Advice to the people in general, with regard to their health

by S. A. D. Tissot

§ 556. The Medicines, [Nº. 34] and [35], are the most certain Vomits. The Powder, [Nº. 21], is a good Purge, when the Patient is in no wise feverish.

The Doses recommended in the Table of Remedies are those, which are proper for a grown Man, of a vigorous Constitution. Nevertheless there are some few, for whom they may be too weak: in such Circumstances they may be increased by the Addition of a third or fourth Part of the Dose prescribed. But should they not operate in that Quantity, we must be careful not to double the Dose, much less to give a three-fold Quantity, which has sometimes been done, and that even without its Operation, and at the Risque of killing the Patient, which has not seldom been the Consequence. In Case of such purging not ensuing, we should rather give large Draughts of Whey sweetened with Honey, or of warm Water, in a Pot of which an Ounce, or an Ounce and a half of common Salt must be dissolved; and this Quantity is to be taken from time to time in small Cups, moving about with it.

The Fibres of Country People who inhabit the Mountains, and live almost solely on Milk, are so little susceptible of Sensation, that they must take such large Doses to purge them, as would kill all the Peasantry in the Vallies. In the Mountains of Valais there are Men who take twenty, and even twenty-four Grains of Glass of Antimony for a single Dose; a Grain or two of which were sufficient to poison ordinary Men.

§ 557. Notwithstanding our Cautions on this important Head, whenever an urgent Necessity commands it, Purging must be recurred to at all Times and Seasons: but when the Season may be safely selected, it were right to decline Purging in the Extremities of either Heat or Cold; and to take the Purge early in the Morning, that the Medicines may find less Obstruction or Embarrassment from the Contents of the Stomach. Every other Consideration, with Relation to the Stars and the Moon, is ridiculous, and void of any Foundation. The People are particularly averse to purging in the Dog-days; and if this were only on Account of the great Heat, it would be very pardonable: but it is from an astrological Prejudice, which is so much the more absurd, as the real Dog-days are at thirty-six Days Distance from those commonly reckoned such; and it is a melancholy Reflection, that the Ignorance of the People should be so gross, in this Respect, in our enlightened Age; and that they should still imagine the Virtue and Efficacy of Medicines to depend on what Sign of the Zodiac the Sun is in, or in any particular Quarter of the Moon. Yet it is certain in this Point, they are so inveterately attached to this Prejudice, that it is but too common to see Country-People die, in waiting for the Sign or Quarter most favourable to the Operation and Effect of a Medicine, which was truly necessary five or six Days before either of them. Sometimes too that particular Medicine is given, to which a certain Day is supposed to be auspicious and favourable, in Preference to that which is most prevalent against the Disease. And thus it is, than an ignorant Almanack Maker determines on the Lives of the human Race; and contracts the Duration of them with Impunity.

§ 558. When a Vomit or a Purge is to be taken, the Patient's Body should be prepared for the Reception of it twenty-four Hours beforehand; by taking very little Food, and drinking some Glasses of warm Water, or of a light Tea of some Herbs.

He should not drink after a Vomit, until it begins to work; but then he should drink very plentifully of warm Water, or a light Infusion of Chamomile Flowers, which is preferable.

It is usual, after Purges, to take some thin Broth or Soup during their Operation; but warm Water sweetened with Sugar or Honey, or an Infusion of Succory Flowers, would sometimes be more suitable.

§ 559. As the Stomach suffers, in some Degree, as often as either a Vomit, or a Purge, is taken, the Patient should be careful how he lives and orders himself for some Days after taking them, as well in Regard to the Quantity as Quality of his Food.

§ 560. I shall say nothing of other Articles taken by Way of Precaution, such as Soups, Whey, Waters, &c. which are but little used among the People; but confine myself to this general Remark, that when they take any of these precautionary Things, they should enter on a Regimen or Way of living, that may co-operate with them, and contribute to the same Purpose. Whey is commonly taken to refresh and cool the Body; and while they drink it, they deny themselves Pulse, Fruits, and Sallads. They eat nothing then, but the best and heartiest Flesh-meats they can come at; such Vegetables as are used in good Soups, Eggs, and good Wine; notwithstanding this is to destroy, by high and heating Aliments, all the attemperating cooling Effects expected from the Whey.

Some Persons propose to cool and attemperate their Blood by Soups and a thin Diet, into which they cram Craw-fish, that heat considerably, or Nasturtium, Cresses which also heat, and thus defeat their own Purpose. Happily, in such a Case, the Error in one Respect often cures that in the other; and these Kinds of Soup, which are in no wise cooling, prove very serviceable, in Consequence of the Cause of the Symptoms, which they were intended to remove, not requiring any Coolers at all.