The Virginia Gazette

The Remainder of the MEMORIAL.

God, but till farther to illustrate this Matter, I shall instance one Phænomenon.

In Winter-time, in frosty Weather, put any Quantity of cold fresh Water, which has been boiled, in a Vessel out of Doors; and at the same Time, put the same Quantity of Water from the same Spring or River, which has not been boiled, near the same Place; the boiled Water will much sooner freeze, (which is, properly speaking, coagulate,) than the other: The Reason of which is, that the boiling over the Fire causes a Dissolution of its Particles, and evaporates those that are most Spirituous, which are similar, whereby the Coagulation sooner ensues: And to shew that the Dissolution of the Water causeth the Particles thereof that are similar, to recede from those that are dissimilar, I instance stagnant Water, and Water in Motion, the former freezing sooner than the latter; for being no way impelled, the Particles observe the Law of Attraction mentioned, and combine according to their several Natures, which is a Dissolution of the Fluid: But then,

Water at Rest, which just before has been violently agitated, tho' not boiled, will freeze sooner at Rest, than Water put into a standing Vessel without such Agitation.

And again, in Summer-time, fill a strong Bottle or earthen Vessel Four Fifths full of Water, and stop it very close, which immerse in Water in another Vessel, and put them both on the Fire, which is to be made brisk, so as to make the Water boil for two Hours; then take off the Vessel, and let that which is immersed remain 'til the other Water is cool: then take it out and put it into a deep and very cool Well, and after having been there 8 or 9 Hours, it will be in some Degree coagulated or frozen. In Winter-time, when there is no Frost, the same Experiment will hold, by putting the Vessel at the Bottom of a River, by means of a String and Piece of Lead, so instead of the Well; which way of Sinking the Vessel must also be observed in the Well. About One Fifth of the Vessel empty is to be observed; for frozen Water occupies a greater Space than that which is Fluid. I shall also add this Observation, that in Summer-time, or Weather when there is no Frost, Water tends to a Coagulum, if at Rest, as appears by its turning thick and ropy; so certainly does Nature observe this Law of similar Particles attracting one another. But let some cavilling Gentlemen should say, that I bring no Proof of this Law of Nature having an Existence, and that they only have my gratis dictum for it; I refer them to Fact, which cannot be contradicted. Do we not see Iron Ore, Lead, Gold, Copper, Tin, Marble, Water, &c. assembled together? Surely, if this Law I have taken Notice of, had not been assigned by the wise Author of Nature, there would have been no Difference in Things, but all a confused Chaos.

From this Reasoning, and these Facts, it is plain that Nature, in all her Ways and Operations observes a Simplicity; from whence it appears, that tho' a Coagulation of the Blood will produce different Diseases according to the Circumstances of the Constitution when they arise; yet the Seneca Rattle-Snake Root promises to be serviceable in them, because of the Analogy prov'd between all Coagulations. In what Cases it will be of greater or lesser Service, Experience must determine, I have the Pleasure

to see Pleurisies, Peripneumonies, tertian and quartan Agues, Dropsies, Rheumatick and Paralytick Cases cured by it, and the Gout much relieved; and therefore hope I may say, without such an Imputation as Arrogance or Ostentation, that I have Reason to think I judg'd in this Matter rightly.

The Analogy of Things I must, with Submission, take Notice, is not sufficiently regarded in the present State of Learning: Nothing will go down but a mathematical Demonstration. Were there sufficient Data in Physick to make such a Solution, a Man might amuse himself to demonstrate Things in that Manner; but where would the Advantage be? If he knows Nature, that is all the Physician wants; and certainly, 'til he knows Nature, Mathematicks will in no Sense help him to it. It is Facts that have an Existence in corporeal Things that we want to know; which, when an Enquiry is made after, is properly a Physical Enquiry, which consists of concrete Ideas. But Mathematicks is a Subject which employs our Ideas in the Abstract, and can in no way, that I see, facilitate the making of any Discovery. For Instance, I have observed in this Country, in the Months of October, November, December, &c. Pleurisies and Peripneumonies succeed a sudden Change of Weather from hot to cold; How could Mathematicks render me able to account for this? I saw it not. I reasoned as I have shewn; and it was very obvious, that in the hot Weather which preceded these Months, the Solids had acquired a State of Relaxation, and the Fluids a Glewishness and State of Coagulation, whereupon a greater Coagulum must be constituted than was before, and so produce these Effects upon the Blood, as I have shewn are upon Water, from a Dissolution of its Parts, which are known by the Name of Pleurisies.

Thus I have shewn my Method of deducing the Efficacy of the Seneca-Rattle Snake Root in the General. And to treat this Subject in a particular Way, will be more proper in the manner I have proposed and advertised in this Gazette, when I shall very particularly consider and discuss the Opinions of Authors regarding Pleuritick and Peripneumonick Fevers, and make appear from Matters of Fact the Mistakes of several, concerning their Nature; and that the Reason of these mistaken Notions is owing to nothing else than the Deficiency of the Materia Medica, which caused the Terms, Impossibility of Success, absurd to propose, &c. in the first, second, and last Stage of the Disease, the same Medicine; since this Root answers the Cure in all the Stages.

And now I must take Notice, how much Learning now-a-days is blended with Policy and Self-Interest; which is a great Check and Discouragement to the Improvement of Physick. The present Philosophy, and Men of Learning, disprove Specificks, and I think with good Reason: But however, I have known a Gentleman of the present Mode of Literature, on one Occasion, a Champion against Specificks; and upon another, he was, as he said, of a different Mind. For my Part, I really believed he had, upon considering the Matter, chang'd his Opinion, 'til I afterwards discover'd that he diversify'd his Opinion according to the Circumstances attending, his Declaration affecting him in his Interest. I am but too well convinced, that the Seneca Rattle-Snake Root has met with Opposition, in Regard that it seems to be of more general Use than any one Medicine besides: But I desire it may be observed, that I am not for Catholicon, nor Specificks neither. For I hold
hold the present Literati to their declared and published Sentiments, as to both : They tell us. that there is a great Simplicity in Nature, and I am very well convinc'd that it is so; and when they say that one Medicine cannot cure all Diseases. I also agree to that : But I must say to them, that this Root is of more extensive Use than any one Medicine in the Materia Medica ; yet it is no Catholicon. I suppose some will now be ready to say, that the Doctrine of Specificks is very sound; and that this Root can by no Means serve so many Turns, because they can't see into it, &c. Such Treatment the best of Medicines met with both from the Ignorant and Learned, in the Time of their Introduction, viz. Peruvian Bark, and Mercury ; and thence I should think, that such Errors would now be avoided ; but Self-Interest, and other Motives and Passions, are hard to be cured. Those, who through Ignorance make Difficulties and Objections against Truth, are much less in Fault: But they, who bear down Truth and Beneficence to Mankind, because it infringes upon their Interest, as they think, are guilty of the highest Offence : For what sets human Nature in a more contemptible Light in the Eyes of good and honest Men, than to degenerate from its Design ; -and what distinguishes us from, brute Creatures ? When we can have the Face and Assurance to destroy and bear down Truth, we, sacrifice the, Body of God, according to the Definition which a great Philosopher gave of Him : And if the Purpose aimed at, under this iniquitous and detestable Conduct Should succeed, from what has been observed in the Dispensation of Providence, Shame, Confusion, and Destruction is to be expected the Issue, sooner or later. But to my own Subject.

Truth in its Nature is unalterable ; but yet we see the Fashion of Physick change like the Fashion of Cloaths. This Error So: detrimental to the Honour and Good of Mankind, is owing to a Prejudice in Favour of particular Systems of Physick acquired in Education from them, which Method of Enquiry after the Laws of Nature, is, as yet, certainly very erroneous; for the Laws of Nature can only be known by observing her Motions and Footsteps, which must require a long Time, and the most accurate Observations, in making of which, no System is wanted, but an unprejudiced Enquirer. And thus, after a great Number of Years have passed, 'tis to be supposed that some true System may be composed ; but 'til then, it is unreasonable to believe, that one can be form'd consistent with all the Phænomena of Nature which may afterwards appear : For, do we not see several arise, no way explicable from Systems that are accounted the best?

But notwithstanding of this Insufficiency in Systems, Reasoning built upon Matters of Fact is requisite ; because, when a Disease of an uncommon Kind occurs, human Understanding is not so imperfect, but that by the Exercise of it thereupon, a Method of Cure may be found out: For, as already I have observed, there is an Analogy in Nature, which, even by one Fact, tho' of a remote Analogy to another that is new, may be clearly discovered.

From hence it is evident, that no Man should dogmatically assert Things in physical Reasoning, 'til it appears that our Observations are so numerous, and have been made with such Accuracy, that all Diseases can be cured ; or else that there is the most plain Evidence of some Diseases being in their Nature incurable : I believe no Man in his right Senses will offer to assert either of these ; because Fact, which is undeniable Evidence, shews that all Diseases cannot now be cured; and from thence it is also evident, that Diseases which once could not be cured, are now, with great Certainty. So that the Presumption is fairly in our Favour, that some Time or other all Diseases are to be cured. But if any Man will tell me that he sees to the End of Time, and knows it to be of such short Duration, that we cannot arrive to such Happiness, I shall decline arguing with him, or any second-sighted Gentleman.

I always was of Opinion, that a Pleurisy or Peripneumony was to be cured by the same Medicine in the Beginning, Increase, and State of the Distemper ; but this being contrary to any. Authority, I was led into ma-
ny Disputes in the Matter, 'till Fa decided the Controversy in my Favour ; for it is well known that the Seneca Rattle-Snake Root recovers a Patient in any Stage of these Diseases : Now, this is an Instance to warn Men from being Dogmatical in Physick : Those who main- tained an Impossibility of the Thing, said, that there was Fact on their Side : I agree it was Fact; that what Medicines were used for the Purpose of Cure in the several Stages of these Diseases were different, and that they found a Necessity of Varying from the Method begun in the Beginning of the Disease ; but til no Proof appear- ed. that the Necessity of this Variation was from the Na- ture of the Disease absolutely ; it was b, only with Re- lation to the Medicines then given: Besides, had the Sim- plicity of Nature been taken into their Reasoning, no such positive Conclusion would be drawn : In that Case, all the Inference that could have been made was, that either there was a Deficiency in the Method of Cure, or that the Disease was perhaps not otherways curable; this I say is the most that could be concluded, a bare Possibility; and indeed that is all. and hardly that.

Hence it appears, that Authors of the best Note, have been under a Mistake in Matter of Speculation, regard- ing a Pleurisy or Peripneumony, since such have treated of these Diseases, as above observed. I hope that this Observation will not give Offence, as it is back'd with Truth, and not designed to offend ; for, I persuade my- self, that Men of Honour will rather be satisfied with such a Discovery, than displeased, since it is for the Ad- vantage of Mankind : How far I am in the Right under this Perswasion, Time will discover. Indeed I must own, that I once thought in a very positive Manner, that I act- ed exceedingly right in communicating this Discovery in the Manner I did: For I had taken Notice how much Men of good Sense and Learning despised Nostrums, and their Authors; Such as, Ward's Pill and Drop, King's Royal Powder, Misaubius's Pill, Bateman's Pectoral Drops, and many other Quack Medicines: Thence I in- fer'd, that acting a contrary Part, must gain me an Ap- plause on their Side, equal to their Contempt of quacks and Arcanums, since my Conduct is diametrically oppo- site to what they so much disapproved. This Distaste in Men of Sense and Learning to Quacks and Arcanums, is upon the most justifiable Foundation, in Regard that it tends to deceive the Vulgar, which, in Truth, in that Case, is downright Robbery ; and then such a Conduct argues an Ignorance in the Author of the Nostrum, since he shuns the Company of learned Men, and to defend his Medicine from the just Objections against Catholicons, which most such are given out to be : Add to all this, that if the Nostrum be really of some Use; by its being so, Men of greater Stock of Parts and Learning, are depriv'd of the Opportunity of improving it for the Good of the World.

In fine, as I have taken no Notice of the Arguments used by Quacks, in Defence of their Conduct in introdu- cing Nostrums, it would appear partial for. me not to make a proper Observation upon them. Then, their chief Argument is, which I judge is enough for me to observe upon, that Self-Interest is the only Source of Mens Actions : and upon that Motive it is. that Arca- nums are ridicul'd by Physicians whose Interest such Me- dicines affect, and therefore they inveigh on that Account against them ; for Honour,the Improvement of Know- ledge and Learning, is only a mere Pretence, say the Quacks.

Now, my Conduct falls in for a Proof of the Truth of the Contrary of this scurrilous Aspersion,if it is regarded according to the Sentiments. of Physicians and Men of Note, concerning Empiricks and Nostrums.