SECT. IV.
Of Promiscuous Disorders.
Having thus treated on the most material ailments that want immediate assistance, I shall in this section consider promiscuous disorders, that have no relation to each other; but set them down as they occur to my memory.
Of the Tooth-Ach.
Those who have experienced the tooth-ach, best know how much they have wished for ease. No man can preserve attention to his affairs, who has bodily pain; and a severe tooth-ach is enough to disturb both body and mind.—But what is to be done?
Tooth-achs are of two kinds;—It may either proceed from cold, or from a decayed tooth, or from both. If the tooth is decayed, the sooner you have it out the better; but if your tooth is sound, then it is as unreasonable to draw it, as it would be to sling you over board, because you feel the pain. In regard to drawing the tooth, take this direction.
To draw a Tooth.
Observe first, what tooth it is; and shift the hook on the key instrument accordingly. Ordinarily the hook is to be inside, and the comb outside. When this is adjusted, wrap a little rag on the comb of the key, so that it may bear a little softly on the gums.—Then seat the patient steady on a chair or chest, (and if he is a coward, let somebody hold his hands, but a man of spirit will not want this officiousness) place yourself right before him—then fix the instrument on the tooth, the hook inwards, and the comb outwards; the hook on the tooth close to the gum, pushed a little towards the jaw bone, and be careful that you have hold but of one tooth, and the right one.
When your instrument is fixed as gentle as possible, without giving pain, (for if you fumble too long, and give pain, you intimidate the patient) I say then, when you have fixed your instrument properly on all sides, so that you have the condemned tooth, and no more; then shift your hand so, that you may have a good and firm hold, allowing for the turning of your hand.—Thus being ready, give your hand a gradual, and steadfast turn, and wrench the tooth out of its socket. In this you must be calmly resolute, neither spare your strength if requisite, nor let an untimely compassion get the better of your duty; but keep your hold till you have performed the operation. When the tooth is out of its socket, it will sometimes hang a little by the gum; introduce your fingers, and they may nimbly perform the rest if requisite.—It will sometimes happen, especially by the grinders, that a little of the jaw bone follows, sticking to the tooth;—let this not frighten you, it is sometimes impossible to avoid it; but not to frighten the patient with it, pick it off before he perceives it.
The moment the tooth is out, introduce your thumb and fore finger, and compress the socket of the drawn tooth; by which you replace every thing in order again; and after which, one dram of good old stingo, for washing the mouth, and another for comforting the heart, will make the patient forget all the pain he felt in the operation.
This method is certainly the most substantial for the tooth-ach. But sometimes this is not practicable, either because that the stump is so rotted as not to suffer a hold; or that none on board are intrepid or capable enough to perform the operation; in this case a Palliative will be very acceptable.—Turlington’s Balsam (W), upon a little lint put into the hollow tooth will frequently give ease, a little Spirits of Wine and Camphor (A), or if very raging, a little Liquid Laudanum (T). But as I have said, they are only palliatives; and neither spirits, or any thing else can be depended upon for a certainty. Sometimes stopping up the hollow tooth with wax, with lead, or sometimes putting in a little saltpetre will give ease—each method may do, and each method may fail: so that sometimes if the tooth is not extracted, all powerful Patience at last must step in and prove the best doctor, till nature recovers, and comforts the patient with the balm of Ease.
Very frequently a cold occasions this troublesome pain; in which case the head should be well muffled up, in order to bring on a perspiration, and a blister behind the ear also of singular service—rubbing the face also with some spirits of wine and camphor is of great benefit, and attention should be had, if there be any fever in the system.
Of sore Eyes.
Bad weather sometimes will effect the eyes, whence they will become raw and blood shot; which ought to be remedied in time, in order to prevent further inflammation. In this case make the following eye water.
No. XVI
Take Alum, One Scruple. Fine Sugar, Two Scruples. Spirit of Wine, and Camphor (A) Ten Drops. Fresh Water, Three Ounces.
Mix them in a vial, and hang it up so that it may settle; then pour off the clear into another vial, which keep for use.
Of this excellent eye-water, drop a few drops into the blood-shot eye, which in a little time, will bring it to health again.——If the eye lids are raw and inflamed, Turner’s Cerate, or what is yet better, No. [XI]. which prove very beneficial.—Should the inflammation be very heavy, apply the following poultice, from which you may expect great benefit.
No. XVII
Take Oatmeal, and Sugar powdered an equal quantity, and make it into a poultice with the yolk of eggs; upon which pour a few drops of the spirit of Camphor.
This kind of poultice you will find very cooling and agreeable to the eye, in order to assuage the pain; or take the following.
No. XVIII
Take the white of an egg upon a stone, or pewter plate, which rub with a piece of alum, till you get a fine white cream-like substance.
This is a fine cooling application. The Camphor agrees very well with some people, but with others it will not, in which case the last is preferable; or the spirits of camphor may be rejected from the other receipts.
Of the Ear-Ach.
The causes of that complaint are many. I shall only here observe two kinds; namely that proceeding from cold, and that which is occasioned from hardened ear wax.
In the first case, be very cautious how you tamper with your ears—a few drops of the spirit of Camphor upon a bit of lint, and that gently put into the ear, will sometimes perform great benefit; but never drop any thing considerable into the ear itself; it is frequently dangerous; from more reasons than what I here have room to enter into.
In cases where the ear wax is hardened, put in a little slice of rusty bacon, or a bit of fat ham, which you will find very powerful in softening the ear wax; and then with gentleness you may pick them; take care however not to go too deep.——Ear-ach frequently follows a heavy fit of sickness; in which case you can’t do any thing better with safety, than keeping them warm.
Of Hoarseness and Sore Throat.
There are many degrees of this ailment. I shall first mention that of a common cold; which is either without a fever, or only a slight one.
Immediately on perceiving symptoms of a sore throat, a gargle should be applied. This, make of the following ingredients.
No. XIX
Take vinegar, and water, each four ounces. Alum powdered half an ounce. Honey about a good spoonful.
This gargle should be used two or three times of the day——if it is warm, it is so much the more powerful——a mouthful at a time is sufficient. If the palate is down,
No. XX
Take alum powdered, common salt, of each two drams, black pepper, ten grains, mix it into a powder.
Of this powder take a little on the tip of your spatula, and apply it to the palate, when it will immediately shrink up; and frequently make the person who before was hoarse, speak immediately quite clear again with a distinct voice; then proceed with the gargle as above directed.
But if the sore throat is of a more malignant nature, the parts inflamed and swelled, the patient seeming almost strangled, and attended with a high fever; it is certainly the quincey, and should be treated accordingly. In this case you must bleed freely and repeatedly, and give the fever powders, as will be directed in the treatment of the fever, and the management of the quincey.
The gargle notwithstanding should be plentifully used——a blistering plaister betwixt the shoulders, and if need requires, on the calves of the legs, the bigness of the palm of the hand, will also prove of singular service; and in every respect the treatment, as I shall observe under its proper head.