Some Farther CONSIDERATIONS Concerning ALKALY and ACID, By Way of APPENDIX To a late ESSAY.

WHEREIN The Terms are made Clear, and the Natures of them Both more fully Explained: Together with an Answer to the Objections that have been raised against some Things contained in the said Essay.

By John Colbatch, Physician.

LONDON: Printed for Dan. Brown, at the Black Swan and Bible without Temple-Bar. 1696.



TO THE Learned and Ingenious Dr. Edward Baynard, Fellow of the College of Phy∣sicians, London.
Honoured Sir,

THE Civil and Gentleman-like Treatment I met with the first time I saw you, and the many Favours I have received from you since I have been honoured with your more In∣timate Acquaintance, emboldens me to prostrate this Trifle at your

Feet; not pretending thereby to merit any thing from you, but as a just Acknowledgment of the many Obligations I lye under. It would be a Wrong to you for me to speak any thing in your Praise, your Me∣rits being better known, than I am able to represent them. It was you, SIR, who were (for ought I know) the most early Cultivator of the Doctrine of Acids in the Cure of Diseases, in this Nation; and the Success you have had in your Practice sufficiently makes it appear, that you very well understood what you went about, when you durst contend with the whole World, by treading in a New Path to Aid and Succor Life, which few Physicians ever went before. Macte! SIR, in so Great a Work as in Saving from the Grave; so shall the Name of Baynard not be known to the Widow, nor the Cries of the Father∣less entail Vengeance on your House. And would your Multiplicity of

Business but permit you to collect your own Observations, and make them Publick, I am sure the Mouths of all your Opposers would be for ever stopp'd, and their Errors cured by your Healing Hand; for I know your Charity extends to Lunacy, as well as other Diseases: For none but the Moon-sick can doubt so known and clear a Truth, as are the daily and most apparent Cures done by (the Happy Discovery of) the Use of Acids. 'Tis well known, SIR, that Nature and Art has sufficient∣ly arm'd you for any Enemy, if such there are; tho your Condonable Dis∣position is like the Sun, which shines even upon the Curs that bark at him. Your Pardon, SIR, for this Trouble, and I doubt not but from you to meet with a Generous Ac∣ceptance and Protection; and if Dr. Baynard espouse my Cause, I care not who is against me. I assure you I bring no common Inclinations to serve you; neither would I by

ordinary Testimonies express that Passion wherewith I am,

SIR,

Your most Humble and most Devoted Servant, JOHN COLBATCH.

THE Preface.

I Have so enquired into the Causes of Diseases, as to be altogether certain of the truth of the Hy∣pothesis I have already advan∣ced, and am now, in some measure, endeavouring to confirm: But I don't at all pretend to have arrived to so much Certainty as that by the Methods I take, to make People Immortal, and that no Person shall die with whom I am concerned, which is what I believe some People have expected from me. But, for my Part, I shall always en∣tirely submit to, and have respects for the Providence of the Almighty, who alone is the Author and Disposer

of our Lives; and who by the mouth of an Inspired Writer, has declared, That our days are determined; and beyond the Limitation, set by that wise Author of Nature, we cannot pass; it being altogether impossible for Creatures to contend with their Crea∣tor, or to extend the Time that he hath limited.

Physicians are, of all men, without doubt, the most unhappy; People, in their Extremities, looking upon them as their Saviours and Deliverers; yet after all, they having done as much as 'twas in the power of man to do, having in all respects acquitted them∣selves with the utmost fidelity and diligence, if their Patients die, their appointed time being come, and the number of their days, alotted them by the Almighty, being expired; yet the Friends and Relations of the Par∣ty deceased, seldom fail to charge them in one respect or other, though instead of being blamed, the Physician has

deserved their utmost Favour and Esteem.

By what I have said, I would not be so understood, That I am so far a Predestinarian, as to believe that Peoples Lives are not frequently pro∣longed by the use of fit and proper Medicines: For if it were not so, why should the wise Creator have been at so much trouble, in providing such a vast number of Medicines, in the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral King∣doms? if he did not by them design a real service to Mankind in di∣stress.

God generally gives a Blessing to proper means, it not being usual for him to work Miracles every day. He teaches the Plowman how to plow his Ground, and the Seedsman to sowe his Seed; but the Plowman, instead of a Plow, must not use a Harrow; nei∣ther must the Seedsman expect to reap Wheat, if he sowes Barley: So it is in the practice of Physick, he that ex∣pects success in his Practice, must first

endeavour rightly to know the Causes of Diseases, and then to use fit Re∣medies, and after that, the Event must be left to the Blessing of the Al∣mighty.

The Plowman may plow his ground aright, and the Seedsman sowe his Seed in due season, and after all is done they may reap no Crop: so the Physician may have an exact know∣ledge of the Causes of Diseases, and may use the most fit and proper Medi∣cines in the World, and yet at last be frustrated in his Aim: Which ought to shew us what an exact reliance and dependance we should have upon the Blessing of God on all our Endeavours, without which, we are like to make but little progress in any thing.

I tread in an unbeaten Path, and therefore cannot so happily and easily arrive at my Journeys end, as if I had had some body or other before, to have chalked out my way for me.

I hope I shall not by these my En∣deavours, incur the displeasure of any

one of those Physicians who are of a contrary Judgment to me, they being still left at liberty to use their own Methods and Alkalious Medicines: For tho we act upon different Principles, our Ends and Designs are the same, which are the Cure of Diseases; and if I, after a multitude of Experi∣ments, am convinced that Acids are not the Causes of Diseases, but, on the contrary, that Alkalies are, and upon that score am induced to use Acids in all or most Distempers; I don't see any reason why People should reproach me for it, since I have made no Personal Reflections upon any one.

As for the Physicians of our own Nation, I have the highest Value and Esteem for them, having generally found them to be Men of greater Learning, and who understand the bu∣siness of their Profession better than any of the Physicians I have at all met with abroad.

As for going again to Flanders with the Army, I never design that any

more, being sufficiently deterred from it, by the ill Treatment I had there last Year, by the means of some of my old Friends the Surgeons. And that I may no longer continue at Variance with so great a Body of Men, I have sold the Receipt of my Vulnerary Pow∣der and Tincture, and all the said Me∣dicines I had by me, to a Gentleman who is better able to dispose of them for the Publick Good of Mankind than I could; and therefore shall for the future wholly apply my self to my Practice of Physick, in which if I have Success (which I doubt not) I shall have business, maugre all my Enemies Malice.

From my House in Villars-street, York-Buildings in the Strand, Mar. 25th. 1696.

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Some further CONSIDERATIONS Concerning Alkaly and Acid, &c.
I Thought to have said no more upon this Subject, until the Publication of my History of Human Blood: But I finding that to be a thing of greater difficulty, and that a much greater Num∣ber of Experiments than I at first thought of, will be ne∣cessary to make that History
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compleat in all its Parts; by which means it will be some∣thing longer than I at first in∣tended, before that Piece ap∣pears in the world: There∣fore I have thought fit,

First, To explain the Terms, or what is meant by Alkaly, and what by Acid; which I find very many people, who are not Physicians, are in great measure ignorant of.

Secondly, To explain the Na∣ture of them somewhat more fully and clearly than I have yet done.

Thirdly and Lastly, To an∣swer the Objections that have been raised against some parti∣cular things contained in my Essay.

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All which Heads I shall han∣dle with as much Brevity and Perspicuity as possibly I can; omitting the more full Prosecu∣tion of them, till the Publi∣cation of my History of Hu∣man Blood, which, I hope, will be ready for the Press a∣bout the Month of June.

I shall make bold to declare, That I have not Published this Doctrine of Alkaly and Acid, out of any design of appearing singular, or being the Head of a Faction, but out of mere Pi∣ty and Compassion to Man∣kind, my Fellow-Creatures, whose deplorable Circumstan∣ces under Mistaken Methods, I have long bewailed; to see Physick made the Scene of
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Slaughter, and so many mise∣rable Mortals (the helpless Sick) sent daily to their Last Homes, as Victims to Error and Ignorance: Whilst the Learned Prescriber jogs on in his old mistaken Alkalious Road; not dreaming (as the Wise-Man says) that Death is there, and that his Portion (I mean the Patient's) is with the Worms.

But that I may return to my Business.

First, To explain the Terms, or what is meant by Alkaly, and what by Acid.

Alkaly derives its Name from the Herb Kaly, from the Ashes of which Herb is extract∣ed a large quantity of Salt,
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which by the Venetians and o∣thers is much used in the ma∣king of Soap and Glass; and this Salt they call Sal Kaly, and by leaving out the S Alkaly. Now the Ashes of all or most Vegetables affording a Salt of the same nature with the Ashes of the Herb Kaly, therefore all Lixivial Salts are equivocally called Alkalies, and all other things of the same nature, whether manifestly Saline or not, Alkalies; such are Arsnick, and all the Testacea, as Pearl, Coral, Crabs-Eyes, Oyster-Shells, &c.; and all Urinous Spirits and Salts, such as Spirit and Salt of Blood, Urine, Harts-horn, &c. And some think, that of these Alkalies
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are made the famous White Powder, so much talk'd of, which kills without a Bounce, and murthers without making a Noise.

Acid, I suppose, did first derive its name from Acaid, an Arabian Word for Acetum, Vi∣negar, which is the most com∣mon and known Acid; and therefore all things of the same Taste and Nature with Vine∣gar, Acids; such are the Jui∣ces of most Fruits and Plants in their Natural state, and unfer∣mented; though all fermented Vegetable Juices do after fer∣mentation retain something of their pristine Acidity, though not in so eminent a degree: But every body knows that all
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fermented Juices, such as all sorts of Wine, Ale, Beer, &c. let them be preserved with ne∣ver so much care, will at last return to their pristine state of Acidity. All Metaline Sul∣phurs ate to be ranged amongst the Number of Acids, they being nothing but a Congestion of Acid Particles. I may likewise without presumption reckon all sorts of Balsoms and Pinquedinous and Oleaginous Substances, amongst the num∣ber of Acids; by reason that in the most bare and simple Di∣stillation, they afford large quantities of Acid Substances, but nothing that is Alkalious. Bread also, that is, not without reason accounted the Staff of
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Life, affords also by Distilla∣tion a large quantity of an Acid Substance, which is no despi∣cable Menstruum. Sugar, which though in its Taste seems to be nothing less than an Acid, yet by a Philosophical Management appears to be no∣thing else but a Congestion of Acid Particles.

Thus for the present I think I have given a sufficient ac∣count of what I mean by Al∣kaly, and what by Acid; and also what things are to be ac∣counted Alkalies, and what Acids.

There are some things which seem to be of a mixt na∣ture between Alkaly and Acid, which things we call Neutrals.
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Now those things of this Tribe which afford by much a greater quantity of Acid Substances than Alkalious ones, I stick not to call Acids, because the Acid predominates; and those that afford by much a greater quantity of Alkalious than A∣cid Substances, I call Alkalies. Though in a more strict sense they deserve rather to be called either Sub-Acid Alkalies, or Sub-Alkaline Acids, according as either the one or the other predominates.

I shall now proceed to my Second thing, which is, To ex∣plain the Nature of Alkalies and Acids more fully and clearly than I have yet done.

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For the well Performance of which Task, I shall compare the Operation of them both upon Human Bodies, both in∣ternally taken, and externally applied.

I shall begin with Sal Kaly, which is the Standard of Alka∣lies, and compare that with Vinegar the Standard of Acids.

Sal Kaly, and so all Lixivi∣ous, Vegetable Salts, as Salt of Wormwood, &c. being ap∣plied outwardly to the bare Skin, scorcheth and burneth the same, all one as if a Red Hot Iron were actually applied to it, causing an Escar, which falling off, an Ulcer follows: Nay, indeed there is scarce any other Caustick used, than
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a Lixivium of Sal Kaly, which is what the Chyrurgeons call Capital or Strong Soap-Lees, evaporated to Driness. The same being taken inwardly, without being greatly diluted by some Aqueous Vehicle, in most people causeth enormous Vomitings, which I my self have formerly experienced; and if it be never so much di∣luted, if it doth not excite Vo∣mitings, it rarely fails of either depraving, palling, or totally destroying the Appetite: Be∣sides, being conveyed into the Blood, by breaking its Glo∣bules and spoiling of its Tex∣ture, it causeth either Scor∣butes, Rheumatisms, Sciatica's, Consumptions, Gout, Palsies,
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or some other of the fatal Tribe of Chronical Diseases.

Now I have shewn what Sal Kaly, and the rest of the Tribe of Vegetable Lixivious Salts will do; in the next place let's see what effects even com∣mon plain Vinegar, which is the standard of Acids, will have, being externally used, and internally taken.

It is well known, that Vine∣gar being externally applied, is of extraordinary use in a great many sorts of Inflamations, of singular use in an Erisipelas, or St. Anthony's Fire. Cloaths being dipp'd in it, and applied to the Forehead and Temples, to the Wrists, the Stomach, and bottoms of the Feet, I have ex∣perimentally
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found to be of ex∣traordinary use in some very burning Feavers: I have like∣wise my self (before I had found out a more certain Re∣medy) sometimes made use of it with good success in great Bleedings at the Nose, by dip∣ping a Spunge in good strong Vinegar, and applying it to the Scrotum. I have also known it with good success to have been made use of by poor people, in stinking old Ulcers. From all which it ap∣pears, that being externally applied, it's no Caustick, and will make no Ulcer, but on the contrary, will cure Ulcers, ease Pain, &c.

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Now we have seen some of its good Effects, being exter∣nally applied; let's see what it will do being internally taken.

In the first place I shall men∣tion an Account given of it by the Ingenious Dr. Baynard: He says that he was called in to a Person who had a Total Sup∣pression of Urine, under which he had laboured some conside∣rable time, and that several things had in vain been given him; he immediately gave him a large Draught of Vine∣gar, which soon made him to Piss freely; and by repeating of it two or three times, he was perfectly freed from his In∣disposition. The Doctor has given an account of this in one
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of the Philosophical Transacti∣ons; but I have not read it, neither have I time at present to look over those Papers. I think also he has told me, that the same thing he has done with the same plain Medicine two or three times. He like∣wise gave me several Instances of many Persons in most vio∣lent Fevers, who have been presently cured by drinking large Draughts of Atterpool Wa∣ter well acidulated.

I am also most creditably in∣form'd, That Dr. Bently, a late famous Physician in Che∣shire, who lived to almost a Hundred Years of Age, had such wonderful Success in Fe∣vers, that he acquir'd the Name
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of the Feaver-Doctor, and that his Medicine was nothing else but the Decoction of a certain Herb well acidulated with the Spirit of—; a Noble Acid, which I am obliged not to re∣veal.

A Worthy Lady, whose Name I must not mention, has assured me, That she has brought in the use of Vinegar or Verjuice Posset-drink, a∣mongst her poor Neighbours in the Countrey where she lives, in the Small-Pox; and where that has been used from the be∣ginning, she has scarce observ'd any one to dye or be disfigur'd; which is agreeable to what I observe in my Essay, p. 24.

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I have likewise frequently observed, that three or four Spoonfuls of Vinegar, will immediately check the most violent Vomitings, occasioned by the taking of some harsh Antimonial Medicines.

A great many other good qualities hath simple Vinegar internally taken, and external∣ly applied (besides its being a good Menstruum) that I think not fit here to enumerate.

The next thing I shall do will be to compare Arsnick, as the highest and most exalted Alkaly, with Oyl of Vitriol, the most exalted Acid.

As for the external use of Arsnick, I know nothing of it
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experimentally; but it being a thing of that pernicious con∣sequence internally taken, I suppose it can have no very friendly operation externally applied.

Internally taken, it causeth the most enormous Vomitings and Convulsions of the Sto∣mach, Cold Sweats, Palpita∣tions of the Heart, Swoonings, most violent Thirst, and in ge∣neral, seems to be a direct Ene∣my to Life, which in a short time it fails not to destroy. All which effects it will not fail to have, given in never so small a quantity. And all those peo∣ple who have been so vain as to pretend to correct the Poy∣sonous Venomous Quality of
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Arsnick, so as to convert it into a good and safe Medicine, have attempted it only by the means of Acid Salts, such as Sea-Salt, Nitre, Tartar, Vitri∣ol, &c. wherein I cannot tell whether any man hath yet been so happy as to succeed.

To prove Arsnick to be an Alkaly, and as such is the Cause of all those dreadful Symptoms that attend those people who are so unhappy as to take it, I shall insert a Relation made to me by Mr. Payne an Apo∣thecary of Brandford, on Satur∣day, Feb. 16. which was as fol∣lows:

A certain Young Woman of Brandford having taken a very
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large quantity of Arsnick (as he told me, an Ounce) she was immediately attended with all the most violent Symptoms imaginable; upon which Dr. Morris was called in, who gave her large Quantities of Sallad Oyl, the usual Remedy, with∣out in the least abating the Symptoms: Upon which he ordered them to procure a large quantity of Lemmons, and to press the Juice out of them, of which Juice he plentifully gave her, which soon took off and abated those imminent and direful Symptoms which inevi∣tably threaten'd Death; though the Operation of the Acid might be somewhat impeded, through the quantity of Oyl she had taken before.

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But to return to my Busi∣ness, which is to see what are the Effects of Oyl of Vitriol.

I confess the Acid Particles of Oyl of Vitriol are so concen∣trated, as to make it unfit to be externally applied, or inter∣nally taken, of it self; but being diluted in any proper Vehicle, is a Medicine second to none that I know of. A few Drops in Canary, given to the young∣est Children who are troubled with Worms, seldom or never fails of having the desired ef∣fect. It being mixed with Honey of Roses, is one of the best Medicines that perhaps is known, for the Scurvy in the Gums, breeding Flesh where it it is wanting, and fastening the
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Teeth. Being mixed with Spring-Water and Brandy, of each equal parts, to a mode∣rate Acidity, is no despicable Medicine in giving ease in the most Tormenting Pains of the Gout, the Part being foment∣ed with it Night and Morning. I may be almost positive, that the Medicine used by the Inge∣nious Swiss Gentlemen who now reside in this City, and are become so deservedly fa∣mous, particularly for the Cure of Sir Robert Howard, is no∣thing else but a Mixture of Oyl of Vitriol with a certain Oleagi∣nous Body, in due proportion. The same Medicine is also used and sold by Mr. Fisher, Chy∣rurgeon in Aldersgate-street:
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Which Medicine rarely fails gi∣ving immediate Ease in the most Tormenting Pains of the Gout. Which is a Confirma∣tion of the Truth of what I have said in my Essay concern∣ing the Gout, wherein I assert, that it is not from any Acidity in the Blood that the Gout is occasioned, but from Particles of a quite contrary nature, (viz.) Alkalious ones; as plain∣ly and evidently appears by Analyzing the Chalky Sub∣stance contained in the Nodes.

A better general Medicine than Oyl of Vitriol is scarce known in most continued Fe∣vers, any small Liquors, as Barley-Water, Small-Beer, &c.
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being well impregnated with it, and drank freely.

The following Mixture is a very noble Medicine in that painful Distemper the Stone in the Kidneys.

Take of Oyl of Bitter-Almonds one Ounce, Oyl of Vitriol Two Drams, Oyl of Sassa∣fras a Scruple, mix them very well, then add Spirit of Wine rectified three Oun∣ces, digest two or three days in a gentle heat. The Dose is a small Sweetmeat Spoon∣ful in Old-Hock, or Infu∣sion of Juniper-Berries, once in four hours during the Paroxism.

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Given for a Month or Six Weeks in an Infusion of La∣vender Flowers, is an admi∣rable Medicine in Epilep∣sies.

I could mention a great ma∣ny Cases more in which this Medicine is of singular use; but in so doing I should swell this Appendix to too great a bulk.

I shall next compare the Te∣stacea, such as Pearl, Coral, Crabs-Eyes, &c. with natural Balsoms and Gums, such as Balm of Gilead, Tolu, Peru, &c. Gum Ammoniacum, Galbanum, &c.

As for Pearl, Coral, and Crabs Eyes, I know not that they are of any use at all, being
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externally applied; and being internally taken, no body that I know of pretends that they are useful any further than to absorbe the Acidity of the Sto∣mach, where people labour under any Indisposition that is attended with an Acidity there. But they are so far from being useful in that case, that I have scarce known them useful to any one that has taken them upon that score: And in any other case they have not the least shew of being at all use∣ful, but frequently do a great deal of mischief, as I have ob∣served in my Essay upon the Small-Pox, &c.

Here give me leave to men∣tion a short Case related to me
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by my worthy Friend Dr. Bay∣nard, pertinent to this place.

A Merchant's Wife of some Eminence in the City of Bri∣stol, labouring under a decayed Stomach, was reduced to such Weakness as not able to go, vomiting all she took: Her Physicians supposing her Blood abounded with Acids, had from time to time loaded her weak Stomach with the whole Reti∣nue of the Alkalious Kingdom, keeping their old Circle, from the Testacea to the Volatile Alkalies, and from thence to the Testacea again; and at last she was perfectly cured with some few Doses of the Gas Sulphuris, given in the Bath-Waters
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cold, twice or thrice a day.

As for Balsams, if I should take upon me to describe their Excellencies, it would be more fit for a large Volume than to take any room in the Appendix to a small Essay. What a No∣ble Medicine is Balm of Gi∣lead in many cases? The Ex∣cellency of which is such, that God by the mouth of an Inspi∣red Writer, by way of Allusi∣on, when his people were in a calamitous Condition, cries out, Is there no Balm in Gilead? Are there no Physicians there (to ap∣ply it)? Why then is not the wound of the daughter of my peo∣ple healed? What a Noble Me∣dicine is Ammoniacum in the
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most deplorable Astma's? the Spirit distilled from which, and an equal quantity of Verdi∣grease, in a naked Fire, I be∣lieve to be as Noble a Medi∣cine as ever was used; nay, all the Gums and Balsams freed from their Ramous, Viscous parts by Distillation, become much better Medicines than when they are in their Natural state.

I shall say no more of Bal∣sams, for fear I outrun my bounds; but shall proceed to answer some Objections raised against what I have said in some parts of my Essay.

[objection 1]
Object. 1. You say that the Scurvey is occasioned by too
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great a quantity of Alkalious Particles in the Blood, and is only cured by Acids. How comes it to pass that those peo∣ple that live upon nothing al∣most but highly-salted Meat, are more troubled with the Scurvey than other people, when you own Sea-Salt to be an Acid?

Answer. I own that Seamen and People who live by the Sea side in Marshy Grounds, who for the most part live up∣on Salt Meat and Fish, are more troubled with the Scurvey than other people: But this does not proceed from their eating a larger quantity of Salt than other people, but from their eating more Flesh and Fish
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than other people do, which abound with Alkalious Particles, and from the moistness of the Air about them, which hin∣ders their free Perspiration. As for the Sea-Salt which is in great quantities mix'd with their Food, that is all or most part of it soon carried off by Urine, and with it some of the Alkalious ones also, and there∣by framing an Armoniack Salt, which it is well known the Urine of such Persons abounds with: Now what we call Sal Armoniac, is only a mixture of Volatile Alkaly and Sea-Salt. But the Pores being shut by reason of the moisture of the Ambient Air, the Volatile Al∣kaly which should be discharged
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either by insensible Transpira∣tion or Sweating, being pent in, causes all the Symptoms complained of by those Per∣sons. To confirm the truth of which, it is well known, that Seamen at Sea, or those people who live in Marshy Grounds, will scarce be made to Sweat by the most violent Labour. Now all people who have been so curious as to taste Sweat, do very well know, that it hath an Alkalious, and not an Acid Taste; so that Sweat∣ing or free Transpiration being hindered, the Blood must ne∣cessarily abound with too great a quantity of Alkalious Particles; all those that should have been discharged by the Cutaneous
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Glands, being kept in it. And so I hope this Objection is an∣swered.

[objection 2]
Object. 2. In your Essay, Page 80. you do allow that Acids in some Distempets do exorbitantly abound in the Sto∣mach: Now how comes it to pass, that there being so great a quantity of Acid in the Sto∣mach, that the Blood and other Juices should be destitute of Acidity; there being no other way to convey any thing into the Blood or Juices, but through the Stomach; and therefore whatever the Stomach abounds with, one would think must necessarily be imparted to the Blood and other Juices?

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Answ. I have before obser∣ved, Nov. Lum. Chyr. pag. 3, 4. That there is no Innate Fer∣ment in the Stomach, but that the Menstruum made use of to dissolve our Food, and to turn it into a Nutritious Juice, is the Liquor that by chewing of our Meat is squeezed out of the Glands of the Mouth, and parts adjacent, which by nu∣merous Experiments does ap∣pear to be an Acid. Nay, all or most of the Noble Men∣struums I know of, either in the Animal, Vegetable, or Mi∣neral Kingdoms, are Acids. Now the Food being conveyed into the Stomach, and mixed with the Volatile Acid Liquor of the Glands of the Mouth,
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is by the means of the said Vo∣latile Acid Liquor dissolved, and turned into a Substance fit for the Nutrition of our Bo∣dies; a state of Health being supposed.

It is very well known, that few people are troubled with an Acidity in their Stomachs, but those who use very little exercise, or whose Business disposes them to a Sedentary Life, and by this means the Chyle when made, for want of Motion and Exercise, the Fi∣bres of the Stomach also ha∣ving lost their Tone, and be∣come laxe, is not soon enough carried out of the Stomach, and lying there too long, the great∣est part of it is turned into a
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Substance like unto the Ferment which at first dissolved it: All people who know the nature of Ferments, will readily e∣nough agree with me in this, That it is the nature of them to endeavour the Change of those things they are mixed with, in∣to their own nature.

[objection 3]
Object. 3. But some will say, We can agree with you in what you have said hitherto; but how will you do to clear your self of your own seeming Ob∣jection, which is, That this Acid Substance shall be kept from being conveyed into the Blood, and so being the only Cause of many Diseases?

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Answ. I have always obser∣ved, That those people who complain of an extraordinary Acidity in their Stomach,

First, They make Water often, and in large quantities.
Secondly, They are very Lean. And
Thirdly, They are (for the most part) very Costive.
All which Symptoms I shall endeavour to prove are occa∣sioned for want of the Acid Substance contained in the Sto∣mach, being conveyed into the Blood.

As for the first Head, Why people who complain of an Acidity in their Stomachs, make more Water than those who are destitute of it; the
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Reason I judge to be as fol∣lows:

The solid Food they eat, in∣stead of being converted into a Viscid, White Liquor, we call Chyle only, by means of too great a quantity of Acid is over-attenuated, and converted into a Thin Limpid Substance, and that in a short time; which Thin Substance, by means of the Liver pressing up∣on the Stomach, instead of pas∣sing into the Small Guts through the Pylorus, is squeezed into certain Vessels which pass from the bottom of the Stomach to the Kidneys, and so is carried off by Urine.

To prove that there are such Vessels which pass immediately
Page 39
from the bottom of the Sto∣mach to the Kidneys, I shall transcribe a Passage out of Do∣leus's Encyclopedia Med. pag. 359, 360. speaking of the parts af∣fected in the Dropsy.

I suppose (says he) that Liquid Substances may be con∣veyed from the Stomach through the Omentum or Cawl, to the Kidneys; hence it is those Animals who have no Cawl, make no Water, as may be seen in Birds and Fishes. For the Confirmation of which Opinion, I have dissected ma∣ny Animals, always taking care before the Operation to gorge them with large quanti∣ties of clear Water, afterwards have dissected them alive: I
Page 40
have found the Stomach as yet distended with the Water, but pressing the Vessels of the Cawl which lead towards the Sto∣mach, which being covered over with Fat like unto the Milky Veins, were to my no little satisfaction very Turgid: And forasmuch as in a living Body the Pores of the Sto∣mach and other Passages are al∣ways more open than in dead ones, where all things are flaggy, and fall together, there∣fore the said Transmutation is not at all to be wonder'd at: And, which is worth taking notice of, in those Hydropical People I have opened, I have always found the Cawl either Putrid, Torn, or full of Tu∣mors.
Page 41
The following Experi∣ment has also much confirmed me in my Opinion, viz. That there are Vessels to convey Li∣quid Substances from the Sto∣mach, through the Vessels of the Cawl to the Kidneys: Not long since, an experienced Herniotomist or Cutter of Rup∣tures, of Hanover, whose Name was Wedling, by Section cured a certain Person of an Omental Rupture; and because a part of the Cawl was also cut away, the Patient, who is yet alive, does greatly com∣plain of a difficulty in making Water; and if at any time he drinks any large quantity, he perceives a very great Weight and Pain about his Stomach,
Page 42
and is always loose; hence, in my conjecture, some Vessels which carry the Urine right on to the Emulgents, were cut, by which means all the Drink he drank was carried into the Duodenum, and so hinders the Fermentation that is there per∣formed, and makes all the Fi∣bres laxe. From all which may be proved, that all we drink, and of consequence all other Substances made very liquid in the Stomach, do not pass through the Intestines to the Lacteal Veins, and from thence through the Thoractuck Duct to the Heart, because the Pylorus is reflex to the Stomach, lest the Liquid Substances con∣tained in it should slide out:
Page 43
It is therefore certain that Li∣quid Substances lying at the bottom of the Stomach, do pass through it in that part which is joined to the Cawl; and if these Vessels, or the Cawl it self are either lacerated, broken, putrified, or obstructed with Oedematous Tumors, it necessarily follows that the Li∣quid Substances contained in the Stomach must be let fall in∣to the Cavity of the Abdomen, and so a Dropsy is caused. But being free from any such dis∣order, Liquid Substances must freely pass through them to the Kidneys, and so to the Bladder. I could cite other Authorities, besides my own Observations, as Sir George Ent, Charlton,
Page 44
Waldsmiedght, &c. but this one is, I think, sufficient.

From this Doctrine may ve∣ry great Consolation be afford∣ed to People labouring under the Stone in the Kidneys and Bladder; and Industrious Phy∣sicians need not despair of find∣ing out such Medicines as will Dissolve or Break to pieces Stones contained in either of those parts. One great reason I verily believe that has hindred Persons from making diligent search after such Medicines, has been from a supposition, that scarce any Medicine could retain its Virtue, but must be in great measure or altogether de∣stroyed by the many Alterati∣ons it must undergo, according
Page 45
to the ordinary Laws of Cir∣cumlocution; but were they fully satisfied (as there is no reason to the contrary) of this nearer Cut, I suppose people would not think the dissolving Stones in the Kidneys and Blad∣der, so difficult a Task as it hath hitherto been thought to be.

To prove the Existence of the foresaid Passages for Fluid Substances from the Stomach, through the Vessels of the Cawl to the Kidneys, and that Medicines may pass unalter'd to the Kidneys and Bladder, I shall insert a Couple of Cases.

One Mr. Bradford, an Emi∣nent Tradesman of Worcester, sent to me one Afternoon, de∣siring me to make all possible
Page 46
haste, for that he was upon the Wrack: When I came to him, I found him in a most dreadful condition, he not having made Water of two Days, and such an intolerable Pain in his Back, that he was not able to support himself under it. I presently gave him some Medicines, or∣dering him to take them in large quantities once in half an hour: In an hour and half's time, at furthest, he sent to me to acquaint me that he was well, and at ease, having piss'd two large Chamber-Pots full, which held at least Two Quarts apiece, and in the first Pot-full above Two Large Spoonfuls of small pieces of broken Stones. He several
Page 47
times since, occasioned by hard Drinking, has been under the same Circumstances, and upon taking the same Medicines has found immediate Relief. Now had these Medicines been con∣veyed from the Stomach to the Small Guts, and from thence by the Lacteal Vessels, the common Receptacle of the Chyle in the Mesentery, and so on to the Blood, and from thence be separated by degrees in the Kidneys, as it is brought there by the Emulgent Arteries, it had been altogether impossi∣ble that the Effect could have been so sudden, and that the Medicines should not have been greatly altered, or totally destroyed, by the many changes
Page 48
they must have undergone be∣fore they could come to the Part affected. But by the way I have been speaking of, the Medicines might all of them, and that without being in the least impaired in their Virtue, be transmitted to the Part af∣fected, and so perform their Operations in breaking to pieces the Stone or Stones they met with, either in the Kidneys or Bladder.

Mrs. Wheatly, a Glasier's Wife without Smithfield-Bars, had a long time been afflicted with the Stone in the Bladder, and for about Nine Months had confined her self to her Chamber, the Misery she un∣derwent being such, that made
Page 49
her altogether uncapable of any business; and of ever be∣ing delivered she was perfectly in despair, all common means having in vain been used; at last by some means or other she was prevailed with to send for me: When I came to her, she gave me a most lamentable Account of her Case; and al∣though I gave her all the En∣couragement imaginable, yet all that I could say, made but little impression upon her, she supposing her Condition to be so deplorable, that to expect deliverance was vanity in the highest degree: However, she was at last prevailed upon to try what I could do for her: I began to give her some Medi∣cines,
Page 50
which she took in large quantities, and repeated them once in four hours: It was upon a Monday morning she began to take them, and on the Wednesday night next following I exami∣ned her Water, and found some small ragged Pieces of Stone in it; and tasting the Water, I could discern the Taste of the Medicines, which were Salino-Sulphureous ones, to be as vigo∣rous altogether, as they were before she had taken them into her Mouth, and not, as I could discern, in the least altered in their taste. On the Morrow Morning, being Thursday, by Five a Clock she sent her Maid-Servant to me, to my House in St. Martins-Lane, to acquaint
Page 51
me that she was delivered from her Misery, and perfectly well. About Eight a Clock I went to visit her, and found a Stone that she had voided with little Pain, the Medicines having acted upon the Sphincter Muscle of the Neck of the Bladder, and so relaxed it, as to make it give way for the Stone to pass: The Length of the Stone was an Inch and half and half a quarter; it was Three Inches and a half round one way, and Two Inches and a half another. There were some small flaws in it, which were made by those little rag∣ged pieces which came away the Night before, which I found in the Chamber-Pot.
Page 52
The thing was so extraordina∣ry, that it came to the Ears of her late Majesty, who desired to see the Stone, which I pro∣cured for Her, and she was pleased to say, That it was the most Extraordinary Thing She had ever seen or heard of, to be brought away without Cutting or Instru∣ments. Any one who doubts the Truth of this Relation, may yet see the Stone at Mrs. Wheatly's, who carefully preserves it: The extraordina∣ry Veracity and Integrity of the Person is such, that I am sure she would not tell an Un∣truth to do any man service.

I could give several other Instances of this nature; but these Two are, I think, suffi∣cient,
Page 53
and a plain Demonstra∣tion that there are Vessels which carry Fluid Substances immediately from the Stomach to the Kidneys, without those many Circumgyrations that people generally imagine: Nay, I don't question but suddenly to make it appear by Ocular De∣monstration; which if I could not do, to people who are not mere Scepticks, Demonstrati∣ons deduced from reiterated Experiments will be suffi∣cient.

I am sure I have a great deal more to say for the Existence of these Vessels, than any of those Learned Gentlemen who assert the Doctrine of Nutriti∣on by the Nerves, have to say for that.

Page 54
The Learned and Ingenious Dr. Baynard's Account he gives of the sudden Effects of Vine∣gar before-mentioned, in a to∣tal Suppression of Urine, is al∣so a good Argument to evince the Truth of what I have been speaking of. But to proceed to my Second Head, which is,

That those people who a∣bound with an Acidity in their Stomachs, are generally very Lean.

To prove which Position, will be no very difficult Task; for the solid Food they eat (and generally they have good Appetites) which is that which affords most Nutrition, being over attenuated, is by that
Page 55
means made capable of passing through those Vessels I have be∣fore mentioned (which I shall presume to call Urinary Ves∣sels) the more gross parts on∣ly being conveyed to the Small Guts, which having but few Nutritious Particles in them, can afford but very little Nou∣rishment to the parts; and the parts being destitute of their usual and necessary Nourish∣ment, Leanness of consequence follows.

A sufficient Argument to prove that Leanness proceeds from the want of a sufficient quantity of Acid Substances in the Blood, is this: That Fat is nothing else but a Concrete, produced from the Mixture of
Page 56
the Acid and Oily Parts of the Blood: Now the Blood hath never any Acid in it, but when people are in a perfect state of Health: And when at any time the Blood is destitute of Acid Particles, and abounds too much with Alkalious ones, (which argues a Morbid state) as it doth in all those people who have too great a quantity of Acid in their Stomachs, which upon experiment any man may find to be true, although at first sight, I confess, it looks very like a Paradox. Now the Blood be∣ing destitute of Acid Particles to coagulate the Oily ones, there can be no fresh production of Fat, and that already generated having its Acid Particles morti∣fied
Page 57
by the great quantity of Alkalious ones, presently loseth its consistence, and is again converted into a thin Oyl, which is soon carried off by some of the Emunctories, there being nothing in the Blood fit for it to incorporate or mix with; and when these Oily Fat Particles are gone, then the Corrosive Alkalious Par∣ticles prey upon the Muscu∣lous, Nervous Fibres, and so cause general Disorders; at other times when they are in great quantities thrown upon parti∣cular parts, according to the nature of the part affected, they cause different Diseases: But I don't know any one Dis∣ease caused by Acids; unless it
Page 58
be over-much Fatness, and what we call the Heart-burn, if they are to be accounted Diseases; the most Healthy People being subject to the Heart-burn: Tho' the Heart-burn is as often cured by Acids, such as Ol. Vitriol. Dul. &c. as by Alkalies: From whence I conjecture, that the Heart-burn also may be occasioned from the Blood which is brought to the Coats of the Stomach, abounding with too great a quantity of Alkalious Corrosive Particles, which may vellicate and contract the part. Having in short dispatch'd this Head, I shall proceed to my Third;

Page 59
That those who abound with an Acidity in their Sto∣machs, are for the most part very Costive.

From the same reason that people abounding with an Aci∣dity in their Stomachs, are Lean, it is that they are Co∣stive also; the more Thin, Fluid Substances, being carried off by the Urinary Vessels, and only the more Gross ones con∣veyed into the Guts, and for want of a sufficient quantity of Moisture, the Excrements are over-harden'd, and the Guts not sufficiently lubricated; and therefore Costiveness must necessarily follow.

But after all, I foresee ano∣ther Objection will be raised;
Page 60
and therefore to make every body easy, I shall lay down the Objection, and endeavour to answer it.

[objection]
Objection: If the Acidity in the Stomach be the Cause of the solid Food we eat being over-attenuated, and so the Nutritious Particles being car∣ried off by the Urinary Vessels, as in Atrophies, &c. without being conveyed into the Blood, to afford Nutrition to the parts; How comes it to pass that Iron or Steel, which you own to be an Acid, can be of any use? For instead of being useful, one would think that by in∣creasing the Acidity, it should exasperate and increase the Ma∣lady.

Page 61
[answer]
To which I Answer: I have before observed, that Iron or Steel cannot be conveyed into the Blood before it is turned in∣to a Vitriol; and therefore to those people who have a great Acidity in their Stomachs, it is found absolutely necessary to give Iron or Steel without any precedent Preparation; which has been long since taken no∣tice of by the Learned and Ju∣dicious Dr. Cole, in his Physico-Medical Essay concerning the late Frequency of Apoplexies. Now Iron or Steel being given crude and unprepar'd, is by the means of the Acid in the Sto∣mach turned into a Vitriol, by which means the Acid is so em∣bodied, as to make it uncapa∣ble
Page 62
of passing through the al∣most imperceptible Urinary Passages; and likewise by em∣bodying the Acid, hinders it from over-much attenuating the Chyle; so that being mixed with the Chyle, they are toge∣ther conveyed into the Small Guts, and so on to the Blood, and by its Stiptick Acidity it confirms the Texture of the Blood, and mortifies the luxu∣rious Alkalious Particles it meets with.

As for what I mention con∣cerning the Efficacy of Juice of Lemmons in immediately aba∣ting and taking off the violent Symptoms that attended a Per∣son who had been bitten with a Viper, after the Volatile Salt
Page 63
of Vipers, and other Antidotes, had in vain been given; I find the very same thing taken no∣tice of by Hoffman, in his Cla∣vis Pharmaceutice Schroderi, pag. 444, 445.

An Ingenious Person not long since, who had formerly embraced the Doctrine of A∣cids, was willing to try what Effects the Transfusion of Acid and Alkalious Liquors into the Veins of Dogs would produce; accordingly he injected some Oyl of Sulphur per Campan. into the Veins of one Dog, which instead of disordering him, made him brisk and lively, and very hungry: But another Dog into whose Veins some Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium (a
Page 64
known Alkaly) had been in∣jected, it produced a clear con∣trary effect, the Dog being lumpish and dull, and in a few days died: But it is to be ob∣served, that these two Liquors were so diluted as to make them fit to be taken in at the mouth before they were inject∣ed. Something (as I remember) of the same nature, is also taken notice of by Fred. Hoffman, Fil. de Acido & Viscido.

I have been well assur'd from a Person of the Greatest Honour, That the Jews in Con∣stantinople (who are the only Physicians there) advise their Patients, in times when the Plague rageth, to eat Lemon and Sugar, and to drink Lemo∣nade
Page 65
in large quantities, and that by way of prevention; and those people who do so, seldom or never have the Plague: And if at any time they are called to Persons who have the Plague upon them, if they will but take the afore∣said Medicines in large quanti∣ties, they very rarely miscarry.

From many late Observati∣ons I am fully convinced, that the Gout is without any great difficulty to be cured, or at least a Fit to be taken off, in a small time, by a proper Course of Acid Medicines, both internally taken, and externally applied to the Part affected, and that without the least Inconveni∣ence afterwards: And I am
Page 66
altogether certain, that the on∣ly reason why people have hi∣therto so frustraneously at∣tempted the Cure of the said Distemper, has been from the general Prejudice they have had against Acid Medicines, which are the only things ca∣pable of doing service.

Tho I do so mightily con∣tend for the Use of Acids in ge∣neral in the Cure of Diseases; yet I do not in the least pretend that any one Acid is capable of answering a Physician's Intenti∣on in the Cure of all Diseases: Neither Vinegar nor Lemmons are to be reckoned Panacea's; tho, for ought I know, in the hands of a Person who well understands their use, they will
Page 67
either of them do more than many of the celebrated Pana∣cea's.

No man is fit to be called a Physician, who does not well understand the Nature of Dis∣eases, and of the Juices con∣tained in a Human Body, which is what hath hitherto been but little enquired into; men taking up with general Notions that had no Foundati∣on; which has been the only reason that Physick hath been so long practised without the least certainty; Physicians changing the Method of their Practice almost as often as we do that of our Cloaths. Being extremely well skill'd in the Anatomy of the Solid Parts, is
Page 68
a Noble Qualification, and enables a man to talk finely, but does not in the least tend to enable men to cure Diseases. It is an exact Skill in the Ana∣tomy of the Juices, the Fluid Parts, that will make a Man a good Physician: But in this sort of Study few have been conversant. An exact Know∣ledge of the Materia Medica in general, and the Specifick Dif∣ferences there are between those Medicines, seemingly of the same Tribe, is also an ab∣solutely necessary Qualificati∣on: For that Acid that will cure a Fever, will not cure the Gout; and that which will cure the Gout, will not, per∣haps, cure another Chronical
Page 69
Distemper; there being a vastly wide difference between those very Medicines which are seem∣ingly the same.

I do positively affirm, That neither Blood nor its Serum be∣ing any way exposed to Putre∣faction, will by that means in the least become Acid, but ra∣ther more Alkalious: Now A∣cids in general hindring Putre∣faction, and likewise reducing things from a state of Putre∣faction that are already become Putrid, must be the great Me∣dicines to cure Diseases; for there is no Disease but what proceeds from some sort of Putrefaction of the Fluid Parts of our Bodies.

Page 70
What I have said in my Es∣say, and also in this Appendix, has been only in general terms; but I am now reducing all to a Method, I designing my Hi∣story of Blood to be also a Me∣thodical History of Diseases, with an Account of the Medi∣cines proper to be used in the Cure of them: I being resol∣ved to serve my Generation to the utmost of my Power, let my Treatment be what it will.

I shall conclude this Appen∣dix with Two or Three Cases, and the Method I used in the Cure of them, as a Confirma∣tion of the Truth of what I have said concerning some things in my Essay.

Page 71
Case the First.
A Gentleman who had long laboured under a Sciatica, viz. Two or Three Years, and had applied himself to several Per∣sons of the greatest Eminence for Advice, and had by their Prescriptions been loaded for that whole time with Alkalious Medicines, without receiving the least advantage, the Leg and Thigh of the Left Side being greatly Emaciated, and a very large Glandulous Tu∣mor on his Hip: He was never free from violent Pain, and ve∣ry Lame. I first of all Purged him well for about a Fortnight with Calamel. Tart. Vitriolat. and
Page 72
Rezin of Jallap: I afterwards gave him the following Medi∣cines, which he took constant∣ly Three Times a Day for a∣bout Ten Weeks; in which time, without any External Application at all, his Pain left him, the Tumor disappeared, and his Leg and Thigh, which were before wasted to mere Skin and Bones, became equal∣ly Plump and Fleshy with the other.

Recipe Cinnaberis Antimonii, vel (quod melior est) Facti∣tii Com. Officinarum Recenter Levigat. Unciam Unam. Gum. Guaiaci Dracmas Sex. Cons. Cynosbati Uncias Tres. Syr. Sambuci q. s. F. Ele∣ctuarium.
Page 73
Dosis est quant. Nucismoscatae Ter in Die, Horis Medicinalibus, super bibendo Uncias Octo Infusi sequentis.

Recipe Rad. Bardanae Siccat. & grossè Contus. Uncias Octo. Baccar. Juniperi, Uncias Quatuor, sem. Bar∣danae, Faxini ana Unciam Unam semis. Sassafras Un∣ciam Unam. Tartari Vi∣triolati Dracmas Tres. Aq. Font. Libras Sex. Infundè Clausè & Calidè per horas xii. & Coletur, Colaturae sing. Libris duabus. Adde Sp. Liq. Guaiaci Rect. Un∣ciam Semis M.

Page 74
This Method I have so often experienced in this Case, that I dare recommend it as to be depended upon.

Case the Second.
A pretty young Gentleman, who had been too free with the Fair Sex, by his over-fre∣quent Embraces was Poxt to the highest degree, being Le∣prous from the Crown of his Head to the Soles of his Feet, and all other Symptoms of the most confirmed Pox I ever met with. He was altogether a∣verse to Salivation, I therefore gave him the aforesaid Medi∣cines, which he took three times a day for about two months;
Page 75
but I first of all purg'd him very well with Calamel. Tart. Vit. and Rezin. Jallap. and for the last Fortnight sent him to the Bagnio three times a week, ordering him to take a large Dose of the Electuary and Infusion about an hour before he went into the Bagnio. At the two months end he was perfectly freed from his Leprosy, and his Skin as clean and white as ever I saw any one in my life; and all other Symptoms that attended him, were perfectly vanished.

Case the Third.
A Corporal in the Right Honourable the Earl of Ox∣ford's Regiment, was Poxed to
Page 76
the highest degree, upon which he applied himself to a Physi∣cian near Chelsey, who put him into the powdering Tub of Af∣fliction three times; and altho he had each time undergone a Regular Salivation, his Sym∣ptoms were not in the least abated. He was emaciated to such a degree, that he was like a meer Skeleton. He had vio∣lent Pain in his Head, Shoulders, Arms, Thighs, and Shin bones; and when he was warm in his Bed, the Pain was so exaspera∣ted, that altho he was so weak as to be scarce able to stand, yet out of his Bed he was forced to get, and crawl about in the cold, which afforded him some small Relief; his Appetite was
Page 77
quite lost, and a continual Hectick upon him. To be short, I think I never saw so miserable a Spectacle in my whole life. To this Man I gave the Electuary and Infusion three times a day, which soon abated the violence of the Symptoms, and continuing the use of them about three months, altho he had seldom less than four or five Stools a day, yet he ga∣ther'd Flesh, and in that time became a hale, hearty Man, to the great surprize of all who knew him. I may be positive that it was not above six weeks before he was able to walk about his business.

I have given these very Me∣dicines to I believe Two hun∣dred
Page 78
People in several Chroni∣cal Distempers, with extraordi∣nary success; and altho in the day time they seldom fail of working three or four times by Stool, and in the night provo∣king Sweat; yet I have scarce known any one person who has taken them, that during the very time they are taking them, for all the very great Evacuati∣ons they cause, that have not sen∣sibly gather'd flesh, and if weak, recover'd strength. Whereas let the strongest person take any of the common Purgers but a month together, and altho they have not above two or three Stools a day, yet they will emaciate them, and weaken them to a great degree, which
Page 79
is a very great Argument of the excellency of Cinnaberine Medicines mixt with Gum Guai∣aci above the common Pur∣gers: The one carrying off the Nutritious Juices, as well as the Excrementitious ones; the o∣ther only causing a due Secre∣tion of the Noxious, Excre∣mentitious Juices, which by so doing, Nature is thereby rid of any Load wherewith she is op∣pressed, and enabled to apply the Nutritious Juices to the ends they are designed for.

I have in some extraordina∣ry Cases, given above a pound of Cinnaber at times to one per∣son, and never knew the least ill Symptom follow, nor ever once to excite Salivation. And I
Page 80
do verily believe, that in the hands of a person who knows how to use it, it is one of the greatest Medicines in Chroni∣cal Diseases in the World; but being used with Gum Guaiaci, and Spiritus Guaiaci Rect. it does much better than alone, they greatly assisting it in its opera∣tion. Being mixed with pro∣per Cephalicks, and taken for some time, it is a wonderful Medicine in Epilepsies, and some other Nervous Distem∣pers. Hoffman has wrote a whole Treatise of Cinnaber; and I am capable of speaking ten times more in its praise from my own Experience, than Hoffman hath done.

Page 81
Convulsions are Distempers that Children are frequently troubled with, more of them dying of Convulsions than of all other Distempers, Testace∣ous Powders are the Medicines generally given, as the great Asylum to which Physicians fly, but very rarely with Success. But upon the giving them tem∣perate Acids, I have generally found them to answer my In∣tentions.

I was, not long since, sent for to a Child who had Con∣vulsions to such a degree, that his Parents believed it to be an Epilepsy. His Belly was hard like a stone, and continual Tortions and Convulsive Con∣tractions, sometimes of his
Page 82
Hands and Arms, sometimes his Legs and Thighs would be distorted and almost put out of Joint; sometimes had the most violent Vomitings, at other times the Muscles of his Face would be strangely contracted. I gave it the following Medi∣cines, and in about two days he was perfectly free from his Convulsions.

Recipe Tart. Vitriolati Drac∣mam Unam. Crem. Tart. Dracmas Duas. Castorei Dracm. Semis. Sacchari Albi Unciam. Sem. M. F. Pul. in viii Chartis distri∣buend. ex quibus cap. n o 1. quartâ quâque horâ in Coch∣lear. Julap. seq. super bi∣bendo
Page 83
Cochlear. Tria vel quatuor ejusd.

Recipe Aq. Rorismarini, Pulegii ana Uncias Tres. Peon. Comp. Uncias Duas. Ol-Vitrioli Dul. Scrupul. Unam. Syr. Peoniae Dracmas Tres M. F. Julap.

Recipe Ol. Amigdala. Amar. Unciam Unam. Ung. Dial∣theae Uncias Duas. Ol. An∣nisi, Pulegii ana gut. vi. m. F. Linimentum, cum quo Illinatur Regio•••• Umbel. liculem Manè & Vesperi, Superponendo Pannum La∣neum ter duplicatum.

Page 84
By this Method, with some variation according as different Symptoms appear, I have known multitudes of Children, whose Lives have been despair∣ed of, cured of the most vio∣lent Convulsions in a small time.

I have likewise observed, that in malignant Fevers, those people who are treated accord∣ing to the usual custom, with Alkalies and Alexipharmicks, are generally attended with vio∣lent Convulsions: But those who use Acids plentifully, are seldom or never Convulsive.

I have cured abundance of people of that troublesome Cough that hath raged this March, by only giving them
Page 85
large quantities of Lemmon and Sugar, to be eaten both day and night, and giving an Opiat with some Drops of Oyl of Sulphur per Campan. at night going to Bed.

In violent Hysterical Fits in Women, I have frequently, without (seldom) failing of Success, given a Mixture of Two or Three Spoonfuls of Vinegar, a few Grains of Castor, and about a Quarter of a Pint of Spring Water: Which Mix∣ture has frequently abated and taken off the Fits, when be∣fore they had been greatly exasperated by Spirit of Harts-horn, Sal Armoniac, &c. Gas Sulphuris also given alone is a wonderful Medicine in violent
Page 86
Hysterical Fits. And in the beginning of Consumptions, I believe there is not a better Medicine than Gas Sulphuris given in large quantities. But the Cortex, which is now so universally used in Consumpti∣ons, without the least shew of Reason, I believe to be the most pernicious Medicine in Hecti∣cal Distempers that ever was given. I have enquired lately of several Persons, both Phy∣sicians and Apothecaries, whe∣ther they ever yet saw a He∣ctick cured by the Cortex, who have unanimously declared they never did, and that scarce any one that hath taken it, but have died. I must declare that I never yet saw any one
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cured of a Consumption, but by Acids, such as Gas Sulphuris, Ol. Sulphuris per Campan. &c. by the means of which I my self have cured many. But sometimes, in some very ex∣traordinary Cases, especially if the Distemper have been of long standing, and the Texture of the Lungs much spoiled, even Acids themselves will leave us in the Lurch, even after Symptoms have seemed to be much abated, and things have look'd with a promising Aspect. Which I my self have in one or two Patients whose Lives have been very dear unto me, ex∣perienced; which I cannot mention without the greatest Concern. For all which, I
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dare not, even in Consumpti∣ons, leave off the use of Acids, because I am sure they will do more than any other besides; and there are no Medicines whatsoever that will make people Immortal. I have my self cured many with Acids, but never could yet see or hear of one that was ever cured without them.

The Learned Dr. Jones, whose Civility to me (tho an utter Stranger, whom I never saw) I cannot sufficiently ex∣press; in a very kind and obli∣ging Letter has sent me a Ca∣talogue of Distempers he has in the Course of his Practice cured by Acids.

(1.) Hard Bellies in Children
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with an Atrophy attending it, which is very common, and seldom cur'd by other Methods.

(2.) The Stone, that is, to take it off (if of a passable Bigness) with Ease, Speed, and Safety.

(3.) Child▪bed Fevers, of which Dr. Willis says, they are most difficult to be cur'd of any.

(4.) Catarrh or Defluxion.

(5.) Cholera Morbus.

(6.) Diarrhea and Dysentery.

(7.) Jaundice.

(8.) The Small-Pox, &c.

This Worthy Person, whose Name is deservedly famous throughout Europe, for his No∣ble Piece De Febribus Intermit∣tentibus, thus concludes; I would have sent you more, but these coming readily to my mind, have been cer∣tainly
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cured by me, by the means of Acids.

The wonderful Success Dr. Baynard (whose intimate Con∣versation I have of late been ho∣noured with) has had through the Course of his Practice, is eminently known both in Lon∣don, Bath, and Lancashire, where he formerly dwelt: And his Practice has chiefly run up∣on Acids; which (as he hath all the reason in the world) he does strenuously vindicate and defend; and by whom, I must own, since my Acquaintance with him, I have had clearer Notions of the different sorts and various use of Acids than ever I knew before; he being one of the most Candid, Inge∣nious,
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Communicable Persons, I ever met with.

It was out of a Life saving Principle, that these Gentlemen embraced this Doctrine of A∣cids, in opposition to the Mul∣titude; who for want of this knowledge, daily record their sad Cures in Sextons Books and the Weekly Bills: And I dare say, they have wrought more Substantial, Good Cures, than any Twenty besides them, who have acted upon different Principles.

I don't find that the Method of making the Gas Sulphuris, which I have often mentioned, is any where set down; I shall therefore give an Account of its Preparation, which tho a
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very easy one, is for all that a very Noble Medicine.

Gas Sulphuris.
Put into a large Glass Recei∣ver, that will hold Six or Eight Gallons, about Four Quarts of pure Spring Water; when you have so done, burn in the Re∣ceiver a Quarter of a Pound of pure Sulphur Vivum made into Matches: You must take care that your Matches be very long, so that when they are lighted, the Flame may be as near the middle of the Body of the Re∣ceiver as may be: By that time you have burnt Three or Four Matches, the Receiver will be so full of the Steams of Brim∣stone, that when the lighted Match is put into it, it will be
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immediately extinguish'd; you must then stop the Mouth of the Receiver very exactly with a Wet Cloth, and let the Steams condense; when you see the Receiver clear, then burn more Matches till the Receiver is a∣gain fill'd with Steams, then stop up again, and repeat this work till your Matches are all burnt, and your Water will then be impregnated with the Vola∣tile Acid Steams of Brimstone.

This Medicine given liberal∣ly in Malignant Fevers has done Wonders, even where people have been given over as dead. It is an excellent Medicine be∣ing taken by way of Prevention in Infectious Seasons. And I think, if any Medicine deserves
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that Name, this doth deserve to be called the true Prophy∣lacticon.

Dr. Baynard has another way of making the Gas Sulphuris somewhat more warm and Alexipharmick.

Take a large Glass Receiver with a mouth of three or four Inches Diameter, place it Ho∣rizontally, into which pour Aq. Petasitid. Ulmariae simp. Vini Rhenani, ana Libras duas Aq. Rutae, succi Pomorum silvest. vet. ana Libram unam Aq. Theriacalis, Prophylact. Sylvij ana Uncias qua∣tuor M. Then take an Iron Ladle fitted to the mouth of the Glass, with a long Handle, put into the Ladle half an Ounce of Sulphur Vivum pow∣dered,
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accend with a small Gad of red hot Steel, when lighted, clap it into the Re∣ceiver so far, that the Fumes may arise in the middle of the Glass, and the bigger the Glass the better; for the more Fumes it contains, the sooner will your Operation be over. Stop the mouth with a wet Cloth, that the Steams get not out; when the Fumes have extin∣guished the Flame, let it stand, that the Oleum Sulphuris may tric∣kle down the sides of the Glass, and subside upon the Menstru∣um; when the Fumes are set∣led, and the Glass clear, quick∣ly draw out your Ladle, and repeat the Action, until it be well impregnated with strong
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Volatile Gas. Remember al∣ways to keep the mouth of the Glass well stopped with the wet Cloth, otherwise the Gas, which is of a most subtile na∣ture, will evaporate.

A Spoonful of this given once in two or three hours, in any proper Julap, doth most wonderfully extinguish Thirst in Fevers, procure Sweat or Urine infallibly, takes off the driness of the Tongue, tempe∣rates and cools the over-heated Bile, and procures Rest. Al∣so mixed with a little Claret-Wine, and a Drop or two of Oil of Cinnamon, does, to a Miracle, stop Vomiting, and the best Peptick for a weak and decayed Stomach.

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Note, That when the Gas is quite gone and flown off, the mixture will notwithstanding remain sowre, as impregnated with the Oleum Sulphuris; but the Gas, which is the better part, will in time be lost, (it is so subtile) even almost through the pores of the Glass. You must dip the Cork-end of the Bottle in melted Brimstone, and keep it always immerged in cold water. But the best way to keep it is in small Glasses, and open no more at a time than you use, it losing its vo∣latile parts very much every time the Bottle in which it is kept is opened.

As a further Illustration of the Doctrine of Acids, I shall
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add an account I received from Dr. Oliver, one of the Physicians of the Fleet, about the use of Beveridge.

Beveridge is a prickt, sowr Spanish Wine, one Hogshead of this mixed with 3 Hogsheads of water, makes the Drink the Sailors are allowed to drink ad libitum.

By my Experience in the Fleet, those Ships Crews who drank this Acid Liquor for their common Drink, were much healtheir than those who by their obstinacy would not be brought to it; as for Example:

The Royal Oak a third Rate, carrying about 500 men, whose Ship's Crew, by Admiral Nevil's particular Order, began first to
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drink Beveridge, (he having had experience of it two years in the Mediterranean in the Crown, in all which time he lost not above two men), and in three months time I don't remember I had three Complaints, tho at the same time, in other Ships where they drank no Beveridge, Fevers and Fluxes were very frequent. Here I shall insert one thing worthy of Note, That the Royal Oak wanting Beveridge, and being obliged to drink water only, in a few days time they grew very sickly, and lost above 30 men in a month, inso∣much that the men themselves were so sensible of the advan∣tage they had by drinking Beve∣ridge, that they heartily desired
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that they might drink nothing else but Beveridge, and begg'd it wherever they could find it. The like experience I had of the Eagle, Norfolk, and several other of our Ships, who were always better in health when they drank Beveridge, than when they drank Water alone, or found Wine and Water. From these Experiences, I advised the Cap∣tains of each respective Ship, to procure Beveridge for the common Drink of the men, and the Success answered my Ex∣pectation.

This is an exact Relation as I took it from Dr. Oliver's own mouth.

I have more to say, but have al∣ready out-run the Bounds of an Ap∣pendix, and therefore shall omit what remains, for another opportunity.

FINIS.