A PAPER Delivered in by
- Dr. Alston.
- Dr. Hamens
- Dr. Bates.
- Dr. Micklethwait.
ON Monday the 16. of October, 1648. to the Honorable Committee FOR Bathes and Bath-Stoves. FROM The Colledge of Physitians in London. TOGETHER, With an Answer thereunto. By Peter Chamberlen. Dr. in Physick, and Fell. of the said Colledge.
LONDON, Printed in the yeare 1648.
The Committee being set the third time in expectation of what Objections the Colledge would offer against the Ordinance for publike artificiall Bathes, & Bath-Stoves, or whether they would approve of them.
Dr. Alston began as followeth, in these or the like words and Phrases.
THe Colledge commanded me to return humble thanks to the Honorable Cōmittee for not giving consent to the Ordinance of Bathes, without them. (Then he proceeded) Having the fear of God before our eyes, and the good of the Common-wealth, The Colledge do by us return this Answer to the Honorable Committee, that they do not think fit the erecting of publike Bathes should be granted to Dr. Chamberlen, and they think them hurtfull to the Common-wealth.
And the Colledg desires that this honourable Committee signifie so much unto the honorable Hose.
Then the Committee asked if they had not brought their Answer in writing, whereupon they presented their Paper as followeth:
To the Honourable, the Committee for Bathes.
THe President and Colledge of Physitians return their humble thanks to this Honorable Committee for your favour unto them, and humbly represent that since the Honorable Committee is pleased to resolve not to enjoyn Dr. Chamberlen to attend the Colledge concerning his Design of Bathes, they can give no satisfactory Answer therein, Onely whereas publike Bathes have been by their abuse, the Causes in the Greek and Roman States, (where there was greater necessity, and lesse danger of them then in our cold clyme) of so much Physicall prejudice, effeminating bodies, and procuring infirmities, and morall in debauching the manners of the people, that in either of them upon the coming of the Christians into power, they were demolished or converted into other uses; And whereas for private use there are in the houses of divers persons of this Kingdom, Cradles, Tubbs, Boxes, Chayres, Bathes, and Bathe-Stoves, in which by the help of Fumes, Vapors, water, Oyle, &c. according to the prescription of Physitians, sweat may be procured, payne asswaged, and all necessary ends of bathing attained. The President and Colledge are so confident of, and presume so much upon the wisdom and justice of this honourable Committee, & the two Houses of Parliament, that they believe, if that it shall please them to empower the said Dr. Chamberlen by any Ordinance for erection [Page 3]of publike Bathes, they will so regulate his design, make such provision, and take such caution from him, that none of the afore-mentioned inconveniences shall follow. And that they will neither infringe the just liberty of the Subject, nor abridge other Physitions in the choyce of their instruments, or legall practise of any part of their Art.
To the honorable Committe for Bathes, The humble Answer of Peter Chamberlen, Doctor in Physick, and Fellow of the Colledge of Physitians in London, to a Paper delivered to the honorable Committe, by Dr. Alston, Dr. Hameus, Doct. Bates, and Dr. Micklethwait, from the President, and others of the said Colledge. In humble obedience to Command of this Honourable Committee, & in Answer to the Colledg Paper.
IN the first place, I say, I willingly passe by all personal aymes, be it in the mention of my not attendance, (which they are cause of) or in their grand Caveats enjoyned by them on this honourable Committee, and the two Houses of Parliament, [Page 4]upon their Wisdoms and Justice, If they shall empower mee, &c. or in their many arguments of Abuse to prevent that IF. And am resolved (as God shall enable me) to swallow all private reproach and scorn, that runs not too much on the publick score.
Secondly, concerning the Matter it self, I humbly answer, that the Colledg have quite mistaken it; for I presented only the Use of Publick Bathes, and they meddle only with the Abuse of them. Alas, who knows not, that the Abuse of wine causeth drunkennesse; the abuse of women, whoredome; the abuse of meats, gluttony; and the abuse of Physick, poyson?
Thirdly, I fear they have too much forsaken the Authors of our own Faculty, to side with Poets and the superstitious beginnings of Antichrist, in the aggravations of those Abuses.
Fourthly, I doubt whether they have not mistaken the jealous zeal of those Religious Fathers that writ against them; for the insulting Barbarismes of the Gothes and Vandales, and other conquering Nations, in demolishing those stately Buildings. And whether the self-same writings may not more, or as fitly be applyed unto the private Houses, and those Accommodations mentioned in the Paper, Yea, to the Excellent and Famous Bathes of Sommersetshire.
Fifthly, I perceive they consulted not well with Travellers, when they affirm them all demolished, or converted to other uses in the Grecian and Romane Empires. For the truth is, that many of them being demolished, Lesser Purses, Power, and Leisure, have not been able to contend in State with the Treasure and Soveraignty of the whole world, which those Emperours had that built them.
Sixthly, I doubt whether it be not a fundamental Heresie in Physick, to necessitate hot Remedies (as Bathes) for hot Countries, and proclaim them dangerous in cold Clymes, notwithstanding the daily Experience in Germany, [Page 5]Poland, Denmark, & Muscovia, to the contrary. And the Great Canon of Physick, contraria contrariis curantur,
Seventhly, I do verily believe, and dare adventure my Life and Estate upon it, that I can (by Gods blessing) more safely, certainly, suddenly, and with more Ease, cure many (if not all curable) diseases with them, then all our Colledg; yea, then All Physitians in the world can do without them. Yea, such diseases as without them are wholly desperate and deadly.
Eighthly, In Answer to some tacit Jealousies, I do not do this purposely to diminish the Practise of Physitians, but verily suppose there may be a way propounded in them, both advantagious to them & the Common-wealth.
Ninthly, I do not endeavour to engrosse them to my self; but have from the beginning, and do still humbly offer it unto the State, or any whom thay shall appoint; wherein (if I do not) I verily believe that Dr. Grent will be the best able to serve them.
Lastly, I professe before God and men, that I believe the due use of them in all convenient places, may save above 10000 Lives a year. And that in faithfulnesse to Almighty God, and my native Country, I have endeavoured this service; from the which, if the honourable Parliament or Committee can discharge me before the Great Judg, I shall give most humble thanks to God and Them, rejoycing to have so escaped the incensed Spirits of so many learned men, as now oppose me.