THE Scrophula, or what is vul­garly called the King's Evil, I shall now consider. The Word Scrophula (says a learned Writer) signifies a praeternatural Tumour or Humour, produced by a particular Acidity of the Serum of the Blood, either in Gland, Muscle, or Membrane, which it both coagulates and indurates, or in the Mar­row, which it always dissolves, and also putrifies the Bone. Let us consider a lit­tle this Definition: It says, it is a prae­ternatural Tumour, or Humour; who doubts the Truth of the King's Evil, Tu­mours and Ulcers being contrary to the Intention and Design of Nature, and consequently are praeternatural? Next it [Page 10]says, it is produced (that is, a Tumour or Humour) by a particular Acidity of the Se­rum of the Blood. This seems indeed to be the general Opinion of most Authors I have met with on this Subject, who usually follow each other, like Pack-Horses in the same Track: But that other Causes may have the same Effects, I shall by and by endeavour to demonstrate. The Nature of Acidity, according to this Definition, both coagulates and indurates. Coagu­lation is performed on Milk by Acids, that is, turning the Milk into a Curd, it supposes the Acidity, or Sourness of the Serum of the Blood does the same, that is, curdles in the fine Vessels it enters into. But because Vinegar, Lemon Juice, &c. are acid on the Tongue, must they be so in the Blood? What mad Work must Vinegar, or other Acids produce, mixt with it, let every one judge? Pray think what Quantities of Vinegar Newmarket Jockeys drink for a Month or two toge­ther, to reduce themselves to a proper Weight for Riding Races, and then tell me of any Instance of the Scrophula be­ing produced by that Regimen. Besides, [Page 11]if this was the Case, why should not the Serum be as soon coagulated or curdled in the large Vessels as in the finer? which we see it is not, though the Serum of the Blood contains a proportional Quantity of this particular Acidity in the large Vessels, as well as in the small: And I am apt to think, that the larger the Quantity of Liquor, the sooner it will turn sour, and more sharp the Acidity; which I take to be the Reason, why the Vinegar Makers use such large Casks, even to the holding a hundred Barrels of Liquor in one Body.

I HAVE observed my Patients that have had Sores or Ulcers in their Mouths or Throats, have never complained of, or perceived any Sourness or Acidity of Taste, from the purulent Matter they have spit out, though I have been very inquisitive in that Particular, but they have always de­clared they had a very salt Taste from the Matter discharged by Spittle.

THAT there is in the Spirit of human Blood a great Hostility (according to Mr. Boyle) or an Antipathy in reference to Acids, has been plainly intimated, and likewise to many Sorts of Acid Spirits, [Page 12]as of Spirit of Salt, Spirit of Nitre, Spi­rit and Oil of Vitriol, &c. and not only against factitious Acids, but natural ones too, which he proves by many Experi­ments, as the Curious may see in his Na­tural History of human Blood, where he also says, as far as he has been able to observe, the Spirit of human Blood is manifestly preferable to that Classis, that many call Volatile Alcalies, because it makes such great Conflicts with divers Acid Spirits, as Spirit of Salt, Aqua For­tis, &c. and it will immediately turn Sy­rup of Violets from blue to green, &c. performing such other Things, that may be expected from Volatile Alcalies as such. And he seems strongly to intimate, that there are very few (if any Acid Particles at all) in the Blood, or even in the diges­tive Ferment of the Stomach. But that great Quantities of Volatile alcalious Salts are contained in the Spirit of human Blood, he proves by many undeniable Experi­ments, which if true, must naturally de­stroy all Acidity in the Blood itself; so that consequently, it cannot be a particu­lar, or any Acidity at all in the Blood, that produces the Scrophula.

THOUGH Spirit of Salt and Oil of Vi­triol (which are strong Acids) will pro­duce a Curd-like Substance dropped into the Serum of the Blood, so will Oil of Tartar per Deliquium (which is a strong alcalizate Salt) and also highly rectified Spirit of Wine, and many other alcalious Substances, do the like.

FROM what has been said, it appears, that there can be no Acidity at all in the Blood: But much Alcaline Salt there is very capable of producing all the Symp­toms and scrophulous Complaints attend­ing this Disorder.

THE Induration spoken of in the same Definition, I take to be only the Curd­like Matter, hardned by Length of Time, and thrust or squeezed closer together by the Addition of more of the same Mat­ter. That the Marrow in the Bones is dissolved, I have had no Opportunity to observe, by not seeing any Amputation performed in this Disorder. That the Bones often scale, and throw off Honey­comb-like Exfoliations, or Pieces, and are also much corroded, I have frequently met with. But why will not a sharp [Page 14]corosive Salt cause this Corrosion on hu­man Bones, as well as common Sea Salt on the softer Bones and Gristle-like Sub­stances of raw Beef, when long salted in the Pickling-Tub? I make no doubt but it will.

THE Reason why this Disease is called the King's Evil, as I apprehend, is be­cause it has been often cured by the Royal Touch of our Kings in this Island, from Edward the Confessor's Time (and how long before I have seen no Account) down to the late Queen Anne's Reign. This has been the Subject of much debate amongst the Learned, because great Cures have been sometimes effected that Way, when other Means have miscarried; and other Means have often succeeded, when the Royal Touch has failed. What then shall we say? In my humble Opinion, there is something in the Nature of Gold itself very beneficial in this Disorder, I don't mean laid into the Hand of the Physician by Way of Fee, or pocketed by a Surgeon or Apothecary, but worn about the Patient's Neck, by a white Sat­tin Ribband, hanging down to the Pit of [Page 15]the Stomach. How often are Gold Ear-rings and Gold Beads for Necklaces worn for what People call Kernels, in and about the Neck and Throat, and for sore Eyes, which are all common Appearances in this Distemper, and not without some Benefit, as I believe many young Women can testify?

I VERILY believe that Gold being con­tinually worn at the Pit of the Stomach, next the Skin, has often had great and good Effects, but then People will not attend with Patience enough the Success of such a gentle operating Remedy; for no doubt, but the fine Effluvia of the Gold being constantly heated by the Sto­mach, and continually rubbed against it, will insinuate many of its fine Particles through the Pores of the Skin into the Blood and Spirits, and mixing in Time with the Juices of the Body, have very salutary Effects. But then I would re­commend a Piece of fine Gold, without alloy, as large as a 36 s. Piece, to be used for that Purpose. But this is too charge­able an Application for my poor Patients Use, though I sincerely think in many [Page 16]Cases it would be very beneficial, espe­cially to young Subjects, whose Stomachs are warm, and the Disease in its Infancy. Scrophulous Cases, says Dr. Leigh, may be ranked amongst the opprobria Medico­rum, or Scandal of Physicians; and after his Description of the Distemper in its various Appearances and Effects, con­cludes; I could wish our learned Chirur­geons in this Case, would make their ut­most Applications, for the Discovery of some Specifick, to correct this Humour. You see, this learned Gentleman ingeni­ously owns, the Nature and Cure of this Disease was very little known by any of the Faculty in his Time.

SIR Richard Blackmore says it exceeds the Penetration and Capacity of human Understanding, to unravel and display those anomalous Clues and Convolutions proper to strumous Swellings, and to set their Nature and Constitution in a clear and distinct View; and that the acutest Men cannot penetrate and clearly unfold the essential Difference of this Disease. This, I think, sufficiently strengthens Dr. Leigh's Observations of the small Progress [Page 17]that has been made in the Nature and Cure of the King's Evil. Having but just mentioned the Opinions of these two learned Physicians, for more particular Accounts I refer the Reader to their Works, and shall proceed with my own Thoughts and Observations.

SETTING aside then the Doctrine of Acid and Alcaly, let us consider the Na­ture of Salts, and whether they are capa­ble of producing the Complaints and Ap­pearances appendent to scrophulous Disor­ders. That human Blood abounds with great Quantities of Volatile Salts (is suffi­ciently demonstrable by observing only the Sweat and Urine) which are composed of Corpuscules, or Particles of very differing Shapes and Sizes, as Mr. Boyle clearly proves, who after many Experiments, has found, that these saline Concretions exhi­bit very different Appearances; some are strait, some crooked, with various Inter­ferings, representing Branches of Trees, Hartshorn, Feathers, &c. Yet, says he, these seem not to be constant Representa­tions depending upon the particular Na­ture of human Blood, but casual Figura­tions that depend upon several accidental Causes and Circumstances. Now this Scrophula is very often an hereditary Dis­ease, and conveyed by Parents: How fine then must the Seeds (if I may so call [Page 18]them) of this Distemper be? yet so it is. As every Acorn contains an Oak rapt up within its Surface, till Time and Vege­tation discover its Trunk and spreading Branches; so is it with this Disorder. If the Seeds are born with us, they lie dor­mant in our Blood till a proper Time and a convenient Disposition of that Liquor, and the nervous Juices of the Body, cause them to grow and expand into grievous Complaints, and terrible Symptoms.

THE Blood, which seems to be the principal Seat of this Disorder, is divided into two Parts; the one called the Fibrous, consisting of great Numbers of fine smooth red Globules, continually floating in the other, which is a clear lympid Liquor, called the Serum, or serous Part, which conveys these fine Globules to all Parts of the human Fabrick, in some Degree or other. Now if any of these red Glo­bules are broken change their Figure, or are obstructed in their Passage by the Serum becoming glutinous, or being in too small or too large a Quantity, or dis­ordered by any praeternatural Commotion or Ferment, the Circulation through the finest Vessels will be the first impeded and hindered, as in the Glands, &c. Now think, if it is not agreeable to Reason, that as the Globules and Serum of the Blood may both contain a larger Portion [Page 19]of these Volatile Salts when the Blood is disordered by any praeternatural Cause; and may not these Salts shoot into very different Figures and Sizes from what they were in their natural State, according to the Nature of the Humours or Distem­pers that are latent in the Blood? And as these Salts are frequently of very per­plexing and entangling Figures, may we not reasonably suppose, that those irre­gular figur'd Bodies (carried along in the Road of Circulation) by crossing and en­tangling each other, may cause Stoppages and Obstructions in the fine Tubes and Strainers of the Body, as the Glands par­ticularly are? And by a continual Acces­sion of these perplexing Bodies, distend the obstructed Vessels (by Length of Time) into Tumours, which are often indurated or hardened, till sometimes by their cor­rosive Quality they fret their Way through the Skin, and break into Ulcers. What can this proceed from, but the red glo­bular Particles, or fibrous Part of Blood, being stopped by the figur'd Salts, and the serous Part strain'd as through a Net or Sieve from the fibrous? The Serum for want of these smooth red globular Particles being mixed with it, becomes clear, tenacious, and sizey, the minute Parts of the Serum not being sufficiently separated and divided by those smooth [Page 20]Globules as before, and rubbing against each other, are thereby rendered acrimo­nious and fretting, and become produc­tive of grievous Complaints, hard to be removed. Tumours and Ulcers gene­rated by these or the like Means, are brought to a good Digestion with great Difficulty, and very probably not till the remaining red globular Particles of the Blood can be again mixed in some De­gree with the clear Serum, and form one circulating Fluid of Blood and Spirits as before, which I suppose to be effected by melting, absorbing, altering or removing those saline acrimonious Particles that formed the Obstructions.

Now let us consider likewise the fi­brous Part of the Blood, or red Glo­bules, which being unable to pervade or pass this Rete or Strainer produced by these irregular figur'd Salts, and to ac­company the Serum in its Progress, are there stopped, and being spqueezed and crowded close together for want of this Liquor to float them forward through the fine Vessels, obstruct the Spirits, putrify and turn into a Curd-like Substance, till it is digested by Art or Nature into a soft Pus or Matter, and so expelled its Nest. What is more common than to see large scrophulous Ulcers (especially in the more fleshy Parts) look of a deep red Colour [Page 21]far round their Lips or Edges, which I apprehend to proceed from these red Globules being separated from the Serum, and stagnating in those Parts, until a proper Digestion is procured, and then the Redness gradully disappears, and at the same Time you may often observe a clear transparent Liquor stand in dewy Drops on that red Surface of the Skin through which it has exudated? Which I think a sufficient Demonstration that the serous Part of the Blood is in this Dis­order strained or separated from the fi­brous, and visible even to the naked Eye. And I have always found by Experience, that as the Quantity of this clear limpid Liquor has decreased, the Ulcer has dis­charged a more laudable Pus, the Red­ness insensibly worn off, and then the Ulcer has healed up with very little Ap­plication more than dry Lint.

SHOULD I attempt to mention all Parts subject to this Disorder, I must name every individual of the human Fabrick, for I know of none exempt from this ter­rible Malady, no not even the Bones themselves; for in my Course of Practice I have had this verified by repeated Ob­servations: I have had a Patient afflicted with Tumours and Ulcers from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot, and in above twenty different Places be­sides [Page 22]at once, the major Part of which have been cured by the Application of dry Lint only, and the Remainder by very simple Applications, and but very little Physick. But such bad Cases re­quire much Time to make a perfect Cure. For any-body must think, that a Disease brought into the World with one, and so interwoven with the Constitution, and grown up with it, must have much Time and Patience ere it can be totally subdued and eradicated from the Blood and Spi­rits. Though I have never seen any Dis­sections of the human Body, yet I may guess from what I observe without, that the Stomach, Bowels, and Intestines, &c. are no less disordered within, which must infallibly be the Source of many fa­tal Consequences, unless removed by Art or Nature, as sometimes may be the Case. Every the least Tube or Strainer in the whole human Frame may possibly be tor­mented by the Seeds of this Disorder, as they begin to expand, and long before they arrive to a Bulk perceiveable by the Eye or Touch. Unusual Prickings and Dashings, and Sickness at the Stomach, and Uneasiness in many Parts, are com­mon Complaints in the beginning of this Disease: What can these proceed from, but the Assemblage of sharp, saline, in­terfering Particles, endeavouring to force [Page 23]their Way through these fine Strainers by Stops and Starts. The upper Lip swelled, Eyes inflamed, the Glands about the Jaws, Neck, Throat, and Shoulders, tumified, show this Disorder rather sooner (though not always) than most other Parts. The Backs of the Hands, Elbows, Arm-Pits, Ribs and Ancles, are fre­quently affected, and as the Disorder en­creases, the softer Bones feel its Effects, which if they exfoliate, are often cured, if not, usually terminate in malignant Ulcers of a cancerous Nature, and bring the Patient at Length to an End.

THAT the King's Evil is a Disease, sui Generis, or after its own Kind, I can readily admit. But then how often is it complicated and blended with others, as the Gout, Venereal Evil, White Swel­lings in the Knees, &c. which seem to have a near Affinity with it, by affecting the Bones and Joints much in the same Manner? But the various Combinations and Degrees of each particular Malady that may at the same Time seize on the human System, I believe is impossible to be distinguished and ascertained. Then how can we range the various Swellings common or extraordinary, that arise on the Surface of the Body, or lie almost concealed among the Muscles, and are at­tended with such novel Appearances every [Page 24]Day, without knowing every particular Degree, of every particular Disease, and their Consequences, that may possibly be at once uniting in the same Body and its Members? What may probably be the immediate Cause of this Distemper, I have already hinted at; but the more re­mote ones, I may venture to assert, are as numerous as the different Appearances of Tumours and Ulcers in all Parts of the Body put together. I should soon wade out of my Depth, if I attempted to un­fold such intricate and perplexing Combi­nations, or the Forms and essential Pro­perties of those fine Particles of hidden Matter, as may contribute to the Forma­tion of the King's Evil, and have puzzled so many judicious and learned Physicians, and may still do so for Ages to come.

I SHALL now proceed to say something relative to the Cure of this obstinate Dis­ease. If we search the most eminent Authors in pursuit of a Cure for this Dis­temper, we shall find ourselves miserably disappointed, says a late Writer: I say so too. Therefore as their Prescriptions sel­dom answer the desired End, I shall take no Notice of them, but pursue my own Way of Thinking. I have no great Opi­nion of discussing of Tumours (unless the Face is likely to be much deformed by them, especially of the Female Sex; or [Page 25]when the Eyes are inflamed, and very troublesome, then I think such a Remedy is justifiable) because the peccant Matter is only removed from one Part to another, and not cured, but still subsists in the Blood and Spirits, and may possibly be thrown on a more noble and dangerous Part, and do much more Harm than can be easily imagined.

MY Patients have often told me (to use their own Way of Expression) that they have had Swellings in their Necks, or other Places, and Neighbour such a one told 'um, if they did them with Vinegar, 'twould put them away, which it sometimes did, but in a little Time others arose in their Stead in other Parts, that would not yield to their old Remedy. If they were Parish Poor, and looked af­ter by the Year, they fell to my Share, because nothing was to be got by them, and 'twould cost a deal of Trouble and Expence for Physick for such poor Wretches, who were better out of the Way. How unhappy are poor People, to be thus cruelly used by some mercenary Physick-Mongers? How many funest Ex­amples are in every one's Memory (if they would recollect a little) of some Neighbours, or Acquaintance, that have even destroyed themselves, by backing or striking in Humours (as it is called) [Page 26]and repelling them to some mortal Part? This Practice is too frequent with the Fair Sex; I hope they will think seriously for the future, and do so no more. If any Reasons occur to make Repellents neces­sary, I then order proper Purgatives to carry off the morbifick Matter, cleanse the Blood, and prevent any Danger from such a Revulsion. Issues or Setons I never use, and often dry them up, for I could never perceive any Benefit accrue to the Patient from them. If Ulcers discharge the offending Matter lodged in or near them, why should we invite it another Way, and not follow the Road Nature has pointed out? What are Ulcers, but so many natural Issues, which will dis­charge themselves, if a good Digestion is procured, as long as any offending Mat­ter subsists in or near them, and then dry up of course, unless hindred by Art? Why then should we make an artificial Ulcer that Nature wants not? Nay, is even detrimental to it, by encreasing a Discharge, which we are endeavouring to diminish, and wholly subdue.

SALT Water being much in Vogue, I shall give my Thoughts on it as a Remedy for the King's Evil. I had a Patient troubled with a very painful Inflamma­tion of the Eyes, which had baffled the Skill of all she had applied to in London, [Page 27](and being a Person of Fortune, be sure no Advice was wanting) she was sent to the Sea Side to drink the Salt Water, which she did for a Month, and returned much worse: When I saw her, I soon perceived the Disorder to be scrophulous; she kept in a dark Room, not being able to abide the least Gleam of Light, complained of intolerable dashing Pains in her Forehead, and Eyes, which discharged great Quan­tities of clear Water, so scalding and cor­rosive, that it excoriated the Skin where it flowed down the Cheeks. This Lady's Complaints were afterwards removed by a most simple and easy Remedy, which I apply in those Cases, and seldom miss of a Cure. What I would observe from this is, that the saline Particles of the Water, which she drank so long, added more Matter of a similar Nature to what was too abundant in the Blood and Spirits al­ready, which entirely convinces me that drinking Salt Water is wrong in scrophu­lous Cases of the Eyes; and bathing for them, I believe, to be equally hurtful, for we know many saline Particles may in bathing be absorbed through the Pores of the Skin by the Blood, and so unite with those already there. Observe what Lord Bacon says, "As it seemeth Salt draweth Blood, as well as Blood draw­eth Salt." That is, they reciprocally [Page 28]attract each other. Extirpating of tumi­fied Glands (which is no unfrequent Prac­tice) I have never used, either by the Knife, or Cautery, actual or potential; neither can I approve the Method, though I own its the most painful. I have had some Patients with me, whose Glands have been thus treated, and to all Appearance quite cured, and for a Time well; but as the Humour was not thereby eradicated out of the Blood and Spirits, it broke out again in fresh Places, which brought them to me. These fresh Complaints I have afterwards cured with easy and gentle Applications. Sometimes indeed, where the Disorder has been mild, and invaded but few Glands, and the Seeds of the Dis­ease wholly contained in them, Extirpa­tion has done the Deed. But if these tumified Glands can be reduced to their natural State by a less dangerous and painful Way (though indeed not so quick­ly) and no Danger of any Tumours ari­sing elsewhere: Which shall we choose, the more quick, painful, and uncertain, or the more slow, easy, and sure Method of Cure? How many have been salivated without receiving any Good? Instances of this Kind I have met with in my Prac­tice, more than once. A learned Physi­cian writes, "A Salivation is found by [Page 29]Experience incapable of eradicating this obstinate Disease, notwithstanding it has such peculiar Specifick, and almost certain Virtue to remove the Venereal Evil. Which plainly proves (as I think) the Seeds or Causes of the two Distempers to be very different; and confutes the vulgar Notion, that the Ve­nereal Evil is the Parent of the King's Evil; for if they both spring from the same Original, why are they not removed by the same Means? Which we find they are not; but when united in the same Subject, its rational to think they encrease each others Malignity, and render the Cure more uncertain and difficult.

MOST People afflicted with scrophu­lous Disorders in their Eyes, are very fond of hood-winking or covering them from the Light and Air, which is the worst Method they can take, for it not only encreases the Inflammation, but in­vites the Humour that Way, and conse­quently occasions a greater Discharge from them, which should be carried off ano­ther Way, and which is often of so cor­rosive a Nature, as to excoriate and fret the Skin of the Face, as it distils down the Cheeks: I always make them throw away their Coverings, either going to Bed, or rising in the Morning, to prevent tak­ing Cold, by too suddenly exposing their [Page 30]Eyes; and my Success has always war­ranted this Practice. After disapproving others Proceedings in the Cure of this Disorder, it may be asked, why I don't publish my own, which I think so much better? To such Enquirers I answer: The Medicines I use are very innocent and common Things, but the Prepara­tion is curious and difficult, and takes much Time to compleat. Should I di­vulge it, very few People (except the Compounders of Medicine) would attend the Process, or take the Trouble of it; and how little Good will a vitiously pre­pared Medicine do, is obvious to any one: And as the common Labourers, and Han­dicraftsmen, their Wives and Children, make the Bulk of my Patients, it is above their Capacity, and of no Use to tell them any Thing about it, more than what is necessary to their right managing themselves under the Regimen I direct, and to give them the plainest and simplest Directions possible, as well as to use the easiest Means for their Recovery. As to the Sellers of Medicines, I think they can have no claim to reap any Advantage from my Labour and Experience. The better Sort of Families infected by this Disease are really more to be pitied, than the very lowest Class of the People, for they are but too often amused with falla­cious [Page 31]and flattering Accounts of their own real Disorders (of this in particular, and as Dr. Radcliff truly observed) kept in Misery for their Money. And to every one in general I say, nobody has any Cause to complain of keeping the Thing to myself, for every one that pleases, and has the King's Evil, may apply to me, and reap the same Benefit, as well as if they knew the whole Process. (Great I know) is the general Clamour against Se­crets, Nostrums, and old Wives Medi­cines, as some please to call them; but I would fain know, if any prudent Person would refuse to be cured by a safe and in­nocent Medicine, unless he knew the whole particular Preparation and Compo­sition; or because I don't choose to make that Discovery of my Methods that pub­lick Curiosity or Censure may expect? Did Dr. James publish the Preparation of his Fever Powder, yet I believe few Peo­ple in their Senses would scruple the Use of it? If the candid, humane, and ge­nerous Physicians an Surgeons smile on my Endeavours for the Publick Good, let the envious, snarling, and covetous Prac­titioners blame me if they please, for not treating my Patients Secundum Artem (as they term it) that is, by not making long Bills.

I SHALL mention but one Thing more: Many People who have seen the amazing Effects of my Applications, often tell me, they hope I will not let the Secret, and its Improvements, die with me; I do not intend it shall; for I carefully write down every Patient's Complaints, the Methods I use, and the Success that follows, as far as I can be informed by themselves or Neighbours, who come to me on their Recommendation, by which Means I frequently hear of People I have cured, who living at a Distance, and being free from their Complaints, take no further Notice of me; though all I desire for my Trouble is, to hear from themselves, either by Letter, or Word of Mouth, when they are well: But all my Patients are not so forgetful of their Benefactor. My Papers and Observations relating to the Cure of the King's Evil, I hope will fall into the Hands of my Executor: And may he use them to the Benefit of Man­kind in general, an the Poor in particu­lar, with the same Success, and charitable Intentions, as I have done.