itfoQ'V*  /  ^ 


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LETTER, 

T  O  T  H  E 

IMPARTIAL,  JUDICIOUS,  BENEVOLENT, 
and  CANDID  READER, 

CONCERNING  THE 

PRACTICE  of  PHYSIC. 

By  PETER  V  O  N  S  A  R  N.  M.  D. 

at  Northampton. 


fj.r,  Kcynv  xaxwt  aAAo.  finSt  tyftfov. 

Amico  ne  maledicere,  ac  ne  inimico  quidem. 

Pictacus  apudDiog.  Laeit.  lib.  t.  p.  53. 


CAMBRIDGE:  Printed  M DCC LXVh 


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To  the  Impartial  and  Candid 
READER. 


SINCE  my  coming  to  Northampton  in  Sep¬ 
tember,  1764,  for  feveral  months  Ipradifed  phy- 
fic,  in  preferring  only,  without  the  left  recommen¬ 
dation  from  the  furgeons  and  apothecaries,  who  were 
not  able  to  conceal  their  prejudices  againft  me  ; 
but  very  early  and  frequently  gave  me  occafion  to 
conclude,  that  I  had  no  favours  to  exped  from  them* 
This  being  the  cafe,  I  was  at  laft  determined,  at  the 
defire  and  requeft  offuch  of  my  patients  as  were  not  con¬ 
cerned  with  any  apothecary  an  dfurgeon, that  I  would 
prepare  fome  medicines,  efpecialiy  fueftas  were  peculiar 
to  myfelf*  Indeed  I  judged  it  improper  to  have  fuch 
cultar%  medicines  prepared  by  them,  efpecialiy  at  fuch  a 
jundure  :  However  it  isandfhall  be  my  determination 
to prej tribe  them  only ,  in  adjacent  towns;  leaving  the 
apothecaries  in  each  refpedive  place  to  make  them 
np  ;  declaring,  that  if  fuch  apothecaries  want  any 
article  belonging  to  the  compofition  of  fuch  medi¬ 
cines,  whether  roots,  herbs,  flowers,  feeds,  foreign  or 
domeftic,  or  any  chymical  preparations,  they  fhall  be 
welcome  to  them  from  my  houfe,  without  any  charge* 
It  is  well  known  that  the  apothecaries  and  furgeon$ 
ad  in  every  refped  as  Pby/icians ;  now  I  apprehend 
it  full  as  eligible  in  itfelf  and  much  more  fafe  in  re- 

13  gard 


(  4~0 

gard  to  the  patient,  that  the  phyfician  fhould  adfc  as 
an  apothecary,  efjpecially  in  fome  cafes. 

They  attend  as  Phyficians  perhaps  weeks  or  months, 
till  at  laft  either  through  the  uneafmefs  of  the  pa¬ 
tient  or  the  family,  one  of  Us  is  fent  for,  and  for  the 
moft  part  without  their  recommendation,  if  not  againfl 
their  inclination. 

When  we  come,  probably  the  patient  is  found  to 
be  either  in  the  greateft  extremity  of  danger,  or  in 
Agone  Mortis,  &c. 

Without  doubt,  impartial  reader,  you  have  heard 
fome  of  them  fay,  u  He  is  a  Foreigner  or  Stranger.” 
I  would  have  them,  as  Chriflians,  confider,  Excdus 
xxHthi.  21.  Thoufha.lt  neither  vex  a  ftranger,  nor 
opprefs  him  *,  for  ye  were  flrangers  in  the  land  of 
Egypt.  Leviticus  xix,  33,  34.  And  if  a  ftranger 
iojourn  with  thee  in  your  land  ye  fhall  not  vex  him. 
But  the  ftranger  that  dwelleth  with  you,  fhall  be  unto 
you  as  one  born  amongft  you,  and  thou  fhalt  love 
him  as  thyfelf,  &c.  compare  Deuteron.  x.  19.  Zecba- 
riah  vii.  10. 

Properly  fpeaking,  we  are  all  flrangers  Here  ; 
and  it  highly  co  ncerns  us  to  a6l  as  ftrangers? 
in  a  world  which  is  of  no  farther  importance  to  us, 
than  as  it  is  fubfervient  to  a  future  one,  1  Chron.  xxix. 
25.  For  we  are  flrangers  before  thee,  as  were  all  our 
fathers.  Our  days  on  the  earth  are  as  a  fhadow,  and 
there  is  none  abiding,  compare  Pfal.  cxix.  19. 

Accord- 


(  S  ) 

According  to  the  common  acceptation  of  the  term? 
1  am  a  Stranger ,  born  at  Kreyfeld  *  or  Crevelt ,  where 
my  father  was  a  minifter,  both  in  the  High-German 
and  Low-Dutch  languages,  twelve  years;  from  thence 
called  to  Moers  where  there  is  a  Gymnafium  ft  of 
which  he  was  a  Scholarcha  and  a  preacher  about 
twelve  years  more:  On  that  gymnafium  I  was  brought 
up,  from  thence  went  to  the  univerfity  of  Duisburg  II 
on  the  Rhine,  where  I  ftudied  many  years ;  this 
antient  city  gave  birth  to  my  father,  and  the  above 
mentioned  places  are  fituatedin  his  Prufiian  majefty’s 
dominions  ;  afterwards  I  ftudied  at  Leyden ,  U(recfot 
Hardcrwyck\  in  the  laft  commenced  dodtor  of  Phyfic, 
under  the  moft  learned  and  eminent  profeiTor  John 
de  Gorter,  Anno  1752. 

It  is  alledged  that  I  am  a  foreigner  :  in  the  fame 
manner  one  might  argue, "that  the  Englifh  phyficians 
and  other  gentlemen  refiding  in  Pruffia ,  Holland  &c. 
are  Strangers  there, 

I  can  allure  you  they  are  efteemed  according  to  the 
law  of  God,  as  mentioned  Leviticus  x ix.  33,  34.  and 

*  A  famous  battle  was  fought  here  between  Prince  Ferdinand 
and  the  French. 

4  This  Gymnafium  confifts  of  arecior,  con  rector  and  four  other 
preceptors,  provided  with  good  falaries,  from  his  majefty  the  King 
of  Pruffia,  there  are  feveral  of  thefe  in  all  cities  throughout  the 
kingdom,  erected  for  the  cultivation  of  learning. 

|j  This  Duitburg  was  the  royal  leat  of  Pharamundi  and  Clodii 
from  A,  I)  419.  till  about  the  year  440.  The  univerfity  was 
erected  by  Frederic  Wilhelm,  elector  oi  Brandenburgh,  in  the  year 
■1655. 


dwell 


(  6  ) 

dwell  amongd  them,  as  if  natives,  enjoying  with  them 
the  fame  privileges,  &c. 

One  faying  I  am.  a  Fore;gner,  another  may  add, 
et  fis  inch,  he  mull  be  unacquainted  with  the  Englijh 
cc  conlUtution.5’  But  this  is  a  miftake ;  I  have 
lived  in  England  for  more  than  thirteen  years 
paft;  but  are  not  molt  of  the  difeafes  incident  to  hu¬ 
man  bodies  the  fame  in  all  parts  of  the  globe  ?  Per¬ 
haps  they  may  add,  44  His  prefepptions  are  foreign  to 
us.’’  This  betrays  a  defedt  in  their  own  underftanding 
and  is  meant  to  deceive  thofe  of  a  leffer  capacity. 

But  pleafe  toobferve  ;  Did  not  many  Englifh 
Irifh,  and  Scotch  gentlemen  fludy  feme  years  under 
the  moll  celebrated  profelTor  Herm.  Boerhaave,  Src. 
at  Leyden  in  Holland,  take  their  degree,  or  obtain  a 
diploma  there  t  return  to  their  own  refpective  coun- 

•  4  * 

tries,  fettle  and  pradliee  phylic  with  fuccefs,  on 
the  fyftem  of  their  foreign  mailer  ?  and  what  is  Hill 
more,  a  great  number  of  the  nobility  and  other  gen' 
tlemen  went  over  to  Leyden  for  the  benefit  of  his 
preferiptions,  where  he  greferibed  for  them  with  fuc¬ 
cefs  *,  and  medicines  were  adminiftered  there  on  the 
jpot  *,  an  1  without  doubt  many  of  his  preferiptions 
were  prepared  here  inEngland  afterwards  with  the  fame 
good  effedt.  Others  who  proiecuted  their  fludies  and 
took  their  degrees  at  Oxford,  Cambridge,  Edinburgh^ 
pradtice  with  fucccls  in  Prulfia,  Holland,  &:c.  on 
thefyfiemof  their  native  mailers.  More  might  be 
obferved  here,  but  this  is  fufficient. 


Pro^bly 


(  7  ) 

a  third  perfon,  tho*  ever'ffo  low,  Harts 
up,  “  If  h^pr^pares  medicines,  he  hurts  us.”  So  I  may- 
fay  to  them,  “  If  they  continue  adtingas  phyficians  they 
hurt  me.”  However  a.s  they  are  entirely  unacquainted 

v 

with  my  peculiar  medicines,  1  have  no  apprehenfions 
of  their  being  able  to  hurt  me.  Now,  if  any  of  the 
gentlemen  apothecaries  or  furgeons,  in  this  town, 
cnoofego  enter  into  any  controverfy  with  me,  let  them 
but  fet  their  names  to  their  performances,  and  I  am 
ready  to  anfwer  them,  in  what  language,  or  on  what 
fubjeCt  they  pleafe. 

With  refpect  to  you,  gentlemen  apothecaries  and 
furgeons,  in  the  market  towns,  &c.  about  Northamp¬ 
ton,  my  fincere  and  hearty  thanks  wait  on  you  for  your 
civilities  and  candor,  already  experienced:  I  hope  the 
further  continuance  of  your  favors*,  nothing  fhall  be 
concealed  from  you,  and  nothing  fhall  be  wanting 
in  me  for  the  benefit  of  your  patients  *,  for  whom  I 
fhall  endeavour,  under  God’s  bleffing,  to  prefcri be* 
cito,  tutc ,  jucunde ,  as  fpeedily,  effectually  and  agree¬ 
ably  as  poffible,  concluding  with  Manlius.* 

Certa  mihi  fpes  eft,  quod  vitam  qui  dedit,  idem 
Et  velit  St  poflk  flipped! tare  ciburn. 

I  doubt  not  but  he  that  hath  given  life  both  will 
and  can  fupport  the  lame. 

I  am,  Impartial,  and  Candid  Reader, 
Northampton,  your  moft  humble  fervant, 

Nov.  30,  1765,  Peter  Von  Sarn,  M.  D. 


jrp  * 


4 


✓ 


(  8  ) 

I  have  thought  Jr?  to  fubjotn  to  this  Letter  an  AppEND/fx,  con^ 
mining  an  Account  of  /itch  Books  as  have  bien  pjAfiAhtd  both  by 
??ij  father  and  Myje/f. 

The  Books,  &c.  of  my  Fathers  publifhing  are5 
In  High-German,  { 

I.  His  Farewell  of  his  felloyg-ftudents  at  Duifburg  on 
the  Rhine,  when  going  to  profecute  his  (Indies  fur¬ 
ther  at  Leyden,  under  the  Profedor  Johannes 
a  March,  Saloman  van  Til,  and  Franc.  Fabricius* 
in  poetry,  1708.  in  quarto. 

II.  ITis  firft  and  lad  anfwer  to  Afinius  in  poetry, 
1710.  quarto. 

III.  The  important  character  and  wonderful  works 
of  the  Son  of  God,  in  poetry,  illuftrated  with  ob¬ 
servations  as  well  Hiftorical,  as  Philological,  1712. 
in  odlavo. 

IV.  Poetry,  of  Flymns,  firdpart,  &c.  &c.  Anagram- 
mata,  Rondeaux,  Chronodifticha,  Epigrammata? 
Paronomafia,  Acrofticha,  3713,  in  oftavo. 

V.  Thoughts  on  the  vacant  and  now  rilled  up 
throne  of  Great  Britain,  in  poetry,  with  political 
and  other  obfervations  1714.  in  quarto. 

VI.  Several  Epithalamiums,  Epitaphs  and  pieces  of 
poetry,  congratulary  and  honorary,  on  various  oc- 
cafions,  in  Folio.  AH  the  above  were  printed  at 
Duifburg  on  the  Rhine. 

VIE  Remembrance  of  his  twenty-three  years  mini- 
dry,  from  Jer.  xxv.  3.  at  a  quarterly  affembly  held 
at  Moers,&c.  December  the  2d  1733.  * 

*  By  the’  deu  e  or  the  nobility  and  ether  gentlemen,  it  was 
printed  at  Lipfhdt,  1734.  in  quarto.  My  father  died  loon  after  in 
the  47th  year  of  his  age. 


I 


(  9  ) 


Thofe  in  fcatfn  arc, 

I.  Obfervationes  i?&liothecse  Bremenfi  infertae. 

1.  De  Septem  Diacoriis  *4  VI.  5.  Clair.  III.  Fafc. 
III.  Num,  VI.  Anno  1720. 

2.  Cogitationes  de  Libano,  ut  Emblemate  Ecqlefis 
N.  T.ClafT.  III.  Fafc.  V.  Num.  IV.  Anno  1720. 

3.  Mercurii  cum  Angelo  Foederis  comparatio, 
Clalf.  V.  Fafc.  II.  Num.  II.  Anno  1721. 

4.  De  Angelo  Satans  colapbizante  Paulum  ad 

2  Cor.  XIII,  7,  9.  Obfervatio  Nova,  ClalT. 
VII.  Fafc.  III.  Num.  VI.  Anno  1723; 

5.  De  Nomine  Novo  ad  Jef.  LXII,  2.  LXV,  15. 

et  Apoc.  II,  1  7.  Cogitationes,  ClaiT.  VII.  Fafc. 
V.  Num.  IX.  Anno  1724. 

II.  Diilertationes  Hitlorico-Philologico-Tlieologics 

feparatim  edits. 

1.  De  Galeis  Veterum,  Duifburgi  ad  Rhenum,  An¬ 

no  1 724.  in  Quarto. 

2.  De  Falcibus  Veterum.  ibid.  1725.  in  Quarto. 

3.  De  Haflis  Veterum.  ibid.  1726.  in  Quarto. 

4.  De  Securibus  Veterum.  ibid.  1727.  in  Quarto. 

5.  De  Loricis  Veterum.  ibid.  1728.  in  Quarto. 

III.  Obfervationum  Philologicarum  Tetras. 

x.  De  Labro  Mods  Aineo  ad  Exod.  XXXVIII,  8. 

2.  De  Lamentatione  Davidis  ad  2  Sam.  XVIII,  33. 

3.  De  Alis  Venti  ad  Pfalm.  XVIII,  xx. 

4.  De  Ambuladone  Navium  ad  Pfalm.  CIV,  2 6. 

Duifburg  1729.  in  Quarto. 


IV.  Obfer- 


C  >0  )  / 

IV.  Ohfervatio  Lightfootiana  dc  Nomine  Sethur,  cu- 
jus  literse  faciunt  Numerum  ($6.  ad  Num.  XIII 
14,  coll.  Apoc.  XIII.  t§.  Notis  commendatitiis 
i'iiuftrata  in  Mifcdlaneis  Duifburgenfibus,  Tom.  t* 
Fafc.  III.  Num.  VI.  Anno  1733. 

Thofe  publifhed  by  me,  arc 

I.  In  Poetry. 

i*  Both  in  the  High-German  and  Low-Dutch  lan¬ 
guages,  on  various  occafions. 

2.  Greek  and  Latin. 

II.  In  prole. 

1  *  The  Horfe  of  War  out  of  Proverbs  xxi.  31. 
Utrecht  1745.  in  cdtavo. 

2.  The  Diftant  and  Approaching  Trumpet  of  war, 
famine,  peflilence  and  perfecution,  Utrecht, 
1746,  in  oflavo. 

JIL  In  Latin. 

1.  De  Dea  Huldana,  commentathincula  ’Autoo^j- 
&a?»oj’Ultrajefl:.  adRhenum.  1747.  in  Quarto. 
^DiiTertatio  Hiftorico-Philologica,  de  cognomini- 
bus  Jovis,  Pars  1.  id.  1747.  in  Quarto. 

3  Difputatio  Phyfiologico-Medica  Inauguralis  de 
Alimentis  Corporis  Humani,  Pro  Gradu 
DoCtoratus  Summifque  in  Medicina  Honori- 
bus  &  privilegis  rite  et  legitime  confequen- 
dis,  Aug.  1 7,  1752.  Harderovici.  in  quarto. 

N.  B.  Any  Gentleman  of  Curiofity  and  Learning  may  have 
the  fight  and  perufal  of  them  at  my  Houfe  in  the  Gold-Street „ 
Northampton. 


(  1 1  ) 

Here  follows  a  true  and  exadt  Copy  of  my  Diploma* 
with  an  Account  of  the  Exercifes  I  performed  in 
Order  to  the  obtaining  it,  by  which  it  will  be  feed 
that  my  Right  to  practice  as  a  Phyfician*  is  juft 
and  unqueftionable. 


Reft  or  &  Setjat.  Academia  Ducat.  Gelria  0?  Comitat, 
Zutphanue  Leftorib.  Salutem. 

LAUDABILE  imprimis  eft  Majorum  noftrorum 
inftitutum,  ut  qui  honeftis  ftudiis  ac  praeciaris 
'ambus  florem  setatis  dedicaverunt  antequam  ad  vitae 
communis  ufum  atque  adtiones  publicas  fe  conferant, 
Academiae  alicujus  iubeant  examen,  debitumque 
eruditionis  fuas  teftimonium  ab  ea  petant.  Cum  igi- 
tur  Prasftantiftimus  ac  Doddfiimus  PETRUS  von 
SARN,  Petr.  FiL  reliquis  fuis  ftudiis  Mcdicinam 
quoque  adjeciftet,  atque  in  ea,  exquirenda  diligen- 
tem,  ac  aftiduam  aliquos  anno$  navaftet  operani,  ut 
jam  ad  exhibendum  dodtrinsb  fuae  aliquod  fpeci- 
men  paratus  effet,  petiit  a  nobis,  ut  fejuito  examine 
Spectatum  titulo  dodlrinae  fuae  convenienti  meritis 
que  laborum  fuorum  praemiis  ornaremus ;  Nos  cum 
honeftiflimae  atque  aequifiimae  ejus  petitioni  d-eefle  hac 
in  partemon  poftemus,  ipfum  primo  per  Univerfam 
Medicinam  accurate  rigidequeexaminavimus,  Cafum 
Morbi  de  Dyfpepfia ,  Apb.  24,  25.  Sett.  5.  Hipp. 
enucleantem  atque  explicantem  \  ad  queftiones  & 
dubia,  ad  objedtiones  &  propofita  argumenta  doc- 
tiffime  ac  folidiffime  refpondentem  ;  Difputationem 
denique  de  Alimenlis  Corporis  Humaniprzcfcnti  animo 
ac  fingulari  promptitudine  propugnantem  ac  defen- 
dentem  audivimus.  In  quibus  omnibus  cum  lauda* 
bilem  eruditionem  eximiamque  Medicinae  cogniti- 
onem,  atque  excultum  omnibus  morum  ingenuaeque 
indolis  virtutibus  animum  nobis  approbaffet,  idcirco 


(  12  ) 

illi  lumrnos  in  Medicioa  honores  lubentes  a c  volen- 
tcs  decrevimus.  Quapropter  ex  potcftate  nobis  ab 
Illuflribus  ac  Pracpotcnribus  Ducatus  Gelriae 
Comitatf  Zutphaniae  Ordinibus  concefla,  praenomina- 
turn  PETRUM  von  SARN  Petr .  Fil.  voce  clariffimi 
ac  experientifiimi  viri  Dn.  Johannis de  Gorter  A.L.M. 
Phil .  &  Med.Doft.  Ejufdemque  Facultatis  in  Illuftri 
Ducatus  Gelriae  ac  Comitatus  Zutphaniae  Academia £ 
quae  eft  Hardervici ,  Profefforis  Ordinarily  Medicinae 
Do<5tcrem  pronunciavimus  ac  declaravimus,  pronun- 
ciamus  ac  declaramus,  dedimufque  ac  damus  ei  po- 
teftatcm  Cathcdram  dodtoralem,  ubi  legitima  voca- 
tio  praecefferit,  confcendendi,  de  Medicina  publice 
refpondendi,  Medicinam  docendi,  confilia  dandi, 
difputandi,  promovcndi,  atque  Praxin  ubivis  loco- 
rum  exercendi.  Tribuimus  ci  iiduper  immunitates, 
privilcgia,  dignitates,  praerogativa  atque  omnia  alia 
infignia  dodtoralia.  quaecunque  in  ullis  aliis  Acade¬ 
mics  vere  &c  legitime  prornoto  Medicinae  Dodlori, 
legibus  aut  confuetudine  concedi  tribuique  folcnt. 
In  quorum  omnium  fidem  Diploma  hoc  publicum 
majori  Academiae  figjllo  corroboratum,  &  rnanu 
Secretarii  nollri  fub^gnatum,  ei  dari  curavimus. 
Hardervici  Gel,  ad  Diem  ij.  Aug.  1752. 

•  Johannes  Henricvs  van  Lcm,  a.l.m.  Philos.  Dodor  ejuf- 
demqne  Facultatis  ut  et  Mathef.  ac  Aftron.  Prof.  (Jrd* 
h.  t.  Academic  Prc£— Redor. 

Johannes  de  Gorter  a  l  m  Medicine  Dcdor  &  Prof.  Ordin. 
ut  et  arthiater  Promotor. 

Johannes  Wilhelmus  Mauckart,  j.  u.  d  ejufdemque  Fa- 
cultatis  juris  Publici  Prof.  Ord. 

Joh  annssWil  h  £  l  mus  M  a  rck  a  rt,  h ,  t.  vice'Sec  ret  arii  fungsns. 


