A centennial address delivered in the Sanders Theatre, at Cambridge, June 7, 1881 : before the Massachusetts Medical Society.

  • Samuel Abbott Green
Date:
1881
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A centennial address delivered in the Sanders Theatre, at Cambridge, June 7, 1881 : before the Massachusetts Medical Society. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Lamar Soutter Library, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

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    '■'•Boston^ On the Lords day Morning the sixth Currant, a strange thing fell out here, One Thomas Smith a Sawyer about four Month ago, bought a Lusty Tall new negro, fit for his Em- ploy, who after complain'd of something within him that made a Noise Chip, Chip, Chip ; his Master sent for a Doctor, one Sebastian Henry Swetzera German, who told him he had Worms, whereupon he gave him some Physick on Wednesday: from Thursday till the Lords Day he gave him some Powders, which on the Lords Day had that effect as to cause hiin to vomit up a long Worm, that measur'd a hundred and twenty eight Foot, which the negro took to be his Guts; it was almost as big as ones little Finger, its Head was like a Snakes, and would receive a Mans little Finger into its Mouth, it was of a whitish Colour all full of Joynts, its tail was long and hard, and with a Microscope it seem'd to be hairy; the Negro before voiding the Worm had an extraordinary Stomach. The following advertisement is taken from The New- England Courant, of December 17, 1722. The sub- stance of it is much like the quack notices of the present time, though the advertiser is more considerate to the poor than we are now apt to see. For the Good of the Publick, a certain Person hath a secret Medicine which cures the Gravil and Cholick immediately, and Dry Belly Ach in a little Time; and restores the Use of the Limbs again, (tho' of never so long Continuance,) and is excellent for the Gout. Enquire of Mr. Samuel Gerrish, Bookseller, near the Brick Meeting House, over against the Town-House in Boston. N. B. The Poor who are not able to pay for it, may have it gratis.'''' The early practitioners of medicine had a fondness for venesection, and the lancet was in constant requisi- tion. Good Deacon and Doctor Fuller, who lived at Plymouth, writes to Governor Bradford, under date of June 28, 1630, '• I have been at Matapah [Dorchester], at the request of Mr. Warham, and let some twenty of these people blood; I had conference with them, till I was weary. This last expression may have been his guide in the treatment; that is, he continued to bleed
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