teeth or from fears the signs of those diseases will manifest If fear be the cause the standers by or tenders can evidence the same Now if none of these be the cause then it is probable it may arise primarily from the brain The Prognosticks The Falling sicknesse and convulsion are diseases very horrible to behold and dangerous in all persons and ages and doth kill many children that are taken therewith so soon as they be born Where these fits happen to young children 't is more dangerous then in grown persons because they can bear and endure the fits better The cure For the cure of these diseases somthing must be done in the fit and something when the fit is over What is to be done in the fit First in the fit give three or four drops of spirit of Castor in beer or milk also black Cherry water with a little sirup of Pyony or give a small spoonful of this following Julep A Julep Take of Piony water and linden water of each one ounce sirupe of Piony compound half an ounce spirit of black Cherries two drachmes magister of Coral a scruple mix them together and give it as before is shewed Put to the nostrils Rue bruised or oyl of Amber or Balsam of Amber Apply to the Region of the heart and to the Temples Mithridate or London Treacle with the juice of Rue and a little wine or water Epileptick of Langius Let the nape of the neck and the ridge of the back be anoynted with this following Take oyl of Castor or oyl of Euphorbium half an ounce the juice of Rue one ounce boyl them together to the consumption of the juice and use it Hang about the neck of the childe a thin slice of Piony or white Briony roots as green as you can What must be done when the fit is over Secondly something must be done out of the fit If the child be five or six years old you may give it this potion A purging potion Take of Agarick trochiscated four scruples infuse it five or six hours in Oxymel of Squils strain it hard and add thereto of Castor in powder three greins sirupe of Roses solutive with Agarick one ounce Balm water one ounce make a potion and give it in a morning fasting Let the child constantly take of the Julep before mentioned and be kept anointed with the oyl of Castor and juice of Rue also let it wear about it's neck constantly a root of male Peony or white Briony In Italy and other places where this disease is very frequent 〈◊〉 soon as children be born they cauterize or burn them in the neck with a hot iron or else drop a burning wax candle upon the place where they desire to make an Issue and that to prevent the falling sicknesse for hereby they think the brain is dryed and by pain the humour which doth flow or may flow is drawn and derived â—o the hinder part of the head especially if the Issue be made by burning for thereby whatsoever is gathered together in the brain that is offensive is evacuated Cornelius Celsus was of the same minde Lib. 3. Cap. 28. fol. 40. for he adviseth to have an Issue made there in two places and he saith it is the last refuge or remedy for to cure the Falling sicknesse But I conceive that it is not safe to use such a remedy in young and tender bodies for if the bodies of such young and tender children will not suffer purging or bleeding how shall they endure burning when as this must needs bring continual pain and watchings whereby the strength must also decay Again although an Issue may be profitable where the falling sicknesse ariseth primarily and chiefly from the brain yet when the Falling sicknesse ariseth from the lower parts which doth often happen to children it doth not profit when as the matter or ill vapor that cometh from the lower parts cannot be turned from the brain If the Falling sicknesse arise from worms then use means against worms as you may see in the Chapter of worms to which means may be added the root of Piony red Coral c. Let the Mother or Nurse keep a good dyet and neither eat nor drink any thing that may offend the childe or occasion these fits See more in my book of the chief diseases of the head in the 6. 7. Chapters CHAP. 5. Of the pain in the ears with inflammation moistures ulcers and worms thereof AMong the diseases of children a Hippocrat Appli sect 3. 24. Hippocrates in his Aphorismes doth nominate the moisture or running of the ears For when the brain of infants is very moist great part of that superfluous moisture is evacuated or purged by the ears yet this doth not often happen without inflammation Therefore when abundance of moist humours do flow plentifully to the ears they cause inflammation also grievous pain is joyned therewith which in moist bodies of children cannot be dispersed or dissolved but is turned into matter so that blood and matter doth flow out of the ears The cause The cause is abundance of moist humours and excrements of the brain which nature cannot expel by the nose and Palat. The signs The moisture of the ears is easily known by it's running but pain and inflammation thereof is not so easily discerned because infants cannot declare the same but it may be known by their crying out and unquietnesse especially being touched neer their ears also rednesse and heat is perceived about the ear or ears The Prognosticks These diseases are not to be sleighted for such pains in grown persons have proved dangerous much more therefore in children if it continue long Inflammation of the ears is many times dangerous and brings a delirium or dotage and indangers life In ulcers of the ears if the matter be white not too thick nor too thin neither bloody nor much stinking it is the better Inveterate and long continued Ulcers of the ears are dangerous because they soon turn to a Fistula The cure For pain of the ears use oyl of Roses or oyl of Violets warm or milk warm dropped into the ears and afterwards stopped with wool or drop therein the juice of Origanum and milk mixed together Or drop in a little Linseed oyl warm or use a decoction of the heads of white Poppy or the white of an Egg beaten and mixed with a little milk or put a little Saffron into the ears Against moistnesse of the ears and ulcers thereof use hony of Roses and water of hony dip a clout or tent therein and put it warm into the ears or put in oyl of bitter Almonds warm For worms in the ears use oyl of bitter Almonds and Myrrhe in powder as in two drachmes of oyl put of Myrrhe in powder a scruple or thirty grains or put the juyce of Wormwood warm into the ears Or take of Aloes Myrrhe and the seeds of Coloquintida of each a drachme boyl them in two ounces of oyl of Roses
is subject to watchings else use not the last Outward means Outward means are these following make a Bath if it be Summer of the tops of Dill Cammomil flowers Mallowes Willow leaves Vine leaves and the heads of Poppy white or red and wash the feet therewith You may anoint the temples with oyl of Roses or oyl of Violets or water Lillies or with Populeon oyntment or you may use oyl of Nutmegs made by expression to the temples warm or you may make a Pulcis of white Poppy seed womans milk or Rose water or Nightshade water and the white of an egg with a little Saffron Anoint the nostrils with oyl of Violets mixed with the juice of Nightshade If it proceed from breeding of teeth then use those means set down in the Chapter of breeding teeth Let the Nurse use a good dyet and means that may cause sleep as Almond milk made with a decoction of Lettice and white Poppy seeds Or she may take a spoonful of sirup of white Poppy for three or four nights together in Posset drink CHAP. 11. Of Fear Starting and terrible dreams AMong the diseases that are incident to children Hippocrates mentions great fears and startings which is nothing else but troublesome sleep accompanied with terrible dreams The cause The causes hereof are impure and filthy vapors which mingle themselves with the animal spirits and trouble the same representing terrible fancies to the imagination now these vapors arise from the bad concoction of the stomach Therefore this disease is very subject to children who suck the milk very greedily or eat abundantly and so receiving more nourishment then the stomach can digest it is corrupt and so these vapors arise to the brain and trouble he animal spirits Neither is it absurd to say that these vapours do not onely ascend by the * Oesophagus is that part by which meat and drink are turned down into the stomach Oesophagus or gullet but that by the veins they ascend up to the head Elder children are subject to this disease as well as younger Galen saith these fears are caused when there is a natural imbecibillity or weaknesse of the childs stomach and the meat received is corrupted in it which cause vapours to arise up to the head and bring these startings Sometimes they come from worms and when they breed their teeth The signs The signs are manifest for they often start in their sleep screech and cry out suddenly and many times they shake and are all in a water and most times a hot and stinking vapour proceedeth out of the childs mouth The Prognosticks This disease must not be sleighted because many times it is the forerunner of the Falling sicknesse The cure For the cure hereof means must be used to take away the corrupt humours in the stomach Let the Nurse keep to a moderate dyet and use meats that hinder corruption and abstain from all vitious and corrupt food as Pease Beans Leeks Onions Colewort c. that so the milk may be good which the childe sucketh Let the childe suck but sparingly and moderately least by too often sucking the stomach be oppressed neither let the childe after sucking or feeding be laid to sleep but kept watching a while that so the nourishment may descend to the bottome of the stomach and the concoction be the better When it is laid to sleep let it not be much rocked for overmuch shaking of the child hindreth digestion and causeth the childe many times to vomit To remove the corrupt food in the stomach let the childe take oyl of sweet Almonds or sirup of Succory or Manna or a little hony of Roses solutive you may give a spoonful or two of either for these will cleanse the corrupt humours and provoke to stool Give the child half a scruple or more of Pyony seeds in a little milk morning and evening or give it a little Magister of Coral Or Take Magister of Coral a drachme species Pleres Archonticon a scruple Sugar dissolved in Rosewater one ounce make rouls or cakes and give of them to the childe or dissolve them in beer and so give them Let the stomach be anointed morning and evening with oyl of wormwood Mints Nardus Mastick or oyl of Nutmegs Or Take oyl of Wormwood and Mastick of each a drachme Cloves in powder ten grains wax half a drachme make a Liniment and anoint the stomach therewith If starting come of worms or from a feaver then use those means set down in the several Chapters Great care must be taken against all occasions of fear and frighting be taken away CHAP. 12. Of Rheume the Cough and shortnesse of breath THe Cough Rheume and shortnesse of breath doth oftentimes much molest and disquiet children The cause The cause of rheume in children is from their natural constitution or moist temper of brain from which many excrements are easily heaped together And this happens from abundance of milk oppressing the stomach from whence many vapours arise up to the brain and fill the same For if the brain be filled with excrementitious humours or molested with the cold air which the child was not used to in the mothers womb or with too much heat or being kept too hot either the head or body the matter gathered together in the brain doth plentifully fal down to the nostrils mouth or lungs Now if these excrementitious humours cannot be purged by the nostrils they slide down into the rough artery cause a cough If they fall down to the lungs they cause shortnesse of breath The Signs Whether the humor be hot or cold is easily known for if it be hot the humour is more thin and the child doth often sneese the face and cheeks are hot and the mouth of the child is hot which may be perceived by the nipples of the nurse as also in sucking If the humour be cold then the contrary is found Now whether the shortnesse of breath proceed of matter descending from the head or from a phlegmatick blood ascending from the veins to the lungs may be thus known if it come from the head there is a cough and rheume doth follow and sometimes as they breath they snort and make a noise because the air is stopped coming from the lungs But if it come from a flegmatick humour arising from the hypochonders then there is neither cough nor rheume and the hypochonders are puffed up and swollen The Prognosticks Rheumes and also the cough following and shortnesse of breath in infants and children are not to be neglected because strong Coughing doth not onely cause watchings and vomiting but Ruptures and Rheumes also bring suffocations and death many times These Rheumes and Coughs in children are not so easily cured because those medicines cannot be used which bring expectoration or spitting and to cause the matter to be easily spit out The cure Let the nurse keep a temperate dyet avoiding all sharp and salt meats as also all things that cause vapours to ascend up to
digestion If the Infant suck or not and the flux be of some continuance means must be used to stay it and such means as first cleanse and then bind the body as sirup of Roses solutive or hony of Roses solutive Clysters may be used A Clyster Take of Barly water made with steel four ounces red Sugar one ounce mix them together and make a Clyster Where the humours are cleansed and the flux doth proceed from a hot cause give sirup of dry Roses sirup of Quinces sirup of Mirtles sirup of red Coral c. Or give the powder of Mirtles with a little Dragons blood or give Sorrel seed Plantain seed or red Roses in powder with the yolk of an Egg rosted at the fire Or Take of Mullein flowers red Roses of each half a small handful of Comfry roots the greater and Tormentil roots of each a drach bruise the roots and boyl them all in water strain it and to three ounces of the clearest add one ounce of sirup of Quinces and give the child often of it or take Nutmeg and Mastick in powder of each a scruple give it at twise with the juyce or a scruple of Quinces Or Take Acorn cups Sorrel seed and the kernels of Raisons dryed of each a drachme white Poppy seed half a drachme make them into powder and give ten grains or twenty grains of it morning and evening in sirup of Quinces or sirup of red Coral Outward means must be used also Take oyl of Mirtles oyl of Roses oyl of Mastick of each one ounce with half an ounce of wax make an ointment and anoint the belly therewith morning and evening warm Or Bath the belly with a decoction made of red Roses Mullein Plantain in red Wine Or Take red Rose leaves Mullein of each a handful Cipres roots two drachmes Mastick half an ounce make them into grosse powder and make a quilt or bag which being boyled in red Wine apply it warm to the belly Or Take of the pulpe of Quince boyled in red Wine 4. ounces of tosted bread wet in Vinegar one ounce and a half with a little oyl of Mastick make a Pultis and apply it to the belly and stomach warm Or lay to the belly a plaister of a crust of bread or the Cerot called Stomachale If it come from a cold cause and that the excrements be white give sirup of Quinces with Mint water Some commend the maw of a Kid or Hare if ten grains thereof be given and the child to take no milk that day least it curdle in the stomach but give it bread boyled in water with Rosewater and Sugar Apply outwardly Mints Wormwood Mastick and Comin seed Or Take of Rose seeds one ounce Comin seed and Annised of each two drachmes make them into powder and with oyl of Mastick oyl of Wormwood and a little wax make an ointment and use it warm to the belly Or Apply Mints boyled in red Wine to the stomach or a crust of bread wet in Mint water or make a quilt or bag of Mints Wormwood red Roses Mastick Nutmegs and Cloves and apply it to the belly CHA.P. 18. Of Costivenes or stopping of the belly AS Children are often troubled with fluxes of the belly so are they many times troubled with stopping thereof The cause It may proceed from extream cold and drynesse of the belly which happens to some children from their birth or from tough and flegmatick humours which are as it were rowled up with the excrements and cleave so fast to the bowels that they are hardly voided or from corrupt milk with which the childe is nourished from whence tough and flegmatick humours are bred in the stomach which cometh to passe by reason of the weaknesse thereof as also when the mother or nurse feed upon tough meats and drink but little for it seldom happeneth that children are fed with such dyet except grown children or it may come from the intemperate heat of the Liver spleen or reins of the childe whereby the excrements become dry or it may happen when Choller that comes from the gall and should be carried down to the bowels is turned some other way The Signs The signs are manifest If it be from a natural drynesse then the childe is constantly bound and stopt If tough and thick flegme be the cause the excrements that are voided are mixed with the same If there be any error in the Mother or Nurse by ill dyet that is easily known If it be from the heat and drinesse of the Liver and Spleen or Kidneys it is known by those signs that shew the heat of those parâ—s If Choller be turned an other way and that be the cause then the excrements are white and not dyed at all with Choller and the skin of the child looks yellow The Prognosticks Children that are much bound in their bodies have seldom their health well and it is far better for youth to have their bellies loose then bound ill vapours arise from the excrements to the whole body and cause gripings of the belly pain of the head and many other distempers The cure First let the Mother or Nurse use a loosening dyet and such things as are mollifying And let them take also Manna Cassia or sirup of Roses or a little Hony in the morning If the child be of some reasonable growth then you may give it Manna or Cassia as from two drachmes to one ounce or if it be young you may give it half an ounce or one ounce of sirup of Roses Suppositories also made of Hony and Salt and put up into the body are good and safe or Violet comfits anointed with oyl and so used or Clisters may be given as take common oyl two three or four ounces of brown Sugar two or three drach the yolk of an egg Salt three or four corns make a Clyster and administer it Or Take of Marsh-mallowes half an ounce common Mallowes Pellitory of the Wall of each half a handful Cammomil flowers Linseed and Fenigreek bruised of each a drachme boyl them in sufficient water and take of the strained liquor three four or six ounces according to the age of the childe in which dissolve of Cassia two three or four drachmes common oyl one ounce or one ounce and a half with the yolk of an egg make a Clyster You may anoint the Navil of the childe with Butter or oyl of sweet Almonds either alone or mixed with a grain or two of Scammony or Coloquintida The Gall of an Ox or Cow laid upon a clout and so laid on the Navel causeth loosenesse or a plaister made with the gall of an Ox a rosted Onyon and Butter mixed together and applyed warm to the belly doth the same If you desire stronger means then take the juice of Walwort and Mildust boyl them together and apply them warm to the Navel CHAP. 19. Of Worms AMong all the diseases that are incident to children this of Worms is not the least There are
from the party ready to die If lice be onely in the head in many it preserves their health because they consume much excrementitious humors Lice are engendred in the beginning of the Leprosie and in the second and third kinds of hectick Feavers If they breed much and that all over the body they are not onely very irksome but sometimes bring death The cure First for the prevention of lice and to hinder the breeding of them it will be very necessary to keep the child often changed and to comb often the head and to avoid all meats of ill juyce If the child be of any bignesse the body may be purged in this manner Take of Sene and Polipodium of each two drachmes Fumitory one drachme and a half Cream of Tartar a drach Licorice and Anniseed of each a drachme bruise the Polipodium and Licorice then infuse or steep them all in half a pint of water on hot embers and afterwards gently boyl them strain it and to the clear add of sirup of Roses one ounce let the child take every morning two or three spoâ—nfuls fasting and fast one hour after it then to take some warm posset-drink or broth Make a bath as followeth A Bath Take of Elecampane root bruised two ounces white Briony root bruised half an ounce Beets Mercury Sopewort Centory the lesser of each a handfull Lupines bruised one ounce Nitre half an ounce boyl these in water and make a bath for the head with which let the head be bathed morning and evening warm After bathing anoint the head once or twice a day if a strong child twice if a weak child but once with this oyntment following An oyntment Take of Stavesacre one ounce Wormwood Rue of each half an ounce Brimstone and Nitre of each two drachmes make all into powder and with two or three ounces of oyl of Bayes and one ounce of oyl of Wormwood make an oyntment Or take of Brimstone in powder half an ounce of Stavesacre in powder one ounce oyl of Wormwood two ounces and a half vinegar one ounce make all into an oyntment and use it as before is shewed Or take seawater or else Brine and strong lee of Ashes of each a quart Wormwood a good handful or two boyl it a while therein and afterwards wash the body or head therewith Many use stronger oyntments made with Arsenick or Quicksilver and white Hellebor but for young children it is not safe to use them This powder following is very good and safe A powder good and safe for Lice in the head Take of Coculus Indy a quarter of an ounce white Pepper a drachme beat them into a grosse powder and strew it into the heads of children for it will soon destroy the lice Or you may dip a comb in strong Mercury water or water made with Arsenick and so comb the childs head therewith CHAP. 3. Of the Scab and Itch. THe Scab and Itch is an infection of the skin sometimes with crusts or scabs sometimes dry sometimes onely in the head and sometimes in the whole body and doth much provoke to scratching The cause These come from the sharpnesse of the milk or from some salt humour abounding in the body and sometimes they bring this infection into the world with them The signes The signs are manifest Prognosticks If the Scab or Itch be small and do not hinder sleep it is the easier cured but if it do much molest and disquiet the childe in the night it is the more difficult to cure If they be of long continuance and have got a habit in the body they are not easily cured The cure For the cure of the Itch and Scab many use to give common Treacle which I do not approve of but rather advise to use flower of Brimstone morning and evening in milk or Posset drink Also sirup of Fumitory is good to give often half a spoonful thereof to children of growth If the head be scabby it is usual to anoint with burnt butter but this many times strikes into the body and makes the child sick You may anoint with this oyntment following An Oyntment Take oyl of Roses four ounces quick Brimstone in powder one ounce juice of Lemmons two ounces Rosin three ounces make all into an oyntment and anoint the head face or body with it but observe this that you do not anoint all over where the itch or scab is but anoint first at one place and when that is killed then use it to another place and so the rest one after another You may also anoint with the white Camphire oyntment or with Tarr and Hogs grease boyled together or you may use a decoction of Tobacco stalks boyled in water and vinegar If the Itch or Scab be hot and burning then use this oyntment following Take white lead and Lytharge of gold in fine powder of each five drachmes lee made of the ashes of a vine three drachmes oyl of Roses an ounce wax as much melt the wax and oyl first then put in the rest keeping it stirring and last of all add two yolks of eggs or rather the whites make an oyntment and use it See more in my book called Help for the Poor in Itch and Scab pag. 21 22. Cap. 23. CHAP. 4. Of the Falling sicknesse and convulsion THhese are diseases very incident to children newly born and because they are so neer of affinity I shall joyn them together The cause The falling sicknesse cometh sometimes by consent of the inferior or lower parts especially of the stomach and bowels when milk is corrupted in the stomach or hath an ill quality which doth often happen when the nurse is of an ill complexion or from the nurses ill dyet and to frequent drinking of wine and so ill vapors arise from the stomach too the brain and affect the membranes thereof or worms the Small Pox and Measels or Fevers may cause these fits or primarily it may come from the brain being ill affected Sometimes it may be Hereditary and come from the Parents Also vehement pains of the teeth whereby the brain is drawn into consent may cause convulsions in children Moreover sudden fears or beating the child may occasion these fits Some will have flegme to be the cause of the Falling sicknesse but if it were so then why might not old men whose brains are flegmatick have the Falling sicknesse and Infants as well as old men be taken with the Apoplexy which notwithstanding we see by experience doth not happen Therefore the falling sicknesse doth not proceed from flegme but rather from an occult and sharp quality which doth oppresse the membranes of the brain For although children do abound with flegme from whence suffocating rheumes and other diseases be bred yet doth not the Falling sicknesse follow except there be some venomous and corrupt vapour joyned therewith The signs The signs are manifest But whether it proceed from vitious or corrupt milk or from worms the small Pox or Measels breeding of
in the womb and receiving the same into the pores of the body the which at that time for debility of nature could not be expelled but the child increasing afterward in strength is driven out of the veins into the upper skin Secondly it may come by way of contagion from a peculiar malignity of the air when any place is infected so that one person infecteth another Now the fuller the body is of this menstrual blood the deeper impression doth the outward air make in it which is the reason that some have them in greater quantity and are fuller of them then others And so according to the malignity of the humor it is more or lesse dangerous to some then to others Sometimes the ill dyet of the nurse or feeding upon meats that increase rotten humours may cause this disease The signs The signes of them are these Pain of the head eyes and throat with a beating of the head and temples itching of the nose neesing fear and starting in sleep like fits of the convulsion or Falling sicknesse and sometimes Convulsions with ravings all which happen from hot vapours and that from the boyling of the blood and so ascend up to the head Also there is a pain and beating of the back heavinesse of the whole body a pricking pain in all parts as if stung with nettles difficulty of breath a trembling of the feet yawning or gaping and a stretching of the body trembling of the heart and sometimes swoning rednesse of the eyes great drought hoarsness and a dry cough The urine is sometimes red and thick which shewes great heat and boyling of humours and sometimes not much differing from the water of one in health The nose doth many times bleed and that from the heat of the blood and by it's sharpnesse doth open the orifices or mouthes of the veins which if it happen to be much in the beginning then the disease is not so violent Sometimes the eyes water and are moist And last of all the spots appear and that most times within three or four daies The small Pox or Measels happen chiefly in the Spring and Autumne especially if the Summer before were wet and the winde in the South or if the winter foregoing be warm and the wind Southern The Prognosticks It is better to have the small Pox or Measels come forth speedily then to be long in coming forth for this sheweth strength of nature If after they be come forth the feaver and other symptomes do decrease t is a good sign If the spots be white or red and full coming to maturity or ripenesse 't is good but if they be blew or black livid and fall flat whether few or many 't is a bad sign If fainting of the spirits or swoonings fluxes of the belly shortnesse of breath black urine or Convulsions happen 't is worst of all If the feaver increase after they be come forth and they flash abroad not ripening speedily and if hoarsenesse follow these are very bad signs The cure The safest way is not to meddle much with children that have these diseases but to let nature alone herein yet where nature is weak it will be very necessary to use means to expel out the disease As Saffron in milk London Treacle and Diascordium if there be a loosenesse is very good given in Carduus or Angelica water Barly water made with Figs Dates Licorice and Annis seed is very good or Take of French Barly a handful shavings of Ivory and Harts horn of each two drachmes Licorice bruised one ounce Citron pils dry and cut in thin slices three drachmes boyl them in a pint and a half of Posset drink to a pint strain it and let the child drink often of it especially morning and evening Or Take three or four Figs cut Harts horn two drachmes Marigold-flowers a drachme Carduus half a drachme Boyl them in a pint of Posset-ale strain it and add thereto of Saffron in powder two scruples Give three or four spoonfuls of it morning and evening warm A Cordial Julep Take of Carduus or Angelica water three ounces syrup of Baume one ounce two drachmes Treacle water a spoonful or two mix them together and give often of it a spoonful at a time If the child be bound you may put up a violent comfit anointed with oyl or if the Pox be well come forth and the child be bound you may administer a Clister made with milk and brown Sugar or take of milk a quarter of a pint and two ounces of Sugar mix them together and administer it warm After the Pox are come forth and do begin to dye you may anoint with this following An Oyntment Take of chalk in fine powder and often washed in Plantane water two drachmes of Cream two ounces mix them well together and anoint the face with a feather Or use the oyl of sweet Almonds mixed with Parmacitty You must not keep the childe too hot nor too cold for being kept too hot it may cause faintings and swoonings and being kept too cold it may drive them in again and so check and hinder nature from expelling them out to the skin See more in my book called Help for the Poor Pag. 56 57 58 59. CHAP. 10. Of watchings out of measure and want of rest THe childe while it is in the mothers womb is detained or kept in a perpetual sleep and after it is born if it be well it doth sleep much at the first because it hath a very moist brain and doth abound with humidity or moisture The cause The cause of watchings is the corruption of the milk or too much milk which putrifieth in the stomach from whence sharp vapors arise continually to the brain and stir up the animal spirits not letting them be at quiet Sometimes breeding of teeth may be the cause thereof The signes The signs are manifest for the child cannot sleep but is constantly out of quiet Prognosticks This is dangerous in children not onely because in general sleep and watchfulnesse if they exceed measure are ill but chiefly because this is contrary to the nature of children which are wont to sleep much By too much watching humours are stirred up and become dry from whence Convulsions fears Catarrhes or Rheums and other diseases are bred in children The cure The means to bring rest are inward or outward Inward means are these following Inward means If the child be bound give it syrupe of Roses or put up a violet comfit into the body of it and give every night the bignesse of a Pease of Diascordium in a little Posset drink more or lesse as the childe is in bignesse This you may use four or five nights together if need be but where the body is bound be sparing in the use of it Barly water made with white Poppy seeds may be given to the child at night or half a spoonful of syrupe of violets or syrupe of white Poppy heads half so much where the childe
reins and bladder or from debility weaknesse of the Sphincter muscle of the bladder and also because they abound with much moisture Sometimes the stone in the bladder doth hurt the Sphincter muscle that the bladder cannot shut nor well contiane the urine The signs The signs are manifest for the child cannot hold it's water night nor day but especially it comes from them in their sleep The Prognosticks This disease although it be not mortal yet it is very troublesome and if not cured in time it continues in many till death If it proceed from the stone it cannot be cured till the stone be taken away This disease is cured in many when they come to grown years without any means The cure Let the Nurses dyet be hot and dry The child must drink but little and let the belly of it be kept loose for hereby they pisse lesse The Wesand of a Cock in powder is commended also the stone of a Hedghog in powder if a scruple or more of either be taken morning and evening in Plantain water The bladder of a Bull or Goat dryed and in powder is good to be used as before or give the powder of Goats clawes in Pap or milk This following powder is commended Take a Hogs bladder or Botes or sheeps bladder dryed the stones of a Hare and the Wesand of a Cock dryed of each half a drachme Acorn cups two scruples Nep and Mace of each a scruple make all into powder and give hereof a scruple or half a drachme in the distilled water of Oaken leaves or give ten grains or a scruple of Acorn cups in powder morning and evening in Plantain or Oaken leafe water Or Take of the distilled water of Mirtles three ounces Conserve of Roses half an ounce sirup of dry Roses one ounce mix them together and give the child often of it being first shaken together Let the place about the bladder be anointed with oyl of Costus oyl of Orris or such like or make a Bath of Brimstone Nitre and the leaves of Oak and use it to the back and place about the bladder warm If the childe be of some reasonable growth make a plate of lead with holes therein and lay it to his back let it lye on for a moneth or two CHAP. 27. Of the disease called St. Anthonies fire or wilde fire as also of Burning and scalding THis disease is a great heat and rednesse that disperseth it self over the uppermost part of the body and it is twofold either onely with heat and rednesse or with inflammation heat and small pimples and very painful This the Vulgar call the Shingles Others are troubled with this disease as well as children The cause It is caused of thin and hot blood or of blood mingled with Choler The signs The signs are manifest for there is a rednesse upon the outward skin very hot and angry and many times doth flash abroad if it be not prevented by the use of means The Prognosticks Although many have this disease without danger yet the cure hereof must not be neglected least a worse disease follow For as * Hip. Aph. sect 6. 25. Hippocrates saith if an Erisipelas being outward be returned inwards it is evil but if on the contrary if being inward it be turned outwards it is a good sign If strong repercussive or repelling means be used in the beginning of the disease it is dangerous least the humour strike inward and so indanger the life of the party If this disease appear in the head it is more dangerous then in other parts because if the matter passe to the membranes of the brain it cause a Frenzie if to the muscles of the neck the Quinzie The cure First of all great care must be had to use such inward means as may expel the matter outward as give the child a scruple of London Treacle or five grains of the powder of Crabs clawes in Carduus water Then use outward means as take of Plantain water Rosewater Lettice and Housleek water of each one ounce Vinegar half an ounce mix them together and wet Linnen clouts therein and apply it a little warm so oft as it dryeth up let it be wet again in the same and applyed Or Take of Galens cooling oyntment one ounce and a half oyl of Roses two ounces of the oyntment called Populeon one ounce the juice of Plantain and Nightshade of each half an ounce the white of two or three eggs beaten mix them altogether and anoint with it See more in my book called Help for the Poor Pag 14. and 15. Against Burning or Scalding See my Help for the Poor page 1 2 3 4 5 6. where you have many easie and safe medicines CHAP. 28. Of Fretting Chafing or Galling of the Skin in the Groyns The cause CHildren are much troubled with the skin going off in their groins and thighs which is caused by reason of the sharpnesse of their urine especially if they be not often changed with fresh linnen The signs The signs are apparent for the skin is raw and the child very unquiet therewith The Prognostiks This disease is not hard to cure yet because it causeth pain and brings watchings to the childe if it be not taken in time it causeth ulceration in those parts The cure The Linnen of the child must be often changed lest by the wetnesse thereof the disease be made worse Wash the thighes and buttocks with Plantain water with Rose or Nightshade water or make a decoction with Plantain Shepheards-purse Horsetail and Knotgrasse and bathe the place therewith Or anoint it with a little Capons grease and lay a Linnen cloth to it or anoint it with Pomatum or strow on it the powder of a post or any old wood that is wormeaten or meal dust or Bean flower or else A powder Take red Roses and Orris root of each a quarter of an ounce beat them into powder and use it as before by strowing it upon the raw places FINIS An Alphabetical Table of all the Diseases in this Treatise B Belly fretting and griping thereof Page 31. Belly loose p. 34. Belly stopt p. 38. Bed-pissing therein p. 55. Boeeding of Teeth p. 10 Burning and scalding p. 7. Bursting or Ruptures p. 45 C CHafing and fretting of the groynes p. 58. Cods swollen p. 50. Coming forth of the Navel p. 47. Consumption and leannesse p. 29. Convulsion and falling sicknesse p. 6. Costivenesse or stopping of the belly p. 38. D DIfficult making of water p. 53. Dreams and starting p. 22. E EArs pained and inflamed p. 9. Ears worms thereof ibid. Ears moist ibid. F FAlling of the fundament p. 51. Falling sicknesse p. 16. Fear starting and terrible dreams p. 22. Fevers p. 15. Flux of the belly p. 34. Fretting in the belly p. 31. Fretting and chafing of the groyns p. 58. Fundament fallen p. 51. G GAlling of the skin in the groynes p. 78. Gripings and frettings of the belly p. 31. Groynes chafed or galled p. 58. H HEads of children sore p. 1. Hicket p. 30. I INflammation of the ears p. 9. Inflammation of the mouth and throat p. 12. Inflammation of the Navel p. 49. Itch and Scab p. 5. L LEannesse p. 29. Lice breeding p. 3. Loosenesse of the belly p. 34. M MEasels and small Pox p. 17. Mouth inflamed p. 13. N NAvel swollen or coming forth p. 47. Navel inflamed p. 49. O Often going to stool p. 52. P Pissing in bed p. 55 Pox and Measels p. 17 R REst wanting p. 20. Rickets p. 30. Rupture or Bursting p. 45. S SCab and Itch p. 5. Scalding and burning p. 57. Sores in the head p. 1. Starting and terrible dreams p. 22. Stomach weak p. 26. Stopping of the belly p. 38. Stone p. 53. Swelling of the Navel p. 47. Swelling of the Cods p. 50. T TEnesmus or often provoking to stool p. 52. Teeth breeding p. 10. Throat sore and inflamed p. 13. V ULcers and sores in the head p. 1. Ulcers of the ears p. 9. Vlcers of the mouth and throat p. 13. Vomiting and weaknesse of the stomach p. 26. VV VVAter difficult making therof p. 53. Watching out of measure and want of rest p. 20. Weaknesse of the stomach p. 26. Wilde fire p. 56. Worms p. 40. Worms in the eares p. 9. Worms of the heart liver c. p. 42. FINIS
joyned therewith Those sores and ulcers of the mouth in children that are black and with crusts or scales are worst of all and many times prove mortal The cure In the beginning we must use astringent or binding and repelling or medicines to drive back afterwards medicines binding but withall discussing If there be onely heat and inflammation then we must use cooling means and a little binding If these sores come from the fault of the milk then the Nurse must keep a good Dyet and avoid all hot sharp and salt meats Give the child often sirup of Mulberries with hony of Roses and if need be with Oxymel If they be red then use medicines moderatly binding as sirup of dry Roses sirup of Purslain sirup of Grapes Sorrel Citrons and Mulberries with the powder of Lentils Sumach and red Roses If they be yellow use cooling meanes as sirup of Violets sirup â—f Purslain c. Or take the juyce of Lettice Purslain Nightshade of each half an ounce mix them together and use it with a feather Or take of red Roses and Violets in powder of each a drachme Hony one ounce and a half or as much sirup of Mulberries mix them together and use it Or take of Plantain water half an ounce hony of Roses and sirup of Mulberries of each half an ounce mix them together and wash the childs mouth often with it Or take of French Barly half an ounce Agrimony Plaintain red Roses of each a handful boyl these in water strain it and in six ounces thereof mix of sirup of Mulberries half an ounce hony of Roses one ounce and a half and if there be need you may add half a drachme of Allom which will make it more cleansing Or take of Rosewater or Plantain water one ounce hony of Roses half an ounce oyl of Vitriol so many drops as may make it sharp mix them together and wash the mouth therewith CHAP. 8. Of fevers in Children CHildren are many times taken with burning fevers as well as with Quotidian Tertian and quartain Agues The cause The cause of fevers in children may arise from corrupt milk for when the milk doth putrifie choller is stirred up and also the rest of the humours are inflamed from whence cometh fevers Sometimes fevers may proceed from the breeding of teeth sometimes from pains inflammation and overmuch watching as Hippocrates witnesseth Hip. Aph. 3. 25. The Signs The signs of a Fever in children are these Great heat and drynes rednes of the tongue and throat want of rest urine red sometimes thick and sometimes thin quicknesse of the pulse much inquietnesse and many times raving and idle talke if they be of any bignes If fevers come from the breeding of teeth then you have the signs in the Chapter of breeding of teeth The Prognosticks These fears being but gentle are not dangerous for the cause being taken away they soon cease but if the milk continue long corrupt and vitious then children are much indangered by these fevers If sharp fevers come upon children while they breed their teeth they are seldom taken with convulsions sometimes fluxes of the belly and great watchings accompany these fevers whereby children are soon suffocated The cure If the fever proceed from corrupt milk then choller doth abound the mother or nurse therefore must use cooling and moistening means as broth or posset-drink made with Lettice Endive Sorrel Violet leaves straberry leaves c. Also Almond milk made with the four cooling seeds and Barly water are very useful The mother or nurse must abstain from Wine hot water and all hot spices and may use some purging means as Manna two ounces thereof may be taken in broth or clear posset drink or three ounces of sirup of Roses solutive or one ounce or one ounce and a half of Cassia in the same you may give the child often sirup of Violets sirup of the juyce of Citrons half a spoonful at a time or Take one ounce of sirup of Violets and add to it as much Endive water and give the child a spoonful at any time A Julep Or take of Borrage water four ounces sirup of Violets or sirup of Citrons one ounce and a half spirit of Vitriol five or six drops mix them together and let the child take often two or three spoonfuls at a time If the body of the child be bound you may put up a Violet comfit or two first anointed with a little oyl or give one ounce of sirup of Roses solutive more or lesse according to the age of the child in posset drink in a morning Or give half an ounce of Manna dissolved in posset drink Anoint the back and ridge of the child with oyl of Violets mixed with a little wax And anoint the stomach with some of this oyntment following An oyntment Take oyl of Roses and Mastick in powde of each half an ounce red and white Saunders in powder red Coral in powder of each x scruple wax two drachmes make an ointmen and use it as before mentioned A Pultis Or take of red Roses in powder two drachmes the juyce of plantain Housleek and Endive of each half an ounce with the white of an egg and some Barly flower make a pultis and apply it to the stomach Anoint the temples and wrests with oyl of Roses and oyl of Populcon of each a little quantity mixed together If the fever proceed from breeding of teeth use means to help nature herein as in the first Chapter CHAP. 9. Of the small Pox and measels Of smal Pox and Measels are diseases that most children are troubled with first or last They are both of one nature and proceed from one cause saving that the measels are ingendred of the inflammation of blood and the small Pox of the inflammation of blood mingled with Choler What the small Pox are The small Pox are spots red pustules appearing in the skin with a continual fever stirred up or excited from the strength of the expulsive faculty and ebullition or boyling of the blood What the Measels are The Measels are spots or risings upon the outside of the skin in some parts more or lesse with a Fever by reason of the strength of of the expulsive faculty and heat or boyling of the blood The difference between the small Pox and the Measels At the first appearing they are so like one another that you can hardly discern the difference The Measels most times come more suddenly the face the skin of the whole body looks redder and the rednes continues longer without rising there being joyned therewith most commonly a greater itching and pricking But the small Pox come not forth so suddenly neither is the skin so red nor doth the colour stay so long and the pimples rise higher neither is the itching and pricking so much and at length grow white The cause There are two chief causes thereof First the reliques and impurity of the mothers blood with which the child was nourished