11. Though we are still very much in the dark with regard to the method of curing this disease among the natives of America, yet it is generally affirmed that they do cure it with speed, safety, and success, and that without the least knowledge of mercury. Hence it becomes an object of considerable importance to discover their method of cure. This might surely be done by making trials of the various plants which are found in those parts, and particularly of such as the natives are known to make use of. All people in a rude state take their medicines chiefly from the vegetable kingdom, and are often possessed of valuable secrets with regard to the virtues of plants, of which more enlightened nations are ignorant. Indeed, we make no doubt but some plants of our own growth, were proper pains taken to discover them, would be found as efficacious in curing the venereal disease as those in America. It must, however, be remembered, that what will cure the venereal disease in one country, will not always be found to have equal success in another.
11. Though we are still very much in the dark with regard to the method of curing this disease among the natives of America, yet it is generally affirmed that they do cure it with speed, safety, and success, and that without the least knowledge of mercury. Hence it becomes an object of considerable importance to discover their method of cure. This might surely be done by making trials of the various plants which are found in those parts, and particularly of such as the natives are known to make use of. All people in a rude state take their medicines chiefly from the vegetable kingdom, and are often possessed of valuable secrets with regard to the virtues of plants, of which more enlightened nations are ignorant. Indeed, we make no doubt but some plants of our own growth, were proper pains taken to discover them, would be found as efficacious in curing the venereal disease as those in America. It must, however, be remembered, that what will cure the venereal disease in one country, will not always be found to have equal success in another.
Many other roots and woods might be mentioned which have been extolled for curing the venereal disease, as the china roots, the roots of soap-wart, burdock, &c., as also the wood of guaiacum and sassafras; but as none of thesehave been found to possess virtues superior to those already mentioned, we shall, for the sake of brevity, pass them over, and shall conclude our observations on this disease, with a few general remarks concerning the proper management of the patient and the nature of the infection.
The condition of the patient ought always to be considered previous to his entering upon a course of mercury in any form. It would be equally rash and dangerous to administer mercury to a person labouring under any violent acute disease, as a putrid fever, pleurisy, peripnuemony, or the like. It would likewise be dangerous in some chronic cases; as a slow hectic fever, or the last stage of a consumption. Sometimes, however, these diseases proceed from a confirmed lues; in which case it will be necessary to give mercury. In chronic diseases of a less dangerous nature, as the asthma, the gravel, and such like, mercury, if necessary, may be safely administered. If the patient’s strength has been greatly exhausted by sickness, labour, abstinence, or any other cause, the use of mercury must be postponed, till by time, rest, and a nourishing diet, it can be sufficiently restored.
Mercury ought not to be administered to women during the menstrual flux, or when the period is near at hand. Neither should it be given in the last stage of pregnancy. If, however, the woman be not near the time of her delivery,and circumstances render it necessary, mercury may be given, but in smaller doses, and at greater intervals than usual; with these precautions, both the mother and child may be cured at the same time, if not, the disorder will at least be kept from growing worse, till the woman be brought to bed, and sufficiently recovered, when a more effectual method may be pursued, which, if she suckles her child, will in all probability be sufficient for the cure of both.
Mercury ought always to be administered to infants with the greatest caution. Their tender condition unfits them for supporting a salivation, and makes it necessary to administer even the mildest preparations of mercury to them with a sparing hand. A similar conduct is recommended in the treatment of old persons, who have the misfortune to labour under a confirmed lues. No doubt the infirmities of age must render people less able to undergo the fatigues of a salivation; but this, as was formerly observed, is never necessary; besides, we have generally found that mercury had much less effect upon very old persons, than on those who were younger.
Hysteric and hypochondriac persons, and such as are subject to an habitual diarrhœa or dysentery, or to frequent and violent attacks of epilepsy, or who are afflicted with the scrofula or the scurvy, ought to be cautious in the use of mercury. Where any one of these disorders prevails it ought either, if possible, to be cured, or at least palliated, before the patient enters upon a course of mercury. When this cannot be done, the mercury must be administered in smaller doses, and at longer intervals than usual. The most proper seasons for entering upon a course ofmercury, are the spring and autumn, when the air is of a moderate warmth. If the circumstances of the case, however, will not admit of delay, we must not defer the cure on account of the season, but must administer the mercury; taking care, at the same time, to keep the patient’s chamber warmer or cooler according as the season of the year requires.
The next thing to be considered is the preparation necessary to be observed before we proceed to administer a course of mercury. Some lay great stress upon this circumstance, observing that by previously relaxing the vessels, and correcting any disorder which may happen to prevail in the blood, not only the mercury will be disposed to act more kindly, but many other inconveniencies will be prevented.
We have already recommended bleeding and gentle purges, previous to the administration of mercury, and shall only now add, that these are always to be repeated according to the age, strength, constitution, and other circumstances of the patient. Afterwards, if it can be conveniently done, the patient ought to bathe once or twice a day, for a few days, in lukewarm water. His diet, in the meantime, must be light, moist, and cooling. Wine and all heating liquors, also violent bodily exercise, and all great exertions of the mind, are carefully to be avoided.
A proper regimen is likewise to be observed by such as are under a course of mercury. Inattention to this not only endangers the patient’s life, but often also disappoints him of a cure. A much smaller quantity of mercury will be sufficient for the cure of a person who lives low, keeps warm, and avoids all manner of excess,than of one who cannot endure to put the smallest restraint upon his appetites; indeed, it but rarely happens that such are thoroughly cured.
There is hardly any thing of more importance, either for preventing or removing venereal infection than cleanliness. By an early attention to this, the infection might often be prevented from entering the body; and where it has already taken place, its effects may be greatly mitigated. The moment any person has reason to suspect that he has received the infection, he ought to wash the parts with water and spirits, sweet oil, or milk and water; a small quantity of the last may likewise be injected up the urethra, if it can be conveniently done. Whether this disease at first took its rise from dirtiness is hard to say; but wherever that prevails the infection is found in its greatest virulence, which gives ground to believe that a strict attention to cleanliness would go far towards extirpating it altogether.[12]
12. I have not only seen a recent infection carried off in a few days by means of cleanliness,viz., bathing, fomentations, injections, &c., but have likewise found it of the greatest advantage in the more advanced stages of the disease. Of this I had lately a very remarkable instance in a man whose penis was almost wholly consumed by venereal ulcers; the matter had been allowed to continue on the sores without any care having been taken to clean them, till, notwithstanding the use of mercury and other medicines, it had produced the effects mentioned. I ordered warm milk and water to be injected three or four times a day into all the sinuous ulcers, in order to wash out the matter; after which they were stuffed with dry lint to absorb the fresh matter as it was generated. The patient at the same time took every day half a grain of the corrosive sublimate of mercury, dissolved in an ounce of brandy, and drank an English quart of the decoction of sarsaparilla. By this treatment, in about six weeks, he was perfectly cured; and, what was very remarkable, a part of the penis was actually regenerated.Dr. Gilchrist has given an account of a species of thelues venereawhich prevails in the west of Scotland, to which the natives give the name ofSibbinsorSivvins. The doctor observes, that the spreading of this disease is chiefly owing to a neglect of cleanliness, and seems to think, that by due attention to thisvirtue, it might be extirpated. The treatment of this disease is similar to that of a confirmed lues or pox. Theyaws, a disease which is now very common both in America and the West India Islands, may also be cured in the same manner.
12. I have not only seen a recent infection carried off in a few days by means of cleanliness,viz., bathing, fomentations, injections, &c., but have likewise found it of the greatest advantage in the more advanced stages of the disease. Of this I had lately a very remarkable instance in a man whose penis was almost wholly consumed by venereal ulcers; the matter had been allowed to continue on the sores without any care having been taken to clean them, till, notwithstanding the use of mercury and other medicines, it had produced the effects mentioned. I ordered warm milk and water to be injected three or four times a day into all the sinuous ulcers, in order to wash out the matter; after which they were stuffed with dry lint to absorb the fresh matter as it was generated. The patient at the same time took every day half a grain of the corrosive sublimate of mercury, dissolved in an ounce of brandy, and drank an English quart of the decoction of sarsaparilla. By this treatment, in about six weeks, he was perfectly cured; and, what was very remarkable, a part of the penis was actually regenerated.
Dr. Gilchrist has given an account of a species of thelues venereawhich prevails in the west of Scotland, to which the natives give the name ofSibbinsorSivvins. The doctor observes, that the spreading of this disease is chiefly owing to a neglect of cleanliness, and seems to think, that by due attention to thisvirtue, it might be extirpated. The treatment of this disease is similar to that of a confirmed lues or pox. Theyaws, a disease which is now very common both in America and the West India Islands, may also be cured in the same manner.
When the venereal disease has been neglected, or improperly treated, it often becomes a disorder of the habit. In this case the cure must be attempted by restoratives, as milk diet, the decoction of sarsaparilla, and such like, to which mercury may be added. It is a common practice in North Britain to send such patients to drink goat-whey. This is a very proper plan, providing the infection has been totally eradicated beforehand; but when that is not the case, and the patient trusts to the whey for finishing his cure, he will be often disappointed. I have frequently known the disease return with all its virulence after a course of goat-whey, even when that course had been thought quite sufficient for completing the cure.
One of the most unfortunate circumstances attending patients in this disease, is the necessity they are often laid under of hurrying the cure. This induces them to take medicine too fast, and to leave it off too soon. A few grains more of medicine, or a few days longer confinement, would often be sufficient to perform the cure; whereas, by neglect of these, a small degree of virulence is still left in the system, which gradually vitiates, and at length contaminates the whole mass. To avoid this, we would advise,that the patient should never leave off taking medicine immediately upon the disappearing of the symptoms, but continue it for some time after, gradually lessening the quantity, till there is reason to believe the disease is entirely eradicated.
It is not only difficult, but absolutely impossible, to ascertain the exact degree of virulence that may attend the disease; for which reason it will always be a much safer rule to continue the use of medicine too long, than to leave it off too soon. This seems to be the leading maxim of a modern practitioner of some note for the venereal disease, who always orders his patients to perform a quarantine of forty days, during which time he takes forty bottles of, I suppose, a strong decoction of sarsaparilla, or some other antivenereal simple. Whoever takes this method, and adds a sufficient quantity of corrosive sublimate, or some other active preparation of mercury to the decoction, will seldom fail to cure a confirmed lues.
It is peculiarly unfortunate for the cure of this disease, that not one in ten of those who contract it, are either able or willing to submit to a proper plan of regimen. The patient is willing to take medicine; but he must follow his business, and to prevent suspicions, must eat and drink like the rest of the family. This is the true source of nine-tenths, of all the mischief arising from venereal disease. I never knew the cure attended with any great difficulty or danger where the patient strictly followed the physician’s advice; but a volume would not be sufficient to point out the dreadful consequences which proceed from an opposite conduct. Schirrous testicles, ulceroussore throats, madness, consumptions, carious bones, and a rotten progeny, are a few of the blessings derived from this source.
There is a species of false reasoning, with regard to this disease, which proves fatal to many. A person of a sound constitution contracts a slight degree of the disorder. He gets well without taking any great care, or using much medicine, and hence concludes, that this will always be the case. The next time the disease occurs, though ten times more virulent, he pursues the same course, and his constitution is ruined. Indeed, the different degrees of virulence in the small-pox are not greater than in this disease, though, as the learned Sydenham observes, in some cases the most skilful physicians cannot cure, and in others the most ignorant old women cannot kill the patient in that disorder. Though a good constitution is always in favour of the patient, yet too great stress may be laid upon it. It does not appear from observation, that the most robust constitution is able to overcome the virulence of the venereal contagion, after it has got into the habit. In this case, a proper course of medicine is always indispensably necessary.
Although it is impossible, on account of the different degrees of virulence, &c., to lay down fixed and certain rules, for the cure of this disease, yet the following general plan will always be found safe, and often successful, viz.: to bleed and administer gentle purges with diuretics during the inflammatory state, and, as soon as the symptoms of inflammation are abated, to administer mercury, in any form that may be most agreeable to the patient. The same medicine,assisted by the decoction of sarsaparilla, and a proper regimen, will not only secure the constitution against the further progress of a confirmed pox, but will generally perform a complete cure.
Although the venereal disease may not be a proper subject of discussion for regular families and the nursery, yet there are many individuals to whom the observations here made may be of service in that complaint. There is no disease which opens so wide a field for the quack, none in which he so completely picks the pocket and ruins the constitution of the ignorant and unwary. Mercury, though looked upon as a certain cure in every species of this disease, is only proper in one; and though every apothecary’s boy pretends to cure the venereal disease by it, there is no medicine oftener misapplied. Though mercury is a certain cure for thelues venerea, it is a medicine of so very active a nature that it cannot be administered with too much care; it is the chief ingredient in all the nostrums daily advertised for the cure of this disease, and those who value their health or their life, should beware of allowing themselves to become, in a matter so serious, the dupes of imposture.
Courteous Reader,
Courteous Reader,
Courteous Reader,
In the Works of the renowned and famous philosopher,Aristotle, you have got laid before you a Collection of the best Observations on the Secrets of Nature, that ever the world was favouredwith on the subject. Let me now entreat you, who have read them, and all those who may hereafter do so, to mark well what is therein contained, and thereby direct your future conduct, which you will find to your advantage. Whatever young and inconsiderate persons may think or say of what is herein contained, it is absolutely necessary to be known; and, when reduced to practice, may prove the happy means of preventing many fatal and lamentable consequences, which ignorance and inconsideration produce. Farewell.
THE END.
THE END.
THE END.
JOHN SMITH, TOOLY STREET, LONDON.
JOHN SMITH, TOOLY STREET, LONDON.
JOHN SMITH, TOOLY STREET, LONDON.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTESSilently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling.Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed.
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