Madness in "Primitive Physic"

"Portrait of Mad Margery, a young
woman driven mad and living in the
fields."  In 1790-1800, there was
a popular song called
"Poor Mad Margery."
(Wellcome Library)

Madness is the one area of health care in which John disappoints me.  We'll talk about it more later, but let's begin with what he prescribes in Primitive Physic.

"Lunacy.
468.  Give decotion* of agrimony four times a day.
469.  Or, rub the head several times a day with vinegar, in which ground-ivy leaves have been infused:
470.  Or, take daily an ounce of distilled vinegar:
471.  Or, boil juice of ground-ivy with sweet oil and white wine into an ointment.  Shave the head, anoint it therewith, and chafe it in warm every other day for three weeks.  Bruise also the leaves and bind them on the head, and give three spoonfuls of the juice warm every morning.  This generally cures melancholy.
The juice alone, taken twice a day, will cure
472.  Or, electrify: -- tried.

Ground ivy
Old Operating Theatre
and Herb Garret
15 October 2012

"Raging Madness.
473.  Apply to the head, cloths dipt in cold water:
474.  Or, set the patient with his head under a great water-fall, as long as his strength will bear: or, pour water on his head out of a tea-kettle:
475.  Or, let him eat nothing but apples for a month:
476.  Or, nothing but bread and milk: tried."

"It is a sure rule that all madmen are cowards, and may be conquered by binding only, without beating.  (Dr. MEAD. [who John is quoting])  He also observes, that blistering the head does more harm than good.  Keep the head close shaved, and frequently wash it with vinegar." (Wesley, Physic, 79.)

*decoct = "1. To prepare by boiling for any use.  2. Digest by the heat of the stomach.  3. To boil in water.  4. To boil up to a consistence." (Johnson.)