Health, a poem. Shewing how to procure, preserve, and resotre it. To which is annexed, the doctor’s decade

London: J. Roberts, 1750. Sixth edition. All blanks present. Contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, some wear to spine and corners; interior excellent. Stated sixth edition, originally published in 1719. With a preface combining poetry and text railing against excessive drinking, Baynard’s work is a poetic call for the public’s awareness of common healthy practices such as cold baths, eating well and positive attitude. That combined with interesting and somewhat obscure points such as “He may go bare-foot as a goose, who lives in hope of dead mens shoes.” The final part of the poem is entitled The doctor’s decade; or the ten utensils of his trade: “for in ten words the whole art is ocmpris’d; for some of the ten are always advis’d, viz. Piss, spue, and spit, perspiration and sweat, purge, bleed and blister, issues and clyster.” These few evacuations cure all the doctor’s patients, if rightly apply’d by a wise physic guide” (and it goes on from there).

Baynard (1641-1719) was an English physician who was a proponent of both hot and cold baths. A letter from Baynard subscribing to the positive effects of water was published as an appendix to Floyer’s treatise on cold bathing in 1702. Baynard was said to be the character “Horoscope” in Garth’s poem, The dispensary.