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THE DROP and PILL OF Mr. WARD, CONSIDER'D: AS WELL In reſpect to their Compoſition, as their Operation and Effects.

WHEREIN, As there is great Reaſon to believe, the genuine RECEIPT of both.

IN AN EPISTLE TO Dr. JAMES JURIN, Fellow of the COLLEGE of PHYSICIANS, And of the ROYAL SOCIETY: FROM DANIEL TURNER, Of the ſame COLLEGE of PHYSICIANS in London.

LONDON: Printed for JOHN CLARKE, at the Bible under the Royal-Exchange, MDCCXXXV. [Price Six-pence.]

THE DROP and PILL OF Mr. WARD, CONSIDER'D. In an EPISTLE, &c.

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SIR,

YOU may wonder poſſibly, that I, who have been ſo uncivilly treated by ſome who call themſelves Gentlemen, on the Account of my Enquiry after the crude Quickſilver, ſhould give myſelf any manner of Concern about the well or ill Fare of my Fellow Citizens, but leave them rather to the ancient, and common Saying, If They will be, let Them be deceived.

I dare be confident, whatever certain envious Perſons may think to the contrary, you will be ſo charitable as to believe, that I have no Ends of my own to ſerve by an Undertaking, in which, though I may happen to pleaſe ſome, I ſhall, in all Likelihood, diſpleaſe others.

The Friendſhip indeed of good, as well as learned Men, (and ſuch I eſteem yourſelf) I ſhall at all Times value, whilſt the Malice and ill Nature of the Petulant and Profligate, however learned, I have long ſince learn'd to deſpiſe. But what, alas! avail the Smiles or Frowns of the World to an old Man, that muſt ſoon leave it? And, provided he has a well grounded Peace in his own Breaſt, when he [2]takes that Leave, has leſs Reaſon to be concern'd at the unjuſt Cenſure of unreaſonable Men.

To detain you no longer, I am ſatisfy'd you are no Stranger to the Fame this Drop and Pill of Mr. Ward, have acquired within theſe twelve Months paſt: How deſervedly, we are now to examine: But firſt, a Word or two of their Compoſition.

The Conjectures about which are various, as the diverſe Judgments and Opinions of the Conjecturers have diverſly led them.

Some (ſurely without Reaſon,) have ſurmiſed the ſame to be Mercurial: Yet, among the Hundreds daily taking them, not one Inſtance can be given of a ſore Mouth, or Tongue, much leſs Salivation, which muſt at ſome Time have inevitably fallen out, if the Baſis was Mercurial.

Others more rightly therefore conclude them Antimonial: Among theſe, there are, who pretend to be Maſters of the Secret, and who tell us, that the Pill is the ſame with the Kermes Mineralis, of the French Diſpenſatory, made out of four parts Antimony, and one of fix'd Nitre, boil'd in Rain-Water, and then filter'd: After which, more Water is added, and more alſo of the Nitre: Boiling and filtering as before; when ſtill more Water and Nitre, in the ſeveral Proportions obſerved by the Preſcript, are decocted. Finally, the ſeveral Liquors filter'd, having ſtood to ſettle twenty-four Hours, are pour'd off from the Sediment, which being ſweeten'd by often waſhing, the ſame is dry'd, and twice flagrated with Spirit of Wine.

But this Praecipitate, which I have ſeen prepared, comes forth of a deeper Red than Mr. Ward's, nor will it operate in ſo ſmall a Quantity as his Pill.

Hartman has one more Simple than the former, which he calls his Sulphur of Antimony, anſwering nearer to the Colour, and working after like Manner, both upwards and downwards, not ſo doggedly, in the ſame Weight; though it has been given ſometimes to four or five Grains.

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This is made of the fine Powder of Antimony, digeſted for a Week in a ſtrong Lixivium of Aqua Calcis; when it is filter'd, and after gentle boiling, a red Powder is thrown down; which being waſh'd, is dry'd, and kept for Uſe.

His Copier, Salmon, ſays, this Powder performs all that the Crocus can do.

Related to the foregoing, is that of Beguinus, which is nothing but the ſame Mineral, boil'd alſo in a ſtrong Lixivium, and after precipitated with Rain-Water, impregnated with the Spirit of Vinegar.

The Lixivium, uſed for theſe Purpoſes, is made commonly of the Sal Tartari, Calx Viva, and common Salt, ā diſſolved in Water, and then filter'd, or of the Alkaline Salt of Plants; although the Aqua Calcis, as above, very frequently ſupplies the Place.

Again, there is a Sulphur of Antimony made from the Crocus Metallorum boil'd in the ſame Lixive, and precipitated with the Acet. deſtil. having the Virtues of the Crocus, and is much the finer of the two, given in the ſame Doſe, from two to four Grains, or five.

The golden Sulphur is prepared by boiling the Droſs, ſeparated from the Regulus in a Lixivium, as the reſt; then, precipitating with Vinegar, there falls a Powder of the Colour of Gold, (whence the Name,) which is ſweeten'd by Ablution in a large Quantity of Rain-Water, and dry'd for Uſe.

But the true Sulphur, according to our laſt recited Author, is prepared from Cinnabar, finely powder'd, and boil'd in a Solution of Salt of Tartar, Nitre, and Calx Viva. After decanting the Liquor from the Quickſilver at the Bottom, filter and incline the Veſſel, that the red Sulphur may ſettle, which you muſt ſweeten with hot Water, and dry gently; ſo have you (with this Gentleman) the true Sulphur Antimonti, which opens all Obſtructions of the Liver, Spleen, Meſentery, and Hypochonders; expelling all Humours whatever, or wherever heaped up in the Body, both upwards and downwards.

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Of this Sulphur and the Regulus, there is a Panacaea compounded, wonderfully extoll'd by Hartman, as a univerſal Medicine, curing all obſtinate Diſeaſes, as the Lues, Lepra, Scurvy, &c. by the way of Sweat.

Mr. Wilſon gives us another, little differing from the former, unleſs in the Strength of the Lee, i. e. by the pouring one Pound of the Lixivium Capitale, or the firſt running of the Soap-makers Lees, upon four Ounces of the fineſt levigated Antimony, ſet to digeſt in warm Sand, four or five Days, ſhaking them well together; then put thereto ſome warm Water: After thus ſtanding to ſettle for ſome Time, it is pour'd off into a clean Pan. This Ablution is to be repeated, 'till all the browniſh Powder is ſeparated from that which appears like the crude Antimony, upon which more Lees are thrown; and the Waſhing renew'd, 'till the whole of the Antimony is reduced into the Powder aforeſaid, which being well rinſed from the Salts, is to be kept dry 'till call'd for.

The Virtues are much the ſame with the reſt, being Emetic, Cathartick and Diaphoretick, i. e. by Vomit, Stool and Sweat. According to our Chymiſt, this Proceſs was uſed as a Succedaneum to that, which went formerly under the Name of Ruſſel's Powder.

Beſides the abovemention'd, I could enumerate others, drawn from the ſame Mineral by the Torture of Fire, as when flux'd in the Crucible together with Sal Armoniack. Thus the Antimon. reſuſcitatum, or with Nitre, common Salt, and Charcoal, put into a red hot Crucible by a Spoonful at a Time; then either pouring it into a Cone, or ſuffering it to cool in the Crucible, there will be found three different Subſtances, viz. at the Bottom, a little Regulus; above that, a cloſer, or more compact Matter, like the Liver of Antimony; and on the Surface, a finer and lighter Maſs.

The two laſt of theſe are to be kept aſunder, putting by the Regulus; powdering the other and waſhing them apart, till freed from their Salts, which [5]you may know by the Taſte of the Water; the uppermoſt is accounted the beſt, being of a fine red Colour, after it has been waſh'd; the middle Subſtance looks not of ſo pleaſant a Colour, and works more roughly; the undermoſt, or Regulus, is the ſame with the Regulus of Antimony.

Theſe red Flowers, with Monſieur Lemery, are the more Sulphurous parts of Antimony, ſublimed by Fire, as the ſame are precipitated from the Lixivia, or Lees, by the Ablution with Water and Vinegar.

Powder, ſaith he, and mix together four Pounds of common Glaſs, with one Pound of Antimony; put them into a Retort ſet in a Reverberatory Furnace, fitted with a Receiver, lute the Junctures, giving a little Fire at firſt, then increaſe, and you will ſee the red Flowers come forth into the Receiver.

Their Operation, as of the reſt, is by Vomit and Stool, being given in the Venereal Diſeaſe, the Gout, Dropſy, Scurvy, and other Chronical Diſtempers, from two to four Grains.

It was the former of theſe Proceſſes (according to Mr. Wilſon,) that Mr. Lockyer aim'd at in the Compoſition of his Pill, by which he acquired a great Eſtate.

Now whether or no theſe Flowers of Antimony, thus raiſed by Fire, or any of the Praecipitates of the ſame Colour here obſerved, (as by ſome has been thought,) be the Compoſition of Mr. Ward's Pill, is leſs material to our Purpoſe; ſince it is, I think, out of Diſpute, that moſt of them will do as much Good, and as much Miſchief alſo, when directed by ignorant Perſons, and taken by the like, at all Adventures: Although, to deal plainly, when I conſider the ſtrange Ravage it makes among the ſolid as well as fluid Parts of the Body, in ſo ſmall a Quantity as one Grain Weight, as much even as the Glaſs itſelf, or Crocus would do, I have been ready to apprehend it rather a Praecipitate like the Algarct, though of a different Colour, from the ſame Cauſtick Oil, or Butter of Antimony; which, if fit to be countenanced, [6]or to have a Sanction from any one in regular Practice, I leave all ſuch, with yourſelf, to determine.

About the ſame Time, give me leave to acquaint you of Mr. Lockyer and Mr. Ruſſel aforemention'd, viz. about Fifty or Sixty Years paſt, there was another Ruſſel, who had been an Itinerant Mountebank, travelling the Countries, but happening to Marry a Lady of ſome Condition as well as Eſtate, he hired a very handſome Houſe in Holborn, near Grays-Inn-Gate, and coming here acquainted with a Chymiſt, who had been, as he ſaid, an Operator in Mr. Boyle's Elaboratory, he got a Preparation of Antimony from him, like this of Mr. Ward's, if not the ſame, which was prepar'd at the Doctor's Houſe, being call'd by the Name of his Panacea, or Golden Sulphur of Antimony, by which many famous Cures were ſaid to be effected.

It happen'd I was at this Time the Doctor's Patient, and going often to his Houſe, as living but a few Doors off, I have ſeen his Black bring of this red Powder in a ſmall earthen Platter into his Study; where his Maſter weighing it out, would moiſten the ſame with a Liquor, and form it into Pills of the bigneſs of large Pins-heads, reſembling, both in Bulk and Colour, theſe of our new Aeſculapius; Ten of which being put into a ſmall tin Box, were ſold for as many Shillings. The Poor, who made an Intereſt to my Lady, had them gratis; their Operation was rough, both upwards and downwards, like the other Dr. Ruſſel's Powder; and as Lockyer's would frequently work, according as they met with Conſtitutions more robuſt or weak, or as the Fibres of the Stomach and Guts were more or leſs ſuſceptible of the Stimulating Salt and Sulphur in the Preparation.

What I would obſerve farther from theſe Perſons Remedies, is this, that my Neighbour the Doctor his Pill did not ſurvive him, but through ſome fatal Accidents, like theſe of Mr. Ward's, was ſoon blaſted; and he fell then upon a ſafer and more popular [7]Medicine, which was his Spirit of Scurvy-graſs, both plain and purging, with which he furniſhed all parts of the Kingdom, as well as many abroad.

His Name-ſakes Powder kept its Fame longer, and was, I remember, in much Eſteem with ſome Midwives as a Specifick to forward Childbirth; but gradually declin'd for the ſame Cauſe, and is now, in a manner, loſt.

Mr. Lockyer's held out ſtill, and till within twenty or thirty Years paſt, ſome hundreds of Pounds, I have been informed, have been annually returned thereby, tho' I have known Miſchief enſue thence. Upon his Death it came into the Hands of Mr. Fyge, an Apothecary in my Neighbourhood, and is to this Day, in his Family; but I believe now, with little Emolument or Advantage, to what it has been formerly.

Thus my Friend, you ſee the Fate of theſe Empirical Medicines; and how it is poſſible for ſome Antiquated Ones, after Miſchief's forgot, to come into play again, or be revived; an Inſtance of which, we have ſurely now before us, as lately in the crude Quickſilver, which was tamper'd with in the laſt Age, and brought once more into great Requeſt in this; but ſunk almoſt again, by the popular Eulogye of the Drop and Pill.

Thus it muſt always fare with Remedies, however powerful in themſelves, diſtributed without Judgment, or indiſcriminately to all People, without any Regard to the State and Condition of the Bowels which are to entertain them, or to any Circumſtances whatever in the Sick, or his Diſeaſe, favouring or oppoſing their Adminiſtration.

Having laid down my Thoughts as to their Compoſition, I ſhall next proceed to the pretended Cures, and poſſibly ſome real Ones, effected thereby, with the Method how the ſame may be brought about.

And here, if we duly conſider the Action of the Stomach, or the Force under which the ſame is acted, during the Operation of a ſtrong Vomit, like moſt of theſe Antimonial Ones, together with that [8]of all the Muſcles therein concern'd, which according to Mathematick Calculus, is ſcarce credible; we ſhall leſs wonder that not only its own Cavity, or the near adjacent, but the moſt remote alſo in the whole Animal Fabrick, being drawn into Conſent therewith, ſhould have their Contents impel'd forwards by ſo forcible a Contraction of all the Fibres: by which the moſt rivetted Obſtructions therein, may in Time, be this way opened; whilſt the Fluxion of Humours on any particular Part is call'd off: whence Tumours, or Swellings of any kind, may be ſoften'd and diminiſh'd; Ulcers diſpoſed for healing, which before would yield to no Application whatever. Of this, you know, we have conſtant Experience in our Venereal Cancers, and other corroſive Phagedaenick Ulcers, when a Doſe or two of the Turpeth. Minerale, will render thoſe Sores in a few Days tractable, which, for many Weeks before, would not yield to any Topicks adminiſter'd by the beſt Artiſts: And ſurely we need not wonder, if by the ſame Way of Revulſion, many Chronical Diſeaſes, from the heaping up of Humours and obſtructing the Veſſels, ſhould, by this Drop and Pill, thus daily repeated for ſome Time, give Way; many Scorbutic, Serpiginous, Leproas, or Venereal Affects of the Skin, clear off; whilſt the morbid Matter furniſhing the ſame out of the Blood, is eliminated, or caſt forth by this double, if not triple Diſcharge; firſt by Vomit, ſecondly by Stools; when thirdly, the Remainder is, by the Conflict raiſed therein, during the violent Commotion thereof, perſpired in Sweat.

This, I ſay, is the plain and obvious, as well as Mechanic Proceſs, by which many ſurpriſing Alterations are brought about, and Cures perform'd by ſuch Remedies: Yet, if we reflect upon the great Hazard ſome Perſons undergo, it is ſurely incumbent upon all who take upon them the Adminiſtration of any ſuch, or who may adviſe them, to conſider thoroughly the State and Condition of the Sick, in regard to the Soundneſs of his Bowels and Blood Veſſels, and [9]of the Fibres in general, which compoſe them, and which are to undergo ſo forcible a Contraction under the Operation; as well as that of the whole Nervous Syſtem, ſuffering likewiſe under the Shock; and for want of Regard to which, there will ſometimes fall out as great Harm, and as much Miſchief, as at others, Benefit or Advantage.

To avoid the Accidents of this Nature, the honourable Mr. Boyle, who underſtood the Chymical Pharmacy as well as the Animal Structure, much better, I dare ſay, than Mr. Ward pretends; yet, being fearful of the leaſt Injury that might ariſe by the truſting to his own Judgment, and tender of Life, when he had found out any Remedy, or had any ſuch recommended to him, after preparing the ſame, gave it into the Hand of ſome learned and experienced Phyſician of his Acquaintance, to make ſuch Trials therewith, as might be done with Safety, and to report to him the Succeſs; that if found ſafe and beneficial, they might encourage it, or if any ways detrimental, point out the Danger, or lay it wholly aſide: Nor, as I have been told, would he ſuffer any one of thoſe which go under the Name of his Receipts, of which a Collection has been Publiſh'd ſince his Death, to go abroad, till it had the Approbation of one or other of the Faculty, to recommend it.

If Mr. Ward had taken the ſame Method, he might doubtleſs have been the Author of much greater Good to his Country Men, by avoiding the Danger that will attend his Medicines, in this promiſcuous Diſtribution of them to all Sorts and Conditions of the People, under whatever Temperament as well as Diſtemper.

From his Pill, give me leave, juſt to make Mention of what is call'd his Drop: But here, whether he gives one or more, is uncertain, being diffuſed in a Sack Vehicle; and poſſibly, if rightly underſtood, may differ little from that common Infuſion of our Crocus Metallorum; at leaſt is of the ſame Family with his Pill, which we need not ſtay to Scrutinize.

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Every one who is tolerably acquainted with the Chymiſts Furnace, muſt know that many Liquids, in the Forms of Tincture, Spirit, or Oil, may be drawn with this Mineral, which in a very ſmall Quantity, as that of a Drop or two, however diluted, will work too powerfully for ſome weakly Habits, or tender Conſtitutions. An Inſtance of this we have in the Preparation of its Cinnabar, where a Cauſtick Oil, call'd the Butter of Antimony, will ariſe, the leaſt Drop of which, notwithſtanding its Dilution, is not ſafe to be given inwardly, being chiefly uſed by the Surgeons, to deſtroy what they term Proud Fleſh, and to level the callous riſing Lips of Ulcers: Tho' there have been thoſe who (as Lemery obſerves) have given a Drop, two, or three of this Butter or Oil of Antimony in Broth, to cauſe Vomiting, which practice ſaith he, ‘"I cannot approve, becauſe it is too ſtrong, and produces the ſame Effects as the Powder of Algarot, which is nothing but the ſaid Butter waſh'd in warm Water, whence a white Powder is praecipitated, call'd (but very improperly) Mercurius Vitae," which to ſome I have known, in like manner a Mercurius Mortis.

The vaſt Subtilty of this Mineral, in ſome of its Preparations, is very ſurprizing; and in none more remarkably, than in that call'd the Vomiting Cup, without any ſenſible diminution in its Weight or Vertue.

One of theſe, compounded of the Regulus and Mars, I have now by me; which was ſent me as a Preſent, about forty Years paſt, by a Country Gentleman, practiſing among his Poor Neighbours, in the way of Charity. This Cup was lent out from one Neighbour to another, in which they ſteep'd Cyder, Stale Beer, or other Spirituous Liquors all Night, and drank them the next Day, to cure Fevers and Agues: But after two Perſons (for whom it prov'd too ſtrong) were deſtroy'd thereby, it loſt all the Credit it had gotten; and whereas before, it went by the Name of the Angelick, it was now call'd the [11] Devil's Cup. Quickly after, being ſent back to the Owner, it ſo happen'd that I became its Proprietor; who have never ſuffered one Tryal to be made with it, ſince it was in my Poſſeſſion.

The Operation of all theſe Antimonial Vomits, is ſo very precarious, that no Man can be abſolutely certain how they will turn out. Monſieur Lemery's Obſervation being very juſt, in the Words ſollowing.

‘"When the Medicine diffuſeth itſelf ſuddenly in the Stomach, mixing with the Juices thereof, and there Stimulating its nervous Fibres, the ſame is conſtrain'd to throw up its Contents: If it ſtays longer, or till ſome of its Particles are derived to the Guts, the ſame Stimulus twitching their Fibres, a purging downwards happens: They muſt differ alſo according to different Conſtitutions, in thoſe who take them; and very often the ſame which makes a Perſon vomit at one time, purges him by Stool only at an Other; nay at ſometimes will move only by Sweat, which ſhall often enſue both thoſe Operations."’ Courſe of Chym. p. 225. With all which, I'm ſure you are well acquainted. But there is one Obſervation; (give me leave to take notice) of this great Chymiſt, about this Mineral, which may give us to underſtand of how little Service a mere Hypotheſis will be to us in our Practice, which is daily contradicted thereby, and that is this; That the Crude Antimony is dangerous for to take inwardly, or in Subſtance, becauſe it may meet with an Acid in the Stomach, that would open its Body, and be the Cauſe of great Vomitings to enſue.

What has led this Gentleman into a Miſtake of this kind, muſt be ſurely his Surmiſe, that the Natural Heat of the Stomach, bears ſome Affinity or Reſemblance with the Artificial of the Furnace or Crucible placed therein; by which the Body of the ſaid Mineral being open'd, and its Texture broken, the Sulphur is ſet free, and enabled to raiſe ſuch Diſturbance therein.

For my own part (who have given many Pounds of Crude Antimony,) I have rarely known it to operate [12]otherwiſe, (unleſs in too great a Doſe,) than as an Alterative, correcting the ſalt and acrid Humours in the Blood, and by that Means ſubduing thoſe corroſive, ſcorbutick Eruptions on the Skin, which have ſtood out even againſt Mercury itſelf. For theſe Purpoſes, I direct ℥ ſs of the crude Antimony, moſt finely levigated, andj of the Conſ. Cochlear. hort. with ʒ j, ʒ jſs, or ʒ ij of the Gum Guaj. to be form'd ſ. a. into an Electuary, with a q. ſ. of the Syr. E. Suc. Aurant. of which the Patient takes the Quantity of a Nutmeg Night and Morning, drinking after it, a ſmall Draught of the Decoct. ex Lignis, or of Bates's Aq. Bened. Simpl. which from the Gum, but hardly from the Antimony, gives a Stool, ſometimes two or three in a Day, yet without Regimen: And for the Pſora, Scabies, or common Pruritus, I know of few, or none, that excel (after a Mercurial Purge or two,) the ſame Mineral, with an equal Quantity of Aethiops, made up in like Manner, and taken the ſame Way. To return whence I have digreſs'd.

From this Account of theſe Remedies, with the Hazard and Uncertainty of their Operation, and the manifeſt Danger that muſt frequently attend upon many of thoſe who think proper to venture on them, from the Warranty of ſuch as know as little as themſelves of the Nature of the Remedies they recommend, much leſs of the Diſeaſes for which they recommend them, and leſs ſtill of the human Frame which is to grapple with them, and for want of which many Perſons muſt riſque their Lives. For theſe Reaſons, I ſay, I thought I might do an acceptable Piece of Service to the Publick, if I laid down ſome Cautions in Reference thereunto: And ſurely, the Diſpenſer of them to neceſſitous Perſons, will not be diſpleaſed at the ſame, ſince the more Good he can do with them, without any unhappy Accident ſupervening, the greater Applauſe to him, as well as Eſteem for his Remedies; nor will there be found any better Method for ſecuring that Eſtimation, or that can render them of long Continuance, which, like others of like kind, palm'd upon [13]the World for great and uſeful Diſcoveries, for want of proper Caution, have, through ſome fatal Miſcarriages, ſoon dwindled away (as theſe, doubtleſs, will do in a little Time) to nothing.

Firſt then, I would adviſe all Hyſterical, or Hypochondriacal People, ſubject to be ruffled by any Evacuation, eſpecially of ſo rough a Nature, as theſe Medicines may produce, or to be thrown into convulſive Suffocations, Palpitations at Heart, with Tremors on the Nerves, to be careful how they engage with them: Some ſuch I have known to ſuffer from the weak Frame thereof, and the Hurry their Spirits have been thrown into under the Operation, not recoverable for a long Time after.

Secondly, theſe Medicines can by no Means agree with the Hectical, or Conſumptive and thin Habits, under any inflammatory State of their Blood, their Veſſels tender, and the ſame apt, upon any ſtraining, to break its Incloſures. Some of theſe alſo I have heard of falling into profuſe Haemorrhages, or bleeding at the Noſe: And one that I was lately ſent for to, ſeized the Night following the taking one of theſe Pills, with a Vomiting up a large Quantity of Blood, to which he is ſtill liable between Whiles, and which, I have Cauſe to believe, will be, at long Run, fatal. For the ſame Reaſon, no Perſon whatever, with an over-bearing Heat therein, or Fullneſs of the Veſſels, ſhould enter upon this Courſe, before they have emptied them by free and repeated Bleeding.

Thirdly, Such as labour under Ruptures, whether of the Navel, Groin, or Scrotum, muſt ſhun theſe Medicines, as they would Rats-bane: The Preſſure of the Parts of the lower Belly being ſo great under the working of any Vomit, much more ſuch as theſe, that there would be the greateſt Danger imaginable of rendering the Malady irretrievable. Dr. D—d told a Friend of mine very lately, he had viſited a Woman with a Navel Rupture, brought upon her by the hard ſtraining in the working of this Pill of Mr. Ward's.

[14]

Fourthly, Such as have weaken'd the Tone of their Stomachs, by Dram-drinking all Day, Whetting in the Morning, or Bottling a Nights, and have brought upon them a loathing to all Food, or after taking the ſame, immediately throwing it up again, can be no fit Subjects for theſe Remedies: For that, beſides their feeble, if not rotten Viſcera, with their weak and tender Veſſels, rendering them liable to a Breach therein, their conſtant Retchings, more eſpecially in a Morning, which ſcarce any Remedy can bridle, or put a Stop to, will be encreaſed; and an over Vomiting, or Purging, haſten their Deaths; of which I have had an Account of two Inſtances, in three Months paſt.

Fifthly, Thoſe who bear not this Evacuation, unleſs with Difficulty; alſo ſuch as are eaſily ſet on Vomiting, muſt be careful they are not, with the foregoing, overſet thereby; for that at ſometimes, the Sulphur of the Antimony adhering to, or being entangled in the tender Coats of the Stomach, whoſe Lining, by preceeding Evacuation, has been ſcour'd off, is continually ſtimulating to the Excretion: And I could give as many Examples of thoſe, where the Operation has never ceaſed, till the Sick has been quite run down, and died ſtrongly convulſed. For this Cauſe, it will be always found expedient, that the diſeaſed Patient, before he enterprizes either of theſe Medicines, (if they may be ſo denominated,) be provided with a proper Quantity of Chicken or Mutton Broth, which may ſerve to ſheath and blunt the Salts and Sulphur, rendering their Stimuli more tolerable to the Nervous Fibres; preventing thoſe hard Strainings, which might otherwiſe endanger the Animal Fabrick.

This you know, Sir, was the Advice of Monſieur Lemery, (Courſe of Chymiſtry, pag. 292.) in the following Words.

‘"Broth, a little fat, is neceſſary, when the Patient finds an Inclination to vomit, becauſe it will render the ſame eaſier, and be the Means of hindering thoſe great Efforts under the Operation of [15]theſe Remedies, which ſometimes break the Veſſels, and occaſion mortal Haemorrhages. When if, notwithſtanding the Uſe of theſe, the Vomiting will not ceaſe, you may diſſolve a little Cream of Tartar in the ſaid Broth, and take ſome Spoonfulls every Quarter of an Hour: This (ſaith he) ſtops the Vomiting, becauſe joining with the Antimony, it fixes the ſame; ſo that together, they are precipitated by Stool."’

The laſt general Caution I have to impart, leaveing you to judge if it be not a very neceſſary one, is this, That Children, weakly Perſons, and all others, naturally prone to Fluxes of any kind, and who are apt to throw up what they take upon the ſlighteſt Occaſion, not from any viſcid, or phlegmatick Humours, neſtling in the pluſhy Coat of the Stomach, but from mere Debility, or Atony (as it is named by us,) of the Fibres thereof, muſt be exceeding careful how they engage with theſe Remedies, for Fear, as in my laſt Caution, of raiſing ſuch a Storm as may not be laid again, but by the Patient's Death. One ſingle Pill (the only he ever took) taken by a poor Fellow, who had been my Patient, for a Venereal Nocturnal Head-ach, after a moſt violent Vomiting for ſome Hours, produced, as I was told by the Surgeon conſulted, between ſixty and ſeventy Stools, not without the moſt imminent Danger of his Life.

Having laid down theſe Cautions, very neceſſary for all People to obſerve, who think fit to venture upon ſuch Medicines, I ſhall ſpeak now of the Diſeaſes for which they have been recommended; and in which, according to vulgar Report, they have been, at ſome Times, found ſucceſsful.

Here, indeed, we have a large Field to ſurvey, becauſe there are very few, wherein, by ſome or other, they have not been try'd, by the Approbation of their Author firſt of all, and after, from One to Another: However, among the Principal, have been reckon'd many of the moſt obſtinate; ſuch as [16]the Gout and Rheumatiſm, the Scurvy, Palſy, Lues Venerea, King's-Evil, and Cancer itſelf.

The former, I think, we may readily give up, provided we had one Inſtance of a true Cancer abſolutely cured thereby. This, I ſay, would, and ought to be acknowledged the greateſt Gift of Heaven to poor Mortals, on this ſide the Grave; the moſt uſeful Diſcovery, I will call it the moſt ineſtimable Jewel of a Medicine, ſince the Infancy of the Healing Art; provided at the ſame Time, it was found a certain, and withal a ſafe one.

I have already obſerved to you, how we may reconcile the Removal of many ſtubborn Obſtructions of the Veſſels; how the Fluxion of Humours may be call'd off, for the preſent, from ſome Part burthen'd therewith; how Scabs, Blotches, fretful Sores, and eating Ulcers, in this way of Revulſion, eſpecially in thoſe who can bear the repeated Shocks, are diſpoſed to crumble off, and heal; though quickly after, they have broke out again, and ſpread with greater Virulence than before. But admit theſe Cures to ſtand, I am exceeding doubtful, whether the Cancer will bear to be handled after the ſame Manner, which I never found would ſuffer any other than Lenients, whether internal, or external; being ever exaſperated by a Stimulus of any kind: So that the Strength of ſuch a Revulſion, however it may for the preſent take off the Tention, relax the Glands, and ſoften, in ſome meaſure, the Induration for a Time; yet, ſoon after, the old Leaven fermenting afreſh, the Diſeaſe repullulates, ſprouts a-new, and rages oftentimes worſe than before, at length putting an End to a miſerable Life.

What I have ſeen of this Nature myſelf, or which has been imparted to me by Perſons of Credit, as well as Judgment in their Profeſſion, I ſhall now communicate unto you.

This laſt Summer, C—l C—r, from the W—t I—s, came over to England, to conſult ſome Gentlemen, as well Phyſicians as Surgeons, about a ſtubborn Sore above his Eye-brow: Among [17]the latter, Mr. C—l—n, was the firſt call'd in; quickly after he had a Meeting with Dr. M—d, and Dr. H—s; and afterwards (as I was told by the Apothecary) Mr. St. H—l and Mr. S—n.

At one of theſe Meetings, I was propos'd by the C—l, but it ſo happened, that I was put by. At the time of theſe Conſultations he was under the Care of Mr. C—l—n, but ſoon after, at the deſire of ſome about the Court, and the Relations he receiv'd of ſeveral as bad Caſes, ſet to Rights by Mr. Ward's Medicines, that Gentleman was adviſed with, and undertook the Chyrurgery, as well as the Phyſical Regimen.

Whilſt he was under this Perſon's Care, he deſir'd a Viſit from me; when I ſaw his Sore dreſs'd, the Ulcer had ſpread all over one ſide of the Fore-head, extending itſelf towards the Temple ſide-ways, and was making Havock downwards through the Brow, into the Orbit of the Eye: In ſome Places it appear'd ſloughy and foul, in others freſh and red, with unequal callous Lips, and had the Aſpect of an Ulcer truly Cacooethic, or what we call of an ill Diſpofition: The whole of the local Medicine, was warm Butter-Milk to waſh the Sore, and the Curd to be apply'd after, inſtead of a Plaiſter; which is the Gentleman's uſual Topick.

Whilſt the Ulcer lay bare for my View, the C—l asked me, what I call'd his Malady? I told him, it might well bear the Name of an Herpes Exedens, and what ſaith he, does that differ from a Cancer? I anſwer'd, every ulcerated Cancer might bear that Name, yet there were of the Herpes kind, which were not Cancerous; and that I hoped his might be ſuch.

In order to ſubdue the Virulency of the Ulcer, and diſpoſe it for healing, I propoſed Salivation, which he ſaid he had been under in the Country, but, as I underſtood, neither raiſed by the Unction, nor continued for due time: I then mention'd my Cinnabar Suffitus, and the Quickſilver Pill; by the former, I propos'd to gain at leaſt this Satisfaction, [18]that if the Edges of the Ulcer ſpread not under it, but contracted and look'd better Condition'd, I ſhould have made leſs doubt of his Cure, by a Salivation rais'd by the Anointing, having leſſened his Fears as well as my own of its being Cancerous, which indeed were not ill grounded; ſince by his Obſervation, it would not ſuffer any deterſive Medicine, ſuch as the Praecipit. Rub. his Surgeon had formerly ſprinkled on the ſordid Parts, without being exaſperated thereby, ſo that he had prudently left off the ſame, and dreſt with dry Lint and a Digeſtive over all.

The Patient ſeem'd inclinable to the Experiment I had propos'd, but ſaid he muſt go on a while longer with Mr. Ward's Medicines, or elſe his Friends would ſay he had miſt his Cure for want of Perſeverance. How long he continued that Regimen after my Viſit, I cannot ſay exactly; but finding at length his Body harraſs'd by this conſtant Vomiting and Purging, without any Encouragement from his Sore; the next News I had was from Mr. J—s D—ie, to whom I had imparted the Caſe, who told me the C—l had ſent for him, and that having found the Ulcer in the Condition I had repreſented it, he had (whilſt Mr. C—l—n was by) deliver'd his Opinion, that the Salivation by Unction, might be of Service to him, and probably lay a foundation for his Cure; to which that Gentleman aſſented.

After this, having lay'd aſide Mr. Ward's Method, or fully purpoſing ſo to do, two Gentlemen of his Acquaintance came to me, in order to let me know they could not be ſatisfied unleſs the C—l was put under my Care; and that they would perſwade him to remove into the City, for the Convenience of my Attendance, where I promis'd to do him what Service I could, and in the way I had propos'd, viz. by Smoaking the Ulcer for three or four times, and finding Encouragement, to proceed inſtantly with the Unction.

[19]

In a few Days more they came again, and told me, they had concluded upon the Removal of their Friend, to an equal Diſtance between me and Mr. C—l—n, for the Convenience of us both: I now objected a Miſunderſtanding between myſelf and that Gentleman, which he had not rectified in the manner I expected; and therefore I propos'd Mr. D—ie, whom the C—l had ſo lately conſulted, as a Perſon more agreeable to me, and with whom I could Act with more Freedom and Satisfaction: But whilſt this Matter was under Debate, ſome other Empirical Undertaker, who knows, I hear, as little of the Affair as the former, by means doubtleſs of ſtronger aſſurance of a Cure, than he had from us, has undertaken him; but with what Succeſs I know not.

This Caſe has been variouſly reported about the Town; ſome have taken the Liberty to give out, that Mr. Ward has cur'd him, after all theſe Conſultations: Others, of that Gentleman's Friends, that he would have cur'd him, had he gone on; and others again, that I had left him in as bad a Condition as I found him, intimating his having been under my Care, who never ſaw him more than once, nor preſcribed one Grain of Medicine for him.

The ſecond Caſe of a Cancer, under this Method, I had from Mr. D—ie, in a poor Woman, recommended to him, with a painful Schirrous hardneſs in the Glands of her Breaſt, for which he advis'd her to be quiet, and not to tamper; at the ſame time ſhe had the Opinion of the Surgeons of the Houſe, particularly of Mr. F—ke, who were of the ſame Opinion, that nothing could be done more than to palliate, and keep her quiet; however, by ſome Intereſt or other, ſhe was recommended to Mr. Ward, and took his Medicines with ſuch ſucceſs, that when Mr. D—ie ſaw her ſome Weeks after, he told me, he was ſurpriz'd, the Tention of the Skin, by means of the ſtrong Revulſion made by the Operation, under the repeated Vomiting, being much leſſened, [20]the Glands ſoften'd, and the whole Breaſt reduced: But ſome Weeks after this, out of Curioſity, making her another Viſit, the Aſpect, it ſeems, was not ſo promiſing; for the Wolf, (as the common People expreſs themſelves) which before had withdrawn it for a Seaſon, began to ſhow its head again, i. e. the Fomes ſtiffled for a time, threatening to buſt out a-freſh: Since when ſhe has been deny'd, and the Surgeons not admitted to ſee her; poſſibly, for that her Cure is not yet compleated, which is the mildeſt Conſtruction can be put upon the Caſe, if not for that the Diſeaſe is now raging as at firſt. But by the way, this poor Woman is ſince dead of her Cancer.

Since I had this account of Mr. D —ie's, I was deſired by a Gentleman to Viſit his Spouſe, in one of whoſe Breaſts, I felt a large and painful Knot, which had lain quiet for ſome Years, but by improper Topicks, was exaſperated, and had put on the Appearance of a true Cancer, of which ſhe had already been informed; I asked her, whether ſhe had Courage to part with her Breaſt? not that I am over fond of recommending theſe Exciſſions, but it might ſo fall out, that ſhe might herſelf think of it, when by the Increaſe or Adhaeſion, or communicating with the Glands of the Axilla, it was not practicable.

This I found had given Offence, and I heard no more of her, till about a Month or ſix Weeks after, when by Accident meeting her Husband in the Street, and enquiring how ſhe did; he told me ſhe was almoſt well, by taking Mr. Ward's Pill, which unknown to him, by the Intereſt of ſome Friend or Acquaintance, ſhe had procur'd; and in the working of which, her Breaſt broke, and diſcharged a great quantity of Bloody Water; ſince which her Nipple had been drawn in, but ſhe was eaſier, and the Breaſt a great deal leſs than when I ſaw it. I told him I wiſh'd a Continuance of the Amendment, but own'd myſelf very doubtful: For this Retraction of the Tubuli Lactiferi, or Milk Pipes, [21]with the tucking-in of the Nipple, is always an untoward Appearance, and generally ſpeaking, as ſure a Sign of a Cancer in the Breaſt, as the painful Knot therein itſelf; and truly by the diſtant Enquiry I have ſince made, this Truce was but of a ſhort Duration; the Diſtemper being again, worſe than ever, the Remedy, by reaſon of its rough Operation long ſince laid aſide, and the Patient, as I heard but this Day, deceaſed alſo.

The laſt Inſtance I will give you upon my own Knowledge, in reſpect to the pretended Cures of Cancers, ſhall be that of C—n W—s Lady, whom I Viſited this laſt Summer, not long after Mr. F—n had been to ſee her on the ſame Occaſion: I perceived one of her Breaſts of an uncommon Magnitude, the whole Body of which, was one continued Induration, and ſo very ponderous, that ſhe was forced to wear a Suſpenſory round her Neck, for the better ſupport of it. She was prepar'd to receive any Sentence, I ſhould paſs on her Diſeaſe: But finding we were able to adminiſter little Comfort, at the Importunity of a Friend, Mr. Ward was conſulted, and gave her (if I am rightly inform'd) the greateſt Aſſurance of a Cure, by his Butter-milk and Curds externally, and his Drop and Pill internally adminiſter'd; nay, when ſhe told him ſhe fear'd by the great ſtretch of the Skin, the Breaſt would burſt, he made very light thereof, and reply'd, no matter, his Medicines would make it whole again.

How long this unhappy Gentlewoman proſecuted his Method, I am not poſitive, but have heard, as long and as often as he himſelf deſir'd her; at firſt with that ſeeming Advantage, that ſhe apprehended herſelf lithſomer and better able to turn herſelf in her Bed; but at this time, now many Months paſt, I underſtand, in as bad a State as ever: And altho' under the ſame Gentleman's Care, the Drop, Pill and Pultis, having fail'd him, he now has chang'd them for a different ſet of Medicines; at leaſt the Old in a different Diſguiſe.

[22]

Theſe are the Caſes which have fallen under my own Inſpection, or have been confirm'd by the Perſons concern'd, relating to the Cure of Cancers. I have heard indeed of more, and ſome which common Rumour has ſpread for Cures compleated: But whether or no they have been really, or truly Cancers, or only ſo reported, remains with me a Doubt.

I ſhould be glad if the Author, or his Confident, who gives them out, would be careful to collect a Hiſtory of his Cures, more eſpecially of this kind, well atteſted, where any Artiſt had before paſſed the Sentence of a true Cancer, which might very much conduce to the clearing up of this Affair; and we may allow, I dare ſay, of nine Miſcarriages, if every tenth Experiment in this terrible Diſtemper has been attended with Succeſs. Among thoſe I have talk'd with, or have heard from others, the far greater Number, on whatever Occaſion they may have taken the ſame, have bitterly inveigh'd againſt the roughneſs of the Operation, without any benefit thereby.

From the Cancer, in the inverted Order I took notice of them, I come to the Scrofula, or King's Evil; and here I muſt ſay, that I have ſeen ſome ſtubborn Ulcers, where there were no foul Bones, better diſpos'd for healing, after taking of theſe Pills three or four times; but they have crack'd, feſter'd, and ſpread again quickly after: nor have I heard of any ſtrumous Glands about the Neck and Fauces thereby reſolv'd: here indeed the Revulſion is loſt, becauſe the Humours in the Operation of Vomiting, are ſtill more derived to theſe Parts, as is evident in thoſe conſtant Tiplers of ſtrong Liquors, who ſometimes from their violent retchings, and throwing up all they take, whether Food or Phyſick, ſhall have their Faces bloated, when the reſt of their Bodies are emaciated and waſted away.

Theſe Remedies have been alſo cried up as infallible in the Lues Venerea, or French Pox. Here alſo, as in the foregoing, as likewiſe in Scorbutick [23]Affects of the Skin, I have heard of Scabs and other breakings out, which by uſing of the Pill, have caſt off, and dried away, as I have before obſerv'd; but whether or no the Venereal Poiſon is this way to be extirpated, as it has been at ſometimes by the late Miſaubin's, and by the Quickſilver Pill, as I have hinted in my Diſcourſe thereon, I am alike doubtful: Yet as to ſafety in the Operation, I muſt give the Preference to either of the two laſt; having known (as I took notice before) a poor Fellow very merely deſtroy'd by the firſt.

The Palſy is another Diſeaſe, reported to be cur'd thereby; and for thoſe who can bear the Ruffle of ſuch repeated Revulſion, it is not improbable but that Examples may be given, where not only obſtructed Blood-veſſels, but obſtructed Nerves, by a pituitous Humour therein impacted, ſuch as the Gutta Serena, which is a Palſy of the Optick Nerves, may be thence diſcharg'd: In like manner the Apoplexy, Lethargy, Coma, Carus, and other Phlegmatick Soporous Diſorders, where the Nervous Fibres are relax'd and ſluggiſh, with the Senſation dull and torpid; and where theſe Antimonial Vomits may be more ſafely enterpriz'd than when thoſe Fibres are in a State of Tention, and the Spirits more active.

A remarkable Recovery of this kind, Mr. Ward has given us, in the London Evening Poſt, Nov. 7. and continued in ſeveral other Papers, which he tells us was drawn up by my Lord Chief Baron Reynolds's own Hand; but that ſurely does not appear by the Baron's Letter to him, who ſays only, That he had ſent him the Caſe enclos'd, drawn up with exactneſs in point of Fact; for which he deſires his Credit may be look'd upon as a Guarantee, as doubtleſs it will be: But it can hardly be ſuppos'd that if the Narrative had been drawn by him, the Caſe would have been expreſs'd as follows: MARY BETTS, a young Country Maid, Servant in the Lord Chief Baron Reynolds's Family, and conſtantly reſiding at his Houſe, in St. Edmunds Bury, &c. — Beſides the Terms [24] Emetic, Cathartic, Emmenagogue, denote the ſame, however ſign'd by the Baron, to have been originally drawn up by the Phyſician, or Apothecary at leaſt, concern'd; and if indeed in the Manner it is drawn, it was intended for the Information of the Common Reader, great part thereof might have been modeſtly omitted, as abſolutely uſeleſs to them, and that without any way leſſening the Cure: If for the Inſtruction of the Faculty, few of theſe, I dare ſay, will think it ſtrange, that from ſo great a force upon the Blood-veſſels under the violent Streining, together with the Stimulus added to the Blood itſelf from the Medicine, the ſame ſhould break through, not only the Veſſels of the Uterus, but thoſe of other Parts alſo, as it has done in others, under the ſame Force. However, as theſe Obſtructions might have no ſhare in the Palſy, unleſs every Woman thus obſtructed was Paralitical, or Vice Verſa, every Paralitiek thus obſtructed, this part of the Hiſtory was ſuperaboundant: No leſs, the pulling down of the Eye-lids to bring on Sleep, and the lifting them up again, that ſhe might lye awake; as if either depended on thoſe Motions, or that a Man could not Sleep with his Eyes open, which ſome do frequently, and others are forc'd to do, from a Cicatrix after a Wound or Abſces on the upper Lid, occaſioning ſuch a Stricture as will not ſuffer the ſame to be depreſs'd; or that he could not lye awake with his Eyes ſhut, which others are conſtrain'd to do alſo, where the elevating Muſcle has had its Fibres tranſverfly divided, ſo that the Lid falls.

There ſeems, I muſt own, ſomething ſingular in this Paralyſis of the Maid's Eye-lids, that upon lifting them up, they ſhould keep ſo, and not fall down again, upon removing the Finger. This Part, however, of the Deſcription, together with her inability to compreſs the Glands of her Eyes, in order to ſhed Tears, with that alſo of lifting up the Lip, for the taking in of her Nouriſhment, however inaccurate, were, I ſuppoſe, intended to give us to underſtand, that there was a univerſal Reſolution [25]of the whole Syſtem of the Nerves; unleſs, poſſibly, thoſe of the Sphincters, of which no Notice is taken. And whether or no a Salivation was any Part of Regular Practice, or carried any Likelihood of bracing up the Fibres, or invigorating their Tone, thus debilitated, I ſhall leave to you, and others in ſuch Practice, to determine.

If we go upon thoſe two great Principles, of the Strictum et Laxum, of the Animal Fibre, and conſider the latter to be the Condition of it, for the moſt part, if not always, in Paralytic Patients: The cold Submerſion, eſpecially in a youthful Subject, had carried greater Probability of Succeſs, than a Salivation, which I have known to have brought on that Diſeaſe, but rarely, that I remember, proved its Cure.

We are not, I muſt acknowledge, certain, that this Experiment alſo, of cold Bathing, was not try'd, among other Parts of the regular Practice mention'd: Nor will I queſtion all proper Methods taken for the poor Girl's Relief, by the Phyſician, who was concern'd. I will grant farther, all that Mr. Ward, or his Friends, can deſire, that it was by the Three-fold Evacuation, Vomiting, Sweating, and Purging, that this remarkable Cure was effected; and that theſe were the Reſult of his Drop and Pill: But with whatever Views this Narrative was made publick, I hope no one, under the like Circumſtances, will try the Experiment, upon an Expectation of the ſame Succeſs, or run unadviſedly thereon. Let them conſider, I ſay, firſt, that Part of the Story, relating to the Operation, and then, poſſibly they may judge it fit only for thoſe who chooſe the Chance (and a very ſorry one,) of being cured, or kill'd, rather than drag on longer a very miſerable Life. The Caſe Writer ſays, That after two or three Days Interval from the Drop, Mrs. Reynolds gave her one of the Pills, which had ſo violent an Operation, both as an Emetic and Cathartick, (i.e. upwards and downwards,) that the Maid, weaken'd to the laſt Degree, by her former long Courſe of Phyſick, [26]was, for twelve Hours together, with great Difficulty, kept alive.

A Caſe ſomewhat related to this, in a Paralytick, farther advanced in Years, has been, with great Induſtry, conceal'd; where a violent Vomiting began the Tragedy, and after ſeventy, or nearer eighty Stools, moſt of them Blood, the Patient died upon the Bed-pan.

If then the ſame tender Concern for the People's Welfare, the ſame Humanity Mr. Ward takes Notice of in my Lord C— Baron, puts me (and I ſolemnly declare to the World, it is nothing elſe,) upon giving them this Advice, and delivering theſe Cautions, I hope I ſhall ſtand clear of any unreaſonable, or unkind Cenſure, as well from the B—n, who recommends, as Mr. Ward himſelf, the Diſpenſer of theſe Remedies.

I muſt own, Sir, to you, it was ever my Opinion, that private Gentlemen, or others of Fortune, unacquainted with human Bodies, and the Diſorders it is ſubject to, might employ their Charity to much better Advantage, by ſuccouring the Indigent with Food and Raiment, than by adminiſtring Phyſick, eſpecially ſuch as muſt inevitably be attended with equal, if not greater Miſchief than Benefit or Advantage. Whether the good Intention will attone for the Homicides happening in this Way, is out of my Province: But if the People cannot be content without ſome Quackery, it were better, ſurely, they would return again to their Quickſilver, as the leaſt hazardous of the two.

Asking Pardon for this Digreſſion, occaſion'd by ſo notable an Advertiſement, I proceed.

The Rheumatiſm and Gout, they tell us, have been removed by the ſame Medicines; of which I can ſay nothing, any more than of the foregoing, upon my own Knowledge. It is, I grant, leſs to be wonder'd at, if ſome ſtrong Habits, with robuſt Fibres, both Muſcular, as well as Nervous, ſhould, in the like Method of Revulſion, with ſome others, after repeated Evacuation of the Humours, as well [27]upwards as downwards, be ſet free of their Confinement: But I ſhould expect the ſame Regimen exceedingly hazardous to thoſe of differing Temperaments and Conſtitutions; the ſound Bottom may ride out the Storm, when the leaky founders.

And now, laſtly, in reſpect to the Gout, it has been long ſince my ſettled Judgment, That the prime phyſical Intentions, are (with Sydenham,) to ſtrengthen the Digeſtion, and fortify the noble Parts, leaving the Gouty Matter, thrown forth upon the Joints, to ſpend itſelf there: For though, at ſome Times, I have heard of ſuch, who, by the Uſe of my Name-ſake's Powder of Turbith, Hermodacts, Scammony, &c. have put by a Fit, as they thought, or leſſen'd the ſame, by diſcharging the Gouty Matter in the way of Stool. I have heard of others, who, by the ſame Means, have brought the Diſtemper upon their Bowels, their Stomach, or their Brains, where, notwithſtanding all Endeavours, they have loſt their Lives thereby: An Example of which, I was a Witneſs, about four Years paſt, in an elderly Gentleman, who labouring long therewith upon his Feet, was perſwaded to take one of theſe Purges; the Day after which, he grew eaſier on thoſe Parts, but was inſtantly tortured in his Bowels, to ſuch Degree, that the ſtrongeſt Doſe of Opium would ſcarce give Eaſe: Hence the Diſtemper took to his Stomach, and raiſed as great a Storm with inceſſant Vomiting. His Apothecary had given an eaſy Doſe, as I remember, twelve Grains of the Indian Root, and in the Evening an Opiate again, which freed him from this new Attack; but before Morning, the ſame Matter had ſeized his Head, when he grew ſtupid, ſnorted, and fell into a Coma, out of which, neither Volatiles, ſharp Clyſters, Cupping, Bliſtering, Vomiting, Sternutatories, or any Stimulus, could rouſe him. In this Condition he lay for forty-eight Hours, and then expired, through the unfortunate Tranſlation of a Diſeaſe, with which could he have been content to have conflicted as formerly, ſome Days longer, whilſt the [28]ſame was upon the extreme Parts, he might, as in thoſe he had formerly undergone, in all Probability, have protracted his Life.

Theſe Conſiderations, which I readily ſubmit, Sir, to your Judgment, I thought proper to communicate to the Publick, at a Time when great Numbers of the People, who can ſo readily come at them, are trying Experiments with Remedies, ſo often hazardous to their Welfare; and by which, as it may fall out, ſome Benefit, ſo alſo much Miſchief muſt enſue the preſent Method of promiſcuouſly taking them, or through the want of proper Information.

If that which I now offer, or from the Cautions here laid down, I may be inſtrumental in ſaving one ſingle Life, it will afford me abundantly more real Pleaſure and Satisfaction, than the idle Cavils of evil-minded Men, the ſnarling of looſe-Principled Perſons, or the Scurrilities offer'd by Debauchees, (who, deſtitute of Argument, fly to Slander,) ſhall give Diſquiet.

I am, Sir, in the ſtricteſt Sincerity, Your Friend, and very humble Servant, D. TURNER.

POSTSCRIPT.

[29]

THE following CASES are drawn with ſo much Judgment, and appear withal ſo authentick, that I have taken the Liberty to tranſcribe them, for the Satisfaction of all thoſe into whoſe Hands the Journal, whence they are extracted, has not fallen; and as I have been charged with being the Compiler, I take this Opportunity to declare, that I know not the Author; yet, at the ſame Time, return him hearty Thanks, as the whole Kingdom ought to do, for his Induſtry, in collecting them, and that honeſt Zeal he has ſhown, to ſafe-guard his Countrymen from that Danger they may ſee others have been betray'd into, under the ſpecious Views of Infallible Remedies.

CASE I. A Gentleman of a middle Age, of a very robuſt and ſtrong Habit of Body, having no other Diſorder but ſome of the common Symptoms of the Scurvy, was, about three Months ago, brought to take one of theſe Drops, and two of the Pills. The Drop work'd very roughly; but he went on, in Hopes of being made quite ſound by this pretended Catholicon, and took one Pill. That carried on the Diſturbance, and ſo ſhook his Conſtitution, that he broke out all over his Body; with many other Diſorders, too tedious to mention. He goes to WARD himſelf, tells his Complaints, and asks further Advice, which was given him, That he muſt take more Pills. He bought four more; but upon taking one, became ſo ſhatter'd with its Violence, that his under Jaw became paralytick; ſo that, without the Aſſiſtance of his Hand, he could not move it up or down: The Eruptions increaſed, and grew troubleſome, in ſome Parts leaking a ſharp Ichor. He recover'd the Uſe of his Jaw in a little Time, but languiſh'd, with vain Hopes, that other Diſorders would mend. But the Tendons of his [30]Inſteps, and of the Backs of his Hands ſwell'd: He had a general Weakneſs of his Joints all over his Body; the tendonous Parts apt to ſwell, upon any little Exerciſe, and be painful. His Head grew much diſturb'd; he almoſt loft his Hearing of his right Ear, and had a continual Noiſe in it; his Eyes grew watry, and ſore, and ſo weak, he could not read five Minutes at a Time, without Pain and ſmarting. In this declining State, he fell into a Fever, about three Weeks ago, but by ſafer Remedies is recover'd; only thoſe ill Effects of WARD's Medicines are not yet removed.—Thoſe who are curious to know this Gentleman's Name, may enquire of the Bookſeller.

CASE II. Mrs. TEMPRO, Servant to FRANCIS WHITWORTH, Eſq; in Clifford-Street, Burlington-Gardens, aged about Thirty-five, had ſome wandring Pains, and other ſmall Complaints, about laſt Whitſuntide. She took one Doſe of WARD's Noſtrum, which vomited and purged her very much, and ſo affected her Nerves, that one of her Hands became numb'd upon it. She took a ſecond, and that was ſo violent, it threw her into ſtrong Convulſions, and brought a confirm'd Palſy upon both her Hands and Arms, ſo that ſhe could make no manner of Uſe of them, attended with grievous Sickneſs, and Vomiting almoſt continually. She apply'd for Relief to thoſe in the Phyſical way near Hand, for ſhe was then in one of the Lodges in Windſor Foreſt; but they being unable to relieve her, ſhe was brought to London about the ſecond of October, has received ſome Benefit here, and is in a Way of Recovery.

I ſhall in the ſecond Place, relate ſome Caſes which have proved mortal.

CASE III. ELIZ. MOOR, Servant to Mrs. BURTON, in King's-Street, near St. Ann's Church, aged thirty-four; ſubject to Hyſteric Fits, adviſed with Mr. WARD firſt of all, on Friday, July 5, 1734; he ordered her to take his Pill, ſhe took one that Night, which had no Operation at all, ſo that ſhe [31]went about her Buſineſs. The Tueſday Night following ſhe took another, which operated no more than the firſt. Then ſhe went to Mr. WARD again, who adviſed her to take another, which ſhe did the next Wedneſday Night, being July the 10th, this operated no more than the others that Night: But the next Day ſhe was taken very ill at a Neighbour's Houſe, and was brought home in a Coach, ſcreaming and crying out of an intolerable Pain in her Stom [...]ch and Guts, declaring to her Friends who ſtood by, that the Pill had killed her. Her Pulſe was ſcarcely to be felt, ſhe had cold Sweats, fell into Convulſions, and died about three o'Clock on Friday Morning the 12th.

CASE IV. HESTER STAPS, a Waiter at the Bagnio, Charing-Croſs, aged about forty-five, of a moderate ſtrong Conſtitution, and troubled with no other Diſtemper, but ſome ſmall Scorbutic Pimples, which uſed to break out Spring and Fall, would needs try Mr. WARD's Panacea. The firſt Doſe ſhe ſaid Vomited and Purged her times beyond numbering, and brought upon her many Diſorders; ſhe hoping, that repeating the like Medicine would cure them, took a third Doſe; but inſtead of curing them, it brought on a violent Diſorder and Pain in her Head, loſs of Appetite, an inward continual Fever, or Fever on the Spirits, with great Dejection and lowneſs of Spirits, and continual griping Pain in her Bowels. She grew from hence Pleuretic and Pthiſical: But more than all theſe, the third Doſe threw out all over her Body a moſt violent Leproſy. This Diſeaſe ſhe never had any ſign of before, but now it was ſo violent, that the Scales which came off her were very offenſive: Thus ſhe miſerably waſted away, and the beginning of laſt Month died; which was about two Months, from her taking the third Doſe from WARD.

CASE V and VI. JOHN WOOTEN, Aged thirty-ſix, and DANIEL his Brother thirty-four, being Pthiſical, took WARD's Drop; and DANIEL took one of his Pills beſides. They both had the Drop [32]mixed in a Decoction of Riaſins, which they took near two Months, but grew much worſe; and DANIEL's Pill burſt a Veſſel within him in the working, and forc'd up a quantity of Blood: He died about four Days after, and his Brother JOHN the next Day. They were Chairmen in Lumley-Court, in the Strand.

CASE VII. Mr. T. KING, Baker in St. Giles's, about forty Years old, was Conſumptive, but with the Direction of an eminent Phyſician, grew better. He took one of WARD's Pills the twenty-third of July laſt, which vomited him for three Days, then turned downward, and purged him as much, till it brought a quantity of Blood with his Stools; and the firſt of Auguſt he died.

CASE VIII. SAMUEL GRAY, middle Aged, being ill of a Conſumption, in the Pariſh Work-houſe of St. George Hanover-Square, would needs take WARD's Medicine; he died within an Hour after taking the ſecond Doſe.

CASE IX. MARCUM CAMBEL, about forty Years old, of Patin-ſtreet, Hanover-Square, having an Ague, took ſix Doſes of WARD's Medicine; but was made ſo ill by them, that being ſent three Days after to the Infirmary at Hyde-Park-Corner, he could not there be relieved, but died in five Days.

CASE X. Mrs. MAGEE's Daughter, of Carnaby-Market, about five Years of Age, was only ill of a Raſh, took three Doſes, and died the next Morning after taking the third Doſe; it never Operating with her.

CASE XI. ANNE EVING, Servant to Mr. BURTON, of Conduit-ſtreet, about thirty Years old, had only Scrophulous Tumours on her Neck, took five Doſes of WARD's Medicines, and died two Days after taking the laſt Doſe.

CASE XII. Mrs. GILBERT, who kept the Horſeſhoe Ale-houſe in Eſſex-ſtreet, of a middle Age and robuſt Conſtitution, took one of WARD's Pills the beginning of July laſt; it vomited her thirty-four, and purged her twenty-two times. She ſent [33]for an eminent Phyſician and Apothecary the next Day, who found her very feveriſh, and thirſty, having continual retchings to Vomit, violent Pains in her Belly; and to be ſhort, with all the Symptoms of Bowels a mortifying; and, what was almoſt as bad, the Operation had cauſed a violent Navel Rupture. The Phyſician uſed his utmoſt Endeavours to aſſiſt her, but could get nothing to paſs through her, but on the Morrow-night, ſhe miſerably died.

To the foregoing, give me leave to add the two following.

I have already obſerved, in diſcourſing of the Palſy, a Caſe induſtriouſly conceal'd, and notwithſtanding all the Application and Intereſt I could make, have been denied Admittance, to the Widow of the Deceaſed. Thus much upon the moſt ſolemn Aſſurance, that no Names ſhould ever be brought upon the Stage, I have gather'd from a Relation to the Family; that about the middle of laſt Month, the Brother of the Deceaſed, having read in the publick Papers, of a great Cure of a Palſy, perſwaded him to take one of theſe Pills; When I asked what Condition he was in at that time? they ſaid he had a Palſy on one ſide, under which he labour'd ſeveral Years: That in four Hours, after taking of the Pill, he was ſeiz'd with a violent Vomiting, and could not keep from the Cloſe-ſtool, till he fell off in a Fit; that they then laid him on the Bed, with the Pan under him, where he lay in cold Sweats, and very great Agonies; the Stools continuing to run from him, till he loſt all Senſe, and fell into Convulſions; his Jaws lock'd up, and all his Limbs contracted; in which Poſture he died the ſame Evening.

I now enquired, What Report the Searchers had made upon ſo violent a Death, and ſo evidently brought on, by the Poiſon he had taken? and received for Anſwer, That they ſuppoſed it was return'd Convulſions.

Whence Sir, it ſeems plain to me, that whilſt theſe poor Women, employ'd as Searchers, either ignorantly, or through Corruption, paſs by ſuch miſerable [34]Deaths, we ſhall never be able to come at the tenth part of theſe Miſcarages: To detect which, I think it abſolutely neceſſary, that every Pariſh Clark, lay the ſtricteſt Injunction upon theſe Creatures, to make a true Report of all thoſe immediately enſuing the taking of theſe Medicines, where they can come to underſtand, that any ſuch had been given the ſame or the Day or two before; and that theſe Symptoms of violent Vomitings or Fluxes have inſtantly deſtroyed the deceaſed Perſon. If this truſt had been duly executed, I queſtion whether we ſhould have had one Weekly Bill, theſe three or four Months paſt, wherein there might not have been inſerted among the Accidents; Poiſon'd by the Drop and Pill.

If a Perſon voluntarily or with Deſign of deſtroying himſelf, takes Poiſon (and theſe Pills we ſee will do the ſame Execution) he is deem'd a Felo de ſe, and an Inqueſi muſt ſit upon the Body; nay, if by Miſtake or Accident he is deſtroyed the ſame way, yet ſtill there muſt be the ſame Enquiry. Why then ſhould ſo many of his Majeſty's Subjects be thus hurried out of the World, and no notice taken, for that ſome others have ſtruggled and got the better, as well of the ſaid Poiſon, as the Diſcaſe ſometimes, for which it was taken.

You very well know, that every Member of the College, is Sworn to preſent what is juſtly denominated by us Mala Praxis; dear Doctor, tell me what is this? but as the Gentlemen of the Faculty care not to turn Informers, neither the Governing Part of the College to take Cognizance yet a while thereof; ſo poſſibly, the Government itſelf, may in time, ſee Cauſe to enquire into an Affair of ſo great Moment, and either wholly ſuppreſs the diſtribution of theſe dangerous Druggs, among the People, or take Care to ſee, that they are placed under a better Regulation.

About ten Days paſt, a Gentleman, in Company with his Wife, having ſome tetteriſh Eruptions on her Skin, conſulted with Mr. Ward, who made no [35]Doubt of curing her in Time, if ſhe purſued his Directions. When ſhe objected the Weakneſs of her Conſtitution, unable to undergo the Operation of any rough Medicines, he did aſſure her, that he would order nothing which the weakeſt Perſon might not venture on with the greateſt Safety, and gave her, at that Time, two of his Drops, that is, the ſame Number of his Sack Draughts, one of which ſhe took on the Sunday Morning following, without other Effect, than a little Sickneſs and Vomiting. On the Tueſday ſhe took the other, with as ſmall Diſturbance as the firſt. On the next Day, which was Wedneſday, ſhe went again to Mr. Ward, who now gave her two of his Pills, the one of which ſhe ſwallow'd the next Morning, viz. on Thurſday; this had as little Effect as the Draughts, but at Night ſhe found herſelf ſwell'd, as if ſhe had been poiſon'd, which indeed ſhe was: However, on the Friday ſhe lay by, continuing thus full, and pain'd in her Bowels. On the Saturday ſhe ventured on her ſecond Pill, in hopes that might work off the reſt, when by Noon ſhe was taken with enormous Vomiting and Purging at the ſame Time, which, after ſome Hours Continuance, threw her into ſtrong Convulſions; ſo that ſhe loſt her Senſes, and ſeem'd as one dead to the Aſſiſtants round about. The Apothecary was call'd, and her Husband propoſed a Phyſician; but he told them, the whole Streſs lay upon getting down what Quantities they could of ſmall Broths, or other dilating Liquors, which might waſh off the poiſonous Salts, and defend her Bowels from a Mortification thereby.

In this Condition ſhe continued all Night; her Fainting and Convulſions often returning; and frequently no Pulſe, or other Signs of Life. The Day following, ſhe came a little to herſelf; yet is not, at this Time, free from the malign Impreſſion left upon her Nerves by the Poiſon, being ſtill, upon the leaſt Occaſion, ſubject to the convulſive Motions; nor, poſſibly, may ſhe ſuddenly, if ever, get clear from the ſame.

[36]

In the firſt of theſe Relations, I could have the Opportunity of letting myſelf only into the Misfortune of a Family, which muſt, it ſeems, remain ſecreted from the World, under a Pretext of preventing the ſurviving Brother running out of his Senſes, who was inſtrumental in procuring and giving the fatal Pill, if the ſame were to be made publick. In this laſt, though I am forbid the Publication of Names, yet I have Leave given to ſend any Gentleman or Lady of Reputation, who doubts the Truth of the Narrative, to the Houſe, where the Husband will confirm it, as well as the Gentlewoman herſelf, who underwent the cruel Symptoms, and who has ſo narrowly eſcaped with Life.

To theſe Inſtances it may be objected, that many Hundreds of People have taken, and are daily devouring, theſe Draughts and Pills, without theſe miſchievous Accidents. To which may be anſwered, That the ſame Number might very likely take Arſnick in that Doſe, with as little Complaint: It is not every one who takes ten times as much, that can diſpatch themſelves thereby, as they had intended. Either ſome Quantity of Liquor already in the Stomach, or pour'd down immediately after, diſſolving and diffuſing the Cauſtick Salts, Nature rouſing by ſtrong Efforts, throws up by Vomit, (as in theſe Caſes,) what lies therein, diſcharging, at the ſame Time, (however, with horrid Gripings,) what is paſſed lower, by the way of Stool, and at length frees herſelf therefrom, though much weaken'd, and almoſt ſpent. Thus I ſay, (and I doubt not, you will join Iſſue with me,) that it is poſſible for many, by the Strength of a good Conſtitution, or ſome lucky Incident in their Favour, to eſcape theſe Symptoms, and to ſuffer little otherwiſe than under common Vomiting and Purgeing from a rough Medicine, of a different Tribe: But, indeed, it is ſo very difficult to come at all which have fallen out in this Way, that it may be made a Queſtion, whether the one hundredth Part is brought to Light; the People who have been [37]impoſed on, being aſhamed of their Credulity, in liſtening with the Herd after them, have ſtifled all they can: And unleſs they have been deſtroy'd outright, which too, you ſee has been the Caſe, their Friends care not it ſhould be known, but endeavour what they can to conceal them. Had this been the Fate of a great Man's Servant, (and ſurely, nothing could be more near,) ſhe alſo had, in all Likelihood, died ſimply, as ſome others, of Convulſions, without an Inqueſt: And why it ſhould be made an Example (as it was) for others to imitate, is, I own, above my Comprehenſion. But the Nature of theſe Medicaments will better appear from the following more certain Account of their Compoſition, as the ſame is reported to have been communicated by the French King's Phyſician; the Original of which is at this Time, I hear, or was very lately, in the Cuſtody of that worthy, and very learned Man, Dr. P—t.

Mr. WARD's DROP.

Butyr. Antimon.ij. Crem. Tartar.iv. M. et Coq. in Aq. Com. q. s. per octo horas. deinde adde gradatim Ol. Tart. p. Deliq.iv. Cola & Evapora ut paretur Sal. quod fluat. p. Deliq. Capiat hujus a gut. j. ad plures. in hauſtulo vini albi cujuſlibet Mollioris.

The PILL.

Is ſaid to be no other than the Vitrum Antimonij, formed, with the Drop, into ſmall Pills, each of a Grain Weight.

Now, Sir, as none but the Phyſician, Apothecary, or Chymiſt, can rightly inform the World of the poiſonous Nature of theſe Compoſitions, and the dangerous Effects thereof, upon the more ſenſible Parts of Mens Bodies, ſuch, I mean, as the Nerves, I will readily ſubmit to the whole Body of theſe Gentlemen, whether any one of a ſound Judgment in [38]Phyſick, and well acquainted with the human Frame, will either preſcribe any ſuch himſelf, or conſent to their being taken; and if it muſt not denote all thoſe to have a weak one in this Particular, how knowing ſoever, in ſome others, who ſhall venture to take them; eſpecially after ſo fair a Warning as has been given in the Journal, already referr'd to, as well as from the farther Intimation here deliver'd by,

SIR, (once more,) Your humble Servant.

Appendix A ADVERTISEMENT.

WHOEVER ſhall think fit, to ſend an Account of what they know, of the Good or Bad Conſequences (that equal Juſtice may be done the ſame,) from the taking of theſe Medicines; by a Letter directed for the AUTHOR, to be left at Mr. JOHN CLARKE's, Bookſeller, under the Royal Exchange, the Favour will be acknowledged; and provided the Facts are truly ſtated, with the Patients Names, and Places of Reſidence, at leaſt private Allowance for any diffident Perſon to ſatisfy themſelves of the Truth of ſuch Facts; the Perſons Name who ſends ſuch Information, ſhall be made no other Uſe of, than he himſelf gives free Permiſſion.

FINIS.
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