A DEFENCE OF Dr. Oliphant's SHORT DISCOURSE Of the USEFULNESS of VOMITING in FEVERS, In ANSWER to The Melius inquirendum, etc.  
●n a LETTER to a Friend.  
Maledicus a Malefico non distat, nisi occasione.  Quintil. 
EDINBURGH, ●rinted by J. W. for Thomas Carruthers, and sold at his Shop in the Parliament coloss, Anno Dom. M. DC.XC.IX.   

Sir,  
YOur Surprise was but equal to my own, when you saw the Answer to Dr. O's Discourse about Vomiting in ●evers; the passing over his Reasoning with seeming Negligence, and the Wresting ●nd Suppressing his Quotations, were but ●●ch Replies as the Dr. expected, seeing ●here could be no other: But the Represen●tion of the Matter of Fact is so grossly false, ●nd doth so consist with my own Knowledge, that I thought myself, in Justice and friendship, obliged to make you and the ●orld acquainted with it. And here I shall ●ot insist on the Dr's own Assertion, which 〈◊〉 you and me who know him, will go fur●er than that of the Answerer. But a ●entleman of Undoubted Credit, who was ●y when the Dr. was first called, told me, ●hat when he proposed Vomiting to the Pa●ent, he so far disowned the getting of several Vomits before, that he told the Dr. he ●as sure it was the only thing would do him ●ood, and that he was sorry he had not cal●ed him sooner. And for the Answerer's Appealing to the Apothecary's File, by which, ●e says, it is manifest he had been Vomited seeral times, though I had heard Mr Montelth, whom the Patient employed as such, openly affirm the contrary, yet I could not imagine any Man would be so Barefaced, without some Ground, so that to be fully satisfied, I went with the Dr. to the Shop, and not only saw the Ordinaries Bills, but got a Copy of them written by the Apothecary's own Servant, and Attested by him and his Master who was present, to be the only had been ordered before the Dr. was called▪ They are as follows.  
July 12. R. Decoct. Com. pro Clyst. Lib. 1. In Colat. dissolve. Elect. lenit. unc. 1. semis. Mel. Merc. unc. 1. Sal. Prunel. dr. 1. F. Clyster.  
R. Amygd. d. exc. no. x. sem. 4. frig. maj. a dr. 1. pap. alb. dr. 11. cum s. q. Aq. Font. F. Emulsio, ad lib. 1. In Colat. dissolve. sach. cand. Aq. Cinam. a. unc. semis.  
July 13. R. Decoct. amar. cum dupl. senna. unc. 4. in Colat. dissolve. sal. absinth. dr. semis. F. potio. And each of these was once repeated.  
And except the Answerer call Vomits an● Emollient Clyster, an Emulsion and the bitter Decoction with two Drachms of Senna, which is more proper for allaying of Vomiting than provoking it, there was not so much as the Vestige of any other.  
The Dr. did not think these worth mentioning in the Account he gave, because they were no way proportioned to the Greatness of the Disease, and what he had mentioned were the Remedies mostly insisted upon, and he said very justly, a Man might as reasonably expect to take a Fort with no better Artillery than Pen-guns, as to think to make such Evacuations as were evidently necessary by such Ineffectual Medicines. These Frightful Symptoms as want of Pulse, Spasms, etc. which we are told in the Answer, followed the taking the Vomit ordered by the Dr, are as false as that the Answerer had given one himself. And the Dr. was so far from being in any great Apprehension of Danger, that it was not his own Motion to call any other Physician, it was done to comply with the Desire of the Gentleman's own Lady, who had too near a Concern to be a proper Judge in the Affair, and who, without any Wonder, might be alarumed, when the Life of so kind and deserving a Husband seemed any way in Danger; When that other Physician and the Dr. came together, they found him in so Soft and Sound a Sleep, that they stayed a considerable time, before they would disturb him, so far was he from that low Pass the Answerer brings him to. And to vindicat what these two Gentlemen thought proper to be done afterwards, against any Reflections made by the Answerer, I think it is at least sufficient to oppone their joint Opinion against 〈◊〉 single one. As for the Dr's leaving the P●tient before he saw the Effect of the Vom it is of the same Piece with the rest, sei●● he was actually by him most part of all th● Day. That this is the true Matter of Fa●● any Man who will give himself the Troub●● to inquire may be satisfied, either from t●●● Apothecary, or the Gentleman himself, these who were Assistants. But it is no wo●der the Answerer had nothing but false Calumnies to stuff his Paper with, or you kno● Stultorum Thesaurus Maledicentia.  
Amongst the other Slanders he asperse the Dr. with, there can be none more Malicious than that of calling him a Banterer Scripture, and saying it was a Syrophenici● Story; which you and myself, and other who ever discoursed him on that head, kno● to be so false, that we have all the Reason the World to think the Dr. does more firmly and upon more solid Grounds believe tho● Sacred Truths contained in Scripture th●● any of his Accusers do: But it is easy to discover the base Motives of some People 〈◊〉 dispersing such Calumnies not only of him but of others who, I believe, are equally Innocent. But I shall wave all this, and ma●● hast to the Answers given to the Dr's Reason's and Authorities.  
And First, He passeth over the Dr's own ●easonings, by tellling he grants all; and ●hat the Dr. Discourseth concerning Blooding before Evacuations; he says concerns evacuations in general, and so leaves them ●s he found them. I have nothing to reply ●o that, but refer you to them again; only 〈◊〉 cannot understand what he means by Evacuations in general, seeing the Dr. is speaking plainly of Evacuations in continued Fevers, when the Stomach and Primae viae are overcharged with Choler and other Humours. I come next to the Authorities.  
The Dr. had made an evident Consequence from two Aphorisms of Hypocrates, which may be reduced to a plain syllogism, ●hus, When Humours are to be Evacuated, let ●●t be done the way that Nature affects most, (i. e. ●f there be an Inclination to Vomiting by Vomiting) but in very acute Diseases, let the Humours be Evacuated that same day, if the Matter is turgid (which is any day so long as the Matter is turgid.) Ergo. Now, To overturn this, the Answerer brings another Aphorism, which proves that Hypocrates was against Vomiting in Fevers, which the Dr. ●ad obviated by acquainting us that Hypocrates knew no Effectual Vomit could be safely given in any case. This is answered by calling it Stuff, though it be the very same thing Fernel says. The Dr. had also taken notice, that the Fevers in those Climate and Times were far from what we now have which has made several of these Aphorism in acute Diseases, which either were not understood, or not to be followed in Fevers which did not agree with these Hippocrate● had observed in any thing but the Name do so much harm in the Cure of Fevers. cannot pass over what Dr. Tournefort says o● this head in his Learned Preface to the History of Plants about Paris. Deux ou trois lignes, says he, mal expliquées d' Hippocrate out coûté la vie a des millions de persons Depuis le renouvellement des lettres les Medecins qui ont eu le plus d'erudition & qui se son● piquez de bien entendre la Doctrine de ce gran● homme, se sout retranchez a ses maxims le● moins assurées, & ont tout a fait negligé la matter medicinale dont il se servoit. Two or three Lines of Hipprocrates ill Explained, have cost a Million of People their Lives. Since the restoring of Letters, Physicians who have had the most Learning, and who have valued themselves on the right Understanding, the Doctrine of that great Man▪ have laid aside such of his Maxims as were the least certain, and have quite neglected those Medicines he used, by reason as he adds afterwards, they were too violent.  
Next, he comes to Celsus, and tells us ●hat the Authority the Dr. brings from him ●●s, concerning intermitting Fevers; to prove ●he contrary of which, I shall only insert the Quotation again with the Answerer's Addition. Vomiting, says Celsus, as in perfect Health it is often necessary for such as are Choleric, so it is also in these Diseases which are ●ccasioned by Choler, what the Answerer ●dds from the Author, is, Ergo omnibus qui ●nte febres horrore & tremore vexatur. etc. ●ecessarius est, in English, therefore it is necessary to all who are troubled with Chillness and shivering before Fevers, whereby it is evident he is speaking of putrid continued Fevers, which do most commonly Invade that way, and which by no means can be said of Agues which have that trembling and Chillness through their whole Course. However, ●hat you may not be in a doubt about Celsus' Opinion, the Dr. quotes Cap. 7. lib. 3. De Cu●atione febris arden's, of the cure of a burning Fever, where he order positively Vomiting in the height, and cautions it not to be done before the Fourth day, si pituita, ●ayes he, in Stomacho coiit, inclinata jam ac●essione, vomere cogendus est, and afterwards, Cum vero in summo incremento morbus est, u●lique non ante diem quartum, magna siti antecedente, frigida aqua copiose prestanda est, u●bibat etiam ultra satietatem; & cum jam venture & precordia ultra modum repleta, satisqu● refrigerata sunt, vomere debet. Take notice here that Celsus useth the word Accessio in a● continued Fever, which solves the Objection the Answerer has to Fernel's Authority. The Dr. had told in his Discourse, that Celsus used such Vomits as the Answerer sets down, and gives the Reasons of it, which 〈◊〉 need not repeat.  
What he objects against the Quotations of Fernel and Plater, I shall briefly discuss. He says Fernel speaks in that first Citation the Dr. adduceth, only of intermitting Fevers; on the contnaty he is treating of all these which are attended with redundancy of Choler and other Humours, which all of 'em have sensible remissions and Exacerbations, which is what he means by the Accessiones, and such are almost all the Fevers we commonly have among us. He hath nothing to say to the other Quotation, but that Fernel speaks there only of Purgatives, which the Dr. brought as an Argument a Majori; for he had told before, That the Ancients used these, because they knew no effectual Vomits which were safe, but used Purgatives, notwithstanding of the vast Commotion they make in the whole Juices of the Body beyond Vomitive and Laxative Medicines, such was the force of the Indication. That Plater used only these Vomits, the Answer speaks of, is no wonder, seeing he knew no other; but to be obstinately addicted to such now after the discovery of the many Excellent and safe Preparations of Antimony, is truly to be such a one as the Answerer speaks of, whom Experience is never to make Wiser.  
Etmuller by his own Confession approves of Antimonial Vomits in all Fevers, and adheres to Sydenham. Now, to let you see it was not from him he had it, but from his Master Johannes Nichael, whose Practice he strictly followed, Preceptoris sui scripta (speaking of Etmuller) in adornanda praxi pro norma fere atque Cynosura habuit, successu certe felicisimo, says the Prefacer to Michael's Works. In which Cap. 3. De febribus Patridis in genere. He says, Vomitoria optima sunt ex Antimonio: Nam Antimoniatis radicitus hoe febres extingui Possunt, and quots Hartman, whose practice hath been very much esteemed, and who Cap. CCXXXV. speaking of two Preparations of Antimony, whereof the one is for Vomiting, and the other for Purging, adds Utervis autem pulvis, justa dosi exhibitus, medetur febribus tam intermittentibus quam continuis.  
Willis he owns gave Vomits in Fever but not after the fourth Day, I know n● what way he can prove this, seeing Willis far from saying any such thing. It's true, that Observation the Dr. mentions, the Vomit is given the fourth Day, but that do not say, but he might have given it later the Indication had continued. But here ta●● notice, that the Answerer speaks not o● Word of that Vomit Quoted by the Dr, whi●● Willis gives to a Slender Weakly Woma● which is the precise Quantity of Emeti●● Wine the Dr. gave, because it was to ma●● both Willis and Sydenham guilty of giving Quadruple Dose. And here it is lucky for th● Answerer his Patients are not much acquainted with the Doses of Medicines, otherwise they might easily understand what good the● were to expect from one who is not ashamed to own that two Drachms of Emetic Wi●● is a sufficient Dose for any thing above fiv● Years of Age. The Dr. indeed added to h●● a very small Quantity of a Gentle Purgative by which he designed chief to make th● Operation of the Vomit both Easy and Saf● and that this is not only his, but the Practic● of the best Physicians, he gives the Authority of Dr. Tournefort in the forementione Preface, where speaking of what the Brea● and Organs of Respiration suffer in the tit Vomiting, goes on, C'est pour cela que les ●●s habiles Medicins se sont avisez sagement ●mesler en plusieurs rencontres les Emetiques ●ec les Purgatifs, pour eviter une partie de vio●tes Secousses que donnent les Emetiques', et pour terminer les matieres' a sortir par les deux ●●uts. It is for that Reason, says he, that ●●e most Skilful Physicians, have wisely judged it convenient in many Cases, to mix ●●omitive and Purgative Medicines together, ●●t so they might prevent a part of the vi●ent Concussions which Vomits occasion, ●●d to make the Humours come forth as well ●●wnward as upward.  
The Authority of Silvius is too particular be well Answered, therefore he passeth over, by telling that Silvius speaks only Fevers in general. Whereas he says patto the Matter in Hand, In Fevers, when ●●e Gall works up, and is too plentiful, Vomiting and Purging by Stool are chief conducible, ●●d afterwards positively prefers Antimonial ●●mits to all other.  
I am now safely come to Dr. Sydenham, ●●d if he don't make the Charge good, I shall content both the Dr. and I quite the Field. ●●e Answerer pretends, That these conti●●ed Fevers Dr. Sydenham treats of, which ●●ged four Years together, viz. 61.62.64. and were accompanied with an Inclination to Vomit, were successfully Cure by Vomiting, but in the Fevers which followed in the 65, though attended with the sam● Symptoms, that Vomits had the contrary Effect. Now to confute this, I shall only adduce Sydenham's own Words, whereby 〈◊〉 shall plainly appear, that what he had said 〈◊〉 Vomiting in that Quotation, he designed fo● a General Method in most of their Fevers which, as the Dr. had taken notice of, wer● the same precisely we usually have amongst u● That Fever which broke out in the 65 an● 66 the Answerer speaks of, was truly th● Plague, and is by Sydenham called Febr●● Pestilentialis & Pestis, and was quite different from these ordinary continued Fever he had observed before, and because Vomiting had not the same Success in that, as i● the preceding Fevers, he concluded it to be of an extraordinary kind. I shall ad● his own Words. After he tells he ha● given a Vomit to a Lady seized with one 〈◊〉 these Pestilential Fevers, he adds, Pag. n● 95. Postero mane, cum aegram iterum adirem ei alvum profluere intelligo, quae res, ab alquot annorum usu insolentior visa, mihi non l●vem sollicitudinem injecit. Exinde autem Febre● non vulgaris generis esse judicavi (quemadm●dum etiam eventus docuit) Proindeque aliam a●ea, quae superius tradita est, quaeque constanti sucessus serie hactenus a me usurpata fuisset, meden●●li rationem sibi vindicare. Next Day, says he, when I Visited my Patient, I understood she ●●d a Looseness, which, by the Experience of ●●eral Years, seemed somewhat Unusual, and ●●●de me not a little Anxious. But from ●●t I concluded, it was not a Fever of an ordinary kind (which I was also taught by ●●e Event) And therefore, that it required ●●other Method of Cure different from what have given before, and which, by a con●ant Tract of Experience, I had found successful. From which it is plain to a Demon●●ation, That he had laid down that Method Vomiting, as a General Rule in the Cure the most usual Fevers. And for his using ●●gatives afterwards, that he also did on ●he Account of a New Fever, he had never before observed, as the Title of that Schedule ●hows, which he calls Schedula Monitoria de Novae Febris Ingressu, and in the very beginning tells the Occasion of his Writing that Schedule. Populare scilicet meos admonens, says he, de subingressu Novae cujusdam Constitutionis, a qua pendet Febris Nova Species a ●uper grassantibus multum abludens. It was to advertise his Countrymen, of the coming ●n of a certain New Constitution, from which ●●d depend a New Sort of Fever, very far different from these which raged formerly. And in Effect, that Fever was a Sort of Peripneumonia Notha, as is evident from the Schedule.  
But last of all, the Answerer enters into a Confederacy with his sworn enemies, the Mathematics to defeat the Dr. and fo● that makes use of Dr. P's Dissertation of the Cure of Fevers by evacuation, wherein tha● Gentleman, after comparing the Cutaneous Perspiration or sweeting with the other Evacuations, concludes, That if the Morbific matter to be evacuated be actually mixed with the Blood, and circulating in the Blood-Vessels, it will be Ten times soone● done by Sweeting than Purging: Whereas Dr. O. is supposing a great deal of the Fuel of the Fever stagnating in the Cavity o● the Stomach and Intestines, and of the Usefulness of Evacuating that timeously by Vomiting, which otherwise would mix with the Blood, and put us to the necessity o● Diaphoreticks to do our best to save the Patient's life: But that Dissertation it seems h● understands as well as the other of Dr. P● Writings.  
He Answers nothing to that Quotation the Dr. brings from Dr. Tournfort to prov● that the French Physicians had changed thei● old way of treating Fevers, for that of g●ing Antimony, and other the most violent vacuating Medicines we know. I shall only add, That to my certain Knowledge, it is so far the Practice in England of their best Physicians, that they are not contented to give Antimony Infusion, such as is the Emetic Wine, but give the Emetic Tartar, which is Antimony in substance, and which operats a great deal more violently, and that on any day of the Fever, if the Indication continues. And I have frequently heard the Dr. tell, That when he was at Oxford, he knew some of the most famous Physicians there give strong Vomits towards the very last period of the Fever, to wit, when the Lethargic, and Comatous Symptoms were looked on as the Immediate Forerunners of Death, and that sometimes with surprising Success.  
I shall conclude with this, That I'm sorry the Dr. should have been so unluckily engaged to enter the Lists with one wrho had nothing to oppone to his plain Reasons, and irrefragable Authorities, but malicious Calumnies, and Ungentlemanny Scolding, savouring altogether of the Lee of the People and mean Education; which he thought as far beneath him to Answer, as to retort. I ●●m.  
Sir, Yours, etc.