Did James the First of England die from the effects of poison, or from natural causes? / by Norman Chevers.

  • Norman Chevers
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Did James the First of England die from the effects of poison, or from natural causes? / by Norman Chevers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    and some Scotch doctors mutter at a plaster the Countess of Buckingham applied at the outside of his stomach/’ It will be noticed that some of the narratives mention plasters applied to the wrists, others a black plaster placed on the side or stomach. Both were perfectly orthodox applications in the treatment of ague in those times. The “Pharmacopoeia Bateana,” (1720), has an Epicarpia Febrifuga, or Febrifuge Wrist Poultice, [“ The pulses of the wrist” were spots fre- quently chosen for the application of powerful external reme- dies.*] Likewise the Emplastrum Febrifugum magnum,*f' So also, in the modern work already cited, the celebrated Dr. Lind says, “ External applications have considerable efficacy in this disease” [ague]. “Compositions of frankincense, cin- nabar, camphire, wood soot, turpentine, and the like, applied to the wrists, or sometimes to the pit of the stomach, have been recommended by several eminent authors ; pa.rticularly “ Fuller's Frankincense plaster.” Elsewhere, he says, “ Among the external applications used by the vulgar, for this disease, are a hard-boiled egg split, and applied hot to the wrists ; camphire and saffron hung in a bag at the pit of the stomach ; rubbing the back-bone with garlic, bruised spiders, and tobacco applied to the wrists. Petroleum applied * “ R. Powder of White Hellebor iN itre . . .. Pulp of Figs So as to make a mass into a poultice. Apply it to the wrists two hours before the tit of a tertian. “ Spread it upon leather and apply it to both wrists, letting it lie on all the time of the hot and cold tit (if the ague comes) ; when the fit is over renew it again. It is reported that, at two applications, or three at the most, it has cured tertians, when many other things have failed.” t “ R Frankincense Oyl. Olive Cinnabar Melt and make an emplastrum that may stick. “Spread it upon an oval piece of leather about eight inches long and five inches broad, ami apply it to the pit of the stomach, letting it lie on as long as it would stick ; then renew it once more if you have occasion. “ It cures all sorts of agues, whether Quotidian, Tertian, or Quartan, without any other help, and then mostly in one application. In an hundred examples together it has not failed me ! ! ” .. giv. 3i• vel. q. s. •• 3'J- 3ss. ifij- q. s. d