THOUGH Spirit of Salt and Oil of Vitriol (which are ſtrong Acids) will produce a Curd-like Subſtance dropped into the Serum of the Blood, ſo will Oil of Tartar per Deliquium (which is a ſtrong alcalizate Salt) and alſo highly rectified Spirit of Wine, and many other alcalious Subſtances, do the like.

FROM what has been ſaid, it appears, that there can be no Acidity at all in the Blood: But much Alcaline Salt there is very capable of producing all the Symptoms and ſcrophulous Complaints attending this Diſorder.

THE Induration ſpoken of in the ſame Definition, I take to be only the Curdlike Matter, hardned by Length of Time, and thruſt or ſqueezed cloſer together by the Addition of more of the ſame Matter. That the Marrow in the Bones is diſſolved, I have had no Opportunity to obſerve, by not ſeeing any Amputation performed in this Diſorder. That the Bones often ſcale, and throw off Honeycomb-like Exfoliations, or Pieces, and are alſo much corroded, I have frequently met with. But why will not a ſharp coroſive Salt cauſe this Corroſion on human Bones, as well as common Sea Salt on the ſofter Bones and Griſtle-like Subſtances of raw Beef, when long ſalted in the Pickling-Tub? I make no doubt but it will.

THE Reaſon why this Diſeaſe is called the King's Evil, as I apprehend, is becauſe it has been often cured by the Royal Touch of our Kings in this Iſland, from Edward the Confeſſor's Time (and how long before I have ſeen no Account) down to the late Queen Anne's Reign. This has been the Subject of much debate amongſt the Learned, becauſe great Cures have been ſometimes effected that Way, when other Means have miſcarried; and other Means have often ſucceeded, when the Royal Touch has failed. What then ſhall we ſay? In my humble Opinion, there is ſomething in the Nature of Gold itſelf very beneficial in this Diſorder, I don't mean laid into the Hand of the Phyſician by Way of Fee, or pocketed by a Surgeon or Apothecary, but worn about the Patient's Neck, by a white Sattin Ribband, hanging down to the Pit of the Stomach. How often are Gold Ear-rings and Gold Beads for Necklaces worn for what People call Kernels, in and about the Neck and Throat, and for ſore Eyes, which are all common Appearances in this Diſtemper, and not without ſome Benefit, as I believe many young Women can teſtify?

I VERILY believe that Gold being continually worn at the Pit of the Stomach, next the Skin, has often had great and good Effects, but then People will not attend with Patience enough the Succeſs of ſuch a gentle operating Remedy; for no doubt, but the fine Effluvia of the Gold being conſtantly heated by the Stomach, and continually rubbed againſt it, will inſinuate many of its fine Particles through the Pores of the Skin into the Blood and Spirits, and mixing in Time with the Juices of the Body, have very ſalutary Effects. But then I would recommend a Piece of fine Gold, without alloy, as large as a 36 s. Piece, to be uſed for that Purpoſe. But this is too chargeable an Application for my poor Patients Uſe, though I ſincerely think in many Caſes it would be very beneficial, eſpecially to young Subjects, whoſe Stomachs are warm, and the Diſeaſe in its Infancy. Scrophulous Caſes, ſays Dr. Leigh, may be ranked amongſt the opprobria Medicorum, or Scandal of Phyſicians; and after his Deſcription of the Diſtemper in its various Appearances and Effects, concludes; I could wiſh our learned Chirurgeons in this Caſe, would make their utmoſt Applications, for the Diſcovery of ſome Specifick, to correct this Humour. You ſee, this learned Gentleman ingeniouſly owns, the Nature and Cure of this Diſeaſe was very little known by any of the Faculty in his Time.

SIR Richard Blackmore ſays it exceeds the Penetration and Capacity of human Underſtanding, to unravel and diſplay thoſe anomalous Clues and Convolutions proper to ſtrumous Swellings, and to ſet their Nature and Conſtitution in a clear and diſtinct View; and that the acuteſt Men cannot penetrate and clearly unfold the eſſential Difference of this Diſeaſe. This, I think, ſufficiently ſtrengthens Dr. Leigh's Obſervations of the ſmall Progreſs that has been made in the Nature and Cure of the King's Evil. Having but juſt mentioned the Opinions of theſe two learned Phyſicians, for more particular Accounts I refer the Reader to their Works, and ſhall proceed with my own Thoughts and Obſervations.

SETTING aſide then the Doctrine of Acid and Alcaly, let us conſider the Nature of Salts, and whether they are capable of producing the Complaints and Appearances appendent to ſcrophulous Diſorders. That human Blood abounds with great Quantities of Volatile Salts (is ſufficiently demonſtrable by obſerving only the Sweat and Urine) which are compoſed of Corpuſcules, or Particles of very differing Shapes and Sizes, as Mr. Boyle clearly proves, who after many Experiments, has found, that theſe ſaline Concretions exhibit very different Appearances; ſome are ſtrait, ſome crooked, with various Interferings, repreſenting Branches of Trees, Hartſhorn, Feathers, &c. Yet, ſays he, theſe ſeem not to be conſtant Repreſentations depending upon the particular Nature of human Blood, but caſual Figurations that depend upon ſeveral accidental Cauſes and Circumſtances. Now this Scrophula is very often an hereditary Diſeaſe, and conveyed by Parents: How fine then muſt the Seeds (if I may ſo call them) of this Diſtemper be? yet ſo it is. As every Acorn contains an Oak rapt up within its Surface, till Time and Vegetation diſcover its Trunk and ſpreading Branches; ſo is it with this Diſorder. If the Seeds are born with us, they lie dormant in our Blood till a proper Time and a convenient Diſpoſition of that Liquor, and the nervous Juices of the Body, cauſe them to grow and expand into grievous Complaints, and terrible Symptoms.

THE Blood, which ſeems to be the principal Seat of this Diſorder, is divided into two Parts; the one called the Fibrous, conſiſting of great Numbers of fine ſmooth red Globules, continually floating in the other, which is a clear lympid Liquor, called the Serum, or ſerous Part, which conveys theſe fine Globules to all Parts of the human Fabrick, in ſome Degree or other. Now if any of theſe red Globules are broken change their Figure, or are obſtructed in their Paſſage by the Serum becoming glutinous, or being in too ſmall or too large a Quantity, or diſordered by any praeternatural Commotion or Ferment, the Circulation through the fineſt Veſſels will be the firſt impeded and hindered, as in the Glands, &c. Now think, if it is not agreeable to Reaſon, that as the Globules and Serum of the Blood may both contain a larger Portion of theſe Volatile Salts when the Blood is diſordered by any praeternatural Cauſe; and may not theſe Salts ſhoot into very different Figures and Sizes from what they were in their natural State, according to the Nature of the Humours or Diſtempers that are latent in the Blood? And as theſe Salts are frequently of very perplexing and entangling Figures, may we not reaſonably ſuppoſe, that thoſe irregular figur'd Bodies (carried along in the Road of Circulation) by croſſing and entangling each other, may cauſe Stoppages and Obſtructions in the fine Tubes and Strainers of the Body, as the Glands particularly are? And by a continual Acceſſion of theſe perplexing Bodies, diſtend the obſtructed Veſſels (by Length of Time) into Tumours, which are often indurated or hardened, till ſometimes by their corroſive Quality they fret their Way through the Skin, and break into Ulcers. What can this proceed from, but the red globular Particles, or fibrous Part of Blood, being ſtopped by the figur'd Salts, and the ſerous Part ſtrain'd as through a Net or Sieve from the fibrous? The Serum for want of theſe ſmooth red globular Particles being mixed with it, becomes clear, tenacious, and ſizey, the minute Parts of the Serum not being ſufficiently ſeparated and divided by thoſe ſmooth Globules as before, and rubbing againſt each other, are thereby rendered acrimonious and fretting, and become productive of grievous Complaints, hard to be removed. Tumours and Ulcers generated by theſe or the like Means, are brought to a good Digeſtion with great Difficulty, and very probably not till the remaining red globular Particles of the Blood can be again mixed in ſome Degree with the clear Serum, and form one circulating Fluid of Blood and Spirits as before, which I ſuppoſe to be effected by melting, abſorbing, altering or removing thoſe ſaline acrimonious Particles that formed the Obſtructions.

Now let us conſider likewiſe the fibrous Part of the Blood, or red Globules, which being unable to pervade or paſs this Rete or Strainer produced by theſe irregular figur'd Salts, and to accompany the Serum in its Progreſs, are there ſtopped, and being ſpqueezed and crowded cloſe together for want of this Liquor to float them forward through the fine Veſſels, obſtruct the Spirits, putrify and turn into a Curd-like Subſtance, till it is digeſted by Art or Nature into a ſoft Pus or Matter, and ſo expelled its Neſt. What is more common than to ſee large ſcrophulous Ulcers (eſpecially in the more fleſhy Parts) look of a deep red Colour far round their Lips or Edges, which I apprehend to proceed from theſe red Globules being ſeparated from the Serum, and ſtagnating in thoſe Parts, until a proper Digeſtion is procured, and then the Redneſs gradully diſappears, and at the ſame Time you may often obſerve a clear tranſparent Liquor ſtand in dewy Drops on that red Surface of the Skin through which it has exudated? Which I think a ſufficient Demonſtration that the ſerous Part of the Blood is in this Diſorder ſtrained or ſeparated from the fibrous, and viſible even to the naked Eye. And I have always found by Experience, that as the Quantity of this clear limpid Liquor has decreaſed, the Ulcer has diſcharged a more laudable Pus, the Redneſs inſenſibly worn off, and then the Ulcer has healed up with very little Application more than dry Lint.

SHOULD I attempt to mention all Parts ſubject to this Diſorder, I muſt name every individual of the human Fabrick, for I know of none exempt from this terrible Malady, no not even the Bones themſelves; for in my Courſe of Practice I have had this verified by repeated Obſervations: I have had a Patient afflicted with Tumours and Ulcers from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot, and in above twenty different Places beſides at once, the major Part of which have been cured by the Application of dry Lint only, and the Remainder by very ſimple Applications, and but very little Phyſick. But ſuch bad Caſes require much Time to make a perfect Cure. For any-body muſt think, that a Diſeaſe brought into the World with one, and ſo interwoven with the Conſtitution, and grown up with it, muſt have much Time and Patience ere it can be totally ſubdued and eradicated from the Blood and Spirits. Though I have never ſeen any Diſſections of the human Body, yet I may gueſs from what I obſerve without, that the Stomach, Bowels, and Inteſtines, &c. are no leſs diſordered within, which muſt infallibly be the Source of many fatal Conſequences, unleſs removed by Art or Nature, as ſometimes may be the Caſe. Every the leaſt Tube or Strainer in the whole human Frame may poſſibly be tormented by the Seeds of this Diſorder, as they begin to expand, and long before they arrive to a Bulk perceiveable by the Eye or Touch. Unuſual Prickings and Daſhings, and Sickneſs at the Stomach, and Uneaſineſs in many Parts, are common Complaints in the beginning of this Diſeaſe: What can theſe proceed from, but the Aſſemblage of ſharp, ſaline, interfering Particles, endeavouring to force their Way through theſe fine Strainers by Stops and Starts. The upper Lip ſwelled, Eyes inflamed, the Glands about the Jaws, Neck, Throat, and Shoulders, tumified, ſhow this Diſorder rather ſooner (though not always) than moſt other Parts. The Backs of the Hands, Elbows, Arm-Pits, Ribs and Ancles, are frequently affected, and as the Diſorder encreaſes, the ſofter Bones feel its Effects, which if they exfoliate, are often cured, if not, uſually terminate in malignant Ulcers of a cancerous Nature, and bring the Patient at Length to an End.

THAT the King's Evil is a Diſeaſe, ſui Generis, or after its own Kind, I can readily admit. But then how often is it complicated and blended with others, as the Gout, Venereal Evil, White Swellings in the Knees, &c. which ſeem to have a near Affinity with it, by affecting the Bones and Joints much in the ſame Manner? But the various Combinations and Degrees of each particular Malady that may at the ſame Time ſeize on the human Syſtem, I believe is impoſſible to be diſtinguiſhed and aſcertained. Then how can we range the various Swellings common or extraordinary, that ariſe on the Surface of the Body, or lie almoſt concealed among the Muſcles, and are attended with ſuch novel Appearances every Day, without knowing every particular Degree, of every particular Diſeaſe, and their Conſequences, that may poſſibly be at once uniting in the ſame Body and its Members? What may probably be the immediate Cauſe of this Diſtemper, I have already hinted at; but the more remote ones, I may venture to aſſert, are as numerous as the different Appearances of Tumours and Ulcers in all Parts of the Body put together. I ſhould ſoon wade out of my Depth, if I attempted to unfold ſuch intricate and perplexing Combinations, or the Forms and eſſential Properties of thoſe fine Particles of hidden Matter, as may contribute to the Formation of the King's Evil, and have puzzled ſo many judicious and learned Phyſicians, and may ſtill do ſo for Ages to come.

I SHALL now proceed to ſay ſomething relative to the Cure of this obſtinate Diſeaſe. If we ſearch the moſt eminent Authors in purſuit of a Cure for this Diſtemper, we ſhall find ourſelves miſerably diſappointed, ſays a late Writer: I ſay ſo too. Therefore as their Preſcriptions ſeldom anſwer the deſired End, I ſhall take no Notice of them, but purſue my own Way of Thinking. I have no great Opinion of diſcuſſing of Tumours (unleſs the Face is likely to be much deformed by them, eſpecially of the Female Sex; or when the Eyes are inflamed, and very troubleſome, then I think ſuch a Remedy is juſtifiable) becauſe the peccant Matter is only removed from one Part to another, and not cured, but ſtill ſubſiſts in the Blood and Spirits, and may poſſibly be thrown on a more noble and dangerous Part, and do much more Harm than can be eaſily imagined.

MY Patients have often told me (to uſe their own Way of Expreſſion) that they have had Swellings in their Necks, or other Places, and Neighbour ſuch a one told 'um, if they did them with Vinegar, 'twould put them away, which it ſometimes did, but in a little Time others aroſe in their Stead in other Parts, that would not yield to their old Remedy. If they were Pariſh Poor, and looked after by the Year, they fell to my Share, becauſe nothing was to be got by them, and 'twould coſt a deal of Trouble and Expence for Phyſick for ſuch poor Wretches, who were better out of the Way. How unhappy are poor People, to be thus cruelly uſed by ſome mercenary Phyſick-Mongers? How many funeſt Examples are in every one's Memory (if they would recollect a little) of ſome Neighbours, or Acquaintance, that have even deſtroyed themſelves, by backing or ſtriking in Humours (as it is called) and repelling them to ſome mortal Part? This Practice is too frequent with the Fair Sex; I hope they will think ſeriouſly for the future, and do ſo no more. If any Reaſons occur to make Repellents neceſſary, I then order proper Purgatives to carry off the morbifick Matter, cleanſe the Blood, and prevent any Danger from ſuch a Revulſion. Iſſues or Setons I never uſe, and often dry them up, for I could never perceive any Benefit accrue to the Patient from them. If Ulcers diſcharge the offending Matter lodged in or near them, why ſhould we invite it another Way, and not follow the Road Nature has pointed out? What are Ulcers, but ſo many natural Iſſues, which will diſcharge themſelves, if a good Digeſtion is procured, as long as any offending Matter ſubſiſts in or near them, and then dry up of courſe, unleſs hindred by Art? Why then ſhould we make an artificial Ulcer that Nature wants not? Nay, is even detrimental to it, by encreaſing a Diſcharge, which we are endeavouring to diminiſh, and wholly ſubdue.

SALT Water being much in Vogue, I ſhall give my Thoughts on it as a Remedy for the King's Evil. I had a Patient troubled with a very painful Inflammation of the Eyes, which had baffled the Skill of all ſhe had applied to in London, (and being a Perſon of Fortune, be ſure no Advice was wanting) ſhe was ſent to the Sea Side to drink the Salt Water, which ſhe did for a Month, and returned much worſe: When I ſaw her, I ſoon perceived the Diſorder to be ſcrophulous; ſhe kept in a dark Room, not being able to abide the leaſt Gleam of Light, complained of intolerable daſhing Pains in her Forehead, and Eyes, which diſcharged great Quantities of clear Water, ſo ſcalding and corroſive, that it excoriated the Skin where it flowed down the Cheeks. This Lady's Complaints were afterwards removed by a moſt ſimple and eaſy Remedy, which I apply in thoſe Caſes, and ſeldom miſs of a Cure. What I would obſerve from this is, that the ſaline Particles of the Water, which ſhe drank ſo long, added more Matter of a ſimilar Nature to what was too abundant in the Blood and Spirits already, which entirely convinces me that drinking Salt Water is wrong in ſcrophulous Caſes of the Eyes; and bathing for them, I believe, to be equally hurtful, for we know many ſaline Particles may in bathing be abſorbed through the Pores of the Skin by the Blood, and ſo unite with thoſe already there. Obſerve what Lord Bacon ſays, "As it ſeemeth Salt draweth Blood, as well as Blood draweth Salt." That is, they reciprocally attract each other. Extirpating of tumified Glands (which is no unfrequent Practice) I have never uſed, either by the Knife, or Cautery, actual or potential; neither can I approve the Method, though I own its the moſt painful. I have had ſome Patients with me, whoſe Glands have been thus treated, and to all Appearance quite cured, and for a Time well; but as the Humour was not thereby eradicated out of the Blood and Spirits, it broke out again in freſh Places, which brought them to me. Theſe freſh Complaints I have afterwards cured with eaſy and gentle Applications. Sometimes indeed, where the Diſorder has been mild, and invaded but few Glands, and the Seeds of the Diſeaſe wholly contained in them, Extirpation has done the Deed. But if theſe tumified Glands can be reduced to their natural State by a leſs dangerous and painful Way (though indeed not ſo quickly) and no Danger of any Tumours ariſing elſewhere: Which ſhall we chooſe, the more quick, painful, and uncertain, or the more ſlow, eaſy, and ſure Method of Cure? How many have been ſalivated without receiving any Good? Inſtances of this Kind I have met with in my Practice, more than once. A learned Phyſician writes, "A Salivation is found by Experience incapable of eradicating this obſtinate Diſeaſe, notwithſtanding it has ſuch peculiar Specifick, and almoſt certain Virtue to remove the Venereal Evil. Which plainly proves (as I think) the Seeds or Cauſes of the two Diſtempers to be very different; and confutes the vulgar Notion, that the Venereal Evil is the Parent of the King's Evil; for if they both ſpring from the ſame Original, why are they not removed by the ſame Means? Which we find they are not; but when united in the ſame Subject, its rational to think they encreaſe each others Malignity, and render the Cure more uncertain and difficult.

MOST People afflicted with ſcrophulous Diſorders in their Eyes, are very fond of hood-winking or covering them from the Light and Air, which is the worſt Method they can take, for it not only encreaſes the Inflammation, but invites the Humour that Way, and conſequently occaſions a greater Diſcharge from them, which ſhould be carried off another Way, and which is often of ſo corroſive a Nature, as to excoriate and fret the Skin of the Face, as it diſtils down the Cheeks: I always make them throw away their Coverings, either going to Bed, or riſing in the Morning, to prevent taking Cold, by too ſuddenly expoſing their Eyes; and my Succeſs has always warranted this Practice. After diſapproving others Proceedings in the Cure of this Diſorder, it may be aſked, why I don't publiſh my own, which I think ſo much better? To ſuch Enquirers I anſwer: The Medicines I uſe are very innocent and common Things, but the Preparation is curious and difficult, and takes much Time to compleat. Should I divulge it, very few People (except the Compounders of Medicine) would attend the Proceſs, or take the Trouble of it; and how little Good will a vitiouſly prepared Medicine do, is obvious to any one: And as the common Labourers, and Handicraftſmen, their Wives and Children, make the Bulk of my Patients, it is above their Capacity, and of no Uſe to tell them any Thing about it, more than what is neceſſary to their right managing themſelves under the Regimen I direct, and to give them the plaineſt and ſimpleſt Directions poſſible, as well as to uſe the eaſieſt Means for their Recovery. As to the Sellers of Medicines, I think they can have no claim to reap any Advantage from my Labour and Experience. The better Sort of Families infected by this Diſeaſe are really more to be pitied, than the very loweſt Claſs of the People, for they are but too often amuſed with fallacious and flattering Accounts of their own real Diſorders (of this in particular, and as Dr. Radcliff truly obſerved) kept in Miſery for their Money. And to every one in general I ſay, nobody has any Cauſe to complain of keeping the Thing to myſelf, for every one that pleaſes, and has the King's Evil, may apply to me, and reap the ſame Benefit, as well as if they knew the whole Proceſs. (Great I know) is the general Clamour againſt Secrets, Noſtrums, and old Wives Medicines, as ſome pleaſe to call them; but I would fain know, if any prudent Perſon would refuſe to be cured by a ſafe and innocent Medicine, unleſs he knew the whole particular Preparation and Compoſition; or becauſe I don't chooſe to make that Diſcovery of my Methods that publick Curioſity or Cenſure may expect? Did Dr. James publiſh the Preparation of his Fever Powder, yet I believe few People in their Senſes would ſcruple the Uſe of it? If the candid, humane, and generous Phyſicians an Surgeons ſmile on my Endeavours for the Publick Good, let the envious, ſnarling, and covetous Practitioners blame me if they pleaſe, for not treating my Patients Secundum Artem (as they term it) that is, by not making long Bills.

PHILIP WINTERFLOOD, late of Halſted in Eſſex, a Journeyman Barber, aged 35, now living at the Sign of the Periwig over againſt the White Horſe at Mile-End near London, was about Eight Years ago miſerably afflicted with ſeveral ſtrenuous Ulcers under both Breaſts; and being a fat Man ſome of them were above an Inch deep and diſcharged much foul corrupted Matter, and had done ſo a long Time, had evaded all Methods of Cure, and when I ſaw him was a very deplorable Object. This Perſon had the Diſorder hereditary, many of his Family having been greatly afflicted with it. He has travelled many Parts of England ſince, and been ſeen with much Admiration by many Perſons who have talked with him. I cured him in about Six Months, and he continues well to this Day, and has ſent me ſeveral poor Patients who have travelled on Foot near Fifty Miles to my Houſe, who I believe don't repent their Journeys.

WIDOW of Joſeph Prentice of Halſted, aged 70 Years, ſome Years ago had the Evil in her Eyes, and was relieved, and held well ſeveral Years, but her Eyes growing very bad again with great daſhing Pains in her Head, and a ſmall Tumor ariſing on her Shoulder, ſhe applied to me; I cured her Eyes and the Tumor ſubſided with very little Trouble, and ſhe remained perfectly free from her Complaints, till her Death, ſome Years after.

JACOB HOGYOTT, Son of Samuel Hogyott, Huſbandman, of Grinſted-Green in Halſted, aged 18, had a large Scropholous Swelling under his Chin, and many Scropholous Tumors and Ulcers on each Side the Neck; ſome broke and run clear Water, and ſome good Matter. This Lad I cured in Nine Months, and is now gone to Service and capable to earn his Living as a Huſbandman; was recommended by Mr. Vaughan, a very eminent Surgeon, who could do him no Service.

REBECCA BROWN, Daughter of Jerry Brown of Coln Engain, Eſſex, Huſbandman, aged 12 Years, had ſeveral running Scropholous Sores about her Neck and Shoulders, otherwiſe a florid well looking Girl; my very eaſy Methods cured her in about Four Month.