Vertigo the one called Teneâ—â—â—â— of a Vertigo of some Scotoma and this say they is the most dangerous because it often turns to the Falling-sicknesse Indeed I grant the dark Vertigo turneth soonest to the Falling-sicknesse because it commeth of Atra bilis or Choler adust but Fuchsius thinks they erre that think the Diseases to be two because they differ a Tittle in quality and truly so do I. All Gallen's words may not be Authenticks no nor Hippocrates his neither and neither Fuchsius nor my self were nor are so simple but we know Choler yellow will turn black and adust in the Tunicle of the Stomack and cause no other difference then changing the quality not the nature of the Disease But enough of this I proceed to the Signs A darknes or mist appeareth before their eys that are troubled with this Disease Signs and that upon every light occasion especially if they drink but a cup of strong drink or wine or if they turn round for it chanceth to them if they turn round once as it doth to others when they turn round often times so that sometimes they fall down Also the same effect it brings to him to see another man or a wheel or the water run round therefore let such objects be avoided for the vital spirits beholding it turn about also and so the moving of the Humour that causeth the Disease is troubled unequall and inordinate When this Disease lyeth in the brain only without relation to the stomack there followeth sound in the ears pain in the head sometimes vehement and heavinesse there also the smelling and other senses are detrimented their fits are chiefly when the Sun doth heat them or when their head is hot by some other means for Heat doth dissolve the Humours and then they turne about the Brain And indeed for ought I know a cleer Sun-shine day is hurtfull for those in whom the Disease proceeds from the Stomack as mine did and I found the same extreamly prejudiciall to me Those in whom the Disease proceedeth from the Stomack feel a gnawing in their Stomack before the fit come and a disposition to vomit and are as though they were heart-burnt Also thus you may know of what Humour the Disease ☞ comes by the apparent colour of things to their eyes for if they appear yellow the Disease comes of yellow Choler if reddish or bloody it comes of Blood and is ☞ apt to fall into a frenzy or madnesse if dark it comes of Atra bilis and is a fore-runner of the Falling sicknesse ☞ or Apoplexie And thus much for example sake Also these Diseases are most violent in that time of the year that suiteth best with their nature as Choler in Summer Melancholy in Autumn c. If this Disease be caused by Vapours that ascend from the Stomack Cure as mine did Vomiting is a speedy cure and the onely cure I could find Cautions For only that winde causeth Whirlwinds Let the sick avoid the beams both of Sun and Moon all Winds especially South winds nor let him behold any thing that moves round nor any deep thing Let him avoid fasting and fulnesse all meats that engender winde that are of a dilative quality and send Vapours up to the head such be Milk Onions Garlick Leeks Let him eschew sleep in the day saith Galen but for mine own part I found ease in nothing else Let his Meat be of good Juice Diet and good Digestion If the Disease come of Blood use Blood-letting Let the Sick avoid perturbation of mind anger fear sadnesse loud crying and singing Let him not keep his Head too hot nor abide in an Aire too hot or too cold and let him stir his Head as little as may be In a word keep his Stomack clean with Vomits and his Head with Pil. Alephanginae Acetum scilliticum is a soveraign remedy and Southernwood is the Herbe proper for the Disease CHAP. XIV Of Frenzie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Description 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek in Latine also Phrenitis in English a Frenzie is a Disease that troubles the minde dangerous and difficult to cure it differs from Madnesse thus Definition a Feaver ever accompanies a Frenzie but never Madnesse A Frenzie is a continuall Madnesse and Furie with raging and vexation of mind Division accompanied with an acute Feaver caused through inflammation of the Brain or the films thereof Three sorts of Frenzies There are three internall senses in the Head Imagination Judgment Memory and a man may be frenetick or as our common English word saith Frantick in any of these Some are frenetick onely in Imagination imagining they see things they do not and yet do give a right judgment of things they do see and remember every man and call him by name in such fantasie onely is distempered Other apprehend things truly yet judge falsly of them as a Patient I had that judged his father would kill him and therefore fled his presence as also that he was some great person There the seat of Judgment is chiefly vexed The third is compound of these two and they erre in every thing and know no body nor remember any thing and in such the Brain is totally distempered The Frenzie is caused of abundance of Choler Cause and cholerick Blood either in the Brain or films thereof and if the Choler be adust the Disease is vehement and pernicious Besides Signs a terrible Feaver and Madnesse for the most part they cannot sleep if they do sleep at all it is troublesom many times when they do sleep they start up out of it suddenly and rage and cry out furiously they babble words without order or sense and very seldom answer directly to a question their Water many times is thin and cleer and if it be so it is so much the worse many times the softlier you speak to them the louder they answer Their Eyes are blood-shotten bleared and staring and sometime dry and sometimes full of sharp and scalding tears most of them pull and tear all the cloaths about them to pieces their Pulses are small weak and slow and they fetch their breath but seldom that which cometh of Blood causeth inordinate laughter and Choler immoderate fury also such must be bound in their beds they forget every thing speedily that they either do or say I have seen one call for a Chamber-pot and so soon as he had it either had forgot what it was or else forgot to pisse in it Concerning the usage of the Sick Aire if it be winter let the aire be warm if in summer let it be cold a whited wall is best for diversity of colours or pictures are naught Some are troubled with light in their Fits and some with darknesse therefore you had best try them both and let him have light that is afraid of darknesse and keep him dark that is offended with light but if the Sick be indifferent between
anger the Ague lesse In this Aguâ— you must have a great care of the Spleen for that is the receptacle of Melancholy Therefore you may anoint the left side with oyl of Capers Vng ex succis aperitivis or any opening splenetick Medicine CHAP. X. Of a Quotidian Feaver or Ague IT is caused of sweet Flegm Cause 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 putrified without the Veins it is called of the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but if the Flegm that putrifies be glazen which is the coldest of all flegms it engenders a Feaver called Epialos In this Feaver called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Patient feeleth vehement heat and vehement cold both at one time in all parts of his Body In the beginning of a Quotidian Signs the Pulse is unequall slow little and weak nothing like neither Tertian nor Quartane neither for extremity of heat nor cold neither do they thirst much because the Vapour is moist and smoaky It most vexeth flegmatick persons But this also is compleatly perfectly and speedily cured by that excellent Herbe Cinquefoil so used as before was specified As for all mixed kinds of Agues I need not write but I commend this as a soveraign cure for them all And God-willing I intend to make proof of it in continuall Qâ—otidians Tertians and Quartanes CHAP. XI Of an Hectick Feaver AN Hectick Feaver is a Disease wherein an unnaturall heat is kindled throughout the fleshy and massie parts of the Body Hectica Febris quid They that have this Feaver feel no pain neither do they know the rules of Art excepted that they have any feaver at all because all the parts of the body are equally hot and so there is no reluctancy This Disease is caused two wayes Cause First through want of Physick or a skilfull Physitian in other feavers which having consumed the Humours seize upon the flesh Secondly they sometimes begin of themselves as of sorrow anger wearinesse burning of the Sun c. When these feavers consume and waste the body as indeed without speedy cure they alwayes do then Galen cals them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. de inaequali intemperie and this Marasmos saith he is incurable and to make this seem as though it were true he tels a long tale of the snuffe of a candle which saith he being put out mutters to pieces but if you put Oyl to it it makes it burn with more violence so quoth he this feaver if you go about to extinguish the heat the party dyes instantly but if you add moisture to him his feaver burns more violently But Experience the best Artist makes no difference between Hectick feavers and Marasmus but shews plainly that all Hectick feavers are wasting and also curable therefore I shall leave Doctor Galen and follow Doctor Experience in this Disease and therefore now to the purpose The Signs of this Disease are these Signs Their eyes are wonderfull hollow as though they were sunk in their heads their moisture is consumed so that you may see the bones of their Eye-brows stick out there hangeth at the hair of their Eye-brows gum or filth as though they had gone a long journey in the dust their skin is hard and dry and their eyes wink often as though they were sleepy when indeed it is far otherwise with such as have this Disease for they can hardly be brought to rest they pine to skin and bone and if you look upon their Belly it looks as if it had no bowels in it the Pulse is weak and often and continually after meat the feaver is encreased and the Pulses are augmented in greatnesse The Cure consists in cooling and moistning Cure which must be done both outwardly and inwardly Let the Aire the Sick abideth in Aire be cold and moist if it be not so naturally make it so by Art whereof you have examples in my Treatise called Crit. Cephal Let his Meats be such as moisten Meats and breed good and active Blood such are Lamb-stones Cocks-stones Lobsters Prawns Eggs boiled soft Paritich Larks c. For Herbs Herbes let him use Lettuce Endive Succory Spinage Mallows c. Let his Drink with his Meat Drink be onely water wherein Cinamon hath been boiled Let him drink new Milk abundantly Milk provided he have no feaver of putrifaction or rottennesse joined with it Hee may eat freely Raisons of the Sun Fruits and Almonds Cherries Prunes Pomegranates and figgs Let him eat often Caution and but little at a time For Cordials Cordials he may use Diarrhodon abbatis Diatragacanthum frigidum Diapapaver and species Cordiales temperatae Diamargariton frigidum For Syrrups Sirrups let him use Syrrup of Violets Endive Lettuce Water-Lillies and Vinegar Let him nrink Emulsions made of Barly-water Emulsion Almonds the four greater cold Seeds and white Poppy-seeds sweetned with Sugar Lastly Unctions let his body be kept continually anointed with pure oyl Olive and nothing else Many in this Disease vomit up all their Meat so soon as they have eaten it Caution which indeed I forgot before in such cases make their Emulsion of Mint water instead of Barly-water as before for only by this Medicine alone have I known Galen's supposed incurable Disease cured FINIS Physical APHORISMS Reader Give me leave to begin and I will not be beholding to time for leave to make a Preamble APHOR. I THE whole ground of Physicke is comprehended in these two words Sympathy and Antipathy the one cures by strengthning the part of the Body afflicted the other by resisting the malady afflicting 2. Many People are troubled with strange Visions especially in the night time strange lights strange sights appeare and sometimes voyces are heard let such avoid drinking Wine and as much as may be strong Beer for Melancholy is the cause of this which strong liquor attenuates and makes it fly upwards 3. The ashes of Hens feathers or Hens bones burnt and applyed to the place is an excellent remedy to stop bleeding in any part of the body 4. Toads Spiders and Frogs or their Spawn have the same effects but they doe it by Antipathy because the blood flyes from its enemy and there if a dryed Toad be but held in the hand of one that bleedeth the blood presently ceaseth and retireth back to the Centre 5. Take two or three Toads and boyle them in Oyle very well and this Oyle will by unction quickly cure any red face or any rednesse of the skin out of question by the former reason 6. Take the Seeds of Red Nettles beat them into powder and take a dram of it at a time in white Wine it procures chastity they say and is a far better medicine to rout Asmodeus the leacherous Devil then the liver of a fish 7. The marrow of a Goose wing and the older the Goose is it is so much the better a little of it being
both let the strongest have light and keep â—â—e weakest darkest Let his dearest friends come to him and let some speak friendly to him and let some of them speak harshly and roughly to him for there is no rule with such persons unlesse they stand in awe of some body If strength permit Bleeding let him bleed largely in the arme and two or three dayes after under the tongue Keep his body laxative Stool Force him to sleep with Opium Sleep if his body be strong you need not fear to give him four or five grains at a time also hang soporiferous things about his Head as Mandrakes Nightshade Poppy Henbane c. and anoint his head and temples with oyl of Poppy if he sleep not without these Let his drink be water Drink in which Cinamon hath been boiled Let his meat be exceeding little Meat and let that little be of very good and speedy digestion Also I have found by experience Cure Castoreum to be very medicinal for the Disease taken inwardly For other Medicines your best way is to labour to remove that Humour which causeth the Disease of which Medicines you may be furnished in the peculiar chapter belonging to the particular Humour CHAP. XV. Of the Lethargie IN direct opposition to a Frenzie Description is the Disease called a Lethargie which causeth sluggishnesse and an inexpugnable desire to sleep This word Lethargie is a Greek word compounded of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies forgetfulnesse and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies slothfull or dull and therefore in stead of Veternus the common Latine word it might be better or at least better in my opinion be called Oblivio iners a sluggish forgetfulnesse Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Subeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is affirmed by many good Phisicians that there is such a Disease as Coma Vigilans but as yet I never saw any possessed with it This sluggish Disease hath gotten many names it is called by some Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Arabians Subeth of some Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 say they is of two sorts Coma somnolentum or a sleepy Coma the other called Vigilans coma or a waking Coma because such as have Lethargies seem to be awake many times when they are not Many have thought these Diseases to be all different because different places have given it different names yet all confesse the cause of them all to be the same and then the difference can be onely in the Complexion of the party grieved It is caused of Flegm Cause which cooleth the Brain overmuch and moistneth it and thereby provoketh sleep They are alwayes in a profound and dead sleep Signes their Pulse is great and striketh seldom and beateth as though it were in water they fetch breath seldom and weakly and are so sluggish and sleepy that they can hardly be forced to answer to a question sometimes they will open their eyes if you cry aloud to them but they instantly shut them again they are exceeding forgetfull and alwayes talk idly in their sleep they gape and yawn often and sometime keep their mouth open as though they had forgot to shut it some are costive Cure others laxative their Urine is like Beasts Urine stinking some tremble and sweat all over Let the chamber wherein the Sick doth lye Aire be very light and very warm Let his Diet be such things as extenuate Diet. cut and dry and let it be seasoned with Anniseed Cummin-seed Pepper Cinamon Ginger Cloves c. For Pot-hearbs let him use Sparagus Parsley Fennel and such like and after eating binde the extream parts viz. the Thighs hard that the Vapours ascend not up into the Head You may burn Brimstone under his Nose Nassaliâ— or assa foetida to awake him Give him strong Gargarisms Gargarisms made with Pellitory of Spain and Mustard also you may safely put a whole spoonfull of Mustard into his mouth at once Also you may boil Time Penny-royall and Origanum in Vinegar and dip a spunge in it and hold it alwayes to his Nose You may shave off his Hair and keep his Head alwayes moistned with Vinegar of Roses also it is excellent to let it drop down from some high place upon the crown of his Head Povoke him often to sneeze with white Hellebore Sneezing Also Clisters in this Disease you may safely administer sharp and scowring Clisters with Collocynthis Agrick Electuary Benedicia laxativa species hierae picrae and the like in the common decoction The Disease declining purge Flegm Castoreum is also exceeding medicinal for this Disease Purge either taken inwardly or applied outwardly CHAP. XVI Of Forgetfulnesse THe losse of Memory chanceth sometimes a-alone and sometimes Reason is hurt with it It is caused of Lethargies and other soporiferous Diseases Cause for they being ended many times leave Forgetfulnesse behind them and then it comes of a cold distemper This coldnesse hath sometimes drinesse joined with it and sometimes moisture and sometimes nothing but a bare distemper to know this you must diligently observe the causes whence it ariseth The causes are two internal external if they be internal either abundance of Flegm or Melancholy is the cause of it if there be no signs of these abounding then it comes of some external cause unlesse it come through extream old age The external causes you may know by the relation of the sick or those that are about him if any disease have newly passed and so turned into oblivion if medicines were applied outwardly on administred inwardly which extreamely cooled the brain or if it came of study watching c. If the memory be but a little hurt Signes it shews the braine to be but a little cooled if reason be also hurt then the disease is vehement If it come of a dry distemper the sick watcheth much and can hardly be brought to sleepe If moysture only offend then are they heavy inclined to sleep and their sleepes are long and troublesome If cold be joyned with the moysture it is a perfect Lethargy though perhaps but breeding and then the excrements are many at the mouth and nose proceeding from the braine If melancholy be the cause he will not be very desirous of sleepe nor voyd excrements from his brain besides all circumstances and the state of his whole body incline to cold and drinesse For to give a true judgment of a disease you must consider the complexion of the party the region that he lives in the times of the yeare the state of the aire and the diet he hath used Let his diet be different according to the cause of his disease as for example Diet. if it come of coldness let it be hot c. But what ever the cause be the aire must not be cold nor the roome darke
Caution nor any windowes open North or South for the one cooleth I should think the East were worst the other stuffeth the head If it come through age Physicke availes little If the memory fail suddenly either falling sicknesse or Apoplexy is following Prognostica for cure of which use such meanes of prevention as you shall be taught to cure them when they are come in their proper chapters If it come of other causes viz. of cold heat the braine of drinesse moysten the braine Things medicinall Cure are Castoreum Oleum de lateribus Rew Balme Betony Rosemary Marjoram Of Compound confectio anacardina Diamosebum dulce Diambra Mithridate Theriacha These not only remedy memory lost but helpe and mend it being dull CHAP. XVII Of Catalepsis Name◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 detentio occupatio congelatio Description 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke is called in Lattin Occupatio detention and Deprebensio Moderne Writers call it Congelatio in English it is called congelation or taking and by the ignorant struck with a Planet It is a sudden detention and taking both of body and mind both sense moving being lost the sick remaining in the same figure of body wherein he was taken whether he sit only or whether his mouth and eyes were open or shut as they are taken in the disease so they remaine This disease is a meane between a Lethargy and a frenzie Cause for it commeth of a melancholly humour Therefore in respect of coldnesse it agreeth with a Lethargy and in respect of drinesse with a frenzy and the effects are in a medium between them both Sometimes abundance of blood is joyned with the melancholly humour and sometimes only pure melancholly both invade the hinder part of the braine They that are taken with this disease are alwaies taken sudddenly Signes both speech and sense are taken from him he neither speaketh nor heareth his breath scarcely to be perceived he lies like a dead man his pulse is small weake and very thicke his egestion and urine are either very little or none at all which seemes to proceed from want of sense for the sick abounds most commowly with moysture For melancholly is an humour dry in operation ☜ not in quality Their face is sometimes red and that is when blood is mingled with the melancholy and sometimes swarth and then pure melancholly oppresseth the eyes in this disease remaine immoveable as though they were frozen The diet is different according to the cause Diet. only in generall let him avoyd all such meates and drinkes as send vapours up into the head also water is hurtfull be cause it swelleth the spleene Barly water wherein Cinnamon hath been boyled is good If blood abound and strength and yeares permit Bleeding let him blood in the Cephalique of the arme as much as strength will permit If melancholly abound Clisters cleanse the gutts with clysters made of things proper for melancholly such be borrage buglosse fumitory time epithimum polipodium ☜ senna cassia fistula confectio Hamech c. If the head be hot coole it with oyle of fleabane Refrigeration if too cold heat it with oyle of vervaine Black hellebore corrected with Cinnamon is very medicinall so is mother of time Cure If trembling accompany the disease give Castoreum As for other remedies you may find them in the chapters of frenzie and lethargy before and in the Chapter of melancholy which is to follow after CHAP. XVIII Of the Apoplexie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke and Latin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is also called an Apoplexy in English and is a disease wherein the fountaine and originall of all the sinewes is affected Definition and so every part of the body doth suddainly lose sense and motion throughout the whole body If this stopping come only in one halfe of the body Cause it is called the Palley of which hereafter The Apoplexie is caused by a grosse tough and clammy humour ingendred for the most part by drunkennesse which being crude fills the principal ventricles of the braine It is caused also by a fall or a blow which bruiseth and shaketh the braine and causeth the humours to ☞ flow thither Also those that are brought up in hot countries when they come to live in cold countries many times the cold only congealeth the humours and causeth the disease There goeth before this disease a sharpe paine in the head Signes a swelling of the veins in the neck the vertigo and brightnesse before the eyes coldnesse of the extreame parts without cause known panting of the whole body slownesse to move and gnawing of the teeth while they sleepe their urine is little in quantity and black like rust or canker of mettall and hath a residence like meal they lack sense altogether and lie with their eyes shut as though they were asleep and snort The vehemency of this disease may be known by their impediments in breathing if their breathing differ but little from another mans that is in health it shewes the disease is but weake but when they can hardly be perceived to breath at all it is the strongest Apoplexie and little better is theirs where the breath seemes to be stopped for a while and then fet with great violence This disease happens most frequently to aged people flegmaticke folke and to such as use such diet as encreaseth ☜ flegme This disease is seldome cured and seldomer but it leaves the dead palsey behind it and then it is but halfe cured ☜ A strong Apoplexie for the most part kills a man in 24 hours many times in halfe the time ☜ Bleeding is a desperate physicke for an Apoplexie well befitting such a desperate disease for it kills or cares quickly ☜ Provoke him to stoole with mighty sharpe and strong clysters Stoole Bind the thighes hard and rub them vehemently Ligaments You may shave the head and bath it with oyle of Rew Camomel or Dill. Vnction You may fasten Cupping-glasses good store to the shoulders Cupping You may burne stinking things under his nose as Caâ—â—oreum Assa Foetida Saga-penum Galbanum Nasalia You may provoke him to sneeze with white Hellebore Sneezing You may apply Castoreum and Euphorbium with vinegar to his head Cucufa Vomit You may provoke him to vomit with turbith minerale ☞ mercurius vitae or lac sulphuris which is the best medicine I know Lacsulphuris I take it doth not procure vomit but is diaphoretical Thus much for the cure of an Apoplexie if it may be cured CHAP. XIX Of the dead Palsey in one side 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Resolutio in English the dead palsey 't is a disease wherein the one halfe of the body either the right side or the left doth lose either sense or moving Definition or both
besides yoâ— may hold a looking-glasse before him that he may see what an ugly face he makes and so labour to amend it CHAP XXI Of the Falling-sicknesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek the Latins call it Morbus Comitialis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the English the Falling-sicknesse It is a Convulsion drawing and stretching of all the parts of the whole body not continually but at sundry times with hurt of the mind and sense It is so called because it attacheth both the sense and feeling of the head and also of the mind Three causes of Falling-sicknesse There be three causes of the Falling-sicknesse The first is caused when the disease lieth only in the Brain and that is caused two wayes 1. When grosse tough and clammy Humours flegmaticke stop the passage of the spirits animal in the Pellicles of the Brain 2. See my Anatomy of the brain When the same opilation is caused by Choler Secondly it is caused through the evill affect of the Stomacke sending up vapours thither which the brain labours to repell and by the reluctancy causeth the disease Thirdly it is caused through a cold aire which the Patient may feel creeping up from one member or another to the Brain but this chanceth but seldome especially in these climates There goeth before this disease Signes an unwise state of the body and mind sadnesse forgetfulnesse troublesome dreames headach continuall fulnesse in the head especially in anger palenesse in the face inordinate moving of the tongue many bite their tongues as soon as the fit takes them they fall down their limbs are drawn together they snort and sometimes cry out many tremble when the fit comes upon them and run round but the pecullar signe of this disease is foaming at the mouth This disease happeneth most to young folke Let the Aire the sicke abides in Aire be hot and dry if the disease be caused of Flegme let it becold and moist Diet. if it be caused of Choler Let him eschew all meats that are hard of digestion and stopping and such as are of a dilative quality Vomit Cure My thinks I might have bestowed the pâ—ins to have quoted a few more medecines yet seeing â—is as t is see my recepts and all Wine the older the worse If the Disease proceed from the Stomack cleer it by a vomit The best remedy which is most sure and approved is a Male piony root dug up ☉ in ♌ rising on sunday morning the Moone encreasing Aries culminating hung about their necks which by a hidden planetary vertue cureth it Also the juyce of piony roots dog up at that time and made into a syrrup with Sugar taken inwardly doth the like CHAP. XXII Of Convulsion and Cramps 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek in Latin Convulsio in English Convulsion and Cramp Definition is a Disease in which the sinews are drawne and pluckt up together against ones will There are divers kinds of this Disease Kinds three of these kinds lie in the neck The first is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin Distentio it is when the necke remaineth altogether immovable so that it cannot be turned any way but must alway be held straight forward The second is called Tentio ad anteriora when the head or necke is drawn down towards the brest The third is called Tensio ad posteriora when the head is drawn backward The fourth kind of Convulsion is that which usually is called the Cramp and is a drawing together of the sinews of some particular limb The fift is that which is usually called Convulsion-fits and a wreathing or drawing up together all the sinews on the one side of the body This Disease is caused through fasting fulnesse Cause pricking of an Artery or the biting of a venemous beast that the venome come to the Nerve The fift of these is only mortal and takes away many young Children For Children Spirit of Castoreum Cure Aqua paralitica Mathioli Aqua antepileptica langij are medicinall For aged people if it come of fulnesse Of fulnes purge and vomit then use the precedent medicines If it come of fasting Fasting it is more perilous the best remedy that I know then is the decoction of China roots Pricking of a nerve If it come by pricking an Artery as many times it doth in blood-letting through the unskilfulnesse of the Chyrurgion or unrulinesse of the Patient If it be much hurt the only way I know is to cut it quite asâ—â—der and lose the use of the limb to save your life Stinging of venemous creatures If it come by stinging of any venemous creature make the wound bigger and draw out the poyson with Venice treacle applyed to it plaster-wise Finally wear for the Cramp a Ring made of a Rams horn the Ram slain ☉ in ♈ in the houre of the Sun he either rising or culminating CHAP. XXIII Of the Mare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Incubus is a Disease that happens onely in the night to people in bed wherein they conceive themselves over-pressed with a great weight which almost strangles them The ridiculous conceits of the vulgar The simple sort call it the Mare and conceit and affirm that they feel it with their hand and hear it fall down in the chamber yea I have heard one affirm she heard it come in at the gate The truth or rather falshood of all this will appear in the description This Disease is caused of excessive drinking Cause also of continuall rawnesse of the Stomack whence are sent grosse and cold Vapours which fill the ventricles of the Brain letting the dispersing of the faculties thereof by the sinews This Disease alwayes invades those that are asleep Description and most of all such as lye upon their backs Signs they suppose a great weight lyes upon them and stops their breath that they cannot move and dream that they are almost strangled and would cry out but their voice is stopped and inâ—â—ed they groan pittifully at last being something wakened and able to stir the passage is opened and they eased This Disease though seeming light is not to be neglected Caution by reason of its affinity with the Apoplexy and Falling-sicknesse Let him never lie on his back Let his Diet be such as breedeth not wind nor is of a dilative quality Diet. Blood-letting Cure If there be signes of fulnesse use bleeding Let him not go to bed till digestion be perfected Vinegar of Squils taken two spoonfuls in the morning fasting and if digestion be weak I have been my selfe and have known others strangely troubled with this disease since the writing hereof and in a farre different manner from what he e is written but the margent is too small to hold the Story one spoonfull presently after meat digesteth the humours and cures
at one place To this Feaver belongs an accident called by the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when vehement heat is felt in the bowels and entrailes and immoderate cold in the external parts An intermiting Quartan is caused of melancholy rotting without the Vessels Quartan is governed by Saturas a planet slow weighty and ponderous and therefore the disease is commonly Chronical and lasting I come now to the last sort of Feavers which the Table shews to proceed of heat in the fleshy parts Hectica Fâ—bris and that is called Hectica febris an Hecticke Feaver For as a hot Vessell heats the water that is put into it so a Hectike Feaver though the rise of it be in the flesh after the third concoction yet it heats the humours which the flesh containes This Feaver for the most part Marasmos without speedy cure consumes the whole body and then is called Marasmos and this Marasmos saith Galen is incurable Galeus errour but the good old soul was mistaken for I have known it cured in more then one or two I have had it my self since the writing of this As for the Pestilence it is also a Feaver and a shrewd one too I have written of that already in a treatise by it selfe and therefore no more of it now There are other Feavers that come by reason of the inflammation of some member Inflamations So that Feaver which comes in the filme that girdeth the ribbs Pluretia is called pleuretia If from inflammation of the lungs it is called Peripneumonia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Erraticae febres If of the stomack it is called Typhodes Some Feavers also are called Erraticae that keep no certaine time of coming at all nor any order of fits ☞ and intermission and such Feavers come commonly of Melancholy But in every Feaver you must consider diligently whither ☞ the Feaver come by any disease of any particular member else you will erre egregiously in giving Physick These are all simple Feavers some Feavers are compound Compound Feavers as diverse Feavers of a like nature joyne together as intermiting Feavers with intermiting c. For example two intermitting Tertians or two intermitting Quartaines joyne together in which last the party is sick two dayes and well but one my own child at the writing hereof had two intermiting Tertians the one far more violent then the other and they came at some twelve hours distance But sometimes an intermitting Tertian is joyned with a continuall Quotidian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this disease is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this only is known as yet of compound Feavers of different natures the other are still of Feavers of like nature as continual Feavers with continual or intermiting with intermiting And thus much of my paraphrase which though it be somewhat long yet I account nothing tedious that is rational I know many words might have been added but not one might have been left out For by ignorance in or negligence of this many lives are lost which by due observance of this might be preserved CHAP. III. Of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or an one day Feaver 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek in Latin Diaria 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English an one day Feaver because it hath but one fit which continueth but one day if rightly handled if not it turneth to other diseases It is caused when the breath is inflamed above nature without any putrefaction Cause and this chanceth many wayes First through binding or thickning of the skin which stoppeth the vapours that were wont to flow out by the pores which being hot and sharpe ingender a Feaver Secondly by wearinesse Thirdly by watchings crudilities and lack of digestion Fourthly by sadnesse care and sorrow Fifthly by anger and vehement passion of the mind Sixthly by feare Seventhly by vehement heat of the Sun Eighthly by hunger and drunkennesse Ninthly by swellings and kernels about the throat for all these heat the spirits and inflame them Signes Generall Six The Signes are of two sorts First generall signes whereby this Feaver is known from any other Feaver Secondly particular signes which shew from which of all these severall causes the Feaver comes The generall signes are six 1. They change the pulse in greatnesse and swiftnesse but it keeps that proportion in order softnesse and equality it did according to nature 2. The Urine seldome or never turnes from a naturall state ☞ A naturall Vrine is subrufe in colour meane in substance and if you shake it it sparkles like Sacke Yet I deny not but Vrines alter something according ☞ to the predominant complexion of the party even in men of perfect health 3. Their heat of body is gentle pleasant and casie 4. They end commonly by moist sweet sweats 5. Vehement pain in the head and stomack and other parts 6. Abhorring of Meat and insatiable Thirst Signes Of watching The particular Signes If it come of watching there followes a naughty colour swelling of the face heavinesse of the eyes that he can hardly lift them up the haires of the eye-lids are moist and the pulse small for watching hinders digestion and causeth crudities when ☜ these signes arise Care and sorrow If it come of care or sorrow the body is leane if sorrow be the cause the colour is cleerer if care darker hollownesse and drynesse of the eyes discoloured skin If of anger Anger the eyes seeme to sticke out farther then they use to do the face is red and the pulse lofty If of sadnesse the pulse is small Sadneâ—â— feeble and rare If of feare the face is pale Feare for feare sends the blood from the circumference to the center the pulse is swift unequall and sharp If it come through burning and heat of the Sunne their skin is hot and dry Sun and their head seemeth to burne the eyes are red and troubled and the veines in the temples forehead and under their eyes are stretched and puffed up If of cold there followeth heavy distillations and rheums Cold. astringency for cold bindeth and keepeth the vapours within the skin If of wearinesse the skin is exceeding dry Wearines and the pulse exceeding small If of drunkennesse or hunger Drunkennesse the sicke may tell you If of Kernels or Impostumation of the throat Kernels the pulse is great swift and often their face swollen their Urine pale For cure Cure you must observe the generall rule contraria contrariis medentur Let their generall diet be meats of good juyce Diet. and easie of digestion Give such as have their disease of anger or sunburning cool and moist diet If of cold a diet that doth moderately heat against watching and sadnesse a diet that moistneth and provoketh sleep If of wearinesse let them eat as much meat as they can well digest More over you must
regard the Patients strength his naturall temper the time of the yeare age and usuall custome of the sicke and accordingly order your Physick If the natural temper of the body be cholericke you must feed them with meat at the beginning of the fit â—â—â—tioâ— for it is very subject if the body be kept fasting to turn to an acute rotten Feaver See the body be kept laxative Stoole if he go not naturally to stoole provoke him with an emollient Clister Finally Bath so soon as the fit begins to wane bath him in a warm bath made with sweet hearbs boyled in water for that will open the pores and let out the vapours CHAP. IIII. Of Synochus non pistrida being a Feaver which lasteth three or four dayes THis Feaver is caused 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quid either because the small pores of the skin are stopped Cause or because the body it selfe is moderately thickned through cold or after bathing or by sharpe binding medicines heat of the Sun or any other thing that dries the skin It may be thus knowne First by touching Signs for the skin is harder and more compact then it was wont to be Secondly by the heat which at first seemes gentle and easie but after you have held your a hand while you shall feel it sharper Thirdly the Unine is not much altered from its naturall substance and colour for this disease lies in the spirits not in the blood Fourthly the body fals not away but their eyes are swollen and fuller of moisture then usually Fifthly the pulse is equall swift vehement and frequent Cure Bleeding For cure of this disease you may safely draw out so much blood as age strength and the season of the year permit After bleeding use things that clense and scowr Abstergents such are Oximel Hysop Origanum Smallage and observe whether the heat abate by this diet ☜ For if by the third day you find little heat left Bath you may safely bath him with such things as are scouring such be Orris and Aristolochia roots Smallage salt-peeter boyled in water and honey But if the Feaver then increase or on the fourth day then either you were mistaken at first in the disease or else the Feaver is altered and some humour putrified CHAP. V. Of a rotten Feaver called Synochus putrida Synochus putrida quid SYnochus putrida is a Feaver which holds from the beginning to the ending without any great mutation or sensible change and may well be called a constant or stable Feaver Of this are three sorts I described them in the second Chapter This Feaver is caused by the rotting of all the humours equally within the Vessels Cause and especially in the great Vessels about the arm-holes and share and this chanceth when fervent heat is kept in by violent binding and stopping which is within the body for when heat and moist things cannot breath out they putrifie and rot presently Therefore this feaver is seldome ingendred in thin spare folke nor in cold bodies nor old age but in such as abound in blood of grosse fat or fleshy bodies or stuffed with hot excrements This is properly known from Synochus non putrida Signes because there are signes of rottennesse in the Urine and the pulse of a man sicke of this but not so in the former The other signes all agree with the former The Cure of this feaver ‑ must begin with blood-letting Cure Bleeding and that in the beginning of the disease if you can Cold drinke is most perilous in this disease Caution first because it causeth obstructions and hindreth the attenuation of the clammy humours Secondly cold drinkes hurt weake members some by drinking cold drinke in this feaver have gotten such sore throats that they could not swallow in some the Stomacke is hurt that they could not digest in some the Bladder generally that part that is weakest is most subject to hurt and being hurt cannot performe its proper office But blood-letting you may use at any time if strength permit provided it be not upon a full stomacke Such as have this feaver have alwayes loosnesse and sometimes vomit up Choler Let his drinke be barly water Diake sweetned with syrrup of Violets and a little Oyle of Vitrioll to make it tart Let his diet be light of digestion Meat and let him eat it at his usuall times of eating for then it will digest best Also Oranges Lemmons Oxymel and Verjuyce are medicinall for him CHAP. VI. Of continual Feavers called by the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke is a continuall feaver that hath some certaine slacking betweene the fits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet no absolute intermission till the end of it and by this only it is knowne from Agues or intermitting feavers therefore I shall omit the signes till then Cause This feaver is caused by rotting of one particular humour only within the Vessels I shewed it in the first and second Chapters I remit you to that I shall only treat of that which is called of the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by it selfe in the next Chapter for that is the most dangerous and wind up the rest together in this A Compendium of the cure of Feavers In the generall cure of feavers of this sort these things must be considered First the Feaver Secondly the rottennesse In the Feaver In the feaver two things must also be considered First How that part which is already kindled and inflamed may be remedied 2 How that which is not kindled may be letted and hindred from inflammation Also two things must be considered touching the rottennesse or putrification In the rottennesse First how the humours already putrified may be healed Secondly how those that are not putrified may be kept from putrefaction Heac qui non animadvertit errabit nimis In the begining of the feaver if strength and age permit Bleeding let blood for that lets out the inflamed blood and cooles the rest Obstructions The body thus cooled you must cure the obstructions and that without heating the Patient lest you increase the feaver and cause more putrefaction This is best done by Clysters Clysters and sweates for Clysters take only the common decoction with Molossus Sweats and Diacatholicon For sweates you may use either Venire treacle Matthiolus his great antidote Serpentary roots Electuarium de ovo Consideratis considerandis To stop and hinder the humours not inflamed from inflaming use cooling juleps made with barly water Harts-horne Ivory Scorzonera roots Zedoary c. Syrupe of Violets c. To prevent putrefaction avoyd all meats I mean flesh and all broths of flesh To bring away humours already putrified boyle a white Lilly roote in White-wine and let him drinke it For outward medicines Vine branches Water Lillies Lecalia Endive Succory Wood-sorrel Sorrel Lettuce Knot-grasse Vinegar these
or any of these beaten and the juice mingled with oyl of Roses and wool dipped in it and applied to the Stomack mightily allay the heat But have a care by all means that you do not apply this at the beginning of the Feaver for then the heat lies inward ☜ and this will add more violence to it but onely when the heat is come to the externall parts for then it cherisheth the Lungs and provoketh sleep Provoke sleep with Diascordium Sleep if that prevail not use Laudanum But have a care of Opiats at the beginning of the Disease ☜ For Cordials Scorzonera-roots Bezoar Cordials Sirrup of Citron-pils and Syrrup of Balm of Fernelius Confection of Alchermes and de Hiacyntho Electuarium de Ovo any of these may be administred consideratis considerandis CHAP. VII Of a Burning Feaver called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qad Cause 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek is called in English a Burning Feaver or continuall Tertian It is caused of Choler rotting or putrifying within the Veins together with the Blood Those that have this Disease Signes their Tongue is dry rough black with gnawing of the Stomack immoderate thirst and watching their Dung is liquid and pale Let the place wherein the Sick lies be cool Cure Aire the aire sweet if it be not cool mâ—kâ— it so by art of which you have examples in my Criti a Cephalica vol. 3. lib. 2. Let him drink for his ordinary Drink Drink water wherein Barly Cinamon and such Herbs as cool and ☞ moisten such be Lettice Sorrell Wood-sorrell Purslane c. have been boiled Also Syrup of Violets Violet and Straw-berry-leaves Water-lillies and Verjuice juice of Lemmans and Oranges are medicinal With the other Medicines mentioned in the former Chapter and Bleeding If these Medicines prevail not Blisters but the Humours ☞ flow up and lye heavy on the Head which you may know by their talking idly you must apply Blisters to the in-side of the Wrests and the in-side of the Calves of their Legs If that prevail not but you perceive their case desperate Pidgeons apply Pidgeons to the soles of their Feet But if in a desperate case it oppresse their Stomack or Heart I have known six grains of Mercurius Vitae cure them yet in my opinion Lac Sulphuris had been better CHAP. VIII Of an Intermitting Tertian Feaver commonly called a second dayes Ague OF all Agues this onely is mortall yet the other two ☞ may turn to another Disease that may kill but they kill not themselves And this Ague though sometime it be mortall yet is ☞ of all other most frequent and if rightly handled easiest cured It vexeth young folks most I suppose the reason why this Ague is most frequent to be because Choler by reason of its heat Cause is most apt to stir with violence This Disease is caused of Choler pure sincere and unmixed carried with violence by the sensitive parts of the Body This Disease happeneth usually to persons Cholerick by nature in their flourishing age and in Spring time Signs The signs of this Disease are a vehement Cold rigour and stiffnesse in the beginning of the Fit the Patient thinketh his Body is pricked soreness of the Bones as though they were nipped an exact order and equality of the Pulse for as the Feaver encreaseth the Pulses are raised in strength vehemency and frequency In the vehemency of the Feaver it causeth thirst and burneth up the Patient his Breath is swift and hot as fire and requireth drink immoderately their Urine cholerick subrufe and something yellow The longest fit of a Tertian endureth but twelve hours When these Fits come sooner and sooner the Disease ☜ getteth strength over nature but if later and later the ☜ Disease loseth strength Galen's mistakes Galen saith men labouring of this Disease vomit Choler At the writing hereof and it is the seventh of February 1645 6. I have cured above twenty of this Disease and it is like seen more yet never knew nor saw any vomit at all I have known enough vomit sinee When I was a Boy I had the Disease constantly every Spring though Galen saith it comes onely in the heat of Summer Gal. ad Glauconem yet never to my memory had so much as a pronenesse to vomit The usuall Cure of this Disease Cure is by Vomiting and Sweating But I have found out a more certain and speedy and indeed never missing Cure Let the Air the sick abides in be clear and penetrating Aire Both this and Qâ—otidian Agues I never missed cure by giving onely Cinquefoil gathered in the hour of Jupiter if it be possible he being above the Earth and truly I should think it were the better if the Moon were aspected to him but I never observed it This I have given in Powder both in common Vinegar and Vinegar of Squils I have observed the number of the Leaves I have given viz. one for a Quotidian three for a Tertian c. and I have observed it I have given the Decoction thereof and all of them still did the Cure in three Fits sometimes in two therefore I hold it the most soveraign Medicine for Agues in the world CHAP. IX Of a Quartane Feaver or Ague THis proceedeth of Melancholy putrifying and rotting without the Veins This Feaver doth not invade the Sick with that rigour and stiffnesse that the former doth Cause but the cold is like the cold a man feels in an hard frost Signs as though it would break his Bones and doth not seem to prick him as the other doth Their Urine is white and thin and as it were strained from some grosse matter Their Urine is white and thin and as it were strained from some grosse matter It commeth commonly about Harvest land stayeth without cure till next Spring and is a stubborn Humour to be dealt withall For many a time and often this Ague by violent Medicines ☜ as Vomits c. is turned to a double Quartane and so the Patient hath two sick dayes and but one well day Saturn the causer of this Ague is a sullen Planet and the Disease takes after him therefore deal gently with it at first you had better please a sullen potent adversary then displease him I never had any Patient of this Disease since I knew the vertues of the Herbe Cinquefoil it is very probable it will cure this as well as other Agues * Since I have done the Cure with it Bleeding I dâ—siâ—e these Hellebores may be let alone in this Disease for old Saturn will not be Vexeâ— Yet if Blood abound you may let blood in this Ague and if it look black draw out good store Also black Hellebore corrected with Cinamon may be given And white Hellebore if it may be given inwardly at all it may in this Disease But let these be given on the well dayes for then they
men up in an infected and mortall Aire But I shall prove by sollid arguments The Plague not infectious Arg. 1. that the Pestilence is not infectious My first Argument I frame thus That disease that infecteth one man that commeth neere it infecteth all men that come neere it But the Plague infecteth not all Therefore it infecteth none The minor is cleer as the Sunne My Major I prove from the universal course of nature The fire warmeth one man it warmeth all the water wetteth one man it wetteth all because their nature is so to do a sword woundeth one man it woundeth all that are strooke with it the universall current of nature runneth so therefore the Plague if it infect one man must infect all But some will say all mens bodies are not full of humours Object if they were all would be infected I answer then by my Opposites argument the fault lies in the humours that are within Answ the body not in the infection which is without if he fly will these putrified humours continue in his body and he remain in health if so how then come diseases Or will an infected Aire change a disease which would be but bad at the best if so shew a Rule in Physick and I am satisfied * You may find some notable proofes to the contrary in my Astrologicall experiences But clense the body of these humours let all men do so and then come to a visited person and then by my Opposites own confession they will not be infected and how then can the disease be infections and infect no body My second Argument I frame thus That disease Arg. 2 the raining of which may be fore-seene by more secret causes in nature long before it come can not be increased by visiting the sick nor diminished by abstaining from them But the Pestilence may and always is foreseene long before it comes Therefore you will have it never the soonner by visiting those that are sick of it nor escape ever a whit the longer by abstaining from it The Major is cleere for if the cause come the effect must needes follow Signs of a Plague to come For the proofe of the minor I shall produce twelve signes of a Plague to come which appeare some of them above a yeare yea some of them above two yeares before it come The first is Phanomena in the Aire great meetings of superiour Planets whereby not only the time but also the place where the Pestilence will most rage may be gathered as this Autumnall Pestilence in London 1645. was by Mr Booker in his Almanack for that yeare which was penned at Midsomer 1644. also by Mr William Lilly his Anglicus peace or no peace left at the Printers Decemb. 1644. The learned in Astrology may satisfie themselves without me also blazing starres and other strange meteors and supernaturall sights and apparitions in the Aire The second is the changing of the seasons hot weather out of its season and cold out of its season hot and dry weather a long time upon south winds and many raines upon North-windes The third is when the small pockes and measels vex not only children but men and women of perfect age especially in the Spring The fourth is the winds holding along-time in the south or west The fifth is a darke and troubled Aire a long time without either raine or cleere weather or if after a long drought it raine without thunder The sixt is when women conceived with child do suffer abortion for every light and slight cause The seventh is when in summer time after raine abundance of frogs of diverse colours gather together The eight is a great number more then ordinary of flies spiders and creeping things are seene in the spring The ninth is death of four-footed beastes and fishes The tenth is birds forsaking their nests and leaving their egges there The eleventh is dearth of corne and grain The twelft is a hot and moyst temperature of the yeare But say some Object if the Plague be not infectious what is the reason when it comes into a house sometimes all the house are sick of it and sometimes dye of it This might be sufficiently answered by a retortive Answ All diseases come by Ill directions therefore not by infection Else no nativity can safely be verified by accidents Prevention If so be the Plague be infectious what 's the reason many times but one in a house hath it and all the rest though perhaps they kept a worse diet yet escape any that hath any judgement in nativities can give a reason of it easily Well be it infectious or not infectious prevented it may be as may other demonstrations of the Planets if discretion be used and therefore now to the purpose And in the first place let such as would avoyd this disease avoyd the feare of it for feare changeth the blood into the nature of the thing feared the imagination ruling the spirits natural as is manifest in womens conceptions Secondly let your body be kept soluble if it be not so naturally take a scruple of Pillutae Ruffi Pestilentiales at night when you go to bed Thirdly if your body be full of blood bleed so much as strength and age permit Take a spoonfull of Vinegar of Squils * three or foure times a day viz. Fewer times will serve the turne at ten of the clocke after dinner at foure in the afternoon and after Supper Take the quantity of a Hazle nut of this Electuary invented by Mithridates that renowned King of Pontus and the first Author also of that Electuary that beares his name to this day Mithridate every morning often also used by the Emperour Charles the fift of the vertues of which I have had large experience it is thus made Take of greene Rew gathered in the houre of Sol halfe a handfull blew Figgs six and as many Walnuts with forty Juniper berries and a little Bay-salt beat into an Electuary Let all passions and perturbations of mind be ☞ avoyded together with all violent motions for these inflame the blood so also doth drinking much Wine Let the house be kept clean and pure and alwayes a good fire in it Let the diet be of good juyce quicke of digestion and let him eat sharpe things with his meats such as Vinegar Verjuyce Oranges juyce of Lemmons and Citrons or Pomegranates and let all fruits be avoyded except such as are sowre Let not the stomack be charged with excesse either of meat or drink In Summer-time let the blood be cooled with coole hearbs as Endive Lettuce Purslain Succory and let the drinke be Whey clarified with them Let him use the smels of Ladanum Styrax Calamitis Camphyre Cinnamon Nutmegs wood of Aloes liquid Storax c. Lastly these things are preventionall being taken inwardly and resist the Disease consideratis considerandis viz. Angeliica roots Zedoary Bole Armenicke Terra Lemnia Mithridate Treacle Tormentill and Petasitis roots and Citron pils with
CULPEPERS LAST LEGACY Left and bequeathed to his dearest Wife for the publicke good BEING The Choicest and most profitable of those Secrets which while he lived were lockt up in his Breast and resolved never to be publisht till after his Death CONTAINING Sundry admirable Experiences in severall Sciences more especially in Chyrurgery and Physick Viz. Compounding of Medicines Making of Waters Syrrups Oyles Electurries Conserves Salts Pils Purges and Trochischs With two particular Treatises the one of Feavers the other of Pestilence as also other rare and choice Aphorisms fitted to the understanding of the meanest Capacities Never publisht before in any of his other Works By NICHOLAS CULPEPER late Student in Astrology and Physick Printed for N. Brooke at the Angell in Cornhill 1655. Master Culpepers Wifes Accompt HAving in my Hands these my Husbands last experiences in Physick Chyrurgery c. composed out of his dayly practice which he laid a severe injunction on me to publish for the generall good after his decease therefore to stop the mouths of malicious Persons who may be apt to abuse and slander his labours and to discharge that duty and debt of gratitude due to his name from one so neerly related to him I do hereby testifie that the Copy of what is here printed is truly and really his owne and was delivered to my trust among his choicest secrets upon his death-bed and I do further approve the printing thereof and having viewed them see nothing in them but what is his own To the truth of all which I do here subscribe my hand A. Culpeper WORTHY READERS My Works have hither to been so well knowne unto you and have merited such just applause in the world though envyed by some illiterate Physitians that I am the more confident to goe on doing that good which you have received by my former Labours Viz. 1. Dispensatory 2. English Physitian 3. That incomparable peece of Semiotica Uranica enlarged 4. Catastrophe Magnatum 5. Directory for Midwifes c. This my last Peece the reserve of all the rest I had never thought to have published till now finding indisposition of body to be such as that I have no other way left to continue my owne fame and that happy gratitude which I owe to my Country but by publishing these my last Remaines which I have left to my dâ—â—rest Wâ—f◠〈◊〉 my Legacy being the choicest Secrets which I lockt up in my breast and never made knowne in any of my former Workes And now Reader to speak more fully in the praise of you be confident what thou hast here is what I have gained by my constant practice and by which I have obtained a continuall reputation in the World not doubting but you will receive that satisfaction and advantage which I was ever assured of my selfe and now if it shall please Heaven to put a Period to My Life and studies that I must bid all things under the Sun farewell farewell my dearest wife and Child farewell Arts and Sciences farewell all Worldly glories Adiu Readers Nicholas Culpeper CHAPTER I. Of HEAD-ACH in general with its several Names and Kinds Three sorts of pain in the head OF Head-aches or pains in the head simply there are three sorts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek in Latin Capitis dolor in English the Head-ach The second is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin Cephalaia in English a continued or inveterate Headach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The third is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin Hemicranium in English the Megrim The two former possesse the whole head the latter only the one halfe of it By head I meane in all this treatise onely the scalpe or so much onely of the Head as is covered with haire I question whether all internal pains in the head afflict the eyes but only such whose seat is near the optique nerves And here is pain ingendred sometimes without the scul sometimes within If it lie within the scull there is paine at the roots of the eyes by reason of the immediate influence from thence to the braine if without the scull there is no pain there The first sort of headach called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cometh of diverse causes as heat cold drinesse blood choler wind vapor from the stomack drunkennesse feavers each of which to discourse of will require a several Chapter Severall sorts of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHAPT II. Of the Headach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coming of heat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comming of heat BY Heat I mean only a hot distemper without any kind of moisture or humour It is caused for the most part by the vehement heat of the Sun note that it is extream hurtfull to the braine to stand bareheaded in the Sun The cause ☞ It is also caused by immoderate running jogging or moving especially to such as are not used to it though it be most perillous to those that are used to it it is caused also by being long near the fire through anger and furiousnesse and by hot diseases and smels of hot things The Signs of headach coming by heat are besides immoderate pain Signes you shall feele their Head burning hot when you touch it their skin dryer then it was wont to be their eyes looke red they sleep little or not at all and are delighted by sprinkling or anointing their head with cold things and find ease by it other causes may be known by the relation of the Patient Cautions for the sicke Let the air and Chamber where the sick abideth be cold by nature or else you must make it so by art as by keeping it continually washed by strewing there flowers and herbs and branches of trees that are of a cold nature Aire as Roses Violets Water-lillies Vine-leaves Bryer-boughs Willow boughs Endive Succory or the like also to poure water out of one Vessell into another near him to let him smell to Nose-gayes of cold flowers Great heed must be taken that the Patient sleep well Sleepe yea more than he usually was wont to do if he sleep not well as most labouring of this disease do not provoke him to sleepe with Diascordium if that will not doe use Laudanum two grains if that will not doe use three grains encreasing it till it come to six if he sleep not sooner let his Chamber be quiet free from noise and wrangling for that causeth perturbation of mind Let his meat be but little Meat and let that little be of good digestion as chickens birds that delight in Mountains and dry places rabbets c. let it be dressed with cold herbs as lettice endive purslain and verjuyce also Almond-milke Pomgranates Raisons of the Sun Drinke I doubt water is not so good in cold countries I think a cool julip were better and ripe Pears are wholsome for him but
seame of their head or os triquetrum Cure by unction with oyle of fleabane see Chap. 2. mixed with oyle of sweet almonds or alone by it selfe Let their body be kept soluble Also they may bath their head in water in which strawberry leaves Stoole Bath violet leaves and flowers mallowes and other hearbes that have a moistning vertue have beene boyled CHAP V. Of Headach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coming of plentitude or blood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comming of blood HItherto I have written of Head-ach comming through alteration of the bare quality only I now come to Head-ach caused of fulnesse and abundance of blood I call fulnesse in this place that which the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is when all the four humours abound and be encreased in their proportion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or when blood onely abounds The cause This is caused commonly of eating all such things as ingender abundance of humours in the body as meates and drinkes of great nourishment plentifully taken as also the neglecting and omitting exercises bathes sweatings and usuall purgings bleedings and evacuations The signes be these Signes the face and the eyes be ruddy the veines be swoln so that the least and smalest may be easily seene the pulse is great and vehement the urine reddish and thick the veines of the temples beate more hard strong and vehement then those at the wrest the paine of the head is heavinesse Let the sick be in a cold and dry aire if you can get no such place naturall Cure make it so by art Let his diet be spare Aire let him avoyd things that nourish plentifully as egges flesh c. Let his drink be barly water in which cold hearbs have been boyled as endive Meat succory purselane lettuce Drinke or only barly water with a little Cinnamon Let him use meane exercise Exercise rubbing his body often if his body be soluble and no feaver let him bath often In the beginning of the disease let him blood in the cephalica of that arme on which the griefe lies most if that appeare not take the middle veine Bleeding if bleeding in the arme suffice not let them bleed in the forehead If age or weaknesse or both prohibit bleeding use cupping glasses to the shoulders to draw backe the blood Cupping These done use medicines externall that are cold and astringent Vnction wherewith you are furnished in the second Chapter You must in this disease have a special care that the body be kept soluble if necessity require and neither feaver nor weaknesse hinder Purging give a decoctum Sennae with rubarbe and agricke at i. ʒ iv ℥ After this you may apply such medicines to the head Repelling as disperse the disease and dissipate and repell the humours such be mallow seedes fenugreck seeds chamomel flowers melilot flowers either in bathes liniments or oyles as you think fit Also you may bind the lower parts of the body hard Bindings as the things to call or draw back the humours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comming of Choler CHAP VI. Of the Headach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coming of Choler The cause HEad-ach comming of cholericke humours is caused of all such things as heate and drye the head unnaturally as care anger paine labour watching fasting eating of meates that be cholericke as Garlique Onions pickled herrings and other meates extraordinary salt c. The signes be these the pains be like his that hath headach by reason of heat Signes but that only they have a more sharp and pricking pain as though awles or bodkins were thrust into their heads their face is pale and wan their head is moderately hot bitternesse of the tongue drinesse of the eyes nose and tongue this disease chanceth most to young and flourishing yeares to such as are cholericke of complexion to them that take overmuch businesse in hand and the like Let the sicke abide in a cold and moist aire which may be procured by the Art specified in the second Chapter Cure as by sprinkling the Chamber with cold water Aire by strewing the Chamber with cold herbs and moist flowers and branches of trees their mentioned Let his whole diet be moist let him eat meates that be moist and of good juyce Meates give them Endive Succory Lettice Purslaine small fishes that live in gravelly Rivers Let his drinke be water only Drinkes in which a little Cinnamon hath been boyled but let him altogether abstaine from Wine and strong drinke Let him be kept quiet Sleepes and have long sleepes you may provoke sleep by the rules in the second Chapter let him be merry and refraine from all perturbations of mind Purges You must refrain purging there be a feaver In the beginning of the cure you must purge the cholericke humour with medicines fit for the purpose such be Hiera picra Electuary of the juyce of Roses Rubarb Pillulae aureae Alephanginae c. ☞ But if it chance the cholericke humours do rest quietly in any part of the body as many times it doth and so becometh adust and burneth the place where it lyeth and maketh the man uncapable of receiving purging medicines you must use preparatives to alter and concoct the humour till it appear by the urine to be digested the best way of all to do this is to administer a spoonfull of Vineger of Squils every morning fasting and let the party walke a quarter of an houre after it if you find that too hot as you seldome shall administer it in an ounce of Julep of Roses or Syrupus acetosus Also you may give an ounce of pulp of Cassia at night when he goes to sleep or lenitive Electuary Bolus If they be very costive as it is the nature of choler ☜ to procure costivenesse administer clisters of the mollient herbs viz. Mallows Beetes Violets Clisters Pellitory and Mercury of each a handfull boyled in a quart of ☜ water to three quarters of a pint in which being ☜ strained mingle Diacatholicon i. ℥ Mel rosarum i. ℥ species Hierae picrae i. ʒ make it into a clister Also you may use Oyle of Fleabane for unction in the manner and forme prescribed in the second Chapter Vnct on Beware of ♂ If the disease for all these medicines continue still viralent and malignant Boxing you may apply cupping glasses between the shoulders and friction or rubbing of the armes and legs time and care convenient being used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comming of Wind. CHAP. VII Of the Headach coming of Windinesse The cause IT is a cause of eating abundance of windy things besides the nature of the body and other things were such as were apt to ingender wind It is known by a distention or stretching within the head Signes and that without heavinesse or beating as also by noise in the ears
Let all meats and drinks that ingender wind be utterly avoyded Diet. ☞ If the Infirmity lie onely in the Head and ascend from no other part beneath as many times it is caused onely by weaknesse and imbecillity of the head then inward medicines profit little But you must use Concoctive and Discussive medicines things that concoct wind Concoctives as Fenugreekeseed Linseed Chamomel Yolkes of egges Saffron Hens greace ☞ Goose greace c. Last of all use Discussives such as be Oyle of Dill ☞ and Rew Discussivs Lupines Barley meal Lilly roots Nigella c. But if it come from vapours that ascend from some other part Clisters you must empty the belly with a strong Clister that doth dissolve wind made of of the emollient herbes Anniseeds Carraway Fennell and Cumminseeds adding to the decoction Benedicta laxativa halfe an ounce of the Electuary I meane for this glister draws the vapours ☞ down from the head After this you must strengthen the member that it ingender wind no more Cautions whether it be the stomack liver or spleen it were tedious and superfluous to recite the manner how to strengthen all those parts and others beside these which may in their owne affliction afflict the head also for I purpose if the Lord give me life and health and time to write severally and distinctly of all the diseases in every part of the body Then may you apply to the head things repulsive and driving backe Repulsives such be Vinegar Pomgranate rinds and flowers Wormwood Merlilot Mints Plantain ☜ Walwort Shepherds burse Nutmegs Purslaine Housleek Laurell leaves c. If heat be joyned with wind in the head Unctions use Oyle of Roses which is both repulsive digestive and ☜ discussive mingled with Vineger which is both repulsive and discussive and also attenuating But if there be cold mixed with the wind then use Oyle of Dill and Camomell mingled with the juyce of Rew and Vinegar If the headach continue still malignant use sneezing with white Helebore Sneezing but beware of catching cold of the head after it After all this to strengthen the head Cucusa and repell the relicts of the disease make a Cucusa of these herbs dryed that is sew them betwixt two caps see Chap. 3. Page 7. viz. Roses Knotgrasse Willow leaves Nightshade Marjoram Mother of time Hysop Rue Also the savours of Castoreum Muske Ambergreece and to take Venice treacle or Mithridate inwardly Smels are medicinall for the disease 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caused by the Stomack CHAP VIII Of Headach caused of the Stomack HItherto of diseases caused principally in the head it selfe Cause now a word or two of pain of the head that cometh by consent from other places of the body and first of that which is caused by some evil affection of the stomack and that is caused by some sharpe humour for the most part that aboundeth in the stomack especially in the mouth of it from whence corrupt vapours arising doe ascend into the head It may be knowne by that gnawing and biting paine they feele in their head Signes by their pronesse and desire to vomit also if the sicke fast and suffer hunger long their paine is more vehement for through long abstinence the malice of the humour encreaseth Cure by vomiting In the cure of this disease outward medicines will doe no good the best way of cure is by vomimiting but first prepare the humours by giving Vineger of Squils two or three spoonfuls Consider the strength of nature in the proportion of the vomit Purging or four if two or three worke not divers mornings before the vomit which may be infusion of Crocus metallorum i. ℥ s for many time the humors are viscous and sticke fast If you suppose the stomacke be furred after vomiting give a scruple of Mastich pils every night going to bed for a week or such a matter As for strengthning the stomacke after the disease is cured I shall speake plentifully when I come to speak of the diseases in the stomack So also if headach come from the liver or spleen or any part you shall have plentifull remedies when I come to speak of the places where the cause lies which is needlesse here for take away the cause the effect ceaseth CHAP. IX 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comming of drunkennesse Cause Of Headach caused by drunkennesse THe causes are evident enough for hot Wines Strong-Waters and strong drinks fill the brain with vapours and so much the more if the braine be hot by nature if the os triquetrum be close shut and the sutoriums close shut for they beare drinke lesse before they be drunke then others in which they are more open Cure consisting in evacuation and refrigeration The cure consisteth chieflly in these two things evacuation refrigeration If the Wine be yet indigested give a vomit in the first place If the headach remain after you must use refrigeration to drive backe the vapours that ascend into the head that doth especially above all things Oyle wherein Ivy leaves have been boyled by anointing the head and temples and forehead To prevent drunkennesse are many medicines left by the ancients to posterity Preventions but for mine own part I as yet never tried any of them as to eat six or seven bitter Almonds every morning fasting to drinke a draught of Wormwood-beere sirst in the morning also to burne swallowes in a crucible feathers and all eate a little of the ashes of them in the morning CHAP. X. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comming of feavers Of Headach caused of Feavers IF Headach molest those that have Feavers Praefatio you ☜ must consider whether the body be laxative or not for astringency in Feaves alwayes causeth headach Vel caeli vel signi incertum est puta signi if it be then you must consider whether it began with the feaver or came onely the feaver increasing near the Crisis or when the Moon comes to the opposition of that signe and degree she was in at the decumbiture if she or her beames reach but the place give no physick for vomiting or flux of blood by the nostrils will follow But if the headach began at first with the feaver it is caused through vapours dispersed abroad through the vehemency of the feaver Cause as it were boyling up and ascending into the brain and the brain also for the most part in this disease is weak and not able to repell it but fit to receive it If age permit you may use bleeding If strength permit you may use cupping-glasses but the chief remedy is by remedying the feaver for the cause being taken away Cure Tolle causam tollitur effectus the effect ceaseth and I intend hereafter to write a tractate only of feavers to which I now refer it CHAP. XI 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the Headach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The dignotions of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke in Latin Cephalaea in English an old and invetterate headach it may be knowne from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by these notes it hath been of long continuance exceeding painfull hard to cease every light occasion as noise loud speech cleer light moving drinking of Wine strong smels or the like causes sharp or violent fits the diseased desires to lie in the dark to be quiet often supposing that their heads are stucke with a hammer also some doe feele those things that are about their head as though they were bruised or racked this disease sometimes doth continue painful alwayes sometimes it comes by fits with intermission so that sometimes they thinke themselves perfectly whole This disease doth vex Women ☜ more then men In some the pia Mater or skin that ☜ knits the senses together which lyeth round the braine within the dura mater is vexed in some onely the ☜ Pericranium or skin that covereth the skull round is vexed It is caused either by abundance of blood and other humours or by the sharpnesse of the humours Cause contained either within or without the scull inflaming the head also it is caused through weaknesse of the head If the pain invade the sicke with heavinesse Signes it sheweth the disease to proceed of fulnesse and abundance of humours if it come with pricking gnawing and shooting it betokeneth sharpnesse of humours if it beat like pulses it betokeneth inflammation if there be felt distention or stretching out without beating or heavinesse it comes of wind if there be beating with it it is a hot wind if heavinesse there are humours as well as wind if the paine be felt superficially or outwardly the disease lies in the Pericranium if inwardly it lies in the Pia Mater and then is there alwayes a paine in the rootes of the eyes for the tunicles of the eyes have their beginning from the brain ☜ As for diet and aire the cause being knowne Cure you may easily gather out of the former Chapter If it come through abundance of humours you may in the first place let blood Oyle of Vervaine used in Unction is an approved medicine unles there be inflammations or feavers joyned with it for them use Oyle of Fleabane both considered as in the former Chapters Have a great care that sleep be moderate and the body soluble You may also for fear of Relapsing purge the head with strong Gargarismes made with juyce of Leeks Pellitory of Spain long Pepper Mustard or the like Or by sneezing if the infirmity lie within the scull CHAP. XII Of the Megrim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek Description in Latin also Hemicranium in English the Megrim is a painfull evill lying in the one halfe of the head only the right side or the left and is distinguished by the seame that runneth all along the scull from the middle part of the forehead to the hinder part of the head or nape of the neck this pain cometh often by fits and in some the griefe is felt without the scull in some within and that deepe in the braine in some in the Muscles near the Temples It is caused by ascending or flowing of many vapours or humours Cause or by the Arteries or by both and sometime it proceeds from the brain it selfe thrusting out its excrements and superfluities when the passages are stopped The Signes whereby you may know whether vapours Signes or humours do abound whether they be hot or cold whether within the scull or without may be drawne out of the former Chapters only this I adde if the pain lie in the Pericranium the pain is so vehement that they canot suffer their heads to be touched with ones hand Their Dyet what they should eat and what they should eschew Diet. may be gathered out of the former Chapters according to the diversity of the causes yet let them by all meanes avoid all such things as send sharp vapors up into the Head as Garlique ☜ Onions Mustard Raddish roots c. If the Infirmity lie without the Scull Cure as most commonly it doth comb the head if the pain lie on the right side with a combe made of the right horn of a Ram I suppose it were best the Ram were killed when the Sun * Or at least when Mars is there is in Aries if it lie on the left side with a comb made of the left horn of a Ram and this for ought I know may do it if the disease lie within the Scull If it lie near the Temples among the Musces rub them often either with your hand or with a cloth till they be hot when the pain is over and that many times remedyeth the disease if it lie there Also Euphorbium mixed with Oyle and put into the ear on that side the paine lies take more or lesse Euphorbium according as the parties senses are dull or quicke a scruple of Euphorbium is enough for an ounce of Oyle and one drop is sufficient to put into the ear at one time Also Euphorbium dissolved in Vinegar and applyed by way of Unction to the grieved part of the head profiteth much But beware you use not Euphorbium if the disease come of hot Humours or Vapours Also Earthworms beaten to powder Snailes ☜ Peach kernels Goats dung mingled with Vinegar of Squils are medicinall If it comes of hot Humours use those medicines prescribed for the headach coming of hot humours If it come of plenitude use blood betting In fine purge the Humour that causeth the Disease CHAP. XIII Of Vertigo or swimming in the Head VErtigo is a Disease wherein a man thinketh all that he sees turnes round Description it is a Disease my selfe have been often for many yeares terribly vexed withall insomuch that at the last I many times fell down in a swoon and fainted This Disease often turneth to the Falling-sicknesse as it had almost done in my selfe though after much and vast expence of Physicke one Vomit absolutely cured me therefore I shall be more large in the signes of this Disease This Disease is caused through inordinate moving of Vapours that are windy Cause contained in certain parts of the Brain this Disease is caused either because the Brain it selfe is ill-affected or of Vapours ascending from the Stomack thither the Braine it selfe is offended by a Humour aeriall from whence a windy spirit moveth inordinately about and troubleth the apprehension so that all things the man seeth seeme to turne round also the Brain is offended by the mouth of the Stomack when windy exhalations are carried from thence to the Brain which happeneth by corruption or putrefaction in the Stomack the Vapours of which being penetrating move about the Brain Galen makes a great stir and so also doth Hippocrates to prove two sorts of
either totally or partially But note here that the palsey that followeth the Apoplexie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is properly and particularly called by the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the palsey sometimes sesne only is lost and not moving sometimes moving and not sense and sometimes both sense and moving yet the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies properly loss of motion A word to satisfie the curious Quest that may aske why sometimes sense only and sometimes motion only should be lost You must note that the faculty of motion Answ as well as that of sense flowes from the brain as from the fountaine and is derived from thence by the nerves to the instruments of sense and motion and so either sense or motion is lost according as the sinews that convey sense or motion are affected in the disease therefore it being considered that divers members participate in two kinds of sinews the one for sense the other for motion I doe not yet understand this the doubt is easily cleered One sinew may be hurt and motion is lost the other may be hurt and that fare then sense is lost and motion remains both are hurt and then farewell pro tempore sense and motion If members participate but of one sinew as few do perhaps none yet Gallen saith some do and at present I cannot contradict him I rather adhear to this judgment lesse vertue is required for feeling then for motion saith he and so if the sinew be much hurt sense and motion are both lost if it be but little hurt onely motion is lost The matter indeed is scarce worth disputing for or writing of and therefore I proceed The Original of this disease lies sometimes in the Brain Description and sometimes in the marrow of the backe If the disease lie in the back as but seldome it doth then is the face firme and then sometimes halfe sometimes the whole body is paralitick according as the halfe or whole marrow of the backe is vitiated If it come from the Brain it lies only in some particular Pellicles thereof for if the whole Brain be vitiated it is an Apoplexy These things being first duly considered we come to the cause It is caused through vehement and inordinate cold Cause or through grosse and clammy Humours that stop the passages that the animal vertue cannot passe freely from the Centre to the Circumference If it come from the back it is caused through Inflamation or hard swelling without sense called Schirrus hapning at the backe bone or nigh to it or other siinewy part dependant thereon whereby the sinews are pressed together and so stopped that the animal vertue cannot passe It may happen by ablow or wound The Disease is so apparent that it needs no Signs The Palsey is no acute oâ— sharpe Disease Prognostica and for the most part is curable ☞ It chanceth for the most part to ancient people and beginneth commonly in the Winter time If the Palsey come by a cut or wound it is incurable and very difficult if the Paralitique members wane or wan lesse and lesse for then it sheweth the parts to want spirit naturall as well as animal Let his Diet be extenuating and drying Diet. let his Meat be easie of digestion and roasted viz. Birds that frequent dry grounds Almonds Raisons of the Sun Pine Nuts For Pot-herbs Herbs let him use Fennel Pursley Hisop Marjoram Sage and Savory Let him eschew Water-fowl Caution Fish and all other meats that are cold and moist and flegmaticke Let the Aire he abides in be hot and dry Aire if not make it so by Art Let him drinke no Wine but Hippocras Drink and let him use Cinnamon in all his drink or broth It is good for him to indure as much thirst as he can Let his sleeps be but mean Slâ—epe and let him not sleep at all in the day Let him use as much exercise as well he can Exercise Let him be merry and cheerfull Mirth and fly anger vexation and other perturbations of the mind If there be signes of Plenitude Bleeding you may draw out blood moderately for feare of over-cooling of the sound side else forbear If he have not a Stool once a day Clisters provoke him with a Clister Acetum Scilliticum Cure or Vinegar of Squils taken two spoonfuls every morning fasting is a soveraign medicine So is also Castoreum Sneezing If it lie in the Brain sneezing is good which you may provoke with white Hellebore but let it be in the Evening the party in bed and their head wrapped warm for fear of after-claps Unction Also use Unctions to the nape of the necke for their the marrow of the hacke hath its passage to the Brain use first weak ones such as Oyle Chamomel More properly the Brain hath its passage to the spinalis medulla Bath Dill St Johns Wort or Earthworms Then after some dayes such as are stronger as Oyle of Bricks or Tile-stones Castoreum and Euphorbium Wherewith you may anoint all the paralitique members wrapping them up hot afterwards in a Fox skin Also you may make a Bath with St Johns Wort Rosemary Staechas Sage Marjoram and Camomel boyled in Water wherewith you may bath the paralique members before you anoint them Ceratum Also this Cerecloth is excellent to apply to the paralitique members Take of Oyle ii â„¥ Oyle of Pepper i. â„¥ ss Oyle of Euphorbium ii Ê’ Aqua vitae ii â„¥ ss juyce of sage Marjoram or cowslops of each ii â„¥ ss Galanga iii. Ê’ Pellitory of the wall and pepper of each a dram Staechas and Rosemary of each ii Ê’ EuphorbiumÊ’ ss boyle it till the Aqua vitae be consumed then strain it and put wax enough to it to make a Cerecloth Also you may make a quilt for his head with Hysop Cucufa Marjoram St Johns Wort Sage Rew Bay-leaves of each ii Ê’ Spikenard Mastich Castoreum and Staechas of each ii ℈ Cloves Mace Nutmegs of each i. ℈ red-rose-leaves well dryed halfe a handfull make of them a quilt as you are taught Chapter 3. Use these medicines to the head if the disease lie there to the nape of the necke and the back bone if the disease lie there CHAP. XX. Of the Palsey in one Member ALthough any expert man may draw out of what hath beene written before the cure of the resolution of any member the radix being the same yet to satisfie the unskilfull I thought good to write a line or two If any member be paralitique search from what root the sinews come that supply that member and mend it there at the root with the former medicines There is also a kind of Palsey called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin Tortura oris in English wrinesse of the mouth this you may cure also by the aforesaid medicines
a pultise with bran the which lay between the navils and the privities of one that hath the strangury and it will helpe him 64. If thy nose bleed chew the hearb pervincle in thy mouth and it will cease 65. Vervain boyled and the house sprinkled with the decoction drives flies out of it 66. A suppository made of white sope and put up the fundament is a medicine inferiour to none for one that is costive 67. The roots of flower-deluce bruised and boyled in white wine are an excellent provoker of urine 68. Chamomel and Betony of each an equall quantity boyled in vineger to a pultis and applyed warm to the head helpes the Megrim and the inveterate head-ach called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 69. Rosemary tops boyled in ale in like manner and applied to the temples doth the like 70. If thou be costive 't is a hundred to one if choler be not the cause but if not boyl the hearb Mercury in thy pottage in stead of hearbs and let them be but halfe boyled this pottage so eaten will not only take away the effects by making thy body slippery but also the cause 71. Take of Rew Sage and Cummin seeds bruised of each a handfull beaten pepper halfe an ounce make a strong decoction of them in water the which boyl into a syrrup with honey this syrup will help an inveterate cough by taking one spoonfull of it in the morning and another at evening 72. Three drops of a mans owne water put into his eare every morning warm helps noyse there 73. A strong decoction made with Plantane in White-wine drunk every morning doth the like 74. An oyntment made with Ivy-leaves and hogs-grease is excellent for swelling of the eyes 75. Take three or four great Onnions and having rosted them well in the embers take off the outward pill then bruise them with a few cummin seeds in pouder this applied plaister-wise in a few times using helps the head-ach This I am perswaded the hair being shaven off it is a good remedy for the Lethargy 76. Take wormwood and mallows of each alike quantity boyl them in water till they be soft then by adding-barly meal or malt-flower which is better and a little vineger and sheep suet to them they make an excellent pultis for any swelling whatsoever 77. The liquor wherein neats-feethave been boyl'd is an excellent bath to bath swolle legs in and if you will add chick-weed mallows and smallage to it t will be never the worse 78. Also when you have well bathed your Legs therein you may take out the hearbs and apply them to the soles of your feet 79. The juyce of Vervain or if it be time of year you cannot get it take the decoction of the dryed hearb it mightily encreaseth not barely milke but good milke in Nurses 80. The blood of a Hare dryed and taken inwardly breaks the stone in the bladder 81. The claws of a Goat burnt to powder and a dram of the powder taken in the morning helps such as cannot hold their water 82. To drinke an Allum Posset is a good remedy for overflowing of a Womans Menstruis 83. The juyce of Sorrel mixed with the like quantity of Milke is an excellent remedy being drunke for pissing blood 84. Pigeons dung mixed with Vinegar is excellent to anoint Warts with if you would be rid of them 85. The juyce of Primrose-roots snuffed up into the Nose is an excellent remedy for the Megrim 86. Take an Onion and having cut a round hole in the middle of it fill it full of Oyle then rost it by a gentle fire and having taken off the outward pill stamp it together and apply it warm to the deafe ear to restore hearing 87. An ointment made with Leek-blades and hogs grease is excellent good for burnings 88. A decoction of Earth-worms Sallendine and Ivy-berries in White-wine take equall quantities of each is an excellent remedy for the yellow Jaundice and if towards the latter end of the decoction you adde a little Saffron tyed up in a rag 't will be the better 89. Take the roots of Female Ferne such as in Sussex are called Brakes and having bruised them well mix some raw Cream with them so have you an excellent plaister for a scald He that hath any wit may make an Unguent or plaister of them to keep alwayes by him 90. The powder of burnt Garlicke helps the Hemorrhoids being strewed upon the place 91. The powder of Anniseeds strewed there doth the like 92. A rosted Onion laid to the place workes the same effect 93. An excellent cool ointment for wounds that have inflammations is thus made take of Litharge of Gold very finely powdered as much as you will and with Oyle of Roses and Verjuyce of each equall parts make it into an oinment by stirring it up and downe in a Mortar without the heat of the fire as it cooles so it dries exceedingly 94. For Ach in the Legs or Arms a precious remedy take very stale Ale and with the Gaul of an Oxe boyle it till it be as thicke as Birdlime when it is cold then anoint the grieved member with it by the fire it will be fluid when t is hot as hot as he can endure it and when it is dryed in once or twice spread some of it upon a peice of white leather and apply to it when it is hard take it off and apply to it another the former will wax soft again thus doing three or four dayes will help you 95. For the Megrim put some Assa foetida into the eare on that side the paine lies and the matter causing the disease will come out at the Nose And yet it may by my Authors leave be some question whether the Megrim lie within the scul or without 96. Take Snails Shels and all and burn them in a crucible till the ashes be white halfe a dram of this taken in White-wine is a great provoker of Urine 97. Take a quantity of water-grasse that part of it that grows above the water and having beaten it presse out the juyce this juyce a little of it being dropped into the contrary ear of one that hath the tooth-ach cures him of that paine for ever saith my Author 98. Take a piece of blew cloth wollen cloth the deeper the blew the better burn it to powder a little of this powder snuffed up the nose stops the bleeding of it 99. It is certain and by dayly experience verified that Elder barke if you slip it upward will provoke vomiting if downward it purgeth by stool 100. It s property is to cleanse the body of crudities and indigestion and they cause three quarters of the diseases in man you need but run to an Elder-tree for the cure and you may find one a great deale on this side Arabia if your stomack trouble you slip it upwards but if the disease afflict not the first digestion then slip it downwards 101. Polipodium stamped and plaistered upon
Mans blood Stags blood Goats blood Clense as Salt of Urine Honey Vineger CHAP. VIII Of Pills The Pills I here treat of either Binde as Pills of Bdellium Ease paine as Pills of Opium Laudanum è Styrace è Cynogloss â Scribonii or Purge Pills purge Choller from the head as Auriae Arabicae from the Liver Rhubarb Agrimony Flegm from the head Cochiae Hiera cum Agarico Alhandal from the breast Agrick Hiera cum Agarico from the stomach Alephangin Mastich Stomachicae Ruffi from the Joynts Hermodactils Arthriticae Foetidae Sagapenum Opopanax Sarcocolla Pills Purge Melancholly from the Liver and Spleen Fumitory Indi Lapis Lazuli Mixt humors Head Sine quibus esse Nolo Lucis Majores Cochiae Stomach Assaireth Turbith Imperiall Ruffi Liver De tribus Alkekengi All parts Agregative CHAP. IX Of Troches Troches Alter vid. pag. seq Purge Choller Rubarb Flegm De Agarico Agaricus trochiscatus Alhandal de Scillâ Troches alter according to Quality Property Inquality they are Hot as of Lignum Aloes Saffron Crocomagma Cold as of Spodium Diasantalon Camphire In property they Binde as Earth of Lemnos Amber Barberries Spodium Corrall Soften as of Capers Open Bitter Almonds Hâ—patici Wormwood Roses Bechici Albi. Nigri De Lacca Alkekengi Agrimony In property they open Aliptae Moschatae Mirh Anniseed Rhubarb Clense as Cyphios Resist poyson De Vipera Ramich Hedicteroi Gallia Moschata Diarrhodon Ease pain Diarrhodon Diaspermaton Camphire APHORISMES Exceeding requisite for such as intend the noble though too much abused practice of PHYSICK Containing the quality of Medicines COLLECTED BY NICH CULPEPER Gent. Student in PHYSICK LONDON Printed by J. G. for Nath Brook at the Angel in Cornhill 1655. Aphorismes I. ALL Medicines operate by a way either manifest or hidden II. We call that a manifest way which is obvious to the sences especially to the tast and feeling but that a hidden way which is obvious to no sence III. All medicines working by a manifest way performe their office by heat or cold moistning or drying IV. Neither is there any Simple so temperate but one of these doth in one measure or another prevaile V. Medicines temperate Yet are those usually called Temperate which excell not in cold moisture heat or drynesse to the first degree VI. These being put in any Medicine alter not the quality of it VII These are used in such infirmities in which there is no manifest distemper of the first qualities viz. Heat Cold Drinesse Moisture as for example in obstructions of the Bowells for then we dare not give hot things for feare of a Feaver VIII Also in such Feavers where the effect is hot and dry the Cause cold and moist that so we may neither encrease the Feaver nor make the Flegm thick by cold IX Things contrary are taken away by their contraries things like are preserved by their like X. The degrees of intemperature were observed that so the part of the body afflicted might be brought to its proper temper and no further for if a Physician should give a thing extreamely cold in a disease but meanly hot he might soon cure that and bring a worse in its roome XI Hot in the first degree Those things are said to be hot in the first degree which doe onely cherish naturall heat or restore it being lost and that without any hurt at all to the body chillinesse of the body and paines coming by such distempers are remedied this way XII These also are sometimes given not onely in cold but also in hot afflictions XIII For it looseth and discusseth thick humours that are compacted together by its gentle heat opening the pores and causeth sweating XIV Amongst these such are chiefly to be used which are most friendly to our bodies viz. suitable to our complexions XV. Such are called Anodines or easers of paine XVI Also take notice that such Medicines whether Simple or Compound that are hot and moist cannot excell their due moderation of heat XVII Such also take away Wearinesse open the Pores and consume the superfluous Vapours in Feavers XVIII Yet may a foolish use of these bring inconveniences even to the consumption of the vitall Spirits as happens many times in Inflammations of the Bowells c. XIX This usually happens by applying such a medicine as is not appropriated to that part of the body it is applyed to puta the applying a Cephalick medicine to the bowells XX. Hot in the second degree Such things are said to be hot in the second degree whose heat is greater than the naturall heat of our bodies besides their heat offends the Palat. XXI Their use is for such whose Stomach is offended by Flegm to heat and dry them XXII They open Obstructions and the Pores of the Skin not gently and by perswasion or faire words as it were but by threatning XXIII Their common use is to cut and discusse tough thick viscous humors XXIV In the third degree Such as are hot in the third degree worke the same effects more violently for they open Obstructions by violence and fine force XXV The heat of these are so great that many times they stirre up Feavers XXVI Their use is to divide stubborne and compacted humors and provoke sweat whence it comes to passe that most of them resist poyson XXVII In the fouâ—th degree Lastly those obtaine the fourth and last degree of heat which burne and raise blisters on the Body being outwardly applyed XXVIII I am of opinion that these ought not to be taken inwardly but with great discretion and in urgent necessities XXIX It is in vaine to urge the common taking of Onions Garlick c. against this a man may if he please so accustome his body to poyson that for present it may not poyson him though for present it bring his body to great inconveniences and make way for future diseases XXX Medicines cold in the first degree Also Physicians have allotted to cold medicines four degrees of coldnesse XXXI Amongst which those obtain the first degree which are but lightly and gently cold XXXII Nor perse although per accidens Yet because we live and are cherished by heat no cold thing is properly friendly to our natures XXXIII Their use is not onely to cool the heat of diet and bring it to a gratefull temper but also to represse the unbridled heat of the body as in internall inflammations feavers c. XXXIV In such occasions let such as are cold in the first degree be administred to Children and such as have weak natures as also such whose bodies are little distempered with heat XXXV Cold in the second degree Such bodies as are stronger or whose livers are hotter may use such things as are cold in the second degree XXXVI In the third If the body be very strong the stomach and liver very hot such with due moderation may use medicines cold in the third degree XXXVII In the fourth Such as are cold