Part 1

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CURIOSITIES OF MEDICAL EXPERIENCE.

by

J. G. MILLINGEN, M.D., M.A.

SURGEON TO THE FORCES; RESIDENT PHYSICIAN OF THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX PAUPER LUNATIC ASYLUM AT HANWELL; MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE ANCIENT FACULTY OF PARIS; OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF BORDEAUX; AND AUTHOR OF "THE ARMY MEDICAL OFFICER'S MANUAL," &c.

SECOND EDITION.

REVISED AND CONSIDERABLY AUGMENTED.

IN ONE VOLUME.

London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street, Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty. 1839.

Whiting, Beaufort House, Strand.

TO SIR JAMES M'GRIGOR, BART. M.D., F.R.S., K.T.S., &c. &c. DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, TO WHOSE ZEAL AND EXAMPLE THE MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HER MAJESTY'S FORCES ARE SO MUCH INDEBTED FOR THAT DISTINGUISHED CHARACTER AND CONSIDERATION THEY COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY HOLD IN THE ESTIMATION OF THE EUROPEAN ARMIES, THIS WORK IS INSCRIBED, AS A TESTIMONIAL OF PUBLIC RESPECT AND SINCERE PRIVATE ESTEEM, BY THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

The rapid sale of the first edition of this work has induced the publisher to reprint it with considerable additions in a less expensive, and more concise form--and the author embraces this opportunity, gratefully to acknowledge the liberality with which it has been received, and the indulgence shown to its many imperfections. At the same time he cannot but regret, that in some quarters it has been surmised that he yielded credence to the many strange relations which he has recorded from various medical works, but which he merely narrated, to show the fallacy even of experience, and the many dangers that may arise from the most ingenious theories and doctrines, in the very ratio of their apparent plausibility.

Although these sketches were not intended for the profession, yet they may prove of some utility to the pupil who commences the arduous study of medicine. They may convince him, that great names, however justly respected and renowned, do not constitute a sufficient basis, on which to rest a satisfactory and conclusive judgment; and, as Locke has justly observed, that "_reverence or prejudice must not be suffered to give beauty or deformity to any of their opinions_." He will find that of which further experience will subsequently convince him, that medical investigation is too often founded upon analogy and hypothesis--but let not this painful and disheartening impression arrest his progress, or deter him from seeking to assist his judgment by collecting "the scattered parts of truth," for in speaking of hypothesis, Dr. Crichton has thus expressed himself: "There is a period in knowledge, when it must be indulged in if we mean to make any progress; it is that period when the facts are too numerous to be recollected without general principles, and yet, where the facts are too few to constitute a valid theory. If the exterior form of an edifice is often the principal motive with men for examining its internal structure; so it is in science, that the splendour of an hypothesis, and the desire of proving its solidity, are more frequent motives for research than a mere love of knowledge."

Notwithstanding our boasted progress in scientific pursuits, and our supposed approach to perfection, there never perhaps was a period, since the fanciful days of Paracelsus, Agrippa, and Van Helmont, when more deceitful and fascinating reveries were indulged in than at the present _enlightened_ moment, nor more ingenuity and disingenuousness displayed in seeking to give substance to a vision or overthrowing its baseless fabric. It is painful to be obliged to admonish the would be legislators of our belief, in the words of the sceptical Bolingbroke:

"Folly and knavery have prevailed most where they should be tolerated the least, and presumption has been excused most where diffidence and candour are on many accounts the most necessary.

"Quale per incertam lunam sub luce maligna Est iter in Silvis."

_Hanwell Lunatic Asylum, Dec. 1838._

INTRODUCTION.

The great success and correspondent utility of D'Israeli's "Curiosities of Literature," have induced me to add to the ample harvest of that ingenious writer a few gleanings from another field. They may not afford the same amusing variety to the general reader, but they may tend to draw some attention to many important points that affect the chequered lot of mankind. The progress that every science has rapidly made during the last half-century has been astounding, and seems to have kept pace with those struggles of the intellectual faculties to burst from the shackles of prejudice and error that had ignobly bound them for so many ages. Groping in darkness, man sought the light, but unfortunately the sudden refulgence at times dazzled instead of guiding his steps in the pursuit of truth, and led him into errors as perilous as those that had surrounded him in his former mental obscurity. His gigantic powers were aroused, but, too frequently misapplied, they shook the social edifice to its very foundation. The daring hand of innovation destroyed without contemplating what better fabric could be raised on the ruin: and while the nobler faculties with which Providence had gifted us were exerted for the public weal, the baser parts of our passions sought liberty in licentiousness. Ambition degenerated into ferocity, scepticism led to impiety, and even apparent virtue sought to propagate the doctrines of good, by assuming the "goodly outside" of vice. Religion was overthrown because priestcraft had deceived, and high rank was held up to detestation because princes and nobles had been corrupt; and to use Shakespeare's words,

Thus we debase The nature of our seats, and make the rabble Call our cares, fears; which will in time break ope The lock o' the senate, and bring in the crows To peck the eagles.

In ten short years this mighty revolution in the intellect of man took place,--in a country too that may be considered the cradle of the future weal and woe, perhaps of the universe;--in ten short years we beheld Montesquieu, Raynal, Rousseau, Voltaire, Condillac, Helvetius, beaming like rising meteors in the dark firmament, and shedding a fearful gleam on the past, the present, and the future; boldly tracking a path once trodden with groping steps by Bacon, Descartes, Hobbes, and Gassendi![1] No longer trusting in blind confidence to the scholastic rules of those dignitaries of science whose conclusions were considered sufficient to command our faith, man became sceptical and positive; doubt and disbelief were carried into every investigation; the reign of _prestiges_ was over; the former monopolists of power and of science, the two great levers of society (the more effective since their fulcra rested on timidity and ignorance), were thrown from their antiquated stand, and found themselves brought face to face in explanatory contact with their once all-believing and obedient pupils, but now become a neoteric generation;--the crown and the sceptre, the cap and the gown, were baubles in their eyes. When the faculty of reasoning was not able to prevail, the shafts of ridicule were drawn from the quiver of philosophic wit, and inflicted rankling wounds where they could not destroy. Ancient systems were exploded with ancient prejudices, theories were overthrown with dynasties, and doctrines with governments;--one might have imagined that the formidable power of steam had been communicated to the mind, illustrating the words of Milton,

The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a heaven of hell, and hell of heaven.

Science, now aimed at generalization-the physiologist, the chemist, became legislators, stepping from the academic chair to the senatorial seat, and from teaching how to benefit mankind they hurried to destroy, forgetful, in their ambitious dream, of the noble encomium of Cicero, "_Homines ad deos nullâ se proprius accedunt, quam salutem hominibus dando_."

Philosophy and the study of medicine were now inseparable; this generous science was not to be attained in books only, but in the study of mankind. Rousseau thus spoke of physicians when writing to Bernardin de Saint Pierre:--"_Il n'y a pas d'état qui exige plus d'étude que le leur; par tous les pays, ce sont des hommes les plus véritablement savans et utiles_." Voltaire was of a similar opinion when he thus expressed himself:--"_Il n'est rien de plus estimable au monde, qu'un médecin qui, ayant dans sa jeunesse étudié la nature, connu les ressorts du corps humain, les maux qui le tourmentent, les remèdes qui peuvent le soulager, exerce son état en s'en défiant, et soigne également les pauvres et les riches_."

How came it then that these great observers did not partake of the prejudices of Montaigne, Molière, and other writers, who invariably stigmatized the practice of physic? simply because it was no longer a dogmatic profession exercised with scholastic pedantry, but a science founded on the study of nature, and the immutable laws of sound philosophy. Although a classic education forms an indispensable part of a physician's education, yet it is in more important pursuits that his experience should be obtained: the knowledge of ancient languages is principally useful in discovering the errors of the olden writers, and in detecting the barefaced plagiarisms of the moderns.

Much valuable time, however, may be lost in the pursuit of ancient lore; and Montaigne has justly observed, "There are books which should only be read, but others that must be learnt." This discrimination is of the utmost importance; for it may be said of the bookworm's library, "_Multitudo librorum sæpe est nubes testium ignorantiæ possessoris_." Aristippus very properly replied to a man who boasted of his reading, "It is not those who eat the most that are hale and healthy, but those who can best digest." Hence the distinction that arose between the philosophical physician and the dogmatizer. The one was guided by the observation of facts, the other by glossarial records. Men of erudition are seldom men of genius. The exploring mind is ever anxious to take flight from the prison-house of scholastic restraints. Scepticism, moreover, is frequently the result of deep study, which leads the neophyte into such a labyrinth of conflicting opinions, that decision and conviction are not easily attained. Laugier, a most learned German physician, had no faith in his profession: being reproached with his incredulity, he replied, "_Credo, Domine, adjuva incredulitatem meam_."

The preceding observations lead to an important, and at the same time a painful reflection. Will this rapid intellectual progress tend ultimately to meliorate the condition of mankind? Nations have been compared to Man: having once reached the acme of prosperity and strength, their vigour like his gradually declines. History offers nothing more than a chronicle of such facts. Whatever may be the causes of this degeneracy, is a matter foreign to my present subject; although I may be permitted to observe by the way, that it may have arisen from the great disparity and inequality in the condition of society that tends to lull the wealthy into apathetic indifference and blind security in their power, while it urges the poor and the bold to rapine and destructive deeds. This perilous state can only cease to exist when general education is improved: if this most important source of real prosperity is attended to, we perhaps need not seek in particular events, gloomy anticipations of the future.

Whatever may be the destinies of nations in the wreck of empires and the destruction of men, the philosopher calmly seated on ruins that often "speak that sometime they were a worthy building," reflects with pride that science has withstood the withering hand of time. It is true, that in every study errors have been heaped upon errors; but truth will often result from falsehood, and doubt that brings on investigation, leads to comparative certainty. Locke has justly observed, that the faculty of reasoning seldom or never deceives those who trust to it: its consequences, from what it builds on, are evident and certain; but that which it oftenest, if not only, misleads us in, is, that the principles from which we conclude, the grounds upon which we bottom our reasoning, are but a part--_something_ is left out which should go into the reckoning to make it just and exact. This _something_ is the constant pursuit of the philosopher. The name of a country may be obliterated from a map, the deeds of heroes be effaced from the annals of the world; the pursuit of truth can only cease when man is no more;--its light may be veiled by ignorance, craft, or cupidity,--but it cannot be extinguished. The cities that gave birth to the illustrious philosophers of old have long ceased to exist, yet the immortal works of those sages that have escaped the ravages of time, are still as fresh and luxuriant as when their glorious oratory enchanted and captivated their disciples' ears.

No science has been cultivated with more difficulty than that of Medicine. The following papers will show how fearfully it has had to contend in turn with the power of priestcraft, that sought to monopolize its practice, as a privilege from the gods, and with the furious opposition of contemporary members of the profession, whose cupidity and vanity were alarmed by the introduction of novel doctrines, which they were too old, too busy, or too obstinate to learn. The extracts from Medical Literature that I have given will show that most of our modern notions were known to the earliest writers, and were only improved in succeeding ages, as in like manner our present doctrines will in all probability be advanced by future generations. The destruction of kingdoms and of chronicles, the inroads of barbarism,--the more destructive inroads of ignorance and bigotry, have not been able to produce a void in the world of science; the catenation of philosophic inquiry has never been broken in its connexions. Oppression only riveted the chain more firmly, as if to resist the united power of man and time. Adversity, which

Like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head,

has always been considered the best school of practical wisdom: and it is thus that, amidst the portentous events which have shaken every institution, and which perhaps still menace further dissolution, the fane of science has oftentimes been more vividly illumined by the surrounding conflagration.

The evils that desolate society too frequently arise from the hasty acts of intemperate men, who deem it necessary to meet the tumultuous demands of the multitude with decided and energetic, but, at the same time, perilous measures: the progress of science, on the contrary, is gradual, and of course more likely to be eventually permanent. While political speculations are daily becoming more uncertain in their operations, the triumph of intellectual superiority over prejudice is every where apparent;--unjust disabilities are being abolished, and the gates of learning thrown open to every candidate, whatever may be his religious or his political tenets.

In our country, more than in any other, industry and perseverance have ever had a fairer chance of attaining social pre-eminence, despite the shackles imposed upon the candidate for fame by institutions framed in the darker ages. What then may we not expect, when we behold the bright era that opens before us,--when exclusive institutions will be considered the obsolete remnants of expiring bigotry and intolerance! May we not indulge in the most sanguine hope, that our former glories are only the historic earnest of still more glorious days? If the spirit of the immortal Locke could hover over our earth, he would feel, with some degree of pride, that his admonitions have not been unheeded; and that "those who live mewed up within their own contracted territories, and will not look abroad beyond the boundaries that _chance_, _conceit_, or _laziness_ have set to their inquiries, but live separate from the notions, discourses, and attainments of the rest of mankind," have at last felt the necessity of yielding to the voice of reason, or rather of their own welfare.

In the following work I merely rank myself as a compiler. I have only sketched--sometimes perhaps with too fanciful a pencil, subjects of great importance, which, by being thus rendered popular, may induce abler pens to imbody them in a more permanent form. The variety of matter introduced has obliged me to be discursive, and to have recourse to some repetitions that were necessary to illustrate subjects not easily abridged. Whenever I have held up errors and evil passions to exposure, I have not, in one single instance, I trust, been influenced by any hostility towards men or parties--ranks or creeds. If I have unwillingly and unwittingly given offence, I shall most sincerely lament it. My materials have been gleaned from the works of many contemporaries, whose well-known and justly-appreciated names will in general appear: but I should be wanting in candour, did I not avow that I have derived much valuable information from _Le Dictionnaire des Sciences Médicales_, an elaborate compilation, containing more "CURIOSITIES OF MEDICAL EXPERIENCE" than any existing work.

_48, Eaton Square, January, 1837._

CONTENTS.

Page

Obesity 1

Dwarfs 9

Gigantic Races 12

Unlawful Cures 19

Voice and Speech 32

Ecstatic Exaltation 37

Varieties of Mankind 44

On the Inhumation of the Dead in Cities 54

Buried Alive 63

Spontaneous Combustion 66

Brassica Eruca 70

Cagliostro 71

Lunar Influence on Human Life and Diseases 73

Spectacles 76

Leeches 77

Somnambulism 79

Medical Powers of Music 88

The Food of Mankind 96

Influence of Imagination 125

Ancient Ideas of Phrenology 135

Perfumes 136

Love Philters and Potions 141

Ventriloquism 148

Chaucer's Description of a Physician 151

Dæmonomania 152

The Plague 164

Abstinence 185

Poison of the Upas, or Ipo 190

Homophagous and polyphagous 196

Causes of Insanity 202

Leprosy 221

The Aspic 227

Selden's Comparison between a Divine, a Statesman, and a Physician 229

The Lettuce 230

Medical Fees 231

Enthusiasm 237

Medical effects of Water 252

Proverbs and Sayings regarding Health and Disease 259

The Night-mare 262

Incubation of Diseases 266

Quackery and Charlatanism 269

On the use of Tea 277

Mandragore 281

Barber-Surgeons, and the Progress of Chirurgical Art 285

On Dreams 295

On Flagellation 312

On Life and the Blood 317

Of the Homoeopathic Doctrines 337

Doctrine of Signatures 365

Coffee 370

Aqua Tophania 374

Plica Polonica & Human Hair 377

Animal Magnetism 384

Poisonous Fishes 397

Memory & the Mental Faculties 404

Affections of the Sight 420

Hellebore 426

Sympathies and Antipathies 428

The Archeus of Van Helmont 439

Monsters 443

Longevity 453

Cretinism 472

Temperaments 476

Solar Influence 482

Sweating Fever 485

Smallpox 491

Drunkenness 507

Decapitation 516

Mummies 518

Hydrophobia 527

Rise and Progress of Medicine 534

Medicine of the Chinese 552

Experiments on Living Animals 559

CURIOSITIES OF MEDICAL EXPERIENCE.

OBESITY.

Various are the opinions concerning the cause of excessive corpulence. By some it is attributed to too great an activity in the digestive functions, producing a rapid assimilation of our food; by others, to the predominance of the liver: while indolence and apathy, such as is commonly observed in the wealthy monastic orders, are considered as occasioning a laxity of fibre favourable to this _embonpoint_. Boileau has thus described one of these fat lazy prelates, who

Muni d'un déjeûner, Dormant d'un léger somme, attendait le dîner. La jeunesse en sa fleur brille sur son visage; Son menton sur son sein descend à triple étage; Et son corps ramassé, dans sa courte grosseur, Fait gémir les coussins sous sa molle épaisseur.

It is certain that exercise, anxiety of mind, want of sleep, and spare food, are circumstances opposed to fatness. This fact is illustrated by Shakspeare, when Cæsar says to Antony,

Let me have men about me that are fat,-- Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights; Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look, He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.