Observations preparatory to the Use of Dr. Myersbach's Medicines. by J.C. Lettsom, M.D. F.R.S. and S.A. Member of the College of Physicians, and Physician to the general Dispensary in London. The second Edition, considerably enlarged, 8vo. 1s. 6d. Dilly.
We are glad to see the name of the author subscribed to these observations, for the reasons we gave, in our account of the first edition of this pamphlet, respecting anonymous publications, especially such as are calculated to correct ignorance or detect imposture. In the present impression many additional cases are inserted that have since come under the author's immediate cognizance; and which afford as many lamentable proofs of the indiscriminate use of remedies in the hands of the daring and ignorant.
We are told also in an advertisement prefixed to this edition, that "the author has had no reason to alter his sentiments respecting the impositions practised by Dr. Myersbach, and those connected with him; on the contrary, he is confirmed in the opinions he first suggested, by the testimony of Dr. Myersbach's apothecary, who has communicated much more than he chooses to present to repeat, as the whole imposture, to give it the mildest epithet, will soon appear in a court of justice; where he doubts not but the astonishment of the public will be equalled only by their indignation for the insults and injuries parctised upon the weak and credulous part of the community.
We rejoice to hear there is some prospect of bringing any of those pests to society, medical empirics, to legal punishment; and cannot help entertaining the highest regard for those who have sense and spirit enough, to begin so salutary a prosecution. As health also is the most valuable bessing in life, and yet the most sensible when they are sick, are sometimes so infatuated as to trifle with the loss of it, we shall make a short extract from our author's introduction, which may not be thrown away upon any of our readers.
"Deceptions, similar in cause and effect, have prevailed over the understandings of men in all ages, and in every department of life; marvellous and improbable stories, if once believed, are always admired and propogated; and thus artful men have found dupes in all ages and professions, the mind being as liable to admit poison as the body; and before the injuries of one species of deception have opened the eyes of the public, another starts up, and for a certain space of time equally detains its votaries in bondage. String indeed must be that bias, which leads a man to apply to a stranger, and repose in his hands the dearest of blessings; and callous must be the heart of him, who, ignorant of medicine, trifles with the pains, the miseries, and the lives of his fellow-creatures, for the sake of gratifying a mercenary disposition.
"I am sensible it may be said, that many a mountebank and water-conjurer, driven to seek a livelihood by poverty and distress, hath assumed a profession, for the sake of present bread, which they at first little imagined could have gained so many votaries, and consequently victims to their ignorance. I have seen the rise and progress of several such pretenders; and could relate many incidents and ingenious methods of deception, were not health and life to serious for diversion, and mankind too ready to improve in deceit, by adding to their own, that of others. It is no crime to have been poor; but whether poison be retailed, or sold by wholesale, the heart of the vender is equally criminal.
"One would be apt to imagine, after so many deceptions which men have been led into, that in so important a concern as health, they would seriously consider, that though a quack-medicine may sometimes cure, it more frequently injures the constitution through life, and impairs, not unfrequently, the vigor and health of succeeding generations. Mistakes in ordinary matters may be remedied; but a body ruined by injurious treatment, is a monument of folly, whose inscription the infactuated object painfully pauses over as long as he lives. Such instances have so often occurred to me, that I think it my duty to expose to the public, some of the practices which have lately deluded a great part of this city; the effects of which I find daily more injurious to the people, having, in my own practice, lately met with many persons, whose affecting treatment has been such, as demands the tear of humanity, and that sympathy, which the distress of our fellow-creatures excites, even when it arises from their own imprudence and misconducts."
In taking leave of this pamphlet, we must again repeat that we cannot but highly applaud the sensible, humane and spirited conduct of Dr. Lettsom in detecting, and publickly standing forth in opposition to so execrable an impostor.
An Answer to a Pamphlet written by Doctor Lettsom, entitled Observations preparatory to the use of Doctor Mayersbach's Medicines. 8vo. 1s. Almon.
"And if a man did need a poison now, -
"Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him."
Nay this more wretched grub would, if required, maintain the poison to be a wholesome, salutary, drug. We blush to think that there is among our countrymen to be found a single individual, capable of holding a pen, so depraved and abandoned as to become a venal advocate for such a daring impostor! This scribbler, indeed, pretends, that he is a volunteer in the cause.
"It may be objected, says he, that it is very extraordinary a person unknown to Dr. Mayersbach should take so much pains in collecting of cases, and stepping forward in a transaction in which he is no way interested.
"The answer is, that it was from a thorough conviction of Dr. Mayersbach's being what he really professes, a doctor of the first magnitude. That conviction, as was mentioned before, arose from ocular and auricular assurance of his skill. We beheld the wanton attack upon one, whom we look upon as a great public blessing, with an honest indignation. We communicated our sentiments to Mr. Willan, and 'tis to his interposition that Dr. Lettsom and the public are troubled with this trifle in Dr. Mayersbach's favour. Were it ten times more interesting and forcible than it is, it would, we are conscious, be far short of the doctor's desert."
We can take upon us, however, to assure the public, that this answere was employed by Mayersbach himself; to declare his thorough conviction that his employer is, as he modestly professes himself, a doctor of the first magnitude. And yet this hireling has the impudence to talk of honest indignation. ---- Who Mr. Willan is, we know not. They say, he is a man of worth and character. If so, we are sorry, he is so weak as to have, in this case forfeited all pretentions to common discretion. What the answerer means, by styling what he calls his trifle, forcible as it is, we know not, but we must with honest indignation declare, that trifling as it is, it is still too weak and contemptible a production, even for so confessed a trifle. --- A trifle, truly! Ought the justification of an eventual murderer to be a trifle? a Myersbach, like a Wesley, indeed, may take upon him to trifle with the lives of his fellow creatures; but we are conscious also what would "be far short of the doctor's desert."
Source: London Review of English and Foreign Literature 1776, Pages 301 - 303