A new guide to health; or, botanic family physician. Containing a complete system of practice, upon a plan enitrely new; with a description of the vegetables made use of ... to cure disease. To which is added a description of several cases ... attended by the author ... / [Samuel Thomson].

  • Thomson, Samuel, 1769-1843
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new guide to health; or, botanic family physician. Containing a complete system of practice, upon a plan enitrely new; with a description of the vegetables made use of ... to cure disease. To which is added a description of several cases ... attended by the author ... / [Samuel Thomson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    glands of those parts that are first affected with it, and, if not checked, the whole system will become diseased by the venereal taint. It is more common among sea-faring men, because of their being long absent at sea, and on coming on shore, they give free scope to their passions, without being very scrupulous about the manner of the indulgence. It originates probably with those common women who have connexion with many different men, and going beyond the impulse of nature, this im¬ pure connexion causes uncleanness, which produces the dis¬ ease ; and when seated, is contagious. The reason why this disease causes so much fright and alarm is owing to two causes ; the first is the disgrace that is attached to dishonesty in getting it, and the other is the manner in which it has generally been treated, in giving mercury to cure it—the remedy becomes worse than the disease. That this disorder cannot be cured by any other means is altogether an error, for I have cured a number of cases by very simple means. The first symptom felt is a scalding sensation and pain when voiding the urine; and within twenty-four hours after this is experienced, it may be cured by applying cold water and making use of the rheumatic drops ; if there is much soreness make use of a tea of No. 3, with the drops in it, which must be taken as well as applied to the parts. If the disease has been of long standing, and the whole system has become affected, they must be carried through a course of medicine. Where there has been mercury made use of, and there is all the at¬ tendant consequences of such treatment, it is much more difficult to effect a cure, and is also done by a full course of medicine, and repeating it a number of times; raising the heat by steam each time, as high as they can bear, to throw out the mercury and remove the canker, at the same time applying the poultice, then give the bitters to correct the bile. I had the case of a woman who was brought to me on a bed fifteen miles. She was in a very putrid state, and as bad as she could be, with all the consequences that are caused by being filled with mercury. Different doctors had attended her for eleven months, and she had been constantly growing worse. She had been kept ignorant of her state till a few days before brought to me, on account of her husband. I carried her through five courses of medicine in two weeks, and applied a poultice of white bread and ginger, made with a tea of No. 3. This completely broke up the disorder, and by giving medicine to correct the bile and restore digestion, she was cured, and re¬ turned home in three weeks after coming to me. By taking things to restore her strength, she enjoyed good health ever since. Another woman was cured in the same manner, who had been in this way for six years, and unable to do any busi¬ ness. I attended her three weeks, when she was restored to health, and returned home. In less than a year after she had two children at a birth, and has enjoyed good health to this day. This disease may be produced by other means than what