parts are amply confidered, refpecting their cause and cure; the third contains the curative method in diseases of the stomach and bowels; nervous, and hysteric affections, low fpirits, and melancholy; Dropfy and Confumption. In the laft, I have treated on diseases of the skin and glands; influence of the paffions on the body and mind; effects of weather on delicate conftitutions; and the falutary power of air, diet, exercife, and fimple medicines.

To the whole is added a SUPPLEMENT, with Prescriptions or forms of medicine adapted to the feveral diseases,

For feveral years paft, fince I declined the Practice of Midwifery, my attention has been more particularly directed to that branch of medical fcience, which comprehends the nature and treatment of Female Difeafes; in confequence of being Phyfician to the WEST

WESTMINSTER LYING-IN HOSPITAL, where upwards of fix thousand women have already been relieved.

If, in the following fheets, I have laid much stress on the falutary power of Regimen and Simple Medicines, it was from a

DR.LEAKE, of Craven-Street, in the Strand, London, A.D. 1765, purchased a Piece of Ground on a Building-Leafe, on the Surry Side of Westminster-Bridge, and afterwards prefented to the Public the Original Plan for the Inftitution of this Hofpital. Soon as the Building was raised by Public Subfcription, he voluntarily, and without any confideration, affigned over his right of the above Ground, to the faid Charity. Being honored with the Patronage of several Gentlemen of Rank and Distinction, and favored with the affiftance of his Friends and the Public, which he is defirous most respectfully to acknowledge; he at laft had the fatisfaction of seeing this charitable defign carried into Execution after the repeated exertion of his utmost endeavours to that end.

This HOSPITAL was principally defigned to relieve the Wives of poor induftrious Tradesmen, and alfo for those of

Şoldiers

thorough conviction of their efficacy, and because experience affured me they afford the most gentle and natural means of curing Chronic Difeafes.

Soldiers and failors: But Representation having been made to the Governors, of the many fevere Hardships which anmarried Women undergo, who on that account are rejected elsewhere; they unanimously refolved to receive fuch as are found to be Objects of real Want, not doubting that this Refolution, which is founded in Humanity, will meet with the countenance and approbation of the Public; many melancholy Inftances having occurred, where unfortunate Women, overwhelmed with Shame, and deftitute of hope, money, or friends, have been driven to Defpair by fuch complicated Mifery, and were tempted to deftroy themselves or to murder their Infants! But left the perverfion of this Design should tend to encourage Licentionfnefs, they have limited the Indulgence to the First Time only in which fuch Women have been unwarily feduced from the paths of Virtue.

Into this HOSPITAL, tho' yet in its Infant Sate, upwards of Six Thousand Women have already been admitted. Several have been Delivered at their own Habitations, without Fee or Reward, and many recommended as Out-Patients, for Relief in Disorders peculiar to the Sex.

Subfcriptions are received at Meff. Drummonds and Co. Bankers, Charing-crofs; and by the Weekly Board, every Tuesday, at the Hofpital, where a Printed Account of the prefent ftate of the Charity may be had at large.

They

They have a flender title to medical knowledge, who limit the treatment of fuch maladies to the fole use of medicines ; and it ought to be remarked, that there is not any thing to be confidered medicinal which does not relieve or cure, however dignified by particular names importing its fuperior efficacy; and, on the contrary, should the disease be removed by Air, Diet, and Exercise, or the most innocent Vegetable Simple; they are then to be looked upon as medicines, to all intents and purposes.

Little having been faid of Female Dif eases in a practical and intelligible manner, I thought the present undertaking more neceffary; for although Tifot in his Advice to the People, and Buchan in his Domestic Medicine, have written excellently and judiciously on diseases in general; they have, in a great measure, omitted those peculiar to

women,

women, except fuch as arife from obftructed menfes, pregnancy, and child-birth.

The celebrated Van Swieten, late phyfician to their imperial Majesties; M. Roufen, physician to the King of Sweden; together with Arbuthnot, Fuller and Cheyne, who have all written on the fame liberal and fimple plan, shew, that respectable precedents are not wanting on this occafion, and confequently, that no apology can be neceffary for my present undertaking.

With fuch, indeed, as are to profit more from the administration of medicines, than by enforcing the benefits of Regimen; it may appear a very unpopular task to fhew the abuse of one, or good effects of the other; but demonftrable truths ought to carry conviction with them, whether they are for our intereft or against it. If fome are to be found who cannot affent to this opinion, I hope the number is small.

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