Cases in which Velnos' Vegetable Syrup has cured the scurvy, rheumatism, palsy, and ... the venereal disease : with an account of the ... impostures used, to pass on the public the common decoction of the woods, poisoned with sublimated mercury, for the genuine syrup / [Isaac Swainson].

  • Swainson, Isaac, 1746-1812.
Date:
[1785]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases in which Velnos' Vegetable Syrup has cured the scurvy, rheumatism, palsy, and ... the venereal disease : with an account of the ... impostures used, to pass on the public the common decoction of the woods, poisoned with sublimated mercury, for the genuine syrup / [Isaac Swainson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    21/24 (page 21)
    C »! 1 . particularly by the patent he took out and fold to Hodfon ; of which an office copy is annexed : being by all thefe circumfiances proved never to have had the flighted acquaintance with Velnos’ receipt, he copld not fell or convey into Hodfon’s family what he iid not poflefs. Dotfpr Hodfon, therefore, was ill advifed, if he to.ok a degree, and came to London with a reliance, that Burrows s fvrtjp would pafs for that of De Velno$. In the country, fuch a n)ifapprehenfion may be obtained with a little art and audacity. Hpre the Vegetable Syrup of Mr. de Vel- nos is known to the firft and moll refpeCfable phyficians and fur- gcons; impofitions affirming its name are eafily brought to a che¬ mical tefl; and its character is fo well eflablifhed, that a diploma do.es not avail to fhelter any impoflure relating to it : for it is the genuine preparation of De Velnos which the public feek ; and they attend to the honefty and integrity of the perfon who prepares it, and not to th* addition of- a diploma to his fiatne, which is often a cover to falfefretenfions in phyfic as well as ip literature. If I}r. Hodfon imagines he, or any of his relations, purchafed of Burrows the receipt of De Velnos, or any imitation or improve¬ ment of it, he wjll foon, in this town, be convinced he is wretch¬ edly deceived. If he thinks on the contrary, (and it is difficult t® „ fuppofp, from his knowledge of the preparation conveyed by Bur¬ rows, and from his experience of Burrows’s principles and con¬ duct, he fhould not) he will find difficulties to flruggle with in maintaining his pretenfions which he will never furmouot. It is proper, however, to give a fpecimen ot his endeavours. After fomc attempts to filence Burrows, which proved fruitlefs, he jnferted the following equivocal advertifement; the title of it is actionable ; and it affords but an indifferent fpecimen of the learning as well as integrity of this new adventurer. The Pre¬ tended improvement of Velnos’ Syrup is fecured by a patent, the real Syrup is fecured by the inviolable fecrefy of its proprietors. A patent is granted in one of the King’s offices, and is always ob¬ tained for the fees, whether it be for ufeful or injurious purpofes. Having the King’s feal, it is called Royal Patents; but it is never fuppofed to have His Majefty’s countenance, favor, or what is Called patronage: he would otherwile be daily plunged into the ut- moft difhonour — Dr. Hodfon, however, afierts the contrary : if f^om ignorance, his education has been deficient j if from defign, his artifice is clumfy, and will difgrace him. He, however, uffiers hinifelf and Velnos’Vegetable Syrup (of which he is totally ig¬ norant) under the immediate patronage of His Majefty — “ Vel- “ nos’ Vegetable Syrup” is “ prepared in this kingdom agreeable «« to Royal patronage, only by DoCtor Hodfon, at his houfe, “ Northumberland-ftreet, where the medicine may be had in the “ greatefl perfection.” , , On the appearance of this advertifement, Mr. Swainfon inferted the f liowing : r a* “ A cautiqn of the utmoft importance to the Public refpeCting Velnos’ Vegetable Syrup. “ Whereas, a perfon who ftiles himfclf Dr. Hodfon, of Nor- “ thumberiand-ftreet, has lately advertifed a preparation, which he calls Velnos’ Vegetable Syrup, by Royal patronage; this is to “ allure