A SHORT ESSAY ON THE VIRTUES OF Dr. NORRIS's ANTIMONIAL DROPS.
THE SECOND EDITION.
TO WHICH IS ADDED, A CATALOGUE OF CURES, INCONTESTIBLY PROVING [...]EIR SOVEREIGN EFFICACY IN FEVERS.
SHORT ESSAY, &c.
[3]THOUGH there is nothing ſhould leſs plead for an apology to the public than addreſſing them on what ſo immediately and import⯑antly concerns them, the continuance and reſtoration of their health; yet in a metropolis like this, — where the neceſſitous, the ignorant, and adventurous are every hour practiſing on the conſtitutions of their fellow-creatures;—the moſt diſtant poſſibility of my being claſſed in this number would have prevented this addreſs, was I not at the ſame time ſo conſcious, from many years abſolute experience in a variety of caſes, of the ſuperior efficacy of this medicine; that, ab⯑ſtracted from all other conſiderations, I ſhould hold myſelf chargeable, in point of duty, to omit making it as univerſal as poſſible.
Upon this principle, then, and the corroborating ſucceſs of this medicine for many years I beg leave to recommend to the Public ‘NORRIS's ANTIMONIAL DROPS;’ which, upon a certainty of their compoſition and ſalu⯑tary effects, I pronounce a ſpecific in the following [4]diſorders — Inflammatory Fevers, Putrid Bilious Fevers, Slow Latent (commonly called) Nervous Fevers, and Putrid Sore Throats, &c. inſomuch that, in a vaſt variety of caſes, where life has been often deſpaired of, and un⯑der ſome of the moſt reſpectable of the faculty, there has been no one inſtance (at leaſt that has ever come to my knowledge) of their being found ineffectual.
I am however aware, that, from the title of this medicine, many may have their doubts; as Antimony, of all other phyſical productions, has been conſi⯑dered as the moſt violent, and dangerous in it's effects: I will not contradict this popular appre⯑henſion; on the contrary, I think it generally well founded; but this I will pledge myſelf to ſay, that from my particular manner of preparing it, it's efficacy can only be equalled by it's ſafety; that it is a medicine of ſuch ſingular or unique quality, that it may be taken with equal ſafety in infancy or old age, by delicate or robuſt conſtitutions in ſmall or large quantities; and ſo far from producing any of thoſe violent operations, the uſual effects of Antimony, it recovers nature in the moſt friendly manner imaginable, operating without any ſenſible difference than a degree of perſpiration, &c. propor⯑tioned to the neceſſity of the diſeaſe.
It is to be lamented, that, upon many occaſions, in fevers, phyſicians are obliged to wait for what they call the criſis of the diſorder, and many days are often elapſed in this intermediate, doubtful ſtate, before any thing can be pronounced in reſpect to an opinion on the patient; but this medicine is ſo immediate, yet [5]innocent, in it's effects, that it waits for no criſis or particular period; it may be taken in the firſt, mid⯑dle, or latter ſtages of the diſorder, and in any quan⯑tities, with ſafety; in ſhort, it wants but to meet the diſeaſe to give it an abſolute overthrow.
From theſe poſitive declarations, I am not inſen2ible what a riſque I may be thought to run, both in re⯑ſpect to my own character and fortune; and indeed I ſhould feel myſelf unworthy not only of the public patronage I have received, but of the common bene⯑fits of mankind, could I be ſo loſt to my own honour and conſcience, for the mere ſake of intereſted views, thus to recommend a medicine, which I even remotely doubted of it's ſucceſs; but the repeated proofs I have had of it's never-failing efficacy, it's immediate, powerful, and ſafe effects, all give me a conſciouſneſs of communicating it to the world under the moſt po⯑ſitive and certain aſſurances.
Theſe drops, beſides being a ſpecific for fevers, I have often known ſucceed in a variety of other diſ⯑orders, ſuch as bad digeſtion, nervous head-aches, latent ſcurvies, (the ſource of many evils) and infallably in gouty habits, where inſenſible perſpiration is ſuppreſſed. And indeed when the extent of their powers, as an univerſal deobſtruent, which lead to a general ſtrengthening and reſtoration of nature, are conſi⯑dered, the univerſality of their effects will ceaſe to be wondered at.
Having thus given a ſummary account of the virtues of theſe Antimonial Drops, I am aware of the objections which will naturally ariſe from a compara⯑tive [6]view of the general mode of medicinal admini⯑ſtration, and that which prevails in this eſſay: I am likewiſe aware of the formidable oppoſition which every great diſcovery in medicine muſt unavoidably meet with, not only from it's oppoſition to eſtabliſhed practice, but the uncharitable endeavours of intereſted men, who, under the ſpecious pretence of it's not being in common uſe, have invariably reprobated all ſuch (however beneficial to mankind) as dangerous or uncertain. Though the uſe of theſe Antimonial Drops would be a convincing anſwer to ſuch inſinuations; yet, as many have not experienced their effects; and as I would willingly obviate every difficulty, as well for the ſake of my own reputation as the ſatisfaction of the Public; I ſhall ſubmit the following apology for my conduct.
It is generally objected to thoſe, who have labour⯑ed through a painful courſe of years, and have been at great expences in the diſcovery, and preparation of medicine, that to make a myſtery for private emolu⯑ment of what ſo eſſentially affects public benefit, is repugnant to thoſe principles of univerſal charity, which ſhould actuate the human breaſt:—This, at firſt bluſh, I own ſeems plauſible, but then it ſhould be conſidered, that the means of throwing this into Com⯑mon Uſe, may deſtroy its effects; as the excellency of a medicine depends not ſo much on the ſubject from which it is taken, as the great care and judgement in the preparation. A common chemiſt, in ſhorten⯑ing the neceſſary period of preparation, diſpenſing with accidents ſubſtituting apparently-ſimilar bo⯑dies [7]or by any of thoſe various means, which may ſave his time, or increaſe his profits, may think himſelf ſufficiently juſtified for ſo doing by the uſage of trade: But the more careful chemiſt, con⯑ſcious that the leaſt accident or miſmanagement is frequently ſufficient to extinguiſh the virtues of his proceſs, and having nothing ſo much at heart, as the credit of his medicine, is barred by no labour, no time, no expences, no diſappointments, in bringing to perfection this his favourite object.
Permit me then to rank myſelf in this laſt claſs, who, from dedicating the beſt part of my life to Che⯑mical proceſſes, muſt neceſſarily be ſuppoſed to be well acquainted with the minuteſt preparation of me⯑dicine; and on the credit of this experience let me add; that, what from the judgment and accuracy required, together with the many accidents to which it is liable, the proceſs of my Antimonial Drops can ſcarcely be compleated in the way of Common buſineſs. This conſideration then alone, I flatter myſelf, will fully juſtify my conduct to the judicious and im⯑partial part of mankind.
I have already been ſufficiently explicit in enu⯑merating the virtues of this medicine; I do not therefore mean to take up any more of the attention of the Public; otherwiſe, than as the PRESERVATION and RESTORATION of health form the principal and greateſt bleſſing of life, that they ſtrictly examine into it's merits. If it turns out to be productive of thoſe benefits I have mentioned; ſurely I cannot be thought preſuming to expect that a public reward ſhould follow ſo public a benefit. If on the contrary I ſhould [8]be found one of thoſe forward daring empyricks, who are heedleſs what ſacrifices they make to their own intereſts; let me be branded with that infamy, which thoſe who endeavour to deceive mankind in ſuch important matters deſerve.
And here I beg leave to requeſt all thoſe who have honoured me with their confidence, and who by ex⯑perience or obſervation are vouchers of the efficacy of this medicine, to favor me with their names and addreſs, that, by the permitted publication of ſuch authority, to be from time to time added to this eſſay, I may be the better enabled to render as univerſal as poſſible ſo great a benefit to mankind.
CURES BY THE SOLE USE OF DR. NORRIS's ANTIMONIAL DROPS.
N. B. Thoſe with initial letters being deſirous of extending the uſe of this medicine for the benefit of others, yet, for ſome private reaſons and particular connections, are unwilling to have their names made public, but may be privately referred to, on appli⯑cation to me at my houſe, Duke-ſtreet, Weſtminſter.
[9]— W. Eſq. THIS gentleman, ſtruck with ſome expreſſions in my directions, (viz. ‘"A Fever is produced by an extraordinary exertion of the powers of nature, to expel whatever has a tendency to be deſtructive or noxious to the animal oeconomy"’) was determined, after having ſuffi⯑ciently proved many things ineffectual, to ſend for me; which he did. I found him ſorely afflicted with a Bilious, Putrid Fever, attended with a moſt violent Vomiting and Purging, and in all appearance near a diſſolution; however, being convinced of the healing powers of my medicine, I gave him a ſmile of hope, and after adminiſtering a ſmall doſe, leſt him to reſt. [10]The next day I found him conſiderably better, and in a few days, without other aſſiſtance, he was per⯑fectly cured.
The Rev. Sidney Swinney, D. D. Fellow of the Royal and Antiquarian Societies.
THIS gentleman has experienced the ſuperior effi⯑cacy of this medicine, in a nervous diſorder with which he had been afflicted three years; and, in various caſes, of others who took it by his recommendation.
I Was ſorely afflicted with a lingering Fever, occa⯑ſioned by a cold, which brought on a loſs of ap⯑petite and weakneſs of ſtomach, that would ſuffer very little nouriſhment to ſtay on it. After more than ſix months illneſs, my phyſiciansDrs. Addington and Ford. having ſo far given me over as to diſcontinue their preſcriptions, thinking every poſſible means had been tried, at laſt conſented that your Drops ſhould be adminiſtered: the firſt doſe gave manifeſt ſigns of amendment, and in a ſhort continuance of them I was reſtored from the brink of the grave to perfect health. It is now upwards of five years ſince I experienced their happy effects; ſince which I have not only recommended but adminiſtered them to many in fevers, and do de⯑clare I never found them to fail in a ſingle inſtance. This you have my permiſſion to make public for the benefit of mankind.
Mrs. G.
[11]THIS gentlewoman had been afflicted many months with a Slow, Latent, Nervous Fever, with a total loſs of appetite and bad digeſtion; inſomuch that ſhe was reduced to a very deplorable condition. In this ſtate, after every advice and aſſiſtance of the faculty, and when her recovery was generally deſpaired of, ſhe was induced by the perſuaſion of Mr. Teygetmeyer to try my Antimonial Drops; which, to the aſtoniſh⯑ment of herſelf and all who knew her, very ſoon re⯑ſtored her to perfect health.
John White, ſervant to Mr. Teygetmeyer.
NOtwithſtanding this man was delirious, and had every dangerous ſymptom that could poſſibly attend an Acute Inflammatory Fever; upon taking my Antimonial Drops a gentle perſpiration enſued, and a very copious ſweat ſoon followed, which carried off his Fever in a few hours; and, in a few days he was able to go about his buſineſs.
MY ſervant was delirious, and in all reſpects ſo bad in an Inflammatory Fever, attended with a putrid diſpoſition, that it was generally thought ſhe could not recover; but on taking theſe Drops ſhe preſently began to mend, and the continuance of one ſmall bottle perfected her cure.
Some time after my ſon had a violent Inflam⯑matory Fever, and from the almoſt immediate [12]effects of theſe Drops on my ſervant, and the good report I had heard of them from many of my acquaintance, I truſted in them altogether, and gave him no other medicine; I gave them to him freely, which threw him into a fine perſpiration and a ſweet ſleep; the Fever was carried off in a few hours, and he recovered health and ſtrength in a few days. This you have my permiſſion to pub⯑liſh for the good of mankind, believing your Antimonial Drops to be the moſt ſafe and effectual remedy for Fevers ever yet diſcovered.
To Dr. Norris, Duke-ſtreet, Weſtminſter.
Letter from George Downing, Eſq;
I HAVE read your treatiſe on the Antimonial Drops, and having experienced their good effects in a variety of inſtances in my family for above ſix years, I conſider it as a duty to add to your catalogue my teſtimony of their ſafety and efficacy; of which, to particularize no other, there cannot be a ſtronger proof than the following caſe:
A daughter of mine, ſixteen years of age, of a delicate conſtitution, was laſt autumn ſeized with a Putrid Fever and ſore throat; ſo rapid was the diſeaſe in it's progreſs, that ſhe was near a diſſolution before your Drops were adminiſtered. We gave them in large doſes, and very freely, by [13]which the danger was preſently overcome, and my daughter ſoon perfectly reſtored to health. You have my permiſſion to ſubjoin this to your Eſſay, and am,
To Dr. Norris, Duke-ſtreet, Weſtminſter.
MR. F. a reſpectable tradeſman in the city of Lon⯑don. His daughter, a weakly delicate child, about five years of age, was ſorely afflicted with a ſwelled ſtomach, and conſtipation in her bowels; together with indigeſtion, a Slow Fever, and a ſharp corroſive humour in her blood. To the inexpreſſible joy of her parents, who had deſpaired of her recove⯑ry, ſhe is happily reſtored to health, by the virtues of this invaluable medicine. Two of his ſervants were cured of a Putrid Fever; the one in his own houſe, very ſpeedily, and went about his buſineſs in a few days; the other ſoon after was attacked with the ſame diſorder: for reaſons beſt known to his maſter he ſent him to Iſlington, and put him under the care of an apothecary there, but hearing very un⯑favorable accounts of him daily, he went to ſee him, and ſent for the apothecary, who told him, among other things, that his Fever was a very dangerous one, and muſt wait for a criſis, &c. This not ap⯑pearing ſatisfactory to the old gentleman, he diſ⯑charged the apothecary, and immediately ſent for me. [14]Let it ſuffice to ſay that I was under the neceſſity of giving this young man three times more in quantity of the Drops than is ordinarily preſcribed, before the deſired effect was produced; he began to take them about eight o clock in the morning, and between that and five in the evening he had taken four fifths of a half guinea bottle, without their having the leaſt ſenſible effect; he then called for a large baſon of tea, which he drank, and about ſix had a very profuſe ſweat, in which he continued the whole night, and ſlept comfortably. I made him a viſit the next day, and found him equal to my wiſhes; and the day following pronounced him out of danger, which I reported to his maſter. In a week or ten days after I ſaw him about his buſineſs.
REMARKS.
Very few people pay that attention to the directions given with the medicine which they ought; if they did there would be very little occaſion for my viſits, particularly in Fevers.
The following Caſe you have in the gentleman's own words:
"IN the month of July, 1774, my eldeſt ſon was ſeized with a moſt violent Fever and never⯑ceaſing exceſſive head-ach, which defied all the various medicines that acknowledged ſkill and at⯑tention could preſcribe for thirteen days and nights together, until he was evidently ſinking under de⯑debilitating vomits, bliſters, and four bleedings; the deſpairing father trembling for the fate of a [15]youth who had never once ſwerved from the ſtricteſt rules of duty, and who but very recently loſt another moſt promiſing youth, under circum⯑ſtances exactly ſimilar; and therefore as a laſt re⯑ſource in ſuch imminent danger, he applied for Dr. Norris's Antimonial Drops, which in one night carried off the violent head-ach, and through a ſoft eaſy ſweat, that terminated in a ſound ſleep, every dangerous ſymptom was at once removed; which I dutifully atteſt, to allay th excruciating an⯑guiſh of all other unhappy parents in the like melan⯑choly ſorrow and diſtreſs for their beloved offspring, ſinking, helpleſs, and without any hope of fur⯑ther relief from faſt approaching diſſolution. This, Sir, you have my permiſſion to publiſh for the good of mankind.
To Dr. Norris, Duke-ſtreet, Weſtminſter.
A Letter from the Rev. Mr. Chauncy, Rector of Ayot St. Peter, in Hertfordſhire.
I Was greatly afflicted with a weak ſtomach, fre⯑quent head-achs, a vitiated appetite, and a ſcor⯑butic habit; let it ſuffice to ſay that your Antimo⯑nial Drops, without the aſſiſtance of any other medicine, under God, have reſtored me to a good ſtate of health. My wife alſo, by a ſhort continuance of them, was cured of a Ner⯑vous [16]Fever, frequent head-achs, and a general loathing of food. This you have my permiſſion to ſubjoin to your Eſſay, and am,
To Dr. Norris, Duke-ſtreet, Weſtminſter.
— H. Eſq.
WAS cured by theſe Drops of a Slow Latent Fever, indigeſtion, crudities, &c. This gentleman, from a charitable motive, has had much experience of the ſovereign effects of this medicine in an Ende⯑mial Fever, which prevailed in his neighbourhood. To uſe his own words, ‘"This Fever prevailed in my abſence from home; my houſekeeper adminiſtered them to the poor, as long as ſhe had any; all who took them recovered, and two, for whom ſhe had none left, died."’
Mrs. D'Haynes, Prince's-Court, Story's Gate, Weſtminſter,
WAS afflicted with a violent pain in her cheſt, a weak ſtomach and bad digeſtion, attended with a Slow Nervous Fever; ſhe is perfectly reſtored to health by the ſole uſe of this medicine.
Mrs. May, No. 8, Buckingham-ſtreet, York-buildings,
WAS afflicted with the moſt diſtreſſing Miliary Fever I ever was acquainted with, which ſpecies of Fever is univerſally allowed to be of longer con⯑tinuance [17](though not ſo dangerous) and require more judgment in treating it, than any other kind of Fever; notwithſtanding, under a courſe of my An⯑timonial Drops, taken according to directions, ſhe was perfectly cured in ſeventeen days, which, in the common way of treating it, rarely happens in as many weeks. This ſhe is ready to atteſt when called upon.
Mrs. Ann Wright, James-ſtreet, Golden-ſquare,
CURED of a moſt violent pain in her ſtomach, ſo excruciating at times as not to be deſcribed, attended with a total loſs of appitite, ſo that very little nouriſhment would ſtay on her ſtomach. In two years continuance of this malady, her ſtrength and ſpirits were quite exhauſted, and her ſkin be⯑came very yellow; inſomuch that ſhe was reduced to the moſt deplorable ſtate. After proving every effort of the faculty vain, and taking various ſpecifics to no good purpoſe, ſhe was induced by the recom⯑mendation of a gentleman who had ſufficiently proved their virtues, to take my Antimonial Drops, one ſmall bottle of which reſtored her to perfect health.
I Caught a ſevere cold on the 18th of July, 1773, which terminated in a violent Inflammatory Fever that continued till the 5th day of Auguſt following, when few ſigns of life appearing, your Antimo⯑nial Drops were adminiſtered as the laſt effort to reſtore me, when, to the ſurprize of all my friends, in [18]the courſe of three days, I was perfectly recovered, without any other ſenſible effect than a degree of per⯑ſpiration. This you have not only my permiſſion but my requeſt you will make public for the good of mankind.
REMARKS.
This young man after bleeding, bliſtering, leeches applied to his temples, and every other means in common practice made uſe of to no good purpoſe; his brother, with whom he lives, was adviſed to try in this deſperate caſe my Antimonial Drops; he made ſome enquiries about me at the Carolina Coffee-houſe in Birchin-lane, where I frequently go when in the city; ſatisfied with Mr. Carr's, and ſeveral gentlemens re⯑port of me there, the Drops were immediately ad⯑miniſter'd according to directions; the next day I happened to call at the coffee-houſe, when Mr. Carr, who keeps it, after reciting what had paſt, was ſorry to inform me the young man was no better, and then paſt all hope; that as I was ſo near he thought it ad⯑viſeable I ſhould call; I did; and, never did I ſee a human being ſo near death: I could feel no pulſe; he lay on his back with his eyes wide open and fixed, ſpeechleſs, and motionleſs to all appearance. Being the firſt inſtance of my Antimonial Drops failing in Fevers, at leaſt that ever came to my knowledge, made me more particularly inquiſitive about the adminiſtra⯑tion of them, when, (to my great ſurprize) the bro⯑ther of my patient aſſured me with much concern, they [19]were adminiſtered according to directions, and he had taken of nothing elſe ſince, but the apothecary's ſtuffs, as he called them, every two hours, as they were di⯑rected to be given. There was no time to be loſt in reproof; it was now one o'clock at noon, I imme⯑diately diſpatched a meſſenger to Mr. Parker's, for a half guinea bottle of Drops, a table ſpoonful of which was poured down that inſtant, with di⯑rections, if he lived an hour and an half, to re⯑peat it, and continue to give him that quantity every two hours after, till a ſweat or ſome viſible ſigns of amendment were diſcovered; and then to dimi⯑niſh the doſe gradually; that no other medicine ſhould be adminiſtered on any account, but, to let him have as much baum tea, or any ſimple di⯑luting liquor as they could get down, by little and little, every now and then; the blunder committed before, made them now doubly diligent and punctual; I called the next day, and found the Fever was quite gone; but ſuch a laſſitude and ſtupidity re⯑mained as exceeds all deſcription. The nurſe in⯑formed me he lay very quiet till five o'clock; about ſix, he began to perſpire, and continued ſo to do the whole night plentifully; ſleeping all the time; which from his laying very ſtill and motionleſs, and as ſhe thought breathleſs too, made her ſeveral times conclude he was dead, till by laying on her hand every now and then ſhe was ſatisfied to the con⯑trary. I then ordered the Drops to be given very ſparingly, not above twenty or thirty, every two or three hours, till I called the next day, when I pro⯑nounced him out of danger, and ordered him to be [20]wrapped up in a blanket, put into a carriage, and taken ſomewhere to breathe a purer air as ſoon as poſſible, which was accordingly done the next day. He ſoon gathered ſtrength, and in a few days was able to return to his buſineſs, and has continued ever ſince in good health and ſpirits.
CERTIFICATE.
I, Thomas Reynolds, maſter of the ſhip Mentor, belonging to the port of London, do hereby cer⯑tify to whom it may concern, that upon my late voyage from St. Kitt's to Carolina, with negro ſlaves, ſeveral of them falling ill of Fevers, and ſome of them very dangerouſly ſo, I adminiſtered to them Dr. Norris's Antimonial Drops, and they all perfectly recovered, without the aid of any other medicine whatſoever.
REMARKS.
This gentleman informed me, that from Africa to St. Kitt's, he had loſt upwards of ſeventy ſlaves, not being able to prevail on the ſurgeon to admi⯑niſter my Antimonial Drops to them. When he arrived at St. Kitt's the doctor quitted the ſhip, and the captain then had about ſeventy ſlaves left, which he was to take to Carolina: in the paſſage ten or twelve of them were ſeized with the ſame Fever the others died of; being then with⯑out a ſurgeon, he had recourſe to my Antimonial Drops, which recovered them; verily believing, if [21]timely adminiſtered, nine out of ten of thoſe that were loſt might have been ſaved. Theſe Drops were ſent, by way of experiment, at the inſtance of a worthy gentleman, a merchant in the city, much in⯑tereſted in African affairs, and under the peculiar care of Captain Reynolds, the only one, he ſaid, he could depend upon to make a juſt report; before which, and ſince, ſeveral ſmall boxes were ſent to merchants at Liverpool, for the ſame purpoſe, and ſome few from the port of London alſo; but, ſtrange to tell! when immediately under the care and admi⯑niſtration of the ſurgeon, all their influence were gone, and they became of none effect. It would be no very eaſy matter to prevail upon many commanders of ſhips who ſail without ſurgeons, to credit this report from their own experience. This I am very well aſſured of, and could venture my credit, reputation, and fortune, upon the event, that if the ſurgeons of ſhips were actuated by the ſame diſintereſted principles; my Antimonial Drops would prove a great acquiſi⯑tion not only to the African company in preſerving their negroes, but the lives of thouſands ſubject to putrid fevers in hot climates.
Letter from Capt. Stott, of his majeſty's frigate the Juno, to Dr. Norris.
"IN juſtice to you, and from a deſire of being ſerviceable to the community, particularly that part of it which I have the honour to be a member of, I ſend you, atteſted by the officers of his ma⯑jeſty's ſhip Juno, under my command, an ac⯑count [22]of the effects of your Antimonial Drops, in the courſe of my late voyage to and from Falkland's Iſland.
In the outward paſſage, by the ſurgeon of the ſhip's report to me, of the 5th of April laſt, it appeared, that Geo. Hunter, and Laur. Pittman, two of the ſeamen, were taken ill with Malignant Fevers; that having for ſeveral days been given the uſual medicines without effect, he thought them paſt a poſſibility of recovery; judging this a fit opportunity to make a trial of the efficacy of your drops, (for notwithſtanding the recommenda⯑tions which were given me of them, and which induced me to take them with me, I had reſolved to let every uſual means take place before I gave them) I then therefore gave a bottle to the ſurgeon, and deſired they might be adminiſtered; he ſaid, it would, he believed, be of little conſequence whatever was given them, as he thought they could not live to the next day, however, he would try them; the next morning, in his account to me of the ſick, he told me the men were much better, and he believed they would recover, which from that time they did, and were ſoon after able to do their duty in the ſhip.
On the 27th of July following, being in the ſouthern part of the Torrid zone, Mr. Joſlin, the boatſwain of the ſhip, was taken ill of the ſame Fever, with the like ſymptoms as the two former, and after the ſurgeon had repreſented to me, that he had uſed all the means in his power for his re⯑covery, [23]to no purpoſe, the Antimonial Drops were given, and had the deſired effect, by his imme⯑diate recovery.
Sometime afterwards, in the ſouthern ocean, Ja. Hamm, and Evan Williams, the one a boy, the other a marine, were ſeized with a fever, and were, by the ſurgeons report to me, given over for many days; the Drops were given them alſo, which pro⯑duced a plentiful ſweating, and their immediate recovery. Such repeated ſucceſs gives me the higheſt opinion of the virtues and efficacy of your Antimonial Drops, and on theſe grounds I cannot too ſtrongly recommend them.
I alſo encloſe you the ſurgeon's atteſtation taken from the journals of his practice in the ſhip, and which, as well as this letter, you are at liberty to make public. Wiſhing you every ſucceſs,
‘"We, the undermentioned officers of his majeſty's ſaid ſhip Juno, do alſo teſtify what is mentioned in the above letter, and are of the ſame opinion with regard to Dr. Norris's Antimonial Drops."’
- CHAR. C. CROOKE, 1ſt Lieutenant
- WM. BARROW, 2d Lieutenant.
- JA. HOLROYD, Maſter.
- WILL. JOSLIN, Boatſwain.
- THO. TURNER, Purſer.
"The ſurgeon's atteſtation, taken from his jour⯑nal."
"5th of April, 1771. Geo. Hunter taken ill of a malignant fever; ſymptoms, a head-ach, vomit⯑ing, burning heat for many days; the medicines given had no effect; then the purging came on, with an inſenſibility; he continued in that ſtate four or five days; when Dr. Norris's Antimonial Drops were given, which threw him into a perſpira⯑tion, and he recovered.
Same day Laurence Pittman was taken ill; ſymptoms the ſame as Hunter, and given over; when the Antimonial Drops were adminiſtered, which, without any ſenſible operation, had the deſired effect.
27th July, Mr. Joſlin was taken ill of the ſame fever, as Hunter and Pittman, ſymptoms the ſame, and after medicines being given to no effect, and given over, the Antimonial Drops were given, and had the deſired effect.
James Hamm and Evan Williams were both ſeized with the ſame fever; ſymptoms the ſame; and were both given over for many days; the An⯑timonial Drops were then given, which brought on a plentiful ſweating, and both recovered.
Extract of a Letter from Robert Williams, Mer⯑chant, to Dr. Norris, Duke-ſtreet, Weſtminſter.
THY favour, with a box of Antimonial Drops, I received by means of our Friend Eyre, about 16 laſt 12 mo. They have gained great reputation in theſe parts, and being the time of our general aſſembly in Newbern, and my own ac⯑quaintance being very extenſive in this province, I had an opportunity of recommending them to many people; carried ſome to our good governor Mar⯑tin. Immediately on receiving them, I gave ſome to my own child, about two years old, who was feveriſh, and much out of order. Every one in my family could obſerve a ſudden change for the better: I have continued to give him a few at times, and the child is brave and hearty. Another child, about twelve months old, that had been long ſick, had loſt all appetite, I adviſed them, which in a few days recovered his health and appe⯑tite. A negro man in my own employ, about 23 years of age, by much wading in the water, got a ſevere pleuriſy; it being about 20 miles from where I reſide myſelf, they bled him, after ſome days ſweated him; he went out before his ſweat was off, and grew ſo bad, they ſent me word they thought he would die. I immediately diſpatched orders to [26]give him the Antimonial drops, and he ſoon reco⯑vered.
Two perſons, that had them of me, were cured of ſtubborn coughs, which, I believe, would ſoon have terminated in conſumptions.
A married woman, not with child, catched a conſiderable cold, which occaſioned a ſuppreſſion of the m—, with fever and great pains. I ad⯑viſed the uſe of the drops, which ſoon abated the pains, fever, and head-ach, and in about two days time ſet nature to act for herſelf in the natural way.
I mention thoſe few particulars, more for the conviction of others than thy own confirmation. Indeed, for my own part, I believe the drops to be the moſt ſovereign remedy ever yet found out, for what thou recommends them, and may prove advantageous in many caſes which are not mentioned in thy directions."
Mr. Thomas Carter, Attorney at Law, at Mr. Cracraft's, Philpot-lane.
WAS miſerably afflicted with a depreſſion of ſpirits, bad digeſtion, and a debility of na⯑tural ſtrength, proceeding from a moſt violent ſcorbutic habit; but is now in perfect health, by the ſole uſe of Dr. Norris's Antimonial Drops.
FROM extreme weakneſs, and a total loſs of ap⯑petite, I was reduced to ſo deplorable a ſtate that I had five ſucceſſive miſcarriages; in my ſixth pregnancy your Antimonial drops were adminiſtered, which reſtored my appetite and digeſtion, and ſtrength⯑ened me to my full time in a happy delivery. I re⯑covered to the aſtoniſhment of all who knew me, and, together with my child, am preſerved in health, by the ſole uſe of this invaluable medicine.
"I Had for many years a violent ſcorbutic hu⯑mour, which at laſt not only grew troubleſome, but occaſioned my breaking out in blotches, with continual itching, attended with a heavineſs and ſudden heats, particularly after eating, ſo that I became very diſagreeeble to myſelf. After ſix weeks application of theſe drops I felt every deſired benefit, and am now in a better ſtate of health and vigour than I ever had before. I have adminiſtered with my own hands the drops to many people in Fevers; in all I have ſucceeded, and in ſome caſes where the patients have been greatly deſpaired of. This you have my permiſ⯑ſion to ſubjoin to your eſſay; and I am,
A Letter from William Norris, Eſq; of Noneſuch, Willſhire.
AS you ſeem deſirous of communicating to the public the obſervations which have been made by thoſe who have either taken themſelves, or adminiſtered to others, your Antimonial prepa⯑ration, (of which ſo formidable a notion has been entertained) I cannot but think it incumbent on me, in conſequence of the good effects I have experienced from it, both in myſelf and family, to tranſmit you a ſhort account of the reſult. With regard to myſelf, my conſtitution is rather valetu⯑dinary, and has been ſo as long as I can remem⯑ber. It is now about fifteen years ſince it was firſt invaded by the gout, which I think I may call hereditary, as I cannot accuſe myſelf of any irre⯑gularities adequate to the ſeverity with which I have been viſited by this formidable enemy.
Among many cauſes that combine to bring on the gout, I was always of opinion, that an ob⯑ſtrncted perſpiration was one. To remove this, I was adviſed, when perſpiration was ſuppreſſed, to take your Antimonial Drops frequently and plen⯑tifully; theſe, by promoting a good digeſtion, and it's conſequent attendant, a briſk circulation of the fluids, kept open my pores, which before, upon any ſudden change in the air from heat to cold, were generally cloſed.
In the fits of the gout I frequently take them in ſmall quantities, and find them promote, aſſiſted [29]by ſmall dilutive liquors, ſenſible perſpiration in a high degree; and, upon any uneaſy ſenſations in the ſtomach or bowels, during the fit, they ſeldom fail to remove the cauſe. In Fevers, either Putrid or Inflammatory, frequent occaſions have offered to try their effects in a numerous family of my own; and, from repeated experience, I never found them fail of ſucceſs, and that by removing the diſeaſe in a very few days.
Thus much I am warranted to ſay in their fa⯑vour, and think them poſſeſſed of much greater virtues than even I have deſcribed.
"TO be ſilent where the health of mankind is concerned, I deem a crime; muſt therefore return you my ſincere thanks for the great advan⯑tage I and my ſon experienced, within theſe few months, from the uſe of your juſtly eſteemed An⯑timonial Drops, we were both attacked with a pu⯑trid fever and ſore throat, he in particular ſo bad that he became delirious; but, on taking a proper doſe, or two of the Drops, both were in a few hours much relieved, and in a ſhort time reſtored to perfect health. Beſide my own experience of their ſalutary effects, I have known ſeveral ſince that have been cured by them of Fevers, and in conſequence I take the liberty of recommending [30]them ſtrongly to all perſons labouring under ſuch diſorders, as one of the moſt ſovereign remedies. If you think proper, you have my permiſſion to make this letter publick, as it is but doing common juſtice to that heavenly medicine, and my fellow creatures alſo.
To Dr. Norris, Duke-ſtreet, Weſtminſter.
I Was greatly oppreſſed with a bilious diſorder, and ſeverely afflicted with an hereditary gout; inſomuch that for the moſt part of my time I was rendered incapable of doing any buſineſs, 'till by the generous effects of your Antimonial Drops my bilious complaints are removed; and each fit of the gout rendered ſo ſhort, by ſupporting a gentle perſpiration univerſally, when it came on, which they never yet failed to do in all my experience of them. I have uſed them, at times, theſe five years and never enjoyed a better ſtate of health than ſince I have taken of them; wiſhing the ſame good effects on others that I have experienced from them,
To Dr. Norris, Duke-ſtreet, Weſtminſter.
[31]I Have read your late publication on the virtues of your Antimonial Drops. In juſtice to the me⯑dicine, and in compliance to truth, I think it my duty to give the following account of them within my own knowledge.
I had a Slow Fever upon me for ſeveral years, and could find no relief. When I heard of the efficacy of your Drops, I immediately got a bottle, and took them as directed; in a few hours I found relief, and in a ſhort time after a perfect cure. It is now upwards of two years, and I never had the leaſt return. I have ſince adminiſtered them to my ſpouſe and niece, both in violent Fevers; a copious ſweat enſued, and the Fever ceaſed in a few hours, without a relapſe. Finding their effi⯑cacy ſuch, I recommended them to ſeveral friends, to half a ſcore at leaſt, in ſimilar caſes, in all which they had the deſired effect; I do not know of their failing in a ſingle inſtance. This you have my permiſſion to publiſh for the good of mankind.
To Dr. Norris, Duke-ſtreet, Weſtminſter.
[32]Letter from Mr. Anderſon, Merchant, in Fenchurch-ſtreet.
I Was for ſome time troubled with a Slow Fever, with loſs of appetite, and lowneſs of ſpirits; but by taking your Antimonial Drops I was ſoon perfectly relieved.
Appendix A
DR. NORRIS'S Antimonial Drops, by Royal Authority, are prepared and ſold in bottles at 5 s. 3 d. and 10 s. 6 d. at the Doctor's houſe, Duke-ſtreet, Weſtminſter, where he gives advice from nine to twelve every day, as uſual, and where (only) vendors, merchants, commanders of ſhips, and thoſe who take a quantity for charitable pur⯑poſes, may be ſupplied wholeſale. The Drops are alſo ſold retale, by his appointment, at Mr. Kearſly's, No 46, Fleet-ſtreet; Mr. Parker's, White-lion⯑court, Birchin-lane; Mr. Davenhill's, No 19, op⯑ſite the Royal-Exchange; Meſſ. Byfield and Hawkeſ⯑worth's (late Woodfall's) Charing-croſs; Mr. Shrop⯑ſhire, New Bond ſtreet; Mr. Cadell's, Briſtol; and at Mr. Faulkner's, Dublin; at all which places this pamphlet may be had gratis.
- Citation Suggestion for this Object
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 5560 A short essay on the virtues of Dr Norris s antimonial drops The second edition To which is added a catalogue of cures incontestibly proving their sovereign efficacy in fevers. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5AE3-F