The First of the Distempers then, is the _Consumption of the Lungs_; I
take this to fall under the Power of Exercise; for these two Reasons.
_First_, Because the Morbifick Particles, which are the immediate Cause
of the Disease, seem to be of a looser Texture, to be less intimately
combin’d in the Blood, than in most Chronical Cases, the Particles which
occasion each Distemperature seem to be.
_Secondly_, Because this Case requires the carrying off the Acrimonious
Particles, by equal Secretions, rather than by any one particular
Emunctory of the Body.
The _First_ Reason seems to appear manifest enough, from the habitual
Heat and Disturbance, which are generally complain’d of, sometimes
even upon the first Breaking out of the Cough, and from the continual
Quickness of the Pulse; all which shew, that there is an imperfect
struggle of Nature, frequent and partial Ebullitions, which don’t arise
to a degree sufficient to clear Nature of that which oppresses her;
but yet plainly indicate, that the hostile Particles do not unite, or
accord with the Blood, so much as the Particles of each Disease do
in other Cases; as for Instance, in Scrophulous and even in Cancerous
Cases, tho’ the Blood is loaded with so pernicious and even corrosive a
Humour, yet we find no Disorder in the Beat of the _Artery_, no irregular
Heats, but for some Reasons or other, in the make of their Particles,
they pass better with the Blood, and the Disease is longer protracted;
now I think it seems to be a Natural Consequence, that where there is an
Ebullition or Contention of Particles, there is no Union; and that a more
general and natural Heat, superinduc’d by Exercise, by the Solids acting
uniformly upon the Fluids, may produce a Ventilation of many of those
Particles, which Nature contends so much with.
The _Second_ Reason, _viz._ The Necessity of equal Secretion, is
occasion’d by the Effects of this Hectical Disposition, which by bringing
a Languor upon the Spirits, a Relaxation or Flaccidity of the Muscular
Parts, and even of the Lungs it self, renders Nature unable to bear any
particular Secretion without great Disturbance: Thus we see upon the use
of the gentlest Purging Medicine, the Cough is encreas’d, and the whole
Body for a Time, more than ordinarily disturb’d; the same happens upon
the Use of _Sudorificks_, and indeed scarce any particular Secretion can
be considerably enforc’d, without some Inconvenience following upon it;
so that it must needs be the most proper Method, if we can attain to it,
to enable Nature to do the Work her self, by gentle and even Despumation,
of the acrimonious Particles, at all the Emunctories.
To procure this good Effect I propose the first of those Exercises,
which I shall consider more amply in its proper Place, which is Moderate
Riding. This Exercise is undoubtedly the most likely to cause an equal
Exaltation of the Fluids, to restore the Tone, and Elasticity of the
Ducts, so that the hot fretting Particles may be cast off; some of ’em
by insensible Perspiration at the Skin, others by the Kidneys, others
by the many _Salival_ Glands, others by the Glands of the _Intestines_,
where the very acrimonious Particles, forc’d out by that Exercise, which
in a special manner acts upon those Parts, may be very much alter’d while
they lye in the _Intestine_, undergo a sort of _Cohobation_, and in all
likelyhood may some of ’em become inflammable, and so dispos’d, as to
prove Nutritious, when suck’d up into the Blood, as some of the Contents
of the Intestines always are. This is communicating, _ab extra_, a Power
to Nature to act upon her self; which must needs be more agreeable than
to put a Force upon her, when she is Languid, and not able to master both
the Drug and the Distemper.
It would be of great Consequence, to People Afflicted with this
Distemper, if they would be brought to consider seriously the Distinction
of the Oeconomy into the Parts containing, and the Parts contain’d,
that is the Solids and Fluids, and the happiness of being able to Exert
the Strength of the Solids, and make the Muscular and Nervous Parts
assist the Blood and Spirits. There are Distempers wherein a Man is so
Unhappy, as to have one Part of himself only Passive; as in Fevers, the
Intenseness of the Heat, affects the Spirits and Nerves to that Degree,
that all Power of Standing or Going is taken away. In a Palsey, the Hopes
lye all in the Fluids or Liquor Contain’d: In other Cases, the larger
Glands are so much alter’d in themselves, that the Motion of the Body
would be to no Purpose; but here in this Distemper, we are Treating of,
the Case is quite otherwise, if the Sick Person will but Entertain a
Resolution to help himself, will employ all the Springs and Fibres of his
Body, and by that means take the Labouring Oar from lying always on the
Blood alone, he will have no Reason to despair.
Thus I have consider’d how the Use of Moderate Riding will conduce to
the conveying off the Subject matter of the Disease. The next Indication
is the Strengthning the Tone of the Lungs and Muscular Parts, which in
this Distemper grow Flaccid, I might add of the Stomach too, but that
we can help that Bowel by many excellent Internal Remedies. Now I would
fain know of any Man, how we can reach the Flaccidity of the Lungs, by
Internal means, till the Distemperature of the Blood is remov’d, when it
will go off in Course, but would be done much sooner, if we assisted both
the Solids and Fluids at the same time; now that the very Lungs itself
may appear, not to be out of the reach of a Habit of Exercise, let any
one consider the strength of that Part, which Divers acquire by frequent
Diving; or to come nearer to our Purpose, take any two Men equally, us’d
to Hard Labour, of equal strength as near as we can guess whereof one has
accustom’d himself to Running, the other never done so, all the World
knows that the Practis’d Footman shall Run a great deal farther, and much
faster than the other can do: Tho’ in the Common Sense of the Expression,
this latter has a Clear Wind as we say, and is in perfect Health; which
invincibly proves, that the Lungs tho’ a Bowel, are capable of a Habit,
and that with a Proportional Allowance, the gentle, easie Exercise, of
Riding, must introduce a New Habit, into the Lungs of a Consumptive
Person, and so recover the Tone of that Bowel.
I know it will be reply’d here, that _Balsamick_ and healing Medicines
are suppos’d to strengthen the Parts they are directed to, that they are
generous Medicines, of fine Parts, and consequently fitted to Communicate
a firmness, a Spring to the Nervous and Membranous Parts of the Lungs;
and if it could be prov’d that they did Heal so much as they have been
pretended to do; I would readily allow they did Strengthen those Parts,
but I have had some considerable Opportunity, to observe the Use of those
Medicines, and I never could find that if Alteratives fail’d, Balsamicks
would do any great good; that is, taken strictly as Balsamicks, upon a
Healing Intention. I doubt not, but in the beginning of the Distemper, as
Alteratives they may be of Service, especially the milder sort; by the
pleasant sensation they Create, and the Consent of the Parts they will
give present Abatement of the Cough, and when brought into the Blood,
may by Promoting a _Diurisis_, or by precipitating some of the Acrimony,
help to carry off the Cause of the Cough, after the Alterative way, but
that when there is any Ulceration in the Lungs, and the Blood is loaded
with Hot and fretting Particles, they should then heal so much, I cannot
conceive. If we will but give our selves leave to examine a little
closely how they act, when externally apply’d to a Sore, we shall not
perhaps find, that they are all of ’em such immediate Healers; some of
’em are too fine and Stimulating to be us’d as Eupoloticks, but rather
prove Digestives, and therefore must be more likely to cause a too great
Agitation in the Blood of these People, than a healing of the Ulcer;
I know it may be here reply’d; that they are very proper to cleanse
the Ulcerated parts of the Lungs in order to their better healing; but
I can’t imagine how it should come about, that there should be such
great need of cleansing the _Ulcuscula_ in a part of so Spongy and
Membranous a Substance as the Lungs, where there can be no redundancy of
Parenchymatous Juices to feed the Ulcers; besides it is to be consider’d,
that the constant Motion of the Lungs, will help so deterge the Ulcerated
part, just as if we should suppose a Man, that has an Ulcer in his Leg,
should be squeezing the Lips of it together all day long, we can’t doubt
but he would by that means work out the _Pus_, the Slough, and all the
mispurities of the Sore, and in like manner, the Heaving and Subsiding of
the Lungs will hinder any thing from Bedding or Lodging it self long in
a part that is really Ulcerated. And alass! here is the grand difficulty
in a way to a Cure, we can’t easily bring so arid a Substance, as that of
the Lungs to unite, when lacerated, because of its continual Motion; so
that there is all the reason in the World, for us to heap in only healing
Medicines, strictly taken, without any thing that may prove in the least
stimulating. Therefore, wherever Balsamicks have done any great good; I
cannot think it has been any other way, than by deriving of the Acrimony
from the Blood, and not by immediately healing the Part affected; so
that tho’ these are Noble Medicines in Colicks and Simple Affects of the
Stomach, where the State of the Blood is quite different, yet here they
are too Generous. They are like the Sword of a Gyant, in the Hands of
a Dwarf, that will not help but Oppress. And as for the Oily Medicines,
which may be call’d a sort of milder and Artificial _Balsamicks_, we
ought to consider, that the Blood is Replenish’d with a better Oyl than
any we can immediately supply it with; I mean the Fat, which to the
quantity of a Pint at least is continually passing, into, and out of the
Blood: And yet in this Ill Habit of Body it wasts daily, and does not
Unite with the other Fluids as in a state of Health. What then can we do
by the Poor Addition of a few Drachms of Unctuous Stuff, which after it
has pass’d the Stomach enters the Blood, to the quantify of a few Grains,
and does not the least good, in Reparation for the unpleasantness in the
Taking, and the Uneasiness it sometimes causes in the Stomach of the
Sick Person?
I hope these Reflections will not be misinterpreted, as if I endeavour’d
after some little Hypothetical Notion as a wedge to make way for any
Design of mine; they will appear but too real to any that have been
Conversant with this Distemper. I could wish it was all Hypothesis and
Fiction, and that these Medicines would perform all that is expected
from ’em, but then, to what must we attribute the Ravage this Disease
makes, which is known to all, to be a Melancholy truth? Not to the want
of _Balsamicks_ certainly, for both Poor and Rich, can make a shift to
procure enough of ’em. The Lozenge and Linctus are in every Bodies hand,
but this must be attributed to their leading People, to take a wrong Aim,
to level at the Symptom instead of the Disease, these specious Medicines
induce ’em to be intent on the Cure of that, which is most Troublesome
_viz._ the Cough, when they should lay the Ax to the Root of the Tree, be
more intent on the Cure of the Habit of Body, and not let it be overrun
with a Poisonous Acrimony. I am confident Legions of the Dead might have
been above Ground, if they had but conceiv’d the Fallacy of these means,
if they had but stuck close to the proper Quantities of any one good
Alterative, they might have Plung’d out of their several Maladies; but by
placing all their Hopes in things directed to the Cough, they have far’d
like the Dog, which bites at the Stone that is thrown at him, instead
of Biting him which threw it, not knowing that such diligent plying of
these Medicines is a kind of Embalming a Man before his Death, and an
Ill boding Presage that in a little time, he will be in a Condition to be
Embalmed after it.
From what I have said it is plain, that I take the Negative way (if I may
so Speak) of Curing this Disease, to be the most rely’d on, that is, the
deriving the Acrimony, which causes the Cough and other Symptomes to the
several Excretory Channels, and clearing the Blood of it; for the Blood
when freed from such Acrid Particles will prove the best of Balsams it
self. Therefore the milder Antiscorbuticks, the Bitters, Decoctions of
Woods, and even the milder Balsams, do all contribute their Assistance
upon this Intention, in the first State of this Disease, and do very
often secure the Person that makes use of ’em, and when they have not
prevail’d alone, if the Use of Exercise had been superadded to ’em, they
would undoubtedly at that time have been render’d effectual. But yet I
am not so bound up in an Opinion, but that I am convinc’d there is such
a thing, as a positive relief in this Case, in the strict Sense of the
Expression; that is, a Healing of the part fretted or Ulcerated, but then
I believe, it must be done by things of a milder Nature, than our Common
_Balsamicks_. The Waters of our Hot Bath, are able to do a great deal,
by the Healing Ocres in which they abound, and there are other things
which seem qualifi’d for this end; But that Qualification necessarily
supposing they should be extreamly Mild and Temperate, and upon the
account of that Temper, it being likewise possible they may sometimes
miss taking Effect; it is these considerations, have induc’d me to apply
the Assistance of Exercise to the Temperament of those Medicines, that by
such means they may be render’d able, always to Answer expectation. But
that both the Nature of the Medicine, and the Assistance of the Exercise
may appear the clearer, it will not be amiss, to consider two or three of
these Medicines.
The first of ’em is a vegetable which has always been accounted a
Pectoral; but after the Rate we use it, I much question whether it may
not be said to be wholly indifferent; this is _Coltsfoot_, a Plant
seemingly dry, and little likely to effect what I have known it do.
I shall here venture to give a Relation of some of the strange Effects
of it, which are so seemingly incredible, that if I had not full
Assurance of the Fact I should not offer it, and tho’ it is not of a Cure
of the same Distemper, which I am treating of, yet I hope it will not be
thought a Digression, because the Obstinacy of the Humour, which is the
cause of that Disease, which this Herb did remove, is so much greater
than in the Case I am upon, that it may serve to give us Reason to expect
great Relief from it, in the Cure of the Consumption likewise, to which
it has always been apply’d, if us’d after the same manner, and in the
same quantity, as it was in that Case, it was therefore a Scrophulous
Subject that it reliev’d, but one so Deplorable, that the Hospitals
can’t often shew the like. The Young Gentlewoman had above twelve Sores
upon her, she had had the Regular help of Physicians, but was left off
as incurable, when a Person who was no Physician, and did not pretend
to any thing like dealing in Medicines, only he had reason to know the
neglected Virtues of this Plant, came accidentally to the House, when
the Gentlewoman’s Mother was Lamenting her Daughter’s Condition; after
having given her Reason, to expect something from his Medicine, he
promis’d to make it for her, but made her send 10 Miles, twice a Week to
his house for the Decoction of the Herb, that he might conceal it from
’em, because he knew they would undoubtedly despise it, if they knew
what it was: He therefore made very strong Decoctions of it, till the
Liquor was Glutinous and Sweetish, of which she was to Drink as much as
she could every day at what times she pleased, this she followed above
four Months; in which time most of her Sores were dry’d up, and in a
little time more, she was perfectly Cur’d. And of this I have reason
to be certain, because I liv’d in the House where it was made, all the
time, and the Person who made it, did not make a Secret of it for Gain,
but only that it might not be slighted. This instance I have thus amply
related, that it may serve as a hint that this Herb when it is us’d as
a Pectoral, ought to be us’d after another manner than we generally do.
And that when we do make use of Vegetables, in a manner suitable to
their Nature; we may find Cause to come to a Temper, as to our Opinions
concerning ’em, notwithstanding the great Plenty of generous Medicines,
which Chymistry affords us. I have caus’d the Decoction of this Herb to
be made after the same manner, and have given it where I did not expect
a Cure, and thought that I had reason to believe, it did in some Measure
prove Nutritive. And we find by _Reusner_ in his Observations publish’d
by _Velschius_, that it has been us’d as an Analeptick, he tells us that
_Hillerus_, the Marquiss of _Brandenburgh_’s Physician, did restore
Children out of _Atrophy_’s, by making ’em eat of this Herb fry’d after
the manner of Clary.
The next thing I shall take Notice of, as peculiarly adapted to this
Case is _Liquorice_. This Plant was ever reputed by the Ancients for
the greatest quencher of Thirst in Nature, and therefore they call’d
it _Adipson_, and upon that account, _Galen_ tells us it was given to
Dropsical people, _Theophrastus_ calls it _Scythica_, and _Pliny_ gives
us the Reason of it, and tells us the _Scythians_ where wont to Live 12
Days upon _Liquorice_, and a little Cheese made of Mare’s Milk; so that
it was in Reputation, likewise for sustaining Nature, and enabling People
to bear Hunger. Its effects on Pains in the Stomach, the Bladder and
the like, are numerous; and some of ’em very well attested, and perhaps
there is scarce any Alterative that the Ancients take more Notice of than
this, except their admir’d _Silphium_; and we may gather from all, that
it is one of the greatest Correcters of Acrimony in general, and that it
is very temperate and safe, because the Juice of it has been drank in
considerable quantities, and that fermented too; after this account of
it, let us see how we use it; we boil about an Ounce or an Ounce and
a half, in a Decoction of a Quart or two with other Ingredients; this
is a wonderful Concession, but then in our Lozenges, there we do it to
some purpose, about equal Parts of Juice of _Liquorice_ and _Sugar_,
make up a Stupendious Medicine indeed, not remembring at the same time
a good Remark of _Tragus_’s, _viz._ that _Sugar_ and _Liquorice_ are
directly contrary, he Glories, speaking of _Liquorice_, that we have
found a Sweet, that will quench the Thirst, whereas most other Sweets
will cause Thirst, and instances in _Sugar_, which if it be true, can any
thing imply more of Contradiction than Our Practice? If we were to make
Sweetmeats for Children only, it would be allowable to mix all the Sweets
in the Universe together; but when the Blood of a Poor Consumptive
Wretch, is heated and loaded with Acrimony, to spoil the most agreeable
Drug in Nature, by mixing it with its contrary, only because the form
of a Medicine requires it; this, with all Submission, is what I think
cannot easily be excus’d; this is to Cheat People with the _Bellaria_ of
Physick, and Tickle Men into the Grave.
I know what will here be the Objection _viz._ that these things are
design’d only for the Cough, and not expected to Cure the Habit of
the Body, and that therefore they may be allow’d to be a good sort of
Composition for that Palliative Service they are directed to; but this
will not suffice, for there is not one in ten that makes use of these
Medicines, but relies on ’em for the Cure of the whole Distemper; and
therefore this is the broken Reed that has deceiv’d so many; especially
of the Poorer Sort, and which leads ’em in such numbers into the
Hospitals to end their Days there, after they have lost the Opportunities
of Recovery by depending on these Trifles. And if any one must needs
take offence at some of these Expressions, let him consult _Ludovicus_,
an allow’d Judge of these matters, in his _Pharmacia Moderno seculo
applicanda_, he will find what is his Opinion of these things in the
19th _Page_ of his _first Dissertation_, speaking of the _Confectiones
communes & Candisatæ Conservæ recentiorum siccæ (simplicis sui Pulvere
plerumque debiliores) Martis Panes, Pandaleon, & antiquariæ Saponeæ
Confecturæq; reliquæ_, he says, _Væ Hecticis tabidisq; quando tandem ad
ejuscemodi Refectiva, sesamo atque papavere sparsa, pineis Pistaceis, &c.
damnantur: Arentes hinc fauces (quamvis difficulter interdum) lenitas
vidimus, curatum neminem, quin potius intensiores inde depascentes
febres, dejectum magis appetitum, festinatosque Fluxus colliquativos_.
And speaking before, _pag. 9._ of _Decoctions_ and _Infusions_, he says,
_Procertis interdum Circumstantiis in Pectoralibus & Vulneraris dilutiora
hæc contractioribus dosibus commodiora deprehenduntur_; and, it seems,
he thinks this Observation, relating to the Use of _Pectorals_, to be
of such Moment, that he makes it one of the Heads of his _Additionary
Comment_ or _Appendix_, where, _pag. 582._ he has these Words; _Natura
interea nihilominus, præ Essentiis Extractisq; pectoralibus, præq; fauces
in internis ibi ardoribus tantisper lenientibus Morsulis, Trochiscis
atque mixturis antihecticis, antiphthisics, diffusius quidpiam & ad
remotiora perveniens unà ut plurimum velle videtur_.
These Citations plainly shew, that he thought those sugar’d Compositions
no apposite Remedy for Persons in such Circumstances, but that whatever
Remedy is made use of, it ought to be made to dilute as much as possible;
which does agree with the Reason, which I shall shew anon, for the
plentiful use of those mild Vegetables. I have made these Citations at
large, that what I have said may not be thought to be any Figment of
mine, but that I may appear, that I have Precedent as well as Reason on
my Side. But to return to the Root I was upon—Besides the mixing of Sugar
with Liquorice, to what purpose is the Aqueous part of its Juice exhal’d;
what harm would that soft _Lympha_ do to People, who have a continual
Thirst upon ’em? To what purpose must the Juice be inspissated, in order
to acquire an Acrimony by lying, not to speak of its Adulterations?
These are things which I could not forbear animadverting upon, because
they put us out of the right use of a Medicine, than which there is not
perhaps a greater _Analeptick_ to be found, if it were taken in the
same quantity as other Juices are taken. A Medicine that is a kind of a
Balsam _in Ficri_, and the most likely to be wrought up to Perfection in
the Blood, and of which the Fresh Juice ought undoubtedly be taken to a
Spoonful or two several times a day. But thus it is, we give a thing the
Name of Physick, and then stand aghast at it, and take it with Guard and
Circumspection, as if it were not possible that any thing should prove a
Medicine, and yet be taken in an Alimentary way.
There is another Plant, the _Cynogloss_, which seems not unlikely to be
of Use in this Case, because it seems to have something of a like Gleamy
Substance in it; it has been deliver’d down to us under some mistaken
Notions, as if it caused Sleep, which perhaps have been occasion’d by its
Cooling and Styptick Quality; but a late Author of unquestion’d Judgment
and Experience has us’d it pretty much in Decoctions with _Turnips_,
and says, it has no such quality, but recommends it to People in this
Distemper; to these may be added some of our Vulneraries, of which there
is great Variety of all Rates, of all degrees of heat; and among ’em one
of the Temperate sort, never enough to be valu’d, _viz._ the _Comfreys_,
and which in Consumptions, upon spitting of Blood, may be expected to do
great things; These Roots may be so manag’d by a good hand as to be eat
as Food. The Female Retailers of Physick would perhaps take it Ill, if
among these things I should forget their Preparations of _Turnips_ and
_Snails_, which may all have their time of being serviceable, either as
Food or for Variety, and what is more, all these things are Compatible
with a Milk Diet too; these things may be taken in small quantities at
different times from the taking of the Milk; tho’ if taken with it, they
could cause no Coagulation, and so a mild and Medicated Chyle may be
continually passing into the Blood to the great Advantage of the Sick.
These Instances are sufficient to shew the Nature of those things, which
I take to be the most adequate Remedy in this Case; _viz._ that they
ought to be such as are of a Medium, between common _Balsamicks_ and
_Acids_, and that they are such, as seem most likely to prove Nutritive
to People in so weak a Condition; the reason why I set such a value
upon these moderate things, is taken from the state of the Blood of
People in such Circumstances, which seems unable to manage stronger
Medicines, the least tendency to a _Diaphoresis_ being some disturbance
to those Persons; so that what is to be done, must be by things which
may suit with the Blood, and as it were grow upon it, that may be
transubstantiated into its _Crasis_ after an Alimentary way; there must
be a continual Rill of these temperate Juices into the Blood, without
the observing of Physical Hours, and then ’tis to be hop’d the Blood may
renew by degrees, and the Acrimony may decrease for want of Fuel; and
thus we may perhaps better obviate the Periodical Ebullitions of the
Hectick, by substracting their Cause, than by stifling the Hectick by
keeping in the Cause; I have not Scope here to explain my self, but I
think the common Causes assign’d for those Fits, don’t seem sufficient;
I can’t think the Ripening of a Tubercle able to do so much, that little
quantity of _Pus_ can’t contain a _Putredo_ sufficient for such effects,
not to say the same Hectick happens, where no Tubercle has broke; to
be short, it seems to me most probable, that when the Blood is so much
saturated with disagreeable Particles, as in Consumptive Persons it is,
as these Particles encrease and grow upon those Particles which make up,
the Proper, Genuine, Inseparable Essence of the Blood in its true, State;
I say as the first gain ground, there is so great a Correspondence and
Harmony in the Oeconomy, that these latter must contend and resist the
other, tho’ in the Contention, Nature gains no great Advantage, but
only fights and retires till she is quite overcome; this seems to me no
unlikely Idea of the Hectick, and if it be true, the best way must be to
substract the quantity of the Morbisick Particles, by using such a Food,
as cannot possibly afford Matter for ’em.
Having, then consider’d these Medicines, I will suppose it granted
me, that they are proper in this Case; I won’t say that they shall be
Sufficient to Cure of themselves, (tho’ I don’t doubt but they may in
some Constitutions do the Work themselves) but I will only suppose,
that they do greatly dispose towards it, which _Postulatum_ will, I
conceive, be readily granted me; I will suppose likewise, that Riding
(the Exercise I propose in this Case) does likewise dispose towards a
Cure, which _Postulatum_ will be granted too; I will suppose farther,
that these two Courses are Compatible, and may be us’d together; as the
Medicines help the Fluids, the Exercise helps both the Fluids and Solids;
which _Postulatum_ cannot be deny’d me neither; what then naturally
Results from this, but that they be both us’d in Conjunction? And is it
not more than probable, that these two Methods joyn’d, shall effect that
which neither of ’em can singly? Do not we see enough of this every Day
in Natural Occurrences, where one, two or three things, indifferent in
themselves, shall, when blended together, produce a valuable Effect,
which none of ’em could alone? And shall these things be observ’d in
lesser Arts, and be slighted when a Man’s Health is at Stake? Seeing we
abound so in Compound Medicines, why may we not for once take up with
a Compound Method of Cure, (if I may so speak) that is, if we cannot
obtain Health by one sort of means alone, why may we not expect it from a
Complication?
Thus I have run up these Arguments to a Head; I have shewn that the
Medicines appropriated to this Case, ought to be very Mild and Temperate,
upon the account of that less prevalent quality, there may be Hazard,
lest they should not always prove equally effectual; and therefore to
supply any such Defect, I substitute a most easie Natural Gymnastick
Course, as a common Aid to the weakness of the Medicines, and an
assistance to that part of the Oeconomy, which those Medicines can’t
reach. Whether this is not most suitable to, and consistent with the even
Tenour of Nature, tho’ it may not relish so much of the Magnificence
of Art, I must submit to those who are best Judges; to me it seems to
promise enough, and carry more Healing with it, than some things that are
dignifi’d with the great Titles of _Gilead_ and _Peru_.
If after all there are any People who will think, I have taken too much
upon me, in venturing to attack the _Balsamick_ Method, if they cannot
think slightly of Medicines, which will give such present mitigation of a
Cough, and which are so Fragrant and Costly, let ’em enjoy their Opinion,
and persist in the use of them; and if they find ’em at any time not
so effectual as they could desire, let ’em but superadd the Power of
Exercise, and they will doubtless find ’em much improv’d; and if they
come by that Means to succeed, I shall not envy their good Effects.
Besides these two main Indications, there is something more to be
consider’d in the Cure of the Consumption; and that is, how we may
obviate the Moisture of the Air; which is a very troublesome Enemy to
Consumptive People, of what Constitution soever, who dare not make use
of Generous Liquors to fence against it; for that Practice would be
prejudicial upon another Account: Now what can be more Natural in this
Case, than the raising the Spirits to resist this Moisture, by a gentle
Motion of the whole Body, which at the same time, causes a greater
Degree of Heat, and that equally diffus’d all over the Body, which must
needs rarify in some measure, the moist Air, and besides, make the hot
and acrimonious Particles in the Blood, supply the place of warm Internal
Medicines, which in another Person would have been proper to have been
given, to oppose the Moisture of the Air? Now this is much the same,
that the Change of Air can effect in the Body of a Sick Person, for ’tis
the equal Influence, the universal moderate Rarefaction of a warm Air,
that makes it so beneficial, and if we will cast in the benefit of the
Tension, which is caus’d by moderate Riding, together with the Equality
of the Heat, it will appear to be very little short of what is usually
expected from a Journey into a Foreign Air, and I could here give an
Instance of a Gentleman, who, when he was in the South of _France_,
found but little Relief, any longer than when he was on Horse-back;
and who after his return to _England_, found that Riding supported him
as much, as the Change of Air; So that upon the Consideration of the
equal promoting of the insensible Perspiration, and the Benefit, which
at the same time accrues to the Solid Parts, this Exercise which I have
so much insisted on, may be allow’d to be almost, if not altogether, an
Equivalent to a Warmer Climate.
_Lastly_, I shall urge but this one more Reason for this Exercise, which
is not taken from a Natural, but a Prudential Consideration, from the
particular Humour of most People in this Distemper, who are strangely
inclin’d to think themselves in no great Danger, even tho’ the Distemper
is far advanc’d; they don’t love to be told the Truth, tho’ it is ever
so necessary; but an honest Physician is to them, as _Micaiah_ was to
_Ahab_, he never has any thing good to say of ’em; they think they are
strong enough in the Main; they’ll tell ye, they should be as well as
ever, if their Scurvey Cough, or the weight on their Breast was but
remov’d: Now the Genius of the Sick must be consider’d, and these People
who have so good an Opinion of themselves, may in some Sense be indulg’d
and wrought upon, to exert their Imaginary Strength in Gentle Riding, and
then they may perhaps come to enjoy that which is real.
I might now proceed farther, to consider in what degree of this Distemper
Riding will be beneficial, whether any thing is to be expected from it
in the second and last State of it; but this would be to run out beyond
my Design of Brevity; only I shall take Notice, that it is no rare thing
to meet with Consumptions, without any Putrid Fever, or any Reason to
believe an Ulcer in the Lungs, or perhaps so much as Tubercles, but
a continual Hectick, and a precipitate Wast of Nature by the Direful
Acrimony and ill Quality of the _Serum_, as Doctor _Benet_, in his
_Theatrum Tabidorum_ observes, _Pag. 109._ _Tabidorum languor sine
pulmonum aut visceris cujuslibet corruptelâ tacitâ vi obrepens Anglis
infestissimus est, & nisi primis obediverit remediis (quod rarissimè
evenit) funestus._ In this Case I can’t but be of Opinion, that Riding
well manag’d would be serviceable, tho’ undertook very late, if there is
any tolerable Measure of Strength left to put it in Practice.
I must here again repeat, that when I here speak of Riding, I understand
the Habit of Riding, the want of which Distinction, has made it
ineffectual to many a Man; He that in this Distemper above all others
rides for his Health, must be like a _Tartar_, in a manner always on
Horse-back, and then from a weak Condition, he may come to the Strength
of a _Tartar_. He that would have his _Life for a Prey_, must hunt after
it, and when once he finds his Enemy give way, must not leave off, but
follow his Blow, till he subdue him beyond the Possibility of a Return.
He that carries this Resolution with him, will I doubt not experience the
Happy Effects of the good old Direction, Recipe _Caballum_; he will find
that the _English_ Pad is the most noble Medium, to be made use of for
a Recovery from a Distemper, which we in this Nation, have but too much
reason by way of Eminence to stile _English_.