AN ESSAY.

WE read, in the Holy Scriptures, not only of wine that maketh glad the heart of man, but of oil to make his face to ſhine, or his outſide, for ſo the word [...] fre⯑quently ſignifies, and it ought, in this place, Pſalm civ. 15. ſo to be underſtood.

The ancients accuſtomed themſelves to the outward application of oil, in order to heighten the comelineſs of their perſons—and they did well: for what conſtitutes beauty more than the natural diffuſion of gelatinous juices extracted from the aliment, and brought forward, through the arteries, to all parts of the body? or, if theſe be wanting, what better ſubſtitute can there be than oils properly applied?

This practice of inunction was ſo general, and ſo frequent, that our Saviour gently reproved Simon, the Phariſee, for omitting this inſtance of civility. Luke vii. 46.—The rich and honourable were anointed with oils of the greateſt fragrance.^* Thus due reſpect was ſhewn to our bleſſed Lord by having precious ointment poured upon his head. Mark xxvi. 7.

But the ancients uſed oil not only for the decoration and refreſhment of their perſons, but for the preſervation of their health and ſtrength. After bathing, they rubbed them⯑ſelves over with ceromata to cloſe the pores of the body,^† and thus to give ſtrength to the ſyſtem. They alſo anointed their heads with ointments to prevent drunkenneſs.^‡ (Athenaeus lib. xv. cap. 13.) Before en⯑gaging [7]in violent and fatiguing exerciſes, they always uſed ceromata, or medicated oils, to prevent ſtrains, to make their limbs ſupple, and, by hindering tranſpiration, to preclude any great waſte of ſtrength. Now although it muſt be confeſſed that the an⯑cients were not the moſt improved anato⯑miſts, yet their general and frequent prac⯑tice in the uſe of ointments and friction was excellent, being very preventative of diſeaſe, and conducive to health, as will appear from the following ſtatement of facts.

1ſt. All over the human body are innu⯑merable inhalants, which are the orifices and branches of the abſorbent veſſels that ultimately terminate in the great veins near the heart. Theſe abſorb and carry fluids into the body, but they cannot carry any out.

2dly. There are alſo innumerable exha⯑lants, which perforate the ſurface of the ſkin, that are the extremities of the arteries, and which carry fluids out of the body, but they cannot carry any in. According to Sanctorius, the tranſpiration from the ſkin [8]far exceeds, in quantity, all the excretions by the other emunctories, and, comparative⯑ly to alvine diſcharges, the proportion is as one to four, ſo that if the ſkin ejects twenty-four, the inteſtines ſhall diſcharge only ſix ounces.^*

3dly. Animal, or vital heat, which is moſt neceſſary to the nutrition and preſer⯑vation of the body, is generated by the de⯑compoſition in the lungs of atmoſpheric air by animal gas^{† †}. And hence it is, that the [9]more and quicker we inſpire atmoſpheric ai [...] the warmer we become, as in running up hill, or in vehement reading and ſpeaking.^* That vital heat is generated by the aforeſaid decompoſition in the lungs, appears from conſidering that animals, deſtitute of lungs, are not hotter than the circumambient air, whereas the vital heat of animals poſſeſſed of lungs is by no means dependent on the tem⯑perature of the air. In the human body it is hardly ever leſs than 95 degrees, or more than 105 of Fahrenheit's tongue thermometer; but if the living body, in a healthy ſtate, be placed in contact to much hotter bodies, it will not acquire their exceſs; nor, if in the midſt of much colder bodies, will it acquire their coldneſs; thus, on the coaſt of Africa, where the heat of the climate ſhall riſe to 140 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer, the human body will retain its natural heat of 96 degrees, becauſe of the evaporation of [10]ſweat which generates coldneſs; hence it is, that the negroes in the Weſt India Iſlands endure labour in the ſun far better than white men, becauſe, as it is ſaid, of their quicker evaporation of perſpirable matter from their ſkin and lungs. So again in the frozen re⯑gions of the North, the heat of the living body ſhall experience no material change; and this is providential, for if the living body had not the means to reſiſt exceſſive heat,^* the fluids would become too thin, run out, or putrify; and if it could not re⯑ſiſt [11]exceſſive cold, the fluids of the body could not circulate, and, of courſe, become coagulant.

This vital heat is the cauſe of that ſtrong inteſtine action by which the ſolids of the body are expanded, the fluids broke down and divided, and ſuperfluous and heteroge⯑neous matter ſeparated and diſcharged. When it is ſufficiently ſtrong, in a healthy ſtate,^* it forces the blood and juices into the extreme arteries, the ſkin becomes ſoft and glowing, and the fleſh turgeſcent from that bland oleaginous aliment ſo well, and ſo univer⯑ſally diffuſed.

4thly. Friction, although far leſs pre⯑ſervative and reſtorative than bodily exerciſe in the open country air, eſpecially if uſed to the point of fatigue, yet, in one particular, it is more ſerviceable, becauſe of its topical application.

Friction, by obliging the veins to admit of diſtenſion, cauſes the arterial blood more [12]abundantly to flow into them, hereby en⯑creaſing the velocity of the circulation, dif⯑fuſing the vital heat, and augmenting vigour; moreover, the venal blood, by means of friction, runs quicker towards the heart, which it ſtimulates to a greater propulſion of the blood and juices over the whole body.

If cold coagulated blood be rubbed, in a glaſs mortar, it will again become a frothy liquid of a crimſon colour. It is ſaid, indeed, that this effect ariſes from freſh ſurfaces of blood being expoſed to the atmoſpheric air, with the oxygen, of which it immediately combines, reſtoring it to the ſame floridity as when in the body; nevertheleſs, it is alſo true, that gentle friction ſo attenuates ſtag⯑nant blood, in bruiſes, that it will enter into the mouths of the bibulous veins.

Friction moves and attenuates the other⯑wiſe immeable juices in the veſſels that en⯑cumber and relax the nervous ſyſtem; but if vehemently and immoderately uſed it excites inflammation, and, by too much, encreaſing the contraction of the heat and arteries, the liquids exhale, and the body becomes parch⯑ed and dry. Immoderate labour, in like [13]manner, is prejudicial to the health, and it prevents longevity, for hard-working people ſoon look old; and it is obſervable, that women, in general, live longer than men.

5thly. Oil, whether contained in the ce⯑lular membrane of the body, or externally applied, greatly, by its lubricity, facilitates muſcular motion. It keeps off the coldneſs of the atmoſphere; hence, fat perſons are not ſo ſuſceptible of cold as lean people, and it is the beſt preventive againſt chilblains. It gives whiteneſs to the tender ſkin; hence it is, that the fatteſt parts of the body are the whiteſt, as the breaſts of young women.—It gives roundneſs and beauty to the hu⯑man form; for the ſkin, when not diſtended by it, contracts itſelf into unſightly wrinkles. It gives nouriſhment to the body, for being abſorbed by the inhalants, it is carried, with the chyle, into the blood. If it be ſaid that oil, externally applied, ſtops the excretory pores, thereby preventing ſweat and inſen⯑ſible perſpiration, I anſwer, from my own experience, that it does not, but it rather promotes both, eſpecially if applied by briſk friction, for it cleanſes the exhalants of that [14]ever encruſting luting ſordes, which covers even the moſt delicate perſons, and which the vapour bath ſoon diſcovers to every indi⯑vidual.^* The ancients, who were in the frequent practice of inunction, never found plain oil to ſtop the pores; for when they wiſhed to ſtop or hinder tranſpiration, they uſed wax with their oil; ſuch were the precious ceromata, mentioned by Athenaeus, (Deipnoſoph 5.) as of ſaffron, ſweet mar⯑joram, fenugreek, flower-de-luce, and of roſes; and not thinking even theſe prepa⯑rations ſufficiently obſtructive of the pores, they, before engaging in gymnaſtic exer⯑ciſes, and after anointing themſelves with oil, rolled themſelves in the ſand.

From what I have written concerning the inhalants, the exhalants, vital heat, friction and oil, I think, that the following practice will be thought, by the public, reaſonable, uſeful and important.

In incipient dropſy, particularly the leuco⯑phlegmatic, and anaſarcous (ariſing from the debility of the vaſcular ſyſtem), the chief cure is to ſtrengthen the veſſels by friction, and a ſtimulating oil; ſo that the abſorbents ſhall take up the water from the cavities, and the perſpiratory powers recover their wonted action. That the dropſy does not ariſe, as is commonly imagined, from an atony, or laxity of the whole body, and the viſcera thereof, appears from this conſidera⯑tion, that many cachectic perſons are not dropſical, and many who have ciſted dropſy, are entirely free from any cachexy what⯑ſoever.

In chronic rheumatiſm, owing to a ſe⯑rous colluvies of humours predominant about the moving fibres of the muſcles; as alſo in ſtiffneſs, and rigidity of the joints and muſcles, particularly in old military men, ariſing from frequent and long ex⯑poſures to the injuries of the weather, and from old healed-up wounds and fractures; medicated oils, with a fleſh-bruſh, together with electrical ſhocks on the ſtiffened parts, will be found very ſerviceable.

The fibres of old people are hard and ri⯑gid, their perſpiration is little, and that bland vapour which formerly bedewed their bodies is no more; inunction, with friction to them, is moſt ſalutary, for the animal warmth and juices are hereby drawn into the ſkin, and the oil, by its nouriſhing powers, renovates and invigorates the whole ſyſtem. The ſagacious Sydenham had great ſucceſs in the recovery of debilitated nature, by re⯑commending healthy young men as bedfel⯑lows to the aged and infirm; he ſaid, that heat alone was not the cauſe of reſtoration, for the application of warm napkins did no good, (ſec. i. cap. iv. p. 79.) it was therefore only to be aſcribed to the mild oleaginous effluvia. Now, if the human oleaginous effluvia be ſo penetrating and balſamic as to afford revivifying nouriſhment by abſorp⯑tion, why ſhould not the oil of ſweet-al⯑monds, for inſtance, do the ſame thing, eſpecially when broke down and preſſed in, by heat and friction.

Soldiers that are expoſed to exceſſive heats in hot countries, ſhould frequently be ordered to rub their bodies with ceromata, to prevent [17]too great a waſte of ſtrength by perſpiration; and when in cold countries, they are expoſed to rain, and ſleep in damp camps, they ſhould be enjoined to follow the practice of inunc⯑tion; for being generally young men, ſuch ſtimuli would quickly arouſe their native heat, draw it to the ſurface, and keep it there, and alſo, by cloſing the inhalants, effectually ſhut out an otherwiſe too pene⯑trating a humidity.

After hard labour, or exceſſive fatigue, the outward uſe of oil is wonderfully reſtora⯑tive and refreſhing: this is not only teſtified by the practice of the ancient Athletae, but by ſome mowers at Hendon, this ſummer, who, before the application, were nearly exhauſted by exceſſive labour at taſk work, but af⯑terwards followed it up with eaſe and pleaſure.

After warm bathing in the winter ſeaſon, the application of a ceroma is very adviſe⯑able, for by rendering the inhalants imper⯑vious to the cold air, colds are prevented, and, by cloſing the orifices of exhalants, the dewy, nutritious juice, and vital heat (drawn towards the ſkin by the bath) is then re⯑tained, [18]which muſt greatly warm and invi⯑gorate the ſyſtem.

An imperfect paralyſis in the aged, not only ariſes from a deficiency of vigour, and a relaxation of nerves, ſtrained and worn by various deſtroying cauſes, as gluttony, ebriety, &c. but often it is owing to a ſu⯑pineneſs of the vital principle, or the Anima-Medica,^* for terror, or imminent danger, has often been the means of reſtoring thoſe limbs (during the paroxyſm of fear) that were before uſeleſs. Here then it ſeems, that impotency is not the cauſe, but ſloth; ſurely then the natural and beſt cure muſt be ob⯑tained from exerciſe, friction, and ſtimulat⯑ing oil.

Chilly, ſedentary perſons who ill endure the winter's cold, ſhould frequently uſe friction, and a ſtimulating oil, for it is, through debility from want of exertion, that the arteries do not propel the fluids with ſuch force as would prove ſufficient to diſ⯑tend the exhalants in the ſkin.

A nervous unhappineſs, with ſuſceptibi⯑lity of cold is often occaſioned by a thick cacochymy of humours, not at all inflam⯑matory; in this caſe, after proper evacua⯑tion, it is proper to draw the juices to the ſurface of the body by light frictions with the aromata, ſo indeed as to promote the due circulation of the blood, but not by violent application, to encumber the heart and lungs by the reflux of theſe thick and foul hu⯑mours. The mind of man may be con⯑ſidered figuratively as the axle-tree, round which the wheel of life can beſt turn, for although it may be unconſcious of its power, yet it works wonders on the ſolids and fluids of the body, rectifying their irregularity, and reducing them to moderation, or elſe rendering them inordinate and deſtructive. But if the mind have power over the body, ſo alſo has the body a wonder-working power over the mind, for it is the blood that con⯑ſtitutes the temperament of different perſons. The red part abounds in the ſanguineous, whoſe veins are large and cerulean, the head thin of hair, the fleſh ſoft and abundant, and the cheeks of a roſy colour. Per⯑ſons [20]of this temperament are fond of plea⯑ſure, they are ſoon but not long angry, eaſily perſuaded and inconſtant.

The albumenous part of the blood abounds in the petuitous, whoſe veins are ſmall and almoſt imperceptible; the face pale, the fleſh abundant, but cold and flaccid. The mind is uſually placid and ſerene, regardful of deco⯑rum, and of the honeſtum, and of what it ought to do, but generally too lazy to exert its powers.

When the blood is too concrete, having loſt its proper fluidity, it forms the melan⯑cholic temperament. The fleſh and hair are of a very dark colour, as among the Jews, (who are commonly of this temperament) the head frequently bald. The body is very lean and dry, the blood veſſels denſe and thin. The mind is conſtant to its purpoſe, not haſty, mindful of injuries, and remarkable for earneſtneſs in thinking.

From theſe temperaments are made up the reſt, as the bilious, where the body is thin, the colour brown, the hair black, criſp and buſhy, the veins large, the mind intelligent and reſolute.

The phlegmatic are cold, not hairy, ſub⯑ject to baldneſs, fat and unweildly, liable to tumours, the mind ſometimes timid, generally inoffenſive. The warm temperament is in body agile and robuſt, well covered with yel⯑low, thick, and copious pile, as the head with hair; the angles of the eyes, and alſo the face and lips are of a very red colour, the pulſe full and frequent, the mind capable, but impetuous.

But nevertheleſs, to vindicate the ſupre⯑macy of the mind over the body, it is to be obſerved that, by the medicinal and dietetic art, one temperament may be altered, in ſome degree into another, ſo that the pi⯑tuitous may become ſanguineous, the ſan⯑guineous melancholic et vice verſa. St. Paul ſaith, ‘"I keep my body under, and bring it into ſubjection: leſt that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myſelf ſhould be a caſt away." 1 Cor. ix. 27.’ Undoubtedly the mind can, and often does reduce the body to reaſon, by the means of diet and the forbearing virtues; hence the uſe of faſting and religious meditation: but here obſerve, that what would ſtimulate one [22]perſon, ſay of a hot temperament, into paſ⯑ſion, might only lift up another who is pitu⯑itous into reaſonable comfort.

Phlegmatic perſons of irritable habits of body (whoſe circulation is weak, the blood not being ſent in ſufficient force to the ſur⯑face, ſo as in a due degree, to promote per⯑ſpiration, and who by their inhalants, abſorb more moiſture from the atmoſphere than ſtronger people), ſhould perſeveringly uſe friction, if not oil; they ſhould alſo pay particular attention to diet. They ſhould avoid ſugar and butter, which, by thick⯑ening the juices, impedes the circulation. Inſtead of eating glary food, as pig-meat and fatted calf, they ſhould be contented with a more drying and attenuating diet, which would prevent alarming portions of lymph from collecting in the lungs, or in the joints. True indeed it is, that al⯑though a perſon be charged with too much lymph he may continue in health, but how long theſe defluxions may remain benign and unhurtful, no one can ſay, for alſo true it is, that, by the adverſe diameters of a very few veſſels, the juices may ſoon become [23]ſtagnant and banefully acrimonious. The too abundant lymph ſhould be diſcharged by draſtic purges, at long intervals, and for diet, ſuch as ſtrengthens the elaſticity of the fibres, ſhould be recommended. Roaſt meat^* and game are proper; fruits, if any, ſhould be ſomewhat auſtere, and alſo the wine; ſay good rough port, but ever let this dietetic rule be carefully obſerved, "ne quid nemis."

Wine, if medically taken, augments the ſtrength of the animal fibres and rarifies the juices of the body; but if immoderately drank, it excites a univerſal ſpaſm that ends in weakneſs and relaxation, as the trembling hands and ſtaggering gate of bacchanalians ſufficiently evince. Wine after much uſe loſes its ſtimulating power; hence it is that hard-drinkers proceed from bad to worſe, from wine to the drinking of pure ſpirit; thus deſtroying their health, their reputation, and their life, for a very tranſient and miſer⯑able ſatisfaction.^* But wine, if mode⯑rately taken, enables the veſſels of the body with encreaſed alacrity to take up and diſperſe nouriſhment over the ſyſtem. It is of excel⯑lent uſe after fatigue; alſo in the cure of mental languors, and in urgent fears, for it [25]not only braces the fibres, but it tonifies the mind; and therefore it is that ſoldiers and ſailors after a dram of ſpirituous liquor, deſpiſe danger, and joyouſly enter into a battle.

Again, pituitous perſons who uſe but little exerciſe, are particularly ſuſceptible of the ill effects of a damp air, which although, by the thermometer, may not be colder than a dry one, is more penetrating becauſe it con⯑ducts better, filling the inhalants with crude noxious vapour; hence ſwellings of the great joints of the limbs are frequent, which are miſtaken for the gout. Certainly the beſt preſervatives are ſtrong daily exerciſe to the point of fatigue, ſo as to ſweat; a dry cardiac diet; frequent friction with ceromata of eſſential oil, to counteract the baneful ef⯑fects of the atmoſphere; and ſuch cloathing as of wool cloſe to the ſkin, which, being a bad conductor, will prevent the inhalants from improper abſorption.^*

It is alſo not uncommon for ſuch perſons to be troubled with an aqueous, not a chyli⯑ferous, diabetes, for by checked exhalation, what is not diſcharged by perſpiration and ſweat, paſſes through the bladder; and their too copious abſorption of circumambient fluids doubtleſs encreaſes the quantity of urine.^* This very common, and too un⯑noticed, yet dangerous diſeaſe, may, I think, be abated if not entirely cured, by the fol⯑lowing practice: — If it ariſe from hectic fever, mucilages (perhaps with acids to cor⯑rect the hectic) are ſerviceable; but if from hyſteric, or any tranſitory relaxing cauſes, mucilages and diffuſible ſtimuli are more proper. In either caſe the primae viae ſhould be cleanſed firſt by ipecacuanha, then by rhubarb; ſtrengtheners, and mild aſtrin⯑gents ſhould be uſed; a dry binding diet, and morning and evening friction in a warm room, with a defenſive oil againſt [27]damp weather,^* ſhould be earneſtly recom⯑mended.

Sometimes cold and damp air ſhall ſo relax the nervous ſyſtem, as to deprive the patient of the uſe of his limbs; then a briſk vomit and the application, by friction, of warm medicated oil on the back bone, or on the inert limbs, will be of great ſervice.

The diſeaſe of children, called the rickets, after diſcharging the redundant lymph by vomits and detergent doſes of rhubarb, is to be cured by friction, and with woollen cloths properly fumigated.

It is not uncommon to ſee, in young ſe⯑dentary people, the ſkin diſcoloured, the muſcles lank, the face pale and variouſly diſ⯑figured [28]with puſtules; the ſpirits gener⯑ally in a low ſtate, and the body ſluggiſh. The cure is to excite the perſpiratory powers by bodily labour, friction, roaſt meat, and wine; and to heal the face by lenient in⯑noxious liniment.

Old ſtrains, and ſtubborn pains in the back, loins, and elſewhere, are, for the moſt part, curable by friction and medicated oil, and even incipient white ſwellings, that would otherwiſe cripple or render the limb uſeleſs, are thus to be diſperſed and deſtroyed.

Dry white ſcaly eruptions on the elbows and knees, even of long ſtanding, may be cured by friction and medicated oil;^* and here I muſt remark, that although the cure of the ſea ſcurvy may be obtained by the vegetable acid of oranges and lemons, yet I ſubmit to the conſideration of the ſurgeons of the navy, whether or not, rubbing the [29]oil of the rinds on the diſeaſed parts, would not accelerate the cure.

After fevers, and ſome chronical diſ⯑eaſes, the hair of the head falls off, either becauſe the ſkin ſhrinks and becomes dry, through want of nutritious juices, or becauſe through diſeaſed relaxation, the ſtabulum of the hair becomes too weak. In the firſt caſe, baldneſs may be cured by oily liniments. In the ſecond, good ſtrengtheners of the ſyſtem will be found moſt uſeful.

If this publication ſhould ſerve as a hint to a more enlarged mode of medical practice than the preſent, I ſhall, as a Clergyman of the Church of England, moſt heartily rejoice as having been the humble means of doing ſome good to my fellow-creatures.

It may be neceſſary here to obſerve, that I had been ſeven years in holy orders, before I became doctor of phyſic, at Leyden, never thinking it at all improper to blend two very uſeful profeſſions together, and more eſpe⯑cially, as our bleſſed Lord himſelf healed the diſeaſes of the body as well as of the ſoul.

Indeed, I am ſtrongly of opinion, as I have elſewhere obſerved in my Philan⯑thropic Monitor, that the public and private good reſulting from ſuch a union of profeſ⯑ſions, would be great and incalculable. The unbeneficed clergy (being phyſicians) would enlarge the ſphere of their uſefulneſs, eſpe⯑cially amongſt the poor people, and by ac⯑cepting moderate fees^* from the yeomanry and gentry, they would ſoon diſentangle themſelves from that poverty and diſtreſs, which is as ſubverſive of their reſpectabi⯑lity in civilized life, as of their deſerved comfort.

To the public at large, the advantages would be very great, having able prac⯑titioners always near at hand, and the pre⯑ſent enormous expence of cure ſo properly cut down as to exclude none from the benefit of good medical advice.

If it be ſaid, that the clergy would not be ſo competent in the healing art as the fa⯑culty, I will aſk why not? They have the ſame advantages of learning at Oxford and Cambridge, where there are hoſpitals, as other medical ſtudents, and if degrees in phyſic are thought to be particularly ho⯑nourable from Oxford and Cambridge, ſurely the competency ought not to be diſputed. By this union of profeſſions in the clergy, as phyſicians, no injury would be done to ſurgeons, apothecaries, and chymiſts, nor no injuſtice to phyſicians of eſtabliſhed fame and practice; for, if ſucceſsful, they would ſtill retain their patients, and even encreaſe the number, though, poſſibly, they might re⯑ceive fees more ſuitable to their reſpective merit.

☞ The Author will attend patients at home and abroad.

MILL HILL, HENDON, MIDDLESEX, AUGUST 31, 1797.