To Joseph Cownley (January 10, 1756)

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1 Joseph Cownley (1723-92) was one of the early itinerant preachers; see , 2:1–47. John Gaulter, Cownley's biographer, prefaces this letter thus: 'The fever which Mr. Cownley had in 1755 so relaxed his nerves that his labours were considerably interrupted. A pain settled in his head, which no medicine could ever remove. After consulting the most able physicians in Ireland , he stated his case to Mr. Wesley , and received the following answer' ( 17 [1794]: 527; , 2:18).

London
January 10, 1756

My Dear Brother,

I have no objection to anything but the blister .

2An irritating substance or plaster used to raise blisters on the skin—a favourite remedy of eighteenth-century physicians. Although Wesley included one recommendation of a blister in his Primitive Physick from 1781 onwards (for involuntary urine), his general rule was, 'No bleeding, no blistering.' See letter of Nov. 5, 1762 , and JW , Journal for June 17, 1742 (19:279 in this edn.) .

If it does good, well. But if I had been at Cork ,

3Spelled here, as often by Wesley , 'Corke'.

all the physicians in Ireland should not have put it upon your head. Remember poor Bishop Pearson. An apothecary, to cure a pain in his head, covered it with a large blister. In an hour he cried out, 'Oh! my head, my head!' and was a fool ever after, to the day of his death.

4 John Pearson, Bishop of Chester (1613–86). The anecdote seems to be apocryphal.

I believe cooling things (if anything under heaven) would remove that violent irritation of your nerves, which probably occasions the pain. Moderate riding may be of use; I believe of more [use] than the blister. Only do not take more labour upon you than you can bear. Do as much as you can, and no more. Let us make use of the present time . Every day is of importance. We know not how few days of peace remain. We join in love to you and yours.

I am, dear Joseph , Your affectionate friend and brother,
John Wesley

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Entry Title: To Joseph Cownley (January 10, 1756)

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