Sudorific Medicine THe Scurvy is not a particular Disease limited to this or that part of the Body but extends it self throughout the whole as appears by the variety of Symptoms in several parts of the Body and being of this extent Medicine also must have the same Latitude of Operation to prosecute and reach into its utmost and farthest quarters Purgation that cleanseth the Central and more inward parts as the Stomack Guts Mesentery Liver and Spleen Transpiration that respects chiefly the habit of the Body and external parts purifying the Mass of Blood and vital streams These two Operations are necessary for Cure in most Scorbutic cases as the following discourses and observations in Practice recited does manifest Some there are that deceive themselves and lay the whole stress of the Cure upon Purging and that they prosecute very often and it were well if the purgatives be proper but the effects may inform and tell them that there is something else requisite and they find it so The Scurvy is not so easily dislodged and thrown out by a single Operation of Medicine but requires rectifying and strengthning of the Digestive Faculties also and depuration of the Blood The Body of man is perspirable and in his due state of health continually more or less doth transpire and breath out humid vapours and a superfluous moisture by the Pores of the Body hereby the Mass of Blood and habit of the Body is cleansed and discharged of that which is superfluous or impure and unfit to be retained and this insensible Evacuation is so requisite that without transpiration the Mass of Blood cannot be depurated but remains muddy and defiled which forceth Nature to a distempered fermentation and morbific Eruption Proper and amicable Purgation doth well acts a good part and ought to be praemitted in most cases which alone do check a Disease and lessen it by carrying off a I morbific matter in the lower Region of the Body but if the Mass of Blood and habit of the Body be tainted and corrupted the vital stream and those parts irrigated and fed from thence are not purified as they ought but by Exsudation and Transpiration and the Spirits that are clogg'd and infested by impure matter which darkens their light causing Melancholy and indisposed heaviness are hereby relieved and unfettered become brisk aery and lively as before And in promoting this Operation we imitate and assist Nature which continually does Emittere Transpirare per Poros at least ought so to breathe forth superfluous vapours and humidity and when this is cohibited and restrained by occlusion and shutting up the pores by cold or otherwise or Nature unable thus to relieve and discharge her self by reason of debility and insufficiency in separating and protruding it is not long but some Disease or many ariseth from the course of Nature thus impedited either a sudden febril aestuation or erratic pains in this or that part or a slow eruption of grosser matter sticking in the skin discolouring and spotting of it or bringing forth Scurf Pustules or other Extretions By this you may understand the benefit that doth arise by the regular course of Nature in her daily Operations and Excretions and the profitable assistance of Art in promoting them when impeded as also the prejudice and damage by the contrary And here I shall relate to you the Case of a Scorbutick Patient pertinent to the proceeding Discourse A Gentlewoman aged between Forty and Fifty formerly fatt and fleshy but reduced to a lean state being troubled for some years with a lassitude or weariness in her Limbs and Indisposition to Action and with pains at some times afterwards in Autumn a weakness and numbness possessed her Limbs that disabled her in going All this while she was not negligent to seek for help had such Advice as the Country did afford and used many Medicines but her Disease prevailed still each Spring and Autumn being worse than the former it hapned that a Relation of her case was sent to me she living a great distance from London what was wanting in the first Relation I interrogated in my Answer and the next Account I received did fully satisfie me I found the Scurvy disguised to act in several Scenes after a different manner the Medicines she had used were proper for the Symptoms that did appear barely considered but not as they had a Relation and were grounded upon the Scurvy which being undiscerned did frustrate all the Endeavours for Cure Letting of her blood was injurious and she grew worse upon it soon after a Stupor or Paralytic numbness seised her To be short she was committed to my care and management I sent her three Anti-scorbutick Medicines namely my Scorbute-Pills Elixir and Sudorific Extract to be used in that order and method as the Medicines and her Condition required at the months end she gained the use of her Limbs but were something weak yet no pains as formerly and upon the use of the Sudorific Extract some spots were driven forth and the Latent Scurvy did appear and satisfied them more fully what I had determined of her disease The Winter being very sharp did sometimes interrupt her Course and retarded the compleating of a Cure which else might have been finished in a shorter time At the beginning of March I set her into the same Course again which was diligently observed and in April following she was perfectly restored In the Course of these Medicines according to the Account received I observed her pains to lessen and cease upon the use of the Sudorific Extract and not before which Medicine chiefly restored her the use of her Limbs and it was reason to expect the greatest benefit as to that particular in the Case should acrue from a Diaphoretic Medicine that searching and penetrating the habite of the Body by transpiration and breathing Sweats should dissodg and discusse the Scorbutic Matter which infested the Nerves and Muscles impeding and disabling the parts in their Motion and Action By such Examples as this and other different Cases as to the Symptoms yet parallel with it as to the parts affected and Morbisic Cause I was fully satisfiâ—d that a Sudorific Medicine was of necessary use in many Scorbutic Cases and without which a Cure could not be performed I therefore prepared a Medicine that might effectually answer the scope of that intention which might operate by Transpiration and gentle sweating and by a kindly assisting of Nature in that operation might depurate the whole Masse of blood and free the habite of the body from any Scorbutic Impurity and Degenerate Matter which at certain seasons of the year and by accidental promoting Causes ferments and produceth various internal Distempers and Diseases Scorbutic Feavers continual and intermitting Quotidian Tertian and Quartan Head-aches and Pains in several parts Pleurisies Asthma's c. or external and Cutany-Difedations as Spots Scurff Scabs Pustul's Tettars Ringworms Tumors c. And because our blood especially in these Northern
deserted the Galenic Medicines as inferiour to that I discovered and was presented to my view and ever since have labored in Chemical Pharmacy as being the most excellent way of preparing Medicines Some Objections are made by the Learned and by the Ignorant against Chymical Medicines but to vâ—ndicate them from common slanders and clearly to determine the difference between these and other Medicines will take up more room than can be afforded in this place and therefore must of necessity wave it expecting an Opportunity hereafter to ventilate that Subject Only by the way I must noâ—e that Chymistry suffers much and is eclipsed in its reputation by some illiterate pretenders and bold fellows not qualified Philosophically but rudely intruding upon the Art without a due preparation and legitimate induction brings scandal upon the learned deserving Professors and defamation to the Art by Vsurping the Title of Doctors and Chimical Phisicians that many are deceived by them which are not able to discern the difference between a Doctor of Physick and a crafty Empyric But the ingenious Phylosophical Artist ought to be cherished and incouraged in his Operations and rational Tryals But to my purpose intended in my Treatise of the Scurvy having traced that Disease from its Infancy and Generation to its full groweth and strength its chief places of Residence variety of appearance and monstrous deformity it remains I should now propose some effectual means to check and subdue the prevailing power of this spreading Disease that daily growns and encreaseth to the ruine and decay of Nature being possessed and seated in the Vital Principles Seducing and Constraining them to enormity and defection from the regularity in which they were planted by Nature And having strictly surveighed the condition and nature of this Disease with its variety of attendants and additional strength being ready to joyn with any Morbific cause and be transformed I was unwilling to sit down here and rest with a contemplative knowledg of this Disease and leave the greatest part of the work undone the subduing and vanquishing of it by powerful Medicines nor being willing to commit the remaining part to the industry and care of others for good reason I have therefore laboured to form Medicinal Instruments to oppose this Contumacious Herculean Disease and as fit means for this encounter I prepared three Medicines of a different Classis and Operation to meet with the variety of Symptoms and Scorbutic Complications In the Cure of the Scurvy at least in most Scorbutic cases there are three intentions of cure to be aimed at the first is Purgation or Cleansing to carry off that Scorbutic Impurity or Degenerate Matter lodged in the Stomack and Bowels de praving and alienating good food daily received Secondly roborating and strengthning the digestive Faculties which are debilitated and alienated from the integrity of their Offices not only the Digestive Office of the Stomack but the subsequent Digestions also Thirdly Depuration of the Blood and cleansing the habit of the Body Nature dischargeth her self from within and sending daily to the exterior parts those also must be tainted more or less as the Symptoms will manifest and therefore do require to be freed from feculency and the Blood purified To answer these three Purposes I prepared three Principal Medicines viz. Scorbutic-Pills Catholick-Elixir and a Sudorific-Extract These Medicines I have been reforming and improving alwost seven years to advance their Efficacious Dies diem docet but most gentle and benigne Operations And for the better effecting this endeavour and aim the constant and daily use of them in divers Scorbutic persons attended with different Symptoms of the Disease and complicated with divers other Diseases gives great information and satisfaction to me in the several accounts I receive of their Operations both at home and abroad by Letters from remote parts of this Kingdom whereby I am taught which way and wherein 't is possible to improve them and to give them as great a Latitude of Universality and extent of Operation Nihil est fimul inventum ac perfectum in their peculiar Classes as long experience and daily use can dictate to their several repeated processes and tryals of making and this is my Study and daily experience in Chymical tryals to improve these and all other Medicines I use in my Practice that they may attain to such perfection and energy as Cito tuto jucunde to relieve the Diseased in the most contumacious Maladies and deplorable Cases remediable hereby Medicines will gain greater esteem and the Art its deserved repute and Fame if Physicians by their own care and pains as they ought would manage this Work and be as Industrious and skillful in this as in the other parts of their Profession But occasions call me off from this Discourse I must hasten to finish the remainder which is a more part cular account of the Operation of Medicines in the Cure of his Difease with some remarkable Observations in difficult Caâ—es and dubious Complications I have met with lately in Practice of necessary Consideration to others in like manner Diseased London From my House in Clarken-well-Close E. M. Med. D. Of such Purgation and proper Purgatives as is requisite in Curing the Scurvy PUrgation or Clensing is praemitted as a regular and due course in the cure of most Diseases and it is instituted chiefly to cleanse the first region of the body and to carry off what superfluous or degenerate matter is to be voided by the gutts And this operation is necessary in the cure of most Diseases though seated in other parts for although the infirmity lye not in the first region of the body neither in the Stomack Gall Gutts Mesentery Liver nor Splene yet 't is aggravated if those parts be foul and probably may be the original and foundation of those remote Infirmities by consent or transmission nor shall medicine carry its vertue without impediment and abatement or food clearly conveyed to nourish the body if those parts be foul clogged and obstructed Now to make choice of a fit and good Medicine that will cleanse the Stomack Gutts Mesentery Liver and Spleen without offering injury to their peculiar Crasis or Ferments that is not to alienate them from their proper distinct natures not to impress and stamp new qualities upon them this is a Medicine you may freely use and expect great relief from in keeping the forenamed parts pure and clean and such a Medicine is to be used in the cure of scorbutic persons but if you use Purgers of a deleterious and virulent quality that act per modum veneni they will characterise their virulencies and exotick adverse properties upon the parts alienate and debilitate the ferments in their Functions and Offices and the often use of them impairs Nature very much though for the present sometimes alleviation does acrue from the evacuation procured though by bad means and of this nature are most of the Purgers in use as Senna
infirmities and gave over Physick nere six months But meeting with one formerly a Patient of mine that I had cured though a different case encouraged him to come to me or acquaint me by Letter first with his condition whereupon he wrote to me living at a great distance and gave me a full Relation of his case defiring my advice and assistance the ein submitting to what course I should appoint him I considering the whole story I was sufficiently satisfied of the Disease that he was deeply seised with the Scurvy as the Syndrome and Concurrence of symptoms did certainly discover Whereupon I sent him my Treatise of the Scurvy to contemplate his Difease at large and to be useful to him as a Guide with a Box of Scorbute Pills and an Elixir and bad him proceed in the use of them according to Directions which he did for Three weeks then gave me an account that the violence of his Disease was much abated the Symptoms more mild and easie and not so frequent those nights he took a Pill he slept more quietly then at other times in his stools came away little lumps of a slimy jelly of a dark colour or blackish after which he was much at ease his Belly and Hypochonders were more flat and soft that since his Physick some dark spots appeared in several parts of his body with a moisture upon his skin as enclining to sweat some nights but chiefly towards morning This I liked well and farther appointed him the Sudorisick Medicine hereafter mentioned to help forward and procure breathing Sweats twice in the week which I judged to be of great advantage to him this he diligently performed seven or eight times until the spots vanished and then his spirits were more brisk and chearful and more fit for business having thrown off that impure matter and dispersed the Cloud of Scorbutic vapours that clogged and darkned his spirits his sleep now was quiet and to be short the symptoms that formerly molested him did not appear but was reduced beyond expectation I gave him some cautions and advice lest he might relapse which he punctually observed and stood firm for seven or eight months after Since I hear nothing of him but suppose him to be well for which he was not ungrateful I might Comment largely upon this case and illustrate the Scurvy in the several Symptoms though disguised by various names usually given not respecting the causes but I pass on I have yet a farther Account of these Pills how and in what principal Cases I have used them successfully for diseases and infirmities of the Head so accounted though arising from inferior parts most often as Apoplexy Epilepsies Convulsion Palsies Vertigoes Soporiferous and drowsy Infirmities Rheums Head-aches c. This Medicine is profitably used by Eradicating their causes that require Abstersion and Evacuation in the lower Regions of the Body Diseases ascribed to the Head though appearing there yet for the most part do arise from inferiour parts occasioned by their Impurities Obstructions and Disorder for one that is Idiopathically Afflicted ten are Sympathically affected by consent of parts and transmission of some Morbifick matter thither the Disease appears in one part but the foundation and cause is Radicated in another and to that part must the cure be directed And therefore if well observed we frequently meet with Scorbutic Palsies Scorbutick Convulsions Apoplexies Sleepy Diseases pains of the head Giddiness trembling of the Nervs Deafness dull Sight and Blindness and all these arising from the Scurvy or Scorbutick impurity of the body oftentimes and these are not cured but by Anti-scorbutic Medicines and those that endeavour otherwise with their Specificks and appropriate Medicines to the parts where such Symptoms and Diseases do appear labour in vain and are frustrated in their intended Cures I might instance in many more cases wherein this Medicine hath done me good service but that would be too tedious to relate therefore in general I must say for Sorbutic persons and the various Symptoms that attend that Disease whether in this part or that part these Pills are the best Abstersive and Purgative Medicine I ever made use of being so amicable and friendly to nature in their Operation performing with so much ease and gentleness that I have given them to the weakest bodies with good success proportioning the dose according to the ability of the body I shall here set down the Dose and Circumstances that belong to the taking of these Pills The ordinary Dose for man or woman is three Pills some Bodies though very seldom require four and sometimes two Pills is sufficient for weak bodies and such as work freely with a small matter So much difference there is in bodies for purging that two of these Pills are sufficient for some but most commonly three Pills are required seldom four therefore try your body first with a lesser Dose then if it require more you may add to the next and in so doing you will not err For example If you have a stubborn body difficult and hard to purge and the first Dose works but little Tutius est peccare in defectu quā in excessu the next Dose you may take one Pill more but if you have a lax gentle body freer in Operation than you expected then abate a Pill if the first work too nimbly with you The difference of bodies is such in Operation especially purging that they require a different Dose or quantity for their proportion which cannot so exactly be determined and appointed by the praescience of the most skilful Physician but by a rational Conjecture untill the first experiment and tryal of their bodies which uncertainty is not in the Medicine but in the diversity of bodies and after the first Dose taken your own reason then considering the condition of your body with the former will prompt you in the next whether to keep to the same to augment or abate * Solutiva enim fortia cum succis texuperanibus magnam spirituum faciunt solutionem And remember this as a necessary caution that you covet not strong Purges and large Evacuations to have many stools in a day a common error which offers violence to Nature and forceably sweeping down both good and bad together * Eradicativa evacuatio optimè perplures per sicitur eva cuationes minorativas but rather choose to draw away the offending matter gently by degrees giving Nature time for separation the pure from the impure and noxious four or five Stools in a day is sufficient but not to exceed six and that number I intend you to aim at and no more and thus doing you will find Physick much more beneficial nature more kindly assisting and not at all weakned Some there are who unless their Physick work half a score or a dozen times think they have kept House for nothing and their Money cast away accounting the goodness of their Physick by the number of Stools but they
Climates doth abound with a serosa Colluvies a Serosity or Superfluous watery humor a good Sudorisic Medicine is of great use for when this serous matter abounds and increase the ther by the insufficient Attraction Separation of the Reins that should expend and drain it or the Pores shut up and Trauspiration denied that should insensibly exhaust it doth then by Preternatural Retention degenerate and change its Nature and Properties that which was mild turns acid sharp and molesting and variously degenerating doth cause several Diseases and Pains in divers parts of the Body as it Circulates in the Vessels or extravasated and wandring about being expulsed from part to part as hostile and injurious by the strength and fortitude of the Archeus or innate spirit that inhabits as the Life-guard in each part of the body This Sudorisic Medicine prepared for the purposes aforesaid I appoint in all Scorbutic Cases requiring Transpiration or Sweating and I find great success in the use of it especially being now much altered and improved Many Diseases are expulsed by Sudorificks that purgatives cannot prevail against the reason is this First because some Diseases do arise and depend upon a flatulent Spirit or Meteor that is generated in the body and these Diseases are more accute and dangerous than others because their matter is more active subtile and of suddain motions being of the Nature of a Spirit is more penetrative and irresistible in its motion as Apoplexy Epilepsy histerical Passions Pestilential Seminaries suddain Swooning c. Which do not yield Obedience to Purgatives being of a more subtile spirituous nature is not ejected by Vomit or Stool as grosser Morbific Humours are but requires a Medicine equivalent and proportionate to their Nature that is penetrative subtile and acute in Operation proper to discuss evaporate and transpire Secondly many Diseases though arising from grosser and humoral causes that would obey the Power and Virtue of Purgatives yet by reason they are lodged in the habit of the body and more exterior parts are out of distance and beyond the reach and sphere of their activity but a good Sudorific penetrates and searcheth all parts raiseth the Seminaries and enters the secret Dormitories of lurking Diseases and gives them expulsion by its subtil Operation and acute Power and here I remember the condition of a Patient which I will relate to you pertinent to the present discourse A young gentlewoman of a fair Complexion and very clear skin by Melancholy and other causes was much altered and become brown muddy and discoloured in particular places afterwards a Scurf did arise and some Pimples here and there which was troublesome by itching this Gentlewoman was let blood and purged often but still her trouble remained then she was advised to a Wash to clear the skin and to take away the heat and pimples which did take effect in a few daies but upon retiring of this humour inwards she fell desperately sick with violent pains in her head and ready to faint away often Hereupon I was sent for and examined the whole matter and finding the acuteness of her sickness to arise from an imprudent repelling of a humour and forcing it back upon Nature which she had brought forth to the skin I immediately appointed her a Dose of my sudorific Extract to be given her which put her into a breathing Sweat and when the Medicine had done its Operation her pains and sickness were almost gone the next day I appointed another Dose to be given her to sweat gently for two or three hours and before the Operation of the Medicine was spent her pain and sickness quite left her and then appeared some of the former Symptoms again upon the skin but without itching The present danger of her sickness being over I caused her to rest two or three daies and gave her an Elixir to take every day to cherish Nature and recover her strength then she fell to the Sudorific Extract again to cleanse the Blood and to breathe out that impurity which was lodged under the skin with convenient intermssion she repeated this Sudorific Medicine three or four times more and then the former Symptoms quite left her and she regained her former beauty and clearness of skin By this you may understand that a Sudorific Medicin some times is effectual when Purgatives cannot prevail yet 't is injurious to Nature to draw back again what she hath protruded and brought forth to the Circumference of the Body and therfore they that rely and insist too much upon Purging thinking to cleanse the whole Body by that Operation only are much deceived Purging is good but not alwaies other Medicines must come in and take their place according as the case requires Purging cleanseth the Center but Sudorificks purifie the exterior parts That you may know when a Sudorific Medicine is required as necessary and advantagious to the Cure I 'le tell you in what cases I appoint this Sudorific Medicine to be taken In curing the Scurvy I find good success thereby to cleanse and purifie the Blood that is degenerate and vitiated with a Scorbutic taint and impurity or when the Pores are occluded and imperspirable the Body tumified and puft up for want of transpiration and ventilation when pricking pains or itching in the flesh molest and trouble by a saline or acrid Serosity extravasated and erratick when spots tumors pustul's scurfe pimples or such like appear upon any part of the Body This Sudorific Medicine discusseth and discipates the confluence of Humours tesorting to any part opens the Pores transpires and drives out the extrementions matter congested and lodged under the skin also when a Lassitude or weariness possess the Limbs when the spirits are torpid dull heavy as it is the case of many Scorbutic persons being alienated from their purity and wonted vigour by a degenerate and depraved alimentary succus cloging and settering them that should support and maintain them with an addisional supply of a congenerous extraction in this case a good Sudorific is the best relief to depurate the Vital stream and alimentary liquors of the Body from whence the Spirits receive strength and vigour again The Dose and Circumstances that attend the taking of this Sudoific Extract is thus to a man or woman of a weak tender body at first I give a dram and half the next time two drams but stronger bodies give two drams at the first dose then two drams and half almayes beginning with a lesser dose and encrease the quantity as from the quantity of a Nutmeg to a Chestunt according to the condition and strength of the body after tryal First because there is great difference in bodyes some require more as hard dry bodyes and thicker skinns being more difficult to transpire and some less as tender moist bodyes of a rare Texture and open Pores more apt to breath out Secondly Nature is better pleased to receive some Medicines gradually then imposing a full dose at first if Nature
takes a disgust to a Medicine she seldom agrees with it after à levioribus incipere procedere ad fortiora est ordo Sapientum though it be never so good therefore at the first begin with a little dose for tryal though the Medicine be very amicable and the next time you may encrease and take a little more The manner of taking is thus Roll it in a little Sugar and swallow it down Take it at Night having eaten but a little Spoon-meat for your Supper in Bed covered warm and a quarter of an hour after drink a draught of Rosemary-Posset or Mace-Ale then you may sleep as you find your self disposed Or you may take this Medicine in a Morning very early after the same manner and lye in Bed half that day sleep if you will that does not check the Medicine you will have the benefit of Transpiration in your sleep Somnus Cohibet omnem evacuationem preter Sudorem aph nor are you to expect great Sweats but only moist Breathings not at all troublesome Some perhaps being too hasty and desirous to effect their Cure may think one or two great Sweats may do as much good as half a dozen gentle breathings Saepius mediocriter Sudomovere melius est quam Semel modum excedando viresprosternere and so shorten the time of their Cure but I cannot approve that Course to impair Nature by violent and large Exhaustions you thereby frustrate the benefit of the Medicine which rightly used will prove very succesfull for the purposes appointed This Sudorific Extract may be taken twice in a week on the intermitting dayes when you do not purge having first taken three doses of the Scorbute Pills to cleanse the stomack and bowels before you begin to Sweat that the grosser matter and impurity of those parts be not driven into the habit of the body For going abroad observe this if you take the Sudorific in the Morning you must not go out that day the Pores being open but if you take it over night the weather not cold and searching but temperate or hot you may go forth next day if your disease strength and condition of body admit Those persons that use the three Antiscorbutic Medicines before mentioned do observe this order except in some special Cases and complicated Diseases by particular advice First they begin with the Scorbute-Pills to cleanse the Center of the Body as the Stomack Guts Mesentery Liver and Spleen The next day and all the intermitting days between Purging they use the Elixir to strengthen the declining Faculties and rectifie the Digestions and after three doses of Purging Pills taken they begin with the Sudorifick Medicine to purifie the Blood and cleanse the habit of the Body and these are to be used twice in a week proceeding also with the other Medicines in their turns as before But now you are come to use the Sudorifick Extract you may take the Scorbutic Pills but once in the week whereas before you took them once in four or five days this is my course and practice in curing the Scurvy and 〈…〉 it is a 〈…〉 according to the Canons of Art is also verified by much experience to be most effectual The chief reason why I am so large here in the general use of these Medicines is to avoid the daily trouble of directions in writing to each particular Patient except there be good cause I have now finished what I proposed in my self to make Publick The Nature of this spreading Disease the Scurvy its variety of Symptoms and appearance that it may be known though in a various dress and disguise the usual complicated affects that associate and attend it its internal essential Causes manner of Generation and seat of Radication in the Body the external procuring and promoting Causes the chief indications so Cure three Anti-scorbutic Medicines laid down as exemplars answering the scope of those curative intentions and some remarkable Observations in Practice And this is the summ of the whole Work FINIS