When the teeth are small, and but weak in performing their office, and

especially if they are short and few, though they show the person to be

of a weak constitution, yet they denote him to be of a meek disposition,

honest, faithful, and secret in whatsoever he is intrusted with. To have

some teeth longer and shorter than others, denotes a person to be of a

good apprehension, but bold, disdainful, envious and proud. To have

teeth very long and growing sharp towards the end, if they are long in

chewing, and thin, denotes the person to be envious, gluttonous, bold,

shameless, unfaithful, and suspicious. When the teeth look very brown or

yellowish, whether they be long or short, it shows the person to be of a

suspicious temper, envious, deceitful and turbulant. To have teeth

strong and close together, shows the person to be of a long life, a

desirer of novelties, and things that are fair and beautiful, but of a

high spirit, and one that will have his humour in all things; he loves

to hear news, and repeat it afterwards, and is apt to entertain any

thing to his behalf. To have teeth thin and weak, shows a weak feeble

man, and one of short life, and of a weak apprehension; but chaste,

shame-faced, tractable and honest.

A tongue to be too swift of speech shows a man to be downright foolish,

or at best but a very vain wit. A stammering tongue, or one that

stumbles in the mouth, signifies a man of a weak understanding, and of a

wavering mind, quickly in rage, and soon pacified. A very thick and

rough tongue denotes a man to be apprehensive, subtle, and full of

compliments, yet vain and deceitful, treacherous, and prone to impiety.

A thin tongue shows a man of wisdom and sound judgment, very ingenious,

and of an affable disposition, yet sometimes timorous, and too

credulous.

A great and full voice in either sex shows them to be of a great spirit,

confident, proud, and wilful. A faint and weak voice, attended with but

little breath, show a person to be of a good understanding, a nimble

fancy, a little eater, but weak of body, and of a timorous disposition.

A loud and shrill voice which sounds clearly, denotes a person

provident, sagacious, true, and ingenious, but withal capricious,

vain-glorious, and too credulous. A strong voice when a man sings,

denotes him to be of a strong constitution, and of a good understanding,

neither too penurious nor too prodigal, also ingenious, and an admirer

of the fair sex. A weak and trembling voice shows the owner of it to be

envious, suspicious, slow in business, feeble and fearful. A loud,

shrill, and unpleasant voice signifies one bold and valiant, but

quarrelsome and injurious, and altogether wedded to his own humours, and

governed by his own counsels. A rough and hoarse voice, whether in

speaking or singing, declares one to be a dull and heavy person, of much

guts and little brain. A full and yet mild voice and pleasing to the

hearer, shows the person to be of a quiet and peaceable disposition,

(which is a great virtue, and rare to be found in a woman) and also very

thrifty and secret, not prone to anger, but of a yielding temper. A

voice beginning low or in the bass, and ending high in the treble,

denotes a person to be violent, angry, bold and secure.

A thick and full chin abounding with too much flesh, shows a man

inclined to peace, honest and true to his trust, but slow in invention,

and easy to be drawn either to good or evil. A peaked chin and

reasonably full of flesh, shows a person to be of a good understanding,

a high spirit, and laudable conversation. A double chin shows a

peaceable disposition, but dull of apprehension, vain, credulous, a

great supplanter, and secret in all his actions. A crooked chin, bending

upwards and peaked for want of flesh, is by the rules of physiognomy,

according to nature a very bad man, being proud, impudent, envious,

threatening, deceitful, prone to anger and treachery, and a great thief.

The hair of young men usually begins to grow down upon their chins at 15

years of age, and sometimes sooner. These hairs proceed from the

superfluity of heat; the fumes whereof ascend to their chin, like smoke

to the funnel of a chimney; and because it cannot find an open passage

by which it may ascend higher, it vents itself forth in the hairs which

are called the beard. There are very few, are almost no women at all

that have hairs on their cheeks; and the reason is, those humours which

cause hair to grow on the cheeks of a man are by a woman evacuated in

the monthly terms, which they have more or less, according to the heat

or coldness of their constitution, and the age and motion of the moon.

Yet sometimes women of a hot constitution have hair to be seen on their

cheeks, but more commonly on their lips, or near unto their mouths,

where the heat most aboundeth. And where this happens, such women are

much addicted to the company of men, and of a strong and manly

constitution. A woman who hath little hair on her cheeks, or about her

mouth and lips, is of a good complexion, weak constitution, shame-faced,

mild and obedient; whereas a woman of more hot constitution is quite

otherwise. But in a man, a beard well composed and thick of hair,

signifies a man of good nature, honest, loving, sociable, and full of

humanity: on the contrary he that hath but a little beard, is for the

most part proud, pining, peevish, and unsociable. They who have no

beards, have always shrill and strange kind of squeaking voices, and are

of a weak constitution, which is apparent in the case of eunuchs, who,

after they are deprived of their virility, are transformed from the

nature of men into the condition of women.

Great and thick ears are a certain sign of a foolish person, or a bad

memory and worse understanding. But small and thin ears show a person to

be of a good wit, grave, secret, thrifty, modest, resolute, of a good

memory, and one willing to serve his friend. He whose ears are longer

than ordinary, is thereby signified to be a bold man, uncivil, vain,

foolish, serviceable to another more than himself, and a man of small

industry, but of a great stomach.

A face apt to sweat at every motion, shows the person to be of a hot

constitution, vain and luxurious, of a good stomach, but a bad

understanding, and a worse conversation. A very fleshy face shows the

person to be of a fearful disposition, but a merry heart, and withal

bountiful and discreet, easy to be entreated, and apt to believe every

thing. A lean face, by the rules of physiognomy, denotes the person to

be of a good understanding, but somewhat capricious and disdainful in

his conversation. A little and round face shows a person to be simple,

very fearful, of a bad memory, and a clownish disposition. A plump face

full of carbuncles, shows a man to be a great drinker of wine, vain,

daring, and soon intoxicated. A face red or high-coloured, shows a man

to be much inclined to choler, and one that will be soon angry and not

easily pacified. A long and lean face shows a man to be both bold,

injurious and deceitful. A face every way of a due proportion, denotes

an ingenious person, one fit for any thing, and very much inclined to

what is good. One of a broad full flat face is, by the rules of

physiognomy, of a dull, lumpish, heavy constitution, and that for one

virtue has three vices. A plain flat face, without any rising, shows a

person to be very wise, loving and courtly in his carriage, faithful to

his friend, and patient in adversity. A face sinking down a little, with

crosses in it, inclining to leanness, denotes a person to be very

laborious, but envious, deceitful, false, quarrelsome, vain, and silly,

of a dull and clownish behaviour. A face of a handsome proportion, and

more inclining to fat than lean, shows a person just in Ills actions,

true to his word, civil and respectful in his behaviour, of an

indifferent understanding, and of an extraordinary memory. A crooked

face, long and lean, denotes a man endued with as bad qualities as the

face is with ill features. A face broad about the brows, and sharper and

less as it grows towards the chin, shows a man simple and foolish in

managing his affairs, vain in his discourse, envious in his nature,

deceitful, quarrelsome, and rude in his conversation. A face well

coloured, full of good features, and of an exact symmetry, and a just

proportion in all its parts, and which is delightful to look upon, is

commonly the index of a fairer mind, and shows a person to be well

disposed; but withal declares that virtue is not so impregnably seated

there, but that by strong temptations (especially by the fair sex) it

may be supplanted and overcome by vice. A pale complexion shows the

person not only to be very fickle but very malicious, treacherous,

false, proud, presumptuous, and extremely unfaithful. A face well

coloured shows the person to be of a praiseworthy disposition, and a

sound complexion, easy of belief, and respectful to his friend, ready to

do a courtsey, and very easy to be drawn to any thing.

A great head and round withal, denotes the person to be secret, and of

great application in carrying on business, and also ingenious, and of a

large imaginative faculty and invention; and likewise laborious,

constant and honest. The head whose gullet stands forth, and inclines

towards the earth, signifies a person thrifty, wise, peaceable, secret,

of a retired temper, and constant in the management of his affairs. A

long head and face, and great, withal, denotes a vain, foolish, idle,

and weak person, credulous and very envious. To have one’s head always

shaking, and moving from side to side, denotes a shallow, weak person,

unstable in all his actions, given to lying, a great deceiver, a great

talker, and prodigal in all his fortunes. A big head and broad face show

a man to be very courageous, a great hunter after women, very

suspicious, bold and shameless. He who hath a very big head, but not so

proportionate as it ought to the body, if he hath a short neck and

crooked gullet, is generally a man of apprehension, wise, secret,

ingenious, of sound judgment, faithful, true and courteous to all. He

who hath a little head, and long slender throat, is for the most part a

man very weak, yet apt to learn, but unfortunate in his actions. And so

much shall suffice with respect to the head and face.

CHAPTER III.

_Of Judgments drawn from several other parts of Man’s Body._

In the body of man, the head and face are the principal parts, being the

index which heaven has laid open to every one’s view to make a judgment

therefrom, therefore I have been the larger in my judgment from the

several parts thereof. But to the other parts, I shall be much more

brief, as not being so obvious to the eyes of men: yet I would proceed

in order.

The throat, if it be white, whether it be fat or lean, shows a man to be

vain-glorious, timorous, wanton, and very subject to choler. If the

throat be so thin and lean that the veins appear, it shows a man to be

weak, slow, and of a dull and heavy constitution.

A long neck shows one to have a long and slender foot, and that the

person is stiff and inflexible either to good or evil. A short neck

shows one to be witty and ingenious, but deceitful and inconstant, well

skilled in the use of arms, and yet cares not to use them, but is a

great lover of peace and quietness.

A lean shoulder bone signifies a man to be weak, timorous, peaceful, not

laborious, and yet fit for any employment. He whose shoulder-bones are

of a great bigness is commonly, by the rule of physiognomy, a strong

man, faithful, but unfortunate; somewhat dull of understanding, very

laborious, a great eater and drinker, and one equally contented in all

conditions. He whose shoulder bone seems to be smooth, is by the rule of

nature modest in his look, and temperate in all his actions, both at bed

and board. He whose shoulder bone bends and is crooked inwardly, is

commonly a dull person and deceitful.

Long arms hanging down and touching the knees, though such arms are

rarely seen, denotes a man liberal, but withal vain-glorious, proud, and

inconstant. He whose arms are very short in respect to the stature of

his body, is thereby signified to be a man of high and gallant spirit,

of a graceful temper bold and warlike. He whose arms are full of bones,

sinews and flesh, is a great desirer of novelties and beauties, and one

that is very credulous and apt to believe every thing. He whose arms are

very hairy, whether they be lean or fat, is for the most part a

luxurious person, weak in body and mind, very suspicious, and malicious

withal. He whose arms have no hair on them at all, is of a weak

judgment, very angry, vain, wanton, credulous, easily deceived himself,

yet a great deceiver of others, no fighter, and very apt to betray his

dearest friends.

CHAPTER IV.

_Of Palmistry, showing the various Judgments drawn from the Hand._

Being engaged in this part of the work to show what judgment may be

drawn according to physiognomy, from the several parts of the body, and

coming in order to speak of the hands, it has put me under the necessity

of saying something about palmistry, which is judgment made of the

conditions, inclinations, and fortunes of men and women, from the

various lines and characters nature has imprinted in their hands, which

are almost as various as the hands that have them.

The reader should remember, that one of the lines of the hand, and which

indeed is reckoned the principal, is called the line of life; this line

incloses the thumb, separating it from the hollow of the hand. The next

to it, which is called the natural line, takes its beginning from the

rising of the fore-finger, near the line of life, and reaches to the

table-line, and generally makes a triangle. The table line, commonly

called the line of fortune, begins under the little finger, and ends

under the middle finger. The girdle of Venus, which is another line so

called, begins near the first-joint in the little finger, and ends

between the fore-finger and the middle finger. The line of death is that

which plainly appears in a counter line to that of life, and is called

the sister line, ending usually as the other ends; for when the line of

life is ended, death comes, and it can go no further. There are lines in

the fleshy parts, as in the ball of the thumb, which is called the mount

of Venus; under each of the fingers are also mounts, which are each

governed by several planets; and the hollow of the hand is called the

plain of Mars.

I proceed to give judgment from these several lines. In palmistry, the

left hand is chiefly to be regarded, because therein the lines are most

visible, and have the strictest communication with the heart and brain.

In the next place, observe the line of life, and if it be fair, extended

to its full length, and not broken with an intermixture of cross lines,

it shows long life and health, and it is the same if a double line

appears, as there sometimes does. When the stars appear in this line, it

is a signification of great losses and calamities; if on it there be the

figures of two O’s or a Y, it threatens the person with blindness; if it

wraps itself about the table-line, then does it promise wealth and

honour to be attended by prudence and industry. If the line be cut and

jagged at the upper end, it denotes much sickness; if this line be cut

by any line coming from the mount of Venus, it declares the person to be

unfortunate in love and business also, and threatens him with sudden

death. A cross between the line of life and the table-line, shows the

person to be very liberal and charitable, one of a noble spirit. Let us

see the signification of the table-line.

The table-line, when broad and of a lively colour, shows a healthful

constitution, and a quiet contented mind, and of a courageous spirit:

but if it has crosses towards the little finger, it threatens the party

with much affliction by sickness. If the line be double, or divided into

three parts at any of the extremities, it shows the person to be of a

generous temper, and of a good fortune to support it; but if this line

be forked at the end, it threatens the person shall suffer by

jealousies, and doubts, and loss of riches gotten by deceit. If three

points such as these ∴ are found in it, they denote the person prudent

and liberal, a lover of learning, and of a good temper; if it spreads

towards the fore and middle finger and ends blunt, it denotes

preferment. Let us now see what is signified by the middle-line. This

line has in it oftentimes (for there is scarce a hand in which it varies

not) divers very significant characters. Many small lines between this

and the table-line threaten the party with sickness, and also give him

hopes of recovery. A half cross branching into this line declares the

person shall have honour, riches, and good success in all his

undertakings. A half moon denotes cold and watery distempers; but a sun

or star upon this line, denotes prosperity and riches: this line, double

in a woman, shows she will have several husbands, but no children.

The line of Venus, if it happens to be cut or divided near the

fore-finger, threatens ruin to the party, and that it shall befall him

by means of lascivious women, and bad company. Two crosses upon this

line, one being on the fore-finger and the other bending towards the

little finger, shows the part to be weak, and inclined to modesty and

virtue; indeed it generally denotes modesty in women; and therefore

those who desire such, usually choose them by this standard.

The liver line, if it be straight and crossed by other lines, shows the

person to be of a sound judgment, and a piercing understanding; but if

it be winding, crooked, and bending outward, it shows deceit and

flattery, and the party is not to be trusted. If it makes a triangle, or

quadrangle, it shows the person to be of a noble descent, and ambitious

of honour and promotion. If it happens that this line and the middle

line begin near each other, it denotes a person to be weak in his

judgment, if a man; but if a woman, in danger by hard labour.

The plain of Mars being in the hollow of the hand, most of the lines

pass through it, which renders it very significant. This plain being

hollow, and the lines being crooked and distorted, threatens the party

to fall by his enemies. When the lines beginning at the wrist are long

within the plain, reaching to the brawn of the hand, that shows the

person to be much given to quarrelling, often in broils, and of a hot

and fiery spirit, by which he shall suffer much damage. If deep and

large crosses be in the middle of the plain, it shows the party shall

obtain honour by martial exploits; but if it be a woman, she shall have

several husbands, and easy labour with her children.

The line of Death is fatal, when crosses or broken lines appear in it;

for they threaten the person with sickness and a short life. A clouded

moon appearing therein, threatens a child-bed woman with death. A bloody

spot in the line, denotes a violent death. A star like a comet, threaten

ruin by war, and death by pestilence. But if a bright sun appears

therein, it promises long life and prosperity.

As for the lines of the wrist being fair, they denote good fortune; but

if crossed and broken, the contrary.

CHAPTER V.

_Judgments according to Physiognomy, drawn from the different parts of

the Body, from the Hands to the Feet._

A large and full breast shows a man valiant and courageous, but withal

proud and hard to deal with, quickly angry, and very apprehensive of an

injury: he whose breast is narrow, and which riseth a little in the

middle of it, is, by the best rules of physiognomy, of a clear spirit,

of a great understanding, good in counsel, very faithful, clean both in

mind and body, yet as an enemy to this, he is soon angry, inclined long

to keep it. He whose breast is somewhat hairy is very luxurious, and

serviceable to another. He who hath no hair upon his breast, is a man

weak by nature, of a slender capacity, and very timorous, but of a

laudable life and conversation, inclined to peace, and much retired to

himself.

The back of the chine bone, if the flesh be any thing hairy and lean,

and higher than any other part that is behind, signifies a man

shameless, beastly, and withal malicious. He whose back is large, big,

and fat, is thereby denoted to be a strong and stout man, but of a heavy

disposition, vain, slow, and full of deceit.

He or she whose belly is soft all over the body, is weak, lustful, and

fearful upon little or no occasion, of a good understanding, and an

excellent invention, but a little eater, faithful, but of various

fortune, and meets with more adversity that prosperity. He whose flesh

is rough and hard, is a man of strong constitution, and very bold, but

vain, proud, and of a cruel temper. A person whose skin is smooth, fat,

and white, is curious, vain-glorious, timorous, shame-faced, malicious,

false, and too wise to believe all he hears.

The legs of both men and women have a fleshy substance behind, which are

called calves, which nature hath given them (as in our book of living

creatures we have observed) in lieu of those long tails which most other

creatures have pendent behind. Now a great calf, and he whose legs are

of a great bone, and hairy withal, denotes the person to be strong,

bold, secure, dull in understanding, and slow in business, inclined to

procreation, and for the most part fortunate in his undertakings. Little

legs, and but little hair on them, show the person to be weak, fearful,

of a quick understanding, and neither luxurious at bed nor board.

The feet of either men or women, if broad and thick with flesh, and long

in figure, especially if the skin feels hard, they are by nature of a

strong constitution, and gross nutriment, but of a weak intellect, which

renders the understanding vain. But feet that are thin and lean, and of

a soft skin, show the person to be weak of body, but of a strong

understanding, and of an excellent wit.

The soles of the feet do administer plain and evident signs, whereby the

disposition and constitution of men and women may be known, as do the

palms of their hands, as being full of lines, by which lines all the

fortunes or the misfortunes of men and women may be known, and their

manners and inclinations made plainly to appear. But this in general we

may take notice, as that many long lines and strokes do presage great

affliction, and a very troublesome life, attended with much grief and

toil, care, poverty, and misery; but short lines, if they are thick and

full of cross lines, are yet worse in every degree. Those, the skin of

whose soles are very thick and gross, are for the most part able,

strong, and venturous. Whereas, on the contrary, those, the skin of

whose soles of their feet is thin, are generally weak and timorous.

I shall now, before I conclude, (having given an account of what

judgments may be made by observing the several parts of the body, from

the crown of the head to the soles of the feet) give an account of what

judgments may be drawn by the rule of physiognomy from things extraneous

which are found upon many, and which indeed to them are parts of the

body, but are so far from being necessary parts that they are the

deformity and burden of it and speak of the habits of the body, as they

distinguished persons.

_Of Crooked and Deformed Persons._

A crooked breast or shoulder, or the exuberance of flesh in the body

either of man or woman, signifies the person to be extremely

parsimonious and ingenious, and of a great understanding, but very

covetous, and scraping after the things of the world, attended also with

a very bad memory, being also very deceitful and malicious: they are

seldom in a medium, but either virtuous or extremely vicious. But if the

person deformed hath an excrescence on his breast instead of the back,

he is for the most part of a double heart and very mischievous.

_Of the divers Manners of going, and particular Posture both of Men and

Women_,

He or she who goes slowly, making great steps as they go, are generally

persons of bad memory, and dull of apprehension, given to loitering, and

not apt to believe what is told them. He who goes apace, and makes short

steps, is most successful in all his undertakings, swift in his

imagination, and humble in the disposition of his affairs. He who walks

wide and uneven steps, and sidelong withal, is one of a greedy, sordid

nature, subtle, malicious, and willing to do evil.

_Of the Gait or Motion in Men or Women._

Every man hath a certain gait or motion, and so in like manner hath

every woman; for a man to be shaking his head, or using any light motion

with his hands or feet, whether he stands or sits, or speaks, is always

accompanied with an extravagant motion, unnecessary, superfluous and

unhandsome. Such a man, by the rule of physiognomy, is vain, unwise,

unchaste, a detractor, unstable, and unfaithful. He or she whose motion

is not much when discoursing with any one, is for the most part wise and

well bred, and fit for any employment, ingenious and apprehensive,

frugal, faithful, and industrious in business. He whose posture is

forwards and backwards, or, as it were whisking up and down, mimical, is

thereby denoted to be a vain silly person, of a heavy and dull wit, and

very malicious. He whose motion is lame and limping, or otherwise

imperfect, or that counterfeits an imperfection, is denoted to be

envious, malicious, false, and detracting.

_Judgments drawn from the Stature of Man._

Physiognomy draws several judgments also from the stature of man, which

take as followeth: if a man be upright and straight, inclined rather to

leanness than fat, it shows him to be bold, cruel, proud, clamorous,

hard to please, and harder to be reconciled when displeased, very

frugal, deceitful, and in many things malicious. To be tall of stature,

and corpulent with it, denotes him to be not only handsome but valiant

also, but of no extraordinary understanding, and which is worst of all,

ungrateful and trepanning. He who is extremely tall, and very lean and

thin, is a projecting man, that designs no good to himself, importunate

to obtain what he desires, and extremely wedded to his own humour. He

who is thick and short, is vain, envious, suspicious, and very shallow

of apprehension, easy of belief, but very long before he will forget an

injury. He who is lean and short, but upright withal, is, by the rule of

physiognomy, wise and ingenious, bold and confident, and of a good

understanding, but of a deceitful heart. He who stoops as he goes, not

so much by age as custom, is very laborious, a retainer of secrets, but

very incredulous, and not easy to believe every vain report he hears. He

that goes with his belly stretching forth, is sociable, merry, and easy

to be persuaded.

CHAPTER IV.

_Of the Power of Celestial Bodies over Men and Women._

Having spoken thus largely of Physiognomy, and the judgments given

thereby concerning the dispositions and inclinations of men and women,

drawn by the said art, from every part of the bodies of men and women,

it will be convenient here to show how all these things come to pass;

and how it is that the secret inclinations and future fate of men and

women may be known from the consideration of the several parts of the

bodies. They arise from the power and dominion of superior powers over

bodies inferior; by superior powers I understand the 12 Signs of the

Zodiac, whose signs, characters, and significations are as follow.

[Illustration]

_Aris_, the Ram, which governs the head and face.

_Taurus_, the Bull, which governs the neck.

_Gemini_, the Twins, governs the hands and arms.

_Cancer_, the Crab, governs the breast and stomach.

_Leo_, the Lion, governs the back and heart.

_Virgo_, the Virgin, governs the belly and bowels.

_Libra_, the Balances, governs the reins and loins.

_Scorpio_, the Scorpion, governs the secret parts.

_Sagittary_, the Centaur, governs the thighs.

_Capricorn_, the Goat, governs the knees.

_Aquarius_, the Water-Bearer, governs the legs and ancles.

_Pisces_, the Fish, governs the feet.

It is here furthermore necessary to let the reader know, that the

ancients have divided the Celestial Sphere into twelve parts, according

to the number of these signs, which are termed houses; and have placed

the twelve signs in their houses, as in the first house Aries, in the

second Taurus, in the third Gemini, &c. And besides their assigning the

twelve signs to the twelves houses, they allot to each house its proper

business.

To the first house they give the signification of life.

The second house has the signification of wealth, substance, or riches.

The third is the mansion of brethren.

The fourth is the house of parentage. _

The fifth is the house of children.

The sixth is the house of sickness or disease.

The seventh is the house of wedlock, and also of enemies, because

oftentimes a wife or husband proves the worst enemy.

The eighth is the house of death.

The ninth is the house of religion.

The tenth is the signification of honour.

The eleventh of friendship.

The twelfth is the house of affliction and woe.

Now, astrologically speaking, a house is a certain space in the heaven

or firmament, divided by certain degrees, through which the planets have

their motion, and in which they have their residence, and are situated.

And these houses are divided by thirty degrees, for every sign has so

many degrees. And these signs or houses are called the houses of such

and such planets as make their residence therein, and are such as

delight in them, and as they are deposited in such and such houses are

said to be either dignified or debilitated. For though the planets in

their several revolutions go through all the houses, yet there are some

houses which they are more properly said to delight in: As, for

instance, Aries and Scorpio are the houses of Mars; Taurus and Libra, of

Venus; Gemini and Virgo, of Mercury; Sagittarius and Pisces are the

houses of Jupiter; Capricorn and Aquarius are the houses of Saturn; Leo

is the house of the Sun; and Cancer is the house of the Moon.

Now to sum up the whole, and show how this concerns physiognomy, is

thus: as the body of man, as we have shown, is not only governed by the

signs and planets, but every part is appropriated to one or another of

them, so according to the particular influence of each sign or planet,

so governing, is the disposition, inclination, and nature of the person

governed. For such and such tokens and marks do show a person to be born

under such and such a planet; so according to the nature, power, and

influences of the planets, is the judgment to be made of that person. By

which the reader may see that the judgments drawn from physiognomy are

grounded upon a certain veracity.

THE MIDWIFE’S VADE-MECUM;

CONTAINING

PARTICULAR DIRECTIONS FOR MIDWIVES, NURSES, &c.

Those that take upon them the office of midwives, ought to take care to

fit themselves for that employment by the knowledge of those things that

are necessary for the discharge thereof. And such persons ought to be of

the middle age, neither too young nor too old; and of a good habit of

body, not subject to disease, fears, or sudden frights. Nor are the

qualifications assigned to a good surgeon improper for a midwife, viz, a

lady’s hand, a hawk’s eye, a lion’s heart; to which may be added,

activity of body, and a convenient strength, with caution and diligence;

not subject to drowsiness or impatience. She ought also to be sober,

affable, courteous, chaste, not coveteous, or subject to passion, but

bountiful and compassionate; and, above all, she ought to be qualified

as the Egyptian midwives of old, that is, to have the fear of God, which

is the principal thing in every state and condition, and will furnish

her, on all occasions, both with wisdom and discretion.

When the time of birth draws near and the good woman finds her

travailing pains begin to come upon her, let her send for her midwife in

time, better too soon than too late, and get those things ready which

are necessary upon such occasions. When the midwife comes, let her first

find whether the true time of the birth be come; for by not properly

observing this, many a child hath been spoiled, and the life of the

mother endangered; or at least given her double the pain needful. For

unskilful midwives, not minding this, have given things to force down

the child, and thereby disturb the course of her natural labour; whereas

nature works best in her own time and way. I do confess, it is somewhat

difficult to know the true time of a woman’s labour, they being troubled

with pains long before their true labour comes, even some weeks before;

the reason of which I conceive to be the heat of their reins; and this

may be readily known by the swelling of their legs; and therefore, when

women with child find their legs swell overmuch, they may be assured

that their reins are too hot. For the cure whereof, let them cool the

reins, before the time of their labour, with oil of poppies, and oil of

violets, or water-lillies, by anointing the reins of their backs with

them; for such women whose reins are very hot, have usually hard

labours. But in this case, above all the remedies that I know, I prefer

the decoction of them in water; and then having strained and clarified

it with the white of an egg, boil it into a syrup with its equal weight

of sugar, and keep it for use.

There are two skins that compass the child in the womb; the one is the

_amnios_, and this is the inner skin; the other is the _allantois_, and

this is the skin that holds the urine of the child during the time that

it abides in the womb. Both these skins, by the violent stirring of the

child near the time of its birth, are broken; and then the urine and

sweat of the child contained in them fall down to the neck of the womb;

and this is that which the midwives call _the waters_, and is an

infallible sign that the birth is very near; for the child is no more

able to subsist in the womb after those skins are broken, than a naked

man is in the cold air. These waters, if the child come presently after

them, facilitate the labour, by making the passage slippery; and

therefore the midwife must have a care that she force not the waters

away, for nature knows better the true time of the birth than she, and

usually retains the waters till that time.

GENUINE RECIPES FOR CAUSING SPEEDY DELIVERY.

A loadstone held in the travailing woman’s hand. Take wild tansy, bruise

and apply it to the woman’s nostrils. Take also date stones, and beat

them to powder, and let her take a drachm of them in white wine at a

time.

Take parsley, bruise it, and press out the juice, and put it up (being

so dipped) into the mouth of the womb, and it will presently cause the

child to come away, though it be dead, and the after-burden also;

besides it cleanseth the womb, and also the child in the womb, of all

gross humours.

Let no midwife ever force away a child, unless she is sure it is dead. I

once was where a woman was in labour, which being very hard, her midwife

sent for another midwife to assist her, which midwife sending the first

down stairs, and designing to have the honour of delivering the woman

herself, forced away the body of the child, and left the head behind; of

which the woman was forced afterwards to be delivered by a man-midwife.

After the child is born, great care is to be taken by the midwife in

cutting the navel-string, which, though by some is accounted but a

trifle, yet it requires none of the least skill of a midwife, to do it

with that prudence and judgment that are requisite. And that it may be

done so, you must consider, as soon as the child is free from its

mother, whether it is weak or strong; if the child be weak, put back

gently part of the vital and natural blood in the body of the child by

its navel (for both the vital and natural spirits are communicated by

the mother to the child by its navel-string); for that doth much recruit

a weak child; but if the child be strong, you may forbear.

As to the manner of cutting the child’s navel-string, let the ligature

or binding be very strong; and be sure not to cut it off very near the

binding, lest the binding unloose. You need not fear to bind the

navel-string very hard, because it is void of sense; and that part of

the navel-string which you leave on falls off of its own accord in a few

days; the whole course of nature being now changed in the child, it

having another way ordained to nourish it. It is no matter with what

instrument you cut it off, so it be sharp and you do it cleverly. The

piece of the navel-string that falls off, be sure you keep it from

touching the ground; remember what I have before told you concerning

this matter, and if you keep it by you it may be of use. The

navel-string being cut off, put a little cotton or lint to the place, to

keep it warm, lest the cold enter the body of the child, which it will

be apt to do if it be not bound up hard enough.

The next thing to be done, is to bring away the after-birth, or

secundine, else it will be very dangerous for the woman. But this must

be done by gentle means, and without delay, for in this case especially

delays are dangerous; and also in what I have set down before, as good

to cause speedy delivery, and bring away the after-birth. And after the

birth and after-birth are brought away, if the woman’s body be very

weak, keep her not too warm; for extremity of heat doth weaken nature

and dissolve the strength; but whether she be weak or strong, let no

cold air come near her at first; for cold is an enemy to the spermatic

parts. If cold goes into the womb, it increases the after-pains, causes

swelling in the womb, and does great hurt to the nerves.

If what I have written be carefully observed by midwives, and such

nurses as keep women in their lying-in, by God’s blessing, the child-bed

woman may do very well, and both midwife and nurse gain credit and

reputation. For though these directions may in some things thwart the

common practice, yet they are grounded upon experience, and will

infallibly answer the end.

But there are several accidents that lying-in women are subject unto

which must be provided against; and these I will speak of next.

The first I shall mention are after-pains, about the cause of which,

authors very much differ; some think they are caused by the thinness,

some by the sliminess, and others by the sharpness of the blood; but my

own opinion is, they proceed from cold and water. But whatever the cause

may be, this I know, that if my foregoing directions be observed, they

will be very much abated, if not quite taken away. But in case they do

happen, boil an egg, and pour out the yoke of it, with which mix a

spoonful of cinnamon-water, and let her drink of it; and if you mix it

with two grains of ambergris, it will better.

The second accident lying-in women are subject to is excoriation in the

lower part of the womb. To help this, use oil of sweet almonds, or

rather oil of St. John’s wort, to anoint the part with.

Another accident is, that sometimes, through very hard labour, and the

great straining to bring the child into the world, the lying-in woman

comes to be troubled with the hemorrhoids or piles. To cure this, let

her use polypodium bruised, and boiled in her meat and drink.

A fourth thing that often follows is, the retention of the menses; this

is very dangerous, and, if not remedied, proves mortal. But for this,

let her take such medicines as strongly provoke the terms; and such are

peony roots, dittany, juniper-berries, betony, centaury, sage, savory,

pennyroyal, feverfew.

The last thing I shall mention is, the overflowing of the menses. This

happens not so often as the foregoing, but yet sometimes it does; and in

such cases take shepherd’s purse, either boiled in any convenient

liquor, or dried and beaten to powder, and you will find it very good to

stop them.

Having thus finished the Vade-Mecum for Midwives, before I conclude I

will add something of the choice and qualifications of good nurses; that

those who have occasion for them, may know how to order themselves, for

the good of the children whom they nurse.

1. Let her age be between 20 and 30, for then she is in her prime.

2. Let her be in health, for her sickness infects the milk, and the milk

the child.

3. Let her be a prudent woman, for such a one will be careful of the

child.

4. Let her be not too poor; for if she wants, the child must want too.

5. Let her be well bred; for ill bred nurses corrupt good nature.

6. If it be a boy that is to be nursed, let the nurse be such a one

whose last child was a boy, and so it will be the more agreeable; but if

it be a girl, let the nurse be one whose last child was a girl.

7. If the nurse has a husband, see that he be a good likely man, and not

given to debauchery; for that may have an influence upon the child.

8. In the last place, let the nurse take care that she be not pregnant

herself; for, if so, she must of necessity either spoil her own, or

yours, or both.

To the nurse thus qualified, you may put your child without danger. And

let such a nurse take the following directions, for the better governing

and ordering herself in that station.

_Approved Directions to Nurses._

1. Let her use her body to exercise. If she hath nothing else to do, let

her exercise herself by dancing the child; for moderate exercise causeth

good digestion; and I am sure good blood must needs make good milk, and

good milk cannot fail making a thriving child.

2. Let her live in good air; there is nothing more natural than this. It

is the want of this makes so many children die in London; and even those

few that live are not of the best constitutions, for gross and thick air

makes unwieldy bodies and dull wits.

3. Let her be careful of her diet, and avoid all salt meats, garlics,

leeks, onions, and mustard, excessive drinking wine, strong beer, or

ale, for they trouble the child’s body with choler: cheese, both new and

old, afflicts it with melancholy, and all fish with phlegm.

4. Let her never deny herself sleep when she is drowsy, for by that

means she will be more wakeful when the child cries.

5. Let her avoid all disquiets of mind, anger, vexation, sorrow, and

grief; for these things very much disorder a woman, and therefore must

needs be hurtful to her milk.

6. If the nurse’s milk happen to be corrupted by an accident, as

sometimes it may be, being either too hot or too cold, in such cases let

her diet be good, and let her observe the cautions which have already

been given her. And then, if her milk be too hot, let her cool it with

endive, succory, lettuce, sorrel, purslain, and plantain; if it be too

cold, let her use burorage, vervain, buglos, mother of thyme, and

cinnamon; and let her observe this general rule, that whatsoever

strengthens the child in the womb, the same attends the milk.

7. If the nurse wants milk, the thistle, commonly called the lady’s

thistle, is an excellent thing for the breeding of milk, there being few

things growing (if any) that breeds more and better milk than that doth;

also the hoofs of the forefeet of the cow, dried and beaten to powder,

and a drachm of the powder taken every morning in any convenient liquor,

increases milk.

_Choice Remedies for increasing Milk._

If any nurse be given to much fretting, it makes her lean, and hinders

digestion; and she can never have store of milk, nor what she hath be

good. Bad meats and drinks also hinder the increase of milk, and

therefore ought to be forborne. A woman that would increase her milk,

should eat the best of food, (that is if she can get it,) and let her

drink milk wherein fennel seeds have been steeped. Let her take

barley-water, and burrage, and spinach; also goat’s milk, and lamb

sodden with verjuice. Let her also comfort the stomach with confection

of aniseed, carraway, and cummin seeds, and also use those seeds sodden

in water; also take barley-water, and boil therein green fennel and

dill, and sweeten it with sugar, and drink it at pleasure.

Hot fomentations open the breasts, and attract the blood, as decoction

of fennel, smallage, or stamped mint applied. Or, take fennel and

parsley, green, each a handful, boil and stamp them, and barley-meal

half an ounce, with seed drachm, storax, calamint, two drachms, oil of

lilies two ounces, and make a poultice.

Lastly, take half an ounce of deer’s suet, and as much parsley roots, an

ounce and a half of barley-meal, three drachms of red storax, and three

ounces of oil of sweet almonds; boil the roots well, and beat them to

pap, then mingle the other amongst them, and put it warm to the nipples,

and it will increase the milk.

And thus, courteous reader, I have at length finished what I have

designed; and can truly affirm, that thou hast here those recipes,

remedies, and directions given unto thee with respect to child-bearing

women, midwives and nurses, that are worth their weight in gold, and

will assuredly answer the end, whenever thou hast occasion to make use

of them, they not being things taken on trust from tradition or hearsay,

but the result and dictates of sound judgment and experience.

THE VENEREAL DISEASE.

In a former edition of this book the venereal disease was omitted. The

reasons, however, which at that time induced me to leave it out, have,

upon more mature consideration, vanished. Bad consequences, no doubt,

may arise from ignorant persons tampering with medicine in this

disorder; but the danger from that quarter seems to be more than

balanced by the great and solid advantages which must arise to the

patient from an early knowledge of his case, and an attention to a plan

of regimen, which, if it does not cure the disease, will be sure to

render it more mild, and less hurtful to the constitution.

It is peculiarly unfortunate for the unhappy person who contracts this

disease, that it lies under a sort of disgrace. This renders disguise

necessary, and makes the patient either conceal his disorder altogether,

or apply to those who promise a sudden and secret cure; but who, in

fact, only remove the symptoms for a time, while they fix the disease

deeper in the habit. By this means a slight infection, which might have

been easily removed, is often converted into an obstinate, and sometimes

incurable malady.

Another unfavourable circumstance attending this disease is, that it

assumes a variety of different shapes, and may with more propriety be

called an assemblage of diseases, than a single one. No two diseases can

require a more different mode of treatment than this does in its

different stages. Hence the folly and danger of trusting to any

particular nostrum for the cure of it. Such nostrums are, however,

generally administered in the same manner to all who apply for them,

without the least regard to the state of the disease, the constitution

of the patient, the degree of infection, and a thousand other

circumstances of the utmost importance.

Though the venereal disease is generally the fruit of unlawful embraces,

yet it may be communicated to the innocent as well as the guilty.

Infants, nurses, midwives, and married women whose husbands lead

dissolute lives, are often affected with it, and frequently lose their

lives by not being aware of their danger in due time. The unhappy

condition of such persons will certainly plead our excuse, if any excuse

be necessary, for endeavouring to point out the symptoms and cure of

this too common disease.

To enumerate all its different symptoms, however, and to trace the

disease minutely through its various stages, would require a much larger

space than falls to this part of my subject; I shall therefore confine

my observations chiefly to circumstances of importance, omitting such as

are either trifling, or which occur but seldom. I shall likewise pass

over the history of the disease, with the different methods of treatment

which it has undergone, since it was first introduced into Europe, and

many other circumstances of a similar nature; all of which, though they

might tend to amuse the reader, yet could afford him little or no useful

knowledge.

OF THE VIRULENT GONORRHŒA.

The Virulent Gonorrhœa is an involuntary discharge of infectious mucus

from the parts of generation in either sex. It generally makes its

appearance within eight or ten days after the infection has been

received; sometimes it appears in two or three days, and at other times

not before the end of four or five weeks. Previous to the discharge, the

patient feels an itching, with a small degree of pain in the genitals.

Afterwards a thin glary matter begins to distil from the urinary

passage, which stains the linen, and occasions a small degree of

titillation, particularly at the time of making water; this gradually

increasing, arises at length to a degree of heat and pain, which are

chiefly perceived about the extremity of the urinary passage, where a

slight degree of redness and inflammation likewise begins to appear.

As the disorder advances, the pain, heat of the urine, and running,

increase, while fresh symptoms daily ensue. In men the erections become

painful and involuntary, and are more frequent and lasting than when

natural. This symptom is most troublesome when the patient is warm in

bed.

The pain which was at first only perceived towards the extremity, now

begins to reach up all the urinary passage, and is more intense just

after the patient has done making water. The running gradually recedes

from the colour of semen, grows yellow, and at length puts on the

appearance of mucus.

When the disorder has arrived at its height, all the symptoms are more

intense; the heat of the urine is so great, that the patient dreads the

making water; and though he feels a constant inclination this way, yet

it is rendered with the greatest difficulty, and often only by drops;

the involuntary erections now become extremely painful and frequent;

there is also a pain, heat, and sense of fulness about the seat, and the

running is plentiful and sharp, of a brown, greenish, and sometimes of a

bloody colour.

By a proper treatment, the violence of the symptoms gradually abates;

the heat and urine goes off, the involuntary and painful erections, and

the heat and pain about the seat, become easier; and the running also

gradually decreases, grows whiter and thicker, till at last it entirely

disappears.

By attending to these symptoms, the gonorrhœa may be generally

distinguished from any other disease. There are, however, some few

disorders for which it may be mistaken, as an ulcer of the kidneys or

bladder, the _fluor albus_, or whites in women, &c. But in the former of

these, the matter comes away only with the urine, or when the sphincter

of the bladder is open; whereas in a gonorrhœa the discharge is

constant. The latter is more difficult to distinguish, and must be known

chiefly from its effects; as pain, communicating the infection, &c.

REGIMEN.—When a person has reason to suspect that he has caught the

venereal infection, he ought most strictly to observe a cooling regimen,

to avoid everything of a heating nature, as wines, spiritous liquors,

rich sauces, spices, salted, high seasoned, and smoke dried provisions,

particularly salt itself in every shape; as also all aromatic and

stimulating vegetables, as onions, garlic, shalot, nutmeg, mustard,

cinnamon, mace, ginger, and such like. His food ought chiefly to consist

of mild vegetables, milk, broths, light puddings, panado, gruels, &c.

His drink may be barley-water, milk and water, decoctions of

marshmallows and liquorice, linseed tea, or clear whey. Of these he

ought to drink plentifully. Violent exercise of all kinds, especially

riding on horseback, and venereal pleasures, are to be avoided. The

patient must beware of cold, and when the inflammation is violent, he

ought to keep his bed.

MEDICINE.—A virulent gonorrhœa can rarely be cured speedily and

effectually at the same time. The patient ought, therefore, not to

expect nor the physician to promise it. It will often continue for two

or three weeks, and sometimes for five or six, even where the treatment

has been very proper.

Sometimes, indeed, a slight infection may be carried off in a few days,

by bathing the parts in warm milk and water, and injecting frequently up

the urethra a little sweet oil, or linseed tea, about the warmth of new

milk. Should these not succeed in carrying off the infection, they will

at least have a tendency to lessen its virulence.

To effect a cure, however, astringent injections will generally be found

necessary. There may be various ways prepared, but I think those made

with the white vitriol are both more safe and efficacious. They can be

made stronger or weaker as circumstances may require; but it is best to

begin with the more gentle, and increase their power if necessary. I

generally ordered a dram of white vitriol to be dissolved in eight or

nine ounces of common or rose-water, and an ordinary syringe full of it

to be thrown up three or four times a day. If this quantity does not

perform a cure, it may be repeated, and the dose increased.

Whether injections be used or not, cooling purges are always proper in

the gonorrhœa. They ought not, however, to be of the strong or drastic

kind. Whatever raises a violent commotion in the body increases the

danger, and tends to drive the disease deeper into the habit. Procuring

two or three stools every second or third day for the first fortnight,

and the same number every fourth or fifth day for the second, will

generally be sufficient to remove the inflammatory symptoms, to diminish

the running, and to change its colour and consistence. It gradually

becomes more white and ropy as the virulence abates.[1]

Footnote 1:

If the patient can swallow a solution of salts and manna, he may take

six drams; or, if his constitution requires it, an ounce of the

former, with half an ounce of the latter. These may be dissolved in an

English pint of boiling water, whey, or thin water-gruel, and taken

early in the morning. If an infusion of senna and tamarinds be more

agreeable, two drams of the former, and an ounce of the latter, may be

infused all night in an English pint of boiling water. The infusion

may be strained next morning, and half an ounce of Glauber’s salts

dissolved in it. A tea-cupful of this infusion may be taken every half

hour till it operates. Should the patient prefer an electuary, the

following will be found to answer very well. Take of the lenitive

electuary, four ounces, cream of tartar two ounces, jalap in powder

two drams, rhubarb one dram, and as much of the syrup Of pale roses as

will serve to make up the whole into a soft electuary. Two or three

tea-spoonfuls of this may be taken over night, and about the same

quantity next morning, every day that the patient chooses to take a

purge. The doses of the above medicines may be increased or

diminished, according as the patient finds it necessary. We have

ordered the salts to be dissolved in a large quantity of water,

because, it renders their operation more mild.

When the inflammatory symptoms run high, bleeding is always necessary at

the beginning. This operation, as in other topical inflammations, must

be repeated according to the strength and constitution of the patient,

and the vehemence and urgency of the symptoms.

Medicines which promote the secretion of urine are likewise proper in

this stage of the disorder. For this purpose an ounce of nitre and two

ounces of gum-arabic, pounded together, may be divided into twenty-four

doses, one of which may be taken frequently in a cup of the patient’s

drink. If these should make him pass his urine so often as to become

troublesome to him, he may either take them less frequently, or leave

out the nitre altogether, and take equal parts of gum-arabic and cream

of tartar. These may be pounded together, and a tea-spoonful taken in a

cup of the patient’s drink four or five times a day. I have generally

found this answer extremely well, both as a diuretic, and for keeping

the body gently open.

When the pain and inflammation are seated high, towards the neck of the

bladder, it will be proper frequently to throw up an emollient clyster,

which, besides the benefit of procuring stools will serve as a

fomentation to the inflamed parts.

Soft poultices, when they can conveniently be applied to the parts, are

of great service. They may be made of the flour of linseed, or of

wheat-bread and milk softened with fresh butter or sweet oil. When

poultices cannot be conveniently used, cloths wrung out of warm water,

or bladders filled with warm milk and water, may be applied. I have

often known the most excruciating pains, during the inflammatory state

of the gonorrhœa, relieved by one of these applications.

Few things tend more to keep off inflammation in the spermatic vessels,

than a proper suspensory for the scrotum. It ought to be so contrived as

to support the testicles, and should be worn from the first appearance

of the disease, till it has ceased some weeks.

The above treatment will sometimes remove the gonorrhœa so quickly, that

the person will be in doubt whether he really laboured under that

disease. This, however, is too favourable a turn to be often expected.

It more frequently happens, that we are able to procure an abatement or

remission of the inflammatory symptoms, so far as to make it safe to

have recourse to the great antidote _mercury_.

Many people, on the first appearance of a gonorrhœa, fly to the use of

mercury. This is a bad plan. Mercury is often not at all necessary in a

gonorrhœa; and when taken too early, it does mischief. It may be

necessary to complete the cure, but can never be proper at the

commencement of it.

When bleeding, purging, fomentations, and the other things recommended

above, have eased the pain, softened the pulse, relieved the heat of

urine, and rendered the involuntary ejections less frequent, the patient

may begin to use mercury in any form that is least disagreeable to him.

If he takes the common mercurial pill, two at night and one in the

morning will be a sufficient dose at first. Should they affect the mouth

too much, the dose must be lessened; if not at all, it may be increased

to five or six pills in the day. If calomel be thought preferable, two

or three grains of it, formed into a bolus, with a little of the

conserve of hips, may be taken at bed-time, and the dose gradually

increased to eight or ten grains. One of the most common preparations of

mercury now in use is the corrosive sublimate. This may be taken in the

manner afterwards recommended under the confirmed lues or pox. I have

always found it one of the most safe and efficacious medicines when

properly used.

The foregoing medicines may either be taken every day, or every other

day, as the patient is able to bear them. They ought never to be taken

in such quantity as to raise a salivation, unless in a very slight

degree. This disease may be more safely, and as certainly, cured without

a salivation as with it. When the mercury runs off by the mouth, it is

not so successful in carrying off the disease, as when it continues

longer in the body, and is discharged gradually.

Should the patient be purged or griped in the night by the mercury, he

may take half a dram of the opiate confection dissolved in an ounce of

cinnamon-water, to prevent bloody stools, which are apt to happen should

the patient catch cold, or if the mercury has not been duly prepared.

When the bowels are weak, and the mercury is apt to gripe or purge,

these disagreeable consequences may be prevented by taking, with the

foregoing pills or bolus, half a dram or two scruples of diascordium, or

of the Japonic confection.

To prevent the disagreeable circumstance of the mercury’s affecting the

mouth too much, or bringing on a salivation, it may be combined with

purgatives. With this view the laxative mercurial pill has been

contrived, the usual dose of which is half a dram, or three pills night

and morning, to be repeated every other day; but the safer way is for

the patient to begin with two, or even with one pill, gradually

increasing the dose.

To such persons as can neither swallow a bolus nor a pill, mercury may

be given in a liquid form, as it can be suspended even in a watery

vehicle, by means of gum-arabic, which not only serves this purpose, but

likewise prevents the mercury from affecting the mouth, and renders it

in many respects a better medicine.[2]

Footnote 2:

Take quicksilver one dram, gum-arabic reduced to a mucilage two drams;

let the quicksilver be rubbed with the mucilage, in a marble mortar,

until the globules of mercury entirely disappear; afterwards and

gradually, still continuing the trituration, add half an ounce of

balsamic syrup, and eight ounces of simply cinnamon-water. Two

table-spoonfuls of this solution may be taken night and morning. Some

reckon this the best form in which quicksilver can be exhibited for

the cure of gonorrhœa.

It happens very fortunately for those who cannot be brought to take

mercury inwardly, and likewise for persons whose bowels are too tender

to bear it, that an external application of it will answer equally well,

and in some respects better. It must be acknowledged, that mercury,

taken inwardly for any length of time, greatly weakens and disorders the

bowels; for which reason, when a plentiful use of it becomes necessary,

we would prefer rubbing in to the mercurial pills. The common mercurial,

or blue ointment, will answer very well. Of that which is made by

rubbing together equal quantities of hogslard and quicksilver, about a

dram may be used at a time. The best time for rubbing it in is at night,

and the most proper place the inner side of the thighs. The patient

should sit beside the fire when he rubs, and should wear flannel drawers

next his skin at the time he is using the ointment. If ointment of a

weaker or stronger kind be used, the quantity must be increased or

diminished in proportion.

If, during the use of the ointment, the inflammation of the genital

parts, together with the heat and feverishness, should return, or if the

mouth should grow sore, the gums tender, and the breath becomes

offensive, a dose or two of Glauber’s salts, or some other cooling

purge, may be taken, and the rubbing intermitted for a few days. As

soon, however, as the signs of spitting are gone off, if the virulency

be not quite corrected, the ointment must be repeated, but in smaller

quantities, and at longer intervals than before. Whatever way mercury is

administered, its use must be persisted in as long as any virulency is

suspected to remain.

During this, which may be called the second stage of the disorder,

though so strict a regimen is not necessary as in the first or

inflammatory state, yet intemperance of every kind ought to be avoided.

The food must be light, plain, and of easy digestion; and the greatest

indulgence that may be allowed, with respect to drink, is a little wine

diluted with a sufficient quantity of water. Spiritous liquors are to be

avoided in every shape. I have often known the inflammatory symptoms

renewed and heightened, the running increased, and the cure rendered

extremely difficult and tedious, by one fit of excessive drinking.

When the above treatment has removed the heat of urine, and soreness of

the genital parts; when the quantity of running is lessened, without any

pain or swelling in the groin or testicle supervening; when the patient

is free from involuntary erections; and lastly, when the running becomes

pale, whitish, void of ill smell, and tenacious or ropy; when all or

most of these symptoms appear, the gonorrhœa is arrived at its last

stage, and we may gradually proceed to treat it as a gleet with

astringent and agglutinating medicines.

OF GLEETS.

A gonorrhœa frequently repeated, or improperly treated, often ends in a

gleet, which may either proceed from a relaxation, or from some remains

of the disease. It is, however, of the greatest importance in the cure

of the gleet, to know from which of these causes it proceeds. When the

discharge proves very obstinate, and receives little or no check from

astringent remedies, there is ground to suspect that it is owing to the

latter; but if the drain is constant, and is chiefly observable when the

patient is stimulated by lascivious ideas, or upon straining to go to

stool, we may reasonably conclude that it is chiefly owing to the

former.

In the cure of a gleet proceeding from relaxation, the principal design

is to brace and restore a proper degree of tension to the debilitated

and relaxed vessels. For this purpose, besides the medicines recommended

in the gonorrhœa, the patient may have recourse to stronger and more

powerful astringents, as the Peruvian bark,[3] alum, vitriol, galls,

tormentil, bistort, ballustines, tincture of gum kino, &c. The

injections may be rendered more astringent by the addition of a few

grains of alum, or increasing the quantity of vitriol as far as the

parts are able to bear it.

Footnote 3:

The Peruvian bark may be combined with other astringents, and prepared

in the following manner:—Take of Peruvian bark bruised six drams, of

fresh galls bruised two drams, boil them in a pound and a half of

water to a pound; to the strained liquor add three ounces of the

simple tincture of the bark. A small tea-cupful of this may be taken

three times a day, adding to each cup fifteen or twenty drops of the

acid elixir of vitriol.

The last remedy which we shall mention, in this case, is the cold bath,

than which there is not a more powerful bracer in the whole compass of

medicine. It ought never to be omitted in this species of gleet, unless

there be something in the constitution of the patient which renders the

use of it unsafe. The chief objections to the use of the cold bath are a

full habit, and an unsound state of the viscera. The danger of the

former may always be lessened, if not removed, by purging and bleeding;

but the latter is an insurmountable obstacle, as the pressure of the

water, and the sudden contraction of the external vessels, by throwing

the blood with too much force upon the internal parts are apt to

occasion ruptures of the vessels, or a flux of humours upon the diseased

organs. But where no objections of this kind prevail, the patient ought

to plunge over head in water every morning fasting, for three or four

weeks together. He should not, however, stay long in the water, and

should take care to have his skin dried as soon as he comes out.

The regimen proper in this case is the same as was mentioned in the last

stage of the gonorrhœa: the diet must be drying and astringent, and the

drink Spa, Pyrmont, or Bristol waters with which a little claret or red

wine may sometimes be mixed.

When the gleet does not in the smallest degree yield to these medicines,

there is reason to suspect that it proceeds from ulcers. In this case

recourse must be had to mercury, and such medicines as tend to correct

any predominant acrimony with which the juices may be affected, as the

decoction of China, sarsaparilla, sassafras, or the like.

Mr. Fordyce says, he has seen many obstinate gleets, of two, three, or

four years standing, effectually cured by a mercurial inunction, when

almost every other medicine has been tried in vain. Dr. Chapman seems to

be of the same opinion; but says, he has always found the mercury

succeed best in this case when joined with terebinthinate and other

agglutinating medicines. For which reason the Doctor recommends pills

made of calomel and Venice turpentine;[4] and desires that their use may

be accompanied with a decoction of guaiacum or sarsaparilla.

Footnote 4:

Take Venice turpentine, boiled to a sufficient degree of hardness,

half an ounce, calomel half a dram. Let these be mixed and formed into

sixty pills, of which five or six may be taken night and morning. If,

during the use of these pills, the mouth should grow sore, or the

breath become offensive, they must be discontinued till these symptoms

disappear.

The last kind of remedy which we shall mention for the cure of ulcers in

the urinary passage, are the supperating candles or bougies. As these

are prepared various ways, and are generally to be bought ready made, it

is needless to spend time in enumerating the different ingredients of

which they are composed, or teaching the manner of preparing them.

Before a bougie be introduced into the urethra, however, it should be

smeared all over with sweet oil, to prevent it from stimulating too

suddenly. It may be suffered to continue in from one to seven hours,

according as the patient can bear it. Obstinate ulcers are not only

often healed, but tumours or excrescences in the urinary passages taken

away, and an obstruction of urine removed, by means of bougies.

Obstinate gleets may be removed by the use of bougies.

OF THE SWELLED TESTICLE.

The swelled testicle may either proceed from infection lately

contracted, or from the venereal poison lurking in the body; the latter

indeed is not very common, but the former frequently happens both in the

first and second stages of a gonorrhœa; particularly when the running is

unseasonably checked, by cold, hard drinking, strong drastic purges,

violent exercise, the too early use of astringent medicines, or the

like.

In the inflammatory stage, bleeding is necessary, which must be repeated

according to the urgency of the symptoms.[5] The food must be light, and

the drink diluting. High-seasoned food, flesh, wines, and every thing of

a heating nature, are to be avoided. Fomentations are of singular

service. Poultices of bread and milk, softened with fresh butter or oil,

are likewise very proper, and ought constantly to be applied when the

patient is in bed; when he is up the testicles should be kept warm, and

supported by a suspensory, which may easily be contrived in such a

manner as to prevent the weight of the testicle from having any effect.

Footnote 5:

I have been accustomed for some time past to apply leeches to inflamed

testicles, which practice has always been followed with the most happy

effects.

If it should be found impracticable to clear the testicle by the cooling

regimen now pointed out, and extended according to circumstances, it

will be necessary to lead the patient through such a complete

antivenereal course as shall ensure him against any future uneasiness.

For this purpose, besides rubbing the mercurial ointment on the thighs

as directed in the gonorrhœa, the patient must be confined to bed, if

necessary, for five or six weeks, suspending the testicle, all the

while, with a bag or truss, and plying him inwardly with strong

decoctions of sarsaparilla.

When these means do not succeed, and there is reason to suspect a

scrofulous or cancerous habit, either of which may support a schirrous

induration, after a venereal poison is corrected, the parts should be

fomented daily with a decoction of hemlock, the bruised leaves of which

may likewise be added to the poultice, and the extract at the same time

taken inwardly.[6] This practice is strongly recommended by Dr. Storck

in schirrous and cancerous cases; and Mr. Fordyce assures us, that by

this method he has cured diseased testicles of two or three years

standing, even when ulcerated, and when the schirrous had begun to be

affected with pricking and lancing pains.

Footnote 6:

The extract of hemlock may be made into pills, and taken in the manner

directed under the article Cancer.

OF BUBOES.

Venereal buboes are hard tumours seated in the groin, occasioned by the

venereal poison lodged in this part. They are of two kinds, viz. such as

proceed from a recent infection, and such as accompany a confirmed lues.

The cure of recent buboes, that is, such as appear soon after impure

coition, may be first attempted by _dispersion_; and, if that should not

succeed, by _suppuration_. To promote the dispersion of a buboe, the

same regimen must be observed as was directed in the first stage of a

gonorrhœa. The patient must likewise be bled, and take some cooling

purges, as the decoction of tamarinds and senna, Glauber’s salts, and

the like. If by this course the swelling and other inflammatory symptoms

abate, we may safely proceed to use the mercury, which must be continued

till the venereal virus is quite subdued.[7]

Footnote 7:

For the dispersion of a Bubo, a number of leeches applied to the part

affected will be found equally efficacious as in the inflamed

testicle.

But if the buboe should, from the beginning, be attended with great

heat, pain, and pulsation, it will be proper to promote its suppuration.

For this purpose the patient may be allowed to use his ordinary diet,

and to take now and then a glass of wine. Emollient cataplasms,

consisting of bread and milk softened with oil or fresh butter, may be

applied to the part; and, in cold constitutions, where the tumour

advances slowly, white lily roots boiled, or sliced onions raw, and a

sufficient quantity of yellow basilicon, may be added to the poultice.

When the tumour is ripe, which may be known by its conical figure, the

softness of the skin, and a fluctuation of the matter plainly to be felt

under the finger, it may be opened either by a caustic or a lancet, and

afterwards dressed with digestive ointment.

It sometimes, however, happens that buboes can neither be dispersed nor

brought to a suppuration, but remain hard indolent tumours. In this case

the indurated glands must be consumed by caustic; if they should become

schirrous, they must be dissolved by the application of hemlock, both

externally and internally, as directed in the schirrous testicle.

OF CHANCRES.

Chancres are superficial, callous, eating ulcers, which may happen

either with or without gonorrhœa. They are commonly seated about the

glands, and make their appearance in the following manner:—First a

little red pimple arises, which soon becomes pointed at top, and is

filled with a whitish matter inclining to yellow. This pimple is hot,

and itches generally before it breaks; afterwards it degenerates into an

obstinate ulcer, the bottom of which is usually covered with a viscid

mucus, and whose edges gradually become hard and callous. Sometimes the

first appearance resembles a simple excoriation of the cuticle; which,

however, if the cause be venereal, soon becomes a true chancre.

A chancre is sometimes a primary affection, but it is much oftener

symptomatic, and is the mark of a confirmed lues. Primary chancres

discover themselves soon after the coition, and are generally seated in

parts covered with a thin cuticle, as the lips, the nipples of women,

the _glens penis_ of men, &c.[8]

Footnote 8:

When the venereal ulcers are seated in the lips, the infection may be

communicated by kissing. I have seen very obstinate venereal ulcers in

the lips, which I have all the reason in the world to believe were

communicated in this manner. Nurses ought to beware of suckling

infected children, or having their breasts drawn by persons tainted

with the venereal disease. This caution is peculiarly necessary for

nurses who reside in the neighbourhood of great towns.

When the chancre appears soon after impure coition, its treatment is

nearly similar to that of the virulent gonorrhœa. The patient must

observe the cooling regimen, lose a little blood, and take some gentle

doses of salts and manna. The parts affected ought frequently to be

bathed or rather soaked in warm milk and water, and if the inflammation

be great, an emollient poultice or cataplasm may be applied to them.

This course will, in most cases, be sufficient to abate the

inflammation, and prepare the patient for the use of mercury.

Symptomatic chancres are commonly accompanied with ulcers in the throat,

nocturnal pains, scabby eruptions about the roots of the hair, and other

symptoms of a confirmed lues. Though they may be seated in any of the

parts mentioned above, they commonly appear upon the private parts, or

the inside of the thigh. They are less painful, but frequently much

larger and harder than primary chancres. As their cure must depend upon

that of the pox, of which they are only a symptom, we shall take no

further notice of them till we come to treat of a confirmed lues.[9]

Footnote 9:

I have found it answer extremely well to sprinkle chancres twice a day

with calomel. This will often perform a cure without any other

application whatever. If the chancres are upon the _glans_, they may

be washed with milk and water a little warm, and afterwards the

calomel may be applied as above.

Thus we have related most of the symptoms which accompany or succeed a

violent gonorrhœa, and have also given a short view of their proper

treatment; there are, however, several others which sometimes attend

this disease, as a _strangury_ or obstruction of urine, _a phymosis_,

_paraphymosis_, &c.

A strangury may be occasioned either by a spasmodic constriction, or an

inflammation of the urethra and parts about the neck of the bladder. In

the former case the patient begins to void his urine with tolerable

ease; but, as soon as it touches the galled or inflamed urethra, a

sudden constriction takes place, and the urine is voided by spurts,

sometimes by drops only. When the strangury is owing to an inflammation

about the neck of the bladder, there is a constant heat and uneasiness

of the part, a perpetual desire to make water, while the patient can

only render a few drops, and a troublesome _tenesmus_, or constant

inclination to go to stool.

When the strangury is owing to spasm, such medicines as tend to dilute

and blunt the salts of the urine will be proper. For this purpose,

besides the common diluting liquors, soft and cooling emulsions,

sweetened with the syrup of poppies, may be used. Should these not have

the desired effect, bleeding and emollient fomentations will be

necessary.

When the complaint is evidently owing to an inflammation about the neck

of the bladder, bleeding must be more liberally performed, and repeated

according to the urgency of the symptoms. After bleeding, if the

strangury still continues, soft clysters, with a proper quantity of

laudanum in them, may be administered, and emollient fomentations

applied to the region of the bladder. At the same time, the patient may

take every four hours a tea-cupful of barley-water, to an English pint

of which six ounces of the syrup of marshmallows, and four ounces of the

oil of sweet almonds, and half an ounce of nitre may be added. If these

remedies should not relieve the complaint, and a total suppression of

urine should come on, bleeding must be repeated, and the patient set in

a warm bath up to the middle. It will be proper in this case to

discontinue the diuretics, and to draw off the water with a catheter;

but as the patient is seldom able to bear its being introduced, we would

rather recommend the use of mild bougies. These often lubricate the

passage, and greatly facilitate the discharge of urine. Whenever they

begin to stimulate or give any uneasiness, they may be withdrawn.

The _phymosis_ is such a constriction of the prepuce over the glans, as

hinders it from being drawn backwards; the _paraphymosis_, on the

contrary, is such a constriction of the prepuce behind the glans, as

hinders it from being brought forward.

The treatment of these symptoms is so nearly the same with that of the

virulent gonorrhœa, that we have no occasion to enlarge upon it. In

general, bleeding, purging, poultices, and emollient fomentations, are

sufficient. Should these, however, fail of removing the stricture, and

the parts be threatened with a mortification, twenty or thirty grains of

ipecacuana, and one grain of emetic tartar may be given for a vomit, and

may be worked off with warm water or thin gruel.

It sometimes happens, that in spite of all endeavours to the contrary,

the inflammation goes on, and symptoms of a beginning mortification

appear. When this is the case, the prepuce must be scarified with a

lancet, and, if necessary, divided, in order to prevent a strangulation,

and set the imprisoned glans at liberty. We shall not describe the

manner of performing this operation, as it ought always to be done by a

surgeon. When a mortification has actually taken place, it will be

necessary, besides the above operations, to foment the parts frequently

with cloths wrung out of a strong decoction of camomile-flowers and

bark, and to give the patient a dram of the bark in powder every two or

three hours.

With regard to the _priapism_, _chordee_, and other distortions of the

_penis_, their treatment is no way different from that of the gonorrhœa.

When they prove very troublesome, the patient may take a few drops of

laudanum at night, especially after the operation of a purgative through

the day.

OF A CONFIRMED LUES.

We have hitherto treated of those affections in which the venereal

poison is supposed to be confined chiefly to the particular part by

which it was received, and shall next take a view of the lues in its

confirmed state: that is, when the poison is actually received into the

blood, and circulating with it through every part of the body, mixes

with the several secretions, and renders the whole habit tainted.

The symptoms of a confirmed lues are, buboes in the groin, pains of the

head and joints, which are peculiarly troublesome in the night, or when

the patient is warm in bed; scabs and scurfs on various parts of the

body, especially on the head, of a yellowish colour, resembling a

honey-comb; corroding ulcers in various parts of the body, which

generally begin about the throat, from whence they creep gradually, by

the palate, towards the cartilage of the nose, which they destroy;

excrescences or exostoses arise in the middle of the bones, and their

spongy ends become brittle and break upon the least accident; at other

times they are soft, and bend like wax: the conglobate glands become

hard and callous, and form in the neck, arm-pits, groin, and mesentery,

hard moveable tumours, like the king’s-evil; tumours of different kinds

are likewise formed in the lymphatic vessels, tendons, ligaments, and

nerves, as the _gummata_, _ganglia_, _nodes_, _tophs_, &c.; the eyes are

affected with itching, pain, redness, and sometimes with total

blindness, and the ears with a singing noise, pain, and deafness, while

their internal substance is exulcerated and rendered carious; at length

all the animal, vital, and natural functions are depraved; the face

becomes pale and livid; the body emaciated and unfit for motion, and the

miserable patient falls into an atrophy or wasting consumption.

Women have symptoms peculiar to the sex; as cancers of the breast; a

suppression or overflowing of the menses; the whites; hysteric

affections; an inflammation, abscess, schirrus, gangrene, cancer, or

ulcer of the womb: they are generally either barren or subject to

abortion; or if they bring children into the world, they have universal

erysipelas, are half rotten, and covered with ulcers.

Such is the catalogue of symptoms attending this dreadful disease in its

confirmed state. Indeed, they are seldom all to be met with in the same

person, or at the same time; so many of them, however, are generally

present as are sufficient to alarm the patient; and if he has reason to

suspect the infection is lurking in his body, he ought immediately to

set about the expulsion of it, otherwise the most tragical consequence

will ensue.

The only certain remedy hitherto known in Europe for the cure of this

disease, is mercury, which may be used in a great variety of forms, with

nearly the same success. Some time ago it was reckoned impossible to

cure a confirmed lues without a salivation. This method is now, however,

pretty generally laid aside, and mercury is found to be as efficacious,

or rather more so, in expelling the venereal poison, when administered

in such a manner as not to run off the salivatory glands.

Though many are of opinion that the mercurial ointment is as efficacious

as any other preparation of that mineral; yet experience has taught me

to think otherwise. I have often seen the most obstinate venereal cases,

where great quantities of mercurial ointment had been used in vain,

yield to the saline preparations of mercury. Nor am I so singular in

this opinion. Mr. Clare, a very eminent surgeon, assured me, that for

some time past he had employed in venereal cases a saline preparation of

mercury with most happy success. This preparation, rubbed with a

sufficient quantity of any mild powder, he applied, in small portions,

to the tongue, where, with a gentle degree of friction, it was

immediately absorbed, and produced its full effect upon the system,

without doing the least injury to the stomach or bowels; a matter of

greater importance in the application of this most active and powerful

remedy.

It is impossible to ascertain either the exact quantity of medicines

that must be taken, or the time they ought to be continued in order to

perform a cure. These will ever vary according to the constitution of

the patient, the season of the year, the degree of infection, the time

it has lodged in the body, &c. But though it is difficult, as Astruc

observes, to determine a priori, what quantity of mercury will, in the

whole, be necessary to cure this distemper completely, yet it may be

judged of a posteriori, from the abatement and ceasing of the symptoms.

The same author adds, that commonly not less than two ounces of the

strong mercurial ointment is sufficient, and not more than three or four

ounces necessary.

The only chemical preparation of mercury which we shall take notice of,

is the corrosive sublimate. This was some time ago brought into use for

the venereal disease in Germany, by the illustrious Baron Van Swieten;

and was soon after introduced into Britain by the learned Sir John

Pringle, at that time a physician to the army. The method of giving it

is as follows: One grain of corrosive sublimate is dissolved in two

ounces of French brandy or malt spirits; and of this solution an

ordinary table-spoonful, or the quantity of half an ounce, is to be

taken twice a day, and to be continued as long as any symptoms of the

disorder remain. To those whose stomachs cannot bear the solution, the

sublimate may be given in form of a pill.[10]

Footnote 10:

The sublimate may be given in distilled water, or any other liquid

that the patient chooses. I commonly order ten grains to be dissolved

in an ounce of the spirit of wine, for the convenience of carriage,

and let the patient take twenty or thirty drops of it night and

morning, in half a glass of brandy or other spirits.

Several roots, woods, and barks, have been recommended for curing the

venereal disease; but none of them have been found, upon experience, to

answer the high encomiums which had been bestowed upon them. Though no

one of these is to be depended upon alone, yet, when joined with

mercury, some of them are found to be very beneficial in promoting a

cure. One of the best we know yet is sarsaparilla.

The mezereon-root is likewise found to be a powerful assistant to the

sublimate, or any other mercurial. It may either be used along with the

sarsaparilla, or by itself. Those who choose to use the mezereon by

itself, may boil an ounce of the fresh bark, taken from the root, in

twelve English pints of water, to eight, adding towards the end an ounce

of liquorice. The dose of this is the same as of the decoction of

sarsaparilla.

We have been told, that the natives of America cure the venereal

disease, in every stage, by a decoction of the root of a plant called

the Lobelia. It is used either fresh or dried; but we have no certain

accounts with regard to the proportion. Sometimes they mix other roots

with it, as those of the ranunculus, the ceanothus, &c.; but whether

they are designed to disguise or assist it, is doubtful. The patient

takes a large draught of the decoction early in the morning, and

continues to use it for his ordinary drink throughout the day.[11]

Footnote 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 these have 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.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

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 of mercury, 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]

Footnote 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 the _lues venerea_

which prevails in the west of Scotland, to which the natives give the

name of _Sibbins_ or _Sivvins_. 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 this

_virtue_, it might be extirpated. The treatment of this disease is

similar to that of a confirmed lues or pox. The _yaws_, 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, ulcerous sore 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 the _lues 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.

CONCLUSION.

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 favoured with 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.

JOHN SMITH, TOOLY STREET, LONDON.

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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in

spelling.

2. Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed.

3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.