medical essays-第72章
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or his wife； and something to cure his wife's friend's neuralgia； （I think his wife's friend's husband had a little rather have had it sent by the hands of Mrs。 Underhill； than by those of the gallant and discursive captain）； and pious John Davenport says； his wife 〃tooke but one halfe of one of the papers〃 （which probably contained the medicine he called rubila）； 〃but could not beare the taste of it； and is discouraged from taking any more；〃 and honored William Leete asks for more powders for his 〃poore little daughter Graciana； though he found it 〃hard to make her take it；〃 delicate； and of course sensitive； child as she was； languishing and dying before her time； in spite of all the bitter things she swallowed；God help all little children in the hands of dosing doctors and howling dervishes！ Restless Samuel Gorton； now tamed by the burden of fourscore and two years； writes so touching an account of his infirmities； and expresses such overflowing gratitude for the relief he has obtained from the Governor's prescriptions； wondering how 〃a thing so little in quantity； so little in sent； so little in taste； and so little to sence in operation； should beget and bring forth such efects；〃 that we repent our hasty exclamation； and bless the memory of the good Governor； who gave relief to the worn…out frame of our long…departed brother； the sturdy old heretic of Rhode Island。
What was that medicine which so frequently occurs in the printed letters under the name of 〃rubila〃？ It is evidently a secret remedy； and； so far as I know； has not yet been made out。 I had almost given it up in despair； when I found what appears to be a key to the mystery。 In the vast multitude of prescriptions contained in the manuscripts； most of them written in symbols； I find one which I thus interpret：
〃Four grains of （diaphoretic） antimony； with twenty grains of nitre； with a little salt of tin； making rubila。〃 Perhaps something was added to redden the powder； as he constantly speaks of 〃rubifying 〃 or 〃viridating〃 his prescriptions； a very common practice of prescribers； when their powders look a little too much like plain salt or sugar。
Waitstill Winthrop； the Governor's son； 〃was a skilful physician；〃 says Mr。 Sewall； in his funeral sermon； 〃and generously gave； not only his advice； but also his Medicines； for the healing of the Sick； which； by the Blessing of God； were made successful for the recovery of many。〃 〃His son John； a member of the Royal Society； speaks of himself as 〃Dr。 Winthrop；〃 and mentions one of his own prescriptions in a letter to Cotton Mather。 Our President tells me that there was an heirloom of the ancient skill in his family； within his own remembrance； in the form of a certain precious eye…water； to which the late President John Quincy Adams ascribed rare virtue； and which he used to obtain from the possessor of the ancient recipe。
These inherited prescriptions are often treasured in families； I do not doubt； for many generations。 When I was yet of trivial age； and suffering occasionally； as many children do； from what one of my Cambridgeport schoolmates used to call the 〃ager；〃meaning thereby toothache or face…ache；I used to get relief from a certain plaster which never went by any other name in the family than 〃Dr。 Oliver。〃
Dr。 James Oliver was my great…great…grandfather； graduated in 1680； and died in 1703。 This was； no doubt； one of his nostrums； for nostrum； as is well known； means nothing more than our own or my own particular medicine； or other possession or secret； and physicians in old times used to keep their choice recipes to themselves a good deal； as we have had occasion to see。
Some years ago I found among my old books a small manuscript marked 〃James Oliver。 This Book Begun Aug。 12； 1685。〃 It is a rough sort of account…book； containing among other things prescriptions for patients； and charges for the same； with counter…charges for the purchase of medicines and other matters。 Dr。 Oliver practised in Cambridge； where may be seen his tomb with inscriptions； and with sculptured figures that look more like Diana of the Ephesians； as given in Calmet's Dictionary； than like any angels admitted into good society here or elsewhere。
I do not find any particular record of what his patients suffered from； but I have carefully copied out the remedies he mentions； and find that they form a very respectable catalogue。 Besides the usual simples； elder； parsley； fennel； saffron； snake…root； wormwood； I find the Elixir Proprietatis； with other elixire and cordials； as if he rather fancied warming medicines； but he called in the aid of some of the more energetic remedies； including iron； and probably mercury； as he bought two pounds of it at one time。
The most interesting item is his bill against the estate of Samuel Pason of Roxbury； for services during his last illness。 He attended this gentleman；for such he must have been； by the amount of physic which he took； and which his heirs paid for；from June 4th； 1696； to September 3d of the same year； three months。 I observe he charges for visits as well as for medicines； which is not the case in most of his bills。 He opens the attack with a carminative appeal to the visceral conscience； and follows it up with good hard…hitting remedies for dropsy；as I suppose the disease would have been called；and finishes off with a rallying dose of hartshorn and iron。
It is a source of honest pride to his descendant that his bill； which was honestly paid； as it seems to have been honorably earned； amounted to the handsome total of seven pounds and two shillings。 Let me add that he repeatedly prescribes plaster； one of which was very probably the 〃Dr。 Oliver〃 that soothed my infant griefs； and for which I blush to say that my venerated ancestor received from Goodman Hancock the painfully exiguous sum of no pounds； no shillings； and sixpence。
I have illustrated the practice of the first century； from the two manuscripts I have examined； as giving an impartial idea of its every…day methods。 The Governor； Johannes Secundus； it is fair to remember； was an amateur practitioner； while my ancestor was a professed physician。 Comparing their modes of treatment with the many scientific follies still prevailing in the Old World； and still more with the extraordinary theological superstitions of the community in which they lived； we shall find reason； I think； to consider the art of healing as in a comparatively creditable state during the first century of New England。
In addition to the evidence as to methods of treatment furnished by the manuscripts I have cited； I subjoin the following document； to which my attention was called by Dr。 Shurtleff； our present Mayor。 This is a letter of which the original is to be found in vol。 lxix。 page 10 of the 〃Archives〃 preserved at the State House in Boston。 It will be seen that what the surgeon wanted consisted chiefly of opiates； stimulants； cathartics； plasters； and materials for bandages。 The complex and varied formulae have given place to simpler and often more effective forms of the same remedies； but the list and the manner in which it is made out are proofs of the good sense and schooling of the surgeon； who； it may be noted； was in such haste that he neglected all his stops。 He might well be in a hurry； as on the very day upon which he wrote； a great body of Indians supposed to be six or seven hundredappeared before Hatfield； and twenty…five resolute young men of Hadley； from which town he wrote； crossed the river and drove them away。
HADLY May 30： 76
Mr RAWSON Sr
What we have recd by Tho： Houey the past month is not the cheifest of our wants as you have love for poor wounded I pray let us not want for these following medicines if you have not a speedy conveyance of them I pray send on purpose they are those things mentioned in my former letter but to prevent future mistakes I have wrote them att large wee have great want with the greatest halt and speed let us be supplyed。 Sr Yr Sert WILL LOCHS
（Endorsed
Mr。 Lockes Letter Recd from the Governor 13 Jane & acquainted ye Council with it but could not obtaine any thing to be sent in answer thereto 13 June 1676
I have given some idea of the chie
