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Primitive Physic, or an Easy and Natural Method of Curing most Diseases. After deprecating the manner in which drugs were imposed upon mankind, the mysteries with which the science of medicine is surrounded, and the interested conduct of medical men, the Rev. gentleman proceeds to shew, that he was fully aware of the healing powers of water; and from the long list which he has given, and which follows, it will be evident that he thought water capable of curing almost every disease to which human nature is exposed. He writes:?
The common method of compounding and decompounding medicines, can never be reconciled to common sense. Experience shews, that one thing will cure most disorders, at least as well as twenty put together. Then why do you add the other nineteen ? Only to swell the apothecary’s bill! nay, possibly on purpose to prolong the distemper, that the doctor and he may divide the spoil.
How often, by thus compounding medicines of opposite qualities, is the virtue of both utterly destroyed?
Nay, how often do those joined together destroy life, which, singly they might have preserved?
This occasioned that caution of the great Boerhaave, against mixing things without evident necessity, and without full proof of the effect they will produce when joined together, as well as of that they produce when asunder; seeing (as he observes) that several things which taken separately are safe and powerful medicines, when compounded not only lose their former power, but compose a strong and deadly poison. In recommending to his followers the use of water, Mr. Wesley proceeds to state,
that cold bathing cures young children of the following complaints:? Convulsions, coughs, gravel Inflammations of ears, navel and mouth Rickets Cutaneous inflam…
