THE
PREFACE.

Among the numerous Authors of Observations in the Art of Physick, there are but few who have expressly written on the Treatment of those Distempers, most generally incident to an Army in the Field: The following Work, therefore, seems to have a fair Claim to be acceptable to the Publick, having been compiled during the Author’s Attendance on the British Military Hospitals in Germany in the late War; and in order to render it of still further Use, he has occasionally added, by Way of Note, the Practice of some of the most eminent Physicians in similar Diseases, as well as a few Histories of Cases which passed under his own Care at St. George’s Hospital, London.

To avoid the Repetition of the Composition of particular Medicines, and the Interruption that would be given by their being inserted in the Body of the Work, a small Pharmacopœia is added, to which his Practice in the Army Hospitals was chiefly confined.

In a commercial Country like our own, where Numbers of Hands are constantly wanted for the carrying on our Manufactories, we have a strong political Argument to add to that drawn from the Dictates of Humanity, why the Life of every individual should be most carefully attended to.

The Preservation of the Lives of Soldiers is then with us a Matter of the highest Importance, in order to make as low as possible the Number of Recruits who must be perpetually drawn off for the Service of War. The Author has, therefore, in this Treatise, endeavoured to point out the Means most likely to keep Men healthy when employed in different Services; and also the Manner in which Military Hospitals ought to be fitted up, and conducted.—As he was never in any of the warm Climates, nor ever at Sea along with Troops aboard of Transports, whatever is mentioned relative to such Situations, is to be understood as taken from printed Accounts of these Subjects, or collected from the Conversation of physical Gentlemen, who were employed on such Services during the two last Wars.

It is but Justice here to observe, that the Marquis of Granby, Commander in Chief of the British Troops in Germany, as well as the Rest of the General Officers employed on the German Service, always paid the greatest Attention to the Soldiers when sick in Hospitals; and were particularly ready in giving Orders for all such Things as were necessary or proper for them.

Jermyn-Street,
April 15, 1764.

CONTENTS.

Page.
Of the Malignant and Petechial Fever,[1]
Of the Dysentery,[57]
Of the Cholera Morbus,[97]
Of the Inflammatory Fever,[104]
Of the Angina,[109]
Of the Pleurisy,[111]
Of the Peripneumony,[115]
Of the Cough and Consumption,[124]
Of the Epidemical Catarrhal Fever ofApril 1762,[137]
Of the Rheumatism,[141]
Of the Autumnal Remitting Fever,[154]
Of the Intermitting Fever, or Ague,[179]
Of the Jaundice,[206]
Of Tumours of the Breast,[216]
Of Paralytic Complaints,[219]
Of an Incontinency of Urine,[223]
Of a Stoppage of Urine,[227]
Of the Epilepsy,[237]
Of the Small-Pox,[243]
Of Erisypilatous Swellings,[245]
Of the Scurvy,[250]
Of the Itch,[265]
Table of Diet used in the British MilitaryHospitals in Germany,[273]
Pharmacopoeia in usum Nosocomiimilitaris regii Britannici 1761,[275]
Of the Means of Preserving the Healthof Soldiers on Service,[309]
—— in Winter, and in cold Climates,[313]
—— aboard of Transport Ships,[323]
—— in warm Climates,[331]
Of healthful and unhealthful Grounds forthe Encampment of Troops,[338]
Of keeping Camps clean,[344]
Of supplying an Army with Straw and withProvisions, and obliging the Soldiers tobuy a certain Quantity of Meat daily,[346]
Of Water, and the Means of correcting itsbad Qualities in Camps,[348]
Of vinous and spirituous Liquors,[350]
Of keeping Men healthful in Quarters afteran active Campaign,[354]
Of Military Hospitals,[355]
Of the Manner in which the Antients disposedof their Sick and Wounded,[356]
Of the Hospitals wanted for an Army actingon a Continent,[357]
Of the Houses most fit for Hospitals,[361]
Of fitting them up, and distributing theSick in them,[363]
Of preventing infectious Disorders frombeing generated or spreading among the Sick,[366]
Of the Diet of Military Hospitals,[372]
Of providing the Flying Hospital,[380]
Of Hospitals on Expedition Service,[380]
Of a Guard for Hospitals,[382]
Of the Nurses and Patients, and Orders forthem,[383]
Of a convalescent Hospital,[389]
Of the Physicians, Surgeons, Apothecaries,and Mates,[393]
Of the Direction of Military Hospitals,[394]
Of the Purveyor or Commissary of theHospital,[396]
Orders for the Mates,[397]
Of Precautions for guarding against infectiousDisorders,[400]
Of a Military Inspector and Officers onconvalescent Duty,[403]
Errata Corrigenda.
Page[13],line11,for Pleuretic, read Pleuritic.
[18],10,of Notes, for Acadamy, read Academy.
[28],22,for Cinamon, read Cinnamon.
[35],5,of Notes, for Calomile, read Calomel.
[51],12,dele used in this Way.
[166],12,of Notes, for which almost depend, readwhich almost always depend.
[207],13,of Notes, for Vena postarum, read Vena portarum.
[259],4,for appeared, read appear.
[261],1,of Notes, for became, read become.
[280],20,for Chamamel, read Chamæmel.
[290],4,for 3tis 4tiis, read 3tiis 4tis.
[293],13,for Mithridatum, read Mithridatium.
[336],12& 13, for bathe themselves as often, readbathe early in the Morning as often.
[352],7,for in Bilanders, read and were to go in Bilanders.
[353],2,for the least Appearance of the Malignant Fever,read the Malignant Fever appearing.