Volume 1

An address to the publick: containing narratives of the effects of certain chemical remedies in most diseases. Particularly exemplified in the histories of various cases, both medical and chirurgical; attested by the patients themselves, or by their friends ... To which is prefixed, a preface, giving an account of the uses and operations of these particular remedies ... / By Cromwell Mortimer, M.D.

Cromwell Mortimer

Date:: 1745

Credit: An address to the publick: containing narratives of the effects of certain chemical remedies in most diseases. Particularly exemplified in the histories of various cases, both medical and chirurgical; attested by the patients themselves, or by their friends ... To which is prefixed, a preface, giving an account of the uses and operations of these particular remedies ... / By Cromwell Mortimer, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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In the Days of Hippocrates, the Learned in the Medical Art did not proftitute their Skill to every trifling Pretender to it ; for that Divine Old Man fays. Sacred Things are de- monftrated to [acred Men; but it is not lawful [to do fo] to the Profane, before they are admitted into the Myfteries of Learning (a) ; and, in his Oath, he makes his Pupils fwear, Not to impart their Skill to any, but fuch as take an Oath accord¬ ing to the Medical Law (h). Thefe Remedies, of which the following Cafes contain the Effects, are no Novelties, nor the peculiar Fancies of any whim- f cal Chemifls ; but have been known and experienced for many Generations, handed down in the ancient Hippocratic Man¬ ner. Some of them I owe to the Generofity and Confidence of a Perfon of Figure and Diftindtion in his own Country ; neither which, nor his Name, I am at Liberty to mention: Other very ufeful and curious Things I have learned from other ingenious Gentlemen of various Nations, skilled in Che¬ mical Affairs , having cultivated the Intimacy of feveral learned Foreigners, both when I was beyond-fea myfelf, and of others who have viflted 'England Poe thefe twenty Years paft : and for fome I am indebted to our own Country-men. It is not my Defign to fet up for Skill above my Brethren: A Man no ftronger than his Neighbour may, by means of a Machine, if he only is Mafter of it, be able to lift a Weight, which the other cannot ftir: So Sir Robert Tabor could, by means oi the Bark, cure that Ague, which baffled the utmoff: Skill of the French King's moft learned Phyficians. Having had the Happinefs of an Education under the great Boerhaave of immortal Memory, who honoured me with his Friendfhip and intimate Correfpondence, even to a few Days before his Death (r); having had the beft Advantages that England, Holland, and France, could give me ; having feen a great Number of Sick for thefe twenty Years paft ; having had the foie Care of an In¬ firmary, as Phyflcian, for ten Years of the Time; having af- fifted Sir Hans Sloane twelve Years in preferibing for fuch Patients, who ufed to flock to his Houfe of a Morning ; and letting my own Doors be always open to the needy Sick : Thefe Confiderations, I hope, may fatisfy unprejudiced Perfons, that I have fome Share of Knowlege and Experience; and a Ca« fa) In Lege. (b) In Jurejurando. (c) See his Letter to me, His Friend at London, dated September 8, 1738, printed in his Funeral Oration, p. 69. Leyden 4 to. pacity

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