Introduction - Uppsala Monitoring Centre

elonging to the body of man are treated of, with excellent methods
and receipts for the cure of the same: fitted to the meanest capacity
by an index for the explaining of all the hard and unusual words and
terms of art derived from the Greek, Latine, or other languages for
the benefit of the English reader: with forty copper plates.’ (Willis,
Thomas, 1684).
‘Of vomiting and medicines that give vomits.
As to the distinction of vomits, and the several ways or reasons of
their working, since they are commonly divided into two sorts, to wit,
such as are more gentle, and those that are more strong; whereof
the former carry their force, and power or virtue in view (as it were)
declaring their irritative or provoking quality by manifest signs; as
when a decoction of hyssop or carduus, an infusion of the roots of
squills, or radish, disolved vitriol, warm water or water mingled with
honey (if you drink a great draught of it) and the like (which upon the
first sight or taste move the stomach) are given for vomits: and when
they are given, it oftentimes is necessary for them to be aided by the
irritation of the palate and throat in order to their producing of a vomit.
Secondly, The stronger vomits (which are more properly so called)
are such medicines, that if they are taken in a due quantity they
move most people to vomit; as for example, white hellebore, nux
vomica, vitriol, with many preparations of them and mercury: which
though they are useful, yea very necessary in Physick, yet in their
nature and virtues, wherein their vomiting quality consists, they seem
to differ very little from poison: wherefore if they are taken in a dose
too great, they often are the death of the patient.’
Archer, John, fl. 1660–1684. ‘Secrets disclosed of consumptions
shewing [h]ow to distinguish between scurvy and venereal disease :
also, how to prevent and cure the fistula by chemical drops without
cutting, also piles, haemorrhoids, and other diseases’ by John
Archer. 1684.
‘a person is afflicted with a Venereal Distemper, that for want of a
skilful Doctor, takes Physick from the ignorant, who poisons the Body
with Mercury; thence I frequently find bad and dangerous symptoms
following, as pain in the Head, Neck, Back, Teeth, Deafnes, Dimness
of Sight, Distillations, at length [...] Consumption; and without proper
Medicines Anti-venereal and Anti-mercurial, the noble parts are
assaulted and overcome, and so the do make the number of them in
the Weekl[...] Bills of Mortality dead of a Consumption therefore to
prevent Death before the accomplishment.’