Introduction - Uppsala Monitoring Centre

A hacking cough convulsed him; he had agonising pain.
So he mixed hisself a powder, which he liked it more and more.
Ipecac. and opium and K 2 SO 4 ’ 135 (Anon, 1923; Weatherall, 1996).
‘Augustine Belloste, the author of this book “The Hospital Surgeon
containing several essays on mercury”, calls it (mercury) the miracle
of nature, and the greatest gift of God in the whole Materia Medica. 'I
appeal to the Reader, if such a person as I lately mentioned,
deserves the title of doctor. As for my part, though I am only but a
poor bachelor of physick, I shall for ever scorn so much, so
dishonourable a behaviour.’ (Belloste, 1733).
‘To procure the desired benefit from a salivation, it must be carried
to excess, and the patient must be reduced to the last extremity. If he
is weak, you must curb the Flux, and in thus favouring him, your end
is lost.
‘Everyone is sensible that all countries abound with a great
number of people of no service to the community, who are kept at a
considerable expense in hospital, on account of several real and
pretender Infirmities, which their manner of living, either in laziness,
or in fatigue and misery has brought upon them who pass for
incurable, and are really so at last, for want of using the only remedy
which is capable of curing them speedily and with small expense.
Cruel mercury taken at the mouth, would clear the hospital of them
all, and re-establish number of slothful vagabonds in a condition of
work, who under pretext of certain maladies, which they industriously
cherish and prolong–until this becomes contagious infect whole cities
and countries and extract alms, which they apply to evil use.’
(Belloste, 1721). He was obviously full of the milk of human
kindness.
‘A Treatise on Mercury with some remarks on the ancient physician’s
legacy by Henry Bradley. Physical and Philosophical remarks on Dr
Dover’s late pamphlet, entitled The Ancient Physician’s legacy to his
country.’
‘It is one thing to know how to bleed, purge, vomit, etc. and a
quite different thing to know when and under what circumstances
either the one or the other is to be chosen; how far to be allowed,
and when or by what means to be moderated and restrained. The
former may be got by reading, or learned by rote 136 ; but the latter
135 Dover’s powder = Ipecacuanha root 10 grammes; Opium 10 grammes; Potassium Sulphate 80 grammes,
dose 3 – 10 decigrams
136 By rote = learn by heart