habit and Consumption may be acquired yet a Consumption creeps upon some with a Hectick Feaver in regular living shewing a febrile heat in the palms of the hands and soals of the feet especially to be found after meat it is called hectick or habitual because it is radicated more in the solid parts than other Feavers for other Feavers come in Paroxysms this more continual wasting the Body as it were by melting it and this not easily remedied if not timely considered and the principal efficient cause understood for want of which many in juventute pereunt do perish in the prime of their youthful days for until the Radix of the Disease be overcome the food doth no good but it may be said Optima fiunt pessima and the common cause of this Feaver and Consumption to orderly virtuous people is the Scorbute or Scurvy by corrupting the Blood and vitiating the humours therefore not to be cured but by Antiscorbutick Medicines you may know a Hectick Consumption by being continually Feavourish without any Paroxysms or remissions only the heat something greater after meat and the Pulse quicker than after about two hours returns to its constant usual heat besides this Hectick Consumption and Signs you ought to be acquainted with other sure and common Symptoms of Consumptions for it sometimes assaults us in one kind of Disease or part sometimes in another and by over-coming one part first the whole Body after falls into decay The common way of Consumptive inclination is first insensible but to a judicious person it comes on slowly lento pede but having got sure hold will not long be hid but by making a change in your Constitution it is best to take good advice and timely lest the Proverb be verified cum serò Medicina paratur when too late the means is used Various ways and with divers Symptoms the Consumption first assaults with in some hard to find the cause from or what it tends to except the Patients be so wise and ingenious freely and openly to declare what they know of themselves but generally the spiritual vivacity of the Eyes and Countenance first discovers a defect in the vital Spirits they finding an indisposition after sleep an ill digestion of food their strength lessened mirth declining not so brisk and airy as usual Melancholy in some with vapours to the Heart and Head pains of the Hypochonder and sides a Looseness of the solid parts from the Bones as the Calves of the Legs Thighs Arms c. Some have a bleeding at the Nose which shews sharp hot humours to exceed the Balsamick Virtue some falls into a Looseness or Diarrhoea with flux of the Belly which may come from the weakness of the Liver having lost its temperament and fermental Vertue the Body often falls into a Scorbute or Cachectical Hydropick Consumptive decay faint Sweats oftentimes a Catarrh or Distillation especially by Night with a tickling stimulation to Cough or a rotten corrupt spitting or a short Phthisicky dry Cough or spitting of Blood or salt Spittle or viscous or lumpy knots stimulated with a sharp humour the breath short and difficult Earthy smell the Pulse either weak and dull or frequent and unequal the Body in general is weak indisposed to recreations or lively actions and no better can be expected when the Blood and Spirits are vitiated though I have set down all these Signs and might many more yet some few of what I have writ may be too sure signs of a Consumption and according as they are urgent great or small complicate or single they are to be weighed and that by an able Physician for people in this Disease are most apt to flatter themselves more than in any other so that many when they are dying believe not themselves to be in danger of Death because insensible of their present weakness and decay Unless a Looseness or Flux of the Belly debilitates them Many are in a Consumption by a Venereal Cause for want of discovering the Radix the Doctor shoots beside the mark till the Disease marches on to the noble parts and some of those sad symptoms afore-mentioned come upon them or worse as internal Ulcers c. Which I shall not here mention referring that to the prognostick signs of the Lues Venerea CHAP. V. Of the Scurvy and manifest Symptoms THE Scorbute or Scurvy being a Corruption of the Blood produceth innumerable Symptoms as may be easily judged from putrid blood may arise putrifaction in the Gums redness in the Face vapours from the Spleen Flatus Hypochondriacus sudden Flushings obstructions difficult Breathing stinking Breath Tooth Ach looseness of Teeth straitness of the Breast the Body dull and heavy and many spots red yellow or blue especially in Legs or Arms violent pains in the Head Arms Neck Shoulders Legs Thighs Sweats and faintness troublesome Dreams a watriness in the Stomach and wambling in the Bowels it often causeth Barrenness wandring pains like a Rheumatismus or Running Gout in some a pricking in the flesh as if stung with Nettles Itching in the Blood in some like Tetters Ring-Worms or dry Scabs in Head or Face some think it the Pox and indeed it is near a-kin and where they both meet as often I have found in my practice it must be more carefully Cured that the noble parts may be strengthned and the blood purified for a complicated distemper requires more skill to Cure than some ignorant young Practitioners are aware off The Scurvy by corrupting the Blood usually and quickly weakens the vitals especially the Liver being the Coagulum of the Body which causeth fermentation the want of which causeth obstructions for those Particles in the Blood which are not by fermentation alternated must needs obstruct excoriate and purify from whence it is easy to judge what diversity of Symptoms and Diseases may be produced in our natural Bodies from one and the same original cause viz. want of fermentation in the mass of Blood so the Body quickly falls into an ill habit Cachexia or Consumption if not timely prevented by good Physick proper Food the best Air but especially Exercise For were the Virtue and Excellency of Exercise truly understood many that are Diseased would not nay thousands might be happy in the injoyment of health who by softness delicacy effeminacy and idleness want it so that they that moderately use it need but little other Physick CHAP. VI. Of Melancholy TRistitia omnia mala parit Melancholy or Discontent of mind is a certain Distemper which may be termed the Mother of all Miseries and Diseases it may arise from internal or external cause viz. from Mind or Body a grieved or discontented mind may affect the Head Heart and Blood and thence many Diseases till Consumption and Death but that you may judge whether the party be much or little afflicted it is necessary to set down some signs to judge by and to know what degree they are in Signs If Melancholy be predominant many doubts and
Secrets Disclosed OF CONSUMPTIONS Shewing How to distinguish between Scurvy and Venereal Disease ALSO How to prevent and Cure the Fistula by Chymical Drops without Cutting Also Piles Haemorrhoids and other DISEASES By JOHN ARCHER Author of the Book called Every Man his own Doctor to be Sold by the Booksellers and also to be had from the Authors House at Knightsbridge or at the Sadlers against the Mews by Charingcross LONDON Printed for the Author 1684. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Kind Reader I Having about fourteen years since writ a small Treatise Entituled Every Man his own Doctor with an Herbal shewing every ones Constitution the nature of all food and to whom agreeable and of the most common Diseases how to Cure Which little Book was so accepted and well esteemed that few Booksellers Shops are now without it and no Foreign place where English inhabit but it is in use and Considering that Consnmptions have been of late years so mortal that they too much furnish the Bills of Mortality and the very name of a Consumption is grown so formidable that few hope for Cure if once sure they are in it the cause being evident the neglect of means proper in the beginning and not divulging to a skillful Physician the original Cause so the Physick and means is used in a blindfold way it is possible a private Distemper undiscovered may make a good Doctor give bad Physick Very often discontent of Mind is the cause that Bodily helps avail nothing it being easier to Cure the Body than Mind Sometimes a person is afflicted with a Venereal Distemper that for want of a skillful Doctor takes Physick from the ignorant who poysons the Body with Mercury thence I frequently find bad and dangerous symptoms following as pain in the Head Neck Back Teeth Deafness Dimness of Sight Distillations at length ◠Consumption and without proper Medicines Anti-venereal and Anti-mercurial the noble parts are assaulted and overcome and so the do make the number of them in the Weekl◠Bills of Mortality dead of a Consumption therefore to prevent Death before the accomplishment of our allowed time is chiefly design'd in this third part of Every man his own Doctor shewing the chief cause of Consumptions ariseth from Melancholy Scurvy or the Venereal Disease and the original cause being throughly known the Disease is the better and speedier cured the want of which knowledge I mean the procuring cause hath been the reason so many good Physicians have had so bad success in cure of Consumptive people therefore it is my advice to all sick or inclinable to a Consumption to take timely advice Principiis obsta and be careful to live in good Air use Temperance and Exercise of Body and with good advice and proper Physick you may with Gods blessing be healthy and brisk in old Age for I may aver that most persons living intemperately and dying before they have lived thirty forty or fifty years might as well have lived to fourscore a hundred or more years if they had used chiefly Temperance and Exercise as in my Book you may further find directed Verbum sapienti sat A way then with that necessity of dying at such a time when a man is cut off for his wickedness or by his foolish intemperance for the wise man said Be not wicked or foolish over-much why wilt thou die before thy time From my House at Knights-bridge a little Mile from Charing-Cross Aug. 1. 1684. J. A. CHAP. I. Of prevention and Cure of Diseases IT is matter of lamentation to see the great distress poor mortals are in by the common Enemy of Mankind languishing sickness with grief of Mind wandring from one Doctor to another and from this Receipt to another Experiment for Cure of some churlish accident which unfortunate people lie under the pressure of till the vital and noble parts are penetrated and chiefly by despising or neglecting small beginnings till the Enemy of nature gets ground and by wandring in errors path the cure is more difficult to avoid which let us proceed methodically to the understanding and benefit of the meanest Capacity First Know that all Diseases ought to be prevented or Cured and that the health of humane Bodies do mainly rest upon these two great Pillars viz. the Prophylactical and Therapeutical the Prophylactical part shews how Diseases may be prevented the Therapeutical shews how Diseases may be Cured when the Body hath contracted them the way and means to prevent Diseases is rightly to understand every ones Constitution and Complexion and to keep your self in a right temperament and you must observe those six things called by Physicians non-naturals as Air Diet Exercise Sleep Passions of the Mind Excretion all which you are taught in my Book Every Man his own Doctor These things being rightly ordered to every ones Constitution and fitted in proportion to our Bodies and so continued in use as ought to be done by him that treads Via recta ad vitam longam though I commend not such rigid Staticks as to eat and drink but just to such a weight because nature may at some time or other be over-charged or lessened therefore a moderate evenness without exact severity is the best Rule for if you do not especially if Diseased the Enemy of nature gets ground and the Cure becomes more difficult because the blood is vitiated so a Scorbute a Cachexia evil habit of the Body acquired which weakens the Senses terrifies the mind and divers symptoms may arise as decay of strength weariness spots pains dimness of sight cum multis aliis for the Body being diseased adds grief to the mind the mind being distracted encreaseth the Disease so both being oppressed the Patient too often despondeth and before sufficient cause instead of using good means and advice do wholly neglect means of recovery till the noble parts are infeebled that they cannot perform their office for digestion fermentation nor due Circulation of the Blood and Spirits thus beginneth a Cachectical Scorbute Consumptive decays many ill symptoms Hectick Feavers complicate Distempers and falling à minori ad majus till at length you must die and this is the cause of lamentation it might have been prevented for many a year longer to whom Solomon saith Quare morereris ante tempus tuum and that you may not die too soon I will endeavour to set down the chief sign of Consumptions Scurvy Melancholy and the French Disease that so you may prevent them and knowing the signs and degrees of danger with the more satisfaction Cure them CHAP. II. BEfore I enter upon the Discourse of Consumptions in Cure it is convenient to Advertise you of some of the chiefest Causes which ordinarily lead Men and Women into it which firmly observed you may with ease prevent the approaching Enemy we say Venienti occurrite morbo for it is much better to prevent than Cure which that you may do take good heed to these six Harbingers or in-lets to a Consumption
needless fears with sadness and discontent and usually very frightful Dreams evil Cogitations without manifest cause frequently speaking by themselves confusedly sometimes breaking out into tears they delight in solitariness they are mistrusting of all to mischief them their sleep but short and troublesome Some again are as if they always laught some seem to Prophecy and think themselves Prophets some desire Death some fear it some think themselves transformed into another Form or Creature c. some think they have no Head or Arms c. some think all they see come to apprehend them and take them to Prison but most are terrified with thoughts of wanting necessaries for this Life or grieve to see others in more prosperity than themselves some do over-busy themselves in studying or in praying or in what they have been Exercised the different effects shew the different causes vice versa and must be cured accordingly therefore good to resist the beginnings lest it come to the worst of these Symptoms mentioned and worse might be writ as Despair or Madness but while Life there is hope therefore I will conclude my advice with that old Verse Rebus in adversis animum submittere noli Spem retine spes una hominem nec morte relinquit To adverse things do not submit thy mind For man in Death leaves not his hope behind CHAP. VII Of the Lues Venerea or French Pox. I Having now discoursed of the Scurvy Melancholy and Consumptions come next to the other part viz. to shew what the Pox is and how to know it and distinguish it from the Scurvy also to set down the chief Signs that every one may be able to judge of their danger Cure and event of their Disease whether long or short curable or not the want of which knowledge have caused many sick to wander from one Doctor to another to their great damage of Purse Persons and Reputation and though I shew not the materials for Cure I mean the Physick yet the sick have sufficient benefit if they understand how to be cured safely which is to be understood by those Physicians which by long and daily practice know how for we say truly Nullum Medicamentum est idem omnibus therefore it is safest to keep Knives out of Childrens hands lest they endanger their Lives but the knowledge of the Disease and how to judge of your condition I think absolute necessary for every Patient and Physician the want of which knowledge in Patients oftentimes makes them doubt of the skill and sincerity of their Doctors and by inconstancy hinder their Cure and often by despair of success and grief of mind do sink under the Disease for want of hope and assurance the heart grows sick by discontent gets a habit of Melancholy joining with the distemper so falling into a Consumption they die That this may be prevented therefore use the best means as directed now I will tell you what the Disease is that is called Venereal or Pox viz. it is an occult and venenate Disease corrupting the radical humours of the Body chiefly taken by contact in those porous parts of the Body in the act of Copulation so passing through the seminal Vessels and Veins the Liver especially also the Brain and Reins are hurt and that you may know what danger you are in if you please to consult my knowledge and experience by word of mouth I will give you further and particular satisfaction CHAP. VIII Signs of Infection by the Pox being the surest Rules from my Book afore-mentioned PResently after a man hath lain with an infectious Woman he shall find a faintness or indisposition a lassitude over the whole Body without other cause which is occasioned by the infection of the natural Spirits which are the instruments of Life and Motion then the next symptome commonly is pain in the Head with a vagrant wandring pain which goeth into the Shoulders from one to the other also very frequently pain in the Groins and Buboes there sometimes in less than a Weeks time also heat of Urine inflammation of the Yard Pustules and with many a Running of the Reins with some an itching over all the Body and in some angry Pustules and Scabs breaking out in Head Face and other parts with some there breaks out a great heat in the Palms of the Hands and Soals of the Feet also some have an interruption or sudden starting when they begin to sleep and great drowsiness which is caused from the fiery Vapours oftentimes there happens red or yellow spots upon the Body and sore Pustules like the Scurvey and though there be few of the former Signs yet if there be a corrupt matter though but a weeping or gleeting from the Privy Parts you may be assured this is the French Disease and I do declare I have cured those that have had it many years as many can testify to their Comfort CHAP. IX How to distinguish the Scurvy from the French Disease and to know which is your Disease FIrst Know though the Pox be chiefly taken in Copulation with an infected Lover yet there are many other ways that honest and innocent persons of both Sexes are and may be infected as sometimes by the corrupt seed of the Parents to the Child and so the Disease becomes hereditary and after they are born it shews it self first or last upon the Child according to the strength of the Disease in the Parents and although this Disease be taken by Contagion as well as Copulation and so others may be infected divers wayes as by sweating with an infected Body in Bed being wet with sweat and the pores of the Body being open in the warm Bed and sleep he may be infected also by the filth of Ulcers or Drinking with any that have it in Mouth or Throat or kissing a Child sucking an unsound Nurse or an unsound Child may infect a sound Nurse c. by such means many innocent people think they have but the Scurvy when 't is the Pox so sometimes they that are suspitious of the constancy of their Bedfellow may suppose they have the Pox when happily it is but the Scorbute or Scurvy now to distinguish and be certain I believe there are some would willingly give an hundred Guinnies which I shall here endeavour to satisfy gratis then know and consider whether your self and Bedfellow or those with whom you converse whether they or you have been sometime before or have given cause for suspition or now are troubled with heat of Urine or any Spots Ulcers heat or Pustules about those passages or gleetings if so conclude a Venereal Infection if there is any pains especially in Shins Arms Back c. or Ring-Worms or red spots about the region of the Liver Stomach Face or Privities or if any Skins or Feather-like Atomes swim in your Urine and if you find any of those Symptoms having a precedent cause of fear or formerly infected and nocturnal pains be sure 't is
Venereal but if you have no preceding cause of Disease you cannot have that cursed fear which generally possesses the mind of guilty persons if only a corruption of the Blood the Disease will not be so terrible in afflicting your Mind or Body neither will those nocturnal night pains torment you nor any Spots Pustules gleetings or Issuings be about the Privities if free from those Symptoms fear it not but if afflicted in Body and Mind if you acquaint me with your Symptoms 't is possible my Experience may contribute to your satisfaction CHAP. X. Of Fistula's I Having for some Years have had more Experience in the Disease of Fistula's and Piles than most Physicians it being desired that I should publish my knowledge therein I have both briefly and faithfully set down their Causes and how to know their difference and Cure which hath been often performed by Chymical Drops not Cutting Therefore know A Fistula in Ano being the worst of Fistula's and always held to be most difficultly cured by Chirurgery according to an old Proverb Fistula in Ano semper insano but to the praise of God and comfort of several I have by my Drops cured divers and some by once dressing Therefore first we will define what a Fistula is Secondly How it is bred For definition Fistula est ulcus putridum plerumque Nervosum cum variis orificiis unde Fistula dicitur For it hath several Orifices either Internal or External This Disease is bred from divers Causes as from Blood inflamed or Tumours Boils sometimes from Piles and Hemorrhoids not discharging the corrupt blood falling into those parts of the Fundament and Ulcers of the Anus or Piles not well Cured but most dangerous when a Venereal Disease lies lurking in the Blood and Reins which I have known too often the cause of Ulcers and Fistula's in Ano and therefore whoever attempts the Cure without taking away the original Cause is like another Ixion condemned ever to turn the Wheel up the Hill which always runs back again For by reason of Excrements always passing that way the blood and humours having once found a Cavous Receptacle admits not a Remedy but by proper and powerful Medicines especially where the Patient is of an ill habit of Body irregular and the worse if of a costive Constitution Of Fistula's some are easily Cured some more difficultly as those that have newly had it are easier cured than of long continuance those that penetrate into the Intestinum Rectum where the Excrements are voided through the Orifice and liquor injected comes through the Gut out of the Anus or if it pass into the Bladder for then the Water will come through the Fistula therefore conclude if the Fistula penetrates through the Intestinum Rectum or into the Bladder or into both or if it be in the Sphincter Muscle it is most difficultly Cured It sometimes happeneth that a Tumour and Inflammation is between the Scrotum and Anus by bruises in hard riding which turn to Fistula's if not Cured Fistula's in the solid parts of the Body may be easier means be Cured taking away the inward cause which feeds it Fistula Lacrymalis and all Fistula's near the Eyes must be cautiously dealt with by reason of the vicinity to so noble a part as the Eye in most of these Cases I have by long Experience found the most successful means of which some of my Patients have acquainted his Majesty who was pleased thereupon to Command me to help some Noble Persons afflicted with a Fistula which Disease if not prevented corrupts the blood and humours vitiates the radical moisture offends the Heart and Brain decays the Senses weakens the memory and by several ways hasteneth Death if not Cured CHAP. XI Of the Piles c. or Verucae Ani Ragades c. and Haemorrhoids HAving now done with the Fistula it is necessary to speak and the rather because this Disease is least handled by Authors though a most common affliction to both Men and Women therefore what I write must be more from my Experience in practice than prescription it is therefore I say an evil not to be flighted by any though not a-like dangerous in all for where it is very painful or troublesome as is usual to Child-bearing Women it forceth to look for help yet in others if neglected may turn to a Fistula c. therefore better Cured being recent than inveterate therefore take notice there are chiefly four kinds viz. I. Condylomata COndylomata being very hard and of a callous substance like Nuts bunching out about the Anus but not very painful this sort proceeds from a Melancholy Acrimonious Juice and generally from a costive Constitution II. Thymi NExt kind to these we shall treat of is Thymi a sort of Pile rough at top narrower in the bottom and large upwards if you rub these with a course linnen cloath they easily bleed which serves for ease a little time but soon fill again III. Crista THE third sort is called Crista Excressences of flesh which generally are caused from too much Venery attracting heat to the part IV. Ficus THE fourth sort is called Ficus or Fig being a flat sort growing like a Mushroom or Fig of a narrow foundation and a broad Superficies Now as to the prognostick part or danger of them as I find by the Judgment of Authors and my own Experience the Condylomata Pile is more troublesome than dangerous yet it is obstinate to remove because of a hard and deep rooting Thymi are easier cured than the former if they degenerate not into worse Symptoms Crista have a malignancy and as Authors say hard to Cure yet by my Drops I have Cured them at one application Ficus is a dangerous Pile or Excressence because sometimes they prove Cancerous they are most dangerous if subject to bleed as bad as any of these Piles Ragades I Have found in my practice the Disease called Ragades or Clefts of the Fundament especially if they have been of long continuance being subject to turn into Fistula's they are the worse if they happen in old Age in a Melancholy Constitution where natural heat is wanting if Women with Child are troubled with this infirmity they are very subject to miscarry and in men where they have been of long continuance and nature hath disburthened it self that way it will be difficult in curing by common Artists Haemorrhoids LAstly The Haemorrhoids being a Flux of blood by the Fundament occasioned by an Acrimonious humour which generates internal Piles call'd blind Piles which by going to Stool do send out blood sometimes with pain if this Disease be of long continuance it sometimes keeps a Lunar Motion like the Feminine Sex and proves dangerous if neglected it often degenerates into a Fistula a worse Disease cannot happen I have been the more careful to declare in all plainness the several sorts of Fistula's Piles Haemorrhoids and other infirmities belonging to the back parts and Fundament which for the