Domestic medicine, or, A treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines : containing observations on the comparative advantages of vaccine inoculation, with instructions for performing the operation, an essay, enabling puptured [sic] persons to manage themselves, with engravings of bandages, which every person may prepare for himself, and a family herbal / by William Buchan, M.D. of the Royal College of Physicians, Edingburgh ; to which are added, such useful discoveries ... as have transpired since the demise of the author.
- Buchan, William, 1729-1805.
- Date:
- 1823
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Domestic medicine, or, A treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines : containing observations on the comparative advantages of vaccine inoculation, with instructions for performing the operation, an essay, enabling puptured [sic] persons to manage themselves, with engravings of bandages, which every person may prepare for himself, and a family herbal / by William Buchan, M.D. of the Royal College of Physicians, Edingburgh ; to which are added, such useful discoveries ... as have transpired since the demise of the author. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.
![have seen one iuitaiice of » genuine consumption of tlie lungs cured bv medicine, yet I iiave known a West India voyage work wonders in that dreadful disorder; and that a voyage of this kind, if taken in due time, will seldom tail to cure a consumption. Such as try this metliod of cure ought to carry as much fresl, provisions along with them as will serve for the whole time they an lit sea. As milk is not easily obtained in tliis situation, they ought to live upon fruits, aud the broth of chickens, or other young animals which can be kept alive on board. It is scarcely necessary to add, that such voyages should be undertaken, if possible, in tlie mildest reason, aud that they ought to be towards a warmer climate. Those who have not courage for a long voyage, may travel into a more southoju climate, as the south of France, Spain, or Portugal; md if they tiud tlie air of these countries agree with them, they ihould continue there at least till their health be confirmed. Next to proper air and exercise, we would recommend a due at- tention to diet. The patient should eat nothing that is either heating or hard of digestion, and his drink must be of a soft and cooling na- ture. All the diet ought to be calculated to lessen the acrimony ol the humours, and to nourish and support the patient. For this pur- pose he must keep chiefly to the use of vegetables and milk. Milk alone is of more value in this disease than tlie whole materia medico. Asses' milk is commonly reckoned preferable to any other; but it cannot alw ays be obtained; besides, it is generally taken in a very small quantity: whereas, to produce any etfects, it ought to make a considerable part of the patient's diet. It is hardly to be expected, that a gill or two of asses' milk, drank in the space of tAventy-four hours, should be able to produce any considerable change in the hirmours of an adult; and when people do not perceive its eflFects soon, they lose hope, and so leave it ofi. Hence it happens that this raedicme, however valuable, very seldom performs a cure. The reason is obvious; it is commonly used too late, is taken in too small quantities, and is not duly persisted in. I have known very extraordinary effects from asses' milk in obsti- nate coughs, which threatened a consumption of the lungs; and do verily believe, if used atj this period, that it would seldom fail; but if it be delayed till an ulcer is formed, which is generally the case, how can it be expected to succeed ] Asses' milk ought to be drank, if possible, in its natural warmth, md by a grown person, in the quantity of half an English pint at a time. Instead of taking this quantity night ^d morning only, the patient ought to take it four times, or at least thrice a-day, and to eat a little light bread along with it, so as to make it a kind of meal. If the milk should happen to purge, it may be mixed with old con- serve of roses. When that cannot be obtained, the powder of crabs' claws may be used in its stead. Asses' milk is usually ordered to be 'Irank warm in bed; but as it generally throws the patient ni a sweat when taken in this way, it would perhaps be better to give il after he rises. Dr. Reid however observes, that a peculiar anti- phfhisical property has fii attributed to asses' milk. The only ad](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21441017_0105.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
