The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-19
WESLEY'S PRIMITIVE PHYSIC.'



Pail Mall Gazette.
We are not surprised to hear that the
new abridged edition of John wesley's
Journal Is already In it's tenth edition.
Pure, unaffected and undying English" as
Edward FitzGerald wrote of the original
many-volumed one, is contained in these
pages. Before me just now, however, is a
very different little volume by the same
author. Primitive Physic: or, An Easy
and Natural Method of Curing Most Dis
eases, by John Wesley A. NJ" 1t was pub
lished first in 1747, and 1t would be difficult
now 10 procure a copy. Flyleaves within
it's quaint cover contain some curious old
recipes, in the old-fashioned handwriting
Of zone of the People called Methodists."
Here is. for instance, balsamic cordial
for the lungs, which is warranted to cure
within three weeks lone who is almost set
tied in consumption" 1t contains. with
other ingredients, little old rum; but
other recipes are given for the making Of
various nonalcoholic beers of those herbal
properties so much in favor with the more
sensible of our old world country folk
The motto on its title page is character
istic of John Wesley. Homo sum: humani
nihil q me alienum puto." He reminds us
| in the preface that ''the ancients usually
| assigned physic a divine original" and
adds: Indeed, ii was a natural thought
that He who had taught 1t to the very
beasts and birds, the Cretan stag, the
Egyptian ibis, could not be wanting to
teach man.. 'Sanctius his animal, mentisque
capacius altae.' Yea. sometimes even by
| those meaner creatures, for it was easy to
| infer, If this will heal that creature whose
| flesh is nearly of the same texture with
mine, then In q parallel case IL will heal
me The trial was made. the cure was
wrought, and experience and physic grew
| up together"
| In giving this little handbook TO the pub
| lie its author was careful to advise, where
/ life was in danger, that "a physician that
| fears God should be called without delay"
| The Christian Scientists and faith-healers
| of the present day would have found little
| favor in his sight, although family tradi-
| tons have handed down TO ourselves cures
resulting from simple faith, as he enjoined
| of the Grotto of Lourdes. He was much
| ahead of his times; In reference to one of
our great curative agencies of the present
| from personal knowledge, grounded on a
thousand experiments to be far superior to
all the other medicines l have known:
| those who are well wshers to mankind To
make full proof of this. Certainly it comes
| the nearest to a universal medicine of any
| yet known In the world" This was added
| Physic'' issued in 1760.
| Some of the recipes are very interesting
| We read that children in marshy districts
| have been cured of ague by wearing a
| waistcoat into which bark was quilted and
| in quartan ague, when the fit is coming on
| poultice, to the head, of the leaves and
| flowers of wall July flowers, beaten to-
| gether with little salt, is said TO be USE
| full. Here Is a cure for badness: Rub the
part morning and evening with onions TIL
| IL is red, and rub afterward with honey
| Or electrify IL daily" The bleeding of ar
| amputated limb may be stopped. without
| warily and the powder be strewn on the
| wound and bound on 1t. Two spoonfuls OF
nettle juice will stop the vomiting OF blood
In the latest edition of his book Mr. Yves
| ley marked those medicines he preferred tc
| the rest, where several are given, with ar
| asterisk or with the word Tried and the
markings show how wonderfully energetic
| and industrious he was in the cure of the
| body as well as In that of the soul. Indeed
| my grandfather, who was one of his dis.
| cipies. used TO have his children in his
| study every Saturday night, where. after
| teaching them their church catechism, h
instructed them from another little book
| also John Wesleys, / believe, called THE
Catechism on the Body" Whether thai
| was it's proper title, or only called so by
| his children, do not know, but / can ties
tify that they all did justice TO its teach
| was justified of her children" John Yves
| ley, himself who was. as we read, put b,
his mother Into a regular method of Twins
! from his BIRTH" lived and worked up Il
| the age of lightweight, when he died, al
| most in harness.