of three fingers and when Galen understood that he fel from his Chariot upon his back he concluded that some part was hurt in the original of that nerve which comes from the seventh Vertebrae or Spondil therefore after he had in vain applied Medicines to the fingers he used means to the back and so wrought a brave Cure The Diagnosis or knowledg of the Causes of this Disease if fetcht from the primary Causes the Diseases afore going and the temperament and constitution of the sick party And therefore when external cold Causes and moist went before when the patient is old when he is flegmatick of Constitution the weather cold diet cold and moist and an Apoplexy hath formerly been it signifies that a disease is approaching from a Cold Distemper and Flegmatick Humor But when a Palsey is caused of a Chollerick Humor or Melancholly these signs declare Feavers did go before or are present a Chollerick temper and Constitution or else a Melancholly one the coming of the disease in hot weather Summer or Autumn the use of Spices Salt and other hot Meats heavy and long passions of Mind avoiding of chollerick or melanchollick humors sharp and sowr many sharp defluxions falling upon divers parts and putting them to pain and lastly when pain and a convulsion accompany the diminishing of Sence and Motion and the patient is the worse when he takes hot and dry things but the better by the use of cold and moist When Tumors Luxations or Dislocations or Wounds cause a Palsey they are evident of themselves As for the Prognostick part in the Treaty of this Disease you may foretel events as followeth 1 A Palsey coming of flegm fixed to the substance of the nerves is hardly cured because it wil not be easie to discuss or divide the Flegm from the nerves by reason of their coldness and their weakness in expulsion or sending forth of that which offendeth which must co-operate or work together with the Medicine and in regard of the deep scituation of the Spina and Nerves so as the whol force of the Medicine cannot reach them and because the Patient must of necessity continue long in the use of Medicines which for the most part people cannot endure and therefore wil not be cured 2 A Palsey coming after an Apoplexy is seldom cured and often returns into an Apoplexy by a new flowing of the same matter into the Brain which is made weak by the former disease 3 A trembling coming upon or after a Palsey is healthful for it signifieth that the passages of the nerves are somwhat open by which some of the Animal Spirit beginneth to pass for to move the Muscles 4 If the part affected hath an actual heat in it there is hope of health but if it be alwaies actually cold it is difficult to be cured 5 An Atrophy or want of Nourishment in the Paralytick part with great paleness takes away al hope of cure for it doth not only signifie a decay of the animal Spirit but a neer extinction of the shews natural heat 6 If the Eye on that side which the Palsey happeneth be hurt thereby there is little hope for it a great want of Spirits in that part 7 A Palsey in the Legs and Feet is easier cured than in the upper parts because those Nerves are harder and stronger 8 In old men the Palsey is incurable by reason of their want of natural heat 9 In Winter a Palsey cannot be cured but in the Spring and Summer it may if other things agree 10 A strong Feaver coming upon a Palsey is good for it may consume the matter which causeth it 11 A Diarrhoea or loosness coming upon a new and weak Palsey is good for Rhasis saith 1. Cont. that he hath seen many Paralyticks cured by a Diarrhoea The Cure of this Disease is to be altered according to the variety of the Causes And since for the most part it cometh of flegm and a cold distemper we must labor chiefly to take away that cause which we must begin to do by a general clensing and emptying of the whol Body As for bleeding it can scarce do any good because the fault is not in the Blood but Flegm and this disease comes for the most part to old men such as are flegmatick and cold by nature But if plenty of crude blood unconcocted seems to produce flegm and to feed it we may open a vein in his Arm on the sound side of his Body but take but little blood least his weak natural heat should be extinguished After we have omitted blood-letting or taken a very little away we must go on to take away the antecedent Cause which is a cold distemper of the Brain which must be done as before was shewed by Apozemes or opening drinks by Pills sweating Diet Bags for the head Emplaisters Errhines for the nose neezings Masticatories Gargarisms that draw flegm Vesicatories or Blisters or Cupping head pouders Caps Fumes Magistral Syrups ordinary Pills a strengthening Opiate or Electuary by Caustick or burning by digestive Pouder and Baths A Diet Drink in this disease ought to be made of Guajacum alone and his Bark and after he hath taken a draught he must have hot bricks applied to the diseased parts but first they must be quenched in a Decoction of this good for the head made with white Wine and Vinegar and be wrapped in a linnen cloth for the stirring up of the weak heat which is in the parts and every fourth or fifth day you must purge but it is better to give a purging drink fifâ—een daies before you give the sweating that al the load of crude humors may be better cast out and afterwards the reliques and remainder may be discussed by the habit of the Body Which may be thus made Take of the chips of Guajacum three ounces of the bark of the same one ounce of spring Water four pints Infuse them twenty four hours then let them boyl to the consumption of half adding in the conclusion one ounce of Senna Turbith and Hermodacts of each two drams Let him take half a pint of this strained every morning for fifteen daies not sweating Apply a Caustick to the hinder part of the Head or to the sound Arm if the other be affected If the Legs be affected apply a Caustick to them both After his Diet let him use for his ordinary Drink a Decoction of Guajacum or Water and Honey wherein hath a little Rosemary been boyled Let him abstain from Wine which is very hurtful in this Disease but if he desire to drink Wine let Bettony and Sage be boyled therein And it is far better if in the Vintage time those Herbs are put into a full Vessel of new Wine If the Disease be perverse and stubborn omitting the usual Pills and Magistral Syrup after his Diet use stronger Medicines made thus Take of Pill Foetida the greatest and Pill Cochie the less each half a dram of Troches of Alhandal four
a large evacuation of blood agreeable to the Plethory is the best remedy for all pains which we have found true by experience not only in the paine of the teeth but in other parts Let him purge the day following with that which is proper for the humor in the form of a Potion if a hot with Pills if a cold humor be the cause of pain After this if the pain continue apply Cupping-glasses to the Shoulders with scarrisication or one great one between the shoulders without scarrisication A Vesicatory applied to the neck or behind the Ears doth violently draw back the humors Also to hinder the defluxion apply astringents to the Temples as Emplaister of Gum Elemi or Mastich only upon a piece of Silk and heat with a brass pestle the Shop Emplaister of Mastich or that against Ruptures called ad berniam Or this following is good Take of Frankinsence Hypocistis Labdanum of each one dram and an half Pitch and Mastich of each one dram Opium half a scruple Oyl of Mastich as much as is sufficient Make a Mass of Emplaister The Root of Comfry fresh and bruised applied to the Temples doth intercept the defluxion very well There is also a good Plaister made of pouder of Allum and Galls mixed with Pitch Riverius the chief Physitian to Henry the Great had this Plaister as a Secret Take of Cyprus nuts red Roses Mustard seed torrefied or parched Mastich and Terra Sigillata of each one dram and an half Let them be steeped in Vinegar of Roses twenty four hours then dry them Opium dissolved in Aqua vitae three drams Pitch and Colophonia of each one dram yellow Wax melted in the expressed Oyls Henbane and white Poppy as much as is sufficient Make an Emplaister apply it to the Arteries and the part affected with pain And because the smal Veins by which nourishment is carried to the Teeth do run by the Ears you put Medicines into them for the Cure of the Tooth-ach as Oyl of bitter Almonds to the Ear on the same side or the fume of Vinegar in which Penyroyal and Origan have been boyled Others put Vinegar into the Ear by which the defluxion is mightily stayed especially if the flux be hot But in a cold defluxion the Juyce of Garlick mixt with Treacle and dropt warm into the Ear doth wonderfully asswage the pain of the Teeth A Clove also of Garlick peeld and put into the Ear is good Also astringents in the beginning of the defluxion may be applied to the part pained cold if the matter be hot but if it be cold you must put hot things with your repellers But in every cause if the pain be great you must mix Anodines with Repellers As Take of the Roots of Snakeweed Five-leaved-grass and Tormentil of each one ounce the Leaves of Vervain Plantane and Maudlin of each one bandful Cypress Nuts Galis and Acorn Cups of each two drams red Sanders and Crystal of each one dram and an half red Roses and Pomegranate Flowers of each one pugil boyl them in red Wine and Vinegar and wash the part grieved often therewith warm This may be used in the beginning of a hot defluxion but in a cold ad Cypress Roots Box Bark Ivy Leaves and the like A plainer Medicine is made of Plantane and Rose Water with as much Vinegar like an Oxycrate Or boyl Galls in Vinegar and wash the Teeth therewith Or Take of the Roots of Cinkfoyl half an ounce Willow Leaves half a handful Galls two drams boyl them in red Wine and wash the mouth This staies the defluxion and takes away pain Then you must use these Remedies which asswage pain and take away the cause of which there is in authors and vulgarly a multitude we will give you the best of which you must make your choyce with this judgment That those which do not only dissolve and discuss but also astringe and stop the flux be used in the beginning and the encrease of the pain but things that only discuss in the state and declination Take of the Juyce of Housleek and Nightshade of each two ounces Cow or Sheeps milk eight ounces Oyl of unripe Roses one ounce and an half Opium and Saffron of each three grains mix them and apply it warm with a cloth to the Jaw of the same side often Take the Papp of sweet Apples two ounces Bran steept in Vinegar three ounces Oyl of Roses one ounce Saffron half a scruple Opium two grains mix them for a Cataplasm to the part pained Or Take of Barley and Bean meal of each three ounces Oyl of Roses and sweet Almonds of each half an ounce the juyce of Housleek one ounce and an half Milk as much as is sufficient make a Cataplasm to be applied often warm to the part Or Take two whites of Eggs beat them with Rose Water and dip stuphs therein sprinkled with two drams of Pepper Poudered Apply them to the pained side over the whol Cheek But here observe That you apply not Astringents to the Jaws if they be swoln for it is to be seared That the Humor wil so be Repelled to the Throat and the Patient Choaked An Example of which Valesius de Taranta giveth of a Physitian troubled with the Tooth-Ach and Inflamation of the Jaws who applied only Oyl of Roses with Vinegar which brought him to a Squinzy and he died Other Waters may be made to wash the mouth Thus. Take of the best white Wine four ounces white Henbane Roots two drams let them boyl to the Consumption of the third part strain them and ad one ounce of Vinegar Varnish one dram let them boyl a heat and let the Mouth be washed often therewith The plain Decoction of Vervain is Commended of many for the same Also a Decoction of Guaiacum made with Wine or Water and a little salt Or Take of Arsmart and the barks of the Roots of Henbane of each equal parts boyl them in Rose Vinegar and wash the mouth And if the pain cometh from a Hot Cause only boyl a Henbane Root in Vinegar If the Arsmart be too sharp take a less quantity Nay you may leave it quite out in a Defluxion coming of a Hot Cause and put Persicaria Macutata instead of it which is Astringent and Cooling and his juyce may be given safely at the Mouth in al Defluxions that are sharp and Chollerick Also you may use the Leaves of Henbane instead of the Root Some use the Leaves of Henbane and Persicaria Maculata as a secret Magnetick Charm they boyl them in Vinegar they burn the Leaves being boyled with a gentle fire and wash their Teeth with the Vinegar and they say that as soon as the Leaves are burnt the pain wil be gone But I rather think it is Cured by the Vinegar with which the Teeth are washed In the aforesaid Decoctions if the Vinegar be so sharp that the Patient can scarcely endure it you may mix half Wine and in a Cold Cause make them of
and the Membranes doth often stir up a deadly Looseness After Liniments or if they be omitted you may apply Cataplasms or Emplaisters This following is the best Take of the Roots of wild Cowcumbers well bruised and steeped twenty four hours in Vinegar of Squills one pound clarified Honey two Pints mix them and boyl them to the consistance of a Cerat and ad in the 〈◊〉 your ounces of the Pouder of Cumminseed make an Emplaister for the belly to be renewed evâ—â—y day Or Take of dryed Cow-dung one pound Brimstone and Cummin seeds Poudered of each two drams New Wine boyled called Sapa or of the Vrine of a Boy as much as will make a Cataplasm A Cataplasm of Rhadishes bruised and laid to the Navel and Reins doth provoke Stools and Urine Galen Commends a Cataplasm of Snails bruised with their Shells which must be kept to the belly till it fal off of its own accord it draws water forth violently Valeriola makes it in form of a Plaister thus Take of Cow-dung one pound Goats-dung half a pound boyl them in strong Vinegar and beat them in a Mortar with three ounces of Brimstone and one ounce of Allum the Juyce of Spurge and dwarf-Elder newly drawn of each three ounces Lupine and Orobus meal of each two ounces the Pouder of Soldanella Annis Fennel and Cummin of each two drams common parched Salt three drams Turpentine four ounces Pitch six ounces make a Plaister It is worth the Observation which Wierus and Varignana say they have found by Experience that a Toad found in the Woods cut through the belly and tyed to the Reins doth provoke Urine violently and when you wil evacuate more apply another Petraeus also reports that the Pouder of the same Toad dried and calcined in an Oven drunk half a dram in Wine or other Liquor doth wonderfully expel the Dropsie by Urine The first Inventor of which Experience desiring thereby to destroy himself was cured thereby contrary to expectation Also this following Cerat made of a Toad is excellent Take of Toads two pound the Juyce of dwarf Elder three Pints Oyl one pint Wax half a pound boyl them in a luted Pot to the consumption of half strain them for a Cerat spread this upon a Leather and lay it to the Spleen it evacuateth all waters All the time of the Cure you must strengthen the Liver and Stomach if the humor doth begin to abate or is not so great that it hinders the Vertue of outward Medicines from coming to the part Take of the Oyl of Orange flowers one ounce the Oyl of Spike three drams the Oyntment of Roses the stomach Cerot of Galen of each two drams distilled Oyl of Mastich two scruples the distilled Oyl of Wormwood one scruple Oyl of Nutmegs one dram and an half white Wax a little mix them for a Liniment to be applied to the stomach Take of Sea Wormwood three drams Horehound and Rosemary of each two drams Red Roses two pugills Ghamomil flowers and Bay Leaves of each half an handful Orange peels and sweet wood Aloes of each three drams Cypress Roots Schoenanth and Spikenard of each half an ounce with two parts of the best Wine and one part of Wormwood and Agrimony Water make a Decoction with which Foment the Region of the Liver with a spunge first washt in Wormwood Water Take of the Oyntment of Roses and Cerot of Sanders of each three ounces Red Roses Endive and Sorrel seed of each one dram Spikenard Schoenanth dryed Wormwood and Styrax Calamita of each four scruples Oyl of Mastich or Wormwood as much as will suffice to make a Liniment to be applied to the same part after the Fomentation For the most part in a Dropsie the Thighs Legs and Feet have a cold swelling and for the discussing of it a Lye is good in which the Roots of Dwarf Elder and Elicampane Rosemary Leaves Marjoram Thyme Bayes Organ Salt and Allum have been boyled Although the things aforesaid are chiefly used yet somtimes they are not necessary namely when the Dropsie comes in a hot and dry Constitution from hot causes which disperse the natural heat as in vehement Chollerick Feavers for then cold things for the Liver mixed with warm Openers are best such as are used in continual Feavers And the Magistral Syrup above mentioned made of the Juyce of Roses Succory and Agrimony For ordinary Drink give a Decoction of Succory Roots and Calcitrapa or white Chamelion which is not unpleasant or of other Openers but in a greater quantity than above which may quench thirst asswage the heat of the Liver and moisten the driness thereof It is not amiss to confirm this Doctrine by a famous example though it be allowed by Avicen Trallian and others because it seems strange to some and is of great Consequence Baptista Montanus reports Cons 263. in these words I saw saith he in Venice a certain Predicant Frier that was cured of an Ascites and Tympanites there were with me many famous Physitians namely Papiensis Eugubinus Trincavella and others He had as I said an Ascites with a Tympany and a Consumption with a Hectick Feaver therefore we were bound both to dry and moisten therefore we were in a great contention I was willing that he should drink much but things that Open because he had many obstructions and that moisten because he had a Consumption I prescribed the Syrup of Vinegar with all things that provoke Vrine Eugubinus would not allow him to drink and told a story of one who was cured by dry things Papiensis to end the controversie said That he should neither drink much nor at all we argued till night the Noblemen brought their Physitians to their Boats and there Papiensis said to a Nobleman what he had concealed formerly If you would have this man cured there is nothing to be done but what Baptista Montanus saith In this case also Medicines of Steel Tartar and Vitriol are excellent because they strongly Open and provoke Urine without any great heat But the tart Vitriol Mineral Waters are best because they powerfully open the Bowels provoke Urine and correct the Distemper of the Bowels whence experience sheweth us that many Dropsies are every yeer cured at the Spaw Avicen reports in the Chapter of the Cure of Ascites of a Woman which had a great Dropsie and eat an incredible number of Pomegranats whereby she was cured And Varignana reports out of Platearius That an Old Woman boyled the Juyce of Plantane to the Consumption of half and gave it to one that had a Dropsie from a Hot Cause every day and so Cured him By these Examples it is plain That somtimes a Dropsie is Cured with Cold things and to these we may ad the testimony of Christopher a Vega lib. 3. art med sect 8. cap. 12. who saith there We saw one that had a Tympany from the Hot Distemper of the Liver whom we cured with cold things laying upon the Liver the Juyce of Endive and
the same must here be said of resolving Oyls beeause they close the pores of the skin and so hinder the freedom of transpiration and encrease the heat neither can they by reason of their clammy substance peirce into the innermost Parts of the Joint so to temper and resolve the Salt sharp and Tartarous Humors which lurk in them Yet if the foresaid Oyls shall be Distilled in a Retort they will become very fit for this use because they will be very searching and no waies clammy Among these the most excellent are Oyl of Cheiry Saint Johns Wort and of the Yolks of Eggs which being mixed together and stilled by a retort are very profitable to ease Pain and to discuss the Cause thereof Also Mathiolus his Oyl of Scorpions stilled after the manner aforesaid is most excellent Oyl of Wax is likewise effectual to the same purpose But Oyl of Mans Bones made after the same manner that Oyl of Tiles is made is preferred before all others and commended not only by the Chymists but also by the Dogmatical Doctors as Crato Platerus and others The manner of making it is this Mans Bones fresh and unburied are broken and burnt and cast into old Oyl afterward they being full of the Oyl are beaten and cast into a Retort and so by the force of the fire an Oyl is drawn out Where Mans Bones are not to be had the Bones of other Animals may serve the turn This following wil also be very good Take Mastich Frankinsence Mirrh Ammoniacum Opopanax Bdellium Mummy of each two ounces Vitriol one pound Honey two pound Tartar one ounce and an half Spirit of Wine four pound Distil out of all an Oyl with which let the pained part be anointed with a feather To ease the pain and to resolve the Matter of the Gout a Liquor made of Snails is likewise commended which is thus compounded Put an handful of Snails into an Hippocras Bag and cast upon them an handful of common Salt upon the Salt a handful of Dwarf-Elder or Danewort seeds very finely poudered And so one Lay after another of Snails Salt and Seeds until you have made four or five Lay's of every one in particular Let the Bag hang in a moist Celler and after a few daies there will drop a slippery Liquor and fat which set in the Sun for four daies and then smear the place affected therewith A resolving Unguent may be made after this manner Take Chamepitys common Wormwood and Rosemary tops of each a handful Chamomel flowers Melilot flowers and Rose Leaves of each one pugil Oyl and Wine of each half a pound Let them boyl till the Wine be consumed the Liquor being strained add thereto as much Wax as shall suffice to make it into an Oyntment Let the Part affected be anointed herewith warm within twenty four hours the Part doth swell and the pain ceaseth Also divers Pultisses resolving and easing pain may be made The principal are these Take Wheaten Bran a pound Salt one ounce Soap as much as shall suffice Boyl all into a Cataplasm or Pultiss Or Take Bean Meal half a pound Boyl it in a sufficient quantity of Wine adding thereto a little Aqua vitae and Butter Make it into a Pultiss Or The Leaves of Dwarf-Elder or Tree-Elder being beaten may be applied or they may be fryed with Butter in a Frying-Pan like a Pan-cake Briony Root bruised with Aqua vitae is also very effectual Also some commend Aron Cuckoo-pintle or Priests-pintle Roots being mingled with Cow-dung This following is commended by Solenander because it resolves without any great heating easeth the pain and strengthens the Joynts And it may be safely applied after the beginning of the fit about the fift day of the Disease Take Pouder of red Roses two ounces Mastich one ounce Camphire half a dram Barley meal half a pound Boyl all in white Wine evermore stirring the same till it come to be thick and lay it on warm Emplasters are likwise wont to be of great use in this Case The chief are these which follow Take Frankincese Mummy Colophony of each one ounce Mastich Mirrh white Coral of each half an ounce Mans Fat six drams Gum Ammoniacum and Bdellium dissolved in Vinegar of each three Drams Turpentine half an ounce Oyl of Foxes and of Roses of each as much as shall suffice to make all into a Plaister Take Florentine Orice Roots and Hermodactils poudered of each six drams Emplastrum Oxycroceum de Mucilaginibus of each two ounces Rozin of Pine one ounce Melt them together adding Oyl of worms as much as shall suffice and make thereof a Plaister Emplastrum Diapalma or Diacalciteos is very much used both alone or with Camphire added thereunto after this manner Take of the Rowl of Diapalma Plaister half a pound Camphire two drams Mix them together and apply them to the parts affected Or in Form of a Cerecloth Take of the Rowl of Diacalciteos Plaister half a pound Plaister of Sulphur an ounce Storax and Benzoin of each half an ounce Tacamahacca two ounces Oyl of St. Johns wort and Worms of each an ounce Liquid Storax an ounce and an half New Wax as much as shall suffice Melt all together and dip your cloth therein twice or thrice make it smooth and dry and keep it for your use But yet the same Plaister mingled with these things following ought to be reckoned amongst the most excellent Medicines for the Gout Take Diacalciteos Plaister dissolved in harsh red Wine and boyled till the Wine be consumed one pound Myrtles red Roses Mastich Tartar of red Wine poudered of each two drams Chamepitys or Ground-pine and right sweet Chamomel poudered of each half a dram Make of all a Plaister to be applied after the swelling is much abated And at last in a very old and setled pain especially from a cold Cause some lay Vesicatories to raise Blisters upon the parts affected Sennertus makes mention of them but so as that Anodines be mixed with them But the most wise Varandaeus my Master did with happy success use the common Vesicatory Plaister which is kept in our Shops simply and by it self without any mixture wherewith he cured a great and rebellious Swelling upon the Knee when other Physitians had in vain used many Purgations a Sudorofick Diet-Drink and many External Medicines In the use of all the fore-recited Medicaments this one thing is diligently to be noted That we must take our hints from such things as we find do help or harm the Patient forasmuch as the Natures of Men are divers their Complexions divers and divers kinds of Excrements are bred in several Men whence it is that the same Diseases do extreamly differ in several persons therefore what profits one man doth another no good at all which often comes to pass in curing the Gout And for this Cause every Practitioner must have an abundance of Medicines that when one hath been applied in vain he may use another and
Oyl of Nuts new drawn without fire mixed well with a like quantity of Rose-water till they come to the form of a Liniment is excellent for the same purpose If by neglecting the Remedies aforesaid or through the extream malignity of the Humor there remain Pits and Pock-holes all diligence must be used to repair the same Which notwithstanding is extream hard to do perfectly although many have taken great pains thereabout to gratifie Virgins and other Women who are exceeding careful to preserve their Beauties Among infinite Medicines recorded by Authors to this intent I shall propound the choisest And in the first place Oyl of Eg-yolks does nourish and engender Skin and therefore is very convenient to fill the Pock-holes Wethers Suet fresh and new melted and done out with a Fether is effectual to the same purpose But the filthyness of Pock-holes is much amended if they be washed first with Yarrow-Water or Cows-dung-water distilled in May and then anointed with Mans-Grease Forestus does much magnifie this following Oyntment Take Oyls of sweet Almonds and white Lillies of each one ounce Fat of a Capon three drams Pouder of Peony Roots of Orice and Lytharge of Gold of each ten grains Sugar-Candy one scruple Mingle al well in a warm Mortar strain them through a Cloth and noint the Pock-holes therewith morning and night And afterwards let them be well washed with Water distilled out of Calves-feet and when that is not at hand use the Water of Yarrow in stead thereof Neither must I omit that which many Practitioners do teach viz. That when the Pocks be ripe they must be bored through with a golden or a silver Needle least the Quittor tarrying long in them should leave holes in the part Which Practice is notwithstanding now in a manner grown out of use since Experience has taught that the Pocks being bored are longer in healing and doth longer hold their Crusts because of the Weakness of Natural Heat caused in the Part by boring whereby more deformed Scars are left behind And therefore it is better to abstain from this boring and to commit the evacuation of the Quittor to Nature alone To conclude this Cure I shall subjoyn how those dispositions of Itching and Exulceration which happen to persons that have the small Pocks may be remedied And in the first place When the small Pocks come forth or when they begin to ripen somtimes an huge pain or Itching does afflict the Patients especially in the Palms of the Hands and Soales of the Feet because the thickness of the Skin in those parts hinders the Eruption of the Pocks Which Symptom you shall help if you cause those parts to be held in hot Water or Foment them a long time with an Emollient Decoction But when there is great Itching in the Face which compels the Patients to scratch whence great deformity and foul Scars follow use this following Remedy Take leaves of Pellitory of the Wall one handful Flowers of Chamomel and Melilote of each half a pugil Boil them in a pint of Scabious Water To the strained Liquor ad three ounces of Honey-suckle Water With this Liquor hot often let the Itching Pocks be moistened by dipping a thin Rag or Cotton Wool therein and so applying the Liquor gently to them Now the Ulcers which arise from deep and malignant Pocks are to be cured with Vnguentum album Rhasis or with an Oyntment of Lead made after this manner Take Calcined Lead two ounces Litharge one ounce Ceruss washed and Vinegar of each half an ounce Oyl of Roses three ounces Honey of Roses one ounce Three Yolks of Egs Myrrh half an ounce Wax as much as shall suffice Make all into an Oyntment FINIS A PHYSICAL DICTIONARY Expounding such words as being terms of Art or otherwise derived from the Greek and Latin are dark to the English Reader This Dictionary is of use in the reading of all other Books of this Nature in the English Tongue LONDON Printed by Peter Cole in Leaden-Hall and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Printing-press in Cornhil 1655. A Physical Dictionary A A Pophlegmatisms Medicines drawing flegm out of the Head Agaricktrochiscated See the London Dispensatory in English Apozeme A Medicine made of the Broth of divers Herbs and other Ingredients unto which somtimes certain Syrups are added Animal Faculties The Powers of Hearing Seeing Smelling Tasting Feeling of Imagination Understanding Memory Will Going Standing and all Voluntary Motion Aranea Tunica The Cobweb-Coat or Tunicle Abdomen The Belly or Paunch Apoplectick Water Good for the Apoplexy Autumn Harvest the Fall of the Leaf Actual Heat is Heat that may be felt by the hand such as is in Fire and all things heated thereby or in the Body of one in a Feaver It is oppoied to Potential Heat viz. That cannot be felt by the Hand as the Heat in pepper in Mustard seed in a Flint in unslaked Lime and the contrary of Actual Cold. Affected Troubled Diseased An Affect a Disease Trouble Disorder Aquae Acidulae The Spaw Waters like those of Epsam Barnet and Tunbridg with us Absurdities Unreasonable things Acrimony Sharpness such as in Mustard Pepper and in divers Humors of the Body which cause sickness Ascent Going up Apply lay on Actually Cold see Actual Heat Augment Encrease Accidentally By hap by chance upon occasion Adventitious not Natural but springing from external causes Actracting drawing together or causing Attracts draws to Accident somthing that happens upon a Disease vide Symptome Adstriction binding together shutting up Antecedent Cause foregoing Cause is opposed to the Conjunct Cause Abundance of Flegm in the Body is the Antecedent Cause of the Optick Nerves being stopped by flegm but the Flegm in the said Nerves is the Conjuct Cause c. of other Diseases Articulate Voyce A distinct Voyce such as that of Man-kind termed Speech Abstergent Clensing away filth Access Addition joyning to help or company Afflux flowing to Astringents Medicines that bind together and straiten the Pores and Passages of the Body Astriction binding knitting together Anodines Medicines which asswage pain Anastomosis an opening of the Mouths of Veins by which means Blood issues Astringe bind fasten close Acute sharp violent a Disease is termed Acute when it quickly changeth to health or death Adustion burning Adust burned Blood is said to be adust when by reason of extraordinary heat the thinner parts are evaporated and the thicker remain dreggy and black as if they were burnt Asthmatical troubled with shortness of breath Attest witness declare Aneurism a Swelling caused by a dilatation of the Arteries external Coat the internal being broken Axungia Grease Atrophy want of Nourishment when the Body pines away Attenuating Medicaments are such as make thick Humors thin Axiom or Theoreme an acknowledged undoubted Truth Adjacent lying neer bordering upon Aromatized Spiced perfumed Anus the Fundament Astringe to bind Atomes smal Moats hardly visible and that cannot admit of any division Adverse contrary to of
Centaury and in our 98. Observation and the second Centaury were given two examples of Scorbutick Palseys accompanied with Convulsions There may be divers other Causes of a Palsey which are little observed As first A cold and moist Distemper simple and without matter may by congealing of the Spirits not only hinder their passages and influence upon the parts but also by destroying the temper of the Nerves make them uncapable of receiving the animal Spirits whereby they have Sence and Motion and this cold and moist distemper from overcoldness of the air or from the touching of a cold thing as Galen teacheth 4. de Loc. Aff. Chap. 4. of a certain man who when in a cold season and a great storm he had wrapt his wet Cloak a long time about his Neck fel into a Palsey in his hand the Nerves which come from the Neck and Marrow of the Back-bone being thereby made too cold and moist Some of our late Writers have reported That a Palsey may be procured by a stupifying or numbing quality which is inhaerent in some Medicines and Poysons and somtimes in the humors themselves And hence they say comes that Palsey which is caught by touching of the Torpedo or Cramp-fish but it is not so much to be termed a Palsey which cometh by that way as a Stupor or Stupifaction and numbness such like as that which Goldsmiths and Gilders have often by the touching and much using of Quick-silver and Looking-glass makers also which is often seen in Venice And Platerus supposeth that Wine by narcotick or stupifying quality begets Palseys and Numbness although others differ from his Judgment yet Fernelius seems to favor his Opinion affirming in the place above cited that he once saw a man whose skin by gluttony and drunkenness was all over stupified and insensible And Petrus Fabius in his Notes upon Altimar Chap. 14. relates a story of a certain Barbar who after he had been strongly tipling of Wine awaked at mid-night and fell suddenly into an universal Palsey of all the parts of his Body beneath his face so deprived of Sence and Motion that he felt not when he was cut and scarrified with a knife nor when he was pricked deeply with needles But his surfet and drunkenness being past he was cured in the space of three daies only by revulsions and resolving Oyntments applied to the back Notwithstanding this Author doth not impute this Palsey to the Narcotick or stupifying quality of the Wine but to those gross vapors which arose from his surfet and stopped the Nerves and this cause may be accounted among otheres that produce this Disease We have shewed in our Treatise of sleeping Diseases That there is a stupifying quality in corrupt and malignant Humors which being carried to the Nerves may hinder their Actions and since the Humors which produce the Scorbut have a venemous and malignant quality they may also have a stupifying forâ—e which may cause also a Palsey with the Scorbut or a Scorbutick Palsey although as we said before an obstruction or stopping or pressing of the Nerves may be sufficient to cause a Palsey alone Moreover Tumors growing by the Back-bone and its Nerves may without doubt cause a Palsey by pressing upon the Nerves So the cutting and pricking of a Nerve may produce the same effect The dislocation luxation or making loose of any of the Back bones or other Joynts may cause the same by pressing upon the Nerves And lastly The Condensation or thickning of the Nerves may hinder the influence and passage of the Spirits which comes either by too much exsiccation or drying or of a gross Earthy Humor which is taken into the substance of them So in those that have the Leprosie called Elephantiasis the sence and feeling of many parts is lost by reason of their growing too thick and hard by an Earthy and gross Nourishment which they receive The Causes of different Palseys are these In a perfect Palsey which supposeth a perfect privation of both Sence and Motion there is more plenty of the matter which causeth it by a general obstruction or stopping and binding of the Nerves But in an imperfect Palsey there is less matter to stop and bind the Nerves whereby it comes to pass that the passage of the Animal Spirits is not altogether so closed up but it wil suffer some portion of them to have their recourse Somtimes the Motion is hindered and the Sence not because there is more vertue to cause Motion than to cause sence or feeling in regard feeling is a kind of passion but Motion consists altogether in action Somtimes the Sence is hindered and not the Motion for in some parts of the body those nerves and their branches which serve for sence do not serve for motion as those nerves which are in the skin if they only be hurt the Sence only is hurt which is seen in a particular Palsey which is in one part only of the Body But if the chief nerves which are carried to the Muscles be hurt the sence cannot only be hindred but the motion also The Diagnosis or Knowledg of this Disease is directed to three things namely The kind or sort of the Disease to the part affected and to the cause that produceth it We may easily know what kind of Palsey it is because the want of motion and the privation of sence are to be discovered by the eye It is harder to know the part affected but it is found out by the knowledg of Anatomy which declareth the original and joyning of the nerves For if the right side of the face or left hath the Palsey and no other part be hurt the Brain is only hurt in that part from whence the nerves are brought that come to those sides of the face But if the parts under the head be hurt together with the Face then it is a sign that the Back bone is hurt as wel as the Brain And if the parts beneath the Head are hurt and not the face the fault is only in the Back bone If half the Body have the Palsey only one half of the Back bone is affected but if the whol body suffer then is the original of the Back bone hurt When the Palsey is in the Legs the part affected is about the bottom of the marrow of the Back and the Vertebrae or turning Bones of the Os Sacrum and so we must search out for the place whence the nerves spring which are brought to that part which is troubled with the Palsey Somtimes also the searching into the outward Cause doth much avail for the knowledg of the part affected Two examples whereof are brought by Galen one whereof we mentioned before out of his fourth Book de loc affect chap. 4. concerning a man in a cold stormy time wrapt his wet cloak so long about his neck til he fel into a Palsey in his hand Another is in his first Book de loc affect chap. 5. of Pausinias Syrus who lost the sence
of Palpitation of trembling and shaking chap. 8. and his third Book of Parts affected chap. 6. and his second Book of the Causes of Symptomes chap. 2. and his Comment upon Aphor. 39. Sect. 6. For saith he while the strings are moist and filled with humor as it falls out when the wind is Southernly they are stretched and so broken and when they are over dry as it happens in Northern weather they are contracted and also broken So the Reins of a Bridle drying too neer the fire are contracted when they were before extended with too much moisture the same befals the Nerves which being either too full of moisture or too dry are stretched and contracted and the Muscles into which they are united are so drawn back to their principal or original from whence all the Body hath a Convulsion The Mediate Causes of a Convulsion which make Repletion and Emptiness are divers And first the Causes of Repletion are recited by Galen in his Book of Trembling chap. last to the increase of flegm and inflamation a waterish Humor flowing to the Nerves is supposed to stretch them in their breadth which must needs make them shorter But here is a very great difficulty which is propounded by divers Authors but is resolved perfectly and plainly by none namely what difference there is between the cause of a Palsey and of a Convulsion when both come from a water flowing upon the Nerves why that matter which makes a Palsey which so fills the Nerves that it stops all their passages or pores whereby the Animal Spirits are hindred in their motion doth not also stretch the Nerves in breadth and cause also a Convulsion and why the matter causing a Convulsion filling the Nerves doth not also stop the passages and cause a Palsey when contrarily in a Convulsion the feeling remaineth and the part affected for the most part is very much pained For the resolving of this doubt Authors are much divided and the most ingenious of them all confess that is beyond their capacity Most witty Averroes considering of this Point breaks forth in this expression I would I knew the reason saith he why the Nerves are extended in their breadth and not in their length And presently after he saith Know ye that the words of all Physitians that write of this Symptome are more proper to Fidlers and Singers than to Demonstrators or such as should make things plain And Ingenuous Argenterius in his Comment upon the 26. Aphor. Sect. 2. speaks thus It is not easie to render a reason of all things and especially why Water which is said to be the cause of the Palsey or resolution of Nerves and of the Convulsion should somtimes bring one and somtimes another when it is the same matter and the same parts are affected namely the Nerves why should not the same Disease be alwaies produced Thus Argenterius The great difficulty of this matter hath distracted all Writers into divers Opinions so that some have left the Doctrine of Hippocrates and Galen among whom are Averroes Erastus Platerus Cesalpinus Sennertus and others whose divers Opinions and long Disputations we cannot attend to repeat for we desire to be very short and lay aside all Controversies only adhaering to those things which are most necessary for Cure The Opinion of the soundest Writers which are unwilling to dissent from Galen comes to this That a Convulsion is caused of a thick matter which extendeth the Nerves in their breadth and contracteth them in their length and that a Palsey comes of a thin humor which runs through the substance of the nerve and softeneth it but doth not open the pores and passages But this doth not satisfie a soul that is greedy of Truth For if a thick humor by filling the Nerve doth stretch it broader why doth it not also fill its pores and stop the insensible passages and hinder the coming in of the Animal Spirit and so bring a Palsey and why doth not a Convulsion follow a Palsey in process of time when a thin humor long sticking upon a part must needs grow thick even as the serous matter which makes the Arthritis or Joynt-gout by long continuance upon the part causeth the matter which makes the stone Others say that in a Convulsion only the external part of the Nerve which is Membranous and tender is possessed with the humor but in a Palsey the Internal but this giveth less satisfaction For when the Nerves are for the most part slender it is not easie to conceive how the humor should only possess the external part and not the internal or the internal and not the external Or leastwise if this could be so a Convulsion would follow a Palsey and a Palsey a Convulsion by the increase of the matter and that which at first did only possess the outward or the inward part in process of time would seize upon the whol Nerve Therefore we although we cannot satisfie ourselves in this great Difficulty while better Arguments are propounded suppose that those Objections may be taken off thus A Convulsion and a Palsey differ in this A Palsey is made of a pure watery humor without mixture which doth not extend the parts but softeneth them as we may see in the tumor called oedema but a Convulsion is caused of the same humor but not pure and simple but mixed with much wind by which wind the Nerves are stretched and the Muscles also which are contracted to their Original For no cause can be thought upon more fit to make so great a contraction than wind which Galen acknowledgeth in his second Book de sympt caus chap. 2. and Experience teacheth us that the greatest distentions are made especially by wind as we may see in the dropsie called Tympanites and the Chollick And in Convulâ—ions those are the greatest which are caused of wind which stretcheth and distendeth the parts By this Argument all the aforesaid Objections are answered For if it be demanded Why that flegm or water which maketh a Convulsion doth not bring a Palsey by hindering the passage of the Spirits we may answer That it is in so smal a quantity that it cannot stop the insensible passages of the Nerves and that it is so extenuated and made thin by much wind that it cannot produce a stoppage or obstruction Or we may say that wind is the chief cause of Convulsions which Galen acknowledgeth in the place mentioned And in his 6. Book de loc affect cap. ult he makes the only cause of a Priapism which is the Convulsion of the Yard to be wind The other Cause of a Convulsion coming from Repletion which Galen mentions in the place ciâ—ed is the Inflamation of the Nervous parts especially in the Original of the Nerves or neer to its original by which they are stretched and that Inflamation is either from a cause only internal namely from a flux of blood upon the part or of an outward cause as of a wound contusion or
among the causes of a Quotidian Feaver And alwaies before the coming of the Joynt-gout or Inflamation called Erysipelas such a Feaver doth proceed The external waies by which the humor flows from the head are those which are without the skul under the skin and Fernelius supposed that the humors which chiefly carried between the flesh and the skin although by the continuity of the Muscles Membranes and Nerves as also the Veins and Arteries the humors use to flow into the Eyes Teeth Jaws Neck Shoulders Joynts and other external parts Some Authors make difference of Catarrhs which are these Some are called Ferini or wild some Suffocating some Epidemical or common A wild violent Catarrh is that which by its sharpness ulcerateth the Lungs and brings a Consumption and it comes of a sharp and salt humor rising from a hot Liver and sent into the brain and from thence into the Lungs A Suffocating Catarrh is when the humor flows violently into the hollow of the Lungs and is still renewed to the danger of strangling Lastly An Epidemical Catarrh hath a malign quality and is common among the people and comes from the corruption of the Air. The Knowledg of this Disease is from three signs of the Subject of the Disease and of the Cause The Subject or Body apt to fall into a Catarrh is known by the slender Fabrick of it easily pierced with either hot or cold air as also by the too compact Fabrick of it which hindereth a free transpiration as also a weak and cold brain which cannot discuss the vapors which are sent unto it or sufficiently concoct its own nourishment also a hot brain that attracts too many vapors also the contrary actions of the Stomach and Liver when one is hot and the other cold The Signs which shew the Disease either declare it to be coming or present The aforesaid Causes shew it to be coming but especially heaviness in the head dulness and numbness of the Sences long sleep much snorting a snotty nose and more spitting than usual costiveness of Body and abundance of wind The signs of a Catarrh present are manifest for either the humor flowing from the brain is plainly seen or the swellings and pains which it produceth in divers parts The signs of the Causes are also evident for if a Catarrh come of a cold humor there will be sence of cold paleness of face sweet spittle sowr belchings slimy matter or watery and a general flegmatick habit of Body But that the humor distilling is hot appears by redness of the face thirst saltness and sharpness in the mouth inflamation pain and ulcers in the parts affected and a chollerick habit of the whol Body An external Defluxion is known from an internal in regard the pain is more external in the former especially under the skin of the crown of the head where somtimes you may perceive a soft tumor often a painful combing back of the hair and many times the humor is felt to fall down upon the outward parts with great pain heat or cold The Prognostick of this Disease is elegantly laid down by Cornelius Celsus in these words If the humor flow from the head into the nose it is smal if into the jaws it is worse but if upon the Lungs it is worst of all But Hippocrates saith That a Catarrh is very hard to be concocted in those that are very old Where there is a great plenty of humors either from repletion or from evil Concoction there is a dangerous Catarrh for it is to be feared lest the humor flow suddenly and cause Suffocation or some other grievous accident The Cure of this Disease is two-fold The one is of the Cold the other of the Hot Catarrh The whol Cure of a cold Catarrh consists in the preparing and evacuating of the humor off ending and in the revelling of it if it flow to the breast or other part and the stopping of its motion and after let the distemper of the brain be amended First then If the matter be much and flow very violently and we fear least it flow also from other parts especially if the Liver be hot for it is often seen that men subject to Catarrhs have a hot Liver and a cold brain we must breath a Vein but if the matter be but little and move gently and the party be aged and the temper of the Liver not hot so that there is no suspicion for humors to be sent to the brain from any other parts you may omit Phlebotomy The matter offending is first to be diminished with a Potion or Pills or other Purging Medicine mentioned in the chapter of the cold distemper of the Brain Afterwards the remainder of the humor is to be prepared with an Apozeme there also mentioned or if you fear not to disturb the humor too much you may give a purging Apozeme and at last make a compleat Evacuation with stronger Pills or other Purges If the Catarrh be very strong you may give that which will powerfully root out the Matter Coloquintida is very excellent for to purge the Brain strongly but it worketh very violently and is offensive with its bitterness both which faults are corrected by steeping it in Urine for so it laies aside its bitterness and becomes almost without tast and also is so gentle that it may be given to the quantity of a dram safely and it is a most gallant Remedy for all cold Diseases in the head It somtimes happens that Excrementitious Humors sent from the parts beneath into the brain produce a Catarrh and they find a preternatural course that way by reason the natural course by which those humors use to be evacuated is stopped and then the Catarrh is best cured by opening those waies with gentle mild and constant purging that the humors flowing upwards are so sent downwards and by degrees brought to their proper motion And these gentle Purges may be made of Decoctions or Broths long continued but in the mean while you must not neglect strengthening Medicines For Revulsion apply Cupping-glasses and Vesicatories or things to cause blisters to the neck and shoulders and make issues in the hinder part of the head and arms Zacutus Lusitanus in lib. 2. Praxis admirandae observat 160. commends Issues behind the Ears for the best remedy against all distillations from the head And we have seen good success by them especially in defluxion upon the Eyes You may use Errhines Neesings Gargarisms and Masticatories but with this Caution That you use Errhines and Neesings only when the Catarrh falls upon the Jaws Lungs and Stomach but when it falls into the Eyes or Nose use Masticatories and Gargarisms The forms of all these Medicines were set down in the Chapter aforegoing But observe in the use of them that when the matter is somwhat thin you use not strong discussients and dissolvers for by these you shall cause the humors to flow more violently upon the Breast Lungs or other parts
whol Body Also in an old Headach sweating Decoctions are very good and famous Authors declare that many have been cured thereby Which not prevailing Mercatus is bold to fly to the use of Stibium and commends it highly in his first Book of the Cure of internal Diseases and the eighth Chapter But in an old grief it is better to strengthen the head often than to use too many Evacuations Therefore Pouders and Caps and other topick or external Medicines are very necessary before mentioned in the Cure of the cold Distemper of the Brain But Pouders are more commendible because the vertue of a Cap is not so much communicated to the Brain and the pain may be encreased by the filth which is contracted by the long wearing of them Moreover An Oyntment may be applied of the Oyl of Almonds in which wild Bettony Bay leaves Mastich Lavender Mints Marjoram Thyme Penyroyal Nutmeg Cloves and Cinnamon or some of these have been boyled adding in the time of the boyling a little red Wine Or this following Chymical Oyl Take of Turpentine one pound Mastich Nutmeg Cinnamon of each one dram Cloves Zedoary Galangal Ladanum of each one ounce and an half the juyce of Ebulus or Dwarf-Elder and of the wild Cowcumber of each one dram the Oyl of Chamomel and Lillies of each half a pint red Wine one pint and an half wild Marjoram green one handful Pouder those that are to be poudered and put them into a Glass Retort and extract an Oyl with which anoint the head after it is shaved Oyl of Amber is very good and it will be sufficient only to anoint the Head therewith While you use the afore mentioned Remedies you may also use from the beginning of the Cure specifical Medicines such as this Epitheme Take of the pouder of Zedoary one dram the Water of Bettony Vervain and Elder of each one ounce Mix them and apply them hot to the part grieved with Scarlet cloth Among the proper Medicines for the Head-ach from what cause soever it ariseth Vervain is the chief whose Water distilled you may both apply externally and give of it internally to the quantity of ounces with three drops of the spirit of Salt Green Vervain alone only hung about the Neck hath cured two Patâ—â—â—â—s when many other Medicines failed as Forestus reports Zacutus Lucitanus it 〈◊〉 1. Praxis Med. mirab observat 7. 8. 9. 10. propounds four Remedies confirmed by Experience namely An Issue in the back of the hand Hors-leeches to the Temples opening of the Vein in the Forehead and the corner of the Eye which you may read in the place cited These things are to be noted concerning those Observations First That the â—â—sue between the Thumb and fore Finger is approved by other Experiments and hath cured great Headaches Secondly In the Cure by Hors-leeches Zacutus is not content to apply two or three as ordinarily is done but ten or twelve round about the Temples whence comes a great attraction of Blood which may draw forth the whol matter of the Disease Thirdly In the Curing by opening the Veins in the Forehead we must observe That that Vein was twice opened whence it appears that the first was not sufficient when ordinarily our Practitioners do seldom open it the second time if the first hath been to little benefit The hot Cause of a Primary and Essential Headach is Blood or Choller And the like Remedies are proper for both though they must be made stronger or weaker according to the strength of the Disease First then after a Clyster is administred begin with Blood-letting drawing forth more when the grief proceeds of blood than when it proceeds of choller Then give a Medicine to purge Choller not only when Choller is the Principal Cause but when blood aboundeth whose thinner part is easily turned into Choller If the matter offending is not sufficiently taken away by one purge you must purge again at a due distance After apply Repelling Medicines to the Head and Vinegar of Roses such as were propounded in the Cure of the Phrenzy making choice of the mildest And after it will be very profitable to apply Creatures newly killed or parts of them to discuss the reliques of the Disease and to asswage the pain In an Headach which goeth with a continual Feaver a Sheeps Lungs applied hot do much asswage the pain Also a Cataplasm of bruised Guords and Housleek to the feet The opening of the Saphena after sufficient bleeding in the Arm cures often times a Headach with a Feaver very suddenly You must use Cupping-glasses with and without Scarification and Frictions of the extream Parts And in the whol time of the Disease if the Belly be not loose you must every day give an Emollient and cooling Clyster and which do gently purge After general Evacuations and Revulsions you may rightly and with profit derive the matter by opening the Head Vein or with Hors-Leeches to the Forehead or with Vesicatories to the Neck In the mean while let the whol mass of Humors be qualified with Juleps Emulsions and Broths as was mentioned in the Cure of the Phrenzy Lastly If the pain be very violent you must apply Narcoticks both externally and internally as they are set down in the said Cure of the Phrenzy Here also may avail the opening of the Forehead Veins and Leeches to the Temples commended from Zacutus Lusitanus Paraeus lib. 16. cap. 4. reports that a desperate half Headach was cured by opening the Arteries in the Temples and saies there is no danger in doing it The Artery is opened as a Vein and six ounces of blood forcibly leaping forth are to be taken After apply a convenient Ligature and open it not in four daies Botallus also saies That it doth miraculously cure old Head-aches and we also have cured desperate ones the same way and never found any danger in the opening of the Artery You must apply a Plaister to the Orifice of Frankinsence Mastich Bole armenick and Hares Hair with the white of an Eg and then make your Ligature as you use to do in Wounds of the Head In all pains of the Head of what cause soever if other means fail and the greatness of the pain make thee run to extremities a Vesicatory applied over all the Head after it is shaven will cure it A Cautery upon the Coronal Suture somtimes hath perfectly cured a violent Head-ach But it is more powerful if it be applied to the Temples of which see Poterius observat centur 3. cap. 8. and our Observations thereon The End of the first Book THE SECOND BOOK OF THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICK Of the Diseases of the Eyes The PREFACE THE Diseases of the Eyes are so divers that it is very hard to lay them down cleerly and plainly and to distinguish one from the other which that we may endeavor as much as may be and cleer up our Treatise for Practice we will so divide them the Diseases by which the sight is
of the inferior parts Let his Belly be alwaies kept loose and let him avoid disturbance of mind The course of Diet being thus ordered you must begin your Cure from Universal Evacuation And first you must purge with the following Medicine Take of clean Senna half an ounce Fennel seeds one dram the Leaves of Bettony Eyebright and Vervain of each half a handful Liquoris three drams Boyl them to three ounces Dissolve in the straining three drams of Diaphaenicon Syrup of Roses one ounce Make a Potion and give it in the morning with orderly Government After this first Purge let the Physitian consider seriously with himself whether he may bleed or not For it is disallowed in this case by almost all Practitioners because it is a Chronical Disease of long continuance coming of a cold distemper and of a flegmy humor Hence they fear least by blood-letting the Brain should be made more cold and so beget more flegm and least the conjunct cause of the Disease should be more incressated or thickened and so become more difficult to be discussed and dissipated But although their Opinion may take place as to old men and such as are of a Phlegmatick Constitution yet it is not to be admitted to them that are yong or of a hot Constitution especially if there be manifest signs that blood doth predominate for then there is no doubt but seasonable blood-letting may much profit Nay where the aforesaid signs of blood do appear it is profitable in the judgment of Paulus and Aetius after the Vein in the Arm is opened to open the particular Veins of the Head and those which are neerest the Eyes namely the Frontal and Temple Veins and those which are in the corners of the Eyes neer the root of the Nose But you may better apply Hors-leeches to the Forehead as also behind the Ears Some Practitioners do relate that some by a wound in the Forehead have been cured of blindness In which it is most probable that the cause of their blindness was the compression of the optick Nerves by the Veins and Arteries adjoyning and swelling with too much blood which the Wounds aforesaid emptied forth Whence Spigelius as Plempius reports in his Book of the Eyes was wont in Gutta serena with good success to open the middle Vein in the Forehead and let it bleed while it stop of it self But if the suppression of the terms went before this Disease you must draw blood from the lower veins or apply Leeches to the Hemorrhoids if the Patient had formerly a flux thereof which then is stopped or if he have a very hot Liver or be of a melancholly temper Afterwards the whole body is to be more exactly purged by this following Apozeme Take of Fennel Roots and Sarsaparilla and Flower-de-luce-roots and Elicampane roots of each one ounce the Leaves of Bettony Marjoram Balm Eyebright Fennel Vervain and Celendine the great of each one handful Liquoris sliced and Raisons of the Sun stoned of each one ounce Annis-seed and Fennel-seed of each three drams clensed Senna two ounces Gummy Turbith and Agerick newly made into Troches of each two drams Ginger and Cloves of each one scruple flowers of Stoechas Rosemary and Lavender of each one small handful Boyl them in five quarters that is a pint and a quarter of water dissolve in the straigning four ounces of white sugar make an Apozeme clarifie it and perfume it with two drams of the best cinnamon for four mornings draughts After the Apozeme is done let him take these Pills Take of the mass of Pill Lucis major and Cochia the less of each half a dram malax them with Bettony water make six guilded Pills thereof which let him take early in the morning After this general Evacuation the antecedent Cause is to be revelled and the conjunct Cause is to be derived and discussed For this Frictions of the extream parts especially beneath are to be used every morning Cupping-Glasses must be applied to the shoulders and back without sacrification especially to the hinder part of the Head with scarification for they do so powerfully draw the humors from the fore-parts and the principle of the Nerves that some presently after the application thereof have recovered their sight At the same time apply a Vesicatory to the hinder part of the neck and let the Blysters that are raised be kept long open with Beet or Colewort Leaves often applied When the Vesicatory is dried up apply a Caustick to the hinder part of the head or neck between the second or third Vertebra or as it is now most usual apply two Causticks to the Neck behind upon the fourth and fifth Vertebra so that the back bone may lie untouched between them and both may be Cured with one Playster Instead of Cauteries a Seton applied to the same part is most efficacious but the tenderness of our Country men hath almost abolished the use thereof If the aforesaid Cauteries avail not you may lay a potential Cautery to the Coronal Suture which sometimes hath done the work when other Remedies have failed When these things are doing presently after universal Evacuation by seege you must order a sweating Diet of the Decoction of Guajacum Sassaphras and the Roots of Sarsa according to the method prescribed by us in the Cure of the Cold distemper of the Brain Observing this That towards the end of the Sudorifick Decoction you and those things which peculiarly respect the Eyes as Vervain Fennel Eyebright and Celondine the greater And for the better drying of the Brain let the Bags prescribed in the Chapter above mentioned be applied to the Temples if you fear not an inflamation Also after the Sudorifick Diet it is very convenient to use Sulpherous and Bituminous Baths and washings of the head because they are very proper for the correcting of a Cold and Moist Distemper for the consuming of Flegm and strengthening the brain Besides the universal Evacuation of the body and Head particular may be ordered as Medicines that cause spitting called Apophlegmatisin by which the Rhewm is brought out of the Brain by the Pallate which may be made either in the â—orm of a Gargarism or Masticatory according to the forms prescribed in the Cure of the cold distemper of the brain Errhins and Sternutatories or Neesings are condemned by almost al Practitioners in this Disease because they draw humors to the eyes but yet if some of the milder and gentler sort be used after an exact purging of the whose body and head for some few dayes they may be profitable in regard they may by degrees draw forth and derive the humor which causeth the Disease and is fastned in the Optick Nerves nor can they fetch any thing from the profound part of the brain to the fore-parts Otherwise in every derivation which is an evacuation by the part affected or that which is neer unto it we should alwayes fear lest there should be an attraction to the part affected
For this end use the following Ceratum Take of Pomegranate-peels Acacia Pomegranate flowers Galls Cypress-nuts Roch-Alum Bole-Armenick of each one dram white Wax four ounces Turpentine three drams Make a Cerate After the use of Repercussives you must apply Resolvers to the part affected as this Decoction Take of pure Honey and Aloes of each two ounces Mirrh one ounce Saffron one dram and an half Water two pints Boyl them gently to the consumption of half dip a piece of soft Spunge therein squeeze it a little and apply it hot to the part bind it on and do thus often Amatus Lucitanus Curatione 68. Cent. 5. prescribes a Cerat against Aegylops which he highly commends which is this Take of the Pouder of Cockle shels two drams Mirrh washed Aloes and Frankinsence of each half an ounce Sarcocol Dragons blood and Ceruss of each three drams Opopanax dissolved in Wine Vinegar and Blood-stone of each one dram and an half Saffron two scruples Wax and Rozin of each three ounces Mix them according to art at the fire and make a Cerate to be applied to the corner of the Eye If the Tumor wil not be resolved with the former Medicines but wil come to suppuration you must help it forward with a Plaister of Simple Diachylon or if there be pain or inflamation you may apply a Cataplasm of Crums of Bread If it wil not break open it with a Lancet and delay not least the matter contained do corrode the parts and make an incurable Fistula Many open it with a hot Iron but the cold is best After the imposthume is opened you must clense the Ulcer and heal it as others But if it fistulate cure it thus First make a general Evacuation by bleeding and purging You must divert the defluxion from the Head by Cupping-glasses Vesicatories and Causticks applied to their proper places and then use the decoction of China or Sarsaparilla for many daies And at the same time dry the Brain with Fumes and Head Pouders as in a Catarrh Instead of a Cautery you may apply a Seton to the Neck for Fabricius Hildanus reports Obs 41. Cent. 1. that it hath done it alone without other means If the distemper of the Liver be the Cause of the defluxion as it often is you must have a special care to administer Medicines proper for that When you use Topicks open the orifice of the Ulcer and dilate it by degrees with a Tent made of an Elder pith a spunge made fit or a Gentian Root When it is large enough apply this following Medicine commended by Forestus Obs 17. Lib. 11. Take of Honey two ounces Verdegreece one dram Water of Rue four ounces Pouder the Verdegreece very fine and boyl it with the rest at a gentle fire till the third part be consumed and make a warm injection of the strained Liquor with a Syringe if this be too sharp wash the Vlcer every day with the Water of Rue and after apply a little Unguentum Apostolorum Continue this course for three weeks laying on some convenient Plaister and defending the Eye with Rose Water When the Ulcer is sufficiently purged use this following Collyrium to incarnate and cicatrize Take of Frankinsence Aloes Dragons blood Pomegranate flowers Allum and Antimony of each one dram Verdegreece five grains Pouder them fine and with Rue Water make a Collyrium to be dropt in with a stalk of Rue thrice in a day and put in a tent wet therewith laying upon it a Diapalma Plaister Lessen your Tent by degrees and at length take it quite out only washing the part with the aforesaid Collyrium and laying on Diapalma Forestus in the place cited saith that new fistulaes have been cured thus by a famous Chyrurgeon of his time If it appear that the bone be foul it must only be cured by an actual Cautery the manner of which is exactly described in Paraeus Fallopius and Aquapendente in their Works But Fabricus Hildanus Obs 22. Cent. 5. boasteth that he cured a Fistula lachrymalis with foulness at the Bone that was four yeers old and counted desperate in a child of thirteen yeers of age with Medicines alone dilating of it with prepared Spunges and after sprinkling Euphorbium into it and that very much and often and after applying only an Emplaister of Gum Elemi Having used these things diligently for the space of divers weeks he perceived a scale of the Bone which he drew forth and then with half a drop of Tolutan Balsom upon a little Lint once in a day conveyed into the Ulcer he perfectly consolidated the Fistula in a short time Chap. 16. Of Rhyas and Encanthis ANother Disease often followeth the Fistula Lachrymalis called Rhyas and this is the consuming or diminishing of the smal flesh in the great corner of the Eye from whence it is enlarged This comes also of other Causes as sharp humors falling upon the part or from clensing Medicines formerly misapplyed Encanthis is contrary to Rhyas which is the immoderate encrease and swelling of the Caruncle or little flesh in the great corner of the Eye and this comes from much blood flowing to the part and the not orderly curing and drying up of the Ulcer The Cure of Rhyas is by Incarnatives such as follow Take of red Roses one pugil Cypress Nuts and Myrtles of each two drams Aloes one dram and an half old Wine one pint Boyl them till the fourth part be consumed wash the part often with this Decoction Or Take of Aloes and Frankinsence of each one dram Dragons blood half a dram red Roses and seeds of Sumach of each one scruple Rose Water one pint boyl them to the consumption of the fourth part Make a Collyrium Encanthis is cured by taking away of the superfluous flesh growing in the corner of the Eye this is done with eating Medicines beginning with the mildest first therfore first use burnt Allum after proceed to Apostolorum Aegyptiacum or burnt Vitriol But if these will not do cut it out or burn it with an Iron But before you do these things you must prepare the Body with convenient Evacuations least you cause a new defluxion but in the cutting burning or consuming of this Caruncle with Medicines you must take heed that you take it not wholly away but only that which is superfluous otherwise it wil turn to Rhyas Chap 17 Of Epiphora THe word Epiphora signifieth any Defluxion into any part But through custom it is used especially for the defluxion of a thin Rhewm from the Eyes hence it is called involuntary weeping which flows dayly from the corners of the Eyes For the producing of which Humor flowing preternaturally there is an evil disposition in the part from whence it cometh and in the part receiving it the part that sends this humor is the Brain which when it is too hot or too cold gathereth a watery Humor and so sends it to the inferior parts which are fit to receive it The part receiving is the Glandle
or Kernel by the great corner of the Eye and the Caruncle upon the corner the thinness or thickness or other weakness of which parts causeth that they easily entertain the humors that flow thither Therefore an Epiphora happeneth often in an Egylops a Lachrymal Fistula a Rhyas and Encanthis because the superfluous humors use to be easily received into the parts affected This humor is carried from the Brain into the corners of the Eyes somtimes by the internal Veins somtimes by the external as we shal shew you hereafter by their proper signs But the Humor which maketh an Epiphora is somtimes cold and brings no other inconvenience but only defluxion somtimes it is salt and sharp and causeth pain heat and redness and exulceration of the Eyebrows There need no signs to be given of Tears they are visible It wil appear by what hath been said whether they are cold or hot and sharp But we must distinguish whether they come by the internal or external Vessels When by the internal there is pain in the inside of the head and somtimes violent neesing But if they come by the external without the Skul The Vessels of the Forehead and Temples are stretched and the head seems to be bound about and astringent means outwardly applyed do help As to the Prognostick New Epiphora's coming from outward causes are easily cured especially in youth but old and in old men very hardly They which proceed from other diseases as Aegylops Fistula Lachrymalis and the like have their Cure with the diseases whence they came The Cure of this Disease consists in taking away the defluxion and strengthening the part receiving You must take away the defluxion with Evacuation of the humor offending revulsion derivation and strengthening the part from whence it cometh The Peccant humor which is a Water superfluous in the Brain must be evacuated with bleeding and purging Blood-letting is not good in a cold distemper of the Brain except there be manifest signs of plethory or fulness but in a hot distemper when the humors are very sharp it is very good and you may use it twice or thrice if need be You may purge by Potions Apozemes Pills and the like which you may proportion to the condition of the Patient Make a revulsion of the humors flowing by Cupping-glasses often applied to the shoulders by Vesicatories to raiâ—e blisters behind in the Neck or with Cauteries to the hinder part of the Head and Issues in the Arms. In a stubborn Epiphora a Vesicatory applyed to the fore-part of the Head doth wonders as Forestus sheweth Obs 11. lib. 11. concerning an Old Woman who had sore Eyes weeping and mattery with great pain and itching and could by no means be Cured that with applying a Plaister of Cantharides with Honey and Leaven to her head being shaven he perfectly Cured her Rondeletius saith That a Cautery applyed to the Commissura doth more good than when it is used to any other part For Derivation use Leeches behind the Ears and Masticatories every morning But least the Humors once evacuated should breed again the Brain must be strengthened and dried and if it be too cold you may use al our Remedies prescribed in the Cure of the cold Distemper of the Brain But if it be too hot those things which we prescribed in the Cure of a hot Catarrh especially such as respect the Brain most are here to be used While the former Medicines are used you must apply Topicks to the part receiving and first if the Humor comes through the external veins apply Astringents to the Forehead and Temples and if the Defluxion come from a sharp hot Humor use the following Cataplasm Take Bole-Armenick Dragons Blood Pomegranat Flowers and Mirtles of each one dram and an half Accacia and Hipocistis of each one dram Frankinsence and Mastich of each two scruples Red Roses one pugil Pouder them and mix them with the white of an Egg and a little Vinegar make a Cataplasm which spread upon a Cloth and apply to the Fore-head and Temples and renew it as fast as it groweth dry If it come of a Cold Humor apply this following Cerat Take of Frankinsence and Mastich of each one dram and an half Gum Anime Tacamahacca and Blood-stone of each one dram Gum of Juniper two scruples Turpentine and Wax as much as will serve turn make a Cerat But you must apply Astringent and Drying Medicines to the part affected which are thus made Take of Tutty prepared one dram Sarcocol half a dram Frankinsence and Mastich of each a scruple Spicknard six grains make Troches which being mixed with the white of an Egg or the juyce of Quinces may be applyed to the corner of the Eye Or Take Tutty prepared in a fine Rag and tye it with a string and put it in sharp Wine and with this often wash the Eyes Or Take Tutty prepared Egg shells poudered the best Aloes of each one dram tye them in a Rag and make a little Ball which steep in Fennel-water and squeez the Ball often into the Eyes Only Aloes poudered and made into a Ball as above and put into Rose-water is very good Or Take Aloes Cypress Nuts Frankinsence Mastich Myrrh of each two drams Tutty prepared and Sarcocol of each one dram and an half Sanguis Dragonis Barberries Sumach red Roses of each one scruple Pouder them finely and with Fennel-water make a Collyrium In a Hot Defluxion this is excellent Take of white Troches of Rhasis without Opium Sarcocol Lycium or Box-thorn Acacia Olibanum of each one dram the stones of Myrobalans calcined of white and red Coral of each half a dram Pearlhalf a scruple as much of the juyce of Pomegranats boyled to half as will make a Collyrium If Redness be joyned with it this following is profitable Take of the seeds of Sumach bruised one scruple hot Plantane Water one ounce macerate them a while then press them strongly and put of Rose Eyebright and the Waters of the white of an Egg well beaten of each half an ounce Sugar Candy finely poudered and strained with a little water one scruple Make a Collyrium Lastly Those Medicines which were prescribed for an Old Ophthalmy are good in this Disease CHAP. XVIII Of Pterygium or Haw in the Eyes called Unguis THis is a Hard and Nervous little Membrane which coming out of the great Corner of the Eye first covereth the white and after by continuance the black and covering the Pupilla hindereth the light Somtimes it is thin and white somtimes it is fleshly with many red veins and it is called a Pannicle and Sebel by Avicen although some distinguish a Pannicle from a Haw or Vngula because Vngula is a Nervous Tunicle without repletion of veins and is only in the Adnata But Sebel or Pannicle Covereth the whole Eye and is very Red and full of Veins This Disease comes from Ulceration of the flesh in the Corner of the Eye or of the Adnata whence
the Patient was cured without manual Operation which is seldom seen because those Tumors are of the Nature of Imposthumes and are contained in a little bag so that when the matter hath been discussed they have been filled again If this Tumor cannot be cured with discussing Remedies you must open it which must be often done for it will not often be discussed You must not make a smal Orifice when you open it because the matter contained in the Bagg wil be again gathered and the bagg filled unto which the part being loose and soft is very much disposed but you must make a very long Incision through the height of the Tumor in both sides that the whol matter may be discharged at once then you must wash the Ulcer first with gentle things as the Decoction of Mallows and then with Clensers as white Wine and Honey of Roses or Diamoron and after with Oxymel till it be clean and free from the Bagg And finally to heal it up wash the mouth with red Wine in which Allum is dissolved Forestus Cured the like in a Woman by an Incision made on both sides and after by washing with Wine and Water mixed with a little Salt If the Disease be old and the Ulcer wil not be cured by the aforesaid Remedy let it be touched with Oyl of Sulphur twice every day mixed with Rose-water one drop of Oyl to six of Water for so the Distemper wil be corrected and the part dryed which must be often washed for confirmation with Red Wine with Allum dissolved in it If after the use of these the Disease return you must come to an actual Cautery the manner whereof is taught by Paraeus lib. 7. cap. 5. Chap. 3. Of the Taste being Hurt THE Taste as other Sences and al actions of the Body is hurt Three waies by being Diminished Abolished Depraved it is lessened when it scarce perceiveth remiss savors and strong savors but a little It is Abolished when it no waies perceiveth those savors whether they be great or little It is Depraved when the object seems to be of another taste The Causes of Diminishing and Abolishing the taste are the same only they differ in degrees for if they be light and weak they Diminish if great they Abolish the taste And these Causes are either a Defect of the Animal Spirit in the part or a Distemper of the Third pair of Nerves which come to the Tongue or the Tongue it self is Preternaturally affected The Spirits fail either by reason of their scarcity as in dying men or of the obstruction of the Nerves of the Third Conjugation by which they are carried or by reason of a Tumor bred in that part of the Head from whence those Nerves do arise The Tongue is either covered with a moist slimy matter or hath Tumors Pustuls or Ulcers and by these the proper action of taste may be diminished or abolished The Taste is Depraved when the Tongue is infected with an evil Humor as in Feavers when the Tongue is infected with Choller al things tasted are thought better otherwise if it be with salt flegm or melancholly al things appear to be salt or sowr for the outward objects being brought to the Tongue do move the vitious juyce of it which at that time striking upon the tongue most leaveth its savor thereon and so those things which are tasted seem to be of the same taste It happeneth also somtimes that the Tongue perceiveth the savors of the juyces contained in its self although no external Object be applied as Galen teacheth 1. de sympt caus cap. 4. And it is confirmed by daily Experience in men in Feavers whose tongue is covered with Choller which if it be very bitter they find a continual bitterness on the Tongue though they take nothing into their mouths The Diversity of the Causes aforesaid is known by the variety of the tasts and disposition of the Tongue for a sweet taste and redness of the Tongue signifieth blood bitterness and yellowness Choller whiteness with sweetness Flegm blackness and sharpness Melancholly a Nauseous taste sheweth that evil Humors are contained in the stomach Pustuls Tumors and Ulcers are manifest to the Eies And Lastly If the taste be hurt and there appear no change in the Tongue you must suppose that the Cause lieth in the Brain or Nerves The Cure is various according to the diversity of Causes and therefore if the Disease lie in the Brain or Nerves you must apply Remedies thereto especially such as use to be prescribed for the Cure of the Palzey but when the taste is depraved by ill Humors commonly that Symptom depends upon other Diseases especially upon Feavers which being Cured the Symptoms also are removed If the Taste be offended by Tumors the Cure thereof depends upon the Cure of the Tumors above mentioned Finally If it come from Pustles or Ulcers of the Tongue you must Cure them by blood letting and Purging of sharp Humors to which you may ad Cooling Drying and Binding Topicks in form of a Gargarism And if foul Ulcers be found let them be clensed with Honey of Roses with a little Oyl of Sulphur or Vitriol in such a quantity as may gently touch upon the Tongue Or if you wil Dry more violently Let the part Affected be often touched with the aforesaid Oyls pure and not mixed for so the Aphthe or Thrush and al Ulcers of the Mouth and Tongue are quickly Cured Chap. 4. Of the Palzey of the Tongue and the Hurt Motion thereof THE Chief Action of the Tongue is Speech and this is Abolished Diminished and Depraved by divers Causes which are referred to Similary Organick or Common Diseases As for the Similary A moist Distemper with Matter maketh the Tongue more soft and loose so that it cannot freely exercise its motions Dryness doth too much foul the Tongue as in Feavers But Organical or Diseases of the Instrument are when the Tongue is enlarged as we said before concerning Tumors which hinder the free motion of it also when the figure or shape of it is deformed as when the Tongue is naturally too short or by being partly cut off or if it be tyed too strait as also when the seventh pair of Nerves which come from the Brain to the Muscles which move the Tongue are stopped Lastly Common Diseases are Solutions of Continuity or Wounds in the part Too much moisture maketh Balbuties a kind of Stammering which keepeth men from prououncing of the Letter R. And this is either natural as in Children by reason of their much moisture who are Cured by age when the superfluous moisture is consumed But in some there is a moist distemper al their Life and they are alwaies stammerers of which Hippocrates speaketh Aph. 32. Sect. 6. thus Stammerers are most subject to long Fluxes of the Belly Galen in his Comments saith That they who naturally stammer have either a moist Brain or Tongue or both From the moist Brain much moisture may
his Feaver abated and when it was gone the blood stopped The Gums bleed Symptomatically when the blood is sharp and the Liver or Spleen distempered So that in the Scurvy this flux is ordinary Somtimes after a Tooth is drawn there is so great a flux of blood by reason the Artery is torn which is the root of the Tooth that somtimes men have died thereof The Cure of a Symptomatical flux is by bleeding and purging and other Remedies for the bowels As also by Topicks astringing made into Gargarisms Pouders Liniments or Opiates If it come from a Tooth drawn you must first let blood and Cup to make revulsion and apply astringents to the part as a Cataplasm of Bole-Armenick Terra Sigillata Sanguis Draconis and the like astringents made up with the white of an Egg. Also Time alone with the white of an Egg is good But if they do not suffice you must lay the Patients finger upon the part and let him hold it there till the blood congeal above the orifice of the Artery If it cannot be stopt with sleight things use stronger Valeriola obs 3. lib. 5. reports that an old woman who had a Tooth taken forth with the singers only had a violent bleeding upon it from the Artery under the Gum which he stopt with burnt Vitriol when other things failed which is excellent both for astringency and burning Zacutus Lucitanus obs 84. lib. 1. Prax. Med. admir relates a History of one who having a grievous Tooth that ached drew it violently forth and after had a great flux of blood from the Artery torn which when it could not be stopped by Blood-letting Cupping and Astringents nor by laying on the finger nor by burnt Vitriol at last by his advice the place was filled with Gum Arabick which stopt it in three hours space for it hath power to stop cool glutinate and dry The same Zacutus Obs 85. of the same Book reports of a certain strong Soldier who after great pain drew a Tooth violently and bled much from the Artery under the Tooth for two daies the best Physitians use al Astringents to the part with Revulsives and burn the Artery with a hot iron but al in vain for he bled stil even unto death Zacutus being called applied the Plaister of Galen made of Frankinsence Aloes the hairs of an Hare poudered and mixed with the white of an Egg by which in a few hours the blood stopt and the Patient recovered Galen boasteth that he invented this precious Medicine lib. 5. meth cap. 7. and stopped the Artery in the Elbow And cap. 4. of the same Book and in his Book of Curing by Blood-letting Chapter the last he confirmeth the Excellency thereof by many stories Chap. 5. Of the Vcers of the Mouth and Jaws THe smal and superficial Ulcers of the Mouth are usually Aphthae or Trush although in Galen and Hippocrates it is somtimes used for Ulcers in other parts but they which are deeper are absolutely called the Ulcers of the Mouth and Jaws Such as are in the French Pox. These Ulcers breed of sharp Humors or Vapors coming from divers parts into the Jaws so in malignant Feavers they often happen or to those that have hot Livers or foul Bodies So the Children have the Trush as Hipp. aph 24. sect 3. either from the sharpness of the Milk which Ulcerates those tender parts in its passage as Galen teacheth in his Comment upon the same Aphorism or from the corruption of the milk in the Stomach by which sharp vapors are sent to the mouth as Galen affirms 9. de compos med sec loc cap. ultimo Now these Ulcers are divers as some are slighter some more dangerous some are in Children some in Men some are joyned with Inflamation some are without these divers degrees are according to the variety of the Humors of which they come For they proceed either of Blood Choller Flegm or Melancholly or Choller Adust which hath not only a burning but often a malignant quality and begets evil conditioned Ulcers These Differences are known by their proper signs for if the Ulcers be Redish they come of Blood if Yellow of Choller if White of Flegm if Livid or Blew from Melancholly if they stink they are foul As for the Prognostick Aphthae or Truth is easily Cured but deep Ulcers and putrid called in Greek Nomai are hardly Cured And in Children they are more dangerous by reason of their tender flesh which they sooner devour As also because strong Medicines cannot be applied unto them hence somtimes Children die of them when they are Malignant and putrid Also in respect or the Cause those Ulcers which come of Flegm are least dangerous those that come of Blood or Choller more and those that come of Melancholly most of al. Black and Crusty Ulcers are deadly especially in Children The Jaws Ulcerated in a Feaver are hard to be Cured as Hipp. teacheth 3. Prog. Because as Galen explaineth they shew the malignity of the matter The Cure is first by good Diet which Cooleth and Dryeth and hindereth the Generation of the antecedent Cause Therefore when Children have it from their Suck let the Nurse be changed or eate good Diet as also let her blend and be purged if need be especially let her eate Cool Astringent things as Quinces Pears Medlers Services Lettice and Purslain prescribe the same to men and let them avoid sharp things salt and pepper Then you must look to the antecedent Cause with Universal Evacuations according to the age And first Phlebotomy doth powerfully revel the Humors and tempereth their sharpness by Cooling the whol body After this â—up and Scarrifie put Horsleeches behind the Ears and under the Chin and apply a Vesicatory to the Neck behind The next day after you have let blood you must prescribe a Purge agreeable to the Humor offending and the age of the Patient From the beginning of the Cure use Topicks called by Galen Stomatica or Medicines for the Mouth and at first they must be mild as Gargarisms Mouth-waters made of Plantane Honey-suckle and Roses Water with Syrup of dried Roses and of Mulberies or Decoctions of Plantane Bramble Leaves Knot-grass Pomegranat Flowers Red Saunders and the like with Syrup afore mentioned And if there be Inflamation you may do wel if you ad the Juyce of Nightshade Housleek and Purslain with as much Sal Pruneilae as wil not make it too sharp Or a little crude Allum If there be no Inflamation the Chief only Remedy is Spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur which may be used alone to Men upon a little lint at the end of a stick gently touching the part by which it wil be presently Cured if it be a simple Aphtha But to Children you must mix the Spirit aforesaid with Honey of Roses so that it may be but a little sharp and with a little Lint at the end of a Probe often apply it and they wil be quickly Cured If the Ulcers are very painful and
Diseases But the Heart hath a Natural Faculty to contract and dilate it self therefoâ—e a Palpitation cannot be without its motion And they do in vain muster up Galens Reasons so thought by them to prove that the Palpitation of the Heart comes not by Nature but by a Diâ—ease or cause of a Disease For Galen in all those places speaks of no other Palpitation than that which is in the Skin and other external parts and not of the palpitation of the Heart which is of another Nature and Galen 2. de sympt caus cap. 2. saith that the Palpitation of the Heart and Arteries is different from that of the other parts Therefore the Palpitation of the Heart is an immoderate and preternatural shaking of the part with a great Diastole or Dilatation and a vehement Systole or contraction which somtimes is so great that as Fernelius observes it hath often broken the Ribs adjoyning somtimes displaced them which are over the Paps and somtimes it hath so dilated an Artery forth into an Aneurism as big as ones fist in which you might both see and feel the pulsation This immoderate shaking of the Heart comes from the Pulsative Faculty provoked But here may be objected That in Feavers all these things are found for this is an immoderatâ— Systole and Diastole by the provocation of the Faculty through some troublesom matter or by encrease of heat in the Heart To this we answer That the motion of the Heart in Feavers is distinguished from Palpitation only by its degrees and the depraved motion of the Heart when it is vehement is called Palpitation but if it be not vehement it is called a quick great and swift Pulse and is referred to the differenceâ— of Pulses Now the Efficient Causes of this Palpitation may be referred to Three Heads Either it is somwhat which troubleth and pricketh or necessity of Refrigeration or defect of Spirits which two latter may be referred to the encrease of Custom The Molesting Cause is most usual so that many Authors knew no other the other are rare and that is either a vapor or wind which troubleth the Heart either in quantity or quality or both The quality is either manifest or occult A vapor troublesom in a manifest quality is either in the Heart and its parts adjoyning or it is sent from other parts and this suddenly getting to the inmost parts of the Heart doth stir up the Expulâ—ive Faculty which being Naturally very strong ariseth powerfully with all its force to expel the enemy In the Heart and thereabout especially in the Pericardium are gathered somtimes cold and thick Humors which send up vapors to the Ventricles of the Heart which cause Palpitation But from more remote parts vapors and wind are sent to the Ventricles of the Heart as from the Stomach Spleen Mother and the other parts of the lower Belly Many times a Vapor that troubles the Heart by an occult quality ariseth in malignant Feavers Plague and after Poyson and somtimes from Worms putrified and the terms stopped from corrupt feed or other putrid matter which do much stir up the Expulsive Faculty thereof Divers Humors do molest the Heart either with their quantity or quality so too much Blood oppresâ—ing the Veins Arteries and Ventricles of the Heart so that they cannot move freely makes a Palpitation by hindering motion which that the Faculty may oppose it moveth more violently So Water in the Pericardium being in great quantity doth compreâ—s the substance of the Heart and its Ventricle so that they cannot freely dilate themselves The same do Humors flowing in abundance to the Heart as it happens somtimes in Wounds Fear and Terror Humors offending in quality hurt the Heart if they be venemous putrid corrupt sharp or too hot especially burnt Choller coming to the Heart and provoking its Expulsion Also Tumors though seldom cause this Disease as Inflamation of the Heart Imposthumes or Swelling in the Arteries of the Lungs neer the Heart which Galen saith befel Antipater the Physitian 4. de loc aff by which after an unequal Pulse he fell into a Palpitation and an Asthma and so died so Dodonaeus reports that he found a Callus in the great Artery next to the Heart which caused a Palpitation for many yeers Also Tumors in the Pericardium whether they be without humors and scirrhus or with humors in them as the Hydatides or watery Pustles and little stones bones and pieces of flesh are somtimes growing in the Heart which cause Palpitation So Platerus reports that in one who had a long Palpitation and died thereof there was found a bone in his Heart But Schenkius reports that in a Priest who was from his youth to the age of forty two troubled with a Palpitation there was found in the bottom of his Heart an Excrescens of flesh which weighed eight drams and resembled another Heart The Second Cause of Palpitation is necessity of refrigeration which is when there is a pretâ—â—natural heart in the Heart by which the Spirits are inflamed within and therefore the motion of the Heart and Arteries is encreased that what is spent may be restored and the heat cooled and this comes somtimes from an internal cause which is rare but oftener of an external as anger vehement exercise and the like As Platerus observed in a yong man who being hot and angry at Tennis fell into a Palpitation of the Heart and so died The third Cause is the defect of Spirits which comes by hunger watching anger Joy fear shame and great Diâ—eases and other causes which do suddenly dissipate the Spirits which defect the Heart laboring to repair that it may beget more quick and plentiful and send them into the whol Body sooner it doth enlarge its motion and make it quicker You must observe for conclusion that it is more ordinary to see a Palpitation which comes by consent from other parts than from the Heart it self For it hath a consent with all parts by the Veins and Artâ—ries by which Vapors Wind and Humors are sent Which all shall be shewed in the Diagnosis following The Diagnosis or knowledg of this Disease is directed either to the Disease or the Causes which produce it The Disease is subject to sence it may be felt with the hands somtimes seen and heard for the Artery may be seen to leap especially in the Jugular And Forestus saith it may be heard by an Example of a yong man that they who passed by might hear it by laying their Ear to the Window Also the Causes are distinguished by their Signs A hot distemper is known by the greatness of the Pulse and swiftness by a Feaver and heat of the Breast by great and often breathing and desire of cold things If the Palpitation come of wind it quickly comes and goes and is presently raised by little motion and the Breath is difficult with trembling somtimes at the knees mists in the Eyes noise in the Ears and somtimes pain of some
three drams Myrobalans Chebs and Emblicks parched of each one ounce Bole sealed Earth and Blood-stone of each six drams Coriander seeds prepared one ounce and an haly Spodium or burnt Ivory two drams Roses one ounce the Species of three Sanders without Camphire half an ounce Rust of Iron prepared one ounce Barley flower two ounces Oyl of Mastich and Myrtles of each as much as is sufficient make an Emplaister to cover the whol Belly from the Cartilage called Ensiformis or Xiphoides to the Os Pectinis or the Bone at the bottom of the Belly You may also make a Fomentation for the whol Belly of a Decoction of astringent things made in Iron Water with a little red Wine and Vinegar Or Take of red Roses two handfuls Wormwood and Mints of each one handful Nutmeg and Cypress Roots Mastich and Galangal of each one dram With a linnen cloth make a bag as big as the belly which being warmed in red Wine or Vinegar may be laid upon the belly Or Take of Wormwood Mints Plantane Oak Leaves and tops of Brambles Horstail and Knot-grass of each one handful Chamomel flowers two pugils red Roses half a handful Myrtles one dram Seeds of Sumach Plantane and Coriander of each six drams Nutmegs three make a Decoction in steeled Water and red Wine for to foment the Belly Rulandus doth apply a bag of Bran boyled in Vinegar If the pain be great apply a linnen cloth wet in steeled Milk that is warm But if Fomentations wil not Cure you may use Waters to sit in called Insessus These are commended by Matthew de Gradi Savanarola and Jachinus who saith that they are a great secret for the Cure of Children for by their actual heat they do drive the Humors somwhat towards the Skin and by their aâ—â—ringent quality stop the flux But you must not use them if the Body be very full of evil Humors or if the Dysentery be malignant and joyned with a Feaver They are made of Oak buds green Cypress Berries green Pine-nuts or Leaves Barks and other such like boyled in Water of the aforesaid Decoctions for Fomentations You may make Fumigations that the Patient may receive the vapor of them through a hollow Chair Especially a Decoction made of Mullein and the Fume thereof received is commended in this Disease and also for a Diarrhoea Faventinus commends a Fumigation made of Turpentine cast upon a hot Iron taken up into the Body twice a day And he commends also this Fomentation Take of Balm one pound Mullein one handful Put them in a long bag boyl it well in red Wine and strong Vinegar and apply it to the Fundament Rulandus useth a Decoction of Acorns in Vinegar for a Fomentation And Faventinus propoundeth this following Lotion as a secret to stop the Dysentery Take of the dross of Iron and filings of Steel both prepared in Vinegar of each one pound then boyl them in two pints of very strong Vinegar to the consumption of half Let the Patient put his feeâ— and his hands half an hour every morning and evening therein In a long Disease and when there are Ulcers in the Guts Quick-silver is good if it be mixed with Oyntment of Roses and the belly anointed therewith As also the Clysters afore mentioned for filthy Ulcers At the same time you may give Milk and Syrup of Myrtles Also one dram of true Balsom given in a Wafer doth wonderfully heal al inward Ulcers For asswaging pain apply the Caul of a new killed Sheep to the belly and bind it on especially to Children and repeat it often If the Liver Stomach or Brain cause this flux you must use proper Medicines to them alwaies making choice of those that do astringe and strengthen For his ordinary Drink give him Spring Water with Conserve of Roses the Tincture of Roses a Decoction of Oaken Leaves or Water wherein Terra sigillata is infused or wherein red hot Gold hath been quenched with Syrup of Quinces Myrtles or dried Roses Or when there is no Feaver use a weak Decoction of Mastich with the Syrups aforesaid According to Crato's Judgment you must not use any chaly beat or steeled Drink for it doth not astringe as commonly they suppose but troubleth the belly Others commend the Decoction of Gramen or Dogs Tooth because it is good to dry and divert by Urine Lastly 'T is worth the Observation which Aetius speaks Lib. 3. Cap. 8. and Paulus Lib. 1. Cap. 35. that old fluxes are dryed up by Venery Which Hippocrates said formerly 7. Epid in the end Excessive Venery doth cure fluxes of the belly Amatus Lusitanus learned this Truth by Experience Curat 41. Cent 2. One troubled with a Dysentery saith he very violently was married and the first night he lay with his Wife was cured Let this be added for a Conclusion which is related in the Cure of Diarrhoea out of Platerus in his Cure of the flux of the Hemorrhoids Hot Blood of either Man or Beast given in a Clyster doth wonderfully stop and cure the flux Chap. 7. Of Tenesmus TEnesmus is a continual desire to go to stool and voiding of nothing but Slime or bloody Matter The immediate Cause of this Disease is an Ulcer in the streight Gut called Intestinum rectum from which Quittor or filthy Matter continually floweth and stirreth up the expulsive Faculty by which means there is a continual desire of going to stool Moreover there is voided a slimy Matter mixed with blood from the depravation of the Homoiosis or quality that converts things into its likeness of the ulcerated part because it cannot wel concoct its proper Nourishment and make it like it self but turns it into another slimy substance as we shewed more at large in Dysenteries and other Ulcers of the Guts But in regard we said in the Chapter of Dysentery That al the Intestines might be ulcerated in that disease thence it seems to follow That the Ulcers of the straight Gut called Rectum belong to a Dysentery Yet Custom hath so prevailed that when the Rectum is only hurt it is called by the name of Tenesmus And because when other Guts are affected if the Rectum suffer there is also Tenesmus or needing although the disease be then called a Dysentery therefore Dysentery and Tenesmus are of the same Nature and have the same Cause and differ only in respect of the part affected And therefore we need not repeat the Causes because they are the same with those that produce a Dysentery For the Knowledg of this Disease there is no more required but to distinguish it from a Dysentery which you may learn from the definition For in a Tenesmus there is a continual needing but in a Dysentery it is by fits besides in that after great straining there is voided only a little slime bloody or mattery but in a Dysentery both Excrements and Humors are continually voided The Signs of the Causes are the same with a Dysentery As for the Prognostick Celsus Lib.
Also the Passage is stopped by the Stone by a Crude and Thick Humor by a Clod of Blood or Matter Besides The Urine may be stopt by a Tumor in some part nigh to the neck of the Bladder from the swelling of the Womb from the Excrements in the straight Gut or from the Hemorrhoids growing big Somtimes it comes from the long holding of the Water by which the Bladder is so stretched that it cannot contract it self to expel Urine by which stretching the passage is stopt and contracted Now the Bladder is filled by Urine too long detained two waies First when a sound man by urgent occasions in the Market Senate Church Banquet Running and the like holds his Urine for want of opportunity to void it which stretcheth it so that it cannot again contract it self and the pricking of the Urine is not perceived by reason of its dull sence from the distemper of the Nerves which come thither when those Nerves which are for the contracting of the Muscle are well and sound which Galen saith befel one 6. de loc aff cap. 4. when his Back bone was strained That is called a bastard Ischuria in which the Urine is stopped and the bladder empty because no Water descends into it There is a two-fold Cause why no Urine comes to the Bladder either because the Kidneys do not draw that wherof the Urin is made and send it down or because the Ureters wil not receive it therfore either the attractive or expulsive Faculty of the Reins is hurt The attractive or drawing Faculty is hurt by the Error of the Object or in its self This is from a strong distemper especially cold or from some stoppage in the Reins or in the Emulgent Veins These Obstructions proceed from the Stone thick flegm or Matter that falls down thither The obstruction of the Emulgents comes somtimes from too much blood or serous Matter a Story whereof we have in our Observations Observ I. Cent. I. By the fault of the Object the attraction of the Reins is hindered when the serum or water is spent as in burning Feavers or sent to other parts as in a Dropsie The Expulsive Faculty is hurt by the same Causes namely distemper the stone clods of blood matter or gross flegm or Inflamation The Ureters do not receive the Serum nor send it to the Bladder by reason of Inflamations or Obstruction by the Stone a clod of Blood Matter or thick flegm or by a compression from some humor in a part adjacent We must observe that both Kidneyes or Ureters are affected for the total stoppage of Urine for if one be open the Urine may pass The aforesaid Causes if they be violent may make a total Obstruction of Urine which is called Ischuria but if they be smal or remiss they make only an evacuation in part which is called a Strangury and both Diseases come from the same cause different in degrees A true Ischuria is known by the weight and enlarging of the lower part of the belly and by a Tumor in form like the bladder The Causes are known by things aforegoing or that accompany it For if it come from too great a quantity of Urine which hinders the Contraction of the Bladder the Patient wil tel you how that he forbore to piss by reason of long riding or the presence of some people of Honor and that before he never had any distemper in those parts But if he hath had a Delirium a Palsey or the like you may refer the stoppage to them The Stoppage which comes from Tumors of those or the adjacent parts or other Causes before mentioned wil be known by their proper Signs The stopping of the passage of the Bladder is known by a searing Candle put in or a Catheter which if they cannot pierce but are stopped by the way shew that there is a either stone or a Caruncle or a little Excrescens of flesh or the like in the passage And these are to be distinguished for if it be a Stone there was formerly a pain of the Reins whether it came from the Bladder or Reins If a Caruncle there was a stinking Gonorrhoea or running of the Reins or an Ulcer in the passage of the Yard that did long run And lastly If there be a Clod of Blood or Matter or Flegm you shal see some part of it come out of the Yard or it wil stick to the Catheter A Bastard Ischuria is hence known There is neither extension nor Tumor nor weight about the Privities but rather a kind of emptiness thereabout there is no desire to piss no tickling in the bladder and no Urine made there went before the signs of the Stone in the Kidneys or Ureters or of Inflamation or great fulness or much drink was taken which was not plentifully pissed forth whence the Veins might be swoln or else there is a burning Feaver or a Dropsie which signifie the revulsion and turning away of the Water or serous Matter As to the Prognostick The stoppage of Urine is very dangerous and if it continue above seven daies it is deadly for the Serum being retained in the Veins doth oppress the Liver infect the blood and runs into the whol body it brings danger of choaking and being carried to the brain produceth a Coma or kind of Lethargy The stoppage of Urine which comes from the back being wounded or by a fall or straining of the Vertebrae or back-bone is incurable If the Patient stink of Piss at his mouth or nose it is deadly If a Tenasmus or Needing follow a suppression of Urine it is death in seven daies And also if the Hiccough follow upon it The Cure of the stoppage of Urine whether it be total or partial must be by aiming at the Causes And first that supprestion which is called spurious and depends upon the Diseases of the Reins or Ureters is to be found in the Cure of the Inflamation pain or stone of the Kidneys that which comes from the fulness of the Emulgent Veins is to be cured by large bleeding and Medicines that purge Water A true Ischuria is cured by things that take away the cause and first if it come from Inflamation of the bladder or parts adjoyning you may find Medicines for it in the Cure of the Inflamation of the bladder But if it come from a stone in the neck of the bladder you must use these Remedies following First you must lay the Patient upon his Back with his Thighs lifted up and then shake him soundly to make the stone return into the Bladder And if this wil not do it use the Catheter But if the stone be in the passage of the Yard and you must labor to get it out with your fingers gently stroaking it to the end of the Yard and you must put the Yard into warm Water or Milk or the Patient into a Bath to open the Passage But if you can neither get it out nor in Practitioners say that you
and keep her self as quiet as possibly she can both in her Body and Mind also to abstain from Genial Embracements which do vehemently towze and disquiet the Womb. For while the Womb opens it self to comprehend the Mans Sperm with which it is exceedingly delighted it drives forwards the lately conceived Child not yet throughly fastened in the womb But if notwithstanding the Medicines aforesaid by reason of the vehemency of the Cause whether it be internal or external the Patient be ready to Miscarry we must apply our selves to do the best we can with these following Remedies And in the first place so soon as pains and throws shall be perceived in the lower part of the Patients Belly towards her Share in her Loyns and about the Ossacrum we must seek to allay and stop them both by things given in and outwardly applied according to the variety of Causes For if Abortion be provoked by Crudities and Winds which is most usual when it begins from an Internal Cause a Pouder must be given compounded of Aromaticum Rosatum and Coriander Seeds Yea we may give of the Aqua Imperialis if the quantity of flegm and wind be very great At the same time let Carminative or Fart-forcing Medicaments be applied below the Patients Navel such are bags of Annis seed Fennel seed Foenugreek seed Flowers of Chamomel Elder Rosemary and Stoechados mingled together Or a Rose Cake fried in a Pan with rich Canary and sprinkled with Pouder of Nutmeg and Coriander or the Caul of a Wether newly killed or his Lungs laid on warm If with these means the pains cease not let a Clyster be cast in made of Wine and Oyl wherein two drams of Philonium Romanum may be dissolved or Narcoticks may be given inwardly in a smaller Dose to allay the violence of Humors and Winds as we are wont to do in pains of the Chollick But if by reason of contumacious pains that will not be asswaged or of the violence of some external cause blood begin to come away Revelling Medicines are to be applied to withdraw the course of the blood from the Womb such are Rubbings of the uper parts and painful bindings also Cupping-Glasses fastened to the Shoulder-blades under the Dugs and under the short Ribs on both sides Yea and if the Woman be ful of Blood it will not be amiss to take some blood from her both when she begins to void blood and especially before it begins to come and the blood must be taken away at several times a little at once And if all this will not suffice but the Flux of blood continues we must proceed to astringent and thickening Diet and Medicaments and so the Pouders and Electuaries formerly described may be administred Also Juyce of Plantane new drawn and Syrup of Poppies to the quantity of an ounce with Pouder of Bole-Armoniack or Dragons-blood Also outwardly may be used fomentations binding and strengthening made of Pomegranate peels Cyprèss Nuts Acorn Cups Balaustians Grape-stones and such like things boyled in Smiths water and red Wine Or a little Bag full of red Rose Leaves and Balaustians may be boyled and applied hot to the Patients Belly Hereunto may be added the foresaid Plaisters and Cerecloaths Or for to cause the more astriction make a Cataplasm of astringent Pouders with Turpentine and the whites of Eggs which must be spread upon Tow or course Flax and applied to the Navel and the Reins warm The Tow which shall be applied to the Navel must be moistened with Wine that which is to be applied to the Kidneys in Vinegar The two following Medicaments are accounted for Secrets and it is beleeved they will certainly hold the Child in the Womb if they be used before it be loosened from the Wombs Vessels Take twelve Leaves of Gold Spodium a dram the Cocks Treading of three Eggs that are not adle Mix all very well till the Gold be broken into smal Atomes Afterwards dissolve them in a draught of white Wine and give it to drink three mornings together At the same time let the following Cataplasm be laid on Take male Frankincense poudered two ounces five whites of Eggs Let them be stirred about together over hot coals alwaies stirring them that they may not clodder together add Turpentine to make them stick Then spread it upon Parcels of Tow which lay upon her Navel as hot as she can possibly endure them twice a day morning and evening on the three daies aforesaid Chap. 18. Of Hard Child-birth HArd Travel in Child-bearing is such as keeps not the due and ordinary Laws of Nature taking up longer time than ordinary and accompanied with more vehement pains than are usual and other more grievous Symptomes Divers causes here of may be assigned both internal and external The internal depend either of the Mother of the Womb or of the Child In respect of the Mother Travel with child may become sore and hard by the weakness of her Body either Natural or in regard of Age as in very yong and very ancient women or in regard of Diseases wherewith the woman was troubled during the time of her going with Child or is still troubled Hereunto also Leanness and over great driness of the whol body may be added as also over fatness and grossness compressing and straitening the passages of the womb ill shape of such bones as border upon and embrace the womb as in such as limp wind stretching the Guts stone or preternatural tumor possessing the bladder and pressing the Womb and the ill constitution of the Lungs and other parts serving for Respiration because holding the Breath is very necessary to exclude the Child In respect of the Womb divers Diseases thereof may cause a sore Labor as Swellings Ulcers Obstructions Astrictions Stoppages arising from preternatural Causes In respect of the Child Hard Travel is caused when there is some fault therein in respect of its substance its quantity its figure and certain things thereunto belonging The Child is faulty in regard of Substance when it is dead or putrefied or some waies infected or weakened with some Disease so that it hath no ability to contribute to its own exclusion In regard of Quantity likewise the Child doth not further it s own Birth which is either discrete or severed quantity or concrete and joyned the former is called Number the latter Magnitude In regard therefore of continued quantity the child is faulty if the Body or Head of it be over great which makes the Birth thereof become difficult and laborsom in regard of the disjoyned quantity of the child or burden Labor becomes difficult as when there are more than one in the womb so the Birth of Twins is more painful than of a single Child for the most part In respect of the Figure or Scituation of the Child in the Womb difficult Travel happens many waies as when the Child endeavors to come forth with its feet or its hands foremost or puts out one hand only or
Bay-leaves Calaminth Carrot seed Cummin and Caraway Seeds Flowers of Cheiri and Chamomel in Water white Wine or Milk Or the following Cataplasm may be applied Take three or four Onions well boyled in Water beat them in a Morter and put thereto Seeds of Line and Cummin beaten of each one handful As much Chamomel flowers Barley Meal as much as shall suffice to make all into a Pultiss And if need be add a little of the Water wherein the Onions were boyled Spread it upon a Cloth and apply it warm to her Navel It is likewise profitable to apply the Skin of a weather newly flead off while it is warm to her Belly For this kind of warmth is very neer of kin to our Natural heat concocts and mitigates the cause of the pain also it hinders the Skin of the Belly from gathering into wrinkles These following Medicines may be given inwardly Take Carrot Seeds poudered one dram white Wine three ounces Mix them Give it warm twice a day Or Take Nutmeg Annis seed Cinnamon of each one scruple mix them into a Pouder to be taken in white Wine or give one scruple of Oyl of Nutmegs in Broth. Or Take Date and Peach Kernels of each half a dram Nutmegs four scruples Pouder of Diamargaritum Calidum two drams Annis seed one dram Cinnamon two scruples Saffron ten grains Sugar the weight of all the rest Make all into a most fine Pouder whereof give two drams in Wine twice or thrice a day if the pains are much Forestus gave a Decoction of Chamomel flowers in Beer or a Decoction of Mugwort and Chamomel in Puller Broth with good â—ucceâ—s It 's good presently after the is brought to bed to give her the Broth of an old Cock three daies together earâ—y in a morning while she is fasting with a little Cinnamon and Saffron The following Pouder taked presently after the delivery of a woman doth wonderfully preserve her from Gripings insomuch that it is thought If it be given a woman after her first Childing she wil never after in her following Lyings-In be troubled with these Gripes Take the greater Comfry Root dried one dram Peach Kernels and Nutmeg of each two scruples Amber half a dram Amber-greece half a scruple Make all into a Pouder of which let her take one dram in white Wine or if she be Feaverish in Broth. For her ordinary Drink let her use a Decoction of Mugwort with Cinnamon If the Gripings be caused by Chollerick and sharp humors they are cured much after the same manner that the Chollick is cured when it proceeds from Choller As for Example Take Syrup of Vioâ—â—ts and Borrage of each one ounce Mucilage of Quince seeds drawn out with Violet Water half an ounce Water of Borrage and Scorzonera of each three ounces Mix all make thereof a Julep for two Doses Or Take Oyl of sweet Almonds two ounces Syrup of Violets an ounce Borrage Water half an ounce Mix all for a draught External Medicines must likewise be used such as are laxative and emollient which do likewise by one and the same labor ease pain Oftentimes after they are brought to bed women are pained in their Groyn by reason of their wombs being gathered together like a ball in their Groyn It is cured by applying to their Navel a Plaister of Galbanum and Anafoetida in the midst whereof some grains of Musk must be put Chap. 24. Of Acute Diseases of Women in Child-bed WHat we said before touching the Acute Diseases of women with Child we may now repeat touching the Acute Diseases of women in Child-bed viz. That they have the same Essence and the same Signs with the like Diseases in women which are not with Child and in men So that we shal refer the Reader for the Theory of these Diseases to their proper Chapters Now these Acute Diseases are for the most part continual Feavers both Essential as Synchus putrida a continual Tertian and the rest and also Symptomatical which accompany inward Inflamations as the Pleurisie Inflamation of the Lungs Inflamation of the Liver Phrenzy and such like Yet there is a peculiar sort of Feaver which besals almost al women in Child-bed which is called by them the Feaver of their Milk which is wont to befal them about the third or fourth day after they are brought to bed when their Milk begins to encrease in their Breasts and it ariseth from the reflux of the blood from the womb to the Dugs and the motion and agitation thereof Which kind of Feaver is reckoned among the Diary Feavers of the longest durance neither needs it any Medicines because within three or four daies viz. about the ninth after her delivery it is finished by sweat It is distinguished from putrid Feavers because commonly it seizes the woman about the fourth day after her being delivered and her Dugs begin to be filled with Milk and to be troubled with hardness pain and heat with heat and heaviness in her Back and Shoulders also her Child-bed Purgations slow duly which seldom is seen in putrid Feavers Now putrid Feavers do befal women in Child-bed from three causes viz. Suppression of their Child-bed Purgations or diminishing by the heaping together of bad Humors during the time of their Belly-bearing which were agitated by her Labors or by Errors in their Diet. Some add immoderate flux of the Child-bed Purga ions which is rather a sign of the secret badness of Humors causing the Feaver but cannot be it self any cause thereof In suppression of the Child-bed Purgations the blood and vitious humors which are collected during the whol time of her going with child do flow back again into the greater Veins and there putrefie and somtimes are câ—rrâ—ed to the Liver Spleen and other parts in which they raise Inflamations or if they abide in the Veins of the womb they putrefie and so cause a Feaver in those women which were before in perfect health But if the Child-bed Purgations duly flowing a feaver arise it comes either from superfluity of Choller or from errors in Diet. Evil Humors agitated by the Labors and Pains of Travel do easily inflame and putrefie and stir up a feaver Errors of Diet may happen divers waies And first in point of eating in which women that he In are wont to be very faulty stopping themselves with plenty and variety of Dishes which cannot be by them digested but causeth putrefaction in their Bodies Another error is committed when Childing women do unadvisedly expose themselves unto the cold Air especially while their Milk-feaver is in its vigor which is wont to be terminated by sweating and transpiration which is hindered by heedless admission of the cold Air whence it comes to pass that the Feaver which of it self was void of danger and would in a few daies have ceased is changed into a dangerous putrid Feaver There is yet another frequent Cause of the Feavers of Childing Women viz. When the After-births are not wholly cast forth but some
and so there is no such fear least they should rush into the Part affected But gentle Vomits are to be used which do only evacuate those Parts which are near the stomach For if they be vehement and draw Humors out of the Veins they may precipitate the said Humors unto the Joynts Then after vomitings purgation must be procured downwards yea and if one purgation will not serve turn it must be repeated After sufficient Purgation it will be very good to procure sweat for so the wheyish matter wil be discussed by the habit of the Body But seeing when the Gout gives its first Onset there happens a kind of boiling and working of the Blood and commonly there is a Feaver hot sudoroficks will not be convenient but only such as are temperate amongst which Sennertus commends Harts-Horn either crude or prepared without burning either alone or with Carduus Water as likewise Antimonium Diaphoreticum In an old Gout without a Feaver a Decoction of China Salsa Parilla ar Sassafras may be given qualified with coolling Herbs as Cichory Endive Sorrel and Or after the Sweat is wiped off it may suffice to give the Patient Chicken-Broth altered with the Herbs aforesaid Martinus Rulandus did use this following Sweating Medicine with happy success Take Tops of Centaury two handfuls Asarum Roots two ounces Boyl them in ten pints of Water to five pints and strain the Liquor Give the Patient eight ounces of this Liquor hot in the morning some daies together and let him sweat upon it But Forestus commends the Roots of the greater Burdock because it cuts discusseth and provokes both Sweat and Urine And he reports that a certain Gouty person that kept his bed and could not stir a Limb drank hot Beer in which the great Burdock Root had been boyled after the drinking whereof when the Physitians could do him no good with all their Medicines he piss'd a great deal of white Matter like Milk and was freed from his pains Hercules Saxonia puts a great many Loaves hot out of the Oven round about the Patients Body by which means Sweat is plentifully procured and the pains removed Also a Decoction of Elder Bay-leaves Sage Rosemary and such like Herbs wil do much good the Patient receiving the vapor of this Decoction in a sweating Tub which wil make the sweat to come lustily Also the Waters of Natural hot Baths do provoke sweat and do readily discuss the Matter contained in the Joynts And therefore when the sick are not able to go unto them their Water is wont to be brought unto them and heated in a Caldron for them to bath in Erastus in his 15. Counsel prefers this above al others for easing the pains but he boyls so much Salt in the Water as gives it an evidently brackish tast In the beginning of the Fluxion of Gouty Humors in the spaces free from Purgations such things must be given as stop the Flux which have been propounded by me in the Cure of an hot Catarrh especially Juleps of Waters or Decoctions and Syrups which do cool and thicken Yea and the truth is We are somtimes compelled to use Narcotick or Stupefactive Medicaments for they both stop the flux of Humors and they mitigate the rage of the pains Of these sort of Medicines new Venice Treacle is most convenient which may often be repeated without danger from half a dram to a dram Unto which may profitably be added a little Bole-Armoniack to stop the flux of Humors Howbeit instead of Treacle Laudanum Opiatum and other Narcoticks may conveniently be substituted After due Evacuations have been celebrated and other things given inwardly which respect the antecedent Cause we must proceed unto local Applications such as mitigate the pain and discuss the contingent Cause Which are not presently to be used before the universal Remedies aforesaid have been first applied for otherwise they are wont to do more hurt than good For either the Matter which Nature intended to drive into the Joynts is driven back into the inner parts of the Body whereby grievous Symptomes are raised or it is forced into the Joynts and the pain is exasperated or the part is effeminated and made lax and so the fluxion is encreased Which Cautions being commonly neglected and external things untimely and heedlesly applyed the Patients receive commonly more hurt than good thereby And those external Medicines do either respect the pain alone or the Cause likewise of the pain viz. The Humor which hath took its course into the part and caused both the pain and Swelling Such things as mitigate pain are very necessary in this case because the extremity thereof weakens the Patient and draws the Humors to the parts affected Furthermore by the use of Anodines the parts are relaxed and the Humor which before did flow into the more deep parts about the Joynt is diffused to the more ambient parts and external Whence it is that the pains of the Gout are most vehement before the part swels but after it is swollen they are mitigated Now there are many Anodine or Pain-charming Medicaments propounded by Authors to be applied to those parts which are troubled with the Gout But the chief are these which follow Luke-warm Milk applied to the part affected by wetting Linnen Cloaths therein and laying them on doth asswage the pain as also if the part be sprinkled and bedewed therewith especially when it comes fresh from the Dug which Amatus Lusitanus doth very much commend in the 41. Cure of his sixt Century in these words One mightily tormented with the Gout caused a shee Goat to be brought into his Chamber and her Milk to be milked out upon his pained Joynt by which he perceived the pains evidently lessened And there is good reason for it For Milk newly milked doth asswage mitigate and lessen pains It is a Medicine commonly used by the Great Turk by you who seek Profit and Honor highly to be prized Of Milk likewise is made the Cataplasm of white Bread Crums boyled therein adding the Yolks of Eggs and a little Saffron Also the Leaves of Henbane or Violets are boyled in Milk or in Vinegar and Water and profitably laid upon the part affected Also a Cataplasm is made of the Pap of Marsh-mallow Roots mingled with Milk Also a Cataplasm is made of the Pulp of Cassia alone or mingled with Oyl of Roses or the following Ingredients Take Crums of white Bread boyled in Milk half a pound Pulp of Cassia three ounces Make them into a Pultiss Or Take the Pulp of Cassia four ounces new Venice Treacle half an ounce Barley and Oaten meal of each three ounces the Crum of white Bread four ounces Cows Milk two or three pints Boyl all into the form of a Pultiss which apply warm to the parts pained If you shall add half an ounce or an ounce of Vitriol calcined and finely poudered you will make it far more excellent In the beginning of the Gout which seizes only the great
present remedy against poisons and drives them out of the body by sweat or insensible transpiration And they Conceive that Plant to be the Common ordinary food of Those beasts in which the Bezoar stone is found and that the stone hath its vertue primarily from thence A scruple or half a dram of this Root poudered may be given in Carduus matter or other medicaments Mendererus cries up this following pouder Take Sugar Candy three drams white-ginger two drams Camphire one dram Make al into a pouder the dose one dram in some convenient liquor But the Author doth advise that in great paines of the head or stomach Camphire is warily to be used which yet he highly commends in pestilential diseases and avouches that seasonably given il doth more good than the most precious bezoardick medicaments I conceive the pouder is too hot because of the Ginger and I have Composed this following in imitation thereof Which I have vsed with happy success Take mineral Bezoar three drams Sal prunella two drams Camphire one dram Make of all a pouder Give one dram at a time in Carduus water or som other convenient Liquor Pouders may likewise be made of the fragments of precious stones whose vertues many deride others as much admire so that from the times of the Arabian Physitians to our days many compositions are prepared of them in the shops as Electuarium de Gemmis Confectio de Hyacintho But in pestilential and venemous diseases many have extolled the great vertu of the Smaragd amongst the rest Avenzoar Mindererus and Zacutus Lusitanus Avenzoar 2 Teisir tract 1. Cap. 5. That himself being poysoned was thereby cured Mindererus Lib. de Pestilentia Cap 15. Relates that to a woman in a Pestilential Feaver who abhorred al Physick he gave the following Pouder which she might easily swallow haveing neither tast nor smel which when shee had taken the conbustions of cruel symptomes being allaied and the disease turning to health she was cured Take of the Smaragd stone prepared East-india Bezoar of each six grains Hyacinth prepared three graines mix them Make of all a pouder for one Dose And Zacutus Lusitanus relates that a Portugal Gentleman haveing through poyson fallen into a loosness and a Consumption from which no abstersives astringents or Antidotes could free him he was cured only by the Smaragd the pouder whereof to the quantity of twelve graines he tooke every other day in conserve of quinces and when he had taken it five times he was cured of his Loosness The Physitians of Mountpelier doe use in this Feaver as a most profitable Antidote no ways heating the Troches of Vipers which are usually prepared as an ingredient into Andromachus Treacle which they give from one scruple to half a dram in cordial waters or Juleps Yet the flesh of vipers were better being dried which hath no venemous quality as people imagine but is rather a potent Antidote which is much abated by boiling for it is boiled in water to make the troches So that we see greater effects wrought only by the heart and Liver of vipers being dryed without any other preparation The Alexipharmick Medicaments of the third Tribe viz. The Diaphoreticks and sweaters must be given only in the state or declination of the disease as was said before which is to be understood when they are given in a feaver simply malignant or spotted for in the true Plague they must be used at the very beginning that the venemous qualitie which would quickly kill the Patient may be suddenly and potently opposed and the malignant vapors discussed Yea verily and in simple malignant Feavers if the venemous quality seem to be greater than the putrefaction they are likewise to be given at the beginning in small quantity making choyce of such as are least hot mixing them with Juleps and other cooling medicines formerly precribed Now of these Diaphoretick medicaments there are divers degrees for som are more hot as Angelica Zedoary Dictamnum Treacle Mithridate Treakle water which are never to be given when the heat of the Feaver is at the highest but only when the same is much abated and when the signs of malignity do very much prevail But others are less hot as Scabious Carduus Mead-sweet Scordium which may safely be given though the Feaver be in it's height And these distinctions are carefully to be observed in practice and as for the formes of particuliar medicaments every Physitian can vary them according to the different degree of the Feaverish Heat and of the Malignitie But I shall here discribe such as are most effectuall Take water of Mead-sweet and Carduus of each two ounces juice of Lemmons one ounce old Treakle half a dram two scruples or one dram according as the fear of heating the Patient is more or less Mix al into a potion give it warm and cover the patient somwhat more than ordinary if there be great vehemency of symptoms new Treakle wil be more convenient because of the vigor of the Opium by means of which the vehemency of the symptoms will be allaied and the boyling of the Humors wil be restrained yea and somtimes when it seems unconvenient to use Treakle as in the beginning of the disease especially Laudanum Opiatum given to two grains mingled with Antidotes do much good For by the Narcotick and congealing power thereof those fervent Spirits so vexatious to the Heart are as it were fixed and the morbifick matter which is most pernicious while it is in motion is thereby stopped and remains in a manner unmoveable whence it comes to pass that Nature not being provoked by the malignant humors and spirits recollecting her strength doth more easily apply unto her self the vertu of Antidotes Aqua theriacalis seems fit to be preferred before Treacle it self For seeing it is exceeding thin and spiritous it doth more easily and suddenly peirce into and pass through the whol body and Cause sweat And because there are many descriptions of Treacle water their dose ought to differ according as they are compounded of Simples more or less healing I shal in this place propound the chief And first of al the Treacle water of Bauderon is most excellent because it is exceeding temperate For there goes no other Liquor thereinto than Vineger and Juyce of Lemmons by which the hot Ingredients are very much tempered and therefore it may be given from half an ounce to an ounce in Sudorofick decoctions or waters And although this is less heating than any of the rest prescribed by divers other Authors yet have I invented another easily made which is more cooling and does no less oppose the Feaver than the malignant quality and may consequently be used in the whol course of the disease at any period thereof It s composition is as followeth Take twelve fresh and juycie Lemmons Take away the bark or rind and the seeds and press out the fuyce and ad thereunto the said rindes and seeds and three pints of