An answer to Mr. Kirkland's Essay, towards an improvement in the cure of those diseases which are the cause of fevers. Wherein is shewn, the error of his arguments for the use of cold water in extinguishing fevers / [Archibald Maxwell].

Maxwell, Archibald, -1769

Date:: 1768

Credit: An answer to Mr. Kirkland's Essay, towards an improvement in the cure of those diseases which are the cause of fevers. Wherein is shewn, the error of his arguments for the use of cold water in extinguishing fevers / [Archibald Maxwell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$/ [ *3 1 * teaches us> that our conflitutions may be 1 injured by a thoufand things \ and that c every difeafe depends upon a prasternatu- c ral, and peculiar fpecification of the hu- c mours/ The juftnefs of which reafoning, the fagacious medica! reader will allow if fo, can water be the general remedy ? again, c whatever is capable to control that prseter- c natural texture, and retrieve that primitive * fpring of the humours $ whether it is hot, c or cold ; acid, or alkali3 or poffefling of c oppofite virtues ; or adminiftered outward- c ly, or inwardly ; you may ftill be allured, c it will effectually remove fuch diforder. ( Thus we find, that in the way of practice, c one and the fame difeafe is equally cured c by contrary medicines, and methods 3 or c by hot remedies as well as cold' (e). The authority of Sydenham in waiting nature’s motions, is too well known to re¬ quire quoting paffages in proof3 and whofe peculiar fagacity and condudt, gained him an immortal charader, amongft foreigners as well as natives: with what juftice would appear, was the extinguifhing theory to pre¬ vail in pradice : and if it had been true, would not that penetration difplayed fo bold- ]y> (?) Bagliv. Pra&. Phyf. p. 315. Van Swiet. §. 558,$