as the Head and the Stomac the Stomac and Kidneys c. These Nerves are the source of motion They serve to Convey the Animal Spirits to all the Parts of the Body in order to their Reciprocal Contraction and Relaxation When the motion of any Member is irregular it proceeds from one of these three Causes 1. Either the Animal Spirits are scanty and deficient or Lazy and Inactive In this case we use the Oyly Volatil Salts and all Cordial Cephalic and Aromatic Medicines Or 2. The Nerves are relaxated and render'd flaccid by a prevailing lymph whether sharp or acid This yields to the same Remedies with the former 3. The Neighbouring fibres are over-charg'd and forc'd to Enormous motions by the impetuous incursions of the Spirits In this Case Pacific Medicines are very proper But they are generally suspected unless very well Prepar'd Opium is the Head of 'em all and may be Prepar'd either by Fermentation or Digestion with fix'd Salts Helmont Prepar'd it with Juice of Quinces repeating the Fermentation thrice and then dissolv'd it in Spirit of Wine Some set it to ferment with the Juice of Apples or any other Stomachic Langelot Mix'd it with Juice of Quinces and set them in a moderat heat to ferment By this process says he the stinking Sulphur is carried off and the Gross Earthy Parts fall to the bottom while the light and frothy Parts are mounted higher And betwixt these two we find a Transparent Liquor a little Reddish which we separat and reduce to the Consistence of an Extract and then Circulate it for a Month or two with Rectify'd Spirit of Wine He extolls it for a Noble Medicine but I never could see any extraordinary effects produc'd by it The second and better way of Correcting Opium is Digestion with Salt of Tartar and Spirit of Turpentin 'T is a Powerful Medicine reserv'd by some for a Nostrum Some Prepare it thus Take of Opium Salt of Tartar or Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium of each an Ounce Let 'em stand for Digestion Then pour upon 'em two or three Ounces of Spirit of Wine It yields an excellent Tincture which is to be strain'd and reserv'd for use Conerdingius Prepar'd his Hysteric Laudanum thus Take of Laudanum Opiatum Prepar'd by fermentation two Drams Extract of Zedoary one Dram. Extract of Castor fifteen Grains Of the Powder call'd Diacalaminthes one Scruple Saffron half a Dram. Eastern and Western Bezoar Stone of each half a Scruple With Distill'd Oyl of Amber make Pills Dose six Grains to be taken with Sugar After this method ye may give an Extemporary Prescription Thus Take of Extract of Zedoary twelve Grains Extract of Castor fix Grains Laudanum Prepar'd by Fermentation four Grains With a sufficient quantity of Distill'd Oyl of Amber Make six Pills for three Doses SECT V. Of the Choice of Practical Authors IN pursuing my design of gathering the whole Practice of Physic unto one Body I have propos'd Sylvius and Willis for my Pattern Both of 'em joyn'd together are a fit Subject of imitation Tho' if consider'd separatly either of 'em is lyable to Censure The former 't is true had a happy way of referring all the Corruptions of the Humors to the vicious effervescencies of Acids and Alkali's But he stretch'd the Notion too far in imagining a strife betwixt the Descending Lymph and ascending Bile in the right Ventricle of the Heart and in ascribing several effects to the conflicts of the Choler and Pancreatic Juice which perhaps were only owing to the fermentation of the Choler alone Moreover he attributes a great many Sypmtoms to the Vapours arising from the Combatant Juices in the first Passages which properly proceed from the mutual Correspondence of the Nerves Upon the other hand Willis has set us in a clearer light with reference to Convulsive Motions and the Contractions of the Muscles but his Elastic Power will never be regarded while the Convulsions and Cramps of the Nerves are so probably accounted for by assigning the prevalency of an Acid or some such grating substance for their Cause These two Authors joyn'd together are the flower of our Modern Writers and as such I recommend 'em to young Students As for Ancient Writers Senertus may justly claim the precedency or in Room of him Forestus Helmont is an Author that ought to be read by all serious Practitioners Since Paracelsus we have none that surpasses him But whoever would profit by reading his Writings must arm himself with â—atience and Deliberatly weigh every Period as he proceeds In the next place he must be equip'd with a Competent Knowledge of Chymistry and Anatomy else he does but grope in the dark And besides what he Reads he ought to retain as a Paradox And not yield his assent till maturer thoughts and succeeding Experience have vouch'd for its Certainty The Authors that have wrote Practical Observations are Borellus Salmuth Tulpius Rhodius Bartholinus c. They ought to be read with Judgment and Attention Every Minute Circumstance of the Patient ought to be nicely consider'd in order to find out the true cause of the Distemper and determine the precise case in which any particular Medicine is Crown'd with success AN ABRIDGEMENT OF ETMVLLERVS's Practice of Physic BOOK I. SECT I. Of the Animal Appetit and the Disorders 't is Obnoxious to THE most Natural method of describing the Diseases Incident to Men Is to follow the order of the Functions in the Body Among which those relating to Nourishment do justly lead the Van. The first function is to receive Solid Nourishment and Distribute it thro' the Body This reception we are prompted to by Appetit Which is a desire of Solid Food caus'd by the gnawing of a Volatil Acid in the Mouth of the Stomac and encourag'd by such Medicines as promote it This Acid is vary'd according to the different Constitutions of Men and accordingly directs the Appetit to different Objects It is likewise influenc'd by the remains of preceding Food and so sways the Appetit to customary Meats In like manner the Mother's Imagination will Tincture the Acid in the Child 's Stomac with an invincible Aversion to some things The least Apprehension or Natural Sense turns it The Infant 's uneasiness from the Curdling of the Nurses Milk when she is with Child in the time of suckling will revive upon the sight of Cheese and oblige him to avoid it for ever So insensibly is the Acid sway'd that without the direction of thought it Naturally abhors it This Appetit or desire of eating is liable to these disorders 1. It is either impair'd and extinguish'd or 2. Deprav'd and apt to covet improper Food Or 3. Encreas'd to an Unnatural Degree Of these in order CHAP. I. Of the Loss of Appetit THE place affected is the Mouth of the Stomac The General Cause is the Cessation of the uneasiness which the Acid ferment was wont to produce by Vellicating the Stomac The special Causes are Various If the Nerves
from the preâ—ernatural fermentation of the Blood If a Continual Acute Feaver be attended by a Consumption or colliquation of the fat oily parts of the Body and a tendency to a Marasmus 't is call'd a Melting Feaver These oily far nutritious juices are voided either by stool in the form of stinking Excrements or by a cool glutinous Sweat or by copious quantities of Urine whose surface is cover'd with far or by falling into the cavity of the Belly or upon the Feet after a Hydropic manner The Causes of melting Feavers are the thin open texture of the nutritious juice and fat occasion'd by the want of a fixing congealing Acid The Acrimony of the Bile which sharpens and whets the Chyle and qualifies it for unlocking the Body of the nutritious and fat Juices the vehemence of dissolving Heat and the Caustic penetrating sharpness of the febrile ferment The remote causes are the epidemical Constitutions of the Air the immoderat use of Brandy or spiritous Liquors which over-whet the oily volatil Salt of the Choler the over-frequent smoaking of Tobacco and drinking cold Water after a violent heat The Scurvy and Cancer in the Breasts are oft-times listed into the number of the Causes These melting Feavers ought to be heedfully distinguish'd from that profluence of Sweat which proceeds from the deficiency of the Spirits the unbending of the Fibres and flagging of the looser parts as in swoonings c. Some continual burning Feavers are call'd Delirious when the Spirits move irregularly in the Brain causing doating insusterable Head-aches stubborn watching and sometimes Convulsions The cause is partly the heat of the Brain and Spirits occasion'd by the violent fermentations of the Blood and partly the malignity of the febrile ferment which debauches the quality of the Spirits and galls the membranous nervous parts If the malignant ferment break out in Pushes and Whelks in the Face Mouth or Head the Feaver is call'd Pemphygodes If the Person sweat copiously the first day of the Feavers invasion but without any ease or benefit 't is call'd Elodes If the Person be disquieted and toss in Bed 't is call'd Assodes This last symptom may be caus'd by weakness notable malignity vehement heat impetuosity of the Spirits and especially by vicious Humours disturbing the mouth of the Stomac If the Person be molested with a Hiccough which always proceeds from the Stomac 't is call'd Lyngodes If shivering and shaking attend the whole progress of the Feaver as it oft-times does in the suppurations of internal Ulcers and compound continual Feavers 't is call'd Phricodes Of all the compound continual or continual periodical Feavers that call'd Semitertiana is most worthy our regard 'T is generally look'd upon to be compos'd of a Tertian and Quotidian one of which is a Compound Continual and the other an intermitting Feaver Authors give several varying accounts of the periods of this Feaver but however 't is foâ— the most part cast into this form viz. A Continual Feaver seizes the Patient and periodical shiverings follow'd by a notable heat Observe the order of a Tertian and gentle shiverings succeeded by a meeker heat follow a Quotidian period The signs of Acute Feavers are manifest A notable Heat and Thirst always attends a burning Feaver 'T is usher'd in by a weariness of the Body and perturbation of the Head for some days then by a chilness and shivering which intimats that the volatil oily Particles have not yet obtain'd the ascendant over the Acid. Afterwards a notable heat succeeds the Pulse is frequent and accelerated and if the Salts of the Blood are equally match'd 't is large and equal if it be small or unequal it bespeaks malignity If the Salts of the Blood are very sharp and exalted a biting vehement heat molests the whole Body if they are temperat the heat is milder The Urine at first is thick red and dark in progress of time it discovers a Cloud on the top and upon the Crisis a copious sediment at bottom If at the height of the Disease the Urin be thin 't is a fatal sign If at first it appear thick and dark and afterwards degenerate into a thin consistence it portends unquietness doating and frequently Death But for making a due estimat of the Urine we ought to have a particular regard to the Constitution of the Patient For the Urine of those whose Blood is copiously temper'd with lymph and nutritious juice is never so high tinctur'd nor so thin as that of Bilious scorburic or Phthisical Persons Nor can those who sweat much void such large quantities of Urin and sediment as others The Spittle is glutinous and scanty attended by intolerable thirst watchings Head-aches c. Acute Feavers come regularly to a Crisis in hot Climats but in these Countries where we are wont to anticipate Nature by alterative Diaphoretic and absorbent Medicins they are not quite so regular Sometimes they spend themselves by gradual solutions by Urine Night-Sweats or Salivation As for the Prognostics of acute Feavers a sudden unaccountable Lightning or ease is a mortal sign If the Symptoms are extream high the Breast disturb'd and the Stomac queasy or molested with a gnawing Pain if in the beginning of the Disease a looseness happen attended by a notable prostration of strength and a 〈◊〉 corruption of the excrements in a word if any signs of malignity appear 't is a dangerous case Vomiting is a good sign If the Patient be somewhat benefited and not overweaken'd by a looseness 't is not so very dangerous Sometimes a melting Sweat in which red Sand-like matter is voided and found in the Bed may perform the Cure White Pale crude Urine is always a bad Omen The more reddish it appears at first the sooner the Disease comes to its height The Feavers that are occasioned by evident causes are more favourable than those whose cause is invisible If strength decay apace without any notable Evacuation Death is at hand If the Tongue be moist and of a natural red Colour all is well but if it be rough Dry Black Livid Slimy or Chop'd 't is in a bad Condition The swelling of the Face bespeaks the length of the Disease If the signs of Concoction appear the fourth Day the Feaver disappears the seventh if they are put off till the seventh the eleventh Concludes the matter The Crisis of the Feaver signifies the Period in which the useless and noxious parts are separated and expell'd sometimes by Ulcers in the Lips and Nostrils where the Skin is thin and Blood Vessels abound sometimes by a 〈◊〉 diffâ—sâ—d over the Body by Urine Sweating Salivation c. In â—ot Climats the Disease is sometimes Cur'd by Bleedings at Nose or other places The Bleeding at Nose is for the most part preceded by a tingling of the Ears If this Crisis be imperfect or disturb'd by an indiscreet use of absorbent fixing Medicines 't is follow'd by insufferable pains of the Stomac Guts or Joints and sometimes Palsies If a Physician
bottom of a Kettle and mix'd with the Powder of the Blood that runs from the Nostrils the French Styptic Liquor or a solution of Allum and Vitriol of Steel in Plantan-Water and above all the rectifi'd Spirit of Wine The Gums are also very liable to Bleedings occasion'd by the laxity of their Substance or the Corrosion of sharp scorbutical spittle or the drawing of a Tooth or by the general Causes of other bleedings If their bleeding be periodical customary or critical it ought not to be stop'd If it be caus'd by the drawing of a Tooth apply the Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol with Cotton and gargle the Mouth with the Decoction of Tormentil and Snakeweed-roots with Galls and White Poppy-seeds in Water mixing it with Bole-Armenic Allum and a little Vinegar Sometimes the Spirit of Salt mix'd with Water is useful for washing the Mouth But when every other thing proves ineffectual an actual Cautery is the surest Remedy Scorbutical Bleedings are accounted for elsewhere ART 2. Of a spitting of Blood THE Blood that is evacuated by spitting may either proceed from the Stomac of which elsewhere or from the Palat Nostrils and Gums as was related in the last Article or from the Organs of Respiration viz. the Wind-pipe Bronchia or Lungs in which case the Disease is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hemoptysis or a spitting of Blood and is the subject of this Paragraph The general Causes are already accounted for The particular Causes are 1. The Rupture of some Vessel in the Breast occasion'd by a redundancy of Blood suppression of the Terms or Piles violent Crying bearing heavy Burdens Falls Blows vehement Coughing or immoderat Laughter 2. The Corrosion of the Vessels in the Breast especially in the Lungs occasion'd by the Inspiration of Mineral Sulphureous steams or by a sharp Lymph reigning in the Body as in the small Pox or when a sordid Ulcer is unseasonably dry'd To these we may add the accidental swallowing of Leeches and immoderat Bathing A Spitting of Blood is of it self manifest But to trace out the part from whence it proceeds is a piece of Difficulty For this end the Physician ought to weigh the antecedent Causes such as excessive Crying Falls Bruises of the Breast and violent Coughs which generally arraign the Lungs while other Causes are apt to affect other parts Besides the Circumstances attending the Evacuation will give some further light into the Matter as if the Blood be clotty if it be voided without Coughing or much Hauking and that in small quantities then it proceeds from the Palat Gums Throat c. and not from the Breast If it be copiously voided with a Cough that not only accompanies but precedes the evacuation and makes a hollow Noise then it comes from the Wind-pipe or Lungs and if the respiration be difficult if the Blood be florid thin and frothy as being rarify'd by the Air and if a pain beset the lower part of the Breast it certainly takes its rise from the Lungs If the Blood be black clotty and thick and voided with a Cough and hollow Noise it springs from the Veins in the Cavity of the Breast As for the Prognostic A Spitting of Blood from the Lungs is most dangerous and apt to degenerat into a Phthisic or Ulcer of the Lungs especially if it took its rise from the Corrosion of a sharp Humor If it be only a Symptom of another Disease as of a Pleurisie Peripneumonia c. it is not so dangerous as when it stands upon its own Legs If a Spitting of Blood occasion'd by a suppression of wonted evacuations or by the Turgescence of Blood be unseasonably stop'd it degenerats into a Peripneumonia or Consumption The Cure is perform'd in the Paroxysm by removing the cause appeasing and thickening the Blood and repairing the losses of the Vessels out of the Paroxysm the clotty Blood remaining in the Breast ought to be discuss'd and the Lungs strengthen'd Now in order to answer these Indications let 's mind the following Rules 1. When a Spitting of Blood is caus'd by the Corrosion of sharp humors Blood-letting is improper in some other cases it may be serviceable but regard must still be had to the Rules of Revulsion and Aversion as if it proceed from the suppression of the Piles or Terms a Vein must be open'd in the Leg When it arises from the suppression of a customary Bleeding at Nose the vein of the Fore-head or that under the Tongue is the proper place 2. Purgatives are highly pernicious But Diuretics and Diaphoretics are very useful 3. Internal Astringents ought not to be us'd before the Blood be turn'd off for fear of imprisoning the Blood in the Breast and so causing a Suffocation or Peripneumonia 4. All external Astringents and cold things applied to the Breast are more apt to enflame than mitigat the Disease 5. Opiats are always safe and useful but such of 'em as are very hot as Venice Treacle Mithridat c. are not so proper as Laudanum Opiatum and especially Henbane Seeds which are unanimously approv'd both by the ancient and modern Writers Hence an Electuary of Henbane and white Poppy Seeds with Coral Blood-stone and the stale Conserve of Roses is of excellent use However the safest way is to give but a small quantity of Henbane Seeds at a time and repeat the Doses oftner because they are very Narcotic and apt to cause Madness 6. In all Compositions we ought still to have an Eye upon the corrosive sharpness of the Humors for tempering which we use the same Medicines as were recommended against Bleedings in general especially Plantan Purslain and Comfrey their Decoctions Juices and Syrups for their Waters have no astringent force The Decoction Syrup and Conserve of Ground Ivy a noble Pectoral the Juice of Nettles the stale Conserve of red Roses Diascordium the Troches of Amber which at once temper sharp humors dissolve clotty Blood and stop its Flux The Oyl of Linseed given by Spoonfuls the Oyl of Vitriol when there 's no apprehension of a Phthisic the Juice express'd from Quinces boyl'd in Water till they be soft given to two or three Spoonfuls three or four times a Day the Decoction it self being mix'd with that of Barly or Corants for ordinary Drinking Mice Dung given to a dram twice a Day with the Juice of Plantan and Sugar the Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol Bloodstone the Antiphthisical Tincture Mynsichtius's Species Diaplantaginis c. 7. When the Paroxysm is over we ought to add dissolving and expectorating Medicines such as Sperma Ceti Diaphoretic Antimony Crabs Eyes with Vinegar Oyl of Amber Oxymel of Squills c. 8. In the last place the Lungs ought to be fortify'd by Vulnerary Balmy Medicines As for external Applications some apply a dry'd Toad under the Arm-pits some trust to the Sympathetic Powder of Vitriol and others choose to wet or wash the Testicles with Rose Vinegar and that with good success Take of the Conserve
proper If it proceed from metallin or mercurial Fumes Cinnabar of Antimony and antimonial Sulphurs ought to be mix'd with human Bones and exhibited in order to procure Sweat The Decoction of Elecampane and Fennel Roots in Wine taken Morning and Evening the Person being cover'd in order to sweat is famous for expelling and correcting Mercury in the Body Leaves of Gold or Medicines partaking of Gold are proper in this case to be given inwardly and an Ointment of Gold may be applied outwardly As for external Remedies Forestus recommends rubbing and washing the Part with fresh Urine In room of which you may use what follows Take of Aqua Articularis for external use three or four Ounces Spirit of Earth-worms an Ounce and a half Spirit of Ants six or eight Drams Essence of Castor three or four Drams mix and bathe the part affected Petrus à Castro orders the part to be frequently fomented with distill'd Water of Nettles The Leaves of an Ash infus'd in Lees are commended If the Trembling be inveterat the natural Bathes or artificial Bathes of a Decoction of Ants ty'd in a Bag are incomparably useful CHAP. III. Of the Diseases in which the Animal Spirits cease to move ART I. Of an Apoplexy WHEN Persons are seiz'd with Apoplexies they are like dead People in every respect except the beating of their Pulse Breathing and the color of their faces If the Respiration be much impair'd the Pulse very low and scarce perceptible and the Person snort and froth at the Mouth 't is a violent Fit If the whole Body be equally seiz'd 't is an universal Apoplexy If only one side of the Head and Body or the Trunk of the Body alone or a particular part by it self be affected while the others are at ease 't is call'd a particular Apoplexy 'T is usual among Writers to refer the Apoplexies of particular Parts to Palsies but indeed these Disorders of particular Members proceeding from internal Causes and call'd by them Paralytic were by the Antients accounted slight Apoplexies Vid. Hip. Sect. 2. Aph. 42. The Cause of Apoplexies may be deriv'd from the failure of the motion of the Animal Spirits either in the Cerebrum or Cerebellum If in the latter the Circulation of the Blood and Motion of the Heart are in a manner quite extinguish'd If the Animal Spirits be hindred to visit the Heart by the Convulsion of its Nerves or such other Causes the same effect will follow These Causes are call'd Privative which do not affect the Spirits immediatly but only prevent their Excursions or withdraw the matter of their Generation as all Obstructions of the Brain a Fall c. The positive Causes are such as stupify the Spirits or render 'em unfit for performing their Office as narcotic Medicines c. A privative Apoplexy is occasion'd by stopping the Circulation of the Blood This is caus'd either by an Obstruction in the Brain imprisoning the Spirits or by the Compression tearing or breaking of the Blood-vessels As when external Violence is us'd an Apoplexy may be caus'd by the Ligature or Compression of the Carotid Arteries and consequently the interruption of the Blood in its Passage to the Brain This Hippocrates understood by his Obstructio Venae it being customary among the Antients to signify by Veins the Arteries and Nerves The other privative Apoplexies proceeding from internal Causes are rather owing to the stoppage of the Blood in the Veins and its subsequent Stagnation in or Distention of the Brain for suppose one of the Carotid Arteries were straiten'd by some internal Cause the other Artery communicating with it would supply the Brain with Blood and so no Apoplexy would insue upon that occasion 'T is the hindrance therefore of the Reflux of the Blood and its subsequent Stagnation that in internal cases distends the Brain straitens its Passages extinguishes the motion of the Animal Spirits and so causes the Apoplexy Sometimes the Blood is so thick and congeal'd that of it self it stops in the Vessels within the Brain without any determination to that effect from the Blood Vessels as in Heart-swooning which is a case not only parallel but near a kin to this it stagnates in the Lungs The Antients deriv'd the cause of an Apoplexy from a Collection of Serum in the Ventricles of the Brain but Anatomical Dissections make it appear that the Brains of Apoplectic Persons are not always molested with any such matter and that several People are who were never seiz'd with an Apoplexy in their Lives It remains therefore to be concluded that the immediat Cause of all Apoplexies is the Abolition either of the motion of the animal Spirits or of the Circulation of the Blood The remote Causes with reference to a defective Circulation of the Blood are sudden Cold excessive Heat gormandizing in a sedentary way of Living washing the Head with warm Water and then exposing it to the Cold Swellings in the Scull suppression of wonted Evacuations of Blood using Dragons Blood after violent Purges immoderat Venery especially in old Age Anger and all turbulent Passions of the Mind With reference to the motion of the animal Spirits the remote Causes of Apoplexies are a Contusion or violent Commotion of the Brain by Thunder Cannon shooting c. any sudden and impetuous Force that drives inwards the Lymph which waters the Cortical part of the Brain Impostumes or any vitious matter lodg'd in the Head all which straiten the Passages of the Brain and Original of the Nerves and so cramp the Spirits that they cannot perform their wonted Office Excessive Drinking may occasion a Prevalency or Redundancy of Serum in the Brain that presses down the Walls of the Passages Accordingly we sometimes meet with great quantities of Serum in dissecting the Heads of such as die of Apoplexies The Small-pox or Scab struck inwards and several other Causes may likewise produce the same effect Upon this account I shall not scruple to admit the distinction of privative Apoplexies into such as are Sanguin and those which are Serous tho a nice Theorist might cavil against it The former kind is apt to invade those whose Blood is thick and prone to congeal the latter for most part seizes old decrepit Catarrhous Constitutions Mercurial and subterranean Vapors not only clog the Spirits but thicken the Blood and so cause a privative Apoplexy As for positive Apoplexies caus'd by an immediat Depravation and Fixation of the Spirits I am of Helmont's Opinion that not only external things but an internal Ferment bred in the Stomac oft-times causes ' em This I am induc'd to believe by these Considerations 1. Vomits sharp Clysters and stomachic Medicines are sovereign Remedies against a positive Apoplexy which is a sign that the Stomac is concern'd 2. The Steams of Coals Smoak of Tobacco and eating ungrateful Food cause Apoplexies Now undoubtedly these affect the mouth of the Stomac most immediatly 3. I remember an instance of a Woman that was seiz'd with a
Disease the Manner of its Invasion and the Signs which generally accompany it Secondly To describe the Part affected whether mediatly by being influenc'd from another or immediatly by the Residence of the Morbific Cause within its self Thirdly The Causes of every Distemper both Radical and Occasional Fourthly What Prognostics we can have of the Event of every Distemper And Fifthly To subjoyn the Method of Cure both General and Special the Nature of the Remedies whether Simple or Compound Universal or Specific Together with Historical Cases and Practical Observations applied to every Disease But some things are necessary to be premis'd before we launch into the Practice Whoever would understand it thoroughly must be well acquainted with the Principles of Chymy and Mechanicks The former are serviceable in explaining the Vital Functions of the Body and the latter in the Animal Musculary Motion For Nature has acted Geometrically in framing our Bodies as well as in every thing else The remaining Preliminary Principles that a Student ought to know before he Commence the Practice of Physic are briefly couch'd under the following Heads SECT I. Of the General Vertues of Med'cines AS the Oeconomy of Man's Body is only explicable by the different Forms Sizes and Various Combinations of the Minute Particles of which every Body is compounded according to the Principles of Mechanism So the Vertues of Medicines may best be deduc'd from the same Cause Especially since Occult Qualities are now hiss'd out of Doors and the four first Elementary Principles of Cold Hot Dry and Moist are more Imaginary than Real This Particular Disposition and Texture of Parts that entitles all Medicines to their Respective Specific Qualities is Originally owing to the Seed and may properly be call'd the Seminal Disposition As for Example Scurvygrass is a Specific against the Scurvy not because it is Hot or enjoys such an Occult Quality but because it enjoys such a Texture of Parts that makes it a subtil penetrating Body fit for altering and subduing the Acid Scorbutical Matter Now its precise Seminal Vertue is not Common to all its Parts but peculiar to a sharp Volatil Salt couch'd within its Body that actuates the other Earthy Particles And indeed the Various Exaltation or Depression of Acid or Alcali Salts is the distinguishing Character of all their respective Textures because the Saline Particles are more active and produce more Notable Effects than any of the rest tho 't is probable all of 'em Originally may have sprung from Water Thus such Med'cines were by the Ancients accounted Hot as by their sharp pointed Particles affect the Tongue and Palate the same way as Fire is wont to do or by Vertue of a Volatil Oily Salt dissolve the Mass of Blood and augment its Fermentation Those of a contrary Vertue they styi'd Cold Such are all Acid or Nitrous Medicines Those they call'd Dry which either drink in the moisture of the Body as Burnt Harts-horn c. or open a Door for its Passage as all Sudorifics Those Moist that either supply moisture as all Nourishing and Liquid Things or give a stop to its Consumption as Quieting Pacific Medicines All Med'cines fit for Conquering a prevailing Acid or Alcali in the first Passages were by the Ancients call'd Aperitive I choose rather to Christen 'em Alterative If they are Anti-Acids they perform their Task by imbibing the peccant Acid as Steel and all Earths or qualifying its sharpness as Oily fat Medicines or fermenting with it so as to work it into a Third Compound as all Ascali's both Fix'd and Volatil If their business be to conquer Alcali's they reduce the Bile or any other Vicious Alcali to its true Temperature by opposing themselves to their Extremes For 't is the Disproportion'd Mixture of the Juices in the first ways that destroys the Natural Fermentation of the Blood and is the Source of all Chronical Distempers commonly but falsely imputed to Obstructions And all remedies capable of reducing them from either Extreme are what I call Alteratives in General But are distinguish'd by several particular Names corresponding to their special Qualities As those of an Oily Mucilaginous Body and free from any Predominant salt are call'd Softening Suppurating Expectorating Incrassating Anodyne c. Opposite to them are the Astringents of a Styptic Austere Body Compounded of Earth and an Acid Salt which thicken fluid humors and eontract the fibres of the Parts as Allum c. Those that are most Famous for making head against Acids are sometimes term'd Febrifuga's by reason of their Noted Vertue in Intermitting Feavers and sometimes Vulnerary by reason of their healing Vertue Such as have a sharp penetrating Salt whether Acid or Alcali are Attenuating Discussing c. Those endow'd with a Volatil Oily Salt a piercing Smell and a grateful Taste are Aromatic Carminative Cephalic c. and are commonly us'd for Cordials Those of a Volatil Salt apt to dissolve the Mass of Blood are Diuretic Sudorific and Alexipharmacal These are the General Classes of all remedies us'd in Physic Such of 'em as are more Universal and Answer more Indications are to be most esteem'd As Opium Sal volatile Oleosum and the fix'd Sulphurs of Minerals and Mettals which are all useful in an infinity of Cases and are upon that account Entitled to a preference before others of a narrower extent SECT II. Of the Vital Functions of the Body HAving touch'd upon the Vertues of Medicines and their manner of Operation the next thing is to consider the Subject or Body upon which the Operation is perform'd It s structure presents us with some gross material Parts and some more subtile and active which serve to inform and actuate the other The former represent the External Fabric of an Ingenious Machine the latter the Internal Wheels and Springs of Motion The Ancients imagin'd our grosser part to be compounded of the four first Elements but without either Reason or Experience I deny not but that there are such things as Water Earth and Air which make up the greatest part of our Terraqueous Globe but I doubt much if they and fire are the first and simplest Ingredients of all Compounds Indeed as to Water I do not dispute the point Thales and Helmont have clearly made it out that all things consist of Water But as for fire the Modern Experiments do sufficiently prove that 't is nothing else but a division of the smaller Particles of fat Acids such as we call sulphurous by means of the Air from whence heat and light must necessarily ensue We see that flame is only a further rarefaction of the same Particles that when more condensated appear in smoak and a little more Condensation converts smoak into soot and the Oyl of Soot which is a fat Acid differs from all the three as they from one another by a further or lesser degree of Rarefaction or Condensation Thus the Various Conjunction Separation or Transposition of the same Minute Particles is the Original of the
liberally and especially Raisins are of good use Rhubarb and Aloes are not to be us'd unless mix'd with Antimonial Ingredients Take of the Pulps of Raisins and Tamarinds of each an ounce and a half Crystals of Tartar three drams Powder of Jalap roots two drams Scammony sulphurated a scruple laxative Antimony half a dram With solutive Syrup of Roses make an Electuary The Decoction of Prunes or of Senna with Raisins is likewise very effectual Clarify'd Whey mix'd with solutive Syrup of Roses or impregnated with Tamarinds by Decoction is an incomparable Medicine for opening the Belly It injoys a volatil oyly Alcali which tempers the austere acidity of the Juice of the Pancreas the frequent cause of Costiveness and moderates the acrimony of scorbutic Salts The Decoctions of emollient Herbs in Broth or that of Figs in Barly-water are likewise useful Some instead of Sugar use Manna for the Conferves of Roses and Violets and mix 'em with the Pulp of Raisins and Cream of Tartar with very good Success If the Excrements be very hard and a glassy Pituita beset the Guts there 's nothing better than Gum Ammoniac As take of Mint-water an ounce Gum Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar a dram solutive Syrup of Roses half an ounce make a Potion for two Doses If the Operation be difficult add Tartar vitriolated and Scammony sulphurated The Tincture or Essential Salt of Tartar is much approv'd But in Cases of Extremity we must have recourse to Quicksilver two or three ounces of which may be exhibited in Broth or Oyl of sweet Almonds or it may be infus'd for a Month in Wine shaking the Wine often of which a spoonful or two is a Dose Fulminatory Gold reduc'd to Pills with Extract of Hellebor or Syrup of Roses is look'd upon by some as the last Refuge But it ought not to be dulcify'd or rob'd of its Salt otherwise it becomes diaphoretic I choose to joyn it with Antimonial Nitre which provokes the Guts to Expulsion and find it very useful both in this case and that of Childrens Gripings Strong Purgatives ought to be avoided by reason that they promote the Contraction of the Guts and consequently the induration of the Excrements As for External Assistance Emollient Clysters of the Decoctions of softning Herbs mixt with Lenitive Electuaries Hony Manna yelks of Eggs and softning Oyls are very proper Some choose to inject the Decoction of Raisins in Veal Broth. Turpentine Clysters are very convenient when Costiveness is caus'd by Nephritic Pains Common Oyl or the Oyls of Linseed and Rapeseed are sometimes more effectual than any other Ingredients As Take of Rape Oyl in which a dram of Troches Alhandal has been boyl'd eight ounces with an ounce of Hony of Roses and the yelk of one Egg make a Clyster If Emollient Clysters prove ineffectual and the Excrements be notably harden'd let Sal Gem be added to 'em As for Example Take of Chamomil Leaves and Flowers three handfuls Elder and Mullein Flowers of each a handful boyl them in Water To nine ounces of the strain'd liquor add of Sal Gem a Dram Hony of Roses an ounce make a Clyster If Wind molest the Guts add of the distill'd Oyls of Cumin and Caraway-seeds of each half a Scruple If Sal Gem be insufficient add a dram of Coloquintida ty'd in a Bag to be boyl'd with the other Ingredients still observing this Caution that when such sharp Ingredients are added Oyls and such like things ought to be omitted for these cramp the others And in the last place if Coloquintida it self be insufficient in the room of it add two three or four ounces of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum but withal 't is still to be remembred that if the Guts be irritated or molested with Contractions the simple softning Clysters are only proper and that the use of such sharp Ingredients is to be nicely confin'd to the case of the insensibility and relaxation of the Guts Next to Clysters are Suppositories made of Salt Hony Powder of black Hellebor and a small quantity of Sal Gem. Sylvius and other Authors are very diffuse in commending Suppositories of Allum either mix'd in Powder with Tragacanth dissolv'd in white Lilly-water or a piece of Rock allum cut into the form of a Suppository and anointed with Oyl of sweet Almonds But during the use of Clysters and Suppositories 't is proper to exhibit some laxative inwardly lest an ineffectual Provocation of the Guts shou'd creat an Inflammation 'T is likewise convenient in the mean while to foment or bathe the Belly and after bathing to anoint it thus Take of the Leaves of common Mallows Marsh-mallows Plantane and Wormwood of each a handful Chamomil and Melilot Flowers of each half a handful Seeds of Fenugrec Linseeds and Cucumberseeds of each a scruple Boyl them in Wine till two parts be consumed Foment the Belly with the Decoction Take of the Oyls of sweet Almonds Violets Lillies Roses Chamomil and Spikenard of each half an ounce Goose fat an ounce with a little of the Plaister of Bay-berries make a Liniment with which anoint the Belly after fomentation If the motion of the Intestines be much impair'd let the Oyntments be sharpen'd with Bull 's Gall and Sal Gem or apply a Plaister of Bull 's Gall and Oyl of Coloquintida to the Navel Zivet especially in Colic Pains us'd the same way is a valuable Secret The Ointment of Soubread soften'd with Oyl of Coloquintida is very useful for the same purpose As also Elaterum or Scammony or Aloe mix'd with Oyl of Coloquintida Some mix Goose fat with a roasted Apple and apply it to the Belly Others apply Oyl of Poplar with Hiera Picra to the Soles of the Feet Some choose to anoint their Fingers with Rape or Linseed Oyl and so thrust 'em into the Fundament and they say 't is a very effectual Method Coughing and sneezing are recommended by Platerus as fit means for forwarding the Excrements Meibomius gives an instance of a Prince that was wont to cause his Servant to whip him to Stool ARTIC II. Of the Iliac Passion THE Iliac Passion is an extreme Costiveness pain about the Navel and voiding of the Excrements upwards caus'd by the inverted peristaltic Motion of the Guts If the Inversion of the peristaltic Motion commence from the Pylorus it creates Vomiting if from the Guts which are a Continuation of the Membran of the Stomac it produces the same Symptoms For the most part it takes its rise from the Ileum tho' sometimes it begins at the Rectum or Colon as appears by their Inflammations and other observables in dead Bodies The Causes are Ulcers of the Guts extreme Costiveness or acid austere Excrements irritating their Fibres and causing Obstructions especially about the Caecum a Rupture The Corrugation of the Guts by a Gangrene mistaken by some for a twisting of 'em round one another a thing inconsistent with their ligation to the Mesentery The runing of one Gut into another caus'd by Wind distending
ART IV. Of the Looseness call'd Caeliaca A Caeliaca is a Looseness by which the Chyle is voided together with the Excrements The Stomac is not faulty Chylification being duly perform'd there But the blame must either be cast on the Bile that is stopp'd in its Passage to the Guts or degenerat from its saline Acrimony and so unfit for separating the Chyle or on the milky Vessels thro which the Chyle ought to pass as having their Orifices cover'd with slime or shut by the Contraction and Corrosion of the Intestines by loosenesses c. Somtimes the obstruction of the Glandules of the Mesentery will also cause a Caeliaca If the Bile be defective the Excrements are white pale and parti-colour'd without any sign of Separation If the obstruction of the milky Vessels cause the Disease the Excrements are ting'd yellow and the Chyle tho voided at the same time is but loosely mix'd with 'em as having been separated in the Guts but disappointed of its Passage If the Bile be lazy or its Passage stop'd we use the Medicines prescrib'd for the Jaundice If the milky Vessels are block'd up we endeavour to remove the slime that besets 'em by attenuating opening Ingredients Astringents are not proper Mint Wormwood the opening Roots Rhubarb Fennel Aniseeds Gum Ammoniac distill'd with Verdigrese Sulphur and Oxymel c. are fit for opening the Obstructions After which the Tincture of Tartar or the Tincture of the dross of Regulus Antimonii or Chalybeat Tinctures mix'd with the Spirit of Salarmoniac or that of Urine or that de tribus are very convenient CHAP. III. Of Depravations relating to the Expulsion of Excrements by Stool ART I. Of a Desentery Tenesmus Hepatic Flux and Ieching of the Anus A Dysentery properly so call'd is a voiding of Blood and purulent Matter with throws and gripings In which sense 't is distinguish'd from the painless evacuation of thin watery Blood from the internal Hemorroid Veins call'd by the Ancienâ—s the Hepatic Flux and likewise from the natural discharge of Blood independent of the Guts caus'd by its redundancy in the Body as after Amputations suppression of the Terms c. or by its Acrimony opening the Vessels or the obstruction of the Bowels hindring its Circulation The Cause is some sharp acid that irritates the Guts provokes 'em to Contractions assembles the Blood by vertue of its Provocation and corrodes the Orifices of the Blood Vessels This may proceed from the Corruption of Matter in the Guts Summer Fruits Sugar Hony new Wine which become acid and ferment with the Bile Mercury Coloquintida Antimony Lead the coarse Powder of an Adamant Worms c. which vellicat the Guts and amass sharp humors in ' em If the acidity and sharpness be owing to these Causes the Dysentery is benign and free of Contagion But the cause of an epidemical malignant contagious looseness is a corrupt volatil acid not lodg'd in the Guts but immediately reigning in the Blood perverting its texture opening the Vessels inserted into the Guts and provoking 'em to convulsive Contractions from whence insue a malignant Feaver Gripings and bloody Stools So that tho previous Excoriations may take place in benign Dysenteries there is no occasion for 'em in the contagious malignant sort It being a sufficient cause of bloody Stools that the caustic ferment is a mortal Enemy to the Guts like to that of Antimony or Arsenic that perpetually thwarts and provokes 'em to Convulsions Upon which they squeeze out their blood together with their nutritious Juice that they are not then in a Capacity to receive and which is by some taken for the Mucus of the Guts whereas the large Quantities that are voided do sufficiently evince the contrary The signs are these The sick Person is seiz'd with unsufferable griping Pains in the Guts follow'd by frequent stools at first of whitish matter afterwards of Blood and slime mix'd together When he goes to Stool he is grievously tortur'd and the Guts and Bowels seem to descend If the Dysentery be malignant 't is wonderfully contagious propagating it self not only by the Breath but by using the same Clyster-pipe A malignant Feaver and all its dismal Symptoms accompany it If in the progress of the Disease pure Blood be voided 't is a sign of the corrosion or opening of some large Vessel in the Guts or Mesentery If a Dysentery be unseasonably stop'd the Guts are inflam'd and gangren'd the Throat beset with Wheals and Pimples the Intestinum Rectum sometimes molested with a Tenesmus and do vnfalling the Appetit dejected upon which insue Nauseating Vomiting the Hiccough Watchings and at last fatal Convulsions If the great Guts are affected the Pain is heavy and obscure seated towards the sides of the Belly and quickly follow'd by Stools the Excrements Slime and Blood are but indifferently mix'd and the Stomac less disorder'd than when the small Guts are the seat of the Evil for then there is a notable propension to Vomit the pain is more pricking and shooting plac'd above and below the Navel and not so quickly follow'd by Evacuations and the Matter when evacuated is exactly mix'd without any signs of distinction There are three degrees observable in a Dysentery The Symptoms of the first are bloody and slimy Stools In the second the slime gives some signs of an Excoriation and in the third of an Exulceration When the Guts are excoriated 't is either the Crust that covers 'em or part of their thick Tunicle or at most the Caruncles or inflam'd Glandules of the Guts that is voided If a Dyfentery be attended by a Vomiting Hiccough and malignant Symptoms if the Excrements are green black or fetid if the Looseness began from a green black corrosive Bile or an acid salin tenacious Pituita 't is a dangerous Case Convulsions and Doatings usher in Death The voiding of Caruncles is a fatal sign The Indolency of the Guts signifies a Gangrene If the Anus be so contracted that nothing can enter it bespeaks a fatal tumor in the Intestinum Rectum if it hang out and open so that Clysters are not retain'd t is Paralytic A Feaver succeeding to a Dysentery is a sign of the Inflammation or Corruption of the Intestins A Dysentery is frequently fatal to Women with Child unless it be very benign and not long before the time of Delivery If a bitter taste in the Mouth and bilious Vomits happen in the beginning if a Lienteria Hiccough wheals in the Throat or spots in the Face happen after it has continu'd some time and if the Intestines are ulcerated Death is at hand If the Person belch or fart 't is a good sign If the great Guts are the proper seat of the Evil there 's less danger Splenetic and gouty People are sometimes benefited by a Dysentery Now in order to form a distinct Idea of the Cure let us first give ear to the following Cautions 1. That by all means we ought to distinguish malignant Dysenteries from such as are benign
Syrup of Carduus Benedictus half an Ounce Make a Potion for one Dose In fine the Common Prescriptions against all sorts of Dysenteries are such as these following Take of the shavings of a Stag's Pizzle half an Ounce Comfrey Roots Tragacanth and Nutmegs of each three Drams seal'd Earth Bole Armenic Burnt Hartshorn and Zedoary of each a Dram and an half Make a Powder You may add Laudanum Opiatum and Oyl of Cinnamom Take of the Extract of Tormentil twenty four Grains Vipers Livers Prepar'd Crabs Eyes of each a Scruple Hysteric Laudanum nine Grains Distill'd Oyl of Cinnamom two Drops Mix for two Doses Ye may add Troches of Amber and Prepar'd Crystal Take of Venice Treacle a Dram Prepar'd Blood-stone a Scruple Dead Men's Bones Calcin'd fifteen Grains Sugar of Lead six Grains Make a Bolus Take of the Rob of the Fruit of the Service Tree a Dram and a half Chalybeat-Bezoar fifteen Grains Dulcify'd Earth of Vitriol six Grains Laudanum Opiatum two Grains make a Bolus Take of Diascordium an Ounce and a half the Shavings of a Whales Pizzle three Drams Troches of Amber a Dram and a half Flowers of Sulphur a Dram. With Juice of Quinces make an Electuary Of which take a Convenient quantity at Morning Noon and Evening Take of Crude Allum half a Dram Cinnamon an Ounce and a half Make a Powder Dose a Scruple to be taken in Red Wine Take of Tormentil Water two or three Ounces Cinnamon-Water Prepar'd with Quinces an Ounce Spirit of Venice Treacle Camphoris'd three Drams Syrup of Comfrey an Ounce Mix for a Vehicle to the above-mention'd Powders Take of Plantan Water three Ounces Cinnamon Water six Drams Vinegar of Roses half an Ounce Diascordium two Drams Troches of Amber or those of Seal'd Earth half a Dram Prepar'd Crabs Eyes two Scruples Diaphoretic Antimony a Scruple Syrup of Myrtle-berries or of Quinces an Ounce Mix. Sugar of Lead Dulcify'd Earth of Vitriol Extract of Tormentil and Shavings of a Dead Man's Scull may be added or mutually shifted by turns After the Symptoms are mitigated by the use of the foregoing Prescriptions it will not be improper to exhibit some healing things calculated for the Corrosion or Ulceration of the Intestines Such are the Balsam of Sulphur prepar'd with Oyl of Amber or Annis or of Juniper-berries or of Turpentin Balsam of Peru given to half a Scruple with Sugar or with the Yelk of an Egg To which we may add the Vulnerary Decoctions As Take of the Leaves of Ground-Ivy Plantan and Tormentil of each a handful Pomgranat Flowers three little handfuls Shavings of a Whale's Pizzle three Ounces Boyl 'em in Black-Smiths-water To two Pounds of the strain'd Liquor add Syrup of Coral and that of Comfrey of each three Ounces Mix and exhibit a large Draught twice or thrice a day with fifteen Drops of the Balsam of Sulphur As for Clysters we ought to be very cautious of using ' em Anodyn Clysters for allaying the Pain and tempering the sharp Humors are made of Chalybeat Milk with Emollent Ingredients boyl'd in it and mix'd with Laudanum Opiatum Turpentin Venice Treacle Goats Tallow and Yelks of Eggs. Pouders are not convenient for they stick to the Guts and provoke ' em Vulnerary Healing Clysters are prepar'd from Vulnerary Decoctions or the Decoction or Juice of River Crabs mix'd with Balsam of Peru Goats Tallow and Oyl of Linseed Externally apply a Plaister of Venice Treacle to the Belly and take of Express'd Oyl of Nutmegs half an Ounce Balsam of Sulphur prepar'd with Oyl of Anis two Drams Balsam of Peru a Dram. Make a Liniment and anoint the Belly Take of Oak leaves and Bran of each three handfuls Flowers of Chamomil and of Mullein of each two handfuls Make two Quilted Bags to be dipp'd in warm Vinegar one large and round to be applied to the Navel the other long and small for the Breech Some reap benefit by sitting upon the Caput Mortuum of Vitriol when they go to stool others by applying a Cataplasm of Arsemart Leaves bruis'd and beaten up with Chalybeat Wine others by receiving the smoak of Burnt Harts-horn or Vinegar or Ginger thrown upon burning Coals just under their Breech when they go to stool A Tenesmus is a Retainer to Dysenteries being a perpetual but vain desire of going to stool The Immediat Cause is the irritation of the Intestinum Rectum especially that part of it that is surrounded with the Sphincter This Irritation may proceed by Consent or Sympathy from Nephritic Pains a Stone in the Bladder or Distention of the Womb or Essentially from a tenacious Corrosive Acid Humor thrown upon that Gut either by a preceeding Dysentery or sharp Purgatives from Inflammations occasion'd by the suppression of the Piles and the Corrosion of the worms call'd Ascarides An Essential Tenesmus is more dangerous than a Sympathetical one If it continue long it degenerats into Ulcers and Fistula's of the Anus In Women with Child it frequently causes miscarriage As for the Cure Let the Irritation be abated by Opiats If a Tenesmus proceed from a sharp renacious humor Abstergent Clysters and Fomentations are proper If the Intestin be excoriated temperat soft Ingredients are requir'd Take of Mullein flowers two handfuls Seeds of Red Vetches two Ounces Salt of Tartar a Dram Boyl 'em in Water To a Pound of the strain'd Liquor add two Ounces of Goats Tallow and an Ounce of Hony of Roses Mix for two Clysters The Decoction of Worms in Milk is likewise very proper But all Clysters ought to be injected in small quantities at a time Foment the Anus with the Decoction of Mullein flowers in Milk Or apply a bag quilted with Toad flax and Mullein Leaves and the flowers of Mullein and Chamomil and boyl'd in Chalybeat Milk Or let the Anus be fumigated with hot Bricks or Iron thrown into warm Vinegar Or with the Decoction of Savin in Water and Vinegar Or with Myrrh Frankincense Roses c. thrown upon burning Coals If the Intestin be Ulcerated inject Vulnerary Decoctions with the Oyl of Wax Or anoint with a Liniment of the Oyl of Roses and Earthworms mix'd with the Solution of Litharge in Vinegar Or thrust up a suppository of Unguentum Album Camphoratum Diapompholygos and dulcify'd Earth of Vitriol Internally the Oyl of Mastic with Mint Water or the red Oyl of Vitriol with Broth is much approv'd The Hepatic flux is a Painless voiding of Watry Blood from the Internal Hemorrhoid Veins which the Ancients fancy'd to proceed from the Liver It either follows the Excoriation caus'd by a preceeding Dysentery or is occasion'd by the ordinary Causes of Eruption of Blood of which elsewhere Opiats Astringents and gentle Laxatives especially Raisins are the Basis of its Cure Some Persons are troubled with an Itching of the Anus If it be caus'd by the approach of any External sharp thing let it be fomented with warm Milk and Rose Water If it tend to an Ulcer apply a Liniment of Sulphur
Electuary made of Hony Elecampane Roots Sage and Water Germander-leaves Or Take of Scabious Water three ounces the Asthmatical Water six drams Spirit of Sal-armoniac Anisated a dram and a half Syrup of Hyssop and Syrup of Hedg Mustard of each six drams Mix for a Potion Take of the Clarify'd Juice of Coleworts two ounces Powder of Cuckowpint Roots a dram With Oxymel of Squills make an Electuary ART III. Of a Cough A Cough is a frequent and interrupted Exspiration or Convulsion of the Middriff and Muscles of the Breast attended by a Constriction of the Wind Pipe without which 't would make no Noise The Immediat cause is the Irritation and Provocation of the Wind Pipe or Lungs or of the Muscles Dedicated for Respiration This may proceed either from an irritating matter Seated directly in these places Or from a foreign Cause conveying its Influence by the Commerce of the Nerves and creating a Convulsive dry Cough such as Hypochondriac and Hysteric Persons or those in whose Bodies an Acid prevails are very liable to But we shall confine our thoughts to that which proceeds from the immediat Influence of some material cause And in order to form a distinct Idaea of it shall consider both its External and Internal Causes supposing still that the distinction of a dry and wet Cough is minded and understood The External Causes are acid mineral fumes sharp liquors hard Food and an Intemperat Air. The acid fumes and sharp particles of Air tickle the Wind Pipe and Pituitous Membran that lines the Palat and by influencing the Nerves of the Muscles of the Breast which spring from the same branch of the Intercostal Nerve as those of the Wind Pipe occasion the Contraction of the Breast and Expulsion pulsion of what it contains In like manner sharp liquors or grating Food by tickling that part of the Gullet which immediatly joyns the Wind Pipe produce the same effect Now this Irritation at the first occasions a dry Cough and squeezes only a thin serum from the Contracted Glandules But if it continue long the parts are inflam'd or corroded and their Nourishment degenerats into a slimy thick matter which Christeus it a wet Cough The Ancients imagin'd that this matter either Distill'd from the Head or was deposited in the Lungs by the Blood but they were mistaken since this vicious matter is rather the effect than the cause of a Cough The Internal causes relating to a wet Cough are seated either in the Wind Pipe and Lungs or in the Gullet and Stomac Those in the Wind Pipe and Lungs are the sharpness of the serum deposited by the Blood Ulcers Imposthumes Inflammations Morbifical matter transfer'd thither in the Declension of Acute Diseases Stagnation of Blood in the Lungs and the suppuration of a Pleurisy Empyema or Peripueumonia Now all these causes occasion the Collection of Irritating humors and convert the Nutritious Juice of the parts into a thick sordid purulent matter Nay sometimes carry the Curruption so high that pieces of the very Lungs and Veins Worms Stones c. are cast up The Internal causes of a wet Cough relating to the Stomac are a defluxion of a viscid Lymph from the hinder Membrana Pituitaria into the Stomac or Indigested Crudities collected about its upper Orifice but especially the first This Lymph falling from the Membran into the Stomac gave occasion to the Error of the Ancients in refering such Catarrhs to the Head When it irritates the Stomac especially those parts which joyn the Wind Pipe and Middriff it occasions their Constriction which seldom ceases till some part of the offending matter be cast up These Coughs proceeding from the Stomac are more frequent than those from the Breast from whence we may discover the mistake of those who fancy'd that the matter cast up by Coughing came always from the Lungs The Internal cause of a dry Cough is the sharpness of the Lymph watring the Throat and separated by its Glandules for that purpose occasion'd by a weak Digestion or Crudity of the Chyle in the Mass of Blood Sometimes a thin salin humor provoking the upper Orifice of the Stomac doth likewise cause a vehement dry Cough as the Chin Cough of Children But if the humor or Lymph become thick it degenerats into a wet one In the Paroxysms of Intermitting Feavers we frequently meet with dry Coughs that proceed from a vicious fermentation of the humors in the Duodenum irritating the Stomac and consequently the Middriff and Wind Pipe Preternatural Excrescences in the Lungs and Organs of Respiration may be also listed among the causes of dry Coughs As for the Diagnostics of Coughs A wet Cough is known by the viscous matter it brings up as a dry one by its small quantity of thin serum As for wet Coughs a superficial sound easy Respiration and the high seat of the Pain discover their Original from the Wind Pipe as a difficult Respiration or an aptness to Cough upon a large Inspiration a hollow hoarse sound follow'd immediatly by evacuation night Feavers and Phthisical Symptoms refer 'em to the Lungs But a pain and weight under the pit of the Breast attended sometimes by a difficult Respiration and Vomiting of Phlegm a deep hollow sound with a tearing fierce Cough and Prostration of the Appetit ascribe 'em to the Stomac A dry Cough proceeding from sharp saltish Lymph relents in the Day time and towards evening reassumes its former force with a gentle shivering follow'd by a Violent Heat and Night Feavers Such are those that usher in the small Pox or Phthisics or follow the retreat of Curicular Eruptions in Children Their Nocturnal Exacerbations are common to all Lymphatic Diseases and are in some measure caus'd by the want of equal transpiration with that of the Day But these dry Coughs always become wet by continuance The Coughs that Old and Arthritic Persons are subject to seem to proceed from a weak Digestion in the Stomac where the crude viscid matter assembles and provokes the adjacent Wind Pipe and Middriff Sometimes Pectoral and Stomachical Moist and Convulsive Coughs are mutually Complicated Violent Inveterat Coughs threaten Ruptures or Miscarrying and promote infirmities of the Head and Eyes A stomachical Cough continuing long viriats the Lymph and Produces a Phthific as also the Nocturnal dry Coughs To Scorbutical or Hydropical Persons any Cough is an ill Omen The cure consists in allaying the Irritation and removing the offensive cause for which ends Opiats Vomits Thickening Attenuating and Vulnerary Med'cines are in use However for obtaining a distinct method of cure let the following directions be minded 1. Opium is not convenient in wet Coughs viz. Those attended by a viscid matter till the Universal Evacuations are premis'd A dry cough caus'd by External Air or Mineral steams is admirably cur'd by Laudanum Opiatum in the Beginning To which we add Sylvius's Pills of Storax The Decoction of Zedoary in Wine The Decoction of Raisins and Elecampane Roots in Wine Or of
a hard matter to distinguish Quotidians from double Tertians These last are known by this that either the Paroxysms have an alternat correspondence the first to the third second to the fourth c. Or the intervening Paroxysm comes later while the other two observe their set Periods or in Progress of time it intirely disappears and two Fits recur every other Day A precedent or succeeding simple Tertian discovers likewise a double Tertian So that true Quotidians are very rare and some are so hardy as to deny that there are any such But several good Authors have vouch'd for the Affirmative There are some Erratic Intermitting Feavers that observe dark Periods peculiar to themselves and some call'd Wandring which have no set times at all The grand Symptoms of intermitting Feavers are a chillness shivering and shaking follow'd by heat and that by plentiful Sweats Before the invasion of the Paroxysm the Patient is molested with a Yawning and Stretching a weariness of the Joints and unquietness or tossing in Bed The Nails become livid and blue a gentle chillness seizes the Loins and Back afterwards it creeps to the Belly and by degrees overspreads the whole Body especially the extreme Parts Then follows a shivering and sometimes a violent concussion of all the parts of the Body During the cold Fit several sorts of pains affect the Joints the Guts are grip'd and make a murmuring noise and the Pulse is render'd more frequent but withal weaker and lesser nay scarce perceivable When the coldness abates a difficulty of breathing insues with a notable heat and thirst the Pulse is strengthen'd and inlarg'd If the Pulse be small 't is a sign of great Malignity The Tongue becomes dry the Neck and Temples are seiz'd with a beating heat attended with frequent respiration head-ach watching and sometimes doating The heat declining is follow'd by sweating and voiding Urine After which sleep takes place and the Symptoms disappear In Tertians the heat and thirst are greatest And in Quartans the cold shaking and weariness of the Joynts are most troublesome This is the ordinary manner of Invasion But withal there are some irregular Feavers that depart from this method As the cold Feavers that have no hot Fits and the hot Tertian Feavers that are not usher'd in by cold Sometimes but very rarely the Order is inverted and the heat precedes the cold Fit Oft-times these Feavers begin regularly and afterwards degenerate or on the contrary begin in a disorderly manner and by continuation become regular If the Pulse be very small the Strength abolish'd the Breast disturb'd the Spirits disquieted in the beginning of the paroxysm and afterwards Pushes and Spots appear in the Skin the Feaver is malignant and very dangerous Tho' some are inclin'd to exclude malignity from the whole circle of intermitting Feavers Tho' intermitting Feavers may differ in their Periods and some occasional Symptoms they all proceed from one and the same Cause and require the same method of Cure as appears by their frequent permutation The general efficient Cause of all Motion is the Spirits but the occasional material Cause which provokes them to such irregular Motions is a vicious acid ferment bred in the Stomach and first Passages by the depravation or weakness of the digestive Faculty This Opinion is justified by the preternatural Appetit that sometimes attends Feavers the frequent Cures perform'd by Fasting by excessive Drinking and Vomiting or by eating greedily what was long'd for and the notable exasperation or relapse of the Disease occasioned by any error in Diet or earing unacceptable Food 'T is true such Feavers may sometimes proceed from the Air or quality of the Food but very rarely The disorders of the Spleen and Liver do frequently attend Quartans and Tertians but they are rather their Effects than Causes or perhaps they may remotely indispose the Body and render the Paroxysms more obstinat The suppression of the Terms or obstruction of any part may produce the like Effects but still the immediat Cause is lodg'd in the Stomac or first Passages which insinuats it self into the remains of indigested Food and so multiplies the Cause of repeated Paroxysms Now by means of this Acid all the Symptoms and Periods of Paroxysms are thus accounted for If the Chyle be not well digested in the Stomac and duly separated from the grosser parts by the interposal of the pancreatic and choleric Juices in the Guts it degenerates from its temperat volatil saline Quality and becomes acid or viscid and accordingly when it joins the Blood fixes its saline volatil oyly Particles and thickens the whole Mass Thus its fermentation is impair'd and by consequence the Pulse is weaken'd and diminish'd but withal render'd more frequent by the irritation of the Heart The heat of the Body is extinguish'd and the Spirits disorder'd by the indisposition and vicious fermentation of the Blood from whence issues the weariness of the Joints When this Acid begins to exert it self it twitches and contracts the nervous and membranous parts the Coats of the Guts and Stomach with the annex'd choleric and pancreatic Vessels the fat Membrane or Panniculus Carnosus c. the natural Consequences of which are a shivering shaking pains of the Joints and violent Vomiting of white or green matter which is nothing else but a mixture of the pancreatic and bilious Juices perverted by this irregular fermentation and causing gripings of the Guts a coldness of the Belly and many other Symptoms These Symptoms are allotted only to the beginning of the Paroxysm For after that this acid has for some time stifled the volatil oyly parts of the Blood they make head against it and the mutual Encounter creates a notable effervescency which ends in discharging the vanquish'd acid in a vehicle of attenuated Serum by Urine or Sweat From hence we deduce the other Symptoms of heat burning the vehemency and largeness of the Pulse plentiful Sweats the clearness of the Urine at first and its subsequent muddiness The Acid being thus subdu'd and evacuated the Feaver and concurring Symptoms intermit till such time as the remaining Miasma's be provok'd afresh or supplied by new recruits from the Stomac If this intermitting ferment be cramp'd by a vicid pituitous Vehicle the Paroxysm is longer and the Symptoms meeker than when it is master of it self and at liberty to display its utmost energy From whence we gather the difference of acute and chronical spurious and regular Feavers In these Northern Countries 't is highly necessary to take notice of scorbutic and hypocondriac Diseases as the frequent Companions of intermitting Feavers Those which we call erratic are always scorbutic unless they be caus'd by Imposthumes of the internal parts which seldom happen The signs of a scorbutic Feaver are anxieties of the Breast rending pains of the Joints floating pains or convulsions of the lower Belly either before or in the Paroxysm vomiting of green or yellow Matter and the eruption of livid or red Spots towards the end of the
correcting the viscidity or sharpness of the Lymph especially the saliva and pancreatic juice evacuating the crude Phlegm and Lymph thus prepar'd and mitigating the Symptoms If the Breast be oppress'd let a gentle Vomit be exhibited or a mild purgative As Take Mynsicht's emetic Tartar two or three grains purifi'd Sal-Armoniac eight grains Or Take of Ruffius's Pills de tribus fifteen grains fulminatory Gold three grains prepar'd Scammony Treches Alhandal of each a grain With compound Tincture of Tartar make Pills In the next place attenuating Diuretic Remedies are proper as dulcifi'd Spirit of Salt of excellent use against a Hectic dulcifi'd Spirit of Nitre essential Salt of Tartar Sal-Armoniac Nitrum Antimoniatum Tartar vitriolated Terra foliata Tartari or its Liquor Tincture of Tartar Essence of Myrrh tartaris'd carminative Spirit Spirit of Sal-Armoniac anisated Poterius's Antihectic c. Take of purifi'd Sal-Armoniac half a dram Poterius's Antihectic a scruple make a Powder for two Doses one in the Morning and the other at Night before the Fit Nitrum Antimoniatum mix'd with an equal quantity of Sal-Armoniac or Arcanum duplicatum mix'd with diaphoretic Antimony or Sal-Armoniac mix'd with Galangal and Ginger are successfully us'd after the same method Take of Mint-Water and Fennel-Water of each an ounce and a half Spirit of Treacle two or three Drams dulcifi'd Spirit of Salt half a dram or a whole dram Poterius's Antihectic a scruple Syrup of Hyssop six or eight drams Mix for two Doses Let the Mouth be gargaris'd with small Beer and Hony of Roses or with Water Vinegar and purifi'd Nitre or the infusion of Holyhoc-flowers in Water with a little Spirit of Salt and a convenient Syrup The Feaver call'd Epiala in which the inward parts are oppress'd with heat while the external are cold is by some referr'd to this Head But 't is only a combination or rencounter of either a Continual and Intermitting or two Intermitting Feavers The Swoonings that sometimes attend both this and other sorts of Feavers are caus'd either by some viscious slime irritating the Mouth of the Stomac or some sharp rusty Humour lodg'd in it In the last case Unicorn's Horn or the Decoction of Tamarinds in Water are much approv'd But if a viscid windy Matter arise to them volatil spiritous Remedies are proper Tho' after all 't is worthy our consideration what Ballonius remarks upon this matter viz. That many Physicians are faulty in giving strong Cordials against swooning where purging were more proper Of Symptomatical slow Feavers These Feavers are frequently occasion'd by a preposterous use of Absorbents in Intermitting and Continual Feavers which fix the heterogeneous Particles and render the Chyle and Lymph viscid or by over-feeding in the declination of other Feavers while the digestive faculty is weak by which means the Chyle is loaded with Crudities They may likewise follow other Diseases proceeding from a viscous Acid. Their Symptoms are the same as above to which we may add that sometimes they are accompanied by a looseness or voiding of liquid pituitous Matter The Cure consists in tempering the saltish Acid attenuating the viscid Matter and procuring to it an egress by vomiting stool urine or sweat They sometimes proceed from Ulcers especially of the internal parts retention of the After-birth a dead Child in the Womb chronical Pains and are cur'd by removing the respective Cause by Medecins alotted to that purpose In general gentle Vomits and Purges are proper and in a word the whole series of Medicins prescrib'd for the independent Slow Feavers Sometimes such Feavers follow an unseasonable use of sudorific Decoctions against the Pox before the Body be evacuated and are cur'd by vomiting and the repeated use of Sal-Armoniac Of Hectic Feavers A Hectic is a Slow Feaver advancing insensibly If it be a principal independent Disease it proceeds from the Corruption of undigested Food in the Stomac immoderate fatigue sorrow watchings want over-liberal evacuations excessive Bathings c. Oft-times 'tis only a symptom of other Diseases and follows the irregular Cure of Continual and Intermitting Feavers Inflamations of the Bowels Lungs Mesentery Womb and Kidneys the French-Pox c. The Part affected is not the habit of the Body as the Ancients fancy'd but the mass of Blood and Lymph Hence the greatest heat is perceiv'd about the Arteries As for the independent Principal sort of Hectics the Stomac and digestive Faculty are the original seat of their cause The immediat cause is the indisposition and unequal texture of the Blood caus'd by the saltish sharpness of the Lymph in the conglobat Glandules and the viscosity of that in the Conglomerat From whence insue a deprav'd and diminish'd fermentation weakness weariness deficiency of Spirits and the whole train of Hectic Symptoms The salin and viscid Blood is render'd unfit for nourishing the parts and after eating when the thin readier part of the fresh Chyle dilutes the Blood and disengages its Salts the Pulse is a little enlarg'd and the Heat augmented and after some time sink again to their ordinary pitch And the coarse remains of the Chyle are frequently voided by Night-Sweats as having receiv'd a vicious Tincture in the Stomac from the Saliva and being upon that Account equally disagreeable to the Blood and solid parts As for the Remote Causes Fatigue and Labour Watchings and Care exhaust the Spirits and watery Vehicle of the Blood Anger exalts the Bilious Salt which joyning with the Acid acquires a saline Acrimony Grief and Sorrow increase the Acid which joyning to the urinous Salt becomes dull and unactive indigested Crudities in the Stomac or the want of Food occasion a stricter union between the Acid and urinous Salts and their mutual degeneracy into a third sharp saline Body Ulcers both internal and external corrupt the Blood by vertue of their salin sharp Matter continual and intermitting Feavers attended by plentiful Sweats exhaust the dewy watry part of the Blood or the unseasonable use of absorbent earthy Powders administred for their Cure destroys the Ferment of the Stomac and increases the Acrimony of the Blood Thus they all conspire to render the Blood and Lymph saltish or viscous There are three Essential Signs of a Hectic Feaver 1. An obscure insensible Heat increasing after eating 2. The successive Consumption of the Body 3. A swift frequent small weak and oft-times a hard Pulse To which we may add in some cases Night-Sweats the falling off of the Hairs an universal Weariness inward Heat and averseness to sleep in the morning If Ashy belchings precede the appearance of these Symptoms they serve for a confirmation In the beginning of the Disease the Urine resembles that of healthy Persons unless the Stomac be much deprav'd in which case 't is white pale and thick afterwards when the Appetit and Digestion are in a manner quite abolish'd it becomes thin transparent and high Colour'd and when 't is form'd into a perfect Consumption a fat oily Crust resembling Cobwebs swims on the Top. But we ought
this diminution of the Pulse and want of Strength we must call to mind that the vital force of our Body is founded radically in the Blood but exerts it self by its most subtile active and moveable part call'd the Spirits which being volatiliz'd by the inspired Air in the Breast like Rays of Light are diffus'd through the whole Body either in a vital Capacity together with the Blood in the Arteries or separately by the Brain and Nerves under the Character of animal Spirits When therefore the Blood by reason of its less quantity or viscidity and acidity or want of active Salts is unfit to undergo the vital Fermentation in the Breast the Spirits must of necessity fail whence ensues a weakness and languishing that steals on by degrees This vicious constitution of the Blood is oftentimes occasion'd by some error in Diet after acute Diseases or follows the indiscreet management of chronical Distempers supposing the Blood to be rob'd of its Spirits and the Chyle to be over power'd with Crudities arising from the weakness of the stomachical Ferment and flatness of the Bile But if on a sudden the vital fermentation of the Blood in the breast is interrupted and by consequence the luminous Ray of the vital and animal Spirits fail or if incident external Objects pour disorder and confusion on the animal Spirits then follows a sudden prostration of Strength and cessation of Sense and Motion which according to its various degrees is call'd either Lipothymia Syncope or Asphyxia Now the vital fermentation of the Blood is interrupted either by immoderat evacuations of any Humour or Juice such as the Blood seminal Liquor hydropic Water corrupt Matter c. or by its coagulation occasion'd by Poison or the unfriendly miasms of corrupt Matter issuing froman Imposthume in the Heart The external Objects that disorder the Spirits are such as excite violent and sudden passions of the Mind as Frights Grief Joy Anger also strong and disagreeable Smells the sight of Animals to which we have a natural Antipathy and whatever affects the upper Orifice of the Stomac which by consent influences all the other Nerves of the Body Upon which occasions the Spirits are hindered in their wonted motions either by oppression or fixation as in sudden Frights or dissipation as in excessive sudden Joy or deviation as in Cramps and Convulsions of the Heart A weakness and languishing without any manifest cause prognosticats the sudden invasion of Diseases especially those of a Scorbutic Character If it succeed to acute Diseases it threatens either a Relapse Dropsie or intermitting Feaver In the beginning of any Disease 't is a sign of Malignity Syncope's and Lipothymi's are more or less dangerous according to the measure of their duration and the character of their symptoms and if after the use of suitable means the Patient is not awak'd they prove dangerous Those occasion'd by an effusion of Blood or other Humours are safer than others that spring from an internal acute Cause If they are attended by anguish of Heart and restlessness they proceed from the Stomac and are less fatal when the left side of the orifice is affected In fine the more clammy and copious the cold Sweat is so much the more dangerous is the Syncope The Cure is compass'd by the continu'd use of volatil Aromatic Medicines which promote the vital Fermentation exalt the Blood sharpen the unactive Bile remove the clamminess of the Blood and withal restore the digestive force of the Stomac Such are the Spirit of Wine or generous Wines impregnated with vegetable Aromatics as Take of Rosemary curl'd Mint of each a Handful Sage and Baum of each half a handful Roots of the genuin Acorus Elecampane and Fennel an Ounce the four lesser hot Seeds of each a Dram Cinnamon Cubebs Cloves Mace of each two Drams cut bruise and tye them in a Bag to be infus'd in Wine of which take a draught in the Morning fasting and at Meals In scorbutical and hypochondriac cases Scurvy-grass Cresses Peper-wort c. may be added together with some drops of the Spirit of Sal-Armoniac anisated dropt into each draught We may also use stomachical Essences and Elixirs Aqua Vitae aploplectic and epileptic Waters c. Volatil oily Salts and a hundred such like to be taken thrice a Day Morning Noon and at Bed-time and also before eating Now as to sudden fainting and swooning we must endeavour when the Fit is present to remove it and when 't is over to prevent its relapse There are three sorts of Medicins in use during the Fit viz. 1. Spirituous sulphurous and oily ones such are all inflamable Aromatic Spirits prepar'd by fermentation distill'd Aromatic Oyls and compound apoplectic Waters 2. Spirituous Alcali's sharp volatil urinous Spirits and Salts which are always the better for being well charg'd with Oyl 3. Sharp volatil Acids especially Vinegar which wakens the Senses and rallies the dissipated Spirits Sometimes we join 'em to Opiats for staying the convulsive motions of the Spirits Thus the Principal Remedies used in a Syncope are Generous Wines Cinnamon its Water and distill'd Oyl and all its preparations all Apoplectic Waters Spirit of Lilly of the Valley prepar'd by fermentation spirit of Venice Treacle both simple and compound distill'd Oyl of Cloves Cordial and Apoplectic Balsams all volatil Salts spirit of Stagg's Heart spirit of Harts-horn prepar'd with Amber spirit of Roses prepar'd with Amber to which if the Salt of Vipers or that of Amber is added 't is almost an infallible Remedy Moreover the Elixir of Citrons or their Spirit sharpen'd with the volatil salt of Harts-horn the quintessences of Baum and Angelica the Essence of Saffron mix'd with a grain or two of volatil Salt of Harts-horn the Tincture of Coral prepar'd with spirit of Stagg's Heart the Tincture of Gold the volatil Salts impregnated with distill'd aromatic Oyls such as rectified spirit of Sal-Armoniac joined with aromatick spirit of Wine are all of excellent use if exhibited in convenient Vehicles such as Baum-water prepar'd with Wine Penny-royal and Cinnamon-water Aqua Vitae or Matthiolus's Elixir vitae Water of Stagg's Heart Mynsicht's hot cordial Water and for Women Swallow-water with Castor c. to which may be added Camphyr or spirit of Treacle camphoris'd As for Acids we use spiritous and Generous Wine the Juice of Citrons Juice or Syrup of Rasberries conserve of the Pulp of Citrons mix'd with Diascordium Vinegar impregnated with Castor Vinegar of Marigold-flowers or the Flowers of the Lilly of the Valley or those of Elder of Rue c. As for Narcotics Helmont's Laudanum Opiatum in a small Dose Venice Treacle Mithridat Extract of Treacle and such like Compositions are proper In the use of these Remedies we must have a principal regard to the antecedent Causes For example if the Syncope is caus'd by poyson proper Antidotes must be added and a Vomit exhibited especially when the Poyson lurks in the first passages When the Cause is lodg'd in the
Matter Having dispatch'd the general Consumption of the Body 't will not be improper in this place to take notice of the Dryness or Decay of particular parts of the Body occasion'd by whatever intercepts the Blood or Spirits in their Passage thither or weakens and exhausts the innate Spirit of the Part whose office it is to ferment and assimilat the nutritious Juice Hence Palsies Convulsions Dislocations Falls Bruises Wounds c. are its usual Causes As for Cure Wurzius his Arcanum of Allum is a Catholicon against all dry'd or wither'd Parts 'T is thiâ— Take of Plumous Allum and melted Salt of each equal Quantities melt 'em over a strong Fire Then set 'em to Cool and they will condensat into a Stone upon which pour Water to dissolve the Salts and precipitat the Arcanum Of which take three ounces and mix 'em with an ounce and a half of the Oyl of Bricks and four ounces of the Oyl of Human fat distill'd with the Ashes of Vine-tiwgs Make a Liniment and anoint the Part after rubbing If the dryness of the Part be occasion'd by a Wound or Efflux of its spirituous Juice temperat hot things and such as are moist or inrich'd with a Dewy Juice are best Hence some order the Part to be drench'd in the Blood of an Ox just kill'd and fomented with the Decoction of the Feet Head Liver and Lungs and other joints of a Sheep or Calf boyl'd to Rags or anointed with the Juice of River Crabs mix'd with the Oyl of sweet Almonds or with an Ointment of equal quantities of the fat of Herns the fat of Frogs and that of Hogs If the dryness be caus'd by a Palsy or Compression of the Tendons without any visible Wound or Hurt hot irritating things are most proper as if the part be strongly rub'd down three or four times a Day with green Nettles till it become Red and Hot and then cover'd with the Liniment of the Arcanum of Allum or fomented with the following Water Take of the seeds of Roman Nettles one pound the Roots of Horse Radishes bruis'd from four ounces to half a pound Roots of Cuckow-pint four ounces long Pepper three ounces Digest 'em in white Wine fourteen Days in a Balneum Mariae shaking the Vessel often And then distill the Spirit which is of excellent use when the part is num'd and stupid If a Defluxion at Catarrh falling upon the part give rise to its decay let Sudorifics be taken inwardly and the Spirit of Ants and that of Earth Worms rectify'd with some Alcalin Salt or the Aqua Articularis mix'd with the spirit of Sal-Armoniac and Oyl of Soap or the Ointment of Agrippa be applied outwardly the part being first rub'd down till it become red or sensible CHAP. II. Of Immoderat Nutrition or Corpulency IF the nutritious Juice be too copiously distributed thro' the Body the Muscles and Joints are extended and for want of room are disabled to recoyl and contract themselves with due nimbleness and the Belly being over-charg'd with Fat and Juice inlarges its Dimensions So that the true Cause of Corpulency or fatness is the temperat softness of the Blood the less Consumption of the Nutritious Juice by reason of a slow Fermentation and the late assimilation of the Chyle in company of the Blood giving it opportunity to be coagulated and appropriated by the peculiar acid Spirits that guard the respective Parts The remote Causes of fatness are abstinence from Drink especially Hop'd Beer or Ale made of Malt or whatever dilutes the Nutritious Juice and consequently promotes its exhalation drinking moderatly Ale made of Corn which has a peculiar fattening Vertue eating much Bread which promotes the Fermentation and Digestion of Food much sleep freedom from Care Exercise and Venery Corpulency squeezes the Spermatic Vessels and causes Barrenness nay it oppresses all the Vessels in the Body retards the Motion of the Blood anticipats the matter that should be converted into Spirits cramps all muscular Motions and accelerats Death The Cure is compass'd by preventing the immoderat increase of Chyle or evacuating it before its Assimilation to the Part or melting and diluting it with Serum after its appropriation The first design is answer'd by a spare thin Diet and eating of salt Meat The second and third by Purgation with Extractum Catholicum and sweet Mercury repeated till it salivat or the Pills of Aloes and Elixyr Proprietatis which was known among the Ancients for a drying Medicine Now that which they call'd Drying is nothing but the melting down of the Nutritious Juice Hence Myrrh Gentian Wormwood Cresses and all Diuretic or Diaphoretic Ingredients are of use by reason of their attenuating resolving Quality But Vinegar of Squills Tartar Tartar Vitriolated Nitre and all Acids are intitled to a preference Bleeding Issues chewing Medicines the Decoctions of Woods Venery and in a Word whatever attenuats the Nutritious Juice and dilutes it with a serous Vehicle in order to evacuation either by Urine Sweat or otherwise is recommended against Fatness Only this Caution ought to be taken notice of that sudden and liberal Evacuations are apt to weaken fat People To Conclude I subjoyn a Recipe for Pills that are much approv'd Take of the Gum of the Juniper Tree two drams Choice Myrrh Shavings of Lignum Sanctum extract of Wormwood and Aloe of each a Scruple Coagulated Spirit of Vitriol half a dram Make Pills CHAP. III. Of a Deprav'd Nutrition ART 1. Of a Cachexy Leucophlegmacy and Anasarca IF the Chyle or Nutritious Juice is not duly digested and assimilated to the Blood it Tinctures it with a pituitous Crudity Stifles its saline particles and cramps its due turgescence whereupon the Skin is discolour'd and the Muscles instead of receiving elaborat nourishment are stuff'd and bloated up with crude matter and so render'd flaccid This we call a Leucophlegmacy And if this crude vicious Juice obstruct the Glandules of the Muscles or if the Lymph be upon any account oblig'd to Stagnat the Blood becomes serous and a Collection of Serum or Water lodg'd under the Skin causes an Anasarca Now a Cachexy is a general Term importing the Crudity of the mass of Blood and its weaker Fermentation which give rise to these two Diseases The remote Causes are want of motion care grief suppression of the Terms chronical Diseases suppression of Urine the French Pox and in a word whatever weakens Digestion and stifles the Fermentation of the Blood The Symptoms observe the following Method The Cachectic Person grows Pale and in some measure Livid his Face and in process of time the whole surface of the Body is swollen upon any quick motion or walking up an ascent he is troubled with a shortness of breath and palpitation of the Heart and temporal Arteries an universal Weariness seizes the Joints and after eating Anxiety and a sense of Compression oft-times invades the Breast the Appetit which at first is good decays by degrees the Pulse is unequal small frequent and
Whey sharpen'd with the Juice of Citrons is much approv'd as also Milk mix'd with the Spirit of Sal-Armoniac when the Stomac is able to digest it and the Feaverish Paroxysm is over The Symptom of Thirst is admirably accounted for by exhibiting the Decoction of China-roots and Liquorice XIV In scorbutical Dropsies strong Purgatives are noxious gentle Diuretics mix'd with Antiscorbutics being the Basis of the Cure Such are the Infusion of Wood-lice in Wine the Spirit of Sal-Armoniac and Tincture of Tartar mix'd with the Spirit of Scurvy-Grass XV. St. Antony's Fire happening to scorbutical Persons is cur'd by taking inwardly absorbent diaphoretic Powders mix'd with the Spirit or Syrup of Elder-Flowers and Spirit of Scurvy-grass and applying outwardly the Decoction of Litharge Elder-Flowers Olibanum Myrrh and Mastic in Lime-water and Vinegar with a little Camphyr XVI Ulcers accompanying the Scurvy and threatning a Gangrene ought to be wash'd with Lime-Water or the Decoction of lesser House-leek mix'd with the Spirit of Vitriol and anointed with the Ointment of Tobacco and Sugar of Lead or cover'd with the Powders of Myrrh and Frankincense Crocus of Steel and Sugar of Lead Inwardly let the Essence of Woods Essence of Fumitory and the Antiscorbutical Tincture of Coral be frequently administred As for the hard Swellings that frequently molest the Legs let Cataplasms of Bryony and Comfrey-Roots and Chamomil Flowers be applied to ' em Or let the thicken'd Juices of Comfrey and Brook-lime mix'd with Mynsichtius his Diaphoretic Plaister and the Distill'd Oil of Chamomil be us'd in like manner ART 6. Of breakings-out in the Skin UNder the Head of Deprav'd Nutrition we allot an Article for Cuticular Eruptions and first for the Scab which proceeds from the depravation of the nutritive Juice of the Parts under the Skin occasion'd by a preternatural Acid. This Acid takes its rise from sudden Cold succeeding to Heat and shutting up the steams of the Body within the straiten'd Pores from the contagion of an external Ferment and sometimes but very rarely from internal Causes such as the Scurvy French-Pox c. But for the most part the Blood and Internal Parts are not at all tainted it being only the nutritive Serum about the surface of the Body that is depraved tho' 't is true that by continuance it may at last infect the Blood If the nutritious Juice be very serous and apt to corrupt the Breakings-out run much if the Juice be Balmy and impregnated with a volatil oily Salt they are crusty and dry As for the Cure of a Scab we administer inwardly Purgatives and Sudorifics The Purgatives are the Extract of Black Hellebor or Scammony sulphurated mix'd with sweet Mercury and the purging Mercurius vitae or Turbith Mineral in an inveterat case If the Blood be tainted we administer the Decoctions of bitter and scorbutical Plants and Spices mix'd with purging Ingredients in Wine Whey or Water and continue their use for some time The Sudorifics are the Decoctions of Woods the volatil Salt of Vipers Harts-horn Ivory the fix'd Salts the Sulphur and Cinnabar of Antimony diaphoretick Antimony and the Syrup of Elder Flowers As Take of Elder-Flower Water an ounce the Spirit of Venice Treacle camphoris'd half a Dram Diaphoretic Antimony fifteen Grains the volatil Salt of Vipers half a Scruple Syrup of Orange-peel half an ounce Mix for a Draught Or Take of the Rob of Elder a dram the Powder of Snakes calcin'd a scruple Sal-Armoniac half a scruple With the Syrup of Orange-peel make a Bolus The distill'd Oyl of Turpentin given to six Drops every Morning the Essence of Vipers to forty the Tincture of Antimony or Tincture of Coral given to fifty Drops are also very proper And when all proves ineffectual a Mercurial Salivation may not be amiss Outwardly we apply Ointments of Sulphur Mercury especially that precipitated with the Spirit of Nitre and Sugar of Lead but we ought to take care that the Pores be kept open for fear the Scab should strike in Upon which account let Salt of Tartar be always added As Take of Vnguentum Enulatum and Album Camphoratum of each half an ounce Flowers of Brimstone three drams sweet Mercury a dram Salt of Tartar or Oyl of Tartar per deliquium a dram and a half with the Oyl of Tobacco or of St. John's wort Make an Ointment to which add of the Balsam of Peru half a scâ—â—ple Oyl of Rose-wood six drops Mix and anoint the Limbs especially the Joints at Night going to Bed and in the Morning wash off the Ointment with the Persons own Urine Take of the Decoction of Quick-lime a pound and a half sweet Mercury three drams Spirit of Venice Treacle camphoris'd an ounce Mix and wash the external Parts for taking off the Scab and the red Scars that remain after it The Distill'd Water of Man's Ordure is an admirable Wash and reserv'd by some as a Secret Some use Girdles of Quick-silver others fumigate with Cinnabar but the Body ought to be well cleans'd beforehand and arm'd against Cold. In a critical Scab we ought not to use repellents But Baths of the Decoctions of the sharp pointed Dock Tobacco-Leaves Scabious Elecampane and Briony Roots Brimstone and Quick-lime are allowable After sweating by internal Sudorifics the scabby Person may bath in them and rub down his Body and after bathing anoint with the above-mention'd Ointment The Itch is near ally'd to the Scab and proceeds from the sharp Particles of the Serum repairing to the surface in small quantities 't is cur'd internally by purging and sweating as above and externally by applying the following Ointment Take of the Roots of the sharp pointed Dock and Elecampane of each an ounce Boil them in Vinegar 'till they become soft then beat 'em thro' a Sive and add of the Oyl of Orris three Ounces common Salt an Ounce Myrrh three Drams Litharge an ounce and a half With Wax make a Liniment A Leprosie proceeds from a saline corrosive Acid reigning in the Serum as being a sort of exalted Scurvy It is oft-times the hereditary Infirmity of a Family or follows a bad Dyet Chronical Diseases and the suppression of wonted Evacuations The Signs which accompany it are either internal or external The internal are Acid or musty Belchings Costiveness Thirst a stinking Sweat thick Urine insomuch that the Powder of Lead will swim upon it an extreme propensity to Venery the thickness viscosity and unctuosity of the Blood when drawn forth and little Clotts of Sand sticking to the Cloth thro' which 't is strain'd the frequency and weakness of the Pulse difficult respiration stinking Breath a weariness of the Limbs Chillness stupidity and a hoarse Voice as if it came thro' the Nose The External Symptoms are these The Skin appears Livid Black or Yellow it Wrinkles when expos'd to the Cold it is notably rough and oily insomuch that Water will not stick to it it is cover'd with a Purple or White Dandriff little moveable painless Knots and
into a round uniform Globe and are call'd Conglobatae some into a Cluster call'd Conglomeratae The former convey their Juice thro' Lymphatic Vessels into the left axillary Vein where it dilutes and prepares the Chyle for an easie union with the Blood and likewise promotes the fermentation of the Blood in the Heart and Lungs as being of a volatil Spirituous Nature The latter throw their Juice into some noted Cavity as the Spittle into the Mouth the Juice of the Sweat-bread into the Guts c. These Juices as separated or suck'd from the Blood partake of acidity which is temper'd by the Animal Spirits repairing to the Glandules they being condensated and incorporated with the Liquor The Separation of this Liquor is frequently disturb'd by the Obstructions of the Glandules of which else where ART I. Of Catarrhs A Catarrh is a preternatural Defluxion of Lymph from the Conglamerated Glandules into some noted Cavity of the Body especially the Throat Breast and Head where these Glandules are very plentiful and their Lymph is most liable to alterations from the Air. A Catarrh therefore proceeds from the Constriction of the Fibres of the Glandules occasion'd by some provoking Causes These Causes are either External or Internal The former are the malignity of the Air in Epidemical Catarrhs sharp Steams and external Cold contracting the Fibres hindring a free Transpiration and so occasioning the redundancy stagnation and provoking sharpness of the Lymph The internal Causes are the sharpness or Acrimony of the Blood and consequently the Lymph occasion'd by an imperfect Digestion in the Stomac Scorbutical Salts c. Or the occasional Corruption of the Peculiar Nutritious Juice of the Glandules which being deprav'd sticks to their sides and provokes 'em to Contractions This degeneracy of their Juice arises from external injuries or whatever internal Cause is apt to weaken or exhaust their innate Spirit When the Fibres or innate Spirits of the Part are weaken'd the Catarrh is Habitual and apt to relapse in other Cases 't is only Accidental and generally take its rise from external Occasions When a Catarrh begins 't is Thin and Sharp as being the pure Lymph without mixture but afterwards by its continued Flux it depraves the nutritive Juice of the Glandules which mixes with it and renders it Thick and Temperat When the Lymph is very Corosive and Sharp 't is usually call'd a Hot Rheum when 't is Thick and Slimy 't is entitled Cold. There is yet a Spurious sort of Catarrh near ally'd to this above-mention'd viz. The Stagnation of the serous part of the Blood in any parts either before or after its conversion into Lymph as when Nocturnal Cold or the Diminution of the ordinary transpiration causes pain in the Limbs This is not properly a Catarrh but a stagnation of Serum or Lymph caus'd by the Constriction of the Fibres of the part in which 't is lodg'd Thus the Tooth-ach Scorbutic pains in the Limbs Bastard Pleurisies c. are of the same kind The Causes from which they take their rise are much the same as those of the Genuin Catarrh Sometimes the true Catarrh causes Feavers which are particularly accounted for in the Section of Feavers An imminent Catarrh is usher'd in by a weariness of the Joynts heaviness of the Head dullness of the Senses and Froth making a circle in the Urine If the Lymph be thin and sharp 't is mostly voided in the Night time and a slow Feaver increasing towards the Evening accompanies it if it be thick and slimy 't is equally troublesom at all times but the Symptoms are more remiss If a Catarrh recur frequently in the same part or if the part be influenc'd by the alterations of the Weather 't is a sign that the nutritive Juice of the Glandule is deprav'd and its innate Spirit weaken'd If it be caus'd by the Crudites or imperfect Digestion of the Stomac it distinguishes it self by frequent relapses either in the same or different parts by the Person 's propensity to spit and sweat much and the thinness and paleness of the Urine Catarrhs in the Breast or Wind-pipe are apt to cause a Cough or Phthisic In old Persons they 're scarce curable by reason of the weakness of their Digestive faculty the natural Laxity of their Glandules flatness of their Spirits and Acrimony of the Serum A Catarrh in the Glandules of the Brain is apt to cause Palsies Lethargies and such like disorders of the Spirits That from the Nose and Mouth is least dangerous especially if the Matter come quickly to Concoction As to the Cure let the following Cautions be minded 1. The best Evacuaters are Diuretics and volatil Sudorifics When the Stomac is faulty Vomits and Purges are proper but not in other Cases 2. Chronical or Habitual Catarrhs proceeding from the Acrimony of the Serum as in old and Scorbutical Persons are influenc'd by the Moon and therefore Preservatives ought always to exhibited before the new Moon 3. Opiats are of excellent use especially in the beginning of a Catarrh arising from external Causes They ought always to be mix'd with volatil Salts and proper Specifics Towards the height of the Disease or in epidemical and critical Catarrhs they must be cautiously us'd 4. Issues and Blistering Plaisters are of use for draining the Lymph or relieving a particular part but they cannot remove its Cause Therefore in scorbutical Cases or when the Evil is inveterat and scarce curable à Priori we must insist on such a palliative Cure being directed thereto by nature which frequently throws out the Lymph by Ulcers in the Legs 5. Bleeding is not proper But in some particular Cases as when the Body is very Plethoric or Blood suppress'd in the Body or when the Catarrh falls upon a noble part 't is allowable These Cautions being premis'd let 's now Consider the Indications As 1. The Activity of the Cause and sense of the Part ought to be impair'd by Opiats 2. The quantity of the Lymph must be lessen'd its vicious quality corrected and the solid part cleans'd by volatil Sudorifics 3 The Stomac must be strengthen'd its due digestion retriev'd and the solid part fortify'd by balmy Aromatics The specifics proper for these purposes are Mother of Thyme Rose-mary Avens-roots Juniper-berries and all Aromatics Sassafras especially its Tincture prepar'd with the spirit of wild Thyme Amber and all it preductions especially the succinated spirit of Harts-horn Myrrh Sulphur or its Flowers Mastic-wood and Sperma Ceti From such Ingredients we make several Prescriptions such as the Decoctions of Woods the infusion of Aromatic and Stomachical Herbs in Wine an Electuary of the Rob of Juniper-berries mix'd with Spices c. The Cure of sharp and thick Humors vary's as that of dry and wet Coughs In scorbutical Cases we always add some preparation from the Pine-tree When we exhibit Purgatives we mix 'em with the Specifics as in Crato's Pills of Amber Jalap sweet Mercury and in inveterat Cases Hellebor are recommended
Emollient Vegetables such as Camomile Night-shade Water-Lillies c. They apply Emulsions to the Forehead and Temples or Liniments made of the emollient Oils Sanctorius affirm'd that all these external Applications were of no use Primerosius was of the same Opinion CHAP. II. Of Excessive Sleep SLeep is accounted preternatural when the Spirits do not repair to the external Organs in their wonted Season but continue lock'd up within the Brain If a scarcity of Spirits and extreme Weakness occasion a shutting of the Eyes 't is not properly Sleep but Swooning As in the case of hysteric Fits and Weakness after Child-birth there first appears as it were a violent Inclination to sleep which presently terminates in Swoonings If the Sleep be so profound that the Person does not wake when jogg'd or call'd upon but remains destitute of all Sense and Motion except Respiration 't is call'd a Carus and if it proceed from any internal Cause is a sort of Apoplexy and requires the same Cure The external Causes are excessive Drinking smoaking Tobacco using Narcotic Medicines the Steams of sulphurous Minerals or fermenting Liquors or new Plaistering upon the Walls of the House and such like When the Person doats in his Sleep and readily answers upon a Call but continues sensless and presently drops asleep again 't is call'd a Sleeping Coma. If the Fancy be awake while the external Senses are shut up by Sleep and attended by frantic Outcries and irregular Motions of the Members of the Body 't is call'd a waking Coma which seldom comes alone but is generally follow'd by Phrensies and Convulsions and disappears upon their Removal Sometimes the strength of Imagination is such that while the Person is asleep he not only speaks and moves but gets up and walks about and attempts many fearful things that when awake he would shrink to think of This is rather a natural Infirmity than a proper Disease It is influenc'd by the Moon and seems to be near akin to Hypocondriac Melancholy If the sick Person be seiz'd with a sleepy Coma and withal a slow Feaver and a forgetfulness of what he does speaks or demands 't is call'd a Lethargy which is the only sleeping Distemper that requires Consideration in this place The immediat Cause is the dulness of the Spirits The remote Causes are 1st A Paucity of Spirits occasion'd by Bleeding Venery Watching Fatigue c. 2dly A watry or pituitous Humour separated from the Blood by the Glandules of the Brain that blocks up the Passages and drowns the Spirits Thus Children Hydropic and Arthritic Persons and those of a Phlegmatic moist Constitution are ofttimes obnoxious to this Distemper The Stone in the Kidneys or any thing that suppresses the evacuation of the Serum will give rise to a Lethargy 3dly Narcotic Medicines and sulphurous Liquors or poisonous Fumes which stupify the Spirits by making such alterations in the Humors of our Body as are apt to produce a Numness Thus the very Humors of our Body turn Narcotic and have the like influence upon the Spirits as new Wine by fermentation acquires a stupifying Quality which formerly it had not 4thly The stagnation of the Blood Contusions or Tumors in the Brain which compress the Spirits and straiten their Passages Sleep distinguishes these Distempers from all others The particular Symptoms that distinguish one sleepy Distemper from another may be gather'd from what is already said As for Prognostics Sleep in general is a bad Omen and is more or less to be suspected according to the degree of sleeping A Coma is very dangerous in the height of an acute Feaver If the Feaver intermit or be accompany'd by evacuations 't is less hazardous except it happen in the beginning A Lethargy generally brings Death in seven days If the sick Person survive the seventh day he recovers If 't is follow'd by evacuations by Stool by the Nostrils the Ears or salivating Glandules 't is a tolerable sign especially if the Feaver and other Symptoms relent If the Symptoms are heighten'd and the Body in the interim oppress'd by other Distempers especially those of the Head together with cold Sweats 't is a desperat Case A Phrensy preceding a Lethargy makes it mortal whereas if it follow after 't is a sign of Recovery If a Trembling succeed it portends ill If it come of its own accord without the impulse of an external Cause 't is mortal In the Method of Cure we must have regard to the remote Causes abovemention'd If a Lethargy proceed from a prevalency of serous or pituitous Humors in the Blood and consequently in the Brain Blood-letting is for the most part necessary both by way of Aversion Derivation and Revulsion It may be repeated according to the former strength of the Patient 'T is better to bleed often and draw forth but little at a time than to take it all at once In the beginning of a Lethargy from this Cause 't is not improper to inject the following Clyster Take of Wormwood lesser Centory and Rue of each a handful Pellitory Roots three Drams Pulp of Coloquyntida ty'd in a Bag from half a Dram to a Dram boil them in common Water To nine Ounces of the strain'd Liquor add Electuary of Hiera with Agaric one Ounce Ox Gall thicken'd a Dram Volatil Salt of Amber half a Dram and the yelk of one Egg or if you design to make it very sharp half a Dram of Sal-gem mix for a Clyster Or Take of Asarabacca or Tobacco Leaves the Herb Rue the Flowers of lesser Centory Flowers of Arabian Stechas of each half a handful Bryony and Gentian Roots of each half an Ounce Pulp of Coloquyntida ty'd in a Bag a Dram and a half boil them in common Water or human Urin in seventeen Ounces of the strain'd Liquor dissolve of Electuary of Hiera and Agaric one Ounce Ox Gall thicken'd a Dram Essence of Castor two Scruples make a Clyster Or Take of the Pouder of Hiera with Agaric a Dram and a half Mice Dung Ox Gall thicken'd of each a Dram with a sufficient quantity of Honey of Rosemary Flowers or Honey of Rue make a Suppository to be anointed with Oil of Myrrh or Coloquyntida If these prove ineffectual 't is proper to apply a blistering Plaister as Take of the Pouder of Spanish Flies from a Scruple to two Scruples Pouder of Euphorbium from half a Scruple to twelve Grains Castor in Pouder from fifteen Grains to a Scruple with half an Ounce or an Ounce of Capital Lees make a blistering Plaister to be appli'd to the pit of the Neck or behind the Ears or to the back of the Head or to the Arms or Legs 'T is a very effectual Medicine in this Case If the Patient reap any Benefit by these prescriptions then 't is time to prescribe Vomits and Purges The Antimonial Vomits are best As for purging Medicines Take of Castor two Scruples and prepar'd Scammony one Scruple mix for two Doses to be exhibited in Oxymel Or Take of Quercetanus's
Ruffus his Pills de tribus half a Scruple Extract of black Hellebor five Grains Tartar vitriolated three Grains With distill'd Oil of Caraways make Pills Take of Gum Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar Bdellium dissolv'd in Vinegar of each half a Dram Vitriol of Steel calcinated till it become white a Scruple Magistery of the Gum of Peru fifteen Grains Scammony prepar'd according to Brendelius's Method a Scruple Extract of Troches Alhandal six Grains make a Mass for Pills fifteen of which are one Dose The Decoction of sudorific Woods are very proper in the declination of the Paroxysm and ought to be continued for some time If these and such like Remedies do not accomplish the Cure we must have recourse to Setums Cuppingglasses Issues c. If the Person be of a Catarrhous Constitution an Issue in the pit of the Neck is very proper But these external Helps are of no use in positive Apoplexies in the privative indeed where the Blood or Lymph is faulty they frequently afford relief The Plaister de Ranis with Mercury mix'd with Balsam of Peru dissolv'd with the Yelk of an Egg may be applied to the Head with good success When the Disease declines a Salivation perhaps may not be improper ART II. Of particular Apoplexies WHEN an Apoplexy seizes a particular part 't is call'd Paraplegia and by most of Writers is referr'd to Palsies but the frequent reciprocal Permutation of general Apoplexies and Paraplegia's vouch for their near alliance Sometimes it is only a retainer to a universal Apoplexy at other times it comes of it self in the form of a principal Disease It admits of three degrees 1. When the Sense of the Part remains and only its motion is lost 2. When 't is depriv'd both of Sense and Motion but retains its natural heat 3. When 't is destitute of Sense Motion and Heat and becomes flaccid and soft Some assign the Obstruction of the Nerves for its Cause but Experience teaches us that it may proceed by consent from other parts from Hysteric Fits Worms in the Guts and the Pastions of the Mind The true cause seems to be the contraction of the nervous Parts about the root of the Spinal Marrow which interrupts the intercourse of the Spirits to the part affected perhaps by the consent of the Nerves as the Stone in the Kidneys is wont to stupify the Leg of the respective side It undergoes a frequent Permutation into Convulsions and Palsies The manner of its succession to privative Apoplexies is accounted for above It succeeds likewise to positive Apoplexies and in that case seems to be tinctur'd with a convulsive Quality The Method of cure is the same as that of an universal Apoplexy Vomits are always proper especially if it follow an universal Apoplexy As Take of Mercurius Vitae two Grains Scammony sulphurated three Grains with Conserve of Bugloss-flowers make a Bolus If Vomiting be very uneasy to the Patient give a strong Purge As Take of Resin of Jalap half a Scruple dissolve it with the yelk of an Egg in Fumitory Water six drams Cinnamom Water a Dram. Mix. When it follows privative Apoplexies Bloodletting is proper otherwise it ought to be avoided except in the case of a Plaethora Issues Blistering Plaisters laid on the Pit of the Neck and scarify'd Cupping-glasses applied between the Shoulders are likewise useful against this privative sort These general Remedies being premis'd Sudorifics come next as the volatil Salts and Spirits of human Scull or human Blood and all Apoplectic or Epileptic Specifics The Decoction of Woods with Juniper and Laurel-berries and Roots of Elecampane is very much us'd for this purpose As Take of Sassafras Wood two Ounces Rosemary-leaves a handful or two fresh juicy Juniper-berries or Laurel-berries an Ounce and a half or two Ounces boil 'em in a Balneum Mariae in Wine and Water of each a pound and a half with an Alembic Mix the strain'd Decoction and the distill'd Liquor and add of Spirit of Juniper-berries four Ounces Spirit of Sal Armoniac three or four Drams Syrup of Clove Gilly-flowers three Ounces Mix and give a large draught thrice a day Poterius's Diaphoretic Gold is admirably fitted for this Case He either prepar'd it of Gold calcined by Amalgamation or mix'd Aurum fulminans with a double quantity of flowers of Sulphur and reduc'd it to a Pouder of a purple Colour by putting red hot Coals into the Crucible then digested it for fifteen days in rectify'd Spirit of Wine impregnated with Aniseeds and afterwards separated the Spirit either by distillation or deflagration and reserv'd the Pouder for use 'T is not fit to be given in a liquid form for that it sinks to the bottom but thus Take of Conserve of Clove Gilly-flowers a Dram Diaphoretic Gold from fifteen Grains to a Scruple Make a Bolus for two Doses Or Take of prepar'd human Scull prepar'd Unicorn's Horn of each fifteen Grains Diaphoretic Gold half a Scruple Mix. Or Take of human Scull prepar'd without fire prepar'd red Coral of each fifteen Grains fulminatory Gold three Grains Mix. Or Take of human Scull prepar'd without fire prepar'd Unicorn's Horn of each twelve Grains fulminatory Gold four Grains volatil Salt of Vipers six Grains Mix. After the first Dose of these Pouders the Person may take a spoonful or two of Spirit of Triacle and then make account to sweat Cinnabar of Antimony is likewise a noble Sudorific As Take of Cinnabar of Antimony fifteen Grains Amber half a Scruple volatil Salt of Amber five Grains make a Pouder Or Take of prepar'd human Scull prepar'd red Coral Cinnabar of Antimony of each half a Scruple distill'd Oils of Cinnamom and of Cloves of each a Drop Make a Pouder to be taken in a convenient Vehicle Or Take of Black Cherry Water Lilly Convally Water Mint Water of each an Ounce Spirit of Black Cherries six Drams Cinnabar of Antimony half a Dram volatil Salt of Hartshorn fifteen Grains Syrup of Clove Gilly-flowers an Ounce Mix. For an Apoplexy of the Hands foment the Pit of the Neck with distill'd Oils and spirituous Waters If the Feet be affected apply them to the Loins and neighbouring Parts But fat express'd Oils must be avoided Take of Mustardseeds one part Juniper-berries two parts bruise and infuse them in Spirit of Wine which reserve for Fomentation Take of Spirit of Wine camphoris'd or Spirit of Ants three Ounces Spirit of Earthworms an Ounce and a half Essence of Castor six Drams Spirit of Sal Armoniac with Quicklime three Drams mix and bathe the Back-bone immediatly after sweating applying afterwards a warm Cloth fumigated with Gum Ammoniac or rubbing it with distill'd Oils mix'd with Oil of Tartar or some of the Oils of the fat and hard parts of Animals strip'd of their nauseous stink by frequent Cohobation upon their Caput Mortuum If they are of themselves too sharp or apt to draw Blisters qualify 'em with the Oil of Earthworms by decoction If the part affected be apt to
wither and consume tho the root of the Evil be not seated in it 't is not improper to anoint it with the following Mixture in order to provoke and waken the Spirits Take of Spirit of Earth-worms three Ounces distill'd Oils of Spike and of Juniper of each a Dram and a half distill'd Oils of Lavender and Marjoram of each half a Dram distill'd Oil of Amber two Scruples plumous Allum which ought always to be added in this case a Scruple If this prove too sharp as it frequently do's to scorbutic Constitutions take of human or Goose fat three or four Ounces distill'd Oil of Turpentin three Drams Oil of Juniper-berries two Drams Oil of Spike half a Dram. Mix and use as above Let the following Plaister be likewise applied to the Back-bone viz. Take of Gum Galbanum two parts Gum Caran one part soften 'em with stone Oil into the Consistence of a Plaister Bathing in a Decoction of Ants is of singular Virtue both in this and many other cases of which more elsewhere ART III. Of a Palsy A Palsy ought to be carefully distinguish'd from a stupidity of any part and particular Apoplexies tho it be near ally'd to both The former retains the power of moving tho depriv'd of the Sense of Feeling the latter relates to the Disorders of the Nerves whereas a Palsy is principally a relaxation of the Tendons Fibres and Ligaments by which the part is moved the Nerves being only secondarily affected So a true formal Palsy affects chiefly the moving Faculty and if the Nerves are not much touch'd the sense of Feeling remains Now by this it appears that in many Cases a Palsy is accus'd where particular Apoplexies are the true Criminals Their difference is thus made out 1. The particular Apoplexies are retainers to the Disorders of the Brain and spinal Marrow whereas Palsies follow another set of Diseases as the Scurvy Hypochondriac and Colic Fits and excessive Drinking 2. In the former the original and uppermost part of the Nerves is chiefly affected and upon that account external Remedies are applied to the Neck and Back-bone without regard to the Apoplectic Part. But in the latter that part of the Nerve which accompanies the Muscles of the place is principally injur'd and accordingly external Applications are confin'd to that quarter 3. The former deprives both of sense and motion the latter oftimes retains the sense and is molested with pains 4. The former are constant and obstinat the latter relents now and then and 't is not quite so hard a matter to compass its Cure Some Palsies are call'd Privative when the Passages for the Spirits are straiten'd and embarass'd by Obstructions or Compressions of the Nerves the sudden retreat of the small Pox Wounds Falls and such like external Causes But these are more properly particular Apoplexies A true positive Palsy may be occasion'd by a cold moist Air bathing in cold Water c. Thus old Men and Children are as it were half paralytic the former by reason of a watry Serum that succeeds in the room of their exhausted nutritious Juice and unbends the Fibres the latter by virtue of overflowing Moisture The usual internal Cause of a Palsy is an acid Humour convey'd along with the Lymph or Serum to the affected part where it vitiats the Fibres and renders 'em unfit for their wonted Motions Palsies of this kind are frequently occasion'd by immoderat drinking of some Wines that partake of a notable volatil Acid which not being concocted in the Stomac is thrown upon the external parts and creates in them sometimes a tickling sort of Pain resembling the motion of Pismires sometimes a stupid and sometimes a tearing Pain Thus the Fibres are corrupted but the Nerves are at first secure and accordingly the moving Faculty is extinguish'd while that of Feeling remains intire tho in progress of time it may dwindle away A scorbutic Acid join'd to a serous Vehicle frequently causes Palsies It proceeds insensibly at first causes a wandring Stupidity and Titillation of the Fingers or Toes One day they are quite well another day mightily swell'd and retain the Sense of Feeling tho render'd in some measure stupid and the Person when lying can move 'em but if he attempt to stand can perform no progressive Motion without a great deal of pain 'T is a volatil austere Acid that gives rise to these Symptoms and if Austerity prevail Convulsions and Contractions invade the part The French Pox Worms in the Guts and Suffocations of the Matrix may procure Palsies But the Bilious Colic that proceeds from thin sharp Humours more frequently introduces ' em If these Colic Pains be exasperated by violent Purgation or otherwise as it frequently happens the Navel being drawn inwards and the Belly very much bound and grip'd there follows a Stupidity and afterwards a Paralytic Disposition of some Members of the Body In this case the Cause seems to be a Scorbutic Acid lodg'd in the nervous Knot of the Mesentery which contracts the Nerves and so prevents the regular distribution of the Spirits to these Parts So that partly by the mutual consent of Membrans and partly by the Translation of the morbific Matter to the external Parts such Palsies take their rise The suppression of wonted Evacuations of Blood and the Passions of the Mind especially Grief and Want are likewise apt to cause ' em Besides these internal Causes there are several external Occasions of Palsies as touching the Cramp-fish or some Indian Shell-fishes reported to be indow'd with a numming Virtue approaching to mercurial and mineral Fumes and an indiscreet tampering with Narcotics If the Nerves be chiefly affected as in a total Privation of feeling or when the Disease proceeds from a Wound Fall or other external Accidents or succeeds an Apoplexy the Original of the Nerves must be chiefly regarded according to the Method propos'd for particular Apoplexies If the Sense of Feeling be intire or not much impair'd the Ligaments and Tendons of the part affected ought to be most taken care of If a Palsy invade the Face 't is distinguish'd from a Dog-Cramp by this that in the former the paralytic part is soft and flaccid and easily reduc'd to its natural posture but in the latter the contracted Part is hard and cannot be brought to join the others without pain As for the privative Palsies that approach to the nature of Apoplexies or in which the Sense of Feeling is quite lost or the Evil inveterat and fix'd to a Part their Cure will be very difficult but if once cur'd they are not so apt to relapse as the proper positive Palsies proceeding from internal Causes If the heat of the part be quite extinguish'd and Contractions seize it If the Eye of the paralytic Side be lessen'd If the Person be old and of a Cacochymical or Cachectic Constitution they are all cross Circumstances If a Trembling invade the Part If a Looseness succeed to a light Palsy or an acute Feaver to the Apoplectic
case Amputation is needful ART IV. Of the Schirrous Swellings of the Stones A Hard painless Swelling free of all Inflammation or Heat is call'd a Schirrus If a pricking Pain attend a hard Swelling it degenerats to a Cancer The Cause is the indiscreet Treatment of a preceding Inflammation which gives the accompanying Acid liberty to settle and thicken the matter Platerus mentions an Instance of little Stones within the Testes causing a Schirrus As for the Cure 't is perform'd by the Application of Gums dissolv'd in Vinegar and discussive Plaisters As Take of Gum Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar six Drams Plaister of Hemlock soften'd with distill'd Oil of Tartar as much as sufficeth for a due Consistence The Balsam of Sulphur or Rulandus's Plaister Diasulphuris or the Ausburg-Plaister of Ammoniac are of good use Baths of Wine and in venereal Cases the Plaister de ranis with Mercury are not improper Timaeus recommends the following Composition Take of the Mucilage of Marshmallow-roots Fenugrec-seeds and fat Figs tosted of each three Ounces Gum Ammoniac Bdellium Galbanum of each an Ounce Goose-fat Hens-fat Goat's Tallow and Turpentin of each six Drams Oil of Lillies and Wax as much as sufficeth for a Plaister If it be attended by pain we ought to proceed very cautiously for fear of a Cancer upon which account Gummy Ingredients are only to be insisted upon If it tend to suppuration it must be open'd or the Stone cut quite off ART V. Of a Sarcocele or fleshy Swelling of the Stones EXternal Blows Falls and such like Accidents do not only cause Inflammations but sometimes tear the Vessels and Membrans of the Stones and so oblige the Blood and nourishing Juice to stagnat and settle into a fleshy Substance sticking to one or both the Stones or to the Membran of the Cod call'd Dartos The Signs are these the Swelling is indolent hard constant and increases by degrees There is a near resemblance between it and the swelling of the Epididimes occasion'd by a Redundancy of Seed or the Stagnation of the Blood caus'd by the Schirrus of the Stones but the preceding Signs if carefully trac'd will discover the difference If it be attended by a shooting it discovers a malignant nature and tendency to a Cancer and ought not to be meddled with As touching its Cure inward Remedies are seldom effectual Let the universal Evacuations be first premis'd then exhibit the Antiscrophulous Specifics as the Pouder or Decoction or Essence of Restharrow-roots and dulcify'd Spirit of Salt Pouder of Comfrey-roots seal'd Earth Rupture-wort and Spunge-stone c. Outwardly foment with a Mixture of Vinegar Nitre and the Ashes of Vine-twigs or apply a Cataplasm of Sulphur Cockle-shells and Vinegar or the following Plaister which is mightily extoll'd Take of Gum Ammoniac an Ounce and a half Bdellium Mustard-seeds Nettle-seeds of each six Drams Spunge-stone one Ounce Pouder of Birthwort-roots Sulphur of each half an Ounce Turpentin an Ounce Spirit of Wine an Ounce and a half Oil of Olives four Ounces Wax six Ounces Make a Plaister Take of the Gums Animi Sagapenum Opoponax and Galbanum of each an Ounce Dissolve 'em in Vinegar of Roses Then thicken it and with a sufficient quantity of Oil of Bricks make a Plaister which is equally fitted for Suppuration or Discussion If it tend to Suppuration after opening apply the Plaister of Gums and black Rosin and afterwards when 't is proper to consolidat a styptic Plaister Vigo's Plaister with Mercury is of incomparable use but the Mercury may deprive the Stones of their prolific Virtue The natural Baths are of very good use If these Medicines prove ineffectual the Excrescence must be cut out either alone or together with the Stone as its Circumstances will admit ART VI. Of a Distention of the Spermatic Veins or Hernia Varicosa WHatever disturbs the Reflux of the Blood by the Spermatic Veins causes an uneven inconstant sort of rising towards the Stone resembling a Cluster of Grapes The Stone drops and hangs loose and the Swelling is painless unless the Guts be molested with Wine or the Feet expos'd to cold Bathing is very proper Let the Plaister of Mucilage mix'd with the Plaister of Ammoniac and Oil of Bricks or the Ointment Basilicum mix'd with the Fat of Animals be applied to the part If it be inveterat it must be committed to the care of a Surgeon CHAP. II. Of the irregular Ejaculation of the Seed THE Ejection of the Genital Liquor is irregular 1. When 't is cast forth without any venereal Provocation 2. When in the act of Venery its Egress is too precipitant and hasty 3. When 't is too slow 4. When 't is not ejected at all ART I. Of a Running or involuntary Emission of the Genital Liquor A Running is either spurious or genuin To begin with the last a simple running is said to be such when the true genuin seminal matter is cast forth without the erection of the Yard or venereal Pleasure The Part affected is the seminal Vesicles 't is attended or follow'd by a weariness of the Limbs Weakness inability to move a pale Countenance hollow Eyes diminution of Sight Inappetency trembling and tendency to a Consumption In a word it robs the body of its balmy Moisture The Causes are threefold 1. The Redundancy or Turgescence of the seminal matter 2. It s sharpness which stimulats and contracts the Fibres of the seminal Vesicles and adjacent Muscles 3. It s tenuity and watriness together with the concurring flaccidity of the Vesicles and the patency of their Passages into the Urethra The remote Causes of the first are high feeding and drinking an intire freedom from Labour and Care abstaining from the wonted Measure of Venery frequent Correspondence with venereal Objects lying upon the Back c. The Remote Causes of the second are a sharp saltish Disposition of the Blood as in scorbutic and hypochondriac Constitutions an immoderat use of sharp aromatic volatil things as Pepper Mustard Rocket-seeds Water-cresses Wine Cantharides and sharp volatil Purgatives Those of the third are excessive Venery especially in ones Youth and manual Violence which not only relaxats the seminal Vesicles but destroys the Ferment in the Stones as appears by the watry inelaborat Consistence of the Seed If a genuin Running be inveterat it degenerats into a Hectic and is not easily cur'd nor is it safe to stop it suddenly lest the Suppression of the wonted Evacuation should cause an Inflammation or Tumour in the Testicles The general Indications of Cure are to lessen the vicious quantity or qualify the sharpness of the matter or to corroborat the Ferment and Texture of the parts For the first of these Purposes acid thin Food short Commons frequent Exercise and Watchings are proper Spirit of Vitriol and Crude Nitre powerfully curb the Ferment of the Testicles But the Juices of Citrons Pomegranats and Lemons are more temperat and universally applauded for stopping all manner of Runnings The Juice of Lemons with
others immoveable some painless and others very painful and shooting as being near akin to Cancers These Tumours we endeavour to discuss by applying Cataplasms of the Leaves and Roots of wild Cucumbers with Goat's-Dung and the Plaister de Ranis with Mercury or Gum Caran mixt with Mercury and Turpentin and anointing with Helmont's distill'd Oil. In their Infancy the Fat of Vipers is also very proper If they cannot be discuss'd we must endeavour to bring 'em to maturity by applying the Plaister of Melilot mix'd with the Oil of sweet Almonds and Fat of Snakes or Platerus's Plaister of Tobacco or Sala's Magnetic Plaister mix'd with Diasulphuris When they are ripe we ought not to open 'em but leave 'em to their natural leisure that so the better part of the Glandule may be dissolv'd into Pus After they 're broke we apply the common Digestives mix'd with precipitat Mercury well wash'd If the Swellings are loose and pendulous we tie 'em with a Horse-hair and so by degrees force their separation If they 're inclos'd in proper Tunicles 't will be needful to extirpate the whole Membrane by the hand of a Surgeon The internal Cure of the King 's Evil is compass'd by purging with sweet Mercury and black Hellebor and administring the Decoction of Swallow-wort Pile-wort Dropwort and Broom or the following absorbent Pouder Take of burnt Sea-spunge three Ounces Bone of the Cuttle-fish Jaw bone of a Pike prepar'd Crabs-eyes long Peper white Ginger Roots of Pellitory of Spain Galls and calcin'd Egg-shells of each an Ounce Make a Pouder Dose half a Dram to be given with a convenient quantity of Arcanum Duplicatum The Pouder of Lizards with Hony in the Form of an Electuary is also of excellent use Next to the Kings Evil are Schirrus's which are hard immoveable Tumors in soft fleshy parts both internal and external They proceed from the Coagulation of Blood as when they follow Inflammations or from the stagnation of crude Chyle either in company with the Blood or in any other Vehicle For the most part these Tumours are free of Pain if they happen to be very painful and livid they are of a spurious race and apt to degenerat into Cancers For Cure we endeavour to discuss a Schirrus by applying Cow's Dung boil'd in Vinegar or the stinking Oil of Tartar and that of Earthworms mix'd with Spirit of Wine or Cataplasms of Briony-roots Goats-Dung Lye and Soap If these be insufficient we must have recourse to the Gums especially Gum Ammoniac and the Plaister of Hemlock with Mercury or a Plate of Lead applied to the part If the Tumour cannot be discuss'd we must bring it to a Head with ripening Ingredients but withal take care that they be not too violent lest it degenerat into a Cancer A Cancer for the most part is the Consequent of schirrous and scrophulous Tumours and frequently invades the Breasts and glandulous places If it come by it self it appears first as a Tumour no bigger than a Bean and by degrees increases becomes hard black livid and molested with shooting pains Afterwards it festers stinks and corrodes the adjacent parts being surrounded with Veins swoln with black Blood The immediat Cause is a volatil corrosive Acid which if it be not supplied with fresh Recruits may lie hid in the part a long time before it fester and then we call it an occult Cancer But as soon as it becomes an Ulcer 't is justly intitl'd a manifest one If a Cancer proceed from internal Causes If the whole Mass of Blood and the Bowels are tainted If the Tumour lie very deep or near to large Vessels If the pain be violent and frequent Bleedings ensue 't is a dangerous case If a Cancer be occult it ought not to be tamper'd with nor is it safe to apply any thing except some very temperat Alcalies such as the Juice of Nightshade beaten in a leaden Mortar the Juice of the Prick-thistle call'd Onophordon the Pulp of rotten Apples or Quick-lime-water prepar'd with the Water of rotten Apples the Juice of River-Crabs and Man's Dung Sugar of Lead and all Preparations from Lead are of excellent use especially a Plate of Lead cover'd with Quick-silver Ointments and Cerecloths of burnt Lead mix'd with the Oil of Roses Oil of Frogs c. are also recommended but all oily things ought to be cautiously us'd In the mean while 't will be proper to exhibit internally absorbent Anti-acid Pouders follow'd by Purges of black Hellebor and sweet Mercury After which the Sugar of Lead the Tincture of Antimony tartaris'd the volatil Spirit of Tartar the Decoction of River-Crabs in Milk and above all the Pouder of Wood-lice mix'd with Crabs-eyes are us'd with notable success sometimes Issues are useful As for manifest Cancers we shall have occasion to take notice of 'em afterwards under the Head of Vlcers The Acidity of the Lymph stands also charg'd as being the Cause of the Gummy Tumors that grow upon the Bones in the French Pox For 't is the vicious Acid that perverts the natural Nourishment of the Bones and occasions its degeneracy into a preternatural Swelling They are cur'd internally by the sudorific Decoctions or by a Salivation with Mercury interlac'd with Preparations of Steel and Vipers Externally we apply the dissolving Gums with the distill'd Oil of Guajacum and Mercury or a Plate of Lead cover'd with Quick-silver or Quick-silver congeal'd by the Fumes of Lead For mitigating the pain we may add Opium to all such Compositions The occasional Depravation of the nourishment of the several parts of the Body will also cause several sorts of Tumours As upon broken Bones a Callus upon tendonous places a Ganglion and upon fleshy parts fleshy Excrescences The first two are discuss'd by applying a Plate of Lead with Mercury or the stinking Oil of Tartar with Castle-Soap or the Spirit of Wine with the Juice of Rue or in obstinat Cases the Plaister de Ranis with Mercury Fleshy Excrescences unless they adhere to the Nerves or Arteries ought to be cut off and the Root eaten away by the Butter of Antimony and Vnguentum Aegyptiacum Some Excrescences are inclosed within their own proper Membrans and contain peculiar Humors sometimes like Hony sometimes like Pap and in other Cases like Soap or Fat The Cause of such Excrescences is the distortion and enlargement of the Fibres occasioning a large accession of Juice which distends and adds to the Growth of the misplac'd Fibres till by shooting out new Tendrels they join one another in the Form of a Concave Membrane containing the stagnating Juice variously alter'd according to the different occasions They frequently happen about the Head and Neck and share the common Fate of some nervous Swellings in being liable to alterations from the Moon For Cure if they are recent we may attempt to discuss 'em with Gum Ammoniac Balsam of Peru Sulphur c. If they cannot be discuss'd we ply 'em with sharp suppurating Ingredients such as Gum Ammoniac
Etmullerus Abridg'd OR A Compleat System of the Theory and Practice of Physic BEING A DESCRIPTION OF All Diseases Incident to Men Women and Children WITH An Account of their Causes Symptoms and most approved methods 〈◊〉 Cure PHYSICAL and CHIRVRGâ—â—â—L To which is prefix'd a short View 〈◊〉 the Animal and Vital Functions and the sevâ—â—â—â— Vertuâ—â— and Classes of Medâ—cines Translated from the last Edition of the Works of Michael ETMUILERVS late Professor oâ— Physic in the University of Leiptsich LONDON Printed for E. Harris at the Harrow in Litte-Britain F. Hubbard next Door to the Crown Tavern in Duck Lane and A. Bell at the Cross Keys and 〈◊〉 in Cornhill near Stocks-Market 1699. THE TRANSLATOR's PREFACE SInce Practical Sciences are infinitely more useful to mankind than the most Curious speculations Doubtless the Practice of Physic may justly claim the same Privilege with respect to its Theoric Companions Anatomy Chymy Botany and the whole Circle of Sciences that retain to Physic are only serviceable when they conspire to improve a regular and safe Practice When they carry on any different design their Positions are deservedly neglected as idle and useless Curiosities The only plea they can make is the Diversion and Entertainment of a few whose Heads are turned that way Whereas the Advantage and Benefit of the World is the Result of Practical Truths Vpon this Account I chose to abridge Etmullerus his Practice of Physic as being the center and substance of all his Performances The Choice was determin'd by the Advantage which accrues to the Theory in being applied to Practice and back'd by Experience without which no Argument is good in being deliver'd in such a method as must naturally ingross all its useful and instructing Part and leave out what is only Calculated for Diversion and Pleasure Thus 't is restor'd to its Natural tendency and stamp'd with an inviting Character 'T is clear'd of the Crimes that are charg'd upon frivolous niceties and recommended to the World as a substantial and necessary part of Physic Had this method been always follow'd it had prevented a great many Inconveniences as it will appear by the following Instances Most of our Courses of Practice are stuffâ—d with the Nauseous Repetition of ineffectual Med'cines Their unexperienc'd Authors deliver their mistaken notions as a standing Rule and with an assuming Air pretend to Dictat to Experience So great is the Self-sufficiency of a teeming Brain and such is the Consequence of that unhappy Distinction between the Theory of Diseases and Actual Practice By this means Various Sects arise Their respective Votaries become Physicians by Eccho and form their precarious methods from the Placita of Opinionative Men The mâ—st solid and useful Positions are misconstru'd or wrangl'd away and plain Practice is confronted by vain fancies or run down by the humor and byass of a Party On the other hand a certain set of Men disoblig'd by the stiffness of the speculative Tribe and their small regard to Experience have chose to lay aside all the advantages of even useful Theory and trust wholly to the Conduct of an Ignorant Experience Thus Med'cines that in a few singular Instances have been Crown'd with success are recommended as infallible in all Diseases of the like form Whereas were these Empyric Pretenders acquainted with the Various Causes of the same effect and the peculiar Constitutions of Men they would be able to single out the particular Cases in which their Med'cines are proper and second 'em with solid Reasons But they foolishly disdain the least Tincture of Knowledge they boldly decry what they do not understand and with a successful impudence impose upon a Credulous World Now the result of all is that a happy Conjunction of Speculative and Experimental Knowledge is the only remedy of the Inconveniences that Cramp a regular Practice And 't is in great measure accomplish'd in the following sheets Here the orderly Scheme of the functions of the Body The General Classes and Vertues of Medicines and their forms of Prescription are briefly accounted for in few Preliminary Chapters Here the Reader will meet with the Spirit and Perfection of Practice supported by all the â—â—â—ful discoveries of Anatomy and Chymy and a Judicious Account of the Materia Medica Here the nicest Phylosopher will find entertainment answerable to his humor and the meanest Empyric will be Accommodated with suitable Instruction Our Author omits nothing that may promote the Grand design He reasons with the manly force and Dexterity of a Philosopher and yet stoops to the meanest stroke of unaccountable Experience He weighs all the Instances of Quack-Cures even Sympathy it self he pay's a deference to and choosâ—s rather to check the most refin'd reason than controul matter of fact He traces the Ancients to their earlyest date and omits no piece of Modern Discovery He Reconciles the Experience of former Ages with the improvements of later Authors He unites the jarring Hypotheses of Willis Sylvius and Helmont and makes 'em conspire to illustrat and imbellish an uniform Practice In the Division of Diseases he chooses to follow the most Natural method in ranking 'em with the functions of the Body and fetching in the Stragglers to the place where their cause is lodg'd In this he was oblig'd to depart from the ordinary measures of our Common-Place Writers who split diseases as their effects vaâ—y and multiply 'em according to the Number of their Symptoms By so doing he avoid the Inconvenience of Charging our memories with multiplyed Cures that may be compass'd by one method As for Instance he fetches the cause of all Chronical Diseases from the Stomac and with one Blow Cuts off the Preposterous plea of Obstructions in the Bowels and a Numberless train of Symptoms Nay he Penetrates into the hidden source of most of our Northern Diseases and by accounting for that lâ—pps off a great deal of unnecessary Practice As it appears by his method of Curing Children's Distempers which has already met with a welcome reception from the English World But 't is a needless piece of formality to anticipat the Reader 's Curiosity with a Character of the Book or Author His Name is an Ample Recommendation His Works in the Language of the Learned have been receiv'd both here and abroad with the unanimous Approbation of the best Judges and have justly Entitled him to the Character he bears in the Title-Page of their Last Edition at Amsterdam viz. Practicus per Omnem Europam Celeberrimus His Practice of Physic is doubtless the Compleatest now extant As being so admirably fitted for all the Measures of Theory and Practice 'T is Countenanc'd by Anatomy Improv'd by Chymy distinguish'd in the Minutest Circumstances warranted by Experience and finish'd to the last Degree His Method is Easy The Causes he assigns to Diseases are Natural his Reasons Convincing his Proofs Solid his Cautions Seasonable his Observations Just his Experiments true His Vouchers Men of Credit his Med'cines Nicely Prepar'd and all
Calamint and Wormwood of each a handful Elecampane-roots Acorus-Roots of each an Ounce Galangal three Drams Cinnamom three Drams Mace one Dram 't is very oyly and therefore a small Quantity will suffice Anniseeds three or six Drams Cut bruise and tie them in a Bag to be infus'd in Rhenish Wine in a warm place for twelve Hours Let the Patient take a Draught of the Infusion before Eating adding to every Draught fifteen drops of dulcify'd Spirit of Salt The Rob of Juniper-Berries with Ginger Mace and Sugar may be us'd by way of Electuary Sal-armoniac given in Wormwood-wine Arcanum Duplicatum or essential Salt of Tartar mix'd with Aromatic Powders the Infusion of Aron and Elecampane roots in Wine Chocolat and Thea are all of excellent use As for musty Crudities Vomits and gentle Purges of Rhubarb and Tamarinds are proper Then precipitating Earthy Powders follow'd by Acid Juleps As Take of Arcanum Duplicatum two Scruples prepar'd Cuttle-bone a Scruple Powder of Nutmegs six Grains Mix for two or three Doses Take of Mint-water an Ounce and a half Cinnamom-Water two Drams Juice of Quinces six Drams Syrup of the Juice of Quinces half a Dram. Mix for a Potion Dulcify'd Spirit of Salt Spirit of Mastic Elixir Proprietatis Ivory Coral Cream of Tartar Quinces c. are all proper Ingredients Acid Crudities are remov'd by absorbent Powders and volatil Aromatics such as Scurvygrass lesser Centory Wormwood Rhubarb and especially Ginger volatil Spirits of Mint Sage Scurvygrass that of Sal-armoniac mix'd with Vegetable Spirits Spirit of Tartar Hartshorn c. Elixir Proprietatis prepar'd without an Acid together with the fixed Salts of Wormwood Carduus Benedictus c. the digestive Hypocondriac Salt Hartshorn Ivory Crabs-Eyes c. Above all River-Crabs together with the Shells are much approv'd All Acids must be avoided and after the Acid is vanquish'd Purgatives administred Besides internal Medicines external Applications are proper for promoting Chylification As Take of the Oyl of Mint prepar'd by Infusion and boyling two Drams express'd Oyl of Nutmegs a Dram distill'd Oyls of Mint of Mace and of Cloves of each half a Scruple Mix and anoint the Region of the Stomach Balsam of Peru is very proper for the same purpose Take of Tacamahac three parts Gum-Caran one part soften 'em with Balsam of Peru or distill'd Oyl of Mint and make a Plaister to be applied to the Stomac A Spunge dip'd in Wine impregnated with the Vehicle of Stomachic Simples and applied hot to the Stomac is also much approv'd CHAP. II. Of Wind in the Stomach and Guts WHEN the Work of Chylification is disturb'd Wind oft times molests and distends the Stomach which if it break upwards with a noise is call'd Belching if it be discharg'd both upwards and downwards 't is call'd a dry Cholera Wind is somewhat different from Vapors and Exhalations either of which is resolv'd by heat and thicken'd by cold whereas it undergoes no such alteration Nay 't is neither heat nor cold that is directly concern'd in giving it a Being 't is only the vicious fermentation of a Preternatural Acid within a thick viscous Body Thus we see that Spirit of Nitre pour'd upon a Metallin soluble Body boyls up into Wind and Noise The like will happen in the distillation of Tartar or the effusion of Vinegar or Juice of Citrons upon Corals or Crabs-Eyes In like manner Bread or new Wine if fermented will rise up with a windy noise but if fermentation be neglected no other process of boyling macerating distilling c. is able to produce that effect And once more if Apples be expos'd to the Sun so as to undergo a fermentation by vertue of the heat their Skin will chop and break to give way to the Wind and no other management whatsoever can compass that end Thus 't is made to appear that Wind is not pre-existent in the Liquors or Humors themselves but newly created by vertue of the imprisonment of acid and urinous Salts within a viscous Body which they endeavour to attenuate and break through when dissolv'd and put into motion by the addition of a ferment Now that the Vehicle is viscid is sufficiently made out by the tenacious gross Humors that are voided upwards by Vomiting The Part affected is the Cavity of the Stomach and its upper Orifice The immediate Cause is already explain'd To which we may add a violent compression which obliges the Wind in pursuit of a larger space to move in to break forth and forsake its narrow Habitation just as Air condensated displays its Elastic force and seeks to enlarge its Bounds driving before it the contiguous interfering Bodies with a notable noise The remote Causes are the eating of viscous Food and retention of acid Crudities Flatulent Meats may be very apt to encourage a Windy noise but without the fermentatation of an inclosed Acid they cannot of themselves produce it Therefore 't is that the same Meats will occasion such disturbances in acid Constitutions that are digested by other Persons without any disorder Some flatulent Distentions are natural produc'd by the oyly Bile and acid Mucus of the Stomac and Guts when their Cavities are Empty and projected by Nature to keep their walls from joyning and continue the openness of their Pores As to the Differences of Belchings some are Acid as in Hypocondriac cases and after long fasting some musty of which above some answerable to the natural quality of Food receiv'd as those caus'd by eating Onyons Radishes c. some quite insipid and lastly tho very rarely some are attended by a prodigious stink Now the cause of flatulent stinks must be fetch'd from the Chymical Experiment of dissolving fat Sulphureous Substances with Alcali's and precipitating with Acids As Antimony calcin'd with Nitre and Tartar in the Preparation of Crocus Metallorum then dissolv'd in Water and precipitated with Vinegar yields a most noysom Smell so the oyly Salts of the Bile first resolv'd and then precipitated by Acids are indow'd with the like Quality The Signs are these If the Wind cannot force its passage the Breast or Belly is distended and perplex'd if touch'd it rebounds as it were the respiration is very difficult especially when the Persons lie on their Backs they are molested with violent Pains and tossing from side to side they perceive a sort of flatulent noise within Just before the Wind breaks forth they complain of a vast Perplexity in their Breasts but when it gains its Passage are benefited by it Sometimes these flatulent Distentions reach the Neck and Back and occasion a Swelling about the Mouth of the Stomac which prevents the breaking of Wind downwards and reaps no advantage by those which pass upwards And Eating augments this Distention As for Prognostics They are usually the Symptoms of a Hypocondriac Illness and if they happen upon the recovery of a Disease portend its relapse If they continue long they threaten Dropsies If they stink horridly they are very malignant and
a manifest Cause portends a Chronical Distemper The Specifics that compass its Cure are Absorbent Pouders such as Chalk and Cream of Tartar the Pouder of Burnt Bricks Bole Armenic c. Nutmegs are possess'd of a temperat Oyl fit for moderating the Acrimony of the Humours The Conserve of the Fruit of the common Briar Syrup and Conserve of Oak-Buds Juice of House-leek and Nitre dissolv'd in Elder-flower-water are much approv'd Take of Prepared Chalk two Drams Nutmegs burnt Ivory of each a Dram Mineral Unicorn Red Coral and Crabs Eyes of each two Scruples With four or six Ounces of Sugar dissolv'd in Purslain-water make Tablets Take of the Conserve of Oak-Buds an Ounce Prepared Chalk two Drams Nutmegs one Dram. Make an Electuary If the Evacuations be needful Tamarinds are most proper When a stronger Purgation is desir'd Rhubarb Pills of Ammoniac and Elixir Proprietatis are likewise convenient In an Inveterat case we have recourse to Vomits SECT VIII Of Disorders hindring the due Separation of the Chyle from the Excrements in the Guts THE Victuals having made a sufficient stay in the Stomac repair to the Guts under the form of Chyle which wants to be further prepar'd by being rid of its Curd or gross Excrements before it enter the Vasa Lactea This separation of the good and bad is perform'd by the Gall and Pancreatic Juice The former is an Oyly sulphureous Body which tinctures the Chyle and predisposes it for being converted into Blood It defends it from Corruption destroys any remains of Acidity and ferments with the Pancreatic Juice which is a temperat Acid. Thus they joyntly attack the Chyle attinuat its parts and precipitat the Coarser in order to expulsion while the more refin'd are receiv'd by the Milky Vessels and convey'd to the Blood If this fermentation and separation be irregularly perform'd the Body is expos'd to an infinity of Diseases In a word all Chronical Distempers are owing to the lameness of this performance and that of the first Digestion From these two Juices viz. the Gall and Pancreatic Juice together with the Pituita compos'd of the Saliva and remains of the Chyle in the Stomac Sylvius fetch'd the Causes of a great many Diseases not only Agues but all Chronical Distempers and Symptoms of the lower Belly For the least disorder in that Triumvirat obstructs the due purification and conveyance of the Chyle which cannot but produce many Inconveniencies in the Body Now each of these Juices is accountable for its own faults If the Gall be too copious it renders the Chyle too Oyly and ought to be purg'd out If too sharp or saline it ought to be temper'd by dulcify'd Acids If too fat or oyly it ought to be sharpen'd with volatil Aromatic Salts If it be lazy or do not flow into the Duodenum it ought to be stir'd up and a passage open'd to it by spirituous volatil Medicines As for the Juice of the Sweet-bread if it be too rank it ought to be carry'd off If too acid or austere its austerity causes Constipation of the Belly Gripings and Suffocations of the Womb it ought to be temper'd by Alcali's both fix'd and volatil as fix'd Salts Earths Chalybeat and Antimonial Medicines Castor Galangal Ginger distill'd aromatic Oyls and Spirits c. If it be too flat or deficient it ought to be retriev'd by dulcify'd mineral acid Spirits Juice of Quinces c. If the Chyle it self be deprav'd in the first Digestion it s softer coarse parts that stick to the Guts viz. the mucus that defends them from the sharpness of these two Juices is likewise disorder'd and ought to be put to rights If it be too copious purge it off with Coloquintida If too viscid attenuat it with volatil Salts if deficient repair it with viscous Food But for so much at 't is a difficult Task to trace the peculiar faults of every Juice apart we shall touch at such Medicines as are equally calculated for redressing all their Disorders Those are the temperat salin Ingredients as Arcanum Duplicatum the Carminative Spirit Spirit of Nitre dulcify'd with a triple quantity of the Spirit of Aniseeds together with Opiats As for Example Take of Carduus Benedictus Endive and Mint Waters of each an Ounce Sal Armoniac six drams dulcify'd Spirit of Mint a scruple prepar'd Crabs Eyes a dram Diaphoretic Antimony a scruple Laudanum Opiatum three grains Syrup of Orange-peel half an ounce Mix and give a spoonful now and then SECT IX Of Disorders relating to the Expulsion of the Excrements by Stool THE Chyle having drop'd its Excrements in the Guts pursues its Journey to the Blood These Excrements ought to be voided in due time The hindrances of their regular Evacuation are such as either impair enlarge or deprave it CHAP. I. Of the Diseases which impair the Evacuation by Stool ARTIC I. Of Costiveness THE Causes of Costiveness respect either the Excrements or the Guts Of the former sort are the paucity of Excrements for want of Victuals Their hardness and dryness occasion'd by neglect of drinking excessive sleep and rest swallowing Cherry-stones or Gooseberryskins eating Chesnuts Eggs boyl'd hard Crust of Bread and Medlars Their viscidity and glutinosity caus'd by viscous Victuals or an acid austere Constitution of Body and want of Exercise Their Condensation and Coagulation caus'd by the austere acidity of the Pancreatic Juice and defect of the oyly bilious Alcali all which makes 'em unfit for observing the Peristaltic Motion of the Guts and dispose 'em to stagnat The Causes relating to the Guts are Obstructions or fleshy Excrescences in the Guts their Compression as in Women with Child their Inflammation or Gangrene their growing together after the Corrosion of a Dysentery the Paralytic Relaxation of their Fibres which in Apoplexies eludes Clysters Their Convulsive Contractions occasion'd by Colic or Nephritic Pains which are frequently augmented by strong irritating Purgatives but remov'd by smooth Laxatives Now all these Causes hinder the Guts to perform their wonted Office of forwarding the Excrements by their Peristaltic Motion Sometimes a Costiveness is follow'd by a loathing vomiting gnawing shooting Pains in the Belly uneasiness watchings giddiness and Head-ach If it be inveterat it may occasion a bleeding at Nose If the Excrements be lodg'd in the Colon they creat an uneasiness resembling the splenetic Illness which frequently imposes upon Physitians The disorders of the Head and Hypocondriac Symptoms are inlarg'd by Costiveness which to young Persons threaten an Epilepsie If attended by an Iliac Passion Colic Pains or a Palsie of the Guts 't is very dangerous To Childbearing Women it renders Delivery difficult The Cure consists in softening watering and attenuating the Excrements or in removing the Causes which straiten the Capacity of the Guts reviving their Sense and appeasing their Irritations For the former purposes Oyl of sweet Almonds with solutive Syrup of Roses Salt of the tendrels of Vines mix'd with Spirit of Salt soft potch'd Eggs with Butter drinking
Boyl them and express the Liquor to which add a handful of the Leaves of Toad-flax then express again and add the yelks of two Eggs. Make a Liniment and anoint the part or add to it express'd Oyl of Henbane-seeds and Sugar or Lead in case of an Inflammation The Oyl of the Berries of the Herb Paris for Women with Child or Oyl of Stag-flies Oyl of Wood-lice and that of Box-wood are very much recommended for Inunctions Take of the Mucilages of Fleawort-seeds of Quince-seeds and Linseeds prepar'd with Rose-water of each an ounce fresh Butter an ounce with the yelks of two Eggs and Oyl of Roses beat them in a leaden Mortar till they become livid and make a Liniment of excellent use against Inflammations of the Piles The Oyl of Eggs Spirit of Wine camphoris'd and Sugar of Lead may be added The Balsam of Sulphur prepar'd with express'd Oyl of Poppy-seeds or mix'd with Camphyr and Sugar of Lead or with the Oyl of Eggs and that of Bricks is of very good use in External Applications Some put Venice Treacle mix'd with Sugar of Lead and the Oyl of the Balsam-Apple upon a Clout and thrust it into the Fundament Figwort Orpine and Pilewort are three famous Specifics they are given inwardly by way of Infusion in Ale or Wine Their Roots are given also in Powder Figwort-roots mix'd with fresh Butter and kept in a Cellar for fifteen days yield a noble Liniment The Juice of Pilewort externally applied is also of excellent use Take of the Roots of Figwort and Pilewort of each half an ounce with Oyl of Mullen make a Liniment If they become Chronical let an Issue be cut in the Thigh If they are ulcerated let fulminatory Gold mix'd with Oyl of sweet Almonds be applied Upon the whole 't will not be improper to take notice of Wedelius's Caution viz. That Ointments are not always the most convenient forms by reason that they inlarge the Capacity of the Veins stop the Transpiration and augment the Heat SECT X. Of Worms in the Guts HAving discours'd of the Expulsion of the Excrements we come next to consider what preternatural things the Guts may contain viz. Worms They are either long or broad or very small call'd Ascarides and confin'd to the Intestinum Rectum The immediat Cause is the seed of Worms convey'd into our Bodies The remote cause is putrify'd Crudities in the Stomac and Guts and the deficiency or weakness of the Bile which is the true scare-crow of Worms The Symptoms are an acid smell in the Mouth stinking Spittle copiously voided and with some squeamishness the Excrements in Colour resembling Cows-dung the yellowness of the white of the Eye or a Jaundice Sometimes a biting pain seizes and distends the Belly especially in a Morning and the Person is troubl'd with night fears gnashing of Teeth trembling Convulsions corrosion of the Gums Consumption of the Body the Face is red and pale by turns the Appetit voracious and fierce the Symptoms are exasperated by acid bitter Victuals and mitigated by Milk and sweet things The Person is molested with a dry Cough and thirst when his Belly is empty Broad Worms have this peculiar Symptom that little things like Gourd-seeds are interspers'd with the Excrements The Ascarides observe the Motions of the Moon By day they are generally quiet but from ten a Clock at night till Morning they rage Sometimes they 'll corrode the Buttocks and Thighs and creat Ulcers in the Anus and Intestinum Rectum The broad sort are expell'd with the greatest difficulty Worms frequently introduce troublesom Diseases If in the beginning of a Disease they throw themselves out 't is a sign of great malignity within In the Declension or after Concoction 't is look'd upon as a good sign In the Diseases of Children Worms are always suspected All sorts of Worms ought to be attack'd during the wane of the Moon Jalap Rhubarb and sweet Mercury are proper Purges The Specifics are Horse-Radishes Water-Cresses Centory Wormwood Peach-flowers Turnsil Flowers of St. John's-wort Savin Water-Germander Gentian Zedoary Onyons Garlic Leeks Myrrh Aloes Spirit of Hartshorn the Decoction of Quicksilver in Onyon or Garlick-water or Quicksilver beat up with Sugar to a Powder of which half a dram is a Dose the Oyls of Hazel and Juniper-woods the acid Spirits mix'd with fair Water such as that of Vitriol of Sulphur c. While the Worms are lodg'd in the small Guts inject Clysters of Milk and the Decoctions of Figs Raisins Liquorice Hony c. to invite 'em to come down If they 're arriv'd at the great Intestins kill 'em with Clysters of the Decoction of Gentian Wormwood Grass-roots c. In the mean while apply to the Belly the Gall of a Bull mix'd with Powder of Coloquintida or a Cataplasm of Myrrh Aloe Vinegar of Roses and Bull 's Gall or Rock Oyl and Oyl of Hazel-wood with Hiera Picra or the Ointment of Soubread with Quicksilver The broad Worms are cur'd by the Juice of Horse-radishes and the Powder of Jalap with Worm-seed The Ascarides require Suppositories of Dutch Cheese or Lard and Hony and Clysters of Coloquintida SECT XI Of Pains in the Guts and particularly of the Colic WHEN the Guts are irritated and suffer wringing Convulsions they are molested with a pain call'd Gripings Sometimes these Pains reach only the small Intestins and then their Station is about the Navel and Center of the Belly and are much more violent than those in the great Guts If they range not beyond the Duodenum or beginning of the Jejunum they are felt in the Loyns bending towards the right Hypochondrium and are oftimes mistaken for Nephritic Pains or those caus'd by the Convulsions of the mesenteric Nerves or the Tumors and Ulcers of the Pancreas The Pains in the great Guts are for the most part felt in the Colon especially that part of it towards the Circumference of the Belly upon the left side where 't is straitned and incurvated and consequently more liable to the shocks of Wind and more apt to stop the Circulation of the Excrements and cause their swelling up into a Tumor sometimes hard sometimes soft This Pain and Tumor is frequently imputed to the Spleen whereas the Spleen is incapable of any shooting pricking pain such as this is it s Membran being almost insensible and besides it lies too low to display its tumor externally Moreover this pain is exasperated by riding immediately after eating and tho it may be compatible to the Jejunum in the left corner from whence it runs to the Center of the Belly yet the Colon is its usual Seat And sometimes it veers about to the right side of the Belly upon the outermost Circumference where the same Colon pursues its Course This last mention'd Pain is a Colic properly so call'd but for somuch as the generality of Writers do comprehend the former under the same Title I shall not depart from the usual Measures of prescribing their Cure without Distinction
Scars following the Corrosion of a Dysentery or Looseness or interrupted by its own viscidity or slime squeez'd into its Vessels from the Guts and afterwards congeal'd of which we have a plain Instance in the Case of drinking cold Liquors after a violent hot Exercise for as much as the heat melts the slime and the motion drives it into the Vessels and the sudden arrival of cold Liquor cuts off its retreat by causing its Coagulation so that it either stagnats or proceeds with the Chyle to the Blood and depraves its Crasis This viscidity or crudity of the Chyle or of the Humor its Companion is the true cause of all Chronical Distempers falsly imputed by the Ancients to Obstructions or contrary Qualities of the Bowels That there are Obstructions I do not deny Some in the Blood Vessels causing Inflammations Others in the Lymphatic or perhaps those of the Chyle causing the rupture of the Vessels and effusion of the Lymph upon the Cavities of the Body And others again in the Bowels appearing in the form of Imposthumes and Schirrus's But these are rather the effect than cause of Chronical Diseases That stagnation of the Liquors in their respective Vessels is occasion'd by their viscidity The viscidity is caus'd by acid Crudities attending the Chyle and debauching the Blood and Lymph Moreover the proneness of Imposthumes to suppurate and that of Schirrus's to become Ganeers are solid proofs of their being caus'd by a viscous acid And as to the Antipathy of the Bowels 't is inconsistent with the Laws of Circulation The Blood and Spirits are equally the cause of heat all over the Body if all the parts be equally 〈◊〉 pos'd for their Reception 'T is true indeed a particâ—â—â—â— Bowel or external part may be occasionally weakâ—â—â— and suffer a Relaxation of its Fibres or by vertue of acid pointed Particles darted into its Bosom like that of a Thorn into the Finger may be disturb'â— with Heat and Inflammation while the others retain their cooler Temperature But it plainly appears that these effects are not owing to any Radical Antipathy in the Qualities of the Bowels but the occasional unequal Distribution of the viscous acid Particles It remains therefore to be concluded upon that the acid Crudity of the Chyle impress'd upon it in the first Passages is the natural and obvious cause of Chronical Distempers and that Obstructions may be effected by the long duration of these Distempers but cannot claim the priviledge of being their Causes This Hypothesis will be set in a clearer light by surveying the Symptoms and the Method of Curing these Chronical Distempers The former are acid Belchings Wind loss of Appetit Gripings and noise in the Guts incident heat and Inflammation Looseness c. the natural Progeny of an acid Crudity And as touching the latter the whole Circle of Specifics is generally made to center in an aperient Vertue Now the Preparations of Steel and Lead do justly lead the Van of this numberless Catalogue And how these astringent Medicines should be intitled to an opening Vertue all the Posse of Writers is at a loss to explain Whereas 't is an obvious Solution that these metallin Particles suck up and incounter the acid Crudity and transform it into a vitriolic Concrete which is afterwards evacuated under the form of black Excrements So that it opens or unlocks the Passages only indirectly by subduing the hostil Intruder Antiscorbutic volatil salin Medicines and Gums are likewise us'd Now they attinuat the viscous Humor precipitat the rank acid fortifie the Stomac the original source of the Evil and whet the Bile And here by the way 't will not be improper to take notice that the Essences commonly prepar'd from volatil Antiscorbutic Herbs as the Essence of Scurvygrass c. fall short of the original vertue of their Herbs as containing only the volatil Salt strip'd of the fix'd Salt which withal is very useful Upon which account I prefer the Quintessences made of the Oyl and both the Spirits one prepar'd by Fermentation and the other by Putrefaction These two being mix'd with the distill'd Oyl by long Digestion and frequent Cohobation And besides all Antiscorbutic Spirits prepared by Fermentation ought to be frequently cohobated in order to extract the fixed Alcalin Salt Tartar also is a great Specific in these Cases But its Cream is too acid Let it be mix'd with half the quantity of Salt of Tartar dissolv'd in warm water after Fermentation filtrated and set to evaporat Thus its Acidity is conquer'd It s volatil Spirit or rather that drawn from the Dregs of Wine or the Carminative Spirit prepar'd from Nitre Tartar and Spirit of Wine and all volatil Preparations of Tartar are of wonderful efficacy in clearing the first Passages correcting the Digestive Ferment and conquering the acid of Wine that we in these Countries are so obnoxious to In the Animal Province Man's Urine given to drink and all urinous Spirits and Salts especially the Spirit of Salarmoniac prepar'd with Quick-lime are noted antiacids in all Chronical Distempers The Spirit of Ants and that of Earth-worms are famous Anti-scorbutics Of the Mineral Family Steel is the Head It ought not to be much impregnated with an acid otherwise it will not dissolve in the Body The best way of giving it is either in crude Powder or by way of extract taken from its Infusion in the Juice of Apples Quinces or of Tamarinds or a Tincture taken from the same with Spirit of Scurvygrass The Tincture of Steel prepar'd with Spirit of Bread is likewise a proper form It s Crocus is best prepar'd by sprinkling it with Juice of Cichory and exposing it to the Sun Next to Steel is Lead especially its Sugar and the Antiphthisical Tincture prepar'd from it and vitriol of Steel with Spirit of Wine From these Premises we infer that the Cause of all Chronical Distempers is a viscous acid Crudity either bred in the Stomac or caus'd by the vicious Effervescencies of the Gall and the Juice of the Pancreas in the Guts Upon which Account all Stomachical attenuating anti-acid Medicines are the true Antidote of these Diseases And whoever attempts to cure 'em without a special regard to the Stomac and first Passages shoots short of his Mark The forms of Recipe's shall be inserted in the particular Description of the respective Diseases SECT XIV Of Diseases relating to the Lungs and Organs of Respiration THUS far we have consider'd the Chyle in its separat State It remains now to survey its state of Complication with the Blood The mix'd Mass of Blood and Chyle is carried from the Axillary Vein to the descending Trunc of the Vena Cava from thence 't is convey'd to the right Ventricle of the Heart and before its entry into the left Ventricle is thrown into the Lungs by the Vena Arteriosa The Lungs are a heap of little Bladders joyn'd by a simple Membran endow'd with moving Fibres and require to be dilated before the Blood
can have admission This Dilatation is perform'd by the Air and Muscles The Midriff together with the Subclavian and Intercostal Muscles inlarge the Capacity of the Breast upon which there being no Vacuum the Air crouds into the Lungs and distends 'em to fill up the void space The Lungs being thus distended the blood empties it self into 'em and by vertue of the universal Salt of the Air its Mass is dissolv'd rarify'd volatilis'd and freed of its Steams This Admission of Air or Dilatation of the Lungs is call'd Inspiration And the Expulsion of it or successive compression of the Lungs forwarding the Blood to the left Ventricle of the Breast is stil'd Expiration the complex Action bearing the title of Respiration CHAP. I. Of Inspiration abolish'd or Suffocation SUffocation is a denying of admission to the Air. The Cause may relate either to the Passages thro which the Air is to pass or to the Lungs that are to receive it or to the Muscles that ought to dilate the Breast The Passages are embarassed by external Ligatures which if they be suddenly put on extinguish all manner of Sense in an instant by being fill'd with Water or drowning by Tumors and Inflammations in the Neighborhood of the Wind-pipe by swallowing bulky things that stick in the Gullet and press the Wind-pipe or bear down the Epiglottis by forcing things into the Wind-pipe by laughing or speaking in the time of eating by Hairs c. sticking to the Epiglottis and disturbing its motion or by a large Polypus in the Nose spreading its Branches to the Throat After strangling we endeavour to bring the Person to life by Blood-letting pouring down spirituous Liquors and rubbing the Joynts If the Suffocation is caus'd by being under Water we hang up the Person by the Heels that the Water may run out then apply a Toast soak'd in Spirit of Wine and exhibit Sudorifics or sometimes a gentle Vomit If any bulky thing stick in the Throat give 'em a blow on the Back and exhibit Oyl of sweet Almonds or Cassia If it stick in the Wind-pipe Coughing Sneezing and Vomiting will bring it up If a Bone stick in the Gullet let it be brought up by an Instrument or apply a suppurating Cataplasm or exhibit a Vomit A narrowness of the Passage caus'd by Aqua fortis is cur'd by the Mucilage of Quinces A sudden Suffocation affecting the Lungs immediately is caus'd by Narcotic Sulphurous Steams of New Wine or Ale new Plaistering Coal-Pits and other Mineral Fumes which destroy the Airy Spirit that should ferment the Blood and so cause its Stagnation in the Lungs and extinguish the animal Spirits producing Apoplexies Carus's and many dismal Symptoms For Cure let the Person be carried into free Air the Mouth open'd and Wind Artificially procur'd let a liquid Vomit mix'd with the Essence of Castor or Apoplectic-waters be thrown down the Throat Let Vinegar in which Castor is infus'd be exhibited by Spoonfuls If the Person be Plethoric open a Vein Apply outwardly Epithema's of Vinegar to the Scrotum and Testicles Blow Sneezing Powders into the Nostrils and rub the Temples and Nostrils with little Bags of Marjoram and Fennel-Flower-seeds infus'd in Vinegar Note Tho Vinegar be of admirable Efficacy against the Gas or Steams of Vegetables yet 't is not proper against a Mineral Gas Lastly The Causes of Suffocation relating to the Muscles of the Breast are their Paralytic Apoplectic Condition or Convulsions of the Larynx occasion'd by the Disorder of the Nerves of the Par Vagum and those of the Intercostal Branch as in the case of Hysteric and Hypochondriac fits Poyson or eating a sort of strangling Mushrooms Venery c. The Cure is perform'd by Essence of Castor Volatil Salt of Amber Camphyr Opiats and such Medicines as we use against Hysteric and Epileptic Fits Vomits Oxymel of Squills and Venice Treacle are Specifics against the poysonous Mushrooms CHAP. II. Of Inspiration deprav'd or difficult Breathing ART I. Of Asthma's AN Asthma is a frequent difficult Respiration attended by a perplexity in the Breast and sometimes a Cough and Snoring Sometimes 't is so violent that the Patient cannot breathe unless he stand upright and then 't is call'd Orthopnaeia The general Cause of all Asthma's is the Constriction of the Vesicles of the Lungs The particular Causes are various Some Asthma's are moist proceeding from vicious Matter provoking the Lungs and Wind-pipe to Contractions and frequently attended by coughing spitting and snoring tho not always Others are Dry occasion'd by the Convulsions of the Organs of Respiration or dryness of the Lungs without the influence of any deprav'd humor The Matter that gives rise to the moist sort is frequently lodg'd in the Stomac and first Passages and by distending them presses the Lungs and Diaphragm Hence wind and acid Crudities such as Hypocondriac or Scorbutic Persons are generally lyable to frequently cause a difficult Breathing in a Morning when they lye upon their backs in Bed Or after eating especially at Night or after Drinking Wine Dropsies also distending the Muscles of the Belly and Crouding the Blood with serum may occasion a difficulty of Breathing If the matter lodge in the Lungs 't is either Originally bred within 'em or transfer'd thither from other Parts If it be bred there it proceeds from the Depravation of the Nutritious Juice of the Lungs and Wind Pipe occasion'd by Mineral Steams or Vicious Air or the Viscidity and Sharpness of the Lymph that waters ' em For if their Nutritious Juice be perverted it degenerats into a tartareous hard or otherwise Noxious matter Imposthumes and Ulcers in the Lungs may also be reckon'd as Causes of this Kind of Asthma If the Peccant humor be not bred in the Lungs it proceeds either from serum thrown upon 'em or the Bronchia or Blood stagnating within ' em The former cause takes place sometimes in the Declensions of Feavers or when the Pores of the Body are stop'd The latter in a Redundancy of Blood Suppression of the Terms or Piles in Cachectic Persons whose Blood is Glutinous and Stuff'd with Crudities and consequently requires more time for Rarefaction in the Lungs in the case of sudden fear or Drinking of Cold Water immediatly after the Blood has been rarify'd by a Violent heat Any Acid matter that 's apt to Coagulat the Blood may also produce the same effect As for dry Asthma's They may proceed from a preternatural form of the Back and Breast or from Stones and Schirrus's in the Lungs But the more Notable Cause is the Convulsions of the Organs of Respiration especially the Diaphragm occasion'd by the disorders of the lower Belly as in Hysteric or Hypochondriac Fits the Contorsion of the Backbone Nephritic Arthritic and Gouty Pains Or in General any Acid humor irritating the Nerves whether in the Abdomen or Brain But especially in the Abdomen for the Nerves of the Par Vagum and those of the Inter-Costal Branch furnish both the Belly Breast and Neck
with Nerves and upon this Account we frequently observe that these Convulsive Asthma's are attended by disorderly Smptoms in the lower Belly Besides if we consider the Variety and Multitude of the Muscles imploy'd in Respiration and the various Motions and Contrary Offices they are obliged to perform we shall not be at a loss to Imagin what a sensible Influence any sort of Convulsions may have upon Breathing This Convulsive sort of Asthma's may likewise be caus'd by the Dryness and Flaccidity of the Lungs following the Depravation of their Nutritious Juice smoaking of Tobacco Mineral steams frequently irritating the Fibres of the Lungs c. The like may insue upon the striking in of a Scab or the unseasonable healing of an Ulcer the Blood being thereby render'd sharp and irritating and its Texture prone to irregular fermentations An Asthma is of its self manifest But the Symptoms ought to be heedfully regarded in order to distinguish the various Causes Those which proceed from a Vicious form of the Breast or from serum or slime covering the Lungs or from the Depravation of their own Nutritive Juice are continual Whereas the other sorts are Periodical All Asthma's agree in this Symptom that they are Exasperated at Night and when the Patient moves the Body or Changes the Air. Moist Asthma's are attended by a Cough snoring and comfortable Expectoration of matter in and after the Paroxysm If the snoring make a deep hollow sound the matter lodges in the Bronchia If it lodge within the substance of the Lungs the sound is flatter and the matter is not so Copiously brought up Dry Asthma's come suddenly and disappear in like manner without any visible cause or discovery of Noxious matter They are not attended by Snoring Coughing or Spitting unless it be towards the end of the Fit and even then very sparingly For the matter thus expectorated is not the cause of the Disease as in the moist kind but only squeez'd out by the Perplexity of the Muscles and Agitation of the Lungs Neither are they so greedy of Inspiration as of Exspiration which is contrary to the method of moist Asthma's If the cause of the Convulsive kind come Originally from the Head the fit is usher'd in by Head-aches and Swimming of the Head If from the Belly by a murmuring Noise in the Guts If the Midriff be chiefly affected Pain Girds that Part where 't is joyn'd to the short Ribs If the Muscles of the Breast the whole Breast seems to be squeez'd If those of the Throat and Wind Pipe they are as it were strangled If the Lungs themselves They can give no other account but that they cannot Breathe An Asthma in malignant Cases or Acute Feavers is a fatal Symptom The Convulsive sort is more common than the moist and of the moist ones that from the Stomac is more frequently met with If an Asthma be Inveterat it seldom admits of a Radical Cure and is oft-times follow'd by Cachexies Swellings of the Feet Dropsies and then Death it self If an Asthma be only a Symptom of other Diseases it yields to their Cure If it be of the moist kind the viscous matter ought to be attenuated and carried off and the Stomac or Lungs fortify'd The Convulsive kind is cur'd by appeasing the Spirits strengthening the Nerves and Diverting their Cause by Blistering Plaisters and Issues In order to obtain these ends the following Cautions will assist us 1. In the moist Asthma's there 's no Medicine equals a Vomit It equally clears both the Stomac and Lungs and may be given in the very height of the Fit without the least fear of stiffling In a dry Asthma proceeding from the lower Belly it may be exhited after the Paroxysm Antimonial Preparations or the Water or Syrup of Tobacco or the Juice of the flower de luce are proper on this occasion Some exhibit the Infusion of white Hellebor in Rhenish Wine Some mix Emetic Ingredients with attenuating Medicines but in so small Doses that they only Expectorat others premise attenuating Medicines by themselves and then exhibit a Vomit 2. Cause a Vein to be speedily open'd in any Asthma whatsoever and exhibit convenient Medicines for dissolving Congeal'd Blood Correcting its Cachexy and curbing its Turgescence 3. During the Fit let all manner of Purgatives be avoided After the Fit is over they are useful but ought always to be mix'd with Gum Ammoniac As Take of the Pills of Ammoniac fifteen Grains Sweet Mercury a scruple Extract of Troches Alhandal two Grains Distill'd Oyl of Anis two drops Make Pills Some use Quercetanus's Oxymel of Tobacco Others the Decoctions of Aromatic Herbs and Senna which evacuat Gradually 4. If the Disease proceed from serum it ought to be carried off by Sweat Urine Blistering Plaisters and Issues Sudorifics especially of the Decoction of Guajacum and Sassafras are always useful in dry Convulsive Asthma's They expectorat also and attenuat and therefore are not improper for the moist sort If the Stomac be faulty the Acid Crudity must be Corrected and Expell'd 5. Narcotics are of Sovereign use both in and before the Paroxysm of a dry Asthma In the moist kind If the Symptoms are very fierce they are not improper 6. If it proceed from a Particular cause it requires a Particular Cure As if it be caus'd by the retreat of a Scab or Itch let volatil sudorifics such as the Decoctions of Furmitory Elecampane Fennel Extract of Venice Treacle and the fixed Salts be used for recalling the Itch and if nothing prove effectual put the Patient to Bed with those that are Scabby If it proceed from Metallin Fumes as Mercury let Solar-Bezoar and Diaphoretic Antimony be exhibited If from sudden Cold or Drinking of Cold Water exhibit the Juice of Dasies in Wine The specifics commonly us'd for moist Asthma's or such as flow from a viscid matter whether in the Lungs or Stomac are the Roots of Cuckowpint Hyssop Horehound Rosemary and its Flowers Saffron Speedwell Zedoary especially its Spirit the Juice of Briony Elecampane Roots The Syrup or Volatil Salt of Tobacco for old Persons Essence of Saffron Essence of Sassafras the Juice of Radishes Oxymel of Squills mix'd with Cinnamon Water Gum Ammoniac above all dissolv'd in Vinegar Compound Spirit of Verdigrise mix'd with the thicken'd Juice of Coltsfoot Dulcify'd Spirit of Nitre Elixyr Proprietatis Sulphur or its Spirit per Campanam The Water of Turneps Sperma Caeti Turpentin dissolv'd with the yelk of an Egg in a Convenient Vehicle Balsam of Sulphur Prepar'd with Oyl of Anis Juice of Woodlice with Wine an incomparable Medicine and the Carminative Spirit if the Stomac be disorder'd A Mercurial Salivation or washes for the feet in some Cases are very effectual Take of the Roots of Cuckow-Pint four Scruples Roots of Florentin Orris and Cinnabar of Antimony of each two Scruples Flowers of Sulphur and Benzoin in Powder of each a Scruple Make a Powder Note the Faecula's of Cuckowpint Briony c. are good for nothing
dregs may be separated Take of the Powder Diaireos a dram flowers of sulphur half a dram Laudanum Opiatum three Grains Make Pills for three Doses If the Nocturnal Feaver be troublesom Take of Scabious Water four ounces Asthmatical Water half a dram Spirit of Hartshorn succinated a dram and a half Diacodium six drams Mix and Exhibit before the Paroxysm in order to sweat Towards the finishing of the cure 't will not be improper to Purge thus Take of Crato's Pills of Amber sixteen Grains Extract of Agarie eight Grains Troches Alhandal and Scammony sulphurated of each two Grains With the Essence of Sassafras Make Pills 6. If a dry Noctural Cough continue so long that it begins to void Corrupt matter and that the Lungs are Ulcerated let a draught of the Decoction of Guajacum and Sassafras or of China and Raisins be exhibited every morning and Opiats at Night And apply an Ointment of Hogs Tallow and Onyon Heads to the Feet in the Evening for three days together 7. The dry Chin Cough arising from the Stomac is cur'd thus First give a Vomit then exhibit twice a day a spoonful of the Decoction of Electampane and Corants in Spanish Wine mix'd with Diacodium The Decoction of Rapes is equally effectual both in this and all other dry Coughs Or Take of the Compound Tincture of Tartar two drams Spirit of Sal-armoniac Anisated a dram Essence of Opium half a dram Dose forty drops thrice a day In General All dry Coughs are treated as Catarrhs and the moist sort as wet Asthma's 8. As for the Convulsive Coughs arising by sympathy from the influence of foreign Membrans they are cur'd as Convulsions by Volatil Salts 9. If the Throat and Palat be excoriated 't is customary to give some thickening licking Medicines for defending the Passage This gave occasion to the Vulgar mistake as if such licking Medicines should drop into the Wind Pipe whereas they only keep the throat easy Such are the Syrups of Jujubes Coltsfoot Liquorice and the Oyl of sugar thus Prepar'd Take of the Spirit and Oyl of Juniper berries of each four ounces White sugar two ounces Kindle the Spirit and the Sugar or Oyl will remain Which mix with the Extract of Saffron to be often lick'd of ART IV. Of a Choaking Catarrh THAT which the Ancients call'd a Choaking Catarrh is a Disease causing difficult Respiration and Threatening Suffocation which seems to be Complicated of an Asthma Cough and Hoarseness The Ancients fancy'd that a Catarrh falls from the Head and overflows the Lungs But Anatomy affords no Passage for such a descent and therefore we shall wave their Opinions For the most part Convulsive Asthma's are miscall'd Catarrhs or whatever symptom of this Nature is different from them may be cast into these four Heads 1. A fear of suffocation may insue when the Lungs are stuff'd and provok'd to Contract their fibres by a viscid Heterogeneous Acid as if sulphureous fumes should stick to 'em like foot to a Chimney they 'd provoke the Lungs to contract and squeese out Lymph with which they joyn in the form of a new Concrete till being concocted together they find a vent by Expectoration Upon which the Contraction and Difficulty of Breathing ceases But the Nutritious Juice of the Lungs is so deprav'd that they retain a Propensity to relapse upon the least occasion The acid that prevails in Children renders them also liable to this symptom 'T is cur'd by Opiats and Thickening Medicines 2. When the Head of the Wind Pipe and Epiglottis are provok'd to Contraction as when a bit of Bread falling into it causes a Coughing Hoarseness difficult breathing and voiding of matter The cause in respect of the Larynx is either External or Internal The former is a viscous thick Lymph falling from the hinder Membrana Pituitaria into the Wind Pipe especially in the Night time and when the Patient lies on his back which Irritats and Tickles the Head of the Wind Pipe provokes the Epiglottis to shut and hinder Respiration occasions a hoarseness snoring and spitting of thin matter which in process of time becomes thick and concocted The latter is a sharp Lymph lodg'd within the Wind Pipe and producing the like effects As for cure if it proceed from the cause that is External or Foreign to the Wind Pipe it requires a Vomit and Attenuating Medicines viz. The Juice of Radishes Syrup of Tobacco Gum Ammoniac c. And in a word the same cure with the Inveterat moist Gough As for Example Take of Hyssop Water Mint Water and the Water of Tobacco of each an ounce The Asthmatical Water six drams Oxymel of Squills half an ounce Syrup of Tobacco six drams or an ounce Mix and make a Potion of which give a spoonful now and then Or Take of Hyssop Water and Scabious Water of each an ounce and a half The Asthmatical Water six drams Gum Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar a dram Syrup of Scabious an ounce Mix and Exhibit as above To these and such like mixtures we may add opiats now and then The Water of Hedge Mustard with Gum Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar the Roots of Cuckowpint and Michael's Asthmatical Spirit Prepared from Verdigris and Gum Ammoniac are also very proper If this Symptom proceeds from an Internal cause 't is cur'd by sudorifics mix'd with Opiats Vomits being premis'd if there be occasion after the same manner as a dry Nocturnal Cough proceeding from a sharp Lymph Take of Mint Water Scabious Water Water of Mother of Thyme of each an ounce Asthmatical Water six drams Spirit of Sal-armoniac Anisated two drams Flowers of sulphur half a dram Syrup of Diacodium an ounce Mix and give a spoonful now and then Or. Take of the Essence against Catarrhs three drams the Spirit of Sal-armoniac Anisated a dram Mix and Exhibit a Convenient quantity frequently Take of Aqua Articularis ad Extra two drams Spirit of black Cherries and of Lilly of the Vally of each a dram Essence of Opium two scruples Mix and apply it with a warm Cloth to the Region of the Larynx especially when the Person is sensible of a tickling or constriction in that part If this Disease return frequently let an Issue be cut in the Arm. Clysters Blood-letting Blistering Plaisters and all the Stratagems of the Ancients Calculated for Defluxions from the Head are of no use 3. The third sort of Suffocation or Catarrhus Suffocativus happens when the Blood stagnats in the Lungs In this Case it is coincident with a Syncope Cardiaca approaches to a Peripneumonia and is attended by the Symptoms of an Apoplexy Nay Apoplectic Persons when Dead have their Lungs stuff'd after the same manner as those who dye of this distemper And therefore Hypocrates Styl'd it a strangling Aph. 13. Sect. 2. The froth that sometimes attends this Paroxysm proceeds from the Imprison'd Blood in the Lungs when Rarify'd by Air Thus if we inject Oyl of Turpentin into a Dogs Veins it congeals the Blood
the febrile matter and the previous infirmity of the part The various Divisions of Feavers may be gather'd from the following Chapters As for their Causes whatever abolishes the natural proportion and Symmetry of the Salts causes a preternatural Fermentation and is call'd a febrile Ferment If it affect the Blood immediatly the Spirits receive its influence at second hand and if the Spirits are first attack'd the Blood is disorderd by them This Ferment must be somewhat disagreeable to our natural Ferments else it cannot cause a Fever Such as are the particles retain'd by stopping the insensible transpiration the Ferment proceeding from Ulcers Inflammations Contagion or Acid Lymph striking inwards a Scab or Itch eating Summer Fruits c. If this ferment be ingendred within the Body it oft-times proceeds from the long stay of Victuals in the stomac which by delay and want of digestion become naked Acids or viscid Bodies inclosing an Acid within 'em upon which account we derive the cause of Intermitting Feavers from the Stomac and for so much as their Paroxysms are but so many continual Feavers most of this sort acknowledge the same Original When the Blood and Humors are forc'd out of their respective Vessels by Wounds and Ulcers they ferment and occasion a feaverish disorder in the Blood or Spirits This Ferment approaches to an Acid both in favourable and malignant Feavers but with this difference that a malignant ferment is sharper and more Volatil and penetrating than the other and is frequently couch'd under covert of other minute particles as in Spring the Exhalations of Fermenting Plants in Summer the Alcalin Effluviums in the Air in Autumn and Winter the Acid Salt which then prevails The steams of Rotten Carkasses and the unfavourable aspects of the Stars may occasion the like malignity These particles tho' originally included in a narrow compass multiply by fermentation and spin out the disease The alteration occasion'd by them in the Blood is perfectly parallel to that of Urine which is brought into fermentation by the jarring of its Salts by virtue of which it precipitates its disproportionable parts and then returns to a pacific state Even so the preternatural fermentation of the Blood is caus'd by the disproportion of its Salts and moves it to cast forth the superfluous and offending parts by the passages of Urine Sweat c. Tho' in this Critical Evacuation not only the first morbific matter but the laudable parts of the Blood and Chyle that the fermentation had melted down into a saline form and render'd insociable are equally discharg'd The remote Causes are various The Obstruction of the pores of the Skin and excessive Drinking or Eating are natural inlets to a Feaver The passions of the Mind especially Fear are generally arraign'd as Causes of malignant Feavers but 't is not immaginable how they should produce such an effect of themselves 'T is true indeed Fear and other passions may depress or disorder the Spirits and so procure an easie admissio nto the Airy Ferment that was unable to storm them in their natural Order The Symptoms are accounted for above to which we may add the vicious increase or diminution or depravation of the Appetit Headachs swoonings c. The general Prognostics are deriv'd from the Pulse and Urine A vehement large equal pulse is a sign of strength a small unfrequent pulse betokens weakness A hard pulse bespeaks the inflammation or distention of some membranous part as in Pleurisies and malignant Feavers affecting the Spirits and Nerves A soft pulse discovers that the Spirits are not much disorder'd and if it be large and vehement withal forebodes sweating Urine affords the signs of Crudity or Concoction If clear Urine become muddy or contain a Cloud or Sediment 't is a sign of Concoction and portends a happy solution of the disease for by Concoction we understand the separation or precipitation of the peccant Salts from the mass of Blood and by Crudity the perturbation of the Blood arising from these Salts Now in the beginning of Acute Diseases the Urine is clear and unmuddy'd by reason that the Salts are yet reigning in the Blood but in the increase of the Disease it becomes thick and troubled and at the height precipitates a copious sediment If the Urine continue muddy and do's not Clarify by standing 't is a sign that the Commotion and Confusion of the Blood do's not yet abate Nature do's not evacuate the offending matter before a sufficient Concoction and in imitation of her example Art ought not to attempt any evacuation in Benign Feavers before the signs of Concoction appear In malignant Feavers indeed 't is not safe to wait for 'em but to indeavour an early precipitation by proper remedies Clear and sound-like Urine is a sign that the animal Spirits are principally affected and is attended by malignity but concocted Urine if it continue such is a certain presage of Recovery If after an apparent Concoction it become crude or thin again 't is a fatal Omen This gradual Concoction is the effect of Nature indeavouring a Crisis Accordingly we find that immediatly before the Crisis Nature struggles most and the Sickness is at its greatest height in which case it ought not be disturb'd by artificial administrations but the natural tendency of the morbific matter must be heedfully observ'd for sometimes 't is cast forth by Sweat sometimes by Urine somtimes by Bleeding and at other times is thrown upon several parts of the Body by way of swellings and Imposthumes or is gather'd under the skin all over the Body and tinges it with a yellow colour which we call the Jaundice and is a sign of health if it happen on the fifth or seventh day but if it commence sooner unless attended by some notable Evacuation 't is oft-times fatal But of all fatal signs that of the Patient 's rubbing and picking the nose without any efflux of matter is the most dismal As touching the Method of Cure 'T is necessary to distinguish malignant Feavers which suddenly weaken the Person and generally determine in some notable Evacuations from those that are benign and favourable in which we either leave all to Nature as the ancients did or anticipat her efforts by enervating and correcting the febrile Ferment with Artificial Remedies and so ascribe the whole Cure to Art Sometimes we joyn issue with Nature and while she performs her Work are only busy'd in removing the impediments that imbarrass her by cleansing the first passages emptying the Blood Vessels and promoting the precipitation of the morbific matter by Medicines proper for that purpose Indeed when Nature departs from her due Measures by indeavouring unseasonable evacuations as in the beginning of a Feaver while the Urine is yet Crude a violent Loosness Bleeding c. 't is a perplex'd Case for to withstand Nature and stop the Loosness c. were to augment the Feaver and to suffer it to go on weakens and disables the Patient so that he cannot encounter
Ounce melt it in a Copper Kettle then throw in twenty or thirty living Spiders stir them about with a wooden Spatula 'till the Spiders be cover'd Then add of the Powder of Toad's-flesh dry'd Powder of red Land-Toads dry'd of each an Ounce crude Tartar an Ounce Savin two or six drams With Oyl of Scorpions make a Plaister If we suspect any swelling of the Spleen or Bowels 't is proper to apply to the region thereof the Plaister of Hemlock or of Tobacco or Vigo's Plaister with Mercury mix'd with Gum Ammoniac The thicken'd juice or extract of Tobacco is conducive to this purpose as also Sylvius's Carminative Plaister If the region of the Spleen or Belly be molested with pains apply what follows Take of the Extract of Tobacco prepar'd by decoction three Ounces Opium dissolv'd in Wine and reduc'd to the consistence of an Extract one Ounce Wax half a pound With Turpentine and Oil of Tobacco make a Plaister Having thus dispatch'd the regular cure of Feavers 't will not be improper to propose some method of relief for those who by an unseasonable and unskilful suppression of the Feaver are liable to frequent relapses convulsive pains in the Belly Head-aches Asthma's weariness of the Body c. In this case let the Body be render'd soluble by the Decoction of Raisins and such like laxative and emollient Ingredients Then exhibit some pacific mixture as Take of Mint-water an Ounce and a half Spirit of Sal-Armoniac half a Dram Hysteric Laudanum two or three grains Syrup of Orange-peel three or six drams Mix for a Draught and continue the use for some time If any swelling or violent pain continue in the Hypogastria apply the Plaister of Gum-Ammoniac and of Galbanum with Oyl of Bricks After the symptoms are gone 't is advisable to continue for some time the use of Wormwood or such Remedies as partake of it SECT IV. Of continual Feavers ART 1. Of Day-Feavers OFt-times the abuse of the six noâ— natural things disturbs the natural fermentation of the Blood accelerats the Pulse and in some measure disorders the functions which symptoms disappear in a days time either of their own accord or by using some gentle sudorific This Feaver is call'd Continual by reason that it does not intermit from beginning to ending If the Blood be vitiated it is apt to degenerat into a Synoehus or a Fever that lasts above one day In order to prevent which give the following Julep Take of the decoction of Harts-horn with Vipers-grass one pound juice of Citrons juice of Quinces of each half an ounce tincture of Columbine-flowers and of Dazies of each a dram and a half Syrup of Rasberries two Ounces Spirit of Vitriol as much as sufficeth for a grateful acidity Make a Julep or instead of the Julep make a decoction of the like Ingredients together with gentle laxatives If the Belly be swell'd and the Body very hot take of Fennel Water an ounce and a half carminative Water six Drams dulcifi'd Spirit of Nitre three drams Syrup of Orange-peel half an Ounce Mix and make a Julep ART 2. Of the Principal acute Feavers THE continual Feavers that last above one day are either primary or symptomatical The former are a Disease subsisting by it self which if its period be short and its Symptoms grievous is call'd Acute if it be slow-pac'd and advance without any notable disturbance 't is call'd a Slow Feaver Both of which are call'd Compounds or periodical continual Feavers if they admit of any remission or exacerbation in their continued progress But if their vehemence be still the same they are call'd simple Synochus's If Acute Feavers come without the inflammation of any particular part they are call'd Solitary And if dismal Symptoms happen beyond the apparent reach of the Feaver 't is stil'd Malignant But if otherwise Benignity is its Character The primary simple continual solitary hot benign Feavers are caus'd by the prevalency of a volatil oyly bilious Salt in the Mass of Blood that hotly encounters the acid Particles creates a violent motion and Heat accelerates the Pulse tinctures the Urine and while the Victory is undetermin'd renders it thin and crude but when these volatil parts are subdu'd and precipitated by the Acid the Urine deposits a sediment and affords the true signs of Concoction The remote cause for the most part is the depravation of the Chyle occasion'd by the defect of the Choler or a faulty digestion in the Stomac for the stomachic digestion is the Mother and source of all the fermentations of the other Juices in the Body Now the vicious heterogeneous Particles convey'd in the Chyle to the Blood disturb its natural fermentation and provoke its constituent parts to rise up in order to expel the Hostile Intruders Thus we see that those whose Blood is well stock'd with bilious Particles whose Constitution is foul corpulent and plethoric who feed high and drink strong Liquors are most liable to this preternatural fermentation In like manner whatever stops the insensible transpiration accumulats oily Particles in the Blood and exalts the Spirits does prâ—â—â—ispose the Blood for receiving a feaverish impression The Cause of acute compound periodical Feavers is some vicious acid juice proceeding from the Stomac returning by intervals while the volatil oily Ferment continues its course without intermission They are as it were compounded of a Continual Acute Feaver and an Intermitting one which is always a Tertian for Quotidian and Quartan continued periodical Feavers if any such there be are rather slow than acute This Compound sort of Acute Feavers is oft-times attended by a notable heat without any shivering If an insufferable thirst driness of the Tongue Head-aches Deliriums a high tincture and muddiness of Urine attend a continual Feaver 't is call'd a Causus or Burning Feaver The cause of these Symptoms is the hot ingagement of a sharp volatil Acid with the volatil oily Particles Besides the stomachic ferment being vitiated and unqualifi'd for its wonted Office the contents of the Stomac degenerat into an alcalin oily texture which sticks to its Pleats irritats the Membranes of the Gullet and by consent the Tongue it self And moreover when it joins the Blood impregnats the Lymph which waters the Throat and is voided by way of Spittle with a volatil only Salt And if this vicious Saliva stick to the Tongue and Throat it becomes troublesome and inflaming causing in these parts a redness hear and pain known by the name of Prunella Continual Acute Feavers are styl'd Lipyria's when the superficial parts of the Body are molested with a sense of Cold while those within are beset with a violent Heat They proceed for the most part from the inâ—ammation of some very sensible Membranous internal part and upon that account are referable to the symptomatical Class If there be any such thing as a primary Lipyria the sense of external Cold must proceed from the irritation of the nervous membranous parts and that of inward heat
malignant as the Itch c. and e contra Oft-times it lies latent in the Body for three or four days 'till the Season of exhibiting Antidotes be over upon which account a Physician ought to be very watchful in the Beginnings of Feavers The Symptoms which lead us to the discovery of a latent Malignity are these following a sudden prostration of strength and the Appetit dejected while the other Functions are regularly perform'd stubborn Watchings without any anxiety if the Head be only affected but if the Stomac and Breast be disorder'd they are attended with a great perplexity tossing to and again sometimes the whole Body sometimes only an Arm or a Leg to which symptom Deliriums and Convulsions frequently succeed The Urine resembles that of healthy Persons or if by vertue of Medicines or otherwise it happens to thicken yet it still continues transparent and has little or no sediment unless it be a yellowish Clot of Chyle voided along with it The Pulse is at first in seeming good order of a sudden it becomes weak small oft-times hard and towards the height of the Feaver unequal At first a gentle shivering may usher in the Feaver to which succeeds a very moderat heat externally tho' in the mean while they are burnt up within which is a fatal sign of internal Inflammations And notwithstanding the moderation of the Heat an unquenchable thirst molests 'em and their Tongue is dry and rough Or if on the contrary they be extream hot and withal insensible of thirst 't is likewise a sign of malignity These are the most common Symptoms Sometimes the Feaver is attended by violent Head-aches difficult respiration respecially upon the point of cuticular Eruptions stinking Excrements and lastly eruptions of Spotts Pushes Wheals c. According to which it undergoes several Denominations Sometimes the malignity is arriv'd at that height that the external Parts are corrupted and seiz'd with Gangreens the Person possess'd with an invincible aversion to all manner of Liquors c. Malignant Feavers admit of several Degrees The first is when the occasional sharpness and degeneracy of the febril ferment converts a benign Feaver into a malign one 2. When the ferment is not only sharp but contagious or epidemical Now the original of Contagion is an active spirituous ferment easily communicable to the Spirits and capable to propagate it self by a fermentative motion in matter fit for its purpose which in company of Spirits exhal'd from the sick Person pitch upon those whose Constitution and Pores gives the easiest admission such as the Relations of the sick Person weak People c The manner of its reaching and insinuating into such Persons is either by immediat Contact or in the Vehicle of Food Cloaths c. or that of the Air convey'd into the Lungs where it debauches the Spirits circulating that way and in passing the Mouth adulterats the Saliva which immediately affects the most sensible Orifice of the Stomac Hence the first and most dismal Scene of tragical Symptoms is laid in the Stomac 3. When the ferment is become pestilent And 4. When 't is form'd into a direct Plague The cause of Malignity assign'd by Willis is the coagulation of the Blood and that by Sylvius is a sharp volatil lixivious Alcali destroying the acid Sulphur of the Blood and consequently its consistence But the vicious fluidity of the Blood attending malignity confutes the former and the natural inactivity of Alcali's the known power of volatil Acids in extinguishing the animal Spitits and galling the nervous System and the Antidotal vertue of Alcali's both volatil and fix'd such as Camphyr Myrrh and the absorbent Powders overturns the latter Hypothesis 'T is therefore a sharp volatil Acid that causes malignity partly by dissolving the texture of the Blood and disposing it for Putrefaction and generation of Worms observable by Microscopes partly by irritating the Stomac Brain and nervous Parts and partly by extinguishing both the vital and animal Spirits That the Spirits are immediatly attack'd as well as the Blood and Humors is made to appear by the symptoms of sudden Weakness contracted Pulses Watchings Deliriums c. and by the force of imagination in propagating the Contagion Nay oft-times the Spirits are principally assaulted and the Humors only mediatly thro' their sides Now it will be of use in malignant Feavers to distinguish nicely the original trouble of the Animal Spirits and nervous System from that of the vital Spirits and Mass of Blood The Symptoms of the former are an unquenchable Thirst a rough and dry Tongue a quick and small Pulse attended by a moderat Heat anxiety and unquietness proceeding from the Stomac a melting looseness the rotten smell of Excrements and the thin fluid consistence of the Blood Those of the latter are a violent heat of the Forehead the hardness of the Pulse without the trouble of any membrane in the Body or a laudable Pulse attended by extream weakness the prostration of the Appetit squeamishness vomiting stubborn watchings without any visible Cause the dryness or roughness of the Skin and the unaccountable thickness and crudity of the Urin. The Remote Causes of Epidemical Malignity are approaching to corrupted things as Dead Carcases c. The Salt Subternanean Fumes Earth-quakes a preceding famine eating of corrupt Food as of putrify'd Summer Fruits and drinking Rotten Water c. Inwardly the prevalent acidity of the Juice of the Pancreas may so exalt the Bile to a rusty sharp quality that it becomes malignant Thus Benign Feavers frequently degenerat into malign ones and Scorbutic or Hypocondriac Persons who are stuff'd with a fix'd Acid are not so much oppress'd with malignity or a Volatil Acid as others The prognostics of malignant Feavers are very uncertain and fallacious A large and equal Pulse is a good sign A quick and small creeping Pulse is a bad sign as also an unequal Pulse tho' neither the inequality nor intermission nor smallness are so fatal in malignant as in Benign Feavers If Doating continue after sleeping and be not attended by Sweats if the Eye represent false Colours of Objects if the Urine after apparent Concoction become Crude again if it stink if it appear Fat Oily black or livid with a blackish Sediment If a Looseness happen especially after eruptions upon the Skin if the Excrements or Urine are Bloody If the Excrements Serum or Blood send forth a heavy Smell if a redness of the Face Heat and Watchings be attended by a dropping at the Nose if the Tendons start if a tickling or pricking Pain invade the Palms of the Hands if the Person attempts to catch Flies or pick the Bed-Cloaths if any of these Symptoms appear they threaten Convulsions or Death Deafness tho' it be look'd upon as a dismal Symptom in the beginning of acute Feavers meets with a favourable construction about the height of Malignant Feavers The Eruption of Bubo's and swellings of the Glandules frequently infer the solution of the Disease The Cure is
either design'd for preservation from imminent danger or removing the present Illness Distill'd Vinegar Camphyr and alexipharmacal Ingredients are proper Preservatives As for the proper Cure of Malignant Feavers 't is perform'd by expelling the poysonous ferment and fortifying the Spirits and Humours in order to promote the expulsion To this purpose Sulphur absorbent Antimonial Powders Camphyr Vinegar and Acid Juices precipitating Powders such as the friable parts of Animals mix'd with alexipharmacal Ingredients such as Zedoary Ivy-Berries Juniper and Bay-berries Myrrh Angelica Gentian and Saffron with Opium and Sudorifics are very proper But in order to a regular use of 'em let us mind the following Cautions 1. Vomits especially the Infusion of Vitrum Antimonii are of admirable efficacy in the very beginning of Malignant Feavers especially when they 're attended by Anxieties in the Breast or proceed from an internal corruption of the Humors But the Season of exhibiting them must be nicely weigh'd for if Nature be already endeavouring any other evacuation especially through the Skin they are out of season 2. Sudorifics are justly look'd upon as the basis of the Cure but they ought to be proportion'd to the malignity of the Disease and strength of the Patient If the Malignity be of a moderat Character 't is advisable to begin with absorbents at first Indeed a violent malignity requires powerful Sudorifics but care must be taken that the Patient be not stifl'd with weight of Cloaths And those of the sweating Tribe that are Aromatic and Oily are only proper in the beginning or during the increase Towards the height or when the Heat is violent 't is not amiss to exchange 'em with fix'd Powders or at least to qualifie 'em with Acids such as the Spirits of Nitre the vegetable Acid Juices c. Camphyr is a Sudorific never to be omitted unless it be prohibited by a peculiar Antipathy as in some Women and studious Men. 3. During the time of sweating or immediatly after it let Acid mixtures of the Juice of Citrons and especially Spirit of Nitre c. be exhibited They retrieve the exhausted Spirits and procure a due consistence to the dissolv'd Blood and ought always to be imploy'd for a Vehicle to Venice Treacle and such like hot Compositions 4. Opiats are of admirable use for promoting Sweat which is frequently hinder'd by anxiety and unquietness Let 'em be mix'd both with Sudorifics and with the Acid mixtures exhibited after sweating but their proper Season is during the Increase for towards the Crisis they ought to be avoided 5. The Cure of malignant Feavers varies according to their respective Causes If they proceed from external Contagion fierce Sudorifics are requir'd If from the internal corruption of the Humours they ought to be more temperat and rather absorbent If the Animal Spirits are the principal seat of the Malignity subtil volatil penetrating Ingredients mix'd with Narcotics are proper If the Blood claim that Character they ought to be temper'd with Acid Vehicles The malignity of the Blood is for the most part attended by eruptions of Humours at one part or other that of the Spirits by Deliriums Watchings Convulsions c. and a tolerable Pulse 6. Malignant Feavers are frequently complicated continual Burning ones in which case regard must be had to the boiling heat of the Blood by insisting most on moder at Acids and fix'd absorbents especially those of Antimony and qualifying the volatil oily Specifics 7. The above mention'd Symptoms relating to the Tongue Hands and Tendons ought always to be inquir'd after as also the condition of the Eyes for if they are rutilant and fiery or fierce they threaten Deliriums 8 There is nothing more fatal than a Looseness and all Artificial Purgations are pernicious especially if the Disease came by Contagion or if Nature endeavour Cutaneous Fruptions or if the force of malignity surpass that of the febrile effervescency If the first Passages be stuff'd let temperat Clysters be injected and even those but very cautiously In the Declension of the Disease a gentle Laxative is not amiss 9. Blood-letting is highly Pernicious especially if the Disease came by Contagion or tend to cutaneal Eruptions Sometimes if the malignity be weak and the Blood boyl high in a Plethoric young Person accustom'd to Bleeding it may be allow'd but with a great deal of Caution and Judgment 10. Blistering Plaisters are very useful They 're applied to the Legs and Arms and in case of sleepy Symptoms to the Nap of the Neck If the Animal Spirits are much afflicted or if the Eruptions design'd by nature advance but slowly or retire afterwards they are of singular use Stephanus advises us not to be over hasty in applying 'em till Nature have discover'd her design and then if she be weak to interpose their help The increase or rather beginning of the Height is a proper time to apply ' em 11. The Diet must be thin neither are Victuals to be offer'd unless the appetit require ' em For Drink let Water be boyl'd with a third part of Rhenish Wine and mix'd with the Juice of Citrons and Gelly of Harts-horn Or let Whey be sharpen'd with the Juice of Citrons or Spirit of Nitre Having premis'd these Cautions we shall next touch at the Specifics some of which are volatil some fix'd The volatil are either lean and thin such as the Spirit of Sal-Armoniac the Spirits and volatil Salts of Harts-horn of Vipers of Tartar of Urine of Amber c. Or Oily and Aromatic such as Camphyr Elecampane Birthwort Rue Galangal Mary-gold Orange Peel Germander Castor Vipers Baum Zedoary lesser Centory Rob of Juniper and Elder-berries the distill'd Oyls of Amber Camphyr Harts-horn and Tartar Essence of Triacle Spirit of Triacle Camphoris'd and the Essences of Aromatic Herbs The fix'd are Diaphoretic Antimony Diaphoretic Gold native Cinnabar or that of Antimony above all the fix'd Sulphur of Antimony mineral Bezoar both simple and Compound the Bezoar Stone given to half a dram or in the room of it the Stone cut out of a Man's Bladder seal'd Earth Coral Harts-horn Sulphur and the preparations of Nitre c. Some are of a temperat nature neither properly volatil nor fix'd such are the Gelly of Harts-horn the expelling Seeds viz. Those of Carduus Benedictus Columbines Cresses Citrons c. To which we may add Myrrh which is a baumy Medicine of excellent use for covering the Spirits from the shocks of the malign ferment From these Simples are prepar'd an infinity of compound Medicines such as Venice Triacle or Diascordium which is better Mithridat Species of Hyacinth the Powder call'd Saxonicus c. As for Venice Triacle and such like hot Compositions the best way is to exhibit em in Acid Vehicles and mix 'em with fix'd Specifics Take of Rasberry Water and that of Water Germander of each an ounce and a half Diaphoretic Antimony half a dram Cinnabar of Antimony fifteen grains volatil Salt of Harts-horn twelve grains Camphyr two or three
in the Air and attended by fiery Botches Bubo's Carbuncles or malignant Spots This Miasm is volatil and spirituous and fir for encountering Mens Spirits and defiling the vital Spirit of the Air. Perhaps it approaches near to the nature of Arsenic The Passions of the Mind Fear and Apprehension subterranean Damps let loose by Earth-quakes Famine corruption of dead Bodies and such like are its remote causes When this poisonous Miasm afflicts Mankind it joins to the Human Spirits and disperses it self where these meet with the readiest reception upon which account Relations are liable to the Contagion tho' in distant places and the Beasts are secure when Mankind falls an universal Sacrifice The Plague is not always accompany'd by a Feaver When Nature is weak it yields to the oppression and makes no Feaverish resistance The Symptoms are the same as those of Malignant Feavers rais'd to the highest pitch to which we may add swellings in the Arm-pits Groin behind the Ears or in any glandulous place with a pricking shooting pain in the middle Botches and Carbuncles in the Fingers Nostrils Eyes and Lips sometimes fatal Black-spors or malignant Ulcers all over the Body a sudden prostration of strength violent pains of the Head without any cause or following the passion of fear c. the degeneracy of the Pulse from being large and swift to a small languid intermitting unequal state and a burning heat within but moderat on the external surface of the Body An imminent Plague is foretold from unwonted swarms of Insects resorting to a Country The Prognostics of a Plague are very fallacious 'T is an acute Disease ending sometimes in Twenty four Hours sometimes in two three or seven Days in general those who are scabby or Pocky are in least danger as being defended by their peccant Acid. Preceding Fatigue or Fear are bad Omens Black livid Spots are a worse Symptom than Carbuncles and these worse than Bubo's Scars or Marks of mortification are always fatal Many and large Bubo's are a good sign as also copious Sweats But cold Sweats or many Carbuncles coldness of the extream Parts especially the Nose a livid circumference surrounding the swellings Carbuncles growing upon Bubo's in places full of Tendons the imperfect eruption or retreat of the Tumors a Hiccough succeeding to the eruption the white blue or livid Colour of Carbuncles while the Feaver is not abated Pains of the Throat and difficulty of swallowing attending Bubo's in the Neck or behind the Ears are all fatal Symptoms If blistering Plaisters raise no Blisters 't is an infallible sign of Death in all Diseases If a Cautery applied raise a white Crust after the application or if the place be dry or not cover'd with Pushes and the Botch continue to spread further or if Issues dry up of a sudden 't is a desperat case Carbuncles in the Stomac Guts Bladder Eyes and Nostrils are plain indications of Death Anxiety of the Breast without a Feaver frequent sneezing a Looseness Hiccough Vomiting Convulsions Hoarseness a flux of Blood by Urine or Salivation and in short all the dismal circumstances of malignant Feavers related above are the Companions of fatal Plagues A continual Costiveness and numerous Pushes fill'd with laudable Matter appearing after the Application of a Cautery to any part are look'd upon as hopeful Signs The Cure divides it self into two Branches The first is that of preserving from imminent danger the second rescues from actual Oppression Preservatives regard either the Air the common Vehicle of Contagion or the Bodies of People As for the former the Air is purifi'd by the shooting of Cannon by burning Gun-powder or Nitre and Sulphur with Amber Myrrh Camphyr Pitch Benzoin and Juniper Berries by throwing the Mineral acid Spirits or Vinegar in which Vitriol and Verdigrease are infus'd together with Camphyr upon hot Bricks by burning of Goats Horns and filling the Air with ungrateful Smells such as that of a House of Office of Hogs Dung c. The other sort of Preservatives arm the Body and Spirits against the assaults of the contagious Miasms For this end we ought to avoid fasting or going abroad before eating Butter and Rue Leaves and a draught of good generous Wine upon which Camphyr has been kindled are fit to be taken in a Morning as also the Mineral acid Spirits and the acid Juices of Fruits but above all Vinegar impregnated with the Vertue of Camphyr Myrrh Juniper-Berries Zedoary and other aromatic Simples Next to Vinegar are the sulphureous balmy Ingredients especially Sulphur Myrrh and Amber which cover the Spirits from the attacks of the morbific Matter and ought to be taken in acid Vehicles To these we may add Opium and Diascordium Venice Treacle and such like hot Compositions ought to be cautiously us'd and always dissolv'd in Vinegar Sugar of Lead also given with Camphyr from four to ten grains is of excellent use but 't is very volatil and if indiscreetly us'd may accelerat the Disease Externally there is nothing equals the cutting of Issues A Spunge wet with Aromatic Vinegar impregnated with Myrrh and Camphyr may frequently be applied to the Nostrils Let Ginger and Zedoary or Troches made of Myrrh and Camphyr and Tragacanth dissolv'd in Vinegar be often chew'd and held in the Mouth Let the Temples Wrists and Breasts be anointed with the Apopâ—ectic Balsam mix'd with Camphyr let Sala's magnes Arsenicalis mix'd with Benzoin dissolv'd in Spirit of Wine be form'd into Tablets and hung in a scarlet Cloth-Bag upon the Breast If the Contagion proceed from subrerranean Damps let dry'd Toads be hung over the Breast If it proceed from the Air let Spiders stand in their room Some recommend crude Mercury calcin'd by the fumes of Lead for the same purpose The direct Cure of the Plague consists in expelling the poisonous Miasma's by Alexipharmacal Medicines For the regular performance of which the following Cautions will be of use 1. Let Sudorisics be repeated every eight Hours even after the eruption of Bubo's or Carbuncles and after sweating exhibit a Cordial Draught mix'd with acid Spirits for thickning the Blood and rallying the dispers'd Spirits 2. Avoid sleep in time of sweating and for that end apply Vinegar mix'd with Camphyr or Castor to the Nostrils 3. If the Sudorific cannot procure Sweat let a hot Loaf of Bread be excavated and fill'd with Venice Treacle and Spirit of Wine camphoris'd and applied to the Stomac or Navel the under Crust being taken off 4. If obstinat Watchings threaten Deliriums and prevent Sweaâ— let Laudanum Opiatum be added to Sudorifics in order to procure sleep after sweating 5. If the fermentation be faint and low Venice Treacle and Mithridat are proper But if the Feaver be high and attended by a violent heat they are fitly exchang'd with Antimonial Powders and lixivious Salts 6. Acids mix'd with Sudorifics are always proper 7. Blistering Plaisters are appli'd with extraordinary success to the Neck Legs and Arms. They ought to be very sharp and after they
from its irregular and unequal turgescence Upon which account the suppression of the Terms the Scurvy and Hypocondriac Sickness are frequently follow'd by palpitations of the Heart Sometimes it takes its rise from the slow and stagnating condition of the Blood and by consequence from whatever crosses or thwarts the circular progress But of all its Causes the most frequent is the occasional disorder of the Nerves and Animal Spirits occasion'd either by Fear Anger strong Smells c. Or by hysteric and hypocondriac Passions and the indisposition of the Spleen For the Nerves of the Heart and those of the lower Belly especially of the Spleen entertain a mutual Commerce by vertue of which the contraction of these Nerves is continued to the Heart and in its progress resembles the ascent of Fumes or Steams from the Spleen and Intestins The facility of this communication is much inhanc'd by the scorbutic or acid Constitution of the Blood which is equally dispos'd to provoke both the Nerves of the Heart and those of the Bowels As for Diagnostics A palpitation of the Heart is discover'd by laying one's Hand upon the Breast If it proceed from a Dropsy of the Pericardium or Obstructions in and about the Heart the Pulse is small and slow respiration difficult and the Body inclining to a Consumption and Hectic Feaver If it proceed from Worms in the Heart-Purse it returns without manifest cause the Breast is molested with gnawing pricking corroding pains the Patient is frequently troubl'd with a pale Countenance intermitting Pulse and a prodigious unquietness and sometimes sudden swoonings or epileptic Fits If it take its rise from the hypocondriac Disease it is frequently interrupted and when it comes is usher'd in by a murmuring noise in the Belly or attended by disorderly Symptoms in the Abdomen and a sense of constriction of the Heart as if it were squeez'd betwixt two Hands If it flow from a scorbutic Original it does not invade when the Person lies quietly in Bed but upon the least motion of Hand or Foot displays it self and is frequently accompany'd by swoonings A trembling of the Heart is attended by a prostration of strength and an unequal weak languishing Pulse The Remission or intermission of the Pulse following a Palpitation of the Heart prognosticates Swoonings If a Palpitation proceed from a scorbutic cause or accompany malignant Symptoms 't is very dangerous If it be occasion'd by Worms in the Pericardium or Excrescences in the Heart or adjacent parts 't is incurable If it happen in one's Youth it prevents Old Age. The Indications for Cure are to remove the irritating cause Opium impairs only the sense of irritation but has no influence upon the cause it self wherefore it ought to be very cautiously us'd especially considering that a Palpitation or trembling is frequently attended by a notable weakness In hypocondriac or Scorbutic cases perhaps it may not be improper Blood-letting is also dangerous yet if the stagnation of the Blood give rise to the Disease or if the Patient be young and the Blood boil high 't is in some measure allowable as when a Palpitation is caus'd by Fear suppressing of wonted evacuations or a violent commotion of the Body Of all Palpitations of the Heart those of a convulsive Character that spring from Scorbutic or Hypochondriac causes or in a word from prevailing Acid are the most frequent and require a particular regard Earthy Ingredients Steel and volatil Salts are Medicins most in use against these and all other sorts of Palpitations The Tincture of Coral prepar'd with a Menstruum of May-Dew or Snow and mix'd with some cordial Liquor is an universal Specific Now of the Cordial Ingredients Baum is the Head Its Spirit or primum Ens or the Essence of Amber-grise extracted with it is an admirable support for decaying Nature The Leaves of Baum and those of Borrage sprinkled with Rose-water and Vinegar are applied outwardly to the Heart with good success Next to Baum are Cloves Citrons Orange-peel Rosemary Zedoary Elecampane Dill and their various productions The Essence of Saffron given inwardly and a Bag of Saffron and Camphyr hung over the pit of the Breast are of good use The Essence of Ambergrise and Mosch are celebrated Medicins but Ambergrise injoys a stupifying quality which may be extinguish'd by putting it into fermentation as in the preparation of Spiritus Rosarum Ambratus Besides there are some studious Men and hysteric Women that are easily offended by this and all other oily volatil Salts in the room of which we may substitute the meagre thin Salts such as the Spirit of Sal-Armoniac and dulcifi'd Spirit of Nitre The Essence of Juniper-berries prepar'd with their own Spirit the carminative spirit de tribus the volatil Salt of Vipers the spirit and volatil salt of Harts-horn the spirit volatil Salt and distill'd Oyl of Amber the Essence of Castor mix'd with Camphyr the Oyl of Cinnamon the Syrup of the filings of Steel Whey and all anti-hypocondriac Ingredients are much approv'd Externally in a Hysteric or Splenetic Palpitation we apply the same things as are proper against the Causes Take of prepar'd red Coral native Cinnabar and chalybeat diaphoretic Antimony half a scruple volatil salt of Harts-horn three grains distill'd Oyl of Cloves a drop Make a Powder Take of the Tincture of Coral prepar'd with the spirit of Stags-heart two drams the spirit of Roses impregnated with Ambergrise a dram Dose thirty or sorty drops in Cinnamon-water Take of Cinnamon-water impregnated with Quinces an ounce the Cordial-water of Saxony an Ounce Essence of Juniper Berries two drams Essence of Saffron half an ounce Spirit of Venice Treacle camphoris'd a dram distill'd Oyl of Cinnamon for Men or of Amber for Women four drops shake and mix them Dose a spoonful or two Oft-times not only the Heart but the Arteries especially that leading to the Spleen and that of the Temples are seiz'd with a palpitation The cause is an inflammation of the Place or stagnation of the Blood or Convulsions of the Spleen and adjacent parts affecting the Tunicles of the Artery The first two are remov'd by Sudorifics and the last by Steel and anti-hypochondriac Medicines CHAP. II. Of Swoonings THere are three kinds or rather degrees of Swooning viz. Lipothymia Syncope and Asphyxia In a Lipothymia beside that the Pulse is weaker and less the Senses both internal and external are eclips'd and animal Motion both voluntary and natural does in a manner fail all which symptoms go easily off again and the Patient is restor'd to health In a Syncope the symptoms are more tragical the Pulse Sense and bodily Motion are quite extinguish'd Respiration is scarce perceivable the Heart is much oppress'd a cold clammy Sweat and Paleness covers the Body and sometimes the Excrements come away of their own accord In an Asphyxia all things are yet worse so that the Patient lies as one dead without any Pulse or sign of Life Now in order to discover the cause of
will not be improper to Bath it with the Spirit of Wine and strong Waters as for astringent Fomentations I doubt they do more harm than good If the Vessels or Organs be broke we may add vulnerary Ingredients to the above mention'd Specifics If the difficulty of breathing be very troublesome 't is usual to give a dram of Sperma Caeti in Spanish Wine after vomiting If Hydropical Persons be extream thirsty we must be very cautious of pleasing them or answering their demands since abstinence from Drink is the better part of the Cure Nitre melted in the Mouth Wine temper'd with Juice of Citrons the dulcifi'd Spirit of Salt Vinegar diluted with Chalybeat Water and the Decoction of Juniper Berries in Whey given for ordinary drinking are of use for mitigating this Symptom In the mean while it will not be improper to inject Clysters of hydropical Purgatives and aromatic Ingredients or of Herrin-Pickle or of a Child's Urine impregnated with carminative Seeds in case of Wind or mix'd with Turpentin and Nitre Nor will it be amiss to apply discussive Aromatics to the soles of the Feet Belly and Cod. Such are the Leaves of Celandin the greater Bags quilted with aromatic Seeds and Bran Man's Ordure Goats Dung boil'd in Mint-Water or mix'd with Man's Urin in the form of a Cataplasm Horse's Dung mix'd after the same method with Meal of Barley and Vinegar Quick-lime-Water mix'd with Spirit of Wine is of excellent use for bathing the Legs Belly and Scrotum especially when a Gangrene is threaten'd by the appearance of Spots Cataplasms made of Cockles bruis'd together with their Shells and mix'd with Goats-Dung are particularly recommended by Thonerus If these Cataplasms prove uneasie they may be shifted for aromatic Oyls such as the Oyl of Scorpions distill'd Oyl of Juniper Oyl of Bays Oyl of Toads mix'd with the Ointments Agrippae Martiatum c. Or an Ointment made of Sulphur Quick-lime and the Extracts of sharp Plants Some commend Bathing but 't is only of use against Anasarca's It remains only to annex a few Recipe's for illustrating the Method of prescribing Take of the Extract of Elaterium fifteen or twenty grains Rosin of Jalap from two to five grains Troches Alhandal one or two grains distill'd Oyl of Juniper two drops With Essence of Wormwood make Pills for a Hydropical Purge To which we may premise the Tincture Spirit or Salt of Tartar as a Digestive Take of the Conserve of Peach-Flowers a dram twelve grains of Mercurius vitae mix'd with fifteen grains of sweet Mercury Extract of Elaterium a grain or two With the Syrup of Buckthorn make a Bolus for one Dose Take of the Rob of Juniper an Ounce and a half Extract of Steel prepar'd with Juice of Apples half an ounce Powder of Rhubarb two or three drams with Cinnamon-Water make an Electuary for corroborating the Stomac Take of Swallow-wort Roots two ounces Leaves of Celandin the greater Hore-hound and Wormwood of each a handful Citron and Orange-peel of each six drams Seeds of the Ash-tree of Cumin Fennel and Annis of each two or three drams Juniper Berries bruis'd an ounce and a half Galangal Cloves Ginger of each a dram Salt of Tartar six drams infuse them in Wine Of which let the Patient take a Draught frequently Take of the Salt of Vine-twigs or that of Pigeons Dung of each a dram Powder of Toads two scruples Make a Powder for two Doses Take of the carminative Spirit de tribus half an ounce Spirit of Sal-Armoniac two drams Mix. Dose half a dram twice a day Take of the Decoction of Camomil Flowers half a Pound Man's Urine three Ounces lenitive Electuary six drams distill'd Oyl of Turpentin a scruple Make a Clyster Take of the carminative Decoction six Ounces Man's Urine three ounces Yest a Dram common Salt a scruple Hony of Roses an ounce Make a Clyster Take of Cockles and their Shells bruis'd a Pound Powder of Caraway-Seeds two ounces Goats Dung an ounce Make a Cataplasm to be applied to the Belly and Cod. Take of the Ointment of Sowbread an Ounce Ointment of Agrippa half an ounce Oyl of Scorpions an Ounce and a half distill'd Oyl of Toads three drams Mix for a Liniment and anoint the Belly frequently ART 3. Of the Yellow Black and White Jaundice A Jaundice is a cachectic disposition of Body attended by a preternatural Colour of the Skin it is caus'd either by the corruption of the Chyle in the Stomac or its vicious fermentation with the Bile and Juice of the Pancreas in the Duodenum or by the immediat putrification of the Mass of Blood The first cause defiles the Mass of Blood and taints it with various Recrements according to the manner of its corruption Hence Milk curdled in the Stomacs of Children Summer-Fruits Cucumbers Fish c. being converted into a musty Crudity will cause a Jaundice by mixing the corrupt Chyle with the Blood which being unfit for nourishment or assimilation is thrown out in a serous Vehicle upon the Glandules of the Skin and sometimes upon internal Glandules The Jaundices which follow Feavers or extreme bleeding which are attended by vomiting of yellow corrupt Matter musty Belchings Heart-burnings and Excrements colour'd as in a healthy state seem to arise from this cause and are accordingly cur'd by Vomits and bitter stomachical Medicines The second Cause takes place when an Acid prevails and the Bile is lazy or unactive and either cannot make good its secretion through the Liver and consequently recoils into the Blood or when separated stagnates in the Gall-Bladder and settles into Stones so as to cause an Obstruction of the Passage Hence sulphureous strong Liquors that exalt the Oyl of the Bile and cramp its active Volatil Salt are frequently charg'd with causing a Jaundice Sometimes the Convulsions of the neighbouring Membranes may contract the Gall-Bladder and so shut up the Passage upon which account Vomiting Colic-pains Hysteric Passions and hard Labour in Child-bearing are observ'd to introduce this Disease The prevalency of an Acid in the Duodenum arising either from the austere Recrements of the Stomac or the degeneracy of the Juice of the Pancreas will also pervert the Chyle and consequently the Mass of Blood So that the greatest part of Jaundices are wholly owing to a preternatural corrupt Acid in the Stomac or Duodenum and the inactivity or imperfect distribution of the Chyle As for the third Cause viz. The immediat putrefication of the Mass of Blood 't is occasion'd by Poyson birings of Vipers or Mad Dogs malignant Ulcers suppression of the Terms the Scurvy c. And when a Jaundice springs from this cause the Stomac Bile and Colour of the Excrements continue in their natural state Now any of these three Causes will occasion a preternatural colour of the Skin which always attends the Jaundice For the Blood being vitiated and tinctur'd with corrupt Recrements precipitats and throws 'em out in a serous Vehicle upon the Skin where the miliar Glandules are
scalds a sharp corroding Matter issues from the Yard inflames the Prepuce and besets it with Pushes which in tract of time degenerat into Ulcers Bubo's or hard swellings appear in the Groin Red yellowish Spots are observ'd in the Belly Breast Back and Privities which when press'd assume a whitish Colour but quickly retrieve the former In process of time the Wheals or Ulcers spread over the Body especially the Forehead Face and Palat their Colour is livid inclining to a Yellow sometimes they are dry scaly and of an unequal surface at other times they void sharp corrupt Matter which frequently corrodes the spungy Bones of the Nose and Palat. The Bones are cover'd with hard stony Concretions and the Limbs tortur'd with violent Night-pains but so as that the Joints are free and in inveterat cases become corrupt and rotten Little Swellings call'd Condylomata cover the Breech and crusty Warts invade many parts of the Body The Palms of the Hands and Soles of the Feet are chopp'd and molested with a burning Heat the Hairs fall off from the Head Eye-lids c. the Palat of the Throat being relaxated or corroded alters the Voice the Ears tingle and in fine the whole Body becomes mangy and sordid and by degrees moulders away The Symptoms of Women differ not from those of Men excepting what regards the form of their Genitals The material cause of the Pox is a corrosive acid Ferment joyn'd to a viscid Vehicle which affects chiefly the glandulous and nervous parts it depraves the Lymph and Serum the nutritious Juice of the Bones and the dewy Liquors of the whole Body it corrodes the solid parts twitches the Membrans and is every way qualify'd for being the Bane of Life and Ruin of Mankind 'T is very infectious and oft-times propagats it self among Bed-fellows by Sweat or Matter issuing from the Ulcers by kissing when the Lips are ulcerated by hereditary Succession and many other ways besides that of perfect Enjoyment If it be inveterat or hereditary or return after Salivation if attended by the Scurvy or obstructions of the Bowels or troublesome Catarrhs and if the Bones of the Head are corroded it is not easily cur'd Dry hot Constitutions are more in danger than those whose Bodies are moist and open The forwardness and Suppuration of the Bubo's facilitats the Cure If the Blood drawn forth become florid and free of those livid blewish Spots that use to appear in its surface and withal be not over serous 't is a testimony of a perfect Cure The Cure of the French Pox which consists in attenuating the viscid Humors correcting and extinguishing the Acid and evacuating both is obtain'd either by sudorific Decoctions or mercurial Salivations The former are calculated for a recent Pox and bilious scorbutic or melancholic Constitutions to whom Mercury is so pernicious and ought to be preceded by Purgatives The most noted Ingredients are Guajacum and Sassaperilla The Dose of the former ought to be inlarg'd for cold Constitutions and that of the latter for such as are hot To these two I choose to add Juniper-wood The other Specifics are Burdock Roots Soap-wort Sassafras Box wood Mastic wood Oak wood Arsmart c. The common Vehicle for sudorific Decoctions is Water but when the Stomac is weak we may add Wine towards the end of the Decoction For emaciated Persons some boyl 'em in Whey When these Sudorifics are first us'd we ought not to be too hasty in forcing the Patient to sweat but to wait some days 'till the Humors are gradually prepar'd and the Body incline to it Besides if they happen to operat more by Urine than by Stool 't is not proper to recall the Humors that move that way nay on the contrary we ought to add Diuretics and endeavour to discharge the virulent matter by the Passage to which Nature directs When the Humors are sufficiently prepar'd and dispos'd for sweating the Patient may be moderatly cover'd up and the Vertue of the Sudorific promoted by drinking warm Broth the Decoction it self being also drunk warm or kindling Spirit of Wine and while he continues thus to sweat daily let a Purge be exhibited every seventh day Take of the shavings of Guajacum six ounces the rinds of Guajacum two ounces Sassaperilla roots two ounces shavings of Sassafras an ounce quick Silver purify'd by the addition of an Alcali and Antimony in coarse Powder both ty'd in a Bag of each a Pound Macerat them in common Water for forty eight Hours then boyl them till two thirds be evaporated Some add Soap-wort Hyssop Speedwell Liquorice Roots Raisins Burdock Roots Fennel Seeds c. The Dose of such a Decoction is from four to eight ounces according to the circumstances of the Patient To be taken only in the Morning for two or three days without sweating But after these preparatory Days are over let the Patient be put into a dry or wet Bagnio according as his Constitution is moist or dry about an hour after taking a Dose And after an Hour 's sweating let him retire to a Bed where the Sweat may finish its progress of its own accord But in the mean while the Sweat must be carefully rub'd off and the Sheets or Cloaths shifted after sweating and well wash'd and air'd before they be us'd again This method must be persisted in for four or six Weeks till all the Symptoms disappear and the Disease be totally rooted out In the Interim let the Diet be thin and dry A second Decoction of the same Ingredients may be given for ordinary drinking and Raisins or some such light thing for Supper If the Disease be inveterat it will be needful to raise a Salivation by the use of Mercury since sudorific Decoctions cannot of themselves reach the Cure tho' they may still be useful during the progress of the Salivation for attenuating and preparing the Humors But they must be so order'd that they do not procure Sweat The best preparation of Mercury for internal use in order to salivat is the red Precipitat from Quick-silver dissolv'd in the Spirit of Nitre and Allum given to four grains and repeated twice or thrice Sweet Mercury is rather a Laxative unless it be fix'd by frequent Sublimation and mix'd with Yelks of Eggs. But the most effectual way of procuring a Salivation is that of inunction with mercurial Ointments As Take of Quick-silver purify'd six ounces Hogs Fat not salted a pound Mix them exactly and add of the Gelly of Ox Feet half on ounce Turpentine three ounces distill'd Oyl of Turpentine an ounce make an Ointment With which anoint the Soles of the Feet Palms of the Hands Wrists Ancles Elbows Knees and Backbone from the Shoulders down to the Os sacrum twice a Day for three successive Days Two ounces of the Ointment will suffice for each inunction and about the fourth Day if the Salivation advance one inunction more will serve If it do not we must continue to anoint and if all prove ineffectual
we ought to observe nicely where the Impediment lies If the Stagnation and Viscidity of the Humors about the Breast retard the work let a Vomit be exhibited If want of strength and Spirits let the sudorific Decoctions be Administred The Salivation being obtain'd must be continu'd till the Saliva become foetid and viscous and apt to fall to the bottom in a Vessel full of Water or stick to its sides If the Salivation exceed its due bounds let Opiats Clysters and Purgatives be us'd as also Gold both held in the Mouth and given inwardly After the Salivation is over it will be requisit to shift the Bed-Cloaths and wearing Cloaths and to continue the use of the Decoctions of Woods Which if the Salivation was imperfect may recal the Nocturnal Pains by driving the remaining Acid dissolv'd by the Mercury into the external Parts but their continu'd use with that of Mercury will overcome ' em Purgation is also proper after the Salivation Before the Commencement of the Cure as well by a Salivation as by Sweating it is not amiss to cleanse the first Passages by Vomits and Purges that so the humors may be more pliable and the troublesom Symptoms of the Breast prevented If the Pox be inveterat or if the virulent Matter be fix'd in the external Parts one or two Purges will suffice since we ought to be cautious of recalling the humors to the Center When the Matter is joyn'd to the fluid Juices repeated Purgation is of use For which end Coloquyntida and sweet Mercury are the topping Ingredients As Take of the extract of Black Hellebor and sweet Mercury of each fifteen Grains Scammony Sulphurat and extract of Troches Alhandal of each two grains With Essence of Fumitory or that of Woods Make Pills Take of the Conserve of Fumitory a dram Rosin of Jalap Sulphurat Scammony of each six grains Turbith Mineral four grains Make a Bolus Some add Purgatives to the Sudorific Woods as likewise volatil Salts urinous Spirits and Cinnabar of Antimony together with the extracts and distill'd Oyls of Woods As Take of the shavings of Guajacum four scruples Diaphoretic Sulphur of Antimony a sctuple volatil Salt of Vipers twelve grains Make a Powder for two Doses Or Take of Matthiolus his Quintessence half an ounce Spirit of Venice Treacle a dram Clyssus of Antimony half a dram Spirit of Guajacum two drams Mix for a Dose to be pour'd into each draught of the Sudorific Decoction Before we take leave of this Subject it will be requisit to consider the Symptoms and account for their particular Cures The first that offers it self is the Clap or virulent running of the Reins This Symptom appears frequently by it self without the Pox but if it be not speedily cur'd degenerats into it The cause of it is some sharp Miasma's proceeding from Ulcers in the Womb which in the time of Coition insinuat themselves thro' the Urethra and inlarged Pores of the Yard into the Prostatae and by fermenting corrupt their watery Juice which in time becomes Corrosive Ulcerats the Glandules and Excoriats the Urethra and Prepuce Hence the Symptoms of a Clap are a violent pain about the Root of the Yard where these Glandules are seated a continual Efflux of discolour'd matter as being first yellow then green and blue the Inflammation and oft-times Ulceration of the Nut of the Yard the Corrosion of the Urethra follow'd by Caruncles an insufferable Heat of Urine and a squeezing Pain girding the Yard especially in the Night-time or when it attempts Erection If a Clap continue long it Excoriats and Wasts the Glandules and sometimes the malign ferment reaches the Stones and causes their Swellings and Bubo's The first step towards the Cure is to cleanse the Body by purging with Coloquintida the extract of black Hellebor and sweet Mercury or rather the green precipitat prepar'd with Quick-lime which tho' it may seem at first to exasperat the Symptoms yet it lays the Foundation of the Cure After Evacuation we proceed to Balmy cleansing and healing Ingredients in regard of the Ulcer of the Prostratae Such are the distill'd Oyl of Turpentine the Turpentine Balsam of Sulphur joyn'd to Quercetanus's Clap Water the Juice of Lemons mix'd with Spirit of Turpentine and Camphyr the Balsam prepar'd of Sugar of Lead and Oyl of Turpentine Oyl of Juniper extract of Tormentil Rosin of Guajacum prepar'd with Tincture of Tartar the Decoction of Quick-silver in Water the Balsam of Peru and above all that call'd Capaivi or its Essence prepar'd with Tartaris'd Spirit of Wine Some commend the infusion of Cantharides in Wine To these we may add the Bone of a Cuttle Diaphoretic Antimony Chalybeat Bezoar and whatever subdues a prevailing Acid. If the Infection have already reach'd the Blood it will be needful to administer Decoctions of Woods and the above mention'd sudorifics mix'd with the Essences of Woods and Tincture of Coral Take of Turbith mineral six or eight grains With Conserve of Roses make a Bolus Take of Extractum Catholicum fifteen grains the green precipitat Mercury six grains extract of Troches Alhandal two grains with the Essence of Woods or distill'd Oyl of Amber make Pills Take of the extract of Tormentil an ounce Sugar of Lead half an ounce Camphyr two drams With distill'd Oyl of Turpentine Make Pills Take of the Balsam of Sulphur prepar'd with Oyl of Turpentine two drams Balsam of Capaivi a dram Mix Dose fifteen drops twice a Day Externally for cleansing the Ulcers we inject Quick-lime Water in which Aloe Myrrh Honey of Roses Sugar of Lead and sweet Mercury are dissolv'd If the Ulcers tend to a Cancer we add Vnguentum Aegyptiacum or if an Ulcer appear in the Nut of the Yard we wash it with a solution of sublimat Mercury in the same Water If the Testicles are inflam'd we apply Cataplasms of the Meal of Beans and Cuminseeds boyl'd in Vinegar and Water and mix'd with Litharge or anoint 'em with a Liniment of the Balsam of Sulphur Oyl of Cummin and Ointment of Marsh-mallows and if any hardness remain discuss it with a Plaister of Gum Ammoniac and the Plaister of Hemlock The Plaister de Ranis with Mercury is of excellent use for other places but for the Testicles 't is not so proper for fear the Mercury should extinguish their ferment If the Prepuce be inflam'd foment it with the Phlegm of Vitriol or Dissolution of Sugar of Lead in Lime Water A Clap in Women is cur'd after the same manner and attended by Symptoms of the same Nature The next Symptom we take notice of is that of Bubo's or Glandulous swellings occasion'd by the Sâ—agnation of viscid Lymph Their suppuration ought to be promoted by applying Sala's Magnetic Plaister or Toads soak'd in Vinegar or the Plaister de Ranis with Mercury soften'd with Oyl of Guajacum or foetid Oyl of Tartar or the Plaister of Hemlock mix'd with Soap When the Bubo's are sufficiently soften'd let 'em be open'd with a Caustic or a
straiten'd they are always Costive and Laxatives operate better in them than proper Purgatives If an Artificial or Natural Vomiting happen they throw up Acid Matter which stupifies the Teeth and corrodes a Copper Vessel so as to render it rusty After eating they are oft-times seiz'd with a gnawing pain in the Stomach reaching along the Back from the lower part to the Neck of the Gullet which some miscall Nephritic Pains as also by sudden flushings in the Face wringing pains in the Guts palpitations of the Heart perturbation of Mind and a difficulty of breathing occasion'd either by viscous Crudities distending the Stomac or Convulsions of the Midriff and Muscles of the Breast or Wind in the Abdomen hindring the descent of the Midriff In process of time hard Tumors sometimes infest the Intrals and the convulsive Contractions of the Fibres of the Branches of the Arteria Caeliaca cause beatings about the Loins While their Stomac is empty they are apt to be giddy and dull they 're liable to Head-aches loss of Memory Fear Grief aukward Dreams and vain Imaginations Their Pulse is very inconstant and all their Symptoms lyable to periodical Exasperations Frequently they are sensible as it were of Fumes rising upward from the Belly and the Paroxysm resembles a Hysterical Fit In the Paroxysm the Colour and Consistence of their Urine is inconstant but when 't is over returns to a natural Order These are the Symptoms of Hypochondriac Persons but all of 'em are rarely to be seen in one Person The most certain Symptoms that always attend are Gripings and Wind in the Guts a weak Stomac Costiveness and perturbation of the Head The Symptoms being thus premis'd let us now enquire after their Cause The first Cause is a vicious Acid in the Stomac enlarging the Appetit but unfit for Digestion Hence ensues an Acid Crudity in the first Passages which depraves the Crasis of the Blood prevents the due separation of volatil Spirits upon which the Lymph becomes Acid and the Bile inactive These are the sources of all the preceding Symptoms since Wind Noise griping in the Guts and costiveness are the natural result of a viscous Acid in the first Passages as flushings in the Face arise from its effervescence with the Bile The Convulsions of the nervous Membranes in several parts of the Body are the effect of its irritation its Crudity impairs the due fermentation of the Blood and causes a palpitation of the Heart and difficulty of breathing it depraves the Nutritious Juice of the Bowels which settles into hard Swellings and occasions a degeneracy and austerity in the Spirits hence Fear Melancholy irregular Thoughts and uncooth emotions ensue The remore causes that promote Crudities are acid Liquors or salt Victuals or such as are dryed in Smoak since both partake of the Acid Spirit of Salt or Soot Want of motion to promote Digestion and the speedy assimilation of Chyle nocturnal Study or Care exhausting the Spirits impoverishing the Blood and rendering the Lymph Acid So much for the Symptoms and Causes of the Hypocondriac Disease When this depravation deriv'd from Acid Crudities in the Stomac is carried so high that the Blood Lymph and all the Juices of the Body are notably perverted and the vicious Acid becomes volatil malignant and apt to multiply its influence by Contagion or Hereditary Succession it is stil'd the Scurvy and is generally attended by such a numberless train of various Symptoms that 't is customary to charge it with every uncommon Symptom even of other Diseases The peculiar Qualities of this scorbutical Ferment are these 1. An aptness to attack the Glandules and pervert their Lymph 2. A mortal Enmity to the nervous Systeme as appears by the following enumeration of its Symptoms Scorbutical Persons are troubled with a weariness weakness sense of weight and a dull obscure pain in the Limbs Their Appetit is either too fierce or quite dejected Their Gums are liable to Excrescences Swellings and Ulcers and when rub'd void either a saltish bloody or serous humour their Teeth are loose and corroded their Mouth stinks their Spittle is very salt and sometimes plainly Acid especially in a Morning they are oft-times molested with Nocturnal Sweats and Red Yellow or Black Spots upon the Arms and Legs sometimes as small as Flea-bites sometimes as large as a Crown-piece and sometimes the Limbs are beset with rough scaly Swellings like Measles their Skin oft-times itches and when 't is scratched becomes red or tends to a sordid Ulcer Their Urin is high colour'd or precipitats a red sandy fleshcolour'd sediment or fastens red friable Sand upon the sides and bottom of the Urinal a fat Crust or Skin swims on the top and if look'd upon side-ways appears parti-colour'd like a Peacock's Tail after the Urine is thrown out the Urinal retains a blueish Colour which is not easily wash'd off They are infested with a difficulty of Breathing and wandring Pains gird the Loins and Back and wring nay sometimes distend and harden the Belly and are oft-times follow'd by red Pimples in the Skin which disappear suddenly Sometimes they are seiz'd with nocturnal Pains in their Limbs shifting from the Arms to the Feet and è contra After violent wringing Pains their external parts frequently become paralytic Sometimes Convulsions and Hysterical Symptoms seize ' em Sometimes setled fix'd pains invade the Head and Limbs especially in the Night-time and resemble those of the French Pox. Sometimes their Legs are infested by hard stony Concretions that are void of pain unless they walk The Stomac is frequently provok'd to vomiting and their Guts to bloody Stools which are voided without gripings and after the other Excrements and so are easily distinguish'd from the Bloody-flux or the Piles They are also liable to frequent effusions of blue or greenish Blood from other parts of the Body and to a St. Anthony's Fire in their Legs which if indiscreetly manag'd becomes a Gangrene or a malign Ulcer Their Pulse is unequal frequently very small and oft-times intermits When the Disease is inveterat they 're subject to Catarrhs Defluxions Excoriations Ulcers and Consumptions From these premises we draw this Conclusion that the immediat cause of the Scurvy is a volatil saline Acid which irritats the Nerves and Membranes sharpens the Lymph Debauches the innate Spirits of the parts and perverts the equal temperature of the Blood The remote Causes are the Sea-Air impregnated with salin Acid Vapors salt and viscous Food Laziness Weakness of Digestion Infection a hereditary Conveyance and the influence of Chronical Diseases Charleton distinguishes a hot Scurvy proceeding from a Sulphur and a fix'd Salt from that which is Cold and springs from an Acid as likewise Willis who refers the cause of hot and cold Scurvy's to the prevalency of Sulphur or Salt But all these differences proceed only from the various Constitutions of Patients thwarting or promoting the efforts of the scorbutical Cause A Scurvy frequently joins it self to other Distempers in so much
handful the Rinds of Beans an ounce Plantan Leaves a handful Boyl them in Water with a little lye adding two ounces of Turpentin dissolv'd in Hony to a pound of the strain'd Decoction and in desperat Cases the Ointment Aegyptiacum Mix and inject it with a Syringe for cleansing the Ulcer Take of Ladies Mantle and Tops of St. John's wort of each a handful Marshmallow-roots half an ounce boil them in Lime-water adding to ten ounces of the strain'd Liquor one ounce of the Syrup of Comfry and three or four drams of the vulnerary Essence Mix for injection in order to consolidat Bathing in hot Baths and drinking Spaw Waters are much approv'd both for Inflammations and Ulcers of the Bladder ART 8. Of a Phrenzy or Inflammation of the Membranes of the Brain THE Inflammation of the Membranes and some part of the substance of the Brain was call'd by the Ancients Sphacelus as that of the Midriff was call'd Phrenitis from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diaphragma and indeed all derivative Words ending in tis signifi'd the Inflammation of the Part whose Name they 're deriv'd from as Pleuritis Hepatitis Nephritis c. However that we may not depart from the customary manner of speaking we shall treat of the Inflammations of the Brain under the name of Phrenitides or Phrensies Their Symptoms are a visible beating in the Carotid Arteries and an unsufferable tearing Pain in the Head obliging the sick Person to throw toss and as it were beat his Head and furiously pull at the Hair They are attended by doating and are apt to degenerat into fatal Gangrenes at which time Convulsions prostration of Strength and a sort of a Lethargy insue Their Urine is pale crude and white and if their Stools be also white if the Teeth gnash the Nose drop and the Person tremble shake and pick at the Bed-Cloaths 't is a desperate case Sometimes Phrenetic Persons are only molested with frightening Dreams and a timorous inward doating without any noise which is a worse Symptom than open fury loud out-cries and violent tossings of the Limbs A Phrensie is distinguish'd from a simple Delirium by the unrelenting vehemence of the Feaver and Head-ache and a difficulty of breathing Sometimes but very rarely a Phrensie terminates in critical Sweats Bleeding at Nose Loosenesses c. Sometimes it becomes an incurable Imposthume in the Brain A true Phrensie for the most part is incurable however its Cure is attempted by Bleeding Vomits Clysters and Diaphoretics Of which more in the Second Book ART 9. Of the Genuin and Spurious Inflammations of the Eyes A Genuin Inflammation of the Eyes is either Sanguine or Serous The former is call'd Ophthalmia the latter Epiphora or Lippitudo An Ophthalmia is an Inflammation of the Tunicles of the Eye especially the Conjunctive which by reason of their Derivation from and being of a piece with the Membranes of the Brains are apt to communicate their disorder to the Brain as on the contrary the disorders of the Brain are frequently display'd in the Eyes The External Cause is whatever provokes the Fibres to Contraction and consequently obliges the Blood to stagnate in the small Arteries which are very plentiful in the Coats of the Eyes as the sharp effluviums of the Air Dust steams of Metals c. The internal cause is the suppression of any evacuation of Blood or the retention of a sharp Acid in the Body as after the Small Pox or when the running of the Ears customary to Children ceases Sometimes an Inflammation proceeding from the Effluvium's of the Air is epidemical and sometimes catching The Symptoms of an Ophthalmia are the Heat Tumor Redness Pain and watriness of the Eyes In its highest pitch the Eye-lids are likewise inflam'd and unable to shut and the White of the Eye is swell'd up above the adjacent Surface with a sort of Chink betwixt ' em If the stagnating Blood proceed from the outer Vessels we observe a Pain Tumor and beating in the Temples if from the internal Membranes and Vessels the Pain is more vehement and lies deep the Palat and Nostrils itch and the Person is apt to sneese often As for the Epiphora and blear'dness of the Eyes the former is a destillation of a Cold or Hot Rheum from the Glandules in the corners of the Eyes the latter from the Glandules of the Eye-lids in conjunction with those of the Eyes Their Causes are 1. The Laxity of the Glandules as in Old Persons and in malignant Distempers when the Animal Spirits are almost extinguish'd or when the Caruncle that shuts them is Corroded or Cut. In this case the Eyes are apt to be red for that the Blood Vessels swell when the Glandules are so often emptied 2. The irritation of the Eye and its Glandules by sharp effluviums from the Air Pepper Onions Garlic c. This Cause is at the same time apt to cause an Ophthalmia 3. The sharpness and acidity of the Lymph which tickles provokes and corrodes the Glandules The Corrosion is frequently follow'd by a roughness and that by a thickness and intransparency and consequently a total blindness The Remote Causes are whatever is apt to occasion Catarrhs All these Inflammations whether Sanguin or Serous are attended by a warriness or running of a Humour that is either sharp saltish corrosive and apt to gaul the Cheeks or insipid slimy thick and apt to make the Eye-lids stick together The former is call'd a hot Catarrh the latter a cold one The various Condition of this Catarrh presents us with four observable Periods in an Inflammation The First is call'd the Beginning viz. When the Humor is thin and plentiful The Second the Increase when the Pain grows and the Humor thickens The Third the Height when the Humor is concocted and makes the Eye-lids stick together The Fourth The Declension when all the Symptoms relent But withal we ought to remember that this Humor is sometimes the Effect and not the Cause of the Disease as in the case of external irritation for which Astringents are proper tho' noxious in other Cases A spurious Inflammation is distinguish'd from the Genuin by its comparative dryness and admits of three Degrees 1. When the Eyes itch and void a small quantity of a saltish Rheum 2. When the Eyes are red swollen heavy and molested with a gentle Pain and Itching without any flux of Matter 3. When the Eye-lids are hard and rough without itching or running The Inflammations of the Eyes proceeding from the Disorders of the Membranes of the Brain are very dangerous If the Pain continue long 't is an ill sign If the Inflammation be very tedious or apt to relapse it threatens a thickness of the Membranes or Webs Scars and loss of Eye-sight If it tend to suppuration it threatens a Gangrene which if the Eye be not quickly extirpated is apt to invade the Brain the consequence of which is certain Death A dry or spurious Inflammation is tedious but not so dangerous as
a wet one Sometimes critical Loosenesses give the solution of the Distemper As for Epiphora's if they prove inveterat in adult Persons they degenerat to a Fistula Lacrymalis which is oft-times incurable As for the Cure When the Inflammation proceeds from external Causes a few external Medicines may give relief But when the Cause is internal we proceed thus First of all we open a Vein in the Leg then in the Arm and aftewards but not sooner in the Forehead if it can be done without straitening the Neck In desperat cases we open the Jugular Veins and sometimes the Temporal Artery Blistering Plaisters appli'd to the nape of the Neck are of excellent use as occasioning a plentiful Flux of Blood into the outer branch of the Artery of the Neck which must needs drain the inner-branch that visits the Eyes They are best prepar'd of Emplastrum Citrinum mix'd with the Powder of Spanish Flies whout Acids and the Blisters ought to be kept long open with the Plaister of Ceruss mix'd with a small quantity of the Powder of Spanish Flies In Hydropical Persons or such whose Skin does not easily heal Blistering Plaisters may be omitted In difficult Cases we order Issues in the Arm or Leg of the same side with the inflam'd Eye and a Setum in the Neck Instead of a Setum some chuse to make a sort of Issue in the Ear thus Take the Root of Hellebor or Mezereon dry it and slice it into little round pieces which macerat in the solution of Nitre in Water or the Lye of the Ashes of Vine-twigs Then bore a Hole in the Ear and promote its suppuration for three Days with a thread cover'd with Butter and then put in one of these pieces thus prepar'd renewing 'em every day Internally we exhibit Jalap for a Purge and the Decoctions of China-Roots Sassafras Sarsaparilla and Juniper-Wood to which we add the Cephalic Dryers such as Fennel Eye-bright Valerian Betony Rosemary and their Essences If the Inflammation proceed from Mineral Fumes we give Mineral Preparations inwardly In external Applications we ought to avoid Opium and Milk tho' commonly usâ—d The former shuts the Pores and promotes a Gangrene the latter is also charg'd with the same Crime and besides is apt to Curdle and become Acid and by consequence must needs be prejudicial to the Eyes In the beginning of the Distemper while the heat pain redness and sharpness of the Rheum prevail absorbent Powders are proper such as Tutty Ceruss Chalk Flowers of Tin Crabs-Eyes Calaminar-stone c. In general the Water of Frogs-spawn the Water distill'd from bruis'd River-Crabs when they begin to putrifie and distill'd again with the Juice of Celandin the Oyl or Liquor per deliquium of Blew-bottle or Succory flowers they being gather'd in the Morning when wet with the Dew and put into a thick Glass encompass'd with a thick Crust of Dough and so baked in an Oven 'till they melt into Liquor the Phlegm of the Spirit of Vitriol the Oyl of Sugar per Deliquium or Sugar it self ground in a new Tin Platter 'till it become livid the Sugar of Lead Camphyr the mucilages of Flea-wort and Quince-seeds extracted with Celandin Water the Phlegm of Allum Whites of Eggs the strain'd Decoction of the Litharge of Gold in Vinegar the Infusion of Crocus Metallorum or the Glass of Antimony and in the height of the Distemper Collyriums prepar'd with white Vitriol are all approv'd Medicines If the Inflammation proceed from external Causes the above mention'd Mucilages or a piece of raw Beef or Veal applied to the Eye will finish the Cure If the Rheum be very sharp and corrosive we insist much upon fix'd absorbent Powders if it be thick and slimy diluting Medicines and gentle Astringents are convenient These Ingredients are prescrib'd in various Forms As Take of the mucilages of the Seeds of Quinces Clary and Fenugrec extracted with Celandin Water of each half an ounce Sugar of Lead twelve grains With Fennel or Eye-bright-water make a Collyrium Take of Plantan and Eye-bright-water of each an ounce prepar'd Tutty half a Scruple Camphyr five grains Saffron two grains Make a Collyrium to be us'd after the Small-Pox Take of Tormentil or Plantan-Water of each an ounce mix 'em with the White of an Egg and ten grains of Allum And apply it warm to the Eyes Take of the Glass of Antimony in Powder from ten to fifteen grains infuse 'em in three ounces of the Water of Frogs Spawn Let 'em stand all Night in a hot place Strain the Liquor in the Morning and add to it ten grains of the Sugar of Lead in fine Powder and six grains of Camphyr Take an Egg boil it hard and take out the Yelk putting into its place six grains of the Sugar of Lead eight grains of white Vitriol two grains of Camphyr and half an ounce of the Hony of Roses When they 're melted squeeze out the Liquor and drop it into the Eye especially when the Rheum is slimy and apt to make the Eye-lids stick togethet Take of Rose-water and Plantan-water of each two ounces Night-shade-water an ounce white Vitriol a scruple dissolve and strain then add a scruple of prepar'd Tutty Make a Collyrium in which dip a Clout and apply it warm to the Eyes about the height of the Distemper Take of the Ointment Diapompholigos and that of Tutty of each two drams prepar'd Pearl Coral Crabbs-Eyes Tutty and Sugar of Lead of each a Scruple Camphyr twelve grains Leaves of Gold and Silver of each four Make an Ointment With which anoint the lower part of the Eye-lids and put about the bigness of a Lentil into the corner of the Eye Take of sweet Apples roasted three in number boil them in Eye-bright-water 'till they be soft beat their Pulp thro' a sieve and add of prepar'd Tutty two Drams Camphyr ten grains Saffron four grains Make a Cataplasm for allaying the Pain and Heat Take of fresh Butter half an ounce Sugar of Lead prepar'd Tutty and Calaminar stone of each a scruple Camphyr a grain Make a Liniment for anointing the Eye-lids in a dry Inflammation A serous Inflammation is cur'd by extracting the external Objects that disturb the Eye or correcting the Acrimony of the Lymph or strengthening the Glandules For the first purpose we apply to the Eye a Crabs Eye making its hollow part to touch the apple of the Eye or a Seed of Clary or we make use of Instruments such as Hildanus recommends The Second Indication is accounted for in the Chapter of Catarrhs The Third is compass'd by moderat Astringents outwardly applied such as the Decoction of the Rinds of Pomgranats with Chamomil-Flowers especially after the Small Pox the infusion of Tormentil Roots and Allum in Plantan and Rose-water or of Tutty in Fennel-water the Powder of Citron Myrobalans infus'd three or four times in Rose-water and dry'd a-fresh every time the Liquor that flows from a Willow cut in the Spring the Decoction of dry'd Rue in
and its extravasation in the Cavities of the Body being already dispatch'd it remains now to account for its effusion out of the Body The causes of which are either 1. An Anastomosis or spontaneous dis-joining of the Capillary Vessels and especially of the Arteries whose Blood in all natural bleedings runs by drops as depending upon the successive Pulsation of the Artery whereas that of the Veins which for the most part never burst without a violent cause runs with a constant and united Stream 2. A Diaeresis or Breaches violently made in the Vessels by external cutting pricking or bruising Instruments by Coughing Neesing Vomiting or Crying by excessive Joy Grief and vehement Passions of the Mind especially in the flux of the Terms by the Assumption or Inspiration of sharp corrosive things Such as Hellebor violent Purgatives Suppositories c. and lastly by sharp corrosive Humors incorporated with the Blood which both fret the Blood and gnaw its Vessels especially in scorbutical Constitutions the Fibres of whose Vessels are lank and weak Some Authors assign yet a third Cause of Bleeding viz. A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Transudation of the Blood thro' its Vessels but 't is not accountable that any Liquor so thick as Blood should sweat through the strong touch Coats of the Vessels especially those of the Arteries without a breach or Anastomosis 'T is true the thin Serum may glide thro' sometimes but the Consistence of the Blood robs it of that Priviledge The remote Causes of an Anastomosis are 1. A true Plethora or redundancy of Blood as in the suppression of the Terms c. 2. An apparent Plethora or the Ebullition of the Blood obliging it to distend its Vessels as in Feavers and the Small Pox or when Persons drink much Generous Wine or eat Aromatic Food or imploy themselves in any extraordinary exercise of the Body This ebullition is most apt to cause a bursting of the Vessels in fat Persons by reason that their Vessels are straiten'd by the incumbent Fat 3. The thinness and serosity of the Blood which at once unbends the Fibres and qualifies the Blood for making a Passage thro' ' em In this case the Blood when it runs out appears thin and pale whereas in other cases 't is brisk and florid This serosity of the Blood was by the Ancients charged to the Liver as being tardy in its Office of sanguification but as our later Anatomists have justly imploy'd the Liver for other uses so the imperfect Digestion in the Stomac and fermentation of the Chyle in the Duodenum will naturally account for the want of consistence in the Blood 4. The Convulsive Contractions of the Coats of the Vessels especially the Arteries which by straitening one Branch occasion the extraordinary distention of the next Thus splenetic Persons are liable to vomiting of Blood because the Artery in the Spleen denies a free admission to the Blood and the obstruction of the Blood in the Head is frequently remov'd by bleeding at Nose 5. The Convulsive Contraction of the Parts incompassing the Blood-Vessels which are apt to straiten the Vessels especially the Veins that are least able to resist their force Critical and customary effusions of Blood or such as follow the suppression of a wonted Evacution are not to be stopp'd without they exceed measure When a Bleeding is attended by a sensible pulsation of some adjacent Artery 't is a sign that it proceeds from the Compression or Contraction of that Artery Bleedings at Nose are usher'd in by a giddiness redness of the Eyes involuntary Tears tingling of the Ears itching of the Nose a hard Pulse a violent Pain and sensible pulsation of the Arteries in the Head and Neck A flux of Blood from the Wind-pipe is introduc'd by a Cough and difficult Respiration That from the Womb by the distention weight and heat of the Abdomen and Loins happening about the menstrual period and that from the Haemorrhoid Veins by a Pulsation in the Hypocondria Back and Loins and a Tumor and Pain in the Veins with a Tenesmus As for the Prognostic a Diaeresis is worse than an Anastomosis and Bleedings from external Causes are more favourable than those from internal In Melancholic and Phlegmatic Constitutions especially when the Bleeding renders the Face Limon-colour'd or is follow'd by Convulsions and Swoonings it prognosticates Dropsies Consumptions c. As for Cure The various causes must be remov'd by proper Medicines a Plethora by Bleeding Scarifying and a thin Diet The Ebullition of the Blood by such Medicines as temper a volatil Acid as Vinegar Spirit of Vitriol Nitre dissolv'd in Water the Tincture of the Flowers of Dasies the Sugar of Lead the Antiphthisical Tincture Coral seal'd Earth Purslain Plaintain Opium Camphyr c. The serosity of the Blood by thickening Ingredients and such as evacuate Serum either by Stool Urine or Sweat The Convulsive Contractions of the Blood-Vessels by Chalybeats The sharpness of Blood by temperat Medicines such as Milk Raisins Steel c. The Corrosion of the Vessels by vulnerary Astringents The Laxity of the Parts by corroborating things such as Ass-Dung the Ankle of a Hogg Crollius his Powder Sperniola Opium Steel c. However we ought to observe 1. That Bloodletting is only proper when the Blood abounds or boils too high and 't is better to bleed often for Revulsion Derivation and Aversion than to draw forth much at once Sometimes Ligatures and Cupping-Glasses applied at a convenient distance from the Part are not amiss 2. That Purgatives are only proper when the Blood is too serous and in that case especially if it be accompanyed by a Feaver Diaphoretics mix'd with Opiats are of good use as being apt to thicken the Blood after the Swelling is over tho' in the time of swearing they rather attenuate and dissolve it 3. Opiats are good in all Cases From these Premises we infer that the internal Medicines that are proper against Bleeding are the vulnerary Astringents absorbent Powders especially Steel which is both Astringent and Anti-acid to a notable Degree Diureticks and Purgatives in serous Cases and temperat Ingredients especially Raisins and Milk for mitigating the sharp Humours The Medicines which jointly answer these ends are either of the Vegetable Mineral or Animal Families Those of the Vegetable Province are Plantan Purslain the Syrups of Comfrey Ground-Ivy and Myrtle-berries the Syrup made of the Juice of the Root of Bastard Acorus with Sugar The fresh Juice of the common stinging Nettle given to two or three Ounces the Moss of Man's Skull given to a scruple or half a dram in the Water of Shepherds Purse with the Syrup of Coral Mastic Sarcocol Amber Frankincense Raisins Camphyr Opium and Rhubarb which not only evacuats the Serum but corrects the crasis of the Blood Dragon's Blood if it be Genuin is very proper but since 't is generally adulterated with some noxious stuff we ought to avoid it The Mineral Province presents us with Coral Bole Armenic Nitre
of Ground Ivy and that of Comfrey of each an ounce Conserve of Roses an ounce seal'd Earth impregnated with spirit of Vitriol providing the Lungs are not corroded two scruples prepar'd Blood-stone a scruple Troches of Amber a dram Laudanum Opiatum six grains With the Syrup of Comfrey make an Electuary Of which take the Quantity of a Nutmeg twice a day Take of Plantan Purslain and Chervil Waters of each an ounce Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol a dram Troches of Amber two scruples Crollius's Sperniola fifteen grains Laudanum Opiatum five grains Fernelius's Syrup of Comfrey and the Syrup of Purslain of each half an ounce Make a Potion The Spaw Waters Milk and the vulnerary Decoctions are us'd as preservatives SECT XIX Of Diseases relating to the Alterations of the Blood in the Spleen Liver and Kidneys AS the Blood visits the Bowels for their nourishment so it is variously alter'd according to the Nature of every Bowel In the Spleen 't is impregnated with a Volatil sour Ferment that prepares and qualifies its parts for separation in the Liver 't is separated from the Bile which is convey'd thence in t othe Gut either directly thro' the Ductus Hepaticus or after some stay in the Gall-bag thro' the Ductus Cysticus Now there are several Cases in which this separation is lamely perform'd viz. When the Animal Spirits are exhausted or disorder'd or the innate Spirits of the respective Bowel vitiated or when Inflammations or Tumors invade the Part as in Chronical Diseases not as if the Obstructions or Tumors of the Spleen or Liver were the Causes of Chronical Distempers but only as being their effects or at least troublesome Companions that ought to be accounted for in the Cure of those Distempers it being generally compass'd by Chalybeats or such Medicines as conquer an Acid and clear the first Passages which are the Original Source of all Obstructions In the Kidneys the Blood being carry'd thither by the Emulgent Arteries is dissolv'd by a lixivious Ferment and its Serum laden with acid and urinous Salts invelop'd with Oily Particles is strain'd thro' the small Fibres that convey it to the Corpus Papillare from whence it sweats through into the Pelvis and passing thro' the Ureters and Bladder is voided under the name of Vrine If the Salts of the Urine be exactly united together they entitle it to transparency if their mixture be unequal it is muddy or crude and betokens the unequal temperature of the Salts in the Blood But so soon as the Blood has conquer'd the prevailing heterogeneous Salt that over-match'd and disturb'd the Harmony of the rest then the Urine precipitats 'em as a Sediment and becomes clear In perfect Health it contains nothing but these Salts incorporated with Oyl and a serous Vehicle but when the Chyle is not elaborat or perfectly digested then its Crudities and the Sulphureous vicious Salts occasion'd by them are voided with the Serum and impart to it a high or flat Tincture according to the various Exaltation of the Salts and their mixture with Sulphur CHAP. I. Of Distempers relating to the separation of Serum in the Kidneys ART 1. Of an Ischuria in the Kidneys or a suppression of Vrine arising from the want of a due Separation in the Reins THE Causes of an Ischuria in the Kidneys relate either to the Blood or the Kidneys The former are the Redundancy of the Blood or its vicious thickness and the close Cohesion of its Parts occasion'd by Acid or viscous Lymph and an imperfect Fermentation as in Feavers before the Height in Chronical Diseases obstructions of the Bowels c. The latter relating to the Kidneys are 1. The Obstruction of their Passages occasion'd by clotted Blood as in the case of a Fall Purulent Matter either residing there or convey'd thither from other Ulcers viscid tough Humors a Stone in the Kidneys external cold contracting the Fibres nephritic Tumors c. 2. The Paralytic Laxity of the Fibres occasion'd by a weakness or deficiency of Spirits by preceding Wounds or Ulcers by the disorders of their Nerves the dislocation of the Vertebrae of the Back c. 3. The Convulsive Contractions of the Fibres which are frequently occasion'd in one Kidney by a Stone in the other thro' the correspondence of the Nerves 4. The flatness of the Ferment in the Kidneys or its degeneracy from a volatil salin Acrimony as in Dropsies Cachexies c. A Suppression of Urine arising from the default of the Kidneys is distinguish'd from that in the Bladder by a sense of weight about the Loyns the insufficiency of a Catheter for procuring Urine and the absence of a Tumor or pain about the Pubes or Perinaeum sometimes 't is attended by stinking Sweats or such as smell like Urine a stinking Breath Anxieties in the Breast Vomiting an universal Benummedness Epileptic Symptoms and Tumors of the Abdomen and Legs If the Urine before the suppression was thick and muddy with a copious slimy Sediment the Body being universally infested with tough coarse Humors then the suppression is caus'd by Slime stopping the Passages If the Urine before the suppression was Bloody or if a Blow Fall or violent Riding occasion'd it then clotted Blood is the immediat Cause If the Urine was mix'd with Purulent Matter or if any considerable Bowel be ulcerated the Obstruction is caus'd by the corrupt Matter If the Urine was voided without any other remarkable Symptom than that of losing its wonted Smell and Taste the Ferment is faulty An Ischuria in the Kidneys is worse than that in the Bladder If it be attended by Symptoms disturbing the Breast 't is very dangerous If the Urine force its Passage before the Seventh day it affords a comfortable Prediction tho' not infallible especially if the Blood and solid Parts be much corrupted Some Instances there are of a total suppression of Urine for ten fourteen or twenty Days that was cur'd but these are unfrequent besides they are generally attended by a perpetual Sweating Vomiting or some notable evacuation of Serum otherwise they would prove Mortal If a suppression of Urine be free from pain it proceeds from the Paralytic Laxity of the Fibres and is always Mortal The Cure varys according to the Difference of the Causes In general gentle Laxatives mix'd with Diuretics and Turpentin Clysters are proper as being apt not only to irritat the Guts but to promote Urine If the Obstruction be caus'd by clotty Blood Madder Sperma Ceti Crabs Eyes mix'd with Vinegar Chervil Ground Ivy St. John's-wort especially its Seed and above all the volatil Salt of Amber are proper Ingredients If the Obstruction be occasion'd by Purulent Matter we exhibit the Balsam of Sulphur prepar'd with Oyl of Turpentin the Essence of Agrimony Juice of Ground Ivy and such like vulnerary Medicines If a slimy humor beset the Kidneys we must first evacuat the slimy Crudities by Laxatives before we attempt to use Diuretics for fear they should augment the Evil as
The Essence of Wrens is much applauded as likewise the following Pills Take black Beetles gather'd in May without touching 'em with one's Hand Suffocat 'em in Spirit of Wine then dry 'em cut 'em into pieces and in the middle of their Body ye will find a viscous Liquor which mix with their Powder to the consistence of a Balsam Then take of this Balsam adram distill'd Oyl of Anis and that of Cloves of each three drops Make Pills Of which exhibit two grains once or twice in Elder-flower water in the Morning with a fasting Stomac They will cause a Strangury that shall last for thirty Days If Diuretic Med'cines prove ineffectual we ought to discontinue their use for some time lest the Kidneys be overcharg'd with Crudities The strongest of these Diureticks are by some call'd Lithontriptica or dissolvers of the Stone in the Body but I doubt much if any such Med'cines be yet discover'd 'T is certain that Spirit of Nitre will dissolve a Stone out of the Body but the alteration it undergoes in mixing with the various Humours in the Body cramp its virtue within us And therefore whoever pretends to the knowledge of Lithontriptica's must have found out such a Med'cine as is not liable to be chang'd by the Humours of the Body and besides that is neither an Acid nor an Alcali but consists of both as the Stone it self and is peculiarly calculated for its Pores as Aqua fortis is for Silver Some have exploded all Lithontriptica's as being too corrosive and apt to injure the Stomac Guts c. But they ought to consider that all sharp dissolving Menstruum's are not corrosive to the taste as Arsenic Quick-silver Mercurius Vitae c. whic are altogether insipid And besides some Liquors are qualify'd for dissolving hard Concretes that wo'not pick upon softer Objects as Vinegar dissolves the shells of Eggs while their inner Membran is left intire After the Paroxysm is over and the Stone voided we ought to prevent the generation of new ones by proper preservatives as 1. By keeping the first Passages clean with Laxatives and once in three or four Months a Vomit or a stronger Purge 2. By correcting the Acid in the first Passages with absorbent Powders and the fix'd Salts of Diuretic Plants 3. By cleansing the Reins and evacuating the first Rudiments of the Stone with volatil Diuretics the Spirit and volitil Salt of Tartar the Spirit of Urine that of Sal-Armoniac the Spirit of Worms Elixir Proprietatis Turpentin fat Broth Whey c. Some commend Milk but its Curd disswades us from using it However we ought still to remember that the Diuretics must be of the meeker sort and exhibited only once or twice in a Fortnight or three Weeks and that at some distance from the times of eating but not till the first Passages are clear'd 4. By strengthening the Reins retrieving their ferment and preserving the Urine from corruption with balmy Med'cines such as Turpentin the Balsam of Sulphur Juniper St. John's-wort-seeds c. ART 3. Of a Diabetes or excessive Flux of Vrine A Diabetes is either genuin or spurious The former is a voiding of Liquors by Urine without any stay or alteration in the Body The latter is a voiding of a much larger quantity of Urine than that of Liquids receiv'd into the Body The cause of the former is the laxity and openness of the Passages which lead directly from the first Passages to the Reins 'T is true these Passages are not yet discover'd but the quick Passage of some Liquors and their being voided without any alteration in colour taste or consistence according to the Observations of Galen Bartholin Hildanus c. do sufficiently evince their necessity The cause of the latter is a sharp volatil Salt or Ferment bred in the first Passages that dissolves the fat acid in the Blood Chyle and muscular Flesh unlocking their Texture and melting the ferment of the Reins Thus the balmy and nutritious parts of the Blood being melted down and tinctur'd with a sharp acrimony they stimulat the Kidneys and force their passage This volatil Alcali Salt is not unlike that which sometimes causes melting loosenesses or that of Spanish Flies and Beetles and is frequently the follower of violent Diureticks Perhaps it also sucks in the humidity of the Air in the Body by virtue of which it melts and so increases the quantity of Urine which sometimes exceeds that of all the Juices in the Body The Symptoms of the spurious Diabetes are the crudity thinness and sweet taste of the Urine with a fat Scum swimming upon it a notable weakness leanness dryness of the Mouth thirst a heat and pain in the Loyns a slow Feaver and in short all the Symptoms of a Hectic If it follow immoderat Labour Venery or Chronical Feavers 't is uncurable For Cure of a genuin Diabetes we exhibit Astringents and Aromatics such as we generally prescribe for defending and fortifying the Stomac and Bowels in the use of Spaw Waters Thus the astringent crocus of Steel the Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol Bole Armenic seal'd Earth Conserve of Roses vitriolated the decoction of Orange-peel and Plantan bol'd in Chalybeat-water are very proper Some recommend as an Arcanum a Cocks-comb calcin'd and exhibited with ones own Urine As for the Cure of a spurious Diabetes we must endeavour to correct the Acrimony of the Volatil Alcali to prevent the colliquation of the Juices by Narcotics and proper Astringents First of all their Diet must be the same as that of Hectic Persons In the next place vomiting is very proper to which we subjoin the Powder of the natural Blood-stone or of the Artificial one made of the Vitriol of Steel and Sugar of Lead The Antiphthisical Tincture prepar'd from the same Ingredients The Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol the astringent Crocus of Steel the Powder or Spirit of Allum Amber and its Troches or those of seal'd Earth taken in an Acid Vehicle the Tincture or Magistery of Coral prepar'd with the Juice of Citrons or their mixture with Vinegar Take of Plantan Water three ounces Distill'd Vinegar six drams red Coral pulveriz'd not prepar'd a dram Laudanum Opiatum two grains Syrup of Purslain an ounce Mix and exhibit a spoonful frequently Quicklime-Water given to four or five ounces thrice a day is of singular use in this Distemper as also Milk especially Chalybeat Milk or that in which hot Irons are frequently extinguish'd Asses or Goats Milk are the Best and next to them Cows Milk The Emulsions of sweet Almonds and white Poppy-seeds are also very proper Externally some apply to the Kidneys the Juice of River-Crabbs or Baggs of Plantan and Oak-Leaves boil'd in Chalybeat Milk ART 4. Of a Pissing of Blood THE Urine is sometimes tinctur'd with Blood and that more or less according to its quantity The Blood springs either from the Kidney Ureters or Yard or from the Contusions of other parts The Causes are the same as those of
in the Belly of a Pike the Powder of a Sow's Womb or for Men of a Boar's Pudendum the Powder of Hogg's Hoofs the Powder of dry'd Mice and the Dung of a She-Goat Externally we order Fomentations and Baths of the Decoctions of Astringent nervous Plants such as Mint Wormwood Pomgranat Flowers Tormentil Roots and especially Comfrey-Roots in Blacksmith's Water For Old Persons there 's nothing so proper as the Natural Hot-Baths After Fomentation or Bathing 't is convenient to anoint the Loins and Pubes with the Oils of Mint Amber Wormwood Mastic Balsam of Peru distill'd Oyl of Juniper Turpentin c. and to apply the Plaister Oxycroceum soften'd with Oyl of Amber After hard Labour in Child-birth some recommend an Ointment of Calaminar stone wash'd in Vinegar and Rose-water and pulveriz'd with Litharge of Silver Ceruss Oyl of Roses Oyl of Chamomil and Goat's Fat Finally the Powder of a Toad taken alive and burnt in a New Pot being hung in a Bag about the Neck is universally approv'd of for curing any incontinency of Urine ART 4. Of a Strangury A Strangury is a making of Water by drops with an unsufferable Pain in the Neck of the Bladder and Vrethra and a violent Itch for pissing and going to stool The Cause is the acidity and sharpness of the Urine which provokes the Bladder to Contraction and when the Sphincter opens to give it vent provokes it likewise to shut the Passage Thus the reciprocal Contractions of the Bladder and Sphincter occasion the voiding of Urine by drops and the sharpness of the Humour causes the excessive Pain which is more violent in the Vrethra than the Bladder by reason that the one is defended by a slimy Matter and the other is not The Remote Cause of the acidity of the Humors is an imperfect digestion in the first Passages and the inactivity of the Bile Thus New Wine or Ale will cause a Strangury as being apt to turn Acid in the Stomach The Strangury which attends the Venereal Disease proceeds from a sharp corrosive Lymph voided by the Prostatae If a Strangury continue long 't is apt to create Ulcers in the Bladder nay sometimes it may proceed from Excoriations or Ulcers of the Bladder In Old Persons whose digesting Faculty is weak 't is almost incurable The Cure consists in tempering the sharpness of the Humors and rectifying the state of the Bladder The latter Indication is accounted for above The First is answer'd by Vomits as being wonderfully useful in all Diseases relating to the Urine Purges of Rhubarb or Jalap and Turpentin are also very proper When the first Passages are clear'd the Essence or rather the distill'd Oyl of Orange-Peel iâ—s of admirable efficacy for destroying the Acid and whetting the Bile In general we recommend for a Strangury the Decoction of Black Currants and Carret-seed in red Wine the Decoction of Winter Cherres with Raisins the Decoction of Rapes the Emulsions of Hemp-seed and the four cold Seeds the Oyl of sweet Almonds mix'd with the Syrup of Marshmallows and Crabbs Eyes the Juice of River-Crabbs the Infusion of Onyons in some proper Vehicle the dulcify'd Spirit of Nitre the carminative Spirit de tribus the Spirit of Tartar the Spirit of Wine taken every Night going to Bed the Balsam of Sulphur Oyl of Amber Troches of Amber and above all the Balsam Capivi given in Parsley-Water and Borace given to a scruple A Strangury caus'd by new Ale is cur'd by the Powder of Nutmegs If these Medicines prove ineffectual we must have recourse to Aromatic Ingredients such as Galangal Zedoary Orange Peel Elixyr of Juniper Berries and especially Wine in which burning Flint-stones are extinguish'd Externally anoint the Navel which communicats with the Bladder by the Urachus with a mixture of Goats Tallow and the distill'd Oyls of Wax and Orange Peel or sumigat the Parts with the Decoction of Radishes in Wine Inject Chalybeat Milk or Oyl of sweets Almonds into the Bladder and in time of Pissing let the Yard be put into warm Milk Anodyn Emellient Clysters are also proper as likewise Emollient Fomentations and Baths For old Persons there 's nothing so serviceable as the natural Hot Baths ART 5. Of a Dysuria or Heat of Vrine A Dysuria is a voiding of Urine with a great deal of Pain and Heat It differs from a Strangury in this that the Urine is not voided by Drops but in a due quantity that the Pain vanishes after making Water that it causes no vain desire of Pissing or going to Stool and that its Pain is accompany'd with a burning Heat The cause for the most part is the Inflammation Corrosion or Ulceration of the Neck of the Bladder Urethra or adjacent Parts Thus the Stone sometimes galls the parts as it passes and causes a Heat of Urine The Inflammation of the Prostatae or the sharp Corrosive Humor voided by 'em the Inflammation of the Womb Intestinum Rectum or the Emrods will produce the same effect Sometimes but very rarely it proceeds from the sharpness of Urine as being laden with Scorbutical Salts or mix'd with some purulent Matter or impregnated with Cantharides or corrosive Preparations of Mercury When the Bladder and adjacent Parts are thus disorder'd their nutritive Juice is deprav'd and voided with the Urine in the form of a thick milky Mucilage in which case the Disease is dangerous If this Distemper continue long it degenerats into an Ulcer of the Badder or Incontinence of Urine The Cure consists in tempering the sharpness of Urine and rectifying the state of the Bladder and adjacent Parts For which Purposes the same Medicines as were recommended for a Strangury are proper to which we may add the Conserve of Mallows Flowers the Decoction of Sebesten with House-leek Water Whey or Milk in which Blew-bottle or Larks-heel Flowers are boyl'd especially when the Disease is occasion'd by Cantharides Turpentin mix'd with Amber Frankincense Myrrh and the Juice of Liquorice the Bladder a Goat in Powder with the distillâ—d Oyl of Caraways the Powder of Dates with Sugar and Laudanum Opiatum Note the Spirit and Oyl of Turpentin are too sharp Take of the Conserve of Violets an ounce and a half Rob of Juniper six drams Powder of the Seeds of St. John's-wort three drams prepar'd Crabs Eyes a dram prepar'd Pearch-stones half a scruple Laudanum Opiatum a grain and a half With the Syrup of Scabious make an Electuary Externally we apply Cataplasms of Rue Pellitory and Chervil boyl'd in Milk and mix'd with the Oyl of Scorpions or anoint the Pubes with the Ointments Martiatum and Agrippae mix'd with the Oyl of Bays The Injection of Milk and living Lice the Bathing and Clysters are also very proper If the Bladder be ulcerated we inject first cleansing and then consolidating Decoctions Of which more else where SECT XX. Of Diseases relating to the separation of Lymph in the Glandules and its regular Motion THE Lymph is a Liquor separated by Glandules some of which are gather'd
of Spirits From whence ensues the variety of the animal or sensitive Phaenomena's 2. That the Brain and Spirits have a peculiar dependance upon the Moon and upon that account the Diseases of the Head encrease or diminish in proportion to its Age. The Spirits when disorder'd are more sensible of this Influence than in their natural State 'T is true the Sun has some Ascendant over our Bodies but that properly relates to the vegetable and vital Functions the Animal Province being more peculiarly allotted to the Moon 3. That there is an admirable Sympathy betwixt the Brain and the Bowels especially the Stomac An ungrateful Imagination disturbs the Stomac and Vomiting and Giddiness do equally give rise to one another The Disorders of the Stomac and lower Belly have a visible Influence upon the Fancy as in the case of Hysteric or Hypocondriac Fits and the ridiculous Appetites of Women Helmont was very happy in this Observation and the practical Inferences he deduc'd from it but his Theoretic Conjectures are frivolous The reason why the Spirits and the Stomac do so sensibly affect one another seems to be this That the Mouth of the Stomac is the first part of all the Body that receives any sensible Impression in the Womb for so much as all Alterations in the Embryo must be produc'd by the Nourishment convey'd to the Stomac This establishes an early Correspondence betwixt it and the Spirits and lays the lasting Foundation of their future Intimacy 4. That the Spirits are liable to the same material Alterations with the Blood CHAP. I. Of immoderate Watchings WE are said to wake when the Spirits are distributed through the Organs of Sense and extend their Fibres On the contrary Sleep unbends the Fibres and imprisons the Spirits The Privation of which causes Disorders in the Body The immediate Cause of Watchfulness is a continued or violent Incursion of Spirits into the Organs of Sense The remote Cause barring some external Object must either be the Disorder of the animal Spirits or some defect in the Brain The Spirits are oft-times too nimble and moveable as in young People and such as feed high and drink generous Liquors The Heat of Summer or travelling in a hot Climat eating of Venison immoderat Care Study and the Passions of the Mind the accession of foreign heterogeneous Particles from malignant Distempers or drinking Tee and Cossee are the natural Causes of the Mobility and Disorder of the Spirits and consequently of Watchfulness As for the Brain Watchings will insue upon the Openness of its Pores occasion'd by a Dryness or want of Moisture to fill up the Intervals This may happen through Fasting or eating of sharp volatil Meats immoderat Venery Sweating smoaking Tobacco which tho it be an Opiat exhausts the Moisture of the Brain an unseasonable Use of purging Medicines or a Deficiency in the first Digestion which not only affects the Spirits by Consent but robs the Brain of its wonted Recruits in neglecting the regular distribution of the Chyle This Disease is manifest of it self As for Prognostics It infers a Weakness and Feebleness 'T is more sufferable in Youth than in a State of Manhood and among Men than among the Female Sex It portends ill in acute Distempers But in Chronical Diseases may be longer endur'd tho 't is oft-times follow'd by Phrensies Folly or Stupidity The Cure is perform'd by taking off the remote Causes If it be caus'd by the Inflammation and Impetuosity of the Blood a Vein must be open'd If the Blood be sharp and oppress'd with heterogeneous Particles Purgation and Sweating take place If it spring from the Disorder of the animal Spirits they must be reduc'd to Order by the use of pacific Medicines such as Opium or Laudanum opiatum or their Compounds Bartholetus commends the Essence of Opium prepar'd with Spirit of Vitriol or Spirit of Cockle Ens Veneris which consists of Vitriol and Salt Armoniac and likewise the Anodvn Sulphur of Vitriol are proper in this case But in using Opium we ought to observe these Causions Not to exhibit it when the Watchings are owing to the Efforts of Nature endeavouring a Solution of a Disease or when attended with a straitness in the Breast or difficulty of Breathing or when they proceed from the deficiency and want of Spirits as in old Men c. The mildest Opiats are the safest Let them be given in small Quantities and repeated often As Take of the Conserve of wild Poppy Flowers one Dram Venice Treacle or Diascordium half a Dram Laudanum Opiatum one Grain Make a Bolus Or Take of native Cinnabar fifteen Grains Saccharum Saturni eight Grains Laudanum Opiatum one or two Grains with the Extract of Saffron make Pills to be taken in the Evening about an hour before Supper The Seed of Thorn Apple is of excellent use in this case As for the Watchings which arise from the Dryness and Openness of the Brain moist and cooling Medicines are most proper such as Emulsions and other oily temperat Compositions Take of the four greater cold Seeds of each half an Ounce Garden Poppy Seeds two Drams sweet Almonds from two Drams to half an Ounce with a sufficient quantity of the Water of Water Lillies make an Emulsion Add of Cinnamom Water half an Ounce and sweeten it with Syrup of Poppies Or the Emulsion may be accommodated to whatever acute Distemper accompanies the Watchings as in a malignant Fever Take of sweet Almonds and Garden Poppy Seeds of each two Drams of the four greater cold Seeds of each a Dram With Viper Grass Water make an Emulsion sweeten it with pearl'd Sugar and add half an Ounce of Ciâ—namom Water and a Scruple of Bezoar Mineral It pacifies the Spirits and obviats the Malignity of the Distemper The Decoction of Barley with Poppies and Liquorice is much applauded And in general all moist nourishing milky chilous Medicines are very conducive in this caseâ— especially the Seed of Thorn Apple of the Fruit we make Pills thus Take of Thorn Apples six Pound bruise and boil them in twelve Pints of Lettice Water to eight Pints express the Decoction and digest it in the Sun sprinkle it with Spirit of Wine and set it to dry To an Ounce of the Juice thus thicken'd and dry'd add half an Ounce of Saffron and two Scruples of the Oil of Citron Peel Make a Mass for Pills Dose a Grain or two It procures Sleep and stops all Fluxes In the Watchings of old Men or such as proceed from a scarcity of Spirits or a frigid Crudity in the Stomac Opiats are inconvenient Comforting and aromatic Medicines are only proper Some give Opiat Clysters or Suppositories to procure Sleep but 't is a dangerous Method unless the Watchings be accompany'd with a Loosness or Pains in the Guts Besides the internal Use of moistening and quieting Medicines some apply them outwardly to the Forehead Temples Feet and Hands They foment and bathe the extreme Parts with the Decoctions of Anodyn and
Extractum Phlegmagogum from half a Scruple to a Scruple Castor half a Scruple Troches Alhandal two Grains Rosin of Jalap one two or five Grains With the Essence of Castor make Pills To which you may add some sweet Mercury Next to evacuating Medicines we exhibit the sharp Volatil Cephalics which dispel the serous Humour and disengage the Spirits such are Spirit of Salt Armoniac Spirit of Mustard Seeds Spirit of the Lilly Convally Salt of Amber and especially Castor The Decoction of Tee is much commended in all sleepy Distempers The sharpest Cephalic Medicines are best As Take of Marjoram and Rue Water of each an Ounce and a half Apoplectic Water six Drams Essence of Castor a Dram and a half Spirit of Soot two Scruples Syrup of Betony one Ounce Mix c. Or Take of the Spirit of Mother of Thyme Spirit of Citron Peel of each a Dram and a half Spirit of Human Blood one Dram Mix. Or Take of the Conserve of Sage Conserve of Rosemary and Lavender Flowers of each one Ounce the Pouder Dianthos a Dram and a half Pouder of Cubebs a Dram Mustard-seeds and Castor of each two Scruples with the Syrup of Piony Flowers make an Electuary If the Lethargy proceed from a narcotic Virulency that has seiz'd the Spirits then the Volatil Acids are most proper especially the Volatil spirit of Vitriol and the Volatil Spirit of Verdigreese They are given from twenty to thirty Drops in any convenient Vehicle to which Castor always ought to be added it being an admirable specific in these Cases When a Lethargy proceeds from this cause prescribe thus Take of black Cherry Water Mother of Thyme Water of each an Ounce and a half Myasichtus his Hysteric Vinegar or Vinegar of Squills half an Ounce Essence of Castor two Drams Oxymel of Squills six Drams mix c. Or Take of prepar'd Amber a Dram Cinnabar of Antimony half a Dram Castor two Scruples make a Pouder for four Doses After the use of these Medicines the Cure may be compleated by the Sudorific decoctions of Woods c. Next succeed the sneezing and chewing Medicines which evacuate by the Mouth and Nose To this purpose are the sharp pointed irritating Medicines which ought always to be mix'd with Volatil Salts that so while the one irritates and provokes to an evacuation the other may penetrate and prepare the Humor As Take of Pouder of Tobacco Pouder of Lilly Convally of each a Dram white Hellebor Roots a Scruple Castor from twelve Grains to a Scruple distill'd Oil of Marjoram six drops make a Pouder to be blown into the Nostrils thro a Quill Or Take of white Hellebor Castor white Pepper of each a Scruple the distill'd Oils of Rue of Marjoram and Sage of each two drops mix and make a Pouder for the same Use This prescription was peculiar to Timaeus Or Take of Treacle of Andromachus two Drams Extract of Castor half a Scruple Pouder of Pellitory Roots one Scruple distill'd Oil of Amber six Drops mix and make a Medicine for cleansing the Palat. To these we add the external Remedies As Take of the distill'd Oil of Sage half a Dram the distill'd Oils of Castor and of Amber of each a Scruple mix and make an Oil with which anoint the Face and Temples Or Take of the distill'd Oils of Rue of Savory and of Mother of Thyme of each a Scruple Castor half a Scruple With a sufficient quantity of some convenient Balsam mix and reserve for Use Or Take of Swallow Water prepar'd with Castor two Ounces the Spirit of the Crystals of Verdigrease two Drams mix and foment the Face and Temples with iâ— Or Take of Vinegar of Rue two Drams Spirit of Verdigreese prepar'd with Sulphur two Drams Essence of Castor a Dram and a half mix and use as before Or thus Take of the Herbs Savory and Rue of each half a handful Zedoary half an Ounce Juniper-berries six Drams Laurel-berries half an Ounce Mustard Seeds and the Seeds of Water Cresses of each two Drams boil them in a sufficient quantity of Vinegar and foment the Face and Temples The Spirit of Vitriol and Vinegar applied to the Nostrils are of admirable use against feaverish Coma's As for the waking Coma's a Cataplasm of a fresh Horse Radish Root beat up with Rue Vinegar common Salt and a sufficient quantity of Lees may be applied to the Feet If the Lethargy proceed from Mercurial or Sulphurous Fumes c. let a Vomit be exhibited upon the first view then apply Vinegar and Castor to the Nose and likewise give it inwardly Or thus Take of Mint Water of Rue Water of Rue Vinegar of each an Ounce Essence of Castor six-Drams Syrup of Mint or of the Juice of Citrons one Ounce mix and let the Patient take a Spoonful often Where the immoderate Use of Opium causes a Lethargy Vinegar of Rue or of Squills or of Vitriol mix'd with Castor is a sovereign Remedy or if that prove ineffectual add Mustard Seed or Rocket Seeds or inject a Clyster of Spanish Wine If any sleepy Distemper ensue upon hard Drinking let a Vomit be first exhibited then foment the Forehead and Temples with Vinegar mix'd with the Juice of Smallage or apply the juice of Sengreen the greater with Vinegar and Nitre to the Scrotum Spirit of Salt Armoniac or of Soot are very serviceable in this Case Upon the whole the Remedies made use of in a Lethargy must be particularly appropriated to the Cause that produc'd it If it proceed from an external Cause Vomiting and the use of Vinegar with Castor will finish the Cure If it owe its Original to an internal Cause or be preceded by other Distempers the Cure must be vary'd according to the respective Indications There is a near resemblance betwixt these Distempers and what we call a Catalepsis in which the Patient is depriv'd of all Sense and Motion and seiz'd with a stiffness in his Members tho moveable by any external impulse and apt to remain in the posture they 're left in It is an uncommon Distemper and very surprising being accompany'd with a staring of the Eyes and distortion of the Countenance The Cause is the coagulation and fixedness of the Spirits it may remotely proceed from Cold suppression of the Terms Hypocondriac Fits Worms sulphurous Fumes and discontent of the Mind It is a dangerous Disease As for the Cure exhibit Antimonial Vomits and apply sharp Cataplasms or Suppositories Spirit of Wine is us'd in this Case both Internally and Externally SECT II. Of the Disorders of the external Senses EXternal Sense proceeds from the influence of outward objects upon the Organs where the Nerves are inserted The Animal Spirits ought naturally to bend and extend these Nerves so that when the outward Extremities are mov'd the same motion may readily be communicated to the Spirits in the Brain This secondary motion of the Spirits within occasion'd by the impulse from without is the foundation of internal Sense by
Diseases if the Urine remain crude and the Person is seiz'd with a Deafness it portends Doating If it be accompany'd with the signs of Concoction it signifies the Solution of the Disease If attended by a Perturbation of the Eyes a Heaviness in the Head and a Distention of the lower Belly it bespeaks a Bleeding at the Nose especially if the Patient be apt to rub it A Deafness succeeding to Doating is a better Circumstance than if it went before As for the Cure In acute Diseases it disappears upon the Solution of the Disease or if it continue longer is cur'd by Cupping behind the Ears or smoaking Tobacco or putting into the Ears a little Cotton dip'd in Aqua Anhaltina If it subsist by it self without any dependance upon other Distempers the Cure must be accommodated to the Cause that produces it If it arise from an Obstruction in the Passage occasion'd by the hardening of the Earwax or otherwise 't is cur'd by injecting the Juice or Essence of Wormwood or Child's Urine or the Spirit of Urine unrectify'd If it proceed from other internal Causes a tender regard must be had to the Drum and the hearing Nerve by preserving their due Order with Aromatic and Nervous Medicines In a Catarrhous case give internally what follows Take of the Essence of Rosemary Flowers of Saint John's Wort and of Sassafras of each two Drams mix c. Amber given inwardly or apply'd to the Ear in a little Cotton is an admirable Medicine for old People Mosch or Civet or Balsam of Peru diluted with Spirit of Wine or Origanum Water distill'd with Wine or the Water of Carduus Benedictus rectify'd by frequent Cohobation are all us'd externally the same way If Deafness be attended by a remarkable Heat in the Ears the Water that drops from one end of a piece of Ash-wood while t'other is put into the Fire or the Water of Ants or the Water distill'd from Flies or Magpy Water with Castor or the Juice of Radishes or of Onions mix'd with Oil of Amber and Oil of Bitter Almonds are all applauded Remedies and are to be us'd with Cotton or a Linnen Cloth Above all the penetrating Aromatics as Spirit of Treacle Essence of Wormwood and of Cloves c. are preferable Human Gall or the Galls of other Animals infus'd in Spirit of Wine are much commended Or Take of Ox's Gall and Spanish Wine of each equal Quantities distil from them a Liquor to be drop'd into the Ear or applied in Cotton or a Linnen Cloth Take of the Roots of black Hellebor half a Dram Roots of Aromatic Calamus two Scruples Pulp of Coloquintida a Scruple Bay Berries a Dram Cumin Seeds from two Scruples to two Drams and a half Cut and beat them small and infuse them in four Ounces of Spirit of Wine and use the strain'd Liquor as above or sharpen it with Essence of Amber All Preparations from Ants are of wonderful use in this case As Take of the Eggs of Ants one Ounce and six Galls of Hares beat them up with a double Quantity of Hony and then drop it into the Ear. Or Take twenty of the little white Worms that are found betwixt the Bark and Wood of an Oak-tree Let them boil in two Ounces and a half of the Oil of unripe Olives Then take the Root of Sowbread and cut it hollow Fill the hollow space with the Oil of these Worms and add of prepar'd Pellitory Roots and of the Roots of Aromatic Costus from half a Scruple to a Scruple Oil of Costus or of Rue as much as it can hold Close up the Root and roast it under the Ashes then bruise it in a Mortar and with force express the Juice and pour some Drops of it into the Ear every day for ten ays together Timaeus and Heertodius recommend it for an incomparable Remedy The Fat of Serpents or of Vipers or the Fat that drops from roasted Eels are proper in this case and may be mix'd with the Oil of Amber or Aniseeds Some commend a Fumigation of the Ears from a mixture of Sal Armoniac Oil of Tartar per Deliquium and a double quantity of Quicklime with common Water After the application of these external Remedies the Ear ought always to be stop'd with Cotton and Amber or Musk upon it and the Patient must lie upon the sound Ear that so the Virtue of the Medicines may penetrat the more Besides 't is to be remark'd that oily viscid Medicines are not so mild as those of a thin spirituous Substance and that they ought never to be applied till the Ear be purg'd and wip'd clean All Medicines thus applied must be just luke-warm and two or three Drops may always suffice for one time If Deafness come by Fits or depend upon a Catarrhous Disposition of the Brain just before the Invasion of the Paroxism 't is proper to apply to the Crown of the Head a Cloth dip'd in Apoplectic Spirits or Oils If it be occasion'd by a vehement Noise 't is not amiss to apply hot Bread from the Oven with Juniper and Bay-Berries baken into it Or Take of the Herbs Marjoram Sage Rosemary and the Flowers of red Roses of each half a handful Juniper Berries one Ounce Cumin Seeds half an Ounce chop and beat them small and stitch them into a Bag to be applied hot or wet with a convenient Vehicle A Fumigation receiv'd at the Ear from a Decoction of Filings of Steel with distill'd Vinegar and Cephalic Herbs or from the Flowers of Sulphur is much esteem'd After the Fumigation is over apply to the Ear distill'd Oil of Fennel with Cotton In Chronical or Catarrhous Cases the hot Baths are very proper both for Bathing and Pumping upon the Head An Issue cut in the Arm of the same side with the affected Ear is likewise very useful on this occasion If Deafness be caus'd by a Fall Contusion or external Violence distill'd Soubread Water is a proper Remedy and a Plaister made of equal Quantities of Tacamahac and Cerecloth of Betony may be applied to the Head shav'd Hot Urine taken from a hunted Hare is commended by some If any Obstruction or such like cause give rise to a Deafness 't is probable a Salivation procur'd by Mercury may be useful But 't is a desperate Cure and must be cautiously undertaken Thus I 've dispatch'd the first Branch of the Disorders of the Ear the next is when the Sense of Hearing remains and the Patient is molested with a tingling or noise in his Ears It proceeds from a preternatural Motion of the internal Air contain'd in the Cavity of the Ear which affects the Fibres of the Drum and so represents an imaginary Sound This Motion may be occasion'd by subtil foreign Fumes exhal'd from the Blood in the adjacent Arteries which disturb the Repose of the internal Air or by the Irritation or violent misplacing of the Drum from any internal or external Cause Convulsions of this Membran may be occasion'd by
Herb Arsmart Mother of Thyme of each one handful Dock Roots Nettle Roots of each one Ounce Pellitory of Spain Roots the Shavings of Boxwood the Shavings of Lignum Sanctum of each half an Ounce Seeds of white Henbane one Dram. Boil them in a sufficient Quantity of Water Strain the Liquor for a Gargal Heurnius commends the Decoction of Tobacco with Chamomile Flowers Or Take of black Pepper Roots of Pellitory of Spain Seeds of Stavesacre of each an equal quantity boil them in Wine and use it for a Gargal Or Take of Juniper Gum one Ounce boil it in a Pint of Wine for the same use Or Take of the Flowers of Spikenard a convenient Quantity boil them in Wine for the same use Or Take of the Extract of Guajacum Wood three Grains Laudanum Opiatum two Grains distill'd Oil of Origanum or of Cloves two Drops Make Pills to be put into the hollow Tooth Or Take of the Flowers of Benzoin six Grains Opium dissolv'd in Spirit of Wine and thicken'd three Grains with a sufficient quantity of the Extract of Triacle make Pills as above Or Take of Laudanum Opiatum one Scruple Oil of Camphyr Oil of Cloves of each five Drops With some convenient Balsam make a Balsam to be applied to the Tooth If the Face be inflam'd apply a Plaister of Triacle to the Cheek Spirit of Sal Armoniac prepar'd with Spirit of Wine and Quicklime with Camphyr dissolv'd in it applied with Cotton to the Tooth gives present Relief The Essence of Sassafras prepar'd with Spirit of Wine is very proper But above all the Essence of Benzoin Elixir Proprietatis prepar'd without an Acid is oft-times useful The Aromatic distill'd Oils especially of Savin mix'd with Oil of Henbane are preferable to Essences Sulphur Auratum Antimonii Oils of Amber Hazel Boxwood c. are sometimes successful The Surgeons are wont to apply Plaisters to the Temples or the following Plaister to the whole Part inflam'd Take of Triacle of Andromachus Tacamahac of each half an Ounce Balsam of Peru a Dram. Spread it upon a Linnen Cloth for use If the Toothach cause an Inflammation like to St. Antony's Fire Take of Triacle of Andromachus from half an Ounce to six Drams Salt of Wormwood Balsam of Peru of each a Dram Mix and apply If it be attended by a Swelling of the Jaws 't is not fit to provoke 'em to Suppuration But Take of Chamomile Flowers Elder Flowers of each a handful Roots of Florentin Orris in Pouder half an Ounce mix 'em with express'd Oil of Poppies make a quilted Bag and apply it hot to the Part affected Sometimes indeed there happens a little Tumor in the Gums at the very Root of the Tooth which ought to be suppurated by warm Milk or roasted Figs and afterwards kept clean with Honey or the like If the Toothach be inveterat and do not yield to the ordinary Medicines 't is necessary to purge with Jalap and let Blood and apply Cupping-glasses to the Neck and Shoulders If the Tooth be corrupted it must be drawn with a proper Instrument Before drawing 't is not amiss to apply the following Ointment in order to loosen the Tooth Take of Gum Ammoniac Seeds of Henbane Juice of Henbane of each a Dram and a half with the Fat of a green Frog and a little Wax make an Ointment In the case of Worms in the Teeth the Decoction of Savin in Wine is proper If the Tooth be rotten an actual or potential Cautery will prevent its further Corruption ART IV. Of the Aches of the Eyes AN Inflammation or the sharpness of the Serum or external Accidents may cause Pains in the Eyes If any external thing lurk in the Eye it must be taken out by putting a Seed of Clary or a little Pearl or Crabs-eye into it If the Pain proceed from a spontaneous Inflammation the Mucilage of Seeds of Quinces extracted with Water of Frogs Spawn adding five or six Grains of Camphyr and as much Saffron to three Ounces of Mucilage ought to be laid upon the Eyes Fennel-water with Sugar of Lead and Camphyr is likewise proper Or Take of the Water of Celandin the greater Water of Blew-bottle Flowers and of Larks Spur of each one Ounce white Vitriol twelve Grains strain the Liquor and add half a Scruple of prepar'd Tutty to be applied to the Eye with a Linnen Cloth Of all external Applications the following Cataplasm is the best Take three sweet Apples boil'd and squeez'd and rosted under the Ashes and the White of one Egg well mix'd with two Drams of Loaf-sugar and twelve Grains of Camphyr with five Grains of Saffron Mix for a Cataplasm to be laid upon the Eye Some recommend the opening of an Artery in this case Sometimes we meet with a pressing tearing Pain which comes in an Evening without any evident Cause and seems to proceed from the Convulsions of the Coats of the Eye In which case Antimonial Infusions are proper Or Take of the Mucilage of Plantain Seeds Quince Seeds and Clary extracted with Water of Frogs Spawn of each one Ounce Saffron six Grains Camphyr four Grains Or Take of Plantain Water Fennel Water of each six Drams Lindanus's Sugar of Lead a Dram and a half prepar'd Tutty seven Grains Saffron three Grains Mix for a Collyrium Sometimes Arthritic Pains are usher'd in by a Pain in the Eye-lids which may be cur'd by applying a blistering Plaister behind the Ears ART V. Of Pains in the Ears THE Pains of the Ears are for the most part occasion'd by the Disorders of the internal Membran by Inflammations and the Corrosion of sharp Humors or of Worms either ingendred in the Ear or receiv'd from without An Inflammation is very dangerous and attended by a remarkable Heat that is not observ'd in the case of sharp Humors Worms are distinguish'd by an Itching and Sense of Motion within the Ear. As for Cure the following Cataplasm is universally applauded Take an Onion rosted under the Ashes with an Ounce and a half of Oil of Chamomile and half an Ounce of Oil of Dill with as much fresh Butter and a Scruple of Saffron It is a sovereign Remedy for the Inflammations that follow the Toothach The softening Oils Infusions of Tobacco or the Smoak of it convey'd into the Ear and especially the Oils of Insects are all very proper As Take of the Oil of Scorpions one Dram Oil of sweet or bitter Almonds distill'd Oils of Anniseeds and Caroways of each half a Scruple Pour it hot into the Ear or apply it with Cotton In the case of an Inflammation Take of the Juice of Houseleek Oils of Scorpions of Earthworms and of Chamomile of each a Dram Mix and use as above If there be no suspicion of an Inflammation the distill'd Vegetable Oils of Origanum c. are proper Or Take a hundred of the largest Eggs of Ants Castor Pulp of Coloquintida Marjoram Savin Wormwood and Rue of each one handful The Seeds of Cumin Aniseeds Fennel-seeds
three Drams Oil of Juniper-berries a Dram Oil of Spike half a Dram. Mix and anoint the Part. Or Take of human Fat two Ounces Oil of Earthworms an Ounce Rock Oil three Drams Oil of Amber a Dram and a half Mix and use as above Take a bowell'd Goose and fill it with the Leaves of Sage Rosemary Spike and Avens to which add of the fat of a wild Cat an Ounce and a half Frankincense Mastic and Amber of each half an Ounce Castor and Euphoâ—bium of each two Drams Sow 'em in and rost the Goose on a Spit reserving the Fat that drops from it â—s an admirable Liniment for Paralytic Parts Or Take a bowell'd Gander and wash it well with Wine then stuff its Belly with Frankincense Myrrh Mastic of each two Ounces Ointment call'd Martialum six Ounces Rost it on a Spit throw away the watry Phlegm that drops from it and take of the Fat well separated an Ounce and Pouder of Earthworms two Ounces Mix and distil thro a Retort an incomparable Oil for anointing paralytic Members These external Remedies are apply'd to the paralytic Members when the Ligaments and Tendons are faulty but if the source of the Distemper be lodg'd in the Nerve then we apply 'em to the Back or Neck or crown of the Head according to the Progress of the Nerve CHAP. IV. Of the Deficiency of Rational Operations THE Intellect or Rational Faculty being immaterial cannot be vitiated of it self by any morbific Cause but for so much as 't is conversant about the Objects of our internal Senses it makes use of their Ministry and if they are out of order shares of the common Calamity The internal Senses are the Imagination and Memory which depend upon the regular Motion of the Animal Spirits in the Brain and run into disorder upon their Enormities as appears a posteriori by ridiculous Gestures Words and Actions Thus whatever impairs the right use of Reason must immediatly affect the Imagination and Memory Our rational Faculty is injur'd either by being diminish'd or abolish'd as by Stupidity and Folly or by being perverted as in Deliriums c. ART I. Of the defect of Memory and Stupidity OUR Reason is impair'd or extinguish'd by the deficiency of Memory which is an Endowment common to us with Beasts and is generally affected by the Disorders of the Head The remote Causes that prejudice the Memory may be reduc'd to three Classes 1. Whatever alters the regular form of the Brain its Pores and Passages as Falls Bruises Wounds or any preternatural form of the Head 2. Whatever corrupts the Blood and Animal Spirits as immoderat Drinking unseasonable Fasting stopping of any wonted Evacuation of Blood excessive Bleeding c. 3. Whatever exhausts disperses or stupifies the Spirits as an indiscreet use of Opium Poyson Love-Potions excessive Venery sudden Fear Care and Watchings and excess and multiplicity of Studies sleepy Diseases Epilepsies Apoplexies Madness acute Feavers the Plague and old Age. A natural want of Memory being incurable dos not fall within the compass of our present inquiry If it be preternaturally occasion'd we ought to consider the Circumstances and past life of the Patient If the Person be old drousy and inclin'd to sleep much and voids a great deal of Phlegm by the Mouth and Nostrils but retains a vigorous Judgment we will find that in his Youth he was not given to study or perplex'd with Business and Care and that the loss of Memory proceeds from an inundation of Lymph in the Brain Old Persons whose Youth was imploy'd in much study and thought have generally a dry habit of Body void but little by the Mouth or Nose sleep not much and are easily wakened and their want of Memory proceeds from the dryness of the Brain and agility of the Spirits If young Persons are seiz'd with a loss or deficiency of Memory whose Apprehension and Genius was and continues lively it argues a dryness occasion'd in the Brain by the nimble Revolutions of the Spirits and generally such Persons are in danger of losing both Judgment and Memory when they grow old And those whose Memory and Judgment are very fresh and keen in their Youth are apt to run the same risque If a Youth have a weak Memory and withal a drousy inactive Temper 't is owing to the Humidity of the Brain and Deficiency of Animal Spirits The sudden loss of Memory without any visible Cause is a Forerunner of an Apoplexy Palsy or Epilepsy If it surprise one already enfeebled and weak 't is a sign of Death If it arise from the moisture of the Brain 't is easier cur'd than when it flows from an excessive dryness If it be caus'd by Poison Love-potions inveterat Diseases of the Head malignant and acute Feavers 't is almost incurable As for the Cure The remote Causes must be specially accounted for If it proceed from a dryness of the Brain aromatic and spirituous Medicines are very noxious nor are there any Medicines so effectual as moist and juicy Food Milk Chocolate c. If it arise from the Moisture of the Brain attended by a stupidity and drousiness of the Spirits Purgatives are first proper then Aromatics sneezing Pouders and Medicines to be chew'd The aromatic Medicines are Rosemary Baum Stechas Spike and all the Spices Three Cubebs taken in the Morning with a fasting stomac corroborat the Memory wonderfully Cardamoms are very good but more proper for old than young Persons Frankincense and Amber are likewise very useful But above all Ambergrease is the most powerful Medicine 'T is given in Pouder with Sugar or by way of Essence or Tincture prepar'd with Spirit of Roses or black Cherries It ought to be given in a small Dose by reason of a Stupidity that sometimes follows it Where the Brain is dry or the Patient young and of a hot Constitution 't is not proper But for old People 't is incomparable if discreetly us'd Besides 't is an incentive to Venery which is a mortal Enemy to the Memory Laurembergius recommends the four following Compositions for corroborating the Memory which are chiefly to be us'd when the Brain is moist and the Spirits drousy Take of juicy Tobacco-leaves two handfuls Roots of Pellitory of Spain three Drams Ginger a Dram. With Hony reduce 'em to the consistence of a Pultice and make little round Balls to be chew'd or roll'd to and again in the Mouth Take of the Herbs Baum Marjoram Sage and Rosemary Bay-leaves of each a handful Flowers of Lavender Lilly Convally Lime-tree and French Lavender of each a little handful Boil them in Spanish or Rhenish Wine and wash the Head with the Decoction every fourth fifth or sixth day Take a convenient quantity of Spanish Wine in which macerat for fourteen or fifteen days the following Ingredients Take of the Herbs Basil Marjoram Sage Baum and Penny-Royal of each half a handful Flowers of Borrage of Sage and Primroses Flowers of Rosemary of French Lavender and of Lilly Convally
of each a little handful Distil thro an Alembic and receive the Spirit in a large open Body which set into a heap of large black Ants such as resort to resinous Trees When four or five handfuls of Ants have crept into it stir them with a stick till they be all stifled Then set 'em to digest for fourteen days in the Sun and after that draw off the Spirit and infuse into it of the Confection of Anacardium Cinnamom of each an Ounce Saffron half a Dram Mosch twelve Grains Mix digest and strain out the Spirit of which exhibit a spoonful in a Glass of Wine every Morning Take of Tobacco-leaves two handfuls Flowers of Common Basil of Baum of Primroses and of Marjoram of each a handful Bruise 'em and mix with Oil of Olives and fresh Butter of each three Ounces Rhenish or Spanish Wine five Ounces boil for a Liniment to be strain'd and applied to the Temple and top of the Head Montagnana extoll'd the following Prescription for a valuable Arcanum Take of Cubebs Calamint Mastic Nutmegs and Cloves of each a Dram Eastern Ambergrease half a Dram Mosch five Grains With Juice of Marjoram make Pills Let the Patient take down a few at Night and double the quantity next Morning Sebizius recommends the following Pills viz. Take of Aloe an Ounce Rhubarb two Drams Myrrh Saffron and Agaric of each a Dram Gentian and Zedoary Roots of each a Scruple With Venice Triacle make small Pills Dose seven or nine Tea boil'd in Wine is a sovereign Remedy for corroborating the Memory and Judgment Or Take of the Cephalic Water for internal use and Aqua Sophorum of each two Ounces Matthiolus's Quintessence half an Ounce Spirit of black Cherries Spirit of Lilly Convally Spirit of Primroses and Essence of Amber of each a Dram Syrup of Betony an Ounce Mix for internal Use Or Take of Conserves of Rosemary-flowers of Sage-flowers and of Clove Gillyflowers of each half an Ounce Candy'd Nutmegs three Drams of the Pouders Diambra and Diamoschus dulcis and Spirit of Lilly Convally of each a Dram and a half With a sufficient Quantity of Syrup of Clove Gilly-flowers make an Electuary Or Take six fat Figs Rocket-seeds six Drams Bastard Saffron a Scruple With Syrup of Clove Gilly-flowers make an Electuary of which take every morning the bigness of a Walnut using after Dinner Spirit of Hartshorn or Spirit of Sal Armoniac succinated Silver dissolv'd in Spirit of Sal Armoniac is likewise commended As for external Applications Let Oil of Myrrh per deliquium be applied to the Temples and hinderpart of the Head When the Head is oppress'd with cold Humours let the Sutures call'd Coronalis and Sagittalis be fomented with Spirit of Wine with Pepper infus'd in it In the like Case Hildesheim recommends the following Essence viz. Take of the Leaves of Betony of Sage of Lavender of Rosemary and flowers of red Roses of each a handful Nutmegs long Pepper Galangal and round rooted Cyperus of each four Scruples Castor two Drams Nutmegs half an Ounce Myrrh and Frankincense of each three Ounces Saffron half a Dram or two Scruples Infuse them in Spirit of Wine digest and strain it for anointing the Nostrils Temples and top of the Head ART II. Of Deliriums in general THE Depravation of the Rational Faculty is call'd a Delirium or Doating which sometimes seizes the Apprehension alone and at other times reaches to all the three Operations of the Intellect together The immediat Cause is the disorder of the Animal Spirits in respect of their Substance and Motion which occasions varions Deliriums according to the Humour and Constitution of the Patient as one and the same Wine fills one Man with Anger and Fury a second with Mirth and Jollity and inspires a third with Love The remote Causes are either external as narcotic Vegetables poisonous or mad Animals c. of which more anon or internal as Feavers Melancoly c. These internal Causes determin the Animal Spirits to such and such particular Motions after the same manner as the Titillation of the Genital Liquor occasions particular Dreams and nocturnal Pollutions ART III. Of Deliriums arising from Internal Causes WHEN a violent Feaver attends a Delirium 't is call'd a Phrensy or if the Delirium be not very high a Paraphrenitis If it be quite free from a Feaver we call it a melancholic Madness Of Phrensies THE immediat Cause is the confus'd and rapid Motion of the Spirits in the Brain especially in the Corpus Callosum The remote Causes are either the Heat and Effervescency or the Stagnation of the Blood in the Brain In the beginning of burning Feavers the former occasions the Agility and Perturbation of the Spirits and consequently the Watchings and light Deliriums that then molest the Patient If these Symptoms happen without a notorious Effervescency 't is a fatal sign of Malignity The latter inflames the Membrans and Cortical Part and so causes a Phrensy properly so call'd This Inflammation is made to appear by diffecting Phrenitic Persons after death and is justly suspected when Pleurisies and Inflammations of the Lungs or any external Inflammations disappear of a sudden and are succeeded by Phrensies The remote Causes are excessive Heat drinking of spirituous Liquors suppression of any usual Evacuation of Blood or of a virulent Gonorrhy Anger and the exalted Passions of the Mind It ought to be remark'd that tho all Phrensies are attended with Feavers they do not always proceed from the Feaver as in malignant Feavers where the Blood do's not boil high Sportive ridiculous Phrensies ought to be carefully distinguish'd from those of a serious angry and eager Character According to Hippocrates the former are of a more benign Stamp than the latter As for the Symptoms An actual Delirium is easily perceiv'd An imminent Delirium is discover'd by a sudden alteration of the Patient's Humour a bold fierce way of talking much unquietness and tossing in Bed the nauseous repetition of one thing or forgetfulness of what was said or done obstinat Watching or the interruption and uneasiness of sleep When the Delirium has actually seiz'd upon 'em they become morose and furious leap out of Bed and talk strangely the Urine is at first thick and in a little time after grows thin and transparent the Head feels hot the Eyes look glittering fiery and very moveable If they appear stiff and staring 't is an infallible sign of a furious Phrensy If in the beginning of an acute Disease the Person complain of a pain of the Eye-balls or an Inflammation of the Eyes or be apt to imagin strange Colors 't is a fatal Presage of Doating and Convulsions A proper Phrensy which proceeds from the Inflammation of the Membrans of the Brain is foreseen from the violent beating of the Arteries in the Neck and Temples It is attended by an unsufferable Pain of the hinder part of the Head a difficult Respiration an invincible Heat and continual Feaver free
Urine in which case Take of Pellitory of the Wall two handfuls of Parsley the whole Herb one handful Boil them in Water Bruise them into a Pulp and with two Ounces of Oil of Scorpions make a Cataplasm to be applied to the Pubes Or Let the Pubes and Perinaeum be fomented and then anointed with the following Liniment viz. Take of Cony Fat or Ointment of Marshmallows an Ounce Oil of Scorpions half an Ounce Mix c. Of Melancolic Deliriums THE Doatings of Melancoly are free from a Feaver They ought to be heedfully distinguish'd from the Melancoly it self which is a principal Disease arising from internal Causes attended by a sorrowful fullen peevish pensive Humour an unaccountable Straitness and Anxiety of the Breast a proneness to Anger and a facility of being frighted Whereas those are for the most part occasion'd by external Causes The Epithet of Melancoly is join'd to them not as if Melancoly and Grief were inseparable Companions for some are merry and sportive but because they proceed from a vicious fix'd acid Humour which the Antients call'd Melancoly All Persons seiz'd with this sort of Doating have peculiar Symptoms and Humours according to the variety of their Objects and the manner in which they are carried out in pursuit of ' em But in general they all jump in the following Particulars 1. The Mind and Thought are always confin'd to one Object or one Set of Objects 2. Fear and Anxiety still haunt them tho they imagin themselves rich Monarchs c. and seem to be tickl'd with the Fancy yet still the Joy is but short-liv'd and Fear Vexation and Trouble fill its room 3. They all sleep little or none at all or if they happen to sleep are still haunted with fearful Dreams and scaring Phantasms 4. All of 'em have their lucid Intervals 5. The Disease is more apt to disappear or remit upon some sudden alteration of Diet or any other such occasional Cause than by all the force and application of Art 6. The Source of the Disease is always seated in the lower Belly Upon which account Vomiting is the most sovereign Remedy 7. The Cure never succeeds without abating the immoderat Watchings 8. Foolish Deliriums are ofttimes cur'd by foolish Remedies which serve only to rectify the Fancy as a Man imagining Serpents to be in his Belly was cur'd by conveying Serpents into his Excrements and giving him occasion to think that they were voided by himself We may read a great many such Instances in Thonerus Platerus Forestus c. The Seat is referable only to the Imagination or Fancy which receives the Ideas of Objects convey'd thro the external Senses and stamp'd upon the Spirits Now if these Animal Spirits degenerat from their lucid temperat Quality and perform uncouth awkward Motions the rational Soul must needs consequently entertain it self with sutable Ideas Tho this kind of Delirium be different from Melancoly it self yet it do's not invade any but such as have a Melancoly disposition of the Blood and Spirits which by the way is the true reason why it do's not always follow where its ordinary Causes take place Suppose we then that a melancoly Person meets with an Object which is extreamly agreeable or disagreeable to him and is forcibly stamp'd upon the mind by the introduction of some violent Passion Love Grief Fear c. as if a Hypocondriac Person be molested with a murmuring noise in the Guts resembling the croking of Frogs This fills him with fear and amazement It determines the Spirits to new Passages which they are unwilling to forsake The Idea of the frightful Noise still haunts his thoughts till at length by the repeated and continu'd Rack and inuring the Spirits to that unwonted particular Motion of Thought the Rational Soul is brought into a habit of entertaining and dwelling upon that Subject and so the Person is insensibly wrought into the fix'd Opinion that Frogs are lodg'd in his Belly Now that the Spirits being forcibly driven into new Channels are apt to persist in the same course and are unwilling to return to their wonted Devoirs is evidently made out by the Influence of Passion or any weighty Concern upon Watchings or the Dreams of sleeping Persons which is only owing to the proneness of the Spirits to retain the same new Passages as the preceding Business and the Commotion it occasion'd had so effectually cut out for ' em The verity of this advance may be likewise evinc'd by the many Instances of Persons liable to this Distemper The Doating that follows Melancoly being thus accounted for our next business is to offer the Causes of Melancoly it self They are either external or internal The former are such Objects as are apt to occasion violent Passions which immediatly disorder the Spirits and consequently the Blood and first Digestion The latter are such Circumstances of Diet and way of living as alter the Juices of the Body which impart the respective quality to the Blood and Spirits This Constitution of the Blood and Spirits is ofttimes natural and hereditary arising from the nature of the Seed for so much as most of our Humours and Propensity to particular Passions is owing to the natural Idio-sincrasy of the Blood and Spirits All melancoly Dispositions that have a tendency to Doating owe their immediat Original to some vicious Fermentation or Digestion in the first Passages The remote Causes may be sometimes external sometimes internal but they never reach the length of Doating till they have stamp'd a vicious Character on the Belly and its Entrails Some imagine a Chymeric Melancoly proceeding essentially from the Head but if they view the matter throughly they 'l find cause to acknowledg their Error 'T is usual to ascribe Melancoly to the Spleen And doubtless in melancolic Constitutions the Spleen may be damag'd by the Stagnation of the Blood in the Arteries and may serve to exasperat the Disease it being a part enrich'd with good store of Nerves and communicating with the wandring and intercostal Pair cannot well miss of being prejudic'd by the membranous Convulsions that Hypocondriac Persons are subject to But originally the Spleen is faultless and the principal Cause must needs be a vicious Acid bred in the first Passages that thickens the Blood and destroys its due Fermentation This is evinc'd both by the Symptoms and Method of Cure The former are a voracious Appetite a constipated Belly and Acid Belchings the visible Effects of an Acid sculking in the Stomac or first Passages As for the Cure it turns upon absorbent Anti-acid Medicines The Blood thus perverted by the prevailing Acid stands accountable for the difficult Respiration beating of the Heart and the like Symptoms It is not so productive of volatil lucid Spirits as otherwise upon which account they become stiff and more fix'd and consequently apt either to move irregularly in the Brain or still to retain the same course of Motion In the former case the Doatings are wandring and
undetermin'd In the latter the whole force and vigour of Thought is confin'd to one Object so that ofttimes the melancoly Persons are enabled to discourse and reason about it with much more accuracy than in their healthy state when other Objects claim a larger share in their Thoughts and cramp their Application to that one Oft-times the sick Person reasons calmly on any other Object beside that of his Melancoly by reason that the Spirits are not so keen and eager in pursuing the former The change of Air and Seasons or of any not natural thing sensibly alters the Crasis of the Blood and Spirits and consequently the nature of this Delirium either by quite extinguishing or heightning or depressing it or by removing it from one Object to another As Wine by altering the state of the Blood and Spirits first makes some Men cheerful then inspires 'em with a talkative Humour afterwards disposes 'em to Strife Anger Madness c. and last of all covers 'em with drousiness and sleep Melancoly being grounded on the Constitution of the Blood and Spirits becomes an inveterat Companion and ofttimes propagates it self by an hereditary Succession especially among Women who convey the Legacy to their Daughters that surely visits 'em when with Child or upon point of delivery if not at other times It is ofttimes cur'd by the Stratagem of cheating the Patient into a contrary Humour or Passion which if forcible and strong recals the Spirits from the Passages in which they deviate 'T is highly necessary to obviat Melancoly betimes before its Settlement Now a melancolic Disposition is usher'd in by these Signs The Person is troubled in sleep and haunted by aukward Dreams he becomes fullen and sorrowful and courts solitude he is pensive and apt to dwell long upon one thought and is timorous to a high degree If he begin to tell ridiculous Stories and withal is full of his own Wisdom the Delirium is at hand Let the Causes be diligently inquir'd after If it proceed from the Passions of the Mind the Pulse is low inconstant contracted ofttimes unequal and sometimes resembles the Motion of Emmets or Worms and when the Mind is unbended by chearfulness c. the Pulse is proportionably alter'd If Melancoly steal on by degrees without the influence of external Objects and be follow'd by wandring unfix'd Deliriums it proceeds from the Hypochondriac Distemper and is attended by the Palpitation of the Heart Anxiety of the Breast acid Belchings a murmuring noise in the Guts constipation of the Belly Wind an uneasy obscure Pain in the left side of the Abdomen with a Pulsation in the same place or in the Back a notable heat in the Forehead and wandring Inflammations over the Body If it proceed immediatly from the Depravation of the Blood it remits now and then the Patient is querulods and anxious oppress'd with Grief and Sorrow and a frequent Palpitation of the Heart If Melancoly be caus'd by Passions of the Mind or external Objects 't is much more easily cur'd than when it ows its Original to the internal Indisposition of the Blood and Spirits If it be follow'd by Doting recur frequently or claim a hereditary Privilege it accompanies the Person to the Grave If it be occasion'd by preceding Diseases as Feavers Phrensies c. a regular Diet carries it off It is more uncommon among Women than among Men yet the Cure of the former is more difficult especially if they be with Child or pass'd the season of their Terms If the Countenance be chearful If the Delirâ—ums begin to relent If the Urine exchange its thin Consistence for that which appears thick muddy and black If a Flux of the Emrods or Womb insue If a Sâ—ab and such like Eruptions beset the Skin we hope a Recovery If the Person be subject to uncouth Laughter or Crying immoderat Grief attended by a sort of Fury it tends to a Palsy or Apoplexy or Convulsions If he obstinatly decline eating or drinking or totally deprive himself of Sleep he posts to his Grave We are now arriv'd at the Method of Cure which consists in rectifying the Blood and Spirits by proper Correctives and reducing the Animal to orderly Motions The following Remarks are worthy our observation upon this matter 1. The remote Cause must be taken off either by moral Perswasions or deceiving the Person with some cunning Stratagem so as to bring him off the melancolic Fancy If the Cause be internal as suppression of the Terms the hypocondriac Disease c. it must be particularly taken care of In geneneral the hypocondriac Specifics and comforting Cephalic Medicines are always proper 2. Vomiting is an essential part of the Cure and ought to be frequently repeated 3. Let the Physician be very cautious in visiting the Patients alone for they hate the Person that pretends to cure 'em and retain the Odium even after they are cur'd 4. When the melancolic Fancy is deeply lodg'd within 'em they ought to be undeceiv'd by the means of some Stratagem or Trick 5. By all means the Belly must be kept open If it do not answer every day of it self let Clysters or lenitive Draughts provoke it 6. During the Solstices and Equinoxes the Person ought to ply proper Preservatives for fear of the Relapses which are wont to happen at those times 7. Blood-letting is improper excepting the Case of Suppressions Inflammations and Plethora's or where Madness is fear'd Willis fancies that when the old unactive Blood is drawn forth it gives occasion to the Generation of new spirituous Blood but he should have remembred that 't is Blood that begets Blood and that by Blood letting Stupidity and dull Folly is promoted Trepanations Issues and blistering Plaisters are sometimes us'd with Success 8. In the beginning of the Disease Purgatives may succeed to Vomits but in the progress of the Distemper they are very improper Dieuretics are incomparable Medicines for this Disease Melancolic People naturally void large quantities of Urine and its deep Tincture muddiness or blackness betokens the declension of the Distemper 10. The Hypochondria must be particularly taken care of in all sorts of Melancolies 11. By all means let Sleep be promoted by moist temperat Food c. 12. Opiats ought not to be exhibited alone nor before the Acid in the Stomac be remov'd by the universal Evacuations They ought to be mix'd with Specific and moistening Ingredients Externally Anodyn Fomentations for the Head Washes for the Feet c. are very proper 13. Their Diet must be very regular Their Food nourishing moist and temperat as Milk Raisins Apples c. A Glass of generous Wine is very proper now and then a moderat Exercise and the regular Evacuation of Excrements ought to be heedfully procur'd Now of the Medicines answering the foresaid intentions Antimony is the chief both in its vomiting and purgative Capacity but especially the former This and all other Emetics must be given in very large Doses tho it is proper to
Intestinum Duodenum and Bowels under the short Ribs is the cause of the grossness thickness and vitious Acidity of the Blood which is the immediat material Cause of Madness The formal Cause is the Spirits which degenerating from their seminal and friendly Complexion become of a sharp saline and as it were sulphureous acid Quality and consequently being too too movable and less capable to be check'd in their ordinary Motions and withal penetrating every where by virtue of their pointed parts they become the Cause of Restlesness Watchings Fury extraordinary Strength c. This Disease is more incident to the Young than Old to Men than to Women but especially to melancolic Constitutions If it proceed from internal Causes it is an Evil of long continuance and of difficult Cure which tho it remit for some Months or Years yet it often leaves Melancoly behind which being easily exasperated returns with fresh Rage and accompanies the Patient till Strength failing through Watchings Fastings and almost perpetual Movings it kindly shuts up their miserable Life In curing this Disease we must endeavour 1. To mitigat the Fury that the Patient may be the easier manag'd and Medicines exhibited 2. To remove the Distemper of the Blood and Spirits The first is excellently perform'd by strong Vomits and frequent Bleeding Preparations from Steel and Lead joined with Anodine Medicines correct the Blood and other Humors as Remedies from Camphyr and Musk do recreat and restore the Spirits The Foundation therefore of the Cure must be laid by administring strong and generous Vomits not only in the beginning but progress of the Disease For this purpose the Antients us'd white Hellebor-roots with excellent success But it ought not to be given in substance Take of white Hellebor-roots from half a Dram to a Dram boil them in Wine till it become soft infuse the Root thus prepar'd in fresh Wine all night in a hot place strain the Liquor or squeeze more or less according to the measure of its desired strength Dose a Dram. Some instead of this use Infusions of Antimonial Emetics but they prove too weak Morcurius Vitae is good Aurum Vitae Kegleri is much commended also the Leaves of Asarabacca but all these must be given in a greater Dose than ordinary As Take of the Conserve of the Leaves of Asarabacca a Dram Pouder of its Roots two Scruples Mercurius Vitae one Grain make a Bolus The Infusion of human Nails is also a strong Emetic surpassing those of Antimony If in the beginning of this Disease Purging is required you may use what I have above prescrib'd for Melancoly chiefly black Hellebor and its Extract the Extractum Melanogogum Quercetani c. to which Antimony Purgative or Mercurius Vitae Laxative ought still to be added As Take of the Essence of black Hellebor a Dram and a half of that of Pimpernel half a Dram Emetic Syrup of Angelus Sala half an Ounce After strong Purgation copious and frequent Bleeding is proper first in the Ancle then in the Arm and Forehead some have been cur'd by opening an Artery Cauterizing and trepaning of the Skull have been successfully used as hath also Salivation by Mercury But while these things are a doing such Alteratives are to be given as may restrain the boiling and wild Motion of the Blood and Spirits and together with these Opiats and sulphureous Minerals and fix'd Anodines and that in a strong Dose Such altering Remedies as we prescrib'd for Melancoly may be us'd here Particularly those from Tartar Steel Lead c. But withal Nitre and its Preparations are not to be neglected As Take purify'd Nitre half a Dram Camphyr eight Grains Mix 'em and make a Pouder Or Take purified Nitre two Scruples Laudanum Opiatum two Grains Make a Pouder We may also use appropriated Specifics such as the Arterious Blood of an Ass Pimpernel with the red Flowers St. John's-wort Fumitory Water-Lilly Borrage Baum Spleen-wort the Herb True-love Polypody of the Oak to all which Camphyr may be added As Take a clean Linen Rag of a hands length and breadth dip'd in Asses Blood infuse it in a sufficient quantity of Water of St. John's-wort to two Ounces of the strain'd Infusion add Essence of Pimpernel half a Dram Laudanum Opiatum about a Grain Or Take the Leaves of True-love together with the Berries two handfuls Leaves of red flower'd Pimpernel Flowers of St. John's-wort of each an handful Roots of Polypody of the Oak an Ounce small Raisins bruis'd two Ounces boil these in a sufficient quantity of Whey to three pounds of the strain'd Decoction add Essence of Pimpernel an Ounce and a half Mix them Or Take leaves of Baum cut small an handful infuse 'em in four Ounces of Spirit of Wine add half a Dram of prepar'd Pearls Dose two Spoonfuls to be repeated every day The Epitheme prescrib'd for Melancoly may also be us'd here Or Take of Musk twelve Grains Camphyr a Scruple Red-rose-water impregnated with the Tincture of red Saunders fifteen Ounces In this Mixture dip several Folds of Linen Cloth to be apply'd to the shav'd Head and Temples wetting the Cloth as it dries for twenty four hours space or anoint with the following Liniment Take of the Sleep-causing Ointment two Drams distill'd Oil of Camphyr a Scruple Musk half a Scruple Saffron eight Grains Mix ' em Or Take Rose-water or Juice of River-Crabs ten Ounces Opium half a Dram Saffron half a Scruple make an Epitheme for the Forehead and Temples ART IV. Of Deliriums from an external Cause THIS Cause for the most part is the biting of some other Creature enrag'd with Anger or taken with Madness As in the case of a Canina Rabies which is so called because 't is oftenest occasioned by the biting of a mad Dog tho the Infection may be deriv'd from any other Creature For if any Creature chaf'd with Anger bites another 't will cause either Madness or a very malignant and dangerous Wound These things relating to this Disease are most worthy our Observation viz. 1. The manner of Infection which may be by the slightest bite or hurt of the mad Creature or even the least touch of its Spittle 2. A Hydrophobia or the fear of Water and other liquid things accompanies this Distemper 3. The malign Contagion lies hid and as it were asleep in the Body sometimes two three or as some say thirteen or twenty years 4. In the Spittle and Urine of rabid Animals are often seen other small Creatures resembling the Form of the first Authors of their Madness And lastly the infected Creature exactly imitates the Actions and Meen of that which gave the Contagion The Cause of this Disease consists in a certain peculiar Ferment which affecting first the Spirits and then the Blood do's in some sort assimilat 'em to those of the furious Creature This Ferment is carried along with the Saliva into the Wound It is of importance to know whether the Creature by which a Man has been bitten be
Male Sex HAving dispatch'd the Diseases incident to both Sexes I shall now enter into the Consideration of those peculiar to Males SECT I. Of the Diseases which disorder the Genital Liquor in Mens Bodies SOME part of the Chyle accompanying the Blood in the Arteries is convey'd by the Spermatic Vessels to the Stones where 't is in good measure prepar'd by virtue of a particular Ferment for that purpose and afterwards finish'd in the Epididimes which forward it to the seminal Vesicles to be there reserv'd under the Character of the Genital Liquor till the Act of Venery dislodg it 'T is improperly call'd Seed till such time as the Association of the Woman 's Genital Liquor have entitled it to that Character It is enrich'd with a large stock of Spirits especially by the eagerness of the Venereal Encounter and is thereby enabled to reach and impregnat the Womens seminal Eggs. It is likewise cover'd with a soft serous Vehicle prepar'd in the Prostatae that joins it in its Passage and accompanies it thro the Vrethra The manner of its engaging with the seminal Eggs in Women and their Counterpart in the Act of Generation is accounted for elsewhere When the Generation of this Male Genital Liquor is disturb'd it appears in its Deficiency Redundancy or Depravation The two last are referr'd to the Paragraph of Gonorrhaea's the first is the Subject of the following Chapter CHAP. I. Of the Defect or Insufficiency of the Genital Liquor in Men. THE Causes relate either to the Matter it self or the Stones in which 't is prepar'd As touching the former naturally 't is the Chyle or mucilaginous fat milky part of the Blood as appears by its Consistence Color c. Now whatever impairs this must consequently cause a Deficiency of Seed Such are Hunger the Disorders of the digestive Faculty excessive Evacuations Watchings c. Violent Passions of the Mind immoderat Exercise and such like rarify and sharpen the Blood beyond its due pitch and so exhaust the Chyle or seminal Matter Fat and corpulent Persons are liable to the like Inconvenience The milky part of their Blood which should be dispos'd of for seminal Use is diverted and anticipated by its Conversion into Fat. The Causes relating to the Stones proceed either from the defect of the Ferment or the Indisposition of the Stones themselves As for the former questionless 't is a spirituous oily volatil Substance as appears by the notable Changes occasion'd by it in the Mass of the Blood at the time of its Commencement Now whatever fixes the Animal Spirits and strips them of their volatil Capacity must needs weaken the Ferment Such are Spirit of Vitriol Crude Nitre external Cold or exposing the Stones to be wet Application of mercurial things to the Region of the Pubes excessive or unseasonable Venery or an indiscreet abstinence from it Drunkenness Crudities in the Stomac or any Disorder of the first Digestion Dropsies Cachexies c. If the Deficiency of the Ferment be occasion'd by any Cause respecting the Stones themselves it must proceed either from Tumours in 'em or from being gelded 'T is much doubted if there be any natural Eunuchs for many whose Stones are not visible may have 'em hid within the Abdomen and give sufficient proof of their Manhood The Signs are easily distinguish'd If the Ferment be faulty the Person is dull and unactive the venereal Appetit flat and the Seed when cast forth is thin watry and void of heat The Prognostics are more fatal to the Species than to individual Persons If the Person be old or have over-acted in his Youth the Cure is very difficult Sometimes this Deficiency produces not only Effeminacy and Unmanliness but an universal Faintness and Consumption for want of the due Influence of the Ferment upon the Mass of Blood In regulating the Cure a peculiar regard must be had to the Stomac and digestive Faculty for the flatness of this will cause a Deficiency of Seed If the Disease proceed from a Defect in the Stones themselves the following Paragraphs account for its Cure As for the Faults of the Ferment or those respecting the matter of the Genital Liquor the former must be amended by aromatic sharp Incentives such as Ginger Amber Cubebs Cloves Cinnamom Castor Savin-berries Borrace Satyrium Eryngo Mustard-seeds Fennel-seeds Rocket-seeds Pepper Cantharides Spirit of Ants c. The latter by temperat Fat and chylelike Ingredients as Milk the milky Seeds Emulsions Yelks of Eggs with Spanish Wine Oysters Chocolate Dates c. But neither of 'em ought to be us'd separatly but in conjunction with one another As Take of Milk three Ounces Sugar three or four Drams Pepper half a Dram mix for a Draught Take of the Oil of Fistic-nuts one Spoonful the Yelk of one Egg Ambergrise as much as will lie upon the point of a Knife with the triple quantity of Sugar Mix 'em before the Fire and exhibit for one Draught Take of the Water of Magnanimity three Ounces Cinnamom Water prepar'd with Wine Essence of Satyrium of each three Drams Tincture of Coral two Drams Essence of Amber a Dram. Make a Potion Dose a Spoonful now and then Electuaries are very usual in this Case As Take of Indian Chocolat an Ounce and a half Electuary of Satyrium half an Ounce Eryngo-roots candy'd Satyrium-roots candy'd of each six Drams Nutmegs candy'd two Drams candy'd Ginger two or three Drams Shavings of the Pizzle of a Stag kill'd in the act of Venery half an Ounce Cubebs Cardamoms of each a Dram Pouders of Diambra and Diamoschus dulcis of each four Scruples Rocket-seeds Fistic-seeds Nettle-seeds Ash-seeds of each a Dram Ambergrise and Mosch of each ten Grains With Syrup of Canel make an Electuary and when you are about to use it sprinkle it with Spirit of Ants. Dose the bigness of a Walnut Take of the Electuary Diasatyrium a Dram Mynsichtus's provoking Tablets a Scruple Ambergrise Mosch of each two Grains Laudanum Opiatum one Grain Mix for a Bolus Take of the Conserve of Eryngo-roots Conserve of Satyrium of each three Ounces candy'd Citron-peel candy'd Ginger of each half an Ounce Pine-nuts Sweet Almonds and Fistic-nuts of each three or four Drams Pulp of Dates and Nutmegs of each an Ounce Bull 's Pizzle five Drams Rocket-seeds Parsnep-seeds Mustard-seeds of each two Drams Cinnamom Galangal and white Pepper of each a Dram distill'd Oil of Cloves half a Dram With the Brodium of Ginger make an Electuary Some add the Pouder of Cantharides but they are improper for any purpose save that of promoting the Erection of the Yard The Stones of a Cock or the Spirit of a Cock's Blood The Blood or Brains or Pizzle of a Buck or a Bull kill'd in the act of Venery or the shaving of a Bull 's Horn taken at the same time the Tincture of Gold with Oil of Cinnamom the Troches of Vipers or Pullets fed with Vipers Borrace taken in a potch'd Egg c. are all approv'd Remedies for
it is sometimes accompany'd with a desire of Copulation but oftner not In curing this we must begin if need be with mild Laxatives and Sudorifics and if needful allay the Acrimony of the Humour and finish what remains by external Applications The Internals are the Infusions and Decoctions of Fumitory Succory Scabious Baum Penny-royal Roots of Bryony Black Hellebor Polypody c. Mercurius dulcis and Troches Alhandal answer the purgative end as the Essences of Elder the Tincture of Coral and the Spirit of Woods perform the alterative and diaphoretic Office Of Externals the Preparations of Lead and Mercury are the best such as Vinegar wherein calcin'd Lead is dissolv'd If the Evil proves stubborn anoint the Lips of the Privities with an Ointment made up of one part of Oil of Tobacco and two of the Ointment of Tutty or apply Blistering-plaisters or cut Issues in the Thighs Sometimes the acid Humour retain'd corrodes the Lips of the Privities and occasions Wheals Pushes and in fine Scabs which are of a mild Character but very itching but there are others call'd Epinictides yet different from those little painful ones that spring from foul Embraces However both the one and the other are catching and difficultly cur'd For cure we must begin with such Universals as are used against the Scab or Itch especially laxative Bags of the Root of Briony and Spurge and if they are of the malignant kind we must use Mercurial and other Specifics for the Pox. Externally you may apply Oil of Roses mixt with Yelks of Eggs and discolour'd by beating in a leaden Mortar Or Take of the Decoction of Quick-line one pound Sugar of Lead a Dram. Inject one half and foment with the other If you suspect Infection instead of Saccharum Saturni take a Dram of Mercurius dulcis Or Take of Aloe and Myrrh of each the bigness of a small Pease Verdigrice half as much of white Wine Rose and Plantane-water of each an Ounce Mix for Injection and external Washing You may also use Vnguentum Album Camphoratum or de Lithargyrio mixt with Oil of Tartar per Deliquium in the mild sort and with Mercurius dulcis in the malignant ones If the venereal Appetit is exalted to the pitch of a Delirium it is then caâ—'d furor Vterinus a Disorder incident as well to Virgins as married Women and Widows Such Persons are talkative and peevish they ramble through the Streets and solicit whoever they meet to Venery and receive a denyal with the highest Indignation sometimes wantonly uncover themselves before Men and interlard their incoherent Discourses with Smut and Bawdry This Distemper at first is easily cur'd but if neglected ends in absolute Madness Wherefore in the beginning 't is proper to exhibit a strong Emetic enjoin a spare Diet and drain the Genital Liquor by extinguishing Specifics such as are the Root of white Water-Lilly Agnus Castus chiefly its Seed Lettuce Rue Purslain Hemlock principally its Seed Willow-leaves the Liquor running from its smaller Branches lopt off in the Spring Hemp and Poppy-seed c. Or Take Hemp-seed two Ounces Seeds of Lettuce and Purslain of each two Drams Make an Emulsion with Purslain-water to be sweetened with Syrup of Water-Lilly If Camphyr or an Opiat be added 't will be more effectual The Effervescence of the Blood and by consequence the Turgescence of the Seminal Liquor must likewise be repress'd by frequent Bleeding and absorbent Acids such as the Juice of Citrons Lemons and Pomegranats Nitre Sugar of Lead Coral c. and also by mild Sudorifics and besides in order to put a stop to the Fury and impetuous Motion of the Animal Spirits 't is convenient to add Poppy-seed Opium and Camphyr Externally we use Cataplasms Baths and Fomentations of Mandrake Nightshade Purslain Rue Hemlock Poppy and such like SECT III. Of the Disorders of the whole Body which are suppos'd to proceed from the Womb. CHAP. I. Of the Green Sickness AS the first arrival of seminal Liquor occasions several notable Alterations in Women so if it is too long retain'd and consequently corrupted and altered it ferments the Mass of Blood Juices and Spirits introducing an Evil disposition of the whole Body called the Green Sickness or white Virgin Feaver in which the Colour of the Skin is pale or somewhat livid and ugly attended by a bluish Circle under the Eyes Anxiety and Sadness without manifest Cause a slow obscure and disorderly Feaver an unequal and inconstant Pulse Vomitings in the day time c. It only invades Virgins and Widows or Women retir'd from Men and is heedfully to be distinguish'd from the Cachexy or evil Disposition of Body that 's common to both Sexes It is difficult to be known however if no error in Diet or the use of the six Nonnaturals no Obstruction of the Courses or other manifest Cause have preceded or if the Patient of a forward brisk Maid is become sad and anxious or is a forlorn Widow who formerly was a healthy Wife we may in such cases conclude this to be the Disease which the older it is has the worst Symptoms following it In curing of it we must endeavour to correct the default of Genital Liquor and remove the vitious Crasis of the Blood and by proper Remedies cure the incident Symptoms For the former Intentions Camphyr is a notable Remedy it not only diminishes the quantity of seminal Liquor and amends its virulency but has a peculiar Virtue of fortifying the Blood and Spirits Amber also Myrrh and its Essence prepar'd with Nitre Castor Spirit of Sal Armoniac and all Remedies prepar'd from them Preparations of Lead and moderat Acids are all proper As Take of the Conserve of Baum an Ounce and a half Conserve of Citron Pulp and of Quinces of each six Drams Essence of Myrrh half an Ounce prepar'd Amber two Drams Crystal Mineral of Lead Pouder of Castor of each a Dram Cloves Mace Zedoary of each a Scruple Camphyr half a Scruple Make an Electuary with Syrup of Pomegranats With these such things as extinguish the Seed may be mâ—x'd as Agnus Castus Willow Hemp and possibly Turpentine may not be amiss Opiats allay the severity of Symptoms and may be mix'd with other Specifics Bleeding and that often repeated is not improper CHAP. II. Of a Cachexy in Women ANother Fountain of Diseases commonly term'd hysteric is the suppression of the Terms from which a numerous train of Evils proceed especially if it happens on a suddeâ— by reason both of the quantity and deprav'd quality of the stagnating Blood for when there is too great a quantity of Blood it s due Circulation and fermentative Turgescence being restrain'd it becomes less spirituous and volatil yea gross and viscid and as it were flat and useless And as touching its quality we ought to remember that tho all the Mass of Blood is originally of the same condition and nature yet that which by the monthly Fermentation is measur'd out to be expell'd undergoes a singular Change
it continue long it may occasion Ulcers and Gangrens In order to prevent this Inconvenience the Midwife ought to tie the Navel-string to the Woman's Thigh till she be ready to draw forth the Afterbirth And then the Mother ought to be incourag'd to promote its Egress by Sneezing Coughing and in Case of Extremity Vomiting If all prove ineffectual let the expelling Medicines abovemention'd be administred especially the Spirit and Pouder of a human Secundine Myrrh Saffron Amber Castor and Borace If the After-birth be already corrupted in the Womb exhibit Elixir Proprietatis extracted with the Spirit of Venice Triacle camphoris'd In the interim let sharp irritating Clysters be injected and Pessaries of expelling Ingredients put up into the Womb. Glauberus orders a Mixture of Sal Armoniac and Salt of Tartar to be put into a Glass with a long Neck thrust into the Womb. Some anoint the parts with the Oils of Coloquintida Wall-flowers Savine Amber c. and order Fumigations of Myrrh Cinnamom Galbanum Castor Opoponax and Black Hellebor form'd into Troches with Cow's Gall. If these Prescriptions are still successless the Midwife must put her hand into the Womb and draw it out or if that cannot be done its Putrification must be promoted by injecting emollient Decoctions of Marshmallows Pellitory of the Wall Chamomil c. mix'd with Aloes Myrrh Oil of Roses and Vinegar of Wine to which we may add Lime-water Vnguentum Basilicon and a small quantity of that call'd Aegyptiacum After the Expulsion of the After-birth the next step is to regulate the Flux of the Lochia or the Child-bed Purgation If they are deficient we ought to consider if they are not voided some other way as by the Nostrils Stool c. In which Case we ought not to disturb Nature unless grievous Symptoms oblige us Besides if the Woman was wont to void but a small quantity of her monthly Courses or if she suckle the Child we are not to expect so large an Evacuation as otherwise The natural Method of this Flux is such that Blood is voided four days after Delivery from thence a watry Liquor like the washing of Flesh till the seventh day after that a viscous and serous Humour untainted with Blood continues to flow till the fourteenth or twentieth day Now the Causes of the Suppression of this Flux are external Cold drinking cold Liquors Anger Fear Grief Shame and the Collection of clotted Blood or viscid Humours in the Womb. The Symptoms of a Suppression are the Distention Hardness and Pain of the Belly a beating Heat about the Loins and Groin a shivering Feaver Headach difficult Respiration Swooning cold Sweats Doating and frequently Death If the Womb be inflam'd if a Pleurisy Dropsy or spitting of Blood insue 't is a dangerous Case As for the Cure of a Suppression of the Lochia if the Blood and Feaver boil high if Headachs difficult Respiration and such like Symptoms of the upper Region molest the Person let a Vein be open'd in the Arm and after the use of some internal Expellent open the Saphaena or apply Leeches to the Vagina or scarifying Cupping-glasses to the inside of the Thighs The internal Medicines are those of an expelling Virtue recommended above especially Myrrh Saffron Borace Amber Zedoary and Elixir Proprietatis If the Blood be clotted Castor and Sperma Caeti with Crabs-eyes and Wine are proper to which we may add some Grains of Laudanum Opiatum in case of violent Headachs and other Pains Externally let the Abdomen be fomented with the Decoctions of Chamomil Savine and wild Thyme and anointed with a Mixture of the Oil of Wall-flowers and the distill'd Oils of Cumin Juniper-berries and Amber applying afterwards a hot Brick or a Bag either dry or boil'd in Wine of Wormwood Chamomil Fever-few Angelica-roots the four great hot Seeds and Juniper-berries If the Urine be also stop'd apply to the lower Belly a Cataplasm of Chervil Pellitory of the Wall and Oil of Scorpions In the mean while it will not be improper to inject Clysters of the Decoctions of Specifics for the Womb and stimulating Ingredients and to order Fumigations from Coloquintida the Dross of the Regulus of Antimony Troches of Myrrh Bdellium c. Some put into the Vagina a little Bag of black Hellebor In a word this Symptom and that of a Suppression of the Terms require the same Cure Instead of a Suppression of the Lochia sometimes we meet with an immoderat Flux of Blood attended by a Prostration of Strength dimness of Sight tingling of the Ears and Swooning If the Blood be of an obscure and blackish Colour it proceeds from the Veins if its Colour be florid and a yellowish scarlet it comes from the Arteries and portends Danger The Causes are 1. The Redundancy and watry thinness of the Blood 2. It s Turgescence and accelerated Motion occasion'd by the abuse of spirituous Liquors in time of Labour or the administration of expelling Medicines 3. The Wounds of the Womb caus'd by the violent pulling of the After-birth in case of miscarrying or of its firm Adhesion to the Womb. 4. The Irritation of the Womb occasion'd by a Mola or Clots of Blood or pieces of the After-birth remaining The Cure is vary'd according to the respective Cause If the Blood be thin Sudorifics and Incrassating Ingredients are proper If it be overturgid Purslain Plantane Tormentil Loostrife and Acids take place If the Womb be wounded the Decoctions of Chervil and vulnerary Ingredients are recommended If a Mola or Pieces of the After-birth remaining cause an immoderat Flux we must be cautious of using strong Expellents because they promote the Flux But Aromatic Ingredients mix'd with Astringents may be safely administred Such are Tormentil Bistort Marjoram Pennyroyal Mugwort Troches of Amber c. In general all Preparations from Quinces the Pouder of Sea-horse Teeth given to a Dram the Preparations of Steel Blood-stone seal'd Earth burnt Hartshorn the solar Tincture of Steel given to fifteen Drops and the Tincture of the Sulphur of Vitriol given to thirty Conserve of Roses and that of Comfry-roots with Laudanum Opiatum and in case of extremity Allum given to half a Dram These I say are generally approv'd in all Cases Externally apply Cupping-glasses under the Breasts or foment the Breasts and Genitals with a cold Mixture of Vinegar Juice of Housleek Nitre and Water of Frogs Spawn or apply a Cataplasm of Soot Vinegar of Roses and the Whites of Eggs to the Loins Some order Decoctions of astringent Ingredients and Hogs Dung in Smith's Water to be injected into the Womb. Others recommend a Girdle of black Hellebor-leaves ty'd round the Body The Redundancy and Turgescence of the Blood admits of bleeding in the Arm but no other Cause With reference to the Extraction of the After-birth and Regulation of the Child-bed Flux we ought to take notice of the After-pains that ofttimes succeed to Delivery These After-pains are call'd genuin when they 'r seated in the Womb as being only
hungry Habitations to a fat Pasture In particular she ought to avoid Acids Sweetmeats Cheese Wine Summer-fruits or whatever is apt to curdle and clot the Milk And as her Diet ought to be clean and regular so she ought to preserve a calm dispassionat temper of Mind since Fear Anger and Grief clot the Milk by diverting and withdrawing the Spirits that should keep up its equal temperature Nay the influence of Fear and other Passions is visible in the natural Marks that are intail'd to Children in the Mother's Womb by the violent Motion of the Mother's Spirits determin'd upon one part and by the way these Marks are cur'd by applying frequently a hot bloody Secundine or Clouts dip'd in Menstrual Blood and the touch of a dead Child's hand Some apply Clouts dip'd in the Blood of Toads or Fernelius's Aqua Divina or in case of extremity cut 'em off If Fear or Passion actually prevail and cause the Coagulation of Milk let the deprav'd Milk be first suck'd out by a Puppy and the Medicines recommended against the same Symptoms in the foregoing Book be exhibited before the Child be admitted to suck In general the curdling of the Milk is best prevented by eating Anise and Fennel-seeds after Meals and abstaining from cold drink or avoiding any external Cold especially by diverting the menstrual Purgation and shunning the Emotions of Venery which by curdling the Milk in the Child 's Stomac frequently entail to it an Antipathy against Cheese as being a natural resemblance of the curdled Milk that was wont to annoy it After the Child has suck'd about a year it ought to be weaned especially a little after the Equinoxes during the increase of the Moon The chief Inconvenience Children are liable to is drinking in the Nighttime which swells up their Belly and occasions Loosenesses and many other bad Symptoms To prevent this let the Essence of Wormwood be mix'd with their drink or if these Evils prevail already exhibit a little Spanish Wine and apply Aromatic Bags to the Belly Besides as for the other Food of young Children it ought to consist of white Bread dry'd and beaten small Yelks of Eggs and Aniseed boil'd in Milk or Water to the Consistence of a thin Pulp That which is commonly made of Flower and Milk or Water is fitter for Paste than any thing else for it lies heavy in the Child 's Stomac and degenerats into a viscous tough Crudity whereas the Bread being already fermented is sooner and more easily digested 'T is customary among Nurses to attenuate the Child's Food in their own Mouths before they give it and indeed 't is true that a healthy Nurses Spittle is of use for promoting the quick Digestion But if scorbutic Salts be lodg'd in her Gums or if a Cacochymy prevail in her Body it is too apt a Vehicle for conveying a morbifical Tincture into the Child's Body These premises if duly weigh'd will furnish us with a distinct Idea of the Causes of Childrens Diseases The Excrements retained and vicious Milk or Pap receiv'd into the Stomac degenerat into an acid Crudity which if imprison'd in a viscid Vehicle displays its force within and if diluted with a thinner Serum breaks out upon the Skin in various Eruptions From this Source it were easy to derive all the particular Diseases of Children their violent Gripings and voiding of discolor'd Excrements the generation of Wind and distention of the Belly Vomiting and Inappetency Hiccough Watchings Convulsions and the numberless Train of cuticular Eruptions or aches on the Skin occasion'd partly by the Efflux of a ferous acid and partly by a want of due transpiration which obliges it to stagnat in the out parts Now forasmuch as all these Diseases of Children are deriv'd from one Cause and consequently demand the same Method of Cure 't will be needless to trace every distinct Symptom apart and therefore we shall content our selves with a general Account of the Method of Cure And indeed if the foregoing Hypothesis be duly considered and understood 't will be an obvious Consequence that the Basis of the Cure falls upon Alcalies or such Medicines as discuss a viscid Crudity and imbibe an acid These are first the volatil Alkalies especially the Spirit of Sal Armoniac succinat which tho dreaded by some is recommended by experience as an incomparable Medicine for Children 'T is given in the Mother's Milk or in Mint or Fennel-water To this Class we may join oily Aromatics as Aniseed given in Pouder to half a Dram Castor Myrrh and Elixir Proprietatis prepar'd without Acids In the second Rank we place the fix'd absorbent Alcalies viz. Coral Crabs-eyes Pearl Sea Horse-teeth Ivory Bezoar-stone To which we may add the Tincture of Tartar or that of the Dross of the Regulus of Antimony and Venice Triacle or Mithridate given to two Grains stronger Narcotics and more generous Medicines being improper As for example Take of prepar'd Crabs-eyes half a Dram Hartshorn prepar'd without fire half a Dram prepar'd red Coral half a Scruple choice Myrrh six or nine Grains Venice Triacle three or four Grains distill'd Oil of Anise three or six Drops Make a Pouder Or Take of Hartshorn prepar'd without Fire a Scruple Crabs-eyes and red Coral of each half a Scruple volatil Salt of Hartshorn six Grains Venice Triacle four Grains choice Myrrh three Grains Make a Pouder of which give a convenient quantity in Milk or Pap. Take of Elder-flower-water two Ounces Spirit of Sal Armoniac fifteen Drops Hartshorn prepar'd without Fire the Jaw-bone of a Pike and prepar'd Unicorn of each half a Scruple Syrup of Poppies two Drams Make a Potion to be given by little Spoonfuls Now the acid Crudity being thus subdu'd and prepar'd it remains only to make Provision for its Evacuation first by Clysters of the Decoction of Chamomil-flowers mix'd with Salt of Tartar Hony of Rue and Oil of Anise or those of Milk with Turpentin dissolv'd by the Yelk of an Egg or in a difficult Case thus Take of the Decoction of Carminative Ingredients with Salt of Tartar two Ounces Sala's Emetic Syrup two Drams Hony of Roses two Drams Make a Clyster If a viscid Slime stuff the Breast we may exhibit for a Potion three Drams of Hyssop Water half a Dram of the Syrup of Tobacco and a Scruple of Sala's Emetic Syrup mix'd or half an Ounce of Mint-water with half a Dram of the Emetic Syrup As for Purgatives take what follows Take of the Solutive Syrup of Roses two Drams prepar'd Crabs-eyes half a Dram prepar'd red Coral twelve Grains With a few Drops of the Spirit of Anis make a Mixture Or Take of the Pouder of Jalap six Grains Tartar vitriolat half a Scruple Make a Pouder Manna given to two or four Drams in Breast-milk or Pap is also a good Laxative But above all sweet Mercury is the most effectual Correcter and Evacuater of acid viscous Humours especially upon the approach of the Small Pox or Measles 'T is given
a Pissing of Blood p. 416 Chap. II. Of Diseases relating to the Expulsion of Vrine from the Bladder p. 418 Art I. Of a total suppression of Vrine arising from its stay in the Bladder Ibid. Art II. Of the Stone in the Bladder p. 421 Art III. Of the Incontinence of Vrine p. 422 Art IV. Of a Strangury p. 424 Art V. Of a Dysuria or Heat of Vrine p. 425 Sect. XX. Of Diseases relating to the separation of Lymph in the Glandules and its regular motion p. 427 Art I. Of Catarrhs p. 428 Art II. Of a Coryza p. 431 The Contents of the Second Book SECT I. Of the Diseases which disturb the Generation and Distribution of the Animal Spirits and Consequently the due performance of sense and motion p. 433 Chap. I. Of Immoderat Watchings p. 435 Chap. II. Of Excessive sleep p. 438 Sect. II. Of the External Senses p. 444 Chap. I. Of Diseases relating to the Eyes Ibid. Chap. II. Of the Disorders of the Ears p. 455 Chap. III. Of the sense of feeling and the disorders 't is obnoxious to p. 460 Art I. Of Pain in General p. 461 Art II. Of sharp tearing Pains in the Joynts p. 463 Art III. Of the Tooth-Ach p. 465 Art IV. Of the Aches of the Eyes p. 467 Art V. Of Pains in the Ears p. 468 Art VI. Of Head-Achs p. 469 Art VII Of Arthritic Pains p. 476 Chap. IV. Of the Disorders of the Sense of Tasting p. 481 Chap. V. Of the disorders of the sense of smelling p. 484 Sect. III. Of the disorders of the Internal Senses and Animal Functions p. 487 Chap. I. Of a swimming in the Head and Preter-natural Commotion of the Spirits in the Brain p. 488 Chap. II. Of the Irregular Incursions of the Spirits into the External Parts p. 492 Art I. Of Alternat Convulsions and the Epilepsy or Falling Sickness p. 493 Art II. Of a Cramp or continu'd Contraction p. 503 Art III. Of Trembling Chap. III. Of the Diseases in which the Animal Spirits cease to move p. 507 Art I. Of an Apoplexy Ibid Art II. Of Particular Apoplexies p. 520 Art III. Of a Palsy p. 523 Chap. IV. Of the Deficiency of Rational Operations p. 532 Art I. Of the Defect of Memory and Stupidity Ibid. Art II. Of Doating or Deliriums in General p. 536 Art III. Of Deliriums arising from Internal Causes viz. Phrensies Melancholly and Madness p. 537 Art IV. Of Deliriums from External Causes p. 553 The Contents of the Third Book Of the Diseases Peculiar to the Male Sex SECT I. Of the Disorders of the Genital Liquor in Mens Bodies p. 557 Chap. I. Of the Defect or Insufficiency of the Genital Liquor in Men. p. 558 Art I. Of the Inflammation of the Testicles p. 561 Art II. Of a Pueumatocele or Distention of the Stones by Wind. p. 562 Art III. Of a Hydrocele or Collection of Water within the Membrans of the Stones p. 563 Art IV. Of the Schirrous swellings of the Stones p. 564 Art V. Of a Sarcocele or fleshy swelling of the Stones p. 565 Art VI. Of the Distention of the Spermatic Veins or Hernia Varicosa p. 566 Chap. II. Of the Irregular Ejaculation of the Seed Ibid. Art I. Of a Running or Involuntary Emission of the Genital Liquor Ibid. Art II. Of the Over-hasty Ejaculation of the seminal matter p. 571 Art III. Of the Over-slow Ejaculation of the seminal matter Ibid. Art IV. Of Caruneles in the Yard hindring the Ejection of Seed p. 572 Sect. II. Of disorders relating to the Erection of the Yard Ibid. Chap. I. Of Impotency or the Defect of Erection of the Yard p. 573 Chap. II. Of the Immoderat Erection of the Yard p. 574 Chap. III. Of the Depravation of the Erection of the Yard p. 576 The Contents of the Fourth Book Of Diseases Peculiar to Women SECT I. Of the Disorders of the Menstrual Flux p. 578 Chap. I. Of the Deficiency of the Terms p. 579 Chap. II. Of the Immoderat Flux of the Terms p. 584 Chap. III. Of the Depravation of the Menstrual Flux p. 587 Art I. Of Vneasyness attending the Menstrual Flux Ibid. Art II. Of the lesser Quantity of the Monthly Flux p. 589 Art III. Of the Flux of the Terms by Drops Ibid. Art IV. Of several other defaults of the Terms p. 590 Chap. IV. Of the Whites or White Flux p. 591 Sect. II. Of the Disorders of Women relating to the Venereal Appetit p. 594 Chap. I. Of the Loss of Virginity Ibid. Chap. II. Of the Depravation of the Venereal Appetit p. 595 Sect. III. Of the disorders of the whole Body suppos'd to proceed from the Womb. p. 597 Chap. I. Of the Green Sickness Ibid. Chap. II. Of a Cachexy in Women p. 598 Chap. III. Of the Hysteric Passion p. 600 Sect. IV. Of the disorders of Women denying Admission to Men. p. 604 Chap. I. Of the Downfalling of the Womb. Ibid. Chap. II. Of the Inflammation of the Womb. p. 606 Chap. III. Of Vlcers in the Womb and Vagina p. 607 Sect. V. Of Disorders relating to Conception Ibid. Sect. VI. Of the Conduct of Bigbelly'd Women p. 612 Sect. VII Of Disorders relating to Child-Birth p. 615 Sect. VIII Of the Management of Women in Child-Bed p. 620 Sect. IX Of Disorders relating to Suckling p. 627 The Contents of the Fifth Book Of the Diseases of Children p. 630 The Contents of the Sixth Book Of Surgery 644 CHAP. I. Of Tumors p. 645 Chap. II. Of Wounds p. 658 Chap. III. Of Vlcers p. 666 Chap. IV. Of Dislocations p. 671 Chap. V. Of Fractures p. 673 Chap. VI. Of a Gangrene or Sphacelus p. 675 AN ABRIDGMENT OF ETMULLERUS's Practice of Physic c. THE INTRODVCTION HAving undertaken to compile a System of Physic I am oblig'd in the first place to distinguish the Common and Ordinary Practice from that which is Vncommon and Extraordinary The former is as yet very Lame by reason of the Scarcity of Chymical and Anatomical Experiments which occasions our Ignorance of the Radical Causes of Diseases and leaves only some occasional Symptoms to build the Theory upon Nor is it less deficient in Generous and Proper Remedies which might effectually accomplish the Design with less Violence and Torture to the Stomach Such as Paracelsus Helmont and other Noted Chymists have distinguish'd themselves by The Extraordinary Practice differs from the former both in the Nature of its Remedies which are all Arcana's tho otherwise never so common And in the manner of their Operation which is generally perform'd by Sympathy Inchantment or some such Secret way This I reserve to the Latter End and shall now confine my self to the Ordinary Practice which I endeavour to make as perfect and compleat as possible both in its conformity to Chymical and Anatomical Observations and in the choice of Genuin and Proper Remedies I propose to discourse of All Diseases incident to Human Bodies And in Tracing every Disease shall observe the following method First To give the History of the
one Dram. Syrup of Rasberries half an Ounce With the Spirit of Vitriol as much as sufficeth for a grateful sharpness Make a Julep Thus I have hinted at the general Cures of Alcaline and Acid Corruptions Besides these already mention'd there are some Universal Remedies not confin'd to either side but useful in both Cases These are Emulsions extracted from the Milky Seeds the distill'd Oyls of Vegetables Gums Mucilages and the Sulphurous Productions of Minerals which are all of a temperate Nature and equally remov'd from either extreme A Pituitous Cacechymy must be cur'd by Altering Attenuating and Resolving remedies Namely Alcali Salts as well fix'd as Volatil the more penetrating Gums and Generous Aromatics The Morbific matter being viscid and tough must be prepar'd and digested before we attempt any Evacuation The common forms for Digestives are as follows Take of Tartar Vitriolated and the Salt call'd Digestivum Hypochondriacum of each fifteen Grains Salt of Wormwood and of Carduus Benedictus of each half a Scruple Mix for a Powder to be divided into two parts Or Take of Tartar Vitriolated one Dram Salt of Carduus Benedictus half a Dram flowers of Sal armoniac fifteen Grains Mix them together and divide the Powder into three Doses Or Take of Tartar Vitriolated half a Dram Crabs Eyes prepar'd one Scruple Salt of Tartar half a Scruple Mix them for two Doses Take Tartar Vitriolated half a Dram Salt of Wormwood Crabs Eyes prepar'd of each fourteen Grains Make a Powder to be divided into three or four Doses Take of the Cream of Tartar one Dram Tartar Vitriolated half a Dram Salt of Wormwood and Cichory of each half a Scruple Make a Powder and divide it into three equal parts These Powders must be exhibited a Day or two before Evacuation The following Powder is to be taken twice a Day in the Morning before Dinner and in the Afternoon two or three hours before Supper Take of Sal armoniac depurated a Dram and a half Mastic half a Dram Cinnamom a Scruple Salt of Wormwood six Grains Mix them and use as before directed If Liquid forms are more acceptable they may be prescrib'd thus Take of Mint Water one Ounce the Salt call'd Arcanum Duplicatum one Scruple Crabs Eyes prepar'd half a Scruple Salt of Tartar five Grains Syrup of Hyssop half an Ounce Mix them for a draught Or thus Take of Mint Water two Ounces Cinnamom Water six Drams Gum Ammoniac dissolv'd in Vinegar one Dram Tartar Vitriolated one Scruple Syrup of Roses one Ounce Mix them for two or three Doses A Serous Cacochymy is remov'd by the use of such remedies as alter the vicious serum and evacuate it These last mention'd are the subject of the ensuing Paragraph SECT IV. Of the Medicines that evacuate the Corrupt Juices of the Body AFter the use of altering Medicines 't is a proper season to exhibit those that evacuate the prepar'd humors They are distributed into five Classes The first contains those which operate by Vomiting The Second those which move the Belly and perform their office by stool Those of the Third pass by Urine The Fourth by the Pores of the Skin And Lastly the Fifth is allotted to the Medicines which evacuate by Salivation This last Class I have taken notice of elsewhere but the other four I shall briefly run over CHAP. I. Of Vomiting Medicines THE Animal Family affords no Vomits that I know of except the Pairings of the Nails of Human Bodies Which we infuse in generous Wine over Night and in the Morning give the strain'd Liquor to Drink 'T is an excellent Vomit Among the Vegetables Asarabacca is the safest and most successful Vomit Dioscorides and the Ancients were not Ignorant of its efficacy It Enjoys a sharp pungent salt resembling that of Ginger and Zedoary which provokes Urine Corrects the causes of Chronical distempers and irritates the Fibres of the Stomach I have known Inveterat Tertian and Quartan feavers cur'd by the use of Asarabecca with white Pepper that would not yield to any other Medicines It may be given by way of Powder Infusion or Decoction If it be exhibited in form of a Powder it ought to be Pounded very fine for the grosser Particles cannot enter into the Pleats of the Stomach and being eluded there procure to themselves a Passage by Stool Its Dose is from half a Dram to a whole Dram. For a gentle Infusion we take Nine or Ten Green Leaves of Asarabecca and chop 'em small and infuse them for the space of a Night in four Ounces of Carduns Benedictus Water and half an Ounce of Mead. In the morning let the strain'd Liquor be exhibited 'T is a gentle Vomit For a stronger Infusion take Nine Green Leaves of Asarabecca Beat them in a Marble or Stone-Mortar pouring simple Mead upon 'em till ye have reduc'd them to a Juice Then take this juice and dilute it with two Ounces of Carduus Benedictus Water 'T is an Admirable Vomit As for Decoction Helmont Zwelfer and the Honourable Mr. Boyle have observ'd that if ye boyl Asarabecca Roots in Water they lose their Vomiting quality and become Diuretic whereas if ye boyl them in Wine 't is an excellent Emetic The Reason of which I take to be this Viz. That their diuretic vertue proceeds from an essential salt not very Volatil the saline Volatil Emetic parts being evaporated in boyling with Water but Wine penetrates into the Texture of its body before these Volatil salts are gone and so partakes of their Vertue If ye boyl Asarabecca Roots in Mead ye have a Noble Pectoral Medicine It Attenuates the slimy humors in the Breast and has no Emetic force There are no other Vegetable Vomits fit to be us'd White Hellebor 't is true was frequently exhibited by the Ancients But they infus'd it in a sweet Wine which qualify'd its sharpness and besides the difference of Climats alters the Vertues of Medicines I have seen very Tragical effects produc'd by white Hellebor and therefore would not advise any to use it except in one case Namely Madness 'T is a specific for that disease and is frequently attended with success where Antimonial Vomits have prov'd ineffectual Let it be us'd thus Take of the Roots of White Hellebor one Dram infuse it in Rhenish Wine or rather macerate it in some hot place for the space of one Night Then boyl it strain off this Wine and throw it away for 't is too sharp And pour fresh Wine upon it only to stand in infusion all Night In the Morning exhibit a Dram and a half or two Drams of the strain'd Liquor to the Mad Person 'T is a Medicine admirably fit for this case and this only In the Mineral Family Antimony and Vitriol are the two noted Emetics But Vitriol is not so Friendly to Nature as the former it weakens the Body and disorders the Stomach whereas Antimony produces no such effects The Vitrum Antimonii alone is of more use and efficacy than a Thousand
others In this Preparation the Antimony is strip'd of its External Acid Sulphur And contains only some Vitriolic Particles which cause an Evacuation by provoking the Fibres of the Stomach to a Contraction and an Internal fix'd Sulphur which Composes the Irregular motions of the Spirits and Corroborates Nature Upon this Account it may justly claim the Privilege of being prefer'd to all other Preparations which rather cause than remove disorders It must be exhibited in infusion with Rhenish Wine or in the form of a Syrup In substance 't is both fallacious and hurtful In adjusting the Doses of the Infusion we must have a particular regard to the quantity of the Wine and not to the Powder infus'd For twenty Grains infus'd in three Ounces of Wine are no stronger than the infusion of five Grains in the like quantity Rhenish Wine is the best for infusing it in by reason of its Acidity and the easy Admission it vouchsafes to the Antimonial Particles The same remarks are to be observ'd in the use of Crocus Metallorum and Mercurius Vitae As for Example Take of Vitrum of Antimony or Crocus Metallorum or Mercurius Vitae four five six or eight Grains infuse them in a sufficient quantity of Rhenish Wine Let them stand in a warm place all Night In the Morning strain the Wine through a Paper and exhibit one Ounce or at most an Ounce and a half for a draught If ye please ye may add two Drams of Cinnamom Water 'T is a pretty enough Contrivance that some have of an Antimonial Cup into which they pour the Wine and let it stand in some warm place for the space of a Day Then strain it off and exhibit as above If a Syrup be more agreeable Take of Crocus Metallorum two Drams and two Scruples Infuse it for three Days in ten Drams of Wine Vinegar Let it stand in some hot place and shake the Vessel frequently Then strain it off and add ten Drams of Loaf Sugar Stop the Glass well and clap it into hot Water and the Sugar will dissolve Some add a Dram of the Essence of Red Poppy Flowers Or Take four or five Drams of Vitrum Antimonii infuse it in pure Wine Vinegar Let them stand in digestion for some Days and shake the Vessel now and then After some time strain it and add an equal quantity of Loaf Sugar Make a Syrup Dose three or four Drams and to those that are very robust six Drams Or thus Take Glass of Antimony in Powder half an Ounce or an Ounce Infuse it in half a Pound or a Pound of juice of Citrons that has stood till it grew in some measure clear Set them in a warm place for digestion and shake the Glass frequently Strain the Liquor and with a sufficient quantity of Sugar boyl it into a Syrup which may be prescrib'd thus Take of Mint Water six Drams or an Ounce Cinnamom Water two Drams This Emetic Syrup half an Ounce Syrup of Tobacco two Drams Mix for a Draught The Dose of the Emetic Syrup must be vary'd according to its Preparation Some exhibit these Antimonial Emetics in the form of a Conserve or Bolus As Take of Vitrum Antimonii in Powder one Ounce infuse it in a Pint of New Wine or Juice of Quinces Let 'em stand for digestion for some Days then strain it nicely through a Linnen Cloth or Paper and set the strained Liquor over a gentle fire to evaporate to the consistence of Honey or a soft Conserve Ye may give about the bigness of a Pease or two These are the safest and most usual Vomits next to them is Emetic Tartar which is an Antimonial Preparation but may safely be given in Powder 'T is true the general Maxim is that all Antimonial Vomits ought to be given in infusion but solid Emetic Tartar is in a manner the same with the infusion of Antimony in Wine For Tartar being the Natural Production of Wine is impregnated with the same Acid that equally rejects the Grosser and Noxious Parts of the Antimony as well in a solid as a liquid form The best Preparation of Emetic Tartar is made from Vitrum Antimonii thus Take Glass of Antimony two Ounces beat it up together with an equal quantity of Cream of Tartar boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Common Water and strain the liquor while 't is hot then expose it to the Cold Air and 't will run into Crystals Thus ye have Emetic Tartar both in a liquid and solid form The common Dose is two or three Grains or five to robuster Persons In Madness and Melancholly distempers we are oblig'd to augment the Dose The common form of Prescription is as follows Take of Emetic Tartar two three four or five Grains Sugar refin'd six or ten Grains Mix and make a Powder Ye may add two drops of distill'd Oyl of Mint Or if ye desire it should move the Belly two or three Grains of Scammony prepar'd with Sulphur thus Take two Grains of Emetic Tartar two or three Grains of Scammony prepar'd with Sulphur and four or five Grains of white Sugar Mix and make a Powder Which may be taken in a spoonful or two of Chicken Broth. The Sugar is added to give the Medicine a Body lest so small a quantity as two or three Grains should be lost or escape the view of the Patient If a Bolus be more Acceptable Take Conserve of Mint one Dram Emetic Tartar two Grains with a small quantity of Syrup of Cinnamom make a Bolus Or take Rob of Juniper half a Dram Emetic Tartar two Grains Scammony prepar'd with Sulphur one Grain With a sufficient quantity of the Syrup of Orange Peel make a Bolus The Sulphur of Antimony call'd Auratum is likewise an Excellent Vomit if it be well prepar'd as thus Take of Antimony Tartar and Nitre of each equal quantities Melt the Antimony in a Crucible then throw the Tartar and Nitre into it Let the Sulphureous and Mercurial parts be separated by Detonation and afterwards separate the Regular or refined part from the Dross Dissolve the Dross in Common Water and precipitate the Sulphur with a solution of Tartar The Precipitation is best perform'd by Tartar by reason that it Mitigates the Acidity The Dose of this Sulphur is from five to six Grains As Take Cream of Tartar half a Scruple Sulphur of Antimony right prepar'd six Grains prepar'd Scammony two Grains mix and make a Powder These are the safest and mildest Vomits which may suffice for a Thousand Cases But sometimes when we meet with obstinat and inveterat distempers we have recourse to Mercurial Emerâ—â—s Pure Mercury is a Metallin Alcali which is easily fix'd by the addition of Acids and set at liberty by Alkali's But all Acids are not equally capable to fix it The Spirits of Nitre and Vitriol render it very fix'd whereas Spirit of Salt leaves it more Volatil Thus Mercury prepar'd with the former is not so readily sublimated as when joyn'd