[133]. These are prepared by steeping or soaking pease in water, and afterwards drying them in a pot or kiln till they be quite hard. They may be used at pleasure.
[134]. That worms exist in the human body there can be no doubt; and that they must sometimes be considered as a disease, is equally certain: but this is not the case so often as people imagine. The idea that worms occasion many diseases, gives an opportunity to the professed worm-doctors of imposing on the credulity of mankind, and doing much mischief. They find worms in every case, and liberally throw in their antidotes, which generally consist of strong, drastic purges. I have known these given in delicate constitutions to the destruction of the patient, where there was not the least symptom of worms.
[135]. A medical writer of the present age has enumerated upwards of fifty British plants, all celebrated for killing and expelling worms.
[136]. A powder for the tape-worm resembling this, was long kept a secret on the Continent; it was lately purchased by the French king, and will be found under the article Powder, in the Appendix.
[137]. We think it necessary here to warn people of their danger who buy cakes, powders, and other worm medicines, at random from quacks, and give them to their children without proper care. The principal ingredients in most of these medicines is mercury, which is never to be trifled with. I lately saw a shocking instance of the danger of this conduct. A girl who had taken a dose of worm powder, bought of a travelling quack, went out, and perhaps was so imprudent as to drink cold water during its operation. She immediately swelled, and died on the following day, with all the symptoms of having been poisoned.
[138]. The very name of an operation is dreadful to most people, and they wish to try every thing before they have recourse to it. This is the reason why tapping so seldom succeeds to our wish. I have had a patient who was regularly tapped once a month for several years, and who used to eat her dinner as well after the operation as if nothing had happened. She died at last rather worn out by age than by the disease.
[139]. Some make a secret of curing the gout by muscular exercise. This secret, however, is as old as Celsus, who strongly recommends that mode of cure; and whoever will submit to it, in the fullest extent, may expect to reap solid and permanent advantages.
[140]. See Appendix, Warm Plaster.
[141]. The scrophula, as well as the rickets, is found to prevail in large manufacturing towns, where people live gross, and lead sedentary lives.
[142]. Sir John Pringle observes, that though this disease may seem trifling, there is no one in the army that is more troublesome to cure, as the infection often lurks in clothes, &c. and breaks out a second, or even a third time. The same inconveniency occurs in private families, unless particular regard is paid to the changing or cleaning of their clothes, which last is by no means an easy operation.