An abridgment [sic] of the second edition of a work, written by Dr. Currie, of Liverpool in England : on the use of water, in diseases of the human frame ; and fever, opium, strong drink, abstinence from food, and the passages through the human skin ; with occasional remarks.

  • Currie, James, 1756-1805.
Date:
[1799]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An abridgment [sic] of the second edition of a work, written by Dr. Currie, of Liverpool in England : on the use of water, in diseases of the human frame ; and fever, opium, strong drink, abstinence from food, and the passages through the human skin ; with occasional remarks. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    14/70
    Dr. William Wrighr, p. r. s. formerly' of Jim k-s, and well known foi igi i i medicine and bo- tany, feemj • i uthor, which, joined to I the train of prac^i •: :rt r are about to gi . — !)<. Wfighr, while on a voyage From J.h naica in 1777* being attacked with fe- ver, on he third day of it, ordered three buckets or fait water to be thrown upon himfeif, which gave him in* flant relief; an.] this, being repeated or. the two €bl- lowing days, removed every fymptom ofdifeafe. An- other paff-mger, whofe attack from fever had begun on Augaft 9, copied the example, and was restored to health. A fearoan, who originally.communicateJ the fever to Dr. Wright, refafing proper aflillance, died. Encouraged by thefe incidents, and finding that Dr. Brandreth of Liverpool, had employed cold water ex- ternally in cafes of fever, with happy cffecls ; Dr. Cut* rie refolved upon a feries of experiments. In December 1787, Dr. Currie, in (even cafes of contagious fever, threw cold water from a bucket upon the body of each patient ; and the whole recovered. An eighth patient died, with whom the practice was omitted. The cure was chiefly inlrujied to this remedy in 153 cafes, of which the author.kept a regifter; be- fides many fubjequent cafes, cf which he kept no regif- ter, unlefs where the application failed of fuccefs. The 30th regiment of Britifh infantry, in particular, while quartered at Liverpool in 1792, afforded him an opportunity of trying this application with forr.e preci- sion ; and the refult of the experiment is ioftruclive. A guard-room, prifon-room, two fick-rooms, and a cellar,, bad, by their ibulnefs, either caufed or increafed a fever, which foon affecled a number ia the regiment. Dr. Cimie being called in, the pvimary caufes of the difaf- ter