A full and clear reply to Doct. Thomas Dale : wherein the real impropriety of blistering with cantharides in the first fever of the small-pox is plainly demonstrated ; with some diverting remarks on the doctors great consistence, and exquisite attainments in physick and philology / by Ja: Killpatrick.

  • James Kirkpatrick
Date:
[1938]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A full and clear reply to Doct. Thomas Dale : wherein the real impropriety of blistering with cantharides in the first fever of the small-pox is plainly demonstrated ; with some diverting remarks on the doctors great consistence, and exquisite attainments in physick and philology / by Ja: Killpatrick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    t4i] ly think it wouM be natural enough for a Perfon fb importantly defam*(l| to cndcayour at an early Acquittal; and I fliou'd by no Means deny it. But the Truth is, two judicious Friends did fee the Manufeript, and judg'd It incumbent on me to defend my Pradice on this Occafion. The only Ferfons befides I ever formally read it to, were thofe who had been chiefly affefted, who knew the Fads, and have fairly attefted their Truth, And if he had deferr'd Anlwering, till they authoriz'd his Fidions, he had fav'd me fome Trouble, and himfelf much Shame, if his Senfation be net totally loft. For he has not only difeover'd, that (a) every little Crea* ture can throw Dirt^ and give abufive Language^ but afforded us the clcareft Demonftration of it in himfelf. And could he have digefted one Truth more, he might add that they could do nothing elfe, and his Pro- dudion would confirm it But the Indulgence of Providence is not feldom confpicuous, in per¬ mitting People of very poor Endowments, not mecrly to acquiefee, but ev'n to exult in their natural Wants: And according to the ingenious Pemmen's Prefeription, A contented Mind is a continual Feaji. Now 'twere certainly barbarous to refufc an Infant a Rattle, when it vvou'd give him the utmoft Happinels his Capacity cou'd admit of. Thus as the Dodor has exprefi'd his high Satisfadion that his Panfphlet made People laugh, I accord to it with all poflible Gravity ^ I am convinc'd it muft by my felf^ nay, I have been fometimes difpes'd to laugh at my fclf, for taking any ether Notice of it. Yet at length deflitute as this Performance is of Wit or Argument, wc find the W liter fo exhaufted by it, andi:? long Abfence of Refl on the Oc^ cafion^ that from a perfed intelledual Deliquiutn^ a real Inanition of thinking, he miftakes my Sentiments of his medeft Aflurance, for a Refledion on his Features; and then infatuated that I am his Confcflbi:, declares the great Probability of his being tempted inordinately, if it had not been for this Antidote of his virtuous Perfonage. Now fince he has thus dragg'd in his Figure and his Propenfities, which I neither mention'd nor thought of, to avoid an impertinent Difpute, let us fuppofe it would certainly have happen'd as he dreads, were it not for this Prefervative, this powerful NoHcum of his. But having admitted it, what in the Name of Wbndet has his Beauty or Difpolitions to do with our Phyficfc or Seiibble! This is the difmal Extremity of a low, idle Delirium with- F 3 out