The curiosities of common water: or the advantages thereof in preventing and curing many distempers. Gather'd from the writings of several eminent physicians, and also from more than forty years' experience. To which are added, some rules for preserving health by diet / By John Smith.

John Smith

Date:: 1740

Credit: The curiosities of common water: or the advantages thereof in preventing and curing many distempers. Gather'd from the writings of several eminent physicians, and also from more than forty years' experience. To which are added, some rules for preserving health by diet / By John Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

11/56 page 11

$. { ” ) cold Water* till they are three Quarters of a Year old* f. 79‘ And Yis laid by Sir John Floyer, in his Freatife of cold R'aths, That a Lady in Scotland, who had loft feveral Children thro* Weaknefs* did* by the Advice of a Highland Beggar Woman* preferve thofe file had afterwards* by walking them daily in cold Water. And I myfelf advifed a Neighbour* whofe Child be¬ gan to be Ricketty* to treat the Child in the fame Manner *• but (he* inftead of wafhing* dipped it over Head and Ears every Morning* it being then in the Summer-time : The Event of which was* the Child became flrong* and had a good Countenance* tho3 I before it was very pale and wan. Which fhews how | great the Power of Water is* when ufed outwardly* i to invigorate the Spirits* and {Lengthen Nature. It is alfo a known Cuftom* to prevent the Swellings Scu.ejjin s i that follow jBruifes in the Faces of Children, by gfm* i mediately applying thereunto a Linen Cloth four or fes. I fix Times double* dipped in cold Water* and new s dipped as it begins to grow warm ; for the Cold re- ] pels or prevents the flowing of Humours to the Part* 1 which otherwife would caufe great Swelling* and : after turn blackifh : And if* upon neglecting to do fo* a Swelling fhould fucceed* it may be di feu fled by ) fomenting Night and Morning* for an Hour at a I Time* with Water as hot as can be endured *• for I that will give Vent to the Humours to tranfpire through the Skin* or diflolve them, fo as to make ( them capable of returning back. Moreover* by Means of Water all Sicknefs at the AUSkknefs i! Stomach may be cured* which is done thus: Take^^e^°- d four Quarts of Water* make it as hot over the Fire as t0 d you can drink it; of which Water let a Quart be taken I down at feveral draughts; then wrap a Rag round a I fmall iPiece of Stick, till it is about the Rignefs of a ! Maids T’humb, tie it fail with fome Thread ; and with* this* by endeavouring gently to put it a little Way down your Throat* provoke yourfelf to vomit up a- gain rnoft of the Water : Then drink another Quart, and vomit up that* and repeat the fame the third and B;. 2 fourth \ ' ■ . -* ■ . f$