Scurvy when not and because the Symptoms are not peculiar but common and the effects of other Diseases as well as the Scurvy it is no wonder if their Cure be so uncertain difficult and seldome performed since they are equivocal effects obscured in their causes by a dubious complication and alternative causation To resolve the ambiguous and such as stagger in their judgments Take these following Corollaries 1. Many are the Symptoms which accompany and follow this Disease which appear and vanish are greater and lesser as the Disease encreaseth or diminisheth in its essential primitive Causes 2. Many are the Products and off-spring of this Disease which exist afterwards of their own ability and enormity having perverted the parts wherein they reside and drawn them to consent with their vitiosity 3. Many Diseases are complicated with the Scurvy which had not their production and generation from it nor is their dependance of it though probably made worse and exasperated by it 4. That none of the Smpytoms or Signs afore mentioned singly do declare the Scurvy to be present in the Body but may challenge other causes for their Parents and therefore to judge and determine that Person Scorbutick barely from the appearance of any Sign or Symptom that frequently accompanies the Scorbute his judgment is fallible and uncertain and erroneous in the dependance for any Symptom or Sign arising in any part of the Body usually atributed to the Scurvy may be the peculiar defect of that part or effect of some occasional cause without a praevious Scorbutick disposition 5. That the subsequent digestions have their proper errors and degenerations from a spontaneous defection and lassitude in their vital principles without disturbance from an injurious object transmitted by erroneous preceding digestions or improper aliment in sua natura whose effects are consimilar and equivalent to some Products and Symptoms of the Scurvy therefore to distinguish and know aright to whom they belong and whence they had their rise is by examining each faculty in their proper Characters of rectitude and declensions 6. That the Diagnostic Signs of the Disease usually so accounted and most frequent as defects in the mouth pains spots weakness lassitude c. some or more antecedent causes concurring some or more as a close Chamber air and confinement within doors or a Region where the Scurvy is Endemical gross food sedentary inactive retired Life studious melancholly disposition or splenetic indulging sleep and ease In the concurrence of these causes collated with the Signs mentioned a certain determination and judgment of the Disease will result and from thence a certain process in the Cure may ensue Examination of opinions concerning the nature of the Scurvy BEfore I explicate the nature quiddity or essence of this Prothean Disease I shall first recite the judgments and determinations of the most learned and eminent Physitians that have writ upon this Subject to whom the most of our age do adhere and imitate their practice in the Cure Sennertus gives this definition or description of it Scorbutus est prava occulta qualitas seu dispositio toti corpori praecipue vero visceribus nutritioni dicatis impressa ab humore melancholico crasso seroso seu ichoroso peculiari modo corrupto orta cum spontaneae lassitudinis gravitatis in cruribus praecipue sensu pectoris angustia respirationis difficultate gingivarum corruptione oris graveolentia ac maculis purpureis in cruribus inprimi◠aliisque morbis ac symptomatibus plurimis ab eadem causa pendentibus conjuncta He saith It is an evil occult quality or disposition impressed upon the whole body chiefly the Parts destinated for nutrition arising from a gross melancholly or serous ichorous humour after a peculiar manner corrupted with lassitude and heaviness This Definition looks imperfect and unsatisfactory An evil occult Quality Here 's a ne plus ultra to our enquiry if we would sit down here and be contented only to know that we know not what it is an occult quality A Quality Here he makes the Disease to be accidens when as it is ens substantiale habens propriam radicem in vitali principio Arising from a gross melancholy or serous ichorous humour after a peculiar manner corrupted To find out this gross melancholy or serous ichorous humour peculiarly so corrupted is the same task as to find out the occult quality this is ignotum per ignotum to describe one unknown thing by another The Scurvy does not arise from a grosse melancholly that 's a grosse error or a serous ichorous humour but if the Scorbutic depraved humour may go under those denominations they are the effects of the Scurvy and not the cause you must dig deeper to find the radix of the Disease Chiefly the parts destinated for Nutrition Here he saies the Scurvey is an evil disposition impressed upon the Parts for Nutrition but I must say it is chiefly arising from the Parts destinated and appointed for Nutrition which difference is as great as between the terminus à quo and the terminus ad quem Impressed upon the wholo body Here is the Disease in facto esse and its progresse but from whence it sprung as yet is not discovered you must return back and trace it farther if you will see it in fieri in its generation in radice and the womb from whence it springs and that not from a melancholly or serous humour the Disease is not seated in excrementis but in vitalibus principiis for as sanity or health consists in vita integra so the Disease in ipsamet vita oblaesa and therefore health and sickness in eodem hospitio vitali degunt successively dwell in the same Mansion Ecthius in his Epitome of the Scorbute describes it thus Scorbutus est morbus Splenis aliquando obstructi aliquando intemperati aliquando cum incipiente Scirro qui praepedit ejus attractionem ac consuetant atribilariae redundantiae sequestrationem ex hepate venisque eoque humore universum corpus vitiat sed peculiariter crassiore feculentia crura contaminat atque evaporandae acredine gingivas inficit He saith the Scurvy is a Disease of the Spleen obstructed distempered or hardened which hinders the attraction and separation of abounding Melancholly from the Liver and veins by which humour the whole body is vitiated the grosser part affecting the thighs the thinner acrid part the gums A Disease of the Spleen obstructed distempered or hardened Here the essence of the Disease is set forth and defined per effectus separabiles à morbo by effects which may or may not be and the Scorbute in being and it is absurd to define a thing essentially by effects which are but results à posteriori and separable and that which is an effect cannot be constitutive the ratio formalis of the thing from which it doth proceed Which hinders the attraction and separation of abounding Melancholly Here the Spleen is made a place of reception and sink to drain
MORBVS POLYRHIZOS ET POLYMORPHAEVS A TREATISE OF THE SCURVY Examining Opinions and Errors concerning the nature and Cure of this Disease ESTABLISHING A Method for prevention and cure founded upon other principles concordant with Reason verified by Practice By Everard Maynwaringe Doctor in Physick Vnum hoc Medicus recte agit quod recte cognoscit LONDON Printed by R. D. for T. Basset under S. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet 1665. IMPRIMATUR Ex aedibus Lamb. Sept. 9. 1664. Tho. Cooke Reverendissimo Patri ac Domino D. Gilb. Arch. Cant. a Sacris To The Right Honourable MOVNTAGVE BERTIE Earl of Lindsey Lord Great Chamberlain of England of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Councel Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter c. My Lord HEalth being of so valuable a consideration that without it the best temporal injoyments are insipid and rather may be termed representations and shadows then really fruitions and therefore the Phiolosopher said truly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The business of this little Manual is for preservation and restoration of that invaluable requisite which seasons and gives a pleasant relish to mundane happiness and felicity My Lord I have not used your name in a small concernment and inconsiderable matter 't is a publick affair wherein all are highly interessed This scene represents the Protean shapes and delusive actings or motions of a subtile Impostor or rather discovers a combination of Diseases listed in hostility to break the Peace and disorder the regular government of the Microcosm and consequently to ruine it and having undertaken to discover oppose and extirpate these Confederates and break their association I have assumed this boldness to invite your Honour to the Prize and seeing so great a Champion stand by to view the contest puts me in mind of what is truly noble exemplary and renowned for looking towards you I see a pattern of prudence of fortitude and skil at arms which you inherit from your Ancestors of most worthy memory who have defied the fiery breath and thundering voice of Canon From whose sides the Loyal Sword of Honour hath oft appeared naked to vindicate the Truth of Royal interest and a Kingdoms safety and what not worthy to be recorded To you therefore My Lord a favourer of Arts and Learning are these endeavours peculiarly offered waiting this opportunity to make my acknowledgments for Your Honours favour and kindness received and to let the World know the respects I bear to this Renowned Family and that I am Your Honours Most devoted Servant Everard Maynwaringe Viro Doctissimo Amico suo singulari D. Dri. Everardo Maynwaringe Medico Peritissimo S. Pergratae mihi fuerunt literae tuae amice plurimum colende benevolentiae candoris in communicando plenissimae verae constantis amicitiae abhinc diu in America contractae postea hîc feliciter continuatae symbolum munus gratissimum Gratias habeo maximas pro communicatis habebunt omnes pro tuis accuratè in scorbuto tractando laboribus cum publici juris fuerint magni sane aestimandis serioque ab omnibus notandis Quamobrem multum desidero moram omnem abjicias atque thesaurum illum miseris ubicunque scorbuticis feliciter a perias ut medicamenta tua eximia antiscorbutica secundum leges spagyricae artis quam peritissime concinnata Communi bono nulli etiam lateant ut languentibus varieque hoc morbo cruciatis eorum auxilio quam primum succurras Plura notatu digna vere fine blanditiis dico tuis scriptis reperio grata manu ea quidem me accepisse fateor Perge itaque tu quod facis faxitque Deus omnia tua studia in aegrotantium exoptatam valetudinem nominis tui famam feliciter cedant de quibus nihil dubito Hisce vale memoriam mei quod hactenus benigne fecisti retine meque promptum observantem in omnibus promitto dab Dublinii Calend. Septemb. 1664. Christophorus Laurentius Med. Doctor THE PREFACE AMongst the complaints of the diseased none more frequently mentioned than the Scurvy and none less known except by its title most of them shewing a several character of the disease and in several parts some spots in this place others in another and different colours some loosness of teeth putrid gums ill savoured breath pains in several parts weakness of the legs and thighs lassitude and indisposition to motion or action and other symptoms accompanying this Protean disease And although the signs be many which discover the Disease yet to the most they are rather a disguise save only the name Scurvy to cheat their Judgment than a guide to lead them into the knowledge and discovery of it from what causes its chief seat of residence and manner of generation The variety of spotted faces and dresses that this Disease puts on and presents it self in the variety of places and parts of the body differing in constitution fabrication and office that this takes up for its quarters and aboad displaying it self in colours above board and yet a jugler deceiving and deluding that comparing one sign with another they disown their alliance as Heterogene and seem to clash one with another as if they were not the off-spring of the same Parents the fruit and productions from the same radix Hence variety of opinions and errors concerning the nature of this disease and from false principles erroneous practices in the cure have ensued and is prosecuted by many ineffectually and frustraneously which causeth many Scorbutick Persons to think and say their disease is incurable for having undergone so many courses in Physick spring and fall and tryed variety of Medicines yet they are the same or benefited but a little or for a short time the symptoms only abated and nature alleviated for a while but soon after they return to their former condition or worse These considerations moved me to ventilate this subject as well for my own satisfaction and more certainty in the cure thereof as also to inform others and by a strict disquisition and serious examination tracing step by step made discoveries of errors which passed for warrantable and unquestionable truths being supported by the authorities of Learned and approved Authors and being sufficiently satisfied Theoretically and practically I cannot but recede from some opinions which before tenaciously I maintained being nourished and bred up in those doctrines I have not therefore bestowed these pains for an affected singularity to gain popular applause or be accounted a novelist and innovator but that the dictates of reason confirmed by observation and practice have caused me to dissent from the common opinions for being frustrate of my intentions in effecting cures by the usual method established upon unsound principles was urged to make inquiries into the causes from whence such frustration and failings did arise and being sufficiently perswaded and satisfied herein have therefore deserted the usual method and Medicines for that which is more certain and effectual as the Medicines
subjoyned will testifie these truths to those that shall prove them and although heteâ—â—dox in the prosecution of this work I have inserted nothing for ostentation or aemulation towards others or biassed with affectation of subtilities but contending for the truth and benefit of the diseased is the scope and aim of these endeavours If any disgusted at what is delivered thinking their own opinions hereby injured I shall stand by these assertions and reply to the opponent E. M. London Next the Blew Boar on Ludgate-Hill ADVERTISEMENT Tutela Sanitatis SIVE VITA PROTRACTA The Protection of long life and detection of its brevity from diaetetick causes and customs Wholsom Precautions Theorems and daily Practical Rules for the Preservation of Health and Prolongation of life WITH A TREATISE of Fontinels or Issues By Everard Maynwaringe Doctor in Physick Sold by S. Thompson at the Bishops head in St. Pauls Church-yard T. Basset under St. Dunstans Church in Fleet-street Booksellers ERRATA Page 13. l. 26. read separated p. 22. l. 19. barely p. 38. l. 25. air ☞ p. 34. l. 12. parts ☞ l. 15. read stomack and spleen p. 75. l. 25. obedience NAMES Given to the SCURVEY DIseases for the most part have significant Names whose Etymology discovers either the Nature of the Disease as Hydrops the Dropsie from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aqua water or points at the part principally or primarily affected as Pluritis the Plurifie from that Membrane compassing the brest called Pleura Or intimates the manner of invasion as Epilepsia the Epilepsie from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apprehendo to seiz or take suddenly Or denotes the procuring cause as Lues Venerea the Venerial Pox. Or declares the manner of afflicting as Convulsion from Convello to pluck With many other whose Names do import and carry various significations pertinent and declarative which for brevity sake I omit That which I have particularly design'd to handle is the Scorbute or Scurvy in the English tongue but in other languages denoting some part symptomatically affected In the Danish 't is called Schorbect signifying a vitious depravedness in the mouth because in many it was discovered by loosness of Teeth and putrefaction of Gums to which the Greek name agrees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the Low-Countries 't is called Schorbunct signifying torsions or gripings in the belly which attend this disease in some persons It is also called Scelotyrbe from the spots and pains in the thighs It hath been called by some Gingipedium from the Gums and feet that frequently are affected in this disease The Latin word Scorbutùs now most frequently used among Physitians being a name not of long standing unknown to the Ancients and therefore called by some a new disease but falsly and it is not against Reason to think this disease to be of as great antiquity as most infirmities incident to the body as may appear hereafter though known by divers appellations suting with some of the symptoms or products that follow this Disease yet insufficiently and erroneously discovered in their Causes Concerning the several Names whether proper or improper I shall not insist the nature of the Disease being the thing aimed at to be detected and prosecuted and not to spend time upon words How to discern the Scurvey in its various signs symptoms or products and complications with other infirmities IN the disquisition and search to know and find out the nature of this Disease I must survey the concomitant effects and products of it which discover its being gradual maturity fortitude or progress and parts affected or infected though not the Fountain Spring and Rise thereof Many and various are the Symptoms which accompany this Disease though all do not appear in every Person but some more some fewer according to the greatness duration and progress of it The Morbific disposition and debility of parts to consent degenerate and be depraved Propter inaequale robur partium by reason of the Natural integrity and deficiencies Fortitude and imbecility of Parts in divers Persons some have one Part strong and vigorous in its Office not easily depraved and vitiated another hath the same Part weak soon consenting with any Distemper easily perverted from the integrity of its Office and contributing its vice And since the parts be divers their Use and Offices various their enormities vitiosities and defections also must be various and their effects dissimilar heterogene and unlike according to the consent and dissent of Parts in their integrities and defections Which being rightly understood it is no wonder that the Scurvy appears in divers colours and shapes acting a part here and there in the body in various difformities We shall not need then to fly to the admixture of Humours and diversity of Temperaments to derive the variety of Symptoms charging the innocent and freeing the nocent Parts Now as the several Parts in the Body have their several Offices distinct from each other yet all harmoniously in the rectitude of Nature cooperating subserviently and subordinately for the preservation and well-fare of the whole so is there distinct Characters for their duties and deficiencies discovering which part acts in integrity and which is irregular degenerates and falls off From hence the Scorbute as it is variegated and discordant in the Symptoms and Products which cheats the judgment of many and puzles them to appropriate a fit Medicine yet may the able Physitian hereby collect and find out the conspiring and contributing Parts to the difformity of this Disease which rightly known the difficulty of the Cure is much abated Some complain of laxity and breaking out often into fluxes others complain of costiveness but a stool in 2 3 or 4 daies some complain of burning and flushing heats others their limbs are rigid and stiff with cold the bloud setled black and livid Some are heavy drowsy and sleepy others tired and worn out with watching and indisposed to the Nights refreshment some have a slow weak languid pulse others a quick fierce leaping Pulse Some have thin pale watery Urine others thick muddy and high coloured Urine Some have black loose Teeth and putrid Gums the thighs and legs free from pains or spots others the contrary have spots and pains but the Teeth and Gums sound Some are molested with erratick wandring pains from part to part others more fixed and constant in particular Parts Some their Bodies pine away wast and are consumptive others grow corpulent swell'd and puffed up Some complain of shortness of Breath straitness and compression of the Breast difficult or hard breathing palpitation of the heart others their vital parts are more free but complain of the Head Hypochonders and loins loss of appetite c. Some are molested with thirst heat of the Stomack and driness of Mouth others are troubled with salivation superfluous moisture and spitting The variety of opposite and different Symptoms which accompany the Scorbute do startle many in their judgment to determin certainly when they meet with the
regularity of their operations thence grow disordered debauched and habituated in disobedience to the institutions of Nature do hardly and with difficulty return and be reduced unless coacted by prevalent good means and regular care for their reduction and restoration 10. That the vital principles without violence offered or disturbance ab extra from injurious bad Customs and irregular living do deficere in radice spontaneously fall off and desist sooner or later according to their strength and radication ab ortu in their first plantation and initiation and therefore it is that some in the ordinary course of Nature though irregular in living do out-live and have their faculties perform vigorously of longer duration than some others more regular and conformable to the Laws of Nature because the difference is great in the Principles of their Nature and foundation of their beings 11. That Diaetetick errors as in meat and drink sleeping and watching motion and rest passions of mind c. do so discompose and disorder the vital Principles in the government of their Offices that their strength and vigour is thereby impoverished and abated their duration shortned and hastens them to a period of extinction for as vital Principles are radicated and established by Nature so are they best kept and longest preserved by that course and method which Nature hath enjoined for their tuition and conservation but being transplanted out of their genuine and native regularity by incongruous and unnatural Customs they degenerate decay and are of shorter duration much sooner declining and terminating their beings as more fully is set forth in Tutela Sanitatis therefore I forbear here What the Scurvy is its essential constitutive Causes and manner of Generation HAving determined the use and Office of the digestive ferments their manner of operation and specifick distinction from each other their divers subordinate effects conducing to one ultimate intention their declensions and durations which being premised and rightly understood the Nature of the Scurvy in its Essential causes and manner of Generation will more cleerly be detected and made obvious to reasonable capacities and to facilitate your apprehension and retention to prevent mistakes or cloudiness by a long dependant concatenated discourse I shall aphoristically deliver my opinions and divide them into morsels fit for your reception and more easy digestion which you may take thus First Ngatively 1. It is not one univocal homogeneous preternatural Humour the materia ex quae that generates the Scurvy for as the Symptoms and concomitant Effects are various so is their material cause different various 2. It is not melancholly degenerate and depraved acquiring a specifick malignity as most Physitians I meet with in Print do affirm that is the material cause of the Scurvy for à signis diagnosticis admit there were such a melancholly humour depraved and specifickly malign this specification would determine it to some certainty and confirm it to some distinct diagnostick signs indubitably declaring its peculiarity and separation from others for there must be some specifick distinguishing character which necessarily must accompany such a specifick malignity but there is none such for a man is adjudged to be Scorbutick with looseness of Teeth and without with spots or without spots and so likewise of the other signs in their absence and presence and the Symptoms are so various that they contradict and oppugn one another in their declarative signs that they own distinct causes not one peculiar malignity Secondly The diversity or difference of the scorbutick spots do argue variation of the material cause and not one Specifick malign humour for if you judge of temperaments by colours making them one sort of distinguishing Characters as you do saying this person is Phlegmatick because pale and that sanguine because rosy and this cholerick of palish yellow as also of preternatural tumors saying this is a Phlegmone that Erysipilas or oedema c. from the variation of their colours and external appearance assigning several humours and complication of humours for causes then why not various commaculations and discolourations in parts as well as various extuberations should challenge divers material causes since they differ but ratione quantitatis in the quantity of peccant matter the one hath more the other less and sometimes these spots do germinate and swell into Scorbutick tumors ex abundanti materia from encrease of the same depraved matter and have their variations and denominations as other preternatural tumors have A juvantibus contra If melancholy humour be the foundation of this Disease then Purgatives that attract melancholly as you suppose would prevent this Disease or eradicate it but you may purge and purge Spring and Fall and yet the Scurvy shall come on and prevail but if it be melancholly degenerate malign as you say then sudorificks would be the grand opposers of this Disease but neither Purgatives or Sudorificks nor both are the adequate medicines of this Disease yet both useful à posteriori applied to the Effects and Products of it but that which unhingeth this Disease stops the spring prevents or eradicates it roborates the faculties intentionally and primarily restores them to integrity and pristine vigour in the performance of their Functions and duties A Causis antecedentibus externis Certain Climates Regions and bad Airs are procuring and promoting Causes of this Disease not that we can imagine they ingender melancholly more than other places but because they are infested with noxious fumes and vapours which surrounding and being drawn into the body commix with the Spirits and do labefactare vitae principia debilitate and deprave the faculties in their operations from whence Scorbutick effects do ensue But you may say a sedentary studious and melancholly Life does often breed the Scurvy and therefore it must needs be a melancholly humour the material Cause foundation of this Disease To which I answer that a melancholly inactive Life does breed the Scurvy but how not to conclude from thence that it is a melancholly humour degenerate and malign but because by such a condition of Life the vital Principles do receive much prejudice decay and fall off from their Functions for mirth and an active Life do roborate all the faculties keeps them vigorous the Spirits being chearful lively in the performance of their duties but by the contrary are languid debile and insufficient from whence many inconveniences and prejudices to the body do ensue as you may see enumerated in that Book called Tutela Sanitatis But you may farther say the Spleen being the seat of that passion is chiefly affected and injured thereby and therefore it must needs be a Splenetick luxuriant humour That a melancholly Life does debilitate and frustrate the Spleen in the rectitude of its Office I agree and not the Spleen only but other principal parts and Offices of digestion also for if melancholly seiz and fix the Spirits makes them torpid as it is the property of it so to do
changed being more exposed by such a feminine debility not so able to resist the procuring and occasional causes of this Disease as masculine vigour and fortitude of their vital principles Secondly by reason of their accustomed courses in Nature which are apt to be suppressed decreased qualitatively altered or be disordered in time that Nature hath appointed for that purgation which brings much detriment and this happens to Women from small occasions sometimes especially infirm and diseased bodies which aggravates and promotes their other infirmities or inclinations to such Thirdly in respect of Child-bearing and the weaknesses that attend such a condition which decay and abate their vigour and strength and in the time of their going with Child the Scurvy doth prevail very much partly for some of the preceding reasons as also that in such a condition they cannot so well oppose the Disease by that Discipline order as is required and several I have observed to die in Child-bed by scorbutic Feavers and some suffocated soon after a probable good delivery by a sudden and great fermentation occasioned from the preceding Labour and extraordinary internal motions 4ly In giving judgment of this Disease the age of the person is to be considered whether it be in young or old in old age the cure is more difficult by how much the older because the vital principles are declined in their vigour and fall off from the integrity and rectitude of their Natures spontaneously from their proneness to desist and natural inability to a longer duration and therefore are not to be restored but may be retarded in their speed of declension their ill affects corrected and abated not wholly prevented being the inevitable consequents of lapsed Nature The Scurvy in Children argues an haereditary infirmity derived from their Parents or the vital principles debile and weak in their initiation and plantation or that their Nurses were scorbutical and tainted with this infirmity from whom the child hath imbibed and drawn in impure nutriment to corrupt the principles of its Nature in the in fancy and tender daies being then more apt to receive and longer to retain any impression quo semel est imbuta In all these Causes the difficulty of the Cure is advanced and since so great a prejudice may arise to Infants from their Nurses therefore there ought to be a strict and diligent care in the choice of them and that by the approbation of an able Physitian before the Infant is committed to them 5ly The colour of scorbutick spots declaring this Disease is to be regarded for that such spots by how much they encline to blackness so much the worse denoting a greater degeneration of the material product or extinction of the assimulating faculty Quicquid est in effectu praeexistit in causa arguing the vital principles to be very enormous and deficient or the materia ex qua and nutrimental object to be of a very depraved Nature not to be reduced 6ly That the Cure is more difficult and will be longer in effecting to those that are irregular live high loose and careless not observing laudable Customs and such a Discipline as is required to oppose the Disease as also to such whose low condition and inability constrains them to a bad dyet inconveniencies and ill customs which promote and aggravate this Disease also The Therapeutick or Curative part examined THe common method in curing this Disease is carried on by these intentions preparation of the scorbutick matter opening of obstructions evacuation of the morbifick cause and roboration of parts For the first intention namely Preparation it is performed as they suppose by medicaments that are attenuating and incisive and by a more peculiar property do respect the malignant Cause and such medicines are compounded of these ingredients Fumiterry Spleenwort Germander Cichory Borrage Bugloss Harts-tongue Enula-campane Squils Bark of Tamarisk Cappar roots Polipody c. Of which decoctions are made and drank some daies before purging to prepare the morbifick humor and make it more fit for evacuation That some of these rightly used are good against the Scurvy I do not deny but under the notion of preparation is a delusion of judgment First because there is no possibility of reducing this degenerate scorbutick matter into a good state and condition à privatione ad habitum non datur regressus Ax. Secondly for that the humour which you intend so to prepare is occult and unknown in its proprieties by your own determination the preparation then is but a blind business and a shooting at random Thirdly for that there is no purgative which attracts electivè this humour you intend thus to prepare wherefore no preparation is available or beneficial distinct from that which is antiscorbutical and curative The second intention is opening of obstructions and that is necessarily included in antiscorbutical medicines which are a peritive rarifying volatising and of a fermenting Nature but if it be meant only as a praevious disposition to the Cure I think it more nicely distinguished than necessary to be observed The third intention is evacuation of the morbifick cause and that is supposed to be performed by phlebotomy and purgation Phlebotomy I cannot approve of except there be a plethora urging for that this Disease is generated and depends upon the defect of fermentation which rather requires addition of spirits to help the lassated vires exciting and assisting their wonted operations not detraction and diminution but hirudines venis haemorrhoidalibus appositae for some persons may be profitable It fares with the Bloud as in other Liquors when their spirits are gone flat and dead they change their former nature and degenerate and all things that exhaust depress or fix the Spirits are promoters of this Disease and I much wonder Phlebotomy so frequently used upon slight occasions perniciously sometimes and mortally as in the eruption of the small Pox more apparently at such time when the bloud is fermenting for a purification detraction of blood then abates the strength of Nature by emission of spirits which ceaseth the ebullition and checks Nature in the very height of contest for expulsion of the malignity and virulency of the Disease but this obitèr Purgation is appointed to be performed by such medicines as evacuate melancholly supposing that predominant humour to be the cause of this Disease but if I should grant melancholly to be the morbifick cause and that purgatives do attract electivè yet the process of the cure is not rationally grounded for that this melancholly as you say is degenerate and changed from its specifick known nature into that which is secret and unknown metamorphosed and disguised by occult proprieties arising from its secret and new Nature so that it is not the same but another humour distinct from what it was before and now you must seek for another Purger peculiar and different from the common Purgers of melancholly And farther here is a great mistake in taking that to be the
morbifick cause which is the morbifick effect that excrementitious matter which is purged out is but the product or effect of the Disease not the cause except it be occasional not essential and constitutive You must distinguish between the Disease and the product thereof depraved matter and excrements are the products of a Disease and may be the internal occasional causes of another Disease but in respect of the Disease of which they are so a cause they are external that is they are not the constitutive essential causes for Causae constitntivae constitutum sunt simul in esse but occasional causes are antecedent and have priority of exstience so likewise the product matter or effect is distinct and separate from the Disease for that the Disease hath a real existence before such a production and also after this degenerate matter is removed unless otherwise obliterated or that Nature sua sponte returns to her integrity and rectitude The last intention is Roboration which is the perfection of the Cure and praecaution for the future and this is so necessary that although the Disease make a cessation for a time yet there will be a recidivation and recurrence the parts being debilitated by the pravity of this Disease will shew their propension to it until those impressions be totally obliterated and the parts restored to their pristine vigour And this is not performed by dyet-drinks Apozems Syrups and such like heterogene languid medicines but with such as are purely defaecated from terenity volatized spiritallized and graduated to a pitch of energy symphoniacal with vital principles Having briefly discoursed the scope and intentions of the common method in the Cure of this Disease I shall now give you some Theses curative deducted from the Theorical part of this work founded upon the Doctrine delivered 1. That the difficulty in curing the Scurvy does depend upon the principal causes in the digestive and distributive faculties being more or less enervated deficient or irregular not from the contumacy of a melancholly humor as is alleaged for as the vitiosity and difformity of the Scurvy does arise from the complicated defection of the digestive and distributive faculties so the difficulty also or facility of the Cure does depend upon the possibility of restoration to their integrity and rectitude and if the internal constitutive causes of the Scurvy be cut off and subdued the symptoms and effects that from thence do depend will soon die and vanish not being supplyed by their causes of generation and conservation therefore it is not the contumacy of a producted degenerate matter that protracts or makes the Disease incurable but the difficulty of reducing the vital principles to their integrity and rectitude being weakly or depravedly radicated or habituated to enormity and irregularity enforced by diaetetick bad Customs or promoted and continued by some unavoidable occasional cause 2ly That an haereditary scorbutick disposition is not to be changed and altered in the radication but will shew a propension and inclination suiting with the peculiarity of its Nature and principles for Nature depraved à principio in principiis is not to be reduced but will retain her vitiosity being indivisible and inseparable from her self nor is capable of reduction having not had the principles of rectitude to return to 3ly That an haereditary Scorbutick dispofition as to fructification and symptomatical production may be prevented retarded or lessened for that the symptoms and products which usually attend this disease are under the command and must give obedience to a diaetetick and pharmaceutick power and authority 4ly That the various symptomatical appearance of the Scurvy and difference of scorbutick matter by degeneration in divers persons does not alwaies necessarily require variety of Medecines but will admit the same cure for although in the production progression of the disease there is great variety yet there is more certainty and unity in the essential constitutive causes the spring or fountain from whence those issue to which rightly applied the cure will succeed reliquum supplente natura juvata 5ly That the occasional or antecedent internal causes of this disease by way of praecaution or the product matter and effects of this disease in primis viis seated may conveniently be removed by manifest evacuation that is degenerate Chyle which will not be reduced but deprave and infest where it resides passes and is transmitted yet the spirits and ferments are chiefly to be regarded that they be kept in their purity and vigor being the principles in each faculty and this is performed privativè by subducting what is offensive and injurious and also positivè by contributing an additional strength having some equality or proportion suting with their natures 6ly That purgation cannot eradicate or take away the constitutive causes of this disease but only carry off some of the producted scorbutick matter which is not reducible and is remedium à posteriori for the essential constitutive causes of the Scurvy are enormity and deficiency of the vital principles in their duties which are to be reduced to their regularity and fortitude but evacuation per se respects the producted matter and effects not the essential causes but per accidens and therefore that which does apply radically to the internal causes of this disease is symbolical and consimilar with the vital principles uniting with them roborating and confirming them in their functions and therefore they that lay all the stress of the cure upon evacuation whether purging vomiting bleeding or sweating as if that alone must do it are much deceived and frustrated in their expectations 7ly That strong purgations offering violence to the vital principles exasperates and makes them more irregular and defective and thereby promotès rather than abates the strength of this disease But purgation or abstersion rightly instituted not every purge that makes you go to stool is convenient and helpful in the Cure 8ly That Scurvy-grass Watercresses Brooklime most frequently used for the Scurvy in Diet-drinks Syrup and juice is not the specifick remedy against the Scurvy that is challenging a peculiar propriety and singular vertue against this disease before other Medicines but comes far short of other Medicines though good and may be more advantagiously used in their activity and restoration of the digestions to their primitive vigour and rectitude of their office and duties 9ly That Cochlearia c. does not resist this disease by a specifick peculiar antipathy against the occult malignity and products thereof but by restoring and roborating the digestive faculties by their saline volatising vertues natura reliquum perficiente which endowments are not specifick but common 10ly That the diseases complicated with the Scurvy are not cured by their own peculiar Medicines usually effectual unless they have respect to this disease and that which is antiscorbutical added to their specifick vertues or alternatively used and therefore scorbutick Consumptions Fevers Dropsies Gouts Astmaes c. will not be subdued and yield obedience to
which is the due regiment and imperial power of the kidneys They open obstructions in Women whose Courses are stopt contrary to the custom of Nature and brings them into their right order they clense the matrix and evacuate noxious humours collected there dissipate vapours and is profitably used by those who are subject to fits of the Mother For diseases of the head they are not improper but fit and efficacious against infirmities afflicting the Brain and Nerves by eradicating their occasional causes that require abstersion and evacuation in the lower regions of the body Diseases attributed to the head for the most part do arise from inferior parts occasioned by their impurities obstructions and distempers for one that is idiopathically afflicted ten is Sympathically affected by consent of parts and transmission of some morbifick matter thither but the foundation of the disease is elsewhere and to that part must the Cure be directed And therefore if well observed we frequently meet with scorbutick palsies scorbutick convulsions apoplexies soporiferous or sleepy diseases falling sickness pains of the head giddiness tremblings deafness dull fight and blindness And all these arifing from the Scurvy or Scorbutick impurity of the body oftentimes And these are not cured but by antiscorbutical medicines and those that endeavour otherwise with their specifick and appropriate medicines to the parts where such symptoms and diseases do appear labour in vain and are frustrate in their intended cures For those that are troubled with Rheums arising from indigestion and crudities these Pils are profitable not so much that they attract rheum but because they cleanse and strengthen the digestions and so the antecedent cause is cut off And for the same reason they are good in pectoral infirmities diseases of the breast arising from phlegm and crude indigested humors sometimes sharp or falt causing pertinacious coughing and disturbing the Lungs in the performance of their office by an unquiet irritation sometimes viscous tough and thick stopping the pipes of the Lungs and vessels for respiration obstructing and occluding the pores of the Lungs which ought to be pervious into the Cavity of the breast whereby the air is drawn in with difficulty although so thin a body and penetrating from hence Asthmaes wheezings short and painful breathing and in these cases of obstructions the Lungs or rather the intercostal muscles to supply this defect is forced to a double or swifter motion that the heart should not want air necessarily required in the performance of its noble office And that these infirmities are caused oftentimes from the Scurvy none that understand will deny and so great have these Scorbutick Asthmaes been that many have been suffocated in the extremity of a sudden paroxism or fit of this disease And not only difficulty of breathing but angustness compression palpitations of the heart or heart-beating and swoonings somtimes are caused by this disease in such cases these Pils are proper and beneficial they open obstructions dissipate putrid malign vapours that afflict the heart and disturb the regularity of its motion There is also Scorbutick Consumpsions accompanied for the most part with a Hectick fever whereby the body wasts and pines away being defrauded of good nutriment that should support and maintain the faculties but is converted into impure depraved matter and excrementitious hereby the body is enfeebled and weak the spirits heavy dull and sad the skin lax or loose the flesh soft and wasting and all the faculties languishing and declining In this case these Pills are a fit medecine to begin the Cure then use the Elixir following but cooling drinks and restaurative Broths hurtful Corpora impura quo plus nutriveris eo magis laeseris foul bodies the more you feed and endeavour to nourish them the worse you make them Finally for all occasions where purgation and clensing is necessary these Pills are fitly used and is a universal medicine in purgation Nor do they only clense and carry away excrementitious degenerate matter which occasions many diseases according to the diversity of parts to which it is transmitted and from consent of parts though not transmitted but also do roborate and strengthen the parts in their passage being amicable and friendly to Nature The Dose for man or woman is 3 or 4 Pils perhaps 5 Pils may be required according to the strength and condition of the body to operate So great a difference there is in bodies for purging that two or three of these Pils are sufficient for some when as others will require 4 or perhaps 5 if a robustick body therefore try your body first with a lesser Dose then if it require more you may add to the next and be not too Bold at first The times for taking them generally is thus except good reason to the contrary Take one Pill over night going to bed having eaten but a light supper at 6 of the clock before the next morning early in bed take the remaining part of the Dose and you may sleep an hour after if you will but lie not long in the morning when you are up drink a little warm posset-drink and forbear eating until dinner time but drink you may These Pils take thus every fourth or fifth day and you will find it best to give such intermission Chronick or old diseases must have time to be eradicated and you must reduce Nature from an ill habit by degrees better than hastily as diseases come on gradually prevailing upon Nature so Nature by degrees must be restored again to its power and regularity Cum natura malè sustinet repentinas mutationes But on the intermittng daies you are not forbidden every thing medicinal but may take the following Elixir conveniently Concerning Doses I must say something more that none may mistake but know what is meant by a Dose A Dose is the true quantity of a Medecine to be taken at once or for one operation A Dose is not a set quantity as some may suppose to be given equally alike to all but such a proportion as is convenient for the condition of every body to some more to others less according to strength and concondition of the body in operation For the Doses or quantities of Physick sutable to every body chiefly in purging there is as much variety as in the proportion of meat for every mans stomack so much as will fully satisfie and be convenient for one man may be too little for another and too much perhaps for a third Therefore in a regular diet to the weaker sort of persons we allow a spare and slender diet but to the strong and lusty firm and solid bodies we allow a larger proportion and that necessarily The same Rule in Physick is to be observed to fit every one with a due quantity and Dose to strong bodies more to weaker less The Dose of these Pills is not praecisely appointed to a Pill neither more nor less to all but with some latitude 3 4 or 5 being gentle in
the peccant humour that stimulates and when that is come away nature being no longer provoked with an intestine enemy will return in peace to her former sedate temper This is something you say and plausible but what Clyster will you give in this case to attract the peccant humour which is the Chyle in the stomack alienated with a luxuriant acidity your Phlegmagoga and Cholagoga c. I know but Chylogoga I know none nor you but you will say the guts being emptied by any Clyster the stomack also will be exhausted and drained by the attraction below if I should grant your reason to be good the practice notwithstanding is not good for if this exorbitant quality in the Chyle mentioned be the only disturbance as it is in the case then the transmutation subjection and subduing of the same is sufficient and an exact Cure without evacuation and subducting the Chyle but this a single Alkalizate medicine will perform cito tuto jucunde without any other help means all symptoms arising from the said cause shall cease In jurious it is to make exhaustion of the body when the blotting out of an aliene impression or the taming of a luxuriant quality is the scope of the Cure which may be done salvo succo nutritio and like to this is the multiplying of medicines impertinently when a single medicine will effect the intention according to the axiom frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora An able practised Physitian rightly principled in the nature of Diseases and expert in pharmacy may well contract his practice within the compass of a few medicines such I mean as are graduated to a high pitch of energy having acquired a latitude of universality quadrate with the grand faculties opposing all their deficiencies and depraved operations Indigestion and depraved digestion are the foundations of many diseases and bad symptoms as vomiting nauseousness wind oppression pains loss of appetite fulness heat and thirst in the stomack primarily affected by consent and transmission of the same morbifick cause divers parts are variously affected producing fluxes feavors distention of the Hypochonders Cholick head-achs obstructions and pains in several parts the radix and fountain from whence these spring is the stomack or first digestion the symptoms products are branched and spread into several parts of the body now for the cure not many medicines are required but one or two efficacious and proper aiming at the cause directed by the hand of art a good abstersive and roborating medicine after to confirm the faculty is both prevention and cure I might farther exemplifie and make it plain by the paralell cases in the other faculties but verbum sat sapienti and others it concerns not therefore I pass on But I would not be mistaken herein that any should think I countenance the Panpharmacums of Quacks by them decanted and cryed up for their excelling vertues universal property to oppose aery disease I know it is a grand delusion and cheat that is upon those who believe such aery empty boasters but that an elaborate perite Artist solidly grounded in the true principles of Physick may prepare medicines endowed with a large portion of universality bringing within the lattiude and circle of their energy very many diseases restoring the faculties decayed the great engins of our bodies roborating the primum mobile instrumentaliter and of this reason and experiment can demonstrate the truth and convince the unbeliever The greatest deficiency I have observed in some though otherwise sufficiently stockt with Learning and accomplished is in Medicines I mean the Pharmacopoietical part but if more time were improved in that practice it would much compensate their labour and redound to their success honour and advantage they were then Masters of their secrets which now are exposed the consequents whereof sero nimis sentiunt and I must say that Doctor Medicinae ought to be peritum in medicinis and that practically medicines then would be more nicely and exactly scruted into their defects supplyed and amended their superfluous accumulation of ingredients in many compositions abated many errors in preparation and composition corrected not to be known because not experimented by their own inspection thinking a fiat seeundum artem sufficient Hence it is some diseases pass for incurable through the penury deficiency of medicines not for the quantity but quality being meanly graduated not extracted from their feculency and terenity but remain complexed in their heterogene parts with a super addition of sugar honey c. to drown the energy and power of the medicine For variety of medicines there were never more impertinent frivolous and I may say dangerous from the multitude of spurious pretended Chymists illigitimate and not the Sons of Art being ignorant of Phylosophical principles and the abstruse natures of what they deal with blindly run upon many errors obtruding their casual experiments upon the People under the titles of laudable approved Medicines others are guilty of great abuses wilfully for advantage to spare cost and labour thus most places abound with base Medicines which brings defamation to Physitians lingring sicknesses and death to their Patients The charge incumbent upon Physitians in these cases for prevention is not small and it much concerns them to be very circumspect what Medicines they make use of and the quality of the Artist they trust and I must assirm that an expert knowledge in the Pharmacopoietical part of Physick do as much belong to a Physitian and is so necessary that without it he cannot be said to be compleat for he that is not an Artist herein cannot direct and correct as he ought by the promptings of a bare contemplative knowledge and although he excludes himself from inspection into the practick part as an unnecessary trouble and below the dignity of his title yet he is not excused thereby but his reputation payes for the miscarriages and abuses therein But this is an excursion beyond the limits of my intention at the entrance of the discourse and therefore I wave the prosecution FINIS