The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-13
TALES FOR DOCTORS.
MARVELLOUS MEDICAL SUPERSTl-
TlONS OF THE MIDDLE AGES.

Napoleon and His Court Physician.
Curious Old Books-A Gambler Turned
Ouack-lIonumental Credulity OF the
Parisians Many Years Ago.
Some industrious calculator has discovered
that there arc incident, or at least possible,
to human life no less than 6, 400 distinct dis
orders with which the physician must con-
tend. In tho midst of such an array Of enc
mics nature contends Mature" says q
French philosopher, lis fighting with disease;
q blind man armed with q club-that is, tho
physician-comcs to settle the difference. He
first tries to make peace, and when he cannot
do this he lifts his club and strikes ut random.
If he strikes tho disease he kills it; if he
strikes nature he kills the patient" That may
be an uncertain sort of philosophy, but it IS
borne out by Napoleon, who once said to one
of his court physicians: "Belicve me, we had
better leave off these remedies Life is
fortress that neither you nor l know anything
about. Why throw obstacles i'll the way OF
its defence! Its own means are superior to
oil the apparatus of your laboratories. Med
icine is collection of uncertain prescriptions,
the results of which, taken collectively, are
more fatal than useful to mankind"
MEDICAL BOOKS AND PRESCRIPTIONS.
Sir Thomas Browne spends considerable
tinlo in disprovjng q common error ot his
time: that healing and the mysteries Of medi-
cine were q gift bestowed with coronation
upon royalty. This idea seems to have been
very generally held. In 1910 book was pub
Eshcd entitled, "The QueeneS Closet Opened:
or divers things necessary to be knowne col
lected out of sundry books, olde written, and
now brote into ono order. The several things
herein contained may be seen III the bookes
and tables followinge, written in tho yeare
of our Lorde God, 1910"
The titles Of the books were: "First. A
coppye of all such medicines wherewith ye
noble Countesse of O1enforde, most charit-
able, in her owne persone, did mayne create
md notable cures upon poor neighbours. i"
The second book is entitled: "Here beginneth
n true coppye of such medicines whcrewith
Mistress Johan Ounstead, daughter unto the
worshipfule Mr. John Ounstead, alderman of
London, hath cured many forlorne and dead
lie Diseases" A sample Of the prescriptions
is as follows: "To cure freckles, take the
bloude of hare, annoynte them with it, and
it will doc them away" And another: "For
forgetting and weakeninge of the understand
ing. If the hearte, eye, or brayne Of black
plover be hanged about q mans neck, it is
profitable asaynste forgetfullnesse and
sharpeth mans understandings" The book
also contains score of prescriptions against
lovesickness, and innumerable philters and
love charms
In the year 1T76 a doctor Travelled over
Germany who called himself the "Rainwater
Doctor" His remedy for all diseases was
this ono cure, either applied or taken inwardly.
Wonderful cures were wrought, we are told,
and multitudes hocked after him to be healed
A GAMBLER TURNED oUACK.
Sanders has q story of q most notorious
gambler of Paris named Mantacinni, who,
having squandered oil his fortune, sought to
retrieve his losses by turning quack He
started his carriage, and made tours Of the
country, pompously protesting to effect cures
of all diseases with q single touch, or even
look. Failing in this he essayed bolder
claim, that of raising the dead ut will. To
remove all doubt he announced that in GER
tain city he would in fifteen days go to the
churchyard and call to life all tho dead,
though they had been buried for years. This,
of course, excited q general murmur against
him, but he at once went to tho magistrate
and asked to be put under strict guard and
held, to prevent his escape until he had made
good his claim. This inspired the greatest
confidence, and the whole city came to con-
suit the mighty savant and to buy his eau de
vic. His consultations were numerous, and
ho received tremendous fees. At length, as
the day drew near, his confederate, who was
attired as his valet, expressed his fear, and
suggested an attempt at escape. The doctor"
shrugged his shoulders and said: "You do
not know mankind-wait." Scarcely had he
spoken when a servant brought letter from
o. prominent citizen saying: 'Sir, the great
operation you are about to perform has broken
my rest and 1nadc my life burden. I have
q wife buried for some years, who was a
fury, and I I'm unhappy enough in her
memory without her resurrection. In tho
name of heaven, do not make tho experiment,
which I have every reason to believe will bo
n success. I will give you fifty louis if
YOU will keep your secret to yourself"
Soon after two dashing beaux arrived, who
besought him to desist. Their father had
been the greatest miser in tho city, and if he
were to return they would be reduced from
the swell of their afIlucnce to paupery. They
offered him fec of 100 louis, but the doctor
shook his head in doubtful compliance I'm
nediately came young widow OH the eve of
matrimony, who threw herself at the feet Of
tho quack, and with so5s besought him to de-
sist. From morning until night fees poured
in, and letters and messengers besought him
to desi5t. The whole city was in confusion,
so that the mayor camo and said: 'Sir,
have not the least doubt, from my experience
of your rarc and wonderful talents, that you
will accomplish easily the resurrection in our
churchyard tho day after tomorrow, accord
ing to your promise. But, pray you, see
how our whole city is in confusion. Your
experiment must prove dreadful revolution
in every family. I entreat you, therefore,
not to attempt it. but so your way and re-
store tranquility to the city. In justice, how
ever to your rare talents, shall give you a
parchment, under the seal Of tho city, testify
Ing that you can raise the dead, and that it
was our own fault that we were not eye wit
ncsscs of your power" And the certificate
Mantacinni did receive, and went back to
Paris loaded down with gold as a result of
the credulity and superstition of his victims.-
Chicago Herald.