The true method of curing consumptions wherein 1. The vulgar method is discovered to be useless and pernicious, 2. A new method, by safe, pleasant, and effectual remedies is describ'd, 3. The original and immediate cause of this distemper explain'd, and 4. Several remarkable observations on persons lately cured by the same method, related, particularly the case of Mr. Obrian, whom the author undertook by his Majesties command : with an account of a cure performed on a person of quality at Paris, and several others / by Samuel Haworth.

Observation the Third.

THe next memorable Case that occurs, Is of a Gentleman in Leicester Fields, who by an intemperate Course of Life, and immoderate Drinking, fell into a deep Consumption; a few Weeks ago, he sent for me from my Lodgings in the Pall Mall. I found him very low and weak, having been confined to his Bed for above three Months, and having a very sore Cough, with no small Feaver, spitting an extraordinary quantity of fetid yellow Matter, at least a pint

every Night; besides this he had profuse Sweatings, with an excessive Looseness; by all which Mortal Symptomes he was reduced to a meer Skele∣ton, only his Bones were wrapt in skin; he had not strength to sit upright in his Bed, nay he was so feeble that he could not turn himself; before I came he had advised with three Gale∣nic Physicians (one of which was my grand Enemy and Back∣biter) who after several Con∣sultations, prescribed variety of Medicines, as I perceived by the Apothecaries Shop upon the Table in the Chamber; there being all sorts of Nauseous Mix∣tures, Syrups, and strong Electu∣aries, with which the Nurse was ordered to cram him, almost every moment: But at last these Physicians finding their Reme∣dies ineffectual (as who could

imagine they would prove o∣therwise) were forc'd to leave him, and passing sentence up∣on him, they gave him over; likewise limiting his time, they said it was impossible he should live above three days. I finding him in this Condition, had like∣wise no hopes of doing him good, judging him in no pro∣bability of living many days. I therefore refused to meddle with him, acquainting his Friends and Relations that I deemed his Case very desperate; but yet no denial would satisfie their urgent desires of my un∣dertaking him, earnestly be∣seeching and intreating me, protesting by all that was sa∣cred and dear to them, that they would abundantly grati∣fie me whether he liv'd or dy'd, if I would but prescribe some∣thing for him, and only try

my Skill upon him; he himself likewise was restless till he saw me, and was possess'd with so strong a phansie I should do him good, that no Arguments could disswade him from that his set∣tled Opinion: I alledged that my undertaking would be a volun∣tary throwing of my own Repu∣tation at the Stake, and if he should die under my hands, which in all probability he would do, it would prove so great a Reflection upon me, that my Enemies would hereby have some ground to Censure and Back-bite me; but at last the constant urgency of their desires, and the commiseration I had to his Condition, over∣balanced this my Objection, grounded on nothing but my own Interest: I ventured to give him a Dose of a very safe Restorative Medicine, tho I

expected little or no success; the Neighbouring Apothecary who had compounded the Me∣dicines according to the Pre∣scriptions of the former Physicians, hearing that I had ex∣hibited something to him, very pleasantly laught at and de∣rided me, because I prescribed for him after such able Physici∣ans (which in his Apprehension were little god-a-mighties) had given him over. This Apothe∣cary having no small spleen a∣gainst me, because I prescribed to my own Apothecary, present∣ly run to his adored Doctor, one that constantly prescribed to his Shop, and told him I had been there, and ordered something for him that night. Whereupon the Doctor, as I am credibly informed, expres∣sed no small joy, not doubting but he should now have advan∣tage

enough against me, hear∣tily wishing (as it is easie to conjecture by these Circum∣stances) that the Patient would die under my hands: But it seems the event proved other∣wise; for the next Morning a Messenger came to my House at Brumpton, desiring me to ha∣sten to him, and that he long'd to see me. When I came, I found him strangely revived, whereat all his Relations were exhilerated and elevated with joy above measure or expression; this incouraged me to proceed in prescribing for him, I repeated a Dose of the same Medicine the next Night, which indeed was nothing but a Mixture of our Grand Elixir, and some drops of our Golden Tincture in a Glass of our Re∣storartive Liquor; the next day I found him still better,

to the confirmation of our joy, and no small discontent of my Enemies, especially the Cen∣sorious Doctor and Pragmatic Apothecary, who were con∣tinually listning and inquiring concerning our success. I now ordered him to drink freely of our Restorative Liquor, which being a very pleasant Drink, much pleased him; of this he drank a Quart or three Pints e∣very day: I continued him in this Method for three Weeks, in which time he gradually gathered strength, tho but slowly, yet in a Months time he was able to rise and walk a∣bout his Chamber; his Sweat∣ings continued still in some measure, and his Looseness was not gone. I then ordered him our altering Red Powder, and another pleasant Qualifying Medicine, which quite took off

the cause of his Looseness in ten days; his Sweatings also ceased. All this while his Cough troubled him, tho not with that vehemence which it did before; it being much easi∣er and his spitting not so abun∣dant, I now prescribed a dose of our Golden Tincture to be taken every four or five hours in the Restorative Drink. In eight or nine Weeks after I first under∣took him, he being able to ride, came to my House to see me, and can now both walk and ride about his occasions; having an indifferent habit of Body, tho he will never be perfectly cured, there being an Ulcer in his Lungs, which by reason of the constant motion of that part in respiration is rendered incurable; yet by the help of our Medi∣cines he may probably live se∣veral years. He still continues

in a Method of Physic under my hands, and I believe will so do to his dying day, so that I can not boast of this as a perfect Cure, yet I thought it necessary to relate it, it being as undeni∣able an argument to evince the true virtue and efficacy of our Antiphthisic Medicines, that they will patch, preserve, and in some measure restore a Man, when reduced to a Con∣dition beyond all hope, as well as perfectly restore those that make use of them in the beginning of this Malady; yet I must needs here confess that this Gentleman was in the worst Circumstances of any Patient I ever undertook that lived. If any question the truth of this Relation, upon their desire I will shew them the Gentleman, who with all his Relations, Friends, and Ac∣quaintance,

will attest the veri∣ty of what I have here faith∣fully related.