A letter from an apothecary in London, to his friend in the country, concerning the present practice of physick : in regard to empiricks, empirical methods of cure, and nostrums. With remarks on Dr. Mead's, Mr. Freke's, and Mr. Cheselden's method of cure for the itch, by externals only ... Also some observations upon manna ... with remarks on Dr. Mead's certain cure for the bite of a mad dog.

Date:
1752
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter from an apothecary in London, to his friend in the country, concerning the present practice of physick : in regard to empiricks, empirical methods of cure, and nostrums. With remarks on Dr. Mead's, Mr. Freke's, and Mr. Cheselden's method of cure for the itch, by externals only ... Also some observations upon manna ... with remarks on Dr. Mead's certain cure for the bite of a mad dog. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    : feif; the very Reverfe in the prefent Practice is to be obferved; and it is to be lamented, that the noble Art of Phyfick fhould be fo crouded with fuch Trifles, as are impofed upon the Credulous, by Empiricks of all Kinds ; for in almoft all Difeafes thefe Things are cried up as if they were divine, by fuch as have made a Trade of thefe Trifles, to the great Dishonour of the Pro- feffion of Phyfick ; and here it may not be amifs to recite a Cafe to the prefent Pur- pole, that, is to fhew that no one Medicine or Method of Cure can anfwer all Pur- pofes. Dr. Sydenham owns he was fent for to one Mrs. Saltmarfh, whofe Belly was in¬ credibly big, and he gave her an Ounce of Syrup of Buck-thorn before Dinner, as the Cuftom was then ; it could fcarce be imagin¬ ed, how much Water Ihe evacuated by Stool, and that without any Tumult or Faintnefs, which fo encouraged him, that he gave it daily, only, when at any Time Ihe was weak, he omitted it for a Day or two ; and fo, the Water being gradually drained, the Belly daily afluaged, and Hie perfectly recovered. Fie, with the juvenile Confidence of an unexperienced Man, verily believed he had got a Specifick Medicine that would cure any Manner of Dropfy; but he found hisMifhke within a few Weeks; for foon after, he was called to another Woman i