Hippocrates Spirit of Sulphur and the like ease Thirst in Fevers It quenches Thirst to shut ones Mouth hold ones Tongue and to take the cool Air and Drink ¶ For the same Cure will not serve all sorts Vallesius 6. Epid. 3. For that which is caused by the heat of the Lungs and Breast the inspiration of cold Air is fitter than Drink and that rather very cold than much of it ¶ If Thirst come through the fault of the Reins as it does in a Diabetes I think you cannot use a better Remedy in this Case than one that causes rest or stupifies or at least lessens Sense So for such this is good to take every other Night an ounce and an half of Syrup of Poppy with Barly water or a decoction of Mallows To which purpose it is good also to lick some of the same in the day-time Syrup of Purslain is also good and de mucilaginibus Mercatus and whatever takes off the sharpness of Sense ¶ Although Hippocrates aphor 24. sect 5. seems to forbid Milk to the Thirsty yet it must be understood of them only who are excessive Thirsty through too much Heat and a mass of putrid and cholerick Humors in whom Milk is easily corrupted and not of them who are Thirsty through Heat and Consumption Varandaeus tract de ventriculi Mâ—rbis p. 102. for in the same Aphorism he allows Milk to Hectick Persons though in a Feaver Galen l. 7. Meth. prescribes the use of Milk and the warm Bath to hecticks II. They are in an Error who when they see sick People almost killed with Thirst give them things candied with Sugar and Conserves as of the Sowr part of Citron c. which although perhaps without Sugar they might quench Thirst yet with it they will never quench Thirst Children know that Sugar increases Thirst It is better to take nothing at all Sanctorius Meth. l. 13. c. 2. because if the Tongue were not fouled with these sweet Things it would not for some hours be so Thirsty Therefore I wonder that Physicians though they see it daily do not abstain from it III. Nitre and Sal prunellae have a Virtue to quench Thirst and Heat Hartman in his Praxis mixes 1 ounce of it prepared with a pint of Liquor or Water for a drink for Feaverish Persons I scarce go above 5 scruples for it weakens the Stomach a little and therefore sometimes causes a Loosness Schroderus l. 3. cap. 23. but it may be given from half a drachm to an whole one without harm especially with Sugar whereby its bitterness is mitigated Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. Linseed Alex. Benedictus and Quince seed tied up in a rag like a little Ball and steeped in Violet water if it be held in the Mouth wonderfully quenches Thirst 2. These Pills wonderfully quench Thirst Take of seeds of Melon Cucumbers candied Lettucestalk Diacodium in a solid Form and Sugar 2 drachms Sacch candi violat Trag. each 1 drachm With the White of an Egg make Pills Hold one under the Tongue and let it dissolve by little and little in the Mouth and then swallow it ¶ Pieces of Water-Melon held in the Mouth are highly approved to quench thirst in a Pestilential Feaver Some also as a Secret hold water with as much Vinegar as the Patient likes Aeustach Rudius in the Mouth and give them to drink 3. The heat of the Body and of the Praecordia must be quenched with Epithemes whereby I have oftner with success cured thirst than with internal things For by applying juice of Cichory Endive Purslain c. with Vinegar and Spec. diatriωn Santalωn to the region of the Liver Here. Saxonia and often repeating it I have done a great deal of good Sinus or a deep running Imposthume See Fistula Book VI. and Vlcus Book XVIII Somnus preter naturam or Praeternatural Sleep See Lethargus Book X. The Contents Not all that is extended beyond the usual time must be interupted I. Opening of the Jugular Veins is gaod in sleepy Diseases II. The Vertue of Cresses in awakening from sleep III. Drinking of Coffee is not good for all IV. Cured by an Hypnotick V. The method of Curing a Coma. VI. Cured by a Cautery behind in the Head VII Compounded Aqua Vitae must be given with great care VIII I. SOmetimes in great want of rest sleep is so long prolonged and so sound that it may seem a sleepy Disease and deceive the Physician both in length of time and deepness of the sleep as in those that are over tired or have over watched or over wrought themselves So I saw one who after he had lain sick 34 dayes and had not changed his Linnen all the time of his Disease when he had changed it and was laid in a soft and clean Bed slept 36 hours continually He was thought to be carotick Ludovicus l. 1. cap. 2. but he was not so for at length he awaked took meat and the next day was well II. To open the outer jugular by a Skilful Surgeon is good in sleepy Diseases and is proved from many Histories Some prefer 2 or 3 Leeches applied along that Vein to the angle of the lower Jaw Riolanus where it stands up and may be seen III. In deep Sleep it is good to eat Cresses either boyled in Broth or raw in Sallets for there is nothing dries the Brain more than Cresses whence came the Proverb to drowzy Persons go eat Cresses Where I cannot but wonder why Fernelius cap. 2. lib. 2. Pathol. writes that Cresses cause Sleep Rondeletius cap. 19. IV. Drinking of Coffee seeing it is very effectual in keeping off drowziness something must be said here of its effects and the reason of its working From the Eastern People to whom it has been long ago familiar it is become customary among us I think the nature of it consists in this that it presently communicates its adust particles with which it abounds according to both its tast and scent to the Blood and then to the Nervous juice which therefore by their incongruity and mobility or restlessness do both keep open the Pores of the outer part of the Brain and add certain goads and pricks to the Spirits which are deprived of any other chain or torpidness whereby they are the longer excited to perform their offices For to fall asleep these two things are necessarily required of which sometimes the one sometimes the other is the greater sharer in causing it Namely all the Pores and Passages of the out part of the Brain must be very much stuffed and filled from the Liquor which overflows there out of the Blood and therefore must be stopt Then besides to accomplish this effect it is necessary that the animal Spirits being excluded from these passages and moreover oftentimes loaden with nutritious and serous Particles must betake themselves to the middle of the Brain there to lye quiet
of other Mens judgements But they deserve best from Learning who keep nothing from others which they have learned by Experience but make it publick and who being informed by long Practice both what ought to be done and what avoided do either here and there insert it in their Works or put it out in particular Tracts None of us is good at all things this Man is good at Explication that Man at Correction another at Consultation Let every Man contribute what he is able and give his Assistence by his Purse Pains or Advice I have cast in my Mite in which I have bestowed nothing on Pomp all on Use for which if you shall esteem this fit it shall never repent me of my Pains Farewell THE Translatours Preface TO THE READER THOVGH the Authour himself has already addrest you yet his Modesty not allowing him to give this Book of his the due Character of so learned and usefull a Work because his own Justice bids me say something farther on that behalf I have seen a little in the Practice of Physick and I highly value Bonetus his Judgment both in making Choice of such a Design and in the Prosecution of it for the Advancement of Practical Knowledge His Design is to take out of all Classick Authours in the Art of Physick from Hippocrates the Father of the Faculty who lived some hundreds of years before the Physician of Souls was incarnate down to his Contemporaries and Himself in the year of the Incarnation 1682. all that does directly tend to the saving of sick Mens lives So that in this one Volume you have the Substance I may safely say it of the Medical Library which has been about two Thousand years in collecting For there is not one Authour of Note who hath left ought to Posterity in all that time but here Bonetus presents you with what is material for Practice out of him So that besides the vast Charge which a Man would be put to in furnishing himself with so huge a Library as he must of necessity have to compile so great a Work and with the Charge besides the great difficulty to procure some Books for any Money for several that he quotes I know to be both dear and scarce and he often cites Passages out of a Manuscript of Sir Theodore de Mayerne's our English Aesculapius of his time which never yet has been printed I say besides the Charge and Difficulty in getting Books he saves that Physician who has them a great deal of time in perusing them to find what is pertinent to the Case he would be resolved in For if you understand Latine you may find the Name of your Disease Alphabetically in that Tongue and there is your Case without any farther trouble Whereas should you have recourse to the Authours themselves it might take you up some Hours time to meet with what you may here find in fewer parts of a Minute So much for his Design But in all this Variety he so prosecutes his Design there is no Confusion At first view indeed one might look upon it as a Medley But any one who understands what Method is may see that if each particular Case or at least every one of a great number of them were but converted into an Vniversal Axiome all the general Rules of the Method of Physick might be had in their order For so if you consult the Contents of each Title you will find them And when each Case will afford an Aphorism and all those Aphorisms make a completer Body of Physick than has ever yet been written I think I cannot sufficiently admire the Management of his Design And after the Authour has done them well what can I say for my self in the name of those that assisted in the Translation but that we hope we have given you the Authour 's Meaning in plain English But farther we must advertise you that we have omitted several of Zacutus Lusitanus his Cases because being miraculous our Faith could not reach them unless the Authour's Credit had been less suspected We have omitted some others which we apprehended to be but of small moment especially such as had the Reason of them founded on obsolete Hypotheses And because the Authour had been long in collecting this Treasury he transcribed the Passages from Authours as he met with them in the perusal or in his own Practice under their proper Titles without any Method in them and so they were printed onely the Contents were methodical But in the Translation we have put the Cases into Method according to the Contents And in lieu of those Passages that were omitted we have put many new ones in as particularly much out of Septalius whom Bonetus so highly commends but left him and some others of the same nature out of his Work because as he tells you in his own Preface he would not spoil the Sale of so good Books And since this Learned Age is daily productive of Excellent Books we have added much out of some that came out between the Publication of the Latin and this Translation as We have given you an Epitome of Ten Rhine of the Moxa which shews the Cure of the Gout and of most Diseases in the East Indies by Burning with Moxa and the way how we in England may make it therein also we give you Sir William Temple's Experience of it in the Low Countries when he resided there in a Publick Capacity from His MAJESTY of Great Britain We give you also much of Dr. Sydenham's Tracts that came out since the publishing of Bonetus Besides we have added much out of Willis of the Scurvy much out of Glisson and his Partners and Whistler of the Rickets none of which except Willis were ever in English and many Passages out of other Authours most Latine some English But besides all these things We have given you all the best Receipts and Medicines which were most relied on in Practice by the most Physicians in all Ages to this time for particular Diseases These we translated out of Waltherus his Sylva Medica which came out two or three years before Bonetus a Work of vast Pains and Charge collected out of some Hundreds of Authours wherein he gives us an account of most Authours that have written on any Disease and withall he sets down what Medicines those Authours in their Practice principally relied on So that generally with the Causes you have means wherewithall to answer them and perform the Cures Besides that in the nineteenth Book you have the Reasons of the Operations of Medicines Now if both Bonetus and Waltherus be so highly valued among the Learned who understand the Languages of those Authours out of whose Works these two Excellent Persons compiled theirs that though so lately published they are already become scarce What Esteem Bonetus and Waltherus in English should bear among English Readers that would understand Physick I leave to any Man to judge For not one hundredth part of the Authours
which Bonetus and Waltherus quoted ever were or are ever like to be in the English Tongue So that for this very Reason the Translation may deserve a higher Esteem among mere English than the Original among the Learned since these can understand the Principal Authours without an Interpreter the other cannot and so for want of one were it not for this Book might live in Ignorance of many Excellent things The Authour Bonetus is an ancient Dr. of Physick in Geneva a Man of great and succesfull Practice and of infinite Learning as other of his Works but this especially do shew He dedicated this to a Noble Personage of this Land as you may see before And how can we more gratefully acknowledge his kindness than by letting our Countrey-men understand how generous it is to all Men in his publishing so usefull a Work in Latine and in particular to our Countreymen in his dedicating it to a Noble Earl of our Nation Now because the Alphabetical Disposition of the Diseases according to the Latin Tongue will not be serviceable to the English Reader we have made an English Index whereby you may find the Disease which you want in the Book and then run but over the Contents and you will meet with your Case And after all I appeal to the Learned Whether these two Books both of which are valued by such when they are made One be not a Book of the greatest use in Physick that has ever been published in any Tongue and much more in English Farewell A GUIDE TO The Practical Physician BOOK I. Of Diseases beginning with the Letter A. Abortus or Miscarriage The Contents It ought not to be procured for the remedying of any diseases the woman with child is troubled withall I. How a simple voiding of bloud may be distinguish'd from it II. The distinction of its causes according to the times that the woman is gone with child III. The symptoms that use to accompany it require the providence of the Physician IV. How the concomitant Symptoms may be cured V. A prevention of it by frequent bloud-letting VI VII Plasters apâ—ly'd are not to be kept on long VIII When there is occasion for Adstringents and when for Looseners IX An instant Abortion is not always to be hasten'd from the example of one that was prevented X. When it is imminent medicines that are hot must be mixed with Adstringents XI Sometimes Adstringents are onely to be applied to the Loins XII Remedies applied below are safer than those taken in at the mouth XIII Wine to be abstain'd from XIV Medicines I. DAILY Observation shews that Women with child are subject to many and great distempers both Chronical and Acute which are made more dangerous and are harder to cure from their being in that condition especially Acute diseases as Fevers Aphor. 30. lib. 5. Pleurisies c. Hippocrates says that it is deadly for a woman with child to be seiz'd upon by any acute disease And according to Galen there is a double danger one from the Fever 's killing the Child another from the thin diet that is requisite for acute Diseases but is injurious to Women with Child as also from the necessity of the greater remedies such as bleeding and purging But some rash men if they see their Patient in great danger advise the procuring of Abortion Now Abortion is more painfull and dangerous than a natural birth from the violent divulsion of the unripe Foetus whence very many die some escape but not without grievous symptoms And the danger is the greater if the Foetus be pretty big as if the Woman be gone seven or eight months or if the Woman her self be feeble and weak or if she labour under dangerous acute Distempers Even healthfull Women never miscarry without danger some retain the Foetus so pertinaciously that no medicines will make them miscarry Wherefore their advice is pernicious that counsel the procuring of Abortion in acute Diseases 1. Because in many it is not easily done 2. It cannot be done but by dangerous Remedies and those often repeated which aggravate and heighten acute Diseases 3. Nor is it safe seeing Abortion it self is a dangerous and deadly affection as experience shews for by the aphorism above cited it is deadly to a Woman with Child to be taken with an acute Disease from the Fever the thin diet and the danger of Abortion now 't is bad to add affliction to the afflicted the Mother often perishes by destroying the Foetus with such Remedies 4. Even a natural Birth seldom gives any relief to several Diseases much less will Abortion cure any Disease especially such as is acute no it will rather make it worse unless the Foetus be already dead for then indeed 't is necessary to exclude it Yet we must not abstain from necessary helps as bleeding and purging which often prevent Miscarriage and if it sometimes follow upon the use of them 't is not to be imputed to the Remedies being duly administred but to the sharpness of the Distemper that is too hard for all Remedies or to the weakness of the Mother or lastly to the death or debility of the Foetus Hippocrates in his oath promises Primâ—os de vulg err l. 4. c. 53. that he will give no Woman any Medicine to procure Abortion 'T is the part of a Physician not to destroy but to preserve as much as he can II. Midwives ought to be very heedfull for it sometimes happens that a Woman with Child voids by her Womb much bloud and imprudent Midwives think that she has miscarried which yet is not so but onely a Miscarriage is imminent which whilst it is it ought to be prevented by Adstringents but if it be actually made then we must help by Looseners Wherefore Midwives ought to examine diligently the matter that comes forth whether it be bloud or flesh or geniture or the Foetus for by washing what comes forth in water one may easily discern whether there have been truly an Abortion or not Câ—â—ivace â—ract l. 4. c. 8. III. Serapio's opinion is to be noted He thinks if a Miscarriage happen in the first or second month that it is caused by wind or a preposterous agitation of the Mother breaking the slender fibres if it happen in the middle months that slimy humours which loosen the acetabula or saucers of the Womb are the cause of it and lastly if it happen in the last months that it is commonly caused either from want of nourishment or straitness of the Womb. IV. The Wife of N. miscarrying she first voided the Secondines with much bloud which brought her very low and weak the flux of bloud abating the next day she excluded the Foetus that was four months old after this she seem'd to grow better and cleans'd indifferently well onely what came away was very stinking and cadaverous On the seventh day she was taken with a high Fever and voided the placenta or womb liver
restlesness toward the latter end of the day was so great that I was forced to use Laudanum two grains of which in Pills swallowed every evening gave him a quiet night upon the return of day Vomiting of mere bile followed yet he could bear it well Then he drank a little strong Capon broth and that he might quench his intolerable thirst with drink a draught or two of his Emulsion was given him Within an hour almost his restlessness returned with difficulty of breathing which threatned Suffocation for none could be more extreme In the mean time the Patient desired a draught of simple water I should easily have granted it him considering he was in the flower of his age and that his disease was cholerick but because the by-standers usually reckon this strange and destructive to the Stomach not accustomed to it that I might satisfie both parties I perswaded him to natural Water but Medicinal namely the Wells at Egra in Bohemia In the mean time that I might stop his longing I commended those of Silesia As soon as they came he presently quenched his thirst and they did him good Sigism Grassius obs 99. miscell curios An. 4 5. When I visited him the next day he told me he had rested well that night he commended the Waters as gratefull both to his palate and Stomach and there were some hopes that he began to recover this hope continued so that after dinner he could sleep a little When eight days were over he signified to me he was perfectly well but that there remained some little effervescence of humours and thirst I sent him word he must continue the use of the Waters After this method but the attempt is bolder the Inhabitants of the Alps in Switzerland are said to drink Ice in cholerick Fevers Diarrhoea's and Dysenteries ¶ Borellus saith cent 2. observat 27. that he cured a Woman onely by drinking fair Water and applying Ceratum Santalinum to the region of the Stomach XIII A Woman was taken with a Vomiting and Loosness in the Month of July about Noon and before night she had twenty stools with grievous pains about her Guts and Stomach so that she was opprest with Vomiting likewise and voided much sharp and cholerick humours Being called in the evening I advise my Patient to drink a glass of Vinegar and Water till other Medicines were got ready the operation of which was so effectual that her Vomiting and Loosness were presently stopt Riverius cent 4. obs 8. and no other remedies were used because she said she was well XIV A certain Bricklayer when he was but newly Married went home every day at noon to his Wise from the Kiln which was about 2 Miles It so fell out about middle of Summer while he was too vigorous in her Embraces Dom. Panarolu◠Pentec 2. obs 11. that he voided great plenty of bloud upwards and downwards for the heat and motion had opened the mouths of the Veins nor would I call this disease by any other name than a bloudy Cholera for besides his losing about twelve pounds of bloud there were other very bad Symptoms namely want of Pulse with loss of strength Hippocratical face cold sweat and he was in a dangerous condition But by giving him four scruples of Bloudstone in Pomegranate-Wine he was presently cured to the great admiration of all men XV. When there is imminent danger from the violence of the pain we must fly to Narcoticks which when given prudently are often attended with good effects Some mix them with Purgatives that both the pain may be asswaged and the peccant matter carried off Forestus commends this of Elidaeus Take of Diaphoen half an ounce Philonium Romanum 2 Scruples Riverius pr. l. 9. c. 11. with either the Water or decoction of Chamaemil make a Potion XVI If there be a necessity of purging downwards that is when it moves imperfectly and is cholerick we must abstain altogether from Manna and Medicines made up with Honey or Sugar for they presently corrupt and turn to choler But Whey will be the best remedy of all or a Potion made with Cassia which lays the heat takes off sharpness and purges gently But if putrefied phlegm or thick Choler cause it nothing will be better than Mel. Rosatum S. ptalius Ammad vers l. 7. Sect. 2. or Solutivum in Whey or in an Infusion of Red Roses Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians Benedictus 1. Among other things Syrup of Mint with Pomegranate-Wine is highly commended if the Pomegranates themselves with their inner pulp be put in the Press 2. I gave one a little Cummin-seed powdered in Beer then of the decoction of Barley 4 ounces with Syrup of Infusion of Roses one ounce a little Honey of Roses strain it and take it then I anointed the whole part with oil of Dill and Chamaemil By which means Forestus without any other Remedy he was cured to a Miracle Fr. Joel 3. I have found no better remedy for this disease than Crocus Martis Paracelsi ¶ This also wonderfully stops a Vomiting and Loosness Take of the Mud in the bottom of Smiths Troughs in which they quench their Iron mix it with a little Vinegar and apply it warm to the Stomach for a Cataplasm Langius 4. Crystal is a most approved and excellent Remedy in a Vomiting and Loosness Half a drachm of it may be given alone or made up with other Medicines Mercatus 5. Outwardly I find Emplast de crusta panis or Bread new-baked and dipt in Pomegranate juice if it be timely applied doth much good in a Vomiting and Loosness from a hot Cause ◠olfinkius 6. In strengthening the Stomach a decoction of Mint has great virtue Coeliaca Affectio or Loosness See Lienteria Book 10. How it may be known and cured WHen too much is voided by Stool considering the quantity that is eaten seeing the usefull part must necessarily also perish we must consider whether the disease should be reckoned a Lientery or a Coeliack Passion or some other disease for if food a little after it is taken be voided and so there is a Lientery because the stay of the food and the necessary retention of it in the Stomach is hindred through some fault in the Stomach which is out of order and presently excludes all it takes it must either be strengthened or freed of its troublesome Irritation by Medicines that temper the humours and if they abound that may carry them off But if the Food do make the necessary stay in the Stomach be rightly and sufficiently fermented in it and do make a pultaceous mass which is voided such downwards and if there be that sort of Coeliack passion which I think may be called an Icterick Loosness by reason of the defect of Secretion of the Chyle and Excrements and that either through absence or sluggishness of the bile that this evil may be cured and the
of the brain and nervous kind p. 291. c. where is the description of the Cephalick Specifick of D. Joh. Michael p. 293. Wedelius in Pharmac c. IX Gasper de Roulla lay contracted in his bed a whole year but the last five Months of the year wholly immoveable he could not move a foot head or arm nor any thing else for beside his great pain his limbs were as stiff as a stone and it was mid-Winter It is well known I cured him in forty days to the astonishment of all that saw him I thus cured him I abstained from all Ointments by the use whereof especially when his body was not purged before as it should be the disease came to such an height I let him bloud thrice although with extreme difficulty because his arms were contracted nor could he stretch them out for his neck legs back and arms were as stiff as a stone or stick While I had him in cure he often despaired of health so that he was willing I should desist from the cure for the first 25 days he found not the least relief He was cured by the Marshal's cure but as I said before being thrice let bloud not onely by reason of the greatness of the disease but because I guessed from his course of life and the disease it self that his whole mass of bloud was corrupted Nor did my judgment in this thing fail me at all for all the bloud that came from him was corrupt His neck stood awry as a remainder of so great a Disease Cardanus X. Whenever a particular Convulsion has its rise from a puncture of a Nerve or tendon as it sometime happens either through the Chirurgeon's unskilfulness precipitancy misfortune or disturbance of his mind while he is letting bloud then as soon as can be warm Oil of Turpentine with rectified Spirit or Wine must be put into the wound as Paraeus Chirurg l. 9. c. 38. writes was done with good success to Charles the Ninth King of France ¶ My Wife underwent the like misfortune in the year 1669 although a very skilfull Chirurgeon let her bloud for forcing his Lancet too deep into the median vein he prickt the tendon also that lay under it in a few days after a stiffness and inability to motion in her arm followed hereupon a contraction and knot or a Ganglion By some bodies advice to which I agreed she received the bloud of a Horse which dropped from a Vein opened in his Neck upon her Arm whereupon in a little time she was able to stretch out her Arm. The remaining Knot was discussed by applying a Plaster of Gum Elemi See the Affections of the Nerves Book 12. XI A Boy from his birth held his head towards his left shoulder because one of the second pair of Muscles or that Ligament which bends the head and neck forwards was too short or crooked which ill-favoured figure of his immoveable transverse-head not being reduced to its natural state by any means it was agreed that G. Straten should cut that tough band athwart which twined the head so much upon the shoulder He began the Cure with a potential Caustick then he directed his knife above the Collar-bone from the Ear to the Throat but either slower because of the toughness of the Scab or more timorously because of the nearness of the Jugular Veins and Arteries than the nature of that tendon and the Nerves required which therefore being hurt rather by pricking than cutting a violent Convulsion of the Neck Face and Hands presently followed which notwithstanding immediately ceased when he forced his knife deeper in and more couragiously cut all the Muscle that was in fault The cutting whereof presently restored the perfect use of an erect figure to the head and the liberty of moving it self every way Which nevertheless lest he should abuse the Head was swathed about every way with rollers which when the wound was healed being removed that inveterate inclination to the affected side did remain for some while so difficult it is to correct long Custome Whoever therefore hereafter you be that shall put your self on so doubtfull and hazardous an enterprize do not despair but what has been once done may be done again but know that three things especially should be avoided and 1. That you raise not a Scab on the Skin which is so far from easing the pain that it rather hinders the sight and the knife from cutting 2. Lest by rash cutting you rather kill than cure your Patient 3. You must endeavour not at another time and by turns but altogether and at once yet cautiously to cut the whole Muscle Tuâ—pius l. 4. c. 57. on which lies the main stress of the Cure Which Animadversion certainly as it will be a credit to the Chirurgeon so it will be of no small benefit to the Patient XII A Boy five years old had enjoyed his health very well till he was four about the beginning of the fifth he began to grow ill with decay of strength and innate heat at length a lingring Fever and a swelling in his belly took him which were followed with contraction of his Arms but of his Feet especially so that he could neither stand nor goe any more I supposing that Worms were the cause of this change took Riverius his way of cure cent 1. obs 16. to kill them Melchior Fribe â—n cur an 72. obs 63. which I did with good success and at one time I brought nigh thirty away and the days following but at several times I brought away above forty so that the Boy could in a short time after stand and walk XIII The Nerves of a Man's Belly are seldom contracted yet more frequently than some Physicians take notice believing that all pain in the belly is caused either by sharp choler or by wind distending the Gut Colon But the unequal distension of the belly and the strait contraction of the rigid Muscles do clearly enough argue that more than the Guts do suffer A Matron had gathered in her cold and moist stomach plenty of crude phlegm which although Medicines carried it off insinuated it self by degrees into those sensible Nerves which the Spinal Marrow disperses both through the Membrane encompassing the belly and through the Muscles lying next upon it Which being beset with this crude matter a remarkable Convulsion of her Belly did torment her especially if she were with child and at night Which pain of hers notwithstanding scarce ever left her till the cause were purged as it ought by Mechoacan root or the sharp Vapour thereof and the wind that oppressed her heart were discussed either by Mithridate given her to drink in the evening Tulpius obs 22. l 3. or by giving her a Clyster betimes before her torment came Which way of cure evinces that this Convulsion had its original from crude and flatulent phlegm XIV One after he had taken the fume of molten Tin at his mouth and nostrils was suddenly
is more easie to be had than Broom and it is well accounted of in this Disease I usually order 1 pound of its Ashes to be infused in 4 pounds of Rhenish-wine cold adding a pugil or two of Leaves of common Wormwood I order 4 ounces of the Liquour strained by filtration to be constantly drunk by the Patient in the morning at five in the afternoon and at night By which Remedy alone I have seen Dropsies cured which have been reckoned desperate in such whose Constitution has been too weak to bear purging But when the water that we may hasten to the second Intention which is the proximate cause of the Disease is now wholly evacuated we are come for the most part but half way of the Cure unless the weakned bloud which was the first original of the Disease be helped by long and constant taking of heating and strengthning Medicines whereby a new product of water may be prevented For though it may so happen to young People oftentimes that when the water is well purged out they recover without any other Remedy because their natural heat being then rid of the load and pressure of the water may supply the place of the said Remedies yet in elder People or them that have no very sound habit of body it is altogether necessary that presently when the evacuation of the water is finished they have recourse to the use of those Simples that heat and invigorate the bloud Among which those things I have formerly recommended in the Cure of the Gout whether they respect the Remedies themselves or the six non-natural things besides those which shall afterwards be spoken of are proper unless that Wine from which we must wholly abstain in the Gout does not onely no harm in the Dropsie but a great deal of good if it be used for Mens ordinary drink seeing these two Diseases agree in this that the same strengthning Medicines oppose the original cause of either of them Moreover to satisfie this intention of which we are now treating namely the strengthning of the bloud whether the evacuation of the water be procured as before by a Diuretick a Purge or a Vomit it is altogether necessary that the Patient as much as the case requires be obliged to drink Wine while he is under Cure so he begin not to drink Wine before the passages be a little opened and way made for the water or at least strong Beer instead of Wine seeing all thin and cooling Liquours how pleasant soever they be to the Palate which is ever in a manner thirsty in this Disease do make the Patient more phlegmatick and augment the water these therefore must seldom or never be allowed And on the contrary generous Liquours so they be not distilled spirits promote health so far that sometimes they alone restore it when lost as in the beginning of the Disease before the Belly be much stretched with water especially if they be impregnated with heating and strengthning Herbs For the poorer sort whose Purse will not afford better Medicines strong Beer in which a sufficient quantity of root of Horse-radish Leaves of common Wormwood garden Scurvigrass lesser Centaury and tops of Broom have been steeped is by my Advice used for their ordinary drink and may serve instead of all For the richer sort Canary Wine may be impregnated with the same bitter Herbs a draught of which may be taken twice or thrice a-day among the forementioned Medicines Or if this please not the Palate so well Wormwood-wine may be drunk in its stead of which the Patient may take nine spoonfulls after taking two drachms of the digestive Electuary described Tit. de Arthritide Book I. at Medicinal hours that is morning four in the afternoon and night This Electuary far surpasses any other strengthning Medicine in satisfying this Intention But here it is of great moment that the Patient drink sparingly of any small Liquours seeing all of them whatever they be give increase to the water so that wholly abstaining from drink has cured some And therefore if the Patient must sometimes be indulged these Liquours he must drink them very sparingly Notwithstanding because this Disease is accompanied with great thirst which abstaining from small drink does increase it will be proper for the Patient to wash his mouth often with cold water sharpned with spirit of Vitriol or let him keep some Tamarinds in his mouth or chew Lemon but swallow neither of them because of their Coldness which is not so proper for the Disease But among strengthners Steel in the Cure of a Dropsie beginning deserves not the last place for it invigorates and heats the bloud Which is the reason why Garlick is so good in this case for I have known a Dropsie cured with it onely omitting Evacuaters by other Mens Prescription not mine For it must be observed that the Dropsie which has onely swelled the Feet or the Belly also but moderately does not presently require a Cure by Emeticks and Catharticks but often gives way to these said heating and strengthning Liquours But above all things it must be seriously observed that whenever we set upon this Disease onely with strengthners or Lixivials also the Patient must by no means be purged either with a gentle or strong Purge so long as we are endeavouring to strengthen the Bloud For a Purge will pull down what a strengthner has built up which every one must be forced to acknowledge who has observed that the Swelling which by the use of strengthners began to abate does presently increase after Purging For although when we desire to satisfie the intention of getting out the Water it would not be amiss also now and then to give strengthners yet when our whole business is to strengthen the bloud it is altogether necessary to abstain from Catharticks It is to be observed also that the Patient is not always cured though we satisfie both Indications that is though the water gathered in the Belly be wholly got out and Heaters and Strengthners also be given afterwards to prevent a new product of Water For it often happens that an Ascites which has lasted many years by the long incubation of the Water upon the Inwards has perverted and as it were perboiled their substance And has utterly corrupted both the Bowels themselves and the neighbouring parts breeding preternatural Glands and Bladders turgid with Sanies and turning all things contained within the cavity of the Abdomen into a kind of putrilage as Dissection of Bodies of such as have died of an inveterate Dropsie has made manifest When the Disease is arrived at this height it contemns all the helps of Art as far as I see Nevertheless it is the Physicians duty since he cannot certainly know what harm is done to the Inwards as yet to endeavour the cure by all means by Evacuating as well as Strengthning Medicines And he must neither be discouraged nor must he discourage his Patient We must endeavour to doe this
or old milk be better V. Whether a Nurse who has her menstrua should be rejected VI. Whether great or small Breasts should be preferred VII Whether a Nurse must always be interdicted coition VIII When a fault in the Milk must be amended IX The way of making Pap. X. When the Child should be weaned XI Purging by the Nurse's milk XII It must always be done by gentle things XIII The way of giving Medicines by force XIV Their Diseases are very hard to cure XV. Affectus or The Diseases Ani Procidentia or The falling out of the Arse-gut If it be with Inflammation Cupping-glasses are good XVI The use of Astringent Powders XVII A Torpedo applied is a fallacious Medicine XVIII Cauteries must be applied in a pertinacious falling XIX How it must be put up when hindred by mucus XX. Aphthae or A Thrush See Aphthae BOOK I. Where Cupping-glasses must be set XXI If it be malignant we must have regard to the Age. XXII Ingratefull things must not be put into the mouth XXIII Whether Pomegranates be hurtfull XXIV Sometimes there is need of stronger Medicines XXV Whether Butter be proper XXVI A grievous one cured by the use of Laudanum XXVII Atrophia or Want of Nourishment See Atrophia BOOK I. The enumeration of the Causes XXVIII The Cure of one caused by a cold humour XXIX The Cure of it accompanied with the Rickets XXX The Cure of one complicated with a Loosness XXXI One caused by Worms XXXII The Cure of it from Bewitching XXXIII Aurium Dolor Inflammatio or A Pain or Inflammation of the Ears See Aurium Affectus BOOK I. Whether Cupping-glasses must be applied and Issues made XXXIV Water must never be poured into them XXXV Whether the White of an Egg be convenient in an Inflammation XXXVI Catarrhus or A Catarrh See Catarrhus BOOK III. Whether pouring Water upon the Head be safe XXXVII Diureticks sometimes doe good XXXVIII Claudicatio or Halting The Cure of it when it comes without putting out of joint XXXIX Convulsivi Motus Convulsive Motions See Convulsio BOOK III. Convulsion following Dentition cured by Bloudletting XL. The prevention of one imminent XLI The Cure of an actual one XLII When it 's caused by breeding of Teeth how it may be prevented XLIII In this case procuring of Sleep and taking of Antispasmodicks does good XLIV The Cure when the Cause lies in the Head XLV The Cure when it lies in the parts of the lowest Belly XLVI The Cure when it comes from the Stomach and Guts XLVII Dentitio or Breeding of Teeth A Hare's Brain is good XLVIII A spurious Dentition XLIX The chirurgical Cure of a difficult Dentition because of the hardness of the Gums L. Diarrhoea or A Loosness Stopt by putting a Child that was weaned to the Breast again LI. Whence green stools come LII Quassatio Vertebrarum Dorsi or A Wrenching of the Back The way to restore it LIII Epilepsia or The Falling-sickness See before Convulsion Cured by purging the Meconium or Ordure it is born with LIV. Whether burning the hind part of the Head be good LV. When and for whom it is convenient LVI It must be done with great caution LVII LVIII The efficacy of Aniseeds LIX The use of Antepileptick powders is not safe LX. Febris or A Fever Scarification is to be preferred before Venaesection LXI The danger of Leeches LXII Caused by a sharp Milk LXIII A lingring one from Obstructions LXIV Spirit of Sulphur may not be given them LXV Hernia or A Rupture See BOOK IX Hydrocephalus or The Dropsie in the Head When we must proceed to Chirurgical Operation LXVI LXVII Where Section must be made LXVIII Apertion must not be made upon the temporal Muscle LXIX The Humour must be evacuated by little and little LXX What such the Ligature must be LXXI A Tumour from a sharp Ichor must be otherwise cured LXXII Cured onely by Swathing LXXIII An Issue in the hind part of the Head dangerous LXXIV A Contusion in the Birth mistaken for a Hydrocephalus LXXV Imperforati or They that are Imperforate Cautions about the Cure LXXVI Labiorum Affectus or Diseases of the Lips The Cure of their Chapping LXXVII Sometimes it requires generous Remedies LXXVIII A scabby Swelling which would onely give way to an Issue between the Shoulders LXXIX Linguae Fraenum or Tongue-tiedness It must not rashly be cut LXXX LXXXI It is tied in very few LXXXII Vnseasonable cutting prejudicial both to the Nurse and the Child LXXXIII Maculae Naevi or Marks and Moles They may be amended LXXXIV The Cure by anointing with the bloud of the Secundine false LXXXV They must be taken off with caution LXXXVI Obstructiones or Obstructions Whether Purges must always be given before Aperients LXXXVII The right use of Aperients LXXXVIII Whether we may use Chalybeates LXXXIX The right administration and preparation of them XC The moderate use of Wine sometimes necessary XCI Oris Inflammatio or An Inflammation of the Mouth Whether Honey of Roses be convenient XCII Pavores or Frightfulness Whether Wormwood be good XCIII Scabies or The Itch. It must not be rashly cured XCIV When the Cure must be undertaken XCV What Remedies must be used XCVI When Topical Medicines are proper XCVII Scrofulae or The King's-evil Great caution must be used in the Cure XCVIII Seiriasis or An Inflammation of the Brain and of its Membranes attended with a Hollowness of the Mold of the Head which in Greek they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of the Eyes a burning Fever Paleness Driness of the whole Body and loss of Appetite It is peculiar to Children It may be called Head-mold-shottenness most properly It requires a different Cure from an Erisipelas XCIX Care must be taken in the use of external Coolers C. The way of applying things CI. Tussis or A Cough The Cure of a Spasmodick one CII Whether the Breast ought to be anointed CIII It must sometimes be cured by Bloud-letting CIV Varae Tibiae or Crooked Legs They are often cured of themselves without Chirurgery CV Variolae or Small-pox See BOOK XVIII Ventris Dolor Tumor or Pain and Swelling of the Belly Often caused by touching of the Navel-string when it is cut CVI. By Milk CVII Hardness from obstruction of the Vessels how to be cured CVIII Vermes or Worms See Lumbrici BOOK X. They must be killed before they be carried off CIX Sweet things must be mixt with bitter CX Clysters must be sweet CXI Medicines must not be violent CXII They must be given when the Stomach is empty CXIII The efficacy of Coralwort CXIV They are easily dissolved CXV The Cure is not the same when there is a Fever as when there is none CXVI How they must be killed when there is a Loosness CXVII Whether a Decoction of Guaiacum be proper CXVIII Whether Treacle may be given CXIX Quicksilver not proper for all Ages CXX The way of giving Aloes CXXI Crudities which breed them must be taken away CXXII Vigiliae or Want of
and an Oedematous one X. The Physician must labour to know an internal one XI Vnguents are not very proper XII I. AS 1. All the bloud is carried by the Arteries from the Heart to all and each of the containing parts of the body both for their vivification nutrition and increase and for the separation of all the humours or contents usefull and useless some way or other from the rest of the mass So the same after this multifarious benefit multifariously conferred on both bodies being residuous and surviving but deprived of some part of it self or effoete is again carried by the Veins from all and each of the same containing parts to the Heart there to be renewed by the mutual mixture of various concurring parts and by their effervescence and vital rarefaction afterwards 2. And this reciprocal flux and reflux of the bloud is called now the Circulation of the bloud 3. But the Bloud is sometimes hindred in its reflux when it either stagnates and stops in its Vessels and Passages or is poured out of them whether it be into the Substance of the adjoining parts or into the Cavities of the body or whether it happen out of the Body 4. The Bloud stagnates in its Vessels either through an excessive Plethora called ad Vasa or as to the Vessels or by reason of their narrowness caused either by their compression or obstruction 5. The Veins are compressed so as to hinder the reflux of the Bloud sometimes by hard tumours adjoining sometimes by bands about the parts which straiten both the Veins and Arteries 6. The Veins are stopt sometimes by the Bloud it self or Phlegm coagulated and concrete in them sometimes though rarely by a Stone bred in them and increased by degrees 7. By Veins I understand as most do the cavernous substance of each part by which the Bloud for the most of it passes out of the Arteries into the Veins 8. The Bloud is coagulated both by the extreme cold of the Air or Water affecting the Parts very much and by powerfull astringent or austere Medicines communicated to the Bloud either inwardly or outwardly and congealing it 9. Phlegm is coagulated in the said Vessels by the same causes but most frequently by the cold of the Air Water Drink or of other things suddenly seizing the parts that were hot before either inwardly or outwardly thickning and curdling the Phlegm especially the viscid which has by some cause or other been dissolved in the small Gut and carried thence into the Bloud and dispersed every way with it 10. Where note the more causes concur and the more peccant they are so much more easily quickly and plentifully is the said Phlegm dissolved and carried to the Bloud 11. And the Bloud stagnating in the said Vessels and gathered by little and little distends them more and more and so indeed that sometimes they burst or afford a passage for it some way or other upon which there happens then an effusion of the bloud out of its vessels whether it stick in the substance of the adjacent parts or be gathered in some adjoining cavity of the Body or be all poured out of the body 12. The Bloud as yet inclosed and remaining in the capillary vessels and it may be also in the sinuous substance of any part intermediate to them or poured out of its said usual passages but open and patent into the porous substance whatever it is of the parts themselves and especially the carnous or membranous or into their interstices and gathered in a moderate quantity at least does of it self presently grow hot and produces a troublesome sense of Heat in the sensible part and being by degrees corrupted it uses to turn into pus or sanies Wherefore the first mutation is called an Inflammation as the latter is called an Abscess or Imposthume 13. And I think the Bloud grows hot or breeds an Inflammation inasmuch as its spirituous and more volatile and subtile parts which used to temper the acid and saline ones presently begin to vanish when it stops in its distinct vessels or in any other place that is stagnates Upon which both of them being made more sharp do fight one with the other and raise a hot effervescence by reason of the oily parts of the bloud and by little and little so corrupt the bloud that it turns to pus which varies according to the variety of the corrupt bloud Sylvius de le Bâ—◠¶ For the Cure therefore of the Inflammation and of the Abscess that would then follow it is requisite 1. That the Compression or Obstruction of the vessels be removed 2. That the motion of the stagnating or stopping bloud be restored 3. That the Bloud poured out of its vessels may if possible be removed thence before its suppuration 4. If it cannot be removed and so suppuration cannot be hindred that it may be maturated and promoted 5. That discharging the pus when bred may be hastned 6. That cleansing and consolidation of the Ulcer may quickly be finished As to the first Indication and Obstruction see Tit. de Pleuritide BOOK XIV where one thing should be added concerning Externals that volatile Salts may be here used outwardly with great success if at the time of using they be mixt in a small quantity with Fomentations Cataplasms Unguents c. For the second Indication Sudorificks are good as by their help the bloud is not onely made more fluid but moreover it is actually put in motion being more and more rarefied by the volatile Salt that is in Sudorificks And Venaesection inasmuch as the next bloud comes into the room of that which is let out and so more room being made for all the bloud it moves both quicker and stronger wherefore that which stagnated and stopt first in the Vessels now that the Plethora is removed stops no more but renews its interrupted motion For the third Indication these things given inwardly hinder the coagulation of the bloud Crabs-eyes Antimonium Diaphoreticum Mummy Sperma Ceti Galbanum Sagapenum Opium c. The Part affected may be anointed with Vnguentum Martiatum de Althaea compositum or any other Aromatick May Butter and Butter prepared with the Juice of aromatick Plants adding sometimes aromatick Oils distilled Among Plasters this de Spermate Ceti is highly commended Take of white Wax four ounces Sperma Ceti two ounces Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar one ounce Mix them Make a Plaster or Sparadrap Which not onely preserves the Bloud in all external parts of the Body but Milk also in the Breasts from Coagulation yea it dissolves and discusses it if but gently coagulated The fourth Indication is satisfied by emollient and maturating Medicines But when pituitous and viscous Humours are mixt with the Bloud sometimes the Bulbs of Onions Squills c. must be added to them sometimes Bdellium Galbanum Ammoniack and the like liquid Stirax Wax Turpentine and Honey Where a great Heat is in the inflamed part and the Patients cannot
been dismissed by their Physicians For after pus is made and the Pain and Fever are greatly abated many are thought to have come to an end of their Disease and to security who have pus gathered inwardly in some Imposthume Some of whom by the benefit of a strong Nature are cured by breaking of the Imposthume and voiding the pus Others die consumptive when the pus putrefies malignantly and with it the internal parts or of a constant Fever which putrid Vapours carried from the part to the Heart do cause Or the Imposthume breaks but too late and when the strength is too low to bear a discharge of the pus Therefore it behoves us much to know the signs of an internal Inflammation turning to pus And many do not know them because they are not able to discern internal Inflammations and laying aside all care of latent Ails they consider nothing almost but what they can comprehend by their Senses without any ratiocination how to know the parts affected and to be able to distinguish them from other dolorous Diseases or the great from little ones For whether they will cause an Abscess or Suppuration I know from three things the Place Magnitude and Manner of the Inflammations themselves For Inflammations of hot parts unless prevented by discussion do suppurate more than those of colder parts and therefore as it is said in the Prognosticks Swellings in the Belly do imposthumate less than those in the Hypochondria and they least of all that are below the Navel Moreover small Inflammations most of them are dispersed especially if they be in hot places Great ones in hot places indeed do suppurate in cold ones they remain crude and invincible As to the manner they that are round and eminent circumscribed in a proper place and gathered into one signifie there will be Suppuration But they that are extended and broad and dispersed do not often suppurate If they be small or of thin matter they disperse If great or of thick matter they have a Crisis by bleeding or by some evacuation Vallesius if the event of them be good XII Unguents are not so proper for Inflammations unless to promote Suppuration wherefore Unguents are forbid in an Erysipelas though there be some by name Rondeletius who prescribe Unguents in this Disease It is certain also that Ointments improvidently applied to external Inflammations have often caused a Gangrene And therefore in Quinsies they are not generally so proper as you may find them in Books Welelius See Abscessus BOOK I. Ischiadius Dolor or The Sciatica The Contents Bleeding is proper I. Vomiting is better than Purging II. Sharp Clysters are good III. The Benefit of Issues and Causticks IV. Where they must be applied in a bastard Sciatica V. A pertinacious one cured with a red hot Iron VI. The benefit of Vesicatories VII Of Cupping-glasses VIII The cure of the Sciatica coming from fluid matter according to Hippocrates his mind IX The Cure of the Sciatica coming from fâ—â—t matter according to his mind X. The Cure of one proceeding from a hot cause XI Sometimes it arises from Bile XII A Sciatica from Driness XIII A compendious Cure of one arising from Cold. XIV Medicines I. THough Bloud do not abound if the Disease be inveterate Bloud must be taken out of the Vena poplitis or malleoli of the side affected without all contradiction because by Bleeding in this Vein a great derivation is obtained but because it is very difficult to open the Vena poplitis instead thereof a certain Vein was found by the Chirurgeons of Rome within these few days which a little above the Heel runs towards the Ankle to the outside It is truly a branch of the Vena poplitis if it be opened and eight or nine ounces of Bloud taken thence in the very same hour which is wonderfull the Pain of the Sciatica be it never so inveterate ceases Bleeding also with Leeches in the haemorrhoid Veins is admirable good for the Sciatica for there is a great consent between the Veins of these two places Zecchius cons 43. ¶ Mr. Puri of Newemburg a Man of Sixty sanguine and as he himself said one that took a course to breed much bloud had been confined to his bed six weeks by the violence of the Sciatica in his left Hip. All the time he kept his bed he thought there was no need of a Physician and therefore he sent not for me At length being tired by the diuturnity and violence of the pain he called me I presently order the most turgid Vein of the opposite Foot and they were all very turgid to be opened the Bloud ran full stream black and thick to about a pound with so much relief that the next day he left his Bed and the third day after bleeding his Chamber I can give a fresher instance of the efficacy of bleeding in the Sciatica while this is printing in the Month of April anno 1681. I am called to a lusty Man about 28 years old of a sanguine and bilious complexion well set and a stout Souldier He had been confined 15 days to his Bed by a painfull Sciatica in his left Hip About 18 days before he had by the advice of a Chirurgeon for revulsion as he said opened a Vein in the Arm but to no purpose I reckoning the Disease came from abundance of bloud settling there having first loosned his belly order a good quantity of bloud to be taken out of the opposite foot and likewise out of the foot on the same side with so good success that the next day he went about his business Anointing with Vnguentum dialthaeae Nitre and Oil of Elder which used to doe others good exasperated his pain II. Many prefer Vomits before Purges because they evacuate the humours by a way remote from the part affected Rondeletius prefers Asarum Riverius ¶ Sciatica Pains will not bear purging for thereby the humours fall more on those places ¶ But Sennertus thinks this must be understood of insufficient purging Grato III. Sharp Clysters may be given even to bring bloud for so I have seen them doe some good in the Sciatica Crato IV. Issues are made in three places in the Leg in the inside outside and hind part of the Calf Here Spigelius used to make an Issue in the Sciatica with good success Clandorpiti Zecchius because the Vena Poplitis runs that way ¶ I must greatly commend a Cautery below the Knee on the outside of the same side that is affected for derivation sake V. In the Joint of the Thigh about the cavity of the Os Ischii the Gout is bred which they call the Sciatica If the Humour run into the Acetable and force the head of the thigh-bone out this Disease in sight proves difficult of cure and will at length cause halting if the Humour fall upon the origination of that great Nerve which creeps along the back part of the
and so better resist driness Aetius says many have rid themselves of this Disease by being gelded By this means I cured a young Man this year who was begun and gon a little in this Disease Rondeletius VII A red-haired young Man and cholerick came to me with his skin torn into deep clefts all over his body All my life time I never saw a Man more leprous He had taken seven courses of a decoction of Guaiacum forty days at one course upon which he fell into a perfect Leprosie He having a very hot Liver naturally which was turned almost to ashes with so many hot Potions I prescribe him the use of Mountain Crystal prepared to take half a drachm every morning with Juice of leaves of Water-lily Currants and Barberies industriously avoiding Sugar and sugared things drinking after it some Whey with a little Sal prunellae Then I laid him on a straw bed deep under a Mill to receive upon his body the dropping of the very cold water not heated either by motion or the heat of the Sun And when he had done this for an hour and an half before Supper several days H. ab Heer Obs 22. he grew sound and very well VIII Mr. Schipanus a Physician of Naples told me that Prince Caraffa used to eat the flesh of the Foal of an Ass for the Cure of the Leprosie Some think Asses flesh causes it as Ballonius l. 2. Ephem p. 187. This indeed is hard of concoction but the Flesh of the Foals is better and more tender which therefore Hippocrates 2. de v. rat says does quickly pass And it may be for that reason it cures the Leprosie or by its tenacious aliment it amends the fault contracted T. Bartholinus hist 33. cent 6. for according to Pliny l. 18. c. 17. Asses flesh is good for consumptive persons IX One that was troubled with this took several Medicines to no purpose he took white Hellebore At length he recovered by taking Cucumbers Heurnius He ate them pickled all the year round X. The Leprosie above all other chronical Diseases requires variety and vicissitude of Medicine And in this Disease if in any a truce and intermission from all Medicines must often be allowed the Patient Then the same things must be repeated and new ones added For scarce ever any Man recovered who relied on one onely Remedy though never so generous Palmarius XI In the year 1675. in the month of September an Italian by Nation was suspected of a Leprosie Abundance of Scurf fell all over him he was hoarse had a stinking Breath and was very lean He had taken a vast deal of Medicines at length Salivation was prescribed him but a Diet first of China and Sarsa And in a short time he perfectly recovered though the Disease had got a head Lepra Groecorum or The Leprosie of the Greeks See Habitus Affectus BOOK VIII The Contents Onely the great Remedies are proper I. The Bloud must be sweetned II. Waters coming from Iron effectual III. To whom a decoction of Woods may be given IV. Chalybeate Medicines alone not efficacious enough V. Whether Salivation doe any good VI. If it come upon a Dropsie what must be done VII The excellency of eating of Cucumber VIII Purging Waters are good IX Vitriolate Waters are good X. What sort of Medicines made of Vipers are good XI The Cure of an Itch that accompanies the Venereal Disease XII Topical Medicines alone doe no good XIII Whether sulphureous Baths be proper XIV Liniments must be applied by degrees XV. Those made of Mercury suspected XVI I. THE material cause of the Scab or of the Leprosie of the Greeks is not merely a cutaneous humour because of Infection taken from without or because it is depraved and degenerated from its crasis upon other occasions but the Pustules at first arising about the beginning of the Disease seem to arise from hence that some acido-saline Concretions like Tartar in Wine do happen in the mass of bloud which when they cannot be conquered nor dissolved are driven here to the Skin as in the other case to the sides of the Cask In respect of the conjunct Cause there are two special Indications of Cure namely that the Impurities of the bowels and humours may be quickly purged and that the acido-saline Dyscrasies of the bloud may be regulated for which ends Medicines both evacuating of divers kinds and altering use to be prescribed Yet because not all but onely the great Remedies in a manner are used we shall therefore subjoin in this place those that are most usefull and are found to be most beneficial First therefore when universal Purgation and Phlebotomy have been used the following Infusion or cathartick Tincture may be given six or eight ounces whereof may be given and repeated once in six or seven days Take of root of sharp pointed Dock dried Polypody of the Oak each half an ounce Senna ten drachms Dodder of Time six drachms Rheubarb Mechoachan each half an ounce yellow Sanders 2 drachms Celtick Spike half a drachm Salt of Tartar 1 drachm and an half Put them into a Glass with 4 pounds of White-wine keep them for use pouring off as much of the clear liquour as you shall have occasion for You must add two pounds of Elder-flower water Willis II. For sweetning of the Bloud and washing its Salts Whey either simple or with fumitory Cichory or sharp-pointed Dock infused in it may be drunk two or three pounds of it every morning for twenty or thirty days if it agree with the Stomach And besides a Dose of the following Electuary may be taken morning and evening Take of Conserve of root of sharp-pointed Dock 6 ounces Crabs-eyes prepared Coral each 2 drachms Ivory 1 drachm Powder of Lignum Aloes yellow Sanders each one drachm and an half Sal prunellae two drachms Vitriol of Mars one drachm and an half Syrup of Juice of Wood-sorrel what is sufficient Make an Electuary The Dose two ounces Idem III. For the very same reason that Whey Iron-waters also are prescribed in this Disease and they often doe good for when all other Medicines have been given to no purpose I have often cured a grievous Scab which has almost been leprous onely with these Waters Moreover for the more efficacy Sal prunellae or Vitriolum Martis or a little of the foresaid Electuary may be given conveniently Willis IV. In some that have too much Serum and are of a watry constitution when drinking of Whey or the Waters are not so proper it may sometimes be convenient to give a Decoction of the Woods at medical hours and moreover to take them constantly for their ordinary drink Take of Wood of Willow half a pound root of Sarsa parilla 8 ounces white Sanders Wood of Mastich-tree each 2 ounces snavings of Ivory of Hart's-horn each five drachms Tin crude Antimony each four ounces tied in a Cloth Liquorice one ounce Infuse them and boil
things because such food is earthy and consequently cannot be fit to nourish Theophrastus 6. de causis Plant. 14. inquiring the reason Why all tasts but a salt one are found in Plants says It it because what is of a salt tast is not fit to nourish For an instance he says Fishes which live in the Sea are not nourished with Salt-water nor salt Juices but either with sweet or acid things or with other things that are found in the Sea wherefore in this regard it is manifest I might very well say that a salt bloud did extenuate and emaciate because it is unfit to restore the parts that are consumed every day The same Plutarch is of the contrary opinion in the same Book qu. 3. vel 4. where he writes that Shepherds use salt to fatten their Cattel Wherefore if Cattel are fatted with salt it cannot be said that bodies must necessarily be consumed by a salt bloud Yea he adds that Apollonius the Physician Scholar to Herophilus used to restore and fatten emaciated Bodies with salt things We must say that salt and salt things may in some sense conduce to make fat and nourish and in another sense to consume and waste principally and of it self to wit for the reasons assigned by Plutarch and Theophrastus since salt things are dry and therefore contrary to aliment for which reason they make bodies dry and are not converted into the lost substance But by accident they may conduce to fatten and nourish to wit by causing an Appetite and which especially happens by carrying the nutriment into the parts If salt things indeed be mixt with other Aliment they are as certain vehicles to carry the aliment to the parts Mercurialis lib. 1. de morbis puerorum and as wedges to fix it there ¶ Pliny lib. 10. c. 73. writes that Salt is given to Cattel to make them drink and so to make them fat II. Another Question arises concerning the course of Diet for Hippocrates lib. de salub Dieta shewing the way how to make fat bodies lean says They must be fed with fat-meats and the reason he brings is because fat things quickly satisfie though they do not fill He subjoyns in the same place If we have a mind to make gross we must take the quite contrary course Rhases Avicenna and almost all the Graecians are of another judgment who advise the eating of fat victuals to make folk fat For a determination we must say That the use of fat things may either be moderate or immoderate and fat Meat may either be a little or very fat The immoderate use of fat things or of things that are very fat are far from fatning because they doe precisely what Hippocrates says But meats that are not very fat and the moderate use of them conduces much to making people fat and of such things must this opinion of the Arabians and Graecians be understood Idem III. And all Diuretick Medicines conduce to carry the Meat to the part for they both open the passages and are as it were Vehicles to carry the juices and aliment to the part Idem IV. So also drinking between Meals is good And they that in general condemn drinking between Meals for emaciated Bodies are much deceived for Galen himself 7. Meth. commended drinking between Meals as good for consumptive Bodies and it is almost always observed that they who use to drink between Meals grow fat Idem V. And those things conduce most to fix the Meat to the parts which do moisten with a certain tenacious and viscid humidity i. e. hot in cold bodies and cold in hot and dry bodies And this is the reason why Rhases and Avicenna commend Popy Henbane and several other things which are very cold for moistning of bodies Upon this account Lucretius says That Goats grow fat with Hemlock to wit because these Animals are hot and dry and therefore their heat and driness are tempered with cold things so that they digest their nutriment For we must not think that Goats or Starlings grow fat onely with Hemlock Nature thereby onely makes way to grow fat Idem ¶ Mercurialis from the common opinion concludes that Popy Henbane c. are cold whereas according to the modern opinion they are hot Now they doe good either by procuring sleep with which it is certain that bodies grow fat or because they thicken the juices that are thin and apt to disperse and so make them stick better to the part For the Medicines see Atrophia BOOK I. Mammarum Affectus or Diseases of Womens Breasts The Contents Things to hinder the growth of them must be applied with caution I. In their Inflammation too violent Coolers and Astringents must be avoided II. They must-be avoided in an Erysipelas III. Over-hot things must not be applied to an Oedema IV. We must be carefull how we use Topicks in a Scirrhus V. Concerning a Cancer of the Breasts see BOOK III. A Swelling from Milk must be cured with Discutients and Repellents VI. A strumous one must not be touched VII An Imposthume must quickly be opened VIII Vlcers in Women that give suck and ly in are difficultly cured IX Abundance of Milk is abated by applying Attenuants X. By setting Cupping-glasses to the Back XI When the Breasts are loaden with Milk they must be drawn XII When we rub the Breasts we must not doe it hard for fear of an Inflammation XIII We must take care that the Imposthumes may be as small as may be when we cannot hinder the breeding of them XIV We must labour to draw them to the Superficies XV. Medicines I. WE must be cautious how we apply Hemlock Henbane and such Narcoticks and they must by no means be applied to such as intend to give suck for they debilitate the innate heat and extinguish the galactopoietick faculty in the Breasts Astringents are the most proper to apply to Maids but for Women whose Breasts are drawn too big by giving of suck Driers and Discutients are most proper whereby the excrementitious moisture remaining is consumed and discussed Sennertus II. When the Breasts are inflamed we must use Repellents at first yet not strong ones by any means lest the Heart be too much cooled or the humour should strike to it but temperate ones R. à Castro with which we must mix things that have a digestive and a discutient faculty III. If an Erysipelas seize one at the first coming of the Disease such a cure must be insisted on as is proper for an Erysipelas and coolers astringents repellents or fat things must by no means be applyed to the part affected but dissolvers giving Sudorificks immediately at the first to the end the more subtile part of the bloud which is inflamed Sennertus may be discussed IV. In an Oedema of the Breasts dissolving and discutient Topicks and also things to strengthen the Parts a little must be used yet we must have a care that we
the various natures of Mens bodies But the Moderns have found far safer Medicines as well chymical as exotick yea and things common among us that doe their work without Pain which the strong Medicines of the Ancients were apt to cause and such as whether the Nerve be bare or covered may safely be applied whereas to a bare Nerve all the old things could not be applied with safety As Balsam of Peru distilled Oil of Turpentine Tar Wax Oil or Balsam of St. John's-wort in which there are all the qualities that Galen requires with a Balsamick virtue which the old want and the old have also a corroding quality and the new do not onely waste Excrements but very much strengthen the innate Heat of the wounded part Sennertus III. Sometimes Oil of Turpentine will doe no good when it is applied too late and then we may hope in vain for a Cure as it fared about 18 years ago with Theodor. Vander Noen a Physician and Chirurgeon of Amsterdam Who having about noon let a pair of Scissers fall out of his Hands as he was catching them up in haste he hit the last joint of his right Thumb against the point of them and because he felt but little pain he neglected it for several hours but about ten at night he felt some small Convulsions in the part that was hurt and all over his body He was of a cholerick Complexion which made him when he had taken Physick to vomit it up again nevertheless his Convulsions and Pains continued therefore he called me in the morning and signified to me that he must die Because he never saw one cured into whose Wounds that piercing Oil had not been poured at first which he had neglected Sylvius de le Boë because the Pain was not great And it happened as he foretold A GUIDE TO The Practical Physician BOOK XIII Of Diseases beginning with the Letter O. Obesitas or Corpulency The Contents Taken down by drinking Vinegar I. What kind of Purging is good II. Wasted by a Medical Powder III. Their Diet. IV. One made lean onely by chewing leaves of Tobacco V. I. CHiapinius Vitellius Camp-Master-General a middle-aged Man grew so fat that he was forced to sustain his Belly by a Swathe which came about his Neck And observing that he was every day more unfit for the Wars than other he voluntarily abstained from Wine and continued to drink Vinegar as long as he lived upon which his Belly fell Strada de Bello Belgico and his Skin hung loose with which he could wrap himself as with a Doublet It was observed that he lost 87 pounds in weight II. Lest any great mischief should follow we must try to subtract by Medicine what a spare diet will not because it has been observed that a loosness either natural or procured by Art does not a little good But this must be done by degrees and slowly since it is not safe to disturb so much matter violently lest it should come all at once Therefore the best way of Purging is by Pills of Rheubarb Aloes each 2 drachms Agarick 1 drachm Cinnamon yellow Sanders each half a drachm Make them up with Syrup of Cichory They must be taken in this manner First 1 Scruple must be given an hour and an half before Meal then two or three days afterwards take half a drachm or two scruples before Meal Thus Purging must be often repeated at short Intervals till you think all the cacochymie is removed Fernelius Cons 17. III. A certain Goldsmith who was extreme fat so that he was ready to be choaked took the following Powder in his Meat and so he was cured Take of Tartar two ounces Cinnamon three ounces Ginger one ounce Sugar four ounces Make a Powder Forestus IV. Horstius found the things following to take down fat Men especially Onions Garlick Cresses Leeks Seed of Rue and especially Vinegar of Squills Let them purge well Let them Sweat and purge by Urine Let them use violent exercise before they eat Let them indure hunger want of Sleep and Thirst Let them Sweat in a Stove and continue in the Sun Idem ¶ Let them abstain from Drink between Dinner and Supper for to drink between Meals makes Men fat Ferdiâ—aâ—dâ—s V. I knew a Nobleman so fat that he could scarce sit on Horse-back but he was asleep and he could scarce stir a foot But now he is able to walk and his body is come to it self onely by chewing of Tobacco Leaves as he affirmed to me For it is good for Phlegmatick and cold Bodies Borellus VI. Let Lingua Avis or Ash-Keyes be taken constantly about one drachm in Wine According to Pliny it cures Hydropical persons and makes fat people lean Ferdinandus Obstructiones or Obstructions See Aperients BOOK XIX Oculorum Affectus or Diseases of the Eyes The Contents Bloudletting not hurtfull I. Great and frequent Evacuations are hurtfull II. Wine is the Vehicle of drying Medicines to the Head III. Eye-bright is not good for every Disease of the Eyes IV. Vpon what the Efficacy of a Seton depends V. Oculorum Dolor Inflammatio Ophthalmia or Pain of the Eyes Inflammation Bloudshottenness When the Eyes are ill of a fluxion where a Caustick must be applied VI. In a pertinacious Ophthalmia we must proceed to a Seton in the Occiput VII Where Issues must be made VIII A contumacious Ophthalmia cured by applying an actual Cautery to the swollen Veins of the Eyes IX Boring the Tip of the Ear is good X. Whether Purging be always proper XI Topical Medicines must be used circumspectly XII Gutta Serena Visus Imminutio or a Blindness without any visible cause Diminution of Sight When a Gutta Serena is curable XIII Cured by applying Blisters to the Thighs XIV By fasting XV. By a Wound in the Forehead XVI How using Spectacles helps the sight XVII Suffusio Cataracta or a Suffusion a Cataract The Body must often be purged XVIII One beginning cured by a Topick XIX The efficacy of Pigeon's Bloud XX. Cautions about couching a Cataract XXI The way of using purging Pills XXII Macula Cicatrices Phlyctaena c. or Spots Scars Blisters c. Spots must be distinguished from Scars because there is no cure for Scars XXIII The Chirurgical Cure of an Albugo XXIV Oculi Procidentia or Starting out of the Eye The Starting of the Eye cured by setting a Cupping-glass to the hind part of the Head XXV The restitution of the Humours of the Eye lost by a Wound XXVI I. I Have found in my self that letting of bloud is not hurtfull to the sight for when I had found my sight troubled for seven years and I had not let bloud for six months I opened a vein and let ten ounces of impure bloud and as much after dinner after which I found my sight come to me perfectly But because the last bloud was feculent the next day I bled again in the other Arm. And ever
the first Decoction and boil them again in fresh Water Press out the Juice Crato cons 21. apud Scholtzium to which add a little fresh Butter and Sugar Candy XVI Nothing is more difficult in Diseases of the Breast than to bring the Medicines to the place affected for through the length of the way they hardly do any good for the greatest part of them if not all slides down the Gulet into the Stomach and before they reach the Lungs their vertue is either lessen'd or altogether destroyed It seems more advisable therefore that Pectoral Medicines whether Lozenges Linctus or others be held a good while in the Mouth that they may slide down leisurely by the sides of the Larynx yet this is but a slow kind of Remedy That Medicines may be receiv'd plentifully and speedily into the Lungs we must make an artificial use of Respiration A Decoction of Vulnerary Pectoral Herbs and others according to the scope of the Physician is to be prepared the Vapour whereof let the Patient continually receive together with the Air in Inspiration for thus the Steam being carried to the Lungs in its entire vertue and by a short way shall cure the Diseases thereof Let all the Air be thus infected to the benefit of the Patient and you need not with Galen sail to Egypt Tho. Barth cent 4. Hist 88. your Chamber may become an Egypt for you ¶ I think the Diseases of the Breaff Head and Lungs can be helped no way better than by Vapour For as we relieve the thick Guts by Clysters the Stomach by Vomits the Kidneys by Diureticks because these Remedies reach to those parts so it seems are the parts serving for Respiration to be helped by Vapours for nothing else is carried entire into those parts As for my self I often use Vapours for the Diseases of the Breast and Head setting Kettles full of fitting Decoctions by the Patients Bed side or using Suffumigations upon Coals for Concocting and Inciding Vapours may be prepared as the matter shall require Wherefore it will often be convenient whilst Fomentations are applied outwardly for allaying of Pain and discussing of Humours and Wind to receive inwardly the Vapours from Sponges dipt in the Decoction Valles de vict acut p. 49. de evaporat suffumig for concocting or drying Yet this will not be always convenient for if difficulty of breathing happen thereupon we must desist XVII Without doubt Tabaco given in Potion does as much harm to the Stomach and Guts as it does good to a moist and cold Brain But 't is some Question Whether the Smoak of Tabaco offend the Lungs because it is an hot Plant yea acrimonious and twitching either naturally or by art namely from the Pouders of Euphorbium Bastard Pellitory Pepper or other acrimonious Spices which are sprinkled betwixt its Leaves by Cheating Fellows as they are made up into Rolls by the Vapour of all which 't is likely the Lungs are no less offended than the Brain is when a Man is made to sneeze by the Pouder of Horse-Rhadish or Pepper For as its immoderate heat does exhaust the Radical moisture so it s cloudy Smoak obscures the illustrious spirit of our Life yea Nicol. Tulp obs l. 1. c. 6. it suffocates the innate heat so evidently that like Tabid or Consumptive People they are wasted with a continual Cough or shortness of Breath XVIII I believe that a Catarrh does not only come to the Breast by the Lungs but also from the whole Circuit of the Veins witness Galen 2. de fac nat who says that all Superfluities flow upon a weak part Wherefore Diureticks are good in such case Montan. cons 145. See the title of Respiration hurt Book 15. because the Matter descends from the Veins and there is a great consent betwixt the Veins and the Breast Therefore Diureticks are profitable for the Lungs and Diseases of the Breast XIX Those things which bring Matter or Phlegm out of the Breast are prepared divers ways and are used sometimes in the form of a Decoction sometimes of a Mixture sometimes of a Lohoch and sometimes of Lozenges And 't is good to hold them for a while in the Mouth that passing leisurely to the Fauces or Throat a good deal or them may go down by the Weazand and so may be mixed in a greater quantity with the Phlegm that is to be incided Sylv. de le Boe m. m. c. 18. sect 26. But that which we swallow may also by a longer way return with the Blood to the Lungs XX. Hippocrates uses sometimes sweet sometimes harsh Wine in Diseases of the Breast Sweet Wine is not so well allowed of before Expectoration begin because it does not raise a Cough whereby the Purulent Matter is discharged Therefore harsh Wine is then proper because by irritating a Cough it causeth Expectoration but he abstains from it when the Patient Coughs up freely for then sweet Wine is more convenient to make the passages glib Sinibald l 4. Antiph 14. and to expand the Wings of the Lungs XXI I do not well approve of Pectoral Ointmenâ—s for though they help towards expectorating oâ— the Matter which is at present lodged in the Breast yet they make the parts more loose and subject to Fluxions Crato conl 8. XXII I use the Flowers of Brimstone in inveterate Diseases of the Lungs with no bad success but D. Job Crato hath frighted me from the use of them who disallowing of them endeavours to shew That something of a more subtil Arsenical Poison is still contained in them But seeing in strong Distempers strong Remedies also are to be used and I should hope that by often washing of them with the Water of Scabious Speedwell or the like that Poisonous quality may be taken away or at least so corrected as not to hurt I would not in that case be against the use of these Flowers Now half a scruple or a scruple of them may be given in one of the forementioned Waters adding Spec. Diair Simpl. in the same quantity or take half a drachm of each of these Joac Camerar in câ—staÌ„ medic Hornungi Epist 118. and with two ounces and an half of Sugar dissolved in proper Waters make Retulae whereof let one or two melt in your Mouth often XXIII The Head being dried and the Lungs themselves in some sort the drying and strengthening of them may be perfected by Sulphureous Waters drinking them for twelve days with a loosening Vehicle For there can be no Remedy more excellent in art yet it is not proper till the Head be first dried seeing it ascends thither Joh. Raymund Fortis cons 13. cent 2. fills and fuses it and so increases destillations yet when the Head is dried it dries it yet more without any inconvenience attending XXIV The Substance of the Lungs is soft and spongy therefore is it subject to defluxions above other Bowels whether those come from the Brain or from
sweetned with a little Sugar is a good Remedy against Swooning ¶ The Essence of Citron Pet. Joh. Faber Coral Pearl Balm and rectified Oyl of white Amber do the same 3. I use to apply the following Plaster with good success to the region of the Heart and the Wrists Take of the Crum of Wheat bread 1 ounce Cinnamon Cloves Mace each 2 drachms Confectio Alkernes 4 Scruples Guil. Fabricius with Rose water and a little Vinegar make a Paste which spread on a Cloth and apply it 4. Take leaf Gold grind it an whole day very diligently with burnt Hartshorn Then reverberate it in a Potter's Furnace till it acquire a carnation colour As it is a Medicine easily prepared so in vertue it is very efficacious and is better than the most laborious preparations of Gold Finkius 5. Common Salt is a most excellent Remedy if the Lips be rubbed a little with it or if the Patient chew it Hofmannus or the Palms of the Hands or Soles of the Feet be rubbed therewith 6. Balm sprinkled with some odoriferous Wine heated between hot Tiles Sennertus and applied to the Region of the Heart is very good A GUIDE TO The Practical Physician BOOK XVII Of Diseases beginning with the Letter T. Tenesmus or a continual desire of going to stool without voiding any thing considerable The Contents Whether we may purge I. Whether we may Bleed II. The drying of the Vlcers with Powders III. Fasting is hurtful IV. Care must be taken to strengthen the part V. Medicines I. PUrging seems hurtful 1. Because it hinders cleansing and healing of the Ulcer 2. Because it makes the Ulceration worse which is heated and irritated thereby 3. Purgers stimulate Nature whereby the Symptome of vain desire is made worse But on the contrary oftentimes we must purge 1. It often follows a Dysentery because of some sharp corruption or peccant Humours unseasonably left behind but here Purging is requisite 2. A Tenesmus for the most part happens to Phlegmatick Persons because thick and viscid Phlegm is gathered in the Intestinum rectum but this must be removed by Purging But we must take notice that Purging is twofold one Cathartick and another Lenitive of which this latter is often required because it evacuates not from the whole but only the peccant matter in the first wayes Then we must distinguish between the causes of the Tenesmus which are often such that they stand in no need of lenitive evacuation I answer to Argument 1 of the negative part that it holds true of strong Catharticks which we do not allow To the 2. That although the Ulcer be irritated by lenitives yet the Disease is not made worse seeing the cause of that vain straining is removed by them To 3. that Nature is stimulated by Purgatives Horstius quast 6. dec 6. yet not by vain motions but to the end what things are noxious may be voided II. Seeing a Tenesmus is an affection with tension weight and sharp pain wherewith the lower part of the Belly is annoyed all which things depend upon the shaving of the Intestinum rectum we must oppose it first upon account of the matter which falls upon it according to universal precepts among which Bleeding first occurrs which must not be omitted for the medical Intentions in this Disease are to remove plenitude to cool the Liver abate the pain of the Guts to stop or prevent their Inflammation to cure the Ulcer and Laelius à Fonte if there be occasion to take off the Fever and other Symptomes All which Bleeding does III. When the Ulcer is cleansed it must be healed Among Suppositories all that are made of Metallicks are good as Ceruss Tutty Litharge Bolus Armenus Terra Lemnia and Dragons Blood But I had rather have these Powders blown in by a Servant with a Pipe or with a pair of small bellows For since the true Cure of the Ulcer is the drying of it I have observed Idem it is easilier procured by Powders than by moister Medicines IV. We may observe from Hippocrates lib. de Affectionibus that this Disease can ill endure hunger it may be because where there is meat the Guts are less raked Yet this must be rightly understood so as that crudities and mucosities may not be encreased by too much meat Fortis V. If the Patient overcome all the Symptomes of a Dysentery and the Disease be protracted a long time at length all the Guts seem to be affected in their order downwards till the Disease be thrust down into the intestinum rectum and end in a Tenesmus Upon which far otherwise than in the Dysentery when the Stools cause a most violent pain in the Guts that is the Excrements as they come down grate upon the tender Guts at this time the mucous stools are only troublesome to the lower Guts namely the rectum for then the matter is only made in it and voided from it And if so then in my opinion it will be to no purpose to endeavour a cure by abstersive glutinating and astringent Clysters according to the different times of the Ulcer as is supposed or by Fomentation Insession Fumes and Suppositories which respect the same end For it is evident this proceeds not from an Ulcer in the intestinum rectum but rather because the Guts as they recover strength by degrees by the same degrees they thrust down the reliques of the Morbifick matter into the rectum which being incessantly irritated every day scrapes off that mucous matter with which by Nature's providence the Guts are lined Therefore the part affected should be strengthned to the end it may after the manner of the other Guts utterly discharge the reliques of the Illness which now are upon yielding And this can be done only by such things as are apt to give strength to the Body For a Topical Medicine whatever it is applied to the grieved part because it is a thing aliene will weaken more by its troublesome Touch than it can strengthen The Sick therefore must have patience till by a restorative diet and some Cordial Liquor he can gain strength as which returns this Symptome of a Tenesmus will at the same pace go away of it self Sydenham Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. This is my most approved Remedy for a Tenesmus It is a drachm or two of Syrup of Buck-thorn in Cinnamon water The Patient is certainly cured in one day now the Body is purged without trouble and when the serous Humours are voided the Patient is perfectly cured with this Remedy alone Baricellus 2. Some take Ceruss and Litharge well steeped in water and mix them well with the yelk of an Egg and Rosewater in a Mortar Alex. Benedictus and apply it with good success 3. This Fume cures the Tenesmus to a miracle Take of Mastich 1 drachm Frankincense 1 scruple Myrtle Seed 1 drachm and an half red Rose flowers
Ponyard and observed concrete Blood and considered that the wound had reached the Cavity of the Breast he pitched upon Incision between the third and fourth Rib and learnedly indeed Amatus Lusâ—tanus Cent. 2. Cur. 25. for Blood very much concrete was contained in the Cavity of the Breast which by making a new Incision in the Breast was got out thereby and the Patient was cured in 40 days XXVI We know and Experience also testifies that Blood and Sanies run from the wounds of the Abdomen into the Cavity of it and often fall into the Groin wherefore we use to rub the Groin and apply Plasters to it that the Matter gathered there may be dissolved discussed and so be insensibly evacuated For one wounded in his left Hypochondâ—ium was cured by a Barber-Surgeon internally only no outward things being applied but in the beginning The Wound indeed healed but Matter gathered in his left Groin The Shaver neglects this and sends the wounded man away as if he had been perfectly cured But after he had undergone a great deal of trouble the wound opened of it self and it run variety of Matter which being healed greater store of Matter was again gathered about the Groin and swelling pain and tension was caused there with difficulty of Breathing straitness of Breast and sometimes a small Swooning I give a Decoction of the Wood and vulnerary Herbs and then I apply emollient dissolving and discutient Oyls and Plasters Ph. Salmuth Cent. 3. Obs 84. by the diligent use whereof he was at length restored to perfect health XXVII A Tailor gave his Wife a wound with a Knife in the right Hypochondrium above the Os Ileon in the Night The wound was bound up in the Morning when the Surgeon took off the Plaster her ordure followed the wound being dilated the Gut Ileum appeared hurt I had a mind to make trial in a desperate case I order the Gut to be carefully sowed to the Skin and a slice of fresh fat Pork being put between so as there might be passage for the Excrements I order the Skin to be closed I prescribe vulnerary Potions D. Maiquanquez misc cu. ann 72. Obs 176. by which she was cured to a Miracle and within a few years she was brought to bed of two Children XXVIII I know many think the coalescence of fibres is fabulous who yet are either ignorant of Surgery or have never made trial of a thing which it is not difficult to do Gab. Ferrara Observ Chirurg l. 1. cap. 17. shews the way how to sow great Nerves perhaps he means Tendons Mr. Galthier Surgeon to the Count de Rabatta General of the Imperial Army 1667. told me that two Persons had the Tendons which bend the wrist and one of those which bend the Leg cut in sunder who when the Tendons were artificially sowed did recover their perfect Motion and the way may be easily learned in Dogs Not long since some Students in Surgery in this place tried it they took a Dog and cut the great Tendon asunder which moved his left Leg they took hold of it with a pair of Pincers and in the Method delivered by Ferrara they accurately joyned the ends of the Tendon that were cut with a single thread which grew together again without any Balsames or Plasters only by the Dog 's licking of it and he runs without any Impediment Wepferus de Cicuta Aquat. only in the place where it was cut one may feel a knot like a Ganglion XXIX A Gentleman of about 35 years of Age was wounded with a Rapier on the right side of the Aspera Arteria into the internal Jugular through his Neck it passing out below the last Vertebra The Wound was small yet bled with a full stream A Servant stopt it with his Fingers whil'st I made Dressings ready of our common Astringent Powders with the White of an Egg and a little Vinegar spred upon a Pledgit of Lint and an Emplaster of the same with Compress and such Bandage as it would bear The Wound behind bled when that before was dress'd I applied the said Medicaments to that and caused them to be held close till they were dried on Then we put him to Bed and kept him cool quiet I used all my endeavors for the contemperating his Blood as is usual in such cases and drest him but once in 4 or 5 days unless I were necessitated by the bursting out of the Blood yet he bled at times about 16 or 17 days His Wound by the Vertebra of the Neck healed in few dayes Wiseman's Surgery p. 354. and the other near the Aspera Arteria was cured by this way of Agglutination the 19th or 20th day For Wounds of the Arteries see Aneurisma BOOK I. XXX N. 17 years of Age of a cholerick Complexion was shot with a single Bullet in the right Thigh eight inches from the Groin and reaching to the opposite side The Parts were much torn especially the greater Artery whence followed an Haemorrhage of Arterious Blood Signior John Trullus being called found the Wound taken care of by a Barber-Surgeon and therefore meddled not with it till the next day when coming and loosing the Bandage the bleeding was stopt he finds the Parts very much red and swelled so that the Pulsation lifted up both the hands when laid on the swelling wherefore he presently suspected some Artery was wounded Cooling and Astringent things were applied he was kept quiet the Wound was not touched for several dayes though sometimes 3 or 4 Ounces of Blood would start out of it self and presently stop again Yet in dressing there were still the same Swelling and Pulsation the Fever as well as the Pulsation encreasing daily Many were called to his assistance but the greater part left the business to Time and Nature except Signior Trullus who advised the laying of the Wound open for to find the Artery which opinion the rest rejected Therefore applying the same Medicines again the Wound was bound up and they deferred the dressing it till the Seventeenth day and then we declared with unanimous consent that the course must not be altered Thus the Blood stopt for 13 dayes after which it bled as it used and stopt again of it self On the 30th day the Wound was dressed and we found the Swelling softned which we were in hopes would suppurate and when suppuration was made that flesh would be regenerated and that the wounded Vessel would as it usually is be closed up by it but our Expectation failed us And when his strength decayed daily when his Fever grew higher and his Body wasted we then placed all our hopes in dilatation of the Wound that the Artery might either be sowed or tied or cauterized and the Blood might some way or other be stopt All things being in readiness for a work of so difficult a Nature we go about it The Artery about the Groin being found with the touch of the Finger we follow it below
his Bowels being hurt I think the wound should not be enlarged for it will do no good but rather harm Because the greater the orifice is the more will the Bowels be burnt by the external Air. But if any of the parts aforesaid be wounded the dilating the orifice of the wound in the Epigastrium will do no good Idem seeing there is no hope of a Cure XLIV But if the Bullet remain within and you have no certain sign that any of the said parts are hurt you must endeavour to get it out the Patient lying upon his wound and turning himself this way and that yet so as that the orifice of the wound may look directly to the ground Then the experienced Artist must search for it and bring it out with a bended Probe But if it cannot be found and if the wound be in a part which may suffer dilatation without much danger it must be opened length-way of the muscles till it will admit a man's fore-finger And the Instrument for dilatation must not be sharp-pointed lest the Guts should be pricked when you perceive the Bullet you must endeavour to get it out by Art but if you cannot well do it let it alone Certainly I have seen some shot in the Belly who have lived after with the Bullet which it may be had fallen out otherwise if we had been forced to seek it and take it out Among which there is an Armour-Smith now alive who was shot a little above the right Groin and the Bullet lodged but could not be got out or so much as be found yet I would not suffer the wound to be enlarged Therefore it must rather be left within than make a Section Idem that is either dangerous or but with little hopes of obtaining one's desir'd end Medicines especially made use of by eminent Physicians 1. A noble Bezoardick Plaster Take of Wax 1 pound Turpentine half a pound dried Toad half an ounce Bdellium 2 ounces and an half white frankincense half an ounce white Amber one ounce and an half Serpent's Skin dried No. 1. Figs No. 8. incorporate and mix them all according to Art In the end add prepared Magnet 1 drachm liquor Arsenicalis 2 ounces Spirit of Salt half an ounce Boyl them all keeping them continually stirring then pour to them Oyl of Scorpions 1 ounce and an half Mix them Make a Plaster Joh. Agricola It is very good in gun-shot Wounds 2. This is an approved Medicine in a deep wound made by a Shot Take of Bay-berries root of Aristolochia rotunda each one drachm Crabs dried in an oven 1 drachm and an half dried Burnet half an ounce Make a powder which must be boyled in 3 pounds of Wine to a third Let the Patient drink 1 ounce every day Platerus and foment the wound with it or inject it into the wound 3. This drives out all poyson from a poysoned burnt wound by a shot as I have often tried and though it be an ordinary Medicine yet it may be reckoned a great secret Take of Swallow-wort 1 ounce Valerian Tormentil each half an ounce Polypody 2 ounces Garden Angelica 4 ounces wild Angelica Marsh-mallow each two ounces nettle 1 ounce and an half root of Thymelaea 1 ounce and an half root of Scabious Valerian each half an ounce Let them be all gathered between the fifteenth of August and the eighth of September which must then be cut and put in a glazed pot well stopt with a sufficient quantity of vinegar and so let them stand 12 hours Then let them boyl an hour and an half Then pour off the Vinegar and when they are dried and beaten to powder add Quercetanus 12 berries of the herb Paris and 36 leaves Make a Powder the dose is 1 drachm in white wine A GUIDE TO The Practical Physician BOOK XIX Concerning Remedies borrow'd from Diet Surgery and Pharmacy Acidulae or Mineral Waters The Contents They cure contrary Distempers I. Not to be drunk rashly II. Whether the necessary quantity should be drunk together at one draught III. In what quantity they are to be drunk IV. The greatest dose is not to be taken it the beginning V. Whether when one is come to the highest Dose he must keep to it VI. The necessary quantity to be drunk in as little time as may be VII How many dayes they are to be drunk VIII Whether to be drunk cold or hot IX How to be emptied when they will not pass of themselves X. Whether the smoaking Tabaco help their passage XI Lying in Bed furthers their passage XII Riding is better than Foot-exercise XIII We must Purge once in eight or ten dayes XIV How one may know when to Dine XV. Sleep at Noon is to be avoided XVI The Waters are not to be drunk in the Evening XVII Whether Women should desist upon their Terms flowing XVIII Whether leanness alwayes prohibit their use XIX Divers cautions in their use XX. Whether artificial Acidulae can be prepared XXI Whether Victuals may be boyled in them XXII Of what parts Acidulae consist what Waters are understood by that name and of their vertue in general XXIII I. SPaw-Waters being endowed with the faculties of both hot and cold Minerals must needs cure both hot and cold Distempers in the same and in divers Bodies And seeing it is the property of heat to rarifie incide and attenuate and of cold to condense astringe and incrassate 't is no wonder that these waters produce contrary effects namely for instance both procure the Terms in Women and also stop their immoderate flowing For these Waters are an Empirical Medicine and the same thing happens to them as to Treacle which seeing it is compounded without reason and receives into it many things that are superfluous and repugnant to one another Heer cap. 9. 13. comes to cure various and those contrary Distempers II. A poor Country-Fellow being a long time troubled with Bleeding at the Nose and with the fluxus hepaticus drank the Mineral waters disorderly observing neither hour nor season yea in the very drinking of them whilst others use AnniseedS or Lozenges to warm their Stomachs he eat raw Apples laughing at those that advis'd him better But before a Month went about one of his Legs gangren'd so that he was glad to have it cut off and within a Month more the like Gangrene seis'd upon the Arm of the other side Heer Obs 23. about which whilst consultation was had whether it should be cut off also the poor Man died miserably III. Whether should the necessary quantity be drunk all together or be divided into several Doses This latter way is the safer for 1. being drunk at one draught the Stomach is so loaden with it that it vomits it up or 2. if it should be kept its weight would make it pass through so quickly that its vertue could not be put into act nor it self be distributed into the Body and 3. seeing they
that is naturally cold To which may be added that an agitation being made by such Remedy in the Head an hot Catarrh that is fluxile of its own nature will fall more precipitantly upon the subjacent Parts and thereby will cause great mischief Id m. III. Concerning waters that spring of their own accord it is to be noted that the sulphureous bituminous and aluminous as Galen says l. 6. de ta Valet c. 9. are very bad for hot Heads whether the heat be joined with driness or with moisture I say the sulphureous and bituminous because they incend and melt the Humours and the aluminous because they constipate the narrow Pores m. IV. This also is to be noted that such things are very seldom used in the way of Stillicidium which by moistening may cool yea this is to be understood of cold things in general though they do not moisten but dry as cold thermae or Baths that they are never to be used alone lest the innate heat be extinguished but hot are always to be mixed with them at least in a threefold proportion Idem V. Stillicidia are used to all places that are fit to have liquor fall upon them but they are chiefly convenient for the Head and for the Nervous Parts and Joints The Liver Spleen Stomach c. seeing they are soft Parts and therefore other forms of Remedies may easily work upon them are not to be troubled with Stillicidia save in a stubborn and inveterate Distemper Idem VI. As to the Head some distinguish certain Parts in it for in a cold and moist Catarrh Deafness c. they apply Stillicidia to the coronal suture in a Palsie and Convulsion to the hinder Part of the Head where the beginning of the Nerves is but whilst the Fluxion lasts for otherwise they use to water the resolved or contracted Parts themselves In other inveterate Diseases of the Head such as the Head-ach or Megrim they pour the liquor upon the affected or weak part it self Indeed in my opinion these do not do amiss but yet the vertue of the Stillicidium is always more easily and readily received by the coronal suture Idem ¶ In deafness the Stillicidium may be received very well in the region of the ears and temples for if a mans skull be inspected the Lambdoidal suture appears to reach even to the Mastoides process and the sutures of the Temples appear to coincide therewith so that the vertue of the Stillicidia may penetrate and enter into the inmost Parts of the Ears VII It is administred two ways the one without a Bath and separately from it the other with a Bath so as that the Patient ducking himself in a Bath does withal receive the Stillicidium The first way are almost all Artificial Stillicidia administred and some of late think that Bath Stillicidia are best administred the same way but besides that it seems too troublesom Experience witnesseth that it is not so profitable Idem VIII Whilst the Stillicidium is administring the Patient must by no means Sleep which he uses to be prone to when his Head waxes hot and so a multitude of vapours is attracted to the Brain But those do amiss who keep their Patients awake with loud singing seeing the Head is filled therewith Therefore we must endeavour to do it by talking to them and by other ways Idem IX When the Embrochation is over the part is to be dried and wiped with pretty warm Cloaths and is either to be anointed with some oil of the same vertue with the Stillicidium or to be fenced with something else that may preserve the quality imprinted by the Stillicidium The vulgar apply a Linen cloth to the shaved part of the Head and put a Night-cap over that 'T were better to apply a Cerecloth that is fitted to the Nature and Faculties of the Stillicidium thus Montagnana's Capital Cerecloth of Betony c. will be convenient for a cold Head Idem Stomachicks See Book 18. Of the Diseases of the Ventricle in general The Contents They respect either the heat I. Or the ferment of the Stomach II. Remedies strengthening the Ferment III. Correctors of it when it exceeds IV. What such Externals must be V. Such as respect the beat and ferment both are very well joined together VI. What Stomachicks are bad for an hot and dry intemperature VII In altering we must have a care we do not hurt the other viscera VIII It is not to be overcharged with abundance of Medicines IX I. STomachicks respect 1. the heat which is impaired and wants to be strengthened of which sort are divers Restoratives indeed yet they profit on this general account that they are endued with an oily volatil aromatick and sweet Sulphur which they contain and are 1. Aromatick as aromata or spices the root of Burnet Mint c. 2. Balsamick oils as Amber Balsam of Peru c. for this very Medicine is indued with a Balsamick Acrimony whence Riverius commends it in Vomiting want of appetite c. 3. Things indued with a Volatil Salt especially such as is oily as Pepper Mustard Ginger 4. Spirituous things as wine the Spirit of Wine Mint Juniper Citron pill c. 5. Bitter things as Worm-wood Aloes Elixir proprietatis 6. Carminatives 7. Mild Astringents as Cinnamon Mastich Peptick Powders c. 8. Nervine Cephaiicks as Castor Hore-hound for there is a very great consent of the Stomach with the Brain All these things profit in an Anorexie injur'd chylification belching hiccough pain at the Stomach in which case the oyl of Cloves and Carminatives are the most profitable weak concoction inflation sympathick vertigo and other Symptoms of the Stomach that arise from coldness and generally the same things correct an excessive heat as correct a vitious ferment II. Or 2. they respect the ferment which I call the menstruum of the Stomach Now though those Remedies that contribute towards the restoring of this do much agree and fall in with the aforesaid things inasmuch as they also are indued with a saline Acrimony yet this is to be noted by the way That as those things which abound with a sulphureous Principle and are more Balsamick and oily do more respect the weak heat of the Stomach and invigorate it so saline Medicines do more invigorate the ferment for there are some cases wherein the heat is strong enough and yet the ferment hindered and fetter'd so that concoction cannot be happily performed though it be best that these fellow-causes which stand for one should be both attended together and on this account we must also see that whilst we endeavour to strengthen the heat we do not destroy the ferment which is chiefly done by spirituous things as Brandy III. The sluggish and deficient ferment is whetted and recruited by all such things as are indued either with an acid Salt or especially a volatil 1. All Acrimonious things as common Salt which
can do much in exciting the Archeus But whether by this very illinition with such a Stone of Ens Veneris c. the Archeus can be so strengthned as to avert all occasional Causes is a great Postulatum and can hardly be granted Wedelius LVIII Whenever the Physician judges some generous Remedy requisite and the Patient or By-standers are against it he ought to shew the great danger present the mischief of deferring or omitting it and then impute all the dammage that will follow to their refusal Thus they that will not yield to perswasions will obey for fear of future evil Now the Physician that neglects this Rule does not only neglect his Patients but himself His Patients because when they flinch for a little pain or trouble he does not threaten them with the danger and so force them in a manner to obedience He neglects himself because when things go ill all the blame devolves on him and he is accused of want of skill as not foreseeing the mischief that would follow or of negligence in not reducing the Patient to his Duty with greater heat and earnestness Sylvius de le Boe. who is excusable for the pain he was to undergo LIX I have often thought with my self that we cannot make too little haste in driving away of Diseases but that we must proceed slowly and that more should be left to Nature than is now the custom to do For he is in a Mistake and that no very learned one who thinks Nature always needs the help of Art For if it were so she had not taken that care of Human kind which the conservation of the Species requires Since there is no proportion between the frequency of Diseases that invade Men and the faculties which Men have to drive them away even in those Ages when Physick flourished most and when most Men practised it What this will do in other Diseases I know not this I know very well from the concurrence of diligent observation that in the Fever wherein the Stupor prevailed after general Evacuations were used Bleeding and Clysters the said Symptom used only to be cured by Time Sydenham LX. Where the nature of the Disease is obscure yet as for the Cure an Indication is left us to be taken from the Juvantia and Laedentia by means whereof trying the way by degrees we may conduct the Patient out of danger provided we make not too much haste than which haste I think nothing more destructive nor that more Patients die of any one thing For I am not ashamed to confess that when I was not satisfied what I ought to do I provided best both for my Patient and my self by doing nothing For while I waited my opportunity to kill the Disease the Fever either went away by degrees of it self or put on such a Type that then I knew well enough with what Weapons to conquer it But which is to be lamented most Patients not fully knowing that it is as much the part of a skilful Physician sometimes to do nothing at all as at another time to give the most effectual Remedy are not capable of the benefit of this honesty and faithfulness but impute it either to negligence or ignorance whereas the dullest Empirick knows well enough how to give Medicin upon Medicin and usually does it more than the Wisest Physician Sylvius de le Boe. LXI I had rather make use of an Empirical Physician that is one who practises according to Experience than a Theorical one who practises according to his Reasonings and Figments For Experience has long since informed all Accurate Observers of things which happen in our Art that Empiricks are more successful in their practice than Theorists and such as are Physicians from Books or their own Speculations Men so much more miserable in their folly because they make others miserable with themselves But the World will be bubled with Cramp Words and great Brags Idem LXII As in the knowledge of all Arts Reason and Experience are very necessary so in Method one cannot be without the other Reason indicates what must be done Experience confirms what Reason has invented and teaches to work exactly according to Art Yet all things are not found either by Experience alone or by Reason alone Gal. 3. m. m. 1. Although Reason alone invent some things and Experience alone produce others yet always as much as possible Experience and Reason must be joined as two Crutches on which Physick leans So that in Theoremes or in Medicins found out by Reason Experience must follow on the Contrary in such things as were found out by Experience Reason must come behind 2. Meth. cap. 6. Let them be so connected and fastened one in another that one may strengthen the other For no Reason can be true which is contradicted by Experience nor on the contrary That is they must both be true and the things that are found out by them But when they thwart one the other of necessity either the Experience must have been inartificial or the opposite Reason must only be apparently true whereon we must not rely nor for it must we depart from our Senses and Experience And therefore there is no Reason without Experience both Experience without Reason is invalid and Reason without it is fallacious and captious Though the Preheminence between them two is doubtful For Experience knows few Diseases and those which come often and frequently But Reason does as well help rare Diseases which it never saw before as common ones because it searches out the Natures Differences and Causes of all by Discourse and Ratiocination or it comprehends things by Scientifick Knowledge or at least by Artificial Conjecture yet by a sure one and that which is next to Science Besides Experience only acquires those things which often happen in the same manner and seeing all the simple and compound Diseases of all parts Similar and Organick cannot be brought together it is impossible that there can be Experience of them all but only of the frequent ones and therefore it of it self does not comprehend or reach either the knowledge or Cure of several Diseases Besides some frequent Diseases come without any concourse of Symptoms and cannot be known but by conjecture and a Tentative Cure and therefore in this way of proceeding only Reason can obtain the knowledge which is sought after And Experience not knowing the power of the trying Remedy joyns and compares it with the following operation and thence it easily guesses and it gets as much knowledge of the Disease by things hurtful and orders the whole Cure But not that Experience which knowing not the virtues of Remedies takes any thing for the Cure without judgment so that if the business succeed not at first he knows not whither he must go but by blind Chance and Fortune runs to another thing But however it is that Reason dictates these and the like things to us yet Experience is very
upper part of it that it may hold the faster When the Polypus is taken out J. Van H rn Microtechis let them be seared with a red hot Iron let through a Pipe into the Nostrils II. There are some who as the report goes tying three long Needles together and take holding of the Heads do lance so long with the Points till all that is faulty be taken away and waste by pricking then they presently wash it with Oil and doe the same the following days till the Man is cured Hierocles ¶ Which gentle Operation what hinders but that it may be used to our Polypi For I can upon my own experience affirm that I cured such a Swelling newly risen in a Nun onely by several times pricking it with a Lancet and making it bleed a little Severinus III. After frequent Catarrhs the Wife of N. had a large Polypus white in colour in substance Phlegmatick conspicuous not onely in the Nostrils but in the Throat with a double Caruncle the one white and soft the other livid and hard differing very little from the nature of a Carcinoma and that part being taken hold of with a Forceps which threatned a Carcinoma in the Throat and being pulled violently the whole Polypus having eight feet came out with it and all of them were covered with a Membrane within which was contained concrete Phlegm in most of them soft and pellucid like the pulpy part of a white Prune but in others hard and opake like a singed Horn A good Argument certainly that we may be afraid not onely of livid and melancholick Polypi but of white and pituitous ones especially if from hot bloud or from inclosed heat they degenerate into the nature of a Carcinoma as here Therefore they are under a Mistake who think that a Phlegmatick Polypus has no danger in it for it is not ever true Tulpius IV. Have a care you do not think the noxious and redundant Humour whence this Evil arises does always come from the Brain through the holes of the Os Cribriforme for that matter comes thither not of the Vessels which are within the Nose Wherefore we must direct our Cure to the Parts that make Bloud rather than to the Brain I examined carefully in every part the Head of a dead Man opened who in his life time had often had a Polypus I found the Brain well and those nervous Filaments which run to the holes of the said Bone and the holes I found entire on the contrary the parts in the Abdomen the Liver and Spleen were out of order Schneiderus V. If you will try to cure it with Medicines you must fly to Powder of calcined Vitriol or to Root of white Hermodactyl mixt with Honey of Roses or Savine-water by which Medicines the Coat of the Polypus is rather corrugated than opened Nor does this Powder penetrate through the hole near the end of the Nose which is stopt by this Excrescence Whence notwithstanding except you get out the Caruncles sticking there they will continually increase and the Pulp which remains in the dried Coat will continually swell with an afflux of new humours Unless perhaps its Coat be so round and soft that the Pulp as well as the succingent Coat is consumed And when some have found such success from it in some place they have therefore thought but rashly enough that the foresaid Powder will doe the same every where Tulpius and will infallibly cure any Polypus VI. One had his Nose cut off where the Bone ends in a Cartilage A Country fellow held the piece next the Teeth down with his Fingers He applied Millefoil bruised with black Wine and bound it up after a rude fashion upon which the Bloud stopt quickly and the Wound cicatrized finely in a short time Hollerius VII In the year 1590. when the Duke of Savoy made Warr upon Geneva a chast Maid fell into the hands of some Souldiers and when they had attempted to force her in vain they were so vext that they cut off her Nose Two years after she came to Lausanne to Mr. Joh. Griffonius a most successfull Chirurgeon who undertook to restore her Nose and restored it to the admiration of all Men. The first Inventour of the Operation and Cure was Gaspar Taliacotius Hildanâ—s Professour at Bolognia VIII The Haemorrhoids which are soft and without Pain though all Writers commend the Cutting of them with an Instrument or the Burning of them with an actual Cautery yet I have found a much easier and safer way whereby I have seen not onely the Haemorrhoids in the Nostrils cured but the Polypus also and any superfluous Carnosity growing in the Nostrils or in any other place without trouble to the Patient This is the way Take a Ruptory the Caustick Stone then get an Instrument made of Lead about the length of ones finger of such a thickness as that it may be put into the Nostril which at that end that is put into the Nostril must be made hollow like a Box so that the Carnosity may be received into the hollow place with a Ruptory in it and the sides of the Cavity may defend the Nostril from being hurt by the Ruptory Let the Patient hold this Instrument to his Nostril steady with his hand for an hour When it is taken out apply Butter till there be an Eschar and the burnt flesh be removed Then apply the Ruptory again till all the superfluous flesh be consumed always applying Butter after the Ruptory But if an Ulcer should happen to remain let it be cured with things proper for an Ulcer in the Nostrils I experienced it in N. who had a Carnosity in his Nostril which not onely filled the Nostril but hung out half an Inch. This Carnosity was perfectly removed without any deformity Bayrus IX Ulcers of the Nostrils may best be cured with Fumigations wherefore it is best to make Candles of red Wax For the Smoak of such a Candle does good by drying especially if it be kept in a narrow and close room And we find that the Smoak is received when we sit up late at our Studies for afterwards our Spittle and what comes out at our Nose is made black with Smoak In this manner I have cured an Ulcer which neither the Italian nor French Physicians could cure Rondeletius X. A Woman had always a red Nose especially in Winter after she had taken a gentle purge she found benefit by this Unguent which Gisibertus Horstius used at Rome Take of live Sulphuâ—â— drachms white Ginger 2 drachms let them boiâ—â—ently with white Rhanish Wine and Rose-â—ater tilâ—â—he liquour be consumed then with fresh Hogs â—ard make an Unguent She anointed after Supper and in the morning washed with water of Roses Beans and a Decoction of Bran warm It is good for Pustules in the Face as well as for a red Nose Forestus Natta or A Wen. See Tumores BOOK XVIII
The Contents A great one in the Thigh happily extirpated I. In the Head II. I. JOhannes Ferber about 24 years old had a Wen arose on the inside of his right Thigh which in two years grew so vastly that it was as big as any three Mens Heads and hindred his going A certain Chirurgeon corroded this Excrescence with a caustick Medicine to let the Matter out and then he intended to close the Ulcer with Escharoticks afterwards But when he found there was no fluxible matter away runs the Empirick and leaves his Patient to look to himself This Patient an 1634. came to Vlm and there implored the help of J. G. Baulerus a Chirurgeon who when he could not heal the foul Ulcer with any Medicines by my Advice and G. Riedlinus he took hold of the exulcerated and painfull Wen with a Forfex he cut it off with a cultellary Cautery and when the Eschar was removed he brought it to a fine Cicatrice with Ceratum divinum When we had looked upon the Substance of the Wen that was cut off which was perfect flesh and had Veins and Arteries we enquired of the Patient whether he was naturally so lean He told us that before this Wen grew so vastly he was well in flesh Hereby we were convinced that the Excrescence had drawn by the Veins and Arteries almost all the nutriment wherewith the whole body should have been nourished When he was well I advised him to use a moderate Diet and once a month to set six Cupping-glasses with Scarification to his back till the Habit of his Body by little and little were accustomed to assimilate the bloud to it self which Nature before had transmitted to nourish the Tumour The young Man followed this Advice for half a year and afterwards he lived well in health Scultetus II. A Wen a sort of Tumour with a Coat often arises in the Head All of them have an Artery by which they receive nutriment and augment They are inclosed within with a peculiar Coat The Contents are not of one sort in some I have found a fat inflammable substance in many onely a chalky one or mixt with some Serum Here is a Family subject to this sort of Tumours If the Basis be narrow they fall off by tying them with a Horse's hair straitned by degrees as I have done several times But if the Basis be large and not capable of constriction I make a long Wound in the Top of it I squeeze out the Contents and then apply onely a little Butter of Antimony in Coton or mixt with a digestive Liniment to the Basis by which as by a Stalk it receives its nourishment for unless the Stalk be cut off or eroded it quickly grows again I have known such Tumours cut off by rash and unskilfull Chirurgeons at one slash and a large Haemorrhagy follow it which could scarce be stopt till the Patient was much weakned Butter of Antimony causes no Pain no Itching unless the Lips of the capilry Skin be imprudently touched For the inner Pellicle is void of Sense Wepferus Nephriticus Dolor or The Stone-colick See Calculus Renum BOOK III. The Contents Taking of Laudanum does good I. The Efficacy of Mercurius dulcis II. When Cassia fistula is good III. A spurious scorbutick Nephritis how it may be cured IV. I. IN the Stone-colick and Colick from Bile let Laudanum be mixt in Clysters and also taken by the Mouth yet not too often lest especially in the latter end of a fit the morbifick matter be concentrated the humours be incrassated and rendred immovable and so the Patient at length yield to the triumphant Intestine Enemy drowzy Nature being unable to apply the virtue of Medicines to her self Mayerne MS. de Laudano especially of Purgatives and this happened in the Count de Hault II. Nothing is better in this Disease than to give Mercurius dulcis once or twice in a just Dose for it seldom uses to trouble them who every month take Mercurial Pills because by this means the Passages are enlarged and then the Stones are voided Hartman III. One very necessary thing cannot be passed over to wit that Cassia Fistula which is generally used and indifferently by all men is not so safe except the Stomach and first ways be first cleared by Fasting Vomiting or Purging since it is a high Diuretick Zecchius IV. I have often observed that Scorbutick Symptome which resembles the Stone of which Drawisius de Scorbuto p. 346. not onely familiar to Scorbuticks but to Hypochondriacks that is the Spleen uses to evacuate excrementitious Gravel or the Tartar of the Hypochondria by the Kidneys This Tartar usually shews it self in form of a reddish sand in the sediment of the Urine at first divided into so subtile Atoms that it cannot be seen But it is manifest that its Atoms consist of very sharp Angles because they stick to the Glass and cannot be got off without force Sometimes when abundance of them come together the Urine looks bloudy This Gravel settling in the Spleen and parts adjacent causes Heat But when it gets into the Kidneys Ureters or Bladder it vellicates these nervous parts with its pointed Atoms thereby torments them and causes worse and severer Pains than the Stone it self These things are accompanied with an intolerable and continual Strangury partly by the Atoms vellicating the neck of the Bladder and partly by Urine inclining to Acidity Hot Diureticks I find doe little good but rather exasperate Spirit of common Salt is an effectual Remedy as also Spirit of Earth-worms Also Nephritick Essence drawn off Lignum Nephriticum with Spirit of common Salt and of Strawberries For a Vehicle I use Parsly and Nettle-water in which red hot Crystal has been quenched which Strawsius Germannus misc cur ann 72. obs 44. in Theatr. Sympathet pag. 138. commends with good success Nervorum Affectus or Diseases of the Nerves The Contents Wine is hurtfull inwardly and outwardly I. Modern Medicines for a Puncture better than the Old II. Oil of Turpentine must be poured in in time III. I. I have experienced in my self that Wine even outwardly applied is hurtfull in Diseases of the Nerves When I came home from Basil I felt a Coldness all over my Hand I had a mind to try what Wine would doe outwardly applied in Diseases of Nervous parts I therefore chafed my hand twice a day for three days with Spirit of Wine and what did it The Pain increased so that for several days I could not stir my little Finger without pain A Nobleman of Savoy who had lost the use of his Legs by the Palsie when he had made a Bath of Herbs which were very proper but boiled in Wine and had used it several days was taken with a Lethargy which killed him in three days Hildanus II. Galen used Euphorbium the quantity whereof he himself being Judge none is able to find by reason of the various age of the Euphorbium and