Notes on English Medicine (George IV-Henry VIII)
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NOTES ON ENGLISH MEDICINE (HENRY VIII-GEORGE IV) By J. R. CLEMENS, M.D. WEBSTER GROVE, MO. THE writer whilst engaged days, and is so hard tied about my foot during the past year in ex that the pain I now endure is very great, tensive historical research besides the cold weather which increases amongst English historical it. They assure me for my comfort that documents came across many letters there is no blemish on my leg. in which reference was made to much (A follow-up of Lord Cobham’s that cannot fail to interest the medical subsequent letters shows that the man. operation was successful.)3 One Aiderman Frere was a noted We meet with an early reference to chirurgeon; and being employed by King bone-setting in 1561: “To a bone- Henry 8, about the year 1537, to rip up setter living in Walbroke for setting his Queen Jane (Seymour) in order to in of two joynthes which weare out save his son, afterwards King Edward 6, in younge Gerve’s ancley, 3 shillings had the manors of Wolvercote, Yarnton, 4 pence. 4 and Eaton given him by the King for The Earl of Leicester takes a that service. water-cure. On June 13, 1577 he This is denied by some.1 writes from Buxton that: The tuberculous taint of Sir Robert Touching his health, his brother and Cecil, Elizabeth’s diminutive hunch- he like and commend the water. They back prime minister, was evidently observe their Physician’s order diligently transmitted to his children for we and find great pleasure both in drinking read: and bathing in the water. Thinks it would be good for Burghley, but not if he does Hugh Bay lye to Sir Robert Cecil—1599 as they hear he did last time, take great Oct.—The charge which I have taken in journeys abroad 10 or 12 miles a day, and hand for the cure of Mistress Franccys use liberal diet with company dinners Cecill that she should go well and perfect and suppers. They take another way, of herself; now thanks be to God, she is dining two or three together now Lord well and out of her instruments. My Pembroke is there, having but one dish bargain was, when I took her in hand, to or two at most, and taking the air afoot receive for the curing of her 100 pounds.2 or on horseback, moderately. If Burghley Lord Cobham describes to Sir R. comes next year as he says, let him not bring too many with him. The house is Cecil an orthopedic operation per- so little as a few fills it and hard then to formed upon himself: keep sweet. In haste this foul Thursday.5 March 25, 1599. On Sunday last my It is surprising to find that in foot was put in joint, which being out so Elizabeth’s day physicians apparently long and the party that set it thought made elaborate stool examinations skilful yet old and weak, that it was very as is hinted at in the following letter nearly a whole hour before he could put it in the bone. Judge what pain I endured; to Sir Robert Cecil: since the splinter which is of iron to keep 1599, July. I lately presented you with the bone in must not be altered for 14 copper, I now present with silver, but I pray God it has catcht no copper. This sles: From Charlotte Sophia, Queen of tincture it received upon a stool which my England, to Lady de Clifford. A letter Lady made yesterday in the afternoon, of suggestions for the treatment of the and my Lord of Cumberland protesteth writer’s granddaughter, “dear little he did make the like in his last journey Charlotte,” who is ill with the measles. to the Indies, and it was avouched that “I must name one thing,” says her my Lady Norris did the like in her sick- ness lately. But Mr. Paddy is peremptory Majesty, ‘ ‘ little regarded and yet of the that she hath taken mercury sublimate, utmost consequence, which is that of because it toucheth being tried with changing the Iinnen too early. Even Sir gold, which how much it is you may see Francis, without my naming it, would in the bottom. The rest Mr. Gilbert, not allow it to be done until the sixth Foster and Nowell, seem doubtful. I day.”9 thought it fit you should see it because I Pridgeon’s (1648) directions for treat- hear there was the like once before, which ing a chancre; the prescription is bread the women say now passed without note. poultices twice a day, with the pre- My Lady was much afraid of death scribed wash, purge and diet drinks. after they had showed her the basin, and His treatments for smallpox were called for me to know the truth from the as follows: Doctors’ mouths, which I was fain to enforce with three or four oaths before If the partie should have the small-pox, she would believe me. She was much which you may guesse by his heavines, distempered with heat.6 burning and cough, Iett him lie warme in his bed, but moderately, keeping his From what the Lord Admiral How- throate pretty coole, givinge him burnt ard writes to Sir Robert Cecil, and wine with saffron till you see there will from the letter of Henry Lord Cobham no more come forth. Take fresh butter, to the same, we see how careful they a quarter of a pound and melt it on th were against carrying infection: fire, as much refined sugar searved [?] through tiffeney or Iawne, and beate it 1595, April. I am bold to acquaint you with a spoone till it come to be so thicke what course I have taken upon my two as Pomato; than take a fine feather (when boys’ sickness. Mistrusting at their com- it is melted) and dip it in (being Iuke plaining it would turn out to be the warme) and annoynt his face and hands measles, I left them in Hailing house twenty times in a day and night, nott with the schoolmaster, Mr. Stone, well sufferinge the party to scratch himselfe, seen in physic. Within three hours after nor rubb them too hard against his pillow I was parted from them, having some or anythinge else, nor to clippe them or milk and sulphur given them, the measles the like, keepinge the places still anoynted came wonderful thick out of them both. till you see them shill off, alwayes beinge I have none of them come to me that extreame carefull to keepe him in a was with them, nor was I ever with them temperate heate, but rather warme than but in the open air, for I came late from cold, by all meanes, for if he should take the Court and next morning was early cold, it would endanger his life; now if he on horseback, [and] should have them in his eyes or throate, May 21, 1600. I pray you be advised, take a little brest milke, a little saffron my Lord Treasurer’s two daughters have and a little white sugar-candy, melt the smallpox. You know he doth ever them together in a caucer, and Iett him wear furs. There is no one thing that doth swallow a little of this att a time, beinge carry infection as furs doth. warme, for his throate when you see In regard to the treatment of mea- them first appear; then take a feather and dip it in the same, and draw it Wee have a strange distemper, that through his eye Iidds, and by the grace of of late years raigns much amongst us God it will preserve his sight. which was rare amongst our ancesters; To take away the holes in the face: but some are of opinion that it was more frequent then, but not so much taken Take the quantity of a pound of veale notice of; it is a diabetes. Some languish and putt it in some corner in a seller away in it sooner than others. Some have where it may best putrifie and breede had it upon them two or three years. I met maggotts, then take those maggots, with one that told me hee had had it two beinge well growne, put them on a wire years, and thought it would end his and rost them before the fire, havinge dayes. The Lord Brooke died of it, in somethinge to preserve the drippinges of six weeks sickness.13 them, which you must take and anoynt the party’s pitts in his face, and it will 1719, March 28, London: Copy of take away the whole therein. Given by “the celebrated Professors Boerhave an Italian.10 and Osterdyke’s regimen prescribed Treatment for a sore throat: This, for the gout.” The regimen consists for its quaint preciseness deserves of a milk diet with bread, butter, extracting (1689): grain food, fresh vegetables and ripe Take ye thick grit in ye trough of a fruit, a little tea or coffee with milk, grinding stone, and spread it upon a no meats or stimulants, and nothing Ieatherern stay, and so apply it warm to salt or sour. Bread and milk supper, ye throat; and when it grows dry, change plenty of sleep and exercise, and it for a fresh one. A stone yr grinds razors rubbing for half an hour before getting much best. Give a purging pill in ye yoke up and at going to bed.