gross and phlegmatick Matter 3. A Palsie coming after the Apoplexy is ill and many times turns to the Apoplexy again When any of the extreme parts be Paralytical or when the Head is ill affected by the external coldness of Air Water or Snow or a stoppage of the Head be also bred thereby or the defect of the Animal spirits chiefly urge then the sick may be cur'd by driving out whatsoever cold has pierc'd into the Head or any other parts of the Body which may be done by spirituous and volatile Sudorificks for they do not onely alter and correct the cause of Cold and other Evils accompanying it but do also amend the harm entring into the Body containing and contained To this end I commend this following Form Take of treacle-Treacle-water one ounce Fennel-water and Epidemical-water of each two ounces Syrup of red Poppies and Syrup of the Juice of Scurvigrass of each half an ounce Bezoar-mineral Antimony Diaphoretick of each ten grains Laudanum opiat three grains Spirit of salt Armoniack twenty drops Oil of Cloves four drops mix it give the sick three or four spoonfulls of it and expect to sweat being meanly covered and a spoonfull every half hour afterward till the sweat break forth then give them some pure Broth with a little Wine in it whereby strength may be recreated and the Patient enabled to bear a Sweat longer for nothing so much helps the sick as a sweat continued mildly a while which experience hath often taught me For by the help of this spirituous and volatile and also Aromatick medicine or one like it the troublesome Cold and dulness of motion are discust They who let bloud in this Distemper caused by external Cold or think they can carry out the Cause of this Evil either by vomit or siege put the sick into danger of death or at least of most grievous Evils But when phlegmatick and watry Humours stick about the Nerves c. And too much moistening and loosening their Membranes and Marrow be the cause of the Palsie and Apoplexy and if the same humours much abound in the Body then Phlegmagogues and Hydragogues may conduce to the Cure after Clysters and internal Aromatick Sudorificks Wherefore to begin the Cure of this you may first give this or the like Clyster which must be made strong Take of sweet Marjoram Betony Sage Penny-royal Hyssop Rue Mercury Marsh-mallows the lesser Centaury the Flowers of Chamomel and Stoechas of each half a handfull Anise-seed sweet Fennel-seed Juniper-berries of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in a quart of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and dissolve in it the Electuary Diaphaenicon benedicta laxativa of each half an ounce pil Cochiae twenty grains common Salt one drachm Oil of Rue two ounces mix it for a Clyster The next day if the sick have a Plethorick body you may draw bloud from either arm to eight or nine ounces If Phlebotomy cannot be done apply Ventoses with Scarification to the shoulders afterward sweat the Patient with the aforesaid Sudorifick Sometimes Suppositories may be used in stead of Clysters This may serve for Example Take the Powders of Coloquintida Salt-niter Hiera-picra simple of each one drachm Euphorbium half a drachm Honey boiled as much as will make it into a Suppository But if it appear that phlegmatick and viscous Humours do abound in the Body Purgers may be prescrib'd most conveniently in the form of a Pill because the Gums are most apt above all other Medicines to loosen and cut viscous Phlegm neither can they be easily dissolv'd in any liquour Let this or such a like form of Pills serve Take the Gums Amoniacum and Galbanum of each two drachms dissolve them in Vineger of Squills strain it and boil it to a due consistence then add Powders of Troches Alhandal Scammony Mastick of each one drachm Oil of Anise-seed eight drops make it into a Mass of Pills according to Art Let the sick take five or six small Pills of this in the morning fasting and an hour after drink some thin broth If the humours be more serous I commend this Electuary Take Juniper-berries one pound boil them in six pints of Fennel-water till half of it be boiled away then add the Fruit of Tamarind eight ounces and pulp them both through a Sieve To which add Powder of Jalap and Scammony prepar'd of each three ounces Cinamon sweet Fennel-seed of each half an ounce white Sugar one pound make it into an Electuary according to Art The dose of this effectual Medicine is to half an ounce to people of age a Child may take from half a drachm to a drachm either by it self or dissolv'd in Whey or Parsley-water or in any other convenient Vehicle After universal evacuation hath been made and the Patient's stomach be still nauseous this vomit may safely be given Take the Infusion of Crocus metallor Vinegar of Squills of each one ounce give it in the morning with Care After the operation of it give some of this Cordial Julep Take the Waters of Sage Couslips Lillies of the Valley of each two ounces Cinamon-water one ounce Syrup of Peony-flowers Stoechas of each six drachms Spirit of Castor two drachms Spirit of Salt as much as will make it of a gratefull taste of which you may give the sick three or four spoonfulls every fourth hour To correct a slow ferment and also to amend Phlegmatick viscous humours a Medicinal Wine may be prepared for the rich in this form Take the Roots of Galangal Elecampane of each half an ounce the tops of Wormwood Mint and Calamint of each one handfull Powder of Cinamon Anise-seed of each half an ounce Nutmegs two drachms let them be cleansed bruised and infused in six pints of White-wine The sick may drink of this Physick-wine at dinner and supper adding to every draught five or six drops of Elixir proprietatis When the wine is almost consum'd more may be poured on till it cease to be Aromatical External means for the Palsie and Apoplexy are also to be used Bathing is much commended both natural and artificial and how excellent it is daily experience doth manifest This artificial Bath or one like it may be prescrib'd where a natural sulphureous or nitrous Bath cannot be had Take Sage Penny-royal Betony Organ sweet Marjoram Hyssop Rue Time Ground-pine of each six handfulls Flowers of Chamomel Melilot of each four handfulls Roots of Briony Pellitory of Spain of each four ounces Bay-berries Juniper-berries of each three ounces Brimstone six pound Salt-niter two pound let all be bruised and boiled in twenty Gallons of Spring-water till the third part be consumed Let the sick be well bathed with this as often as strength will permit After bathing anoint the hinder part of the Head and Neck and down the Vertebra of the Back with this Oil upon which let a Fox-skin drest be worn
of Comfry Bugloss of each one handfull for the space of twenty four hours then boil it gently for half an hour strain it and add Tincture of red Coral Syrups of dried Roses Comfry and Mirtles of each two ounces Oil of Vitriol twenty drops mix it and take six spoonfulls every three hours Let the Region of the Womb be anointed with this Linament Take Vnguent Comitissoe Oil of Mirtles of each one ounce Saccharum Saturni one drachm Camphire ten grains mix it After the part is anointed let this Plaster be applied Take the Plaster against Ruptures Diapalma of each one ounce the carminative Plaster of Sylvius half an ounce mix it and spread it on leather and apply to the region of the Womb. In the Whites let this be used for a Fume Take of Olibanum Amber Cloves of each half a drachm red Rose-buds Balaustins of each two drachms beat them all together into a gross powder put a little of it at a time upon a pan of coles and let the Woman sit over it CHAP. XVII Of the Falling Down of the Womb and Fundament IF the Womb falleth down it may be called in Latin Procidentia Matricis So likewise if the Fundament cometh down it is called Procidentia Ani. The Causes of these distempers are either External or Internal The External Causes may be any violent exercise with much striving also falls or blows on those parts also bathing in cold water c. The Internal Causes are serous and phlegmatick humours a Dysentery with a Tenasmus the Whites continuing long a violent drawing the Child or After-birth out of the Womb also much Sneezing or Coughing especially in Child-bed to conclude all things that may cause a Rupture or relaxation of the Ligaments of the Womb or sphincter Muscle of the Anus may be the cause of these griefs In a Procidentia Ani there is always a mucous and purulent dejection from a phlegmatick viscous and sometimes also a sharp acid humour adjoining about the seige which often causeth a troublesome Ulcer by fretting In young people these distempers may be easily cur'd if they have not continued long and do not come very far out and be not ulcerated But if there be a Rupture of the Ligaments of the Womb it is incurable likewise great pain and inflammation are very difficult and if either the Matrix or Anus be Gangrenated it is mortal without speedy amputation You must begin the Cure with removing the symptoms and discharging the Guts of their Excrements either with Clysters or Lenitives Then anoint the part with some astringent Oils and endeavour to reduce it gently by degrees The manner of the reduction every ingenious Artist knows and therefore needs not any directions When the Womb is reduc'd it may be kept with a Pessary fram'd of Cork as thick as necessary and cover'd with Wax mixed with a little Castor and Assafoetida which may there continue If there be pain and inflammation let the part be bathed with this Take the Flowers of Chamomel Elder of each one handfull Marsh-mallow-roots one ounce Seeds of Flax and Foenugreek of each half an ounce boil it in two quarts of Milk till half be consumed then strain it and add Malaga Wine one pint mix it Let Stuphs be moistned in this and wrung out and applied hot after which apply a Plaster of ad herniam to the lower part of the Belly Before you reduce the Anus anoint it with Oil of Mirtles and bestrew it with Powder of Album Graecum or the following Take of red Roses Pomgranat-rinds Cypress-nuts Mastick Crocus Martis burnt Lead of each half an ounce beat them all into a fine powder A Bag quilted with the following astringents and applied hot to either griev'd part three times a day will conduce much to keep it up Take of Plantain Sanicle Buds of Oak and Medlar red Rose-buds Balaustins of each one handfull Roots of Comfry Tormentil Bistort Cypress-nuts Seeds of Anise sweet Fennel of each one ounce beat them all into a gross powder Inwardly may be given Astringents and Strengthners but not in time of the courses those prescrib'd against the immoderate flowing of the Terms are good CHAP. XVIII Of Barrenness BArrenness is called in Latin Sterilitas It may be called in English Unfruitfullness it being an impotency of Conception We reade in the Scripture that the Women of old did think it a reproach to be Childless and therefore when Elizabeth had conceived who before was Barren she said the Lord hath taken away my reproach among Men as you may reade at large in the first Chapter of Luke's Gospel Very few Women in a Marriage state but desire Children yea some would give all they have in the world for a Child and are very impatient if they do not Conceive Rachel said to Jacob in Gen. 30 ver 1. give me Children or else I dye I will now briefly shew you what may be the cause of Sterility 1. First want of Love between a Man and his Wife way hinder Conception 2. Any malignant distemper in the womb may corrupt the Seed and be the cause of Barrenness Some are of opinion that Witch-craft may be the cause But to conclude the Whites or any moist distemper of the Matrix may be the cause of Barrenness Sometimes the cause is in the Man for if he doth want Sperm or is unable to erect his Genital by reason of any weakness or distemper in his Secrets or if he be effeminate and taketh little or no delight in the act of Venery he is not fit for Venus School There are some Rules left by the Ancients to try whether a Woman be naturally Barren or no. Hippocrates adviseth to put a Clove of Garlick or a little Galbanum into her Womb and if her Breath do smell of it be sure she is fruitfull If Barrenness be caused by any Disease afflicting either the man or the woman then there may be hopes of Conception when health is procured but if it be evil shape of of the members in the woman or the man not fit for Venus-School patientia est optima virtus In the cure you must endeavour to remove whatsoever hindreth Conception Many things are antipathetical to secundity as Jet Glow-worms Saphires Smaragds the Matrix of a Goat or Mule likewise Vinegar Mints Watercresses Beans c. all which I advise you to avoid and make use of those things which have a peculiar virtue to help or cause Conception and remove Barrenness The After-birth of a Woman dried and powdred and taken often a drachm at a time also the Stones and Liver of a Bore-pig the Juice of Sage the Roots of Satirion and Eringo candied are all good There are many medicines prescrib'd in Authours to help Conception Quercetanus doth commend this infusion Take the Matrix of a Hare and the Stones of a Ram prepar'd with Whitewine of Cinamon Ginger Mace Cloves Seeds of
ounce of the Electuary Caryocostinum Oil of Chamomel two ounces mix it for a Clyster Sour things and all that have a Lixivial salt either fixt or volatile and all Aromaticks do correct and amend the viscous Phlegmatick humours Let these forms serve for example Take the Waters of Baum and Mint of each three ounces Cinamon-water and aqua Coelestis of each half an ounce Syrup of Fennel and Mint of each six drachms Spirit of Salt as much as will make it of a gratefull taste mix it and give three spoonfulls of it often Take salt of Tartar vitriolated half a drachm Cream of Tartar one drachm white Sugar-candy two drachms make it into a fine Powder for four Doses which may be taken every morning and evening in white or Rhenish wine For the Rich you may prepare a medicinal Wine This may serve for example Take the Roots of Elicampane Calamus aromaticus of each one ounce of Rue Sage Vervain sweet Marjoram of each three handfulls Anise-seed sweet Fennel-seed of each an ounce and half Orange-peel half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and infused in two quarts of White-wine It may be given to three or four ounces in the morning fasting with twenty drops of Elixir proprietatis you may also give it by it self at dinner and supper When the Wine is used fresh Wine may be put to the Ingredients for a second infusion But farther to correct and gently evacuate the viscous Phlegmatick humours This opening Apozeme is effectual Take of the five opening Roots of each two ounces Liquorish an ounce and half Guiacum half a Pound Anise-seed sweet Fennel-seed the Berries of Bays and Juniper of each half an ounce Vervain Betony of each one handfull let them be cleansed bruised and infused in two quarts of Rain-water very hot for twenty four hours then strain it out very strongly and add the best Manna Syrup of Roses solutive with Senna of each four ounces tincture of Cinamon three ounces salt of Tartar vitriolated half an ounce mix it and give three ounces every morning fasting If there be need of stronger Physick you may administer these purging Pills Take of Extract Rudii pil foetidae Cochiae of each half a drachm Mercurius dulcis twenty grains mix it for three Doses If the pain be old and stubborn apply Vesiccatories to the Neck also Leeches to the Temples and Haemorrhoids or open the jugular or frontal Vein which hath often prov'd effectual Errhines Sternutatories and Apophlegmatisms may also be used and Ventoses with Scarification if need require Baths of Sulphur whether natural or artificial with Cephalick Herbs are good to bathe the Head and whole Body Some approve of the fume of Amber taken into the Mouth and Nostrils Also spirit of cranium humanum or spirit of salt Armoniack held to the Nose in a narrow-mouth'd Vial giveth present ease in all cold Pains of the Head Also you may touch the Nostrils and Temples with Oil of Amber or Nutmegs or apply this Epitheme to the Temples and Forehead with Linnen-rags Take the Waters of Vervain and Betony of each one ounce Vineger of Roses Ointment of Alabaster of each half an ounce Laudanum opiatum one scruple mix it Cold distempers of the head may also be corrected by hot Cephalicks quilted in a Cap for the Head Take of sweet Marjoram Stoechas Vervain Betony Sage Flowers of Chamomel of each one handfull Nutmegs Cloves Wood of Alloes the Roots of Galangal Cyperus Calamus aromat of each half an ounce let them be all beaten into Powder for a quilted Cap. Before you put it on let the Hair be shaved close and the Head gently rub'd for some time the better to open the pores Let the Sick abstain from fat and viscous Food and let the mind be compos'd to chearfulness If the Juice of the Pancreas abounding in the Body be over sour it causeth a vitious Effervescency being oppos'd by Choler and Phlegm in the small guts from whence sour and ungratefull vapours may be sent to the Stomach and thence to the Head If the humours be over sour the sense of hunger will be encreased notwithstanding the Pain of the Head This distemper is to be cur'd by giving those things which temper and amend the acid Juice in the Body and do prevent its encrease Those things abounding with either a lixivial or volatile salt do powerfully destroy this acid Juice as Pearl Crabs-eyes Coral Chalk Amber Bloud-stone Filings of steel c. Take this as a form of a Powder Take of Crabs-eyes Pearl red Coral prepar'd of each half a drachm white Sugar half an ounce let it be made into fine Powder for six Doses which may be taken morning and evening in two or three spoonfulls of the following Cordial Julep Take Waters of Baum and Mint of each three ounces Scurvigrass-water two ounces Cinamon-water Syrup of Worm-wood of each one ounce and half Oil of Juniper one drachm mix them together for a Julep of which you may also give two or three spoonfulls every fourth hour I prescribe no Purgers in this Distemper because I am taught by large Experience that the four Humours in the Body may be stirr'd up indeed but not purg'd unless with very great gripes which will doe more hurt than good The encrease of the acid Juice may be prevented by abstaining from the use of acids Let the Patient's diet be moist and fatty as fat Broths Jellies aromatiz'd c. When the Head-ach proceedeth from a hot cause if the Patient be costive first give this Clyster Take of Mercury Violets Lettice Mallows Dandelion of each one handfull Damask Prunes twenty let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two pints of fountain-Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Electuary lenitive one ounce and half Oil of Lillies two ounces mix them for a Clyster After its operation you may open a Vein and draw eight or nine ounces of bloud Some Authours will not consent to Phlebotomy in any Head-ach except the Pain be intollerable but I have had sufficient Experience that it may be done safely in any Pain of the Head Elixir proprietatis taken in Wormwood-wine to the quantity of half a drachm at a time a little before meat doth wonderfully conduce to amend the vitious quality of Choler Choler may be evacuated by vomit most commodiously by Antimonial preparations Take of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum one ounce Oximel of Squills half an ounce Give it in the morning But if the Patient be averse to vomiting the Choler may be evacuated by stool by this or the like Cathartick Take of Baum-water one ounce Cinamon-water two drachms Syrup of Roses solutive the best Manna of each half an ounce Powder of Cream of Tartar twenty grains Diagredium ten grains mix it for a Potion which may be given in the morning fasting Also these most gratefull Tablets of Scammony may be
Take Chymical-oils of Juniper-berries Turpentine Spike of each half an ounce Oils of Chamomel Earth-worms Rue Foxes of each one ounce Spirit of Castor two drachms mix it This plaister may be applyed to the Head Take Galbanum Opopanax of each half an ounce Mustard-seed white Pepper Euphorbium Castor of each two drachms Chymical Oil of Sage and Rue of each twenty drops Oil of Spike and Turpentine of each a drachm make it into a Plaister which you may spread on leather and apply it warm to the Head Or you may make the quilted Cap as is prescrib'd in page 6. to wear constantly Oil of Nutmegs is good to embrocate the Ears and Nostrils also Errhines Sternutatories and Apophlegmatisms may be used with good success Take Castor sweet Marjoram Betony Root of white Hellebor of each a drachm beat them all into a fine Powder Blow up some of this Powder with a quill into the Nostrils to cause sneezing Let the Patient's diet be such as may not breed Phlegm and let it be thin and spare as Water-gruel in which boil some Mace or you may make Broth of Mutton c. in which boil Sage Rosemary Time sweet Marjoram Couslips c. Of this broth you may make Panado's with the Crums of white Bread and the Yelk of an Egg. Let Anise-seed or sweet Fennel-seed be baked with the bread Abstain from all clammy Diet as Fish and Milk c. and eat little or no supper CHAP. III. Of Convulsions and the Epilepsie THE Cramp or Convulsion is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin Convulsio It is a very painfull involuntary Contraction of the Nerves and Muscles towards their Original There are generally two sorts of Convulsions viz. A true Convulsion and a Convulsive motion A true Convulsion is either universal or particular Of the universal there are three Kinds The first is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin tentio ad anteriora when the Body and Head is drawn forward The second is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin tentio ad posteriora when the Head and Body is drawn backward The third is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek and distentio in Latin in this the whole Body is inflexible The particular convulsions are various If it be in the Eye it is called strabismus That of the Mouth is call tortura oris c. The Falling-sickness or Epilepsie is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 invado quod sensum atque mentem pariter apprehendat It is called also in Latin Epilepsia vel invasio item morbus hominem ita invadens ut retineat sistat sensuum actiones because the mind and senses in this disease are suddenly surprized It may be called morbus caducus a cadendo or morbus puerilis because it is most subject to Children or more properly noverca puerorum quod eos male tractat It is also called Herculeus Elephantiasis a magnitudine because it is difficult to cure Some call it morbus lunaticus because the sick are most subject to the fits at the change of the moon but enough of the Names The Epilepsie is an universal Cramp or Convulsion of the whole Body with deprivation of sense and motion in the time of the fit The parts affected are not onely the Brain Cerebellum and Spinalis medulla but all the Nerves and Muscles The causes are either external or internal The external may be by the biting of some venemous Creature or by a wound or puncture of a Nerve or Tendon Sometimes it may be caused by surfeiting or drunkenness and also by the taking of Hellebor c. It may be also caused by a mineral Gas suming from the Mines of Lead or Antimony c. which infecteth the Air with noxious metalline exhalations of a venemous malignity which is many times the cause of Convulsions as they can tell by experience that live near those Mines The internal causes are acrimonious and flatuous Vapours rising from the small guts because of over viscous Phlegm and the over acidity and tartness of the Juice of the Pancreas which causeth a vitious effervescency of the humours by which the Lympha is also rendred very sharp These sour flatuous Vapours continually ascending to the Head together with the spirituous substance of the Bloud and going forward into the Ventricles of the Brain and Cerebellum and so to the first spreading of the Nerves and corroding them causeth an inordinate agitation and very fierce motion of the Animal spirits and by a continual and grievous Irritation urging about the beginning of the Spinalis medulla is the cause of an universal Convulsion or Epileptick-fit in which all the Muscles of the Body are most vehemently contracted The Irritation in a particular Convulsive motion or the Cramp which may be oft observ'd in the thigh or leg and other extreme parts may be also ascrib'd to the same sharp and sour flatuous Vapours carried to the beginning of the Nerves and Tendons of the said Members fretting and gnawing them sometimes with great pain The signs of Convulsions are manifest The preceding signs of the Epilepsie are trembling sadness fearfulness vertigo numness debility of the senses troublesome sleep with great pain of the Head The signs of the Epilepsie presently approaching are a vehement shaking of the whole Body foming at the Mouth and a sudden deprivation of all the Animal functions 1. A Convulsion or Epilepsie being hereditary is incurable 2. If a pregnant Woman be taken with either of them it is very dangerous and also after Abortion 3. Children are most subject to these diseases because they abound with abundance of moisture and flatulent Vapours in the Brain and because they have Nervorum poros angustos whereby the Brain is easily filled with such vapours and therefore we see that Children are often troubled with them young People more rarely and old Folks but seldom and we find that Children better suffer them than either of the other who frequently die of these fits especially of the Epilepsie when in their falling there follows snorting gnashing of the teeth a ghastly countenance much some at the Mouth involuntaria seminis effusio and great cryings out 4. Of all the kind of Convulsions Tetanos is the most difficult to cure because it is as it were composed of the other two kinds but if a fever happen in this or any other Convulsion the sick will suddenly recover because a fever dissolveth it but if a Convulsion should succeed a fever it is very dangerous especially from a wound or proceeding from venemous matter So likewise it is very dangerous if it be caused by taking of Hellebor When a particular Convulsion is caused from a prick of a Nerve or Tendon as it may happen sometimes by the unskilfulness or precipitancy of the Chyrurgeon in opening a vein then most speedily pour into the
a deprivation of the Senses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sopor altus is an insatiable inclination to sleep the sick being called unto they open their Eyes and answer but presently fall a sleep again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called in Latin crapularis redundantia because it is sometimes caused by surfeiting end drunkenness It is deep and profound sleep whereby imagination sense and motion are all depraved In these there is no Fever in which they differ from the Lethargy Catalepsis vel Detentio is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a with-holding or restraining because in this distemper the mind with the senses and motion are all suddenly surprized so that the sick remain stiff and immoveable in the very same posture in which they were taken with their Eyes open The causes of these diseases are either external or internal The external causes are gross food idleness spirituous wine or any other inebriating liquour taken in excess and sometimes by the Air inspir'd which is defil'd by the Smoak of Coals or other mineral Fumes by which the Air may be infested The internal cause is a Narcotick force mix'd with the Animal spirits bred by degrees in the Body by the frequent use of opiats not well corrected which not onely dulls the mind but causeth a sluggishness of the whole Body for the Animal motion being deprav'd the external as well as internal senses will be thence soon infected and defil'd These diseases are all very dangerous and except they are speedily cur'd they will soon hurry the sick into the Boats of Acheron or devouring Jaws of Death But if a Phrensie cometh immediately after any of them it cureth the Patient with little help of medicine To cure these diseases let the drowsie Animal spirits be stir'd up and rais'd from sleepiness and stupidness by potent external Objects which may sharply move the external senses let the sick be kept in a light room and be often called upon very strongly and let sharp smells be applied to the Nostrils such as Spirit of Salt Armoniack Harts-horn c. Also sharp spices or salts should be put into the mouth and gentle frications us'd with warm Cloaths to those parts that are affected with Numness The Animal spirits may be freed from the Narcotick force mingled with them and likewise slothfulness and sleepiness may be by little and little diminished by the frequent use of sharp volatile Salts and all Medicines endued with an Aromatick biting such as Pepper Cloves Castor Garlick Horse-radish Mustard Scurvigrass c. Of which you may make diversity of Medicines for example Take the Waters of Hedge-mustard Scurvigrass of each two ounces Syrup of the Juice of Scurvigrass one ounce Tincture of Castor two drachms Oil of Cloves four drops mix it and give the sick two or three spoonfulls every two hours This decoction is also very effectual Take the Roots of Horse-radish the best China of each two ounces Roots of Galangal half an ounce Scurvigrass Hedge-mustard of each one handfull Cloves one drachm let them be all cleansed bruised and infused in White-wine and Fountain-water of each a quart for the space of a Night very hot the next morning boil it gently for half an hour then strain it and add Syrup of Hedge-mustard Scurvigrass of each three ounces Cinamon-water two ounces mix it Let the sick lying in bed meanly covered take often in a day five or six spoonfulls of this decoction whereby a light sweat may break forth to ease them By the frequent use of these medicines the Animal spirits will not onely be freed from their drowsiness but even the Narcotick force bred in the Body either in the length of time or received in from without may be corrected and by degrees gently educ'd by insensible transpiration So that at length these dangerous distempers may happily be overcome Let Clysters and Suppositories be often administred as need requires Those prescrib'd in page 17 18. in the Cure of the Palsie and Apoplexy are very effectual here If strength and age permit let a vein be opened in either Arm or Foot as you shall see cause for generally Authours consent to it besides Experientia docet Let Ventoses with or without Scarification be applied to the shoulders and hinder part of the Neck And let Sternutatories be often snuft up into the Nostrils to provoke sneezing Take the Roots of Pellitory of Spain white Hellebor of each half a drachm Castor Nutmegs white Pepper of each twenty grains Flowers of Lillies of the Valley one drachm beat them into a fine Powder If the Stomach be foul and the sick incline to vomit give this or the like Take the decoction of Horse-radish two ounces the infusion of crocus metallorum Oxymel of Squills of each half an ounce Oil of sweet Almonds newly drawn two drachms mix it and give it in the Morning But if the sick had rather take Pills or Potions let the following serve Take Extract Rudii pil foetidae ex duobus of each half a drachm Powder of Castor twenty grains Oil of Cloves six drops with Syrup of Stoechas make it into Pills for three doses You may give them twice a week in the Morning fasting This purging Infusion is also very effectual Take of the best Senna Rhubarb Polypodium of each half an ounce Mechoacan Agarick Turkey-Turbith of each three drachms Ginger Anise-seed of each two drachms let them be bruised and infused in eight ounces of Ale very hot for the space of a Night then strain it and add the best Manna Syrup of Roses solutive of each one ounce Spirit of Castor twenty drops mix it for two doses Let the affected parts as the Head c. be bathed with this or the like fomentation Take the Roots of Master-wort Angelica Zedoary of each three ounces Bay-berries Juniper-berries of each four ounces Sage Marjoram Rue Rose-mary Betony Flowers of Lavender Melilot Chamomel of each two handfulls let them be all cleansed bruised and boiled in White-wine-vineger and Fountain-water of each three quarts till half of it be boiled away After bathing anoint the hinder part of the Head with this Oil. Take of Oil of Rue Marjoram of each half an ounce Oil of Amber Rose-mary and Bricks of each two drachms Oil of Bays Euphorbium Castor of each six drachms mix them For Revulsion let the soles of the feet be washed with Salt and Acet Scillitic Vesiccatories may also be applied to the Coronal Suture and behind the Ears or upon the Shoulders Neck Arms Thighs c. Avoid all vaporous and phlegmatick Nourishment CHAP. VI. Of the Phrensie and Madness THE Phrensie is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mens quia mentis morbus The Phrensie is an inflammation of the Brain and Meninges both the dura and pia mater causing an
and humours from all purulent matter if there be any hopes of the Patient's recovery All Effusions of Bloud Seed and Milk are to be shun'd except the wonted emptyings which are natural and serve the individual Let the motions of the Mind be moderate and the exercise of the Body be gentle and let sleep and watchings keep a mediocrity Appoint a moistning and nourishing Diet which is of easie fermentation as Broth and Jellies of young Creatures and Milk of Goats Sheep and Cows and chiefly of wholsome Women A Panado made with the Broth of a Chicken the Crums of White-bread and the Yelk of a new laid Egg may sometimes be given the sick for a change Let â—ooling Herbs be boiled in the Broth and Jellies adding other ingredients that are cooling moistning and cordial both to strengthen Nature and revive the Spirits Let the sick drink Barley-water made pleasant with some Pectoral Syrup and if they have been accustomed to drink Wine let it be well diluted with water As for Fruit Apples are much commended especially Pippins and Permains which will much refresh the sick If the Patient be costive you may sometimes administer a Clyster of Milk and the yelk of an Egg. The worst symptome that can attend these diseases is a Loosness if it so happen give Goats or Cows milk wherein steel hath been quenched and Rice boiled in it adding a little Powder of Cinamon and let the sick eat commonly of it CHAP. IV. Of the Palpitation of the Heart THIS Disease is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin palpitatio Cordis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod leviter ac frequenter commovet because there is an over frequent Pulsation or leaping of Bloud in the Heart c. It is a Convulsive motion of the Heart with a vehement Systole and Diastole of it which sometimes hath been so inordinate that the Pulsation hath not been onely seen but heard at a notable distance yea sometimes it hath been so great that the adjacent Ribs in young and tender people who have been afflicted with this distemper hath been dislocated and the Aorta or great Artery hath been much dilated See Fernelius lib. 5. cap. 12. pag. 292. This deprav'd motion or Palpitation of the Heart is for the most part caused from sharp viscous and flatuous humours frequently arising out of the small Guts and transmitted to the ventricles of the Heart and adhereth to them by which the Heart is provoked to a vehement and unequal contraction of it self without intermission These humours are mov'd and driven forward either by their vitious effervescency or else they are stirr'd up by violent motion or exercise of the Body especially in the quick ascending of a steep hill and sometimes they are constrain'd or urg'd by grievous Passions of the mind Sometimes there have been observ'd fleshy Tumours and Cartilaginous excrescencies in the Substance of the Heart when dissected and those poor Creatures when living were never free from a vehement Palpitation Also Worms have been found in the Pericardium of some that have been dissected after death which without doubt caused a deprav'd motion or pulsation of the Heart when living That which is caused by fleshy Tumours Cartilaginous excrescencies Worms or any other extraneous thing in the Pericardium or substance of the Heart is incurable But the Palpitation of the Heart which is caused by acrimonious flatuous and viscous humours may be cured Those medicines must be administred that cut and discuss and temper an acid Acrimony The following Julep may serve for an example Take the Waters of Parsley Fennel of each three ounces Tincture of Cinamon Syrup of Mint of each two ounces Chymical Oil of Mace ten drops Spirit of Salt Armoniack twenty drops Laudanum opiat ten grains mix it let the sick take a spoonfull of it every quarter of an hour till they get some ease If the distemper hath persever'd long the peccant humours must be emptied out by purging and to educe them I prefer before all others Pills to be made of Gums seeing they loosen the glutinous humours and dispose them to be easier carried out For example Take of Galbanum prepar'd with Vinegar half an ounce Powder of Scammony prepar'd Troches Alhandal of each two drachms Oil of Carraway twenty drops make it into a Mass for Pills Take five or six of these Pills in the Morning fasting twice a week They who abhor Pills may use an Aromatick and purging Decoction The following though bitter is very efficacious Take the five opening Roots of each one ounce Roots of Angelica Berries of Bay and Juniper of each half an ounce the best Senna Orange-peel Carraway-seed Coloquintida of each one drachm Guiacum four ounces let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Syrup of Roses with Senna four ounces Cinamon-water two ounces mix it Let the sick take four ounces of this bitter Decoction every other Morning which will by degrees diminish and mildly educe the hurtfull humours by purging But seeing not onely the cause ought to be removed but also the Symptomes asswag'd by refreshing the Heart you must administer cordial Medicines which have power to corroborate the Heart and to cherish and strengthen nature The following Cordial may be preferred in this Case Take the Waters of Baum Mint Borage Cinamon of each three ounces Syrups of Baum red Poppies of each two ounces Laudanum opiat Amber-greese of each ten grains mix it Let the sick take two spoonfulls of this rich Cordial every three hours which will wonderfully refresh and delight the sensible Stomach from whence the persumed impressions will soon be communicated to the whole Body by which all the vital and animal Functions will be refreshingly cherished and strengthned and the Palpitation of the Heart eased and abated If the Patient hath a costive Body let a carminative Clyster be sometimes administred and if a Plethora concur let a vein be opened either with an Instrument in the Arm or by Leeches applied to the Haemorrhoids CHAP. V. Of an universal Languishing as also of Swouning and Syncope AN universal Languishing of the strength of all the parts and functions is sometimes observ'd to remain after some disease preceding not rightly cured especially when the Infirmity hath been grievous for then a weariness or defect of the Animal motion doth usually concur together with a weak or little pulse and dulness and debility of the internal and external senses whereby the sick continues weak and more languishing by certain intervalls than is natural All the kinds of Swounings may be divided for methods sake into two viz. the lighter kind and the most grievous The lighter kind of Swouning or fainting is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin animae defectio ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 anima 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deficere
spoonfulls every three hours By the frequent use of this Cordial Julep or one like it all pains will be eased nature quieted and relieved and the importunate thirst allayed But if thirst still urgeth give the dulcified Spirit of Salt or of Niter in Posset-drink and all the Liquids they take from six to ten or twelve drops at a time If you fear there be any Malignancy in the Fever give the sick eight or ten grains of Bezoardic mineral every fourth hour in a spoonfull or two of the aforesaid Julep or good sound Canary-wine to keep the Patient in a breathing sweat As for the Cure of Fevers attended with grievous and furious raging and watchings c. I refer you to the Chapter of Phrensies which is full to this purpose I shall now give some directions to young Physicians and Nurses and so conclude this Chapter of Fevers in general 1. First give no Opiats in the beginning of a Fever because they tye up the Archaeus of the Stomach and first passages thereby hindring it from expelling the occasional cause of the Disease 2. Give the sick neither Mithridate nor Diascordium as is the common custome nor apply it to the Wrists nor Stomach nor any thing else that is nauseous whilst Nature and the Disease are strugling but if the Patient tends to coldness you may moisten a piece of Rose-cake or a tost of stale Bread in Sylvius's Spirit or for want thereof in Brandy dulcified and apply it to the Stomach twice a day which will revive nature and fortifie it against the invading Enemy 3. Give no meat whilst the disease is on them for the Stomach is not fit to receive it neither hath it strength to digest it and therefore it will become a recruit or supply to the Disease except it be speedily vomited up again 4. If it be a Child give it not any Milk and if it Suck wean it for Milk is the first matter and foundation of this disease in them neither give it Beer nor water nor any cooling things to correct the heat because it will weaken nature and strengthen the Disease But hot Posset-drink turn'd with White-wine or sound Beer with a little Vinegar may be drank liberally after the Cause is removed 5. If the sick be Adult you may give two parts of Water and one of good Wine either French Wine or Sherry but Malaga or any other sweet Wine is not so good 6. When the Patient begins to recover the plainest broths and gruels are the best till then a little is too much and if you did use Salt and Vinegar instead of Spice and Sugar it would agree better with them CHAP. VII Of intermitting Fevers AN intermitting Fever is that which returns after intervalls sometimes longer sometimes shorter in divers Fits whence according to the divers space of every access or fit the same gets also divers Names for if a new Fit return daily answering the precedent in proportion it is called a Quotidian If it comes every other day it is called a Tertian If the fit return after two days intermission it is called a Quartan and so forward although Quintans Sextans c. are seldom observ'd And here you may note that intermitting Fevers do but seldom return in the exact intervall of natural days of twenty four hours but return quicker or slower for the most part wherefore then they are said to anticipate the expected time for some hours which is disliked or to come later which is commended by some Although it matters not whether the fits anticipate or come later if so be that their continuance and the grievousness of Symptoms daily accompanying be diminish'd There is great diversity among Authours concerning the Causes of intermitting Fevers which I shall not insist on but in a few words will set down the true Causes of them The causes then are either external or internal The external Cause of Agues is a stop of the usual necessary discharge of fermenting humours the porous skin being shut by external sudden cold denies passage to the constant discharge of the sweatty humours which happens most commonly about Autumn and likewise when any comes suddenly out of a hot Climate into a cold Region for the sweatty Vapours being detain'd by the Constipation of the skin or shutting of the Pores the same condense and thence become sour which chills the external parts and causeth the shaking or shivering cold fit at the first invasion of this disturbing Foreigner after which the inflaming Ferment of Choler being exasperated doth act its part and having gain'd Dominion it doth rarefie the Bloud by degrees whence the Pulse becomes greater and stronger which is increas'd by an irritation of the Acrimony of Choler and the rarefaction of the Bloud at the Heart for the heat and burning in the Heart and thence in the whole Body is increas'd by Choler successively over-ruling The internal Cause of Agues or intermitting Fevers is an obstruction of one or more of the lateral ducts or branches of the Pancreas or Sweet-bread by reason of viscous Phlegm which being separated from the Bloud by the Glandules of the Pancreas is there collected by degrees whence it is sent in too large a quantity to the main duct or pipe thereof which detaineth the Juice of the Pancreas contrary to nature which ought continually to flow into the small Gut called Duodenum The Juice of the Pancreas which is naturally sourish being compelled to stand still in its passage quickly grows more acrimonious or acid because the Volatile Spirit which is naturally conjoin'd to it to temper it doth gradually fly away by which this Juice becoming more sharp and acid acquires a putrefactive Ferment whence at length it makes way through the obstructing Phlegm and is effused into the Duodenum where meeting with Choler it stirs up a vitious effervescency or preternatural Ferment from whence comes the Ague fit with all its Symptoms as in the beginning Horrour Chilness Cold Shaking c. then presently follows Reachings Yawning and Vomiting c. At length acrimonious and flatulent Vapours raised by the aforesaid vitious Effervescency are carried through the Lacteal veins and Thoracick passage and so through the Vena cava ascendens in what form soever to the right Ventricle of the Heart and by its Acrimony alters and troubles the vital Effervescency and by over stirring the Heart causeth a more frequent Pulse and many times produceth grievous Symptoms as great Heat and Thirst difficulty of breathing Heart-ach Raving Swouning and all other Symptoms that happen in all intermitting Fevers The nature of viscous Phlegm is such that though it be pierced through by the Juice of the Pancreas too acid and acrimonious yet it doth presently run together and unite again and so repairs and renues the obstruction that was in part opened and the Juice of the Pancreas being stopped as before grows sour by standing still as aforesaid so that it forceth through the Phlegm that stopped
in perfect health nothing is wont to be expell'd out of the Stomach by the Mouth In vomiting sometimes food either crude or more or less fermented is cast out by the Gullet and Mouth sometimes Bloud sometimes Choler and other times manifold humours and matter of divers Colours Taste and Consistency and sometimes the Excrements returning to the Stomach as in Iliaca passio is expell'd by that preposterous way of vomiting wherein omnia naturae praepostera legibus ibant All the differences occurring in several sick People are very difficult to be numbred or reduc'd into a certain order and much more to make an exact Examination of all the Symptoms and thence to give a solid Judgment of every one In this distemper the Stomach is either primarily or secondarily affected The Stomach is primarily affected to vomit when the cause is in it self As by taking a Vomit or when there is an Inflammation or Exulceration of it for then it is easily stir'd up by food or any other thing swallowed to a violent and preternatural Contraction and turning of its motion whereby it is compell'd to cast out whatsoever is contain'd in it The Stomach is secondarily affected when it is drawn by consent of other parts first distemper'd as by the contracting motion of the Guts either in part or wholly in that most grievous disease called Ileos or Iliaca passio or by the vehement shaking of the Midriff together with a potent Contraction of the Muscles of the Belly caused sometimes in a grievous Cough By which all the Bowels contain'd in the Belly are compressed upward toward the Breast and urge the Stomach to change its natural motion As often as Cholerick humours are plentifully voided out as well upward as downward with great force accompanied with troublesome Anxieties of the Midriff it is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bilis And in Latin cholerica passio When there is a forcible pouring out of Bloud by vomiting it is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin vomitio sanguinis The Cause of Ileos or Iliaca passio is an excrementitious viscous matter that doth adhere unto the Gut called Ileo which in time is coagulated into a very hard substance almost in the form of Bullets of which I have had large experience whence all passage through for the excrements by siege is stopt and anon their regress and ascent to the Stomach follows with a miserable vomiting of them The Rupture of the Peritonaeum may be also the cause of this grievous disease especially if it be so great that not onely the small Guts but the great ones also fall through the lacerated hole either by reason of their weight or else by the perpetual approaching of what is contain'd in them which renders them uncapable to be reduc'd or put back through the same hole whence the excrements having not passage downwards are more and more hardned to that degree that they can hardly be dissolv'd so that a hard and unsupperable Tumour doth soon follow which hinders the reflux of bloud and causeth an inflammation and consequently a gangrene of the Guts attended with a violent vomiting of the excrements 'till death do put a period to the Patient's misery These evils are often encreas'd by fomentations too hot apply'd as also by a preposterous and strong rubbing of the swell'd part and violence us'd to repell the Guts The immediate causes of the cholerick passion are sharp putrid cholerick humours collected in the Stomach and Bowels because of external errours commited in diet or by the taking of poison uncorrected which doth immediately disturb and corrupt all the humours The cause of vomiting bloud is to be deduced most commonly from the Pancreas by reason of some vessel open'd by its over sharp juice caused by a vitious effervescency with Choler from whence most of it is driven up to the Stomach to be vomited out whilst some of it may descend downward to be voided by stool This distemper may also be caused by bloud flowing out of the vessels of the Stomach or Guts either broken by vehement Coughing or corroded by sharp humours 1. If vomiting be from repletion or be critical 't is a good benefit of nature and therefore must not be stopped but if it be symptomatical 't is an ill sign especially if it be caused by inflammation of the Stomach or adjacent parts or by poison taken 2. If the cause of Ileos be from excrements indurated in the Gut Ileon it may be cur'd if taken in time but if it be from a Rupture of the Peritonaeum 't is dangerous and for the most part mortal especially if there be inflammation and Tumour of the Guts c. 3. If the sick vomit bloud 't is dangerous neither is the cholerick passion without danger The Cure of this manifold vomiting may be performed diversly according to the variety of each cause If vomiting be rais'd too much by an Emetick or any other nauseous thing taken it may be represt by this aromatick Opiate or one like it Take of mint-Mint-water four ounces Tincture of Cinamon half an ounce Syrups of Mint Erratick Poppies of each six drachms Laudanum opiatum six grains Spirit of Nitre twenty drops mix it Let the sick take a spoonfull of this every quarter of an hour till the vomiting ceaseth If a Catarrh be the cause of vomiting look for the cure in its proper Chapter If the cholerick passion be caused by poison or plentifulness of cholerick humours in the Stomach c. then nothing hinders but that a gentle Antimonial Emetick may be given to which may be added those things which will temper the too great effervescency of the aforesaid humours For example Take of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum Mint-water of each six drachms Cinamon-water two drachms Syrup of Erratick Poppies half an ounce Laudanum opiatum two grains mix it After the evacuation of the peccant humours upward and downward an Opiate may be profitably used because it will not onely temper the Acrimony of Choler but asswage the acid juice and stupefie the outward sense and procure rest which will be very gratefull to the sick Take the waters of Fennel Plantain Mint Purslain of each two ounces Cinamon-water Syrups of Myrtles Purslain white Poppâ—es of each one ounce Confect de Hyacintho Diascordium Venice-treacle of each two drachms Laudanum opiat eight grains Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it Let the sick take two Spoonfulls of it often which will conduce to amend the faultiness of any humours whether acrimonious salt or sour for in the disease of Cholera it will powerfully asswage the too much effervescency that is raised in the small Gut staying the fierce motion of the troubled humours A bloudy vomiting requireth speedy help whence soever the bloud cometh The following Astringent medicine will wonderfully conduce to the cure Take
pain is in them But if that part of the small gut which riseth up from the Loins and Mesenterie Towards the left Hypochondrium be afflicted with rendings and distensions with a notable hardness this is attributed to the Spleen even by some Physicians although without any solid reason when indeed this distending pain is altogether Hypochondriacal If the pain be in the Gut Ileon it is thence called Iliaca Passio which hath been already treated of Whatsoever pain is rais'd in the Gut Colon may be called Colica Passio These may be distinguish'd from one another chiefly from the situation of either Gut For the Gut Ileon is for the most part contorted hither and thither up and down about the region of the Navel and from thence a little upward but the Colon from the Navel downward the pain of the Cholick generally pressing to the bottom of the Belly as well as to each side and the Back c. according as the Gut is writhed which is almost in the manner of a Roman S. being roll'd to the Navel and from thence with a remarkable winding through the middle of the Belly it is writh'd to the left kidney and groin and so down to the Os sacrum and bladder and ends in the right Gut whence the pain rising in the circuit and circumference of the Belly below the Navel may truly be called Cholical Sometimes there is a hot distending pain with pulsation and inflammation in the latter part of the thick Guts called Rectum and this is either with a troublesome rending as in the internal or blind Hemorrhoids or else it is a corroding pain accompani'd with more or less itching perpetually provoking to siege as in the Tenesmus which oft times follow a Dysentery or bloudy flux In these various pains of the Guts there is one while a hot burning with pulsation and other whiles a cold chilness seemeth to be fixt pricking and as it were boring the bowels sometimes there is a distension of the bowels pressing them with a sense of weight wonderfully writhing and contorting them with such a tearing corroding pain that the sick cannot give an explanation of the grief and misery which they endure The causes are either external or internal The external are wounds or contusions caused by external violence The internal causes are divers sometimes Worms may be the cause But a burning pain is produced either by an obstruction of the Capillary veins of the Stomach or Guts by which the bloud is forc'd to stand still in the vessels till at length after a great distension the vessels burst and the bloud is effus'd which breedeth an inflammation and a manifest pulsation about the part affected by which it may be distinguish'd from any other Kind But for the most part a burning and corroding pain riseth from Choler too fat powerfully and vitiously raising an effervescency with the juice of the Pancreas too acid as experience teacheth in outward things for if you pour Spirit of Vitriol to oil of Turpentine it will presently raise an effervescency join'd with a notable heat and burning This burning pain is chiefly felt in the region of the Loins because there is the conflux of Choler and the juice of the Pancreas and from thence ariseth vitious sharp vapours which produce griping pains of the Stomach and pricking pains in the Guts as also other wandring pains therein If the pain be chill and cold it is caus'd from the juice of the Pancreas very acid and sharp which raiseth a vitious effervescency with Choler not oily and phlegm together as we may observe if we mix Spirit of Vitriol with any volatile Salt not oily how it will raise an effervescency coupled with a notable Chilness and Coldness onely sensible hence we may conclude that the operation of the acid Spirit in producing cold is much promoted by phlegm The cause of the Colick is over viscous phlegm mixed with Choler peccant both in its Saltish acrimony and volatile oiliness by which the viscous phlegm is rarifi'd into Wind and if the excrements are contain'd beyond their course they harden and adhere to the Gut whereby the natural ferment is vitiated and the windy blasts are more and more rarifi'd and being shut up and remaining in the Cavity of the Gut Colon it causeth a violent distension and contraction of it But if the aforesaid humours be mixt with the juice of the Pancreas over sharp acid and harsh then there is a wonderfull sense of contortion in the part affected urging and writhing from place to place according to the winding or rolling of the Gut If this wind pierceth through the Guts into the Cavity of the Belly it expandeth the Peritonaeum and so inflateth the whole Abdomen and causeth a Tympany These Distempers are all dangerous and sometimes mortal especially if a violent Fever be complicated with them We must vary the cure according to the diversity of the causes A burning corroding pain may be cur'd by tempering too fat Choler with Acids as Spirit of Niter c. being mixt with Opiates For example Take the Waters of Fennel Fumitory Sorrel Succory of each three ounces Cinamon-water distill'd Vinegar Syrups of Violets and white Poppies of each two ounces Laudanum opiatum ten grains Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it Let the sick often take a Spoonfull of this Julep till the heat and pain be diminished and sleep be procured The following Emulsion is also profitable and therefore may sometimes be given for a change Take the four greater cold Seeds white Poppy-seeds of each one ounce French Barley boiled four ounces with two quarts of Barley water let it be made an Emulsion and add to it Syrups of Violets and white Poppies of each two ounces Salt prunella half an ounce Spirit of Niter thirty drops mix it and give four Spoonfulls every two or three hours If Choler be two plentifull let it be educ'd with this or the like mild Cholagogue Take Damask-rose water two ounces Manna Diaphaenicon Electuary of the juice of Roses of each two drachms Tartar Vitriolated ten grains mix it and take it in the morning The Cholagogue Electuary of Sylvius is also excellent of which you shall have the receipt at the latter end of the Book Chilness and cold pains may be cur'd by tempering the over sharp acidity of the juice of the Pancreas Lixivial Salts both fixt and volatile are excellent in this Case as also any Aromatick Spirit of wine Treacle water c. with which may be mix'd Coral Pearl Crabs-eyes Antimon Diaphoret c. and let the body be compos'd to sweat The following forms may serve for example Take the waters of Treacle Fennel Syrup of the juice of Carduus of each half an ounce powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick Salt of Wormwood of each ten grains mix it and give it the sick to cause sweat You may also give some of this
mucous purulent matter voided with great pain and straining it may be called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tendo In English it may be called a neediness there being a continual need and desire to go to stool This Distemper properly belongeth to a Dysentery because it doth most commonly follow it and sometimes with a procidentia Ani. To a Bloudy-flux may also be referred the immoderate flux of the Hemorrhoids which may be known from a Dysentery both from the place affected and the great quantity of the bloudy purging It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sanguis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 profluvium Also the flux of the Liver if there be any such Disease may be referred hither in which the excrementitious liquour ejected is like the washing of bloudy flesh This Distemper is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui ex hepate laborant In Latin 't is called Hepaticus affectus vel fluxus est serosi et sanguinei humoris per alvum excretio propter Hepatis imbecilitatem The causes of all fluxes of the Belly are either external or internal The external are any of the six non-natural things immoderately used which weakens the Stomach also the taking of any venemous thing as Arsnick Mercury sublimate c. which presently destroys the ferment of the Stomach and Guts The internal cause of the Lientery is weakness of the Stomach that it cannot retain any food received into it but striveth to expell it The Jaundice-like flux is caused by the sluggishness of Choler so that it is not carri'd down to the Guts to promote the separation of the usefull from the unusefull parts of the Chyle The Chyle-like flux is also caused by the same so that the straining of Chyle through the spongy crust of the Guts into the Lacteal veins is hindred the orifices or pores tending to the Lacteal veins being obstructed by over thick and viscous phlegmatick humours A Cholerick Diarrhoea is caused by over-salt sharp and serous Choler together with phlegm and the juice of the Pancreas too watry and fluid A phlegmatick Diarrhoea is caused by such things as do breed much viscous phlegm A serous Diarrhoea ariseth most frequently from Spittle and the juice of the Pancreas too Serous A fat oily or unctuous looseness doth follow the over much use of too fat food A Dysentery doth proceed either from the thickness of the bloud by reason of over viscous phlegm being mixed with Lympha or the juice of the Pancreas too acid accompani'd with sorrow of mind whereby the bloud doth become too gross for its wonted circulation through the Capillary Vessels of the Guts wherefore it causeth a great distension of them till at length they burst and pour out the bloud into the cavity of the Guts Or else it may be caused from Choler too salt sharp and plenteous in the bloud whereby it doth become extravagantly serous and eager through extraordinary fermentation extremely agitating the humours to a Colliquation especially where fierceness of anger or great heat of mind do concur by which the bloud is the more rarifi'd to pierce through the tender restraint of the vessels and doth flow out by indirect ways sometimes by great loss to the endangering of life A Tenasmus is caused by a phlegmatick viscous humour joyned with a sharp acid humour which doth fret the Gut about the siege stirring up a troublesome Ulcer there The flux of the Hemorrhoids and of the Liver is to be deduc'd from much serous matter mixt with the bloud and also relaxing the vessels The Hemorrhoids are either critical which useth to ease the sick or symptomatical and much weakneth them The signs of Fluxes are manifest from what hath been said 1. If any looseness continue long with loathing 't is an ill sign especially if it be with a Fever 2. If the small Guts are affected the pain is sharper than when it is in the thick Guts 3. In the Dysentery if the dejections be very bloudy or black and setid with great Thirst Hicket c. for the most part they are mortal signs but if the erosion be onely in the internal membrane of the Gut and there be no great pain nor other bad symptome there is great hopes of recovery If the bloud and humours be too thin and serous they must be corrected and evacuated Chalk and Harts-horn or any other burnt bone reduc'd to powder and given often in a small quantity doth imbibe and correct watry moisture and also over much fatness which may be the cause of a looseness After which the peccant humours may be evacuated by stool with Hydragogues and by sweat and urine with Sudorificks and Diureticks Toasted Rhubarb will satisfie to many indications seeing that it doth not onely evacuate water together with Choler abounding but will soon correct the over-loose body by its mild tartness Wherefore when the Bloud doth abound with much serous liquour let the sick take this Powder in a little Broth. Take the Powder of Jallop Cinamon of each fifteen grains Powder of Rhubarb tosted half a drachm mix it After the operation of it you may give the following Cordial by spoonfulls Take the Waters of Plantain Comfry of each two ounces Cinamon-water half an ounce Syrup of Mirtles one ounce Confectio de Hyacintho Diascordium of each one drachm Laudanum opiat four grains mix it It will be also convenient sometimes to educe the humours by urine and sweat for which I commend the following Decoction of China c. Take the Roots of Burdock the five opening Roots Sarzeparilla Contra yerva of each one ounce China four ounces Gromwell-seeds Juniper-berries of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of fountain water 'till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Syrup of the five opening Roots six ounces Spirit of Niter one drachm mix it Let the sick take a quarter of a pint of this warm twice or thrice a day and especially in the morning fasting which will the easier procure a breathing sweat or else urine more plentifull by which the serosity of the bloud will be consum'd by little and little so that the bloud and humours will thereby become more pure If a Dysentery or Bloudy-flux arise from a sharp humour corroding the Vessels it may be cur'd by correcting and tempering the sharp acid humours and consolidating the Vessels fretted The following Powder is excellent to correct and amend the aforesaid acid humours and stop all fluxes of bloud Take the Powders of red Coral Pearles prepared white Chalk Dragons bloud of each half a drachm mix it for six doses which may be taken in three spoonfulls of the following Julep every two or three hours Take the Waters of Plantain Comfry of
degrees procured Those Medicines which are prescrib'd for the Cure of the Dropsie and Scurvy are proper for this Disease wherefore I shall forbear prescriptions here CHAP. XIII Of Dropsies THE Dropsie is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aqua quod nomen sumpsit ab aquoso humore Cutis The Ancients have assigned three sorts of Dropsies 1. The first is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uter pellis 'T is called in Latin aqua intercus ex inter cutis because the Water is between the Skin and the Flesh. This is the most proper Dropsie in which the Abdomen Secrets Thighs and Legs are affected 2. The second is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod tumor est ad similitudinem tympani vel tympani sonum referens As this is the most rare so 't is the most cruel and afflictive 3. The third is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caro quod hydrops toto corpore diffusus It is also called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 album 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 phlegma vel pituita because it is caused of white Phlegm gathered in all parts of the Body Some Authours make a difference between Anasarca and Leucophlegmatia that Anasarca is caused by a serous humour and Leucophlegmatia by a phlegmatick and more viscous humour but all Dropsies except Tympanies seem to me to be little less than a distinction of degrees of one and the same Disease The Ancients did take the Liver to be the chief part male-affected in these distempers but Helmont who was happy in a remedy to cure it doth severely reprove them and is so bold to tax the whole Schools with the ignorance of Anatomical dissections he having inspected many Carcases of dropsical Persons of whom he makes distinct mention doth assert the Livers of them all no-way vitiated and therefore he concludes the Liver faultless in dropsical affects and he derives the Cause of Dropsie to be an obstruction of the Kidneys with the Stone or Gravel and so the water which should be transferr'd through the Kidneys to the Bladder to be evacuated by pissing is forced into the Cavity of the Abdomen But experience teacheth that Dropsies may be caused many ways wherefore I shall betake my self to a more evident description thereof The causes of Dropsies are either external or internal The external Cause is the Constipation of the porous Skin impeding transpiration whereby the discharge of sweaty Vapours through the Habit of the Body is lessned and interrupted hence what moisture is usually carried off by sweating doth rebound inwards and condense into an Ichorous water and is there by degrees aggravated and increased through the hindrance of the necessary transpiration till at length a great quantity of water is accumulated and stagnating in the affected parts in time may work farther alterations on the subjected Bowels Matter of fact hath evinced this to me having cured several Hydropical patients onely by sweating and external applications The internal Cause of the Dropsie may be over viscous Chyle or Phlegm of the Guts coagulated in the lacteal Veins and causing an obstruction in more or fewer of their Branches so that the Liquour rising either from the continual Conflux of Choler the Juice of the Pancreas and the Phlegm of Spittle or else from Chyle or from drink plentifully drunk being stopt and intercepted in its motion it doth by degrees more and more distend the Vessels that at length they burst and the moisture receiv'd into them is poured out between the Membranes of the Mesentery and presently after into the Cavity of the Abdomen This disease is sometimes suddenly produc'd by much drinking in a burning Fever join'd with an urgent and permanent Thirst. After the same manner though difficult to be known may a Dropsie of the Breast be caused viz. by an obstruction of the lateral Lymphatick Vessels by glutinous Phlegm carried together with Lympha into the said Vessels and there coagulated by which the motion of Lympha is hindred so that the Lymphatick vessels being much distended by the great quantity of Lympha gathered in them at length they burst and the Lympha piercing through the Pleura into the Cavity of the Breast procureth a Dropsie in it The cause of a Tympany is wind together with a serous humour piercing through the Guts into the Cavity of the Belly and being there detained it is more and more rarified by which the Peritonaeum is not onely expanded but the whole Abdomen inflated and violently distended The signs of Ascites are swelling and fluctuation of the Belly difficult breathing a dry Cough accompanied sometimes with a symptomatical Fever and great Thirst. The signs of Anasarca are weakness faintness and swelling of the whole Body which being pressed with the Finger it doth pâ—t and leave an impression breathing is also difficult with a continual Fever In a Tympany the Belly is distended and being struck upon there is a noise like a little Drum 1. Every Dropsie is difficult of Curation especially if it hath been of long continuance 2. If the Hydropical persons have a good digestion and void more moisture both by stool and urine than they either eat or drink it is a hopefull sign of recovery e contra Dropsies may be cured by strong Hydragogues Sudorificks and Bathing and sometimes by a Paracenthesis or boring the Belly The Best Hydragogues are prepared of Elder Dwarf-elder Jallop-roots Elaterium Gum-gutty Crystals of Silver c. of which you may prepare purging Infusions Pills c. for example Take the Roots of Flower-de-luce Dwarf-Elder Madder Liquorish the five opening Roots of each one ounce the tops of Saint John's wort Centaury the less Agrimony the best Senna of each one handfull the Barks of Capers Ash Tamarisk Cinamon of each six drachms Flowers of Beans Elder Dwarf-elder Broom of each half a handfull seeds of sweet Fennel Parsley Gromwell Juniper-Berries of each one ounce and half Cloves Salt of Tartar of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and infused in two quarts of White-wine for two or three days then strain it and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb six ounces mix it and give four ounces of it in the morning fasting If any like Pills better I commend the following Take the Resins of Jallop and Scammony Tartar vitriolated Mercur. dulcis of each half a drachm Oil of Juniper one scruple make it into Pills with Venice-Turpentine of which you may give twenty grains at a time in the morning fasting The following Pills are also very effectual Take of Elaterium Gambogia Resin of Jallop of each ten grains Oil of Nutmegs six drops make it into Pills with Venice-Turpentine for two doses The obstructions in
Suffocation especially when they become Cachectick or of ill habit of Body and also they are cured with the same medicines that Women are cured with when they are vexed with this distemper therefore I think this suffocation may be more properly called Hypochondriacal It may be called the Mother of the Scurvy because the vital Principles in this disease are seduced to declension and deviation from their rectitude the digestive offices being all depraved The causes of these diseases are either external or internal The external are sometimes a sedentary studious and melancholy life by which the vital Principles do receive much prejudice decay and fall off from their functions and become languid and feeble also the Air being infested with noxious Vapours is a procuring cause of these distempers for such Air being drawn into the Body by inspiration doth commix with the spirits and debilitate and deprave the faculties from whence Scorbutick and Hypochondriack effects do ensue and as the Body is perspirable or impervious these diseases are more or less varied and remitted in their Symptoms and therefore the constipation of the pores prohibiting transpiration is a partial organical cause of preternatural Spots in the Scurvy which appear chiefly upon the Thighs and Legs not from the gravity of the material cause and ponderous propension of gross matter downwards but because those parts are more weak in their assimilation being remote from supply of vital Spirits therefore they have the first tokens of defection The internal Cause is a vitious quality of all the humours and also of the Animal spirits which are confus'd with the bloud and communicate their faultiness to it by which the bloud is also vitiated so that the nourishment of the Body is deprav'd several ways according to the variety of the quality peccant in which the colour of the native Skin and especially of the face languisheth and is changed pale In these diseases not onely the appetite of food but its fermentation is also deprav'd wherefore Anxieties about the Midriff and Hypochondries and a pressing pain of the Heart will soon follow For when the food is ill fermented and driven forward through the small Gut it is confus'd with the Juice of the Pancreas and Choler which are a like vitious the Pancreatick juice being too sharp and acrid and the Bile over thick and salt from whence the separation of usefull and unusefull parts is not onely corrupted but also by the vitious Effervescency of these humours are rais'd manifold halituous Vapours which do not onely increase the fore describ'd Anxiety but being carried to the Heart do breed a Palpitation of it whence it circulates through the Lungs and causeth a difficulty of breathing and thence being driven every way it causeth a weariness in all parts of the Body and if an Acrimony of the humours do concur then it is manifested internally with pain The cause of the inordinate effervescency of Bloud in the Hypochondriack suffocation is not onely the unequal flowing of Lympha but also of the Liquour rising out of the threefold humours vitiously effervescing in the small Gut from whence vitious Vapours are sent to the right Ventricle of the Heart and procure a great Confusion and disturbance in it hence followeth a notable Palpitation of the Heart by which sometimes the Effervescency of Bloud seemeth to cease in the right Ventricle for a time with its motion and pulse and also respiration is taken away to outward sense The symptoms and signs of these diseases are very many yet are never seen to concur in one and the same Body The usual signs are pain of the Head palpitation of the Heart puffing up of the Stomach Loathing Vomiting Belching Hicket Cough Tumour and Putrefaction of the Gums with much spitting looseness and blackness of the Teeth and sometimes great pain in them the breath stinketh and is sometimes fetched with much difficulty also Convulsions Palsie Gout Dropsies and all other obstructions sometimes the Colick and trembling and looseness of the Lims with red purple spots dispersed also the Pleurisie pain of the Hypochondries and also of many of the external parts as the Neck Arms Hands Thighs Legs Feet and Anckles with laziness and often faint sweats there is also sometimes malign Ulcers dry hard Tubercles Erisipelas and Edematous tumours with many others which to enumerate were to comprehend an universal Genus of Atomes within a very narrow Limitation 1. These diseases for the most part are of long continuance and are seldom cured and therefore may be called the disgrace of Physicians 2. If the Patient hath a continual pain and giddiness of the Head it doth threaten an Epilepsie or Apoplexy 3. The more aged the sick are the more grievous are the Symptoms and the more dangerous and difficult to be cured 4. Vomiting Flux of the Belly and Hemorrhoids if they are moderate are hopefull signs of recovery In some Regions these diseases are complicated with most other distempers or at least do easily degenerate into them by which they are rendred the more difficult of curation As for the Cure of these stubborn and rebellious diseases the sick must observe a good diet without which Physical means will profit but little and here we may also observe that no Aliments or Medicines whether altering or purging will be very profitable unless specifick Antiscorbuticks be mixed with them The best Antiscorbutick simples are the Roots of Horse-radish Butter-bur Liquorish Dandelion Scorzonera China Zedoary Angelica Elicampane Polypodium the five opening Roots the Wood and Bark of Guiacum and Sassaphras the Herbs Scordium Scurvigrass Brook-lime Water-cresses Sorrel Rue Fennel Golden-rod and Penny-royal Fruits of Oranges Limmons Pomcitrons Pomgranates Apples c. Seeds of Mustard Angelica Radish and Juniper-berries cum-multis aliis of which may be prepared diversity of good medicines both Chymical and Galenical The volatile Salts both of Animals and Vegetables are excellent to open all obstructions and temper the humours Also Elixir proprietatis the Spirit of Salt Armoniack Horse-radish and Scurvigrass the Spirit of Niter and of Salt dulcified Salt of Steel Wormwood and Tartar Oil of Juniper Cloves and Cinamon are all Specifick Antiscorbuticks The Hypochondriack suffocation having great affinity with the Scurvy the same medicines are proper for both The following Julep is both Diaphoretick and Diuretick and very profitable for the sick in these diseases to be taken two or three days in a week Take the Waters of Penny-royal Scurvigrass Treacle Syrup of the juice of Fennel of each two ounces Tincture of Castor half an ounce Oils of Amber Mace and Cloves of each six drops Spirit of Salt Armoniack twenty drops mix it and give three spoonfulls every two or three hours This Electuary may also be prefer'd Take of Conserves of Scurvigrass three ounces Confectio Alkermes half an ounce Powder of Crabs-eyes two drachms Flowers of Salt Armoniack Tarter vitriolated of each half a drachm Spirit of Castor one drachm Oil of Cloves
twenty drops mix it and give two drachms morning and evening After the frequent use of this Electuary you may purge with this Powder Take Powder of Cream of Tartar half a drachm Salts of Wormwood Amber Scurvigrass Resin of Scammony of each ten grains mix it for two doses If the Patient like Pills better these may serve For Example Take Extract Catholicon Rudii of each ten grains Resin of Jallop Agarick Salt Armoniack of each six grains Oils of Amber Cloves of each two drops make it into eight Pills for two doses A Medicinal Wine may be prepar'd very effectual in these distempers Take of Water-cresses Brook-lime Scurvigrass Rue of each one handfull Roots of Polypodium Jallop Horse-radish Angelica Cream of Tartar of each half an ounce white Nettle-seed one ounce Orange-peel Cinamon Salt of Tartar of each two drachms let them be cleansed bruised and infused in three quarts of White-wine for two or three days then strain it and give four spoonfulls in the morning fasting In the Hypochondriack suffocation you may often hold to the Nostrils a glass with a narrow mouth containing the Spirit of Salt Armoniack for by its sharp smell the sick for the most part are wont to be rais'd both from that suffocation and from the Epilepsie If the Gums are putrified let the mouth be washed with the following Tincture mixed with some Plantain water and Syrup of Mulberries Take Powder of Gum Lacca one ounce burnt Alome half an ounce the small Spirit of Salt Armoniack one quart let them digest together 'till it be of a red colour then filtrate it through brown paper and keep it for use If the sick hath a costive Body you may administer a Carminative Clyster once or twice a week In pains of the Belly and Hypochondries this linament is effectual Take Oils of Earth-worms Scurvigrass Chamomel of each one ounce Oil of Mace by expression half an ounce mix it with which anoint the parts affected This Antiscorbutick water will be very profitable to be taken two or three spoonfulls at a time morning and evening Take the Barks of Ash and Capers the Roots of Tamarisk Polypodium Horse-radish of each three ounces Water-cresses Scurvigrass Brook-lime Sorrel Centaury the less Harts tongue of each four handfulls Berries of Bays and Juniper Goose-dung of each one ounce the Seeds of Citrons Mustard Carduus benedictus Cloves Cinamon Nutmegs Ginger of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and digested in one Gallon of White-wine and two quarts of Spirit of wine being close covered for three days then distill them with a glass Still according to art and keep it for your use Frictions Ligatures Ventoses Sternutatories c. are all profitable to stir up the sick in the Hypochondriack suffocation CHAP. XV. Of the Green-sickness and Suppression of the Courses THE Green-sickness is called in Latin Icteris Febris alba In English the Virgin 's Disease the White Fever and the White Jaundice because in this disease the native colour of the Face is pale This disease is caused either from defect of Bloud or it proceedeth from plenty of crude viscous phlegmatick humours obstructing the veins about the Womb by which the courses are supprest the veins of the Matrix being obstructed that superfluous Bloud which nature hath ordained to be evacuated that way having not passage doth return to the greater Vessels and is circulated with the whole mass of Bloud and humours by which they are in time vitiated and a Cachexie or ill habit of body is thence caused for the Bloud and natural humours being indued with a vitious quality the nourishment of all the parts of the body will be deprav'd several ways according to the variety of the quality peccant whence likewise not onely the fermentation of Food but also the Appetite of it is deprav'd wherefore Anxieties and Palpitation of the Heart c. troubleth the sick as well before as after Food taken in This distemper may be also caused by external coldness of the air c. and sometimes great fear and sudden shame may be the cause of the suppression also aliments and medicaments that are too astringent taken inwardly In these diseases the Urine cometh away crude thick and less colour'd because the phlegmatick watry humours abounding incorporating with the Bloud do diminish the desired effervescency so that the separation much less excretion of the excrementitious parts to be voided together with Urine doth not follow If the Hypochondries be afflicted and the veins of the Womb obstructed there will be great loathing of wholsome Food and a desire after those things which ought not to be eaten as Ashes Salt Coals c. which is called Pica and in Women with Child Malacia of which we have hinted in the Chapter of Hungar Vitiated page 145 146. 1. These distempers are sometimes of long continuance causing much weakness and oft times barrenness in them that have been so afflicted and if they do conceive they bring forth weak and sickly Children and those that are very melancholy are in danger of falling into madness or other grievous affects as Palpitation of the Heart Swouning Vertigo Epilepsie Apoplexy c. 2. If the obstruction be onely of the vessels of the Womb and have not been oâ— long continuance it may be easily cur'd 3. Bleeding at the Nose is sometimes beneficial but if the Bloud doth disburthen it self by the Eyes Ears Mouth or Bladder it is preposterous from whence may arise other bad Symptoms In the cure of these distempers such medicines are to be selected which will mildly and by degrees alter correct and evacuate tough and glutinous Phlegm seeing that all prolong'd diseases depend on it either wholly or at least in part for by the frequent use of such medicines the Bloud and peccant humours will be the easier reduc'd to their natural constitution especially by the help of good Food easy of digestion in the mean while not neglecting the moderate use of the rest of the nonnatural things An obstruction of the Vessels by viscous Phlegm may be cur'd by the frequent use of such medicines as have power to loosen the peccant humours and again make them fluid All fixt metallick and mineral Sulphurs and also volatile Salts prepar'd not onely of several parts of Animals but also of scorbutick Plants such as are the juice of Hedge-mustard Scurvigrass Garden and Water-cresses Dandelion c. conduce before all others to loosen and dissolve Phlegm coagulated or Bloud clotter'd as having an egregious power of dissolving all things coagulated and conglutinated in humane bodies and of reducing the same to their wonted fluidity and moreover to move sweat which together being mildly promoted the desired dissolution of the aforesaid viscous humours c. will be obtained much easier and sooner An example of such a Sudorifick I have here set down for the sake of young Practitioners Take the Waters of Treacle Dandelion
Bishops-weed of each half an ounce Saffron two drachms Kernels of Fistick-nuts one ounce let them be all bruised and infused in a quart of Muskadel-wine for two or three days then strain it and add more Wine to the ingredients for a second infusion The following Electuary is also excellent Take the Roots of Satirion and Eringo candied of each one ounce candied Ginger and preserv'd Nutmegs of each two drachms Kernels of Hazle-nuts and Fistick-nuts of each half an ounce Powder of a Bull's-pizle of Ivory Seeds of Rocket Bishops-weed of each one drachm Species Diambrae Diamosc dulcis of each six drachms Confectio Alkermes one ounce and half with Syrup of the juice of Citrons make it into an Electuary according to Art Let the Woman take the quantity of a Nutmeg of it every night going to bed and drink a glass of Sack or Muskadel or of the aforementioned Infusion after it If a cold and moist distemper of the Body and Womb accompanied with the Whites be the cause look for the cure in its proper Chapter If it be caused by Witchcraft there are some things commended by Authours to be worn about the party against Fascination viz. the Pizle of a Wolf a Diamond a Jacinth-stone Rue Squills Sea-holly Sagapenum Amara dulcis Hypericon c. But above all let fervent and devout Prayers be put up to the Throne of grace for help and reject and despise Incantations or Charms and all other Diabolical means CHAP. XIX Of Abortion or Miscarriage ABortion is called in Latin Abortus vel intempestivus foetus Because it is an untimely Birth the Child being brought forth either dead or alive before its fit time of deliverance This is the worst Symptom that attends breeding Women It may happen from the first Moment of Conception to the end of the sixth Month but it is most usual in the end of the third or the beginning of the fourth Month. The causes are either external or internal The external Causes are a great excess in things nonnatural as too great Anger Fear and other Passions or else it may be through defect for if the Mother undergo Penury or Famine or lose much Bloud the Child wanteth Nourishment Many times things longed for and not obtained kill the Child Also strong purging Medicines that provoke the terms and all fetid smells falls blows lifting carrying dancing running riding or any other outward violence may be the Cause of Abortion The internal Causes may be the depravedness of the humours by which the Mass of Bloud becometh vitious also Acute or Chronick diseases especially of the Womb and also violent Coughing Sneezing Vomiting Convulsions and Fluxes of the Belly may loosen the Ligaments of the Womb and so cause miscarriage The signs of Abortion at hand are great pain about the Loins and Share-bones sometimes with shivering the Breasts growing little and flaggy the Situation of the Child changed towards the Bottom of the Belly with a bearing down and evacuation of Bloud c. 1. Women who have moist and slippery Wombs are most subject to miscarry but with little danger except it be the first Child and that very big 2. Much bleeding with fainting raving or Convulsions is for the most part mortal To prevent Abortion if there be an evil disposition of the Body or Womb you must endeavour to remove it if the Woman hath a plethorick Body let a Vein be opened in the Arme especially in the first six months If ill humours abound purge often with gentle means This purging Infusion may serve Take of Cinamon Rhubarb Anise-seed of each two drachms let them be bruised and infused in four ounces of Plantain-water very hot for the space of a Night then strain it and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb the best Manna of each half an ounce mix it and give it in the Morning fasting Also the Pills prescrib'd in page 240. may be used in this case If the Woman be troubled with a Rheumatick distemper accompanied with Wind and if she be pretty strong you may sweat her gently sometimes with this or such like Cordial Diaphoretick Take the Waters of Treacle Carduus Fennel of each one ounce Cinamon-water two drachms Syrups of the Juice of Carduus Coral of each half an ounce Confectio de Hyacintho half a drachm Spirit of Niter six drops Oil of Cinamon two drops Laudanum opiatum three grains mix it and give to provoke sweat Let the Womb be strengthned with Cordial Astringents Those prescrib'd in page 239.240 are excellent CHAP. XX. Of hard Travel in Child-birth HArd labour may be called in Latin partus vel enixus laboriosus quod ipse nitendi pariendi actus The time of a natural Birth ought to be accomplished in the space of twenty four hours if the Womans travel continue longer time with vehement pains and dangerous Symptoms it may be called hard labour or difficult Travel in Child-birth There are various Causes of hard Labour sometimes tender Women by reason of pain are very fearfull and do endeavour to hinder pains and consequently the Birth also Sometimes the Child being weak or dead and not following the Water in Due-time before the passage be too dry may be the Cause especially if the Mother be weak by reason of any Disease afflicting her or by too much Evacuation of Bloud or there be not sufficient Motion of the Womb and Muscles of the Belly Sometimes the Child's head may be too big or the passage too strait Also the Child may be turned in the Womb and the Hands Shoulders Back Belly or Buttocks c. may come forward to the Birth and then the endeavour to bring forth will be painfull and difficult The signs of hard Labour are easily known if the Child do stir and there be strong pains and no water appear the Secundine is strong If pains be weak and long before they return and more in the Back than Belly the Infant is weak If the Woman be little and her Husband big and full shouldred then there is a great Child which will cause tough work 1. Hard travel in Child-birth is very dangerous for sometimes the Mother sometimes the Child and many times both do lose their Lives 2. If the Woman be in Travel above four days the Child can hardly be alive and therefore must be drawn away before it be too late for if it be neglected it will cause Fevers Faintings Convulsions Sleepiness c. which are the Forerunners of Death 3. If sneezing cometh of its own accord it is a good sign of deliverance First give this Cordial to strengthen both the Mother and Child Take Waters of Baum Vervain Cinamon of each two ounces Syrup of Clove-gilliflowers Saffron of each six drachms Spirit of Saffron Confectio Alkermes of each one drachm mix it If the Child be situated on Os pubis it must be removed and all other unfit Postures must be rectified Then such
the Bladder which sometimes happens in Lithotomy for by extracting a great Stone the sphincter Muscle may be so much lacerated that it ceaseth to be contracted and the Orifice of the Bladder to be shut wherefore the Urine distilleth of its own accord It may be caused internally by the Palsie Apoplexy Epilepsie Syncope c. Sometimes Ebriety may be the Cause of the Resolution of the Nerves which from the Loins are inserted into the Neck of the Bladder and so render the sphincter Muscle incapable of Contraction hence the Urine is involuntarily voided In Children this Distemper is curable if taken in time but if it happen to old Folks or if it be caused by a Wound in the sphincter Muscle of the Bladder it is incurable That which is caused by the Palsie Epilepsie Syncope c. look for the Cure in their proper Chapters If it be caused by Ebriety Sobriety may be commended to cure it especially by the help of inward means to strengthen the parts affected Many things have been given to Children that have been troubled with this Distemper the most effectual are these Fried Mice the inner Skins of Hens-gizzards Cocks-weasands Pudenda suilla Stones of a Hare Snails with the shells all or any of these dried and poudred also the Powder of Agrimony Egg-shells the burnt Ashes of an Hedge-hog c. Any of these may be given in red Wine or in Lime-water chalibeated which may be dulcifi'd with Syrup of Comfry If Phlegm do abound in the Body you may purge it with Phlegmagogues Also sweating with gentle Diaphoreticks is very effectual Those already mention'd are proper onely consider the Age and Strength of the Patient CHAP. XXIV Of the Stoppage of Vrine and the Strangury THE Stoppage of Urine is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comprimo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vrina 'T is called in Latin Vrinae suppressio The Strangury is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. urinae difficultas vel urinae per guttas excretionem Ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stilla 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 urina These differ onely in degree for when the Urine is totally obstructed it may be called Ischuria but when little is voided and by drops it may be called Stranguria These distempers may be caused by viscous Phlegm or coagulated Bloud in the Ureters or Vrethra especially if a Stone or some Gravel do also stick in the Passage by which the obstruction will be more strengthned Sometimes it is caused by a schirrous Tumour or other excrescency of Flesh as a Carbuncle c. growing in the Vrethra or Chanel of Urine Sometimes it is caused by a preposterous holding in of the Urine either for shame or want of opportunity to evacuate it so that the Bladder being extremely fill'd and distended it hath not power to contract it self hence the voiding of Urine is supprest It may also be caused by sharp humours fretting and ulcerating the internal Superficies of the Bladder by which it is continually stirred up to contract it self and expell the Urine which is in it so that the Bladder is empty having little or no Urine in it as I have known by experience This may be called a Bastard Ischuria which may be also caused by some hurt in the attractive or expulsive faculty of the Reins If the aforesaid Causes be violent it causeth an Ischuria but if remiss then a Strangury is stirred up in which there is a perpetual Irritation to extrude the Urine although slowly and by drops with exceeding pain and trouble Suppression of Urine is dangerous and if it continue long it is mortal especially if the Patient's Breath stinck of Piss or hath a Hiccough or Tenasmus If the Cause be in the Neck of the Bladder or Vrethra stopt you may clear it and draw away the Urine with a Catheter as I have often done both from Men and Women with good success If the Cause be from the Reins or Ureters seek the Cure in the Chapter of Nephritick pains c. Glutinous Phlegm and coagulated Bloud may be cut and attenuated with Aromaticks boild in Water or Wine and mixed with oily volatile Salts Spirit of Niter c. Stone-Horse dung is rich in Volatile Salt wherefore if you mix the Juice of it with Rhenish-wine and drink it often you will admire its wonderfull effects in curing not onely Stoppage of Urine but most other obstructions Those Diureticks prescrib'd in page 266 267. are also very effectual here Let the Belly and parts affected be anointed with Dears-suet which will conduce much to give ease When the Vrethra is obstructed by a Caruncle c. You must gently thrust in a hollow Instrument made of Lead or Silver being first anointed with some consolidating Ointment You may leave the Instrument in till the fear of a new Closing of the Passage be remov'd CHAP. XXV Of the Scalding or Sharpness of Vrine THIS Distemper is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aegre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vrina The causes are either external or internal The external Cause may be by the Application of Cantharides or some other stronger Poison The internal Causes are sharp salt and acid humours mixed with the Urine which do corrode and ulcerate the internal Superficies of the Bladder and sphincter Muscle Sometimes it is caused by sharp Stones occasioning an Ulcer If the Bladder or sphincter Muscle or the Vrethra be ulcerated it is hard to be cured especially if the Patient be old and the Distemper hath continu'd long e contra If the Bladder or urinal Passage be ulcerated it may be effectually cured by the Balsam of Sulphur made with the Oil of Anise-seed Amber or Juniper taken to two or three drops twice or thrice daily in any convenient Vehicle especially a vulnerary Decoction which is most effectual The salt acid corroding humours may be corrected with Crabs-eyes Perle c. and also all volatile oily Salts taken often in a small quantity in any refrigerating Diuretick This Decoction is effectual Take the Roots of Mallows Marsh-mallows of each two ounces Lettice Endive Purslain Violets of each one handfull Jujubes Sebestins of each one ounce Winter-cherries half an ounce the four greater Cold-seeds of each two drachms red Roses Water-lillies of each half a handfull let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Syrups of red Poppies Violets of each two ounces Laudanum opiat ten grains Oil of Vitriol ten drops mix it and give three spoonfulls every two hours An Emulsion of the Cold-seeds or Chamomel-flowers boiled in Milk is also very effectual If the Patient be costive give emollient Clysters or gentle Cholagogues and Hydragogues to evacuate the peccant humours Or else you may give a gentle Emetick for Revulsion If the pain be
Sputum Sanguinis Decoction Astringent Julep Pectoral Julep For a quilted Cap. Powder to fume the Head c. Masticatory Note Plaster for the Head Asthma Cause Progn Cure Pectoral Julep Pleuritis Signs Peripneumonia Cause Progn Empiema Cure Cure Sudorifick Fomentation Ointment Plaster Pultis Balsam Sulphur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Compunctio Caution Tabes Causes Signs Progn Febris Hecticae Signs Liber 12. de marc cap. 4. Causes Progn Cure Powder Cause Progn Cure Julep Purging Pills Purging Decoction Cordial Julep Syncope Signs Causes Progn Cure Decoction Purging Pills Purging Pills Cordial Julep Difference Symptomes Causes Lipiria febris Cause Hystory Progn Pars affecta Cure Cautio Purging Decoction Volatile Powder Cordial Julep Observation Causes â—he cause 〈◊〉 the Reâ—â—rn of the 〈◊〉 Quotidian Cure Cordial Julep Purging Pills Powder Difference Calenture Signs Cause of Malignity Signs Progn Cure Cordial Sudorifick Cause Signs Progn Cure Cordial Electuarâ— Cordial Jalep Signs Causes Progn Cure Cordial Julep Phlebotomy Water 〈◊〉 the Eyes Gargaris Nodulas Cause Signs Cure Julep Emulsion Purging Infusion· Pica Malacia Cause Cause Cause Signs Progn Cure Nausea Cause Progn Cure Cordial Opiat Purging Decoction Diet-drink Cause Progn Cure Cordial Opiat Purging Pills Cause Progn Cure Ileos Choler Cholerica passio Hoemoptysis Cause of Ileos Causes of the cholerick passion Causes of vomiting Bloud Progn Cure Cordial Opiate Cure of Cholerick passion Vomit Cordial Opiate Cure of bloudy vomiting Astringent Julep Carminative Julep Purging Pills Cure of Iliaca passio Clyster Emulsion Cholica Passio Tenesmus Signs Causes Cause of the Colick Observation Tympany Progn Cure Julep Emulsion Purging Potion Cordial Diaphoretick Cordial Julep Cure of the Cholick Clyster Ointment Empl. Carminative Julep Purging Decoction Purging Pills Teretes Taenia Ascarides Vermina Signs of Teretes Signs of Taenia Signs of Ascarides Signs of Vermina Progn Cure Purging Pills Lienteria Coeliaca Diarrhoea Dysentery Tenasmus Hemorrhoids Causes Causes of Lientery Cause of the Jaundice-like flux Cause of the Chyle-like flux Causes of the divers kinds of Diarrhoea Cause of a Dysentery Cause of Tenasmus Cause of Hemorrhoids c. Signs Progn Cure Purging Powder Cordial Julep Decoction Powder Astringent Julep Clyster Purging Bolus Bolus Opiat Decoction Sudorifick Causes Signs Progn Cure Diaphoretick Opiate Bath Ointment Icterus Cause Progn Cure Decoction Sudorifick Diuretick Decoction Opiate Cachexia Signs Progn Cure Hydrops Ascites Cause Cause Cause of a Tympany Signs of Ascites Signs of Anasarca Signs of a Tympany Progn Cure Purging Infusion Purging Pills Pills Sudorifick Carminative Julep Medicinal Wine Ointment Pultess Hypochondriacus Causes Progn Cure Julep Electuary Purging Powder Medicinal Wine Tincture Linament Water against the Scurvy Cause Signs Progn Cure Cordial to cause Sweat Powder Purging Pills Medicinal wine Cause Cause of Whites Signs Progn Cure Astringent Julep Purge Purging Pills Astringent Electuary Astringent Julep Linament Plaster Fume Cause Signs Progn Cure Bath Powder For a quilted Bag. Progn â—ure Infusion Electuary Causes Signs Progn Cure Purging Infusion Cordial to cause sweat Causes Signs Progn Indications Cordial Julep Powder Julep Cordial Opiate Clyster Fomentation Cause Observation Signs Cause of the Stone Histories History Progn Cure Purging Bolus Julep Powder Decoction Julep Cordial Astringent Julep Cause Signs Progn Cure Cordial Opiate Decoction Pissing in Bed Causes Progn Cure Cause Progn Cure Causes Progn Cure Decoction Lues venerea Cause Signs Progn Cure Apozeme Purging Pills Decoction Purging Pills Bolus Ointment Balsamick Pills Injection Observatio Causes Signs Progn Cure Vomit Observatio Infusion Purging Bolus Linament Plaster Pectoral Ointment Arthritis Causes Observatio Signs Progn Cure Fomentation Pultess Cataplasm Linament Purging Pills Water against the Gout Rheumatismus Cause Progn Cure Linament