have observed that it is in the External part without the Scull and so it will flow under the Skin all over the Head at times but usually it doth fix on the upper part of the Head where it doth sometimes continue for a long time very painful But when the Gout floweth from other parts of the Body into the Head it is in the Internal part of the Head within the Skull this is not painful but causeth a lightness and doth often deprive a Man of his Senses and indeed it is so dangerous that few escape Death it must be extaordinary Means that recover this There is Help to be had in this Case but if Men through unbelief are regardless of their Lives they may for want of Means at hand in such a time be cast away I cannot but pity such as I hear do die of the Gout for I know so much of the Nature of the Disease that when the Gout thus cometh from other parts into the Head they are not sensible of their Danger because they seem to be at ease and will have a conceit of their doing well when they are near their End If the Danger do appear by their being in a raving Condition it 's dagerous I know not where any have been recovered in that Condition but what I have recovered my self let such know that have the Gout that are in fear or danger of their Lives by it that it hath pleased God to provide Means to give help for the preservation of your Lives in that dangerous Condition for of all the parts that are afflicted with this Disease there is no such danger of Life as when it is thus got into the Head so let this be a sufficient Caution for you to take help in time The next thing to inquire further is to know the Cause of the Pains of the Gout Q. 3. What causeth the Pains of the Gout As there are differing Pains so there are differing Causes I shall give an account first of the immediate Causes 1. In some the immediate Cause is Wind being fixed in the part and not having vent This doth sometimes cause an Inflammation or a Swelling that will be very sore and tender for a long time 2. In some the immediate Cause is a thin and cold whitish Water fixed in the Joints that looseneth the Ligaments and other parts binding the Joints together that causeth a pain and great weakness in the parts afflicted 3. In some the immediate Cause is a slimy Matter that is without the Joints This Humour being cold and thickish causeth a hard swelling that pitteth like a Dropsy and the part is cold and stiff but the pain is more moderate than the Humours that are thin But this sort of Dropsy-like Gout usually continues long and causeth a great weakness except timely prevented 4. In some the immediate Cause is a hot Vapour or Steam driven into the parts by the heat of the Blood and when the Pores are opened where the pain is this Vapour doth come out like the Smoak of a Chimney that shall be seen to fill a Room almost with Smoak and when this Smoak is come out the pain is presently gone and the Party walketh about though helpless just before 5. In some the immediate Cause of the pain is a windy and frothy Blood that stoppeth in its Circulation this swelleth in Knobs like the Cramp is very painful but quickly over This is a kind of a scurvey sort of a Gout and usually runneth over all parts of the Limbs and Joints 6. In some the immediate Cause of the Pain is a black and settled Blood occasioned by great cold This causeth universal pains in all parts of the Body yet in this Case â—t is not good to part with your Blood but rather to cleanse it by using that Medicine that openeth the Pores then a sweating Pill is proper to carry off the Cause 7. In some the immediate Cause is a thick and matter-like Humour that being fixed long in a place groweth to a hard kind of a Kernel that when it is dry it cracketh the Skin and crumbleth out like little Stones but the pain is most before it cometh to a hardness The best time to help this sort of Gout is when it first beginneth to be painful for then the Humour is thin and will easily come forth when the Pores are open 8. In some the immediate Cause is for want of the Blood circulating into all parts And if the stoppage be about the Joints it eauseth the Sinews to be stiff and dry and sometimes to shrink and sometimes draweth the Joints together This will cause the Knuckles to be hard and knotty for by clinching of the Hands together they are deprived of the Nourishment that should come to them by the free circulation of the Blood In this Case it is dangerous to give way but to prevent the shrinking of the Sinews endeavour to keep the Joints in exercise 9. In some the immediate Cause of the pains in the inward parts proceedeth from a foul and slimy Matter that gathereth in the Bowels that by the stoppage of the offending Matter doth cause the Wind that gathereth in those parts unnatural to break its way upwards and sometimes it breaketh its Course and torments both Back and Sides and runneth about the lower parts like Stiches or Spleen-like pains and sometimes like Gripes in the Bowels And oftentime these kind of Humours do turn to Convulsions And many in this Case have been lost for want of help for commonly it floweth to the Head and then the Case is desperate But now there is a Remedy that will carry off the Cause better and quicker than if it were in other parts of the Body This may be sufficient to set forth the Nature of this Disease by shewing the immediate Cause of the Pains The next Queries will discover something of the Foundation-Cause Q. 4. From whence do these Humours come that flow to the Joints There is a great difference in the Judgments of Physicians about this Point One saith they flow from the Head the external part without the Skull and so flow under the Skin to the Joints Others say they flow from the inward parts of the Head from the Brain Others from the Bowels Some name other parts so that if we put the Judgments of all together the gouty Humours flow from all parts of the Body I shall give you my Judgment and that is that the Fault lieth chiefly in the Digestion and yet Nature may have sufficient vent in the lower parts but the Digestion doth not so speedily do its Office by conveying a part of the Sustenance when 't is received so speedily as it ought into the lower Vessels but when Meat and Drink is received in the Stomach it usually seemeth to oppress with a Fulness for some time after eating or drinking and tho Nature doth carry it off after in little time yet the Food perisheth in the Stomach before it
one side of her Body it drew her Mouth caused an Impediment in her Speech affected her Senses being much in her Head and her Limbs on that side were as dead Thus she lay in a helpless Condition for some Weeks and none could help her Mrs. Miller came to hear of some Cures I had done in that Street and sent for me In like manner I dressed the dead Parts and before I went out of the House she walked about without any help in about a Week's time she walked strongly her Head is also recovered but her Arm is not yet by reason of her being blooded therefore remember my Cautions By this Arm it may be seen how she was in other Parts I have her yet in hand for her Arm and hope in time to recover that also This is one of the first Questions I ask in any such-like Cases Are they blooded A Word to the Wise is sufficient If my Advice had been observed but two Years ago as it is now I am satisfied some might have been yet living that are now a rotting in their Graves What sad Objects are daily seen of Persons afflicted with Palsies and other Diseases as we walk the Streets that could never be helped because no Cure was found out for them and great Numbers do lie in Beds in Chambers and Garrets hid from the World and thus they lie till they die What if God send Means at last to help such Objects of pity why should any be offended at this You have heard what I have done you know what I can do by what I have said before How shall I satisfy you further Will nothing serve but I must unfold these Secrets to you Must I give my Labour to another and my Skill to such as love not to take pains it's not reasonable But yet to satisfy you further I will discover something of the Nature and Safety of this Gout-Balsam that you may have nothing more to say against it by your false Suppositions An Explanation or a Discovery of the Safety of the Ingredients of the Gout-Balsam First of all You say 't is dangerous because it will blister You have heard of the Cures that have been done that way by its use What I declared further is truth and if required can give it on Oath that the most dangerous part in it is often given in Cordials by Doctors that there is nothing in it but what is taken inwardly And further some of the Ingredients are often eaten for Food and for the most part is in common use but especially in Summer-time in most Families Thus far I declare find out the rest You may suppose I do something more than ordinary to draw out the Virtue to make them useful in this way but it is impossible if I would to raise any dangerous Matter from the Ingredients neither is any part thereof repelling but all on the contrary and is so far from doing any hurt that it is a prevention of all Danger as plainly appeareth in the manner of its Operation What I have laid down is sufficient to give Satisfaction both to you as have given a wrong Judgment in the Matter and to others that may be fearful and timerous no Man hath any just Cause to be offended at me for I am not willing to speak against others except in my own Defence and design not to give offence to any therefore to remove all Prejudice and Envy I shall make an Apology to the Practitioners in and about the City of London to let them understand my Business may be a help rather than a hindrance to them so we may agree together to serve our Friends I advise my Patients when I see occasion for it to call for farther assistance I do not love to hinder other Mens Business This is my Method An Apology to the Practioners in and about London both Chirurgeons Apothecaries and Doctors I. A Word to the Chirurgeons That which was my Business when I first began to be publick in the World came the nearest to your Concern but yet I left that as properly was your Business and applied my self to that as was the most difficult troublesome and dangerous Cases as King's-Evil Cancers Ulcers Imposthumes and such-like Cases Many of you know I did great things and had in that way of Business good Success and great Practice but now I am come from all this and leave it to you therefore you have less cause to be offended than any others yet I hear abroad how some of you do speak slightly and in an undervaluing way do run down me and my Medicines and although you know my Skill and great Success you are so unkind to your Friends as to let them lie in Misery till they seek out for farther help and so hear of me It would be better if there were a Spirit of Love and Unity you shall not hear me to speak against you in any backbiting way nor meddle to run down another for this is not to do as I would another should do to me So let us agree and serve one another in Love and to do all the good we can to serve the Publick II. My Apology to the Apothecaries I know that you do not like any Physicians that do prepare their own Medicines so I can hardly expect your good Word but yet if you do but consider the Necessity Men are put upon to do this thing it should silence you in finding Fault considering that in some difficult Cases there is no Cure to be had by any Medicines as you have and this puts ingenious Men to study to find out something else and if they do attain to that which effectually doth Business according to expectation who shall be offended at this Is it not all our Duties to study to do all the Good we can I do not intend to cast any Reflections on you for your Medicines are very necessary and useful and most of you have good Business and no cause to complain As for my part I shall not prepare any Medicines that belong to your Trade but those things that I prepare are more like Food than Physick and I am so far from hindering your Business that I rather promote it by giving directions to my Patients to the use of your Medicines as occasion requires If it were in my way to serve you more I should certainly do it my Business doth not lie among the Sick but with them that are Lame and under painful Diseases and for such I use only such things as I prepare my self as you have an account of in this Book and many Physicians and other Practitioners do make use of them with great success III. Lastly I make an Apology to the Doctors of the College at London I do know some of you are very angry with me because I often come where you are concerned You see I raise your Patients on their Legs and why should you be offended the great Success I have should
with great Success I have found it profitable in the Gout it helpeth the Digestion and causeth Nature to carry off any offending Matter cleanseth the Stomach procureth an Appetite causeth the Body to be in good natural order and doth by purifying the Body prevent ill Humours circulating to the Limbs and is proper to take at any time if the Body be any ways disordered either by eating or drinking Then take so much as will lie on a new Groat in a Spoonful of Ale last at Night and first in the Morning this observed may prevent Sickness But if you fear that by any Disorder of the Body or by any Signs appearing that do foretel the Gout is coming then take the same Quantity as before directed and at the same time and also an hour before every Meal Or if you find when you are drinking of Wines or other Liquors your Taste is bad then take of this Pouder such a quantity as before-mentioned in the same Liquor you may be drinking and it will recover your Taste It is profitable in many other Cases but if you observe this order it will be a means to prevent the Gout coming on you These Medicines have been tried proved and experienced by Learned and Understanding Men and have been successful in the speedy and safe curing of many dangerous Diseases that have been counted uncureable God hath by their use wrought miraculous Cures and there are great numbers of Witnesses of the Truth of these Things of the Persons cured that have been in their Beds in a helpless Condition and the very Hour the Means have been applied their Strength hath been recovered and have got up and walked about immediately and many have been present who are Eye-witnesses of these things There is hardly one Week passeth but that there is some great and notable Cure performed by these Gout-Medicines being of great use in many other Diseases not mentioned in this Book and in most Cases the Cure is speedily done both in aged Men and Women and in young Children And though in aged People that have been many Years afflicted with painful Diseases yet such have been cured in one Hour's time and have continued well afterwards Such as are Inhabitants in or about the City of London may be informed by enquiring almost in any part of the City of Cures that are done or if they come to the Author of this Book they may be satisfied what Persons have been cured in their Condition and may have satisfaction in their own Cases whether curable or not He will also give his Advice and Directions to such whose Cases are uncurable to put them in a way to help themselves to do that good as can be done for them And as for such as are not capable to prepare Medicines for themselves if the Case be curable they shall have the Medicines bestowed on them and if ever they are in a Condition to be able to pay I will trust them till then but if they have not a Heart to do any thing then I shall not look after them but leave it to their own Consciences to do according to their Ability something towards the charge of Medicines that I may the better hold out to help them that can do nothing As for such as are able to pay for their Medicines they shall have them faithfully prepared and at reasonable Rates and I shall endeavour by my Advice to give them that Assistance that they may receive benefit by them and have no cause to complain that they have laid out their Money and are nothing the better But if I can see the Persons or have a right Account brought me that I may be able to give a true Judgment of their Condition I shall then deal plainly with them and shall not suffer them to be at any unnecessary Charge for it is against my Mind to take Money where I find there is no hopes of doing good I am so far from coveting Gain to my self by preparing Medicines for such whose Cases are doubtful that I had rather give them my Advice and Directions to make and prepare the Medicines themselves and then they will be the more willing to use the Means for their own Good when they know the Ingredients and in so doing they may cure themselves But if they have not their Cure they cannot blame me for by this you may see my Intention is to do all the Good I can and though God may deny his Blessing on the Means to some yet others by the same Means may be cured therefore let none despair of Help but rather wait upon God in the use of Means for his Blessing in hopes of Success in the End And though the Means I use my self is for the most part very successful in performing present Cures yet sometimes in some Distempers it doth require longer time There are some whose Diseases are uncurable but such are commonly proved after the Means I use is once applied and some there are that cannot be perfectly cured but yet do receive great help and by the use of Means do keep up their Bodies that they can walk abroad But Experience hath shewed that when they have not had the Means at hand the Disease hath got Advantage again By reason of the differing Causes of bodily Diseases it is impossible for Man to find such an infallible Medicine as to cure all Diseases But there are for natural Causes natural Helps and for differing sorts of Diseases there are many sorts of Medicines proper for their Cures And those that have Understanding will seek for help in time if they know where to have it for it is difficult to find out such as have good Skill and a good Conscience Many will say the World is a Cheat and the Scripture saith All Men are Liars and it may be you will say you have met with such ill usage that you know not who to trust especially in Matters that concern Life and Health in this you are at a loss and know not what to do and bodily Diseases come on a sudden and commonly in haste you run to the next that comes to hand for help but if it prove not a skilful Man it may be there is a Life lost or some Mischief done for want of a right understanding of the Disease and for want of a proper Remedy And such as seek only their own Interest will make Profit of them and make it no Matter of Conscience whether they live or die and if they know they can do no good they will not be so honest as to tell them so but will keep them in hand while it is too late for others to help them There are too many such Practitioners and this is a great Discouragement and makes many afraid to put themselves into the hands of Physicians but I would advise such that are in Health to get knowledg of an able Physician before Sickness comes and those who know their bodily
applied the Means I use for helping the Gout in the inward part which after once dressing he walked about and the second dressing perfectly cured Several others in that Street I have speedily helped in extremity of pains but 't is needless to multiply to fill up it would tire your patience to read all Mr. Moon a Cheesmonger in High-Holborn over against the new Watch-House that is built in the middle of the Street by the Fountain-Tavern He had kept in Bed for a long time as a bed-rid Man and could not help himself all Means that had been used were ineffectual so he lay in a hopeless Condition despairing of help At last by strange Providence I came to him and because he had no pain I feared he was uncurable but my Medicines were applied which discovered the Disease it appeared to be a palsical waterish Humour that was on the Sinews with a kind of Convulsion in the Nerves that was the Cause of his Weakness In less than one hour after I had applied my Medicines the Cause being brought out his strength came to him and he rose out of Bed and walked about his House I dressed him twice afterwards and in a little time he came to his full strength and in good bodily Health After this manner was this Cure performed I have formerly cast off several that have been under great Weakness because they have had no pain and sometimes no feeling for at first my Medicines had not that Success in such Cases as now they have but now they are much amended and I daily increase my Knowledg in these things and do much Good and perform greater Cures than formerly in several Diseases which I have thought uncureable my self as appears by the aforementioned Cures and others as follow which are sufficient Proof of the great Skill and Knowledg God hath given me in curing Diseases Mr. Meriton Minister of Old-Fishstreet his Son in the 21 st Year of his Age was strangely afflicted with a Disease that took away his Limbs and deprived him of the use of Nature it had so affected hiâ— inward parts from the pit of the Stomach that all his lower parts were as dead his Bowels and inward parts were as dead without any feeling or strength to help Nature also down both sides to his Toes ends In this very weak Condition this Gentleman had lain for a long time and no help could be had by all means that was used by the Advice and Help of able Doctors of the College There were several concerned to advise and help one another consented to use the utmost of their Skill in this Case but no good could be done neither could they discover the Cause of this Disease so there was no hopes of his recovery but in all likelihood grew nearer to his End as it got upwards At last I was sent for by a Letter to come at a set time so when I came there was Dr. Merity and two of the College-Doctors and several others After a little discourse I began to apply my Medicine which did in a very little time cause a sensible feeling of the Blood circulating and in less than two hours he stood up and his strength began to come he walked about a little then Now as it appeared the Cause of this was from Convulsions on the Nerves and inward Parts and by this means the Limbs were affected with a palsical Disease that taketh away all strength wheresoever it cometh the Convulsions had appeared by twitchings in his Toes Feet but after the means had been applied about three or four hours he appeared more strongly Then I came with my Medicines that cure Convulsions and in a quarter of an hour I brought away the very Cause and from that time he never had any more Convulsions then his strength came and the next day he walked about without any help so I dressed him a second and a third time Thus he was perfectly cured in about four days time This was in cold frosty Weather this last Winter so it was two Weeks before he went abroad Madam Hudson on Tower-hill was much after the same manner as Mr. Meriton was both in the Limbs and inward Parts only hers was all on one side of the Body half the Head one Arm and one Leg but in the inward parts all together as he was and had been in this Condition about four Months and all means was ineffectual and no help could be had though she had all done as the Doctors could advise her yet still she remained in this Condition till I came I applied the Means and in 24 Hours she was in good order and stronger and better to walk with that Leg that was lame than with the other for she was weak in all parts with lying so long and a Consumptive Woman long before This great Alteration was done chiefly by the first dressing and since it has been her lot to fall into my hands I hope by my Direction and God's Blessing to cure her of the Consumption I have done much in helping her both for the Cholick and Stone and hope to see her in good Health on all Accounts She is now under the use of Means for the Consumption and is in a good way of recovery Mr. Boulton's Kinsman living near the aforesaid Mr. Moon in Holborn was lame of a nummed and dead Palsy It affected all parts both Head and Body especially from the middle of the Body to the Toes ends both his Legs were dead and cold had no feeling at all pinching pricking or cutting nothing could hurt him He was tried but he said if we would cut off his Legs he should not feel it they were also pale and looked like the Limbs of a dead Man This put me to a stand whether I had best do any thing to him or not I had him then took out of Bed and laying him cross on the Bed I dress'd him and after a little time he felt a pricking in both his Legs Then he began to be warm I still chafed the weak parts till he had good feeling I pinched him and he cried out In a little time his strength came in less than two hours time I had done all and put on his Clothes and he walked down two pair of Stairs presently without Stick or Crutch then I left him among the Family This was done the first dressing being the fourth day of this instant May 1694. This young Man liveth with his Uncle who keeps a Publick House in Bloomsbury-Market He is a Tapster and hath since gone up and down Stairs to draw Drink from five a Clock in the Morning till Night But this was too hard for him for it hath caused a stiffness in his Limbs yet he will be well of this in a little time if not neglected or over-wrought before he hath got his full strength A young Gentlewoman at Mr. Millers the Bull-head Tavern in Woodstreet near Cheapside was taken with a Dead-Palsy on all
rather move you to promote my Medicines by your Advice when you see the Case requires it you would do well to send for my Assistance and seeing you do not prepare your own Medicines and you cannot find any other Person that can do what you know I can I shall therefore give my Attendance to serve you if you think well of it Let this Offer be well taken and let not any be offended and such as have been angry I hope will be pleased again if you will not be reconciled I cannot help it and though you have threatned me and do intend if you can to put a stop to my Practice I will stand in my Defence against you if you can do the like I will give place to you The Law is not intended to bind Mens Hands from doing good nor made for the private Interest of some particular Persons but the intent is for the good of all the Subjects and if any prove otherwise our Parliaments can repeal or amend such Laws if they see good Commonly such as are troublesome to others for well-doing do but little good themselves but seek their own Interest more than the Advantage of others I do not intend any long Discourse of this kind being not willing to give any Offence but because some malicious Persons have interrupted me in my Business and shew their malicious Intentions what they would do if they had Power I am well satisfied in my Mind that they have such Malice against me that if Opportunity served they would certainly do me a Mischief If it lie in my power I shall be ready to do them good and should be glad I had not occasion to mention these things but I shall forbear in hopes that all Anger and Malice may be over in time I have now some that are my very good Friends among you and I shall endeavour so to behave my self in my publick Business in the World that I shall give no just Cause of Offence but if I must fight my greatest Weapon shall be my Pen to defend my self I am peaceable of my self and not easily provoked but if I 'm forced I shall do as well as I can trusting God will be my Defence The Lives and Limbs I have preserv'd have gained me much Love And he that taught me all this Art he dwells in Heaven above And I hope he will instruct and learn me a great deal more And make me able to do more than I have done before A great part of the Inhabitants in and about London are a middle sort of trading People My Business hath been much among them and I am content with a middle Station If I had studied my own Interest more than to serve the Publick I might have set up a Coach and six Horses but I am content to ride in a hired Coach and find it most convenient for speed for I love to make haste to do good though it be to serve such as cannot pay for it God hath given me enough to my full Content and now I am ready to be serviceable to any according to my Ability for in great and difficult Cases I will help the Poor for nothing rather than hide the Talent God hath given me I must declare this to you though some that do not know me call me a Quack-Doctor because I am not of the College and it may be they think I am as ignorant as themselves but you know me or at least have heard of me yet you may not know so much as them that have experience of me therefore I shall let you know something I can do more than ordinary in other Cases as is not mentioned I have a quick way in curing Hectick Fevers and therefore can do much in Consumptions I have a speedy way to help such who are Distracted or Light-headed under any kind of Fevers drawing â—he Vapours down immediately and rebuking the Fever in a strange manner Such as are taken raving Mad oft-times the Disease lieth in the Head I can cure them perfectly in one day's time Such as are in torment with the Cholick and Gravel in the Kidneys I have an artificial way to ease them quickly and bring away the offending Matter Such as have Falling-sickness and other Fits I can do much in helping them speedily especially in Women In several other Cases I give such speedy help as the like hath not been known in our Age. Had I been in some Mens places some great Persons that lately are gone to their long Homes might have been in the Land of the Living I commit these things to your consideration and if you please try me and prove me and when you are satisfied consider with your selves whether it is reasonable to hinder my Practice or to encourage it I have taken this way to speak my Mind to you because I see you are not disposed to discourse me in a familiar friendly way when I meet you in the College but I hope we may meet in Friendship and Love when we are better acquainted So farewel I have heard of false Reports given out by some thinking thereby to hinder my Practice to which I shall give my Answer An Answer to some false Reports Whereas several say by reason of the speediness of my Cures I use Magick or the Black Art to do these things In answer to this I do declare that I have never seen any Books of Astrology to read in them for fear I should be hindered in better things I have a Rule to observe for gathering my Herbs at the proper time by the Planets and in all the other parts I am as ignorant as a new-born Child and I am so well known that I can give good satisfaction of my Life and Conversation I am so far from being concerned that way that I spend my spare Time in reading Books of Divinity God only knoweth the Heart but I have walked so circumspectly in my Life and Conversation that I have kept my self unspotted from the World on all Accounts Yet some have reported me to be a Person of a wicked Life and Conversation Several false and malicious Reports have passed as I have heard of I appeal to the whole World if any Person knows or can prove any thing against me I am ready to answer for my self Others give out that I am dead but that needs no answer I am at my Dwelling-house in the Old-Jewry ready to give Satisfaction in any Case whatsoever I think none can blame me for what I have written in my own Defence against them that publickly in a backbiting way have spoken against me Many of them I do not know therefore I thought it necessary to give it out in print by chance it may come into their hands and convince them of their Folly and it will be for the satisfaction of those who have been doubtful and timorous and through their perswasion have been discouraged to use the Means And though they cannot do any