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.

    66/522 (page 60)
    Intcclion is often spread tlirough cities by gaols, hospitals, Ac. These are frequently situated in the very middle of populous to«T.s; and when infectious diseases break out in them, it is impossible foi the udiabitants to escape. Did magistrates pay any regard to the iiealth of the peoj)!?, this evil might be easily remedied. Many are the causes which tend to diftuse infection through popu- loii cities. The whole atmosphere of a large town is oue contami- nated mass, abounding with various kinds of infection, and must be pernicious to health. The best advice that we can give to such as are obliged to live in large cities, is to chuse an open situation ; to avoid narrow, dirty, crowded streets; to keep their own house and offices clean; and to be as much abroad in the open air as their time will permit. ■ r ■ It would tend greatly to prevent the spreadmg of mfectious dis- eases, were proper nurses every where employed to take care of the sick.' This might often save a family, or even a whole town, from being infected by one person. We do not mean that people should abandon their friends or relations in distress, bat only to put them on their guard against being too much in company with those who are afflicted with°diseases of an infectious nature. Such as wait upon the sick in infectious diseases run very great hazard. They should stuff their noses with tobacco, or some other strong smelling herb, as rue, tansy, or the like. They ought Uke- wise to keep the patient very clean ; to sprinkle the room where he lies with vinegar, or other strong acids ; frequently to admit a stream of fresh air into it, and to avoid the smell of his breath as much as fhcy can. They ought never to go into company without having chan^^ed their clothes and washed their hands; otherwise, if the dis- ease be infectious, they will in all probability carry the contagion along with them. There is reason to believe that infection is often conveyed trom one place to another by the carelessness of the faculty themselves. Manv physicians affect a fiirailiar way of sitting upon the patients bedside, and holding his arm for a considerable time. If the patient has the' small pox, or any other infectious disease, there is no doubt but the doctor's hands, clothes, &c. will carry away some of the in fection • and if he goes directly to visit another patient without washing his hands, changing his clothes, or being exposed to the open air, which is not seldom the case, is it any wonder that he should carry the disease along with him ] Physicians not only endanger others, but also themselves,' by this practice. And indeed they sometimes suffer for want of care. ... However trifling it may appear to inconsiderate persons, we will venture to affirm, that a due attention to those things which tend to diffuse infection would be of great importance in preventing diseases. As most diseases are in some degree infectious, no one should conti- nue long wilh the sick, except the necessary attendants. I mean not. liowevei by this caution, to deter those whose duty or office leads Uiem to wait upon the yick from such a laudable and necessary eui- ployment.