Domestic medicine : or, a treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines. With an appendix, containing a dispensatory for the use of private practitioners. ... To which is now added, a complete index / by William Buchan.

  • Buchan William, 1729-1805.
Date:
1806
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Domestic medicine : or, a treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines. With an appendix, containing a dispensatory for the use of private practitioners. ... To which is now added, a complete index / by William Buchan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    to others, it is certainly of importance to know these, in order that people may be upon their guard against them. It is always better to be warned of the approach of an enemy than to be sur- prised by him, especially where there is a possibility of avoid- ing the danger. The observations concerning Diet, Air, Exercise, &c. are of a more general nature, and have not escaped the attention of phy- sicians in any age. They are subjects of too great importance, however, to be passed over in an attempt of this kind, and can never be sufficiently recommended. The man who pays a pro- per attention'to these, will seldom need the physician ; and he who does not, will seldom enjoy health, let him employ as many physicians as he pleases. Though we have endeavoured to point out the causes of dis- eases, and to put people upon their guard against them, yet it must be acknowledged that they are often of such a nature as to admit of being removed only by the diligence and activity of the public magistrate. We are sorry, indeed, to observe that the power of the magistrate is very seldom exerted in this country for the preservation of health. The importance of a proper me- dical police is either not understood, or very little regarded. Many things highly injurious to the public health are daily prac- tised with impunity, while others absolutely necessary for its preservation are entirely neglected. Some of the public means of preserving health ate mentioned in the general prophylaxis, as the inspection of provisions, widen- ing the streets of great towns, keeping them clean, supply- ing the inhabitants with wholesome water, &e. ; but they are passed over in a very cursory manner. A proper attention to these would have swelled this volume to too large a size ; 1 have therefore reserved them for the subject of a future publication. In the treatment of diseases, I have been peculiarly atten- tive to regimen. The generality of people lay too much stress upon medicine, and trust too little to their own endeavours. It is always however, in the power of die patient, or of those