squeezing the Miliar Glandules and so provoking them to an evacuation Some Purging Medicines enter into the Blood and dissolve its Mass If there be any corrupt juices Incorporated with it they carry them off If there be none they melt down the laudable Blood into serum and dispose it for secretion We are oppress'd with a Numberless train of Purging Medicines whereas one or two might Answer all our demands Some few indeed besides the evacuating Vertue have a specific Relation to some Diseases as black Hellebor to Melancholly Rhubarb to the disorders of the Kidneys and especially Câ—loquintida to all Acid Enormities But by a modest Computation five or six might be pick'd out that might very well suffice for all the Indications in Physic These are Jalap Senna black Hellebor Aloe and Rhubarb to which ye may add Scammony and Coloquintida for quickning Ingredients Jalap is a Root imported from Mexico It s Purgative Vertue is owing to its resinous Oyly parts which are strongly six'd by an Acid. For if ye extract the Resin out of it by Spirit of Wine the remaining Caput Mortuum is rob'd of its Purging Vertue This discovers the error of many Physicians who order Jalap to be infus'd in Wine or Common Water which are improper Vehicles for a resinous Body It purges gently without throws or gripings The excrements it evacuates are ting'd with a yellow Colour It agrees best with moist Constitutions and is recommended by Borellus as a specific in a Dropsy If it be well Concocted in the first Passages it not only evacuates but attenuates the humors But the Resin of Jalap taken in solid Powder sticks to the pleats of the Stomach and Guts causes a great many disorders and sometimes a super-purgation Whereas if it be dissolv'd with the Yelk of an Egg in any convenient liquor it is easily concocted and operates without any trouble If Jalap be desir'd in a solid form we prescribe thus Take Cream of Tartar from fifteen Grains to a Scruple Powder of Jalap ten twelve or fifteen Grains and a drop or two of Distill'd Oyl of Annisseeds or Mace Mix and make a Powder If it want to be quicken'd thus Take Powder of Jalap ten fifteen or sixteen Grains Cream of Tartar or Tartar Vitriolated or the Salt call'd Arcanum Duplicatum from twelve to fifteen Grains Prepar'd Scammony one Grain or two Distill'd Oyl of Anisseeds or Mace or Cinnamon two drops Mix and make a Powder as above This is call'd the Purging Vegetable for many uses or Purgans Vegetabile Polychrestum The following prescription purges gently and do's not Gripe Take Powder of Jalap from half a Scruple to fifteen Grains Nitre depurated half a Scruple or four Grains of Nitre and the like quantity of Salt of Tartar prepar'd Scammony one Grain or two Distill'd Oyl of Anisseeds or Mace one or two drops Mix and make a Powder Or Take Cream of Tartar one Scruple Resin of Jalap half a Scruple Salt of Tartar seven Grains Distill'd Oyl of Anis-seeds two drops If a Bolus be more acceptable than a Powder Take of Conserve of Clovegilliflowers half a Dram Cream of Tartar fifteen Grains Powder of Jalap half a Scruple Distill'd Oyl of Mace two drops With a sufficient quantity of Solutive Syrup of Roses make a Bolus Or Take of the Pulp of Raisins two Drams Powder of Jalap one Scruple Scammony prepar'd with Sulphur one Grain With a sufficient quantity of the Syrup of Fumitory make an Electuary For Pills prescribe thus Take of Extractum Catholicum twelve Grains Resin of Jalap four Grains the extract of Trochisci Alhandal two Grains Mix for Pills For a liquid form thus Take of Spirit of Wine or of any other rectified Spirit one Pint of the Roots of Jalap four Ounces Citron Peel six Drams Saffron five Grains Let them stand in a warm infusion then strain the liquor and reserve it for use 'T is call'd Essentia Citrata and may be given from half an Ounce to six Drams Or Take of Hyssop Water one Ounce Cinnamon Water three Drams Powder of Jalap fifteen Grains Extract of Trochisci Alhandal two Grains Syrup of Cichory with Rhubarb half an Ounce Mix for a Potion Or Take Rosin of Jalap from half a Scruple to twelve Grains Salt of Tartar from six to seven Grains with a sufficient quantity of the Syrup of Roses make a Syrup The Salt of Tartar Correct the resin and prevents its sticking to the pleats of the Stomach If an Emulsion be more agreeable Take Melonseeds peel'd half a Dram Resin of Jalap six seven eight nine or fourteen Grains Beat them up together pouring in of warm Rose Water or Mint Water or any other convenient Water one Ounce add Cinnamon Water two Drams Make an Emulsion and sweeten it with solutive Syrup of Roses or any other grateful Syrup Ye may add two Grains of Scammony prepar'd with Sulphur or one Grain of the extract of Trochisci Alhandal with eight Grains of Salt of Tartar Hartwigius prepar'd it with the Yelk of an Egg thus Take Resin of Jalap seven eight or ten Grains and for those who are more robust twelve or fifteen Grains beat 'em up with the Yelk of an Egg. Then pour upon them of Fennel or Mint Water half an Ounce or as much as sufficeth to make an Emulsion Afterwards add Cinnamon Water a Dram or two with a small quantity of sugar or Syrup of Cinnamom 'T is an admirable Purge and sometimes evacuates both upwards and downwards Senna was first found out by the Arabians Hippocrates and the Ancient Grecians knew nothing of it It is a mild Purgative more usual in Chronical Distempers than in acute which are generally cur'd by Vomits Three things are diligently to be observ'd in using of it First that the leaves be well separated from the stalks which are apt to Gripe Secondly that they be not infus'd too long lest the thicker mucilage which is troublesom to the Stomac and Guts be also extracted For the Purging Vertue of Senna proceeds from a Volatil mucilage attended by a thicker The former is gentle and easy The latter griping to a high degree Thirdly that it be never exhibited without the addition of Ginger and Tartar which sharpen and attenuate the mucilage It is a proper purge for hot and dry Constitutions We prescribe it in Powder thus Take of Cream of Tartar and Leaves of Pick'd Senna of each two Drams Ginger Anisseeds Cinnamom and Galandal of each half a Scruple Mix and make a Powder Which is a gentle Lenitive and may be taken at Dinner in a spoonful of broth Dose as much as will lie upon the Point of a knife The infusion of Senna is better than the Decoction in which the Volatil mucilage evaporates and the thicker is too much extracted If ye add Cream of Tartar to it it must always be boyl'd else it will not mix with the Cream Therefore in simple infusions we only add Salt of Tartar and for the most part black
Etmullerus Abridg'd OR A Compleat System of the Theory and Practice of Physic BEING A DESCRIPTION OF All Diseases Incident to Men Women and Children WITH An Account of their Causes Symptoms and most approved methods 〈◊〉 Cure PHYSICAL and CHIRVRGâ—â—â—L To which is prefix'd a short View 〈◊〉 the Animal and Vital Functions and the sevâ—â—â—â— Vertuâ—â— and Classes of Medâ—cines Translated from the last Edition of the Works of Michael ETMUILERVS late Professor oâ— Physic in the University of Leiptsich LONDON Printed for E. Harris at the Harrow in Litte-Britain F. Hubbard next Door to the Crown Tavern in Duck Lane and A. Bell at the Cross Keys and 〈◊〉 in Cornhill near Stocks-Market 1699. THE TRANSLATOR's PREFACE SInce Practical Sciences are infinitely more useful to mankind than the most Curious speculations Doubtless the Practice of Physic may justly claim the same Privilege with respect to its Theoric Companions Anatomy Chymy Botany and the whole Circle of Sciences that retain to Physic are only serviceable when they conspire to improve a regular and safe Practice When they carry on any different design their Positions are deservedly neglected as idle and useless Curiosities The only plea they can make is the Diversion and Entertainment of a few whose Heads are turned that way Whereas the Advantage and Benefit of the World is the Result of Practical Truths Vpon this Account I chose to abridge Etmullerus his Practice of Physic as being the center and substance of all his Performances The Choice was determin'd by the Advantage which accrues to the Theory in being applied to Practice and back'd by Experience without which no Argument is good in being deliver'd in such a method as must naturally ingross all its useful and instructing Part and leave out what is only Calculated for Diversion and Pleasure Thus 't is restor'd to its Natural tendency and stamp'd with an inviting Character 'T is clear'd of the Crimes that are charg'd upon frivolous niceties and recommended to the World as a substantial and necessary part of Physic Had this method been always follow'd it had prevented a great many Inconveniences as it will appear by the following Instances Most of our Courses of Practice are stuffâ—d with the Nauseous Repetition of ineffectual Med'cines Their unexperienc'd Authors deliver their mistaken notions as a standing Rule and with an assuming Air pretend to Dictat to Experience So great is the Self-sufficiency of a teeming Brain and such is the Consequence of that unhappy Distinction between the Theory of Diseases and Actual Practice By this means Various Sects arise Their respective Votaries become Physicians by Eccho and form their precarious methods from the Placita of Opinionative Men The mâ—st solid and useful Positions are misconstru'd or wrangl'd away and plain Practice is confronted by vain fancies or run down by the humor and byass of a Party On the other hand a certain set of Men disoblig'd by the stiffness of the speculative Tribe and their small regard to Experience have chose to lay aside all the advantages of even useful Theory and trust wholly to the Conduct of an Ignorant Experience Thus Med'cines that in a few singular Instances have been Crown'd with success are recommended as infallible in all Diseases of the like form Whereas were these Empyric Pretenders acquainted with the Various Causes of the same effect and the peculiar Constitutions of Men they would be able to single out the particular Cases in which their Med'cines are proper and second 'em with solid Reasons But they foolishly disdain the least Tincture of Knowledge they boldly decry what they do not understand and with a successful impudence impose upon a Credulous World Now the result of all is that a happy Conjunction of Speculative and Experimental Knowledge is the only remedy of the Inconveniences that Cramp a regular Practice And 't is in great measure accomplish'd in the following sheets Here the orderly Scheme of the functions of the Body The General Classes and Vertues of Medicines and their forms of Prescription are briefly accounted for in few Preliminary Chapters Here the Reader will meet with the Spirit and Perfection of Practice supported by all the â—â—â—ful discoveries of Anatomy and Chymy and a Judicious Account of the Materia Medica Here the nicest Phylosopher will find entertainment answerable to his humor and the meanest Empyric will be Accommodated with suitable Instruction Our Author omits nothing that may promote the Grand design He reasons with the manly force and Dexterity of a Philosopher and yet stoops to the meanest stroke of unaccountable Experience He weighs all the Instances of Quack-Cures even Sympathy it self he pay's a deference to and choosâ—s rather to check the most refin'd reason than controul matter of fact He traces the Ancients to their earlyest date and omits no piece of Modern Discovery He Reconciles the Experience of former Ages with the improvements of later Authors He unites the jarring Hypotheses of Willis Sylvius and Helmont and makes 'em conspire to illustrat and imbellish an uniform Practice In the Division of Diseases he chooses to follow the most Natural method in ranking 'em with the functions of the Body and fetching in the Stragglers to the place where their cause is lodg'd In this he was oblig'd to depart from the ordinary measures of our Common-Place Writers who split diseases as their effects vaâ—y and multiply 'em according to the Number of their Symptoms By so doing he avoid the Inconvenience of Charging our memories with multiplyed Cures that may be compass'd by one method As for Instance he fetches the cause of all Chronical Diseases from the Stomac and with one Blow Cuts off the Preposterous plea of Obstructions in the Bowels and a Numberless train of Symptoms Nay he Penetrates into the hidden source of most of our Northern Diseases and by accounting for that lâ—pps off a great deal of unnecessary Practice As it appears by his method of Curing Children's Distempers which has already met with a welcome reception from the English World But 't is a needless piece of formality to anticipat the Reader 's Curiosity with a Character of the Book or Author His Name is an Ample Recommendation His Works in the Language of the Learned have been receiv'd both here and abroad with the unanimous Approbation of the best Judges and have justly Entitled him to the Character he bears in the Title-Page of their Last Edition at Amsterdam viz. Practicus per Omnem Europam Celeberrimus His Practice of Physic is doubtless the Compleatest now extant As being so admirably fitted for all the Measures of Theory and Practice 'T is Countenanc'd by Anatomy Improv'd by Chymy distinguish'd in the Minutest Circumstances warranted by Experience and finish'd to the last Degree His Method is Easy The Causes he assigns to Diseases are Natural his Reasons Convincing his Proofs Solid his Cautions Seasonable his Observations Just his Experiments true His Vouchers Men of Credit his Med'cines Nicely Prepar'd and all
a manifest Cause portends a Chronical Distemper The Specifics that compass its Cure are Absorbent Pouders such as Chalk and Cream of Tartar the Pouder of Burnt Bricks Bole Armenic c. Nutmegs are possess'd of a temperat Oyl fit for moderating the Acrimony of the Humours The Conserve of the Fruit of the common Briar Syrup and Conserve of Oak-Buds Juice of House-leek and Nitre dissolv'd in Elder-flower-water are much approv'd Take of Prepared Chalk two Drams Nutmegs burnt Ivory of each a Dram Mineral Unicorn Red Coral and Crabs Eyes of each two Scruples With four or six Ounces of Sugar dissolv'd in Purslain-water make Tablets Take of the Conserve of Oak-Buds an Ounce Prepared Chalk two Drams Nutmegs one Dram. Make an Electuary If the Evacuations be needful Tamarinds are most proper When a stronger Purgation is desir'd Rhubarb Pills of Ammoniac and Elixir Proprietatis are likewise convenient In an Inveterat case we have recourse to Vomits SECT VIII Of Disorders hindring the due Separation of the Chyle from the Excrements in the Guts THE Victuals having made a sufficient stay in the Stomac repair to the Guts under the form of Chyle which wants to be further prepar'd by being rid of its Curd or gross Excrements before it enter the Vasa Lactea This separation of the good and bad is perform'd by the Gall and Pancreatic Juice The former is an Oyly sulphureous Body which tinctures the Chyle and predisposes it for being converted into Blood It defends it from Corruption destroys any remains of Acidity and ferments with the Pancreatic Juice which is a temperat Acid. Thus they joyntly attack the Chyle attinuat its parts and precipitat the Coarser in order to expulsion while the more refin'd are receiv'd by the Milky Vessels and convey'd to the Blood If this fermentation and separation be irregularly perform'd the Body is expos'd to an infinity of Diseases In a word all Chronical Distempers are owing to the lameness of this performance and that of the first Digestion From these two Juices viz. the Gall and Pancreatic Juice together with the Pituita compos'd of the Saliva and remains of the Chyle in the Stomac Sylvius fetch'd the Causes of a great many Diseases not only Agues but all Chronical Distempers and Symptoms of the lower Belly For the least disorder in that Triumvirat obstructs the due purification and conveyance of the Chyle which cannot but produce many Inconveniencies in the Body Now each of these Juices is accountable for its own faults If the Gall be too copious it renders the Chyle too Oyly and ought to be purg'd out If too sharp or saline it ought to be temper'd by dulcify'd Acids If too fat or oyly it ought to be sharpen'd with volatil Aromatic Salts If it be lazy or do not flow into the Duodenum it ought to be stir'd up and a passage open'd to it by spirituous volatil Medicines As for the Juice of the Sweet-bread if it be too rank it ought to be carry'd off If too acid or austere its austerity causes Constipation of the Belly Gripings and Suffocations of the Womb it ought to be temper'd by Alcali's both fix'd and volatil as fix'd Salts Earths Chalybeat and Antimonial Medicines Castor Galangal Ginger distill'd aromatic Oyls and Spirits c. If it be too flat or deficient it ought to be retriev'd by dulcify'd mineral acid Spirits Juice of Quinces c. If the Chyle it self be deprav'd in the first Digestion it s softer coarse parts that stick to the Guts viz. the mucus that defends them from the sharpness of these two Juices is likewise disorder'd and ought to be put to rights If it be too copious purge it off with Coloquintida If too viscid attenuat it with volatil Salts if deficient repair it with viscous Food But for so much at 't is a difficult Task to trace the peculiar faults of every Juice apart we shall touch at such Medicines as are equally calculated for redressing all their Disorders Those are the temperat salin Ingredients as Arcanum Duplicatum the Carminative Spirit Spirit of Nitre dulcify'd with a triple quantity of the Spirit of Aniseeds together with Opiats As for Example Take of Carduus Benedictus Endive and Mint Waters of each an Ounce Sal Armoniac six drams dulcify'd Spirit of Mint a scruple prepar'd Crabs Eyes a dram Diaphoretic Antimony a scruple Laudanum Opiatum three grains Syrup of Orange-peel half an ounce Mix and give a spoonful now and then SECT IX Of Disorders relating to the Expulsion of the Excrements by Stool THE Chyle having drop'd its Excrements in the Guts pursues its Journey to the Blood These Excrements ought to be voided in due time The hindrances of their regular Evacuation are such as either impair enlarge or deprave it CHAP. I. Of the Diseases which impair the Evacuation by Stool ARTIC I. Of Costiveness THE Causes of Costiveness respect either the Excrements or the Guts Of the former sort are the paucity of Excrements for want of Victuals Their hardness and dryness occasion'd by neglect of drinking excessive sleep and rest swallowing Cherry-stones or Gooseberryskins eating Chesnuts Eggs boyl'd hard Crust of Bread and Medlars Their viscidity and glutinosity caus'd by viscous Victuals or an acid austere Constitution of Body and want of Exercise Their Condensation and Coagulation caus'd by the austere acidity of the Pancreatic Juice and defect of the oyly bilious Alcali all which makes 'em unfit for observing the Peristaltic Motion of the Guts and dispose 'em to stagnat The Causes relating to the Guts are Obstructions or fleshy Excrescences in the Guts their Compression as in Women with Child their Inflammation or Gangrene their growing together after the Corrosion of a Dysentery the Paralytic Relaxation of their Fibres which in Apoplexies eludes Clysters Their Convulsive Contractions occasion'd by Colic or Nephritic Pains which are frequently augmented by strong irritating Purgatives but remov'd by smooth Laxatives Now all these Causes hinder the Guts to perform their wonted Office of forwarding the Excrements by their Peristaltic Motion Sometimes a Costiveness is follow'd by a loathing vomiting gnawing shooting Pains in the Belly uneasiness watchings giddiness and Head-ach If it be inveterat it may occasion a bleeding at Nose If the Excrements be lodg'd in the Colon they creat an uneasiness resembling the splenetic Illness which frequently imposes upon Physitians The disorders of the Head and Hypocondriac Symptoms are inlarg'd by Costiveness which to young Persons threaten an Epilepsie If attended by an Iliac Passion Colic Pains or a Palsie of the Guts 't is very dangerous To Childbearing Women it renders Delivery difficult The Cure consists in softening watering and attenuating the Excrements or in removing the Causes which straiten the Capacity of the Guts reviving their Sense and appeasing their Irritations For the former purposes Oyl of sweet Almonds with solutive Syrup of Roses Salt of the tendrels of Vines mix'd with Spirit of Salt soft potch'd Eggs with Butter drinking
Disease the Manner of its Invasion and the Signs which generally accompany it Secondly To describe the Part affected whether mediatly by being influenc'd from another or immediatly by the Residence of the Morbific Cause within its self Thirdly The Causes of every Distemper both Radical and Occasional Fourthly What Prognostics we can have of the Event of every Distemper And Fifthly To subjoyn the Method of Cure both General and Special the Nature of the Remedies whether Simple or Compound Universal or Specific Together with Historical Cases and Practical Observations applied to every Disease But some things are necessary to be premis'd before we launch into the Practice Whoever would understand it thoroughly must be well acquainted with the Principles of Chymy and Mechanicks The former are serviceable in explaining the Vital Functions of the Body and the latter in the Animal Musculary Motion For Nature has acted Geometrically in framing our Bodies as well as in every thing else The remaining Preliminary Principles that a Student ought to know before he Commence the Practice of Physic are briefly couch'd under the following Heads SECT I. Of the General Vertues of Med'cines AS the Oeconomy of Man's Body is only explicable by the different Forms Sizes and Various Combinations of the Minute Particles of which every Body is compounded according to the Principles of Mechanism So the Vertues of Medicines may best be deduc'd from the same Cause Especially since Occult Qualities are now hiss'd out of Doors and the four first Elementary Principles of Cold Hot Dry and Moist are more Imaginary than Real This Particular Disposition and Texture of Parts that entitles all Medicines to their Respective Specific Qualities is Originally owing to the Seed and may properly be call'd the Seminal Disposition As for Example Scurvygrass is a Specific against the Scurvy not because it is Hot or enjoys such an Occult Quality but because it enjoys such a Texture of Parts that makes it a subtil penetrating Body fit for altering and subduing the Acid Scorbutical Matter Now its precise Seminal Vertue is not Common to all its Parts but peculiar to a sharp Volatil Salt couch'd within its Body that actuates the other Earthy Particles And indeed the Various Exaltation or Depression of Acid or Alcali Salts is the distinguishing Character of all their respective Textures because the Saline Particles are more active and produce more Notable Effects than any of the rest tho 't is probable all of 'em Originally may have sprung from Water Thus such Med'cines were by the Ancients accounted Hot as by their sharp pointed Particles affect the Tongue and Palate the same way as Fire is wont to do or by Vertue of a Volatil Oily Salt dissolve the Mass of Blood and augment its Fermentation Those of a contrary Vertue they styi'd Cold Such are all Acid or Nitrous Medicines Those they call'd Dry which either drink in the moisture of the Body as Burnt Harts-horn c. or open a Door for its Passage as all Sudorifics Those Moist that either supply moisture as all Nourishing and Liquid Things or give a stop to its Consumption as Quieting Pacific Medicines All Med'cines fit for Conquering a prevailing Acid or Alcali in the first Passages were by the Ancients call'd Aperitive I choose rather to Christen 'em Alterative If they are Anti-Acids they perform their Task by imbibing the peccant Acid as Steel and all Earths or qualifying its sharpness as Oily fat Medicines or fermenting with it so as to work it into a Third Compound as all Ascali's both Fix'd and Volatil If their business be to conquer Alcali's they reduce the Bile or any other Vicious Alcali to its true Temperature by opposing themselves to their Extremes For 't is the Disproportion'd Mixture of the Juices in the first ways that destroys the Natural Fermentation of the Blood and is the Source of all Chronical Distempers commonly but falsely imputed to Obstructions And all remedies capable of reducing them from either Extreme are what I call Alteratives in General But are distinguish'd by several particular Names corresponding to their special Qualities As those of an Oily Mucilaginous Body and free from any Predominant salt are call'd Softening Suppurating Expectorating Incrassating Anodyne c. Opposite to them are the Astringents of a Styptic Austere Body Compounded of Earth and an Acid Salt which thicken fluid humors and eontract the fibres of the Parts as Allum c. Those that are most Famous for making head against Acids are sometimes term'd Febrifuga's by reason of their Noted Vertue in Intermitting Feavers and sometimes Vulnerary by reason of their healing Vertue Such as have a sharp penetrating Salt whether Acid or Alcali are Attenuating Discussing c. Those endow'd with a Volatil Oily Salt a piercing Smell and a grateful Taste are Aromatic Carminative Cephalic c. and are commonly us'd for Cordials Those of a Volatil Salt apt to dissolve the Mass of Blood are Diuretic Sudorific and Alexipharmacal These are the General Classes of all remedies us'd in Physic Such of 'em as are more Universal and Answer more Indications are to be most esteem'd As Opium Sal volatile Oleosum and the fix'd Sulphurs of Minerals and Mettals which are all useful in an infinity of Cases and are upon that account Entitled to a preference before others of a narrower extent SECT II. Of the Vital Functions of the Body HAving touch'd upon the Vertues of Medicines and their manner of Operation the next thing is to consider the Subject or Body upon which the Operation is perform'd It s structure presents us with some gross material Parts and some more subtile and active which serve to inform and actuate the other The former represent the External Fabric of an Ingenious Machine the latter the Internal Wheels and Springs of Motion The Ancients imagin'd our grosser part to be compounded of the four first Elements but without either Reason or Experience I deny not but that there are such things as Water Earth and Air which make up the greatest part of our Terraqueous Globe but I doubt much if they and fire are the first and simplest Ingredients of all Compounds Indeed as to Water I do not dispute the point Thales and Helmont have clearly made it out that all things consist of Water But as for fire the Modern Experiments do sufficiently prove that 't is nothing else but a division of the smaller Particles of fat Acids such as we call sulphurous by means of the Air from whence heat and light must necessarily ensue We see that flame is only a further rarefaction of the same Particles that when more condensated appear in smoak and a little more Condensation converts smoak into soot and the Oyl of Soot which is a fat Acid differs from all the three as they from one another by a further or lesser degree of Rarefaction or Condensation Thus the Various Conjunction Separation or Transposition of the same Minute Particles is the Original of the
as the Head and the Stomac the Stomac and Kidneys c. These Nerves are the source of motion They serve to Convey the Animal Spirits to all the Parts of the Body in order to their Reciprocal Contraction and Relaxation When the motion of any Member is irregular it proceeds from one of these three Causes 1. Either the Animal Spirits are scanty and deficient or Lazy and Inactive In this case we use the Oyly Volatil Salts and all Cordial Cephalic and Aromatic Medicines Or 2. The Nerves are relaxated and render'd flaccid by a prevailing lymph whether sharp or acid This yields to the same Remedies with the former 3. The Neighbouring fibres are over-charg'd and forc'd to Enormous motions by the impetuous incursions of the Spirits In this Case Pacific Medicines are very proper But they are generally suspected unless very well Prepar'd Opium is the Head of 'em all and may be Prepar'd either by Fermentation or Digestion with fix'd Salts Helmont Prepar'd it with Juice of Quinces repeating the Fermentation thrice and then dissolv'd it in Spirit of Wine Some set it to ferment with the Juice of Apples or any other Stomachic Langelot Mix'd it with Juice of Quinces and set them in a moderat heat to ferment By this process says he the stinking Sulphur is carried off and the Gross Earthy Parts fall to the bottom while the light and frothy Parts are mounted higher And betwixt these two we find a Transparent Liquor a little Reddish which we separat and reduce to the Consistence of an Extract and then Circulate it for a Month or two with Rectify'd Spirit of Wine He extolls it for a Noble Medicine but I never could see any extraordinary effects produc'd by it The second and better way of Correcting Opium is Digestion with Salt of Tartar and Spirit of Turpentin 'T is a Powerful Medicine reserv'd by some for a Nostrum Some Prepare it thus Take of Opium Salt of Tartar or Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium of each an Ounce Let 'em stand for Digestion Then pour upon 'em two or three Ounces of Spirit of Wine It yields an excellent Tincture which is to be strain'd and reserv'd for use Conerdingius Prepar'd his Hysteric Laudanum thus Take of Laudanum Opiatum Prepar'd by fermentation two Drams Extract of Zedoary one Dram. Extract of Castor fifteen Grains Of the Powder call'd Diacalaminthes one Scruple Saffron half a Dram. Eastern and Western Bezoar Stone of each half a Scruple With Distill'd Oyl of Amber make Pills Dose six Grains to be taken with Sugar After this method ye may give an Extemporary Prescription Thus Take of Extract of Zedoary twelve Grains Extract of Castor fix Grains Laudanum Prepar'd by Fermentation four Grains With a sufficient quantity of Distill'd Oyl of Amber Make six Pills for three Doses SECT V. Of the Choice of Practical Authors IN pursuing my design of gathering the whole Practice of Physic unto one Body I have propos'd Sylvius and Willis for my Pattern Both of 'em joyn'd together are a fit Subject of imitation Tho' if consider'd separatly either of 'em is lyable to Censure The former 't is true had a happy way of referring all the Corruptions of the Humors to the vicious effervescencies of Acids and Alkali's But he stretch'd the Notion too far in imagining a strife betwixt the Descending Lymph and ascending Bile in the right Ventricle of the Heart and in ascribing several effects to the conflicts of the Choler and Pancreatic Juice which perhaps were only owing to the fermentation of the Choler alone Moreover he attributes a great many Sypmtoms to the Vapours arising from the Combatant Juices in the first Passages which properly proceed from the mutual Correspondence of the Nerves Upon the other hand Willis has set us in a clearer light with reference to Convulsive Motions and the Contractions of the Muscles but his Elastic Power will never be regarded while the Convulsions and Cramps of the Nerves are so probably accounted for by assigning the prevalency of an Acid or some such grating substance for their Cause These two Authors joyn'd together are the flower of our Modern Writers and as such I recommend 'em to young Students As for Ancient Writers Senertus may justly claim the precedency or in Room of him Forestus Helmont is an Author that ought to be read by all serious Practitioners Since Paracelsus we have none that surpasses him But whoever would profit by reading his Writings must arm himself with â—atience and Deliberatly weigh every Period as he proceeds In the next place he must be equip'd with a Competent Knowledge of Chymistry and Anatomy else he does but grope in the dark And besides what he Reads he ought to retain as a Paradox And not yield his assent till maturer thoughts and succeeding Experience have vouch'd for its Certainty The Authors that have wrote Practical Observations are Borellus Salmuth Tulpius Rhodius Bartholinus c. They ought to be read with Judgment and Attention Every Minute Circumstance of the Patient ought to be nicely consider'd in order to find out the true cause of the Distemper and determine the precise case in which any particular Medicine is Crown'd with success AN ABRIDGEMENT OF ETMVLLERVS's Practice of Physic BOOK I. SECT I. Of the Animal Appetit and the Disorders 't is Obnoxious to THE most Natural method of describing the Diseases Incident to Men Is to follow the order of the Functions in the Body Among which those relating to Nourishment do justly lead the Van. The first function is to receive Solid Nourishment and Distribute it thro' the Body This reception we are prompted to by Appetit Which is a desire of Solid Food caus'd by the gnawing of a Volatil Acid in the Mouth of the Stomac and encourag'd by such Medicines as promote it This Acid is vary'd according to the different Constitutions of Men and accordingly directs the Appetit to different Objects It is likewise influenc'd by the remains of preceding Food and so sways the Appetit to customary Meats In like manner the Mother's Imagination will Tincture the Acid in the Child 's Stomac with an invincible Aversion to some things The least Apprehension or Natural Sense turns it The Infant 's uneasiness from the Curdling of the Nurses Milk when she is with Child in the time of suckling will revive upon the sight of Cheese and oblige him to avoid it for ever So insensibly is the Acid sway'd that without the direction of thought it Naturally abhors it This Appetit or desire of eating is liable to these disorders 1. It is either impair'd and extinguish'd or 2. Deprav'd and apt to covet improper Food Or 3. Encreas'd to an Unnatural Degree Of these in order CHAP. I. Of the Loss of Appetit THE place affected is the Mouth of the Stomac The General Cause is the Cessation of the uneasiness which the Acid ferment was wont to produce by Vellicating the Stomac The special Causes are Various If the Nerves
not so easily diluted as otherwise This Salt is of an Alcalin nature contrary to that which causes immoderat Hunger The privative cause is the Defect of Saliva whose Office 't is to water those parts and dilute the Salts The remote external Causes are Purging Medicines Pepper Salt Spices Arsenic sublimat Mercury talking loud sleeping with the Mouth open c. The internal remote Causes are the prevalency of a bitter Oyl in the Choler depraving the Lymph an Oyly sharpness in the Saliva occasion'd by Catarrhs extravasation of Serum or Scorbutic glutinous Lymph the Deficiency Glutinosity and Saltish sharpness of the Saliva as in Feavers Phthisicks Hectics c. To which we may add the disorder diversion or paucity of the Spirits which hinder the due secretion of the Spittle as in the Instances of Weakness Fatigue Anger Pain c. The heat of the Blood in the Lungs and dejection of the Appetit in the Stomac have likewise a great hand in causing Thirst Sometimes Thirst is attended by a Feaverish heat at other times it is quite free of it as in Scorbutic Hydropic and Catarrhous cases In general a sudden Thirst without any visible cause prognosticates some Disease or other If the Tongue be dry the Mouth beset with a tough Phlegm and the Body oppress'd with heat and yet the Person be insensible of Thirst 't is an Argument of a Delirium or great disorder among the Animal Spirits or of the stupidity of the Tongue and adjacent parts and is justly look'd upon as a malignant Symtom If in drinking the Liquor makes a noise as it falls into the Stomac it is an Argument of the Disorder of the Stomac In Feavers it disappears together with them But in Chronical Distempers 't is not so easily shaken off As for the method of Cure the irritating Cause must be first remov'd by Medicines vary'd according to its Nature Such are partly austere Acids partly temperat Medicineâ— which correct the sharp or urinous or oyly or saline Particles The Acids are Wood-sorrel Prunes Citrons Quinces Oranges Pomgranates Rasberries Barberries Corants Cherries and all their Juices and especially Tamarinds which not only abate the Thirst but open the Body The Juice of Houseleek Vinegar Strawberry-water Tinctures of Roses of Viclets and of Dasies Cream of Tartar Spirits of Vitriol of Sulphur of Salt or the Spirit distill'd from equal Quantities of Sulphur Antimony and Vitriol drop'd into the ordinary Drink The temperate Remedies are Milk Whey clarify'd with Citrons Emulsions of Seeds Raisins Liquorice e. The second Indication of Cure is to augment the quantity of Serum and Spittle by exhibiting Liquids alter'd with Wine or Cinnamom or mix'd with acid Spirits Simple cold Water tho' commonly us'd is very noxious Besides 't is not convenient to throw in too large quantities of Liquors for fear of loading the Stomac therefore Gargles and Mucilages applied to the Tongue and Throat will not be improper As for the Forms of Recipe's these following will suffice Take of the Decoction of the Leaves and Roots of Wood-sorrel one Pound fresh Juice of Wood-sorrel three Ounces Syrup of Bay-berries and Pomgranats of each six Drams Mix them Take of the Decoction of Barly one Pound Juices of Citrons and of Quinces of each two Ounces Tinctures of the Flowers of Dasies and Roses of each two Drams Syrup of the Juice of Citrons an Ounce and a half Spirit of Salt as much as sufficeth Make a Julep Take of the Flowers of Dasies six Drams sprinkle 'em with Spirit of Sulphur and infuse 'em in two Pound of Barly-water till it extract a Tincture strain the Liquor and add three Ounces of the Syrup of Rasberries Take of Tamarinds two Ounces bruis'd small Raisins an Ounce and a half boil them in Water and infuse in the strain'd Liquor while 't is yet hot an Ounce of fresh Citron-peel When 't is cold strain it out and add half an Ounce of the Tincture of Roses Make a Julep Take of Barly-water a Pound and a half Cinnamom-water an Ounce purify'd Nitre or Nitrum Antimoniatum from a Dram to a Dram and a half Mix them for a Potion This and all Nitrous Potions are proper for such as do not agree with Acids In Scorbutic Phthysical and Hydropic Cases the Saltness of the Lymph and Spittle is admirably corrected by Whey mix'd with Juice of Citrons or with the Juices of Scurvy-grass and Wood-sorrel Spirits of Salt and of Nitre are likewise very proper Emulsions prepar'd from the cooling and milky Seeds and the Decoction of China with Raisins and Liquorice are likewise conducive to the same purpose Acids in this case are improper But Liquorice and Fennel-Seeds boil'd are much approv'd As Take of Barly a handful small Raisins bruis'd an ounce and a half Anniseeds Fennel seeds of each a Dram and a half Liquorice-roots six Drams Boyl them in fair Water till the fourth part be consum'd adding towards the end a Dram and a half of Cinnamon Strain out the Liquor of which the Patient may drink at pleasure Gargles of Water Small-beer or Water impregnated with Nitre or the Juice of Houseleek or Mucilages of Quince-seeds Fleawort-seeds c. extracted with Rose-water or Phlegm of Vitriol and mix'd with the Juice of Houseleek applied to the Tongue and held in the Mouth are very useful especially when the Tongue is black dry and rough Some healthy Persons are molested with Thirst every Morning for whom Wormwood-wine is very proper Others are thirsty thro' Labour Fatigue and Exercise for whom the Spirit of Wine is very convenient SECT III. Of the Diseases relating to the Chewing Faculty HAVING dispatch'd the Disorders of the Appetit which is the first Spring of Nourishment I am now arriv'd at the manner of receiving Food It is first receiv'd by the Mouth Chew'd and impregnated with Spittle which being of a fermentative Nature not unlike that of the ferment in the Stomach predisposes and prepares it for Digestion Now if the Power of Chewing be deficient or disorder'd 't is neither impregnated with Spittle nor cut small so as to be fit for Digestion The Disorders of this Nature are such as respect either the Muscles imploy'd in that Motion the Jaw-bones or the Teeth Of these in order CHAP. I. Of the Contorsion of the Muscles of the Mouth or a Dog Cramp THE Temporal Muscles and those common to the Cheeks and Lips are the Instruments which move the under Jaw-bone in order to joyn it with the upper in the Act of Chewing If they are seiz'd with Convulsions or Cramps the under Jaw-bone is inseparably united to the upper if they be Paralytic it falls down by its own weight and they are not able to fetch it up But these Cramps and Palsies never happen but when the whole Body is equally affected and then they yield to the general Cure If one part or side of these Muscles be seiz'd with Convulsions or Palsy while the other is sound the Mouth stands awry inclining
Calamint and Wormwood of each a handful Elecampane-roots Acorus-Roots of each an Ounce Galangal three Drams Cinnamom three Drams Mace one Dram 't is very oyly and therefore a small Quantity will suffice Anniseeds three or six Drams Cut bruise and tie them in a Bag to be infus'd in Rhenish Wine in a warm place for twelve Hours Let the Patient take a Draught of the Infusion before Eating adding to every Draught fifteen drops of dulcify'd Spirit of Salt The Rob of Juniper-Berries with Ginger Mace and Sugar may be us'd by way of Electuary Sal-armoniac given in Wormwood-wine Arcanum Duplicatum or essential Salt of Tartar mix'd with Aromatic Powders the Infusion of Aron and Elecampane roots in Wine Chocolat and Thea are all of excellent use As for musty Crudities Vomits and gentle Purges of Rhubarb and Tamarinds are proper Then precipitating Earthy Powders follow'd by Acid Juleps As Take of Arcanum Duplicatum two Scruples prepar'd Cuttle-bone a Scruple Powder of Nutmegs six Grains Mix for two or three Doses Take of Mint-water an Ounce and a half Cinnamom-Water two Drams Juice of Quinces six Drams Syrup of the Juice of Quinces half a Dram. Mix for a Potion Dulcify'd Spirit of Salt Spirit of Mastic Elixir Proprietatis Ivory Coral Cream of Tartar Quinces c. are all proper Ingredients Acid Crudities are remov'd by absorbent Powders and volatil Aromatics such as Scurvygrass lesser Centory Wormwood Rhubarb and especially Ginger volatil Spirits of Mint Sage Scurvygrass that of Sal-armoniac mix'd with Vegetable Spirits Spirit of Tartar Hartshorn c. Elixir Proprietatis prepar'd without an Acid together with the fixed Salts of Wormwood Carduus Benedictus c. the digestive Hypocondriac Salt Hartshorn Ivory Crabs-Eyes c. Above all River-Crabs together with the Shells are much approv'd All Acids must be avoided and after the Acid is vanquish'd Purgatives administred Besides internal Medicines external Applications are proper for promoting Chylification As Take of the Oyl of Mint prepar'd by Infusion and boyling two Drams express'd Oyl of Nutmegs a Dram distill'd Oyls of Mint of Mace and of Cloves of each half a Scruple Mix and anoint the Region of the Stomach Balsam of Peru is very proper for the same purpose Take of Tacamahac three parts Gum-Caran one part soften 'em with Balsam of Peru or distill'd Oyl of Mint and make a Plaister to be applied to the Stomac A Spunge dip'd in Wine impregnated with the Vehicle of Stomachic Simples and applied hot to the Stomac is also much approv'd CHAP. II. Of Wind in the Stomach and Guts WHEN the Work of Chylification is disturb'd Wind oft times molests and distends the Stomach which if it break upwards with a noise is call'd Belching if it be discharg'd both upwards and downwards 't is call'd a dry Cholera Wind is somewhat different from Vapors and Exhalations either of which is resolv'd by heat and thicken'd by cold whereas it undergoes no such alteration Nay 't is neither heat nor cold that is directly concern'd in giving it a Being 't is only the vicious fermentation of a Preternatural Acid within a thick viscous Body Thus we see that Spirit of Nitre pour'd upon a Metallin soluble Body boyls up into Wind and Noise The like will happen in the distillation of Tartar or the effusion of Vinegar or Juice of Citrons upon Corals or Crabs-Eyes In like manner Bread or new Wine if fermented will rise up with a windy noise but if fermentation be neglected no other process of boyling macerating distilling c. is able to produce that effect And once more if Apples be expos'd to the Sun so as to undergo a fermentation by vertue of the heat their Skin will chop and break to give way to the Wind and no other management whatsoever can compass that end Thus 't is made to appear that Wind is not pre-existent in the Liquors or Humors themselves but newly created by vertue of the imprisonment of acid and urinous Salts within a viscous Body which they endeavour to attenuate and break through when dissolv'd and put into motion by the addition of a ferment Now that the Vehicle is viscid is sufficiently made out by the tenacious gross Humors that are voided upwards by Vomiting The Part affected is the Cavity of the Stomach and its upper Orifice The immediate Cause is already explain'd To which we may add a violent compression which obliges the Wind in pursuit of a larger space to move in to break forth and forsake its narrow Habitation just as Air condensated displays its Elastic force and seeks to enlarge its Bounds driving before it the contiguous interfering Bodies with a notable noise The remote Causes are the eating of viscous Food and retention of acid Crudities Flatulent Meats may be very apt to encourage a Windy noise but without the fermentatation of an inclosed Acid they cannot of themselves produce it Therefore 't is that the same Meats will occasion such disturbances in acid Constitutions that are digested by other Persons without any disorder Some flatulent Distentions are natural produc'd by the oyly Bile and acid Mucus of the Stomac and Guts when their Cavities are Empty and projected by Nature to keep their walls from joyning and continue the openness of their Pores As to the Differences of Belchings some are Acid as in Hypocondriac cases and after long fasting some musty of which above some answerable to the natural quality of Food receiv'd as those caus'd by eating Onyons Radishes c. some quite insipid and lastly tho very rarely some are attended by a prodigious stink Now the cause of flatulent stinks must be fetch'd from the Chymical Experiment of dissolving fat Sulphureous Substances with Alcali's and precipitating with Acids As Antimony calcin'd with Nitre and Tartar in the Preparation of Crocus Metallorum then dissolv'd in Water and precipitated with Vinegar yields a most noysom Smell so the oyly Salts of the Bile first resolv'd and then precipitated by Acids are indow'd with the like Quality The Signs are these If the Wind cannot force its passage the Breast or Belly is distended and perplex'd if touch'd it rebounds as it were the respiration is very difficult especially when the Persons lie on their Backs they are molested with violent Pains and tossing from side to side they perceive a sort of flatulent noise within Just before the Wind breaks forth they complain of a vast Perplexity in their Breasts but when it gains its Passage are benefited by it Sometimes these flatulent Distentions reach the Neck and Back and occasion a Swelling about the Mouth of the Stomac which prevents the breaking of Wind downwards and reaps no advantage by those which pass upwards And Eating augments this Distention As for Prognostics They are usually the Symptoms of a Hypocondriac Illness and if they happen upon the recovery of a Disease portend its relapse If they continue long they threaten Dropsies If they stink horridly they are very malignant and
liberally and especially Raisins are of good use Rhubarb and Aloes are not to be us'd unless mix'd with Antimonial Ingredients Take of the Pulps of Raisins and Tamarinds of each an ounce and a half Crystals of Tartar three drams Powder of Jalap roots two drams Scammony sulphurated a scruple laxative Antimony half a dram With solutive Syrup of Roses make an Electuary The Decoction of Prunes or of Senna with Raisins is likewise very effectual Clarify'd Whey mix'd with solutive Syrup of Roses or impregnated with Tamarinds by Decoction is an incomparable Medicine for opening the Belly It injoys a volatil oyly Alcali which tempers the austere acidity of the Juice of the Pancreas the frequent cause of Costiveness and moderates the acrimony of scorbutic Salts The Decoctions of emollient Herbs in Broth or that of Figs in Barly-water are likewise useful Some instead of Sugar use Manna for the Conferves of Roses and Violets and mix 'em with the Pulp of Raisins and Cream of Tartar with very good Success If the Excrements be very hard and a glassy Pituita beset the Guts there 's nothing better than Gum Ammoniac As take of Mint-water an ounce Gum Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar a dram solutive Syrup of Roses half an ounce make a Potion for two Doses If the Operation be difficult add Tartar vitriolated and Scammony sulphurated The Tincture or Essential Salt of Tartar is much approv'd But in Cases of Extremity we must have recourse to Quicksilver two or three ounces of which may be exhibited in Broth or Oyl of sweet Almonds or it may be infus'd for a Month in Wine shaking the Wine often of which a spoonful or two is a Dose Fulminatory Gold reduc'd to Pills with Extract of Hellebor or Syrup of Roses is look'd upon by some as the last Refuge But it ought not to be dulcify'd or rob'd of its Salt otherwise it becomes diaphoretic I choose to joyn it with Antimonial Nitre which provokes the Guts to Expulsion and find it very useful both in this case and that of Childrens Gripings Strong Purgatives ought to be avoided by reason that they promote the Contraction of the Guts and consequently the induration of the Excrements As for External Assistance Emollient Clysters of the Decoctions of softning Herbs mixt with Lenitive Electuaries Hony Manna yelks of Eggs and softning Oyls are very proper Some choose to inject the Decoction of Raisins in Veal Broth. Turpentine Clysters are very convenient when Costiveness is caus'd by Nephritic Pains Common Oyl or the Oyls of Linseed and Rapeseed are sometimes more effectual than any other Ingredients As Take of Rape Oyl in which a dram of Troches Alhandal has been boyl'd eight ounces with an ounce of Hony of Roses and the yelk of one Egg make a Clyster If Emollient Clysters prove ineffectual and the Excrements be notably harden'd let Sal Gem be added to 'em As for Example Take of Chamomil Leaves and Flowers three handfuls Elder and Mullein Flowers of each a handful boyl them in Water To nine ounces of the strain'd liquor add of Sal Gem a Dram Hony of Roses an ounce make a Clyster If Wind molest the Guts add of the distill'd Oyls of Cumin and Caraway-seeds of each half a Scruple If Sal Gem be insufficient add a dram of Coloquintida ty'd in a Bag to be boyl'd with the other Ingredients still observing this Caution that when such sharp Ingredients are added Oyls and such like things ought to be omitted for these cramp the others And in the last place if Coloquintida it self be insufficient in the room of it add two three or four ounces of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum but withal 't is still to be remembred that if the Guts be irritated or molested with Contractions the simple softning Clysters are only proper and that the use of such sharp Ingredients is to be nicely confin'd to the case of the insensibility and relaxation of the Guts Next to Clysters are Suppositories made of Salt Hony Powder of black Hellebor and a small quantity of Sal Gem. Sylvius and other Authors are very diffuse in commending Suppositories of Allum either mix'd in Powder with Tragacanth dissolv'd in white Lilly-water or a piece of Rock allum cut into the form of a Suppository and anointed with Oyl of sweet Almonds But during the use of Clysters and Suppositories 't is proper to exhibit some laxative inwardly lest an ineffectual Provocation of the Guts shou'd creat an Inflammation 'T is likewise convenient in the mean while to foment or bathe the Belly and after bathing to anoint it thus Take of the Leaves of common Mallows Marsh-mallows Plantane and Wormwood of each a handful Chamomil and Melilot Flowers of each half a handful Seeds of Fenugrec Linseeds and Cucumberseeds of each a scruple Boyl them in Wine till two parts be consumed Foment the Belly with the Decoction Take of the Oyls of sweet Almonds Violets Lillies Roses Chamomil and Spikenard of each half an ounce Goose fat an ounce with a little of the Plaister of Bay-berries make a Liniment with which anoint the Belly after fomentation If the motion of the Intestines be much impair'd let the Oyntments be sharpen'd with Bull 's Gall and Sal Gem or apply a Plaister of Bull 's Gall and Oyl of Coloquintida to the Navel Zivet especially in Colic Pains us'd the same way is a valuable Secret The Ointment of Soubread soften'd with Oyl of Coloquintida is very useful for the same purpose As also Elaterum or Scammony or Aloe mix'd with Oyl of Coloquintida Some mix Goose fat with a roasted Apple and apply it to the Belly Others apply Oyl of Poplar with Hiera Picra to the Soles of the Feet Some choose to anoint their Fingers with Rape or Linseed Oyl and so thrust 'em into the Fundament and they say 't is a very effectual Method Coughing and sneezing are recommended by Platerus as fit means for forwarding the Excrements Meibomius gives an instance of a Prince that was wont to cause his Servant to whip him to Stool ARTIC II. Of the Iliac Passion THE Iliac Passion is an extreme Costiveness pain about the Navel and voiding of the Excrements upwards caus'd by the inverted peristaltic Motion of the Guts If the Inversion of the peristaltic Motion commence from the Pylorus it creates Vomiting if from the Guts which are a Continuation of the Membran of the Stomac it produces the same Symptoms For the most part it takes its rise from the Ileum tho' sometimes it begins at the Rectum or Colon as appears by their Inflammations and other observables in dead Bodies The Causes are Ulcers of the Guts extreme Costiveness or acid austere Excrements irritating their Fibres and causing Obstructions especially about the Caecum a Rupture The Corrugation of the Guts by a Gangrene mistaken by some for a twisting of 'em round one another a thing inconsistent with their ligation to the Mesentery The runing of one Gut into another caus'd by Wind distending
ART IV. Of the Looseness call'd Caeliaca A Caeliaca is a Looseness by which the Chyle is voided together with the Excrements The Stomac is not faulty Chylification being duly perform'd there But the blame must either be cast on the Bile that is stopp'd in its Passage to the Guts or degenerat from its saline Acrimony and so unfit for separating the Chyle or on the milky Vessels thro which the Chyle ought to pass as having their Orifices cover'd with slime or shut by the Contraction and Corrosion of the Intestines by loosenesses c. Somtimes the obstruction of the Glandules of the Mesentery will also cause a Caeliaca If the Bile be defective the Excrements are white pale and parti-colour'd without any sign of Separation If the obstruction of the milky Vessels cause the Disease the Excrements are ting'd yellow and the Chyle tho voided at the same time is but loosely mix'd with 'em as having been separated in the Guts but disappointed of its Passage If the Bile be lazy or its Passage stop'd we use the Medicines prescrib'd for the Jaundice If the milky Vessels are block'd up we endeavour to remove the slime that besets 'em by attenuating opening Ingredients Astringents are not proper Mint Wormwood the opening Roots Rhubarb Fennel Aniseeds Gum Ammoniac distill'd with Verdigrese Sulphur and Oxymel c. are fit for opening the Obstructions After which the Tincture of Tartar or the Tincture of the dross of Regulus Antimonii or Chalybeat Tinctures mix'd with the Spirit of Salarmoniac or that of Urine or that de tribus are very convenient CHAP. III. Of Depravations relating to the Expulsion of Excrements by Stool ART I. Of a Desentery Tenesmus Hepatic Flux and Ieching of the Anus A Dysentery properly so call'd is a voiding of Blood and purulent Matter with throws and gripings In which sense 't is distinguish'd from the painless evacuation of thin watery Blood from the internal Hemorroid Veins call'd by the Ancienâ—s the Hepatic Flux and likewise from the natural discharge of Blood independent of the Guts caus'd by its redundancy in the Body as after Amputations suppression of the Terms c. or by its Acrimony opening the Vessels or the obstruction of the Bowels hindring its Circulation The Cause is some sharp acid that irritates the Guts provokes 'em to Contractions assembles the Blood by vertue of its Provocation and corrodes the Orifices of the Blood Vessels This may proceed from the Corruption of Matter in the Guts Summer Fruits Sugar Hony new Wine which become acid and ferment with the Bile Mercury Coloquintida Antimony Lead the coarse Powder of an Adamant Worms c. which vellicat the Guts and amass sharp humors in ' em If the acidity and sharpness be owing to these Causes the Dysentery is benign and free of Contagion But the cause of an epidemical malignant contagious looseness is a corrupt volatil acid not lodg'd in the Guts but immediately reigning in the Blood perverting its texture opening the Vessels inserted into the Guts and provoking 'em to convulsive Contractions from whence insue a malignant Feaver Gripings and bloody Stools So that tho previous Excoriations may take place in benign Dysenteries there is no occasion for 'em in the contagious malignant sort It being a sufficient cause of bloody Stools that the caustic ferment is a mortal Enemy to the Guts like to that of Antimony or Arsenic that perpetually thwarts and provokes 'em to Convulsions Upon which they squeeze out their blood together with their nutritious Juice that they are not then in a Capacity to receive and which is by some taken for the Mucus of the Guts whereas the large Quantities that are voided do sufficiently evince the contrary The signs are these The sick Person is seiz'd with unsufferable griping Pains in the Guts follow'd by frequent stools at first of whitish matter afterwards of Blood and slime mix'd together When he goes to Stool he is grievously tortur'd and the Guts and Bowels seem to descend If the Dysentery be malignant 't is wonderfully contagious propagating it self not only by the Breath but by using the same Clyster-pipe A malignant Feaver and all its dismal Symptoms accompany it If in the progress of the Disease pure Blood be voided 't is a sign of the corrosion or opening of some large Vessel in the Guts or Mesentery If a Dysentery be unseasonably stop'd the Guts are inflam'd and gangren'd the Throat beset with Wheals and Pimples the Intestinum Rectum sometimes molested with a Tenesmus and do vnfalling the Appetit dejected upon which insue Nauseating Vomiting the Hiccough Watchings and at last fatal Convulsions If the great Guts are affected the Pain is heavy and obscure seated towards the sides of the Belly and quickly follow'd by Stools the Excrements Slime and Blood are but indifferently mix'd and the Stomac less disorder'd than when the small Guts are the seat of the Evil for then there is a notable propension to Vomit the pain is more pricking and shooting plac'd above and below the Navel and not so quickly follow'd by Evacuations and the Matter when evacuated is exactly mix'd without any signs of distinction There are three degrees observable in a Dysentery The Symptoms of the first are bloody and slimy Stools In the second the slime gives some signs of an Excoriation and in the third of an Exulceration When the Guts are excoriated 't is either the Crust that covers 'em or part of their thick Tunicle or at most the Caruncles or inflam'd Glandules of the Guts that is voided If a Dyfentery be attended by a Vomiting Hiccough and malignant Symptoms if the Excrements are green black or fetid if the Looseness began from a green black corrosive Bile or an acid salin tenacious Pituita 't is a dangerous Case Convulsions and Doatings usher in Death The voiding of Caruncles is a fatal sign The Indolency of the Guts signifies a Gangrene If the Anus be so contracted that nothing can enter it bespeaks a fatal tumor in the Intestinum Rectum if it hang out and open so that Clysters are not retain'd t is Paralytic A Feaver succeeding to a Dysentery is a sign of the Inflammation or Corruption of the Intestins A Dysentery is frequently fatal to Women with Child unless it be very benign and not long before the time of Delivery If a bitter taste in the Mouth and bilious Vomits happen in the beginning if a Lienteria Hiccough wheals in the Throat or spots in the Face happen after it has continu'd some time and if the Intestines are ulcerated Death is at hand If the Person belch or fart 't is a good sign If the great Guts are the proper seat of the Evil there 's less danger Splenetic and gouty People are sometimes benefited by a Dysentery Now in order to form a distinct Idea of the Cure let us first give ear to the following Cautions 1. That by all means we ought to distinguish malignant Dysenteries from such as are benign
Litharge and Tragacanth mix'd with Vinegar and Oyl of Roses Oft-times Plantan Water and Allum are also very effectual ARTIC II. Of the Piles THE Hemorrhoid Veins are either Internal or External The Internal proceed from the mesenteric Branch of the Vena Portae the External from the same Branch of the Vena Cava as those of the womb and so frequently discharge the Blood that was wont to be evacuated by the terms as in the case of Suppression or Cessation of the terms or being with Child The Blood stagnating in these Hemorrhoid Vessels causes oft-times a dry Inflammation straitening the Cavity of the Guts and occasioning a prodigious Pain in voiding the Excrements sitting walking c. It rises up to a great swelling and hangs out of the Gut in various forms sometimes mistaken for warts or other occasional tumors and if it be not discus'd or open'd degenerats into a Scirrhus or an Ulcer If the Vessels give way to the Blood it runs out either by drops from the Veins or with a full current from the Arteries Sometimes this Evacuation is Natural and Periodical returning every Month or Week in Men as the terms in Women Sometimes 't is Critical infering the solution of an Acute Distemper Sometimes not only Blood but a watry humor resembling the Whites in Women is voided by the same Vessels This evacuation by the Hemorrhoids for the most part is involuntary tho' some few by Custom may have obtain'd a Privilege of commanding them when they will The Cause of this Flux or Stagnation of Blood is either Internal or External The former is some sharp salin ferment in the Blood following Melancholic Scorbutic and Splenetic Distempers or occasion'd by suppression of Blood and such like Accidents This vicious ferment irritats the tender Fibres and creats an Inflammation Pain and other Symptoms The External Causes are Riding Running Leaping or whatever stretches those Vessels any sudden Commotion of the Blood by Anger Exercise c. Hard Labor of Women with Child Suppression of the Terms and the use of Rosinous Purgatives which stick to the Guts and vellicat the Orifices of the Vessels The Essential Symptom of the Piles is a green colour of the Face A pain in the Loyns without a manifest Cause prognosticats their approach They are distinguish'd from scorbutic Evacuations of Blood in that they are generally exasperated by going to Stool and the Blood for the most part is voided together with the Excrements The dry Piles are distinguish'd from other Excrescences by their being of a different Substance from the Breech round black plac'd at the extremities of the Veins and being altogether free of Flesh or Ulceration If the Piles be Chronical or accompany Chronical Diseases such as the Scurvy Melancholly Obstructions of the Bowels and especially Arthritic Pains we ought to be cautious of stopping 'em unless they exceed Bounds in which case they weaken the Body disposing it to a Dropsie or Consumption and creating an awkward aversion to Women Periodical or usual Piles or such as proceed from Suppressions ought to be promoted and open'd if they be dry If the Piles flow too copiously they ought to be stop'd If the dry Piles seize those who are unacquainted with 'em or cannot bear the loss of Blood they ought to be discuss'd Chalybeat Medicines are in a manner proper for all these purposes by reason that the Piles in what condition soever are for the most part either the fore-runners or effects of Hypocondriac Diseases But to answer each Indication apart we shall begin with the first For opening the Piles or promoting their Flux let the part be first fomented with emollient Decoctions then apply the Juice of Fig-leaves bruis'd or the Juice of Soubread mix'd with that of Beets or a Liniment of Aloes and the Juice of Onyons or a Suppository of Hiera Picra with the Powder of Coloquintida Hony and Ox Gall or the Decoction of River Crabs in Oyl especially in case of a notable Inflammation or Heat or a Cataplasin of Pigeons Dung with Staves-acre-seeds or the Juice of Nettles mix'd with boyl'd stale Urine scum'd and Rose-water or if the Anus itch Juice of Lemons or Vinegar of Roses All these Ingredients ought to be put into a leaden Mortar till they 're discolour'd But the most effectual way of opening dry Piles is the Application of Leeches If they creep into the Gut a Clyster of Salt-water will fetch 'em out Internally the same design is promoted by resinous Purgatives especially Aloe with Myrrh or Elixir Proprietatis If the Piles flow too copiously they ought to be curb'd which was our second Indication For this purpose tosted Rhubarb Tamarinds the Conserve and Syrup of Oak-buds the Decoction of Mastic Wood Syrup of dry Roses a common but very effectual Remedy the Syrups and Juices of Purslain and Quinces Juice of stinging Nettles given to two or three ounces the Decoction of Burnet dead Mens Bones in Powder Sea-horse Tooth and especially the Juice and Syrup of the Ordure of an Ass are very proper Chalybeat Medicines which encounter the Hypocondriac acid and become as it were Vitriolic are consequently admirably fitted for this purpose Such are the Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol or that call'd Tinctura Antiphthisica or that of the Vitriol of Steel A dram of the Pills of Bdellium is likewise a very proper and effectual Remedy Venice Treacle and Narcotics are universally known and us'd Take of Plantan and Purslain water of each an ounce and a half Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol a dram and a half Laudanum Opiatum four grains Syrup of Coral six grains Make a Potion External Repellents are Frankincense and Myrrh or Pitch for Fumigation the Spunge call'd Crepitus Lupi the compound Powder of Cork and Mummy the Powder of burnt Toads or of Land Frogs the fat that drops from a rosted Ele a Liniment of Soot yelks of Eggs and Spiders Webs Bags quilted with bruis'd Wallnuts and Oaken Leaves and soak'd in Vinegar all applied to the Fundament A Girdle of the Leaves of white Hellebor sew'd in a Clout with the Powder of Oak bark is of excellent use Dulcify'd Earth of Vitriol beaten up with the Juice of Plantan the Ointment of Litharge and Tutty mix'd with the Ashes of Oysters are useful Liniments Blooding is of no use excepting the case of a Suppression The third Indication is to discuss the dry Piles and allay the Pain The Specifics for this purpose are the Infusion of the Apple of Jerusalem in Oyl of sweet Almonds for external application the Decoction of Mullen and Elder-flowers in Milk or Mullen-flowers and Henbane-seeds in Water for Fomentation or Cataplasms of their Leaves and Flowers and the Leaves of Purslain boyl'd in Milk Decoctions of the Leaves and Flowers of Toad-flax and the Flowers of Chamomil in Milk for Fomentation Or Take of Toad-flax two handfuls Henbane-leaves half a handful Oyl of Roses Oyl of Mullein of each three ounces fresh Butter five ounces
Boyl them and express the Liquor to which add a handful of the Leaves of Toad-flax then express again and add the yelks of two Eggs. Make a Liniment and anoint the part or add to it express'd Oyl of Henbane-seeds and Sugar or Lead in case of an Inflammation The Oyl of the Berries of the Herb Paris for Women with Child or Oyl of Stag-flies Oyl of Wood-lice and that of Box-wood are very much recommended for Inunctions Take of the Mucilages of Fleawort-seeds of Quince-seeds and Linseeds prepar'd with Rose-water of each an ounce fresh Butter an ounce with the yelks of two Eggs and Oyl of Roses beat them in a leaden Mortar till they become livid and make a Liniment of excellent use against Inflammations of the Piles The Oyl of Eggs Spirit of Wine camphoris'd and Sugar of Lead may be added The Balsam of Sulphur prepar'd with express'd Oyl of Poppy-seeds or mix'd with Camphyr and Sugar of Lead or with the Oyl of Eggs and that of Bricks is of very good use in External Applications Some put Venice Treacle mix'd with Sugar of Lead and the Oyl of the Balsam-Apple upon a Clout and thrust it into the Fundament Figwort Orpine and Pilewort are three famous Specifics they are given inwardly by way of Infusion in Ale or Wine Their Roots are given also in Powder Figwort-roots mix'd with fresh Butter and kept in a Cellar for fifteen days yield a noble Liniment The Juice of Pilewort externally applied is also of excellent use Take of the Roots of Figwort and Pilewort of each half an ounce with Oyl of Mullen make a Liniment If they become Chronical let an Issue be cut in the Thigh If they are ulcerated let fulminatory Gold mix'd with Oyl of sweet Almonds be applied Upon the whole 't will not be improper to take notice of Wedelius's Caution viz. That Ointments are not always the most convenient forms by reason that they inlarge the Capacity of the Veins stop the Transpiration and augment the Heat SECT X. Of Worms in the Guts HAving discours'd of the Expulsion of the Excrements we come next to consider what preternatural things the Guts may contain viz. Worms They are either long or broad or very small call'd Ascarides and confin'd to the Intestinum Rectum The immediat Cause is the seed of Worms convey'd into our Bodies The remote cause is putrify'd Crudities in the Stomac and Guts and the deficiency or weakness of the Bile which is the true scare-crow of Worms The Symptoms are an acid smell in the Mouth stinking Spittle copiously voided and with some squeamishness the Excrements in Colour resembling Cows-dung the yellowness of the white of the Eye or a Jaundice Sometimes a biting pain seizes and distends the Belly especially in a Morning and the Person is troubl'd with night fears gnashing of Teeth trembling Convulsions corrosion of the Gums Consumption of the Body the Face is red and pale by turns the Appetit voracious and fierce the Symptoms are exasperated by acid bitter Victuals and mitigated by Milk and sweet things The Person is molested with a dry Cough and thirst when his Belly is empty Broad Worms have this peculiar Symptom that little things like Gourd-seeds are interspers'd with the Excrements The Ascarides observe the Motions of the Moon By day they are generally quiet but from ten a Clock at night till Morning they rage Sometimes they 'll corrode the Buttocks and Thighs and creat Ulcers in the Anus and Intestinum Rectum The broad sort are expell'd with the greatest difficulty Worms frequently introduce troublesom Diseases If in the beginning of a Disease they throw themselves out 't is a sign of great malignity within In the Declension or after Concoction 't is look'd upon as a good sign In the Diseases of Children Worms are always suspected All sorts of Worms ought to be attack'd during the wane of the Moon Jalap Rhubarb and sweet Mercury are proper Purges The Specifics are Horse-Radishes Water-Cresses Centory Wormwood Peach-flowers Turnsil Flowers of St. John's-wort Savin Water-Germander Gentian Zedoary Onyons Garlic Leeks Myrrh Aloes Spirit of Hartshorn the Decoction of Quicksilver in Onyon or Garlick-water or Quicksilver beat up with Sugar to a Powder of which half a dram is a Dose the Oyls of Hazel and Juniper-woods the acid Spirits mix'd with fair Water such as that of Vitriol of Sulphur c. While the Worms are lodg'd in the small Guts inject Clysters of Milk and the Decoctions of Figs Raisins Liquorice Hony c. to invite 'em to come down If they 're arriv'd at the great Intestins kill 'em with Clysters of the Decoction of Gentian Wormwood Grass-roots c. In the mean while apply to the Belly the Gall of a Bull mix'd with Powder of Coloquintida or a Cataplasm of Myrrh Aloe Vinegar of Roses and Bull 's Gall or Rock Oyl and Oyl of Hazel-wood with Hiera Picra or the Ointment of Soubread with Quicksilver The broad Worms are cur'd by the Juice of Horse-radishes and the Powder of Jalap with Worm-seed The Ascarides require Suppositories of Dutch Cheese or Lard and Hony and Clysters of Coloquintida SECT XI Of Pains in the Guts and particularly of the Colic WHEN the Guts are irritated and suffer wringing Convulsions they are molested with a pain call'd Gripings Sometimes these Pains reach only the small Intestins and then their Station is about the Navel and Center of the Belly and are much more violent than those in the great Guts If they range not beyond the Duodenum or beginning of the Jejunum they are felt in the Loyns bending towards the right Hypochondrium and are oftimes mistaken for Nephritic Pains or those caus'd by the Convulsions of the mesenteric Nerves or the Tumors and Ulcers of the Pancreas The Pains in the great Guts are for the most part felt in the Colon especially that part of it towards the Circumference of the Belly upon the left side where 't is straitned and incurvated and consequently more liable to the shocks of Wind and more apt to stop the Circulation of the Excrements and cause their swelling up into a Tumor sometimes hard sometimes soft This Pain and Tumor is frequently imputed to the Spleen whereas the Spleen is incapable of any shooting pricking pain such as this is it s Membran being almost insensible and besides it lies too low to display its tumor externally Moreover this pain is exasperated by riding immediately after eating and tho it may be compatible to the Jejunum in the left corner from whence it runs to the Center of the Belly yet the Colon is its usual Seat And sometimes it veers about to the right side of the Belly upon the outermost Circumference where the same Colon pursues its Course This last mention'd Pain is a Colic properly so call'd but for somuch as the generality of Writers do comprehend the former under the same Title I shall not depart from the usual Measures of prescribing their Cure without Distinction
especially considering that the same is the cause of both Tho the Pains of the Guts be equally caused by Convulsions and Contractions yet the difference of antecedent Causes requires Consideration These I cast into two Heads 1. Some irritating matter provoking the Guts to such Convulsions 2. The disorder and uneasiness of the Nerves inserted into the Guts while they themselves are faultless as to the matter contain'd in ' em If the Irritating humor be a viscous acid mucilage or hard Excrements fasten'd to the pleats of the Guts it creats a fix'd boring sort of Pain its viscidity settles it in one station and its acidity acts the boring part This humor causes the common Colic It sculks for most part in that corner of the Colon towards the left side of the Belly where 't is contracted and bended downwards It is incident to Hypocondriac acid Constitutions and requires much the same sort of attenuating Medicines If this acid acquire any notable sharpness it shoots and pricks as it were with a Needle If the humor be a viscous matter hatching an imprison'd acid it causes Wind and consequently distending Pains supposing still that the Intestins are molested with convulsive Contractions which stop the Egress and occasion the rebounding of the Wind. If the humor be altogether viscid without any acrimony it causes a heavy dull Pain If the irritating cause be Worms or some sharp saltish acid it gnaws the Guts If the Guts are inflam'd or the Arteries contracted by the Convulsions they occasion a beating sort of Pain The Disorders and Convulsions of the Nerves running from the great Mesenteric Plexus will cause tearing wringing and contracting Pains They are occasion'd sometimes accidentally as by Nephritic Pains and Child-birth when the Mesenteric Plexus being irritated by vertue of its near intercourse with the Nerves of the Kidnies and the Womb pulls and contracts both the Stomac and Guts which it supplies with Nerves At other times they are Retainers to some fix'd permanent habitual Cause that tho it lye latent for some time has always an ascendant in the Body These are either Scorbutic or Hypochondriac or Hysteric or Nephritic and are owing to the Convulsions of the Mesenteric Plexus to which the Intestins are annex'd it being gall'd with an offensive acid oftimes the Nerves of the Throat are likewise contracted at the same time occasioning a difficult Respiration and a sort of Suffocation Of this nature likewise are the griping Pains which follow an irregular Cure of Feavers as being caus'd by transferring the morbific Matter to the Glandules of the Mesentery and the subsequent Irritations of its Nerves Both these sorts of Pains viz. those caus'd by a vicious humor in the Intestins and those by a foreign irritation of their Nerves are equally attended by the successive returns of Cold and Heat The Cold proceeds from the Vellication of the Membrans when 't is universal or the prevalency of the acid Juice of the Pancreas when it is chiefly felt about the Loyns The heat from the impetuosity of the Spirits and the acceleration of the Bloods motion or when the humor is lodg'd in the Duodenum from the prevalency of the Bile or its strugling with the Juice of the Pancreas and accordingly it is most perceivable in that place The Belly is frequently costive by reason of the Contractions of the Guts If it happen to be soluble the Colic from the humors in the Guts is mitigated but that from a mere irritation receives no benefit Oftimes the Nerves of the Stomac are influenc'd by the mesenteric Plexus and a Vomiting insues If the Urine be watry 't is a Nephritic Colic if 't is highly tinctur'd towards the middle and colour'd in the surface and the Anus obstinatly shut 't is a Scorbutic Colic if Respiration be difficult and the Breast Perplex'd 't is Hysteric if the Convulsion of the Intestins be attended by a Pain reaching to the Pubes and Haunch-bone the Womb is disorder'd If the Colic be caus'd by the mere irritation of the Nerves the Pain is tearing and not heavy or dull and the Urine is milky and pale impregnated with a large Sediment A Colic is distinguish'd from simple Nephritic Pains by these Symptoms After eating or the use of Aromatics 't is mitigated the Urine undergoes no sudden Changes tho a Strangury and high Color may attend the Scorbutic sort Clysters and Evacuations give ease and the heavy Pain does not incessantly molest the Loyns Now the Symptoms of Nephritic Pains are directly contrary to these The Causes of Colics are already hinted at In general some noxious acid either irritats the Nerves being seated in the Plexus of the Mesentery or reigning in the Guts The Pancreatic Juice is of that nature The Bile is of a contrary diluting quality and do's not of it self cause Colic Pains unless it become black rusty and green as in the Bilious Colics The Remote Causes are whatever promotes Corruption in the Stomac or Guts increases or exalts an Acid or Creates an uneasiness to the Guts and Membrans of the Body Of these more under the Head of Iliac Passions A Bilious Colic or that proceeding from humors in the Guts is of a meek Character unless it be flatulent Sometimes it Degenerats into Ulcers If the body be very costive and the Anus retracted 't is a fatal symptom and portends an Iliac Hoarseness and Vomiting are bad Symptoms Convulsive Colics especially the Scorbutic Kind are very dangerous and obstinat and frequently end in Epilepsies or some such disorder of the Head The Cure is endeavour'd both during the Paroxysm and after its disappearance In the Paroxysm the Indications are to allay the Irritation of the Guts correct and evacuate the peccant Matter if the Colic proceed from vicious Humors and redress the Disorders of the Nerves if it be Convulsive In order to compass these Ends 1. The Belly ought to be kept open with Clysters especially if the Colic proceed from Vicious Humors in the Guts or if the Great Guts be their Habitation If the Small Guts are affected gentle Laxatives taken by the Mouth are much preferable In Convulsive Colics we may inject emollient Anodyn Clysters of Turpentine c. But when a Humor or harden'd Ordure prevails in the great Guts we may add sharp Purging Ingredients As Take of the Decoction of Pease Eight Ounces Infusion of Crocus Metallorum two or three OUnces Lenitive Electuary or Oyl of Olives an ounce Mix for a Clyster When the great Guts are afflicted by hard Excrements some add the Extract of the greater Common Spurge instead of the Antimonial Infusion The Smoak of Tobacco is also proper for the same purpose For Convulsive Colics Take of the Emollent Decoction one Pound Turpentine dissolv'd with the Yelk of an Egg two three or four ounces strain'd Hony six or eight Drams Make a Clyster The Oyl of Linseed and Rape-Oyl are likewise very proper For old Persons an Anodyn Clyster may be prepar'd of
Scars following the Corrosion of a Dysentery or Looseness or interrupted by its own viscidity or slime squeez'd into its Vessels from the Guts and afterwards congeal'd of which we have a plain Instance in the Case of drinking cold Liquors after a violent hot Exercise for as much as the heat melts the slime and the motion drives it into the Vessels and the sudden arrival of cold Liquor cuts off its retreat by causing its Coagulation so that it either stagnats or proceeds with the Chyle to the Blood and depraves its Crasis This viscidity or crudity of the Chyle or of the Humor its Companion is the true cause of all Chronical Distempers falsly imputed by the Ancients to Obstructions or contrary Qualities of the Bowels That there are Obstructions I do not deny Some in the Blood Vessels causing Inflammations Others in the Lymphatic or perhaps those of the Chyle causing the rupture of the Vessels and effusion of the Lymph upon the Cavities of the Body And others again in the Bowels appearing in the form of Imposthumes and Schirrus's But these are rather the effect than cause of Chronical Diseases That stagnation of the Liquors in their respective Vessels is occasion'd by their viscidity The viscidity is caus'd by acid Crudities attending the Chyle and debauching the Blood and Lymph Moreover the proneness of Imposthumes to suppurate and that of Schirrus's to become Ganeers are solid proofs of their being caus'd by a viscous acid And as to the Antipathy of the Bowels 't is inconsistent with the Laws of Circulation The Blood and Spirits are equally the cause of heat all over the Body if all the parts be equally 〈◊〉 pos'd for their Reception 'T is true indeed a particâ—â—â—â— Bowel or external part may be occasionally weakâ—â—â— and suffer a Relaxation of its Fibres or by vertue of acid pointed Particles darted into its Bosom like that of a Thorn into the Finger may be disturb'â— with Heat and Inflammation while the others retain their cooler Temperature But it plainly appears that these effects are not owing to any Radical Antipathy in the Qualities of the Bowels but the occasional unequal Distribution of the viscous acid Particles It remains therefore to be concluded upon that the acid Crudity of the Chyle impress'd upon it in the first Passages is the natural and obvious cause of Chronical Distempers and that Obstructions may be effected by the long duration of these Distempers but cannot claim the priviledge of being their Causes This Hypothesis will be set in a clearer light by surveying the Symptoms and the Method of Curing these Chronical Distempers The former are acid Belchings Wind loss of Appetit Gripings and noise in the Guts incident heat and Inflammation Looseness c. the natural Progeny of an acid Crudity And as touching the latter the whole Circle of Specifics is generally made to center in an aperient Vertue Now the Preparations of Steel and Lead do justly lead the Van of this numberless Catalogue And how these astringent Medicines should be intitled to an opening Vertue all the Posse of Writers is at a loss to explain Whereas 't is an obvious Solution that these metallin Particles suck up and incounter the acid Crudity and transform it into a vitriolic Concrete which is afterwards evacuated under the form of black Excrements So that it opens or unlocks the Passages only indirectly by subduing the hostil Intruder Antiscorbutic volatil salin Medicines and Gums are likewise us'd Now they attinuat the viscous Humor precipitat the rank acid fortifie the Stomac the original source of the Evil and whet the Bile And here by the way 't will not be improper to take notice that the Essences commonly prepar'd from volatil Antiscorbutic Herbs as the Essence of Scurvygrass c. fall short of the original vertue of their Herbs as containing only the volatil Salt strip'd of the fix'd Salt which withal is very useful Upon which account I prefer the Quintessences made of the Oyl and both the Spirits one prepar'd by Fermentation and the other by Putrefaction These two being mix'd with the distill'd Oyl by long Digestion and frequent Cohobation And besides all Antiscorbutic Spirits prepared by Fermentation ought to be frequently cohobated in order to extract the fixed Alcalin Salt Tartar also is a great Specific in these Cases But its Cream is too acid Let it be mix'd with half the quantity of Salt of Tartar dissolv'd in warm water after Fermentation filtrated and set to evaporat Thus its Acidity is conquer'd It s volatil Spirit or rather that drawn from the Dregs of Wine or the Carminative Spirit prepar'd from Nitre Tartar and Spirit of Wine and all volatil Preparations of Tartar are of wonderful efficacy in clearing the first Passages correcting the Digestive Ferment and conquering the acid of Wine that we in these Countries are so obnoxious to In the Animal Province Man's Urine given to drink and all urinous Spirits and Salts especially the Spirit of Salarmoniac prepar'd with Quick-lime are noted antiacids in all Chronical Distempers The Spirit of Ants and that of Earth-worms are famous Anti-scorbutics Of the Mineral Family Steel is the Head It ought not to be much impregnated with an acid otherwise it will not dissolve in the Body The best way of giving it is either in crude Powder or by way of extract taken from its Infusion in the Juice of Apples Quinces or of Tamarinds or a Tincture taken from the same with Spirit of Scurvygrass The Tincture of Steel prepar'd with Spirit of Bread is likewise a proper form It s Crocus is best prepar'd by sprinkling it with Juice of Cichory and exposing it to the Sun Next to Steel is Lead especially its Sugar and the Antiphthisical Tincture prepar'd from it and vitriol of Steel with Spirit of Wine From these Premises we infer that the Cause of all Chronical Distempers is a viscous acid Crudity either bred in the Stomac or caus'd by the vicious Effervescencies of the Gall and the Juice of the Pancreas in the Guts Upon which Account all Stomachical attenuating anti-acid Medicines are the true Antidote of these Diseases And whoever attempts to cure 'em without a special regard to the Stomac and first Passages shoots short of his Mark The forms of Recipe's shall be inserted in the particular Description of the respective Diseases SECT XIV Of Diseases relating to the Lungs and Organs of Respiration THUS far we have consider'd the Chyle in its separat State It remains now to survey its state of Complication with the Blood The mix'd Mass of Blood and Chyle is carried from the Axillary Vein to the descending Trunc of the Vena Cava from thence 't is convey'd to the right Ventricle of the Heart and before its entry into the left Ventricle is thrown into the Lungs by the Vena Arteriosa The Lungs are a heap of little Bladders joyn'd by a simple Membran endow'd with moving Fibres and require to be dilated before the Blood
Electuary made of Hony Elecampane Roots Sage and Water Germander-leaves Or Take of Scabious Water three ounces the Asthmatical Water six drams Spirit of Sal-armoniac Anisated a dram and a half Syrup of Hyssop and Syrup of Hedg Mustard of each six drams Mix for a Potion Take of the Clarify'd Juice of Coleworts two ounces Powder of Cuckowpint Roots a dram With Oxymel of Squills make an Electuary ART III. Of a Cough A Cough is a frequent and interrupted Exspiration or Convulsion of the Middriff and Muscles of the Breast attended by a Constriction of the Wind Pipe without which 't would make no Noise The Immediat cause is the Irritation and Provocation of the Wind Pipe or Lungs or of the Muscles Dedicated for Respiration This may proceed either from an irritating matter Seated directly in these places Or from a foreign Cause conveying its Influence by the Commerce of the Nerves and creating a Convulsive dry Cough such as Hypochondriac and Hysteric Persons or those in whose Bodies an Acid prevails are very liable to But we shall confine our thoughts to that which proceeds from the immediat Influence of some material cause And in order to form a distinct Idaea of it shall consider both its External and Internal Causes supposing still that the distinction of a dry and wet Cough is minded and understood The External Causes are acid mineral fumes sharp liquors hard Food and an Intemperat Air. The acid fumes and sharp particles of Air tickle the Wind Pipe and Pituitous Membran that lines the Palat and by influencing the Nerves of the Muscles of the Breast which spring from the same branch of the Intercostal Nerve as those of the Wind Pipe occasion the Contraction of the Breast and Expulsion pulsion of what it contains In like manner sharp liquors or grating Food by tickling that part of the Gullet which immediatly joyns the Wind Pipe produce the same effect Now this Irritation at the first occasions a dry Cough and squeezes only a thin serum from the Contracted Glandules But if it continue long the parts are inflam'd or corroded and their Nourishment degenerats into a slimy thick matter which Christeus it a wet Cough The Ancients imagin'd that this matter either Distill'd from the Head or was deposited in the Lungs by the Blood but they were mistaken since this vicious matter is rather the effect than the cause of a Cough The Internal causes relating to a wet Cough are seated either in the Wind Pipe and Lungs or in the Gullet and Stomac Those in the Wind Pipe and Lungs are the sharpness of the serum deposited by the Blood Ulcers Imposthumes Inflammations Morbifical matter transfer'd thither in the Declension of Acute Diseases Stagnation of Blood in the Lungs and the suppuration of a Pleurisy Empyema or Peripueumonia Now all these causes occasion the Collection of Irritating humors and convert the Nutritious Juice of the parts into a thick sordid purulent matter Nay sometimes carry the Curruption so high that pieces of the very Lungs and Veins Worms Stones c. are cast up The Internal causes of a wet Cough relating to the Stomac are a defluxion of a viscid Lymph from the hinder Membrana Pituitaria into the Stomac or Indigested Crudities collected about its upper Orifice but especially the first This Lymph falling from the Membran into the Stomac gave occasion to the Error of the Ancients in refering such Catarrhs to the Head When it irritates the Stomac especially those parts which joyn the Wind Pipe and Middriff it occasions their Constriction which seldom ceases till some part of the offending matter be cast up These Coughs proceeding from the Stomac are more frequent than those from the Breast from whence we may discover the mistake of those who fancy'd that the matter cast up by Coughing came always from the Lungs The Internal cause of a dry Cough is the sharpness of the Lymph watring the Throat and separated by its Glandules for that purpose occasion'd by a weak Digestion or Crudity of the Chyle in the Mass of Blood Sometimes a thin salin humor provoking the upper Orifice of the Stomac doth likewise cause a vehement dry Cough as the Chin Cough of Children But if the humor or Lymph become thick it degenerats into a wet one In the Paroxysms of Intermitting Feavers we frequently meet with dry Coughs that proceed from a vicious fermentation of the humors in the Duodenum irritating the Stomac and consequently the Middriff and Wind Pipe Preternatural Excrescences in the Lungs and Organs of Respiration may be also listed among the causes of dry Coughs As for the Diagnostics of Coughs A wet Cough is known by the viscous matter it brings up as a dry one by its small quantity of thin serum As for wet Coughs a superficial sound easy Respiration and the high seat of the Pain discover their Original from the Wind Pipe as a difficult Respiration or an aptness to Cough upon a large Inspiration a hollow hoarse sound follow'd immediatly by evacuation night Feavers and Phthisical Symptoms refer 'em to the Lungs But a pain and weight under the pit of the Breast attended sometimes by a difficult Respiration and Vomiting of Phlegm a deep hollow sound with a tearing fierce Cough and Prostration of the Appetit ascribe 'em to the Stomac A dry Cough proceeding from sharp saltish Lymph relents in the Day time and towards evening reassumes its former force with a gentle shivering follow'd by a Violent Heat and Night Feavers Such are those that usher in the small Pox or Phthisics or follow the retreat of Curicular Eruptions in Children Their Nocturnal Exacerbations are common to all Lymphatic Diseases and are in some measure caus'd by the want of equal transpiration with that of the Day But these dry Coughs always become wet by continuance The Coughs that Old and Arthritic Persons are subject to seem to proceed from a weak Digestion in the Stomac where the crude viscid matter assembles and provokes the adjacent Wind Pipe and Middriff Sometimes Pectoral and Stomachical Moist and Convulsive Coughs are mutually Complicated Violent Inveterat Coughs threaten Ruptures or Miscarrying and promote infirmities of the Head and Eyes A stomachical Cough continuing long viriats the Lymph and Produces a Phthific as also the Nocturnal dry Coughs To Scorbutical or Hydropical Persons any Cough is an ill Omen The cure consists in allaying the Irritation and removing the offensive cause for which ends Opiats Vomits Thickening Attenuating and Vulnerary Med'cines are in use However for obtaining a distinct method of cure let the following directions be minded 1. Opium is not convenient in wet Coughs viz. Those attended by a viscid matter till the Universal Evacuations are premis'd A dry cough caus'd by External Air or Mineral steams is admirably cur'd by Laudanum Opiatum in the Beginning To which we add Sylvius's Pills of Storax The Decoction of Zedoary in Wine The Decoction of Raisins and Elecampane Roots in Wine Or of
in the Lungs and causes a plentiful evacuation of froth The slime that is also voided proceeds from the Glandules of the Wind Pipe which are provok'd to frequent Contractions by the Anxiety of the Breast and so separate large quantities of serum which accompanies the Air in Exspiration Besides the Pituitous Membran being straiten'd by this Anxiety Distills a viscous Lymph upon the Wind Pipe which helps to make up the quantity The remote causes of this stagnation which the Ancients erroneously miscall'd a Catarrh are 1. The redundancy or over-bearing Turgescence of Blood 2. The Viscidity of the Blood occasion'd by Crude Chyle 3. It s Coagulation caus'd by cold Air by an inconsiderat assumption of cold Water immediatly after great heats by fear or by the Influence of a Vicious Acid. 4. The accidental obstruction of the Lungs by Stones Excrescences c. The symptoms are a sense of weight upon the Breast difficulty of breathing danger of Choaking a very slow pulse and sometimes a Cough and a fatal evacuation of froth and slime 'T is distinguish'd from an Apoplexy by the difficulty of Respiration and lowness of the Pulse For Cure Blood-letting is absolutely necessary and ought to be perform'd betimes after which a sharp Clyster may be injected and scarifying Cupping-Glasses applied to several parts of the Body Then give Sperma Ceti to a dram in Hyssop Water Gum Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar or its Spirit Prepar'd with Verdigris Saffron Volatil salt of Amber Spirit of Hartshorn Crabs Eyes Diaphoretic Antimony the Juice of the flowers of red Dasies and the Vulnerary herbs especially the Juice of Radishes are also very proper As for the Ligatures Frictions Cataplasms Plaisters Gargarisms c. recommended by the Ancients they are of no use as being only contriv'd in pursuit of their mistake assigning a Chimerical defluxion from the Head for the cause of this disease These three different sorts of choaking Diseases miscall'd Catarrhs ought to be carefully distinguish'd by reason that their Cures are so very different SECT XV. Of the accidents that disturb the transformation of the Chyle and fermentation of the Blood THE Chyle being separated in the Guts and convey'd thro' the milky vessels into the Conduit of the Breast joyns the Blood in the left Subclavian Vein and by vertue of fermentation is wrought into the same colour and consistence This Fermentation which for the most part assimilates the Chyle springs from the Vital Spirit and saline principle lodg'd in the Blood which is enliven'd and reinforc'd by the continu'd supplies of the air receiv'd in the Lungs For the Chyle is carried up to the Subclavian Vein in order to have a shorter passage into the Lungs where the mixt Composure of Blood and Chyle is dissolv'd and rarify'd the acid and urinous Salts are disengaged and render'd volatil which by justling and encountring each the other produce a notable Fermentation by virtue of which the Sulphureous and Volatil parts joyn together and are invested with a red Colour Besides the Chyle is tinctur'd with the Sulphur of the Choler in the Guts and so predispos'd to a likeness and easy union with the Blood This Transformation of the Chyle is not accomplish'd by one single passage thro' the Lungs but must be compleated by repeated Circulations along with the Blood Which truth is plainly made out by the Chyle or Milky liquor that swims upon Blood drawn forth four or five hours after eating So that the mass of Blood consists naturally of Chyle and Blood which being perfectly mix'd make up an univocal Homogeneous Liquor 'T is true the Ancients speak of four humours c. as being different ingredients of the Blood which they infer'd from the apparent unequal condition or the several parts of Blood drawn forth from the Body but that is owing only to its Corruption or alteration occasion'd by the Nitrous Salts of the Air. Upon which account all special predictions grounded on the external appearance of Blood are frivolous and uncertain This regular Fermentation and Assimilation is disordered by the defects of the Chyle or the Blood The former may be cast into three heads 1. When the Chyle is not sufficiently digested attenuated and volatilis'd in the Stomach 2. When it is not duely tinctur'd with the Oyly Sulphur of the Choler 3. When the Choleric or pancreatic Juices are tardy in separating its dregs The Latter into these 1. When the Motion of the Blood is rais'd beyond its natural pitch 2. When 't is depress'd and diminish'd 3. When its substance is adulterated The signs by which we descry a disorderly fermentation are the pulse and urine But they are oft-times fallacious For the pulse may be immediately influenc'd by the Animal Spirits without any dependance upon the fermentation of the Blood and the Urine may be disguis'd by drinking or the disorders of the solid parts imploy'd in that service The immediat cause of a disorderly fermentation of the Blood is the degeneracy of the Urinous and Acid Salts from their due proportion and harmony The remote causes are the various Contagious particles convey'd into the Body with the Air or any other vehicle antecedent losses of Blood disorders of the Bowels c. The Cure is perform'd by Saline Remedies calculated for the particular indisposition of the Blood and vary'd according to the difference of Temperaments Of which more above CHAP. I. Of Feavers in general A Feaver is a vicious fermentation of the Blood in which its temperament is deprav'd and the whole Body disorder'd The infinite variety of Feaverish ferments occasions a great many various depravations of the Blood But in general the formal Essence of all Feavers consists in a preternatural fermentation of the Blood occasion'd by a foreign ferment which sometimes immediately affects the Blood sometimes the Spirits and sometimes both at which time Nature indeavours to throw out the heterogeneous particles In order to make this appear let us Consider the following Remarks 1. That the eating of Summer Fruits frequently causes Feavers Now these are indow'd with a notable propensity to ferment 2. That Cold or what ever impairs the insensible transpiration produces the like effect Now the Vicious Salts thus imprison'd and overflowing in the Blood cannot affect it any other way than by creating a fermentation 3. That Feavers insue the inspiration of Contagious particles which naturally propagate by fermenting 4. That the Rotten Feavers mention'd by the ancients are only explicable by the Doctrine of fermentations for no living thing can be properly intitled to putrefaction unless by it be meant a turbulent confus'd motion proceeding from the dissolution of contrary Salts as that of Spirit of Vitriol and Oyl of Turpentin The Common Symptoms of Feavers are likewise vouchers for the fermentation that causes ' em These are commonly reckon'd four viz. 1. An alteration of the pulse 2. A Chilness shivering and shaking 3. Excessive heat 4. The Change of Urine both as to the Liquor and what it contains
the febrile matter and the previous infirmity of the part The various Divisions of Feavers may be gather'd from the following Chapters As for their Causes whatever abolishes the natural proportion and Symmetry of the Salts causes a preternatural Fermentation and is call'd a febrile Ferment If it affect the Blood immediatly the Spirits receive its influence at second hand and if the Spirits are first attack'd the Blood is disorderd by them This Ferment must be somewhat disagreeable to our natural Ferments else it cannot cause a Fever Such as are the particles retain'd by stopping the insensible transpiration the Ferment proceeding from Ulcers Inflammations Contagion or Acid Lymph striking inwards a Scab or Itch eating Summer Fruits c. If this ferment be ingendred within the Body it oft-times proceeds from the long stay of Victuals in the stomac which by delay and want of digestion become naked Acids or viscid Bodies inclosing an Acid within 'em upon which account we derive the cause of Intermitting Feavers from the Stomac and for so much as their Paroxysms are but so many continual Feavers most of this sort acknowledge the same Original When the Blood and Humors are forc'd out of their respective Vessels by Wounds and Ulcers they ferment and occasion a feaverish disorder in the Blood or Spirits This Ferment approaches to an Acid both in favourable and malignant Feavers but with this difference that a malignant ferment is sharper and more Volatil and penetrating than the other and is frequently couch'd under covert of other minute particles as in Spring the Exhalations of Fermenting Plants in Summer the Alcalin Effluviums in the Air in Autumn and Winter the Acid Salt which then prevails The steams of Rotten Carkasses and the unfavourable aspects of the Stars may occasion the like malignity These particles tho' originally included in a narrow compass multiply by fermentation and spin out the disease The alteration occasion'd by them in the Blood is perfectly parallel to that of Urine which is brought into fermentation by the jarring of its Salts by virtue of which it precipitates its disproportionable parts and then returns to a pacific state Even so the preternatural fermentation of the Blood is caus'd by the disproportion of its Salts and moves it to cast forth the superfluous and offending parts by the passages of Urine Sweat c. Tho' in this Critical Evacuation not only the first morbific matter but the laudable parts of the Blood and Chyle that the fermentation had melted down into a saline form and render'd insociable are equally discharg'd The remote Causes are various The Obstruction of the pores of the Skin and excessive Drinking or Eating are natural inlets to a Feaver The passions of the Mind especially Fear are generally arraign'd as Causes of malignant Feavers but 't is not immaginable how they should produce such an effect of themselves 'T is true indeed Fear and other passions may depress or disorder the Spirits and so procure an easie admissio nto the Airy Ferment that was unable to storm them in their natural Order The Symptoms are accounted for above to which we may add the vicious increase or diminution or depravation of the Appetit Headachs swoonings c. The general Prognostics are deriv'd from the Pulse and Urine A vehement large equal pulse is a sign of strength a small unfrequent pulse betokens weakness A hard pulse bespeaks the inflammation or distention of some membranous part as in Pleurisies and malignant Feavers affecting the Spirits and Nerves A soft pulse discovers that the Spirits are not much disorder'd and if it be large and vehement withal forebodes sweating Urine affords the signs of Crudity or Concoction If clear Urine become muddy or contain a Cloud or Sediment 't is a sign of Concoction and portends a happy solution of the disease for by Concoction we understand the separation or precipitation of the peccant Salts from the mass of Blood and by Crudity the perturbation of the Blood arising from these Salts Now in the beginning of Acute Diseases the Urine is clear and unmuddy'd by reason that the Salts are yet reigning in the Blood but in the increase of the Disease it becomes thick and troubled and at the height precipitates a copious sediment If the Urine continue muddy and do's not Clarify by standing 't is a sign that the Commotion and Confusion of the Blood do's not yet abate Nature do's not evacuate the offending matter before a sufficient Concoction and in imitation of her example Art ought not to attempt any evacuation in Benign Feavers before the signs of Concoction appear In malignant Feavers indeed 't is not safe to wait for 'em but to indeavour an early precipitation by proper remedies Clear and sound-like Urine is a sign that the animal Spirits are principally affected and is attended by malignity but concocted Urine if it continue such is a certain presage of Recovery If after an apparent Concoction it become crude or thin again 't is a fatal Omen This gradual Concoction is the effect of Nature indeavouring a Crisis Accordingly we find that immediatly before the Crisis Nature struggles most and the Sickness is at its greatest height in which case it ought not be disturb'd by artificial administrations but the natural tendency of the morbific matter must be heedfully observ'd for sometimes 't is cast forth by Sweat sometimes by Urine somtimes by Bleeding and at other times is thrown upon several parts of the Body by way of swellings and Imposthumes or is gather'd under the skin all over the Body and tinges it with a yellow colour which we call the Jaundice and is a sign of health if it happen on the fifth or seventh day but if it commence sooner unless attended by some notable Evacuation 't is oft-times fatal But of all fatal signs that of the Patient 's rubbing and picking the nose without any efflux of matter is the most dismal As touching the Method of Cure 'T is necessary to distinguish malignant Feavers which suddenly weaken the Person and generally determine in some notable Evacuations from those that are benign and favourable in which we either leave all to Nature as the ancients did or anticipat her efforts by enervating and correcting the febrile Ferment with Artificial Remedies and so ascribe the whole Cure to Art Sometimes we joyn issue with Nature and while she performs her Work are only busy'd in removing the impediments that imbarrass her by cleansing the first passages emptying the Blood Vessels and promoting the precipitation of the morbific matter by Medicines proper for that purpose Indeed when Nature departs from her due Measures by indeavouring unseasonable evacuations as in the beginning of a Feaver while the Urine is yet Crude a violent Loosness Bleeding c. 't is a perplex'd Case for to withstand Nature and stop the Loosness c. were to augment the Feaver and to suffer it to go on weakens and disables the Patient so that he cannot encounter
a hard matter to distinguish Quotidians from double Tertians These last are known by this that either the Paroxysms have an alternat correspondence the first to the third second to the fourth c. Or the intervening Paroxysm comes later while the other two observe their set Periods or in Progress of time it intirely disappears and two Fits recur every other Day A precedent or succeeding simple Tertian discovers likewise a double Tertian So that true Quotidians are very rare and some are so hardy as to deny that there are any such But several good Authors have vouch'd for the Affirmative There are some Erratic Intermitting Feavers that observe dark Periods peculiar to themselves and some call'd Wandring which have no set times at all The grand Symptoms of intermitting Feavers are a chillness shivering and shaking follow'd by heat and that by plentiful Sweats Before the invasion of the Paroxysm the Patient is molested with a Yawning and Stretching a weariness of the Joints and unquietness or tossing in Bed The Nails become livid and blue a gentle chillness seizes the Loins and Back afterwards it creeps to the Belly and by degrees overspreads the whole Body especially the extreme Parts Then follows a shivering and sometimes a violent concussion of all the parts of the Body During the cold Fit several sorts of pains affect the Joints the Guts are grip'd and make a murmuring noise and the Pulse is render'd more frequent but withal weaker and lesser nay scarce perceivable When the coldness abates a difficulty of breathing insues with a notable heat and thirst the Pulse is strengthen'd and inlarg'd If the Pulse be small 't is a sign of great Malignity The Tongue becomes dry the Neck and Temples are seiz'd with a beating heat attended with frequent respiration head-ach watching and sometimes doating The heat declining is follow'd by sweating and voiding Urine After which sleep takes place and the Symptoms disappear In Tertians the heat and thirst are greatest And in Quartans the cold shaking and weariness of the Joynts are most troublesome This is the ordinary manner of Invasion But withal there are some irregular Feavers that depart from this method As the cold Feavers that have no hot Fits and the hot Tertian Feavers that are not usher'd in by cold Sometimes but very rarely the Order is inverted and the heat precedes the cold Fit Oft-times these Feavers begin regularly and afterwards degenerate or on the contrary begin in a disorderly manner and by continuation become regular If the Pulse be very small the Strength abolish'd the Breast disturb'd the Spirits disquieted in the beginning of the paroxysm and afterwards Pushes and Spots appear in the Skin the Feaver is malignant and very dangerous Tho' some are inclin'd to exclude malignity from the whole circle of intermitting Feavers Tho' intermitting Feavers may differ in their Periods and some occasional Symptoms they all proceed from one and the same Cause and require the same method of Cure as appears by their frequent permutation The general efficient Cause of all Motion is the Spirits but the occasional material Cause which provokes them to such irregular Motions is a vicious acid ferment bred in the Stomach and first Passages by the depravation or weakness of the digestive Faculty This Opinion is justified by the preternatural Appetit that sometimes attends Feavers the frequent Cures perform'd by Fasting by excessive Drinking and Vomiting or by eating greedily what was long'd for and the notable exasperation or relapse of the Disease occasioned by any error in Diet or earing unacceptable Food 'T is true such Feavers may sometimes proceed from the Air or quality of the Food but very rarely The disorders of the Spleen and Liver do frequently attend Quartans and Tertians but they are rather their Effects than Causes or perhaps they may remotely indispose the Body and render the Paroxysms more obstinat The suppression of the Terms or obstruction of any part may produce the like Effects but still the immediat Cause is lodg'd in the Stomac or first Passages which insinuats it self into the remains of indigested Food and so multiplies the Cause of repeated Paroxysms Now by means of this Acid all the Symptoms and Periods of Paroxysms are thus accounted for If the Chyle be not well digested in the Stomac and duly separated from the grosser parts by the interposal of the pancreatic and choleric Juices in the Guts it degenerates from its temperat volatil saline Quality and becomes acid or viscid and accordingly when it joins the Blood fixes its saline volatil oyly Particles and thickens the whole Mass Thus its fermentation is impair'd and by consequence the Pulse is weaken'd and diminish'd but withal render'd more frequent by the irritation of the Heart The heat of the Body is extinguish'd and the Spirits disorder'd by the indisposition and vicious fermentation of the Blood from whence issues the weariness of the Joints When this Acid begins to exert it self it twitches and contracts the nervous and membranous parts the Coats of the Guts and Stomach with the annex'd choleric and pancreatic Vessels the fat Membrane or Panniculus Carnosus c. the natural Consequences of which are a shivering shaking pains of the Joints and violent Vomiting of white or green matter which is nothing else but a mixture of the pancreatic and bilious Juices perverted by this irregular fermentation and causing gripings of the Guts a coldness of the Belly and many other Symptoms These Symptoms are allotted only to the beginning of the Paroxysm For after that this acid has for some time stifled the volatil oyly parts of the Blood they make head against it and the mutual Encounter creates a notable effervescency which ends in discharging the vanquish'd acid in a vehicle of attenuated Serum by Urine or Sweat From hence we deduce the other Symptoms of heat burning the vehemency and largeness of the Pulse plentiful Sweats the clearness of the Urine at first and its subsequent muddiness The Acid being thus subdu'd and evacuated the Feaver and concurring Symptoms intermit till such time as the remaining Miasma's be provok'd afresh or supplied by new recruits from the Stomac If this intermitting ferment be cramp'd by a vicid pituitous Vehicle the Paroxysm is longer and the Symptoms meeker than when it is master of it self and at liberty to display its utmost energy From whence we gather the difference of acute and chronical spurious and regular Feavers In these Northern Countries 't is highly necessary to take notice of scorbutic and hypocondriac Diseases as the frequent Companions of intermitting Feavers Those which we call erratic are always scorbutic unless they be caus'd by Imposthumes of the internal parts which seldom happen The signs of a scorbutic Feaver are anxieties of the Breast rending pains of the Joints floating pains or convulsions of the lower Belly either before or in the Paroxysm vomiting of green or yellow Matter and the eruption of livid or red Spots towards the end of the
from the preâ—ernatural fermentation of the Blood If a Continual Acute Feaver be attended by a Consumption or colliquation of the fat oily parts of the Body and a tendency to a Marasmus 't is call'd a Melting Feaver These oily far nutritious juices are voided either by stool in the form of stinking Excrements or by a cool glutinous Sweat or by copious quantities of Urine whose surface is cover'd with far or by falling into the cavity of the Belly or upon the Feet after a Hydropic manner The Causes of melting Feavers are the thin open texture of the nutritious juice and fat occasion'd by the want of a fixing congealing Acid The Acrimony of the Bile which sharpens and whets the Chyle and qualifies it for unlocking the Body of the nutritious and fat Juices the vehemence of dissolving Heat and the Caustic penetrating sharpness of the febrile ferment The remote causes are the epidemical Constitutions of the Air the immoderat use of Brandy or spiritous Liquors which over-whet the oily volatil Salt of the Choler the over-frequent smoaking of Tobacco and drinking cold Water after a violent heat The Scurvy and Cancer in the Breasts are oft-times listed into the number of the Causes These melting Feavers ought to be heedfully distinguish'd from that profluence of Sweat which proceeds from the deficiency of the Spirits the unbending of the Fibres and flagging of the looser parts as in swoonings c. Some continual burning Feavers are call'd Delirious when the Spirits move irregularly in the Brain causing doating insusterable Head-aches stubborn watching and sometimes Convulsions The cause is partly the heat of the Brain and Spirits occasion'd by the violent fermentations of the Blood and partly the malignity of the febrile ferment which debauches the quality of the Spirits and galls the membranous nervous parts If the malignant ferment break out in Pushes and Whelks in the Face Mouth or Head the Feaver is call'd Pemphygodes If the Person sweat copiously the first day of the Feavers invasion but without any ease or benefit 't is call'd Elodes If the Person be disquieted and toss in Bed 't is call'd Assodes This last symptom may be caus'd by weakness notable malignity vehement heat impetuosity of the Spirits and especially by vicious Humours disturbing the mouth of the Stomac If the Person be molested with a Hiccough which always proceeds from the Stomac 't is call'd Lyngodes If shivering and shaking attend the whole progress of the Feaver as it oft-times does in the suppurations of internal Ulcers and compound continual Feavers 't is call'd Phricodes Of all the compound continual or continual periodical Feavers that call'd Semitertiana is most worthy our regard 'T is generally look'd upon to be compos'd of a Tertian and Quotidian one of which is a Compound Continual and the other an intermitting Feaver Authors give several varying accounts of the periods of this Feaver but however 't is foâ— the most part cast into this form viz. A Continual Feaver seizes the Patient and periodical shiverings follow'd by a notable heat Observe the order of a Tertian and gentle shiverings succeeded by a meeker heat follow a Quotidian period The signs of Acute Feavers are manifest A notable Heat and Thirst always attends a burning Feaver 'T is usher'd in by a weariness of the Body and perturbation of the Head for some days then by a chilness and shivering which intimats that the volatil oily Particles have not yet obtain'd the ascendant over the Acid. Afterwards a notable heat succeeds the Pulse is frequent and accelerated and if the Salts of the Blood are equally match'd 't is large and equal if it be small or unequal it bespeaks malignity If the Salts of the Blood are very sharp and exalted a biting vehement heat molests the whole Body if they are temperat the heat is milder The Urine at first is thick red and dark in progress of time it discovers a Cloud on the top and upon the Crisis a copious sediment at bottom If at the height of the Disease the Urin be thin 't is a fatal sign If at first it appear thick and dark and afterwards degenerate into a thin consistence it portends unquietness doating and frequently Death But for making a due estimat of the Urine we ought to have a particular regard to the Constitution of the Patient For the Urine of those whose Blood is copiously temper'd with lymph and nutritious juice is never so high tinctur'd nor so thin as that of Bilious scorburic or Phthisical Persons Nor can those who sweat much void such large quantities of Urin and sediment as others The Spittle is glutinous and scanty attended by intolerable thirst watchings Head-aches c. Acute Feavers come regularly to a Crisis in hot Climats but in these Countries where we are wont to anticipate Nature by alterative Diaphoretic and absorbent Medicins they are not quite so regular Sometimes they spend themselves by gradual solutions by Urine Night-Sweats or Salivation As for the Prognostics of acute Feavers a sudden unaccountable Lightning or ease is a mortal sign If the Symptoms are extream high the Breast disturb'd and the Stomac queasy or molested with a gnawing Pain if in the beginning of the Disease a looseness happen attended by a notable prostration of strength and a 〈◊〉 corruption of the excrements in a word if any signs of malignity appear 't is a dangerous case Vomiting is a good sign If the Patient be somewhat benefited and not overweaken'd by a looseness 't is not so very dangerous Sometimes a melting Sweat in which red Sand-like matter is voided and found in the Bed may perform the Cure White Pale crude Urine is always a bad Omen The more reddish it appears at first the sooner the Disease comes to its height The Feavers that are occasioned by evident causes are more favourable than those whose cause is invisible If strength decay apace without any notable Evacuation Death is at hand If the Tongue be moist and of a natural red Colour all is well but if it be rough Dry Black Livid Slimy or Chop'd 't is in a bad Condition The swelling of the Face bespeaks the length of the Disease If the signs of Concoction appear the fourth Day the Feaver disappears the seventh if they are put off till the seventh the eleventh Concludes the matter The Crisis of the Feaver signifies the Period in which the useless and noxious parts are separated and expell'd sometimes by Ulcers in the Lips and Nostrils where the Skin is thin and Blood Vessels abound sometimes by a 〈◊〉 diffâ—sâ—d over the Body by Urine Sweating Salivation c. In â—ot Climats the Disease is sometimes Cur'd by Bleedings at Nose or other places The Bleeding at Nose is for the most part preceded by a tingling of the Ears If this Crisis be imperfect or disturb'd by an indiscreet use of absorbent fixing Medicines 't is follow'd by insufferable pains of the Stomac Guts or Joints and sometimes Palsies If a Physician
correcting the viscidity or sharpness of the Lymph especially the saliva and pancreatic juice evacuating the crude Phlegm and Lymph thus prepar'd and mitigating the Symptoms If the Breast be oppress'd let a gentle Vomit be exhibited or a mild purgative As Take Mynsicht's emetic Tartar two or three grains purifi'd Sal-Armoniac eight grains Or Take of Ruffius's Pills de tribus fifteen grains fulminatory Gold three grains prepar'd Scammony Treches Alhandal of each a grain With compound Tincture of Tartar make Pills In the next place attenuating Diuretic Remedies are proper as dulcifi'd Spirit of Salt of excellent use against a Hectic dulcifi'd Spirit of Nitre essential Salt of Tartar Sal-Armoniac Nitrum Antimoniatum Tartar vitriolated Terra foliata Tartari or its Liquor Tincture of Tartar Essence of Myrrh tartaris'd carminative Spirit Spirit of Sal-Armoniac anisated Poterius's Antihectic c. Take of purifi'd Sal-Armoniac half a dram Poterius's Antihectic a scruple make a Powder for two Doses one in the Morning and the other at Night before the Fit Nitrum Antimoniatum mix'd with an equal quantity of Sal-Armoniac or Arcanum duplicatum mix'd with diaphoretic Antimony or Sal-Armoniac mix'd with Galangal and Ginger are successfully us'd after the same method Take of Mint-Water and Fennel-Water of each an ounce and a half Spirit of Treacle two or three Drams dulcifi'd Spirit of Salt half a dram or a whole dram Poterius's Antihectic a scruple Syrup of Hyssop six or eight drams Mix for two Doses Let the Mouth be gargaris'd with small Beer and Hony of Roses or with Water Vinegar and purifi'd Nitre or the infusion of Holyhoc-flowers in Water with a little Spirit of Salt and a convenient Syrup The Feaver call'd Epiala in which the inward parts are oppress'd with heat while the external are cold is by some referr'd to this Head But 't is only a combination or rencounter of either a Continual and Intermitting or two Intermitting Feavers The Swoonings that sometimes attend both this and other sorts of Feavers are caus'd either by some viscious slime irritating the Mouth of the Stomac or some sharp rusty Humour lodg'd in it In the last case Unicorn's Horn or the Decoction of Tamarinds in Water are much approv'd But if a viscid windy Matter arise to them volatil spiritous Remedies are proper Tho' after all 't is worthy our consideration what Ballonius remarks upon this matter viz. That many Physicians are faulty in giving strong Cordials against swooning where purging were more proper Of Symptomatical slow Feavers These Feavers are frequently occasion'd by a preposterous use of Absorbents in Intermitting and Continual Feavers which fix the heterogeneous Particles and render the Chyle and Lymph viscid or by over-feeding in the declination of other Feavers while the digestive faculty is weak by which means the Chyle is loaded with Crudities They may likewise follow other Diseases proceeding from a viscous Acid. Their Symptoms are the same as above to which we may add that sometimes they are accompanied by a looseness or voiding of liquid pituitous Matter The Cure consists in tempering the saltish Acid attenuating the viscid Matter and procuring to it an egress by vomiting stool urine or sweat They sometimes proceed from Ulcers especially of the internal parts retention of the After-birth a dead Child in the Womb chronical Pains and are cur'd by removing the respective Cause by Medecins alotted to that purpose In general gentle Vomits and Purges are proper and in a word the whole series of Medicins prescrib'd for the independent Slow Feavers Sometimes such Feavers follow an unseasonable use of sudorific Decoctions against the Pox before the Body be evacuated and are cur'd by vomiting and the repeated use of Sal-Armoniac Of Hectic Feavers A Hectic is a Slow Feaver advancing insensibly If it be a principal independent Disease it proceeds from the Corruption of undigested Food in the Stomac immoderate fatigue sorrow watchings want over-liberal evacuations excessive Bathings c. Oft-times 'tis only a symptom of other Diseases and follows the irregular Cure of Continual and Intermitting Feavers Inflamations of the Bowels Lungs Mesentery Womb and Kidneys the French-Pox c. The Part affected is not the habit of the Body as the Ancients fancy'd but the mass of Blood and Lymph Hence the greatest heat is perceiv'd about the Arteries As for the independent Principal sort of Hectics the Stomac and digestive Faculty are the original seat of their cause The immediat cause is the indisposition and unequal texture of the Blood caus'd by the saltish sharpness of the Lymph in the conglobat Glandules and the viscosity of that in the Conglomerat From whence insue a deprav'd and diminish'd fermentation weakness weariness deficiency of Spirits and the whole train of Hectic Symptoms The salin and viscid Blood is render'd unfit for nourishing the parts and after eating when the thin readier part of the fresh Chyle dilutes the Blood and disengages its Salts the Pulse is a little enlarg'd and the Heat augmented and after some time sink again to their ordinary pitch And the coarse remains of the Chyle are frequently voided by Night-Sweats as having receiv'd a vicious Tincture in the Stomac from the Saliva and being upon that Account equally disagreeable to the Blood and solid parts As for the Remote Causes Fatigue and Labour Watchings and Care exhaust the Spirits and watery Vehicle of the Blood Anger exalts the Bilious Salt which joyning with the Acid acquires a saline Acrimony Grief and Sorrow increase the Acid which joyning to the urinous Salt becomes dull and unactive indigested Crudities in the Stomac or the want of Food occasion a stricter union between the Acid and urinous Salts and their mutual degeneracy into a third sharp saline Body Ulcers both internal and external corrupt the Blood by vertue of their salin sharp Matter continual and intermitting Feavers attended by plentiful Sweats exhaust the dewy watry part of the Blood or the unseasonable use of absorbent earthy Powders administred for their Cure destroys the Ferment of the Stomac and increases the Acrimony of the Blood Thus they all conspire to render the Blood and Lymph saltish or viscous There are three Essential Signs of a Hectic Feaver 1. An obscure insensible Heat increasing after eating 2. The successive Consumption of the Body 3. A swift frequent small weak and oft-times a hard Pulse To which we may add in some cases Night-Sweats the falling off of the Hairs an universal Weariness inward Heat and averseness to sleep in the morning If Ashy belchings precede the appearance of these Symptoms they serve for a confirmation In the beginning of the Disease the Urine resembles that of healthy Persons unless the Stomac be much deprav'd in which case 't is white pale and thick afterwards when the Appetit and Digestion are in a manner quite abolish'd it becomes thin transparent and high Colour'd and when 't is form'd into a perfect Consumption a fat oily Crust resembling Cobwebs swims on the Top. But we ought
malignant as the Itch c. and e contra Oft-times it lies latent in the Body for three or four days 'till the Season of exhibiting Antidotes be over upon which account a Physician ought to be very watchful in the Beginnings of Feavers The Symptoms which lead us to the discovery of a latent Malignity are these following a sudden prostration of strength and the Appetit dejected while the other Functions are regularly perform'd stubborn Watchings without any anxiety if the Head be only affected but if the Stomac and Breast be disorder'd they are attended with a great perplexity tossing to and again sometimes the whole Body sometimes only an Arm or a Leg to which symptom Deliriums and Convulsions frequently succeed The Urine resembles that of healthy Persons or if by vertue of Medicines or otherwise it happens to thicken yet it still continues transparent and has little or no sediment unless it be a yellowish Clot of Chyle voided along with it The Pulse is at first in seeming good order of a sudden it becomes weak small oft-times hard and towards the height of the Feaver unequal At first a gentle shivering may usher in the Feaver to which succeeds a very moderat heat externally tho' in the mean while they are burnt up within which is a fatal sign of internal Inflammations And notwithstanding the moderation of the Heat an unquenchable thirst molests 'em and their Tongue is dry and rough Or if on the contrary they be extream hot and withal insensible of thirst 't is likewise a sign of malignity These are the most common Symptoms Sometimes the Feaver is attended by violent Head-aches difficult respiration respecially upon the point of cuticular Eruptions stinking Excrements and lastly eruptions of Spotts Pushes Wheals c. According to which it undergoes several Denominations Sometimes the malignity is arriv'd at that height that the external Parts are corrupted and seiz'd with Gangreens the Person possess'd with an invincible aversion to all manner of Liquors c. Malignant Feavers admit of several Degrees The first is when the occasional sharpness and degeneracy of the febril ferment converts a benign Feaver into a malign one 2. When the ferment is not only sharp but contagious or epidemical Now the original of Contagion is an active spirituous ferment easily communicable to the Spirits and capable to propagate it self by a fermentative motion in matter fit for its purpose which in company of Spirits exhal'd from the sick Person pitch upon those whose Constitution and Pores gives the easiest admission such as the Relations of the sick Person weak People c The manner of its reaching and insinuating into such Persons is either by immediat Contact or in the Vehicle of Food Cloaths c. or that of the Air convey'd into the Lungs where it debauches the Spirits circulating that way and in passing the Mouth adulterats the Saliva which immediately affects the most sensible Orifice of the Stomac Hence the first and most dismal Scene of tragical Symptoms is laid in the Stomac 3. When the ferment is become pestilent And 4. When 't is form'd into a direct Plague The cause of Malignity assign'd by Willis is the coagulation of the Blood and that by Sylvius is a sharp volatil lixivious Alcali destroying the acid Sulphur of the Blood and consequently its consistence But the vicious fluidity of the Blood attending malignity confutes the former and the natural inactivity of Alcali's the known power of volatil Acids in extinguishing the animal Spitits and galling the nervous System and the Antidotal vertue of Alcali's both volatil and fix'd such as Camphyr Myrrh and the absorbent Powders overturns the latter Hypothesis 'T is therefore a sharp volatil Acid that causes malignity partly by dissolving the texture of the Blood and disposing it for Putrefaction and generation of Worms observable by Microscopes partly by irritating the Stomac Brain and nervous Parts and partly by extinguishing both the vital and animal Spirits That the Spirits are immediatly attack'd as well as the Blood and Humors is made to appear by the symptoms of sudden Weakness contracted Pulses Watchings Deliriums c. and by the force of imagination in propagating the Contagion Nay oft-times the Spirits are principally assaulted and the Humors only mediatly thro' their sides Now it will be of use in malignant Feavers to distinguish nicely the original trouble of the Animal Spirits and nervous System from that of the vital Spirits and Mass of Blood The Symptoms of the former are an unquenchable Thirst a rough and dry Tongue a quick and small Pulse attended by a moderat Heat anxiety and unquietness proceeding from the Stomac a melting looseness the rotten smell of Excrements and the thin fluid consistence of the Blood Those of the latter are a violent heat of the Forehead the hardness of the Pulse without the trouble of any membrane in the Body or a laudable Pulse attended by extream weakness the prostration of the Appetit squeamishness vomiting stubborn watchings without any visible Cause the dryness or roughness of the Skin and the unaccountable thickness and crudity of the Urin. The Remote Causes of Epidemical Malignity are approaching to corrupted things as Dead Carcases c. The Salt Subternanean Fumes Earth-quakes a preceding famine eating of corrupt Food as of putrify'd Summer Fruits and drinking Rotten Water c. Inwardly the prevalent acidity of the Juice of the Pancreas may so exalt the Bile to a rusty sharp quality that it becomes malignant Thus Benign Feavers frequently degenerat into malign ones and Scorbutic or Hypocondriac Persons who are stuff'd with a fix'd Acid are not so much oppress'd with malignity or a Volatil Acid as others The prognostics of malignant Feavers are very uncertain and fallacious A large and equal Pulse is a good sign A quick and small creeping Pulse is a bad sign as also an unequal Pulse tho' neither the inequality nor intermission nor smallness are so fatal in malignant as in Benign Feavers If Doating continue after sleeping and be not attended by Sweats if the Eye represent false Colours of Objects if the Urine after apparent Concoction become Crude again if it stink if it appear Fat Oily black or livid with a blackish Sediment If a Looseness happen especially after eruptions upon the Skin if the Excrements or Urine are Bloody If the Excrements Serum or Blood send forth a heavy Smell if a redness of the Face Heat and Watchings be attended by a dropping at the Nose if the Tendons start if a tickling or pricking Pain invade the Palms of the Hands if the Person attempts to catch Flies or pick the Bed-Cloaths if any of these Symptoms appear they threaten Convulsions or Death Deafness tho' it be look'd upon as a dismal Symptom in the beginning of acute Feavers meets with a favourable construction about the height of Malignant Feavers The Eruption of Bubo's and swellings of the Glandules frequently infer the solution of the Disease The Cure is
in the Air and attended by fiery Botches Bubo's Carbuncles or malignant Spots This Miasm is volatil and spirituous and fir for encountering Mens Spirits and defiling the vital Spirit of the Air. Perhaps it approaches near to the nature of Arsenic The Passions of the Mind Fear and Apprehension subterranean Damps let loose by Earth-quakes Famine corruption of dead Bodies and such like are its remote causes When this poisonous Miasm afflicts Mankind it joins to the Human Spirits and disperses it self where these meet with the readiest reception upon which account Relations are liable to the Contagion tho' in distant places and the Beasts are secure when Mankind falls an universal Sacrifice The Plague is not always accompany'd by a Feaver When Nature is weak it yields to the oppression and makes no Feaverish resistance The Symptoms are the same as those of Malignant Feavers rais'd to the highest pitch to which we may add swellings in the Arm-pits Groin behind the Ears or in any glandulous place with a pricking shooting pain in the middle Botches and Carbuncles in the Fingers Nostrils Eyes and Lips sometimes fatal Black-spors or malignant Ulcers all over the Body a sudden prostration of strength violent pains of the Head without any cause or following the passion of fear c. the degeneracy of the Pulse from being large and swift to a small languid intermitting unequal state and a burning heat within but moderat on the external surface of the Body An imminent Plague is foretold from unwonted swarms of Insects resorting to a Country The Prognostics of a Plague are very fallacious 'T is an acute Disease ending sometimes in Twenty four Hours sometimes in two three or seven Days in general those who are scabby or Pocky are in least danger as being defended by their peccant Acid. Preceding Fatigue or Fear are bad Omens Black livid Spots are a worse Symptom than Carbuncles and these worse than Bubo's Scars or Marks of mortification are always fatal Many and large Bubo's are a good sign as also copious Sweats But cold Sweats or many Carbuncles coldness of the extream Parts especially the Nose a livid circumference surrounding the swellings Carbuncles growing upon Bubo's in places full of Tendons the imperfect eruption or retreat of the Tumors a Hiccough succeeding to the eruption the white blue or livid Colour of Carbuncles while the Feaver is not abated Pains of the Throat and difficulty of swallowing attending Bubo's in the Neck or behind the Ears are all fatal Symptoms If blistering Plaisters raise no Blisters 't is an infallible sign of Death in all Diseases If a Cautery applied raise a white Crust after the application or if the place be dry or not cover'd with Pushes and the Botch continue to spread further or if Issues dry up of a sudden 't is a desperat case Carbuncles in the Stomac Guts Bladder Eyes and Nostrils are plain indications of Death Anxiety of the Breast without a Feaver frequent sneezing a Looseness Hiccough Vomiting Convulsions Hoarseness a flux of Blood by Urine or Salivation and in short all the dismal circumstances of malignant Feavers related above are the Companions of fatal Plagues A continual Costiveness and numerous Pushes fill'd with laudable Matter appearing after the Application of a Cautery to any part are look'd upon as hopeful Signs The Cure divides it self into two Branches The first is that of preserving from imminent danger the second rescues from actual Oppression Preservatives regard either the Air the common Vehicle of Contagion or the Bodies of People As for the former the Air is purifi'd by the shooting of Cannon by burning Gun-powder or Nitre and Sulphur with Amber Myrrh Camphyr Pitch Benzoin and Juniper Berries by throwing the Mineral acid Spirits or Vinegar in which Vitriol and Verdigrease are infus'd together with Camphyr upon hot Bricks by burning of Goats Horns and filling the Air with ungrateful Smells such as that of a House of Office of Hogs Dung c. The other sort of Preservatives arm the Body and Spirits against the assaults of the contagious Miasms For this end we ought to avoid fasting or going abroad before eating Butter and Rue Leaves and a draught of good generous Wine upon which Camphyr has been kindled are fit to be taken in a Morning as also the Mineral acid Spirits and the acid Juices of Fruits but above all Vinegar impregnated with the Vertue of Camphyr Myrrh Juniper-Berries Zedoary and other aromatic Simples Next to Vinegar are the sulphureous balmy Ingredients especially Sulphur Myrrh and Amber which cover the Spirits from the attacks of the morbific Matter and ought to be taken in acid Vehicles To these we may add Opium and Diascordium Venice Treacle and such like hot Compositions ought to be cautiously us'd and always dissolv'd in Vinegar Sugar of Lead also given with Camphyr from four to ten grains is of excellent use but 't is very volatil and if indiscreetly us'd may accelerat the Disease Externally there is nothing equals the cutting of Issues A Spunge wet with Aromatic Vinegar impregnated with Myrrh and Camphyr may frequently be applied to the Nostrils Let Ginger and Zedoary or Troches made of Myrrh and Camphyr and Tragacanth dissolv'd in Vinegar be often chew'd and held in the Mouth Let the Temples Wrists and Breasts be anointed with the Apopâ—ectic Balsam mix'd with Camphyr let Sala's magnes Arsenicalis mix'd with Benzoin dissolv'd in Spirit of Wine be form'd into Tablets and hung in a scarlet Cloth-Bag upon the Breast If the Contagion proceed from subrerranean Damps let dry'd Toads be hung over the Breast If it proceed from the Air let Spiders stand in their room Some recommend crude Mercury calcin'd by the fumes of Lead for the same purpose The direct Cure of the Plague consists in expelling the poisonous Miasma's by Alexipharmacal Medicines For the regular performance of which the following Cautions will be of use 1. Let Sudorisics be repeated every eight Hours even after the eruption of Bubo's or Carbuncles and after sweating exhibit a Cordial Draught mix'd with acid Spirits for thickning the Blood and rallying the dispers'd Spirits 2. Avoid sleep in time of sweating and for that end apply Vinegar mix'd with Camphyr or Castor to the Nostrils 3. If the Sudorific cannot procure Sweat let a hot Loaf of Bread be excavated and fill'd with Venice Treacle and Spirit of Wine camphoris'd and applied to the Stomac or Navel the under Crust being taken off 4. If obstinat Watchings threaten Deliriums and prevent Sweaâ— let Laudanum Opiatum be added to Sudorifics in order to procure sleep after sweating 5. If the fermentation be faint and low Venice Treacle and Mithridat are proper But if the Feaver be high and attended by a violent heat they are fitly exchang'd with Antimonial Powders and lixivious Salts 6. Acids mix'd with Sudorifics are always proper 7. Blistering Plaisters are appli'd with extraordinary success to the Neck Legs and Arms. They ought to be very sharp and after they
from its irregular and unequal turgescence Upon which account the suppression of the Terms the Scurvy and Hypocondriac Sickness are frequently follow'd by palpitations of the Heart Sometimes it takes its rise from the slow and stagnating condition of the Blood and by consequence from whatever crosses or thwarts the circular progress But of all its Causes the most frequent is the occasional disorder of the Nerves and Animal Spirits occasion'd either by Fear Anger strong Smells c. Or by hysteric and hypocondriac Passions and the indisposition of the Spleen For the Nerves of the Heart and those of the lower Belly especially of the Spleen entertain a mutual Commerce by vertue of which the contraction of these Nerves is continued to the Heart and in its progress resembles the ascent of Fumes or Steams from the Spleen and Intestins The facility of this communication is much inhanc'd by the scorbutic or acid Constitution of the Blood which is equally dispos'd to provoke both the Nerves of the Heart and those of the Bowels As for Diagnostics A palpitation of the Heart is discover'd by laying one's Hand upon the Breast If it proceed from a Dropsy of the Pericardium or Obstructions in and about the Heart the Pulse is small and slow respiration difficult and the Body inclining to a Consumption and Hectic Feaver If it proceed from Worms in the Heart-Purse it returns without manifest cause the Breast is molested with gnawing pricking corroding pains the Patient is frequently troubl'd with a pale Countenance intermitting Pulse and a prodigious unquietness and sometimes sudden swoonings or epileptic Fits If it take its rise from the hypocondriac Disease it is frequently interrupted and when it comes is usher'd in by a murmuring noise in the Belly or attended by disorderly Symptoms in the Abdomen and a sense of constriction of the Heart as if it were squeez'd betwixt two Hands If it flow from a scorbutic Original it does not invade when the Person lies quietly in Bed but upon the least motion of Hand or Foot displays it self and is frequently accompany'd by swoonings A trembling of the Heart is attended by a prostration of strength and an unequal weak languishing Pulse The Remission or intermission of the Pulse following a Palpitation of the Heart prognosticates Swoonings If a Palpitation proceed from a scorbutic cause or accompany malignant Symptoms 't is very dangerous If it be occasion'd by Worms in the Pericardium or Excrescences in the Heart or adjacent parts 't is incurable If it happen in one's Youth it prevents Old Age. The Indications for Cure are to remove the irritating cause Opium impairs only the sense of irritation but has no influence upon the cause it self wherefore it ought to be very cautiously us'd especially considering that a Palpitation or trembling is frequently attended by a notable weakness In hypocondriac or Scorbutic cases perhaps it may not be improper Blood-letting is also dangerous yet if the stagnation of the Blood give rise to the Disease or if the Patient be young and the Blood boil high 't is in some measure allowable as when a Palpitation is caus'd by Fear suppressing of wonted evacuations or a violent commotion of the Body Of all Palpitations of the Heart those of a convulsive Character that spring from Scorbutic or Hypochondriac causes or in a word from prevailing Acid are the most frequent and require a particular regard Earthy Ingredients Steel and volatil Salts are Medicins most in use against these and all other sorts of Palpitations The Tincture of Coral prepar'd with a Menstruum of May-Dew or Snow and mix'd with some cordial Liquor is an universal Specific Now of the Cordial Ingredients Baum is the Head Its Spirit or primum Ens or the Essence of Amber-grise extracted with it is an admirable support for decaying Nature The Leaves of Baum and those of Borrage sprinkled with Rose-water and Vinegar are applied outwardly to the Heart with good success Next to Baum are Cloves Citrons Orange-peel Rosemary Zedoary Elecampane Dill and their various productions The Essence of Saffron given inwardly and a Bag of Saffron and Camphyr hung over the pit of the Breast are of good use The Essence of Ambergrise and Mosch are celebrated Medicins but Ambergrise injoys a stupifying quality which may be extinguish'd by putting it into fermentation as in the preparation of Spiritus Rosarum Ambratus Besides there are some studious Men and hysteric Women that are easily offended by this and all other oily volatil Salts in the room of which we may substitute the meagre thin Salts such as the Spirit of Sal-Armoniac and dulcifi'd Spirit of Nitre The Essence of Juniper-berries prepar'd with their own Spirit the carminative spirit de tribus the volatil Salt of Vipers the spirit and volatil salt of Harts-horn the spirit volatil Salt and distill'd Oyl of Amber the Essence of Castor mix'd with Camphyr the Oyl of Cinnamon the Syrup of the filings of Steel Whey and all anti-hypocondriac Ingredients are much approv'd Externally in a Hysteric or Splenetic Palpitation we apply the same things as are proper against the Causes Take of prepar'd red Coral native Cinnabar and chalybeat diaphoretic Antimony half a scruple volatil salt of Harts-horn three grains distill'd Oyl of Cloves a drop Make a Powder Take of the Tincture of Coral prepar'd with the spirit of Stags-heart two drams the spirit of Roses impregnated with Ambergrise a dram Dose thirty or sorty drops in Cinnamon-water Take of Cinnamon-water impregnated with Quinces an ounce the Cordial-water of Saxony an Ounce Essence of Juniper Berries two drams Essence of Saffron half an ounce Spirit of Venice Treacle camphoris'd a dram distill'd Oyl of Cinnamon for Men or of Amber for Women four drops shake and mix them Dose a spoonful or two Oft-times not only the Heart but the Arteries especially that leading to the Spleen and that of the Temples are seiz'd with a palpitation The cause is an inflammation of the Place or stagnation of the Blood or Convulsions of the Spleen and adjacent parts affecting the Tunicles of the Artery The first two are remov'd by Sudorifics and the last by Steel and anti-hypochondriac Medicines CHAP. II. Of Swoonings THere are three kinds or rather degrees of Swooning viz. Lipothymia Syncope and Asphyxia In a Lipothymia beside that the Pulse is weaker and less the Senses both internal and external are eclips'd and animal Motion both voluntary and natural does in a manner fail all which symptoms go easily off again and the Patient is restor'd to health In a Syncope the symptoms are more tragical the Pulse Sense and bodily Motion are quite extinguish'd Respiration is scarce perceivable the Heart is much oppress'd a cold clammy Sweat and Paleness covers the Body and sometimes the Excrements come away of their own accord In an Asphyxia all things are yet worse so that the Patient lies as one dead without any Pulse or sign of Life Now in order to discover the cause of
this diminution of the Pulse and want of Strength we must call to mind that the vital force of our Body is founded radically in the Blood but exerts it self by its most subtile active and moveable part call'd the Spirits which being volatiliz'd by the inspired Air in the Breast like Rays of Light are diffus'd through the whole Body either in a vital Capacity together with the Blood in the Arteries or separately by the Brain and Nerves under the Character of animal Spirits When therefore the Blood by reason of its less quantity or viscidity and acidity or want of active Salts is unfit to undergo the vital Fermentation in the Breast the Spirits must of necessity fail whence ensues a weakness and languishing that steals on by degrees This vicious constitution of the Blood is oftentimes occasion'd by some error in Diet after acute Diseases or follows the indiscreet management of chronical Distempers supposing the Blood to be rob'd of its Spirits and the Chyle to be over power'd with Crudities arising from the weakness of the stomachical Ferment and flatness of the Bile But if on a sudden the vital fermentation of the Blood in the breast is interrupted and by consequence the luminous Ray of the vital and animal Spirits fail or if incident external Objects pour disorder and confusion on the animal Spirits then follows a sudden prostration of Strength and cessation of Sense and Motion which according to its various degrees is call'd either Lipothymia Syncope or Asphyxia Now the vital fermentation of the Blood is interrupted either by immoderat evacuations of any Humour or Juice such as the Blood seminal Liquor hydropic Water corrupt Matter c. or by its coagulation occasion'd by Poison or the unfriendly miasms of corrupt Matter issuing froman Imposthume in the Heart The external Objects that disorder the Spirits are such as excite violent and sudden passions of the Mind as Frights Grief Joy Anger also strong and disagreeable Smells the sight of Animals to which we have a natural Antipathy and whatever affects the upper Orifice of the Stomac which by consent influences all the other Nerves of the Body Upon which occasions the Spirits are hindered in their wonted motions either by oppression or fixation as in sudden Frights or dissipation as in excessive sudden Joy or deviation as in Cramps and Convulsions of the Heart A weakness and languishing without any manifest cause prognosticats the sudden invasion of Diseases especially those of a Scorbutic Character If it succeed to acute Diseases it threatens either a Relapse Dropsie or intermitting Feaver In the beginning of any Disease 't is a sign of Malignity Syncope's and Lipothymi's are more or less dangerous according to the measure of their duration and the character of their symptoms and if after the use of suitable means the Patient is not awak'd they prove dangerous Those occasion'd by an effusion of Blood or other Humours are safer than others that spring from an internal acute Cause If they are attended by anguish of Heart and restlessness they proceed from the Stomac and are less fatal when the left side of the orifice is affected In fine the more clammy and copious the cold Sweat is so much the more dangerous is the Syncope The Cure is compass'd by the continu'd use of volatil Aromatic Medicines which promote the vital Fermentation exalt the Blood sharpen the unactive Bile remove the clamminess of the Blood and withal restore the digestive force of the Stomac Such are the Spirit of Wine or generous Wines impregnated with vegetable Aromatics as Take of Rosemary curl'd Mint of each a Handful Sage and Baum of each half a handful Roots of the genuin Acorus Elecampane and Fennel an Ounce the four lesser hot Seeds of each a Dram Cinnamon Cubebs Cloves Mace of each two Drams cut bruise and tye them in a Bag to be infus'd in Wine of which take a draught in the Morning fasting and at Meals In scorbutical and hypochondriac cases Scurvy-grass Cresses Peper-wort c. may be added together with some drops of the Spirit of Sal-Armoniac anisated dropt into each draught We may also use stomachical Essences and Elixirs Aqua Vitae aploplectic and epileptic Waters c. Volatil oily Salts and a hundred such like to be taken thrice a Day Morning Noon and at Bed-time and also before eating Now as to sudden fainting and swooning we must endeavour when the Fit is present to remove it and when 't is over to prevent its relapse There are three sorts of Medicins in use during the Fit viz. 1. Spirituous sulphurous and oily ones such are all inflamable Aromatic Spirits prepar'd by fermentation distill'd Aromatic Oyls and compound apoplectic Waters 2. Spirituous Alcali's sharp volatil urinous Spirits and Salts which are always the better for being well charg'd with Oyl 3. Sharp volatil Acids especially Vinegar which wakens the Senses and rallies the dissipated Spirits Sometimes we join 'em to Opiats for staying the convulsive motions of the Spirits Thus the Principal Remedies used in a Syncope are Generous Wines Cinnamon its Water and distill'd Oyl and all its preparations all Apoplectic Waters Spirit of Lilly of the Valley prepar'd by fermentation spirit of Venice Treacle both simple and compound distill'd Oyl of Cloves Cordial and Apoplectic Balsams all volatil Salts spirit of Stagg's Heart spirit of Harts-horn prepar'd with Amber spirit of Roses prepar'd with Amber to which if the Salt of Vipers or that of Amber is added 't is almost an infallible Remedy Moreover the Elixir of Citrons or their Spirit sharpen'd with the volatil salt of Harts-horn the quintessences of Baum and Angelica the Essence of Saffron mix'd with a grain or two of volatil Salt of Harts-horn the Tincture of Coral prepar'd with spirit of Stagg's Heart the Tincture of Gold the volatil Salts impregnated with distill'd aromatic Oyls such as rectified spirit of Sal-Armoniac joined with aromatick spirit of Wine are all of excellent use if exhibited in convenient Vehicles such as Baum-water prepar'd with Wine Penny-royal and Cinnamon-water Aqua Vitae or Matthiolus's Elixir vitae Water of Stagg's Heart Mynsicht's hot cordial Water and for Women Swallow-water with Castor c. to which may be added Camphyr or spirit of Treacle camphoris'd As for Acids we use spiritous and Generous Wine the Juice of Citrons Juice or Syrup of Rasberries conserve of the Pulp of Citrons mix'd with Diascordium Vinegar impregnated with Castor Vinegar of Marigold-flowers or the Flowers of the Lilly of the Valley or those of Elder of Rue c. As for Narcotics Helmont's Laudanum Opiatum in a small Dose Venice Treacle Mithridat Extract of Treacle and such like Compositions are proper In the use of these Remedies we must have a principal regard to the antecedent Causes For example if the Syncope is caus'd by poyson proper Antidotes must be added and a Vomit exhibited especially when the Poyson lurks in the first passages When the Cause is lodg'd in the
Matter Having dispatch'd the general Consumption of the Body 't will not be improper in this place to take notice of the Dryness or Decay of particular parts of the Body occasion'd by whatever intercepts the Blood or Spirits in their Passage thither or weakens and exhausts the innate Spirit of the Part whose office it is to ferment and assimilat the nutritious Juice Hence Palsies Convulsions Dislocations Falls Bruises Wounds c. are its usual Causes As for Cure Wurzius his Arcanum of Allum is a Catholicon against all dry'd or wither'd Parts 'T is thiâ— Take of Plumous Allum and melted Salt of each equal Quantities melt 'em over a strong Fire Then set 'em to Cool and they will condensat into a Stone upon which pour Water to dissolve the Salts and precipitat the Arcanum Of which take three ounces and mix 'em with an ounce and a half of the Oyl of Bricks and four ounces of the Oyl of Human fat distill'd with the Ashes of Vine-tiwgs Make a Liniment and anoint the Part after rubbing If the dryness of the Part be occasion'd by a Wound or Efflux of its spirituous Juice temperat hot things and such as are moist or inrich'd with a Dewy Juice are best Hence some order the Part to be drench'd in the Blood of an Ox just kill'd and fomented with the Decoction of the Feet Head Liver and Lungs and other joints of a Sheep or Calf boyl'd to Rags or anointed with the Juice of River Crabs mix'd with the Oyl of sweet Almonds or with an Ointment of equal quantities of the fat of Herns the fat of Frogs and that of Hogs If the dryness be caus'd by a Palsy or Compression of the Tendons without any visible Wound or Hurt hot irritating things are most proper as if the part be strongly rub'd down three or four times a Day with green Nettles till it become Red and Hot and then cover'd with the Liniment of the Arcanum of Allum or fomented with the following Water Take of the seeds of Roman Nettles one pound the Roots of Horse Radishes bruis'd from four ounces to half a pound Roots of Cuckow-pint four ounces long Pepper three ounces Digest 'em in white Wine fourteen Days in a Balneum Mariae shaking the Vessel often And then distill the Spirit which is of excellent use when the part is num'd and stupid If a Defluxion at Catarrh falling upon the part give rise to its decay let Sudorifics be taken inwardly and the Spirit of Ants and that of Earth Worms rectify'd with some Alcalin Salt or the Aqua Articularis mix'd with the spirit of Sal-Armoniac and Oyl of Soap or the Ointment of Agrippa be applied outwardly the part being first rub'd down till it become red or sensible CHAP. II. Of Immoderat Nutrition or Corpulency IF the nutritious Juice be too copiously distributed thro' the Body the Muscles and Joints are extended and for want of room are disabled to recoyl and contract themselves with due nimbleness and the Belly being over-charg'd with Fat and Juice inlarges its Dimensions So that the true Cause of Corpulency or fatness is the temperat softness of the Blood the less Consumption of the Nutritious Juice by reason of a slow Fermentation and the late assimilation of the Chyle in company of the Blood giving it opportunity to be coagulated and appropriated by the peculiar acid Spirits that guard the respective Parts The remote Causes of fatness are abstinence from Drink especially Hop'd Beer or Ale made of Malt or whatever dilutes the Nutritious Juice and consequently promotes its exhalation drinking moderatly Ale made of Corn which has a peculiar fattening Vertue eating much Bread which promotes the Fermentation and Digestion of Food much sleep freedom from Care Exercise and Venery Corpulency squeezes the Spermatic Vessels and causes Barrenness nay it oppresses all the Vessels in the Body retards the Motion of the Blood anticipats the matter that should be converted into Spirits cramps all muscular Motions and accelerats Death The Cure is compass'd by preventing the immoderat increase of Chyle or evacuating it before its Assimilation to the Part or melting and diluting it with Serum after its appropriation The first design is answer'd by a spare thin Diet and eating of salt Meat The second and third by Purgation with Extractum Catholicum and sweet Mercury repeated till it salivat or the Pills of Aloes and Elixyr Proprietatis which was known among the Ancients for a drying Medicine Now that which they call'd Drying is nothing but the melting down of the Nutritious Juice Hence Myrrh Gentian Wormwood Cresses and all Diuretic or Diaphoretic Ingredients are of use by reason of their attenuating resolving Quality But Vinegar of Squills Tartar Tartar Vitriolated Nitre and all Acids are intitled to a preference Bleeding Issues chewing Medicines the Decoctions of Woods Venery and in a Word whatever attenuats the Nutritious Juice and dilutes it with a serous Vehicle in order to evacuation either by Urine Sweat or otherwise is recommended against Fatness Only this Caution ought to be taken notice of that sudden and liberal Evacuations are apt to weaken fat People To Conclude I subjoyn a Recipe for Pills that are much approv'd Take of the Gum of the Juniper Tree two drams Choice Myrrh Shavings of Lignum Sanctum extract of Wormwood and Aloe of each a Scruple Coagulated Spirit of Vitriol half a dram Make Pills CHAP. III. Of a Deprav'd Nutrition ART 1. Of a Cachexy Leucophlegmacy and Anasarca IF the Chyle or Nutritious Juice is not duly digested and assimilated to the Blood it Tinctures it with a pituitous Crudity Stifles its saline particles and cramps its due turgescence whereupon the Skin is discolour'd and the Muscles instead of receiving elaborat nourishment are stuff'd and bloated up with crude matter and so render'd flaccid This we call a Leucophlegmacy And if this crude vicious Juice obstruct the Glandules of the Muscles or if the Lymph be upon any account oblig'd to Stagnat the Blood becomes serous and a Collection of Serum or Water lodg'd under the Skin causes an Anasarca Now a Cachexy is a general Term importing the Crudity of the mass of Blood and its weaker Fermentation which give rise to these two Diseases The remote Causes are want of motion care grief suppression of the Terms chronical Diseases suppression of Urine the French Pox and in a word whatever weakens Digestion and stifles the Fermentation of the Blood The Symptoms observe the following Method The Cachectic Person grows Pale and in some measure Livid his Face and in process of time the whole surface of the Body is swollen upon any quick motion or walking up an ascent he is troubled with a shortness of breath and palpitation of the Heart and temporal Arteries an universal Weariness seizes the Joints and after eating Anxiety and a sense of Compression oft-times invades the Breast the Appetit which at first is good decays by degrees the Pulse is unequal small frequent and
will not be improper to Bath it with the Spirit of Wine and strong Waters as for astringent Fomentations I doubt they do more harm than good If the Vessels or Organs be broke we may add vulnerary Ingredients to the above mention'd Specifics If the difficulty of breathing be very troublesome 't is usual to give a dram of Sperma Caeti in Spanish Wine after vomiting If Hydropical Persons be extream thirsty we must be very cautious of pleasing them or answering their demands since abstinence from Drink is the better part of the Cure Nitre melted in the Mouth Wine temper'd with Juice of Citrons the dulcifi'd Spirit of Salt Vinegar diluted with Chalybeat Water and the Decoction of Juniper Berries in Whey given for ordinary drinking are of use for mitigating this Symptom In the mean while it will not be improper to inject Clysters of hydropical Purgatives and aromatic Ingredients or of Herrin-Pickle or of a Child's Urine impregnated with carminative Seeds in case of Wind or mix'd with Turpentin and Nitre Nor will it be amiss to apply discussive Aromatics to the soles of the Feet Belly and Cod. Such are the Leaves of Celandin the greater Bags quilted with aromatic Seeds and Bran Man's Ordure Goats Dung boil'd in Mint-Water or mix'd with Man's Urin in the form of a Cataplasm Horse's Dung mix'd after the same method with Meal of Barley and Vinegar Quick-lime-Water mix'd with Spirit of Wine is of excellent use for bathing the Legs Belly and Scrotum especially when a Gangrene is threaten'd by the appearance of Spots Cataplasms made of Cockles bruis'd together with their Shells and mix'd with Goats-Dung are particularly recommended by Thonerus If these Cataplasms prove uneasie they may be shifted for aromatic Oyls such as the Oyl of Scorpions distill'd Oyl of Juniper Oyl of Bays Oyl of Toads mix'd with the Ointments Agrippae Martiatum c. Or an Ointment made of Sulphur Quick-lime and the Extracts of sharp Plants Some commend Bathing but 't is only of use against Anasarca's It remains only to annex a few Recipe's for illustrating the Method of prescribing Take of the Extract of Elaterium fifteen or twenty grains Rosin of Jalap from two to five grains Troches Alhandal one or two grains distill'd Oyl of Juniper two drops With Essence of Wormwood make Pills for a Hydropical Purge To which we may premise the Tincture Spirit or Salt of Tartar as a Digestive Take of the Conserve of Peach-Flowers a dram twelve grains of Mercurius vitae mix'd with fifteen grains of sweet Mercury Extract of Elaterium a grain or two With the Syrup of Buckthorn make a Bolus for one Dose Take of the Rob of Juniper an Ounce and a half Extract of Steel prepar'd with Juice of Apples half an ounce Powder of Rhubarb two or three drams with Cinnamon-Water make an Electuary for corroborating the Stomac Take of Swallow-wort Roots two ounces Leaves of Celandin the greater Hore-hound and Wormwood of each a handful Citron and Orange-peel of each six drams Seeds of the Ash-tree of Cumin Fennel and Annis of each two or three drams Juniper Berries bruis'd an ounce and a half Galangal Cloves Ginger of each a dram Salt of Tartar six drams infuse them in Wine Of which let the Patient take a Draught frequently Take of the Salt of Vine-twigs or that of Pigeons Dung of each a dram Powder of Toads two scruples Make a Powder for two Doses Take of the carminative Spirit de tribus half an ounce Spirit of Sal-Armoniac two drams Mix. Dose half a dram twice a day Take of the Decoction of Camomil Flowers half a Pound Man's Urine three Ounces lenitive Electuary six drams distill'd Oyl of Turpentin a scruple Make a Clyster Take of the carminative Decoction six Ounces Man's Urine three ounces Yest a Dram common Salt a scruple Hony of Roses an ounce Make a Clyster Take of Cockles and their Shells bruis'd a Pound Powder of Caraway-Seeds two ounces Goats Dung an ounce Make a Cataplasm to be applied to the Belly and Cod. Take of the Ointment of Sowbread an Ounce Ointment of Agrippa half an ounce Oyl of Scorpions an Ounce and a half distill'd Oyl of Toads three drams Mix for a Liniment and anoint the Belly frequently ART 3. Of the Yellow Black and White Jaundice A Jaundice is a cachectic disposition of Body attended by a preternatural Colour of the Skin it is caus'd either by the corruption of the Chyle in the Stomac or its vicious fermentation with the Bile and Juice of the Pancreas in the Duodenum or by the immediat putrification of the Mass of Blood The first cause defiles the Mass of Blood and taints it with various Recrements according to the manner of its corruption Hence Milk curdled in the Stomacs of Children Summer-Fruits Cucumbers Fish c. being converted into a musty Crudity will cause a Jaundice by mixing the corrupt Chyle with the Blood which being unfit for nourishment or assimilation is thrown out in a serous Vehicle upon the Glandules of the Skin and sometimes upon internal Glandules The Jaundices which follow Feavers or extreme bleeding which are attended by vomiting of yellow corrupt Matter musty Belchings Heart-burnings and Excrements colour'd as in a healthy state seem to arise from this cause and are accordingly cur'd by Vomits and bitter stomachical Medicines The second Cause takes place when an Acid prevails and the Bile is lazy or unactive and either cannot make good its secretion through the Liver and consequently recoils into the Blood or when separated stagnates in the Gall-Bladder and settles into Stones so as to cause an Obstruction of the Passage Hence sulphureous strong Liquors that exalt the Oyl of the Bile and cramp its active Volatil Salt are frequently charg'd with causing a Jaundice Sometimes the Convulsions of the neighbouring Membranes may contract the Gall-Bladder and so shut up the Passage upon which account Vomiting Colic-pains Hysteric Passions and hard Labour in Child-bearing are observ'd to introduce this Disease The prevalency of an Acid in the Duodenum arising either from the austere Recrements of the Stomac or the degeneracy of the Juice of the Pancreas will also pervert the Chyle and consequently the Mass of Blood So that the greatest part of Jaundices are wholly owing to a preternatural corrupt Acid in the Stomac or Duodenum and the inactivity or imperfect distribution of the Chyle As for the third Cause viz. The immediat putrefication of the Mass of Blood 't is occasion'd by Poyson birings of Vipers or Mad Dogs malignant Ulcers suppression of the Terms the Scurvy c. And when a Jaundice springs from this cause the Stomac Bile and Colour of the Excrements continue in their natural state Now any of these three Causes will occasion a preternatural colour of the Skin which always attends the Jaundice For the Blood being vitiated and tinctur'd with corrupt Recrements precipitats and throws 'em out in a serous Vehicle upon the Skin where the miliar Glandules are
scalds a sharp corroding Matter issues from the Yard inflames the Prepuce and besets it with Pushes which in tract of time degenerat into Ulcers Bubo's or hard swellings appear in the Groin Red yellowish Spots are observ'd in the Belly Breast Back and Privities which when press'd assume a whitish Colour but quickly retrieve the former In process of time the Wheals or Ulcers spread over the Body especially the Forehead Face and Palat their Colour is livid inclining to a Yellow sometimes they are dry scaly and of an unequal surface at other times they void sharp corrupt Matter which frequently corrodes the spungy Bones of the Nose and Palat. The Bones are cover'd with hard stony Concretions and the Limbs tortur'd with violent Night-pains but so as that the Joints are free and in inveterat cases become corrupt and rotten Little Swellings call'd Condylomata cover the Breech and crusty Warts invade many parts of the Body The Palms of the Hands and Soles of the Feet are chopp'd and molested with a burning Heat the Hairs fall off from the Head Eye-lids c. the Palat of the Throat being relaxated or corroded alters the Voice the Ears tingle and in fine the whole Body becomes mangy and sordid and by degrees moulders away The Symptoms of Women differ not from those of Men excepting what regards the form of their Genitals The material cause of the Pox is a corrosive acid Ferment joyn'd to a viscid Vehicle which affects chiefly the glandulous and nervous parts it depraves the Lymph and Serum the nutritious Juice of the Bones and the dewy Liquors of the whole Body it corrodes the solid parts twitches the Membrans and is every way qualify'd for being the Bane of Life and Ruin of Mankind 'T is very infectious and oft-times propagats it self among Bed-fellows by Sweat or Matter issuing from the Ulcers by kissing when the Lips are ulcerated by hereditary Succession and many other ways besides that of perfect Enjoyment If it be inveterat or hereditary or return after Salivation if attended by the Scurvy or obstructions of the Bowels or troublesome Catarrhs and if the Bones of the Head are corroded it is not easily cur'd Dry hot Constitutions are more in danger than those whose Bodies are moist and open The forwardness and Suppuration of the Bubo's facilitats the Cure If the Blood drawn forth become florid and free of those livid blewish Spots that use to appear in its surface and withal be not over serous 't is a testimony of a perfect Cure The Cure of the French Pox which consists in attenuating the viscid Humors correcting and extinguishing the Acid and evacuating both is obtain'd either by sudorific Decoctions or mercurial Salivations The former are calculated for a recent Pox and bilious scorbutic or melancholic Constitutions to whom Mercury is so pernicious and ought to be preceded by Purgatives The most noted Ingredients are Guajacum and Sassaperilla The Dose of the former ought to be inlarg'd for cold Constitutions and that of the latter for such as are hot To these two I choose to add Juniper-wood The other Specifics are Burdock Roots Soap-wort Sassafras Box wood Mastic wood Oak wood Arsmart c. The common Vehicle for sudorific Decoctions is Water but when the Stomac is weak we may add Wine towards the end of the Decoction For emaciated Persons some boyl 'em in Whey When these Sudorifics are first us'd we ought not to be too hasty in forcing the Patient to sweat but to wait some days 'till the Humors are gradually prepar'd and the Body incline to it Besides if they happen to operat more by Urine than by Stool 't is not proper to recall the Humors that move that way nay on the contrary we ought to add Diuretics and endeavour to discharge the virulent matter by the Passage to which Nature directs When the Humors are sufficiently prepar'd and dispos'd for sweating the Patient may be moderatly cover'd up and the Vertue of the Sudorific promoted by drinking warm Broth the Decoction it self being also drunk warm or kindling Spirit of Wine and while he continues thus to sweat daily let a Purge be exhibited every seventh day Take of the shavings of Guajacum six ounces the rinds of Guajacum two ounces Sassaperilla roots two ounces shavings of Sassafras an ounce quick Silver purify'd by the addition of an Alcali and Antimony in coarse Powder both ty'd in a Bag of each a Pound Macerat them in common Water for forty eight Hours then boyl them till two thirds be evaporated Some add Soap-wort Hyssop Speedwell Liquorice Roots Raisins Burdock Roots Fennel Seeds c. The Dose of such a Decoction is from four to eight ounces according to the circumstances of the Patient To be taken only in the Morning for two or three days without sweating But after these preparatory Days are over let the Patient be put into a dry or wet Bagnio according as his Constitution is moist or dry about an hour after taking a Dose And after an Hour 's sweating let him retire to a Bed where the Sweat may finish its progress of its own accord But in the mean while the Sweat must be carefully rub'd off and the Sheets or Cloaths shifted after sweating and well wash'd and air'd before they be us'd again This method must be persisted in for four or six Weeks till all the Symptoms disappear and the Disease be totally rooted out In the Interim let the Diet be thin and dry A second Decoction of the same Ingredients may be given for ordinary drinking and Raisins or some such light thing for Supper If the Disease be inveterat it will be needful to raise a Salivation by the use of Mercury since sudorific Decoctions cannot of themselves reach the Cure tho' they may still be useful during the progress of the Salivation for attenuating and preparing the Humors But they must be so order'd that they do not procure Sweat The best preparation of Mercury for internal use in order to salivat is the red Precipitat from Quick-silver dissolv'd in the Spirit of Nitre and Allum given to four grains and repeated twice or thrice Sweet Mercury is rather a Laxative unless it be fix'd by frequent Sublimation and mix'd with Yelks of Eggs. But the most effectual way of procuring a Salivation is that of inunction with mercurial Ointments As Take of Quick-silver purify'd six ounces Hogs Fat not salted a pound Mix them exactly and add of the Gelly of Ox Feet half on ounce Turpentine three ounces distill'd Oyl of Turpentine an ounce make an Ointment With which anoint the Soles of the Feet Palms of the Hands Wrists Ancles Elbows Knees and Backbone from the Shoulders down to the Os sacrum twice a Day for three successive Days Two ounces of the Ointment will suffice for each inunction and about the fourth Day if the Salivation advance one inunction more will serve If it do not we must continue to anoint and if all prove ineffectual
Whey sharpen'd with the Juice of Citrons is much approv'd as also Milk mix'd with the Spirit of Sal-Armoniac when the Stomac is able to digest it and the Feaverish Paroxysm is over The Symptom of Thirst is admirably accounted for by exhibiting the Decoction of China-roots and Liquorice XIV In scorbutical Dropsies strong Purgatives are noxious gentle Diuretics mix'd with Antiscorbutics being the Basis of the Cure Such are the Infusion of Wood-lice in Wine the Spirit of Sal-Armoniac and Tincture of Tartar mix'd with the Spirit of Scurvy-Grass XV. St. Antony's Fire happening to scorbutical Persons is cur'd by taking inwardly absorbent diaphoretic Powders mix'd with the Spirit or Syrup of Elder-Flowers and Spirit of Scurvy-grass and applying outwardly the Decoction of Litharge Elder-Flowers Olibanum Myrrh and Mastic in Lime-water and Vinegar with a little Camphyr XVI Ulcers accompanying the Scurvy and threatning a Gangrene ought to be wash'd with Lime-Water or the Decoction of lesser House-leek mix'd with the Spirit of Vitriol and anointed with the Ointment of Tobacco and Sugar of Lead or cover'd with the Powders of Myrrh and Frankincense Crocus of Steel and Sugar of Lead Inwardly let the Essence of Woods Essence of Fumitory and the Antiscorbutical Tincture of Coral be frequently administred As for the hard Swellings that frequently molest the Legs let Cataplasms of Bryony and Comfrey-Roots and Chamomil Flowers be applied to ' em Or let the thicken'd Juices of Comfrey and Brook-lime mix'd with Mynsichtius his Diaphoretic Plaister and the Distill'd Oil of Chamomil be us'd in like manner ART 6. Of breakings-out in the Skin UNder the Head of Deprav'd Nutrition we allot an Article for Cuticular Eruptions and first for the Scab which proceeds from the depravation of the nutritive Juice of the Parts under the Skin occasion'd by a preternatural Acid. This Acid takes its rise from sudden Cold succeeding to Heat and shutting up the steams of the Body within the straiten'd Pores from the contagion of an external Ferment and sometimes but very rarely from internal Causes such as the Scurvy French-Pox c. But for the most part the Blood and Internal Parts are not at all tainted it being only the nutritive Serum about the surface of the Body that is depraved tho' 't is true that by continuance it may at last infect the Blood If the nutritious Juice be very serous and apt to corrupt the Breakings-out run much if the Juice be Balmy and impregnated with a volatil oily Salt they are crusty and dry As for the Cure of a Scab we administer inwardly Purgatives and Sudorifics The Purgatives are the Extract of Black Hellebor or Scammony sulphurated mix'd with sweet Mercury and the purging Mercurius vitae or Turbith Mineral in an inveterat case If the Blood be tainted we administer the Decoctions of bitter and scorbutical Plants and Spices mix'd with purging Ingredients in Wine Whey or Water and continue their use for some time The Sudorifics are the Decoctions of Woods the volatil Salt of Vipers Harts-horn Ivory the fix'd Salts the Sulphur and Cinnabar of Antimony diaphoretick Antimony and the Syrup of Elder Flowers As Take of Elder-Flower Water an ounce the Spirit of Venice Treacle camphoris'd half a Dram Diaphoretic Antimony fifteen Grains the volatil Salt of Vipers half a Scruple Syrup of Orange-peel half an ounce Mix for a Draught Or Take of the Rob of Elder a dram the Powder of Snakes calcin'd a scruple Sal-Armoniac half a scruple With the Syrup of Orange-peel make a Bolus The distill'd Oyl of Turpentin given to six Drops every Morning the Essence of Vipers to forty the Tincture of Antimony or Tincture of Coral given to fifty Drops are also very proper And when all proves ineffectual a Mercurial Salivation may not be amiss Outwardly we apply Ointments of Sulphur Mercury especially that precipitated with the Spirit of Nitre and Sugar of Lead but we ought to take care that the Pores be kept open for fear the Scab should strike in Upon which account let Salt of Tartar be always added As Take of Vnguentum Enulatum and Album Camphoratum of each half an ounce Flowers of Brimstone three drams sweet Mercury a dram Salt of Tartar or Oyl of Tartar per deliquium a dram and a half with the Oyl of Tobacco or of St. John's wort Make an Ointment to which add of the Balsam of Peru half a scâ—â—ple Oyl of Rose-wood six drops Mix and anoint the Limbs especially the Joints at Night going to Bed and in the Morning wash off the Ointment with the Persons own Urine Take of the Decoction of Quick-lime a pound and a half sweet Mercury three drams Spirit of Venice Treacle camphoris'd an ounce Mix and wash the external Parts for taking off the Scab and the red Scars that remain after it The Distill'd Water of Man's Ordure is an admirable Wash and reserv'd by some as a Secret Some use Girdles of Quick-silver others fumigate with Cinnabar but the Body ought to be well cleans'd beforehand and arm'd against Cold. In a critical Scab we ought not to use repellents But Baths of the Decoctions of the sharp pointed Dock Tobacco-Leaves Scabious Elecampane and Briony Roots Brimstone and Quick-lime are allowable After sweating by internal Sudorifics the scabby Person may bath in them and rub down his Body and after bathing anoint with the above-mention'd Ointment The Itch is near ally'd to the Scab and proceeds from the sharp Particles of the Serum repairing to the surface in small quantities 't is cur'd internally by purging and sweating as above and externally by applying the following Ointment Take of the Roots of the sharp pointed Dock and Elecampane of each an ounce Boil them in Vinegar 'till they become soft then beat 'em thro' a Sive and add of the Oyl of Orris three Ounces common Salt an Ounce Myrrh three Drams Litharge an ounce and a half With Wax make a Liniment A Leprosie proceeds from a saline corrosive Acid reigning in the Serum as being a sort of exalted Scurvy It is oft-times the hereditary Infirmity of a Family or follows a bad Dyet Chronical Diseases and the suppression of wonted Evacuations The Signs which accompany it are either internal or external The internal are Acid or musty Belchings Costiveness Thirst a stinking Sweat thick Urine insomuch that the Powder of Lead will swim upon it an extreme propensity to Venery the thickness viscosity and unctuosity of the Blood when drawn forth and little Clotts of Sand sticking to the Cloth thro' which 't is strain'd the frequency and weakness of the Pulse difficult respiration stinking Breath a weariness of the Limbs Chillness stupidity and a hoarse Voice as if it came thro' the Nose The External Symptoms are these The Skin appears Livid Black or Yellow it Wrinkles when expos'd to the Cold it is notably rough and oily insomuch that Water will not stick to it it is cover'd with a Purple or White Dandriff little moveable painless Knots and
great Guts are only affected the Swelling appears in the sides of the Belly the Loins are infested with a weighty Pain the Symptoms are more remiss and bear downward If the Pain attending the Iflammation be suddenly extinguish'd it notifies a Gangrene For Cure let Clysters of Milk Hony and purifi'd Nitre be speedily injected let a Vein be open'd in the Arm oftner than once if there be occasion let a Caul of a Sheep kill'd in the very Room with the Patient be laid upon the Belly and if the Pain do not cease let it be shifted for fresh ones twice or thrice let the disâ—ill'd Oyl of Lead with Oyl of Roses be applied at other times and let the dulcifi'd Spirit of Nitre with Laudanum Opiatum Sugar and Oyl of Lead and proper Sudorifics be internally administted The Inflammations of the Anus are caus'd by the suppression of the Piles excessive riding and such like external Causes The Symptoms are the same as those of Inflammations in general For Cure open a Vein in the Arm inject Clysters of emollient Ingredients boil'd in Milk or if these be insufficient of Lin-seed and Rape-seed Oyl and if the Excrements be harden'd add a dram of Sal Gem. If the Inflammation be so great that Clysters cannot be injected administer Raisins or such like gentle Laxatives for opening the Belly and gentle Sudorifics for promoting Sweat Externally apply the Decoction of Mint and Agrimony in Wine or Lime-Water or that of Mullein Flowers and Henbane Leaves in Whey or the mucilage of Quinces extracted with Houseleek-Water and mix'd with Sugar of Lead If the Inflammation was caus'd by the Contact of any sharp thing such as Paper cover'd with Pepper or Vitriol foment with the Decoctions of emollient Ingredients in Milk mix'd with the Whites of Eggs. If it cannot be discuss'd apply Rulandus's Balsam of Sulphur made of Sugar and the Oyl of Poppies and inject Clysters of Chalybeat Milk mix'd with Turpentine and Hony of Roses After ulceration apply Fulminatory Gold mix'd with the Oyl of Sweet-Almonds and exhibit internally vulnerary Decoctions ART 3. Of Inflammations of the Mesentery Sweet-bread and Caul THE Inflammations of the Mesentery proceed from the same Causes as all other Inflammations particularly from the critical translation of morbifical Matter into their Glandules from the unseasonable suppression of a Dysentery or from a rupture haling it out of its natural Seat The Signs are very obscure and uncertain by reason of the Mesentery's distance from the external surface and its open correspondence with the Nerves of other Parts which frequently obtrude the effect upon us under the notion of the principal Cause However the following Symptoms will give us some light into the matter viz. A sense of weight in the Belly especially when the Person turns himself in his Bed a gentle Heat towards the Navel a small Pain and a sort of distention and Heat under the Stomac and the serosity of the Excrements or their mixture with Chyle when the Stomac is not disorder'd 'T is distinguish'd from the Inflammations that the Navel is liable to by the remissness and dulfless of its Pain and invisibility of the Tumor or absence of apparent hardness If the remote Parts of the Mesentery are only inflam'd the Feaver that accompanies is but slow but if the Parts adjacent to the Guts be seiz'd the Feaver is acute the Symptoms much higher and the Guts share in the Inflammation When the Tumor suppurats the Feaver and other Symptoms are exalted and when it is ready to break a shivering and sometimes a shaking seizes the Person which are sometimes follow'd by the evacuation of purulent Matter by Stool or Urine These Inflammations are but slow-pac'd and require a long time before they come to maturity Their Symptoms are so obscure that they do not much trouble the Patient at first tho' by degenerating into Schirrus's or Ulcers throwing purulent Matter upon the Entrails they frequently cause Hectics Cachexies Gangrenes c. If the purulent Matter be cast into the Guts and voided by Stool It is distinguish'd from that of Imposthumes in the Guts by this difference viz. That from the Mesentery comes in a body mix'd with some Blood and without Pain whereas the other is squeez'd out by drops with violent Gripings and an Acute Feaver As for the Cure Since the Feaver and Symptoms are not Acute Bleeding is improper or if any be allow'd that of the Hemorhoid Veins is only convenient Purgatives are hurtful but emollient Clysters are of excellent use The better part of the Cure depends upon Discussing Sudorifics especially the Tincture and Spirit of Tartar the carminative Spirit the Essence of Steel the Essences of bitter Herbs such as Wormwood Centory Fumitory c. The Essence of Gum Ammoniac and Chalybeat Diaphoretics Externally we apply the Plaister of Gum Ammoniac with that of Hemlock providing it do not exasperate the Pain If it do we conclude that the Inflammation is become an Imposthume and the Plaister ought to be remov'd When the Imposthume breaks and the purulent Matter is voided by Urine it runs first plentifully and afterwards intermits nay oft-times the Urine it self is very plentiful and seems to precipitat a laudable Sediment to the bottom which is nothing else but the melting of the Humors of the Body and is justly look'd upon as a very bad Sign Now when we are appehensive of an Imposthume 't will be requisite to give Diuretics and Abstergents especially Turpentin dissolv'd with the Yelk of an Egg and mix'd with Chalybeats the Balsam of Peru Rhubarb the Decoctions of Sassafras China Liquorice and Jujubes and the Decoction of Agrimony St. John's Wort Cichory c. in Whey The Inflammations and subsequent Schirrus's and Imposthumes of the Sweet-bread are of the same nature as those of the Mesentery and equally apt to disguise themselves under the cover of Chronical Diseases that in effect owe their Birth to them The like may be said of those of the Caul Both the one and the other are Cur'd as those of the Mesentery or other Inflammations ART 4. Of Inflammations of the Internal Parts of the Breast and particularly of a Pleurisie and Peripneumonia THE Blood being expos'd to the influence of Air in the Lungs is apt to cause Inflammations in the adjacent Parts When the Lungs or both their sides are inflam'd we call it a Peripneumonia if the Pleura and only one side of the Lungs are affected 't is a Pleurisie Sometimes the Mediastinum Midriff and the backpart of the Breast or the Membranes of the Shoulders and Neck share of the Inflammation by turns The cause of such Inflammations is a vicious Acid which both provokes the Parts to Contractions and disposes the Blood for Curdling The remote Causes are cold Air or cold Drink after great Heats violent Motion excessive drinking of spirituous Liquors the suppression of the Terms or of a Dysentery which do's not radically differ from a Pleurisie a Malignant Constitution of
and its extravasation in the Cavities of the Body being already dispatch'd it remains now to account for its effusion out of the Body The causes of which are either 1. An Anastomosis or spontaneous dis-joining of the Capillary Vessels and especially of the Arteries whose Blood in all natural bleedings runs by drops as depending upon the successive Pulsation of the Artery whereas that of the Veins which for the most part never burst without a violent cause runs with a constant and united Stream 2. A Diaeresis or Breaches violently made in the Vessels by external cutting pricking or bruising Instruments by Coughing Neesing Vomiting or Crying by excessive Joy Grief and vehement Passions of the Mind especially in the flux of the Terms by the Assumption or Inspiration of sharp corrosive things Such as Hellebor violent Purgatives Suppositories c. and lastly by sharp corrosive Humors incorporated with the Blood which both fret the Blood and gnaw its Vessels especially in scorbutical Constitutions the Fibres of whose Vessels are lank and weak Some Authors assign yet a third Cause of Bleeding viz. A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Transudation of the Blood thro' its Vessels but 't is not accountable that any Liquor so thick as Blood should sweat through the strong touch Coats of the Vessels especially those of the Arteries without a breach or Anastomosis 'T is true the thin Serum may glide thro' sometimes but the Consistence of the Blood robs it of that Priviledge The remote Causes of an Anastomosis are 1. A true Plethora or redundancy of Blood as in the suppression of the Terms c. 2. An apparent Plethora or the Ebullition of the Blood obliging it to distend its Vessels as in Feavers and the Small Pox or when Persons drink much Generous Wine or eat Aromatic Food or imploy themselves in any extraordinary exercise of the Body This ebullition is most apt to cause a bursting of the Vessels in fat Persons by reason that their Vessels are straiten'd by the incumbent Fat 3. The thinness and serosity of the Blood which at once unbends the Fibres and qualifies the Blood for making a Passage thro' ' em In this case the Blood when it runs out appears thin and pale whereas in other cases 't is brisk and florid This serosity of the Blood was by the Ancients charged to the Liver as being tardy in its Office of sanguification but as our later Anatomists have justly imploy'd the Liver for other uses so the imperfect Digestion in the Stomac and fermentation of the Chyle in the Duodenum will naturally account for the want of consistence in the Blood 4. The Convulsive Contractions of the Coats of the Vessels especially the Arteries which by straitening one Branch occasion the extraordinary distention of the next Thus splenetic Persons are liable to vomiting of Blood because the Artery in the Spleen denies a free admission to the Blood and the obstruction of the Blood in the Head is frequently remov'd by bleeding at Nose 5. The Convulsive Contraction of the Parts incompassing the Blood-Vessels which are apt to straiten the Vessels especially the Veins that are least able to resist their force Critical and customary effusions of Blood or such as follow the suppression of a wonted Evacution are not to be stopp'd without they exceed measure When a Bleeding is attended by a sensible pulsation of some adjacent Artery 't is a sign that it proceeds from the Compression or Contraction of that Artery Bleedings at Nose are usher'd in by a giddiness redness of the Eyes involuntary Tears tingling of the Ears itching of the Nose a hard Pulse a violent Pain and sensible pulsation of the Arteries in the Head and Neck A flux of Blood from the Wind-pipe is introduc'd by a Cough and difficult Respiration That from the Womb by the distention weight and heat of the Abdomen and Loins happening about the menstrual period and that from the Haemorrhoid Veins by a Pulsation in the Hypocondria Back and Loins and a Tumor and Pain in the Veins with a Tenesmus As for the Prognostic a Diaeresis is worse than an Anastomosis and Bleedings from external Causes are more favourable than those from internal In Melancholic and Phlegmatic Constitutions especially when the Bleeding renders the Face Limon-colour'd or is follow'd by Convulsions and Swoonings it prognosticates Dropsies Consumptions c. As for Cure The various causes must be remov'd by proper Medicines a Plethora by Bleeding Scarifying and a thin Diet The Ebullition of the Blood by such Medicines as temper a volatil Acid as Vinegar Spirit of Vitriol Nitre dissolv'd in Water the Tincture of the Flowers of Dasies the Sugar of Lead the Antiphthisical Tincture Coral seal'd Earth Purslain Plaintain Opium Camphyr c. The serosity of the Blood by thickening Ingredients and such as evacuate Serum either by Stool Urine or Sweat The Convulsive Contractions of the Blood-Vessels by Chalybeats The sharpness of Blood by temperat Medicines such as Milk Raisins Steel c. The Corrosion of the Vessels by vulnerary Astringents The Laxity of the Parts by corroborating things such as Ass-Dung the Ankle of a Hogg Crollius his Powder Sperniola Opium Steel c. However we ought to observe 1. That Bloodletting is only proper when the Blood abounds or boils too high and 't is better to bleed often for Revulsion Derivation and Aversion than to draw forth much at once Sometimes Ligatures and Cupping-Glasses applied at a convenient distance from the Part are not amiss 2. That Purgatives are only proper when the Blood is too serous and in that case especially if it be accompanyed by a Feaver Diaphoretics mix'd with Opiats are of good use as being apt to thicken the Blood after the Swelling is over tho' in the time of swearing they rather attenuate and dissolve it 3. Opiats are good in all Cases From these Premises we infer that the internal Medicines that are proper against Bleeding are the vulnerary Astringents absorbent Powders especially Steel which is both Astringent and Anti-acid to a notable Degree Diureticks and Purgatives in serous Cases and temperat Ingredients especially Raisins and Milk for mitigating the sharp Humours The Medicines which jointly answer these ends are either of the Vegetable Mineral or Animal Families Those of the Vegetable Province are Plantan Purslain the Syrups of Comfrey Ground-Ivy and Myrtle-berries the Syrup made of the Juice of the Root of Bastard Acorus with Sugar The fresh Juice of the common stinging Nettle given to two or three Ounces the Moss of Man's Skull given to a scruple or half a dram in the Water of Shepherds Purse with the Syrup of Coral Mastic Sarcocol Amber Frankincense Raisins Camphyr Opium and Rhubarb which not only evacuats the Serum but corrects the crasis of the Blood Dragon's Blood if it be Genuin is very proper but since 't is generally adulterated with some noxious stuff we ought to avoid it The Mineral Province presents us with Coral Bole Armenic Nitre
of Ground Ivy and that of Comfrey of each an ounce Conserve of Roses an ounce seal'd Earth impregnated with spirit of Vitriol providing the Lungs are not corroded two scruples prepar'd Blood-stone a scruple Troches of Amber a dram Laudanum Opiatum six grains With the Syrup of Comfrey make an Electuary Of which take the Quantity of a Nutmeg twice a day Take of Plantan Purslain and Chervil Waters of each an ounce Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol a dram Troches of Amber two scruples Crollius's Sperniola fifteen grains Laudanum Opiatum five grains Fernelius's Syrup of Comfrey and the Syrup of Purslain of each half an ounce Make a Potion The Spaw Waters Milk and the vulnerary Decoctions are us'd as preservatives SECT XIX Of Diseases relating to the Alterations of the Blood in the Spleen Liver and Kidneys AS the Blood visits the Bowels for their nourishment so it is variously alter'd according to the Nature of every Bowel In the Spleen 't is impregnated with a Volatil sour Ferment that prepares and qualifies its parts for separation in the Liver 't is separated from the Bile which is convey'd thence in t othe Gut either directly thro' the Ductus Hepaticus or after some stay in the Gall-bag thro' the Ductus Cysticus Now there are several Cases in which this separation is lamely perform'd viz. When the Animal Spirits are exhausted or disorder'd or the innate Spirits of the respective Bowel vitiated or when Inflammations or Tumors invade the Part as in Chronical Diseases not as if the Obstructions or Tumors of the Spleen or Liver were the Causes of Chronical Distempers but only as being their effects or at least troublesome Companions that ought to be accounted for in the Cure of those Distempers it being generally compass'd by Chalybeats or such Medicines as conquer an Acid and clear the first Passages which are the Original Source of all Obstructions In the Kidneys the Blood being carry'd thither by the Emulgent Arteries is dissolv'd by a lixivious Ferment and its Serum laden with acid and urinous Salts invelop'd with Oily Particles is strain'd thro' the small Fibres that convey it to the Corpus Papillare from whence it sweats through into the Pelvis and passing thro' the Ureters and Bladder is voided under the name of Vrine If the Salts of the Urine be exactly united together they entitle it to transparency if their mixture be unequal it is muddy or crude and betokens the unequal temperature of the Salts in the Blood But so soon as the Blood has conquer'd the prevailing heterogeneous Salt that over-match'd and disturb'd the Harmony of the rest then the Urine precipitats 'em as a Sediment and becomes clear In perfect Health it contains nothing but these Salts incorporated with Oyl and a serous Vehicle but when the Chyle is not elaborat or perfectly digested then its Crudities and the Sulphureous vicious Salts occasion'd by them are voided with the Serum and impart to it a high or flat Tincture according to the various Exaltation of the Salts and their mixture with Sulphur CHAP. I. Of Distempers relating to the separation of Serum in the Kidneys ART 1. Of an Ischuria in the Kidneys or a suppression of Vrine arising from the want of a due Separation in the Reins THE Causes of an Ischuria in the Kidneys relate either to the Blood or the Kidneys The former are the Redundancy of the Blood or its vicious thickness and the close Cohesion of its Parts occasion'd by Acid or viscous Lymph and an imperfect Fermentation as in Feavers before the Height in Chronical Diseases obstructions of the Bowels c. The latter relating to the Kidneys are 1. The Obstruction of their Passages occasion'd by clotted Blood as in the case of a Fall Purulent Matter either residing there or convey'd thither from other Ulcers viscid tough Humors a Stone in the Kidneys external cold contracting the Fibres nephritic Tumors c. 2. The Paralytic Laxity of the Fibres occasion'd by a weakness or deficiency of Spirits by preceding Wounds or Ulcers by the disorders of their Nerves the dislocation of the Vertebrae of the Back c. 3. The Convulsive Contractions of the Fibres which are frequently occasion'd in one Kidney by a Stone in the other thro' the correspondence of the Nerves 4. The flatness of the Ferment in the Kidneys or its degeneracy from a volatil salin Acrimony as in Dropsies Cachexies c. A Suppression of Urine arising from the default of the Kidneys is distinguish'd from that in the Bladder by a sense of weight about the Loyns the insufficiency of a Catheter for procuring Urine and the absence of a Tumor or pain about the Pubes or Perinaeum sometimes 't is attended by stinking Sweats or such as smell like Urine a stinking Breath Anxieties in the Breast Vomiting an universal Benummedness Epileptic Symptoms and Tumors of the Abdomen and Legs If the Urine before the suppression was thick and muddy with a copious slimy Sediment the Body being universally infested with tough coarse Humors then the suppression is caus'd by Slime stopping the Passages If the Urine before the suppression was Bloody or if a Blow Fall or violent Riding occasion'd it then clotted Blood is the immediat Cause If the Urine was mix'd with Purulent Matter or if any considerable Bowel be ulcerated the Obstruction is caus'd by the corrupt Matter If the Urine was voided without any other remarkable Symptom than that of losing its wonted Smell and Taste the Ferment is faulty An Ischuria in the Kidneys is worse than that in the Bladder If it be attended by Symptoms disturbing the Breast 't is very dangerous If the Urine force its Passage before the Seventh day it affords a comfortable Prediction tho' not infallible especially if the Blood and solid Parts be much corrupted Some Instances there are of a total suppression of Urine for ten fourteen or twenty Days that was cur'd but these are unfrequent besides they are generally attended by a perpetual Sweating Vomiting or some notable evacuation of Serum otherwise they would prove Mortal If a suppression of Urine be free from pain it proceeds from the Paralytic Laxity of the Fibres and is always Mortal The Cure varys according to the Difference of the Causes In general gentle Laxatives mix'd with Diuretics and Turpentin Clysters are proper as being apt not only to irritat the Guts but to promote Urine If the Obstruction be caus'd by clotty Blood Madder Sperma Ceti Crabs Eyes mix'd with Vinegar Chervil Ground Ivy St. John's-wort especially its Seed and above all the volatil Salt of Amber are proper Ingredients If the Obstruction be occasion'd by Purulent Matter we exhibit the Balsam of Sulphur prepar'd with Oyl of Turpentin the Essence of Agrimony Juice of Ground Ivy and such like vulnerary Medicines If a slimy humor beset the Kidneys we must first evacuat the slimy Crudities by Laxatives before we attempt to use Diuretics for fear they should augment the Evil as
The Essence of Wrens is much applauded as likewise the following Pills Take black Beetles gather'd in May without touching 'em with one's Hand Suffocat 'em in Spirit of Wine then dry 'em cut 'em into pieces and in the middle of their Body ye will find a viscous Liquor which mix with their Powder to the consistence of a Balsam Then take of this Balsam adram distill'd Oyl of Anis and that of Cloves of each three drops Make Pills Of which exhibit two grains once or twice in Elder-flower water in the Morning with a fasting Stomac They will cause a Strangury that shall last for thirty Days If Diuretic Med'cines prove ineffectual we ought to discontinue their use for some time lest the Kidneys be overcharg'd with Crudities The strongest of these Diureticks are by some call'd Lithontriptica or dissolvers of the Stone in the Body but I doubt much if any such Med'cines be yet discover'd 'T is certain that Spirit of Nitre will dissolve a Stone out of the Body but the alteration it undergoes in mixing with the various Humours in the Body cramp its virtue within us And therefore whoever pretends to the knowledge of Lithontriptica's must have found out such a Med'cine as is not liable to be chang'd by the Humours of the Body and besides that is neither an Acid nor an Alcali but consists of both as the Stone it self and is peculiarly calculated for its Pores as Aqua fortis is for Silver Some have exploded all Lithontriptica's as being too corrosive and apt to injure the Stomac Guts c. But they ought to consider that all sharp dissolving Menstruum's are not corrosive to the taste as Arsenic Quick-silver Mercurius Vitae c. whic are altogether insipid And besides some Liquors are qualify'd for dissolving hard Concretes that wo'not pick upon softer Objects as Vinegar dissolves the shells of Eggs while their inner Membran is left intire After the Paroxysm is over and the Stone voided we ought to prevent the generation of new ones by proper preservatives as 1. By keeping the first Passages clean with Laxatives and once in three or four Months a Vomit or a stronger Purge 2. By correcting the Acid in the first Passages with absorbent Powders and the fix'd Salts of Diuretic Plants 3. By cleansing the Reins and evacuating the first Rudiments of the Stone with volatil Diuretics the Spirit and volitil Salt of Tartar the Spirit of Urine that of Sal-Armoniac the Spirit of Worms Elixir Proprietatis Turpentin fat Broth Whey c. Some commend Milk but its Curd disswades us from using it However we ought still to remember that the Diuretics must be of the meeker sort and exhibited only once or twice in a Fortnight or three Weeks and that at some distance from the times of eating but not till the first Passages are clear'd 4. By strengthening the Reins retrieving their ferment and preserving the Urine from corruption with balmy Med'cines such as Turpentin the Balsam of Sulphur Juniper St. John's-wort-seeds c. ART 3. Of a Diabetes or excessive Flux of Vrine A Diabetes is either genuin or spurious The former is a voiding of Liquors by Urine without any stay or alteration in the Body The latter is a voiding of a much larger quantity of Urine than that of Liquids receiv'd into the Body The cause of the former is the laxity and openness of the Passages which lead directly from the first Passages to the Reins 'T is true these Passages are not yet discover'd but the quick Passage of some Liquors and their being voided without any alteration in colour taste or consistence according to the Observations of Galen Bartholin Hildanus c. do sufficiently evince their necessity The cause of the latter is a sharp volatil Salt or Ferment bred in the first Passages that dissolves the fat acid in the Blood Chyle and muscular Flesh unlocking their Texture and melting the ferment of the Reins Thus the balmy and nutritious parts of the Blood being melted down and tinctur'd with a sharp acrimony they stimulat the Kidneys and force their passage This volatil Alcali Salt is not unlike that which sometimes causes melting loosenesses or that of Spanish Flies and Beetles and is frequently the follower of violent Diureticks Perhaps it also sucks in the humidity of the Air in the Body by virtue of which it melts and so increases the quantity of Urine which sometimes exceeds that of all the Juices in the Body The Symptoms of the spurious Diabetes are the crudity thinness and sweet taste of the Urine with a fat Scum swimming upon it a notable weakness leanness dryness of the Mouth thirst a heat and pain in the Loyns a slow Feaver and in short all the Symptoms of a Hectic If it follow immoderat Labour Venery or Chronical Feavers 't is uncurable For Cure of a genuin Diabetes we exhibit Astringents and Aromatics such as we generally prescribe for defending and fortifying the Stomac and Bowels in the use of Spaw Waters Thus the astringent crocus of Steel the Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol Bole Armenic seal'd Earth Conserve of Roses vitriolated the decoction of Orange-peel and Plantan bol'd in Chalybeat-water are very proper Some recommend as an Arcanum a Cocks-comb calcin'd and exhibited with ones own Urine As for the Cure of a spurious Diabetes we must endeavour to correct the Acrimony of the Volatil Alcali to prevent the colliquation of the Juices by Narcotics and proper Astringents First of all their Diet must be the same as that of Hectic Persons In the next place vomiting is very proper to which we subjoin the Powder of the natural Blood-stone or of the Artificial one made of the Vitriol of Steel and Sugar of Lead The Antiphthisical Tincture prepar'd from the same Ingredients The Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol the astringent Crocus of Steel the Powder or Spirit of Allum Amber and its Troches or those of seal'd Earth taken in an Acid Vehicle the Tincture or Magistery of Coral prepar'd with the Juice of Citrons or their mixture with Vinegar Take of Plantan Water three ounces Distill'd Vinegar six drams red Coral pulveriz'd not prepar'd a dram Laudanum Opiatum two grains Syrup of Purslain an ounce Mix and exhibit a spoonful frequently Quicklime-Water given to four or five ounces thrice a day is of singular use in this Distemper as also Milk especially Chalybeat Milk or that in which hot Irons are frequently extinguish'd Asses or Goats Milk are the Best and next to them Cows Milk The Emulsions of sweet Almonds and white Poppy-seeds are also very proper Externally some apply to the Kidneys the Juice of River-Crabbs or Baggs of Plantan and Oak-Leaves boil'd in Chalybeat Milk ART 4. Of a Pissing of Blood THE Urine is sometimes tinctur'd with Blood and that more or less according to its quantity The Blood springs either from the Kidney Ureters or Yard or from the Contusions of other parts The Causes are the same as those of
into a round uniform Globe and are call'd Conglobatae some into a Cluster call'd Conglomeratae The former convey their Juice thro' Lymphatic Vessels into the left axillary Vein where it dilutes and prepares the Chyle for an easie union with the Blood and likewise promotes the fermentation of the Blood in the Heart and Lungs as being of a volatil Spirituous Nature The latter throw their Juice into some noted Cavity as the Spittle into the Mouth the Juice of the Sweat-bread into the Guts c. These Juices as separated or suck'd from the Blood partake of acidity which is temper'd by the Animal Spirits repairing to the Glandules they being condensated and incorporated with the Liquor The Separation of this Liquor is frequently disturb'd by the Obstructions of the Glandules of which else where ART I. Of Catarrhs A Catarrh is a preternatural Defluxion of Lymph from the Conglamerated Glandules into some noted Cavity of the Body especially the Throat Breast and Head where these Glandules are very plentiful and their Lymph is most liable to alterations from the Air. A Catarrh therefore proceeds from the Constriction of the Fibres of the Glandules occasion'd by some provoking Causes These Causes are either External or Internal The former are the malignity of the Air in Epidemical Catarrhs sharp Steams and external Cold contracting the Fibres hindring a free Transpiration and so occasioning the redundancy stagnation and provoking sharpness of the Lymph The internal Causes are the sharpness or Acrimony of the Blood and consequently the Lymph occasion'd by an imperfect Digestion in the Stomac Scorbutical Salts c. Or the occasional Corruption of the Peculiar Nutritious Juice of the Glandules which being deprav'd sticks to their sides and provokes 'em to Contractions This degeneracy of their Juice arises from external injuries or whatever internal Cause is apt to weaken or exhaust their innate Spirit When the Fibres or innate Spirits of the Part are weaken'd the Catarrh is Habitual and apt to relapse in other Cases 't is only Accidental and generally take its rise from external Occasions When a Catarrh begins 't is Thin and Sharp as being the pure Lymph without mixture but afterwards by its continued Flux it depraves the nutritive Juice of the Glandules which mixes with it and renders it Thick and Temperat When the Lymph is very Corosive and Sharp 't is usually call'd a Hot Rheum when 't is Thick and Slimy 't is entitled Cold. There is yet a Spurious sort of Catarrh near ally'd to this above-mention'd viz. The Stagnation of the serous part of the Blood in any parts either before or after its conversion into Lymph as when Nocturnal Cold or the Diminution of the ordinary transpiration causes pain in the Limbs This is not properly a Catarrh but a stagnation of Serum or Lymph caus'd by the Constriction of the Fibres of the part in which 't is lodg'd Thus the Tooth-ach Scorbutic pains in the Limbs Bastard Pleurisies c. are of the same kind The Causes from which they take their rise are much the same as those of the Genuin Catarrh Sometimes the true Catarrh causes Feavers which are particularly accounted for in the Section of Feavers An imminent Catarrh is usher'd in by a weariness of the Joynts heaviness of the Head dullness of the Senses and Froth making a circle in the Urine If the Lymph be thin and sharp 't is mostly voided in the Night time and a slow Feaver increasing towards the Evening accompanies it if it be thick and slimy 't is equally troublesom at all times but the Symptoms are more remiss If a Catarrh recur frequently in the same part or if the part be influenc'd by the alterations of the Weather 't is a sign that the nutritive Juice of the Glandule is deprav'd and its innate Spirit weaken'd If it be caus'd by the Crudites or imperfect Digestion of the Stomac it distinguishes it self by frequent relapses either in the same or different parts by the Person 's propensity to spit and sweat much and the thinness and paleness of the Urine Catarrhs in the Breast or Wind-pipe are apt to cause a Cough or Phthisic In old Persons they 're scarce curable by reason of the weakness of their Digestive faculty the natural Laxity of their Glandules flatness of their Spirits and Acrimony of the Serum A Catarrh in the Glandules of the Brain is apt to cause Palsies Lethargies and such like disorders of the Spirits That from the Nose and Mouth is least dangerous especially if the Matter come quickly to Concoction As to the Cure let the following Cautions be minded 1. The best Evacuaters are Diuretics and volatil Sudorifics When the Stomac is faulty Vomits and Purges are proper but not in other Cases 2. Chronical or Habitual Catarrhs proceeding from the Acrimony of the Serum as in old and Scorbutical Persons are influenc'd by the Moon and therefore Preservatives ought always to exhibited before the new Moon 3. Opiats are of excellent use especially in the beginning of a Catarrh arising from external Causes They ought always to be mix'd with volatil Salts and proper Specifics Towards the height of the Disease or in epidemical and critical Catarrhs they must be cautiously us'd 4. Issues and Blistering Plaisters are of use for draining the Lymph or relieving a particular part but they cannot remove its Cause Therefore in scorbutical Cases or when the Evil is inveterat and scarce curable à Priori we must insist on such a palliative Cure being directed thereto by nature which frequently throws out the Lymph by Ulcers in the Legs 5. Bleeding is not proper But in some particular Cases as when the Body is very Plethoric or Blood suppress'd in the Body or when the Catarrh falls upon a noble part 't is allowable These Cautions being premis'd let 's now Consider the Indications As 1. The Activity of the Cause and sense of the Part ought to be impair'd by Opiats 2. The quantity of the Lymph must be lessen'd its vicious quality corrected and the solid part cleans'd by volatil Sudorifics 3 The Stomac must be strengthen'd its due digestion retriev'd and the solid part fortify'd by balmy Aromatics The specifics proper for these purposes are Mother of Thyme Rose-mary Avens-roots Juniper-berries and all Aromatics Sassafras especially its Tincture prepar'd with the spirit of wild Thyme Amber and all it preductions especially the succinated spirit of Harts-horn Myrrh Sulphur or its Flowers Mastic-wood and Sperma Ceti From such Ingredients we make several Prescriptions such as the Decoctions of Woods the infusion of Aromatic and Stomachical Herbs in Wine an Electuary of the Rob of Juniper-berries mix'd with Spices c. The Cure of sharp and thick Humors vary's as that of dry and wet Coughs In scorbutical Cases we always add some preparation from the Pine-tree When we exhibit Purgatives we mix 'em with the Specifics as in Crato's Pills of Amber Jalap sweet Mercury and in inveterat Cases Hellebor are recommended
of Spirits From whence ensues the variety of the animal or sensitive Phaenomena's 2. That the Brain and Spirits have a peculiar dependance upon the Moon and upon that account the Diseases of the Head encrease or diminish in proportion to its Age. The Spirits when disorder'd are more sensible of this Influence than in their natural State 'T is true the Sun has some Ascendant over our Bodies but that properly relates to the vegetable and vital Functions the Animal Province being more peculiarly allotted to the Moon 3. That there is an admirable Sympathy betwixt the Brain and the Bowels especially the Stomac An ungrateful Imagination disturbs the Stomac and Vomiting and Giddiness do equally give rise to one another The Disorders of the Stomac and lower Belly have a visible Influence upon the Fancy as in the case of Hysteric or Hypocondriac Fits and the ridiculous Appetites of Women Helmont was very happy in this Observation and the practical Inferences he deduc'd from it but his Theoretic Conjectures are frivolous The reason why the Spirits and the Stomac do so sensibly affect one another seems to be this That the Mouth of the Stomac is the first part of all the Body that receives any sensible Impression in the Womb for so much as all Alterations in the Embryo must be produc'd by the Nourishment convey'd to the Stomac This establishes an early Correspondence betwixt it and the Spirits and lays the lasting Foundation of their future Intimacy 4. That the Spirits are liable to the same material Alterations with the Blood CHAP. I. Of immoderate Watchings WE are said to wake when the Spirits are distributed through the Organs of Sense and extend their Fibres On the contrary Sleep unbends the Fibres and imprisons the Spirits The Privation of which causes Disorders in the Body The immediate Cause of Watchfulness is a continued or violent Incursion of Spirits into the Organs of Sense The remote Cause barring some external Object must either be the Disorder of the animal Spirits or some defect in the Brain The Spirits are oft-times too nimble and moveable as in young People and such as feed high and drink generous Liquors The Heat of Summer or travelling in a hot Climat eating of Venison immoderat Care Study and the Passions of the Mind the accession of foreign heterogeneous Particles from malignant Distempers or drinking Tee and Cossee are the natural Causes of the Mobility and Disorder of the Spirits and consequently of Watchfulness As for the Brain Watchings will insue upon the Openness of its Pores occasion'd by a Dryness or want of Moisture to fill up the Intervals This may happen through Fasting or eating of sharp volatil Meats immoderat Venery Sweating smoaking Tobacco which tho it be an Opiat exhausts the Moisture of the Brain an unseasonable Use of purging Medicines or a Deficiency in the first Digestion which not only affects the Spirits by Consent but robs the Brain of its wonted Recruits in neglecting the regular distribution of the Chyle This Disease is manifest of it self As for Prognostics It infers a Weakness and Feebleness 'T is more sufferable in Youth than in a State of Manhood and among Men than among the Female Sex It portends ill in acute Distempers But in Chronical Diseases may be longer endur'd tho 't is oft-times follow'd by Phrensies Folly or Stupidity The Cure is perform'd by taking off the remote Causes If it be caus'd by the Inflammation and Impetuosity of the Blood a Vein must be open'd If the Blood be sharp and oppress'd with heterogeneous Particles Purgation and Sweating take place If it spring from the Disorder of the animal Spirits they must be reduc'd to Order by the use of pacific Medicines such as Opium or Laudanum opiatum or their Compounds Bartholetus commends the Essence of Opium prepar'd with Spirit of Vitriol or Spirit of Cockle Ens Veneris which consists of Vitriol and Salt Armoniac and likewise the Anodvn Sulphur of Vitriol are proper in this case But in using Opium we ought to observe these Causions Not to exhibit it when the Watchings are owing to the Efforts of Nature endeavouring a Solution of a Disease or when attended with a straitness in the Breast or difficulty of Breathing or when they proceed from the deficiency and want of Spirits as in old Men c. The mildest Opiats are the safest Let them be given in small Quantities and repeated often As Take of the Conserve of wild Poppy Flowers one Dram Venice Treacle or Diascordium half a Dram Laudanum Opiatum one Grain Make a Bolus Or Take of native Cinnabar fifteen Grains Saccharum Saturni eight Grains Laudanum Opiatum one or two Grains with the Extract of Saffron make Pills to be taken in the Evening about an hour before Supper The Seed of Thorn Apple is of excellent use in this case As for the Watchings which arise from the Dryness and Openness of the Brain moist and cooling Medicines are most proper such as Emulsions and other oily temperat Compositions Take of the four greater cold Seeds of each half an Ounce Garden Poppy Seeds two Drams sweet Almonds from two Drams to half an Ounce with a sufficient quantity of the Water of Water Lillies make an Emulsion Add of Cinnamom Water half an Ounce and sweeten it with Syrup of Poppies Or the Emulsion may be accommodated to whatever acute Distemper accompanies the Watchings as in a malignant Fever Take of sweet Almonds and Garden Poppy Seeds of each two Drams of the four greater cold Seeds of each a Dram With Viper Grass Water make an Emulsion sweeten it with pearl'd Sugar and add half an Ounce of Ciâ—namom Water and a Scruple of Bezoar Mineral It pacifies the Spirits and obviats the Malignity of the Distemper The Decoction of Barley with Poppies and Liquorice is much applauded And in general all moist nourishing milky chilous Medicines are very conducive in this caseâ— especially the Seed of Thorn Apple of the Fruit we make Pills thus Take of Thorn Apples six Pound bruise and boil them in twelve Pints of Lettice Water to eight Pints express the Decoction and digest it in the Sun sprinkle it with Spirit of Wine and set it to dry To an Ounce of the Juice thus thicken'd and dry'd add half an Ounce of Saffron and two Scruples of the Oil of Citron Peel Make a Mass for Pills Dose a Grain or two It procures Sleep and stops all Fluxes In the Watchings of old Men or such as proceed from a scarcity of Spirits or a frigid Crudity in the Stomac Opiats are inconvenient Comforting and aromatic Medicines are only proper Some give Opiat Clysters or Suppositories to procure Sleep but 't is a dangerous Method unless the Watchings be accompany'd with a Loosness or Pains in the Guts Besides the internal Use of moistening and quieting Medicines some apply them outwardly to the Forehead Temples Feet and Hands They foment and bathe the extreme Parts with the Decoctions of Anodyn and
proper If it proceed from metallin or mercurial Fumes Cinnabar of Antimony and antimonial Sulphurs ought to be mix'd with human Bones and exhibited in order to procure Sweat The Decoction of Elecampane and Fennel Roots in Wine taken Morning and Evening the Person being cover'd in order to sweat is famous for expelling and correcting Mercury in the Body Leaves of Gold or Medicines partaking of Gold are proper in this case to be given inwardly and an Ointment of Gold may be applied outwardly As for external Remedies Forestus recommends rubbing and washing the Part with fresh Urine In room of which you may use what follows Take of Aqua Articularis for external use three or four Ounces Spirit of Earth-worms an Ounce and a half Spirit of Ants six or eight Drams Essence of Castor three or four Drams mix and bathe the part affected Petrus à Castro orders the part to be frequently fomented with distill'd Water of Nettles The Leaves of an Ash infus'd in Lees are commended If the Trembling be inveterat the natural Bathes or artificial Bathes of a Decoction of Ants ty'd in a Bag are incomparably useful CHAP. III. Of the Diseases in which the Animal Spirits cease to move ART I. Of an Apoplexy WHEN Persons are seiz'd with Apoplexies they are like dead People in every respect except the beating of their Pulse Breathing and the color of their faces If the Respiration be much impair'd the Pulse very low and scarce perceptible and the Person snort and froth at the Mouth 't is a violent Fit If the whole Body be equally seiz'd 't is an universal Apoplexy If only one side of the Head and Body or the Trunk of the Body alone or a particular part by it self be affected while the others are at ease 't is call'd a particular Apoplexy 'T is usual among Writers to refer the Apoplexies of particular Parts to Palsies but indeed these Disorders of particular Members proceeding from internal Causes and call'd by them Paralytic were by the Antients accounted slight Apoplexies Vid. Hip. Sect. 2. Aph. 42. The Cause of Apoplexies may be deriv'd from the failure of the motion of the Animal Spirits either in the Cerebrum or Cerebellum If in the latter the Circulation of the Blood and Motion of the Heart are in a manner quite extinguish'd If the Animal Spirits be hindred to visit the Heart by the Convulsion of its Nerves or such other Causes the same effect will follow These Causes are call'd Privative which do not affect the Spirits immediatly but only prevent their Excursions or withdraw the matter of their Generation as all Obstructions of the Brain a Fall c. The positive Causes are such as stupify the Spirits or render 'em unfit for performing their Office as narcotic Medicines c. A privative Apoplexy is occasion'd by stopping the Circulation of the Blood This is caus'd either by an Obstruction in the Brain imprisoning the Spirits or by the Compression tearing or breaking of the Blood-vessels As when external Violence is us'd an Apoplexy may be caus'd by the Ligature or Compression of the Carotid Arteries and consequently the interruption of the Blood in its Passage to the Brain This Hippocrates understood by his Obstructio Venae it being customary among the Antients to signify by Veins the Arteries and Nerves The other privative Apoplexies proceeding from internal Causes are rather owing to the stoppage of the Blood in the Veins and its subsequent Stagnation in or Distention of the Brain for suppose one of the Carotid Arteries were straiten'd by some internal Cause the other Artery communicating with it would supply the Brain with Blood and so no Apoplexy would insue upon that occasion 'T is the hindrance therefore of the Reflux of the Blood and its subsequent Stagnation that in internal cases distends the Brain straitens its Passages extinguishes the motion of the Animal Spirits and so causes the Apoplexy Sometimes the Blood is so thick and congeal'd that of it self it stops in the Vessels within the Brain without any determination to that effect from the Blood Vessels as in Heart-swooning which is a case not only parallel but near a kin to this it stagnates in the Lungs The Antients deriv'd the cause of an Apoplexy from a Collection of Serum in the Ventricles of the Brain but Anatomical Dissections make it appear that the Brains of Apoplectic Persons are not always molested with any such matter and that several People are who were never seiz'd with an Apoplexy in their Lives It remains therefore to be concluded that the immediat Cause of all Apoplexies is the Abolition either of the motion of the animal Spirits or of the Circulation of the Blood The remote Causes with reference to a defective Circulation of the Blood are sudden Cold excessive Heat gormandizing in a sedentary way of Living washing the Head with warm Water and then exposing it to the Cold Swellings in the Scull suppression of wonted Evacuations of Blood using Dragons Blood after violent Purges immoderat Venery especially in old Age Anger and all turbulent Passions of the Mind With reference to the motion of the animal Spirits the remote Causes of Apoplexies are a Contusion or violent Commotion of the Brain by Thunder Cannon shooting c. any sudden and impetuous Force that drives inwards the Lymph which waters the Cortical part of the Brain Impostumes or any vitious matter lodg'd in the Head all which straiten the Passages of the Brain and Original of the Nerves and so cramp the Spirits that they cannot perform their wonted Office Excessive Drinking may occasion a Prevalency or Redundancy of Serum in the Brain that presses down the Walls of the Passages Accordingly we sometimes meet with great quantities of Serum in dissecting the Heads of such as die of Apoplexies The Small-pox or Scab struck inwards and several other Causes may likewise produce the same effect Upon this account I shall not scruple to admit the distinction of privative Apoplexies into such as are Sanguin and those which are Serous tho a nice Theorist might cavil against it The former kind is apt to invade those whose Blood is thick and prone to congeal the latter for most part seizes old decrepit Catarrhous Constitutions Mercurial and subterranean Vapors not only clog the Spirits but thicken the Blood and so cause a privative Apoplexy As for positive Apoplexies caus'd by an immediat Depravation and Fixation of the Spirits I am of Helmont's Opinion that not only external things but an internal Ferment bred in the Stomac oft-times causes ' em This I am induc'd to believe by these Considerations 1. Vomits sharp Clysters and stomachic Medicines are sovereign Remedies against a positive Apoplexy which is a sign that the Stomac is concern'd 2. The Steams of Coals Smoak of Tobacco and eating ungrateful Food cause Apoplexies Now undoubtedly these affect the mouth of the Stomac most immediatly 3. I remember an instance of a Woman that was seiz'd with a
wither and consume tho the root of the Evil be not seated in it 't is not improper to anoint it with the following Mixture in order to provoke and waken the Spirits Take of Spirit of Earth-worms three Ounces distill'd Oils of Spike and of Juniper of each a Dram and a half distill'd Oils of Lavender and Marjoram of each half a Dram distill'd Oil of Amber two Scruples plumous Allum which ought always to be added in this case a Scruple If this prove too sharp as it frequently do's to scorbutic Constitutions take of human or Goose fat three or four Ounces distill'd Oil of Turpentin three Drams Oil of Juniper-berries two Drams Oil of Spike half a Dram. Mix and use as above Let the following Plaister be likewise applied to the Back-bone viz. Take of Gum Galbanum two parts Gum Caran one part soften 'em with stone Oil into the Consistence of a Plaister Bathing in a Decoction of Ants is of singular Virtue both in this and many other cases of which more elsewhere ART III. Of a Palsy A Palsy ought to be carefully distinguish'd from a stupidity of any part and particular Apoplexies tho it be near ally'd to both The former retains the power of moving tho depriv'd of the Sense of Feeling the latter relates to the Disorders of the Nerves whereas a Palsy is principally a relaxation of the Tendons Fibres and Ligaments by which the part is moved the Nerves being only secondarily affected So a true formal Palsy affects chiefly the moving Faculty and if the Nerves are not much touch'd the sense of Feeling remains Now by this it appears that in many Cases a Palsy is accus'd where particular Apoplexies are the true Criminals Their difference is thus made out 1. The particular Apoplexies are retainers to the Disorders of the Brain and spinal Marrow whereas Palsies follow another set of Diseases as the Scurvy Hypochondriac and Colic Fits and excessive Drinking 2. In the former the original and uppermost part of the Nerves is chiefly affected and upon that account external Remedies are applied to the Neck and Back-bone without regard to the Apoplectic Part. But in the latter that part of the Nerve which accompanies the Muscles of the place is principally injur'd and accordingly external Applications are confin'd to that quarter 3. The former deprives both of sense and motion the latter oftimes retains the sense and is molested with pains 4. The former are constant and obstinat the latter relents now and then and 't is not quite so hard a matter to compass its Cure Some Palsies are call'd Privative when the Passages for the Spirits are straiten'd and embarass'd by Obstructions or Compressions of the Nerves the sudden retreat of the small Pox Wounds Falls and such like external Causes But these are more properly particular Apoplexies A true positive Palsy may be occasion'd by a cold moist Air bathing in cold Water c. Thus old Men and Children are as it were half paralytic the former by reason of a watry Serum that succeeds in the room of their exhausted nutritious Juice and unbends the Fibres the latter by virtue of overflowing Moisture The usual internal Cause of a Palsy is an acid Humour convey'd along with the Lymph or Serum to the affected part where it vitiats the Fibres and renders 'em unfit for their wonted Motions Palsies of this kind are frequently occasion'd by immoderat drinking of some Wines that partake of a notable volatil Acid which not being concocted in the Stomac is thrown upon the external parts and creates in them sometimes a tickling sort of Pain resembling the motion of Pismires sometimes a stupid and sometimes a tearing Pain Thus the Fibres are corrupted but the Nerves are at first secure and accordingly the moving Faculty is extinguish'd while that of Feeling remains intire tho in progress of time it may dwindle away A scorbutic Acid join'd to a serous Vehicle frequently causes Palsies It proceeds insensibly at first causes a wandring Stupidity and Titillation of the Fingers or Toes One day they are quite well another day mightily swell'd and retain the Sense of Feeling tho render'd in some measure stupid and the Person when lying can move 'em but if he attempt to stand can perform no progressive Motion without a great deal of pain 'T is a volatil austere Acid that gives rise to these Symptoms and if Austerity prevail Convulsions and Contractions invade the part The French Pox Worms in the Guts and Suffocations of the Matrix may procure Palsies But the Bilious Colic that proceeds from thin sharp Humours more frequently introduces ' em If these Colic Pains be exasperated by violent Purgation or otherwise as it frequently happens the Navel being drawn inwards and the Belly very much bound and grip'd there follows a Stupidity and afterwards a Paralytic Disposition of some Members of the Body In this case the Cause seems to be a Scorbutic Acid lodg'd in the nervous Knot of the Mesentery which contracts the Nerves and so prevents the regular distribution of the Spirits to these Parts So that partly by the mutual consent of Membrans and partly by the Translation of the morbific Matter to the external Parts such Palsies take their rise The suppression of wonted Evacuations of Blood and the Passions of the Mind especially Grief and Want are likewise apt to cause ' em Besides these internal Causes there are several external Occasions of Palsies as touching the Cramp-fish or some Indian Shell-fishes reported to be indow'd with a numming Virtue approaching to mercurial and mineral Fumes and an indiscreet tampering with Narcotics If the Nerves be chiefly affected as in a total Privation of feeling or when the Disease proceeds from a Wound Fall or other external Accidents or succeeds an Apoplexy the Original of the Nerves must be chiefly regarded according to the Method propos'd for particular Apoplexies If the Sense of Feeling be intire or not much impair'd the Ligaments and Tendons of the part affected ought to be most taken care of If a Palsy invade the Face 't is distinguish'd from a Dog-Cramp by this that in the former the paralytic part is soft and flaccid and easily reduc'd to its natural posture but in the latter the contracted Part is hard and cannot be brought to join the others without pain As for the privative Palsies that approach to the nature of Apoplexies or in which the Sense of Feeling is quite lost or the Evil inveterat and fix'd to a Part their Cure will be very difficult but if once cur'd they are not so apt to relapse as the proper positive Palsies proceeding from internal Causes If the heat of the part be quite extinguish'd and Contractions seize it If the Eye of the paralytic Side be lessen'd If the Person be old and of a Cacochymical or Cachectic Constitution they are all cross Circumstances If a Trembling invade the Part If a Looseness succeed to a light Palsy or an acute Feaver to the Apoplectic
case Amputation is needful ART IV. Of the Schirrous Swellings of the Stones A Hard painless Swelling free of all Inflammation or Heat is call'd a Schirrus If a pricking Pain attend a hard Swelling it degenerats to a Cancer The Cause is the indiscreet Treatment of a preceding Inflammation which gives the accompanying Acid liberty to settle and thicken the matter Platerus mentions an Instance of little Stones within the Testes causing a Schirrus As for the Cure 't is perform'd by the Application of Gums dissolv'd in Vinegar and discussive Plaisters As Take of Gum Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar six Drams Plaister of Hemlock soften'd with distill'd Oil of Tartar as much as sufficeth for a due Consistence The Balsam of Sulphur or Rulandus's Plaister Diasulphuris or the Ausburg-Plaister of Ammoniac are of good use Baths of Wine and in venereal Cases the Plaister de ranis with Mercury are not improper Timaeus recommends the following Composition Take of the Mucilage of Marshmallow-roots Fenugrec-seeds and fat Figs tosted of each three Ounces Gum Ammoniac Bdellium Galbanum of each an Ounce Goose-fat Hens-fat Goat's Tallow and Turpentin of each six Drams Oil of Lillies and Wax as much as sufficeth for a Plaister If it be attended by pain we ought to proceed very cautiously for fear of a Cancer upon which account Gummy Ingredients are only to be insisted upon If it tend to suppuration it must be open'd or the Stone cut quite off ART V. Of a Sarcocele or fleshy Swelling of the Stones EXternal Blows Falls and such like Accidents do not only cause Inflammations but sometimes tear the Vessels and Membrans of the Stones and so oblige the Blood and nourishing Juice to stagnat and settle into a fleshy Substance sticking to one or both the Stones or to the Membran of the Cod call'd Dartos The Signs are these the Swelling is indolent hard constant and increases by degrees There is a near resemblance between it and the swelling of the Epididimes occasion'd by a Redundancy of Seed or the Stagnation of the Blood caus'd by the Schirrus of the Stones but the preceding Signs if carefully trac'd will discover the difference If it be attended by a shooting it discovers a malignant nature and tendency to a Cancer and ought not to be meddled with As touching its Cure inward Remedies are seldom effectual Let the universal Evacuations be first premis'd then exhibit the Antiscrophulous Specifics as the Pouder or Decoction or Essence of Restharrow-roots and dulcify'd Spirit of Salt Pouder of Comfrey-roots seal'd Earth Rupture-wort and Spunge-stone c. Outwardly foment with a Mixture of Vinegar Nitre and the Ashes of Vine-twigs or apply a Cataplasm of Sulphur Cockle-shells and Vinegar or the following Plaister which is mightily extoll'd Take of Gum Ammoniac an Ounce and a half Bdellium Mustard-seeds Nettle-seeds of each six Drams Spunge-stone one Ounce Pouder of Birthwort-roots Sulphur of each half an Ounce Turpentin an Ounce Spirit of Wine an Ounce and a half Oil of Olives four Ounces Wax six Ounces Make a Plaister Take of the Gums Animi Sagapenum Opoponax and Galbanum of each an Ounce Dissolve 'em in Vinegar of Roses Then thicken it and with a sufficient quantity of Oil of Bricks make a Plaister which is equally fitted for Suppuration or Discussion If it tend to Suppuration after opening apply the Plaister of Gums and black Rosin and afterwards when 't is proper to consolidat a styptic Plaister Vigo's Plaister with Mercury is of incomparable use but the Mercury may deprive the Stones of their prolific Virtue The natural Baths are of very good use If these Medicines prove ineffectual the Excrescence must be cut out either alone or together with the Stone as its Circumstances will admit ART VI. Of a Distention of the Spermatic Veins or Hernia Varicosa WHatever disturbs the Reflux of the Blood by the Spermatic Veins causes an uneven inconstant sort of rising towards the Stone resembling a Cluster of Grapes The Stone drops and hangs loose and the Swelling is painless unless the Guts be molested with Wine or the Feet expos'd to cold Bathing is very proper Let the Plaister of Mucilage mix'd with the Plaister of Ammoniac and Oil of Bricks or the Ointment Basilicum mix'd with the Fat of Animals be applied to the part If it be inveterat it must be committed to the care of a Surgeon CHAP. II. Of the irregular Ejaculation of the Seed THE Ejection of the Genital Liquor is irregular 1. When 't is cast forth without any venereal Provocation 2. When in the act of Venery its Egress is too precipitant and hasty 3. When 't is too slow 4. When 't is not ejected at all ART I. Of a Running or involuntary Emission of the Genital Liquor A Running is either spurious or genuin To begin with the last a simple running is said to be such when the true genuin seminal matter is cast forth without the erection of the Yard or venereal Pleasure The Part affected is the seminal Vesicles 't is attended or follow'd by a weariness of the Limbs Weakness inability to move a pale Countenance hollow Eyes diminution of Sight Inappetency trembling and tendency to a Consumption In a word it robs the body of its balmy Moisture The Causes are threefold 1. The Redundancy or Turgescence of the seminal matter 2. It s sharpness which stimulats and contracts the Fibres of the seminal Vesicles and adjacent Muscles 3. It s tenuity and watriness together with the concurring flaccidity of the Vesicles and the patency of their Passages into the Urethra The remote Causes of the first are high feeding and drinking an intire freedom from Labour and Care abstaining from the wonted Measure of Venery frequent Correspondence with venereal Objects lying upon the Back c. The Remote Causes of the second are a sharp saltish Disposition of the Blood as in scorbutic and hypochondriac Constitutions an immoderat use of sharp aromatic volatil things as Pepper Mustard Rocket-seeds Water-cresses Wine Cantharides and sharp volatil Purgatives Those of the third are excessive Venery especially in ones Youth and manual Violence which not only relaxats the seminal Vesicles but destroys the Ferment in the Stones as appears by the watry inelaborat Consistence of the Seed If a genuin Running be inveterat it degenerats into a Hectic and is not easily cur'd nor is it safe to stop it suddenly lest the Suppression of the wonted Evacuation should cause an Inflammation or Tumour in the Testicles The general Indications of Cure are to lessen the vicious quantity or qualify the sharpness of the matter or to corroborat the Ferment and Texture of the parts For the first of these Purposes acid thin Food short Commons frequent Exercise and Watchings are proper Spirit of Vitriol and Crude Nitre powerfully curb the Ferment of the Testicles But the Juices of Citrons Pomegranats and Lemons are more temperat and universally applauded for stopping all manner of Runnings The Juice of Lemons with
Ounce of Cinnamom infuse them in Wine whereof take a good draught Morning and Evening before Meals Spaw-waters drunk are very profitable Together with these you must use the volatil bitter Aromatics especially such as are also specific Movers of the Terms as well internal as external such as Rosemary Calamint Chervil Lovage Fever-few Lesser Centory Horehound Savine Wall-flowers Flowers of Marygold and Lavender Seeds abounding with a volatil Salt or of a sharp Aromatic Taste as those of Rocket Cresses Fennel Anise c. Juniper and Bay-beries Roots of Angelica Fennel Sea-holly Briony Madder round-rooted Birthwort Gentian Elecampane c. Also Mugwort Baum Gentian Cinnamom Cassia Lignea Galangal Nutmegs Cardamoms Myrrh and its Essence Elixir Proprietatis compound Tincture of Tartar all Preparations of Myrrh Gums Coloquintida Castor Saffron Milt of an Ox Borace alcalin Salts rather volatil than fix'd Also Mynsicht's Arcanum Duplicatum c. Of which almost an infinity of Prescriptions may be made We shall single out only a few for example sake As Take four Ounces of Nutmegs and mix 'em well with twelve Ounces of fine Sugar and take the bigness of a Walnut Morning and Evening Or Take two Drams of Castor volatil Salt of Amber and Hartshorn of each a Dram infuse them in a sufficient quantity of Spirit of Wine diluted with Cinnamom-water in a warm place in a close Vessel till the Tincture is drawn of which give a Dram. Take Zwelfer's Tincture of Vitriol of Steel or its Solution with Spirit of Wine two Drams Essence of Castor and Saffron of each a Dram. Dose from forty to sixty Drops twice or thrice a day in some hot Liquor But withal let the Patient moderatly exercise her self Take Solution of Steel with Juice of Apples compound Essence of an Ox's Milt and that of Savine of each two Drams Or Take Essence of Castor two Drams Quintessence of Rosemary Spirit of Sal Armoniac with Amber of each one Dram. Or Take Borace a Dram Myrrh half a Dram Saffron fifteen Grains Make a Pouder for three Doses Or Take Mynsicht's Arcanum Duplicatum four Scruples Castor half a Dram Myrrh a Scruple Saffron half a Scruple Make a Pouder for four Doses For a Vehicle to such Pouders take a Spoonful of this Mixture Take Mugwort-water two Ounces Cinnamom-water one Ounce Essence of an Ox's Milt three Drams Essence of Castor a Dram Syrup of Canel six Drams If the Suppression of the Terms be from the default of the Womb the obstructed Vessels are to be opened by volatil penetrating Medicines mix'd with Sudorifics Sometimes manual Operation is requir'd If by a sudden Cold or other such Cause the flowing Courses are stopp'd let Blood at the Saphaena and then let volatil oily Aromatics be given which with a soft breathing Sweat will restore the natural Motion of the Blood such are Spirit of Sal Armoniac and the volatil oily Salts Sperma Ceti may be given to a Dram with Castor in hot Ale also some fix'd Salt as that of Wormwood or Savine If a grievous Pain molest the Womb the Decoction of Chamomile with the other foremention'd Ingredients may be given inwardly and what remains after straining may be apply'd to the Groin in form of a Cataplasm But if from a sudden Fear Anger or such like the Flux is restrain'd first open a Vein in the Foot then give the Spirit of Sal Armoniac twice or thrice a day Or Take of the Decoction of Chamomile-flowers three Ounces to which add of simple Oxymel one or two Ounces To these internal Remedies externals may be added such as Fomentations Baths Tumigations c. They are us'd after opening a Vein in the Arm at what time the Courses are expected They are prepared of common emollient or proper Aromatic Ingredients such as Savine Feverfew Mugwort c. As Take Leaves of Mugwort Pennvroal Wild-time of each two handfuls Savine Flowers of Chamomile white Lillies of each a handful Roots of Marshmallows round-rooted Birthwort Madder of each two Ounces Roots of Angelica an Ounce Juniper and Bayberries of each six Drams Salt of Tartar six Ounces Mix them for a Bath Or Take Leaves of Savine half a handful Myrrh two Drams Wood of Aloes a Dram Troches Alhandal a Dram Make a gross Pouder to be thrown on burning Coals that the Smoak may be received by the Womb. The Antients also gave Pessaries among which that made of the Gall of a Bull mix'd with the Juice of Mercury wherein Coloquintida has been boil'd is not unprofitable Garlick also and its heads beaten with the Oil of Spike may be used to this purpose If the Evil is very stubborn we are sometimes forc'd to use Cantharides both inwardly and outwardly CHAP. II. Of the immoderat Flux of the Terms IF the Courses flow oftner or in greater quantities than they ought naturally to do 't is call'd an immoderat Flux of the Terms In those who labour of this Distemper we may observe three things 1. The strength of the Stomach is impaired with dejection of Appetite 2. They feel for the most part a stretching and tearing pain in the Back about the Loyns 3. Those who are scorbutic abounding with a volatil Acid are for the most part subject to it The Causes respect either the Womb or Blood Sometimes the former loses its due firmness or tone and dos not sufficiently strengthen and extend its Vessels sometimes the Orifices of these Vessels are over-dilated or broke open by force as by over-straining ones self in taking up great Weights hard Labour Sneezing Vomiting c. But most frequently the Cause is in the Blood either when it is too waterish or when its Serum dos too much abound with a saltish Acidity or Acrimony or finally when it is too much moved and heated by venereal Rage Exercise Joy Anger use of strong Liquors Aromatics or too hot a Season c. If the evacuated Blood is thin of a florid and brisk Colour or if when receiv'd on a Linen Cloth it discovers a pale Circle the Serosity of the Blood is the Cause but if the Patient perceives a gnawing biting itching Pain twitching as it were the Genitals with a desire of Evacuation then the Acrimony of the Serum offends But if the voided Blood easily clots is of the natural Colour being somewhat obscure and if withal the Cheeks are ruddy Veins swollen the Pulse great quick and frequent then the fault lies in the over-heating or fermentative irritation of the Blood This Evil is dangerous if of long continuance inferring Weakness Indigestion Cachexy swelling of the Feet Dropsy the Whites and if the Patient is in years it is for the most part incurable In the Cure we must indeavour three things 1. Either to diminish the Blood by Fasting Labour or Blood-letting or to alter it with Wormwood Rhubarb c. or allay its Fervour and Fermentation by Plantain Purslain and mild Acids 2. To check its Fluidity with things that thicken and allay its sharp Serosity with
it is sometimes accompany'd with a desire of Copulation but oftner not In curing this we must begin if need be with mild Laxatives and Sudorifics and if needful allay the Acrimony of the Humour and finish what remains by external Applications The Internals are the Infusions and Decoctions of Fumitory Succory Scabious Baum Penny-royal Roots of Bryony Black Hellebor Polypody c. Mercurius dulcis and Troches Alhandal answer the purgative end as the Essences of Elder the Tincture of Coral and the Spirit of Woods perform the alterative and diaphoretic Office Of Externals the Preparations of Lead and Mercury are the best such as Vinegar wherein calcin'd Lead is dissolv'd If the Evil proves stubborn anoint the Lips of the Privities with an Ointment made up of one part of Oil of Tobacco and two of the Ointment of Tutty or apply Blistering-plaisters or cut Issues in the Thighs Sometimes the acid Humour retain'd corrodes the Lips of the Privities and occasions Wheals Pushes and in fine Scabs which are of a mild Character but very itching but there are others call'd Epinictides yet different from those little painful ones that spring from foul Embraces However both the one and the other are catching and difficultly cur'd For cure we must begin with such Universals as are used against the Scab or Itch especially laxative Bags of the Root of Briony and Spurge and if they are of the malignant kind we must use Mercurial and other Specifics for the Pox. Externally you may apply Oil of Roses mixt with Yelks of Eggs and discolour'd by beating in a leaden Mortar Or Take of the Decoction of Quick-line one pound Sugar of Lead a Dram. Inject one half and foment with the other If you suspect Infection instead of Saccharum Saturni take a Dram of Mercurius dulcis Or Take of Aloe and Myrrh of each the bigness of a small Pease Verdigrice half as much of white Wine Rose and Plantane-water of each an Ounce Mix for Injection and external Washing You may also use Vnguentum Album Camphoratum or de Lithargyrio mixt with Oil of Tartar per Deliquium in the mild sort and with Mercurius dulcis in the malignant ones If the venereal Appetit is exalted to the pitch of a Delirium it is then caâ—'d furor Vterinus a Disorder incident as well to Virgins as married Women and Widows Such Persons are talkative and peevish they ramble through the Streets and solicit whoever they meet to Venery and receive a denyal with the highest Indignation sometimes wantonly uncover themselves before Men and interlard their incoherent Discourses with Smut and Bawdry This Distemper at first is easily cur'd but if neglected ends in absolute Madness Wherefore in the beginning 't is proper to exhibit a strong Emetic enjoin a spare Diet and drain the Genital Liquor by extinguishing Specifics such as are the Root of white Water-Lilly Agnus Castus chiefly its Seed Lettuce Rue Purslain Hemlock principally its Seed Willow-leaves the Liquor running from its smaller Branches lopt off in the Spring Hemp and Poppy-seed c. Or Take Hemp-seed two Ounces Seeds of Lettuce and Purslain of each two Drams Make an Emulsion with Purslain-water to be sweetened with Syrup of Water-Lilly If Camphyr or an Opiat be added 't will be more effectual The Effervescence of the Blood and by consequence the Turgescence of the Seminal Liquor must likewise be repress'd by frequent Bleeding and absorbent Acids such as the Juice of Citrons Lemons and Pomegranats Nitre Sugar of Lead Coral c. and also by mild Sudorifics and besides in order to put a stop to the Fury and impetuous Motion of the Animal Spirits 't is convenient to add Poppy-seed Opium and Camphyr Externally we use Cataplasms Baths and Fomentations of Mandrake Nightshade Purslain Rue Hemlock Poppy and such like SECT III. Of the Disorders of the whole Body which are suppos'd to proceed from the Womb. CHAP. I. Of the Green Sickness AS the first arrival of seminal Liquor occasions several notable Alterations in Women so if it is too long retain'd and consequently corrupted and altered it ferments the Mass of Blood Juices and Spirits introducing an Evil disposition of the whole Body called the Green Sickness or white Virgin Feaver in which the Colour of the Skin is pale or somewhat livid and ugly attended by a bluish Circle under the Eyes Anxiety and Sadness without manifest Cause a slow obscure and disorderly Feaver an unequal and inconstant Pulse Vomitings in the day time c. It only invades Virgins and Widows or Women retir'd from Men and is heedfully to be distinguish'd from the Cachexy or evil Disposition of Body that 's common to both Sexes It is difficult to be known however if no error in Diet or the use of the six Nonnaturals no Obstruction of the Courses or other manifest Cause have preceded or if the Patient of a forward brisk Maid is become sad and anxious or is a forlorn Widow who formerly was a healthy Wife we may in such cases conclude this to be the Disease which the older it is has the worst Symptoms following it In curing of it we must endeavour to correct the default of Genital Liquor and remove the vitious Crasis of the Blood and by proper Remedies cure the incident Symptoms For the former Intentions Camphyr is a notable Remedy it not only diminishes the quantity of seminal Liquor and amends its virulency but has a peculiar Virtue of fortifying the Blood and Spirits Amber also Myrrh and its Essence prepar'd with Nitre Castor Spirit of Sal Armoniac and all Remedies prepar'd from them Preparations of Lead and moderat Acids are all proper As Take of the Conserve of Baum an Ounce and a half Conserve of Citron Pulp and of Quinces of each six Drams Essence of Myrrh half an Ounce prepar'd Amber two Drams Crystal Mineral of Lead Pouder of Castor of each a Dram Cloves Mace Zedoary of each a Scruple Camphyr half a Scruple Make an Electuary with Syrup of Pomegranats With these such things as extinguish the Seed may be mâ—x'd as Agnus Castus Willow Hemp and possibly Turpentine may not be amiss Opiats allay the severity of Symptoms and may be mix'd with other Specifics Bleeding and that often repeated is not improper CHAP. II. Of a Cachexy in Women ANother Fountain of Diseases commonly term'd hysteric is the suppression of the Terms from which a numerous train of Evils proceed especially if it happens on a suddeâ— by reason both of the quantity and deprav'd quality of the stagnating Blood for when there is too great a quantity of Blood it s due Circulation and fermentative Turgescence being restrain'd it becomes less spirituous and volatil yea gross and viscid and as it were flat and useless And as touching its quality we ought to remember that tho all the Mass of Blood is originally of the same condition and nature yet that which by the monthly Fermentation is measur'd out to be expell'd undergoes a singular Change
the Digestion of the Stomach be promoted and consequently Wind prevented by stomachic and Carminative Medicines Let the Decoction of Sassafras with Anise and Fennel-seeds be us'd for a Diet-drink and the Essence of Zedoary be taken every night going to Bed Castor Chamomil-flowers Rosemary Fever-few Pennyroal Sage Flowers of Marigold and Groundsel Roots of Elecampane Zedoary and Gentian the four greater Hot-seeds Galangal Ginger c. their Decoctions Essences or distill'd Oils are of good use both inwardly and outwardly to which we may add the Species of Hiera or the Mass of Pills of Hiera with Agaric or the Extract of Elaterium Sometimes 't is necessary to open the internal Orifice of the Womb to give vent to the Wind by fomenting with the above-mention'd Decoctions or applying to the Belly and Pubes Bags of Millet-seed dry'd Salt Chamomil Flowers and Carminative-seeds boil'd in Wine and Water or anointing with Oil of Chamomil Oil of Bays and Castor or applying a Cataplasm of Goats-Dung and Carminative-seeds boiled in Wine or a Plaister of Tacamahac with Balsam of Peru. Sometimes a false Conception is feign'd by a Dropsy or Collection of clear or yellowish Water in the Womb. And sometimes this Dropsy of the Womb joins it self to a true Conception as taking its rise from the Redundancy of the nutritive Liquor mix'd with much Water from the Suppression of the Terms or Lochia or whatever obstructs the Reflux of the Lymph from the Womb. This Swelling covers the whole Belly equally and do's not rise to a top in the middle as that of a true Conception and is distinguish'd from a Dropsy of the Belly by the fresh Colour of the Face and absence of Thirst If the Swelling is caus'd by Water 't is not so dangerous as when it flows from a corrupt Liquor If the Patient is with Child little or nothing can be attempted but if otherwise we may boldly use convenient Methods to conquer the Disease and in the first place for a Purgative use this Pill Take Extract of Elaterium twelve Grains Mercurius dulcis fifteen Grains Troches Alhandal three Grains Make Pills with Essence of Rosemary The Infusion or Extract of Spurge-root or the Infusion or Syrup of Briony-root given to half an Ounce are also proper Vomits are approv'd by all by reason of their squeezing Effects Such things also are to be used as provoke the Womb to Excretion or discuss insensibly such as Decoction of Calamint Pennyroyal Sage and white Onyon with Sugar also Castor Myrrh Saffron all Aromatics Elixir Proprietatis and the Decoction of the Woods Externally we use purgative Pessaries of Elaterium and dry Figs or of Coloquintida and Extract of Black Hellebor Sometimes we inject into the Womb the Decoction of the Leaves of Pennyroyal Savine Calamint c. in Water or human Urine mix'd with Electuary of Hiera but all will be rendred more effectual by premising Baths and Fomentations of emollient and expelling Ingredients And if one or both the Lips of the Privity are hydropic there 's nothing better than to foment with Lime-water The second Disorder relating to Conception is that of Barrenness occasion'd by the Indisposition of the Ovarium the narrowness of the Trumpets the defect of the nutritious Juice of the Egg the Laxity of the Womb Disorders of the external Parts and other occult Causes And if the Womb be ulcerated 't is incurable As for the Cure after the universal Evacuations aromatic Ingredients are proper for strengthening the Womb and the Ovarium such are Rosemary Sage Lavender Marjoram Baum Pennyroyal Roots of Burnet Setwal and Galangal Cassia Lignea Cardamoms Nutmegs and Myrrh To which in Cachectic and Scorbutical Cases we add Guajacum and Sassafras with other Sudorifics With these we join the specific Ingredients and such as gently provoke Venery viz. Satyrion Eryngo Rocket and Mustard-seeds Mosch Amber flesh of Vipers the Stones of a Hart or Boar the Matrix of a Sow Hare or Hind pulveriz'd the Spirit of Ants the Pouder of a human Secundine c. Externally natural Baths are profitable or artificial ones of the Decoction of aromatic Ingredients and that of Ants with their Nests Some commend Baths made of Hemlock or Fumigations with sweet-smelling aromatic Rosins such as Gum of Juniper Juniper-berries Amber Frankincense Storax Mastic c. and Pessaries prepar'd of the bruis'd Leaves of Fever-few and sprinkled with a little Oil of Spike After Barrenness we come in order to vitious or deprav'd Conceptions They are said to be such when the Subject of Conception departs from a human form and assumes that of other Animals intitling it to the Character of a Monster or continues a shapeless Lump void of Form and christen'd a Mola The immediate Cause of a Mola is the Confusion or Mixture of the nutritious Humour contain'd in the Chorion with that of the Egg upon which the Tracts of the Foetus delineated in the latter are effac'd by the former If this Confusion be very early it generats a watry vesicular Mola If its date be as late as the forming of the Vessels and their repletion with Blood it leaves a fleshy Lump which if the fibrous Threds are already spun out and enrich'd with Spirits is endow'd with a principal Motion This vitious Mixture is oftentimes occasion'd by violent Motion Passion or Heat 'T is a difficult thing to distinguish a Mola from a true Conception especially if a Child accompanies it in the Womb in which case it either kills the Child or causes Abortion However if we carefully observe we may discern a Mola by its much greater weight and by the measure of its motion which is either none at all or such as by its sluggishness is easily distinguish'd from the brisk Motion of a living Child If it possess the Womb alone it generally putrifies and entails the like mischief to the Womb. First of all we ought to observe carefully whether the Mola is join'd with a Child and if so we must endeavour to prevent Abortion and expect the exclusion of the Child with which the Mola is ordinarily expell'd But if the Mola is alone we must endeavour with all convenient speed to procure its ejection for which purpose we must use first preparative and then expelling Medicines Preparatives are Baths Fomentations Inunctions Clysters both for the Belly and Womb c. of emollient and laxative Ingredients Womb-Clysters must be of Oil those for the Belly of Milk In the next place a Vein must be opened first in the Arm and then in the Foot after which we may use strong Vomits either from Steel or Vitriol and powerful Purgatives such as the Faetid Pills those of Hiera with Colocynth or the Decoction of Senna Pennyroyal and Savin in Whey taken for three days successively To these we subjoin such Medicines as bring down the Terms and are intitled to an expulsive Faculty viz. Rue Mug-wort Penny-roal Savin Briony Gentian Asarabacca Dill Juniper-berries the Essence and Oil of Cloves the Decoction and distill'd
it continue long it may occasion Ulcers and Gangrens In order to prevent this Inconvenience the Midwife ought to tie the Navel-string to the Woman's Thigh till she be ready to draw forth the Afterbirth And then the Mother ought to be incourag'd to promote its Egress by Sneezing Coughing and in Case of Extremity Vomiting If all prove ineffectual let the expelling Medicines abovemention'd be administred especially the Spirit and Pouder of a human Secundine Myrrh Saffron Amber Castor and Borace If the After-birth be already corrupted in the Womb exhibit Elixir Proprietatis extracted with the Spirit of Venice Triacle camphoris'd In the interim let sharp irritating Clysters be injected and Pessaries of expelling Ingredients put up into the Womb. Glauberus orders a Mixture of Sal Armoniac and Salt of Tartar to be put into a Glass with a long Neck thrust into the Womb. Some anoint the parts with the Oils of Coloquintida Wall-flowers Savine Amber c. and order Fumigations of Myrrh Cinnamom Galbanum Castor Opoponax and Black Hellebor form'd into Troches with Cow's Gall. If these Prescriptions are still successless the Midwife must put her hand into the Womb and draw it out or if that cannot be done its Putrification must be promoted by injecting emollient Decoctions of Marshmallows Pellitory of the Wall Chamomil c. mix'd with Aloes Myrrh Oil of Roses and Vinegar of Wine to which we may add Lime-water Vnguentum Basilicon and a small quantity of that call'd Aegyptiacum After the Expulsion of the After-birth the next step is to regulate the Flux of the Lochia or the Child-bed Purgation If they are deficient we ought to consider if they are not voided some other way as by the Nostrils Stool c. In which Case we ought not to disturb Nature unless grievous Symptoms oblige us Besides if the Woman was wont to void but a small quantity of her monthly Courses or if she suckle the Child we are not to expect so large an Evacuation as otherwise The natural Method of this Flux is such that Blood is voided four days after Delivery from thence a watry Liquor like the washing of Flesh till the seventh day after that a viscous and serous Humour untainted with Blood continues to flow till the fourteenth or twentieth day Now the Causes of the Suppression of this Flux are external Cold drinking cold Liquors Anger Fear Grief Shame and the Collection of clotted Blood or viscid Humours in the Womb. The Symptoms of a Suppression are the Distention Hardness and Pain of the Belly a beating Heat about the Loins and Groin a shivering Feaver Headach difficult Respiration Swooning cold Sweats Doating and frequently Death If the Womb be inflam'd if a Pleurisy Dropsy or spitting of Blood insue 't is a dangerous Case As for the Cure of a Suppression of the Lochia if the Blood and Feaver boil high if Headachs difficult Respiration and such like Symptoms of the upper Region molest the Person let a Vein be open'd in the Arm and after the use of some internal Expellent open the Saphaena or apply Leeches to the Vagina or scarifying Cupping-glasses to the inside of the Thighs The internal Medicines are those of an expelling Virtue recommended above especially Myrrh Saffron Borace Amber Zedoary and Elixir Proprietatis If the Blood be clotted Castor and Sperma Caeti with Crabs-eyes and Wine are proper to which we may add some Grains of Laudanum Opiatum in case of violent Headachs and other Pains Externally let the Abdomen be fomented with the Decoctions of Chamomil Savine and wild Thyme and anointed with a Mixture of the Oil of Wall-flowers and the distill'd Oils of Cumin Juniper-berries and Amber applying afterwards a hot Brick or a Bag either dry or boil'd in Wine of Wormwood Chamomil Fever-few Angelica-roots the four great hot Seeds and Juniper-berries If the Urine be also stop'd apply to the lower Belly a Cataplasm of Chervil Pellitory of the Wall and Oil of Scorpions In the mean while it will not be improper to inject Clysters of the Decoctions of Specifics for the Womb and stimulating Ingredients and to order Fumigations from Coloquintida the Dross of the Regulus of Antimony Troches of Myrrh Bdellium c. Some put into the Vagina a little Bag of black Hellebor In a word this Symptom and that of a Suppression of the Terms require the same Cure Instead of a Suppression of the Lochia sometimes we meet with an immoderat Flux of Blood attended by a Prostration of Strength dimness of Sight tingling of the Ears and Swooning If the Blood be of an obscure and blackish Colour it proceeds from the Veins if its Colour be florid and a yellowish scarlet it comes from the Arteries and portends Danger The Causes are 1. The Redundancy and watry thinness of the Blood 2. It s Turgescence and accelerated Motion occasion'd by the abuse of spirituous Liquors in time of Labour or the administration of expelling Medicines 3. The Wounds of the Womb caus'd by the violent pulling of the After-birth in case of miscarrying or of its firm Adhesion to the Womb. 4. The Irritation of the Womb occasion'd by a Mola or Clots of Blood or pieces of the After-birth remaining The Cure is vary'd according to the respective Cause If the Blood be thin Sudorifics and Incrassating Ingredients are proper If it be overturgid Purslain Plantane Tormentil Loostrife and Acids take place If the Womb be wounded the Decoctions of Chervil and vulnerary Ingredients are recommended If a Mola or Pieces of the After-birth remaining cause an immoderat Flux we must be cautious of using strong Expellents because they promote the Flux But Aromatic Ingredients mix'd with Astringents may be safely administred Such are Tormentil Bistort Marjoram Pennyroyal Mugwort Troches of Amber c. In general all Preparations from Quinces the Pouder of Sea-horse Teeth given to a Dram the Preparations of Steel Blood-stone seal'd Earth burnt Hartshorn the solar Tincture of Steel given to fifteen Drops and the Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol given to thirty Conserve of Roses and that of Comfry-roots with Laudanum Opiatum and in case of extremity Allum given to half a Dram These I say are generally approv'd in all Cases Externally apply Cupping-glasses under the Breasts or foment the Breasts and Genitals with a cold Mixture of Vinegar Juice of Housleek Nitre and Water of Frogs Spawn or apply a Cataplasm of Soot Vinegar of Roses and the Whites of Eggs to the Loins Some order Decoctions of astringent Ingredients and Hogs Dung in Smith's Water to be injected into the Womb. Others recommend a Girdle of black Hellebor-leaves ty'd round the Body The Redundancy and Turgescence of the Blood admits of bleeding in the Arm but no other Cause With reference to the Extraction of the After-birth and Regulation of the Child-bed Flux we ought to take notice of the After-pains that ofttimes succeed to Delivery These After-pains are call'd genuin when they 'r seated in the Womb as being only
hungry Habitations to a fat Pasture In particular she ought to avoid Acids Sweetmeats Cheese Wine Summer-fruits or whatever is apt to curdle and clot the Milk And as her Diet ought to be clean and regular so she ought to preserve a calm dispassionat temper of Mind since Fear Anger and Grief clot the Milk by diverting and withdrawing the Spirits that should keep up its equal temperature Nay the influence of Fear and other Passions is visible in the natural Marks that are intail'd to Children in the Mother's Womb by the violent Motion of the Mother's Spirits determin'd upon one part and by the way these Marks are cur'd by applying frequently a hot bloody Secundine or Clouts dip'd in Menstrual Blood and the touch of a dead Child's hand Some apply Clouts dip'd in the Blood of Toads or Fernelius's Aqua Divina or in case of extremity cut 'em off If Fear or Passion actually prevail and cause the Coagulation of Milk let the deprav'd Milk be first suck'd out by a Puppy and the Medicines recommended against the same Symptoms in the foregoing Book be exhibited before the Child be admitted to suck In general the curdling of the Milk is best prevented by eating Anise and Fennel-seeds after Meals and abstaining from cold drink or avoiding any external Cold especially by diverting the menstrual Purgation and shunning the Emotions of Venery which by curdling the Milk in the Child 's Stomac frequently entail to it an Antipathy against Cheese as being a natural resemblance of the curdled Milk that was wont to annoy it After the Child has suck'd about a year it ought to be weaned especially a little after the Equinoxes during the increase of the Moon The chief Inconvenience Children are liable to is drinking in the Nighttime which swells up their Belly and occasions Loosenesses and many other bad Symptoms To prevent this let the Essence of Wormwood be mix'd with their drink or if these Evils prevail already exhibit a little Spanish Wine and apply Aromatic Bags to the Belly Besides as for the other Food of young Children it ought to consist of white Bread dry'd and beaten small Yelks of Eggs and Aniseed boil'd in Milk or Water to the Consistence of a thin Pulp That which is commonly made of Flower and Milk or Water is fitter for Paste than any thing else for it lies heavy in the Child 's Stomac and degenerats into a viscous tough Crudity whereas the Bread being already fermented is sooner and more easily digested 'T is customary among Nurses to attenuate the Child's Food in their own Mouths before they give it and indeed 't is true that a healthy Nurses Spittle is of use for promoting the quick Digestion But if scorbutic Salts be lodg'd in her Gums or if a Cacochymy prevail in her Body it is too apt a Vehicle for conveying a morbifical Tincture into the Child's Body These premises if duly weigh'd will furnish us with a distinct Idea of the Causes of Childrens Diseases The Excrements retained and vicious Milk or Pap receiv'd into the Stomac degenerat into an acid Crudity which if imprison'd in a viscid Vehicle displays its force within and if diluted with a thinner Serum breaks out upon the Skin in various Eruptions From this Source it were easy to derive all the particular Diseases of Children their violent Gripings and voiding of discolor'd Excrements the generation of Wind and distention of the Belly Vomiting and Inappetency Hiccough Watchings Convulsions and the numberless Train of cuticular Eruptions or aches on the Skin occasion'd partly by the Efflux of a ferous acid and partly by a want of due transpiration which obliges it to stagnat in the out parts Now forasmuch as all these Diseases of Children are deriv'd from one Cause and consequently demand the same Method of Cure 't will be needless to trace every distinct Symptom apart and therefore we shall content our selves with a general Account of the Method of Cure And indeed if the foregoing Hypothesis be duly considered and understood 't will be an obvious Consequence that the Basis of the Cure falls upon Alcalies or such Medicines as discuss a viscid Crudity and imbibe an acid These are first the volatil Alkalies especially the Spirit of Sal Armoniac succinat which tho dreaded by some is recommended by experience as an incomparable Medicine for Children 'T is given in the Mother's Milk or in Mint or Fennel-water To this Class we may join oily Aromatics as Aniseed given in Pouder to half a Dram Castor Myrrh and Elixir Proprietatis prepar'd without Acids In the second Rank we place the fix'd absorbent Alcalies viz. Coral Crabs-eyes Pearl Sea Horse-teeth Ivory Bezoar-stone To which we may add the Tincture of Tartar or that of the Dross of the Regulus of Antimony and Venice Triacle or Mithridate given to two Grains stronger Narcotics and more generous Medicines being improper As for example Take of prepar'd Crabs-eyes half a Dram Hartshorn prepar'd without fire half a Dram prepar'd red Coral half a Scruple choice Myrrh six or nine Grains Venice Triacle three or four Grains distill'd Oil of Anise three or six Drops Make a Pouder Or Take of Hartshorn prepar'd without Fire a Scruple Crabs-eyes and red Coral of each half a Scruple volatil Salt of Hartshorn six Grains Venice Triacle four Grains choice Myrrh three Grains Make a Pouder of which give a convenient quantity in Milk or Pap. Take of Elder-flower-water two Ounces Spirit of Sal Armoniac fifteen Drops Hartshorn prepar'd without Fire the Jaw-bone of a Pike and prepar'd Unicorn of each half a Scruple Syrup of Poppies two Drams Make a Potion to be given by little Spoonfuls Now the acid Crudity being thus subdu'd and prepar'd it remains only to make Provision for its Evacuation first by Clysters of the Decoction of Chamomil-flowers mix'd with Salt of Tartar Hony of Rue and Oil of Anise or those of Milk with Turpentin dissolv'd by the Yelk of an Egg or in a difficult Case thus Take of the Decoction of Carminative Ingredients with Salt of Tartar two Ounces Sala's Emetic Syrup two Drams Hony of Roses two Drams Make a Clyster If a viscid Slime stuff the Breast we may exhibit for a Potion three Drams of Hyssop Water half a Dram of the Syrup of Tobacco and a Scruple of Sala's Emetic Syrup mix'd or half an Ounce of Mint-water with half a Dram of the Emetic Syrup As for Purgatives take what follows Take of the Solutive Syrup of Roses two Drams prepar'd Crabs-eyes half a Dram prepar'd red Coral twelve Grains With a few Drops of the Spirit of Anis make a Mixture Or Take of the Pouder of Jalap six Grains Tartar vitriolat half a Scruple Make a Pouder Manna given to two or four Drams in Breast-milk or Pap is also a good Laxative But above all sweet Mercury is the most effectual Correcter and Evacuater of acid viscous Humours especially upon the approach of the Small Pox or Measles 'T is given
a Pissing of Blood p. 416 Chap. II. Of Diseases relating to the Expulsion of Vrine from the Bladder p. 418 Art I. Of a total suppression of Vrine arising from its stay in the Bladder Ibid. Art II. Of the Stone in the Bladder p. 421 Art III. Of the Incontinence of Vrine p. 422 Art IV. Of a Strangury p. 424 Art V. Of a Dysuria or Heat of Vrine p. 425 Sect. XX. Of Diseases relating to the separation of Lymph in the Glandules and its regular motion p. 427 Art I. Of Catarrhs p. 428 Art II. Of a Coryza p. 431 The Contents of the Second Book SECT I. Of the Diseases which disturb the Generation and Distribution of the Animal Spirits and Consequently the due performance of sense and motion p. 433 Chap. I. Of Immoderat Watchings p. 435 Chap. II. Of Excessive sleep p. 438 Sect. II. Of the External Senses p. 444 Chap. I. Of Diseases relating to the Eyes Ibid. Chap. II. Of the Disorders of the Ears p. 455 Chap. III. Of the sense of feeling and the disorders 't is obnoxious to p. 460 Art I. Of Pain in General p. 461 Art II. Of sharp tearing Pains in the Joynts p. 463 Art III. Of the Tooth-Ach p. 465 Art IV. Of the Aches of the Eyes p. 467 Art V. Of Pains in the Ears p. 468 Art VI. Of Head-Achs p. 469 Art VII Of Arthritic Pains p. 476 Chap. IV. Of the Disorders of the Sense of Tasting p. 481 Chap. V. Of the disorders of the sense of smelling p. 484 Sect. III. Of the disorders of the Internal Senses and Animal Functions p. 487 Chap. I. Of a swimming in the Head and Preter-natural Commotion of the Spirits in the Brain p. 488 Chap. II. Of the Irregular Incursions of the Spirits into the External Parts p. 492 Art I. Of Alternat Convulsions and the Epilepsy or Falling Sickness p. 493 Art II. Of a Cramp or continu'd Contraction p. 503 Art III. Of Trembling Chap. III. Of the Diseases in which the Animal Spirits cease to move p. 507 Art I. Of an Apoplexy Ibid Art II. Of Particular Apoplexies p. 520 Art III. Of a Palsy p. 523 Chap. IV. Of the Deficiency of Rational Operations p. 532 Art I. Of the Defect of Memory and Stupidity Ibid. Art II. Of Doating or Deliriums in General p. 536 Art III. Of Deliriums arising from Internal Causes viz. Phrensies Melancholly and Madness p. 537 Art IV. Of Deliriums from External Causes p. 553 The Contents of the Third Book Of the Diseases Peculiar to the Male Sex SECT I. Of the Disorders of the Genital Liquor in Mens Bodies p. 557 Chap. I. Of the Defect or Insufficiency of the Genital Liquor in Men. p. 558 Art I. Of the Inflammation of the Testicles p. 561 Art II. Of a Pueumatocele or Distention of the Stones by Wind. p. 562 Art III. Of a Hydrocele or Collection of Water within the Membrans of the Stones p. 563 Art IV. Of the Schirrous swellings of the Stones p. 564 Art V. Of a Sarcocele or fleshy swelling of the Stones p. 565 Art VI. Of the Distention of the Spermatic Veins or Hernia Varicosa p. 566 Chap. II. Of the Irregular Ejaculation of the Seed Ibid. Art I. Of a Running or Involuntary Emission of the Genital Liquor Ibid. Art II. Of the Over-hasty Ejaculation of the seminal matter p. 571 Art III. Of the Over-slow Ejaculation of the seminal matter Ibid. Art IV. Of Caruneles in the Yard hindring the Ejection of Seed p. 572 Sect. II. Of disorders relating to the Erection of the Yard Ibid. Chap. I. Of Impotency or the Defect of Erection of the Yard p. 573 Chap. II. Of the Immoderat Erection of the Yard p. 574 Chap. III. Of the Depravation of the Erection of the Yard p. 576 The Contents of the Fourth Book Of Diseases Peculiar to Women SECT I. Of the Disorders of the Menstrual Flux p. 578 Chap. I. Of the Deficiency of the Terms p. 579 Chap. II. Of the Immoderat Flux of the Terms p. 584 Chap. III. Of the Depravation of the Menstrual Flux p. 587 Art I. Of Vneasyness attending the Menstrual Flux Ibid. Art II. Of the lesser Quantity of the Monthly Flux p. 589 Art III. Of the Flux of the Terms by Drops Ibid. Art IV. Of several other defaults of the Terms p. 590 Chap. IV. Of the Whites or White Flux p. 591 Sect. II. Of the Disorders of Women relating to the Venereal Appetit p. 594 Chap. I. Of the Loss of Virginity Ibid. Chap. II. Of the Depravation of the Venereal Appetit p. 595 Sect. III. Of the disorders of the whole Body suppos'd to proceed from the Womb. p. 597 Chap. I. Of the Green Sickness Ibid. Chap. II. Of a Cachexy in Women p. 598 Chap. III. Of the Hysteric Passion p. 600 Sect. IV. Of the disorders of Women denying Admission to Men. p. 604 Chap. I. Of the Downfalling of the Womb. Ibid. Chap. II. Of the Inflammation of the Womb. p. 606 Chap. III. Of Vlcers in the Womb and Vagina p. 607 Sect. V. Of Disorders relating to Conception Ibid. Sect. VI. Of the Conduct of Bigbelly'd Women p. 612 Sect. VII Of Disorders relating to Child-Birth p. 615 Sect. VIII Of the Management of Women in Child-Bed p. 620 Sect. IX Of Disorders relating to Suckling p. 627 The Contents of the Fifth Book Of the Diseases of Children p. 630 The Contents of the Sixth Book Of Surgery 644 CHAP. I. Of Tumors p. 645 Chap. II. Of Wounds p. 658 Chap. III. Of Vlcers p. 666 Chap. IV. Of Dislocations p. 671 Chap. V. Of Fractures p. 673 Chap. VI. Of a Gangrene or Sphacelus p. 675 AN ABRIDGMENT OF ETMULLERUS's Practice of Physic c. THE INTRODVCTION HAving undertaken to compile a System of Physic I am oblig'd in the first place to distinguish the Common and Ordinary Practice from that which is Vncommon and Extraordinary The former is as yet very Lame by reason of the Scarcity of Chymical and Anatomical Experiments which occasions our Ignorance of the Radical Causes of Diseases and leaves only some occasional Symptoms to build the Theory upon Nor is it less deficient in Generous and Proper Remedies which might effectually accomplish the Design with less Violence and Torture to the Stomach Such as Paracelsus Helmont and other Noted Chymists have distinguish'd themselves by The Extraordinary Practice differs from the former both in the Nature of its Remedies which are all Arcana's tho otherwise never so common And in the manner of their Operation which is generally perform'd by Sympathy Inchantment or some such Secret way This I reserve to the Latter End and shall now confine my self to the Ordinary Practice which I endeavour to make as perfect and compleat as possible both in its conformity to Chymical and Anatomical Observations and in the choice of Genuin and Proper Remedies I propose to discourse of All Diseases incident to Human Bodies And in Tracing every Disease shall observe the following method First To give the History of the
one Dram. Syrup of Rasberries half an Ounce With the Spirit of Vitriol as much as sufficeth for a grateful sharpness Make a Julep Thus I have hinted at the general Cures of Alcaline and Acid Corruptions Besides these already mention'd there are some Universal Remedies not confin'd to either side but useful in both Cases These are Emulsions extracted from the Milky Seeds the distill'd Oyls of Vegetables Gums Mucilages and the Sulphurous Productions of Minerals which are all of a temperate Nature and equally remov'd from either extreme A Pituitous Cacechymy must be cur'd by Altering Attenuating and Resolving remedies Namely Alcali Salts as well fix'd as Volatil the more penetrating Gums and Generous Aromatics The Morbific matter being viscid and tough must be prepar'd and digested before we attempt any Evacuation The common forms for Digestives are as follows Take of Tartar Vitriolated and the Salt call'd Digestivum Hypochondriacum of each fifteen Grains Salt of Wormwood and of Carduus Benedictus of each half a Scruple Mix for a Powder to be divided into two parts Or Take of Tartar Vitriolated one Dram Salt of Carduus Benedictus half a Dram flowers of Sal armoniac fifteen Grains Mix them together and divide the Powder into three Doses Or Take of Tartar Vitriolated half a Dram Crabs Eyes prepar'd one Scruple Salt of Tartar half a Scruple Mix them for two Doses Take Tartar Vitriolated half a Dram Salt of Wormwood Crabs Eyes prepar'd of each fourteen Grains Make a Powder to be divided into three or four Doses Take of the Cream of Tartar one Dram Tartar Vitriolated half a Dram Salt of Wormwood and Cichory of each half a Scruple Make a Powder and divide it into three equal parts These Powders must be exhibited a Day or two before Evacuation The following Powder is to be taken twice a Day in the Morning before Dinner and in the Afternoon two or three hours before Supper Take of Sal armoniac depurated a Dram and a half Mastic half a Dram Cinnamom a Scruple Salt of Wormwood six Grains Mix them and use as before directed If Liquid forms are more acceptable they may be prescrib'd thus Take of Mint Water one Ounce the Salt call'd Arcanum Duplicatum one Scruple Crabs Eyes prepar'd half a Scruple Salt of Tartar five Grains Syrup of Hyssop half an Ounce Mix them for a draught Or thus Take of Mint Water two Ounces Cinnamom Water six Drams Gum Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar one Dram Tartar Vitriolated one Scruple Syrup of Roses one Ounce Mix them for two or three Doses A Serous Cacochymy is remov'd by the use of such remedies as alter the vicious serum and evacuate it These last mention'd are the subject of the ensuing Paragraph SECT IV. Of the Medicines that evacuate the Corrupt Juices of the Body AFter the use of altering Medicines 't is a proper season to exhibit those that evacuate the prepar'd humors They are distributed into five Classes The first contains those which operate by Vomiting The Second those which move the Belly and perform their office by stool Those of the Third pass by Urine The Fourth by the Pores of the Skin And Lastly the Fifth is allotted to the Medicines which evacuate by Salivation This last Class I have taken notice of elsewhere but the other four I shall briefly run over CHAP. I. Of Vomiting Medicines THE Animal Family affords no Vomits that I know of except the Pairings of the Nails of Human Bodies Which we infuse in generous Wine over Night and in the Morning give the strain'd Liquor to Drink 'T is an excellent Vomit Among the Vegetables Asarabacca is the safest and most successful Vomit Dioscorides and the Ancients were not Ignorant of its efficacy It Enjoys a sharp pungent salt resembling that of Ginger and Zedoary which provokes Urine Corrects the causes of Chronical distempers and irritates the Fibres of the Stomach I have known Inveterat Tertian and Quartan feavers cur'd by the use of Asarabecca with white Pepper that would not yield to any other Medicines It may be given by way of Powder Infusion or Decoction If it be exhibited in form of a Powder it ought to be Pounded very fine for the grosser Particles cannot enter into the Pleats of the Stomach and being eluded there procure to themselves a Passage by Stool Its Dose is from half a Dram to a whole Dram. For a gentle Infusion we take Nine or Ten Green Leaves of Asarabecca and chop 'em small and infuse them for the space of a Night in four Ounces of Carduns Benedictus Water and half an Ounce of Mead. In the morning let the strain'd Liquor be exhibited 'T is a gentle Vomit For a stronger Infusion take Nine Green Leaves of Asarabecca Beat them in a Marble or Stone-Mortar pouring simple Mead upon 'em till ye have reduc'd them to a Juice Then take this juice and dilute it with two Ounces of Carduus Benedictus Water 'T is an Admirable Vomit As for Decoction Helmont Zwelfer and the Honourable Mr. Boyle have observ'd that if ye boyl Asarabecca Roots in Water they lose their Vomiting quality and become Diuretic whereas if ye boyl them in Wine 't is an excellent Emetic The Reason of which I take to be this Viz. That their diuretic vertue proceeds from an essential salt not very Volatil the saline Volatil Emetic parts being evaporated in boyling with Water but Wine penetrates into the Texture of its body before these Volatil salts are gone and so partakes of their Vertue If ye boyl Asarabecca Roots in Mead ye have a Noble Pectoral Medicine It Attenuates the slimy humors in the Breast and has no Emetic force There are no other Vegetable Vomits fit to be us'd White Hellebor 't is true was frequently exhibited by the Ancients But they infus'd it in a sweet Wine which qualify'd its sharpness and besides the difference of Climats alters the Vertues of Medicines I have seen very Tragical effects produc'd by white Hellebor and therefore would not advise any to use it except in one case Namely Madness 'T is a specific for that disease and is frequently attended with success where Antimonial Vomits have prov'd ineffectual Let it be us'd thus Take of the Roots of White Hellebor one Dram infuse it in Rhenish Wine or rather macerate it in some hot place for the space of one Night Then boyl it strain off this Wine and throw it away for 't is too sharp And pour fresh Wine upon it only to stand in infusion all Night In the Morning exhibit a Dram and a half or two Drams of the strain'd Liquor to the Mad Person 'T is a Medicine admirably fit for this case and this only In the Mineral Family Antimony and Vitriol are the two noted Emetics But Vitriol is not so Friendly to Nature as the former it weakens the Body and disorders the Stomach whereas Antimony produces no such effects The Vitrum Antimonii alone is of more use and efficacy than a Thousand
others In this Preparation the Antimony is strip'd of its External Acid Sulphur And contains only some Vitriolic Particles which cause an Evacuation by provoking the Fibres of the Stomach to a Contraction and an Internal fix'd Sulphur which Composes the Irregular motions of the Spirits and Corroborates Nature Upon this Account it may justly claim the Privilege of being prefer'd to all other Preparations which rather cause than remove disorders It must be exhibited in infusion with Rhenish Wine or in the form of a Syrup In substance 't is both fallacious and hurtful In adjusting the Doses of the Infusion we must have a particular regard to the quantity of the Wine and not to the Powder infus'd For twenty Grains infus'd in three Ounces of Wine are no stronger than the infusion of five Grains in the like quantity Rhenish Wine is the best for infusing it in by reason of its Acidity and the easy Admission it vouchsafes to the Antimonial Particles The same remarks are to be observ'd in the use of Crocus Metallorum and Mercurius Vitae As for Example Take of Vitrum of Antimony or Crocus Metallorum or Mercurius Vitae four five six or eight Grains infuse them in a sufficient quantity of Rhenish Wine Let them stand in a warm place all Night In the Morning strain the Wine through a Paper and exhibit one Ounce or at most an Ounce and a half for a draught If ye please ye may add two Drams of Cinnamom Water 'T is a pretty enough Contrivance that some have of an Antimonial Cup into which they pour the Wine and let it stand in some warm place for the space of a Day Then strain it off and exhibit as above If a Syrup be more agreeable Take of Crocus Metallorum two Drams and two Scruples Infuse it for three Days in ten Drams of Wine Vinegar Let it stand in some hot place and shake the Vessel frequently Then strain it off and add ten Drams of Loaf Sugar Stop the Glass well and clap it into hot Water and the Sugar will dissolve Some add a Dram of the Essence of Red Poppy Flowers Or Take four or five Drams of Vitrum Antimonii infuse it in pure Wine Vinegar Let them stand in digestion for some Days and shake the Vessel now and then After some time strain it and add an equal quantity of Loaf Sugar Make a Syrup Dose three or four Drams and to those that are very robust six Drams Or thus Take Glass of Antimony in Powder half an Ounce or an Ounce Infuse it in half a Pound or a Pound of juice of Citrons that has stood till it grew in some measure clear Set them in a warm place for digestion and shake the Glass frequently Strain the Liquor and with a sufficient quantity of Sugar boyl it into a Syrup which may be prescrib'd thus Take of Mint Water six Drams or an Ounce Cinnamom Water two Drams This Emetic Syrup half an Ounce Syrup of Tobacco two Drams Mix for a Draught The Dose of the Emetic Syrup must be vary'd according to its Preparation Some exhibit these Antimonial Emetics in the form of a Conserve or Bolus As Take of Vitrum Antimonii in Powder one Ounce infuse it in a Pint of New Wine or Juice of Quinces Let 'em stand for digestion for some Days then strain it nicely through a Linnen Cloth or Paper and set the strained Liquor over a gentle fire to evaporate to the consistence of Honey or a soft Conserve Ye may give about the bigness of a Pease or two These are the safest and most usual Vomits next to them is Emetic Tartar which is an Antimonial Preparation but may safely be given in Powder 'T is true the general Maxim is that all Antimonial Vomits ought to be given in infusion but solid Emetic Tartar is in a manner the same with the infusion of Antimony in Wine For Tartar being the Natural Production of Wine is impregnated with the same Acid that equally rejects the Grosser and Noxious Parts of the Antimony as well in a solid as a liquid form The best Preparation of Emetic Tartar is made from Vitrum Antimonii thus Take Glass of Antimony two Ounces beat it up together with an equal quantity of Cream of Tartar boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Common Water and strain the liquor while 't is hot then expose it to the Cold Air and 't will run into Crystals Thus ye have Emetic Tartar both in a liquid and solid form The common Dose is two or three Grains or five to robuster Persons In Madness and Melancholly distempers we are oblig'd to augment the Dose The common form of Prescription is as follows Take of Emetic Tartar two three four or five Grains Sugar refin'd six or ten Grains Mix and make a Powder Ye may add two drops of distill'd Oyl of Mint Or if ye desire it should move the Belly two or three Grains of Scammony prepar'd with Sulphur thus Take two Grains of Emetic Tartar two or three Grains of Scammony prepar'd with Sulphur and four or five Grains of white Sugar Mix and make a Powder Which may be taken in a spoonful or two of Chicken Broth. The Sugar is added to give the Medicine a Body lest so small a quantity as two or three Grains should be lost or escape the view of the Patient If a Bolus be more Acceptable Take Conserve of Mint one Dram Emetic Tartar two Grains with a small quantity of Syrup of Cinnamom make a Bolus Or take Rob of Juniper half a Dram Emetic Tartar two Grains Scammony prepar'd with Sulphur one Grain With a sufficient quantity of the Syrup of Orange Peel make a Bolus The Sulphur of Antimony call'd Auratum is likewise an Excellent Vomit if it be well prepar'd as thus Take of Antimony Tartar and Nitre of each equal quantities Melt the Antimony in a Crucible then throw the Tartar and Nitre into it Let the Sulphureous and Mercurial parts be separated by Detonation and afterwards separate the Regular or refined part from the Dross Dissolve the Dross in Common Water and precipitate the Sulphur with a solution of Tartar The Precipitation is best perform'd by Tartar by reason that it Mitigates the Acidity The Dose of this Sulphur is from five to six Grains As Take Cream of Tartar half a Scruple Sulphur of Antimony right prepar'd six Grains prepar'd Scammony two Grains mix and make a Powder These are the safest and mildest Vomits which may suffice for a Thousand Cases But sometimes when we meet with obstinat and inveterat distempers we have recourse to Mercurial Emerâ—â—s Pure Mercury is a Metallin Alcali which is easily fix'd by the addition of Acids and set at liberty by Alkali's But all Acids are not equally capable to fix it The Spirits of Nitre and Vitriol render it very fix'd whereas Spirit of Salt leaves it more Volatil Thus Mercury prepar'd with the former is not so readily sublimated as when joyn'd