Phisick: Medical Remedies from 1710

The other night, I watched another episode of The Crimson Field, a new PBS series about a British military field hospital located in France during the first World War. So very interesting. Last night one part of the story revolved around an experimental procedure for saving a soldier's leg from amputation. It was real quite hideous to watch, very graphic, with the soldier writhing in pain. The doctor finally admits that it is an experiment with an outside-chance effort to save the leg. The soldier, after much anger and consideration, decides to give it a try.

Experimentation in medical practice is nothing new, and oft times leads to a correct answer, and to medical advancement.

In the 18th century, much earlier however, some "cures" seem downright barbaric, ridiculous and cruel, but sometimes had their positive effect, even if for the wrong reason. Giving someone a dose of a poisonous substance, could in turn purge the body of an unknown toxin, and by chance, result in a cure. A lot of it was trial and error.

In 1710, a book of remedies was published, called A Book of phisick, 1710-1725. It includes a collection of medical cures and remedies written in English, of 217 pages. It is even said to contain even a "receipt for a person to make her husband love her". Now, that's quite a prescription! (if it works). haha

Most of the remedies involve the use of plants and minerals to cure everything from bad breath to cancer. Some of these treatments are still found today in non-Western areas, but used extremely carefully.

Here's a quirky one:

A remedy for breast cancer - "ingredients like sage, bay leaves, chamomile, and red roses, all left to mature in a dunghill for precisely eight days". I guess then it was topically applied. Good luck!

Here's another for "The Gripe" (upset stomach):

"The recipe required a gallon of brandy and as many mature poppy leaves--which would have been heavy with opium--as could be stuffed into a container. The concoction was left to steep for a few days, strained, and then mixed with some nice liquors to make it more palatable;--3 or 4 spoonfuls at a time is enough. And for children, just two, with a little water. It was probably incredibly effective--unconscious people are seldom bothered by stomach upset."

So there you have it, "modern medicine"! I guess we shouldn't be too critical. After all, what good does some of our current trends do, i.e. snail slime facial treatments! As a matter of fact, when I was recently in London, while I was in a Boots Chemist store (an all-purpose drug store), I came upon a shelf teaming with snail slime products. I was horrified! I took a picture of it, too! See below. I almost feel sorry for the poor snails who have given their lives for science of this type!