LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. 43 



root and origin of almost all diseases. To subdue this at its earliest 

 stage has been my constant care. Since my four-and- twentieth year, 

 I have been blooded above one hundred and ten times, in eighty of 

 which I have performed the operation on myself with my own hand. 

 This, with calomel and jalap mixed together as a purgative, with the 

 use of rhubarb in occasional cases of dysentery, and with vast and 

 often-repeated potations of powdered Peruvian bark as a restorative, 

 has enabled me to grapple successfully with sickness when I was 

 far away from medical aid. In cases where laudanum was absolutely 

 necessary, I was always extremely cautious, having seen far too 

 many instances of the distressing effects produced in other people 

 by the use of this insidious drug. My severest trials of sickness 

 were those when I had to contend with internal inflammation, at the 

 very time that I was labouring under tertian ague. In those cases, 

 the ague had to bear all the burden, for I knew that it was not a 

 mortal complaint, whereas the inflammation was not to be trifled 

 with for one moment. Under this impression I would fearlessly 

 open a vein, and would trust to the Peruvian bark, at a later period, 

 to counteract the additional encouragement which I had been forced 

 to give to the ague through the medium of the lancet. I am now, 

 I think, in as perfect health as a man can be. But let me finish the 

 account of my accident. On reaching home I applied a very large 

 poultice, which was renewed twice every day. The inflammation 

 never extended beyond the knuckles, and I recovered the full use of 

 the finger in due course of time. 



"Early in the year 1817, an expedition was formed to explore the 

 river Congo, in Africa. I went to London and requested Sir Joseph 

 Banks to allow me to accompany it as a volunteer. He acceded to 

 my wishes. One day, whilst I was in his room, there came a letter 

 to inform him that the steam-vessel appointed for the expedition did 

 not answer expectations ; for its powers were not considered ade- 

 quate to make way against the downward stream of the Congo. 

 ' Then/ exclaimed Sir Joseph, with great emphasis, ' the intended 

 expedition will be a total failure ; ' and putting his hand upon my 

 shoulder, My friend/ said he, ' you shall not go to Africa. There 

 will be nothing but disappointment and misfortune, now that the 

 plan of proceeding by steam cannot be put in execution to the ex- 



