Chapter XVIII: Part 18

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.