Proposals for printing by subscription an original work, intitled, The family physician. Highly necessary for all persons who wish to preserve their own health, or are desirous to assist their neighbours in distress / [William Buchan].

  • Buchan, William, 1729-1805
Date:
1768?]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Proposals for printing by subscription an original work, intitled, The family physician. Highly necessary for all persons who wish to preserve their own health, or are desirous to assist their neighbours in distress / [William Buchan]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    by all concerned about the fick. For example, in one dis¬ order, the patient ought to be kept very warm ; in an¬ other, cool j in a third, he ought to live upon low diet; and in a fourth, to be fupported with the molt nourifhing diet and generous cordials, &c. As thefe, and many other cafes which daily happen, may be coniidered as dired oppofites, can it be doubted that many patients lofe their lives for want of a due regard to thefe circumflances ? So many and great are the benefits arifing from proper nurfing and a right regimen in all diforders, that I have generally made it a rule to begin with my patients where molt phyficians end, viz. By {hewing them how far it is in their own power to remove or mitigate their com¬ plaints by proper conclud, and the ufe of what are called the nonnaturals. This pradice is always fafer, more a- greeable to the patient, and often more fuccefsful than medicine itfelf. Can any thing be more ridiculous, than to fee a phyfi- cian cramming his patient with drugs, fo long as the one has either resolution to take them, or the other a face to prefcribe ? And after both parties are tired, or rather when the medical farce has been aded, the dodor fits down, and very gravely tells the patient what he mufi; do him- felf in order to get well. Then, and not before, does he point out the vad advantages which the patient may ex- ped to reap from change of air, redorative diet, pro¬ per exercife, mineral waters, See. Now, if this be the bed courfe, it ought certainly to be recommended at fird; and if otherwife, it cannot be fuppofed to Succeed af¬ ter medicine has failed. It is this conlideration which makes the patient gene¬ rally defpife fuch advice, and look upon it only as a gen¬ teel difmiffion by the dodor, when he can do no more for him; and fo he defpairs and dies. Whereas, if thefe things had been propofed at fird, and the ftrefs of the cure reded upon them, the patient would have fet about them with alacrity, and have reaped the benefit accordingly. How often have I feen wonderful cures brought about by change of air, a due courfe of exercife, and a proper diet, after all forts of medicine had been tried in vain ? And barely much more might be done, if fuch a courfe