Sec. 83. Some may be surprized, that in treating of an Abscess of the Lungs, and of the Hectic, which is a Consequence of it, I say nothing of those Remedies, commonly termed _Balsamics_, and so frequently employed in them, for Instance, Turpentines, Balsam of Peru, of Mecca, Frankincense, Mastich, Myrrh, Storax and Balsam of Sulphur. I shall however say briefly here (because it is equally my Design to destroy the Prejudice of the People, in favour of improper Medicines, and to establish the Reputation of good ones) that I never in such Cases made use of these Medicines; because I am convinced, that their Operation is generally hurtful in such Cases; because I see them daily productive of real Mischief; that they protract the Cure, and often change a slight Disorder into an incurable Disease. They are incapable of perfect Digestion, they obstruct the finest Vessels of the Lungs, whose Obstructions we should endeavour to remove; and evidently occasion, except their Dose be extremely small, Heat and Oppression. I have very often seen to a Demonstration, that Pills compounded of Myrrh, Turpentine and Balsam of Peru, have, an Hour after they were swallowed, occasioned a Tumult and Agitation in the Pulse, high Flushings, Thirst and Oppression. In short it is demonstrable to every unprejudiced Person, that these Remedies, as they have been called, are truly prejudicial in this Case; and I heartily wish People may be disabused with Respect to them, and that they may lose that Reputation so unhappily ascribed to them. I know that many Persons, very capable in other Respects, daily make use of them in these Distempers: such however cannot fail of disusing them, as soon as they shall have observed their Effects, abstracted from the Virtues of the other Medicines to which they add them, and which mitigate the Danger of them. I saw a Patient, whom a foreign Surgeon, who lived at _Orbe_, attempted to cure of a Hectic with melted Bacon, which aggravated the Disease. This Advice seemed, and certainly was, absurd; nevertheless the Balsamics ordered in such Cases are probably not more digestible than fat Bacon. The Powder No. 14 possesses whatever these Balsamics pretend to: it is attended with none of the Inconveniencies they produce; and has all the good Qualities ascribed to them. Notwithstanding which, it must not be given while the Inflammation exists; nor when it may revive again; and no other Aliment should be mixed with the Milk. The famous Medicine called the _Antihectic_, (_Antihecticum Poterii_) has not, any more than these Balsamics, the Virtues ascribed to it in such Cases. I very often give it in some obstinate Coughs to Infants with their Milk, and then it is very useful: but I have seldom seen it attended with considerable Effects in grown Persons; and in the present Cases I should be fearful of its doing Mischief.