AN APPENDIX TO THE QUERIES.

SOme matters relating to the preceding Queries, in order to their better Illustration, ha∣ving been omitted are thought fit to be added here by way of Ap∣pendix. As first, to explain fur∣ther the 20th. Query, Either Vo∣mits can cure the Diseases that no∣thing else can, or they cannot? If they can, then Infants, old and weak must take them in such Dis∣eases Page  112 as well as the strong, or die: If they cannot, then are Physicians much to blame that ever gave them to the Strong, any more than to the Weak: For if the Weak can escape dying without them, why not the Strong? If the Strong cannot, why should we expect the Weak should? Second∣ly, To clear the Twenty Third Query, may be considered all the ways, by which 'tis possible Vo∣mits can do any mischief, which are, either the Action of Vomit∣ing, or the manner of its Opera∣tion; the evil property of the Me∣dicine; the matter Vomitted; or lastly, the wrong Application. As to the first, there can be no more danger in the Operation of a Vomit, than there is in vomitting without one, the force, Page  113 strain and violence being the same, when the matter Vomitted is so; besides, if the Action were so dangerous, 'tis not probable that kind Nature would have order'd that young Infants should be so subject to it, and breeding Wo∣men being the weaker Sex in a tender condition, and whilst the Faetus is also weak, wherefore the Action singly can never be Dangerous. As to the evil pro∣perty of the Medicines, Antimo∣ny will be most suspected, for Carduus, Groundsel, Thea, and the like, will be by all acquitted. An∣timony therefore, the most usual of all Vomits, we find highly commended by many good Au∣thors. It is so innocent that 'tis u∣sed in Diet Drinks with great ad∣vantage, and is frequently given Page  114 to fatten Horses, Hogs, and Pul∣lein, nor is there any thing in the Preparation of Crocus Metallorum, vitrum Antimonij or Mercurius vi∣tae in its own Nature Poisonous; and Experience daily shews that they do abundance of Good. As to the matter Vomited, it must be either injurious, by robbing Nature of so much Good Humour, or by wounding some parts in its Passage with its ill Quality; if the first, it must have been very un∣advisedly given, therefore scarce to be supposed; if the last, it must certainly have done more hurt to have continued where it lodged before, than it could in passing only; but of this if an instance could be found, it might give some Satisfaction: For a thousand things are imagined Page  115 which never were nor can be, and 'tis such high flights above com∣mon Sense which do much in∣jury to the Art of Physick. As to a wrong application of Vomits, it must be agreed that Fools are not to jest with Edge Tools; but they are the better for Artists for being sharp. Who would endure to be shav'd by a good Barber with a blunt Razor, which cannot be too sharp in a skilful Hand? there∣fore if none but skilful Physicians fairly approved were permitted to Practise, there would be no danger of such mistakes. And lastly, the 24th. Query may be further confirm'd by Experience, that Vomits generally cure, not only such Diseases as other Re∣medies, but often reach those Humours which no other Medi∣cine Page  116 can, and consequently cure many Diseases beyond the power of others; for they perform what ever others can, and something more.

The Author thinks himself un∣der an Obligation to add some∣thing in the nature of an Apolo∣gy, to acquaint the Reader, that 'tis far from his intention to give just offence to any, much less to the Physicians, by publishing these Queries; but aiming at the Publick Service, he is desirous to provoke some Learned and Ex∣perienced Physicians to inform the World better, to which the Author will thankfully submit, for amicus Plato, amicus Socrates, sed magis amica veritas; or else that they would please to reform themselves, that so the Nation Page  117 may reap some benefit by these inquiries.

He could very well have been contented at this time not to have appeared in Print, had not the present Practice of Physick dif∣fer'd so much, from what in his many years Experience he hath observed both here and beyond Sea; and toto coelo seemed to deviate from the ancient Rules and Pra∣ctice, without the least visible a∣mendment by any shorter, safer or more certain methods of Healing. Nay, had not many lives been apparently lost by the present tender hearted practice, who, it may be reasonably presumed, had been still alive, had truer methods been used, as well as the Crimi∣nals last Executed might have been so, had they not then suf∣fer'd Page  118 notwithstanding God's time was certainly come, as the good Women say: But, if right courses had been taken with both the Pa∣tient and the Criminal, they might have been still alive, and God's time would not have been yet come: For, as God decrees the End, he likewise orders the right means without a miracle to lead to such an End, and they shall be used, and wrong means shall not, when he so pleaseth. The Au∣thor therefore thought it his duty to God and Man to cast into the common Treasury, tho it were but this mite, and to expose these few Sheets to the censure of the Candid Reader, who may draw what consequences he please from the manner they are proposed, and either grant or deny, so it be Page  119 with plain and solid Reasons, that truth may appear, and that the publick as well as some Physicians, yet unresolv'd in the subject of several of those Queries, may reap the advantage.

He is not insensible that 'tis more advantageous to be Hetero∣dox with a multitude than Or∣thodox alone, and that it is much more gainful for a Physician to win the good Opinion by little complacencies of the tender heart∣ed Nursekeepers, timorous Pati∣ents, and pratling Ladies, than to recover the Healths and save the lives of Multitudes; for if you have never so good success 'tis an easie matter for them to say, if they bear you ill will, 'tis no more than what every body could do; or, It was a small mat∣ter, Page  120 the Patient would have reco∣vered however, or their time was not come.

And when they resolve to excuse a Friend, that hath ill success, they'll tell you, he did all, that Man could do, was mighty tender, safe and careful, the Patients time was come and none could have pre∣vented it, which excuses are cur∣rent with the World in matters they are not well acquainted with, so that whoever thinks to recom∣mend himself by his skill, will find himself as much deceived as Sir William Petty, who, after he had qualified himself for the pra∣ctice as well as most, that ever undertook it, found when he be∣gan it, there was another Lessen to be Learnt, how to humour his Patient's Fancy, and not answer Page  121 their understandings, which com∣monly in most Persons is lockt up for hereafter. 'Tis hard to strive against the Stream, when 'tis so easie to swim with it.

The design of these Queries is not utterly to condemn the use of steel or the Jesuits Pouder, and other specificks or methods, but to recommend and revive the old practice of Evacuation, as much more certain, effectual and agreeable to Art, and also to en∣deavour to remove the too fre∣quent groundless Fears and Aver∣sion to such excellent Remedies, for every thing God made hath its proper use for the benefit of Man, and nothing was made in vain.

He hath the more insisted upon Vomits in this small Treatise, be∣cause, Page  122 they are so much opposed, and yet so absolutely necessary for recovering that Health, and sa∣ving those lives which nothing else can do so certainly, especially in peracute Cases, where but little time is to be lost. And he hopes there are but very few Queries here proposed, but in order to the service of the Publick, he having often met with just cause to wish the inconveniences, they hint at, re∣form'd. Farewell.