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Preface

When I first signified my intention of publishing the following sheets, I was told by my friends it would draw on me the resentment of the whole Faculty. As I never could entertain such an unfavourable idea, I was resolved to make the experiment, which indeed came out pretty much as might have been expected. Many whose learning and liberality of sentiments do honour to medicine received the book in a manner which at once shewed their indulgence, and the falsity of the opinion that every physician wishes to conceal his art; while the more selfish and narrow-minded, generally the most numerous in every profession, have not failed to persecute both the book and its author.

The reception, however, which this work has met with from the Public merits my most grateful acknowledgments. As the best way of expressing these, I have endeavoured to render it more generally useful, by enlarging the prophylaxis, or that part which treats of preventing diseases; and by adding many articles which had been entirely omitted in the former impressions. It is needless to enumerate these additions; I shall only say, that I hope they will be found real improvements.

The observations relative to Nursing and the Management of Children, were chiefly suggested by an extensive practice among infants, in a large branch of the Foundling Hospital, where I had an opportunity not only of treating the diseases incident to childhood, but likewise of trying different plans of nursing, and observing their effects. Whenever I had it in my power to place the children under the care of proper nurses, to instruct these nurses in their duty, and to be satisfied that they performed it, very few of them died; but when, from distance of place, and other unavoidable circumstances, the children were left to the sole care of mercenary nurses, without any person to instruct or superintend them, scarce any of them lived.

This was so apparent, as with me to amount to a proof of the following melancholy fact: That almost one half of the human species perish in infancy, by improper management or neglect. This reflection has made me often wish to be the happy instrument of alleviating the miseries of those suffering innocents, or of rescuing them from an untimely grave. No one, who has not had an opportunity of observing them, can imagine what absurd and ridiculous practices still prevail in the nursing and management of infants, and what numbers of lives are by that means lost to society. As these practices are chiefly owing to ignorance, it is to be hoped, that when nurses are better informed, their conduct will be more proper.

The application of medicine to the various occupations of life has been in general the result of observation. An extensive practice for several years, in one of the largest manufacturing towns in England, afforded me sufficient opportunities of observing the injuries which those useful people sustain from their particular employments, and likewise of trying various methods of obviating such injuries. The success which attended these trials was sufficient to encourage this attempt, which I hope will be of use to those who are under the necessity of earning their bread by such employments as are unfavourable to health.

I do not mean to intimidate men, far less to insinuate that even those arts, the practice of which is attended with some degree of danger, should not be carried on; but to guard the less cautious and unwary against those dangers which they have it in their power to avoid, and which they often, through mere ignorance, incur. As every occupation in life disposes those who follow it to some particular diseases more than to others, it is certainly of importance to know these, in order that people may be upon their guard against them. It is always better to be warned of the approach of an enemy, than to be surprised by him, especially where there is a possibility of avoiding the danger.

The observations concerning Diet, Air, Exercise, &c. are of a more general nature, and have not escaped the attention of physicians in any age. They are subjects of too great importance, however, to be passed over in an attempt of this kind, and can never be sufficiently recommended. The man who pays a proper attention to these, will seldom need the physician; and he who does not, will seldom enjoy health, let him employ as many physicians as he pleases.

Though we have endeavoured to point out the causes of diseases, and to put people upon their guard against them, yet it must be acknowledged that they are often of such a nature as to admit of being removed only by the diligence and activity of the public magistrate. We are sorry, indeed, to observe, that the power of the magistrate is seldom exerted in this country for the preservation of health. The importance of a proper medical police is either not understood, or little regarded. Many things highly injurious to the public health are daily practiced with impunity, while others, absolutely necessary for its preservation, are entirely neglected.

Some of the public means of preserving health are mentioned in the general prophylaxis, as the inspection of provisions, widening the streets of great towns, keeping them clean, supplying the inhabitants with wholesome water, &c.; but they are passed over in a very cursory manner. A proper attention to these would have swelled this volume to too large a size; I have therefore reserved them for the subject of a future publication.

In the treatment of diseases, I have been peculiarly attentive to regimen. The generality of people lay too much stress upon Medicine, and trust too little to their own endeavours. It is always in the power of the patient, or of those about him, to do as much towards his recovery as can be effected by the physician. By not attending to this, the designs of Medicine are often frustrated; and the patient, by pursuing a wrong plan of regimen, not only defeats the Doctor’s endeavours, but renders them dangerous. I have often known patients killed by an error in regimen, when they were using very proper medicines. It will be said, the physician always orders the regimen when he prescribes a medicine. I wish it were so, both for the honour of the Faculty and the safety of their patients: but physicians, as well as other people, are too little attentive to this matter.

Though many reckon it doubtful whether physic is more beneficial or hurtful to mankind, yet all allow the necessity and importance of a proper regimen in diseases. Indeed the very appetites of the sick prove its propriety. No man in his senses ever imagined that a person in a fever, for example, could eat, drink, or conduct himself in the same manner as one in perfect health. This part of medicine, therefore, is evidently founded in Nature, and is every way consistent with reason and common sense. Had men been more attentive to it, and less solicitous in hunting after secret remedies, Medicine had never become an object of ridicule.

This seems to have been the first idea of Medicine. The ancient physicians acted chiefly in the capacity of nurses. They went very little beyond aliment in their prescriptions; and even this they generally administered themselves, attending the sick for that purpose through the whole course of the disease; which gave them an opportunity not only of marking the changes of diseases with great accuracy, but likewise of observing the effects of their different applications, and adapting them to the symptoms.

The learned Dr. Arbuthnot asserts, that by a proper attention to those things which are almost within the reach of every body, more good and less mischief will be done in acute diseases, than by medicines improperly and unseasonably administered; and that great cures may be effected in chronical distempers, by a proper regimen of the diet only. So entirely do the Doctor’s sentiments and mine agree, that I would advise every person, ignorant of physic, to confine his practice solely to diet, and the other parts of regimen; by which means he may often do much good, and can seldom do any hurt.

This seems also to have been the opinion of the ingenious Dr. Huxham, who observes, that we often seek from Art what all-bountiful Nature most readily, and as effectually, offers us, had we diligence and sagacity enough to observe and make use of them; that the dietetic part of Medicine is not so much studied as it ought to be; and that, though less pompous, yet it is the most natural method of curing diseases.

To render the book more generally useful, however, as well as more acceptable to the intelligent part of mankind, I have in most diseases, besides regimen, recommended some of the most simple and approved forms of medicine, and added such cautions and directions as seemed necessary for their safe administration, it would no doubt have been more acceptable to many, had it abounded with pompous prescriptions, and promised great cures in consequence of their use; but this was not my plan: I think the administration of medicines always doubtful, and often dangerous, and would much rather teach men how to avoid the necessity of using them, than how they should be used.

Several medicines, and those of considerable efficacy, may be administered with great freedom and safety. Physicians generally trifle a long time with medicines before they learn their proper use. Many peasants at present know better how to use some of the most important articles in the materia medica, than physicians did a century ago; and doubtless the same observation will hold with regard to others some time hence. Wherever I was convinced that medicine might be used with safety, or where the cure depended chiefly upon it, I have taken care to recommend it; but where it was either highly dangerous, or not very necessary, it is omitted.

I have not troubled the reader with an useless parade of quotations from different authors, but have in general adopted their observations where my own were either defective, or totally wanting. Those to whom I am most obliged are, Ramazini, Arbuthnot, and Tissot; the last of which, in his Avis au Peuple, comes the nearest to my views of any author which I have seen. Had the Doctor’s plan been as complete as the execution is masterly, we should have had no occasion for any new treatise of this kind soon; but by confining himself to the acute diseases, he has in my opinion omitted the most useful part of his subject. People in acute diseases may sometimes be their own physicians; but in the chronic, the cure must ever depend chiefly upon the patient’s own endeavours. The Doctor has also passed over the Prophylaxis, or preventive part of Medicine, very slightly, though it is certainly of the greatest importance in such a work. He had no doubt his reasons for so doing, and I am so far from finding fault with him, that I think his performance does great honour both to his head and to his heart.

Several other foreign physicians of eminence have written on nearly the same plan with Tissot, as the Baron Van Swieten, physician to their Imperial Majesties, M. Rosen, first physician of the kingdom of Sweden, &c.; but these gentlemen’s productions have never come to my hand. I cannot help wishing, however, that some of our distinguished countrymen would follow their example. There still remains much to be done on this subject, and it does not appear to me how any man could better employ his time or talents, than in eradicating hurtful prejudices, and diffusing useful knowledge among the people.

I know some of the Faculty disapprove of every attempt of this nature, imagining that it must totally destroy their influence. But this notion appears to me to be as absurd as it is illiberal. People in distress will always apply for relief to men of superior abilities, when they have it in their power; and they will do this with far greater confidence and readiness when they believe that Medicine is a rational science, than when they take it to be only a matter of mere conjecture.

Though I have endeavoured to render this Treatise plain and useful, yet I found it impossible to avoid some terms of art; but those are in general either explained, or are such as most people understand. In short, I have endeavoured to conform my style to the capacities of mankind in general; and, if my Readers do not flatter either themselves or me, with some degree of success. On a medical subject, this is not so easy a matter as some may imagine. To make a shew of learning is easier than to write plain sense, especially in a science which has been kept at such a distance from common observation. It would however be no difficult matter to prove, that every thing valuable in the practical part of Medicine is within the reach of common abilities.

It would be ungenerous not to express my warmest acknowledgments to those Gentlemen who have endeavoured to extend the usefulness of this Performance, by translating it into the language of their respective countries. Most of them have not only given elegant translations of the Book, but have also enriched it with many useful observations; by which it is rendered more complete, and better adapted to the climate and the constitutions of their countrymen. To the learned Dr. Duplanil of Paris, physician to the Count d’Artois, I lie under particular obligations; as this Gentleman has not only considerably enlarged my Treatise, but, by his very ingenious and useful notes, has rendered it so popular on the Continent, as to occasion its being translated into all the languages of modern Europe.

I have only to add, that the book has not more exceeded my expectations in its success, than in the effects it has produced. Some of the most pernicious practices, with regard to the treatment of the sick, have already given place to a more rational conduct; and many of the most hurtful prejudices, which seemed to be quite insurmountable, have in a great measure yielded to better information. Of this a stronger instance cannot be given than the inoculation of the small-pox. Few mothers, some years ago, would submit to have their children inoculated even by the hand of a Physician; yet nothing is more certain, than that of late many of them have performed this operation with their own hands; and as their success has been equal to that of the most dignified inoculators, there is little reason to doubt that the practice will become general. Whenever this shall be the case, more lives will be saved by inoculation alone, than are at present by all the endeavours of the Faculty.

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Introduction

The improvements in Medicine, since the revival of learning, have by no means kept pace with those of the other arts. The reason is obvious. Medicine has been studied by few, except those who intended to live by it as a trade. Such, either from a mistaken zeal for the honour of Medicine, or to raise their own importance, have endeavoured to disguise and conceal the art. Medical authors have generally written in a foreign language; and those who were unequal to this talk, have even valued themselves upon couching, at least, their prescriptions, in terms and characters unintelligible to the rest of mankind.

The contentions of the clergy, which happened soon after the restoration of learning, engaged the attention of mankind, and paved the way for that freedom of thought and inquiry, which has since prevailed in most parts of Europe with regard to religious matters. Every man took a side in those bloody disputes; and every gentleman, that he might distinguish himself on one side or other, was instructed in Divinity. This taught people to think and reason for themselves in matters of religion, and at last totally destroyed that complete and absolute dominion which the clergy had obtained over the minds of men.

The study of Law has likewise, in most civilized nations, been justly deemed a necessary part of the education of a gentleman. Every gentleman ought certainly to know at least the laws of his own country: and, if he were also acquainted with those of others, it might be more than barely an ornament to him.

The different branches of Philosophy have also of late been very universally studied by all who pretended to a liberal education. The advantages of this are manifest. It frees the mind from prejudice and superstition; fits it for the investigation of truth; induces habits of reasoning and judging properly; opens an inexhaustible source of entertainment; paves the way to the improvement of arts and agriculture; and qualifies men for acting with propriety in the most important stations of life.

Natural History is likewise become an object of general attention; and it well deserves to be so. It leads to discoveries of the greatest importance. Indeed agriculture, the most useful of all arts, is only a branch of Natural History, and can never arrive at a high degree of improvement where the study of that science is neglected.

Medicine however has not, as far as I know, in any country, been reckoned a necessary part of the education of a gentleman. But surely no sufficient reason can be assigned for this omission. No science lays open a more extensive field of useful knowledge, or affords more ample entertainment to an inquisitive mind. Anatomy, Botany, Chymistry, and the Materia Medica, are all branches of Natural History, and are fraught with such amusement and utility, that the man who entirely neglects them has but a sorry claim either to taste or learning. If a gentleman has a turn for observation, says an excellent and sensible writer[1], surely the natural history of his own species is a more interesting subject, and presents a more ample field for the exertion of genius, than the natural history of spiders and cockle-shells.

We do not mean that every man should become a physician. This would be an attempt as ridiculous as it is impossible. All we plead for is, that men of sense and learning should be so far acquainted with the general principles of Medicine, as to be in a condition to derive from it some of those advantages with which it is fraught; and at the same time to guard themselves against the destructive influences of Ignorance, Superstition, and Quackery.

As matters stand at present, it is easier to cheat a man out of his life than of a shilling, and almost impossible either to detect or punish the offender. Notwithstanding this, people still shut their eyes, and take every thing upon trust that is administered by any Pretender to Medicine, without daring to ask him a reason for any part of his conduct. Implicit faith, every where else the object of ridicule, is still sacred here. Many of the faculty are no doubt worthy of all the confidence that can be reposed in them; but as this can never be the character of every individual in any profession, it would certainly be for the safety, as well as the honour, of mankind, to have some check upon the conduct of those to whom they entrust so valuable a treasure as health.

The veil of mystery, which still hangs over medicine, renders it not only a conjectural, but even a suspicious art. This has been long ago removed from the other sciences, which induces many to believe that Medicine is a mere trick, and that it will not bear a fair and candid examination. Medicine, however, needs only to be better known, in order to secure the general esteem of mankind. Its precepts are such as every wise man would chuse to observe, and it forbids nothing but what is incompatible with true happiness.

Disguising Medicine not only retards its improvement as a science, but exposes the profession to ridicule, and is injurious to the true interests of society. An art founded on observation never can arrive at any high degree of improvement, while it is confined to a few who make a trade of it. The united observations of all the ingenious and sensible part of mankind, would do more in a few years towards the improvement of Medicine, than those of the Faculty alone in a great many. Any man can tell when a medicine gives him ease as well as a physician; and if he only knows the name and dose of the medicine, and the name of the disease, it is sufficient to perpetuate the fact. Yet the man who adds one single fact to the stock of medical observations, does more real service to the art, than he who writes a volume in support of some favourable hypothesis.

Very few of the valuable discoveries in Medicine have been made by physicians. They have in general either been the effect of chance or of necessity, and have been usually opposed by the Faculty, till every one else was convinced of their importance. An implicit faith in the opinions of teachers, an attachment to systems and established forms, and the dread of reflections, will always operate upon those who follow Medicine as a trade. Few improvements are to be expected from a man who might ruin his character and family by even the smallest deviation from an established rule.

If men of letters, says the author of the performance quoted above, were to claim their right of inquiry into a matter that so nearly concerns them, the good effects on Medicine would soon appear. Such men would have no separate interest from that of the art. They would detect and expose assuming Ignorance under the mask of Gravity and Importance, and would be the judges and patrons of modest merit. Not having their understandings perverted in their youth by false theories, unawed by authority, and unbiassed by interest, they would canvass with freedom the most universally received principles in Medicine, and expose the uncertainty of many of those doctrines, of which a physician dares not so much as seem to doubt.

No argument, continues he, can be brought against laying open Medicine, which does not apply with equal, if not greater force, to religion; yet experience has shewn, that since the laity have asserted their right of inquiry into these subjects, Theology, considered as a science, has been improved, the interests of real religion have been promoted, and the clergy have become a more learned, a more useful, and a more respectable body of men, than they ever were in the days of their greatest power and splendour.

Had other medical writers been as honest as this gentleman, the art had been upon a very different footing at this day. Most of them extol the merit of those men who brought Philosophy out of the schools, and subjected it to the rules of common sense. But they never consider that Medicine, at present, is in nearly the same situation as Philosophy was at that time, and that it might be as much improved by being treated in the same manner. Indeed, no science can either be rendered rational or useful, without being submitted to the common sense and reason of mankind. These alone stamp a value upon science; and what will not bear the test of these ought to be rejected.

I know it will be said, that diffusing medical knowledge among the people might induce them to tamper with Medicine, and to trust to their own skill instead of calling a physician. The reverse of this however is true. Persons who have most knowledge in these matters, are commonly most ready both to ask and to follow advice, when it is necessary. The ignorant are always most apt to tamper with Medicine, and have the least confidence in physicians. Instances of this are daily to be met with among the ignorant peasants, who, while they absolutely refuse to take a medicine which has been prescribed by a physician, will swallow with greediness any thing that is recommended to them by their credulous neighbours. Where men will act even without knowledge, it is certainly more rational to afford them all the light we can, than to leave them entirely in the dark.

It may also be alleged, that laying Medicine more open to mankind would lessen their faith in it. This would indeed be the case with regard to some; but it would have a quite contrary effect upon others. I know many people who have the utmost dread and horror of every thing prescribed by a physician, but who will nevertheless very readily take a medicine which they know, and whose qualities they are in some measure acquainted with. Hence it is evident, that the dread arises from the doctor, not from the drug. Nothing ever can or will inspire mankind with an absolute confidence in physicians, but an open, frank, and undisguised behaviour. While the least shadow of mystery remains in the conduct of the Faculty, doubts, jealousies, and suspicions, will arise in the minds of men.

No doubt cases will sometimes occur, where a prudent physician may find it expedient to disguise a medicine. The whims and humours of men must be regarded by those who mean to do them service; but this can never affect the general argument in favour of candour and openness. A man might as well allege, because there are knaves and fools in the world, that he ought to take every one he meets for such, and to treat him accordingly. A sensible physician will always know where disguise is necessary; but it ought never to appear on the face of his general conduct.

The appearance of mystery in the conduct of physicians not only renders their art suspicious, but lays the foundations of Quackery, which is the disgrace of Medicine. No two characters can be more different than that of the honest physician and the quack; yet they have generally been very much confounded. The line between them is not sufficiently apparent; at least it is too fine for the general eye. Few persons are able to distinguish sufficiently between the conduct of that man who administers a secret medicine, and him who writes a prescription in mystical characters and an unknown tongue. Thus the conduct of the honest physician, which needs no disguise, gives a sanction to that of the villain, whose sole consequence depends upon secrecy.

No laws will ever be able to prevent quackery, while people believe that the quack is as honest a man, and as well qualified, as the physician. A very small degree of medical knowledge, however, would be sufficient to break this spell; and nothing else can effectually undeceive them. It is the ignorance and credulity of the multitude, with regard to medicine, which renders them such an easy prey to every one who has the hardiness to attack them on this quarter. Nor can the evil be remedied by any other means but by making them wiser.

The most effectual way to destroy quackery in any art or science, is to diffuse the knowledge of it among mankind. Did physicians write their prescriptions in the common language of the country, and explain their intentions to the patient, as far as he could understand them, it would enable him to know when the medicine had the desired effect; would inspire him with absolute confidence in the physician; and would make him dread and detest every man who pretended to cram a secret medicine down his throat.

Men in the different states of society, have very different views of the same object. Some time ago it was the practice of this country for every person to say his prayers in Latin, whether he knew any thing of that language or not. This conduct, though sacred in the eyes of our ancestors, appears ridiculous enough to us; and doubtless some parts of ours will seem as strange to posterity. Among these we may reckon the present mode of medical prescription, which, we venture to affirm, will sometime hence appear to have been completely ridiculous, and a very high burlesque upon the common sense of mankind.

But this practice is not only ridiculous, it is likewise dangerous. However capable physicians may be of writing Latin, I am certain apothecaries are not always in a condition to read it, and that dangerous mistakes, in consequence of this, often happen. But suppose the apothecary ever so able to read the physician’s prescription, he is generally otherwise employed, and the business of making up prescriptions is left entirely to the apprentice. By this means the greatest man in the kingdom, even when he employs a first-rate physician, in reality trusts his life in the hands of an idle boy, who has not only the chance of being very ignorant, but likewise giddy and careless. Mistakes will sometimes happen in spite of the greatest care; but, where human lives are concerned, all possible methods ought certainly to be taken to prevent them. For this reason, the prescriptions of physicians, instead of being couched in mystical characters and a foreign language, ought, in my humble opinion, to be conceived in the most plain and obvious terms imaginable.

Diffusing medical knowledge among the people would not only tend to improve the art, and to banish quackery, but likewise to render Medicine more universally useful, by extending its benefits to society. However long Medicine may have been known as a science, we will venture to say, that many of its most important purposes to society have either been overlooked, or very little attended to. The cure of diseases is doubtless a matter of great importance; but the preservation of health is of still greater. This is the concern of every man, and surely what relates to it ought to be rendered as plain and obvious to all as possible. It is not to be supposed, that men can be sufficiently upon their guard against diseases, who are totally ignorant of their causes. Neither can the legislature, in whose power it is to do much more for preserving the public health than can ever be done by the Faculty, exert that power with propriety, and to the greatest advantage, without some degree of medical knowledge.

Men of every occupation and condition in life might avail themselves of a degree of medical knowledge; as it would teach them to avoid the dangers peculiar to their respective stations; which is always easier than to remove their effects. Medical knowledge, instead of being a check upon the enjoyments of life, only teaches men how to make the most of them. It has indeed been said, that to live medically is to live miserably: but it might with equal propriety be said, that to live rationally is to live miserably. If physicians obtrude their own ridiculous whims upon mankind, or lay down rules inconsistent with reason or common sense, no doubt they will be despised. But this is not the fault of Medicine. It proposes no rules that I know, but such as are perfectly consistent with the true enjoyment of life, and every way conducive to the real happiness of mankind.

We are sorry indeed to observe, that Medicine has hitherto hardly been considered as a popular science, but as a branch of knowledge solely confined to a particular set of men, while all the rest have been taught not only to neglect, but even to dread and despise it. It will however appear, upon a more strict examination, that no science better deserves their attention, or is more capable of being rendered generally useful.

People are told, that if they dip the least into medical knowledge, it will render them fanciful, and make them believe they have every disease of which they read. This I am satisfied will seldom be the case with sensible people; and, suppose it were, they must soon be undeceived. A short time will shew them their error, and a little more reading will infallibly correct it. A single instance will shew the absurdity of this notion. A sensible lady, rather than read a medical performance, which would instruct her in the management of her children, must leave them entirely to the care and conduct of the most ignorant, credulous, and superstitious part of the human species.

No part of Medicine is of more general importance than that which relates to the nursing and management of children. Yet few parents pay a proper attention to it. They leave the sole care of their tender offspring, at the very time when care and attention are most necessary, to hirelings, who are either too careless to do their duty, or too ignorant to know it. We will venture to affirm, that more human lives are lost by the carelessness and inattention of parents and nurses, than are saved by the Faculty; and that the joint and well-conducted endeavours, both of private persons and the public, for the preservation of infant lives, would be of more advantage to society, than the whole art of Medicine, upon its present footing.

The benefits of Medicine, as a trade, will ever be confined to those who are able to pay for them; and of course, the far greater part of mankind will be every where deprived of them. Physicians, like other people, must live by their employment, and the poor must either want advice altogether, or take up with that which is worse than none. There are not however any where wanting well-disposed people, of better sense, who are willing to supply the defect of medical advice to the poor, did not their fear of doing ill often suppress their inclination to do good. Such people are often deterred from the most noble and praise-worthy actions, by the foolish alarms sounded in their ears by a set of men who, to raise their own importance, magnify the difficulties of doing good, find fault with what is truly commendable, and fleer at every attempt to relieve the sick which is not conducted by the precise rules of Medicine. These gentlemen must however excuse me for saying, that I have often known such well-disposed persons do much good; and that their practice, which is generally the result of good sense and observation, assisted by a little medical reading, is frequently more rational than that of the ignorant retainer to physic, who despises both reason and observation, that he may go wrong by rule; and who, while he is dosing his patient with medicines, often neglects other things of far greater importance.

Many things are necessary for the sick besides medicine. Nor is the person who takes care to procure those for them, of less importance than a physician. The poor oftener perish in diseases for want of proper nursing than of medicine. They are frequently in want of even the necessaries of life, and still more so of what is proper for a sickbed. No one can imagine, who has not been a witness of these situations, how much good a well-disposed person may do, by only taking care to have such wants supplied. There certainly cannot be a more necessary, a more noble, or a more godlike action, than to administer to the wants of our fellow-creatures in distress. While virtue or religion are known among mankind, this conduct will be approved; and while Heaven is just, it must be rewarded!

Persons who do not chuse to administer medicine to the sick, may nevertheless direct their regimen. An eminent medical author has said, That by diet alone all the intentions of Medicine may be answered[2]. No doubt a great many of them may; but there are other things beside diet, which ought by no means to be neglected. Many hurtful and destructive prejudices, with regard to the treatment of the sick, still prevail among the people, which persons of better sense and learning alone can eradicate. To guard the poor against the influence of these prejudices, and to instil into their minds some just ideas of the importance of proper food, fresh air, cleanliness, and other pieces of regimen necessary in diseases, would be a work of great merit, and productive of many happy consequences. A proper regimen, in most diseases, is at least equal to medicine, and in many of them it is greatly superior.

To assist the well-meant endeavours of the humane and benevolent in relieving distress; to eradicate dangerous and hurtful prejudices; to guard the ignorant and credulous against the frauds and impositions of quacks and impostors; and to shew men what is in their own power, both with regard to the prevention and cure of diseases, are certainly objects worthy of the physician’s attention. These were the leading views in composing and publishing the following sheets. They were suggested by an attention to the conduct of mankind, with regard to Medicine, in the course of a pretty long practice in different parts of this island, during which the author has often had occasion to wish that his patients, or those about them, had been possessed of some such plain directory for regulating their conduct. How far he has succeeded in his endeavours to supply this deficiency, must be left for others to determine; but if they be found to contribute in any measure towards alleviating the calamities of mankind, he will think his labour very well bestowed.

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I. Of the general Causes of Diseases

CHAP. I. Of Children Page 1 — Diseased Parents 7 — Clothing of Children 9 — Food of ditto 15 — Exercise of ditto 21 — Bad Effects of unwholesome Air upon ditto 30 — Nurses 33

CHAP. II. Of the Laborious, &c. 37 — the Sedentary 47 — the Studious 54

CHAP. III. Of Aliment 62

CHAP. IV. Of Air 75

CHAP. V. Of Exercise 81

CHAP. VI. Of Sleep 87 — Clothing 89

CHAP. VII. Of Intemperance 94

CHAP. VIII. Of Cleanliness 100

CHAP. IX. Of Infection 106

CHAP. X. Of the Passions 111 — Anger 112 — Fear ib. — Grief 116 — Love 119 — Religious Melancholy 120

CHAP. XI. Of the Common Evacuations 121 — Stool ib. — Urine 123 — Perspiration 125 — being affected by Changes in the Atmosphere 126 — Wet Clothes 127 — Wet Feet ib. — Night Air 128 — Damp Beds ib. — Damp Houses 130 — Sudden Transitions from Heat to Cold 131

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II. Of Diseases

CHAP. XII. Of the Knowledge and Cure of Diseases 135

CHAP. XIII. Fevers in general 140

CHAP. XIV. Of intermitting Fevers or Agues 147

CHAP. XV. Of an Acute Continual Fever 157

CHAP. XVI. Of the Pleurisy 163 —— Bastard ditto 169 —— Paraphrenitis 170

CHAP. XVII. Inflammation of the Lungs 171

CHAP. XVIII. Of Consumptions 174

CHAP. XIX. Of the Slow or Nervous Fever 188

CHAP. XX. Malignant, Putrid, or Spotted Fever 195

CHAP. XXI. Miliary Fever 205

CHAP. XXII. Remitting Fever 210

CHAP. XXIII. The Small-pox 214 Inoculation 227

CHAP. XXIV. The Measles 240 — Scarlet Fever 245 — Bilious Fever 247

CHAP. XXV. St. Anthony’s Fire 248

CHAP. XXVI. Inflammation of the Brain 254

CHAP. XXVII. Inflammation of the Eyes 258

CHAP. XXVIII. The Quinsey 264 — Malignant ditto 271

CHAP. XXIX. Colds and Coughs 276 A Common Cough 280 Hooping-Cough 284

CHAP. XXX. Inflammation of the Stomach 289 —— of the Intestines 291 Of the Colic 295 Inflammation of the Kidnies 301 —— of the Bladder 304 —— of the Liver 305

CHAP. XXXI. Of the Cholera Morbus, and other excessive Discharges from the Stomach and Bowels 309 — a Diarrhœa, or Looseness 312 — Vomiting 315

CHAP. XXXII. Disorders of the Kidnies and Bladder 319 Of the Diabetes, or excessive Discharge of Urine ib. — Suppression of ditto 322 — the Gravel and Stone 324

CHAP. XXXIII. Involuntary Discharges of Blood 328 Bleeding at the Nose 331 Bleeding and Blind Piles 334 Spitting of Blood 337 Vomiting of ditto 341 Bloody Urine 342 —— Flux 345 Cœliac Passion 351

CHAP. XXXIV. Of the Head-ach 352 —— Tooth-ach 357 —— Ear-ach 360 Pain of the Stomach, &c. 362

CHAP. XXXV. Of Worms 365

CHAP. XXXVI. Of the Jaundice 370

CHAP. XXXVII. Of the Dropsy 374

CHAP. XXXVIII. Of the Gout 380 —— Rheumatism 388

CHAP. XXXIX. Of the Scurvy 393 —— Scrophula 398 —— Itch 403

CHAP. XL. Of the Asthma 406

CHAP. XLI. Of the Apoplexy 410

CHAP. XLII. Of Costiveness 414 — Want of Appetite 416 — Heart-burn 418

CHAP. XLIII. Of Nervous Diseases 420 — Melancholy 426 — the Palsy 430 — the Epilepsy, or Falling Sickness 432 — the Hiccup 436 — Cramp of the Stomach 438 — the Night-mare 439 — Swoonings 440 — Flatulencies, or Wind 443 — Low Spirits 446 — Hysteric Affections 447 — Hypochondriac Affections 451

CHAP. XLIV. Disorders of the Senses 456 —— of the Eye ib. A Gutta Serena 458 A Cataract 458 Short Sightedness 459 Seeing only at too great a Distance ib. Squinting ib. Spots or Specks ib. Bloodshot Eye ib. Watery or Weeping Eye 460 Of the Ear ib. —— Taste and Smell 463 —— Touch 465

CHAP. XLV. Of a Scirrhus and Cancer 466

CHAP. XLVI. Of Poisons 472 — Mineral Poisons 474 — Vegetable ditto 475 Bites of poisonous Animals 477 —— of the Mad Dog ib. —— of the Viper 485 —— of poisonous Infects 486 —— of the Rattle-Snake 488

CHAP. XLVII. Of the Venereal Disease 489 —— Virulent Gonorrhœa 490 — Gleets 500 — Swelled Testicle 503 — Buboes 504 — Chancres 506 — A Confirmed Lues or Pox 510 General Observations 515

CHAP. XLVIII. Diseases of Women 521 Of the Menstrual Discharge 522 — Pregnancy 530 — Childbirth 533 — Barrenness 542

CHAP. XLIX. Diseases of Children 544 Of the Meconium 546 — the Apthæ or Thrush 547 — Acidities 548 — Galling and Excoriation 550 — Stoppage of the Nose ib. — Vomiting 551 — a Looseness 552 — Eruptions 554 — the Croup 557 — Teething 559 — the Rickets 562 — Convulsions 565 — Water in the Head 567

CHAP. L. Of Surgery 569 — Bleeding 570 — Inflammations and Abscesses 573 — Wounds 575 — Burns 580 — Bruises 582 Ulcers 583

CHAP. LI. Of Dislocations 586 Dislocation of the Jaw 588 —— of the Neck 589 —— of the Ribs 590 —— of the Shoulder ib. —— of the Elbow 591 —— of the Wrist and Fingers 592 —— of the Thigh ib. —— of the Knees ib. —— of the Ancles ib. —— of the Toes ib.

CHAP. LII. Of broken Bones, &c. 593 — Strains 597 — Ruptures 598

CHAP. LIII. Of Casualties 600 — Substances stopt between the Mouth and Stomach 602 — Drowned Persons 608 — Noxious Vapours 613 Effects of Extreme Cold 616 —— Heat 618

CHAP. LIV. Of Fainting Fits, and other Cases which require immediate Assistance 618 — Intoxication 623 — Suffocation and Strangling 626 — Persons who expire in Convulsion Fits 629

CHAP. LV. Cautions concerning Cold Bathing, and drinking the Mineral Waters 633

CONTENTS of the APPENDIX.

Introduction Page 649 List of Simples 654

Medical Preparations. Balsams 657 Boluses 658 Cataplasms and Sinapisms 659 Clysters 660 Collyria, or Eye-waters 662 Confections 663 Conserves and Preserves 664 Decoctions 665 Draughts 668 Electuaries 669 Emulsions 672 Extracts 673 Fomentations ib. Gargles 674 Infusions 676 Juleps 678 Mixtures 680 Ointments, Liniments, and Cerates 681 Pills 684 Plasters 688 Powders 690 Syrups 694 Tinctures, Elixirs, &c. ib. Vinegars 699 Waters by Infusion, &c. 701 Simple distilled Waters 703 Spirituous distilled Waters 704 Wheys ib. Wines 705

A GLOSSARY 708 INDEX 713

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