the Translator'sPREFACE.Though the great Utility of those medical Directions, with which the following Treatise is thoroughly replenished, will be sufficiently evident to every plain and sensible Peruser of it; and the extraordinary Reception of it on the Continent is recited in the very worthy Author's Preface; yet something, it should seem, may be pertinently added, with Regard to this Translation of it, by a Person who has been strictly attentive to the Original: a Work, whose Purpose was truly necessary and benevolent; as the Execution of it, altogether, is very happily accomplished.It will be self evident, I apprehend, to every excellent Physician, that a radical Knowledge of the Principles, and much Experience in the Exercise, of their Profession, were necessary to accommodate such a Work to the Comprehension of those, for whom it was more particularly calculated. Such Gentlemen must observe, that the certain Axiom ofNature's curing Diseases, which is equally true in our Day, as it was inthat ofHippocrates, so habitually animates this Treatise, as not to require the least particular Reference. ThisHippocraticTruth as certain (though much less subject to general Observation) as that Disease, or Age, is finally prevalent over all sublunary Life, the most attentive Physicians discern the soonest, the most ingenuous readily confess: and hence springs that wholesome Zeal and Severity, with which Dr.Tissotencounters such Prejudices of poor illiterate Persons, as either oppose, or very ignorantly precipitate, her Operations, in her Attainment of Health. These Prejudices indeed may seem, from this Work, to be still greater, and perhaps grosser too, inSwisserlandthan among ourselves; though it is certain there is but too much Room for the Application of his salutary Cautions and Directions, even in this Capital; and doubtless abundantly more at great Distances from it. It may be very justly supposed, foroneInstance, that in most of those Cases in the Small Pocks, in which the Mother undertakes the Cure of her Child, or confides it to a Nurse, that Saffron, in a greater or less Quantity, and Sack or Mountain Whey, are generally still used in the Sickening before Eruption; to accelerate that very Eruption, whose gradual Appearance, about the fourth Day, from that of Seizure inclusive, is so favourable and promising to the Patient; and the Precipitation of which is often so highly pernicious to them. Most of, or rather all, his other Cautions and Corrections seem equally necessaryhere, as often as the Sick are similarly circumstanced, under the different acute Diseases in which he enjoins them.Without the least Detraction however from this excellent Physician, it may be admitted that a few others, in many other Countries, might have sufficient Abilities and Experience for the Production of a like Work, on the same good Plan. This, we find, Dr.Hirzel, principal Physician ofZurich, had in Meditation, when the present Treatise appeared, which he thought had so thoroughly fulfilled his own Intention, that it prevented his attempting to execute it. But the great Difficulty consisted in discovering a Physician, who, with equal Abilities, Reputation and Practice, should be qualified with thatmuch rarerQualification of caring so much more for the Health of those, who could never pay him for it, than for his own Profit or Ease, as to determine him to project and to accomplish so necessary, and yet so self-denying, a Work. For as the Simplicity he proposed in the Style and Manner of it, by condescending, in the plainest Terms, to the humblest Capacities, obliged him to depress himself, by writing rather beneath the former Treatises, which had acquired him the Reputation of medical Erudition, Reasoning and Elegance; we find that the Love of Fame itself, so stimulating even to many ingenuous Minds, was as impotent as that of Wealth, to seduce him from so benign, so generous a Purpose. Though, upon Reflection, it is by no Meansstrange to see wise Men found their Happiness, which all [however variously and even oppositely] pursue, rather in Conscience, than on Applause; and this naturally reminds us of that celebrated Expression ofCato, or some other excellent Ancient, “that he had ratherbegood, thanbe reputedso.”However singular such a Determination may now appear, the Number of reputable medical Translators into different Languages, which this original Work has employed on the Continent, makes it evident, that real Merit will, sooner or later, have a pretty general Influence; and induce many to imitate that Example, which they either could not, or did not, propose. As the truly modest Author has professedly disclaimed all Applause on the Performance, and contented himself with hoping an Exemption from Censure, through his Readers' Reflection on the peculiar Circumstances and Address of it; well may his best, his faithfullest Translators, whose Merit and Pains must be of a very secondary Degree to his own, be satisfied with a similar Exemption: especially when joined to the Pleasure, that must result from a Consciousness of having endeavoured to extend the Benefits of their Author's Treatise, to Multitudes of their own Country and Language.For my own Particular, when after reading the Introduction to the Work, and much of the Sequel, I had determined to translate it; to be as just as possible to the Author, and to hisEnglishReaders, I determined not to interpolate any Sentiment of my own into the Text, nor to omit one Sentence of the Original, which, besides its beingDetractionin its literal Sense, I thought might imply it in its worst, its figurative one; for which there was no Room. To conform as fully as possible to the Plainness and Perspicuity he proposed, I have been pretty often obliged in the anatomical Names of some Parts, and sometimes of the Symptoms, as well as in some pretty familiar, though not entirely popular Words, to explain all such by the most common Words I have heard used for them; as after mentioning theDiaphragm, to add, orMidriff—theTrachæa—orWindpipe—acrimonious, orvery sharp, and so of many others. This may a little, though but a little, have extended the Translation beyond the Original; as the great Affinity between theFrenchandLatin, and between the former and manyLatinWords borrowed from theGreek, generally makes the same anatomical or medical Term, that is technical with us, vernacular or common with them. But this unavoidable Tautology, which may be irksome to many Ears, those medical Readers, for whom it was not intended, will readily forgive, from a Consideration of the general Address of the Work: while they reflect that meer Style, if thoroughly intelligible, is least essential to those Books, which wholly consist of very useful, and generally interesting, Matter.As many of the Notes of the Editor ofLyons, as I have retained in this Version (having translated from the Edition ofLyons) are subscribedE. L.I have dispensed with several, some, as evidently less within Dr.Tissot'sPlan, from tending to theorize, however justly or practically, where he must have had his own Reasons for omitting to theorize: a few others, as manifestly needless, from what the Author had either premised, or speedily subjoined, on the very same Circumstance: besides a very few, from their local Confinement to the Practice atLyons, which lies in a Climate somewhat more different from our own than that ofLausanne. It is probable nevertheless, I have retained a few more than were necessary in a professed Translation of the original Work: but wherever I have done this, I have generally subjoined my Motive for it; of whatever Consequence that may appear to the Reader. I have retained all the Author's own Notes, with his Name annexed to them; or if ever the Annotator was uncertain to me, I have declared whose Note I supposed it to be.Such as I have added from my own Experience or Observation are subscribedK, to distinguish them from the others; and that the Demerit of any of them may neither be imputed to the learned Author, nor to his Editor. Their principal Recommendation, or Apology is, that whatever Facts I have mentioned are certainly true. I have endeavoured to be temperate in their Number and Length, and to imitate thatstrict Pertinence, which prevails throughout the Author's Work. If any may have ever condescended to consider my Way of writing, they will conceive this Restraint has cost me at least as much Pains, as a further Indulgence of my own Conceptions could have done. The few Prescriptions I have included in some of them, have been so conducted, as not to give the Reader the least Confusion with Respect to those, which the Author has given in his Table of Remedies, and which are referred to by numerical Figures, throughout the Course of his Book.The moderate Number of Dr.Tissot'sPrescriptions, in his Table of Remedies, amounting but to seventy-one, and the apparent Simplicity of many of them, may possibly disgust some Admirers of pompous and compound Prescription. But his Reserve, in this important Respect, has been thoroughly consistent with his Notion of Nature's curing Diseases; which suggested to him the first, the essential Necessity of cautioning his Readers against doing, giving, or applying any thing, that might oppose her healing Operations (a most capital Purpose of his Work) which important Point being gained, the mildest, simplest and least hazardous Remedies would often prove sufficient Assistants to her. Nevertheless, under more severe and tedious Conflicts, he is not wanting to direct the most potent and efficacious ones. The Circumstances of the poor Subjects of his medical Consideration, became also a very natural Object to him, andwas in no wise unworthy the Regard of the humane Translator ofBilguer on Amputations, or ratheragainstthe crying Abuse of them; an excellent Work, that does real Honour to them both; and which can be disapproved by none, who do not prefer the frequently unnecessary Mutilation of the afflicted, to the Consumption of their own Time, or the Contraction of their Employment.Some Persons may imagine that a Treatise of this Kind, composed for the Benefit of labouring People inSwisserland, may be little applicable to those of theBritishIslands: and this, in a very few Particulars, and in a small Degree, may reasonably be admitted. But as we find their common Prejudices are often the very same; as theSwissare the Inhabitants of a colder Climate thanFrance, and generally, as Dr.Tissotoften observes, accustomed to drink (like ourselves) more strong Drink than theFrenchPeasantry; and to indulge more in eating Flesh too, which the Religion ofBerne, like our own, does not restrain; the Application of his Advice to them will pretty generally hold good here. Where he forbids them Wine and Flesh, all Butchers Meat, and in most Cases all Flesh, and all strong Drink should be prohibited here: especially when we consider, that all his Directions are confined to the Treatment of acute Diseases, of which the very young, the youthful, and frequently even the robust are more generally the Subjects. Besides, in some few of theEnglishTranslator'sNotes, he has taken the Liberty of moderating the Coolers, or the Quantities of them (which may be well adapted to the great Heats and violentSwissSummers he talks of) according to the Temperature of our own Climate, and the general Habitudes of our own People. It may be observed too, that from the same Motive, I have sometimes assumed the Liberty of dissenting from the Text in a very few Notes, as for Instance, on the Article of Pastry, which perhaps is generally better here than inSwisserland(where it may be no better than the coarse vile Trash that is hawked about and sold to meer Children) as I have frequently, in preparing for Inoculation, admitted the best Pastry (but not of Meat) into the limited Diet of the Subjects of Inoculation, and constantly without the least ill Consequence. Thus also in Note70Page287,288, I have presumed to affirm the Fact, that a strong spirituous Infusion of the Bark has succeeded more speedily in some Intermittents, in particular Habits, than the Bark in Substance. This I humbly conceive may be owing to such aMenstruum'sextracting the Resin of the Bark more effectually (and so conveying it into the Blood) than the Juices of the Stomach and of the alimentary Canal did, or could. For it is very conceivable that theCrasis, the Consistence, of the fibrous Blood may sometimes be affected with a morbid Laxity or Weakness, as well as the general System of the muscular Fibres.These and any other like Freedoms, I am certain the Author's Candour will abundantly pardon; since I have never dissented for Dissention's Sake, to the best of my Recollection; and have the Honour of harmonizing very generally in Judgment with him. Ifoneuseful Hint or Observation occurs throughout my Notes, his Benevolence will exult in that essential Adherence to his Plan, which suggested it to me: While an invariable ecchoing Assentation throughout such Notes, when there really was any salutary Room for doubting, or for adding (with Respect to ourselves) would discover a Servility, that must have disgusted a liberal manly Writer. One common good Purpose certainly springs from the generous Source, and replenishes the many Canals into which it is derived; all the Variety and little Deviations of which may be considered as more expansive Distributions of its Benefits.Since the natural Feelings of Humanity generally dispose us, but especially the more tender and compassionate Sex, to advise Remedies to the poor Sick; such a Knowledge of their real Disease, as would prevent their Patrons, Neighbours and Assistants from advising a wrong Regimen, or an improper or ill-timed Medicine, is truly essential to relieving them: and such we seriously think the present Work is capable of imparting, to all commonly sensible and considerate Perusers of it. A Vein of unaffected Probity, of manly Sense, and of great Philanthropy, concur to sustain the Work: And whenever thePrejudices of the Ignorant require a forcible Eradication; or the crude Temerity and Impudence of Knaves and Impostors cry out for their own Extermination, a happy Mixture of strong Argument, just Ridicule, and honest Severity, give a poignant and pleasant Seasoning to the Work, which renders it occasionally entertaining, as it is continually instructive.A general Reader may be sometimes diverted with such Customs and Notions of theSwissPeasants, as are occasionally mentioned here: and possibly our meerest Rustics may laugh at the brave simpleSwiss, on his introducing a Sheep into the Chamber of a very sick Person, to save the Life of the Patient, by catching its own Death. But the humblest Peasantry of both Nations are agreed in such a Number of their absurd unhealthy Prejudices, in the Treatment of Diseases, that it really seemed necessary to offer our own the Cautions and Counsels of this principal Physician, in a very respectable Protestant Republick, in Order to prevent their Continuance. Nor is it unreasonable to presume, that under such a Form of Government, if honestly administered upon its justest Principles, the People may be rather more tenderly regarded, than under the Pomp and Rage of Despotism, or the Oppression of some Aristocracies.Besides the different Conditions of1Persons, to whom our Author recommends the Patronageand Execution of his Scheme, in his Introduction, it is conceived this Book must be serviceable to many young Country Practitioners, and to great Numbers of Apothecaries, by furnishing them with such exact and striking Descriptions of each acute Disease and its Symptoms, as may prevent their mistaking it for any other; a Deception which has certainly often been injurious, and sometimes even fatal: for it is dreadful but to contemplate the Destruction or Misery, with which Temerity and Ignorance, so frequently combined, overwhelm the Sick. Thus more Success and Reputation, with the Enjoyment of a better Conscience, would crown their Endeavours, by a more general Recovery of, or Relief to, their Patients. To effect this, to improve every Opportunity of eschewing medical Evil, and of doing medical Good, was the Author's avowed Intention; which he informs us in his Preface, he has heard, from some intelligent and charitable Persons, his Treatise had effected, even in some violent Diseases. That the same good Consequences may every where attend the numerous Translations of it, must be the fervent Wish of all, except the Quacks and Impostors he so justly characterizes in his thirty-third Chapter! and particularly of all, who may be distinguishably qualified, like himself, to,—Look through Nature up to Nature's GOD!
the Translator'sPREFACE.Though the great Utility of those medical Directions, with which the following Treatise is thoroughly replenished, will be sufficiently evident to every plain and sensible Peruser of it; and the extraordinary Reception of it on the Continent is recited in the very worthy Author's Preface; yet something, it should seem, may be pertinently added, with Regard to this Translation of it, by a Person who has been strictly attentive to the Original: a Work, whose Purpose was truly necessary and benevolent; as the Execution of it, altogether, is very happily accomplished.It will be self evident, I apprehend, to every excellent Physician, that a radical Knowledge of the Principles, and much Experience in the Exercise, of their Profession, were necessary to accommodate such a Work to the Comprehension of those, for whom it was more particularly calculated. Such Gentlemen must observe, that the certain Axiom ofNature's curing Diseases, which is equally true in our Day, as it was inthat ofHippocrates, so habitually animates this Treatise, as not to require the least particular Reference. ThisHippocraticTruth as certain (though much less subject to general Observation) as that Disease, or Age, is finally prevalent over all sublunary Life, the most attentive Physicians discern the soonest, the most ingenuous readily confess: and hence springs that wholesome Zeal and Severity, with which Dr.Tissotencounters such Prejudices of poor illiterate Persons, as either oppose, or very ignorantly precipitate, her Operations, in her Attainment of Health. These Prejudices indeed may seem, from this Work, to be still greater, and perhaps grosser too, inSwisserlandthan among ourselves; though it is certain there is but too much Room for the Application of his salutary Cautions and Directions, even in this Capital; and doubtless abundantly more at great Distances from it. It may be very justly supposed, foroneInstance, that in most of those Cases in the Small Pocks, in which the Mother undertakes the Cure of her Child, or confides it to a Nurse, that Saffron, in a greater or less Quantity, and Sack or Mountain Whey, are generally still used in the Sickening before Eruption; to accelerate that very Eruption, whose gradual Appearance, about the fourth Day, from that of Seizure inclusive, is so favourable and promising to the Patient; and the Precipitation of which is often so highly pernicious to them. Most of, or rather all, his other Cautions and Corrections seem equally necessaryhere, as often as the Sick are similarly circumstanced, under the different acute Diseases in which he enjoins them.Without the least Detraction however from this excellent Physician, it may be admitted that a few others, in many other Countries, might have sufficient Abilities and Experience for the Production of a like Work, on the same good Plan. This, we find, Dr.Hirzel, principal Physician ofZurich, had in Meditation, when the present Treatise appeared, which he thought had so thoroughly fulfilled his own Intention, that it prevented his attempting to execute it. But the great Difficulty consisted in discovering a Physician, who, with equal Abilities, Reputation and Practice, should be qualified with thatmuch rarerQualification of caring so much more for the Health of those, who could never pay him for it, than for his own Profit or Ease, as to determine him to project and to accomplish so necessary, and yet so self-denying, a Work. For as the Simplicity he proposed in the Style and Manner of it, by condescending, in the plainest Terms, to the humblest Capacities, obliged him to depress himself, by writing rather beneath the former Treatises, which had acquired him the Reputation of medical Erudition, Reasoning and Elegance; we find that the Love of Fame itself, so stimulating even to many ingenuous Minds, was as impotent as that of Wealth, to seduce him from so benign, so generous a Purpose. Though, upon Reflection, it is by no Meansstrange to see wise Men found their Happiness, which all [however variously and even oppositely] pursue, rather in Conscience, than on Applause; and this naturally reminds us of that celebrated Expression ofCato, or some other excellent Ancient, “that he had ratherbegood, thanbe reputedso.”However singular such a Determination may now appear, the Number of reputable medical Translators into different Languages, which this original Work has employed on the Continent, makes it evident, that real Merit will, sooner or later, have a pretty general Influence; and induce many to imitate that Example, which they either could not, or did not, propose. As the truly modest Author has professedly disclaimed all Applause on the Performance, and contented himself with hoping an Exemption from Censure, through his Readers' Reflection on the peculiar Circumstances and Address of it; well may his best, his faithfullest Translators, whose Merit and Pains must be of a very secondary Degree to his own, be satisfied with a similar Exemption: especially when joined to the Pleasure, that must result from a Consciousness of having endeavoured to extend the Benefits of their Author's Treatise, to Multitudes of their own Country and Language.For my own Particular, when after reading the Introduction to the Work, and much of the Sequel, I had determined to translate it; to be as just as possible to the Author, and to hisEnglishReaders, I determined not to interpolate any Sentiment of my own into the Text, nor to omit one Sentence of the Original, which, besides its beingDetractionin its literal Sense, I thought might imply it in its worst, its figurative one; for which there was no Room. To conform as fully as possible to the Plainness and Perspicuity he proposed, I have been pretty often obliged in the anatomical Names of some Parts, and sometimes of the Symptoms, as well as in some pretty familiar, though not entirely popular Words, to explain all such by the most common Words I have heard used for them; as after mentioning theDiaphragm, to add, orMidriff—theTrachæa—orWindpipe—acrimonious, orvery sharp, and so of many others. This may a little, though but a little, have extended the Translation beyond the Original; as the great Affinity between theFrenchandLatin, and between the former and manyLatinWords borrowed from theGreek, generally makes the same anatomical or medical Term, that is technical with us, vernacular or common with them. But this unavoidable Tautology, which may be irksome to many Ears, those medical Readers, for whom it was not intended, will readily forgive, from a Consideration of the general Address of the Work: while they reflect that meer Style, if thoroughly intelligible, is least essential to those Books, which wholly consist of very useful, and generally interesting, Matter.As many of the Notes of the Editor ofLyons, as I have retained in this Version (having translated from the Edition ofLyons) are subscribedE. L.I have dispensed with several, some, as evidently less within Dr.Tissot'sPlan, from tending to theorize, however justly or practically, where he must have had his own Reasons for omitting to theorize: a few others, as manifestly needless, from what the Author had either premised, or speedily subjoined, on the very same Circumstance: besides a very few, from their local Confinement to the Practice atLyons, which lies in a Climate somewhat more different from our own than that ofLausanne. It is probable nevertheless, I have retained a few more than were necessary in a professed Translation of the original Work: but wherever I have done this, I have generally subjoined my Motive for it; of whatever Consequence that may appear to the Reader. I have retained all the Author's own Notes, with his Name annexed to them; or if ever the Annotator was uncertain to me, I have declared whose Note I supposed it to be.Such as I have added from my own Experience or Observation are subscribedK, to distinguish them from the others; and that the Demerit of any of them may neither be imputed to the learned Author, nor to his Editor. Their principal Recommendation, or Apology is, that whatever Facts I have mentioned are certainly true. I have endeavoured to be temperate in their Number and Length, and to imitate thatstrict Pertinence, which prevails throughout the Author's Work. If any may have ever condescended to consider my Way of writing, they will conceive this Restraint has cost me at least as much Pains, as a further Indulgence of my own Conceptions could have done. The few Prescriptions I have included in some of them, have been so conducted, as not to give the Reader the least Confusion with Respect to those, which the Author has given in his Table of Remedies, and which are referred to by numerical Figures, throughout the Course of his Book.The moderate Number of Dr.Tissot'sPrescriptions, in his Table of Remedies, amounting but to seventy-one, and the apparent Simplicity of many of them, may possibly disgust some Admirers of pompous and compound Prescription. But his Reserve, in this important Respect, has been thoroughly consistent with his Notion of Nature's curing Diseases; which suggested to him the first, the essential Necessity of cautioning his Readers against doing, giving, or applying any thing, that might oppose her healing Operations (a most capital Purpose of his Work) which important Point being gained, the mildest, simplest and least hazardous Remedies would often prove sufficient Assistants to her. Nevertheless, under more severe and tedious Conflicts, he is not wanting to direct the most potent and efficacious ones. The Circumstances of the poor Subjects of his medical Consideration, became also a very natural Object to him, andwas in no wise unworthy the Regard of the humane Translator ofBilguer on Amputations, or ratheragainstthe crying Abuse of them; an excellent Work, that does real Honour to them both; and which can be disapproved by none, who do not prefer the frequently unnecessary Mutilation of the afflicted, to the Consumption of their own Time, or the Contraction of their Employment.Some Persons may imagine that a Treatise of this Kind, composed for the Benefit of labouring People inSwisserland, may be little applicable to those of theBritishIslands: and this, in a very few Particulars, and in a small Degree, may reasonably be admitted. But as we find their common Prejudices are often the very same; as theSwissare the Inhabitants of a colder Climate thanFrance, and generally, as Dr.Tissotoften observes, accustomed to drink (like ourselves) more strong Drink than theFrenchPeasantry; and to indulge more in eating Flesh too, which the Religion ofBerne, like our own, does not restrain; the Application of his Advice to them will pretty generally hold good here. Where he forbids them Wine and Flesh, all Butchers Meat, and in most Cases all Flesh, and all strong Drink should be prohibited here: especially when we consider, that all his Directions are confined to the Treatment of acute Diseases, of which the very young, the youthful, and frequently even the robust are more generally the Subjects. Besides, in some few of theEnglishTranslator'sNotes, he has taken the Liberty of moderating the Coolers, or the Quantities of them (which may be well adapted to the great Heats and violentSwissSummers he talks of) according to the Temperature of our own Climate, and the general Habitudes of our own People. It may be observed too, that from the same Motive, I have sometimes assumed the Liberty of dissenting from the Text in a very few Notes, as for Instance, on the Article of Pastry, which perhaps is generally better here than inSwisserland(where it may be no better than the coarse vile Trash that is hawked about and sold to meer Children) as I have frequently, in preparing for Inoculation, admitted the best Pastry (but not of Meat) into the limited Diet of the Subjects of Inoculation, and constantly without the least ill Consequence. Thus also in Note70Page287,288, I have presumed to affirm the Fact, that a strong spirituous Infusion of the Bark has succeeded more speedily in some Intermittents, in particular Habits, than the Bark in Substance. This I humbly conceive may be owing to such aMenstruum'sextracting the Resin of the Bark more effectually (and so conveying it into the Blood) than the Juices of the Stomach and of the alimentary Canal did, or could. For it is very conceivable that theCrasis, the Consistence, of the fibrous Blood may sometimes be affected with a morbid Laxity or Weakness, as well as the general System of the muscular Fibres.These and any other like Freedoms, I am certain the Author's Candour will abundantly pardon; since I have never dissented for Dissention's Sake, to the best of my Recollection; and have the Honour of harmonizing very generally in Judgment with him. Ifoneuseful Hint or Observation occurs throughout my Notes, his Benevolence will exult in that essential Adherence to his Plan, which suggested it to me: While an invariable ecchoing Assentation throughout such Notes, when there really was any salutary Room for doubting, or for adding (with Respect to ourselves) would discover a Servility, that must have disgusted a liberal manly Writer. One common good Purpose certainly springs from the generous Source, and replenishes the many Canals into which it is derived; all the Variety and little Deviations of which may be considered as more expansive Distributions of its Benefits.Since the natural Feelings of Humanity generally dispose us, but especially the more tender and compassionate Sex, to advise Remedies to the poor Sick; such a Knowledge of their real Disease, as would prevent their Patrons, Neighbours and Assistants from advising a wrong Regimen, or an improper or ill-timed Medicine, is truly essential to relieving them: and such we seriously think the present Work is capable of imparting, to all commonly sensible and considerate Perusers of it. A Vein of unaffected Probity, of manly Sense, and of great Philanthropy, concur to sustain the Work: And whenever thePrejudices of the Ignorant require a forcible Eradication; or the crude Temerity and Impudence of Knaves and Impostors cry out for their own Extermination, a happy Mixture of strong Argument, just Ridicule, and honest Severity, give a poignant and pleasant Seasoning to the Work, which renders it occasionally entertaining, as it is continually instructive.A general Reader may be sometimes diverted with such Customs and Notions of theSwissPeasants, as are occasionally mentioned here: and possibly our meerest Rustics may laugh at the brave simpleSwiss, on his introducing a Sheep into the Chamber of a very sick Person, to save the Life of the Patient, by catching its own Death. But the humblest Peasantry of both Nations are agreed in such a Number of their absurd unhealthy Prejudices, in the Treatment of Diseases, that it really seemed necessary to offer our own the Cautions and Counsels of this principal Physician, in a very respectable Protestant Republick, in Order to prevent their Continuance. Nor is it unreasonable to presume, that under such a Form of Government, if honestly administered upon its justest Principles, the People may be rather more tenderly regarded, than under the Pomp and Rage of Despotism, or the Oppression of some Aristocracies.Besides the different Conditions of1Persons, to whom our Author recommends the Patronageand Execution of his Scheme, in his Introduction, it is conceived this Book must be serviceable to many young Country Practitioners, and to great Numbers of Apothecaries, by furnishing them with such exact and striking Descriptions of each acute Disease and its Symptoms, as may prevent their mistaking it for any other; a Deception which has certainly often been injurious, and sometimes even fatal: for it is dreadful but to contemplate the Destruction or Misery, with which Temerity and Ignorance, so frequently combined, overwhelm the Sick. Thus more Success and Reputation, with the Enjoyment of a better Conscience, would crown their Endeavours, by a more general Recovery of, or Relief to, their Patients. To effect this, to improve every Opportunity of eschewing medical Evil, and of doing medical Good, was the Author's avowed Intention; which he informs us in his Preface, he has heard, from some intelligent and charitable Persons, his Treatise had effected, even in some violent Diseases. That the same good Consequences may every where attend the numerous Translations of it, must be the fervent Wish of all, except the Quacks and Impostors he so justly characterizes in his thirty-third Chapter! and particularly of all, who may be distinguishably qualified, like himself, to,—Look through Nature up to Nature's GOD!
Though the great Utility of those medical Directions, with which the following Treatise is thoroughly replenished, will be sufficiently evident to every plain and sensible Peruser of it; and the extraordinary Reception of it on the Continent is recited in the very worthy Author's Preface; yet something, it should seem, may be pertinently added, with Regard to this Translation of it, by a Person who has been strictly attentive to the Original: a Work, whose Purpose was truly necessary and benevolent; as the Execution of it, altogether, is very happily accomplished.
It will be self evident, I apprehend, to every excellent Physician, that a radical Knowledge of the Principles, and much Experience in the Exercise, of their Profession, were necessary to accommodate such a Work to the Comprehension of those, for whom it was more particularly calculated. Such Gentlemen must observe, that the certain Axiom ofNature's curing Diseases, which is equally true in our Day, as it was inthat ofHippocrates, so habitually animates this Treatise, as not to require the least particular Reference. ThisHippocraticTruth as certain (though much less subject to general Observation) as that Disease, or Age, is finally prevalent over all sublunary Life, the most attentive Physicians discern the soonest, the most ingenuous readily confess: and hence springs that wholesome Zeal and Severity, with which Dr.Tissotencounters such Prejudices of poor illiterate Persons, as either oppose, or very ignorantly precipitate, her Operations, in her Attainment of Health. These Prejudices indeed may seem, from this Work, to be still greater, and perhaps grosser too, inSwisserlandthan among ourselves; though it is certain there is but too much Room for the Application of his salutary Cautions and Directions, even in this Capital; and doubtless abundantly more at great Distances from it. It may be very justly supposed, foroneInstance, that in most of those Cases in the Small Pocks, in which the Mother undertakes the Cure of her Child, or confides it to a Nurse, that Saffron, in a greater or less Quantity, and Sack or Mountain Whey, are generally still used in the Sickening before Eruption; to accelerate that very Eruption, whose gradual Appearance, about the fourth Day, from that of Seizure inclusive, is so favourable and promising to the Patient; and the Precipitation of which is often so highly pernicious to them. Most of, or rather all, his other Cautions and Corrections seem equally necessaryhere, as often as the Sick are similarly circumstanced, under the different acute Diseases in which he enjoins them.
Without the least Detraction however from this excellent Physician, it may be admitted that a few others, in many other Countries, might have sufficient Abilities and Experience for the Production of a like Work, on the same good Plan. This, we find, Dr.Hirzel, principal Physician ofZurich, had in Meditation, when the present Treatise appeared, which he thought had so thoroughly fulfilled his own Intention, that it prevented his attempting to execute it. But the great Difficulty consisted in discovering a Physician, who, with equal Abilities, Reputation and Practice, should be qualified with thatmuch rarerQualification of caring so much more for the Health of those, who could never pay him for it, than for his own Profit or Ease, as to determine him to project and to accomplish so necessary, and yet so self-denying, a Work. For as the Simplicity he proposed in the Style and Manner of it, by condescending, in the plainest Terms, to the humblest Capacities, obliged him to depress himself, by writing rather beneath the former Treatises, which had acquired him the Reputation of medical Erudition, Reasoning and Elegance; we find that the Love of Fame itself, so stimulating even to many ingenuous Minds, was as impotent as that of Wealth, to seduce him from so benign, so generous a Purpose. Though, upon Reflection, it is by no Meansstrange to see wise Men found their Happiness, which all [however variously and even oppositely] pursue, rather in Conscience, than on Applause; and this naturally reminds us of that celebrated Expression ofCato, or some other excellent Ancient, “that he had ratherbegood, thanbe reputedso.”
However singular such a Determination may now appear, the Number of reputable medical Translators into different Languages, which this original Work has employed on the Continent, makes it evident, that real Merit will, sooner or later, have a pretty general Influence; and induce many to imitate that Example, which they either could not, or did not, propose. As the truly modest Author has professedly disclaimed all Applause on the Performance, and contented himself with hoping an Exemption from Censure, through his Readers' Reflection on the peculiar Circumstances and Address of it; well may his best, his faithfullest Translators, whose Merit and Pains must be of a very secondary Degree to his own, be satisfied with a similar Exemption: especially when joined to the Pleasure, that must result from a Consciousness of having endeavoured to extend the Benefits of their Author's Treatise, to Multitudes of their own Country and Language.
For my own Particular, when after reading the Introduction to the Work, and much of the Sequel, I had determined to translate it; to be as just as possible to the Author, and to hisEnglishReaders, I determined not to interpolate any Sentiment of my own into the Text, nor to omit one Sentence of the Original, which, besides its beingDetractionin its literal Sense, I thought might imply it in its worst, its figurative one; for which there was no Room. To conform as fully as possible to the Plainness and Perspicuity he proposed, I have been pretty often obliged in the anatomical Names of some Parts, and sometimes of the Symptoms, as well as in some pretty familiar, though not entirely popular Words, to explain all such by the most common Words I have heard used for them; as after mentioning theDiaphragm, to add, orMidriff—theTrachæa—orWindpipe—acrimonious, orvery sharp, and so of many others. This may a little, though but a little, have extended the Translation beyond the Original; as the great Affinity between theFrenchandLatin, and between the former and manyLatinWords borrowed from theGreek, generally makes the same anatomical or medical Term, that is technical with us, vernacular or common with them. But this unavoidable Tautology, which may be irksome to many Ears, those medical Readers, for whom it was not intended, will readily forgive, from a Consideration of the general Address of the Work: while they reflect that meer Style, if thoroughly intelligible, is least essential to those Books, which wholly consist of very useful, and generally interesting, Matter.
As many of the Notes of the Editor ofLyons, as I have retained in this Version (having translated from the Edition ofLyons) are subscribedE. L.I have dispensed with several, some, as evidently less within Dr.Tissot'sPlan, from tending to theorize, however justly or practically, where he must have had his own Reasons for omitting to theorize: a few others, as manifestly needless, from what the Author had either premised, or speedily subjoined, on the very same Circumstance: besides a very few, from their local Confinement to the Practice atLyons, which lies in a Climate somewhat more different from our own than that ofLausanne. It is probable nevertheless, I have retained a few more than were necessary in a professed Translation of the original Work: but wherever I have done this, I have generally subjoined my Motive for it; of whatever Consequence that may appear to the Reader. I have retained all the Author's own Notes, with his Name annexed to them; or if ever the Annotator was uncertain to me, I have declared whose Note I supposed it to be.
Such as I have added from my own Experience or Observation are subscribedK, to distinguish them from the others; and that the Demerit of any of them may neither be imputed to the learned Author, nor to his Editor. Their principal Recommendation, or Apology is, that whatever Facts I have mentioned are certainly true. I have endeavoured to be temperate in their Number and Length, and to imitate thatstrict Pertinence, which prevails throughout the Author's Work. If any may have ever condescended to consider my Way of writing, they will conceive this Restraint has cost me at least as much Pains, as a further Indulgence of my own Conceptions could have done. The few Prescriptions I have included in some of them, have been so conducted, as not to give the Reader the least Confusion with Respect to those, which the Author has given in his Table of Remedies, and which are referred to by numerical Figures, throughout the Course of his Book.
The moderate Number of Dr.Tissot'sPrescriptions, in his Table of Remedies, amounting but to seventy-one, and the apparent Simplicity of many of them, may possibly disgust some Admirers of pompous and compound Prescription. But his Reserve, in this important Respect, has been thoroughly consistent with his Notion of Nature's curing Diseases; which suggested to him the first, the essential Necessity of cautioning his Readers against doing, giving, or applying any thing, that might oppose her healing Operations (a most capital Purpose of his Work) which important Point being gained, the mildest, simplest and least hazardous Remedies would often prove sufficient Assistants to her. Nevertheless, under more severe and tedious Conflicts, he is not wanting to direct the most potent and efficacious ones. The Circumstances of the poor Subjects of his medical Consideration, became also a very natural Object to him, andwas in no wise unworthy the Regard of the humane Translator ofBilguer on Amputations, or ratheragainstthe crying Abuse of them; an excellent Work, that does real Honour to them both; and which can be disapproved by none, who do not prefer the frequently unnecessary Mutilation of the afflicted, to the Consumption of their own Time, or the Contraction of their Employment.
Some Persons may imagine that a Treatise of this Kind, composed for the Benefit of labouring People inSwisserland, may be little applicable to those of theBritishIslands: and this, in a very few Particulars, and in a small Degree, may reasonably be admitted. But as we find their common Prejudices are often the very same; as theSwissare the Inhabitants of a colder Climate thanFrance, and generally, as Dr.Tissotoften observes, accustomed to drink (like ourselves) more strong Drink than theFrenchPeasantry; and to indulge more in eating Flesh too, which the Religion ofBerne, like our own, does not restrain; the Application of his Advice to them will pretty generally hold good here. Where he forbids them Wine and Flesh, all Butchers Meat, and in most Cases all Flesh, and all strong Drink should be prohibited here: especially when we consider, that all his Directions are confined to the Treatment of acute Diseases, of which the very young, the youthful, and frequently even the robust are more generally the Subjects. Besides, in some few of theEnglishTranslator'sNotes, he has taken the Liberty of moderating the Coolers, or the Quantities of them (which may be well adapted to the great Heats and violentSwissSummers he talks of) according to the Temperature of our own Climate, and the general Habitudes of our own People. It may be observed too, that from the same Motive, I have sometimes assumed the Liberty of dissenting from the Text in a very few Notes, as for Instance, on the Article of Pastry, which perhaps is generally better here than inSwisserland(where it may be no better than the coarse vile Trash that is hawked about and sold to meer Children) as I have frequently, in preparing for Inoculation, admitted the best Pastry (but not of Meat) into the limited Diet of the Subjects of Inoculation, and constantly without the least ill Consequence. Thus also in Note70Page287,288, I have presumed to affirm the Fact, that a strong spirituous Infusion of the Bark has succeeded more speedily in some Intermittents, in particular Habits, than the Bark in Substance. This I humbly conceive may be owing to such aMenstruum'sextracting the Resin of the Bark more effectually (and so conveying it into the Blood) than the Juices of the Stomach and of the alimentary Canal did, or could. For it is very conceivable that theCrasis, the Consistence, of the fibrous Blood may sometimes be affected with a morbid Laxity or Weakness, as well as the general System of the muscular Fibres.
These and any other like Freedoms, I am certain the Author's Candour will abundantly pardon; since I have never dissented for Dissention's Sake, to the best of my Recollection; and have the Honour of harmonizing very generally in Judgment with him. Ifoneuseful Hint or Observation occurs throughout my Notes, his Benevolence will exult in that essential Adherence to his Plan, which suggested it to me: While an invariable ecchoing Assentation throughout such Notes, when there really was any salutary Room for doubting, or for adding (with Respect to ourselves) would discover a Servility, that must have disgusted a liberal manly Writer. One common good Purpose certainly springs from the generous Source, and replenishes the many Canals into which it is derived; all the Variety and little Deviations of which may be considered as more expansive Distributions of its Benefits.
Since the natural Feelings of Humanity generally dispose us, but especially the more tender and compassionate Sex, to advise Remedies to the poor Sick; such a Knowledge of their real Disease, as would prevent their Patrons, Neighbours and Assistants from advising a wrong Regimen, or an improper or ill-timed Medicine, is truly essential to relieving them: and such we seriously think the present Work is capable of imparting, to all commonly sensible and considerate Perusers of it. A Vein of unaffected Probity, of manly Sense, and of great Philanthropy, concur to sustain the Work: And whenever thePrejudices of the Ignorant require a forcible Eradication; or the crude Temerity and Impudence of Knaves and Impostors cry out for their own Extermination, a happy Mixture of strong Argument, just Ridicule, and honest Severity, give a poignant and pleasant Seasoning to the Work, which renders it occasionally entertaining, as it is continually instructive.
A general Reader may be sometimes diverted with such Customs and Notions of theSwissPeasants, as are occasionally mentioned here: and possibly our meerest Rustics may laugh at the brave simpleSwiss, on his introducing a Sheep into the Chamber of a very sick Person, to save the Life of the Patient, by catching its own Death. But the humblest Peasantry of both Nations are agreed in such a Number of their absurd unhealthy Prejudices, in the Treatment of Diseases, that it really seemed necessary to offer our own the Cautions and Counsels of this principal Physician, in a very respectable Protestant Republick, in Order to prevent their Continuance. Nor is it unreasonable to presume, that under such a Form of Government, if honestly administered upon its justest Principles, the People may be rather more tenderly regarded, than under the Pomp and Rage of Despotism, or the Oppression of some Aristocracies.
Besides the different Conditions of1Persons, to whom our Author recommends the Patronageand Execution of his Scheme, in his Introduction, it is conceived this Book must be serviceable to many young Country Practitioners, and to great Numbers of Apothecaries, by furnishing them with such exact and striking Descriptions of each acute Disease and its Symptoms, as may prevent their mistaking it for any other; a Deception which has certainly often been injurious, and sometimes even fatal: for it is dreadful but to contemplate the Destruction or Misery, with which Temerity and Ignorance, so frequently combined, overwhelm the Sick. Thus more Success and Reputation, with the Enjoyment of a better Conscience, would crown their Endeavours, by a more general Recovery of, or Relief to, their Patients. To effect this, to improve every Opportunity of eschewing medical Evil, and of doing medical Good, was the Author's avowed Intention; which he informs us in his Preface, he has heard, from some intelligent and charitable Persons, his Treatise had effected, even in some violent Diseases. That the same good Consequences may every where attend the numerous Translations of it, must be the fervent Wish of all, except the Quacks and Impostors he so justly characterizes in his thirty-third Chapter! and particularly of all, who may be distinguishably qualified, like himself, to,
—Look through Nature up to Nature's GOD!
—Look through Nature up to Nature's GOD!