The Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia.
distempers without his permission." After ably combating this opinion, he closes this part of his subject by observing, "Much of this nature are the objections made to the use of Mr. Franklin's invention for defending us from the fatal effects of lightning, certainly one of the most signal benefits to mankind," and argues that the application of the means thus offered is not presumption, but a command to endeavour to avail ourselves of the means of safety which God has left to our sagacity, which parallel reasoning offers an argument equally strong in favour of inoculation." His remarks on the preparation of the body for the disease and its treatment are excellent, and are not surpassed by the best writers of the time. He condemns strongly the custom of using an universal preparative, as was then countenanced, even by some of the Faculty, or, as he expressed it, "the preposterous method of preparing all their patients after one and the same manner, as most offensive to common sense." "The indiscriminate use of mercury," the most common mode, he disapproves of. He also objects to the too free use of cordials and spirits in the treatment, and more particularly "the infernal practice of blistering by rote, whether there be an indication for it or not," recommending in their stead the
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