The cottage physician, and family adviser; or every man his own doctor and herbalist. On the plain principles of "Medicine without mystery." [Vol. I] / edited by W. Buchan, M.D. and the members of a private medical society.

Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The cottage physician, and family adviser; or every man his own doctor and herbalist. On the plain principles of "Medicine without mystery." [Vol. I] / edited by W. Buchan, M.D. and the members of a private medical society. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    man, whose aim is to provide necessaries, without a hope to procure the luxuries of life : Lucy set out in the world with very good intentions ; but by finding herself and her husband free from the clamours of creditors, and in no present danger of want, she has insensibly acquired a few habits likely to produce it. Since the birth of her last child, she fancies herself ff too much a slave and tells her husband she “ was better off when in service ;” that she “had more gowns and ribbands, and less labour;” that she “ is determined not to stay at home so much as she has done, say what he will.” Her nurse and midwife persuaded her that she must take more nourish- ment now she suckles ; since which, her husband, though he has not found her drunk, has found bottles of liquor concealed in different corners, and when he happens to surprise her in tippling, she is only taking a drop to cure herself or the child of the belly-ache. . •. He is for stocking his shop—she for stocking her drawers; if he buys an article of household furniture which he finds really necessary, she finds her inclina- tion on edge for something which is not neces- sary, to complete it. The wives of neighbour Pinch - weight and neighbour Swagger, are just gone out in a chaise cart with new beaver hats, but for her part she “ can never go like other people; they can get new this and new thats, whose husbands are in debt, but she can get nothing though her husband owes nobody a farthing.” Though by the bye it is not long since he allowed her a guinea for a gown, for which she gave thirty shillings, because her husband need not know it. If she gives seven shillings for a laced cap for her boy, she assures him it cost four, and is a great bargain; because as he spends no money in drink like other men, he can afford it. The poor husband, without knowing why, finds his exertions and care not sufficiently rewarded by success, and becomes unsteady and dissatisfied. Thus from single want of n 3