From Mr F. H. Rawlings, MRPharmS
SIR,—Dr Cule's comment regarding Wesley's 'Primitive physic' and "the avoidance of what he called the Herculean medicines" (PJ, October 2, p538) contrasts strangely with item 254 ("Twisting the guts") in the 24th edition of ‘Primitive physic' (1792).
I quote: "Many at the point of death have been cured by taking one, two or three pounds [yes, pounds] of quicksilver, ounce by ounce. (Pareus). This item was included in the 1762 10th edition."
I wonder how many weeks' wages this treatment would have cost the working man's family for whom the ‘Primitive physic' was published.
F. H. Rawlings
Bristol, Avon