A Collection of Chirurgical TractsBeckett, William
Science
A Collection of Chirurgical Tracts
Beckett, William
Surgery
No doubt but the Chalibeate Mineral Waters when impregnated with
the Volatile Salts and Spirits of a serene Air, pleasant Society,
delightful Recreations, Morning and Evening Walks, regular Diet,
Freedom from Business, vexatious Thoughts, Exercise[4], and the rest
may be serviceable: But if the _Jesuit_ were sentenced to perpetual
Exile, I think the Consumptive have no reason excessively to lament,
for I can tell them who hath a Febrifuge Antihectical, without a Grain
of the _Jesuit_, more excellent far than the _Peruvian_ Bark, because
it makes a safe, not a treacherous Peace, and can give a Reason of it’s
working so stupendiously, tho’ they who know not how a thing can be
done, think it impossible to be done.
[4] Particularly that of _Riding_; relating to which, consult Mr
FULLER’s _Medicina Gymnastica_.
For my part, I do not believe any Medicine can work a Cure in the way
of a Charm, yet they who either know or use no other (at least for the
most part) than ordinary Medicines, cannot conceive how such wonderful
Effects can be wrought, unless by Inchantment[5].
[5] See _Boyle_ on _Specific Medicines._
The common Method of Cure is by Bleeding to abate the Effervescence
or Colliquation of the Blood, and prevent the Tumour and Inflammation
of the Lungs, by Vomits to relieve the Stomach opprest with store of
ill Humours, and remove divers Obstructions of several Bowels and
small Vessels, by Stomach-Purges gently to carry down the peccant
Humours; and lastly by Diuretics and Diaphoretics with some mixture of
an Opiate, plentifully to carry off the Colliquated _Serum_ by Urine,
or the Pores of the Skin, without raising a fresh Catarrh by a new
Commotion of the Blood. After a due Administration of these universal
Evacuations, (which in their respective Seasons are highly necessary)
the frequent Use of Pectoral Apozems and Pulmonary Linctuses is next
enjoined, to retund the Acrimony of the Humours which ouze out of the
Wind-pipe, by their mucilaginous and incrassating Quality, and so
mitigate the troublesome Cough. How far serviceable to this end and
purpose the neatest Forms of such Dispensations that I ever yet saw may
be, I will not dispute, only this I must take leave to say, because to
me (as also to the unprejudiced I humbly conceive) it seems evident
that such fulsom Ingredients of which they are compounded, are more
apt to spoil a weak than recover a lost Stomach, and consequently not
the fittest Medicines Consumptive Persons may have recourse to: For
how many by woful Experience have found the constant and frequent use
of such Anti-Stomachics led them from one Degree of this Malady to
another, ’till their decaying Appetite hath been quite overthrown, (and
consequently their hectic Heat inflamed) their Bodies so emaciated, as
to render them uncapable of necessary Evacuations, and they themselves
at last given over to a Milk Diet, Asses Milk, some Chalibeate Mineral
Waters, or such like Liquids, to which the poor distressed Stomach
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