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
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
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-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
acute continual Fever which remains from the first moment of its invasion to the last of its duration thence a delirium and raving Madness together with great trouble of mind afflicts the sick in a superlative manner Madness is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 insanio 't is called in Latin amentia furor insania It is a furious alienation of the mind or a vehement delirium without a Fever in which it differs from the Phrensie I know there are not wanting the works of great Physicians who have written very learnedly of these diseases but omitting the opinion of others I shall in a few words relate that which seems true to me to be the cause of these furious distempers None who are ingenious Searchers of Truth and have weighed accurately with an attentive mind both the fabrick and ways or Vessels of the containing Body and the natural motion of the Bloud and other humours will deny that almost innumerable diseases do arise from the vitious effervescency of over fat Choler the too tart Pancreat juice and over viscous Phlegm flowing together in the small guts for by this vitiated mingling not onely hurtfull humours are produc'd but often wind and halituous Vapours causing much harm to humane Bodies Wherefore I judge when Phlegm is very viscous or otherwise vitious and the juice of the Pancreas too tart and harsh sharp halituous Vapours are thence produc'd elevated from the small guts because of a vitious effervescency there rais'd and thence continually ascending to the Head and with the spirituous Bloud circulate into the Ventricles of the Brain by which the Animal spirits are vitiated and troublesomely mov'd and hindred of natural rest and tranquillity therefore 't is no wonder that the Empty mind of the sick is thereby disturb'd and at length the sick become distracted and mad But if Choler be predominant these vapours become very cholerick and acrimonious which rarifies the Bloud by degrees more and more so that at length the heat and burning Fever in the Heart and thence through the whole Body is encreased by Choler successively over-ruling which causeth the Phrensie No marvel then if heat pain and inflammation and pulsation of the Head do chiefly vex the sick in this grievous distemper seeing no part of the Body hath so many Arteries and receives so much Bloud as the Head wherefore the pulsation of the Temples is felt more troublesome than elsewhere because of the remarkable windings of the Brain through which great Arteries are carried from whence great watchings and at length raving Madness do molest the sick But there still remains something requisite to be set down as the chief cause of these and most other distempers which ought not to be despis'd either by Jew or Gentile seeing we have the word of God for it and that is the crying sins of Mankind continually drawing God's Judgments on them You may reade the 28 th Chapter of Deuteronomie where the Prophet Moses enumerates the many diseases with which God would smite the Children of Israel for the wickedness of their doings whereby they had forsaken him And not onely they but we also shall be subject to these grievous distempers and eternal destruction also if we do not turn to the Lord by unfeigned repentance except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish saith our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ in Luke 13.3 Verse Those poor creatures who have been miserably afflicted with these furious diseases and happily recovered can tell by sad experience that they have been many times hurried almost to desperation by the cunning wiles and temptations of Satan which hath prevail'd on many to lay violent hands on themselves from which let us pray libera nos Domine 1. The Phrensie is a most acute and dangerous disease insomuch that it ends most commonly in seven days for in that time it either terminates by the recovery of the sick or else they go over the threshold of the other world 2. If the Phrenetical party hath a Crisis either by sweating bleeding at the nose or Haemorrhoids c. or a tumour appear behind the Ears there is hopes of recovery but if the sick gnash with his teeth and his Excrement and Urine be whitish and no Crisis appear 't is mortal so likewise is it very pernicious if it turn either to the Lethargy or Convulsion In the Mania or Madness if the stomach or appetite decay and the sick be very fearfull and hath continued long it is most difficult to cure but if the party be merrily conceited it is not so dangerous 3. If the swelling of the Veins in the Legs called Varices or the Haemorrhoids or Menses or any other flux of bloud should happen to them that are mad or frantick there may be hopes of recovery And that we may pass on to the cure of these lamentable diseases let the following Golden precept be speedily observ'd Principiis obsta sero medicina paratur Cum mala per longas invaluere moras For unless speedy help be procur'd for the Phrensie it killeth the party in a short time and likewise Mania or Madness becomes oft by degrees so stubborn and rebellious that it can be cur'd onely late or never Ttherefore the friends of the sick are to be admonish'd to consult with the honest Physician so soon as the signs begin to be manifest for when it hath taken deep root it is hard to be eradicated or overcome unless by an Herculean labour First therefore let a Clyster be administred Take of Mallows Marsh-mallows Violets Lettice Beets Pellitory of the wall Mercury Centaury Water-lillies of each one handfull Damask Prunes twenty Boil them in a quart of Barley-water till half be consumed then strain it and add Electuary Lenitive Syrup of Violets Roses Solutive of each one ounce Oil of Violets two ounces Common Salt one drachm Mix it for a Clyster After the Operation of it you may open a Vein in the Arm. But if Menses or the Haemorrhoids be suppressed then open the Saphena in either Foot and let the orifice be made pretty large because thereby sharp and fatty vapours may more plenteously be effus'd together with the bloud whereby the troublesome heat will be the better temper'd and not a little diminisht Neither will it suffice to let bloud once but this evacuation is oft to be iterated till by the diminisht feverish heat it appears that the cause is remov'd or overcome But let Phlebotomy be warily done where choler abounds because sanguis est fraenum Bilis wherefore I advise the young Practitioner to take away but little bloud at a time which may be done so often as need requires either by an instrument or leeches to the Haemorrhoids Ventoses with scarification may be applied to the shoulders also Vesiccatories to the armes thighs inter scapulas in extremis morbis extrema sunt adhibenda remedia Choler over plenteous in the body
be thin and sharp and do flow very violently And seeing this distemper is not enough explain'd in Authours either ancient or modern I therefore God prospering my indeavours will bestow some pains in searching out and proposing the true causes and effects of it which I hope will induce other liberal and ingenious spirited Artists to a farther inquiry after the occult causes not onely of these but other obscure diseases daily occurring in practice that so by little and little many things in the Art of Physick as yet most obscure and confus'd may be illustrated and most commodiously explain'd Experience confirms that there are many kinds of Catarrhs some are more thick others more thin some acid and salt others more sweet some Rheums are hot and sharp flowing more violently other cold and pituitous flowing but slowly hence it is that some Catarrhs are attended with Fevers and some without The causes of Catarrhs are either external or internal The external cause is from external sudden Cold shutting the pores of the skin hindring the discharge of sweaty Vapours by insensible Transpiration for if the usual ports of the skin do deny passage to the sweat it will in a little time condense and thence become sour by which the extreme parts are chilled which doth manifest it self by a shivering as any one may experimentally observe after taking Cold. These humours having not vent through the porous skin which is absolutely necessary by the habit of the Body they are conveyed to the Head together with the Lympha through the Lymphatick Vessels The internal cause arises from pituitous humours gradually collected besides Nature in the conglobated Glandules observeable about the Plexus Choroides in the side Ventricles of the Brain and elsewhere perhaps in the Tonsils and all the rest of the small Glandules about the trachaea Arteria hence the Lympha becomes sourish salt as is tasted in a Coryza Whence also we may probably conclude what way soever the conglobated Glandules are hurt that the Lympha declines from its natural State and Quality And as its depravation is milder or sharper more grievous or lighter pains are thence bred of which we have many times an ocular demonstration in the flowing down of the Rheum through the Nostrils which is oft so sharp that it doth corrode the skin and superficies of the face where it comes If it be in quantity moderate it is conveighed to the infinite little salivary Ducts or Chanels in the conglomerated Glandules which open into the palate of the mouth and there pour out the salival Liquour which they contain which is either swallowed down into the Stomach or else it is evacuated by spitting and if Nature be overburthened by its plentifulness it is also sent forth by the Nostrils But if the Lympha becomes more sharp acid and salt in the Glandules before mention'd it produceth first a stoppage and burthensome Pain of the Head which overcomes the retentive and provokes the expulsive faculties so that Nature being driven to most violent motions doth extravasate and intravasate the Rheumatick humours hic ubique a Capite ad Calcem through the most abstruse and inconspicuous passages of nature so that it is the opinion of many learned Physicians that a Catarrh is the original of many diseases incident to humane Bodies 1. Catarrhs happening to Children are dangerous especially if there appear plenty of humours because they abound with moisture and are full of excrements Wherefore if a sudden defluxion happens to any of a tender age desperate accidents may follow 2. If the Rheum flow through the Nostrils it is but gentle if to the Throat 't is worse but if to the Lungs worst of all and if it becomes inveterate it is very hardly cured In the Cure of Catarrhs the Head is chiefly to be taken care of because the Rheum doth continually flow from it therefore the Head ought to be corroborated and the superfluous moisture thereof to be dried up And likewise the part or parts to which the Rheum flows must be strengthned the vitious quality of Lympha and the other humours is to be corrected and their plenty diminisht As Catarrhs consist of a different matter and afflict divers parts so they require diversity of medicines to cure them for if the matter be thick and viscous it must be attenuated and cut with Aromaticks and afterward evacuated with Phlegmagogues So likewise serous and salt Catarrhs are to be temper'd with Oily things and Opiats and the plenty of humours to be diminisht with Hydragogues by which means the cure will be the sooner performed For viscous Catarrhs accompanied with a Cough I commend these following medicines Take the Waters of Hyssop Mint of each three ounces Cinamon-water Syrups of Fennel and red Poppies of each one ounce and half Laudanum opiatum six grains Spirit of Salt Armoniack twenty drops mix it of which you may give three or four spoonfulls every three hours By the frequent use of this Aromatick Julep the viscous Phlegm will not onely be attenuated but the over sharp Vapours will be discust and the other humours temper'd After the Phlegmatick humours c. are thus prepared it will be convenient to evacuate them downwards by gentle purgation with powerfull and effectual Phlegmagogues and such are all mercurials Colocynthis Hermodactils c. to be taken chiefly in the form of Pills Take Extract Rudii pil ex duobus of each one drachm Mercury dulcis half a drachm Oil of Cloves four drops mix them for three Doses If the sick be averse to Pills give this Potion Take of Rhubarb Agarick Hermodactils Polypodium of each two drachms Cinamon Cloves of each one drachm Sage Rosemary of each one handfull sweet Fennel-seed Juniper-berries of each three drachms bruise them and infuse them in Hyssop-water very hot for the space of a Night then strain it and dissolve in it Syrup of Roses solutive Electuary Diaphaenicon of each one ounce mix it for a Potion Every night give the Patient a Pill of Styrax or Hounds-tongue to stay the Rheum and to give ease and rest If the Catarrh be serous and hot accompanied with a Fever and the sick have a costive Body this Clyster will be effectual Take the common decoction for Clysters twelve ounces Diacatholicon Electuary of the Juice of Roses of each six drachms Oil of Chamomel two ounces common Salt one drachm mix it for a Clyster After the operation of it you may open a Vein in either Arm and take away eight or nine ounces of Bloud Then give this purging decoction Take Borage Lettice Purslain Endive Violets of each one handfull the four greater coldeeds of each one drachm Damask-prunes ten Anise-seed sweet Fennel-seed of each two drachms let them be bruised and boiled in eight ounces of the pectoral decoction till half be consum'd then strain it and dissolve in it Syrup of Roses solutive Electuary of the Juice of Roses of each half
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
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
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
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
each two ounces Tincture of Cinamon Syrups of Quinces Mirtles of each one ounce Laudanum opiat ten grains Oil of Juniper ten drops mix it If there be an Ulcer in the thick Guts and Clysters can come to the part affected let the following be often injected and instruct the sick to retain them so long as they can Take new Milk wherein Steel hath been quenched one pint Honey of Roses one ounce Venice Turpentine half an ounce the Yelk of one Egg Balsam of Sulphur four drops mix it The following Bolus may be sometimes given in the Morning fasting Take the Powder of Rhubarb tosted two Scruples Nutmeg one scruple make it into a Bolus with Conserves of red Roses And this Bolus may be given at Night going to bed Take Diascordium Conserves of red Roses of each half a drachm Laudanum opiat three grains mix it By the frequent use of these choice Medicines the Ulcer will be cleans'd the Gripes asswag'd and the Consolidation of the ulcerated Gut both in the Tenasmus and Dysentery c. will be wonderfully promoted But if the Ulcer be in the small Guts the following vulnerary Decoction will more conduce to the Cure Take the Roots of Comfry Plantain Knot-grass of each two ounces the Tops of Saint John's wort Sanicle Germander red Roses of each one handfull Shavings of Harts-horn Cinamon of each half an ounce let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in three quarts of Fountain-water wherein steel hath been quenched till half of it be boiled away then strain it and add Syrup of dried Roses Tincture of Cinamon distill'd Vinegar Syrup of Marsh-mallows of each two ounces mix it and give the sick four spoonfulls every two or three hours If you add two or three drops of Balsam of Sulphur made with Oil of Anise-seed to every dose of the Decoction c. it will be the more effectual both to cleanse and consolidate the Ulcer The flux of the Hemorrhoids if it be symptomatical and weaken the sick is then to be hindred which may be effectually done by the afore-mention'd Medicines If much serous Liquour can so dilute the Bloud and relax the Vessels that part of it may be carried out of them into the Guts and produce a Flux like the washing of Flesh commonly called a Flux of the Liver it may be cur'd by driving forward the serous Liquour out of the Body by Sudorificks and Diureticks and also by tart strengthning things that repair the hurt of the loosened Vessels The Diuretick decoction of China before mention'd is excellent in this case to be taken as is there directed Also the following Diaphoretick may be sometimes used with good success Take the Waters of Treacle Cinamon of each half an ounce Plantain-water two ounces distill'd Vinegar three drachms Confectio de Hyacintho Diascordium of each one drachm Powder of Crabs-eyes Antimony Diaphoretick of each half a drachm Syrups of Mirtles dried Roses of each six drachms mix it for two doses Also the Powder and astringent Julep prescrib'd in page 192 193. is excellent to corroborate the loosened Vessels c. Anoint the Belly with the Oil of Quinces Mirtles Roses Wormwood c. mixed with unguent Comitissae which is also good in all Fluxes of the Belly CHAP. X. Of the dry Belly-ach THIS cruciating disease may be called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latin Spasmus Abdominis quod sub umbelico est ad Bubem and because of the additional Torments it may be also named Tormen Abdominis quod dolore torquetur Abdomen This disease doth also need as well the Name as the invocation of Miserere mei Deus the sick being in such extreme misery that 't is incredible to all but them that have endur'd it The most urgent and exquisite pain under this affect being in that most tender and sensible part viz. the Belly may seem to have some Alliance with the Iliack or Colick passion and indeed they are sometimes its Concomitants but much different from it The causes of this lamentable Distemper are either external or internal The external general occasional cause is contracting Cold in the Region of the Belly c. which doth cramp not onely the Muscles of the Abdomen but also the tender Fibres of the Intestines cruciating all the affected parts with obdurate Contractions which is more aggravated when the Moon doth come to opposition with the Sun Which may be also observ'd in all Spasms and convulsive motions that about the full of the Moon the tide of such nervous diseases doth rise highest Especially in those places where the direct aspects of the nocturnal luminary have the most power which demonstration will evince to be between the Tropicks which many of our Mariners who have sailed that way can tell by wofull experience Another external procuring cause of this grievous disease is a mineral Gas ascending from the Caverns of the Earth infesting the Air with its poisonous Fumes whereby not onely the tender fibrous and nervous parts of the Belly are oft times crampt with Convulsive spasms but the mineral Fumes being inspired with the Air into the Body produce most eminent apparent evils as the Corruption of the Chyle into porraceous and adust Choler from whence followeth irritating Vomitings and the Constipation of the Belly with obdurateness of the excrements which inflames the Bowels and entails a Symptomatical fever with a heavy and slow pulse and as the pain doth aggravate more and more there is want of sleep and rest with other uneasiness and commotions of Body and Mind as the Operatours in Chymistry have sometimes experience of to their cost and trouble in mineral preparations for if a Vessel chance to break the sharp and acid Vapours or Gas of the mineral immediately seiseth the Animal spirits of all that are in the Elaboratory by which they are mov'd unequally against the will through the Nerves to the Musculous parts which causeth Convulsive motions with trembling and shaking of the Limbs and other accumulated evils The like grievous Symptoms though not so violent happen to many People that inhabit near the mineral Mines in Hungaria and also in some Places of England as Derbyshire c. Where there are Lead-works from whence mineral Fumes continually ascend from the separating Oar which infesteth the Air and is a great producer of such Convulsive effects At the first seisure of this evil the Muscles of the Abdomen and sometimes those of the Breast and Back through contractions prove hard and painfull as in our ordinary Cramps which Symptoms will evince that these Vapours are peccant in an acid Acrimony The internal Cause is also sour Vapours arising most commonly out of the small Guts which the concurring symptoms consider'd and weighed with an attentive mind will confirm for these Vapours being sharp are driven forward into the Nerves and gnawing them with great pain aggravate and produce this Convulsive spasm 1. If this miserable and afflictive
educe the peccant humours by which the Jaundice may in a short time be cured Take of Rhubarb the Roots of Madder Smallage the greater Celandine of each one ounce the Flowers of Broom one handfull Hemp-seed two ounces the Seeds of Anise Parsley and Columbines of each half an ounce Saffron two drachms white Tartar three drachms let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in White-wine and Fountain water of each three pints till the third part be boiled away then strain it and add the best Manna Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb of each three ounces mix it Let the sick take four spoonfulls of this three times a day till the viscous phlegm and Choler be sufficiently evacuated and the natural colour of the body restored As oft as the Jaundice is caused by the poison of a Viper or any other venemous thing whatsoever you must administer as soon as possible a volatile sudorifick to correct and expell the venome The following will serve to both indications Take the waters of Carduus Fennel Fumitory of each two ounces Treacle-water Syrups of the juice of Carduus red Poppies of each one ounce tincture of Saffron two drachms Venice-treacle half a drachm Bezoar-mineral Antimony diaphoretick Salt of Harts-horn of each one scruple Spirit of Salt-Armoniack six drops Laudanum opiatum six grains mix it and give three or four spoonfulls to provoke sweat and after it breaks forth give a spoonfull or two now and then to promote it Also this Decoction or one like it may be prescrib'd for the Icterick patient it being both Sudorifick and Diuretick Take the Roots of Scorzonera Juniper of each two ounces Roots of Master-wort Sassaphras of each half an ounce Berries of Juniper and Bays of each one ounce and half Seeds of Nettles Hemp and Columbines of each one ounce shavings of Harts-horn three drachms the tops of Carduus Scordium Scabious the lesser Centaury of each one 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 Syrup of the juice of Carduus four ounces Treacle-water two ounces Salt of Tartar vitriolated two drachms mix it and give four spoonfulls every two or three hours Soap of any sort conduceth to the cure of the Jaundice upon a twofold account both by reason of its fixt lixivial Salt and also by reason of its fatness or oil for the Lixivial Salt doth correct and diminish the over volatileness and spirituousness of the vitiated Choler and the oil doth blunt the sharpness of the volatile and spirituous Salt ruling in Choler The following mixture is very effectual Take of Hemp-seed two ounces Soap two drachms bruise the seed and boil it in half a pint of new Milk till half of it be consumed then strain it and add Syrup of Saffron half an ounce tincture of Saffron two drachms Laudanum opiatum four grains mix it and give half of it in the morning fasting and the remainder at night going to bed CHAP. XII Of a Cachexy AN ill Habit of Body is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 malus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 habitus It may be called in Latin mala corporis habitudo There are many causes of this Distemper which may be distinguisht according to the diversity of the conjoin'd Symptoms It doth accompany all Chronical Diseases as Dropsies of all kinds Hypochondriack suffocation Scurvy Pox and Gout c. for it doth spare none neither Peer nor Peasant of any age or sex but it most frequently seizeth on Women when their monthly terms are supprest The cause is either external or internal The external cause is either bad Diet a long time receiv'd or for want of good refreshing Food after sickness for the Stomach being weak cannot digest course Diet by which the nutriment of the Body doth by degrees become peccant in quality vitiating the humours and Bloud it self so that an ill nourishment of the Body doth follow The internal cause may be the suppression of the Terms in Women which is more or less corrupted about the Womb having not its natural evacuation from whence the whole mass of Bloud is indued with a vitious quality by which the nourishment of all parts of the Body is deprav'd Also Choler and the juice of the Pancreas which are always confus'd with the Bloud being alike vitious or peccant in quality do not onely corrupt the separation of usefull and unusefull parts but by the vitious effervescency of these humours manifold flatuous vapours are rais'd which do not onely increase anxieties about the Midriff but being carried to the Heart there follows a pressing pain and palpitation thereof and in circulating through the Lungs it causeth a Dyspnoea or difficult breathing and being thence transferr'd every way throughout the Body it doth breed a general weariness in all parts But when the vitious humours abound together in plenty then several kinds of the Dropsie at length succeed if not the universal Body groweth lean by degrees From what hath been said the production of every Cachexie may easily be deduced by a judicious Physician The signs are paleness of the Face shortness of breath palpitation of the Heart and often apressing pain of it accompanied for the most part with a lingring Fever either continual or intermitting or compounded of both in which the Urine is crude or watry at length there is a weariness of the universal Body which in some doth pine and become lean but in others the Body doth swell and is turgid If this Disease be not helpt in time it will become by degrees so stubborn and rebellious that it will puzzle the wisest and most experienced Physicians to cure it for by the long continuance thereof phlegm becometh very tough and glutinous on which all Chronical or prolong'd Diseases depend besides all the other humours are by degrees vitiated which incorporate with the Bloud and diminish its effervescency so that the separation and excretion of the excrementitious parts to be voided together with Urine do not follow from whence many grievous symptoms succeed which oft proves mortal The cure of every Cachexie will consist in the correction and amendment of the Bloud any way vitiated If flegm be tough and glutinous it must be corrected and evacuated for which there are variety of choice medicines prescrib'd in the fourth page of the cure of diseases of the Head in the use whereof you must persevere for some time or else the laudable success and happy wisht for cure will be expected in vain Any other humours that are peccant in quality by which the bloud is vitiated must be alter'd and reduc'd to their natural Constitution by selected Medicines which will amend and empty them out by degrees In the interim good Food which is easie of digestion and wholsome nourishment must not be neglected whereby nature may be cherished and health by
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
may be opened by Diureticks that cut attenuate and make glutinous Phlegm fluid For example Take of Eringo-roots the five opening Roots of each one ounce the Tops of Agrimony the greater Celandine of each two handfulls the Berries of Juniper and Winter-cherries 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 Syrups of Marsh-mallows and the five opening Roots of each two ounces Tincture of Salt of Tartar two drachms Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it and give four spoonfulls of it every morning and evening They who like Juleps better may use this or the like Take the Waters of Fennel Parsley Pellitory of the Wall of each two ounces the carminative Spirit of Sylvius Syrups of Marsh-mallows the five opening Roots of each one ounce Oil of Juniper Spirit of Salt Armoniack of each ten drops Spirit of Niter twenty drops Laudanum opiat four grains mix it and give three spoonfulls every three or four hours The Patient may also drink freely of the mineral Diuretick-waters of Tunbridge c. which will conduce much to the Cure especially if some old Diuretick-wine and a little oily Volatile Salt made of Diuretick Vegetables be mixed with the water When the glutinous Phlegm is prepar'd and loosned it may be educ'd with some convenient Phlegmagogue either in the form of Pills or Potion of which there are variety mention'd in page 3. and four c. The fixt Sulphurs of Minerals and Metalls exalted to their highest perfection do before all others mildly temper all the humours next to which oily Volatile Salts come and Aromaticks next to these By the force of which prudently us'd not onely an effervescency of somewhat contrary Humours most agreeable to Man's nature is bred in the small Gut and afterward in the Heart but the preternatural growing together and uniting of the more sharp humours being first moderated by them is again dissolv'd in the Bloud I speak these things by experience and because it is of great moment in practice I commend them to the truly Studious of Physick If the Urine be bloudy it testifieth the opening of some Vessel of Bloud in the Kidneys Ureters Bladder or its Neck To heal and consolidate this harm the following is excellent Take the Waters of Parsley Plantain of each two ounces Cinamon-water Syrups of Mirtles Comfry Marsh-mallows of each half an ounce Powder of Dragons-bloud red Coral prepar'd of each ten grains Laudanum opiat three grains Spirit of Niter ten drops mix it and give three or four spoonfulls every two hours If there be an Ulcer in any of these parts it may perhaps be more happily cur'd by the daily taking of Balsam of Sulphur made with the Oil of Amber Juniper Anise-seed or Turpentine in any convenient Vehicle than by any other Medicine hitherto known In all suppression of Urine the following is very effectual Take the Waters of Chamomel Golden-rod Winter-cherries of each four ounces Syrups of Marsh-mallows the five opening Roots of each two ounces Powder of Egg-shells calcin'd one ounce Tincture of Salt of Tartar two drachms Spirit of Niter twenty drops mix it and give four spoonfulls every three hours CHAP. XXII Of Extraordinary Pissing c. THIS Distemper is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. pertransire quod urina ureteres urethram subito pertransit It being a quick or plentifull pissing or making of water The cause is either external or internal The external or primary efficient Cause is an immoderate drinking of stale Beer Sider or acid Wines either French or Rhenish by which an incurable Diabetes hath been ofttimes suddenly contracted The internal Cause of this Disease is sharp serous humours abounding in the Bloud by which not onely the whole Mass of it doth in time become too thin but the nervous Juice is also thereby ill affected and consequently the Reins inflam'd by the continual flowing of the over acid serous humours Whence the attractive faculty of the Kidneys is increas'd drawing the serosity of the Bloud more potently from the emulgent Vessels into the Funnels and provoking the expulsive faculty it is soon sent through the Ureters to the Bladder from whence it is often evacuated by pissing The signs are a continual pissing so that much more moisture is voided than is taken into the Body by eating and drinking It is always accompanied with an extraordinary Thirst the sick is also feverish something like a Hectick If it continue long it will decay all the radical moisture of the Body which will render it incurable but if it be taken in the beginning and the Patient be young it may be easily cured All things which have power to incrassate the thinness of the Bloud and temper the over acidity of the humours may be administred in this Distemper In the beginning of the Cure after a stool hath been procured by an emollient Clyster you may open a Vein in the Arm. The next day a gentle Purge of Rhubarb may be administred but if the Stomach be foul and the sick can vomit easily you may give an Antimonial Emetick with good success because it will potently draw the sharp peccant humours from the emulgent Vessels and Reins and evacuate some of them both by Vomit and Stool After the Operation of the Emetick let the sick take two spoonfulls of this Cordial Opiate often which will ease pain and thicken the humours Take the Waters of Barley red Poppies of each four ounces Cinamon-water Syrups of Coral and Comfry Penidies of each one ounce Gums Arabick and Dragon of each half an ounce Powder of Dragons-bloud red Coral prepar'd of each one drachm Laudanum opiatum six grains let the Gums be dissolved in the distill'd waters and strained then mix all together according to Art You may prescribe this or such a like Decoction for the Patient 's ordinary drink Take the Roots of China Sarseparilla Comfry Plantain red Sanders of each two ounces Liquorish red Roses Hemp-seed of each one ounce Raisins of the Sun stoned four ounces let them be cleansed bruised and boiled in a Gallon of Fountain-water till half of it be boiled away then strain it and keep it for use Let the Diet be cooling and thickning Broths and Jellies made of Knuckles of Veal with the Roots of China and Comfry boiled in it is excellent You may also make Panado's of the aforesaid Broth with a few Crums of White-bread and the Yelk of an Egg. Also milk wherein the aforesaid Roots are boiled will be very effectual CHAP. XXIII Of involuntary Pissing commonly called pissing in Bed WHEN the Urine floweth involuntarily which in Children is vulgarly called pissing in Bed it may be called in Latin urinae incontinentia pro impotentia sive imbecilitate retinendi The causes are either external or internal The external Cause is a large Wound in the sphincter Muscle of
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
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