Nature the best physician: a matter of fact, evinced from a most remarkable variolous case, communicated by the learned Dr. Wilmot to the Late Dr. Mead. And now set forth in a poetical narrative / [David Maxwell].

  • Maxwell, David
Date:
[1756]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Nature the best physician: a matter of fact, evinced from a most remarkable variolous case, communicated by the learned Dr. Wilmot to the Late Dr. Mead. And now set forth in a poetical narrative / [David Maxwell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [ 3° ] As to Frefcribe without a Fee.] In the Trartflation of the above Latin Paflaae, where Bleeding in the Circumftances fpecified is by the Term Nefas mod folemnly made equivalent to the Committing of Sacrilege, my Brain, I mull: own, was on the rack for above Six Hours without Intermiflion, to make it, if poflible, come up in any Degree to the Original. At laft, thinks I, tortured as I was, if it be ever expedient to invoke Apollo as a Divinity prefiding over Poetry, it is now. When, (ftrange to relate!) I had no fooner uttered Delphic, Delian, Clarian, and fome few other Appellatives appropriated to that God, but the Words, As to Prefcribe without a Fee,” flowed as quick as Thought from my, I apprehend, infpired Pen. Infpired, I fay. For I conceive, that Human Fancv, alone and unaflifted by fuch a preternatural Influence, could never reprefent in fo glaring a Light the monftrous Irregularity of Opening a Vein in fuch a Subject. 66 As to Prefcribe cc without a Fee ?” Why, it never was, nor ever will be, done, to an Eternity. The bare Idea, Apollo knows, of fo doing carries along with it fuch a compli¬ cated Horror, that the Perpetration of the A£t is as un¬ common in Moft Parts of the World, as Parricide was among!!: the antient Romans. Juft after inforcing the above Precept in regard of Bleeding Young Children, from a like Motive of arming Practitioners again ft being the Caule of unlucky Confequences, inftead of the Launcet, which might in the Cafe propofed turn out perhaps very detrimental to the Patient, he recurs to the Safety of Leeches, thus : viz. Morbida Hirudinibus demenda eft Noxa, reflxis Pone Aures, fupra aut Frontalia Tempera. Nullum hinc Finer get Damnum :——-— In this Perplexity, Ye Seers, Leeches apply behind the Ears. Or clap, fagacious, on your Leeches, Where Either Temple’s Region reaches. With
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