to wash the Mouth Gargarise to wash the Mouth Gangrene an Inflammation tending to Mortification Gonorrhaea the Running of the Reins H. HAemorrhage an excessive or continual Flux of Bloud Haemorrhoids the Piles also the Veins in the Fundament Hepaticks of or belonging to the Liver Hernius broken Bellied Homogeneous Homogeneal of one Kind Hydromel Water and Honey Hydrocele a waterish Rupture Hydrocephalos a Dropsie in the Head Hydragogue a Medicine to purge water Hydropical that have the Dropsie Hypochondries the fore-part of the Belly about the short Ribs Hypochondriacal a windy Melancholy Hysterical of or belonging to the Womb. I. ICterical having the Jaundice Icchorous waterish mattery Jejunum the hungry Gut Ileon the third small Gut Iliack passion a grievous Disease in the Gut Ileon Impostume vide Abcess Inflammation an hot angry Swelling Ingredients that which goeth into the making of a thing Intercostal between the Ribs Ischuria Stoppage of Vrine Jugular vein in the Throat L. LActeal veins milkie Veins Lethargy a slothfull sleepy Disease of the Head Lientery a Looseness caused by undigestion Ligament a bond or binding Linament a kind of hard Ointment Lipothimy fainting sounding Lithotomy cutting out of the Stone Lixivial made of Lye Lixivium a Lye made of Ashes Lympha a waterish Humour M. MAsticatory a Medicine to chew in the Mouth Medicinal of or belonging to Physick Membrane a thin Skin Menstruous a Woman having her Menses or monthly Terms Mercurial made of Quick-silver Mesentery the thick fat Membrane that fasteneth the Guts c. Muscle an Instrument of voluntary motion in the Body N. NArcotical stupefactive that hath power to stupefie or make the Body insensible Neopolitan disease the Pox. Nephritick of the Reins Nitrous made of Salt Petre. O. OPiate made of Opium to cause sleep and give ease Ophthalmy Inflammation of the Eye Optick nerve the Sinew which bringeth sight to the Eye P. PAlate the hollow of the Mouth above Panchymagogon a Medicine which purgeth all Humours Pancreas the Sweet-bread Paracenthesis a tapping for the Dropsie c. Pralitical that have the Dropsie Pectoral of or belonging to the Breast Pericardium the Membrane involving the Heart Periosteum a thin Skin enwrapping the Bones Peripneumony an Impostume of the Lungs Peritonaeum the inner Rim of the Belly Pest the Plague Pharmacy Medicine Phlegmagogues Medicines that purgeth Phlegm Phlebotomy Bloud-letting Phrenetical that hath the Phrensie Pia mater the tender Skin enwrapping the Brain Pituitous phlegmatick Pleuretical that hath the Pleurisie Plethorick fullness of Bloud Prohylactick a Preservative against the Plague c. Ptisan Barloy-water Pulsation a beating Pulverize pulverate to beat into Powder Puncture a Pricking Purgative which hath virtue to purge Purulent full of matter Pustule a Wheal or Blister Q. QUartan ague that cometh every fourth Day Quintan ague that cometh every fifth day but seldom observ'd Quotidian that cometh every day R. RAdical of or belonging to the Root Rarefaction a making thin of what was thick Rectum the Arse-gut Respiration fetching of breath Rupture a breaking S. SAline saltish Salivation spitting or fluxing at the Mouth Sanguification the changing of the Nourishment into Bloud Saphena the Vein by the inner Ancle Scamoniats Medicines made of Scammony Scarifie to cut or lance Sceleton a dry Carcass of Bones onely Sciatica the Hip-gout Scorbutick that have the Scurvy Scrofulae the Kings-evil Secundine the After-birth Seminal of the Seed Serosity the wheyish or waterish part of the Bloud Sphincter muscle the round compassing Muscle of the Fundament c. ordained to prevent untimely excretion Soluble Loose Solvent that hath Power to melt or dissolve Soporiferous causing sleep Spasm the Cramp or Convulsion Spermatical of or belonging to the Seed Spina dorsi the Back-bone Spinalis medulla the Marrow of the Back Spirituous full of Spirit Spissitude thickness Sternutatory to cause sneezing Sternon the Breast-bone where the Ribs meet Sterillity Barrenness Strangury a pissing by drops Sudorifick that causeth Sweat Suffocate to choak Suffumigate to smoak underneath Sulphur Brimstone Superfetation a conceiving the second time Suppuration a gathering to matter Symptom any grief following a Disease or sensibly joyned with it as Head-ach with an Ague c. Systole contraction of the Heart c. T. TEnasmus a Neediness to go to stool Tenuity Smallness Thoracick of or belonging to the Breast Torsions gripings of the Guts Trachea or Aspera arteria the Wind-pipe Transfer to carry from one place to another Transmute to change Transpiration sweaty Vapours coming forth of the Pores of the Skin Tubercles Pimples Wheals Tumour a swelling Turgid after a swelling manner Tympany the windy Dropsie V. VAperous full of Vopours Varices swelling of the Veins in the Legs Vegetables Roots or Plants Vehicle any thing that carrieth c. Ventoses Cupping-glasses Verntricle the Stomach c. Verminous full of Worms Vertebra the Back-bone Vertigo Giddiness Vesiccatory a Medicine to draw Blisters Virulent deadly poisonous Viscous clammy like Bird-lime Vitiate to corrupt Volatile that flieth U. ULcerate to blister to break out into Sores Unguent an Ointment Ureters the Vessels by which the Vrine passeth from the Reins to the Bladder Urethra the passage of Vrine from the Bladder through the Yard c. Uvula a fleshy substance hanging down like a Grape from the Roof of the Mouth towards the Root of the Tongue ADVERTISEMENT A New Idea of the Practice of Physick written by that famous Franciscus De-le-boc Sylvius late chief Professour of Physick in the University of Leiden The first Book of the Diseases either constituting producing or following the Natural functions of Man not in Health Wherein is contain'd beside a new Method in General a Vindication of the Spleen and Mother from fits attributed to them As also a new Discovery of intermitting Fevers the Yellow-jaundice and other Diseases never before discover'd All clear'd by Anatomical experiments and Chymical demonstrations as also by their Cures Faithfully translated by Richard Gower formerly Student under the Authour Printed for Brabazon Aylmer at the three Pigeons against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill in Octavo THE END Cephalalgia Cephalaea Hemicrania Signs Progn Cure Clyster Julep Powder A medicinal Wine Apozeme Purging Pills Epitheme For a quilted Cap. Signs Cure Powder Cordial Julep Clyster Vomit Purging Potion Troches Purging Infusion Electuary Observation Julep Tincture Emulsion Julep Epitheme Ointment Paralysis Apoplexiâ— Cause Cause internal Signs Progn Cure Cordial to cause sweat Observation Clyster Suppository Purging Pills Purging Electuary Vomit Cordial Julep Medicinal Wine Bath Oil. Plaister Sneezing Powder Spasmus Epilepsia Partes affectae Causes Signs Progn Cure Julep Infusion Cordial to cause Sweat Purging Pills Infusion Ointment Masticatory Epileptick Powder Incubus Cause Vertigo Cause Lethargus Signs Coma. Carus Causes Progn Cure Julep Decoction Sneezing Powder Vomit Purging Pills Purging Infusion Fomentation Oil. Phrenitis Mania Cause Progn Cure Clyster Julep Opiat Epitheme Liâ—amenâ— Dieta Julep Purging Pills Cause Progn Cure Julep Purging Pills Purging Potion Clyster Purging Decoction Pills opiat Tussis
Sputum Sanguinis Decoction Astringent Julep Pectoral Julep For a quilted Cap. Powder to fume the Head c. Masticatory Note Plaster for the Head Asthma Cause Progn Cure Pectoral Julep Pleuritis Signs Peripneumonia Cause Progn Empiema Cure Cure Sudorifick Fomentation Ointment Plaster Pultis Balsam Sulphur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Compunctio Caution Tabes Causes Signs Progn Febris Hecticae Signs Liber 12. de marc cap. 4. Causes Progn Cure Powder Cause Progn Cure Julep Purging Pills Purging Decoction Cordial Julep Syncope Signs Causes Progn Cure Decoction Purging Pills Purging Pills Cordial Julep Difference Symptomes Causes Lipiria febris Cause Hystory Progn Pars affecta Cure Cautio Purging Decoction Volatile Powder Cordial Julep Observation Causes â—he cause 〈◊〉 the Reâ—â—rn of the 〈◊〉 Quotidian Cure Cordial Julep Purging Pills Powder Difference Calenture Signs Cause of Malignity Signs Progn Cure Cordial Sudorifick Cause Signs Progn Cure Cordial Electuarâ— Cordial Jalep Signs Causes Progn Cure Cordial Julep Phlebotomy Water 〈◊〉 the Eyes Gargaris Nodulas Cause Signs Cure Julep Emulsion Purging Infusion· Pica Malacia Cause Cause Cause Signs Progn Cure Nausea Cause Progn Cure Cordial Opiat Purging Decoction Diet-drink Cause Progn Cure Cordial Opiat Purging Pills Cause Progn Cure Ileos Choler Cholerica passio Hoemoptysis Cause of Ileos Causes of the cholerick passion Causes of vomiting Bloud Progn Cure Cordial Opiate Cure of Cholerick passion Vomit Cordial Opiate Cure of bloudy vomiting Astringent Julep Carminative Julep Purging Pills Cure of Iliaca passio Clyster Emulsion Cholica Passio Tenesmus Signs Causes Cause of the Colick Observation Tympany Progn Cure Julep Emulsion Purging Potion Cordial Diaphoretick Cordial Julep Cure of the Cholick Clyster Ointment Empl. Carminative Julep Purging Decoction Purging Pills Teretes Taenia Ascarides Vermina Signs of Teretes Signs of Taenia Signs of Ascarides Signs of Vermina Progn Cure Purging Pills Lienteria Coeliaca Diarrhoea Dysentery Tenasmus Hemorrhoids Causes Causes of Lientery Cause of the Jaundice-like flux Cause of the Chyle-like flux Causes of the divers kinds of Diarrhoea Cause of a Dysentery Cause of Tenasmus Cause of Hemorrhoids c. Signs Progn Cure Purging Powder Cordial Julep Decoction Powder Astringent Julep Clyster Purging Bolus Bolus Opiat Decoction Sudorifick Causes Signs Progn Cure Diaphoretick Opiate Bath Ointment Icterus Cause Progn Cure Decoction Sudorifick Diuretick Decoction Opiate Cachexia Signs Progn Cure Hydrops Ascites Cause Cause Cause of a Tympany Signs of Ascites Signs of Anasarca Signs of a Tympany Progn Cure Purging Infusion Purging Pills Pills Sudorifick Carminative Julep Medicinal Wine Ointment Pultess Hypochondriacus Causes Progn Cure Julep Electuary Purging Powder Medicinal Wine Tincture Linament Water against the Scurvy Cause Signs Progn Cure Cordial to cause Sweat Powder Purging Pills Medicinal wine Cause Cause of Whites Signs Progn Cure Astringent Julep Purge Purging Pills Astringent Electuary Astringent Julep Linament Plaster Fume Cause Signs Progn Cure Bath Powder For a quilted Bag. Progn â—ure Infusion Electuary Causes Signs Progn Cure Purging Infusion Cordial to cause sweat Causes Signs Progn Indications Cordial Julep Powder Julep Cordial Opiate Clyster Fomentation Cause Observation Signs Cause of the Stone Histories History Progn Cure Purging Bolus Julep Powder Decoction Julep Cordial Astringent Julep Cause Signs Progn Cure Cordial Opiate Decoction Pissing in Bed Causes Progn Cure Cause Progn Cure Causes Progn Cure Decoction Lues venerea Cause Signs Progn Cure Apozeme Purging Pills Decoction Purging Pills Bolus Ointment Balsamick Pills Injection Observatio Causes Signs Progn Cure Vomit Observatio Infusion Purging Bolus Linament Plaster Pectoral Ointment Arthritis Causes Observatio Signs Progn Cure Fomentation Pultess Cataplasm Linament Purging Pills Water against the Gout Rheumatismus Cause Progn Cure Linament
the vital strength without manifest cause which for the most part is Epidemical But of this I intend to treat particularly in Chap. 8. of this Book 3. The last Symptome which I shall here mention is seldom observ'd in which all the time of the disease the external parts are cold while the internal parts burn and therefore 't is called by the Latins Lipyria febris and in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia destituitur ardore externo Some think this distemper consists of a double Fever Cholerick and Pancreatical and not without reason because such like vapours may be continually rais'd in the small guts by the Juices of the Pancreas universally over-sour which may be confus'd onely with the Mass of Bloud and breed a sense of cold in the habit of the Body whilst a burning heat is stir'd up in the internal parts by a Fever caused by Choler more oily than sharp The cause of every continual Fever not putrid is sometimes Choler vitiated sometimes Lympha together with the Juice of the Pancreas and Spittle and many times all these together are ill affected These vitiated humours flowing always to the Heart cause a continual Effervescency in the right Ventricle of it whence the Pulse is continually produc'd more frequent against nature Fevers in Children are caused either by the Food abounding in quantity or by some vitious quality of it or from an ill disposition of the digestive ferment Milk is the general Food of Children and there is such a propensity in its own nature to curdle that if it be not quickly digested it obeyeth the acid Ferment of the Stomach and is soon coagulated like new tough Cheese and if it be not speedily vomited up it begets a putrefactive Ferment which produceth terrible Symptoms as griping scouring vomiting c. I know a Woman that had a young Child about a Month old which was taken very ill with Convulsions after which followed a thorough Thrush with a Fever accompanied with the aforesaid Symptoms as griping c. which continu'd many days till the whole body was so maciated that it was in a total Atrophia and when there was no hopes of recovery the Nurse gave the Child a little of the infusion of the Antimonial Cup which caused it to vomit up a Curd three or four inches long very green and as tough as new Cheese After which the Child did wonderfully recover and grow fat Continual acute Fevers are oft times accompanied with a secret malignity and therefore dangerous parvae febres quandoque valde malignae The Stomach in continual Fevers is most commonly primarily affected through undigestion or else from Excrements not being separated and orderly evacuated which causeth an irregular Ferment or nonnatural heat in the Stomach which though begun else where is much aggravated by vitiating Juices found in this first Elaboratory of decocting Nature For as in humane frame the first heat of Nature preparatory to all her depending motions is the digestive heat for Chylification in the Stomach so likewise the corrupting or exasperating of the same either by the sour Ferments or too much of the overflowing Gall is the Cause of most Fevers Therefore in the beginning of the Cure evacuation by vomiting never ought to be neglected by the carefull Physician provided it be duely timed because then most commonly it removeth the sole cause of the feverish Intemperature without the help of any other means And here I commend Antimonials well prepared before all others seeing that Antimony as well rightly prepar'd as administred serves no less to purifie Man's body than Gold But if the Patient's body be costive and there be eminent signs of a Plethora or great fulness of Bloud then let a carminative Clyster be first administred and after its operation let a Vein be opened and draw seven or eight ounces of bloud at a time and if there be occasion let it be reiterated for I always prefer it s repeated less diminution as need requires sometimes instituted in the same day before great evacuations made suddenly which hath brought many Evils to the sick It matters little what vein be opened unless in Women because of the monthly Terms either at hand or hindred And seeing it is the duty of every honest Physician to be Natures helper he ought to endeavour to remove all impediments whereby the sick may be cured more quickly safely and pleasantly without demurs to magnifie the Cure and inflame the reckonings Wherefore since the first curative intention of most Fevers is the discharge of the first turgent Monitor from the Stomach and adjacent parts by vomiting as is before said Let the Patient upon the discovery of the assaulting Enemy take an Antimonial Emetick and if one doth not suffice let it be reiterated by which the Morbifick matter will be evacuated nature calmed and the contemperating of the incited or enraged nonnatural heat will be the easier performed But here the Sex is to be consider'd the Female not so well enduring this evacuation because Emeticks cause great Commotions and flatuous Vapours in them which may also prevent or corrupt natures own intentions in her great discharge of turgent humours Wherefore administer no Emetick to them except they vomit very easily but rather let the peccant humours be diminisht or emptied out gradually by the following decoction to be taken twice a day to three or four ounces Take the Roots of Parsly Fennel Plantain Peony Dandelion Succory of each two ounces the Leaves of Endive House-leek Fumitory Damask-roses of each one handfull Let them be cleansed bruised and infused for a Night in one quart of Fountain-water very hot then boil it gently till a third part be consumed strain it and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb the best Manna of each two ounces Powder of Cream of Tartar and Tartar vitriolated of each two drachms Oil of Sulphur twenty drops mix it all together This pleasant Medicine will conduce much to correct the salt sharpness of Choler and will also amend its Oily inflameableness and separate it from the Bloud and mildly dispose it and the rest of the abounding humours to be voided out by stool After these Evacuations give the sick the following Medicine twice a day in a little thin broth or Water-gruel Take Salt of Amber volatile Salt of Harts-horn Tartar vitriolated of each six grains mix it This excellent volatile Medicine is both abstersive and Diuretick and will cleanse the Stomach and Intestines of the remaining Sordes and expell them by Urine In the Declination of the Fever if sleep be wanting this following Julep will much avail both to cause rest and refresh the spirits Take the Waters of Carduus benedict Fennel of each two ounces Treacle-water Syrup of red Poppies of each one ounce Laudanum opiatum six grains Salt of Wormwood half a drachm Spirit of Salt twenty drops mix it and give the sick three or four
will be by salivation I do not approve of unction with meâ—â—curial Ointments to raise the Flux nor Turbith-mineral to be given inwardly but the safest way is to administer Mercur. dulcis but let it be well prepared Then you may give twenty grains of it with a little Diascordium or Conserves of Roses give it three or four Mornings successively and drink a draught of the Diet-drink after it Also the second Decoction may be sometimes made use of for ordinary Drink all the time of the Cure and warm Posset-drink at other times when desired When the Salivation is rais'd let the sick have a piece of Gold between the teeth and keep warm and continue spitting till the Spittle become insipid which is commonly in twenty days In the mean time wash the Mouth with Plantain-water and Syrup of Mulberries When you would abate the spitting administer a Carminative Clyster or a Clyster of Milk and Sugar every Night and after its operation give the following Bolus Take of Diascordium half a drachm Gascoigns powder fifteen grains Oil of Vitriol two drops with Syrup of Poppies make it into a Bolus give it at Night going to bed Pustules Tumours and Ulcers of the Mouth Tongue Gums or any other Place will be all easily cured when the Salivation is over You may dress the sores with the following Ointment which is very effectual to cure all Pocky ulcers Take of Verdigreece and common Salt of each two ounces powder them and calcine them together then mix it with eight ounces of Vnguentum Enulatum When the filthy Enemy or Neapolitan disease is cast out by Salivation you may sweat the Patient with the Decoction of China c. before mention'd for sometime as is there directed Let the Diet be drying rost Meat is better than boil'd Mutton Chickens Partridges Rabbets c. are all good Food When strength doth begin to increase Bread and Raisins may be eaten The greater Symptoms of this Disease are the Running of the Reins Nodes Caruncles c. The Running of the Reins is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 semen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fluo it being a Flux of natural Seed of Man or Woman unwittingly If the Gonorrhoea be virulent it is a praeludium to the Pox and must be cur'd the same way but if it be newly contracted it may wholly and most safely be absolved by purgation The same Apozeme and purging Pills before mention'd are very proper which must be continu'd till the Running of the Reins cease If the Patient be plethorick let a Vein be opened To strengthen the spermatick parts the following Balsamick Pills are effectual Take of Mummy Bole Armenick Gums Dragon and Arabick of each one ounce Balsam of Sulphur two drachms with Syrup of dried Roses make it into a Mass for Pills of which you may give half a drachm every Morning and Evening If there be Nodes Caruncles or Ulcers in the urinary Passage The following Medicine may be daily injected Take the Water of the Spawn of Frogs four ounces Honey of red Roses one ounce white Troches of Rhasis one drachm powder the Troches and mix all together for an Injection After injection put in an hollow Instrument made of Silver or Lead being first anointed with some consolidating Ointment as was directed in the Stoppage of Urine I do not approve of Astringents in the Beginning of the Cure of a Gonorrhoea till the Patient be well purged and the running begin to cease because all Astringent means conduce to prolong the Distemper but after the Cause is eradicated by purging then they may be safely administred if the Cure be not effected without it To prevent the Return of the Distemper I advise the Patient to purge and bleed every Spring and Fall Also keep a good Diet be moderate in Exercise and all other of the nonnatural things When thou art recovered give God the Praise and have a care of committing the like sin again lest a worse thing befall thee for it is a fearfull thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God Hebr. 10.31 CHAP. XXVII Of the Rachites or Rickets THIS Disease may be called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It may be called in Latin morbus spinalis it being a Disease of the Spine of the Back This spinal Disease is commonly called in English Rickets It is peculiar to Children because they abound with a crude phlegmatick matter for if they labour under a cold moist Distemper there is presently a Penury and Paucity of the Animal Spirits for the Brain cerebellum and spinalis medulla being more compact than is wont is unfit for percolation so that the most spirituous part of the Bloud cannot pierce or be strein'd through it Hence the separation of the Animal Spirits is diminisht For the aforesaid cold moist phlegmatick Humours compacting the soft substance of the Brain c. it is thereby too much thickned and straitned in its porous passages The coldness of Air Water or Snow vehemently affecting the Head seems to confirm and prove this opinion because when the Glandules of the Brain are affected and thickned by a stuffing of the Head with Coldness then a more sparing production of the Animal Spirits useth to follow The essence of this Disease consists not onely in the Animal and vital but natural Constitution also all the Functions being in time vitiated For the spinalis medulla being primarily affected all the Nerves which proceed from it in its passage through the spina Dorsi must of necessity be stupifi'd and vitiated with a loose Feebleness hence also all the nervous membranous and fibrous parts through which those Nerves are carried or inserted into must consequently be vitiated with an inward weak Slipperiness so that the very ends of the bones as well as all the Faculties of the Body bear a share in this Distemper When the Rickets is confirm'd in Infants it seems to have some affinity with divers other Diseases viz. a Chronical fever an extenuation or leanness of the Body and an Hydrocephalus and many more which are frequently complicated with this affect And indeed not onely this but most other Diseases in process of time do unite unto themselves other affects of a different kind and therefore for the most part there is a complication of Chronical diseases before Death The Causes are either external or internal The external may be any of the Non-naturals exceeding either in excess or defect All things cold and moist do powerfully contribute to this Disease especially an over cold and moist Air which is most frequent in the Spring the Air being then cloudy thick rainy and full of vaporous Exhalations Hereupon the Children of those which inhabit near the Banks of the Sea or great Rivers Ponds or Marshes that are obnoxious to too much Rain or are fed with a great Number of Springs are more or
ENCHIRIDION MEDICUM OR A MANUAL OF PHYSICK BEING A Compendium of the whole Art in Three Parts viz. I. Of Diseases of the Head II. Of Diseases of the Breast III. Of Diseases of the Belly Wherein is briefly shewed 1. The Names 2. The Derivation 3. The Causes 4. The Signs 5. The Prognosticks And 6. A rational method of Cure Comprehending the Substance of the more approved Authours both Ancient and Modern Published for the benefit of all persons being fitted to the Meanest Capacity By ROBERT JOHNSON Med. Professor LONDON Printed by J. Heptinstall for Brabazon Aylmer at the Three Pigeons over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill MDCLXXXIV Librum cui Titulus est Enchiridion medicum ab Authore experto conscriptum Tyronibus in Arte Medicinae Chyrurgiaeve haud inutilem fore judicat Tho. Novell med Doctor Colleg. medicor Lond. socius Hunc Librum cujus Author Robertus Johnson ex parte perlegi plurimaque in eo inveni observatione digna si imprimeretur plurimis profecturum existimo Johannes Groenevelt med Doctor e Colleg. Amsteladomensium socius I have examined the Authour hereof and do find him a Person well versed in his Art and worthy of all Encouragement Witness my Hand Peter Chamberlain His Majestie 's first and eldest Physician in ordinary to His Royal Person Ad Lectorem Enchiridii Medici En tibi Lector opus magnum parvumque licebit Hinc parvo pretio commoda magna petas Chara salus cunctis cunctis charissima vita Hunc doctum legas utraque chara minus J. Garretson In Laudem Authoris Operis Exquirit sapiens utilia mente sagaci Inventis alios communicare juvat Tu laudande tuâ faelix virtute triumpha Nomine perpetuo secula cuncta colant Tu Johnson medicâ celeberrimus Arte docere Gaudes hic doctus monstrat utrumque Liber B. Johnson Ad Robertum Johnson Compendium medicum Anglico Idiomate Edentem Primus Apollo dedit medicam mortalibus Artem Quâ se tutari qua morbos pellere possent Vt referunt Vates ut fabula prisca recenset Hinc sacra progenies Epidauria dicitur orta Dicitur ortus hinc Pedalirius hincque Machaon Hippocrates sexcenti alii Galenus omnes Quos labor vivax virtus ad Sydera vexit Omnium at instar eris noster tu Johnson Amicus Qui dum das facili medicamina dogmate tuta Scilicet ut vivat mens sana in Corpore sano Ipse per ora virûm vivas volitesque beatus Eximiumque trahas per postera secula nomen J. G. THE PREFACE THE most learned and wisest Philosophers who were onely led by nature and reason were of this mind that Man was not born for himself but was framed by God and Nature so excellent a Creature as he is to the end that he might employ those singular Gifts wherewith he is endued not to his own private benefit but to the profit of his Country and Others as saith PLATO Non nobis solum nati sumus ortusque nostri partem Patria vendicat partem Parentes partem Amici quae in terris gignuntur ad usum hominum causa esse generatos ut ipsi inter se aliis alii prodesse possent We are not born for our selves alone but partly for our Country partly for our Parents partly for our Friends Whatever the Earth hath produced was created for the use of Man man also was created for man's sake that they might among themselves profit one by another This good opinion engrafted in those Heathen Philosophers by Nature delivered from one to another by instructions and so from time to time continu'd among themselves by consent caused such as God had plentifully endued with Knowledge and Vnderstanding to leave some worthy Monuments which daily are to be seen to Posterity as Plato and Tully good Rules of Government Aristotle the hidden secrets of Philosophy Ptolomy the Misteries of Astronomy Euclide the infallible Principles of Geometry Varro the necessary Observations of Husbandry c. out of the which great benefit in all Ages hath been reaped and hath also from time to time been increased Certainly they do nearest attain to the rule of uncorrupt nature and deserve best of a Common-weal whose Travails and Studies are employ'd on those things that tend to the best end for by consideration of the end whereunto each thing leadeth the goodness and excellency of the same is to be known and considered As for example If Health either maintained or recovered be good then Physick whose chief end is to maintain and recover Health must needs be good also I have endeavoured with a great adventure to set forth this Compendium of Physick for the common good both of young Physicians and Chirurgeons and also their sick Patients I know that many learned Men have already written large Volumes of this Art whereupon it may seem perhaps a matter both vain and superfluous to write any more thereof and some Physicians may rashly judge that this little tract cannot be comparable to that which is already done by others But though I have but onely hinted at Diseases because I intended this but for an Enchiridion or manual yet there is so much writ as will satisfie every unprejudic'd Artist that many Physicians both Ancient and Modern have not attained to the true Knowledge of the Causes and consequently the Cure of Diseases I must confess I owe much of it to those Standard-bearers of Physick the great Platerus the most famous Helmont and Franciscus De-le-boe Sylvius c. out of whose Monuments I have collected the choicest things of the greatest import in the Art of Physick whith were never divulged or known before of which I have had large experience Was it wholly mine it would be of little Estimation it is the great Names of the profound Authours before mention'd which will give it Being and Life and make it remain as an Exemplar of the true Knowledge of this famous Art I need not tell the World how usefull a Subject of this Nature may prove especially being Methodical the better to be understood by those that are of mean Capacities who cannot comprehend what is confusedly set down in large Volumes It is the Duty of all good Men to praise those Authours who have left to Posterity as much as was known to them such is my Judgment of the writings of others that I think their Labour well bestowed which have written herein before me and I shall not find fault with any that shall with an incessant Labour and continual Industry discover and bring to publick light any thing of this Art which as yet is cover'd and unknown but will always esteem them worthy of much Commendation and therefore I hope that others also will judge the like of me For it is unjust and injurious to good Men and also to the re-publick presently to defame those wickedly who do endeavour to discover things that are obscure and bring them forth to the common use
wound or puncture the Oil of Turpentine with rectifi'd Spirit of Wine both actually hot as that famous Chyrurgeon Mr. Ambrose Parey adviseth in his ninth Book Chap. 11. of which I have had large experience with good success The like course may be taken with all other wounds of the nervous parts But if the wound of the Nerve or Tendon yield not to this medicine the same is to be cut asunder cross-ways seeing it is safer to lose the action of one part than that the sick should be exposed to the danger of a deadly Convulsion When the Nerves or Tendons of the Muscles are prickt by sharp splinters of bones the grievous pains succeeding soon cause a particular Convulsion of that part and at length an universal Convulsion will attend the Patient if there be not speedy help Wherefore if possible the sharp fragments of the bone must be cut away or if this have been neglected or could not be done and an universal Convulsion be feared you must hasten to amputation of the member For Necessitas non habet legem If a particular Convulsion be occasion'd by a hot Tumour or any other sharp pain which hath rais'd an inflammation let the pain be diminisht as well by internal as external Anodines and Narcoticks to allay the over encreas'd motion of the Animal spirits To this end you may give the sick two or three grains of Laudanum opiat at a time either in a Pill or dissolve it in a little Wine or other convenient Vehicle And if the ingenious and judicious Physician or Chyrurgeon do add a little volatile Salt either of Animals or Vegetables to his topical Medicaments whether fomentations Cataplasms or Ointments he will wonder at the incredible benefit for by the help thereof the Tumour will be mollified and dissolved the internal obstruction loosned and the pain eased If a Convulsion be caused by the taking of Hellebor or any other venemous matter administer an Antimonial vomit with all speed But if it be a Child give it ten grains of Salt of Vitriol or half an ounce of Oxymel of Squills with a drachm of Oil of Almonds After the operation of the Emetick and also at other times you may give some of this Julep Take of Black-cherry-water the Water of Line-flowers of each two ounces Briony-water compound Syrup of Peony of each one ounce Tincture of Castor half an ounce Confection of Alkermes one drachm Spirit of Salt Armoniack twenty drops mix it and give three or four spoonfulls every fourth Hour Having briefly hinted at the Cure of particular Convulsions I come now to those more universal as likewise Convulsive motions and the Epilepsie And seeing there is little difference in the remote causes of them in the Body these diseases may for the most part be cured with the same Remedies 1. First then the peccant humours are to be temper'd and diminisht 2. The rising of vapours is to be hindred and their expulsion procur'd by sweat or insensible transpiration By which the over motion of the Animal spirits will be restrain'd and brought to tranquillity that is a more quiet motion All Aromaticks and all things abounding with either a fixt or volatile Salt do not onely correct and by cutting amend the viscous phlegmatick humours but do powerfully temper and destroy the over acidity and tartness of the juice of the Pancreas To temper and diminish these humours I commend these medicines Take the Roots of Male-peony Valerian Missletoe of the Oak and Peony-seeds of each two ounces Castor half an ounce let them be all bruised and infus'd in Peony-water compound the Water of Line-tree-flowers of each one pint for the space of twenty four hours then strain it out very strongly and add Syrup of Peony and Stoechas of each three ounces Spirit of Castor half an ounce mix it and give three spoonfulls at a time every fourth hour with which you may mix Spirit of Salt Armoniack Elixir proprietatis of each six drops Also you may give the Patient half a drachm of the following powder in three or four spoonfulls of this Infusion with the aforesaid Spirit and Elixir Take of Crabs-eyes Salt of Tartar vitriolated Salt prunella of each half an ounce volatile Salt of Harts-horn Salt of Amber of Man's skull prepar'd of each two drachms make it into a fine powder which may be taken half a drachm at a time morning and evening The peccant humours being temper'd and diminisht by the frequent use of the abovesaid medicines the inordinate involuntary and impetuous motion of the Animal spirits in Convulsive and Epileptick fits will be the better reduc'd to a calm and voluntary motion by the help of volatile and spirituous Sudorificks mixt with Anodines and Narcotick medicines us'd in a small quantity and at times which two will be expedient to be given together because then they will the better circulate to the Animal spirits and temper and educe the hurtfull flatuous Vapours For which I commend the following form Take of Treacle-water Fennel-water of each one ounce Syrup of Peony Syrup of the Juice of Scurvigrass of each half an ounce Antimony Diaphoretick Bezoar mineral Crabs-eyes in powder of each ten grains Laudanum opiat four grains Tincture of Castor one drachm Oil of Cloves three drops Spirit of Salt Armoniack ten drops mix it and let the sick take it being well cover'd with cloths whereby the sweat will the easier come forth If the Body be costive let it be made soluble by a Clyster or Suppository such as is prescrib'd in the cure of the Apoplexy As often as the Stomach is nauseous or the sick inclines to vomiting let the Emeticks before mention'd be carefully administred and likewise three or four days before the full of the moon But if the sick be averse to vomiting and Pills or Potions are more acceptable take the following as Examples Take of Extract Rudij pil foetidae ex duobus of each a drachm and half Castor black Hellebor prepar'd of each half a drachm Salt of Amber twenty grains Oil of Rosemary twenty drops with Syrup of Stoechas make it into a Mass for pills of which you may give half a drachm twice a week Also this purging Infusion is very effectual Take of the best Senna Rhubarb and Cream of Tartar of each an ounce and half Liquorish and the five opening Roots of each one ounce Guiacum China-roots of each six ounces Missletoe of the Oak Anise-seed sweet Fennel-seed Bay-berries and Juniper-berries of each half an ounce let them be all bruised and infused in Black-cherry-water and the Water of Line-tree-flowers of each a quart very hot for the space of a Night then strain it very hard and add Syrup of Roses solutive with Senna Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb of each three ounces Cinamon-water two ounces Salt of Tartar vitriolated half an ounce mix it Let the sick take four ounces of this purging Infusion every morning whereby the viscous humours and flatuous Vapours
may be both corrected and also evacuated gently by degrees If bloud abound let a Vein be opened in Women open the Saphaena in either Foot but in Men you may apply Leeches to the Hemorrhoidal Veins c. Bathing hath been often us'd with good success in these diseases A natural sulphureous Bath such as is in the City of Bath is excellent but when it is not to be had an artificial Bath may serve That which is set down in the Cure of the Palsie and Apoplexy is of excellent Virtue and very effectual in these distempers After bathing let the Spina Dorsi and other affected parts be anointed with the following Ointment Take the Oils of Euphorbium Rue Castor Petre Spike Turpentine Bricks Dil Chamomel of each half an ounce Oils of Amber and Juniper of each two drachms the Ointments Martiatum and Aregon of each one ounce mix them for an Ointment Issues are approved of either in the Neck or Arm also Ventoses with Scarification Sternutatories Errhines and Masticatories are all commended This Masticatory may serve for Example Take the Roots of Pellitory of Spain Ginger Calamus aromaticus of each one ounce Mustard-seed all sorts of Pepper Nutmegs Castor Mastick of each half an ounce beat them all into fine Powder and with fine Honey boild into a Syrup make them into Troches according to Art When they are drie you may chew them one after another when you please to draw the Rheum out of the Mouth When the fit is coming or upon the party blow up some Sneezing-powder into the Nostrils or the Smoak of Tobacco into the Mouth Embrocate the Temples Fore-head and Nostrils with Oil of Amber and hold the Spirit of Salt Armoniack to the Nose in a Narrow-mouth'd viol Make a noise in the Ears and let the sick be kept in a light Room with the Head upright Let the teeth be kept open with a stick or rather with a little viscus quercinus if it may be had Let the soles of the feet be well rub'd with Salt and Vineger also Frictions and Ligatures may be used in the parts affected Some commend a Pigeon cut asunder and applied hot to the Navel for hereby the venemous halituous Vapours are partly drawn away I might add variety of medicines for the cure of these diseases but those before mentioned are sufficient to give light to the ingenious Artist who knows how to prepare diversity of them as well milder for Infants and Children as stronger for Adults I will therefore prescribe a powder to preserve Children from Convulsive and Epileptick-fits and so conclude this Chapter Take the Roots of Peony Valerian of each half an ounce the Moss that groweth upon a Man's skull the triangular Bone of a Man's skull prepar'd Missletoe of the Oak Elks-hoof the Seeds of Peony sweet Fennel and Annise of each two drachms red Coral whitest Amber and Emerald prepar'd of each one drachm white Sugar the weight of them all let them be reduc'd into a fine powder You may give a Child twenty grains of this powder with a little Oil of sweet Almonds so soon as it is born which may happily preserve it from Convulsions and Epileptick fits And because obstructions of the Belly in Children exposeth them to flatuous Vapours and Gripings and so consequently to Convulsive and Epileptick-fits I advise you to keep the Belly open either with a little Manna or a Carminative Clyster so often as you see convenient Let the sick live in a serene Air and abstain from all food that breeds bad nourishment and flatulent Vapours CHAP. IV. Of the Night-mare and Vertigo I Shall treat of these two distempers in one Chapter because if either of them continue long they are Forerunners of the Palsie or Apoplexy and sometimes Convulsions or Epilepsie The Night-mare is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin 't is called Incubus ab incubando quod externa vis quaedam aut moles incubare videtur It is called the Night-mare because it oppresseth the sick in the Night at which time they think that some great weight lieth upon them by which they seem to be almost suffocated It happens most commonly after the first sleep whereby the party oppressed is deprived of speech and motion and sometime breathing for a time When the fit is upon the sick they do imagine that some Witch or Hag lieth hard on their Breast or Stomach from whence it hath also acquired that Name in which they cannot stir nor call for help though they have a great desire and do strive very much to cry out but are possessed with a panick fear The cause of this distemper is most commonly intemperance in eating and drinking especially in the Night whereby crude halituous Vapours are bred in such plenty that nature cannot disperse nor dissolve them before sleep and therefore they are raised up to the Ventricles of the Brain by which imagination sense and motion are all depraved The giddy motion is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. obscuritas oculorum In Latin 't is called Vertigo ex vertendo quod Caput vertere videtur In this disease the Animal spirits are wrong mov'd which makes the sick believe that not onely all things they look on go in a Circuit about but their Head and other parts seem to turn round which many times causeth them to be in danger of falling or tumbling headlong The cause of the giddy motion is either external or internal The external are either an intent looking at any object that turns round or about especially if very remote or a frequent turning about of the Body it self The internal cause is the ascent of flatuous Vapours to the Head together with the spirituous part of the Bloud and carried with the Animal spirits into the passages of the Brain and Cerebellum by which the motion of wheeling about is communicated to the Animal spirits and anon carried to the Cristalline humour of the Eyes by the Optick nerves and so a Giddiness seems to be produc'd For the Cure of these diseases seeing they are the Forerunners of the Apoplexy and Epilepsie I refer you to those excellent Medicines prescrib'd for the Cure of them Let such as are subject to these distempers be very sparing in their diet let them avoid all Herbs Roots and Fruits that are windy and all viscous and gross diet such as is of hard Concoction Let the external Causes be remov'd and the internal causes corrected Sublata causa tollitur effectus CHAP. V. Of the Lethargy Coma Carus and Catalepsie or Catocus THE Lethargy is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est ab oblivione inertia Because in this disease the sick is very forgetfull and slothfull In this distemper there is a very great propensity to sleep accompanied with a Symptomatical Fever and sometimes with the Hiccough with difficulty of breathing dulness of the Head and many times
a deprivation of the Senses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sopor altus is an insatiable inclination to sleep the sick being called unto they open their Eyes and answer but presently fall a sleep again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called in Latin crapularis redundantia because it is sometimes caused by surfeiting end drunkenness It is deep and profound sleep whereby imagination sense and motion are all depraved In these there is no Fever in which they differ from the Lethargy Catalepsis vel Detentio is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a with-holding or restraining because in this distemper the mind with the senses and motion are all suddenly surprized so that the sick remain stiff and immoveable in the very same posture in which they were taken with their Eyes open The causes of these diseases are either external or internal The external causes are gross food idleness spirituous wine or any other inebriating liquour taken in excess and sometimes by the Air inspir'd which is defil'd by the Smoak of Coals or other mineral Fumes by which the Air may be infested The internal cause is a Narcotick force mix'd with the Animal spirits bred by degrees in the Body by the frequent use of opiats not well corrected which not onely dulls the mind but causeth a sluggishness of the whole Body for the Animal motion being deprav'd the external as well as internal senses will be thence soon infected and defil'd These diseases are all very dangerous and except they are speedily cur'd they will soon hurry the sick into the Boats of Acheron or devouring Jaws of Death But if a Phrensie cometh immediately after any of them it cureth the Patient with little help of medicine To cure these diseases let the drowsie Animal spirits be stir'd up and rais'd from sleepiness and stupidness by potent external Objects which may sharply move the external senses let the sick be kept in a light room and be often called upon very strongly and let sharp smells be applied to the Nostrils such as Spirit of Salt Armoniack Harts-horn c. Also sharp spices or salts should be put into the mouth and gentle frications us'd with warm Cloaths to those parts that are affected with Numness The Animal spirits may be freed from the Narcotick force mingled with them and likewise slothfulness and sleepiness may be by little and little diminished by the frequent use of sharp volatile Salts and all Medicines endued with an Aromatick biting such as Pepper Cloves Castor Garlick Horse-radish Mustard Scurvigrass c. Of which you may make diversity of Medicines for example Take the Waters of Hedge-mustard Scurvigrass of each two ounces Syrup of the Juice of Scurvigrass one ounce Tincture of Castor two drachms Oil of Cloves four drops mix it and give the sick two or three spoonfulls every two hours This decoction is also very effectual Take the Roots of Horse-radish the best China of each two ounces Roots of Galangal half an ounce Scurvigrass Hedge-mustard of each one handfull Cloves one drachm let them be all cleansed bruised and infused in White-wine and Fountain-water of each a quart for the space of a Night very hot the next morning boil it gently for half an hour then strain it and add Syrup of Hedge-mustard Scurvigrass of each three ounces Cinamon-water two ounces mix it Let the sick lying in bed meanly covered take often in a day five or six spoonfulls of this decoction whereby a light sweat may break forth to ease them By the frequent use of these medicines the Animal spirits will not onely be freed from their drowsiness but even the Narcotick force bred in the Body either in the length of time or received in from without may be corrected and by degrees gently educ'd by insensible transpiration So that at length these dangerous distempers may happily be overcome Let Clysters and Suppositories be often administred as need requires Those prescrib'd in page 17 18. in the Cure of the Palsie and Apoplexy are very effectual here If strength and age permit let a vein be opened in either Arm or Foot as you shall see cause for generally Authours consent to it besides Experientia docet Let Ventoses with or without Scarification be applied to the shoulders and hinder part of the Neck And let Sternutatories be often snuft up into the Nostrils to provoke sneezing Take the Roots of Pellitory of Spain white Hellebor of each half a drachm Castor Nutmegs white Pepper of each twenty grains Flowers of Lillies of the Valley one drachm beat them into a fine Powder If the Stomach be foul and the sick incline to vomit give this or the like Take the decoction of Horse-radish two ounces the infusion of crocus metallorum Oxymel of Squills of each half an ounce Oil of sweet Almonds newly drawn two drachms mix it and give it in the Morning But if the sick had rather take Pills or Potions let the following serve Take Extract Rudii pil foetidae ex duobus of each half a drachm Powder of Castor twenty grains Oil of Cloves six drops with Syrup of Stoechas make it into Pills for three doses You may give them twice a week in the Morning fasting This purging Infusion is also very effectual Take of the best Senna Rhubarb Polypodium of each half an ounce Mechoacan Agarick Turkey-Turbith of each three drachms Ginger Anise-seed of each two drachms let them be bruised and infused in eight ounces of Ale very hot for the space of a Night then strain it and add the best Manna Syrup of Roses solutive of each one ounce Spirit of Castor twenty drops mix it for two doses Let the affected parts as the Head c. be bathed with this or the like fomentation Take the Roots of Master-wort Angelica Zedoary of each three ounces Bay-berries Juniper-berries of each four ounces Sage Marjoram Rue Rose-mary Betony Flowers of Lavender Melilot Chamomel of each two handfulls let them be all cleansed bruised and boiled in White-wine-vineger and Fountain-water of each three quarts till half of it be boiled away After bathing anoint the hinder part of the Head with this Oil. Take of Oil of Rue Marjoram of each half an ounce Oil of Amber Rose-mary and Bricks of each two drachms Oil of Bays Euphorbium Castor of each six drachms mix them For Revulsion let the soles of the feet be washed with Salt and Acet Scillitic Vesiccatories may also be applied to the Coronal Suture and behind the Ears or upon the Shoulders Neck Arms Thighs c. Avoid all vaporous and phlegmatick Nourishment CHAP. VI. Of the Phrensie and Madness THE Phrensie is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mens quia mentis morbus The Phrensie is an inflammation of the Brain and Meninges both the dura and pia mater causing an
serous humours away by spitting Errhines may also be used they are either moist or dry the dry are made with Pepper Betony Rosemary Stavesacre c. The liquid are made with the Juices of Rosemary Ivy Beets Mercury sweet Marjoram c. And it may here be noted that when Rheum doth flow down to the Throat Lungs c. then Errhines may be used but when the humours flow to the Eyes Nose c. then use Masticatories for a Revulsion Revulsio enim est humoris fluentis attractio in partem contrariam The Spirit of Salt Armoniack held to the Nose in a narrow mouth'd Glass doth wonderfully conduce above all others not onely to dissolve the viscous phlegmatick humours obstructing the Glandules But also temperates the acid Saltness of Catarrhs Plaisters may be also applied to the Head being first shaved to dry up the Rheum and strengthen the Brain This may serve for Example Take of the Plaisters ad Herniam and Cephalick Taccamahac of each half an ounce mix it and spread it on leather and apply it to the Head Let the Rheumatick live in a warm and dry Air and use a drying Diet with moderation in eating drinking sleeping and all other things Jejunet vigilet sitiat qui Rheumata curat CHAP. I. Of Shortness of Breathing SHortness or Difficulty of Breathing is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiro vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. afflo calidum ori It is a disease in which the Bronchia of the Lungs are so stuffed with viscous Phlegm that the sick can hardly breathe but with wheasing blowing or puffing and do make a great noise with snorting in which the Diaphragma and intercostal Muscles are violently moved If the Lungs onely are stuffed it is without snorting and is then called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aegre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiro In this the conduits of the Lights are much stopped causing hardness or straitness of breath and pursiness But if the Patient fetcheth breath with much difficulty with the Neck stretched upright it may then be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rectus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiro i. e. erecta cervice spirare The cause of this disease is the Juice of the Pancreas growing more sour by its obstruction joined to viscous Phlegm in the small gut by which it becomes more flatulent and being stir'd up in its effervescency with Choler it riseth to the Thoracick passage by the Lacteal Veins and so to the Heart and Lungs and filling the airy conduits thereof and sticking there it causeth a breathing with snorting The same humour is also carried to the Stomach which causeth many sour Belchings in this distemper and if these flatuous humours become more sharp than viscous so often as they come to the Lungs they pierce into the sharp Artery and do so provoke and molest it that thereby the Lungs are compelled to cough by which the Expiration of Air is deprav'd If there be much moisture contain'd in the sharp Artery it will be the easier expelled by the help of coughing but if the Trachea Arteria be affected with driness then nothing is spit out though with great and much labour but the universal Body is wearied in vain with indeavouring to cough whence there is sometimes raised a vehement Pain both of the Head and Hypochondries and other parts yea sometimes a Rupture is bred by it and the Urine and Excrements are thereby often involuntarily extruded 2. If this disease be not speedily removed it will prove chronical and hard to be cur'd unless the Patient be young and of a strong constitution for otherwise it will end in a Cachexie or Dropsie An Asthma or wheasing Anxiety may happily be cured in the beginning by an Antimonial vomit especially in those who do vomit easily because the Phlegmatick humours which are contained in the sharp Artery c. are thereby immediately brought up but if vomiting hurts the sick the humours may be evacuated downwards by gentle purgation with powerfull and effectual Phlegmagogues and Hydragogues such as is prescrib'd in the Chapter of Catarrhs page 56.57 If the Patient hath a costive Body let carminative Clysters be often administred and if the Body be plethorick let a vein be opened either in the Foot or apply Leeches to the Haemorrhoid veins which will much conduce to free the respiration Such medicines as have an expectorating quality and have power to temper and discuss the over sharp vapours may be often us'd in a little quantity The following Julep may be commended in this case Take of the pectoral Decoction half a pint Cinamon-water Syrups of Hore-hound Fennel of each one ounce and half Spirits of Salt Armoniack Niter of each twenty drops Laudanum opiatum ten grains Oil of Sulphur per Campanam ten drops mix it Quercetanus his Syrup of Tobacco is commended in this distemper Also Tobacco taken in a Pipe or chewed in the mouth draweth abundance of viscous Phlegm out of the Stomach and Lungs Many more medicines might be inserted but I refer you to the Chapter of Catarrhs where you may be throughly furnished CHAP. II. Of the Pleurisie and other Inflammations THE Pleurisie is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 latus quod tunicae costos succingentis lateris dolor It is also called in Latin Pleuritis Inflammatio it being an Inflammation of the Pleura and also of the intercostal Muscles and other adjacent parts as the mediastinum pericardium diaphragma c. It is attended with many Symptomes as difficulty of breathing shooting and pricking pain of the sides which is the more exasperated by coughing and is common in this distemper the Patient hath also a continual acute Fever which is most commonly symptomatical The Inflammation of the Lungs is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 circum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pulmo quod a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiro It is also called in Latin Peripneumonia Peripneumonicus morbus It is not different in the causes or signs from a Pleurisie The cause of the Pleurisie and Peripneumony and all other inflammations is an obstruction of the Capillary vessels in the inflamed part by glutenous Phlegm carried together with the bloud through them and if a Plethora concur the bloud and humours will soon be stagnated and become acrid and fervid which preternaturally distends the vessels by which circulation of the Bloud is hindred so that at length the vessels break and the Bloud is poured into the part affected which there corrupts and increaseth the pain and inflammation and consequently produceth a tumour where the putrid bloud and humours being by degrees corrupted are converted into purulent matter for the bloud being stagnated or standing still in any part
Amoniacum and also Wax and Turpentine c. Of these you may prepare Cataplasms Oils Unguents Emplasters c. Which Judicious Physicians and Chyrurgions may doe as they see occasion But when there is much heat in the part inflam'd beware of all unctuous things and let your Fomentations and Cataplasms be made with Butter-milk which doth egregiously temper heat and hinder St. Anthonie's fire from being easily join'd with the Inflammation The generation of matter being promoted and the Tumor come to suppuration let it be opened either with an Instrument or potential Cauterie in the softest and lowest part of it and let the matter be evacuated by little and little because otherwise the strength of the sick will not be a little prostrated especially when there is much matter contained in the Aposteme wherefore let not the Tumor be pressed hard which is familiar with many Chyrurgions but often proves prejudicial to the Patient If the Orifice be too small you may dilate it with a tent made of spunge dipt in Melilot plaâ—ster and afterward pressed but it is better to lay it open by incision if it may conveniently be done after which you must forth-with proceed to cleanse and consolidate the Ulcer to which end several Medicines are wont to be applied all which I neither blame nor carp at I have often considered with admiration the laudable effect of Balsam of Sulphur with Oil of Turpentine c. In this case incredible to many if a little of it be mixt with a milder Balsam and dropt in or applied to the Ulcer for shortly after the generation of new Phlegm is so diminisht that oft by the help of this one Balsam I have in a few days perfectly cur'd notable Apostemes after Inflammations bred both in the Breasts and elsewhere By this experiment not a little to be esteem'd I judge the cleansing and consolidation of Ulcers following Apostemes to consist in the correction of acid and corroding matter adhering to the Ulcer and corrupting the bloud at least in part that is apt to nourish it and turning it into new matter which may be corrected by the mention'd Balsam of Sulphur which is not onely Aromatical but abounds with a volatile oily Salt by which the acid Spirit which corrupts the bloud into matter is not onely dull'd but so amended that the bloud flowing to it soon repairs the parts before consum'd and finisheth the last consolidation What farther may be deduc'd from this experiment to perfect Physick and Chyrurgery also in other cures let both ingenious Physicians and Chyrurgeons weigh and judge If a Pleurisie or Peripneumonie be not carefully cured an Empiema which is a collection of purulent matter in the cavity of the Breast will unavoidably follow Wherefore if these Humors cannot be evacuated by expectoration nor by sweating pissing or purging the matter may be drawn out by a Paracenthesis made in the Breast The Apertion may be made four or five inches from the Sternon not so near the upper as the lower rib because under each rib there is an Intercostal Vein Arterie and Nerve I do not approve of the old way of performing this operation viz. After the Orifice is made to put in a Perforated Pipe of Gold Silver or Lead and there to remain till the matter be all discharged There is now a safer and surer way wherein is not onely avoided many difficulties and dangers but 't is also done with less trouble and pain to the Patient The Instrument must be made of Steel sharp at the point like a Lancet and hollow like a quill with holes in several places towards the point the better to evacuate the matter When the quantity which you intend is discharged draw out the Instrument and put a little pledget of dry lint on the Orifice and upon it a sticking plaster the next day according to the strength of the sick repeat it either in the first place or make a new Apertion Thus you may doe every day till the matter be all discharged By this Instrument may a Hydrocele be also discharged and likewise the Dropsie of the Breast and Abdomen They that desire more directions in this Operation may peruse Hieronymus Fabricius ab aqua pendente in Libro de Operationibus Chirurgicis CHAP. III. Of the consumption or Phthisick and an Hectick Fever THE Consumption is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tabesco because in this disease the sick doth consume or waste away It is called in Latin Tabes which is a general name for all Consumptions whether it be Atrophia Cachexia or Phthisis but it may most properly be taken for an Extenuation of the whole body caused by an Ulcer of the Lungs The purulent matter of the Ulcer circulating with the bloud doth infect and by degrees corrupt the whole mass of it which makes it unfit for nourishment hence it is that all the parts of the body do waste and consume The causes are many sometimes purulent matter may be communicated to the Lungs from the Plurisie or Empiema inflaming and corrupting them which causeth an Ulcer Sometimes a salt and sharp Rheum flowing down from the Head to the Trachea Arteria which doth not onely cause a vehement Coughing but doth corrode the Lungs being naturally tender Hence an Ulcer will be caused Also many times Pustules or Tubercles are generated in the Lungs and coming to suppuration they break and the matter flowing to the Bronchia it may be spit up if the Patient have strength but oft times an Ulcer remaineth which causeth a Consumption These causes depend sometimes on Choler sometimes on the juice of the Pancreas sometimes on Spittle sometimes on Chyle sometimes on Lympha any way Vitiated by which the mass of bloud in time becomes also corrupted When the Lungs decline from their Natural consistency they Will soon become hard and tumorous and so by degrees they will be corrupted and ulcerated and the matter of the Ulcer corrupting and makeing the mass of bloud glutinous in circulating with it doth so weaken and corrupt all the parts of the body that they become unfit to perfect natural nourishment and therefore of necessity the universal body must consume and pine away sometimes it is caused by an obstruction of the lacteal veins which hindreth the natural passage of the Chylus Authours mention many more causes of Consumptions as Gonorrhoea Nocturnal Pollutions want of Nourishment c. The signs of a Consumption begun are a great defluxion of Rheum into the sharp Artery causing a violent Cough by which the Lungs are exasperated and there follows a Hectick Fever sometimes putrid from the purulent matter flowing into the Veins To know whether the Lungs be ulcerated let the Patient spit into water if it sinks it is matter which is an infallible sign of an Ulcer for Phlegm always swims in water When the Ulcer is confirm'd there is difficult breathing and
wasting of the whole body the spittle is thick and of various colours If the Ulcer of the Lungs and Consumption hath not been long and the strength of the sick remains there may be hopes of recovery e contra The Hectick Fever is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. ab habitu quod in habitu corporis vel in partibus solidis consistat It is an unnatural heat which hath seized upon the solid parts and wasteth the moisture of them The heat in an Hectick Fever is but little and therefore rarely troublesome to the sick except one or two hours after meat at which time the heat is a little sharpned and increased which may be known by an over frequent though weak Pulse but it soon returns again to its former equality But here it will not be amiss to shew you that there is a threefold moisture in the body viz. bloud in the Veins and Arteries a dewy substance in every part and also a glutinous moisture which doth not onely nourish but moistneth it and keepeth the substance of each part together In the beginning when the moisture begins to fail the Hectick Fever is not easily discerned because there is still sufficient moisture to entertain the natural heat but if by the long continuance of the Hectick Fever the radical moisture of the solid parts begins to consume it may then be easily known for there follows a continual and lingring leanness of the whole body which being reduc'd to its extremity may be call'd in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in English an extenuating Fever The Latin Authours call it Marcor which signifies Corruption or Rottenness It is an immoderate dryness and Consumption of the whole body by reason of the defect of the substantial humidity There are two degrees of it according to Galen the one is when this extenuation of the body is in fieri in consuming the other is when it is in facto esse or consummate in which the body is reduc'd to such leanness that it seemeth to be nothing else but a walking Sceleton The causes of an Hectick Fever are External or Internal The External causes are all that may occasion any of the other Fevers for oft times Hectick Fevers are observ'd to follow other diseases and especially Fevers of one day proceeding from a great errour in Diet and also from continual and intermitting Fevers when they are very vehement but most frequently from Inflammations of the Bowels especially of the Lungs for when an Ulcer follows then the whole mass of bloud is infected by matter and gets a singular glutinousness which being communicated to the other humours spoils them with the same fault and renders them unfit to perform the natural Functions rightly Sometimes Hectick Fevers are observ'd to arise immediately from excess of the nonnatural things as most vehement anger too much watchings immoderate sorrow continued labour want of food c. The Internal cause is the over viscousness of the bloud and humours because of which not onely the appetite of all food is diminished and at length dejected but the nourishment of all the parts of the body is dayly decreas'd for when there is loathing of food then fermentation separation of usefull from unusefull parts sanguification generation of the Animal Spirits c. is hindred and destroyed whence the toughness and sluggishness of Choler Spittle the juice of the Pancreas and Lympha is dayly augmented and the evil becomes by degrees greater and at length incurable If you perceive that there is so much of the radical moisture remaining as is able to cherish the natural heat which you may discern if the colour of the body be fresh if the figure be decent if the proportion of the parts be according to nature and the sick can in some good measure perform all actions you may conceive some hopes of recovery But if the Body be extenuated almost like a Sceleton viz. when the body seemeth to be nothing else but Skin and Bone as the vulgar proverb is acquaint the sick with the danger least Death seize upon them unprepared Nevertheless if the sick implore your aid of Christian Charity withdraw not what comfort you are able to procure unto them The Cure of a Consumption and Hectick Fever will differ not a little according to the diversity of causes producing them When an Hectick Fever comes with or succeeds Fevers with or without fits then upon their account the cure may be varied according to the divers harm of the humours differently peccant If a Consumption or Hectick Fever be caused by purulent matter from an Ulcer of the Lungs c. then you must endeavour to free the bloud and humours from matter which may be done by any Antimonial medicines rightly prepared perhaps before all others whether they be Diaphoreticks Purgers or Vomiters as experience doth manifest for it hath been observ'd even in a Phthisick and an inveterate great Ulcer of the Lungs to bring away a good quantity of matter by Stool and Urine so that then for many days no matter was cast forth by a Cough Among common things all Vulnerary plants are good used in Decoctions Let this or one like it be a form of a Decoction in this case Take the Roots of Plantain Comfry Round-birthwort Liquorish of each two ounces Fennel Scabious Plantain of each two handfulls Figs Raisons of the sun stoned of each four ounces let them be all cleansed bruised and boiled in three quarts of Barley-water till a third part be boiled away then strain it and add Syrups of Hore-hound and Hyssop of each two ounces Laudanum opiatum ten grains Mix it Let the sick drink two ounces of this Decoction oft in a day and if you add one or two drops of Balsam of Sulphur with Oil of Annise-seed to every draught it will be the more effectual The Balsam prepared of the truly Sulphureous and inflameable Flowers of Antimony is most excellent in this distemper if it may be had which may be taken as the Balsam of Sulphur Also those medicines may be used which mildly amend and correct the viscousness and glutinousness of all the humours for which I commend all mild Aromaticks and Oily Volatile Salts as that cut and alter every viscous humour and reduce it into its natural state Those medicines are to be selected as do most conduce to and agree with the constitution of every sick person Vitriolated Tartar is an excellent medicine which will agree with all constitutions and may be taken from ten to twenty grains every other morning in a little warm Broth. Also the following medicine is very effectual Take the Powder of Cream of Tartar and Tartar Vitriolated of each half a drachm Volatile Salt of Harts-horn Salt of Amber of each ten grains Mix it for two doses which may be taken in Chicken Broth in the morning These choice medicines will conduce much to cleanse the bloud
must use those outward things which may stir up the external senses as frictions of the external parts shoutings in the Ears also make a smoak with Amber or Partridg Feathers at the nose or hold the Spirit of Salt Armoniack in a narrow mouth'd glass to the Nostrils You may also wring the Fingers and pull the Hair c. If you have not a Cordial ready give Cinamon or Treacle water or the Apoplectick or Antepileptick waters or for want of them Brandy Aqua vitae or strong Wine may serve CHAP VI. Of Fevers in General A Fever is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel a feritate morbi that is from the fierceness of the disease It is called febris in latin a fervore quasi fervens because it is a hot distemper A Fever is a nonnatural heat which may be so termed because it is more than nature requires for the continual management of her vital functions for when nature is grieved or over-burthned by any distemper there is a strugling endeavour of nature her self to remove it which causeth this non-natural heat It may be called the Prince of diseases because it is the general door through which most of humane mortals take their exit of this world The cause of the preternatural frequency of the pulse is either a permanent and over rarefaction of the bloud or any sharp sour or salt vapour carried to the Heart corroding the internal substance of it by which the Archaeus or vital Airy spirit of the Heart is provoked to allarm all the faculties and powers both vital and natural that it may the more couragiously resist its invading Enemy so that the spirits are thereby much stirred up and inflamed from whence proceedeth a Conflagration or vitious Effervescency of the Bloud and Humours throughout the whole Body Fevers are either continual or intermitting A continual Fever is that which remains from the first moment of its invasion to the last of its duration When a continual Fever is very mild and remains but one day it is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dies quod diem durans It is called in Latin Diaria Ephemera febris This Fever is often excited by sudden passions of the mind as vehement anger c. and also by our abode too long in the Sun or by vitiously using any other of the six nonnatural things so called for which there is no great need to prescribe Medicines for a Cure it being not difficult the very nature of such a Fever terminating it self most commonly by a breathing sweat especially if you substract the Patient from the inflammatory Cause If the Fever continues longer it may be called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continuo From whence it is called in Latin febris continua quae nullas hujusmodi mutationes habet quae accessiones videri possint sed unicam modo accessionem a principio usque ad sinem nullis exacerbationibus distinctam The continual Fever is also called Homotona quae similem calorem ad finem usque servat It is also called Acmastica quae continuo crèscit intenditur A Synochus or continual Fever may be divided into two sorts viz. that which is not putrid called in Latin Synochus non putrida and that which is putrid called Synochus putrida In a Synochus non putrida the bloud and other humours is a little sharper than is natural and the heat somewhat great and vaporous declining a little to the nature and manner of those called putrid Continual Fevers are oft times mixt or compounded with those intermitting having some fits and again remissions so that they are not intermitting but still remain continual These fits come sometimes every day sometimes the third and sometimes the fourth day whence it may deservedly be nam'd either a Quotidian Tertian or Quartan continual Fever These Fevers upon the account of their divers causes may not unfitly be distinguish'd into Cholerick and Lymphatick Fevers And because under the general name of Lympha we do not onely comprehend that Lympha which goes from the conglobated Glandules and other parts to the Heart but also the Juice of the Pancreas and Spittle it self proceeding from the conglomerated Glandules and also the Liquour that ariseth from the three-fold sway of the Guts all mixt together with Lympha and the bloud in circulating with it Hence may Lymphatick fevers be subdivided into glandular pancreatick and salivary Fevers All these Fevers may differ something according to the divers Constitution of other humours together being in the Body But I shall wave the nice descriptions and differences of Fevers and let the dextrous and judicious Physician put a difference between them as their Symptoms shall direct and indicate for though there are many sorts of continual Fevers not putrid yet the Cure is almost the same in all I shall therefore in a few words mention some of their differences taken from the more grievous Symptoms oft accompanying them after the example of famous Practioners and chiefly great Platerus and the most famous Helmont and judicious Sylvius c. 1. First let us take notice of the exceeding heat and most urgent burning which attend some Fevers It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which doth signifie burning in which the sick is very dry and thirsty which is hard to be quenched This heat is not of the essense of the disease but proceedeth from the inflamed spirits as is before mention'd in page 98. Neither doth the great thirst in Fevers proceed from heat and driness as in a true and natural thirst but from some excrementitious matter which adhereth to the sensitive faculty of the internal membrane of the Stomach which is common to the Throat Mouth and Lips as that famous Physician and ingenious Anatomist Doctour Alexander Read did well observe which is also the cause that those parts are always afflicted in this dry and thirsty distemper In this Symptome Choler is peccant not onely in a salt Acrimony but also an inflamable oiliness hence the Pulse is very great and over frequent c. 2. Raving may be oft observ'd in many Fevers which is grievous to the sick for some time chiefly when the Fever is malign or epidemical The cause of this is Choler peccant as aforesaid which so diminisheth the viscousness of the Juice of the Pancreas that it causeth a vitious Effervescency with it and being made sharper it produceth a humour not much unlike black Choler which causeth the Head-ach and Watchings and hence Ravings and at length sometimes Convulsions and Death it self There are many more Symptoms belonging to continual or synochal Fevers 1. As first a speedy wasting of several parts of the body caused by Choler the Cure whereof may be referred to the Cure of a Hectick Fever 2. A malignity which suddenly dejecteth
its natural passage and so produceth a new fit sooner or later as the Phlegm obstructing the lateral passage of the Pancreas is pierced through by the foremention'd Juice For if the obstructing Phlegm be not very glutinous and the Juice of the Pancreas be plentifull and acid a new fit of an intermitting Fever will return in the space of twenty four hours and therefore 't is called a Quotidian But if the Phlegm be very viscous and plentifull and the Juice of the Pancreas be little in quantity and also tart and obtuse so much the slower will the new fit of the intermitting Fever be produced so that it is sometimes three sometimes four days before the returning of the fit from whence it is called a Quartan or Quintan c. So likewise as oft as the obstructing Phlegm and the Juice of the Pancreas are in a medium viz. The Phlegm more glutinous and plentifull than in the Quotidian but not so much as the Quartan as likewise the Juice of the Pancreas is more in quantity and more acid than in the Quartan but not so plentifull and acid as in a Quotidian so oft new fits of intermitting Fevers will return almost every other day from whence they may be called Tertians which much differ in their Symptoms beyond what other intermitting Fevers do although none of them return in the exact intervall of the Days or Hours before mention'd but return quicker or slower for the most part The Cure of all intermitting Fevers will be perform'd 1. First if the glutinous coagulated Phlegm which is the cause of the obstruction be cut and dissolv'd and wholly carried out of the Body 2. If the increas'd Acidity and Acrimony of the Juice of the Pancreas be temper'd and corrected 3. If its vitious Effervescency with Choler c. In the small Gut be hindred and amended Phlegm obstructing will be cut most commodiously with Aromaticks and any Volatile Salt This Volatile Aromatick Julep may serve for Example Take the Waters of Carduus Parsley Fennel Fumitery Succory Treacle Cinamon of each one ounce Syrup of Carduus the five opening Roots of each an ounce and half Powder of Crabs-eyes Tartar vitriolated of each one drachm Salt of Amber Antimony Diaphoretick of each half a drachm Laudanum opiat ten grains Oil of Cloves six drops mix it Take a spoonfull of this Volatile Medicine often in a day throughout the whole Cure using some exercise that thereby the whole Body may grow warm and the force of the medicine being disperst over all the Body may come at last to the lateral passages of the Pancreas and dissolve the obstruction Three or four hours before the coming of the fit you may give three or four spoonfulls of the aforesaid Cordial which will not onely cause a breathing sweat but will temper and correct the increas'd Acidity and Acrimony of the Juice of the Pancreas and hinder and amend its vitious Effervescency with Choler c. in the small gut which will conduce much to a Cure Three hours before the return of the next fit administer an antimonial Emetick which is in this case proper before all others for by the help thereof not onely Choler abounding but also phlegm obstructing will be expell'd to the small gut and thence to the Stomach and at length by the mouth and the straining to vomit doth many times procure a stool or two which is very beneficial But if the sick be a Female or vomiting be prejudicial or not approv'd of then such things as cut and purge phlegm downwards may be administred for example Take of pil faetidae one drachm Mercur. dulcis Powders of Troches Alhandal Scammony prepar'd Tartar vitriolated of each half a Scruple Salts of Amber and Wormwood of each one Scruple Spirit of Salt Armoniack Oil of Amber of each ten drops with Syrup of Buckthorn make it into a Mass for Pills Take four or five of these Pills four hours before the coming of the fit which will both cut and purge the viscous Phlegm out of the Body and also educe other peccant humours After purging or vomiting let the sick often take the following Powder in a glass of generous Wine or in two or three spoonfulls of the Cordial Diaphoretick before mention'd to provoke sweat as is there directed Take Volatile Salt of Harts-horn Salts of Amber Worm-wood and Carduus Tartar vitriolated of each ten grains Sugar of Pearls the weight of them all mix them for two doses You may take a dose of it two or three hours before the access of the fit which will wonderfully conduce to dissolve the obstruction and cause a breathing sweat Let these evacuations be as often reiterated as occasion requires If the intermitting Fever hath continu'd long or the sick hath a Plethorick body let a vein be opened By these few forms the young Practitioner may easily invent other effectual Medicines in some things to be varied as the distemper requires CHAP. VIII Of Malignant Fevers IN the Chapter of Fevers in general I told you that Synochal or continual Fevers were without any fit to their last and complete ceasing and likewise I did distinguish them into putrid and not putrid Those that are not putrid have little or no malignity in them but the putrid are always accompanied with malignity A malignant Fever differs from others in this that it draws its putrefaction immediately from its own matter putrefaction being joined with it from whence the vital strength is suddenly and unexpectedly dejected or far more grievous Symptoms occur than are wont to be observ'd in such a like disease Malign Fevers are either more acute ending in few days or longer continuing more days And they are either contagious and epidemical raging among many in the same time having a common cause as the Air or Food vitiated c. Infecting others or else they are not contagious Among contagious Fevers we may not neglect to speak something of a Calenture because it is a contagious distemper assaulting not onely those which use the Sea but also many that live near the Sea-shore in Sea-port Towns c. are subject to it The signs of this disease are a great pain of the Head sometimes with violent raging fits and delirium the rest of the Body being in good temper the sick do fancy the Water to be a green Meadow and will indeavour to get into it The cause of a Calenture is the intemperature of the Climate together with ill diet causing strong obstructions and an ill habit of body by which flatuous vapours are encreas'd in the body and in time ascend to the Head The cause of the malignity in this and all other putrid fevers is a sharp volatile salt in the Air which is drawn into the Lungs by degrees and weakens the liquor of the glandules which is naturally sourish and makes it sluggish and of little force whence the natural consistency of the bloud is diminish'd
in perfect health nothing is wont to be expell'd out of the Stomach by the Mouth In vomiting sometimes food either crude or more or less fermented is cast out by the Gullet and Mouth sometimes Bloud sometimes Choler and other times manifold humours and matter of divers Colours Taste and Consistency and sometimes the Excrements returning to the Stomach as in Iliaca passio is expell'd by that preposterous way of vomiting wherein omnia naturae praepostera legibus ibant All the differences occurring in several sick People are very difficult to be numbred or reduc'd into a certain order and much more to make an exact Examination of all the Symptoms and thence to give a solid Judgment of every one In this distemper the Stomach is either primarily or secondarily affected The Stomach is primarily affected to vomit when the cause is in it self As by taking a Vomit or when there is an Inflammation or Exulceration of it for then it is easily stir'd up by food or any other thing swallowed to a violent and preternatural Contraction and turning of its motion whereby it is compell'd to cast out whatsoever is contain'd in it The Stomach is secondarily affected when it is drawn by consent of other parts first distemper'd as by the contracting motion of the Guts either in part or wholly in that most grievous disease called Ileos or Iliaca passio or by the vehement shaking of the Midriff together with a potent Contraction of the Muscles of the Belly caused sometimes in a grievous Cough By which all the Bowels contain'd in the Belly are compressed upward toward the Breast and urge the Stomach to change its natural motion As often as Cholerick humours are plentifully voided out as well upward as downward with great force accompanied with troublesome Anxieties of the Midriff it is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bilis And in Latin cholerica passio When there is a forcible pouring out of Bloud by vomiting it is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin vomitio sanguinis The Cause of Ileos or Iliaca passio is an excrementitious viscous matter that doth adhere unto the Gut called Ileo which in time is coagulated into a very hard substance almost in the form of Bullets of which I have had large experience whence all passage through for the excrements by siege is stopt and anon their regress and ascent to the Stomach follows with a miserable vomiting of them The Rupture of the Peritonaeum may be also the cause of this grievous disease especially if it be so great that not onely the small Guts but the great ones also fall through the lacerated hole either by reason of their weight or else by the perpetual approaching of what is contain'd in them which renders them uncapable to be reduc'd or put back through the same hole whence the excrements having not passage downwards are more and more hardned to that degree that they can hardly be dissolv'd so that a hard and unsupperable Tumour doth soon follow which hinders the reflux of bloud and causeth an inflammation and consequently a gangrene of the Guts attended with a violent vomiting of the excrements 'till death do put a period to the Patient's misery These evils are often encreas'd by fomentations too hot apply'd as also by a preposterous and strong rubbing of the swell'd part and violence us'd to repell the Guts The immediate causes of the cholerick passion are sharp putrid cholerick humours collected in the Stomach and Bowels because of external errours commited in diet or by the taking of poison uncorrected which doth immediately disturb and corrupt all the humours The cause of vomiting bloud is to be deduced most commonly from the Pancreas by reason of some vessel open'd by its over sharp juice caused by a vitious effervescency with Choler from whence most of it is driven up to the Stomach to be vomited out whilst some of it may descend downward to be voided by stool This distemper may also be caused by bloud flowing out of the vessels of the Stomach or Guts either broken by vehement Coughing or corroded by sharp humours 1. If vomiting be from repletion or be critical 't is a good benefit of nature and therefore must not be stopped but if it be symptomatical 't is an ill sign especially if it be caused by inflammation of the Stomach or adjacent parts or by poison taken 2. If the cause of Ileos be from excrements indurated in the Gut Ileon it may be cur'd if taken in time but if it be from a Rupture of the Peritonaeum 't is dangerous and for the most part mortal especially if there be inflammation and Tumour of the Guts c. 3. If the sick vomit bloud 't is dangerous neither is the cholerick passion without danger The Cure of this manifold vomiting may be performed diversly according to the variety of each cause If vomiting be rais'd too much by an Emetick or any other nauseous thing taken it may be represt by this aromatick Opiate or one like it Take of Mint-water four ounces Tincture of Cinamon half an ounce Syrups of Mint Erratick Poppies of each six drachms Laudanum opiatum six grains Spirit of Nitre twenty drops mix it Let the sick take a spoonfull of this every quarter of an hour till the vomiting ceaseth If a Catarrh be the cause of vomiting look for the cure in its proper Chapter If the cholerick passion be caused by poison or plentifulness of cholerick humours in the Stomach c. then nothing hinders but that a gentle Antimonial Emetick may be given to which may be added those things which will temper the too great effervescency of the aforesaid humours For example Take of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum Mint-water of each six drachms Cinamon-water two drachms Syrup of Erratick Poppies half an ounce Laudanum opiatum two grains mix it After the evacuation of the peccant humours upward and downward an Opiate may be profitably used because it will not onely temper the Acrimony of Choler but asswage the acid juice and stupefie the outward sense and procure rest which will be very gratefull to the sick Take the waters of Fennel Plantain Mint Purslain of each two ounces Cinamon-water Syrups of Myrtles Purslain white Poppâ—es of each one ounce Confect de Hyacintho Diascordium Venice-treacle of each two drachms Laudanum opiat eight grains Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it Let the sick take two Spoonfulls of it often which will conduce to amend the faultiness of any humours whether acrimonious salt or sour for in the disease of Cholera it will powerfully asswage the too much effervescency that is raised in the small Gut staying the fierce motion of the troubled humours A bloudy vomiting requireth speedy help whence soever the bloud cometh The following Astringent medicine will wonderfully conduce to the cure Take
pain is in them But if that part of the small gut which riseth up from the Loins and Mesenterie Towards the left Hypochondrium be afflicted with rendings and distensions with a notable hardness this is attributed to the Spleen even by some Physicians although without any solid reason when indeed this distending pain is altogether Hypochondriacal If the pain be in the Gut Ileon it is thence called Iliaca Passio which hath been already treated of Whatsoever pain is rais'd in the Gut Colon may be called Colica Passio These may be distinguish'd from one another chiefly from the situation of either Gut For the Gut Ileon is for the most part contorted hither and thither up and down about the region of the Navel and from thence a little upward but the Colon from the Navel downward the pain of the Cholick generally pressing to the bottom of the Belly as well as to each side and the Back c. according as the Gut is writhed which is almost in the manner of a Roman S. being roll'd to the Navel and from thence with a remarkable winding through the middle of the Belly it is writh'd to the left kidney and groin and so down to the Os sacrum and bladder and ends in the right Gut whence the pain rising in the circuit and circumference of the Belly below the Navel may truly be called Cholical Sometimes there is a hot distending pain with pulsation and inflammation in the latter part of the thick Guts called Rectum and this is either with a troublesome rending as in the internal or blind Hemorrhoids or else it is a corroding pain accompani'd with more or less itching perpetually provoking to siege as in the Tenesmus which oft times follow a Dysentery or bloudy flux In these various pains of the Guts there is one while a hot burning with pulsation and other whiles a cold chilness seemeth to be fixt pricking and as it were boring the bowels sometimes there is a distension of the bowels pressing them with a sense of weight wonderfully writhing and contorting them with such a tearing corroding pain that the sick cannot give an explanation of the grief and misery which they endure The causes are either external or internal The external are wounds or contusions caused by external violence The internal causes are divers sometimes Worms may be the cause But a burning pain is produced either by an obstruction of the Capillary veins of the Stomach or Guts by which the bloud is forc'd to stand still in the vessels till at length after a great distension the vessels burst and the bloud is effus'd which breedeth an inflammation and a manifest pulsation about the part affected by which it may be distinguish'd from any other Kind But for the most part a burning and corroding pain riseth from Choler too fat powerfully and vitiously raising an effervescency with the juice of the Pancreas too acid as experience teacheth in outward things for if you pour Spirit of Vitriol to oil of Turpentine it will presently raise an effervescency join'd with a notable heat and burning This burning pain is chiefly felt in the region of the Loins because there is the conflux of Choler and the juice of the Pancreas and from thence ariseth vitious sharp vapours which produce griping pains of the Stomach and pricking pains in the Guts as also other wandring pains therein If the pain be chill and cold it is caus'd from the juice of the Pancreas very acid and sharp which raiseth a vitious effervescency with Choler not oily and phlegm together as we may observe if we mix Spirit of Vitriol with any volatile Salt not oily how it will raise an effervescency coupled with a notable Chilness and Coldness onely sensible hence we may conclude that the operation of the acid Spirit in producing cold is much promoted by phlegm The cause of the Colick is over viscous phlegm mixed with Choler peccant both in its Saltish acrimony and volatile oiliness by which the viscous phlegm is rarifi'd into Wind and if the excrements are contain'd beyond their course they harden and adhere to the Gut whereby the natural ferment is vitiated and the windy blasts are more and more rarifi'd and being shut up and remaining in the Cavity of the Gut Colon it causeth a violent distension and contraction of it But if the aforesaid humours be mixt with the juice of the Pancreas over sharp acid and harsh then there is a wonderfull sense of contortion in the part affected urging and writhing from place to place according to the winding or rolling of the Gut If this wind pierceth through the Guts into the Cavity of the Belly it expandeth the Peritonaeum and so inflateth the whole Abdomen and causeth a Tympany These Distempers are all dangerous and sometimes mortal especially if a violent Fever be complicated with them We must vary the cure according to the diversity of the causes A burning corroding pain may be cur'd by tempering too fat Choler with Acids as Spirit of Niter c. being mixt with Opiates For example Take the Waters of Fennel Fumitory Sorrel Succory of each three ounces Cinamon-water distill'd Vinegar Syrups of Violets and white Poppies of each two ounces Laudanum opiatum ten grains Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it Let the sick often take a Spoonfull of this Julep till the heat and pain be diminished and sleep be procured The following Emulsion is also profitable and therefore may sometimes be given for a change Take the four greater cold Seeds white Poppy-seeds of each one ounce French Barley boiled four ounces with two quarts of Barley water let it be made an Emulsion and add to it Syrups of Violets and white Poppies of each two ounces Salt prunella half an ounce Spirit of Niter thirty drops mix it and give four Spoonfulls every two or three hours If Choler be two plentifull let it be educ'd with this or the like mild Cholagogue Take Damask-rose water two ounces Manna Diaphaenicon Electuary of the juice of Roses of each two drachms Tartar Vitriolated ten grains mix it and take it in the morning The Cholagogue Electuary of Sylvius is also excellent of which you shall have the receipt at the latter end of the Book Chilness and cold pains may be cur'd by tempering the over sharp acidity of the juice of the Pancreas Lixivial Salts both fixt and volatile are excellent in this Case as also any Aromatick Spirit of wine Treacle water c. with which may be mix'd Coral Pearl Crabs-eyes Antimon Diaphoret c. and let the body be compos'd to sweat The following forms may serve for example Take the waters of Treacle Fennel Syrup of the juice of Carduus of each half an ounce powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick Salt of Wormwood of each ten grains mix it and give it the sick to cause sweat You may also give some of this
mucous purulent matter voided with great pain and straining it may be called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tendo In English it may be called a neediness there being a continual need and desire to go to stool This Distemper properly belongeth to a Dysentery because it doth most commonly follow it and sometimes with a procidentia Ani. To a Bloudy-flux may also be referred the immoderate flux of the Hemorrhoids which may be known from a Dysentery both from the place affected and the great quantity of the bloudy purging It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sanguis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 profluvium Also the flux of the Liver if there be any such Disease may be referred hither in which the excrementitious liquour ejected is like the washing of bloudy flesh This Distemper is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui ex hepate laborant In Latin 't is called Hepaticus affectus vel fluxus est serosi et sanguinei humoris per alvum excretio propter Hepatis imbecilitatem The causes of all fluxes of the Belly are either external or internal The external are any of the six non-natural things immoderately used which weakens the Stomach also the taking of any venemous thing as Arsnick Mercury sublimate c. which presently destroys the ferment of the Stomach and Guts The internal cause of the Lientery is weakness of the Stomach that it cannot retain any food received into it but striveth to expell it The Jaundice-like flux is caused by the sluggishness of Choler so that it is not carri'd down to the Guts to promote the separation of the usefull from the unusefull parts of the Chyle The Chyle-like flux is also caused by the same so that the straining of Chyle through the spongy crust of the Guts into the Lacteal veins is hindred the orifices or pores tending to the Lacteal veins being obstructed by over thick and viscous phlegmatick humours A Cholerick Diarrhoea is caused by over-salt sharp and serous Choler together with phlegm and the juice of the Pancreas too watry and fluid A phlegmatick Diarrhoea is caused by such things as do breed much viscous phlegm A serous Diarrhoea ariseth most frequently from Spittle and the juice of the Pancreas too Serous A fat oily or unctuous looseness doth follow the over much use of too fat food A Dysentery doth proceed either from the thickness of the bloud by reason of over viscous phlegm being mixed with Lympha or the juice of the Pancreas too acid accompani'd with sorrow of mind whereby the bloud doth become too gross for its wonted circulation through the Capillary Vessels of the Guts wherefore it causeth a great distension of them till at length they burst and pour out the bloud into the cavity of the Guts Or else it may be caused from Choler too salt sharp and plenteous in the bloud whereby it doth become extravagantly serous and eager through extraordinary fermentation extremely agitating the humours to a Colliquation especially where fierceness of anger or great heat of mind do concur by which the bloud is the more rarifi'd to pierce through the tender restraint of the vessels and doth flow out by indirect ways sometimes by great loss to the endangering of life A Tenasmus is caused by a phlegmatick viscous humour joyned with a sharp acid humour which doth fret the Gut about the siege stirring up a troublesome Ulcer there The flux of the Hemorrhoids and of the Liver is to be deduc'd from much serous matter mixt with the bloud and also relaxing the vessels The Hemorrhoids are either critical which useth to ease the sick or symptomatical and much weakneth them The signs of Fluxes are manifest from what hath been said 1. If any looseness continue long with loathing 't is an ill sign especially if it be with a Fever 2. If the small Guts are affected the pain is sharper than when it is in the thick Guts 3. In the Dysentery if the dejections be very bloudy or black and setid with great Thirst Hicket c. for the most part they are mortal signs but if the erosion be onely in the internal membrane of the Gut and there be no great pain nor other bad symptome there is great hopes of recovery If the bloud and humours be too thin and serous they must be corrected and evacuated Chalk and Harts-horn or any other burnt bone reduc'd to powder and given often in a small quantity doth imbibe and correct watry moisture and also over much fatness which may be the cause of a looseness After which the peccant humours may be evacuated by stool with Hydragogues and by sweat and urine with Sudorificks and Diureticks Toasted Rhubarb will satisfie to many indications seeing that it doth not onely evacuate water together with Choler abounding but will soon correct the over-loose body by its mild tartness Wherefore when the Bloud doth abound with much serous liquour let the sick take this Powder in a little Broth. Take the Powder of Jallop Cinamon of each fifteen grains Powder of Rhubarb tosted half a drachm mix it After the operation of it you may give the following Cordial by spoonfulls Take the Waters of Plantain Comfry of each two ounces Cinamon-water half an ounce Syrup of Mirtles one ounce Confectio de Hyacintho Diascordium of each one drachm Laudanum opiat four grains mix it It will be also convenient sometimes to educe the humours by urine and sweat for which I commend the following Decoction of China c. Take the Roots of Burdock the five opening Roots Sarzeparilla Contra yerva of each one ounce China four ounces Gromwell-seeds Juniper-berries of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of fountain water 'till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Syrup of the five opening Roots six ounces Spirit of Niter one drachm mix it Let the sick take a quarter of a pint of this warm twice or thrice a day and especially in the morning fasting which will the easier procure a breathing sweat or else urine more plentifull by which the serosity of the bloud will be consum'd by little and little so that the bloud and humours will thereby become more pure If a Dysentery or Bloudy-flux arise from a sharp humour corroding the Vessels it may be cur'd by correcting and tempering the sharp acid humours and consolidating the Vessels fretted The following Powder is excellent to correct and amend the aforesaid acid humours and stop all fluxes of bloud Take the Powders of red Coral Pearles prepared white Chalk Dragons bloud of each half a drachm mix it for six doses which may be taken in three spoonfulls of the following Julep every two or three hours Take the Waters of Plantain Comfry of
Distemper hath continu'd to a long durance it causeth such obstructions in the fibrous and nervous Passages of the Muscles that thereby Lameness and an Atrophy soon succeeds increasing the Weakness of all the Members of the Body till at length it ends in a Paralitical resolution of them 2. If a pregnant Woman or a Woman after Abortion be afflicted with this grievous evil it is very dangerous and many times mortal As for the Cure we must endeavour to ease the pain and strengthen the weak parts with all expedition The pain may be eased and diminish'd as well by internal as external Anodynes and Narcoticks to allay the violent Motion of the Animal spirits and abate the grievous Spasms succeeding The following Cordial Diaphoretick opiate is excellent in this Case Take the Waters of Fennel Peony Treacle of each one ounce Syrups of Stoechas Peony Scurvigrass of each half an ounce Powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick Bezoar-mineral Salt of Tartar vitriolated Salt of Amber volatile Salt of Harts-horn of each one scruple Tincture of Castor two drachms Spirit of Salt Armoniack Oil of Cloves of each four drops Laudanum opiat six grains mix it and give four spoonfulls every three hours By the frequent taking of this Volatile and Anodyne Sudorifick the peccant humours will be temper'd and diminisht and the inordinate involuntary and impetuous motion of the Animal spirits will be reduc'd and brought to tranquillity by which the binding Constrictions of the Belly-ach will be the easier remov'd Bathing in this distemper hath been often us'd with admirable success for by the frequent use thereof the cutaneous and muscular Fibres will not onely be relax'd from contracted Spasms but the pores will be also kept open for the constant discharge of transpiring Particles A natural Bath such as is in the City of Bathe is excellent but when it is not to be had an artificial Bath may be very usefull for the ends propos'd For example Take of Elder Dwarf-elder Vervain Betony Chamomel Bays Rhue Time Hyssop Ground-pine Organ Penny-royal Sage sweet Marjoram of each six handfulls Flowers of Stoechas Chamomel Melilot of each four handfulls Roots of Pellitory of Spain Briony Master-wort Virginia Snake-root of each four ounces Spicknard Berries of Juniper and Bays of each two ounces Brimstone six pound Salt Niter two pound let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in twenty Gallons of Fountain-water till a third part be boiled away Let the sick be well bathed in it as often as strength will permit and let them sit therein as long as they may well bear the same Then let them be rub'd dry and remov'd into a Bed and let the affected parts be well anointed with this or the like fragrant Ointment Take Oil of Earth-worms Ointment of Orange-flowers Jessamy of each three ounces Oil of Mace by expression one ounce Oil of Juniper Bricks of each two drachms mix it As often as the Body is costive let a Suppository or carminative Clyster be administred to make it soluble Let the weakned parts be fortifi'd with the aforesaid unguent upon which apply a Plaster of Sylvius's carminative Emplaster spread on Leather which you may remove once in twenty four hours using warm frictions to the pained parts and apply the Plaster again and over it you may apply a Fox-skin drest which will keep the parts warm and conduce to the cure which course may be continu'd 'till strength be restor'd to the grieved Limbs CHAP. XI Of the Yellow Jaundice THE Yellow Jaundice is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab avicula quae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur quod ea oculos flavi vel aurei coloris habet It is also called Icterus in Latin it being a spreading of a yellowish Colour over the whole body It was the common received opinion of the Ancients that the chief cause of this Disease is an obstruction of the Cystick passage to the small Gut so that Choler is thereby wholly hindred in its natural descent wherefore it doth ascend to the Liver and so to the Bloud with which it is transfer'd to the habit and superficies of the body where it doth shew it self in its colours But it may be manifested from many observations and experiments both Anatomical and Practical that the Jaundice may be produc'd without an obstruction of the passage of Choler Although I suppose that the Jaundice may sometimes be rais'd by the aforesaid obstruction either by Choler it self most glutinous or lapidescent which I have had sufficient experience of having dissected several dead bodies in which I have found stones not onely in the Gall but Cystick passage also But on the contrary it hath been oft observ'd in dissecting Icterical people that the Cystick passage was not obstructed but the excrements were dyed yellow although not so much as usual Whence it is manifest that it may be bred without any obstruction in the passage aforesaid The causes then are either external or internal The external cause is the biting of a viper whose poison is of a subtile volatile and spirituous nature which doth soon render Choler over spirituous after the biting of the Serpent But the aforesaid poison being antipathetical to humane nature it doth presently endeavour to defend every individual part from the potent killing quality of the poison and therefore doth immediately send the balsamick bile to antidote the venome and in circulating with it the volatile salt of the Choler is broken by which it is less apt to effervesce with acids and therefore is easily joyned with the other humours being onely confus'd with the bloud by which the superficies of the whole Body becomes yellowish 2. Ebriety or the abuse of strong drink may be a procuring cause of this Disease because the volatile spirit of the drink may be too plenteously mixt with Choler which renders it spirituous by which it becomes less apt to effervesce with the acid juice of the Pancreas and hence most intirely to join it self with the other humours The internal cause is unexpected sorrow of mind by which all the humours become glutinous and viscous because the juice of the Pancreas is thereby made more tart It may be also caused by obstructions as is before mention'd either by Choler glutinous or lapidescent or by viscous phlegm c. If the cure be not hastened a Dropsie Cachexy or deadly pining will in a short time succeed If sorrow of mind be the cause it ought to be prevented as much as may be both by Philosophical and Theological reasons about any troublesome matters and by confirming the mind whereby the sick may be the better enabled to bear and suffer stoutly any adversity This must also be observed in all other Diseases If Ebriety be the cause I commâ—nd Sobriety to cure it Sublata causa tollitur effectus If the humours be over viscous or glutinous the following Decoction will not onely alter and correct but mildly
degrees procured Those Medicines which are prescrib'd for the Cure of the Dropsie and Scurvy are proper for this Disease wherefore I shall forbear prescriptions here CHAP. XIII Of Dropsies THE Dropsie is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aqua quod nomen sumpsit ab aquoso humore Cutis The Ancients have assigned three sorts of Dropsies 1. The first is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uter pellis 'T is called in Latin aqua intercus ex inter cutis because the Water is between the Skin and the Flesh. This is the most proper Dropsie in which the Abdomen Secrets Thighs and Legs are affected 2. The second is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod tumor est ad similitudinem tympani vel tympani sonum referens As this is the most rare so 't is the most cruel and afflictive 3. The third is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caro quod hydrops toto corpore diffusus It is also called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 album 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 phlegma vel pituita because it is caused of white Phlegm gathered in all parts of the Body Some Authours make a difference between Anasarca and Leucophlegmatia that Anasarca is caused by a serous humour and Leucophlegmatia by a phlegmatick and more viscous humour but all Dropsies except Tympanies seem to me to be little less than a distinction of degrees of one and the same Disease The Ancients did take the Liver to be the chief part male-affected in these distempers but Helmont who was happy in a remedy to cure it doth severely reprove them and is so bold to tax the whole Schools with the ignorance of Anatomical dissections he having inspected many Carcases of dropsical Persons of whom he makes distinct mention doth assert the Livers of them all no-way vitiated and therefore he concludes the Liver faultless in dropsical affects and he derives the Cause of Dropsie to be an obstruction of the Kidneys with the Stone or Gravel and so the water which should be transferr'd through the Kidneys to the Bladder to be evacuated by pissing is forced into the Cavity of the Abdomen But experience teacheth that Dropsies may be caused many ways wherefore I shall betake my self to a more evident description thereof The causes of Dropsies are either external or internal The external Cause is the Constipation of the porous Skin impeding transpiration whereby the discharge of sweaty Vapours through the Habit of the Body is lessned and interrupted hence what moisture is usually carried off by sweating doth rebound inwards and condense into an Ichorous water and is there by degrees aggravated and increased through the hindrance of the necessary transpiration till at length a great quantity of water is accumulated and stagnating in the affected parts in time may work farther alterations on the subjected Bowels Matter of fact hath evinced this to me having cured several Hydropical patients onely by sweating and external applications The internal Cause of the Dropsie may be over viscous Chyle or Phlegm of the Guts coagulated in the lacteal Veins and causing an obstruction in more or fewer of their Branches so that the Liquour rising either from the continual Conflux of Choler the Juice of the Pancreas and the Phlegm of Spittle or else from Chyle or from drink plentifully drunk being stopt and intercepted in its motion it doth by degrees more and more distend the Vessels that at length they burst and the moisture receiv'd into them is poured out between the Membranes of the Mesentery and presently after into the Cavity of the Abdomen This disease is sometimes suddenly produc'd by much drinking in a burning Fever join'd with an urgent and permanent Thirst. After the same manner though difficult to be known may a Dropsie of the Breast be caused viz. by an obstruction of the lateral Lymphatick Vessels by glutinous Phlegm carried together with Lympha into the said Vessels and there coagulated by which the motion of Lympha is hindred so that the Lymphatick vessels being much distended by the great quantity of Lympha gathered in them at length they burst and the Lympha piercing through the Pleura into the Cavity of the Breast procureth a Dropsie in it The cause of a Tympany is wind together with a serous humour piercing through the Guts into the Cavity of the Belly and being there detained it is more and more rarified by which the Peritonaeum is not onely expanded but the whole Abdomen inflated and violently distended The signs of Ascites are swelling and fluctuation of the Belly difficult breathing a dry Cough accompanied sometimes with a symptomatical Fever and great Thirst. The signs of Anasarca are weakness faintness and swelling of the whole Body which being pressed with the Finger it doth pâ—t and leave an impression breathing is also difficult with a continual Fever In a Tympany the Belly is distended and being struck upon there is a noise like a little Drum 1. Every Dropsie is difficult of Curation especially if it hath been of long continuance 2. If the Hydropical persons have a good digestion and void more moisture both by stool and urine than they either eat or drink it is a hopefull sign of recovery e contra Dropsies may be cured by strong Hydragogues Sudorificks and Bathing and sometimes by a Paracenthesis or boring the Belly The Best Hydragogues are prepared of Elder Dwarf-elder Jallop-roots Elaterium Gum-gutty Crystals of Silver c. of which you may prepare purging Infusions Pills c. for example Take the Roots of Flower-de-luce Dwarf-Elder Madder Liquorish the five opening Roots of each one ounce the tops of Saint John's wort Centaury the less Agrimony the best Senna of each one handfull the Barks of Capers Ash Tamarisk Cinamon of each six drachms Flowers of Beans Elder Dwarf-elder Broom of each half a handfull seeds of sweet Fennel Parsley Gromwell Juniper-Berries of each one ounce and half Cloves Salt of Tartar of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and infused in two quarts of White-wine for two or three days then strain it and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb six ounces mix it and give four ounces of it in the morning fasting If any like Pills better I commend the following Take the Resins of Jallop and Scammony Tartar vitriolated Mercur. dulcis of each half a drachm Oil of Juniper one scruple make it into Pills with Venice-Turpentine of which you may give twenty grains at a time in the morning fasting The following Pills are also very effectual Take of Elaterium Gambogia Resin of Jallop of each ten grains Oil of Nutmegs six drops make it into Pills with Venice-Turpentine for two doses The obstructions in
twenty drops mix it and give two drachms morning and evening After the frequent use of this Electuary you may purge with this Powder Take Powder of Cream of Tartar half a drachm Salts of Wormwood Amber Scurvigrass Resin of Scammony of each ten grains mix it for two doses If the Patient like Pills better these may serve For Example Take Extract Catholicon Rudii of each ten grains Resin of Jallop Agarick Salt Armoniack of each six grains Oils of Amber Cloves of each two drops make it into eight Pills for two doses A Medicinal Wine may be prepar'd very effectual in these distempers Take of Water-cresses Brook-lime Scurvigrass Rue of each one handfull Roots of Polypodium Jallop Horse-radish Angelica Cream of Tartar of each half an ounce white Nettle-seed one ounce Orange-peel Cinamon Salt of Tartar of each two drachms let them be cleansed bruised and infused in three quarts of White-wine for two or three days then strain it and give four spoonfulls in the morning fasting In the Hypochondriack suffocation you may often hold to the Nostrils a glass with a narrow mouth containing the Spirit of Salt Armoniack for by its sharp smell the sick for the most part are wont to be rais'd both from that suffocation and from the Epilepsie If the Gums are putrified let the mouth be washed with the following Tincture mixed with some Plantain water and Syrup of Mulberries Take Powder of Gum Lacca one ounce burnt Alome half an ounce the small Spirit of Salt Armoniack one quart let them digest together 'till it be of a red colour then filtrate it through brown paper and keep it for use If the sick hath a costive Body you may administer a Carminative Clyster once or twice a week In pains of the Belly and Hypochondries this linament is effectual Take Oils of Earth-worms Scurvigrass Chamomel of each one ounce Oil of Mace by expression half an ounce mix it with which anoint the parts affected This Antiscorbutick water will be very profitable to be taken two or three spoonfulls at a time morning and evening Take the Barks of Ash and Capers the Roots of Tamarisk Polypodium Horse-radish of each three ounces Water-cresses Scurvigrass Brook-lime Sorrel Centaury the less Harts tongue of each four handfulls Berries of Bays and Juniper Goose-dung of each one ounce the Seeds of Citrons Mustard Carduus benedictus Cloves Cinamon Nutmegs Ginger of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and digested in one Gallon of White-wine and two quarts of Spirit of wine being close covered for three days then distill them with a glass Still according to art and keep it for your use Frictions Ligatures Ventoses Sternutatories c. are all profitable to stir up the sick in the Hypochondriack suffocation CHAP. XV. Of the Green-sickness and Suppression of the Courses THE Green-sickness is called in Latin Icteris Febris alba In English the Virgin 's Disease the White Fever and the White Jaundice because in this disease the native colour of the Face is pale This disease is caused either from defect of Bloud or it proceedeth from plenty of crude viscous phlegmatick humours obstructing the veins about the Womb by which the courses are supprest the veins of the Matrix being obstructed that superfluous Bloud which nature hath ordained to be evacuated that way having not passage doth return to the greater Vessels and is circulated with the whole mass of Bloud and humours by which they are in time vitiated and a Cachexie or ill habit of body is thence caused for the Bloud and natural humours being indued with a vitious quality the nourishment of all the parts of the body will be deprav'd several ways according to the variety of the quality peccant whence likewise not onely the fermentation of Food but also the Appetite of it is deprav'd wherefore Anxieties and Palpitation of the Heart c. troubleth the sick as well before as after Food taken in This distemper may be also caused by external coldness of the air c. and sometimes great fear and sudden shame may be the cause of the suppression also aliments and medicaments that are too astringent taken inwardly In these diseases the Urine cometh away crude thick and less colour'd because the phlegmatick watry humours abounding incorporating with the Bloud do diminish the desired effervescency so that the separation much less excretion of the excrementitious parts to be voided together with Urine doth not follow If the Hypochondries be afflicted and the veins of the Womb obstructed there will be great loathing of wholsome Food and a desire after those things which ought not to be eaten as Ashes Salt Coals c. which is called Pica and in Women with Child Malacia of which we have hinted in the Chapter of Hungar Vitiated page 145 146. 1. These distempers are sometimes of long continuance causing much weakness and oft times barrenness in them that have been so afflicted and if they do conceive they bring forth weak and sickly Children and those that are very melancholy are in danger of falling into madness or other grievous affects as Palpitation of the Heart Swouning Vertigo Epilepsie Apoplexy c. 2. If the obstruction be onely of the vessels of the Womb and have not been oâ— long continuance it may be easily cur'd 3. Bleeding at the Nose is sometimes beneficial but if the Bloud doth disburthen it self by the Eyes Ears Mouth or Bladder it is preposterous from whence may arise other bad Symptoms In the cure of these distempers such medicines are to be selected which will mildly and by degrees alter correct and evacuate tough and glutinous Phlegm seeing that all prolong'd diseases depend on it either wholly or at least in part for by the frequent use of such medicines the Bloud and peccant humours will be the easier reduc'd to their natural constitution especially by the help of good Food easy of digestion in the mean while not neglecting the moderate use of the rest of the nonnatural things An obstruction of the Vessels by viscous Phlegm may be cur'd by the frequent use of such medicines as have power to loosen the peccant humours and again make them fluid All fixt metallick and mineral Sulphurs and also volatile Salts prepar'd not onely of several parts of Animals but also of scorbutick Plants such as are the juice of Hedge-mustard Scurvigrass Garden and Water-cresses Dandelion c. conduce before all others to loosen and dissolve Phlegm coagulated or Bloud clotter'd as having an egregious power of dissolving all things coagulated and conglutinated in humane bodies and of reducing the same to their wonted fluidity and moreover to move sweat which together being mildly promoted the desired dissolution of the aforesaid viscous humours c. will be obtained much easier and sooner An example of such a Sudorifick I have here set down for the sake of young Practitioners Take the Waters of Treacle Dandelion
of Comfry Bugloss of each one handfull for the space of twenty four hours then boil it gently for half an hour strain it and add Tincture of red Coral Syrups of dried Roses Comfry and Mirtles of each two ounces Oil of Vitriol twenty drops mix it and take six spoonfulls every three hours Let the Region of the Womb be anointed with this Linament Take Vnguent Comitissoe Oil of Mirtles of each one ounce Saccharum Saturni one drachm Camphire ten grains mix it After the part is anointed let this Plaster be applied Take the Plaster against Ruptures Diapalma of each one ounce the carminative Plaster of Sylvius half an ounce mix it and spread it on leather and apply to the region of the Womb. In the Whites let this be used for a Fume Take of Olibanum Amber Cloves of each half a drachm red Rose-buds Balaustins of each two drachms beat them all together into a gross powder put a little of it at a time upon a pan of coles and let the Woman sit over it CHAP. XVII Of the Falling Down of the Womb and Fundament IF the Womb falleth down it may be called in Latin Procidentia Matricis So likewise if the Fundament cometh down it is called Procidentia Ani. The Causes of these distempers are either External or Internal The External Causes may be any violent exercise with much striving also falls or blows on those parts also bathing in cold water c. The Internal Causes are serous and phlegmatick humours a Dysentery with a Tenasmus the Whites continuing long a violent drawing the Child or After-birth out of the Womb also much Sneezing or Coughing especially in Child-bed to conclude all things that may cause a Rupture or relaxation of the Ligaments of the Womb or sphincter Muscle of the Anus may be the cause of these griefs In a Procidentia Ani there is always a mucous and purulent dejection from a phlegmatick viscous and sometimes also a sharp acid humour adjoining about the seige which often causeth a troublesome Ulcer by fretting In young people these distempers may be easily cur'd if they have not continued long and do not come very far out and be not ulcerated But if there be a Rupture of the Ligaments of the Womb it is incurable likewise great pain and inflammation are very difficult and if either the Matrix or Anus be Gangrenated it is mortal without speedy amputation You must begin the Cure with removing the symptoms and discharging the Guts of their Excrements either with Clysters or Lenitives Then anoint the part with some astringent Oils and endeavour to reduce it gently by degrees The manner of the reduction every ingenious Artist knows and therefore needs not any directions When the Womb is reduc'd it may be kept with a Pessary fram'd of Cork as thick as necessary and cover'd with Wax mixed with a little Castor and Assafoetida which may there continue If there be pain and inflammation let the part be bathed with this Take the Flowers of Chamomel Elder of each one handfull Marsh-mallow-roots one ounce Seeds of Flax and Foenugreek of each half an ounce boil it in two quarts of Milk till half be consumed then strain it and add Malaga Wine one pint mix it Let Stuphs be moistned in this and wrung out and applied hot after which apply a Plaster of ad herniam to the lower part of the Belly Before you reduce the Anus anoint it with Oil of Mirtles and bestrew it with Powder of Album Graecum or the following Take of red Roses Pomgranat-rinds Cypress-nuts Mastick Crocus Martis burnt Lead of each half an ounce beat them all into a fine powder A Bag quilted with the following astringents and applied hot to either griev'd part three times a day will conduce much to keep it up Take of Plantain Sanicle Buds of Oak and Medlar red Rose-buds Balaustins of each one handfull Roots of Comfry Tormentil Bistort Cypress-nuts Seeds of Anise sweet Fennel of each one ounce beat them all into a gross powder Inwardly may be given Astringents and Strengthners but not in time of the courses those prescrib'd against the immoderate flowing of the Terms are good CHAP. XVIII Of Barrenness BArrenness is called in Latin Sterilitas It may be called in English Unfruitfullness it being an impotency of Conception We reade in the Scripture that the Women of old did think it a reproach to be Childless and therefore when Elizabeth had conceived who before was Barren she said the Lord hath taken away my reproach among Men as you may reade at large in the first Chapter of Luke's Gospel Very few Women in a Marriage state but desire Children yea some would give all they have in the world for a Child and are very impatient if they do not Conceive Rachel said to Jacob in Gen. 30 ver 1. give me Children or else I dye I will now briefly shew you what may be the cause of Sterility 1. First want of Love between a Man and his Wife way hinder Conception 2. Any malignant distemper in the womb may corrupt the Seed and be the cause of Barrenness Some are of opinion that Witch-craft may be the cause But to conclude the Whites or any moist distemper of the Matrix may be the cause of Barrenness Sometimes the cause is in the Man for if he doth want Sperm or is unable to erect his Genital by reason of any weakness or distemper in his Secrets or if he be effeminate and taketh little or no delight in the act of Venery he is not fit for Venus School There are some Rules left by the Ancients to try whether a Woman be naturally Barren or no. Hippocrates adviseth to put a Clove of Garlick or a little Galbanum into her Womb and if her Breath do smell of it be sure she is fruitfull If Barrenness be caused by any Disease afflicting either the man or the woman then there may be hopes of Conception when health is procured but if it be evil shape of of the members in the woman or the man not fit for Venus-School patientia est optima virtus In the cure you must endeavour to remove whatsoever hindreth Conception Many things are antipathetical to secundity as Jet Glow-worms Saphires Smaragds the Matrix of a Goat or Mule likewise Vinegar Mints Watercresses Beans c. all which I advise you to avoid and make use of those things which have a peculiar virtue to help or cause Conception and remove Barrenness The After-birth of a Woman dried and powdred and taken often a drachm at a time also the Stones and Liver of a Bore-pig the Juice of Sage the Roots of Satirion and Eringo candied are all good There are many medicines prescrib'd in Authours to help Conception Quercetanus doth commend this infusion Take the Matrix of a Hare and the Stones of a Ram prepar'd with Whitewine of Cinamon Ginger Mace Cloves Seeds of
Bishops-weed of each half an ounce Saffron two drachms Kernels of Fistick-nuts one ounce let them be all bruised and infused in a quart of Muskadel-wine for two or three days then strain it and add more Wine to the ingredients for a second infusion The following Electuary is also excellent Take the Roots of Satirion and Eringo candied of each one ounce candied Ginger and preserv'd Nutmegs of each two drachms Kernels of Hazle-nuts and Fistick-nuts of each half an ounce Powder of a Bull's-pizle of Ivory Seeds of Rocket Bishops-weed of each one drachm Species Diambrae Diamosc dulcis of each six drachms Confectio Alkermes one ounce and half with Syrup of the juice of Citrons make it into an Electuary according to Art Let the Woman take the quantity of a Nutmeg of it every night going to bed and drink a glass of Sack or Muskadel or of the aforementioned Infusion after it If a cold and moist distemper of the Body and Womb accompanied with the Whites be the cause look for the cure in its proper Chapter If it be caused by Witchcraft there are some things commended by Authours to be worn about the party against Fascination viz. the Pizle of a Wolf a Diamond a Jacinth-stone Rue Squills Sea-holly Sagapenum Amara dulcis Hypericon c. But above all let fervent and devout Prayers be put up to the Throne of grace for help and reject and despise Incantations or Charms and all other Diabolical means CHAP. XIX Of Abortion or Miscarriage ABortion is called in Latin Abortus vel intempestivus foetus Because it is an untimely Birth the Child being brought forth either dead or alive before its fit time of deliverance This is the worst Symptom that attends breeding Women It may happen from the first Moment of Conception to the end of the sixth Month but it is most usual in the end of the third or the beginning of the fourth Month. The causes are either external or internal The external Causes are a great excess in things nonnatural as too great Anger Fear and other Passions or else it may be through defect for if the Mother undergo Penury or Famine or lose much Bloud the Child wanteth Nourishment Many times things longed for and not obtained kill the Child Also strong purging Medicines that provoke the terms and all fetid smells falls blows lifting carrying dancing running riding or any other outward violence may be the Cause of Abortion The internal Causes may be the depravedness of the humours by which the Mass of Bloud becometh vitious also Acute or Chronick diseases especially of the Womb and also violent Coughing Sneezing Vomiting Convulsions and Fluxes of the Belly may loosen the Ligaments of the Womb and so cause miscarriage The signs of Abortion at hand are great pain about the Loins and Share-bones sometimes with shivering the Breasts growing little and flaggy the Situation of the Child changed towards the Bottom of the Belly with a bearing down and evacuation of Bloud c. 1. Women who have moist and slippery Wombs are most subject to miscarry but with little danger except it be the first Child and that very big 2. Much bleeding with fainting raving or Convulsions is for the most part mortal To prevent Abortion if there be an evil disposition of the Body or Womb you must endeavour to remove it if the Woman hath a plethorick Body let a Vein be opened in the Arme especially in the first six months If ill humours abound purge often with gentle means This purging Infusion may serve Take of Cinamon Rhubarb Anise-seed of each two drachms let them be bruised and infused in four ounces of Plantain-water very hot for the space of a Night then strain it and add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb the best Manna of each half an ounce mix it and give it in the Morning fasting Also the Pills prescrib'd in page 240. may be used in this case If the Woman be troubled with a Rheumatick distemper accompanied with Wind and if she be pretty strong you may sweat her gently sometimes with this or such like Cordial Diaphoretick Take the Waters of Treacle Carduus Fennel of each one ounce Cinamon-water two drachms Syrups of the Juice of Carduus Coral of each half an ounce Confectio de Hyacintho half a drachm Spirit of Niter six drops Oil of Cinamon two drops Laudanum opiatum three grains mix it and give to provoke sweat Let the Womb be strengthned with Cordial Astringents Those prescrib'd in page 239.240 are excellent CHAP. XX. Of hard Travel in Child-birth HArd labour may be called in Latin partus vel enixus laboriosus quod ipse nitendi pariendi actus The time of a natural Birth ought to be accomplished in the space of twenty four hours if the Womans travel continue longer time with vehement pains and dangerous Symptoms it may be called hard labour or difficult Travel in Child-birth There are various Causes of hard Labour sometimes tender Women by reason of pain are very fearfull and do endeavour to hinder pains and consequently the Birth also Sometimes the Child being weak or dead and not following the Water in Due-time before the passage be too dry may be the Cause especially if the Mother be weak by reason of any Disease afflicting her or by too much Evacuation of Bloud or there be not sufficient Motion of the Womb and Muscles of the Belly Sometimes the Child's head may be too big or the passage too strait Also the Child may be turned in the Womb and the Hands Shoulders Back Belly or Buttocks c. may come forward to the Birth and then the endeavour to bring forth will be painfull and difficult The signs of hard Labour are easily known if the Child do stir and there be strong pains and no water appear the Secundine is strong If pains be weak and long before they return and more in the Back than Belly the Infant is weak If the Woman be little and her Husband big and full shouldred then there is a great Child which will cause tough work 1. Hard travel in Child-birth is very dangerous for sometimes the Mother sometimes the Child and many times both do lose their Lives 2. If the Woman be in Travel above four days the Child can hardly be alive and therefore must be drawn away before it be too late for if it be neglected it will cause Fevers Faintings Convulsions Sleepiness c. which are the Forerunners of Death 3. If sneezing cometh of its own accord it is a good sign of deliverance First give this Cordial to strengthen both the Mother and Child Take Waters of Baum Vervain Cinamon of each two ounces Syrup of Clove-gilliflowers Saffron of each six drachms Spirit of Saffron Confectio Alkermes of each one drachm mix it If the Child be situated on Os pubis it must be removed and all other unfit Postures must be rectified Then such
things as hasten the Birth may be safely administred To encrease the Pains and further the Womans Labour I commend sneezing and also the following Medicines Take the Livers of Eels prepar'd with Cinamon-water and dried one drachm Powder of Borax whitest Amber Mirrh Saffron Dittany of Crete round Birth-wort of each half a drachm mix it and give a Scruple of it at a time in three spoonfulls of this Julep Take the Waters of Vervain Mugwort of each two ounces Syrup of Saffron one ounce Confectio Alkermes one drachm Extract of Saffron six grains Oils of Cinamon Amber of each three drops mix it Some things have a peculiar property to help the Birth as the stone Aetites Loadstone Storax the Eyes of a Hare c. held near the privities The time being come the Woman must be put into a posture which every Midwife doth understand and let her not labour too much till strong pains come and then let her resolve on patience and not be disorderly in the time of her Travel If she be faint you may give her some of the formention'd Cordial Julep to comfort her Let your hands be anointed with some Anodine Ointment After the water is broke if the Head cometh with the Face towards Anus receive it if not endeavour to place it right Then turn your Finger round about the Child's head gently to make way for the Birth If the Child cometh any other way you must endeavour to gain the Feet and bring it away with the Face towards Anus as before mention'd The Child being born you must bring away the Secundine gently by degrees after which put a Closure to the Woman to prevent Cold from entring the Womb. Then prepare her for the bed and give her some Sperma Caeti or Irish-slate in a little burnt White-wine with Cinamon If the Woman doth flood much or be troubled with after-pains give her some of the following Cordial Opiate Take of small Cinamon-water the waters of red Poppies Baum of each two ounces Syrups of Clove-gilliflowers white Poppies of each one ounce Laudanum opiat three grains Oil of Cinamon two drops mix it and give three spoonfulls of it often If the Child be born alive after the Navel string is secured give the Child ten grains of prepar'd Coral in a little Breast milk or black Cherry-water dulcifi'd with Syrup of Peony to which you may add a little Oil of sweet Almonds new drawn If the Child be troubled with gripes you may give it a little Powder of Anise-seed in the Pap. But if the Child be dead and the Labour gone or if the Child's head be very big and the passage too strait so that the Midwife cannot doe her Office you must then speedily implore the help of the Man-midwife as we are called If a Woman in Child-bed hath a costive Body give her a Suppository of Castile-soap or Honey boiled and after three or four days you may administer an emollient carminative Clyster If a Woman after hard Travel cannot hold her Urine bathe her secret Parts and Region of the Womb with this or the like Decoction Take of Plantain Comfry Shepherds-purse Tops of Brambles Penny-royal Rosemary Sage Stoechas of each one handfull let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in a Gallon of Smiths-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and bathe the parts affected very warm with woollen Stuphs Afterward anoint the grieved parts with this Linament Take the Ointment Comitissae Oil of Mace by expression of each one ounce Oils of Earth-worms Foxes Lillies Goose-grease of each half an ounce mix it CHAP. XXI Of Nephritick pains and of the Stone in the Reins and Bladder DIseases of the Reins are called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ren. In Latin they are called morbus Renum which comprehends not onely any Ach in the Kidneys but also the Stone and Gravel in the Reins Nephritick pains may be caused divers ways 1. First by a sharp salt matter or a sharp and serous Lympha in the Kidneys which doth easily concrete into a Stone especially when the Ferment of the Reins is much vitiated which may be known by those cruel torturing Fits that come by intervals 2. Worms in the Kidneys which for the most part arise from Bloud there corrupted may be the cause of pain 3. An Abcess or Tumour in the Kidneys following an Inflammation doth hinder the passage of Urine and is always accompanied with great pain 4. It may also be caused by glutinous Phlegm obstructing the fleshy parts of the Kidneys and hindring the separation of Urine so that it is not strein'd into the Funnels of the Reins as usual but is deprav'd and vitiated Whence the natural descent of the Urine through the Ureters into the urinal Bladder is also hindred The same also may happen sometimes by a stone sticking in the Funnel and stopping the entrance of the Ureters Although I think that Stones sticking in the Ureters themselves cannot long hinder the passage of Urine because it hath been found by experience in dissecting of dead Bodies that Stones near the bigness of a Doves-egg have been sticking in the Ureters by the sides of which Stones Urine descended freely which was evident because the Ureter was no were distended unless where the Stone did stick Neither was there any Urine contain'd in the Ureter above the obstruction besides when the Party was living there was no stoppage of Urine Those fits which come by intervals are caused by a debility or vitiousness of the Ferment of the Kidneys which generates crude salt and sharp matter which causeth those cruel Tortures and should all the Gravel and Stone come away the pain would not be the less untill the Kidneys themselves be reduc'd to their right temper For many in perfect health have voided much Gravel at a time without the least pain and therefore it is evident that Gravel is onely the product and not the producer or primitive cause of this pain The Symptoms of Nephritick pains are so much like that caused by the Stone that they cannot be easily distinguished for the signs of both are great pain of the Loins loathing or vomiting there being a great consent between the Reins and Stomach The Patient often pisseth bloudy water and when the Reins are ulcerated the matter is often evacuated with the Urine Wherein the force of concreting or growing together of Stones in divers parts of the Body consists is not enough known I will freely declare what I conjecture in this obscure matter whereby I may according to my power the more help others that are ingenious to search out this hidden truth All the Stones that are generated in the Body may be dissolved in the sour Spirit of Salt Peter or Niter whence I conclude that the Coagulation of Stones cannot be expected from an acid Spirit as such therefore from another somewhat contrary to it in
the Bladder which sometimes happens in Lithotomy for by extracting a great Stone the sphincter Muscle may be so much lacerated that it ceaseth to be contracted and the Orifice of the Bladder to be shut wherefore the Urine distilleth of its own accord It may be caused internally by the Palsie Apoplexy Epilepsie Syncope c. Sometimes Ebriety may be the Cause of the Resolution of the Nerves which from the Loins are inserted into the Neck of the Bladder and so render the sphincter Muscle incapable of Contraction hence the Urine is involuntarily voided In Children this Distemper is curable if taken in time but if it happen to old Folks or if it be caused by a Wound in the sphincter Muscle of the Bladder it is incurable That which is caused by the Palsie Epilepsie Syncope c. look for the Cure in their proper Chapters If it be caused by Ebriety Sobriety may be commended to cure it especially by the help of inward means to strengthen the parts affected Many things have been given to Children that have been troubled with this Distemper the most effectual are these Fried Mice the inner Skins of Hens-gizzards Cocks-weasands Pudenda suilla Stones of a Hare Snails with the shells all or any of these dried and poudred also the Powder of Agrimony Egg-shells the burnt Ashes of an Hedge-hog c. Any of these may be given in red Wine or in Lime-water chalibeated which may be dulcifi'd with Syrup of Comfry If Phlegm do abound in the Body you may purge it with Phlegmagogues Also sweating with gentle Diaphoreticks is very effectual Those already mention'd are proper onely consider the Age and Strength of the Patient CHAP. XXIV Of the Stoppage of Vrine and the Strangury THE Stoppage of Urine is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comprimo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vrina 'T is called in Latin Vrinae suppressio The Strangury is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. urinae difficultas vel urinae per guttas excretionem Ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stilla 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 urina These differ onely in degree for when the Urine is totally obstructed it may be called Ischuria but when little is voided and by drops it may be called Stranguria These distempers may be caused by viscous Phlegm or coagulated Bloud in the Ureters or Vrethra especially if a Stone or some Gravel do also stick in the Passage by which the obstruction will be more strengthned Sometimes it is caused by a schirrous Tumour or other excrescency of Flesh as a Carbuncle c. growing in the Vrethra or Chanel of Urine Sometimes it is caused by a preposterous holding in of the Urine either for shame or want of opportunity to evacuate it so that the Bladder being extremely fill'd and distended it hath not power to contract it self hence the voiding of Urine is supprest It may also be caused by sharp humours fretting and ulcerating the internal Superficies of the Bladder by which it is continually stirred up to contract it self and expell the Urine which is in it so that the Bladder is empty having little or no Urine in it as I have known by experience This may be called a Bastard Ischuria which may be also caused by some hurt in the attractive or expulsive faculty of the Reins If the aforesaid Causes be violent it causeth an Ischuria but if remiss then a Strangury is stirred up in which there is a perpetual Irritation to extrude the Urine although slowly and by drops with exceeding pain and trouble Suppression of Urine is dangerous and if it continue long it is mortal especially if the Patient's Breath stinck of Piss or hath a Hiccough or Tenasmus If the Cause be in the Neck of the Bladder or Vrethra stopt you may clear it and draw away the Urine with a Catheter as I have often done both from Men and Women with good success If the Cause be from the Reins or Ureters seek the Cure in the Chapter of Nephritick pains c. Glutinous Phlegm and coagulated Bloud may be cut and attenuated with Aromaticks boild in Water or Wine and mixed with oily volatile Salts Spirit of Niter c. Stone-Horse dung is rich in Volatile Salt wherefore if you mix the Juice of it with Rhenish-wine and drink it often you will admire its wonderfull effects in curing not onely Stoppage of Urine but most other obstructions Those Diureticks prescrib'd in page 266 267. are also very effectual here Let the Belly and parts affected be anointed with Dears-suet which will conduce much to give ease When the Vrethra is obstructed by a Caruncle c. You must gently thrust in a hollow Instrument made of Lead or Silver being first anointed with some consolidating Ointment You may leave the Instrument in till the fear of a new Closing of the Passage be remov'd CHAP. XXV Of the Scalding or Sharpness of Vrine THIS Distemper is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aegre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vrina The causes are either external or internal The external Cause may be by the Application of Cantharides or some other stronger Poison The internal Causes are sharp salt and acid humours mixed with the Urine which do corrode and ulcerate the internal Superficies of the Bladder and sphincter Muscle Sometimes it is caused by sharp Stones occasioning an Ulcer If the Bladder or sphincter Muscle or the Vrethra be ulcerated it is hard to be cured especially if the Patient be old and the Distemper hath continu'd long e contra If the Bladder or urinal Passage be ulcerated it may be effectually cured by the Balsam of Sulphur made with the Oil of Anise-seed Amber or Juniper taken to two or three drops twice or thrice daily in any convenient Vehicle especially a vulnerary Decoction which is most effectual The salt acid corroding humours may be corrected with Crabs-eyes Perle c. and also all volatile oily Salts taken often in a small quantity in any refrigerating Diuretick This Decoction is effectual Take the Roots of Mallows Marsh-mallows of each two ounces Lettice Endive Purslain Violets of each one handfull Jujubes Sebestins of each one ounce Winter-cherries half an ounce the four greater Cold-seeds of each two drachms red Roses Water-lillies of each half a handfull let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Syrups of red Poppies Violets of each two ounces Laudanum opiat ten grains Oil of Vitriol ten drops mix it and give three spoonfulls every two hours An Emulsion of the Cold-seeds or Chamomel-flowers boiled in Milk is also very effectual If the Patient be costive give emollient Clysters or gentle Cholagogues and Hydragogues to evacuate the peccant humours Or else you may give a gentle Emetick for Revulsion If the pain be
very great you may inject an Emulsion made of the Cold-seeds into the urinal Passage and anoint the Privities with unguentum Populion c. CHAP. XXVI Of Venereal Affects THIS Scourge of transgressing Humanity being as it were a Murrain or common Destruction to venereous Persons may be called in Latin Lues venerea a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 solvo vel quod Corpus omnino dissolvit vel quasi luens usque ad nihil Lues enim ista pestis est species vel qualiscunque contagio quae homines inficit debito supplicio scelus luere The first Knowledge of this pocky intestine Enemy at least in the European parts of the World was at the Siege of Naples by the French being brought thither as some Authours affirm by the Spaniards that came with Christopher Columbus from the West Indies and they like plaguy Persons that croud to infect others contrary to their reserved temper being inflam'd with a venereal Itching and being also free of their flesh they communicated as a great rarity this new found foul Distemper to the Italian Women which among others they had engrost to themselves from the Animal Indians in their American Tyrannical Conquests Many of those poor Creatures being deeply infected with the monstrous Yaws so called by the Indians from whence this soul Distemper had its first original Hence it was first called the Neapolitan and afterward the French disease since which time many of the precipitant youthfull Europeans to their great Costs and Pain have been punished with this impure venereal Affect This Itch in spite of Mortals will be catching where there is no fear of God to restrain but the beginning natural momentany Pleasure will often urge a smartfull end so that this is the product of that sin of uncleanness for which God hath pronounced Hebrews 13.4 Whore-mongers and Adulterers God will judge To describe this virulent contagious Disease It is an universal sour taint of the spermatick parts the seed in the spermatick Vessels being first corrupted with a cold indigested Putridness is sometimes conveyed outward to the groins infecting the obscene parts with a filthy eating Crusty scab But if the poisonous malign quality gotten by impure Coition be transfer'd to the Liver which is the chief Subject of its more easie invasion and its special residence it must necessarily suffer egregious corruption from whence the afflicting taint is dispersed into the whole habit of the Body vitiating and corrupting the Nutrition of every part by which the sick becomes wholly cachectick and the filthy Pox without speedy help tyrannizing with many malign Symptoms and afflicting both the body and mind doth at length hurry the Patient into the pit of silence The cause is chiefly the carnal use of venereous Persons Also Children sucking of those Nurses that are infected may receive the pollution from the poisonous malignity of the milk It may also be Hereditary the seed of venereous Parents being polluted The most apparent signs are a dulness of the whole Body white face intolerable pain between the joints especially in the Night which hindreth sleep sometimes Buboes in the Groins c. As is before mention'd also Ulcers and hard Pustules in many parts of the Body as Head Chin c. there is sometimes a relaxation of the Vvula with Hoarsness and Corruption of the Palate and Tumours of the adjacent Glandulous parts there is also sometimes a Cariosity of the Skull and other Bones Cum multis aliis 1. It is difficult of Curation if it hath continu'd long or the Patient be consumptive or if it be in a sucking Infant 2. If it be Hereditary 't is incurable but if the Patient be young and newly infected it may be easily cured As for the Cure of this filthy Disease first I advise the Patient to repent from the bottom of the Heart for this great sin of uncleanness c. Then make choice of an honest Physician The Cure is easiest effected in the Spring or Fall of the Leaf but if necessity urge you may begin the Cure at any time First let the Body be prepared The following Apozeme may serve for Example in most constitutions Take the five opening Roots Liquorish China of each one ounce Cinamon Anise-seed Senna of each half an ounce Agarick Rhubarb Cream of Tartar of each two drachms let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in two quarts of Fountain-water till half be consumed then strain it and add Syrup of Roses solutive four ounces Salt of Tartar vitriolated two drachms Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it and give six spoonfulls every two hours If the Patient be Plethorick open a Vein after which you may purge with these or the like Pills Take of Extractum Rudii one scruple Mercur. dulcis Salt Armoniack of each half a scruple make it into four Pills and take them in the Morning If you perceive by the Excrements that the Patient's body be very foul you may administer another Dose of Pills after two days intermission Then you may prepare the following Decoction or one like it to cause sweat c. Take of Guiacum the Roots of China Sarseparilla of each one pound Raisins of the Sun stoned Hermodactils Polypodium Barks of Guiacum and Sassaphras of each four ounces Juniper-berries Anise-seed Liquorish Elicampane-roots of each one ounce let them be cleansed bruised and infused in four Gallons of Rain-water very hot for the space of a Night then boil it gently till a third part be boiled away strain it and keep it for use Let the sick take four spoonfulls of it with ten grains of Antimonium diaphoret every Morning and Evening for four or five days following and sweat after it in Bed or in a Hot-house or Bagnio so long as can be well endured Then omitting a day or two you may take another Dose of Pills then sweat seven days more after which purge as before this doe for forty days or till the Cure be perfected You may make a second Decoction of the Ingredients for ordinary drink But if the sick have extreme Pains in the Night ten grains of the following Pills may be given to bed-ward instead of the Decoction Take Gum of Guiacum two drachms Antimony Diaphoretick Bezoar-mineral Flower of Brimstone Diagredium Mercur. dulcis humane Bones calcin'd of each one drachm Saffron Laudanum opiatum of each half a drachm with Syrup of Saffron make it into a Mass for Pills If there be a Defluxion of Rheum on the Lungs you may give ten or twelve drops of Balsam of Sulphur in a little of the Decoction every Morning and the like quantity with half a drachm of Venice-treacle every Night after which drink four ounces of the aforesaid Decoction to promote a gentle sweat You may also make Fontinels in the Arm and Leg with good success But if the sick be of a hot Constitution and the Disease be inveterate and stubborn the shortest and best way of Cure
less subject to this affect for by the Continuance of such cold and moisture the Bloud and Humours becomes too slippery and therefore in their Circulation they must unavoidably cause a softness and looseness in all the parts Also experience testifieth that those Children which are born and nursed near the Lead-mines in Derby-shire c. are generally affected more or less with a languidness of the Limbs For the Air being infected with noxious metalline Exhalations which for the most part fight against the inherent Spirits of the parts by a kind of venemous malignity by which the spirituous pulsificative Force of the external parts is extinguished and the strength of the Limbs and whole Body much weakned and diminish'd Hither we may also refer fine soft Linen applied actually cold and moist being not well dried by reason of the moistness of the weather to the Spine of the Back which is near the Original of the Nerves the use thereof being too long continu'd it cherisheth the Roots of this Disease in that tender Age. Likewise Aliments of any kind which are too moist and cold or too thick viscous and obstructive do manifestly cherish this Distemper And I am induced to believe that Ebriety in English people especially the Gentry and eating of much Flesh and not using frequent labour or exercise may be a reason why this Disease is more common and natural to Children in England than in other Regions perhaps far exceeding it both in cold and moisture as Scotland Holland c. wherein this affect hath not been observ'd to be very common And therefore ebriety and eating of much Flesh and defect of motion and want of exercise doth most frequently and most effectually concur to the production of it because the inherent heat in stupid and sluggish People is not sufficient to resist and expell the superfluous moisture by a due transpiration By which means the Circulation of the Bloud is become slow and lesned and the production of the vital heat very feeble and weak so that nature is thereby forced to permit all the parts of the Body to be affected with a certain softness looseness and internal lubricity more than is meet which do sufficiently evince that this is an efficacious cause and a part of the essence of this Disease Hence we may easily infer that the Children of such Parents are more inclined to this distemper than others who drink moderately and eat less Flesh and are more active and lively The internal Causes are excrementitious Humours luxuriant in the Body especially Phlegm and serous humours retained and vitiated being naturally cold and moist and little spirituous and affected with an internal slipperiness wherefore upon a superfluous accumulation of these humours the production of this affect succeedeth because thereby a Colliquation of the parts and a dissipation of the inherent Spirits will be easily introduced whereby all the parts will afterwards be rendred obnoxious to this cold and moist Distemper Many diseases preceding this affect may be the cause of it especially those which do extenuate and much weaken the Body as all Fevers c. And also all cold and moist phlegmatick and cachochymick Distempers which will induce a stupour and dulness in the affected parts and cause obstructions Also any great Pain Inflammation Tumour Fracture Luxation or any other preternatural affect that hinders the standing and playing of the Child may be some cause of this Disease Presently after the beginning of the Disease a kind of slothfulness and numbness doth invade the Joints and by little and little is increased so that daily they are more and more averse from motion besides in the beginning of this affect there is usually observ'd a certain laxity softness and flaccidity of all the first affected parts after which followeth a great debility languidness and enervation of all the parts subservient to motion so that for the most part they speak before they walk which is vulgarly held to be a bad Omen and if it vehemently increase they do not onely totally lose the use of their Feet but can scarce sit with an erected posture and their weak and feeble Neck can hardly sustain the Burthen of the Head In the progress of the Disease the Head and Face increaseth in bigness but the fleshy parts below the Head are daily more and more worn away There is also observ'd in this affect certain swellings and knotty excrescencies about some of the Joints these are chiefly conspicuous in the Wrists and somewhat less in the Ancles and in the tops of the ribs the Bones in the Armes and Legs and sometimes the Thighs and Shoulder-bones wax crooked the Teeth come forth slowly and with greater trouble than usual and at length the Breast becomes narrow and the Abdomen swollen with an extension of the Hypochondriacal parts which hindreth the free motion of the Diaphragma downwards and by consequence doth somewhat interrupt the breathing so that respiration becomes difficult accompanied with coughing the Pulse being also weak and small and in the increase of the Disease all these signs become more intense and evident and many and more grievous are daily accumulated 1. If this Disease be light and gentle the Children affected therewith may be easily restored to health sometimes by the sole benefit of Age the vital heat being increased and summoned forth to the external parts by the force of frequent exercises But if it so vehemently prevaileth that the increase thereof cannot be prevented by the best internal means and also most prudent applications then there is imminent danger 2. If it proceed from other Diseases or be complicated with them it will be the more difficult of curation especially if the Bones of the Armes and Legs be crooked and there be great bending and tumour of the Joints of the Wrists Ancles and Ribs But if the Symptoms decline and the Child do easily endure agitation and have often eruptions in the Skin as Wheals Pimples or Itch then there is great hopes of recovery 3. If they be not cured in five years they will grow deformed and crooked and for the most part will become dwarfs and live sickly being either Cachectick or Phthisical till death do put a Period to their miserable Life As for the Cure of this disease both the Child and Nurse must keep a good diet which is easie of Concoction In the mean time you must not neglect the best Chyrurgical and Pharmaceutical means which will most conduce to the speedy recovery of the weakly Infant Universals being premised the most effectual and approved Chyrurgical means in this affect are Incision or Scarification of the Ears and little Fountains or Issues although many more may be used viz. Frixions Blisters Ligatures c. Incision or Scarification in the Ears is to be performed on the Ridge in the inside of the Ear above the hole which must be stopt to hinder the Bloud passing into it This Operation must be often repeated