think is not yet explained and Fracastorius had hopes indeed that this disease was in its old age in his time and that in a little while after it would cease in the alleaged place as also in his Syphilis in these Verses For when the Fates shal please again you 'l see Ere long that in dark night 't wil buried be But his hopes hath deceived him whenas now it hath lasted above a hundred and forty yeares and hath bated nothing of its cruelty as most are of opinion Others on the contrary think this disease was not epidemious but sporadical and contagious and first of al this perswades many because it hath lasted even unto these times whenas epidemious diseases which have been raised by the influx of the Stars have ceased a little while after And therefore they do not think this difease ought to be accounted for epidemical whenas it hath already lasted above 140. years unless perhaps this reason may be given for the continuance of this disease because the infection of this disease is not shunned as that of the pestilence For if the Plague begin to spread any where al people as much as they are able and 't is possible for them do fly from the conversation of the sick and reject al infected household stuff nay in Italy if the Plague begin to spread in Germany or other neighbouring Countries they stop up al publique waies and deny al strangers that are suspected any admittance into Italy But many men knowingly and willingly have to do with suspected Harlots and publique Stews ful of infected whores are tolerated therefore if the same diligence and cutiosity which is used in some places in the time of the pestilence to exclude the infected and suspected persons from the society of others were made use of to restrain that rambling whoring perhaps this disease also though it be contagious might be rooted out Yet the same men who think this disease is not epidemous but sporadical and contagious How the Veneral disease was brought into Europe are againe divided into divers opinions concerning its original For some were of that opinion that first of al it had its rise at Valentia in Hispania Tarraconensi where one sick of an Elephantiasis bought a nights lodging of a noble Whore for fifty peices of Gold and infected her and thence it came to pass that others who had to do with her were infected and so in a short time this evil was dissemmated amongst a many But the Idea of an Elephantiasis is one and of the Veneral disease another and therefore one sick of an Elephantiasis could not raise this disease Others think this disease was first brought out of India by the Spaniards into the French Army at Naples who maintame that this disease was epidemical in India of which we spake before Cap. 1. But for what reason 't is epidemious in some Countries in India whether by the fault of the aire or water or provision is not yet explained by Historians Leonbardus Fioravanti Leonhardus Fioravanti his opinion of the Veneral disease a famous Empirick in his time in Italy hath a peculiar opinion of the original of this disease which I have met withal in no other writer For he in his book written in the Italian Tongue which is entituled Capricci Medicinali di M. Leonardo Fioravanti Libritre writes thus of the original of this disease both amongst the Indians and in the French Army at Naples lib. 1 Cap. 26. When saith he there was War between the French and Spaniard at Naples and there was great want of provision especially of flesh those evil imployed merchants who brought victuals to the Camp had privately prepared the Carkasses of dead souldiers into divers kinds of meates and dishes and sold them every where about to the army which flesh whanas they had eat of it a long time ignorantly most of them were taken with this disease and became ful of pustles and paines and many also had their hair fal off and he writes that he knowes the business was so from one Paschalis Gibilotius a Neapolitan an old man of ninety eight yeares of age who hath told him that at that time when John the Son of Renatus Duke Andegavensis waged war against Alphonsus King of Naples about the yeare 1456. that he hath often heard from his father who was such a Merchant in the Army of King Alphonsus that in want and scarcity of victuals the Souldiers on both sides by eating of mans flesh which they fed on for a long time contracted this disease and the same Fioravanti adds that he might be the more certain of this business he bred up a Sow in his house and added to al her meat somewhat of hogs flesh and that within few dayes her bristles and hairs fel off and she became ful of pustles then that he fed a dog for two months only with dogs flesh which afterwards became ful of pains and pustles and lost his hair From which experiments he concludes that every living creature if it be nourisht with the flesh of its own species wil be taken with this disease which at this day is called the French and he thinks this is the very cause that this drsease is epidemious in the Indies because there are those man-eaters which do feed on mans flesh But truly I do wonder that so many Italians and French who have writ of this disease have made no mention of this cause neither does the relation of that old Neapolitan seem to fit with the time For that disease was not known in the year 1456. at which time John the Son of Renatus Duke Andegavensis waged War against Alphonsus King of Naples but in the War which Charles the eight King of France waged with Alphonsus King of Naples about the yeare 1493 or 94. then grant it be that if a creature nourisht with the flesh of those of its own kind be taken with pustles and pains and suffer the falling off of the hair yet the question stil would be whether that disease be the very Veneral disease and such as may be transfered by contagion to others and especially by Venery For the essence of the veneral disease doth not consist in pustles and the failling of the hair but in an occult malignity by which also its ulcers do differ from other ulcers Yet it is easy for any one to make tryal of that which Fioravanti experienced And if the business should be confirmed by experience that if an animal nourisht with the flesh of its kind do contract this disease thence a reason may be rendered why this disease is endemious to the people of India to wit because its inhabitants do feed on mens flesh although here we meet with a doubt for al the people of India are not men-eaters and therefore we must enquire out of the Histories of the Indies whether this disease be endemious amongst the men-eaters only or amongst the other people of
when as this disease is communicated by the cause or contagion it may come to pass that the cause may be for the most part taken away which doubtless happned in him who so often used the decoction of Guajacum and was thrice anointed and such men indeed if the disease be stil upon them but the corrupt humors being for the most part emptied by sweaters 〈…〉 they are not so conragious as those who were lately infected with this out of whom those malignant humors have not yet been emptied Therefore we conclude though for certaine reasons those who are sick of this disease do not alwaies infect others yet at this day there is no man taken with this evil but who hath been infected by contagion from another and so this evil at this day is propagated only by contagion But how The first original of the veneral Difease and from what causes this Disease was raised when it first appeared in Europe Authors are diverse in their opinions and whenas they themselves who lived about the rife of this disease could not agree in this business by much less shal we which are now removed above an age from that time be able to reconcile them therefore we shal only reckon up their opinions The most learned Leonicenus and Fracastorius Whether it were first of al an epidemical disease and certain others were of this opinion That this disease at us first rise was epidemical and proceeded from a common cause when at its first beginning boyes men old folks Girles women were infected and as Hieron Fracastrius writes de morb Gallic cap. 7. Though the greatest part of mankind hath contracted this disease by contagion it hath been observed that a number of others infected by themselves without any contagion have suffred this disease Besides Fracastorius thinks it impossible that in so smal a time contagion which of it self is slow nor is not easily received could spread it self over so many lands being first brought by one fleet of the Spaniards when it is plain that either at the same time or very neere it was seen in Spain and France in Italy and Germany and almost al Scythia which if it be so there is no reason why we should not grant this disease to have been first of al epidemical yet this makes me doubtful because that no German Physitian nor of the neighboring places hath taken notice that this disease was knowen in Germany about that time In which it appeared in Italy when notwithstanding they have most diligently described the English sweating disease the disease in Hungary and the like diseases newly sprung up But what was the cause of that epidemious disease if it were such a one those Authers themselves do differ in opinion indeed they agree in this That it had its original from the fault of the ayre but whence the ayre contracted that fault therein they differ Some were of opinion That this disease had its original from the great inundation of Ether and other Rivers which hapned in the time of Adrian the sixt Pope of Rome for the Summer following they think by that corruption and filth left by the waters the ayre was infected with putrefaction and thence this disease did proceed But truly this evil cannot be imputed to that inundation of waters since that happned chiefly at Rome but this disease first appeared at Naples besides those inundations of waters are wont rather to cause pestilent diseases and there has often happned such inundations before yet such a disease was never caul'd by them before Others do more probably if this disease were at first epidemious refer the cause to the Stars And Fracastorius writes concerning this business lib. 2. de morb contag cap. 12. That it ought not to seem wonderful that new and unusual diseases do appeare at certain times and he proves it by examples and histories of divers diseases and to pass by others in the memory of our Grandfather that malignant Feaver raged which is commonly known by the name of the English sweat the like of which we have not read in any History before wherefore he thinks it is not strange if also the French disease not known before through many ages in our Orb did now first of al break forth And there wil come saith he other new and unusual sicknesses when time shal bring them as there was the thing out amongst the Ancients which afterwards was seen no more This same disease wil dye and be extinguisht and by and by again wil be renewed and seen again by our Nephews even as in former Ages it is to be beleeved it was seen by our Aucesttors for which there are no smal signs yet evident A certain Barber a friend of mine had a book of certain experiments very ancient amongst which was written one amongst the rest whose title was For the thick scabb which happens with the paines of the joints he therefore when the disease was very fresh at first remembring this medicine asked counsel of some Physitians whether he might use that medicine in that new contagion which he thought was signified by that thick scabb but the Physitians viewing the medicine sharply forbad him because it consisted of quicksilver and sulphur Happy man if he had not consulted with those physitians being like to be very rich with an incredible gaine but he obeyed them nor durst not make tryal of his medicine which at last he did try and finding it to be excellent good he was very sorry that he had used it too late the profit being now carried away by others Thus far Fracastorius But he refers the cause of this disease newly sprung up to the conjunction of Saturne Mars and Jupiter which hapned at that time Others hold that in the yeare 1483. In the Ides of October at two of the clock after noon That there was a conjunction made of Mars Jupiter the Sun and Mercury in Lihra in the right house which is the house of Sickness and that Jupiter was burnt and furthermore the same yeare on the Calends of November in the same house and signe there was a conjunction made of Mars and Venus also of Jupiter and Venus Others as Nicolaus Massa de morb Galic cap. 6. refer that disease to the conjunction of Saturn Mars and Venus which happened in Scorpio about the rise of this disease But as it is not impossible for certain configurations of the Stars to induce certain diseases so no man is able easily to render the specifick cause of this disease if it were epidemious Truly al the effects of the Stars are good and benigne and nothing evil in it self doth proceed from them yet by accident it may come to pass whiles they alter the ayre the bodies of men after this or that manner that they may produce evil diseases whenas in their way they are Authors of the generation and corruption of natural things but that they could produce this disease in specie I
very Paroxysm it self touching this Hippocrates writeth in his sixth Sect. and 49. Aphoris They that are troubled saith he with the Disease of the Gout these may in fourty daies be cured of their fits by removing the inflammation provided that as Galen adds in his Comment The Physitian fail nothing in the Cure and that the Patients be obedient unto his prescriptions For seeing that the Humors in the Gout are dispersed by the Ligaments Membrans and Nerves and that these parts are more thick and more cold then the fleshy parts it is therefore no wonder at all that there is a longer time for the discussion of the Humor required in these parts then in the fleshy parts But yet this Aphorism is here only to be understood of the last and very utmost term seeing that experience testifieth that many have been Cured of the Gout within fewer then fourty daies For in some the fits of the Gout are more moderate and shorter and so may be made to cease in a shorter time but in others they are more sharp and of longer continuance and therefore require the longer time And some there are that refer the cause unto the Humors and those tel us for a truth that the Gout which proceedeth from Choler is shorter but that which is from Flegm of longer continuance But be it so indeed that somtimes the Blood somtimes Flegm and somtimes Choler may together and at once flow unto one and the same part yet nevertheless that very Salt Humor which is the next and most immediate cause of the Gout is somtimes thinner so that it may be the sooner and more easily discussed and somtimes it is more thick Unto which we may in the Second place add the strength or weakness of the part affected For the stronger the part is the more easily doth it discuss the Humor that hath flown unto it but the weaker it is the more slow it is in dissipating the said Humor and from hence it happeneth that those which first begin to be troubled with fits of the Gout have these fits shorter and in such as have been longer troubled with this Disease the Paroxysms are of so much the longer continuance unless they have the greater care of themselves For the ofther any member is afflicted with the Gout the weaker stil it groweth And Thirdly the lick persons themselves also do not observe one and the same course of Diet whereupon it is that such of them as observe an accurate and exact kind of Diet these are more easily freed and some of them do by the Errors of their Diet much prolong unto themselves their Paroxysms and give the Cause of a new fluxion XIV The more and the more frequent the Symptoms are that follow upon the Gout the harder is the Disease to be cured For somtimes by Reason of the most sharp and vebement pain the sick persons do unseasonably desire repelling and stupefying Medicaments which drive back the Humor that was flowing unto the Joynts unto the more noble parts and from hence it happeneth that the sick persons fall into the affects of the Heart by Reason of its being streightned into Faintings and Swounding sits or other mischievous Diseases yea and they may be cast into great peril of their lives and then the only hope they have of escape lieth in this to wit that the aforesaid Humors if it possibly may be be again driven back unto the joynts XV. Now there are four manner of waies to dissolve and cure the Gout Four ways of dissolving the Gout For first of all and more frequently the matter is resolved and indeed all of it so that there are not left so much as any footsteps thereof remayning or as for the most part nothing but the very signs and footsteps of it are left behind And Secondly but this is more rare the matter is changed into a substance very like unto Pus For a true and genuine Pus it is not but a certain Sanies or thin Ichorous Excrement sweateth back and Eateth its way through both the Flesh and the Skin But now why the Gout cometh so seldom unto a suppuration Why the Gout is so rarely suppurated is well worthy our consideration and enquity Some are of this Opinion that it is therefore because that the joynts are removed from the Fountain of heat and have not in them so much heat as is requisite for a suppuration But that this is not the true cause appeareth by this that sometimes there ariseth an inflammation in the ends of the Fingers which yet nevertheless cometh unto a suppuration And therefore a more true cause seemeth to be this to wit the Nature of this very Humor it self as being Salt and wheyish which is not to be changed into Pus but it is either inwardly dissipated or if any of it be left remaining it groweth and hardneth into knots and knobs The Third way and manner is when by Reason of the weakness of the place the matter sticking over long in the part affected is at length turned into a knot or knob And of such a Gout as this it is that Galen writeth in his 10. B. of the Composit of Medicam according to the place and 2. Chast after that the Calli are once produced saith he there is no further hope or expectation that the Joynt should ever exactly return unto its pristine Constitution And of this the Poet Tollere Nodosam nescit c. That Physick worketh rare effects ther 's none can doubt And yet it knows not how to Cure the knotty Gout The Fourth manner is when the Humor is transferred and carried unto some other place and as it somtimes happeneth unto the more noble Members to wit the Lungs the Heart the Brain and this of all other the changes is the worst and by reason whereof the sick persons die unless the matter be drawn back again unto the joynts and somtimes the Humor is translated unto the more Ignoble parts as the varices according to what we said before in the 11. Prognost and somtimes it is evacuated quite out of the Body and as Rhases tels us it is oftentimes carried unto the Intestines and there it exciteth a flux of the Belly and excoriateth the said Intestines and this flux continueth somtimes all the life after and the strength by degrees and by little and little failing by reason of Feavers and pains the sick persons after long wasting and consuming by Marasms at length they die Chap. 5. The Indications and Cure SInce that the perfect Cure of preternatural affects doth chiefly consist in the taking away of the Causes The indicationâ— Cure of the Gout and that the Authors as we told you before differ among themselves as touching the Causes of the Gout it is therefore no wonder that there is to great a discord among them about the Cure some propounding one way and some another for the Curing of this Disease Which difference
TWO TREATISES The First of the VENEREAL POCKS Wherein is shewed I. The Name and Original of this Disease II. Histories thereof III. The Nature thereof IV. Its Causes V. Its Differences VI. Several sorts of Signs thereof VII Several waies of the Cure thereof VIII How to Cure such Diseases as are wont to accompany the Whores Pocks THE SECOND TREATISE OF THE GOUT 1. Of the Nature of the Gout 2. Of the Causes thereof 3. Of the Signs thereof 4. Of the Cure thereof 5. Of the Hip-Gout or Sciatica 6. The way to prevent the Gout Written in Latin and English By Daniel Sennert Doctor of Physick Nicholas Culpeper Physitian and Astrologer Abdiah Cole Doctor of Physick and the Liberal Arts. LONDON Printed by Peter Cole Printer and Book-seller at the Sign of the Printing-press in Cornhil neer the Royal Exchange 1660. Culpepers WORKS SENNERTUS WORKS Sennertus of the Gout and Pocks Sennertus Natural Phylosophy OF THE FRENCH POX CHAP. I. Of the Name and original of the Veneral Disease AMongst contagious diseases next to the Pestilence and Leprosy of Arabians the French Pox doth challenge the first place but it is called by several names The Names of the french disease the most common name is the French Pox which was therefore imposed because it first of al in Europe appeared amongst the French For in the yeare of our Lord 1493. and 1494. When Charls the Eighth King of France waried with King Alphonsus at Naples this disease first appeared and began to rage in the Camps of the French and therefore by the Italians was first of al named the French disease For whereas Antonius Benivenius de abdit morb caus cap. 1. relates that it happened in the year of our Lord 1496. that doubtless is thus to be understood That now this disease did no longer contain it self in Italy but as he speaks had almost spread over al Europe and began to diffuse it self abroad through the rest of its provinces for al other Authors agree in this that this disease did first of al appeare at the foresaid time in the French Camp at Naples The French Disease The Italian The Neapolitan The Spanish The Indian and there was called the French disease But the French that they may remove this disgrace from themselves and retort the injury upon the Italian cal it the Italian and Neapolitan disease because it was first known in Italy at Naples Others because it was brought by the Spaniards into the Fench Camp cal it the Spanish disease and others the Indian for the writers of the Indies do report that in that part of America whose longitude ends towards the North and which they cal Florida this disease many ages ago was epidemical and they write that it did generally invade and suddenly seize on many without any manifest cause without contagion and especially if any one had copulation with a woman in the time of her Courses Fracastorius cals it Syphilis some the gout of the privicies Syphilis Pudendagra The great Pox. The Veneral Diseawses Whether it be a new Disease some the great Pox because pustles and swellings do every where break forth like those of the smal Pox. Most men now adays without any injury or disgrace to any Nation do cal it the Veneral disease because it is chiefly contracted by a contagion from Venery and lying with unwholsome bodies But Authors are wont here to make this Quaerie Whether that diseawse sprung up at Naples about the yeare 1494. were a new disease or whether it were known to the Ancients Franciscus Vallesius 1. Epidem com 1. And Hieron Rusnerus de Scorbuto exercit 1. and the some other moderns are of opinion this disease was unknown to the ancients and they think that Hippocrates did not shadow it out by his pencil but set it forth to the life in 3 Epid. Sect. 3. they are the words of Reusner whenas he reckons up there divers symptomes which are seen in the veneral disease as imposthumations and suppurations of the flesh the lying bare of the nerves and bones and great fallings forth fluxions collected not like unto matter but far worse a baldness of the head and chin with and without a Feaver St. Anthonies fire with smal Ulcers and inflamation filthy and putrid fluxes pains of the limbs swellings about the jaws inflamations of the tongue impostumations about the teeth stammering corrupt and perplext speech enterings into consumptions burning Feavers and which is worst of al ulcers about the pubes and privities But Hippocrates in that place never so much as dream'd of the Veneral disease but describes a most grievous pestilence according to the judgment of Galen and al interpreters and the evidence of the History it self witnessing the same For that disease for the most part invaded with a Feaver which is not so in the Veneral disease and was epidemical whenas the Veneral disease is disseminated only by contagion and no other way and the method of curing that disease was far different from the cure of the veneral Dodoneus also hath observ'd upon the alleaged place of Benivenius that a long time agoe some men have contracted some hurts from uncleane and filthy women as Guilielmus Salicetus Gordonius and Vallescus de Taranta do testify the last of which lived in the year 1418. but Salicetus flourisht in the yeare 1270. Gordonius in the time between them both Nay holy writ doth testefy that he that followeth harlots shal have wormes and moths for his reward but I do not think that those diseases were the same with the Veneral disease of this time which first of al appeared at the aforesaid time in Italy in the Camp of the French Therefore though Paracelsus lib. de tumorib et ulcer morb Gal. cap. 3. Writes that this hapned in the yeare 1478. The Original of the Veneral disease and lib. 1. de causa luis Gal. cap. 3. In the yeare 1480. yet he differs from the relations of al others since al agree in this that this disease was not known in Europe before the yeare of our Lord 1493. although it were endemious in the west Indies a long while before and was brought by the Spaniards out of India into Italy For when Christopher Columbus in the yeare 1492. in the month of September undertook his first voyage into the west Indies and spent almost two years in that expedition he returned into Spain in the yeare 1494. whose Souldiers being infected with that disease in India and afterwards serving in the Italian expedition did sow amongst them this disease For as Gabriel Falopius writes of this business de morb Gal. lib. 1. Who reports his Father was in that warre whenas the Spaniards by reason of the deareness of provisin did drive out the unserviceable multitude the French did privately entertain their harlots being allured by their beauty and so infected with their contagion contracted this disease which afterwards was first of al spred through their
an excrement which redounds from nourishment which is cast off from another although he grants there that is commonly called an excrement whatsoever is superfluous in the body whether it be a spirit or humor or some other solid body whether it be usual or unusual whether according to nature or preternatural furthermore he holds this vapor to be wandring thin and viscid Chap. 21. and to be raised from a spirituous humorous solid substance but he proves Chap. 22. by many Arguments that this vapor is contrary and preternatural by its whole substance of which we shal speak hereafter and at last Chap. 27. he desines the Veneral vitulency that it is a vapor by its whol substance inimicous to the natural faculty working by degrees And that he might unfold his mind more clearly and not leave the Reader doubtful to what kind of things preternatural this vitulency ought to be referred when as he had said before that it was neither the Disease nor the cause nor the Symptome yet it primarily hurt the actions at length Chap. 28. he holds that 't is an externall error and he endeavors to prove it by this Sylogisme whatsoever doth primarily hurt the operation and is not of the constitution of the body is an external error but the Veneral virulency doth primarily hurt the operation and is not of the constitution of the body therefore 't is an external error Some that they may briefly quit themselves and hold with al men say that this disease is a heap of al evils Diseases and symptomes That we may clear our selves out of this difficult controversy The Veneral disease depends on an occult quality first of al 't is already proved and shal be proved more at large hereafter that they are in the right who do here admit of an occult quality and a power depending on the whole substance as they commonly speak neither can they hold any other waies Since 't is without doubt that 't is a contagious and malignant disease while it is such Iâ— performes two things to wit it alters the body by which it is received and changeth it to its owne similitude and indeed it alters it not by the first qualities as shal be said by and by since it is not expeld by the first qualities neither is that change alwaies with putrefaction whenas putrefaction is not induced but by a long time but this change is made in a moment as it were neither is it an adustion as John Baptista Montanus and some others do h old whenas there is not alwaies a hot dry distemper present neither is it cured by cooling and moistening things and oftentimes there is a fordid putrefaction in which there is no exustion But whereas they hold this malignity is only in that matter seated without the living parts 'T is a disease and that there is no such disease present in this they erre very much Indeed we willingly grant that that contagious inquination sent forth from the body infected with the veneral disease may adhere to the garments neither do we deny this that the humors in our body may be tainted with the same yet in the interim it doth scarce follow that the living parts remain free and found for as in a purrid feaver though the humors and spirits do first grow not by the feaverish heat yet afterwards the living parts are seized on by the same distemper so though the humors in the Veneral disease are first infected by that occult malignity yet there is no cause why the same fault may not be communicated to the living parts But though some do acknowledg that this cause cannot be idle Not hot and dry yet whenas they know nothing beyond the manifest and first qualities they endeavour to reduce also the effects of the veneral virulency to manifest causes John Baptista Montanus as was said even now thinks the essence of this evil consists in a hot and dry distemper but the cure tels otherwise whenas 't is cured by hot and dry Medicines as by the Decoction of Guajacum and the like besides because there is a great putrefaction in the Humors which doth not proceed from a hot and dry distemper Nicolaus Massa de Morb. Galli Cap. 5. Not cold and dry saith it is a coldness of the Liver declining to a little driness with an occult quality but as concerning the occult quality he writes truly but that it is no cold distemper the effect doth teach us as the Ulcers rottenness of the bones and the like and what other distemper soever they alleage Yet they produce nothing agreeable to the Diseases and Symptomes which appear in this Disease nor to the Cure Therefore when as the action of the veneral virulency can be referred to no manifest quality We may wel say that by that is induced an occult quality But occult For first of al every efficient cause is said to be a cause from the nature of its efficiency and therefore this malignant quality doth not only alter and change the humors but also the living parts into its likeness again though the morbifick cause be taken away and this disease seem now to be overcome yet unless that malignant disposition be destroyed the man recovers not his perfect health For it hath been observed that the Veneral Disease hath somtimes grown fresh after thirty years past which doubtless happened not because the Vitious Humors lay so long hid in the body for these would have sooner discovered themselves by their signs but because that malignant disposition imprest on the body was actually there which afterwards by degrees produced vitious humors and corrupted and so broke forth into act and Trincavellius Lib. 11. de curand rat particul affect cap. 11. reports that a certain Woman brought forth a Child sick of the French Disease and every whereful of crusty Ulcers whenas she her self never had any sign of that Disease contracted but was alwaies wholly wel and on the contrary it may happen that one may have a French Ulcer which yet when that Malignity is distroyed is no longer rightly said to be Gallical but is cured by vulgar Medicines as other Ulcers Al which being thus we conceive the the Veneral Disease doth not only exist in the Humors but also in the living parts and that it doth consist not only in the change of the first qualities but also there is an occult malignant quality imprinted on the parts and therefore the veneral Disease is to be referred to diseases and those of occult qualities Which are called by Fernelius diseases of the whol substance but not on every part rightly explained as we have said before the which if Capivaccius and Saxonia had known the one would not have defined this evil by the excrement nor the other by the cause An examination of Aurelius Minadous opinion if the same also had been known to Aurelius Minadous he would not have endeavoured to maintain that this
the brain more slowly but the life is longer protracted when the natural actions are hurt and though the veneral disease be also malignant and is not undeservedly reckoned amongst poysons in its kind yet its power in acting is fat slower than that of other poysons yet the vehemency or weakness of this poyson in this or that body and the disposition of the body may make somewhat to the length or shortness of this disease for if the poyson be more vehement the disease is the more dangerous as shal be said by and by if also the body before did abound with vitious humors the evil is increased and made longer and indeed sometimes the stubbornness of this disease is such that though it seem sometimes to be wholly extinct yet it hath been observed that it hath sometimes grown fresh againe after many nay thirty years as was said before 2. But whether this disease wil be hard or easie to cure in any patient must be judged from the greatness of the disease and strength of the patient as in other diseases First of al as concerning the nature of the disease it self though this disease be far more gentle than other venenate diseases yet because it is not of the number of them which depend on manifest distempers but malignant and contagious it may infect al the humors in the whole body nay it may pollute al the Similar parts and hence it is hard to be cured 3. Yet this disease when 't is new is easier to cure than when 't is inveterate for in that new malignant quality it only affects those parts by which 't is propagated and for the most part the privities but in the inveterate disease that very malignant quality is imprinted also on the liver and from the liver again is communicated to the blood and by the blood to al similar parts for it is false as appeares out of those things which have been formerly said of the nature of this disease that the liver here is hurt in sanguification by no disease but only by reason of an evil object which mixt with the blood and other humors does pollute them deprave and make them vitious and convert them into its own nature indeed 't is not to be denied that vitious humors also do corrupt the good in the interim from good chyle also in a liver evil disposed is generated bad blood which appears even from this that through every part the nutrition a little while after is infected through the whol body which could not be unless the liver were hurt 4. Epiph. Ferdinandus writes Hist 17. That he hath learned by experience and that other physitians have observed the same that those who being once cured are again infected with this disease are either never or with a great deal of difficulty recovered 5. Although the nature of this virulency doth not consist in any manifest distemper yet if it light on a body hot and dry and especially endewed with a hot distemper of the liver 't is more difficultly cured For whenas pock-wood Sarsaparilla and the like are hot and dry that hot and dry distemper is increased and so though this very disease be not increased yet another damage is brought upon the body and whenas those proper medicines cannot safely be administred unless the body before were very wel purged by these means 't is heated and dryed the more 6. For the same cause a hot and dry season of the yeare as that of the summer is is not so fit for the cure of this disease whenas the strength is then Exhausted 7. If also the strength be seeble that it cannot undergoe those strong medicines which are necessary or if the sick out of custom or peevishness wil not admit of necessary medicaments 't is made hard to cure 8. If also a â—eaver or consumption or other grievous symptom or disease be joyned which may hinder the cure the disease cannot easily be removed as was said even now of a hot distemper of the liver and of the whol body 9. If there appear in the joynts callous Schirrous and hard tumors and those commonly called gummosities the evil is hard to be cured and is not rooted out by most powerful remedies for such tumors never appear unless the evil be inveterate and hath taken deep root most of which are sixt in the bones under them 10. Buboes in the groins if they be hard and are not easily suppurated and those which somtimes break forth sometimes vanish are hard of cure because they signifie a stubborn matter and a weakeness of nature in expelling it but if they be easily supputated and the strength be firm and especially the liver strong they are arguments of a more benigne Disease and matter and such Buboes if they be kept open along while may bring perfect health 11. A roughness of the jaws which is attended with hoarsness or an obscure or no voice do shew the evil to be antient and stubborn and which wil scarce be cured 12. Ulcers that are new in the Yard are easily Cured but in the Arsehole or about it made difficultly for they shew the evil is now inveterate and such Ulcers are continually moistned by the Excrements and Medicines cannot conveniently enough be applied to them 13. Ulcers also in the joynts and other parts are most hard to cure because they signifie an evil now inveterate and which hath invaded the whole body 14. Ulcers in the mouth and jaws are not easily cured because also they argue the evil to be ancient neither can convenient Medicines be applied to them and they are continually moistned by the Excrements falling from the brain 15. If the bones of the nose be eaten and there be also a slow Feaver it signifies an evil incurable whenas now the disease is communicated to the brain it self or its Membranes 16. Bunchings cut in this disease especially the broader are not easily cured and they argue an evil hard to be cured 17. The colour of the Skin depraved and the falling of the hair if convenient means be applied are not very hard to cure 18. Pains especially in the Head and upon the Shins are oftentimes very stubborn that they yeild to no Remedies or at least not under a long time 19. Vertigoes and falling sicknesses are most grievous and pertinacious for they shew that the Veneral Virulency hath now possest the brain it self 20. Distillations also are lasting because they also happen only when the evil is inveterate and the brain is affected the which are more dangerous and grievous if they fal on the breast and Lungs and exulcerate them 21. Also the noise in the Ears is for the most part lasting and scarcely removed whenas there are divers windings in the Eares and their expulsive faculty is weak neither can medicines penetrate thither 22. The running of the Reins also for the most part is lasting or if it be stopt grievous evils are wont to follow and most heavy pains of
quality of the liquor for some boyl the wood in water some in Barly water some in distilled waters others in wine others in Whey and others in broth of Flesh L. Septalius lib. 7. adnimadu nu 204. reprehends those who deny that the decoction of this wood may be made in wine only when as nothing is more fit to extract the faculties of medicines than wine and the water of wine he had spoke righter than the spirit of wine and therefore he prepares his decoction with wine which he useth when the disease is inveterate with an evil habit of body and a cold matter predominant after this manner eight ounces of the bark of the best holy wood grossely poudered being infused in forty two physical pints of the best white wine for two days the wine being first heated and alwaies kept hot those two days in a double vessel or in the ashes afterwards with a slow fire boyl it away in a double vessel to the consumption of the third part which let the sick make use of both in the morning instead of a syrup and for his drink at meales let him take in the morning seven ounces an hour after move sweat but at dinner and supper let him not exceed fourteen ounces But though we grant that wine is most commodious to extract the vertues of vegetables yet this cannot be denied that by boyling the strength of wine doth vanish and when the spirit is exhaled there is left a nauseous phlegme less profitable than plain simple water And therefore I am of that opinion that either the wood is to be boyled in water and towards the end the wine is to be added or else the wood is only to be a long while infused in wine or to be boyled in a double vessel that nothing be lost but by no means to the Consumption of the third part Therefore most commonly and rightly the decoction is made in pure water which doth both a little correct the Heat and driness of the Medicine and further the distribution and provocation of sweat yet if the body and especially the stomach be cold and weak and the Patient accustomed to wine Wine is not unprofitably mixt with it as was said even now and shal be said hereafter for by the admistion of Wine the stomach is less hurt and the vertue of the Medicine doth the easier penetrate to al the parts And a different proportion of the wood to the water is observed according to the age constitution of the body and season of the year The proportion of wood to the water and they take to twelve pound of water from three ounces of the wood to twelve for if the season of the year and the body be hot 't is safest to take a less quantity of the wood and in a longer time to perfect the Cure than by too strong a Medicine to damnesie the patient especially at the beginning of the cure and before the superfluous Humors in the body be abated and sweat begin to flow easily and exquisitly and the patient be accustomed to the Decoction afterwards by degrees you may take more of the Wood which unless it be observed the Patient is easily brought into danger And Eustachius Rudius writes Lib. 5. de Morb. occult Cap. 13. That he hath seen patients who by this error viz. too great a quantity of the wood given on the first daies have fallen into a Feaver that afterwards they have been forced to abstaine from the use of the decoction to their great detriment but where there is no such thing to be feared in those of ripe years we commonly add to one pound of the wood rasped or turned smal twelve pound of water in an earthen Vessel glased and let it infuse twenty four hours in a warm place afterwards the vessel being wel covered boyle it with a gentle fire til half or the third part remain and let the decoction cool in this vessel stil covered afterwards strain it Fallopius Lib. de morb Galli cap. 46. After what manner 't is to be boyled disputes whether it be better to boyle it with an open fire or in a double vessel as was said or in Balneo Mariae and reprehends them who hold that the decoction made in Balneo is more dilute or less powerful and that the decoction made in Balneo is more excellent than that which is made with an open fire he endeavors to prove by the example of distilled waters which by the balneum are made most excellent when as there is no adustion in them but the greater eliquation which is made in that hot and moist doth render the decoction more excellent but experience teacheth otherwise which reason also doth confirme For though out of some moister plants as Roses Violets Lilly of the vallies and the like being fresh whose vertue consists in the volatile part as the Chymists speak the best waters are made in balneo without the affusion of water yet in hotter plants especially in Roots and woods whose vertue consists in the oyly part their vertue can never be extracted by the too gentle heat of a Balneum as happens also in many seeds but they must be distilled by a †Vesica through which by the vehicle of the water A chymical Vessel those more fixed parts may be elevated when as then the whol vertue of Guajacum doth consist in that oyly and rozeny part and there is need of strong boyling that that may be extracted the gentle heat of a Bolneum cannot do it but it must be boyled in an open fire which nevertheless causeth no adustion if there be added a sufficient quantity of water Some for the better gust and that the bitterness and acrimony may be abated a little before 't is boyled enough add of Raison and Liquorish of each one ounce and you may add Sugar or some Julep to rellish it Aurelius Minadous de virulen Vener Cap. 4. holds the Decoction ought chiefly to be Dulcorated with Honey for he thinks that a smal quantity of Honey if it be boyled with it and Skimmed wil rebate al the bitterness and the Decoction acquire a greater power to cleanse attenuate open and make fusil the Humors and strengthen the parts which we grant may take place in phlegmatick bodies and especially in a cold stomach so whenas honey doth easily turn to Choller we think it cannot safely be used in chollerick bodies hot and dry but more conveniently and safely Raisons Liquorish or Sugar Some also in those who have a hot and dry Liver do add towards the end of the decoction a root or two of Succory one or two handfuls of Endive Sowthistle but whenas such decoctions are to be continued along while we must have a care least by the admistion of such things they be made ingrateful and provoke nauseousness in the Patient besides whenas for the most part there is boyled at one time Decoction enough for many daies but the
the water how much time wil be spent in boyling away six or eight pints of water if taking but the half quantity viz. half an ounce of China with six pints of water we suffer the half to wast or two thirds which wil be consumed in less than two houres space the water being less able to resist the action of the fire nor let any one dare to say that we may prevent this inconveniency by making a less quantity of fire and if it he boyled by a slower fire for to extract this vertue out of a more solid substance there ought also to concur a due quantity of fire Out of the remainders another drink is prepared by some for dinner and supper The Second decoction as out of Guajacum Yet Palmarius thinks that al the vertue of that root is transfused in the liquor at the first boyling and therefore for ordinary drink he boyles three ounces more of the root in eight pound of water til two pints are consumed and he ads raisons and liquarish nay some also drink the first decoction at dinner and supper whenas it is not unpleasant to the tast Some also do admonish us that we provide no more of the decoction at once than may be spent in one day whenas it quickly growes sour when 't is cold therefore they command also that it be kept on warm ashes but experience hath taught us that it wil last four dayes Yet because it growes sour that very thing tels us that this root hath in it somewhat spirituous and alimental which is the cause of fermentation and hence of acidity Consult concerning this with Amatus Lusitamus centur 1. curat 98. and especially centur 2. curat 31. CHAP. XVI Of Sassafras wood THey use also for the cure of the Veneral disease that wood which is connonly called sassafras which is imported form the Island called Florida Sassafras-Wood it is of an aromatical taste like fennel 't is hot and dry in the second degree of a thin substance and endewed with an opening discussive and attenuating faculty Its vertues and therefore is commended by them who have sailed to the Indies against long tertian feavers evil habit of the body and dropsie and to strengthen the stomach and against nephritical paines it is comended also for the gout to move the courses and many other diseases to treat of which is not proper to this place 't is used also for the cure of the French pox yet most physitians agree that 't is less effectual than Guajacum and sarsaparilla and the decoction of it is prepared almost as that of Sarsaparilla Chap. XVII Of Sope-wort Last of al sopewort is commended by some physitians for the cure of this disease which is bitter Soapwors accid and endewed with an abstersive and opening faculty and is praised for the French pox and contumacious paines which cannot be over come by other remedies 'T is reported to be the invention of Zapata a spannish Empirick t is used both in the decoction and in substance the decoction is prepared after this manner Take of green sopewort two handfuls It s decoction infuse them al night in eight pound of water than boyl it â—â—l the sâ—pewort is boyled enough then strain one pound of it with half a pound of water and the harbs now boyled and squeez them and reserve it for a mornings dâ—aught to provoke sweat taking seven or eight ounces But that which remains sweeten with raisons or sugar for drink at meales in summer and Cholerick bodies you may add one handful of Sowthistle or basterd Navel-wort But t is a remedy unpleasing to the tast Eustachius Rudius takes of soap-wort six pugils or more and infuseth it in twelve pound of water and boyles it to the consumption of half But as Septallius hath observed t is too great a quantity of water to so sinal a portion of soap-wort But the Root Cheifly is used in substance The pouder and Rudius doth very much commend it in ancient french pains and out of it he prepares this pouder Take of ground pine two ounces of white dittander one ounce and half of Zedoary six drams of the root of soapwort three drams of pearl prepared half a dram Make a pouder for 9. doses but who can take for one dose almost four drams of pouder and the other medicines do far exceed the soapwort which notwithstanding ought to be the basis CHAP. XVIII Of Compound Alexipharmaca BUt though al the medicines hitherto reckoned up Compouond Alexiphbrmaca in the Veneral disease are good to destroy this disease yet some are more effectual then others and besides some have other qualities for the which they are useful sometimes for this sometimes for that end as was said of the simples and therefore seldom one of these medicines is used but for the most part many of them together Indeed if the disease be simple and none of the bowels be affected nor there is no eminent distemper in any part which may hinder the use of Guajacum that wood is the most excellent of al because it resists this disease both by its occult and manifest qualities but if any disease be joyned with it t is oftentimes most profitable to add sarsaparilla and China and there are added by some manny altering medicines of which whenas we spake before in this place we shal ad nothing of them but this that we must have a care least by the mixture of Succories and endives and cooling medicines which are added to moderate the heat of Guajacum which yet is not so much to be feared they hinder sweating which is only to be desired and which brings more benefit then a little heating can do dammage next of al least by the admixtion of other things the drink be made ungrateful and nauseous therefore passing by these that we may speake somewhat of the mixture of alexipharmaca if the nature of the patient be very hot and dry and the humors violently fal from the head on the lungs breast or other parts Guajacum wood is not commodiously given alone whenas it doth farther heat and dry the parts and by its heat make the humors run and move but then sarsaparilla is safer and China more comodious which doth at once moderate the heat and hath an astrictive power by which it stops defluxions on the contrary if the strength be feeble and there be a weaknes of the sight sarsa is not commodious whenas it loosenss the stomach and duls the fight if there be a great consumption if so be it hath not its original from the Venereal disease for then this disease being taken away as the cause that wasting also ceaseth and the body begins to be nourisht better Guajacum and sarsaparilla are not safe But then china is far more profitable as that which moistens substantifically as they speak Yet Ludiciptalius commends Sasaparilla above al the rest against a consumption lib. 7.
so poured forth into the Teeth that it hath there caused a pain and in others in whom it hath been poured forth unto the breast it hath there excited a spurious and bastard Pleurisie But now this Malady is not wont to continue long at a time but to afflict the party by certain intervals and Periods whiles the matter heaped up is thrust forth unto the Joynts by certain intervals which indeed in the beginning are somwhat longer so that the Diseased persons are often free for six months and somtimes likewise they are free from this Gout for a whole year together but then afterwards the Bowels and the Native heat being much weakned and impayred and many vitious Humors being heaped up together the Malady returneth by shorter intervals The period of the gout somtimes after three months and somtimes every month Yea and some there are whom it doth continually afflict and make them to keep their beds Now Arthritis or the Gout is in the general defined to be The definition of the Gout in general A pain of the parts about the Joynts excited from the defluxion of a serous and sharp Humor and poured forth into them out of the Veins and Arteries Or if it please you rather to define it in any other manner when a swelling doth now concur with it you may then say that it is a Tumor or Swilling about the Joynts arising from a defluxion of the serous or wheyish and sharp Humor by the Veins and Arteries unto the place affected and by reason of the extension of the Membranes about the Joynts and the Acrimony of the Humors Twinging and pulling them it hath Joyned with it a pain and hinderance of motion And because that the Nature of this Disease is such Whether it be proper to the gout to return by intervals that when it hath once begun to infest and trouble a person the Body can hardly ever be so carefully looked unto and well ordered but that upon every sleight cause and upon the least occasion given it will again return and indeed by certain Periods somtimes once a year somtimes every six Months and now and then once every Month many therefore of the most learned Physitians do likewise add this in the definition that it is a pain or swelling returning by certain intervals and Periods But if there be any one that thinketh it therefore to be omitted because that he who is at the first troubled with the Gout and so hath not suffered many Paroxysms returning by intervals yet may be truly said to be affected with the Gout yet Notwithstanding he cannot deny this that the very Nature of the Disease is such that even in the very first Paroxysm the Disease is in it self naturally fit to return by intervals like as he who is at first taken with a Tertian or Quartane Feaver is truly said to be troubled with a Tertian or a Quartan albeit that he hath not yet undergone many Paroxysms or sits returning every Third or Fourth day Franciscus India indeed blameth those that define the Gour by a pain in regard that neglecting the Disease they define this Malady by its Symptoms But it is no new thing to define some certain Affects in the which the Symptom and the Disease concur by the Symptoms as more urgent more troublesom and grievous unto the Diseased party and more manifest in themselves And so the Phrensy is defined by a Deliry and the Pleurifie by a pain although that there be in both places present a Disease to wit an inflammation And therefore there are many of the ablest Physitians both Ancient and Modern who inscribe their Tracts touching this Affect of the pain of the Joynts Neither again may be Gout be here alwaies so fitly defined by a Tumor or swelling in regard that oftentimes there is no swelling evidently appearing in the External parts and yet nevertheless the pain is then greater and more vehement then when there is a swelling in the part But India himself is very much mistaken and greatly erreth whiles he defineth this Malady by a deflux And moreover Whether every pain of the joynts ought to be called the Gout although that every Gout that happeneth about the Joynts may be called a pain and in this manner this name may be also attributed unto pains that happen in disjoyntings Contusions or bruises and blows wounds that which is in the French Pox that which happeneth unto Virgins while their Courses are flowing from them or such as happen unto the Hips of great Bellyed Women that are neer the time of their Travail or in general unto all pains whatsoever that happen about the Joynts yet notwithstanding we do not here take the word Gout in so large a sence but in a more eminent and especial manner we here by this Name understand that peculiar kinde of pain which the Germans cal Das Zipperlein arising from a sudden influx of a Humor into the Joynts insinuating it self into the more hidden and inward parts of the Joynts and returning by intervals and Periods The subject of the Gout if it be defined by pain are only the Membranous parts The subject of the Gout and those parts about the Joynts that are endued with a quick sense and feeling For a Membrane being the Adequate subject of the Touch even here also those parts that are grieved with pain do suffer it as they are membranous Whether al the Ligaments want sense from which nevertheless we may not exclude the Membranous Ligaments For although that Galen teach us that all the Ligaments want sense yet notwithstanding we are not to deny sense unto the Membranous Ligaments which as we finde by experience are very sensible of pricking and the Gout it self doth evidence it Neither is that Reason they commonly alleadg to the Contrary of any great weight and moment to wit that a Man should be alwaies Obnoxious unto pains and never free from excruciating Tortures if the Ligaments that are sensible of pain should dash and strike against the bones for Nature hath so fenced and guarded those parts and so admirably ordered it that no such thing can happen And hence it is that we daily lay hold on with our hands and walk upon our Feet in which there are very many Tendons Nerves and Membranes and yet nevertheless we are not sensible of any pain But if it be defined by a Tumor or swelling then all the parts that joyn together the Joynt and lie round about it may be said to be the subject of the Gout But now that these pains are excited more about the Joynts then elsewhere the Cause is this to wit that the Veins and Arteries pour forth in these places in the which there is a Concourse of the Membranes and Nerves those Sharp Humors which Nature endeavoreth to expel and which cannot flow forth in the middle Channel of the said Veins and Arteries and because that the Humors arriving at the
hath thereby been suddenly and unexpectedly taken away But in regard of the urgency of the Malady and that the Flux cometh very speedily therfore even forthwith if there be occasion Venesection is to be instituted and as much of the Blood as is needful if the strength of the Patient wil bear it to be taken forth at once opening of the Vein But if the Patients strength wil not bear nor allow of a more large evacuation of the Blood all at once then at several times and by intervals so much of the Blood is to be drawn forth as may answer unto the Bodies fulness thereof Cupping-glasses and Leeches Instead of this Venefection Cupping-glasses may also be applied which are wont to be affixed in the very first beginning of the Pains unto the sound opposite part with Scarification And so likewise Leeches applied in the accustomed places for the Hemorrhoids bring some kind of benefit unto the sick Person by their drawing forth the Blood Purgation These Revulsions by the Evacuation of the Blood being thus made Purgation purging is then next of all to be appointed unto the Patient touching which although there be some that think otherwise as we shal afterwards further shew you in the 11. Question yet for the most part it is very fitly and successfully administred But it is instantly to be ordained even in the very beginning of the pains or if occasion be when they are suspected as nigh at hand before such time as by the said pains as also by restlessness and want of sleep or by the augmentation of the Feaver the strength be too much impaired neither need we here to expect any Concoction or use any preparation before which most of the Physitians of former Agee were wont to do who first of all made use of Lenitives and then Secondly Preparatives or Digestives as they calthem for some certain daies and Lastly of Purgers that draw the humors from the Joynts For even then when the humors have already before been in their motion and are become thin and that Nature her self endeavoreth the separation of them as burthensome to her from the good Blood and that there is cause to fear left that as we said before ere ever any such things as these can be done and finished the humors may rush unto the Joynts and that by pain and want of rest the strength be too much dejected and that a Feaver following thereupon forbid a Purgation even then the Purgation is forthwith to be instituted And the exhibition of one only Purge doth for the most part less hurt and offend the stomack than those so often repeated digestive Potions which resolve and weaken the Stomack so that the Crudities being afterwards augmented there is caused a greater afflux of humors unto the Joynts Altering Medicaments Yet nevertheless Alterers if the humors be over-hot and sharp they may be attempered by Broths altered by Cichory Endive Sowthistle Purslane Sorrel and Medicaments made out of these neither are we to omit the administring of the Conserve of Roses with the species Diatrion santalon it being of singular use in the altering of the humors As Take Conserve of Roses three ounces Spec. Diatrion sant one dram Red Coral one scruple and with the Syrup of Pomegranates make an Electuary Or Take Margarites prepared one dram Red Coral prepared and all the Sanders of each one dram and half Red Roses one dram the Bone taken out of the Staggs heart one Scruple and make a Pouder Or else with Sugar dissolved in Rose Water make little Roâ—â—s But now as touching Purgation we are to advise you in these two things especially First that a fit time be made choyce of as we gave notice before and that the Purgation be not too long deferred For if dready the whol humor be flown in unto the Joynts it is easily called back And thereâ—â—â—s that the humor which is now ready to flow into the Joynts may be turned 〈◊〉 the â—elly and by it be evacuated presently in the very beginning of the Paroxysm 〈…〉 also so soon â—s ever we do but suspect it to be nigh at hand the Purgation is to be ocdaineâ— and adâ—â—isired for by this means the humor that is now flowing and that which was after tossâ—â— iâ— evacuated by convenient places and hindred that it rush not to the part affected and the encrease of the pain and swelling is hereby prevented and so that which hath already flown in unto the part affected is easily dissolved And experience it self testifieth that this kind of Cure hath profited very many And so Petrus Bayrus writeth of himself that he himvelf being by tour men carried to the Close Stool after that he had four times eased his Belly having before taken his own Caryocostin Electuary he was freed from all his pains and that he could then go without help from any other And then Secondly It is to be considered by what Medicaments the Purgation is to be inftituted and begun Some think that we ought to abftain from the stronger sort of Medicaments and to make use only of those that are more mild and gentle or of the stronger in the smallest quantity because that a strong purge may draw store of humors from the more ignoble and external parts unto the more noble and so it may somtimes happen that some of these sick Persons may by a vehement and strong Purge fall into burning Feavers as also Feavers Malignant and Mortal Which as we willingly grant and think that the humors that were hoâ— before are not by vehement Purgers to be more inflamed and that the motion of Nature is not altogether to be disturbed so also on the other hand we conceive that great care ought to be taken that the humors be not only stirred and moved up and down in the Veins and not wholly drawn forth and sufficiently evacuated Which when it happeneth they afterwards rush with a greater violence unto the part affected as unto the which they are withal attracted by the pain And therefore in the beginning of the Paroxysm or when it is nigh at hand we ought to make choyce of Medicaments that are somwhat stronger than ordinary and yet notwithstanding such as do no way offend the Stomack For as we said before if we make use of those that are too gentle and weak in their operation the humors are then only moved up and down in the Body and nothing worth speaking of is evacuated whereupon there is afterward a greater Conflux unto the part affected But now that during the purgation there may be no Conflux unto the part affected and that the Humor being moved by the Purgation may not rush unto the part affected this we ought carefully to prevent and it is done by placing the part affected in a higher place in the Bed until the Purgation shall be fully 〈◊〉 or which is the more sure and certain way by imposing a defensive Medicament after the administring of
the purge upon the head of the part affected As for example if the pain be in the Hand the defensive is to be placed upon the Shoulder and this may be made and provided of the Flowers of Roser Pomâ—granate flowers Roots of Bistort Tormentill the greater Consound the Rinds of Pomegraâ—ateâ— â—ole-Armenick mingled with the white of an Egg and Rose water or Vinegar Aâ—dâ—ner this Cataplasm being dried and so made hard may not excite Pains and thereby further provoke the flux a little of the Countesses Vnguent or of the Oyl of 〈◊〉 Omphacine is to be added thereto Or else instead of the Cataplasm a swathe that is long enough may be wet in posset in which Oak-moss Red Roses or other Astringents even now mentioned have been boyled and drawn over the upper part as for instance in the Gout of the Feet upon the part above the Knees And those Defensives are to be continued so long as the Purgation lasteth yea for the whole day as we see occasion But now we cannot in general desine with what kind of Medicaments this purgation is to be performed in regard of the great variety there is in Bodies For although the Humor the nighest cause of the Gout be wheyish Salt and Tartarous yet nevertheless this very Humor is in divers Bodies constituted after a different manner and hurrieth along with it other Humors also that abound in the Body Yea and in one and the same Body the same Medicaments are not alwaies fit and proper because that the stare of the Body is not evermore one and the same And therefore the Physitian ought to be present with the Patient when he prescribeth such like Remedies Now for the Evacuating of Serous Humors and Cholerick Ichores such as these following ought to be provided viz. Syr. of Roses solutive de Spina Cervma commonly called the Domestick Syrup Manna Mechoacan Sene the Seeds of wild Saffron and the compounds from any of these as also Electuar Diacatholic Triphera Persica de Succo Rosarum And so likewise in the stronger kind of Medicaments those are of special use that are made of Hermodactiles and among them the Caryocostine Electuary of Bayrus of which we shal anon make surther mention when we come to speak of the Preservation from the Gout Or Take The Choycest Turbith and Hermodactiles of each three drams Diagridium one dram and half Ginger and Mastick of each a dram Sugar six drams make a Pouder hereof the Dose whereof is one dram or a dram and half with flesh broth Or Else let the Patient make use of the Pills of Rhases which as he writeth in his 9. B. to Mansor Chap. 90. will presently make and enable those that keep their Beds to Rise stir and walk up and down and they are in this manner to be Compounded Take Aloes one dram Scammeny half a half peny weight red Roses a double quantity to the former Hermodact half a dram Make pills thereof and give them all at once and yet not without regard unto the strength of the Patient But now although the serous or wheyish Humor be the nighest cause of the Gout yet notwithstanding because that this Humor doth also violently carry along with it other vitious Humors in the Body and especially when the pain cometh the Physitian therefore ought to be present with the Patient when he is to prescribe such various purging Medicaments for the present occasion of the sick Person Vomitories A Vomit is likewise very useful in such as are accustomed thereunto A Vomit and seeing that it may Evacuate the Humor by a shorter way there is no such cause to fear the rushing of the Humors unto the part affected And yet not withstanding we dare not here give such strong Vomitories that may evacuate the Humors out of the very Veins but it will be sufficient if such be administred that do evacuate the first waies and the parts neer unto the Stomach For if there be many vitious Humors residing about the Stomach Spleen and the hollow of the Liver and in the places neer thereunto it may very easily come to pass that these Humors being stird up and down throughout the whole Body they may both penetrate unto the Veins and rush unto the part affected And purges may be likewise appointed unto the sick person after his vomiting yea and if one purgation will not serve the turn it is again a Second time to be repeated Franciscus India in his 2 B. of the Gout and the Third Chapt. doth here wonderfully extol a Vomitory that he maketh of Butchers Broom a sufficient quantity of the pouder thereof given with the defilled Water of unripe Oranges a little warm which as he writeth can with special benefit unto the sick person Evacuate both the Choler and the Flegm not only upwards but downwards also Sudorificks or Sweaters The Body being sufficiently purged Sweaters we are to endeavour that sweat may be provolâ—ed either of its own accord or else by administring of Medicaments For as Crain writeth truly in his 24. Cons if the sweat be at all deteined within and hindered from coming forth especially if the Patient hath been accustomed thereunto it will not be long ere a fit of the Gout come yea and without all doubt the Paroxysm will be much augmented and provoked if in it the sweat be deteined and if the remainders of the wheyish Humor in the Veins be not discussed and Scattered and on the contrary the Paroxysm wil be the shorter if the Serum or Whey be by sweat dispersed But since that in the first invasion of the Gout there is as it were a certain kind of boyling of the Humors and that for the most part there is likewise present a Feaver Sweaters of what kind they must be in this regard hot sweaters such as are Treacle Mithridate and the like are here scarcely fit and convenient because that by them the Humors may be the more inflamed But yet Harts-born either crude or prepared without any burning may be very fitly exhibited either alone or with the Water of Carduus Benedictus And so likewise Diaphoretick Antimony is very useful But if the Constitution of the Body and the disposition of the Humors wil bear it the Decoction of Sassaphrass or Sarsaparilla or Chyna may be administred which yet nevertheless we ought to temper with Succory Endive Sowthitle and Dandelion or Lions Tooth But yet al those things that are useful in the Paroxysms for the discussing of the Humors either sensibly or insensibly they have not all of them their place here in the Cure And so likewise the Decoction of the greater Dock or Burr in regard that it cutteth discusseth moveth sweats and Urms is very useful and Forrestus relateth that Vastellius a Pensioner at Mechlin when he was forced to keep his Bed by reason of the pains of his Joynts insomuch that he was not able to move or stir any one Member he drank warm Beer in the
at Venice who by his abstaining from wine by the space of five years was delivered from the Arthritis or Gout during his whole life even unto the very day of his Death And we likewise related unto you before out of Franciscus Alexander of one Francis Pecchius a man much troubled with the Gout who being cast into prison and there detained for twenty years was in the end freed both from his imprisonment and all his Arthritick pains and so continued free from all fits of the Gout for ever after during his Natural life And Marcus Gattinaria in that Chap. of his Book touching the Cure of the pains of the Joynts from a hot Cause writerh as concerning himself that when he first began to suffer the fits of the Gout this was the Course he took for the recovery of his health and ease from his fits to wit first of all he imposed upon himself an abstinence from Wine for two years and every month he emptied his Body by Evacuations and then he took some Pill or other for the diverting of the Humor the cause of his distemper and this he made use of twice in the week that so Nature might be diverted in her transmitting the matter unto the Joynts and that so she might rather evacuate it by the way of siege and by using this course for a while he was so throughly Cured that he was never after that troubled with any such like pains And Carolus Piso also in his Book of Diseases from Serous or Wheyish impurities in his Consil touching the Arthritis writeth that a certain man who had lived all the time of his youth infested with perpetual pains of the Arthritis and making his moan and continual complaints thereof by the counsel and advice of Nicolaus Piso in the flower of his Age he wholly denyeth unto himself the use of Wine although he were the principal of those that were set over and had the charge of a Wine-Cellar a rare example indeed of admirable temperance and so by thus doing he kept himself for thirty years together al the time of his life after altogether free from those pains And Histories likewise testifie that some even by a due and orderly regularing of their lives and others again by their being reduced unto poverty and so necessitated unto a frugality in point of Dyet have thereby been wholly freed and delivered from the Gout And this withal is a thing most strange and wonderful of which Guilbelm Fabricius relateth three examples in his First Cent. and 79. Observat that some certain Arthritick persons there have been who upon suspition of some Notorious Offences by them committed have been oftentimes set upon the wrack and put upon the extreamest of all exquisite Tortures but when they have constantly maintained their own innocency they have at once been absolved and for ever set free from their Crimes and withal from the fits of the Gout with the which they had formerly been most grievously afflicted And wonderful also is that example which the same Author in his first Cent. Epist 47. relateth of a certain envious and malecontented Person that lay sick of the Gout who though he were fastened unto his sick Bed by his painful Disease could not yet refrain from traducing and speaking ill of others Which when a merry conceited Fellow there present perceived who had also himself been lasht by the petulancy of the others Tongue about the dusk of the Evening taking his opportunity when the sick Person was left all alone by all his Family enters the sick mans House privily in a strange disguise that he had gotten like unto an Aeâ—hiopian or Blackmoor and thus disguised he goeth neer unto the Bed-side of the sick Person who astonished with the unusualness of the form his own solitariness and withall terrified with the darkness of the place it self that he lay in demandeth of him who he was and from whence he came The Whifler answering to none of his Questions but making his approach closer unto the Bed-side catcheth him by the Arms which were likewise much troubled and pained with the Arthritis and having thus laid hold on him he throweth him upon his back and to hanging upon the same and crying out with all the noise he could make he carrieth him out of the Chamber where he lay ever and anon crushing his Feet against the Stairs by which he was to go down When he was come into the Yard he there sets down his burden putting the sick Person upon his Feer speaking not a word to him all this while only staring him ful in the Face And then suddenly again he runs towards him and made as though he would once more have seized upon him and so have carried him out of the House But now he who before could not so much as set his Feet to the Ground by reason of his Disease nor walk at all upon plain Ground much less get up any whither by the Steps now runs as fast as he could up Staits and to the top of them he gets and so into his Bed-Chamber he comes and thorow the Window with the loud noise he made all the Neighborhood was raised and so come running in unto him to see what the matter was He out of Breath as he was and half dead with affrightment tels them that he was by a Ghost dragg'd out of the Bed where he lay and then being carried forth of his Lodging-room he was most miserably handled and that had he not often called upon and ingeminated the name Jesus he had without doubt been gone had there been no more men in the world And wonderful indeed it was that he who was before so sorely afflicted with the Gout should hereupon recover his health and strength and never after be troubled with any the least fit of his former Disease Fabricius hath there likewise another History of a certain Malefactor that had the Gout who being brought forth and led unto Execution his punishment being to have his Head cut off by that time be was come half way to the place of execution there was brought him an unexpected Pardon granted him by the Clemency of his Gracious Prince The miserable man was so affected with this good tidings that he who til now wanted the use of almost all his extream Members now on a suddain cast himself on his Feet with a quick and speedy motion and lived after this for many yeers wholly free from all kind of pain and trouble that formerly he had undergone by reason of the Gout And I my self remember likewise that we had here with us not long since a Noble Youth much troubled with the Gout this Youth the neer neighboring houses happening one Night to be all on Fire and the House wherein he was in danger to be burnt he suddenly for fear gets him out of his Bed and down a Ladder he runs and intending to fly into another House he fell with that Foot where
addition of such Herbs doth cause that the Decoction wil not last so long to prevent this such herbs are to be added not to the whol decoction but to about one pound of it Some not unprofitably especially to those accustomed to it and whose stomach is weak do add towards the end of the decoction three pound of a sweetish white wine some prepare the whol decoction in wine but not so rightly for the best part of the wine doth evaporate in boyling and there is left an ingrateful Flegm as was said before Aurelius Minadous also doth admonish that the decoction of the wood is to be given with a vehicle which may direct the vertue of the Medicine to the parts principally affected and the Head most of al affected we must mix Cephalick things the Reins affected things Nephtitical the Liver Hepatical the Spleen things Splenitick Which as we do not wholly disallow of so we do not alwaies think it necessary whenas the vertue of the decoction doth easily of it self penetrate into the whol body but we must chiefly have a care least by the admistion of such Medicines the decoction be rendered nauseous and ingrateful to the Patient which when he himself also considers he admonisheth rightly that such Medicines are more commodiously taken by themselves reduced into a pouder or Bolus or some other forme than mixt with the decoction but we shal speak hereafter of compound decoctions The Chymists whenas they fear least by the long boyling Distilled water from Guajaum which is to the half or a third part the Spirituous and subtile parts should exhale and be dissipated and so the vertue of the Medicine be diminished prepare this decoction another way so that it loseth nothing of its strength they take the pouder of Guajacum and put it into a retort and pouring a sufficient quantity of water they place the retort in the ashes and apply the receiving vessel and making a fire under it first they make a digestion then distil it to the Consumption of one half of the water they give of the distilled water four ounces yet it were most commodious if the distilled water were mixed with the rest of the decoction in the retort being strained for so they would have al the vertue to that decoction remaining in the retort may be poured more water and let it digest twelve hours afterwards distil it and the liquor distilled may be given for common drink and whenas it happens somtimes that Infants are born infected with the Veneral disease or are infected by their Nurses this distilled and sweetned with Sugar may be given them instead of Juleps Also after that the first decoction prepared the common way The second decoction is strained twelve or eighteen pound of water again is poured to the wood remaining after the first boyling according as the Patient is wont to drink more or less and is boyled to the Consumption of the third part and being strained is given for ordinary drink at dinner and supper if they desire a more pleasant and sweeter drink you may add four ounces or more of Raysons or instead of Raysons one ounce or two of Coriander seed prepared and sweeten the decoction with two or three ounces of Sugar But if any Herbs have been added to the first decoction the decoction for drink at meals must not be made of the remainders of the first decoction because it would be nauseous but you must prepare another fresh decoction but more dilute or a wine of Guajacum which is made thus Wine of Guajacum Take four or five pound of the wood four pound of white Sugar ten pound of white Wine and put the wood into a wooden Vessel and heat the Wine and powr it to it Some boyl the wood the third time and use the decoction to boyl meat in The third decoction the same decoction also may be used to wash the hands to clense the Nostrils and mundisie Ulcers And some give this wood other waies some in the form of a pouder An Electuary of Guajacum others make electuaries of it Thus Nicol. Massa Lib. 2. de Morb. Gal. Cap. 6. he takes of the Indian wood most finely prepared one pound and with Syrup of Fumitory boyles it to the form of an Electuary of which he gives half an ounce or an ounce or take of the wood of Guajacum Sarlaparilla finely poudered of each one ounce of the species of the three saunders and Diarrhodon Abbatis of each two drams Conserve of Succory Roses of each six ounces with Syrup of Succory make an Electuary Others with a convenient Syrup make pills of it But others not without cause do here admonish us that such Medicines are less effectual and that many who were newly infected when as they hoped for health by the use of such Medicaments by that delay and lingring and weakness of the Medicine have fallen into a most grievous evil for as was said such Medicines do less penetrate into the body Yet towards the latter end of the Cure when the evil is almost overcome and 't is only feared that there may remain some evil disposition and the long continued drinking of the decoction of the wood is nauseous to the patient such Medicines may be used to consume the reliques of the disease An extract of this wood is more commodiously prepared and out of that pills An extract of Guajacum or rowles but after the use of it there is need of taking some liquor by whose vehicle the extract may be distributed and carried into the whol body nay these extracts according to the opinion of Hercules Saxonia have scarce so great strength as to overcome this disease if it be very great and ancient but the decoction is deservedly preferred before them Hercules Saxonia de lue Vener cap. 27. writes that the oyl is stronger The oyl of Guajacnm and he thinks the whol Alexipharmacal power of the wood is placed in this Oyl and he relates that he hath proved by experience that by the benefit of this oyl the greatest and ancientest disease hath been overcome But he gives it divers waies in wasted bodies with milk in others of a hotter temperament with Conserve of Roses or whey of Goats in Melancholly with conserve of Burrage or Bugloss in Flegmatick with Conserve of Betony in those that have knobs with Turpentine and two scruples for a dose But doubtless it was not oyl which Saxonia gave but a liquid extract or Tincture as they cal it For no oyl is distilled from this wood by an Alembick but that which is distilled by a retort or descent by an open fire is found to be such that it cannot conveniently be given into the body nay scarce with safety I attribute more to the spirit of Guajacum The spirit of Guajacum the preparation of which is not every bodies work for it requires a longer and more diligent digestion and fermentation for