Various injuries & abuses in chymical and Galenical physick, committed both by physicians & apothecaries, detected for the benefit of such, who being conscientious and studious in physick, aim chiefly at the welfare of the sick, and of those patients, whether rich or poor, who are willing to preserve their lives & healths / by Robert Godfrey, Med. Londinensis.

Concerning a Pleurisy, and thē cu∣ring of it without Blood-letting.

And first it will not be amiss to take notice, that as Salt is the Savourer and preserver of all things, so is it next to the life, the preserver of integ••ety in the Humane Fabrick: and that no otherwise than from a pricking and stimu∣lating Sharpness entred into the Blood and laid aside in the Pleura, has a Pleurisy its rise. For as the Blood, the most livelyliquor in the body, is Saline, and consequently an enemy to Aci∣dity and Acidity to it, if through an error in any of the preceding Digestions, to wit the Stomach, Duodenum, &c. or through a

contagion in the inbreath'd Air, a hostile Sharpness is admitted into the Blood, and (it proving like a Thorn to the part it fixeth in) doth take-up its residence in the Membrane which cloaths the Ribs called the Pleura, whilst the circulating Blood, would dismiss it: Then doth the life in the part muster up the neighbouring Blood in endeavouring to cast forth this forreigner, which whilst it runneth thither to assist the life of that part, and by the stimulating Sharpness, the life being incen∣sed, that membrane is torn from the Ribs: the new-made cavity is filled by the Blood running thither. Whereas had there not been that hostil Acidity (Thorn-like) in the Blood and Pleura, that Crimson juice would, of its own accord have been quiet, and con∣tained it self in its limits.

But it being the property of the Blood to flow where pain is, according to that •••• the Anti∣ents: Ʋbi dolor et calor èo ••ffluit cru••r. Where Pain and Heat is, to that place Blood flows; what profit may Revulsion bring, seeing that when part is let out, the remaining Blood will in short time be equalliz'd in the veins; and that if Nature is not too much debilitated by her loss, she will give the other onset so long as the Enemy is conversant in her Territories? I say, what can be expected from Phlebotomy, unless an enervation and weakening of Nature

(though some respit from Death be granted) and a laying the foundation of some Chronick disease, so long as the acidity is not remov'd from the Blood and Pleura by suitable Medicines, or by Nature?

For by a loss of Blood, a desisting is only caused from the combate between the Meta∣phorical Thorn and Nature, no otherwise then as shee has scarce strength left to defend her self. But what in the mean time will become of the acidity, if any is in the Blood, as well as Pleura? how shall that be taken away? for good and bad will be left behind as well as emitted after the Lancet has done its best? what must that be left to be overcome by the strength and vigour of Nature, who after the Blood is let out, and she weaken'd, hath enough, and sometimes too much to do, to preserve her self and dispose of the begun Apo∣stem? Yes, that's the way: For striking at the cause, and omitting Phlebotomy, is some∣what a strange Doctrine yet, though not half so Heretical as formerly, since Experience has prov'd it Safe and Usefull. But for all the poor relief of Phlebotomy does diminish the Blood, and consequently hinders the Growth and increase of the Pleurisy, through forbid∣ding the Bloods flowing too fast by the Vein Azugos &c. Yet it withdraws none, or very little that is out-hunted, nor hinders it in the

least from Apostemizing: Which thing ought chiefly to be look after by the Physician, though that whole burthen is commonly left on Na∣tures shoulders; who failing through want of good Remedies and proper assistants, the Pa∣tient dies at last.

Nor is this all; for if she struggling out-wears both the loss of Blood and the Acidity, where∣by some recover after long lying by it, whilst others lose their lives through want of Medi∣cines: yet by reason of so great weakening of the Vitals by the Lancet the functions and fer∣ments of the body being impair'd; 'tis not many of those that prove not Scorbutical or con∣sumptive, if they do not next year relapse into the same.

'Tis a miserable thing that so many should yearly perish of this Disease, whilst the Ve∣nal▪ Blood is emitted, by lavishing the strength through taking away its magazine, and ne∣glecting the cause in the Blood and Plenta: see∣ing that the bountiful Father of Lights has af∣forded Medicines for its Safe and Perfect cure without exhausting the Vitals in the least. As Van Helmont testifies who cured Ple••risies safely without Blood-letting: nor▪

have a few of our Moderns frequently done the same. As I also can testifie who am owner of such, and that have known of many safely cu∣red of Pleurisies without the loss of one ounce of Blood. But as long as sloth dictates, and Pa∣ganish Doctrines are dot∣ed on by Christians; as long as Physicians shall refuse to be wise beyond their Ancestors, who were Men, & Huma∣num est errare; So long must we expect an im∣poverishing of Nature, under pretence of aiding and assisting her: besides could a Pleurisie be cu∣red safely by breathing a Vein, which it cannot; yet curing it by the sole aid of stout and inno∣cent Remedies, must needs be the excellenter way: seeing that Nature by not diminishing her strength, which is the Blood, may be much sooner enabled after her enemy is Van∣quisht to recover the loss she sustain'd.

Whereas if the Blood be let out, though, the Patient escape choaking, and is perhaps de∣livered from the jaws of death, yet is he so shat∣tered and shaken in his Vitals by the loss of that Vital juice that if he recover 'tis very long First. But if the Patient Die than the blame is

impos'd on the too vehementness of the Disease, when the Doctor is often more in fault; in that he let out the Blood which is the strength of Nature, and neglected that sharpish cause, which from an error in digestion was let slip into the Blood, and furiously assaulted the Pleura. For though sharpness is grateful in the Stomach if it exceeds not its Ferment, yet out of it 'tis as a Thorn to the part it fixeth in, 'tis the cau∣ser of gripes, the Parent of a Consumption, and of all other Diseases almost. To which Hippo∣crates testifieth, and saith Non calidum, frigi∣dum, humidum, siccumve, sed quod acre, a∣marum, acidum, & austerum morbi sunt.

But, omitting narratives concerning such who have miscarried in this Disease under the Lancet, it being a thing too too frequent; I shall only relate what was accidentally told me by the Brother of a Person not many years since Pleuritical: it being extorted from him by hearing another declare, how his Grand-Father perisht by Phlebotomy, and his Father being four times Bleeded Died Consumptive through that loss in the space of two months. He said.

His Sister falling sick, a Physician was sent for, who when he came found her Pleuritical∣ly affected; therefore orders fourteen oun∣ces of Blood to be taken away presently, and the next day at his coming again six or seven

ounces more: by which means she (whose age was but ten years) was so extreamly de∣bilitated and consequently her life endange∣red, that for the space of a month she was not able to go, and recovered not her strength as formerly in many months after. But now at length she hath outgrown it.

Whereas had the Physician given her an ex∣cellent Medicine or two inwardly to strengthen the Stomach, kill spurious ferments and slay the stimulating thorn in the Pleura and Blood; also had applied another to her side for the same purpose; he might without a loss of Blood, and exhausting her strength, have taken away the occasional cause and with ease have stren∣gthened Nature, so as to have dispos'd of the out-hunted Blood to her greatest advantage and profit: either by admitting it again into the Veins, which thing is very common if a good Medicine is present; or by dismissing it by the mouth or fundament. So that a Per∣son thus cured without Phlebotomy may be well and vigorous in a week or little more.

Or if through the far absence of good and able Medicines he had for the present drawn out six or eight ounces of Blood, & had afterwards exhibited remedies to slay Acidity in the remain∣er, and the Forreign guest in the Pleura: he might with more ease and less hurt to the Pa∣tient, have head her without running a hazard.

Only observe that though this way brings grea∣er ease yet scarce so much benefit to the Doct∣or: forasmuch as a months time keeping people in hand produceth more Angels than a Week.

However 'twas well the young Woman re∣covered at last, when her Fathers pocket had paid well for it. But had one forty or fifty years old been dealt with after this Bloody rate the loss would not have been so easily made up; But in all likely-hood 'twould have made the party weakly, if it had not cost her her life. Or which is oft-times the event of a great loss of Blood, have laid the foundation of some bad Disease. Witness Helmont, Pleuritis quae per Phlebotomiam est restituta saepe post annum re∣currit, saepiusque tabem post se relinquit. The Pleurisy which is cured by Blood-letting, often∣times after a year returns, and oftner leaves a Consumption behind it. And which Helmont here takes not notice of, so great a loss of Blood laies oft the Foundation of the scurvy: as is daily too too obvious.

Nor do I write feigned Notions or imagina∣ry Conjectures; having, whilst I was for ma∣ny years conversant, and a tabler in the House with an ingenious aged Chymical Physician, known of a great many cured after this man∣ner, to wit, without Blood-letting; nor to the best of my remembrance did ever any one mis∣carry under his hand. Yea so acute was he at

it, that several have recovered by following his mehod without the least assistance of Phle∣botomy, that have been given up for Death by eminent Galenists.

So that observing such cures frequently done by him; and on the contrary often Miscarria∣ges by others: I set upon the study of Physick out of a desire to inform my self, that I might prevent being purg'd out of my life, as my Fa∣ther was. And after a twelve months pursu∣ing my studies, and observing curative passa∣ges, I began out of an affection to the Chymi∣cal Science to prove a general student in Physick, being daily improv'd in my intellectuals by hearing my experienced Intimate Discourse, & his patients declare the effects of his Medicines.

Nor was I less admonisht by hearing them amongst the rest to intersperse complaints; some against Mercurial, and Purgative, or Vomitive Antimonial Medicines; others a∣gainst other horrible Vomits; declaring how such a Person took one, and was thereby so weakened that she never left vomiting till she died.

Another declares how her Husband was Bleeded by an Apothecaries order, and had twentyounces taken away, whereby he through weakness fainted and died.

Another relates how a Doctor (I might call him a Horse-Doctor) had given a Dose of Pills

to her Neighbour, that kill'd him before the had done working.

These with many more such-like narratives minded me of my Fathers Death, and the harm I my self had sustain'd by twice bleed∣ing, often Purging, and Vomiting, and an Issue: So that for many years, I, at every Autumn, had a tedious fit of sickness; and was often indispos'd at other times. Thus it continued till about the twentieth year of my age, when I happily came acquainted with this Chymical Doctor: who by ordering me to take his abstersive wholsom Medicines kept me so healthy, that now for seven years together I have not been sick (to say sick) two daies. Only through too closely pursuing my studies, I once made my self somewhat Hectical, but with good wholsome Medicines, and laying my Books aside a little, I in about a month was cured again.

Yet believe that what with the hurts of the Small-Pox when I was a Youth, seconded with the dammage received from Purges, Bleedings, Vomits, &c. I have been so weakened; that I shall scarce ever regain my former Complexi∣on, and chearful countenance, whilst I not∣withstanding (through Gods mercy) am pretty healthy.

But to return. Thus having spent about four years in my studies I began to fancy the

practice of Physick. But when I considered on the other hand, the dangerousness of work∣ing with unexperienced tools, and such reme∣dies as Books alone will afford me; without a faithful Tutor to open my understanding in the Analysing of Bodies, the reasons of apply∣ing Agents to Patients, and the compounding and applying of Remedies. I say when I con∣sidered this I was somewhat disheartened, through an unwillingness to turn Experimenter, and as Physicians too often do Ludere cum co∣rio Humano.

Because I saw much of the mischief frequent∣ly done by Physick was effected through too great confidence in Vulgar Prescripts and Au∣thors, whilst Diseases were not the same. But Providence favouring, and my most Cordial friend intirely loving me, I obtain'd (he be∣ing aged) the knowledge of all his Method and Medicines, with what was the result of twenty I might say, (for he himself had an Aged and Learned Tutor in Chymistry) almost forty years experience in Chymistry: nor was I wholly ungrateful.

Being therefore for several years since no Botcher in Medicine, I thence-forward ap∣plied my self to a more narrow search: and from frequent Readings, Operatings, and dai∣ly converse, having made some discovery of Abuses, and Injuries in Physick, I thought

meet at length for a General good to publish them. That the Physician may be admonisht to defend himself and his Patient; and the Pa∣tient likewise fore-warn'd to take heed of such, who being confident and careless mind nothing but their Ease and Profit; and by administring hurtful Remedies under the notion of Physick, through meer ignorance and carelesness Kill not a few: as likewise of such who under pretence of Healing, are continually busied about Ex∣hausting the strength and Vitals.

To give you a rehearsal of those cures in Pleuritical affects which this Chymical Physi∣cian did without Phlebotomy, will be too tedi∣ous; such narratives requiring more time and Paper than can I now spare. However as a Taste and for example sake, I will mention one which I cured after his manner, in that inte∣rim whilst this Tract was penning.

A person who heard well concerning me and the safety of my Method, sends for me to cure his Wife that was ill, and had through the vi∣olence of her distemper lately sounded, and sainted away. I went, and by that time I came to her she was pretty well reviv'd, inso∣much that she could answer to my Quaeries: Only she had an almost intollerable pain in her left side, and her Stomach was disordered. I therefore judg'd 'twas a Pleurisy; and askt her

what she lately had been eating of, that dis∣agreed with her Stomach.

She replied that last night she had too freely eaten of a thing she lov'd, but it did not agree with her: This confirm'd 'twas a Pleurisy and that her Stomach not well digesting the last nights Supper had sent a Pleuritical sharpness into the Blood. Wherefore as I had learnt from expert Helmont, and my no little experi∣enced Tutor, I gave her a Medicine to fortifie her Stomach, and make sure work there by slay∣ing forreign Ferments, and hinder a further procedure that way: not doubting in the least (as I had often known) to expel the Acidity in the Pleura, and put the Blood in good order again without borrowing the least aid of the Lancet. To do which I appointed a Medicine that is an Enemy to sharpness to be applied to the place where the pain was; having long since learnt, ubi Dolor, ibi Morbus, that where the pain is there is the Disease; and so I took my leave of them.

These so operated and beset the Spurious fer∣ment on both sides that they proved a little too hot for it, and banisht it: so that when about six hours after I visited her again, my Patient (being perswaded to it by a Female acquain∣tance of hers) was gone into the City. I ex∣ceedingly admired at her rashness, nor less at the suddenness of the Cure: so that desiring

they would take care at her coming home, if she relapst, to give her liberally of the first Medicine without fear, I took my leave for that night: and coming the next morning I found her very well; but she told me she was at coming home illish, that the pain return'd after her walk, and that the first Medicine re∣mov'd it again:

Thus to Cure a Pleurisy in a Day is some∣what unwonted, but I had an advantage in taking it in its Bud: Nor will I undertake to do the like again in so short a time. However in four or five daies, I have known a Pleurisy commonly cured, by the sole aid of such-like Remedies, without bleeding: and will ven∣ture one more than an equal lay, by Gods bles∣sing, to do it at any time, if I have the Patient in due season.

Next it will not be amiss to discourse of the Stomachs Priority, and the excellency of Sto∣machical Remedies. Only take notice that I by such don't mean Syrups or such like Sugary Medicines; which how pleasing soever they are to the healthy, are clogging and hurtful to a weak Stomach. But I by Stomachical Reme∣dies mean such, that though not very sweet, are pleasing and friendly to Nature, and no waies disgustful to the Stomach.

Notes

• Helmontius, in ple••∣rae furent••s Tract: nec non Libr•• ejus de▪ Feb: cap. 4. & alibi, Sparsim ••ulgaria remedia ad▪ s••nandam absqu••e venae-sectione pleuritidem, tradit.
• Ego sane nemini pleu∣ritico Sanguinem mitto (inquit Helmontius) estque enratio ejusmodi tuta, certa, commoda, & solida. Nemo illo∣rum perit: ubi interim sub Phlebotomo, plures longa tandem tabe pe∣reunt, & quotannis re∣cidivam experiuntur▪ de Feb. cap. 4.