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
Catalogue details

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.

    37/522 (page 31)
    So great is the power of tlie aniiul ever the liody, lliat, by its in- fluence, the wliole vital motions may be aecHeTatcfl or retarded lo almost anv degree. Tluis cheerfulnoss and mirlh quicken tlie circu- uUion, and promote all the secretions; whereas sadness and profouml /hought never fail to retard them. Hence it would appear, that eveu a degree of thoughtlessness is necessary to liealth. Indeed the pcr- ])etual thinker, seldom enjoys either health or spirits; while the per- son Mho can hardly be said to think at all, generally enjoys both. Perpetual thinkers, as they are called, seldom think long. In a few years they generally become quite stupid, aud exhibit a melan- choly pToof how readily the greatest blessings may be abused. Think- ing, like every thing else when carried to extreme, becomes a vice ; nor can any thing atiord a greater proof of wisdom, than for a man frequcniy and seasonably to unbend his mind. This may generally be done by mixing in cheerful company, active diversions or the like. Instead of attempting to investigate the nature of that connexion which subsists between the mind and body, or to inquire into the man- ner iu w hich they miit-ually aft'ect each other, we shall only mention those diseases to which the learned are more peculiarly liable, and endeavotrr to point out the means of avoiding them. Studious persons are very subject to the gout. This painful dis- ease iu p. great measure proceeds from mdigestion, and an obstructed perspiration. It is impossible that the man who sits from morning till night should either digest his food, or have any of the secretions in due quantity. But when that matter which should be thrown off by the skin is retained in the body, and the humours are not duly prepared, diseases must ensue. The studious are likewise very liable to the stone and gravel. Exercfse greatly promotes both the secretion and discharge of urine; consequently a sedentary life must have the contrary effect. Any one may be satisfied of this by observing, that he passes mueh more urine by day than in the night, and also when he walks or rides, than when he sits. The circulation in the liver being slow, obstructions in that organ can hardly fail to be the consequence of inactivity. Hence seden- tary people are frequently afflicted with schirrous livers. But the proper secretion and discharge of the bile is so necessary a part of the animal oeconomy, that where these are not duly performed, the health must soon be impaired. Jaundice, indigestion, loss of appe- tite, and a wasting of the whole body, seldom fail to be the conse- quences of a vitiated state of the liver, or obstructions of the bile. Few diseases prove more fatal to the studious than consumptions of the lungs. It has already been observed that this organ cannot be duly expanded in those who do not take proper exercise ; and where that is the case, obstructions and adhesions will ensue. Not only want of ejiercise, but the posture in which studious persons ge- nerally sit, is very hurtful to th(j lungs. Those who read or write much are ready to contract a habit of bending forwards, and often press with their breast upon a table or bench. This posture cannot la/I to hurt the lungs.