_the Translator's_ PREFACE.
Though the great Utility of those medical Directions, with which the
following Treatise is thoroughly replenished, will be sufficiently
evident to every plain and sensible Peruser of it; and the extraordinary
Reception of it on the Continent is recited in the very worthy Author's
Preface; yet something, it should seem, may be pertinently added, with
Regard to this Translation of it, by a Person who has been strictly
attentive to the Original: a Work, whose Purpose was truly necessary and
benevolent; as the Execution of it, altogether, is very happily
accomplished.
It will be self evident, I apprehend, to every excellent Physician, that
a radical Knowledge of the Principles, and much Experience in the
Exercise, of their Profession, were necessary to accommodate such a Work
to the Comprehension of those, for whom it was more particularly
calculated. Such Gentlemen must observe, that the certain Axiom of
_Nature's curing Diseases_, which is equally true in our Day, as it was
in that of _Hippocrates_, so habitually animates this Treatise, as not
to require the least particular Reference. This _Hippocratic_ Truth as
certain (though much less subject to general Observation) as that
Disease, or Age, is finally prevalent over all sublunary Life, the most
attentive Physicians discern the soonest, the most ingenuous readily
confess: and hence springs that wholesome Zeal and Severity, with which
Dr. _Tissot_ encounters such Prejudices of poor illiterate Persons, as
either oppose, or very ignorantly precipitate, her Operations, in her
Attainment of Health. These Prejudices indeed may seem, from this Work,
to be still greater, and perhaps grosser too, in _Swisserland_ than
among ourselves; though it is certain there is but too much Room for the
Application of his salutary Cautions and Directions, even in this
Capital; and doubtless abundantly more at great Distances from it. It
may be very justly supposed, for _one_ Instance, that in most of those
Cases in the Small Pocks, in which the Mother undertakes the Cure of her
Child, or confides it to a Nurse, that Saffron, in a greater or less
Quantity, and Sack or Mountain Whey, are generally still used in the
Sickening before Eruption; to accelerate that very Eruption, whose
gradual Appearance, about the fourth Day, from that of Seizure
inclusive, is so favourable and promising to the Patient; and the
Precipitation of which is often so highly pernicious to them. Most of,
or rather all, his other Cautions and Corrections seem equally necessary
here, as often as the Sick are similarly circumstanced, under the
different acute Diseases in which he enjoins them.
Without the least Detraction however from this excellent Physician, it
may be admitted that a few others, in many other Countries, might have
sufficient Abilities and Experience for the Production of a like Work,
on the same good Plan. This, we find, Dr. _Hirzel_, principal Physician
of _Zurich_, had in Meditation, when the present Treatise appeared,
which he thought had so thoroughly fulfilled his own Intention, that it
prevented his attempting to execute it. But the great Difficulty
consisted in discovering a Physician, who, with equal Abilities,
Reputation and Practice, should be qualified with that _much rarer_
Qualification of caring so much more for the Health of those, who could
never pay him for it, than for his own Profit or Ease, as to determine
him to project and to accomplish so necessary, and yet so self-denying,
a Work. For as the Simplicity he proposed in the Style and Manner of it,
by condescending, in the plainest Terms, to the humblest Capacities,
obliged him to depress himself, by writing rather beneath the former
Treatises, which had acquired him the Reputation of medical Erudition,
Reasoning and Elegance; we find that the Love of Fame itself, so
stimulating even to many ingenuous Minds, was as impotent as that of
Wealth, to seduce him from so benign, so generous a Purpose. Though,
upon Reflection, it is by no Means strange to see wise Men found their
Happiness, which all [however variously and even oppositely] pursue,
rather in Conscience, than on Applause; and this naturally reminds us of
that celebrated Expression of _Cato_, or some other excellent Ancient,
"that he had rather _be_ good, than _be reputed_ so."
However singular such a Determination may now appear, the Number of
reputable medical Translators into different Languages, which this
original Work has employed on the Continent, makes it evident, that real
Merit will, sooner or later, have a pretty general Influence; and induce
many to imitate that Example, which they either could not, or did not,
propose. As the truly modest Author has professedly disclaimed all
Applause on the Performance, and contented himself with hoping an
Exemption from Censure, through his Readers' Reflection on the peculiar
Circumstances and Address of it; well may his best, his faithfullest
Translators, whose Merit and Pains must be of a very secondary Degree to
his own, be satisfied with a similar Exemption: especially when joined
to the Pleasure, that must result from a Consciousness of having
endeavoured to extend the Benefits of their Author's Treatise, to
Multitudes of their own Country and Language.
For my own Particular, when after reading the Introduction to the Work,
and much of the Sequel, I had determined to translate it; to be as just
as possible to the Author, and to his _English_ Readers, I determined
not to interpolate any Sentiment of my own into the Text, nor to omit
one Sentence of the Original, which, besides its being _Detraction_ in
its literal Sense, I thought might imply it in its worst, its figurative
one; for which there was no Room. To conform as fully as possible to the
Plainness and Perspicuity he proposed, I have been pretty often obliged
in the anatomical Names of some Parts, and sometimes of the Symptoms, as
well as in some pretty familiar, though not entirely popular Words, to
explain all such by the most common Words I have heard used for them; as
after mentioning the _Diaphragm_, to add, or _Midriff_--the
_Trachaea_--or _Windpipe_--_acrimonious_, or _very sharp_, and so of many
others. This may a little, though but a little, have extended the
Translation beyond the Original; as the great Affinity between the
_French_ and _Latin_, and between the former and many _Latin_ Words
borrowed from the _Greek_, generally makes the same anatomical or
medical Term, that is technical with us, vernacular or common with them.
But this unavoidable Tautology, which may be irksome to many Ears, those
medical Readers, for whom it was not intended, will readily forgive,
from a Consideration of the general Address of the Work: while they
reflect that meer Style, if thoroughly intelligible, is least essential
to those Books, which wholly consist of very useful, and generally
interesting, Matter.
As many of the Notes of the Editor of _Lyons_, as I have retained in
this Version (having translated from the Edition of _Lyons_) are
subscribed _E. L._ I have dispensed with several, some, as evidently
less within Dr. _Tissot's_ Plan, from tending to theorize, however
justly or practically, where he must have had his own Reasons for
omitting to theorize: a few others, as manifestly needless, from what
the Author had either premised, or speedily subjoined, on the very same
Circumstance: besides a very few, from their local Confinement to the
Practice at _Lyons_, which lies in a Climate somewhat more different
from our own than that of _Lausanne_. It is probable nevertheless, I
have retained a few more than were necessary in a professed Translation
of the original Work: but wherever I have done this, I have generally
subjoined my Motive for it; of whatever Consequence that may appear to
the Reader. I have retained all the Author's own Notes, with his Name
annexed to them; or if ever the Annotator was uncertain to me, I have
declared whose Note I supposed it to be.
Such as I have added from my own Experience or Observation are
subscribed _K_, to distinguish them from the others; and that the
Demerit of any of them may neither be imputed to the learned Author, nor
to his Editor. Their principal Recommendation, or Apology is, that
whatever Facts I have mentioned are certainly true. I have endeavoured
to be temperate in their Number and Length, and to imitate that strict
Pertinence, which prevails throughout the Author's Work. If any may have
ever condescended to consider my Way of writing, they will conceive this
Restraint has cost me at least as much Pains, as a further Indulgence of
my own Conceptions could have done. The few Prescriptions I have
included in some of them, have been so conducted, as not to give the
Reader the least Confusion with Respect to those, which the Author has
given in his Table of Remedies, and which are referred to by numerical
Figures, throughout the Course of his Book.
The moderate Number of Dr. _Tissot's_ Prescriptions, in his Table of
Remedies, amounting but to seventy-one, and the apparent Simplicity of
many of them, may possibly disgust some Admirers of pompous and compound
Prescription. But his Reserve, in this important Respect, has been
thoroughly consistent with his Notion of Nature's curing Diseases; which
suggested to him the first, the essential Necessity of cautioning his
Readers against doing, giving, or applying any thing, that might oppose
her healing Operations (a most capital Purpose of his Work) which
important Point being gained, the mildest, simplest and least hazardous
Remedies would often prove sufficient Assistants to her. Nevertheless,
under more severe and tedious Conflicts, he is not wanting to direct the
most potent and efficacious ones. The Circumstances of the poor Subjects
of his medical Consideration, became also a very natural Object to him,
and was in no wise unworthy the Regard of the humane Translator of
_Bilguer on Amputations_, or rather _against_ the crying Abuse of them;
an excellent Work, that does real Honour to them both; and which can be
disapproved by none, who do not prefer the frequently unnecessary
Mutilation of the afflicted, to the Consumption of their own Time, or
the Contraction of their Employment.
Some Persons may imagine that a Treatise of this Kind, composed for the
Benefit of labouring People in _Swisserland_, may be little applicable
to those of the _British_ Islands: and this, in a very few Particulars,
and in a small Degree, may reasonably be admitted. But as we find their
common Prejudices are often the very same; as the _Swiss_ are the
Inhabitants of a colder Climate than _France_, and generally, as Dr.
_Tissot_ often observes, accustomed to drink (like ourselves) more
strong Drink than the _French_ Peasantry; and to indulge more in eating
Flesh too, which the Religion of _Berne_, like our own, does not
restrain; the Application of his Advice to them will pretty generally
hold good here. Where he forbids them Wine and Flesh, all Butchers Meat,
and in most Cases all Flesh, and all strong Drink should be prohibited
here: especially when we consider, that all his Directions are confined
to the Treatment of acute Diseases, of which the very young, the
youthful, and frequently even the robust are more generally the
Subjects. Besides, in some few of the _English_ Translator's Notes, he
has taken the Liberty of moderating the Coolers, or the Quantities of
them (which may be well adapted to the great Heats and violent _Swiss_
Summers he talks of) according to the Temperature of our own Climate,
and the general Habitudes of our own People. It may be observed too,
that from the same Motive, I have sometimes assumed the Liberty of
dissenting from the Text in a very few Notes, as for Instance, on the
Article of Pastry, which perhaps is generally better here than in
_Swisserland_ (where it may be no better than the coarse vile Trash that
is hawked about and sold to meer Children) as I have frequently, in
preparing for Inoculation, admitted the best Pastry (but not of Meat)
into the limited Diet of the Subjects of Inoculation, and constantly
without the least ill Consequence. Thus also in Note [70] Page 287, 288,
I have presumed to affirm the Fact, that a strong spirituous Infusion of
the Bark has succeeded more speedily in some Intermittents, in
particular Habits, than the Bark in Substance. This I humbly conceive
may be owing to such a _Menstruum's_ extracting the Resin of the Bark
more effectually (and so conveying it into the Blood) than the Juices of
the Stomach and of the alimentary Canal did, or could. For it is very
conceivable that the _Crasis_, the Consistence, of the fibrous Blood may
sometimes be affected with a morbid Laxity or Weakness, as well as the
general System of the muscular Fibres.
These and any other like Freedoms, I am certain the Author's Candour
will abundantly pardon; since I have never dissented for Dissention's
Sake, to the best of my Recollection; and have the Honour of harmonizing
very generally in Judgment with him. If _one_ useful Hint or Observation
occurs throughout my Notes, his Benevolence will exult in that essential
Adherence to his Plan, which suggested it to me: While an invariable
ecchoing Assentation throughout such Notes, when there really was any
salutary Room for doubting, or for adding (with Respect to ourselves)
would discover a Servility, that must have disgusted a liberal manly
Writer. One common good Purpose certainly springs from the generous
Source, and replenishes the many Canals into which it is derived; all
the Variety and little Deviations of which may be considered as more
expansive Distributions of its Benefits.
Since the natural Feelings of Humanity generally dispose us, but
especially the more tender and compassionate Sex, to advise Remedies to
the poor Sick; such a Knowledge of their real Disease, as would prevent
their Patrons, Neighbours and Assistants from advising a wrong Regimen,
or an improper or ill-timed Medicine, is truly essential to relieving
them: and such we seriously think the present Work is capable of
imparting, to all commonly sensible and considerate Perusers of it. A
Vein of unaffected Probity, of manly Sense, and of great Philanthropy,
concur to sustain the Work: And whenever the Prejudices of the Ignorant
require a forcible Eradication; or the crude Temerity and Impudence of
Knaves and Impostors cry out for their own Extermination, a happy
Mixture of strong Argument, just Ridicule, and honest Severity, give a
poignant and pleasant Seasoning to the Work, which renders it
occasionally entertaining, as it is continually instructive.
A general Reader may be sometimes diverted with such Customs and Notions
of the _Swiss_ Peasants, as are occasionally mentioned here: and
possibly our meerest Rustics may laugh at the brave simple _Swiss_, on
his introducing a Sheep into the Chamber of a very sick Person, to save
the Life of the Patient, by catching its own Death. But the humblest
Peasantry of both Nations are agreed in such a Number of their absurd
unhealthy Prejudices, in the Treatment of Diseases, that it really
seemed necessary to offer our own the Cautions and Counsels of this
principal Physician, in a very respectable Protestant Republick, in
Order to prevent their Continuance. Nor is it unreasonable to presume,
that under such a Form of Government, if honestly administered upon its
justest Principles, the People may be rather more tenderly regarded,
than under the Pomp and Rage of Despotism, or the Oppression of some
Aristocracies.
Besides the different Conditions of [1] Persons, to whom our Author
recommends the Patronage and Execution of his Scheme, in his
Introduction, it is conceived this Book must be serviceable to many
young Country Practitioners, and to great Numbers of Apothecaries, by
furnishing them with such exact and striking Descriptions of each acute
Disease and its Symptoms, as may prevent their mistaking it for any
other; a Deception which has certainly often been injurious, and
sometimes even fatal: for it is dreadful but to contemplate the
Destruction or Misery, with which Temerity and Ignorance, so frequently
combined, overwhelm the Sick. Thus more Success and Reputation, with the
Enjoyment of a better Conscience, would crown their Endeavours, by a
more general Recovery of, or Relief to, their Patients. To effect this,
to improve every Opportunity of eschewing medical Evil, and of doing
medical Good, was the Author's avowed Intention; which he informs us in
his Preface, he has heard, from some intelligent and charitable Persons,
his Treatise had effected, even in some violent Diseases. That the same
good Consequences may every where attend the numerous Translations of
it, must be the fervent Wish of all, except the Quacks and Impostors he
so justly characterizes in his thirty-third Chapter! and particularly of
all, who may be distinguishably qualified, like himself, to,
--_Look through Nature up to Nature's GOD!_
[1] Of all these the Schoolmasters, _with us_, may seem the most
reasonably exempted from this Duty.