On Disenses afid Accidents of Farmers, 253 



great sufterin,^. As in war, " discretion" is often '* the bet 

 ter part of valour," so in the human system, a little atten- 

 tion to a small injury, may prevent a great evil. Know- 

 ing the disposition of many to neglect themselves, from 

 an absurd notion of not appearing effeminate, and of a 

 manliness of character being shewn, by this inattention 

 to small injuries, lam induced to notice the subject. 



More than half the deaths from consumptions, proceed 

 from neglected catarrhs, or as they are commonly called, 

 colds. Neglected felons or whitlows, and fear of a 

 little acute temporary pain from an incision, which may 

 be necessary to cure that complaint, cause weeks of 

 suffering, and often the loss of a joint. Cases of lock- 

 jaw and gangrene, have proceeded from cutting a corn 

 on the toe : and eighteen months confinement, with great 

 pain, from permitting the nail of the great toe to grow 

 down into the flesh. Sir Asdey Cooper* relates the case 

 of one death from cutting a toe nail to the quick, and 

 another from puncturing a bunnion on the toe with a 

 lancet : gangrene took place in both instances. Lock- 

 jaw from running a thorn or nail in the hand or foot, has 

 already been treated of. A neglected inflammation in 

 the eye, has often ended in a film over the pupil, or in a 

 cataract. Other cases could be quoted, but enough has 

 been said to shew the propriety of the advice given. 



Some cautions on the subject of family medicines must 

 be given. No medicine should be kept in open drawers, 

 or in closets used for the purposes of the family, for fear 

 of their being swallowed by children, but exclusively in 

 a box or drawer having a lock and key. This advice 

 is founded upon a knowledge of such accidents having 

 happened.! Nor should any medicine be kept, without its 



* Lectures on Surgery, vol. 1, London, 1824. 



t A child in Philadelphia, very recently swallowed two ounces 

 of laudanum: and the newspapers within a few months, have 

 recorded the death of another child, from having obtained ac- 

 cess to a bottle of rum, of which he drank half a pint. 



