262 On the State of Medicine in 



on, by making them believe that their sole source of infor- 

 mation was the state of the pulse. When the physician, by 

 means of the pulse, has declared the precise nature of the 

 disease, and the exact moment of its termination, the Mussul- 

 man requires him to give a certain medicine, to have some par- 

 ticular effect in determining some evacuation, which is to prove 

 critical. No medicine gets the least credit, or in their eyes 

 can be the least effectual, unless it produce sweat, urine, or 

 purging. The Turk is fond of large doses, too, in order to pro- 

 duce a more decided crisis, and he always prefers medicine in the 

 shape of a draught, or rather drink, (sherbet.) He disliked 

 emetics, and nothing will induce him to allow the exhibition uf 

 an enema. It is quite vain to endeavour to make him alter his 

 diet ; of this he cannot conceive the use. In the month of May, 

 it is not unusual for them to submit to what is termed the 

 spring cure. An active purgative is first taken, and afterwards 

 the expressed juice of various plants, such as Taraxacum^ ¥4^ 

 rious grasses, &c. are taken daily, along with a drink of whey. 

 The most favourite purifier of the blood, however, is viper 

 broth. The most esteemed vipers are caught in the neigh- 

 bourbood of Adrianople, and are sent thence in great numbers 

 to Constantinople, and other parts of the empire. They are 

 kept in wooden vessels, and when wanted for use they are 

 drawn out through the bung-holfc ft 'is needless to remark, 

 that this operation requires much caution and skill, in spite of 

 which, a9 happened in an instance which Dr O. himself wit- 

 nes^, tiii^ pbo|: ajpothecary is sometimes bitten. The bite 

 often, but not always, proves troublesome, or even fatal. When 

 this dangerous article of the materia medica has been safeJy ex- 

 tracted from the vessel, his head and skin are instantly taken 

 off, and the animal is cut into thin slices, which are boiled 

 with water to make broth. The most effectual of the means 

 employed either for the prevention or cure of diseases by the 

 Orientals, is the bath (Hamam.) The long continued frictions 

 employed, the stretching, drawing, kneading of the limbs and 

 flesh; the pulling and working of the joints, &c , all tend to ex- 

 ercise a healthful influence^ it is astonishing, what a command 

 over the joints an experienced attendant at the baths possesses. 

 He twists them in every direction, and you almost feel, as if he 



