Obs. 1.

There was one Mr. Roach of Bris­tol, who for a long time had labour'd under an Asthma, attended with a violent Cough till almost suffocated; but after he had expectorated this viscid Phlegm, was reliev'd: but the Disease increasing, and despairing of Relief, he apply'd himself to me, in­form'd me he had been so afflicted for many Years, that at Spring and Fall he had very severe Fits of the Gout; so that what with one and t'other, he was render'd incapable of prosecuting any Business. I exhibi­ted Medicines of a warm attenuating kind, to disentangle and carry off the vitious Matter, promote Expec­toration, fortify the Stomach and Lungs, which effectually compleated the Cure. After which he could en­dure [Page 23]the Fatigue either of walking or riding, was able to dispatch his Affairs with his usual Alacrity and Plea­sure. But since my Removal from Bristol, his old Indisposition returning afresh, he had immediate Recourse to his former Chip-in-Pottage Doctor, that safe Physician that never did him any good nor hurt, till he pre­scribed that innocent harmless Vomit, that extoll'd Indian Root, Ipecacoan­na; which he had no sooner taken with a Draught of Carduus Tea, but presently he complain'd of a Dizzi­ness, and that every thing appear'd to him to have a circular Motion: which he had no sooner said, but he dropt down dead.

Some may imagine that this Acci­dent was not owing entirely to the Emetic, but a Plethora; and had bleeding preceded, in order to have emptied the Vessels, the Patient might have been saved: which Ob­jection, tho I could answer with several Instances, I shall only men­tion one.

Obs. 2.

Mr. Snow, a Broker of about Seventy Years of Age, being on the Exchange, was taken with a violent Fit of an Apoplexy, and fell down as dead; but by means of Cor­dials, after some time began a little to recover; by which time a Sur­geon came, and took away about Sixteen Ounces of Blood from the Arm. I (being accidentally intro­duc'd by a Friend, who desir'd my Advice) prevented his taking away a greater Quantity, but order'd that he might be carry'd home in a Chair; which Motion contributed mightily to a free and uninterrupted Circula­tion, insomuch that he began to have a regular Pulse. I advised that this Motion might be continued, finding a natural Warmth all over his Body, which with administring comfortable Draughts, would be sufficient to an­swer our end. But a certain Apo­thecary coming, whose Advice was more prevalent with the Patient's Friends, administred a Vomit under the pretence of a Cordial: this not [Page 25]immediately operating, in less than half a quarter of an hour was about to repeat it; which he confidently affirm'd would answer his End, and to confirm his Assertion, assur'd his Friends he was that moment come from a Gentleman taken after the same manner, and reliev'd by the same Method; but they had only his own Word for it, to which I could give but very little Credit. This poor unhappy Gentleman however was lost by this Treatment.

I could enumerate Instances of this kind from my own Observa­tion, of the ill Effects of Vomits; whether Bleeding had preceded, or been omitted. I shall give one, to shew that 'tis safer to rely on Nature it self, to observe its various Steps, and endeavour to assist her on­ly with refreshing Cardiac Draughts; than to have recourse to Physicians unacquainted with the Nature of this Disease, as too many are; tho from Persons of such penetrating Judg­ment, ready Wit, and bright Parts, greater things might be expected.

Obs. 3.

William Whittington Esq; of Sta­pleton near Bristol, now High Sheriff of the County of Gloucester, near eighty Years of Age, returning home alone from the City on a gentle Pad, was seiz'd with an Apoplectic Fit, fell back on his Horse, his Legs stiff and extended, and to all Appear­ance dead; but being overtaken by some returning from a neighbouring Market, who took care to convey him to an adjacent Alehouse, where they pour'd Brandy down his Throat, as also a Glass or two of Canary: by which Method, together with re­peated Frictions all over his Body, he came to himself, was sent home in his own Chariot, where he no sooner came, but jocosely calld for his Staff of Life, and Support of old Age, meaning a Bit of Bread and a Glass of Canary. The next Day he took a gentle Cordial purging Draught, and without the use of any other Medicines recover'd; only never mist the returning Fit twice a year, which encreas'd in its Violence Spring and [Page 27]Fall, till a violent Fever follow'd the last, which he not expecting to conquer, sent for me: and having before observ'd what seem'd to be most advantageous, and by what Method Nature was most reliev'd, without cramming him with Medi­cines, I advis'd him to nothing but to drink old Canary as a Ptisan, by which alone he was perfectly reco­ver'd; and ever since has been freed from those kind of Fits.

Not only Phlebotomy, unseasonable Use of Emetics, but Cathartics also, if not well adapted to the Disease, may prove very prejudicial to the Patient. Other Diseases mismanaged may and often do terminate in an Apoplexy.

Obs. 4.

An Inhabitant of Bristol, that kept a Public House on the Castle-Green, labouring under a Dropsy in the Ab­domen, accompany'd with an Asthma and Jaundice, being rather the Ef­fects than Cause of the Disease; em­ploys a Limb of the Law, that is [Page 28]dwindled to an insignificant Branch of Physic; who assumes the Title of Doctor, tho he is much better qua­lify'd for a Jack-pudding, having a Genius peculiarly adapted to Mi­mic, and attempts to ape that great Practitioner Dr. Radcliff in his Prog­nostics, assuring his Patients, that by such a time they need not despair of their being perfectly reliev'd, which generally happens according to his Predictions; for he seldom fails of cur­ing ing 'em of all Distempers, having no less than AEscalapius for a Precedent, who thought it not worth while to attempt prolonging the Lives of those that were enfeebled, and exhausted, lest they should live to beget Chil­dren as infirm as themselves, and so be render'd unfit Members for any Society. He, without a long Demur, pronounces the poor Hydropical Pa­tient to be in a fair way of Recove­ry, gives him great hopes to expect a Cure in a few days, prescribes your Gummy Resinous Cathartics, which render'd the Crasis of the Blood more unfit for assimilating its Serum, by weakning Digestion, and producing [Page 29]Crudities; which brought on a com­pleat Apoplexy, that in six hours time after the Dose was administred, carry'd off the Patient. In the place of which, had he evacuated the Se­rum by proper Remedies, prevented its farther Encrease by fortifying and corroborating the Stomach, re­stor'd and strengthen'd the Crasis of the Blood, dislodg'd the Viscous Mat­ter that adher'd to the Plicae, or Folds of the Stomach, by warm attenua­ting Stomachical Specifics; the poor unfortunate Man might have now been in perfect Health.

Others again mightily rely on the Use of Clysters, and such as are of a sharp, acrid, irritating Nature, to relieve those Affections of the Head, Epi­lepsys, Lethargys, Palsys, Apoplexys, and the like; Revulsionis ergo. But this Method of deriving Humours from one place to its opposite, is now laid aside, as before hinted: for in this Case the Intestines themselves are Paralytically affected, and will scarce retain a Clyster, if at that time injected: if it does remain, it only [Page 30]affects the Inteslines and Primae Viae, and is not the least serviceable in a­verting Vapours from the Head.

Cupping and Scarifying is wonder­fully in vogue with some, for the above Reasons, of Revulsion and De­rivation: but the Attraction of the Cupping-Glass has so little Effect, the Number who use them so few, and those so inconsiderable, 'tis scarce worth while to spend time to con­fute such erroneous Methods.

The next thing that comes to be consider'd, is Blisters; which too many mightily rely on, without re­flecting on the ill Effects they have in some Cases, and on some Constitu­tions; especially those of a Scorbu­tic Habit of Body, in extreme hot Constitutions, when for the want of Serum the Blood boils. In old Per­sons, whose Balsamic Particles of the Blood are for the most part exhausted, and too great a Quantity of corro­sive Serum is left; to such the Appli­cation of Blisters does more hurt than good: for by the too great Action [Page 31]of the Caustic Salts that enter the Pores, and insinuate themselves into the Mass of Blood, the Parts are so stimulated, as to cause violent Stran­guries, voiding of bloody Urine; forcing also Substances of Matter, resembling Fat, so large as would be thought incredible, to pass through so narrow a Passage as that of the Ʋrethra. Now since the Inconve­nience that necessarily attends such Methods is so great, and the Advan­tage that may reasonably be expected from 'em so small; they are fitter for the Practice of Empirics and Scara­mouches, than regular Physicians: But I would not tire the Reader's Pa­tience with a long and tedious Dis­course, and shall therefore only add a few more Observations, and con­clude.

Obs. 5.

A Cornish Man, of about Thirty Six Years of Age, who had been very much addicted to those violent Exercises of Cudgelling, Wrestling, Hurling, for which that County, during the time of their Revels, [Page 32]is very remarkable; quitting his Em­ploy for the more immediate Service of his Queen and Country, goes for Flanders; but being unacquainted with the Fatigue of several Marches, and unaccustom'd to take up with such slender Fare, was seiz'd with a slow lingring Fever, which terminated in a Deprivation of the Use of his Limbs. After which manner he continued in the Hospital during the whole Campaign; at the breaking up of which, he was committed to the Surgeon's Care of the respective Regiment, till the opening of the next Campaign; and then was again receiv'd into the Hospital, in a much worse Condition than when he left it, being perfectly emaciated, having crusty Ulcers on the Backs of his Hands, and on his Shin-Bones, re­sembling Venereal Nodes; the Bones also carious, several Absesses form'd on the Head, with fiery Botches or Carbuncles, occasion'd by the sharp Caustic Lixivious Salts, with which the Blood abounded. He fell under my Care, but all means proving in­effectual, he died in a few days. I [Page 33]indeed suspected his Case at first to be Venereal; but being a Person bearing a good Character, and pro­testing he had been at no time conversant with Women, I thought it would be requisite to endeavour to discover from what Cause those dire­ful Effects arose. In order thereto, I first resolv'd to examine the Brain, and had no sooner made my Incision on the Scalp, but I perceiv'd the Cra­nium to be foul and carious; which, in taking it off, I found had reach'd not only the inner Lamina, but also both Meninges, and even the Corti­cal Substance of the Brain: in per­forming which, notwithstanding there issued a vast Quantity of Serum, yet in the third Ventricle, by the Glan­dula Pinealis, was lodg'd near a Pint of Lymph, and that so very viscous and ropy as to be deny'd the least Passage. In the Infundibulum was also an incredible Quantity of vis­cid Serum, much thicker than the first; and the Glandula pituitaria fil­trated like a cancerated Gland. This Discovery contributed mightily to my Satisfaction; and 'twas very evi­dent [Page 34]that the Train of this poor Fel­low's Misfortunes proceeded not from any Venereal Cause, but from those Falls and Bruises he had for­merly receiv'd; which when Nature was indulged, the Spirits buoy'd up, the Fibres firm and elastic, each part could better perform its Function, and so prevent the ensuing Disease: but when reduced to mean Diet and scanty Allowance, expos'd to Heats and Colds, inseparable Concomitants of a Military Life; the Spirits flag and become languid, the Fibres lose their wonted Elasticity, and become lax, the Blood loses its Tone; in short, the whole Animal Oeconomy is so disorder'd, that the vigorous Attack of a Disease meets with a very feeble Repulse. For by these severe Shocks the Lymphatics and sanguiferous Ves­sels being frequently broke, the ex­travasated Blood and Lymph is dis­charg'd into the Sinus's of the Brain, where it coagulates and becomes so viscous as not to be able to pass those narrow Canals, but lie congested there, and is not only the Source of [Page 35]dreadful Symptoms, but the Cause of Death it self.

Obs. 6.

A certain Gentlewoman of Ghent in Flanders accompanying her Spouse to Batavia, of which he was Major Commandant till his Decease, in her Return from thence was taken very ill; for which Indisposition the Surgeon of the Vessel advised her to the Use of the Cold Bath: but whe­ther owing to his Ignorance or her Neglect, she omitted emerging her Head. She was no sooner got out of the Bath, but immediately her Head and Face was so swoln, as to deprive her both of Sight, Speech, and the Use of all her Limbs. At her Arrival at Amsterdam, Consultations were held by the best Physicians concerning her Case, with very good Success as to the abating the Swelling of her Head, and Recovery of Speech; but as for retrieving the Use of her Limbs, she found no manner of Benefit, but remain'd void of all Sense and Motion. Thus despairing of Help, she return'd to Ghent, and apply'd her self to the [Page 36]Physicians of the French Hospital, who were then in that Garison, but with as little Advantage as the former. In this Condition was she for some Years confin'd to her Bed, and reduc'd to a meer Skeleton; the Bones of the Carpus and Metacarpus, those of the Tarsus and Metatarsus being distorted to a Deformity; nay, the very Pha­langes of the Fingers and Toes were dislocated by the Contraction of the Tendons. She then had recourse to the Town Physicians: but neither their Inunctions of penetrating Oils, camphorated Spirits; their Aroma­tics, or volatile Sudorifics, to cor­rect and discharge this peccant Mat­ter, that intercepted the nervous Fluid; nor their Decoctions of the Woods, Fomentations or Hot Baths, avail'd any thing: of she entertain'd no longer Hopes of being reliev'd.

But after that Memorable Battle at Ramillies, on May 23. 1706. the Victory being obtain'd over the Duke of Bavaria, by that Victorious General, his Grace the Duke of Marl­borough, which occasion'd the speedy Reduction of all the Netherlands, [Page 37]the British Hospital remov'd to Ghent; and I accidentally took Lodgings under the Roof of this miserable Gentlewoman, who being inform'd I belong'd to that Hospital, was ve­ry importunate with me to use my utmost Endeavours to remove her Indisposition.

Her Case being very uncommon, and the Success precarious, I could not promise much to raise her Expec­tations; yet being unwilling to dis­courage her, I took my leave with an Assurance of considering her Case, and get the Opinion of other Phy­sicians, whom I consulted: but their concluding that 'twas a perfect Atro­phy, dissuaded me from attempting that which was so improbable of be­ing accomplish'd.

My last Observation suggested to me, that this Numbness and Dead­ness proceeded from the Obstruction of the nervous Fluid, occasion'd by the viscous glutinous Matter lodg'd in the Sinus's of the Brain; which, if it could be diluted by the Power of Medicine, so as to be carry'd off by its proper Vessels, I then thought I [Page 38]might expect Success: so communi­cating my Thoughts of her Case, and the Method I design'd to prosecute for the Cure, to the ingenious Dr. Laurence, then Physician General to her Majesty's Forces in Flanders, he approv'd of my Method, as the most probable to recover my Patient, and establish my Character.

This encourag'd me to undertake the Cure. What flush'd me more with Hopes of Success, was, that in a short time her Menstrua flow'd; which before, during the whole time of her Illness, were totally suppress'd: after which, in three Weeks time, she was capable (with the Assistance of ano­ther's Arm) to walk to Church, and by degrees acquir'd her former Health and Strength, to the great Surprize of all that knew her deplo­rable Case. In a short time after she was marry'd, and deliver'd of a strong and healthy Child.

This confirm'd me in the Opinion, that let a Chronical Case be ne'er so intricate, 'tis in the power of Me­dicines (if rightly apply'd) to re­move it, supposing there's not too [Page 39]great a Petrefaction, or Loss of Sub­stance in the Parts affected: For the Truth of which, I could produce se­veral Instances, were it not a Di­gression from my present Design.

Obs. 7.

A robust young Fellow, at the Siege of Brussels, Anno Dom. 1706. receiv­ing a Shot thro the Metatarsus; af­ter the Wound was well digested, Suppuration promoted, and he in a fair way of Recovery, only com­plaining mightily for want of Sleep, the Physician, in his Tour of Vi­sits, order'd him a gentle Hypnotic Draught: but the Apothecary's Man, in distributing the Medicines, gave him also to the Quantity of se­ven Grains of Laudanum (Mistakes of which kind in the British Hos­pital are seldom or ever known) the next Morning, to my Surprize, I found him dead. The Nurse in­form'd me what Pills he had taken, how jocose, pleasant, and merrily dispos'd he was, that he sung very cheerfully, and a short while after dozed away.

The next day, in opening his Head to see what Discovery I could make, I no sooner reach'd the Me­ninges, but I found some of the Ves­sels distended to a prodigious degree, others burst, from whence issued an incredible Quantity of Blood; and from the Sinus's came (as near as I could judg) to the Quantity of three Quarts that was extravasated.

Here's an Instance of an Apoplexy from Laudanum, which convinces me that its Narcotic or Hypnotic Fa­culty proceeded neither from an occult Quality, or intense Coldness, either by coagulating or environing the Particles of Blood or Spirits, and so preventing their Motion: for since by a Chymical Analysis we find it gives a copious Quantity of fetid Oil and Volatile Spirit, it plain­ly consutes that Assertion of its be­ing cold; but on the contrary, it dis­solves the Texture of the Blood, ren­ders the Humours more fluid, hur­ries the Spirits into disorderly Mo­tions, and the Heart, by its repeated Systole, projects the Blood with too great a Velocity to the Brain.

Indeed when the Opium begins first of all to insinuate it self, it rarifies the Arterial Blood: this be­ing rarified, the Spirits then, not so much fetter'd with bloody Particles, are in a greater quantity, and with more ease, secern'd by the Glands of the Brain, and convey'd in a greater Copia by the Nerves thro all Parts of the Body; which produces that Pas­sion of the Mind, Joy: but when by this Rarefaction the Arteries are so distended, as to compress the Nerves, and retard the Circulation of their Fluid, Comatose Distempers must there necessarily be produc'd. Hence it is, that administring Opium in the beginning of Fevers, the Small-Pox, and the like, where the Blood is already in too great a Ferment, instead of answering the Intention of composing the Patient, throws him into Deliriums, and even Madness it self, hurries him headlong and dis­tracted out of the World.

Obs. 8.

Mr. Kilbraith, a Merchant of Bris­tol, about Forty Five Years of Age, labouring for many Years under a Hypocondriac Melancholy, continu'd under the Physicians hands for a long time; but was so far from reap­ing the least Benefit from their Pre­scriptions, that he daily declin'd, and lost his Appetite; nay, the very Sight and Smell of Meats were so offensive as to create a Nausea, till at length he had contracted a Complication of Diseases: then he committed himself to my Care, who in a short time had the good Fortune to be the Instru­ment of his Recovery.

Some time after having an Affair at the Bath, and there meeting with a Gentleman of his Acquaintance, he was prevail'd upon to bathe him­self; but what with sweating, the Vitriolic, Sulphureous, or Bitumi­nous Effluvia of the Waters, he be­came faint, heavy, and render'd al­most Lethargic: however relying too much on the Strength of Nature, he neglected the Use of Means, till one [Page 43]Night being taken with a Contraction of the Nerves, and soon after seiz'd with a few Convulsive Paroxysms; I was sent for the Morning follow­ing, and advis'd him to air and ex­ercise himself with gentle Riding: he no sooner attempted to rise, and plac'd his Feet on the cold Floor, but was immediately seiz'd with a violent Fit of an Apoplexy, and in a moment became cold, stiff, and to all Appearance lifeless. At this sur­prizing Accident, the whole Family ran out to rally some of the Neigh­bourhood to their Assistance, left me alone, where I accidentally found a small Bottle of Spirits of Harts-horn, which I pour'd down his Throat; and at their Return I desir'd he might have a Friction all over his Body: which prov'd so successful, that I soon per­ceiv'd a Pulsation and Respiration. I then took Sixteen Ounces of Blood from the Temporal Artery, and in less time than ever I observ'd from the Arm; after which, I prescrib'd what I thought proper for his Case. Other Physicians who were also sent [Page 44]for, came, and to my Face approv'd of my Method of treating him, but after my Departure they ridicul'd it as mischievous and hurtful, saying 'twas the only way to draw the Dis­temper to, and confirm it in the Head. Whether Ignorance or Malice had the Ascendant, or whether equal Parts of both contributed to furnish their Ʋpper Rooms, it matters not: but my Affairs obliging me to go a few Miles from thence, I desir'd the Sur­geon, if he was threatned with a re­turning Fit, to introduce his Lancet into the same Orifice, and take such a Quantity as might be requisite; but at the Attack of the next Fit, these judicious Gentlemen preven­ted the Surgeon, and dissuaded the Friends, by amusing them with the dangerous Consequence that must necessarily accrue, till the Blood flew impetuously out of the Mouth and Nose; and then, when 'twas too late, they consented. Howe­ver, after this second Discharge he immediately recover'd his Sense and Speech. At my Return, his Friends inform'd me what had happen'd, and [Page 45]that 'twas owing to those Physicians, that they had not strictly observ'd my Method; at which being about to leave him, I was prevail'd upon, by his importuning me so earnestly, to tarry. I was entirely of the Opi­nion, that the Vessels of the Brain were burst; but however I desir'd a Consultation with Dr. Bave of Bath, and acquainted him with my Pro­ceedings, which he approv'd of, and gave him my Opinion of the Des­perateness of his Case, which he also fear'd. But the other Physicians, tho their Companies and Opinions were desir'd, yet thought fit, as they had sneak'd off, to abscond, who be­ing too conscious to themselves of the irreparable Prejudice they had al­ready done; giving only this shuffling, trifling Excuse, That truly Dr. Bave was so singular as to consult with none but such as had been educated at Oxford; whereas that ingenious, as well as ingenuous Gentleman, who is a Credit to the University where educated, an Advantage to the Town where he resides, and to such that have Recourse there for [Page 46]the Benefit of the Waters, regards the Qualifications of a Physician more than the Place where quali­fy'd. After some Medicines pre­scrib'd, the Doctor returns without entertaining the least Hopes of his Recovery; but the Patient resting well that Night, his former Physi­cians concluded then he was in a fair way of doing well. I took li­berty to inform 'em how great Stran­gers they were to his present Case; and that when they were in the greatest Expectations of his being out of danger, that then they would have most reason to fear his being snatch'd away: which happen'd ac­cordingly; for the very ensuing Night, whilst jocose and merry with his Friends, he was seiz'd of a sudden, and had just time allow'd him to be­queath his Soul to God that gave it, and so expir'd, snorting and discharg­ing a vast Quantity of Livid Blood from his Nostrils.

This to me is an evident Proof that this Gentleman was entirely lost by this Neglect, the Disease be­ing too violent, and too sudden to [Page 47]be conquer'd by internal Medicines; whereas had the Artery been open'd, as I order'd, it might have prevented the returning Fit.

Obs. 9.

Mr. Jeffrey Pinnel, a very consi­derable Man of the City of Bristol, returning from Morning-Service, and reflecting on the manifold Mercies bounteous Heaven had bestow'd on him, particularly acknowledged the large Share of that inestimable Jew­el, Health, which from his Infancy he had enjoy'd without the least In­terval of Sickness; and that notwith­standing he was so much advanc'd in Years, he could discern no sensible Alteration as to his good Habit of Body: but in the mean time, in­clining his Head with a Design to buckle his Shoe, he fell down as dead on the Floor; which (being a Stone Pavement) made a conside­rable Contusion on his For [...]head. He was immediately lifted up, and what with Frictions and Cardiac Draughts, was recruited to that de­gree, [Page 48]that in the space of three Hours he became very sensible; and amongst several Physicians that were mention'd to him, he was pleas'd to send for me, inform'd me of his manner of being seiz'd, that he was then very Costive, and had a Sup­pression of Urine; but the Pulse be­ing not very irregular, I defer'd o­pening the Artery: so at that time I prescrib'd only Laxatives and Diure­tics, and took my leave, desiring him to acquaint me at the first Appear­ance of the returning Fit; which hap­pen'd the following Morning at Four a Clock: at which time the Fit was so exceeding severe, that he was almost suffocated, and his Face discolour'd like one strangled: the Artery being then turgid and quick (as it always is in those Cases) I immediately took away about Sixteen Ounces, which I had no sooner done, but he ask'd me what I was doing. I order'd him to be rais'd out of his Bed (being there too much confin'd) and con­vey'd into a more airy Room; which occasion'd him to make Water very [Page 49]plentifully: But after a strict Enqui­ry, I found that the Concussion gi­ven the Brain, and the Symptoms attending it were such, that the Ves­sels must necessarily be broke, and that there was but small Hope left to expect his Recovery; which I freely told his Friends, they being very pressing with me to give my real Sentiments, and desirous of a Consultation, which for their Satis­faction I approv'd of. So they sent for Dr. — at Four in the Morn­ing, who, notwithstanding he had given his Word of Honour to be immediately there; yet, after his usual way, kept 'em in expectation till Eleven, at which time assum­ing his usual haughty Air (to in­sinuate himself into the Opinion of the Vulgar) he enters; but being in­form'd who was above, in order for a Consultation, this brazen Oracle turns on his heel, and pronounces these Words, With this I consult, and none else, pointing to his Breast, the Tho­rax being equally as well furnish'd with Brain, as the Cranium. But tho he was mightily reflected on for this [Page 50]imperious Air, 'tis every Person's Duty to judg charitably, and put the most favourable Construction that 'twill bear: I for my part would im­pute it to an innate Modesty, being conscious of his Ignorance in that Case; and that offering his Opi­nion, would be but exposing him­self without the lead Service accru­ing to the Patient: Galen and Hip­pocrates suiting no more his Genius, than Cook or Littleton. But not to harp too long on such an untunable String, I'll wave this, heartily wish­ing (for the Benefit of those unfor­tunate distemper'd Persons that fall under his Care) that for the future he may have better Success, than from his Knowledg in the Faculty of Physic can reasonably be ex­pected.

I continu'd in the Use of proper Means, but for the Reasons before mention'd could not expect his Reco­very; for tho to appearance he was much better, yet the next day about Eleven in the Forenoon, he fell into a cold clammy Sweat, and for the Space of almost an Hour shorted [Page 51]excessively, foam'd at the Mouth, and expir'd.

Some perhaps may say this might have as well been omitted as inser­ted, the Patient dying; but this may serve to confirm my Assertion, that Arteriotomy is so much preferable to Phlebotomy, there being no Parallel Instance, that ever the latter had so speedy an Effect to recal the Senses.

The two following Observations, tho I formerly publish'd them in a Latin Dissertation on this Subject, which is annex'd to this Treatise; yet for the Benefit of those who are not so well acquainted with that Language, being so remarkable, I could not omit giving them a place here in the English Tongue.

Obs. 10.

A certain Person, of about Forty Years of Age, who had lived luxu­riously in his Youth, being reduc'd to Poverty, and from a thriving Tradesman become a private Sen­tinel, went to bed in perfect Health, but the next Morning was found dead. I resolv'd to open and exa­mine [Page 52]his Head, and had no sooner sawn thro the Cranium, and reach'd the Meninges, but the Blood sprung out from those torn Vessels with that Violence, as if an Amputation had been perform'd on the Leg or Arm of a living Person; which had it been timely discharg'd, by open­ing the Artery, his Life might have been preserv'd.

Obs. 11.

A young Fellow about Thirty, who had been sickly for a conside­rable time; but when on the Reco­very, I ask'd him, how he did? he told me, he was tolerably well: but in a quarter of an hours time News was brought me that he was dead. I immediately went to him, disco­ver'd a small Respiration, and could just perceive a Pulsation in the Tem­poral Arteries, which I open'd on each side; and after having bled very freely, he presently began to dis­course with me: two hours after I took more Blood from the same O­rifices, and a third time a considera­ble Quantity: by which means, [Page 53]with the use of warm comfortable Medicines, he perfectly recover'd.

Thus during the time of my be­ing in Flanders, as there were many Cases of this nature offer'd, so I never neglected embracing all Op­portunities by them, which more and more confirm'd me in the Opi­nion of Arteriotomy.

Obs. 12.

I shall only add one Instance more of the Mismanagement of Diseases, and the irregular Administration of Medicines, and conclude. 'Twas on the famous William Penn Esq; who being of a Plethoric Habit of Body, and Lethargic, was one day seiz'd with Convulsions at his Table, and falter'd in his Speech: immediately their Family Physician was sent for, who took the usual Method of treat­ing him, till at length it terminated in an Intermitting Fever, which was so ill manag'd, that 'twas six Weeks before he could be removed to his Country House. Being at Bristol six Months after, he was seiz'd with a­nother [Page 54]Fit of the same kind, but much more severe: a Learned Phy­sician was then employ'd, who, scorning to jog on in the old beaten Lane, Pack-horse like, was more pompous in his Prescriptions; as appear'd by ordering his Antilethar­gic or famous Cephalic Powder, which by virtue of an occult Quality, (could it but have insinuated it self into every Crevice of the Cranium) would have work'd Wonders: but these Circumforaneous Scouts want­ing the Parole, could not pass, the Ports of the Os Crebriforme being so well guarded with Nerves, Veins, Ar­teries, and so closely lin'd with Mem­branes; so that this Specific Powder not answering Expectation, this wor­thy Gentleman left him, who after some moderate days Journeys arriv'd at his Country Seat at Ruscomb near Reading, where he was seiz'd with a third Fit. Their Physician was then sent for from London, who pro­secuted his former Method, only with this difference, that he order'd Cupping, Scarifying; and then ap­plying the strongest Epispastics, this [Page 55]barbarous Treatment caus'd dismal Stranguries; and the little Urine he made was with great Pain and much Difficulty, and of a bloody Tinc­ture, intermix'd with coagulated Matter, resembling Lumps of Fat, so large, that 'twould be thought incredible to pass the Ʋrethra. By this Severity (tho entirely owing to a good Constitution) he was not kill'd, yet it confirm'd a Hydrocepha­lus or Dropsy in his Head, which caus'd a sensible Decay thro all Parts of his Body, depriv'd him of his Speech, and the use of his Senses: and in this desponding State the Doctor left him.

All which Misfortunes might have been prevented by bleeding in the Artery, at the first Appearance of the Disease, and falling in with my Mea­sures before mention'd.

I was then sent for, and succeeded so Well, that in a few days he was apparently better; so I left him to the Care of his Apothecary, and in about ten days time paying him a second Visit, I found him quite a­nother Man: he had reassum'd his [Page 56]wonted Briskness and Alacrity; and thus continu'd for some Months in a very good State of Health, till this unhappy Accident: having two Fon­tinels betwixt the Scapula's, on one of which a Protuberance rose like a Boil, which threw him into a vio­lent Fever; this Tumor encreas'd to a prodigious Size, extending it self from the lower Angle of the Scapula, all over the Clavicle. My being sent for to Bristol, to visit an antient La­dy (who had formerly been my Pa­tient and best Benefactrix) oblig'd him to make use of the former Physician, and a Metropolitan Surgeon: but a Friend of Mr. Penn being very impor­tunate with me, I waited on him with all Expedition, found they had ap­ply'd Cataplasms in order to bring it to Suppuration, and had attempted to lay the Abscess open, but thro Fear had only scratch'd the Teguments. I then took the Probe, and introduc'd it eight or nine Inches, and made a deep Incision, from whence a con­siderable Quantity of Pus discharg'd it self. Then I order'd a Digestive to destroy whatever Fungus might re­main; [Page 57]main; by which means he was im­mediately freed from the Fever, with­out the least Occasion of being cramb'd with febrifuge Draughts, Powders, and Bolus's that lay so plen­tifully prepar'd for him; so I left him to the Care of a Surgeon in Read­ing, an ingenious Man, who com­pleated the Cure effectually: and now he enjoys as large a Measure of Health as ever.

This Operation of Arteriotomy, that the Generality are so timerous and cautious of attempting, I've not only perform'd and order'd for A­dults, but even on Infants them­selves. One particularly who fell un­der my Care, was the Child of a distemper'd Parent, who as soon as born was attended with Con­vulsions, and at six Weeks old was seiz'd with one so violent, that none had the least room to hope for Life: but at the taking away a small Quantity of Blood from the Artery, the Child was in an instant reliev'd, look'd chearful, pleasant, and immediately took the Breast, which for some time before the Fit [Page 58]he had refus'd, and so with the Use of proper Medicines perfectly reco­verd.

This Treatise I don't doubt but will meet with some who will ap­prove of it, as well as other preju­dic'd Persons that will be as ready to contemn and condemn it. But what I've writ was entirely owing to a Sense of my Duty to my Fel­low-Creatures, without either con­sulting the Applause of the former, or valuing in the least the malicious Censures of the latter.