, a Plunging of the Part into +cold Water is excellent; but if this is not done at once immediately +after the Sprain, or if the Contusion is violent, it is even hurtful. + +The Custom of rolling the naked Foot upon some round Body is +insufficient, when the Bones are not perfectly replaced; and hurtful, +when the Sprain is accompanied with a Contusion. + +It happens continually almost that Country People, who encounter such +Accidents, apply themselves either to ignorant or knavish Imposters, who +find, or are determined to find, a Disorder or Dislocation of the Bones, +where there is none; and who, by their violent Manner of handling the +Parts, or by the Plaisters they surround them with, bring on a dangerous +Inflammation, and change the Patient's Dread of a small Disorder, into a +very grievous Malady. + +These are the very Persons who have created, or indeed rather imagined, +some impossible Diseases, such as the Opening, the Splitting of the +Stomach, and of the Kidnies. But these big Words terrify the poor +Country People, and dispose them to be more easily and effectually +duped. + + + + _Of Ulcers._ + + +Sec. 453. Whenever Ulcers arise from a general Fault of the Blood, it is +impossible to cure them, without destroying the Cause 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 Assistant effectually heals +and closes them. + +But, for the greater Part, Ulcers in the Country are the Consequence of +some Wound, Bruise, or Tumour improperly treated; and especially of such +as have been dressed with too sharp, or too spirituous Applications. +Rancid Oils are also one of the Causes, which change the most simple +Wounds into obstinate Ulcers, for which Reason they should be avoided; +and Apothecaries should be careful, when they compound greasy Ointments, +to make but little at a Time, and the oftner, as a very considerable +Quantity of any of them becomes rank before it is all sold; +notwithstanding sweet fresh Oil may have been employed in preparing +them. + +Sec. 454. What serves to distinguish Ulcers from Wounds, is the Dryness and +Hardness of the Sides or Borders of Ulcers, and the Quality of the +Humour discharged from them; which, instead of being ripe consistent +Matter, is a Liquid more thin, less white, sometimes yielding a +disagreable Scent, and so very sharp, that if it touch the adjoining +Skin, it produces Redness, Inflammation, or Pustules there; sometimes a +serpiginous, or Ring-worm like Eruption, and even a further Ulceration. + +Sec. 455. Such Ulcers as are of a long Duration, which spread wide, and +discharge much, prey upon the Patient, and throw him into a slow Fever, +which melts and consumes him. Besides, when an Ulcer is of a long +Standing, it is dangerous to dry it up; and indeed this never should be +done, but by substituting in the Place of one Discharge that is become +almost natural, some other Evacuation, such as Purging from Time to +Time. + +We may daily see sudden Deaths, or very tormenting Diseases, ensue the +sudden drying up such Humours and Drains as have been of a long +Continuance: and whenever any Quack (and as many as promise the speedy +Cure of such, deserve that Title) assures the Patient of his curing an +inveterate Ulcer in a few Days, he demonstrates himself to be a very +dangerous and ignorant Intermeddler, who must kill the Patient, if he +keeps his Word. Some of these impudent Impostors make use of the most +corrosive Applications, and even arsenical ones; notwithstanding the +most violent Death is generally the Consequence of them. + +Sec. 456. The utmost that Art can effect, with Regard to Ulcers, which do +not arise from any Fault in the Humours, is to change them into Wounds. +To this End, the Hardness and Dryness of the Edges of the Ulcer, and +indeed of the whole Ulcer, must be diminished, and its Inflammation +removed. But sometimes the Hardness is so obstinate, that this cannot be +mollified any other Way, than by scarifying the Edges with a Lancet. But +when it may be effected by other Means, let a Pledget spread with the +Ointment, No. 69, be applied all over the Ulcer; and this Pledget be +covered again with a Compress of several Folds, moistened in the Liquid, +No. 70, which should be renewed three times daily; though it is +sufficient to apply a fresh Pledget only twice. + +As I have already affirmed that Ulcers were often the Consequence of +sharp and spirituous Dressings, it is evident such should be abstained +from, without which Abstinence they will prove incurable. + +To forward the Cure, salted Food, Spices, and strong Drink should be +avoided; the Quantity of Flesh-meat should be lessened; and the Body be +kept open by a Regimen of Pulse, of Vegetables, and by the habitual Use +of Whey sweetened with Honey. + +If the Ulcers are in the Legs, a very common Situation of them, it is of +great Importance, as well as in Wounds of the same Parts, that the +Patient should walk about but little; and yet never stand up without +walking. This indeed is one of these Cases, in which those, who have +some Credit and Influence in the Estimation of the People, should omit +nothing to make them thoroughly comprehend the Necessity of confining +themselves, some Days, to undisturbed Tranquillity and Rest; and they +should also convince them, that this Term of Rest is so far from being +lost Time, that it is likely to prove their most profitable Time of +Life. Negligence, in this material Point, changes the slightest Wounds +into Ulcers, and the most trifling Ulcers into obstinate and incurable +ones: insomuch that there is scarcely any Man, who may not observe some +Family in his Neighbourhood, reduced to the Hospital, [98] from their +having been too inattentive to the due Care of some Complaint of this +Sort. + +[98] This seems just the same as _coming on the Parish_, or being + received into an Alms house here; in Consequence of such an + incurable Disability happening to the poor working Father of a + Family. _K._ + +I conclude this Article on Ulcers with repeating, that those which are +owing to some internal Cause; or even such as happen from an external +one, in Persons of a bad Habit of Body, frequently require a more +particular Treatment. + + + + _Of Frozen Limbs._ + + +Sec. 457. It is but too common, in very rigorous Winters, for some Persons +to be pierced with so violent a Degree of Cold, that their Hands or +Feet, or sometimes both together are frozen at once, just like a Piece +of Flesh-meat exposed to the Air. + +If a Person thus pierced with the Cold, dispose himself to walk about, +which seems so natural and obvious a Means to get warm; and especially, +if he attempts to [99] warm the Parts that have been frozen, his Case +proves irrecoverable. Intolerable Pains are the Consequence, which Pains +are speedily attended with an incurable Gangrene; and there is no Means +left to save the Patient's Life, but by cutting off the gangrened Limbs. + +[99] The Reason of the Fatality of Heat, in these Cases, and of the + Success of an opposite Application, (See Sec. 459) seems strictly and + even beautifully analogous to what _Hippocrates_ has observed of + the Danger, and even Fatality, of all great and sudden Changes in + the human Body, whether from the Weather or otherwise. Whence this + truly great Founder of Physick, when he observes elsewhere, that + Diseases are to be cured by something contrary to their Causes, + very consistently advises, not a direct and violent Contrariety, + but a gradual and regulated one, a _Sub-contrariety_. _K._ + +There was a very late and terrible Example of this, in the Case of an +Inhabitant at _Cossonay_, who had both his Hands frozen. Some greasy +Ointments were applied hot to them, the Consequence of which was, the +Necessity of cutting off six of his Fingers. + +Sec. 458. In short, there is but one certain Remedy in such Cases, and this +is to convey the Person affected into some Place where it does not +freeze, but where, however, it is but very moderately hot, and there +continually to apply, to the frozen Parts, Snow, if it be at hand; and +if not, to keep washing them incessantly, but very gently (since all +Friction would at this Juncture prove dangerous) in Ice-water, as the +Ice thaws in the Chamber. By this Application the Patients will be +sensible of their Feeling's returning very gradually to the Part, and +that they begin to recover their Motion. In this State they may Safely +be moved into a Place a little warmer, and drink some Cups of the Potion +No. 13, or of another of the like Quality. + +Sec. 459. Every Person may be a competent judge of the manifest Danger of +attempting to relieve such Parts by heating them, and of the Use of +Ice-water, by a common, a daily Experience. Frozen Pears, Apples, and +Radishes, being put into Water just about to freeze, recover their +former State, and prove quickly eatable. But if they are put into warm +Water, or into a hot Place, Rottenness, which is one Sort of Gangrene, +is the immediate Effect. The following Case will make this right Method +of treating them still more intelligible, and demonstrate its Efficacy. + +A Man was travelling to the Distance of six Leagues in very cold +Weather; the Road being covered with Snow and Ice. His Shoes, not being +very good, failed him on his March, so that he walked the three last +Leagues bare-footed; and felt, immediately after the first Half League, +sharp Pains in his Legs and Feet, which increased as he proceeded. He +arrived at his Journey's End in a Manner nearly deprived of his lower +Extremities. They set him before a great Fire, heated a Bed well, and +put him into it. His Pains immediately became intolerable: he was +incessantly in the most violent Agitations, and cried out in the most +piercing and affecting Manner. A Physician, being sent for in the Night, +found his Toes of a blackish Colour, and beginning to lose their +Feeling. His Legs and the upper Part of his Feet, which were excessively +swelled, of a purplish Red, and varied with Spots of a violet Colour, +were still sensible of the most excruciating Pains. The Physician +ordered in a Pail of Water from the adjoining River, adding more to it, +and some Ice withal. In this he obliged the Patient to plunge his Legs; +they were kept in near an Hour, and within that Time, the Pains became +less violent. After another Hour he ordered a second cold Bath, from +which the Patient perceiving still further Relief, prolonged it to the +Extent of two Hours. During that Time, some Water was taken out of the +Pail, and some Ice and Snow were put into it. Now his Toes, which had +been black, grew red; the violet Spots in his Legs disappeared; the +Swelling abated; the Pains became moderate, and intermitted. The Bath +was nevertheless repeated six times; after which there remained no other +Complaint, but that of a great Tenderness or extraordinary Sensibility +in the Soles of his Feet, which hindered him from walking. The Parts +were afterwards bathed with some aromatic Fomentations; and he drank a +Ptisan of Sarsaparilla [one of Elder Flowers would have answered the +same Purpose, and have been less expensive.] On the eighth Day from his +Seizure he was perfectly recovered, and returned home on Foot on the +fifteenth. + +Sec. 460. When cold Weather is extremely severe, and a Person is exposed to +it for a long Time at once, it proves mortal, in Consequence of its +congealing the Blood, and because it forces too great a Proportion of +Blood up to the Brain; so that the Patient dies of a Kind of Apoplexy, +which is preceded by a Sleepiness. In this Circumstance the Traveller, +who finds himself drowsy, should redouble his Efforts to extricate +himself from the eminent Danger he is exposed to. This Sleep, which he +might consider as some Alleviation of his Sufferings, if indulged, would +prove his last. + +Sec. 461. The Remedies in such Cases are the same with those directed in +frozen Limbs. The Patient must be conducted to an Apartment rather cold +than hot, and be rubbed with Snow or with Ice-water. There have been +many well attested Instances of this Method; and as such Cases are still +more frequent in more northern Climates, a Bath of the very coldest +Water has been found the surest Remedy. + +Since it is known that many People have been revived, who had remained +in the Snow, or had been exposed to the freezing Air during five, or +even six successive Days, and who had discovered no one Mark of Life for +several Hours, the utmost Endeavours should be used for the Recovery of +Persons in the like Circumstances and Situation. + + + + _Of Kibes, or Chilblains._ + + +Sec. 462. These troublesome and smarting Complaints attack the Hands, Feet, +Heels, Ears, Nose and Lips, those of Children especially, and mostly in +Winter; when these Extremities are exposed to the sudden Changes from +hot to cold, and from cold to hot Weather. They begin with an Inflation +or kind of Swelling, which, at first, occasions but little Heat, Pain or +Itching. Sometimes they do not exceed this first State, and go off +spontaneously without any Application: But at other Times (which may be +termed the second Degree of the Disorder, whether it happens from their +being neglected, or improperly treated) their Heat, Redness, Itching and +Pain increase considerably; so that the Patient is often deprived of the +free Use of his Fingers by the Pain, Swelling and Numbness: in which +Case the Malady is still aggravated, if effectual Means are not used. + +Whenever the Inflammation mounts to a still higher Degree, small +Vesications or Blisters are formed, which are not long without bursting; +when they leave a slight Excoriation, or Rawness, as it were, which +speedily ulcerates, and frequently proves a very deep and obstinate +Ulcer, discharging a sharp and ill-conditioned Matter. + +The last and most virulent Degree of Chilblains, which is not infrequent +in the very coldest Countries, though very rare in the temperate ones, +is, when the Inflammation degenerates into a Gangrene. + +Sec. 463. These Tumours are owing to a Fulness and Obstruction of the +Vessels of the Skin, which occurs from this Circumstance, that the +Veins, which are more superficial than the Arteries, being +proportionably more affected and straitened by the Cold, do not carry +off all the Blood communicated to them by the Arteries; and perhaps also +the Particles or Atoms of Cold, which are admitted through the Pores of +the Skin, may act upon our Fluids, as it does upon Water, and occasion a +Congelation of them, or a considerable Approach towards it. + +If these Complaints are chiefly felt, which in Fact is the Case, rather +on the extreme Parts than on others, it arises from two Causes, the +principal one being, that the Circulation's being weaker at the +Extremities than elsewhere, the Effect of those Causes, that may impair +it, must be more considerably felt there. The second Reason is, because +these Parts are more exposed to the Impressions from without than the +others. + +They occur most frequently to Children, from their Weakness and the +greater Tenderness and Sensibility of their Organs, which necessarily +increases the Effect of external Impressions. It is the frequent and +strong Alteration from Heat to Cold, that seems to contribute the most +powerfully to the Production of Chilblains; and this Effect of it is +most considerable, when the Heat of the Air is at the same Time blended +with Moisture; whence the extreme and superficial Parts pass suddenly as +it were, out of a hot, into a cold, Bath. A Man sixty Years of Age, who +never before was troubled with Kibes, having worn, for some Hours on a +Journey, a Pair of furred Gloves, in which his Hands sweated, felt them +very tender, and found them swelled up with Blood: as the common Effect +of the warm Bath is to soften and relax, and to draw Blood abundantly to +the bathed Parts, whence it renders them more sensible. + +This Man, I say, thus circumstanced, was at that Age first attacked with +Chilblains, which proved extremely troublesome; and he was every +succeeding Winter as certainly infested with them, within Half an Hour +after he left off his Gloves, and was exposed to a very cold Air. + +It is for this Reason, that several Persons are never infested with +Chilblains, but when they use themselves to Muffs, which are scarcely +known in hot Countries; nor are they very common among the more northern +ones, in which the extraordinary Changes from Cold to Heat are very rare +and unusual. + +Some People are subject to this troublesome Complaint in the Fall; while +others have it only in the Spring. The Child of a labouring Peasant, who +has a hard Skin, and one inured to all the Impressions of the Seasons +and of the Elements, is, and indeed necessarily must be, less liable to +Kibes, than the Child of a rich Citizen, whose Skin is often cherished, +at the Expence of his Constitution. But even among Children of the same +Rank in Life and Circumstances, who seem pretty much of the same +Complexion, and live much in the same Manner; whence they might of +Course be supposed equally liable to the same Impressions, and to the +like Effects of them, there is, nevertheless, a very great Difference +with Respect to their constitutional Propensity to contract Chilblains. +Some are very cruelly tormented with them, from the setting in of +Autumn, to the very End of the Spring: others have either none at all, +or have them but very slightly, and for a very short Time. This +Difference undoubtedly arises from the different Quality of their +Humours, and the Texture of their whole Surface, but particularly from +that of the Skin of their Hands; though we readily confess it is by no +Means easy to determine, with Certainty and Precision, in what this +Difference essentially consists. + +Children of a sanguine Complexion and delicate Skin are pretty generally +subject to this Disorder, which is often regarded much too slightly, +though it is really severe enough to engage our Attention more; since, +even abstracted from the sharp Pains which smart these unhappy Children +for several Months; it sometimes gives them a Fever, hinders them from +sleeping, and yet confines them to their Bed, which is very prejudicial +to their Constitutions. It also breaks in upon the Order of their +different Duties and Employments; it interrupts their innocent salutary +Pleasures; and sometimes, when they are obliged to earn their daily +Bread by doing some Work or other, it sinks them down to Misery. I knew +a young Man, who from being rendered incapable by Chilblains, of serving +out his Apprenticeship to a Watch-maker, is become a lazy Beggar. + +Chilblains which attack the Nose, often leave a Mark that alters the +Physiognomy, the Aspect of the Patient, for the Remainder of his Life: +and the Hands of such as have suffered from very obstinate ones, are +commonly ever sensible of their Consequences. + +Sec. 464. With Respect, therefore, to these afflicting Tumours and +Ulcerations, we should, in the first Place, do our utmost to prevent +them; and next exert our best Endeavours to cure such as we could not +prevent. + +Sec. 465. Since they manifestly depend on the Sensibility of the Skin, the +Nature of the Humours, and the Changes of the Weather from Heat to Cold, +in Order to prevent them, in the first Place, the Skin must be rendered +firmer or less tender. 2, That vicious Quality of the Temperament, which +contributes to their Existence, must be corrected; and, 3, the Persons +so liable must guard themselves as well as possible, against these +Changes of the Weather. + +Now the Skin of the Hands, as well as that of the whole Body, may be +strengthened by that Habit of washing or bathing in cold Water, which I +have described at large, Sec. 384; and in Fact I have never seen Children, +who had been early accustomed and inured to this Habit, as much +afflicted with Chilblains as others. But still a more particular Regard +should be had to fortify the Skin of the Hands, which are more obnoxious +to this Disorder than the Feet, by making Children dip them in cold +Water, and keep them for some Moments together in it every Morning, and +every Evening too before Supper, from the very Beginning of the Fall. It +will give the Children no Sort of Pain, during that Season, to contract +this Habit; and when it is once contracted, it will give them no Trouble +to continue it throughout the Winter, even when the Water is ready to +freeze every where. They may also be habituated to plunge their Feet +into cold Water twice or thrice a Week: and this Method, which might be +less adapted for grown Persons, who had not been accustomed to it, must +be without Objection with Respect to such Children, as have been +accustomed to it; to whom all its Consequences must be useful and +salutary. + +At the same Time Care must be taken not to defeat or lessen the Effect +of the cold bathing, by suffering the Bather or Washer, to grow too warm +between two Baths or Dippings; which is also avoiding the too speedy +Successions of Heat and Cold. For this Purpose, 1, the Children must be +taught never to warm their Hands before the Fire at such Times, and +still less before the Stoves, which very probably are one of the +principal Causes of Chilblains, that are less usual in Countries which +use no such Stoves, and among those Individuals who make the least Use +of them, where they are. Above all, the Use of _Cavettes_ (that is, of +Seats or little Stairs, as it were, contrived between the Stove and the +Wall) is prejudicial to Children, and even to grown People, upon several +Accounts. 2, They should never accustom themselves to wear Muffs. 3, It +would be also proper they should never use Gloves, unless some +particular Circumstances require it; and I recommend this Abstinence +from Gloves, especially to young Boys: but if any should be allowed +them, let the Gloves be thin and smooth. + +Sec. 466. When Chilblains seem to be nourished by some Fault in the +Temperament or Humours, the Consideration of a Physician becomes +necessary, to direct a proper Method of removing or altering it. I have +seen Children from the Age of three, to that of twelve or thirteen +Years, in whom their Chilblains, raw and flead, as it were, for eight +Months of the Year, seemed to be a particular Kind of Issue, by which +Nature freed herself of an inconvenient Superfluity of Humours, when the +Perspiration was diminished by the Abatement of the violent Heats. In +such Cases I have been obliged to carry them through a pretty long +Course of Regimen and Remedies; which, however, being necessarily +various from a Variety of Circumstances, cannot be detailed here. The +milder Preparations of Antimony are often necessary in such Cases; and +some Purges conduce in particular ones to allay and to abridge the +Disorder. + +Sec. 467. The first Degree of this Complaint goes off, as I have already +said, without the Aid of Medicine; or should it prove somewhat more +obstinate, it may easily be dissipated by some of the following +Remedies. But when they rise to the second Degree, they must be treated +like other Complaints from Congelation, or Frost-biting (of which they +are the first Degree) with cold Water, Ice-water and Snow. + +No other Method or Medicine is nearly as efficacious as very cold Water, +so as to be ready to freeze, in which the Hands are to be dipt and +retained for some Minutes together, and several Times daily. In short it +is the only Remedy which ought to be applied, when the Hands are the +Parts affected; when the Patient has the Courage to bear this Degree of +Cold; and when he is under no Circumstance which may render it +prejudicial. It is the only Application I have used for myself, after +having been attacked with Chilblains for some Years past, from having +accustomed myself to too warm a Muff. + +There ensues a slight Degree of Pain for some Moments after plunging the +Hand into Water, but it diminishes gradually. On taking the Hand out, +the Fingers are numbed with the Cold, but they presently 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 dried, and +put into Skin Gloves; after bathing three or four Times, their Swelling +subsides, so that the Skin wrinkles: but by continuing the cold Bathing, +it grows tight and smooth again; the Cure is compleated after using it +three or four Days; and, in general, the Disorder never returns again +the same Winter. + +The most troublesome raging Itching is certainly assuaged by plunging +the Hands into cold Water. + +The Effect of Snow is, perhaps, still more speedy: the Hands are to be +gently and often rubbed with it for a considerable Time; they grow hot, +and are of a very high Red for some Moments, but entire Ease very +quickly succeeds. + +Nevertheless, a very small Number of Persons, who must have extremely +delicate and sensible Skins, do not experience the Efficacy of this +Application. It seems too active for them; it affects the Skin much like +a common blistering Plaister; and by bringing on a large flow of Humours +there, it increases, instead of lessening the Complaint. + +Sec. 468. When this last Reason indeed, or some other Circumstance exists; +such as the Child's Want of Courage, or its Affliction; the monthly +Discharges in a Woman; a violent Cough; habitual Colics; and some other +Maladies, which have been observed to be renewed or aggravated by the +Influence of Cold at the Extremities, do really forbid this very cold +Application, some others must be substituted. + +One of the best is to wear Day and Night, without ever putting it off, a +Glove made of some smooth Skin, such as that of a Dog; which seldom +fails to extinguish the Disorder in some Days time. + +When the Feet are affected with Chilblains, Socks of the same Skin +should be worn; and the Patient keep close to his Bed for some Days. + +Sec. 469. When the Disorder is violent, the Use of cold Water prohibited, +and the Gloves just recommended have but a slow Effect, the diseased +Parts should be gently fomented or moistened several times a Day, with +some Decoction, rather more than warm; which at the same time should be +dissolving and emollient. Such is that celebrated Decoction of the +Scrapings, the Peel of Radishes, whose Efficacy is still further +increased, by adding one sixth Part of Vinegar to the Decoction. + +Another Decoction, of whose great Efficacy I have been a Witness, but +which dies the Hands yellow for a few Days, is the Prescription No. 71. +Many others may be made, of nearly the same Virtues, with all the +vulnerary Herbs, and even with the _Faltranc_. + +Urine, which some boast of in these Cases, from their having used it +with Success; and the Mixture of Urine and Lime-water have the like +Virtues with the former Decoctions. [100] + +[100] Chilblains may also be advantageously washed with Water and Flower + of Mustard, which will concur, in a certain and easy Manner, both + to cleanse and to cure them. _E. L._ + +As soon as the Hands affected are taken out of these Decoctions, they +must be defended from the Air by Gloves. + +Sec. 470. Vapours or Steams are often more efficacious than Decoctions; +whence instead of dipping the Hands into these already mentioned, we may +expose them to their Vapours, with still more Success. That of hot +Vinegar is one of the most powerful Remedies; those of [101] _Asphalt_, +or of Turpentine have frequently succeeded too. It may be needless to +add that the affected Parts must be defended from the Air, as well after +the Steams as the Decoctions; since it is from this Cause of keeping off +the Air, that the Cerecloths are of Service; and hence also the +Application of Suet has sometimes answered. + +[101] This is or should be, the same with the _Bitumen Judaicum_, + formerly kept in the Shops; but which is never directed, except in + that strange Medley the _Venice_ Treacle, according to the old + Prescription. The best is found in _Egypt_, and on the _Red Sea_: + but a different Sort, from _Germany_, _France_, and _Swisserland_, + is now generally substituted here. _K._ + +When the Distemper is subdued by the Use of Bathings or Steams, which +make the Skin supple and soft, then it should be strengthened by washing +the Parts with a little camphorated Brandy, diluted with an equal +Quantity of Water. + +Sec. 471. When the Nose is affected with a Chilblain, the Steam of Vinegar, +and an artificial Nose, or Covering for it, made of Dog-skin, are the +most effectual Applications. The same Treatment is equally proper for +the Ears and the Chin, when infested with them. Frequently washing these +Parts in cold Water is a good Preservative from their being attacked. + +Sec. 472. Whenever the Inflammation rises very high, and brings on some +Degree of a Fever, the Patient's usual Quantity of strong Drink and of +Flesh-meat must be lessened; his Body should be kept open by a few +Glysters; he should take every Evening a Dose of Nitre as prescribed, +No. 20; and if the Fever proved strong, he should lose some Blood too. + +As many as are troubled with obstinate Chilblains, should always be +denied the Use of strong Liquor and Flesh. + +Sec. 473. When this Distemper prevails in its third Degree, and the Parts +are ulcerated; besides keeping the Patients strictly to the Regimen of +Persons in a Way of Recovery, and giving them a Purge of Manna, the +swelled Parts should be exposed to the Steams of Vinegar; the +Ulcerations should be covered with a Diapalma Plaister; and the whole +Part should be enveloped in a smooth soft Skin, or in thin Cerecloths. + +Sec. 474. The fourth Degree of this Disease, in which the Parts become +gangrenous, must be prevented by the Method and Medicines which remove +an Inflammation; but if unhappily a Gangrene has already appeared, the +Assistance of a Surgeon proves indispensably necessary. + + + + _Of Ruptures._ + + +Sec. 475. _Hernias_ or Ruptures, which Country-People term _being bursten_, +are a Disorder which sometimes occurs at the very Birth; though more +frequently they are the Effects of violent crying, of a strong forcing +Cough, or of repeated Efforts to vomit, in the first Months of Infancy. + +They may happen afterwards indiscriminately at every Age, either as +Consequences of particular Maladies, or Accidents, or from Peoples' +violent Exertions of their Strength. They happen much oftner to Men than +Women; and the most common Sort, indeed the only one of which I propose +to treat, and that but briefly, is that which consists in the Descent of +a Part of the Guts, or of the Cawl, into the Bag or Cod-piece. + +It is not difficult to distinguish this Rupture. When it occurs in +little Children, it is almost ever cured by making them constantly wear +a Bandage which should be made only of Fustian, with a little Pillow or +Pincushion, stuffed with Linen Rags, Hair or Bran. There should be at +least two of these Bandages, to change them alternately; nor should it +ever be applied, but when the Child is laid down on its Back, and after +being well assured that the Gut or Cawl, which had fallen down, has been +safely returned into the Cavity of the Belly; since without this +Precaution it might occasion the worst Consequences. + +The good Effect of the Bandage may be still further promoted, by +applying upon the Skin, and within the Plait or Fold of the Groin (under +which Place the Rings, or Passage out of the Belly into the Bag lie) +some pretty astringent or strengthening Plaister, such as that commonly +used for Fractures, or that I have already mentioned, Sec. 144. Here we may +observe by the Way, that ruptured Children should never be set on a +Horse, nor be carried by any Person on Horseback, before the Rupture is +perfectly cured. + +Sec. 476. In a more advanced Age, a Bandage only of Fustian is not +sufficient; one must be procured with a Plate of Steel, even so as to +constrain and incommode the Wearer a little at first: nevertheless it +soon becomes habitual, and is then no longer inconvenient to them. + +Sec. 477. Ruptures sometimes attain a monstrous Size; and a great Part of +the Guts fall down in to the _Scrotum_ or Bag, without any Symptom of an +actual Disease. This Circumstance, nevertheless, is accompanied with +very great Inconvenience, which disables Persons affected with it to +work; and whenever the Malady is so considerable, and of a long Standing +too, there are commonly some Obstacles that prevent a compleat Return of +the Guts into the Belly. In this State indeed, the Application of the +Bandage or Truss is impracticable, and the miserable Patients are +condemned to carry their grievous Burthen for the Remainder of their +Lives; which may however, be palliated a little by the Use of a +Suspensory and Bag, adapted to the Size of the Rupture. This Dread of +its increasing Magnitude is a strong Motive for checking the Progress of +it, when it first appears. But there is another still stronger, which +is, that Ruptures expose the Patient to a Symptom frequently mortal. +This occurs when that Part of the Intestines fallen into the _Scrotum_ +inflames; when still increasing in its Bulk, and being extremely +compressed, acute Pains come on: for now from the Increase of the +Rupture's Extent, the Passage which gave Way to its Descent, cannot +admit of its Return or Ascent; the Blood-vessels themselves being +oppressed, the Inflammation increases every Moment; the Communication +between the Stomach and the Fundament is often entirely cut off; so that +nothing passes through, but incessant Vomitings come on [this being the +Kind of _Miserere_, or Iliac Passion I have mentioned, Sec. 320] which are +succeeded by the Hickup, Raving, Swooning, cold Sweats, and Death. + +Sec. 478. This Symptom supervenes in Ruptures, when the Excrements become +hard in that Part of the Guts fallen into the _Scrotum_; when the +Patient is overheated with Wine, Drams, an inflammatory Diet, _&c._ or +when he has received a Stroke on the ailing Part, or had a Fall. + +Sec. 479. The best Means and Remedies are, 1, as soon as ever this Symptom +or Accident is manifest, to bleed the Patient very plentifully, as he +lies down in his Bed and upon his Back, with his Head a little raised, +and his Legs somewhat bent, so that his Knees may be erect. This is the +Attitude or Posture they should always preserve as much as possible. +When the Malady is not too far advanced, the first Bleeding often makes +a compleat Cure; and the Guts return up as soon as it is over. At other +Times this Bleeding is less successful, and leaves a Necessity for its +Repetition. + +2, A Glyster must be thrown up consisting of a strong Decoction of the +large white Beet Leaves, with a small Spoonful or Pinch of common Salt, +and a Bit of fresh Butter of the Size of an Egg. + +3, Folds of Linen dipt in Ice-water must be applied all over the Tumour, +and constantly renewed every Quarter of an Hour. This Remedy, when +immediately applied, has produced the most happy Effects; but if the +Symptom has endured violently more than ten or twelve Hours, it is often +too late to apply it; and then it is better to make Use of Flanels dipt +in a warm Decoction of Mallow and Elder Flowers, shifting them +frequently. It has been known however, that Ice-water, or Ice itself has +succeeded as late as the third Day. [102] + +[102] Pieces of Ice applied between two Pieces of Linen, directly upon + the Rupture, as soon as possible after its first Appearance, is one + of those extraordinary Remedies, which we should never hesitate to + make immediate Use of. We may be certain by this Application, if + the Rupture is simple, and not complicated from some aggravating + Cause, to remove speedily, and with very little Pain, a Disorder, + that might be attended with the most dreadful Consequences. But the + Continuance of this Application must be proportioned to the + Strength of the Person ruptured, which may be sufficiently + estimated by the Pulse. _E. L._ + +4, When these Endeavours are insufficient, Glysters of Tobacco Smoke +must be tried, which has often redressed and returned Ruptures, when +every Thing else had failed. + +5, And lastly, if all these Attempts are fruitless, the Operation must +be resolved on, without losing a Moment's Time; as this local Disease +proves sometimes mortal in the Space of two Days; but for this Operation +an excellent Surgeon is indispensably necessary. The happy Consequence +with which I have ordered it, in a most desperate Case since the first +Edition of this Work, on the sixth Day after a Labour, has convinced me, +still more than any former Observation I had made, that the Trial of it +ought never to be omitted, when other Attempts have been unavailing. It +cannot even hasten the Patient's Death, which must be inevitable without +it, but it rather renders that more gentle, where it might fail to +prevent it. When it is performed as Mr. _Levade_ effected it, in the +Case I have just referred to, the Pain attending it is very tolerable +and soon over. + +I shall not attempt to describe the Operation, as I could not explain +myself sufficiently to instruct an ignorant Surgeon in it; and an +excellent and experienced one must be sufficiently apprized 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 Patients after the +most excruciating Torments, and an Extirpation, or cutting away of the +Testicle; which Quacks and ignorant Surgeons always do, but which a good +Surgeon never does in this Operation. This is often the Custom too (in +Country Places) of those Caitiffs, who perform this Operation without +the least Necessity; and mercilessly emasculate a Multitude of Infants; +whom Nature, if left to her own Conduct, or assisted only by a simple +Bandage, would have perfectly cured; instead of which, they absolutely +kill a great many, and deprive those of their Virility, who survive +their Robbery and Violence. It were religiously to be wished such +Caitiffs 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 is performed by the best Surgeons, is not +necessary; except in the Symptoms and Circumstances I have mentioned, +and that the cutting off the Testicle never is so. + + + + _Of Phlegmons or Boils._ + + +Sec. 480. Every Person knows what Boils are at Sight, which are +considerably painful when large, highly inflamed, or so situated as to +incommode the Motions, or different Positions of the Body. Whenever +their Inflammation is very considerable; when there are a great many of +them at once, and they prevent the Patients from sleeping, it becomes +necessary to enter them into a cooling Regimen; to throw up some opening +Glysters; and to make them drink plentifully of the Ptisan, No. 2. +Sometimes it is also necessary to bleed the Patient. + +Should the Inflammation be very high indeed, a Pultice of Bread and +Milk, or of Sorrel a little boiled and bruised, must be applied to it. +But if the Inflammation is only moderate, a Mucilage Plaister, or one of +the simple Diachylon, may be sufficient. Diachylon with the Gums is more +active and efficacious; but it so greatly augments the Pain of some +Persons afflicted with Boils, that they cannot bear it. + +Boils, which often return, signify some Fault in the Temperament, and +frequently one so considerable, that might dispose a Physician to be so +far apprehensive of its Consequences, as to enquire into the Cause, and +to attempt the Extinction of it. But the Detail of this is no Part nor +Purpose of the present Work. + +Sec. 481. The Phlegmon, or Boil, commonly terminates in Suppuration, but a +Suppuration of a singular Kind. It breaks open at first on its Top, or +the most pointed Part, when some Drops of a _Pus_ like that of an +Abscess comes out, after which the Germ, or what is called the Core of +it may be discerned. This is a purulent Matter or Substance, but so +thick and tenacious, that it appears like a solid Body; which may be +drawn out entirely in the Shape of a small Cylinder, like the Pith of +Elder, to the Length of some Lines of an Inch; sometimes to the Length +of a full Inch, and even more. The Emission of this Core is commonly +followed by the Discharge of a certain Quantity, according to the Size +of the Tumour, of liquid Matter, spread throughout the Bottom of it. As +soon as ever this Discharge is made, the Pain goes entirely off; and the +Swelling disappears at the End of a few Days, by continuing to apply the +simple Diachylon, or the Ointment No. 66. + + + + _Of Fellons or Whitlows._ + + +Sec. 482. The Danger of these small Tumours is much greater than is +generally supposed. It is an Inflammation at the Extremity or End of a +Finger, which is often the Effect of a small Quantity of Humour +extravasated, or stagnant, in that Part; whether this has happened in +Consequence of a Bruise, a Sting, or a Bite. At other times it is +evident that it has resulted from no external Cause, but is the Effect +of some inward one. + +It is distinguished into many Kinds, according to the Place in which the +Inflammation begins; but the essential Nature of the Malady is always +the same, and requires the same Sort of Remedies. Hence such as are +neither Physicians nor Surgeons, may spare themselves the Trouble of +enquiring into the Divisions of this Distemper; which, though they vary +the Danger of it, and diversify the Manner of the Surgeons Operation, +yet have no Relation to the general Treatment of it; the Power and +Activity of which must be regulated by the Violence of the Symptoms. + +Sec. 483. This Disorder begins with a slow heavy Pain, attended by a slight +Pulsation, without Swelling, without Redness, and without Heat; but in a +little Time the Pain, Heat, and Pulsation or Throbbing becomes +intolerable. The Part grows very large and red; the adjoining Fingers +and the whole Hand swelling up. In some Cases a Kind of red and inflated +Fuse or Streak may be observed, which, beginning at the affected Part, +is continued almost to the Elbow; neither is it unusual for the Patients +to complain of a very sharp Pain under the Shoulder; and sometimes the +whole Arm is excessively inflamed and swelled. The Sick have not a Wink +of Sleep, the Fever and other Symptoms quickly increasing. If the +Distemper rises to a violent Degree indeed, a _Delirium_ and Convulsions +supervene. + +This Inflammation of the Finger determines, either in Suppuration, or in +a Gangrene. When the last of these occurs, the Patient is in very great +Danger, if he is not very speedily relieved; and it has proved necessary +more than once to cut off the Arm, for the Preservation of his Life. +When Suppuration is effected, if the Matter lies very deep and sharp, or +if the Assistance of a Surgeon has arrived too late, the Bone of the +last _Phalanx_, or Row of Bones of the Finger, is generally carious and +lost. But how gentle soever the Complaint has been, the Nail is very +generally separated and falls off. + +Sec. 484. The internal Treatment in Whitlows, is the same with that in +other inflammatory Distempers. The Patient must enter upon a Regimen +more or less strict, in Proportion to the Degree of the Fever; and if +this runs very high, and the Inflammation be very considerable, there +may be a Necessity for several Bleedings. + +The external Treatment consists in allaying the Inflammation; in +softening the Skin; and in procuring a Discharge of the Matter, as soon +as it is formed. For this Purpose, + +1, The Finger affected is to be plunged, as soon as the Disorder is +manifest, in Water a little more than warm: the Steam of boiling Water +may also by admitted into it; and by doing these Things almost +constantly for the first Day, a total Dissipation of the Malady has +often been obtained. But unhappily it has been generally supposed, that +such slight Attacks could have but very slight Consequences, whence they +have been neglected until the Disorder has greatly advanced; in which +State Suppuration becomes absolutely necessary. + +2, This Suppuration therefore may be forwarded, by continually involving +the Finger, as it were, in a Decoction of Mallow Flowers boiled in Milk, +or with a Cataplasm of Bread and Milk. This may be rendered still more +active and ripening, by adding a few white Lilly Roots, or a little +Honey. But this last must not be applied before the Inflammation is +somewhat abated, and Suppuration begins; before which Term, all sharp +Applications are very dangerous. At this Time, Yeast or Leaven may be +advantagiously used, which powerfully promotes Suppuration. The Sorrel +Pultice, mentioned Sec. 480, is also a very efficacious one. + +Sec. 485. A speedy Discharge of the ripe Matter is of considerable +Importance, but this particularly requires the Attention of the Surgeon; +as it is not proper to wait till the Tumour breaks and discharges of +itself; and this the rather, as from the Skin's proving sometimes +extremely hard, the Matter might be inwardly effused between the +Muscles, and upon their Membranes, before it could penetrate through the +Skin. For this Reason, as soon as Matter is suspected to be formed, a +Surgeon should be called in, to determine exactly on the Time, when an +Opening should 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 Discharge is effected, it is to +be dressed up with the Plaister No. 66, spread upon Linen, or with the +Cerecloth; and these Dressings are to be repeated daily. + +Sec. 486. When the Whitlow is caused by a Humour extravasated very near the +Nail, an expert Surgeon speedily checks its Progress, and cures it +effectually by an Incision which lets out the Humour. Yet, +notwithstanding this Operation is in no wise difficult, all Surgeons are +not qualified to perform it, and but too many have no Idea at all of it. + +Sec. 487. Fungous, or, as it is commonly called, proud Flesh sometimes +appears during the incarning or healing of the Incision. Such may be +kept down with sprinkling a little _Minium_ (red Lead) or burnt Alum +over it. + +Sec. 488. If a _Caries_, a Rottenness of the Bone, should be a Consequence, +there is a Necessity for a Surgeon's Attendance, as much as if there was +a Gangrene; for which Reason, I shall add nothing with Respect to either +of these Symptoms; only observing, there are three very essential +Remedies against the last; _viz._ the Bark, No. 14, a Drachm of which +must be taken every two Hours; Scarifications throughout the whole +gangrened Part; and Fomentations with a Decoction of the Bark, and the +Addition of Spirit of Sulphur. This Medicine is certainly no cheap one; +but a Decoction of other bitter Plants, with the Addition of Spirit of +Salt, may sometimes do instead of it. And here I take leave to insist +again upon it, that in most Cases 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 easily +distinguished by the most ignorant Persons) that marks the Bounds of the +Gangrene, and separates the living from the mortified Parts. + + + + _Of Thorns, Splinters, or other pointed Substances piercing into the + Skin, or Flesh._ + + +Sec. 489. It is very common for the Hands, Feet or Legs, to be pierced by +the forcible Intrusion of small pointed Substances, such as Thorns or +Prickles, whether of Roses, Thistles or Chestnuts, or little Splinters +of Wood, Bone, _&c._ + +If such Substances are immediately and entirely extracted, the Accident +is generally attended with no bad Consequences; though more certainly to +obviate any such, Compresses 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 extracted, or if a Part +of it be left within, it causes an Inflammation, which, in its Progress, +soon produces the same Symptoms as a Whitlow: or if it happens in the +Leg, it inflames and forms a considerable Abscess there. + +Sec. 490. To prevent such Consequences, if the penetrating Substance is +still near the Surface, and an expert Surgeon is at Hand, he must +immediately make a small Incision, and thence extract it. But if the +Inflammation were already formed, this would be useless, and even +dangerous. + +When the Incision, therefore, is improper; there should be applied to +the affected Part, (after conveying the Steam of some hot Water into it) +either some very emollient Pultices of the Crumb of Bread, Milk and Oil, +or some very emollient unctuous Matter alone, the Fat of a [103] Hare +being generally employed in such Cases, and being indeed very effectual +to relax and supple the Skin; and, by thus diminishing its Resistance, +to afford the offensive penetrating Body an Opportunity of springing +forth. Nothing however, but the grossest Prejudice, could make any one +imagine, that this Fat attracted the Splinter, Thorn, or any other +intruded Substance by any sympathetic Virtue; no other Sympathy in +Nature being clearly demonstrated, except that very common one between +wrong Heads, and absurd extravagant Opinions. + +[103] These Creatures perhaps are fatter in _Swisserland_, than we often + see them here. _K._ + +It is absolutely necessary that the injured Part should be kept in the +easiest Posture, and as immoveable as possible. + +If Suppuration has not been prevented by an immediate Extraction of the +offending Substance, the Abscess should be opened as soon as ever Matter +is formed. I have known very troublesome Events from its being too long +delayed. + +Sec. 491. Sometimes the Thorn, after having very painfully penetrated +through the Teguments, the Skin, enters directly into the Fat; upon +which the Pain ceases, and the Patient begins to conclude no sharp +prickling Substance had ever been introduced into the Part; and of +Course supposes none can remain there. Nevertheless some Days after, or, +in other Instances, some Weeks, fresh Pains are excited, to which an +Inflammation and Abscess succeed, which are to be treated as usual, with +Emollients, and seasonably opened. + +A Patient has been reduced to lose his Hand, in Consequence of a sharp +Thorn's piercing into his Finger; from its having been neglected at +first, and improperly treated afterwards. + + + + _Of Warts._ + + +Sec. 492. Warts are sometimes the Effects of a particular Fault in the +Blood, which feeds and extrudes a surprizing Quantity of them. This +happens to some Children, from four to ten Years old, and especially to +those who feed most plentifully on Milk or Milk-meats. They may be +removed by a moderate Change of their Diet, and the Pills prescribed No. +18. + +But they are more frequently an accidental Disorder of the Skin, arising +from some external Cause. + +In this last Case, if they are very troublesome in Consequence of their +great Size, their Situation or their long Standing, they may be +destroyed, 1, by tying them closely with a Silk Thread, or with a strong +flaxen one waxed. 2, By cutting them off with a sharp Scissars or a +Bistory, and applying a Plaister of Diachylon, with the Gums, over the +cut Wart, which brings on a small Suppuration that may destroy or +dissolve the Root of the Wart: and, 3, By drying, or, as it were, +withering them up by some moderately corroding Application, such as that +of the milky Juice of [104] Purslain, of Fig-leaves, of _Chelidonium_ +(Swallow-wort) or of Spurge. But besides these corroding vegetable Milks +being procurable only in Summer, People who have very delicate thin +Skins should not make Use of them, as they may occasion a considerable +and painful Swelling. Strong Vinegar, charged with as much common Salt +as it will dissolve, is a very proper Application to them. A Plaister +may also be composed from Sal Ammoniac and some Galbanum, which being +kneaded up well together and applied, seldom fails of destroying them. + +[104] Our Garden Purslain, though a very juicy Herb, cannot strictly be + termed milky. In the hotter Climates where it is wild, and grows + very rankly, they sometimes boil the Leaves and Stalks (besides + eating them as a cooling Salad) and find the whole an insipid + mucilaginous Pot-herb. But Dr. _Tissot_ observes to me, that its + Juice will inflame the Skin; and that some Writers on Diet, who + disapprove it internally, affirm they have known it productive of + bad Effects. Yet none such have ever happened to myself, nor to + many others, who have frequently eaten of it. Its Seeds have + sometimes been directed in cooling Emulsions. The Wart Spurge is a + very milky and common Herb, which flowers in Summer here. _K._ + +The most powerful Corrosives should never be used, 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 lately seen some very +tedious and troublesome Disorders and Ulcerations of the Kidnies, ensue +the Application of a corrosive Water, by the Advice of a Quack. Cutting +them away is a more certain, a less painful, and a less dangerous Way of +removing them. + +Wens, if of a pretty considerable Size, and Duration, are incurable by +any other Remedy, except Amputation. + + + + _Of Corns._ + + +Sec. 493. The very general or only Causes of Corns, are Shoes either too +hard and stiff, or too small. + +The whole Cure consists in softening the Corns by repeated Washings and +Soakings of the Feet in pretty hot Water; then in cutting them, when +softened, with a Penknife or Scissars, without wounding the sound Parts +(which are the more sensible, in Proportion as they are more extended +than usual) and next in applying a Leaf of House-leek, of Ground-ivy, or +of Purslain dipt in Vinegar, upon the Part. Instead of these Leaves, if +any Person will give himself the little Trouble of dressing them every +Day, he may apply a Plaister of simple Diachylon, or of Gum Ammoniacum +softened in Vinegar. + +The Increase or Return of Corns can only be prevented, by avoiding the +Causes that produce them. + + + + + __Chapter XXXI.__ + + + _Of some Cases which require immediate Assistance; such as + Swoonings; Haemorrhages, or involuntary Loss of Blood; Convulsion + Fitts, and Suffocations; the sudden Effects of great Fear; of + Disorders caused by noxious Vapours; of Poisons, and of acute + Pains._ + + + + _Of Swoonings._ + + + __Sect.__ 494. + +There are many Degrees of Swooning, or fainting away: the slightest is +that in which the Patient constantly perceives and understands, yet +without the Power of speaking. This is called a Fainting, which happens +very often to vapourish Persons, and without any remarkable Alteration +of the Pulse. + +If the Patient entirely loses Sensation, or Feeling, and Understanding, +with a very considerable Sinking of the Pulse, this is called a +_Syncope_, and is the second Degree of Swooning. + +But if this _Syncope_ is so violent, that the Pulse seems totally +extinguished; without any discernible Breathing; with a manifest +Coldness of the whole Body; and a wanly livid Countenance, it +constitutes a third and last Degree, which is the true Image of Death, +that in Effect sometimes attends it, and it is called an _Asphixy_, +which may signify a total Resolution. + +Swoonings result from many different Causes, of which I shall only +enumerate the principal; and these are, 1, Too large a Quantity of +Blood. 2, A Defect or insufficient Proportion of it, and a general +Weakness. 3, A Load at and violent Disorders of the Stomach. 4, Nervous +Maladies. 5, The Passions; and, 6, some Kinds of Diseases. + + + + _Of Swoonings occasioned by Excess of Blood._ + + +Sec. 495. An excessive Quantity of Blood is frequently a Cause of Swooning; +and it may be inferred that it is owing to this Cause, when it attacks +sanguine, hearty and robust Persons; and more especially when it attacks +them, after being combined with any additional or supervening Cause, +that suddenly increased the Motion of the Blood; such as heating Meats +or Drinks, Wine, spirituous Liquors: smaller Drinks, if taken very hot +and plentifully, such as Coffee, Indian Tea, Bawm Tea and the like; a +long Exposure to the hot Sun, or being detained in a very hot Place; +much and violent Exercise; an over intense and assiduous Study or +Application, or some excessive Passion. + +In such Cases, first of all the Patient should be made to smell to, or +even to snuff up, some Vinegar; and his Forehead, his Temples and his +Wrists should be bathed with it; adding an equal Quantity of warm Water, +if at Hand. Bathing them with distilled or spirituous Liquids would be +prejudicial in this Kind of Swooning. + +2, The Patient should be made, if possible, to swallow two or three +Spoonfuls of Vinegar, with four or five Times as much Water. + +3, The Patient's Garters should be tied very tightly above his Knees; as +by this Means a greater Quantity of Blood is retained in the Legs, +whence the Heart may be less overladen with it. + +4, If the Fainting proves obstinate, that is, if it continues longer +than a Quarter of an Hour, or degenerates into a _Syncope_, an Abolition +of Feeling and Understanding, he must be bled in the Arm, which quickly +revives him. + +5, After the Bleeding, the Injection of a Glyster will be highly proper; +and then the Patient should be kept still and calm, only letting him +drink, every half Hour, some Cups of Elder Flower Tea, with the Addition +of a little Sugar and Vinegar. + +When Swoonings which result from this Cause occur frequently in the same +Person, he should, in Order to escape them, pursue the Directions I +shall hereafter mention, Sec. 544, when treating of Persons who superabound +with Blood. + +The very same Cause, or Causes, which occasion these Swoonings, also +frequently produce violent Palpitations, under the same Circumstances; +the Palpitation often preceding or following the _Deliquium_, or +Swooning. + + + + _Of Swoonings occasioned by Weakness._ + + +Sec. 496. If too great a Quantity of Blood, which may be considered as some +Excess of Health, is sometimes the Cause of Swooning, this last is +oftener the Effect of a very contrary Cause, that is, of a Want of +Blood, or an Exhaustion of too much. + +This Sort of Swooning happens after great Haemorrhages, or Discharges of +Blood; after sudden or excessive Evacuations, such as one of some Hours +Continuance in a _Cholera Morbus_ (Sec. 321) or such as are more slow, but +of longer Duration, as for Instance, after an inveterate _Diarrhoea_, or +Purging; excessive Sweats; a Flood of Urine; such Excesses as tend to +exhaust Nature; obstinate Wakefulness; a long Inappetency, which, by +depriving the Body of its necessary Sustenance, is attended with the +same Consequence as profuse Evacuations. + +These different Causes of Swooning should be opposed by the Means and +Remedies adapted to each of them. A Detail of all these would be +improper here; but the Assistances that are necessary at the Time of +Swooning, are nearly the same for all Cases of this Class; excepting for +that attending a great Loss of Blood, of which I shall treat hereafter: +first of all, the Patients should be laid down on a Bed, and being +covered, should have their Legs and Thighs, their Arms, and their whole +Bodies rubbed pretty strongly with hot Flanels; and no Ligature should +remain on any Part of them. + +2, They should have very spirituous Things to smell or snuff up, such as +the Carmelite Water, Hungary Water, the [105] _English_ Salt, Spirit of +Sal Ammoniac, strong smelling Herbs, such as Rue, Sage, Rosemary, Mint, +Wormwood, and the like. + +[105] Dr. _Tissot_ informs me, that in _Swisserland_, they call a + volatile Salt of Vipers, or the volatile Salt of raw Silk, _Sel. + d'Angleterre_, of which one _Goddard_ made a Secret, and which he + brought into Vogue the latter End of the last Century. But he + justly observes at the same Time, that on the present Occasion + every other volatile Alkali will equally answer the Purpose; and + indeed the Smell of some of them, as the Spirit of Sal Ammoniac + with Quicklime, _Eau de Luce_, _&c._ seem more penetrating. _K._ + +3, These should be conveyed into their Mouths; and they should be +forced, if possible, to swallow some Drops of Carmelite Water, or of +Brandy, or of some other potable Liquor, mixed with a little Water; +while some hot Wine mixed with Sugar and Cinnamon, which makes one of +the best Cordials, is getting ready. + +4, A Compress of Flanel, or of some other woollen Stuff, dipt in hot +Wine, in which some aromatic Herb has been steeped, must be applied to +the Pit of the Stomach. + +5, If the Swooning seems likely to continue, the Patient must be put +into a well heated Bed, which has before been perfumed with burning +Sugar and Cinnamon; the Frictions of the whole Body with hot Flanels +being still continued. + +6, As soon as the Patient can swallow, he should take some Soup or +Broth, with the Yolk of an Egg; or a little Bread or Biscuit; soaked in +the hot spiced Wine. + +7, Lastly, during the whole Time that all other Precautions are taken to +oppose the Cause of the Swooning, Care must be had for some Days to +prevent any _Deliquium_ or Fainting, by giving them often, and but +little at a time, some light yet strengthening Nourishment, such as +Panada made with Soup instead of Water, new laid Eggs very lightly +poached, light roast Meats with sweet Sauce, Chocolate, Soups of the +most nourishing Meats, Jellies, Milk, _&c._ + +Sec. 497. Those Swoonings, which are the Effect of Bleeding, or of the +violent Operation of some Purge, are to be ranged in this Class. + +Such as happen after artificial Bleeding, are generally very moderate, +commonly terminating as soon as the Patient is laid upon the Bed: and +Persons subject to this Kind, should be bled lying down, in Order to +prevent it. But should the Fainting continue longer than usual, some +Vinegar smelt to, and a little swallowed with some Water, is a very good +Remedy. + +The Treatment of such Faintings or Swoonings, as are the Consequences of +too violent Vomits or Purges, may be seen hereafter Sec. 552. + + + + _Of Faintings occasioned by a Load, or Uneasiness, at Stomach._ + + +Sec. 498. It has been already observed, Sec. 308, that Indigestions were +sometimes attended with Swoonings, and indeed such vehement ones, as +required speedy and very active Succour too, such as that of a Vomit. +The Indigestion is sometimes less the Effect of the Quantity, than of +the Quality, or the Corruption of the Food, contained in the Stomach. +Thus we see there are some Persons, who are disordered by eating Eggs, +Fish, Craw Fish, or any fat Meat; being thrown by them into +inexpressible Anguish attended with Swooning too. It may be supposed to +depend on this Cause, when these very Aliments have been lately eaten; +and when it evidently neither depends on the other Causes I have +mentioned; nor on such as I shall soon proceed to enumerate. + +We should in Cases of this Sort, excite and revive the Patients as in +the former, by making them receive some very strong Smell, of whatever +Kind is at hand; but the most essential Point is to make them swallow +down a large Quantity of light warm Fluid; which may serve to drown, as +it were, the indigested Matter; which may soften its Acrimony; and +either effect the Discharge of it by vomiting, or force it down into the +Chanel of the Intestines. + +A light Infusion of Chamomile Flowers, of Tea, of Sage, of Elder +Flowers, or of _Carduus Benedictus_, operate with much the same +Efficacy; though the Chamomile and Carduus promote the Operation of +vomiting rather more powerfully; which warm Water alone will sometimes +sufficiently do. + +The Swooning ceases, or at least, considerably abates in these Cases, as +soon as ever the Vomiting commences. It frequently happens too, that, +during the Swooning, Nature herself brings on certain _Nausea_, a +Wambling and sickish Commotion of the Stomach, that revives or rouses +the Patient for a Moment; but yet not being sufficient to excite an +actual Vomiting, lets him soon sink down again into this temporary +Dissolution, which often continues a pretty considerable Time; leaving +behind it a Sickness at Stomach, Vertigos, and a Depression and Anxiety, +which do not occur in the former Species of this Malady. + +Whenever these Swoonings from this Cause are entirely terminated, the +Patient must be kept for some Days to a very light Diet, and take, at +the same Time, every Morning fasting, a Dose of the Powder, No. 38, +which relieves and exonerates the Stomach of whatever noxious Contents +might remain in it; and then restores its natural Strength and +Functions. + +Sec. 499. There is another Kind of Swooning, which also results from a +Cause in the Stomach; but which is, nevertheless, very different from +this we have just been treating of; and which requires a very different +Kind of Assistance. It arises from an extraordinary Sensibility of this +important Organ, and from a general Weakness of the Patient. + +Those subject to this Malady are valetudinary weakly Persons, who are +disordered from many slight Causes, and whose Stomachs are at once very +feeble and extremely sensible. They have almost continually a little +Uneasiness after a Meal, though they should indulge but a little more +than usual; or if they eat of any Food not quite so easy of Digestion, +they have some Qualm or Commotion after it: Nay, should the Weather only +be unfavourable, and sometimes without any perceivable assignable Cause, +their Uneasiness terminates in a Swoon. + +Patients swooning, from these Causes, have a greater Necessity for great +Tranquillity and Repose, than for any other Remedy; and it might be +sufficient to lay them down on the Bed: But as the Bystanders in such +Cases find it difficult to remain inactive Spectators of Persons in a +Swoon, some spirituous Liquid may be held to their Nose, while their +Temples and Wrists are rubbed with it; and at the same Time a little +Wine should be given them. Frictions are also useful in these Cases. + +This Species of Swooning is oftener attended with a little Feverishness +than the others. + + + + _Of those Swoonings, which arise from nervous Disorders._ + + +Sec. 500. This Species of Swooning is almost wholely unknown to those +Persons, for whom this Treatise is chiefly intended. Yet as there are +some Citizens who pass a Part of their Lives in the Country; and some +Country People who are unhappily afflicted with the Ailments of the +Inhabitants of large Towns and Cities, it seemed necessary to treat +briefly of them. + +By Disorders of the Nerves, I understand in this Place, only that Fault +or Defect in them, which is the Cause of their exciting in the Body, +either irregular Motions, that is, Motions without any external Cause, +at least any perceivable one; and without our Will's consenting to the +Production of them: or such Motions, as are greatly more considerable +than they should be, if they had been proportioned to the Force of the +Impression from without. This is very exactly that State, or Affection +termed the _Vapours_; and by the common People, the _Mother_: And as +there is no Organ unprovided with Nerves; and none, or hardly any +Function, in which the Nerves have not their Influence; it may be easily +comprehended, that the Vapours being a State or Condition, which arises +from the Nerves exerting irregular involuntary Motions, without any +evident Cause, and all the Functions of the Body depending partly on the +Nerves; there is no one Symptom of other Diseases which the Vapours may +not produce or imitate; and that these Symptoms, for the same Reason, +must vary infinitely, according to those Branches of the Nerves which +are disordered. It may also hence be conceived, why the Vapours of one +Person have frequently no Resemblance to those of another: and why the +Vapours of the very same Person, in one Day, are so very different from +those in the next. It is also very conceivable that the Vapours are a +certain, a real Malady; and that Oddity of the Symptoms, which cannot be +accounted for, by People unacquainted with the animal Oeconomy, has been +the Cause of their being considered rather as the Effect of a depraved +Imagination, than as a real Disease. It is very conceiveable, I say, +that this surprizing Oddity of the Symptoms is a necessary Effect of the +Cause of the Vapours; and that no Person can any more prevent his being +invaded by the Vapours, than he can prevent the Attack of a Fever, or of +the Tooth-ach. + +Sec. 501. A few plain Instances will furnish out a more compleat Notion of +the Mechanism, or Nature, of Vapours. An Emetic, a vomiting Medicine, +excites the Act, or rather the Passion, the Convulsion of Vomiting, +chiefly by the Irritation it gives to the Nerves of the Stomach; which +Irritation produces a Spasm, a Contraction of this Organ. Now if in +Consequence of this morbid or defective Texture of the Nerves, which +constitutes the Vapours, those of the Stomach are excited to act with +the same Violence, as in Consequence of taking a Vomit, the Patient will +be agitated and worked by violent Efforts to vomit, as much as if he had +really taken one. + +If an involuntary unusual Motion in the Nerves, that are distributed +through the Lungs, should constrain and straiten the very little +Vesicles, or Bladders, as it were, which admit the fresh Air at every +Respiration, the Patient will feel a Degree of Suffocation; just as if +that Straitening or Contraction of the Vesicles were occasioned by some +noxious Steam or Vapour. + +Should the Nerves which are distributed throughout the whole Skin, by a +Succession of these irregular morbid Motions, contract themselves, as +they may from external Cold, or by some stimulating Application, +Perspiration by the Pores will be prevented or checked; whence the +Humours, which should be evacuated through the Pores of the Skin, will +be thrown upon the Kidnies, and the Patient will make a great Quantity +of thin clear Urine, a Symptom very common to vapourish People; or it +may be diverted to the Glands of the Intestines, the Guts, and terminate +in a watery _Diarrhoea_, or Looseness, which frequently proves a very +obstinate one. + +Sec. 502. Neither are Swoonings the least usual Symptoms attending the +Vapours: and we may be certain they spring from this Source, when they +happen to a Person subject to the Vapours; and none of the other Causes +producing them are evident, or have lately preceded them. + +Such Swoonings, however, are indeed very rarely dangerous, and scarcely +require any medical Assistance. The Patient should be laid upon a Bed; +the fresh Air should be very freely admitted to him; and he should be +made to smell rather to some disagreeable and fetid, than to any +fragrant, Substance. It is in such Faintings as these that the Smell of +burnt Leather, of Feathers, or of Paper, have often proved of great +Service. + +Sec. 503. Patients also frequently faint away, in Consequence of fasting +too long; or from having eat a little too much; from being confined in +too hot a Chamber; from having seen too much Company; from smelling too +over-powering a Scent; from being too costive; from being too forcibly +affected with some Discourse or Sentiments; and, in a Word, from a great +Variety of Causes, which might not make the least Impression on Persons +in perfect Health; but which violently operate upon those vapourish +People, because, as I have said, the Fault of their Nerves consists in +their being too vividly, too acutely affected; the Force of their +Sensation being nowise proportioned to the external Cause of it. + +As soon as that particular Cause is distinguished from all the rest, +which has occasioned the present Swooning; it is manifest that this +Swooning is to be remedied by removing that particular Cause of it. + + + + _Of Swoonings occasioned by the Passions._ + + +Sec. 504. There have been some Instances of Persons dying within a Moment, +through excessive Joy. But such Instances are so very rare and sudden, +that Assistance has seldom been sought for on this Occasion. The Case is +otherwise with Respect to those produced from Rage, Vexation, and Dread +or Horror. I shall treat in a separate Article of those resulting from +great Fear; and shall briefly consider here such as ensue from Rage, and +vehement Grief or Disappointment. + +Sec. 505. Excessive Rage and violent Affliction are sometimes fatal in the +Twinkling of an Eye; though they oftener terminate in fainting only. +Excessive Grief or Chagrine is especially accompanied with this +Consequence; and it is very common to see Persons thus affected, sink +into successive Faintings for several Hours. It is plainly obvious that +very little Assistance can be given in such Cases: it is proper, +however, they should smell to strong Vinegar; and frequently take a few +Cups of some hot and temperately cordial Drink, such as Bawm Tea, or +Lemonade with a little Orange or Lemon-peel. + +The calming asswaging Cordial, that has seemed the most efficacious to +me, is one small Coffee Spoonful of a Mixture of three Parts of the +Mineral Anodyne Liquor of _Hoffman_, [106] and one Part of the +spirituous Tincture of Amber, which should be swallowed in a Spoonful of +Water; taking after it a few Cups of such Drinks as I shall presently +direct. + +[106] Our sweet Spirit of Vitriol is a similar, and as effectual a + Medicine. _K._ + +It is not to be supposed that Swoonings or Faintings, from excessive +Passions, can be cured by Nourishment. The physical State or Condition, +into which vehement Grief throws the Body, is that, of all others, in +which Nourishment would be most injurious to it: and as long as the +Vehemence of the Affliction endures, the Sufferer should take nothing +but some Spoonfuls of Soup or Broth, or a few Morsels of some light Meat +roasted. + +Sec. 506. When Wrath or Rage has risen to so high a Pitch, that the human +Machine, the Body, entirely exhausted, as it were, by that violent +Effort, sinks down at once into excessive Relaxation, a Fainting +sometimes succeeds, and even the most perilous Degree of it, a +_Syncope_. + +It is sufficient, or rather the most that can be done here, to let the +Patient be perfectly still a while in this State; only making him smell +to some Vinegar. But when he is come to himself, he should drink +plentifully of hot Lemonade, and take one or more of the Glysters No. 5. + +Sometimes there remain in these Cases Sicknesses at Stomach, Reachings +to vomit, a Bitterness in the Mouth, and some vertiginous Symptoms which +seem to require a Vomit. But such a Medicine must be very carefully +avoided, since it may be attended with the most fatal Consequence; and +Lemonade with Glysters generally and gradually remove these Swoonings. +If the _Nausea_ and Sickness at Stomach continue, the utmost Medicine we +should allow besides, would be that of No. 23, or a few Doses of No. 24. + + + +_Of symptomatical Swoonings, or such, as happen in the Progress of other + Diseases._ + + +Sec. 507. Swoonings, which supervene in the Course of other Diseases, never +afford a favourable Prognostic; as they denote Weakness, and Weakness is +an Obstacle to Recovery. + +In the Beginning of putrid Diseases, they also denote an Oppression at +Stomach, or a Mass of corrupt Humours; and they cease as soon as an +Evacuation supervenes, whether by Vomit or Stool. + +When they occur at the Beginning of malignant Fevers, they declare the +high Degree of their Malignancy, and the great Diminution of the +Patient's natural Strength. + +In each of these Cases Vinegar, used externally and internally, is the +best Remedy during the Exacerbation or Height of the Paroxysm; and +Plenty of Lemon Juice and Water after it. + +Sec. 508. Swoonings which supervene in Diseases, accompanied with great +Evacuations, are cured like those which are owing to Weakness; and +Endeavours should be used to restrain or moderate the Evacuations. + +Sec. 509. Those who have any inward Abscess or Imposthume are apt to swoon +frequently. They may sometimes be revived a little by Vinegar, but they +prove too frequently mortal. + +Sec. 510. Many Persons have a slighter or a deeper Swooning, at the End of +a violent Fit of an intermitting Fever, or at that of each Exacerbation +of a continual Fever; this constantly shews the Fever has run very high, +the Swooning having been the Consequence of that great Relaxation, which +has succeeded to a very high Tension. A Spoonful or two of light white +Wine, with an equal Quantity of Water, affords all the Succour proper in +such a Case. + +Sec. 511. Persons subject to frequent Swoonings, should neglect nothing +that may enable them to remove them when known; since the Consequences +of them are always detrimental, except in some Fevers, in which they +seem to mark the _Crisis_. + +Every swooning Fit leaves the Patient in Dejection and Weakness; the +Secretions from the Blood are suspended; the Humours disposed to +Stagnation; Grumosities, or Coagulations, and Obstructions are formed; +and if the Motion of the Blood is totally intercepted, or considerably +checked, _Polypus's_, and these often incurable, are formed in the +Heart, or in the larger Vessels; the Consequences of which are dreadful, +and sometimes give Rise to internal Aneurisms, which always prove +mortal, after long Anxiety and Oppression. + +Swoonings which attack old People, without any manifest Cause, always +afford an unfavourable Prognostic. + + + + _Of Haemorrhages, or an involuntary Loss of Blood._ + + +Sec. 512. Haemorrhages of the Nose, supervening in inflammatory Fevers, +commonly prove a favourable _Crisis_; which Bleeding we should carefully +avoid stopping; except it becomes excessive, and seems to threaten the +Patient's Life. + +As they scarcely ever happen in very healthy Subjects, but from a +superfluous Abundance of Blood, it is very improper to check them too +soon; lest some internal Stuffings and Obstructions should prove the +Consequence. + +A Swooning sometimes ensues after the Loss of only a moderate Quantity +of Blood. This Swooning stops the Haemorrhage, and goes off without any +further Assistance, except the smelling to Vinegar. But in other Cases +there is a Succession of fainting Fits, without the Blood's stopping; +while at the same time slight convulsive Motions and Twitchings ensue, +attended with a Raving, when it becomes really necessary to stop the +Bleeding: and indeed, without waiting till these violent Symptoms +appear, the following Signs will sufficiently direct us, when it is +right to stop the Flux of Blood, or to permit its Continuance--As long +as the Pulse is still pretty full; while the Heat of the Body is equally +extended to the very Extremities; and the Countenance and Lips preserve +their natural Redness, no ill Consequence is to be apprehended from the +Haemorrhage, though it has been very copious, and even somewhat profuse. + +But whenever the Pulse begins to faulter and tremble; when the +Countenance and the Lips grow pale, and the Patient complains of a +Sickness at Stomach, it is absolutely necessary to stop the Discharge of +Blood. And considering that the Operation of Remedies does not +immediately follow the Exhibition or Application of them, it is safer to +begin a little too early with them, than to delay them, though ever so +little too long. + +Sec. 513. First of all then, tight Bandages, or Ligatures, should be +applied round both Arms, on the Part they are applied over in order to +Bleeding; and round the lower Part of both Thighs, on the gartering +Place; and all these are to be drawn very tight, with an Intention to +detain and accumulate the Blood in the Extremities. + +2, In Order to increase this Effect, the Legs are to be plunged in warm +Water up to the Knees; for by relaxing the Blood-vessels of the Legs and +Feet, they are dilated at the same time, and thence receive, and, in +Consequence of the Ligatures above the Knees, retain the more Blood. If +the Water were cold, it would repel the Blood to the Head; if hot, it +would increase the Motion of it; and, by giving a greater Quickness to +the Pulse, would even contribute to increase the Haemorrhage. + +As soon however, as the Haemorrhage is stopt, these Ligatures [on the +Thighs] may be relaxed a little, or one of them be entirely removed; +allowing the others to continue on an Hour or two longer without +touching them: but great Precaution should be taken not to slacken them +entirely, nor all at once. + +3, Seven or eight Grains of Nitre, and a Spoonful of Vinegar, in half a +Glass of cool Water, should be given the Patient every half Hour. + +4, One Drachm of white Vitriol must be dissolved in two common Spoonfuls +of Spring Water; and a Tent of Lint, or Bits of soft fine Linen dipt in +this Solution, are to be introduced into the Nostrils, horizontally at +first, but afterwards to be intruded upwards, and as high as may be, by +the Assistance of a flexible Bit of Wood or Whale-bone. But should this +Application be ineffectual, the Mineral Anodyne Liquor of _Hoffman_ is +certain to succeed: and in the Country, where it often happens that +neither of these Applications are to be had speedily, Brandy, and even +Spirit of Wine, mixt with a third Part Vinegar, have answered entirely +well, of which I have been a Witness. + +The Prescription No. 67, which I have already referred to, on the +Article of Wounds, may also be serviceable on this Occasion. It must be +reduced to Powder, and conveyed up the Nostrils as high as may be, on +the Point or Extremity of a Tent of Lint, which may easily be covered +with it. Or a Quill, well charged with the Powder, may be introduced +high into the Nostrils, and its Countents be strongly blown up from its +other Extremity: though after all the former Method is preferable. + +5, When the Flux of Blood is totally stopt, the Patient is to be kept as +still and quiet as possible; taking great Care not to extract the Tent +which remains in the Nose; nor to remove the Clots of coagulated Blood +which fill up the Passage. The loosening and removing of these should be +effected very gradually and cautiously; and frequently the Tent does not +spring out spontaneously, till after many Days. + +Sec. 514. I have not, hitherto, said any thing of artificial Bleeding in +these Cases, as I think it at best unserviceable; since, though it may +sometimes have stopt the morbid Loss of Blood, it has at other times +increased it. Neither have I mentioned Anodynes here, whose constant +Effect is to determine a larger Quantity of Blood to the Head. + +Applications of cold Water to the Nape of the Neck ought to be wholly +disused, having sometimes been attended with the most embarrassing +Consequences. + +In all Haemorrhages, all Fluxes of Blood, great Tranquillity, Ligatures, +and the Use of the Drinks No. 2 or 4, are very useful. + +Sec. 515. People who are very liable to frequent Haemorrhages, ought to +manage themselves conformably to the Directions contained in the next +Chapter, Sec. 544. They should take very little Supper; avoid all sharp and +spirituous Liquors; Apartments that are over hot, and cover their Heads +but very lightly. + +When a Patient has for a long time been subject to Haemorrhages, if they +cease, he should retrench from his usual Quantity of Food; accustom +himself to artificial Bleedings at proper Intervals; and take some +gentle opening Purges, especially that of No. 24, and frequently a +little Nitre in an Evening. + + + + _Of Convulsion Fits._ + + +Sec. 516. Convulsions are, in general, more terrifying than dangerous; they +result from many and various Causes; and on the Removal or Extirpation +of these, their Cure depends. + +In the very Fit itself very little is to be done or attempted. + +As nothing does shorten the Duration, nor even lessen the Violence, of +an epileptic Fit, so nothing at all should be attempted in it; and the +rather, because Means and Medicines often aggravate the Disease. We +should confine our Endeavours solely to the Security of the Patient, by +preventing him from giving himself any violent Strokes; by getting +something, if possible, between his Teeth, such as a small Roller of +Linen to prevent his Tongue from being hurt, or very dangerously +squeezed and bruised, in a strong Convulsion. + +The only Case which requires immediate Assistance in the Fit, is, when +it is so extremely violent, the Neck so swelled, and the Face so very +red, that there is Room to be apprehensive of an Apoplexy, which we +should endeavour to obviate, by drawing eight or ten Ounces of Blood +from the Arm. + +As this terrible Disease is common in the Country, it is doing a real +Service to the unfortunate Victims of it, to inform them how very +dangerous it is to give themselves blindly up to take all the Medicines, +which are cried up to them in such Cases. If there be any one Disease, +which requires a more attentive, delicate, and exquisite Kind of +Treatment, it is this very Disease. Some Species of it are wholly +incurable: and such as may be susceptible of a Cure, require the utmost +Care and Consideration of the most enlightned and most experienced +Physicians: while those who pretend to cure all epileptic Patients, with +one invariable Medicine, are either Ignorants, or Impostors, and +sometimes both in one. + +Sec. 517. Simple Convulsion Fits, which are not epileptic, are frequently +of a long Continuance, persevering, with very few and short Intervals, +for Days and even for Weeks. + +The true genuine Cause should be investigated as strictly as possible, +though nothing should be attempted in the Fit. The Nerves are, during +that Term, in so high a Degree of Tension and Sensibility, that the very +Medicines, supposed to be strongly indicated, often redouble the Storm +they were intended to appease. + +Thin watery Liquors, moderately imbued with Aromatics, are the least +hurtful, the most innocent Things that can be given; such as Bawm, +Lime-tree, and Elder Flower Tea. A Ptisan of Liquorice Root only has +sometimes answered better than any other. + + + + _Of suffocating, or strangling Fits._ + + +Sec. 518. These Fits (by whatever other Name they may be called) whenever +they very suddenly attack a Person, whose Breathing was easy and natural +just before, depend almost constantly on a Spasm or Contraction of the +Nerves, in the Vesicles of the Lungs; or upon an Infarction, a Stuffing +of the same Parts, produced by viscid clammy Humours. + +That Suffocation which arises from a Spasm is not dangerous, it goes off +of itself, or it may be treated like Swoonings owing to the same Cause. +See Sec. 502. + +Sec. 519. That Suffocation, which is the Effect of a sanguineous Fulness +and Obstruction, may be distinguished by its attacking strong, vigorous, +sanguine Persons, who are great Eaters, using much juicy nutritious +Food, and strong Wine and Liquors, and who frequently eat and inflame +themselves; and when the Fit has come on after any inflaming Cause; when +the Pulse is full and strong, and the Countenance red. + +Such are cured, 1, by a very plentiful Discharge of Blood from the Arm, +which is to be repeated, if necessary. + +2, By the Use of Glysters. + +3, By drinking plentifully of the Ptisan No. 1; to each Pot of which, a +Drachm of Nitre is to be added; and, + +4, By the Vapour of hot Vinegar, continually received by Respiration or +Breathing. See Sec. 55. + +Sec. 520. There is Reason to think that one of these Fits is owing to a +Quantity of tough viscid Humours in the Lungs, when it attacks Persons, +whose Temperament, and whose Manner of living are opposite to those I +have just described; such as valetudinary, weakly, phlegmatic, +pituitous, inactive, and squeamish Persons, who feed badly, or on fat, +viscid, and insipid Diet, and who drink much hot Water, either alone, or +in Tea-like Infusions. And these Signs of Suffocation, resulting from +such Causes, are still more probable, if the Fit came on in rainy +Weather, and during a southerly Wind; and when the Pulse is soft and +small, the Visage pale and hollow. + +The most efficacious Treatment we can advise, is, 1, To give every half +Hour half a Cup of the Potion, No. 8, if it can be readily had. 2, To +make the Patient drink very plentifully of the Drink No. 12; and, 3, to +apply two strong Blisters to the fleshy Parts of his Legs. + +If he was strong and hearty before the Fit, and the Pulse still +continues vigorous, and feels somewhat full withall, the Loss of seven +or eight Ounces of Blood is sometimes indispensably necessary. A Glyster +has also frequently been attended with extraordinary good Effects. + +Those afflicted with this oppressing Malady are commonly relieved, as +soon as they expectorate, and sometimes even by vomiting a little. + +The Medicine No. 25, a Dose of which may be taken every two Hours, with +a Cup of the Ptisan No. 12, often succeeds very well. + +But if neither this Medicine, nor the Prescription of No. 8 are at Hand, +which may be the Case in Country Places; an Onion of a moderate Size +should be pounded in an Iron or Marble Mortar; upon this, a Glass of +Vinegar is to be poured, and then strongly squeezed out again through a +Piece of Linen. An equal Quantity of Honey is then to be added to it. A +Spoonful of this Mixture, whose remarkable Efficacy I have been a +Witness of, is to be given every half Hour. + + + + _Of the violent Effects of Fear._ + + +Sec. 521. Here I shall insert some Directions to prevent the ill +Consequences 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 Straitening or Contraction of +all the small Vessels, and a Repulsion of the Blood into the large and +internal ones. Hence follows the Suppression of Perspiration, the +general Seizure or Oppression, the Trembling, the Palpitations and +Anguish, from the Heart and the Lungs being overcharged with Blood; and +sometimes attended with Swoonings, irremediable Disorders of the Heart, +and Death itself. A heavy Drowsiness, Raving, and a Kind of furious or +raging _Delirium_ happen in other Cases, which I have frequently +observed in Children, when the Blood-vessels of the Neck were swelled +and stuffed up; and Convulsions, and even the Epilepsy have come on, all +which have proved the horrible Consequence of a most senseless and +wicked Foolery or Sporting. One half of those Epilepsies which do not +depend on such Causes, as might exist before the Child's Birth, are +owing to this detestable Custom; and it cannot be too much inculcated +into Children, never to frighten one another; a Point which Persons +intrusted with their Education, ought to have the strictest Regard to. + +When the Humours that should have passed off by Perspiration, are +repelled to the Intestines, a tedious and very obstinate Looseness is +the frequent Consequence. + +Sec. 522. Our Endeavours should be directed, to re-establish the disordered +Circulation; to restore the obstructed Perspiration; and to allay the +Agitation of the Nerves. + +The popular Custom in these Cases has been to give the terrified Patient +some cold Water directly; but when the Fright has been considerable, +this is a very pernicious custom, and I have seen some terrible +Consequences from it. + +They should, on the contrary, be conveyed into some very quiet +Situation, leaving there but very few Persons, and such only as they are +thoroughly familiar with. They should take a few Cups of pretty warm +Drink, particularly of an Infusion of Lime-tree Flowers and Bawm. Their +Legs should be put into warm Water, and remain there an Hour, if they +will patiently permit it, rubbing them gently now and then, and giving +them every half-quarter of an Hour, a small Cup of the said Drink. When +their Composure and Tranquillity are returned a little, and their Skin +seems to have recovered its wonted and general Warmth, Care should be +taken to dispose them to sleep, and to perspire plentifully. For this +Purpose they may be allowed a few Spoonfuls of Wine, on putting them +into Bed, with one Cup of the former Infusion; or, which is more certain +and effectual, a few Drops of _Sydenham's_ Liquid Laudanum, No. 44; but +should that not be near at Hand, a small Dose of _Venice_ Treacle. + +Sec. 523. It sometimes happens that Children do not seem at first extremely +terrified; but the Fright is renewed while they sleep, and with no small +Violence. The Directions I have just given must then be observed, for +some successive Evenings, before they are put to Bed. + +Their Fright frequently returns about the latter End of the Night, and +agitates them violently every Day. The same Treatment should be +continued in such Cases; and we should endeavour to dispose them to be +a-sleep at the usual Hour of its Return. + +By this very Method, I have dissipated the dismal Consequences of Fear +of Women in Child-bed, which is so commonly, and often speedily, mortal. + +If a Suffocation from this Cause is violent, there is sometimes a +Necessity for opening a Vein in the Arm. + +These Patients should gradually be inured to an almost continual, but +gentle, Kind of Exercise. + +All violent Medicines render those Diseases, which are the Consequences +of great Fear, incurable. A pretty common one is that of an Obstruction +of the Liver, which has been productive of a Jaundice. [107] + +[107] I have seen this actually verified by great and disagreeable + Surprize, attended indeed with much Concern, in a Person of + exquisite Sensations. _K._ + + + +_Of Accidents or Symptoms produced by the Vapours of Coal, and of Wine._ + + +Sec. 524. Not a single Year passes over here, without the Destruction of +many People by the Vapour of Charcoal, or of small Coal, and by the +Steam or Vapour of Wine. + +The Symptoms by Coal occur, when [108] small Coal, and especially +when [109] Charcoal is burnt in a Chamber close shut, which is direct +Poison to a Person shut up in it. The sulphureous Oil, which is set at +Liberty and diffused by the Action of Fire, expands itself through the +Chamber; while those who are in it perceive a Disorder and Confusion in +their Heads; contract Vertigos, Sickness at Stomach, a Weakness, and +very unusual Kind of Numbness; become raving, convulsed and trembling; +and if they fail of Presence of Mind, or of Strength, to get out of the +Chamber, they die within a short Time. + +[108] _La Braise._ + +[109] _Charbon._ Dr. _Tissot_ informs me, their Difference consists in + this, that the Charcoal is prepared from Wood burnt in a close or + stifled Fire; and that the small Coal is made of Wood (and of + smaller Wood) burnt in an open Fire, and extinguished before it is + reduced to the State of a Cinder. He says the latter is smaller, + softer, less durable in the Fire, and the Vapour of it less + dangerous than that of Charcoal. + +I have seen a Woman who had vertiginous Commotions in her Head for two +Days, and almost continual Vomitings, from her having been confined less +than six Minutes in a Chamber (and that notwithstanding, both one Window +and one Door were open) in which there was a Chafing-dish with some +burning Coals. Had the Room been quite close, she must have perished by +it. + +This Vapour is narcotic or stupefying, and proves mortal in Consequence +of its producing a sleepy or apoplectic Disorder, though blended, at the +same time, with something convulsive; which sufficiently appears from +the Closure of the Mouth, and the strict Contraction or Locking of the +Jaws. + +The Condition of the Brain, in the dissected Bodies of Persons thus +destroyed, proves that they die of an Apoplexy: notwithstanding it is +very probable that Suffocation is also partly the Cause of their Deaths; +as the Lungs have been found stuffed up with Blood and livid. + +It has also been observed in some other such Bodies, that Patients +killed by the Vapour of burning Coals, have commonly their whole Body +swelled out to one third more than their Magnitude, when living. The +Face, Neck, and Arms are swelled out, as if they had been blown up; and +the whole human Machine appears in such a State, as the dead Body of a +Person would, who had been violently strangled; and who had made all +possible Resistance for a long time, before he was overpowered. + +Sec. 525. Such as are sensible of the great Danger they are in, and retreat +seasonably from it, are generally relieved as soon as they get into the +open Air; or if they have any remaining Uneasiness, a little Water and +Vinegar, or Lemonade, drank hot, affords them speedy Relief. But when +they are so far poisoned, as to have lost their Feeling and +Understanding, if there be any Means of reviving them, such Means +consist, + +1, In exposing them to a very pure, fresh and open Air. + +2, In making them smell to some very penetrating Odour, which is +somewhat stimulating and reviving, such as the volatile Spirit of Sal +Ammoniac, the [110] _English_ Salt; and afterwards to surround them, as +it were, with the Steam of Vinegar. + +[110] See Note [105] Page 495. + +3, In taking some Blood from their Arm. + +4, In putting their Legs into warm or hot Water, and chafing them well. + +5, In making them swallow, if practicable, much Lemonade, or Water and +Vinegar, with the Addition of Nitre: and, + +6, In throwing up some sharp Glysters. + +As it is manifest there is something spasmodic in these Cases, it were +proper to be provided with some antispasmodic Remedies, such as the +Mineral Anodyne Liquid of _Hoffman_. Even Opium has sometimes been +successfully given here, but it should be allowed to Physicians only to +direct it in such Cases. + +A Vomit would be hurtful; and the Reachings to vomit arise only from the +Oppression on the Brain. + +It is a common but erroneous Opinion, that if the Coal be suffered to +burn for a Minute or so in the open Air, or in a Chimney, it is +sufficient to prevent any Danger from the Vapour of it. + +Hence it amounts even to a criminal Degree of Imprudence, to sleep in a +Chamber while Charcoal or small Coal is burning in it; and the Number of +such imprudent Persons, as have never awaked after it, is so +considerable, and so generally known too, that the Continuance of this +unhappy Custom is astonishing. + +Sec. 526. The Bakers, who make Use of much small Coal, often keep great +Quantities of it in their Cellars, which frequently abound so much with +the Vapour of it, that it seizes them violently the Moment they enter +into the Cellar. They sink down at once deprived of all Sensation, and +die if they are not drawn out of it soon enough to be assisted, +according to the Directions I have just given. + +One certain Means of preventing such fatal Accidents is, upon going into +the Cellar to throw some flaming Paper or Straw into it, and if these +continue to flame out and consume, there is no Reason for dreading the +Vapour: but if they should be extinguished, no Person should venture in. +But after opening the Vent-hole, a Bundle of flaming Straw must be set +at the Door, which serves to attract the external Air strongly. Soon +after the Experiment of the flaming Paper must be repeated, and if it +goes out, more Straw is to be set on Fire before the Cellar Door. + +Sec. 527. Small Coal, burnt in an open Fire, is not near so dangerous as +_Charcoal_, properly so called, the Danger of which arises from this, +that in extinguishing it by the usual Methods, all those sulphureous +Particles of it, in which its Danger consists, are concentred. +Nevertheless, small Coal is not entirely deprived of all its noxious +Quality, without some of which it could not strictly be Coal. + +The common Method of throwing some Salt on live Coals, before they are +conveyed into a Chamber; or of casting a Piece of Iron among them to +imbibe some Part of their deadly narcotic Sulphur, is not without its +Utility; though by no means sufficient to prevent all Danger from them. + +Sec. 528. When the most dangerous Symptoms from this Cause disappear, and +there remains only some Degree of Weakness, of Numbness, and a little +Inappetency, or Loathing at Stomach, nothing is better than Lemonade +with one fourth Part Wine, half a Cup of which should frequently be +taken, with a small Crust of Bread. + +Sec. 529. The Vapour which exhales from Wine, and in general from all +fermenting Liquors, such as Beer, Cyder, _&c._ contains something +poisonous, 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 State of Fermentation; if it has been shut up close for +several Hours. There have been many Examples of Persons struck dead on +entering one, and of others who have escaped out of it with Difficulty. + +When such unhappy Accidents occur, Men should not be successively +exposed, one after another, to perish, by endeavouring to fetch out the +first who sunk down upon his Entrance; but the Air should immediately be +purified by the Method already directed, or by discharging some Guns +into the Cellar; after which People may venture in with Precaution. And +when the Persons unfortunately affected are brought out, they are to be +treated like those, who were affected with the Coal-Vapour. + +I saw a Man, about eight Years since, who was not sensible of the +Application of Spirit of Sal Ammoniac, till about an Hour after he was +struck down, and who was entirely freed at last by a plentiful Bleeding; +though he had been so insensible, that it was several Hours before he +discovered a very great Wound he had, which extended from the Middle of +his Arm to his Armpit, and which was made by a Hook intended to be used, +in Case of a House catching Fire, to assist Persons in escaping from the +Flames. + +Sec. 530. When subterraneous Caves that have been very long shut are +opened; or when deep Wells are cleaned, that have not been emptied for +several Years, the Vapours arising from them produce the same Symptoms I +have mentioned, and require the same Assistance. They are to be cleansed +and purified by burning Sulphur and Salt Petre in them, or Gunpowder, as +compounded of both. + +Sec. 531. The offensive Stink of Lamps and of Candles, especially when +their Flames are extinguished, operate like other Vapours, though with +less Violence, and less suddenly. Nevertheless there have been Instances +of People killed by the Fumes of Lamps fed with Nut Oil, which had been +extinguished in a close Room. These last Smells or Fumes prove noxious +also, in Consequence of their Greasiness, which being conveyed, together +with the Air, into the Lungs, prevent their Respiration: And hence we +may observe, that Persons of weak delicate Breasts find themselves +quickly oppressed in Chambers or Apartments, illuminated with many +Candles. + +The proper Remedies have been already directed, Sec. 525. The Steam of +Vinegar is very serviceable in such Cases. + + + + _Of Poisons._ + + +Sec. 532. There are a great Number of Poisons, whose Manner of acting is +not alike; and whose ill Effects are to be opposed by different +Remedies: But Arsenic, or Ratsbane, and some particular Plants are the +Poisons which are the most frequently productive of Mischief, in Country +Places. + +Sec. 533. It is in Consequence of its excessive Acrimony, or violent Heat +and Sharpness, which corrodes or gnaws, that Arsenic destroys by an +excessive Inflammation, with a burning Fire as it were, most torturing +Pains in the Mouth, Throat, Stomach, Guts; with rending and often bloody +Vomitings, and Stools, Convulsions, Faintings, _&c._ + +The best Remedy of all is pouring down whole Torrents of Milk, or, where +there is not Milk, of warm Water. Nothing but a prodigious Quantity of +such weak Liquids can avail such a miserable Patient. If the Cause of +the Disorder is immediately known, after having very speedily taken down +a large Quantity of warm Water, Vomiting may be excited with Oil, or +with melted Butter, and by tickling the Inside of the Throat with a +Feather. But when the Poison has already inflamed the Stomach and the +Guts, we must not expect to discharge it by vomiting. Whatever is +healing or emollient, Decoctions of mealy Pulse, of Barley, of Oatmeal, +of Marsh-mallows, and Butter and Oil are the most suitable. + +As soon as ever the tormenting Pains are felt in the Belly, and the +Intestines seem attacked, Glysters of Milk must be very frequently +thrown up. + +If at the very Beginning of the Attack, the Patient has a strong Pulse, +a very large Bleeding may be considerably serviceable by its delaying +the Progress, and diminishing the Degree of Inflammation. + +And even though it should happen that a Patient overcomes the first +Violence of this dreadful Accident, it is too common for him to continue +in a languid State for a long Time, and sometimes for all the Remainder +of his Life. The most certain Method of preventing this Misery, is to +live for some Months solely upon Milk, and some very new laid Eggs, just +received from the Hen, and dissolved or blended in the Milk, without +boiling them. + +Sec. 534. The Plants which chiefly produce these unhappy Accidents are some +Kinds of Hemlock, whether it be the Leaf or the Root, the Berries of the +_Bella Donna_, or deadly Nightshade, which Children eat by mistake for +Cherries; some Kind of Mushrooms, the Seed of the _Datura_, or the +stinking Thorn-Apple. + +All the Poisons of this Class prove mortal rather from a narcotic, or +stupefying, than from an acrid, or very sharp Quality. Vertigos, +Faintings, Reachings to vomit, and actual Vomitings are the first +Symptoms produced by them. + +The Patient should immediately swallow down a large Quantity of Water, +moderately seasoned with Salt or with Sugar; and then a Vomiting should +be excited as soon as possible by the Prescription No. 34 or 35: or, if +neither of these is very readily procurable, with Radish-seed pounded, +to the Quantity of a Coffee Spoonful, swallowed in warm Water, soon +after forcing a Feather or a Finger into the Patient's Throat, to +expedite the Vomiting. + +After the Operation of the Vomit, he must continue to take a large +Quantity of Water, sweetened with Honey or Sugar, together with a +considerable Quantity of Vinegar, which is the true Specific, or +Antidote, as it were, against those Poisons: the Intestines must also be +emptied by a few Glysters. + +Thirty-seven Soldiers having unhappily eaten, instead of Carrots, of the +Roots of the _Oenanthe_; or Water-hemlock, became all extremely sick; +when the Emetic, No. 34, with the Assistance of Glysters, and very +plentiful drinking of warm Water, saved all but one of them, who died +before he could be assisted. + +Sec. 535. If a Person has taken too much Opium; or any Medicine into which +it enters, as _Venice_ Treacle, Mithridate, Diascordium, _&c._ whether +by Imprudence, Mistake, Ignorance, or through any bad Design, he must be +bled upon the Spot, and treated as if he had a sanguine Apoplexy, (See Sec. +147) by Reason that Opium in Effect produces such a one. He should snuff +up and inhale the Vapour of Vinegar plentifully, adding it also +liberally to the Water he is to drink. + + + + _Of acute Pains._ + + +Sec. 536. It is not my Intention to treat here of those Pains, that +accompany any evident known Disease, and which should be conducted as +relating to such Diseases; nor of such Pains as infirm valetudinary +Persons are habitually subject to; since Experience has informed such of +the most effectual Relief for them: But when a Person sound and hale, +finds himself suddenly attacked with some excessive Pain, in whatever +Part it occurs, without knowing either the Nature, or the Cause of it, +they may, till proper Advice can be procured, + +1, Part with some Blood, which, by abating the Fulness and Tension, +almost constantly asswages the Pains, at least for some Time: and it may +even be repeated, if, without weakening the Patient much, it has +lessened the Violence of the Pain. + +2, The Patient should drink abundantly of some very mild temperate +Drink, such as the Ptisan No. 2, the Almond Emulsion No. 4, or warm +Water with a fourth or fifth Part Milk. + +3, Several emollient Glysters should be given. + +4, The whole Part that is affected, and the adjoining Parts should be +covered with Cataplasms, or soothed with the emollient Fomentation, No. +9. + +5, The warm Bath may also be advantagiously used. + +6, If notwithstanding all these Assistances, the Pain should still +continue violent, and the Pulse is neither full nor hard, the grown +Patient may take an Ounce of Syrup of Diacodium, or sixteen Drops of +liquid Laudanum; and when neither of these are to be had, [111] an +_English_ Pint of boiling Water must be poured upon three or four +Poppy-heads with their Seeds, but without the Leaves, and this Decoction +is to be drank like Tea. + +[111] _Une Quartette._ + +Sec. 537. Persons very subject to frequent Pains, and especially to violent +Head-achs, should abstain from all strong Drink; such Abstinence being +often the only Means of curing them: And People are very often mistaken +in supposing Wine necessary for as many as seem to have a weak Stomach. + + + + + __Chapter XXXII.__ + + + + _Of Medicines taken by Way of Precaution, or Prevention._ + + + __Sect.__ 538. + +I Have pointed out, in some Parts of this Work, the Means of preventing +the bad Effects of several Causes of Diseases; and of prohibiting the +Return of some habitual Disorders. In the present Chapter I shall adjoin +some Observations, on the Use of the principal Remedies, which are +employed as general Preservatives; pretty regularly too at certain +stated Times, and almost always from meer Custom only, without knowing, +and often with very little Consideration, whether they are right or +wrong. + +Nevertheless, the Use, the Habit of taking Medicines, is certainly no +indifferent Matter: it is ridiculous, dangerous, and even criminal to +omit them, when they are necessary, but not less so to take them when +they are not wanted. A good Medicine taken seasonably, when there is +some Disorder, some _Disarrangement_ in the Body, which would in a short +time occasion a Distemper, has often prevented it. But yet the very same +Medicine, if given to a Person in perfect Health, if it does not +directly make him sick, leaves him at the best in a greater Propensity +to the Impressions of Diseases: and there are but too many Examples of +People, who having very unhappily contracted a Habit, a Disposition to +take Physick, have really injured their Health, and impaired their +Constitution, however naturally strong, by an Abuse of those Materials +which Providence has given for the Recovery and Re-establishment of it; +an Abuse which, though it should not injure the Health of the Person, +would occasion those Remedies, when he should be really sick, to be less +efficacious and serviceable to him, from their having been familiar to +his Constitution; and thus he becomes deprived of the Assistance he +would have received from them, if taken only in those Times and +Circumstances, in which they were necessary for him. + + + + _Of Bleeding._ + + +Sec. 539. Bleeding is necessary only in these four Cases. 1, When there is +too great a Quantity of Blood in the Body. 2, When there is any +Inflammation, or an inflammatory Disease. 3, When some Cause supervenes, +or is about to supervene, in the Constitution, which would speedily +produce an Inflammation, or some other dangerous Symptom, if the Vessels +were not relaxed by Bleeding. It is upon this Principle that Patients +are bled after Wounds, and after Bruises; that Bleeding is directed for +a pregnant Woman, if she has a violent Cough; and that Bleeding is +performed, by Way of Precaution, in several other Cases. 4, We also +advise Bleeding sometimes to asswage an excessive Pain, though such Pain +is not owing to Excess of Blood, nor arises from an inflamed Blood; but +in Order to appease and moderate the Pain by Bleeding; and thereby to +obtain Time for destroying the Cause of it by other Remedies. But as +these two last Reasons are in Effect involved or implied in the two +first; it may be very generally concluded, that an Excess of Blood, and +an inflamed State of it, are the only two necessary Motives for +Bleeding. + +Sec. 540. An Inflammation of the Blood is known by the Symptoms +accompanying those Diseases, which that Cause produces. Of these I have +already spoken, and I have at the same time regulated the Practice of +Bleeding in such Cases. Here I shall point out those Symptoms and +Circumstances, which manifest an Excess of Blood. + +The first, then, is the general Course and Manner of the Patient's +living, while in Health. If he is a great Eater, and indulges in juicy +nutritious Food, and especially on much Flesh-meat; if he drinks rich +and nourishing Wine, or other strong Drink, and at the same time enjoys +a good Digestion; if he takes but little Exercise, sleeps much, and has +not been subject to any very considerable Evacuation, he may well be +supposed to abound in Blood. It is very obvious that all these Causes +rarely occur in Country People; if we except only the Abatement of their +Exercise, during some Weeks in Winter, which indeed may contribute to +their generating more Blood than they commonly do. + +The labouring Country-man, for much the greater part of his Time, lives +only on Bread, Water and Vegetables; Materials but very moderately +nourishing, as one Pound of Bread probably does not make, in the same +Body, more Blood than one Ounce of Flesh; though a general Prejudice +seems to have established a contrary Opinion. 2, The total Stopping or +long Interruption of some involuntary Bleeding or Haemorrhage, to which +he had been accustomed. 3, A full and strong Pulse, and Veins visibly +filled with Blood, in a Body that is not lean and thin, and when he is +not heated. 4, A florid lively Ruddiness. 5, A considerable and unusual +Numbness; Sleep more profound, of more Duration, and yet less tranquil +and calm, than at other times; a greater Propensity than ordinary to be +fatigued after moderate Exercise or Work; and a little Oppression and +Heaviness from walking. 6, Palpitations, accompanied sometimes with very +great Dejection, and even with a slight fainting Fit; especially on +being in any hot Place, or after moving about considerably. 7, Vertigos, +or Swimmings of the Head, especially on bowing down and raising it up at +once, and after sleeping. 8, Frequent Pains of the Head, to which the +Person was not formerly subject; and which seem not to arise from any +Defect in the Digestions. 9, An evident Sensation of Heat, pretty +generally diffused over the whole Body. 10, A smarting Sort of Itching +all over, from a very little more Heat than usual. And lastly, frequent +Haemorrhages, and these attended with manifest Relief, and more Vivacity. + +People should, notwithstanding, be cautious of supposing an unhealthy +Excess of Blood, from any one of these Symptoms only. Many of them must +concur; and they should endeavour to be certain that even such a +Concurrence of them does not result from a very different Cause, and +wholly opposite in Effect to that of an Excess of Blood. + +But when it is certain, from the whole Appearance, that such an Excess +doth really exist, then a single, or even a second Bleeding is attended +with very good Effects. Nor is it material, in such Cases, from what +Part the Blood is taken. + +Sec. 541. On the other Hand, when these Circumstances do not exist, +Bleeding is in no wise necessary: nor should it ever be practised in +these following Conditions and Circumstances; except for some particular +and very strong Reasons; of the due Force of which none but Physicians +can judge. + +First, when the Person is in a very advanced Age, or in very early +Infancy. 2, When he is either naturally of a weakly Constitution, or it +has been rendered such by Sickness, or by some other Accident. 3, When +the Pulse is small, soft, feeble, and intermits, and the Skin is +manifestly pale. 4, When the Limbs, the Extremities of the Body, are +often cold, puffed up and soft. 5, When their Appetite has been very +small for a long time; their Food but little nourishing, and their +Perspiration too plentiful, from great Exercise. 6, When the Stomach has +long been disordered, and the Digestion bad, whence very little Blood +could be generated. 7, When the Patient has been considerably emptied, +whether by Haemorrhages, a Looseness, profuse Urine or Sweat: or when the +_Crisis_ of some Distemper has been effected by any one of these +Evacuations. 8, When the Patient has long been afflicted with some +depressing Disease; and troubled with many such Obstructions as prevent +the Formation of Blood. 9, Whenever a Person is exhausted, from whatever +Cause. 10, When the Blood is in a thin, pale, and dissolved State. + +Sec. 542, In all these Cases, and in some others less frequent, a single +Bleeding often precipitates the Patient into an absolutely incurable +State, an irreparable Train of Evils. Many dismal Examples of it are but +too obvious. + +Whatever, therefore, be the Situation of the Patient, and however +naturally robust, that Bleeding, which is unnecessary, is noxious. +Repeated, re-iterated Bleedings, weaken and enervate, hasten old Age, +diminish the Force of the Circulation, thence fatten and puff up the +Body; and next by weakening, and lastly by destroying, the Digestions, +they lead to a fatal Dropsy. They disorder the Perspiration by the Skin, +and leave the Patient liable to Colds and Defluxions: They weaken the +nervous System, and render them subject to Vapours, to the hypochondriac +Disorders, and to all nervous Maladies. + +The ill Consequence of a single, though erroneous Bleeding is not +immediately discernible: on the contrary, when it was not performed in +such a Quantity, as to weaken the Patient perceivably, it appears to +have been rather beneficial. Yet I still here insist upon it, that it is +not the less true that, when unnecessary, it is prejudicial; and that +People should never bleed, as sometimes has been done, for meer Whim, +or, as it were, for Diversion. It avails nothing to affirm, that within +a few Days after it, they have got more Blood than they had before it, +that is, that they weigh more than at first, whence they infer the Loss +of Blood very speedily repaired. The Fact of their augmented Weight is +admitted; but this very Fact testifies against the real Benefit of that +Bleeding; hence it is a Proof, that the natural Evacuations of the Body +are less compleatly made; and that Humours, which ought to be expelled, +are retained in it. There remains the same Quantity of Blood, and +perhaps a little more; but it is not a Blood so well made, so perfectly +elaborated; and this is so very true, that if the thing were otherwise; +if some Days after the Bleeding they had a greater Quantity of the same +Kind of Blood, it would amount to a Demonstration, that more re-iterated +Bleedings must necessarily have brought on an inflammatory Disease, in a +Man of a robust Habit of Body. + +Sec. 543. The Quantity of Blood, which a grown Man may Part with, by Way of +Precaution, is about ten Ounces. + +Sec. 544. Persons so constituted as to breed much Blood, should carefully +avoid all those Causes which tend to augment it, (See Sec. 540, No. 1) and +when they are sensible of the Quantity augmented, they should confine +themselves to a light frugal Diet, on Pulse, Fruits, Bread and Water; +they should often bathe their Feet in warm Water, taking Night and +Morning the Powder No. 20; drink of the Ptisan No. 1; sleep but very +moderately, and take much Exercise. By using these Precautions they may +either prevent any Occasion for Bleeding, or should they really be +obliged to admit of it, they would increase and prolong its good +Effects. These are also the very Means, which may remove all the Danger +that might ensue from a Person's omitting to bleed, at the usual Season +or Interval, when the Habit, the Fashion of Bleeding had been +inveterately established in him. + +Sec. 545. We learn with Horror and Astonishment, that some have been bled +eighteen, twenty and even twenty-four times in two Days; and some +others, some [112] hundred times, in the Course of some Months. Such +Instances irrefragably demonstrate the continual Ignorance of their +Physician or Surgeon; and should the Patient escape, we ought to admire +the inexhaustible Resources of Nature, that survived so many murderous +Incisions. + +[112] How shocking is this! and yet how true in some Countries! I have + been most certainly assured, that Bleeding has been inflicted and + repeated in the last sinking and totally relaxing Stage of a + Sea-Scurvy, whose fatal Termination it doubtless accelerated. This + did not happen in our own Fleet; yet we are not as yet Wholly + exempt on Shore, from some Abuse of Bleeding, which a few raw + unthinking Operators are apt to consider as a meer Matter of + Course. I have in some other Place stigmatized the Madness of + Bleeding in Convulsions, from manifest Exhaustion and Emptiness, + with the Abhorrence it deserves. _K._ + +Sec. 546. The People entertain a common Notion, which is, that the first +Time of bleeding certainly saves the Life of the Patient; but to +convince them of the Falsity of this silly Notion, they need only open +their Eyes, and see the very contrary Fact to this occur but too +unhappily every Day; many People dying soon after their first Bleeding. +Were their Opinion right, it would be impossible that any Person should +die of the first Disease that seized him, which yet daily happens. Now +the Extirpation of this absurd Opinion is really become important, as +the Continuance of it is attended with some unhappy Consequences: their +Faith in, their great Dependance on, the extraordinary Virtue of this +first Bleeding makes them willing to omit it, that is, to treasure it up +against a Distemper, from which they shall be in the greatest Danger; +and thus it is deferred as long as the Patient is not extremely bad, in +Hopes that if they can do without it then, they shall keep it for +another and more pressing Occasion. Their present Disease in the mean +time rises to a violent Height; and then they bleed, but when it is too +late, and I have seen Instances of many Patients, who were permitted to +die, that the first Bleeding might be reserved for a more important +Occasion. The only Difference between the first Bleeding, and any +subsequent one is, that the first commonly gives the Patient an Emotion, +that is rather hurtful than salutary. + + + + _Of Purges._ + + +Sec. 547. The Stomach and Bowels are emptied either by Vomiting, or by +Stools, the latter Discharge being much more natural than the first, +which is not effected without a violent Motion, and one indeed to which +Nature is repugnant. Nevertheless, there are some Cases, which really +require this artificial Vomiting; but these excepted (some of which I +have already pointed out) we should rather prefer those Remedies, which +empty the Belly by Stool. + +Sec. 548. The Signs, which indicate a Necessity for Purging, are, 1, a +disagreeable Tast or Savour of the Mouth in a Morning, and especially a +bitter Tast; a foul, furred Tongue and Teeth, disagreable Eructations or +Belchings, Windiness and Distension. + +2, A Want of Appetite which increases very gradually, without any Fever, +which degenerates into a Disgust or total Aversion to Food; and +sometimes communicates a bad Tast to the very little such Persons do +eat. + +3, Reachings to vomit in a Morning fasting, and sometimes throughout the +Day; supposing such not to depend on a Woman's Pregnancy, or some other +Disorder, in which Purges would be either useless or hurtful. + +4, A vomiting up of bitter, or corrupted, Humours. + +5, A manifest Sensation of a Weight, or Heaviness in the Stomach, the +Loins, or the Knees. + +6, A Want of Strength sometimes attended with Restlessness, ill Humour, +or Peevishness, and Melancholy. + +7, Pains of the Stomach, frequent Pains of the Head, or Vertigos; +sometimes a Drowsiness, which increases after Meals. + +8, Some Species of Cholics; irregular Stools which are sometimes very +great in Quantity, and too liquid for many Days together; after which an +obstinate Costiveness ensues. + +9, A Pulse less regular, and less strong, than what is natural to the +Patient, and which sometimes intermits. + +Sec. 549. When these Symptoms, or some of them, ascertain the Necessity of +purging a Person, not then attacked by any manifest Disease (for I am +not speaking here of Purges in such Cases) a proper purging Medicine may +be given him. The bad Tast in his Mouth; the continual Belchings; the +frequent Reachings to vomit; the actual Vomitings and Melancholy +discover, that the Cause of his Disorder resides in the Stomach, and +shew that a Vomit will be of Service to him. But when such Signs or +Symptoms are not evident, the Patient should take such purging or +opening Remedies, as are particularly indicated by the Pains, whether of +the Loins; from the Cholic; or by a Sensation of Weight or Heaviness in +the Knees. + +Sec. 550. But we should abstain from either vomiting or purging, 1, +Whenever the Complaints of the Patients are founded in their Weakness, +and their being already exhausted, 2, When there is a general Dryness of +the Habit, a very considerable Degree of Heat, some Inflammation, or a +strong Fever. 3, Whenever Nature is exerting herself in some other +salutary Evacuation; whence purging must never be attempted in critical +Sweats, during the monthly Discharges, nor during a Fit of the Gout. 4, +Nor in such inveterate Obstructions as Purges cannot remove, and really +do augment. 5, Neither when the nervous System is considerably weakened. + +Sec. 551. There are other Cases again, in which it may be proper to purge, +but not to give a Vomit. These Cases are, 1, When the Patient abounds +too much with Blood, (See Sec. 540) since the Efforts which attend +vomiting, greatly augment the Force of the Circulation; whence the +Blood-vessels of the Head and of the Breast, being extremely distended +with Blood, might burst, which must prove fatal on the Spot, and has +repeatedly proved so. 2, For the same Reason they should not be given to +Persons, who are subject to frequent Bleeding from the Nose, or to +coughing up or vomiting of Blood; to Women who are subject to excessive +or unseasonable Discharges of Blood, _&c._ from the _Vagina_, the Neck +of the Womb; nor to those who are with Child. 3, Vomits are improper for +ruptured Persons. + +Sec. 552. When any Person has taken too acrid, too sharp, a Vomit, or a +Purge, which operates with excessive Violence; whether this consists in +the most vehement Efforts and Agitations, the Pains, Convulsions, or +Swoonings, which are their frequent Consequences; or whether that +prodigious Evacuation and Emptiness their Operation causes, (which is +commonly termed a _Super-purgation_) and which may hurry the Patient +off; Instances of which are but too common among the lower Class of the +People, who much too frequently confide themselves to the Conduct of +ignorant Men-slayers: In all such unhappy Accidents, I say, we should +treat these unfortunate Persons, as if they had been actually poisoned, +by violent corroding Poisons, (See Sec. 533) that is, we should fill them, +as it were, with Draughts of warm Water, Milk, Oil, Barley-water, Almond +Milk, emollient Glysters with Milk, and the Yolks of Eggs; and also +bleed them plentifully, if their Pains are excessive, and their Pulses +strong and feverish. + +The Super-purgation, the excessive Discharge, is to be stopt, after +having plied the Patient plentifully with diluting Drinks, by giving the +calming Anodyne Medicines directed in the Removal of acute Pains, Sec. 536, +No. 6. + +Flanels dipt in hot Water, in which some _Venice_ Treacle is dissolved, +are very serviceable: and should the Evacuations by Stool be excessive, +and the Patient has not a high Fever, and a parching Kind of Heat, a +Morsel of the same Treacle, as large as a Nutmeg, may be dissolved in +his Glyster. + +But should the Vomiting solely be excessive, without any Purging, the +Number of the emollient Glysters with Oil and the Yolk of an Egg must be +increased; and the Patient should be placed in a warm Bath. + +Sec. 553. Purges frequently repeated, without just and necessary +Indications, are attended with much the same ill Effects as frequent +Bleedings. They destroy the Digestions; the Stomach no longer, or very +languidly, exerts its Functions; the Intestines prove inactive; the +Patient becomes liable to very severe Cholics; the Plight of the Body, +deprived of its salutary Nutrition, falls off; Perspiration is +disordered; Defluxions ensue; nervous Maladies come on, with a general +Languor; and the Patient proves old, long before the Number of his Years +have made him so. + +Much irreparable Mischief has been done to the Health of Children, by +Purges injudiciously given and repeated. They prevent them from +attaining their utmost natural Strength, and frequently contract their +due Growth. They ruin their Teeth; dispose young Girls to future +Obstructions; and when they have been already affected by them, they +render them still more obstinate. + +It is a Prejudice too generally received, that Persons who have little +or no Appetite need purging; since this is often very false, and most of +those Causes, which lessen or destroy the Appetite, cannot be removed by +purging; though many of them may be increased by it. + +Persons whose Stomachs contain much glairy viscid Matter suppose, they +may be cured by Purges, which seem indeed at first to relieve them: but +this proves a very slight and deceitful Relief. These Humours are owing +to that Weakness and Laxity of the Stomach, which Purges augment; since +notwithstanding they carry off Part of these viscid Humours generated in +it, at the Expiration of a few Days there is a greater Accumulation of +them than before; and thus, by a Re-iteration of purging Medicines, the +Malady soon becomes incurable, and Health irrecoverably lost. The real +Cure of such Cases is effected by directly opposite Medicines. Those +referred to, or mentioned, Sec. 272, are highly conducive to it. + +Sec. 554. The Custom of taking stomachic Medicines infused in Brandy, +Spirit of Wine, Cherry Water, _&c._ is always dangerous; for +notwithstanding the present immediate Relief such Infusions afford in +some Disorders of the Stomach, they really by slow Degrees impair and +ruin that Organ; and it may be observed, that as many as accustom +themselves to Drams, go off, just like excessive Drinkers, in +Consequence of their having no Digestion; whence they sink into a State +of Depression and Languor, and die dropsical. + +Sec. 555. Either Vomits or Purges may be often beneficially omitted, even +when they have some Appearance of seeming necessary, by abating one Meal +a Day for some time; by abstaining from the most nourishing Sorts of +Food; and especially from those which are fat; by drinking freely of +cool Water, and taking extraordinary Exercise. The same Regimen also +serves to subdue, without the Use of Purges, the various Complaints +which often invade those, who omit taking purging Medicines, at those +Seasons and Intervals, in which they have made it a Custom to take them. + +Sec. 556. The Medicines, No. 34 and 35, are the most certain Vomits. The +Powder, No. 21, is a good Purge, when the Patient is in no wise +feverish. + +The Doses recommended in the Table of Remedies are those, which are +proper for a grown Man, of a vigorous Constitution. Nevertheless there +are some few, for whom they may be too weak: in such Circumstances they +may be increased by the Addition of a third or fourth Part of the Dose +prescribed. But should they not operate in that Quantity, we must be +careful not to double the Dose, much less to give a three-fold Quantity, +which has sometimes been done, and that even without its Operation, and +at the Risque of killing the Patient, which has not seldom been the +Consequence. In Case of such purging not ensuing, we should rather give +large Draughts of Whey sweetened with Honey, or of warm Water, in a Pot +of which an Ounce, or an Ounce and a half of common Salt must be +dissolved; and this Quantity is to be taken from time to time in small +Cups, moving about with it. + +The Fibres of Country People who inhabit the Mountains, and live almost +solely on Milk, are so little susceptible of Sensation, that they must +take such large Doses to purge them, as would kill all the Peasantry in +the Vallies. In the Mountains of _Valais_ there are Men who take twenty, +and even twenty-four Grains of Glass of Antimony for a single Dose; a +Grain or two of which were sufficient to poison ordinary Men. + +Sec. 557. Notwithstanding our Cautions on this important Head, whenever an +urgent Necessity commands it, Purging must be recurred to at all Times +and Seasons: but when the Season may be safely selected, it were right +to decline Purging in the Extremities of either Heat or Cold; and to +take the Purge early in the Morning, that the Medicines may find less +Obstruction or Embarrassment from the Contents of the Stomach. Every +other Consideration, with Relation to the Stars and the Moon, is +ridiculous, and void of any Foundation. The People are particularly +averse 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 +astrological Prejudice, which is so much the more absurd, as the real +Dog-days are at thirty-six Days Distance from those commonly reckoned +such; and it is a melancholy Reflection, that the Ignorance of the +People should be so gross, in this Respect, in our enlightened Age; and +that they should still imagine the Virtue and Efficacy of Medicines to +depend on what Sign of the Zodiac the Sun is in, or in any particular +Quarter of the Moon. Yet it is certain in this Point, they are so +inveterately attached to this Prejudice, that it is but too common to +see Country-People die, in waiting for the Sign or Quarter most +favourable to the Operation and Effect of a Medicine, which was truly +necessary five or six Days before either of them. Sometimes too that +particular Medicine is given, to which a certain Day is supposed to be +auspicious and favourable, in Preference to that which is most prevalent +against the Disease. And thus it is, than an ignorant Almanack Maker +determines on the Lives of the human Race; and contracts the Duration of +them with Impunity. + +Sec. 558. When a Vomit or a Purge is to be taken, the Patient's Body should +be prepared for the Reception of it twenty-four Hours beforehand; by +taking very little Food, and drinking some Glasses of warm Water, or of +a light Tea of some Herbs. + +He should not drink after a Vomit, until it begins to work; but then he +should drink very plentifully of warm Water, or a light Infusion of +Chamomile Flowers, which is preferable. + +It is usual, after Purges, to take some thin Broth or Soup during their +Operation; but warm Water sweetened with Sugar or Honey, or an Infusion +of Succory Flowers, would sometimes be more suitable. + +Sec. 559. As the Stomach suffers, in some Degree, as often as either a +Vomit, or a Purge, is taken, the Patient should be careful how he lives +and orders himself for some Days after taking them, as well in Regard to +the Quantity as Quality of his Food. + +Sec. 560. I shall say nothing of other Articles taken by Way of Precaution, +such as Soups, Whey, Waters, _&c._ which are but little used among the +People; but confine myself to this general Remark, that when they take +any of these precautionary Things, they should enter on a Regimen or Way +of living, that may co-operate with them, and contribute to the same +Purpose. Whey is commonly taken to refresh and cool the Body; and while +they drink it, they deny themselves Pulse, Fruits, and Sallads. They eat +nothing then, but the best and heartiest Flesh-meats they can come at; +such Vegetables as are used in good Soups, Eggs, and good Wine; +notwithstanding this is to destroy, by high and heating Aliments, all +the attemperating cooling Effects expected from the Whey. + +Some Persons propose to cool and attemperate their Blood by Soups and a +thin Diet, into which they cram Craw-fish, that heat considerably, or +_Nasturtium_, Cresses which also heat, and thus defeat their own +Purpose. Happily, in such a Case, the Error in one Respect often cures +that in the other; and these Kinds of Soup, which are in no wise +cooling, prove very serviceable, in Consequence of the Cause of the +Symptoms, which they were intended to remove, not requiring any Coolers +at all. + +The general physical Practice of the Community, which unhappily is but +too much in Fashion, abounds with similar Errors. I will just cite one, +because I have seen its dismal Effects. Many People suppose Pepper +cooling, though their Smell, Taste, and common Sense concur to inform +them of the contrary. It is the very hottest of Spices. + +Sec. 561. The most certain Preservative, and the most attainable too by +every Man, is to avoid all Excess, and especially Excess in eating and +in drinking. People generally eat more than thoroughly consists with +Health, or permits them to attain the utmost Vigour, of which their +natural Constitutions are capable. The Custom is established, and it is +difficult to eradicate it: notwithstanding we should at least resolve +not to eat, but through Hunger, and always under a Subjection to Reason; +because, except in a very few Cases, Reason constantly suggests to us +not to eat, when the Stomach has an Aversion to Food. A sober moderate +Person is capable of Labour, I may say, even of excessive Labour of some +Kinds; of which greater Eaters are absolutely incapable. Sobriety of +itself cures such Maladies as are otherwise incurable, and may recover +the most shattered and unhealthy Persons. + + + + + __Chapter XXXIII.__ + + + _Of Mountebanks, Quacks, and Conjurers._ + + + __Sect.__ 562. + +One dreadful Scourge still remains to be treated of, which occasions a +greater Mortality, than all the Distempers I have hitherto described; +and which, as long as it continues, will defeat our utmost Precautions +to preserve the Healths and Lives of the common People. This, or rather, +these Scourges, for they are very numerous, are Quacks; of which there +are two Species: The Mountebanks or travelling Quacks, and those +pretended Physicians in Villages and Country-Places, both male and +female, known in _Swisserland_ by the Name of Conjurers, and who very +effectually unpeople it. + +The first of these, the Mountebanks, without visiting the Sick, or +thinking of their Distempers, sell different Medicines, some of which +are for external Use, and these often do little or no Mischief; but +their internal ones are much oftener pernicious. I have been a Witness +of their dreadful Effects, and we are not visited by one of these +wandering Caitiffs, whose Admission into our Country is not mortally +fatal to some of its Inhabitants. They are injurious also in another +Respect, as they carry off great Sums of Money with them, and levy +annually some thousands of Livres, amongst that Order of the People, who +have the least to spare. I have seen, and with a very painful Concern, +the poor Labourer and the Artisan, who have scarcely possessed the +common Necessaries of Life, borrow wherewithal to purchase, and at a +dear Price, the Poison that was to compleat their Misery, by increasing +their Maladies; and which, where they escaped with their Lives, has left +them in such a languid and inactive State, as has reduced their whole +Family to Beggary. + +Sec. 563. An ignorant, knavish, lying and impudent Fellow will always +seduce the gross and credulous Mass of People, incapable to judge of and +estimate any thing rightly; and adapted to be the eternal Dupes of such, +as are base enough to endeavour to dazzle their weak Understandings; by +which Method these vile Quacks will certainly defraud them, as long as +they are tolerated. But ought not the Magistrates, the Guardians, the +Protectors, the political Fathers of the People interpose, and defend +them from this Danger, by severely prohibiting the Entrance of such +pernicious Fellows into a Country, where Mens' Lives are very estimable, +and where Money is scarce; since they extinguish the first, and carry +off the last, without the least Possibility of their being in anywise +useful to it. Can such forcible Motives as these suffer our Magistrates +to delay _their_ Expulsion any longer, _whom_ there never was the least +Reason for admitting? + +Sec. 564. It is acknowledged the Conjurers, the residing Conjurers, do not +carry out the current Money of the Country, like the itinerant Quacks; +but the Havock they make among their Fellow Subjects is without +Intermission, whence it must be very great, as every Day in the Year is +marked with many of their Victims. Without the least Knowledge or +Experience, and offensively armed with three or four Medicines, whose +Nature they are as thoroughly ignorant of, as of their unhappy Patients +Diseases; and which Medicines, being almost all violent ones, are very +certainly so many Swords in the Hands of raging Madmen. Thus armed and +qualified, I say, they aggravate the slightest Disorders, and make those +that are a little more considerable, mortal; but from which the Patients +would have recovered, if left solely to the Conduct of Nature; and, for +a still stronger Reason, if they had confided to the Guidance of her +experienced Observers and Assistants. + +Sec. 565. The Robber who assassinates on the High-way, leaves the Traveller +the Resource of defending himself, and the Chance of being aided by the +Arrival of other Travellers: But the Poisoner, who forces himself into +the Confidence of a sick Person, is a hundred times more dangerous, and +as just an Object of Punishment. + +The Bands of Highwaymen, and their Individuals, that enter into any +Country or District, are described as particularly as possible to the +Publick. It were equally to be wished, we had also a List of these +physical Impostors and Ignorants male and female; and that a most exact +Description of them, with the Number, and a brief Summary of their +murderous Exploits, were faithfully published. By this Means the +Populace might probably be inspired with such a wholesome Dread of them, +that they would no longer expose their Lives to the Mercy of such +Executioners. + +Sec. 566. But their Blindness, with Respect to these two Sorts of +maleficent Beings, is inconceivable. That indeed in Favour of the +Mountebank is somewhat less gross, because as they are not personally +acquainted with him, they may the more easily credit him with some Part +of the Talents and the Knowledge he arrogates. I shall therefore inform +them, and it cannot be repeated too often, that whatever ostentatious +Dress and Figure some of these Impostors make, they are constantly vile +Wretches, who, incapable of earning a Livelyhood in any honest Way, have +laid the Foundation of their Subsistence on their own amazing Stock of +Impudence, and that of the weak Credulity of the People; that they have +no scientific Knowledge; that their Titles and Patents are so many +Impositions, and inauthentic; since by a shameful Abuse, such Patents +and Titles are become Articles of Commerce, which are to be obtained at +very low Prices; just like the second-hand laced Cloaks which they +purchase at the Brokers. That their Certificates of Cures are so many +Chimeras or Forgeries; and that in short, if among the prodigious +Multitudes of People who take their Medicines, some of them should +recover, which it is almost physically impossible must not sometimes be +the Case, yet it would not be the less certain, that they are a +pernicious destructive Set of Men. A Thrust of a Rapier into the Breast +has saved a Man's Life by seasonably opening an Imposthume in it, which +might otherwise have killed him: and yet internal penetrating Wounds, +with a small Sword, are not the less mortal for one such extraordinary +Consequence. Nor is it even surprizing that these Mountebanks, which is +equally applicable to Conjurers, who kill thousands of People, whom +Nature alone, or assisted by a Physician, would have saved, should now +and then cure a Patient, who had been treated before by the ablest +Physicians. Frequently Patients of that Class, who apply to these +Mountebanks and Conjurers (whether it has been, that they would not +submit to the Treatment proper for their Distempers; or whether the real +Physician tired of the intractable Creatures has discontinued his Advice +and Attendance) look out for such Doctors, as assure them of a speedy +Cure, and venture to give them such Medicines as kill many, and cure one +(who has had Constitution enough to overcome them) a little sooner than +a justly reputable Physician would have done. It is but too easy to +procure, in every Parish, such Lists of their Patients, and of their +Feats, as would clearly evince the Truth of whatever has been said here +relating to them. + +Sec. 567. The Credit of this Market, this Fair-hunting Doctor, surrounded +by five or six hundred Peasants, staring and gaping at him, and counting +themselves happy in his condescending to cheat them of their very scarce +and necessary Cash, by selling them, for twenty times more than its real +Worth, a Medicine whose best Quality were to be only a useless one; the +Credit, I say, of this vile yet tolerated Cheat, would quickly vanish, +could each of his Auditors be persuaded, of what is strictly true, that +except a little more Tenderness and Agility of Hand, he knows full as +much as his Doctor; and that if he could assume as much Impudence, he +would immediately have as much Ability, would equally deserve the same +Reputation, and to have the same Confidence reposed in him. + +Sec. 568. Were the Populace capable of reasoning, it were easy to disabuse +them in these Respects; but as it is, their Guardians and Conductors +should reason for them. I have already proved the Absurdity of reposing +any Confidence in Mountebanks, properly so called; and that Reliance +some have on the Conjurers is still more stupid and ridiculous. + +The very meanest Trade requires some Instruction: A Man does not +commence even a Cobler, a Botcher of old Leather, without serving an +Apprenticeship to it; and yet no Time has been served, no Instruction +has been attended to, by these Pretenders to the most necessary, useful +and elegant Profession. We do not confide the mending, the cleaning of a +Watch to any, who have not spent several Years in considering how a +Watch is made; what are the Requisites and Causes of its going right; +and the Defects or Impediments that make it go wrong: and yet the +preserving and rectifying the Movements of the most complex, the most +delicate and exquisite, and the most estimable Machine upon Earth, is +entrusted to People who have not the least Notion of its Structure; of +the Causes of its Motions; nor of the Instruments proper to rectify +their Deviations. + +Let a Soldier discarded from his Regiment for his roguish Tricks, or who +is a Deserter from it, a Bankrupt, a disreputable Ecclesiastic, a +drunken Barber, or a Multitude of such other worthless People, advertize +that they mount, set and fit up all Kinds of Jewels and Trinkets in +Perfection; if any of these are not known; if no Person in the Place has +ever seen any of their Work; or if they cannot produce authentic +Testimonials of their Honesty, and their Ability in their Business, not +a single Individual will trust them with two Pennyworth of false Stones +to work upon; in short they must be famished. But if instead of +professing themselves Jewellers, they post themselves up as Physicians, +the Croud purchase, at a high Rate, the Pleasure of trusting them with +the Care of their Lives, the remaining Part of which they rarely fail to +empoison. + +Sec. 569. The most genuine and excellent Physicians, these extraordinary +Men, who, born with the happiest Talents, have began to inform their +Understandings from their earliest Youth; who have afterwards carefully +qualified themselves by cultivating every Branch of Physic; who have +sacrificed the best and most pleasurable Days of their Lives, to a +regular and assiduous Investigation of the human Body; of its various +Functions; of the Causes that may impair or embarrass them, and informed +themselves of the Qualities and Virtues of every simple and compound +Medicine; who have surmounted the Difficulty and Loathsomness of living +in Hospitals among thousands of Patients; and who have added the medical +Observations of all Ages and Places to their own; these few and +extraordinary Men, I say, still consider themselves as short of that +perfect Ability and consummate Knowledge, which they contemplate and +wish for, as necessary to guarding the precious _Depositum_ of human +Life and Health, confided to their Charge. Nevertheless we see the same +inestimable Treasures, intrusted to gross and stupid Men, born without +Talents; brought up without Education or Culture; who frequently can +scarcely read; who are as profoundly ignorant of every Subject that has +any Relation to Physic, as the Savages of _Asia_; who awake only to +drink away; who often exercise their horrid Trade merely to find +themselves in strong Liquor, and execute it chiefly when they are drunk: +who, in short, became Physicians, only from their Incapacity to arrive +at any Trade or Attainment! Certainly such a Conduct in Creatures of the +human Species must appear very astonishing, and even melancholy, to +every sensible thinking Man; and constitute the highest Degree of +Absurdity and Extravagance. + +Should any Person duly qualified enter into an Examination of the +Medicines they use, and compare them with the Situation and Symptoms of +the Patients to whom they give them, he must be struck with Horror; and +heartily deplore the Fate of that unfortunate Part of the human Race, +whose Lives, so important to the Community, are committed to the Charge +of the most murderous Set of Beings. + +Sec. 570. Some of these Caitiffs however, apprehending the Force and Danger +of that Objection, founded on their Want of Study and Education, have +endeavoured to elude it, by infusing and spreading a false, and indeed, +an impudent impious Prejudice among the People, which prevails too much +at present; and this is, that their Talents for Physic are a +supernatural Gift, and, of Course, greatly superior to all human +Knowledge. It were going out of my Province to expatiate on the +Indecency, the Sin, and the Irreligion of such Knavery, and incroaching +upon the Rights and perhaps the Duty of the Clergy; but I intreat the +Liberty of observing to this respectable Order of Men, that this +Superstition, which is attended with dreadful Consequences, seems to +call for their utmost Attention: and in general the Expulsion of +Superstition is the more to be wished, as a Mind, imbued with false +Prejudices, is less adapted to imbibe a true and valuable Doctrine. +There are some very callous hardened Villains among this murdering Band, +who, with a View to establish their Influence and Revenue as well upon +Fear as upon Hope, have horridly ventured so far as to incline the +Populace to doubt, whether they received their boasted Gift and Power +from Heaven or from Hell! And yet these are the Men who are trusted with +the Health and the Lives of many others. + +Sec. 571. One Fact which I have already mentioned, and which it seems +impossible to account for is, that great Earnestness of the Peasant to +procure the best Assistance he can for his sick Cattle. At whatever +Distance the Farrier lives, or some Person who is supposed qualified to +be one (for unfortunately there is not one in _Swisserland_) if he has +considerable Reputation in this Way, the Country-man goes to consult +him, or purchases his Visit at any Price. However expensive the +Medicines are, which the Horse-doctor directs, if they are accounted the +best, he procures them for his poor Beast. But if himself, his Wife or +Children fall sick, he either calls in no Assistance nor Medicines; or +contents himself with such as are next at Hand, however pernicious they +may be, though nothing the cheaper on that account: for certainly the +Money, extorted by some of these physical Conjurers from their Patients, +but oftner from their Heirs, is a very shameful Injustice, and calls +loudly for Reformation. + +Sec. 572. In an excellent Memoir or Tract, which will shortly be published, +on the Population of _Swisserland_, we shall find an important and very +affecting Remark, which strictly demonstrates the Havock made by these +immedical Magicians or Conjurers; and which is this: That in the common +Course of Years, the Proportion between the Numbers and Deaths of the +Inhabitants of any one Place, is not extremely different in City and +Country: but when the very same epidemical Disease attacks the City and +the Villages, the Difference is enormous; and the Number of Deaths of +the former compared with that of the Inhabitants of the Villages, where +the Conjurer exercises his bloody Dominion, is infinitely more than the +Deaths in the City. + +I find in the second Volume of the Memoirs of the oeconomical Society of +_Berne_, for the Year 1762, another Fact equally interesting, which is +related by one of the most intelligent and sagacious Observers, +concerned in that Work. "Pleurisies and Peripneumonies (he says) +prevailed at _Cottens a la Cote_; and some Peasants died under them, who +had consulted the Conjurers and taken their heating Medicines; while of +those, who pursued a directly opposite Method, almost every one +recovered." + +Sec. 573. But I shall employ myself no longer on this Topic, on which the +Love of my Species alone has prompted me to say thus much; though it +deserves to be considered more in Detail, and is, in Reality, of the +greatest Consequence. None methinks could make themselves easy with +Respect to it so much as Physicians, if they were conducted only by +lucrative Views; since these Conjurers diminish the Number of those poor +People, who sometimes consult the real Physicians, and with some Care +and Trouble, but without the least Profit, to those Gentlemen. But what +good Physician is mean and vile enough to purchase a few Hours of Ease +and Tranquillity at so high, so very odious a Price? + +Sec. 574. Having thus clearly shewn the Evils attending this crying +Nusance, I wish I were able to prescribe an effectual Remedy against it, +which I acknowledge is far from being easy to do. + +The first necessary Point probably was to have demonstrated the great +and public Danger, and to dispose the State to employ their Attention on +this fatal, this mortal Abuse; which, joined to the other Causes of +Depopulation, has a manifest Tendency to render _Swisserland_ a Desert. + +Sec. 575. The second, and doubtless the most effectual Means, which I had +already mentioned is, not to admit any travelling Mountebank to enter +this Country; and to set a Mark on all the Conjurers: It may probably +also be found convenient, to inflict corporal Punishment on them; as it +has been already adjudged in different Countries by sovereign Edicts. At +the very least they should be marked with public Infamy, according to +the following Custom practised in a great City in _France_. "When any +Mountebanks appeared in _Montpellier_, the Magistrates had a Power to +mount each of them upon a meagre miserable Ass, with his Head to the +Ass's Tail. In this Condition they were led throughout 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." + +Sec. 576. A third conducive Means would be the Instructions and Admonition +of the Clergy on this Subject, to the Peasants in their several +Parishes. For this Conduct of the common People amounting, in Effect, to +Suicide, to Self-murder, it must be important to convince them of it. +But the little Efficacy of the strongest and repeated Exhortations on so +many other Articles, may cause us to entertain a very reasonable Doubt +of their Success on this. Custom seems to have determined, that there is +nothing in our Day, which excludes a Person from the Title and +Appellation of an honest or honourable Man, except it be meer and +convicted Theft; and that for this simple and obvious Reason, that we +attach ourselves more strongly to our Property, than to any Thing else. +Even Homicide is esteemed and reputed honourable in many Cases. Can we +reasonably then expect to convince the Multitude, that it is criminal to +confide the Care of their Health to these Poisoners, in Hopes of a Cure +of their Disorders? A much likelier Method of succeding on this Point +would certainly be, to convince the deluded People, that it will cost +them less to be honestly and judiciously treated, than to suffer under +the Hands of these Executioners. The Expectation of a good and cheap +Health-market will be apt to influence them more, than their Dread of a +Crime would. + +Sec. 577. A fourth Means of removing or restraining this Nusance would be +to expunge, from the Almanacs, all the astrological Rules relating to +Physick; as they continually conduce to preserve and increase some +dangerous Prejudices and Notions in a Science, the smallest Errors in +which are sometimes fatal. I had already reflected on the Multitude of +Peasants that have been lost, from postponing, or mistiming a Bleeding, +only because the sovereign Decision of an Almanac had directed it at +some other Time. May it not also be dreaded, to mention it by the Way, +that the same Cause, the Almanacs, may prove injurious to their rural +Oeconomy and Management; and that by advising with the Moon, who has no +Influence, and is of no Consequence in Vegetation or other Country +Business, they may be wanting in a due Attention to such other +Circumstances and Regulations, as are of real Importance in them? + +Sec. 578. A fifth concurring Remedy against this popular Evil would be the +Establishment of Hospitals, for the Reception of poor Patients, in the +different Cities and Towns of _Swisserland_. + +There may be a great many easy and concurring Means of erecting and +endowing such, with very little new Expence; and immense Advantages +might result from them: besides, however considerable the Expenses might +prove, is not the Object of them of the most interesting, the most +important Nature? It is incontestably our serious Duty; and it would +soon be manifest, that the Performance of it would be attended with more +essential intrinsic Benefit to the Community, than any other Application +of Money could produce. We must either admit, that the Multitude, the +Body of the People is useless to the State, or agree, that Care should +be taken to preserve and continue them. A very respectable _English_ +Man, who, after a previous and thorough Consideration of this Subject, +had applied himself very assiduously and usefully on the Means of +increasing the Riches and the Happiness of his Country-men, complains +that in _England_, the very Country in which there are the most +Hospitals, the Poor who are sick are not sufficiently assisted. What a +deplorable Deficience of the necessary Assistance for such must then be +in a Country, that is not provided with a single Hospital? That Aid from +Surgery and Physic, which abounds in Cities, is not sufficiently +diffused into Country-places: and the Peasants are liable to some simple +and moderate Diseases, which, for Want of proper Care, degenerate into a +State of Infirmity, that sinks them into premature Death. + +Sec. 579. In fine, if it be found impossible to extinguish these Abuses +(for those arising from Quacks are not the only ones, nor is that Title +applied to as many as really deserve it) beyond all Doubt it would be +for the Benefit and Safety of the Public, upon the whole, entirely to +prohibit the Art, the Practice of Physic itself. When real and good +Physicians cannot effect as much Good, as ignorant ones and Impostors +can do Mischief, some real Advantage must accrue to the State, and to +the whole Species, from employing none of either. I affirm it, after +much Reflection, and from thorough Conviction, that Anarchy in Medicine +is the most dangerous Anarchy. For this Profession, when loosed from +every Restraint, and subjected to no Regulations, no Laws, is the more +cruel Scourge and Affliction, from the incessant Exercise of it; and +should its Anarchy, its Disorders prove irremediable, the Practice of an +Art, become so very noxious, should be prohibited under the severest +Penalties: Or, if the Constitution of any Government was inconsistent +with the Application of so violent a Remedy, they should order public +Prayers against the Mortality of it, to be offered up in all the +Churches; as the Custom has been in other great and general Calamities. + +Sec. 580. Another Abuse, less fatal indeed than those already mentioned +(but which, however, has real ill Consequences, and at the best, carries +out a great deal of Money from us, though less at the Expense of the +common People, than of those of easy Circumstances) is that Blindness +and Facility, with which many suffer themselves to be imposed upon, by +the pompous Advertisements of some _Catholicon_, some universal Remedy, +which they purchase at a high Rate, from some foreign Pretender to a +mighty Secret or _Nostrum_. Persons of a Class or two above the Populace +do not care to run after a Mountebank, from supposing they should +depretiate themselves by mixing with the Herd. Yet if that very Quack, +instead of coming among us, were to reside in some foreign City; if, +instead of posting up his lying Puffs and Pretentions at the Corners of +the Streets, he would get them inserted in the Gazettes, and +News-papers; if, instead of selling his boasted Remedies in Person, he +should establish Shops or Offices for that Purpose in every City; and +finally, if instead of selling them twenty times above their real Value, +he would still double that Price; instead of having the common People +for his Customers, he would take in the wealthy Citizen, Persons of all +Ranks, and from almost every Country. For strange as it seems, it is +certain, that a Person of such a Condition, who is sensible in every +other Respect; and who will scruple to confide his Health to the Conduct +of such Physicians as would be the justest Subjects of his Confidence, +will venture to take, through a very unaccountable Infatuation, the most +dangerous Medicine, upon the Credit of an imposing Advertisement, +published by as worthless and ignorant a Fellow as the Mountebank whom +he despises, because the latter blows a Horn under his Window; and yet +who differs from the former in no other Respects except those I have +just pointed out. + +Sec. 581. Scarcely a Year passes, without one or another such advertized +and vaunted Medicine's getting into high Credit; the Ravages of which +are more or less, in Proportion to its being more or less in Vogue. +Fortunately, for the human Species, but few of these _Nostrums_ have +attained an equal Reputation with _Ailbaud_'s Powders, an Inhabitant of +_Aix_ in _Provence_, and unworthy the Name of a Physician; who has +over-run _Europe_ for some Years, with a violent Purge, the Remembrance +of which will not be effaced before the Extinction of all its Victims. I +attend now, and for a long time past, several Patients, whose Disorders +I palliate without Hopes of ever curing them; and who owe their present +melancholy State of Body to nothing but the manifest Consequences of +these Powders; and I have actually seen, very lately, two Persons who +have been cruelly poisoned by this boasted Remedy of his. A French +Physician, as eminent for his Talents and his Science, as estimable from +his personal Character in other Respects, has published some of the +unhappy and tragical Consequences which the Use of them has occasioned; +and were a Collection published of the same Events from them, in every +Place where they have been introduced, the Size and the Contents of the +Volume would make a very terrible one. + +Sec. 582. It is some Comfort however, that all the other Medicines thus +puffed and vended have not been altogether so fashionable, nor yet quite +so dangerous: but all posted and advertized Medicines should be judged +of upon this Principle (and I do not know a more infallible one in +Physics, nor in the Practice of Physic), that whoever advertises any +Medicine, as a universal Remedy for all Diseases, is an absolute +Impostor, such a Remedy being impossible and contradictory. I shall not +here offer to detail such Proofs as may be given of the Verity of this +Proposition: but I freely appeal for it to every sensible Man, who will +reflect a little on the different Causes of Diseases; on the Opposition +of these Causes; and on the Absurdity of attempting to oppose such +various Diseases, and their Causes, by one and the same Remedy. + +As many as shall settle their Judgments properly on this Principle, will +never be imposed upon by the superficial Gloss of these Sophisms +contrived to prove, that all Diseases proceed from one Cause; and that +this Cause is so very tractable, as to yield to one boasted Remedy. They +will perceive at once, that such an Assertion must be founded in the +utmost Knavery or Ignorance; and they will readily discover where the +Fallacy lies. Can any one expect to cure a Dropsy, which arises from too +great a Laxity of the Fibres, and too great an Attenuation or Thinness +of the Blood, by the same Medicines that are used to cure an +inflammatory Disease, in which the Fibres are too stiff and tense, and +the Blood too thick and dense? Yet consult the News-papers and the +Posts, and you will see published in and on all of them, Virtues just as +contradictory; and certainly the Authors of such poisonous +Contradictions ought to be legally punished for them. + +Sec. 583. I heartily wish the Publick would attend here to a very natural +and obvious Reflection. I have treated in this Book, but of a small +Number of Diseases, most of them acute ones; and I am positive that no +competent well qualified Physician has ever employed fewer Medicines, in +the Treatment of the Diseases themselves. Nevertheless I have prescribed +seventy-one, and I do not see which of them I could retrench, or +dispense with the Want of, if I were obliged to use one less. Can it be +supposed then, that any one single Medicine, compound or simple, shall +cure thirty times as many Diseases as those I have treated of? + +Sec. 584. I shall add another very important Observation, which doubtless +may have occurred to many of my Readers; and it is this, that the +different Causes of Diseases, their different Characters; the +Differences which arise from the necessary Alterations that happen +throughout their Progress and Duration; the Complications of which they +are susceptible; the Varieties which result from the State of different +Epidemics, of Seasons, of Sexes, and of many other Circumstances; that +these Diversities, I say, oblige us very often to vary and change the +Medicines; which proves how very ticklish and dangerous it is to have +them directed by Persons, who have such an imperfect Knowledge of them, +as those who are not Physicians must be supposed to have. And the +Circumspection to be used in such Cases ought to be proportioned to the +Interest the Assistant takes in the Preservation of the Patient; and +that Love of his Neighbour with which he is animated. + +Sec. 585. Must not the same Arguments and Reflections unavoidably suggest +the Necessity of an entire Tractability on the Part of the Patient, and +his Friends and Assistants? The History of Diseases which have their +stated Times of Beginning, of manifesting and displaying themselves; of +arriving at, and continuing in their Height, and of decreasing; do not +all these demonstrate the Necessity of continuing the same Medicines, as +long as the Character of the Distemper is the same; 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 +suggests, appears to be well deduced, the Medicine must be chosen that +is likeliest to resist the Cause of it; and it must be continued as long +as no new Symptom or Circumstance supervenes, 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 useless or +insignificant, because it does not remove or abate the Distemper as +speedily, as the Impatience of the Sick would naturally desire it; and +to change it for another, is as unreasonable, as it would be for a Man +to break his Watch, because the Hand takes twelve Hours, to make a +Revolution round the Dial-plate. + +Sec. 586. Physicians have some Regard to the State of the Urine of sick +Persons, especially in inflammatory Fevers; as the Alterations occurring +in it help them to judge of the Changes that may have been made in the +Character and Consistence of the Humours in the Mass of Blood; and +thence may conduce to determine the Time, in which it will be proper to +dispose them to some Evacuation. But it is gross Ignorance to imagine, +and utter Knavery and Imposture to persuade the Sick, that the meer +Inspection of their Urine solely, sufficiently enables others to judge +of the Symptoms and Cause of the Disease, and to direct the best +Remedies for it. This Inspection of the Urine can only be of Use when it +is duly inspected; when we consider at the same time the exact State and +the very Looks of the Patient; when these are compared with the Degree +of the Symptoms of the Malady; with the other Evacuations; and when the +Physician is strictly informed of all external Circumstances, which may +be considered as foreign to the Malady; which may alter or affect the +Evacuations, such as particular Articles of Food, particular Drinks, +different Medicines, or the very Quantity of Drink. Where a Person is +not furnished with an exact Account of these Circumstances, the meer +Inspection of the Urine is of no Service, it suggests no Indication, nor +any Expedient; and meer common Sense sufficiently proves, and it may be +boldly affirmed, that whoever orders any Medicine, without any other +Knowledge of the Disease, than what an Inspection of the Urine affords, +is a rank Knave, and the Patient who takes them is a Dupe. + +Sec. 587. And here now any Reader may very naturally ask, whence can such a +ridiculous Credulity proceed, upon a Subject so essentially interesting +to us as our own Health? + +In Answer to this it should be observed, that some Sources, some Causes +of it seem appropriated merely to the People, the Multitude. The first +of these is, the mechanical Impression of Parade and Shew upon the +Senses. 2, The Prejudice they have conceived, as I said before, of the +Conjurers curing by a supernatural Gift. 3, The Notion the Country +People entertain, that their Distemper and Disorders are of a Character +and Species peculiar to themselves, and that the Physicians, attending +the Rich, know nothing concerning them. 4, The general Mistake that +their employing the Conjurer is much cheaper. 5, Perhaps a sheepish +shame-faced Timidity may be one Motive, at least with some of them. 6, A +Kind of Fear too, that Physicians will consider their Cases with less +Care and Concern, and be likely to treat them more cavalierly; a Fear +which increases that Confidence which the Peasant, and which indeed +every Man has in his Equal, being sounded in Equality itself. And 7, the +Discourse and Conversation of such illiterate Empirics being more to +their Tast, and more adapted to their Apprehension. + +But it is less easy to account for this blind Confidence, which Persons +of a superior Class (whole Education being considered as much better are +regarded as better Reasoners) repose in these boasted Remedies; and even +for some Conjurer in Vogue. Nevertheless even some of their Motives may +be probably assigned. + +The first is that great Principle of _Seity_, or _Selfness_, as it may +be called, innate to Man, which attaching him to the Prolongation of his +own Existence more than to any other thing in the Universe, keeps his +Eyes, his utmost Attention, continually fixed upon this Object; and +compels him to make it the very Point, the Purpose of all his Advances +and Proceedings; notwithstanding it does not permit him to distinguish +the safest Paths to it from the dangerous ones. This is the surest and +shortest Way says some Collector at the Turnpike, he pays, passes, and +perishes from the Precipices that occur in his Route. + +This very Principle is the Source of another Error, which consists in +reposing, involuntarily, a greater Degree of Confidence in those, who +flatter and fall in the most with us in our favourite Opinions. The well +apprised Physician, who foresees the Length and the Danger of a Disease; +and who is a Man of too much Integrity to affirm what he does not think, +must, from a necessary Construction of the human Frame and Mind, be +listened to less favourably, than he who flatters us by saying what we +wish. We endeavour to elongate, to absent ourselves, from the +Sentiments, the Judgment of the first; we smile, from Self-complacency, +at those of the last, which in a very little time are sure of obtaining +our Preference. + +A third Cause, which results from the same Principle is, that we give +ourselves up the most readily to his Conduct, whose Method seems the +least disagreeable, and flatters our Inclinations the most. The +Physician who enjoins a strict Regimen; who insists upon some Restraints +and Self-denials; who intimates the Necessity of Time and Patience for +the Accomplishment of the Cure, and who expects a thorough Regularity +through the Course of it, disgusts a Patient who has been accustomed to +indulge his own Tast and Humour; the Quack, who never hesitates at +complying with it, charms him. The Idea of a long and somewhat distant +Cure, to be obtained at the End of an unpleasant and unrelaxing Regimen, +supposes a very perilous Disease; this Idea disposes the Patient to +Disgust and Melancholy, he cannot submit to it without Pain; and he +embraces, almost unconsciously, merely to avoid this, an opposite System +which presents him only with the Idea of such a Distemper, as will give +Way to a few Doses of Simples. + +That Propensity to the New and Marvellous, which tyrannizes over so +large a Proportion of our Species, and which has advanced so many absurd +Persons and Things into Reputation, is a fourth and a very powerful +Motive. An irksome Satiety, and a Tiresomeness, as it were, from the +same Objects, is what our Nature is apt to be very apprehensive of; +though we are incessantly conducted towards it, by a Perception of some +Void, some Emptiness in ourselves, and even in Society too: But new and +extraordinary Sensations rousing us from this disagreeable State, more +effectually than any Thing else, we unthinkingly abandon ourselves to +them, without foreseeing their Consequences. + +A fifth Cause arises from seven Eighths of Mankind being managed by, or +following, the other Eighth; and, generally speaking, the Eighth that is +so very forward to manage them, are the least fit and worthy to do it; +whence all must go amiss, and absurd and embarrassing Consequences ensue +from the Condition of Society. A Man of excellent Sense frequently sees +only through the Eyes of a Fool, of an intriguing Fellow, or of a Cheat; +in this he judges wrong, and his Conduct must be so too. A man of real +Merit cannot connect himself with those who are addicted to caballing; +and yet such are the Persons, who frequently conduct others. + +Some other Causes might be annexed to these, but I shall mention only +one of them, which I have already hinted, and the Truth of which I am +confirmed in from several Years Experience; which is, that we generally +love those who reason more absurdly than ourselves, better than those +who convince us of our own weak Reasoning. + +I hope the Reflexions every Reader will make on these Causes of our ill +Conduct on this important Head, may contribute to correct or diminish +it; and to destroy those Prejudices whose fatal Effects we may +continually observe. + + +[N. B. _The Multitude of_ all _the Objects of this excellent Chapter in +this Metropolis, and doubtless throughout_ England, _were strong +Inducements to have taken a little wholesome Notice of the Impostures of +a few of the most pernicious. But on a second Perusal of this Part of +the Original and its Translation, I thought it impossible (without +descending to personal, nominal Anecdotes about the Vermin) to add any +Thing material upon a Subject, which the Author has with such Energy +exhausted. He even seems, by some of his Descriptions, to have taken +Cognizance of a few of our most self-dignified itinerant Empirics; as +these Genius's find it necessary sometimes to treat themselves with a +little Transportation. In reality Dr._ _Tissot_ _has, in a very masterly +Way, thoroughly dissected and displayed the whole_ Genus, _every Species +of Quacks. And when he comes to account for that Facility, with which +Persons of very different Principles from them, and of better +Intellects, first listen to, and finally countenance such Caitiffs, he +penetrates into some of the most latent Weaknesses of the human Mind; +even such as are often Secrets to their Owners. It is difficult, +throughout this Disquisition, not to admire the Writer; but impossible +not to love the Man, the ardent Philanthropist. His Sentiment that--"A +Man of real Merit cannot connect himself with those who are addicted to +caballing,"--is exquisitely just, and so liberal, that it never entered +into the Mind of any disingenuous Man, however dignified, in any +Profession. Persons of the simplest Hearts and purest Reflections must +shrink at every Consciousness of Artifice; and secretly reproach +themselves for each Success, that has redounded to them at the Expence +of Truth._] K. + + + + + __Chapter XXXIV.__ + + + _Containing Questions absolutely necessary to be answered + exactly by the Patient, who consults a Physician._ + + + __Sect.__ 588. + +Great Consideration and Experience are necessary to form a right +Judgment of the State of a Patient, whom the Physician has not +personally seen; even though he should receive the best Information it +is possible to give him, at a Distance from the Patient. But this +Difficulty is greatly augmented, or rather changed into an +Impossibility, when his Information is not exact and sufficient. It has +frequently happened to myself, that after having examined Peasants who +came to get Advice for others, I did not venture to prescribe, because +they were not able to give me a sufficient Information, in order to my +being certain of the Distemper. To prevent this great Inconvenience, I +subjoin a List of such Questions, as indispensably require clear and +direct Answers. + + + + _General Questions._ + + +What is the Patient's Age? + +Is he generally a healthy Person? + +What is his general Course of Life? + +How long has he been sick? + +In what Manner did his present Sickness begin, or appear? + +Has he any Fever? + +Is his Pulse hard or soft? + +Has he still tolerable Strength, or is he weak? + +Does he keep his Bed in the Day Time, or quit it? + +Is he in the same Condition throughout the whole Day? + +Is he still, or restless? + +Is he hot, or cold? + +Has he Pains in the Head, the Throat, the Breast, the Stomach, the +Belly, the Loins, or in the Limbs, the Extremities of the Body? + +Is his Tongue dry? does he complain of Thirst? of an ill Tast in his +Mouth? of Reachings to vomit, or of an Aversion to Food? + +Does he go to stool often or seldom? + +What Appearance have his Stools, and what is their usual quantity? + +Does he make much Urine? What Appearance has his Urine, as to Colour and +Contents? Are they generally much alike, or do they change often? + +Does he sweat? + +Does he expectorate, or cough up? + +Does he get Sleep? + +Does he draw his Breath easily? + +What Regimen does he observe in his Sickness? + +What Medicines has he taken? + +What Effects have they produced? + +Has he never had the same Distemper before? + +Sec. 589. The Diseases of Women and Children are attended with peculiar +Circumstances; so that when Advice is asked for them, Answers must be +given, not only to the preceding Questions, which relate to sick Persons +in general; but also to the following, which regard these particularly. + + + + _Questions with Respect to Women._ + + +Have they arrived at their monthly Discharges, and are these regular? + +Are they pregnant? Is so, how long since? + +Are they in Child-bed? + +Has their Delivery been happily accomplished? + +Has the Mother cleansed sufficiently? + +Has her Milk come in due Time and Quantity? + +Does she suckle the Infant herself? + +Is she subject to the Whites? + + + + _Questions relating to Children._ + + +What is the Child's exact Age? + +How many Teeth has he cut? + +Does he cut them painfully? + +Is he any-wise ricketty, or subject to Knots or Kernels? + +Has he had the Small Pocks? + +Does the Child void Worms, upwards or downwards? + +Is his Belly large, swelled, or hard? + +Is his Sleep quiet, or otherwise? + +Sec. 590. Besides these general Questions, common in all the Diseases of +the different Sexes and Ages, the Person consulting must also answer to +those, which have a close and direct Relation to the Disease, at that +very Time affecting the Sick. + +For Example, in the Quinsey, the Condition of the Throat must be exactly +inquired into. In Diseases of the Breast, an Account must be given of +the Patient's Pains; of his Cough; of the Oppression, and of his +Breathing, and Expectoration. I shall not enter upon a more particular +Detail; common Sense will sufficiently extend this Plan or Specimen to +other Diseases; and though these Questions may seem numerous, it will +always be easy to write down their Answers in as little Room, as the +Questions take up here. It were even to be wished that Persons of every +Rank, who occasionally write for medical Advice and Directions, would +observe such a Plan or Succession, in the Body of their Letters. By this +Means they would frequently procure the most satisfactory Answers; and +save themselves the Trouble of writing second Letters, to give a +necessary Explanation of the first. + +The Success of Remedies depends, in a very great Measure, on a very +exact Knowledge of the Disease; and that Knowledge on the precise +Information of it, which is laid before the Physician. + + + + + __FINIS.__ + + + + + _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 Application, of any of the said + Medicines._ + + +As in Order to ascertain the Doses of Medicines, I have generally done +it by Pounds, Ounces, Half-Ounces, _&c. &c._ and as this Method, +especially to the common People, might prove a little too obscure and +embarrassing, I have specified here the exact Weight of Water, contained +in such Vessels or liquid Measures, as are most commonly used in the +Country. + +The Pound which I mean, throughout all these Prescriptions, is that +consisting of sixteen Ounces. These Ounces contain eight Drachms, each +Drachm consisting of three Scruples, and each Scruple of twenty Grains; +the medical Scruple of _Paris_ solely containing twenty-four Grains. + +The liquid Measure, the _Pot_ used at _Berne_, being that I always speak +of, may be estimated, without any material Error, to contain three +Pounds and a Quarter, which is equal to three Pints, and eight common +Spoonfuls English Measure. But the exact Weight of the Water, contained +in the Pot of _Berne_, being fifty-one Ounces and a Quarter only, it is +strictly equal but to three Pints and six common Spoonfuls _English_. +This however is a Difference of no Importance, in the usual Drinks or +Aliments of the Sick. + +The small drinking Glass we talk of, filled so as not to run over, +contains three Ounces and three Quarters. But filled, as we propose it +should for the Sick, it is to be estimated 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 the Sick, it should not +be estimated, at the utmost, above three Ounces. + +The small Glass contains seven common Spoonfuls; so that a Spoonful is +supposed to contain half an Ounce. + +The small Spoon, or Coffee Spoon, when of its usual Size 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 six of these are +deemed equal in Measure, to a common Soup-Spoon. + +The Bason or Porrenger, mentioned in the present Treatise, holds, +without running over, the Quantity of five Glasses, which is equivalent +to eighteen Ounces and three Quarters. It may be estimated however, +without a Fraction, at eighteen Ounces: and a sick Person should never +be allowed to take more than a third Part of this Quantity of +Nourishment, at any one Time. + +The Doses in all the following Prescriptions are adjusted to the Age of +an Adult or grown Man, from the Age of eighteen to that of sixty Years. +From the Age of twelve to eighteen, two thirds of that Dose will +generally be sufficient: and from twelve down to seven Years one half, +diminishing this still lower, in Proportion to the greater Youth of the +Patient: so that not more than one eighth of the Dose prescribed should +be given to an infant of some Months old, or under one Year. But it must +also be considered, that their different Constitutions will make a +considerable Difference in adjusting their different Doses. It were to +be wished, on this Account, that every Person would carefully observe +whether a strong Dose is necessary to purge him, or if a small one is +sufficient; as Exactness is most important in adjusting the Doses of +such Medicines, as are intended to purge, or to evacuate in any other +Manner. + + + + No. 1. + + +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 one Quarter of boiling Water. Stir it about a little with a +Spoon to mix and dissolve the Honey; then cover up the Mug; and, when +the Liquor is cold, strain it through a Linen Cloth. + + + + No. 2. + + +Take two Ounces of whole Barley, cleanse and wash it well in hot Water, +throwing away this Water afterwards. Then boil it in five Chopins or +_English_ Pints of Water, till the Barley bursts and opens. Towards the +End of the boiling, throw in one Drachm and a half of Nitre [Salt Petre] +strain it through a Linen Cloth, and then add to it one Ounce and a half +of Honey, and one Ounce of Vinegar. [113] + +[113] This makes an agreeable Drink; and the Notion of its being windy is + idle; since it is so only to those, with whom Barley does not + agree. It may, where Barley is not procurable, be made from Oats. + + + + No. 3. + + +Take the same Quantity of Barley as before, and instead of Nitre, boil +in it, as soon as the Barley is put in to boil, a Quarter of an Ounce of +Cream of Tartar. Strain it, and add nothing else [114] to it. + +[114] In those Cases mentioned Sec. 241, 262, 280, instead of the Barley, + four Ounces of Grass Roots may be boiled in the same Quantity of + Water for half an Hour, with the Cream of Tartar. + + + + No. 4. + + +Take three Ounces of the freshest sweet Almonds, and one Ounce of Gourd +or Melon Seed; bruise them in a Mortar, adding to them by a little at a +time, one Pint of Water, then strain it through Linen. Bruise what +remains again, adding gradually to it another Pint of Water, then +straining; and adding Water to the Residue, till full three Pints at +least of Water are thus used: after which it may again be poured upon +the bruised Mass, stirred well about, and then be finally strained off. +Half an Ounce of Sugar may safely be bruised with the Almonds and Seeds +at first, though some weakly imagine it too heating; and delicate +Persons may be allowed a little Orange Flower Water with it. + + + + No. 5. + + +Take two Pugils of Mallow Leaves and Flowers, cut them small, and pour a +Pint of boiling Water upon them. After standing some time strain it, +adding one Ounce of Honey to it. For Want of Mallows, which is +preferable, a similar Glyster may be made of the Leaves of Mercury, +Pellitory of the Wall, the Marsh-Mallows, the greater Mallows, from +Lettuce, or from Spinage. A few very particular Consititutions are not +to be purged by any Glyster but warm Water alone; such should receive no +other, and the Water should not be very hot. + + + + No. 6. + + +Boil a Pugil of Mallow Flowers, in a Pint of Barley Water for a Glyster. + + + + No. 7. + + +Take three Pints of simple Barley Water, add to it three Ounces of the +Juice of Sow-thistle, or of Groundsel, or of the greater Houseleek, or +of Borage. [115] + +[115] These Juices are to be procured from the Herbs when fresh and very + young, if possible, by beating them in a Marble Mortar, or for Want + of such [or a wooden Mortar] in an Iron one, and then squeezing out + the Juice through a Linen Bag. It must be left to settle a little + in an earthen Vessel, after which the clear Juice must be decanted + gently off, and the Sediment be left behind. + + + + No. 8. + + +To one Ounce of Oxymel of Squills, add five Ounces of a strong Infusion +of Elder Flowers. + + + + No. 9. + + +There are many different emollient Applications, which have very nearly +the same Virtues. The following are the most efficacious. + +1, Flanels wrung out of a hot Decoction of Mallow Flowers. + +2, Small Bags filled with Mallow Flowers, or with those of Mullein, of +Elder, of Camomile, of wild Corn Poppy, and boiled either in Milk or +Water. + +3, Pultices of the same Flowers boiled in Milk and Water. + +4, Bladders half filled with hot Milk and Water, or with some emollient +Decoction. + +5, A Pultice of boiled Bread and Milk, or of Barley or Rice boiled till +thoroughly soft and tender. + +6, In the Pleurisy (See Sec. 89) the affected Part may be rubbed sometimes +with Ointment of Marsh-mallows. + + + + No. 10. + + +To one Ounce of Spirit of Sulphur, add six Ounces of Syrup of Violets, +or for want of the latter, as much Barley Water, of a thicker +Consistence than ordinary. [116] + +[116] Some Friends, says Dr. _Tissot_, whose judgment I greatly respect, + have thought the Doses of acid Spirit which I direct extremely + strong; and doubtless they are so, if compared with the Doses + generally prescribed, and to which I should have limited myself, if + I had not frequently seen their Insufficience. Experience has + taught me to increase them considerably; and, augmenting the Dose + gradually, I now venture to give larger Doses of them than have + ever been done before, and always with much Success; the same Doses + which I have advised in this Work not being so large as those I + frequently prescribe. For this Reason I intreat those Physicians, + who have thought them excessive, to try the acid Spirits in larger + Doses than those commonly ordered; and I am persuaded they will see + Reason to congratulate themselves upon the Effect. [117] + +[117] Our Author's _French_ Annotator has a Note against this Acid, which + I have omitted; for though I have given his Note Page 84 [with the + Substance of the immediately preceding one] to which I have also + added some Doubts of my own, from Facts, concerning the Benefit of + Acids in inflammatory Disorders of the Breast; yet with Regard to + the ardent, the putrid, the malignant Fever, and _Erisipelas_, in + which Dr. _Tissot_ directs this, I have no Doubt of its Propriety + (supposing no insuperable Disagreement to Acids in the + Constitution) and with Respect to their Doses, I think we may + safely rely on our honest Author's Veracity. Dr. _Fuller_ assures + us, a Gentleman's Coachman was recovered from the Bleeding Small + Pocks, by large and repeated Doses of the Oil of Vitriol, in + considerable Draughts of cold Water. _K._ + + + + No. 11. + + +Take two Ounces of Manna, and half an Ounce of Sedlitz Salt, or for want +of it, as much Epsom Salt; dissolving them in four Ounces of hot Water, +and straining them. + + + + No. 12. + + +Take of Elder Flowers one Pugil, of Hyssop Leaves half as much. Pour +three Pints of boiling Water upon them. After infusing some time, +strain, and dissolve three Ounces of Honey in the Infusion. + + + + No. 13. + + +Is only the same Kind of Drink made by omitting the Hyssop, and adding +instead of it as much more Elder Flowers. + + + + No. 14. + + +Let one Ounce of the best Jesuits Bark in fine Powder be divided into +sixteen equal Portions. + + + + No. 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 Vessel +containing five or six _English_ Pints, with half an Ounce of Oil of +Turpentine, and fill it up with boiling Water. + + + + No. 16. + + +Is only the Syrup of the Flowers of the wild red Corn Poppy. + + + + No. 17. + + +Is only very clear sweet Whey, in every Pint of which one Ounce of Honey +is to be dissolved. + + + + No. 18. + + +Take of Castile or hard white Soap six Drachms; of Extract of Dandelion +one Drachm and a half; of Gum Ammoniacum half a Drachm, and with Syrup +of Maidenhair make a Mass of Pills, to be formed into Pills, weighing +three Grains each. + + + + No. 19. + + +Gargarisms may be prepared from a Decoction, or rather an Infusion, of +the Leaves of Periwinkle, or of Red Rose-Leaves, or of Mallows. Two +Ounces of Vinegar and as much Honey must be added to every Pint of it, +and the Patient should gargle with it pretty hot. The deterging, +cleansing Gargarisin referred to Sec. 112, is a light Infusion of the Tops +of Sage, adding two Ounces of Honey to each Pint of it. + + + + No. 20. + + +Is only one Ounce of powdered Nitre, divided into sixteen equal Doses. + + + + No. 21. + + +Take of Jalap, of Senna, and of Cream of Tartar of each thirty Grains +finely powdered; and let them be very well mixed. [118] + +[118] This, our Author observes, will work a strong Country-man very + well: by which however he does not seem to mean an Inhabitant of + the Mountains in _Valais_. See P. 547. + + + + No. 22. + + +Take of _China_ Root, and of Sarsaparilla of each one Ounce and a half, +of Sassafras Root, and of the Shavings of Guiacum, otherwise called +_Lignum vitae_, of each one Ounce. Let the whole be cut very fine. Then +put them into a glazed earthen Vessel; pouring 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 these +Ingredients, or with the Addition of a few others. More Water may, after +the first boiling, be poured on the same Ingredients, and be boiled up +into a small Decoction for common Drink. + + + + No. 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 dissolved strain the Mixture off. + + + + No. 24. + + +Is only an Ounce of Cream of Tartar, divided into eight equal Parts. + + + + No. 25. + + +This Prescription is only the Preparation of Kermes mineral, otherwise +called the Chartreusian Powder. Dr. _Tissot_ orders but one Grain for a +Dose. It has been directed from one to three. + + + + No. 26. + + +Take three Ounces of the common Burdock Root; boil it for half an Hour, +with half a Drachm of Nitre, in three full Pints of Water. + + + + No. 27. + + +Take half a Pinch of the Herbs prescribed No. 9, Article 2, and half an +Ounce of hard white Soap shaved thin. Pour on these one Pint and a half +of boiling Water, and one Glass of Wine. Strain the Liquor and squeeze +it strongly out. + + + + No. 28. + + +Take of the purest Quicksilver one Ounce; of Venice Turpentine half a +Drachm, of the freshest Hog's Lard two Ounces, and let the whole be very +well rubbed together into an Ointment. [119] + +[119] This Ointment should be prepared at the Apothecaries; the Receipt + of it being given here, only because the Proportions of the + Quicksilver and the Lard are not always the same in different + Places. + + + + No. 29. + + +This Prescription is nothing but the yellow Basilicon. + + + + No. 30. + + +Take of natural and factitious, or artificial Cinnabar, twenty-four +Grains each; of Musk sixteen Grains, and let the whole be reduced into +fine Powder, and very well mixed. [120] + +[120] This Medicine is known by the Name of _Cob's_ Powder; and as its + Reputation is very considerable, I did not chuse to omit it; though + I must repeat here what I have said Sec. 195--That the Cinnabar is + probably of little or no Efficacy; and there are other Medicines + that have also much more than the Musk; which besides is extremely + dear for poor People, as the requisite Doses of it, in very + dangerous Cases, would cost ten or twelve Shillings daily. The + Prescription, No. 31, is more effectual than the Musk; and instead + of the useless Cinnabar, the powerful Quicksilver may be given to + the Quantity of forty-five Grains. I have said nothing hitherto in + this Work of the red blossomed Mulberry Tree, which passes for a + real Specific, among some Persons, in this dreadful Malady. An + Account of it may be seen in the first Volume of the Oeconomical + Journal of _Berne_. It is my Opinion however, that none of the + Instances related there are satisfactory and decisive; its Efficacy + still appearing to me very doubtful. + + + + No. 31. + + +Take one Drachm of _Virginia_ Snake Root in Powder; of Camphor and of +Assa-foetida ten Grains each; of Opium one Grain, and with a sufficient +Quantity of Conserve, or Rob of Elder, make a Bolus. [121] + +[121] When this is preferred to No. 30, of which Musk is an Ingredient, + the Grain of Opium should be omitted, except once or at most twice + in the twenty-four Hours. Two Doses of Quicksilver, of fifteen + Grains each, should be given daily in the Morning, in the Interval + between the other Bolus's. + + + + No. 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. + + + + No. 33. + + +Take seven Grains of Turbith Mineral; and make it into a Pill or Bolus +with a little Crumb of Bread. [122] + +[122] This Medicine makes the Dogs vomit and slaver abundantly. It has + effected many Cures after the _Hydrophobia_, the Dread of Water, + was manifest. It must be given three Days successively, and + afterwards twice a Week, for fifteen Days. + + + + No. 34. + + +This is nothing but a Prescription of six Grains of Tartar [123] emetic. + +[123] When People are ignorant of the Strength of the Tartar emetic + (which is often various) or of the Patient's being easy or hard to + vomit, a Dose and a half may be dissolved in a Quart of warm Water, + of which he may take a Glass every Quarter of an Hour, whence the + Operation may be forwarded, or otherwise regulated, according to + the Number of Vomits or Stools. This Method, much used in _Paris_, + seems a safe and eligible one. + + + + No. 35. + + +Take thirty-five Grains of Ipecacuanna, which, in the very strongest +Constitutions, may be augmented to forty-five, or even to fifty Grains. + + + + No. 36. + + +Prescribes only the common blistering Plaister; and the Note observes +that very young Infants who have delicate Skins may have Sinapisms +applied instead of Blisters; and made of a little old Leaven, kneaded up +with a few Drops of sharp Vinegar. + + + + No. 37. + + +Take of the Tops of _Chamaedrys_ or Ground Oak, of the lesser Centaury, +of Wormwood and of Camomile, of each one Pugil. Pour on them three Pints +of boiling Water; and suffering them to infuse until it is cold, strain +the Liquor through a Linen Cloth, pressing it out strongly. + + + + No. 38. + + +Take forty Grains of Rhubarb, and as much Cream of Tartar in Powder, +mixing them well together. + + + + No. 39. + + +Take three Drachms of Cream of Tartar, and one Drachm of Ipecacuanna +finely powdered. Rub them well together, and divide them into six equal +Parts. + + + + No. 40. + + +Take of the simple Mixture one Ounce, of Spirit of Vitriol half an +Ounce, and mix them. The Dose is one or two Tea Spoonfuls in a Cup of +the Patient's common Drink. The simple Mixture is composed of five +Ounces of Treacle Water camphorated, of three Ounces of Spirit of Tartar +rectified, and one Ounce of Spirit of Vitriol. If the Patient has an +insuperable Aversion to the Camphor, it must be omitted, though the +Medicine is less efficacious without it. And if his Thirst is not very +considerable, the simple Mixture may be given alone, without any further +Addition of Spirit of Vitriol. + + + + No. 41. + + +Take half a Drachm of _Virginia_ Snake-root, ten Grains of Camphor, and +make them into a Bolus with Rob of Elder-Berries. If the Patient's +Stomach cannot bear so large a Dose of Camphor, he may take it in +smaller Doses and oftner, _viz._ three Grains, every two Hours. If there +is a violent Looseness, Diascordium must be substituted instead of the +Rob of Elder-berries. + + + + No. 42. + + +Prescribes only the _Theriaca pauperum_, or poor Man's Treacle, in the +Dose of a Quarter of an Ounce. The following Composition of it is that +chiefly preferred by our Author. Take equal Parts of round Birthwort +Roots, of Elecampane, of Myrrh, and of Rob or Conserve of +Juniper-berries, and make them into an Electuary of a rather thin, than +very stiff Consistence, with Syrup of Orange-peel. + + + + No. 43. + + +The first of the three Medicines referred to in this Number, is that +already directed, No. 37. The second is as follows. + +Take equal Parts of the lesser Centaury, of Wormwood, of Myrrh, all +powdered, and of Conserve of Juniper-berries, making them up into a +pretty thick Consistence with Syrup of Wormwood. The Dose is a Quarter +of an Ounce; to be taken at the same Intervals as the Bark. + +For the third Composition--Take of the Roots of Calamus Aromaticus and +Elecampane well bruised, two Ounces; of the Tops of the lesser Centaury +cut small, a Pugil; of Filings of unrusted Iron two Ounces, of old white +Wine, three Pints. Put them all into a wide necked Bottle, and set it +upon Embers, or on a Stove, or by the Chimney, that it may be always +kept hot. Let them infuse twenty-four Hours, shaking them well five or +six Times; then let the Infusion settle, and strain it. The Dose is a +common Cup every four Hours, four Times daily, and timing it one Hour +before Dinner. + + + + No. 44. + + +Take a Quarter of an Ounce of Cream of Tartar, a Pugil of common +Camomile; boil them in twelve Ounces of Water for half an Hour, and +strain it off. + + + + No. 45. + + +Directs only the common Sal Ammoniac, from two Scruples to one Drachm +for a Dose. The Note to it adds, that it may be made into a Bolus with +Rob of Elder; and observes, that those feverish Patients, who have a +weak delicate Stomach, do not well admit of this Salt; no more than of +several others, which affect them with great Disorder and Anxiety. + + + + No. 46. + + +The Powder. Take one Pugil of Camomile Flowers, and as much Elder +Flowers, bruising them well; of fine Flour or Starch three Ounces; of +Ceruss 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 Plaister. Take of the Ointment called _Nutritum_, made with the +newest sweet Oil, two Ounces; of white Wax three Quarters of an Ounce, +and one Quarter of an Ounce of blue Smalt. Melt the Wax, then add the +_Nutritum_ to it, after the Smalt 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 smoothly spread on +Linen Cloth. + +A Quarter of an Ounce of Smalt may also be mixed exactly with two Ounces +of Butter or Ointment of Lead, to be used occasionally instead of the +Plaister. + + + + No. 47. + + +Take one Ounce of Sedlitz, or for want of that, as much Epsom Salt, and +two Ounces of Tamarinds: pour upon them eight Ounces of boiling Water, +stirring them about to dissolve the Tamarinds. Strain it off; and divide +it into two equal Draughts, to be given at the Interval of Half an Hour +between the first and last. + + + + No. 48. + + +Take of _Sydenham_'s Liquid Laudanum eighty Drops; of Bawm Water two +Ounces and a half. If the first, or the second, Dose stops or +considerably lessens the Vomiting, this [124] Medicine should not be +further repeated. + +[124] The medical Editor at _Lyons_ justly notes here, that these eighty + Drops are a very strong Dose of liquid Laudanum; adding that it is + scarcely ever given at _Lyons_ in a greater Dose than thirty Drops; + and recommending a Spoonful of Syrup of Lemon-peel to be given with + it--But we must observe here in answer to this Note, that when Dr. + _Tissot_ directs this Mixture in the Iliac Passion Sec. 318, to + appease the Vomitings, Art. 3, he orders but one spoonful of this + Mixture to be taken at once, and an Interval of two Hours to be + observed between the first and second Repetition, which reduces + each Dose to sixteen Drops, and which is not to be repeated without + Necessity. + + + + No. 49. + + +Dissolve three Ounces of Manna and twenty Grains of Nitre in twenty +Ounces, or six Glasses, of sweet Whey. + + + + No. 50. + + +To two Ounces of Syrup of Diacodium, or white Poppy Heads, add an equal +Weight of Elder Flower Water, or, for want of it, of Spring Water. + + + + No. 51. + + +Directs nothing but a Drachm of Rhubarb in Powder. + + + + No. 52. + + +Take of _Sulphur vivum_, or of Flower of Brimstone, one Ounce; of Sal +Ammoniac, one Drachm; of fresh Hogs Lard, two Ounces; and mix the whole +very well in a Mortar. + + + + No. 53. + + +Take two Drachms of crude Antimony and as much Nitre, both finely +powdered and very well mixed; dividing the whole into eight equal +Doses. [125] + +[125] This Medicine, which often occasions Cholics in some Persons of a + weakly Stomach, is attended with no such Inconvenience in strong + Country People; and has been effectual in some Disorders of the + Skin, which have baffled other Medicines--The Remainder of this + Note observes the great Efficacy of Antimony in promoting + Perspiration, and the extraordinary Benefit it is of to Horses in + different Cases. + + + + No. 54. + + +Take of Filings of Iron, not the least rusty, and of Sugar, each one +Ounce; of Aniseeds Powdered, half an Ounce. After rubbing then very well +together, divide the Powder into twenty-four equal Portions; one of +which is to be taken three times a Day an Hour before eating. [126] + +[126] The Prescriptions No. 54, 55, 56, are calculated against Distempers + which arise from Obstructions, and a Stoppage of the monthly + Discharges; which No. 55 is more particularly intended to remove; + those of 54 and 56 are most convenient, either when the Suppression + does not exist, or is not to be much regarded, if it does. This + Medicine may be rendered less unpalatable for Persons in easy + Circumstances, by adding as much Cinamon instead of Aniseeds; and + though the Quantity of Iron be small, it may be sufficient, if + given early in the Complaint; one, or at the most, two of these + Doses daily, being sufficient for a very young Maiden. + + + + No. 55. + + +Take of Filings of sound 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 infuse the whole in three Pints of Wine in the Manner already +directed, No. 43. The Dose of this is one small Cup three times a Day, +an Hour before eating. [127] + +[127] I chuse to repeat here, the more strongly to inculcate so important + a Point, that in Women who have long been ill and languid, our + Endeavours must be directed towards the restoring of the Patient's + Health and Strength, and not to forcing down the monthly + Discharges, which is a very pernicious Practice. These will return + of Course, if the Patient is of a proper Age, as she grows better. + Their Return succeeds the Return of her Health, and should not, + very often cannot, precede it. + + + + No. 56. + + +Take two Ounces of Filings of Iron; of Rue Leaves and Aniseed powdered, +each half an Ounce. Add to them a sufficient Quantity of Honey to make +an Electuary of a good Consistence. The Dose is a Quarter of an Ounce +three times daily. + + + + No. 57. + + +Take of the Extract of the stinking Hemlock, with the purple spotted +Stalk, one Ounce. Form it into Pills weighing two Grains each; adding as +much of the Powder of dry Hemlock Leaves, as the Pills will easily take +up. Begin the Use of this Medicine by giving one Pill Night and Morning. +Some Patients have been so familiarized to it, as to take at length Half +an Ounce daily. [128] + +[128] Our learned and candid Author has a very long Note in this Place, + strongly in Favour of _Storck's_ Extract of Hemlock, in which it is + evident he credits the greater Part of the Cures affirmed by Dr. + _Storck_ to have been effected by it. He says he made some himself, + but not of the right Hemlock, which we think it very difficult to + mistake, from its peculiar rank fetid Smell, and its purple spotted + Stalk. After first taking this himself, he found it mitigated the + Pain of Cancers, but did not cure them. But then addressing himself + to Dr. _Storck_, and exactly following his Directions in making it, + he took of Dr. _Storck's_ Extract, and of his own, which exactly + resembled each other, to the Quantity of a Drachm and a half daily; + and finding his Health not in the least impaired by it, he then + gave it to several Patients, curing many scrophulous and cancerous + Cases, and mitigating others, which he supposes were incurable. So + that he seems fully persuaded Dr. _Storck's_ Extract is always + innocent [which in Fact, except in a very few Instances, none of + which were fatal, it has been] and he thinks it a Specific in many + Cases, to which nothing can be substituted as an equivalent Remedy; + that it should be taken with entire Confidence, and that it would + be absurd to neglect its Continuance. + + The Translator of this Work of Dr. _Tissot's_ has thought it but + fair to give all the Force of this Note here, which must be his + own, as his Editor at _Lyons_ seems to entertain a very different + Opinion of the Efficacy of this Medicine; for which Opinion we + refer back to his Note, Sec. 375, of this Treatise, which the Reader + may compare with this of our Author's. _K._ + + + + No. 58. + + +Take of the Roots of Grass and of Succory well washed, each one Ounce. +Boil them a Quarter of an Hour in a Pint of Water. Then dissolve in it +Half an Ounce of Sedlitz, or of _Epsom_ Salt, and two Ounces of Manna; +and strain it off to drink one Glass of it from Half Hour, to Half Hour, +till its Effects are sufficient. It is to be repeated at the Interval of +two or three Days. + + + + No. 59. + + +Is a Cataplasm or Pultice made of Crumb of Bread, with Camomile Flowers +boiled in Milk, with the Addition of some Soap, so that each Pultice may +contain half a Quarter of an Ounce of this last Ingredient. And when the +Circumstances of female Patients have not afforded them that regular +Attendance, which the Repetition of the Pultice requires, as it should +be renewed every three Hours, I have successfully directed the Hemlock +Plaister of the Shops. + + + + No. 60. + + +Take a sufficient Quantity of dry Hemlock Leaves. Secure them properly +between two Pieces of thin Linen Cloth, so as to make a very flexible +Sort of small Matrass, letting it boil a few Moments in Water, then +squeeze it out and apply it to the affected Part. It must thus be +moistened and heated afresh, and re-applied every two Hours. + + + + No. 61. + + +Take of the Eyes of the Craw-fish, or of the true white Magnesia, two +Drachms; of Cinnamon powdered four Grains. Rub them very well together, +and divide the whole into eight Doses. One of these is to be given in a +Spoonful of Milk, or of Water, before the Infant sucks. + + + + No. 62. + + +Take of an Extract of Walnuts, made in Water, two Drachms; and dissolve +it in half an Ounce of Cinnamon Water. Fifty Drops a Day of this +Solution is to be given to a Child of two Years old; and after the whole +has been taken, the Child should be purged. This Extract is to be made +of the unripe Nuts, when they are of a proper Growth and Consistence for +pickling. + + + + No. 63. + + +Take of Rezin of Jalap two Grains. Rub it a considerable time with +twelve or fifteen Grains of Sugar, and afterwards with three or four +sweet Almonds; adding, very gradually, two common Spoonfuls of Water. +Then strain it through clear thin Linen, as the Emulsion of Almonds was +ordered to be. Lastly, add a Tea Spoonful of Syrup of Capillaire to it. +This is no disagreable 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 Syrup of Succory, or with Manna. + + + + No. 64. + + +Take of the Ointment called _Nutritum_ one Ounce; the entire Yolk of one +small Egg, or the Half of a large one, and mix them well together. This +_Nutritum_ may be readily made by rubbing very well together, and for +some time, two Drachms of Ceruss [white Lead] half an Ounce of Vinegar, +and three Ounces of common Oil. + + + + No. 65. + + +Melt four Ounces of white Wax; add to it, if made in Winter two +Spoonfuls of Oil; if in Summer none at all, or at most, not above a +Spoonful. Dip in this Slips of Linen Cloth not worn too thin, and let +them dry: or spread it thin and evenly over them. + + + + No. 66. + + +Take of Oil of Roses one Pound; of red Lead half a Pound; of Vinegar +four Ounces. Boil them together nearly to the Consistence of a Plaister; +then dissolve in the liquid Mass an Ounce and a Half of yellow Wax, and +two Drachms of Camphor, stirring the whole about well. Remove it then +from the Fire, and spread it on Sheets or Slips of Paper, of what Size +you think most convenient. The Ointment of _Chambauderie_, so famous in +many Families on the Continent, is made of a Quarter of a Pound of +yellow Wax, of the Plaister of three Ingredients (very nearly the same +with No. 66) of compound Diachylon and of common Oil, of each the same +Quantity, all melted together, and then stirred about well, after it is +removed from the Fire, till it grows cold. To make a Sparadrap, or Oil +Cloth, which is Linen, covered with, or dipt in an emplastic Substance +or Ointment, it must be melted over again with the Addition of a little +Oil, and applied to the Linen as directed at No. 65. + + + + No. 67. + + +Gather in Autumn, while the fine Weather lasts, the Agaric of the Oak, +which is a Kind of _Fungus_ or Excrescence, issuing from the Wood of +that Tree. + +It consists at first of four Parts, which present themselves +successively, 1, The outward Rind or Skin, which may be thrown away. 2, +That Part immediately under this Rind, which is the best of all. This is +to be beat well with a Hammer, till it becomes soft and very pliable. +This is the only Preparation it requires, and a Slice of it of a proper +Size is to be applied directly over the bursting, open Blood-vessels. It +constringes and brings them close together; stops the Bleedings; and +generally falls off at the End of two Days. 3, The third Part, adhering +to the second may serve to stop the Bleeding from the smaller Vessels; +and the fourth and last Part may be reduced to Powder, as conducing to +the same Purpose. [129] + +[129] Our Author attests his seeing the happiest Consequences from this + Application, which M. _Brossard_, a very eminent _French_ Surgeon, + first published; and declared his Preference of that Agaric which + sprung from those Parts of the Tree, from whence large Boughs had + been lopped. + + + + No. 68. + + +Take four Ounces of Crumbs of Bread, a Pugil of Elder Flowers, and the +same Quantity of those of Camomile, and of St. _John's_ Wort. Boil them +into a Pultice in equal Quantities of Vinegar and Water. + +If Fomentations should be thought preferable, take the same Herbs, or +some Pugils of the Ingredients for _Faltrank_: throw them into a Pint +and a Half of boiling Water: and let them infuse some Minutes. Then a +Pint of Vinegar is to be added, and Flanels or other woollen Cloths dipt +in the Fomentation, and wrung out, are to be applied to the Part +affected. + +For the aromatic Fomentations recommended Sec. 449, take Leaves of Betony +and of Rue, Flowers of Rosemary or Lavender, and red Roses, of each a +Pugil and a Half. Boil them for a Quarter of an Hour in a Pot with a +Cover, with three Pints of old white Wine. Then strain off, squeezing +the Liquor strongly from the Herbs, and apply it as already directed. + + + + No. 69. + + +Directs only the Plaister of Diapalma. [130] + +[130] To spread this upon Lint as directed, Sec. 456, it must be melted down + again with a little Oil. + + + + No. 70. + + +Directs only a Mixture of two Parts Water, and one Part of Vinegar of +Litharge. + + + + No. 71. + + +Take of the Leaves of Sow-bread, and of Camomile Tops, of each one +Pugil. Put them into an earthen Vessel with half an Ounce of Soap, and +as much Sal Ammoniac, and pour upon them three Pints of boiling Water. + +_N. B._ I conceive all the Notes to this Table, in which I have not +mentioned the Editor at _Lyons_, nor subscribed with my initial Letter +_K_, to come from the Author, having omitted nothing of them, but the +Prices. + + + + + ERRATA. + + +Page 4, Line 6, for _os_ read _of_. p. 16, l. 16, for _be_ read _me_. p. +29, l. 12, after _it_ add . p. 49, l. 12, dele _and_ at the End of it. +p. 51, in the running Title, for _Causss_ read _Causes_. ib. l. 2, dele +_and_. ib. l. 7, dele _and_. p. 57, last line, for _hurtsul_ read +_hurtful_. p. 67, l. 17, after _Water_, add, _may be placed within the +Room_. p. 74, line last but two, after _never_, dele , p. 96, l. 11, for +_Aiiment_ read _Ailment_. p. 106, l. 23, for the second _is_ read _has_. +p. 126, l. 21, for _breath_ read _breathe_. p. 137, l. 13, for +_Efflorescene_ read _Efflorescence_, p. 145, l. 1, for _Water_ read +_Tea_. p. 148, l. 19, for _beomes_ read _becomes_. p. 163, l. 30. in the +Note, for _occured_ read _occurred_; p. 171, l. 20, dele _and_. p. 189, +l. 28, dele _of_. p. 199, l. 6, for _Paulmier_ read _Palmarius_, being +the _Latinized_ Name of that _Physician_; as we say for _Fernel +Fernelius, Holler Hollerius, &c._ _N. B._ His Powder for the Bite of a +mad Dog consisted of equal Parts of Rue, Vervain, Plantain, Polypody, +common Wormwood, Mugwort, Bastard Baum, Betony, St. _John's_ Wort, and +lesser Centaury Tops, to which _Default_ adds Coraline.----p. 237, l. 2, +for _Streakes_ read _Streaks_. p. 256, first line of the Note * _dele_ +the first _often_. p. 261, l. 15, for _happens_ read _happen_. p. 270, +l. 12, dele _t_ in _Switsserland_. p. 282, l. 23, for _enters_ read +_enter_. p. 283, l. 23, for _Stomach_ read _Stomachs_. p. 284, l. 12, +for _it_ read _them_. p. 287, Note * l. 25, for _here_ read _there_. p. +303, l. 14, for _doubtsul_ read _doubtful_. p. 311, l. 18, for _abate_ +read _abates_. p. 337, l. 7, for _glary_ read _glairy_. N. B. In the +first Page that is folio'd 445 read 345. p. 346, l. 19, for _two_ read +_too_. p. 351, l. 25, after Waters add, _such as Infusions of Tea, &c._ +p. 375, l. 7, for _two_ read _too_. p. 392, last line, for _Leaves_ read +_Flowers_. p. 393, l. 26, after _them_, insert _and_. p. 397, l. 1 and +2, for Temparrament read _Temperament_. p. 422, l. 6, between _several_ +and _Consequences_ insert _bad_. p. 454, l. 5, for _Diflocation_ read +_Dislocation_. p. 459, l. 17, in _Ice-thaws_ dele - p. 466, l. 16, to +_Constitution_ add _s_. p. 486, l. 29, after _or_ add _if_. p. 487, l. +12, for _Parts_ read _Part_. p. 511, l. 12, for _not_ read _nor_. p. +533, l. 12, for _arrives_ read _arises_. p. 542, l. 22, for _Patient_ +read _Patients_. p. 562, l. 14, for _fays_ read _says_. p. 573, l. 10, +after _Cause_, dele _Comma_. + + + + + _Table_ _of the several Chapters, and their principal Contents._ + + +Introduction ---- Page 1 +The first Cause of Depopulation, Emigrations ---- _ib._ +The second Cause, Luxury ---- 6 +Third Cause, Decay of Agriculture ---- 10 +Fourth Cause, the pernicious Treatment of Diseases ---- 12 +Means for rendering this Treatise useful ---- 15 +Explanation of certain physical Terms, and Phrases ---- 26 + + _Chapter I._ + +_The most common Causes of popular Sickness_ ---- 31 +First Cause, excessive Labour ---- _ib._ +Second Cause, the Effect of cold Air, when a Person is hot ---- 33 +Third Cause, taking cold Drink, when in a Heat ---- _ib._ _&_ 34 +Fourth Cause, the Inconstancy and sudden Change of the Weather ---- 35 +Fifth Cause, the Situation of Dunghills, and Marshes, near inhabited +Houses, and the bad confined Air in the Houses ---- 37 +Sixth Cause, Drunkenness ---- 38 +Seventh Cause, the Food of Country People ---- 39 +Eighth Cause, the Situation, or Exposure of Houses ---- 42 +Concerning the Drink of Country People ---- 43 + + _Chap. II._ + +_Of Causes which increase the Diseases of the People, with general +Considerations_ ---- 47 +First Cause, the great Care employed to force the Sick to sweat, and the +Methods taken for that Purpose ---- _ib._ _&_ 48 +The Danger of hot Chambers ---- 49 +The Danger of hot Drinks and heating Medicines ---- 50 +Second Cause, the Quantity and Quality of the Food given sick Persons +---- 53 +Third Cause, the giving Vomits and Purges at the Beginning of the +Disease ---- 57 + + _Chap. III._ + +_Concerning what should be done in the Beginning of Diseases, and the +Diet in acute Diseases_ ---- 61 +Signs which indicate approaching Diseases; with Means to prevent them +---- 62 +The common Regimen, or Regulations, for the Sick ---- 64 +The Benefits of ripe sound Fruits ---- 68 +Cautions and Means to be used, on Recovery ---- 73, 74 + + _Chap. IV._ + +_Of the Inflammation of the Breast_ ---- 77 +The Signs of this Disease ---- _ib._ _&_ 78 +The Advantage of Bleeding ---- 81 +Signs of Recovery ---- 85 +Of _Crises_, and the Symptoms that precede them ---- 86 +The Danger of Vomits, of Purges, and of Anodynes ---- 88 +Of the Suppression of Expectoration, and the Means to restore it. +---- 89 +Of the Formation of _Vomicas_, or Imposthumes in the Lungs, and the +Treatment of them ---- 90 +Of the Danger of Remedies, termed Balsamics ---- 103 +The Inefficacy of the Antihectic of _Poterius_ ---- 104 +Of an _Empyema_ ---- 105 +Of a Gangrene of the Lungs ---- 106 +Of a _Scirrhus_ of the Lungs ---- _ib._ + + _Chap. V._ + +_Of the Pleurisy_ ---- 108 +The Danger of heating Remedies ---- 112 to 115 +Of frequent, or habitual, Pleurisies ---- 116 +Of Goats Blood; the Soot of a stale Egg, and of the Wormwood of the +Alps, in Pleurisies ---- 117, 118 + + _Chap. VI._ + +_Of Diseases of the Throat_ ---- 119 +Of their proper Treatment ---- 124 +Of the Formation of an Abscess there ---- 127 +Of swelled Ears, from the Obstruction of the parotid and maxillary +Glands ---- 131 +Of the epidemic and putrid Diseases of the Throat, which prevailed in +1761 at _Lausanne_ ---- 132 + + _Chap. VII._ + +_Of Colds_ ---- 139 +Different Prejudices concerning Colds ---- _ib._ _&_ 140 +The Danger of drinking much hot Water, and of strong spirituous Liquors, +_&c._ ---- 146 +Means for strengthening and curing Persons very subject to Colds +---- 148 + + _Chap. VIII._ + +_Of Diseases of the Teeth_ ---- 150 + + _Chap. IX._ + +_Of the Apoplexy_ ---- 158 +Of sanguine Apoplexy ---- _ib._ _&_ 159 +Of a serous, or watery, Apoplexy ---- 162 +Means to prevent relapsing into them ---- 164 _& seq._ + + _Chap. X._ + +_Of morbid Strokes of the Sun_ ---- 167 + + _Chap. XI._ + +_Of the Rheumatism_ ---- 177 +Of the acute Rheumatism, attended with a Fever ---- _ib._ +Of the flow, or chronical, without a Fever ---- 186 +The Danger of spirituous and greasy Remedies ---- 191, 192 + + _Chap. XII._ + +_Of the Bite of a mad Dog_ ---- 194 + + _Chap. XIII._ + +_Of the Small Pocks._ ---- 207 +Of the preceding Symptoms of this Disease ---- 209 +--The Danger of sweating Medicines ---- 217 +--The Treatment of the benign distinct Small Pocks ---- 220 +--The Use of Bleeding ---- 222 +--The Fever of Suppuration ---- 223 +--The Necessity of opening the ripe Pustules ---- 226 +--The Danger of Anodynes ---- 228 +Of the striking in of the Eruptions ---- 229 +Preparations for receiving it favorably ---- 230 + + _Chap. XIV._ + +_Of the Measles_ ---- 235 +Of their Treatment and the Means to prevent any of their bad +Consequences, to ---- 243 + + _Chap. XV._ + +_Of the hot, or burning, Fever_ ---- 244 + + _Chap. XVI._ + +_Of putrid Fevers_ ---- 248 + + _Chap. XVII._ + +_Of malignant Fevers_ ---- 257 +The Danger of applying living Animals in them ---- 267 + + _Chap. XVIII._ + +_Of intermitting Fevers_ ---- 269 +--Spring and Autumn Intermittents ---- 272 +Method of Cure by the Bark ---- 275 +Method of treating the Patient in the Fit ---- 277 +Of other Febrifuges, besides the Bark ---- 278 +The Treatment of long and obstinate Intermittents ---- 279 +Of some very dangerous Intermittents ---- 284 +Of some periodical Disorders, which may be termed, Fevers disguised +---- 285 +Of Preservatives from unwholesome Air ---- 286 + + _Chap. XIX._ + +_Of an_ Erisipelas, _or St._ Anthony's _Fire._ ---- 288 +Of a frequent or habitual _Erisipelas_ ---- 295 +Of the Stings or Bites of Animals ---- 296 + + _Chap. XX._ + +_Of Inflammations of the Breast, and of Bastard and bilious Pleurisies_ +---- 298 +--Of the false Inflammation of the Breast ---- 300 +--The false Pleurisy ---- 303 + + _Chap. XXI._ + +_Of Cholics_ ---- 306 +Of the inflammatory Cholic ---- 307 +--the bilious Cholic ---- 312 +--the Cholic from Indigestion, and of Indigestions ---- 314 +--the flatulent, or windy, Cholic ---- 317 +--the Cholic, from taking Cold ---- 319 + + _Chap. XXII._ + +_Of the_ Miserere, _or Iliac Passion, and of the_ Cholera Morbus +---- 322 +The _Miserere_ ---- _ib._ _&_ 323 +The _Cholera Morbus_ ---- 327 + + _Chap. XXIII._ + +_Of a_ Diarrhoea, _or Looseness_ ---- 332 + + _Chap. XXIV._ + +_Of a Dysentery, or Bloody-Flux_ ---- 335 +The Symptoms of the Disease ---- 336 +The Remedies against it ---- 338 +Of the beneficial Use of ripe Fruits ---- 341 +Of the Danger of taking a great Number of popular Remedies in it +---- 345 + + _Chap. XXV._ + +_Of the Itch_ ---- 347 + + _Chap. XXVI._ + +_Directions peculiar to the Sex_ ---- 352 +Of the monthly Customs ---- 353 +Of Gravidation, or going with Child ---- 365 +Of Labours or Deliveries, ---- 367 +Of their Consequences ---- 371 +Of a Cancer ---- 373 + + _Chap. XXVII._ + +_Directions with Regard to Children_ ---- 375 +Of the first Cause of their Disorders, the _Meconium_ ---- 377 +--the second, the souring of their Milk ---- 379 +--the Danger of giving them Oil ---- _ib._ +--Disorders from their Want of Perspiration, the Means of keeping it up, +and of washing them in cold Water ---- 381 _&_ 382 +--the third Cause, the cutting of their Teeth ---- 386 +--the fourth Cause, Worms ---- 387 +Of Convulsions ---- 391 +Methods necessary to make them strong and hardy, with general Directions +about them ---- 396 _& seq._ + + _Chap. XXVIII._ + +_Of Assistances for drowned Persons_ ---- 403 + + _Chap. XXIX._ + +_Of Substances stopt between the Mouth and the Stomach_ ---- 411 + + _Chap. XXX._ + +_Of Disorders requiring the Assistance of a Surgeon_ ---- 435 +Of Burns ---- 436 +Of Wounds ---- 437 +Of Bruises, and of Falls ---- 444 +Of Ulcers ---- 454 +Of frozen Limbs, or Joints ---- 458 +Of Chilblains ---- 462 +Of Ruptures ---- 474 +Of Phlegmons, or Boils ---- 480 +Of Fellons, or Whitlows ---- 481 +Of Thorns, Splinters, _&c._ in the Skin or Flesh ---- 486 +Of Warts ---- 488 +Of Corns ---- 490 + + _Chap. XXXI._ + +_Of some Cases which require immediate Assistance_ ---- 491 +Of Swoonings, from Excess of Blood ---- 492 +Of Swoonings, from great Weakness ---- 494 +Of Swoonings, occasioned by a Load on the Stomach ---- 497 +Of Swoonings, resulting from Disorders of the Nerves 500 +Of Swoonings, occasioned by the Passions ---- 504 +Of the Swoonings, which occur in Diseases ---- 506 +Of Haemorrhages, or Fluxes of Blood ---- 508 +Of Convulsion Fits ---- 512 +Of suffocating, or strangling Fits ---- 514 +Of the violent Effects of great Fear ---- 516 +Of Accidents produced by the Vapours of Charcoal, and of Wine ---- 519 +Of Poisons ---- 526 +Of acute and violent Pains ---- 529 + + _Chap. XXXII._ + +_Of giving Remedies by Way of Precaution_ ---- 531 +Of Bleeding ---- 532 +Of Purges ---- 540 +Remedies to be used after excessive Purging ---- 544 +Reflections on some other Remedies ---- 546, _&c._ + + _Chap. XXXIII._ + +_Of Quacks, Mountebanks, and Conjurers_ ---- 551 + + _Chap. XXXIV._ + +_Questions necessary to be answered by any Person, who goes to consult a +Physician_ ---- 579 +The Table of Remedies ---- 584 + + + + + Transcription note + + +Old and variant spellings, like _surprising_ / _surprizing_, Buttermilk +/ _Butter-milk_, _Blood-vessels_ / _Blood-Vessels_, _Faltranc_ / +_Faltrank_, _wholesome_ / _wholsome_, _fetid_ / _foetid_, _public_ / +_publick_, _Physic_ / _Physick_, etc. have been preserved in the present +transcription. + +In some cases of doubt, the present edition has been compared with scans +of the 1766 edition printed by Donaldson, which differs slightly in +setting, for instance having all names not capitalized, and corrects +many typographic mistakes. + +Corrections listed in the Errata at the end of the book have been +carried into this transcription (excepting those which are not relevant +for the transcription, like those in running titles). + +Typographic errors, occurring at the following pages and lines in the +original, have been corrected (negative numbers indicate lines from the +bottom of the page): + + - *p. 23, note *, l. -6* their Druggs --> their Drugs + - *p. 29, l. 12* thorough Attentention --> thorough Attention + - *p. 39, l. 2* btutal Souls --> brutal Souls + - *p. 48, l. 12-13* thick, and and that --> thick, and that + - *p. 55, l. -5* increases our Horrour --> increases our Horror + - *p. 61, l. 3-4* deserves a Patients Confidence --> deserves a + Patient's Confidence + - *p. 62, l. 16* Drink and Glisters --> Drink and Glysters + - *p. 87, l. -8* the loosening Glyster No. 5 --> the loosening Glyster + No. 5 + - *p. 106, l. 1* Inflammamations --> Inflammations + - *p. 148, l. 21-22* Perspiraration --> Perspiration + - *p. 182, l. 19* Applications N. 9 --> Applications No. 9 + - *p. 189, l. 1* the Powder No. 29 --> the Powder No. 29 + - *p. 223, note *, l. 4* without the least peceiveable --> without the + least perceiveable + - *p. 226, l. 17-18* Relax-tion --> Relaxation + - *p. 244, l. 4-5* Dis-seases --> Diseases + - *p. 261, l. 15* Haemmorrhages --> Haemorrhages + - *p. 283, l. 14-15* Pre-Precription --> Prescription + - *p. 344, note +, l. -2* _missing closing quote conjecturally + inserted after_ instead of stumming or sulphurizing it,' + - *p. 353, l. 1* stance constitutes --> Circumstance constitutes + - *p. 355, l. 18* not pregant --> not pregnant + - *p. 383, l. 6* the back Bart of the Head --> the back Part of the + Head + - *p. 485, l. 13* checks it Progress --> checks its Progress + - *p. 495, l. 19* strong swelling Herbs --> strong smelling Herbs + - *p. 506, l. 15* Weakness is an Obstable --> Weakness is an Obstacle + - *p. 506, l. 19* an Evacution supervenes --> an Evacuation supervenes + - *p. 525, l. -2,-1* Never-vertheless --> Nevertheless + - *p. 560, l. -7* Villians --> Villains + - *p. 573, l. 6* some Evacution --> some Evacuation + - *p. 608. l. -7* Temparrament --> Temperrament + - *p. 611, col. 2, l. 4* _Of a_ Diarrhaea --> _Of a_ Diarrhoea + +So has been corrected the punctuation: + + - *p. xxii, last line, note* published at _Lyons_. [missing period] + - *p. xxix, l. 10* _Infusion_ No. 1; [missing dot] + - *p. xxix, l. 13-14* Numbers 1. 2, and 4 --> Numbers 1, 2, and 4 + - *p. 63, l. 15* of the Ptisans No. 1 [missing dot] + - *p. 84, l. -7, note* the Mixture, No. 10 [missing dot] + - *p. 88, l. 21* the purging Potion No. 11 [missing dot] + - *p. 89, l. 12* and drink plentifully of the Ptisan No. 2 [missing + dot] + - *p. 89, l. -7* should drink plentifully of the Ptisan No. 12 + [missing dot] + - *p. 117, l. 12-13* or some of those Diet-Drinks No. 1, 2, 4; [dots + instead of commas] + - *p. 118, note *, l. 3* it in his late _Materia Medica._ K. [missing + period] + - *p. 173, l. -8* in Hunting in 1658. [additional comma] + - *p. 198, l. 16* 3. The Bites --> 3, The Bites + - *p. 203, note, l. 5* in many other Places. [missing period] + - *p. 231, note, l- 1* and the Note there. [comma instead of period] + - *p. 233, l. 10* sound and hearty Children). [missing period] + - *p. 265, l. -6* 12, As soon as the Distemper [period instead of + comma] + - *p. 320, last line of the note* or for suspending it. _K._ [missing + dot] + - *p. 371, l. 7* 2, An Inflammation [period instead of comma] + - *p. 531, l. -6* or wrong. [missing period] + - *p. 538, l. -9* Powder No. 20 [missing dot] + - *p. 601, first line of the note* The Prescriptions No. 54, 55, 56 + [missing dot after No and periods instead of commas] + +The footnotes, marked in the text mostly by asterisks, symbols and +alphabetic letters on a page by page basis, have been renumbered +progressively throughout the book. The footnote * on page 256 does not +appear to be referenced at any specific point on the printed page, and +has been treated as footnote to the last word of the paragraph. + +Italics markup of abbreviations like _&c._, _K._, which was not always +consistent in the original, has been retained as printed. + +The Greek letters _{alpha}_, _{beta}_, _{gamma}_ enumerating the +prescriptions of Sec. 214 have been replaced by the Latin letters _a_, _b_, +_c_ for better character set portability. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Advice to the people in general, with +regard to their health, by Samuel Auguste David Tissot + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADVICE TO THE PEOPLE *** + +***** This file should be named 39044.txt or 39044.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/0/4/39044/ + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Enrico Segre and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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