•Vo. 
the 
NATURAL PHYSICIAN S 
BOOK OF REMEDIES. 
CONTAINING 
A PATENT RIGHT 
FOR 
JOSEPH BAKER. 
SECOND EDITION, IMPROVED AND ENLARGED. 
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO: 
1832. District of Ohio, To wit! 
BE it remembered, that on tire 21st day of May, /into Do- 
mini, 1831, JOSEPH BAKER, of the said district, hath deposit, 
ted in the office, the title of a book, the title of which is in the words 
following, to wit i 
" The Natural Physician'1 s Book of Remedies, containing a 
Patent Right for Doctoring. By Joseph Baker. 
The right whereof he claims as author, in conformity with an act 
of Congress, entitled "An Act to amend the several acts respecting 
Copy Rights." 
WILLIAM MINER, Clerk 
of the District. 
J. HOUGH, HUNTER* INTRODUCTION. 
IN" writing the following piece, I shall try to 
comprehend as much as I can with a tew words, so 
as to show the causes of diseases, with the medicine 
and management, with a few of the outlines of our 
physical bodies, its organization with the state of 
the blood under different circumstances; and shall 
try to be as plain as possible, and avoid repetition. 
And underneath, the pages I shall generally place 
some philosophical remarks, which is intended to 
make the reader acquainted with some of the 
laws of nature, which mav be said to be an abridg- 
ment of philosophy, that I fancy will be found very 
interesting to the readers in general. The principal 
work that I shall depend upon, is Niel Arnott's 
Elements of Physics-and I am ready to recommend 
his work as the best of the kind that I know of. 
The first and greatest thing with man i« the salva- 
tion of his soul; as Christ says: "First seek the king- 
dom of God and all these things shall be added unto 
you." And next of importance is the health, ease 
and safety of our bodies, which is every person's bu- 
siness to attend to with prudence and attention. But 
these two points, especially the first one, are too apt 
to be neglected and our attention fixed on objects of 
less importance. While the inferior race of beings 
seem to have changed as little since the beginning of 
our records as the trees and herbs of the wood, which 
give m inv of them shelter, the condition of man has 
progressed in a ver\ extraordinary manner. The 
inferior beings were so formed by their creator, that 
within one life or generation they should attain to all 
the perfection of which their nature was susceptible. 
Their wants were partly provided for: as the cloth- 4 
ung of feathers for the fowls; furs and hair for beasts; 
scales foi fish,and the like. But h different is the 
case with man; though he comes into the world 
helpless, his strong intellects, operating with lan- 
guage, are the mt ans which have gradually worked 
this extraordinary change. By language fathers 
have communicated their gathered knowledge to 
their offsprings, and these to succeeding children, 
with new accumulations; and after many ages the 
precious store had grown until memory could not re- 
tain n ore. At length the art of writing and also of 
printing arose, which made language visible and 
m< re permanent, and so enlarging the stores of 
knowledge down to a recent period; and at present 
man's memory reaches to the beginning of records, 
whose judgment is searching the treasures of knowl- 
edge, and has a faint idea of the vast bounds of crea- 
tion, which appear to be governed by a few simple 
laws, which are almost as unchangeable as the giver. 
The condition of man has thus changed from bar- 
barism, in a good degree, to a state of civilization, 
which is covering the face of the earth, while each 
part is becoming interesting to him. Now a man of 
an ordinary fortune may reflect on what is going on 
around him, and say, I am settled in a society that 
affords me conveniences, support and comfort that a 
king did not enjoy some centuries past. Ships are 
crossing the ocean in every direction, and brings 
what is useful to me from all parts of the earth. In 
China they are digging the mines, as well as in many 
other places, forme; and my tea comes from China. 
In geneial,in the southern parts of America they are 
raising cotton for me; and sugar is sent here fiom 
different par's. In the West India Islands they are 
raising coffee for me. Silk is made and sent from 
Italy. Wool and flax are raised, manufactured and 5 
brought here for my clothing. Grain, fruit and meat 
is raised and brought here for my nourishment from 
different countries. The postmasters are sending 
me the news from different parts; and I have officers, 
rulers, commanders and servants, that are doing ou- 
siness for my advantage. In short, I have roads, 
wagons, canals, boats, ships, horses, mules, oxen, 
carts and carriages, that are bringing me the com- 
forts nf life from almost all parts of the world, as 
well as mechanics of every description, making all 
kinds of machinery, tools and instruments, from a 
ship down to a pin or needle-all are working to my 
advantage. The printers are printing books of al- 
most every descripti >n for me, as well as sending 
me the news from all parts. These newspapersand 
bo-»ks transport the mind not only to all places, but 
to all times. Thus has the condition of man pro- 
gressed from a state of barbarism to this state of so- 
ciety. And now, likely, at this time we are on the 
eve of many more improvements equally valuable. 
If mv system of doctoring should prove good, as 
it has done, our richest parts of the country, which 
a number of people have deserted on account of the 
fevers, will re-people again with fresh zeal and 
courage; and this disease will be looked at as a tem- 
porary disease that is not fatal, though it has long 
been the common scourge of the country, and has 
peopled the grave-yard faster than any other disease. 
Rheumatisms, croups and pleurisies will generally 
be viewed in the same light. And if the steam wa- 
gon should travel from thirty to fifty miles an hour 
it will make a distant country seem near at home. 
This would be something like one thousand miles in 
a day and night. This would make a great differ- 
ence in business, when a man mav fill his office in a 
city several hundred miles from home; whoa the 6 
news, goods, and, if required, armies can travel with 
such rapidity. Su^h being the improvements, all 
persons that have sufficient money to purchase what 
they need, can have nearly, if not more comfort, 
than if they possessed the whole, which would burden 
them with trouble The improvements of man is 
not generally made by craft, but by applying the 
means connected with memory and judgment, and is 
the result often of manv experiments, though it is 
so netimes by accident found out; but in some of the 
most useful discoveries divine Providence guides 
man's feelings to the very place where the discovery 
is made-the bible gives ns many instances of like 
circumstances; such has been the impressions of mv 
mind a number of years past. I thought first of 
publishing a book on this subject to sell as another 
book; but afteYsome reflection, I found that the law 
onlv encouraged the medical societies; and that the 
system must be sanctioned by the Legislature of the 
State or by the Patent Office, that it might be accord- 
ing to law. 1 felt conscious that it was mv duty to 
unclose mv views and bring them before the public, 
in that wav that the system might pass: and many 
serious reflection® on the subject have impressed me, 
that I am at a loss for language to express. One 
was, I feared my mind might get off the subject of 
religion, and get over-stocked with this world and 
its objects; and I looked for a stronger opposition 
from other physicians than that I have met with; - 
and about two or three years past I took a more 
particular view of the subject, while 1 reflected on 
mv present circumstances, while my reasons told 
Pie that I could live the balance of my days in a de- 
gree of peace, and this new system would involve 
me in difficulty, and the residue of mv days would 
be trouble. God bears me witness that I had a great 7 
desire as well a? choice, to have nothing to do With 
the business, but impressions of mind as well as con* 
sciousness, crowded me forward in my duty. God 
has commonly made use of man to bring his purpo- 
ses about; and his maens have often been overlooked 
by the popular class of mankind; they are like young 
hunters who generally over shoot. Such things 
have been in every age of the world. Another very 
involving question has been presented to me, which 
has occupied my mind very seriously-whether it 
is right or not, to have such a price for Rights?- 
This question has been discussed among different 
classes of peopie, both religious and irreligious. The 
nature of the case has been explained to them con- 
sistent with popular customs, that if the price was 
reduced it would become unpopular; butthe price was 
first set by disinterested men, and is now set by the 
Natural Physician society, and 1 expect to be 
governed by them. 
In the first stage of education, vizjduring the years 
ol childhood, the learning acquired is necessarily of 
the most mixed kind, and is determined by what is 
called accident; but every person may be said to 
begin his education or acquisition of knowledge, on 
the day of his birth. Certain objects repeatedly pre- 
sented to the child,are, after a time, recognized and 
distinguished. The number of objects thus known, 
gradually increase, and from the constitution of the 
human mind they are soon associated in the recollec- 
tion according to their resemblances, or obvious re- 
lations, Thus, sweet meats, toys, articles of dress, 
&c. soon form distinct classes in the memory. At a 
later age, but still very early, the child distinguishes 
readily between a stone or mineral mass,a vegitable 
and an animal, and thus his mind has already noted 
the three classes of natural bodies, and has acquired 8 
a certain degree of acquaintance with natural histo- 
ry. He also soon understands the phrases, a falling 
body, and the force of a moving body, and has, 
■therefore, a perception of the great physical laws of 
gravity, and stubboness. Having seen sugar dissolved 
in water, and wax melted round the wick of a burn- 
ing candle, he has learned some phenomena ot chem- 
istry. And having observed the conduct of the do.-, 
mestic animals and of persons about him, he has be- 
gan his acquaintance with physiology, and the 
science of mind. Lastly, when he has learned to 
count, and judge of the division of a cake or sugar 
plumb between himself and his brother, he has ad- 
vanced into arithmetic. Thus, within a short time, 
a child of common sense has made a degree of pro- 
gress in the great departments of human science; 
and in addition has learned to name objects, and to 
express feelings by the sound of language. Such, 
then, is the beginning or foundation of knowledge, 
on which future years of experience or methodical 
science, must rear the structure to a more liberal 
education. Mathematics are at present generally 
made the beginning of the study; and the reason as- 
signed is, that scarcely any object in physics, chem- 
istry, or organic life, can be described without re- 
ferring to quantity or proportion, and therefore with- 
out using mathematical terms. Now, this is true; 
but it is equally true that the knowledge acquired by 
children in common schools, is sufficient to enable 
them to understand all the great laws of nature, 
nearly as well as the knowledge of language obtains 
ed at the same time, is sufficient without any study 
of abstract grammar, to enable him to converse on 
all common subjects sufficiently plain to be under- 
stood. But one mistake that exists among us is, 
.learning children with only the one sense of seeing. 9 
ing is crowded more than the sense of feeling; there- 
fore it is found that the fastest way of learning is to 
write it down or mark it out with the hand or foot-, 
so that several of our senses may be engaged at the 
same time. 
Thus it is discovered, that in learning a song or any 
thing that we wish to learn by heart, once sounding 
it out, is as good as ten times looking over it with 
our eyes; and once writing it is as good as five times 
sounding it out. And we suppose the day is not far 
distant when the child will be taught first to write 
his alphabets, and then put them together in sylla- 
bles with his pen, and then put them in order for 
reading with the same instrument; and at times 
sound it out, so as to prepare the person to do busi- 
ness in the midst of a throng or multitude of people 
without disturbance. The notions on education pre- 
valent in the world, until very recently, have been 
as erroneous with respect to the comparative impor- 
tance of different branches of knowledge, as with 
respect to the order ot study. Thus at many of our 
famed schools, and even universities, the attention 
has been directed almost solely either to Languages 
and Logic, or to Abstract Mathematics, the precep- 
tors seeming to forget that these objects have no 
value but in their application to physics, chemistry, 
life and mind. "The reason for bestowing much ah 
tention on the Greek and Roman languages, was 
good some centuries ago, because then no book of 
value existed which was not written tn one of these 
languages; but now the case is completely reversed, 
for he who learns almost any matter of science from 
eld books, is learning error, or at least knowledge 
far short of modern erudition. As to the higher 
mathematics-again, while they mejit great honor; 10 
as being the instruments by which many useful dis- 
coveries have been made, and the conjectures of 
powerful minds have been confirmed, still a very 
deep investigation of them is neither possible to 
every man-nor, if it was so, would it be of any 
utility. The mode of proceeding, to which we have 
now alluded, is as just, as if a manto whom permission 
were given to enter and possess a magnificent gar- 
den, on conditions of his procuring a key to open the 
gate, and measuresof all kinds to estimate the riches 
contained within, should waste his whole life on the 
road in polishing one key, or in procuring several of 
different materials and workmanship, and in prepar- 
ing a multiplicity of unnecessary measures," as the 
apostle says,''ever learning and never able to come 
to the knowledge of the trutn." Even religion itself, 
in various ages and countries, has felt the influence 
of the state of the mind as to solid attainments of 
the knowledge of nature, which we can easily pos- 
sess. So the enlightened Christian minister may 
earnestly recommend the study of nature, because, 
from contemplating the beauty of creation, discover 
the wisdom and benevolent design manifes* in ail its 
parts. Thence there springs up in every undepra- 
ved mind, those feelings of delight and gratitude 
which cons itutes the adoration, in part, that is due 
to the maker-and which forms a fit foundation for 
the sublime doctrine of immortality. Ami secondly, 
because a revelation must be proved by miracles; 
to enable men to distinguish between miracles 
and the usual course of nature, a perfect knowledge 
of that course, or of natural philosophy, is essential. 
AU the false religions that are in the world were 
formed and upheld by pretended miracles. We 
have good reason io suppose that the worship of 
Diana at Ephesus, was for want of a proper knowl 11 
edge of nature, They had advanced in knowledge 
far enough to know, that the planet Jupiter was a 
greu deal larger than this globe; therefore they 
thought that the Go 1 of nature re-tided there. For 
reasons like this, the apostle spake against phi'oso- 
ph>,, for there were no phil gophers till Juiius Cas- 
sar, that could be depended upon; and therefore tney 
were called vain. And even in my early part of 
life I was taught that philosophy contradicted the 
bible, and by no means agreed with it; and the evi- 
dence that was brought, was, where God comman- 
ded the sun to stand still-and philosophers say that 
the earth moves, and the sun stands still; but it is 
evident that God speaks to our comprehension. The 
people would not have understood what the Lord 
intended, if he had said the earth shall now stop 
rolling for a short time, as these things had not yet 
been known. Other passages teach us, that God is 
angry with the wicked, when no more is intended 
than that his holy nature is opposed to sin. But let us 
compare modern philosophy with the gospel, and we 
will find that they agree, in substance, nearer than 
any other two systems now on earth. The genuine 
philosopher does not believe in effect without a cause, 
though he may not see the cause, he reasonably sup- 
poses that there is one; and such circumstances as 
that of the sun standing still, or the three Hebrew 
children in the fiery furnace, or the sun darkened 
when Christ suffered, with many others that could 
not have taken place according to the laws of nature, 
stands as pillars of his faith, that nothing but a su- 
pernatural cause could have effected them. Two of 
the laws of nature are Attraction and Repulsion - 
These laws of nature may be divided as follows: 
1st, Physical; 2nd, Chemical; 3d, Vital; 4th, Mental. 
A knowledge of these and similar laws, constitutes 12 
the branch called Natural Philosophy, of which' 
physics is the base. Now, as man cannot, short 
of a supernatural revelation, learn any thing but 
what respects first the momentary state, past or pre- 
sent of himself, and th • objects around him. While 
men were examining the forms and qualities of the 
bodies around them, they could not avoid noticing, 
also, the motions or changes going on among them, 
and they discovered resem lances among them; and 
a careful classification at this day being the result 
of countless observations, with experiments made 
through a series of years and generations, we are 
enabled to say, that all the motions and changes, 
which are constant and regular, in general,as where 
they produce the return of day and night. And as 
man by his books discovers how these changes have 
been going on for three thousand years past, and ob- 
serves how they go on at present, so he discovers 
that there is a regularity among them. History and 
Science, in this sense, makes up the whole sum of 
his knowledge of nature. But we have already said 
that physics is the base; as Dr. Arnott says-"The 
laws of physics govern every phenomena of nature 
in which there is any sensible change of place, being 
alone concerned in the greater part of all the phe- 
nomena, and regulating the rest, which originates 
from chemical actions, and forms the actions of life." 
The great physical truths are now reduced to four, 
and are referred to by the words Atom, Attraction, 
Repulsion and Inertia," or stubborness. It gives an 
astonishing but true idea, of the nature and impor- 
tance of methodical science, to be told that a man 
who understands these words, viz: how the atoms of 
matter, by mutual attraction, approaches and clings 
together, to form masses which are solid liquids.or 
airy-form, according to the quantity of heat among 13 
them; and which, owing to their inertia or stub- 
bo. ness, gain or lose motion, in exact proportion to 
tne force of attraction or repulsion acting on them, 
uudeistands the greater part of the phenomena of 
nature. But such is the fact,'solid bodies, existing 
in conformity with these, exhibit all the phenomena 
of Mechanics; Liquids, those of Hydrostatics and 
Hydraulics; Airs, those of Pneumatics; as Dr. A. 
says -'"Had there been only one kind of substance 
or matter in the universe, the laws of physic would 
have explained all the phenomena; but there are 
iron, sulpher,charcoal, and about fifty others, which, 
to the present state of science, appear essentially dis- 
tinct. Now, these, when taken singly,obey the laws 
of physics; but when placed in contact, under certain 
circumstances, they exhibit a new order of things. 
Iron and sulpher, for instance, brought together and 
heated, disappear as individuals, and unite into a 
new yellow metallic mass; which, in most of its 
properties, is not like either iron or sulphur; under 
other new circumstances, the two substances will 
again separate and assume their original forms. 
Such changes are called chemical, from the Arabic 
word, signifying to burn." 
Then, to pursue this subject, 1 shall speak of the 
law of gravity or attraction. First, it has been ob- 
served, that things when raised from the earth, and 
left unsupported, falls toward it; it was supposed that 
things had weight, but there are exceptions in such 
matters; for it is found that some are heavier than 
others. Second, it was discovered that this globe of 
earth is surrounded by an ocean of air, having near- 
ly fifty miles of altitude or depth, of which a cubit 
foot taken near the surface of the earth, weighs about 
an ounce; it was then perceived that Hames, smoke, 
Vapour, &c. rose in the air only as oil rises tn wa 14 
ter, viz: because lighter than the fluid by which 
they are surrounded. Third, it was found th it bo- 
dies floating in water, near to each other, approach- 
ed, and feebly cohered together; and that any bodies 
hanging by each other, are drawn by the same pow- 
e> towards each other, so as not to hang quite per- 
pendicular; and th it a plumet suspended near a 
hill is drawn towards the hdl with a force so much 
le<s than the weight of the plumet, as the hill is 
sm Iler than the whole earth, it is thus proved that, 
weight itself is only an instance of a more general 
mutual attraction, operating between all the con- 
stituent elements of this globe; and which explains, 
besides, the fact of roundness of the globe, all the 
parts being drawn together towards a common cen- 
tre; as also the form of dew drops, rain drops, or 
drops of mercury, as well as melted metal, gather 
into round substances. Fourth, and it was further 
observed, that all the heavenly bodies are round, 
and must, therefore, consist of materials obeying the 
same laws. And lastly, that these bodies, however 
distant, attract each other, for that the tides of our 
ocean rise in obedience to the attraction of (he moon, 
and the spring tides is when the sun and moon are 
in the same direction. It has been observed that the 
power of attraction was manifest in connecting the 
heavenly bodies together. 
The next I sha'I mention is that of Repulsion, 
which is effected mostly by heat; that flames, smoke, 
vapour, &c. rise out from this eanh, commonly, as 
the effect of heat, while other objects explode like 
that of gunpowder, and throws out from this com- 
mon centre. We may discover it in volcanoes, or 
where cither water, wind or fire is confined and 
pressed, it will explode. 
The next division we mention are those of Phy£- 15 
cal, Chemical, V itai and Mental, to give the definition 
of the words. What I understand by the word Physi- 
cal, is, one body affecting another, whether the sub- 
stance be inside or outside, or at a distance off, it 
makes no difference; the moon is thought to have a 
physical power on the earth, though it is a great dis- 
tance from us. The word Chemical are substances 
being changed by going through certain processes of 
heat. Vital is all that has life. What 1 understand 
by the word Mental, is, the reasoning power or 
judgment. 
But I have learned enough to perceive, that the 
great universe is as simple and harmonious, as it is 
immense; and that the Creator, instead of interpos- 
ing separately or miraculously, to produce the differ- 
ent effects that take place, has willed that all should 
proceed according to a few general laws. There is 
nothing in nature so truly miraculous, and demands 
adoration, as that the endless results which we see 
should spring from a few simple laws. In times of 
ignorance men regarded every occurrence which 
they did not understand, as arising from a direct in- 
terference of a supreme power. For many ages, 
and among some nations still, eclipses, earthquakes, 
and many diseases of the body, as well as thunders, 
were or are accounted miraculous; hence arose among 
them many ceremonies, and sometimes even barba- 
rous sacrifices to appease their offended deities* and 
was no more reasonable than if we should pray for 
the day or night to be shorter than it is. They had 
not a proper perception of God, who made the sun 
to rule the day; who said to the water, 'hitherto thou 
shall come and no farther;' who gave nature perma- 
nent laws-laws that appear, in a degree, as un- 
changeable as the giver-and allows men to disco- 
ver them, for the direction of their conduct in lif^- 16 
"taws so unchangeable, that eclipses may be calcula- 
ted backward or forward, for thousands of years, 
without erring any of notice; and as our knowledge 
of naiure advances, we can explain other events with 
equal precision." 
Life is the most complicated state in which matter 
exists, for under the influence of life it forms bodies 
with an internal structure of tubes and cavitie-, in 
which fluids move, producing changes continually. 
These bodies are called organized bodies, bec~ se 
of the various organs and parts they possess; th jy 
may be divided into two classes, viz: the animals, 
which are endowed with the power of locomotion or 
self motion; and vegitables, which are fixed to the 
soil. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE BLOOD. 
I firmly believe that "the blood is the life;" first) 
because it is a bible doctrine, Genesis ix, 4 and 5, 
with many other passages equally plain; secondly, 
because it agrees with the fluids that circulate in 
mao and beast, as well as fish, fowl and insect; 
thir lly, because it corresponds with the fluid sub- 
stance 'hat circulates in the herbage and inanimate 
parts of creation. If this is admitted, the first thing 
to notice is, the circulation of the blood. 
Dr Arnott says:-"Perhaps there are few points 
more remarkable, in the history of the progress by 
which man has arrived at his present knowledge 
of the universe, than that it is only two hundred 
years since he discovered that the blood in his own, 
and m other animal bodies, is constantlj circulating. 
England cla'ms, as one of her sons, the man whose 
powerful intellect at last established this truth, in 
opposition to strong appearances, and to the most 
fixed prejudices. Dr. Harvey published his proofs 
in the year 1619. A person who tries to imagine 
what the science or knowledge of medicine could 
have been, While it took no account of this fact, on 
which, as a basis, all certain reasoning about the 
phenomena of life must rest, is prepared for what 
old medical books exhibit of the writings of human 
reason, in attempts to explain and to form theories, 
while a fatal error was mixed with every supposi- 
tion. The chief circumstance which prevented the 
earlier discovery of the circulation was, that on ex- 
amining dead bodies the arteries were always found 
empty of blood, which was the reason, also, of these 
vessels being called arteries or air-tubes. 
" V¥e now know that as the Thames water spreads 18 
over London, in pipes, to supply the inhabitants 
generally, and to supply the particular purposes of 
brewers, bakers, tanners and o'hers, and is then in 
great part returned to where the cu.rent sweeps 
away the impurities-so nearly in the human body 
does the blood spread from the centre through the 
arteries to nourish all 'he parts, and to supply mate- 
rial of secretion, or the parts that divide the fluids 
to the liver, the kidneys, the stomach, and other 
viscera, or thick substances; and, after supplying 
the gaul, returns from these by the veins, towards 
the heart and lungs, to be purified, and to have its 
wastes replenished, that it may agaiu renew its 
course. 
"The circulation may be more particularly des- 
cribed thus: Fiom the left cham >er or ventricle 
of the heart, a strong muscular mass from the heart, 
a large tube arises, called the aorta, or big artery, 
and by a conunued division or ramification, opens 
a way for the bright scarlet blood to even the mi- 
nmest part of the living frame-she extieme divi- 
sions or twigs being so small that they are called 
capillary or hair like tubes. At the termination of 
these vessels, the blood after answering the purpose 
of nutrition, &c., by which it loses its bright color, 
enters the commencements of the venous tree, or re- 
turning channel, and gliding successively from 
smaller to greater branches, returns towards the 
right chamber or ventricle of the heart, requiring 
purification and partial renewal.-Considering the 
great arterial and venous systems of the body, as 
twin trees-the scarlet and the purple, with cor- 
responding and meeting branches, and with trunks 
will touch each other at the heart, it will appear 
that they again completely meet or inosculate, or 
commune with each other, by their extreme roots, 
and thus form a continued or circular channel, The 19 
root of the venous tiee, by which the blood spreads 
iron) the right chamber of the heart to the lungs, 13 
called the pulmonary artery; and that of the arterial 
tree, bv which the blood returns to the lett chamoer, 
is called the pulmonary vein. Both of these rami- 
fy in the spungy masses of the lungs, forming a 
great part of the pulmonary substance Fresh ma- 
terials for the blood is brought from the digestive 
organs, by the lacteal, or small organs, absorbents 
or thoracic duct, and is constantly pouring into a 
large vein near the heart, to be completely mixed 
with the dark or returning blood By a violent agita- 
tion or churning during its passage through the heart, 
the mixture, on leaving the right ventricle, is strain- 
ed through the minute ramifications of the vessels 
in the lungs, and at the same time is exposed to the 
action of the air entering the cells of the lungs in 
respiration, by which exposure the dark purple 
blood becomes again pure scarlet; and when it 
reaches the left chamber, or ventricle, is ready to 
set out on its journey as before, charged with new 
life and nourishment. The two chambers, or ven- 
tricals, of the heart, have each an anti chamber or 
auricle, (so called from an external resemblance to 
a dog's ear) into which the b:ood is first received 
from the veins, and there are valvular doors between 
the auricle and ventricle, which allow the blood to 
pass readily into the ventricle, but oppose its return 
during the ventricle contraction. Similarly acting 
valves are placed between the ventricles and gieat 
arteries. There are valves, also, in many of the 
veins over the bddy, to secure the natural course of 
the circulation. Besides the important change or 
purification which the blood undergoes in passing 
through the lungs, its composition is much influenced 
by the action of the kidney, of the discharges of th» 
skin, and of the liver, &c. 20 
The fact of the circulation of the blood being' 
once admitted, an inquirer, who contemplate? the 
the apparatus by which it is effected, is led, by the 
general analogies of nature, to conceive, first, that 
the ventricle of the heart, at each contraction, emp- 
ties itself into the great artery; second, that the con- 
sequent jet causes a wave to pass along to the ex- 
tremities of the arterial tree, accounted, simply, 
elastic, so as to produce, every where, what is call-d 
the pulse; third, that the force of the heart, acting 
along the arteries, forces the blood through their 
open capillary extremities, into the commencing 
veins, and along the veins back to the heart again. 
N>w these suppositions which Harvey believed^ 
completely to describe the circulation, are all nearly 
true; but the following facts, and others, ascer- 
tained since Harvey's day, not exactly squaring 
with them, have rendered farther investigation ne- 
cessary: First-The pulse, instead of being a dis- 
tinctly progressive wave, is almost as instantaneous 
over the whole body as a shock of electricity. Se- 
cond-The arteries are al! found empty after death ; 
and if an artery be tied in the living body, the part 
beyond the ligature, although the action of the heart 
cannot reach it, is soon emptied through the capilla- 
ries into the veins. Third-Although the rapidity 
of the blood's passage through the cappillarie? varies 
very much, it does not vary in exact accordance 
with the changes in the rapidity or force of the 
heart,s action. In analyzing this subject, it is con- 
venient to follow the blood round from the heart to 
the heart again, through the three stages of 1 st the 
arteries, 2d the capillaries, 3d the veins. 
Arteries examined after death are found to consist 
of, 1st, an out coat of strong elastic substance; 2d, a 
middle coat of circular fibrous; and 3d, an inner coat 
of smooth lining membrane. Theif elasticity or 21 
power of resisting change of situation, and of re- 
turning to a middle state trom either dilation or cm- 
presMon; because remaining in the dead artery, was 
the most obvious property, and was that first atten- 
ded to, Minnie observation of the phenomena of 
life, has since determined the following facts, prov- 
ing and illustrating a contractility resident in the fi- 
brous coats. 
1st. "A small living artery cut across soon con- 
tracts so as to close its canal, and arrest hemmor- 
hage or bleeding. 
2nd . "While an animal is bleeding to death, the 
arteries, accommodating themselves to the decreas- 
ing quantity of blood, contract far beyond the de- 
gree to which their simple elasticity would carry 
them, and they relax again after death. Dr. Hales 
took seventeen quarts of blood from a horse before 
it died, in whose body only three quarts more were 
found altogether, and yet the moment before death 
the force ot the blood in the arteries sustained a co- 
lumn of two feet in his experimental tube. 
34. "The artery of a living animal, if exposed by 
dissection to the air, sometimes will contract in a 
few minutes to a great degree; and in such a case 
only a single fibre of the artery may be effected, 
narrowing the channel like a thread tied round it. 
4th. ' When a living artery is tied, the part be- 
tween the ligature and the neaiest branch on the 
side of the heart gradually contracts, and becotnes a 
solid or impervious cord. 
"Although these facts prove indubitably a contrac- 
tility in the coats of arteries distinct from their elas- 
ticity, still because the circular fibres do not resem- 
ble common muscles in color or in chemical compo* 
sition, or in being immediately obedient to the 
Stimuli of electricity, pricking, great heat, &c.n 
One great mistake among doctors has taken its 22 
rise from their experiments on dead bodies, as the 
fluid don't act in them like the fluids :n 'he living. 
The pore? can scarcely be opened, and when opened 
do not discharge like the living, nor no other nis- 
chaige will act in the st me position as in the livings 
therefore these experimen s, without particular at' 
teotion is paid, will blind a person instead of c m- 
municating light, or real knowledge, though they 
may do both. 
"The passage of the blood through the capilia* 
lies-We have seen that the heart keeps up a ten- 
tion or pressure, in the arteries, of about four pound 
on 'he square inch ot their surface, and with this 
force thus propelling the blood into the capilla- 
ries. If these last were passive tubes, constantly 
open, such force would be sufficient to press the blood 
thriugh them with a certain uniform velocity; hut 
they are vessels of great and varying activity. It is 
among them that the nu'rition of the different tex- 
tures of the body takes place, as of muscle, bone, 
membrane, &,c. and that all the secretions from the 
blood are performed as of bile, gastric juice, or sa- 
liva; and to perform such varied and often fluctua- 
ting offices, they require to be able to control in all 
wavs, the motion of the blood passing through them. 
The capillaries of the cheek under the influence of 
shame, dilate instantly, and admit more blood, pro- 
ducing what is called a blush; under the influence of 
fear they suddenly empty themselves, and the coun- 
tenance becomes pallid; tears or saliva gush in a 
moment, and in a short time are again dried up. If a 
person having inflammation in one hand, be blooded 
from corresponding veins in both arms at the same 
time, twice or thrice as much blood will flow from 
the diseased side as from the other. Similar changes 
occur in many other instances. Now, the only me- 
chanical action of vessels capable of causing these 23 
phcncflhcna, must occur in contractile or muscular 
coats, and with reference to such action it merits 
notice, that arterial branches have always more of 
the fibrous or contractile coats, in proportion as they 
are smaller. 
'•The action of the capillaries, is the cause of 
that singular phenomenon which prevented the an- 
cients from discovering the circulation of the blood, 
Viz: the empty state of the arteries after death. 
"All muscular parts on animal, including, there- 
fore, the contractile coats of vessels retain life, or 
power of contracting, for a considerable time after 
respiration has ceased, as is seen in the recovering 
of persons apparently drowned or suffocated-in the 
leaping nf a heart taken from an animal just killed 
-in the actions resembling life, which can be pro- 
duced by the agency of galvanism in a body recently 
dead. But the fact is seen still more aptly for our 
purpose, in the total disappearance of a local inflam- 
mation after the death of the patient; for inflamma- 
tion involves a gorging or over distension of the ca- 
pillaries, into which, when the heart has ceased to 
press blood, the contractile force remaining in them 
even under disease and in a dead animal, is sufficient 
to squeeze the blood out of them, and often to remove 
all trace of the malady which has killed. In ordi- 
nary cases, then, the capillaries throughout the body 
remain alive and active for a considerable time after 
breathing has ceased, working like innumerable little 
pumps, and emptying the arteries into the veins. As 
the red blood is their proper sustenance, as well as 
stimulus, they work as long as there is any of it 
coming from the arteries behind them, except, how- 
ever, the capillaries of the lungs, which soon cease 
to act,-because after breathing has ceased, they are 
filled with black blood; and are, moreover compres- 
sed by the collapse of the chest, and all the blood acv 24 
cumulates behind them. The capillaries may Con- 
tinue to be filled from the arteries, either in conse. 
quence of their elasticity opening them with what is 
called a suction power, or of an absorbent powei, de- 
pendent on life, like that of the lacteals, or them 
that convey chyle from the stomach into the blood; 
and of the absorbents all over the body, and perhaps 
of the vessels in the roots of vegetables. When 
death is produced by lightning, or by poisons which 
destroy all motions of life instantly, the arteries, af- 
ter death, are found to contain blood like the veins 
in a living body. If an artery be tied, the part be- 
yond the ligature is soon emptied into the veins, and 
becomes flat. The experiment has been made upon 
the aorta itself, or the great artery, which rises im- 
mediately out of the left ventricle of the heart." 
Passage of the blood through the veins.-''The 
veins have much thinner coats than the arteries, and 
if taken altogether, have greater capacity, because 
they exist, m many situations, as double sets, an ex- 
terior and an interior; they have, also, very frequent 
inosculations, or communications, with each other 
throughout their whole course. 
"The simple weight of the column of blood, in any 
descending artery, is just sufficient to raise the blood 
thro' open capillaries toan equal height in the corres- 
ponding vein, according to the hydrostatical law, that 
fluids attain the same level in all communicating ves- 
sels; and, therefore, as the arch of the aora rises 
considerably above the heart, the pressure of the 
descending arterial column of blood would be suf- 
ficient to lift that ia the veins not only up to the 
heart, hut considerably beyond it. In addition to 
this influence of gravity on the venous current, the 
blood is pressing into the arteries, and from them, 
therefore, towards the veins wiih a force from the 
heart itself, as is stated, of about four pounds to 25 
the square inch; or, in ot.er words, as if there were 
a column of blood eight feet higher than the heart, 
urging the current, it might be expected from the 
law of equal diffusion of pressure in fluid?, that these 
causes would soon produce pressure in the veins as 
great as in the arteries. This does not happen, how- 
ever, because the blood has a ready escape from 
the veins through the right ventricle of the heart 
under'ordinary circumstances. There can be no 
greater tension in the veins, than just enough to lift 
the blood to the heart, and to overcome the friction; 
just as in an upright leather tube, open at the top, 
and receiving water from a powerful forcing pump, 
through a small opening at its bottom. There 
is not often i greaier tension, or pressure, than what 
corresponds to the height of a fluid column in the tube, 
and to the friction between the fluid and tube, in 
Dr. Halo's experiments, already alluded to, a tube 
connected with a vein, so as to receive its blood, be- 
comes filled with blood to a height only of about six 
inches above the level of the heart. As Dr. H. 
generally cut the vein completely across, and inser- 
ted the tube into the portion leading from the capil- 
laries, he would have discovered the whole power 
with which the blood is pressed along the veins from 
the capillaries, but for the free communica- 
tion of veins with each other which reduces the ten- 
sion even in an obstructed branch, to the degree 
existing in the system generally, when from agita- 
tion of the animal or any straining exertion, the 
passage of the blood into the heart was impeded, all 
the veins became tense, and a tube inserted into the 
returning jugular had blood running over, at a height 
of three feet above the heart. 
if the blood did not escape from the veins, as 
above described, the only cause which could pre* 26 
vent the venous tension from becoming as great as 
the artereal, would be obstruction in the capillaries^ 
but the following facts and considerations prove, 
that these vessels which, in the dead body, allow the 
passage ofblood,-"1st, Magendie laid bare the chief 
artery and vein of a living limb, and detached them 
at the part from the flesh underneath, so that he 
could apply a tight bandage round the limb without 
including them, and could thus render them the only- 
channels of circulation for the lower limbs. He- then 
found, that when a separate ligature was put upon 
the vein to prevent the return of its blood to the 
heart, and a puncture was made beyond the ligature, 
the flux of blood from the puncture was rapid or 
slow, according as the heart was allowed to produce 
a greater or less degree of tension in the artery; this 
tension was regulated by compressing the artery be- 
tween the fingers. 2d -After a similar preparation 
of the parts, the blood will ascend in a tube from the 
obstructed vein, very nearly as high as from the ar- 
tery. 3d-In the common operation of bleeding, 
when the vein is first punctured, it often jets from it 
as from the artery, straining the top of a lofty bed- 
stead. 4th-The microscope discovers in the capil- 
laries a uniform forward motion of the blood, as if 
it were obeying the steady pressure of the arterial 
tension, and not any intermitting action. 5th-Dis- 
turbed action of the heart by obstructing the passage 
of the blood through it, is very soon attended with 
a tumefaction or swelling of all the veins leading to 
the heart; the swelling becomes very visible about 
the neck, head, and in the liver, produces swelling 
and acute pain. 6th-That perfectly open capilla- 
ries of the size, existing in the living body, should 
just regulate a flow of blood, urged by the usual 
arterial piess'.ire in the degree which really occnrs. 27 
'eraperates the flow (o a proper medium; in ordinary 
cases; therefore, they must be open and regular, 
because near all the divisions of the fluids takes 
place among them;" that of perspiration, joint, wa- 
ter ,marrow, &c.; the division for urine is in the arte- 
ry and kidneys. These things prove that if the 
capillaries were open, and the communications of 
the veins shut, that there would be a pressure of 
blood in the veins, near as high as in the arteries. 
So little has this important truth been understood, 
that, in the elementary works lately published, the- 
venous current is treated of as a very obscure sub- 
ject; the difficulty seems to have arisen from the 
great disparity observed between the pressure in 
the arteries, and in the veins, while the reflection 
did not occur that it was owing to there being a free 
passage, or outlet, from the veins through the heart, 
and a communication of the veins. Veins are much 
weaker than that of the arteries. We may mention 
the fact, that if any vein in the living body is made 
to communicate directly with an artery, it soon swells 
to bursting; the veins possesses power as well as the 
arteries, to a great extent of adopting themselves to 
the varying quantity of blood. The arterial pres- 
sure of four pounds to the square inch, supporting in 
a tube connected with the arteries, a "column of blood 
eight feet high is produced by the action of the heart 
-but as the heart, while injecting the blood against 
this resistance, has, moreover, to overcome thestub- 
borness both of the quantity injected, and of the mass 
in the great artery; all is moved by injections, and 
the spring of the vessels yielding to momentary in- 
crease of pressure; therefore the heart acts with a 
force of neai six pounds on the meh. Now as the 
left ventricle of the human heart, when distended, 
has about ten square inches of internal surface, the 28 
whole force exerted by it may be near sixty pounds." 
This has been much overrated. "1st-By assum- 
ing that the ventricles of the heart are completely 
tilled and emptied at each puisatmn-an assumption 
disproved by inspection of the exposed heart of a 
living body, and the fact of the valves between the 
auricles and ventricles, not closing so perfectly as 
to prevent returning. 2nd--By supposing the 
issue of blood from a wounded artery, or vein, to be 
the measure of the usual velocity. Now it would 
be as reasonable to suppose the issue of water from 
a wounded pipe, connected with any reservoir, to be 
the measure of a continued current in that pipe, al- 
though, in truth, the issue would he the same, even 
if the water in the pipe were usually at rest. 3d- 
By supposing the frequency of the pulse to be a mea- 
sure. Now we know, that in diseases of debility, 
and in animals bleeding to death, the pulse usually 
becomes more frequent as it becomes more feeble, 
and as there is less blood moving. 4th and lastly - 
By supposing the strength of the pulse t< be the 
measure. Now we find that the pulse in an artery 
just tied, and where, consequently, there is no for- 
ward current at all, is scarcely weaker than in an 
open arterv. The common fact of a person's feet 
remaining stone cold for hours, although the arteries 
leading to them pulsate nearly as usual, is a proof 
that exceedingly little blood is passing through the 
capillaries at the time, and that the pulse, there 
fore, is no measure of its speed " 
"The ventiicles of the heart appear, under com- 
mon circumstances, to throw out about an ounce and 
a half of blood at every contraction-or about seven 
pounds per minute. Now if the body contains about 
twenty pounds altogether, as seems to be the case, 
the whole would circulate twenty times in an hour; 29 
this would give an average velocity of about eight 
inches per second, in the aorta, but gradually less in 
the smaLer arteries, because, whenever a vacular 
chamus subdivides the branches taken collectively, 
they have considerably greater area '.han the trunk 
from which they arise, and the current diminishes 
in a corresponding proportion,-just as the speed of a 
river stream, is always less in the parts which are 
deeper and broader The velocity in the extreme 
capillaries is often f>und to be less han one inch 
per minute; in the veins, the blood must move moie 
slowly than in corresponding arteries, in proportion 
as the veins are more capacious than the arteries.11 
On the Pulse-"It is thought that the motion of 
theheart is transmitted through the fluid blood,some- 
what as sounds are transmitted thiough bodies gene- 
rally; or as a blow struck on one end of a logoi 
wood, is felt distinctly by a hand applied to the 
other, although there be no visible motion in the log. 
It has been shown that a sudden rush forward of the 
blood in the artery, such as might be produced by 
injections at one end of a ligid tube, would be felt by 
a finder applied, quite as distinctly as a swelling; 
and it has been deemed this occurrence to be one 
cause of the pulse, instead of the pulse being pro- 
gressive from theheart. It is some like a stroke of 
electricity which shocks the system all over near at 
once, yet the pulse is the beating of the artery. Every 
time the heart contracts, a portion of blood is forced 
into the arteries which dilate, or swell, to let it pass, 
and then immediately regain their former size, until, 
by a second stroke of the same organ, a fresh column 
of blood is pushed through them, when asimilar action 
is repeated The swelling and contracting of the 
arteries then constitutes the pulse, and consequently it 
may be found in every part of the body, where these 30 
teasels run near enough to the surface to be felt; 
physicians look for it at the wrist, for convenience. 
The strength and velocity of the pulse, varies much 
in different persons, even in a state of perfect health. 
It is much quicker in children than in older persons; 
in old people it grows more slow and feeble, owing 
to the decreased energy of the heart; and is low 
sometimes in stagnations of blood. The pulse is in-* 
creased both in strength and activity by running, 
walking, riding and jumping, by eating or drinking 
things that are warm, by singing and joy, &c. They 
are diminished in like manner, by fear, want of 
nourishment, melancholy, excessive evacuation®, or 
whatever tends to debilitate the sjstem. In feeling 
the pulse, then, in sick persons, allowance should be 
made for these causes; or what is better, we should 
wait until their temporary effects have ceased. A 
hard corded pulse is that in which the artery feels 
like the string of a violin, or a piece of tightened 
cat-gut, giving considerable resistance to the pres- 
sure of the finger. The soft and intermitting pulse 
are easily known by their names. In cases of ex- 
treme debility, or on the approach of death, and in 
some diseases it vibrates under the finger, like a 
thread. In feeling the pulse, three or four fingers 
should be laid on it at once; the most convenient 
spot to do this is the wrist, but it can be readily done 
in the temple just before and close to the ear, in the 
bend of the arm, at the under part of the lower end 
of the thigh, among the ham strings, and on the foot. 
When the pulse trembles, we may judge that there 
are obstructions in the system; and also when they 
make a double motion. A MORE SIMPLE DESCRIPTION OF THE 
CIRCULATION OF THE BLOOD. 
I shall set it down for granted that the blood is the 
life. If this is admitted, the first thing that follows 
is, the formation and revolution of the blood. The 
blood flows from the heart through the medium oi the 
arteries, which in common is near the bones, to the 
extreme parts of the body, and absorbs in the flesh 
as it passes out, and the veins gather it and directs it 
to the heart again: thus, when we bleed a person, we 
tie round the limb only tight enough to stop the vein 
-but if we tie tight enough to stop the artery, we 
will get but little blood. There is a great quantity 
of water that passes through the canals of the sto- 
mach, and is thrown into the blood in an ordinary 
state of health; and a part of this water passes off by 
urine, and another part passes through the pores of 
the body. This is the most critical discharge of 
any, and there ought to be more attention paid to it 
than is. Here we notice that there is no singular 
channel through which the water passes from the 
stomach, but soakes through the intestines through 
small pores, and is united with the mass of the blood; 
the great means of health is to keep the blood, which 
is the life, pure, which is made up of every substance 
which is thrown into the stomach. This may con- 
vince us of the impropriety of poisonous medicines, 
which of course formsa part of that blood that is the 
life and animates the system. The Thompsonian 
system, that says heat is life and cold is death, is 
without foundation-If this was true, put a person 
in the fire and they would be sure to live. But it is 32 
true that life requires a certain proportion of heat, 
and sometimes more than we are aware of; and it 
equally man- on the other elements, the water, air and 
earth, without which it would be impossible to live. 
It is evident that extreme heat will destrot life 
sooner than exireme cold. The arguments in favor 
of either air or water has as much ground to stand 
on as Samuel Thomson; but ihe four elements in 
conneelicn with the organized system keep up the 
piweis of animation. Do. tor Rush's argument in 
favor of lite being a forced state from the brain by 
the nerves, is as feasible, and more so, than Samuel 
Thomson's; but I feel perfectly satisfied ihat the 
blood is the Ute- this fact is recorded in rhe bibiein 
a number of places. These elements operating upon 
the organized system, keeps her in motion. The 
form 11ion of our system, and the means of iife.shows 
the wisdom of th it God that made us; and the busi- 
ness of a physician is not to correct the system, nor 
to form one new part to it, nor to change the circu- 
lation of the blood from a natural state or course, 
nor to disturb une of her parts; but rather to assist 
her by removing the obstructions that are in the 
way. We should examine where the obstructions 
are that is the cause of disease, and try to find 3 hat 
has disturbed nature's rules, and use the best means 
to remove it. I expect the present piece to be the 
beginning of a new system that may grow till it will 
arise to some degree of perfection. The most com- 
mon plan of curing diseases appears to be contrary 
to nature, and dangerous. If a person applies to the 
medical doctors, it frequently appears to me as a 
man setting up his life at stake, in which he stands 
a chance to lose his life; and if he gains it, the con- 
stitution is injured, and sometimes irrecoverable,- 
The vast divisions and contradictions in sentiment?. 33 
that exist among the medical doctors, both in their 
practice and books, is sufficient to convince us of the 
impropriety of their system, and, according to 
Christ's sayings, will ultimatelj fall; for he says, that, 
a house divided against itself cannot stand. Th» 
administration of poison into the stomach, which im- 
mediately is introduced into the blood, which is con- 
trary to the life of man, and assists the complaint 
instead of the patient, and is contrary to reason; that 
the medicine that is contrary to life ts called up to 
assist. The numerous accidents that have happened 
in the country among their practice, has prejudiced 
a number of people so that they call on no physician 
when they get sick, and a great number of the rest 
are at a stand what to do in time of sickness; while 
others are loaded down with the effects of it, and are 
not able to extricate themselves-; and when poison is 
introduced into the stomach, nature has to overcome 
both the disease and medicine, or the patient dies.- 
1 suppose that the face of nature has produced her 
own remedies, and in a general point of view, medi- 
cine should be taken in a natural state like the pro- 
ductions that are used for diet. The effect of a dis- 
tillation to get out the spirit of the herb, or seeds 
and root, may answer in some cases; but it frequent- 
ly changes the substance. Just observe the different 
effects of rye or corn, and then try the spirits of them, 
and see the effect on the stomach and blood. There 
are a number of things that the substance flies away 
in the vapor in a state of distillation. Many of those 
roots and herbs that I make use of cannot be applied 
to advantage in any other way but in a natural state. 
Lobelia is destroyed in a great degree by warmth, 
much less in a state of distillation; the liverwort is 
nearly so, and there is but a few medicines'that p<,» 
cesses the same quality after going through a state 34 
of distillation as before. The human stomach is the 
best judge of medicine, and good experience is the 
best way to try their virtues and effects on the human 
body; for the virtue of some is in the spirit of the 
substance, and others it is in the solid parts of it; 
and the sensitive powers of the stomach will soon 
find out the virtues. The stomach always possesses 
a portion of acid in an ordinary state of health, and 
it is said that this is governed by the quantity of gall 
that is spilt in it, and the gall is generally governed 
by the strength of the diet we live on If we live 
on salt and fat diet, our gall is apt to over spill and 
sour the stomach too much. It is safer to live on 
fresh, weak diet in general. The stomach is in 
some degree like a still; when it does not sour 
enough, we are not well; when it over sours, we are 
also unwell; but if it can strike a right sour, all is 
well, and the stomach will discharge herself right. 
And there is a kind of vapor that rises up and mois- 
tens the coat of the stomach and pipes even to the 
mouth; and this watery substance is drawn through 
the canals of the stomach into the blood by large 
quantities; and discharges, part by way of urine, 
an I part by perspiration. The quantity of watery 
vapor that rises up is governed by the sourness of 
the stomach; and if substances that we eat have a 
tendency to stop up the canals of the stomach, this 
watery substance frequently raises more plentifully 
to the mouth, and is called a water-brash, and so it 
acts when the stomach over sours. Sometimes the 
canals of the stomach calls for more water than 
raises up in vapor; then the drvness of the throat and 
mouth demands a drink of water. At other times 
there is a humor settled on the coats of the stomach, 
which agitates it, and it throwsup all the substances 
'hat are in it, or nearly so. And nt other times, the 35 
humor strikes in all the way through the hollow of 
the body; from the throat to the rectum or lower 
part of the body, and this humor is on the inside of 
the ho vels, if this humor is in the pipes and threat, 
it cau-es a hoarseness and injures the voice, as well 
as often produces a cough. If it is in the stomach, 
the effect is a puking; and if it is in the bowels, the 
effect is a purging; or if in the stomach and bowels 
at once, the effect is a cholera morbus. I am of 
opinion that this disease can be cured by a regular 
course of medicine, and somerimes by one operation 
of sweat, and then give a few doses of No. 1, and 
keep a moist sweat for a while. But the most com- 
mon cause of disease is too much matter in the blood, 
that shuts up the pores of the body, and throws peo- 
ple into different situations in life. We may draw 
some conclusion of the violence of the complaint in 
a thin, clear skin person by the color of the blood 
through the skin; if it looks dark, you may suppose 
they are dangerous, and more so when it looks cloudy. 
In diseases of less violence, the skin is more clear, 
and has a more common appearance; and other com- 
plaints come from obstructed perspiration by means 
of cold, and some by humor in the blood struck out 
against the skin, and thus shuts the pours of the body. 
In this case there should be a driving medicine taken 
inwardly to keep it out, and the pores opened by 
doses of No. 1, and steam with the stomach empty, 
or nearlv so. of food, and it to be fresh and light, 
which is made use of. Both the creation of humors 
in the blood, and the striking them in on the inside, 
are fioin various causes too many to mention in this 
short work; but the most leading causes that create 
humor, are as follows: first, living on salt, rich diet; 
secondly, eating too many kinds of diet at a time; 
thirdly, keeping the stomach overstocked with food 36 
loo long at a time; fourthly, drinking too much 
spirituous liquors, or what may be called hard drink; 
fifthly, the measles, sickly and unhealthy climates, 
and bad water. 
The next is what strikes them in on the bowels or in- 
side; firstly, cold on the outside; secondly, large 
draughts of cold wafer in the inside; thirdly, percipi- 
late or sulphur on the outside; fourthly dosesof physic 
which purges the inside But there is a great dif. 
terence between purging the body and purging the 
blood, and especially if the body is purged with a 
poisonous medicine; for the blood will gather a part 
of that poison out of the stomach, and carry it all 
through the whole body. And this is not the only bad 
effect; but if we purge the body while the pores are 
shut up, it frequently draws diseases in on the inside; 
because diseases frequently draw near to the place 
of discharge, and sometimes even affects the part 
where rhe discharge is; and the weight of that sub~ 
stance that passes down the intestinal canal is more 
forcible of itself than any other discharge of the 
body. But it needs force, because a thick morbid 
substance will not pass like a watery fluid; and for 
this reason the passage by urine is not so often ob* 
structed. Whatever increases the motion of the 
bowels, generally causes a purging; and when poison 
is passing through the bowels, they are roused into 
motion to resist its evils, and it is very wrong to force 
nature, instead of assisting her to do her duty or dis- 
charge her office. We may assist her by injections, 
which will never have a bad effect; and sometimes 
we can administer an oily substance that will make 
the bowels more pliable and capable of moving.- 
The effect of administering hickory bark lie, in small 
portions, will hereafter be described, removes the 
common matter, from the insides of the bowels, in a. 37 
degree, and renders them more slippery and limber, 
and i» an assistance in purging, and so are fresh 
broths in some degree; and there are certain medi- 
cines that either draw out or drive away the stagna- 
tion of the bowels, and adds sensibility, which quick* 
ens the bowels that are not poisorr. 1 will name sul- 
phur as one, elder bark as another, and caster oil 
adds to the motion of the bowels. There are many 
others too tedious to mention at this time. There is 
one rule that we may judge these means by-that 
means that adds sensibility and quickens the bowels: 
in repeating the doses, less will answer, and that 
means that forces nature; nature braces against it, 
and you must increase your doses as you repeat 
them. But I am fully convinced that there is more 
purging done by doctors than is profitable, and not 
one sixth as much sweating done as ought to be done 
for the health and safety of the people; for the dis- 
charge through the pores of the skin 's the most dif* 
ficult of any other, and according to nature's rules, 
should be almost without intermission, while the 
other discharges have their proper intermissions; 
and to add to the difficulty , the discharge by perspi- 
rition is in a degree invisible-and, it is thought, that 
Something like one fourth of all the watery fluids 
that aie taken into the mouth ought to pass off this 
way in anoidinary state of health; And what makes 
it difficult, it depends on the force of the heart, that 
drives it not only down but upwards to the surface of 
the body; and there appears to be a balance between 
the motion of the heart and the opening of the pores, 
that whatever causes the heart to motion, has a ten- 
dency to open the pores; and moistening the skin 
with warm steam, has a tendency to soften it, and the 
pores are easier opened; and the steam^oing into 
the heart department improves its motions very much, 38 
and of course produces a free perspiration. The 
medicine called the first part of the composition, or 
No 1, opens the canals of ihe stomach and skin, and 
assists in this proce*s. By purging the stomach, we 
may move the fountain of filth out of which the 'Hood 
has been already formed; and if we move it with a 
poisonous medicine, the blood in the meantime will 
receive a part of that p >ison,fiind of course is w orse 
than I efore. 
Now, the grand question is, which way shall the 
filth that is already in the blood pass off? Shall it be 
drawn lark to the stomach from whence it came, 
and pass off" in that way, which is contrary to nature? 
-or sh ill it continue to pass right through the pores 
of the skin, and be discharged in that na> ? If there 
is not a regular discharge through the pores of the 
skin, nature becomes unharnessed, and instead of 
throwing her substances towards the surface of the 
body, they are thrown back on the stomach. Gold- 
smith says, that there is no man that starves to death; 
but when the stomach gets empty, the poison out of 
the b ;dy gathers in and poisons them, and they go 
distracted and have strong symptoms of poison. This 
is fire way that people lie and eat nothing of notice, 
and are not hungry, that are said to be fed bv sick- 
ness; but it is by operating contrary to nature. I 
have known some that were said to lie for weeksand 
receive very little sustenance, though they had been 
hale, hearty persons immediately before, and they 
repeatedly took physic and purged in the mean time, 
and often were puked; and there appeared plain dis- 
coveries of filth still coming from the stomach, and 
the patients still reducing in their flesh. But this 
has not been the case with one of my patients, though 
they have amounted to eleven or twelve hundred; 
and near ninety of them of the consumption. It is very 39 
evident to me, that nature should keep her regular 
course in s'ckness. If the stomach is overstocked 
with filth, the sensitive power* of it wilt find it out, 
and nature will make her motions to throw it off; 
then we should assist it by administering an emetic, 
which, if done right, will not only clear the stomach 
in a few minutes, but will be apt to cause a free per- 
spiration Clearing the stomach of filth will prevent 
the blood from being more filthy, bur it does not re- 
move that filth that is already in the blood; and as 
the blood has but two natural discharges, reason tells 
us that she must discharge her filth one of these ways, 
that is, by petspiration or the way of urine; and as I 
fancy 'hat none will argue thatshe must discharge her 
filth by the way of urine, then it follows that it must be 
discharged by way of perspiration. Let the reader 
pay particular attention to these plain remarks; for 
the blinded r.ay that many of the doctor books are 
written in, is calculated to keep a great body of the 
people in ignorance. For often when they touch a 
particular point, in which they think the people may 
gain some useful knowledge, they have it printed in 
some dead language, or use some strange phrases; 
and every medicine that is poison, is opposite to life, 
and of course assists the complaint instead of the pa- 
tient; and except nature is capable of overcoming 
both the disease and medicine, the patient dies. I 
have thought that there are many cures among them 
like many in the country, that are taken up on un- 
certain premises, that persons happen to take some 
•certain means about the time that nature has gained 
her point and overcome the disease and the whole 
cure is ascribed to whatever means they have taken. 
One or two circumstances like this establishes the 
means they have taken to be asure cure^wben at 
the same time likely it is right opposite. We have 40 
no right to trust the virtue of the medicines without 
proper experience; but when diseases are in the,in- 
side of the body, my plan is to drive and sweat all 
out; but when on the surface of the body, though 1 
try to keep the person at least once a day in a sweat, 
so as to keep up this discharge, J frequently give No. 
4, which is a drawing medicine, and moderately, 
purges. 
I have made a few remarks on the outlines of this 
system, to show that it agrees with reason and with 
the bible. I want those that practice this system to 
pay. particular attention to the rules laid down, and 
we will depend alone on the God of the whole earth 
for his aid and blessings; and as we shall have a 
great number of the learned of our day to encounter, 
let us be careful not to bring a reproach on the sys- 
tem; and though the system may look new, and you 
cannot see into the particulars, I will assure you that 
all the general or leading points have been faithfully 
tried. Do not let this baffle your faith, because there 
is but one general way of cleansing the blood; for 
Paul says, that God has made of one blood all the na- 
tions that dwell on the earth; and it is thought by 
the strongest minds that the medicine that will 
cleanse the blood, will cure diseases that are oppo- 
site to each other, though I shall change the medicine 
as well as the management in a degree. The medi- 
cal doctors have one rule of salivating to cleanse the 
blood; that is, to throw off diseases by way of the 
glands: but mine is to thiow off diseases by the pores 
of the skin. And for the purpose to discharge dis- 
eases by this way, I will lay down a plan: there is a 
balance between the motion of the heart and the 
opening of the pores of the skin; the heart acts some- 
thing like a pump, that throws the blood out to the ex- 
treme parts of the body, and forces the water through 41 
the pores of the skin; if any thing should retard its 
motion or power, the pores are no longer kept open, 
and the blood that should fill the extreme arteries 
and veins now fails to flow out as before, and crowds 
more on the insides, and the fii h that is in the blood 
gathers round the heart and stomach, and the patient 
feels sick at the stomach. And if the motion is much 
retarded, the feet will immediately get cold for want 
of sufficient blood. This coldness begins in the feet, 
because they are furthest from the heart; and as the 
heart motions slower or weaker, this coldness pur- 
sues up the legs, and, as it passes the knees, it imme- 
diately commences on the fingers; and as it still 
grows slower or weaker in motion, this coldness pur- 
sues up the arms and thighs into the body, until death 
is the conseq ience. There are two reasons why 
the blood is not thrown out: one is, a weakness of 
the nerves that causes the heart to motion weak or 
slow; the other is a thick, stagnated blood, that is 
hard to throw out. There is more to be done by 
improving the motion of the heart, than what is gene- 
rally believed; long experience has very much en- 
larged my views on this subject, so that I suppose the 
very symptoms of death have been baffled; as the 
blood flows out into the limbs, the cold, numb, death* 
like feelings vanish sometimes, and the sickness 
driven from the stomach; and in the meantime na- 
ture discharges her surplus water through ihe pores 
of the skin. 
1 have cured the cholera morbus, when the limbs 
were cold, without any medicine, by improving this 
motion; and have thought that the sick stomach, or 
milk sickness, could be cured in the same way. I 
have known some take large doses of an emetic, 
and intheheighth of puking it was stopped this way. 
This has been tried to my satisfaction, and the same 
means will commonly stop a cholic. 42 
A person that is acquainted with drawing water 
with a pump that leaks, may form some idea how the 
heart throws out the blood. If a person works a 
leaky pump slow, the water sometimes falls b.ick or 
leaks as fast as they raise it, and they gain none; 
then, for the purpose of gaining on the leak, they 
must improve their motions on the pump, and thus 
draw it faster than it can leak, So it is with the hu-> 
man body ; the blood is thrown out through the arte- 
ries, and the veins gathers it, and brings it back; and 
if we want to fill the extreme ve-sels, we must in- 
crease this motion so as to throw it out faster than it 
returns by the veins. Then to improve the motion of 
the heart, is as follows: covering a person all over 
when he is sweating, and having the steam to go im- 
mediately to the heart and lights, warms the blood at 
the fountain, and of course sets the heart to motion- 
ing; and as heat has a tendency to drive diseases, it 
is proper to applv it to the heart, so as to drive dis- 
ease from the seat of life towards the extreme par's 
of the body; and as heat has the tendency to m ike the 
blood more active to flow, it is necessary to apply it 
all over the body; so while it warms the blood and 
increases the motion of the heart, at the same time 
it moistens the skn, and thus opens the pores where 
it i« applied with sfeam; and as whiskey or camphor 
is driving, a small portion of one of them may be 
mixed with water for steam, and the smell of these 
will help to remove the sickishness of the smell of 
the sweat, while the vapor goes to th ' seat of life - 
But persons who are not in a puking position will 
find it an advantage to take a dose of No. 1 before 
thev sweat, which will not only assist in sweating 
and driving disease from the stomach, but will in- 
crease the motion of the heart for near twelve hours 
afterwards; though doses of it may be taken at any 43 
time before or after they sweat; or if they do not 
sweat regular, make use of a warm drink of tea to 
warm the stomach on it. 
There are three parts that belong to the blood; one 
is the red part, or what some call the red gooblet; 
the second is the matter part, which s«>me call the 
gliten, and others the crassamentum; the third is 
the water part, that some call the serosity. 1 sup- 
pose that one point in doctoring is not only to know 
that there are such parts in the blood, but t> know 
how to improve or diminish either of these par's. I 
have thought if we knew these thi gs perfectly, 
we could glide people into health, beyond what 
could he expected. I have not mentioned this point 
because I considered mvselt master of it, but that it 
should not be altogether neglected, as it has too often 
been; hut (h it it should be the business of some in- 
dustrious minds that perhaps are deeper than mine. 
I will only conjecture a few things on the subject. 
In the first place, I suppose, that the red part is the 
most essential to lite, and I consider that it is cohe- 
sive, or has the property of sticking together more 
than the others; and the filth that it is affected with 
most is hum irified; and I suppose that sassafras bark, 
pricklv ash bark, or horse radish root, has a tenden- 
cy to increase this part of the blood, in a degree, if 
taken inwardly ; and I suppose that it is necessarv to 
improve it in cases of relaxation or stagnation of 
blood; and the way to improve the gluten is to make 
use of wild or tame comfrey root inwardly-this 
only should he done where a person is well, and can- 
not sleep sufficiently. The way to improve the wa- 
ter part or the serosity, is to live on a weak watery 
diet; the way to .dimmish either the red or watery 
part, is to make use ot the lancets, as they run freer 
from the veins than the gluten; and the way to re- 44 
duce the matter part, is a regular course of medicine, 
as will be found after the patent-that is, to lower 
the fountain, hat is the stomach of solid food, so that 
it will not throw out as much matter as usual. The 
doses of No. 1, that belongs to this course of medi- 
cine, with the sweats, throws off abundance of matter 
from the blood. 
The gluten of the blood is a kind of oily matter, 
that the other two parts, where it is in a pure state, 
is willing to mix with; but sometimes there appears 
to be a matter in the blood, that the other parts ap- 
pear to disown, 1 supoose, because it is not of the 
right kind. In this case each part appears to sepa- 
rate to themselves in a degree in the body. This 
can often be discovered in the face, and sometimes in 
other parts, of a thio, fair skin person; they appear 
to be spotted or cloudy-sometimes one spot is red, 
another purple, and some pale-the pale spots is the 
water, the red is the red part of the blood; and the 
purple is the matter part. We may often see these 
purple spots in drunkards, as hard drink has a ten- 
dency to create too much matter in the blood; this is 
what sometimes increases his flesh, makes him ap- 
pear to be bloated, and, having too much matter iu 
the blood, is the causes of all stagnant complaints, 
and may be called the common cause of diseases, and 
sometimes shuts the pores of the body. The blood, 
which is the life, is out of order while the component 
parts of it is not mixed as they ought to be; for there 
is more dangerous diseases that come from this cause 
than any other one cause. It is necessary not only 
to know that there is such a surplus matter in the 
blood, but also to know how to remove it. As the 
humerin the blood can be removed by reducing the 
system by physicking, diet, and letting off blood. But 
I have seen no plan that reduces the matter faster 45 
than the other two parts, or in other words to remove 
the surplus matter from the blood, that is no plan 
that man has devised, except the one that I have laid 
down. But nature has had a plan, that is to throw 
it off by the way of the glands, under the name ot a 
bad cold. Sometimes people have a cold, for 
the pores are shut; but others are open, and we can 
see a fUrpius matter coming from the head and 
bteast, sometimes in abundance. Do we not learn 
from this >hat nature is throwing off this matter?- 
And this is her way of discharge, when she does not 
discharge it fast enough through the skin. A person 
can satisfy himself on this subject by drawing blood 
fr< m another in the commencement of this disease, 
and let it get cold; then look at the quantity of mat- 
ter in proportion to the other two parts, and when 
this disease is done operating, tiy the same experi- 
ment of drawing blood from the person again; then 
examine the proportion of each part, and see if na- 
ture has not discharged some of her surplus matter. 
Sometimes this matter, not having a free discharge 
from the lungs, it affects that part, and becomes a 
consumption, or the person is affected for a longer 
or shorter time. But the medicine I have called No. 
i, or the first part of the composition, has the ten- 
dency to open the pores and drive out this matter in 
abundance, and at the same time destroy the humor 
which is in the blood faster than purging. Take 3 
or 4 doses of this medicine, going to bed and cover- 
ing a little warmer than usual, will produce a copious 
sweat in a few hours, and in the mean time the sur- 
plus water and matter will both be driven so near 
the surface of the body, that the person will leel 
cold next to the skin. Though this process throws 
off some matter and water, yet I prefer a regular 
course of medicine, in which there is only two doseis 46 
of this medicine given in twenty four hours, and the 
rest is do r- by other medicine, steam and manage* 
mem. I make use of the three elements on which 
lite so leeoh depmls; that is fire, water and air.- 
1 make use of fire and air to raise (he watery vapor, 
and pl tee it near the seat of life, that is the heart; 
while (he air blows the heart and lights the fire, 
warm® the whole system;and the water moistens the 
glands as well as 'he surface of the body, and passes 
through the whole system; while it assists in open* 
ing the pores by moistening the skin, it all, with 
the medicine, assists in strengthen! ig the motion of 
the heart. I have -aid that the red part of the 
blood is cohesive, though the skin appears like a 
seive, that will let water and matter pass through; 
but the red >art is retained, and must be reduced by 
other means, if at all Another advantage in warm* 
ing the b ond is, that it makes it more active to force 
the water through the skin; and another equal ad- 
vantage is, that it assists in mixing the component 
parts of the blood well together; and it also assists 
in forcing that part that remains in the system out of 
the arteries through the flesh into the veins, and 
thus forms its revolution. As 1 have now made some 
mention of what will improve, as well as what will 
diminish the several parts of the blood, and expect 
this subject will again be embraced when applied to 
certain diseases, I wdl leave this point; and 'est 
there should be some doubts whether the gluten of 
the blood can be forced through the pores of the 
body, I will produce some evidence; that is, while 
a person whose blood is foul i® going through a regu- 
lar course of medicine, the matter in the meantime 
will cause the skin to be sticky, and the clothes that 
are next to them will frequently stink, even some 
time, till it becomes disagreeable to stay in the room. 47 
1 have ordered some to be washed once a day to re- 
move this matter and stink from then'; though there 
are none that smell so disagreeable as the real ty- 
phus fever. Another evidence that the gluten of the 
blood is removed in this process-that is, if any per- 
son should doubt, let them draw a smalt quantity of 
blood before this process, and examine the compo- 
nent parts when it is cold; and after the process, try 
the same experiment, and see if there is not less mat- 
ter in the blood after than bef>re. When the blood is 
is purified by subtracting the matterand humor from 
it in this way, then improve your diet gradually, and 
take two doses of No 5. which will strengthen the 
nerves us well as improve the blood in proportion. 
This appears to he the only wise means of cleans- 
ing the blood. But lest this system should be dispu- 
ted, and some conclude the plan is wrong, and that 
we should purge the body more to get the blood 
clean. ! will say something more on the subject, as 
custom or habit has a great impression on our men- 
tal faculties; as the practice of purging has been a 
long time held up, the subject is more difficult than 
it otherwise would be In ihe first place, 1 would 
ask the questi m, wl ich way the fluids pass thi«>ugh 
the body? Doth it pass from the stomach towaids 
the places of discharge, say the bladder and skin? 
or doth it enter them first, and work towards the 
stomach? I think the answer will be bv all, that it 
enters the stomach first, and passes out towards the 
skin; that this is the natural course there is no room 
to doubt. If the blood discharges itself this way, it 
follows that if any fillh'is removed from the blood by 
a purge, it is contrary to the laws and rules of nature. 
1 will readily admit that the filth that is already in 
the stomach and bowels, may be removed in a degree 
by pnkeing and purging, which may preventthe blood 48 
from getting tvorse than it is But the question is, how 
shall the filth that is already in ihe blood pass off? 
Shall we purge it off contrary to natures rules-or 
shall we lorce it through the skin? If the stomach 
is one department in the body, and the arteries thro' 
which the fluids pass is not the same but another, 
it follows then that cleansing the stomach doth not 
cleanse the blood, no more than washing one house 
cleanses another. The means that are intended to 
cleanse the blood must pass through it as well as the 
arteries through which it passes; and as water is a 
cleansing element, we should make use of it, and 
with it administersuch medicine and means as should 
give the water a free passage through the organs of 
life, and such as would rou«e the blood into motion, as 
it is reasonable that we cannot cleanse without mo- 
tion. But to cleanse one room so that another might 
be clean, is not so unreasonable as to poison one that 
another might be cleansed, and at the same time the 
poison have access into the room that should be 
cleansed, and possesses no cleansing quality. But J 
wish to be far from accusing any7 person of using 
poison to cleanse the blood; for I believe that there 
are some of each order that will not do so on any 
condition. 
I have made as many remarks by way of explana* 
tion as I have room f-r; 1 shall immediately intro- 
duce a copy of the parent right for Doctoring, which 
is a better plan of Doctoring of itself than many 
others; but the rest of the book may be a great assis- 
tance. 49 
THE UNITED STATES OF1 AMERICA. 
To all to whom these Letters Patent shall come-. 
Whereas, JOSEPH BAKER, a citizen of the 
United States, haih alledged that he has invented a 
new and useful improvement in Medicine; which im- 
provement he states has not been known or used be- 
fore his applica'ion, hath affirmed that he does verily 
believe that he is the true inventor or discoverer of 
the said improvement, hath paid into the Treasury of 
the United States the sum of thirty dollars, delivered 
a receipt for the same, and presented a petition to the 
Secretary of State, signifying a desire of obtaining 
an exclusive property in the said improvement, and 
praying that a patent may be granted for that pur- 
pose: These are, therefore, to grant, according to 
law, to the said Joseph Baker, his heirs, administra- 
tors, or assigns, for the term of fourteen years from 
the fifth day of May, one thousand eight hundred 
and thirty one, the full and exclusive right and lib- 
erty of making, constructing, using, and vending to 
others to be used, the said improvement; a descrip- 
tion whereof is given in the words of the said Joseph 
Baker himself, in the schedule hereunto annexed, 
and is made part of these presents. 
In testimony whereof, I have caused these Letters 
to be made Patent, and the seal of the United States 
to be rereunto affixed. Given under my hand at 
the City of Washington, this fifth day of May, in 
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty one, and of the Independence of the United 
States of America the fifty fifth. 
ANDREW JACKSON. 
By the President. 
M. VAN BUREN, 
Secretary of State. 50 
Ctfy of Washington, to zaiit: 
I do hereby certify, that the foregoing Letters Pa* 
tent were delivered to me on the fifth day ol May, in 
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty one, to be examined. I have examined the 
same, and find them conformable to law, and I do 
hereby return the same to the Secretary of State 
within fifteen days from the date aforesaid, to wit:on 
this fifth day of May, in the year aforesaid. 
JN. MACPHERSON BERRIEN, 
Attorney General of the United States. 
The schedule referred to in these Letters Patent 
and making part of the same, containing a descript 
tion in the words of the said Joseph Baker himself, 
of his improvement in medicine. 
To all whom these pi esents shall come: 
Be it known, that 1, Joseph Baker, of Jefferson 
township, in the county of Ross, and state of Ohio, 
have invented a new and useful improvement in Me- 
dicine, and that the following is a full and exact des. 
cription of the construction and operation of the said 
Medicine improved by me. 
The schedule referred to in these Letters Patent, 
and making of the same, containing a description in 
the words of the said Joseph Baker himself of his 
improvement, being a mode of preparing, mixing, 
compounding, administering, and using the Medi- 
cines herein described, in the manner and in the dis- 
eases hereinafter mentioned; that is the mode of 
preparing and compounding medicine for an emetic, 
and also to cause a free perspiration, to be adminis- 
tered in diseases caused by cold and obstructed per- 
spiration, such as fevers, rheumatisms, dysentary, 
dropsys, consumption, pleurisies, bold hives, and all 
stagnated complaints, with some others. 51 
N. B. All roots, barks, and herbs must be first 
dried, pounded in a mortar, or ground in a mill be- 
fore they are made into medicine. 
Part the first.-Take seneca snake root,one ounce; 
take liverwort tops, three quarters of an ounce: take 
robbins' plantain roots and tops, one quarter of an 
ounce, mix these well together. This forms the first 
part of the composition. 
Part the scond-Take the bark of the root of 
sassafras, a half ounce; take the inside bark of wild 
cherry, a half ounce; take the inside bark of elder, 
a half ounce; take sulphur or brimstone pulverized, 
a half ounce; mix these well together. This forms 
the second part of the composition. 
Part the third-Take lobelia, or what may be 
known by the name of Indian tobacco, the tops 
gathered in September, two ounces This forms the 
third part of the composition, which is to be admin- 
istered all together, or in parts as the nature of the 
case may require. 
It should be remembered, that equal portions of 
these three parts forms the whole composition of 
medicine. 
It should be remembered, that a dose of either of 
these powders for an ordinary constitution is an 
average tea spoon full, and allowance should be 
made for the different constitutions of people. 
When the violence of the disease requires a spee- 
dy remedy, and nature calls for an emetic, and there 
is an obstructed perspiration, it is necessary in this 
case to give a dose of powders of the whole compo- 
sition, and wash them down with half a pint of cold 
weak ley, made of the bark of shellback hickory; and 
if this does not operate as an emetic in fifteen minutes, 
give a second dose, with a less quantity of ley, or 
just enough to wash it down; and if it doth not ope- 52 
rate, in the same time you mav try the third and 
fourth on the same rule, which will scarcely fail.- 
This process commonly produces a tree perspiration. 
Then continue the process by giving a dose of pow- 
ders of the first part of the composition, and in thirty 
minutes sweat until you get a free sweat over the 
body. The way to sweat is to cover the person all 
over, and make use of two oven lids, one at a time, 
have the feet in warm water, and sit your oven lid 
under the cover, and form a mixture of one third 
whiskey and two thirds water of about three gills, 
and steamit on the oven lid as they can bear it, and 
repeatedly sup warm tea; and when done, put them 
to bed, cover their breath a short time, with a hot 
stone quenched and wrapped up in a wet cloth at 
their feet; their teas should be spice bush or red pep- 
per; during sickness make a drink of water by 
quenching a hot Coal in it til! the chill is off. 
Take two doses of the fiist paitof the composition 
in the course of twenty four hours, and one of the 
second part, dividing the time of taking them, and 
sweat once a day for three days; and if the person 
have the fever and ague, sweat once a day till it 
leaves them, and keep up a moist sweat as steady as 
possible during the whole time, and keep them warm 
in the chills and fever. Their diet should be light, 
such as chicken and squirril broth with a little of the 
meat, and as little bread as possible; they can make 
use of rice or homony, but keep the stomach as emp- 
ty as convenient, and especially for three days; and 
after that they can increase their diet gradually until 
well. 
If the disease is less violent, you may leave out 
the first part of the process, and begin by giving a 
dose of the first part of the composition, and then 
sweat, and so follow the rale as is laid down above? 53 
and if it is found that the first part of this process is 
necessary, it can be applied at any other time. 
In pleurisies and bold hives, and many other com* 
plaints, it is only necessary to pursue the rule, uptil 
the patient recovers, which is not likely to be long. 
Let it be wed remembered, (hat nature is the grand 
physician, and we are only to assist her in removing 
the obstructions that are found in her waj, as far as 
is in our power, and that we should pay particular 
attention to her claims and try to supply her wants 
if possible. 
Incases of less violence, these powders may be 
taken without a preparatory sweat, either in whole 
or separate parts, as the case may require. 
JOSEPH BAKER. 
Witness-Nathl. Massie, 
Henry S. Lewis. 
Here we notice again that we do not wish to force' 
nature into terms, but to assist her to fill her office; 
keep it close in mind, that too many kinds of medi- 
cine, diet, or teas, at a time, instead of curing, ad- 
ministers disorders, the stomach not being able to 
digest them, though they are the very sort that 
would have answered the purpose, provided the 
stomach could have managed them, but now they 
become filth, and lay in the stomach. There is 
abundance of harm done even by good medicines, 
that is, when there is too much or too many sorts 
at a time it over-powers the stomach. There are 
more people die that are killed with an over-stock 
of medicine and different kinds of teas and diet, 
which over-stocks the stomach, than die of neglect; 
for the stomach being weak, is not able to digest it, 
and it becomes filth, tho' we should not only be par- 
ticular to not administer too many kinds of medicine 54 
at a time, but not change our medicine, teas and diet, 
oftener than we can help, and not humorthe patient's 
appetite, for we mav he sure that the claims of the 
apnetite, and the real claims of nature frequently 
differ, that the appetite of man and beast have fre- 
quently claimed things that are poison, and have 
killed them The practice of drinking spirits to ex- 
tremes, is to humor the claims of the appetite-and 
people, through kindness, frequently offer the sick 
different kinds of diet md teas, and do not know that 
they are injuring them, and making their disorder 
worse. 
I hinted above that the stomach is the best judge 
of medicine, If any substance is thrown on the 
stomach, the sensitive powers of the stomach will 
immediately accept of it, or make war with it; some- 
times create convulsions in the system, and other 
times throw the substance hack by way of the mouth. 
The practitioner ought to try to govern themselves 
in such a way as not to expose themselves to the 
penalty of the law. I will notice here that I sent 
samples to the patent office for several more medi- 
cines to be patented, for my system of practice; and 
although the patent law says that a man shall lay in 
his whole system, and keep nothing back, or to this 
amount-yet the present administration would not 
receive them, and stated that there were more than 
one invention contained in the system; bur as the 
bible tells us to be subject to rulers, and those that 
are in authority-so let us try to comply as near as 
the nature of the case will admit. It will be kept 
in mind, that the grand point is to cleanse the blood, 
and if (he blood is pure it cures almost all diseases. 55 
A setof medicines as I use them.- i'o.l, take Seneca 
snake root one ounce; liveiwort roo • top: three 
q arters of an ounce, robins phintain roots nd 
tops, one quarter of an ounce. Foi a s bstitute, 
seneca snake root will answer alone, or use it with 
either o' the others. 
No. 2, the first species, or the second part ot the 
composition. Take equal portions of pulverized 
brimstone; elder bloom or bark; the inside bark of 
wild cherry; sassafras bark of the roots; and an- 
gelico root. The second species of No. 2. take 
pulverized brimstone; inside bark of vid cherry; 
angelico root; and hoarhound tops; equal portions; 
Third species, brimstone pulverized; angelico root; 
hoarhound tops; and alltcompain roots; equal por- 
tions. 
No 3, the first species, is an equal portion of 1,2, 
and 3, as is named in the patent; these are mixed 
together. No. 3, second species, take lobelia, gather 
the tops in September, dry and powder the seeds and 
tons together, one ounce and a quarter; take tobac- 
co dried and powdered, a quarter of r n ounce; take 
f»assafras bark ofl' the root, dried and powdered, a 
half ounce; mix these well together, then follow the 
rule laid down in the patent in administering it; a 
dose is a rounding tea spoonful. 
No. 4. first species, take burdock root, dried and 
powdered, one ounce; take elder flowers, dried and 
powdered, a half ounce; take pearlash a half ounce; 
mix these well together; for a dose take a rounding 
tea spoonful. No. 4, second species, take burdock 
and pearlash, as above mentioned, and put wild 
salandine, in place of the elder. 
No 5, first species, three fourths spknard 
roots, and one fourth peruvian bark; a dose is a 
rounding tea spoonful. No. 5, second species, two 56 
thirds spiknard, and one third mountain sassafras 
roots. No. 5, third species, one hn If spiknard, one 
fourth solomon seal roots, and one fourth sassaparilla 
No. 6-Take a pint of linseed oil, and an ounce of 
sweet oil, and boil them in a kettle on coals for near- 
]y four hours, as warm as you can conveniently, and 
take a halt ounce of borax, four ounces of red lead, 
and one ounce and a half of sugar of lead, and pound 
them in a mortar, or grind them till they ate well 
powdered, and take your kettle off the fire, and stir 
the oil whde you thicken these into it, and coniioue 
to stir it til) it gets blood warm; then try it by tak- 
ing out a little, and let it get cold; and if it is not 
thick enough for plaister, you can set it on the coals 
a few minutes, and continue to stir it till it gets 
blood warm again, and then stir an ounce of the spir- 
its of turpentine in it; or if it was thick enough the 
fiist time, it need not he heated again. These 
plaisters need to be harder in the summer than in the 
winter; and it can be spread on writing paper or on 
the grain side of thin leather, and applied to the 
place and it will stick. I have made use of this 
plaister for every kind of wounds, bruises, sores, 
burns, white swellings, rheumatisms, ulcers, sore 
breast, tooth ache; and even when there was wounds 
in the inside, it has been applied to the outside, and 
it has gained almost universal credit, and answers 
in place of almost every other kind ol salve or plais- 
ter. 
A regular course of medicine.-Nos. 1 and 2, may 
be either compounded or given single, though I 
most generally compound them, to make them easier 
taken; but if taken single the No. 1 should be 
given first. In an ordinary constitution there may 
be fyir doses of these powders given in 24 hours; 
allowances may be made for the different constitu- 57 
iions, as well as allowances for their being reduced. 
By the present sickness, a dose is a rounding tea 
spoonfull-mind in all cases our tea spoons should 
be of an ordinary or common size.,. When we are 
thus prepared, then give a dose of powders, or a 
drink of sirup, (as the same powders are made in 
sirup in some cases) as the case may require; and in 
thirty minutes sweat a regular sweat. And in 
this course of medicine, their teas should be spice 
bush or red pepper, during sickness-store tea may 
do; make a drink of water by quenching a hot coal 
or crust in it, till the chill is off; if the patient is too 
costive, make a drink of hickory hark, weak ley or 
fresh broths, till they get more loose in their bodies; 
take four doses of powders every twenty-four h< urs, 
dividing the time of taking them, and sweat once a 
day for three days; but if the person have the fever 
and ague, or consumption chill, sweat once a day, 
till it leaves them; keep up a moist sweat as steady 
as possible during the whole time, and keep them 
warm in chill, and more particular in the fever. 
Their diet most generally is No. 1, but sometimes 
Mo. 2 or 3, as the case requires. They continue this 
course for twelve days, dress warm in the day, and 
lay warm of nights. If they can exercise lively they 
will be the better oi it; but if helpless, they ought 
to be rubbed or bathed frequently. 
A regular sweat is as follows:-Make use of two 
bows, partly in the form of a half hoop, let them 
cross each other, and be fastened al the top, and the 
patient is set in a chair under these bows, and be 
covered all over; make use of two oven lids, one at 
a time; have their feet in warm water, and sit one 
of your oven lids uoder the cover; have a mixture 
formed of one third whiskey, and two thirds water; 
you may need a pint, or put two spoonsful of dis- 58 
solved camphor in a pint of water, and let them use 
one of these mixtures for steam on the oven lid as they 
can bear it; have them sup warm teas every half 
minute, if it is ever so little at a time, and continue 
this process till they get a free sweat all over the 
body; if one oven hd cools too soon, take it out and 
put in another, and so change till done. These oven 
lids should not be targe nor very hot, only so you can 
see the fire spark through them, for the heat isover- 
coming, but the steam is nourishing; so the less there 
is of the heat, and the more there is of the steam, 
the better: And when done, put them to bed, cover 
their breath a short time, and give them some warm 
tea, with a hot stone quenched and wrapped up in a 
cloth at their feet;and after the sweat is recruited 
agdin in bed, then gradually cool off. 
^Fhe above may be called a regular sweat, but if 
the person is too weak to sit up, so as to take such a 
sweat, there can be hot stones or bricks wrapped up 
in wet cloths, and put round them in bed; but re^ 
member that covering the head, and fixing one a 
foot or so from the mouth to breathe too, will do more 
good than ever so many round the body; the patient 
should drink hot teas just as in a regular sweat.-- 
This way of sweating is more disagreeable than the 
other, and not so safe. 
No. 2-A second way of cleansing the blood when 
diseases are less violent, is to give three doses a day 
of medicine No. 4, and throw the person into a moist 
sweat once a day by exercise, being cloathed warm 
or any other way,& keep the same rules of diet as that 
laiddown in a course of medicine No 1. This should 
be attended to in diseases on the outside of the body. 
If any person should take cold while passing 
through either of these courses, or if you discover 
any sudden change for the worse, give a small dose 59 
of No 2, and sweat immediately, which will drive a 
cold out; and if it is a cholic, it will help, though a 
drink of weak lie, as has been described, will some- 
times help. 
And after the three first days, in which patients 
are directed to be kept in a steady moist sweat, in a 
regular course of medicine, they ought to be thrown 
into a sweat once a day by some means to keep the 
pores open that often at least during the whole time 
of their recovery to perfect health. 
In following either of these rules, if the patient is 
hard to get into a way of sweating freely, you can 
give several doses of No. 1, fifteen minutes apart, or 
give some black snake root tea, or even Bateman's 
drops-none of them will do injury, as they are all 
sweating medicines, and no sweating medicine will 
create filth on the stomach; and then follow the rules 
as laid down in a course of medicine. 
And if natuie demands a puke or purge during the 
time that the person is going through either of these 
courses, it can be administered with safety; and af- 
terwards continue the course as before, or make use 
of an injection at any time, which is more advisable 
than to purge-though if the patient have a passage 
every four or five days, it is sufficient. 
The best means made use of for an injection, is the 
solution of elder bark in weak lie, with a small quan- 
tity of grease. 
If either of the emetics should operate too severe, 
or you should wish to stop it at any time, you can 
either put the patient to bed, and cover them all over, 
and quench a hot stone, and wrap it up in a wet cloth 
and put it to the breath; and if that should not stop 
it, vou can place several such stones round them til! 
you get them into a sweat, which will generally stop 60 
it; or a quicker way is to place them over the steam, 
and take them through a regular sweat. 
The way to take No. 4-Put the powders in warm 
water or warm tea a few minutes before they are ta- 
ken, to dissolve the pearlash, and wash them down 
with tea or broth. 
By drinking plentifully of fresh broth and some 
weak lie, along with No. 4, generally purges moder- 
ately; and if any other means must be made use of 
as a purge, I would advise castor oil to be adminis- 
tered. The above purges are entirely safe to eat or 
drink any thing on them. 
The sassafras or tobacco mixed with the lobelia 
for an emetic, is to set it in operation-wherein one 
third of the quantity will answer the purpose, which 
renders the puke entirely safe-as it is not safe the 
wayThompsonians use it,neither doth it throw off the 
bile as well that way as the way I make use of it; the 
weak lie is another assistance. 
We may use these medicines to advantage while 
the patient is m a moist sweat, or sweating more or 
less every day. Bat if the patient does not sweat 
freely, we had better use No. 2 but very little, lest 
it should overstock the stomach; but No. 1 has not 
the tendency to overstock the stomach, as it is a 
sweating medicine and will be apt to work itself off, 
that is the substance of it, through the pores of the 
body. So if we should conclude that the pa>ient 
needed a double portion of it to assist in sweating, 
we may give it safely at any time. 
Burdock is a drawing, purging medicine, and 
strengthens the tone of the stomach; it enlivens the 
bowels by taking offthe dead matterand adds sensi- 
bility. and thus causes the bowels to motion. 
Pearlash has the tendency to destroy the mucus or 61 
matter that is generally in the inside of the stomach 
and bowels, a? well as to destroy the small worms 
that sometimes are in the stomach. 
Diet No 1-This diet should be light such as chick- 
en or squirrel broth, with but little of the meat, and 
as little bread as possible; they can make use of rice 
or hnmony, hut keep the stomach as empty as possi- 
ble, especially for the three first days. 
Diet No2-Use rice or homony, and drink plen- 
tifullv of broths, such as chicken or squirrel, mutton, 
or beef, let them be rather fresher than common, or 
drink tea; and if you should use any bread, it should 
be very little, and a small quantity of fresh meat. 
Use such diet as the above till you about half satisfy 
the appetite. 
No. 3-Use the same kind of diet as is laid down 
in No. 2, till you nearly satisfy the appetite, but not 
quite;and never lay down in less than two hours af- 
ter you eat. 
Diet No. 4-Live on a light, watery diet and most- 
ly of vegetables, and always quit before you are quite 
satisfied; and use considerable sweetening in your 
diet, and always eat your meals two hours before go- 
ing to bed. 
Diet No. 5-Use mostly wheat bread and sweet 
milk, but not to eat too hearty. 
Diet No. 6-Rules to go by in an ordinary state of 
health. Never eat too manv kinds of diet at a time, 
nor change your custom of diet too suddenly, nor 
never lie down under an hour after you eat, nor nev- 
er crowd »he stomach too full, nor be extravagant in 
your changes of conduct or clothing; and keep an eye 
to the discharges from the pores of your body, nor 
drink spirits to excess, and keep your lusts and tem- 
per under a proper government. These will be 
means of health and propriety. 62 
And as J sometimes make use of spiknard in No. 2, 
I will say something of its qualities Spiknard was 
a medicine in the days when Christ was on earth.- 
A woman poured a box of this ointment on his head, 
and it was considered very precious-John xii. 3; 
though its virtues have been long tried. But little 
has been said in its favor among physicians of late 
years; but I shall unite with the apostles in saying it 
is very precious, and one of nature's best productions. 
It strengthens the nervous system in general, and is 
one of the best medicines for weak people that can 
be produced-it braces up the whole system ot man, 
and is entirely innocent. 
The reader will observe that roots or barks ought 
to be gathered in the fall or spring, when the sap is 
not up, for they are stronger at these seasons of the 
year, that is as far as you can conveniently; but there 
are some, like that of Seneca snake root, that cannot 
be found only when it is in bloom. 
It may be that the reader may know all the roots, 
herbs, and barks by their names; but lest they should 
be at a loss to know Robbin's plantain, 1 will here 
describe it: it is a wild plant, the leaves are not as 
smooth as other plaintain, though it resembles them 
by spreading low on the ground; but it has one or two 
singular, white roots,that frequently intersects anoth- 
er plant ofthe same species; these roots are white & 
larger than the rest, while the rest are small and 
near the color and appearance of other plantain roots. 
The next thing 1 shall attend to, is to lay down 
seme of the causes of diseases, their symptoms and 
cure, in a short way, uf a few complaints, that some 
general knowledge may be conveyed to the reader 
of those complaints that I shall not name. 
The first complaint 1 shall name is the ague.- 
This disease comes from filth in the blood, which 63 
thickens it till at length it shots the pores ot the 
body; and the blood being mixed with a quantity of 
water and matter, becomes stagnated, and nature is 
always ready to lend her hand to assist in every com- 
plaint. She makes her periodical effort to open this 
discharge of the body, and to force a revolution in 
the blood, as the organization of the human body is 
such that there is a quantity of water thrown into the 
blood continually; and part of it is absorbed in the 
flesh as it passes out from the stomach by the arte- 
ries, and this water ought to be discharged; and the 
blood also itself scatters in the flesh as it passes out, 
and if the water is not discharged from it, it stagnates 
in the extreme parts of the body. When this stag- 
nation commences, then the patient begins to feel the 
chill, for the blood, which is the life, looses its nat- 
ural warmth, being mixed with a quantity of water, 
and being already over-butthened with matter, she 
fails to keep up her natural warmth. Now nature 
wages war with the complaint, and sets the body to 
trembling, or, if necessary, to shaking, to remove 
this stagnation and force a revolution in the blood, 
and she kindles a fire in the inside, or in other words 
a fever, for the purpose of warming the blood; and 
this warmth is increased till it gets high enough to 
force a revolution of the blood through all the small 
organs of the body; whenever this is effected there 
is no more use for a fever and it goes off immediate- 
ly, and nature has gained her point. The pores of 
the body is now opened and a free discharge is a 
common consequence; but if there is not a free dis- 
charge at this time you may expect the contrast to be 
continued till either nature or the disease shall over- 
come; if nature overcomes, the patient will be reliev- 
ed measurably for a short time till the blood stag- 
nates again: but if the disease overcomes, death is 64 
the consequence in a short time, though this contrast 
may continue for days; whenever this contrast hap- 
pens, it may be called a typhus fever or cold plague; 
whenever nature gains her point periodically, it may 
be called an ague. I will let these few remarks suf-, 
lice to show the cause of both typhus fever and ague, 
at this time. 
The symptoms of the ague are as follows: The 
person feels heavy, sometimes for several days, and 
tired as though they were pressed down; this is (he 
weight of matter in the blood, till the disease makes 
its attack, then they will have a shake or a chill and 
a fever follows and some limes a head ache. 
For a cure you may follow the regular course of 
medicine or commence the diet No. 2 by following 
the diet No. 1, is a little the surest to cure, but redu- 
ces the patient lower, and is not so apt to be com. 
plied with; but let them follow either one, they are 
not to exceed the diet No. 2 till they are clear of the 
complaint and then fall on diet No. 3 for some time, 
and so gradually increase and allow them no green 
fruit in neither fever nor ague until they are per- 
fectly well; clothe warm and lie warm of nights- 
exercise as much as possible. 
It is worthy of notice that in curing the ague or 
any species of fevers, the patients cannot overdo 
themselves so as to bring the disease back again; but 
the more they stir themselves and circulate the 
blood, being dressed warm, the better, as lying about 
and over eating are the worst things to bring it back 
of any other. 
As the typhus fever or cold plague is connected 
with the ague, it has been a disorder that has baffled 
the skill of a great number of physicians. I will 
make a few further remarks on the subject by way 
of explanation. 65 
The blood, which is the life, in this disease, as 
well as many others, has too great a quantity of mat- 
ter in it. Here I will cite the reader to what 1 have 
said on the component parts of the blood. The 
extra quantity of matter is what chokes the pores 
and stops this discharge, and is bard to circulate 
through the small vents of the body out of the arte- 
ries into the veins. Nature, to force this circula- 
tion, creates this fire within the body, and calls for 
water to thin this densed substance. The appetite 
says she calls for cold water, but the fire she has 
raised within teaches that it should be warm, or as 
hot as it could be drank, so as to assist her in warm- 
ing the body;* and as soon as nature has accom- 
plished her design in forcing this circulation, she 
then dispenses with all her surplus water. But the 
question is, how shall we assist nature in forming this 
revolution and dispensing with her surplus matter 
and water? I answer, by giving No. 1, which in» 
creases the force of the heart for several hours after 
it is taken, and raising a steam, which doth the 
same, as well as to moisten the skin; and in this way 
assist in opening the pores of the body, that a free 
discharge may be obtained, and also lower the foun- 
tain. that is the stomach, of solid food, so that it 
shaft not throw out as much matter from it as usual. 
An hour or so before the time of day that this revo- 
lution must be performed, or in other words, that the 
ague and chill comes on, give a dose of No. 1, and 
take the patient through a sweat, and keep the sweat 
up till the time of day is passed for the ague or chill 
*This water may be impregnated with tea, so as to remove the 
sickishness of the taste; for the real claims of nature and the appe- 
tite frequently differ, for there are many things that are palatable 
that are poison, and nature wars with them as soon as they light on 
the stomachs ( 66 
tocome on. This both discharges the matter, in a 
degree and warms the blood to supply the claims of 
nature, as the blood in its thick state cannot pass this 
revolution till it is warmed; and this discharge ought 
to be kept up in some degree till the disease abates; 
and during the time the patient might drink freely of 
weak lie, made as described in taking of No. 3, or an 
emetic. If the patient should ieel very weak, and 
the chill and fever are gone, so as to have no symp- 
toms of them, you can partly stop giving the medi- 
cine above named, and give two doses a day of No. 5. 
And in any disease, if the patient becomes so costive 
that there is no passage in four or five d; ys, you can 
give an injection, or administer No 4. a dose every 
hour, with chicken or squirrel broth, till it operates, 
or till you give seven or eight doses, or give castor 
oil. But «t should be remembered, that people living 
en low diet and sweating, will not have frequent 
discharges by stool; and we need not be uneasy if 
they have one discharge every four or five days. 1 
will remark here that out of near seven hundred ca- 
ses that 1 have attended for the fevers of different 
kinds, I do not recollect of ever giving more than 
three or four purges. The above remarks may be 
applied either to the typhus fever or ague, or any 
complaint that is attended with a chill or shake, 
The common doctors often give astringent medi- 
cines for the ague: these choke the pores of the 
stomach, and keep the surplus, or even ordinary 
quantity of wate;, from passing into the blood, as 
nature calls for a surplus quantity of water in this 
disease, to carry off the surplus quantity of matter, 
that is already in the blood; and nature intends to 
carry off this matter that way, that is, by the pores 
of the skin; and choking these pores of the stomach, 
prevents this extra quantity of water from going into 67 
the blood; therefore, this water does not stagnate in 
the body; but if the patient exercise enough to open 
these pores, and the usual quantity is again got into 
the blood, this chill or stagnation begins again as 
usual. I sometimes cure the ague on-a plan some- 
thing like this, though not by closing the vents of 
the stomach, but by giving the 2nd species of No. 4, 
three doses in twenty-four hours, and taking the pa- 
tient through a sweat once a day; this medicine is 
very drawing. This keeps the water back from 
passing this way, and carries off by way of stool.- 
This is a vety sure way of curing, provided there is 
not too much filth in the blood; but if the blood is 
very foul, these means sometimes draw it in on the 
inside too fast, and this makes the case dangerous; 
but in very moderate cases it answers the purpose. 
But many of the common doctors1 patients, that have 
the ague stopped by astringent medicine, have a 
yellow, bad color for a long time; and in fact, till 
they, bv exercise, or some other means, go through 
some copious sweats, they feel the symptoms of a 
common cause of disease,as is hereafter mentioned. 
These things show that the causes are not removed* 
But when my patients are cured by a regular course 
of medicine, they not only recover their color, but 
are relieved from all those feelings. It is evident 
that the ague is one species of stagnation of blood; 
but the typhus fever is a general stagnation all over 
the system, which may be called a universal effect of 
a common cause. It is almost incredible to say that 
this disease never has been investigated; as the 
cause of it has never been recorded on the pages of 
history, that I know of, till now. Through a period 
of six thousand years, and probably there has been 
hundreds of different plans of doctoringin existence; 
yet history records the symptoms of the complaint' 68 
that have killed many of the ancient kings and rulers, 
that no doubt was the same complamt, in substance. 
The illustrious Washington died with a similar com- 
plaint; and the great Doctor Rush, of Philadelphia, 
was most likely killed by being bled in such a dis- 
ease, which is very apt to prove fatal. The doctors 
still appear to be at a stand what to call it; some 
call it a typhus fever, others a slow fever, and others 
a nervous fever nr chill complaint, hectick fever, 
pleurisy fever, rheumatic fever, spotted fever, &c., 
while they do not shew the cause; and all go to shew 
♦hat they are unacquainted with it. 
Jn 1814, when it made a general attack in this 
country, 1 lost two brothers, a sister, and a brother- 
in-law, by it.-The doctors called it a new complaint, 
and gave it the name oi Cold Plague-and no doubt 
it has existed since time immemorial; and as it is 
the most common cause of any other, I shall there- 
fore call it a Universal effect of a common cause, as 
all other causes may be called, rather more acciden- 
ta qauses. The practitioner, in examining com- 
plaints, should try to know what part of them have 
been produced by a common cause; and also what 
part has come from accidental causes. One of the 
first things the practitioner should attend to is, to 
learn the symptoms of a common cause. By learn- 
ing this, they can tell a patient's complaint beyond 
what can be expected. Aman who had only studied 
mv system two weeks, and had learned these symp- 
toms, fold another man's feelings, who had the cons 
gumption, so correctly, (hat the consumpted man 
was convinced of the propriety of the system, and 
came, probably, 150 miles to be cured; and when he 
came and told the circumstance of his feelings, being 
told thus, he said it had brought him all this distance. 
*It has been common for my patients to say, that f 69 
had told their feelings nearly as well as they could. 
Some have signified that J used some curious art; 
but when most common diseases are found to copne 
from one common cause, and a person., with only or- 
dinary learning and judgment, may learn to tell a 
person's feelings, by learning these symptoms, in the 
greater part ot common complaints. 
The symptoms of those complaints which come 
from one general cause, are so various, that it would 
take too much room to describe them completely, 
but I Will hint at the substance. 
The first is the common typhus fever. The pa- 
tient is frequently attacked with a chill, and some 
have several chills a day, and sometimes one part is 
warm and another cold at the same time; though 
there are some who never have a chill perceptibly, 
they are apt to feel a swimming in the head, or head- 
ache. Sometimes before they are attacked, and 
sometimes afterwards, even during sickness, another 
symptom still more common, is a heavy feeling all 
over, and sometimes pains in the limbs and sore all 
over; tired, pressed down and spiritless; sometimes 
a watery, tough phlegm, repeatedly coming up to 
the mouth, and a gnawing weakness across the lower 
part of the stomach; sometimes fever by spells-this 
is worse than if they had a steady fever. If the 
blood stagnates very bad, their feet will get cold; 
sometimes the part they lie on becomes numb, and 
when it works on still worse, the cold still pursues 
up the legs, and as it passes above the knees, it 
commences on the ends of the fingers; and as it im- 
proves, it draws more on to the body, on the arms 
and legs, and soon it invades the whole system; and 
while it is stagnating, sometimes they get spotted in 
the face, that is, one spot of the face will be red and 
another pale, and soofetimea there will be purple 70 
spots-this is what some would call a spotted fever; 
But whi e the patient complains very much, there is 
not so much danger; but as the blood stagnates 
worse, they complain less till at length they appear 
easv. Now is the height of danger, though they 
may lie sometimes for dav s in this way, and the first 
complaint of any notice is likely to be the agonies of 
death. But when this stagnation strikes the nerves, 
there is a jerking or twitching in the flesh, and somei 
timeseven the cramp in the limbs or bodv. There 
are other symptoms that some people feel in the 
earlv part of this disease; such as a pain in the breast, 
that strikes through between the shoulders, and 
sometimes stiffens the back of the neck, and works 
up to the back of the head. 
When this disease comes on slow, sometimes for 
months, and I have known some coming on for 
several years, it is still nearly the same symptoms, 
which some would call a slow fever; but sometimes 
nature'resists the complaint, and warms part or all 
of the body-if so, they feel hot flashes, and some- 
times there is a numb feeling either in part or ail 
over the body, though this complaint often comes on 
Speedily, and takes a turn in nine days. 
For a Cure-k regular course of medicine. 
Bold hives, or what some call thecroop, is the 
next disease we will make mention of here 
Thecause of this disease is too large a quantity of 
humor and matter in the blood; and in connection 
with these, the person takes cold in the department 
of the heart and lights, which swells the lights often 
to an inordinate size, so that they fill the department; 
and the pores being shut, it forms a stagnation of 
blood all over the system, and the lights and heart 
not having room to work, are at length forced to stop, 
the person looks strangled. 71 
The symptoms of this disease are as follows:- 
The countenance of the person looks flush, and as 
they become bad, they look more purple, and their 
voice is shrill and sharp, with hard work to breathe, 
like a person having the phthisic in a wheezing pos- 
ture. For a cure, give a dose or two of No. 1, mix- 
ed with one third sulphurj.or if thev cannot swallow 
the powders, make teaof them, and either sweat them 
regularly, or bathe their feet and legs in warm wa- 
ter, and give warm teas and cover them over till 
you get them in a sweat, and keep up the §weat till 
they are well; keep the blood circulating by rubbing 
and bathing during the time, which is not likely to 
be long, and the child t>bould be kept on light diet 
for a while, to keep them from having another at- 
tack. 
Costiveness is our next complaint. This general- 
ly comes on old people, and more apt on women 
than on men; but sometimes on all ages and classes 
of people. There are several causes that it pro- 
ceeds from: one is, for the want of a stronger motion 
in the bowels; another is inward fevers, that dries 
the water, or forces it out of the bowels through the 
small vents into the body, as there are small vents 
through which the water soaks, not only in the sto- 
mach, but bowels. Sometimes these vents are too 
liberal, and drain the water off too close, and leave 
the morbid substance too dry to be comfortable.- 
When this is the case, if the patient can bear it, and 
not be obliged to fly to some remedy, it is generally 
indicative of a strong constitution, and one which is 
apt to endure a long time. 
For a cure, the best rule is to change your diet to 
a fresh, watery diet, and use vegetables as much as 
is convenient. This rule is preferable to that of 
purging, for purging frequently makes it worse, ex«- 72 
cept that of castor oil, which generally has been f<v 
the better, because it renders the bowels more plia-» 
ble, and rather strengthens the motions in them.- 
Corn bread is preferable to thut of wheat in this dis- 
ease; sour milk is preferable to that of sweet-salt 
meat should be avoided. 
Cholic is our next disease. There are various 
species of this disease; one species comes from what 
I have last mentioned-that is, costiveness, or 
being bound in what is called the pectum, or in the 
big gut at the lower part of the body. In attacks of 
this kind it would be best to make use of an injection. 
Sometimes these attacks are very severe, and even 
dangerous. In this species of cholic the pain begins 
near that part of the body where the disease is; and 
the strongest sense of pain is still felt there, though it 
sometimes flashes up to the stomach, and even all 
over the body. 
There are various other species of cholic. I shall 
lay down one general cause, which I suppose to be a 
weakness of the nervous system. I will here give a 
short narrative of an experiment of this kind: I was 
travelling near eleven years since in the western 
country, thro' a wilderness part, where there were 
but few inhabitants, and the diet of the people was 
very indifferent of course-corn bread of the coarsest 
kind, and some bacon and milk. And as milk has 
notagreed with my stomach for many years, I took 
but little of that; and bacon is a diet that, at home, 
I should not eat, on an average, two pounds a month; 
and for many years I have been disgusted with corn 
bread, and this was of the coarsest texture. So, af- 
ter several days travelling, and living this way, re- 
ceiving very little nourishment, I became very weak 
and also very cbolicky; and one day, having near 
ibirty miles from one house to another^ by way ef g 73 
narrow, blind path, and feeling symptoms of the 
cholic when I started, but not dangerous; and as £ 
travelled, the cholic increased till J had travelled the 
most of the distance, and at length 1 concluded that my 
journey on earth was about to be at an end; & among 
the concerns that occupied my attention, was that 1 
should die in the wilderness, and my family and 
connexions would never hear what had become of 
me I had flattered myself that I would be able to 
hold on the horse's back till he would take me thro'; 
but at length all hopes began to fail; I concluded 
that £ would get down and write a short letter, con- 
taining rny name and place of residence, and cause 
of my death, that if any body should pass that way 
and find the corpse or the clothes, they might get in 
possession of the letter, and would be apt to write to 
mv friends, informing them what had become of me. 
And as I rode up to a log, and with difficulty lighted 
on it, and I saw' the top of a spiknard immediately 
by the log. and I bethought myself that 1 would chew 
some of the root, and accordingly I pulled it up and 
commenced chewing and swallowing the juice, 
while 1 was consulting how to form my letter. And 
I had but just swallowed some of the juice, till I 
thought 1 found some relief. This en< ouraged me 
to continue, till in the course of two hours I was able 
to pursue my journey; and feeling extremely weak 
before the cholic attacked me, and finding that the 
spiknard had strengthened me, this gave me an idea 
that the cholic came from weakness of the nerves. 
But there has been, since that time, a great numbet 
of circumstances happened under my notice, that 
have confirmed me in the opinion that the cholic 
comes from weakness of the nerves. 1 will mention 
some circumstances that will coincide with what I 
have said. You will find that gross, strong persons 74 
are not often attacked; but it is the people of a weak 
constitution that are attacked in a general point of 
view ; and again, when people are in a low state of 
health, they are the most apt to be attacked, J once 
thought that the cholic was confined to the stomach 
and bowels; but 1 have found that the whole hollow 
of the body is subject to it, and it is understood to be 
a collection of wind that causesit. 
The symptoms are so various that I am at a loss 
to describe them. 1 might only hint at it. Some- 
times when it makes an attack in the bowels, they 
swell perceptibly, and that is the part that pains are 
felt. A kind of weak feeling follows almost every 
species of cholic, and sometimes flashes of sickness 
are sensibly felt. When it attacks a person in the 
lower part of the stomach, they can frequently feel 
the stomach swell and a pain in it, with the same 
weakness mentioned above, and oftener the sick 
flashes that are mentioned before; and at other times 
a burning weakness in the stomach, and sometimes 
goes off by increasing the motion of the heart, 
which throws the person in a moist sweat, and at 
other times it attacks the breast, and sometimes 
crowds the heart and lights till it is difficult to 
breathe, and sometimes we can discover the breast 
swell, and sometimes a pain is one side or the other, 
either of the breast or bowels, and not settled long 
at a time, but rather moving from one part to another. 
But we may take it for granted, that any pain in the 
hollow of the body that is not settled there, so that 
we feel it, or feel some of it at all times, in that 
place, is the cholic. 
A person passing through a regular course of medi- 
cine, while the bowels are empty, is very apt to be 
attacked. Here I wish to warn the practitioners to 
be on their guard on this point; their patients may be 75 
Uken strangely sick all of a sudden; if they have 
not taken cold, you may suppose that it is the cholic, 
and they are more apt when they are very low; you 
should give them suitable directions, so that they 
can break it off when they are attacked. 
I shall now name a few things that 1 suppose are 
a sufficient remedy for this disease; one that is most- 
sure is to take a dose of No. 5, and then go through 
a regular sweat; but taking several doses of No. 5, 
with sweating, has helped a number; and drinking 
of lie, made as has been mentioned, is sometimes a 
remedy. Another remedy that has been used to 
advantage, is to take several doses of mustard seed, 
fifteen minutes apart, that is a heaping tea spoonful 
at a time. Another remedy is to give an emetic, 
that is when the cholic is in the stomach. Another 
remedy is to quench bunches of hot ashes, and place 
them round the person as near the pain as is con- 
venient; and if it is in the breast, quench a hot stone 
and cover the breath, and place it to the breath a 
foot or so from the mouth, which will be very apt to 
relieve the patient. Cholic root powder has been 
recommended as acme. 
The consumption, what it is, and what causes it. 
Any disease that has a tendency to consume the body 
or flesh away gradually, may be called a consump- 
tion . The most common opinion is that the liver or 
lights are affected to constitute a consumption; hut 
I am far from this opinion. I have attended on 
about 170 cases for this disease, and I find it comes 
from different causes, and is lodged in different parts 
of the body; yet I have not made it a custom to call 
diseases a consumption that were not lodged in rhe 
hollow of the body. I knew one woman whose dis* 
ease was below the short ribs in one side, and she 
was probably eight years in consuming away, and 76 
became a mere skeleton before she died; and I doc- 
tored one man who broke something below his short 
ribs and near the loins, and was seventeen years 
sinking away, and several doctors attended him, and 
all agreed he had the consumption In short, I have 
known people that I supposed had ulcers in different 
parts of the hollow of the body, and it was consider- 
ed both by the doctors and people in general to be a 
consumption, that is while the patient consumed 
away . And as I have cured a number of this com- 
plaint, and consider it easier to cure those whose 
liver or langs are affected, or if even the affect is in 
the light or heart department, than to cure those 
who have ulcers round the hollow of the body; be* 
cause the former are more apt to discharge the mat- 
tei by the way of the mouth than the others; and if 
the matter is not discharged, it becomes a hard 
lump, and the patient cannot be considered well 
while they carry in them this lump of useless matter. 
And while I lay down the cause of the complaints, I 
shall embrace under this head every general cause 
that consumes the body, such as sores or ulcers, in 
or out of the body. 
First,, it is a fact that sores are supported from 
humor in the blood. This humor frequently is mix- 
ed through all the blood io the body in a degree; 
but they often flow together and settle in particular 
limbs or parts of the body together, though they are 
more apt to settle near the discharges of the body 
than any other place. And as there is a steady dis* 
charge through the pores of a healthy person, the 
humor generally settles on the surface of the body 
of these persons, and there are some people who are 
affected in the rectum, because the discharge by stool 
is this way; and though the urinary passage is the 
purest water that is discharged from the human body, 77 
yet there are some affected near the kidneys or 
neck ot the bladder; for this reason they set'de in 
healthy persons near the skin, but it depen is very 
much on the force of the heart. When the heart 
beats strong in persons, there is but little danger of 
their taking the consumption; because the humor is 
driven to the extreme parts of the body, and a tree 
discharge ot perspiration is kept up in a general 
point of view. Here we may see the necessity of a 
steady exercise, or labor, for consumptive persons. 
You may form an idea in general of those families 
where rhe consumption becomes hereditary; they 
are generally of a low pulse, as the pulse depends 
some on the motion of the heart, you may from this 
feel the force of the heart; but this rule is not always 
to be depended on, for sometimes the blood possesses 
too much matter, which choaks the pores and stag- 
nates in a general point of view. This destroys the 
motion of the heart very much, and diseases strike 
in on the inside, and forms new places of discharges, 
sometimes by the way of the mouth, and other times 
it discharges in the hollow of the body . 
We are to pay some particular attention to the 
age of these ulcers or sores, whether they be inside 
of the body or out; for where these humors collect 
and fester, they often break and begin to discharge 
their matter; and this has a tendency to draw more 
humors to the same place, and if this continues, at 
length it becomes a place of discharge, and nature 
discovering this evacuation, prepares some new 
channels or organs for this matter to flow along.- 
That this matter does not flow along the natural 
course of the blood vessels by opening the wounds, 
can be seen often either in man or beast; and by 
paving attention to a person that has an nicer on the 
arm or leg, you can discover this discharge is not 78 
perpetual, but a little like the discharge bv stool or 
urine, that flows periodically or by spells; and at 
the time that this watery matter is forcing its pay 
towards the place of discharge, the person will com- 
plain of pain, sometimes very sharp. These things 
show that it does not flow along a natural organ, but 
an unnatural one. If these organs are new and na- 
ture has not got a long habit of preparing substance 
for them, it is quite easy to break it up by lowering 
the fountain, that is the stomach, and by a course of 
medicine, which will discharge an uncommon quan- 
tity of water and matter through the pores. And as 
the natural organs make a stronger claim <m the fluids 
than the unnatural ones do, by this means the un- 
natural organs will be left unsupplied, and in a short 
time will close up. But an old complaint differs 
from this; for although you stop this substance from 
flowing for a short time by robbing the fountain, and 
throwing off a quantity of substance through the 
pores, yet when the fountain gets a supply, and the 
poies close up measurably, nature has got such a 
habit of preparing a supply for these new vents or 
discharges, and they have been so long in use, that 
their claims for substance are nearly as strong as a 
hatural organ; and unless we baffle their claims a 
long time, it will not be destroyed; and the patient 
needs patience and a close adherence to the rules to 
baffle these complaints. There is one more cause 
that makes this complaint hereditary, that is to be 
alarmed or frightened. There are a number of peo- 
ple, that when they get frightened or terrified, the 
blood in a degree leaves the extreme parts of the 
body and flows more forcibly round the heart; and 
wherever the blood flows the strongest, there the 
humor is the more apt to affect the system-for the 
humor flows with the blood, and there have been a 79 
number of families in the bounds of my knowledge 
who have never been affected with the consumption 
to their knowledge, till at length one has been at* 
tacked and died. This has had a tendency to af- 
frighten the rest. Then we find (hat another is at- 
tacked, and also dies; by this time the rest begin to 
take the alarm more generally, and conclude that it 
is hereditary. After this, if any one of the family are 
taken, they are immediately alarmed, and begin to 
think that it is sure death; and we find that it often 
turns out so, until it sweeps the whole family, and 
even sometimes whole connexions have died with 
the consumption. For this reason I would advise 
the physicians to keep their patients as comfortable 
as is convenient, and encourage them as much as 
the nature of the case will admit, and let attendants 
sing and cheer the mind, and be in a lively posture. 
These things will assist in throwing the blood out 
from the heart, so as to drive the humor to the ex- 
treme parts of the body. 
But there are other causes of this disease, such as 
the measles struck in by cold, which shuts the pores 
and settles on the inside; and the pleurisy has 
brought on the consumption, but it is in the light de- 
partment, and there are various other causes, such 
as wounds, or breaking something in the inside, &c. 
The symptoms of this complaint are so various, 
they are like a family of them; but I will hint at it as 
well as I can. There is apt to be a pain or soreness 
at whatever part of the body the disease is seated, 
and if this matter can have access to the mouth, 
there will be a cough and spitting of matter, or blood 
and matter. If this disease is seated any where in 
the heart department, we are apt to see some foam 
mixed with the spittle, and the pain or soarness will 
be higher up, and most apt to be seated m the 80 
pleura, that is the flesh that is in the inside of the 
ribs, near the shoulder blade; and if this is the case, 
the patient will feel a pain strike through to the 
shoulder blade; and if it is in this department, the 
patient will be apt to be phthisicky, and more apt 
when they take cold, they feel a difficulty in breath- 
ing in some degree, and they are more apt to spit 
blood. In this species the pulse rather jerks, and 
is quick, as it comes from a pleurisy in the first 
place or bid cold. And another species of this dis- 
ease is where it settles on the lungs or liver. The 
symptoms of this species are, a pain or soreness at the 
pit of the stomach, and cough up more or less matter; 
they are apt to feel weak spells and a low pulse- 
these are most apt to swell in their limbs in the last 
stage of the disease Another species of this disease 
is when the inflammation is low down in the bowels, 
the person is apt to have a purging, and their pains 
are low down, and sometimes they are cholicky and 
not much if any cough, and weak feelings. Chills 
and fever* are a common consequence towards the 
last stages of consumptions of almost every species; 
these are the most common symptoms, besides those 
of a common cause, which are commonly con- 
nected with these. 
In curing, avoid every species of physic as much 
as possible, as they have a tendency to draw diseases 
in on the inside, and improve the inflamation by set- 
ting the bowels to motioning faster, and the more a 
humor is rubbed the worse it is. 
For a cure, take No. 2 of the first species, and 
mix your Nos. 1 and 2 together. If the patient has 
a cough, mix sugar with the powders. If the cough 
is verv bad. make a sirup of them, and give the same 
quantity a day. When the powders are given in 
sirup, which may be done in severe hacking eoughs, 81 
■leave your brimstone out of the powders, ana aux 
sugar with it, and give two doses a day, be* 
sides the usual quantity of the powders in sirup.- 
But if they have no cough, give them without sugar, 
and take the patient through a regular course of 
medicine. If they are not too weak, begin with 
diet No 1; but if very weak, begin with diet No. 2, 
After they have gone through one course, if they are 
not cured, take them through a second course, by 
having your No. 2 of the second species, and diet 
No. 2. And if they are not cured, take them thro' 
a third course, by having your No. 2 of the third 
species, with diet No. 3: And if the disease still re- 
mains, you can repeat the third course, and put a 
small quantity of pulverised tobacco in the medii 
cine, as much as they can bear, without making them 
sick; and when you stop, gradually increase the 
diet, as well as gradually decrease the medicine, till 
well. 
The Cholera.-This complaint has not yet been 
in this part of the country, as we are certain of- 
but there has been a strange cramping with the 
choleramorbus, that have cramped the limbs and 
body very much. Several such cases 1 have atten- 
ded, and cured without difficulty. The general 
symptoms of the Cholera,as we have it from Europe 
and America, with the exceptions of puking and 
purging, is the symptoms of a stagnation of blood; 
that of a coldness in the limbs, a swimming in the 
head; the cramps in the limbs, a heavy feeling, &c., 
are sufficient evidence that it is a stagnation of blood. 
And as this system universally cures people of stag- 
nations, we need not fear but it will be a sufficient 
cure for the Cholera. Here 1 refer my reader to 
my remarks on stagnations, as well as the common 
cause of diseases. The chokes in the body, with the 82 
fright or terror that goes with this disease, is what 
drives the fluids back against the stomach and bow- 
els. Nature finds herself choaked in stagnations of 
blood, and makes a number o'f strange motions to 
throw it off. There has been a number of people 
who have been stagnated, or in other words, had 
the typhus fever, and were said to be bewitched, 
because they acted so strange. I knew two families 
who were thus afflicted, and the witch doctors said 
they were bewitched, and described one of the 
neighboring women as the person each time; and 
thu-s nwle a great disturbance, until some of them 
died; and 1 told them that it was the typhus fever, 
and they employed me to doctor the rest of the 
families, and they were cured immediately. And 
as the typhus fever seems to be thought strangely 
con talons, by its going through families and neigh- 
borhoods, but I believe, is only catching among 
those whose blood is thick; so I suppose is the case 
with the Cholera. 1 could bring forward many 
more reasons for calling it a stagnation of blood; but 
these may suffice, expecting it will be closely com- 
pared. And as this system has gained universal 
credit in curing typbus fevers or stagnations of blood, 
I expect the cholera will give us another victory 
over the physicians of the day. 
We need not be the least alarmed because the 
doctors have never been able to cure the cholera.- 
We ask, when have they cured the typhus fever? 
The answer by some might be, that certain persons 
have got well under their system of doctoring. I 
ask, if there has not as many, in proportion to the 
number, got well that never had a doctor to attend 
them? I honestly say, that I believe there are more, 
Their medicine, in this disease, is often worse than 
none. Of those that have been physicked severely, 83 
there are something like one third that have died, in 
my judgment; and of those that have not been purg- 
ed, ihere are not over one fifth. 
The symptoms of the Cholera are generally a 
puking and purging, with the sj mptoms of a common 
cause. 
For a cure, give angejlico root tea after you have 
placed the patient in a regular sweat; let them drink 
this tea daring the sweat, as hot as they can; if the 
operation and tea does not stop it, place them in bed, 
cover their breath, and place a small hot stone or 
brick near a foot from the mouth; and continue to 
drop camphor on it; and let them suck this steam in 
with their breath; and continue this till they stop 
puking, or place them in the regular sweat again, at 
any time, till the puking stops, and then take (hem 
trough a regular course of medicine, until the stag 
nation is finally removed; continuing to give the hot 
tea while breathing to the camphor; steam in bed; 
use Nos. 1 and 2, as usual in a regular course of me- 
dicine, I will here remark, that old stagnations of 
blood have to be removed very gradually, by a 
steady process for a considerable time. This same 
cure will answer every species of choleramorbus, and 
1 have a long time believed that it would cure the 
milk sickness, that prevails in some parts of the 
western country. 
Dissentary. This disease may be divided into 
two complaints, or rather come from two causes. I 
have already hinted in this work that physic draws 
diseases in on the bowels. There are different cam. 
ses that will set a person to purging if the body is 
full of humor; and any thing that should set the per- 
son to purging at this time, has a tendency to draw 
the humor in on the bowels-sometime too free a use 
of fresh meat has this tendency; at otlj^r times a sud - 84 
den cold, & sometimes a large draught of cold water 
when the person is warm. But as the two species 
of flux amount to but one thing in the end, I will 
here detail the other cause, which is the most dan- 
gerous;it comes in hoi weather; persons frequently 
by exercising themselves too much in hot weather, 
bring on them what is called the heat; so, if a person 
gets hot enough to inflame the blood this way, and at 
this time take cold so as to shut the pores, this will 
frequently drive this inflammation or heat in on the 
inside of the bowels, that w'ould otherwise break out 
on the surface of the skin. The night air has this 
tendency, coming on us when we are very warm or 
lying too cold of a night after being very warm in 
the day, or a cold damp shower ot rain at this time, 
These, with other things, have this tendency; humors 
are alike, whether they are outside of the body or 
in; the more we rub them the more they become in- 
flamed; and a purge at this time sets the bowels in 
motion; this augments the humor, and the inflamma- 
tion is worse; so, the less purging that a person can 
do with is the better during the complaint. 
The most common symptoms are a purging, and a 
kind of matter comes with the stool; and when the 
ulcers get more rough, they commence bleeding, so 
that the blood and matter is on the stool-there are 
pains in the bowels and in some cases a heat. 
For a cure, your No. 2 should be made of dry and 
driving medicines, and follow a common course, ex- 
cept in an operation of steam, provided you can get 
your patient to sweating freely without it, and this 
sweat must continue day and night till well; but if 
you cannot get them in a way of sweating without it, 
make use of the steam repeatedly till they get in 
this way-the diet might be No. 2. The No. 2 as 
medicine that I have made use of in general, is equal 85 
ports of sulphur, elder bark, and wild cherry bark^ 
and giving three or four doses of it a day. When 
persons have a dissentary, and there is no great 
quantity of blood or matter comes from them, it will 
be found an advantage to use diet No. 5. 
Apoplectic Fit.-This disease comes from hard 
drink in a general point of view, but sometimes from 
living too much on strong diet, very fat and salt, 
which sets the blood in a state of fomentation and 
fills it with humor, which throws it up to the head 
with such rapidity as to overcome the person. 
A cure. The patient may be first relieved by 
bleeding; it should be done as quick as possible, 
and afterwards give three or four doses a day of 
No. 1, without any other medicine, and regulate 
their diet to No. 2, for two oi three weeks, and 
then give diet No. 3. During the first part of the 
time try to keep them in a moist sweat, without an 
operation of steam, bathe their feet often in warm, 
water, and afterwards get them in a moist sweat 
once a day. 
Fevers. There are some doctors that are either 
blind, or wish to blind others, by placing fifteen or 
twenty names to fevers: such as the fever and ague, 
the typhus fever, pleurisy fevers, fomentary fevers, 
bilious fevers, yellow fever, nervous fever, inter- 
mittent fever, slow fevers, rheumatic fevers, &c. 
I shall consider them all under three or four heads 
But 1 find fault with the title as a complaint, for I be- 
lieve that it is the way that nature resists complaints 
that is by a fever. This is one of the best arguments 
made use of by Dr. Samuel Thompson. If he was 
the first person that found out that a fever was no 
complaint, he deserves credit; but I have been in a 
doubt whether he was the first or not. I think not 
less than eighteen years ago my father mentioned. 86 
to me that some doctor had made this discovery, 
though I di>not remember the name, whether it was 
Thompson or not; but as it was years before the date 
of his patent, it does not look likely that it was him, 
I recollect of my father stating that this doctor 
cured with domestic medicines, that were not poison. 
I the i fell in with this opinion, awl have remained so 
since. We may discover that wounds, bruises, sores, 
burns, and the like, throw people into a fever; but 
cuie the complaint and the fever ceases. 
The next complaint of this kind I shall mention, is 
the fomentari fever. The cause of this complaint 
is generally a foul stomach; it is most apt to happen 
to people of a full habit, w hose blood is humorish. 
This filth creates a heat in the stomach, and this 
heat spreads all over tiie person; this shuts the pores 
of the body, and the fluids that should be discharged 
this way, are confined within the body; and somer 
tunes these fluids pass off either by stool or urine. 
Now the doctors instead of opening the pores, fre- 
quently increase the discharge by stool; this draws 
the substance back towards the stomach, and of 
course the filth with it, which is apt to make the pa- 
tient very sick; for nature, instead of throwing her 
substance toward the skin, where it ought to be dis- 
oharged, it is now forced back on the stomach, and 
this sometimes is repeated; and if this does not an- 
swer, sometimes they administer a poisonous emetic, 
which not onlv throws this substance back contrary 
to nature, but is apt to leave some of that poison in 
the body. But the question is, what shall be done 
in this case? I answer, what does nature demand? 
Is she tired of her load on the stomach? If she is, 
•she will make motions to tkrow it back by the mouth. 
If this is the case, vou can assist her by administer- 
ngNo. 3, and clearing the stomach this way, and 87 
continue a regular course of medicine. Let the du 
et be No. 1, for three days, and so gradually rise (ill 
they get well, which is not apt to be long. If the 
patient, does not make motions to puke, you can be^ 
gin by giving a dose of No. Land then sweat, and so 
follow the regular course of medicine. 
The symptoms of the above complaint are as fol- 
lows; the patient is thrown into a high fever, and 
has a high pulse, often a pain in the head, and a 
sick stomach, and often has a load on the stomach, 
sometimes casting up a sourness in the mouth. 
The next 1 will call stagnated complaints, because 
they come from a stagnation of blood. 1 expect to 
cope under this head what is called the cold plague 
or typhus fever, stagnated fits, nervous fever, palsey, 
cholera, the third day ague, the slow fevers, bold 
hives, thespotted fever, bilious lever,common ague, 
rheumatisms, &,c. 
1 will refer my leader to my general remarks on 
stagnations of blood as (because of these complaints 
in a greater or less degree, and the reason why it 
throws people into so manv kinds of fevers with oth- 
er complaints, is in proportion to the stagnation, and 
where it lodges in the body. When it lodges near 
the nerves, it becomes nervous; when it stagnates 
generally, it becomes typhus or a cold plague; when 
it settles near the skin, it becomes dropsycal; when 
it does not settle at ail, but occasionally thrown off 
by fever,'it becomes a paroxism or an ague; when it 
lodges in- the limbs, it becomes rheumatic, I have 
stated in my general remarks that there is too much 
matter in the blood, that causes this stagnation of 
blood. In a stagnation of blood, it is entirely too 
dangerous to bleed the person; and when we do try 
to bleed, the lancets frequently strike on the mattet 
part of the blood, and if so, the blood does not rut 88 
free, and often when it does tun, it chokes in ths 
vent with the same matter. 
For a Cure-A regular course of medicine. 
Yellow Fever.- I have doctored but one case of 
this complaint, but I conclude that I know the cause 
of the yellow fever. 1 suppose as it generally pre- 
vails most in warm climates, that it is the gall of the 
stomach with the filth of the blood in a state ofdi?- 
charge gets choked in the pores either by cold or too 
great a quantity of matter in the blood, or some oth 
er cause; and as the natural color of this substance is 
yellow, it turns the person's skin the same color. I 
have known a number of person's whose skin was 
turned yellow by the jaundice, and some by fevers, 
and I have opened a free discharge from the pores 
of the skin and given them diet No. 1, and the col- 
or has been altered in three days. So I suppose that 
a regular course of medicine would cure this com- 
plaint. 
Scarlet fever comes from humor in the blood, and 
nature aims to throw it off by the glands of the 
throat, and the worst danger is while the throat is 
swelled, before the humor opmes out so as to be seen. 
The symptoms of this complaint, are a sore throat; 
and at length they break out with a red humor like 
scarlet, and it goes off frequently by the patient peal- 
ing all over or in part. 
For a cure, make use of No. 2, of sulphur and el- 
der bark, and take a course of medicine, and place 
-plasters on the bottom of the feet, and acioss the 
loinsand back to draw the humor away from the 
throat. 
Convulsion Fits-If the patient is dangerous, bleed 
in the foot, and after frequently bathing the feet in 
warm water, take a regular course of medicine by 
leaving out No. 2, & give three doses a day of No. 1. 89 
Stagnated Fits.-The cause of this disease I will 
cite the reader to my remarks on a stagnation of 
blood; and the reason that it operates differently on 
these people, is the formation of the head, the blood 
has not the same room to circulate round the brains 
as it has in others when there is an over stock of 
blood in the head, as is the case in such stagnated 
complaints; because it stagnates in the *eet first, and 
the heart throws it up to the head, because it can- 
not flow freely to the feet. Although the fit itself 
baffles the stagnation in part, for nature takes this 
way to force a circulation of blood, but as there is 
too great a quantity of surplus matter in the blood, 
it stagnates again, and so continues as long as the 
blood is in this state. 
The symptoms of this complaint is in a great de- 
gree like all other stagnations of blood. At the time 
when the blood stagnates in the feet, and the leet 
gets cold, then the heart throws blood up to the head 
with too great a rapidity, and thus overcomes the 
brain, and a fit is the consequence; the person feels 
heavy cold chilis, sometimes numb and streachy, 
with other symptoms of stagnation of blood; and the 
plainest evidence ot a stagnated fit is, that the feet 
are cold in the time ot the fit. 
This disease, when it is old. is ven hard to cure, 
and needs patience and attention both ot the physi- 
cian and patient. If it was not that some wili look 
for something to be said on ihis subject, I should leave 
this disease out of my list; bu> as the public kn w 
that 1 have cured a few of this disease, and others 
frequently applying, I hereby give mv views in a 
short manner, for the want of room to pursue the 
subject further. 1 am perfectly satisfied that if this 
disease is taken while young, there will be no diffi- 
culty in curing by a regular course of medicine; but 90 
it hi the age of the complaint that makes it constitu- 
tional. and that makes it hard to cure. If this disease 
attacks a person at any time before they get their 
growth, they ought to try to have it removed befire 
they get their set, lest it be interwoven in their con- 
stitution, which will make it hard to cure. I find it 
very hard with some to throw off astagnation of blood 
without bringing on them a convulsion fit, which 
mav be said to be opposite to the other. Yet I 
have found it no serious point to stop the blood from 
Stagnating in any person. But whenever it circu- 
lates freely in some, they take a convulsion fit, and 
to strike the centre ground between these 1 find it to 
be difficult. 
For a cure, make your No. 2 principally of sul- 
phur and sassafras; take a regular course of medi- 
cine; let your diet begin with No. lr and after three 
days No. 2 for at least two weeks, if the stagnated 
fits continue, you can repeat your regular courses of 
medicine, ano add a small portion of prickly ash bark 
Or ginseng with your No. 2; and if your patient's 
blood quits stagnating, and they continue to have fits, 
you must stop vour medicines, except one dose a 
day of No. k, and give two doses a day of No. 5, and 
the diet should not exceed No. 4, till the disease 
wears out, which may be a long time. The patients 
should exercise themselves steadily, but not to ex- 
tremes, especially if they are subject to convulsion 
fits. Let the patient wear flannel, if convenient, 
next to the skin, and dress warm and lie warm of 
nights, and get into a free sweat once a day. By 
some means their diet should be very fresh, and not 
much anima) food, with a watery diet, which might 
be sweetened as much as they please. They might 
make a free use of hickory bark lie during the whole 
time; and after they have done their courses of medi- 91 
cine, leave No. 1 out, and use no other medicine only 
one or two doses a day of No. 5 with the lie, except 
the stagnation should return, and if so, by regular 
courses of medicine at intervals. 
Grooel.^This disease comes from two causes; 
one is, too much matter in the blood. This comes 
on people who use a great deal of salt and meat in 
their diet-that creates matter in their blood. These 
lumps of matter sometimes have lodged in the artes 
ries, and have become! stones, (if accounts be true, 
which look probable,) which have been found both 
in men and beasts, as well as in the bladder, and they 
have a growing tendency; the other cause is detain- 
ing the water in the bladder too long at a time at 
different times, while the thick part gathers into bo- 
dies, and so congeals into a hard substance, and re- 
maining in the water, at length becomes a stone, 
and has also a growing tendency. There are other 
causes that create matter io the blood, such as hard 
drink, for one evidence is that it improves the flesh 
on them; another is, that spotsand cloudy places are 
seen in their face.' I haVe not named these things 
as the cause of this disease, because I thought 1 could 
cure it, but more to keep people from bringing the 
disease on them; for With me this is one of the incu- 
rable complaints, though sometimes it may be abated 
Sb that the patient may have some ease tor a while. 
Symptoms are as follows-.-If it has come from 
too much matter in-the blood, thefewil! be symptoms 
of stagnation as have been described; but the com- 
mon symptoms are sometimes that the patient feels 
a' kind of grinding in that part of the body and a 
stoppage in the water, either in the commencement 
or towardr the close of making water, and sometime* 
duringthe whole-time, which makesit qtfite difficult 
to mate water, and their1 call? tO'oiake waMr a*e 92 
oftener than usual, and sometimes tinctured with 
blood. 
1 have received receipts to cure it, which have 
been recommended as a sure cure, that the practi- 
tioner can trv. They are inserted here as a cure. 
Receipt for the Gravel.-Take the root of what 
some call the queen of the meadows, or what others 
call the seven sisters, because there are sometimes 
seven stocks growing trom one root;the stocks some- 
times giow as high as a man's head, and four or five 
leaVes grow out of the stocks opposite each other, 
and the stocks are hollow; powder the root of this 
weed, and take three fbur'hs of it, and one fourth of 
angellico, mix these together, and take a half tea 
spoonful every two hours, and live on diet No. 2. till 
cured; and then gradually increase your diet; keep 
up a moist sweat as steady as possible. 
Dr Read's cure for the Gravel-Take horse mint 
and onions; bruise them together; take of the juice 
one table spoonful; put it in one gill of strong vine- 
gar; take this portion night and morning till well. 
Ihe sick headacne.-There are several causes 
that produce this complaint; one is, an over sour in 
the stomach; another is, something that we eat stops 
up the canals or the vents of the stomach, so t hat the 
watery substance that ought to pass out into the 
blood is now thrown up to the mouth. These, with 
other causes, throw the blood up to the head. I 
have been plagued with this disease from a child; 
then 1 was attacked once or twice a week on an 
average, and it has followed me all my lite, and 1 
have always been trying new cures till about five 
years ago. 1 have not room in this work to mention 
the cures and their effects. Between five and six 
years ago I took a severe cough, and spit blood with 
abundance of matter, and had other symptoms of a 93 
consumption, and" I took a regular course nf medicine 
and regulated my diet with a great deal of precision 
-and alter this it was near six months at one time 
that 1 was without a headache, and since that 
time, I have found regulating the diet was the best 
remedy for the sick-headache I have been fiom 
one week to three months at a time without it since, 
and would have been longer, but circumstances have 
called me to changes of business, and also to changes 
of diet, which have brought it on me al times, tbo' 
the cough did not last two months, and I have had no 
symptoms of if since, which has been near six years. 
I have found that drinking warm water repeatedly' 
during the time, even if it is puked up again, gives 
ease to the head; by keeping.fast trom food, and 
keeping up a moist sweat, is a great relief for the 
headache. 
The gout might be mentioned here, but I will cite 
my reader to my remarks on a stagnation of blood 
for the symptoms and cure. 
King's Evil comes from nearly the same cause of 
the gout, thmigh it may come from less excess in 
drink and diet. I do not know that it can be cured, 
th ugh it may be eased by living on light diet and 
taking some doses of No. 1. 
Receipt for the King's Evd.-Dr. Ward's Cure.- 
Take the thigh-bone of a horse, burn it to lime, and 
sift it through a fine sieve, mix it with butter-milk, 
apply it to the place till well; give doses of No. 1 
repeatedly. 
Receipt for a Cancer.-Take copperas; burn it on 
a thin shovel till it heaves up white; then powder it 
fine; mix it with goose grease, till it becomes a salve; 
make a plaster on paper as large as a dollar; and 
shave the hair off on the «pen of the person's head; 
apply the plaster to that part once a day, for three 94 
<i*ys; then take them off; take a pinch of red percipi- 
tate; m x it with fresh butter; anoint around the can- 
cer; and physic with the second species of No. 4, 
■during the time; then close the process with bleeding 
the person.-Dvct. Ward. 
Measles.-For the want ofc managing this com* 
plaint right, it frequently brings on the consumption 
and a number of other complaints; sometimes takes 
the person off immediately, and others carry the ef. 
feet with then* as long as they live. It creates hu- 
mor in the blood, and does not discharge it like the 
small pox by means of sores, but the humor strikes 
back into the body or else settles in the inside; very 
little medicine and management taken in time will 
answer the purpose. When you first discover that 
any person has the complaint, give some doses of 
No. 1, and get them into a moist sweat once a day 
if convenient; let them take two doses a day of No. 
2, according to the patent, and let their diet be No. 2; 
but if the disease is unwilling to come out, or has 
been out and got struck in again, you may sweat them 
freely. 
Mumps.-Let the patient be dressed warm and lie 
warm, and exercise as much as convenient; take 
two doses of No. 1 a day; driuk smartly of spice bush 
tea; let the diet be No. 2, till they get better, and 
then No. 3, &c. 
Dropsy tn the blood -There are two causes, one 
is the stagnation of the blood, which weakens the 
motion of the heart as well as obstructs the pores of 
the body with what is called the crassamentom or 
matter of the bbod; another cause is a less of blood 
by bleeding or wounds, which not only draws the 
red part of the blood off faster than the matter part 
but weakens the force of the heart, so that it is not 
able to open the pores aaddmhsrrge the water from 95 
the blood. These remarks may suffice, as 1 have 
already mentioned a stagnation of blood. 
For a cure, take a regular course of medicine,give 
a few doses of No. 5 in the course of the time. 1 
have cuied several, and found it no difficulty. 1 
have concluded that a dropsy in the body sometimes 
originated from the same cause, and will be cured 
by the same means. 
A dropsy tn the head.-The cause of this disease 
is as follows: Il comes from living on strong diet, 
with too free a use of salt, or hard drink, or any 
cause that raises the blood to the head too long at a 
time with too much severity, till the organs get hah, 
itually prone to leaking water or matter. 
The diet should be regulated to No. 3, or, at fur* 
thest, to No. 4; make a free use of snuffing tobacco, 
and get into a moist sweat once a day by some 
means, and take a few doses of No. 2 during the 
time. By continuing this course a long time, the 
disease will be apt to wear away. 
Rheumatism.-The cause of this complaint I will 
cite the reader to a stagnation of blood in a general 
point of view; but though the blood is too thick, yet 
the person is not sure to feel the complaint till they 
take cold; and so it is with certain species of typhus 
fever. When the rheumatism settles all over the 
body, it acts very much like the typhus fever; when 
it settles in parts of the body, it has smaller symp- 
toms of the typhus fever. When the matter of the 
blood shuts the pores in certain limbs or parts, they 
swell by the water coming against the skm and have 
no vent. This species of rheumatism is easier 
cured by a regular course of medicine than the other, 
that is,where the matter settles on the cords or joints, 
it then is harder to remove. Relief may be given* 
•nd sometimes cured, by applying a plaster of No. 6 96 
to the place, but the surest way of curing is a regu- 
lar course of medicine. 
'rhe fly mg rheumatism is produced by a stagna- 
tion of blood, and is cured in the way we cure alt 
stagnations. 
Rheumatic Drops. Take Indian turnip, red pepper 
and old whiskey,with a emal quantity ot gum myrrh, 
till it is very strong, bottle up for use, bathe morning 
and evening hy the fire, wrap the pgrt in flannel 
warm hrough the intervals.-Doct. Ward. 
Pleurisy -Thecause of this disease is a cold in 
the lights. When people have been breathing in 
warm air, or receiving warm steam into the heart 
from drinking warm teas, or any other means, and 
then immediately receiving cold air to extremes, 
these sometimes contract cold in that department of 
the body which often swells the lights, and sometimes 
affects the pleura, that is the flesh that is joining to 
the ribs in the hollow part of the body near .he point 
of the shoulder, where the pain is must apt to be felt, 
though sometimes it affects other parts in the same 
department; and at other times cold is carried into 
the blood, and so affects the whole system; or the 
cold may impress on the outside of the body and 
shut the pores till it may be called a pleurisy. 
The symptoms of this disease are as follows: If 
the lights are swelled, they generally breathe hard; 
sometimes a pain every breath, either in the breast 
or shoots toward the point of the shoulder-s<>me- 
times all over. The symptoms of a pleurisy and a 
typhus fever are very nigh alike; the most sensible 
difference is, rhe typhus fever may be felt days be- 
fore it comes on or lays the person up; and the pleu- 
risy comes more sudden. The heavy weigh', that is 
felt in the typhu- is not so eenMoly felt in the pleu- 
risy, and the typhus is not so apt to swell the lights 97 
or cause the person to breathe hard as the pleurisy. 
For a cure.-This is one of the complaints that is 
easier cured than any other, or done sooner by giv- 
ing a dose of No. 1 and No. 2 in the course of half 
an hour of each other, aod then take the person 
through a regular sweat for about thirty minutes, 
generally cures by putting them to bed and covering 
them, l*o that the sweat does not stop too sudden, or 
any way so that the sweat ceases moderately-if 
they set by the fire or stir about, provided they are 
warm enough. To continue the sweat a short time 
I have generally cured people of this complaint in 
the course of an hour from the time I commenced to 
sweat them If the piactitioncr should find that his 
patient was not cured in the above time, he may just 
conclude that the complaint is typhus, and he has 
lost no time, he can continue on according to the 
rule laid down for that complaint. 
Stone bruise and felons.- These complaints come 
from a bruise that stops the hlood vessel next to the 
bone, and as the water part of the blood is confined, 
and all the time increasing, it must have vent; and as 
it raises from next the bone, it sometimes injures the 
bone before it gets vent. The best means is to lance 
the place as soon as we find it out. and let the water 
out, and it commonly gives relief by lancing to the 
bone. 
Lockjaw comes from thick blood in a general 
point of view. When a person whose blood is thick 
receives a wound which affects some cord that has 
access to the jaws, then it takes a set, by the blood 
being thick that surround it. 
For a cure, put the person all over in tvarm water 
till it contes up to the mouth, for not exceeding five 
minutes at any one time; rub and bathe them in the 
meantime all over, and particularly the jaws.- 98 
These processes may be repeated several times, or 
take them through a regular sweat by giving a dose 
of No. 1. 
Cramps is another disease that tak« place from 
the same cause of the blood being thick, and may be 
cured by the same means for a present cure; but to 
remove the cause, you must thin the blood for either 
of these diseases. 
Piles is a disease that I am not confident can be 
cured, yet I suppose they' may be relieved for a 
time. To reliese a person in this disease, make a 
medicine of elder bark, leaver or flowers, with one 
half sulphur, and let them take repeated portions for 
a day or two, and at the time inject a solution of it up 
in their bodies several times; this will commonly ie- 
lieve them for a while, and to keep as clear of it as 
possible, let them live on a weak, watery diet, or a 
vegetable food 
Receipt for the Piles.-Take red cobs and pound 
them fine, about two double handsfull; putthem in a 
keg without heads, set fire to them, and sit on the 
keg naked until the cobs are burned out; repeat this 
four times in a night. 
For old Ulcers or Phthisic.-Take the bark from 
the roots of yellow poplar, wild cherry and dog 
wood, put the bark in water till made strong, and 
boil it half away, then strain it, and bottle it tor use; 
take a glass morning and evening. 
A Consumption sirup.-Take medicine Nos. 1 and 
2, with one fourth spiknard powders, and put them 
in a bottle and sweeten them with sugar till it is a 
weak sirup, and shake your bottle before you drink 
each time, drink of it three or four times a day; 
throw yourself into a sweat once a day by some 
means; dress warm, and Jie warm of nights, and live 
on diet No. 5. 99 
These simple means will generally have a good 
effect, and sometimes remove the whole disease. 
Scald head.-This disease comes from humor in 
the blood, which sometimes comes into the world 
with a child. This humor settles on this part of 
the body, and is easily removed if taken in time, but 
it is like all other diseases; if it is not removed it 
becomes constitutional, and age makes it hard to 
cure. 
For a cure, make a solution of two thirds elder 
bark, flowers or leaves, powdered, and one third 
sulphur, put but a small quantity of water with 
them, so as to leave them as strong as possible; 
make a cap of thin leather, or any otht^r thing that 
will keep the air entirely out, and wet the inside of 
the cap with this solution three times a day, with a 
small portion of the spirits of turpentine, enough to 
scent the cap, and let the patient wear this cap till 
well; let their diet be No. 2 tor two or three weeks, 
and then No, 3 till well. The patient should take 
one or two doses of No. 4 a day, and get into a moist 
sweat once a day by some means. They ought to 
dress warm and lie warm of nights. I have cured 
but few cases of this disease, but what trials I have 
made has had the effect to convince me that the dis- 
ease is curable. But after a person is cured of 
this disease, they -ought to live on a light, fresh, 
vegetable diet for a season, to keep the disease from 
returning. When people commence this process, it 
would be as well to cut their hair off or clip it, and 
during the time it would be proper to wash the cap 
once or twice a week. 
Humors in the Feet.-When I was from fifteen to 
twenty years old, I had humors in the feet towards 
the fall of the year, tor every year till I was twenty- 100 
one, and 1 was told to wrap up my feet m green 
elder leaves, and as fast as they dried, apply new 
ones; and I did so, and found relief immediately.- 
Since that Ihave told others uf this way of curing, 
and they have done so, and have generally been 
cured. The patient should have a pair of stockings 
on and stuff the leaves in them round the feet. 
Sore Eyes.-Fw a cure, make powders of equal parts 
of elder and suiphur, and a small portion of copperas; 
mix these together, and put them in a bottle, and put a 
small quantity of water to them, so as to leave them 
strong, and let the patient wash their eyes with this 
water two or three times a day. If the eyes have 
been a long time sore, and appear to be hard to 
cure, you may give them diet No. 2', or at most No. 
3, during the time. These means will generally 
cure without fail. 
Flooding.-This disease comes from two or three 
causes, but most generally from a stagnated blood. 
If it is produced from this cause, the person will feel 
symptoms of stagnation, and the blood, when it 
flows, will be unmixed in a degree, and have the ap» 
pearance of other stagnated blood that is drawn 
from the body by bleeding any other way; the other 
cause is, the blood is unusually thin, or perhaps a 
sore or ulcer in that part of the body. 
For a cure, take two or three doses a day of Nd. 
5, and let the diet be No. 3; and at the proper time, 
when ibis disease has gone off. or between the natu- 
ral courses, then take them through a regular sweat 
for the purpose of mixing the blood; one or two 
sweats at an interval of a day apart, will be found 
essential when it is caused by a stagnant blood; but 
if it is produced from the blood being too thin, it is 
only necessary to give the above quantity of No. 5, 
and regulate the diet to No, 3, and place a large 101 
plaster of No. 6 between the shoulders, which ought 
to be done in each case to draw the disease from 
that part of the body. I have attended to a number 
of persons who were afflicted with this disease, and 
it has generally had a good effect, though the subject 
is too delicate to pursue it in this piece as far as it 
ought to be done. 
I have wrote a piece on the subject of Midwifery, 
but it is borrowed from other books, and corresponds 
with the balance of this work; but as these books 
may be used by people who would not make good 
use of that part, I have concluded not to put that 
part in every book. 
Worms.-There are three or four species of 
worms, and what will cure one will make another 
worse. I will name the most common species; one 
is the long, red worm that is frequently in the sto- 
mach and bowels, not only of children but also in 
grown persons. 
The way to kill these worms:-These worms 
may be taken off sometimes by large doses of castor 
oil or a quantity ot weak lie. to be taken repeatedly 
for some days, and use diet No. 2. I have thought 
that if poison was ever of any use as a medicine, it 
is to poison these worms to death, as there is a proba- 
bility of poisoning them, and not injuring the person 
much, though it will leave some poison in the blood. 
The way to poison these worms is to give some su- 
gar, about twenty or thirty minutes before you give 
the dose of poison; your dose of poison may be car- 
tina pink root, a common dose of it, or an even tea- 
spoonful of copperas for a child three years old, and 
more if the person is older, or less if they are young- 
er. Some make use of a small quantity of Mayapple 
root; but whatever poison is used, mix it with sugar 
-these ought to be worked off with fresh broths,-' 102 
But these worms are not very dangerous, only when 
they choke the person by getting in bunches and 
getting in the pipes. Bui these means makes the 
little stomach worms worse, and this species of 
worms are more dangerous than the others, and they 
are apt to improve with bad blood, and get better as 
the blood is cleansed. For this species of worms 
give two or three doses of No. 4 a day, by putting 
them in warm water or tea about fifteen minutes be- 
fore they are taken, and sweeten them as mentioned 
before, and the diet ought to be lowered if coeve" 
nient, and get the person into a moist sweat once in 
a day if possible. 
For Worms. Take a tea spoonful of tobacco 
seed three times in a day, with honey or molases; do 
it three days in succession. 
J cure for white swelling.-Take mercurial ointment 
and rub the part effected; at the same time have a 
preparation for bathing, made of chesnut bark, shu- 
mach bark, near the root, rattle root, boil them to- 
gether, bathe the part effected, take flannel cloths, 
and dip them in it, and apply to the part as warm as 
they can be born during an hour or two: then make 
a poultice of cammomile. mullen, catnup, and flax- 
seed; bathe twice in a day; likewise, apply the poul- 
tice immediately after bathing. 
White swellings may be cured, either altogether 
or for a while, by applying No. 6 to the place till it 
gets well, and regulate the diet to No, 2 for a week, 
and then No. 3 till well. 
Week Stomach.-Take two quarts of cider vine- 
gar, put it in a stone jug, take hoarhound tops, horse 
radish root one handfull; then bury it in the ground 
for twelve days; take a tea spoonfull three times in 
a dav before eating. 
Receipt for the Tetterworm.-Take fresh butter 103 
and put copiers or cents in it; keep it warm and stir 
it till it turns green; about twentj-five coppers to 
the half pint. When it is thus made, bathe the part 
diseased every few days, and keep the part dry if 
possible. 
Another cure is to take the buds of the balm of 
gilliad, mash them well, soak them in fresh butter, 
and apply to the part, and keep it dry. 
A cold bath may be applied to advantage in a 
great number of low stagnated complaints, as it sek 
dom has a bad effect when applied right. 
The way to apply a cold bath is, either emerse the 
person in cold water, or pour it on them, they being 
naked or nearly so; then put them to bed, cover them 
warm, and also cover their breath a short time; give 
some warm teas, which generally produces a sweat, 
then gradually take the clothes off them, and have 
them dressed warm between these processes, which 
may be as often as once a day, or to suit the circum- 
stances. It is entirely a safe operation. 
A simple wet fire or costic ta burn out cancers 
and the like, or to destroy proud flesh:-Take pearl- 
ash and dissolve it with the oil of vitrol, or mix the 
oil of vitrol with pearlash till it is soft enough to tun 
in the place so as to penetrate to the bottom of the 
sore or cancer, and when you wish to stop it, fill the 
•place with sweet oil. 
SURGERY. 
Broken bones, limbs &,c.-As 1 do not profess sur- 
gery, I will make but a few remarks on that subject- 
J have discovered a great lack in surgery, in giving- 
directions and medicines to their patients in such 
cases. It should be strictly understood, that nature 
is the grand physician to cure bones as well as th» 
flesh, that when a bone is broken and set by any per* 104 
son, the diet should be regulated and the blood 
calmed by proper means to keep the wound fromin- 
'flaming or getting humorish, which wHll be a means 
of preventing mortification with other consequences. 
This great lack may not be universal, but it prevails 
to a great extent. I would rather venture a common 
skilful person to set a bone by feeling round the limb 
to place the bones together, and give proper direc- 
tions tor medicines and diet, than to venture a pro^ 
fessed doctor to do itrand give no directions to regu- 
late :he blood. 
Directions for broken bones, bruises, &.c. Give three 
doses a day of No. 1, and see that the patient is got 
i sto a moist sweat once a day. When a bruise is first 
received, bathe the part in cold vinegar and salt, or 
cold water, rubbing the part severely for 30 min- 
utes, and if very bad, bleed the person as near the 
wound as convenient, and as soon as possible; and 
after an, hour or so, warm your vinegar and dissolve 
salt in it as long as it will dissolve, and bathe the 
part repeatedly with it as hot as they can bear it, 
and at intervals keep a cloth wet with it applied 
to the place. This should be done whenever we sup- 
pose there is bruised blood in the system from wounds 
and the like;get the person into a moist sweat and 
keep it up as steady as possible to keep offinflfim- 
matien, and if inflammation ba® ensued, follow the 
same rule if the bon,e is broken. You may apply these 
means without rubbing that part after the bone is 
set. 
If you undertake to set a bone or joint that has 
clipped, first apply warm water around the place to 
loosen the cords, then place your bones by feeling 
around; give diet No. 2 during the whole time till 
^he difficultv or danger is over; then rise to No. 3 
fill wall. Apply medicine No. 6 to the place, or as 105 
near it as possible, during the time. A bone ought to 
be kept very still till it has time to knit together. If 
thewound should be such as to confine the patient so 
that they cannot exercise, they ought to have a dose 
or two of castor oil to keep the bowels regular in 
their discharge. These directions may be applied 
to all the receipts for wounds that are in substance* 
The following are taken in part from McKenzie's 
Receipts. 
If, in consequence of a broken bone or other inju" 
ry, the patient is unable to walk, take a door from 
its hinges, lay him carefully on it, and have him car- 
ried by assistants to the nearest house. If no door 
or sofa can he procured, two boards, sufficiently 
long and bread, should be nailed to two cross pieces 
the ends of which must project about a foot, so as to 
form handles. If in the woods, or where no boards 
can be procured, a litter may he formed from the 
branches of trees. In this way a hand-barrow may 
be constructed in a few minutes, on which the suffer- 
er may be properly carried. 
If he has been wounded and bleeds, the bleeding* 
must be stopped before he is removed. 
"Having reached a house, lay him on a bed, and 
undress him with eave and gentleness. If any diffi- 
culty arises in getting off his coat or pantaloons, rip 
up the seam*, rather than use force. This Being 
done, proceed to ascertain the nature of the injury. 
"This may be either simple or compound; that is, 
it may be a contusion or bruise, a wound, fracture, 
or dislocation, or it may be two or all of them united 
in one or several parts. 
A contusion is the necessary consequence of eve- 
ry blow, and is known by the swelling and discolora- 
tion of th^ skin. 
Wounds are self-evident. 106 
Fractures are known by the sudden and severe 
pain, by the misshapen appearance of the limb, 
sometimes by its being shortened, by the patient be- 
ing unable to move it without excruciating pain, but 
most certainly, by grasping the limb above and be- 
low the spot where the fracture is supposed to exist, 
and twisting it different ways, when a grating will 
be felt, occasioned by the broken ends of the bone 
rubbing against each other. If the swelling, hnw- 
ever, is very great, this experiment should not be 
made until it is reduced. 
Dislocations, or bones being out of joint, are 
known by the deformity of the joint when compared 
with its fellow, by the pain and inability to move the 
limb, by its being longer or shorter than usual, and 
by the impossibility of moving it in particular direc- 
tions. 
The most serious effects, however, resulting from 
contusion, are when the blow is applied to the head, 
producing either concussion or compiession of the 
brain." 
" Concussion of the Brain." 
"Symptoms.-The patient is stunned, his breath* 
ing slow, drowsiness, stupidity, the pupil of the eye 
rather contracted, vomiting. After a time he re- 
covers. 
' Treatment.-Apply cloths dipped in cold vinegar 
and salt to his head, and when the stuper is gone, 
bleed him and open his bowels with epsom salts. He 
should be confined to bed, in a quiet situation, ant^ 
every measure taken to prevent an inflamation of the 
brain, which, if it comes on, must be treated by co- 
pious bleeding, and bathe with vinegar and salt. 
"Compression of the Brain " 
"Symptoms.-Los« of sense and motion, slow, noi- 
sy and laboripus breathing, pulse slow and irregu- 107 
lar, the muscles relaxed, as in a person just dead,the 
pupil of the eye enlarged and will not contract even 
by a strong light,the patient lies like one io an apop- 
lectio fit, and cannot be roused. 
"Treatment.-Shave the head, and if possible, pro- 
cure surgical assistance without delay, as there is 
nothing but an operation that can be of any avail." 
For management, see 104th page. 
aOf Wounds." 
"Wounds are of three kinds, viz: incised, punctu* 
red and contused; among the latter are included 
gun-shot wounds. The first step in ail wounds, is 
a To stop the bleeding.-If the flow of blood is but 
trifling, draw the edges of the wound together with 
your hand, and hold them in that position some time, 
when it will frequently stop. If, on the contrary, it 
is large, of a bright red color, flowing in spirits or 
with a jerk, clap your finger on the spot it springs 
from, and hold it there with a firm pressure, while 
you direct some one to pass a handkerchief round the 
limb (supposing the wound to be in one) above the 
cut, and to tie its two ends together in a bard knot. 
A cane whip-handle, or stick of any kind, must now 
be passed under the knot, (between the upper sur* 
face of the limb and the handkerchief) and turned 
round and round until the stick is brought down to 
the thigh, so as to make the handkerchief encircle it 
with considerable tightness. You may then take off 
your finger, if the blood still flows, tighten the hand- 
kerchief by a turn or two of the stick, until it ceases. 
The patient may now be removed (taking care to 
secure the stick in its position) without running any 
risk of bleeding to death by the way. 
For management, refer to page 104. 
"As this apparatus cannot be left on for any length. 108 
of time, without destroying the life of the parts, en- 
deavor as soon as possible to secure the bleeding 
vessels, and take it off. Having waxed together 
three or four threads of a sufficient length, cut the 
ligature they form, into as many pieces as you think 
there are vessels to be taken up, each piece being 
about a foot long. Wash the parts with warm wat- 
er, and then with a sharp hook, or a slender pair of 
pincers in your hand, fix your eye steadfastly upon 
the wound, and direct the handkerchief to be relax- 
ed by a turn or two of the stick; you w ill now see 
the mouth of the artery from which the blood springs; 
seize it with your hook or pincers, draw it a little 
out, while some one passes a ligature round it, and 
ties it up tight with a double knot. In this wav take 
up in succession every bleeding vessel you can see or 
get hold of. 
"If the wound is too high up in a limb to apply the 
handkerchief, don't lose your presence of mind, the 
bleeding can still be commanded. If it is the thigh, 
press firmly in the groin; if in the arm, with the 
hand or ring of a common door key, make pres- 
sure above the collar bone, and about its middle 
against the first rib which lies under it. The pres- 
sure is to be continued until assistance is procured, 
and the vessel tied up. 
"If the wound is on the head, press your finger 
firmly on it, until a compress can be brought, which 
must be bound firmly over the artery by a bandage. 
If the wound is in the face, or so situated that pres- 
sure cannot be effectually made, or you cannot get 
held of the vessel, and the blood flows fast, place a 
piece of ice directly over the wound, and let it re- 
main there till the blood coagulates, when it may be 
removed, and a compress and a bandage applied. 
For management; cite to page 104. 109 
Incised Hounds. 
By an incised wound is meant a clean cut. Hav- 
ing stopped the bleeding, wash away all the dirt, 
&c. that may be in it with a sponge and warm wa^ 
ter, then draw the sides of the wound together, and 
keep them in that position by narrow strips of stick- 
ing plaster, placed on at regnlar distances, or from 
one to two inches apart. A soft compress of old 
Imen or lint may be laid over the whole. 
"Should much inflammation follow, remove the 
strips, sweat and bathe the patient with salt and 
vinegar (who should live very low, and be kept 
perfectly quiet) according to the exigency of the 
case. If it is plain that matter must form before the 
wound will heal, apply No. 6, until that event takes 
place. 
"Although narrow strips of linen, spread with 
sticking plaster, or No. 6, form the best means of 
keeping the sides of a wound together, when they 
can be applied, yet in the ear, nose, tongue, lips,and 
eye-lids, it is necessary to use stitches, which are 
made in the following manner: Having armed a 
common needle with a double waxed thread, pass 
the point of it through the skin, at a little distance 
from the edge of the cut, and bring it out of the op- 
posite one at the same distance. If more than 
one stitch is required, cut off the needle, thread it 
again, and proceed as before, until a sufficient num- 
ber are taken, leaving the threads loose until all the 
stitches are passed, when the respective ends of each 
thread must be tied in a hard double knot, drawn in 
such a way that it bears a little on the side of the 
cut. When the edges of the wound are partly uni- 
ted by inflammation, cut the knots carefully, and 
withdraw the threads. 
From what has been said, it must be evident thai 110 
in all wounds, after arresting the flow of blood, and 
cleansing the parts, if necessary, the great indica- 
tion is to bring their sides into contact throughout 
their whole depth, in order that they may gr<»w to- 
gether as quickly as possible, and without the in- 
tervention of matter To obtain this very desirable 
result, in addition to the means already mentioned, 
there are two things to be attended to, the position 
of the patient and the application ot the bandage. 
The position of the patient should be such as will re- 
lax the skin and muscles of the part wounded, there- 
by diminishing their tendency to separate. 
A common bandage of a proper width, passed 
over the compresses modeiately tight, not only 
serves to keep them in their place, but also tends by 
its pressure, to forward the great object already 
mentioned. If, however, the wound is so extensive 
and pa nful that the limb or body of the patient can- 
not be raised for the purpose of applying or remo. 
ving it, the best way is to spread the two ends of one 
-Or two strips of linen or leather with sticking plaster 
which may be applied in place of the bandage, as 
follows: attach one end of a strip to the sound skin, 
a'tashort distance from the edge of the compress, 
over which it is to be drawn with moderate firmness 
and secured in a similar manner on its opposite side. 
A second or third may, if necessary, be added in the 
same way. 
Punctured Wounds. 
"These are caused by sharp pointed instruments, 
ms needles, awls, nails, &c. Having stopped the 
bleeding, withdraw any foreign body, as part ot a 
needle, bit of glass, &c. that may be in it, provided 
it can be done easily; and if enlarging the wound a 
little will enable you to succeed in this, do so. 
Though it is not always necessary to .enlarge wounds 111 
of this nature, yet in hot weather it is a mark of pre* 
caution, which should never be omitted. As soon 
as this is done, pour a little turpentine into the wound 
01 touch it with caustic, and then cover it with No. 
6, This practice may prevent lock-jaw, which 
of this is but too frequent a consequence of wounds 
description. 
"Contused Wounds." 
"Wounds of this nature are caused by round or 
blunt bodies, as musket balls, clubs, stones, &c. They 
are in general attended but by little bleeding ;if, how* 
ever, there should be any, it must be stopped. If it 
arises from a ball which can be easily found and 
withdrawn, it is proper to do so, as well a« any piece 
of the clothing, &c. that may be in it; or if the ball 
can be distinctly felt directly under the skin, make 
an incision across it, and take it out, but never al- 
low of any poking in the wound to search lor such 
things; the best extractor of them, as well as the 
first and best application in contused wounds, pro- 
ceed from what they may, being a soft bread and 
milk poultice. 
If the wound is much torn, wash the parts very 
nicely with warm water, and then (having secured 
every bleeding vessel) lay them all down in as nat- 
ural a position as you can, drawing their edges gen- 
tly together, or as much so as possible, by strips of 
sticking plaster, or stitches if necessary. A soft 
poultice is to be applied ever th ' whole, or No. 6. 
"Wounds of the Ear, Nose, SfC. 
"Wash the parts clean, and draw the edges of the 
wounds together by as many stitches as are neces* 
sary . If the part is even completely separated, and 
has been trodden under feet, by washing it in warm 
water, and placing it accurately in the proper place, 
by the same means, it will adhere." 112 
(l Wounds of the Scalp. 
"In all wounds of the scalp it is necessary to shave 
off the hair. When this is done, wash the parts well, 
and draw the edges of the wound together with stick* 
ing plaster. If it has been violently torn up in sev- 
eral pieces, wash and lay them all down on the skull 
again,drawing their edges as nearly together as pos- 
sible by sticking plaster, or if necessary, by stitches. 
Cover the whole with a soft compress, smeared with 
some simple ointment, or No. 6. 
For management, refer to page 104. 
" Wounds of the Throat. 
<£,Seize and tie up every bleeding vessel you can 
get hold of. If the wind-pipe is cut only partly 
through, secure it with sticking plaster. If it is com- 
pletely divided, bring its edges together by stitches, 
taking care to pass the needle through the loose 
membrane that covers the wind-pipe itself. The 
head should be bent on the breast, and secured by 
bolsters and bandages <n that position, to favor the 
approximation of the edges of the wound," 
"Wounds of the Chest. 
"If it is a simple incised wound, draw the edges of 
it together by sticking plaster, cover it with a com- 
press oflinen, or No. 6, and pass a bandage round 
the chest. The patient is to be confined to his bed. 
"Should it be occasioned by a bullet, extract it, and 
any pieces of cloth, &c. that may be lodged in it, if 
possible, and cover the wound with a piece of linen 
smeared with some simple ointment, or N ». 6, ta- 
king care that it is not drawn into the che^t. If a 
portion of the lung protrudes, return it without any 
delay, but as genHy as passible." 
^Wounds of the Belly. 
"Close the wound bv strips of sticking plaster, and 
stitches passed through the skm, about half an inch 113 
from its edges, and cover the whole with soft cam 
press, secured by a b,andage." 
"Should any part of the bowels come out at the 
wound, if clean and uninjured, return it as quickly 
as possible; if covered with dirt, clots of blood, £c. 
wash it carefully in warm water previous to so do- 
ing. If the gut is wounded, and only cut partly 
through, draw the two edges of it together by a 
stitch, and return it; if completely divided, connect 
the edges Ijy four stitches at equal distances, and 
replace it in the belly, always leaving the end of 
the ligature projecting from the external wound, 
which must be closed by sticking plaster. In five 
or sis days, if the threads are loose, withdraw them 
.gently and carefully." 
For management, see page 104. 
" Wounds of Tendons. 
"Tendons, or sinews, are frequently wounded or 
raptured. They are to be treated precisely like 
any other wound, by keeping their divided parts 
together. The tendon which connects the great 
muscle forming the calf of the leg, with the heel, 
called the tendon of Achilles, is frequently cut with 
the adze, and ruptured in jumping from heights.-* 
This accident is to be remedied by drawing up the 
heel, extending the foot, and placing a splint on the 
fore part of the leg, extending from the knee to be^ 
yond the toes, which being secured in that position 
by a bandage, keep the foot in the position just men- 
tioned, The hollows under the splint must be filled 
up with tow or cotton. If the skin falls into the 
apace between the ends of the tendon, apply a piece 
of sticking plaster, so as to draw it out of tho way. 
It takes five or six weeks to unite, but no weigh'., 
should be laid on the limb for several month?" 114 
11 Of Fractures. 
"The signs by which fractures may be known, 
having been already pointed out with sufficient mi* 
nuteness,it will be unnecessary to dwell thereon; it 
will be well, however, to iecollec't this general rnle; 
In cases where, from the accompanying circum- 
stance? and symptoms, a strong suspicion exists that 
the bone is fractured, it is proper to act as though it 
were positively ascertained to be so." 
"Fracture of the Bone of the Nose. 
"The bones of the nose from their exposed situa- 
tion, are frequently forced in. Any smooth article 
that will pass into the nostril should be immediately 
introduced with one hand, to raise the depressed 
portions to the proper level, while the other is em- 
ployed in moulding them into the required shape." 
"Fracture of the Lower Jaw 
"This accident is easily dis&overed by looking into 
the mouth, and is to be remedied by keeping the 
Ipwer jaw firmly pressed against the upper one, by 
means of a bandage passed under the chin and over 
the head. If it is broken near the angle, or that 
part nearest the ear, place a cushion ®r roll of linen 
in the hollow behind it, over which the bandage 
must pass, so as to make it push that part of the bone 
forward. The parts are to be confined in this way 
for twenty days, during which time, all the nourish- 
ment that is taken should be sucked between the 
teeth. If, in consequence of the blow, a tooth is 
loosened, do not meddle with it, for if let alone, it 
will grow fast again " 
"Fracture of the Collar Bone. 
"This accident is a very common occurrence, 
and is known at once by passing the finger along it, 
and by the swelling, ^c. To reduce it, seat the 
patient in a chair without any shirt, and place a 115 
pretty stout compress of linen, made in the shape of 
5 wedge, under his arm, the thick end of which 
should press against the arm-pit. His arm, bent to 
a right angle at the elbow, is now to be brought 
down to his side, and secured in that position by a 
lung bandage, which passes over the arm of the af- 
fected side and round the body. The fore-arm is to 
be supported across the breast by a sling, It takes 
from four to five weeks to re-unite." 
Fractures of the Arm. 
"Seat the patient on a chair, or the side of a bed, 
let one assistant hold the sound arm, while another 
grasps the wrist of the broken one, and steadily ex- 
tend it in an opposite direction, bending the fore-arm 
a little to serve as a lever. You can now place the 
bones in their proper situation. Two splints of shin- 
gle or stout paste board, long enough to reach frdWi 
below the shoulder to near the elbow, must then be 
well covered with tow or cotton, and laid along each 
side of the arm, and kept in tBat position by a ban- 
dage. 'Che fore-arm is to be supported in a sling. 
Two smaller splints may for better security be laid 
between the first ones, that is one on top, and the 
other underneath the arm, to be secured by the 
bandage in the same way as the other." 
Fractures of the Bones of the Fore-Aryi. 
"These are to be reduced precisely in the sam.e 
way, excepting the mode of keeping the upper por- 
tion of it steady, which is done by grasping the arm 
above the elbow. When the splints and bandage 
are applied, support it in a sling. 
Fractures of the Wrist. 
"This accident is of rare occurrence. When it 
does happen the injury is generally so great as to 
require amputation. If you think the hand can be 
saved, lay it on a splint well covered with tow; this 116 
extends beyond the fingers; place another splint ops 
posile to it, lined with the same soft material, and 
secure them by a bandage. The hand is to be car- 
ried in a sling. 
"The bones of the hand are sometimes broken.- 
When this is the case, fill the prim with soft com- 
presses or tow, and then lay a splint on it, long 
enough to extend from the elbow to beyond the ends 
of the fingers, to be secured by a bandage, as usual. 
"When a finger is broken, extend the end of it until 
it becomes straight, place the fractured portion in its 
place, and then apply two small pasteboard splints, 
one below and the other above, to be secured by a 
narrow bandage. The top splint should extend 
from the end of the finger over the back of the hand. 
It may sometimes be proper to have two additional 
splints for the sides of the finger." 
Fractures of the Ribs. 
"When, after a fall or blow, the patient complains 
of a pricking in his side, we may suspect a rib is 
broken. It is ascertained by placing the tips ot two 
or three fingers on the spot where the pain is, and 
desire the patient to cough, when the grating sensa- 
tion will be felt. All that is necessary, is to pass a 
broad bandage round the chest, so tight as to prevent 
the motion of the ribs in breathing; and apply ?»o. 
6 over the place." 
"Fractures of the Thigh. 
"This bone is frequently broken, and hitherto has 
been considered the most difficult of all fractures to 
manage. To the ingenuity, however, of Dr. Harts- 
horne, the world is indebted for an apparatus which 
dees away the grealesrimpediments that have been 
found to exist in treating it, so as to leave a straight 
limb, without lameness or deformity; nor is it the 117 
least of its merits, that any man of common sense 
can apply it nearly as well as a surgeon. 
"It consists of two splints made of half or three' 
quarter inch well seasoned stuff, from eight to tern 
inches wide, one of which should reach from a little 
above the hip, to fifteen or sixteen inches beyond 
the foot, while the other extends the same length 
from the grom. The upper end of the inner splint 
is hollowed out and well padded or stuffed. Their 
lower ends are held together by a cress piece, hav» 
ing two tenons, which enter two vertical mortices,- 
one in each splint, and secured there by pins. In 
the centre of this cross piece (which should be very 
solid) is a female screw. Immediately above the 
vertical mortices, are two horizontal ones of conside- 
rable length, in which slides the tenons of a second 
cross piece, to the upper side of which is fastened a 
foot block, shaped like the sole of a shoe* while in 
the other is a round hole for the reception of the 
head of the male screw, which passes through the 
female one just noticed. On the top of this cross 
piece, to which the foot block is attached, are two 
pins, which fall into grooves at the head of the 
screw, thereby firmly connecting them. The foot 
block, as before observed, is shaped like the sole of 
a shoe. Near the toe is a slit, through which pass- 
es a strap and buckle. Near the heel are a couple 
of straps, with two rings, arranged precisely like 
those of a skate, of which, in fact, the whole foot 
block is an exact resemblance. A long male screw 
of wood or other material, completes the apparatus. 
"To apply it, put a slipper on the foot of the bro- 
ken limb, and lay the apparatus over the leg. By 
turning the screw, the foot block will be forced up 
to the foot in the slipper, which is to be firmly strap 
ped to it? as boys fasteo their skates. By turning 118 
the screw the contrary way, the padded extremity 
of the inner splint presses against the groin, and the 
foot is gradually drawn down, until the broken limb 
becomes of its natural length and appearance, when 
any projection or little inequality that may remain, 
can be felt and reduced by a gentle pressure of the 
hand. 
"Th.e great advantages of this apparatus, I again 
repeat, are the ease with which it is applied, and 
the certainty with which it acts. The foot once se- 
cured to the block, in a way that every scbool-boy 
understands, nothing more is required than to turn 
the screw until the broken hmb is found to be of the 
sa oe length as the sound one. It is right to observe 
that this should not be effected at once, it being bet- 
ter to turn the screw a little every day, until the 
limb is sufficiently extended. 
"As this apparatus may not always be at hand, it 
is proper to mention the next best plan of treating 
the accident. It is found in the splints of Desault, 
improved by Dr. Physic, consisting of four pieces. 
The first has a crutch-head, and extends from the 
arm-pit to six or eight inches beyond the foot. A 
little below the crutch are two holes, and near the 
lower end on the inside, is a block, below which 
there fe also a hole. The second reaches from the 
groin, the same length with the first, being about 
three inches wide above and two below. Two 
pieces of stout pasteboard, as many handkerchiefs or 
bands of muslin, with some tow, and a few pieces of 
tape, form (he catahgue of the apparatus 
"It is applied as follows: Four or five pieces of 
tape are to be laid across the bed, at equal dis- 
tances from each other. Over the upper two, is 
placed one of the short pasteboard splints, well co- 
vered with tow." The patient js now to be care-> 119 
fully and gently placed on his back, so that nis thigh 
maj rest on the splint. One of the handkerchiefs, 
or a strong soft band, is to be passed between the 
testicle and thigh of the affected side, and its ends 
held by an assistant standing near the head of the 
the bed. The second handkerchief is to be passed 
round the ankle, crossed on the instep and tied un- 
der the sole o7 the foot. By steadily pulling these 
two handkercbiets, the limb is to be extended, while 
with the hand the broken bones are replaced in their 
natural position. The long splint is now to be pla- 
ced by the side of the patient, the crutch in the arm- 
pit, (which is defended with tow,) while the short 
one is laid along the inside of the thigh and leg.- 
The ends of the first handkerchief, being passed thro' 
the upper holes, are to be drawn tight and secured 
by a knot, w hile the end of the second one pass over 
the block before mentioned, to be fastened in like 
manner at the lower one. All that remains is the 
short pasteboard splint, which being well covered 
with tow, is to be laid on top of the thigh. The tape 
being tied so as to keep the four splints together, 
completes the operation. 
"Tow is to be every where interposed between 
the splints and the limb, and a large handful of it 
placed in the groin, to prevent irritation from the 
upper or counter extending band. It is necessary to 
be careful, while tying the two handkerchiefs, that 
they are not relaxed, so that if the operation is prop- 
erly performed, the two limbs will be nearly of ar^ 
equal length. 
"The superior advantages of Hartshorne's appar 
atus over this, as well as all others, must be. evident 
to every one acquainted with the difficulty of keep- 
ing up that constant extension which is so absolutely 
nectary to avoid deformity and lameness, and 120 
which is so completely effected by the screw. Next 
to that, however, stands the one just described,which 
can be made by any carpenter in a few minikes, and 
which, if carefully applied, will be found to answer 
well. 
"Fractured thighs and legs generally re-unite in 
six or eight weeks; in old men, however they re- 
quire three or four months. 
"In cases of fracture of the thigh or leg, the pa- 
tient should alwaysjfpossible, belaid on a mattrass 
supported by boards instead of the sacking, which, 
from its elasticity and the yielding of the cords, is 
apt to derange the position of the limb." 
"Fractures of the Knee Pan. 
"This accident is easily ascertained on inspection. 
It may be broken in any direction, but is most gen- 
erally so across or transversely. It ft reduced by 
bringing the fragments together, and keeping them 
in that position by a Jong bandage passed carefully 
round the leg, from the ankle to the knee, then 
pressing the upper fragment down so as to meet its 
fellow, (the leg being extended,) and placinga thick 
compress of linen above it, over which the bandage 
is to be continued. 
rtThe extended limb is now to be laid on a broad 
splint, extending from the buttock to the heel, thick- 
ly covered with tow to fill up the inequalities of the 
leg. For additional security, two strips of muslin 
may be nailed to the middle of the splint, and one on 
Uach side, and passed about the joint, one below, the 
other above, so as to form a figure of eight. In 
twenty or thirty days the limb should be moved a lit- 
tle to prevent stiffness. 
"If the fracture is through its length, bring the 
parts together, place a compress on each side, and 
.keep tjiem together, with a bandage, leaving the 121 
limb extended and at rest. Any inflammation ip 
this, or other fracture,is to becombated by bleed* 
iog, &c. 
"Fracture of the Leg. 
"From the thinness of the parts covering the prin- 
cipal bone of th<* leg, it is easy to ascertain if it is 
broken obliquely. If, however, the fracture be di- 
rectly across, no displacement will occur, but ihe 
pain, swelling, and the grating sensation, will suffi- 
ciently decide the nature of the accident. 
"If the fracture is oblique, let two assistants extend 
the limb, while the broken parts are placed by the 
hand in their natural position. Two splints, that 
reach from a little above the knee to nine or ten in- 
ches below the f>ot, having near the upper end of 
each four holes, and a vertical mortice near the low- 
er end, into which is fitted a cross piece, are now to 
be applied as follows.- Lay two pieces of tape about a 
foot long, on each side of the leg. juat below the 
knee joint, and secure them there by several turns 
of a bandage; pass a silk handkerchief round the an- 
kle, cross it on the instep, and tie it under the sole 
of the foot. The two splints are now placed one on 
each side of the leg, the four ends of the peices of 
tape passed through the four holes and firmly tied, 
and the cross piece placed in the mortice. By ty- 
ing the'ends of the handkerchief to this cross piece 
the business is finished. 
" It the fracture is across, and no displacement ex- 
ists, apply two splints of stout pasteboard, reaching 
from the heel to the knee, and well covered with 
tow, one on each side of the leg, securing them by a 
bandage passing round the limb, and outside the 
splints. 
"In cases of oblique fractures of the leg close to 122 
the knee, Hartshorne's apparatus for fractured thighs 
should be applied, as already directed." 
"Fractures of the Bones of the Foot. 
"The bone of the heel is sometimes, though rarely, 
broken. It is known by a crack at the moment of 
the accident, a difficulty in standing, by the swel- 
ling, and by the grating noise on moving the heel. 
To reduce it,take a long bandage, lay the end of it 
on the top of the foot, carry it ovei the toes under 
the sole, and then by several turns secure it in that 
position. 
•'The foot being extended as much as possible, 
carry the bandage along the back of the leg above 
the knee, where it is to be secured by several turns, 
and then brought down on the front of the leg, to 
which it is secured by circular turns. In this way 
the broken pieces will be kept in contact, and in the 
course ofa month or six weeks will be united. 
"Fractures of the foot, toes,&c. are to be treated 
like those of the hand and fingers. 
"Of Dislocations. 
"The signs by which a dislocation may be known, 
have been already mentioned. It is well to recol- 
lect that the sooner the attempt is made to reduce it, 
the easier it will be done. The strength ofone man, 
properly applied, at the moment of the accident, will 
often succeed in restoring the head ofa bone to its 
place, which in a few days would have required the 
combined efforts of men and pulleys. If after sever- 
al trials with the best apparatus that can be muster- 
ed, vou find you cannot succeed, make the patient 
drink strong hot toddy of brandy or other spirits, un- 
til he is very drunk. In this way owing to the re- 
laxed state of the muscles, a very slight force will 
of'en be sufficient, where a very great one has been 
previously used without effect. 123 
•'Ifany objections are made to this proceeding, or 
if the patient will not consent to it. having your appa- 
ratus (which is presently to be mentioned) all ready, 
make him stand up, and bleed him in that position 
un11) he faints; the moment this happens, apply your 
extending and counter-extending forces. Another 
important rule is, to vary the direction of the exten- 
ding force. A slight pull in one way will often ef- 
fect what has been in vain attempted by great force 
in another. 
"Dislocation of the Lower Jaw. 
"This accident, which is occasioned by blows, or 
yawning, is known by an inability to shut the mouth 
and the projection of the chin. To reduce it, seat 
the patient in a chair with his head supported by 
the breast of an assistant, who stands behind him. 
Your thumbs being covered with leather, are then 
to be pushed between the jaws, as far back as possi- 
ble, while with the fingers, outside, you grasp the 
bone, which is to be pressed downwards, at the same 
time that the chin is raised. Ifthis is properly done, 
the bone will be found moving, when the chin is 
to be pushed backwards, and the thumbs slipped be- 
tween the jaws and the cheeks. If this is not done, 
they will be bitten by the sudden snap of the teeth 
as they come together. The jaws should be kept 
dosed by a bandage for a few days." 
"Dislocation of the Collar Bone. 
"This bone is rarely dislocated. Should it occur, 
apply the bandages, &c. directed for a fracture of the 
same part." 
"Dislocation of the Shoulder. 
"Dislocations of the shoulder are the most common 
of all accidents of the kind, ft is very easily known 
by the deformity of the joint, and the head of the 
bone being found in some unnatural position. Te 124 
reduce it, seat the patient in a chair, place one hand 
on the prominent part of the shoulder blade, just 
above the spot where the head of the bone should be, 
while with the other you grasp the arm above the 
elbow nnd pull it outwards.. 
"Should this not succeed, lay the patient on the 
ground, place your heel in his arm-pit, and steadily 
and forcibly extend the arm, by grasping it at the 
wrist. The same thing may be tried in various po- 
sitions, as placing yourself on the ground with him, 
laying him on a low bed, while you are standing 
near the foot of it, Lc. 
"Ifthis fails, pass a strong band over the shoulder, 
carry it across the breast, give the ends to assistants, 
or fasten them to a staple it the wall; the middle of 
a strong band or folded towel is now to be laid on 
the arm above the elbow, and secured there by nu- 
merous turns of the bandage. The two ends of the 
towel being then given to assistants, or connected 
with a pulley, a steady, continued, and forcible ex- 
tension is to be made, while with your hands you 
endeavor to push the head of the hone into its place. 
"Dislocation of the Elbow. 
''If the patient has fallen on his hands, or bolds 
his arm bent at the elbow, and every endeavor to 
straighten it gives him pain, it is dislocated back- 
wards. Seat him in a chair, let one person grasp the 
arm near the shoulder, and another the wrist, and 
forcibly extend it. while you interlock the fingers 
of both hands just above the elbow, and pull it back- 
wards, remembering 'hat under those circumstances, 
whatever degree of force is required, should be ap- 
plied in this direction. The elbow is sometimes dis- 
located sideways or laterally. To reduce it, make 
extension by pulling at the wrist, while some one se- 
cures the arm above, then push the bone into its place 125 
either inwards or outward.-, as may be required. Al- 
ter the reduction of a dislocated elbow, keep the 
joint at perfect rest for five or six days, and then 
move it gently. If inflammation comes on, for man- 
agement, see page 104. 
"Dislocation of the Wrist, Fingers, ^c. 
"Disiecation of the wrists, fingers, and thumb, are 
readily perceived on examination; they are all to be 
reduced by forcibly ex'ending the lower extremity 
of the part, and pushing the bones into their place. 
If necessary, small bands may be secured to the fin$ 
gers by a narrow bandage, to facilitate the extension. 
These accidents should be attended to without de- 
lay, for if neglected for a little time, they become 
irremediable." 
"Dislocation of the Thigh. 
"Notwithstanding the hip joint is the strongest one 
in the body, it is sometimes dislocated. As a careful 
examination of the part, comparing the length and 
appearance of the limb with its fellow, &c. suffi- 
ciently mark the nature of the accident, we will pro- 
ceed to state the remedy. 
"Place the patient on his back, upon a table cov- 
ered with a blanket. Two sheets, folded like cra- 
vats, are then to be passed between the thigh and tes- 
ticle of each side, and their ends (one half of each 
sheet passing obliquely over the belly to the oppo- 
site shoulder, while, the other half passes under the 
back in the same direction) give to several assis- 
tants, or what is much better, tied very firmly to a 
hook, staple, post, or some immoveable body. A 
large, very strong napkin, folded as before, like a 
cravat, is now to be laid along the top of the thigh, 
so that its middle will be just above the knee, where 
it is to be well secured by many tut ns of a bandage. 
The two ends are then to be knotted. If you have 126 
ho pulleys, a twined sheet or ropeway be passed 
through the loop formed by the napkin If you can 
procure the former, however, cast the loop over the 
hook of the lower block, and secure the upper one to 
the wall, directly opposite to hooks or men that hold 
the sheets that pass between the thighs. A steadily 
increasing and forcible extension of the thigh is then 
to be made by men who are stationed at the pulleys 
or sheet, while vou are turning and twisting the limb 
to assist in dislodging it from its unnatural situation. 
Bv these means, properly applied, the head of the 
bone will frequently slip into its socket with a loud 
noise. 
"If, however, you are foiled, change the direction 
of the extending force, recollecting alway s, that it is 
not by sudden or violent jerk, that any benefit can 
be attained, but by a steady increasing and long con- 
tiuned pull. Should all your efforts prove unavail- 
ing, (1 would not advise you to loose much time be- 
fore you resort to it.) make the patient, as before di- 
rected, excessively drunk, and when he cannot stand, 
apply the pulleys. If this fails, or is objected to, 
bleed him till he faints, and then try it again." 
"Dislocation of the Knee-Pan. 
"When this little bone is dislocated, it is evident 
on the slightest glance. To reduce it, lay the pa* 
tient on his back, straighten the leg, lift it up to a 
right angle with his body, and in that position push 
the bone back to its place. The knee should be 
kept at rest for a few days. 
" Dislocation of the Leg. 
"As these accidents cannot happen without tearing 
and lacerating the soft parts, but little force is requir- 
ed to place the bones in their natural situation If 
the parts are so much torn that the bone slips again 127 
out of place, apply Hartshorne's or Desaults appara- 
tus lor a fractured thigh." 
"Dislocation of the Foot. 
"The foot is seldom dislocated. Shotfld it hap* 
pen, however, let one person secure the leg, and 
another draw the foot, while you push the bone in 
the contrary way to that in which it was forced out. 
The part is then to be covered with compresses dip- 
ped in lead water, and a splint applied on each side 
of the leg, that reaches below the foot. Accidents 
of this nature are always dangerous; all that can be 
done to remedy them consists m the speedy reduc- 
tion of the bone, keeping the parts at rest, and sub- 
duing the inflammation by following the directions 
of page 104. 
"0/ Compound Accidents. 
"Having spoken of the treatment to be pursued for 
a bruise, wound, fracture, and dislocation, as hap- 
pening singly, it remains to state what is to be done 
when they are united. 
"We will suppose that a man has been violently 
thrown from a carriage. On examination, a wound 
is found in his thigh, bleeding profusely, bis ankle is 
out of joint, with a wound communicating with its 
cavity, and the leg broken. 
"In the first place, stop the bleeding from the 
wound in the thigh, reduce the dislocation next, draw 
the edges of the wounds together with sticking plas- 
ter, and lastly, apply Hartshorne's or Dassault's ap- 
paratus to remedy the fracture. 
Hf, instead of a wound, fracture and dislocation, 
there is a concussion or compression of the brain, a 
dislocation and fracture, attend to the concussion 
first, th' dislocation next, and the fracture the last." 
"Of Amputation. 
"As accidents so netimes happen at sea, or in 
situations where it is impossible te obtain a surgeon,, 128 
and which require the immediate amputation of a 
limb.it is proper to say a few words on that subject. 
To perform the operation is one thing, and to know 
when it ought to be preformed is another. Any 
man of common dexterity and firmness can cut off a 
leg, but to decide upon the necessity of doing so, re- 
quires much judgment, inst mces having occurred 
where, under the most seemingly desperate circumr 
stances, the patient through fear or obstinacy has 
refused to submit to the knife, and yet afterwards 
recovered. 
"Although in many cases much doubt may exist 
in determining whether it is proper to amputate or 
not, yet in others, all difficulty vanishes, as when a 
ball ha? carried away an arm. Suppose for a mo- 
ment, while rolling in a heavy sea, during a gale, 
the lashings of a gun give way, by which a man h s 
his knee, leg, or ankle completely mashed, or that 
either of those parts are crushed by a fall from the 
topgallant yard, a falling tree, &c. The great la- 
ceration of blood vessels, netvesand tendons, the 
crushing and splintering of the bones, almost neces- 
sarily resulting from such accidents, render immedi- 
ate amputation an unavoidable and imperious duty. 
"If there are none of the regular instruments at 
hand, you must provide the following, which are al- 
ways to be had, and which answer extremely well- 
being careful to have the knives as sharp and 
smooth as possible. 
instruments-The handkerchief and stick, a carv- 
ing or other large knife with a straight blade, a pen- 
knife, a carpenter's tenon or mitre saw, a slip of 
leather or linen, three inches wide and eighteen or 
twenty long, slit up the middle to the half of its 
length, a dozen or more ligatures, each about a foot 
long, tfiade of waxed thread, bobbin, or fine twine, 129 
a. hook with a sharp point, a pair of slender pincers, 
several narrow strips of sticking plaster, dry imt, a 
piece of linen, large enough to cover the end of the 
stump, spread with simple ointment or lard, a ban- 
dage three or four yards long, the width of your 
hand, sponges and warm water. 
" Amputation of the Arm. 
''Operation.-Give the patient sixty drops of 
laudanum, and seat him on a narrow and firm table 
or chest, of a convenient height, so that some one 
can support him. by clasping him round the body.- 
If the handkerchief and stick have not been previ- 
ously applied, place it as high up the arm as possi- 
ble, (the stick being very short,) and so that the knot 
may pass on the inner side of it Your instruments 
having been placed regularly on a table or waiter., 
and within reach of your hand, while some one sup- 
ports the lower end of the arm, and at the same tune 
draws down the skin, take the large knife,and m <ke 
one straight cut all round the limb, through the skin 
and fat only, then with the penknife separate as 
much of the skin from the flesh above the cut, and 
all round it, as will form a flap to cover the face of 
the stump; when you rhmk there is enough separa- 
ted, turn it back, where it must be held by an assis- 
tant, while with the large knife you make « second 
straight incision round the arm and down to the bone, 
as close as you can to the double edge of the flap, 
but taking great care not to cut it. The bone is 
now to be passed through the slit in the piece of linen 
before mentioned, and pressed by its ends ag unst 
the upper surface of the wound y the person who 
holds the flap, while you saw through the bone aS 
near it as you can. With the hooks or pincers, you 
then seize and tie up ever-, vessel that bleeds, the 130 
largest first, and smaller ones next, until they are ail 
secured. When thisis-done, relax the stick a little; 
if an artery springs, tie it as before. The wound is 
now to be gently cleansed with a sponge and warm 
water,and the stick to be relaxed. If it is evident 
that the arteries are all tied, bring the flap ovei the 
stump, draw its edges together with strips of sticking 
plaster, leaving the ligature hanging out at the an- 
gles, lay the piece of linen spread with ointment 
over the straps, a pledget of linen over that, and se- 
euro the whole by the handage, when the patient 
may be carried to bed, and the stump laid on a pil- 
low. 
"The handkerchief and stick are to be left loosely 
round the limb, so that if any bleeding happens to 
come on, it may be tightened in an instant by the 
pejson who watches by the patient, when the diess- 
iugs must be taken off, the flap raised, and the vessel 
be s tight for and tied up, after which, every thing 
is to be placed as before. 
"It may be well to observe that in sawing thio' the 
bone, a long and free stroke should be used, to pre- 
vent any hitching, as an additional security against 
■which, the teeth of the saw should be well sharpened 
and set wide 
"There is also another circumstance, which it is 
essentia' to be aware of; the ends of divided arteries 
cannot at times be got hold of, or being diseased 
their coats give way under the hook, so that they 
cannot be drawn out: sometimes, also, they are found 
ossified or turned intrt hone, In all these cases, hav- 
ing armed a needle wi'h a ligature, pass it through 
the flesh round the artery, so that when tied, there 
will he a portion of it included in the ligature along 
■with the artery. When the ligature has been made 131 
io encircle the artery, cut off the needle and tie a' 
firm: yin the ordinary way. 
"The bandages, 4'C. should-not be disturbed for 
five or six days, if the weather is cool; if it is very 
warm, they may be removed in three. This it to be 
done with the greatest care, soaking them well with 
warm water until they art quite soft, and can be ta? 
ken away without sticking to the stump. A clean 
plaster, lint, and bandage are then to be applied as 
befoie, to be removed every two days. At the ex* 
piration of fourteen or fifteen days the ligatures 
generally come away; and in three or four weeks4 if 
every thing gees on well, the wound heals." 
"Amputation of the Thigh. 
"This is performed in precisely the same manner 
as that of the arm, with one exception, it being pro- 
per to interpose a piece of lint between the edges of 
the flap, to prevent them from uniting until the sur- 
face of the stump has adhered to it," 
" Amputation of the Leg. 
"As there are two bones in the leg which have a 
thin muscle between, it is necessary to have an addi? 
tional knife to those already mentioned to divide it. 
It should have a long narrow blade, with a double 
cutting edge, and a sharp point; a carvng or ease 
knife may be grouad down to answer the purpose, 
the blade being reduced to rather less than half an 
inch in width. The linen or leather strip should 
also have two slits in it instead of one. The patient 
is to be laid on his back, on a table coveted with 
blankets or a matrass, with a sufficient number of 
assistants to secure him. The handkerchief and 
stick being applied on the upper part of the thigh, 
one person holds the knee, and another the foot and 
leg as steadily as possible, while with the large knife 
the operator makes, an oblique incision round the 132 
limb, through the skin, and beginning at five or six 
inches below the knee-pan, and carrying it regularly 
round in such manner, that the cut will be lower 
down on the calf than in front of the leg. As much 
of the skin is then to be separated by the penknife 
as will cover the stump. When this is turned back, 
a second cut is to be made all round the limb and 
down to the bones, when with the narrow bladed 
knife, just mentioned, the flesh between them is to 
be divided. The middle piece of the leather strip 
is now to be pulled through between the bones, the 
whole being held back by the assistant, who supports 
the flaps while the bones are sawed, which should be 
so managed that the smaller one is completely cut 
through by the time the other is half so. The arte- 
ries are then to be taken up. the flap brought down 
and secured by adhesive plaster, ^c. as already di- 
rected.'' 
"Amputation of the Fore-Arm. 
"As the fore-arm has two bones io it, the narrow 
bladed knife, and the strip of linen with three tails, 
.are to be provided. The incision should be straight 
round the part, as in the arm, with this exception, 
complete it as directed for the preceding case," 
"Amputation of Fingers and Toes. 
"Draw the skin back, and make an incision round 
the finger, a little below the joint it is intended to 
remove, turn back a little flap to cover the stump, 
then cut down to the joint, bending it so that you 
can cut through the ligaments that connect the two 
bones, the under one first, then that on the side.- 
The head of the bone is then to be turned out, while 
you cut through the remaining soft part. If yeu see 
any artery spirt, tie it up-if not, bring down the 
flap and secure it by a strip ol sticking plaster, and 
a narrow bandage over the whole. 133 
"Remarks.-To prevent the troublesome conse- 
quences of secondary bleeding, before the strips of 
plaster are applied over the edges of the flap, give 
the patient, if he is faint, a little wine and water, 
and wait a few minutes to see whether the increased 
force it gives ter the circulation, will occasion a flow 
of blood; if it dots, secure the vessel it comes from. 
If there i« a considerable flow of blood from the hol- 
low of the bone, place a small cedar plug in it - 
Should violent spasms of the stump ensue, have it 
carefully held by assistants, and give the patient 
large doses of laudanum; it may, in fact, be laid 
down as a general rule, that after every operation of 
this kind, laudanum should be given in greater or 
less doses, as the patient may be in more or less 
pain." 
" Of Suspended Animation 
"From Drowning.-The common methods of rolb 
inga drowned person on a barrel,or holding them up 
by the heels, &c. are full of danger, and should never 
be permitted. If a spark of life should happen to 
remain, this violence would extinguish it forever.- 
As soon, therefore, as the body is found, consey it as 
gently as possible to the nearest house, strip it of the 
wet clothes, dry it well, and place it on a bed be- 
tween warm blankets, on the right side, with the 
head elevated by pillows. Every part is to be now 
well rubbed with flannels dipped in warm brandy, or 
spirits of any kind, while a warming pan, hot bricks, 
or bottles or bladders filled with warm water, are 
applied to the stomach, back, and soles of the feet. 
During these operations a certain number of the as- 
sistants (no more persons are to be allowed in tha 
room than are absolutely necessary) should try to 
inflate the lungs, by blowing through the nozzle of a. 
common bellows, or a pipe of any kind, placed 134 
one nostril, while the other with the mouth are kept 
closed. If a warm bath can be procured, place the 
body in it. Clysters of warm brandy and water, 
salt and water, or peppermint water may be injec- 
ted. 
•'All these operations, particularly robbing the 
body, and trying to inflate the lungs, should oe con- 
tinued for six or eight hours, and when the patient 
has come to himself, small q i*utities <f warm wine, 
wine-whey, brandy and water, &.c may be given to 
him from tima to time. If, after he has recovered, 
a stupor or drowsiness remains, (but not before,) 
sweat them. 
"Should the accident occur in winter, and the 
body feel cold, as if frozen, previously to applying 
warmth, rub it well with snow, ice, or very cold wa- 
ter. Above all things, remember that perseverance 
for many hours in the remedies pointed out, may 
give von the unspeakable pleasure of restoring a fel- 
low creature to life." After they have come too, give 
them a regular sweat. 
"If a limb is frost-bitten, the cokl applications used 
should be continued longer, and warmth be more 
gradually applied than when the whole body is fro- 
zen. Care should betaken to handle the parts care- 
fully, so as not to break off the ear, tip ot the nose, 
&.C. 
Dyspepsia. 
This complaint is frequently caused by too steady 
a use of coffee, or hard drink, though it is one spe* 
cies of stagnation of blood. It is worthy of notice, 
that coffee thickens the blood, and is one means of 
-stagnation whi^h should always be avoided in curing 
every species of stagnation. When the filth of the 
blood strikes in against the stomach, it affects that 
part which caufces the puking, and sotnelimea aflects 135 
the throat-This destroys the faculty of the sto* 
mach, so injurious is the discharge through the 
vents of the stomach. It is like all other stagnations 
-there is an over stock of gaslic juices, or a bitter 
sour in the stomach. I conclude that the cholera 
will operate nearly as harden the people ihat drink 
coffee to an excess, as on the drunkard. As I have 
named coffee as c.ne part of our diet that is injurious; 
I will name some others that ough> to be avoided in 
cleansing people's blood. One is butter, another is 
cabbage, and apples or cider, and peaches; and 
more especially if the fruit is green. These articles 
have often been in mv way. The symptom's of the 
dyspepsia is the tot a common cause, with sometimes 
a puking and pain, or unea-iness in the stomach; 
sometimes the throat is affected; the food doesnot 
lie right on the stomach. This s metimes brings on 
a consumption; if so, they both operate together. 
Fora cure, follow the same rule as in a consump- 
tion. Exercise is of great importance in tflis dis^ 
ease. 
INDIAN CUSTOMS AND DOCTORINGS. 
From my acquaintance with the different plans of 
Indian doctoring, I shall try to seiect such parts a« f 
consider most genuine and useful to lay before the 
readeis; as there are several plans that go under this 
name, weare left to conjecture what is genuine and 
what is not. If any of my readers should have a 
better knowledge of any particular point of this doc- 
toring than I have, I shall feel very much obliged to 
them to let me know: and if it should be found to 
bean advantage, I will recompense them, for my ob- 
ject is to get as near the substance of thte system as' 
possible. But I have compiled this work from va- 
rious ones, according to the best of my knowledge 136 
and ability. Tn point of customs, f have selectee 
from Dr, B. Rush's work on this subject, with my 
own acquaintance with them: and in point «f doctor- 
ing, I have learned moie from others. Dr. Richard 
Carter, of Kentucky, has given his own views of 
doctoring, but has not been so careful to give the 
views of Indians as he ought to have done, provided 
he was acquainted with them as he professed to be; 
and his work appears to Ire a mixture of medical 
doctoring, with his own inventions, and bordering in 
some degree on Indian doctoring, I have not learn- 
ed from it as much as fr®m some others; and in ex- 
amining the different systems, to select that part 
which I supposed to be Indian doctoring and cus- 
toms. J sometimes judge from the appearance or 
manner of it, and other times from the title or man- 
ner of language made use of. Roots and herbs that 
had an Indian name to them, I took for granted that 
the Indians used them. As Ido not suppose that 
mine is genuine in every point, 1 shall w ish persons 
to assist me to correct it, wherein it is wrong, though 
I fancy that the reader will find it as near correct, if 
not more so, than any other that is now in vogue. 
A great deal of the future health o man depends 
on his origination and rise in the world. A child 
born of healthy parents, and being exposed to the 
different elements, at or near 'ts birth. that is of cold 
water or air, with other changes, such children ge- 
nerally bring into the world a system formed »y na- 
ture to resist the cause of diseases. The treatment 
ot children among the Indians tends to secure this 
firmness of constitution, that becomes in some degree 
hereditary. To harden them against the inclemen- 
cy of the weather, some of them emerse theii chil- 
dren-in cold water frequently, and others expose 
them, to the cold when they are quite young, or 137 
bathe them in cold water; and to preserve their 
shape, they are tied to a board with their backs for 
several months, and live entirely on their mother's 
milk. The friction and speedy motion of the system 
and blood in infancy, forbid stimulating food of ail 
kinds. Nature never calls for animal food until she 
has proviiied the child with teeth which are necessa,- 
ry to chew. J am at a loss to express my views of 
the injury done in our country, as well as in the 
world in general, by living on si rong, stimulating diet 
and especially while young We may observe that 
there are but few cases of fits of any kind among 
families that live on light diet; and especially in 
childhood; their sensitive or mental faculties are 
generally more lively as well as the common motions 
of the body are more active; and they are more clear 
of ulcers, swellings, cancers and the like, with other 
advantages. The Indian children are frequently 
part naked in their common deportment in life, and 
either barefooted or wear a kind ot thin mockasin 
which is but little defence against water or cold; their 
tents partly open, and even sometimes without tents, 
and the tops of their heads are generally exposed to 
the elements; and living partly naked in this way, 
they frequently receive the showers of rain, commen- 
cing to wet the top of their heads and so penetrating 
down the body, which seldom has a had effect. In 
this way their constitutions are prepared tostand the 
inclemency of the weather; and what we call a had 
cold is almost a stranger among them. The diet of 
Indians are generally more fresh than ours, and 
wild animals are easier digested than tame ones. 
Their vegetables consist of roots and fruits, which 
are also easier digested; and in the warm seasons of 
the year, or at times that suit, they are employed ih 138 
fishing, and live mostly on them; but their way of 
eating them partly fresh does not stimulate the blood 
as they do with us. Although a great deal of our 
continent abounds with salt springs, yet 1 cannot find 
that the Indians ever used salt in their diet until 
they were instructed to do so by the Europeans. 
As animal food is not much stimulating without salt, 
consequently the body of their diet is not calculated 
to stimulate and inflame the blood as ours is, when 
we make use of animal food seasoned high with salt, 
pepper, and the like. And they have not such a 
mixture of diet as we have.- and it there is an infla- 
mation on the Outside of the body, they apply some* 
thing as simple as a poultice of pounded balsam, or 
elder leaves, or the bark. If it is of a poisonous na- 
ture, a poultice of pounded wild celandine, or wbat 
some call touch-me-not; and in each case occasionally 
bathe the part in cold water. If such means does 
not cure, different ways are taken to burn the place 
some by holding it near the fire, or by pouring hot 
ashes on it, or holding a piece, of spunk on the place 
while it is burning, and thus call it a burn and then 
put a poultice, something as simple as slippery elm 
bark; or if if inflames, bathe it repeatedly in cold 
water. They preserve their merits from putrefac- 
tion by cutting it into small pieces and exposing it to 
the sun in summer, and in the winter to frost; in one 
case it is dried, and in the other it is so frozen that 
it cannot putrify. In dressing their meats they are 
careful to preserve their juices. They generally 
prefer it in soups, therefore the use of the spoon pre- 
ceded that of the knife and fork. They take the 
same pains to pieserve the juices of their meat when 
they roast it; they turn it often, and not crowding it 
near the fire, but having it at such a distance off that 
spine persona would suppose, that it would neither 139 
yoasl nor cook at all. Thn brings me in mind of 
the many nights that we spent together during the 
last war; for an Indian would frequently roast my 
meat along with his, and for this purpose he would 
cut him a stick with not less than three forks, on 
which h.e would stick the meat, and set it at a pro- 
per distance from the fire, and in the course of the 
night he would have it cooked in the tenderest man- 
ner; and though 1 would see the process, yet I could 
not do it as well as himself.- in this way they pre- 
serve the juices. The efficacy of this animal juice 
in dissolving substances in the stomach has not been 
equaled by any of those soups or liquors which mod- 
ern luxury has mixed for that purpose. The Indians 
have no set time for eating, but obey the call of their 
appetite. After days spent in the chace or in war, 
they are apt to commit excess in eating: it is com- 
mon to see them spend several hours in satisfying 
their hunger. This is occasioned not so much on the 
account of the quantity they eat, as it is by the pains 
they take in chewing it. In this way they are 
brought to maturity and thus live, their constitutions 
thus prepared to stand the inclemency of the wealth 
er. The customs peculiar to the men consist chief- 
ly m such employments as are necessary topreserve 
life and defend their nation. These employments 
are hunting, fishing, and war, each of which are con- 
ducted in a manner that tend tu call forth every fibre 
and part of the body into exercise, and these means 
preserve health by rousing the blood into circulation; 
so it flows to the extreme parts of the body, and thus 
discharges the water and matter from it. Though 
these are rough means, yet they generally have a 
good effect. We proved the effect of such4 means 
while we were spies: we travelled frequently day 
and night through all kinds of weather, and frequent 140 
ly lay out, without fire the coldest rights in winter, 
and yet the army were more sickly than we were. 
In the time of plenty and peace, in war, uno more 
especially in victory, we see Indians rise into exer- 
cise and strike a dance, having little bells or heeds 
to their ankles, and instruments in their hands to 
make a noise, and parade round the flies in winter, 
and in summer round other objects, perhaps poles set 
upon forks, over which they mr ke motions, as though 
they would tomahawk or scalp one another, and try 
their activity to see how near they could sti ike at one 
anothei's head, and stil l miss it; and every few rounds 
round the fire, they generally raise a shout, and thus 
set the blood in a high state of circulation. 
The women or squaws generally stand or remain 
near one place in their dance and shuffle their feet, 
having a number of deers hoofs and the like fastened 
near the bottom of their garments while they make 
a low and rather a coarse noise. 
Weare told that they display their tnanhood and 
strength of mind by keeping at a distance from the 
female sex, or not acknowledging they care any 
thing about them when they are with them; and 
when they see proper to marry, which is not corn- 
monk till they are thirty years of age, they have 
but little to say on the subject till the business is com- 
pleted. They act partly like the Jews of old, they 
take themselves wives; by this means they avoid in 
a degree the effects of love which have buried many 
in difficulties, distress, and death. We can discover 
that they are not accustomed to complain when in- 
jured either in body or mind, and though the child 
is tied to a board, and it set up against a tree for 
hour« at a time, it scarcely con plains, and this is the 
case with them when they cnme toyears of maturity 
nnd old age-this is an advantage to their health. 141 
One custom peculiar to all savage nations, is to im- 
post heavy burdens upon their wives, and indeed on 
all their females. The female does principally all 
their druggery and domestic labors; this gives a firm 
ness to their bodies and strength to their constitu- 
tions. We are told that their mends seldom begin 
to flow before they are eighteen years of age and 
generally cease before they are forty*-they have 
them in small quantities, but at regular intervals- 
they seldom marry till they are above twenty. When 
marriages are unfruitful, which is seldom the case, 
a separation is obtained by means of an easy divorce; 
so that they are unacquainted with the disquietude 
which sometimes arise from barrenness. During 
pregnancy the women are excused from the more la- 
borious parts of their labor, hence miscarriages rare- 
ly happen among them. Nature is their only mid- 
wife; their labors are short, and accompained with 
little pain. Each woman is delivered in a private 
cahin, without so much as one of her own sex to at- 
tend her; and after washing herself in cold water, 
she returns in a few days to her usual employment, 
so that she knows nothing of those accidents which 
arise from delicacy, being shut up in a warm room 
for a month or two, which prepares the system to be 
tender and to take cold. It is remaikable that there 
is hardly a time or period between their marriage 
and the cessation of the mends in which they are not 
pregnant or giving suck. This is the most natural 
state of the constitution during that interval, and 
hence we often find it connected with the best state 
of health in the women of civilized nations. Here 
I will remark, that the savage women keep a stea- 
*In this they differ from other women which generally commen- 
ces between the ages of 14 and 15, and ceases between 45 and 50. 142 
dy exercise, but not to extremes, during pregnancyr 
which keeps the muscles »nd cords pliable and wil- 
ling to give way when nature shall demand these 
things. But in women who set still, and the blood 
becomes thick, the muscles and cords become par- 
tially set, and sometimes break before they will give 
way, or burst parts of the flesh, so it is necessary 
that women live on a moderate, weak diet and keep 
regular exercise, during pregnancy. Another cus- 
tom which is common with the male and sametimes 
attended to by the female-that of painting in the 
southern climates It is said they use grease with a 
kind of yellow stone, which is of rather a deeper col- 
or than their skin, to stop excessive perspii ation; but 
the northern Indians generally use I he stone or clay, 
and paint their foreheads and cheeks either all over 
or in streaks, which makes them look more savage 
than they otherwise would look. They are not sub- 
ject to so many passions, which disorder the body, 
as we are; anger is in a measure concealed and bu» 
ried-envy and ambition are in a measure excluded. 
As love is one of our passions, the Indian is guarded 
against it. "The weakness of love" says one "which 
is so much indulged in, in ages of humanity and po- 
liteness, is regarded among savages as the most un- 
pardonable weakness or loose pleasure," A young 
man would think himself disgraced forever if he 
showed the least preference of one woman above 
another, or did not express the most complete indif. 
ference both as to the time when, and the person to 
whom, he was to be married. Thus are they exempt 
from the violent and lastingdiseases whichaccompany 
the several stages of such passions in both sexes among 
civilized nations. 1 hinted above, that Indian's diet 
did not stimulate the blood as that of the whites, who 
live in luxuries and use salt in their diet. Here we 143 
have to remark, that since they became acquainted 
with the Europeans, they have become acquainted 
with spirits, and some of them appear to be f nd of 
It and use it to excess. Having made some remarks 
on the physical customs of the Indians, we shall pro- 
ceed now to inquire into their diseases, or the caus- 
es that produce diseases among them. The cus- 
tom among the indians of sleeping in the open air in 
the different climates, and the effect of heat and cold 
Upon their bodies, to which the warmth of their cab- 
ins expose them; their long marches, excessive ex- 
tercise their intemperance in eating, to which their 
long fasting and their public feasts naturally prompt 
them; and, lastly their habitations being most com- 
monly near the bank of some stre.im of water. 
These things make them subject to fevers, plueris'es 
and rheumatisms; these with the diaentary, consti- 
tute the greater part of their diseases, though they 
are subject to being poisoned both externally and ins 
ternally. The small pox and the venerial diseases 
were communicated to the Indians in North America 
by the Europeans, nor can I find they were subject 
to them before. They are seldom affected with the 
gout or scurvy, or any sedentary complaint, though 
they live a great deal on animal food, but are still in a 
degree exempt from salt,and those among them who 
drink to excess, do it more by spells, and are not 
accustomed to take it regularly or habitually from 
childhood. And as madness and craziness come in 
general from a fomentation of the blood, the Indians 
experience very little of it. The Indians make but a 
verj small account of worms-.they consider that they 
are natural or common to the body, and only operate 
with other diseases, though most animals are affected 
with them at certain times. But 1 am fully convin- 
ced that one half of the complaints that are charged 144 
to worms, are really wme other disorder; and the 
Indians appear to be but little affected with diseases 
and pains in the teeth. All the reason 1 could as- 
cribe for it, is that they go with the top of their head 
naked, and are hardened to the inclemency of the 
weather, and do not fake cold in ihe teeth: neither 
do their children suffer in cutting teeth like some of 
ours. Their practice subjects them to many acci- 
dents, such as wounds, and broken limbs, and bruises. 
This brings me in mind of a circumstance that took 
place when we were spying together, and there be- 
ing but a small company of us, we were all the time 
in danger of being attacked by the enemy, both by 
the Indians and the British; for this reason we were 
not allowed to talk or shoot after we got a few mnes 
from the camp, lest we should be found out. but 
march in silent order from eight to fourteea days at 
a time, and all the conversation was done by whis- 
pering to one another at a certain time. In one of 
our silent marches, along a narrow path, in single 
file, on the waters of Branch's Fork of Auglaize, we 
discovered a large bear a few yards from us, with hts 
head in a hollow stump; and being on the opposite 
side of the stump from us, he did not discover us, 
but was digging in the stump, which our net Indians 
discovered, and knowing that they were not al >wed 
to shoot, they layed down their guns and blankjpts, 
took their tomahawks in their hands, and made se- 
cretly to the stump; and as they weie preparing to 
strike round the stump, the bear pulled >ut his head 
suddenly and took off, with the Indians close on his 
heels, for forty rods at least. This was not the only 
case in which they were exposed to danger. B.ut J 
found they were willing to climb trees for raccoons 
and the like, even into the bm of the highest trees. 
But the n^ost fatal danger they are exposed to, is 145 
that of war. They are divided into many parties, 
and subdivided, and are so apt to war with one 
another, as well as with oth^r nations. By these 
means they subject themselves to a number of 
wounds, as well as a general declention among them. 
Having thus pointed out their natural diseases, I will 
make a few remarks on their remedies, which are 
simple ami few in number We find that in every 
nation fhey encourage the practice of physicians, 
and attend on their sick with success in a general 
point of view In case of fevers, which constitute 
almost half oi their disorders, they get some simple 
roots or herbs that they conclude will assist in curing 
the complaint, and generally make a tea of it, and 
drink it freely and sweat. They differ as to what 
roots they make use of; s 'me make use of Robbin's 
plantain root and tops alone; some the Indian turnip; 
some the cohush roots, though they are apt to mix 
several together, such as spice bush bark, angelico, 
cohush, Robbins plantain, &c. In one case I under- 
stood the Indian doctor mixed Robbin's plantain, 
cohush, Indian turnip, and wild ginger; though it is 
probable they have main others, such as the black 
snake root and the like. These likely are the most 
common medicines for fevers ofeveiy kind, as they 
treat them nearly alike, except low stagnated fe* 
vers, for which, possibly, they may use hotter medi- 
cines than they do for oihers, such as Indian turnip, 
henpepper, or prickly ash bark, though I am not 
fully satisfied that it is the case. But one thing is 
quite certain, that is, that thev make use of a cold 
bath in these fevers, after which the patient is wrap- 
ped up in bed, and goes through a sweat by drinking 
his teas. The Indian form of sweating in genera], 
which is used for a variety of complaints, is as fol- 146 
lows: the patient is placed in a close tent or wigwam, 
over a hole in the eat th, in which a hot stone is pla- 
ced, and water is gradually thrown upon this stone, 
which involves the patient in a cloud of vapor; this, 
with his drinking only of hi? teas, involves him in a 
free sweat. In this situation he rushes out and 
plunges himself into the water, from whence he re- 
tires to his bed, covers warm, drinks his teas, and 
sweats. Several such trials as this seldom fails in 
curing in a few days. Their diet is fresh in general 
and if the stomach is partly empty during the time, 
is nearly all the directions that are wanting. 
As the cohush is an Indian name, and 1 do not 
know the English name of this herb, it is necessary' 
to describe it, that the reader may know how to find 
it. It is a weed that h 'S some appearance of the 
rattle root, and often grows in the same kind of soil; 
it grows near two feet high, and about the month of 
July has a kind of bluish green balls on the top, near 
as large as the end of a man's finger; the roots arc 
what are used. It branches very much, and is near 
the size of a small wheal straw when it starts from 
the main root. 
Though the above cures are somewhat odd and 
rough, yet 1 have a favorable opinion of them from 
the good effect J have heard of it, but have never 
practiced them, and have not proved the virtues of 
the medicines they in general make use of. But 
the greatest scarecrow is going out of a sweat and 
plunging into cold water; though it may look dan- 
gerous, yet I am convinced there is no danger in it, 
provided the patient is thrown into a free sweat af- 
terwards. 
In dysentary,the rule is to give a tea of wild cher- 
ry bark, puccoon root and parsimmon hark. Wheth- 
er they make use of the yellow puccoon root or not, 147 
is a doubt with me; but (he sort I heard of was the 
red puccoon root-I once heard of crowfoot being 
made use of in this way. 1 once talked with a man 
who was cured of this disease by an Indian, and he 
stated that his diet was fresh fish; that salt was for-* 
bidden, and that he recovered immediately, though 
he had been very bad. 
Consumptions.-The rule is to make a tea of 
mountain sarsaparilla root and yellow puccoon root, 
and drinking some of this tea twice a day, and sweat 
once a day till they get partly well. I was told that 
an Indian undertook to cure a white man of the con- 
sumption, and sweat him once a day for three months. 
The diet should be fresh and light, and the patient 
stir as much as possib'e. 
The rule of taking medicine for every complaint, 
is to begin with a small quantity at first, and increase 
as the constitution will bear, until the patient takes a 
considerable portion at a time. Though they are 
like our own physicians, differing both in medicine 
and management, even in the same climate; but the 
substance is nearly the same as to our northern In* 
dians, except Richard Carter, of Kentucky, who has 
a plan that is different. They but seldom purge, and 
the means made use of are rattle root, epicuana, and 
boneset; though the latter sometimes purges, but 
commonly pukes. They commonly take them in 
teas, beginning with a small dose, and increase till it 
operates-make use of fresh broths with them. 
I do not find that the Indians ever have their feet 
frozen, their moccasins allowing their feet to move 
freely, and thereby promoting the circulation of the 
blood;this preserves their feet in the day time, and 
their practice of sleeping with their feet towards the 
fire, answers the purpose at night; and when the 
feet do not keep warm enough, they are stript and 148 
held a short time in cold water, and then put on their 
mockasinsand stir themselves again, which general- 
ly nswersthe purpose intended. 
Some have thought that Indians could regulate 
the urine; the common medicine for it is angelico 
root, chewed and swallowed, though some may 
make use of agramona root for the same. 
Some have thought that Indians could destroy poi- 
son, or the effect of it in the body, 1 suppose that 
their manner of doctoring in general, that is, to 
cause a free perspiration, has some effect in that 
way; but the means they make use of I have not 
tried sufficiently to know whether they will answer 
the purpose or not: one is rattle snakes1 master, tho' 
the principal one is wild celandine, or what some 
call touch-me-not, that is the tops pounded and ap- 
plied outwardly, or made into tea and taken inward- 
ly. I understand that some are very superstitious 
about the last-mentioned herb, and have even said 
that snakes cure themselves when bitten, by eating 
it. I heard tell of an Indian doctor who made use of 
a weed called the king-of poison, that is the root of 
it. I suppose that when applied outwardly, it was 
pounded; or, if inwardiv, made into tea and drank, 
though these rne^ns in general might be powdered 
and administered either outwardly or inwardly in 
that way. I am told that they use the hot plantain 
for a cure-and others bury the part bitten in the 
ground for a while. 
A great deal has been said about Indians curing 
stiff joints, and bringing persons' limbs into u*e that 
have been useless for a great length of time, by in- 
fusions of herbs or roots in warm water; and others, 
bv greasing the part with a certain kind of grease. 
It is worthy of notice that there are many joints and 
limbs that become stiff or useless for want of the 149 
pores being kept open, and sometimes the matter 
pait of the blood lodges in that part; and whatever 
tends to open the pores or dissolve and circulate this 
thick substance, is apt to bring the limb into use.- 
The most common things that this solution is to be 
made out of, is Indian turnip, henpepper, or weak 
lie. The part ought to be bathed in this infusion as 
warm as possible, half an hour at a time, twice a 
day, for two weeks at least, if the case requires, and 
be wrapped up warm through the intervals, and stir 
as much as possible, so as to keep the blood circula- 
ting; and if the patient is not able to stir about, the 
part ought to be severely rubbed as oPen as conve- 
nient; and if we grease with oil, the best kind of 
oils that I know of, ate rattle-snake's, bear's, pole- 
cat's, and red worm's oil. A person should grease 
with these twice a week for several weeks,and keep 
the part unusually warm, and exercise as much as 
possible, that the blood may circulate freely. The 
diet should be weak and fresh during the time of 
either of these processes; though s<>me have bathed 
the part in cold water, and afterwards wrapped it up 
warm at each interval, and so have kept the same 
directions as above. 
The waj to make the red worm oil.Put a num 
ber of worms in a phial or bott'e, and hang it near 
the fire, so as to keep it a little more than blood 
warm. 
Dr. Rush gives an account of Indians aiding na- 
ture in delivering a woman of her child, and of an 
Indian woman in a difficult labor being suddenly de- 
livered in consequence of a general convulsion im- 
posed upon the system by stopping for a short time 
her mouth and nose, so as to obstruct her breath. 
A ereat deal has been said about Indians curing 
the dropsy in the bodyThe rule is to take sumac. 150 
the bark of the root, or parsimmon bark, make a tea 
of them; but if any person should use the sumac, 
they ought .o be careful to use that sort that has a 
smooth bark, as the other is poison The patient 
ought to use a small quantity of this tea twice a 
day, and keep the stomach very empty, and go 
through a cold bath once a day till the disease 
abates. 
Dropsy in the blood:--Make a tea of the yellow 
sarsaparilla and cobush, and drink some of this tea 
twice a day, and make use of the cold bath once a 
day, and live on very low diet, or keep the stomach 
very emnty until the disease abates. 
Bruises, which are common among the Indians;-. 
Bathe the part in cold water half an hour, and draw 
blood Irom as near the place as is convenient, and 
poultice with pounded balsam. 
The Indians are not plagued with stagnations of 
blood as we ave; their long fasting tends to brace 
them against this disease, in giving nature time to 
discharge herself, and their severe exercise circu- 
lates the blood so freely, that it is another brace 
against the same complaint. 
They are seldom plagued with the scald head or 
scurvey complaints, for this reason-they are igno- 
rant about doctoring them, and probably would doc- 
tor them like they do some that will not be cured 
other ways, that is, to burn them out with a kind of 
costic, and doctor them as for burns. 
Rheumatisms are treated like fevers in some ca- 
ses, and others like stiff joints and limbs that have 
been mentioned. 
Pleurisies are treated like fevers in some cases. 
It is common for Indians to administer a cold bath 
in a number of cases of relaxation, consumption, fits 
and stagnated complaints, that if, among white peo- 151 
yde, as they have but few among themselves, and 
especially where the patient becomes stupid, as well 
as to their children, and even in old agf-; but their 
manner of administering it terminates in a ;ree sweat, 
by covering up warm afterwards, and drinking warm 
teas freely. 
"CASTOR OIL. 
"This is either imported from the West Indies, 
where it is o tained by decoction with water, 10 lbs. 
ol ^eed^ yielding 1 lb. of oil; or from the East Indies, 
where it is obtained by grinding in a mortar, with a 
hole in the side for the supernatant oil to run off, be- 
ing in common use there for lamp oil. Or, that 
made at home by the press, which is the best, espe- 
cially some that is prepared from cold^blanched 
seeds, with the eye taken out. Some chemists are 
said to take out the color from the foreign oils, by 
certain additions, and sell them for English, or. as it 
is called, cold dra*n castor oil. The virosity com- 
municated to the oil by the eyes of the seeds may 
be got rid of by washing the oil with boiling water, or 
with weak oil of vitriol. It is soluble in wai m spirit 
of wine,and itsadulteraiion may thusbe discovered, if 
thought necessary ; but as all the fat oils have nearly 
similar qualities, the taste is sufficient for practical 
purposes. li is purgative in doses from 1-2 an oz. to 
1 1-2 ozs. floated on some distilled water, or on wine; 
or if it does not usual!v stay well on the stomach, on 
some tincture of senna; or made into an emulsion 
with yolk of egg, and a little distilled water, with 20 
drops of lavender, and a tea-spoonful of simple sy- 
rup; it may also be used in clysters. It is particu- 
larly useful where a stimulant would be hurtful; as 
it operates quickly without disturbing the system;. 152 
-also externally in swelling pains. Contrary to most 
medi fines, on frequent repetition a less dose is suf- 
ficient ." 
"CHICKEN-POX. 
"Symptoms.-Fever, inanility to sleep, pain in 
different parts of the body, a crop of small pimples 
or points on the back, which, by the second day, are 
changed into little blisters, which are ripe on the 
third, and disappear before the fifth day, without 
fbrmingtrue pus or matter, and leaving no marks or 
pits behind them. 
"Distinguish it from the small-pox, by the erup- 
tion coming out on the back, by the mildness of the 
fever, by the fluid contained in the vehicles or blis- 
ters not being true pus, and by the whole falling off 
in scales on the fifth day. 
Treatment.-Confine the patient to his bed. keep 
him cool and quiet, and give him a dose of salts.-- 
This is all thatis necessary. 
"COW POX. 
"Symptoms-A pimple at the spot where the mat' 
ter was inserted, which gradually undergoes certain 
regular changes, that characterize the comptaint. 
"Changes of genuine Cow-Pox-On i he second 
day. or sooner, from the nme of the operation, a 
small speck of inflammation is to be perceived, 
which, on the fourth day, is a pimple, surrounded by 
a circle of inflammation On the fifth, ibis pimple 
changes to a vesicle containing a thin fluid On the 
sixth, this vesicle is more perfect, its margin form- 
ing a regular circle;it is also a little flattened on he 
top, the centre of which is of a dark color. On the 
eighth or ninth dav, Slight chills, flushes of heat &c. 
■are sometimes felt, accompanied by swelling of the 153 
pustule, and pains shooting up into the arm pit, the 
glands or kernels of which occasionally swell. 
"Oh the tenth or eleventh day, the pustule is sur- 
rounded by a circular, vivid, inflammatory blush, 
that is very beautiful. This is regarded as a deci- 
sive proof of the presence of the genuine cow-pox. 
On the elevanth day, the centre of the pustule be- 
gins to grow of a dark color, which gradually increa- 
ses to a brown or mahogany one by the end of the. 
second week, when it begins to leave the^skin, from 
which it is finally separated. 
"Treatment.-If the pain, inflammation, and swell- 
ing are excessive, reduce them by copious sweats, 
&c." 
'•SMALL-POX. 
"Symptoms.-Inflammatory fever, drowsiness, 
pain in the pit of the stomach, increased by pressure, 
pain in the back, vomiting, on the third day the 
eruption breaks out on the face, neck, and breast, in 
little red points that look like flea-bites, and which 
gradually appear over the whole body. On the fifth 
day, little round vesicles, filled with a transparent 
fluid, appear on the top of each pimple. The erup- 
tive fever now declines. On the ninth day the pus- 
tules are perfectly formed, being round and filled 
with a thick, yellow' matter, the head and face also 
swelling considerably. On the eleventh day, the 
matter in the pustules if- oradark yellow color, the 
head grows less, while the feet and hands begin to 
swell. The secondary fever now makesits appear- 
ance. The pustules break and dry up in scabs and 
crusts, which at last fall off, leaving pits, which suf- 
ficiently mark the cause. g 
"Such are the symptoms of the distinct or mild 154 
small-pox, but it frequently assumes a more terribh 
shape, in what is called the confluent. In the latter 
all the symptoms are more violent from the begin- 
ning. The fever is a typhus, there is a delerium 
preceded by great anxiety, heat, thirst, vomiting 
&c. The eruption is irregular, coming out on the 
second day in patches, the vesicles of which are flat- 
ted in, neither does the matter they contain turn to 
a yellow, but to a brown color. Instead of the fever 
going off on the appearance of the eruption, it is in- 
creased after the fifth day, and continues through- 
out the complaint. The face swells in a frightful 
manner, so as to close the eyes; sometimes putrid 
symptoms prevail from the commencement. 
"Treatment.-Place the patient in a cold, airy 
room, and let him be but lightly covered with bed 
clothes. Purge him every other day with salts, and 
give him frequent doses of No. 1 during the whole 
time. If from any cause the eruption strike? io, put 
him into the warm bath, give a little warm wine 
whey, or the wine alone, and apply blisters to the 
feet. Obstinate vomiting is to be quieted by the 
breath to a steam, and drinking hotangelico teas. 
"In the confluent small-pox, the treatment must be 
varied as it inclines more or less to the inflammatory 
or putrid type. If it inclines to the first,act as direc- 
ted for the distinct kind-if to the last, employ all 
those means directed in putrid fever. If the eyes 
are much affected, it will be necessary to bathe them 
frequently with warm milk, add to smear the lids 
with some simple ointment. 
"DIRECTIONS FOR BLEEDING. 
"Tie up t^p arm, placing the bandage at feast 
two inches above the projection of the elbow joints 
and then feel for the pulse at the wrist. If it is stop* 155 
ped, the bandage is too tight, and must be relaxed. 
Select the most prominent vein, and feel with the tip 
of the finger if an artery lies near it. If you feel 
one pulsation so close to the vein (hat you are fear- 
ful of wounding it, choose another Having set your 
lancet, (I allude of course to the spring lancet, |he 
only one that can be used withi safety,) bend the arm 
in the precise position it is to be kept in while the 
blood flows. The cutting edge of the lancet is now 
to be placed on the vein, while you depress the han- 
dle or frame just as much as you wish the cut to be 
deep; by touching the spring on the side with your 
thumb, the business is done. To stop the bleeding, 
relax the bandage/jpress the two edges of the wound 
together, place a little compress of linen on it, and 
bind up the whole with a bandage passing round the 
joint in a figure of eight." 
"ESSENTIAL AND OTHER OILS. 
11 Oil of Chamomile. 
"This is obtained from the flocvers, and is stora* 
achic. One pound will yield a drachm; 82 pounds 
will yield from 13 to 18 ounces. It is of a fine 
blue, even if distilled in glass vessels. 
" Oil of Mint, 
"Obtained from the dried plant; 6 pounds of fresh 
leaves willyield 3 1-2 drachms; and 4 lbs. dried will 
yield 1 12 ounce. It is stimulant, carminative, and 
antispasmodic. 
" Oil of Peppermint. 
"Obtained from the dried plant;4 pounds of the 
fresh herb will yield 3 drachms In general it re- 
quires rectification to render it bright and fine. It 
is stimulant and carminative. 
"Oil of Pennyroyal. 
"Obtained from tbe herb when in flower; 3pounds 
will yield 6 drachms; emmcnagogue. 156 
"Oil of Sassafras. 
''Obtained from the sassafras root; 24 pounds will 
yield 9 ounces; 30 pounds will yield 7 ounces and 
one drachm; and 6 pounds will yield two ounces." 
"Oil of Wormwood. 
"Obtained from the herb; stomachic; 25 pounds of 
green wormwood will yield from 6 to 10 dramchsof 
oil; 4 pounds of dry will yield one ounce, and 18 
pounds only 1 1*2 troy ounces. 
"Oil of Turpentine. 
"Distilled, in Europe, from common turpentine, 
with the addition of about six times as much water; 
but in America, where *he operation is carried on 
upon a very large scale, no water is added, and its 
accidental presence is even dreaded, lest it should 
produce a disruption of the distilling appai atus. 
"To rectify Oil of Turpentine. 
"Pour three parts of turpentine into a glass retort, 
capable of containing double the quantity of matter 
subjected to the experiment. Place this retort on a 
sand bath; and having adapted to it a receiver 5 or 6 
times as large, cement with paste made of flour and 
water, some bands of paper over the p'ace where 
the two vessels are joined. If the receiver is not 
tubulated, make a small hole with a pin in the bands 
of the cemented paper, to leave a free communica- 
tion between the exterior and interior of the recei- 
ver; then place over the retort a dome of baked 
earth, and maintain the fire in such a manner, as to 
make the essence and the water bail. 
"The receiver will become filled with abundance 
of vapors, composed of water and etherous essence, 
.which will condense the more readily if all the ra* 
diating heat of the furnace be intercepted by a plate 
of copper, or piece of board placed between the fur- 
nace and the receiver. When the mass of oil, sub* 157 
jected to experiment, has decreased nearly two 
thirds, the distillation must be stopped. Then leave 
the product at rest to facilitate the separation of 
the etherousoil. which is afterwards separated from 
the water, on which it floats, by means of a glass 
funnel, the beak of which is stopped by the finger. 
"This etherousoil is often milky, or merely nebu- 
lous, by the interposition of some aqueous parts, 
from which it may be separated hy a lew days' rest. 
The essence, thus prepared, possesses a great de- 
gree of mobility, and is exceedingly limpid. 
"Another Method.-The apparatus employed in 
the proceeding process may be used in the present 
case. Fill the retort two thirds with essence, and 
as the receiver is tubulated, apply to the tubulure a 
small square of paper moistened with saliva, to afford 
a free passage to the vapors. Graduate the fire in 
such a manner as to carry' on the distillation very 
slowly, until a little more than half the oil contained 
in the retort is obtained. Separate from the product 
a very small quantity of exceedingly acid and red- 
dish water, which passes at the same time as the 
etherous essence; by these means the operation is 
much shortened. The oil of turpentine which re^ 
mains in the retort is highly colored, and thicker 
than the primitive essence. It may be used for ex- 
tending fat, varnish for coarse oil painting. 
"Balsam of Turpentine, or Dutch Drops. 
"Obtained by distillingoil of turpentine in a glass 
retort, till a red balsam is left. 
"Or, by distilling rosin and separating the oils as 
they come over; first a white oil, then yellow, lastly 
a thick red oil, which is the balsam. It is stimulant, 
and diuretic. 
"OtZ of Tar. 
"Obtained by distilling tar; it is highly valued by 158 
painters, varnishers, &c., on account of its drying 
qualities; it soon thickens of itself, almost to a bal 
sam; the acid spirit that comes over? with it is use- 
ful for many purposes where an acid is wanted. 
"Rectified Oil-of Hartshorn, or Dippel's Oil. 
"Obtained from hartshorn, distilled without addi- 
tion, rectifying the oil, either by a slow distillation 
in a retort, &.c. no bigger than is necessary, 
and saving only the first portion that comes over, nr 
with water in a common still; it is very fine and thin, 
and must be kept in an opaque vessel, or io a draw- 
er, or dark place, as it is quickly discolored by light. 
It is antispasmodic, anodyne, and disphoretic, taken 
in doses of from 10 to 30 drops in water. 
"Japan Camphor. 
"This is obtained from the roots and shoots of (he 
laurus camphora and laurus cinnamomum, as also the 
capura carundu, by distillation with water. This 
crude camphor is refined by sublimation with one 
sixteenth of its weight of li ma, in a very gentle heat. 
"Camphor from Essential Oils. 
"Obtained from the oils of the labiate plants,by a 
careful distillation, without addition of one third of 
the oil; the residuum will be found to contain crys- 
tals of camphor, on separating which, and re Jistilling 
the remaining oil two or three times, the whole of 
the camphor may be obtained. Oil of rosmary or of 
sweet marjoram yields about 1 oz. of camphor from 
10 of oil; of the sage 1 oz. from 8; and of lavender 
1 oz. from 4, or even less of oil; that from oil the 
marjoram is not volatile, and although it takes fire, 
it soon goes out. This rosin, like the others from 
.essential oils, may be obtained in a large proportion, 
if the oil is kept in slightly stopped bottles in a cool 
place. 
"Spirit of Peppermint. 
"Take of the herb of peppermint, dried, 1 1-9 159 
ibs. proof spirit, 1 gallon, water, sufficient to pre- 
vent burning. Disul off a gallon. 
"To make Coral Tooth Powder. 
"Take 4ozs. of coral, reduced to an impalpable 
powder. 8 ozs Armenian bole, 1 oz. of Portugal snuff, 
1 oz, Havannah snuff, 1 oz of good burnt tobacco 
ashes, and 1 oz. of gum myrrh, well pulverized.- 
Mix them together, and sift them twice. 
"J good Tooth Powder. 
"To make a good tooth powder leave out the co- 
ral, and, in its place, put in pieces of brown stone 
ware, reduced to a very fine powder. This is the 
common way of making it. 
"An Astringent for the Teeth. 
"Take of fresh conserves of roses, 2 ozs. the juice 
of half a sour lemon, a little very rough claret, and 
6 ounces of coral tooth-powder. Make them into a 
paste, which put up in small pots; and if it dry by 
standing, moisten with lemon juice and wine, as be- 
fore. 
"To Prevent the Tooth-ache. 
"Rub well the teeth and gums with a hard tooth- 
brush, using the flowers of sulphur as a tooth pow- 
der, every night on going to bed; and if it is done af- 
ter dinner it will be best; 'his is an excellent pre- 
servative to the teeth, and void of any unpleasant 
smell. 
" To Clean the Teeth. 
"Take of good soft water, 1 quart, juice of lemon, 
2oz, burnt alum, 6 grains, common salt, 6 grains.- 
Mix. Boil them a minute in a cup, then strain and 
bottle for use; rub the teeth with a small bit of 
sponge tied to a stick, once a week. NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 
"We may admire that a v.tried edifice, or even a 
magnificent city, can be constructed of stone from 
one quarry; yet, far suroassing this, it is found that 
the inconceivably, more varied and magnificent fab- 
ric of the universe, with all its orders of phenomena, 
is of elements but a little more complex." 
The four words, Atom, Attraction, Repulsion, and 
Stubbornness, the reader's eye may be fixed on as 
four physical parts of nature, while we treat on 
them. 
1st. Atom-from the Greek word signifying that 
which cannot be further divided. The earth, as well 
as other bodies, are made up of such particles, and 
held together by attraction. 
2nd. Attraction-is that which draws substances 
together. 
3rd. Repulsion-is that which operates against 
attraction, and throws substances apart, as when 
heated water bursts into steam, or gunpowder ex- 
plodes. 
4th. Inertia-expresses the fact, that the atoms, 
in regard to motion, have about them what may be 
figuratively called a state-whatever it may be-in 
other words, that bodies neither acquire motion, nor 
lose motion, noi bend their course in motion, but in 
exact proportion to some force applied. 
It is worthy of notice, that in learning any thing, 
the scholar's eye should be fixed on all the connect- 
ing parts, and comprehend them in as small bounds 
as possible, so as to give a general view of the whole 
-as when a person is learning geography they 161 
should have a map of the whole world immediately 
before them, and as they examine any country they 
can connect it with the rest, having their courses 
and climates. 
The universe is built of very minute or small 
atoms, called matted, which by mutual attraction 
cling together in masses of various forms and sizes. 
The smallest substance which the human eye can 
see is still a mass of many atoms of matter, which 
may be separated from each other, or arranged dif* 
ferently ; still they cannot be destroyed or annihu 
lated. 
"A small mass of gold may be hammered into thin 
leaf, or drawn into fine wire, or cut into almost in- 
visible parts, or liquified in a crucible,or dissolved 
m acid, or dissipated bv intense heat into vapours, 
yet after any and all of these changes, the atoms can 
be collected again to form the original gold, without 
the slightest diminution." And all the substances or 
elements of which our glnbe is composed, may thus 
be cut, torn, bruised, ground, &c. a thousand times, 
but are always recoverable as perfect as at first. 
"And with respect to delicate combinations of these 
elements, such as exist in animal and vegetable sub* 
stances, although it be beyond human art originally 
to produce or even closely to imitate many of them, 
still in their decomposition and apparent destruc- 
tion, the accomplished chemist of the present day 
does not loose a single atom. The coal which burns 
in his apparatus, until only a little ash remains be- 
hind, or the wax taper which seems to vanish alto- 
gether in flame, or the portion of animal flesh which 
putrifies, and gradually dries up and disappears - 
present to us phenomena which are now proved to 
be only changes of connection and arrangement,. 162 
^ngong the indestructible ultimate atoms, and the 
chemist can offer all the elements again mixed or 
separate, as desired, for any of the useful purposes 
to which they are severally applicable. 
"A grain ot blue vitriol, w carmine, will tinge a 
gallon of water so that in every drop the color may 
be perceived." 
The buzzard smells his food at a considerable dis* 
tance, and that is done by Small atoms flying in the 
air. 
Any substance when sufficiently heated, rises as 
invisible vapour. Great heat, therefore, would 
cause the whole of the material universe to disap- 
pear, the most solid bodies becoming as invisible a» 
the air we breathe in. 
Mutual Attraction.-The earth, though it is made 
up of many different materials and elements, accord- 
ing to a geographical description, is said to be round; 
the sun, moon, and stars, or heavenly bodies, are ak 
so round, as well as the thousand instances of melted 
metal that gather into round substances, like the 
lead allowed to rain down from an elevated seive, 
which, by cooling as it descends, retains the form of 
its liquid drops, and becomes the shot lead to shoot 
with; as well as the rain drops, dew drops, and 
»<lrops of mercury, gather in round substances. 
Thus a plummet suspended near the side of a 
mountain, is drawn toward it in a degree proportion- 
ed to the size of the mountain by the sicje of the 
earth, and the reason why the plummet tends more 
toward the earth, than the mountain, is because the 
earth is larger than the mountain. 
Logs of wood, floating io water, approach each 
other, and afterwards generally remain together.- 
The wreck of a ship, in a smooth sea, after a storm 163 
is often seen gathered into heaps. »-These things 
show the power of attraction. 
"The cause of the extraordinary phenomenon 
which we call attraction, acts at all distances. The 
moon, thd' two hundred and forty thousand milesfrom 
the earth, by her attraction raises the water of the 
ocean under her, and forms what we call the tide. 
The sun, still further off', has a similar influence; and 
when the sun and moon act in the same direction, we 
have the spring tides. The plannets are so far dis* 
tant that they appear to us little wandering points in 
the heavens, yet by their attraction effect the mos 
tion of our earth in her orbit, quickening it when she 
is approaching them, and retarding it when she is 
receding. 
The attraction is greater the nearer the bodies 
are to each other, and less as they get off farther. 
Like the light'ofa candle, that close by appears very 
evident, but grows dimmer as we get further off. 
Thus, a board an inch square, one foot from a light, 
just covers a board of two inches, two feetoff, and so in- 
creases as we get further off; and as the light spreads 
over more surface it grows weaker, in proportion to 
the surface that it covers. Light and attraction act 
alike in this sense. "What weighs 1000 pounds at 
the sea shore, weighs five pounds less at the top of> 
a mountain of a certain height, or raised in a balloon 
-as is proved experimentally by a spring ballance 
-and at the distance of the moon the weight or 
force toward the earth of 1000 pounds is diminished 
to five ounces, as is proved by astronomical tests." 
"Attraction has received different names as it is 
found acting under different circumstance. The 
chief distinctions are gravitation, cohesion, capillary 
and chemical attraction " 
Gravitation is the name given to it when it acts &» 164 
a great distance. Cohesion is the name given when C 
acts at a very short distance, as in keeping the atoms 
of a mass together. Attraction is called capillary when 
it acts between a liquid and a solid, which has tubes 
or pores-attraction has received the name of Chemi- 
cal attraction when it unites the atoms of two or 
more distinct substances into one perfect compound. 
Di; Arnott says-"It might appear at first sight 
that it cannot be the same cause which draws a piece 
of iron to the earth with the moderate force, called 
its weight, and which maintains the constituent 
atoms of the iron in such strong cohesion; but when 
we recollect that attraction is stronger as the sub- 
stances are nearer to each other, the difficulty va- 
nishes. Atoms, in absolute contact, would be a mil- 
lion times, nay, infinitely nearer to each other, than 
when only a quarter of an inch apart; and, therefore, 
when the heat among the atoms of any cohering 
mass allows them to approach near, they must at- 
tract mutually with great force." 
I would not offer to contradict the doctor in these 
last remarks, yet I possess some small doubts wheth- 
er every thing that is stated in this last point is cor- 
rect. One is, whether the word inJinite would apply 
in that place; and another is, whether it is not the 
kind of metal that maintains the strength as well as 
atoms, being close together, though he might argue 
that this was the reason why it was stronger, that 
the atoms were closer than other metal-though he 
has brought forward many more evidences, that 1 
have not room in this piece to quote. 
"Were it not, then, because the surfaces of bodies 
are in general so very rough and irregular^ that if 
applied to each other the> can only touch, perhaps, 
m four or five point; out ofa million, which the surface 
contains, bodies would invariably stick together, or 165 
cohering by any accidental contact, the effect ofar- 
tifi( ially smoothing the touching surfaces, is seen in 
the following examples. 
"Similar portions being cut off with a clean knife 
from two leaden bullets, and the fresh surfaces being 
brought into contact with a light turning pressure, 
the bullets oohere almost as if they had been origi- 
nally cast together. 
Two small, of perfectly smootU-plates of glass or 
marble, laid upon each other, adhere with great 
force; and, indeed, so do most well polished flat sur- 
faces. 
Repulsion is often effected by heat. Were there 
only atoms and attraction,as has been explained, the 
whole material of creation would rush into close 
contact, forming one huge solid mass of stillness 
and death. But there is also heat which coun- 
teracts attraction. When a continued addition of 
heat is made to any substance, it gradually increases 
the mutual distance of the constituent atoms, or di- 
lates the body a solid; thus is first softened, then 
melted, or fused, that is to say, reduced to the state 
of liquid, as the cohesion attraction is overcome.- 
And lastly, the atoms are repelled to still greater dis- 
tances, so that the substance is converted into elas- 
tic fluid or air. Abstraction of heat from such air, 
causes a return of states into the reverse order. Ice, 
when heated, thus becomes water, and the water 
when heated further becomes steam, when cooled 
again becomes water as before, and the water be- 
comes ice. Other substances are similarly effected 
by heat: but as all have different relations to it, some, 
requiring much more heat for liquefaction, and 
some very little We therefore have that beautiful 
variety of solids, liquids, aqd air, which makes up 
our external nature. For instance, a rod of iron 166 
which, when cold, will pass through a certain open4- 
ing, and will lie lengthwise between two fixed points; 
bur when heated, becomes toothick and too long to 
do either. The common thermometer for measuring 
the degrees of heat, is a glass filled with mercury 
or other fluid, and having a narrow tube rising from 
it, into which the fluid ascends on being expanded by 
heat, and so makes the degree 
A bladder of cold air, on being heated, becomes 
tight, and in certain cases will burst. 
As different materials require a different degree of 
heat to dissolve them, so gold requires 5000 degrees, 
lead 600, ice 32, &c ; and if heating be afterw irds 
continued,most things at certain higher temperatures 
suddenly expand again to many times the present 
size, until the liquid becomes airiform fluid. One 
pint of water, driven off as steam from the boiler of 
a low pressure steam engine, fills a space of nearly 
'2000 pints. On the earth, near the equator, com* 
mon sealing wax will not retain impressions, but is 
oil in the day, and a soft solid at night; and tallow 
candles cannot be used: and near our pole in winter 
the water is hard, and so are the different oils; thus 
we see that heat causes repulsion, as well as wind, 
water or fire, when pressed, will explode, as well as 
gunpowder. These are the most common means of 
repulsian. 
Were there no motion in the universe, it would be 
dead-it would be without the rising or setting sun- 
or rivers flowing-or circulation of wind-and there 
would be neither sounds nor light, or animal exis- 
tence. Motion is only understood by comparing one 
■object with others, and perhaps the other objects are 
in motion at the same time. This earth is thought 
to have three motions when compared with the 
heavenly bodies. One is the motion of a circuit 167 
round the son every year; another is rolling over 
every twenty-four hours; and the third is rocking 
toward the sun and from it once a year. 
Life and motion are closely connected. The 
blood, which is the life, is in a perpetual motion as 
long as life is known in man or beast, and even in 
fish, foul or insects. 1 ask, where dore find life 
without motion? We may say, nowhere. Then, 
where does the argument arise, that people must not 
stir nor exercise, or they will bring on the disease 
again7 We may say, not from the laws of life, but 
rather from the laws of death. Then, according to 
the laws that have been explained, if attraction 
draws substances together, this agrees with that 
part of the system that humors, flocking together, 
and settling together in the body, and also, that the 
maiter or gluten of the blood gather into bodies, and 
thus checks the organs or blood vessels. This 
is a common cause of disease. If that law, called 
Repulsion, disperses bodies (and it is mostly eflectefl 
by heat,) as is believed, according to the laws of na- 
ture, this agrees with the system which states that 
heatdiives diseases, as well as those thick substan- 
ces which are m the blood; therefore it ought to be ap- 
plied to the whole body, but more particularly to the 
inside-that is, by steam, which goes to the heart 
and lights, and hot teas on the stomach. This will 
drive diseases out towards the surface of the hody. 
Law of Inertia.-That bodies tend to continue in 
the state of motion, or of rest, in which they happen 
to be, so as to render force necessary to change, the 
state, is seen in, the following facts. The scientific 
term used to express this law is Inertia-but some- 
times the words obstinacy and stulfiornness have been 
substituted for explanation. When the sails of a 
ship are first spread to receive the foroe of the 168 
'wind, the vessel does not get in full speed at onee, 
but slowly, as the continued force gradually over- 
comes the inertia of her mass. If the sails are, after 
she gets in speed, suddenly taken down, she does not 
lose her speed at once, hut slowly again, as the con- 
tinued resisting force of the water destroys it. Hor- 
ses must make a greater effort at first to put a carri- 
age into motion than to maintain the motion after- 
wards, and a strong effort is lequired to stop a mov- 
ing carriage. When a carriage body, hanging with 
springs, first begins to move, the body of it appears 
to fall back, and a person within seems to be sud- 
denly thrown against the back cushion. When the 
car riage stops again the body swings forward. A 
bad rider on horse-back may be left behind when 
his horse darts off suddenly, or* may be thrown off 
on one side by the horse starting to the other. A 
horse at speed stopping suddenly, often sends his ri- 
der over his head A man setting in a ship cabin, 
where the air that is on the outside has no communi- 
cation, though the ship may move forward ten miles 
an hour, he scarcely knows whether it is going for- 
ward or backward, or at rest. If he throws up a 
ball it will fall back, just as if he '*as on the land.- 
This shows that the ball has relative motion with 
the ship-and though the man may have all the fur- 
niture with hirn that he could wish, he cannot disco- 
ver from any thing inside of the cabin that the ship 
is moving. Thus we may be enclosed inside of 
this atmosphere, while the earth moves as rapidly as 
it is said to do, and we be insensible ef it. Many 
more circumstances might be numerated; but these 
may suffice to show the law of stubbornness. 169 
The author takes the liberty to state, that in ad- 
dition to the means that have been laid down for the 
cure of the consumption, he has applied large 
plasters of No. 6 on the back of a number of persons, 
and when they have sweat so free that the plasters 
have slipped off, he has renewed them till the pa- 
tient got well; and in the course of the last year 
there has been about 25 professed to be cured of 
the above disease. 
I have observed that among those persons who 
have purchased my rights, there are some of almost 
everv order; some medical men, some Thompson 
nians, Indian doctors, (so called) Water doctors, Bo- 
tanical, &c. as well as a considerable number that 
never have been doctors at all; each possessing, m 
a greater or less degree, their habitual prejudices; 
yet there has been almost universal harmony and 
friendship among them, though many of them differ 
widely in their religious and political sentiments. 
This philanthropic spirit has prevailed to a great 
extent. But those who have kept nearest the sys- 
tem have generally had the best luck. Some have 
given the emetic in warm weak lie, instead of cold, 
and then complained of it not operating right. But 
1 have not heard of any complaint where it has been 
given right, tho1 we should use the second species. 
And I have not heard of many changes for the better. 
Here I notice, that when No. 4 is used for cleansing 
the blood, or enlivening the bowels by repeated por- 
tions at any time, let it he of the second species; but 
if it is given for worms, let it be of the first species. 
As this system t/dl likely be deterred by some of 
the state laws which are unconstitutional, I will re- 
mark, that in contending with them, we should al- 
ways refer to the constitution of the State, or the 170 
United States. One point is, that there shall be no 
law made that shall destroy the validity of any con 
tract. Another point, that there shall be no law 
made that a person shall have something for nothing, 
These are common points; and eveiy officer, when 
sworn into office, is bound to support the Constitution 
of the United States. And one point in the Consti- 
tution is, to grant patents. Hence they are to sup- 
port the Patent Law, but they are not bound to sup- 
port unconstitutional laws. 
The general means for cures or common proces- 
ses, as are laid down in the book, has been applied 
to women for the lise and obstruction of the mends 
toadvantage, and they have been applied to women 
in almost every stage of pregnancy without danger. 
ERR ATAS. 
In 3d page 8th line,for underneath the pages,read some of the pa- 
ges In page 38, 35th line, ought to read 1400 ;& l70 for the con- 
sumption. In page 98, 23d line, ought to read, repeat this three 
nights in succession. In 58th page, 29th Jine ought to read, the 
second species of No. 4. In page, 102nd, 8th line, ought to read, 
the first species of No. 4. 
Persons writing to me will please direct their 
Utters to Chillicothe, Ohio. INDEX, 
Ague - - . 62 
A regular course of Medicine - - 56 
Amputation, or cutting off a limb - - 127 
Atom - - - 161 
Attraction . 13, 162 
A regular sweat - 57, 58 
A regular set of Medicines - - 55,56 
Apoplectic Fit - « 85 
Against Purging with Poison - - 38,47 
A second way of cleansing the Blood - 58 
Bold Hives or Croup - - 70 
Broken Bones - - 105 
Circulation of the Blood - - 17 
of the Blood in the Arteries - - 20 
of the Blood through the capillaries - 22 
of the Blood in the Veins - - 24 
of the Blood in a more simple way - 31 
Camphor _ - - 158 
Componant parts of the Blood - 43 
Cholic - - .72 
Compound accident * - 127 
CastorOil - 151 
Chicken Pox - - - 152 
Cow Pox - 152 
Consumption - 75,98,169 
Cholera - - - 81 
Convulsion Fits - - - 88 
Costiveness - - - 71 
Cancer - 93, 103 
Cramp - - - 98 
Concussion and Compression of the Brain - 106 
Copy of the Patent - - 49 
Directions for Bleeding - - 154 
Diet - - - 61 
Dyssentary - - - 83 
Dislocations - 122 
Dropsy in the Blood - - 94- 
in the Head - • 95> 172 
Dyspepsia » - - 134 
Drowning - - _ 133 
Emetic or Puke - - - 51,55 
Education - - - 7 
Fomentary Fever - - 86 
Flooding ... 100 
Fractures - - - 114 
Felling and Stone Bruises - 97 
Gravel - - - 91 
Headache - - - 92 
Humor in the Feet - - 99 
Improvement of Man - - 1 
Indian Doctoring - - 135, 145 
King's Evil - - - 93 
Lockjaw - - - 97 
Motion - - - 166 
Measles - - - 94 
Mumps - - - 94 
Natural Philosophy - - 7, 160 
Obstruction of the mends - - 170 
Oils of Mint - - • 155 
Pulse - - - 29 
Piles - - - 98 
Pleurisy - - - 96 
Remarks by the Author - - 169 
Rheumatism - - - 95 
Repulsion ... 14,165 
Scalded Head - •- - 99 
Surgery - 103 
Scarlet Fever - - - 88 
Small-Pox - - 153 
Stagnated Fit - - - 89 
Stagnation - - - 87 
Tetterworm ... 102 
Typhus Fever or common cause - - 64, 69 
Ulcers and Phthisic - - 98 
Worms . . - 101 
White swelling - - - 102 
Weak stomach - - - 102 
Wounds - - - 107 
bellow Fever - - - 88 Remarks on Females. 
The organization of women differ from men in 
certain points; but I shall only show the general 
cause of their disease and manner of cure. 
The most principle obstruction that is the cause 
of disease is the two small canals that convey fluids 
to the womb. These small canals are easily ob- 
structed. They are sometimes obstructed by cold, 
but most generally by two much matter in the blood 
or common cause. When these canals fail to dis- 
charge their fluids periodically, this fluid sometimes 
is thrown back into the other parts of the body, and 
the general course of all the fluids is deranged; and 
cold chills or hot flashes, swimming in the head, or 
strange feelings are felt by the patient; nature makes 
almost perpetual trials to discharge this substance; 
it is most apt to be thrown to the discharges of the 
body, as nature always throws her filth wherever she 
finds a place of discharge.' This substance some- 
times gathers up and festers round the womb or 
rectum; but other times it forms sores on the sur- 
face of the body. I have known some that were a 
long time obstructed, and the disease became a 
kingsevil, and others whose lungs became effected,, 
and the disease became a consumption. But the 
most common cases where women are irregular, it 
forms sores round the womb, or stagnation of blood, 
and generally, if sores, they are formed on the hip 
joint, or between the hip and kidney, these sores of- 
ten settle and obstruct the main arteries in a great 
measure, and thus disturbs the whole circulation of 2 
blood. When women arc plagued with the whites, 
this fluid is detain d in the parts too long, or there 
are sores that matters and runs this substance; when 
they have discharges of black or dark substance, it is 
either by a fester or bruise, or a quantity of blood has 
lodged in the parts and become this color; when it 
is blood, it is more natural, because there are many 
small blood vessels that h.ive a close connexion with 
the parts-this is the reason why they are so apt to 
flood. Sometimes flooding is produced by large 
sores in those parts, though all these complaints are 
most generally from one common cause, as is de- 
scribed in the Book of Remedies, viz:-a stagnation 
of blood. 
It will be found that exercise on foot is of primary 
importance. 1 have often remarked that the mistress 
is often unwell, while the cook and wash-woman are 
generally hearty; because the foamer sets and sews, 
and the like, while the latter is generally on foot, 
which commonly keeps these vents of the body open. 
To young women that have felt some symptoms 
and never had any discharge, or to young women 
generally, I Will give some advice, and also to their 
parents. Girls most generally have their first dis- 
charge about 14 or 13 years old; and to prepare them 
for this time, they ought to be set at some kind of 
business, at twelve years old, that will tend to keep 
them on foot as much as posible; let them take the 
free air; and if they become very warm or sweaty, 
they ought to cool off very gradually; and when they 
come near their time, give them a tea-spoonful of 
pulvctized brimstone every few days, and drink a 
small quantity of sassafras tea aft w times. If these 
means do not answer the purpose against they arc 3 
15 years old, take them through a regular course of 
medicine; and every few days give them some brim' 
stone, or Nos.l and 2, which will be better, and take 
them through a regular sweat; and continue the 
exercise, being dressed warm. There are very few 
who have been accustomed to work in the corn-field 
at this age that are unwell. Many parents, when 
they find their daughters unwell, keep them close in 
the house, and set them to sewing or knitting, and 
thus injure their health; instead of setting them to 
running at the big wheel, or some other lively excr- 
crcise- 
There has been a great number of women that 
have come to me to be cured, that have been ob- 
structed from three months to four years, and I dont 
know of one who has pursued the rules right, but 
have been cured. I have attended several who were 
expected to die every day, and others who have 
turned spotted in the face, but they have all been 
cured; but women that are already affected with a 
disease of this nature, should take a regular course 
of medicine, as is laid down in the Book of Reme- 
dies, and when there are sores in the department of 
the womb, make a solution of elder bark, sulphur, 
a small portion of tobacco, and water blood warm, 
and use a syringe to throw a small portion up into 
the womb, two or three times a day till they get bet- 
ter; and after the regular course of medicine, they 
should take a regular sweat once in two or three 
days, till well; but when women are already weak- 
ened with this or any disease, they are not certain 
to be regular till they get well otherways; then,when 
nature gets harnessed with nervis power, it will 
caixy on its own revolutions. While the person is 4 
going thro1 the processes above mentioned, after the 
first 3 days, in which they are to keep their stomachs 
partly empty. It will be well for them to keep fast 
once a week, so as not to eat any thing from over 
night till the turn of the next day; and keep the 
stomach rather empty, so as not to eat their satisfac- 
tion during the whole time, till well; and wearing a 
large plaster of No. 6 round the loins, aud also be- 
tween the shoulders, will generally be an advantage; 
and the person should live on a light watery diet dur- 
ing the whole time. But the greatest difficulty or 
most common one, is with girls about the time they 
become women. From the time they are twelve 
years old till they become women, they ought not to 
sit and sew, or sit at any business any more than 
could be helped; but allow them a free excercise on 
foot, as steady as possible: now is the time for them 
to lay in a store of health that may be good during 
life. The system should now be made acquainted 
with the inclemency of the weather, and nature will 
do her own business. In cases of pregnancy, women 
ought to live on a light diet, and keep up a steady 
exercise, which is an advantage; and if they feel 
symptoms of abortion, they should drink tansey tea 
-if they have weakly constitutions, they might 
drink some spikenard root tea, or chew the roots and 
swallow the substance, or take nerve powders occa- 
sionally. The womb falling complaint may often be 
helped by taking nerve powders. But when these 
means do not help ia a few weeks, the woman should 
take a regular course of medicine, to cleanse the 
blood, and afterwards take nerve powders,one or two 
doses a day, till well. But while a person is going 
through a regular course of medicine they will be 5 
worse, but this should not discourage them; -they 
should continue the course, and then commence 
taking nerve powders. But in this last disease, 
namely, womb falling complaint, it comes from a 
weakness of the nervous system. The patient should 
not drink store tea, because it is nervous; they might 
use weak coffee and nourishing food. Place a large 
plaster of No. 6 on their backs, as high up as the 
shoulder blades. 
FLOODING. 
This often takes place from sores in the womb 
-department, as the blood vessels and big arteries 
have a close connexion with the parts. If it takes 
place from sores, there is generally asen.se of it felt, 
that is a soreness round the parts. When it takes 
place from a sore, or any vessel being broken in the 
parts, we should place a large plaster of No. 6 over 
the back as high as the shoulder blades, and one over 
the sore place: keep the patient's body in a level posi- 
tion and cool til) it abates: giving large doses of nerve 
powders; & in the intermission between the natural 
courses, take them through a regular course of med- 
icine. continue large plasters of No. 6, and inject up 
into the womb a solution made of the 4th species of 
No. 2, by putting the powders in warm water: this 
species is mentioned in the Book of Remedies, in 
the last process for the consumption; and after the 
regular course, give one or two tea spoonsful of 
nerve powder a day. Sometimes it takes place when 
there is no sore; when the blood is very thin it leaks 6 
out at the natural discharges of the body, or other' 
parts, because these blood vessels have a close con- 
nection with the parts. 
Other times, the mouths of the bleeding vessels 
arc opened by the child when pregnant, and causes 
a flooding. But it is worthy of notice, that when 
people are effected with a common cause, the three 
parts of the blood gits separte in the body, and the 
thin part runs oft' in this way; yet if the blood was 
rightly mixed it would be very thick. But in all cases 
of flooding the patient's body should be kept cool 
and laid in a level position, and give them several 
doses of nerve powders; and if it continues, tie gai- 
ters round the limbs till it abates. If it comes from 
a common cause, or a stagnation of blood, they will 
have the symptoms of a common cause; if so, be- 
tween the natural courses, or at the time when it is 
finally abated, take the patient through a regular 
course of medicine, and place a large plaster of No. 
6 over the back, and give No. 5 in the time of flood- 
ing; and have them dress warm and take as much 
exercise as possible. But that species of flooding 
that comes on women in pregnancy, that is, while 
the foetus or unborn child crowds the p irts.they open 
the mouths of the bleeding vessels, and while 
those vessels are on the stretch, and the blood thin 
or stagnated, they commence bleeding; if this is the 
case, and it cannot bestopped by some of the means 
that have been mentioned-as those means seldom 
have a bad effect on pregnant women, or any others 
-then we may know that the vessels are kept open 
or stretched more than they can bear. It will be ne- 
cessary, in this case to deliver the woman as soon as 
possible. 7 
1 shall now make mention of Dr. Edward Rigby, of 
Norwich in Europe. He gives a narative of upwards 
of forty cases of profuse flooding in pregnancy, nd 
by delivering the women there lives were principally 
saved. I shall make a few explanatory remarks on 
this subject. 
No circumstance that attends parturition or preg- 
nancy exposes women to so much danger as profuse 
llermorages or flooding. Towards the latter end of 
pregnancy, ami more especially in the time of 1 bor, 
the art of midwifery is in no instance more at a loss 
for means to relieve the patient. The treatment of 
floodings that come on before the utrius has acquired 
any considerable size, must be considered not dan- 
gerous, if they use such medicine and management, 
as have been mentioned, it will commonly abate, and 
the woman go on to her full time. If it should con- 
tinue, the small child and secondinis will be apt to 
puss oft', and then the utirus will be apt to contract, 
And thereby close the mouths of the bleeding ves- 
seis. The'midwife has- nothing to do in these cases. 
But that flooding that precedes the delivery of the 
full grown child, when the utirus has arrived at its 
greatest stretch and the vessels have required their 
greatest magnitude, must be ever highly dmg. rous: 
being more profuse and more d fticult to guppr ss. 
in proport ion to the increased size of the vess 1 q n- 
asmuch that the number of instances in which they 
have unhappily proved fatal, is very considerabl . 1 
will just name the case and give a few expl natory 
remarks, and leave it to the judgment of the practi- 
tioner. 
Dr. Rigby generally introduced his hand nto t te 
utirus^ if possible, and also into, the moudi of dir 8 
womb and turned (he child, and delivered the woman 
as soon as possible; and after clearing her, the parts 
would generally contract, and stop the mouths of the 
bleeding vessels. But before he could deliver wo- 
men, he broke the membrane generally with his nail 
or some instrument; though it is not safe to break 
the membrane or the part that surrounds the child, 
until the mouth of the womb is sufficiently enlarged, 
that the child can pass, as these are some of nature's 
means to enlarge the parts. But if the parts are 
sufficiently opened, so that the head can pass, it is 
likely that the child could be extracated or the wo- 
man delivered. Dr. R. thinks that, it is the best 
chance, after some other means have been tried, 
that if the parts are sufficiently enlarged it can be 
done at any time during pregnancy. But as it is a 
branch of business 1 have practised but very little, I 
shall therefore leave it to the judgment of the 
practitioner. 
The next, thing J shall mention, is women when 
on the decline of life. Their menstrual discharges 
commences at 14 and ceases about 47. In the cessa- 
tion of this discharge, nature seems to be combined 
with this surplus fluid; it sometimes produces sores 
over the body, and others it effects inwardly. But if 
the women generally would live on light diet from 
the time they are 44, keep fast once a week from 
over night till the turt) of the next, day, and take a 
dose of Nos. 1 and 2 once a week, it would have a 
good elr ct; but any time when women are in the 
decline of life and feel unwell, let them take two or 9 
three doses of Nos.1 and 2, and take a regular sweat 
once in two or three days, and wear a large plaster 
of No. 6 round the loins; it generally will relieve 
them: exercise on foot is also good, and to wear 
flannel next the skin is good. If they baffle the dis- 
ease till they are fifty-five, they generally are more 
healthy than ever. But if during the time from 45 
to 55, the woman has sores outside or in, or any 
other convulsions of the blood, let them take a regu- 
lar course of medicine, and regulate their diet as 
msual; it generally will cure. 
Receipt to Make No. 7. 
Take 1 quart of alcohol, 1 gill of ether, 40 drops 
of cinnamon oil, 40 drops of laudanum, 40 drops of 
aniseed oil colored with saunders, a quarter of an 
ounce of camphor gum-mix these well together.- 
This medicine will lay the stomach and stimulate. 
Hot Drops, or No. 8. 
One quart of alcohol, though brandy may do, 1 
gill of ether, 1-4 pound of seneca snake-root well 
powered, half an ounce of cayenne pepper-these 
should be mixed together and kept in a clean place 
three days for use. This medicine will stimulate the 
system and cause perspiration in stagnations of blood. 
Every species of No. 2 can be placed in brandy 
and given to advantage, instead of giving them as 
has been laid down. Every species of Nos. 4 and 5 
may be given in spirits, when people do not. like to 
take them otherwise. Each species of No. 3 may 
be mixed with strong ley and bottled up for use; and 
when used mix cold water with it to make it weak 
enough to take. 10 
midwifery. 
There may be said to be throe stages is the pro- 
cess of natural labor. The first includes all the cir- 
cumstances and changes which take place from the 
commencement of the pains to the complete dilata- 
tion or extension of the parts; the breaking of the 
membrane that contains the unborn child, and the 
discharge of the water. The second includes those 
which occur from the time of the opening of the osu- 
tiri or parts to the expulsion of the child. The third 
includes all the circumstances which relate to the 
separation and exclusion of the placenta or after- 
birth. But to treat of each of these stages more par- 
ticularly and in order- 
The womb is not always found in the same cen- 
tral position, nor docs it. always dilate in the same 
length of time. The first part of the dictation and 
enlargement of the parts is generally m ale very slow- 
ly; but when the membranes containing the water 
begin to insinuate themselves, they act like a wedge, 
and then the operation proceeds much more r pidly. 
It c. nnot well be told with certainty how long time 
will be required in any case for the complete dilata- 
tion of the parts yet some conjecture may be made. 
If, for example, after the pains b ,ve coni hied three 
hours, the mouth of the womb should be enlarged to 
the size of one inch; then two hours will be required 
for enlarging it to two inches; and three more hours 
will be required for a complete enlargement: making, 
in .11, eight hours, This c Iculation supposes the 
Libor to go on regularly .nd with equ 1 strength. 
But the mouth of the womb and general channel 
sometimes remains for hours in the same state; and 11 
yet, when it begins to enlarge, the complete en- 
largement is soon perfected. Again, in soma cases 
the enlargement proceeds on regularly for a while, 
and. then is suspended for many hours, and afterwards 
returns with great vigor. With first children, this 
is commonly tedious and very painful; some consid- 
erable judgment is therefore necessary on the part 
of the midwife, for supporting the patient and en- 
couraging the suffering woman. As the labor pro- 
ceeds, the pains become more frequent and forcible; 
and if the dilation should take pl. co with difficulty, 
there will sometimes be a sickness at the Stomach, 
and if so, this is a favorable symptom, for it common- 
ly has a tendency 1o relax the system. 
At length, after a greater or lesser number of 
hours, as the case may be, the dilation is effected. 
But let it be carefully observed, that artificial aid is 
not to be offered during this pirt of the process: it 
may indeed be well to encourage the woman and in- 
spire her with confidence-but be assured that all 
manual interposition will retard the progress, except 
feeling round the bowels and placing the head of 
the child in a right position to come into the world. 
But if the womb is not in a central position, so that 
the mouth of it is not towards the channel that leads 
to the world, it should be placed in a central posi- 
tion-though the patient or by-standers be ever so 
scared or ignorant-pain on the one hand and igno- 
rance on the other. But the midwifes must bo firm 
in the discharge of their duty. Care must be taken 
not to break the membrane. Should an examina- 
tion be deemed necessary, when the nlirus is fully 
dilated, the membrane is usually broken by the fo.ee 
of the pains, if this should be the cast, they will be 12 
protruded outwards in the form of a bag and there- 
fore of no further use; if the labor has not been dis- 
turbed, the child is commonly born speedily, after 
the natural ruptors of the birth be delayed; after this 
event takes place it will be a very proper time to 
make a careful examination of the state of things.- 
Here I may remark, that touching the parts too fre- 
quently is injurious. The juices furnished by nature 
for moistening the parts, must be improperly exhaust- 
ed by repeated application of the hand: it is right 
not to take women in hand too soon, till nature is 
fully ripe for the process. It happens commonly, 
that women taken at surprise, have better times than 
when aided by a good midwife, because the natural 
juices is not wiped away: nature is generally com- 
petent to the task appointed her of God, and the 
only circumstances which can make it necessary to 
call in a midwife at all, are, the possibility of irregu- 
larity, and the convenience of having dexterity in 
the management of the after-birth, dressing the 
child, &c. 
This brings me to the second stage. 
The second stage of natural labor, includes all the 
circumstances attending the descent of the child 
through the pelvis, the dilatation of the external 
parts, and the final expulsion of the child. In gene- 
ral, it will follow, that the further the labor is ad- 
vanced before the discharge of the water, the more 
speedily and safely will this second stage be accom- 
plished. As the head of the child passes through 
the pelvis, it undergoes various changes of position, 
by which it is adapted to the form of each of the 
passages, and that more or less readily, according to 
the size of the head, strength of pains, &c.; and 13 
whether these changes are produced quickly or in a 
tedious manner, whether in one or many hours, it 
can by no means be proper to interfere, for the pow- 
ers of the constitution will produce their proper ef- 
fects, with less injury and more propriety than the 
most dexterous midwife. When the head begins to 
press upon the external parts, at first every pain may 
be suffered to have its full and natural effect, but 
when a part of the head is fully exposed, and the 
fore part of tire perinaum is on the stretch, it is ne- 
nessary to use some precaution to prevent its being 
torn; and the more expeditious the labor, the moic 
is the caution necessary. Some have thought, that 
if the external parts be very ridged, they should be 
frequently annointed with some kind of ointment.- 
Nothing can equal the natural juices, but if from any 
cause the parts become heated, dry flannels wrung 
out of warm water should be applied for some time,, 
and afterwards some very mild ointment might not 
be amiss. Women with first children are most sub- 
ject to inconvenience and difficulty in these respects. 
To prevent any injury from befalling the external 
parts, the only safe and effectual plan is to retard for 
a certain time the passage of the head through them; 
therefore, instead of encouraging the patient, at this 
time, to use her utmost exertion to hasten the birth, 
she should be convinced of its impropriety, and be 
discouraged from using any voluntary exertion. If 
she cannot be "regulated according to your 
wishes, her efforts must be counteracted by some 
external resistance. This may be performed by 
placing the finger and thumb of the right hand upon 
the head of the child during the time of a pain, or 
placing the balls of one or both thumbs on the thin 14 
edge of the perinum. With first children, if there 
be great exertions and much danger of damage, the 
right hand muy be used as bf fore, and ihe palm of 
the left hand wound round with a soft cloth may be 
applied over ihe whole pefinum, where it. must be 
finely continued during the violence of ihe pains.- 
It is proper to proceed in this way till the parts are 
sufficiently dilated; then the head may be permitted 
to slide through them in the slowest and gentlest 
manner, paying the strictest attention, till it 
is cleared of the perinum. If there should be any 
delay or difficulty when the perinum slides over the 
face, the forefinger of the right hand may be passed 
under its edge, by which it may be cleared of the 
mouth and chin, before the support given by the left 
hand may be withdrawn. This assistance should be 
applied in a proper direction and with uniformity 
-the danger of injury to the external parts will be 
increased by irregular pressure-the heat! being ex- 
elled, it is commonly deemed necessary to extri- 
cate the body of the child without delay; but expe- 
rience has now taught that there is no danger, and 
that it is far safer for the mother and child to wait 
for the return of the pains; and when the shoulders 
of the child begin to advance, and the external parts 
are again brought to the stretch, the same support 
should be given to the perinum as before; the child 
should then be conducted in a proper direction, so 
as to keep its weight from resting too heavily on the 
perinum. Two or three pains are sometimes neces- 
sary for the expulsion of the shoulders, after the 
head is born. The child should be placed in such a 
situation that the external air mfly have free access 
to its mouth, but let the head be covered. Having 15 
taken the proper care of the mother, it will be ne^ 
cessary io proceed to the third and Iasi part of the 
operation. 
The third stage of natural labor:- 
There is a proper time for dividing the finis or um- 
bilical cord. B< fore the child breathes and cries, a 
motion of the arteries of the cord in .y be felt beat- 
ing like the pulse; but after it has breathed and cried, 
this pulsation or motion ceases, and the string be- 
comes quite relaxed and soft. These circumstances 
ought to take place before the umbilical cord is di- 
vided. Ten, fifteen, and sometimes twenty minutes 
are required for the complete relaxation of the naval 
string-then let it be tied in two places and divided 
between them. Soon after the birth of the child 
the midwife should apply her hand upon the abdo- 
men of the mother, to determine whether there be 
another child, and whether the womb contracts in a 
manner favorable to the separation and removal of 
the cake. Most women are extremely uneasy till 
the placenta is removed, and suppose the sooner it is 
accomplished the better; but this uneasiness is un- 
necessary, and all hurry is improper. After the birth 
of the child, let the first attention be paid to the 
mother-tranquility should bo restored to her mind, 
and the hurried circulation of the blood should be 
calmed; she should be recovered from her fatigue, 
and her natural state regained as soon as possible: 
with this design, let her be kept quiet, affording her 
at ihe same time some suitable refreshment. In the 
course of ten, fifteen or twenty minutes the pains 
will return for the purpose of expelling the pla- 
centa; and it will generally be expelled without any 
kind of artificial aid, which should never be employ- 16 
ed where it can be avoided. But if it descends too 
slowly, the midwife may take hold of the cord, and 
by pulling it in a gentle manner and in a proper di- 
rection, may afford some assistance, and this should 
be done only in time of a pain. After the placenta 
is brought down into the vagina, whether by the na- 
tural pains or with the artificial aid as above, it must 
be suffered to remain there till excluded by the pains 
-this may prevent a dangerous flooding. If an hour 
be requisite for the exclusion after it enters vagina, 
no assistance ought to be offered; but after that 
time, it may agajn be gently pulled in the time of 
the pains. No objections should be raised to this 
plan, from any supposed advantage to be derived to 
the child from laying the cake upon its belly upon 
hot embers, in hot wine, or the like: all this is per- 
fect folly. 
Let it then be a settled point, that hurry is im- 
proper, either in dividing the string or removing the 
cake. Haste, in the first place, may destroy the child; 
in the last, must injure the mother in a greater or 
less degree. If the ill effects be not immediately 
perceived, she will at length be sensible of the injury 
when her health gradually declines. 
The conclusion to be drawn from the foregoing 
is, that parturition is a natural process of the consti- 
tution, which needs no assistance; and when it is 
natural, it should always be suffered to have its 
own course, without interruption. 
If the process should go on too slow, you can use 
some of the Nos. 7 and 8, to stimulate the system, 
at any time when there is no danger of flooding.