Disquisitions in the history of medicine : Part first, Exhibiting a view of physic, as observed to flourish, during remote periods, in Europe, and the East.

  • Millar, Richard.
Date:
1811
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Disquisitions in the history of medicine : Part first, Exhibiting a view of physic, as observed to flourish, during remote periods, in Europe, and the East. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    the people of Macassar or Celebes, together with those of the Philippine Archipelago. Regarding the first, a long list of powerful simples is given by Marsden. (Hist, of Sumatra, p. 90, 91, 92.) Speaking of their advances in practical medi- cine, the learned and respectable author observes, that thf Sumatrans have a degree of knowledge in botany that sur- prises an European. They are in general, and at a very early age, acquainted not only with the names, but the qualities and properties of every shrub and herb amongst that exuber- ant variety with which those islands are clothed. They dis- tinguish the sexes of many plants and trees, (the Papa or Caleekee for instance,) and divide several of the genera into as many species as our professors. Of the Facou, or Fern, I have had specimens brought of twelve varieties, which they told me were not the whole, and to each there is a distinct name. (ib. 90.) Of their application of these herbs to the cure of diseases, Marsden speaks in the same high terms. Fevers, he adds, are treated among them with the hot-bath, and if that fail after three or four trials, with the cold affusion. Local pains and swellings they dissipate after a manner com- mon to many rude nations, long continued sweating by the application of watery steam to the naked body, covered up with many cloaths, or by sitting in the sun at noon, wrapped up in a thick mat, ib. 163.—For the advancement of the people of Macassar, or Celebes, in similar pursuits, see Hist. Gen. des Voy. T. X. 460. As for those of t'le Pliilippine Archi- pelago, two vols, folio, of native recipes with their uses, v.erj? collected by George Carroll, formerly Apothecary to the Spa- iiish College of Manilla, (ib. 419.) Notwithstanding these testimonies, so far as the Madaca»- sees, and people of tlie Indian isles are concerned, one re- mark ought not to be omitted. All the attainments in physic reached by these islanders, must by no means be imputed t© the present races, or even their immediate progenitors. Mucli^