these Medicines for sundry infirmities speeding no worse than he had done and some of them receiving that satisfaction from them which they could hardly believe within the power of Art to have effected Which I thus express to shew that it is no absurdity even for Persons of Honour to put so much trust and confidence in some Students or Arts-men as to take freely and without scruple those preparations which they judg requisite for their recovery though they know no part of their Ingredients as these worthy persons most readily did deeming it no disparagement at all to be governed in such cases wholly by an implicite Faith as some censoriously term all trusts of this nature whose overmuch wariness is generally punished with false stories of what is given them or with supplies onely of vulgar insignificant Medicines and so by being over carefull too frequently trifle away their lives and money for an Arts-man subsisting by his Art being owner of it no longer than he keeps it to himself nothing can be more improper or unwelcom than to ask discovering Questions nor would it need at all where such a Test as this once comes to bear rule amongst the Noble or ingenious because upon tryal every one would and might freely trust as he had occasion Another young Gentleman was recommended to my care who had wearied himself out with seeking remedy for a long settled pain within the uppermost part of his breast and sharp painfull Rheums in his head with a cough and an Hectick Fever The first I gave him was onely four ounces of so fortunate a Medicine for two nights as quite took away the pain of his breast after which applying himself to some others of them his Constitution became so renewed and fixed that I believe in maintenance of their innocencie and efficacie he would not fear to enter the Lists with the most captious or capricious Artist nor in the most contageous Time or most violent Distemper would be drawn to depend on any other either Preservatives or Remedies Another instance is of a Gentleman of worth and judgment whose Lady newly delivered and her child dying fell into a feverish sadness He wrote to me her condition with this also that he knew nothing so fit for her as some of my Medicines desiring I would send such as I thought good so I sent onely four ounces of the most appropriate which she took and after that sent for the like quantity of the same and once more for the like also with which she became perfectly well and if this tender case do not sufficiently prove their heat to be innocent and their mildness to be accompanied with power it must be sure with those with whom reason is of no validity One whose children had often been recovered by my Medicines came hastily upon me from a friend of his whose young Daughter of about Fourteen was as he said in a very hopeless condition earnestly desiring me to go and see her I askt him how long she had been ill He told me a long time and the best advice and means used but all in vain I told him I had declined the usual way of practise and visited none nor was willing to meddle where others had the care He said her father had lately buried two very hopeful children and so much feared this that he was resolved she should take no more of them and so much importun'd me that I went with him finding her quite wasted and almost breathless and in a very high fever I spake chearfully to her raised some hopes in her and her sad friends wishing them to send to me within two hours So I sent her three ounces of an appropriate pleasant Medicine to take two spoonfulls every three hours and to send for more when it was spent She took it with delight and so with the use onely of this continued for about Eight days she went well abroad and kept within no more through any infirmity One whose child I had formerly cured passing by seemed full of care and being gone a little returned suddenly and told me her child that I once recovered was dangerously ill and that she had been with a Physician an old friend of hers who ordered her to be bled and ask't what I thought of it I told her 't was improper for me to meddle in anothers business yet that it would be fit before the child was bled being not above five years old to advise with some others and ask't her if he had directed any thing else with that she shewed a Glass with about three ounces of a very ordinary weak Julep which after I had tasted I gave to a Gentlemen of skill and learning desiring his judgment of it in so dangerous a fever and he saying it was very mean she ask'd me if I could give her any thing more effectual and spare her bleeding I said I thought I could and filling a Glass of about two ounces gave to her and the Gentleman to tast and he saying it was full of life she hasted away with it and gave it to the child by which she recovered perfectly without bleeding which may possibly excuse this irregularity Another instance is of a young Merchant somewhat consumptive exceedingly troubled with continual pains in his head who after long toyling under Physick desired my advice but withall said he was inclined to the use of that a Friend of his had received much good by and it being very proper for him he took with him a large quantity and lives very comfortably in the frequent use of it resolving where ere he is not to be without it or some other of its neighbour-Medicines Another young Gentleman who had contracted a very ill habit of body by being so surpriz'd with Snow in the night that he was almost frozen to death yet in time somewhat growing it out settled in London Where he remained very uncomfortably full of pains and weakness which he endeavoured to remove by all the means of Physick he possibly could imagine but instead of prevailing growing worse and worse he came to me desiring my help whatever it should cost He had continual pains in his head with want of stomach soreness all over his body a most heavy dullness and indisposition to his occasions took joy in nothing as was too easily discernable by the sad aspect of an ingenuous countenance I gave him a Pint of a very general Medicine which he was to take by little and little in a weeks time holding it always a good while in his mouth before he swallowed it which he carefully observed and fetcht another Pint and so by three or four Pints became perfectly well occasioned divers of his friends to make use both of this and others and oftentimes upon sudden illness made use of them himself to his constant satisfaction Another instance of their benign qualities agreeing with this Test is of one near Fifty who very much pleasing him self on all
all help might come too late I went to him and found him sitting by his fire very sadly having taken nothing nor any thing providing for him so I gave him about three ounces of an appropriate Medicine with which he rested well all that night and next morning standing at his dore I askt him how t was with him he said never better but that he had now a great swelling behind his ear I was glad I had done as I did he would have had somewhat to ripen it but I would not and it went down of it self Another being extream ill wholly neglected all means but at length desired me to give him somthing which I did but being not presently well grew humorous and would take nothing but cold water by which he brought himself into a most violent Fever with thirst flegm vomitting and restlesness and soon after so wild as he was fain to be held in his bed all which time I caused those about him to ply him day and night with plenty and divers of my Medicines which yet prevailed so slowly that somewhat else was prescribed him by one who said he had all the signs of death upon him but t was not given him so for one whole night he had no reliefe by Medicine at all which I no sooner heard but I presently sent him such as were proper as deeming it unreasonable to desist so long as there is life having found it alwaies good still to hope the best and to use the utmost means by which divers have recovered that were thought impossible as this almost dying man did to the wonder of all his friends who during his cure were much troubled because of his long costivenesse but I quicted them by telling the danger of moving his body till the venome of the disease was wholly subdued and that in due time they would see nature so enabled by these Medicines as freely and without force it would perform that and all other needfull offices which came to passe to their full satisfaction but had he been attended as too many with such as will be asking continually what do ye think of him if you think he cannot escape pray deal plainly that we may not spend more money to no purpose a course as destructive as vile and hatefull and had it been so here he had certainly dyed for it for there was no hope but in a constant perseverance And now I think it cannot with any colour of reason be denied but that the Instances recited do fully amount in their performances to what is afore proposed to be the proper effects of real Medicines and in every respect to answer those Characters which I have here established for a Standard Test or Touchstone to try and prove whether Medicines are such or not as may rationally be relyed on in cases of extremity and may as I conceive suffice to witness both the substantiality of those Characters and that there are such Medicines really in being Testifying also that my conceptions of Mans true Original and of his true Complexion unto which I have bowed all my Studies Productions have in no wise misled me but so effectually governed and steered my endeavors as to render them far beyond the usual success of first discoverers and much more true usefull and certain than other Physiology And as to their extent in Cure I have frequently and impartially compared the real Virtues and properties of these real Medicines with all the curable Discases the Foul excepted with which I never meddle mentioned in the largest Bills of Mortallity with Captain Grants ingenious Comment thereupon I have considered seriously of them in particular and upon the whole can see no reason to doubt but that taken in time with due perseverance in their use whether for prevention or for cure they are likely to prove far more pertinent safe and effectual than any Helpers Preservatives or Medicines all their marks and performances considered than ever yet were tendered to human assistance and this even in the Pestilence it selfe for though I staid not in London past the increase of two Thousand a Week but was forced away or must be cruel where all obligations of tenderness lay upon me yet took I care thaâ— nothing of mine should be wanting to any who desired to make use of them with some liberty of freely helping the necessitous besides I had long declined Practice visited none nor had then so much as one Patient under my Hand and withall had so published the Vertues and Uses of all my Medicines as sufficed both to encourage and to instruct every one so plainly as without further direction or attendance every one might be in a capacity of helping themselves and their relations upon any occasion for so I judged it most proper both for the good of Patients and Physitians and possibly would soon so appear to Magistrates also in such Infectious and dangerous times were they accustomed to note the happy union of Safety and Power conjoyned in one and the same Medicine or would strictly hold Physitians and Practisers to such Marks and Characters of real Medicines as would witness them to be such as might justly be depended on in that violent distemper because being such all people might without danger confidently and freely make use of them in all states and degrees of the distemper without any attendance or danger to Physitians it being true and powerful Medicines that is solely to be regarded in all contagious Distempers And it was no smal quantity I provided for the occasion from my observation of a general taint in Nature for some considerable time before so there was no want of what I could furnish at least for a season But yet though I had great assurance both of the propriety and efficacy of my Preservatives and Remedies as whoever well weigh the instances precedent may well believe I had good cause yet observing how from all quarters Medicines were loudly voiced out as most certain in the case I could not at any hand bring my mind to any fresh publication least I might possibly draw people from what was more to what was less effectual for more could not be exprest for prevalence then was of every of them how they answered it in performance after I had tasted and noted divers of them I soon saw cause to greive and fear seeing so weak provision against so powerful an Adversary Besides to publâ—sh then a â—â—esh when in reason I done enough before and was dayly to be seen seemed so like raising a new Mart for sale for trade and monâ— as became not the sadness of the Season requiring rather a giving than a receiving hand and wherein very many to their eternal praise abounded But although the help I left proved more faithful then skilful disposing of much and taking but little accompt of the success yet it amounts to thus much that divers under God imputed their exemption from the Infection unto them and
ever miscarried but two the one by the importunate obtrusion of a Loosener and the other by the unkindness of a far absent Brother which in sickness proves mortal like a venomous Damp. My next instance is of one naturally of a good Constitution and Chearful whose occasions inducing his too much converse with Wine in process of time inclining to the Dropsie and in fine swelled his belly took away his appetite sometimes he had stoppage of his Urine and sometimes made reddish water under which Infirmities he remained long though he used the best counsel and Physick he could get but instead of amendment fell into other extreames for his flesh every way abaâ—ed his strength utterly failed his belly sunk and clung'd to his back no stools but by Glisters nor could he eat one bit of flesh-meat at any rate nor ought else but as he forc't it down In this sad plight he desired my assistance and in fourteen dayes with medicines of this kind onely his appetite and digesture were recovered his strength restored his flesh and countenance well likeing his belly in due state his urine and stools naturall and he so blyth jocund as was wonderful to all that knew him and so continued for above four months But his occasions still misleading of him and upon a frolick overgoing his strength he fell ill again and then unhappily waving the means which had formerly helpt him took a resolution to be his own Physician by help of such Books as were then in repute wherewith he tamper'd so long till he was past recovery his Distempers being far above the reach of Book or common Medicine The next is of a Gentlewoman long under Physick for Distempers of the Breast as Cough shortness of Breath Feaverish extreamly wasted in body and sunk in Spirits hardly eating or drinking but what she vomited purged and vomited and bled she had been with Issues and her head shaved and so left hopeless unless by Countrey air in the Spring This being the beginning of Winter many questions and much discourse I had from her as whether I had ever seen any one in her distemper or had ever cured any Also what means I intended seeing as able Physicians as London yielded prevailed not I told her 't was not my way to speak either of my Experience or Performance that if the party who advised her to send for me had not satisfied her therein And withal that I was not apt to undertake but where I had ample hopes of Cure he was too blame And that I did believe and was well assured that there was both more proper and more powerful means in being than Physicians were usually acquainted with and by which with Gods blessing I did not doubt to cure her as hopeless as she was without either purging or vomiting or bleeding or issues wishing also her Hair had been spared as the chief comfort of so weak a Head with this she chear'd a little So I fell to work with my real Medicines and in few weeks time so far prevailed as that she frequently went abroad that Winter nor kept she house any more on this occasion Another Instance is of a Girle about four yeares old that by a Feaver and Consumption and much Roving Physick was in a hopeless condition yet in a weeks time by these Medicines onely perfectly recovered A young Gentleman came to me about noon with an Ague most terribly shaking him to whom I immediatly gave half a Pinte of one of my Medicines well heated which was the usual way by which in the great Ague Year abundance were cured He drank it off at two draughts and it stayed with him but within a quarter of an hour it made him vomit very largely and thereupon he became instantly so well as I would have had him dine with 〈◊〉 but excusing himself he fell fast a sleep for two hours and never had the least Grudgings after it which is the more to be noted because it 's frequent with the same Medicine to stay vomitings when the body any wayes stands in need thereof A young Maiden much depressed in Spirit and swoln in body by unkindly Obstructions which she could finde no means to dissolve upon the use of one of these Medicines appropriate to those distempers perfectly recovered A middle aged Woman troubled grievously with Hystericall distempers taking a good quantity of a Medicin thereto appropriate recovered as abundance more have done by the same and the like means for in this as in most other Distempers Variety proves of very absolute advantage Also a young Lad lying more like a dead than a living childe taking a small quantity of one of the Medicines for that purpose in short time voyded Wormes and recovered as many others also have done who have been thought to have had Wormes though they voyded none A young man being in a tedious Fever and finding no relief in much Physick used to him a friend of his sent him often small quantities of my Medicines which those with whom he was scrupled to let him take being told they were too hot and altogether unfit for him in his case which was near unto a Pleuresie Yet doing all they otherwise could growing worse and worse his friends urg'd him to remove to their house which being done weak and ill as he was and he then plied a while with diverse of them his Cure came on very fairly But on a sudden was almost choak't with a mass of thick putrid phlegm which yet sipping upon a Medicine peculiar thereunto for some continuance it so ripened raised and freely expell'd it as is usual with it in all cases of phlegm that he instantly and perfectly recovered Another Instance is of a Gentleman who with his Lady being in Town upon Law occasions in height of Summer fell into an extreme Fever She having had full knowledg of the recovery of some of her friends by the use of my Medicines when all other means prov'd fruitless She of her self singled out one of them which upon occasion she had used her self also and so possest her Husband with confidence therein that he solely relyed thereupon and with the expense of about three Pints of it perfectly recovered and which hath drawn their affections so towards it that they have had often of it and diverse others of them for their Family occasions Another is of One some Thirty miles from London long tired with a violent Fever that admitted no check by the utmost endeavours of a skilful Physician but having formerly had good experience of my Medicines withstood all denyal and hasted a friend to me for a Pint of one of my Medicines which he named and a small quantity of another and what else I would send him So I sent him the Pint of the first he nam'd and six Ounces of the next and as much of another and three Ounces of a fourth sort which being soon with him although many cautions were given him in respect of
divers their cure wholly to their use without farther help or attendance and this too in as dangerous a state of the disease as could possibly be the â—okens only excepted in which I doe not know they were ever proved though I am not wholly without perswasion even in that dismal case were they taken in large quantity And I have somewhat wondered that one who practiced much with them long before and from the beginning to the ending of that sad Mortallity that was visited sometimes by fifty in a morning and visited the sick all day after and most part of the night and reckons never were any Medicines like them for certainty that at thrice taking of them they never failed of cure in so much as they seemed almost miraculous and upon their taste were highly approved by the Master of the Pest-house yet gives he no account of any attempt made by him upon the Tokens unless upon a woman whom he saies being speechless and her husband urging him to procure him but a few words from her by a quantity forced upon her he so far prevailed that she did speak to him to his satisfaction but no more And this being true what timely taken and continued at dâ—â— distance in full quantity gives much cause of hope but I heartily wish there may never more be such occasion But for their effecacy in preserving from the infection or expelling the vennom as soon as taken and their prevalence in cure I shall give for each an instance And the first please to take in the express of a Letter from London from one who returning thither had furnished himself with divers of my Medicines as fearing the worst and at the place of my abode thus saluted me Sir Next to Divine goodness I deem my self bound to return you my hearty thanks for my present health which had been much indangered but for your Câ—rdials for what through change of Aâ—â—â— Diet and Lodging with some what 〈…〉 then usual bâ—sselling in business I found my selfe much out of tune but could not say I was ill until the last Tuesday night but then after the whole daies Indisposition I was taken with a most violent pain in my head and with not much lesse in my stomack That I feared it could not end but with a sicknesse if not the Sicknesse and the more because that Medicine of your which at other times was ever pleasant to my taste was now so loathsome that I could hardly bring my selfe to take it but confidering my necessity I forced down two ounces which hardly stayed with me nor did I hold it full halfe an hour for then after much strugling in me it gave me a large vomit immediatly after which not finding my selfe so well as I hoped though much relieved I called foâ— my Glasse and took two ounces more soon after which I fell to rest sleeping quietly all the night and waked in the morning as if I had not been ill at all and so remained ever since for which I blesse God and freely acknowledge my selfe your debtor Then for their prevalence in Cure Being in the Country where I wrought and furnished my selfe with requisites for any occasion and frequently supplyed those I left in London with what was much wanted not thinking of any Practice but only for our own Family By a Letter from a Stranger seaven miles off I was thus treated Sir by my good Friend Mr. I understand you have a Soverain Water for the Plague He told me a Gentlewoman gave him part of a Glasse whose Husband refused to take of it and died but she and her two Maids took it and lived wherefore I would desire you to send me a pint of it for I fear my Servant dyed of it on Munday last I knew by the money he sent what he intended which I sent with a taste of another his Wife and another Servant fell ill immediatly both having Risings he sent for more and often and had also of other sorts for he spared for no cost and the issue was that his servant after a while recovered without breaking but his wife 's grew very large and was long in ripening but at length it brake very kindly and she suddenly thereupon perfectly recovered he told his friend also he believed he himself was three times infected but then taking larger quantities than ordinary he soon sensibly perceived the venom to be subdued and deemed himself happy in having them Then for quick dispatch in other dangerous case where in the Mineralists will still presume preheminence openly professing that without Antimony Quicksilver the Armory of Physick would be left despicably poor and indigent whilst to me they seem more the Parents of Diseases than of Cures and those dangerous and long lasting even from generation to generation in Families but whereas there are preparations of these critical ingredients said to be as safe as the most innocent Cordials for assurance the prescribers will not scruple the trial of this Touchstone But for quick despatch in cure besides what the former Instances afford I think indeed more than sufficient cured as speedily and with far more certainty and security yet for an over-plus take therewith these as an over-plus One of which is Of a young Man in my Country neighbor hood weekly for halfe a yeer after a dangerous sicknesse in dead of Winter fell into a violent loosnesse which infeebled him exceedingly and at three weeks end ran into the bloody Flux with extreme griping thirst and utter lâ—sse of appetite working day and night and depriving him of all rest about ten in the morning my help was desired by his mother so I ordered him six ounces of an appropriate Medicine to be taken a little warm in four equal parts at each an hours distance and at five in the afternoon to let me know how he was during all which time he had no motion to stool nor any desire to drink yet then I ordered him two ounces of another to be taken last that night with which and no other he became so well that next day he went abroad about his occasions troubled neither with gripes loosness nor thirst nor want of appetite but so hungry that he refused nothing Another is of a Lad about thirteen who from a fierce Ague fell into so violent a Fever that he became frantick rising in the night in a mighty in flammation and crying out fire fire that the house was on fire and sought a place to get out at I ordered him four ounces of of an appropriate Medicine the one half to be instantly given and the other four hours after except there were manifest signs of amendment and if so to reserve it for next night the first settled him and next night he had the rest after which they gave me no accompt but reckoned him well because he went abroad and complained not but hearing that he rested not well nor came to his stomach as those use who