No. XV _The mercurial cloth._ _Take a cloth or rag as much as half a yard square, upon which spread one ounce of mercurial ointment; let the patient work this into the cloth with his hands, so that it is equally all over alike._ With this cloth let him rub his wrists, arms, shoulders, top of his head, his back, knees, waist, thighs, and legs; and continue this rubbing once every morning with the same cloth for a whole month, putting the cloth in his pocket when he has done. His sores may be dressed with the above ointment No. XI. The decoction of sassafras, and a dram of spirits, with a little _Turlington’s Balsam_ after his morning’s exercise, will prove greatly to facilitate the cure. This is the method I have pursued with this filthy disorder; and I have succeeded to my most sanguine expectations. And by this, I have been fortunate enough to be the means of making men again, of wretches that were a burden to themselves, and a nuisance to the people that were obliged to associate with them. ------------------------------------------- SECT. IV. _Of Promiscuous Disorders._ Having thus treated on the most material ailments that want immediate assistance, I shall in this section consider promiscuous disorders, that have no relation to each other; but set them down as they occur to my memory. _Of the Tooth-Ach._ Those who have experienced the tooth-ach, best know how much they have wished for ease. No man can preserve attention to his affairs, who has bodily pain; and a severe tooth-ach is enough to disturb both body and mind.—But what is to be done? Tooth-achs are of two kinds;—It may either proceed from cold, or from a decayed tooth, or from both. If the tooth is decayed, the sooner you have it out the better; but if your tooth is sound, then it is as unreasonable to draw it, as it would be to sling you over board, because you feel the pain. In regard to drawing the tooth, take this direction. _To draw a Tooth._ Observe first, what tooth it is; and shift the hook on the key instrument accordingly. Ordinarily the hook is to be inside, and the comb outside. When this is adjusted, wrap a little rag on the comb of the key, so that it may bear a little softly on the gums.—Then seat the patient steady on a chair or chest, (and if he is a coward, let somebody hold his hands, but a man of spirit will not want this officiousness) place yourself right before him—then fix the instrument on the tooth, the hook inwards, and the comb outwards; the hook on the tooth close to the gum, pushed a little towards the jaw bone, and be careful that you have hold but of one tooth, and the right one.