Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-01-18
HORRIBLE REMEDIES
THOSE USED BY DOCTORS IN THE
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

"a ~
fallen into the hands OF a local physi-
clan which graphically describes the
methods of surgery Of several centuries
ago. When 1t Is considered that anRs-
thetics were unknown In those ancient
days, the modus operandi Of the sur
geon of the sixteenth century must ap-
pear startlingly cruel In the light OF
the present day.
The work Is that of Ambrose Parey,
who in 1879, being then the much ia
nous "chirurgion" Of his day, publish
ed a bulky volume which became such
an established authority and held Its
place for 90 long a time that 10 years
afterward II was translated into Eng
llsh and published In London.
In his first book he considers the gen
eral phenomenon Of the body In health
and disease. and in the chapter relat-
ing to t~emperaments and humors he
writes. "An humor is called by physi-
clans what thing soever is liquid and
flowing in the body of living creatures
inclosed with blood" Proceeding to
the manifold divisions Of humors,"
he separates them into four parts, dis
tinct In color, taste, effects and quail
ties-namely. blood, phlegm, choler and
melancholy. Exact in his subdivisions,
he says: "All men ought to think that
such humors are wont to move at set
hours of the day as by a certain pc
cuiiar motion or tide. Therefore, the
blood flows from the ninth hour of the
night to the third hour Of the day;
choler to the ninth of, the day. Then
melancholy the blood flows from the
ninth hour of the night is under the
dominion Of phlegm."
Equally curious Is the following on
spirits, which he divides into ami
mall" vital" and 'naturall:"
1.-THE animal spirit hath taken his
seat in the brain. 1t is called animal
because it is the life. but the chief and
prime instrument thereof. Wherefore
it hath a most subtle and aery sub
stance. This animal spirit is made
and harbGred In the windings and fold
ings Of the veins and arteries of the
brain. brought thither sometimes of
the pure air or sweet vapor drawn in
by the nose in breathing. The vital
spirit is ext to it in dignity and ex-
cellency, which hath it's chief mansion
in the left ventFicIe of the heart. The
natural spirit. If such there be any,
hath it's station in the liver and veins"
Describing certain juggling and de-
ceitful ways of healing of cures by
such means as fear, surprise and wen
by music for spider bite, the music
causing the patient to dance so Justify
that he shakes all the poison out of his
system" he sums up some Of those
heroic remedies thus: II would not
cast the patient headlong out of a
window. but would rather cast them
sodainly, and thinking of no such
thing, into a great cistern filed with
cold water, with their heads foremost.
Neither would | take them out until
they had drunk a good quantity of
water. that by that sodain fall and
strong fear the matter causing the
frenzy might be carried from above
downward from the noble parts to the
ignoble."
A medicine upon which he dilates at
great length Is ''mummle." referred to
as the usual remedy for Commissions.
and he describes II as follows:
"Mummie is a liquor flowing from
the aromatick embalmens of dead bod
les. which becomes dry and hard and
being ground into medicine was lad
ministered either In whole or portion
to such al have fallen from high
places. the first and last medicine Of
almost all u practitioners at this day
In such a case"
He also gives some grewsome facts
connected with the preparation OF
"mummie" when he says: Certain Of
our French apothecaries. men won.
drous audacious and covetous to steal
by night the bodies OF such rs were
hanged and embalming them with salt
and drugs they dried them In an oven
so as to sell them thus a~duiterated In.
stead OF true murnmie. whereupon we
are thus compelled. both foolisiLy and
cruelty. 10 dpyour the niansied and
putrid particles of the carcas.es of the
basest people Of Egypt. or Of such as
are hanged. as though there were no
other way TO help or recover one bruis-
ed with a fall from a high place.
Il have not thought 1t ft In this
place" he says, TO omit the industry
or Nicholas P.cavt. the Duke OF Guise.
his surgeon, who. being called to a Ger
tam countrrulan to set his shoulder.
being out Of Joint, and finding none in
fhe place besides the patent and his
Wire. who might assist him In this
work. he put the patient. bound after
the aforementioned manner. to q ladder.
then Immediately he tyed a state at
me lower end of the ligature. which
was taStenen about the patients arm
above bis elbow, then put II so tyed un-
Ger 4 OF the steps of the ladder as
low as he could and got astride there.
upon and safe thereon with his whole
weight and N the same instant made
MS wife pluck the stool from under his |
rect. which. being done. the bone pres. |
entity came into Its place"
He also gravely discusses witches
n witchcra!t. the birth Of monsters |
with horns. hoofs and wings. ascr,b,nr |