the same cure which the Pox have they proceed of cholerick and melancholie bloud The cause of the Pox and Measels The primitive cause as Valetius saith is by alteration of the aire in drawing some putrified and corrupt quality unto it which doth cause an ebullition of our bloud The cause antecedent is repletion of meats which do easily corrupt in the stomack as when we eat milk and fish together at one time or by neglecting to draw bloud in such as have accustomed to doe it every year whereby the bloud doth abound The conjunct cause is the menstruall bloud which from the beginning in our mothers wombs wee received the which mixing it self with the rest of our bloud doth cause an Ebullition of the whole The efficient cause is nature or naturall heat which by that menstruall matter mixing it self with the rest of our bloud doth cause a continuall vexing and disquieting thereof whereby an unnaturall heat is increased in all the body causing an Ebullition of bloud by the which this filthy menstrual matter is seperated from our natural bloud and the nature being offended and overwhelmed therewith doth thrust it to the outward pores of the skin as the excrements of bloud which matter if it be hot and slimie then it produceth the Pox but if dry and subtil then the Measels or Males But Mercurialis an excellent writer in Physick in his first Book de morbis puerorum cap. 2. agreeing with Fernelius in his Book De abdit is rerum causis c. 12. doth hold opinion that the immediate cause of this disease doth not proceed of menstrual bloud but of some secret and unknown corruption or defiled quality of the aire causing an Ebullition of bloud which is also verified by Valetius and now doth reckon it to be one of the hereditable diseases because few or none doe escape it but that either in their youth ripe age or old age they are infected therewith The contention hereabout is great and mighty reasons are oppugned on both sides therefore I will leave the judgement thereof unto the better learned to define but mine opinion is That now it proceedeth of the Excrements of all the four humours in our bodies which striving with the purest doth cause a supernatural heat and ebullition of our bloud alwaies beginning with a Fever in the most part and may well be reckoned in the number of those diseases which are called Epidemia as Fracastorius in his first Book De morbis contag cap. 13. witnesseth this disease is very contagious and infectious as experience teacheth us There are two speciall causes why this disease is infectious The first is be cause it proceedeth by ebullition of bloud whose vapour being entred into another bodie doth soon defile and infect the same the second reason is because it is a disease hereditable for we see when one is infected therewith that so many as come neer him especially those which are allyed in the same bloud doe assuredly for the most part receive the infection also CHAP. II. Sheweth to know the signs when one is infected as also the good and ill signs in the disease THe signs when one is infected are these first he is taken with a hot Fever and sometime with a Delirium great pain in the back furring and stopping of the nose beating of the heart hoarsnesse redness of the eyes and full of tears with heavinesse and pain in the head great beating in the forehead and temples heaviness and pricking in all the body dryness in the mouth the face very red pain in the throat and breast difficulty in breathing and shaking of the hands and feet with spitting thick matter When they doe soon or in short time appear and that in their coming out they doe look red and that after they are come forth they doe look white and speedily grow to maturation that he draweth his breath easily and doth find himself eased of his pain and that his Fever doth leave him these are good and laudable signes of recovery When the Pox lye hidden within and not appearing outwardly or if after they are come forth they doe suddenly strike in again and vanish away or that they doe look of a black blewish and green colour with a difficultie and straitnesse of drawing breath and that he doe often swoun if the sick have a flix or lask when the Pox were found double that is one growing within another or when they run together in blisters like scalding bladders and then on the sudden do sink down and grow dry with a hard black sear or crust as if it had been burnt with a hot iron all these are ill signs Avicen saith there are two speciall causes which produce death unto those that have this disease either for that they are choaked with great Inflammation and swelling in the throat called Angina or having a flix or lask which doth so weaken and overthrow the vitall spirits that thereby the disease is increased and so death followeth How to know of what humours this disease cometh If it come of bloud then they appear red with generall pain and great heat in all the body If they come of choler then will they appear of a yellowish red and clear colour with a pricking pain in all the bodie If they come of flegm then will they appear of a whitish colour and scaly or with scales If they come of melancholie then will they appear blackish with a pricking pain CHAP. III. Sheweth the meanes to cure the Pox or Measels THere are two speciall meanes required for curing this disease the first is to help nature to expell the same from the interior and principall parts unto the exterior the second is to preserve both the interior and exterior parts that they may not be hurt thereby For the first intention if the age and strength of the sick will permit and that the Pox or Measels appear not it were then good in the first second or third day to draw bloud out of the Basilica veine in the right arme if he be not under the age of fourteen years but the quantity must be at the discretion of him that draweth it either more or lesse as occasion is offered but for children and such as are of tender years and weak bodies it were not good to draw bloud out of the arme but out of the inferior parts as the thighes hams buttocks and the Emeroidall veines especially if the party be melancholie or else to apply ventoseâ— to the loynes buttocks or hams which may boldly be used both before and after they do appear either with scarification or without as cause requireth which is a speciall good meanes to draw that Ichorous matter from the interior to the exterior parts but for sucking Children it were best to apply bloud-suckers unto any of the foresaid places which is a thing that may be used with more ease then ventoses neither do I wish either of them to be used unlesse necessity require
the strong and lusty women be placed in a chair which also must have the lower part not upright but stooping a little that the child-bearing woman may sit as it were bending backward clothes or close compassing garments being cast about their backs In this the belly together with the whole burthen may sooner goe down than in a bed but it often cometh to passe that the whole Babe lyeth at the mouth of the womb before that it shall get forth more loosly and openly with the adjoyning places and by that meanes is compelled to stick longer there from whence ariseth no small danger of life CHAP. IX What the Midwife shall doe in the very moment of the birth VVHen now the pangs of child-bearing women increase more and more let the Midwife inwardly annoint the secret or natural parts with oyle of Cammomil and white Lillies nor let her set the woman in the seat before she perceiveth the womb to be loosed and resolved and the humours to flow over more plentifully Moreover she may not bring her to labour and strugling before the birth shew it self to her view for they doe but labour in vain and doe violently distort and wrest away the strength of the labouring woman that afterward when she shall have need it will not be able to work it forth But she shall sit fitly over against the woman in labour and shall diligently observe on what part the birth moveth it self for if it come the right way she shall annoint and cherish the secret parts with odoriferous Oils and if it declineth to the sides she shall with both hands govern and dispose the belly that it may fall to the mouth of the womb And if the hand or feet shew it self first the Midwife with a soft and gentle hand moistened with broth of Fenugreek and Linseed shall gently reduce it into the place Certain women have the mouth of their womb so streightned that without great help scarce or never they can part with the child And that cometh to pass by reason of divers causes for either some strong heat coming from the natural parts doth two much streighten the inward parts or the Creature is to big or the child-bearing woman is to grosse and fat or the child is dead who cannot by motion be furthering and helping to nature or else cold for the most part in the winter especially in young ones who have a narrow passage of the womb doth more astringe and bind it up or sometimes heat in some is so dissolved that their strength faileth them in the birth Therefore when there appeareth difficulty in bringing forth the Child Jesus Christ the onely preserver and saver in danger is heartily to be called upon that with his gratious favour he would be pleased to be Assistant to the wretched party in travell CHAP. X. When the Infant is come into the world VVHen now the Child or Issue cometh into the world either with the head or feet the Mother must be incouraged that as much as in her lyeth she keep in her breath and restrain it that by that indeavour she may put forth the Child And the Midwife in the mean time must with her hand gently compresse and keep down the region of the womb which is above the navill and urge the Infant to the lower parts And although the astriction of the womb causeth the bringing forth to be more difficult the parturient woman is to be set in a Bath in which Mallowes Faenugreek Linseed and Barly are sodden and the sides hips and flank must be annointed with oyle of Roses and Violets let the thighs be well rubbed with Oxysacchar and half a drachm of Mint and as much of Wormwood be exhibited in drink to her The woman bringing forth may gently be led to her bed and they which assist her at her labour must not look or gaze in her face as such who are ashamed in their bringing forth that after it as it falleth out she strive not to bring forth her young one with sharper pain CHAP. XI If the Secondines break not readily BUt if the Skin containing the young one called the Secondine because it is brought forth after the birth be lesse easily broken but stifly resisteth the Midwife must either break it with her nails and laying hold on it with her fingers cut it with a pair of Sizzers taking care that the Child may be preserved safely in doing it On the contrary when the skins are broken or cut in peices if all the humours presently shall overflow before the child come forth and the naturall places shall be dried up let Goose greace with oyle of white Lillies melted be poured in warm or the white of an Egg with the yolk be put up What is to be done after the child is born if yet the Secondine or after-birth be retained If the Child being born the Secondines be as yet pertinaciously retained sneezing must be provoked if it come not voluntarily putting Ginger or some other sharp thing up into the nostrils or a scruple of Unicorns horn beaâ—en into powder ought to be drunk hot in white Wine in want of Unicorns horn use good Harts horn or Bezar four graines or the juyce of Borrage exhibited in drink bringeth them down because it easily moveth vomit and they thereby are brought forth Another approved Remedy for drawing them forth Take of Sesely Cinnamon Of Mirrh and of sweet Cassia of each equall parts Let these be exhibited with Mugwort-water Another Receit Take powder of the Jet stone exhibited in Mugwort-water or else about a drachm of the powder of Mallowes seeds exhibited in hot water or the suffumigations of Horse hoofes CHAP. XII To draw forth a dead Child IF the child be dead an equall quantity of Rue of Mugwort Wormwood and black Pepper being each of them reduced into fine powder and boyled in Wine must be exhibited or Vervain boyled in Wine or Water or Vinegar or Savory bruised and tied upon the belly bringeth forth the Child whether it be yet alive or dead or Butter with Honey boyled in Wine or decoction of Hysop well dryed exhibited in hot water but if it yeildeth not nor cometh away with these let Rue Mugwort Oppoponax and Wormwood dryed with a little Oil and Sugar be laid to the groin or the navill and moreover the skin of a female Snake put about the woman in the manner of a girdle Also the stone Aetites tied unto the thigh after the Child is brought forth ought presently to be taken away least the womb after the Child be brought forth come forth also Moreover sneezing alone accellerateth delivery but it ought to be â—sed with the mouth and nostrils close stopped and Ginger or some such thing put up into them for from hence a great force of the spirits is thrust thence unto the inward part CHAP. XIII How the bellies of child-bearing women being costive or bound may be loosned IF the belly doe not evacuate the
true and certain but here some ignorant people doe hold opinion that having once an Issue he must be constrained to keep it alwaies which is most erronious for then those which have had Ulcers running upon them some six ten yea sixteen yeers may not be cured without some Issue to be made in some other place but therein they deceive themselves for my self by good proof have often found the contrary in divers people which I have cured some six some ten yea sixteen yeers past and yet to this day doe remain in perfect good health without any Issues CHAP. IX What Diet we ought to keep FOr our diet as Hippocrates teacheth us we must have a care not to exceed in eating and drinking but to keep a mean therein and in any case to beware of surfeting and drunkenness which are enemies both to the body and soule but as we may not exceed in eating and drinking so to endure great hunger and thirst is most dangerous our meat ought to be of a facile and easie digestion partly tending to a drying qualitie as Cocks Capons Hens Pullets Partridge Pheasants Quailes Pigeons Rabbets Kid Veal Mutton Birds of the Mountains and such like but Beef Pork Venison Hare and Goats flesh is to be refused and so are all water fowls as Duck Swan Goose Widgen Teal and such like because they are hard to digest and do increase ill blood and naughtie juyce in the bodie Lambs flesh because of his exceeding moisture is also to be refused Eggs in the Summer not good but in Winter tolerable All Fishes which are of a hard flesh whether they be of the Sea or fresh Rivers are to be allowed In fresh Rivers the Perch Barble Gudgeon Loch Cool Trout and Pike are good and for Sea fish the Gilthed Turbet Sole Rochet Gurnard Lobster Crab Praunes Shrimps Whiting and such like eaten with vinegar There are some Authors which hold opinion that Fish is better to be eaten then flesh in the great fervent heat of the year because they doe make a more cold bloud in the body then flesh another reason is because they doe live under the water they are not infected with any contagion of the aire as Beasts and birds may be and therefore more wholsome but in my judgement flesh is more wholsome because it doth breed a more pure and fine Juyce in the body then any â—ish whatsoever your bread ought to be made of pure wheat not too new nor too old but of one dayes baking or two at most is best Rie bread is to be eschewed because of his great moisture year drink is best beer or ale not too strong or new but the staler and clearer it is the better at your meals a draught or two of Claret wine is tolerable but in hot weather it were good to allay it with a little water for wine doth warm the stomack help digestion and comfort the heart For your Portage you may take in the Summer Parsly Lettice Sorrell Endive Succorie Sperage Hop-buds Burnet Burrage Buglosse Thime Mints Hysop but in Winter Balm Bittanie Thime Marigold Hysop Majoram Mints and Rue are good For your Sallets take Pimpernell Purslane Mints Sorrell Hore-hound Yong cole Hop-buds Sperage Thâ—me Tops of Fennell Tarregon Lettice and Water-cresses are good Capers are greatly commended being preserved in Vinegar and eaten with a little oyle and vinegar and so are Olives very good also For your sauce the juyce of a Limon Citron or Orange is best the juyce of Sorrell and Vinegar is also good All raw fruits are to be refused except those which tend to four tast as Pomgranates damask Prunes Pippins red and sour Cherries and Wallnuts Quinces and Peares preserved are very good eaten after meals All kind of Pulse is to be refused as Beans Pease and such like because they increase winde and make raw humours and ill juyce in the bodie Refrain from Garlick Onyons Leeks Pepper Mustard and Rocket because they doe over-heat the body make adustion of the bloud and cause fumes to ascend into the head Cheese is not good because it doth ingender grosse and thick humors Milk is also to be refused because it doth quickly corrupt in the stomack CHAP. X. Sheweth what Exercise and Order is to be kept YOu must beware of all vehement and immoderate exercise which doth provoke sweat as is Tennis dancing leaping running foot-ball hurling and such like because they doe over-much heat the body and open the Pores of respiration whereby the infected aire hath the more scope to enter our bodies but moderate exercise is very convenient the use of hot houses at this time I thinke very dangerous because it doth too much open the pores Walk not into the open ayre in the morning before the Sun hath had some power to cleanse and clear the same and in any case goe not abroad when great fogs and mists are upon the earth for it is dangerous but if urgent occasions move you then before you goe forth of your doors be sure to eat some preservative first and then take some good and odoriferous Pomander Nodule or Nosegay in your hand as before is shewed you The extream heat of the day is likewise to be refused to walk in because it chafeth the bloud as also in the evening after the Sun is set for then unsavory and unwholsome Fogs arise out of the earth and in any case if you can avoid it come not neer any any place infected but use to walk in the open aire and dry ground Use Venus combates moderately but none at all were better the best time to use them is three or four hours after supper before you sleep and then rest upon them Beware of anger fear and pensiveness of the minde for by their means the body is made more apt to receive the infection Use pleasant and merry recreations either with musick pleasant company to talke withall or reading some good books Bewar of sleeping at noon but specially in the Winter season but in Summer to take after dinner a nap of half an hour or an hour is tollerable in elderly bodies Watch not long in the evenings but two or three hours after supper is a good time to take your rest CHAP. XI Teacheth what orders Magistrates and Rulers of Cities and Townes should cause to be observed FIrst To command that no stinking dunghills be suffered near the City Secondly Every evening and morning in hot weather to cause cold water to be cast in the streets especially where the infection is and every day to cause the streets to be kept clean and sweet and cleansed from all filthy things which lye in the same Thirdly And whereas the infection is entered there to cause fires to be made in the streets every morning and evening and if some Frankincense Pitch or some other sweet thing be burnt therein it will be much the better Fourthly Suffer not any Doggs Catts or Pigs to run about the streets for they
vitae infuse it in one ounce of good Mithridate with as much good Venice Triacle let it be close stopped some few dayes in the infusion before you use it then pour the spirit clear off and reserve it for your use But to discover what opinions other Phisitians have held of that and the like I have annexed hereunto their severall judgements hereafter that amongst so many choise Medicines they may select out the best and safest for their own preservations when need shall require And to give them the better satisfaction I have annexed out of some choise Manuscripts some approved Experiments of some of our London ablest Doctors as also out of some other Authors Severall opinions against wearing of Arsenick Amulets as Preservatives against the Plague THe poysonous vapours of Arsenick being sucked or drawn into the body when they find no contrary poyson with whom to wrestle with as with an enemy for in an infected body there cannot be health but we suppose him to be well whom we desire to preserve so those vapours must needs imprint a malignant and venomous quality on the spirit and heart most adverse and pernitious to nature And by Galens own doctrine all Alexiteries doe in a manner if they be used too liberally greatly offend and weaken our bodies how can we then think that ranke Poysons and Dilaetories such us Arsenick is being applied as to penetrate into the noblest region of all other will no whit violate and wast our naturall vitall and radicall heat Galen libr. de simp cap. 18. Nor did Galen or any of the antient Fathers and Professors of Physick use to preserve from the Plague or any other poison by administring some other poison inwardly or prescribing outwardly Applications but proceeded by Antidotes and Alexiteries as will appear in libr. de Theriaca ad Pis cap 16. Wherefore unlesse we will utterly disclaim or relinguish the method and prescripts of these worthy Antients and prosecute new wayes and inventions to oppose this man-yelling Monster we must attempt it not with Poysons but Antidotes And Galen defineth those to be Poysons which agree not with nature either well or ill affected at any time for though there are some Poysons which if they meet in the body with a contrary venome so fight with it and oppose it that both doe perish in the conflict betwixt them so that the party by their colluctation and strugling together escapes with his life yet all of them agree in uniform opinion together that where they meet with no opposition they ruine the party And therefore conclude that Arsenick worn by a healthy man finding not onely no contrary Poyson to make conflict with but no Poyson at all must necessarily thwart and oppose and make an onset on nature her self And to confirme their opinions I have purposely introduced the judgements of other learned Phisitians concurring with them Gerardus Columbus a learned Phisitian reporteth that it hath been observed that the wearers of these Amulets upon unusuall heating their bodies have fallen into sudden Lipothimies and Swounings with other fearfull accidents which continued upon them till the Amulets or Placents were removed from them and that others though not instantly yet after some time have by late and wofull experience discovered their malignity by falling into malignant and pestilent Fevers some of them ending with death Franc. Alphanus a Phisitian of Salerne relateth of one who wearing Arsenick and heating himself with playing earnestly at Tennise fell down suddenly dead Mattheus Hessus also thus writeth As Cordiall Bags or Amulets ought not to be disavowed so empoysoned Amulets can be no way commended nor doe I remember that ever Antidotes But this I certainly know that divers persons who câ—ry about them Quick-silver in a Nutshell by the vain perswasions of some Imposters have died of the Plague and the counsellours and advisers of such like Amulets have been the first have betaken themselves to their heeles confiding more in their running than cunning and yet these Quacks perswaded the ignorant people with glorious promises and protestations that whosoever carried Quick-silver or Arsenick about his neck should be as safe as if he had purchased a protection from the King of Heaven Historians also report that Caracalla though he were a wicked Emperour prohibited by publick Edict or Proclamation that no man should wear about him superstitious Amulets And Theophrastus the great not without cause esteemed Pericles to have a crazed brain because he saw him wear an Amulet about his neck And hereunto Doctor Francis Herring an able Phisitian as a Corollary to what hath before been written addeth the experience of some London Phisitians who report they have seen foul holes made in the breasts of those that have worn those Amulets and have observed divers to die who have religiously worn them about their necks as well as others And whereas the venters and setters out of these deceitfull wares make them as a scout to discover the infection when it beginneth to seize on a man by clapping close to the heart to guard that principall part as the cheif Tower It is a meer deceit and collusion for whensoever the body is heated this event followeth necessarily though no other infection be near but the poysonous and venomous Arsenick it self whose salutation is rather Joabs imbracing or Juda's kissing than friendly preservatives Causes of the Plague There are two speciall causes of the Plague First An infected corrupted and putrified air Secondly Evill and corrupt humours ingendered in the body The air is infected when the temperatenesse of the air is changed from his naturall state to excessive heat and moisture which is the worst temperament of the air the vapours drawn up by the heat of the Sun being unconsumed rot putrifie and corrupt and so with the venome infect the air Also dead Carkases lying unburied as it often chanceth in Warres evaporations of Pooles Fens Marishes stinking and noysome sents and Kennels and Astronomers say Aspects Conjunctions and Oppositions of ill Planets and Eclipses of the Sun and Moon Also disordering ones self either in diet or exercises bringeth one into the Pestilence therefore in time of contagion outrages and surfets are to be avoided as also all excesse of eating drinking sweating bathing lechery and all other things that open the pores of the body and enter thereby ill aires which invenome the lively spirits Signes of the Plague The signes which declare one infected already are many but the secret token of all to know the infected of the Plague is if there arise botches behind the eares or under the arme-holes or about the share or if Carbunkles suddenly arise in any member for when they appear they betoken strength of nature which being strong laboureth to drive the poyson out of the body but if botches doe not appear it is more dangerous for it sheweth that nature is weak and feeble and not able to expell and thrust forth the venomous humours and then