Domestic medicine, or, A treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines : with observations on sea-bathing, and the use of mineral waters, to which is annexed a dispensary for the use of private practitioners / by William Buchan ... From the 22nd Engl. ed., with additions and notes.

  • Buchan, William, 1729-1805
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Domestic medicine, or, A treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines : with observations on sea-bathing, and the use of mineral waters, to which is annexed a dispensary for the use of private practitioners / by William Buchan ... From the 22nd Engl. ed., with additions and notes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE. ~ ’ Wi j iy: eae f Ae i ; dy < ) e Cae ¥ tice for several years, in one of the largest manufacturing towns injuries which those useful people sustain from their particular em- ployments, and likewise, of trying various methods of obviating to encourage this attempt, which I hope will be of use to those who ments as are unfavourable to health. | IT do not mean to intimidate men, far less to insinuate that even those arts, the practice of which is attended with some degree of danger, should not be carried on; but to guard the less cautious and unwary against those dangers which they have it in their pow- er to avoid, and which they often, through mere ignorance, inciir: ‘As every occupation in life disposes those who follow it to some tance to know these, in order that people may be upon their guard ageinst them. It is always better to be ‘warned of the approach of «n enemy, than to be surprised by him, especially where ‘there is a possibility of avoiding the danger. : ek -' The observations concerning Diet, Air, Exercise, &c. are of a more general nature, and have not escaped the attention of Phy- sicians in any age. They are subjects of too great importance, however, to be passed over in any attempt of this kind, and can does not will seldom enjoy health, let him employ as many physi- cians as he pleases. M i | | Though we have endeavoured to point out the causes of diseas- és, and to put people upon their guard against them, yet it must be acknowledged that they are often of such a nature as to admit of being removed only by the diligence and activity of the public ma- Zistrate. We are sorry, indeed; to observe, that the power of the magistrate is seldom exerted in this country for the preservation of health. The importance of a proper medical police is either not understood, or little regarded. Many things highly injurious to the public health are daily practised with impunity, while others, absolutely necessary for its preservation, are entirely neglected. Some of the public means of preserving health are mentioned in the general prophylaxis, as the inspection of provisions, widen- inhabitants with wholesome water, &c.+ but they are passed over in a very cursory manner. A proper attention to these would have swelled this volume to too large a size ; I have, therefore, reserved them for the subject of a future publication. : _ In the treatment of diseases, F have been peculiarly attentive to cine, and trust too little ‘to their own endeavours. It is always in the power of the patient, or of those about him, to do as much towards his recovery as can'be effected by the physician. By not attending to this, the designs of J edicines are often frustrated ; and the patient,by pursuing a wrong plan of regimen, not only de- feats the doctor’s endeavours, but renders them dangerous. I have often known patients killed by an error in ‘regimen, when they 3 A 4