THE MONTHLY GAZETTE OF HEALTH, OR GENERAL AND PERIODICAL COLLECTION OF ALL NEW DISCOVERIES RELATIVE TO THE MEANS OF PRESERVING HEALTH, CURING DISEASES, PROMOTING DOMESTIC ECONOMY, &c. &c. &c. EDITED BY RICHARD REECE, M. D. Member of the Royal College of Surgeons in London; Physician to the Royal Dispensary for Consumption and Asthma; Author of the VOL. I. (From January 1, 1816, to January 1, 1817. Sold by SHERWOOD and Co. Paternoster Row, &c. PRICE ONE SHILLING. THE Monthly Gazette of Health is published on the same plan as the Gazette de Santé of Paris, the avowed object of which is, to acquaint society at large with all the discoveries that are made in the known world, regarding the preservation of health, the cure of the diseases incident to the animal kingdom, the promotion of domestic economy and comfort, and to expose the nefarious practices of pretenders, who, for the sake of lucre, sport with the feelings and lives of their fellow creatures. On concluding this first volume of his arduous undertaking, the editor acknowledges, with pride and gratitude, the very distinguished reception it has experienced from an enlightened public. Far from wishing to detract from the merit of cotemporary publications, he appeals with the fullest confidence to the pages of the Gazette of Health, as possessing a degree of valuable information not to be surpassed by any other periodi cal work. In this country, to the great disgrace of the legislature, the practice of medicine is permitted to be conducted in the mean spirit of the lowest trade, even by those who assume the title of regular physicians, and claim the exclusive privilege to attend patients, and to prescribe for the cure of their maladies, although ignorant of the most essential departments of medicine, viz. Chemistry and Pharmacy;-and who, on commencing practice, cannot even recognise a disease when brought to the bed-side of a patient;-who, in fact, are acting as mere medical automatons, without true science, and without a ray of judgment. The success in life of such despicable characters of course depends entirely on the ignorance of the public in medicine. This work being instituted to enlighten the mass of mankind, it has of course met with much opposition from this quarter. The editor, however, challenges the attention of the public on the point of impartiality.-Disclaiming all motives of interest, and having no sinister bias whatever on his mind, his study is, to record useful discoveries and medical facts, and he flatters himself that his readers will do him the justice to allow that he has censured with equal freedom and with equal severity, the dishonorable and injudicious practices of regular practitioners, and the dishonest traffic of pretenders and dealers in patent medicines. The analysis of proprietary medicines, or secret preparations, will enable the public to distinguish those which possess merit from such as are dangerous or inert. In this department the editor claims a superiority over every other periodical work; and, being fully impressed with the importance which his readers attach to this part of his undertaking, he begs to assure them that no expence shall be spared in obtaining copies of specifications and other information connected with this trade, which is likely to prove either useful or amusing.-He has the satisfaction to find that his comments on the conduct of the Mareschal College of Aberdeen, in granting a diploma to Mr. Solomon and other pretenders, have brought that learned body to a proper sense of their duty to the iv public. They have in consequence adopted some new regulations, which require every candidate to have received a proper medical education. His exposure of the disgraceful practices of regular and irregular men, he is also happy to learn, has produced such an effect on the minds of many enlightened members of the legislature, that he is encouraged to predict, the time is not far distant when Quackery shall for ever cease to exist, and the liberal and enlightened science of medicine be properly estimated by the public at large. By the term Quackery, he wishes it to be understood, that he means only the impositions that are practised by designing men, many of which he has exposed in the present volume, and not all the medicines that are sold at the patent medicine shops, for many of them he has discovered to possess merit superior to the compositions of the London pharmacopoeia.-These he has not hesitated to recommend to the attention of his readers, notwithstanding he is aware that he thereby exposes himself to the animadversions of his brethren. Of these the principal are, Dr. Wilson's Tincture for Gout and Rheumatism, the Bengal Antibilious Pills, Bacon's Antiscorbutic Drops, Perry's Essence for Tooth-ache, and the Cajeput Opodeldoc; to the proprietors of which the public stand greatly indebted. The editor has the satisfaction to announce that he has accepted the co-operation of several experienced physicians in France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Prussia, and Holland; particularly of Dr. Marie de Saint Ursin, formerly editor of the Gazette de Santé of Paris, and now senior physician to the royal military hospital in Calais, who has visited all the countries of Europe in quest of medical information. In the course of his future labors, he therefore flatters himself that he will have it in his power to present to his numerous readers a mass of most valuable information, connected with the dearest interests of man. On the subject of domestic economy, and, particularly, cheap methods of preparing aliments, or whatever regards the well-being of society in point of cleanliness, dress, exercise, popular remedies, &c. the editor solicits communications. The editor has received complaints from various quarters, that persons in the country, who have seen this work advertised, have not been able to procure it. He requests those who may in future be disappointed to apply to a respectable bookseller, or a clerk of the post-office, who will supply them regularly with it. Of the numbers that become out of print, new impressions are immediately taken, so that no failure can happen if application be made to proper persons. The editor cannot close this address without offering his most grateful acknowledgments to those correspondents whose valuable communications have enriched his work.-He solicits a continuance of their favors, and he hopes, that when he again addresses his readers, he shall have to congratulate himself on an increase of their approbation and support, which he will study to merit by assiduity and impartiality. CONTENTS OF VOLUME THE FIRST. Ditto for Ginger Powder 1 |