cure which the Pox have they proceed of cholerick and melancholie bloud The cause of the Pox and Measels The primitive cause as Valetius saith is by alteration of the aire in drawing some putrified and corrupt quality unto it which doth cause an ebullition of our bloud The cause antecedent is repletion of meats which do easily corrupt in the stomack as when we eat milk and fish together at one time or by neglecting to draw bloud in such as have accustomed to doe it every year whereby the bloud doth abound The conjunct cause is the menstruall bloud which from the beginning in our mothers wombs wee received the which mixing it self with the rest of our bloud doth cause an Ebullition of the whole The efficient cause is nature or naturall heat which by that menstruall matter mixing it self with the rest of our bloud doth cause a continuall vexing and disquieting thereof whereby an unnaturall heat is increased in all the body causing an Ebullition of bloud by the which this filthy menstrual matter is seperated from our natural bloud and the nature being offended and overwhelmed therewith doth thrust it to the outward pores of the skin as the excrements of bloud which matter if it be hot and slimie then it produceth the Pox but if dry and subtil then the Measels or Males But Mercurialis an excellent writer in Physick in his first Book de morbis puerorum cap. 2. agreeing with Fernelius in his Book De is rerum causis c. 12. doth hold opinion that the immediate cause of this disease doth not proceed of menstrual bloud but of some secret and unknown corruption or defiled quality of the aire causing an Ebullition of bloud which is also verified by Valetius and now doth reckon it to be one of the hereditable diseases because few or none doe escape it but that either in their youth ripe age or old age they are infected therewith The contention hereabout is great and mighty reasons are oppugned on both sides therefore I will leave the judgement thereof unto the better learned to define but mine opinion is That now it proceedeth of the Excrements of all the four humours in our bodies which striving with the purest doth cause a supernatural heat and ebullition of our bloud alwaies beginning with a Fever in the most part and may well be reckoned in the number of those diseases which are called Epidemia as Fracastorius in his first Book De morbis contag cap. 13. witnesseth this disease is very contagious and infectious as experience teacheth us There are two speciall causes why this disease is infectious The first is because it proceedeth by ebullition of bloud whose vapour being entred into another bodie doth soon defile and infect the same the second reason is because it is a disease hereditable for we see when one is infected therewith that so many as come neer him especially those which are allyed in the same bloud doe assuredly for the most part receive the infection also CHAP. II. Sheweth to know the signs when one is infected as also the good and ill signs in the disease THe signs when one is infected are these first he is taken with a hot Fever and sometime with a Delirium great pain in the back furring and stopping of the nose beating of the heart hoarsnesse redness of the eyes and full of tears with heavinesse and pain in the head great beating in the forehead and temples heaviness and pricking in all the body dryness in the mouth the face very red pain in the throat and breast difficulty in breathing and shaking of the hands and feet with spitting thick matter When they doe soon or in short time appear and that in their coming out they doe look red and that after they are come forth they doe look white and speedily grow to maturation that he draweth his breath easily and doth find himself eased of his pain and that his Fever doth leave him these are good and laudable signes of recovery When the Pox lye hidden within and not appearing outwardly or if after they are come forth they doe suddenly strike in again and vanish away or that they doe look of a black blewish and green colour with a difficultie and straitnesse of drawing breath and that he doe often swoun if the sick have a flix or lask when the Pox were found double that is one growing within another or when they run together in blisters like scalding bladders and then on the sudden do sink down and grow dry with a hard black scar or crust as if it had been burnt with a hot iron all these are ill signs Avicen saith there are two speciall causes which produce death unto those that have this disease either for that they are choaked with great Inflammation and swelling in the throat called Angina or having a flix or lask which doth so weaken and overthrow the vitall spirits that thereby the disease is increased and so death followeth How to know of what humours this disease cometh If it come of bloud then they appear red with generall pain and great heat in all the body If they come of choler then will they appear of a yellowish red and clear colour with a pricking pain in all the bodie If they come of flegm then will they appear of a whitish colour and scaly or with scales If they come of melancholie then will they appear blackish with a pricking pain CHAP. III. Sheweth the meanes to cure the Pox or Measels THere are two speciall meanes required for curing this disease the first is to help nature to expell the same from the interior and principall parts unto the exterior the second is to preserve both the interior and exterior parts that they may not be hurt thereby For the first intention if the age and strength of the sick will permit and that the Pox or Measels appear not it were then good in the first second or third day to draw bloud out of the Basilica veine in the right arme if he be not under the age of fourteen years but the quantity must be at the discretion of him that draweth it either more or lesse as occasion is offered but for children and such as are of tender years and weak bodies it were not good to draw bloud out of the arme but out of the inferior parts as the thighes hams buttocks and the Emeroidall veines especially if the party be melancholie or else to apply ventoses to the loynes buttocks or hams which may boldly be used both before and after they do appear either with scarification or without as cause requireth which is a speciall good meanes to draw that Ichorous matter from the interior to the exterior parts but for sucking Children it were best to apply bloud-suckers unto any of the foresaid places which is a thing that may be used with more ease then ventoses neither do I wish either of them to be used unlesse necessity require it which is when
doe hold opinion that having once an Issue he must be constrained to keep it alwaies which is most erronious for then those which have had Ulcers running upon them some six ten yea sixteen yeers may not be cured without some Issue to be made in some other place but therein they deceive themselves for my self by good proof have often found the contrary in divers people which I have cured some six some ten yea sixteen yeers past and yet to this day doe remain in perfect good health without any Issues CHAP. IX What Diet we ought to keep FOr our diet as Hippocrates teacheth us we must have a care not to exceed in eating and drinking but to keep a mean therein and in any case to beware of surfeting and drunkenness which are enemies both to the body and soule but as we may not exceed in eating and drinking so to endure great hunger and thirst is most dangerous our meat ought to be of a facile and easie digestion partly tending to a drying qualitie as Cocks Capons Hens Pullets Partridge Pheasants Quailes Pigeons Rabbets Kid Veal Mutton Birds of the Mountains and such like but Beef Pork Venison Hare and Goats flesh is to be refused and so are all water fowls as Duck Swan Goose Widgen Teal and such like because they are hard to digest and do increase ill blood and naughtie juyce in the bodie Lambs flesh because of his exceeding moisture is also to be refused Eggs in the Summer not good but in Winter tolerable All Fishes which are of a hard flesh whether they be of the Sea or fresh Rivers are to be allowed In fresh Rivers the Perch Barble Gudgeon Loch Cool Trout and Pike are good and for Sea fish the Gilthed Turbet Sole Rochet Gurnard Lobster Crab Praunes Shrimps Whiting and such like eaten with vinegar There are some Authors which hold opinion that Fish is better to be eaten then flesh in the great fervent heat of the year because they doe make a more cold bloud in the body then flesh another reason is because they doe live under the water they are not infected with any contagion of the aire as Beasts and birds may be and therefore more wholsome but in my judgement flesh is more wholsome because it doth-breed a more pure and fine Juyce in the body then any Fish whatsoever your bread ought to be made of pure wheat not too new nor too old but of one dayes baking or two at most is best Rie bread is to be eschewed because of his great moisture your drink is best beer or ale not too strong or new but the staler and clearer it is the better at your meals a draught or two of Claret wine is tolerable but in hot weather it were good to allay it with a little water for wine doth warm the stomack help digestion and comfort the heart For your Pottage you may take in the Summer Parsly Lettice Sorrell Endive Succorie Sperage Hopbuds Burnet Burrage Buglosse Thime Mints Hysop but in Winter Balm Bittanie Thime Marigold Hysop Majoram Mints and Rue are good For your Sallets take Pimpernell Purslane Mints Sorrell Hore-hound Yong cole Hop buds Sperage Thime Tops of Fennell Tarregon Lettice and Water-cresses are good Capers are greatly commended being preserved in Vinegar and eaten with a little oyle and vinegar and so are Olives very good also For your sauce the juyce of a Limon Citron or Orange is best the juyce of Sorrell and Vinegar is also good All raw fruits are to be refused except those which tend to sour tast as Pomgranates damask Prunes Pippins red and sour Cherries and Wallnuts Quinces and Peares preserved are very good eaten after meals All kind of Pulse is to be refused as Beans Pease and such like because they increase winde and make raw humours and ill juyce in the bodie Refrain from Garlick Onyons Leeks Pepper Mustard and Rocket because they doe over-heat the body make adustion of the bloud and cause fumes to ascend into the head Cheese is not good because it doth ingender grosse and thick humors Milk is also to be refused because it doth quickly corrupt in the stomack CHAP. X. Sheweth what Exercise and Order is to be kept YOu must beware of all vehement and immoderate exercise which doth provoke sweat as is Tennis dancing leaping running foot-ball hurling and such like because they doe over-much heat the body and open the Pores of respiration whereby the infected aire hath the more scope to enter our bodies but moderate exercise is very convenient the use of hot houses at this time I thinke very dangerous because it doth too much open the pores Walk not into the open ayre in the morning before the Sun hath had some power to cleanse and clear the same and in any case goe not abroad when great fogs and mists are upon the earth for it is dangerous but if urgent occasions move you then before you goeforth of your doors be sure to eat some preservative first and then take some good and odoriferous Pomander Nodule or Nosegay in your hand as before is shewed you The extream heat of the day is likewise to be refused to walk in because it chafeth the bloud as also in the evening after the Sun is set for then unsavory and unwholsome Fogs arise out of the earth and in any case if you can avoid it come not neer any any place infected but use to walk in the open aire and dry ground Use Venus combates moderately but none at all were better the best time to use them is three or four hours after supper before you sleep and then rest upon them Beware of anger fear and pensiveness of the minde for by their means the body is made more apt to receive the infection Use pleasant and merry recreations either with musick pleasant company to talke withall or reading some good books Bewar of sleeping at noon but specially in the Winter season but in Summer to take after dinner a nap of half an hour or an hour is tollerable in elderly bodies Watch not long in the evenings but two or three hours after supper is a good time to take your rest CHAP. XI Teacheth what orders Magistrates and Rulers of Cities and Townes should cause to be observed FIrst To command that no stinking dunghills be suffered near the City Secondly Every evening and morning in hot weather to cause cold water to be cast in the streets especially where the infection is and every day to cause the streets to be kept clean and sweet and cleansed from all filthy things which lye in the same Thirdly And whereas the infection is entered there to cause fires to be made in the streets every morning and evening and if some Frankincense Pitch or some other sweet thing be burnt therein it will be much the better Fourthly Suffer not any Doggs Catts or Pigs to run about the streets for they are very dangerous and apt to carry the infection
and thrust forth the venomous humours and then you must have respect to the signes before rehearsed The infection of the Plague entereth into a man after this sort In a man are three principall parts that is the Heart Liver and Brains and each of these hath his cleansing place If they appear in the neck they shew the Brains to be chiefly vexed if under the arme-holes the Heart but if they appear in the share the Liver is most infected For when a man hath taken infection it presently mingleth with the bloud and runs to the heart which is the cheif part of man and the heart putteth the venome to his cleansing place which is the arme-holes and that being stopt putteth it to the next principall part which is the liver and it passeth it to his cleansing place which is the share and they being stopt passe it to the next principall place that is the braines and to their cleansing places which are under the eares or under the throat and they being stopped suffer it not to passe out and then it is moved twelve hours before it rest in any place and if it be not let out within the space of four and twenty hours by bleeding it brings a man into a pestilentiall Ague and causeth a botch in one of those three places or near unto them The Cure of the Plague When thou feelest thy self infected bleed in the first hour or within six hours after drink not and tarry not above twelve hours from bleeding for then when the bloud is flitting too and fro the venome is then moving and not yet setled and after it will be too late those that are fat may be let bloud or else not If the matter be gathered under the arme-holes it comes from the heart by the Cardiacall vein then bleed on the same side by the Basilica vein the innermost vein of the arme If the botch appear behind the eares above the chin or in any other part of the face or neck bleed out of the Cephalica vein on the same side you may bleed with cupping Glasses and Scarification or Horseleeches If the botch appear in the share bleed in the ankle on the same side in any case not in the arme for it will draw up the matter again But if no botch appear outwardly draw bloud out of that side where you feel greatest pain and heavinesse and out of that vein the greif of the members affected shall point thee out If you perceive the Plague invade you at meat or on a full stomack vomit speedily and when your stomack is empty take some Medicine that may resist Poyson as Mithridate or Triacle or some of these following which as choise Medicines I have inserted as being Doctor Edwards Experiments For the Plague Infuse two peices of fine pure Gold in the juyce of Lemons four and twenty hours and drink that juyce with a little Wine with powder of the Angelica root It is admirable and hath helped divers past all hope of cure Another Take two drachms of Juniper berries of Terra lemnia ℈ i. make both into fine powder and mix it with Honey and take of it as much as a haâ—…ell Nut in three drachms of honeyed water made up thus Take a pint of Honey and of water eight pints seeth and scum it at an easie fire till the fourth part be wasted It is an excellent Antidote against Poyson and Plague if the Poyson be taken before it will expell it by vomit if not the Medicine will stay in the stomack Another Take Zedoary roots the best you can get great Raisins and Licorice champ it with thy teeth and swallow it if you be infected it preserveth without danger Another for botches boyls and tokens Take of ripe Ivy berries dryed in the shade as much of the powder as will lye upon a groat or more and put it into three or four ounces of white Wine and lie in bed and sweat well after your sweat is over change shirt and sheets and all the bed clothes if he may if not yet change his shirt and sheets Some have taken this powder over night and found themselves well in the morning and walked about the house fully cured One having a Plague sore under the thigh another under the left arme-pit taking this powder in the morning and again that night the sores brake of themselves by this excellent Medicine sent by Almighty God It is good for Botches Boyles Plague-sores Tokens Shingles Erisipella and such like c. Thus farre Doctor Edwards Doctor in Physick and Chirurgery Experiments tried by my selfe For the Plague TAke of Pillulae pestilentiales called Ruffi or of Panâ—…hy Magogon or for want of it of extraction Rudii of each half a drachm mingle these into six pills for two doses whereof take three at a time in the morning fasting for two dayes together Another excellent approved Remedy Take eight or nine grains of Aurum vitae either in Triacle water or made up in Diascordium fasting Another excellent sweating powder for the Plague Take of the powder e Chelis Cancrorum of Aromatitum rosatum and of Cerusa Autimonii of each half a scruple mingle these up together in a diaphoretick powder and take it in four spoonfuls of Triacle water well mingled together The Cure of Diseases in Remote Regions The Calenture HAppeneth to our Nation in intemperate Climates by Inflammation of bloud and proceedeth often of immoderate drinking of wine and eating of pleasant fruits which are such nourishers thereof as they prevent the meanes used in curing the same To know the Calenture At the first apprehension it afflicts the Patient with great pain in the head and heat in the body which is continuall or increasing and doth not diminish and angment as other Fevers doe and is oft an Introduction to the Taberdilla or Pestilence but then the body will seem very yellow To cure the Calenture So soon as you perceive the Patient possest of the Calenture except the Chirurgion for danger of the sign defer it I have seen the time of the day not respected open the Median vein of the right arm and take such quantity of bloud as agreeth with the ability of the bodie but if it asswage not the heat by the next day open the same vein in the left arme and take so much more like quantity of bloud at his discretion and if the body be costive as commonly they are give him some meet purgation and suffer him to drink no other then water cold wherein Barley and Annise-seeds have been boyled with bruised Liquorice And if within 4. dayes the partie amend not or being recovered take it again open the vein Cephalick in one or both hands bathing them in warm water untill there come so much more bloud as cause requires Suffer not the Patient to drinke seven dayes after he is perfectly recovered any other drinke then such water as is before herein directed The Taberdilla IS a disease so called