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

by S. A. D. Tissot

§ 182. When general Remedies have been used, and the Disorder still continues, Recourse should be had to such Medicines, as are available to restore Perspiration; and these should be persisted in for a considerable Time. The Pills [Nº. 18], with a strong Infusion of Elder Flowers, have often succeeded in this Respect: and then after a long Continuance of diluting Drinks, if the Fever is entirely subdued; if the Stomach exerts its Functions well; the Patient is no ways costive; if he is not of a dry Habit of Body; and the Part affected remains without Inflammation, the Patient may safely take the Powder [Nº. 29], at Night going to Bed, with a Cup or two of an Infusion of Carduus benedictus, or the blessed Thistle, and a Morsel of Venice Treacle of the Size of a Hazel Nut, or a Filberd. This Remedy brings on a very copious Sweating, which often expells the [⁴⁴] Disease. These Sweats may be rendered full more effectual, by wrapping up the affected Part in a Flanel dipt in the Decoction [Nº. 27].

§ 183. But of all these Pains, the Sciatica is one of the most tedious and obstinate. Nevertheless I have seen the greatest Success, from the Application of seven or eight Cupping-Glasses on the tormented Part; by which, without the Assistance of any other Remedy, I have cured, in a few Hours, Sciaticas of many Years standing, which had baffled other Remedies. Blisters, or any such stimulating Plaisters, as bring on a Suppuration and Discharge from the afflicted Part, contribute also frequently to the Cure; tho' less effectually than Cupping, which should be repeated several Times. Green Cere-cloth, commonly called Oil-cloth, (whether the Ingredients be spread on Taffety or on Linen) being applied to the diseased Part, disposes it to sweat abundantly, and thus to discharge the sharp Humour which occasions the Pain. Sometimes both these Applications, but especially that spread on Silk (which may be applied more exactly and closely to the Part, and which is also spread with a different Composition) raise a little Vesication on the Part as Blisters do. A Plaister of Quicklime and Honey blended together has cured inveterate Sciaticas. Oil of Eggs has sometimes succeeded in such Cases. A Seton has also been successfully made in the lower Part of the Thigh. Finally some Pains, which have not yielded to any of these Applications, have been cured by actual burning, inflicted on the very Spot, where the most violent Pain has been felt; except some particular Reason, drawn from an anatomical Knowlege of the Part, should determine the Surgeon not to apply it there. The Scull or Head should never be cauterized with a burning Iron.

§ 184. The hot Baths of Bourbon, Plombiers, Aix-la-Chapelle and many others are often very efficacious in these chronical Pains: notwithstanding I really think, there is no rheumatic Pain that may not be cured without them. The common People substitute to these a Bath made of the Husk of Grapes, after their Juice is expressed, which cures some by making them sweat abundantly. Cold Baths however are the best to keep off this Disease; but then they cannot always be safely ventured on. Many Circumstances render the Use of them impracticable to particular Persons. Such as are subject to this chronical Rheumatism, would do very well to rub their whole Bodies every Morning, if they could, but especially the afflicted Parts, with Flanel. This Habit keeps up Perspiration beyond any other Assistance; and indeed sometimes even increases it too much. It would be serviceable too, if such Subjects of this cruel Disease wore Flanel all over their Skin, during the Winter.

After a violent Rheumatism, People should long be careful to avoid that cold and moist Air, which disposes them to relapse.

§ 185. Rheumatic People have too frequent a Recourse to very improper and hurtful Medicines, in this Distemper, which daily produce very bad Consequences. Such are spirituous Medicines, Brandy, and Arquebusade Water. They either render the Pain more obstinate and fixed, by hardening the Skin; or they repell the Humour to some inward Part. And Instances are not wanting of Persons who have died suddenly, from the Application of Spirit of Wine upon the Parts, that were violently afflicted with the Rheumatism. It also happens sometimes that the Humour, having no Outlet through the Skin, is thrown internally on the Bone and affects it. A very singular Fact occurred in this Respect, an Account of which may be serviceable to some Persons afflicted with the Disease. A Woman at Night was chaffing the Arm of her Husband, who had the Rheumatism there, with Spirit of Wine; when a very lucky Accident prevented the Mischief she might have occasioned by it. The Spirit of Wine took Fire from the Flame of the Candle she made use of, and burned the diseased Part. It was drest of Course, and the Suppuration that attended it, entirely cured the Rheumatism.

Sharp and greasy Unctions or Ointments produce very bad Effects, and are equally dangerous. A Caries, a Rottenness of the Bones, has ensued upon the Use of a Medicine called, The Balsam of Sulphur with Turpentine. I was consulted in 1750, three Days before her Decease, about a Woman, who had long endured acute rheumatic Pains. She had taken various Medicines, and, among the rest, a considerable Quantity of a Ptisan, in which Antimony was blended with some purging Medicines, and a greasy spirituous Balsam had been rubbed into the Part. The Fever, the Pains, and the Dryness of the Skin soon increased; the Bones of the Thighs and Arms became carious: and in moving the Patient no more than was necessary for her Relief and Convenience, without taking her out of her Bed, both Thighs and one Arm broke. So dreadful an Example should make People cautious of giving or applying Medicines inconsiderately, even in such Diseases, as appear but trifling in themselves. I must also inform the Readers, there are some rheumatic Pains, which admit of no Application; and that almost every Medicine aggravates them. In such Cases the afflicted must content themselves with keeping the Parts affected from the Impressions of the Air, by a Flanel, or the Skin of some Animal with the Fur on.

It is also more advisable sometimes to leave a sufferable and inveterate Pain to itself, especially in old or weakly People, than to employ too many Medicines, or such violent ones, as should affect them more importantly than the Pains did.

§ 186. If the Duration of the Pains fixed in the same Place, should cause some Degree of Stiffness in the Joint affected, it should be exposed twice a Day to the Vapour of warm Water, and dried well afterwards with hot Linen: then it should be well chaffed, and lastly touched over with Ointment of Marsh-mallows. Pumping, if superadded to this Vapour, considerably increases its Efficacy. I directed, for a Case of this Sort, a very simple Machine of white Tin, or Lattin, which combined the Application of the Steam and the Pump.

§ 187. Very young Children are sometimes subject to such violent and extended Pains, that they cannot bear touching in any Part, without excessive Crying. We must be careful to avoid mistaking these Cases, and not to treat them like Rheumatisms. They sometimes are owing to Worms, and go off when these have been discharged.