The doctrine of acids in the cure of diseases farther asserted being an answer to some objections raised against it by Dr. F. Tuthill ... : in which are contained some things relating to the history of blood : as also an attempt to prove what life is, and that it is principally supported by an acid and sulphur : to which is added an exact account of the case of Edmund Turner, Esq., deceased : as also the case of another gentleman now living, exactly parallel to Mr. Turner's / by John Colbatch ...

The CASE of EDMUND TURNER Esq

ON Monday Night about twelve a Clock, being August the thirtieth, Madam Turner came to my House, and told me that Mr. Turner was very ill at my Lord Wharton's at Winchington, and withal desired me, that I would im∣mediately get my self ready, and go down to him to take care of him, which accordingly I did, and got to Winchington the next day by one a Clock. When I came there, I found Dr. Fry of Oxford had been there some time, and was then at Dinner; so I went up to Mr. Turner to inform my self as nicely as possibly I could of his Case; after I had done which, I came

down to Dinner, and as soon as Dinner was over, I desired the Doctor that we might consult together what was proper to be done for the distressed Gentleman. But before I take notice of what passed between the Doctor and my self, I shall exactly relate the Case, with the Occasion of his Illness.

On the Saturday Night before, Mr. Turner, with two other Gentlemen sate down to drink, and continued at it till seven or eight next Morning, but I cannot learn that the Quantities they drank were extraordinary: At which time they all went to bed, the other two Gentlemen lay in Bed the whole day, and eat nothing but Water-Grew∣el; but Mr. Turner got up in the Af∣ternoon, and eat boiled Mutton, with a great deal of strong. Broth with Mush∣rooms in it, and drank plentifully both of Wine and prodigious strong Beer, and then went to bed again, and pre∣sently fell asleep; but early next

Morning he awaked in the most dreadful condition imaginable. When I came to him his Circumstances were as follow.

He had a violent Pleurisy, and Pe∣ripneumony upon him, as was plainly to be perceived by a most sharp Pain in his left side, which he greatly com∣plained of, and a prodigious Short∣ness of Breath. He also complained of a wonderful Nausea and Sickness at his Stomach, and had a Fever upon him to the most intense degree, with a great Stupor and Dulness in his Head.

Dr. Fry had some Hours before I came sent a Prescription to Mr. Williams an Apothecary at Ailesbury, of which I have here inserted an exact Copy.

For Mr. Turner, August 31. 1697.

℞ Ol. sem. Lin. rec. (sine igne) extract. lib. semis.

Sig. The Oil.

℞ Syr. Balsam. Tolat. Unc. qua∣tuor.

Sig. the Balsamick Syrup.

℞ Antimonii Diaphoret.

Corallii Rub. pp

Margarit. pp ana Dracm. duas.

M. f. pul. in Chart. 12 equal. reponend.

Sig. the Pearl Pouders.

℞ Aq. Hissopi.

Cichorei ana, unc. sex

Limacum Mag.

Lumbricor. Mag. ana Unc. unam sem.

Cinnamom. Hord. Unc. unam

Syr. Capillor. Ven.

Violar. ana Dracm. sex

M. f. Julap.

Sig. the Julap.

℞ Emp. de Cicut. cum Ammon. Unc∣duas.

℞ Sem. Cumin. pul. Unc. semis.

Dr. Fry.

He had also about an hour before I came taken away about seven Ounces of Blood, the same quantity having been taken away (as I am informed) the Day before by the Order of Dr. Wilson a Physician of the Neighbourhood. I told Dr. Fry that I could not in con∣science agree to the use of the Medicines he prescribed. The Nausea at his Sto∣mach was so great, that I feared the Linseed Oil would increase it to such a degree, that it would be of ill conse∣quence; and for the testaceous Pou∣ders, &c. they would excite the Hur∣ry and Disorder in his Blood to a great∣er degree, and increase the Inflammation of his Lungs, and I fear'd inevitably ruin him. He askt me what Method I would propose? To which I re∣plied, that in my Opinion according to the laudable Custom of the Great Dr. Cole, he ought to lose at least twenty Ounces of Blood more, which would empty the Vessels, and make room

for the Blood to circulate through the Lungs: That at due Intervals he should take a moderate quantity of Tartarum Vitriolatum and Cremor Tar∣tari in a Spoonful of Syrup of Vinegar, drinking afterwards a large Draught of Pectoral Decoction, which would take off the Nausea at his Stomach, and promote Expectoration, and perhaps gently carry off the undigested Mat∣ter, which lay in his Stomach by Stool: That he should be allowed moderate∣ly cooling Liquors as oft as he desired them, in every Draught of which he might take about ten Drops of dulcified Spirit of Nitre, which might help to take off the Inflammation of his Lungs, and calm his Blood: That he should take a Spoonful of a Mixture of Pectoral Syrups often, in which was contained a convenient quantity of Oximel of Squills, which is a great Promoter of Expectoration. To take off the Stupor and Dulness in his Head, I proposed a

Cataplasm of Mustard, Horse-Raddish Roots, Rhue, and Castor, to be applied to the Bottoms of his Feet.

To none of these things would the Doctor comply, neither could I com∣ply with his Methods; so after many long Debates, we at last agreed to go up separately to Mr. Turner, and ac∣quaint him, that we could not agree, and that he must discharge one of us. Dr. Fry went up first, and when he came down I went up; but for fear that things might be misrepresented, I would not go up unless Mr. Wats (a Man eminently known in this Ci∣ty) would go with me to hear what I said. Mr. Wats at first was unwil∣ling, but at last consented. When I came up to Mr. Turner, I told him Dr. Fry and my self could not agree, and therefore one of us must be discharged; I likewise told him that I had sufficient reason to believe that the Method I had proposed for him

might retrieve him, but that Dr. Fry was more positive as to the success of his than I would be of any Method I could use in a much less dangerous Case than his was, and therefore I thought it was his most prudent Me∣thod to continue him: To which he made me no other Answer, but de∣sired me to go down again, and see if we could not find a Method of Re∣conciliation, or Words to that purpose: Upon which I went down, and told the Doctor what he said: After a far∣ther Debate without any compliance on either side, we agreed at last to get Mr. Wats to go up and know who must be discharged: when Mr. VVats came down, he brought us word that Mr. Turner desired to speak with us both together; accord∣ingly we went up, and when he saw us, he desired we would not stand up∣on any little Punctilios, and begged of us that we would give him a Vomit,

for that after any Surfeit he was wont to take a Vomit, which always reliev'd him. I readily consented to give him a Vomit, and proposed Oximel of Squills with large quantities of Posset-Drink (as Mr. Wats may well remember) and if that did not work, to excite it with Salt of Vitriol: But to this nei∣ther would Dr. Fry agree, but closely urged the use of the Medicines he had prescribed, upon which Mr. Turner assented to take them. I staid all that Afternoon and the Night following, but had no hand in any thing that was done. I went up with Dr. Fry about six a Clock to see how he did, and at that time his Pulse seemed to be some∣what mended, it having been ex∣treamly bad before. About ten (just before I went to bed) I went up again with the Doctor to see how he was, but then I found a most lamentable Pulse, there being nothing but a little trembling Motion to be felt; upon

which I desired the Doctor to walk out of the Room a little, when I told him that things lookt very ill, for that his Fever was extreamly high, his Breath very short, and his Pulse as is before related, and that if he did not mend that Pulse he would drop his Patient; his answer was, that all was well e∣nough: upon which I had nothing more to say, he not being my Patient. Next Morning about seven a Clock I went again to see him, and found him much after the same manner he had been the Night before, but the Doctor told me he hoped all would be well; so I went to Breakfast, and whilst I was at Breakfast, I told one of my Lord Wharton's Servants (to the best of my remembrance it was the Butler) what my Apprehensions of Mr. Turner were, and that I did not see any hopes of his Recovery: But Mr. Turner being solely under Dr. Fry's Care, I did not think fit to

stay any longer to neglect my Patients in London, and do him no other Service than to go up now and then, and look at him: so away I came without taking my leave of him; but before I went, I wished the forementioned Servant, if Mr. Turner should enquire after me, and know I was gone, that he would acquaint him that I was unwilling to take my leave for fear of disturbing him. Of all that passed between the Servant and me, Mr. Turner's own Son was a Witness, and was much concerned that his Father was not under my Care. As I was coming home, about six Miles on this side Ailesbury I met Col. Cornwel going to see Mr. Turner, who sent his Man to me to enquire how he was; I made answer, that I hoped he was somewhat better, fearing that if I had told him my real Sentiments he would have pressed me to have gone back with him; and as things

stood I did not care to return. By that time I had come about six Miles farther, I met Madam Turner, to whom when she askt me how Mr. Turner did, upon the same conside∣rations I made the same reply I had done to Col. Cornwel. After I was gone Dr. Fry prescribed more Lin∣seed Oil, and a Pearl Cordial.

About eight a Clock at Night, being Wedensday, I came home, and after I had made two or three Visits, and eat my Supper, I went to bed; I had not been in Bed half an Hour, but Col. Cornwel's Man knockt at the Door, and desired to speak with me; When he came to me, he told me Mr. Tur∣ner was much worse than when I left him, that Dr. Fry was discharged, and he begged me that I would come down again to him; for that he would take nothing more from any one, but what I should direct. Upon which I got a Calash and four Horses

as soon as possibly I could, and went down again. I got to Winchington on Thursday about twelve a Clock, and when I came there, I found the poor Gentleman in the most profuse Sweat imaginable, his Breath short to the last degree, and almost no Pulse at all: But the Pain in his Side was gone, which his Lady (who was then with him) and those about him took for a good Sign: But I told them that his Shortness of Breath continu∣ing, and his Pulse being so very low, it was rather a bad one, and that he was in a most deplorable condition; and I appeal to every one of my Lord Wharton's Family, who askt me how he did, whether I once gave them the least Encouragement to believe that he would recover. His Shirt that he had upon him was as wet as if it had been dipt in a River, and as cold as Ice, and so were both the Sheets; therefore the first thing I did

was to free him from this cold wet Linen; in order to which I got as large a Fire made in the next Room as the Chimney would bear; I then set a Shirt and a pair of Sheets that had been before used, to be well aired and heated: in the mean time his Lady and her Maid with hot Nap∣kins rubbed him, and made him as dry as they could; after which with all the Caution imaginable, we put on a hot dry Shirt, and took away the cold wet Sheets, and put those that we had well heated and aired in their room. This matter just as I have related it I can have sufficiently attest∣ed, altho it be positively said about the Town, that I took him out of the Sweat, and put him on clean Linen, without airing it at the Fire at all. He being prodigiously thirsty, begged of me that I would give him some∣thing that might allay it; upon which I ordered them to make him

a Mixture of four Parts small Beer, one Part VVhite-wine, some Juice of Lemons to make it grateful, and to sweeten it with Loaf-sugar; and he being a great Lover of Nutmeg, de∣sired that a little of it might be gra∣ted into it, which, considering the Stupidness in his Head, I agreed to. Of this Liquor I allowed him to drink as plentifully as he pleased; consider∣ing the Profuseness of the Sweats he had, had, I durst not then venture to bleed him, altho his Fever was as vio∣lent as ever. But to the Apothecaries I prescribed as follows.

For Mr. Turner Sept. 2d, 1697.

℞ Oximel simp. Unc. quatuor

Aq. Lactis Unc. sex

Cinnamomi fort. Dracm. sex

M. f. Mixtura, cap. Cochleare unum fre∣quenter.

℞ Oximel. squillit. Unc. duas

Sig. Oximel of Squills.

℞ Crem. Tart. Unc. sem.

Tart. Vitriolat. Dracm. unam

Sach. Alb. unc. sem.

M. f. pul. in sex Chart. distribuend. ex quibus cap. unam tertiâ quâque horâ in Cochlear. Syr. Aceti superbibendo haust. Apozematis sequentis.

℞ Fol. Hederae terrest.

Flor. Hypericon, ana M. unum

Rad. Altheae unc. duas

Bals. tolutani Dracm. unam

Aq. Font. lib. tres

bulliantur ad tertiae partis consumption. & coletur, colaturae adde

Oximel. simp. unc. duas

sp. Nitri dul. gut 30. M.

℞ Sp. Nitri dul. Dracm. duas

Sig. dulcified Spirit of Nitre.

I afterwards sent a second Prescrip∣tion, which was as follows.

℞ Sem. Psillii

Cydoniorum ana unc. sem.

ponantur in Chart. separatim.

℞ Electuarii Lenitivi unc. duas

Crem. Tart. unc. sem. M. f.

Elect.

This last Electuary was for Mr. Turner's Man, who had sate up seve∣ral Nights, and complained of a great inward Heat and Costiveness; but however, because it was inserted in a Bill with Mr. Turner's Name to it, I thought it convenient to take notice of it; tho it is no Poison, and if Mr. Turner had taken it himself, it would not have murdered him.

The forementioned things with Directions were taken as directed; and as to those, for the use of which

there was no Direction given, I shall here give an account how they were taken.

Once in about two Hours I mixt half a Spoonful of the Oximel of Squils in a small quantity of the Apozem, and gave it him. Of the dulcified Spirit of Nitre I gave him ten Drops in almost every Draught of Liquor he drank. As for the Flea Bean and Quince seeds, I had one half of them boil'd in two Quarts of VVater to the Consumption of one half; and of this mu∣laginous Decoction I now and then gave him a good Draught, it being a great Promoter of Expectoration. In the House I got made up a Lambative of fine salad Oil and Syrup of Vinegar, and of this I sometimes gave him a Spoonful. But all I could do availed nothing; I could by no artifice make him expectorate in any quantity, on∣ly sometimes he would discharge a green putrid Matter. He continued

to be short breathed to extremity, his Fever no whit abated, his Pulse low and irregular, and sometimes would totally intermit for two or three se∣conds, with a Stupidness in his Head.

About nine a Clock he again broke out into a most profuse Sweat, which I did by no means like, at which time I laid me down upon a Field Bed that was in the Room to sleep, choosing rather to lie so than go to bed, that I might be the more ready to be cal∣led upon occasion; but having travel∣led near sixscore Miles in three days, and been two Nights upon the Road, I was very sleepy. About eleven a Clock my Lord VVharton called Madam Turner into the next Room to consult about sending for Dr. Babo; she left his Man sitting upon the Bed by him, I being fast asleep upon the Field Bed. Whilst Madam Turner was in the next Room with my Lord VVharton, Mr. Turner in the midst of this profuse

Sweat leaps out of the Bed, and walkt round it to the Close-stool with∣out any thing but his Shirt upon him: Madam Turner hearing some body walk in the Room barefoot, run in to see what was the mattter, and found him in this posture; she was imme∣diately followed by my Lord VVhar∣ton and some others: as soon as Ma∣dam Turner came in I awaked, and got up to help her to get him into the Bed. When he was put into Bed he laid himself into a Posture, out of which he never moved till he died, which was within a very few Hours. Whether this last getting out of the Bed was a shortning of his Lise, I cannot be positive, but it is very pro∣bable it might. It is to be observed that the Night before about eleven a Clock, he was in such extreme Ago∣nies, that every body thought he would have died then, at which time his Nails turned bluish; but upon his

recovering himself (which I believe was principally occasioned by the sight of his Lady, who just then came into him) his Nails never recovered their Colour, but continued bluish till he died. Now the Nails not returning to their Colour was as fatal a Symptom as could be.

I am sorry I have been forced to rake up the Ashes of the Dead; but I having so often been charged with no less than the Murder of this Gentle∣man, I have been forced to write the Case in my own vindication. I am sure it was as much my Interest to preserve Mr. Turner as any one Man in Eng∣land, there not being one to whom I am more obliged than I was to him, he having done me a great many sin∣gular pieces of Service; and I am sure I would have gone as far, and done as much to have saved his Life, as any Man could have done for his Friend.

Before I conclude upon this Subject

I shall presume to take notice of a thing, which happened, which was a kind of Preludium to his Death; and for ought I know the Thoughts of it might deject his Spirits, and have a fatal Influence upon him.

About April last Mr. Gadbury came to him, and told him, Mr. Turner, you will die in the Countrey this Sum∣mer, of a Surfeit of Drinking. He received it with a Smile, and said, I die with Drinking, who am the sober∣est Man in England? that's impossible. In May he went to the Bath, but be∣fore he went there, he made his VVill, and was observed to be more melan∣choly than usual. He came back from the Bath very well, and told some of his Friends that Mr. Gadbury was deceived: Some time after he went to VVinchington, and just as he was going, one of his Friends bid him remember what Mr. Gadbury had said, and beware of drinking: he said he

would. As soon as he was taken ill (I suppose remembring Mr. Gadbury's Words) he told his Son that he should not recover.