393 ESSAYS ann OBSERVATIONS 
ving alfo conquered the too timorous caution 
of his phyficians. Upon a calculation, I find 
he had taken wae. xiv. of the alterative pills, 
which may contain about wnc. iii. of fweet 
mercury, from the firft day of December 
1739, to the firft of May immediately there- 
after; but that he had taken amc. ix. (confe- 
quently above ferup xv. of fweet mercury) 
within the fpace of fix weeks without inter- 
miffion. And ever fince he has enjoyed per- 
fet health. From this accidental experi- 
ment, I conceived fuch a good opinion of 
thofe pills, that I have frequently ufed them 
fince in many different cafes; and with 
much fuccefs. I have found moft cutaneous 
difeafes yield very foon to this remedy; a- 
monegft others, what is vulgarly called S/b- 
bens, which rages in the moorlands near this 
place: whether this diftemper is really a 
pox, I fhall not pretend to fay; only it is at- 
tended with the fame fymptoms: and I now 
begin to think, that, if thefe pills are given 
in fach large dofes as before mentioned, in 
which I accidentally found there was no 
danger; I don’t doubt, but moft of the di- 
feafes which ufually yield to mercury, may 
be fubdued by this medicine. I fhall only 
add 
