Primitive physic: or, An easy and natural method of curing most diseases.

  • Wesley, John, 1703-1791
Date:
1801
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Primitive physic: or, An easy and natural method of curing most diseases. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    - 14. Tf it be faid, Bat what need is there of fuch an attempt ? > aniwer, the greatelt that can poflibly be conceived. Is 1t not neediul in the highef degree, to refeue men from the jaws of deflruGion? From ‘wafting their fortunes, as thoufands have done, and continue to do darly ? From pining away in ficknefs end pain, either through the ignorance or aifhonefty of Phy- ficians? Yea, and many times throwing away their lives, after their health, time and fubftance ! Is it enquired, But are there not books enough already, on every part of the art of medicine? Yes, too many ten times over, confidering how litrle to the purpofe the far greater part of them fpeak. But befides this, they are too dear for poor ~ _ Men to buy, and too hard for plain men to underffand. Do you fay, ** But there are enough of thefe colle&icns of Re- Ceipts.”” Where? I have not feen one yet, either in’our @wn or any other tongue, which contains only fafe, and cheap, and eafy medicines. In all that have yet fallen into my hand, I find many dear and many far-fetched medicines befides many of fo dangerous a kind, as a prudent man would Rever meddle with. And againft the greater part of thofe medicines there. is a further objeétion: they confift of too many ingredients, The common method of compounding and re-compounding medicines, can never be reconciled to Common Senfe. Experience fhews, that one thing will cure moft dif- orders at leaft, as well as twenty put together. Then why do you add the‘other nineteen? Only to {well the Apothecary’s bill? nay poffibly, on putpofe to prolong the diftemper, that the Doétor and he may divide the {poil. —) But admitting there is fome quality in the medicine propofed, —__ which bas need to be correéed; will not one thing correfLit as well as twenty? Itis probable, much better. And if not, — there is a fufliciency of other medicines, which need no fuch « correftion. . ' ms How often, by thus compounding medicines of oppofite qualities, is the virtue of both utterly deftroyed ? Nay, how olten'do thofe joined together deftroy life, which fingly mi have preferved 11? ‘This occafioned that caution’ of the gre; _ Boerhaave, agaioft mixing things without evident neceffity, and without full proof of the effeét they will produce when joinec together, as well as of that they produce when afunder: Seeing fas he obferves) feveral things, which feparately taken, are fake and powerful medicines, when compounded, not only | their former powers, but commence a {trong and deadly pe 15. As to the manner of ufing the medicines here I fhould advife, As foon as you kuow your diftempe is very eafy, unlefs-in a complication of diforders, you would do well to apply to a Phyfician that fears Ge