Art. 11. Observations Preparatory to the Use of Dr. Myersbach's Medicines : In which the Efficacy of certain German Prescriptions, (given in English) is ascertained by Facts and Experience, &c. By J. C. Lettsom, M.D. F.R.S. and S A. &c. 8vo. 1 s. Dilly. 1776.
That in this age, and in the capital of this enlightened country, so ignorant impostor should meet with many thousands of all ranks and conditions, willing dupes to the ridiculous and stale pretence of discovering the feat and cause of their disorders, by the mere inspection of their urine; - the very bathos of empiricism; - so that in the space of little more than two years this, probably self-graduated, urine-caster should have amassed a princely fortune, by playing upon the ignorance and superstition of his credulous votaries; - are facts that would scarce be credited, were they not most satisfactorily authenticated by the pamphlet now before us.
For the pains which Dr. Lettsom has here taken to cure the late epidemic madness, and to expose this imposter, by opening the eyes of his blind employers to his various practices, he is justly intitled to the thanks of the Public. By the cases which he has here collected, every one must be convinced of the superlative ignorance and temerity of this German adventurer; and the Reader will be astonished that a deception, of so very low a kind, and so clumsily conducted, could have been nursed up, by popular credulity, to so alarming a magnitude: for, often, as we have been informed, 2 or 300 persons in a day have been seen crouding [sic] to receive the random prescriptions, some of them of a dangerous nature, of a man not only totally unacquainted with medicine, but ignorant likewise of the age, sex, and even species [1], of the patient; and of the nature or even name of the disease for which he was prescribing.
Beside the internal evidence presented in the abovementioned cases, the pamphlet contains some strong external testimonies respecting the object of it; particularly the confession of a penitent associate, one of the Doctor's late apothecaries; who relates some of the manoeuvres of the confederacy, and the Doctor's frank and repeated declarations of 'his astonishment at the folly and credulity of the English.' In a letter likewise addressed to the Author, M. Johan Toennius, a gentleman of the faculty, informs him of his having been called in, so lately as November 1773, to visit the wife of Mr. Myersbach, in a little lodging at a shoemaker's, who 'consulted him, as being himself totally unacqainted with medicine.' Mr. T. demanded no gratuity, on account of the poverty and distress of Mr. Myersbach; who was then trying various schemes to get bread, and particularly was soliciting employment from a Mr. Hill, a starch maker. The fame however and riches of a Doctor Myersbach having lately reached his ears; and having identified him with his late poor acquaintance at the shoemaker's, he demanded payment for his attendance on his wife, and received it.
'The whole imposture, to give it the mildest epithet.' Dr. Lettsom informs us, 'will soon appear in a court of justice;' where it is not to be doubted but that 'the astonishment of the Public will be equalled only by their indignation for the insults and injuries practised upon the weak and credulous part of the community.'
[1] In one part of this pamphlet, we find our Water-conjurer prescribing for a young gelding; from an attentive view of whose urine he declared that the Lady, to whom it had belonged, 'was very bad;' - that she had 'a disorder in her womb,' and a slime upon the kidneys;' - that 'her pains in labour be very bad;' - that she 'was very fretful and peevish; - and that she was always coughing.' - After due inspection into the urine of a cow likewise, the Doctor inferred that 'the party had been too free with the ladies of the town.'
Source: The Monthly Review, Or, Literary Journal, Volume 55 Page 314
Art. 23. An Answer to a Pamphlet, written by Dr. Lettsom, entitled, "Observations preparatory to the Use of Dr. Meyersbach's Medicines. ' 8vo. 1 s. Almon.
Some impudent hireling has here made an impotent attempt to defend Meyersbach (who, it is said, has not ability sufficient to defend himself), against the attacks of Dr. Lettsom; of whose unanswerable pamphlet we gave an account in our last month's Review. See p. 314.
Source: The Monthly Review, Or, Literary Journal, Volume 55 Page 396
Art. 13. The New Method of curing Diseases by inspecting the Urine, explained: As practised by the German Doctor. 8vo. 1 s. Bew. 1776.
THE Author inveighs against Meyersbach for his imposture, laughs at his ignorance, and recites the experiments which have been made upon his skill. He has collected a number of stories about the Doctor's blunders: such as that of his discovering [by inspection of the liquid] a woman to be "with child," when, unluckily, it turned out that she was seventy years old; - that of, his pronouncing the water of a consumptive girl to have been made by "some old man," afflicted with the gravel: - and that of his declaring a "young gentleman" to be in a violent fever, when it happened that the patient was an old cow, who had, very innocently, helped some wags to play the doctor this ugly trick*. [2]
It cannot, however, be affirmed that nobody, beside the Doctor himself, is benefited by his singular mode of practice, since the pamphleteers also seem to be making money of it.
Art. 14. The Impostor Detected; or the Physician the greater Cheat: Being a candid Inquiry concerning the Practice of Dr. Meyersbach; - containing a faithful Account of many remarkable Cures performed by him, which had been deemed incurable - Being a full Refutation of the sophistical Arguments and invidious Reflections of Dr. Lettsom, and others. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Wilkie.
Abuses Dr. Lettsom, extols Dr. Meyersbach, and recites a parcel of unparalleled cures performed by the latter: on which miraculous cases this writer (unknown) comments, and argues, and proves, and reproves, - in order to convince the world that the German Doctor must, necessarily, possess greater skill, or dispense better medicines, than the faculty, who could not work such wonders, can boast. But, notwithstanding the affected triumphs of this champion without a name, his utmost efforts seem too feeble to parry the powerful thrusts of the resolute and vigorous Lettsom [3]; who appears determined [4] to rescue the public from the fatal effects of a most dangerous delusion, and a most impudent imposture.
[2] Other, similar, experiments, are related; but we have given enough. Some cases are also recited, in which the Doctor's methods of treatment are said to have proved fatal.
[3] See our account of the Doctor's pamphlet against Meyersbach, Rev. October, p. 314.
[4] Vid Dr. Lettsom's frequent attacks upon the Urine Doctor, in a succession of letters, &c. printed in the Daily Gazetteer.
Source: The Monthly Review, Or, Literary Journal, Volume 55 Page 475