122 



motion, or rest, is likely to produce any considerable 

 change in the blood. The body likewise should be 

 as far as possible accustomed to bear some change of 

 food, air, and other externals, that if we should at any 

 time be constrained to make such a change, no ill con- 

 sequence may ensue. But no precise rule can be 

 laid down, which will suit all constitutions. Every 

 man must consult his own reason and experience, and 

 carefully follow them. 



A most unaccountable method of removing many 

 diseases, was that of the famous Mr. Greatrix. " I 

 give you nothing concerning him, says Mr. Boyle, but 

 from eye-witnesses. My own brother some time since 

 was seized with a violent pain in his head and back. 

 Mr. Greatrix coming by accident to our house, gave 

 present ease to his head by stroking it. He then 

 stroked his back, the pain immediately fled to his 

 ri^ht thigh. He pursued it with his hand to the 

 knee, ankle, foot, toe, then he stroked this, and it 

 was gonet 



" My uncle's daughter was seized with a pain in her 

 knees, which occasioned a white swelling. She tried 

 many remedies without effect, for six or seven years. 

 Mr. Greatrix then coming to Dublin, my aunt brought 

 her to him. He stroked her knees, and the pain fled 

 downward from his hands till he drove it out of her 

 toes. And in a little time the white swelling went 

 away. 



41 I had an acquaintance, who after a fever was very 

 deaf, and had a violent pain in her ears. Mr. Great- 

 xix put some spittle into her ears and rubbed them, 

 which cured both the pain and deafness. 



u Another told me, that when a child she was ex. 

 tremt ly troubled with the king's tvil. She tried many 

 icmedies in vain ; but Mr. Greatrix stroked and per- 

 fectly cured her. A smith near us had two daughters 

 troubled with the same distemper. One of these 

 had a running sore in the thigh, the other in the arm 



