A short essay towards the history and cure of fevers particularly of this new autumnal-fever. Humbly proposed to the consideration of the Royal Society, and the Colledge of Physicians, in order to the improvement of physick, and thereby th[e] benefit of our countrey-men. By W. Simpson Doctor in Physick.

A ſhort ESSAY towards the Hiſtory and Cure of Fevers, eſpecially of this new Autumnal Fever, &c.

PReliminary Diſcourſes of the Nature of Fevers in general, I muſt for brevity's ſake ſtudiouſly omit, and refer the Reader to ſuch Authors as have made it their buſineſs to treat hereof, and particularly to the induſtrious and worthy Dr. Sidenhams Hiſtory of Fevers: It's my preſent task barely, firſt to relate the Hiſtory, giving a ſhort account of the moſt uſual ſymptoms that do accompany this new Fever; next, to propoſe the true Method of cure confirm'd by matter of Fact, the moſt evincing Teſtimony in the world. [Whence may probably elſewhere, as from a better Baſis, be raiſed an Hypotheſis, different from what has gone before].

As to the rationale, which order or method of proceeding, although by ſome it may poſſibly be lookt upon as empirical to propoſe the cure before erection of the Hypotheſis; yet I muſt neceſſarily crave leave to tell ſuch, that it has been the only way towards the curing of all diſeaſes, (ſince diſeaſes began to have a Being, or rather ſince the juices of our bodies began to be deprav'd and altered into thoſe ſpecifical differences towards mortality, we call diſeaſes) that ever has been known in the world, and that truly, becauſe of our ignorance in the nature of things, a priori, limiting now our Theories or Hypotheſis, (which are but a ſeries of notions fil'd together, or methodically rang'd in order to the explicating the nature of things from their ſuppoſed cauſes) to the current of viſible phaenomena, attended with moſt obvious circumſtances. And in deed, at this door (viz. tryal of things) has been admitted all the known cures of diſeaſes, whatever the Hypotheſis hath been. And for my part, if I might freely ſpeak, I do really think (and that not without good grounds) that diſeaſes would be better cured, (the great work of Phyſitians) if all hypotheſes were ſwept off the ſtage, qeing greater remora to more noble diſbuiſitions, and ſet-faſts to more generous tryals, than we are truly aware of, which duely weighed, let the Reader excuſe me, if I take another track then what is vulgar, eſpecially if thereby I come more directly to the propoſed end.

Firſt, Then as to the Hiſtory of this new Fever, it appears under different diſguiſes; the moſt uſual ſymptoms that are the true emergent effects, and natural reſults thereof, are pains in the head and back, coldneſs, chilneſs, and in ſome down-right ſhaking; upon which follows intenſe burning-heat, thirſt, (in ſome more than in others) violent and profuſe ſweatings, faintings, and great debilitudes, with a ſtupor in the head, and general indiſpoſedneſs, which is followed in many) by a delirium, attended with ſlumbrings. It moſt-what emulates a Tertian by its paroxyſm, eſpecially for three or four, or more of the firſt aſſaults; then afterwards in ſome appears under the guiſe of a quitidian; the pulſe is high with great diſorder: ſometimes (but more rarely) it begins with vomitings, and purgings, pains alſo at the ſtomack &c.

As to the cure (the main thing aim'd at, and of greateſt uſe for the benefit of patients), The obſervations I made was, That although ſweating, or a moderate Regimen, be the general and moſt uſual indications for puriſying the blood; the one by carrying off that which frequently caus'd a ſpurious Fermentation therein; the other by reducing the blood to its eucraſia, leſſening its high-pac'd and furious Fermentation, rejecting its heterogeneous particles into ſome common ducts, which by Gliſters, Bliſters, &c. are carried off, and thereby diſcharged. By both which Methods, the uſual ſymptoms of former Fevers, (but more by much from the latter than former), have frequently been taken off. Yet here I found, what by my own and others obſervations, neither would perform the intended work, and eſpecially that the former, viz. Sweating, did not (as often as tryal was made) ſucceed at all; the patients under ſuch ſweating Medicines, generally growing worſe and worſe, found that the profuſe Sweatings, patients ſpontaneouſly fell into, were no other than ſymptomatical, which either carried off much of the ſpirits in a colliquating fluor, through the pores, (thoſe minute-ſluces of the body,) by precipitation, or other manner of ſeparation, leaving the fermentative matter behind unſequeſtred; or the exotick acidum, fix'd upon its own caput mortuum, only laid by againſt another paroxyſm, ready to be imbib'd to the procuring the next Fit; and all this to the great debilitude, faintings, and languiſhings of patients. Whence I ſay, by many remarkable obſervations, I found that ſweating Medicines were no adequate remedy at all for the cure; nay further, were indeed wholly noxious, and where us'd, rendered the cure more difficult: whereupon I made bold to prohibit (in thoſe patients I was concern'd with) all manner of Sweating, as much as poſſible, by denying ſweating Medicines, (or at leaſt if I did adviſe any Diaphoreticks, it was ſo ordered, as not at all to cauſe any ſenſible ſweat), and by ordering thoſe heaps of clothes to be taken off, with which they uſually loaded themſelves, (and that ſometimes by the advice of ſome Phyſitian), through the blind hopes of advantage by ſweating, finding hereby no diſadvantage at all to accrue to the patient; although no Medicine ſhould have been preſcrib'd, but only a due temperate Regimen to be obſerv'd, which doubtleſs is a much better way, and the patient ſhall come off with leſs loſs of ſpirits and ſtrength, by this than by ſweating Medicines.

Whereupon that I might the better proſecute my deſign, I ſet upon the preparation of a Chymical Arcanum, which I hop'd would prove generous in the ſucceſsful cure of Fevers in general, eſpecially and more particularly of this new-minted Fever, reſulting from the late viciſſitude of weather, and interchange of ſeaſons, thereby diſpoſing the blood (in which this diſeaſe chiefly lay) to thoſe new ſorts of Fermentation which give being to this Fever. I wrought day and night till I had brought it on ſo far, as that upon tryal I found it a very noble and generous Medicine, hiting exactly upon this Fever, as peculiarly adapted thereto, anſwering my expectation, yea far tranſcending it, even to aſtoniſhment.

The firſt tryal I had of this noble Arcanum (thus prepared) was upon two Seamen; the one of which had this Fever in a very intenſe degree, even to a delirium, with profuſe and exhauſting ſweatings, which I hop'd to take off by the more beaten track of Bliſters, Gliſters, Spirit of Hartſhorne, Milk and Water, and for a while thereby he ſeemed to recover; (having not then prepared this Medicine) but it happened his Fever came afreſh upon him again, with the recurring of the wonted ſymptoms; and when the Apothecary brought me word what a dangerous condition he was in, and delirous, I had then almoſt finiſhed my propos'd circle of operations upon my Medicine; however, as it was, ventur'd to ſend him two or three doſes, which I ordered the Apothecary to give him in Black-Cherry water, at ſuch and ſuch intervals of time. The Apothecary at the ſame time gave me alſo an account of the other patient I had been ſent for to that day, to whom after blooding I had preſcrib'd a Gliſter, and Milk and Water for his ordinary drink: the account was that he grew worſe and worſe, the Fever was growing ſtronger upon him, and that he alſo was delirous. Whereupon I ordered him of the ſame Medicine, thirty drops in three ounces of Black Cherrywater, to be taken at convenient diſtances of time in the night. Word was brought me next morning, that the Fever in both was ſo allayed, as they thought it was quite gone; both ſlept very well, their thirſt wonderfully quenched, and their delirium quite taken off. This was ſurprizing news, but deſiring to be further ſatisfied of the truth thereof, I went my ſelf to ſee them both, and found indeed the relation I had to be true; one of them had ſlept very well that night, after taking once or twice of his Medicine, and in the morning call'd for ſome food, and was when I went fallen a ſleep after his repaſt, and they told me was ſo well, as had thoughts of going abroad that day; notwithſtanding that he had had his Fever upon him for near a week, at tended with violent heat and ſweatings, &c. The other I ſound was got up, and pretty cheerful, and I think had taken ſome food too: and from that time the Fever never return'd, and they without any more ado recovered very well: only this is remarkable, that the former of them, who had been blooded, vomited, and purg'd, and (if I miſtake not) ſome ſweating hot Medicines given before I was ſent for, and had been a week under ſuch a Regimen, who notwithſtanding all this grew worſe and worſe. I ſay that which is much to be noted in this patient, (and wherein he differed from the other) was, that I obſerved that he recovered not ſo faſt by far as the other; the reaſons whereof (viz. the great exhauſtion of ſpirits, and debilitude of ſtrength, what by the Fever, and the medicinal Method he was treated with) are obvious to every eye.

Another tryal I had was upon a Tradeſmans daughter, of about 10 or 11 years of age, who having labour'd under this Fever for about ten days; they mean while had the advice of a learned Phyſitian twice, (whoſe name to prevent reflection I willingly conceal) who had put her upon Sweating, and Gliſters: notwithſtanding all which attempts (ſet on by the Galenical Method) her Fever grew higher and higher at every paroxyſm; the ſymptoms more ſevere, and ſhe at length delirous: I was ſent for, would have conſulted with the Phyſitian firſt advis'd with; but being at a diſtance, the Parents were reſolv'd ſolely to adhere to my advice: Whereupon I preſently took off the heap of clothes, they had by advice in order to further Sweating laid upon her, (they ſuſpecting malignity in the caſe) and it was feared (ſhe being ſo extreamly weakened, what with the Fever and preſſures to ſweat) that the next fit would have carried her away: I ordered the Apothecary to give her three doſes in Black Cherry-water, at about three hours interval from each other; being the very day before her expected Fit (which the night following) was to come: ſhe being at eaſe from the weight of clothes, after the firſt or ſecond doſe fell aſleep very ſweetly, and in lieu of her expected Fit, ſhe ſlept very well, and ſcarce drank any thing all night; and the next morning when I went, found the ſcene quite altered for the better; the Fever and its attendants had made their exit, ſhe cheerful, very ſenſible, her ſtupor being gone, which before ſhe had had (both during the paroxyſm and interval) and call'd for food that day, which ſhe eat without being ſick at all, but fell to ſleep after. I went ſeveral days to ſee her, ſhe continued recovering, but ſlowly, becauſe of the great languiſhment ſhe had been brought to before.

The next I gave it to was a man who had languiſhed for about 10 days under this Fever, had violent ſweating, ſpontaneous, beſides what was artificially contracted by Venice-Treacle, or ſome ſuch heating Medicines: I askt him if he was mindful to be cured (for I was occaſionally in his houſe) if ſo I would cure him for nothing, (being ſtill deſirous of making further tryals of my Arcanum); yes willingly he anſwered, and thank me too, and ſhould look upon it as a providence towards him: with that I ordered him ſome of the aforeſaid Medicine, three or four doſes in Thames-water (he having no diſtilled Water by him), as alſo as much the day after in ſpringwater, being the day before his Fit was to come, took them, and had no Fit then nor after; for I call'd once or twice on purpoſe to enquire, was gone abroad, and pretty well as his wife told me. This is what is done in the main, only I order at the heel of the Fever a purge to carry off the precipitated matter, or other rejected feculencies, to prevent the foundation for future diſeaſes which might thence ariſe.

As to the operation of this Arcanum, which ſo ſtrangely quieteth the ſeditious tumult of the blood and ſpirits, allayeth the feveriſh heat, and thirſt, and as a great anodyne in this Fever, compoſeth to ſleep and quiet reſt, and yet hath not one grain of opium in it; add to which it taketh off deliriums, which no opium doth, although prepared after the beſt manner that I know: as to which operation, I ſay have not yet in all my tryals met with any thing comparable thereto, and yet is but in its minority, in the road to further improvement.

For it neither operates by vomit, purging, or ſweat, has no ſenſible operation at all, ſave that the ſymptoms go off, and the Fever diſappears.

As to the ingredients of it, I ſhall ſpeak ſomething, darkly enough (as others in things of the like nature uſually do), it's in ſhort, therefore prepar'd with a Mineral, by an Animal, and vegetable menſtruum brought on by a circuit of operations to its expected height: as to which I confeſs this is but in limine, to what is intended, and to which it's capable of being brought. Which when compleated by what I have already ſeen of its operation in its ſtate of Infancy, may ex ungue leonem, eaſily conjecture; it will when perfected, and come to its full ripenſs and perfection, be one of the beſt Medicines in the world for the cure of moſt, if not all ſorts of acute diſeaſes, viz. Fevers, Agues, Pleuriſies, ſmall Pox, Gripes, and the diſeaſe morbus Cholera, and dyſenteries thence emerging, the graduating of which menſtruum, that it may the better work upon the aforeſaid mineral, and both be brought to their acmè, is the work I am now intent upon, which Arcanum hides in it ſelf a noble, but inviſible ſulphur of great energy in compoſing and quieting the tumults of the ſtomack, and inteſtines, apparent in the acuteſt of Fevers, call'd morbus Cholera, as alſo in Dyſenteries, both which it cures almoſt infallibly. As to the now graſſant Epidemick Fever (attended with its peculiar, but various ſymptoms) a worthy and ingenious Friend of mine (to whom I am in theſe affairs highly obliged) has frequently try'd this Arcanum, as alſo in Pleuriſies, Morbus Cholera, and Dyfenteries, even with admirable ſucceſs.

This Medicine ſucceeds the beſt, if taken according to a right Method, at the beginning, or firſt days of a Fever, and that eſpecially in Fevers of Children, where it ſeldom fails: But we do not propoſe it as Univerſal in the Cure of all Fevers; for if the Fever have continued long, and that Sweating, or other debilitating Medicines have been given, by which the ſpirits are exhauſted, the Ferments deprav'd, and the whole Maſs of blood and other juices brought into an Ataxy, or if the compage of the blood be too much relaxed by an immoderate cooling Regimen, then it has not the expected ſucceſs; therefore in ſuch and the like caſes other Methods muſt be us'd, or this muſt be higher graduated by further preparation. What thoſe Medicines and right Methods are which may conduce to the Cure of Fevers in general, we ſhall elſewhere in our Pyretologia, or Eſſay to an Hypotheſis of Fevers, take the liberty to declare.

And as to Tertian and Quartan Agues, thoſe obſtinate, and to common Method rebellious diſeaſes, I know two Doctors in Phyſick (both worthy, learned, and judicious men) who beſides my ſelf have a certain and almoſt infallible Method of Curing them, without either Vomit, Purge, Sweat, or other ſenſibly operating Medicines; ſo certainly, as ſcarce one in ten ſhall either fail or relapſe; ſo quickly, as they ſhall hear no more of their Ague after the firſt or ſecond days preſcription; and ſo eaſily, as it's done without any ſenſibly working Medicine; whereby the three grand indications are anſwered of Curing, Tutò, citò ac jucundè, the great work of Phyſicians.

To ſay nothing here how we know a certain, quick, and pleaſant Method for curing Cmvulſions without danger of relaps, (thoſe to common Method refractory diſeaſes) as for the former. To confirm the truth of which we might, if at leaſure, give conſiderable and remarkable inſtances by matter of Fact. Nor here further, then to name our effectual and ſpeedy way of curing venereal Diſeaſes: as to all which we are reſolv'd (for brevity's ſake) not further here to inſiſt thereon, but ſhall refer the diſcourſe thereof to another opportunity.

Theſe things I the rather name, and but tranſiently hint, partly thereby to demonſtrate by matter of Fact, that ſomewhat beſides, and beyond the wonted Methods, are truly worthy Phyſicians beſt Eſſays; and to put them upon new attempts, and freſh diſcoveries, in finding out Remedies ſuitable and appropriate to every emergent Malady.

And now, if any moroſe humour'd man (as perhaps ſuch their may be found) ſhall enviouſly call me a Quack, I ſhall anſwer by querying, whether he that can Cure diſeaſes, or he that cannot, is the Quack? Let them call me ſo, I value it not; if I can but ſucceſsfully cure diſeaſes, the great aim (at leaſt ſhould be) of all Phyſicians: They may upon the like grounds give the ſame name to Riverius, and to thoſe other worthy, judicious, and learned men aftermentioned.

And laſtly, As to ſuch who ſhall Momus like, enviouſly carp at any thing, not to be had in their own Vulgar beaten Track, who hereby give a large and clear evidence of the ignobleneſs of their ſouls, in that they neither are willing themſelves to ſearch into the myſteries and wonders of nature, not daring to put their laborious hand to draw the curtain nature has vail'd her choiceſt ſecrets with: nor (which is yet worſe) are they pleas'd with ſuch as really and ſucceſsfully do, envying thoſe whoſe labours nature has crown'd by her bountiful denation and liberal diſcovery of her ſelf; to ſuch (beſides the deformed Idea's which may eaſily rebound from the reflecting glaſs in their own breſt, enough to affright an ingenious and ingenuous ſoul); I would anſwer in ſhort, by biding ſuch ignorant and envious ſpirits, be ſilent, and caſt their eye backward to former Ages, and conſider, that beſides the ancient Hermetick Arcanum, kept a-foot in all ages of the world, the fam'd Hippocrates had his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , (ex inguiſh'd as much as could be by his ſucceſſor Galen).

To ſay nothing of the two Pillars of new diſcoveries in Phyſick, viz. the fam'd Paracelſus and Helmont; nor yet more than to mention the Hybernian Butler, with his Elixir ſalis, or lapis ignis, by which wonderful cures were perform'd. Had not Poterius his Arcana, by which he effected wonderful cures, as alſo Rulandus, Angelus Sala, &c.?

And to look to contemporaries to this very century, had not Riverius his Febrifugum (a Remedy in effect parallel to ours)? had not the learned Langius his ſecrets, as his Miſcellanea curioſa Medica teſtifie? Had not Dr. Daviſon, Phyſician extraordinary to the French King, famous for his Chymical writings, his Arcanum for curing the Lues venerea, for which the Phyſicians in Paris gave him 20000 Piſtols for diſcovering it to them, and to deſiſt practice (only to the Kings Perſon)? Was not Dr. Anthony famous for his aurum potabile? Had not the Learned and Induſtrious Silvius, Univerſity-profeſſor of Leiden, his Sal volatile oleoſum, prepar'd by his own hand? yea, had not our famous Countryman Dr. Willis, his ſecret preparation of Steel, and other Arcana's he kept to himſelf?

And to look now abroad into forreign parts, may not the learned and worthy Borrichius be reckoned amongſt this Claſſis? as alſo Langelotus, Balduinus, Tackius, Morhofus, Kerkringius, Tachenius, Becherus, &c. whoſe Writings in ſpight of Envy have made them famous.

But to return home, and there to wrap up, have we not of the very Colledge of Phyſicians famous men, learned and judicious? viz. Dr. Rugeley, Dr. Dickenſon, Dr. Goodal, who have their Arcana, which they uſe in their practice? and for the preſent, to compleat the number, till another more worthy be added, why may not I as the leaſt of all the aforeſaid caſt in my mite to this of Natures Treaſury? If thereby I excite other ingenious men to the laudable attainments in ſearching the hidden ſecrets of Nature for the improvement of the noble Art of Healing; that the deſire of filthy lucre being laid aſide, we may be more ſtudious really to cure (to anſwer the great intention of our Employ) and may thereby (if God will) live to ſee a new Scene of Phyſick appear, even more certain; and therefore more amiable than ever it hath been ſince the days of Solomon (who knew the vertue of all things in the three-fold Kingdom of Nature) I ſhall have what I aim at; of which more elſewhere.

Our Hypotheſis for the ſolution of the uſual Phoenomena or ſymptoms of Fevers, as alſo for the rendring a more intelligible account of the ſucceſsful operation of Arcana in the cure thereof, we deſignedly omit here, reſerving it to another opportunity, where we ſhall give a more ample relation of the further ſucceſsful tryals of on Medicines by matter of fact.

From my Houſe in Chappel-ſtreet near New Chappel, Weſtminſter, London. FINIS.